might be read. And the same being read accordingly, he next moved, "That the said orders be taken into consideration in a committee of the whole House." The motion was supported by Mr. Wilkes, Mr. Thomas Townshend, and Mr. Fox; and opposed by Lord North, Mr. Rigby, and Sir William Meredith.

Mr. Fox expressed his hearty approbation of the motion, and was glad the honourable gentleman who introduced it, had not urged an absolute discharge of the uniform and necessary orders of the House, established for good government and decorum. He wished the House would decline to enforce those orders with such reprehensible rigour; and was sure, that if a committee were to take them under candid consideration, some method might be devised fully to answer the end proposed. He dwelt on the expediency of letting in young men of parts and education, that they might cultivate and improve their understanding, and become early habituated to the conduct of state affairs, and to political argumentation.

MOTION FOR AN ADDITION TO THE INCOMES OF THE ROYAL

BROTHERS.

May 9.

SIR

JAMES LOWTHER moved, "That an humble address be presented to his majesty, to express the just sense this House entertains of his majesty's regard for the lasting welfare and happiness of his people; and, as this House cannot omit any opportunity of shewing their zeal and regard for his majesty's honour, and the prosperity of his family, humbly to beseech his majesty, that, in consideration of the high rank and dignity of their royal highnesses the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland, he would be graciously pleased to make some addition to their annual income, out of the revenues cheerfully granted his majesty for the expences of the civil government, and better supporting the honour and dignity of the crown; and to assure his majesty, that this House will enable his majesty effectually to perform the same, as nothing will more conduce to the strengthening of his majesty's government, than honourably supporting the dignity of the different branches of the royal family." Sir James stated with

energy, and described with affecting sympathy, the causes which led to this motion, and the particular circumstances of situation which rendered such an address necessary; circumstances which were unfortunately so conspicuous, as to be publicly known in every part of Europe; and which he represented as not less affecting the national character and honour, than the royal dignity. The motion was supported by Sir Edward Astley, Governor Johnstone, Mr. Wilkes, and Mr. Fox.

Mr. Fox said, he thought the motion was right, proper, and seasonable; right, that those who were so nearly allied to the crown should have part of the public munificence, intended to promote every thing which might add to its splendour and dignity; proper, because no persons were more competent to judge of the disposal of money, than those who granted it; and seasonable, because no time could be better to urge the crown on such a subject, than when the sense of its own necessities, and the generous conduct of parliament, might promise to make a favourable and grateful impression, He dwelt on the increased price of provisions, and the comparative value of money now, and during even the last reign; and observed, that though this argument was much relied on in support of the augmentation of the civil list revenue, it applied much stronger in the present case, because the increased value of the necessaries and conveniences of life, had a much stronger comparative operation; he believed, in the proportion of full three to one, on an income almost totally expended in those uses, than on a revenue, the greater part of which was issued in round sums, with which neither the splendour, dignity, nor immediate expences of the crown were at all concerned: this he instanced in the several heads of salaries, pensions, secret service money, ambassadors, &c. He then stated several general reasons in support of the motion, such as the increase of salary to the judges, the overplus between the real expenditure for the last eight years, and the necessity there was to enable the royal dukes to support their high rank, both as peers of the first order, and as being so nearly allied to the throne. He said, it had been always the policy of this country, to make a suitable provision for the different branches of the royal family; it rendered them independent of ministers; and bound them by interest and sentiment to preserve that constitution under which they enjoyed such pre-eminent and solid advantages. On the other hand, a royal family, in narrow and dependent circumstances, were compelled to look up to the throne for protection and support; and from the very nature of their situation, were liable to become the instruments of the crown in forging chains for their country. This, he was certain,

was at present entirely out of the case; the King was as averse to employing them in effecting purposes so far from his heart, as they would be to comply with them, had he entertained sentiments of a different kind. He concluded by observing, that there were many public and private reasons for wishing to see every branch of the royal family happy and easy in their domestic circumstances.

The motion was opposed by Sir J. G. Griffin, Sir George Howard, and Mr. Rigby, upon the ground of propriety, and the previous question immediately moved. The difficulty, as well as impropriety, of discussing a question of so nice and delicate a complexion, were principally insisted on. It would be breaking in upon the domestic affairs of the royal family; and venturing to inquire into matters of so tender a nature, as the conduct observed, and the transactions that passed in private life, between the sovereign and his brothers. The previous question was then put, and the House divided. The Noes went forth :

MR. FOX's MOTION RESPECTING MR. SPEAKER NORTON'S SPEECH TO THE KING, ON PRESENTING THE BILL FOR THE BETTER SUPPORT OF HIS MAJESTY'S HOUSEHOLD.

May 9.

IN N the course of the preceding debate on the incomes of the royal brothers, Mr. Rigby turned with vehemence towards the Chair, and arraigned the conduct of the Speaker with great acrimony, He said, that although our burthens were heavy, and our expences immense, our situation had been grossly misrepresented in a place, and in the presence of those, where nothing but truth should be heard: that the sentiments declared at the bar of the other House, to be those of this, were never so much as thought of here; that the Commons of this kingdom knew better; that, for one, he totally disclaimed them; and he was certain that a very great majority of that House did so too. He trusted, that before the House rose, it would be proved whether the House thought with the chair, or with him, whose sentiments, he said, were directly contrary to those delivered in the name of that House at the bar of the House of Lords, on Wednesday last. As soon as the division was over, the Speaker rose in his place, and begged leave to draw the attention and recollection of the House, to what

had fallen from Mr. Rigby. Previous, however, to his taking any particular notice of the censure that right honourable gentleman had passed on his conduct as Speaker of that House, he begged that his speech to his majesty at the bar of the House of Lords, on Wednesday last, might be first read by the clerk; and the same being read accordingly, he then appealed to the journals for the vote of thanks, which followed on his return, to shew, that the sentiments which he expressed to his majesty, when he presented the bill for the better support of his majesty's household, were the sentiments of the House, and not his own particular sentiments, as had been asserted by the last-mentioned right honourable gentleman. While the Speaker was yet on his legs, up rose Mr. Rigby, who adhering to what had fallen from him in the former debate, spoke of the chair in terms very nearly bordering on disrespect. He insisted that he had a right to animadvert on the Speaker's speech, or on his conduct, within or without that House, if he thought it improper. He was certain the speech now read did not convey his sentiments, whatever it might those of the 281 who voted for the augmentation of the King's civil list. He said he had a right to appeal to the chair, and from the chair, and would never be intimidated, or led by any inducement, to forfeit the privileges of a British senator. The Speaker was no more than another member, and he was as free to differ from the chair as from any other individual in that House. He proceeded to great heat, which seemed to make the Treasury-bench uneasy.

Mr. Fox replied to the right honourable gentleman, and observed, that he had brought the matter to a direct decision; that was, he had rendered it necessary for the Speaker to seek

*The following is a copy of the speech as published by the Speaker :"Most gracious Sovereign,

6

"The bill, which it is now my duty to present to your majesty, is intituled, ' An Act for the better support of his Majesty's Household, and ' of the honour and dignity of the crown of Great Britain:' to which your Commons humbly beg your royal assent.

"By this bill, Sir, and the respectful circumstances which preceded and accompanied it, your Commons have given the fullest and clearest proof of their zeal and affection for your majesty. For, in a time of public distress, full of difficulty and danger, their constituents labouring under burthens almost too heavy to be borne, your faithful Commons postponed all other business; and, with as much dispatch as the nature of their proceedings would admit, have not only granted to your majesty a large present supply, but also a very great additional revenue;-great, beyond example; great, beyond your majesty's highest expence.*

"But all this, Sir, they have done, in a well-grounded confidence, that you will apply wisely, what they have granted liberally; and feeling, what every good subject must feel with the greatest satisfaction, that under the direction of your majesty's wisdom, the affluence and grandeur of the sovereign will reflect dignity and honour upon his people.”

* Several members who took notes of this speech, wrote wants, instead of expence.

the sense of the House, as the charge was open and direct. The Speaker had either misrepresented the sense of the House, or he had not; as an individual, he had disclaimed the sentiments of the Speaker, as far as the same respected himself; and had plainly hinted that it was the opinion of a majority present: it was coming to the point at once, and bringing the matter to a fair issue. For his part, he suspected the Speaker did not deliver the sentiments of the majority, though it was plain he did the sense of the House; because he was immediately thanked on his return, nem. con. as appeared by the journals. The question, then, which remained to be decided, was, whether the Speaker had done his duty. The truth, he believed, was, that the court thought he had exceeded it, by their so highly disapproving of the speech. He was resolved, however, to take the sense of the House by motion, which, if negatived, in his opinion, the Speaker could sit no longer in that chair with reputation to himself, or be further serviceable in his station, after having been publicly deserted, bullied, and disgraced. He then made the following motion:-"That the Speaker of this House, in his speech to his majesty, at the bar of the House of Peers, on Wednesday last, and which was desired nemine contradicente, by this House, to be printed, did express with just and proper energy, the zeal of this House, for the support of the honour and dignity of the crown, in circumstances of great public charge."

The Speaker assured the House, that he meant to deliver nothing but their sentiments. He thought he was justified in what he said, considering the time, the occasion, and the various current circumstances which combined to stamp what he offered with peculiar propriety. Conceiving, therefore, that he had discharged his duty, and that the same had been afterwards publicly approved of, he could not think of remaining in a situation where he could be no longer serviceable; which must be certainly the case, if the present motion should be rejected. Mr. De Grey did not approve of the word wants, in the speech. He said, such an expression was disrespectful to the sovereign; and, in his opinion, the whole speech conveyed a very improper idea to foreign powers in particular, who, presuming on its contents, might be tempted to disturb the public tranquillity. The Speaker replied, that he thought he did not make use of the word wants, as it could mean nothing. As to what effect his speech might have in foreign courts, or any other political consequence which might arise from it, he never considered. He wished to express the sense of the House; he imagined he had done so; and he could never think of sitting longer in that chair, than while he was in the exercise of his duty. Mr. Welbore Ellis said, he presumed the Speaker delivered his own sentiments with great candour and sincerity; and in so doing, he acted a very