The Sun.
London, England, 1812-12-11 00:00:00

I 3:PE NIA L PAR LT AM N

• 4 . ••
hOUSE LORDS,

TIY.L'RiDA.Y,','Dk.C, 16:

The '1.4011r CIIANCELj:oh took his seat on the.
Woolsekek at a ouufter helot e four o'clock.
'The Earl of LONDONrEgRY one of the Irish
lepresentative Peer4,)tOok the oaths and his seat;
tlli. Lord Bishop of, LrrcumELD and Co-
VE:NiTtzir.

. .
`PORTSMOUTH' HATMOUR, AND THE APPELLANT
"iI.7ItISDIMON.
A, conversation of some length Mmic& in, con-
sequence of Lord Ridesdaleacalling their Lords
ships particular attention to van appeal cause be-
fore theni, viz. Parmeter v. the Attorney-General,
a, •
Which as it aespected the important naval, station,
tbe harbour of Portsmouth, called for an early hear-
lng and deei:sion, in which view the Noble and
Learned Lord assigned a variety of peculiar rea-
ons ; his object was to have the cause brought
forward and, heard out of the ordinary course.
The LORD CHANCELLOR quitted the Woolsack,
and observed, that whatever importance may be
added to the can: e in question as relating to Ports-
mouth harbour ; he felt it incumbent on him to
Say, that it was iMportant towards the perform-
. anee of the duty of that House, that their Lord-
. Ships do take care all the Appeals shall be heard
and disposed of, with as little delay, as may he
practicable. However it may shock their Lord-
: ships to know, there were now on the table of the
House such a number of Appeals; that Were the
greatest diligence the House' had heed' knoWn 'to
exert, now exerted, from year to ea-,'the last of
them could not he heard in the regular coarse for
eleven years ! _ Under such circumstances, no
doubt could be entertained-, that,the persons filling
the office of Lord Chancellot-ShOuld be enabled to
mire such a portion of his time to that part of his
duties, as that the hearing on these causes
nmay,
commence at nine or ten, o'clock in the morning,
and several hours each day of sitting set apart for
that express purpose.
Lord REDEsDaaa. perfectly coincided with what'
fell from his Noble had Leaaned Friend, and re-
curred to the peculiar importance Of the case al-
luded to, as connected with a leading branch of
the public' service ; he said he: would give every
attention to the case in his power, but he despair-
ed of much good'being done in the way of expe-
diting that part of the business, Unlesa'a general
• resolution of their Lordships' should take place, to,
give their attendance at a' much earlier hour than.
was now looked for, and unless a certain portion
of time. to the hearinias, before. other 'business
were eritei ed. upon. For that. purpose it was be
Lad introduced' the Bill; but it was necessary also
. that their Lordships should exert themselves, fully
to 'effectuate theobject of that Bill, sh ould. it receive
the sanction of the Legislature. He was confi-
dent that judie al' applications to that House had
multiplied in conseqrience of the delays in decision,
and in some cases the appeal was instituted merely
for that purpose, and of this his Lordship cited a. '
prominent instance. Such was the crisis, that
either of two things should non., be done; to en-
able the Lord Chancellor to devote a greater por-
tion of his time, and to assist him in the perform-
flue of such duty by an adequate attendance, or
to abandon their jurisdiction as a Court of .ulti-
mate resort ; I)etwecn these alternatives there was
no compromise. first course, in every point
of view, it was preferable to adopt ; than the latter
rte. greater Nary could be inflicted ,on the admi-
Itistration of British justice. The remedial lama-
sure now under consideration was not new su
long as twelve years ago it. was resolved to pro-
pose it under the auspices of Mr. Pitt, who had
conferred with hiM on the subjet ; but to carry
the pending measure into full and, salutary effect,
lie repeated, the general assistance of the House
would be necessary., and their Lordships must give
an attendance in ,the mornings three or four days
in the week.
Lord Viscount MELVILLE shortly adverted to
the extreme importance of the particular case ad-
verted to by the Noble and Learned Lord, and
expressed his opinion that an early decision upon
time case was highly desirable, as the well being
la the Harbour of Portsmouth was in some degree
-a volved in it.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, with reference to what
'had fallen from ,his Noble and Learmal Friend,
expressed his opinion, that to give a full and sa-
lutary affect to the pending measure, some cor-
feesponding, order of the House should be institnt-.
ed, in order to secure a timely' and adequate at-
tendance. He adverted to a frequent laxity in
this respect, and would take the liberty to state,
lie had known occasions. 'where cases of privilege'
were at issue, when for want of a due attendance, ,
be had been obliged to pace the floor of that
House for one or two hours before the neces-
sary number of Peers attended to form a Coat-
- mittee.

A'ftet some further conversation between the
Noble and Learned Lords, bvt rather in an under
voice, it was agreed the cause in question should
le heard the first day after Tenn ; -that the Llouse
should sit at an early hour, de die in diem, (lur-
ing the hearing, and•the Lord's be summoned to
attcnd.

Their Lordshipi then adjourned for some time
.during pleasure.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS AMENDMENT BILL.

On the resuming of the Mouse, Lord ELLEI:Bo •
litouGH moved .the second reading of this Bill,
Ivhich took place accordingly, 'and. it was ordered
'to be committed to-morrow, '
Mr. Parker, from the CarnaticCommiszioners,
'presented the V.ighth Report of, the Board, which
was ordered to lie on the table —Adlombed.