greater importance remained un- mover of the Address, namely, touched, which was, the restric- that courtesy required, that the tion of the Bank from paying in speech should pass unopposed or specie ; respecting which, not- unremarked upon, lest it should withstanding the approaching ex- prejudice any future discussion of piration of that period, he would the subjects which it compreask whether any man in the king- hended. On the contrary, he dom would rely upon the resump- thought it was an additional motion of cash payments?

tive for making some observations, Such were the principal topics not on the particular loss to which which were touched upon in the his Royal Highness alluded, but speech of the noble marquis. on the general view which the

The Earl of Liverpool, who Speech took of public affairs. spoke next, found little more And here he was compelled to ground for his address than a re- say, that the extravagant represumption of the subject already sentations of the state of the councontained in the speech of the try which the speech contained, Prince Regent. There was, in- would justify many more obserdeed, one topic upon which, as an vations than those with which it was important minister of the crown, his intention to trouble the House. he ventured to give a free opinion. He rejoiced to find that consiHe had no hesitation in saying derable reductions had taken that, considering the present state place in our military establishof the exchanges, and the pro- ment, and was ready to concede gress of the pecuniary operations to government as much merit on alluded to in the last session, he this subject as they were entitled thought it impossible that cash to; but with respect to civil repayments could with safety be re- trenchment and regulation, it stored on the 5th of July next. If would, in his opinion, have been such should be found to be the much more satisfactory, if the case, it would be prudent to ex. Speech, instead of a vague protend the Bank Restriction act till mise of concurrence and co-operathe succeeding session, when the tion in any parliamentary meawhole question might be delibe- sures to secure the full enjoyment rately weighed, and finally de- of the benefits of peace, had

pointed out such measures. Was After a short reply from the it not notorious that by the supEarl of Lauderdale, the Address pression of some of the superior was unanimously agreed to. offices, not only a great saving

In the House of Commons, the would be effected in the expense correspondent address

to the of collection, but a better collecPrince Regent was moved by Mr. tion would be made ? ReformaBrownlow, who was seconded by tion of this nature, however, could Mr. William Peel.

scarcely be expected from such Mr. Macdonald then rose, and ministers as the present. said, that he could by no means Then came the congratulatory concur in the opinion of the passage in the Speech--on th

cided on.

increase of the revenue. It was speech, and of the speeches of well to hear that the people had the honourable gentlemen, it been enabled to pay nearly four seemed that they might be spared millions more than they had done the trouble of contemplating any last year; but it would be much such possibility. They were told better to be told that in future they might safely rely on the inthey would have to pay less. violability of treaties, and on our The omission in the Speech of intimate union with

with foreign all allusion to a reduction of our powers ; the one substantial setaxation was highly inauspicious. curity for permanent peace was, With unmingled satisfaction a wise, economical, and conciwould the people hail any im- liatory administration of public provement of the public reve- affairs, and an undeviating system nue, if the past afforded them any of justice and liberality to the assurance that that improvement people of other countries, whewould be the means of diminish- ther powerful or weak. As to ing the evils under which they any other objects of the alliances laboured ; but burthened as the in question, the British public country was, what prospect could regarded them with the utmost the Chancellor of the Exchequer indifference. As to the principal hold out of a removal, or even a result of the congress, it seems considerable diminution of that to be thought that no course galling taxation which it suffered. could be resorted to but that of The fact was, that a realization of deprecating every species of disthe hopes which had been held cussion. There was one subject, out on that subject could be ef- however, to which the people of fected only by such a demand for this country had looked with our productions as would absorb anxious expectation. They exa very large additional portion of pected that at length the detestour population in manufactures- able traffic in human creatures an evil of the most serious kind, would be denounced and finally morally and politically. When extinguished, by the high and he contemplated the mass of assembled professors of peace human misery which these cir- and of Christianity. It was, howcumstances occasioned, he could ever, well known, that the power not help being surprised at those which had opposed so desirable mutual" felicitations on the state a consummation, was France. of the country which a little France, a member of the holy sober reflection would have alliance! France, under the rechecked. If at a time of peace stored rule of his most Christian we were unable to diminish the majesty! Thus it had appeared public expenditure, how should that all the sacrifices which this we be prepared for a time of war? country had made in favour of the It might happen that we should Bourbon dynasty, had been inbe engaged in a war for the de- sufficient to obtain from the court fence of every thing that was of Louis Dix-huit a measure which valuable to us.

Were the House was little more than one of de. to listen to the tone of the royal cency.

It

It seemed to be thought by decision on the topic. In conthe hon. gentlemen who had clusion, he said, that the mover moved and seconded the Ad- of the Address in reply to the dress, that there was nothing so Prince Regent must not be astosimple and natural as to admire nished if he found that a consievery thing that was done byderable portion of the House “ the powers that be,” and that could not see in his recipe of no fault was to be found with union and harmony any thing but any of their proceedings. For a general prostration at the himself, it gave himn little satis- shrine of ministers. faction to find general discontent Mr. Sinclair, who gave the last in the country, and more espe- speaker the title of his honourcially when that discontent occa- able relation, was strenuous for sionally exhibited itself in an approving the Address, which he intemperate and malignant cha- considered as highly creditable racter. Whence came the ex- to the candour and moderation of treme irritation among the peo- his majesty's ministers. If, said ple, the existing tendency to he, we regard its general scope tumult and violence? How hap- and tenour, we shall find that it pened it that towards an adminis. contains such sentiments, and is tration under which, notwith- couched in such language, as no standing their egregious blun- friend to his country can readers, the military glory of the sonably object to. Every topic nation had been carried to the has been studiously avoided highest point, so much apathy which could elicit any material had been shown by most classes difference of opinion, or excite of society, and so much decided any angry discussion. His hodisinclination by the remainder ? nourable relation, however, had It was because they were found not thought proper to follow deficient in those qualities, with- this example of forbearance ; out the possession of which no and there is scarcely a single administration could ever enjoy measure, either in retrospector public confidence. When the in contemplation, upon which he opinion of government was called has not attacked with severity for on questions of the greatest the past conduct, or the pregeneral interest, it was discovered sumed intentions, of his majesty's that they had no opinion.

advisers. Mr. S. however deThe hon. gentleman then in- clared that it was far from him stanced his proposition in Mr. to expose his own presumption Grenfell's question respecting by entering the lists with one Bank paper ; in the subject of the whom he so much respected. He poor laws; in that of the criminal also added, that he was far from code, introduced by Sir S. Ro- being decidedly hostile to all the milly ; in the discussions on the opinions which he had supported Catholic question, in which go- with so much eloquence; and he vernment pledged itself to remain should think meanly of his own neutral, while the Prince Regent fairness and judgment if he did was to avoid assisting in any not always listen to his arguments

with deference as well as with had been violated, and the various attention. He trusted there were pretexts by which the settlement some, of whom he did not hesi- of their question had been tate to profess himself of the avoided. This was a question number, who think that they do which, of all others, ought not not deviate from the path of con- to be left to time and chance ; stitutional consistency, by pre- for the exclusion of millions of suming to judge for themselves, his majesty's subjects from their without stooping to complete constitutional rights ought to be subjugation to party influence. justified by some sound and

Sir Henry Pariell wished to visible principle of public policy, know from some one minister or it became an act of fagrant of the crown, why, upon this oc- injustice to continue it. casion of calling the attention of Mr. Tierney said, that it was Parliament by the Speech from not his intention to oppose the the throne, the situation of the motion of an address, or to deCatholics of Ireland had been, as tain the House with observations usual, wholly omitted. It was to of his own, after the very able no purpose to treat the Catholic speech which had been delivered question as one of no import- by his honourable friend behind ance: it had for the last eighteen him. His object in now rising years been by far the most im- was merely to observe, that by portant one that had come be- consenting to the address, he did fore parliament, and would so not bar himself from all

possicontinue to be. No one could bility of entering, at a future deny that the Catholics had just period, on the subjects alluded cause to complain of the manner to in the Speech. in which the engagements made The Address was then agreed to them at the time of the Union to without opposition.

CHAP CHAPTER II.

Discussions respecting the person to whose care the trust of his

Majesty's person should be committed ; carried on by the Lords and Commons.

N January 25th, the Earl of patronage, be it more or less,

Liverpool having moved the which belonged to the office, order of the day relative to the ought to be vested in the indivispeech of the Lords Commission- dual named in the bill. But in ers, and the death of the Queen, fact it was intended that the estamentioned their purpose to com- blishment should undergo a remit the care of his Majesty's duction, upon which principle person to that individual to whom the bill would be founded; but it was most proper the trust as to the details of that reducshould be consigned ; and this tion, they had no connection with person he did not doubt would the present bill; which would be found in his royal highness come first before the other the Duke of York. It was his House, and in the usual course intention, therefore, to introduce of business would be brought a bill for placing the custody of under the consideration of their the King's person in the hands of lordships. Some further disthe Duke of York, subject to the cussion then took place, in which assistance of a council. A bill lord Holland said, that he could for this purpose was then read a not accede to the principle so first time, and ordered to be broadly laid down by the noble printed.

secretary of state, that all the On the 26th of January, when patronage of the establishment the second reading of the bill ought to be vested in the person was ordered, Lord Holland took to whom the care of the king's notice of what he termed an im- person was intrusted. perium in imperio, which would The bill was then read a second be established in the person of time. the Duke of York, with respect At the third reading of the to all the offices on the establish- bill, Jan. 27th, Lord Holland ment which it was intended to said, that he wished it to be disconfer upon him.

tinctly understood, that he did The Earl of Liverpool, in not object to vesting the care and giving an explanation of the noble custody of the king's person in lord's query, said, that if the ap- the duke of York, whom he unpointment made by the bill ap- doubtedly thought from his stapeared proper, the conclusion to tion, his high character, and the be drawn would be, that all the relation in which he stood to his

majesty, 11