The Earl of Liverpoolpresented a Message from the King, stating the arrival of the Queen, and announcing that his majesty had thought it right to communicate to the House certain Papers respecting the conduct of the Queen since her Majesty quitted this country, to which the king desired the earliest attention of the House. The message was read by the lord chancellor, and also by the clerk at the table.
The Earl of Liverpoolthen laid upon the table a green bag, sealed, and apparently filled with papers, and said:—My lords, I have now the honour of laying upon the table, by the king's command, the Papers referred to in his majesty's most gracious message. It it my intention to-morrow to move an address to his majesty, which, without pledging the House in any manner to any opinion, as to the contents of the message, will be merely an address, returning the thanks of the House to his majesty for his most gracious communication, and declaring our readiness to take into our serious consideration the Papers communicated by his majesty's command. It is also my intention to move to-morrow to refer the papers thus communicated to a secret committee. In this course of proceeding his majesty's government have been guided by precedent, as far as precedent (and that of a very old date) can avail, it being well-known that there is no precent bearing directly upon the present case. It will be for the secret committee to point out whether any and what proceeding is fit to be adopted in consequence of the information afforded by the papers laid before them. I have now only to move that the lords be summoned to attend the service of this House to-morrow.—Ordered.