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entertained of the fact that they ought to be removed. A short act of parliament had, at length, been determined upon as the best mode of removing them, and of regulating the future management of the navy money, in the manner best adapted to the public service, and productive of the least possible inconvenience to the bank. Mr. S. moved accordingly, and leave was given to bring in the bill.

the payment of the interest of her debt and the sinking fund, and, with that ability, and with the sums in hand, which he had mentioned, she could not be considered in a state of failure or depression, as she had been represented by an hon. gent. on the night he alluded to.. The revenue of Ireland was 3,800,000!. which was far above the interest of its debt and Sinking Fund,

Mr. Johnstone regretted that he was not in the house when the hon. baronet began his speech, but he seemed to intimate that he (Mr. J.) had taken advantage of his absence. He wished the hon. baronet had been present to have heard him. He did not say that Ireland was in a bankrupt state, nor had attempted to convey any such im pression. His argument was, that as the Irish revenue was only equal to the pay ment of the interest of the debt, and to

that she must raise 4,000,000%. by way of loan. He did not take the revenue too low, for he took it at 3,800,000l. as the hon. baronet had stated it, though, if he had taken it lower, speaking from the do. cuments before him, he could not have been properly chargeable with error. If the hon. baronet therefore made a speech in order to combat a charge of bankruptcy, he spoke with regard to a charge that existed only in imagination. He had not said that Ireland was in a state of bankruptcy; he had only said, that as she could not raise the greater part of the supplies within the year, she must have recourse to loans here, and that this would interfere with the noble lord's plan.

[IRISH TREASURY BILLS BILL.] Sir John Newport moved the order of the day, for the house to resolve itself into a committee on the Irish Treasury Bills bill. He hoped that, before the Speaker quitted the chair, the house would indulge him with a few words, for the purpose of clearing up some doubts, with reference to a statement made by an hon. member (Mr. Johnstone) on a former night. In moving to bring in this bill for raising 1,000,000l. by Treasury the defraying of civil charges, it followed Bills, for the service of Ireland, he trusted it would not be thought that he had claimed an unwarrantable confidence, when it was considered that a power had been given the Irish government to raise half a million for the service of the last year, which power had not been used, nor had any Treasury Bills been issued.-He would ask, whether it could with justice be presumed, that the Irish Finances could be in the situation that hon. member had described them, when the Irish government had not found it necessary to avail itself of a power to raise half a million of money? In fact, there had been no occasion for making use of that power; on the contrary, he had been able to discharge a debt due from the Irish Treasury to the English Treasury, of a sum of 276,000l. advanced by the English Treasury, for payment of the lottery prizes in 1802. That was no proof of a failure of the Irish Finances. After payment of that sum, there remained, allowing for the subsistence of the army, a sum of upwards of 500,000l. belonging to Ireland. He was extremely sorry he had not been present on Thursday, when the noble lord near him (H. Petty) had made so very happy a statement of the finances of Great Britain, But he deprecated all comparison between the finances of G. Britain and the finances of Ireland. But though Ireland was not in that prosperous Situation with respect to capital, industry, and commerce, which would enable her to [THIRD MILITARY REPORTCONDUCT raise a large portion of ber expences within of MR. ALEXANDER DAVISON.] Lord the year, she was far from being in a si- Archibald Hamilton stated, that since he tuation of financial failure or depression. had given notice of his intention to bring Her révenue was more than adequate to forward a motion respecting the Third Res

Sir J. Newport knew of no civil charges on the revenue of Ireland, nor of any charges beyond the interest of its debt and sinking fund. These amounted to 3,132,000%. which, deducted from the revenue of 3,800,000l.,left a surplus of near 700,000l. applicable to the current expences.

Mr. Johnstone observed, that the hon. baronet's statement confirmed his allega tion on the former night. The Irish part of the point charged being 5,300,0007. and the surplus of revenue applicable towards it being but 700,0007. there would remain to be borrowed 4,600,000%. instead of 4,000,000l. as he had stated.-The bill then went through the committee.

Lord A. Hamilton again rose, and said, that he was sorry to trespass on the attention of the house, but all that he had said,

port of the Commissioners of Military In-punishment. Nothing could be more dequiry, he had understood that proceedings structive to a government than those upon the subject were now pending in the agents, who while they were well paid for Treasury. Under this circumstance, and the duties they performed, yet made use having communicated with his noble friend of the confidence reposed in them to plun(lord H. Petty), he was apprehensive that, der the public. if he made the motion, he should be tres- The Speaker here interrupted the noble passing upon what was the province of the lord, and said, that if he did not mean to treasury, and interfering with their ar-propose any motion, it would be inconve rangements; but he hoped the house would nient and improper to enter upon the parindulge him while he read the motion ticulars in a case of this nature. which he had intended to have submitted, and stated the peculiar situation in which he felt himself placed. He had intended to have moved, that the attorney-general or meant to have said, was intended merely should be instructed to take the necessary to account for the line of conduct which he measures to ascertain, and secure, by due had pursued in this business. course of law, such sums as should ap- Lord H. Petty was sensible of the irrepear to be due to the public from Mr. gularity of prolonging the discussion, but Alexander Davison, in consequence of the hoped he should be excused for taking this transactions disclosed in the Third Report opportunity of explaining to the house the of the Commissioners of Military Inquiry. proceedings which the treasury bad thought If it should appear to the house, that he it right to adopt upon the third report of had been somewhat hasty in giving his no- the Commissioners of Military Inquiry, tice of the motion, he trusted the importance which he was not surprised to find had atof the subject, and the nature of the frau- tracted the notice of his noble friend, and dulent and iniquitous transactions at of the house in general. No delay had which his notice was directed, would suf- taken place in the steps which the treasury ficiently excuse him. A charge of being had thought it its duty to pursue; and it too forward to institute enquiry against would under these circumstances be an imfraud and peculation, was a charge from putation that ministers had not used pro which he should not shrink. As he ima-per activity, if the house should take the gined there were many members who prosecution out of their hands, and institute would have been glad to have delivered steps of its own. The commissioners of their opinions upon such a subject, he barrack accounts had very properly comfeared lest they should feel some mortifica-municated to the lords of the treasury their tion at the opportunity being denied them, opinion, that it was very necessary Mr. in consequence of his having relinquished Davison should produce his cash account his motion. He felt it his duty to state with the barrack-master-general. The lords the view with which he had taken up the had inconsequence directed the commissionsubject. He had considered that the re- ers to call for this account; they had written port having been made, it was far from two letters to Mr. Davison, containing a decreditable that it should have been suffered mand to that effect; no answer had been reto have remained so long on the table un- turned to these letters, and the commissonnoticed. The opinion he had at first form-ers reported the fact to the lords of the treaed respecting the transactions developed sury. The lords of the treasury then called by the report, he was by no means disposed peremptorily on Mr. Davison to produce to abandon. He had considered, that it the account, and Mr. Davison did reply to would have been more desireable for the them, assigning a domestic calamity as the house to have instituted some process excuse for his delay, and declaring his reaagainst Mr. Alexander Davison, than that diness to give such information as to his it should have been done by the treasury. cash account as he could give; but stating, Indeed, he had not yet wholly relinquished that as his cash account was mixed with that opinion, though certainly by his com- his other accounts, it was impossible he munications with his noble friend, it had could give a clear view of it. This anbeen very much weakened. The enor-swer was referred to the commissioners, mity of the offence was so great, and so ge- who stated upon it that it was not satisneral and extensive in its operation, that it factory; and that if the accounts kept by called for the most public and exemplary Mr. Davison were in such a form as to be

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Tuesday, February 3. [MINUTES.] A ballot took place for a committee to try and determine the merits of the Shrewsbury Election Petition. The following gentlemen were appointed as the committee:-James Buller, esq., right hon. N. Vansittart, W. Gore, esq., H. Fawcett, esq., lord Folkestone, R. C. Ferguson, esq., H. C. Montgomery, esq., Oswald Markham, esq., R. Sheldon, esq., hon. John Ramsay, R. C. Carew, esq., hon. W. Quin, hon. J. Pierce. Nominees; George Johnstone, esq., Francis Horner, esq.-The

useful at all, the information which the commissioners wished could be collected from them. The lords of the treasury upon this ordered the Third Report of the Commissioners of Military Inquiry, and the correspondence between the barrack commissioners and the treasury and Mr. Davison, to be laid before the attorney and solicitor general, for their opinion, as to what steps ought to be taken to obtain the disclosure of the cash account, and to have justice done to the public in the recovery of what was due to it. The attorney and solicitor general reported their opinion, and recommended as the more speedy Attorney-General, pursuant to notice, mode of proceeding, if parliament should moved for, and obtained leave to bring in, concur in the opinion, that a bill should be a bill for investing certain commissioners passed, enabling the commissioners of bar- for enquiring into the expenditure of the rack accounts to call upon Mr. Davison to Barrack Department, with powers to exaproduce his books, and to enforce his com- mine parties on oath, and to call for papers pliance, rather than to institute proceedings and accounts. Mr. Rose entirely approved to that effect in the exchequer. He be-of the measure proposed by the learned lieved, his learned friend the attorney-gene-gent., and gave notice, that on Thursday ral was prepared to submit a motion to uext he should move, for a copy of the that effect this night. It was not compe- opinion of his majesty's attorney and solitent to him to say, in the present stage of citor general upon the transactions in the the business, whether any evidence upon Barrack Department.-Mr. Biddulph rewhich to ground a criminal prosecution newed his former notice of a motion, for a would be found; but if it should, the at-committee to enquire whether any alletorney and solicitor general would be in-viation of the public burthens might not structed by the lords of the treasury to be procured by the abolition of unnecesinstitute proceedings upon it. Mr. Da- sary and Sinecure Places for Tuesday next.

[SCOTCH CLERGY BILL.] Mr. Kenrick presented a petition from the committee of the commission of the general assembly of the church of Scotland, setting forth,

vison had written to the lords of the treasury, stating that he would produce an account in his own defence, which would prove satisfactory. But unless he could produce his cash account, the noble lord" that the petitioners are a committee apdid not see how it could be satisfactory. The commissioners, however, had called for the cash account by the direction of the treasury, and directions had been given for the recovery of the sums due; every step, therefore, that could possibly be taken, had been resorted to, and therefore he flat-entered into by the house of lords, retered himself that his noble friend would not repent the fair and candid manner in which he had consented to withdraw his motion.

pointed by the commission of the general assembly of the church of Scotland, held at Edinburgh upon the 19th of Nov. 1806, with instructions to attend to the progress of any bill that may be introduced into parliament founded on the Resolutions lately

specting the courts of law in Scotland, and to adopt every prudent and temperate measure for maintaining the established rights and privileges of the Clergy of the church The Attorney-General then moved, that of Scotland; and that the petitioners have there be laid before the house the com-been informed, that a bill has been brought mission appointing Charles Herries, esq. into the house for suspending, for a limited and W. Bragge, esq. commissioners for time, the powers vested in the court of sesbarrack accounts. He also gave notice, sion as commissioners of Teinds by an act that he should to-morrow move for leave to of the Scots parliament, passed in the year bring in a bill, to invest the commissioners for enquiring into the barrack accounts with the same powers to examine persons on oath, as the commissioners of army expenditure.

VOL. VIII.

1707, c. 9, and for certain other purposes; and as the petitioners are convinced, that the provisions of the said bill will be highly prejudicial to the interests of the Clergy of Scotland, therefore praying, that the 2 R

same may not be passed into a law, or at | sions, of which those commissioners were least that, before any farther proceedings members, would terminate its sittings on take place with regard to it, they may be the 12th of March, and not resume them heard, by their counsel, at the bar of the before the 12th of May, but the time of house, against the same being passed into suspension was not to exceed the first day a law." On the motion that the petition of the subsequent sessions: where then, do lie on the table, he asked, was the ground for any reasonable complaint of delay, when the recess was to commence so soon, and the time of suspension was to be limited by its termination?

Mr. Wilberforce said, he had not yet had sufficient opportunity of acquiring the necessary information upon the subject, but from the little information he had obtained, he was induced to think that it The Lord Advocate of Scotland said, he would be more adviseable to hear counsel should desire no better testimony to the before the house should go into a com- sincerity of his good wishes to the Church mittee on the bill, because then gentlemen of Scotland than that of the Scotch Clergy would in that case be in possession of the themselves. Taught, he might say, from leading objections urged by the petitioners his infancy, to hold that respectable class against the bill, and perhaps it would ap-of the community in proper estimation, he pear that all such might be so modified in did not think that he could be supposed the committee, as entirely to satisfy all capable of deliberately introducing into parties; an object which, whether he consi-that house any measure that could, in the dered the character of the learned lord with whom the bill originated, or the great respectability of that class of men who had now pétitioned against it, was with him one of no inconsiderable importance.

slightest degree, tend to detract from their privileges, or to alienate their rights: so far from it, that he had it in his intention to submit, upon a future day, to that house, some measure for rendering them more secure and permanent. He was, however, as willing as any gentlemen in that house could be, to hear the petitioners by their counsel: he was anxious that no possible

The Speaker felt it his duty to acquaint the house, that as the bill in question had been read a second time, it was not the regular usage to hear petitioners by their counsel at the bar, in any stage so inter-channel of information upon that subject mediate as that in the present instance. When the bill was committed, it would be for the committee to exercise its own discretion; but it was more usual for the house to hear counsel upon the report being brought up.

Mr. Adam begged leave to observe, that no counsel could be heard in the present stage of the bill, and that were it even not irregular it would be inconvenient, for that he was satisfied the objections of the clergy of Scotland, for whom he entertained the most unfeigned respect, went rather to the apprehended modifications of the bill, than to the principle of the bill itself, for it was neither in the nature, nor was it any part of the object of the bill, to take away any privilege, or to infringe upon any right. He assured the hon. gent. and the house, that nothing was more foreign to the minds of those with whom the bill originated, than any sentiment hostile to the true interests of the Scotch Clergy. The object of the bill was merely to suspend for a limited time, and a very limited time, certain proceedings pending before the commissioners of Teinds, relative to the augmentation of stipends. The court of ses

should be closed. The principle of the bill was not objected to, but the modifications, which the bill should undergo when in the committee. He was persuaded that when the blanks were filled up in the cora mittee, the petitioners would then see the bill in a clear point of view, and feel, as he did now, how groundless were their apprehensions. When he had the honour of submitting that bill to the house, he felt happy in the consciousness of introducing a regulation that he believed would be be neficial to the church of Scotland: but if it should appear otherwise; if there was the least ground to suspect that it might be productive of any consequences injurious to the Scots Clergy, he should feel still greater happiness in immediately with drawing it. The petition was then, toge ther with another on the same subject, ordered to lie on the table, till the report of the bill; and the committee on the Scotch Clergy bill was put off to Thursday.

HOUS OF LORDS.

Wednesday, February 4.

[SLAVE TRADE ABOLITION BILL.] Coun I having been called in, pursuant to order,

rate in aid of his argument: thus, the premiums paid to insurers were not to be deemed all profit; they were a consideration for certain risk, and were in proportion to the hazard to which the property would be exposed. The principal motive, then, of the bill was, that British capital was engaged in the trade; and an additional instigation to the adoption of it was, that in the present posture of affairs, it could be supported by no other capital; so that, by withdrawing the subjects of this country from the commerce, it would be effectually abolished.

Mr. Plumer and Mr. Dallas attended, on if a few more or a few less ships were debehalf of the West-India merchants; Mr.voted to this commerce, but to wipe away Alexander, for the merchants of Liver- the disgrace of this country, by the direcpool; Mr. Scarlet, for the merchants and tion thus given to the industry and talents planters of the islands of Jamaica and Tri-of British merchants. The learned counnidad; and Mr. Clarke, on the part of the sel, by shewing that the capital of this décorporation of Liverpool, and the trustees scription of persons was largely concerned, of the dock of that port. The arrange-in part supplied the motive on which the ment with respect to the order in which proposal for the abolition was founded. the learned counsel for the several inter-Thus, without any confirmation from the ests should be heard, having been refer-witnesses proposed, all the facts that were red to their own decision; Mr. Alexan-material were admitted. It might be eader, for the merchants of Liverpool, first sy to shew, that particular items to which addressed their lordships, and concluded the learned counsel adverted, did not opewith requesting that, according to the prayer of the petitioners for whom he appeared, witnesses might be called in.-The counsel having been ordered to withdraw, Lord Grenville said, that for the purpose he then had in view, it would not be at all necessary to enter into the general question; the simple enquiry was, whether, in the present situation of things, it was or was not expedient to hear the depositions of the witnesses, according to the recommendation of the learned counsel. In his opinion, there could be no ground for this mode of proceeding, unless their lordships thought that this was a subject Lord Eldon was willing to admit, that, utterly unknown to them; and that in con- in the instance now before their lordships, sequence of the deficiency of all former ex- the examination of witnesses would not be perience and information, it was necessary necessary; but he was anxious to enter bis to go into a long and formal examination of protest against any determination not to the inatter. This was not the first time, or hear evidence in a future stage of the prothe first year, that the enquiry was made be-ceeding. It was true that this grave and fore their lordships: it was the 20th year important subject had been long under disin which it had been brought under their cussion; but it was not merely expedient to consideration; and there was no one ses-shew that this trade was contrary to jussion during that long period in which it tice and humanity. Admitting it to be so, bad not been, in some form or other, sub- the circumstances, the mode, and the time mitted to the investigation of parliament. of its abolition, were proper matters of Could any individual peer suppose, that, consideration. What had been the course to enable him to decide on the principle of of proceeding? A noble lord, in the last this bill, it was expedient to examine how session, had brought forward Resolutions, far the local interests of the ship-owners of which embraced a vast deal more than Liverpool were concerned, and what were was comprised in the present bill: those their comparative profits in the subsisting extended to the total abolition of the Slave intercourse between Africa and the West Trade. He did not believe that the meaIndies? This bill was not offered to their sure now proposed would diminish the tranlordships, because the capital of no Bri-sport of negroes, or that a single individual tish subjects was employed in the Slave would be preserved by it; at the same time Trade, or because no British mariners that it would be utterly destructive of the were engaged in it; but expressly because British interests involved in that commerce. the property and persons of the subjects This house was always disposed to proceed of this realm were engaged in it: and with deliberation and with justice; and in hence it called upon the justice and huma-pursuance of that line of conduct, it bad denity of their lordships to prevent this mis-termined not to hear the evidence on this afapplication both of the one and the other. fair in a committee above stairs. He trusted Their lordships were not now to determine, that the same discretion would be now em

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