§ Petition of the Right Honourable Walter Coningsby Earl of Kellie, claiming also to be Earl of Mar; and also the Petition of the Right Honourable John Francis Erskine Goodeve Erskine Earl of Mar, Baron Garioch, presented on the 7th instant: Committee for Privileges on, met; the Attorney General and the Lord Advocate being present (according to Order); counsel heard; and Committee resolved, That the petitioner the Earl of Kellie having by his counsel prayed leave to withdraw his petition, the Committee do not think it expedient to investigate the double return under the certificate of the Lord Clerk Register with a view to its amendment; and report thereof to be made to the House.
THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCHdesired to call attention to the fact that there was a double return in the number of Scotch Peers returned to Parliament at the last election. Now though it might 562 be true that two Peers had each an equal number of votes it did not follow that there was a double return. But, as the Committee of Privileges had decided that they could not enter this question, of a double return, he -wished to call the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the question, to consider whether it was possible to advise Her Majesty to issue a proclamation under the Great Seal for filling: up the vacancy which practically now existed.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, all he could state on the present occasion was that Her Majesty's Government would take the matter into consideration. Under the statute there seemed to be some doubt whether they could issue such a Proclamation; and, of course, that doubt must be cleared up before they could decide.
§ Report read, and agreed to; and to be printed. (No. 99.)