Lords Sitting of 26 November 1813

Preamble
The royal assent was given by commission, to the Malt Duty, Loan, and Local Token Bills. Commissioners, lords Eldon, Harrow by and Walsingham.

CLERGY BILL.
Mr. Serjeant Copley and Mr. Heath, appeared for Mr. Wright, against the Clergy Penalties Bill; the latter not heard. Mr. Serjeant Copley, after shortly adverting to the Acts for compelling the residence of the clergy on their livings, and the great importance of having that object enforced, stated, first, that Mr. Wright had a vested interest in the result of the actions, upon the same grounds that others held their property. He was injured by the present Bill; 1st, inasmuch as reports had gone abroad, that he himself had led the defendants into the commission of the offence; an imputation that was in some measure countenanced by the preamble of the Bill, which stated the proceedings to be vexatious Mr. Wright had made enquiries into the circumstances of each case, and where there appeared not a legal, but even a moral excuse, had

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desisted from the action. He had expended very considerable sums of money in commencing these actions. He might sustain the loss of the fruits of the action, by the death of parties, and also the costs; and he himself might die during the suspension, and the whole of the costs and every thing else might be lost to his representatives.
Lord Ellenboroughsaid, there ought to be some evidence that the actions had been brought; persons might otherwise claim to be heard at the bar, merely on their own allegation that they had an interest. Had the counsel the writs to shew, or at least to give in?
Mr. Serjeant Copleystated, that they had not the writs; but they were ready to prove by the attorney, that the actions were brought.
The Lord Chancellorasked, what was the number of Actions in all?
Mr. Serj. Copleysaid, there were about 200 brought by Mr. Wright, and about 100 more by others.
The Lord Chancellorsaid, they had nothing to do with those that were brought by Mr. Wright's procurement, but only with those brought by himself. These last were, as to this purpose, alone his actions.
Mr. Serj. Copleysaid he could not state, that the remainder of the actions were brought by Mr. Wright's procurement. He knew nothing, about them; but about 200 were brought in Mr. Wright's own name.
The Lord Chancellorsaid, that was all the House wanted to know.
Counsel were then ordered to withdraw; and the Bill was committed and reported without further observation.