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noble lord be first put, and afterwards move that which he had brought forward as a distinct Resolution, as doing this two of the Resolutions would pass unanimously, whatever might be the fate of the third.

Mr. C. W. Wynne recommended it to the honourable gentleman to avail himself of this suggestion.

Mr. H. Sumner was understood to agree to this, and the original motion was put and carried nem. con. He then moved-That the annuity be continued from the death of Mrs. Perceval, to the person who may at that period be the heir of Mr. Perceval.

Mr. Whitbread was sorry the honourable gentleman had pressed his motion, He wished to say nothing against the political memory of the dead, but his opinions on the policy of Mr. Perceval he had, when living, expressed to his face. If he concurred with that which was proposed, he should think that doing so, he concurred in approbation of his political measures. (Cries of No, no!) He spoke for himself, and for no one else, but if they came to a vote upon the subject, he should certainly divide the Committee.

Mr. Wilberforce reminded the Committee that their proceedings would be considered by posterity, and would become matter of history. They ought therefore to be dictated by views of sound national policy. If there was any one thing which the Committee ought particularly to guard against, it was the imputation that the majority who voted with the Minister while living, had voted a large sum after his death in support of their political opinion. Any division on this question would but sully the high testimony of approbation which his late and right honourable friend had received even from those who were hostile to him in politics. Surely a grant of 2000l. a year to a branch of Mr. Perceval's family for a few years longer, was not to be put in competition with unanimity in their proceedings.

Lord Castlereagh could not help admiring the conflict of generous feelings displayed on this occasion. He would assure the honourable mover of the present proposition, that had he calculated the proposed remuneration by his own sense of the character and public services of his late right honourable friend, it would have been ofa much higher description; but thought that he should best perform his duty, and act most consonently to the feelings of Mr. Perceval's family and connections, by framing his Resolutions in such a manner as to conciliate all parts of the House.

He

confessed that be extremely lamented that the zeal and affection of any individual should endanger unanimity on the present occasion; and to prevent the House, if possible, from being put into the awkward situation of directly affirming or disaffirming the proposition of the honourable gentleman, he should move, as an amendment, to leave out all the words after the word "that" in the honourable gentleman's motion, for the purpose of substituting the fol lowing:-"I report the said Resolution to the House."

Mr. Canning said, that had the motion of the honourable gentleman formed a part of the original proposition submitted to the House, he could have felt no difficulty in giving it his entire and cordial concurrence. But he must say, that he thought the honourable gentleman ought in candour to have communicated his intentions to the noble lord, and even to have ensured the support of others previous to his laying before their consideration in the House an unexpected proposition on an occasion when it was so peculiarly desirable that there should be entertained and manifested but one common and universal feeling. (Hear, hear, hear!) Had the object of the honourable gentleman been submitted for their original option, he, for one, would have given it his unqualified support. He felt, however, that Government had had in this instance a difficult as well as a painful task to perform. They had so to devise and frame the measure which they offered to the consideration of Parliament, as to make it subservient to two different ends; the first in consulting the national feelings and just claims of individuals, and the second in procuring the cordial and unanimous suffrage of the House. But he felt, that if he himself were now to become a party to the proposition of the honourable gentleman, he should render himself equally liable, with others, to the imputation of having taken an unfair advantage. It was therefore his intention to vote with the noble lord (Castlereagh); but in the event of that vote being negatived, he did not consider himself precluded from exercising his discretion with respect to the motion of the honourable gentleman, under the circumstances in which it would then come before them.

Mr. W. Smith was of opinion that the arrangement, founded on an understanding between Government and the family, ought not to be lightly set aside.

Mr. Ryder, in a tone of voice so low as to render him almost inaudible in the gallery, expressed his wish that the proposition of his noble friend, which he knew to be agreeable to the feelings of Mr. Perceval's family, and which had been sanctioned by the approbation of the House, might not be subjected to any interference which might be productive of a difference of opinion.

Sir John Sebright was confident that if the right hon. gentleman, now unhappily no more, could be sensible of the discussion of this question, he would himself give his vote for the smaller sum, under the gratifying consciousness that it was unanimously voted. He declared that he should grieve to think, were the case his own, that he had any friend who would chuse voluntarily to excite a debate as to the quantum of provision which it was expedient to grant.

Mr. Home Sumner replied, that however desirable unanimity might be on such an occasion, he could not forget that unanuity would not give bread. As to the hint which had been given him of the propriety of his having previously consulter Ministers, he, although an humble individual, had not that opinion of their infallibility, as to conclude it his duty to sacrifice to it his right as a Member of Parliament, to submit to the House whatever measure he pleased, without waiting for their consent.

Mr. Tierney assented to every syllable of praise that had been uttered in commendation of the private and public merits of Mr. Perceval, whom he had long known and sincerely esteemed. He agreed too with the honourable gentleman (Mr. Sumner) that it was the duty as well as the privilege of a Member of Parliament, to consider every proposition entirely on its intrinsic merits, and not in the light of from what quarter it proceeded. He thought, however, that the Resolutions of the noble lord were in this instance rendered acceptable by its being understood that they were in unison with the wishes and feelings of the unfortunate individuals whose interests were concerned. He sincerely hoped that there would be no division, for he begged to remind gentlemen, that if it were unpleasant now, they might be yet in a more unpleasant predicament hereafter. Many Members had left the House under the persuasion that they had voted all which they would be called upon to vote, and might naturally be disposed to dispute the progress of the additional grant in every stage. He confessed he thought the House had already done enough to signify their abhorrence

of the atrocity committed, and as much as, in the present circumstances of the country, they ought to give to any individual whatever. It appeared to him that one resource had been entirely overlooked, he meant the Pension List, and he could entertain no doubt that the Prince Regent would feel every disposition to promote the interests of Mr. Perceval's family.

Admiral Harvey thought the eldest son of Mr. Perceval ought to be provided for by Parliament.

The House then divided, on the motion of Lord Castlereagh, that Mr. Lushington should quit the Chair:

For the motion

67

Against it

Majority against it

107

40

The House then divided on the motion of Mr. Sumner, for granting an annuity of 2000. per annum to the heir of Mr. Perceval, on the death of his mother:

For the motion

Against it

136

23

Majority

113

Mr. Whitbread then stated, that many gentlemen who might agree with part of the Resolutions, would not be disposed to concur with the whole; and it would therefore be impossible that the Report should be brought up so early as was contemplated by the noble lord (Castlereagh).

The Speaker suggested the propriety of leaving the last Resolution for the consideration of a future day, which would obviate this difficulty.

The House then went into a Committee on the Orders in Council, when Mr. Leach and Mr. Drayton, from Leicester, were examined; after which the other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

THURSDAY, MAY 14.

The House met about half past one o'clock. A considerable number of Lords attended, all of whom (with the exception of one or two) were either dressed in full Court suits of mourning, or in military uniforms with crapes round VOL. III-1812.

L

their arms. Their lordships, very soon after prayers, adjourned till half past three, and proceeded to present their Address to the Prince Regent. About a quarter before four the House resumed and again had prayers.

The Lord Chancellor read the Answer of his royal highness the Prince Regent to the Address of the House, stating the satisfaction of his Royal Highness at the concurrence of the House in enabling him to make a provision for the widow and family of Mr. Perceval, for which they had a just claim on the liberality of the public, and lamenting that the life of Mr. Perceval, whose public and private vir tues so eminently entitled him to regard and esteem, should have been prematurely abridged by the hands of an assassin.

Mr. Sutherland presented an Account of the Emoluments of the Office of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod for the last ten years, which was ordered to lie on the table.

After reading two or three private Bills, the House resolv ed itself into a Committee on the Orders in Council. Mr. Josiah Wedgwood, of Etruria, in Staffordshire; Mr. Stevenson, also a potter of Staffordshire; Mr. Potts, of Birmingham, and other witnesses, were examined.

Soon after nine the House resumed, and after ordering the examination of witnesses to recommence to-morrow at two o'clock, adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

THURSDAY, MAY 14.

The Speaker took the Chair at two o'clock, and shortly after nearly 300 Members were assembled, most of them in full Court-dresses, Officers in naval and military uniforms, with crapes round their arms, and the Ministers in mourning.

THE LATE MR. PERCEVAL.

After a considerable pause,

Lord Castlereagh moved that Mr. Lushington have leave to report from the Committee of the whole House, upon the Message of his royal highness the Prince Regent, respecting the provision for the widow and family of the late Right Honourable Spencer Perceval.

Mr. Lushington appeared at the Bar with the Report. On the question for bringing it up,

Mr. H. Sumner rose and observed, that after he quitted

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