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any similar case, that the cause was one which could interfere with the preliminary proceeding, whether the house was to exercise the capacity of a grand jury, or any other within its functions to assume. The task of apologizing does not rest with him who only presents a petition for consideration; but those who refuse such a petition are bound to shew upon what principle they act in a manner so derogatory to the practice of the British parliament. If there is any difficulty in the case of a queen appealing to the house of lords, I have no doubt that, as a subject of the realm, she has a right to be heard by petition against any doc trine or practices, by which her life or character might be endangered. It is difficult to know how to proceed in a case of anomaly such as the present. When I look forward to the consequences, I find myself totally in the dark, contending against shadows and clouds. It is impossible to say, but that the mode of impeachment may after all be determined on as the most proper to bring the supposed offender to justice. On the other hand, I am aware that another mode of proceeding may be adopted, namely, a bill of pains and penalties, which, pushed to its extremity, attaches exile, infamy, and even death. In either case, it is important that the prayer of the petitioner should be complied with: for whether your lordships attend to the evidence on the prosecution of

the house of commons, or whether you proceed! to investigate by a committee of fifteen peers, you should be prepared against the existence of any improper bias. To have an impression made on the minds of fifteen peers, by the contents of the green bag, to pause for a length of time on the poison, and, finally to pronounce judgment upon honor of guilt or innocence, is a course of provi ceeding from which it is impossible but that thes most honourable mind must receive a taint 10 1032999119

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persons would come forward to volunteeri such evidence as they might suppose they might suppose to be agreeable/ But if, in addition to those volunteer witnessęba there are others, of the description given by myi learned friend in his account, of which he seem s to have had in view the language of the post

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Jad Hath devis'd this slander!" ot inemaths¶ to soitong ads of yısıtnoɔ żew ji how much more necessary is it to accede to the prayer of the petition? It is under these circitiq stances that we request your lordships tol patike, and not i postpone, for your ultimate decisiond will experience no delay, and no difficulty will

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be opposed to the speedy termination of this awful proceeding. Nothing can be more fatal to justice, than that a cause should be half heard. Another matter of importance to justice is, that the proceedings should be simultaneous, for where they are not so, a door is opened to suboration of perjury, through the under agents. When I look round on this illustrious assembly, and consider my own feeble powers, I cannot conclude better than by a quotation from a predecessor of your lordship: “A judge ought to prepare his way to a just sentence, as God useth to prepare his way, by raising valleys, and taking down hills: so when there appeareth on either side an high hand, violent prosecution, cunning advantages taken, combination, power, great counsel, then is the virtue of a judge seen to make inequality equal, that he may plant his judgment as upon an even ground."

Mr. Williams was then about to address the house, when

The Lord Chancellor interposed, and stated that it was contrary to the practice of Parliament to hear more than two counsel on the part of any petitioner.seos kacho ma

The Earl of Liverpool moved that the petition be taken into consideration to-morrow, in order that they might have twenty-four hours to con

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tween earls Grey and Liverpool, the motion was agreed to, on an understanding that earl Grey would bring forward his motion on the same day, if the prayer of the petition was not agreed

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The proceedings in the commons were yet more various.

Lord Castlereagh rose to address the house on the subject of the adjourned debate on the king's message The house would recollect, that on the first night of the discussion on this question, the adjournment was not proposed in order to see what shape the proceeding to be adopted should take, but for the purpose of entering into a negotiation, in the hopes of averting altogether the necessity of taking any steps on the I papers then before them. Without attempting to pass obloquy on any party, he must say that he did feel that there were certain strong grounds for adopting, the course then taken. Her majesty had intimated her readiness to yield her judgment up to the guidance of parliament. From the rad commencement of the negotiation, too, it too, it had wivibui

been understood that the moment her majesty was restored to her dignity as queen, she should consider any other arrangement as of secondary

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