The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-11-11 00:00:00

&Wu. the more ect was his impression of its oL-
Sjsists rhatinter., :;(dear.)
Qn•the question hieing ialled for.
Lord ERSKINE •said, that, as the House isms so as-

r • ••11./.••••• • ••• . • •

• •tu rhliyanxious for the decision an the Bill before theni,'
, lie sfastifd content hinitelf with saying, sotwithstand-
-1;4 his great respect for the learning of bis Noble
rrieod On the woolsack. that he continued of the opi- •
. „elan be 111+1 formerly given on the subject of the evi;,
;••• de•s:e. declaring that, if it were the last word he had ,
to utter' in this world, he shouhi pronounce it to be
'shoal' insufficient to inpport the charge ; nor could it'
hare supported it. in any Court where justice was duly
.aiffnielhitered. The case hail nothing to do with eke
ettinstantial evidence, but turned wholly on the discreo'
elit of the witnesses engaged in a manifest conspiracy I
throughout the whole body of the proof, which an in-
. tellifrent jury would have reierted it contempt. 'I be'
robe of the supposed murderer, by the proof of the
•knife and bloody garment, must come to nothing in
an 'instant, even after murder established by proof, if
Cie witnesses opposed to such girls had been heard to
fisc:are, after the murder had been committed, mid the
Fris.mer arrested fur it, that no knife or blood bail ever
bee:: seen by them, and that the accused was purely
irr..went. As to the Queen being it uiltv on the testi-
ratry of her own witnesses, he denied it altogether,
fa:- the reasons hr hail already given.
The Duke of GRAF roN said. that upon looking
int) the whole of the evidence. he must pronounce a!
verdict of not guilty.—(Dear.)
The Marquis of fiI•NTLEY said that he was satin-
lied of the guilt of her Majesty, and should therefore
vote for the third reading of the Bill, The evidence
of Lieut. llownani, alone, was sufficient to convince him
of that, and he was only surprised how the Noble Lord
onosite conkd entertain a contrary opinion sits the sub-
ject : and he hoped that, considering the sincerity
they evinced of her Majesty's iiinocence, they would
aid to it by letting their wives and slaughters associate
with the Queen.—(Hear, and a laugh.)—He was anx-
ious not to give a silent vote upon this occasion, in
eonsequence of the threats held out by Counsel at the
Bar.—(Hear, front the Ministerial benches.)
The Marquis of DONEDAL said that lie had close-
ly attended throughont the V. hole of these proceed-
ings and directted his attention as closely as pus-
siale to the mintieation of the evidence, both by
I:,•aring it in the House, and reading the minutes
at his leisnre out of it. In his opinion the evi-
dee re of Majocclii and Demont, which bore the burden
of the proof in this case, was inconsistent. Ile paiuted
nut that, when Demont and Majocchi were asked as to
the same fact, nninely, the dress worn on particular oc-
casions he line Majesty, they did nut give correspond-
ing answers. Ills clear ai,d conscientious vote was
therefore against the Bill, which lie was sure,. could
E•11'1' he rendered beneficial either to their Lordships
ie. the country.
The Bishop of GLOITESTER rose, and stated that
he could not concur in the DivoreeClause in this Bill,
st i•ich, if oot bosti le to, was certainly inconsistent with,
11,e spirit and tenor of the Christian morality and
law. It did appear to him inconsistent with the stand-
urger of the 'loose on other occasions, and nut ac•
cording to impartial justice between the parties. This
heiug Ws conscientious feeling regatding the Divorce
Clause, he was compelled to note against the third
reading of the Bill. It gave hint pain to vote on the
present occasion against those for whose political
sou-
tirnents he entertained a decided preference; he was
sorry now to he compelled to differ front them, but he
was obliged to do SO to support the dignity of the epis-
copal character.
Lord :VIVANI.EY; we believe, said that nothing
had occurred from Counsel at the Bar to authorise the
allusion of the Noble Marquis opposite; indeed, they
showed much better taste than he had in their choice
of topic.
Lord ELLENnoicouolf, in voting against the
Bill, could nut help making. this observation—that
among time. strange peculiarities of this case was this,
that the strongest evidence of her Majesty's guilt was
to he derived front her own witnesses.
The Earl of DARNLEY rose amid loud cries of
a question," and eulogised the speech of Earl Grey,
which lie said would be remembered as long as these
extraordinary proceedings themselves would be. II • ,
implored those noble lords, whose opinions were vet
avering on the espedieney and policy of this Hill, to
step forward in this its last stage, and to interpose their
authority to stay a measure so pregmant with disastrous
consequences. He trusted their Lordships would recol-
lect that this measure was against the sense of the great
mass of the Commons of England. He would not, for
a mumnent, pay any deference to the opinion of the
rabble; that he despised as much as ally but the
repression of public feeling to which lie alluded was the
almost u • opinion of the respectable class in
society. Ile hoped their lordships would consider thew
matters before they rushed en the consummation of a
Measure which was looked upon with disgust in this
and almost every country in Eiirope—a measure it Lich
would (as we uoilerstooil the noble lord) reflect diserare
upon that once proud assembly. (At the cuticle of
the noble lord's speech the cries of " question" were
loudly repel eil from all parts of the. House. Strangers
were then ordered to withdraw.)
Un the division there appeared— .
• For the third reading
Against it
Majority
. We have received the following report of what passed
during the exclusion of strangers :
lived HAeILE rose amid very vehement cries of" Or-
fleet" and as soon as the peers had taken their seats-he
ohserved, that he had been entrusted with a petition
(rims her Majesty, praying to be heard by !mansel against
the passing of the bill. (Much cheering.)
The Earl of LIVERPOOL rose immediately, and said
that he apprehended such a course would be remitted
unnecessary by what he was about to state. (Hear, hear.)
He could not be ignorant of the state of public feeling
witis regard to this measure, and it appeared to be the
opinion of the House that the Bill should be read a
third dine only by a majority of nine votes.—(Mach
cheering.)_—lfadthe,thitsh reading been carried by as
considerable a number of peers as the seeonii, he and
his noble colleagues would have felt it their duty to per-
severe with the Bill, sad to send it down to the other
branch of the legislature. In the present state of the
country, however, and with the division or sentiment,
so nearly balanced, just evinced by their lordships, they
bad cense to the determination not toroceed futile,
with it. It was his intention, accordingly, to move that
the question that the Bill do pane be eat on this day int
neonths.—(The most vehement cheering took place at
this naexpected declaration.)