Star.
London, England, 1831-09-28 00:00:00

I

acconling to the Noble Marris, the goes
ien of Reform affects the !louse of Commons only ;1
it is an affair of their own, and the House of Lords
t'ave no more concern in it, and ought no more to
intei fere, than if the question were a reform in the
Torkisli Divan. A more extraordinary assertion
gran this Was ipvt.r ventured in any deliberative
a!,enibly ; indetql, we are utterly unable to account
for such_ aprwent htuseness of comprehen,ion.
Truly were all the Members of the House 44 Lords
"n a level with :he noble Marquis in their reason-
ing powers, were there no Peer more capable ofl
understanding the subject on which he speaks than
the noble Marquis. we should hesitate in the an-
seer to be made to the radical proposition, " What
is the use cf a House of Lord. ?" Fortunately,
however, the Marquis f.f Westminster is nut
a fair sample of that il::istrious Assembly to
which the people of England have been ac-
ewitoteterl to look up with respect and vene-
ration. The noble Marquis, of course, did
not forget the argument, the solo argument of
the Reformers. " The popular voice is loud and
favourable. Wherever the voice of the people has
been heard, that voice has been in favour of Re-
form" (of the Reform Bill). Facts are the beat
answer to this eternally reiterated statement. Look
to the triumphant return of Anti- Ministerialists
in all the popular elections since the meeting of
Parliament. Look t t the miserable failures in the
attempts to get up Reform and intimidation Meet-
ings. Is it because the same rabble, the same
mendici, mime, bithitroiles, assemble in %nions
parts of the Metropolis to listen to nearly the same
Orators, and to agree each time to the same reso-
letions—is it because this expedient is adopted!
that tke Lords are to abdicate their legislative!
fiim•tions and outrage their consciences ? No ;1
the appeal is in vain made to their fears; nor will
;Ilex. be influenced by the vague generalities of,
the Reformers. They will inquire—lst, " What'
:sac the evils of the present system ?" 2d17,!
What are the benefits, unattainable at present,
-which you expect to derive from Vie Reform
isure ?"

-13l PERI Al, PARLIAM ENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, SEPT. 27.
The Reyal Assent was given by Commission to the
,es and .deans Hill, the Waterloo street Bill, and a poi.
11.11. The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
;hr Archbishop of Canterbury. and the Duke of Richmond.
The Duke of ‘VELLINOTON presented two petitions
f•oni Queentionlugh, against Reform ; a'so a petition to the
same effect from Seaford.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition front
the Ward of %Valbrook, in favour of Reform.
The Earl of C A RLISLF. a petitioa to the same effect
i-ent Murpeth.
The :Marquis of WESTMINSTER a petition front
C Away, for the extension of the elective franchise.
laird DA CR E presented a petition from Perth for Re-
f.,rai in Parliament.
Lord CLONCURRY presented a petition from Dublin,
o• Reno m.
JAM BEXI.LY a petition front Harwich against reform.
Lord TENTEItDEN moved, that his bill limiting pre.
se:4l6re claims be printed with the amendments, and re-
peened on Friday.—Ordered.
THE I.OED CHANCFLI.OI6
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY rose, pursuant to
r I.:ice, to call the attention of the house to several charges
wnieli he had to prefer against the Loid Chancellor. The
rt:•ble Marquis commenced his address by assurine the house
that nothing could have induced him to make any observa-
tions upon disorder in that house but the remarks of the
rnble and learned Lord on the woolsack on a former evening.
On the occasion to which he alluded he expected some peer,
well acquaitutti with the forms of Parliament, would have
defended their lordships against the indiscriminate charge of
disoder. They had been told that house was a most disor-
derly assembly. It had been said what was every body's
business was nobody's business, otherwise disorder would
no: hare gone on so long. The noble and learned lord on
tike woolsack had been treated with deference In that house,
therefore it had always been in the power of that noble and
learned Lord to arrest disorder. He should then advert to
what he considered disorderly conduct in the noble and
Inerned Lord. Since the period when lie first entered that
horse he had always understood it was the first duty of the
Keeper of the Seals to preside in that assembly. The noble
and learned Lord having absented himself during important
proceedings, he thought it his duty yesterday evening to give
119liCC of his intention to bring forward a motion calling on
the noble anti learned Lord for explanation. It might be
sled, the noble Eul at the head of his Majesty's govern-
ineht was absent at tile same time, but a calamity of a
dsatestic character sufficiently accounted for that noble
End's absence. There was another point. The bill before the
house in the absence of the Lord Chancellor was nne of
great inmortance with respect to property, and two noble
lords, who differed front the noble and learned lord, were
s..sious to Ove opinions upon that bill. It would have
been satisfactory to those lords if the Lord Chancellor had
been in his place. The noble marquis thought it could not
I e understood that the noble and learned lord, who derived
treat emoluments from the dispatch of judicial business,
WAS tree to neglect the duties of that house for judi:ial bu-
siness. Was it because the noble and learned lord had
gained popularity in the decision of Chancery suits, that the
Cosines ef Speaker in that house was to be neglected ? He
could tell the noble and leaned lord he was not the only one
who had expended nights and days in the service of their
CLIMILIT V. !lc COUkt :!Ot forget the services of the predeces-
sors of the noble and learneei lord. lie could never see the
atlalra le soviets of his noble and learned friend deterio.
veva/. lifts hope was. that the noble and learned lord would
be kind erouit to explain why he was ahsent, and he had
o doubt the noble lord would be able to give a satisfactory
ex planate it. lie should throw hityself on the indulgence of
tint house. Ile did nut know that lie had any right, as an
individual peer, to make these observations, but the impres-
bitat on his mined was, that he was taking a course consistent
with the honour and dignity of that house.
Hie LORD CHANCELLOR said, he felt that there
reefer was a charge brought against any human being more
void of foundation than that brought forward by the noble
marquis. lie slionld he distressed in mind if any negligence
on hi. part had occasioned the smallest disrespect to the
Louse ; but he was sure their lordships would see there was
tin want of diligence in the discharge of his duty—no want
tat due respect, and therefore he had no anxiety on the sub-
ject. The charge ageing him was a constant negligence in
the discharge of his duty, by absenting himself tram this
house, without cause, and leaving their lordships without a
pv.m,. its tat toe amen ne nausea business elsewhere
Ile did not feel anxiety as to the effect of such an attack,
but it had the qnality of surprise. Although the noble and
leaned lord did rat consider himself worthy to succed many
who had i eld the great seal, yet there was one quality he
never scald yield to any, namely a great and perpetual de-
sire, above all things. to discharge his duty. (Hear, hear.)
Patty was a great thing, but that party should induce the
Jamie marques to get rid of the Lord Keeper because he was
Lay, idle and soali net do his duty in that house, was
most surprising.: (Hear, hear.) From the silence which
pervaded one side of the house, he judged there was one
tame body which entirely agreed with the noble marquis.
lie had needling to allege against the noble marquis. If
the noble marquis thought him wrung the steps taken were
right. lie would state the facts to the house, and he bad
nu doubt he should give satisfaction. In the first place,
however, he denied that he had assumed airs, or boasted of
tiering got through arrears of Chancery business. His pre-
cessonc. probably, might have done as be had done if re-
lieved front the duties of that house. He had always borne
testimony to the merits of his predecessors. They had en-
abled him to get out of arrears by leaving him a body of
nigh decisions fixed on the basis of wisdom. He had, on a
tot met occasion, stated to their lordships that he was de-
sitnus if making a great effort in Chancery, and for that
purpose lie should be absent front the House of Lords. It
wa-• tine a noble and teamed earl (Eldon) told him on the
oceasien. that it was the duty of the keeper of the great seal
to attend in that house ; but he had beard the noble earl
give other advice on a previous occasion, when the noble and
hatred earl said It was the duty of the Lord Chancellor to
tat in the Court of Chancery. He combined the advice of

that noble and barred friend, deeming it his duty to attend
the Court of Chancery six or eight hours In the day. He
did not make his appearance In that house, but continued
actively employed in Chancery. Hie time was taken up
during Raster when every one bad rest. His maxim had
been—

" Take care of the minutes,
And the hours will take care of themselves."
lie never said a word that could place him above or even on
a level with his predecessors, hut he had never relaxed in his
effort to accomplish a most important object--the discharge
of arrears in Chancery. (Hear, hear.) The noble marquis
might consider him lazy ; but certainly the bar would not.
(Hear, hear.) He had not only got rid of the arrear of causes
in Chancery. but he had the pleasute to inrornt their lord-
ships that he had got rid of the arrears in the House of
Lords, with the exception of one appeal. (Hear, bear. and
cheering.) There were English and Scotch appeal. standing,
but could not be disposed of without the Judges, whom he
could not call upon in their short vacation. There was ano.
titer matter worthy the consideration of their lordships. He
had been ill, but had worked as though be was well. The
noble and learned lord had been taking medicine for a most
inveterate cough, arol he had told a noble lord it was news.
nary he should go to the North for a few days to get rid of
it, in order that he might be qualified to attend to the
duties of the House neit week. If the noble marquis
had len in the House lie might have seen that he was
ill. 01 one occasion be coughed without intermission
for two hours. The noble and learned lord baring de-
fended hi twlf most ably against all the attacks of the
noble marquis, sat down amidst loud and continued
cheering.
The Earl of ELDON said, the Deputy Speaker in that
House should be one of the ablest judges of Westminster.
hail. The business of last night was conducted in • most
irregular manner. With the greatest respect for the Earl of 1
Shaftesbury, he could not admit that noble earl was a proper
Deputy Speaker upon the occasion of passing a bill, which
required a legal opinion horn the woolsack. He should be'
a most blameable man were he not to mention another im.
portant occurrence in the proceedings of yesterday. The
Commons of England, coming up to the bar with a bill, I
were received by the noble earl in a frock coat and boots.—
This, he would say, was a way in which the Commons of
England never were received by that House on any former'
occasion.

Lord HOLLAND considered it irregular to go on with
this subject after the most satisfactory explanation of the no.
ble and learned lord, and the many claims that noble and
learned lord had upon the home and the country. He could
not help thinking that the honour and dignity of that house
was more advanced by dealing out justice to the country
than by a few hours' useless attendance upon the woolsack,
whilst some lords were taking the oaths. The noble baron
contended that the noble and learned lord had committed no
breach of I'arliamentary duty. The noble marquis had
spoken of entering his protest against such conduct. He
(Lord Holland) hailed that intimation as a happy omen.—
The noble marquis probably foresaw a long list of coming
protests in the minority. (Laughter.) The noble baron con-
cluded by stating that there was no ground of blame against
the noble and learned lord on the woolsack. (Hear.)
Lord ELDON and Lord HOLLAND explained.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY trusted that he
stood excused for bringing the matter before the house.
The matter then dropped.
The Marquis of LANSI)OWNE presented a petition in
favour of reform, from Eomsey ; also another from Glasgow
commissioners of police to the same effect ; also a similar
petition from the weavers of Glasgow.

4. OAL DUI' M.
The London coal trade regulations bill went through a
committee and was reported, and ordered to be read a third
time to•morrow.

THE GAME HILT.
The game bill was passed through a comrnittee.—Re-
port to-morrow.