tions elsewhere, from attending the proceedings; but the first impression on his mind was, that there would be no impropriety or inconvenience in entertaining the subject. However, more mature reflection, as well as the arguments which he had heard offered that night, convinced him that his first opinion was erroneous. The House were in the strange situation of hearing a trial, in which there was no ostensible prosecutor; for the very persons who acted in that capacity, from very laudable motives he would admit, sat amongst them as judges. He was clearly of opinion, that the proceedings should have originated in the other House. His lordship quoted the case of Judge Cleland, who had been guilty of the same offence imputed to Mr. Justice Fox; namely, imposing an exorbitant fine on the county of Essex. But how did the county proceed? Why, they resisted the payment, and so brought the conduct of the judge to legal investigation.

The Earl of Buckinghamshire differed in opinion with the noble lord who had just spoken. He felt, that the inquisitorial power had been properly placed in their hands, and he wished to see it exercised. The Commons were, in fact, privy to the proceedings against the learned judge, for they had given their consent to a bill for continuing

them.

Lord Auckland repeated his former objections to proceeding. From the first time the subject was introduced in the House, he strove, to the utmost of his poor abilities, to point out to their lordships the injustice and inconsistency in which they were about to involve themselves. He thought, from the discussion of that night, that he was likely to see an end of the measure.

The Earl of Hardwicke considered the motion as calcu lated to get rid of the proceeding altogether, and therefore by no means likely to satisfy the feelings of the people of Ireland. There, he was fearful, their lordships' determination would be considered as a denial of justice.

Earl Spencer said, nothing had been urged to induce him to alter the opinion which he had so often taken the liberty of offering to their lordships on this subject. He contended, that the effect of the motion would not be to get rid of the proceedings altogether. It was competent for the other House to take it up, and send it up before their lordships, in a regular and constitutional manner. The Earl of Westmoreland thought it would be a great VOL. III. 1805-6. hardship

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hardship on the learned judge, if he were deprived of an opportunity of vindicating his conduct, and coming to Parliament for remuneration of his expences, in case his innocence of the charges should be made manifest.

The House then divided on Lord Grenville's motion, for taking the charges into, consideration on that day two months:

The assessed taxes bill, the thread lace bill, the Duke of Grafton's agreement bill, the Prussian yarn bill, the Gibraltar and Malta postage bill, and the Irish mine bill were reported, and ordered to be read a third time.

Lord Morpeth gave notice, that the East India budget would be laid before the House on Monday se'nnight.

On the motion of Mr. Vansittart, the report on the excise office regulation bill was taken into further consideration, and the bill ordered to be read a third time on Men、day.

The committees on the Scotch distillery bill, the custom-house fees bill, the stamp-office regulation bill, and the post-office regulation bill, were postponed till the next day.

Sir J. Newport brought up the Irish customs and excise regulation bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second on Monday.

IRISH ELECTION BILL.

Sir J. Newport moved the order of the day for the House resolving itself into a committee on the Irish Election bill.

Colonel Vereker then rose, and spoke with great warmth of the rapidity with which the right honourable baronet had pressed the bill through the previous stages, while he had declined doing any thing in the present session for remedying those evils which existed in the paper circulation of Ireland. He had no idea of the contents of this bill

till very lately, and its object appeared to be to strike a death-blow at every corporation in Ireland. It arose from the right honourable baronet's own experience in a late election (Order! Order!) and was destructive of the rights of the great corporations. He contended, that time should be given them to present petitions and protests against it, and, as that could not be done in the present session, he should move that it be postponed to the next session.

Sir J. Newport explained the object of the bill. At present, petitioners claiming the rights of freemen in corporations, presented their claims to the mayor, who was an annual officer; and it too often happened, from this and other causes, that their claims were neglected and mislaid for years, and that the freeman was deprived of his just rights, or forced to reclaim them at a great expence. The present bill provided that every claim should be delivered to the town clerk, who was to present it to the mayor within forty-eight hours; and that some decision should be passed upon it within one month after its presentment. It obliged the corporation to proceed to some decision, before they entered on any other election business. Should the claim be rejected by them, and afterwards brought into a court of justice, and decided in favour of the claimant, it provided that he should recover all those expences which he had been put to in pursuing His just rights. This was the more necessary as individuals at present found it ruinous to cope with the weight of a corpora tion purse. He knew that in one instance 50007. had been raised on the revenues of a corporation, for supporting the law expences occasioned by these appeals. The present bill called upon the corporations to do nothing but justice, and whatever allusions the honourable member might make to his motives, he trusted the House would do him the jus tice to believe, that in the exercise of his official duty, he was not actuated by any private or sinister views.

Mr. S. Bourne expressed a strong wish that the mea sure should be deferred for the present, till the sentiments of the people of Ireland should be known. The bill might now pass through the committee pro forma, and the blanks might be filled up, that the nature of the bill might be fully ascertained, and in this state it might lie over till

next session.

Mr. Alexander contended, that the bill, by holding

out so much encouragement to claimants, would be the means of introducing endless litigation.

Mr. Foster said, that the lateness of the sessio 1, and the distance of those who were interested in it, made it impossible for them to transmit their sentiments on it to the House in the present session. He should therefore oppose the Speaker's leaving the chair.

Mr. O'Hara conceived the best way would be for the House to go into the committee at present, when the blanks might be filled up, and then the nature and object of the bill would be seen.

Lord Temple trusted, that no objection would be made to this proposal. He believed that his right honourable friend would not object to giving ten or fourteen days, in order that the sense of the Irish gentlemen might be collected upon it.

Sir J. Newport expressed his acquiescence in this proposal; but he could not consent to postpone the consideration of the bill beyond the present session. By that means twelve months would elapse, and in the mean time a very large body of electors might be deprived of their rights.

Colonel Bagwell opposed the bill; and Mr. Parnell and Dr. Laurence supported it.

Mr. H. Browne wished the bill to be put off for the present. He thought it liable to considerable objections, and at least ample time should be given for its full consideration. He would ask the right honourable baronet, whether he could possibly think fourteen days suflicient for collecting the sense of the people of Ireland upon it? The people of this country were justly jealous of every thing that affected their elective rights, and nothing of that kind should be hurried through the House.

27

The question being then loudly called for, a division
took place, and there appeared for the committee
Against it. . . . 26
Majority

On being re-admitted, we found Mr. Alexander speaking against the bill.

Lord Temple then rose to observe, that the house last night had come to an understanding that the further exa mination of evidence on the charge against Marquis Wellesley should re-commence at five o'clock, and that every other business should give way to it. He therefore moved,

that the chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again.

The Speaker confirmed what had fallen from the noble lord, with regard to the understanding which the House had last night come to. A desultory conversation then ensued, in which Mr. S. Bourne, Lord Temple, Sir J. Newport, and Mr. Rose took a part; and the Speaker having resumed the chair, the Chairman (Mr. Hobhouse) reported: progress, and asked leave to sit again on Monday next. This motion was opposed by Colonel Vereker, who repeated his former arguments, and maintained that the right honourable baronet was totally ignorant of the corporations in Ireland. The oflice of town-clerk, he said, was annual, as well as that of the mayor; and therefore the present bill would not more than before accomplish its object. A division was then loudly called for, and there appeared For the committee on Monday Against it..... Majority

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On the motion of Mr. Paull, a return to an order of the House of the 5th of June for papers on the Oude charge, was ordered to be made forthwith.

MARQUIS WELLESLEY.

Mr. Paull then moved the order of the day, for the House resolving itself into a committee, to take into consideration the Oude charge.

Sir A. Wellesley asked what time the honourable gentleman thought the further examination of evidence would occupy?

Mr. Paull replied, that he expected to close his examination of Sir Alured Clarke, Major Ouseley, and Mr. Johnstone that night; but that he proposed postponing the further evidence till Monday, on account of the absence of some important documents which were not yet before the House.

The House then resolved itself into a committee, Lord Archibald Hamilton in the chair.

Mr. Paull expressed a wish, that Mr. Johnstone, as being a member of the House, should be first examined.

Mr. Johnstone felt himself placed in rather an awkward situation, by being called on as a witness. He had wished to deliver his opinion on the charge as a member of the House,