§ The Duke of Newcastle moved an Address to his Majesty, praying that he would be graciously pleased to order to be laid on the Table of the House, a correct copy of a Letter, dated Pavilion, the 15th May, which appeared in a morning paper, and purported to be addressed by his Majesty to Earl Grey about the creation of Peers; and also copies of Circular Letters, addressed to certain noble Lords 1219 about keeping back, and staying away during the progress of the Reform Bill.
§ Earl Greywas sure that the noble Duke would, on consideration, perceive that, supposing such letters to exist, they were not documents of a nature to be laid on the Table of the House. As to the letter supposed to be addressed to him by his Majesty, he had already stated, that, as it appeared in the morning paper, it was not authentic, and supposing that a letter of that description had been sent to him by his Majesty, which he did not admit, still it must have been of a private and confidential nature, and not such a document as ought to be laid on the Table of that House. Such a paper as a private letter between the King and his Minister had never been laid on the Table of the House, and he, therefore, proposed to meet the Motion of the noble Duke by a direct negative.
The Duke of Newcastlethought, that the letters ought to be produced, at least the letter addressed to a distinguished member of that body in their Lordships' House, which had been honoured with the designation of "waverers," and he would take the sense of the House on the question.
§ Earl Greyhoped, that the noble Duke would perceive the impropriety of persisting in that resolution. If he did persist, he did not see how the letter, as the noble Duke read it from the morning paper, could be prevented from appearing on their journals; and he hoped that the noble Duke would see, that it was neither right nor decent, that it should do so, or that he should persevere in dividing the House on such a question.
The Duke of Cumberlandhad the greatest respect and regard for his noble friend (the Duke of Newcastle), but really, on this occasion, he must say, that his noble friend did not seem to be aware of what he was about. The letter in question, supposing that such a letter ever existed, must have been strictly private and confidential between the King and his Minister, and such an instrument was clearly not one that ought to be laid on the Table of the House. It was a kind of instrument that, even as between one gentleman and another, ought never to be produced as a public document; and, therefore, he hoped that his noble friend would not persevere in his Motion. For his own part, he had disapproved of the measure of Reform now 1220 before the House, and had conscientiously opposed it; but God forbid that he should give it a factious opposition. He did not approve of it, but he disclaimed all factious opposition.
The Duke of Newcastlehad thought that he was justified in calling for these papers; but if the House was of opinion, that he ought not to persevere, he would consent to withdraw his Motion. His Royal Highness had disclaimed all factious opposition, and so did he; but, at the same time, he would continue to oppose this measure, and vindicate his own honour.
§ Motion withdrawn.