HL Deb 21 April 1806 vol 6 cc808-9
Mr. Wyatt,

surveyor-general of his majesty's works appeared at the bar, and in answer to the question put to him by the lord chancellor, respecting the time when the preparations in Westminster-hall, for the court of parliament, sitting on the trial of lord Melville, would be completed; informed their lordships, that the same would be completely finished on Saturday next.—Mr. Whitbread presented a list of the names of certain additional witnesses who were deemed necessary by the commons to be examined on the trial of lord Melville, and requested their lordships would issue summonses for their attendance, on Tuesday, the 29th inst.—After the messengers had withdrawn, their lordships ordered that a message be sent to the commons, acquainting them, that their lordships would take the necessary steps to provide for the attendance of the witnesses mentioned.

Lord Walsingham

read the report of the committee, to whom it was referred to search for precedents respecting their lordships' modes of proceeding on former cases of impeachment: which report was ordered to be taken into consideration on Wednesday.

Lord Auckland

moved, that the house should proceed on the trial of lord Melville de die in diem, except from any special considerations they should deem it expedient to adjourn to the day after the morrow of the day on which the motion should be made.

The Earl of Radnor

moved that the further consideration of this motion should also be postponed till Wednesday.—The earl of Rosslyn and the lord chancellor opposed this motion, on the ground of its being unnecessary, it being already the general and decided opinion of the house, that they ought to proceed on the trial de die in diem. The motion was then put and negatived.—On putting the original motion,

The Earl of Radnor

opposed it, conceiving that 4 days in the week were as many as the house could devote to the trial, consistently with that attention which they must necessarily pay to other business. He declined, however, proposing any alteration in the motion.—The motion was then put and carried.