Star.
London, England, 1820-06-28 00:00:00

length on his own responsibility, and stand forward
as the accuser, and put the business in a train at
judicial, inquiry, that it might come before their
Lordships. This state of the case rendered what
was before hypothetical, quite certain. Then let the
difficulties in which the House was involved beiook-

ed at. If the determination of the Secret Committee
were to be in favour of the accuser. it must, if it
weighed anything, excite a prejudice against the
accused ; if in favour of the accused, the prejudice
must be against the accuser ; bnt their Lordships
ought to know nothing of either party. Their duty was
to do equal and strict justice between both. He
again entreated their Lordships to reconsider the con:
sequences of the steps which they were taking, in
order that they might see the propriety of altering a
course so inconsistent with justice, and so injurious
to their character. These were strong reasons against
eie use of Secret Committees ; but it was a stronger
reason than all, that they were in disrepute with the
Public. The fact was, that Secret Committees had
been of late years too frequent, and were regarded
with no favourable opinion. To be anxious to do
t:rict justice, was the first duty of their Lordships ;
and the next was, that the mode of doing it should
exape all suspicion. In stating this objection, he
was not yielding to popular clamour ; he only wished
to preserve the House from giving just cause of
general suspicion—(Hear„hear).—He had now en-
deavoured to shew, that the course which the House
had taken, was inconsistent with precedent, and con-
trary to justice; and he had likewise endeavoured to
state the objections which arose out of the particular
circumstances of the rank and situation of the illus-
trious individual, who had all that was deafest ter'
human nature involved in the questions Her Ma-
jesty had approached them as no English Queen had
ever done, to present a Petition at their Bar for jus-
tice. He entreated that her case Might be put in a
train of open public investigation. She required no
delay but two months to procure the means of de-
fending herself, and prayed their Lordships not to
institute a proceeding of which) her defence could
make no part. Would the House then proceed by
Secret Committee, and upon ex park information ?
lie was not then irguing the case of the Queen ; he
thanked Gou he knew nothing of it, but he spoke
there as a Member of that House, anxious to vindi-
cate its character. This was no party queition—
(Cheert).—He claimed for all parties equal justice in
this distressing affair. They were bound by every
obligation not only to dispense that equal justice, but
to dispense it in such a way, as would place it above
suspicion. But, as the circitrostances were, the pro-
ceeding not only laboured under disrepute, but was
loaded with the odium and execration of the Public.

He did not feel that he was yielding to any clamor-
ous opinions; but when such an opinion as that
which the country entertained towards this transac-
tion arose not out of any factious feelings, but sprung
from the best principles and feelings of our nature—
from compassion, kindness, humanity, and a deep.'
rooted sense of justice, it deserved their Lordships
attention. The Noble Lord again adverted to what
had taken place in the House of Commons. and en-
treated their Lordships, proud as they justly were of a
long line of ancestors, and possessing hmour, wealth,
and independent minds, to take care how they gave
cause for calling the moral influence of their high
advantages into question. Public opinion was already
disposed to say, that they were too little disposed to
resist the solicitations and suggestions of the Minis-
ters of the Crown. The Commons had not acted in
this distressing affair as they had done. That House
had seized upon an opportunity of negotiation, it
had adjourned its discussion from a disinclination to
entertain what the Minister had proposed, and the
consequence was, that the Minister had himself come
down to declaim against what he had himself de-
manded—(('keers).—From these events, what opi-
nion was the nation to hold of the contrasted con-
dnct of both Houses ? Would it not be said that the

House of Commons had a higher and firmer feeling
for their own character, end a better sense of public
duty and of justice, by obliging the Minister to desist
or to become responsible—than the House of Lords,
where the Minister carried his point, though he
shrunk from responsibility ?—(Heas, hear).—Their
conduct in this instance should be weighed well, or it
rnight much impair the respect which ought to be
paid to their legislative and judicial measures. Were
they prepared, if they proceeded in this course, to
bear the suspicions and execrations of the public feel-
ings, which would fall {Apon them from every part
of the world where such proceedings were beard of?
He might allow, perhaps, his strong objections to a.
Secret Committee to be overcome, if a convenience
to public justice was to arise from it ; but there could
be no such convenience. If he (Lord Grey) were a
Member of that Committee, he would not hear any
paper read which came as a deposition from a person
of whom he knew nothing. He would have an op-
portunity of examining him personally, or he should
leave his evidence where he found it—{Hew-, Isar).
He meant to say nothing uncivil of' the Members of
that Committee ; but be would only repeat what had
been said before, that there were four Cabinet Mi-
nisiers upon it-the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Pre-
sident, the First Lord of the Treasury, and the Se-
cretary of State for the Home Department; and of
the others he did not intend anything offensive when
he stated, that the majority of them bad always, upon
all political questions, voted with the Minister I
It would be, therefore, childish to suppose that the
Report of such a Committee could be anything else
than the Report of Ministers, or what they had them-
selves advised--(llear,hear). He could not see how
it could be otherwise, unless there was some purify-
ing influence, some holy inspiration about the Cant-
rptttee Room, which could produce a wonderful effect
on the habits and understanding. The case was now
brought into those difficulties which could have no
solution, but by getting rid of the Committee, and
pursuing a course of justice, impartial and public.
Ile did not mean to propose anything 'which could
shift off this inquiry. It might be unavoidable ander•
the circumstances in which Parliament was placed.
But he would ask their Lordships to consider, whe-
ther the object which all had in view might not bel
Better obtained by a mace simple, open, and unre-
served mode of inquiry ? It might be produced by
a Jneasure partly legislative, partly judicial, and if it
4w as to be by Bill, then ...he fairly proposed to the
House the only mode whereby her Alajest, could
It vi the fullest and freest opportunity of ihquiry.....