§ Mr. Grenfellobserved, that in the votes, he read the following:—" Duke of Kent's lottery—petition for leave to present a petition for a bill—reported—leave given." He wished for some explanation as to the nature of the proposed lottery.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerwas perfectly ready to state the whole transaction, as far as he was acquainted with it. An hon. member had some time since applied to him, to lay before the treasury a memorial from the duke of Kent, for a bill to enable him to dispose of a part of his property by lottery. It was then thought that the consent of the Crown was necessary, and the commands of the Prince Regent were therefore taken upon it. His royal highness referred the question to the lord Chancellor, the first lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who had considered the question, whether it would be expedient that any individual should be allowed so to dispose of his property to pay off debts or incumbrances, and they had determined that to recommend such a bill to parliament would be setting a dangerous precedent. They had therefore recommended that the royal leave, if it were necessary, should not be given. This information he had given to the hon. member who had offered the memorial; and it had been thought most consistent with delicacy to the illustrious personage concerned, that the memorial should be returned, and the whole proceeding considered a nullity. Since that time, a precedent had been found which warranted the conclusion that the consent and recommendation of the Crown was not necessary. A petition had accordingly been presented to the House, but his majesty's government had given no sanction to it.
§ Mr. Grenfellsaid, that government had acted in this affair as the country expected of them. A bill had, he understood, been prepared in consequence of the petition of last night, and he trusted the House would not allow it to pass without due examination.