not the opinion of any minister; but if the principle which had been laid down by hon. Members who had left the House were correct, the House had no right, and it would be contrary to the assumed practice of the House, to express any opinion contrary to that of the Minister for the time being. He would support the amendment of the hon. Member for Rochdale. What did the amendment propose ? Her Majesty, in her Speech, stated, that there was distress among the people of this country, and proofs had been furnished during the course of the debate, that the distress existed to an extent unknown before. What did the hon. Member state by his amendment? Why, that the people were not represented in that House, and he concurred in that opinion, and that that was the cause of their distresses. That was the opinion of millions in this country. They complained from one end of the country to the other of their distresses, and the cause of it-that they were not represented in that House. The hon. Member for Rochdale wished to communicate the fact to her Majesty, and such being his object, was he to be told, that because they had no responsible Minister they were not to make such a representation? Since he had sat in that House he had not been a party man, and whatever support he had given to Ministers, was not to the men, but to their measures. He would tell the right hon. Baronet, that he would act towards him precisely as he had done with respect to the present Ministers. He would give his most cordial support to every measure, that should be brought forward by the right hon. Baronet, if he thought the proposals good, and that the measures were calculated to benefit the country. He would not detain the House further, but he must protest against the doctrine, that when an Address to the Crown of this kind was being considered, no opinions were to be expressed contrary to the Minister of the day, and no representations made to the Crown of the people's wishes, unless the Treasury benches were filled. Mr. Protheroe had withdrawn from the House with the hon. Member for Sheffield, but in consequence of what had been stated by the hon. Member for Finsbury, with respect to the agreement between the course taken in a former year and this year he wished to make one observation. had given his cordial support to the motion of the hon. Member, but there was this distinction between the time at which that He was brought forward and the present. There was no Government at present in existence, and he thought it respectful, both to the past and future Ministers, not to enter upon such a discussion as this without some Advisers of the Crown being appointed. In the former year, there were Ministers in office, and such as they might consistently think they could influence. He only wished again to express his opinion, that there ought to be an improvement in the Reform Act, but he could not vote with the hon. Member for Rochdale, because he did not think such a course would be respectful to the Reform Bill itself; and, because, however much he might regret the advent to office of the right hon. Baronet, he could recognise in him only the representative of the opinion of the majority of that House. He should, therefore, take that opportunity of withdrawing. Mr. Turner, although he thought the constituency ought to be enlarged, especially in the counties, still, under the circumstances of the present time, he could not consistently vote for the amendment of the hon. Member for Rochdale. Colonel Rawdon could not agree with the hon. Member for Sheffield, that this was an improper time for considering the motion of the hon. Member. He thought the motion strictly in accordance with the principles of the constitution. They were on the eve of a change of Government. The first act of a new Government would be to ask for a vote of credit. Then, before granting money, they ought to discuss, at least they ought to make the grievances of the people known, and to require a redress. As he thought, that the franchise was not sufficiently extended, he could not refuse to vote for the amendment of the hon. Member for Rochdale. He was sorry, that there was any division on that side of the House, but he must carry out his own opinions honestly and fearlessly. Several more hon. Members from the Ministerial side left the House, which divided on the question that the words moved by Mr. Crawford be added:-Ayes 39; Noes 283: Majority 244. Chelsea, Viscount Chetwode, Sir J. Miles, P. W. S. Ashley, Lord Ashley, hon. H. Bagge, W. Bailey, J. Cholmondeley, hn. H. Christmas, W. Damer, hon, Colonel Dickinson, F. H. Douglas, Sir C. E. Egerton, W. T. Egerton, Lord F. Eliot, Lord Hamilton, J. Hardinge, rt. hn. Sir H. Morgan, O. Mundy, E. M. Murray, C. R. S. Neeld, J. Newry, Viscount Nicholl, J. Norreys, Lord O'Brien, Á. S. Packe, C. W. Hillsborough, Earl of Northland, Viscount Henley, J. W. Herbert, hon. S. Pakington, J. S. Patten, J. W. Peel, rt. hn. Sir R. Peel, J. Pemberton, T. Pennant, hon. Col Perceval, Col. Philips, M. Planta, rt. hn. J. Polhill, F. Pollington, Viscount Powell, Colonel Praed, W. T. Sir R. Peel observed, that upon occasions similar to the present it had been customary that another motion should be made. That motion was, that her Majesty's Speech should be taken into the consideration of the House. In order thet by no possibility any disrespect might be supposed to be offered to the Crown, he should take the liberty of moving, therefore, that the Queen's Speech be taken into consideration on Monday next, when the House could dispose of it as it should deem meet. Motion agreed to. House adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS, Monday, August 30, 1841. MINUTES.] Bills. Read first time :-Foreigners Conse. cration Act Amendment; Demise of Lands by Incum bents; Spiritual Corporations Leases; Attorneys and Solicitors Consolidation; and Earl of Scarborough's Indemnity. Read second time :-Administration of Justice. Read third time and passed :-Buildings Regulation; Boroughs Improvement. RESIGNATION OF MINISTERS.] Viscount Melbourne: My Lords, I consider it my duty to acquaint your Lordships, that in consequence of the vote which was come to by the other House of Parliament on Saturday morning last, which was precisely similar in terms to a vote come to by your Lordships at an earlier period of the week, I have, on the part of my colleagues and myself, tended to her Majesty the resigna tion of the offices we hold, which resignation her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept, and we now continue to hold those offices only till our successors are appointed. DRAINAGE OF Towns.] The Marquess of Normanby, in moving the third reading of the Buildings Regulations Bill, and the Borough Improvements Bill, said, he had no objection to accede to the amendments proposed by the hon. and learned Lord (Lyndhurst) in those measures. With regard to the third bill (the Drainage of Towns' Bill) which he had presented to their Lordships, subsequent inquiries had induced him to consider that it would be more desirable that the Bill should originate in another place. He would therefore withdraw it. The Boundaries Regulation Bill and the Borough Improvements Bill were respecively read a third time and passed. BILL OF INDEMNITY.] The Lord Chancellor considered it his duty to inform the House that a certain noble Lord (understood to be the Earl of Scarborough) after he had taken the oaths, had been guilty of a most curious omission. He had omitted to subscribe the roll of Parliament, and by so doing, having subsequently sat and voted, he had subjected himself to certain penalties. He proposed, therefore, to introduce a bill to indemnify the noble Lord from the consequences of the omission, and on Monday next he should move that the Sir V. Blake. I stated that the pet: was from a Member of this House, a is not necessary to give the names of pets tioners. Mr. Goulburn. The petition being signed by the hon. Member himself the proceeding so unusual and anoma a character, that perhaps the hon. Men Would not object to withdraw it. Sir V. Blake. If it be the sense cể tạ House that the petition should be .. drawn, I shall willingly withdraw it; I really cannot see anything irregular a as it is perfectly consistent with fran precedents. The Speaker. It is quite competent i any hon. Member to petition the Hou, but then his petition ought to be pro sented by another Member. Petition withdrawn. Lond ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS.] M. Hill Controller of the Household, formed the House that her Majesty lution of that hon. House, and he was deset been waited upon, pursuant to the by her Majesty to read to the House the following most gracious answer to the Address of her faithful Commons : OATH OF SUPREMACY - PETITIONS OF MEMBERS.] Sir Valentine Blake rose to present a petition upon the subject of the bill to abolish the oath of supremacy, for the introduction of which he intended to ask leave of the House that evening. The petition was from a Member of that House, and it prayed that all Members of Parliament be relieved from the necessity of taking the oath of supremacy, in the same way that Roman Catholics were relieved. The petition denied the correctness of that part of the oath which stated, that no foreign prince, potentate, or prelate, had any spiritual or reli- "It is a great satisfaction to me to fiad gious jurisdiction, or authority, within that the House of Commons are deeply seathese realms, when it was notorious that sible of the importance of those considers the Pope had jurisdiction over the whole of tions to which I directed their attention a the Roman Catholic clergy and bishops, in- reference to the commerce and revence of dependent of which he possessed an autho-the country, and to the laws which regulate rity to interfere with the constitution of the course which it may be desirable to purthe trade in corn; and that in deciding on this House, because he possessed the power sue, it will be their earnest desire to conse t of ordination; and by the 9th section of the interests and promote the welfare of ali the Roman Catholic Relief Bill, any hon. classes of my subjects. Member of this House, accepting that or* Ever anxious to listen to the advice dination, his seat became thereby vacant, my Parliament, I will take immediate me precisely in the same way as if he had ac-sures for the formation of a new Ada... cepted office under the Crown; and then tion." again, his Holiness possesses a power of ordination with the Protestant Church. It RESIGNATION OF MINISTERS.] Lord is a matter of public notoriety that persons J. Russell said, I have now, Sir, to ordained by him, and becoming conform-state to the House, that after the division ists, are ipso facto ministers of the Estab- of Friday night, her Majesty's Ministers lished Church, without any ordination therein-a power greater than can be exercised by the head of the Established Church; shat any hon Member, taking this oath, after bis attention has been thus drawn to the real facts of the case, must be guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury. The Speaker. The hon. Member cannot move the petition without notice; but the clerk informs me it is signed by the hon. Member himself, and by no other person. thought it their duty at once to advise the answer which has just been comme. nicated to the House, and humbly to tender their resignations to her Majesty, in order to enable her Majesty to form a new Administration. Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept our resignations, and we, therefore, now only bold othce until other Ministers shall be appointed to the offices which we respectively filled. Peri aps the House will allow me on this occasion, and before I make the motion with which I intend to conclude, to state in the commencement of Lord Grey's the impressions, in doing which I shall as Administration, with the Reform Actmuch as possible avoid matter of contro- we ended by proposing measures for the versy and debate, to state the impressions I freedom of commerce. With large and entertain with respect to late events. It important measures we commenced-with was our duty, as we believed, to propose the large and important measures we conclude. measures which were proposed in the late In pursuance of great objects we triumphed Parliament in reference to the trade and in pursuance of great objects we have commerce of the country, and which we fallen. Another remark I may make, which thought essential to its interests. Upon relates both to Lord Grey and Lord Melbeing defeated with regard to one of these bourne, as severally first Ministers of the measures, we advised her Majesty as soon Crown. Lord Grey, at the time of the as the business of the Session would per- Reform Act, and in the first year of that mit it, to resort to a dissolution of Par- measure, enjoyed, together with his colliament. That dissolution having taken leagues, great and almost unexampled poplace, and the new Parliament being as- pularity. Lord Melbourne, as being the sembled, on the earliest possible opportu- first Minister of William 4th, became, at nity, we advised her Majesty to submit to the accession of the present Queen, the them the consideration of measures of the adviser of a Princess, who came to the same nature, and to ask for the opinion throne at the earliest period at which by of Parliament in reference to these mat- law it was allowable to exercise the power ters. It has pleased the House of Com- of sovereignty; it was his duty to offer that mons by a large majority, to address advice and give that information which her Majesty, stating that her Ministers a Queen, without experience, could not be did not enjoy the confidence of Parlia- supposed to have, and which was received ment and the country. This decision left with the confidence and reliance that beus no other part to perform than that of came the frank and generous nature of resigning our offices. I will not use any the Royal Person now on the throne. Now, arguments to show why we think we were I will venture to say, that neither of these justified in prolonging the struggle until powers, neither the great powers of popu the present hour; but I say, that it was larity which were enjoyed by the Ministry our conviction, that our duty to the Sove- of Earl Grey, nor the power and favour reign whose confidence we enjoyed, that of the Sovereign enjoyed by Lord Melour persuasion of the necessity of the mea- bourne and his colleagues, was ever abused sures which we advised, and our belief that by either of them. On the contrary, while the people should be consulted on ques- fault has been found with both of them for tions involving their dearest interests, ren- not having proposed measures which, it dered it incumbent on us to continue the was said at the time, would be more to struggle to the present moment. I have, on the advantage of their party, and the secuformer occasions, justified the course which curity of their power, no one can deny that we pursued on particular occasions, and in both have shewn great forbearance, and a future debates I shall be ready to justify great desire to preserve untouched and them again. But I am now only stating unimpaired the constitution of the country, the conviction which we entertain. Sir, it and the prerogatives of the Crown. Havhas been our fate now to hold power for a ing said this much with regard to the considerable number of years; I will not Ministers under whom I had the honour say that as long as we could use power, as to serve with pride and gratification, I we believed for the benefit of the country, may, perhaps, be allowed to add a few it was with reluctance we continued in words with regard to the person who now office; but this I will say, that I do not addresses you. I will not pretend to say, think the possession of power in this coun- that there will not be other persons holding try can be accompanied by satisfaction, different opinions, who will not bring to the unless there are means of carrying into administration of public affairs a larger caeffect the measures which Ministers feel pacity and more competent intelligence; essential to the welfare of the country. I all I venture to say, is, that while placed in do not allude now to particular measures the situation which I had the honour to of less or minor importance, but to mea-hold, no considerations of a private nature, sures of great and transcendant moment. no wish for personal advantage diverted my With regard to such measures, we began, attention from my public duties, and I |