Star.
London, England, 1818-05-23 00:00:00

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• clause in the Regency Act, to which he Bill; and what her Majesty had already done or '' 1 i
beng so obvious, he thought it mine- might have had occasion to do under that proe i:ione • f ,
-41 upon the expediency of the pro- The melancholy event of death might have affo dad ) .
'nil should, therefore, merely move the opportunity of her Majesty's replaci g every one 4t I
the Bill, premising, that upon of her present Council; therefore, to her appointing 1,, i
the additional Members there could be no rational i ,:
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objection whatever. WTI respect to a provision for
served he could not help continuing the powers of the Regency, there was nu
necessity, at the time of its enactment, for making
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any eventual provision ; and, upon the whble, in that
-t1 for its necessity. respect, he argued it would have been productive I
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of more inconvenience to have made provision for
an eventual Regency than to adopt the course
should
•!,e hfetup:er former an
which had been taken. It was, therefore, esteemed 1
second
(and in which sentiment a Noble Baron, •
be
'med then absent, concurred) to leave that consiieration
'al untouched ; and with respect to the Cto.vn it se,as • I i'
' very different, for there the next in sucrestion came ‘ 1 p I
•as a matter of right. The measure before their I• )
iships went to obviate every inconvenience to be
',ended in this particular case, faun the pro- , i
dee Reseacy Act, and it was provided her
i
'<sync'', in the event of her demise, should 1: 11l
and custody of his Majesty's Royal i . i
'lament should meet ; whereas, under
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-led for repeal, all the incalculable l 1
-ould result from an intervening
assembling of the preceding
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tion of the clause in the Regency Act, to which he
had alluded, bung so obvious, he thought it unne-
cessary to dwell upon the expediency of the pro-
posed alteration, and should, therefore, merely move
the second reading of the Bill, premising, that upon
further consideration, he had some additional clauses
to propose, to which he would give due consideration.
Bail GREY rose, and observed he could not help
thus again expressing his surprize that a measure of
this nature should be proposed, without any one spaec
eific or distinct reason being assigned for its necessity.
It was with some share of disappointment he per-
ceived, after what had been declared on the fotmer
day, that no reason, necessity, or motive, should be
now assigned on the important stage of the second
reading. On these points the Noble and Learned
Lord was unexpectedly silent. Nothing but general
statements were offered, and especially respecting the
inconveniency which would be felt if that part of the
Regency Act which respected the care of his Ma-
jesty, were left unrepealed. With respect to the
mode of appointing the new Members of the Coun-
cil, he (Lord Grey) thought it pretltable to adhere toy
the mode laid down in the former Bill, and upon the
same principle. But with respect tb the more impor-
tant consideration of varying the provision in the
Regency Act for the speedy assembling of Parlia-
ment lit the event of a demise, it seemed to be now
viewed in a very different light from what it was
formerly. It was now held, that in the event of a
demise, even after the new Parliament was called.
the provision, by enacting a recurrence to the former
Parliament, would produce incalculable inconveni-
ence to the public, and expense to individuals. He
could not but express his surprize at such a provision
having crept into the original Bill, which, from the
legal office the Noble and Learned Lord held at the
time, and he must imagine he had some share in
framing it. (To this the Noble Lord on the Wool-
sack signified his dissent.) Subsequently however,
when the measure was intrbduced, in 1811, on the
occurrence of his Majesty's present unhappy malady,
the Noble and Learned Lord held the high office he
now holds, that Bill, though it underwent a great
deal of discussion, was literally copied from the for-
mer, and the alleged mistake, if such it was, re-
peated, and on this he could not again avoid expres-
sing his surprize. A Noble Lord had stated, that
the event of a demise of his Majesty stood upon dif-
ferent grounds from that contingency at present un-
der consideration; in the degree of importance there
may be some difference; but from a view of the for-
mer Bill, he did not see the difference in other re-
spects. Since the last Regency Bill seven years had
elapsed, and in that interval it would appear these
pending inconveniencies had never, until very lately,
entered into the heads of his Majesty's Ministers.
Why, he would ask, was not this measure proposed
I before? Why wait until the close of a Session—un-
til all the business was winding up, and then, with-
out notice, or even a single reason assigned, not even
in the preamble, introduce such a Bill as the present?
There must be some other motive for the proceeding.,
Motives of delicacy, however, he thought should
preclude too close a discussion of the subject ; but
whatever objectionable that way may take place, it
rested with those who so unopportunely brought for-
ward the measure. The time he thOught was pecu-
liarly ill adapted to the agitation of such questions.
and at a time particularly, when, to speak at least hy-
pothetically, her Majesty's valuable life may be consi-
dered in danger. And farther, when he considered the
mode in which the additional members were propo-
sed to be created, and the indefinite period of their
continuance, he considered the•measure as exposed
to such serious objections, that though he could not
offer a negative to the second reading of the Bill, he
felt it his duty to oppose at least the previous ques-
tion. His Lordship then took a cursory review of
the clauses of the Bill, and argued that on a view of
the whole, and still more so under the present cir-
cumstances, and regarding one motive fur bringing
forward the measure to be an intended speedy disso-
lution of Parliament, perhaps in a fortnight, the Bill
was one their Lordships, consistently with their duty,
could not consent to. On a future and more suitable
opportunity they could take up the discussion on a
more extensive scale and less objectionable principle,
when due.provisiorimay be made for the exercise of
the Royal Authority, in the important event of a de-
mise. of the Prince Regent; and also with a view, re-
gard being had to the lamentable state in which his
Majesty was placed, and unhappily likely to tonti-1
nue, to consider what reductions may be made in the
immense expenditure of the establishments at Wind-
sor. With respect to a due provision for the exercise
of the Royal functions in the contingency of a de-
mise of the illustrious person who now held it, the
high office was a consideration of the less difficulty,
when there happily could be no' danger as to the suc-
cession, and when the illustrious person, the next to
that succession, presented a question upon which
there could not be two opinions either in the Parlia-
ment or in the country. -Upon these general grounds
and considerations, as well as some others superadded
by the Noble Earl, comparatively of minor import-
ance, the Noble Earl moved the previous question.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL contended the real ques-
tion was, whether the present measure was fitting,
upon the grounds proposed to be adopted by Parlia-
ment? That there may be other, or ulterior topics,
for consideration, did not in the leiit alter the ques
tion now before them. Upon the subject there may
be differences of opinion; but none, he could think,
existed upon the question, whether or not the care
of the King's person should continue in her Majesty?
On that principle the leading clause in the Bill pro-
ceeded, and for which the fact, clearly expressed,
constituted a sufficient ground. What his Noble and
Leai'ued Friend stated upon that head, and upon the
point of the impracticablity of any Merebar of the
present Council habitually. attending at Windsor,
was clear and incontrovertible; and the principle of
the nomination resting exclusively in her Majesty,
was established by the provision in the Regency

Bill; and what her Majesty had already done or
might have had occasion to do under that provi:ioni
The melancholy event of death might have affo ded
the opportunity of her Majesty's replaci g every one
of her present Council ; therefore, to her appointing
the additional Members there could be no rational
objection whatever. W:tb respect to a provision for
continuing the powers of the Regency, there was nu
necessity, at the time of its enactment, for making
any eventual provision ; and, upon the whble, in that
respect, he argued it would have been productive
of more inconvenience to have made provision for
an eventual Regency than to adopt the course
which had been taken. It was, therefore, esteemed
preferable, (and in which sentiment a Noble Baron,
then absent, concurred) to leave that consideration
untouched ; and with respect to the Cio.vn it V• 23
very different, for there the next in sucrestion carae
in as a matter of right. The measure before their
Lordships went to obviate every inconvenience to be
apprehended in this particular case, faun the pro-
vision of the Iteseacy Act, and it was provided her
Majesty's Council, in the event of her demise, should
have the care and custody of his Majesty's Royal
Person until Parliament should meet ; whereas, under
the provision intended for repeal, all the incalculable
disadvantages which could result from an intervening
dissolution,.and the reassembling of the preceding
Parliament, would be inctirred—!hear.) As to the
period of the measures introduction, the considera-
tion of the possibility of its being introduced ear-
lier was no . argument against entertaining it ; and
with resper: so the supposed indelicacy of the present
agitation and discussion of the measure he must, in
justice to himself and his Noble and Learned Friend,
observe, that the feelings of the Great Person most
particularly referred, were not in the least compro-
mised. He had the satisfaction to say, that the mea-
sure in question was now brought forward, net only
with the full knowledge and approbation of the Great
Person whom it was equally their duty and their in-
clination to consult ; but it was agreeable to the feel-
ings and the desires of that Illustrious Person that
it should be so--(hear, hear.) He therefore thought
in every point of view there were ample grounds for
submitting the measure to Parliament. They were
not tenacious as to any particular words in the pro-
posed Act, which may easily be accorded in a Com-
mittee so as to obviate every shadow of objection to
the Bill, and he consequently felt it his duty to press
the motion for its second reading.
The Earl of CARN:kRVON was against the Bill
in its present shape, which, if adopted, he thought,
would appear like Parliament withdrawing itself en-
tirely from all care or concern respecting his Ma-
jesty's person. The most advisable mode, he thought,
which could be adopted under the circumstances,
.was to vote an instruction to the Committee to sepa.
rate the Bill into•two, as it certainly related to two
very distinct considerations. At least the Bill would
require the expunging two or three of its clauses to
reduce it at all to an unohjectionable shape.
The LORD CHANCELLOR observed, that to
expunge three clauses froni a Bill which only con-
tained three clauses, would-be equivalent to its ex•
tinction altogether—(a laugh ).
The End of LAUDERDALE regarded the TIICA•
sure in question as involving no small degree of in-
novation the Bill also possessed a different tenure
for the Members of her Majesty's Council to hold
their situations. At present they held them as such,
during his Majesty's indisposition ; now, the addi-
tional Members were proposed to hold their offices
during her Majesty's pleasure. The Regency Bill
was enacted under circumstances very different from
the present, especially with regard to the view to be
taken of the state and duration of his Majesty's la-
mented indisposition. He was adverse to fettering
the Executive Government with respect to the power
of dissolution ; butjn his opinion, some of the provi-
sions of the Bill in question were objectionable, and
would require much alteration and amendment.

The LORD CHANCELLOR, in explanation, ad-
mitted the Bill was susceptible of a littleamend-
ment ; and entertained no doubt of its being easily
rendered unobjectionable in the Committee. With
respect to the preamble, lie could not but think that
an adequate cause for the enactment, at the same
time it may not be unfair to remark, that the greater
number of Acts would be found to have no pre-
amble at all.

The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM spoke in appro.
bation of the measure. Circumstances had unfortu-
nately arisen since the first enactment on the subject
which would render farther alteration necessary ;
but with respect to the measure immediately before
them he could not, especially with reference to what
had latterly fallen trout the Noble and Learned
Lord, refuse his assent to the second reading.
The question was then put, when the motion for
the previous-question was negatived, and the Bill
consequently read the second time.
The Earl of CABNA 11 VON moved an instruction
to the Committee to divide the Bill into two, which,
on the question being put, was negatived without a
division.—The Bill was then committed far Monday.

BANK RERTRICTION BILL.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL observed, in moving
the second reading of the Bank Restriction Bill, that
as he understood it was the wish of sonic Nuble
Lords to discuss The principle on the question for
going into a Committee, he should reserve what he
had to say for that occasion, and should name Tues-
day, if the house had no objection.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, he had no
wish to enter into the subject at present, but he could
not consent to the second reading without asking the
Noble Earl for what reason the measure was brought
forward at all? What were the unforeseen circum-
stances on which he rested its necessity ?
'The Earl of LIVERPOOL stated, that to answer
the Noble Lord's question fully, would lead him into
the whole subject of debate. This he should decline
for the.reasou he had already assign4J but be had