The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-05-23 00:00:00


the subject, he did not intend to Rive a direct nega-
tive to the Bill, because, as he had already said, he
thought the question might he advantageously brought
Into discussion in another Session, with a view to
make such arrangements as were called for by the
lapse of time and the alteration of circumstances ; but
seeing no necessity, for this measure, and no necessity
taring been stated, he should now move the previous
question.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, that there ap•
poured In him to be some inconsistency in the mode
of reasoning purseed by the Noble Lord (Grey) in
the coarse of his speech. He argued that there was
no ground at present for further Legislation, but
contended, that it would be advisable at some further
period for Parliament to go into a full investigation
of the Acts connected with this subject, for the pur-
pose of introducing such a change as circumstances
sleight have rendered necessary. The question at
present was, if the propositions contained in the Bill
'were fit to be entertained ? Whether it would be
wise to proceed further was quite another subject,
•a which there might be a difference of opinion. It
„bad no connection with the present Bill, which rest.
el entirely upon the ground of expediency. The
Noble Lord (Grey) expressed no objection to the
principle of the first clause of the Bill, that was to an
Increase in the number of the Queen's Council. His
. only objection was to the mode in which the power
a nomination was to be exercised. Looking to the
present circumstances of the Council, no person
imeid entertain any doubt of the necessity of making
oem. oddities to it. Two of the Members were at
present entirely precluded from attendance, and two
=ore, from the importance and extent of their pith-
lie duties, could attend bat seldom. This, as stated
.by his Noble and Learned Friend (Lord Eldon), was
selicient motive for the measure, so far as regarded
.the particular point under consideration. It was
4tree that eight was the number named in the original
/Act to constitute the Council. They were nominated
by Parliament, but it contained a provision at the
:same lime, enabling her Majesty to fill up any va.
.oattev which might occur. This power was exec.
used by her Majesty in one instance, in consequence
of she death of a• highly respectable individual. If
Io the amuse of nature, the majority, or even the
,wholtsd the Council should die, the %hole, as well
as apart, would be in the nomination of her Majes-
ty. At the.seswe time he had no difficulty in saying,
.that.he felt no objection to modify this part of the
Bill, in ouch a manner as might appear most advise.
.ble to.- Parliament.. In this his Honourable and
JAartied Friend (Lord Eldon) also concurred. He
would mow come to the other point, Resent
which% en objection had been made. The Nnihist
Lord. (Grey) espresaed his surprise that such 'a
clause as the second should he introduced into
.the Bill, without any necessity for it being stated
In the preamble, or proved in argument 'by his
.Noble and Learned Friend (Lord Eldon. He said
he would not believe that the provision in the Re.
gently Act crept in unadvisedly, or was not founded
upon good and sufficient reasons. At the time of the
•aegeitcy Act there was no adequate necessity for the
introduction of such a clause as was found in the
.present Bill. The Regency question was not the
one under discussion now. At the time of its intro-
doetion it was the subject of much discussion, and
sue a clause as that now proposed was omitted, be-
cause it was considered that the agitation of it would
• produce more inconvenience than eventual advantage.
In the event of the demise of the Crown, the imme-
diate meeting of Parliament was not so necessary,
there being a successor immediately to undertake the
functions of the Crown, and one who succeeded of
•right He would now come to the immediate ques-
tion of the custody of his Majesty. For this put.
pose, what occasion would there be for an immedi-
ate meeting of the old Parliament, if a provision was
now agreed to, that tie Council should have full
powers until such time as the new one met? Whe-
ther it would be wise to limit the duration of those
.powers:to a filled period was another question, which
Sleight be discussed at a future stage of the Bill. One i
swede of proceeding might give rise to the greatest in-
conveniences. which would he avoided by the other.
It was asked, why a clause of this kind was not in.
trodoced before, in former Acts? The same objec-
tion could be made against many legislative measures.
The Noble Lord contended, that there Was 110 im-
mediate necessity for it. Perhaps there was not, but
the Noble Lord himself admitted that it might arise
in the course of twelve months. What difference
could there be between causing this Bill now and in
.the coarse of another Session ? The Noble Lord
(Grey) seemed to think, that there was no great de-
licacy *hewn towards her Majesty in proposing the
subject at present. He was as little inclined as any
Noble Lord, or any person in the country, to do
any thing which could at all tend to move the feel-
ings of that Great Personage, and he had the satis-
faction to inform the House, that he had not, and
would not, have brought forward each a question,
•withoot knowing that it was not only not contrary
to her feelings, but quite incooformity with them. She
'bad no objection to concur in any thing that Parlia-
ment might judge most advisable open the subject.—
( Hear, hear!)--If it should he deemed necessary to
discuss matters connected with the custody of his
Majesty more at length. Parliament would have an
opportunity of doing so at an early period of the
vest Session. He was not tenacious of one part of
the Bill which had been objected to, bet he hoped
the House would see the great incesveoieuces which
might be obviated by agreeing to the other.
The Earl of CARNARVON could not see that
any ground was made out for thegreat constitutional
change which was attempted to be made. They were
called upon in order to meet one possible contingency,
to withdraw all concern for his Majesty's welfare,
by deferring from one Session to another the arrange-
ments that might be necessary. It was the impera.
tivardety of Parliament on the first moment that such
an cress should take place, as was in the contempla-
tion of •the present Bill, and the Regency Big, itself,
to meet for the purpose of providing for the emer-
gency. If the state of her Majesty's health required
that she should be absent for a time from Windsor,
he was far from making any objection to grant such
additional assistance as would in that case be proper;
bat when a.questioe of a constitutional 'Wore was
involved, hR could sot agree to intrust .such discre-
tion to the Council. It was his wish that the present
hilt should be divided into two Bills, the first to be