be thoroughly investigated, and such steps taken in the present session, as would be attended with beneficial effects. In the mean time, under the circumstances of the case, their lordships must be aware of the necessity for the passing of the bill, and on that ground he moved the second reading of the bill. it would be found more desirable to pay them off by exchequer bills. There was a further sum to be provided for, to the amount of 1,500,000l. being part of 3 million advanced by the bank, in 1798, one half of which had been since paid, and this other half had been renewed, and remained to be provided for now.-The following Resolutions were then agreed to: 1. “That 8 Lord Auckland said a few words genemillions be granted to his majesty, for rally in support of what had fallen from paying off and discharging the exchequer the noble secretary of state; and, in addibills made out by virtue of an act, passed tion, adverted to some proceedings which in the last session of parliament, for raising had taken place upon the subject, in the the sum of 8 millions, by loans or exche-committee of the privy council, appointed quer bills, for the service of Great Britain, for the consideration of such topics. for 1805, outstanding and unprovided for; 2. That 2 millions be granted to his majesty, for paying off and discharging the exchequer bills made out by virtue of an act, passed in the last session of parliament, for raising the sum of 24 millions, by loans or exchequer bills, for the service of Great Britain, for 1805, outstanding and unprovided for; 3. That 1 million be granted to his majesty, for paying off and discharging the exchequer bills made out by virtue of an act, passed in the last session of parliament, for raising the sum of 1 million by loans or exchequer bills, for the service of Great Britain, for 1805, outstanding and unprovided for." HOUSE OF LORDS. Monday, March 17. [MINUTES.] The marquis of Blandford was introduced, agreeably to his new-creation of baron Wormleighton, with the usual formalities, sworn, and took his seat. His lordship's supporters were, the earl of Galloway and lord Grenville.-The Marine Mutiny, the Irish Malt Duty Regulation, the Greenland Ships Quota, and the Corn Exportation bills, were severally read a 3d time and passed. Lord Grenville followed on the same side. He seemed adverse to the principle of bills of the kind, but in the interval of the general subject of the woollen manufacture being thoroughly investigated, and a general law framed for remedying the evil complained of, a measure of the kind, merely to avert a greater evil, was deemed necessary; and nothing but the peculiar circumstances of the case, could induce him to support the bill.-The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be printed. [DISCOVERY OF TRUTH BILL.] The order of the day, for their lordships going into a committee on the bill for the more effectual discovery of Truth from Witnesses, being read, Earl Stanhope rose, and observed, that an opinion had been suggested to him, and in which he most cordially agreed, that the best way would be to refer the bill in question to the consideration of the judges, with instructions to frame it, or to draw up another bill, so as to answer its purpose. He had been told, on a former night, that his bill was in a crude state; now, that was what he should like to debate, either in a committee, or out of a committee; on that head, however, he thought he had [WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE SUSPENSION gained a victory over a noble and learned BILL.] Earl Spencer moved the second lord then absent. On the whole, he thought reading of the Woollen Manufacturers' bill. it was best to submit the present bill to the The noble secretary of state prefaced his judges, as a more important subject than motion by adverting to the importance of that to which it referred, could not exist; the subject of which the measure now pro- it was the more necessary, because their posed made a part; the necessity that ex-lordships had, to a bill very properly in. isted for the bill's passing into a law, as troduced by his noble friend on the woolthe existing suspension bill would shortly sack, tacked certain provisions, suggested expire; it was that alone which induced by another noble and learned lord, which, the bringing forward the present bill, which instead of improving the bill, only rendered went to continue the suspension bill for a it obscure and unintelligible, and which year longer. In the interval, the general in the pending stage of the bill, ought to subject, he hoped would, the proceedings be rejected, in order to reduce it to its being already in train in another house, original clearness. In the view, and for VOL. VI, G g the purposes, he had stated, the noble earl (majesty's Chiltern hundreds.-The Mutiny moved to adjourn the committee on the bill till this day three weeks. bill, the English Militia Pay bill, the Militia Subaltern's bill, the Militia Adjutants' bill, Lord Ellenborough observed, that he as- and the Irish Militia pay bill, were severally seuted to the proposed adjournment of the read a third time, and passed.-Mr. Alderconsideration of the bill, with the hopeman Prinsep rose to give notice, that early that the bill, as presented by the noble in the next session he would move for a earl, whether a crude bill or not, would, committee to be appointed to enquire into in that interval, receive that due and mature consideration, which one of its import evidently required. As the bill now stood, he was one of those who thought, that were such a law enacted, it would tend to let out truth in one instance, and close the door on it afterwards; it would, therefore, be productive of great mischief. He hoped the noble earl, in the interval proposed, would better consider the subject, and present it in quite another form; and, farther, that when it should come to be considered, the point whether the lords spiritual or temporal should have the priority in the bill, would form no part of the discussion. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Monday, March 17. 66 the state of the carrying trade of British India, unless it should be intimated to him before that period, that the proper board had taken that important subject into their consideration. Mr. W. Wynne obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the act of last session, appointing commissioners to enquire into the abuses in the paving, &c. of Dublin. [IRISH MILITIA SERVICE BILL.] On the question, that the Irish Militia Service bill be read a second time, Mr. Whitshed Keene rose to offer a few obervations. He lamented, that the measure proposed to be adopted, in 1798, for the English militia to volunteer their services in Ireland, and the Irish in England, had not been carried into effect. It had been [MINUTES.] On the motion of Mr. so, indeed, in a partial degree, by some Manning, the London Wet Dock bill was English regiments of militia, but not at all read a second time and ordered to be com-by the Irish, which he was very sorry for; mitted. Sir Stephen Cottrell, one of the as the Irish militia, by coming here, would clerks of the privy council, presented to the see how much was done by industry, and house two books, containing a Copy of would receive a good impression of its adthe return or returns, made to the privyvantageous consequences. In the north of council by every archbishop and bishop, of Ireland, he said, the people were naturalthe names of every dignity, prebend, bene-ly industrious; and, from being so, had acfice, donative, perpetual curacy, and paro-quired property, and he believed them chial chapelry, within their respective dio-thereby strongly attached to the limited cescs, or subject to their respective juris-monarchy of this country, and not liable dictions, and the names of the several per-to be led away by any splendid promises, sons possessing the same who shall not that might be held out to them by the inhave resided thereon by reason of any ex-veterate foe of the united kingdoms, and emption under or by virtue of the act of his satellites, in case an invasion should take 43 Geo. III. c. 84; and also of all the per-place. In the southern and western parts sons possessing the same, not having any of Ireland, it was, however, different; such exemption or licence, who shall not have resided on such dignity, prebend, benefice, donative, perpetual curacy, or parochial chapelry, so far as the bishop is informed thereof." Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Irving, the inspector-generalof the imports and exports, presented the accounts of the exports to the island of Tortola, and the orders of council relative thereto, which were moved for by Mr. Rose. Ordered to be printed.-On the motion of lord Henry Petty, a new writ was ordered for Jedburgh, in the room of John Dalrymple, esq. who, since his election had accepted the office of steward of his there the people were poor and ignorant, and, in general, without property. Such people were apt to be led astray by idle stories, and promises of having land given them for their services, and might be induced to join an invading enemy. They would, therefore, be better in England, where they would be of real service, in a nilitary capacity, and the militia of England would be a certain security for the defence of Ireland. The legislative measure of union had taken place; a measure which he voted for, and hoped would, in the end, be productive of the happiest effects; but it was impossible an act of parliament' could eradicate old prejudices, and those muneration to them for their labours. These who were poor and ignorant would, as he Civil Commissioners had been appointed had before stated, be liable to all the bad but three months, and at the expiration of effects of those prejudices, which might be that period application was made to parremoved by their being sent from home.liament to place the sum of 20,000l. at At the breaking out of this war, he said, their disposal. It was certainly just that the government had resorted to a measure all those who were employed by the public of raising sea fencibles, a measure which should be paid by the public, but there might do very well in England, but would should be something like decency in the not in Ireland. There were, however, in mode of the application, and something Ireland, many men upon the different like decency in the selection of the time at coasts who were employed in a variety of which such application was brought forsmall craft. Some naval officers had been ward. In all former commissions of a siemployed by government to make a survey milar nature, he understood it was the of the coasts of Ireland, and in doing so practice to reward the labour when the they had found, in the various harbours, task was accomplished: in this instance the creeks, and bays, a body of not less than remuneration was demanded when the 10,000 men, employed in craft of different work was scarcely begun. He was far from kinds, who might, perhaps, become valua-throwing any imputation on the individuals ble assistants to an invading foe. He who composed this cominission. On the thought those men might be embodied and contrary, he trusted that they would be brought over to this country, with great ad-emulous of the justly deserved reputation vantage, to act in the capacity of sea fen- of the commissioners of naval enquiry, and cibles. There would also a farther benefit result from employing them in this way. When the fertility of the Irish was considered, it was not going too far to estimate those men having families of five or six each; so that you would, in time, add to the population of the country, from 50 to 60,000 people. The hon. member mentioned several other good consequences which he thought would result from their mixing the Irish with the English militia, and hoped the bill would be productive of the most salutary effects.-The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be com-investigation, including the expences of mitted to-morrow. their journies at different times to distant [COMMISSION OF NAVAL REVISION.] ports, and other incidental charges, the Mr. Whitbread, in pursuance of the notice whole amount of the public money spent which he had given, rose to submit to the by them did not exceed 5,000l. He should house his motion on this subject. He said, therefore move, "that there be laid before that it must have been observed by the the house, an Account of the intended aphouse, that in the ordinary estimates of the plication of the sum of 20,000l. forming an navy which had been laid on the table of item of the ordinary estimate of his mathe house by the member of the late admi-jesty's navy, for the year 1806; and stated nistration, whose department it was to do on the said estimate to be for the purpose so then, was an item of 20,000l. stated to of defraying the expences of the commisbe for the purpose of defraying the expension appointed by his majesty for revising ces of the Civil Commissioners of the Navy. and digesting the Civil Affairs of the navy, It was extraordinary that no information in the years 1805 and 1806; together with was contained in the body of the estimates of the intended application of that sum. The Commissioners of Naval Enquiry had sat for three years, and had been engaged during the whole of that time in an arduous course of public services, which they had most meritoriously performed, and yet no Lord Castlereagh had no objection whatprovision whatever had been made for a re-ever to the production of this account. that the result of their exertions would be any documents upon which such part of the estimate may have been founded; also any correspondence that may have passed between the admiralty and any of the persons composing the said commission, on the subject of the same." have been incurred, to the end of the year 1805," which was ordered. [ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.] Mr. Alexander brought up the report of the committee of supply, containing the resolutions respecting the Ordnance Estimates. On the which would enable parliament to judge of the propriety of the estimate alluded to. He would confine himself to a single observation on one part of what had been said by the hon. gent, which was calculated to throw an undeserved aspersion on the proceeding in question. It had been the in-motion that these be read a second time, variable practice with respect to commis- General Tarleton took this opportunity sions of this and a similar nature, that when of making some observations, which he they were appointed by parliament, they felt it his duty to submit to the house. He were not remunerated until they had ac- was very anxious to know the fate of what complished the object of their constitution; had been so much ridiculed under the title but when they were appointed by the crown, of the Parish bill, a bill which was never. parliament would have a just cause of com- the less become highly productive, having plaint, if application was not made to them furnished in the last week 353 meu. for remuneration in the first instance. With likewise important to ascertain the deterrespect to the amount of the sum in ques-mination of government with regard to tion, the hon. gent. had himself accounted that very meritorious, very useful, and very satisfactorily for 15,000l. of it. From the remainder would be paid the secretary, the clerk, &c. He however thought it perfectly right that the paper moved for ought to be produced, in order fully to explain the proceeding. Mr. Whitbread, in explanation, observed, that if it was the practice when a commission was appointed by the crown, to make as early application to parliament as possible for a remuneration, then the late ministers had been culpably tardy on the subject. It was respectable body, the Volunteers, who had been treated by a right hon. gent. (Mr. Windham) when he was on the opposition bench, with such derision. He had been a military man thirty years, a great part of which had been spent in active duty; perhaps more would have been so, had it not been for his violent attachment to some gentlemen whom he then saw on the treasury bench. He could assure the right hon. gent. that their ideas of war materially differed. He was not for setting to with all the formality of boxers, but of using every stratagem and every means within reach. It was now near the end of March, and our military preparations were standing still. Another right hon. gent. (Mr. Sheridan) had borrowed a naval cloak from a right hon. friend of his (Mr. Canning), but he had not found it warm enough to bring him Mr. Wilberforce did not see the fairness down to the house, to move for the repeal of comparing the simple expences of the of which he had given notice at an early pecommissioners of naval enquiry, unconnect-riod of the session. He remembered that ed with any remuneration, with the amount of the expences of the civil commissioners, united with their remuneration. He had understood from the noble person who was at the head of that commission, that it was his intention to relinquish his salary. Mr. Bastard approved of what had been advanced by the hon. gent. and thought that the country was highly indebted to the commissioners of naval enquiry appointed by the house, and that it was but fair to shew that they practised the same economy which they recommended in their reports.. Mr. Whitbread declared, that he had no wish to make the comparison just stated. If what the hon. gent. had said was the fact, as to the relinquishment of salary intended to be made by the head of the civil commission, that would add 3000l. to the sum to be accounted for. Mr. Bastard afterwards moved for, "an account of the expences incurred by the commissioners of naval enquiry in each year since the establishment of that board, specifying the items by which the same right hon. gent.'s having compared a late administration (the one which preceded the last) to a team composed of black horses and bay, drawing different ways, by whom he predicted that the state coach would he highly endangered. He should like to know what he could say of the present government, in which there were horses of all colours and all descriptions, black, white, dun, and dapple, some pulling in one direction, some plunging in another, some kicking, others prancing; no accord, no union, nothing that could promise advantage to the coun try. With regard to the Ordnance Estimates before the house, they were those which had been formed by the late adminis tration, unaltered and unimproved. He meant by this no imputation on the pre sent Board of Ordnance, on the head of Mr. Calcraft said, that instead of the which particularly he passed a high enco-question before the house, and the only mium. In his opinion, the victory of Tra- regular one in discussion, the speech of falgar had made a material difference in the the hon. general embraced such a variety situation of Great Britain. From that of topics as rendered it extremely difficult epoch we might consider the triumph of to discover what was his principal object. our navy as complete. We could not ex- He should not, however, follow him over pect that the French would again dare to a field so desultory and irrelevant, but contend with us at sea, and we must there- confine himself to the subject of the Ordfore look to carry on the war in some other nance Estimates; with the merit or deway. Unless some formidable continental merit of which, those who had now the confederacy could be formed to divert the direction of that branch of the public serattention of the enemy, we must expect vice certainly had little or nothing to do; about June, that the French troops would nor could they have the most distant wish flock down to the coast, and in the flotilla of assuming to themselves any share of the with which their every creek and harbour praise or dispraise to which it might be enswarmed, make some desperate experiment titled, or to conceal from the house what upon this country. He had no doubt that every clerk in the offices belonging to that the best dispositions would be made to re-department must know; namely, that those ceive them warmly, but he could not help estimates were formed by their predecessuggesting the propriety of not allowing sors in office. They found them ready formWoolwich to be the sole depository of our ed, and under existing circumstances, means of defence. It behoved goverument deemed it eligible to adopt them; and so to take steps to create some great central far from depreciating their merits, he was depôt. It might be said that one was ready to defend their adoption, against forming at Wedenbeck, but this was not any censure which might be thrown on sufficiently central. He would advise one them. The noble lord now at the head of at Leicester, or Nottingham, in which every that department had found, that great exthing should be provided and ready for an penditures had already been devoted to army of 200,000 men. Under the present the establishment of old works and systems circumstances, should any contingency al- of defence begun, which he deemed it much low the French to waft a large body of more eligible to complete and carry into troops over to our shores, it was very pos- effect, than to attempt the erection or essible, that the British army might be com-tablishment of new. With regard to those pelled to act at an unfavourable juncture, designs that had been only planned, but of inerely for the defence of Woolwich, which which the execution had not been begun from its nearness to the coast opposite to by the former administration, he admitted France, and from the rapidity with which that some of them had also been included the French troops were accustomed to in the estimates now on the table; but the march, would be in considerable danger. board did not therefore pledge themselves Every one knew the importance of a great to abide by those plans. They might adopt arsenal. It was the capture of the Austrian them with exceptions, or reject some of arsenal in Vienna, that led to the treaty of them entirely, as should appear most proPresburgh. No man would fight worse, per on farther deliberation, or from the because he knew every means were taken occurrence of new circumstances. In this to ensure success to his exertions. Should case the money that had been destined for a central depôt, such as he had recommen- those services might be returned or voted ded, be established; should the French to some other purpose. The only alteraland and be enabled to advance, the coun- tion in the present estimate, from that try might rely on the bravery of the people which was formed by the late board of ordof the North, of the inhabitants of York-nance, was an article against which the shire, of Cheshire, of Lancashire, who sum of 12,000l. was written; and compawould thus have it in their power to com-ring the same estimate for several precebat, and there could be no doubt, ultimately, ding years, it had been found, on inspecto defeat the foe. After a brief recapitu- tion, that the laboratory at Woolwich had lation, he concluded by declaring, in the annually exceeded 25,000l. It had been words of Mr. Burke, "that he would rather thought therefore, that, contrary to the be despised for too anxious apprehension, former practice, the fairest way was to than ruined by too confident security." bring forward that specific sum in the esti |