§ Order of the Day for taking into consideration the Petition of William Chadwick and John Marriner (now in custody for contempt of the Orders of this House), praying to he discharged, read.
§ LORD BEAUMONTmoved—
That the said William Chadwick and John Marriner be brought to the Bar of this House and reprimanded by the Lord Chancellor, and discharged on payment of foes.
§ LORD MONTEAGLEdid not wish to oppose their release, since the House had sufficiently vindicated its privileges, but at the same time rejoiced that the matter had been brought under the consideration of the House.
§ EARL GREYsaid, there could be no doubt that the petitioners had been guilty of a gross contempt. He did not intend to offer any opposition to the Motion, but thought it should be distinctly understood that, in similar cases, for the future, their Lordships would not be disposed to deal so leniently.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEthought the House had acted wisely in vindicating its honour and privileges; and, while he had no intention of resisting the Motion, trusted the petitioners would not he released without receiving a severe reprimand. He thought that their Lordships were deeply indebted to the noble Lord (Lord Monteagle) for the manner in which he had vindicated their privileges—and assured the noble Baron that if he had not so promptly taken the matter up, it would have been his (the noble Marquess's) duty, or the duty of some other Member of the Cabinet, to have interfered in their support.
§ LORD BEAUMONTadmitted the case of the petitioners to have been one of extreme misconduct. The House were cer- 600 tainly acting with extreme lenity, and he trusted that none would ever be induced to repeat the offence.—Motion agreed to.