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and applied to the payment of services voted by Parliament since the 27th of April, specifying the funds out of which they issued. After a few observations from Mr. Huskisson, the account was ordered of all sums issued from the receipt of the Exchequer to the paymaster-general of the forces, the treasurer of the navy, the treasurer of the ordnance, and all the other public departments from the 27th of April to the 27th of June.

Mr. Bankes gave notice, that on Monday next, he should move for leave to bring in a bill to prevent the granting of places or offices in reversion. It had also been his intention to give notice of a motion for the revival of the finance committee, but that was in other hands in which he was happy to see it, and he trusted that no time would be lost in bringing it forward.

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Mr. Whitbread gave notice, that on Monday se'ennight, he should submit a motion to the House, relative to the state of the nation. The honourable gentleman also gave notice, that on Friday next, he should move for the revival of one or two of the bills for the education and relief of the poor. He trusted that there would be no objection to extend the regulations of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, relative to private bills, to these bills also.

But the Speaker informed the honourable member, that there was but one way of having bills introduced into that House, which was by moving for leave to bring them in.

The Secretary at War gave notice, that on Monday next, he should move for leave to bring in a bill to enable the commissioners of Kilmainham hospital to make certain regulations. The object of the bill was merely to correct certain errors in the act passed last session.

Mr. Hiley Addington seeing his honourable friend (Mr. Dundas) in his place, wished to know whether it was his intention to bring forward the accounts of the East India Company this session. If so, he trusted that he would bring them forward on as early a day as possible, and assured him, that it would be a matter of personal convenience to him to have the question discussed at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. Dundas replied, that it was certainly his intention to bring forward the accounts of the East India Company this session, and that no time should be unnecessarily lost. At the same time, he begged to remind the honourable gentleman, that for some years back, these accounts had

been

been one year in arrear. It was his intention to endeavour to bring up that arrear in the present session, and the honourable gentleman must be aware that this would require some time.

Lord Howick observed, that from the papers then upon the table, it appeared, that, upon a comparison of the revenue and expenditure of the company in India, there was a deficit in the latter of above two millions and a half. This was a state of things, in which any one may see that it was impossible for the company to go on, without some adequate provision to make good this deficit. It was the more necessary, as the public had been led to expect that there would be a considerable participation, derived from the East India company's funds, in aid to the national resources. On being reminded by the Speaker of the irregularity of these observations, the noble lord then said, that he wished to know then, whether the honourable gentleman meant to bring forward any proposition upon that subject.

Mr. Dundas informed the noble lord, that it was his intention, at an early day, to propose some regulations respecting India affairs, which would include the point to which the noble lord had adverted. He was afraid, however, that he should not be able to bring forward the annual accounts at so early a day, as only a few of the ships had yet arrived, and it would be desirable to have the accounts stated in the most correct manner that was possible.

Mr. Croker desired to know from the noble lord opposite, who had, in the debate of the preceding night, adverted to the subject of tythes in Ireland, whether it was his intention to bring forward any measure on that subject this session. The honourable member was proceeding to comment on the importance of the question to Ireland, when gently reminded by the Speaker of his being not in order.

Lord Howick replied, that there had been plans for the amelioration of the tythe system in Ireland, under the consideration of his majesty's late ministry, and that it was their intention, as soon as they could bring any one to maturity, to submit it to Parliament. He had alluded to the subject on the preceding evening, only to recommend it to the most serious attention of his majesty's ministers. He did not mean to take up the question this session, but might in a future session, though for every reason he thought it better that such a measure should originate with govern ment.

Mr.

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JUNE 27.]

MISCEALINEOUS.

Mr. Hall brought up the report of the address, which was agreed to, and the address ordered to be presented by such members as are of his majesty's privy council.

The commissioners' speech was then ordered to be referred to a committee of the whole House on Monday next. Mr. Foster moved, that the House do resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the Irish customs act.

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On the ques ion being put, that the Speaker do leave the chair, a long conversation took place, on the merits of the dissolution, and the consequences of the duties and customs in Ireland, determining by the expiration of the act on the 25th instant, two or three days before the reviving act could be assed. It was contended on one side, by Lords Howick, Temple, and Folkestone, Sir John Newport, Messrs. Taylor, Hibbert, Parnell, Calcraft, and W. Smith, that this was an evident ill consequence of the dissolution, inasmuch as in the interval, between the expiration of the existing act, and the passing of the reviving, either the duties on customs, amounting to nearly two millions annually, should not be collected at all, or should be levied without the authority of Parliament; that any ship which should enter any of the ports of Ireland, during this period, might discharge her goods free of the duties, which would then be contrary to law, and that this interval would be extended beyond the period necessary for passing the bill, to the time when the account of its passing could be conveyed to Ireland; that it would be unjust to give a retrospective effect to the revived bill, because the goods having passed out of the possession of the importer in the interval, when the duties could not attach, it would be contrary to all fairness to levy the duty upon him, who no longer has the power to indemnify himself by charging the consumer in proportion; and that, though such a retros; ective operation might have been sometimes given to bills of excise, the cases were widely different, the excise duty applying to the stock on hand, which was still in the possession of the individual, who had therefore the means of indemnifying himself by an increased charge on the It was therefore asked by what article to the consumer. mode it was proposed to obviate this very serious evil? On the other hand, it was urged by Messrs. Rose, Foster, Huskisson, Ellison, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer," that on the expiration of the parliamentary duties, the hereditary duties would immediately attach, which would

render

render entries of the goods imported indispensable, so that the officers, by having the amount of the goods ascertained, might easily ascertain the amount of the duties incurred, and to be levied under the retrospective operation of the bill; that such provisions were not unusual ine cise bills, and that as the question related to the levying of money on the subject, there could be no sound distinction between duties of customs and excise; that the gentlemen opposite had supplied a sufficient precedent, in the course of the late session, by their act for an additional duty on brandies, the resolution for this duty having passed on the 20th of February, to have eflect from the 19th, and in the most remote part of Ireland, though the bill did not pass till the 17th of March ; that the reviving bill, with which it was proposed to proceed a stage each day till it passed, might be finally passed at furthest on the Wednesday after the 25th instant, when the existing bill would expire, and the communication might be made to Ireland in thirty-six hours after that the resolution of this might be transmitted to Ireland, and would satisfy the merchants and the officers, that the revived bill was to have the retrospective operation, so that no inconvenience would or could ensue ; and that the honourable gentlemen who thought this matter at present of such importance, would alter their opinion as soon as their minds should cool and recover the agitation which the state of the House in the preceding evening had thrown them into.

The House then went into a committee on the bill, and having resolved that it should be continued, the Hue resumed, and the report was ordered to be received on Monday.

Lord Castlereagh brought down a message from his majesty, stating, that his majesty being desirous to confer some signal mark of his favour and approbation on majorgeneral Sir John Stuart, for his eminent services in the glorious battle of Maida, recommended to his faithful Commons to make provision for securing to him, during the term of his natural life, an annuity of 1000l. per annum. His majesty's most gracious message was referred to a committee of the whole House.

Ordered, on the motion of Mr. Foster, thrat the House should resolve itself on Monday into a committee on the Irish revenue acts.

The usual resolutions respecting the trial of election petitions were then voted, and petitions presented, compla n

ing

ing of the returns for Saltash, Horsham, and Great Grimsby. The first was ordered to be taken into consideration on Tuesday the 14th of July, and the two others on the 16th. In answer to a question from Lord Temple respecting the course proposed to be adopted concerning the election petitions, the Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that it would not be desirable to proceed with any petitions this session, which would be likely to extend to any length in the examination of their merits.

The House then adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY, JUNE 29.

The Earl of Moira presented several petitions from persons confined for debt, which were ordered to lie on the

table.

Lord Holland presented petitions from the prisoners confined for debt in the king's bench and other prisons, which were ordered to lie on the table.

The Earl of Moira presented a bill for altering and amending the laws relative to debtor and creditor, and for the more effectual punishment of fraudulent debtors. His lordship stated, that it was not his intention to press forward the bill this session, but merely to move that it might be printed, his object being that this important subject should be thoroughly considered, and brought forward again early next session.

AMERICAN TRADE.

Lord Hawkesbury presented, by his majesty's command, the order in council, continuing the provisions of the American intercourse act, which expired during the recess, and gave notice that it was the intention of his majesty's government to propose to Parliament a bill for continuing the above act for a time to be then specified, and to propose in such bill a clause of indemnity for the advice given to his majesty to continue the provisions of the former act, after it had legally expired.

Lord Auckland stated that the reason he did not, when in office, recommend the continuance of the act which had now expired, was the pending negotiation with America. He trusted, that when the treaty which was VOL. I.-1807. O

the

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