The Sun.
London, England, 1822-02-09 00:00:00

THE AbDRESS TO HIS MAJESTY.

The SPEAKER. was proceeding to state,that the
House had that morning carried up the Address
to his *Majesty, when

Lord FOCKESPONE observed, that in consequence of the
House having adjourned till after four o'clock, while the law
prescribed that every Member to be. sworn should take the
oaths before four o'clock, the Members who had arrived from
the country that-day had been unable to take the oaths, and
consequentl:, were precluded from voting or giving their opi-
nions on the important matters that were to be bronght nu-
der consideration. As it would be an injustice to the Consti-
tuents to exclude their Reurcsentatives from the p,:ssibility
of giving their votes by this unusual proceeding, he should
propose that the [liaise should adjourn.
'1 he SPEAKER wished to 'explain that the power of ad-
journment-was altogetherin the hands of the House,- whether
•it was for a lew minutes or fur weeksond there were repeated
instances of adjourtithents and re•assemlilings of the- House,
so as to make two sittings on the • same day. The ' law pre-
scribed that all Members should be sworn before four o'clock,
hut it did not prescribe how long before four o'clOck, and
though, for the supposed convenience of the House, it was
the custom for them to present themselves a few minutes
before four, it was open to them to he sworn at any time be-
twein ten of the o'clock (to which the -House always ad-
journed) and four. It .would 'have been consequently open
to any who had attended Mote the adjournment-of- the
House at one o'clock, to have been then sworn. Though he
did not at the moment recoiled any precedents for an ad-
journment from before four till afti-r four o'clock, he did not
doubt that Such precedents were to be found.
Lord LONDONDERRY said, that on the 29th of January,
181.7, there was a precedent quite apposite, as the House then
adjourned from half-past two, when they went up with the
Address, till five o'clock.

Lord FOLKESTONE said, that at any rate there was a
great inconvenience by the occurrence he complained of, as
the usual time of swearing was just before four o'clock, ar►d
the Memitess who attended to be sworn at that usual time
were, by the unexpected adjournment, prevented from taking
part in the debate.
Lord LONDONDERRY said, there was an instance of a
Member taking his seat at seven in the morning, anti snaking
a two hours' speech before twelve.
Mr. TIERNEY said, be did not aee why the House, on
these occasions, should adjourn till after four, as there was
ample time to present the Address, and return before the
usual time of meeting.
The conversation then dropped.
The SPEAKER stated, that the House had waited on his
Majesty with the Address on the Speech from the Thro►►e, to
which his Majesty bad returned an Answer to this effect
•' I thank you for this dutiful and loyal Address. The
affection you have constantly strewn to my person and family,
and the zeal with which you have consulted the interests of
my people, satisfy me that you will extend to them every
practicable relief which, consistently with their permanent
welfare, can be afforded to them, and you may rely on all oc-
casions on my cordial co-operation."
Mr. H. DRUMMOND reported that the Standing Orders
had been'complied with, by the Petitioners for the Edinburgh
Police