Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 001.djvu/107

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1817.]
Register.—Proceedings of Parliament.
103

Lord Sidmouth, after strangers had withdrawn, informed the House, that as the Prince Regent was returning from the House and the carriage was passing in the Park, at the back of the garden of Carleton House, the glass of the carriage window had been broken by a stone, as some represented it, or by two balls tired from an airgun, as others stated it, which appeared to be aimed at his Royal Highness.

Both Houses examined witnesses on this communication, and presented addresses to the Prince Regent.

The address on the speech from the Throne was moved and seconded by the Earl of Dartmouth and Lord Rothes in the House of Lords; and in the House of Commons by Lord Valletort and Mr Dawson. Earl Grey moved an amendment in the Lords, which was negatived without a division; and the original address was carried in the House of Commons, in opposition to an amendment moved by Mr Ponsonby, by a majority of 152.


HOUSE OF LORDS.

Monday, Feb. 3—Lord Sidmouth presented the following message, which was read by the Lord Chancellor: "His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, has thought proper to order to be laid before the House of Lords, papers containing an account of certain meetings and combinations held in different parts of the country, tending to the disturbance of the public tranquillity, the alienation of the affections of the people from his Majesty's person and government, and to the overthrow of the whole frame and system of the laws and constitution; and his Royal Highness recommends these papers to the immediate and serious consideration of the House."

THANKS TO LORD EXMOUTH.

Lord Melville, after taking a review of the cause, the mode, and the effects of the expedition to Algiers, and paying a well-merited tribute of applause to the promptitude, skill, and gallantry, displayed in that memorable achievement, moved the thanks of the House to Lord Exmouth, Sir David Milne, and the officers, seamen, and marines; and also to Admiral Capellen, and the officers and crews under his command; which motions were unanimously agreed to.

PRINCE REGENT'S MESSAGE.

Feb 4.—Lord Sidmouth rose to propose to their Lordships, an answer to the message which he had last night laid before them from the Prince Regent. Their Lordships would, he had no doubt, concur in the address which he should have the honour to propose, as it would pledge their Lordships to nothing except to an examination of the evidence. He would refrain from all reference to any ulterior proceedings, and recommend that nothing should be said or done until the report of the Committee should be laid before the House. The atrocious outrage lately committed against the Prince Regent was certainly regarded with the utmost horror and reprobation by an overwhelming majority of the nation; and he felt it his duty to state, that the present communication was not at all connected with that outrage.

After some general remarks by Lord Grosvenor, Lord Holland, the Earl of Liverpool, Earl Grey, and the Marquis of Buckingham, the address was agreed to, and the papers on the table were ordered to be referred to-morrow to a committee of Secrecy, consisting of eleven Lords, to be then chosen by ballot.

NEPAUL WAR.

Feb. 6.—The Earl of Liverpool took a review of the cause of this war, and of the operations which led to its successful termination, and moved that the thanks of the House be given to the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings, for the able and judicious arrangements by which the war in Nepaul had been brought to a successful conclusion. The motion was agreed to; after which, thanks were voted to Sir David Ochterlony, and the troops under his command.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF SECRECY.

Feb. 18.—The Earl of Harrowby presented the report of the Secret Committee appointed to inquire into certain meetings and combinations endangering the public tranquillity, which was laid on the table, and ordered to be taken into consideration on Friday, and that the House be summoned for that day.

SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS ACT.

Feb. 21.—Lord Sidmouth introduced a bill, under the title of "A bill to enable his Majesty to secure, and detain in custody, such persons as his Majesty shall suspect of treasonable intentions against his Majesty's person and government." His Lordship intimated, that it was thought most convenient for their Lordships to discuss the principle of the measure on the second reading of the bill, which he intended to propose should take place on Monday next. Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday.

Feb. 24—Lord Sidmouth, after moving the order of the day for the second reading of the bill, observed, that whatever differences of opinion might exist as to this and other measures in contemplation, he was confident that no Noble Lord could have read and reflected upon the report of the Committee upon the table, without the deepest regret, calculated as it was to shock every feeling of loyalty to the Throne, and of affection for the illustrious individual exercising its functions, and to cast a loathsome stigma upon the character and dispo-