HOUSE OF LORDS.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13.

The royal assent was given by commission to the militia transfer bill, the Irish militia transfer bill, the Irish militia completion bill, the Irish arms bill, the Irish salt bill, the post office regulation bill, General Delancey's estates bill, and several other bills, in all, public and private, forty-three.

The commissioners were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and Lord Walsingham.

The vote of credit bill, the Irish vote of credit bill, the appropriation bill, and the curates bill, were read a third time and passed.

Counsel were heard on the bill for increasing the stipend of the rector of St. George, Southwark. The bill after some observation from the Lord Chancellor was read a third time and passed.

Mr. Charles Dundas and other members of the House of Commons, brought up a message requesting a conference with their lordships, respecting an amendment made by them in a bill for inclosing lands in the parish of Bracedon, in the county of Suffolk. The conference was agreed to, and shortly afterwards the Bishop of Chichester, Lords Napier, Walsingham, Douglas, and Lochleven, Earl of Morton, and Hood of Catherington, went forth to the Painted Chamber. On their return the bishop of Chichester reported the reasons assigned by the Commons for dissenting to the amendment. On the motion of Lord Walsingham it was agreed not to insist on the amendment, and a message to that effect was ordered to be sent to the Commons.

Mr. Hobhouse, Mr. Charles Dundas, Mr. Lockhart, and several other members of the House of Commons, brought up the militia completion bill, the traders assets bill, and several other bills returned with the amendments of the Lords, agreed to.

NEUTRAL POWERS.

Earl Stanhope observed, that when he gave notice of his motion, some of his majesty's ministers were present: the absence of the greater part of them now, was, he supposed, indicative of their wish to get rid of the discussion

of

of this chestion. He, however, conceiving the subject to be one of great magnitude and importance, should not be deterred from bringing it under the consideration of their lordships. With respect to the unfortunate circumstance which had recently happened in America, it was impossible to say much, because no authentic accounts had yet been received. He should merely observe, that those who wished the decrease of our commerce and manufactures, and to render it more difficult to procure subsistence for the people, would desire a war with America; those, on the contrary, who acted upon principle, and who wished that the prosperity of the country should not be diminished, would be desirous of remaining at peace with that power. It was, however, of the greatest importance, that in our intercourse with states at peace with this country, general principles of justice should invariably be acted upon, as in society all men ought to be considered equal before the law, so in the intercourse between states all states ought to be considered equal before the law of nations. He thought this principle ought to be distinctly recog nised, it being one which ought to be invariably adopted with respect to our states, and therefore he should move, "that the principle of equality and complete reciprocity ought to be invariably acted upon in the conduct of government towards states at peace with that country."

The Lord Chancellor said that he had not the slightest intention of shewing the least disrespect to the motion of the noble earl, but he felt it his duty upon the present occasion to move the previous question. Respecting the circumstances to which the noble carl had alluded, no authentic accounts had been received, and therefore it would be premature to pass any motion with reference to that subject. With respect however to neutral s'ates, he could assure their lordships, that the greatest anxiety was manifested in the decision of our counts to act in strict conformity to the law of nations. Under the present circumstances, however, which attended the subject, he thought the best mode they could adopt was to negative the putting this question.

Earl Stanhope thanked the noble and learned lord for his candour, but observed that the motion did not refer to any particular circumstance.

The Earl of Morton thought that what had been last stated by the noble earl formed a strong objection to the

motion,

motion, it not having been the practice of that House to yote abstract propositions.

The previous question was carried. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13.

At a quarter before four o'clock, Mr. Quarme, deputy usher of the black rod, by virtue of his majesty's commission, desired the attendance of this House in the House of Peers. The Speaker, followed by several members, ac-. cordingly went up; and on their return the Speaker stated that they had heard the royal assent given by com mission to several public and private bills.

The right honourable the Speaker announced to the House that, in consequence of the recognizance as to the proceedings on the Dungarvon election petition, not having been entered into in due time, according to law, the prayer of the petition was refused.

General Tarleton presented a petition from some proprietors of salt works in Liverpool, against an act which was alleged to be then pending in Parliament, relative to the duties on salt. The Speaker stated, that the usual course was for an honourable member who presented a petition to state the substance of it shortly to the House. General Tarleton then said, that some of his constituents who were proprietors of extensive salt works, conceived themselves likely to be injured by some of the provisions of the bill. He therefore thought it his duty to present their petition to the House.

Mr. Sheridan observed, that no one could for a moment doubt of the honourable member's right to present a petition from his constituents. It must be confessed, however, that the honourable general, with some little ingenuity, endeavoured to conceal the object of this petition from the House, even after he had been most correctly informed from the chair, of a practice so universally adopted in that House, that the honourable member could not have been accidentally ignorant of it, namely,,that he ought to state to the House generally, what was the object of the petition which he held in his hand. The fact was, that ihe petitioners were rather jealous of some little regulations that had lately taken place with respect to Ireland. The honourable

honourable gentleman then did not wish to state the object of this petition, until it was smuggled upon the table.

General Tarleton observed that the zeal of the right honourable gentleman for the interests of Ireland was so great, that he anticipated dangers which perhaps did not exist.

The question was again put and agreed to; after which the petition was brought up, and read at the table by the clerk. It complained repeatedly of the advantage which was given to the salt trade of Ireland by the late bill.

Mr. Sheridan then observed, that his honourable friend, the gallant officer, had seemed to think that there was something officious and intrusive in his conduct in having presumed to imagine that he knew more of the petition" from the honourable member's constituents than their representative who presented it did. However, when the petition was read, it appeared that almost every third word in it was Ireland, though the honourable and gaflant officer was not aware that it had any reference at all to that country. He did not mean to blame the representative for Liverpool for his ignorance of the Liverpool petitioners' object. He only meant to say, that if the peti tioners had not sent up their petition before now, they were disrespectful to the House, and if their representative had received it even a few days ago, he was neglectful of the interest of his constituents.

After a few words, in a low tone of voice, from General Tarleton, the petition was ordered to be laid upon the table.

A message from the Lords announced their assent to the English and Irish vote of credit bill, the barrack masters regulation bill, with some amendments, to which they desired the concurrence of the House, and a few other bills.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered at the bar a verbal message, stating that his majesty had been waited apon with an address of that House, relative to the granting of places in reversion; and that his majesty would pay that attention to it which the nature of the subject tequired.

On the question that the House do agree to the Lords' amendments in the philanthropic annuity bill, the Attorney

General

705 General said a few words for, and Sir Thomas Turton against it. Upon a division, the numbers were,

Upon which, the bill was sent back to the Lords, with an expression of the agreement of this House to their amendments. The Lords' amendments to the traders' assets bill, were agreed to, and the bill returned.

Upon reading the Lords' amendments to the Brandon inclosure bill, it was found that one of them trenched upon the privilege of the House. A conference was appointed, and on their return the chairman of the committee stated that their lordships did not insist upon their amendment. The bill was then sent back to the upper House.

Mr. Huskisson presented a list of the officers who had accepted pensions, within a limited period, pursuant to the order of the House.

Mr. Tyrrell, from the West India Dock company, presented an account of the receipts and disbursements of that company, in the year 1806.

Mr. Wilson, from the pay office, presented a statement of the balances remaining at present in the hands of army agents, as far as they can be made out. He also presented a letter from the pay office, and another from Messrs. Cox and Greenwood, on that subject.

Mr. Smith, from the transport board, presented an account of the amount of tonnage employed in the transport service from the 25th of March, 1806, to the 4th of August, 1807, distinguishing those that were engaged for the conveyance of infantry. These papers were all or dered to be laid on the table.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that an humble address be presented to his majesty, praying that he may be graciously pleased to order, that a sum, not exceeding 50001. be granted out of the consolidated, fund, to Isaac Dubois, a suffering American loyalist, and assuring his majesty that this House will make good the

same.

Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Windham, Dr. Lawrence, and some other honourable members, maintained, that the pe titioner was fully entitled, from the peculiar hardship of his case, to the sum of 10,0001.

Mr. Rose declared, that he verily believed, that if the matter had been examined before the commissioners that VOL. 1.-1807.

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