Star.
London, England, 1820-07-12 00:00:00

Nes of the nobler bird into the weaker—(Laugher).
re was of Opinion Mr. Swann lost his cause lay being
his own Counsel, thereby verifying the old saying,
that " the man who pleads his own cause has not a
wise one for his client r'

Mr. BURRELL said, that when Sir M. Lopez
was imprisoned, he was labouring under the severest
domestic afflictions, and himself in such a bad state
of health, that in all probability the: completion of
his punishment would be sending him to his grave.,
He thought, indeed, it was punishment enough for
the offence, to send a man of his rank and fortune to
the common jail of the county.
A Memasa stated, that the hardship in Afr.
Sivann's case was aggravated by circumstances of
domestic affliction—one of his children was at death's
eoor, and the other was in a most deplorable state,
--whilst he was prevented by the Order of the Court
ring's Bench, Under which he was now suffering,
-.:rorn being able to render them any assistance.

A BERG ROM lIIE considered it as an extreme
a:t on the part of the House to interfere in this case,
and therefore he must oppose the motion. It would
,c attended with very prejudicial effects if the opi-
nion should prevail that the house disagreed with
the Judges. On other subjects, particularly that of
libel, sentences had been passe.] that had appeared
to many to be too severe; but no attempt had ever
/Ten made to bring them under the cognizance of
the House; and much surprise had been felt when
opinion of that kind had been expressed by the
la:e Mr. Whitbread. He must oppose the motion.
Mr. BROWNLOW observed, that if the House
interfered in one case, it would be impossible to draw
the line of distinction.

Mr. CANNING saw no necessity for the motion,
which he hoped the Noble Lord would withdraw,
as no impediment elibted to a proper consideration
of the case in the proper quarter.

Sir J. MACKINTOSH concurred with the Right
Honourable Gentleman opposite;. and u there ap-
p: red to be an understanding, that due considera-
OA would be given to the case of Sir hfaoaseh Lo-
pez in the proper quarter, he hoped his Noble Friend
ivruld by induced to withdraw his motion.

Lord J. RUSSELL said, if .he understood the state-
ment of the Noble Lord, this case was already under
consideration—(No, no, from the Ministerial Benches).
The Noble Lord had said, that with or witluslt this
motion, the same consideration would be given to
the case of Sir Manasseh Lopez ; and he (Lord J.
Russell) was satisfied with this declaration. Ile stated
at the commencement of his observations, that there
were some obstacles and difficulties in the way of a
lair consideration ofthis case; but as the Noble Lord
Lad assured him that those difficulties would be re-
rwved, he was ready to admit that the case would
L. much better taken into consideration in the quar-
ter which had the power of mitigat;ns the punish-
n:ent, than in this House. Of this ipnnciple he had
I ever entertained the smallest doubt, and he thought,
thelefure, that much of what had beenurged by his
lienourable Friends around him, might have been''
s;.ared. 1-k had certainly never intended to say,
t::at in any ordinary case it would be proper for this'
11,:csc to consider whether mercy ought or ought
Let to be'estended ; but this was a case in which the
Iliivileges of the House were peculiarly involved, and
it: which the House therefore might have properly in-
terposed. After what had fallen from the Noble Lord,
he ceuld have no objection to withdraw his motion.