The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-08-04 00:00:00

THE ST ATESMAN.

pro her rirr.only to & Lord of Parliament, by the King,
be Commission under the great seal, which recites the
indictment against such Peer, Lc. And,says Blackstone,
" It has been a point of some controversy, whether the
Bishops have not a right to sit in thelourt." Some
incline to imagine thew included, under the general
words of the Statute 7th of King William, cap. 3, see.
" all Peers who have a right to sit and vote in PatH
liament," but the expression had been much clearer if
it had been all Lords, and not all Peers, for though
Bishops, on account of the Baronies annexed to their
Bishoprics, are clearly Lords of Parliament. Yet their
blood not being ennobled, they are not universal)
allowed to be Peers with the Tempera' Nobility ; and.
perhaps this word might be inserted purposely with a
view to exclude them. However, there is no instance
of their sitting on trials fur capital offences, even upon
impeachments or indictments in WI Parliament. See
the Earl of Danby's case, (Lords, Journ. May 15th,
1676.) which states, that the Lords SPIRITUAL have
a right to stay and sit in Court in capital cases, TILL
the Court proceeds to the rote of Guilty, or Nut Gains."
We are not aware that any of the Loris Bishops vute4
for the reading of the Bill above alluded to.
It is reported that Sir William Scott is about to re-
tire from the Admiralty on a pension, and will be cre-
ated a Peer of Parliament. This reminds us, that with
tit* King, is entrusted the sole power of conferring
dimities and honours ; and that all degrees of Nobility,
of Knighthood, and other titles and places, are received
by immediate grant from the Crown. We hope and
trust, however, that the Spiritual Peers will nut vote
for the second reading of the Bill, and that no Peers
will be made till the proceedings pending against her
Majesty he concluded ; otherwise, we are fearful that
the Crown tesay become an overhearing part of the
British Constitution, from the consequence it derives
from being the giver of dignities, places, and pensions,
which may hereafter justify the remark, " that though
We have been wise enough, to shut and look the door
against absolute monarchy, we have at the same time.
been simple enough to put the Crown in possession of
the key.

it EQ
Or TIIE FREEHOLDERS OF MIDDLESEX /OR ♦ COUNT!
MEETING TO ADDRESS THE QUEER.

(From a Correspondent.)
A Requisition, respectably signed by the Free-
holders of Middlesex, having been presented to Mr.
Sheriff Parkins (for the purpose of convening i meet-
ing to address the tju end to consider the
Ipro-
ceedings new in Perlis against her Majesty), Mr.
Sheriff Parkins wrote a p 16 note to his Colleague,
expressive of his willingness to comply with the
just wish of the requisitionists, with which note and
requisition a few gentlemen of the deputation re-
paired to Mr. Sheriff Hothwell's house at Clapham,
and presented them to hint. Upon reading the first
line of the requisition, Mr. Sheriff Rothwell returned
it, and said. as it was improperly addressed he could
not receive it 1 upon which Mr. Flanagan, one of the
gentlemen who formed the deputation, addressed him
and said, " 1 should be unworthy of being a free-
holder of Middlesex, were I not to resent the insult
sow offered to the per•ous whose names are taxed to
the requisition, nor shall I earry that insult to the
dour, but return it now to the channel from which it
came. I canoot bear to hear the requisitionists treated 1
with disrespect, or I to retire with this indignity
offered, without expressing my disapprobation." Het,
Mr. Itothwell's son observed, " this language is too
harsh fur my faller." When Mr. F. again reenetende
and s.sid, the rules of civilization suggested to him that
he owed respect to his superiors, and that Ito meant
to say nothing hurtful to his father individually, he
only addressed Ulm in his official capacity ; he would
now alter his tone and address him in the capacity of
a private gentleman, and entreat him to be so courteous
and condescending, as to adhere not only to the prin-
ciples of politeness, but to the justice of the
country ; and expressed a hope that his good
seen would point out to him the propriety of
waving his objection to the requisition, and expressed 1
a farther hope that the ditferenek between both
Sheriffs would be compromised lat it imminent,
until this important meeting should be one. ma
that it was not a matter of importance whose en we,
ferniest in the requisition, and again urged him to I
nut the requisition, which he altogether declined
receiving or reading. An explanation, however, af-
terwards took place, anti Mr. Sheriff Rothwell treated
the gentlemen with some good wipe, and after a few
torments pleasantly spent over the decanters anti
giants, the deputation drank the health of Mr.
Sheriff Rothwell, in bumpers, for his hospitality. and
withdrew on goad sad friendly terms.