which he had just uttered, and which he hoped and trusted would have a due impression in Ireland.

General Loftus concurred in this congratulation.

Lord Howick deprecated the idea, that any objection offered by himself and his friends to the details of this measure, proceeded from a disposition to oppose the prin ciple of the measure itself. On the contrary, he was anxious to support the bill, with regard to the necessity for which no change whatever had taken place in his sentiments since his retirement from office. But as to the bill itself, he declared that although a draft of it had been sent to him from Ireland, just previous to the change of administration, he never read it, until lately introduced by the right honourable baronet,

After a few words from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the committee divided:

For the original clause
Against it

68

21

The House resumed, and the report was ordered to be brought up the next day.

Sir A. Welle ley gave notice of motions for the next day, for leave to bring in two bills respecting the Irish militia, of the same nature as those brought in by Lord Castlereagh with regard to the militia of this county. Adjourned at four o'clock in the morning.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY, JULY 27.

Mr. Hobhouse, and several other members of the House of Commons, brought up the vote of credit bill, the annual indemaity bill, his majesty's property bill, and several private bills; which were read a first time.

The Irish exports and imports bill was read a second time, and committed for the next day.

The four militia bills, the Irish spirits bill, the Irish dtis bill, and the compassionate list bill, passed through committees and were reported.

Earl Fitzwilliam moved for several returns relative to the army; which were ordered.

AMERICA.

Lord Holland requested to be informed whether it was

the

the intention of his majesty's ministers to make any communication to Parliament respecting a subject which had caused much anxiety in his mind; he meant the reported commencement of hostilities between this country and the United States of America. If such à calamity must take place, he trusted that the fullest information would be faid before Parliament, in order that they might be enabled to ascertain the causes which had led to it. He did not mean to impute to his majesty's ministers that they would wantonly cause the occurrence of such a calamity to both countries, but in consequence of the reports in circulation he felt it his duty to mention the subject. He hoped these reports were unfounded, but if not, he trusted that the most ample information would be communicated to Parliament.

Lord Hawkesbury was not authorised or enabled to make any communication at present relative to the subject alluded to by the noble lord. He admitted that in case hostilities did take place between this country and the United States of America, an event which would be deplored by his majesty's ministers, equally with the noble ford, the fullest information relative to such a subject ought to be laid before Parliament. He could not, however, at present make any communication, and the noble lord must be aware that a premature discussion might be productive of very injurions effects.

Lord Holland said it was not his wish to urge the noble Secretary of State to a premature discussion, he merely meant that, upon a subject of such great importance, Parliament should not be allowed to separate without some communication being made.

The Earl of Lauderdale wished the second reading of the offices in reversion bill to be postponed to Monday next; the paper which he had moved for respecting office in reversion granted in courts of law and equity, not having been yet laid before the House.

The Lord Chancellor made some observations upon the wording of the bill, by which in excepting offices in reversion, granted by any chief judge of any court of law or equity, they had excepted the Chancellor of the Exche quer, who was the chief judge of that court. The second reading was ordered for Monday next.

Lord Erskine made a few observations in favour of the traders' assets bill, the object of which was, he conceived,

merely

merely to render the estates of traders dying, subject to the same liability as they would have been, if they had lived, under the bankrupt laws.

Lord Redesdale thought the bill would tend to create great difficulties in making a title to the real estates of those who would be subject to the operation of the act.

Lord Holland defended the bill, and thought the diffi culties mentioned by the noble and learned lord might ea sily be obviated.

The Lord Chancellor wished the bill to go to a committee, in which, perhaps, amendments might be made, which would obviate the objections to it. He thought that purchasers of estates, subject to its operation, might be rendered secure.

The Duke of Norfolk mentioned instances of copy hold estates, and estates held under peculiar customs, which did not come within the operation of the bill. He was inclined, however, to support the bill.

After some further observations from Lord Erskine the bill was read a second time, and committed for Monday. The Duke of Norfolk restated his former objections to the parish apprentices' bill, and thought it of that nature that it should stand over to another session.

The Lord Chancellor concurred with the noble duke, conceiving it to be a subject which required more atten tion than could be given to it in the present session. Some regulation, he thought, was particularly necessary with respect to parish apprentices in manufactories.

Lord Holland also concurred in the objections to the bill.

The bill, on the motion of the Lord Chancellor, was ordered to be read a second time that day three months. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, JULY 27.

Mr. Grattan brought up the report of the city of Dublin improvement bill, which was agreed to, and the bill or

dered to be read a third time.

The report of the East London water-works bill was taken into further consideration,, the amendments were agreed to, and the bill ordered to be engrossed.

The Dover harbour bill, after some slight opposition

from

from sir William Curtis, as to time, was read a third time and passed.

The city of Dublin paving bill was read a second time; the committee was appointed to sit forthwith, and it was ordered that they should make their report on or before Wednesday next. The Galway gaol bill passed through the same stage, and a similar order was made with respect to its report. The Dover pilot bill passed through the same stage, and the report was ordered to be made on or before Wednesday next.

The philanthropic annuity and the East India bonds bills were reported and ordered to be read a third time.

The grand Surrey canal bill, the East India settlements regulation bill, his majesty's property bill, the Isle of Dogs canal bill, and the qualification indemnity bill, the malt and excise regulation bills, were severally read a third time and passed.

Mr. Stavely, from the post-office, presented at the bar several accounts of the am unt of postage received at that office, at various periods from the 5th of April, 1803, to the 1st of January 1897. Ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. C. Grant presented a petition from the parish of St. Andrew Holborn, against the poor relief bill.

The Curaçon free port bill, the Irish fishery encourge ment, and the German linen bills, were reported and ordered to be read a third time the next day..

Mr. Whitbread, anxious that nothing which was brought forward by him should impede the important business which was before the House that night, with leave of the House moved to postpone the further consideration of his bill for the establishment of parochial schools to Thursday next. Ordered.

On the motion of Mr. G. Rose, the House resolved into a committee to consider of the importation and exportation of certain articles of merchandise to and from the British colonies in North America and the United States. A resoIntion was passed declaratory of the expediency of such a measure; the House resumed, and a bill was ordered pursuant to the said resolution.

On the motion for the third reading of the London port improvement bill, a conversation of some length took place between Mr. W. Smith, who complained of several abuses that existed in the management of the affairs of the West India dock company, in support of which allegation be VOL. I.-1807.

3 L

read

read nearly sixty respectable names, and Mr. Hibbert, who defended the conduct of the directors of that company, and in their name challenged an inquiry as soon as it could be found practicable to bring it before the House. Aldermen Shaw and Combe said each a few words; the bill was then read a third time and passed.

Mr. Huskisson moved for leave to bring in a bill for more effectually regulating the delivery of public accounts, and charging public accountants who retained sums of money in their hands, with interest thereon.

Lord H. Petty gave the measure his most hearty support; it was one, which was in contemplation of his majesty's late ministers, and was recommended by the commissioners for auditing the public accounts. Leave granted.

General Tarleton presented a petition from upwards of one thousand merchants and inhabitants of Liverpool, praying that the East India bonds bill may not pass into a law. Ordered to be laid on the table.

Mr. Foster obtained leave to bring in a bill to authorise the exportation of calico to Malta, upon the same terms as it is at present exported to Gibraltar, &c.

The committee on the Swedish herring bill was postponed till Wednesday next.

The military inquiry board continuation bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed the next day,

The Secretary at War, with leave of the House, postponed his notice relative to additional supplies for the army, to Wednesday next, to which day the committee of supply was deferred.

Sir John Newport observed, that the House had, on the 6th of this month, indulged him with an order, that the office returns relative to the state of the established church in Ireland should be laid before them. They had not yet been presented, and he wished to know the cause of this delay.

Sir A. Wellesley assured the right honourable baronet, that they were not yet completely in the hands of govern

ment.

HAMBURGH MAILS RETURNED.

Mr. Huskissen, after adverting to the efforts employed by the enemy to prevent the passage of letters written in the English language, on the continent, stated, that the mails which had been made up for Hamburgh, in the end

of