The Sun.
London, England, 1820-11-24 00:00:00

HOUSF, OF CONIMONS.

At a quarter 'before two o'clock the SPEAKER
entered the house. Many Memhers were pre-
sent, particularly on the Opposition Benches.—
Prayers having been read, and the SPEAKER hav-
ing ascertained that forty Members were present,
be took the Chair.

The SPEAKER then acquainted the House that
Mr. LEY was appointed Clerk, in 'the room of
the late ?Ir. tiATsELL—aud Mr. -LEY took his
seat accordingly.

The New Members sworn were—
Mr. onm:osex, for York.
Mr. lavvi.or, for Wrirw'cli,bire.
New Writs were ordered for Berwick and IV estbnry.
A Petition of Appeal was presented from the
Electors of Petersfield, against the determination
of the late Conunittee on the Petersfield Elec-
tion.—Some other Petitions were also presented.
Mr. DENMAN rose at two o'clock and said—
Mr. Speaker, thold in my hand a Message,
which I .ani commanded by her Majesty the
Queen to present to this House.--(Loud cries of
Hee r., .hear
At this moment Mr. Quarme, the Deputy
Usher of the Black Rod, tapped at the door and
immediately entered. This interruption .occa-
Ooned great uproar. About fifty Members rose
in their seats,' and the general cry was, " Mr.
Denman, Mr. Denman !"—" Withdraw, with-
draw !" but the noise was.so great, that Gentle-.
man in vain attempted to be heard. In the midst
of the tumult,
, Mr. Quarme proceeded thus—Mr. Speaker,
the Lords Commissioners, appointed by virtue of
his Majesty's Commission, command the .imme-
diate attendance of this Honourable House in the
If wise, of Peers.

Cries. of " Shame, shame !" were now reiterat-
ed on all sides, and the utmost indignation was
manifested by a number of.Mentbers.
The SPEAKER instantly quitted his Choir, fol-
lowed by Lard Castlereagh and the Chancellor
of the Exchequer. The utmost confusion pre-
vailed at this moment ; and it, would be in vain
to describe the tumult which took plabe in the
body of the House. The loudest and most in-
dignant cries. of Shame!". were reiterated as
the Speaker, followed by his Majesty's Ministers
end several other Members, advanced towards
the. door.—Mr. BENNET rose and said, that this
affair, was a scandal to the country.

Mr..DN•rm XN, during this confusion, remained
OP' his legs, holding in his hand her Majesty's
INlessage.. •
The Speaker quitted the House, and proceed-
ed to the House of Lords.
On his return, instead of going into the House,
the Right lion. Gentlemr proceeded directly to
his own residence. ,

The Members, being thus left without any re-
source, gradually separated.

The folloWing,is the Message which Mr. DEN
MAN requested leave to read to the House

THE QUEEN'S MESSAGE.

" CAROLINE It.

" The Queen thinks it proper to inform the House of Com-
mons, that she has received a communication from the king's
Ministers, plainly intimating an intention to prorogue the
Parliament immediately, and accompanied by an offer of
muncy for her support, and for providing her with a residence
until a new Session may be hoiden.

'" This offer the Queen has had no hesitation in refusing:L-
while the late extraordinary proceedings 'were pending,
might be fit for her to accept the advances made for her tem

ST.,YAb'S CATIIIDUAL.—A very
,gross inis-
statement„.. but almost too absurd for belief, hav-
ing appeared in all the Morning Papers, resPect-
ing intended preparations
,for the Visit of the
QUEEN to St. Paul's, we have full authority to
state, that the Church will be thrown opeti to'
the Public at large, under the protection of the
LORD MAYOR.

We have had no arrival of Paris Papers this

We yesterday stated the Prorogation of
Parliament to the 23d January, and the cir-
cumstances which occurred in 'the House
of .Commons, when.. the Usher of the Black
Rod came down to require the attendance of
that House at the Bar of the House of Lords.
Circumstances of more indecorous and undigni-
fied conduct never, perhaps, occurred, whether
we consider the disapprobation that was ex-
pressed, as directed at the SPEAKER; or merely

at the measure of Prorogation. For, with regard
to the SPEAKER, he was discharging a duty which
was IMPERATIVE upon him, and in which it
would have been as dangerous to the Conititu-
tion, as contrary to all precedent and reasonl to
have faltered. We confess, we were surprised'
to se P air la forward awl taking,
• •
a ?art in this disgraceful proceeding ; for though
he is the organ of the Whigs, who, aiming at
power and place, have not and will not omit
any thing, which, in their opinion, may tend to
clog the wheels of Government, and raise them-
selves to office; yet we expected that this Gen-
tleman, whose talents we respect, and whose
professions of unaffected patriotism and modera-
tion we were inclined to believe, would have
pursued the objects of his party in a constitu-
tional and dignified Manner, far different from
that which we observed yesterday, and which,
we believe, even in times of the greatest violence
and heat, was never before equalled. It is al-
most unnecessary to cite precedents to shew, that
'when the Usher of the Black Rod goes to re-
quire the attendance of the Commons in the
House of Lords, all other business MUST IMME-
DIATELY cease; that as soon as he knocks, the
doors must be opened ; and when he has deli-
;ered the Message, that the SPEAKER and the
House must without debate or delay go to at-
tend the Peers; for long and unvaried usage
has established it beyond a doubt ; but
as the conduct of the Opposition yester-
day betrayed either a shameful ignorance or
a perverse neglect of it, we think it may be
satisfactory, and not uninteresting to our Readers,
if we refer to one or two cases, especially as they
will shew that the custom has not been gradually
introduced without notice or inquiry, but that, on
the contrary, it has been investigated, and that it
has been found to be the legitimate and un-
doubted prerogative of the Crown to require the
immediate attendance of the Commons in the
House of Peers on occasions similar to that of
yesterday. The first instance which we shall
mention,- is that of a Message from the Lords
authorized by his Majesty's Coohinission to pro-
rogue the Parliament on the 2,3 d April, 1666,
when, a motion having been made and the ques-
tion put, votes given in the affirmative, and the
Speaker being about to put the question in the
negative, the Usher of the Black Rod knocking
at the House door, no further proceedings, it is
said in the Commons' Journals, could be had. In
1679 a Committee was appointed to search for
Precedents, whether the House might debate
aher the Message delivered by the Black Rod
for the House to attend upon His MAJESTY. It
does not appear that the Committee made any
Report,, but as on the 9th April, 1731, the 16th
March, 1741, the 15th April, 1742, and on se-
veral subsequent occasions, the business before
the House was, in each instance, suspended am
the appearance of the Black Rod, we conceive,
that at least a preponderance, if not a unifor-
,
mity of precedent, must have convinced the
Committee, in 1679, that the House may not de-
bate after the Message delivered by the Black
Rod for their attendance in the House of Peers.
We are not inclined too easily to give way to the
fears entertained by many, that
.the times in
which we live are, particularly, perilous ; anti
that the glorious fabric of our Constitution,
whence have sprung the freedom we enjoy,
and the prosperity which has distinguished
our Country, will ere long be laid in
ratios, undermined and 'destroyed by the arts of
Revolutionists and Atheists. But we must con-
fess, when we see the spirit of Faction make its
appearance .in the Legislature, which should be
the palladium of our venerable Establishments,
and the safeguard of our lives and properties—
when we see the views of Party predominate, and
the rear interests of the Country neglected and
abandoned, in Lthe' struggle for office and Mini-
sterial influence, we cannot but think it high time
for every man, who duly estimates the advan-
tages which we enjoy under oar free and happy
Constitution, impaired as it may be by the cor-
ruptions of time, to come forward unfettered by
tile prejudices of party, and determined to apply
his hand to the labouring oar, till we have wea-
thered the difficulties which seem to surround us.
There. never was a time in this country, when
every man was more called upon steadily to per.
form-the duties_ of his station, unawed by the cla-
mour of faction and ignorance ; and we think the
Speaker yesterday set -an example of dignified
firmness, well worthy of our imitation, and such
as was calculated to justify the confidence re-
posed in him, and expressed by his unanimous
election to the Speaker's chair. With regard to
the measure of prorogation, it is not only sanc-
tioned by precedent, but, as we think, justifiable
and necessary on the very grounds upon which

the Opposition attack it. They tell us the Mia
nistry are afraid of the agitated state of the pub'
tic mind; that if the Parliament had continued
sitting, they would have been eiliged to yield
sAmething to the yoke of the people, or that it
would aVe \k:en extdVed from them by force.
su rklto i suelllllo2,ld ha%:e,
been the ease, it was a d Which the Govern'
ment owed, not only to themNves, but to that
part of the community which would neither de-
rive advantage or feel pleasure in the horrors of
revolution, to pdstpdne discussions which could
tend to no possible good, but must be productive
of incalculable mischief. 'We repeat, that sve
think the measure was necessary and salutaff
and we sincerely hope, that in the interval whicil
will elapse before the next meeting of Parli2l'
ment, all parties will cordially unite in endue`
veering to restore that unanimity and good 1111'
mour among the people; without which it is irD`
possible that any country can be happy 254
prosperous.

It appears that Mr. CANNING has not sondes''
cended to inform the Editor of The Tithes, :witat
are his future intentions; but who imagines,
Mr.CANNINa will quit the Ministry ; whilst ntaof
persons believe he has already retired from sla'
Which ever way it the present state of of;
fairs, can be of little moment' to the public;
whether this consistent and consummate State"
man remains with the friends of Mr- PITT, 'r
joins some of the associates of his early life, call'
not now be a -matter of any consequence or lute'
rest to the Country. The Editor of The rivet
says— •
" The general opinion now is, that Mr. Canning 16111774
" the Ministers. Whatever of uncertainty there may bet;
" this affair we trust is in our knowledge, and Tint in th''"'
" Gentleman's course of action ; for the motives .canneit
" nearly counterbalanced where there is all the eiferenCe
" the result of the choice that exists between honotrr alai
" opposite. The Country never can forget—neither, we
"will Mr. Canning wish• to forget it—the important scnrice
" which he rendered to the Queen, by declaringiter„ frot»3lo
" knowledge, the life, grace, and ornament of potidied
" ciety.'"
Ott this subject we shall only remark-, llot
Mr. CANNING''S absence during the recent tlii"
cussions in the affair of the QUEEN has ex:cite&
great surprise, and has led to inferences w-hica3
we have not any inclination to repeat. To 6'6
abilities of Mr. CAT' NING we are disposed on all
occasions to do most ample justice, and
most sincerely we,could offer the same Freed
praise to his judgment, for in times like tiaeße
" the better part of valour is discretion ;" but
we regret to say, we have frequently Seen las
much pain the EXTREIYIE earnestness with
he has reprobated and opposed the correctioto
• of abuses in the Representation of the CouritTfo
which is so essential to the future maintenacuco
of the Monarchy and the happiness of the people'
Mr. CANNING's speeches in Parliament .and el9e-
where, on this subject, have made a deep impres"
sion on the public, 'and have excited feelings
the minds of various classes of the commudit.F,
who were before induced to believe that there
• was an honest and sincere disposition in the Go-.
verutnent to rectify the abuses we have referred
to, without permitting any innovation to be ;ma&
' in the Constitution of the Countrfin Church awl
State ;--'-but when they see one of its mat
distinguished Members • declare his inter
minable opposition to all salutary measure 4
of this nature—is it likely they should fed'
regret at his retirement from office ?
deed, what otherwise were they to expect/
but, that adopting as it were, " the rule of arm
" Lion" of time Wriigs, that he, Mr. CAN:wro-, ig
determined to support that corrupt system, whicU
has upheld the influence of the Old Families 'l3
the Close Boroughs, in order that they may more
effectually controul theCrown,and govern tb4
'people—than which nothing was more foreign to
the principles and viewsof the great Lord Cn_vr.
HAM, and his illustrious son the late
,Mr. PITT.

Sugars are on the rise, and it is thought *ill
advance in price ; the Public should, therefore,
lay in their winter stock before the market i‘
much higher.
It is generally understood that the Navy 'Esti"
mate for the current year will far exceed the Vc".
penditure : some say to the extent of a millions
and upwards. We wish sincerely it may be so.
The preferment of the Rev. Dr. WOOD, WV."
ter of St. John's College, Cambridge, to ale
Deanery of Ely, must be very gratifying to 1155
friends, as it is highly satisfactory to the country;
for we do 'flot know in the circle of either
University, an individual better intitled, or more
adequately gifted to fill the higher stations ifs
the Hierarchy than this erudite Scholar aside""
vent_ Divine.

The AMerican report of a Revolution in Per'
nainbuCo, founded on accounts from that quartel
of the 2d September, is totally without founds"
tion. Letters to the 12th had previously reach"
ed this country, and yesterday a fresh arrival:
brought others; dated the 21st September, all of
which are entirely 'silent .on the subject.
incredible what unfounded and preposterous
counts find their way into the American Papers'
—(11/orning Chronicle.)
Letters of the 4th inst. via France, state that.
the Brazil packet, Capt. WATKiss, reached Lis'
bon on the lst, and that as soon as the Captaiu
had arrived, he was arrested and put into prison/
and his mail taken from him. The mails were,
opened on the pretext of searching for contrabaull.
property. No such :articles being found, the
Captain was immediately released. The packet
was to sail again on the 6th for the Brazils, isith
the Conde de PALMELLA, but no private letters
were to be suffered to go with her. The elec.'
tiOns for the ,Cortes were concluded after the
manner adopted in Spain, and they are to meet
in January.
Yesterday the Duke of YORK transacted tui"
litary business -with the KING, at his Palace iu
• Pall-Mall.

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