w obliged to take the field against a woman in, whose
favour the British people were generally interested. On the 6th of
June a message was read from the woolsack, communicating certain papers
relative to the conduct of her majesty since her departure from England,
which the king recommended to the immediate and serious attention of
their lordships. A similar message was also delivered to the commons:
and in both houses ministers expressed their intention of moving for
an address to the king, and a reference of the papers to a secret
committee on the following day. In the commons the minister was
anticipated on the 7th by Mr. Brougham, who presented a communication
from her majesty, setting forth that she had returned to England for the
purpose of maintaining her innocence and rights; protesting against any
secret tribunal appointed by her accusers; complaining of the insults
received from foreign courts, influenced by that of Great Britain; and
appealing to the justice of the commons of England. In reply, after
the cheers with which this document was received had subsided,
Lord Castlereagh said that ministers were neither persecutors nor
prosecutors: the king's message was most gracious; and the secret
committee was only a preliminary step to ascertain whether there was any
case to proceed with. The trial should be, he added, if there was
any trial, open and honourable, Mr. Brougham strongly resisted the
appointment of the committee, since although not final, it must deeply
affect her majesty's character. Mr. Canning vindicated the conduct of
ministers, and Mr. Wilberforce recommended delay, that, if possible,
some compromise might be entered into. In consequence of this suggestion
of Mr. Wilberforce the house adjourned to the Friday following; and
in the interval the queen, on the advice of her friends, made a
communication to Lord Liverpool, through Mr. Brougham, in which,
deferring to the expressed opinion of the house of commons, she declared
herself ready to take into consideration any arrangement consistent with
her dignity and honour. In reply, Lord Liverpool referred her to the
memorandum placed in the hands of her own attorney-general and the
queen declared that this document, which had been superseded by Lord
Hutchinson's proposition, was now submitted to her for the first time.
She added that the recognition of her rank and privileges must form
the basis of any arrangement. In reply, ministers declared that an