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question from the diminished trouble, and less precarious, mode of receiving their money, ought to bate something.

Sir John Newport objected to the mode of raising the sum, because it was proposed to levy it on foreign traders, instead of on them and the British me: chants together, the latter having the greatest advantage from the abolition of the fees.

After some further observations from Mr. Foster and Sir John Newport, the proposal was agreed to. Report the next day.

Mr. Foster gave notice, that he would the next day move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the Irish im ports and exports.

He then moved, that the House should go into a committee the next day to consider the state of the sugar trade between Ireland and Great Britain.

Mr. Wynne stated, that petitioners against elections were bound to give notice of the securities to the recogniz ances for prosecuting the election petitions, to the sitting member, that he might examine them if he chose. It sometimes happened, however, that the sitting member could not be found. He wished it therefore to be considered, whether a notice to the Speaker might not in such cases be sufficient. He moved, that the resolution of the 11th of February 1789, should be read. This being done, he moved, that a committee be appointed to consider the said resolution, and report to the House. Ordered.

Mr. Cochrane Johnstone rose pursuant to notice, to move for certain papers relative to the clothing of the army, and army-agency. His object was to appoint a board for clothing and agency, and to abolish the incon gruous practice of making taylors of colonels. By this measure he would shew that a saving of 2 per cent. on twenty millions might be made to the public. le concluded by reading his motions.

The Secretary at War had no objection to granting the papers, but submitted to the honourable gentleman whether there was any necessity for calling for them at present, as the military commissioners and the different offices had the subject under consideration.

Mr. Rose had no material objection to the motions, but agreed with his right honourable friend that they were unnecessary. With regard to the clothing he had no doubt that it would be of great advantage to alter the system.

But

But with regard to any alteration in the system of agency, he had his doubts. There was no question that some saving might be made to the public, though not to the extent stated. But then the officers enjoyed conveniencesunder the present system which perhaps they would not enjoy if the agency was carried on by a public board. This, therefore, was to be a set-off against the economy. The subject, however, would be considered when the report of the commissioners came before the House.

Mr. Windham stated, that both these subjects had been under the consideration of the late government. With regard to the clothing he agreed with the right honourable gentleman who spoke last, By taking the clothing from the colonels and granting them compensation, things would be put on a more proper footing, and incongruities would be removed. With regard to the agency, the convenience of the officers was to be consulted, as well as economy. The matter. had been under consideration even so far back as the time when he was in the war-office. He thought it better to wait for the report of the commis

sioners.

Mr. Huskisson contended, that the saving would not be pearly so much as the honourable mover had stated, owing to the compensation that must necessarily be given to the colonels and other circumstances.

After a few words in reply from Mr. C. Johnstone, the motions were severally put and carried.

Mr. Windham adverted to the inconvenience that would result from going into the discussion of the noble secretary for the war department's military plan before the effects of the last system were clearly before the House. The two ought to be considered separately, and the army estimates ought to be also discussed on a different, instead of the same day. According to form, it was desirable that an inquiry should previously take place into the effects of the last system. The inconvenience might be remedied, if the opening of the plan of the noble lord should be postponed for a few days, when there would be a fuller House, and his noble friend (alluding perhaps to Lord Howick) world be enabled to attend.

The Secretary at War observed, that he was anxious to have the returns on the table, and only waited for the return of June from Ireland, which was expected the next day. He intended, however, to present the next day all the

returns

returns in his possession; when they might be printed, and in the hands of members on Friday.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer observed, that the right honourable gentleman was under a mistake with regard to the estimates, for the estimates on Friday were only those for the volunteers, and some extraordinaries for the

army.

Mr. Windham still maintained that it would have been better to have discussed the effects of the last system, as far as the facts went, previously, than to discuss both together.

: Mr. Sheridan gave notice, that it was his intention, at an early opportunity, to move for a revision of the powers used by magistrates in granting licences for public houses in Westminster. He would not at present name any particular day.

· Mr. Huskisson moved for an account of the distribution of the sum of two millions granted for unforeseen public exigencies by an act of the 46th of the king; and also for an account of the profits of the fourth lottery under the same act. Agreed to. The accounts were presented, and ordered to lie on the table.

He also moved for an estimate of the probable expendi fare of the commissary-generalship of Great Britain during a certain period. Ordered.

The House went into a committee on the king's message relative to a provision for the queen and princesses.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed the resolu tion, that his majesty be enabled to settle Frogmore, with some appendages, on the queen during her own life, and the lives of the princesses, her daughters," Agreed to. Report the next day.

Mr. Rose brought in a bill to repeal so much of the coffee, &c. &c. warehousing act, of last session, as regarded the duty on coffee, cocoa, &c. &c. exported from the warehouse. Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time the next day.

The Irish penalties bill was committed. Report the next day.

The Irish provision bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed the next day.

Mr. Hobhouse brought up the report of the committee of supply, &c. resolutions relative to the army extraordinaries. Agreed to.

He then brought up the report of the committee of ways and means. Resolutions agreed to, and bills ordered.

Mr. Hobhouse brought up the report of the committee to consider of granting an allowance of five shillings in the bushel on salt, the manufacture of Great Britain, used in bleaching, &c. &c. Resolution agreed to, and a bill ordered, with an instruction to those appointed to bring it in, to consider whether Glauber and Epsom salts are liable to the duty on excise.

The Windsor forest bill was committed.

Mr. G. Vansittart proposed a clause to give their expences to witnesses called under the bill, whose circumstances should require it. This proposition was supported by Mr. Charles Dundas, Mr. Hawkins Browne, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, and Mr. Montague.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer saw some difficulties that would attend this proposition, but agreed that the chairman should report progress, and ask leave to sit the next day, that the matter might be considered in the interval. Progress was accordingly reported, and leave obtained to sit the next day.

A message from the lords announced their assent to the American treaty bill, Sir John Stuart's annuity bill, and the Kilmainham hospital regulation bill.

FINANCE.

Lord IIenry Petty moved, pursuant to notice, that the House should resolve itself into a committee, to consider of the national debt redemption act. After what had already passed upon this subject; after what had been said by him in the late Parliament; after the debates which then took place, the substance of which might be fresh in the minds of many gentlemen, who are also members of the present Parliament; and after the positive enactment of the legis lature upon another branch of the same question, he should think it unnecessary for him to detain the House longer than by stating that, if the House agreed with him as to the propriety of going into a committee on the subject, he should then propose exactly the same resolutions as had in the last Parliament been read, approved, and acted on.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed the motion. He insisted that what the noble lord now called upon the House to do was unnecessary; that the House ought not at present to express any opinion, or come to any resolu

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tion on the subject. The ways and means had been already provided for; then why should an opinion be cx pressed now as to what it may be necessary to do at a future period? He asked the House if it would not be better to do so when the time arrived, that it should be found necessary to declare such an opinion, and to act upon it? He imagined that the noble lord proceeded throughout the whole upon a misconception of the act of 1792; that act certainly made a very great incursion on those principles which had been previously held sacred on the part of Parliament, towards the public creditor. But now the noble lord, in order to stop the growth of the sinking fund, says, that it shall have an appropriation of 5, instead of 1 per cent. That is in other words, that the noble lord means to accelerate the approach of the evil, in order that he may apply the remedy. The noble lord says, that he will pay off the debt in. 24, instead of in 27 years; but is it not probable that by that time there.may exist new debt to the full amount of that which he has so paid off? If 11 millions be borrowed annually for 20 years, according to the old system, the debt will then amount to 270 millions and a fraction; but if 11 millions are to be borrowed annually for 20 years, according to the system now proposed, the debt will then amount to 455millions. Supposing, however, that these calculations are wrong, there will then arise a question as to the present. expediency of the matter, whether it is fitting, that we should now do that which might as well be done in ten years time. On that ground he objected to the Speaker's leaving the chair, in order to prevent the noble lord. from having an opportunity of doing that which he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) conceived to be totally unneces sary. It was said that the system was proved to be defective; but, said the noble Lord, it is good pro tanto; "it does not provide for every contingency, but it answers for every purpose for which it was intended." This hei denied, as in the last year, it was found necessary to have a vote of credit for the sum of 11 millions. He therefore asked how the noble lord could call upon the House to cxpress its opinion upon a question, which was not warranted by any of the circumstances of the present times, and which was to be guided by other circumstances as they bercafter might arise? ́

Lord Henry Petty retorted on the learned gentleman

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