The Sun.
London, England, 1822-07-10 00:00:00

GATESHEAD, DLT IMAM.

On Friday last Mr. JOSEPH PRICE, proprietor
of the Durham Glass Works, having completed
his 60th year, gave a dinner to a large party of
friends, and the whole of his numerous workmen,
the latter men and boys amounting to 130, and
the total to 160. At half-past two o'clock the
men mustered at the glass manufactory in Pipe-
well-gate. After ranging themselves 'in proces,
sion, they set out headed by Mr. Richardson's
excellent band of musicians, who played a quick
step all the way till•they reached Mr. Price's
house in the high part of Gateshead. One of
the boys was the bearer of a white flag decorated
with laurel. A large space in the garden behind
the house, about 90 feet in length, and 30 in
breadth, had been covered in for the purpose of
the refectory • and two rows of tables, the whole
length, afforded ample accommodation to the
numerous company. At three o'clock an excel-
lent and substantial dinner was served up hot.
The smoking surloins of beef and the plenteous
supply of rich plum pudding, (withont mention-
ing other viands) brought to mind the doings of
ancient times in the balls of our English Barons,
when feasting and hospitality were more the
order of the day then• they are at present. As
soon as the cloth was removed the Rev. HUGH
SALVIN delivered an impressive grace. The
President (Mr. PRICE) then requested .a bumper
to be filled to " the King's health," with four
times four. The toast was drank with enthu-
siasm, the music striking up the national anthem.
" The rest of the Royal Family" followed,
(music, " Brunswick March"), and then 46 Suc-
cess to the Coal Trade," (music the " Keel
Row.") Mr. GRIEVESON then rose and said,

" Mr. President, Mr. Vice-President, and Gentlemen, 1
have been requested upon this interesting occasion, in pro-
posing the toast which I am about to give, the good health of
our worthy President, to offer to him the sincere and hearty
gratulations of his friends upon this auspicious day.--(Ap-
plause.)—And while I claim, Gentlemen, the right of express-
ing, in the name of the general company, my best thanks
for the truly liberal entertainment we have experienced,
and are still enjoying, I can easily picture to myself
the feelings of satisfaction which must be the President's,
on seeing himself surrounded, as he is this day, by so large a
body of friends and well-wishers.—(Applause.)---On ' an occa-
sion like this I trust I shall not be considered as going out of
the way if I advert for a moment to the vast importance which
our native manufacturing industry bears inthe scale of national
interests. What is it, Gentlemen, that constitutes the incompa-
rable wealth and dignity of this great and flourishing Empire,
but its matchless persevering industry in useful and ingenious la-
bour of every sort ? Great and honourable as is the British Peer,
he is not more so, abstractedly, than the peaceful, industrious
mechanic or artisan, Who maintains his family by the sweat of
his brow.—(Great applause.)—How happily the Poet expres-
ses it:—
"Great are thy blessings, industry ; rough power I
Where labour still attends, and sweat and pain ;
Yet the kind source of every gentle art,
And all the soft civility of life."
Gentlemen, if I have in some degree digressed, it was only
to pay a compliment where I felt it to be most appropriate.—
(Applause.)—[A paper, containing an extempore address on the
President's natal day, was handed to the Speaker, and read
by him to the Company : • It gave great satisfaction, but its
length prevents its'finding a place here.]—" Gentlemen," con-
tinued Mr. G., " all I have now to do is to express my ac-
knowledgments for the patient hearing you have honoured me
with, and to request you to fill a bumper of rosy wine to our
worthy President.—That he may long live to see the Anniver-
sary of this day, and to enjoy the fruits of his ingenuity and in-
dustry, I feel persuaded, is the wish of all."—(Very great aps
;dense.) •
Mr. PRICE rose and returned thanks, observing, "It was out
of his power to state what he felt; but he trusted they would
"take the will for the deed."—(Applause.)
The Band played, " May we never want a friend and a
bottle."
Among the Toasts that were given were—" The Lords
Lieutenant, the Earl of Darlington."—" Both sides of the
Tyne."--" John George Lambton, Esq."—" The Mayor
and Corporation, of Newcastle." " The Duke of North-
umberland."—" A Public-Spirited Officer, the Sheriff of
Newcastle, Alfred Hall, Esq. *--" The Owners of Sheriff=
Hill Colliery," (to which Mr. Hutchinson returned thanks.)--
F" Earl Grey."—" The Vice-President."—(Mr. Harbottle ex-
pressc.dhis acknowledgments for thehonour conferredupon him.)
Mr. G. ilgrnett andthe Lead trada.—(Mr.B. returned thanks.)
The Pitiotc4ives of the Crown and the Rights of the People ;
Sir Robert lyw7,;s, and succes's to the works at New Green-
wich ; All l;1 nest iilen who earn their bread by the sweat of
their brow ; the worthy Rector of Gateshead, the Rev. J. Col.
linson ; ,the Independence of Parliament, may it never yield to
the power of • the Crown, nor the influence of Faction ; Mr.
Askew, and the Magistrates for Chester Ward ; tke Land we
live in, may it be filled with plenty and the People wiTh gra-
titude.
The company, in the course of the evening, were entertained
with several excellent songs.—Between 9 and 10 o'clock seve-
ral of the workmen's wives and female relations were admitted,
and the tables being removed. daziting commenced, and con-
cluded the evening's amusements. , .
It is but proper to state that every thing was
conducted with the greatest Order and regularity.

The Excise Licenses Regulation Bill was read a third time
and passed.
The Scotch Spirits Exportation Bill went through a Com-
mittee. The Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave
to sit again on Friday. '
Mr. BENNET brought up the Report of the Committee
for Members returned to that House holding places under Go-
vernment.—Ordered to be printed.
RECEIVERS-GENERAL BILL.

Upon the motion of Mr. LITSITINGTON, the House re-
solved itself into a Committee uponsthe above Bill.
Mr. HUME moved as amendments to certain clauses, that
the Treasury be empowered and authorized to grant allow-
ances to Receivers-General, at not less than 3001., nor more
than 6001. ;—that Receivers-General be restricted from acting
by deputy except in cases of illness, or other sufficient tem-
porary causes, that the latter part of the first clause be omitted,
providing a fund for defraying the expence of the Receiver-
General ; and that the collections be made in the same way as
the collections of the Excise. - In his opinion, Receivers-Ge-
neral might be dispensed with altogether in favour of Collec-
tors similar to those of the Excise. _ _

Mr. LUSHINGTQN said,, that the Hon. Gentleman would
scarcely think that Excise Collectors would answer all the pur-
pose of. Receivers-General, when he informed him that the dif-
ference of security which it was thought right to require from
those two clases of offfcers, was betwixt 300,0001. and
16,000,0001. If it was thought requisite to take 16,000,0001.
from the Receivers-General, it was obvious their responsibility
must he much greater than what could be handed over to the
Excise Collectors. He had no objection to insert the clause
disabling Receivers-General to act by deputy, except in cases
of illness, and to omit that part of the first clause objected to
by the Hon. Gentleman, but he could not consent to his pro-
posed diminution of salary. If such were to be attempted, he
was sure they 'would lose their best Receivers-General. The
plan laid down in this Bill, he was thoroughly convinced, was
the best and cheapest that could he adopted.
Mr. Htr stE. and Mr. LuSIIINGTON. mutually explained.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT believed that within the last six
months the Receiver-General in Ireland had been abolished,
and the money paid on account of taxes remitted directly to
the Bank of Ireland. If this mode had been adopted there.,
why could not the same course be take; in this country ?
Mr. LUSH ING TON said, if the Irish mode of collecting the
revenue here were adopted it would occasion double—a Right
Hon. Gentleman near him, said four times—the expense. At
all events it would be much more expensive than the present
mode of collection.
Mr. HUME was of opinion the revenue might be collected
and transmitted to the Treasury without one &rthing expence,.
After a further conversation, in which Mr. Lushington, Sir
C. Long, Mr. Alderman WOod, Mr. Calcraft, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, and Mr. Bennet, participated the Chairman
reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again this day.

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.
. Mr. W. COURTENAY rose to bring before the House cer-
tain publications, which had been brought under his observation •
within this last fortnight, and which contained matter, in his
opinion, amounting to a breach of the privileges of that House.
He hoped it would not be thought improper in -him to direct
their attention -to that which, hi his judgment, struck at a vital
point of the privileges of Parliament. Some time ago an ac-
tion had been brought against an individual connected with the
public press of Scotland. An Hon. and Learned Gentleman,
a Member of that House, had thought it his duty to bring
the circumstances connected with that proceeding before Par-
liament. Doing this, that Honourable and Learned Gen-
tleman had necessarily; had unavoidably been placed in the
disagreeable situation of an accuser. This situation, though
it was one which was disagreeable, was one which was neces-
sary to the exercise of the most important functions of that
House. Any one, therefore, who interfered with the free; bold,
and unembarrassed discharge of duty was guilty of a breach of
privilege, and such breach of privilege, as it affected the dig-
nity and importance of that House, demanded their most serious
attention. In the course of the observations submitted to the
House by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, lie hid had occa-
sion to offer some remarks on the conduct of certain indivi,
duals connected with a public employment in Scotland, and
the manner in which these remarks had been noticed by the in•
dividuals to whom they related, was that which he was now
about to bring before the-House. A letter had been published
in the form of a pamphlet, addressed to James Abercromby,
Esq. and signed John Hope.. Mr. Hope was connected with
an office in Scotland, on which the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man had made some observations.. The letter which he• had
written was of considerable length, and expressed opinions
with respect to what the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had
stated in the conscientious discharge of his duty within those
walls, which, in his judgment, amounted to a direct and dan-
gerous breach of their privileges. Some of the' passages were
of a nature which seemed intended to provoke perional hos-
tility. That this was the object of the letter lie thought the
House would admit, when he read part of the letter to them.
He would not detain them by going over much of it, but
he would read one or two passages which; -it appeared,
were of a most gross ,and improper character, and on these
the Henise would decide whether or not their privileves
had been violated; The first passage set out' with speaking
of the reports of the Honourable and Learned Gentle-
man's speech. The writer then gave it as his opinion that
those reports were correct,- and proceeded to consider a re,
Port which has appeared as being-his unquestioned speech.—
bne part of the 'letter ran thus.—" On the gross- injustice re-
sulting to a defendant from the perversion of a private action
brought by a political associate.—(Hear, hear !) in .-order to
prepossess and prejudice the minds of a party who have yet
to decide on the. subject, it is needless to enlarge." With the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman to whom this letter' was ad-
dressed he (Mr. W. Courtenay) had no political connection;
but language like this, come from -,.batever quarter iemight,
imputing perversion of facts from base and unworthy motives
to a Member of that liouse,- he thought ought not to be suffered
to pass Unnoticed. Another part of the letter was very
strong, though, in his judgment, not so strong as that which
he had just read. It imputed, wilful misrepresentation, and
ran thus—" Whether you believed what you stated I do not
now ask, but the injustice and intemperance of the course taken
you cannot now dispute." As he had already Stated, he had
no connection, in politics with the Honourable and Learned
Gentleman,--h6 only felt at this moment that lie was a Member
of •Parliament. That iien.: and Learned Gentleman would
perhaps be the only person in that Hciuse who would think the
course which he now took was not tight. He, however. on this
occasion, could not suffer his conduct to be governed by the
fear of displeasing that Hon. and Learned Gentleman. It. was
his duty, as it was that of the House, to do that which it seemed
right should be done. Another passage in the letter stated
the measure which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had re-
sorted to, sufficiently marked his ,consciousness of its being
unjust." This was a personal attack which could not be passed
over, and one which amounted to a direct breach of the pri-
vileges of that House. So long as it was deemed important
that freedom of speech should be enjoyed in the House of Com-

' mons, it appeared ,a) him necessary that comments of the nature
of those to which he now called their attention should not pass
unnoticed.' What that could be -called freedom of speech '
would remain to them, if every individual who brOtight forward
an accusation was liable to be singled out by the party.ac-
cused as the object of a direct personal attack ? So much with
respect to the case of Mr. Hope, but there was.another mat-
ter not only connected with it, but so connected that he thOught
it necessary to bring it before the House. In the Cinirier of
Monday there had appeared a letter from the Advocate of Sleet-
land, which appeared to have been sent by Mr. Menzies
with comments to the -Editor. The comments which he had
supplied were these :—" I feel no inclination to make any
comments- on the above correspondence, I shall -be contented
with saying, that in what you put forth as a fair report of Mr.
Abercromby's speech, improper motives were by very strong
inuendo and implication attributed to me. Such imputations
I regard with the most perfect scorn, and _I have now shown
that whoever was the real author of them, they were altogether
'unwarranted, groundlesit, and false." lie wished the House
to consider the nature of these publications. To. him he
must confess that they seemed to form part of a system which
it was necessary to put' down. From whatever side of the
House observations were made, if comments like these were
to be made, the practice would be fonnd dangerous in the
extreme.. It would be most injurious if members were liable
to be made the subjects of personal attack on account of their
haying performed their duty. It was on, that ground that he
pressed the subject on the attention of the House,, and he
thought they would all agree with Min-that the object, motive,
and intention of the letters in question were to provoke a per-
Soria' quarrel. Trusting the House would view the subject as
he did, he proposed first to put-in the papers, and he should
then move that the passages which he had read amounted to a
breach 'of the privileges of that House. Should this be carried,
it might be proper to call the parties to their bar. What fur.
ther steps might be necessary, it would be for the House to de-
termine ; but the main object would be gained if the House
agreed .with him, as he hoped they would,'in voting the letters
a breach of their privileges. He then put gi a letter dated 27,
Queen-street, Edinburgh, July 1,- 1922, to Jas. Abercomby,
Esq. AIP.
Lord BINNING suggested that it was common to read the
whole Of a paper from which passages were selected as involving
a breach of the'privileges of Parliament.
The SPEAKER said, when it was necessary to look at
the context to ascertain the meaning. of the passages obe
jected to, other 'parts of the documents or the whole of them
were read.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY observed, that in some
instances the House had at once voted the paper complained of
to be a breach of their privileges, but in other cases it had post.
poned coming to a decision till a fuiure day.
The SPEAKER was aware that both courses mentioned by
the Noble Lord had frequently been taken ; but he believed -
the course taken when it was a constructive breach of privi-
lege, differed from that which had been preferred where the
-breach was positive and distinct. The question now was whe-
ther there had been a comment, and what were the terms in
which that comment was couched. If there had been a com-
ment at all, there was an end to the question about breach of
privilege.
Mr. C. W. WYNN agreed that the contents of the paper,,
which had not been read, had no relation to- the question then
before the House ; but as the passages which had been read
might be mitigated or aggravated by the other parts of the do.:
cuments, it was desirable that the House should be put in pos-
session of the whole. He remembered a case where the whole
of a long pamphlet had been read at the table. This, however,
was inconvenient, as the • attention of the House could not be
so fixed on the article while reading, as to make them fully ac-
quainted with,it, and therefore he thought the better course was
to postpone the further "consideration of the subject till to-mor-
row. lie did not say that there could be any doubt of the pas-
sagest
breach qumoitgehdt abneio
more
notri
en go
rtol e
ias bag, egarcahv a ot
efd
tryi eegoet,h
ebru tp
aars
tst h
oaf
theletters, he moved—" That further consideration of the
subject should be adjourned till to-morrow."
• Mr. TIERNEY apprehended the whole letter ought now to
be read. His own opinion was, that nobody could doubt a
breach of their privileges had been committed. But the whole
of the letters when read might soften down those parts which
they had heard. The whole should be read, that they might
not visit the offence which had been committed with undue
severity. If it was likely that the reading of the whole would
mitigate the charge, of course there would be no objection to
its being read.
Mr. C. W. 'WYNN said, in the last case, that of Mr. Hob-
house's pamphlet, the consideration of the subject had been
adjourned for a day. That course he thought it would be tie-
. sirable to pursue now.
The SPEAKER was aware that a great variety of prece-
, dents were to be found, and that two very different courses had
frequently been pursued. One way was to decide that the
writing charged wes a breach of their privileges, and then call
the party to the bar to admit or deny that he was the author ;
the other was; -Wore deciding whether or not a breach of their
privileges had been committed, to call on the author of a paper
brought before them to defend or explain it, as in some cases it
was thought this might influence their decision on the.question,
whether or not a breach of their privileges had been committed.
But in a case where their proceedings had been commented
on, it mattered not what the terms were in which it had been
so -commented on, whether complimenting or reflecting on
them—the interference with their deliberations was in itself a
breach of privilege, and no explanation at the bar could alter
the decision on that point, though it might materially affect
the proceedings consequent upon it. The House had a right
to view•their privileges not as formed for their personal con-
venience, but as a great public trust, which was necessary to
the discharge of their functions. From day to day, however,
their privileges were invaded, but the House shut their eyes
to•this in cases where no great public disadvantage was appre-
hended. Ile called on the House to keep these two points
-distinctly in their view when called upon to vote—whether
their privileges had been violated, and whether having been
violated, it was necessary for them to take notice of the fact.
He pressed the subject on their attention, that they might not
be placed in the predicament, that disregard of their privileges
should ever be construed into a doubt of their existence. Un-
der these circumstances it was for, them to consider whether
they would 'suspend their decision in a case where there- could
be no doubt of a breach of ,their privileges having been
committed.
Mr. 'W. COURTENAY concurred in this view of the
subject.
The MarquiS of LONDONDERRY said, as their privi.
leges' were violated, when any report of, or comment on, them
was published, there could be no hesitation' in assuming a
breach of them to have been committed in theatreseof case.
But if there were any doubt as to the proceedings which were
to follow their vote, it Might be advisable to pause before they
came to a deasion. It had been common in similar cases to
postpone the further consideration of the subject, and as one of
the papers referred to was an extended document, he thought
they would come td the consideration of the question with more
advantage after an adjournment.-
The bPEAKER had suggested the course *Mai he had
taken the liberty to recommend, conceiving that having voted
tv breach of their privileges to have been committed, it would
afterwards be open to-them to pause' before they determined
what they should do upon that decision. To him it apPeared
that no step could be satisfactorily, taken by the House till after
they had come to such 'a Resolution. That decision recorded,
the .House could have no hesitation in laying its injunctions
on the Hon.-and Learned Gentleman to attend in his
There was little difference in the course to be taken,
where a Member and a person not a Member cf that House,
were concerned, and where the parties were both Mem-
bers. In the latter case the Members would he directed to at-
tend in their places, and if that' were not *sufficient, a mar.
datory resolution would be come to by the House, declaratory
Of their opinion, that nothing further tending to a breach of
the peace should takeplace. He hoped, after the explanation
he had given, his motive would be understood for recommer d-
ing that an immediate decision should be cone to On the ques-
tion.
Mr. Secietary PEEL rose with great diffidence on questions
of this nature, 'but . he wished to throw out that if any thing
were to be inferred from the practice of the House, it was evi-
dent that the Househad frequently interfered where two Mem-
bers were concerned, -without coming to any vote on the matter
between them. It could act the same part in other cases. He
confessed that he thought it would be better to act on the pre-
cedent established on the last case of the kind, that of Mr.
Hobhouse. In that case the Member for Yorkshire brought
the subject forward without notice; It was theit postponed till
the next day, and even then the House did not vote a breach
of their privilees to have been committed, but deferred doing
so till the following day. In that case the pamphlet stated,

that "'nothing but a' military. force prevented the people.frosit
forcing the Speaker out of the chair, turning the Members osit
,of the- House, and throwing the key ok it into the river
I harries. The House, hOwever, wisely paused before they
.voted. this to be a breach of their privileges, and that precedent
he thought it would be well to follew on the present occasion.•
Mr. TIERNEY said it seemed to hint that the pamphlet of
' Mr: Holilioetiehad no referenee to any' particular individual, or
even. to the House itself. It was general andarguMentative,
ancfmuch of it might be explained (he did not say to the satis-
faction, of the House), as to the motives of the writer, and the
state Of mind under which the pamphlet was composed, so as
Materially to alter their 'view of the case. Here it was neces-
sary most promptly to interfere, for it was not to be endured
.that a Member of Parliament should be personally attacked
for discharging his duty in' that House. liethonghs notwith-
driLaslot,,de.atcuronrstedr;aljowsnstliaiin—fg:
.
they ought not to have' any hesitation in voting a breath of their
nohi
tt irgles Ninntftaolei
xosbt fatalee thatl tylebieace osbnteuuodaf. ;la
efeinvaluable.---
He eairt athelnitis‘psivitfr;al;:thlild-lastn:iholgluogb.ia"turietiwriii;:ina)ednlhiteO
would he great incdnvenience or injustice in doing sO,sto vote
at once that a breach of their privileges had•been con-imitted.--s
That done, they might afteriearels satisfactorily take other steps.
Mr. C. W. WINN—If it were necessary to do so he wouii
-at once move that the. on. and Learned Gentleman should be
orderedforthwith to: attend in his place.—(Cries of "Move!
r
e
move l").,-The grounds on which they had to act would amply
cohaixrnaiyeetu,
yedhh hadhsta::
iare,boept
fenl
aetterior
that
ao
ileordetluelhtpils
oslhlroeriloeiteo;tHmtuathnoett
af6idhgonietet by the' NOhle Lard, that
justify them in so doing. It' any thing personal were- to Ge
apprehended he should be most anxious to interfere. He how::
ever thought they could not well decide on the question with-
out hearing the whole of the letters read.—(Cries of " Read,
read !")—lle could wish- the subject to be more deliberately
considered ; but he was anxious in the first place, before any
thing else was done, to move that the Hon. and Learned Gen=
tleman should be ordered to attend in his place forthwith.
Mr. BANKES thought it absolutely necessary on this occa-
sion that they should take a course different from the one they
pursued in the case -of Mr. Hobhouse. There a gross libel had
been committed against the House; btit there was nothing
tending to an immediate breach of the peace, as in the present
instance. He was anxious th guard against any thing that
might lead to Personal hostility, and therefore wished the
House at once to-decide on the papers brought under their con.
sideiation. With this view he begged to move " That the kn=
guage of the said papers amounted to a breath of the privi-
leges of the House."
Lord BINNING thought it impossible to cone to such a
vote without the letters being read. He confesSed that to him
it appeared that the precedent established in the case of Mr.
Hobbouse was that which ought in the present instance to be
followed. He was sorry to refer to that case, but if he remem-
bered it correctly, the pamphlet then complained of said, the
writer did not know what but military force prevented the
people from turning the Speaker out of the Chair, the Members
out of the House; and from locking the door, and throwing the
key into the Thames. Ile knew of nothing that could tend
More directly to a breach of the peace than this—nothing that
could be more likely to tempt the people to break the peace.
Yet the House thinking it possible that some new light might
be thrown on the subject, had postponed Coming to a decision.
How could the House be sure that no new light could be
throWn on these papers? Could it be contended thatprinzafaeie
it was a greater offence to impute improper motives to an
individual Member than to the whole House ? lie appre.:
hcnded not, and upon the whole considered it necessary to
proceed with deliberation. He' could see no reason why they
should not take the course recommended by his Right Hon.
Friend the President of the India Board, by making an order
for the attendance of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman in his
place forthwith, and postponing the further consideration of
the subject till to-morrow.
Mr. BROUGHAM could not avoid viewing these papers,
in the first instance,'as a breach of the privileges of that Howie.
Incidental to the main question, another circumstance had
claimed their attention, the chance of immediate peritoual alter.
cation. But the question .before them was, whether tir not a
breach of their privileges had been committed ? The circum-
stances to' which he had alluded would only operate as a rea-
son for proceeding with all posSible dispatch. There was a,
material difference between this cage and that•of Mr. Hola
house. The pamphlet thin complained of was of a general
argumentative character, It might be in violation of their pri-
vileges-it might be indecorous,. and much to be reg,retted by
the House, but it did not so immediately act as an obstruo=
don- an ohstruction not constructive, remote, and conse-
quential, but immediate and direct in the way of performing
parliamentary duties. As'an attack on an indiiidnal- Mem.:
ber was calculated to interfere in the first instance with the
discharge of his Parliamentary duty, and add to that the
chance of steps being taken like those which perhaps Were
now taking, and they must feel the necessity of declaring their.
privileges to have been violated, and of adopting measures of
prevention. It has been said that the House had been in the.
habit, in the case of an altercation between two Members, of
Llying its injunctions on them to go no farther, and that with.:
out coming to any vote on the matter between them. This to
him, with great deferenee to the authority from whom it
came, did not appear important to the present question.—
In that case the House heard the words spoken, and could act
accordingly. In one case an Hon. Member had reported to
the House words which had been used in the lobby, and there-
upon the two Members who had differed were required to
give their word that the affair should go no further. There
equal justice could be done. Both were within the juris-
diction of the House, and neither could complain of its in-
terference. But he would ask, ought they not to press as
lightly as possible on their own Members while vindicating
their privileges ? Did they do this in the course proposed to
be taken when they were violated in the person of his Hon. and
Learned Friend, if they laid their injunctions on him before
they declared what course they would take with the wrong-
doer ? It was proposed that the Hon: and Learned Gentleman
should be required to attend in his place before they said one
word about what was to .be done with the offending party, oe
evel voted a breach of their privileges to have been commit.
ted. In his opinion, to art thug would not be to deal out
• equal justice to the parties. They ought at once to pronounce
that a breach of their privileges had been committed, and on
that vote their future proceedings might be grounded. He was
strongly of opinion, that in the-first instance they ought to come
to a decision, and mark- their determination to put down a
System, which, if not put down, would go to cut up by the
roots every vestige of Parliamentary privilege. There was not
the shadow of a comparison between the most slanderous and
indecorous attack that could be made on the House in its cor-
poratesingled out by a party whom he had felt it to be his 'duty to
capacity, and an attack made on an individual Member
put as it were on hit trial, and acted upon by others who were
therefore implicated. Men would continue to perform their
,duty in spite of all general attacks which might be made on the
' House ; but when individuals came to be singled out by those
whom they might chance to offend in the discharge of their
public duty, they could not be expected-to proceed with that
fearlessness and steadiness which was desirable. He hoped the
House would unhesitatingly vote that their privileges had been
violated.
Mr. C. W.WYNN agreed with the Hon: and Learned Gen=
tleman that one of the most sacred and important duties of the
house was to guard against any of its Members being called
on to account for what they said there in any other place. Ile
would withdraw the motion Which he had offered in the first
instance to save time, as that course would be more expeditious
which met with the most general concurrence. He wishecle
uheer the peculiar circumstances, all preliminary forms to be
get over as quickly as possible.
Lord BINNING withdrew his opposition to the vote which
had been proposed.
Mr. W. COURTENAY offered a few words in reply, in
which he set forth the importance of coming to an immediate
decision.
The question that the papers before them contained that
which was a gross breach of the privileges of the House, was
put And carried.
Mr. C. VYNN said, they trust now propose an adjourn-
ment of the further consideration of this subject, or make an
order for the printers to attend, in order to getat the authors.
The SPEAKER thought it would be better to order the
printers to attend, and then adjourn the further consideration
of the subiect till to-morrow.
Lord BINNING remarked, one of the printers lived in.
Edinburgh.
Mr. TIERNEY said, seven or eight days must elapse be-
fore the printer could attend, and supposing the Session to ter-
minate before the author was brought up, his Honourable.and
Learned Friend would be bound by the Order of the House to