Star.
London, England, 1818-06-02 00:00:00

REGENCY ACT ANIENDMENT BILL.
_ .

Lord CASTLEREAGH, on moving the second
reading of the Regency Amendment Bill, said "
might be expected that he should s!u state
purview and the object of it. These might be div."
into two branches. In the first instance, it W2'
tended to afford her Majesty greater facilities
leaving the residence of the King, when this,
the state of her health, should be necessity. On
policy and propriety of this there could be no
rence of opinion, as the Bill only went to enable
to call in the aid of the Members of her Counci.
such occasions, and this was a provision which w.
essentially expedient, if not absolutely necesTary,
The other branch of the Bill might cause some d'
rence of opinion, but to him the regulations it
prehended appeared wise and prudent. The present
Bill went to make no alteration—no infringement-
no innovation on the former Regency Bill, in its
important enactments. It was an established pi
ciple of the Constitution, that on the demise of
Crown the Parliament should assemble withow
lay, and, if Parliament at the time should have
dissolved, in that case the last Parliament was
assemble. But, should the demise of the CI
take place at the very eve of the assembling
new Parliament, less delay would take place if
new Parliament should assemble, than if the
one was- called together again—(Near, hear.
This was provided I'or in the present Bill, which
provided, that unless Parliament should decide '
contrary, that in the event of the deMise of her
jesty the cure of the King's person should be cons
to her Majesty's Council. It was considered, she
the demise of the Crown take place on the eve of
meeting of a new Parlianient, that it would aehigl
inexpedient that the cointry should lose the fruits
the General Election which would then have
place. The present Bill, therefore provided that
old Parliament should not re-assemble, but that
new one should meet within sixty days, at the utmost,
of the demise of the Crown. This measure wont,'
therefore, prevent the Election from being comple•
annulled. To him such an Act appeared in
respect desirable, and it was impossible that it
be productive of any inconvenience. and he, t
fore, moved that the Bill be read a second time.
Mr. TIERNEY blamed the Bill fur what it di
contain, rather than for what it did. Circumstai,
were now different from those on which the Regent
Bill of 1810 was founded. He did not object to
arrangement made for enabling her Majesty to
Windsor when her health should require. To
this appeared quite proper; he, however, was of
nion, that in forming the Commission there was
thing of party feeling. The arrangement mai
this Bill went to exclude all those from her Maj
Council who were of the party opposed to Go,
ment. He should have- thought some other -
might have been introduced—that of Lord Spell
for instance, and other Noble Personages he
name. Now that her Majesty's health was sac;
she was considered no longer in danger, he
say, what he could not a fortnight ago, on that
of the sill which provided for the demise of
Queen. To him it appeared somewhat extraordi
that no member of the Royal Family should
been included in her 'Majesty's Council. For
days, under this Act, the King's person miglo
confided to the care of her Majesty's Counci'
lle could not but think that names more palatal
the country might have been introduced. The
ing of this Bill was to enable Ministers to di..
Parliament without inconvenience. It had
brought in for reasons that were not suGred to
spire. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord
the Master of the Horse (who, from the characo
his office, it might be expected, would alw:,
about the person of his Majesty), and Lord Wi
sea, would always be ready to be called in ti
Majesty's aid, and therefore no addition to the
missioners would have been thought of, if it h:
occurred to Ministers that the present was a
time for the dissolution of Parliament. He ai
ted, if the demise of the Crown should take
about the time a new Parliament were to meet,
inconvenience would be esperienced, and lie was
that a cure for the evil had been supplied. h
was not impossible for the Regent to die, and
nisters had made no provision for such an event
nation, however, might be left without King, Qi
or Regent, and what infinite confusion might 0
arise ! On such an occasion as this, the 3lagif
of the country would not know how to act—(s
Some, no doubt, would. front very laudable mot:
act on their own responsibility ; but others woul
at a loss what course to take, and be too littl
quainted with the world to take those steps
might be necessary to secure public tranquillity
the present instance, the Regency question had c
taken into consideration without the most import:
question being at all discussed, namely, the cour
be pursued in the event of the death of the II(
In such a case, could any one doubt that the Du,
York would succeed the Prince Regent ? Was •
to be considered the future King of England.
why should not this be now declared by Parliamei
Why, he would ask, in this instance, should not '
liament exercise those functions which, sooner or
it would be called on to exercise on this subject
Windsor Establishment he next noticed, and
opinion it might be reduced, without interfering
his Majesty's comfort. He should be sorry to see
alteration made, that would be unpleasing
Queen, bat .tit arrangement might be made,
would cause a vet y considerable saving, but it
not be casuLted that the King, if he knew the p?
situation of the country, would rejoice in any
of unnecessary expense that might be effected.
concluded by again pressing on the !louse the
diency of introducing sonic of the Royal Fantil
the Queen's Council, and of providing against
demise of the Regent, which would leave us w;
:my sort of Executive Government.
I Mr. CANNING coniFlime.ited the Hight