The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-22 00:00:00

THE ADMINISTRATION.

Mr. EASTHOPE, having presented several petitions
from the Protestant Dissenters of Sittingbourne, Chepstow,
and Chipping Norton, praying for a Repeal of the Test
Act, and having called the attention of the House to the
very remarkable circumstance that net even a single peti-
tion had yet been laid upen the Table of the House against
the Repeal,
Sir THOMAS LETHIMIDGE rose to take the oppor-
tunity of asking the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite (he
meant the Chancellor of the Exchequer), a question or two
which he considered of some importance. It was his ori-
ginal intention to have deferred the putting of these ques-
tions until the House went into the Committee of Supply,
but he had been told since he came down to the House,

that the motion of his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Peel),
which stood for that evening, was, from its connection
with the administration of the law, likely to produce a
debate of such length and interest, that it was not at all
likely the Supply would be taken that evening, and he,
therefore, seized the present occasion to ask a question, or a
few questions, which he might say arose out of the an-
swers he received to a question some ten days since, to
which, as well as those he asked now, he was most anxi-
ous to have an answer. It was the more necessary that

the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Canning) should give an
explicit answer to these questions, from what he perceived
had taken place elsewhere, and from the declarations made
by a Noble Person, once the colleague of the Right Hon.
Gentleman in office, at the time when questions were pre-
ferred for the purpose of clearing up those circumstances
which led to the late changes in the Government. It
would perhaps be recollected, that the question which he
then asked the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of
the Exchequer) was, whether or not he had any commun►-
cation with the leader of the party opposed to him in that
House, or if not, with the heads of that party, as to any
offer of accession or support in the event of his becoming
Prime Minister ? That was, he believed, the situation of
the question ; and the answer, lie thought he was warrant-
ed
in saying, admitted most fully that some, overture or
communication had been received from the Leader or
Leaders of the Opposition to that effect. He certainly
took it at the time that the answer admitted fully the
existence of such an overture ; and he, with equal cer-
tainty, recollected having asked, at that time, when such
overtures bad been made. It was probable that the ques-
tion had not been distinctly heard, as be was convinced
the Right Honourable Gentleman, in the candour of
his mind, would not have hesitated to give an answer.
He would now ask, however—and he hoped the Right
Hon. Gentleman would now answer—when any such
overtures had been made?—(Hear, hear, hear.)—Whe-
ther the Right Hon. Gentleman had communicated such
overtures to his Majesty ?--(Hear, hear.)—and when he
had made that communication ?—(Hear, hear, and a laugh)
—and whether he had made the communication known
to all or to any of his Right Hon. Colleagues.—(Cries of
hear, hear, hear.)—He apprehended be had made these
questions sufficiently clear and distinct to avoid all mistake
of meaning, or misconception of terms ; and he hoped the
Right Hon. Gentleman would now give such answers as
would prove satisfactory to his mind, to the House, and to
the country ; and give at the same time, that clear under-
standing of the late transactions which was absolutely neces-
sary at once to the protection of his own character, and
the character of his Government.—(Hear, hear, hear.)—
It was not his wish to provoke any discussion or debate ;
and he only, therefore, made such observations as were ab-
solutely necessary to explain the motives which influenced
him in the course lie thought it his duty to pursue.
Mr. N. CALVERT objected to the course which had
been taken on this and many other occasions by the Hon.
Baronet and his party. He, for his part, thought, from
the Hou. Baronet's observations, and from the time he se-
lected for them, that he was going to ask some questions
about the Protestant Dissenters. As it was, he could only
express his hope that the Right Hon. Gentleman would
not reply to one word of those questions which had been
addressed to him.
Mr. CANNING..-..Sir, I shall hardly comply with
the whole of the request which the Honourable Mem-
' her who spoke last has so kindly preferred to me; but
at the same time, I will take leave to divide the ques-
tions and observations of the Honourable Baronet into
two parts. One relating to what took place on a former
occasion, and the other to those queries he has thought
proper to propound to me this evening. I may say, how-
ever, that if the Hon. Bart. was to be no more fortunate in
understanding the reply I might give to his new questions
than he has already shewn himself to be with respect to the
old, our time and the time of the House would be lost in
very useless discussions. But, Sir, with reference to what
the Hon. Baronet has alluded to as having taken place on
another occasion, I say I did not admit in any terms that
there had l►een any negotiation ; but I said, on the con-
trary, most distinctly, that there were no negociations or
overtures—if by negociations are meant the interchanges of
messages and proposals. There was no letter of any kind
whatsoever transmitted either to me or by me upon that
subject ; but a letter written by an Hon. Member of this
House to a friend, was—whether by a pardonable breach
of confidence or not, I do not stop now to determine—

shewn by him to me. That letter contained all the com-
munication, if it can be called so, that I received. But let
not the Hon. Baronet be mistaken on this subject. I have
received an abundance of overtures and communications
with which I have no doubt he would feel exceedingly mor-
tified, to the same effect ; and though I did not think the
Hon. Baronet entitled to any such disclosures, I could
" Shew his eyes and blast (grieve) his heart."
with professions of support beyond his utmost conception.
Now as to these new questions which the Hon. Baronet
has proposed to me, I will adopt the enggestion of the Hon.
Member for Hertfordshire (Mr. Calvert), and refuse to
answer.—(Hear, hear.) And it is not, Sir, because there
are not those present to whom I would answer, and who
could answer for themselves ; but because I think it is my
duty, and necessary for the support of the dignity of this
House, to check those practices which have become so pre-
valent, and to refuse to lend myself to any further depar-
ture from the regular Parliamentary forme. If I am called

upon by A regular motion, according to those forms, I will
afford, every explanation which may be required ; but I
repeat, that I must refuse to answer questions propounded
in any other manner. We ought now to know too what
is the Opposition we have to encounter, and who is to be
its leader. If the Hon. Baronet is not the Phoenix alone
of that Opposition, I challenge him now to find his corn-
peers.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BROUGHAM—Sir, I too wish, most sincerely,
that the old Parliamentary ways were more strictly enforced,
and that Hon. Members might not be permitted to put
questions in this House, with a denial at the time of all
intention to promote or excite discussion of any kind,
although it is plain that those questions are put for no
other pus lose than that of exciting discussions, the most
unfair and unjust, and injurious to those whose conduct
they propose to question. lam sure the Hon. Baronet
does not mean it, indeed I know he does not; but the
effect is, undoubtedly, what I describe it to he. This, too,
is not the only place in which questions of this kind are
proposed, night after night, not simply for the information
of the House of which those persons are Members, but to
go forth to the country; for which, I believe, their effects
are principally intended. I wish to speak with all due
respect and decorum of all persons present and absent, but
I cannot help expressing my sincere regret, that the prayer
which I heard yesterday has not prevailed, and that it has
not " pleased Divine Providence to endue all the nobility
' of this realm with grace and wisdom, and understanding."
—(Hear, and laughter.) Certainly a very great propor-
tion of them are so inclined ; but sorry am I to say that a
proportion, perhaps nine-tenths, of the remainder of these
Noble Personages, sadly require the earnest prayers of the.
Church.—(Loud laughter and cheers.)--I shall continue
to pursue the course I have taken with respect to my sup-
port of the Government ; for until I heard it from the pre-
sent quarter—the last from which I expected to bear it—l
never could have supposed that it was unconstitutional to
tender my regular support to his Majesty's Government
when I think their measures are conducive to
.the
prosperity of the country. That support rshall take care
to afford as a friend of the Constitution, wholly unconnect-
ed with all views of advantage ; and feeling only, that the
Right Hon. Gentleman's Government deserves the confi-
dence of the country. One thing I cannot help asking,
however, from the Hon. Baronet. I believe the House
would be inclined to make to him. the same request. lam
sure it is the desire of the country; I know it is the wish
of the Government, that this prayer may be acceded to. I
would, therefore, implore the Hon. Baronet to abandon
that unfair, ungenerous, and unjust mode of warfare which
he has hitherto adopted, and at once :come forward with a
question, which would, in a fair open Parliamentary
manner, enable the House to come to a deliberate conclu-
sion upon the confidence which ought to be reposed in the
Administration—(Loud cheers.).-I am sure, if the Hon.
Bart. will consent to name a day and give notice of a mo-
tion, there is no Hon. Member on either side of the House
who would not be most happy to stand out of the way, in
order to let the question be brought forward. Let that
pq uu et s
ut inpoonb et h be
iu
rt
trialbroughtb forward--1 y
a
regular
edti
tt
ihnec
tGvo
av
refine
inm ee nn tt abe
y
motion—l am sure they will rush with delight to the meet-
ing with their opponents, and I am equally sure that Iwill
look with equal confidence and delight to the result....
(Cheers.)
A MEMBER from under the gallery expressed his de-
light that there was at length some appearance of an Oppo-
sition, although he wished, at the same time, to know a
little more of the intention of the party or parties who
were thus opposed to the Covernment. It seemed to him
to be a party which resembled a body without a head, or
else it was a bead without a body. He bad heard once,
indeed, of an Opposition which was conveyed home front
that House in four hackney coaches—(Laughter).--but if
the present Opposition did not soon display more strength,
he thought it might very well be taken away in a via-a via
—(Laughter.)

Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE said, that whether he
left that House in a vis-a-vis, or in a hackney coach; no
one should prevent him from doing what he pleased.' If
there was no other mode left to him of coming at the in-
formation' be required, however small the minority might
be in which he was left, nothing should deter him from
pursuing the course which he thought the most expedient
to procure for the country an Administration bottomed on
sound political integrity, and calculated, from its compo-
sition, to promote the best interests of the State.—Mear. )
—That course he would pursue without waiting until he
was assured of the co-operation of others ; but if he was
not joined by them in an endeavour to effect such an object,
he must say, he, for one, would take it as a melancholy sign
of the times.—(Hear, and a laugh.)—Some persons might
laugh, and be inclined to take it all as 'a good joke, but his
determination was taken, and be would abide by the result.
He had not wished to provoke discussion, but he had %.tx
answer to the question he proposed, trader the subject of
the overtures made to the Right Hon. Gentleman (not ne-
gociations, as he had thought proper to call them.)—Hear,
hear.)----He wished to know distinctly whether the Right
Hon. Gentleman had made his Colleagues acquainted with
the overtures or negotiations which were made to him by
the Leader of their Political Opponents. He would ask
that House—he would ask any individual in the country,
whether, as a man of honour—whether, as a man of politi-
cal integrity, the Right Hon. Gentleman was not bound to
communicate that overbite to his Colleagues the moment
he received it.--;-(Hear.)—He could not conceive how and•
individual, however highly talented he might be; could act
faiily, unless by communicating instantly to his Colleagues
the receipt of that proposal.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL rose to order. The question
before the House related to the bringing up of some Dis-
senters' petitions ; and the Hon. Baronet, after asking a
question, and receiving a reply, was going into a lengthened
statement and comments upon that answer. The Hon.
Baronet was well aware that no answer would now be
given to his further questions ; and lie would put it to the
Chair whether the Hon. Baronet ought to be allowed, on
that occasion, to go into statements and comments which
more properly belonged to an express motion, and without
which motion the Hon. Baronet could not be indulged in
such a course of observation?
The SPEAKER, thus appealed to by a Member of the
House, felt himself bound to say whether the Hon. Baronet
was or was not in order. In his conception, every Mem-
ber of that House was bound, as far as possible, to conform
his observations to the subject matter before the House ;
and it was for the Hon. Baronet to say how far he was
now acting in compliance with that principle. When hh
departed from it, any Member of that House was, of course,
at liberty to call him to order, and to insist upon his re-
turning to the subject before the House.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE contended, with all submission
to the Chair, that it was the constant practice of. the
Members of that House to put questions upon petitions; he
had known it to be done through the whole of his Parlia-
mentary life, and he had at the same time observed, that
Members were constantly allowed to reply to those obServa-
tions or answers which were made upon or given to these
questions ; that was the course he was pursuing. He was

going, in a manner perfectly Parliamentary, to reply to
what Lai fallen from the Right Honourable Gentleman and
others.

Sir R. WILSON here interrupted' the Honourable
Baronet, and rose to speak to order. The Ifinourable
Baronet, after, the observations from the Chair, had ad-
mitted there was no connection between his observation 3
and the subject before the House. As one of the Repre-
sentatives of the People, and sent there to take a part in
discussions for the public benefit, he felt bound to protest
against the course which the Honourable Baronet persisted
in adopting. He called upon the House not to allow its
attention to be diverted from the important question upon
the Criminal Law, which awaited its decision, by any
further prolongation of a discussion, which could not ter.,
minatt,in any possible public advantage.
Sir It. LETHBRIDGE rose again amidst loud cries of
" Order," and repeated his conviction that what he was
doing had been done over and over again.—(Cries of No
and Order !)---He had seen it done. He had seen the
same use made of opportunities of that kind, and replies as
frequently permitted to those who put questions--(Order,
Chair !)--He did not mean to set himself in opposition to
the ',pinions of the House. He bowed in submission to
their wishes—(Hear, hear!)but he thought he had been
rather hardly used in not being allowed a reply to the
Right Hon. Gentleman's observations. He could, how-.
ever, take another opportunity—(ffear, hear)---and he
would now sit down in obedience to the will of the House..
--(Hear.)

Mr. CANNING begged the favour of one word, although
he admitted it was a breach of the order of the House. It
might, however, be airnatter of convenience to the Hon. Bart.
as well as to others, to know that he was determined to adhere
to the declaration he had made in all solemnity and sincerity,
that lie would not again answer a single question relative to
the late transactions, unless that question came before the
House in the old and convenient Parliamentary form of a
regular motion. He would appeal to that House, and
through that House to the country, whether he was not
justified, from the course which had been hitherto pursued,
in making that determination.—(Hear.)—At the same
time, while he thus refused to answer any questions so pro-
posed, he meant to protest most strongly against the Hon.
Baronet, or any other person, taking advantage of the re-
fusal to answer, and putting into his mouth answers which
he never gave or intended to give, That, said the Right

Han. Gentleman, the Hon. Baronet has no right to do.—
(Hear, hear.)
The petition was_ then breiught up and ordered to be
WESTMINSTER MEETING.

printed.

Lord EBRINGTON rose to present a petition from Dr.
Tucker, Chairman of the late meeting in Westminster, and
certain Inhabitants of that city, complaining of the refusal
of Mr. Morris, the High Bailiff of that city, to call a meet-
ing to congratulate his Majesty, though called upon to con-
vene one br a requisition, signed by a numerous and re-
spectable body of household inhabitants. The petition set
forth the circumstances of the meeting, which have already
been fully before the public ; and besides the refusal of the
High Bailiff to call a meeting, they attribute the dispersion
of the meeting, that was subsequently convened, to his
undue interference. The petitioners further complained of
the dispersion of the meeting convened at Covent-garden,
by constables, of which notice was g'ven to Sir R. Birnie,
and to Mr. Lee, the High Constable; of the violence and
outrage of the constables, and their having been forcibly
expelled from thence. The petition concluded by praying
that witnesses may be heard at the Bar of the House, to
substantiate all the allegations of the petitioners, and that
the Houk would be pleated to adopt such measures of re-
lief as the House may think proper. The Noble Lord felt
It to be his duty to present this petition. He declared, at
the same time, that he declined to express any opinion upon
it, and thought it hut right to state, that from what he had
finown and heard of the character of the High Bailiff, he
was not disposed to give a ready credit to the charge of his
having been guilty,Of the gross misconduct imputed to him.
Without, therefore, taking upon himself to affirm or deny
any of the allegations of the petition, he considered it one
'worthy of the attentive consideration of the House.
Mr. HOBHOUSE said, that he was favoured with a
comrt;unication from Mr. Morris, the High Bailiff, which
would furnish a satisfactory answer to that part of the
charge contained in the petition, which referred to him.
The first charge in the petition referred to the refusal of
Mr. Morris, in compliance with a requisition, he (Mr. H.)
presumed respectably signed, presented to Mr. Morris, to
call a meeting of the inhabitants of Westminster. The
fact was, the terms in which the petition was couched were
such, that Mr. Morris did not think he could with pro-
priety comply with it ; for it was requisite, that before
convening such a meeting, Mr. Morris should know the
object for which it was convened. But this Address
commenced thus—'4 We, the undersigned, inhabitant
seuseholders of Westminster, request you to call a meet-
7int, for the purpose of presenting an Adiress of Con-
ruttdatioa to his Majesty," but what it was about, where
send when it was to beheld, and what was to be done, no
siltation was made. Mr. Morris to be sure, might guess
what was intended, but he (lid not think it proper to do so,
no,l accordingly declined to call the meeting. This his in-
tention he communicated to Dr. Tucker. The substance
of his note W:cis to present his compliments to Dr. Tucker,
and to state that under the circumstances he did not deem
it proper to comply with the wishes of the requisitionists.
The answer of Dr. Tucker to this intimation was s—" Sir
—Your refusal to accede to the wishes of the requisitionists
appears to me in so hideous a form, that I cannot submit
in silence to your will"—(A laugh.)—ln a hideous form !
These were the circumstances of the first charge, and he
trusted that the conduct of the High Bailiff was such as
the House would approve of. The second charge was an
accusation a•-•aiiist the High Bailiff, for interfering with the
aneeting which was convened at Covent-garden, by giving
orders for its dispersion. Now the fact was, the High
Bailiff gave no such orders, nor was he in any way acces-
sary- to its dispersion. So much for the charge of his
Laving sanctioned the wanton dispersion of the Meet-
and for the attempt to connect him with the
outrages alleged to have occuiTed there. Jle (Mr.
Eloblosuse) greatly disapproved and daprecated the in-
terference of the constables. It r- as highly improper.
It took place on this occasion, he understood, on the
authority of the Ccmmissioners of Paving. The situa-
tiara of the inhabitants of Westminster was peculiar re-
specting a place fir meeting. They were deprived of their
usual place of meeting—Palace-yard, by a Bill which
passed through this House in 1807. In Mr. Fox's time
_ _

they used to meet in Westminster-hall; but now, by a
Bill called Mr, Angelo Taylor's Bill, they might
dispersed by thR authority of the Commissioners of
Paving, although they bad been convened by the Pavinc,
Board at Covent-garde►; so that, deprived of Palace-yard
by one Act, and of Covent-garden by another, they really
now had JlO place of meeting. after enforcing the im-
pr►;nriety of the interference of the Police, and the advan-
tage; and right of free discussion, the Hon. Member con-
cluded by calling to the attention of the House the fact,—
that Mr.. Morris Was now nearly twenty years High Bailiff
of Westminster--that this was the first complaint that
had been in that time preferred against him for the dis-

charge of his public fluty, and it was highly creditable to
Oat officer that it was.= unfounded one.

fiord EBRINGTON expressed himself quite satisfied
with explanation of the conduct of the High Bailiff,
but still di.`aPProved and deprecated tht improper disper-
sion of the nu:eting in Covent-gardeu : after which the
petition was brougNt up, and ordered to he printed.
111r.,1IUNDY proented a petition from Derbyshire,
4;,..-irning Women in India.
against the practice of