to be deferving of applause instead of cenfure; and, therefore inftead of negativing the motion, he should first move the previous queftion; and, fecondly, in order to shew the neceffity of the Houfe repeating its former declaration, he would put the following resolutions:

"That the inhabitants of the French Weft-India iflands not having availed themselves of the proclamation of the Ift of January, 1794, was not to be confidered as a general rule for the British forces in that quarter to act upon.

"That, as the proclamations of the roth and 21st of May were not carried into effect, the Houfe conceived it unneceffary to give an opinion upon them. "And that the Houfe ftill retains the fense which it has already expreffed of the able and gallant conduct of Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis during - their command in the Weft Indies."

Sir Wm. Scott feconded the motion of Mr Dundas. He laid, it was improper for the Houfe to give any opinion on the -law of nations; nor fhould it think of proceding to a vote of cenfure without full and fufficient evidence.

Mr C. Dundas rofe merely for the purpofe of reading a letter from an officer under the command of Sir Charles` Grey, refpecting the conduct of that gallant officer, and the measures had recourfe to by him; fetting forth, that he -had preferred the lenient mode of contribution to the more fevere proceeding of confifcation, which the nature of his conquefts might have warranted him in adopting.

Sir W. Young faid, that although, he did not entirely difapprove of the conduct of the officers who were the fubject of debate, he nevertheless thought that they were not wholly warranted by the laws of war in adopting the fevere measures againft the inhabitants which they had done, and fhould vote for the original motion:

Mr Sheridan was perfuaded that the officers had acted in a manner that refected the highest honour on their wif dom and humanity.

Several other members fpoke; after which the Houfe divided on the previous queftion; when there appeared, Ayes 67, Noes 17.

The next divifion which took place was on the first refolution moved by Mr Dundas. Ayes 64, Noes 13.

The fecond refolution was carried by a majority of 43; the numbers being, for it. 57, against it, 14.

Ed. Mag. Jan. 1796.

I.

The queftion on the laft refolution, expreffive of the approbation of the Houfe of Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis, was then put and carried with only one diffentient voice.

5. The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to the Houfe fome additional refolutions, as inftructions to the Committee who are to prepare, and bring in, a bill relative to the Prince's debts.

Mr Sheridan, in a fpeech of great length and eloquence, entered into a detail of the Prince's affairs, from the time of his establishment being formed, down to the prefent time. He contended, that the pledge given to Parliament, in the year 1787, was without the consent of the Prince, and ftated a variety of facts to corroborate that affertion. He then adverted to the mode to be adopted for the payment of the debts, and suggested, that ten thousand a year might be allowed from the King's privy purse, and five thousand from the Queen's; and that the remainder might be made up by the abolishment of finecure places. He concluded with moving a refolution, pur`porting that no burden fhould fall upon the people for the payment of the debts, until it appeared that the privy purfe, and the abolishment of finecure places, were found infufficient for that purpose.

Mr Dundas replied; and contended that it was impoffible to apply thofe funds to that object.

A long converfation enfued; after which the Houfe divided; for Mr Pitt's motion 148, Againft it 93.

Mr Sheridan then proposed a refolution; and Mr Pitt moved to adjourn. Ayes 153. Noes 29.

8. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that the fum of 65,000l. be appropriated from the Confolidated Fund for the payment of the Prince of Wales's debts, in cafe of his demife. This produced a long debate, at the conclufion of which the Houfe divided, for the motion 93, against it 68.

Mr Anftruther then moved, "That it be an inftruction to the Committee, that they may have power to apply the revenue of the Dutchy of Cornwall to the purpose of difcharging the Prince's debts;" on which the Houfe again divided; for the motion 58, against it 96.

Mr Pitt now moved, that the Speaker do leave the chair, in order for the Houfe to go into a Committee on the bill. Another debate enfued, in which Mr Sheridan and Mr Whitbread oppofed the bill,

1

bill, and condemned it, in toto, as difgraceful, degrading, and inconfiftent. The Houfe then divided on the queftion of the Speaker's leaving the chair; Ayes 157, Noes 36.

In the Committee on the bill there were divifions on three claufes.

On the claufe for granting his Royal Highness an additional allowance of 65,cool. a year, an amendment was propoled by Mr Wilberforce, that, instead of 65,000l. the blank be filled up with 40,000l. After feveral other Members had spoken, a divifion took place, for the amendment 38, against it 141.

On the claufe impowering his Majefly to appoint commiffioners, &c. Ayes 132, Noes 35.

And on the claufe appointing the 65,cool, additional income to be taken from the Confolidated Fund, Ayes 149, Noes 16.

pofe of having parliamentary aid afforded to their embarraffments; a proceeding which he deemed highly dangerous to the conftitution, and to the liberty of Englishmen for those innovations were moft dangerous which were filent in their effect. He concluded by faying, that it was his intention to give the negative to the application.

Mr Dundas defended the measure. The queftion was then put, and carried in the affirmative.

15. The Auftrian loan bill was read a third time, and paffed. The fame day, the Houfe came to a refolution, that Exchequer bills, to the amount of one million and a half, be iffued for the accommodation of perfons trading to the islands of St Vincent and Grenada, to be advanced to them by commiffioners appointed for that purpose, who fhall receive proper fecurity for the fums fo ad

10. On the fecond reading of the Im-vanced." perial Loan Bill, it was oppofed by fe veral gentlemen, particularly by Mr Fox, who moved, as an amendment, that, inftead of the word 'now' be inferted, this day two months.'—On a divifion the amendment was loft by 55 to 29, and 'the original motion was carried.

II. Mr Fox moved, that a new writ be iffued, for a burgefs to ferve in parliament for the borough of Helftone, in the room of Sir Gilbert Elliott, bart. appointed viceroy of Corfica. This was ordered. The fame day, Lord Sheffield prefented a petition from the merchants trading to the islands of Grenada and St, Vincent's, ftating the calamitous effects of the infurrections in those islands, on their commercial dealings, and praying for relief. His Lordship briefly alluded to the fupport which the commercial credit of the nation received in 1793, by a loan of Exchequer bills, and thought a fimilar measure in the prefent cafe would produce equally falutary effects. He concluded by moving, That the petition be referred to a committee, to examine the 'matter of it, and report their opinion to the house.

Mr. Pitt feconded the motion. Mr Fox faid, that the calamity in queftion was an additional proof of the ruinous tendency of the war; and he could not help looking upon the prefent application as illuftrative of the motives which actuated commercial men to fupport administration in the profecution of it, who, apprehending danger in their own credit, fanctioned by their voices what they condemned in their hearts, for the pur

17. The bill for providing for the payment of the debts of the Prince of Wales was read a third time, and paffed. The commiffioners named to carry it into ex'ecution are, the Speaker, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the mafter of the rolls, Sir F. H. Drake, mafter of the household, and John Robinfon Efq. furveyor of the Crown lands. The bill afterward went through the ufual forms in the other Houfe; and, on June 27, his Ma jefty put an end to the feffion by the following moft gracious fpeech from the throne:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The zealous and uniform regard which you have shown to the general intereft of my people, and particularly the prudent, firm, and fpirited fupport which you have continued to afford me, in the profecution of the great conteft in which we are ftill unavoidably engageđ, demand my warmeft acknowledgements.

The encouragement which my allies muft derive from the knowledge of your fentimeuts, and the extraordinary exertions which you have enabled me to make, in fupporting and augmenting my naval and military forces, afford the means moft likely to conduce to the reftoration of peace to thefe kingdoms, and to the re-eftablishment of general tranquillity, on a fecure, an honourable, and a lafting foundation.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I have to return you my hearty thanks for the liberal and ample supplies which

the

the refources of the country have enabled
you
to provide, beyond all former exam-
ple, for the various exigencies of the pub-
lic fervice.

I have alfo to acknowledge, with peculiar fenfibility, the recent proof which you have given me of your attachment to my person and family, in the provifion which you have made for fettling the establishment of the Prince and Prine cefs of Wales, and for extricating the Prince from the incumbrances in which he was involved.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It is impoffible to contemplate the internal fituation of the enemy with whom we are contending, without indulging a hope, that the prefent circumftances of France may, in their effects, baften the return of fuch a ftate of order and regular government, as may be capable of maintaining the accustomed relations of amity and peace with other powers.

The iffue, however, of thefe extraordinary tranfactions is out of the reach of human forefight.

Till that defireable period arrives,

when my fubjects can be restored to the fecure enjoyment of the bleflings of peace, I fhall not fail to make the moft effectual ufe of the force which you have put into my hands.

It is with the utmoft fatisfaction that I have recently received the advices of an important and brilliant fuccefs oRtained over the enemy, by a detachment of my fleet under the able conduct of Lord Bridport.

I have every reason to rely on the continuance of the diftinguished bravery and conduct of my fleet and armies, as well as of the zeal, fpirit, and perfeverance of my people, which have been uniformly manifefled through the whole courie of this juft and neceflary war.

Then the Lord Chancellor, by his Majefty's command said,

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It is his Majesty's royal will and pleafure, that this Parliament be prorogued to Wednesday, the 5th of Auguft next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednefday the 5th Auguft 1795.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE SEVENTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Oct. 30. TH
HE order of the day being
read for taking into confi-
deration his Majefty's fpeech to both
Houfes of Parliament, (fee p. 397 of our
laft volume,) and the fame being read by
the principal Clerk,

Lord Mount Edgecumbe role to move an Addrefs to his Majefty in return for his gracious communication. He began by reviewing the leading circumflances of the war, and remarked that the very defeats of the Allies had been favourable to us, for unless the military force of France had been fo occupied, it would have been feverely felt by this country. The defection of fome of our Allies, he faid, was of lefs moment than might have been expected, for no ferious inconvenience could accrue from that defection, when we confidered this country as feparately at war with France. Our own operation's had, upon the whole, been, greatly if not uniformly fuccefsful. In the East and West Indies we had made many conquefts, and ftill retained a decided fuperiority. His Lordship next adverted to the difpofition expreffed in his Majefty's Speech to receive fuch over

i

I 2

tures, on certain conditions, as might be
compatible with the accustomed relations
of amity and peace; and this conceffion
was, in his opinion, all that candour
could expect or policy allow. In allufion
to the Weft India expedition, he said he
looked with a fatisfaction much increated
towards the fucceffes, he anticipated in
that quarter. Our affairs were, upon the
whole, so profperous, that instead of un-
becoming and imprudent condefcenfion
on our part, he recommended, in the lan-
guage of the Speech, that we should be
prepared for the alternative of war, and
continue undiminished our activity and
vigour. This was the mode of conduct
beft calculated to produce a peace on
terms fafe and honourable to accept. He
then entered into a minute invefligation
of the flate of the French finances, which
he contrafted with our own, and contend-
ed, that fuch was the rapid depreciation
of affignats, that it would be impoffible
for them to continue the war on the fame
principle. The Noble Lord concluded
by reading the Address he moved, which
was, as ufual, refponfive of the fenti-
ments contained in the Speech.
Lord Walfingham feconded the Addrefs.
A meffage