(the Chancellor of the Exchequer), and asked, how he could call upon the House to defer its opinion on a measure which was contingent on another which had been passed by the legislature, and received the pointed approbation of the king? All that was implied in the resolutions which he intended to propose was, that the House should express its determination that, if the boon should continue for the time proposed, then a benefit would be expected in return. He was not prepared to say, that it would be of very material import if these resolutions should be postponed until next session; but then the same arguments that are now urged might be advanced in favour of longer delay, and so on, until the House and the country felt the inconvenience of no legislative regulation having been agreed to sooner. The act of 1802 had been spoken of, but he would ask, did not the legislature then act for the advantage of the public creditor, without ridiculously waiting until the individuals that composed that body should petition the House to interfere in their behalf. The principle upon which the sinking fund was raised was, it was true, then broken in upon; but it was for the advantage of the public. An advantage to a greater extent would be reaped from the present system; it was by a regard to the interest of the public creditor, and a seasonable attention to his interest; it was by public security, and the facility of disposing of property in our funds, that an immense capital was drawn into the service of the public. It is said, that the proposer of these regulations only accelerates the disorder in order that he may apply the remedy; but is it not right that regulations should be adopted for general supply, so as to prevent any sudden emergency hereafter? Would any man wish to get rid of a plan for the better supplying of this metropolis with provisions merely because we did not want provisions at present? He did not say that exactly the same individuals would hold the stock at each time; but still a certain general good would be effected, It was certain that a proportion of stock, amounting to the value specified, would be paid off in a given period. It was said, however, that contingencies were not provided for, as it was seen that there was a vote of credit for three millions last year. The different items, however, of which that sum was composed, were expressly stated, and the Vol. I.-1807, S s House House was then satisfied with the statement. In fact, it never was asserted that the system which is now to be proposed, would cover every extraordinary contingency, suchas subsidies, arrears of subsidy, &c. But by the plan, as has been already stated, a certain sum will assuredly be paid off in a given time; and if ever there was a time when economy was to be looked to particularly, it is the present; not economy as to abuses, for in that they were all agreed, but economy as to the general management of the affairs of the public, and a serious consideration as to whatever would most tend to maintain the public credit. The country would, if these resolutions were adopted, be relievod from considerably increasing burthens for the present, and look forward with certain hose as to the future.· Mr. Huskisson observed, that it was not probable that we should have any subsidies next year, and the burthen of the loyalty loan we would be relieved from; yet there was a claim of the East India company's unsettled; and it was impossible to say to what extent the contingent expences of the year might amount; next year we might be in the same situation as to our public expences, and in general, that was a point which was so indeterminable in war time, that he thought it to be impossible to apply any general remedy for such emergencies. Mr. Dent expressed his opinion, that so long as we were able to raise taxes sufficient to pay the interest for our loans, there was no necessity for the plan of the noble lord. Mr. H. Addington defended the conduct of his noble relation (Lord Sidinouth). There were some gentlemen who, if they disapproved of his conduct at the time that was alluded to, disapproved of it sub silentio. He thought it really somewhat extraordinary that some gentlemen should approve of what was shit to give a breathing time to taxation; and yet not approve of the resolutions that were to be moved in support of that system. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said a few words in explanation. Mr. Long observed that be was averse to the course of proceeding which was adopted in 1802; but that, in deference to the opinion of a great fi andier (Mr. Pitt), who was now no more, he had given up his opinion upon that subject. He now, however, disapproved more strongly of what was the subject of the present debate, as it was a sort of of regulation that left every thing to chance. He, therefore, opposed the motion. Mr. Davis Giddy saw no necessity for pressing the business prematurely on the House. Mr. Vansitart agreed that there was no necessity for the measure; yet, as there had been already many plans on the subject before the House, as every person seemed to agree that the original sinking fund could not be carri ed on to a conclusion with effect; and as no time seemed better for this purpose than one in which a great boun'y had been conferred on the stockholders, while on the other hand the resolutions were not imperative on the House, he saw no reason why the measure should not be at once agreed After a few words from Mr. Rose, who conceived that while the old plan of finance went to increase the sinking fund, and, to decrease the debt, that now proposed went to decrease the sinking fund, and to increase the debt, The question was put for the Speaker's leaving the chair, which was negatived without a division. A new writ was ordered to be issued for Dundalk, in the county of Louth, in the room of Mr. J. Dupré Porcher, who having been also returned for Old Sarum, had made his election for the latter place. Mr. Jebb's bill, and Sir C. Davis's estate bill, were read a second time and ordered to be committed. The common recoveries bill went through a committee, was reported, and ordered to be read a third time the next day. The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the House adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 15. Mr. Hobhouse, and several other members of the House of Commons, brought up the copyholders bill, returned agreed to, and a great number of private bills, which were read a first time. The American indemnity bill, after a few observations from the Earl of Suffolk, was read a third time and passed. The The 3,000,000l. and 1,500,000l. exchequer bills' bills, passed through committees, and were reported. A great number of private bills on the table were forwarded in their respective stages, after which the House adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 15.. The Speaker stated that he had received a letter from Viscount Mahon, mentioning his having been elected for the borough of Kingston-on-Hull, and for Wendover in Buckinghamshire, and that he had made his election for the former place. A new writ was therefore ordered to be issued for Wendover. The Carlisle assize bill went through a committee, and was ordered to be reported. As was also Mr. Jebb's exchange bill. In a committee on the navigation acts, it was resolved that leave be applied for to bring in a bill to permit the import of stores into this country from every state at amity with his majesty. Ordered to be reported the next day. The coffee warehousing bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed for Monday. In bringing up the report of the committee appointed to take into consideration the state of the pauper Tunatics in England and Wales, Mr. C. W. Wynne stated that he had received numberless communications on the subject from gentlemen interested in Ireland and Scotland. His reason for not proposing to comprehend either of these parts of the kingdom in his measure was, that from the difference of many regulations, and particularly from the difference of the poor laws, he thought it reasonable to suppose, if such a proposition were to be introduced, that it would originate with more propriety on the part of some other gentleman better acquainted with those parts of the empire to which he had alluded. He now, therefore, only moved, that the report do lie on the table. Mr. Huskisson brought up the Sierra Leone transfer bill, and the bill for granting to his Majesty a certain sum to be raised by way of lottery: both of which were read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday, Mr. Mr. Hobhouse brought up the report of the committe of the whole House on his majesty's message relative to Frogmore House, which was agreed to after a few words from Mr. Adam, who expressed the cordial concurrence of the Prince of Wales in the measure; and a bill was order ed to be brought in accordingly. Colonel Barry gave notice, that he should on Wednesday se'nnight move for leave to bring in a bill repealing the election laws in Ireland, and consolidating the whole into one. A new writ was ordered to be issued for Rye, in Sussex, in the room of Sir John Nicholls, who having been also elected for Bedwin, in Wilts, had made his election for the latter place. A new writ was also ordered for Rye, in the room of Earl Clancarty, who since his election had accepted the office of one of the joint paymasters general of Ireland. The report of the committee on the Irish infirmaries was received, and a bill ordered to be brought in accordingly. The compassionate list bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. Sir. T. Turton gave notice that he should the next day move for a return of the effective strength of the volunteer force. L The Secretary at War presented certain accounts of the actual strength of the army, and the number of men raised for regular service for 1805, 6, and 7, which were on dered to be printed. The House then resolved into a committee of supply, when it was ordered, on the motion of Mr. Huskisson, that a sum not exceeding 506,3001. be granted for the service of the barrack department for the year 1806: That the sum of 841,6007, be granted for the extraordi naries of the commissary department, for the year 1806. On the motion of Mr. Foster it was ordered, that the sum of 10,000l. be granted for paving and lighting the streets of Dublin: That the sum of 10,3061, be granted for making up the loss of the second Swedish convoy: That the sum of 3,4081. be granted for the expence of election petitions in Ireland for the last election. MAYNOOTH |