Star.
London, England, 1818-01-28 00:00:00

of a meagre Address, now called the echo of the
Speech, our; ancestors took some days to discuss
the detailed information in that exposition, before they
returned their answer: There was much good sense
in the practice, because it was only upon considera-
tion and scene examination that a proper answer could
be returned. It was curious to look back upon the
progressive innovations by which this wholesome
practice was eat out. In my recollection, though be-
fore. I had a seat in this House, it was the ordinary
course to convene the Lords in their individual capa-
city at the Treasury, and the Commons at the Cock-
pit, the day before she Meeting of Parliament, for
the purpose of hearing the intended Speech read.
Nay, it was printed and sold for the use of the Mem-
bers and the country on the day the House met.—
But now all these means of communication are with-
held, and the House is called on to discuss the me-
rits of a communication, the contents of which no man
can distinctly from one reading recollect. As to the
present speech, in place of being an exposition, it ac-
tu illy contains nothing which might be said to afford
intelligible information—it might mean that or the
other thing—indeed for any purpose of informing us
of the true state of the public interests, it might never
have been made. (Hear, hear.) Why, in regard to
the heartfelt condolence which the House, in com-
mon with the country feels, was not the precedent in
the case of the Duke of Gloucester followed, and the
expression of the public sympathy separated from
the other concerns of the public ? hi the participa-
tion of the regret which that affliction called forth
from the people, no man felt the loss more than he did.
He wished to mark that feeling the more significantly
because in some transactions in which he had some
years past taken an active part against a branch of
the House of Brunswick, a Right Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Canning, not now in his place) hid represented
him as an enemy to that House _(Haar, hear.) But,
independently of his own personal anxiety, he was
solicitous to dwell upon that spontaneous feeling of
national sympathy, because it went at once to dis-
&ore and falsify those charges of disaffection to the
House of Brunswick which were so loudly reiterated
against the people during the last • Session—(hear,
hear.) The scene of sorrow the recent sad event pro-
duced, deprived description of , its power—it had
seemed as if the country had. been visited with the
last great plague of Egypt, and that the eldest born
in every house in the kingdom lay dead within its
doors—(hear, hear.) It was not to be overlooked that
every expression of condolence had specifically ad-
verted to the private and public virtues of the de-
ceased in every relation. If therefore there should
exist in this country any enemies to any branch of
the House of Brunswick—if any part of the com-
munity are discontented with their conduct, let that
branch look to itself for the cause of the hostility.
Lord CASTLEREAGH declared, that desirous as
he was of meeting the objections and animadversions
Which had been brought forward, not only 'with re-
gard to the Address immediately under considera-
tion, but as respected the conduct of Misters during
the recess of Parliament, yet as he was aware of the
numerous opportunities that would soon present
themselves for discussing them separately and in de-
tail, he should 'reserve himself for those occasions,
when he trusted that a satisfactory explanation would
be furnished. But it did appear to him to be quite
foreign to the question, and calculated unnecessarily
to disturb the unanimity which the deep and irre-
parable loss that had been sustained rendered so de-
sirable, to agitate subjects which in themselves
formed distinct objects of inquiry, before any regular
information was before them, or the House prepared
to give them mature consideration. There were,
indeed, observations in the course of the Noble Lord's
speech against which he must immediately, protest,
and particularly against the statement which repro.
seated the trials at Derby to have arisen out of the

proceedings of a Spy employed b 7 the Government.,
He new undertook most fully to disprove such an as-
sertion whenever the proper time of investigation
should arrive. It was enough for the present to re-
mark, that not a scintilla of evidence had appeared
during the trials to shew the slightest foundation for
this belief. He could not conceive what part of the

conduct of administration had induced the Honoura-

ble and Learned Gentleman to conclude that his Ma-1
jesty's Ministers had it in contemplation to propose
new measures restrictive of the liberty of the subject.
He was not conscious that they had manifested any
disposition of such a nature ; and he was happy to
assure the House, that he should, on an early day, be'
ptepared to communicate information with regard
to all that had been passing in the country since the,
last Session.—(Hear, hear.) He believed sincerely,
that this information would satisfy, not only the Ho-
nourable' Members opposite, but would satisfy the
House and the Public, that the measures adopted
during the last Session had been founded not merely
on prudential considerations, but on a strict necessity,
and that it was to them that we were indebted for the
laterualvanquillity which had been restored. The
ever y of Parliament had not oniy*tivided-tlse Sus.
rrasion Act, but had ensured its speedrtstrmination.
His Majcsty't Ministers, who had been placed in a
situation of great difficulty, would not shrink from
the most rigid scrutiny into their conduct, and would

be found, he confidently hoped, to have faithfully dis-
charged the trust confided to them ; to have admi-
nistered justice, duly tempered with mercy ; and
to have contended successfully against the imminent
danger with which the Country had been threatened.
The greatest of those dangers he believed had passed
by ; but he would not lull Parliament into a belief that
perfect.security was restored. It gave him, however,
sincere satisfaction to congratulate the House on the
unprecedented rapidity with which the country had
pasted from a state of depression to one of progressive
prosperity, which, there was every reason to believe,
would continue. In the earnest hope, therefore, that
the present discussion would terminate, so as to be
most expressive of that unanimity which was due to
the melancholy event recorded in the Speech, he
should only repeat the assurance, that there would be
ample opportunity afforded for the consideration of
all the points to which the attention of the House had
'been now prematurely drawn.
Mr. BENNET expressed his entire concurrence
with the Noble Lord behind him, as to the conduct
of his Majesty's Ministers ; for he could assure the
House, that he was prepared to prove, upon the pro.
per occasion, that, notwithstanding those confident
assertions by which Ministers contrived to persuade