The Sun.
London, England, 1818-05-20 00:00:00

LIDELS.

Lord ERSKINE!. presented a Bill for removing
doubts respecting the power of Magistrates to
conitnit on charges of Libel, and enacting that it
shall not be lt whal for any Magistiate to commit
on a charge of Libel, unless where an Indictment
has been found. Ins Lordship adverted to what
he had said on a former occasion, inti►nating his
intention of bringing in a measure of this nature.
He did 'not mean now to discuss it ; he should
merely move the first reading•, and that the Bill
be printed, intending to move the second reading
on Tuesday nest.
The Lotto CHANCELLOR declined entel42 into
any consideration of the 13111 now, but Vet idly\
wished to observe, that he had no doubt as to the
ta;t• upon the subject.
11 was read a fir-t time, to be read vse--1
coed time on Tuesday, and. the Lords to b.e-atom-
moned.

CUM OF THE RING'S PERSON.—REGENCY ACT.,
The Loan CHaNCELLOR presented a Bill for va-
rying certain of the provisions of the Regency
Act. His Lordship observed, that by that Act a
Council was appointed to assist her M jesty in
the execution of the high trust reposed- in her
with regard. to the care of the King's person,
some of whom sere in the absence of her Ma-
jesty to 1, de at I•Virkor. Several of the Mem-
bers of the Queen's Council having official duties
to execute, it was impossible far them to reside at
Windsor, and it being thought advisable that
her 117lesty should continue in town, it be-
calm: necessary to make provision for the
aopointment of addilional Members of her
Majesty's Council. It was proposed, therefore,
to vest in the Queen the power of appoint-
ing such additional Members, not exceeding
a number to be fixed by their Lordships. It was
necessary for this purpose to have the sanction of
Parliament ; the Members of the Queen's Council
acting under the obligation and responsibility of
an oath, directed to be administered by the pro-
visions of the Regency Act. The second object
of the Bill referred to the possible case of a ces-
sation on the part of the Queen to have the care
of the King's sacred person. According to the
Regency ..Act, should this cessation occur, the
Parliament must meet forthwith ; and in the event
of the Parliament having been dissolved, and the
new Parliament not having met, tben the old Pali-
iiament must assemble fotthwith, He was 110 t
aware of any reason for the-introduction of this
clause into the Act ; and he rather thought that it
must have originated in mistake. As, however,
there. was no reason why the cessation on the part
of the Queen to have the care of the King's sacred
person should render imperative the meeting of
Parliament forthwith, there being a clause in the
•Act, that, in case of the occurrence of such an
event, the care of his Majesty's Person shosuld be
vested ill the Queen's Council, until further pro-
vision should be made by Parliament ; and there
being a power in the Crown, under the existing
law, to summon Parliament to meet in 14 clays ;
under these-circumstances, probably their Lord-
ships would have no objection to a pros ision, which
substituted for a forthwith meeting, a meeting at 14
days' notice, in case of the event occurring to
which he _ had alluded. He intended to move
that the Bill he printed, and that it should be
read a second time either on Thursday or Fri.
day, whichever day was most convenient to their
Lords ijis.

Earl-kin-qv had no objection to the introduc-
tion of a Bill; which should provide for any exi-
gence mishit; front the demise of her Maje,ty;
but he should reserve himself to another opportu-
nity with tespect to the other point noticed by the
Noble Lord, namely, the making an addition to
the Queen's Council. He thought some reasons
ought to have been stated for deviating from the
mode of appointment provided for in the Regency
Act ; and he could not avoid expressing his surprise
at the mode and manner in which this Bill was
brought under consideration. It appeared to him
as' being introduced by a sort of side wind, the
alterations darkly hinted at by the Noble Lord,
hut not explained. He was ready to admit that
the Regency Act required some material revisions
.—the unfortunate duration of his Majesty's ill-
ness—the distressed situation of the country, and
the pressure of the burthens on the public, were
considerations which it because the duty of their
Lordships to weigh well. They should look to
the public expenditure, and when they saw the
difficulty of providing for that expenditure, the
Establishment at Windsor ought to be one of
their first objects. If the expellees. of that Esta-
blishment were necessary for the comforts of the
Royal Person, be should be one of the last to ob-

ject to its continuance ; but at a time of general
distress and calamity, it behoved their Lordships
to keep in view economy. In making new pro-
visions, some general principle should be acted
upon. It was necessary to make such provision
as should secure the country against any incon-
venience in case of the demise of the Prince Re-

gent : he wished, however, to know why it wag
necessary now to make any alteration ?

The garl of Li YERPOOL conceived the'proposed
measure to be one to which no objection in point
of principle could be entertained. His Noble and

Le.arned friend Lad stated, that after the Bill was

read the first titne, it could be printed, and he
thought the most proper course wo(ild he for

Noble Lords to suspend their opinions until they

!' could 'fully‘iee ilave it regitlarly
before them. It was, however, impossible for
him to let one or two points pass which fell from
the Noble Lord, without his saying a few words.
The Noble Earl, he understood, felt, no objection
to her 11ajesty being allowed to add a proper
number of persons to her Conned, hut ire wished
to know why it was proposerto do it in a differ-
ent mode from that proposed by the,Regericy Act.
In that Bill the Council, though men,
were not designated by tlfeir olll4l‘, hut* byname:
The Lord Chancellor was not appointed one o.
her Majesty's Council, as Lord Chancellor, btu
by name, as also the Lord Chief justice, ant
the other Meinhei.s. The Menthe's of her Majes•
ry's Council were therefore limited to these indi•
vidUals ; and it was expressly provided by the Act
referred to, that it any of these Counsellors should
die, her Majesty, by an instrurunt under her hand
and seal, should appoint a iitcce,sor; and in point
of fact, her Majesty has in One instance exercised
that power. lie stated this with a view to show
bow far the principle already obtained : though
he would admit it was a matter 'of proper consi-
deration, when an extension ofouch power was
proposed. The Noble Earl opposite, 110 ki ever,
seemed to admit that Ministers may be fairly war-
ranted-in providing for an extension. The prin-
ciple being already acknowledged and acted upon,
lie did not see what possible objection could exist
as to their following the'sanue course in the event
of any addition been; agreetr own. With regard
to the question of the time, land the extent to
. which the general subject shoutid be reviewed, be
remarked, that circumstances Might arise which
called for some Illteratioti;•-titt it was not there-
fore necessary that a vietv should be taken be-
yond what the necessity -or the expediency of
the case required. By the Regency Act, two
ways were pro/vide4 to .greet the event of the
writ chairs to .:xerc4e the Royal Power,
and the other provided.. for the case which
regarded. the care and custody of his Majes-
ty's Royal Person. The Regency was placeil on
the same footing as the Crown, in the event
of a demise, that the Parliament in being should
continue, but if dissolved, that the last Pallid-

n►ent should-assemble in. order to provide for the
exigency of the case. The law, therefore, at pre•
sent, with respect to the Crown and the Regency,
was the same; but in the event of the other il-
. instrions Person's demise, (hiring the exercise of
the Regency, the allotted functions would be in
a sort. of abeyance. The Noble Earl's idea of
rendering such regulations or provisions perpetual
.may be felt liable to a strong objection. But all
that "as now proposed was to provide tor the
meeting of Parliament, in the event of the parti-
cular case, as was already provided for in case
of the Crown's. demise. With regard to any far-
ther provisions, no necessity whatever existed, as
the Act bad already provided for these contin-
gencies, in authorising the Council to exercise the
necessary powers and authorities until Parliament ,
should assemble. With regard to the particular
measure proposed, their Lordships would judge
of its necessity or fitness under all the circum.

stances of the case; and he thought, that what.
ever difference of opinion may be entertained now
or hereafter, the consideration of any further te-
vision or more extensive amendment should not

tie a ground or reason for. their Lur.tsbips' with
ltOlding their asevnt to the lukticuiar yeasure.

now propined, should they think the ground up-
on which it proceeded fair, just, and reasonable.
Earl GREY spoke shortly in explination. lie
observed that what the Noble Earl had stated,
with respect to the authority possessed by her
Majesty under the existing Act, related merely to
the tilling up vacancies in the Council, which was
dissimilar to what was now proposed, which went
to provide for the adoption of several new Mem-
bers at once to the Council. With respect to the
other points, he could not regard the Noble
Earl's statement as satisfactory, as he cautiously
abstained from assigning any season as to the
necessity of the new measure.. In one of the

clauses of the Bill referred to, there was a provi-
sion for continuing the care and custody of the
King's person in the Council, notwithstanding
the demise of her Majesty; and he.still thought
there was nu adequate necessity assigned for the
adoption of the measure now proposed.
The LORD CHANCRLLOR observed, that on the
occasion of the second reading, he would state all
the reasons which warranted the adoption of the
measure, and fully answer all the, objections lie
bad heard against it.
The Bill was then read the first time ; ordered
to bt printed and read the second time on Thurs-

day next, and the Lords to be summoned fur Om
day.

The Sugar Bounties', the Glass Duties', and one or two
other Bills, were brought up from the Commons and read a
first time.

COTTON FACTORIES' BILL.

Their Lordships then, after receiving a few more
petitions relative to the Bill, resolved, put silent to
the Order of the Day, into a Committee on the
Cotton Manufactories' ; and Mr. WARREN? as
Leading Counsel for the petitioners against the
Bill, was heard at considerable, length.
Lord KablYON made a variety of observations
upon the statements of the Counsel,. and argued
• against the necessity of any farther hearing.
A conversation of some length ensued, in con-
sequence of the proposition of the Noble Lord, in
which several of their Lordships participated. In
the coutse of this, the principle of the Bill being
more or less referred to, the measure was strongly
supported by the LORD CHANCELLOR, the Lail of
LIY€RPOOL, and the Bishop of CHasTER.
The result was, that it was agreed to hear
Counsel farther on the following day ; and an
Adjournment took place.
[For the Proceedings in the House of Commons,
see the Last Page.]

The new arrivals just imported from Ethiopia,
now in the Royal Menagerie, Exeter Change, are
certainly the most extraordinary combination of
Quadrupeds yet known in the Animal World.—
The young British Lions still continue great fa-
vourites with the Ladies; the contrast between
them and the old ones is astonishing. The Ourang-
Outang, since his recovery, is all animation; the
Elephant is in fact a living mountain, and the
whole assemblage truly dw:erves. our greatest
praise,