behind infinitely more important in the eyes of the catholics; and that what the noble baron had recommended, would, if acceded to, be productive of no permanent advantage, whatever effect it might have in raising the expectations, and adding to the power of those whose advocates had never been able to state a limit to their demands, and whom there was no hope of satisfying but by the complete sacrifice of our establishment in church and state. Lord Buckinghamshire concluded by expressing his concern, that the noble baron should have signified an intention of withdrawing from Parliament if their lord. ships should adhere to their former resolutions upon the catholic question. He trusted the noble baron would not retire from the service of his country at a time when abilities like his could not be dispensed with; it was a time when every man ought to be at his post, and he considered that of the noble lord to be his place in the House of Peers.

Lord Grenville in explanation declared the conviction of his mind, that without catholic emancipation no other measure could save the country.

The Earl of Westmoreland argued at considerable length in support of the motion. With respect to the other topics that had been introduced into the debate, as connected with the question which was immediately before their lordships, he observed that when he was lord lieutenant of Ireland, if concessions were made to the Roman catholics of that country, those concessions were authorised by the king and by the ministers of this country. As to the other principal point that had been urged in debate, the dissolution, Parliament had already come to a decision on that head. He should, therefore, leave these questions to their lordships' consideration without any observation on his part.

Lord Holland briefly explained, and acquainted their lordships that he purposed submitting in some future stage of the bill some alteration in the preamble.

The question was then put and carried in the affirmative. The bill was ordered to be committed the next day. The American trade bill was ordered to be read a third time; and it was ordered that their lordships be summoned.

Adjourned.

HOUSE

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, JULY 13.

New writs were ordered for Dorchester, Grantham, Youghal and St. Mawes, vacated by the honourable C. Ashley, having accepted the clerkship of the ordnance, by Lord Boyle, called to the upper House, and Colonel Shipley, who had made his election for the borough of Flint.

Colonel Foster gave notice that he would the next day move for a committee of the whole House to consider of the propriety of empowering the lord lieutenant of Ireland to grant money towards the erection of infirmaries in certain counties thereof.

On the motion of Mr. Strutt a select committee was appointed to consider further of the standing order relating to turnpike roads.

ARMY AGENTS' ACCOUNTS.

Mr. Cochrane Johnstone rose to give notice, that he would the next day move that the following accounts be laid before the House:

1st. An account of all sums of money issued to the army agents from the 25th of December 1805, to the 24th of December 1806; specifying the names of those agents, the number of regiments of the line, militia, and fencibles, for which they are employed; and the amount of the securities given by them for the faithful discharge of the trust reposed in them.

2d. An account of all sums of money issued to each and to every of the army agents, by way of compensation for his trouble in the affairs of the different regiments of which he has the management, and for any other public expences, from the 25th of December, 1805, to the 24th of December, 1806, specifying the several heads of service for which the compensation is granted.

3d. An account of all sums of money advanced monthly to the army agents for subsistence, &c.; for what period these payments were made in advance, and the names of the agents.

4th. An account of the expence for agency attending the 26 articles of the abstract of the army estimates for this year, presented to this House on the 14th of January, the names of the agents entitled to receive the same, and the amount paid to each agent. VOL. I.-1807.

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5th. A statement of the mode of issuing the funds applicable to the volunteer service through the office of the agent general; with an account of the expence of that establishment from the 1st of June, 1805, to the 1st of January, 1805, specifying the different heads under which the same has been issued.

6th. Statement of the sums expended in Great Britain for the volunteer service, between the 1st day of June, 1803, and the 1st day of January, 1805, specifying par ticularly how much has been applied to the following heads, viz. attendance at drill, inspection, permanent duty, also of drill serjeants, adjutants, serjeant-majors, inspecting field oflicers, brigadier-generals, majors of brigade, aides de camp, &c. and cloathing.

7th. An account of all sums of money to which the regiments of the line are entitled for clothing, from the 25th of December, 1804, to the 24th of December, 1805, specifying the number of regiments.

8th. A return of the number of effective non-commissioned officers and privates, on the strength of the regi ments of the line, from the 25th of December, 1804, to the 24th of December, 1805.

9th. A return of the number of effective officers of each rank on the strength of the regiments of the line, from the 25th of December, 1801, to the 24th of December, 1805.

A bill for promoting and encouraging industry among the labouring classes of the poor, was brought in by Mr. Whitbread, and on motion read a first time; and on the question that it be read a second time,

STATE OF THE NATION.

Mr. Whitbread rose and said, that he was sorry that owing to circumstances of a pressing nature, it would not he in his power to fix upon a shorter day for the second reading than Monday. The interference of the quarter sessions would oblige him, as well as many other country members, to attend their respective duties at the assizes, it would not therefore be practicable for him to be present in that House on Friday or Saturday. And now he was on his legs, he could not help asking the right honourable gentleman whom he saw in his place, if it was the intention of his majesty's ministers to submit any proposition to that House relative to the present alarming crisis, so big with the distresses of the world and the destinies of Eng

land.

Land. At such a period it was not surprising that every man should be anxious to know what measures his majesty's government were likely to resort to, to secure the safety and independence of the empire.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that it was certainly the intention of his majesty's present ministers to submit such a proposition to the House, and that he had meant as soon as the honourable gentleman who had just spoken, had sat down, to give notice on the part of the noble secretary for the war and colonies, that his'noble friend would, on Friday next, call the consideration of the House to the propriety of such measures as his majesty's ministers had thought it fit to propose. He hoped, however, that nothing which had fallen from his honourable friend, (if he would permit him to call him so) would incline the House to think that day not convenient, particularly as his noble friend's plan could not be carried into effect without a bill, and that mode of proceeding would not confine the discussion on the fitness of that plan to a single day or a single debate; if, however, it should appear desirable that the discussion should not be entered into on that day, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was willing that it should be merely proposed on that day, and the debate on it adjourned over to Monday, or some early day in the next week. To this arrangement he could not see any reasons to object, as there would be in the first instance but a general exposition, upon which gentlemen would have sufficient opportunity to judge, and to make up their minds. In proposing Friday he had considered himself as acting with the consent of the noble lord opposite (Howick), as he had taken an opportunity of stating it to the noble lord, and it had appeared to him (Mr. Perceval) that the noble lord thought Friday a more convenient day than Monday. He, however, was willing to accede to the arrangement that the general exposition only should take place on Friday next, and the discussion arising thereupon on the following Monday.

Mr. Whitbread said, that though he certainly felt it extremely desirable to be present at all stages of a question of such vital importance, yet he should have no objection that the general exposition should take place on Friday, (though he could not upon that day be present) but hoped that the right honourable gentleman would have no objection to postpone the subsequent discussion till the fol

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lowing Wednesday, which would be to him a matter of great personal convenience, and would be a delay of three days only.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer thanked the honourable member for the accommodating manner in which he had acquiesced in the arrangements, and proposed that the statement of his noble friend's plan (Castlereagh) should be made on Friday next, and the discussion of it adjourned over to the following Wednesday.

Mr. Whitbread expressed himself satisfied.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer again rose, to express a hope that, in consequence of the arrangement which had been just agreed to, his right honourable friend the Secre-tary at War would postpone his motion relative to the army estimates which stood for this day, from to-day to Friday next.

The Secretary at War said, that he was certainly at that time prepared to submit to the House, the motion of which he had given notice; but upon the suggestion of his right honourable friend, and the great importance of the matter with respect to which the arrangement had been made, he should have no objection to defer the moving of the army estimates to Friday.

Lord Howick entirely acquiesced in the arrangement that had been made, and could not help expressing him self personally obliged to the right honourable gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) for consulting him upon it, as far as it related to the convenience of his attendance; as, however, the army estimates were also deferred to Friday, and (as it appeared) in consequence of the postponement of the noble Secretary's plan, it was, he presumed, fair for the House to infer that that plan would relate to the defence of the country. He would wish to know from the right honourable Secretary, whether any engagements had been entered into with any of the continental powers, and if so, whether there would be soon any communication made to the House upon that subject? In putting such questions to the right honourable gentleman, it was not his intention, to ask any thing that might call upon that gentleman to disclose what it might be, as yet, more prudent to conceal: so far from it, that if the right honourable gentleman thought such questions went so far, he would exercise a sound discretion in withholding any answer to them.

Mr.