§ Sir John Newport presented a petition from Langholm, imploring the House to restore the Queen's name to the Liturgy, and to withdraw their confidence from a set of ministers who had misled their king, insulted their Queen, and who despised the voices of nine-tenths of the honest subjects of this realm.
Sir R. Fergussonsaid, he would take that opportunity of making a few observations with respect to the Milan commission. When he first brought this subject before the House, the noble lord opposite said he should be perfectly ready to promote an investigation when the proper time arrived. But how had the noble lord redeemed his pledge? He now said he should be ready to meet the question, if a motion were made on his (sir R. F's.) side of the House. What a mockery was this language on the part of the noble lord, when the noble lord and his adherents were determined to oppose any proposition which came from that side of the House. When he saw a great majority of that House blindly following a minister, and disregarding the wishes of the country, it would be folly in him to submit any motion on the subject to the House.
§ Sir J. Mackintoshexpressed his entire approbation of the conduct of his gallant friend, in declining to bring forward any motion after the late divisions in that House, divisions upon which he (sir James) forbore to make any observation. He would abstain from all reflection upon them—he would leave them to the judgment of the country and of posterity; he would only say that they fully justified the prudent resolution of his hon. and gallant friend. He knew nothing of the particulars of the Milan commission; all he knew was, that a general suspicion had arisen as to their proceedings, which was not confined to any party in that House, but had extended throughout Europe. Under these circumstances he was astonished that the persons who formed that commission, filling, as they did, most respectable stations in life, did not themselves insist upon an inquiry into 837 their conduct. He was still more astonished that ministers, who were equally interested in that inquiry, stated as an objection to it, the expense which would be necessarily incurred. He thought no expense could be too great, no price too high, for vindicating the honour of the country; and he should be sorry if, after such large sums had been expended to procure national dishonour, this House should be afraid to expend a small sum to vindicate the justice of the government of the country, which, whether justly or not, was universally suspected.
Lord Castlereaghthought the observations of the hon. and learned gentleman were wholly uncalled for by the circumstances under which this petition was brought before the House. With respect to the conduct of the Milan commission, those individuals had been most anxious to have the whole of the proceedings investigated. It had never, however, been the parliamentary practice, that a mere desire on the part of any individuals should be considered as a motive sufficiently strong of itself for the institution of an inquiry. If it had been expedient to institute an inquiry, they would have been able to satisfy the House that they had acted in conformity with the principles of British justice,
Mr. Bennetconcurred in the propriety of his gallant friend's determination. In the present temper of the House there was little chance of his obtaining the object he had in view. But the time would come when the country would demand inquiry into the infamous transactions of the Milan commission.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.