Impeachment for some centuries the favourite instrument of the Commons' vengeance, their longest weapon and sharpest-History of impeachments before the Revolution summarily told—Several abortive impeachments immedi- ately subsequent to the Revolution glanced at— The first seriously followed up against the Duke of Leeds for cor- ruption—Full account of that extraordinary investigation, illustrating the manners and morals of statesmen of the reign of William III.—Biography of that thrice impeached Peer-The cashierer of the Pensioner Parliament-Early career of Lord Danby- A daring but unscrupulous Trea- surer impeached for consenting to the king's bartering for bribes from France Imprisoned five years--His lofty remonstrance-Released by the courage of Jeffries, The old Cavalier malcontent under James and William-A grumbling member of the Cabinet-Dissatisfied even with The next impeachment of the Commons, a degradation - The hunting down a Lustring Company-Disputes between the power of the Doctor himself— Arrayed in per- pseudo-martyr-His protracted trial one long festive ovation_His triumphant tour in the nature of a royal Impeachment of the Jacobite rebels in 1715, who had acted on Sacheverell's principles Of the Earl of Derwent water-- Earl of Wintoun---Curious trial of this half-witted Peer --Cruelty of the law illustrated which did not then allow prisoners accused of High Treason a full defence by coun- sel-Humanity of the Lord High Steward, Lord Cowper -Escape of Lord Wintown to France--Impeachment of a brother Earl, more shrewd and fortunate, the Earl of Oxford-His eloquent defence-His peace of Utrecht ignominious, but not treasonable-Anecdotes of the in- CHAPTER XI. Impeachment of Lord Chancellor Macclesfield for corrupt prac- tices—Amusing but degrading interviews between the Masters in Chancery and the Chancellor's private Secretary --Douceurs freely asked and freely given, say £2,000, sometimes 3, or £5000—Defence of the Chancellor rather in extenuation than denial-Unanimously convicted-Justice of his condemnation and sentence questioned by Bishop Pierce-Memoir of the unfortunate Earl-Parliament breathed awhile—In 1746 impeached Lord Lovat of High Treason—The Speaker went up for the last time in the annals of Parliament, to demand judgment against that double traitor-Subsequent fruitless impeachments glanced at—That of Warren Hastings—The first which ended in an absolute acquittal-His acquittal just-Also that of Lord Melville, an excellent Public Minister—The power of im- peaching in abeyance, like the royal veto, or privilege of refusing the Supplies · 318 CHAPTER XII. Internal economy of the House reviewed – Number of Men- bers formerly in constant fluctuation—Their attendance the winter season, in the difficulty of travelling and badness of roads Necessity of constant attendance enforced- Many important measures carried by slender majorities, or the Speaker's casting vote--Instances Length of Session greatly increased, also length of sittings Speakers far more numerous and prolix than of old—Examples Amount of business quadrupled-Vast increase and evil of post-midnight legislation-Progressive increase of late hours-Former and more regular times of the House meeting and rising contrasted-Late hours, deprecated by Burnet and Speaker Onslow, attained their climax in the reigo of George III.-Present custom of adjourning at twelve o'clock at night most consonant with the requisites Multiplication of orators checked by fear of failure and modern fastidiousness—Instances, Mr. Ward and Gibbon-Also by Wearing of swords—Periwigs-Full dress—Propriety of Senators wearing robes advocated at the Revolution- Attention of Lord Chatham to costume-Former gay Contrast between the present and former manners— Traits of indecorum in primitive times-Interruptions by spitting and hissing, humming-Modern signs of impatience- Long intervals of silence formerly--Rank and degrees of members formerly more marked and regarded—Distinc- tion as to seats--Rules for exact discipline rigidly laid down by the Long and Pensioner Parliaments—The Lax practice-Balance in favour of modern decorum not very great—Manners of old Parliaments softened by distance of time and paucity of reporters-History of reporting- Sir Symonds D'Ewes—Townsend —Sir Benjamin Rud- vard-Burton - Anchitell Grey-Somers' pencil notes- Singular debate in reprobation of reporting introduced by Speaker Onslow's complaint-Denounced by Walpole and Pulteney, advocated by Wyndham-Subsequent reports with asterisks and Roman names—Dr. Johnson's speeches- Triumph of the printers in 1771–Subsequent impertinence and present power— The Reporters' gallery, a fourth estate of the realm—History and anecdotes of admission to the Strangers' gallery-Effect of old St. Stephen's MEMOIRS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. CHAPTER I. In the long gallery of Parliamentary Portraits, in that department at least appropriate to the eminent lawyers of the House, there are none of greater in. terest than the two chancellors, who illustrated the reigns of Queen Anne and George I, with their eloquence-Harcourt, and Cowper. Descended alike from ancestors of rare antiquity, rivals in Westminster Hall, antagonists in St. Stephen's Chapel, the leading champions of their party, still more renowned in the senate than the forum, and elevated by their oratory to the height of legal ambition, they might be compared together after the manner of Plutarch, though their political character affords rather a subject of marked contrast than comparison. Unscrupulous as a public man, unprincipled, unstable, at the suggestion of selfinterest versatile, a renegade on calculation, Lord Harcourt has left a name, which it required a century of merit in his descendants to redeem from ignominy, The mild, disinterested, course of Cowper, beaming with public virtue to the close, and never shadowed VOL. II. B |