equal desire of defending its freedom and its property against the attacks which had been made or were likely to be made against the existence of both. His lordship returned his most sincere thanks to the House for the attention which had been paid to him, and expressed his most full assurance that every opportunity would be taken to improve the means with which it had pleased Providence to bless us in the zeal and discipline of our forces, and in the loyalty and patriotism of the people. The noble lord then moved the Address, which was in substance a very guarded echo of the Speech.

Lord Carleton seconded the Address, and animadverted on the different topics of his Majesty's Speech, which he conceived to be of such a nature as not to admit of any difference of opinion. The exploits of the late Lord Nelson, however, he observed, were so resplendent, that they were apt at the moment to exclude all other ideas from the mind. After pronouncing a very high eulogium on the character of that illustrious commander, the noble lord adverted to the victory which had been since obtained by Sir R. Strachan, to the share which Lord Collingwood was entitled to in the honour of the memorable 21st of October, and to the great service which he had rendered to the state by his conduct after the action. There was another topic which it occurred to him to mention, namely, the severe and trying loss which his Majesty had sustained in his own family, by the death of his illustrious brother, the late Duke of Gloucester. This was an event at which he was confident their lordships would be as unanimous in the expression of their regret, on account of the many virtues that adorned his character, as they would be in declaring the high sense they entertained of the services of the late noble and gallant commander, Lord Nelson, and the sorrow which they must feel for the loss which the country had sustained in being deprived of one of its best commanders. The liberal mark of the paternal regard which the Sovereign had for the interests of his people, in declaring that he would devote to the public service such a vast proportion of the money which was his undoubted right, and which was usually accepted by the crown, was a circumstance which claimed the most grateful attention of the people, and for which, he was fully convinced, his majesty would receive the most unfeigned thanks of every Member of that House. From the man

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ner in which such an example would be followed by the people at large, there could not be the smallest doubt that the arbitrary views of the French Government (which was strong from its being arbitrary) would be entirely defeated, and the British name be raised to a higher pitch of glory than it had ever hitherto reached, notwithstanding it was known for ages to have ranked highest among the nations of Europe for honour, wealth, and independance.

Earl Cowper most readily concurred in the greatest part of the Address; but there was one subject upon which he did not concur: it was what related to the Continental Treaties. Upon this subject he intended to move an amendment to the purport of the paper which he held in his hand, but from the state of health of a leading minister, he did not think he could now in fairness or candour do it; he would, therefore, now read the paper, and give notice, that he should move it on Monday as a substantive motion. His Lordship accordingly read the paper, which was in substance, that it was highly expedient and important the House should go into a full consideration of the present state of the country, and the causes which had produced it.

Lord Grenville. I perfectly concur, my Lords, in what has just fallen from the noble Earl. I had intended to have discussed at some length the present situation of the country, and not to have suffered this day to pass without seriously considering what has been the result of measures hitherto adopted-in what situation we are now placed by the operation of such measures-and what ought to be done for the interests and the honour of the country. A circumstance, however, which has been alluded to, the indisposition of a Right Honourable Gentleman, induces me to forego this desire, and to postpone, for the present, entering into such a discussion, which must, under such circumstances, be painful to all of us, to me more particularly so, with the sentiments which I feel towards that Right Honourable Gentleman. At the same time it must not be forgotten, that the situation of the country imperiously calls for investigation. I am perfectly ready, however, to assent to any pledge to be given to his Majesty, by which we agree to thank him for his gracious intention of communicating to Parliament the treaties and documents upon which we are hereafter to found an opinion respecting the measures which those documents involve. I am also

ready

ready to concur in an Address, which pledges no man to any opinion, on subjects which must remain to be discussed hereafter, when the papers which relate to them are before the House; I have not the slightest wish to drag such a subject into discussion, previous to the documents alluded to being laid before the House. When they are presented to our consideration, I shall be enabled to judge of their value and importance, of the weight which ought to be. attached to them, of the different bearings which they have upon the subject to which they refer, and of the general results which they present, forming my opinion accordingly. With respect to that part of his Majesty's Speech, which refers to the services of the late Lord Nelson, we can have but one opinion, and in the paragraph of the Address, which refers to that subject, I most cordially concur. Upon the principal topic of his Majesty's Speech, I have already said I wish to avoid giving any opinion.

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Lord Hawkesbury. I feel great satisfaction, my Lords, in being enabled to concur in the greater part of what has fallen from the noble Baron. It was my wish to avoid a discussion at the present moment, particularly considering the circumstance of the indisposition of the individual who has been alluded to, for whom it will be readily believed that I feel most poignantly, and in whose welfare, not only this country but Europe, must feel an interest. I perfectly concur with the noble Earl (Cowper) on the priety of postponing the discussion upon the subject which he had at first intended to bring under the consideration of the House. At the same time, however, I may be allowed to observe, that it has ever been the constitutional and parliamentary practice, when his Majesty's Speech has intimated that certain papers and documents would be laid before Parliament, to avoid entering into any discussion on the subject to which they refer, until such documents are actually before the House, and can fairly become the objects of its consideration. This, I contend, has ever been the practice of Parliament. His Majesty's ministers, in all cases that required it, have laid the neces sary papers before the House, when, if they were satisfactory, a day has been appointed for the discussion of the subject, if not, other papers have been moved for, in order that it might be better elucidated: this has invariably been the practice, and I cannot bring my mind to believe that

it ought to be departed from. With respect to the Address which has been moved by my noble friend, it calls upon no noble lord to give any opinion which can in any degree fetter him in any future discussion. I admit that the situation of the country requires our most serious consideration, and whenever the time shall be fixed for discussing this most important subject, his Majesty's ministers will not shrink from its contemplation. They are fully prepared to go into the merits of the question, nor have they any fear as to the result. They are confident that their conduct will bear the strictest investigation, and they have no wish to elude it for a moment.

Lord Mulgrave. I am induced to trespass for a few moments upon your lordships' time, as the papers which are to be produced principally belong to my department. As to the intended discussion of the subject, I am fully prepared to meet it, and I am perfectly convinced that the result of that discussion will prove, that the measures adopted by his Majesty's ministers were those which were conformable to sound policy, and that they were dictated by a true regard to the interests of this country and of Europe. I do not, however, think that the papers can be produced in time to enable the House to enter into any discussion upon them on the day fixed by the noble Earl, which appears to me to be much too early to allow of that thorough investigation which the importance of the subject requires.

Lord Grenville. As I stated it to have been my wish not to defer beyond this day an important discussion on the situation of the country; but that I was induced to defer that intention in consequence of a circumstance which must affect every man of liberal sentiment and generous feeling, I am anxious, my lords, that I should not be misunderstood. There are many points respecting the situation of the country which have no connection with foreign treaties, or with those papers which may fall within the department of the noble lord. Some of those points are of the highest importance, and demand, in my opinion, an early discussion-a discussion which I do not think ought to be deferred beyond the day mentioned by the noble Earl (Cowper.)

The draft of the Address was then referred to a com mittee, reported, agreed to, and ordered to be presented to his Majesty in the usual form.

VOL. I.-1805-6.

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JUDGE

JUDGE FOX.

The Marquis of Abercorn rose for the purpose of calling the attention of their lordships to the case of Mr. Justice Fox. He must leave it, he said, to the House to adopt such measures in this case as they should deem it expedient; he only wished to suggest that it would be highly advisable to avoid delay, both for the sake of the learned judge, and the witnesses, many of whom had avocations to attend to, from which they could ill spare much time to attend the House.

Lord Carleton said a few words upon the same subject, but in a very low tone of voice. We understood his lordship to say, that the learned judge was anxious that as little delay as possible should take place in the investigation of the charges against him.

THE LATE NAVAL VICTORY.

Lord Hawkesbury gave notice, that he should move on Friday for a vote of thanks to Lord Collingwood, and the officers and seamen employed under him, to whom the country were indebted for the late glorious victory off Trafalgar.

ADDITIONAL FORCE ACT.

The Earl of Darnley gave notice that he should take an early opportunity of moving for an account of the num ber of men raised under the additional force act.

Some routine business usual at the commencement of a session, amongst which was the re-appointment of Lord Walsingham to be chairman of the committees, was gone through, after which the House adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21.

The speaker came down to the House at three o'clock. The usher of the black rod immediately made his appearance with a message from the lords, purporting, that the lords authorised by his Majesty's commission required the presence of the House of Commons to hear the commission read. The speaker, and nearly the whole of the members who were in the House, accordingly attended.

On their return, the speaker informed the House that he had ordered new writs to be issued as follows :-for the city. of Gloucester, in the room of John Pitt, Esq. deceased, for the boroughs of Dundee, St. Andrews, Cupar, Forfar, &c. in the room of David Scott, Esq. deceased; for the

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