The Parliamentary Historey of England (Paperback)

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. 1811 Excerpt: ...themselves obliged to inform this House of what they had heard, and of the witnesses by whom they think those deep and dark practices may be made appear; well knowing, that if there were really any such practices, the power and the authority of this House, if exercised as it ought to be, and, I hope, as it will be upon this occasion, may make up the deficiencies of the informations they have had. As the practices they complain of, are of the most heinous nature, they must certainly have been carried on in the most hidden manner; and therefore, it cannot be supposed, that the petitioners, or that any man in a private capacity, can have such a full information of them, as to charge the facts, or accuse the persons particularly; but upon the examination at the bar of your lordships House, of such witnesses as they shall desire to be examined, the iniquitous mysteries may probably come to be revealed; both the tacts and the persons may be particularly brought to light; and then I doubt not, but your lordships will take such methods as the law directs, in order to punish the guilty, to vindicate the honour and the dignity of this House, and to preserve the freedom and independency of Parliament. This is what the petitioners sue for, this is what the nation expects, and I think the petitioners have taken the most proper way, the only way they could take, to lay this important affair before your lordships. 1 am surprized, my lords, to hear it said, that the affair now before us can, in anylight, be looked on as a cause, or that it ought to be treated as such. Do the petitioners come here to complain of any violation of their own particular rights? Do they complain of any injury offered to them, or either of them in particular? No, my lords, their complaint proceed...