Star.
London, England, 1823-02-26 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS FEBRUARY 25.
Mr. PARLHOUSII presented the Nineteenth Report of the
Carnatic Commissioners.

Mr. Thaws, from the Treasury, presented an Account of
the Sums applied to the Payment of the Russian Dutch Loan
since last year.
Lord ELLENBOROUG II presented a Petition from South-
well, against the Marriage Act.
Lord CASSI LIS presented a Petition from Ship-Owners, at
Ayr, praying fur a repeal of Duties on Coals.
Buoonsx, and other Members, from the Common•,
brought up the \Vest India Trade, and American Colonial
Trade Bill, which was read a first time.
Lord HARDWICKE presented a Petition from the Mer-
chants and Traders of \Visbeach, in the isle of Ely, against the
Insolvent Debtors' Bill. The Noble Eurl observed, that the
Bill instead of being an advantage to creditors, was generally
considered injurious to their. interest. —The Petition was reed
and laid on the table.
On the motion of the Archbishop of CANTRROVILY, the Iloese
went into a Committee on the Bill to remedy Marriages under
illegal Licenses granted by Surrogates.
After a few verbal amendments, the Clauses were agreed to,
and the Bill reported to the House.
The Annual Indemnity Bill was read the second time, and
committed for to.murrow.

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY moved the second
reading of the But to repeal the prospective Clause,' iu the Mar-
riage Act__

Lord FI.LF.NBOROCG It under some impression that
what he said the preceding evening on the subject of the 11:11 had
not been clearly understood, observed, that the measure then
upon the table would repeal all the Clauses of the Marriage Act,
from the Ath Clause.

The LORD CHANCELLOR suggested that words should
be introduced to explain that the provisions of the Old Mar-
riage Act were not iu force.—The Hill was then read the se-
cond time.

Lord CA LTIIORPE presented a Petition from the Owners
and Occupiers of Land at Ipswich, in the County of Suticik,
praying for Agricultural IteheL—'rhe Petition was laid on the
table.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

A Petition was presented from certain Freeholders of the
County of Dublin, against the late return of Colonel White.—
Ordered to be taken into consideration on the 18th of April.
Mr. GOSSETT presented a Petition frum the inhabitants of
Chippenham against the Catholic Claims.—Laid on the table.

PIIILLIPS'moved, that the Churchwardens and Over.
of every Parish in England, should be ordered to return
the amount of Sums levied for the support of the Poor, and of
the County, Hates.
After a remark and explanation from Sir E. KNATCHIULL
and Mr. Purcurs,
Mr. CURW EN moved as an Amendment, that the Returns
should be of the greatest number of Pabpers that have been on
the Parish Books, receiving relief at any time during the Years
1921 and 1822.

The SPEAKER suggested the impropriety of making the
alteration in the ori.,!ittal motion.
Sir E. ICN A•rc IBU L L said, it would have been better if
a notice had been given of the motion.
Mr. PHILLIPS said, that if the House coincided in that
opinion, he would withdraw it, and give notice for another
night. Moticin withdrawn. _ _ _

• Mr. CURWEN then moved for a Return of the present
number of Paupers upon the Books of the different Parishes in
England ; which, after a few observations from Sir E. KILVICU-
num. and Mr. Moxcx, was also withdrawn.
A new Writ was ordered fur the Borough of Rye, in the
room of Dr. Mount.

SrSirJOEIN STUART presented a Petition from Tyrone, ex-
pressing the satisfaction of the Petitioners at that part of the
King's Speech which referred to the condition of Ireland, and
praying the House to take the state of that part of the Empire
into its most serious consideration.—Ordcred to lie on the table.

Mr. It. H. DAVIS presented Petitions (tom two Parishes
in the City of Bristol, praying the repeal of the Assessed Taxes.
Mr. BRIGHT said, that the Petitioners were strongly im-
pressed with the idea, that a large reduction of taxation was
necessary. After the espoeition which the Right Hon. the
Chancellor of the Exchequer had made to the House, he mast
say, that Ministers did not propose to reduce so mach as the
state of the country required. lie thought, also, that the taxes
proposed to be repealed were not those which pressed mast se.
verely upon the people. The Carriage Tax, for instance, was
a tax upon luxury. He should this Session, as he had done in
the last, use every means to reduce as much taxation as possible.
It was his intention to support the Hun. Member for West-
minsterin his motion for the repeal of the whole of the Assessed
Taxes; and, if that failed, be should support the Hon. Mean-
bee for Wareham, in his proposition to substitute the repeal of
the Leather and Candle Taxes, instead of those on Carriages
and Servants.—The Petitions were ordered to be printed.
Mr. EVANS presented a Petition from East ketford against
the Insolvent Debtors' Act.— Upon the question of bringing up
the Petition,

Sir R. WILSON wished to put a question to the Honourable
Secretary of the Treasury. It would be in the recollection of
the House, that last year a promise had been given that ail law
proceedings should be stopped, and ail expenses r►turned to per-
sons who had sold roasted Corn. In many cases this promise
had been nullified by the delay which had occurred in carrying
it into effect. He desired to know what were the intentions of
Government-on the subject ?
• Mr. LUSIIINGTON said, that cases in which expenses had
not been returned, were those where there had been obstinate
resistance to the measures that had been undertaken against them.
Sir ROBERT WILSON contended, that such obstinate re-
sistance was in defence of what they considered to be their
rights, and was therefore justifiable.
Mr. G. BENNET took the same view, and remarked upon
the absurdity and injustice of preventing the People of Eng-
land from selling and buying what was called nothing else but
roasted Corn.—The Petition was ordered to be printed.
Mr. Alderman WOOD moved that there be laid before the
House a Return of the number of Persons discharged under
the Insolvent Act, from the King's Bench, Fleet, and other
Prisons within the last four years, together with the amount of
their debts, and the time for which they had been confined.—
Ordered.

Sir T. ACLAND presented a Petition from certain Farmers
in the County of Devon, against the General Turnpike Act.—
He trusted that the Right Hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer,
who the other night bad indicated so much friendly Wing for
the Agriculturists, would remove the duties upon culm, an
article much uicd for the purposes of manure.—Ordered to lie
upon the table. •
4,ATZ PROCEEDINGS
Mr. BROW N LOW rose to give notice that on Tuesday, the
15th of April, be should bring forward the subject of the• late
law proceedings in Dublin. .
1. GO.U.LBURN was aware that it was not usual to tree.
pass upon.the House upon such au occasion as the present, but
if anything would excuse the irregularity, it was such a case as
that to,v(bitlt the notice referred. He rose for the purpose of
atating,..that is .would be in • every way most agreeable to him
that the case should receive investigation, and he entreated the •
Hopograble Gentleman, if possible, to ha on an earlier day than
that whith be bad named.
Mr. IiILOUGH A bl said, that be should earnestly join in the
request which had beat matic. lior although his tyluion Would

most likely tiler from those of both the Honourable C.-itlemer.
he was most desirous of seeing the question come berme the
House for its decision.
Mr. BROWNLOW would have the sincerest wish to meet
the request either of the Right Honourable Ge•ntlem n, orot the
Honourable and Learned Gentleman opposite. Rut he con-
ceived that a question of this nature would require tau days, or
at least a week, of the attention of the House, and be WA.: sure
that every Irish Member would be anxious to be present. Many
would not be returned from the AsAizes before the period 'he
had named. lie supposed it was with that view that the Right
Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Plunkett), hadpostponed
sure to about the same time.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

Sir T. LETHBRIDGE presented a Petition from Moncton
Coombe, complaining of Agricultural Distress. The ilonourable
Baronet could not, like his lion. Friend, the Member for the
County of Devon, see anything very friendly to the Agriculturist
in the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchrquer--(tlerw,
kear).—He had great respect for that Right Itni. Gentlemau;
and he heard with much satisfaction the -manner in which he
addressed the House, when he had to explain the financial state
of the country. But he hardly thought that the Right Honour-
able Gentleman had made up his mind that he was to stop• at
the reduction he had stated. No doubt he had given lip all that
he thought he ought to give up, as Chancellor of the Exchequer;
but when he came to be pressed by the House, he had no doubt •
that he would give way to a strong expression of the People's
wishes, and concede further reductions..---The Petition was
ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. BROUGHAM put a question to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, relating to a notice of the lion. and Learr.ed Gen-
tleman, which-stood for Friday next, respecting the Beer 11111.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that be
had upon a fanner occasion pledged himself to turn his attention
to the subject, and be could now state that he should shortly
propose a measure upon it.

kr. BROUGHA).I should be exceedingly glad if the subject
should fall into such good hands, because such strong bands, as
the Right Hon. Gentleman's. Ile was sure, that if the little
finger of the Chancellor of the Exchequer were held out iu sup-
port of his Bill, he would abandon it at once to such care.

Mr. C. BEN:NET moved for a Return of the number of per-
sons sentenced to the punishment of whipping within the laic
seven years, specifying the number in each year.—Os &red.

COLONIAL EXPENDITURE.

Mr. HUME rose to submit a motion to the House,
which he understood would not be opposed, as the
Governthent were willing to aTord the information
he desired, as far as w.c practicable. His rno.ion
referred to the expenditure of the Colonic,. The
[louse was not pelbaus aware that, up to the last
Session or two, no accounts of these etpe, scs hat
'seen returne.l. It appeared, from the papers, that
Canada cost the country £400,000 a-year. and NOVA
Scotia £120,000; and that the expense incture I by
our Colonies was altogether £1 600,000. The House •
ought to have an account of this large expetklitine
at an earlier period than two years after it had taken
place. The accounts, now for the first time before
them, related to the expenditure of 1820. It was
proper that the House should have, every year, esti-
mates of the Military and Civil expenditure,.a.s well
as of what was called the Colonial Revenue. The
taxes levied in the Colonies were almost all absorbed
by the Colonial expendituie, independent of the large
sums he had mentioned. Formerly the Colonies
were not a drain upon the minher country, but a
source of riches and supply to her in time of war,
and formed a strength instead.of a. weakness. But
now that was no longer the case. He as as of opinion
that it would be better to release every one of our
Colonies from their allegiance, and leave 4hem to
their own Government. lie was sure that we should
still be their chief suppliers. If the United States
had continued to be a colony of this country, she '
would not have taken half the quantity of our manu-
factures as she had done. He was, at least, sure that
some of our Colonies ought to be left to their oatn
independence, and the Canadas was one of them.—
We should thus be released from an annual expense
of half 4 million, and be released from the necessity
of hereafter supporting unequal and disadvantageous
contests with America on their account. The Hon.
Member then proceeded to complain of the misgo-
vernment of some of the Colonies, and instanced the
Cape of Good Hope. The Government was there
carried on in the Dutch language, and the laws were
the Indian Statutes made at Batavia in the year 1745.
Up to this period the Government had not so far
exerted itself as to remedy these defects. He took
blame to himself, that he had not three years also
brought before the House the subject of the gross
mismanagement of the currency of the Cape. Stich
was the state of the currency, that the Governor,
instead of receiving forty thousand tix dollars, ac-
cording to the amount of his salary, which was
IEIO,OOO, had no less than eighty or ninety thousand.
The people were also prevented from holding public
meetings to represent. to the Parliament the situation
in which they were placed. If the Right Hon. the
Chancellor of the Exchequer wished these colonies
to be as he said he wished the People of England— 1
comfortable and happy, he would endeavour to place
them in such a condition as British subjects ought to
be in. He should separate the returns he wished for
into two motions; keeping those Colonies which had •
no Legislative Assemblies separate and distinct from
those which were governed by their own represen-
tatives. The Hon. Member then moved that an
_ _

humble Address be presented to his Majesty ,praying
that he would be pleased to direct separate Estimate.;
of the amount of the Revenue, and the civil and mi•
litary expenditure of the different Colonies; and ex-
pressing the different forms in which he desired the
returns to be made.

Mr. WILMOT thought it would be better to post-
pone any discussion on our general Colonial policy.
until after the information sought by the motion of
the Hon. Member should have been obtained. It •
was, however, decidedly impossible to apportion the
military expenditure of each Colony. - It would, be-
sides, be a most dangerous principle .to declare, un-
qualifiedly, that each Colony should provide its own
military resources. That v. ould be to exclude the
asistance of the mother country in any case. With
respect to the situation of the Cape of Good Hope,
his Majesty's Government were desirous to afford
every information, and as soon as that should be ob'
tained, he should take occasion to sheer hOw ens.
neous was the system.of policy proposed by the Hob
Member for Aberdeen. ' As the information in qu'eV;
Lion would shortly be forthcoming, he trusted. tVO,I
.Hon. Member would postpone his motions, they buy'
collateral to the general question.
Mr. BRIGHI expressed his dissent from' the opicl
niOns of his Hon. Fnend. the. Member for Aberdeetql
he did not think that the English Laws should heist:v.4
duced at once into every conquered colqnye k vile!
not every country that was able to bear the
.duction of the English Law. The attachment ((AO.;
colonies was not to be secured by sweeping sseaituot
of legislation. i •
Mr. MADERLY thought the ascountif *We,'

nial.ex2
2S the k
Mr. N
his Map
and had
upon ttn
Mr. E
an ar• an

Mr. E
for Brist
propose
be consil
Mr. V
able Me:
understa
regularl]
Mr.

his mod(

Sir W. I
the 4th of
Scotch En;
Mr. PE
7rious to t
Formerly,
polls were
their doing
*eves, and
the expense
dered these
This had bi
inquiry intt
Committee
sinners of 9
}louse.— A

11r. Ull
reading uf I
The kW
Lord rime,
NOWPON.T.
'fire othe
adjourned.

EX.IIII
Fc

Dr. Ainsl
desired by a
When in the
the present
to town the
not know ti
orders from
mine into th
When the L
Gentlemen.
ship with ei
meeting on
tinder an um
trying a log v
if be express
her funeral, I
of fifty such
customed to
was told the!
lucid interval
insanity. If
as to the obji
boasted that
ship's mind,
of bis Lordsb
snoutb would
tionality and
tive. 1 have r
of examining
now In an ins

What do 1
Kate?--His
that the jourr
circumstance,
in which it to
whose care t
treatment pre
You say th
If you had
want and bre4
of it, should
Such a circa
broken leg wi
symptom of ii
following
alft
wet
ry.os hinjgos
ouhyhloede
an:
that he was al
ideas is no pr
produced doi
1810, Lord
he attended si
those Meetinl
Mr. Tooke
mouth in the
duct. Witnes,
correct arid ip
Examined 1
rank generally
Mr. Lee, t
pitat, proved
ing of Goveri
casion, come
quest witness

Goss-exam
Oat, as other
Sir Thomas
live years; hi
iclarlinte's
and never tar
Chairmen. Ni
end he compo
Examined
his Lordship
heiwitness) v
The Rev. 1
Portsmouth ai
lardship was
his behaviour
conduit was s
hesitation in a
ob*ervo
from a subseq,
bmga weal
.teJames
thirteens years
his Lordship I
ass years ago,
horse witness
fine bone! An
its
diesel
teslatiliiruesi
*lathe drove I
Well; never si
unsoundness ol
..,I*•Eassithe
pond
s:onspany wi
log In the back
Was armed wit
or 50 labourini
Lord Pommes
his Lordship, •
Portsmouth im
waa• and, in
"ids " Dr. Bar
not speak tii yc
doing Nip any
ririacase he bad
afterur4rds toitt
a physician enni
!'"q thn, utilte at
Loaded Conn

ial expenditure should he kept as clear 2nd distinct curbing him, and giving him a disposition to hear what hac,,v•af sn unsound mind. The most absurd de stupid amusements
L
as the English accounts. (Dr. Bankheed) had to say to him. Mr. Skirrow then smileare by no means indications of inanity. If a Gentleman '
should
1 motion with his hand, and the armed *moos instantly retired. choose to get on the box of a coach and drive- it, being at the
/41,. WILMOT assured the Hon. Gentleman that Viritness, Mr. Skirrow, and his Lordship then walked, add they same time dressed in the mptt ridiculous style, it would be no
114 Majesty's Government were of the same opinion, entered into a conversation relative to a patient of his (Doctor , proof of unsoundness. If a man were tried torturaesty ill by
Bankhead). Witness said he had brought a
and had imposed so keeping the accounts as a duty letter from Lady i the persons about him, that would be no proof of anything but
Portsmouth, and if he would read it, he would see the object of timidity. It would be not only an unjustifiable but an injurious
upon the several Governors. his visit. Lord Portsmouth said he would not read any letter mode of dealing with any person subject to delusions to keep
Mr. ELLICE expressed his approbation of such front the Hansom. Witness then told him his business, and them alive by encouraging them. It might have the tendency
etn ar• angement. that Mr. ILrt had applied to the Lord Chancellor to issue a of fixing them on his mind.
Mr. HUME assured his Hon. Friend, the Member Commission of Lunacy against him. Lord Portsmouth ap- At half-past four the Commissioners adjourned till ten o'clock
peared surprised and indignant,
for Bristol Mr. Bright), that he did not intend to and turning round to Mr. Skis- to-morrow morning (this day).
row asked Lim whether it was so? Mr. Skirrow said be be-
propose any measure on the colonists which might lieve:d it was so. " Why," said his Lordship, "at whose in-
be considered by them as at all compulsory. stance?"—" At your nephew's," was the answer. 4‘ Indeed,"
Mr. WILMOT expressed a wish that the Honour- said his Lordship. At this moment the peasants er labourers
made a great noise, and cried out " They are corning—they are
able Member would withdraw his motion, upon the coming." Lord Portsmouth seemed much agitated, and, ad-
understanding that the colonial accounts were to be dressing witness, said, " Now, Sir, you see we were right, we
regularly !tarnished. know the business you are come upon, and by G—n you shall
Mr. HUME said he had no objection to withdraw 'be turned out of the ground." Witness assured him he was not
his motion.—The motion was then withdrawn. come with any disguise or scheme—he would rather cut his
right hand off; his Lordship then withdrew into the house, and
MISCELLAN VMS, witness did not see him until the next morning, when his Lord-
Sr W. C. FAIRLIE gave notice of a motion for Tuesday, ship was in bed; it was then ten o'clock. There was an eel-
the 4th of March, fur leave to bring in a Bill to amend the dent difference in his Lordship's manner from the day previous.
IScotch Entail Act. j Witness told him he hoped he was satisfied of the truth of what
Mr. PETER MOORE begged to call the attention of the he before had communicated to his Lordship; he (Lord Ports-
BOWL' to the present practice of regulating the repairs of Sewers. ; mouth) said he never would receive a letter from Lady Ports-
Formerly, the inhabitants of the different houses in the metro- • mouth; he had been badly used by her; witness told him what
polls were called upon to repair their Sewers, and in default of were the contents of the letter, and his Lordship then took it,
their doing so, the Commissioners ordered the repairs them- broke the seal, and then let it fall, and said, " No, I will not,
Wyss, and then called upon the different inhabitants to defray ! read it; Mr. Skirrow told me not to read any letters from
the expense. By the present practice, the Commissioners or- 1 her Ladyship." His Lordship said—" She has disgraced her-
dered these. repairs, without giving the option to the inhabitants. I self by insulting me, and I will never live with her again."-s-
This had been considered as improper, and at all events justified Witness then conversed with his Lordship upon general topics;
Inquiry into the subject. He therefore moved, that a Select I his Lordship said he was afraid to go anywhere; be had not
Committee be appointed to inquire into the powers of Commis- taken exercise, on horseback, for three weeks; he was afraid to
shatters of Sewers, and report their observations thereon to the go anywhere, on account of the Hansons, who had a number of
Douse.—Agreed to. persons to assist them against him, and that day they had bees
Mt. GOU LBURN postponed until Monday next the second endeavouring to get at him ; witness endeavoured to remove those,
reading of the Bill respecting the Irish Staff. impressions from his mind, and spoke to hint about the Commis-
The Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer's 13111 was read a se- sion of Lunacy ; his Lordship said he did not like it, when witness
cord rime, after a few words from Mr. GOOLSURN and Sit Joint told hint that the Commission would effectually remove the possi-
NEWPOST. hility of intimidation ; there had, he said, been something of the
The other Orders of the day being disposed o 1 the House kind some time befote, but he beat them ;in his manner and coun
adjourned. tenance there was everything calculated to excite compassion and
sympathy. The conversation then turned to other subjects.—
Lord Portsmouth said, he had been so ill-treated the day before,
that he did not feel inclined to get out of bed : witness then fur-
nished him with a list of witnesses who were to be examined
against him ; witness told him Mr. France had given it to him;
his Lordship said there were persons in the list who could not
be examined against him, particularly one person; his Lordship
let the paper fall, and said, " This is the way I am used." Their
conversation then turned upon places and roads in Sussex, and
upon the party who dined with witness on the day previously;
witness then took leave of his Lordship, and had not seen him
since. From all he saw and knew, Lord Portsmouth was not
what he should call a man of unsound mind, although there was
something very particular in his manner ; there was great timi-
dity—great susceptibility about him; he was of a very nervous
habit; his credulity was quite childish; he was a man who
could be acted upon amazingly by terror; witness was not a very
nervous man, but on the occasion of the day of his visit he was
hin,.elf alarmed--(Laughter).
Cross-examined by Mr. Beovenew.-...Witness was not a par-
ticular friend of the Lord Chancellor, but he told Lord Ports-
mouth he was—(Laughter).—He did so to pacify him ; it was
a ruse, a trick ; he told him that be had seen the Lord Chancellor
within four days, and that his Lordship had commanded him
to go down ; but the fact was that he had no personal acquaint-
ance with his Lordship. Witness had not represented to Mr.
Skirrow that he was acquainted with Lord Carnarvon and
Lord Bathurst.; did not say to Mr. Skirrow that he sees ac-
quainted with all the Ministry, and the King himself, and
that it was a case in which his opinion would be looked to, to
decide the question ; Lady Portsmouth did not send him down
to Hurtsbourn ; be had seen her for two minutes. Lady Puts-
mouth was at a Clergyman's house, near Basingstoke (through
which witness and Mr. France passed), and witness saw her
for about two minutes, but nothing passed relative to Lord
Portsmouth, or the business upon which they bad been to Hurts-
bourne; did not say to Lord Portsmouth that he had seen the
child of Lady Portsmouth, and that It was very like his Lord-
ship—(laughter)--world swear it positively. Insane persons ge-
nerally had good recollection of trifling matters; his Lordship
bad (in witness's mind) no apprehension of a Commission of
Lunacy ; his apprehension appeared to be of the Hanson family.
Witness had lived fifty years in this world, and he never saw
snch a thing as an impotent man, nor did he believe such a''
thine, existed.
Mr. BROUCHAI4—I am very glad to hear it—(Land laughter).
Witness was here asked a question by Mr. BROUGHAM, who
held up his finger towards the witness, with a gesture, as much
as to say, " he cautious,' asehe witness was about to answer.
The witness held up his finger, in imitation of Mr. Brougham,
saying, " if you point to me I will point to you."
Mr. Baououen said, he had never seen anything so Improper
in a witness.
Dr. Bankhead appealed to the Court for protection.
Mr. Serjeant Pau. rose and interposed, and also appealed to
the Court.
Mr. BROUGHAM appealed to the Court, and said, he had only
used the ordinary gesture for the witness to be on his guard.
The CHIZT Consttnnoese said, that the Gentlemen were re-
ciprocally entitled to protection.
Cross-examination by Mr. Baovonex continued :
Q. Suppose a man were in a violent passion with his servants,
and one of them said, " Look, there is a black job," and he
immediately became passive and tranquil, and followed the fu-
neral, would you call that man of sound mind?—A. Why, I
should not call that a sound mind; but by it I would not mea-
sure the quantuns of mind the person might have. Witness re-
collected the case of a man who had been three years conduct-
ing the business of a first-rate mercantile house, and who was
never found to be a madman until he heard the noise of drums
and trumpets, and then he started from his business and soon
after appeared amongst the soldiers with a cocked hat and rib-
bons. Lord Portsmouth's state of mind was not of this descrip-
tion ; he really believed that if Lord Portsmouth were under the
protection of humane persons, he would be as well able to attend
to the management of his own affairs as any man. If Lord Ports-
mouth heard of a " black job," and ran suddenly to the window,
and seemed delighted, witness thought he could not be in a state
of soundness of mind.
Mr. Baouonese—Suppose, then, that there should be no fu-
neral at all passing when the black job is announced; suppose
that a man should put a log on his shoulder and say that was a
black job, and his Lordship should begin singing psalms and fol-
low the log as a mourner, would that circumstance indicate
soundness of mind ?
Dr. Bankhead.—lt would shew great credulity, no depth of
understanding.
Mr. Bnotieneu.—Would it not shew such credulity as to
leave no doubt that he was of insane mind?
Dr. Bankhead —I do not know. I have heard of a Nobleman
who gave the Windsor coachman five shillings to be allowed to
drive the coach. This, in itself, was no evidence of a sound mind.
Mr. lisououeu—But suppose that Nobleman had got into a
passion about something with the coachman as they were going,
along, and the coachman had pacified him by saying, " See, my
Lord, there's a black job," would that cot indicate actual un-
soundness of mind?
Dr. Bankhead—l should say that was another instanee of a
similar kind.
Mr. Baouonex—Could a man be much more mad if he were
to fancy that his nose was made 'of brass, than if he fancied a
log of wood to be a funeral ?
Dr. Bankhred—A person's fondness for funerals depends
greatly upon the association of ideas. Some are fond of fol-
lowing them.
Mr. Baoutniest—But not of following logs of wood?
Dr. Bankhead.—Some persons are fond of witnessing execu-
tions. Perhaps if a. log were hung it would give them as much
pleasure if they knew nut the difference.
Mr. BROUGHAM—But if a man follows a log of wood u a
mourner, is it not an indication of unsoundness of mind ?.
Dr. Bankhead.—lt is not a rational act. •
Mr. BLOUGHAH.—WouId it he the case that •1f Lord Ports-
mouth were not of sound mind as an Earl he might be of sound
mind as a tradesman?
Dr. Bankhead.—if he were competent to manage a farm, I
should think he was fit in these time* to be an Earl —(4 lough).
I are not willing to pay a compliment to the Peerage at the ex-
pense of the middling dames. I am therefore net of the opinion
of Doctor Latham, that f.ord Porteniotith might make a good
tradesmen though Incaeacitared fer a Peer.
e-ezeusenati.—.l eeptaved appetite L eafortunately no proof

LORD PORISMOUTH'S CASE.

EXAMINATION snider the K I NG'S COMMISSION.
FOURTEENTH DAT, TUMMY, FEBRUA KY 25.
• (Continued frona the STAR of yesterday).
Dr. Ainslie. cross-examined by Mr. Weeireasee —Was not
desired by any of the Hanson family to visit Lord Pioismouth.
When In the North of England he received a letter, stating that
the present Commission was issued, and that when he returned
to town the Countess wished him to visit his Lordship. Does
not know that Drs. Munro, Willis, and Latham, had received
orders from the I lanson family to visit his Lordship, and mi.,
mine into the state of his Lordship's mind ; they were all present
when the Lord Chancellor delivered his charge to the Medical
Gentlemen. Neither Dr. Munro nor Dr. Willis visited his Lord-
ship with either witness or Dr. Latham. Thinks that, at the
meeting on the 28th of January, his Lordship was labouring
midst' an unsoundness of mind. If a man thought another car-
rying a log was a funeral, he should call such a man irrational—
if he expressed his anxiety for a girl to die that he might attend
her funeral, he should call him cruel and foolish—if he were told
of fifty such acts (none of which he had witnessed, and was ac-
customed to see his Lordship frequently, found him sane, and
was told they were only lucid intervals) he should allow those
lucid intervals entirely to outweigh all those fifty alleged acts of
insanity. If the delusions under which his Lordship laboured
as to the object of witness, had been removed by those who
boasted that they could remove any of the delusions of his Lord-
ship's mind, witness would have been enabled to prove the sanity
of his Lordship as clearly as the sun shines at noon. Lord Ports-
mouth woulsl.deceive nine persons out of ten, both as to his ra-
tionality and irrationality, fur his general manner was so decep-
tive. I have not had ball the opportunity which I ought to have
of examining his Lordship as to his sanity. I think that he is
now In an insane state of mind.
What do you say is the cause that has brought him to that
state?-11is Lordship has always had a weak mind; I think
that the journey from Edinburgh in forty-five hours, with the
circumstances attending it, has hurried on his mind to the state
it: which it now is. Ido not think that those persons under
whose care he was, placed adopted the cooling regimen and
treatment proper fer the case.
You say that weak men are mostly cruel?—Mostly cruel.
If you had heard of a man taking up the unset leg of his ser-
vant and breaking it again, and afterwards saying he was glad
of it, should you say that was a symptom of a weak mind ?
Such a circumstance might arise from not knowing what a
broken leg was. If it did not arise Irons ignorance it might be a
symptom of irrationality.
It you h rd a man state that he believed in an impossibility,
what shoul au say of such a man ?—Why, I might as well say
that he was an ignorant man as that he was an insane man. The
delusions of a lunatic cannot be removed; a suite of delusive
ideas is no proof of unsoundness of mind.
Mr. John Alexander, Secretary to the Middlesex Hospital,
produced documents to prove, that in the month of March,
1810, Lard Portsmouth was Governor of the Hospital; that
he attended several Meetings of the Governors in that and four
following years ; and that he occasionally acted as Chairman at
these Meetings.
Mr. Tooke, Solicitor to the Hospital, had seen Lord Porte-
mouth in the Chair, but bad seen nothing remarkable in his con-
duet. Witness has seen him in private, and his conduct appeared
correct and gentlemanly.
Examined by the Jury.—He behaved in the Chair as men of
rack generally did—(Laughter).
Mr. Lee, the Secretary to Queen Charlotte's Lying-in Hos-
pital, proved that Lord Portsmouth took the Chair at a Meet-
ing of Governors, in the year 1316. His Lordship, on one oc-
casion, corrected the minutes taken by witness, and by his re-
quest witness made an alteration in them.
Cross-examined—ll 4 Lordship had sent patients to the Hos-
pital, as other Governors had done.
Sir Thomas Bell had known Lord Portsmouth for a period of
five years; his acquaintance with him commenced at Queen
Charlotte's Lying-in Hospital ; he had seen him as Chairman,
and never saw anything in his conduct different from other
Chairmen.. Witness afterwards met bins at Lord Grantley's,
and he comported himself with coherency and propriety.
Examined by the Jury—He had no reason to imagine that
his Lordship was not capable of managing his own affairs, but
be (witness) was, perhaps, not competent to judge.
The Rev. Thomas Rowerbank, Vicar of Chiswick, saw Lord
Portsmouth at his Church in the years 1819 and 1820. Hie
Lordship was very attentive to the service and the prayers, and
his behaviour was pious, correct, and proper; his Lordship's
conduct was such that witness should not have had the slightest
hesitation in administering the Sacrament to him. From wit-
ness's observation he believed his Lordship to be sound ; but,
from a subsequent conversation, sonic sentences of his language
bespoke a weakness of mind.
Mr. James Patterson had known Lord Portsmouth twelve or
thirteeen years ; first saw bins at Hurtsbourn, but had not seen
his Lordship for two years. Witness was at Aldridge's about
As years ago, looking out for a horse ; his Lordship looked at a
horse witness was about to purchase ; his Lordship said, " Ah,
fine horse! fine horse! but he is lame"—(Laughter)—and, upon
its being shewed nit, it proved to be lame !--(Continued laugh-
(4--Witnres afterwards met his Lordship in the country,
sial he drove witness in a phaeton, and drove bins exceedingly
*sit; never saw anything lit his faordabip's conduct to indicate
unsoundness of mind.
Dr. Bulkhead had practised physic for thirty years; saw his
Lordship on the first Saturday in October last, at Hurtsbourne,
in company with Mr. France; witness saw his Lordship walk-
ing in the back lawn with two or three persons, one of whom
Was armed with a gun, and within witness's view there were 40
nr 50 labouring nten, armed with bludgeons, who were alto in
!ord Portsmouth's view. Mr. Skirrow intrOduced witness to
his Lordship, saying, " My Lord, this is Dr. Bankhead." Lord
Parts:meth immediately flew front the two persons with whom
bc 'au, and, in a violent passion, shook his fist in my face, and
said, " Dr. Bankhead, you have no business with me—l will
^"t speak to you." Witness assured him he had no idea of
any injury. His Lordship said be knew for what
Purpose he had come, and he would not speak to him. Witness
afterwards tteal, his Lordship the object of his visit ; that he was
a physician come by order of the Court of Chancery, to ascet-
iain the state at hi.. mind and body ; he sokl to him about the
intended Contsuission of Lunacy, anff p
it bud Use eirctt of