Star.
London, England, 1807-04-10 00:00:00

the Ad of 1793, but this was not deemed fufficient,
and the public has finite Peen the exercife of die Royal
authority in their difinitild. He acknowledged that
the written document fo required was not apart of the
written contlitution of the kingdom, but yet it had pre-
vailed by prefcription and long ufage. If the Crown
had not this power, then the State would have but
Lords and Commons; the Cabinet Minitters wouldbe
but a branch of the Legiflature, and the Crown would _
diverge into nothing. As to the pledge required, he
contended it was perfeelly natural (this excited a general
laugh from the oppefrefide ofihe floufe.)—lt arofe out of
the unconititutional attack made on the prerogative,
and when the Minitters of the Crown were ailting in
fuch a way, it behoved the Monarch to make the
flipulations he did. They would not concede, and
his -hlajetly, without diverging from his couftitn-
tional rrghts, could do no otherwife than he did.—
They forced the King to difmifs them, and he could
nor, confittent with his duty, but follow the diaum
of the Confiitution, and difmif: them accordingly.
He could not avoid noticing their conduft fince their
removal, and he thought it highly reprehentible.--.
Since that removal they have openly queflioned the
exercife of the Royal prerogative, and he lamented
this the more-. as he had the honour of knowing many
of them perfonally, and could pay every tribute to
their private worth ; but his public duty was para-
mount to all other confiderations, and in the prole-
cation thereof he mug animadvert on their conduit
when he faw it fubverfive of the public good; betides,
he fhould not enjoy the gratifica ,ion of that felf-ap-
probation of difcharging his confcience, which ur !Int
was the greateß of any earthly advantage. As he 1-,:vs
matters at prefent, he warned the Houle againft any
thing that was likely to difturb the tranquillity of the
empire, or have it tolled in the boifierous whirlwind
of democratic f..*y. In negletting to fupport the
prerogative on this occafion the Houfe would detiroy
the main pillar of the contlitution, which he hoped
their enlightened and judicious minds would prevent.
Mr. HALL understood the difmiffal of the late
Minitters to have been in confequencf of their re-'
fufing to fign a written pledge. So far from this
being an offence, he was of opinion that they had
aeted agreeably to the loundeft principles of the Con.
fiitution, in rejetling loch a pr2poial. Had they
done fa, there was no difgrace which they would not
have merited. He was glad to find this was not the
cafe. They had aeted conliitutionallv in refuting to
fubmit to the obligation which was propofedjo them.
He was happy in the opportunity of paying that tri-
bute which was due to the zeal, the honetly, and the
ability with which they difcharged their duty, while
holding a place in Lis Majesty's Councils. Their dif-
niiffal, he was perfuaded, was a fulrieft of fincere
regret to every man who valued the fafety and the
profperity of the Empi:e. It was impotlible the
country could view with latisfattion the recent change,
that it could fee itfelf deprived of the fervices of able
and uptight Minitters, and the Government entrufied
to the dregs of a difgraced AdminiftTation. How
lamentably would be the fate of a country whole in-
tereits should be coofided to fuch hands ! It was in
Ireland where he feared the cffetts of the late unhappy
change in has Majefly's Councils would be foonett
felt. The people of taut country looked, if not with
perfeti confidasee, at leapt with uhat might be con-
tidered as an unitfual degree of faiisfatlion, to the
Governrront which had been latterly efiablithed for
them. Inaead of rash appeals to martial law, they
law tranquillity maintaioed by the prompt and im-
partial exercife of the law of the land. Slo;uld this
wife lyftein be in the leaft departed horn, fhoold
thefe fcenes of blood be again repeated, which were
once praftifed in that part of the empire, he much
feared they would terminate Li the kparation of
two countries. •.
Mr. VIII I'SHED KEENE contended, that er-
Ming circurntlances had borne cut the late Minitlers
l in the line they purl-tied. Had they lubmitted Lathe
plidge that was intended to be impaled upon them,
they would have been culpable in the higlictt degree.
Nothing, in his opinion, could have extenuated their
offence. It was not merely a circumstance that would
greet the prefent generation, but it was that which
would entail defpotifin on pofierity. As luck, they
ailed as became Englifhmen, as became the true
friends of their country, and, (fill more, as became
the loyal Servants and Subjeas of their King; and,
by fuels conduit, they merited the accordant thanks
of the Houfe, the Legiflature, and the People at
large of this extenfive empire.
Mr. WHARTON objeiled to the motion on two
I grounds; firft, as 'to the manner in which it was ex.
preffed ; and next on account of the line of argument
adopted by the perfon who feconded the motion.
From the principles of refponfibility laid down by
that Gentleman, he begged leave to diffent. The
Lords and Commons were not, according to his
reading of the Conflitution, obliged to ferve the
King, whether they would or not. The Houk, he
would contend, were incompetent to entertain the
prefent Motion ; for he could not believe that they
would fo far depart from the wife an 4 cautious prin.
ciples by which they were generally guided, as to
enter upon that molt look and dcfultory of lubjefts,
the dilcullion of an abliradt queßion. There never
was a cafe before the Houle of greater novelty than
the prefent. Minitters, it appeared, fupported a
meafure which was not only in dire& oppofition to
the,fentiments of his Majetiy, but in oppofition alfo
to the opinion of a van majority of the country.—
He deprecated the dircufflon of abfiraft propofitior.s.
The molt falotary provifiona iu our legiflattve code
could fcatcely Rand fuch a telt. Though the print,
ciple might be incontrovertible, yet its application
might be produeive of much iuconvenience, awl no
little danger. :
Mr. LA MEE explained.
Mr. FAW KES obferved, that the importance of the
queftion was a fufficient apology for his obtruding
himfelf on the attention of the Iloufe. There was Do
tine who lamented more Gncercly than he did the mif.
conceptiou which had latch/ atifen, between an Au.