fore the House, the other part of the message was specifically stated, and with respect to that he should immediately present papers to the House.

The Earl of Lauderdale still contended that something more specific ought to be stated, with respect to the address intended to be moved, and that the account of the subsidy granted to the king of Sweden, might have been mentioned in the message.

His majesty's most gracious message was ordered to be taken into consideration the next day.

Lord Hawkesbury then presented, by his majesty's command, a copy of the treaty of peace with Prussia, dated in February, 1807, and several other papers, respecting our relations with that power.

Lord Hawkesbury presented another message from his majesty, calling upon the House to concur in such measures, as might enable his majesty to meet such exigencies of affairs as might occur.

This lordship moved that this message should also be taken into consideration the next day.

Lord Holland observed upon the general terms of the

message.

Lord Hawkesbury stated, that it was a usual message in every session of Parliament.

This message was also ordered to be taken into consideration the next day.

The Irish insurrection bill was read a first time, on the motion of Lord Hawkesbury, who also moved that it should be read a second time the next day, and be printed.

The Earl of Lauderdale observed that it was not the practice of the House to move the second reading of a bill ordered to be printed, until prints were on the table.

Lord Hawkesbury then said, that he should move the second reading the next day, if the prints were then on the table.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY, JULY 28.

The Dublin city improvement bill as read a third time and passed.

The bill for paving the parish of St. Michael, Lime

rick,

484

THE PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER.

rick, was read a second time and committed to a select [COM. committee.

Mr. Alderman Shaw offered a petition from William Spurrier, who had been ordered to attend the House, to answer as to the detention of the Poole writ. The petition went to excuse the conduct of the petitioner, who prayed the indulgence of the House...

The Speaker suggested, that it was informal to receive a petition from an individual ordered to attend in his person. The individual would have an opportunity to offer his excuse in the course of his examination at the bar.

It was ordered that there be laid before the House an account of the vacancies existing in the captains' and subalterns' commissions in the militia regiments, specifying each regiment.

The Irish fishery bill, and the Irish annuity bill, were read a third time, and passed

The House in a committee on the acts relating to the duties on silk, passed, on the motion of Mr. Rose, a resolution for the better regulation of the duties on all printed and stained silks, except handkerchiefs. The report to be received the next day.

The coffee warehousing bill went through a committee. The report to be received the next day.

Mr. Rose brought in a bill for allowing the importation of certain articles into the West India colonies, in American bottoms. Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time the next day.

Mr. Johnstone moved the third reading of the Phoenix fire office bill, and offered some arguments to remove the objections, which, he understood, were to be made to it by the Attorney General, who objected to the bill, on the ground that it went to give to the company many rights and privileges of a corporation, without the care usually taken in constituting corporations. The motion for reading the bill a third time that day was negatived, and the bill ordered to be read a third time that day three months.

Mr. Huskisson brought in a bill to authorize the opening of the letters contained in the two Hamburgh mails that could not be forwarded. The bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time the next day.

The Secretary at War presented an account of the expences of the royal military canal.

The

The military inquiry bill went through a committee; the report was received, and the bill ordered to be read a third time the next day.

Mr. Secretary Canning presented at the bar a copy of the treaty of amity entered into between his majesty and the king of Prussia. The right honourable secretary, when the title of the paper had been read by the clerk, stated that this treaty had been framed at Memel on the 28th of March; but the ratification of the king of Prussia had not arrived for many months after, and the events that had since occurred had entirely suppressed the provisions agreed upon.

MESSAGE FROM THE KING.

The Honourable Secretary then presented a message from his majesty, of which the following is the substance: "GEORGE R.

"His majesty thinks it proper to acquaint the House of Commons, that he has entered into certain subsidiary engagements with the king of Sweden, which he will order to be laid before the House as soon as a copy of the treaty can be made out and also that his majesty's minister to the king of Prússia had, in consequence of a power vested in him, made advances to the amount of 100,000l. in the service of that sovereign; and that supplies of arms and military stores have also been furnished to his Prussian majesty, to an amount not exceeding 200,000. His majesty recommends to his faithful Commons to make good the expences thus incurred."

Mr. Secretary Canning conceived, that in moving that his majesty's most gracious message be referred to the committee of supply, it would not be necessary to go into any explanation. As to the communication which was mentioned as intended to be made, he had to say, that an arrangement had in part been entered into with Prussia; and in the event of the treaty with that power having been carried ito effect, the advances that had been made would have been deducted out of the instalments of subsidy which should have become due in the course of the campaign. The events that had happened had rendered this intention. fruitless, and as the treaty was not likely to take effect, the 100,000l. advanced, and the 200,0007. the cost of arms, remained to be provided for by a vote of the committee of supply.

A conversation

A conversation ensued, in which Mr: Whitbread said, he understood, in the conversation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a former night, that though the treaty with Prussia was contingent, and the contingency had not taken place, the treaty with Sweden was positive.

Mr. Secretary Canning said (with a reservation of the particulars till he should be ordered to lay the treaty before the House) that the treaty with Sweden was on the basis of the former treaty with his Swedish majesty, but providing for an augmentation of the Swedish force in Pomerania from fourteen thousand to eighteen thousand men. It was not necessary for him to say how far this treaty was to be considered as in force now. Undoubtedly, if the Prussian treaty had been in force, its provisions would be of a much larger nature than those of the treaty with Sweden. But the treaty with Prussia had been put an end to at the same time, and by the same events, as the continental war. The engagements with Sweden had been entered into three weeks ago.

The message was referred to the committee of supply. The following message was then brought down by the Chancellor of the Exchequer :

"GEORGE R.

"His majesty relying upon the uniform loyalty and zeal of his faithful Commons, and thinking it of the utmost importance in the present arduous crisis to be prepared for such emergencies as may arise, recommends it to his faithful Commons, to make such provisions as may enable his majesty to counteract the designs of the enemy, and to take such masures as the exigencies of affairs may require."

This message was also referred to the committee of supply.

On the motion of Mr. Adam, a new writ was ordered for the country of Kinross, in the room of Mr. Adam, who, having been elected for Kincardineshire also, had made his election to serve for the latter.

POOLE WRIT.

On the motion of Mr. Jeffrey, the House went into the further consideration of the complaint of the delay in the delivery of the Poole writ.

Mr. Jonathan Brundrett was called in, and on examination stated, that he received the writ on the morning of

the

the 30th of April, and delivered it to Mr. Jaines Weston, at two o'clock on the same day, in Fenchurch-street, in the presence of an old gentleman, who, he afterwards found, was Mr. William Spurrier. He recognized Mr. Spurrier when he went to Poole to ascertain the delivery of the writ. He arrived in Poole on Monday the 18th of May, and saw Mr. Spurrier, who told him the writ had been delivered. He was satisfied on hearing that it was delivered, relying on Mr. Spurrier's veracity.

Mr. William Spurrier was then called in, and on examination stated, that he had received the writ on 30th April last. He delivered the writ on the 17th of May, when he was satisfied the sheriff received it. His ignorance was the sole cause of his holding over the writ so long. No person at Poole knew of his having the writ. The sheriff of Poole is his relation, his wife's brother. He knew of no inquiry after the writ till the Saturday before he delivered it. He never knew that the writ was cried at Poole. He knew of a person who was not of age at the time he received the writ, and who was of age at the time when he delivered it. This person could not have voted if he had delivered the writ immediately. This person was no relation of his, neither were any of the candidates. He thought that person would have voted for Mr. Garland, but he voted for Sir Richard Bickerton. He was in London, and took the writ to take care of it, knowing it would be in safe hands. He did not deliver it, because, like a bill of exchange drawn at forty days sight, he did not think it right to deliver it till the period when it should be obligatory to make the return. He paid thirty guineas for the writ: it was what he was asked to pay; he was not repaid, nor did he expect to be. He knew from the beginning, that he was to pay money for the writ, but he did no: know how much. He was prepared to pay what should be asked of him. On a question from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he admit.ed that he had heard there were to have been other candidates, besides those who stood. On being questioned who, he answered Sir Home Popham. His (Mr. Spurrier's) son also was expected to have been a candidate. He admitted that he knew of a person who arrived with the most urgent expedition from Ireland, and voted for Mr. Garland. On a question from Mr. Jones, he admitted that his principal reason for getting possession of the writ was, that