CLERK OF THe Parliaments.] The Earl of Liverpool observed, that the office of clerk of the parliaments having become vacant by the death of Mr. Rose, it was vested by reversion in his son, who being at present out of the country could not appear before them to take the oaths. În order to obviate the inconvenience which might result from his absence, he would move that Henry Cowper, esq. be authorised to affix his signature in the meanwhile to such proceedings of their lordships as required the signature of the clerk of the parliaments. Lord Holland regretted the situation in which the House was placed, and intimated his intention of moving for a committee to inquire into the state of the clerks of the House. There was evidently something that required to be remedied in order to protect them against such an occurrence. Perhaps it might turn out, upon investigation, that the present clerk held situations which he was not authorized to hold without the direct permission of the House. At all events they owed it to their own dignity to inquire into the cause. The Earl of Liverpool suggested that the regular course would be to move for a copy of the patent by which the appointment was made. He believed there were resolutions on the Journals prohibiting persons from holding certain offices who acted in the capacity of clerk of the parlia ments. The Lord Chancellor concurred in the propriety of the course recommended by the noble earl. He, as chancellor, was Speaker of their lordships House. Other (VOL. XXXVII. ) Speakers had been appointed by letters patent in the absence of the chancellor, but if they had been absent also, the House must surely have a power to supply their place. The same reasoning would apply to their clerk. After complimenting the industry of the clerks in general, he concluded by expressing his opinion, that they should have a copy of the instrument under which the appointment was made, in order to know whether there was any body who had a title to the office, and should provide in the mean time for the discharge of its duties. Earl Grosvenor said, that this circumstance confirmed him in the opinion he had always entertained of the necessity of inquiring into these offices. The motion for granting a copy of the letters patent and that for authorising the signature of Mr. Cowper were agreed to. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Tuesday, January 27. REPEAL OF THE HABEAS CORPUS SUSPENSION ACT.] The Speaker having taken the chair, several new writs were ordered, and the Clandestine Outlawry bill was, according to custom, read a first time. On the motion that it be read a second time, Lord Althorp wished to 'occupy the attention of the House a few moments on the subject of the Habeas Corpus Suspension act. He thought it was of the utmost importance to the character of the House that the earliest opportunity should be taken of repealing that act. As it was necessary to give previous notice of any motion of importance, he did not consider himself warranted in then moving for leave to bring in a bill for the repeal of this odious measure; but he gave this notice, that to-morrow he would submit a motion to the House for leave to bring in such a bill. Mr. Arbuthnot said, the noble lord would probably hear something in the course of the evening which might have the effect of inducing himto forego his motion.--Shortly after, Lord Althorp, seeing lord Castlereagh in his place, wished to know from him whether or not he intended to move the immediate repeal of the Habeas Corpus Suspension act, because, if this was not his intention, he should himself submit a motion to the House on the subject. Lord Castlereagh said, it certainly was (C) STATE TRIALS IN SCOTLAND.] Lord A. Hamilton wished to take the earliest opportunity of calling the attention of the House to the late state prosecutions in Scotland. He gave notice that he would on that day fortnight submit a motion on the subject. As he did not wish, how ever, to bring the subject before the House in the absence of the Lord Advocate, he would, if any such wish was expressed, postpone his motion to a day more convenient to that gentleman. DISTRESSED SEAMEN.] Lord Cochrane wished to know whether or not the Lords of the Admiralty had come to the resolution of appropriating any part of the Droits of the Admiralty towards the relief of those distressed seamen, whose wretched state gave such pain to every person of any feeling. in the contemplation of his majesty's mi-liance from which so many advantages nisters, as the situation of the country no were anticipated. From the gradual ex. longer called for the continuance of the pansion of a mind of such strong native measure to apply to parliament for its excellence as that of the illustrious prinrepeal. Notice to that effect would be cess, the nation were well warranted in given in that place where the bill origi- entertaining the most sanguine hopes and nated. expectations. The premature death of that Princess had suspended the hopes of the nation, and closed the bright prospects, the extinction of which was so feelingly lamented by all classes of this country. It would be wasting the time of the House, or even worse in him to attempt to describe to them a life so much entitled to their admiration-to attempt to paint the bright lustre which opened to their view. This would be a mockery of real feelingit suited neither with the nature of the subject, nor the dignity of she House. Without intruding on the sacred sorrows of the illustrious father, they might assure him that parliament sympathized with him in his misfortune-that as they were associated with him in his hopes, they were associated with him in his grief. Nothing was more congenial to the British character than such a sympathy with the sufferings of the illustrious Person to whom they had plighted their allegiance. Their anxiety on such an occasion must be regarded as an indubitable proof of their attachment to the family on the throne of these realms.-In the Speech a variety of topics were introduced, all of which, from their importance, would become the subject of future deliberation, and therefore he should not trespass on their attention by entering into details. They had heard of our amity with foreign states-our prosperity and tranquillity at home-the stability of our credit, the improvement of our revenue. The picture was certainly flattering, but it was not coloured beyond what our national resources would warrant. Daily intercourse furnished to every man abundant proofs of the improvement which had taken place in the circumstances of our fellow-subjects. He should be grieved to think that he was either the victim of credulity, or that he spoke the language of delusion. Whether we looked to our agriculture, or to any other branch of our industry or commerce, there was no longer seen that stagnant langour and dejection-that feeling among men that they were struggling for existence with no hope of advancement. Now, instead of the former depression, there were every where seen that vigor and that elasticity which was the most satis Mr. W. Dundas said, he was not instructed to make any communication on the subject alluded to by the noble lord. Lord Cochrane said, if a proportion of the Droits was not applied towards the relief of the persons in question, he would take an early day of bringing forward a motion on the subject. ADDRESS ON the Prince REGENT's SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE SESSION.] The Speech of the Prince Regent having been read by the Speaker, Mr. Wodehouse said, that in moving the Address which the House usually voted to the throne at the opening of the session, he should ill discharge his duty, if he did not avail himself of the earliest opportunity of calling their attention to the deep distress in which a recent calamitous event had plunged his Royal Highness. We had lived so many years in a state of war, and our attention had been so much occupied by the succession of wonderful events to which that state had given rise, that our minds seemed, in some sort, diverted from the consideration of our own domestic affairs. The first event after the return of peace, in our domestic history, which was viewed with deep interest by the whole nation, was the virtuous al factory evidence of a real and substantial prosperity. The restoration of internal tranquillity was a subject on which the imagination loved to dwell. There was now a perfect restoration of content, and the hateful seeds of disaffection were banished from the land. The diffusion of religious instruction was also most properly under the royal eye, and an increased number of places of divine worship was recommended to our particular attention. There remained one or two material points in the Speech which ought not to be passed over in complete silenceHe alluded more particularly to the communication on the subject of the treaties entered into with Spain and Portugal for the abolition of the slave trade. If any thing could add to the importance of these arrangements, it was the consolation derived from the consideration of the narrow limits within which that traffic was now confined, affording a reasonable hope that it will soon cease to exist. It was a proud triumph to this country that an end to this most detestable traffic-the existence of which was condemned by the unanimous feeling of Christendom--was accomplished through the mediation of Great Britain. Of all the glorious achievements, of which she had so much reason to be proud, none would throw more lustre on her than the accomplishment of the universal abolition of this abominable and iniquitous traffic. The hon. gentleman concluded with moving, "That an humble Address be presented to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to thank his Royal Highness for the most gracious Speech delivered by his command to both Houses of parliament: "To assure his Royal Highness that we fully share the great concern expressed by his Royal Highness at the continuance of his majesty's lamented indisposition: "To offer to his Royal Highness the expression of our sincere condolence on that awful dispensation of Providence which, by the untimely death of her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte, has visited his Royal Highness with an affliction so deeply distressing to his feelings both as a parent and a prince: "That we should ill discharge our duty as affectionate subjects of his majesty, and as representatives of the people of the united kingdom, if we did not eagerly embrace this first occasion of testifying our participation in the general sense of this irreparable national loss, a loss which has come home like a private calamity to the hearts and affections of all descriptions of his majesty's subjects: "That, reflecting on the hopes which we had fondly cherished, that the virtues displayed by this excellent princess in all the relations of private life, would hereafter adorn the throne, and would be transmitted through a continued succession of princes in his Royal Highness's august line, we find ourselves unable to express in adequate terms the profound impression of our regret and disappointment; and that while we trust that the Almighty will still continue to watch over the prosperity of a nation hitherto so signally favoured by his gracious Providence, we are duly thankful for the consideration which amidst his own sufferings, his Royal Highness has not failed to bestow on the effect which this sad event must have on the interest and future prospect of the kingdom: "To congratulate his Royal Highness on the assurances which he continues to receive from foreign powers, of their friendly disposition towards this country, and of their desire to maintain the general tranquillity: "To assure his Royal Highness, that it is in the highest degree satisfactory to us, to find that the confidence which he has invariably felt in the stability of the great sources of our national prosperity has not been disappointed: "That the improvement which has taken place, in the course of the last year, in almost every branch of our domestic industry, and the present state of public credit, appears to us, as well as to his Royal Highness, to afford abundant proof that the difficulties under which the country was labouring were chiefly to be ascribed to temporary causes: "That we rejoice the more in this important change, as it has withdrawn from the disaffected the principal means of which they had availed themselves for the purpose of fomenting a spirit of discontent, which unhappily led to acts of insurrection and treason; and that we indulge a confident expectation that the state of peace and tranquillity to which the country is now restored, will be maintained against all attempts to disturb it, by the persevering vigilance of the magistracy, and by the loyalty and good sense of the people : "To return our humble thanks to his Royal Highness, for having directed the estimates for the current year to be laid before us: "To express our satisfaction at the information which his Royal Highness has been pleased to communicate to us, that the revenue has been in a state of progressive improvement in its most important branches since we were last assembled in parliament; and to assure his Royal Highness that we shall not fail to direct our continued attention to the state of the public income and expenditure: "To offer our acknowledgments to his Royal Highness for the attention which he has shown to the recommendations of the two Houses of parliament, in his endeavours to promote the abolition of the slave trade, and for his having directed copies of the treaties, which we are most happy to learn his Royal Highness has concluded for that purpose with the courts of Spain and Portugal, to be laid before us, the former immediately, the latter as soon as ratified: and to assure his Royal Highness that we shall proceed to examine these treaties, with every disposition to adopt such measures as may be found necessary to enable his Royal Highness to give full effect to the arrangements into which he has entered, for the accomplishment of this great object of our solicitude: "To express our due sense of the deficiency which has so long existed in the number of places of public worship belonging to the established church, when compared with the increased and increasing population of the country; to thank his Royal Highness for having directed our attention to this important matter; and to assure his Royal Highness that we shall readily take it into our early consideration, deeply impressed as we are with a just sense of the many blessings which this country by the favour of Divine Providence has enjoyed, and with the conviction that the religious and moral habits of the people are the most sure and firm foundations of national prosperity." 1911 Mr. Wyndham Quin addressed the House to the following purport: I am, Sir, so fully conscious of my own inability adequately to discharge the task I have undertaken, that I am anxious to seize the earliest opportunity of putting in a claim (I fear rather a large one) for your considerate and partial indulgence. But it is matter of great satisfaction to me to think, that there is nothing in this | address calculated to provoke much discussion, and far less to occasion any substantial difference of opinion. In the first topic, which laments the continued indisposition of his majesty, all must concur. Yet, Sir, even from that event, we may, I hope, draw this consolation, that it has, I trust, rendered it impossible his majesty should have been made acquainted with the deadly loss he has sustained. It is now, Sir, nearly two years since an event took place which gladdened the hearts and brightened the prospects of every individual in this country. The heir presumptive of the British crown became the consort to a prince of an ancient and illustrious house; himself illustrious by being eminently good-distinguished and ennobled by the possession of those qualities which nature bestows with a rare and sparing hand. Such, Sir, is the brief and feeble sketch of a character which has obtained legitimate popularity without seeking for it, and acquired glory without ostentation. The sufferings of this excellent prince have been great; but let it be recollected, that if never calamity was more severe, or affliction more poignant, so never was sympathy more genuine, or feeling more universal and sincere, than that which has attended him. Whatever shall be the destiny of this amiable individual, let him at heart reflect upon this consolation, that he carries with him the blessing of every being who has a head to think, or a heart to feel. But how shall I now deal with a topic that cannot be approached without emotion, or handled without pain? There are some subjects that wither under the hand of an unskilful artist, and therefore into the details of panegyric I will not and I cannot enter. Suffice it to say, it has pleased God to call her away who was the pride and hope of the country. If you would see how deeply she is lamented, you may read it in the characters of grief that darken every countenance you meet: if you would estimate how widely, how universally her loss is deplored, go where you will through the country, traverse it to the east, west, north, and south, and you will perceive in every quarter how that loss is felt and bewailed by all ranks as a domestic calamity. God has been pleased to take away the Princess Charlotte from us in the bloom and promise of her youth, but her name and her memory shall remain for ever, enshrined in the hearts and affections of the people. But, in this universal tide of sorrow, whose grief can equal his, a father, who has lost his only and beloved child! I protest this subject presents calamity in so many and such various points of view, that I am unable to continue it; and I am sure there is not a gentleman whom I have the honour to address whose own feelings will not suggest to him all that can be said, and with much more eloquence than I can command. I now come to touch, in a very general manner, upon the other topics contained in the address; and at a period like the present, that part of the Prince Regent's speech which directs particular attention to the deficiency which has long existed in the number of places of worship of the established church, is well worthy of his Royal Highness and of the parliament to which it is addressed; for the history of the last 30 years, and of those events which have convulsed and shaken Europe, has plainly shown how intimate the connexion is between the stability of empires, and the moral and religious habits of the people. The House will, I am sure, receive with unmixed satisfaction the communication the Prince Regent has been graciously pleased to make of the friendly disposition of foreign powers, and the prospect of continued peace; for though I trust the day will never arrive in which Great Britain shall be either unable or unwilling to vindicate her cause in war, yet let it never be forgotten that the wisest object of legitimate war is, to obtain solid, honourable, and lasting pacification. I do not wish, on the present occasion, to detain the House with figures or any details of finance, and I will merely say generally, that the improvement of the revenue, particularly in the last six months, when compared with the corresponding quarters of last year, has been considerable; and I must observe that that increase having been progressive, holds out a reasonable hope that it will be permanent. The improvement in the internal state of the country, in its manufactures, its import and export trade, in that most important branch, the internal commerce, by means of its various rivers and canals, in the rate of the funds, the value of landed property, increase of the revenue, in short, in resources of all kinds, is evident to the most casual observer, and far greater than the most sanguine could have ventured to hope for. Last year strong men were to be seen in distress for want of work; now wages have advanced; industry, which is the staple foundation of national wealth, has a fair field spread for its exertion. The country, if I may so express myself, feels an increased circulation in every artery, in every channel of its commerce. Last year the fires were extinguished in most of the iron works, now they are in full activity, and the price of iron has risen from 8 or 9 to about 147. a ton. The demand for linen, the staple of the north of Ireland, is unprecedented both as to quantity and price. The funds are now eighty, last year about 63. Money is most abundant, and when lent at mortgage to good security, lowering in rate of interest, and to be had at 4 per cent, at the same time that sales of land are effected at better prices than last year. Gold too has re-appeared, and the little request in which it is held, seems to declare, that a belief in the stability of our financial system is universal. me notice the return of confidence among all classes and descriptions of men ;-the farmer, the manufacturer, the merchant, all seem to feel its vivifying influence. A confidence that the worst is past, and that every thing will still continue to improve, cannot perhaps be shown as wealth in a tangible shape, yet it is nevertheless very important, and has material influence on national prosperity; and now (thanks to the wise, precautionary measures that were taken) I may add to this picture the return of internal tranquillity and peace. Let When we consider the blessings we have ourselves enjoyed, it is natural we should be desirous of transmitting them unimpaired to posterity; and all men will rejoice to find that the interests and forlorn prospects of the country, as connected with the succession to the Crown, now, even in the midst of his own deep affliction, occupies the serious attention of the Regent. The House knows that the connexion of the reigning family with this country is closely linked with British freedom, and that under the auspices of the house of Brunswick, we have advanced in arts, in arms, in civilization and commerce, and in the blessings of liberty; and the country looks, with anxious solicitude, and loyal affection to its permanent continuance on the throne, and though perhaps there is no immediate fear of the crown departing from the many descendants of the princess Sophia, yet it is of |