suspension limited to four or six weeks after the commencement of the next session, he should not oppose it. But if the noble lord did so, it was to be hoped that he was prepared with some regulation to offer to the House, at the very opening of the next session. For his part, although he was resolved to give the matter every attention in his power, he could not be ready with any regulation so soon, nor did he think it possible that any bill on the subject could pass so soon as the noble lord proposed. Lord Milton stated that he had not expected that any bill could pass so soon. His object in proposing the limited period was to call the attention of Parliament to the subject carly in the next session. He mentioned that the blanks had been filled up with the 25th of March" in the last Parliament, and nothing had been done upon it. His desire was to have this matter settled as soon as possible. Mr. Wilberforce observed, that they had only one common object in view. He was as anxious to have the business settled as any one could be, but in an affair of this great importance, he thought that the suspension ought to be continued to the end of the next session, that all ap pearance of precipitancy and want of consideration might be avoided. The committee in the last Parliament had been nearly prepared with their report, when they were stopped by the dissolution. The matter would no doubt be settled next session; but the very magnitude of the thing required that they should appear to act with the maturest deliberation, and not as if they were pressed for time. He hoped, therefore, that the noble lord would not persist in his resolution. After a few words from Mr. Sturges Bourne, and some explanatory observations from Lord Milton, it was agreed that the blanks should be filled up according to the proposition of Mr. Rose, with "the end of the next session of Parliament." Report the next day. Daa Mr. Huskisson presented an account of the sums issued on account of the Toulon prizes, and the balance remaining. Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Calcraft moved, 1st. for an account of the numbers wanted to complete the regular army, distinguishing the cavalry and foreign troops. 2d. An account of the num ber of armed yeomanry in Ireland, the number of the corps and their effective strength. 3d. An account of the number 508 number of sea fencibles in Ireland, the number, of corps and strength of each. 4th. An account of the number of sea fencibles in Great Britain, the corps and strength, All *.ordered. A message from the Lords announced their assent to the militia pay subalterns' and adjutants' bill, the Irish militia pay bill, the Irish sugar bill, the balf pay officers' bill, the naval stores bill, the Irish distillery and stamp duty bills, with several others. Mr. Huskisson presented certain papers by order of the House, respecting the state of the established church in Ireland. ཧོཝཱ ཝཱ Sir John Newport observed, that every exertion had been made by the late administration to obtain accurate information of the state of the established church in Ireland, which it was known required some regulations. But the first step towards an effectual remedy, was to be in possession of the exact nature and extent of the evil. It was with that view, that he had moved for these returns, and though they were voluminous, yet he had no doubt the House would agree to have them printed. He therefore moved, that they should be printed. Ordered. Mr. Huskisson moved for an account of the sum wanted to complete the three millions and upwards, voted as the surplus of the consolided fund for the year 1807; also for an estimate of the money required for the buildings about Westminster hall. Ordered. Mr. Barham gave notice, that he would on Friday move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the delivery of clection writs. The Secretary at War moved, that there be laid before the House, an account of the desertions of the various recruiting districts in the years 1805-6-7. Ordered. Mr. Rose moved the second reading of the American colonial commerce bill. Read a second time and ordered to be committed the next day. SIERRA LEONE. On the motion for the third reading of the Sierra Leone bill, Mr. Dent rose and observed, that the grants made by Parliament to the company had been claimed for the pur pose of introducing civilization into Africa. The com pany, however, had failed in their projects. The suns granted granted them amounted in all to about 109,000. This sum, as they had not executed the purpose for which it was granted, ought now to be refunded, for he did not think that Parliament should be made to pay for the fanci ful notions of any set of men. Mr. Wilberforce contended that the sum which had been granted to the company was less than the country must have paid in any other situation for the maintenance of the Maroons and Nova Scotians which had been forced on the company, and which government was bound to maintain. The reason of the failure of the company in its principal objects was the continuance of the slave trade, which they had on the best ground calculated would have been abolished many years ago. Still, however, in the end, he trusted this colony would produce the happiest effects in the civilization of mankind. Like all other colonies, it had great difliculties to encounter in its outset ; but he trusted it had taken deep root, and would be the means of civilizing a considerable portion of Africa. These higher objects ought not to be lost sight of. Those who thought most highly of the West India colonies ought to be the best friends of this settlement, for they must be convinced that this country owed a great debt to Africa. Mr. Edon allowed that the object of the company had in a great measure failed; but the question was, what was the cheapest mode of maintaining the Nova Scotians and Maroons, which must be a charge on government. It would be cheaper to maintain them where they were than to remove them to any other place. He rested his assent to the bill on that ground, for he did not expect much from the project of civilization. Mr. Huskisson contended that when the company had done all in their power, there could be no ground for calling upon them to return the sums that had been granted them. But, at all events, this bill furnished the best mode of proceeding in the present instance. Mr. Fuller observed, that the sums had been granted solely with a view to conciliate persons of a certain description in that House. He hoped the committee of finance would think it their duty to consider this matter. Mr. Sheridan said, that unless the company had taken the Nova Scotians and Maroons, the country must have paid 26,000. annually for their maintenance. If, there fore, fore, the money received by the company was to be refunded, they would be entitled to come with their bill for the maintenance of these people. Lord Henry Petty had some time ago stated, that the best way would be for the government to take the settlement into its own hands. The Maroons bad certainly a peculiar claim on the country, both on account of the hard manner in which they had been first dealt with, in being sent out of Jamaica, and also on account of their subsequent excellent conduct. The best mode of maintaining them would be to keep them where they were.. Mr. H. Thornton did not conceive that the company had entirely failed in its object. Certainly it had not succeeded in extending civilization as speedily as it expected; and whatever views of profit it might have, they had been frustrated. But that was owing to the continuance of the slave trade and the war, when the company had calculated upon peace and the abolition of the slave trade. Still the company had so far succeeded that it had established a colony on the coast of Africa, speaking the EngJish language, and from which civilization might in time be extended to a considerable portion of Africa. It had also not only maintained the Maroons and Nova Scotiaus, but had considerably improved their character. The bill was then read a third time and passed. Mr. Sheridan gave notice, that he would on Monday next move for leave to bring in a bill founded on the prayers of petitions which he had presented from certain publicans, brewers, and distillers, in Middlesex and Surrey. POOLE WRIT. Colonel Wood presented a petition from Mr. William Spurrier, acknowledging his offence, requesting the pardon of the House, and praying to be released. The petition being read, and ordered to lie on the table, Colo el Wood moved, that the petitioner be brought to the bar the next day, to be discharged. The Secretary at War thought that the prisoner was not entitled to any particular lenity. He thought it a dangerous principle to admit that an offence was to be excused on account of the frequency of its occurrence. However, he would not give any decided opposition to the motion. Mr.. Mr. Fuller said a few words of a similar tendency. Mr. William Smith thought the conduct of the petitioner highly reprehensible. The matter was a great deal worse than he had at first imagined. It was a common thing to endeavour to get the writ; but this man having given thirty guincas for it, and kept it for seventeen days, was what could not be properly excused. It was the worst case of the kind that ever came before Parliament, except one. He thought that Mr. Spurrier had been very mildly treated, in not being sent to Newgate; a punishment which he certainly merited more than Mr. Brundrett; for whose conduct, acting as a confidential agent, there certainly was some excuse. However, if the sense of the House was in favour of the motion, he would acquiesce. The Chancellor of the Exchequer was surprized that the honourable gentleman had not expressed these sentiments before, when the inconsistency might have been prevented. He had the same opinion of the case, and would certainly have proposed to send Mr. Spurrier to Newgate, had it not been that the gentlemen on the other side were adverse to it. As the honourable gentleman had been silent before, he might have acquiesced silently now. Mr. W. Smith, in explanation said, that when he had agreed that Mr. Spurrier should be sent to a different custody from that to which Mr. Brundrett had been com mitted, he certainly thought that he ought to remain there for a much longer time; and that was the ground of his reluctance to this early discharge. After an additional discussion, in which Mr. Rose, Lord H. Petty, Colonel Wood, Mr. Barham, Mr. P. Carew, Mr. Lushington, Mr. S. Thornton, Mr. Wilber, force, and the Secretary at War, took a part, the House divided, when the numbers were, For the question Majority 45 29 -16 On the motion for going into a committee of supply, it was ordered that the vote for the British Museum, for the Sierra Leone company, for Dr. Jenner, &c. be referred to that committee. DR. JENNER'S REWARD. The Chancellor of the Exchequer rose to call the atten |
