Mr. Lefevre expreffed his readiness to make facrifices beyond his quota, if required.

Mr. Huffey faid, he difaproved of the plan, not from a defire to throw obstacles in the way, but because he thought a better one might be adopted. He then adverted to a declaration of the Minifter in 1792, when expatiating on the general profperity of the country, and flattering the Houfe with a fpeedy redemption of the national debt. On that occation the Right Hon. Gentleman declared that the country enjoyed and was likely to enjoy, "not a nominal and delufive, but a real and genuine peace." For God's fake, he faid, give us peace again, and by prudent management the country will be reitored to its wonted profperity and happiness.

Mr. Pitt faid, at no period preceding the one alluded to, was there a fairer profpect of a lafting peace. The then ruleis of France were busied in reforming abules in their Government. They profeffed economy at home, and peace abroad; but the feeds of that harvest, which had fince been diffeminated throughout Europe, and had produced incalculable milchief, did not then develope themselves. No man, he faid, was more anxious for peace than he was, but it muft be upon a folid and honourable bafts, or it would be only a protracted war, with the inconvenience of unnerving our forces, and renewing the conflict. He diftin&tly wifhed, for the benefit of mankind, the tranquillity of Europe, and for the intereft of France itself, to fee the prefent fyftem extinguifhed, and happier principles triumph; but what he chiefly wished was, that the fecurity of this country should not depend upon the forbearance of France, but upon the exertion of our own energies.

The Refolutions were then read the fecond time, and Bills ordered pursuant thereto.

The Order of the Day was read for the fecond reading of the Corn Regulating Bill.

Mr. Ryder called the attention of the Houfe to the A&t of laft feffion, and ftated, that it was intended to fubject the importation of Corn to the old regulations, and to prohibit the exportation for a time to be limited.

The Bill was read, and ordered to be committed.

On the fecond reading of the Bill for ammending the Treating Act, a conver

fation on the conftruction of the Act took place; after which the Bill was read.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6.

Mr. Nicholls gave notice, that he fhould on Friday next bring forward a motion for remitting the perquifites of office during the continuance of the war.

Mr. P. Dundas gave notice, that he fhould move to-morrow for leave to bring in a Bill to explain and amend the Scotch Militia A&t.

Mr. Pitt informed the House, that he had it in command from his Majefty to prefent a Meffage, acquainting them, that his Majefty had appointed Tuesday the 19th int. as a Day of Thanksgiving for the late important victory over the Dutch fleet, and in order to give it the greater folemnity, it was his Majefty's intention to attend Divine Service in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.

An Addrefs of Thanks was immediately voted for this moft gracious communication.

It was alfo ordered, on motion, that the Houfe fhould proceed to St. Paul's on the fame occafion; and a Committee was appointed to manage the proceffion.

Sir G. Shuckburgh Evelyn moved,, "That there be laid before the House a list of the names of perfons paying Affeffed Taxes to the annual amount of gol. and upwards, diftinguishing them into different claffes.

Mr. Ryder did not think the account would give any material information.. It had been matter of furprife to fome, that the number of perfons paying up-, wards of 100l. affeffiment was not greater, and it was inferred, that the returns were, erroneous. The fact, he believed to be, perfons of the defcription alluded to were, in affluent circumflances, and had frequently five or fix houfes in different districts, each of which made a separate return, so that the whole that a Gentleman might be affeffed was not known from the general return.

Sir G. S. Evelyn doubted whether a perfon under thefe circumftances was liable for more than two houtes. What was called the new duty he knew attached only on two. Information was wanted, and he fhould perfevere in his motion.

Mr. Huffey faid, the Houfe had the authority of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the duty had been shame, fully evaded, and he wifhed a lift of the names of the defaulters to be laid upon the Table.

Mr.

Mr. Rofe faid, the moft diligent enquiry was making for the detection of defaulters.

The Motion was agreed to.

Mr. Tierney begged to be informed of the probable day on which the new Tax Bill would be read a fecond time.

Mr. Pitt replied, that he fhould very probably prefent it to-morrow, propofe to read it the first time on Friday, and the fecond on Monday.

Mr. Tierney defired an explanation on another fubject. He had feen in a public paper an article which bore an official fhape, fignifying that the 3,000,000l. was not confidered by the Bank as a common Loan to Government, but fomething like a Loyalty Loan. The Minifter had reprefented it as a Loan to be provided for in the ufual way. If the Bank was right, he faid, there must be a deficiency of 3,000,000l. in the Minister's ftatement.

Mr. Pitt faid, he conceived that if the reftriction continued, the Bank would not feel any inconvenience in advancing 3,000,000l. to be repaid at a limited time, but it certainly was not his intention to include that fum in the prefent

year.

[Before the queftion of adjournment was put, Mr. Pitt, in confequence of this converfation, fignified his intention to provide for the above fum by Exchequer Bills.]

The Corn Bill went through the Com. mittee. That part of the Act that relates to the importation of provifions, is continued in the prefent Bill.

Mr. Ryder gave notice of his intention to propofe a claufe on the report, for allowing the entry of fhips who had their cargoes of foreign corn on board on the 21t of November, provided they arrive on or before the 14th inftant, the im. portation generally being under the old regulations.

The Report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow.

Mr. Baker moved for an account of the expenditure of the feveral fums of money granted by Parliament to the Board of Agriculture fince the inftitution

thereof.

Sir John Sinclair feconded the Motion, and remarked, that there would be fome ditheulty in carrying part of the Motion into effect, as the lait 3000l. granted by Parliament bad never been received by the Board!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7.

Mr. Secretary Dundas moved, that the Act of the 29th Geo. II. relative to the Naturalization of Foreign Officers in the fervice of Great Britain, be read.

The A&t was read accordingly.

Mr. Dundas then obferved, that the tendency of the Motion he was about to fubmit, was to extend the provisions of the Act above-mentioned to foreigners ferving in the West Indies, by adding another battalion to the 60th regiment, to be fupplied from the Germans, now ferving his Majefty in the Wett Indies. He concluded by moving for leave to bring in a Bill to explain and amend the faid Aa.

Leave was given, and a Bill ordered. Mr. Pitt brought up his Bill for trebling the Aficiled Taxes, which was read the firft, and on the queftion for its being read the fecond time,

Mr. Wilberforce Bird rofe to ftate his objection to the principle and operation of the measure. It was calculated, in his opinion, to ruin the middle and inferior clafs of manufacturers,, and those who maintained their families on small capitals, would be completely "done away."-He mentioned various branches of manufacture which were on the decline; and others, particularly the clock and watch trade, that were almost extinguifhed, from the accumulated duties. impofed upon them either directly or indirectly.

Mr. Ryder defended the Bill. It had been afferted that it preffed peculiarly hard on the middle and inferior claffes, but would the Hon. Gentleman produce a fingle inftance of a measure, fo general in its operation, that contained fo many exemptions, and furnithed fuch effectual

means of relief to thofe claffes? He was confident that he could not.

Mr. Burdon confidered this measure as a heavy calamity, but one which was to terminate with the occation that produced it. He wished to fee it attach more largely on the higher claffes, particularly on Lard Proprietors, as large contribution from permanent incomes could not be fo fenfibly felt, as from the produce of induitry.

Mr. Alderman Lufhington, after defcribing the effects of the mealure on the manufactures, and the enterprising spirit of the country, fuggefted the propriety of exempting from the measure perfons paying under 10l. affefled taxes, and

modi

modifying the clafs above that fum, which, he faid, would leave a furplus of 6,500,000l. but he did not bring any thing forward in the fhape of a Motion. Mr. Pitt exprefled his furprife at the affertions, that the tendency of this Bill was to do away thofe perions who were the fupport of the State, and that the Tax was directly against the manufacturing clafs of the country.

To fuppofe that the whole could be levied upon the rich alone, was vifionary and impolitic, if it were practicable. There was fuch a fympathy between the higher and the inferior claffes, that an undue preffure of the former would operate as a difcouragement to the purchale of commodities, and an univerfal stagnation of trade would take place.

Mr. Tierney faid, he objected to the principle of the bill, becaufe he was convinced it was oppreffive, and calculated to provoke irritation in the minds of the people at a period when the greatest unanimity ought to prevail. He could affure the Hon. Gentleman, that many of thofe who were otherwife difpofed to think well of his meatures, dreaded the paffing of this Bill, from a conviction of their inability to comply with it. He did not expect that the Minifter would abandon it altogether, but he wished for time, that it might be rendered as palatable as poffible.

The queftion for the Bill being read the fecond time was put and carried.

Mr. Pitt said, it certainly was his intention that the Bill fhould be read the fecond time on Monday next, as it was of the utmost importance to the public fervice that it fhould pafs before the holidays. He moved accordingly.

Mr. Tierney, after making fome further obfervations, moved, that Thurfday should be fubftituted for Monday. On a divifion, there appeared for the amendment, 5; against it, 58.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8. Mr. Yorke fubmitted to the Minifter the propriety of poftponing the commitment of the Treble Alleffed Tax Bill to Thursday.

Mr. Pitt faid, when he mentioned Tuelday, it was on the fuppofition that the Bill would have been printed, and ready for delivery this day. As this was not the cafe, he fhould accede to the with of the Hon. Gentleinan.

Mr. Tierney urged the neceflity of poftponing the fecond reading to Tuefday, that Members might have an op. portunity of peruling the printed Bill before the principle was difcufled.

VOL. XXXIII. JAN. 1798.

Mr. Pitt faid, if the delay propofed could remove the misapprehenfions which prevailed on the measure, he had no objection.

The Order for Monday was then difcharged, and a new one made for Tuefday.

Sir J. Sinclair fignified his intention to submit, on Wednesday fe'nnight, certain Refolutions to the Houfe, fimilar to those he had brought forward laft Seffion, for the cultivation of wafte lands.

The House refolved itself into a Committee of ways and means, in which it was refolved, that towards raising the fupplies, the fum of three millions should be granted in Exchequer Bills.

Mr. Nicholls rofe, and, agreeable to the notice he had given, moved that all fees and falaries annexed to any office under the crown, exceeding 2000i. fhould be remitted during the continuance of the war. The Lord Chancellor, the Speaker, the Judges, and Foreign Minifters, were exempted.

Mr. Tierney faid, that though he ap proved of the principle of the Refolution, he difapproved of the mode in which it would operate. He hoped therefore that the Motion would be withdrawn, and fo modified as to be more generally beneficial.-The Motion was withdrawn. The Report of the Corn Bill was reconfidered.

Mr. Ryder brought the claufe for allowing the entry of fhips whofe lading was actually on board on the 11th of November, and which fhall arrive by the 14th inftant.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11.

The Scotch Militia Bill, and the German Officers Naturalization Bill, were read a fecond time.

that

Mr. P. Carew brought up the Report of the Committee on the Newton Election Petition. The Report stated; that Thomas Langdon Brooke, Eiq. the fit. ting member, was not duly elected; Peter Patten, Efq. the petitioning member, was duly elected, and ought to have been returned, and that the oppofition to the Petitioner's petition was not frivolous or vexatious. The Clerk of the Crown was ordered to attend to morrow to erafe in the return the name of Mr. Brooke, and to fubftitute that of Mr. Patten.

The account of the expenditure of public money by the Board of Agriculture was ordered to be printed.

The Corn Bill was read a third time,

and pafled. The provifions were limited

to fix weeks after the commencement of tle next Seffion of Parliament.-Adjourned.

I

FOREIGN

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, SEPT. 30, 1797.

Copy of a Letter from Captain Boorder, Commander of his Majefly's Ship L'Efpeigle, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated Yarmouth Roads, the 27th of September 1797.

I HAVE the pleasure to inform you, for the information of my Lords Com. miffioners of the Admiralty, that on Saturday the 23d inftant, at one P. M. being then off the Coaft of Holland, the Vlic Ifland bearing South, durance eight leagues, we difcovered a fchooner about four or five miles a-head of us, which we gave chace to. The wind being at S. E. prevented her from gaining the Vlic Paffage. Finding we were coming fast up with her, and judging we were unacquainted with the coaft, she ran clofe in, and let go her anchor in eight feet water. Mr. Stephenson, my Master, knowing the coaft very well, we followed until we came into lefs than

three fathoms, let go our anchor, and immediately commenced a heavy fire on her they however engaged us forty minutes, then cut her cable and ran her on fhore: thirteen of her crew took this opportunity of leaving her before our boats could take poffeffion. No time was to be loft; the fignal for an enemy on their coaft had been made from our first firing on the fchooner, and we could plainly perceive they were bringing down two field pieces against us; but, by our conftant fire of round and grape fhot, we in a great measure ftopped their progrefs. The tide of flood having made, the was foon got off, without any other damage than having received a hot between wind and water, and which we foon got stopped.

The fecond Lieutenant of the schooner was killed. We had a few shot through our fails, and two through our Enfign. She proves to be the D'Ondeilbaarlaid, or the Invincible Dutch fchooner, from Amfterdam, mounting 10 guns, carrying 46 men; left the Vlic Ifland only that morning; had made no captures ; quite a new vessel, and a remarkable faft failer.

HIS Majefty's floop Albicore arrived here last night with a privateer schooner of three guns, called the Nantais, copper-bottomed.

I have the honour to tranfinit herewith a return of the number of Armed Veffels taken and destroyed fince my laft:

One fmall barge of 1 gun, captured by his Majesty's fhip Thames.

One fchooner privateer of 2 guns, 14 mufquets, and 30 men; three other fmall boats fent in, and ten destroyed by the Drake.

One fchooner privateer of 1 gun and 20 men, captured and brought in by the Aquilon.

Two armed barges, captured and brought in by the Rattler.

La Trompeufe French schooner privateer of 12 guns and 78 men, funk by his Majefty's brig Pelican.

A Spanish packet of 6 guns, with troops on board, captured by the Dili gence, in company with the Renommeé

and Hermione.

A copper-bottomed fchooner privateer, of 3 guns and 56 men, captured and brought in by the Albicore.

One row-boat privateer, armed with fwivels and mufquetry, captured by the Albicore.

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, NOV. 25. Copy of another Letter from Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Knt. to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated the 6th of Oct. 1797. I BEG you will be pleafed to inform their Lordships, that Captain Gascoyne being ill of a fever, I put Lieutenant White, of the Queen, into his Majefty's brig Pelican, to command her during the Captain's illness.

On the 17th of laft month Lieutenant White had the good fortune to fall in with the Trompeufe French privateer brig. His fpirited conduct and officer

like management I am fure will be as strongly impreffed on their Lordships minds by his account of the action here. with inclofed, as it was on mine, in giving him great credit for both.

SIR,

Pelican, at Sea, Sept. 17, 1997.

I HAVE the honour to inform you, that at thirty minutes paft feven A. M. we difcovered a brig bearing N. N. W. (Cape Nicholas S. by W. half W.) ftanding towards us, with the larboard tacks on board. As the appeared to be a veffel of force, I immediately made Eaft. all fail towards her, the wind being At forty-five minutes past eight, the having fhewn French colours, we opened our fire on her in crolling, then continued and well-directed fire until wore round her ftern, and kept up a twenty minutes after nine, when the made all fail from us with the larboard mediately make all fail after her, as our tacks. Unfortunately we could not imfoon as it was repaired, every exertion running rigging was much cut; but as fecond time, which was effected at fortywas made to get alongfide of her a five minutes after twelve, when we opened our fire on her, which was fo well directed, that at ten minutes past colours. At fifteen minutes after one. one the blew up abaft, and ftruck her totally loft. fhe went down by the head, and was

diately hoifted out our boats, and for Upon which we immecrew, by whom we learn he was the tunately faved the lives of fixty of her Trompeufe French privateer brig, mounting 12 fix-pounders, and 78 men but had only taken one prize. on board: fhe had been out eleven days,

I feel myself greatly indebted to Captain Perkins, of the Drake, whom I difcovered in fhore of us, for using every exertion to work to windward, and cut her off from Jean Rebel, as foon as I made the private fignal to him, and that of the chace being an enemy.

Permit me to obferve, that great praife is due to Lieutenants Ward and Ufher, and Mr. M'Clearty, the Matter, for their zeal, conduct, and bravery, as alfo to the inferior Officers, and ship's company, for their steadiness, obedience, and courage.

Inclofed I have the honour to fend you a lift of the killed and wounded. I have the honour to be, &c. THOMAS WHITE.

[Here follows a lift of the killed and wounded.]

I 2

ADMI