Star.
London, England, 1820-11-09 00:00:00

from that Noble Lord certainly ! But, my Lords, my coo-
duct during the whole of this unfortunate investigadon, and
my vote, have been fair and open, and free from trick aunts-
oeuvre! But what shall we say to the tricks and =oeuvres
of those who, to get votes for the second reading of the WA
held out hopes of alterations and modifications in the Committee?
The Noble Lord on the Woolsack, who bad made an eloquent
speech in favour of the Divorce Clause, had, with the whole of
the Cabinet Ministers, voted against the Clause !---(Rae, have).
/sly Lords, I felt indignation and disdain, and I might also use
a stronger term, at the charge of my Noble Friend ! I spoke
openly and fairly, and had no view to entrap the House; but, in
respect to the subject itself, I may say, that nothing is more
common in Parliament than, where a strong objection exists to
any measure-1 say, nothing is more common than to clog it
with such conditions as might prevent its passing—(Hear,
hear!).—But, my Lords, I was not driven to this expedient.
I had said from the commencement, that if the Divorce Clause
was rejected, the Bill would degrade the King as well as the
Queen ; and, when I found that a majority of the Reverend
Bench of Bishops said there was no objection to the Clause, on
religious grounds, I gave it my conacientleus vote ! Had I been*
like the Noble Lord, a supporter of the Bill, I could have felt
r.o difficulty : the difficulty with me was, that I was against the
Bill; but still I might have stated sufficient reasons for the
vote, in my wish not to add to the degradation of Royalty,
by degrading his Majesty, as well as his Copsort. Every
thing that I have heard; everything that I have read; and
everything that I have thought on this subject, has con-
firmed my original opinion on this measure. I had voted con-
scientiously that I did not think the charge against the Queen had
ben made out ; and yet I found myself compelled to vote for the
Divorce Clause, which might appear to give my sanction to the
charge. In this I cannot, however, be accused of want of
fairm-.4 ; and I do not know how trick and na.uxeuvre can be
imputed to me. I have been anxious that this unconstitutional,
this painful, and this fatal Bill, should be rejected. I stated my
reasons for opposing it, and the Noble Lord might have refuted
those reasons by fair means. I therefore think that the Noble
Lord should have abstained from such an unwarrantable

charge as he has made against me! My Lords, whether I have
s9pportcd or opposed a measure in this House, I never dis-
guised my feelings and opinions in this House; and, though I
may have been guilty of some indiscretion in giving the Noble
Lord an advantage, yet I cannot be suspected of unfairnesa„ I
agree with the Noble Lord behind me (Ellenborough), that
those who voted for the second reading of the Bill, in the hopes
o: its being altered in the Committee, have been deceived; but,
ei course, there were no tricks, no manoeuvres, in this. The
Noble Lords who have been thus deceived, and induced to
press the Bill to a stage which it otherwise would never have
reached, must, however, oppose the third reading of the Bill.
I trust, my Lords, I shall be excused if I have expressed my-
% warmly ; but, considering the charge made against me, and
quarter from whence it came, I could not but feel it strongly.
My wi-la is to stand well in this House, and to discharge my
duty faithfully and conscientiously.
Lord LAUDERDALE explained. If he were capable on
any account of saying what could by possibility detract from the
character of his Noble Friend, it would be Infinitely more painful
to him than anything that ever happened to him in the whole
course of his life. But he had not used the word unworthy trick.
lie had only said, that it was a Parliamentary trick, Awn prac-
tised, and never, perhaps, more effectually than on the present

masion. lie could assure his Noble Friend that, en all Gees-
i)ns, he could have but one feeling towards him, a feeling
S-.l:ch had long existed, and must continue with hint to the end
74: Lis life.