Commons, with respect to any act which constituted a breach of that trust, to bring the illustrious person in question, not under a charge of treason, but of high misdemeanour, before their lordships? Might not that mode of proceeding appear to the House of Commons to be the most fitting and decorous? And when the noble and learned lord compared the situation of the House to that of a grand jury, did he not forget that a grand jury could never afterwards become the petty jury, who tried and decided upon the merits of the cause? The Earl of DONOUGHMORE could not allow the question to be put, without stating the nature of his opinion to the House, particularly as that opinion was at variance with the sentiments of individuals with whom he had long been in the habit of acting, and for whose motives and conduct he entertained the sincerest respect. Differing from those noble persons, he felt that he ought to distrust his own judgment, but he could not consent to give up his opinion. The noble lords who had argued the question upon his side of the House appeared to have forgotten the nature of the proceeding, the merits of which they were discussing. Those noble lords seemed to regard the proceeding as one which was to criminate, and even finally condemn, the illustrious person to whose conduct it was applied; but was it not most clear that the proceeding amounted simply to this-to an inquiry on the part of that House, conducted by a secret com mittee, conducted in the manner most decorous, most delicate, and most respectful, both towards the parties concerned, and towards the public, and conducted in the manner most peculiarly calculated to allay that irritation, of which such frequent mention had been made? (hear, hear.) The question merely called upon both Houses of Parliament to advise the crown whether, from any circumstances divulged by the papers laid before them, a proceeding would or would not be necessary. The noble lord concluded by expressing his astonishment that the measure should have been opposed. Lord HOLLAND rose to explain. The arguments which he had addressed to the House had been misunderstood both by the noble and learned lord upon the woolsack, and by the noble lord who had last spoken. The noble and learned lord (Lord Eldon) had directed great part of his speech against that which had formed no part of his, (Lord Holland's) speech, or of the speech of his noble friend (Marquis Lansdown.) The noble lord, who had just sat down, had spoken of the irritation of the public mind, and had expressed his disapprobation of the means by which that irritation had been excited. Certainly he (Lord Holland) was much mistaken if he had used any thing calculated to increase that irritation; and if there were arts employed to raise it, of which he knew nothing, and accused no one, he would say, that whether such means were taken, either in parliament or out of it, either in writings or in conversations, he from his heart abhorred and abjured both the means and those who would resort to them. (hear, hear.) If a committee were appointed, and he objected to a secret committee, nothing but ex-parte evidence ought to be laid before it. The noble lord concluded by adverting to the painful situation in which the House was placed, and by observing that, as a peer of parliament, he felt it incumbent on him at once to call for justice to the individual, and to sustain those general principles by which the conduct of the House had in all cases been regulated. Lord LANSDOWN wished that the explanation of his noble friend (Lord Holland) should be considered as applying equally to the observations which he himself had addressed to the House. The motion was agreed to without a division. -Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS-Same Day. MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN. Mr. BROUGHAM then read to the House the following communication from the Queen : "The Queen thinks it necessary to inform the House of Commons, that she has been induced to return to England in consequence of the measures pursued against her honour and her peace for some time by secret agents abroad, and lately sanctioned by the conduct of the government at home. In adopting this course her Majesty has had no other purpose whatsoever but the defence of her character, and the maintenance of those just rights which have devolved upon her by the death of that revered Monarch, in whose high honour and unshaken affection she had always found her surest support. Upon her arrival the Queen is surprised to find that a message has been sent down to parliament, requiring its attention to written documents; and she learns with still greater astonishment that there is an intention of proposing that these should be referred to a select committee. It is this day fourteen years since the first charges were brought forward against her Majesty. Then, and upon every occasion during that long period, she has shown the utmost readiness to meet her accusers, and to court the fullest in-. quiry into her conduct, She now also desires an open investigation, in which she may see both the charges and the witnesses against her-aprivilege not denied to the meanest subject of the realm. In the face of the Sovereign, the parliament, and the country, she solemnly protests against the formation of a secret tribunal to examine documents, privately prepared by her adversaries, as a proceeding unknown to the law of the land, and a flagrant violation of all the principles of justice. She relies with full confidence upon the integrity of the House of Commons for defeating the only attempt she has any reason to fear. "The Queen cannot forbear to add, that even before any proceedings were resolved upon, she had been treated in a manner too well calculated to prejudge her case. The omission of her name in the Liturgy; the withholding the means of conveyance usually afforded to all the branches of the royal family; the refusal even of an answer to her application for a place of residence in the royal mansions; and the studied slight, both of English ministers abroad, and of the agents of all foreign powers over whom the English Government had any influence-must be viewed as measures designed to prejudice the world against her, and could only have been justified by trial and conviction." [This message was loudly cheered during the reading, and at the end.] SECRET COMMITTEE ON PAPERS REGARDING THE CONDUCT OF HER MAJESTY. 'Lord CASTLEREAGH moved the order of the day for taking into consideration the late message of the King. The message was read by the clerk. Lord CASTLEREAGH began by observing, that in rising to call the attention of the House to the message which had just been read, and to propose that course of proceeding which it appeared proper to pursue, the House would readily perceive the great pain of that duty which devolved on him in introducing to their notice one of the most delicate, anxious, and momentous public questi ons that ever was agitated. And he could |