Lord Walsinghamreported from the committee appointed to seach for precedents of proceedings on impeachments, the ceremonial proposed to be observed on the trial of lord Melville, which had been recommended to them for alteration. His lordship having read the report,
The Earl of Radnormoved to add to it, in conformity with three precedents of impeachments previous to that of Mr. Hastings, that the peers should remain in their places, and not depart from them during the trial on each day.—A long conversation ensued between lord Auckland, the earl of Radnor, lord Holland, lord Eldon, earl Stanhope, the earl of Westmeath, earl Spencer, the duke of Cumberland, the earl of Darnley, bishop of St. Asaph, and lord Ellenborough. Most of the above peers objected to the proposition, as tending by its strictness, to cause great inconvenience to the peers attending on the trial, whilst, at the same time, there was no doubt at all that that order would be preserved which the solemnity of such an occasion required.
The Earl of Radnorconceived that the motion ought to be agreed to, in order to insure that strictness of order which was requisite on a solemn trial by impeachment, but in order to have a public attendance at its discussion, his lordship moved to adjourn the debate till the next day, and that the lords be summoned. On this motion the house divided; Contents 9; Non Contents 15; Majority 6. The report of the committee was then agreed to.