Lord Walsinghamacquainted the house, that his noble friend lord Hawkesbury, who had given notice of his intention to bring forward a motion for the thanks of the house to vice-admiral lord Collingwood, and the officers and marines under his command, being that day unable to attend in his place, he had to propose that the said order be postponed; he added, it was the intention of his noble friend to appear in his place on Monday, when he would acquaint their lordships with the particular day on which he would bring forward that motion. Before he sat down, he begged to enquire of any noble lord, whether it was the intention of a noble earl (Cowper) then absent, on whose motion the house stood summoned for Monday, to bring, forward his proposed motion on that day.
Lord Hollandobserved, that, in the absence of his noble friend (earl Cowper), who was that day prevented from attending, by a slight indisposition, he had authority to state, that the noble earl did not intend, for obvious reasons, to bring on his motion upon that day. Under that impression, therefore, he had no hesitation to move, that the order for summoning their lordships, for Monday, be discharged. At a future opportunity, his noble friend would acquaint their lordships with his intentions respecting the motion in question.—Relative to the intended postponement of the motion, which stood for that day,
The Duke of Norfolkaddressed a few observations to the house. He thought some particular reason should be assigned, for deferring a motion of the peculiar na- 29 ture and importance of that in question. He recalled to the attention of the house, the great and eminent services to their country, which had been rendered by the noble admiral, and the officers, and seamen under his command, to whom it was proposed that evening to vote the thanks of the house. It was that sort of proposition, which every noble lord in the house would feel the greatest pleasure in acceding to. He saw no necessity for postponing the motion, or why it should exclusively come from the noble secretary of state; it was one which might be forthwith proposed by any noble lord; but, in general, such a proposition came from the first lord of the admiralty. The postponement of such a motion was a very unusual thing; in the present instance, he saw no possible reason for the delay, nor was any assigned. Though he thought it incumbent on him to observe thus much, he had no intention of coming forward on the occasion himself; but he wished that some reason should be given for postponing the intended motion.
The Lord Chancellorquitted the woolsack, and shortly observed, that the noble lord in question had conducted himself in every step he had occasion to take in the business, with the greatest propriety and respect towards those who were to be the object of their lordships' thanks; that he himself, and, he was persuaded, all their lordships entertained the highest possible sense of their most invaluable services; and he doubted not, but his noble friend could assign adequate reasons for the proceeding of that night.—The order in question was then postponed. and their lordships adjourned till Monday.