The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-05-15 00:00:00

s
Mr. Secretary PBEL said, that, when on a former day
it was propost•d to resume the further inquiry into the
condLet of the Sheriff of Dublin, he objected to it in the
absence of the Noble Lord, whose motion it was under-
stood, was to hare precedence on thet day. lie wished
to say so in courtesy. to the Noble Lord. It was five
o'clock yesterday, when he was preparing to come down,
that he learned there was on How..
The LORI) ADVOCATE said he had no share in the
diallptx4ntment of the Noble 'UAL Seeing the' Hon.
Member for t Ntne in hie piaci, be begged, while on his
legs, to kcow whether it was his intention to bring on
thp motion relating to W. Murray Borthwick, fixed for
toe 3d.of June. On looking to the Motion Book, hr
Nand a motion of the Member for Essex (Mr. Western)
'idao liked for that day. Ile therefore hoped the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman would either fix his motion for
tiptoe other day, or get the consent of the Honourable
Meinher for Essex to let it take precedence on tae day
already fixed.
Mr. A BERCROMBY said he had hopes that his mo-
tion woiddlieve'precedenee. He had already repeatedly
postponed it, sud if it yield not be discussed, tt teas not
his rank
.Mr. BROUGHAM said that he could relieve the
Learned Lord from all doubt on the subject, for he knew
that another day nos to be fixed by the Hon. Member
for Essex.
• After a few words from Mr. Serretary CANNING
and Mr. CALCRAPT, the petition was laid oft the
table. . .
CHUReiI ESTABLISHMENT IN IREGAND.
Sir J. NEWPORT gave notice that he would, early
next Seision of Parliament, more for a Committee of
the 'louse to inquire into the State of the Church Esta-
blishment in Iceland, of the Residence of the Clergy, and
of the First Fruit Fund.
MILBANK PENITENTIARY.
Mr. G. BENNET moved fee the appointment of a
fielect Committee, to inquire into the state of the Peni-
Semi try at Milbank.
' After u few words from Sir J. YORKE, Mr. COUR-
TENAY. and Mr. HOLFORD, the motion was agreed
to, and the Committee named. .
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.
• Mr..J. WILLIAMS said he rose to nonce a breach of
the privileges of the House, which, if it were not ac-
companied with peculiar circums!ancee, he professed
himself to be the last man in the House to bring it un-
der their consideration. It was in the recollection of
Hoot Members, that io the course of the examination of
a particular witness on the inquiry into the con Ind of
the Sheriff of Dublin, some questions were put by the
Right Hoe. Gentleman (Mr. Barry) relating to the wit-
tress's domestic affairs. He did not complain of the eon-
Adel 'of the Right Hon. Gentleman, who no doubt acted
ill maranance of the inlimetions he received. The dis
ehorion on the relevancy and propriety of the domina-
tion terminated in a Resolution, that the whole of the
ifirftioes and answers should he expunged from the mi-
pilaf;; and there was at the same time a distinct intim-
floe. he would net rev threat, given to those who hail
`the management of the public press, to abstain from all
notice of that part of the examination. Tht conduct of
the public press of the Metropolis, without the excel tiJn
ref one single paper, was regulated agreeably to the
Wishes 6f the House ; and not one of, them attracted
the notice of their readers to that part of the examine-
Goo. So that he heard an Hon. plumber, who .vas not
that night in the house, say that he never before heard
of the occurrence. The Hon. Member then read the of-
fensive parnraph from the " Dublin Evening Mail ;"
and concluded by moving, that the printer .thereof be
Called to the bar of the house.
Colonel BARRY said he did not rite to offer any
thing in mitigation of the conduct of the printer of
the paper in question ; but he did not think the House
ev.i'old concur in thinking what was contained in the 11
papera breach of privilege. The very line of conduct
the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was pur:ning, was
the surest means of diffusing morewidely the objection
Ware part of
:the, examination. The Hon. and Learned
I:lsLeman Wtei•ntat ,right in supposing no other paper
. opted
:contrary to the instruction of the House, for
the•, palter to which •he himself celled their intention
some nights ago bend alluded to that part of the exami-
lation distinctly, and in the grossest terms.
. Mr. BROUGHAM said that there was no doubt but
the publication alluded to was a breach or privilege;
but the questimr was whether it was a simple or an ag-
iiivated breach. At Common Law every publication of
',be proceedings of that House was a breach of privilege.
He concurred with his Hon. and Learned Friend that
potting so indecorous as the present• publication could
come before the House.. He was himself one of those
who appealed to the good feelings and taste of those
who,communirated between. that House and the public
Press. However inexcusable the conduct of this printer
might he, he would, not object to any notice '?zing taken
of it by the House, not fur the reason urged by the
Pelle 'Hon. Gentlemen, because by such reason the
graiseest libel on that House would escape purdshment;
het Because he dial not think it just to visit with yen-
geaece minor criminals, while officers under Govern•
sr eat Were allowed to commit greater offences, not *WI
impunity,. but with applause. When an officer under
Cite Crown in Scotland hail been allowed to escape with
itneiinity, after threatening a member of that House, he
thought it Would he marvellous and unparalleled injustice
to vi it poor printers with .any severity of punishment.
The Hon. and Learned Member then di sired to be read
*the Resolution of the House io the case of Mr. Hope
end Mr. Menzies, and said that when the House had
ettiltified and degraded itself to such a state of humilia-
tion, when an .oilicer of the 'Crown at the bar for a
breach of privilege refused to apologise for the letter he
wrote art-mining the conduct of a Member of the
Ironie; and when the Menthers of the Ministerial side
of ,the Nouse; in triumph at their own humiliation, sent
4'ol not only.stith impunity, but with. exclamations
4 joy. Was he to be told that their privileges were
item to tbe House? In consistency with the declare-
-1 iiii Which he made on that occasion, and in, redemption
I the pledge we:bad given, be would, if even let alone,
lid tapagaitast the veistgeance of the House on printers.
* Mr: ie, HUTCHINSONieId diet he understood that
The proffer part of the VianiiMetiron of the witnesses
hid hen taken before the Rouse, which 'bad intimated
this .proptiety of, abstaining from the Publicathin of .it.
'The report of the proceedings was sent off by the mail
fur Ireland and could not then he recalled, so that the
peter of the paper could not be acquainted With the
e'mpressed wish of the house.
'Mr. Secretary CANNING. said he was anticipating
that the fact was as the Hon. Member stated, and that
the printer sinned in ignorance. His own notion of
r.thamentary privilege was, that the publication of
int part of their proceeding+ was a breach of it; but
Whets the Offending p•tety nos hronglit to the bar, it de-
piiieatd•;3, his explai adult, whether lie was to be visited
With penisitmetit or not. In reference to the case stated
tthe Hon. and Learned lien letnan,_he (elr. C.) was
intiftistse whit thought the explanation of theperson
;; i
• was brought to the bar quite saiisrastoty.; He aid
Ivii mean to point out totiae , Hon. 'arid Learned Gent.
Who brought the•presseit case before the goose, whit
*aerie he ought to pursue; but if 'the itatiment Of the
711. on; Measlier for Lurk were trtie, ite4 'be haii.nO doubt
of it, It was ilea' r that the printer sinned in ignorinCe.
• Si r JOHN NEWPORT said, that the paper in qhis-
....r
Imo, bad in a second edition noticed the itesohition of
t:Ottioule to expange the examination, yet it published
n eill'Pas ind answers.
.ICwas the duty of the printer,
l eittilbi the intimation of the House, not to give pro-
inulgatioo to the examination.. He thought It. 'was a
411 W ore!: egg eiraterin attire. ..
•