7^  qntation  hw  pnt,  and  the  clanie  fiUed  up  with  the  word*  "  three  gear*,"
agreed  to,  and  ordered  to  tiand  part  of  the  bill.
Mr.  Sheridan  begged  leave  to  ask  a  question  of  the  honourable
and  learned  gentleman  whom  he  saw  opposite  to  him,  the  answer
given  to  which  would  show  whether  his  amendment  was  neces-
sary or  not.  His  Majesty  had  power  to  grant  a  commission  for
opening  parliament ;  and  he  desired  to  know  whether  the  king
had  not  power  to  invest  those  commissioners  with  full  regal  autho-
rities. He  found  from  the  precedents  with  which  they  had  been
furnished,  that  in  the  case  of  Henry  the  Sixth,  when  the  Duke
of  York  was  ^pointed  to  exercise  the  royal  authority  in  parlia-
ment, it  might  be  done.  What  he  wished  to  know  then,  was,
could  the  king  do  the  same  thing  by  a  general  commtssitm;  or
whether,  as  in  the  case  of  Lord  Hardwicke,  in  the  year  llfii,  he
must  issue  a  second  oommissiou  to  give  the  royal  assent  to  any
bill  or  bills?

7%e  matlar  ^  the  raUi  anmeered,  that  \f  the  hanounMe  gentleman  meant  to
iaqnirt  tebelher  the  king  eonld  dtltgatt  the  whole  nf  hit  amthorilg  bg  one  eommit-
itoH,  he  thonghl  he  tonld  not  do  to  ;—he  eoiUd  w>t,fl^  intlanee,  make  hit  ailor-
meg-gtntral  kiitg.  Towtakeam/  man  king  bg  attomty,  wot  a  power  that  theking
ilf  England  did  niHpoitm.  WUh  regard  to  He  miwummm  itened  in'Henrglhe
Sittth'i  reign,  in  the  eatet  of  Ike  Dnke  of  €  ~


C.ooglc


470  SPEECHES    OP   THE  [^HAKCH  19i

Ihe  Dakt  tf  Tori  in  a  nbteqiuitl  period;  i»  hoik  iioM  MtM  Iha  eamminiimt
ittnod  wider  tkt  gnat  ttol,  and  wcra  ctmfrwwt  Ay  parUamaU.
