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the unfortunate persons who sent up these petitions to understand that his noble friend and himself would bring the whole case before the House.

Some of the petitions handed to his lordship being from individuals, he wished it also to be understood, that no petition of this nature could be received unless it purported to come from the whole of the prisoners, or a considerable number of those confined for debt in any one prison. Several reports were made by Lord Walsingham from committees, on renewed petitions for private bills, and bills brought in and read a first time.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

FRIDAY, JULY 3.

Mr. French gave notice, that he would next day move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the fees of prisoners in certain criminal cases in Ireland.

The pilot regulation bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday.

Bills were brought in to improve the harbours of Berwick and Peterhead. Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

The Dublin building improvement bill was brought in and read a first time.

Mr. Long presented an account of the extraordinary expences of the army for the years 1805-6. Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Cochrane Johnstone gave notice, that on Monday he would move for a return of the names of inspecting field officers, and of lieutenant-colonels and majors on the half pay of his majesty's army.

Lord Milton moved for an account of the wool imported into England since the year 1780, specifying each year. Ordered.

Mr. Calcraft rose to put a question to the gentlemen opposite. The act appointing the military commissioners, expired in six weeks from the meeting of this Parliament. He wished to know whether there was any intention on the part of ministers to continue that commission; if not, he would himself move for leave to bring in a bill for that purpose.

The

The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that the com missioners had been applied to, to learn what fur her time they thought their labours would require, and a bill was in considerable forwardness, pursuant to the answer which they had given.

Mr. Calcraft said he was glad of it; but from the silence of ministers, he thought they wished to have got rid of the commission.

Notice was given, that a motion would be made on Monday se'night for postponing the consideration of the Saltash petition to the next session.

Mr. Bankes postponed, the committal of the reversion bill till Tuesday. The cause of the delay was, that the bill was not printed in time.

The Secretary at War presented an estimate of the additional expences for volunteers and their inspecting field officers for the year 1807. Ordered to lie on the table.

THE LATE LORD CHANCELLOR PONSONBY'S PENSION. Mr. Huskisson expressed his regret that the noble lord (Howick) who had taken a considerable share in the discussion respecting the late Chancellor of Ireland's pension, was not now in the House. He had received such information as satisfied him that the pension was in fact granted with such limitations as were usual in such cases, viz. that it should cease on his being elevated again to the Chancellorship (or any office of equal value with the pension). He would be the last man in the world to cast any imputation on the character of any man without full grounds, and least of all on the character of one who had held an office of such importance. He therefore lost not a moment in doing him and others justice in this transaction. He was satisfied, that though the clause of limitation was not in the warrant here, it was a mistake, for in the warFant issued by the Irish government it was inserted. It clearly appeared, that Mr. Ponsonby did not wish for an unlimited grant. He, however, had done no more than his duty in bringing forward this subject. There was no ground now for calling for the warrant, and therefore, he moved, that the order for its production should be discharged. This was agreed to.

Lord Howick came into the House soon after, and revived the subject. He understood that the honourable gentleman (Huskisson), had confessed that he had found on

inquiry,

JULY S.]

MISCELLANEOUS.

inquiry, that the grant was accompanied with the usual limitations, so that after all there was no irregularity. He (Lord H.) had been anxious to come at the particulars on this subject, and had made inquiries of Mr. Ponsonby, who was in town. Mr. Ponsonby, however, c uld not satisfy him, that the necessary regularity had been preserv ed, although, he understood, an unlimited grant had never been in his contemplation, and he wrote a letter to Lord Hawkesbury proposing, in case the irregularity had taken place, to surrender his pension in order to have it corrected. He hoped, therefore, that no unfavourable impres sion could now exist on this point, either with respect to Mr. Ponsonby or the late ministers. He would ak any one who was acquainted with the conduct of Mr. Ponsonby while in office, he would ask the gentlemen of the Irish bar, whether the duties had ever been performed with greater ability, zeal, and diligence? When he came to. the office there were notices depending for six years back; there were six hundred motions before the court, and four These he had hundred and seventy causes in arrear. brought down to two hundred, besides performing the current business, and if he had remained but a few months longer in office, there would not have been a single one in arrear. A more exemplary judge never occupied the situ ation. He hoped, therefore, that gentle nen would be more cautious before they came forward with their accusations, and that in cases where they must be almost convin ced that a mistake must have happened, they would take the trouble to make some inquiries before they came in this formal manner to the House.

Mr. Huskisson declared, that he had been anxious to come forward the first moment he could, to clear up this matter; and had done so before, as he had heard, that it was not probable the noble lord would have been in the House that night. The clause of limitation was not in the warrant here, and he thought it his duty to mention the subject.

Mr. Hobhouse brought up the report of the Irish customs bill. On the motion for the third reading,

Sir John Newport observed, that this bill only re-enacted the old duties, and the new were not included, owing to the dissolution of rari ment. This would create a deficit in the ways and means of about 20,007. He understood also, hat it was the intention of the right honourable gentleman VOL. 1.-1507.

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tleman (Foster) to abandon the bounties for the encouragement of large stills, which would occasion a further deficit. He therefore could not be answerable for the ways and means. But he would not oppose the bill.

Mr. Foster replied, that though the bill passed in its present state, it did not follow that there would be the deficiency mentioned. He meant afterwards to take such of the new duties as should appear proper. He did not mean to take off the bounties alluded to. The honourable baronet, it ought to be observed, had calculated the produce at 80,000l. for the year 1807. This proceeded on the supposition that the proceeds would commence from the 1st of January, whereas, in fact, they would not commence till September, and consequently ought only to have been taken at 20,0007. The bill was then ordered to be read a third time.

General Fitzpatrick moved for an account of the comparative recruiting in England, Scotland, and Ireland, for the last three years, and the numbers recruited. Agreed to.

General Fitzpatrick asked, whether it was the intention of the Secretary at War to bring forward the bill for enabling half-pay officers, officers' widows, &c. &c. to receive their pay and pensions at their own houses; which had been lost by the dissolution?

The Secretary at War said that he had always approved of the object of that bill, and that it was now in a state of great forwardness.

Mr. Whitbread observed, that in consequence of some rumours having gone abroad, that his motion respecting the state of the nation had been postponed, he thought it necessary to state, that it would certainly be brought forward on Monday.

NAVY, ARMY, AND ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.

The House resolved itself into a committee of supply. The Speaker having left the chair,

Mr. R. Ward stated, that the navy estimates were, with little variation, the same as the last estimates. He had nothing more to do, therefore, than to move the following

resolutions :

1st, That 190,000 seamen be allowed for the year 1807, including 3 400 roval marines."

24. That 8,426,5097. be granted for wages for the e scamen for thirteen months, at il. Iss. per man, per month.

3d, That 3,211,000l. be granted for victualling the men for thirteen months, at the rate of 17. 18s. per man, per month.

4th, That 5,070,000l. be granted for the wear and tear of the ships, at the rate of 37. per man, per month.

5th, That 422,5001. be granted for the sea service in

advance.

6th, That 1,135,4747. be granted for the half-pay of

the navy.

7th, That 2,194,9031. be granted for naval buildings and extra works.

Sth, That 1,500,000l. be granted for the hire of trans ports for the year 1807.

9th, That 300,0001, be granted for the sick and woundcd seamen.

10th, That 500,000l. be granted for the risoners of war at home and abroad.

These resolutions were put and agreed to.

The Secretary at War then rose and said, that he need not trouble the louse any further than moving the following resolutions:

1st, That 113,795 effective men be allowed for the land forces.

2d, That 4,051,623, be allowed for the pay of these troops.

3d, That 2,609,1437. be allowed for the troops in the plantations.

4th, That 125,2141. be allowed for the dragoons.

5th, That 277,2497. be allowed for the charge of recruiting and contingencies.

6th, That 190,5291. 17s. Gd, be granted for the staff officers.

7th, 2,493,6641. for the embodied militia.

Sth, 622,1537. for the militia contingencies.

9th, 157,2277. 16s. for the charges of clothing the militia.

10th, 34,4837. for the full pay of the supernumerary

eficers.

11th, 467,275. for the increased rates of subsistence. 12th, 86,0827. for the half-pay of the land forces. 13th, 55,9907. for allowances to reduced military offi

gers.

14th, 44,9007. for the half-pay of our American forces.

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15th,

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