§ Mr. Whitbreadstated, that the conduct of Mr. Trotter before the committee appointed to prepare articles of impeachment against lord Melville this morning, justified him in offering to the house a petition, praying that he should be discharged. The petition was then brought up and read by the clerk; setting forth, "that the petitioner was committed to the custody of the serjeant at arms, for not answering certain questions put to him by a committee appointed by the house; and the petitioner hopes that such his refusal will not be ascribed to any want of deference or respect to the house, or to their committee, but to a sense of regard to his personal security, which, from his legal advisers, he understood would be endangered were he to answer such questions; but, since the declaration of the house respecting such his refusal, the petitioner most respectfully acquaints the house, that he is now most ready to attend the said committee, for the purpose of examination, and to answer such questions, deeply regretting his error, and begging pardon for the same; and therefore praying, that the house will order him to be discharged 360 out of the custody of their serjeant at arms." The petition having been read, it was ordered, on the motion of Mr. Whitbread, "that the said Alexander Trotter be brought to the bar of this house forthwith, in order to be discharged." Mr. Trotter was accordingly brought to the bar, where he received a reprimand from the Speaker, and was ordered to be discharged out of custody, paying his fees. The reprimand was as followeth, viz. "Alexander Trotter; a committee of this house, charged with the high and important duty of preparing Articles of Impeachment against Henry lord viscount Melville, having reported that you, upon your examination before the committee, refused to give evidence, this house, in its just indignation, ordered you to be taken into custody.—Your example, and the disgrace and imprisonment inflicted upon you, are a warning to all men, that resistance to the authority of this house "is vain.—But the atonement you have made this day, by an early and full submission, having induced the house to order that you be now discharged; you are discharged accordingly, paying your fees." On the motion of Mr. Whitbread, it was then ordered, "that what has been said by Mr. Speaker, in reprimanding the said Alex. Trotter, be entered in the journal of this house.