be raised on such terms, and subject to at the utmost from the said 228 day of such conditions of redemption as are here- June, 1802; and also sufficient to redeem inafter specified, videlicet, that an annual every part thereof created subsequent to sum, equal to one per cent, on the capital the said 22d day of June, 1802, within 45 stock created in respect of every such sup- years at the utmost from the date of its plementary loan, shall be issued in equal creation." quarterly payments to the commissioners VII. That whenever the annual sums for the reduction of the national debt; or applicable to the reduction of the National that other provisions shall be made by par- Debt in respect of any loan or loans to be liament for redeeming the same within 45 charged as aforesaid in the several war duyears from its creation; and every such ties before mentioned, shall exceed the loan may be charged upon any duties to amount of the interest payable in respect be hereafter granted or appropriated by of such part of the capital stock created in parliament for such purpose, or on any respect of any such loan or loans which temporary annuities which may expire, and shall then remain unredeemed, the excess become applicable by parliament, con-of such annual sums above such interests formably to the provisions of an act made in the 42d of Geo. III. c. 71." shall be at the disposal of parliament in time of peace, but not in time of war, and in such manner and to such extent only, as that an amount equal to the capital stock created by every such loan respectively shall always be redeemed within 45 years from the date of the creation of such loan." V. "That in consideration of the large amount which by the effect of the foregoing Resolutions will be applicable to the redemption of the National Debt, beyond the sums which, in consequence of any law now in force, would be applicable thereto; it is reasonable and expedient VIII. "That whenever the annual sums that the provisions of an act 32 Geo. III. applicable to the reduction of the National c. 55, so far as relates to the redemption Debt, in respect to any such supplementary of the several public funds created or to loan or loans as aforesaid, shall exceed be created subsequent to the year 1802, the amount of the interest payable in reand also that the provisions of an act 42 spect of such part of the capital stock Geo. III. c. 71, so far as relates to the re-created in respect of any such loan or loans demption of the several public funds as shall then remain unredeemed, the extherein mentioned, should be so altered cess of such annual sums above such inand amended as may be necessary for gi-terest, shall be at the disposal of parlia ving effect to the principles of the said acts, in such manner as may, under the present circumstances, be most beneficial to the public interests." ment, but in such manner and to such extent only as that an amount equal to the capital stock created by every such loan respectively shall always be redeemed within 45 years from the date of the crea tion of such loan." VI." That it is expedient, that whenever the whole of the sums applicable to the reduction of the National Debt, by virtue IX. That for the purpose of ascer of any act or acts now in force, shall have taining the due execution of the regula accumulated to an annual amount exceed-tions provided by the above Resolutions, ing the amount of the interest payable in respect of all such public redeemable annuities, created at any time previous to the 5th day of January, 1807; as shall then remain unredeemed, the excess of such annual sums above such interest shall be at the disposal of parliament, and may be made applicable to the charge of any loan or loans thereafter to be raised into such other public service as parliament may direct, but in such manner and to such extent only as shall always leave an annual sum applicable to the reduction of the National Debt, sufficient to redeem every part thereof, which existed previous to the 22d day of June, 1802, within 45 years separate accounts shall be kept by the and laid before this house, of the net pro- on the table of the house, be would take duce of all the permanent taxes for three care that every member should be provided years, ending the 5th day of January, with a copy. [See Appendix to the present 1807; adding thereto an estimate of the volume.] Conscious as he was, that in future annual produce of such of the said the speech he had just had the honour of taxes as have not been in full receipt during making to the house, many particulars had that period, with an average thereof; and been omitted, and many things obscurely if the net produce of those taxes in the stated, he declared it would give him plea years ending the 5th day of January, 1803, sure to afford every possible information to 1809, and 1810, shall in the average of the house on the subject. those three years exceed such former ave- Mr. Johnstone, although he allowed that rage, such excess, or any part thereof, shall it would be preferable to postpone the debe at the disposal of parliament, and ap-bate until after the Resolutions should be plicable to the charge of any loan or loans printed, yet thought one short observation thereafter to be raised, or to such other necessary; because, if the impression made public service as parliament shall direct, by the speech of the noble lord were aland so on successively in any future years,lowed to go abroad, the country might be if the excess of such taxes on an average induced to entertain an opinion which of three years shall exceed the first ave- could never be realized. The noble lord rage by more than the amount of any sums had displayed great talents and great elowhich may then have been charged there-quence, and the display of those talents on; but if on any such three years average there shall appear any deficiency below such average, together with such additional charge aforesaid, such deficiency shall be made good by parliament." and that eloquence had been clearly evinced by his leading the house, at such a moment as the present, when the Income tax pressed so hard upon the necessities of the people, and when every alleviation of the XI." That an account shall be annually burthens imposed by that tax had been so taken, and laid before this house, of the net unprecedentedly and so steadily refused, produce of the several war duties afore- to listen to a detail of the mischiefs which said, and upon an average of three years, would arise from the payment of the nafrom the 5th day of January, 1807, the an- tional debt and from the relief from all nual net produce thereof shall have fallen their taxes. All the noble lord's conclushort of 21,000,000%. Such deficiency sions proceeded on the supposition that shall be made good by parliament, and so the annual expenditure of the country on successively in any subsequent year, would not exceed 38 millions. Grant him in which any loan or loans shall be created that, and the rest followed. What had and charged thereupon in manner afore- been the consequence of a similar hope said." held out at the beginning of the war, Mr. Rose said, he would not detain the namely, that the war could be carried on committee at present, as any observations without any increase of debt, by the opeupon this plan would come better after-ration of the Sinking Fund? He was sure wards. He only wished to suggest, that that he should not be suspected of derothe annuities which the noble lord men-gating from the character and talents of tioned as one of the means for carrying the noble viscount (Sidmouth) then at the this measure into effect, had been already head of his majesty's government, for whom actually applied by law to the Sinking he entertained the highest respect; but Fund. undoubtedly the result of those expectaLord Henry Petty observed, that the tions was, that in the fourth year of the right hon. gent.'s recollection failed him. war, our debt had increased 50 millions on It was true, that in 1786 they had been ap-account of England, and 17 millions on acplied as he stated, but in 1802 they had count of Ireland; being at an average rate been detached from this purpose. The of 17 millions annually. He feared that debate would more properly take place a similar result would follow the noble after the Resolutions were printed; and lord's calculations. The noble lord had besides the Resolutions, there was a set of omitted to consider the necessary enhanceTables illustrative of the different forms ment that must take place in the price, of and modes in which the plan he had just every article required for the service of the detailed would operate, and of which, al-country. He had made no allowance for though they could not be regularly laid that which was inevitable, the situation of the continent, which would call for essen- millions. The increasing trade, and the tial aid from this country. There was ano- abolition of injurious restrictions, would ther point which must immediately cause probably soon auga.ent this revenue, and the total failure of the plan. This was the make the annual income of Ireland bear state of Ireland. The charges of a civil the same proportion to her annual expennature in Ireland amounted to 3,800,000. diture, as the annual income of Great while the whole receipt of the exchequer Britain did to her annual expenditure. did not exceed 3,670,000l.; it would there- Mr. Corry, from the experience he had fore be out of the power of Ireland to raise in Irish finance, was also of opinion that within herself the interest of the 5 millions. they were in a very promising 'state. He The noble lord had totally omitted to no-thought, therefore, that the hon. gent. tice what must be the result when the two exchequers of England and Ireland should be united. Then the whole of the interest of the 5 millions must be raised in England, as Ireland was unable to do it within herself. Many other points might be mentioned, but these were enough to induce the house and the country not to be too sanguine in their expectations of being enabled to carry on the war for 20 years, without incurring any additional burthens. It was an expectation that could never be realized, and the disappointment of the people would render them more prone to complain of the privations to which they must necessarily be subject. He could not resist saying these few words, even under the disadvantage of the impression that had just been made by the noble lord's eloquence. Lord H. Petty, alluding to that part of the hon. gent.'s observations, which related to Ireland, said, that the hon. gent. must be aware that the finances of Ireland rested on a footing totally distinct from those of England; that the system, therefore, with regard to the war taxes could not possibly at present extend to that country. ought to be more guarded in his expressions, lest he should convey a wrong impression on the public mind. The noble lord, whose statements were so clear, and who had opened a plan which would be satisfactory to all the world, except the common enemy of all, had justly observed, that his system was not applicable to Ireland at present, whatever it might be af terwards. As to Mr. Johnstone meant no reflection on the management of the Irish finances. the prediction of lord Sidmouth, his argument still held good, for that noble lord had assumed that the expenditure would not go beyond 26 millions, and the noble lord opposite also assumed that it would not go beyond 38 millions. The grounds of the former prediction had failed, and so might those of the present.—The chairman then reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on Monday se'nnight. HOUSE OF LORDS. Monday, February 2. [MINUTES.] On the motion of the archbishop of Canterbury, the thanks of Mr. Hiley Addington observed, that after the house were ordered to be given to the the able speech of his noble friend, he would bishop of St. David's for his sermon not have troubled the house had it not been preached before the house at Westminster for the allusion to his noble relation, made Abbey, on Friday last; and his lordship by the hon. gent. His noble relation had was desired to print and publish the same. only said, that supposing the expenditure-Lord Eldon gave notice of his intention not to exceed 26 millions, the war might of submitting to their lordships a bill for be carried on without additional taxes. the better and more effectually regulating This he had before stated in answer to the hon. gent. who had, on a former occasion, brought the same charge against his noble relation. the practice of the court of chancery, as far as the same related to suitors whose monies were paid into that court to abide the event of its decision; a measure which Mr. Parnell, in the absence of an hon. his lordship said, was of the utmost adbaronet (sir J. Newport), who had been vantage to the safety of the suitor and the compelled by indisposition to leave the ease of the chancellor, and the want of house, declared, that owing to the exer- which he deeply felt when he himself had tions made in Ireland during the last year, the honour of filling that office. The lord the revenue of that country had been in-chancellor quitted the woolsack, and declacreased half a million. A few years ago the revenue of Ireland was little more than a million; it now amounted to nearly four red that the noble lord should have his sincerest thanks for his attentive consideration of that object; and he assured him, already been often repeated, and as it was of so much importance to avoid delay. Lord Eidon also expressed himself decidedly hostile to unnecessary delay, but at the same time it was of the utmost importance that a subject of this magnitude should be deeply and closely examined, and that the parties whose interests would be affected by it, should be fairly and fully beard. that it was with infinite satisfaction he heard his determination that night, for, certainly, as the practice was at present, every chancellor must feel considerable difficulty in conducting his decisions, and in adjusting his judgements with suitors of the description adverted to by the noble lord. [SLAVE TRADE ABOLITION BILL.] Lord Grenville having moved the order of the day for the second reading of the Slave Trade Abolition bill, observed, that Lord Hawkesbury suggested, that the inthose of their lordships who had witnessed terests of the petitioners might be equally his extreme anxiety to carry forward this benefited, and the time of the house less important measure with the least possible taken up, if the petitioners were classed interruption, would readily conceive that according to the interests of those petihe now felt great regret in finding himself tioning, which would be found to be diunder the necessity of proposing a further vided into three; namely, the old planters delay. Unfortunately, however, two of in Jamaica and other islands, the new his noble friends, whose sentiments respecting this measure it was important the house should be in possession of, and whose assistance he much wished to have upon the discussion of the subject, were too much indisposed to be enabled to attend the house. He therefore proposed that the second reading should be postponed till Wednesday.-Ordered, and that the lords be summoned for that day, planters in the island of Trinidad, and the shipping and commercial interests of the ports of this country, and counsel heard for each interest.-After some further conversation, the petitioners were ordered to be heard by their counsel on Wednesday. [ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN SCOTLAND. Lord Grenville gave notice that he should, on this day se'nnight, pre sent to the house a bill founded on the The Earl of Westmoreland presented a Resolutions passed last session, for renpetition from the ship builders, ship own- dering more effectual the Administration ers, manufacturers, and others of the port of Justice in Scotland. (See vol. vii. p. 730.) of London, against the Slave Trade Aboli- Lord Hawkesbury expressed a wish that tion bill; which was ordered to lie on the full time might be allowed the learned gen table. A short conversation took place re-tlemen of the law in Scotland to make up specting the propriety of hearing counsel in behalf of the petitioners against the bill. Lord Grenville suggested the propriety of making some order upon this subject, if it was the pleasure of their lordships to hear counsel, in order that they might avoid the inconvenience which occurred, of having a preliminary discussion of this nature, on the very day on which the measure proposed was to be brought forward. The Earl of Westmoreland moved, that such of the petitioners as thought fit, should be heard by their counsel on the second reading of the bill. Lord Grenville thought it would be expedient to make some regulation with respect to the hearing of counsel in order to prevent unnecessary delay. As to the propriety of examining evidence, that of course would be decided on, after their lordships had heard counsel. He thought, however, that it would be sufficient to hear one counsel upon each petition, as the greater part of the arguments which the counsel must necessarily touch upon, had their minds upon such a complicated and inportant measure before it passed into a law. Lord Grenville said, it was his wish that sufficient time should be allowed for the consideration of the subject. He must however remark, that ample time had already been given for its consideration since last session, during which interval there had been an opportunity of obtaining the opinions of professional men of eminence with respect to the details of the measure. If it was meant that an interval of equal extent should again be allowed, it was eviIdent the measure could not be carried through parliament in the course of the present session. That some measure of this nature should be adopted without delay was, he conceived, of the greatest importance, not only on account of the great defects which were acknowledged to exist in the Administration of Justice in Scotland, but also on account of the dis. credit thrown upon that house, in consequence of the great number of appeals from Scotland, and which, from their being so numerous, unavoidably met with much to the act of union which had wisely prodelay in their decision. Lord Eldon confessed that he felt the difficulties as well as the advantages of the measure proposed by the noble baron. He had been employed in more Appeal causes than, he believed, any other man now living, and no man could be more convinced of the necessity of such a measure than he was. Not only Scotland but Ireland felt that necessity. He hoped, however, the intended bill would throw more light on the question than the resolutions afforded. At all events, he should most cheerfully contribute all that his experience and humble abilities enabled him to afford to wards the advancement of the business. HOUSE OF COMMONS. vided that all articles of the growth and produce of either country, should be received in the other, on paying the same charges as were paid on the home production of the same kind. The drawbacks on the spirit intercourse between England and Ireland had been regulated on this principle. But the duties being lower in Scotland than in England, advantages had been taken in consequence, which went to defraud the revenue in England, and to impede the distilleries in Ireland. With a view to correct these evils, he should move, that the chairman be instructed to move for leave to bring in a bill to suspend, for a time to be limited, the drawbacks on the mutual importation of spirits between Great Britain and Ireland; and also to suspend Monday, February 2. the countervailing duty on the importation [MINUTES.] Lord Eustou, chairman of of the Irish spirits into Scotland, so as to the Saltash Election committee, reported, give the Irish distiller a fair competition that that committee had been prevented with the Scotch and English. The chairfrom proceeding on the investigation of the man reported, and leave was given to bring matters given in charge to it, on Friday in a bill accordingly.-Lord Folkestone gave and Saturday last, in consequence of the notice, that to-morrow he would move for absence of A. Robarts, esq. one of its mem- leave to bring in a bill to constitute into a bers; that this day Mr. Robarts did attend, law the regulation of the house for giving and the committee had proceeded to busi-notice to parties in cases of Controverted ness as usual. Doctor Bailey stated at the Election. Mr. Rose gave notice, that on bar, that Mr. Robarts's absence was occasioned by indisposition; and Mr. Robarts was excused for having absented himself on the above-mentioned days.-Mr. Yorke as chairman of the Weymouth Election committee, reported that the sitting members were duly elected, and that the petition against them was not frivolous or vexations. Sir G. Heathcote, chairman of the Maldon Election committee, reported that Mr. L. Hughes, a member of the said [TREASURERSHIP OF THE NAVY.] Mr. committee, had absented himself, on the Sheridan, in rising, pursuant to notice, to ground that his presence was necessary in move for leave to bring in a bill for the furthe country, in consequence of the alarm-ther regulation of the office of Treasurer ang indisposition of his father. Sir R. of the Navy, did not think it necessary to Williams deposed to his belief of the fact, go at length into the grounds of his motion, and Mr. Hughes was excused from further as the facts which rendered such a bill neattendance; and the committee empowered cessary were within the knowledge of the to proceed without him.-On the motion house. On a recent occasion, doubts had of Lord Howick, the thanks of the house been entertained by the Judges as to the were voted to the Rev. Frederick Barnes, construction of the act of his present mathe Chaplain, for the excellent sermon jesty, which was intended to prevent the preached before the house, at St. Mar- Treasurer of the Navy from making any garet's Church, on Friday. Mr. Barnes extraordinary emolument of the public was requested to print the same.-On the money entrusted to his charge for official motion of Mr. Vansittart, the house went purposes. It was necessary to remove into a committee on the acts relating to those doubts, and though some hesitation the mutual Importation of Spirits between had existed as to the best means of reGreat Britain and Ireland. Mr. V.adverted moving them, no doubt whatever was adverted; Wednesday he should move for certain financial papers, calculated to afford information which was requisite to satisfy doubts which were entertained as to the first Financial Resolution submitted by the noble lord opposite, on Friday. In answer to lord Henry Petty, Mr. Rose stated that the accounts he wished for were intended to show the quantity of certain articles imported before the commutation. |