that lord Melville should quietly retire with his riches and his honours. He then entered into a statement of the emoluments arising from the several offices of lord Melville, and particularly dwelt upon the grant 1500!, a year to lady Melville out of the public money, and for which no service had been performed, and observed, that if any of those grants were revocable, they ought to be revoked. He then concluded with moving, "an humble "address to his majesty, praying "that he would be graciously pleas"ed to remove lord Melville from "all offices under the crown during "pleasure, and from his councils "and presence for ever." Mr. Canning did not think that the case which, at the most, amount eto no more than a bare suspicion, warranted the severity of the proceedings now proposed. When he looked back to the proceedings in that house, in 1795, upon the serious charges then brought forward against two most eminent commanders, and that their most active defender, and most indefatigable advocate, was that very noble lord, who has now been the theme of the honourable gentleman's violence and invective, he little expected that, in his present defenceless state, attempts to hunt him down would have been made by the kindred of sir Charles Grey, and the friends of sir John Jervis. Mr. Grey knew of no similitude in the two cases. When the two commanders alluded to returned home, distinguished by military success; instead of concealing their conduct, by any dishonourable subterfuge, they courted an enquiry. In that situation, the support given them by lord Melville, instead of being a favour, was doing them no more than justice. After declaring the noble lord had been guilty of a high breach of duty, it was necessary to follow it up with some corresponding measures. The resignation of the noble lord was a matter of course, as he dare not remain in power after the opinion of that house had been so solemnly expressed; but he was still a privy councillor, and held several lucrative offices during pleasure, his removal from which would not be at all carrying punishment very improperly. For these, and other reasons, he supported the motion. Mr. George Ponsonby thought the present motion inseparably connected with the former resolutions, unless an assurance was given, that the political life of lord Melville was for ever closed. Mr. Samuel Thornton defended the conduct of the bank, and maintained, that no blame could attach to it in any of these transactions. Mr. Bankes did not think there was any necessity for the eagerness shewn to follow up the blow already struck; as he thought there was no probability that the noble lord would again be restored to his majesty's councils. ile also thought it contrary to precedent, as he never understood it to be the usage of the house, to address his majesty against persons out of office; therefore, though he voted for the motion of the former night, he should resist the present. Mr. Windham thought it necessary to require a promise, or declaration, which would render it impossible to restore lord Melville; otherwise he had such a hold of those in power, and they were so linked and connected together, that an an attempt might be made to counteract what the house had done. It would be a lamentable instance of the mutability of opinion, if that house should forfeit, by indifference, or languor, the high honours which their conduct, on the preceding evening, had obtained them from all sorts of people, honours pay ter in the important office of impropriety of retaining Mr. Trot master of the navy, so many months after the report of the commissioners, nothing more appeared against him and his sudden dismissal now, when than was known before, proceeded to observe, what little ground there was for bestowing such extravagant "Which should be worn now in their panegyrics. He asked, was it to be newest gloss." a If the house then valued its own consistency and honour, it was bound to pass this motion, as corrollary from the resolutions of Monday last. The noble lord, it was true, might still be carus amices, no longer idoneus patria: it was fit that it should be declared so. but he was The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that as some gentlemen seemed to require a specific declaration respecting the restoration of lord Melville, he had no hesitation at all in saying, that all idea of the noble lord's return to power was 'completely annihilated, and that no danger whatever need be apprehended on that head. In making this frank declaration, he wished it to be under. stood, that it was not to continue in force, in case the resolutions of Monday should, on future enquiry, be found to have been premature, and consequently be erased from the journals of the house in any other case, he should think it absolutely impossible, that any minis : ter could ever think of recommending the noble lord to a share in his majesty's councils. After this explanation, he thought it but an act of common liberality to the noble lord, not to persist in the present motion. Mr. Fox, after descanting on the found in the eagerness he had ever shewn to heap up emoluments, and systematise corruption, of which he reported all the instances that occurred to him? Was it in his freedom from party spirit, in refusing to receive the voluntary services of a body of loyal men at Tavistock, because they were to have been commanded by the late duke of Bedford? or in his having used the whole weight of government to deprive the honourable Henry Erskine of the office of dean of the faculty at Edinburgh? After adverting to a variety of topics, he said, that not wishing the house of commons to monopolize the whole gratitude of the nation, on this proceeding, but desiring that his majesty, and the house of lords might have their share of the credit, so universally attached to it, he should have no objection to the motion being withdrawn. Mr. Wilberforce undecided in what manner he should felt himself feel inclined to vote, and strongly recommended to the gentleman to withdraw his motion. Mr. David Scott thought this a measure of great severity, after forty years of meritorious services, to a man who never valued money, and who, though he might have made millions, if he had availed himself of the advantages he possessed, yet always thought himself very happy, if, at 3 the یام the end of the year, he could make both ends meet. Mr. Kinnaird insisted, that lord Melville was known to have been, in Scotland, a very bitter politialenemy, as was exhibited in the case he alluded to, of the dean of faculty. The Secretary at War, (Mr. W. Dundas, did not think the honourable member, who spoke last, could have discovered that character of bitterness in the noble lord, in the frequent opportunities he took of partaking the conviviality of his mansion, for weeks and months at a time. Mr. Kinnaird replied, that it was a proof of very bad taste to suppose, that, because he lived in the same country with lord Melville, and mixed in society with him, he ought now to be precluded from the faithful discharge of his duty, as a mem ber of parliament. Mr. Whitbread, after a short reply, to some of the preceding speakers, withdrew his motion, in lieu of which, he moved, "the resolu❝tions of the former night be laid "before his majesty," which resolution was carried unanimously; as was also another," that they "be laid before his majesty by the "whole house." CHAP. CHAP. VIII. Parliamentary Debates continued-Motion of Mr. Grey, to bring ti Editor of the Oracle Morning Paper to the Bar of the House of Common. -Conversation thereon.-Agreed to. Further Proceedings respectin Lord Melville.-The Editor of the Oracle taken into the Custody of th Serjeant at Arms, for a high Breach of the Privileges of the House.Irish Finance.-Report of the Committee on the Tenth Naval Repor laid before the House.-Petition of the Editor of the Oracle.-Debate an Division thereon.-Editor reprimanded and discharged.-Thanks of th House to the Commissioners for Enquiry into Nacul Abuses moved jo and carried.-Proceedings in the House of Lords, respecting the Pr vileges of that House.-Committee of Supply.-The Chancellor of th Exchequer announces the Dismissal of Lord Melville form his Majesty' Councils. THE first measure of importance that occurred, after the Easter recess, was in the house of commons, on the 25th day of April, when Mr. Grey observed, that whatever reluctance he might feel to take any step which should seem inconsistent with the most perfect liberty of the press, he could not forbear calling the attention of the house to a most indecent libel on their proceedings : it was of a nature so gross, that, consistent with its own dignity, the house could not suffer it to pass over, without expressing it is ndignation against it. He then read from the "Oracle" of the former day, the following article, subjoined to a statement, that sir Charles Middleton was appointed first lord of the admiralty. While we announce "this arrangement as the proper "reward of public and private vir"tue, we cannot help sincerely re66 gretting that pasty rancour, and 1 popular clamour, have, at thi "time, deprived our king and coun "try of the great and powerft "abilities of lord Melville. In n "period of our political histor 66 can we find such an instance of th strong effects of prejudice. With "all our profound respect for the motives which influenced the ma "jority of the house of commons " with all our admiration of that spirit, which arouses and animates "the people in their expressions of "indignation, at the supposed mal"versations of an individual; with "all our regard for town and coun"try meetings, when properly di "rected, in supporting the cause of "independence, freedom, and public virtue, we cannot help again "and again declaring, that lord "Melville has fallen a victim to con "fidence misplaced, to prejudice "misjudged, and to indignation "misapplied; he has been con ❝demned "demned without a trial. When an "appeal has been offered to his in"temperate judges, when a re"quest has been made to put him on his defence, when it has been "earnestly solicited to give him a "fair and candid hearing, and then "come to a decision on the merits "of the case, a strong and pre"sumptuous negative has been "given, directed and inforced by "the violence of the times." He then moved, that Mr. Peter Stuart, of Fleet-street, the printer and publisher of the said paper, should be called to the bar of the house. The Chancellor of the Exchequer admitted that the passage just read was libellous and indecent, but hoped, that if gentlemen now began to turn their attention to every thing falibellous and indecent tendency, they would at least observe the strictest impartiality. Observations of the same kind, on the proceedings of the house, had often before appeared, and were as often overlooked; but if it was now resolved, that remarks, derogatory to the digity of the house, should be mark ed with its indignation, he was satisfied; all he desired was, that they should not select one particular instance for punishment, and let others pass with impunity. He concluded with saying he did not ap pr. re of the motion. scen calumnies on the proceedings of that house, and did not call for punishment on them, it was not his fault that they neglected their duty. Mr. Fox allowed, that, in affairs of this kind, the strictest impartiality ought always to prevail, but in judging of the propriety of such motions, a guard should be had to particular times and circumstances. It was the duty of the house to take care that the late decision, which diffused such universal gratitude throughout the country, should not be wantonly attacked and insulted: the necessity was the greater, when men, in high official situations, were seen endeavouring to protect persons convicted of the grossest malversations, and when the present treasurer of the navy was continuing in office a man whom the commissioners of naval enquiry declared unworthy of acting in any pecuniary situation. Mr. Canning then rose, in consequence of allusions made to his continuing Mr. Wilson in office, and a debate of some length ensued, which had little, or but very remote, connection with the subject in question. Mr. Robert Ward said, that, in order to let gentlemen see the propriety of preserving moderation and temper, he should move that the Mr. Grey replied, that if the right sequel of the paragraph be read. It honourable gentleman wished to was agreed to, and was as follows: make this a part of a general system" if those who were so very impahe could have no objection; but he had selected this case, as one which it became the house to take under its special cognizance. The reason he brought it forward, was, that he thought it one which was right and proper to select. If the right hopourable gentleman, or others, had "tient to deprive Mr. Pitt of so "able a coadjutor, were equally "zealous in their endeavours to "restore to the public the unac"counted millions, of which that "public has been so disgracefully "robbed, there would perhaps be some excuse for all that affecta ❝tion |