in a Bill to erect the Corporation of Sur geons into a College. Mr Pitt moved the fecond reading of the Bill for continuing and confirming the Order of the Privy Council to the Bank. Mr Fox faid, he should not oppofe the fecond reading; but wished to know if it were to be obligatory on Government to receive Bank of England notes in pay ment of taxes; and whether Bank paper was to be legal payment between in dividuals, for neither of which he faw any provifion in the Bill; he thought alfo a claufe fhould be added to limit the Bank in their advances to Government. Mr Pitt faid, Mr Fox had now flated matter which more properly belonged to the Committee on the Bill. Mr Hobboufe violently objected to the Bill in toto, as an act of robbery and depradation upon the public creditor. Mr Grey confeffed, that as the Order of Council had taken place, it would be impoffible to open the door fuddenly again. He was therefore for the second reading of the Bill. But what he wifh ed to notice was, a paper which had been laid upon the table, and which contained very alarming information. From that paper it appeared, that on Saturday Laft, Minifters had iffued 120,000l. in Exchequer Bills, for the purpose of being paid to the agents of his Imperial Majefty, which Bills must be converted into specie, and could only be sent in fpeeie to the Emperor.-The Bills were fold in the market at three, and three and a half per cent. discount; on whom was this lofs to fall; on the Emperor, or on this country? The whole matter, he thought, was worthy the moft serious at tention of the House. Mr Pits abferved, that the Emperor's bills had been drawn and accepted long before the Order of Council was iffued. -they formed part of the 500,000l. voted the Emperor before the recefs, and we could not avoid paying them. Exchequer Bills were illued for this purpose, and part of the discount fell upon the Emperor. The Bill was then read a second time, and committed for Monday, and the Houfe was ordered to be called over on Monday fe'nnight. March 22. Sir John Sinclair rofe to fubmit the notice he had given of his intention to propofe a measure for the cultivation of wafle and other lands. It was unneceffary, he remarked, to dwell on the importance of a subject so intimately connected with the profperity of the country. If it had been adopted when recommended by the Board of Agriculture, he afferted, that we should not now be suffering so much from a national calamity. In 1795, and the following year, no less than a million quarters of foreign wheat had been imported at the expence of 3,000,000l. fterling, which contributed in a great degree to the present scarcity of coin. He concluded by requefling Gentlemen to give the fubject the mont ferious attention, and moved, That a Committee be appointed to take into confideration the most effectual means of promoting the cultivation and improvement of Wafte Lands, Common Arable Fields, Common Meadows, &c. within this kingdon. The motion passed, and a Committee was appointed. Mr Keene moved, That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, requefting a lift of the number of French prifoners in Great Britain, and how they were disposed of; also an account of the number of foreigners who have come into this country, from the 1ft of May 1793, and now refident therein, diftinguifhing the laity and clergy, and the number of each refpectively. Mr Secretary Dundas faid, that Government were now ufing their utmost diligence to afcertain the number; and when the examination was completed, he had no objection to lay before the Houfe the result of their researches. The Houfe having refolved itself into a Committee on the Bank Indemnity Bill, and the Clause for indemnifyng the Bank for having flopt payment, being read, Mr Fox faid, he could not confent to a claufe of this nature, as he confidered obedience to the Order of Council, on the part of the Bank, as culpable rather than meritorious. The intimate connection that fubfifted between Government and the Bank, made him extremely jealous in giving his consent to put the lat- · ter more under the controul of the former. If the rumour were true, there would be an end of public credit. The rumour he alluded to was, that the Bankers had gone to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, requefting his interference with the Bank for more liberal difcounts. He urged the danger of making the King's Minifters the medium of accommodation at the Bank, and reprefented the interference of the hand of power as incompatible with the stability of public credit, credit, and repugnant to the principles of the Conftitution. Reprobating, as he did, the interference of Minifters, he fhould give his negative to the claufe. Mr Pitt contended, that the Report of the Committee was fufficient authority for confirming the Order, and the indemnity was neceffary to relieve the Bank from the penalties for their obedience to that Order. As to the interference fo much reprobated by the Hon. Gentle man, he admitted that the Bankers had communicated to him the neceffity of a fupply of cash for the accommodation of their customers, and that he had ufed what influence he poffeffed as an indivi. dual, to further their views. He urged the propriety of agreeing to the claufe. Mr Pollen was for delaying the paffing of the Bill until the Secret Committee brought up their Report. The Solicitor-General entered into a general defence of the claufe. Mr Sheridan attacked the Houfe in de tail.If the Committee adopted this claufe without inquiry, they eftablished this pernicious principle, that the Bank are bound to obey, and that they are fure of indemnity. He faid, he could not conceive it poffible to make Bank-notes a legal tender on the part of the Bank, without extending the regulation to the whole clafs of Bankers alfo. Colonel Wood, the Attorney-General, and others, spoke; after which, the clause was agreed to without a divifion. The Committee next proceeded to the difcuffion of the reftrictive claufe, which, after the adoption of a variety of amendments, was agreed to. On account of the latenefs of the hour, and the difcuffion which was likely to a rife on the filling up of the blanks, it was moved, that the Chairman fhould report progrefs, and afk leave to fit again on the refumption of the House. Leave was given accordingly. Mr Fox faid, he had no objection to make way for the difcuffion of the Bank Bill, by poftponing his motion on the ftate of Ireland, which flood for to-morrow, to a future day.—Adjourned. March 23. Mr Fox role to make a Motion respecting the state of Ireland. He obferved, that the business he had to bring before the Houfe was not only of great importance, but likewife of great urgency, on account of the distracted condition of the fifter kingdom. He enter ed into a detail of the circumstances that led to thefe difcontents, the caules of which were fit fubjects of investigation: Firft, the Houfe ought to inquire how far the people of Ireland have had the bene fit of the conceffions that had been made; fecondly, whether measures had been taken to allay the discontents among the Roman Catholics, who conftituted fivefixths of the people of Ireland; and thirdly, to inquire into the caufes of the difcontents in the north of Ireland. The general diffatisfaction he afcribed to the calamities brought on by the war, in which the interefts of the people were not confulted, and to their conftitutional grievances. Ireland, he faid, had not a Legiflature even virtually representing the people, and they had as little fhare in the Government as the fubjects of the moft arbitrary Monarch. The concefSons that had been made, he contended from a variety of facts, had not produ ced an independence on the Minifters and Cabinet of this country; it had only precluded the controul of the Legillature. He took a rapid review of their politis cal hiftory from its dependence on this country, traced their progress to civilization and comparative freedom, and afferted, that the reprefentation was fo conducted, for purposes of emolument and corruption, as to bear only a faint refemblance to the reprefentation of this country, with all its abufes (and flagrant they were,) though they profefs to be established on similar principles. We are now, he faid, in a ftate fimilar to the period of 1774, when we were to govern America by force, or make conceffions. He related a variety of occurrences which preceded the American War, fimilar to thofe that have taken place in Ireland. The proclamation, for inftance, for difarming the inhabitants of Maffachufet's Bay, to the proclamation lately iffued by General Lake at Belfast, and the difpofition of the French to aid them in their refiftance to the Government of Great Britain; though Government might difarm, experience proved their inability to keep the people cifarm ed. He hoped, that on fo urgent an occafion, no objections would be taken in point of form. The neceffity of the interference ought to fuperfede all confiderations of this nature. He concluded by moving, "That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, praying that he would be gracioufly pleated to take into his royal confideration the disturbed state of Ireland, and to adopt fuch lenient measures as may tend to restore tran quillity, and conciliate the affections of his Irish fubje&ts." Sir F. Burdett feconded the motion. Mr Pitt objected to the motion, on the ground that the Legiflature of this country, having abdicated the power of enforcing any requifition by our authority, we could not conftitutionally interfere with an independent Legiflature. Befides, the motion was, in his opinion, nugatory, as it went to advife his Majelty to extend his paternal regard to the fifter kingdom; a circumitance which he had never ceafed to do during a long and happy reign. Lord Wycombe, Mr W. Smith, Me Courtenay, and Mr Hobhoute, spoke in favour of the motion; and Lord Hawkefbury, Lord F.. Campbell, and Colonel Fullarton, againftit. Mr Fox replied; after which a divifion took place on the motion, 84 For it Mar. 24. Mr Ryder, in a Committee of the whole House, moved, that the Chairman be directed to move the House for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal part of an Act of the prefent Seffion, permitting the importation, and prohibiting the exportation of corn, with a view to take off the prohibition altogether, and to put the regulations refpecting grain on the old footing. The report was ordered to be received on Monday. The Houfe, in an adjourned Committee on the Bill for Indemnifying the Bank for fufpending the payment of Notes in Specie, Mr Hobart in the Chair, proceeded to read the refidue of the Claufes. THE MONTHLY REGISTER FOR JUNE 1797. LONDON GAZETTES. From the London Gazette, March27.1797. the convoy from England enabled us to CAPTURE OF THE RICH SPANISH ISLAND OF TRINIDAD, WITH THE LOSS OF FOUR Parliament Street, March 27. EARLY this morning, Capt. Drew, of ARLY this morning, Capt. Drew, of Iland of Trinidad, with a dispatch from On the arrival in this country, I did not fail to lay before the Admiral my inftructions, and to confult with him upon the means to carry them into execution. I found in him every defire to co-operate in the execution of the views to which they are directed. The arrival of part of proceed with confidence in our operations; therefore, as foon as the troops could be collected from the different Ilands, which were ordered to rendezVous at Cariacou, the Admiral failed from Martinique, which Ifland he left with his fquadron on the 12th inftant. ral had given his orders to affemble the The precifion with which the Admifhips of war and transports, left us not a moment of delay. On the 15th, in the morning, the fleet failed from Cariacou. On the 16th, in the afternoon, it paffed through the Bocas, or entrance into the Gulph of Paria, where we found the Spanish Admiral with four fail of the line and a frigate, at anchor, under cover of the Ifland of Gafpargrande, which was fortified. Qur fquadron worked up, and came to anchor oppofite to, and nearly within gun-fhot of the Spanish fhips. The frigates and tranfports were ordered to anchor higher up in the Bay, and at the diftance nearly of five miles from the town of Port D'Espagne. The difpofition was immediately made for landing at day-light next morning, and for a general attack upon the town and fhips of war. At two o'clock in the morning of the 17th we perceived the Spanish fquadron to be on fire; the fhips burnt with great fury, one line-of-battle fhip excepted, which escaped the conflagration, and was taken poffeffion of at day-light in the morning, by the boats from our fleet; the enemy at the fame time evacuated the ifland, and abandoned that quarter. This unexpected turn of affairs directed our whole attention to the attack of the town. The troops were immediately ordered to land, and as foon as a few hundred men could be got on fhore, about four miles to the weftward of it, we advanced, meeting with little or no refiftance. Before night we were mafters of Port D'Espagne and the neighbourhood, twe fmall forts excepted. In the morning a cap tulation was entered into with the Governor Don Chacon, and in the evening all the Spanish troops laid down their arms, and the whole colony paffed under the dominion of his Britannic Majefty. Copies of the capitulation, of the ftores. and provifions taken, are herewith tranfmitted. It is a peculiar fatisfaction to me that there is no lift of killed or wounded; Lieut. Villeneuve, of the 8th regiment of foot, who was Brigade Major to Brigadier Gen. Hompefch, being the only perfon who was wounded, and he is fince dead of his wounds. From the Admiral I have experienced every poffible co-operation. Capt. Wool ley, of his Majefty's fhip the Arethusa, and Capt. Wood, of the Favourite floop of war, who had been fent to reconnoitre in the Gulph of Paria, afforded us minute information of the fituation of the enemy previous to our arrival, Captain' Woolley, who directed the difembarka. tion, fhewed all the zeal and intelligence which I have experienced from him on former occafions. To Lord Craven, who hegged to attend the expedition, I am indebted for great zeal and exertion. Lieut.-Col. Soter, who is intimately acquainted with this country, has been, and continues to be, of very great ufe to Ed. Mag. June 1797. me. I fhould not do juftice to his general character, if I did not take this opportunity to exprefs it. My Aide de-camp, Capt. Drew, of the 45th regiment, will have the honour to deliver this letter: He has ferved long in this country, and is capable to give such, further information as may be required. I humbly beg leave to recommend him to his Majefty's favour. I have the honour to be, &c. Ra. Abercromby, K. B. [The principal points of the Articles of Capitulation are in fubftance-that the Officers and Troops of his Catholic Majefty in the Island of Trinidad fhail furrender prifoners of war, and deliver up the Territory, Forts, Buildings, Arms, Ammunition, Money, Effects, Plans, and Stores belonging to his Catholic Majefty. The troops to march out with the honours of war, to be allowed their private effects, and the officers to wear their fwords. Admiral Don Sebastian Ruiz de Apodaca, with the officers and men of his fquadron, are included in the capitulation. As foon as fhips can be provided, the prifoners are to be conveyed to Old Spain, there to remain prifoners of war, it being clearly underflood they are not to ferve against Great Britain or her Ailies until exchanged.-The inhabitants and free people of colour to be protected in their liberty, perfons, property, and religion, on their taking the oath of allegiance to his Britannic Majefty. The prifoners to be fed at the expence of the British.] Return of the Spanish garrison of the Ifland of Trinidad, made Prifoners of War, Feb. 18, 1797. Royal Artillery - captain, I lieutenant, 43 non-commiffioned officers, drummers, and privates. Engineers. I brigadier, 2 captains, I fubaltern. Trinidad Regiment.-2 lieutenant-colonels, 2 captains, is fubalterns, 1 adjutant, 2 enfigns, I furgeon, I chapJain, 504 non-commiffioned officers, drummers and privates. French Officers. lieutenant-colonel, 3 captains, I fubaltern, 2 engineers. Fifty men fick in General Hospital. John Hope, Adj. Gen. Return of the Naval Officers and Seamen made Prifoners of War at the Capture of Trinidad, Feb. 18. 1 Chief D'Efcadre: 1 Brigadier; 5 Captains of line-of-battle hips; 3 Captains of frigates; 7 Lieutenants of line30 of. of-battle fhips; 74 Officers of all other defcriptions: Total Officers, 91-581 Marines; 1032 Seamen:, Total of Marines and Seamen, 16:3. (Signed) John Hope, Adj. Gen. [This Gazette alfo contains the official returns of 33 pieces of brafs, and 40 pies ces of iron ordnance, with an immenfe quantity of ammunition, ordnance ftores and tools, and fome provifions, found in the island.] Admiralty-Office, March 27. Captain Harvey of his Majefty's fhip Prince of Wales, arrived at the Admiralty this morning with a difpatch from Rear-Admiral Henry Harvey, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's fhips and veffels at Barbadoes and the Leeward. Inlands, dated off Port D'Espagne, in the Gulph of Paria, February 21, 1797, to Mr Nepean, Secretary of the Admiralty, of which the following is a Copy: SIR, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of their Lordships, that it having been determined an attack fhould be made on the Ifland Trinidad, both with a view to that Colony, and to the Spanish fquadron which had been there for fome time paft; the troops in tended for this expedition from Marti nique were accordingly embarked in the fhips of war and tranfports, and I failed from Fort Royal Bay the 12th inft. with the following fhips and veffels of his Majefty's fquadron under my command, viz. Prince of Wales, Bellona, Vengeance, Scipio, Favourite, Zephyr, and Terror Bomb. Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby embarked with me in the Prince of Wales. The Invincible had previously failed for Barbadoes, with two tranfports, to embark a part of the 14th regiment, and the Thorn and Zebra were ordered to receive the detachment from Tobago. The Favourite was fent to St. Vincent to collect fome troops for that ifland, and the whole were ordered to rendezvous at the Ifland, of Cariacou, one of the Grenadines, on or before the 13th; and, on my arrival at that ifland, the 14th, I found all the fhips and tranfports were affembled. On the 15th, in the morning, I failed with the fquadron and tranfports, paffing between Cariacou and Grenada ; and on the 16th arrived off Trinidad, and flood toward the Gulph of Paria, when, having paffed through the Great Bocas Channel, at half past three in the afternoon, the Spanish squadron were discovered at anchor in Shagaramus Bay, confisting of four fail of the line, under the flag of a Rear-Admiral, and one frigate.. As the day was well advanced before I approached the Bay, and the enemy appeared in ftrength on Gafparaux Iland, which commanded the anchorage, by batteries erected for that purpole, i or- . dered the Arethufa, Thorn, and Zebra, to proceed a little farther up the gulph, and anchor with all the tranfports. The Alarm Favourite, and Victorieufe were ordered to keep under fail above the tranfports during the night, and prevent any veffels failing from Port Espagne. In the evening, juft before dark, I anchored with the hips of the line in order of battle, oppofite the enemy's fquadron, within random-fhot of their fhips and batteries, and in conftant readiness to prevent their efcape during the night, which I fufpected they might attempt, as all their fails were bent, and they appeared perfectly ready for failing. At two o'clock in the morning of the 17th, we difcovered one of their fhips on fire, and foon after three others, all of which burnt with great fury until near daylight, when they were entirely confumed. One of them having escaped the conflagration, the boats were fent from the fquadron, and she was brought out without having received any damage. I have great fatisfaction in acquainting their Lordships, that this fquadron. of the enemy, commanded by Rear-Admiral Don Sebaftian Ruiz de Apodaca, were deftroyed or captured according to. the lift I herewith inciofe; and although this fervice was effected without any other act, on the part of his Majesty's fquadron under my command, then being placed in fuch a fituation as to prevent tireir efcape, I am fully convinced that, had they remained at their anchorage until the next day, the officers and men whom I have the honour to command would have completed, by their exertion and zeal, the capture of the whole, notwithstanding the advantage of their fituation, under cover of about twenty pieces of cannon and three mortars, which were mounted on Gasparaux Ifland, and had been placed there for the fole purpose of defending the fhips in the Bay: That Iland, which, like the fhips, had been abandoned during the night, was taken poffeffion of foon after daylight by a party of the Queen's regiment. General Abercromby, early in the morning, |