ency, were to be derided as blundering accusers. But, continued the learned doctor, these polite terms, as applied to my honourable friend (Mr. Whitbread), are intended; I suppose, to convey something beyond the present question. The man who was impeached by this House, as a public peculator, had been acquitted, it would seem, not because of his own innocence, but on account of the blundering manner in which the accusations, however grounded, were preferred against him; was this to go abroad to the public? We all know the right honourable gentleman's love for an epigram; but if this was meant to be in point, it was as cruel a blunder at the expence of the accused, as the most blundering accuser could be guilty of.

Mr. Montague begged to know, how far gentlemen were disposed to carry on a discussion upon a motion that was not objected to? It could not be prolonged for any other purpose by gentlemen opposite them, than to provoke the present ministers to some rash expression, which they might take hold of. He disapproved of the fencing wit he had just witnessed, and hoped there would be no further prolongation of the present discussion.

The motion was then agreed to.

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

Mr. Sturges Bourne rose to complain of a breach of privilege, and spoke in substance as follows: It was my misfortune to have to trouble the House last night, in consequence of the foul and ignorant calumnies of which I have been for the last months so undeservedly the object, and which the editor of a morning paper has been so active in propagating; two noble lords over-against me (Lords Howick and Henry Petty), in that manly and honourable manner which became their character and station, bore witness to my innocence, and declared me in their minds wholly exculpated. This part of the proceedings on that subject, so essential to my character, were suppressed by the editor of the Morning Chronicle, in the same spirit with which he has vented his libellous aspersions against my integrity and honour. The House must be aware that I should now be justified in calling this person to the bar, but this step I shall forego, contenting myself with having thus stated the circumstances, which I thought it my duty to state, feeling, as I do, that no such misrepresentation of the proceedings of this House, should be

suffered,

suffered, and particularly in a question that involves the personal feelings and character of any of its members. In stating this, I feel that there cannot be in this House a man who more highly values the liberty of the press than I do, but the House will see that those who so abuse it are its worst enemies. I shall take no further proceedings in this case, but if a similar one should occur, in that or any other paper, I shall feel it my duty to enforce the standing order of the House.

Lord Folkestone here rose to order, but sat down upon an intimation from the Speaker, that there was then no question before the House.

Sir Samuel Romully gave notice, that he would on Monday se'nnight, move for leave to bring in a bill for altering the practice in courts of equity, in suits in which members of that House were defendants.

The reversion bill was read a first time; ordered to be read a second time on Friday next.

Lord H. Petty got leave to bring in a bill for the better regulation of the Scotch revenue.

Mr. Whitbread altered his notice with respect to the poor laws, which stood for Friday, to Thursday se'nnight.

MORTALITY AMONG OUR TROOPS IN THE WEST INDIES.

Mr. Cochrane Johnstone called the attention of the House to the dreadful mortality of our troops in the West Indies, and described the causes to which, in his opinion, it was generally to be attributed. These were chiefly the want of air in the barracks, and their improper situation on the coast. The barracks in the West India islands, had no ventilators, and on entering them the smell, in consequence, was most offensive. It was well known, that when the thermometer was under 83 degrees, the yellow fever was not to be apprehended; and it was also well known, that the sea-coast, where the barracks were usually built, was considerably hotter than the interior of the islands. A striking instance of this occurred to himself. He had the command of a regiment 1000 strong, quartered on the coast of one of the West India islands. In the month of July the yellow fever broke out among them. In four weeks 550 men died. He marched the remainder into the interior, and he had the satisfaction to find, that the ravages of the disorder were completely stopped. In VOL. 1.-1807. the

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the year 1801, no less than eight thousand of our troops died in the West India islands. A great cause of the mortality was, that the British troops were employed in garr sons. By abstaining from this practice, and by adopting other regulations, he was convinced that the West India islands might be made as healthy as any station at home. He painted very feelingly the dreadful situation of many of the subalterns in that country, compelled to subsit on 5s. Sd. a day; and declared, that to the humanity of the women of colour, many a British officer owed his existence. When the ill health of an officer procured him leave to return home, it became necessary for him to raise fifty or sixty pounds to pay for his passage; in many cases this was impracticable, and it was an evil which ought to be remedied. These observations were the unfortunate result of his experience for many years. He had no doubt that the noble lord who was at the head of the colonial department would pay every attention to the subject; but he hoped the House would appoint a committee to inquire into these evils, and to endeavour to find means to counteract them. Were they not counteracted, it would be better to withdraw every man of our army from that country. As a preliminary step, he moved, that there be laid before the House an account of the mortality that had taken place in the troops sent to the West Indies, from the 1st of January, 1797, to the 1st of January, 1807, distinguishing the officers from the privates, and specifying the names of the offieers.

Mr. Biddulph seconded the motion.

Lord Castlereagh did every justice to the motives of the honourable gentleman; but, however important the subject, he was rather inclined to think, that it was not one on which a committee of the House of Commons was the body most qualified to prosecute an enquiry. In his opinion, it would be better to leave it to the executive government, unless indeed it was suspected that they were asleep on their posts, and inattentive to a matter of such moment. The papers moved for by the honourable oflicer, would not wiford the information which he desired. account of the number of deaths in the troops sent out, would convey an undue impression. It should rather be in the troops who were serving. Certainly there was a strong feeling in the public mind of the great mortality in

An

the

the army in the West Indies. He was anxious to reduce that feeling by proving that the apprehensions were exaggerated. Within the last ten years, such attention had been paid to this important point, that a striking dininution had taken place in the proportionate number of deaths, which at the present time amounted to only one It could hardly third of what they were ten years ago. be hoped to make the West Indies as healthy as bome; but a great deal might yet be done. He would set himself diligently to the task, and he should be glad to profit by the advice and suggestions of the honourable officer. When he before held the seals of the colonial department, considerable investigations had been instituted on this subject, with a view to meliorating the condition of the British army on the West India service.

Mr. Windham observed, that much of the mortality of the troops arose from causes that could not be remedied, as inseparable from tropical climates. As to the surgestion of the honourable gentleman not having been acted upon, he had only to remind him that a great variety of opinions prevailed upon the subject among officers of great experience. The same was the case, with respect to the advantage of floating hospitals, as hospitals on shore. He had listened with attention to the suggestions of the honourable gentleman, but the question could not be decided, except by persons of considerable experience. As to the situation of the barracks, regard must be had to the defence of the islands. The statement of the honourable gentleman would be good, as a stimulus to government. As to the pay of subalterns being insufficient to procure them the comforts that every one would wish them to have, the case was the same, in every other service, and only proved that persons who entered the military profession, should, like him who engaged in other vocations, have some capital, when he entered it, as he had said last year, when he proposed a sinall addition to the pay of sub

alterns.

The Secretary at War was perfectly convinced of the propriety of the motives of the honourable gentleman in bringing forward this subject, but he could assure the House, that the attention of his majesty's servants was particularly called to it, as the regiment which he had the honour to command had been employed on service in the West Indies, He was of opinion that great advantage

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would

would be derived from attending to this matter, but he was not sanguine enough to expect, that by any arrangements that could be adopted, the health of the troops could be preserved as well as in Europe. When his regiment had been sent out first, they were quartered in Stony Hill barracks, in Jamaica, situated according to the idea of the honourable gentleman, and yet the regiment had suffered considerable sickness. He thought that much benefit would result from the adoption of improved arrangements respecting the barracks, but on the other points considerable difference of opinion prevailed among experienced

officers.

Mr. W. Smith thought, that if the ground of objection taken by the noble lord were to be admitted, in general it would tend to put down all inquiries, though he gave the noble lord credit for paying every proper attention to this subject.

Mr. C. Johnstone said, he should never have brought this matter before the House, if the suggestions he had made to his majesty's ministers, in 1803, had been attended to, or if any order had been sent out by the commander in chief, to whom it was the duty of the ministers to communicate his suggestions, to the West Indies on the subject. It could not be his wish to press the question against the sense of the House, and, if the matter should not be attended to, he pledged himself year after year to bring it forward in Parliament. With the permission of the House, he should propose to withdraw his motion.

.After a few words, in explanation, from Mr. Windham and Mr. Cochrane Johnstone, the motion was allowed to be withdrawn.

Mr. Lethbridge, pursuant to his notice on a former day, rose to move that the petition of John Palmer, esq. of Bath, be referred to a committee. The petition related to an agreement made between Mr. Palmer and the government in the year 1781, which had never been fulfilled by government. The petition had been presented to the late Parliament, by which it had been referred to a committee, after having been recommended to the House by his majesty's then ministers. It was unnecessary for him to enter into any detail on the subject; and he therefore contented himself with moving, that the petition be referred to a commit.ee up stairs.

Mr. Liddulph seconded the motion.

The