Star.
London, England, 1820-02-26 00:00:00

MUTINY DILL.

On the Order of the Day being read for the third
reading of this Bill,
Earl GROSVENOR rose and said, that though
he considered the measure incorrect in many re-
spects, still he did not feel himself at liberty to op-
pose it, inasmuch ss there was no other means by
which the army could be kept together. He thought,
however, that it was competent to him to propose a
reduction of the force, which k was intended to keep
up, at a time when, as he had already observed; the
country was admitted to be in a state of perfect tran-
quillity. He could not help, at the close of a Par-
liament which was to be dissolved with so much
precipitation, saying a few words with regard to that
system which his Majesty's Ministers had hitherto
pursued. Whether they would attend to any advice
from so humble an individual as himself he • could
not presend to say ; nor indeed had he much reason
to expect it, as the whole tenour of his political con-
duct
had been opposed to their measures, yet he ,
euuld not retire from the present Parliament with-
out expressing himself dissatisfied with the system
upon which they acted, and conjuring them to alter
it. There was much business of the highest import-
ance to be gone through, before a dissolution took
place, and ,hich could have been completed in the
1 regular order, instead of the hasty manner in which
it was urged on, were Parliament allowed to conti-
nue sitting, during the time prescribed. Among
those questions, wnich claimed the peculiar atten-
tion of the Legislature, was that with regard to the
Civil List, in which the maintenance of the Royal
dignity was so much concerned ; and the situation
of the Queen formed another most important ques-
tion, which ought to be considered before a dissolu-
tion took place. And when he considered in addi-
tion to this, that there were four Boroughs notori-
ously corrupt, respecting which there could be no
previous decision, he could not help addressing him-
self to the Noble Earl (Liverpool) with the view of
assuring him that such di system could not be conti-
nued in accordance with the wishes of the people—
(Hear, hear). And he would also observe, that the
rigorous principle hitherto acted upon, was not one
by which any set of Ministers could ever expect to
become popular, or to secure the public voice in
their favour. They sr ght to relax in their measures,
and evince some inclination to meet the general will.
If any one thing coull more forcibly than another prime
the necessity of concession, it would be found in that
discontent which pervaded all ranks. The recent
events which had taken place, both here and at
Paris, tended to shew the height to which 'such dis-
content had risen, and the. atrocious crimes which it
was capable of originating. They all must have
heard of the late enormity in France, and of that
which a knot of desperadoes meditated in England.
Upon the latter, however, he should say very little,
further than to express his abhorrence of it, as it
would soon come before the proper tribunal. The
course which such wretches pursued to gain their ob-
ject, could not be condemned in language too forci-
ble. If that object was vengeance, they acted in di-
rect violation of. the commands of GOD, to whom
alone all vengeance belonged ; and if they sought
political freedom by such means, they deceived them-
selves most egregiously, and became only objects of
universal execration, yet while he should be the last
to advise any concesssion to such wretches, he wished
to impress it upon his Majesty's Ministers, that the
people did not participate in their wickedness,
though he could not forbear from expressing his opi-
nion, that the course pursued by the advisers of the
Crown, was calculated to produce so& a
things, as would lead to atrocities of the description
meditated—(Cries of No, so). It was a fact, that
the French people were perfectly tranquil, till they
saw on the part of the Government, a disposition to
encroach upon their freedom, by violating the Char-
ter : and thus in this country the people were excited
to detcontent, b 7 being prevented from meeting pub-
licly, as belere, to declare their grievances, and seek
redress in •{ constitutional manner.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE rose to order, and
with much warmth said, he could not conceive how
any system of Government which had ever prevailed
in this country, could possibly be assigned as a cause
for so heinous a crisp: as that which was contem-
plated—( Cries of Hear, hear ! film both sides of the
House).—This he should repeat, though he had al-
ways voted in opposition, and he could not help
thinking the assertion of his Noble Friend, a species
of apolog y for the wretches now in custody.
Earl GROSVENOR resumed, and deprecated the
interpretation given to his words by his Noble Friend.
He only wished that Ministers should resort to a sys-
tem of conciliation, instead of one of unnecessary ii-
. gouc. He was not likely to be accused of any indif-
ference to the prosperity of the country, than which'
nothing could be ne4rar to his heart. He felt it his

PRICE SEVEN -PEN CE-

duty, as holding a seat in the Legislature. to com-
ment on proceedings, which he thought likely to af-
fect the interest of the People at large ; and the pre-
sent was an occasion which he could not omit to
advert to them. It was well known, that we were
intimately, perhaps too intimately, connected with
the Powers of the Continent, and by these we had,
at various periods, been led into the most distressing
difficulties ; and the situation of most of them now,
was calculated to do the same. When we looked to
Spain, nothing appeared more unsatisfactory than its
internal state. In like manner, when we looked to
the northern parts of Italy, to Germany, and to
France, we beheld only one general aspect of dis-
content, which threatened the very worst conse-
quences to the peace of Europe. Ministers acted as
if under the influence of fear, from a knot of despe-
radoes ; and appeared to make no diqinction be-
tween them and the mass of the Pe, ple, by whom
they were held in abhorrence. Yet could it be de-
nied that the Natioh bad just pounds for complaint,
when the great distress of the People was consi-
dered ? This distress was occasioned by the heavy
weight of taxation, and a continued system of impro-
vident expenditure. Though the Monarch ought
never to yield anything to lawless outrage, still con-
ciliation might be blended with firmness towards his
subjects generally, and that with the very best effects.
The Noble Earl then adverted to some other topics
of general policy at former periods, among which
he noticed, as highly reprehensible, the Proclama-
tion of the Allies against Bonaparte on his return
from Elba. He next returned to the question before
the House, and said, at present he should propose
no reduction of the Standing Army.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE expressed himself
gratified at having giveh his Noble Friend an oppor-
tunity of explaining himself so satisfactorily.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
THE SLAVE TRADE.

The Marquis of LANSDOWN wished to know,
from a Noble Earl opposite, if the Commission
.appointed three years ago, relative to the suppres-
sion of the diabolical traffic in Slaves, was now in
full activity ?
Earl BATHURST said, that delay had unavoid-
ably occurred in the Commission on the part of
Portugal.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN said, he felt anxious
on the subject, as he understood no reparation would
be made for ships taken by the Government of Por-
tugal, unless there was a Portuguese Commission
acting.
Earl BATHURST replied, that matters went on
now precisely in the same state they would have
done, if the Commission appointed by Portugal
were sitting. He understood that one of the Mem-,
ben of that Commission had died, and that his plate
had not yet been tilled up.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN desired to know if
there was any objection to produce the Report of
Captain Sir George Collyer, relative to the Slave
Trade ? as he intended to move for it.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, it might perhaps
be better to deter the motion till an inquiry WAS in-
stituted.

BOROUGH' SUSPENSION WRITS' SILL.

The Earl of CARNARVON rose to move the
Order of the Day for the second reading of this
Bill. His Lordship began by adverting to the pro-
ceedings taken by the House of Commons on the
subject, which he went into at some length. The
question, he observed, did not stand now on the
same grounds as it would have done if a dissolution
of Parliament were not to take place; for in that
; case the Speaker's writ would have been sufficient,
whereas the dissolution made it a mere nullity,
,He contended, that not to pass the Bill would be
acting indirect contravention to that principle
which had been maintained in thes House of Commons
for the last fifty years. In fact, were it nut to pass,
the parties concerned would proceed to an election,
as it were, with halters round their necks, It would
be deluding the Public, to impose on them the idea
that their Lordships could enter upon the inquiry to
any effectual purpose; for the delay it would coca- •
sion must necessarily prove fatal to the Bill. No
such inquiry would have taken place, even by the
House of Commons; and therefore, to reject the
Bill, because a more effectual one Co OISLADOW4,III.
pared, would be a. most unjustifiable act. It was
said, that to suspend the privilege of a Borough, was
a violation of constitutional right. Nothing 'could
be more intiracient than such a principle in the pre.
sent case. The question was not, whether they
should violate the privileges-of a borough, but whe-
ther they would avail themselves of a most impor-

aig...apputuanitftwinve..de Varese:se of corruption?
If they rejectml the Bill, it would amount to a de-
claration that they were unwilling, to concur with
the Commons in suppressing corrupt. practices. lie.
had never been a great friend to any system of
Reform in the Representation of the People; but,
when he saw the Constitution covei tly assailed and
undermined, by a system the most destructive to its
integrity. it would be abandoning every con-
scientious sense of duty; if he withheld the expres-
sion of his aversion frohr It. The conduct of the
House of Commons, of all parties and persons in
that House, were most laudable in the work of ex-
' terminating corruption. But wl, t must be the feel-
ing of the country, when a Bill, intmducird by a
young Nobleman, who had,.by his zeal, talent, and
eonsatutional efforts, rendered the name-of Russell
endeared to his country, for the purpose of repro-
Lbating and stemming a shameful course of corrup-
tion ; and if, when that Hill met the decided appro-
bation of the first Minister of the Crown, and all
his colleagues in the House of Commons, whist
would be the feelings of the country if the House
of Lords should interpose their el Wing negative,
and frustrate the golden hopes which the inLrodtlit-
tion of the Bill, and the approbation it met with
from GoVesaltnent had excLed; and that, too, at a