Star.
London, England, 1817-03-26 00:00:00

oo discretion of a single Magistrate to prevent
were bud of meeting for that purpose, he felt it bis
dhoti to oppose the Bill.
The LORD CHANCELLOR expressed his sa-
tisfaction at the declaration of his Noble and Learned
friend, that he had changed his opinions with regard
do a Reform in Parliament, or at least that he did
mot hold his former opinions to the same extent. He
•ths Lord Chancellor) had. throughout his political

r re, held opinions dtiectly opposed to that of Re-
form, and in so doing had by some been considered
fit error. He felt much satisfaction, therefore, at
finding that his Noble and Learned Friend, for whose
taunts and abilities he had the highest respect, was
approximating to him. He was satisfied of this, that
if his Noble and Learned Friend did not approxi-
mate to him, that he (the Lord Chancellor) should
not be induced to give up those opinions against Par-
liamentary Reform he firmly and conscientiously
believes to be right. On the preceding night, in the
Committee on this Bill, a Noble Lord (Lauderdale)
who, he hoped would allow him to call him his Friend,
?Had moved an Amendment with respect to lectures
on the Physical Sciences. He supposed it was to this
they were indebted for the learned dissertation they
bail heard upon fire, water, and air. He could only
say upon these subjects, that if it were possible, legis-
lation with regard to them might sometimes be very
useful. For instance, there was then a large fire in
the House, and it was frequently, both in the morning
and evening, a great annoyance to him. He should
be very glad, if by any clause in an Act of Parlia-
anent, that fire could be duly regulated, and whatever
sect it might have upon the Constitution of the
country, it was certain that the constitutions Of the
first people in the State, who attended in that Houses
were frequently much affected by eke heat of the finis
and therefore it would be a great advantage if it
could be done to regulate the fire by Ac{ of Parlia-
ment. With respect to air, there was a highly re-1
speetable and respected Gentleman in the House, he
Ibirani the Cloak at the. Table, who, if one of the win-
dows was opened, would complain seriously of the
anaoystace arising front the air, and would leave no
means untried to regulate or shut oat the intruder ;
as to water, be believed their Lordships had little to
do with it, nor had his Noble and Learned Friend
an, reason to quarrel with it. To be however very
serious, be would say, that no man was more anxious
than himself td preserve unimpaired the Constitution
of the country, and the freedom of the people, and it
was therefore he was friendly to the present measure.
His Noble and Learned Friend and himself might
differ as to the means, but in the end sought, they
were both agreed, the object of both being the preser-
vation of the Constitution, and the real privileges of
the people-- (Mow, hoar.) He (the Lord Chancellor)
thought this Bill and the measures which had been
passed, essential to the preservation of the Consti-
tution, not because he merely wished to preserve the
Constitution ler a week or a month. or a year, but
because lie was desirous of maintaining the Coned-,
ludo° such as it had been transmitted to us by our
ancestors, and handing it down unimpaired to our
posterity. 'lite great principle of the English Con-
attrition, if he understood the Constitution at all,
liras, that it preserved to every one the enjoyment of
ntnitich_prectical liberty as could be possessed. But
be teroild go hitcher, and say. when daisgart-arose
which threatened its safety, that unless it were en-
dued with the power, of looking those dangers stem-.
dily in the face, and grappling with them, it was
formed in a manner that must ultimatek tend to its
own destruction—it must have the fort ittiWto suspend
liberty for a time, that liberty may be enjoyed for ever.
That was the principle upon which the Suspension,
of the Habeas Corpus Act had always proceeded,
and that was the principle upon which the present
temporary meissuses proceeded. The only queition
was, whether the circumstances of the country war-
t' oiled those measures? He believed they did ; others
might entertain a contrary opinion, and GOD forbid
that he should quarrel with them for so doing. It
bid been said, that the waiting laws of the country',
were sufficiently strong, if they had been vigorously
eaftirced. He did not know that they had not been
defy executed ; bat at any rate, he had only to cast
lie eyes abroad, and see mischiefs threatening, evil
Amigos at work, and disaffection active, tuffieient to
call. for additional means of protection. Allusion
had been made to the efficiency of instituting prose-
cutions for libel against those who uttered seditious
language. and he was willing to admit that since the
passing of the Libel Act, it was comparatively easy
to carry on such prosecutions. But he felt, perhaps,
little prejudice upon the subject of libels, from a
CUM which he would state to their Lordships. When
be became Attorney-General in 1794, his predeces-
aor handed over to him many prosecutions that had
been.begun, and which he was left to carry on. He.
&I so; and be not only proceeded in those that were
tonintenced, but instituted many fresh ones. Nu
one, he believed, had ever instituted so many prow-
anions for libels. He was speaking °lithe years
1794 and 1795. But when he sew that attemptii
were Matti to destroy all the Conaitotectl.Anthorities
of the land, to bring into cooteraPt and.,cgsgraco
retry thing connected with our most sacred
sod liberties, to overturn, in fact, the whole fabric
of the Constitution, he felt that the clinger was tat-
terlY beyond tine reach of such proceeding*. Yet no
ones. ha apprehended, would say, that he was sparing
of *e exercise of that power he then possessed ; be
Mould be glad to hear some kind-hearted individual
maintain that proposition, for never, he believed,
was any one more abused than himself, at tbat period,
for the prosecutions which he instituted. Petaled
abuse, however, be never hreded, when -knelled
against him tor the discharge of what he considered
to be his duty. .He had never, in the course of his
life, sought either to promote or repress the circulaH
tioo of any publication consenting himself a but
libels that affected the Constitution and the Govern-
tent, were of a different description, and he should
.-be glad to be sheen how, at a time like the present,
tyre most active prosecution of them could counteract
se evils that menaced the Stem It was said, they
• *Mold rather culeavour to conciliate than provoke.
• Generally speaking, that doctrine was good ; Not
bow were they to conciliate those who asked foe no-
thing less than the destruction of the Contact:kips I
'Would they grant them their wish ? Treat
slight conciliate them, but in a .very different man.
Der, assn to a very digannt end; be appreneoded;
fail wt was contopplitod by those who sum/cool