The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-02-22 00:00:00

THE .STATEf4MJ

log army should be kept up; and, if not, he trustedihat
tkey would panic before they saddled this country with
so great an additional sixpence. ,
111 r. t.V.4IKEIt said, that though the number of men
to be eitildoved in naval services had been aiready yo•od,
-Fit it was devuted a !Lore prove' eour,e, and wore con-
sistent with the practice of the Constitution, to limit the
\ivy to the duration of the Arniy 3lutiny Rill.—Le c
WWI

THE WRITS SUSPENSION DILL

Lord J. RUSSELL moved the Order of the Day for
the reading of the Bills for suspending the assn.
ins or Vi rite for tiratupound, Penryn, Barnstaple, and
Camelford. •
Sir,C. BURRELL said. that in colemon, he believed,
with the whole country, he ()tiered his praise to the
Noble Mover of the Bill for his condnet in this btorinese.
tie halt also-to address a few worth to the Noble Lord
opposite (Lora Castlereagh). He thatikeet tiN NoMe
Lied for his liberal conduct hitherto on this Bill, and he
hoped that he would not drup the matter thus, but that
he would endeavour to secure its final setereas by using
his intluetwe with his friends in another platy-0)1.3er.
and lwarl)—so that it Wight not fall to the ground atter
it had that House.
Air. CA:.t*RAFT 'aid be had tweet heard any t!ling
touch snore disorder]: titan the allusion of tile Hon. Taro-
net who pies sat down; bet even if that suggestion
were ottentie:l to, he thooaht it qui:e impossible that
the hill could pass into a law. It was hieratic. he was
in earnest in support of the useasnres is hich this Bill
Pee
ferthered, that lie did not wish the House to •
Ise so ',dared, as to suppose that any assembly could pass a
Bill condemning four boroughs, while iu the case of one
only heal they any evidence. It was only in the case of
Barnstaple 16: the House of Lords had any evidence,
anti he should like to hear any one who knew any •
thing of its proceedings respecting that borough' *y
whether it was 1:Itely they would pass a Bid in ollieb
that ease was inelmied. He was convinced tiler wvishl
nut; and as for the three others, they were absolutely
nithuut evidence. the was in earnest. and wished to see
the writs suspended till the circumstances which had ap-
peared to criminate these boimighs result, he inquired •
and he therefore wished the theme to proceed in
the only effectual manner, via. by Maims, whirls was
in his opinion the true Parliamentary course.—(ilear !I
from Mr. Wynn.)—lie heard an expreesion of surprise
at leis assertion. because lie presumed it would ws-
serted that tide course would lay the privileees of the
House at the merry of the King. Batt, according to the
present moth. of proceeding, the Horse was at the mercy,
not only of the Crown, but of the other House of Paella-
ment. lie spoke after good Parliamentary authorities
when he contended that the Leonia': anal suspending of
writs should depend on the house alone, and noon ibis
dextrine the House had hitherto acted, le., ordering the
Speaker to withhold that isseiug of the writs kelt, time
to time. In comsettnence of the approaching dissolution
a new rase was presented to them; and hero als., was
another iestance of the inconveniences of the dissulutioe.
If the House had been allowed to sit the usual time,
there would hare been ample time to have passed the
Bill into a law, nithout calling on the Miser Howse to
eonsent without the examination of evidence. As for the
proceeding hr Address. he lied the authority of Mr.
I latsell's work in support of it.
Air. WYNN said, sneh as Address would go to the
overthrow of the Constitation, ley putting thi• whole
elective franchises of the kingdom into the bands of the
Crown. The Address of the House of 17one:flues could
not rotifer on the Crown a po.' er not before possessed,.
but could only call on the Crown to exercise p, power al-'
ready existing. It would therefore recognise, that the
Crown mold, at its own will anal pleasure, put an end
to the elective rights of any portion of the electors of
the kingdom. This proposal was not, indeed, witlinsil
precedent, for he had heard of a plan of Reform, promul-
gated under the high authority of the Ilamp.ten Club,
by which the King WAS begged, as the simplest and best
plan of Reform, to abstain from sending writs to certain
boroughs, and to send writs to other platers. It wus ex-
traordinary, indeed, that this should have heen promul-
gated nailer (above all others) the name of H..nipeleu.
Such a power was, insietol. formerly elainted by the
Crown, but the matter was taken up by the House of
Commons, and it was deviated that the writs might be
demanded by those boroughs as writs of right. Writs
were arconlingly gent to some places from which they
had been withheld, and fm one of these places. Wendt;
yer, he believed, John Hampden, was first returned to
Parliament. lie (Mr. W.) was ready to go as far as any
man in defence of the privileges of *Parliament, but hi
thought they were moo safe when confined within legal
bounds. lie should not be willing to disfranchise these
boroneht without hearing the fullest evidence; but he
conceived thr l!onse of Lords had sufficient evidence to
say that the House of Commons, having proved bribery
to existed in those boroughs, and being. desirous
of taking measures to regulate the elections to home.
ttter woultl suspend the issuing of writs for this time.
To peewit:al by the antburity of the two Houses of Parlia-
ment and of the Crown, was the only legal course. and
he should. therefore, support the Bill.
Mr. MARRYATI' said, the Bill before the Ilouse're-
tinired serious consideration. The House had net all
the evidence before them on the different cases. On the
ease of Camelford the [lmmersible Member Per Colchester
(Mr. D. Harvey) in particular had declared his inten-
tion of examining additional witnesses. Besides, there'
were in the different eases various shades of criminality.
Two of their own Member. also (Mr. Swann and Sir AI.
Lopo7) had been severely visited, as well as several
voters of two of the boroughs. Was it likely that these
persons, after the warning they had had, would again.
commit them-hue for which they had suffered? Intked,
if hat were asked where he shan't' expert to find the
greatest purity and independence in the el”rtions
throughout the country, he should naturally lay his
hand on those boroughs.—(Near and a laugh.)--there
was such a difference also in the evidence before the
Lords and that before the Commons, respecting the bo-
rough of Barnstaple, that the dithculty concerning that
ease was much increased.

Mr. 1111,0C1i11.131 said, that his doubts as to the ex-
pediency of passing the Bill before them were founded
on leis sense of the great importance of the measure
ul-
timately in view. The change now proposed was no
less thin to extinguish the franchises of four boroughs,
and to traosfer them to other unrepresented pl.tces.
Thostith neither of these ohjects was tlirertlT affected by
the 11111, it a mild distinctly recognise the principle, that
thookli there vas not eviilesce to disfranchise the Ito-
-roughs for ever, yet on a prima facie ease thi.v
suspend the franchises. It might be proper to legislate
on this hosiness hereafter, when they had time to view
the goestion in all its complicated beiriogs, but it seemed
strange to say that they had evidence to deprive a hO-
- of its franchisepre, hoe vice, and not f.er. ever. The
`tii,-cnins:anceii• of the representation of these botooghs
being tilled up, could notsperate as a bar to legislation
on the subject; and it would be better indeed, conitior-
tionolly, that theiuest ion of the disfraochisenient of these
boroughs idieald bc discussed when their Members, who
1, might hewuippoiledto act ail theirAttorpies, were present.
'lf indeed tbi,Crown rim* inarr.anchite four, It miaht,
disfranchise 44, (St 100 beimighs, sod he did Mt see
why, if this power Were remglieed, it plight iwitsidoW
extend to counties or universities; se that the eery
existence of the house of Commons would be et the
merry of the Crewn. The mole memo of log
therefore was hy the Bill Whim *hey ctnei edd
that

theist okifeneel were nut solitary—when every Membef
of tie House ussistareessariir hare been acquainted with
so many micoavicted offenders of the same deseriptiab,
he felt that the sentence of two years' imprisonment,
coupled with a very heavy fine, w.ea severe. The pri-
S,llier, he believed, was fiti. years of age. and though the
Criale was a aerillUS•09:41(11 against their privileges,—
against law and morality, it could not he said to be ru;e.
Ilia ease would operate as a warning ; even if the whole
of the sentence were not carried into effect. it might
have a tendency to make similar offences less frequent
for the futnre.
31r. SUARLETT.—The Members of that House should
be the last to appear disposed to treat with lenity
such offences, to which they were out of doors hat too
generally supyosed to view with favourable eyes. Though
offences of this kind might in -:.ewe instances gain the
cross, nod in others the crown, the Court of King's
Bench did well always to skew a severe front to such of-
fences. Ile felt rclitctant to make these observations,
}weanse he had • 4vasion to appear as advocate for this
individual. After baling done his duty on that mca-
sion, however, his cumin-non with him ceased.
Mr. BROI'OIIA 3! exlained.
Sir J. If ORKE said, though he thought the case of
Sir 31. Lopes a hard one, he could not also but feed
for his friend Mr. Swam. who hail only been loons]
guilty Itreanse he had :lone an art of••kindne.s.—
Ile bad lent a man twenty pounds on account of his
necessities; when the drown approaches! the man of-
fered him his vote on condition Mills cancelling the debt.

When the contest ran hard. Swauu's friends a►isisel him
to close with the loan's proposal. and 31r. Swann was
induced to do so, and the draft was to be cancelled.
The man was sunning, and said, that when the draft
was canceled hr !rust have it, or his wife otherwise
would nut he persiEW.cd the debt was at an end. This
the good-natnr:•d SW.Min consented to, that the wife
might he et rest as well as her husband. But this came
to tl►e opposite party. who inaa►ediately cried out,
•• Here's bribers•, and so his Hon. Friend was con-
sie• lanih.)
✓:r. 1). W. HARVEY said, at the end of the Parlia-
t►Y•et there seemed on both sides an anxiety to sbew
tha: nothing racked soil► rmeral sympathy as the chas-
tisement of those who lire violated the purity of the
House. But if the Bill was to be destroyed, he might
lie allowed to sac etnneesing of the ease of Camelford.
That borooris had. during this Parliament, remained
nnrepresentesi without detriment to the constitution;
and he could net tell on what principle this place, that
is to say the 2.1 electors, who were willing to take 4PI.V.
for their votes, shout!: i,c di,franchiseJ.

I Lord CASILSREAUH said, the only object of this
, Dill was to enable the House to apply any punishment
lit might iofliet on these boroughs earlier than they
I otherwise could. The CRS! of Shaftesbury only applied
to tiie i.ibuing of writs during the existence of a Parlia-
ment over nisi& the House had a constitutional con-
! trout. But it nes a bolder measure to interfere with the
elections for a future Parliament, when they were, in
some measure, tied up to a specific number ofi hlembere
by the Acts of Union. llowe%er, if the Bill were pushed
j to a division he should Tote for it.
Sir J. 31ACIUNTOSII maintained. that it would be
• • inconsistent with the principles of the Constitution, and
with the character of the /louse itself, to allow the
eler'ors who &tad been guilty of such flagrant reboi-
-1 nality to send Members to that House. This crimi-
nality was indeed s.: clearly manifested from the time of
the suspension of the privileges of these boroughs, that
! he could not doubt but that the other House of 'Arlie-
went would agree to suspend the issuing of writs to
'sorb boroughs for the period proposed in the present
Bill. The course pursued on this occasion was foliy
• ..varranted by :he precedent of the Act of the 14th of the
late King, with respect to the Shaftesbury case.
J.
Lord Ai:SSE:Lift in reply, said, to postpone or re-
sect the present Bill, would serve to raise a doubt in the
country as to the sin.:rrity of the promise held oat by
the fiOusr, that in any borough where flagrant rorrim-
dim was preire,l, measures should be taken not only fur
the punishment of the corrnpt, but for the prevention of
such corrupt practicer in future, by the disfranchise-
ment of the borough in which they took place. As to
the corruption which prevailed in small boroughs,
where the voters were comparatively few, poor and igno-
rant, he notch ferret! that it was idle to calculate upon
the prevention of such corruption; and he felt, that when.
ever it was proved to take place, the only remedy was
to transfer the right of election from boroughs of that
description, to large and populous towns; and therefore
he was a decided advocate for the course which the pre-
sent Bill hail in contemplation. The Noble Lord con-
eluded with a brief recapitnlation.—The motion was
agreed to.
The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed to. 1111 l rrow.

Lon! PALMERSTON brought In the Mutiny Rill,
which was read a first and second tine, and ordered to
be committed to-morrow.

8 r PPLT.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQI7ER snored.
that the House should rr•olse Into a Committee of
Supply, and that his 3fajentv's Message. with the Army
r.stiwate4, and the tied ifontingeatries, should be re-
ferred to the said C'unintittee.

i 1 .
.

~ 1
i 4

-7
country, and he railed upoit ay! d to*, is
explanation in degte ternss. It was, no doubt, diva.
flowery on the of the Nohie Lord to
question, but he expected an answer a. a matter of Lea,_
tesy, bnt still wore is order to satisfy the public iced.
Lord C.ISTLERFLIIIH said, he thought the Anse..
which he had given the lion. (..mtlentan on a isem.
olosiag would have bees deemed quite satisfactiot
the lion. Member had waited for the motion shish
Hight Hon. Frictid the Chancellor of the
proposed to submit, be would bitve seen that no dime:
provision was to be told for the King. env more
for the high personage to whom he bad alluded, bat dr.
• sum was to be voted from the Consolidated Entiti,st:
of which these exalted personages were to be prori3/4.
Here the Noble Lord took occasion to expr.s.is
that any attempt shooed hewed,. at present to intuit:.
discusslon in that House the very delicate questios ft
Treed to )w the Hun. ltentlem:ln--(llrar, hear)—a,
sneh discussion was but too likely to create aleemeet
the country, while it was calculated to rive pain to
illustrions personares wore immediately iturrest.i._
Clear, hear!)—He had only to add, that the lion. u,
tiestian might be fully assured that the high pee,o,,,:_
to whom lie refereed was by no mends lihety to ex
rienre any thing liLe harshness or inattentiNi.--(1:
cries of hear, bear!)

It Mr. HUM.: observed, that Ms wish :.1 to hors
distinct provision for the Queen, at le nal to t1.,44
which she enjoyed under the late .1:t of r aloes?.

Lord C ISTLEP.E.WH stated, th.►t snrh proms
Was intended to be granted out of the su:n for which
Right lion. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer FT
pulled to oust e.

Mr. TIPANEY declared his unwillingness :o rter
any sum for the Queen, until explanetion sire'
be given or promised as to the rumours whir+ had gon•
abroad with r!opect to her condart and tharacter ter
:he Continent. lie agreed with the Noble Lore
thinking this a very delicate question to he disenoet;
that Howie. But by whom was it brought into dime.
sion ? Why, by Ministers themselves, who,
they deprecatrof this dismission at present, held oat
prospect of some such discussion at a future—(here lee
Castlereagh intimated his dissent]. " Thee, s N 7
T. " I mistook the Noble Loid ; and that mistake is z 3
additional reason with use for misting the proper,
grant." So it seemed that there was to be Do thin..
sion at all upon the conduct of tile Quern, after all de
world had heard about that remitter. Yet it weslins
pear that her Majesty was not to be recogniesd, ht
would esk the Noble Lord, whether any thing like
cognition huCtakett place, or was meditated? Was ti.
Queen yet aware of the death of the King, or of the
tnation in which she stood in couseqoence of that errst.7
Ilad any romitionication been made to her liajestyers
the sehject on the part of his Majesty's Ministers.L
How came it that the name of the Qaeten was om!tted:s
the Liturgy; or what was the reason for suet: oniony
These things required explanation. lint from thesise
of the civnmstamees connected with this transaction
well with regard to his Mnjesty as with regard to kt
Consort, he had no hesitation in stating, that the Kite
had been betrayed, or the Queen had been
(Hear, hear, hone:))—As an honest Member of Parlia-
ment, be felt himself callesi upon to make, this declantiat.
Ile had heard of rumours with regard tektite behasioar a!
the Queen, which, if true, could lease no .lonlo thud,
was totally unworthy to occupy the Throne of finely'
and if so, the King was surely entitled to the satarejsr
tire that the law granted to the lowest ,subject is relies.
ing him front a draped connection. He had beard of
a cennenission• Ir.eving been scut to the tandem, ia
order to collect evidence as to the inieromiarte this
Queen ; and was it possible that the Noble Leek add
evidence in his pocket to show that miscondert,rol.i
attempt to apply to that House for aay great of rahlie
money to an unworthy person ? This etas really a r:sr
of emit a nature, as that House oas bon lid to sift to the
bottom, for one party or the other Hirst hare bon
grossly iJI treated. lint when, he won:1 ask, wee i•
rnmonred discoveries made with regard *ll th... miscoed.-:
of the Queen ? Upon the death of the Q.een, *Melt
months ago, the Liturgy was altered, 411.1 on that ter
odors it was directed, that the 1 ‘.-"ineess of W/des
be distinctly prayed for. Yet, oil the late altentise o
the Liturgy, the name of this illustrious personage a
left out. The discovery, then, of the alleged ekes
duct most have been made within the last it months, rt
'whenee the differeoce between these two periods
was she to he publicly prayed fur as Princess of Wale
whose name was to he altogether ?oppressed who
she became Quern of England ? Now the creme
was brought before ti e House aril the country, it me
not hr Minkel!, and lie for wee had no hesitatten isto.
ing, that if the queen were really guilty of tbe.ne
sneered misconduct, no quilibiee of law, or rib
in evidence, should prevent jus!ice from being sow
diately rendered to the King. Hitt, on the other load:
if the Queen were calumniated, he wort! I have her &-
railer completely vindicated, and all her rights asserted
and maintained. lint until her character were epees
blisherl, he could not consent to rote her a penny of dr
public money. While the Noble Lord called her term:
that " high Per,unage," instead of recognizing her 0
the Queen—while all Italy, hay, all Europe, odd 6161,
'pith rumours of her guilt, and of official inquiriec
it—while her name was omitted in the Liturgy—slaw
she was not acknowledged, ire could not agree to r.o
her the means of ineintainiNg heraelf, uatil the oars
for such extraordinary circumstances its be bad new
should he satisfactorily explained.
Mr. BROCIIHAM observed, that if "
Friend, who had just sat down, felt so

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delicacy of discussing this quest:on, he I
►ronld, for various reasons, give him ci

that delicacy even more. Ha Gould mil

into dais- ditrussion witbagt psis, bol

House would ini!fligit him with i►+ mti

moment,. anti the more so. as he differed

from the views of his RIl it Hon. Fricm.
jeer. There was no dilliCally, id jffigiew
of the caig upon which his Right Willit:'
much dir t. bec,lose it 4W not appear to 1
any importance; Is hether the Qaren
not by any of the means recited by bib
Prieml l'or whether her mane were .n."
in the Liturgy, or in any act of Council, .
tntionalif and indisputably Queen Consort.
deed t e wedded wife of tic Kill-, the
cord op the Crown she was en rpm Wow
Her k. thee, did not depend upon soy
Liturgy, or upon any art of Conncil, or
previewt which a Aliaister of the Crown F
to emillbr in that House. Such things,
effect whatever upon the rights of the
were as s• Mlles light u air," and court
the slightest degree to impeach the We'
Nor was it in the power of that i
thought proper to prune:mew, to imi
with me th the tide of the Queen, and raft
mimed nod otpeovioimqor the tnaintennaer(
That prorislow was, it appes ref I, to heel*,
1 weal mum foe which the 3liai stet w as ANIS

Ilf iltoista* woorrolleittot to afford
deo to all the otbair aria Of deo
opprelterolod, moo to aosworllto ,
wore .9lieirogs Ar obi Oar* *MO

felt so
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