THE PARLIAMENTARY REGIFTER OR HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1797 Excerpt: ... upon topics which might be agitated at a future day, and putting questions which might as well be answered to-morrow, the delay which was thereby occas1oned to the passing of the bill might be putting in peril the lives of the best and bravest men in the country. It was like slopping to inquire how a sire was kindled before they employed the engines to extinguish it. The discussion of the subject was unavoidable: he only asked a flag of truce for one night, and their Lordships' assent to the bill, that it might be passed, and sent off to Portsmouth immediately. The Duke of GRAFTON having candidly admitted the necess1ty os proceeding on the bill without discussion, The Duke of BEDFORD rose, and stated to the House, that he desired to ask another question of Ministers. His Grace thought it necessary to promise, that it was one which, if sairly answered, would completely put an end to all discussion whatever. The question was, whether His Majesty's Ministers intended, and were really endeavouring, to carry into execution all the promises made by the Lords Commiss1oners of the Admiralty to the seamen? Lord GRENVILLE thought it necessary to deny, in the most express and positive terms, that he was in his ofsicial capacity bound to answer any question that might be put to him, however unseasonably, by individuals. His Lordship selt that it was a doctrine which could not be too'forcibly stated to the House, that His Majesty's Ministers and Parliament ought both to be tried by their own acts, and not by any gross and shameful misrepresentations that were maliciously sabricated to pervert the public mind, and prejudice it against Government. It would be peculiarly hard if Ministers were to be tried on the ground of answers extorted from them by questions industriou...