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other equally infallible expedient was in farmy. It was a measure of such a nature, reserve, if the promised hope should not that we could not long go on in it, but be fulfilled. The measure now proposed should soon come to a total stop. Our would be attended with great inconveni-military system should be so constructed ence, and the officers of the militia were that its parts would correspond with and averse to it. He took occasion to revert assist each other. The consequence of to the irritation with which his hints at doing this thing in this case was, that one the propriety of reducing the militia had part of the existing system acted in one been formerly received. He then admo- direction and another in the opposite. Then nished the friends of that system, that there was a sort of compromise, and such they had less to apprehend from those who compromise was most ruinous to any openly attacked them, than from those thing like a general system. For all these who afforded them a treacherous defence. reasons, and for many others, which he (see vol. 3. p 606). There was a Spanish could adduce, he thought himself perfectly proverb, which said, "protect me from consistent in opposing this bill.-The quesmy friends, and I will guard myself against tion being called for, the house dividedmy enemies." This applied well to the For the second reading militia in the present instance. The right Against it hon. gent. opposite (Mr. Yorke) had argued forcibly in support of his own sentiment on this occasion, but he allowed he bad but few of his brother officers of militia with him. The question was not which opinion was right, but which opinion prevailed; not what they ought to feel, but what they do feel. When the right hon. gent, said, that 18 out of 32 militia colonels, who signed the resolutions against [MINUTES.] Counsel were heard rethis measure, were actuated by party prin- specting the Scotch Appeal, Andrew Blane, ciples of opposition to ministers, he surely writer to the signet, trustee for sir A. did not see the effect of this position; for Cathcart, of Carleton, bart. v. Archibald if so large a portion of the aristocracy of Earl of Cassilis, and others; viz. Mr. Rothe country, the rank, the landed proper-milly, as leading counsel for the appelty, and influence, were to be seized upon lant, at considerable length.-The bills a distinct question of this kind, to convey upon the table were forwarded in their retheir decided disapprobation of the minis-spective stages; among these, the Addi ters of the time, it was a pretty clear proof tional Legacy Duty bill was read a second of the sense the best part of the country time, and committed for to-morrow; and entertained of these ministers. The gene- the Committee on the bill to authorise the rality of the feeling, however, let what may Oxford and Cambridge Colleges to purbe the cause of it, afforded no argument chase Advowsons, was postponed till Frifor the success of the measure. The coun-day-Adjourned,

The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Thursday.-Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Wednesday, March 27.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Wednesday, March 27.

try, notwithstanding the extraordinary success of all the measures recommended from the other side, was still extremely at a loss for a disposable force; this, with the expectation of possible circumstances in [MINUTES.] Mr. Curwen gave notice Europe to afford room for employing this that he should move to-morrow that an force, were the reasons for resorting to humble address be presented to his mu that which the govt. was pledged not to jesty, praying that he would be graci recur to, except in cases of extreme neces-ously pleased to order copies of the Attor sity. The repetition of this measure wentney and Solicitor General's opinions rela totally to change the militia from its origi-tive to the rights and claims of the Duke nal constitution, to destroy the principle of Athol in the Isle of Man, to be laid of connection, and thus to do a vast injury before the house. Mr. Dickenson; conto the home service, without having any formally to an order of the house, prething like a permanent good effect on the sented the papers relating to Sir Home army, This measure could not be made a Popham; which were ordered to lie on part of a general system for recruiting the the table.Sir J. Newporty according to

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potice, made a motion respecting Irish was capable of effecting so desirable an Hospitals and Asylums for Lunatics, &c. object. He hoped, however, that the right : but after some conversation on the subject hon. gent. would see the propriety of albetween Mr. Alexander, Dr. Duigenan, lowing private bauks to issue small notes, Mr. Bastard, Mr. Ruse, and lord Temple, on a plan similar to that recognized by parthe hon. baronet withdrew the motion for liament in England. Private banks in this bez present. The Neutral and Foreign country had leave to issue small notes unShips bills, the Customs Duty bill, and the der 5.; he trusted, therefore, that thic Excise Duty bill, were read a second time. same indulgence would be granted to banks Mr. Juhnson, from the secretary of state's of the same description in Ireland, not iór voffice in Ireland, presented an account of the benefit of the banks, but for the atthe sums due by the commissioners of the cominodation of the public. navy, on account of sums advanced by collectors in Leland for seamen's wages, up to the 5th of Jan. 1805. Ordered to lie on the table.-Mr. Rose brought in the United States Commercial Treaty bill, and the Spanish Merchandize bill; which were read a first time.-Sir H. Dalrymple presented a Petition from the Inhabitants of sandrossan, in the County of Ayre, against the Goru bill. Ordered to lie on the table. -Mr. Calcraft presented a petition from the inhabitants of the parish of St. Pancras against the Poor Bill, which was ordered to lie on the table till the second reading of the bill, when counsel should be heard in support of the petition. The Secretary at War brought in a bill for augmenting the rates to be allowed innkeepers for noncommissioned officers, and privates who shall be quartered on them; which was read a first time.Adjourned..

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Mr. Foster replied, that the policy of granting such a privilege to private banks, as that suggested by the hon. gent required serious consideration; it would be competent, however, to the hon. gent, to bring forward the subject at some future period; he should not then trouble the house with any further observations, but confine himself to the object and substance of the bill for which he had the hone" of moving.

Mr. Magens said, that as the right hou. gent. had mentioned an intention of the bank of Ireland to issue silver tokens, tó relieve the necessity of silver notes, he would be glad to know the nature of them.

Mr. Foster answered, that, in addition to the Spanish dollars now in circulation in Ireland to a considerable amount, bank tokens of 10d. and 5d. each, in order to

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[IRISH SMALL NOTES BILL.] Mr. Fos-answer Irish currency, would be issued. ter, conformably to the notice which he The motion was then read from the chair, gave on Monday last, moved for leave to and leave given to bring in the bill. bring in a bill to restrain the negotiation [IRISH POST ROADS BILL.] Mr. Foster of promissory notes and Ireland Bills of also moved for leave to bring in a bill to Exchange under a limited sum in Ireland. amend an act, for the repair of post roads, The right hon. gent. observed, that he passed in the parliament of Ireland, in the should have moved for this bill long since, 32d of the king. The object of the amendbut that he had waited for a silver cur- ment was, that postmasters may be enarency, now coining, to supply the place of bled to send the mails by mail coaches, those small, or silver notes, as they were or otherwise, with greater safety and extermed. Every person in the least ac-pedition than could be done at present, quainted with the state of Ireland must from the badness of many of the public acknowledge and lament the ill effects pro-roads, which, by the bill, should be reduced by the issue of notes under 51. in paired and altered, where the public conthat country: the object of the bill, there-venience and advantage made it necessary. fore, was to restrain the further issue of a paper medium, which has inundated Ireland, and injured it most materially in every respect... ..

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Mr. R. Martin said, he was inclined, at first, to oppose the intended, restriction, but he had since changed his opinion, and now approved heartily of the measure. He could not but congratulate the country in baving a chancellor of the exchequer who VOL. IV.

Colonel Bugwell observed, that' if the bill were not speedily passed, it must lié over till next year, because the money for the proposed improvement was to be as sessed by the grand juries at the assizes!"

Mr. Foster said, he did not wish to pre cipitate public business; but, at all events, that delay was necessary for accomplishing the object of the presit measure! To the first place, surveyors must be sent to éxu

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mine and measure the ground wherever John Duke of Athol, on the Isle of Man. improvement was to be made; the returns Ordered.-Mr. Crevey rose to make his

of the surveys would be, of course, a te- motion respecting the claims of the Duke dious work; hence it was obvious, that of Athol upon the Isle of Man. He ob hurry would not answer the purpose on the served, that during the last administration, present occasion.-Leave was granted to an order had been made adverse to the bring in the bill.-The right hon. gent. claims of that peer, bearing date in Aug. likewise moved, for leave to bring in a bill 1802. He was desirous of knowing what to amend the Irish Spirit Licence bill, as gave rise to the sudden change of sentifar as it regarded distillers. The right hon. ment with regard to the claims of the noble gent. observed, that it might be necessary duke, and produced a contrary order in to inform the house, that the law in Ire- March last. He would therefore move, land did not allow more than four gallons" that an humble address be presented to of spirits to be carried from any distillery his majesty, praying that he would direct without a permit; the consequence of that there be laid before the house, a copy which was, that Liverpool jars, containing of the order of council, of the 31st March a quantity somewhat smaller than the law last, in favour of the claims of John Duke specified, had been employed for the pur- of Athol." Agreed to.-Col. Stanley movpose of taking advantage of the act. It ed for a copy of the memorial presented was not unusual to have 20 or 30 men to the privy council by John Duke of running from one establishment with liquor Athol.-Mr. Curwen rose to move for sethus conveyed. The object of the bill veral additional papers relative to the which he meant to bring in was to remedy Duke of Athol, and wished for the prothis detriment to the revenue. Leave was duction of copies of all the papers of the granted. Adjourned. proceedings relative to the compensation granted at the time of the sale to Government, in 1766. Mr. Rose observed, that the most regular way of proceeding would Thursday, March - 28.-have been for the hon. gent, to have given [MINUTES.] Counsel were farther heard previous notice of his motions. The on the Scotch Appeal, sir A. Cathcart, speaker having acquainted the hon. member bart. v. the earl of Cassilis, namely, Mr. that this would have been more conformaClarke, in continuation, as second counsel ble to the rules observed by the house, for the appellant. The farther considera- Mr. Curwen named to-morrow.-Mr. tion of the case was postponed till to-mor- Foster brought up the Irish Spirit Permit row. The bills upon the table were for Duty bill, and the Irish Small Note Rewarded in their several stages; among striction bill. Read a first time.-The Innthese the Additional Legacy Duty bill keeper Rates bill, the Spanish Trade Liwent through a committee, and was after-cence bill, and the American Treaty bill, wards reported. Some private business were severally read a second time. The was disposed of; after which the house ad- Alien Prize Ships bill, the American Goods journed till to-morrow.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

bill, the Irish Customs and Excise Duty bills, and the Spanish Wine bill, went through a committee. In the committee on the Spanish Wine bill a clause was inThursday, March 28. serted, for imposing the same duties on [MINUTES.] Col. Stanley presented a Spanish red wines as on French wines, on petition from the manufacturers, trades- the ground that the present cheapness of men, and the inhabitants of Manchester, Spanish red wines was the occasion of their praying for the repeal or amendment of being made use of to adulterate port. the Corn bill, passed last Sessions. Or- [BENGAL JUDICATURE BILL.] Lord dered to lie on the table. Sir John New-Castlereagh pursuant to notice, moved for port brought up a bill for establishing a leave to bring in a bill to amend the act of provisionary Asylum for Lunatics in Ire. the 33d of the king, which prescribes the land; which was read a first time Mr. powers to be given to the India company Curwen moved, that there be laid before the house copies of the opinion delivered by the Attorney and Solicitor-General be fore the Privy-Council, upon the claims of

in the appointment of a commander in chief of the forces in India, and regulates the duties of the governor general in council at Bengal. In making this motion,

however, he must inform the house, that tions: that lord Cornwallis, on his arrival it was not his intention either to make any in Bengal, which cannot be computed at material alteration in the forms or add less than six months from this period, will considerably to the expence of the esta- find India still involved in war, and that blishment. But, in the event of an exalted he may be obliged to take the field in permilitary character taking the chief com- son. If that be well founded, it gives us mand of the forces in the field, he thought but a melancholy prospect of the state of that it would be of essential benefit to the our affairs in that quarter. I do not perservice, and would tend to the further se-ceive that the bill gives lord Cornwallis curity of our possessions in that quarter, any new or extraordinary powers; and, if if the person who was to have the chief di- it did, I should not be inclined to oppose rection and management of our armies in it, for two reasons; first, because I should the field should have an opportunity of think it not at all unlikely that the exigensitting in the council and giving his advice cy of the case might require such powers; or communicating his information on mat-and then, because I know of no person ters that were intimately connected with among those who have acted in great sta▾ their welfare. He should therefore pro- tions in my time, whom I should be more pose, that the commander in chief should ready to trust with great power, than my have a place in the council at Fort William. lord Cornwallis. Judging of him by all When that illustrious personage, that noble his, public conduct, I am convinced that and gallant officer, the marquis Cornwallis, power may be safely trusted in his hands, was formerly in India, as the office of go-and that he will never use it but for the vernor general and that of commander in benefit of the public service. If my voice chief are both united, and as he was a could contribute to his honour, he should military man of great experience, and pos- have it without reserve, for the spirit that sessing the utmost ability, he had the di- prompts him to undertake such a task, as I rection of the councils and the management know it to be, and at such a time; and if of the armies in the field at the same time, it were possible to give him support in the but for the latter duty he had no emolu execution of it by any effort of mine, he ment, notwithstanding his bravery and might be sure of it, I am convinced that success are known so well to have deserved his great object will be to compose the disthe utmost compensation. By his exploits, orders of India, and to restore peace and and from circumstances which have since tranquillity to the unfortunate inhabitants happened, our territories in the East have of that country.-Leave was then given to considerably increased since the time of bring in the bill, which was brought up that noble and gallant officer having first and read a first time. taken the field, and gentlemen need not [MILITIA ENLISTING BILL.] On the be told that the duties of the civil govt. of motion being put for the house resolving our possessions in the East must conse-itself into a committee of the whole house, quently have become more numerous, and on the Militia Enlisting bill, that it must require more time and a greater degree of attention to direct the civil affairs of the company in the East than it did at the distant period to which he alluded. And, in the event of the person whom he had already mentioned going to India, it would be of the utmost importance a that the council at Fort William should have his experience and ability added to that of which it is already possessed. He therefore moved, that leave be given to amend the act which he had mentioned on introducing the subject to the house.

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General Fitzpatrick said, it was his intention to propose in the committee a clause for limiting the time of the enlistment of these volunteers, It was now 14 years since he first endeavoured to impress the propriety of enlisting for the army for term of years, The enlistment for life, however, still continued, though he was convinced his proposition would be ultimately adopted, as the only certain mode of permanently recruiting the army. His plan was partially adopted in the volunteering from the militia in 1799, in which Mr. Francis then rose and said; sir, Icase the enlistment was for a definite term am not aware of any objection to the pro- of 5 years, and during the war, There visions of this bill. The cases stated, was no provision to that effect in the prethough I hope not likely to happen, ought sent bill, and that was his principal reason to be provided for, The supposition can- for voting against it on the second readnot be made without some painful reflec-ing. Ile would propose in the commitee

a limitation similar to that of 1799, with understand. But, most certainly, he signthe exception of that part of it which re-ed no resolution or resolutions whatever, stricted the service to Europe. The limi- and he cautioned gentlemen how they went tation he meant to propose was, merely to meetings in future, the resolutions of 'for the term of 5 years, without any limi- which might be inserted in the public tation of place. journals, with their names, without their authorities.

- Mr. Ellison said, the bill was neither unconstitutional nor unjust and if it was Mr. Frankland thought what might be the motto of the constitution neither to the conduct of any gent. at a private meetbend or bow, yet as the militia was but ing immaterial in the discussion of this bill." one branch of the great tree of the consti- It was stated to be one of imperious netution, the militia might be constitutionally cessity; but if so, that necessity should made both to bow and bend, to receive be proved, and then every objection, though alterations, not only without violating the even of a much stronger nature, would constitution, but so as at once to maintain give way before it. He did not suppose it, to guard it from the incroachment of that it would abate the ardour of the real violations, and by extending the sphere militia officers in the defence of their counof its conservative power, to keep off the try, but some great necessity should be blights of time from the sacred body of shewn for the adoption of a measure, by the constitution. He would not admit which, without that, their feelings must that the bill would be a tax on the landed be wounded. Under the present circuminterest. The militia was originally, how-stances he must oppose it, as impolitic and ever, more a taxation on the landed interest unjust, although, if otherwise, he should than on any other. It was a wrong idea take pride in turning over to the regulars' to suppose that the militia was raised for such men as appeared most likely to obtain its own defence merely; for what would most distinctions in the field of battle. He be our situation, if, on the call of danger, could not approve the policy of this change, the York or Lincoln militia were to refuse which could not give us an offensive force, to serve any where but in its own county? while the threatened danger of the country For these reasons, he thought the bill nei-required that the men should be kept at ther unconstitutional, unjust, nor oppres-home. He was indeed sure, that the whole sive. As to what was said of its being a force and talents of the country should breach of faith, it was not that, but a com- be concentered for its protection, but that mutation. Still he admitted that nothing should always be done with a proper recould justify the measure but the neces-ference to our mild constitution. In the sity of the case. With respect to men's year 1799, there existed a great political feelings, he could only say, that he neither necessity, as we had then a gallant army, felt himself insulted or degraded by the critically circumstanced in an enemy's bill, and should say to his men, at the head of his regiment, Hére, my lads, is a better way of serving your country, and I'know you will choose the better way." He took notice of the remarks on the paper signed by the 32 militia officers, mentioned on a former night, and said, that although he was present at the meeting of these officers, he had never understood that any resolution was passed, and had never signed his name to any, although it did appear at the published resolutions of that meeting. Earl Temple said, that the hon. member was certainly present at the meeting, and expressed no sort of dissent from the resolutions.

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country, and for the purpose of rescuing and preserving that brave army, he should not oppose any practicable method, if such could be found, of transporting not only the militia, but the whole population of the country, for its relief. This plan, therefore, did not bring an accession of 17,000 men to our offensive force, but transferred them from one branch of defensive force to another; and that in a manner calculated to produce dissatisfaction and disunion in the service. It should not be lost sight of, that in its present state, the militia was a great defensive force, created by the parliament, and so formed, as to be a check against any such improvident or ruinous enterprise, or expeditions of the ministers, if any such were meditated. To deprive the people of such a force, raised from themselves, and for their own defence, was as unjust as it was impolitic. Such varying systems, from day

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