Star.
London, England, 1830-03-03 00:00:00

less so by reason of hs truth, but let that be pleaded In ex-
tenuation. As matters now stood, no person knew what libel
was ; the very term libel was vague like the law of libel t and
he was satisfied that the existing law, far from repressing the licen-
tiousness of the press, had a contrary effect. Ex officio proceedings
never did good to any man or any government, and the present go.
vemment did not need them even if they were useful. True' dla.l
tress was abroad, but distress not brought on by the Duke of Wel-
lington : let the learned gentleman recollect his Tory 'Angolans:howl
whose measures had eonduced to its productions. For his own part
he would say , that generally speaking, he never knew any admit:is.
nation whichbore its faculties so meekly as the present, or promised
fairer for the country. Be had not the honour of knowing the
Duke of Wellington, except as a public minister, and in that capa-
city he would say of him, that he was sure, whatever might be the
noble duke's opinions as to the cause of the public distresar-he was
most anxious to alleviate it.

Mr. PEEL said after the speech of the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman, he was greatly surprised at the motion with which he
concluded. After three months of gestation, and throe hours of
painful delivery, the Right Honourable Gentleman only brought
forth a motion for papers, every one of which he held in his band.
—(Hear.) As the Right Honourable Gentleman had stated that
he might make the papers the subject of some proceeding, he
should concur with his Learned Friend in not resisting the motion,
but would accede to the wish of his hem and learned friend, who in
the most manly manner desired that the house should be put in
possession of the papers, and judge for itself. With respect to the
conspiracy of which the right hon. gentleman accused the govern.
meet, he could assure the house that he had never even hard of the
libel till he heard of the prosecution. He took very much the same
view of libels as the . hon. baronet, whose public life was longer
than his own ; but for his stand's be thought he might claim an
equal share of the honour of Hear. hear, and a laugh.)
He had been six years Chief Keeretary for Ireland, and was made
the subject of incessant attack for his opinions on the Catholic
Question ; and after the apprenticeship he served there, be was the
less sensitive of the attacks made on him at this side the water.a
laugh.) He wag sorry the hog and learned radium had said
that he belonged to the party of which dlr. Alexander was the
aeria;CHARLES WETHERELL denied having used any such
ex
griITEL was glad to hear the right honourable gentleman
disown it. What had always made hun feel easy under calumny
was, that be knew, by waiting three months, public opinion would
of itself set the balance even, and the calumniated party would
stand full as well as well aif be had prosecuted. (Hear, hear.)
His boa. end learned ftiend, however, had to attend to the state of
the public mind was kept in a state of agitation by publications as.
sating that the government would be dissolved, and that the relief
bill would be repealed. These paragraphs were copied Into the
Irish papers, and did produce the strongest excitement and prevent
the return to tranquillity, which was anticipated from the Catholic
relief bilL
-Lord ALTHORP agreed with the hon. member for 'Westmin.l
stcr, that ex.oflicio informations should be abolished. _ .

Mr. O'CONNELL said, the Atir;rney.General's defence evinced
a determination to exercise a complete dictatorship over the press,
without any definition of libel. (Hear.) He bad read with
horror of prisoners being kept awake all night before
their trial, that they might not be able to make their deience.
The next cruelty to this was trying a man for two libels in one
day, keeping him in a state of torture. The Attorney-General sail
on these trials, he did not wish to punish a newspaper, but to come
at the author. Was that his feeling in the use of the King and
Baldwin ? had he not Mr. Giffard's letter in his pocket, avowing
the libel ? The press of England was at present in a degraded state,
and only protected by the public opinion that shields it. He almost
wished for a censorship of the press for its protection against the
present state of the law.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he only took tbe law as be
found it, and did not say It was not capable of improvement.
Sir ROBERT HERON said he thou& the Duke of Wellington
was extremely ill advised, and could net Uve suffered from the libels
if he had not prosecuted.
Mr. NORTH said, the house and the public had an interest in
the character of the Duke of Wellington, and it was right that the
public mind should 'not be abused resslhis character.
The SOLICITOR-OENERAL the best security for
the liberty of the press wasto proem It licentiousness. The
libels prosecuted were part of a series of libel., the object of which
was Se bring the government into contempt.
Mr. SADLER said he should take another opportunity of bring
log before the house a motion of which be had given notiis fee this
evening, in Coolllllioo with the present debate.
Mr.HUME said that the honourable gentleman (Sir C4Wetber-
ell) had given the atteeney-general a lesson, which be would rscol.
Let to the last day of his life. (Hear.) He was certain of this,
that the law of libel, as at present explained and understood, was s
disgrace to the country. The attorney by his speech that
evening bad dare more to bring his majesty's >e as into con-
tempt thee al the libels that had been written.
Mr. PEEL add he bad been charged with apeetaey, and with laugh-
ing at the distresses Of the country in the House of Commas; and
be did not know that any action had been instituted on that ground
till he saw it in the papers, still he concurred in what his right bon.
and learned friend bad done.
Sir C. WETHERELL replied, and pre notice that be should,
at some convenient time, move for leave to introduce a bill, or at
least, to take the sense of the house, whether the attorney-geseral
could file an ex-officio information after he, had abandoned a private
information ?

The SPEAKER then put the .question, which was carried in
the aftirmative.

The other Orden of the day were then disposed of, and the
house adjourned at four oieledc.

MINORITY
Of 61, who voted (on the Ist of March) to refer the Newark
Petition to a Committee.
Althorp, Lord Howick, Lord Pendarvis, E.
Baring. F. Honywood, W. P. Philips, G.
Baring„ Sir T. Harvey, D. W. Price, R.
Brownlow, C. Heneage, G. F. Protheroe, E.
Burdett, Sir F. Hume, J. Roberts, A. W.
Brougham, H. Kemp, T. R. Russell, Lord J.
Bright, H. Littleton, E. J. Robinson, Sir G.
Beaumont, T. W. Lumley, .1. S. Sefton, Lord
Calvert, C. Lambert, J. S. Stanley, E. O. S.
Clive, E. B. Majoribanks, S. Stoney, R. A.
Cavendish, W. Moberly, J. Smith, W.
Cave, 0. ' Marshall, J. Smith, V.
Denison, W. J. Marshall, W. Taylor, 31. A,
Dawson, A. Monek, J. B. Wilson, Sir R.
Davenport, E. Morpeth. Viscount Wanender. Hon. G.
Eastbope, J. Martin, J. Wood, Ald.
Ewart, W. O'Connell, D. Warburton, H.
Guise, Sir B. Bert. Osborne. Lord F. Wilbraham, G.
Graham, Sir J. Palmerston, Visct. Vebb, Col. E.
Grant, Hon. C. Poynu, W. S. Ward, C.
Grant, R. Palmer, C. F.

MINORITY.
Of 47 (to 148) wbo voted on the lst of March, for Mr. Humes
Motion to grant 29,610 Seamen and Marines to. the Ist of. Jolt',
to admit of inquiry whether the number might, after that period,
be reduced.
Bernal, R. Gordon. R. Protheroe, E.
Benstt, J. Graham, Sir J. Bickford, W.
Baring, Sir 7 i Hobkouse. J. Cam Roberto, AvW.ll." "
Baring, B. Haywood, W. P. Robinson, Sir 11
Buck, L. W. Heron, Sir R. Sibthorp, Col.
Carter, B. Ingilby, Sir W.: Townshend, Lord'O.
Calvert, C. Jephson, C. D. Wrottesley, Sir J. •
Denison, W. J. Lobouchere, H. Webb, CoL
Dowses, A. : Martin, J. Whitmore. W. W.
Dunemnbe, T. - Macdonald, Sir J. Warburton, H.
Davenport, E. Moberly, J. Wood, C.
Davis., CoL Mona, J. B. Wood, Aid.
Narnageres, Lad Morpeth„ Lord Whitbread, W.
hates, Lord O'Connell, D.
Fsearkerly, .7. N. Philips, 0. Teller.
Fyler, T. B. Palmer, C. F. Hume, J.
Guise, Sir W. Palmer, N.

Lord Gaiao E BERESTOB,D has been returned, by a
large majority, for the county of Waterford.
The Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Princess
Victoria, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Princess Sophia, and the
Princess Sophia Matilda, visited the Princess Augusta yesterday, at
her aparuttenes in the King's Palace, St. Jamas%
The Duke of Wellington gave a grand dinner yesterday
evening, at Apsley House, Piccadilly, to a party of the
Nobility and Gentry.
The Earl of Aberdeen visited the Duke of Wellington
yesterday at the Treasury.
The Duke of Clarence cum to town yesterday morn-
ing. from his residence in Bushy Park. His Royal Hlphness visited
the Princess Augusta, at her residence in the 47a Palma, St.
James's, and partook of a defetairerish his hater. His
Royal Highness returned to Bushy iniSe aftwoom
The British government in Upper Canada has notified
to the House of Assembly that they will not afford
relief to the imams in the late war, Woes the proving*
first provide 67,0001. for than ; therefore en hop. of re,
dress is at an end.