Star.
London, England, 1820-11-03 00:00:00

THE QUEEN.

It was the opinion of many, that the LORD CRAW-
cm.Loa, of all the individuals that compose the
House of Peers, would, on this question, find his
mind, from the technical habit of legally judging
of legal evidence, bound at least as much, if not
more than any other man, to speak in defence of the
QUEEN—or rather, in exposure of the evidence of-
fered against her MAJESTY. There were others, how-
ever, whe thought it at least possible that his Lordship
' might take that view of the case which his speech of
yesterday exhibits ; but as they rested this expecta-
tion on the operation of motives which none who
know his Lordship's character will impute to him for
a single moment—namely, the love of place, of
power, of emolument—their opinion was listened to
only by persons who do not entertain those sentiments
of respect for the character of the Peers to which the
high virtues, the integrity, and independence of that
illustrious body so justly entitle it.
It is no part of our office to reconcile absurdities
And contradictions—to make fire and water rest
quietly in the same vessel—er to measure the opi-
nions of Lords—Law-Lords too,—by the common
'standard of human intellect. Among the Lords, how-
ever, as among "mat of low estate," it will be fund
true, that— _ _

A man convinc'd against his will.
" Is of his first opinion still!"

It will surely be allowed by all, that the speech of
the Lone CHANCELLOR came up to all that was ex-
pectedfrorn him respecting the ,nake:weiiht that was
to be thrown into the QUEEN'S scale, to compensate
for the abstraction of a witness, at a critical moment
of•the inquiry—for the want of a previous list of the
witnesses to be brought against her—for the refusal
of dates and places—for the possibility of corrupt
means having been employed to procure witnesses!
4, Allowance, large and liberal allowance," was to be
made for the injury (which was allowed to be past
remedy) sustained by her MAJESTY from an act of
those who conducted the prosecution! And has not
this been done by the LORD CHANCELLOR and Lord
LAUDERDALE? Let any one read their -speeches
with attention, and then let them deny this, if it be
hi their power.
_ _ _

It has been held by many that the characters of
Accusers and Judges were perfectly incompatible
with each other in the same individual ; but have we
not a proof of the contrary in the luminous address
of the occupier of the Woolsack ? Let it not be
doubted, then, that on flis occasion the other Mi-
nisters also will exhibit to the world the sublime
spectacle of men actuated only by a stern regard to
justice, without allowing themselves to be biassed,
in the smallest degree, by considerations having no

higher or purer a source than a regard for personal
safety, or,—in common lingo,—a relish for the loaves
and fishes.

We are not ashamed, however, to confess that, not-
withstanding the many benefits which a Bill of
I'ains and Penalties holds out to the accused," were
the case our own, we should choose to be Pied by
any other persons rather than by our accusers, were
even the LORD Cwaxcitu,oft among them, and to
call GOD to witness the purity of his motives and the
integrity of his heart ; and, more especially if a sen-
tence of acquittal for ourselves should involve the
condemnation of our judges; which, to many, ap-
pears to be the predicament in which Ministers have
placed themselves on the present Trial.—But what a
proud boast it will be for the British nation, if a more
than Roman virtue shall be exhibited within the walls
of the House of Peers, and if the triumph of the elder

BRUTUS over the strong feeling of filial love sheP be
surpa4ed by the still more glorioiiii uiuskirit-of Mi.
nisters ever the love of themselves!
The verdict of the LORD CHANCELLOR 00dall trial
..ape the more wonderful to plebeians, from Ins
'ordship's admission that, in it case like this, the
,circumstances must be such as that a reasonaik and
plain nian, addressing himself disfassionately to the
consideratiOn of the case, cannot doubt of the guilt

imputed:'—for nothing can be more natural than
that plefielans should consider themselves reasonable
and plain men, and consequently able dispassionately
to examine the evidence. They have examined it,
and yet feel themselves bound by that evidence to
give a verdict of net guilty.
True it is that Lord Ettektuz, who considers him-
self a reasondde and plain man, has come to a con-
clusion on the evidence directly opposed to that of'
the Noble Lord who sits upon the Woolsack : and
we have every reason to conclude that other reason-
able and plain men will this day be found opposing
his Lordship. We can only say, then, that the reason-'
able and plain men that compose the middling chases
'of England, will not be found singular in their opi-
nion, that never was a woman more cruelly and un-
justly treated than the QUEEN of ENGE.AND.
Lord ERSKINE, after recovering from his indispo-
sition yesterday, was conveyed home in Lord AN..
SON'S carriage.—The friends of justice, freedom, and
humanity, will, we are sure, be peculiarly gratified
to learn that his Lordship wits much easier last night.
His Lordship has been for some days afflicted with a
stomachic complaint ; but, whatever may be the
state of his health, we are assured that this venera-,
ble and uniform advocate of honest public principle,
will attend to vote against the odious measure for
degrading the QuEnr, which he yesterday so man-
fully and ably opposed, even if it should be neces-
sary for him to be carried to the House of Lords !
HOUSE OF LORDS, NOVEMBER 3.
PROCEEDINGS OF THIS DAY.
TRIAL OP HER MAJESTY.

The LORD Cmuccamos took his seat on the Woolsack at the
usual hour, and the names having been called over,

Lord GROSVENOR rose and addressed the House. Hav-
ing, he said, attended to the vast body of evidence in this case,
to the speeches of Counsel at the Bar, and the eloquence dis-
played yesterday by Noble Lords upon.the merits of the BW,
be had to declare, in the face of Gon and his Country,
that he did not see that those charges agiinst the Queen which
had been so cruelly and maliciously accumulated, were at
all substantiated. He thought it a matter of conscience—
as his Lordship hoped for mercy hereafter—to utter this opi-
nion, now that the Bill bad undergone such full consideration in
every point ! InSuenced by this conviction, he felt himself un-
der the necessity of declaring non-content to the second reading
of this Bill. Upon the indulgence of the House he should lay
claim for a considerable time, while he entered into a statement
of his reasons for determining to vote as he had intimated upon
this occasion. Their Lordshipi bad heard from the Counsel upon
the part of the Crown, most eloquent speeches. They had
heard from the Noble and Learned Lord on the woolsack, and
from two other Lords, who had taken so energetic a part
in favour of the Bill, very powerful effusions in support of the
charges against her Majesty ; and it was greatly to be regretted
that the sudden indisposition of his Noble and Learned Friend
(Erskine) had caused an interruption to the powerfid appeal to'
their Lordships, which had been commenced yesterday in favour
of the Queen. After all those efforts, considerable prejudice must
have been raised in their Lordships' minds, and he fek alarmed
at the task he was about to undertake, from a considerations of
his ow. inadequacy to contend against such pow, fed talent. The
House would remember that the Noble and Learned Lord en
the Woolsack had declared, that he would hold the balance of
Justice uq.sally in his hands, and the House was called upon -
*to exercise their power with the same feeling—(Hear, hear).—
It had been properly observed, by a Noble and Learned Lord
(Erskine), that it would have been well if that principle had
operated open the minds of their Lordships en a former oc
casket, for if that bad been the case there would now exist no
cause of complaint, that her Majesty's name was removed from
the Liturgy. It would also be remembered, that the same
Noble and Learned Lord had said, that if the Bill should pus
this Howse there was a question 'whether it was likely to pass
the other House of Parliament. Against this latter position it
had been stated, that it was derogatory to the dignity of their
Lordships to permit that consideration to operate upon their
minds. As a general principle, he certainly admitted that
the probability of the manner of reception of any measure
by the other' House should have no effect upon them ; but
when they knew that the other !louse had declared this

measure to be derogatory to the Crowp and the Nation,
and that the Commons had not only refused to anoint a
Committee to examine the contents of the Green Bag, but had
eventually shoved that Bag from the table, it was impossible
not to see that to persist in entertaining the Bill would cast
obloquy upon their Lordships. In fact, the public opinion had
been so completely ascertained to be against it, that even in a
modified shape it could not be expected to be palatable, and
would be sure to be rejected with scorn and indignation. They
would look to the fact that a great number of the charges had
been proved to be unfounded—(Hear, hear)—and be hoped that
If there remained upon their Lordships' mind a doubt of the.

Quern's guilt, that doubt should operate in her favour. Never,
indeed, was there a question mme.complicated. The gravamen
of the charges against her Majesty was, that she was guilty of
Adultery, not of fllgh Treason; and still, it was the general opt-
'
don that she could not be divorced.-se that the actual crime of
which she was supposed to be guiky was Fereication / (.I:gush).
Although the Noble and Learned Lord oe the Woolsack, and
the Noble Earl on the creas.bench (Lauderdale), differed in
some degree respecting the credit to which Dc Mont, Majoe.
chi, and Sacchi, were entitled, yet they took nearly the same
view of the question as to the degree to which they were to
be discredited. The Noble and Learned Lord had said
he would not attach any importance to the (midair* of a
single witness if unsupported by collateral testimony.—
The Noble Earl had raid, that although he did not believe an
the evidence, yet he was satisfied of the troth of it in its
most substantial points. Muck had bees said respecting the
promotion of Bergami, but in so part of this enquiry had Ms
private chancier been impeached. The Noble Earl then
proceeded to geminate on the evidence. With nugget to the
evidence at Casisrube, Ms Lordship said, it had been.asert
dearly contradicted by bwastadbk evidence, and although the

Noble Laird gave up this part of the charges, yet he conceded
by saying, that the cloak in the bed was a most suspicious -&-
cemstance. But was it not possible that some of the Grimm.,
or the Bestetts, who were described as running about the rooms
with such alacrity the moment the Princess had quitted them
—was it not possible that they might have put the cloak in
the bed, in order to criminate her Royal Highness?—
Their Lordships need not be told what a powerful instrument
the handkerchief was in the hands of Ago to ruin Dessienorta ;
and were their Lordships sure there were no largo's in this
case? The very' suspicion that there might be some ought
to operate in favour of the Queen. There was so much coos
fusion and contradiction in the evidence given on this Bill,
that it was difficult to come at the truth. As to Bergami, if
their Lordships abstracted all notions of criminality, and all
thoughts of the intercourse with which the parties had been
charged; if they divested themselves of every impression which
the injurious rumours bad made, he did not think the elevation
of Bergami would appear at all remarkable. • This indivi-
dual had preserved the life of her Majesty—be had rendered
her most important services, and he was a faithful servant ; ,
was it, dies, anything very remarkable that such a servant
should be advanced to the rank of chamberlain, and that after..
wards he should receive other honours. It had been said that
Bergami was separated from his wife; there was nothing very.
remarkable in this; but It appeared only to be a separation of
convenience, and not one of want of affection. Another cis-
cumstance had been dwelt upon very minutely—that Bergaml
had gained great possessions; that after the intrigue had taken
place, he rose in power and pride ; and that all the respect he
had formerly paid to her Royal Highness was at an end ;
but their Lordship would find, on looking at the whole
of the evidence, that Bergaml not only treated the Princes
with great respect, but also every person connected with her.
Strange were the accusations made against .the Queen; one at-
tempt bad been made to prove her criminality from the fact of
Bergami coming to the carriage, while travelling, and asking for
a bottle of wine, which she readily gave him. He would next
notice the polacca : and he would coated that it was by no
means proved that Bergami slept under the tent. There was
a communication from the deck with the cabin below.
The only fact really proved du, that Lieutenant Ilownam, on
going up, found the hatchway open. Nothing was so impro-
bable as that an adulterous intercourse could have been carried
on on board this palace* ; and, from all the circumstances, it is
fairly to be inferred that it did not take place. When he (Earl
Grosvenor) had been on board ship, he had generally found
most of the passengers ill, and huddled together very disagreeably.
The Noble Earl then contrasted the witnesses : such a set he
bad never seen assembled together as those brought in support
of the Bill, nor a more respectable body than those for the Queen,
who gave their evidence with that readiness and iogenuouniess,
which was the strongest proof of the truth of their testimony.
The only witnesses on the part of the Bill entitled to :ay
mode were Captains Briggs and Pechell. Captain Briggs had
given a strong negative testimony in favour of the Queen.
He declared that be bad seen no impropriety in the conduct
of bee Royal Highness while on board the Lndathan, and
yet their Lordships would find from Captain Briggs's evi-
dence, that it was almost impossible an adulterous intercourse
could have taker place without his knovring of it. The wit.
mess De 111ont had been constantly about the person of the
Quern, and came to the bar determined to do all in her power
to ruin her character and her life. Net this witness had not
proved one single act of indecency or adulterous intercourse.—
The Counsel fur the Bin often sought to obtain from her as ae-
made* of this sort, but her answers always disappointed Clem
Much as she deposed, yet whenever they brought her to this poos,
the always fell short of the mad r. It was the more surprising -
that the witnesses for the prosecution should have disappointed
their employers, considering the honours and advantages which
were Uvished upon them. Mademoiselle De Mont might, per-
chance, bad she done her duty well, have had her assumed tido
of Countess Colombia confirmed to her; Majocchi, if tumour
spoke true, had already been confirmed Chamsdlor of Cotten-
soden ! esaehi had also been rewarded so generously as to
be lifted froth the situation of a valet to a valet's master;
Rastelli, too, if he had not had so weak a stomach, would doubt- ,
L less have come in for his share of indemnity; and as to Cuchi,
there was every probability that be would be raised above them
laagh).—The insufficiency of the evidence—the shore
swearing of the witnesses—was particularly remarkable in the
enstef, Gargano and Parente, who had failed to swear to ti ins*
whirl, if they had happened, must have come under their ober-
kvadon--sucli as the imputed charge of connection under the tent
is die poleax. The Noble Lord again adverted to the prejudt.
meat of the Queen's ease, by the exchision of her Majesty's name
from the Liturgy. He bad heard it reported, he did not know •
how truly, that when the Liturgy was carried by the Arch. ,
bishop of Canterbury to the Log, It was the Xing who
struck out the naine of her Majesty—(How, thew,
He did not pledge himself for the truth of the esteinent, " but
if " continued the Noble Lord," I had been the Atebbishop of
Canterbury an such an eccasloo—(March lestglierh—l would
have thrown the Liturgy is his Majesty's far" bakes I would
have been a party to such a fraud upon the Uwe,..eatli an outrage
on all justice and buman:ty ! If I bad been the Lord Chentelit r,
called upon to confirm the outrage, I would rather have tram-
pled the seals of dice under my feet than have consented to so
dishonourable an act ! The Noble Lord proceeded to say that
he knew not what might be the event of the present proceed.
lugs; but he thought that there were signs, both in the natural
`and meal world, of great and imminent danger. Their Lord.
ships would remember that when the Attorney-General, in his
,opening charge, uttered that foul and abominable charge against
her Majesty, the evidence in support of which had so come
Seely failed, the Sun experienced an almost total eclipse; but
:diat on the defence being commenced, that glorious luminary
seemed to cast its rays with an unusual flood of **odour
over their Lordships. In the moral world, dou-ds wee col-
lecting charged with thunder...yes, with thunder, because if •
their Lordships did pass the Bill, they weedd disgust all the
mend part of the community—they would reader them dittos,

'
• • r

tented, and then an easy prey to factious and evil disposed me*,
What had created all this sensation ? A breath had created it
and a breath could destroy it. Let their Lordships only threw
out this detestable Bill; then, indeed, there would be, rejoicing
throughout the country : nor in this country alone, for front our
shores the note of joy would extend over to France, and heat
France across the Pyrenees! And why across the Pyrenees?
Because beyond them all was now freedom and indepemisoce,
It was only such deeps& States as Amnia, and Ituesk,mAll •
Prussia. and the minor Principalities of Gemmany. which would
rejoice in the triumph of this prosecution; they dew would la.
inept, and hang down their beads in mew" at ks Mbar* ; while
all free-horn llnglishumen—while the free of ail nations, would
hail the acquittal of the Queen, as they would the liberation
of any great people from a state of degrading boadige. He hoped
their Lordships would Met be led by private interests, by FO:
diets, or by partial shr giving their decides. Why die)
he say so? Deanna ifely meraing they prayed en their knees,
that their hams El" be lbw kven all such. Aid why every
morning? Hewn:- dlielr hems were by mature depraved aa4
liespetately wiandkend It was necessary to have their duty era-

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