Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

fition.

The latter, therefore, was voted in both Houfes, with an unanimity that has not been very common of late years.

In the Houfe of Peers, the addrefs was moved by Lord Scarborough, who prefaced the motion with an apology for having undertaken fo arduous a task, and a panegyric on the fpeech. It breathed fuch an ardent affection for the welfare of the people, that, though he had ever been trained in the habit of revering the royal perfonage, and the conftitution of his country, he felt a reverence beyond what he ever knew before.

Lord Hampden, though it was the first day of his fitting in that Houfe, could not help teftifying his approbation, by feconding it. He extolled the members of the prefent adminiftration, as men by whofe united integrity and abilities, we might expect to fee the nation reflored to as great a height of honour, refpect, and confequence as it had ever enjoyed, and inveighed againft the peace, as left by their predeceilors, as rah, fcandalous, and infecure.

Lord Temple rofe not to oppofe the addrefs, or to move any amendment, although it did not exactly meet his approbation, because he withed it to rafs unanimoufly. His motive for troubling their lordships, was, to put them on their guard to watch the prefent adminiftration with a wary eye. He knew how difgreeable, how difgraceful a talk it was, to behold every proceeding with fufpicion; but as he had no confidence in miniftry, he fhould endeavour to point out every attempt that tended to the ruin of the conftitution. He then reforted to the

old arguments against the coalition. They had befieged the cabinet, and forced an arrangement upon the crown. Where was the power, the honour, the dignity of that Houfe, when it tamely permitted fuch an outrage? He by no means condemned them for concluding the peace, although they difapproved of the terms of it; the public faith was pledged, and they were bound to keep

it.

But what had they done with the United States of Holland? It had been boafted that much. greater advantages

had been obtained from them; he knew of none; the treaty remained just as the preliminary articles had begun it. The funds were now lower than when we were moft diftreffed; that day had been looked to, as a period for raising the national credit, and yet not the leaft notice was taken of it in the fpeech. The omiflion of Ireland was not lefs important; he almoft trembled to say a word on fo delicate a subject, but he could not help regretting that no mention was made of that kingdom.

In the Houfe of Commons, the Earl of Upper Offory rofe to move the addrefs. He recapitulated the principal political events that had happened during the recefs, and commented upon each. The late war, even amid the meft fericus reverfes of fortune, had ferved to place the British character for martial deeds in the highest point of view; no nation was ever involved in a more arduous ftruggle, and no nation had ever maintained one with fo much firmnefs and valour; and while intrepidity, virtue, and patriotifm fhould be revered among men, the names of the illuftrious chiefs who had fignalized themfelves in the war would never be forgotten.

Sir Francis Baflet feconded it. He enumerated the objects to which the fpeech from the throne called their attention, and expatiated on their importance. These were objects to which the addrefs would bind the House to turn their thoughts, and furely no man who understood the intereft of the country, and wifhed to promote it, would feel any difficulty to pledge himfelf on the prefènt occafion.

Mr. W. Pitt gave it his moft hearty affirmative, as there was not an exceptionable idea expreffed either in the fpeech or addrefs. He gave an ingenious turn to this affent. He had to congratulate his country, as well as to felicitate himfelf and thofe with whom he had acted, that, notwithstanding the objections which had been stated to the preliminary treaties, the definitive treaties were avowedly little more than a tranfcript of them. He had, therefore, to rejoice, that by them the country had been refeued from impending

ruin. For the figning of the preliminaries that Houfe had refufed to thank the crown, though the addrefs moved on that occafion was nearly the fame with that which it was now propofed to carry. Gentlemen muft, therefore, fee that he would vote for it, as it would prove the panegyric of thofe minifters to whom the Houfe had then denied their thanks. He wished to hear why the figning of the definitive treaties had been fo long delayed. He hoped that minifters had thought maturely on the affairs of India; and that they would come to parliament, with a well-digefted fyftem of government for the British poffeffions in that part of the world, which were now become the first object of confideration in the empire, the finances of the country alone excepted. Peace would 'little avail us, if the refpite afforded from the expences of war were not employed to raife the finking credit of the nation, and to prevent thofe frauds which rendered the revenue unproductive. He counfelled minifters to act with boldnefs; to bring forward the amount of the funded and unfunded debt. The people would then be made acquainted with their real fituation, and thence be convinced of the neceffity of fubmitting to new burdens. He lamented that no notice had been taken of the commercial treaty with America. He was acquainted with the difficulty of the bufinefs, and was willing to afcribe the delay to the nature of the negociation. He expect ed, however, that one grand fyftem of commerce, built on the circumftances of the times, would foon be fubmitted to the confideration of the Houfe. If the measures propofed by minifters fhould meet his ideas, he would not endeavour, by an ignoble oppoûtion, to defeat them, but, on the contrary, would give them all the fupport in his power.

Mr. Fox faid, that the honourable gentleman wifhed to faften on the prefent miniiters the imputation of inconfiftency; bat when it was confidered, that the tigning of the preliminary articles had pledged the faith of the nation, and rendered the figning of the

definitive treaties a matter not of choice but neceffity, the inconfiftency would vanish. When any man affigned the decrease of our fleets and the diforder of our finances, as reafons for concluding fuch a peace as the laft, it was incumbent on him to prove, that the decrease of the one and diforder of the other had taken place fimply, unaccompanied by fimilar misfortunes in the fleets and finances of the enemy. Our finances, it was true, were not in as good a ftate as could be wifhed, but would the honourable gentleman undertake to prove, from any event that had happened this fummer (alluding to the late failure of the Caille d'Efcomte in Paris) that the French Treafury was in fuch a state, as to fet bankruptcy at defiance. The definitive treaties might, perhaps, have been figned fooner, but if any advantages had been gained by the delay, and no poffible expence incurred, he trufted that the Houfe would not cenfure minifters on that head.

He then ftated the feveral caufes of delay, and the advantages thence accruing. The proprietors of lands in Tobago had been fecured in their property. The African trade, particularly the Gum trade, had been fettled, and the coaft, on which the latter may be carried on, particularly afcertained. The manner in which both crowns were to behave with refpect to their allies, which before was vague and indefinite, was now made fo clear, that it could not be mistaken, nor become the ground of future quarrel. It had been contended by the courts of Madrid and Verfailles, that if two years after figning the Definitive Treaties, the time fixed for fettling the new commercial arrangements, fhould expire, without any fuch arrangements taking place, the treaty of Utrecht, which had always been deemed highly beneficial to this country, would be completely annulled; this inconvenience was now removed. The treaty of Utrecht, and all other treaties between France, Spain, and this country, had been unconditionally renewed; fo that let the negociations for new commercial arrangements terminate as they would, England could be no worfe than the was. He next explained

was ended, and therein confifted the defect of the House of Commons. Henext adverted to Mr. T. Pitt's offer to give up his borough. The merit was not fo great as it appeared, for the honourable gentleman knew that his offer could not be accepted. He expreffed himfelf a warm friend to a reform; mankind were made for themselves, and not for others; it was the best government where the people had the greateft fhare in it. He did not think the prefent motion would go far enough, but he was confident it would be an amendment, and as fuch would give it his hearty fupport.

Mr. Welbore Ellis fupported Lord North.

Sir Charles Turner faid he knew the people expected his fentiments on the bufinefs, and it made him proud to think that they had confidence in him. He was certainly for a reform, and fhould vote for the motion, though he could have wifhed a committee to have been appointed in preference.

The Lord Advocate stated his reafons for voting with Mr. Pitt, on the prefent question; it was a fubject which he had attentively confidered, and on which he had made up his mind.

Captain Luttrell entered pretty largely into the origin and progrefs of parliamentary reprefentation, and reprobated the motion as more dangerous to the conftitutional exiftence of the country than all the powers of Europe combined in arms against it. The reform aimed at, by all who talked of moderate alterations, was fuch as tended moft to increase their own power and influence, while it would ferve to extend that riot, confufion, idleness, diffipation, and enmity which generally prevail at elections.

Lord Surrey faid, he certainly fhould vote for the motion, in preference to the order of the day, but hoped the people would not ftop at that partial

reform.

Mr. Rigby ridiculed the petitions as few, and obtained by partial means. He was himself a burges, fo was the mover of the queftion; burgefles were, in his opinion, fully as refpectable as county members. He laughed at the refoons of the Conítitutional Society,

and the Quintuple Alliance. The honeft gentlemen who compofed thefe meetings, and affumed ridiculous names, only deceived themfelves. They thought the attention of all the world was as much engaged in the queftion of parliamentary reform as they were, when, in fact, hardly any body elfe thought or cared about the matter. The influence of the crown, he contended, was as neceffary an ingredient in the conftitution as the power of the Commons, and he was firmly perfuaded had been too much curtailed already, but he trufted the time was not far diftant, when it would be reftored to its former neceflary extent, in thofe particulars in which the public felt a real injury from its diminution.

Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Martin, Alderman Sawbridge, and Sir Watkin Lewes fupported the motion, though it fell

far fhort of their withes.

Mr. Mansfield, Mr. Dempfter, and Sir John Delaval oppofed it.

Mr. W. Pitt entered briefly into the arguments that had been advanced against his propofitions, and defended them with great ability and addrefs. The Houfe then divided on the order of the day, when the numbers were, ayes 293, noes 149. The motion was, therefore, loft.

May 8th, the Lords fent down the amendments made by them in the bill for opening the intercourse with America. The Speaker obferved to the Houfe, that as the bill empowered the crown to impofe duties, it was ftrictly fpeaking a money bill; it, therefore, concerned the privileges of the Houfe, not to fuffer the Lords to make any amendments in it. In corroboration of this doctrine, he read a minute of one of his predeceffors (Mr. Onflow) which ftated, that it was clearly the constitutional privilege of that House to vote fupplies, to manage loans, to bring in money bills, to fettle every part of them, and in fhort every thing relating to the forms of bills affecting the public revenue; and further, that it was effential to the exercife of this privilege, that it fhould, on all occafions, be adhered to with the utmost ftrictnefs. In conformity to this opi

nion, and the established practice of the Houfe, the confideration of the amendments was poftponed, and a new bill, framed according to them, ordered to be brought in and paffed with all poffible difpatch.

The Houfe then proceeded to hear counfel in the cafe of Sir Thomas Rumbold.

May 12th, in a Committee of Supply, Mr. Ord in the chair, Lord John Cavendish moved for various fums to make good the deficiencies of taxes and grants for last year, which were feverally agreed to.

The Hon. John Townshend moved, that a fum not exceeding 457,9891. be voted for the ordinaries of the navy, and a further fum of 311,8481. for the extraordinaries.

Mr. Buller faid, he was glad to find that the mode of eftimate, which had been fo often reprobated in that Houfe as fallacious, was at laft found to be the mode beft adapted to the nature of the fervice,, by thofe who had formerly been loudeft in their cenfures. But he could not help remarking on the conduct of the Admiralty, in having fuperannuated Mr. Jackfon, with a penfion of 400l. per annum, than whom a more able and honeft man never ferved the public, who was fill in the full poffeffion of all his talents, and as capable and as willing to ferve the public as ever. He complained of the enormous amount of the navy extraordinaries, which he declared exceeded the fum alked for at the end of the laft war, in more than 200,000l. He remonftrated against the promotions, as an unneccffary barthen to the country, and though they were, in fome measure, unavoidable at the end of a war, he fhould still contend that there was no occafion for fo many having been made.

Mr. Townshend replied, that, at the conclufion of the lalt peace, only 10,000l. had been asked for, but that fum was found fo inadequate to the fervice, that next year 200,cool. more was voted, and miaiters blamed for not having aked enough at once. The prefent extraordinary included the fum for Lord Rodney's prizes, which,

under the peculiar circumftances of the cafe, the Admiralty did not choose to pay, till they had the fanction of parliament for the measure.

mean

to

Mr. Hopkins was fo far from agreeing that too much was now afked for, that he thought the very reverfe. The fum afked laft year was undoubtedly very large, and why? Becaufe the fum afked, for feveral preceding years, had been fo far too finall, and by no means adequate to the public exigency. By faying this, he did not blame Lord Sandwich, or any particular board of Admiralty. The blame lay wholly with the noble lord who had prefided over the government of this country, at the commencement and during the progrefs of the accurfed, ruinous, and deftructive American war; he who, when the war broke out, had the effrontery to tell that House, that there was not even a probability of the Houfe of Bourbon taking part in the quarrel.

Lord Mulgrave infifted that Lord Sandwich had proved himself an able and upright mininer, and when his conduct came to be fairly enquired into, and the prejudice naturally attending unfuccesful enterprifes was thrown afide, the public would be of the fame opinion. He called the attention of the committee to the deplorable fituation of officers' widows, whofe penfion was paid merely when they were reduced to neceiiity.

He trufted, therefore, that the Houfe would agree to a propofition, which he meant to bring forward at a fit opportunity in their behalf. At the end of a war, in which few officers had gotten much, they looked up to preferment, as a thing infinitely preferable to every confideration of emolument. It was that fort of reward which beft gratified the honeft pride of thofe men who readily rifqued their lives in their country's fervice, and he hoped never to fee it withheld, or dealt out with a niggardly hand.

Sir Grey Cooper defended Lord North, and reprehended fo violent an. attack being made upon him in his abfence, and that without its having the leaft reference to the question.

5

A con

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

for **** day, he would renew it e gy day, til at recited an open negat. e or affirmative. Mr. Barrow then wit, drez ile motion, and the Houfe de vided on the Allermans, which was pevatised, does 1233 km 56.

[ocr errors]

Chay 19. General 'mith gare notice, tat he intended to move fome ref lutona grounded on the report from the 1két committee on Ir dia affairs. Governor Johni one faid, that to refolations of cenfure against individeals, upon the reports of committees only, without exainining the evidence on which fuch reports were founded, was repugnant to juftice; he fhould, therefore, move for the original minutes of the committee. Captain Ichn Luttrell fecended the motion, which being amended, by infe,ting the word "copies" infeed of originals," was agreed to.

Lord Newhaven moved, that, as a profecution was commenced again!t Meff. Powell and Lembridge in the courts below, the order of the 24th of April, for a copy of the Tre: fury minutes relating to thefe gentlemen, thould be difcharged. This brought on a debate, in which many gentlemen took part. Mr. Burke apologifed for the warmth he had betrayed on the former

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Legare morice oward the

ther ape, and

Fer-Gerepached him tɔ whether be 2 petatendon of keeping

Med. Powell and Bembridge in cEx. Mr. Burke emnered into --7༄ detail of the munts of these gentlemt, and of the moth es but he had retored them, ut fald that be was not wedded thosan ghatin, and would be ruled by de fenfe of the Houfe. Many memben took part in the caverfation that enfled, and it was fertled, with cut a divifion, that they found be remore d.

Mr. Daubeny then moved that the fecond reading of the Custom-Hoole reform bill thould be deferred for three months. Mr. Gafoigne jun. feconded the motion. Mr. Pitt dekaded the principle of the bill, but admitted fome of the claufes might be objectionable; the fairest way would, therefore, be, to let it go to a committee, and then the feverdi claufes might be argued, and fuch alterations made as might be thought neceffary. Mr. Daubeny withdrew his motion, upon which the bill was read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed.

May 23. Mr. Maurice Lloyd ftated, that in fearching into the accounts of the Eank, he found that there was fo large a fum as 1,280,cool. on which no intereft had been paid for the last feventen years; he, therefore, moved for an account of all fuch fums, on which dividends were due and unpaid, up to the fettling day of the year 1780.

The

« PredošláPokračovať »