[Footnote 21:  A member of the House of Commons had used this term as applied to the Duke’s remarks on this subject, a few nights previously.] * * * * *

I cannot help thinking that it is extraordinary that, in the year 1839, after nine years of liberal government,—­after nine years’ enjoyment of the blessings of liberal government,—­your lordships should be discussing whether or not the amount of destruction completed within a peaceful town within her majesty’s dominions is equal to the mischief done to a town which is taken by storm.  And yet this has been clearly demonstrated to be the case.  It is clear, my lords, that in peaceful, happy England, which carried on a war for twenty-two years, and which made the most extraordinary efforts to maintain that war, as she did, with circumstances of glory and success attending her arms in all parts of the world,—­in order to avoid as it was hoped, these miseries, and so that no such disasters as these might ever approach her shores,—­in this same happy and peaceful England, after nine years of liberal government, here is a town plundered, and its peace destroyed; and yet I am accused of exaggeration, because I say I never knew any town, taken by storm, to be so ill-used as this fine town has been.  I confess I am not at all surprised, however, at the conduct of the noble lord who so liberally applied the term “exaggeration” to what I said, when I reflect who are the followers and supporters of that noble lord.

July 22, 1839.

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Legal redress against Magistrates.

I apprehend that, according to the law of England, any individual is at liberty to complain of the conduct of a magistrate, and proceed against him in a court of law.  No one has ever doubted that, in this country, every individual has a right so to complain of, and to proceed against, the magistrates, when the magistrates misconduct themselves.  It is in accordance only with the Code Napoleon,—­with the code of laws of that high priest of liberalism, the Emperor Napoleon,—­that the consent of the council of state should be given, before a justice misconducting himself can be tried and punished.  Hitherto, in this country, the practice and the law have been different on that head; and I hope we shall hear no more of such proceedings.  But follow out the system laid down in the letter from the Home Office, and the result will be that no man—–­ particularly if he have to complain of the conduct of a magistrate—­will, without the consent of the home secretary, go into a court of justice to obtain redress.  My lords, to such a course I trust I shall see some check put, before it is further established by precedents.

July 22,1839.

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Reasons for Supporting the Penny Postage Bill.