LORD BROUGHAMsaid, that the House had in the early part of the evening appointed a Select Committee to inquire into the precedents which might guide their proceedings in an alleged breach of privilege which had been committed by the arrest of a Mr. Sprye, while on his way to attend their Lordships' House. He believed, however, that many of their Lordships were of opinion that as there could be no doubt as to the nature of the proceedings upon this subject, a more summary mode of proceeding should have been adopted, and that the petitioner and the party who arrested him should have been at once brought to the bar of the House.
LORD TRUROsaid, there could be no doubt that that House had the same power which was possessed by other Courts, where the practice was to order the immediate discharge of a person who was arrested for debt while on his way to attend before them, either as a suitor or a witness.
The LORD CHANCELLORthought it would be best to discharge the order for the Committee, and bring the parties to the bar of the House. He had himself several times discharged parties who were arrested for debt while on their way to attend the sittings of the Court of Chancery, and there could be no doubt that their Lordships possessed the power to take a similar course. In the present ease all they had to do was to inquire whether the statement made was in every respect correct, and that the party was really proceeding to that House for the 924 purpose of prosecuting his interest as a suitor, when he was arrested.
§ "Sprye, Mr. Richard—The Order made this Day, referring the Petition of Mr. Richard Sprye to a Select Committee, discharged.
§
"Ordered—
That the Governor of the Whitecross Street Prison, or his Deputy, do bring Richard Sprye, a Prisoner in his Custody, to the Bar of this House To-morrow, at Eleven o'Clook; and that William and John Willis, Officers of the Sheriff of London and Middlesex, do attend this House at the same Time.
§ House adjourned till To-morrow.