HL Deb 30 May 1832 vol 13 cc180-1
The Earl of Munster

said, that he wished to take that opportunity of explaining to the House and to the country the course which he had felt it his duty to take with respect to the measure of Reform now before their Lordships; and also to correct certain misrepresentations which had been published respecting his conduct on the occasion of the resignation of his Majesty's Ministers. He was fully aware of the difficulties of the task he was about to enter upon, but he trusted that he should not ask in vain for their Lordships' indulgent consideration. He assured them that he would not have trespassed on their attention at all, were it not that his conduct had been made the subject of time grossest misrepresentations, the injustice of which he hoped to be able to prove to their Lordships. He must premise what he had to say to their Lordships, by declaring, that his opinions, however valueless they might be, had always been what were called liberal; and it was well known that he had always considered Reform—a moderate Reform—to be just and necessary. Indeed, many individuals were aware that in October, 1830, he had advocated, in a quarter where his opinion had been attended to, a moderate Reform, which, if it had been adopted, would, he believed, have relieved the country from the difficulties in which it was now placed. But he confessed that the extent of the present measure of Reform did alarm him; and he stated his opinion openly, for it was not his habit to hide his sentiments. Holding as he did these opinions, yet, when called to their Lordships' House, he considered it to be impossible for him to do otherwise than support the Ministerial measure of Reform; because he felt that, if he had opposed the clauses of the Bill to which he objected, he might have created a false impression respecting the opinion of one to whom he owed everything. Under these circumstances, he did not hesitate in choosing his course; and he determined to avoid, as far as in him lay, producing those results in the country, some of which of late their Lordships had witnessed, and of which God forbid that they should see the like again. He trusted that he had vindicated this part of his conduct to their Lordships satisfaction; but being upon his legs, he would take the opportunity of alluding to certain aspersions which had been cast upon his character out of doors. He was at first inclined to consider these calumnies hardly worthy of notice, being convinced that those who knew his character would need no other proof of their falsehood; but as they had been very generally disseminated, he thought, upon consideration, that it would be as well publicly to refute them. It had been stated that be had unhandsomely intrigued against Earl Grey's Government, and endeavoured to undermine that noble Earl's Administration. This was a very serious charge: but he would convince their Lordships, by a short and simple statement, that it could not, with any justice, be imputed to him. The truth was, that for six months before, and for twenty-four hours after the resignation of his Majesty's Ministers had been accepted, it was, from certain circumstances, out of his power to act in the manner imputed to him, even if he had been so unworthily inclined. He must, in conclusion, apologize for having occupied the time of the House so long, and state, that he had felt it to be his duty to make these few observations for the purpose of setting himself right with their Lordships and the country.