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The motion not being feconded fell to the ground.

In a committee, went through the bill to punish idle and diforderly perfons, on whom implements of houfebreaking might be found in the night, with feveral amendments.

The Houfe being refumed, the report on the bill to prevent bribery and expence at elections was read a fecond

time.

May 26. Lord Mahon informed the Houfe, that as he by no means approved of the amendments which the bill had received in the committee, he would give it up, and move for leave to bring up a new one, not exactly, but nearly fimilar, which need not occafion any debate. Leave was given.

The Speaker having left the chair, and Mr. Ord having taken his feat at the table, Lord John Cavendish entered upon the arduous task of opening the budget of taxes, for an account of which we must refer the reader to the Appendix.

May 27. Mr. Ord reported the refolutions which had paffed the day before, in the Committee of Ways and Means. After fome debate on that relative to the wheel tax, which was carried on a divifion, the other refolutions were agreed to unanimoufly, and bills ordered in upon them.

Heard counfel and examined witneffes in the cafe of Sir Thomas Rumbold.

May 28. General Smith rofe to move feveral refolutions on the reports of the felect committee, the object of which was to cenfure Sir William James and Mr. Sullivan, for neglect in tranfmitting difpatches to India. Mr. Fox thought, that, as the prefent was only part of the India bufinefs, the whole of which must foon be fubmitted to the House, it was unneceffary to purfue it then. He, therefore, moved the next order of the day, which was for hearing counfel on the Anglefea mine bill.

May 30. In the Upper Houfe, the great question concerning the legality of bonds of refignation was argued, and decided in the negative, by a majority of a fingle voice. As this decifion will not only be a precedent, but

ferve to change the practice with regard to refignation bonds, we mean to enter more ininutely into the matter, in the Appendix.

In the Houfe of Commons, Lord Mahon's new bill for preventing bribery at elections was brought in. Mr. W. Pitt informed the Houfe, that, in confequence of the objections made to the bill for abolishing certain patent and other places in the Customs, he was willing to drop it for the prefent year. He, therefore, moved to difcharge the order for its commitment, and to adjourn the further confideration of it for three months. This motion being carried, he followed it with a refolution for reftraining" his Majefty's minifters, from granting, or advifing to grant any patent or reverfion of any patent or other place in the Customs, otherwife than during pleafure, before the next feffion of parliament." Sir William Dolben was of opinion, that this being the acknowledged prerogative of the King, which could not be fufpended by a refolution of that Houfe, it would be more proper and refpectful to address his Majefty to that effect.-The question was put on the refolution, and carried. Heard counfel against the bill of pains and penalties against Sir Thomas Rumbold.

June 2. Mr. W. Pitt brought in a bill for regulating the different public offices, the purpofe of which, he itated, was to embrace all the different objects pointed out in the King's fpeech, at the opening of the feffion. The motion for printing the bill being carried, he moved for accounts of the fees, gratuities, and perquifites received in the faid offices, and of the annual incidental charges incurred in each, which were ordered.

Mr. Burke having adverted to fome complaints relative to the fees taken at the Treafury, for paffports to America and other parts, moved for accounts of all fees received on paffports given to any fhips, at the Secretary of State's, or any other office, from the 30th of November 1782. Mr. Pitt feconded the motion. Mr. Burke then moved for copies of all letters apply

ing for redrefs, or complaining of the faid fees.

The Lord Advocate ftated, that the evidence in defence of Sir Thomas Rumbold and Mr. Perring being finifhed, it was neceffary that both that and the evidence in fupport of the profecution fhould be printed, before the Houfe proceeded any farther. But as that could not be done in a fhort time, he trufted the Houfe muft fce the utter impoffibility of proceeding any farther that fefion. He, therefore, moved for leave to bring in a new bill of pains and penalties, with a provifo, that the proceedings on the bill then depending hould not be difcontinued, by any prorogation or diffolution of parliament, which after fome debate was pafied without a divifion.

June 3. The Duke of Richmond called the attention of the Upper Houfe to the conftitution of the great feal, and particularly to its prefent fituation, in the hands of commiffioners, and fummed up the purport of a long fpeech, by intimating his intention to move for a committee to enquire into the independence of the judges, and into the best means of fecuring it; and by then moving as a bafis for that motion a refolution, fetting forth, that putting the feals in committion durante bene placito, and appointing judges commiffioners, with large falaries and perquifites, during the exiftence of a commiffion originating in, and folely dependent on the will of the crown, tended to invalidate the act of the 13th of King William; having before remarked, that the patent paffed in March 1782, granting an addition of 1000l. a year to the falary of the Chief Juftice of the Common Pleas, was in direct oppofition to the fpirit of that

act.

The Duke of Portland defended the commiffion, and moved the previous queftion. Lord Loughborough, in a moft able and eloquent speech, vindicated the character of the judges from even the fhadow of fufpicion. He explained, to the fatisfaction of the Houfe, the augmentation of his falary as Chief Juftice of the Common Pleas. He oppofed the motion, because no

thing had been offered to fhew the neceffity of their lordships' interpofition: and because it tended to an indirect imputation upon the characters of the guardians and interpreters of the laws, whofe conduct had fo amply and ho nourably earned that high and diftin guifhed public eftimation which they enjoyed. The previous queftion was carried without a divifion.

In the Houfe of Commons, on the

third reading of the Pay-Office bill, Mr. Eitwick complained to the Houfe of fome alterations, which he conceived to have been made in certain claufes, by Mr. Burke, without the fanétion of the Houfe. The Speaker cleared up the matter, by declaring that the quef tion had been put upon each of the alterations, but in a low tone of voice, fo as juft to be heard by the parties concerned, who were ftanding round the chair at the time, as was the prac tice in all cafes where the parties were perfectly agreed. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Etwick thought that the expunged claufes ought to be reftored and debated, which being agreed to, the first was brought up and rejected on a divifion. The bill was then read and paffed.

June 5. Sir Charles Bampfylde offered to prefent a petition from the city of Exeter, praying that the receipt-tax might not pafs into a law, but the Speaker reminding the House that it was an eftablished rule not to receive any petition against a tax, it was rejected on a divifion.

Mr. Fox moved for a committee of the whole Houfe to confider of the expediency of allowing the whole drawback on rice exported, as to continue it now would certainly deprive us of the whole rice trade. It was unanimously agreed to allow the drawback, and a bill ordered to be brought in acordingly.

In a committee, Mr. Dempfter drew, with wonderful ability and philanthro py, a picture of the unfortunate fituation of the northern parts of Scotland, from the failure of laft year's crop, which he followed with feveral motions for their relief, that were all readily agreed to, as was alfo an ad

drefs

drefs to his Majefty for the fame purpofe.

In a committee went through the bill laying a tax on bills of exchange, &c. and receipts. The Lord Mayor moved to exempt all receipts under 51. which was rejected by a great majority. June 6. In a Committee of Supply, Lord North moved feveral fmall fums for the civil eftablishments of the two Floridas, Georgia, St John's, Nova Scotia, and Senegambia.

Mr.

Read a fecond time the bill to prevent abufes in the public offices. Fox divided the Houfe on the fecond reading of the bill to prevent expence at elections, and a fmall majority were for going on with the bill.

June 11. A motion was made for leave to bring in a bill to repeal fo much of the act of the 35th of Henry VIII. as prohibits the exportation of brafs, which after fome debate was carried by a great majority.

The Sheriffs of London prefented a petition from the city, which, on being read, appeared to be directed against the tax on receipts. The Speaker ftated, that it had been long the practice of the Houfe, in confideration of the import ance of the city of London, to receive any petition offered by its fheriff's, without any previous intimation of its contents. Mr. Fox admitted the privilege, but faid it was of little value, fince the House could reject the petition's being taken into confideration, as foon as its contents were known; which was done accordingly.

Mr. Ord then brought up the report of the committee on the tax bills, which after a long debate was read, and various amendments propofed and agreed

to.

June 12. In a committee on a bill for altering the law, in many refpects, with regard to property, a claufe was moved and admitted, for preventing a tenant for life from alienating fuch eftates, as the grantor intended thould veft in the remainder man, but in the grants of which he might have omitted to appoint truces. And another, for empowering the courts of law to flue commiflions for taking cepofitions beyond fea.

LOND. MAG. Dec. 1793.

After a long and warm debate, the bill for taxing bills of exchange and receipts was read a third time and paffed.

June 13. In a Committee of Supply, the Secretary at War went through the army eftimates for the remainder of the prefent year, and moved the different refolutions on them, which were carried without oppofitien.

June 17. Sir Cecil Wray brought up a petition from the people called Quakers, in behalf of the unfortunatę negroes, the traffic of whofe perfons, they prayed, for the fake of humanity, to have abolished.

The bill for abolishing fees, and establishing various regulations in the different public offices, occafioned a warm debate. Lord John Cavendish thought, that all the purposes of the bill might eafily be anfwered without it. Mr. Pitt entered fully and minutely into the various abufes of the dif ferent offices, which called loudly for reform. The bill was gone through in a committee.

June 18. The Peers rejected a petition from the merchants and traders, against the tax on receipts, and alfo a fimilar petition from the city of London.

In the Houfe of Commons, the Chancellor of the Exchequer brought in a bill to take off the compofition, in lieu of the malt doty. Mr. Hill warmly oppofed it, and divided the House on the fecond reading, which was carried by a great majority.

June 19. The bill for preventing fraudulent voters from polling at elections was lot in a committee.

June 24. In a committee went through the bill for altering the law relative to writs of right, and other modes of recovering property, with feveral new claufes and amendments.

Lord John Cavendish brought in a bill for continuing the commiffion of public accounts, which was read a firit time.

He then moved for leave to bring in a bill for the appointment of commiffioners, to enquire into the circumftances of thofe who had fuffered, in confeq ence of the diffentions in Ame

3 P

rica, which after a very general debate was agreed to.

In a committee for confidering of the state of the cotton and linen manu factures of Great-Britain, agreed to feveral refolutions, for allowing draw backs on foap and ftarch, brimstone and vitriol, pot, pearl, wood, and barilla alhes, confumed in preparing the raw materials for manufactures.

June 25. In the Houfe of Peers, the bill to explain and amend an act of the 11th and 12th of William III. entitled" an act to enable juftices of the peace to build and repair jails in their refpective counties," was read a fecond time. And the bill to prevent bribery at elections was thrown out.

The Houfe of Commons went into a Committee of Supply on his Majefty's meffage relative to the establishment of the Prince of Wales.

Lord John Cavendish ftated that his Majefty had graciously determined to provide for the whole annual expence, without calling upon his people for any addition to the civil lift, on that account, and to allow his Royal Highnefs 50,000l. a year; but that as his Majefty's revenue was barely fufficient to difcharge the different claims upon it, it was not furprifing, that he fhould call upon his faithful Commons, for a temporary aid to equip his fon at his firft outfet in life. He, therefore, moved the fum of 60,000l. for that purpofe. A propofition fo moderate could meet with no oppofition, it was voted unanimoufly; and the debate, that followed, turned merely on rumours that had been circulated of an enormous fum, which fome of his Majelty's minifters had intended to move, and a retrofpect of Lord North's conduft, on making the laft addition to the civil lift.

June 27. Lord North brought before a Coinmittee of Supply a propofition for the relief of the officers of the provincial corps, raifed to ferve in America during the war, whom he recommended, in the ftrongest terms, to the munificence, to the gratitude, to the juftice of the country; and faid that he would move only for 15,000l. towards and on account of half-pay

for them. No objection was made to the propofition for relief, but the mode occafioned fome debate. It paffed, however, without a divifion.

June 30. In the Houfe of Peers, on the fecond reading of the reform bill, Earl Temple moved for the papers which had been laid on the table of the Commons, as neceffary documents to enable their lordships to decide on the merits of the propofed reform. This was objected to, and on a divifion paffed in the negative. The bill itself was then debated, and rejected by a majority of fixteen.

His Majefty not being empowered by law to grant a penfion out of the civil lift for more than his own life, applied by two feveral messages to each Houfe of Parliament, for fuch a power, in behalf of Lord Rodney and Ge neral Eliott.

July 1. The House of Commons voted 2000l. per annum to Lord Rodney, and the two next heirs of his body, to whom the barony of Rodney fall defcend, payable from the glorious 12th of April, 1782; and 1500l. per annum to Sir George Auguftus Eliott, for his own life, and the life of his fon, Francis Auguftus Eliott, Efq. payable from the glorious 13th of September, 1782.

In a committee, took into confide ration the petition of the Eaft-India Company, praying time for the payment of the debt due to government, and alfo a loan of 300,000l. to answer the prefent emergencies of the Company. Both propofitions were agreed

to.

July 4. The debate on the bill for regulating certain offices in the Exchequer, though rather of a particular than a public nature, feems worthy of being recorded, as it may hereafter ferve to throw light on fome of the political characters of the time. We muft, therefore, refer the reader to the Appendix.

July 7. The Houfe of Lords threw out Lord Effingham's infolvent bill.

July 10. Lord John Cavendish laid before the Houfe of Commons a lift of perfons, to whom fums of public money had been iffued, for which no

account

account had yet been paffed by the auditors of the impreft.

Mr. W. Pitt almost instantly rose to make a motion upon it, for compelling all fuch perfons to pafs their accounts, and pay in their balances with as little delay as poflible. The wording of the motion, feeming to point particularly at the executors of the late Lord Holland, gave rife to confiderable acrimony in the debate that enfued. It paffed at length with fome amendments.

July 11. In the Houfe of Peers, a motion from the Duke of Portland, for poftponing the confideration of the bill for eftablishing a free port in the island of Dominica, brought on a debate, which feemed to have little other tendency than to embarrass miniftry. All parties were agreed on the death of the bill, and the only queftion was how it fhould die. It was contended that a bill pregnant with fuch abfurdity, and which might produce fuch dangerous confequences on its being known in Ireland, ought to be rejected with difdain. The original motion was at length agreed to.

July 15. In the Houfe of Commons, Mr. Dempster brought up a report from the committee appointed to enquire into the cafe of the officers of the regiment raifed by Col. Erskine, on the borders of Switzerland. The report was very favourable to the claim of thefe officers. Mr. Dempfter, therefore, moved an addrefs to his Majefty, to order them fuch relief as to his wifdom fhould feem meet: and that the Houfe would make good the fum that his Majefty fhould order.

July 16. His Majetty clofed the fellion with the following moft gracious fpeech from the throne:

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My Lords and Gentlemen,

"THE advanced feafon of the year requires fome remiffion from your long and laborious attention to the public fervice. The exigencies of that fervice may oblige me to call you together again at an early period; and I perfuade myself, from my uniform experience of your affection to me, and your zeal for the public good, that you will chearfully fubmit to a temporary

inconvenience, for the permanent advantage of your country.

"The confideration of the affairs of the Eaft-Indies will require to be refumed as early as poffible, and to be purfued with a ferious and unremitting attention.

"I expected to have had the fatisfaction of acquainting you, before the end of the feffion, that the terms of pacification were definitively fettled: but the complicated ftate of the bufinefs in difcuffion has unavoidably protracted the negociation. I have, however, every reafon to believe, from the difpofitions fhewn by the feveral powers concerned, that they are perfectly well inclined to fuch a conclufion as may fecure the bleffings of peace, fo much and fo equally to be defired by all parties.

"Gentlemen of the Houfe of Com

mons,

"I thank you for the fupplies you have fo liberally granted for the public fervice; for facilitating my arrangements towards feparate eftablishment for the Prince of Wales; and for enabling me, without any new burden on my people, to discharge the debt which remained on my civil lift.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"I earnestly recommend to you an attention towards promoting among my people, in your feveral counties, that fpirit of order, regularity, and indultry, which is the true fource of revenue and power in this nation; and without which, all regulation for the improvement of the one, or the increafe of the other, will have no effect."

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