THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBYsaid, that before the Orders of the day were proceeded with he wished to give a notice for Monday next, and as the subject which he intended then to bring forward was of a somewhat peculiar character, he thought it would be more convenient to the House, as well as more fair to the noble Lord opposite, if he stated one word of explanation as to the ground on which he would bring the subject forward. He had been appealed to by persons who were much interested in the fair fame of a deposed Prince—the Duke of Modena—to vindicate his character from certain charges which for the last three months had been circulated through Europe, in the name and on the authority of a British Minister—the Chancellor of the Exchequer. That right hon. Gentleman referred to a publication as the ground of his charges. He (the Marquess of Normanby) had been furnished with a specific answer to each one of these charges. When he brought the matter forward he would have an opportunity of explaining to their Lordships the character of the publication in question, and he thought they would feel that the right hon. Gentleman would better have consulted the responsibility of his high position if he had not made those specific charges without inquiring a little more into their truth. He intended to move for a Copy or Extracts of any despatch relating to the Duchy of Modena from Her Majesty's Minister at present in Central Italy during the years 1855, 1856, and 1857. Their Lordships would feel that this was a very serious question when he told them that he was credibly informed that the Duke of Modena was quite horrified by the charges which someone's malignant imagination had made against him, and which had been so lightly adopted by a high authority, that he should consider himself as morally guilty of murder if the charges 176 were true. If he could not bring on the subject upon Monday, he would postpone it to some subsequent day.
LORD BROUGHAMsaid, that as the character of the Grand Duke of Modena was attacked by the Chancellor of the Exchequer he hoped the noble Marquess would see that it would be much more conducive to the vindication of his Royal client, if his defence were made in the House where the charges were preferred. If the noble Marquess persisted in his notice, the Grand Duke would be defended where he had not been accused, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be attacked where he could not defend himself. He presumed that the object of the noble Marquess was partly to defend the Duke of Modena, and partly to attack the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBYsaid, he would have taken the advice of the noble and learned Lord if his opinions of these subjects had been what they all admired ten years ago. If there was any irregularity in the Duke of Modena being defended in one place when he was attacked in another, it rested with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who had brought a wanton accusation against a deposed Prince upon authority which was unworthy or credit. The attack was uncalled for, as it had nothing to do with the subject under debate when it was made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and it went forth to the world as having the sanction of Her Majesty's Government. He should not take the advice of his noble and learned Friend, but should defend an absent and otherwise defenceless person, who had been driven from his country by the arms of a neighbour.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that if it was a question of Order, the noble Marquess was most open to reproof, in having used the opportunity of giving a notice to make rather detailed statements, and in giving a notice that a week hence he would deliberately commit the very disorderly act of making a speech in reference to a speech which had been delivered in "another place."
THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBY, amid continued cries of "Order" said, that he gave the notice with the explanation he had added, in order to give the colleagues of the Chancellor of the Exchequer some idea before hand of the subject to which he meant to refer.