be such as would deter, rather than such as would leave in the mind of our enemy, any chance of success from an attempt at invasion. He objected to the present measure, because it would operate as a poll tax, while at the same time it would not improve our means of defence. He objected to it also because it interfered with that improved system of recruiting introduced into our army during the last year.

The House then divided on the question that this bill be now read a second time:

Majority

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The militia completion, and Irish militia transfer and completion bills, were also severally read a second time, and committed for the next day.

The Irish arms bill was postponed till the next day.

The appropriation bill was brought from the Commons, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time the next day.

The other orders were disposed of, and at half-past ten the House adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, AUGUST 10.

The exchequer bills' bill was read a third time and passed.

Lord Castlereagh moved for a return of the tonnage of transports, at home and abroad, from the 24th of March to the 8th of August, 1807, distinguishing those for three months, and the copper-bottomed and sheathed. Ordered. This paper was afterwards presented, and ordered to lie on the table.

A report from the commissioners of excise was present. ed, and ordered to lie on the table.

The curates' bill was read a third time, and passed.

Mr. R. Ward presented a list of the new officers created in the naval department since 1804; the amount of salaries; the names of the holders; and of those superannuated with pensions, with the amount of the superannuation, pursuant to an order of the House. Ordered to lie on the table.

He

He then presented an account of the state of the ports on the coast of Africa. Ordered to lie on the table.

A message from the Lords announced their assent to the spirit drawback bill, the soap duty bill, the Dublin paving bill, &c. &c.

Mr. Whitbread moved for a list of the volunteer serjeants employed in recruiting, and the numbers of recruits they had procured. Ordered.

WEST INDIA TRADE.

Mr. Ellis adverted to the distressed situation of the West India trade. It was needless for him to insist upon it at any length, as the report sufficiently shewed it. Of those measures which had been suggested as calculated to afford any relief, and, which required the interference of the House, none could be adopted till next session. But he most earnestly requested the attention of the right honourable gentleman more immediately connected with that department, to give the subject the most serious consideration during the recess, if he thought that the reduction of the duty on sugar would not afford any relief, as he was rather afraid he did. He did not dispute, the general principle, that the market and the supply ought to be left to regulate each other. He only contended, that the principle did not apply in the present instance, for, in order to give it its full effect, the market ought to be open, and the supply unrestrained. The prices at present were very low, and it was perfectly known that the West India merchants could not turn their capital to any other channel, without great loss. While there was an unrestrained export the prices were kept up, notwithstanding the duty; but when that was interrupted, the market was overstocked, and was scarcely cleared by the short peace. It had since become completely overstocked. The price could not be increased with the additional duties, which were therefore entirely borne by the planters. The noble lord who was lately in the exchequer, had been sensible of the declining state of this trade. The honourable gentleman suggested, that a contingent duty should be imposed on the West India produce, which should vary with the price, and left it to the candour of the House, whether a partial tax ought to be imposed on the planter. Another remedy that had been suggested was, to allow the use of sugar in the distilleries. But this was liable to strong objections, and the opposition

opposition to it was so strong, that it could not be adopted. Nothing, therefore, would remain but a reduction of the price, and this would overwhelm the trade. He hoped the right honourable gentleman would find out a resource. He did not wish at present to provoke any discussion on this subject, and would only add, that unless some remedy was found out and applied, the consequences would be ruinous to the West India trade. He therefore called the attention of ministers to the subject, and hoped that they would be enabled to provide some mode of relief before the next session. In that hope, he gave notice that, early in the next session, he would move that the report of the committee on the West India trade should be taken into consideration.

Mr. Rose jun. expressed his conviction of the urgent necessity of the case, and was sorry that the state of the session would not allow the House to go into it.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer observed, that the candid and disinterested manner in which the honourable Gentleman (Ellis) had spoken, entitled him to every attention. He would not go into the subject itself, but it was impossible to read the report without feeling the strongest interest in it. A very great deal of property was at stake, and it was undoubtedly the duty of government to attend to the case. They would therefore be perfectly ready to listen to any proposition coming from any other quarter, or to submit one themselves as soon as possible for the remedy of this evil.

Mr. Lushington was glad that Parliament had at last attended to the situation of the West India trade. Estates. there, it ought to be recollected, were different from estates here, and the planters ought to have ten per cent. on their capital. It was to be observed, however, that it would be five or six months before any measure that required the interference of the House could be adopted; and this was like bringing a reprieve for a man after he was hanged. Ministers had said, that no material inconvenience resulted from the late dissolution of Parliament. That great inconveniences had however resulted from it was certain, and this afforded a proof of it.

Mr. Hibbert said, that relief could only be expected from Parliament. The report of the former committee would have been finished in May last; and had it not been for the dissolution, some relief might by this time have

been

been applied. This proved how materially the dissolution interfered with the public business.

THE BANK.

Mr. Bankes brought up a report from the finance committee respecting the bank. Though this report, he said, had been presented earlier, nothing could have been done upon it in the present session. It was the duty of ministers and others to review the state of the bank, and when that body derived so much benefit from the public, it ought to contribute considerably to the public assistance. He hoped the report would be considered during the recess, and that some satisfactory arrangement would be adopted. If that was delayed, he would himself, as a member of Parliament, and not by any authority from the committee, move a resolution on the subject. He concluded by moving, that the report do lie on the table, and be printed with the appendix. Ordered.

PENSIONS.

Mr. Bankes presented a list of the holders of pensions from the crown, pursuant to the order of the House, in consequence of Lord Cochrane's motion. The House, he said, would observe, that there were only a few returns from Scotland, and only one or two from Ireland. The committee however had been anxious to have the list as it was before the House, before the close of the session. It was arranged alphabetically, so that gentlemen might have an opportunity of supplying omissions, of which he suspected there were many, Ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.

A person from the commissioners of Westminster Bridge presented four quarterly accounts from these commissioners. Ordered to lie on the table.

Sir Charles Pole asked whether it was the intention of ministers to take any steps founded upon certain parts of a report of the commissioners of naval inquiry?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that such certainly was the intention of ministers, who would be glad to attend to any further suggestions of the honourable baronet, or any of the commissioners.

NATHANIEL HIGHMore.

Mr. William Smith observed, that he had a petition in his hand, containing matters of a very grave and serious

nature.

nature. The statements in the petition were such, that though no man was more disposed than he was to lay any complaint before the House, he would have hesitated to present it, were it not that it contained matter of great moment to the publie in general. The petitioner had studied the civil law for eleven years at Jesus College, Cambridge; had performed his exercises with applause, and taken out his degree of doctor. The grievance was, that he was not permitted to practice in Doctors Commons, in consequence of the refusal of the Archbishop of Canterbury, to give him the proper authority. He had applied for redress to the courts of law, but could not be heard; he had, therefore, no appeal, though rejected without any reason assigned. This was an affair of so serious a nature, that if the allegations of the petition should be proved, it ought, perhaps, to be made the subject of legislative regulation hereafter. But he meant to give no opinion on it at pre sent. He imputed no blame to the metropolitan or his officer. They had not acted without precedent; for it was not the practice for seven years past to give a reason in cases of rejection. He was happy to see those opposite to him (the Advocate-General, &c.) who might, perhaps, explain this business. The practitioners of the common law were admitted by the benchers; but they never re jected without reason, and there lay an appeal to the twelve judges. But the present petitioner had in vain attempted to be heard before any court, and that was the reason that he had now come to Parliament for redress. The reason privately assigned for this (for none was publicly assigned), was, that the petitioner was in deacon's or ders. Even if owing to this he was to be considered as a spiritual person, it was not a reason why he should not practice in a court of civil and ecclesiastical law, and more especially as the practice was, till the 37th of Henry the Eighth, entirely confined to spiritual persons; and the chancellorships of the dioceses were still in the hands of spiritual persons. The public had a strong interest in this case, for it appeared to be decided by a side wind, that persons in deacon's orders were unqualified for practising in the ecclesiastical court, and that without any legislative provision on the subject. The honourable gentleman then adverted to a book written by one of the Civilians, so late as 1804, which contained a passage, stating that, in 1764, a person in deacon's orders had applied to Archbishop

Becker,