Lords Sitting of 28 January 1805

CONDUCT OF JUDGE FOX.—
The Marquis of Abercornmoved, that the order for their lordships going into a committee upon the matters alleged against Mr. Justice Fox, and the papers and documents respecting the same, on the 7th of Feb. be discharged. This the noble marquis generally stated, he was principally induced to do by the consideration of the great distance many of the witnesses who were meant to be brought forward on the occasion, had necessarily to travel; some from remote parts of Ireland, and to whom it would be impracticable to arrive in due time, in reference to the day at first appointed for the commencement of the investigation. Under this impression, and with a view to the circumstances of this case, he should propose that a similar order be made for the is 18th of Feb. which his lordship seemed to think the earliest

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practicable day.—This proposition meeting the concurrence of their lordships, the order as above was forthwith discharged, and renewed for the 18th of next month. The noble marquis then moved, that a message be sent to the Commons, requesting they would permit the' attendance of the following members of that house, to give evidence before the said committee, namely, sir T. Featherstone, bart. hon. G. L. Cole, sir James Stewart, bart. and M. Archdall, esq. Ordered.

ADDITIONAL FORCE BILL.
Earl Camdenpresented, in pursuance of a recent address of their lordships, accounts of the number of men raised under the provisions of the additional force act passed last session. The accounts were ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.
Earl Darnleyobserved, that he still found it necessary to ask for further information upon this subject. He wished to know specifically, what number of men had been raised by the parishes; for which purpose he should now make a motion, to which he thought there could be no objection, for an account, distinguishing the number of men so raised by the medium of the parish officers, distinct from those raised by the ordinary means of levy. He did not wish to enter now into the general question upon the subject which he intended to bring forward on Monday next, but upon a very cursory view of the papers upon the table, he could not help observing, that he thought they completely justified the objections which were originally, made to the Addiditional Force Act, as it appeared to him, that out of the number of men raised, since the last session, very few had been obtained within the united kingdom. He should merely, however, now move for the production of the paper to which he had alluded, and he should then move that the lords be summoned for Monday, upon his motion respecting the army.
Earl Camdenobserved, he saw no objection to the accounts being produced, which his noble friend adverted to; but, with respect to the day upon which the intended proposition should be discussed, the same facility, in his mind, did not seem to obtain. There were, on the other hand, other papers and accounts, which, he thought, were necessary to be produced, and which it might not be practicable to get ready in due time; besides, there was a discussion of great importance
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pending, and which, perhaps, circumstances might render it necessary to have postponed. He had rather his noble friend would fix upon another day; as, by possible contingency, that mentioned might interfere with the important discussion which he alluded to as pending.
Earl Darnleyexplained, and expressed himself desirous that no proposition coming from him should stand in the way of any other business of more importance. However, as the thing stood, he did not see what well-grounded objection could be offered to summoning their 1dps. for Monday next. He repeated some of his former observations relative to the inefficacy of parts of the act in question; and concluded by framing a motion for producing the farther accounts, as above described, which, after a few words from Earl Camden, was put and ordered accordingly.