Star.
London, England, 1819-01-28 00:00:00

CUSTODY OF HIS MAJESTY'S PERSON.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL moved the Order of
the Day for their Lordships going into a Committee
on this Bill. Previous, however, to the Lord Chan•
cellar's quitting the Woolsack,
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE gave notice of
his intention to move, on Monday next, for Copies of'
the Instructions sent to the British Governors in the
East Indies, with regard to the cession of the Dutch
Colonies, consequent upon the Peace of Paris.
The Earl of SiiArre-saustythCn took the Chair of
the Committee on the above Bill ; when

Lord HOLLAND rose, and re-urged his objec-
tions of last evening, but more in detail, against the
Bill in its present shape. He confessed he still enter-
tained objections to it ; but begged to be understood
as harbouring no idea whatever that any other person
than his Royal Highness the Duke of York could so
properly be entrusted with the care of his Majesty's
person. Many considerations, lie thought, combined
to render that illustrious individual the most proper
person for the purpose. He, however, seemed to think
it would be more proper to unite that appointment and
the regulation of the future Windsor Establishment
in one Bill. The Noble Earl spoke yesterday of the
intention to reduce these Establishments ; but there

was no provision of that kind in the Bill—it rested
before the House merely on the Noble Earl's assts..
rance. For his part, he thought such a reductive
should have t.iken place long since, inasmuch as it'
conferred no personal comfort or dignity with re-
spect to his Majesty, and induced a useless burthen
on the country. The Noble Earl had certainly in
other instances changed his opinion as to the Esta-
blishments proper for other branches of the Royal
Family: he could not, therefore, think it inconsistent
in him, if he had proposed reduction in this branch
of the Royal expenditure. But the present Bill
called upon the House to place certain patronage in
the hands of the illustrious individual, without know-
inewhat that patronage was. The Establishment
was now equally useless and burthensome. There
were no fewer than four Lords of the Bed-chamber,
which induced the unconstitutional consideration of
au imperium in imperio. Upon the whole, be roust
dissent from the measure in its present shape : it was
admitted another Bill would be necessary to complete
what was intended—then why not unite them? At
present their deliberations were fettered on the pro-
posed extent of the Windsor Establishment, which
formed so important a feature in the whole arrange►
ment ; it was utterly unknown to their Lordships: to
obviate such incongruity, he would .move .as an
Amendment, that what followed in the first .cbansv,
after the words " full power and aucleurity;'• *Add
be omitted.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL thought that, as their
Lordships were agreed on the proposition of making
the Duke of York Castcs Pe; Soller there could be no
objection to the other parts of the Bill. With regard
to what had passed last Session, or at any former
time, on the subject of the reduction of the Windsor
Establishment, he had only to say, that if any dis-
tinct proposition to that effect had been made, he
should certainly have opposed it. The circumstances
which would have induced him to resist such a pro-
potition last Session, be should perhaps have occa-
sion to explain when the subject came regularly be-
fore their Lordships. In the mean time, he could
not help reminding their Lordships, that her Ma-
jesty was Queen Consort ; and that in forming the
original Establishment, consideration was had to her
situation as well as to the utility of the Establish-
ment itself. Ile had stated yesterday, that there
could be no increase of the Establishment; but he
still meant to contend, that whatever might be its
extent, it ought all to be placed under the controul
and direction of the Custos Persona. The Noble
Lord had expressed his dislike of.an imprison in int-
perio : but whatever objection there might be to
such a state of things, it existed to a certain degree
in every establishment formed for the branches of
the Royal Family. The same objection Would ap-
ply to an Establishment far a Prince of Wales, during
the life of the King.
Lord HOLLAND re-urged his objection, and ob-
served, that if the clause to which he objected were
expunged, it would remove from their Lordships
proceedings on this Bill much inconvenience and
irregularity.
The question on Lord Holland's motion was then
put, and negatived.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL then said he had now
to propose to fill up the blanks, and to move the
appointment of a Member of the Council, to supply
the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Lord
Chief-Justice. It was from no want of respect for
the learned person who succeeded that Noble and •
Learned Lord that he did not propose him for this
situation ; but the official duties of the Chief Justice
rendered the appointment inconvenient, as it was
desirable that a sufficient number of Members should
always be ready to attend the Council on the monthly
and quarterly Meetings. He should therefore move,
" That John Jefferies Pratt, Marquis Camden, he ap-
pointed one of his Royal Highness's Council, in the
room of John, Lord Ellenborough, deceased."
Lord HOLLAND concurred most heartily in the
motion, and congratulated their Lordships on the
choice which had been made of the Noble Marquis,
who had acted so generous and disinterested a Nit
with respect to' the reduction of his own Est ahli,.ll-
- Hence he was the fittest person that could
be selected for a situation so intimately connected
with that of Windsor.

The Bill, with the Amendments, was then agreed
to, and ordered to be reported.—Adjourned.