Star.
London, England, 1822-07-24 00:00:00

..-,-'

r..? I I.
11.
,77;'7*!1,!1171"714111: • ^ •
••• • •

•

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, JULY 23.
Mr, Bitounan and ethers brought up from the Commons the
following Bills :—The Scottish National Monument Bill, the
Irish Public Works Bill, the Silk Bounties Bill, the Charge of,
Fended Debt Bill, which were read a first time, and a message
acr.ouncing that the Commons had agreed to the amendments
made by their Lordships in the Scotch Juries Bill.
The following Bills were then read a second time:—The
Court of Exchequer Sittings Bill, the Exchequer Bills Issue
Bill, the Salt Duty Reduction Bill, and the Ireland Money Re-
lief Bill.—Adjourned.
lIOUSE OF COMMONS.
Colonel WOOfigave-notice that, on Tuesday next, he would
submit -certain Resolutions relative to the Law of Settlement.
Mr. WALLACE brought up the Report of the Committee
on Foreign Trade, which was ordered to lie upon the table, and'
be printed.
The East India Loan Bill was read a third time, and passed.
Mr. LUSO IN ETON moved the third reading of the Stage
Coach Iteulation Bill.
After some words from Mr. Alderman Worm and Mr. Lusa-
nscroe, in reply, the Bill was read a third time, and passed.
The :t ew South Wales Trade Bill was read a third time,
and passed.
The Malt Duties Collection Bill was read a third time,

and passed.
The Greenland Fisheries Bill went through a Committee.—
Report to-morrow.
'l'he Irish Commercial Credit BiU was read a second time.—
coinulittee to-morrow.
Sir F. BURDETT presented a Petition front Henry Hunt,
complaining against some of the regulations in Ikhester Jail.—
Laid on the table.
Air. W. W YNN presented a Petition from Bertrand Mit-
ford, Esq. one of the Commissioners of Inquiry into Courts of
3ustice in Ireland, complaining of certain charges brought against
him 10 Chief Baron O'Grady, in his letter to the Under Secre-
tary of State for Ireland, and offering to disprove the truth of
these charges by evidence at the bar of the, House.—Laid on the
table, and ordered to be printed.
SCOTCH PRESS.
• The LORD ADVOCATE said, that his object in
rising was to move for a paper connected with the
case of Mr. Murray Borthwick, with the general out-
line of which the House was already familiar. He,
and his Learned Friends had been charged with
sanctioning, from undue motives, the prosecution of
Borthwick, as a Government measure, though it was
the case of Mr. Alexander, a private individual. This
was a chArge which had been seriously made in this
House: but, being partly taken by surprise, he (the
Lord Advocate) was not at the time able to give it
such a satisfactory answer as he otherwise could. He
was not able to state then that in giving to the pro-
secution of Borthwick the sanction of a Government
measure, there was nothing at all inconsistent with
the general practice of the Bar in Scotland. When
the Instructions given upon that occasion by the Ad-
vocate to the Clerk of the Court of Justiciary autho-
rising him to prosecute the cause in that Court were
produced, enough would be disclosed to vindicate those
who issued them from the charge of undue motives. It
would be the object of his motion to obtain a copy of
these instructions. Having said thus much, as the
precise object he had in view for the present, he only
wished to address one word to the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman (Mr. Abercromby) opposite, hoping that
he might be induced to give some explanation of
some parts of his conduct in this whole affair, which,
as they stood at present, did not present an appear-
ance of candour, or even rigid justice to individuals.
From the evidence of documents, to which the House
(Auld have access, it was now clear that in a great
part of the statement made .by that Hon. Member,
there were, to say the least, very many inaccuracies.
In Scotland, where this fact became apparent, as
soon as the statement was published, it was thought
a Rule odd that he (the Lord Advocate), being in his
place here, should suffer such untruths to go forth,
without expasing them to the House. Perhaps, in not
doing so', he had subjected himself to the charge of
'neglect ; but if the House would only grant its indul-
gence for a moment, he would explain the reasons of
his silence. Silent he certainly was, but that silence
did not arise from any indisposition to defend the in-
terests of the injured parties in this House, but from
the charges having come upon him by surprise.—
Had he had any intimation that such charges were
to be brought forward, he would, of course, have
made all inquiry into their truth or falsehood ; and
he hoped his Leal would not fail him in applying the
result in the most proper manner in that House. So
far as he was himself concerned, he laid no blame to
the Hon. and Learned Member, who, in the course
which he took, was undoubtedly entitled to cantass
the conduct of any public officer in that House, more
especially when that officer was present to defend
himself. He also felt that the Hon. Member had a

difficult and important duty to discharge, and so far
as the mode in which it was done was connected with
himself, he made no complaint. But he had some
reason to object to the Hon. Member, that in that
part of his statement which referred to the Gentle-
men absent, and, therefore, incapable or defence,

there was not that feature of candour, and perhaps,
not of justice, which ought to characterise it. Having
already explained the part which he (the Lord Advo-
cate) had in the transactions alluded to, it was trot
necessary again to refer to it ; but it was due to his
absent Learned Friends to state their share in these
affairs. ,It was very true that in discuising the ques-
tion how Borthwick should be treated, some dif-
ference of:opinion sprang up between him (the Lord
Advocate) and the tither adviser of the Crown, with
Whose conduct he was now about to'deal. Mr. Hope'
thought that Borthwick's conduct was so criminal,'
that.the interference of the Clown in his prosecution
was demanded ; ind if he was correct in that view,
certainly nothing could have been more proper than
to resort• to such interference; for. to withhold it
only because the other party happened to be attached
to the Crater!, woutd have been a dereliction of duty.
He Idle Lord Actin-cite) did not agree With Mr.'
'Bops its his view of Dorthwick's case ; and not con-
sidetitigi it so very criminal, be thought the trial,
was then pending, Would be prejudiced by
anything like Govermnent interference. The deci-
sion which was ultimately come to the ITOnbe was
111 x-ignorant of; but he (the Lord Advocate) most
tctititiVely denied that. it was from a wish to injure.
Mr.*Stuart that an'Y steps were. 'Ain, and his falling
to state so at the time .pioceeded from his inability to
prom., by teferences, that such interference was con-1
i'stent with the practice of the Bit inSeothWid.
lead agteed Witth Or. 114 Se, would
baie been tried at. WasloW ; and if. Mi. Mope had
useitad-withhins, this case would -never have vine
such lengths as to cleseriretheattetaluirofthat Masse.
But, he hoped the production of this document to I