of Expenditure..... Debates on the
Currency..... Reduction of Imposts, &c...... Motion for
Parliamentary Reform..... Cause of the Greeks.....
Prorogation of Parliament..... Change in the Cabinet.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

{A.D. 1821}

Parliament reassembled on the 23rd of January, and was opened by the
king in person. In his speech, he expressed satisfaction at decreasing
evils with reference to domestic concerns; and in noticing foreign
commotions, he stated, that his great object would be to preserve the
blessings of peace. He noticed the queen, but it was only to suggest the
settlement of a provision upon her. But notwithstanding these pacific
demonstrations the opposition in both houses prepared all their strength
for the overthrow of the ministry. The whigs joined the radicals, and
one of the results of this alliance was the presentation of petitions
praying for the restoration of her majesty's name to the liturgy;
reprobating the late bill of pain and penalties; and requesting the
house to exert its influence with the king to dismiss his ministers. In
consequence of these petitions a motion was made on the 26th of January,
by Lord Archibald Hamilton, for a vote of censure on ministers for the
omission of the queen's name in the liturgy; but though ably supported
by Messrs. Brougham, Hobhouse, Scarlett, Wetherell, and Sir James
Mackintosh, the motion was lost by a large majority. A few days
afterwards, on a proposition by Lord Castlereagh, for a committee to
take into consideration a provision for the queen, Mr. Brougham stated
that her majesty was resolved not to accept of any settlement, while her
name was excluded from the liturgy. But notwithstanding this statement,
his lordship proposed a provision of L50,000 per annum, and after
vehement debates the vote passed without a division, and a bill for this
annuity was forwarded through the usual stages. On the 5th of February,
Lord Tavistock renewed the attack on ministers, by a motion of direct
censure on the whole proceedings against the queen, with a view of
compelling the ministers to resign. This motion, however, was lost by a
large majority; and a last effort made in the queen's cause, namely, a
motion made for the restoration of her name to the liturgy, met with
a similar fate. In the meantime the queen had been reduced to the
necessity of either being left without any provision, or of accepting
the voted settlement, in contradicti