The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-11-30 00:00:00

ho .pretence violated the Constitutiest. It was
with heartfelt pleasure that I heard thb Noble and
Learned Lord (Eldon) in so constitutional and manly
manner disavow such doctrine, a satisfaction, I as.
sure him, not diminished by the attempt of others
to give a unction to so monstrous a proposition.
My Lords, amidst ill the contending divisions and
acrimonious discussious which attended the agitatioti
of this awful question, in 1789, I never heard it ha-
puted to any into. of whatever party, that it wash's
object to set his King aside, or that the Crown, the
lawful possession of the living Monarch., was, or
ought; todeeofie int any other person [hear", hear
lover understood it to be the general priecipte that
the Throne was full and never vacant, and that.
teben a calamitous and afflicting e.nergency render:.
ed it necessary to supply any deficlettey in the ex-
ercise of the kingly functions,. the coneideiation
was, in what wiener that dulcet wss to be sup-
plied ; by the appointment of a Revelry to be ex-
ercised in du...King/a own name, hi his behalf, in.
trust fur him, the fightful possessor [liiear,
1 have judged it tscee.,sary to myself,. tw•tkose with
whom I then differed, evoll thee. difference now
continued, but much store dug ;Dv them now,,
that I am acquainted with the ;uprighttiess.of their
hearts, and the purity of their itituations. But
above all, it was most foreign front the united
of him (Mr. Pitt) whose. eaute has this night
been so often quoted. In his held, able, and
elogisent appeal he, lout down the basis of his
measures; there was walk* if .setting aside thei
King, but tint full and-oily question was to
ate a Regent, to act in the. Monarch's behalf clue.'
rug the suspension of the Royal functions. Great
and arduous, my Lords, would be the alternative,
if we were reduced to the painful necestity either
of abandoning the country on the one hand,' or
on thel other to set aside the Whereby. 1 advert
to this part of the subject, because I feel' such
imputations are calculated, should they find their
way to the public, to create the must mis.
chievous impressions abroad. Such at that, if we
proceed to supply a deficiency in the exercise of
the Esecutive functions, we are going to set aside
the King, and to appoint the person ota whom the
Cro at; shall devolve. I contend, and ever shall,
that it belongs. to the living. Monarch, and to him
alone ; but, at the same time, that I cannot con,
ceal from myself that such improper impressions
excited abroad have a direct tendency to shake the
fundamental principles of the Monarchy, and
a nong others that. most paramount, that with the
demise of the King alone his Crown devolvil upon
his legitimate suceessor.e—My Lords, amongst other
extraordinary principles advanced at thieday, we
hear it asserted, that the suspension of the Regal
Power does not produce a suspension of the Eaecu.
tive Government..[Elear, hear, front the Opposition
Benches.] I take this principle not obliquely. I de.
sire to be informed, whether the Monarchy of this
realm is of so little regard,ils duties so trivial, as to be
matter of indifference whether it be competent' to
the exercise of its nuaterous functions er not. That.
it is merely an instrument whose eommaticha and
sanction arc wholly unnecessary in the management
of the political machine. Is this dmarkne to which
your Lordships, the Hereditary Countillors of 'sll*
Sovereign, Can give year midst Yet, such is the
undeniable inference of those Ministers who: etc
you, that under attys circumstance of incattanitfi
their authority as Mititsbtrs remains. hi-Us:
Boa [Hear, hear}! A most valked M dof
mine (Lord Holland) designedly fovbord hurt
adverting to the Oracular events of the pier
1789. 1 cannot on this point follow his exaths
pie ; and in recurring to those transeetions, tiniest
say memory deceives me:lituch, the futretio'ns or the
Executive Government were at that time censitlerear
• by the servants of the Crown, ,and were,' in We
suspended. Your Lordships were then told by the
Lord President of the Council, the illustrious 1} ashes'
of the Noble Earl (Camden) who now hot& the
lame situation, that this calamity hail produced a
complete suspension of all the functions of the Exe-
waive Government r and, he added, almost all the
duties of the Council where he presided ; almost,
he said, because. they had other duties dot. erAt.
noting from the Crown, but front the Pattie.
meat. But as to the -feet of suspension,. I am
much mistaken if there cannot be found in the
foreign Office a letter, signed by the Marquis of
Carmarthen, then Secretary. for Foreign Affairs, in
answer to a public dispatch, wlwrein that Noble.
nun states that he could return no answer, being
unable, from the King's illness, to take his Royal
Oleastiro upon that subject. [Hear I Bear ! Heari]
After what we have heard lately upon this point,
it is necessary, my Lords, to be apprized to what•l
latent its advocates suppose it can carried. Arc the
functions of those created by the will of the Sore-
reiga—all whose actieps are with reference to his
unsaved sanction —to exist in full !incest the moment
Oat these servants declare that their Sovereign can.
trot meet his Parliament--that he tan cowininnicate
with them when he is declared incapable to do so with
the other estates of the legislature—that they, by k.
lion, assume his pleasure and forge his directions...
that they, his servants, may be wholly independent'
of him, their master. If this he their doctrine, I
as those alesciples of this new Gem (linen t, at what
time it was .this Government was acknuwledg.
ed ? I presume those who tell us, that because
the King has once constituted them his Ministers,
'therefore has devolved upon them all rights, power,
and influence; they also are prepared contend
fur that doctrine elev.. monstrous, if possiblo,namely,
t'tatto them belongs.the care of his person. In 1788,
two questions werecomprehended in theeonsidera.
lion of his Majesty's servants ; the first, was the
proper management of the Executive G,,vernmetit
sander such ealemitou's circumstances ; the ncat. wed,
I would call it, the care, rather than the custody of
leis Majesty's persdp. • My Lords, when I first ad.-
dressed you, 'I asked you whether in such an afflict.
ing etnerguicy, you were willing to turn your hicks
upon your country. I now cell upon you to say,
whether you are willing to tu rit your backs upon your
//tonere; ? [Hear, hear!] Tttertis tint, my Lords,
an ludividn al ansongit his Majesty's sUbjgcts, Whom if
it pleased Providence to afflict with that most grice.
ens of human cal/midis, which has its scat its the
mind, that to villein by the wisdom and the huma-
nity of the lairs, the King's protection *nuld not
be miter/40 through the preress of an appeal to

TITE , §TATMTAIf.

the Collet of Chancery. Surely then, I may ask
your Lordships to tell we, whether, when his• Ma....
jesty was >itleased to appoint Secretaries of State,
and Chancellors df the Exchequer, he also gave to
them the power of eating in such a calainktous•
eatergency as has now falten upon us ? I . see no
siet ifreede expressed in-their commissions ; there Is
.6 suek power delegated by law ; indeed it is 'no
,where to be found or trace 4, Opt in the Met,
tiotil'of those who dare' thfi.-ttilue antlitirity.-4
My Lord Privy Seal :(Earl :WestMot.etandl ei:.
cures you, that tite..present Minister; are the best
•Kt(ol' for the.. Crevernineut of tfie 'Catihtry;i and
therefore be concludes that they shotti4 pease*
it,• not under the Crown, but without thecrotin.
r Another Noble Lord . has . likened theporscssidtt.
of power withint the sanction of the Enetutive
to a ship which holdsler course sub: insputsu
remorum, although the shoals and quicksands
are in view. Really, my Lords, a more. Miter.
ttinate allusion than this I never heard. What !
propose•hopcs of permanent safety, with the vessel
of the State deprived of its steersman, amidst
the horrors of the storm, its eailt-shatter w, 'its mast
gone by the board, and driven, as it- weep, by the
contending elements upon those very rocks entl.
Shoals u hick the Noble Lord asitimed only to be in
i ptospect.' It snot new, my Lord‘the time to enter
upon a review of all those acts-of Ministerial policy,
lo.whiCh the pertisaits of Ministers aro so fond of
,referring.. When the proper day arrive*, they shall
beltsfetined of thenti listless, indeed, these Kifig,
litistess,ht the assumption of Royal power, take
iiterundoe. the maxim that the King can do no
rooster Aiugkl. Your boxiships..eill then be:
-euebledio• appreciate the. meritionf ibeic policy in
Our commercial prosperityl—it. our financial re.
sources. Then will you : be' raped upon to pass
judgment upon the propriety of mispeodieg the dit-
ties of the Executive Government, for the purpose'
of propping up the financial credit of the country.'
An act, which. l must ever pronounce, amounting
to nothing less than a high' crime and misdemea-.
nour. My Lords, cast yeureyes about you, and
didy consider the critical situation in which your
'Country stands. See yourselves. incapable to com-
municate legal directions to your Generals, whether
*to improve victory or to retrieve disaster. Whether
trxpersue successt• it illness, should fortunately be
Owlet, or to rescue our gallairtarmy from aggra-
--,-fated sufferings; if defeat, should ,be the. melancholy
eonsequeticc. In such a state of things,. Winged of
confidiug in the impulso remorum, in place Of hist*,
and consolation, viewing the appalling •dingeis
which surround the empire, and keeping. up the
figure of the Noble Lord, I exclaim,
0 navis, referent in mare to novi
Dismal 0 quid acts ? Fortiter °tante
,Portum. Nonne vides cat
. . Nathan reinigiO vitas,
Es Indus alert sauente Afireo.
Anteinsipertuant, ae sine funibus • .
Nu dome caritas -
itillsiut imperiaislots
• elifttri . Iton dill pinSlitstigeisliste'r:; . •
. • _ di:quilkiiegiikpiOde vim:is udo. , •
ill'if. ' iftb CtilikEl4l,4oh replied to the
Nstilb est« ifrajojtitif* thit Parliament was
bounitio eat alty upon the rnieelity of the tit:,,
litedefended the cuirass oV eiluttluatina adopted
atiPriiicotinelit which lei :modelled upon ,o.b
pelnellile of that proposed In 1788; which had the
nupietitntel Of iLorda'fliurluw, Longbboiough, Ken-
roll
•
t, iaen, the ,*`leis Mager; of the Rolls, 'and
all *atria lawyers •of the dis,Y. All these ap-
rniedt thela question should be put as to the
-mpebitity ot hii Majesiyis recovery. He was a,i
thato date 11. Motu* of the other House, sitting side
buy side with the Noble Baron, and he never heard'
fenthise such an objectless to the eigurse of the
onsmination as he had taken. nose. The Lordship
"concluded with imploring their Loidships, as thus 1
...
.red the interests of the country..-as they valued
4 feelings and interests of the Ying—to concur
*the motion of adjournment, and defer all far.
.Isir proceedings until the expiration of the next 1.4 ,
A f •
uip. . . , .• . -
.e
Lord t RgKINE supported the amendment.
tail STANHOPE WO, that the Noble Baron
who last but "nee 'poke, entirely stabled the
question. He had niistated the, argument of his,
Noble Relative in a manner the most gross, and he
would say, could he suppose it intentional, in a
manner the most scandalous. Hi would stick to
the Noble Lord as a lawyer, and he.woulil ask him,
whether In his own court he mould consent to re-
ceive a fact without evidence ? Would he receive
the report of the Privy Council as a proof et the
Royal incapacity? He had read moire law in than the
Noble Baron, and he would tell. hint there was nb
law in the land to justify the assilmptioa of. eo lm.
portaut a fact.
The Martkuis.of LANSDOWNE would sue
the amendment Iti betel itripartit,4' without pled!,
himself to any particular course of proceeding wean
the fact of the Royal incapacity was duly authen.
kilted.
His Royal Highness the Duke of SUSSEX
would detain their Lordships but a moment, while
he explained his reasons for voting as he should.—
lie would support the amendment of the Noble
Earl, because the course it recommended was that,
which, in his opinion, was most congenial to the
spirit of the Constitution. He had also another
reason for supporting it, as it would [enxblo him '
to ascertain in whose care his Majesty was to be
.placed, .in the unfortunate event of the canape.
'nee of his indisposition.. lie was also desirous
that, in cassof
.his Majesty's recovery, which. he
.prayed to God- might be as soon as possible, that
the RoyedAnthority should be restored tn him pure
and suldiminished. . . . ~ .
, •
Their Lordship's then, divided op • Earl -Silences's-
amendment. .
. .
.4. .
< Non-contents ii.--..—Contenr. 56.
Itfojitrity, Tint RV V-TV/U. •
The briginat 'outwit was then carried. NciProsieS'
were tervtleretlen.either side, their Lordshipisitang
merely in the cateteity if one of" the Stites' of *the
Realm. s
Adjourned At iitelte O'clock. 1
—....e........
f 101381:. OF.CONIMOKR...7-Ttient,owx, N,,v. 29. •
°tithe motion at Mr. LVii.l,l3, a New writ' was nntered
for the Penrodh of blelboucneteirttfnthr riomp of Om Right
flonour;thit lord Vitcosni LetviAsna, nits Bart of Daft-
*smolt •

sport

;: '.: :


z--

on the molion of Mr. KENRICk, a !few Writ *as or-
dered for the Borough of Yarmouth, in the room of the [tight
liirtounihie Lord It mount Valentia. who, since his ekctiou,
iiiirstetcpted the Stewardship of the Chiltern hundreds.
• HIS MAJESTY.
Mr. Secretary RYDER, observed, that the'llteute
had again re.amembled under the swan unhaitiry•
Circumstances to.which his Right Hots. Friend neer
Ilten.hed calledtbeir;attention at their last meeting ;
the lamented cottliouance of his Majesty's illness
hiring metleitiMpeesibte to take Itnytneatu re either
fort:opening thiSession in the usual manner, or for
proroguing the Parliament to any' further period
I diet-might •be deemed ad-via/gbh. hi thin &Watts
his Majesty's Ministers had thought it their duty to
Call the Physicians before the Board of Privy Coun-
cil, with the trie.w of obtainiug.from them a state-
ment of their opinions. A copy of.that statement
he held in his hand, and having no means of con-
ve7ing to the House any information equally an-
itiettic and accurate, he begged leave to lay it on
' thiftable, in Order that It might •be mid by the
Clerk. • ,- .
• . Mr. RYDER tias shout to lay. M document on
the tiible, when •
• • Mr. TIER:NEY suggested, the propriety of mak-
ingtiich eitteceediog the subject of a-question.
the SPEAKER: allowed 04 if any. Hon. Meth-
ber forinelii. objected to the dulfsering,le of 4uell a
paper, it vould nut be so delieeits!• in without a
question ; otherwise the usage of lied House sane.
dotted the receipt of it without a question. •
, Mr. TAERNEY did not wldeet. to the- reception
of the, paper, but ,to the, form of Its reception.
The House were not lecustOmeda witbeutaquestion,
• to receive any papcts, except such as had been or-
dered on motion, or such as. were presented to them
by order of his *deity, The present paper fell
under neither of. these descriptions, and therefore,
however important in itself, lie conceived that the
House would best consult their dignity by putting
• • the reetleitofthe paper to a question.
The SPgA KER. admitted that the observations
of the Honourable Gentleman werc perfectly cor-
rect. He- had been disposed to admit the present
paper without a question, because in reading the
Journals of 1788, lie could fiud no objection made
to a similar proceeding.
The motion, "'That this paper be now delivered
in," was then put, and agreed is nemine contradi.
cente ; as. was also a subsequent mutioni That
it now read."
• It was then read by the dlerk as follows :
JJX.4l3llNdfibrit 0 FI

Oiisietc crlAgsti, Noy. 113'1.1810.
Dooroa 'Matt -

OALLar!'IN AND livrembi,. AND EXAMINED..
,Q. You are desired to acquaint this itintr4 Whe-
ther the state'of his Majesty's health is sucks, to
reader him incapable:of: coming in person tn. his
Parliament, or of attending to any kind of public
buslue.ss ?
A. 'lie Majesty, is certainly incapable at present
of attending his Parliament, or transacting public
business.
• -Q. What are the hopes you entertain of his M -
jesty.'s recovery ? •
A. I have very confident hopes of his MojestY's
ultimate midwifery.
4, DiV you found the opinion, given in your
answer to the preitiousopestion, upon the particu-
lar symptonis of his Majesty's disorder, or upon
general experleuce it, other cases of the Saute ua-
ture, or upon both ?
A.-.lV_Pon _both.
Q. Whether, in that particular species of the
sibterdet his Majesty has fallen into, it has. been
found from experience that the greater number of
persons so affected have been Cored I
A. Undoubtedly.
4, Can you form any judgment, or probable son.
jecritie,,of the duration Or his Majesty's illness ?
A. Nor' I cannot fora any decisive opinion
upon this subject; it varies in different persons,
and the time• has varied in. his Majesty's former in.
dispositions.
Q. Whether,' as far as experience enables /on to
judge of his Majesty's disorder, you think it mato
probable that his Majesty will, or will not recovery
so as to reader him capable 4 attending to public:
business ?
A. I think it much more probable that his Ma.!
jesty wilt recover. My expectations at present any
very confident of his Majesty's recovery. I speak
this however with reference to the uncertainty that•
alwaya attends medical predictions. With this re.
reface, I should say, from what I see in his Ma.
Litntyi that I have no doubt or it.
Q. What degree-of experience have you had'
.yourself is. this particular species of .disorder ?
A. In above forty years' practice as a Physician,
I have seen many instances of it.
. Q. Whether any amendment has already taken,
place in the course of his Majesty's disorder, sett
whether the appearance of such amendment conti.
nues at present ?
A. His Majesty is certainly better ; and I ant
not sure that he was 'Wien as well, if not better,
yesterday, and continues eo this moruina, than, he
ha been sines I had the honour to attend his Ma-
jesty in this illness. ,
4iir HENRY HALFORD, BART.
salami IN AND SWORN, (IN!) EXAMINED.
Q. You are desired to acquaint this Board, whe.
then the state of his Majesty's health is such as to
render him incapable of coming in person to his
Parliament, or of attending to, any kind of public
business? •
A. I think it is such as to prevent his coming to.
Parliament, or attentling•to public business.
Q. What are the hopes you entertain of his Ma-
jesty's recovery ?
I think it is in the highest degree probable,
that his Majesty will recover.
_ Q. Du you found the opinion given in yaw sn'..
ewer to the previous question.upon the particulas
symptoms of his Majesty's disorder, at upon gene-
ral experience in. othereases of the same nature, or
upon both ?

A. Upon both. ••.
Q. Whether in thatlsarticular species of the dis-
ordrr his Alajesty has fallen into, it bus been found
frAni experienee.tbat the greater noniber of peraons,
ao all'ClCti, hate been cured

I-

A I
believe
form 6d.t
Q. C:l:any *Pinlce; onjaerbetielarey.ol
ti
.110*c:cute, of the duratiou of his Majestvi
lets ?
. ~
tineA: ! cannotriaehe
,fosromfaar satisfactory
tperi
e
jof his Majesty's disorder, you think it ti
probable, that his Majesty will, or will nut ?to
'or, so as to render him capable of atteuiliog tl public business?
A. Much snore probable that his 'Maim? IQ
recover.

Q. What degree of experience have yna
11*
!yourself in this particular species of disorder
A. In the co of 19
cases must haveurse fallen under m years,y
ca good
r,
ognizance
Q. Whether any amendment has a:ready t,io
plantain thu course of his Majesty's disorder,
whether the appearance of such amendment outi
.sues at present ?
• ' A. A sfiery considerable amendment hat tale
mien in his Majesty's symptoms : in the c4litst4
• the last 24 hours his Majesty's mental heidth 11;
.improved; but in the same space his Majesty hi
bees: mote indisposed bodily ; but I have pit Ili
ion to lielieve, that I shall find that indismill
much sttitigatod on my return this eveninz.
DOCTOR. WILLIAM lIEBERDEX
CALLED IN AND MOAN) AND zzasusto.
Q. Yon are desired to acquaint this kneed,ther the state of his Majesty's health is such ww
n ,
render him Wearable of coming in person I, h
• Parliament, or of attending to any kind of Ai
business ?

A. 1 consider the state of his Majesty's he*itg
be such as to render him incapable of
person to his Parliament, or attending to 044
business.
Q. What are the-hopes you entertain of his VI
jetty's recovery ?
A. The greatest expectation of bis-Majestpri
covery.
Q. Do you found the opinion given in yen,. ic
'wet to the previous question upon the ptutiest
symptoms of his Majesty's disorder, or Upon gi
neral experience in other cases of the same niter
or upon both ?
A. I found my opinion upon the improvesto
that has already taken place in his indisposition
the present integrity of his faculties, and them
I logy thisdisnrsler hears to his former illness.

• Q. Whether in that particular species al
disorder his Majesty has fallen into, it has
found, from experience, that the greater
of persons so affected have been cured?
A:. I firmly belierethat it Aloes appear that
greater number of persons have been cured;
my own experience has not been great in that cl.
•
- order. • .
Q, Can you form any judgment; or probe)
conjecture of the duration of his Majesty's ideas
A. f can form no judgment of the precise' it
ration. In general 1 should- judge that the dun
thin cannot be long. •
Q.. Whether so far as experience enables you t
judge of his Majesty's disorder, .you think it mos
probable that his Majesty will, or will not troverf
so as to raider him capablo of attends,* to purr
butiness ?
A. I feel in my own mind no doubt that his Mt
jetty will recover, and bu- capable of- suet&
to public, business.
Q. What degree of 'experience hive yea
yourself in this particular species of disorder ?
A. Very little experience. - ,
Q. Whether any amendment imixilifiristly