The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-08-15

public justice, which are alike the safeguard OF
the highest and the humblest individuals."
The Deputation thea made their obeisance
and retired.
A crowd was assembled about the Queens
residence when the Deprivation arrived. The
members of the Deputation were much Kissed
and abused, the queens counsel were applanded.
When the Deputation went out Messrs Brought
am and Denmsr accompanied them to their
carriages and Mr.. Brougham returned to shake
hands with them, and to shew the people that
they were entitled to respectful treatment.
N><~-
LIVERPOOL, JULY I.
The next step in this unfortunate course, vas
notice from Lord Castiere agh, on Monday night,
that, he should, in the course of ten or twelve
days, propose a motion which would bring the
nature OF the charges agansl her majesty dis
tinctly before the house, and enable it to judge
whether there was Puma facie evidence Of a ne
cessity or further investigation. His sordship
proposed this distant day, ir order to give time
for the secret committee ia the other house to
produce its report, and determine its further pro-
ceedngs. This was certainly very proper, as
otherwise the two houses would have been en-
gagged, by sert OF collateral and useless process,
IN I same secret investigation at the same
time.
On the IolioWinR DAY, however, before the Sc
cret committee of the Lords had entered on its
functions Lord Grey made distinct motion, that
the committee itself should be Immediately dis
solved. His lordship supported his proposition
with great eloquence and powerful argument,
but their effect was weakened by an unseasona-
BILE introduction Of general politics, with which
this question ought to be kept, possible, uncon
nected.--He showed the obvious improperly Of
permitting certain1number Of peers, by cur
sorry glance at er-parse evidence, TO PREJUDICE a
question which might soon be brought before the
house in its judicial capacity; ard he insisted
strongly on the offensive aspect Of secret en-
qury, as abhoHent to the spirit Of British justices
and repulsory current Of public opinion. Lord
Livermore, in reply, disdained all reference to
popular feeling or prejudice in a question Of this
nature, and maintained that Lord Gsey's princi-
pal argument was inapplicable, in as much as
the affair was not likely to come before the up
per house in It's judicial but in its legtsiai,pe ca
paoity. The motion Of Earl Grey was lost by
majority of33 Of course the secret committee Of
the Lords will commence its operations immedi-
ately.
We are to infer from Lord Liverpool's remark,
that in case the inquiry should terminate unfa-
voraby for the Queen, she will be proceeded "a
gainst by what is called bill Of pains and pen
alties, that is, she will be punished by special
act Of parliament in such way as the two houses
may deem commensurate with her offences. This
may consist OF Punishment, div orce, oI degra daton
but is not likely to affect her personal security
general liberty. On the whole, we think that
the country will be disappointed that the neces
sity of secret committee had not been dispe nsed
with in the Lords as wei! as in the Commons,
and the refusal Of the upper house to grant her
majesty time for the arrival of exculpatory evil
dence, though it will not injure her assurance Of
ultimate Justice, will tend materially to increase
the hazard Of first impressions.