§ Mr. Humerose, to present a petition from the burgh of Montrose deprecating the proceedings that were now in progress against her majesty. He could not avoid expressing his surprise at the observations of an hon. gentleman (Mr. K. Douglas), who, in the course of his speech, had called on his majesty's ministers to devise some means by which the liberty of the press might be checked, and by which the demonstration of public feeling, manifested at different meetings convened for the purpose of addressing her majesty, might be prevented. The respectable body whose petition he held in his hand, had met, and had addressed her majesty; and honourable members had not, he conceived, any right to condemn them or others for pursuing that line of conduct. In his opinion, those who assembled on such an occasion, to express their feelings, deserved praise instead of censure; they acted in an open and honourable manner, and he trusted 102 that such feelings would never be banished from England. When any thing like injustice appeared to be in progress, he hoped it would not be suffered to pas unnoticed by the people. If the hon. gentleman wished to know the reason of those meetings—if he wished to learn why sentiments of indignation were expressed at them, it was because the people were conscious that much injustice had been done to her majesty; they felt it deeply, and he hoped they would continue to express their opinions. With regard to the press, was it not extremely strange that an attack should be suddenly made against the liberal part of it? Ministers had funds in their hands, which, he believed, were given, in various ways, to that portion of the press by which they were supported. And, when he was touching on this subject, he would refer to an accusation that had been recently made—whether it was true or not he could not tell—which referred to this very point. A charge had been made, and it was said that it could be substantiated by several persons of credit, that part of his majesty's plate—part of that plate which originally belonged to the Queen—had been seen at the table of Mr. Street, the late editor of the Courier newspaper. He hoped, for the honour of the country, that no such thing had taken place. Such an accusation ought to meet a flat denial on the moment, for the credit of the government. It had been said on a former occasion, by a learned gentleman, that it was not in the power of his majesty to give away a single piece of that plate, without the advice and concurrence of his ministers. If, then, it had been so disposed of, the whole responsibility of the act rested with them. With respect to any fear that might be entertained from numbers of persons going up to her majesty with addresses, he could certainly remove any apprehension from the hon. gentleman, if he alluded to the presentation of the address fixed for Monday, for the persons who were to compose the procession then, were to go up in coaches and four. From such persons there need surely be no danger to be apprehended. With respect to the procession of seamen, he certainly saw it, and observed nothing among the crowd, but the most peaceable demeanor. The same was indeed the case at all the meetings which had been held, and their conduct reflected the highest credit upon them. The petition 103 which he was now about to present was from the provost, magistrates burgesses of guilds, and others of the borough of Montrose. It was unanimously agreed to; and he feared, from the present constitution of the Scotch burghs, self-elected as the principal persons in them were, this was the only unanimous petition which her majesty was likely to receive from that quarter. The very mode of their constitution was fatal to public spirit. The petitioners did not pronounce upon the guilt or innocence of the Queen; but they looked with terror and dismay to the principle of the bill of Pains and Penalties now brought against her, which they considered subversive of public liberty. His own opinion was too well known to require repetition. He concurred entirely in the sentiments contained in the petition, and thought no man could uphold such a system of ex post facto law without endangering the constitution. He envied not the man who entertained a contrary opinion. The petitioners also prayed that, if the bill was sent from the Lords to that House, they should instantly reject it.
Mr. Keith Douglassaid, in explanation, that the hon. gentleman must have entirely mistaken what he had said. He had never complained of the proper expression of the public feelings, nor of the constitutional exercise of the liberty of the press—he had merely said, that he thought the press was now exercised in an undue manner, and for a purpose which seemed as if it was intended to intimidate parliament and the country from adopting any measure which partook of a particular character. To attempt such intimidation, pending the agitation of a great public question, was, he thought highly unconstitutional. For his own part, he thought it right, as a member of parliament, to say, that no undue influence should deter him from the strict discharge of his public duty. With respect to the mode of presenting the addresses to which he alluded, he meant merely to say, that it was very unusual to assemble the people in such numbers to go up in bodies with addresses. The appearance of such crowds was certainly alarming.
Mr. Huskinsonrose, to give some explanation respecting that part of the hon. gentleman's speech in which he stated that the person who was lately the editor of the Courier had received a present of 104 the service of plate formerly in the possession of the princess of Wales. On this subject he rather imagined the hon. gentleman made an allusion to what had fallen from him on a former occasion respecting Crown plate. On that occasion he certainly had said that the plate used by the princess of Wales, being plate belonging to the Crown, could not be alienated from it by the personal act of the king, without the approbation and signature of his majesty's responsible advisers. The hon. gentleman seemed to assume that some of this plate had been given to the late editor of the Courier, and he inferred, that the act of giving it was highly irregular and improper. If the facts were, indeed, as the hon. gentleman seemed to think they were, then he should be most ready to concur with him in saying that it was the most irregular and censurable proceeding which could possibly have taken place. But the rumour was utterly unfounded [Hear]. He had inquired of his right hon. friend if any appropriation had taken place of the plate used by the princess of Wales at Kensington-palace, since it had been deposited with the lord chamberlain; and the answer was just as he expected—that no appropriation whatever of that plate had since taken place. The fact was, as he had on the former occasion stated, that no plate purchased for the use of the Crown, or for that of any of the members of the royal family, out of the civil list money, could be given away by the Crown as a present, without a formal assignment, sanctioned by the proper responsible officers. No part whatever of the plate alluded to had been appropriated as the hon. member seemed disposed to think, and it was now, as he understood, in the lord chamberlain's custody, to be applied as usual wherever it might be wanted for the use of the royal family. If the hon. member asked, whether the late editor of the Courier had any plate presented to him which bore the decoration of the royal arms, he (Mr. Huskisson), not having the pleasure of any acquaintance with that gentleman, could not answer; all he could say was, that he might have such plate without its being drawn from the stores in the lord-chamberlain's department, or from the Crown plate. The report of the transfer of the plate alluded to was certainly quite unfounded.
§ Mr. Humeexpressed himself satisfied with the explanation of the right hon. 105 gentleman. He was glad to bear that the plate used by the princess of Wales still remained with the lord chamberlain; but was it ever out of his possession since the princess had it?
§ Mr. Huskissonreplied, certainly not.
§ The petition was ordered to lie on the table.