masters and scholars of the university of Cambridge, against the bill for allowing persons of every religious persuasion, to enter into the army and navy.

On his lordship's moving that the petition do lie on the table,

Mr. W. Dickenson rose not to oppose the motion of the noble lord, but in the fulfilment of his duty as a member of Parliament to put a plain and simple question to the noble lord opposite (Lord Howick). Twelve or thirteen days ago, that noble lord introduced into the House a bill (against which the petition that had just been presented was directed) enabling his majesty to accept the services of all his liege subjects, of every religions persuasion, in the army and navy. About five days since the noble lord intimated that it was not his intention to carry into execution the order for the second reading of the bill, but to allow it to drop, to be afterwards disposed of as the House might think fit. The noble lord stated, that this intimation was owing to circumstances which it was not then in his power to disclose, but which at some future time he would explicitly narrate. He wished to ask, if that time had arrived? The public mind was in a state of great anx jety. Many rumours were afloat respecting a change in the administration: without any wish for such a change having been expressed by the people, or any intimation for the necessity of it having proceeded from that House. Among others, a rumour had been circulated, that his majesty's ministers had endeavoured to press on his majesty a subject to which the honourable and conscientious nind of his majesty was averse. Was that rumour true ? He (Mr. Dickenson) had obtained leave to quit London for a fortnight. He should see many of his constituents at the assizes, and he wished to be enabled satisfactorily to answer the questions that would naturally be put to him. He thought it unnecessary to offer any excuse for this intrusion on the House, the peculiar circumstances in which the country was placed, he trusted, would justify him.

Lord Howick replied nearly in the following terms: Sir, certainly no apology was necessary from the honourable gentleman for the exercise of one of the first privileges of a member of Parliament, that of calling upon his majesty's ministers for explanation upon any great and important subject. In answer to the right ho nourable gentleman's questions, I shall declare, as far as I 3B 2

Call

can, consistently with my duty, what is the present state of the administration of this country, adding only, that, with regard to those circumstances which I do not at present feel at liberty to divulge, i shall rely on the candour and indulgence of the House, trusting they will believe that no man is more anxious than myself that my conduct should stand fair with the House and with the country; and consequently, that the time must come when my duty to the king and to the public, and every consideration of private honour will induce me to make an explicit stateinent of the recent occurrences. In the mean time, I shall proceed, under the restrictions which I have men tioned, to reply to the questions of the honourable gentleman. To one of those questions I do not feel authorised at present to give an answer: it is that one which alluded to a rumour, which, if true, would, as the honourable gentleman has implied, impute culpability to his majesty's ministers, namely, that his majesty's ministers had endeavoured to force on the king a measure which his conscience disapproved. On this point I will only say, that it is the duty of any minister, on any subject connected with the interests of this great empire, to offer such advice to his majesty as bis judgment shall dictate. More I cannot now say. With regard to the rest of the questions proposed by the hon. gentleman, it only remains for me to add to the statement which I made when I signified my intention of not moving for the second reading of the religious sects' bill, that the circumstances which then prevented me from doing so have led to a situation in which I am now enabled to inform the House that, although I have not yet received his majesty's commands to deliver up my seals, his majesty has thought proper to send for persons not employed as his servants, and is engaged in forming arrangements for a new administration.

The petition was then ordered to lie on the table.

On the motion of Lord Howick, it was ordered that the Irish members be excused the next day, and ordered to attend the ballot on Monday, the 13th of April.

Mr. Sheridan brought up the report of the committee on the petition for building a bridge over the Thames opposite Sonthampton-street, and obtained leave o bring in a bill to that effect,

r.

Mr. Whitbread observing that he had on a late evening stated it as his opinion that Mr. Thomas Drake had not received his wound in the battle of Camperdown, declared that a document had since been put into his hands, by which it was proved that that person had actually lost his leg from a hurt received in that action. This document was a letter from Captain Bligh of the Director, to Mr, Bewick, then chairman of a committee for the relief of the sufferers in that action. He begged, therefore, to bę understood as retracting his assertion, and he would move for documents to explain the circumstance; but lest any false impressions should go abroad, that when those papers should be produced, he would propose the liberation of the prisoner, he would observe, that the circumstance which he had just mentioned was not the only misrepre sentation and falsehood contained in Mr. Drake's evidence. There were numerous others; among the rest he had declared, that he had never applied for relief to the admiralty, when in fact he had done so to the very person by whom he had been questioned. He therefore would first move for copies of all communications made by Captain Bligh, late of the Director, to N. Bewick, Esq. chairman of the committee at Lloyd's, for the relief of wounded seamen.

The Speaker observed, with regard to the latter part of the motion, that the place and the person were not known to that House, and therefore could not form parts of a motion from the chair.

Mr. Windham concurred in this opinion, declaring, that however good the intentions of the society alluded to, it would be very improper that it should be recognized in that House.

Mr. Fuller seemed to think that Drake ought to be libcrated.

After a few words from Mr. Rose, and Mr. Jeffery, Mr. Whitbread withdrew his motion on account of the improper recognition which it contained: but in reply to Mr. Fuller's observations, repeated, that the imprisonment of Mr. Drake, was not in consequence of the circumstance alone which he had just cleared up.

Mr. Sheridan trusted, whatever might be done with Mr. Drake, that those who employed such a witness, when they

came

came themselves to be examined on oath, would take care what sort of evidence they gave.

On the motion of Mr. Whitbread, the following papers were then ordered to be laid before the House:

A copy of the smart ticket produced by Mr. Drake, as received from the chest of Greenwich.

A copy of the ticket sent by Captain Bligh, late of his majesty's ship Director, to the hospital at Yarmouth.

Sir John Newport stating that not above two hours had elapsed since the negotiation of the Irish loan, hoped that the House would indulge him in his wish to defer the Irish budget to Wednesday,

Mr. Bankes gave notice of a motion the next day respecting reversions.

Lord Howick assured his honourable friend, that he should have his most complete support. Not a single reversion had been given away by the present administration, although it was well known that several very valua ble ones had fallen in.

Mr. Huskisson, in consequence of what had passed that evening, postponed his financial resolutions till after the holidays.

Mr. Sheridan (after a few words from Colonel Stanhope) obtained leave to bring in a bill to regulate the wages of journeymen calico-printers,

ASSUMPTION OF THE CARNATIC.

Sir T. Turton entered into a statement of what he termed an infamous transaction, never equalled in the annals of Indian delinquency; pamely, the treatment of the Polygars, and the assumption of the Carnatic, by the East India company. He stated the substance and motives of thirteen motions, which it was his intention to propose, and concluded by moving the first: That there be laid before the House a copy of the instructions given to Lord Mornington by the board of controul, the court of directors, or the secret committer, previous to his departure for Bengal, relative to the treaty between the Nabob of Arcot and the East India company, &c.

Mr. Tierney had every wish to give all possible information; but he thought it right to state, that so far as the papers moved for by the honourable baronet existed, they were already before Parliament, and printed.

Sir Thomas Turton would withdraw his motion, if the honourable

honourable gentleman would take' upon him to say, there were no papers but those already printed. What he want ed to ascertain was, whether there were any instructions from the country, or any sanction of the governor general, to certain acts done in India, which he held most criminal.

Lord Archibald Hamilton thought it was better that the motions should pass. If the papers did not exist, the return would state their non-existence.

Mr. Tierney said, it would require a long search, and much trouble, to make out a return even of the non-exist

ence.

Sir A. Wellesley adverted particularly to all the motions, commenting on the subjects they related to as he went on. He agreed with Mr. Tierney, that so far as the papers moved for by the honourable baronet existed, they were already before the House and printed.

After a few observations from Colonel Symes to the same effect, and a few words from Sir J. Anstruther and Mr. Tierney, expressing a readiness to grant the papers so far as they existed, and were not already before the House, Sir T. Turton qualified his motion by introducing these last words.

Colonel Symes spoke at some length of the seizure of the Carnatic, which he justified by orders from England. He accounted for the death of Azim ul Dowlah, the deposed nabob, by a propensity to intoxication with opium to which the young man was given, and which generally proved fatal.

The several papers were ordered, so far as they are in ex istence, and have not been already laid before the House.

On a motion for copies of remonstrances made to the nabob of the Carnatic, on the encouragement of British artizans, to settle in his highness's territories, Mr Tierney observed, that when it was well known to the honourable baronet, that the papers moved for did not exist, he ought neither to trouble the House with his motion, nor the public officers with a search for the papers. Sir J. Anstruther spoke to the same effect.

Sir T. Turton in his own vindication maintained, that he had reason to think there was much information on many points besides what was already before the House. On other points a negative return would answer his pur

pose.

A division took place on this motion. For the motion 24. Against it 39. The motion was of course lost.

Mr.