Sitting of 24 January 1806

MINUTES.
The Speaker,on taking the chair, stated that the house having, pursuant to order, waited on his majesty, with their address on the subject of his gracious speech, his majesty was pleased to return the following most gracious answer: "Gentlemen, I thank you for this dutiful and "loyal address. Your condolence on the loss of my late brother the duke of Gloutester, affords a new proof of your attachment to my person and family. Your cordial concurrence in my disposition to cultivate at all times an intimate connection with the emperor of Russia, gives
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me the greatest satisfaction; and the assurance of your unabated vigilance and exertion in the present posture of affairs enables me to look forward with increased confidence to such a termination of the contest as may be consistent with the safety and permanent interests of my do minions."—Lord Castlereagh, adverting to the notice which he bad given for this day relative to a vote of thanks to the officers, seamen, and marines engaged in the action off Trafalgar, stated, that as it was desirable to have a full attendance upon such a subject, he felt the propriety of postponing it to another time, when it could be discussed with more convenience to several members. The noble lord, however, intimated his intention of bringing forward this motion on an early day, and stated the probability that he should on Monday next mention the day.—Mr. Paull gave notice, that he should, on Wednesday next, move for the production of a letter from lord Melville, to the chairman, deputy chairman, and directors of the East-India Company, relative to their Indian debt, dated in June 1801. The hon. gent. also gave notice, that on Monday he should move for a few more papers relative to the transactions in Oude, and the appointment of the hon. Henry Wellesley to be lieut. governor of the provinces in Oude.

IMPEACHMENT OF LORD MELVILLE.
A message from the lords presented at the table, a copy of the answer delivered in by lord Melville to certain articles of impeachment preferred against him by the house of commons. The answer stated, "that Henry lord viscount Melville, saving and reserving to himself all just exceptions in manner and form to the said articles of impeachment, and saving and reserving to himself such privileges as he is entitled to as a peer of the realm, for answer doth allege, that he is not guilty of all or any of the supposed crimes charged in the said articles; and this he is ready to prove. And he submits himself and his cause to that right hon. house; and prays that he may be discharged henceforth, and acquitted of the said charges."
Mr. Whitbreadmoved, that the answer just read from the chair be referred to the committee for drawing up the impeachment; and that they do report their opinion on the same towards the further proceedings to be had in the impeachment.—Ordered.

HONOURS TO MR. PITT.
Mr. Henry Lascellesgave notice, that he should, on Monday, bring forward a motion which related to a subject that had caused the greatest grief and melancholy throughout the country: he meant the death of that illustrious personage the late chancellor of the exchequer. It was his intention, he said, to move, that some signal mark of public respect should be shewn to the memory of that great man.
Lord Castlereaghalluding to a motion of which a noble lord (H. Petty) had given notice for Monday, rose to enquire whether it was the intention of that noble lord to bring it forward? At the time the notice was given, he observed that the noble lord did not seem disposed to press the question upon that precise day. As a matter of personal convenience to himself and other friends who certainly would be ill able to enter into the discussion of such a subject on Monday, he hoped the noble lord would agree to a farther postponement.
Mr. Foxassented to the propriety of the postponement required, for the reasons alluded to by the noble lord. It was no doubt highly desirable that the consideration of the question to which the noble lord referred, should take place on an early day. He knew that it was his noble friend's intention to bring it forward as early as possible, but certainly not on Monday. Adverting to the notice of an hon. gent. (Mr. Lascelles) for that day, he submitted whether it would not be more proper to postpone that notice until after the discussion of the motion proposed by his noble friend, which naturally claimed the precedency. He felt, however, that it was not for him to dictate to the hon. gent. But it was for that hon. gent. and those who thought with him, to consider whether the motion they had it in contemplation to bring forward, might not involve points, the discussion of which would more properly belong to the question announced by his noble friend; whether, in fact, it might not be of such a nature as many gentlemen could not assent to, without a gross violation of their public duty.

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE NAVY, &c.
The order of the day, for summoning their lordships, being read,
Lord Walsinghamacquainted the house, that his noble friend lord Hawkesbury, who had given notice of his intention to bring forward a motion for the thanks of the house to vice-admiral lord Collingwood, and the officers and marines under his command, being that day unable to attend in his place, he had to propose that the said order be postponed; he added, it was the intention of his noble friend to appear in his place on Monday, when he would acquaint their lordships with the particular day on which he would bring forward that motion. Before he sat down, he begged to enquire of any noble lord, whether it was the intention of a noble earl (Cowper) then absent, on whose motion the house stood summoned for Monday, to bring, forward his proposed motion on that day.
Lord Hollandobserved, that, in the absence of his noble friend (earl Cowper), who was that day prevented from attending, by a slight indisposition, he had authority to state, that the noble earl did not intend, for obvious reasons, to bring on his motion upon that day. Under that impression, therefore, he had no hesitation to move, that the order for summoning their lordships, for Monday, be discharged. At a future opportunity, his noble friend would acquaint their lordships with his intentions respecting the motion in question.—Relative to the intended postponement of the motion, which stood for that day,
The Duke of Norfolkaddressed a few observations to the house. He thought some particular reason should be assigned, for deferring a motion of the peculiar na-

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ture and importance of that in question. He recalled to the attention of the house, the great and eminent services to their country, which had been rendered by the noble admiral, and the officers, and seamen under his command, to whom it was proposed that evening to vote the thanks of the house. It was that sort of proposition, which every noble lord in the house would feel the greatest pleasure in acceding to. He saw no necessity for postponing the motion, or why it should exclusively come from the noble secretary of state; it was one which might be forthwith proposed by any noble lord; but, in general, such a proposition came from the first lord of the admiralty. The postponement of such a motion was a very unusual thing; in the present instance, he saw no possible reason for the delay, nor was any assigned. Though he thought it incumbent on him to observe thus much, he had no intention of coming forward on the occasion himself; but he wished that some reason should be given for postponing the intended motion.
The Lord Chancellorquitted the woolsack, and shortly observed, that the noble lord in question had conducted himself in every step he had occasion to take in the business, with the greatest propriety and respect towards those who were to be the object of their lordships' thanks; that he himself, and, he was persuaded, all their lordships entertained the highest possible sense of their most invaluable services; and he doubted not, but his noble friend could assign adequate reasons for the proceeding of that night.—The order in question was then postponed. and their lordships adjourned till Monday.