Alexandria Daily Advertiser

By the ship Otis, the Editor of the Mercantile Advertiser, has received London papers to the 17th June inclusive, and Lloyd's Lists, and Prices Current of the 11th. To an American reader the papers contain scarcely an article possessing common interest; being occupied with the proceedings of the house of commons, & editorial speculations on the case of a high public delinquent, against whom a criminal information has been filed in the court of king's bench. Our extracts from Lloyd's Lists will be found in the marine department.

London, June 12.

Yesterday being the day fixed for the motion of an impeachment against Lord Viscount Melville, a great crowd assembled at an early hour, in the avenues of the house of commons. At twelve the doors were opened and a severe pressure ensued. The gallery of course was filled in a few minutes. In the early part of the day an opinion prevailed that Mr. Whitbread would open the debate; but about three o'clock it was said that Lord Viscount Melville would be previously heard in his defence. and a great number of persons crowded in. This excited a great degree of expectation, to the gallery of the house, which commands the lower lobby and also lined the stairs past four, his lordship entered the lobby, Viscount Melville was to pass. About half the lobby through which Lord and passed into the secretary's room on the left hand. The house was at this time engaged in private business. Shortly after Viscount Melville, requesting to be admitted into the body of the house, to be heard in his defence. The honorable Robert Dundas Saunders, his lordship's son, introduced Viscount Melville to the house. In the mean time he was ordered to be called. Mr. Coleman, the serjeant at arms, to take lordship be called. Which being agreed to, the speaker desired Mr. Bellamy, the principal messenger, brought in a square arm chair, and placed on the left hand side. The serjeant at arms then took up the Mace, and having within the body of the house, and took his station outside, in the lobby, armed it three times, went out of the house in front of the door of the house, and also opposite the door of the treasury room. Mr. Heard one of the messengers had previously thrown open the folding doors of the latter apartment, and Lord Viscount Melville, being informed by him, that the house requested his attendance, his lordship came out and walked uncovered into the house, attended by the serjeant and Mace. His lordship was dressed in black and wore a close buckled wig powdered. And on coming within the bar, the speaker who wore his hat all the time, addressing him, said. "My Lord Melville there is a chair for your lordship." His lordship then sat down and put on his hat. There was a loud murmur in the house on his coming in. As soon as it subsided, which was in less than two minutes, his lordship arose, and taking off his hat he laid it upon the back of the chair commenced his speech. In the course of which he frequently refreshed his memory from the papers before him. His lordship spoke for 2 hours & a quarter. His manner was firm & impressive; and he did not even in the part where he appealed to the feelings appear the least shaken. The moment he had concluded he took up his papers deliberately, one by one; having put his hat under his arm, made a bow to the speaker and withdrew, attended by the Serjeant, who during the whole of the speech, remained standing on the right hand side of his Lordship, but at the distance of a few yards, with the mace resting upon the ground, and his hand upon it. The house was uncommonly crowded. Not fewer than five hundred members were present. Lord Viscount Melville's speech will be read with interest. Upon the subject of the 10,000l. and other sums of the public money received by him, and not applied to naval purposes, his lordship positively declared, that "private honor, and personal convenience" must prevent him from ever giving any account of them.