stitution for their assistance was formed, [jections made to the bill appeared to him which had met with the peculiar approba- more applicable to a committee. It was tion of the great and benevolent Howard.notorious, that the act of the 27th of his Mr. May did not see the propriety of majesty had been neglected, and that the passing a new act, while another existed in returns of the grand juries of Cork, Limethe statute book, competent to the pur-rick, Waterford, Ennis, and most of the pose now proposed. The design of the other counties, were a negative to the probill was to provide for a thousand mad visions made by it. With regard to the Irish. At present these were under the power of the lord lieutenant, it was conprotection of the grand juries of the tined to the original direction, and the incounty. The bill now under considera- spection, detail, and regulations, would be tion, would take this important duty out under the control of the judges at the of the hands of the respectable persons assizes. He declared sincerely to the to whom the discharge of it was committed, house, that the object of that, or any other and would place it with others who were less measure he should propose, was not meant suited to the purpose., He added, that the as a party job, or a provision for any inonly effect would be to impose a tax upon dividual, but purely founded on the rethe counties, unnecessary and impolitic, port of the committee. If, however, the and he concluded with moving the amend- house should not think proper to assent ment, that, in the lieu of the word "now," to the motion, he hoped the house would the term, "six months," should be sub-take care that the grand juries should be stituted. compelled to make returns of the provisions they should make, in compliance with the act of the 27th of his majesty. Lord Dunlo hoped the hon. bart. would not press the second reading of the bill on this day, but defer it till after the as- Sir G. Hill expressed himself against sizes in Ireland, in order to give the grand the bill, which he thought to be unneces juries an opportunity of considering it. He sary, when sufficient powers were already expressed several objections to the provi-given to the grand juries. sions of the bill, as the distance of the asyla from each other would take the patients so far from their former residence, and sometimes 50 or 60 miles away from the visits or inspection of their friends; and, in that part of the country which he had the honour to represent, he saw no strong symptoms of extraordinary madness. which could induce him to vote against the amendment. Colonel Bagwell animadverted on the inconsistency of the noble lord, who began by expressing a wish, that the bill should be delayed till the assizes were over, and afterwards concurred in a motion for its total rejection. He highly approved of the object it proposed, as there was a vast number of those objects to be seen swarming in every part of Ireland. Mr. Lee said he would oppose the present bill, but was ready to support any other, which would accomplish the same objects in a better manner. Mr. Fitzgerald thought the law at present competent to attain all the objects of the bill. Sir J. Newport said, that finding the sense of the house to be against the bill, he should beg leave to withdraw it, but not with the intention of bringing in another.-The amendment was then agreed to, that the bill should be read a third time this day six months.-Adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS. Triday, April 4. [MINUTES.] The royal assent by Cơm.. Mr. Alexander said, that though he ap-mission was given to the Customs Duty, proved of the outline of the measure, he Excise Duty, Legacy Duty, and elever must object to the mode in which the ob- private bills.-A Copy of the Letter from ject was proposed to be accomplished. He Viscount Melville to the Commissioners thought the bill drawn up hastily and in-of Naval Enquiry, together with the an accurately, and could see no necessity for swer of the Commissioners, were preall this complicated machinery. He sented at the bar, and ordered to be printshould, therefore, vote for the amended. Lord Hawkesbury moved the Order ment, in hopes that another bill would of the day, for the commitment of the be brought in, which would be better English Militia Enlisting bill. The house adapted to the purpose. having resolved itself into a committee, be Sir J. Newport replied, that all the ob- moved, if noble lords had not objections to propose to any of the clauses, that the excise in G. Britain; an act for granting bill should be read short, which was ac- to his majesty additional stamp duties in cordingly done, and an order made, on G. Britain on certain legacies.-A petition the motion of his lordship, that it be read of the master pilots and seamen of the a third time on Monday.-Lord King trinity house of Newcastle upon Tyne, was wished to asked of the noble secretary of presented to the house, and read; setting state, whether it was the intention of his forth, that the petitioners are incorporated majesty's ministers to propose any bill for by divers charters from the crown, and by prolonging the commission of naval en-virtue thereof do collect and receive, for quiry, which, owing to the arrangements keeping and repairing two light-houses at that had been adopted for the opening of North Shields, at or near the port of Newthe present session, would expire with the castle, certain duties prescribed by the session? If ministers did not think pro- said charters to be paid by the owners of per to renew a commission, from which so ships or vessels entering the said port; much advantage had been derived to the and that the said light-houses have, from public, he would feel it incumbent on him alterations in the channel' and course of to bring forward a bill to that effect. Lord the river, become ill-placed, and unfavourHawkesbury was not aware that his ma- able to the safe navigating of vessels; and jesty's ministers had come to any deter- it is necessary that two new light-houses mination on the subject, but he under- should be erected, which will give a diffestood, from what had passed in another rent line of direction or leading mark to place, that time would be allowed to them ships entering into or leaving the said port; to finish the important enquiries in which and that from the necessity of consulting they were engaged.-The Irish militia en- and advising with a large and numerous fisting bill, and several private bills, were body of men interested in the trade of the brought up from the commons. The Irish port, and residing at different places, the militia enlisting bill was read a first time, petitioners were not able to present their and, on the motion of lord Hawkesbury, petition to the house before the day fixed ordered to be read a second time on Mon- for presenting petitions for private bills day. On the commitment of the Ameri- had expired; and therefore praying for can ships licence bill, lord Sheffield ex-leave to present a petition for a bill for pressed his disapprobation of the principle erecting the said proposed new lightof the bill, and protested against extend- houses.-Leave granted. A message from ing such advantages to foreign ship owners, the lords, by Mr. Simeon and Mr. Stanwhen the ship owners of this country were, ley; that the lords have agreed to the bill, many of them, notoriously in a state of intituled, An act to enable the East India insolvence, occasioned by want of employ-company to appoint the commander in ment for their tonnage. It was not, how-chief on the Bengal establishment to be a ever, his intention to divide the house on member of the council of Fort William, in the bill. The bill was then reported. Bengal; notwithstanding the office of Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Friday, April 5. [MINUTES.] The Speaker, attended by the house, proceeded to the house of peers, and being returned, he reported that the house, at the desire of the lords, authorized by virtue of his majesty's commission, had been at the house of peers, where a commission under the great seal was read, giving the royal assent to the following public and private bills, viz. An act for granting to his majesty additional duties, within G. Britain, on certain goods, wares, and merchandize, imported into, or brought or carried coastwise; an act for granting to his majesty several additional duties of Vol. IV. governor general of Fort William and the P examined the allegations of the bill, and MIDDLESEX.] The Speaker acquainted found the same to be true; and that the the house, that he had received a decla committee had gone through the bill, and ration, in writing, subscribed by sir Franmade several amendments thereunto,cis Burdett. baronet, who is returned a which they had directed him to report to knight of the Shire to serve in this present the house; and he read the report, and parliament for the county of Middlesex, afterwards delivered the bill, with the that he, the said sir Francis Burdett, did. amendments, in at the table, where the not intend to defend his election for the amendments were read, and agreed to by said county. And the said declaration be the house.-Mr. William Dickinson pre-ing delivered in at the table, was read; sented to the house pursuant to their or- and is as followeth, viz. "Whereas, on ders, copy of a letter from sir Home Pop- Wednesday the 13th day of March last, a ham to William Marsden, esq. secretary petition, subscribed with the names of to the admiralty, dated 25th Feb. 1805; George Boulton Mainwaring, esq., therein with its enclosures; and also, copy. of a stated to have been, at the last election for letter from sir Home Pophain to the navy the county of Middlesex, a candidate to board, dated 28th February 1805; and also represent the said county in this present copy of a letter from sir Home Popham parliament, sir William Gibbons, baronet, to the navy-board, dated 26th March 1805; sir William Curtis, baronet, Henry Thornwith the answer of that board thereto; and ton, esq. William Mellish, esq. and Saalso, copy of a letter from the commissioners muel Pepys Cockerell, esq. was presented of his majesty's navy to William Marsden, to this house, complaining of my election esq. secretary to the admiralty, dated 1st and return to serve in this present parlia April 1805, together with a schedule of ment as a knight of the Shire for the the said papers: and the said schedule county of Middlesex; which petition this was read. Ordered, that the said papers house has ordered to be taken into cousido lie upon the table; and be printed for deration upon Tuesday the 7th day of May. the members of the house.-Ordered, that instant: "And whereas, on Wednesday. the order of the day, for the house to re- the 10th day of April last, this house solve itself into a committee of the whole ordered that the said petitioners should house, to consider of so much of an act, upon the 20th day of April last, by themmade 43 Geo. III. as relates to the salaries selves or their agents, deliver to ine, or my of the judges of the vice-admiralty courts agents, lists of the persons intended by in the island of Malta, and in the Bermuda the said petitioners to be objected to who and Bahama islands; and the enabling voted for me, giving in the said lists the his majesty to grant contingent annuities several heads of objection, and distinguishto such judges on their resignation, being the same against the names of the voters now read: and the same being read; the excepted to, and that I should, by myself house resolved itself into the said com- or my agents, at the same time deliver mittee; and, after some time spent there-like lists on my part to the said petitionin, the Speaker resumed the chair; and ers or their agents:-" And whereas, it Mr. William Dickinson reported from the appears, upon the face of the sheriff's poll, committee, that they had come to several taken at the said election that at the said eresolutions, which they had directed him lection, 12833 persons voted for me, and to report, when the house will please to 2832 for the said George Boulton Mainwa receive the same. Ordered, that the re-ring, amounting in the whole to 5665 pĕrport be received upon Tuesday next. The sons actually polled; and that 103 persons house was moved, that an act, made 43 tendered their votes for me, and 99 for the Geo. III. for granting to his majesty a con- said George Boulton Mainwaring, making tribution on the profits arising from pro-202 tendered votes; in the whole 5867 votes perty, professions, trades, and offices, might be read: and the same being read; Ordered, that leave be given to bring in a bill to repeal certain parts thereof, and to consolidate and render more effectual the provisions for collecting the duties granted by the said act, polled and tendered: And whereas, between the said 13th day of March last, when the said petition was presented to this house, and the 20th day of April last, on which day this house ordered the said lists to be exchanged, there was not suffi cient time for me, by myself, or by my [DECLARATION OF SIR FRANCIS BUR-agents, to examine into the rights of ́ ́DETT NOT TO DEFEND HIS ELECTION FOR 5867 voters, so as to enable me to make out, with sufficient certainty, a list of the several master printers in the cities of objectionable voters received on the poll London and Westminster, was presented for the said George Boulton Mainwaring,o the house, and read; setting forth, "that with the several heads of objection, in the the petitioners have for many years carried mauner ordered by this house; and there- on the printing business, to the general fore no such list, nor any list, has been diffusion of literature, the promotion of made out or delivered by me to the said commerce, the facilitating of every kind of petitioners or their agents :-" And where-business, and to the great benefit and ac as the said petitioners have delivered to commodation of the public at large; and me a list of the persons who voted for me that, from the extraordinary increase of objected to by them, with the several the printing business for several years past, heads of objection, amounting to 1944 a great variety of modes of printing has persons; but between the 20th day of been introduced, and various expedients April last, the day on which, pursuant have been adopted to facilitate its execu, to the above-mentioned order of the house, tion, in consequence whereof disputes they delivered the said list to me, and have frequently arisen with the workmen ; the 7th day of May instant, an interval of but as the masters' profits have always been only sixteen days, on which day the said in proportion to the wages paid to the petition is ordered to be taken into con- journeymen, the petitioners, standing as sideration, there is not sufficient time to they do between the employer and the emexamine into, and ascertain, the rights and ployed, have constantly been induced to titles of 1944 persons therein objected to, allow the utmost advanced prices they so as to enable me to maintain and defend thought themselves justified in paying, the same:-" Now, by virtue of the pro- but have not always been enabled to satisvisions and enactments contained in the fy the demands of their journeymen, who second section of a certain act of parlia- in the metropolis consist of two branches, ment, passed in the 28th year of the denominated compositors and pressmen; reign of his present majesty, chap. 52, and that the compositors are paid by a intituled, “An act for the further regula- standard generally reckoning upon the tion of the trials of controverted elections, number of letters contained in a page, and or returns of members to serve in parlia- the pressmen by the number of sheets ment;" I do inform this house, by this printed; that scales for both descriptions my declaration, in writing, subscribed by of workmen have been formed and adme, and delivered in at the table of this vanced upon in different periods from the house, that it is not my intention to de- year 1786 to Dec. 1800, when the last fend my said election or return. Witness advance was made in consequence of the my hand this 1st day of May 1805. Fran- then unusually high price of bread and cis Burdett."-The house was moved, that every necessary article of life; and that an act, made in the 28th year of his pre- the workmen have lately become dissatis sent majesty, for the further regulation of fied, and have made exorbitant demands, the trials of controverted elections or re-although the pressure of the times is by no turns of members to serve in parliament, means so great as at the period above might be read:And the same was read. stated, and the masters do not therefore The house was also moved, that the think themselves justified in making any order, made upon the 10th day of April further advance upon the fixed prices, as last, for taking into consideration, to- they conceive that, if such demands were morrow, the petition of George Boulton to be complied with, the price of elemenMainwaring, esq. sir William Gibbons, tary books for the instruction of youth, baronet, sir William Curtis, baronet, Hen-and many other useful tracts of literature, ry Thornton, esq. William Mellish, esq.would be so enhanced as to place them and Samuel Pepys Cockerell, esq. com-out of the reach of many, and the encou plaining of an undue election for the said ragement of the export trade, so benefi county, might be read:-And the same cial to the revenue as well as to the petibeing read; ordered, that the said order tioners,, and to the numerous individuals be discharged. Ordered, that the said pe-interested in the sale of books, would be tition be taken into consideration upon nearly precluded; and that within the last Friday, the 7th day of June next, at three of the clock in the afternoon. [PRINTERS PETITION.] A petition of month nearly all the pressmen usually employed by the petitioners have voluntarily left their work, thereby putting all public and private business nearly to a stand, and ut- they are precluded from offices of trust terly preventing the possibility of complet- and power, the only remaining bulwarks ing in due time many important papers now in existence for the preservation and actually wanted by government, as well as security of the Protestant reformed relithe various periodical publications for the gion, as finally settled at the glorious re ensuing month, to the great detriment of the volution of 1688; and that the petitioners revenue as well as to the proprietors of such couceive they would incur the imputation works, and the petitioners have thereby of criminal indifference, as the first muni» sustained much loss, and been subjected to cipal body in his majesty's dominions, great inconvenience in carrying on their were they lightly to regard an application business; and that the petitioners appre- to the legislature so formidable in its hend that the length of time required for claims, and so mischievous in its tendency servitude by apprenticeship is one great to the religion, laws, and liberties, which cause of their not being able to provide it has ever been their glory to admire, hands sufficient to execute the printing and their ambition to guard and secure in business; and that, when they have been every perilous situation; and that the inclined to take apprentices, the petition- oaths of supremacy and allegiance are an ers have had impediments thrown in their integral part of the bill of rights proposed, way by the journeymen; and that in or- as the declaration of the lords and comder, as far as possible, to provide a tem-mons of 1688, expressly states, "in orporary remedy for the late desertion of der to such an establishment as that their their workmen, the petitioners have been religion, laws, and liberties, might not under the necessity of employing various again be in danger of being subverted ;" descriptions of persons not entitled by law that the abrogation of or dispensation with to follow the printing business, and, if they those oaths to any class of his majesty's were empowered to continue the services subjects, would not only weaken at preof such persons, and to take apprentices at sent, but ultimately destroy, those solid certain ages, and for less periods of time foundations on which the wisdom and than seven years, they conceive that so virtue of our ancestors erected our free great an evil as hath now arisen might be and happy constitution, the envy and ad. prevented in future, and that the extent of miration of the world; and that the petithe evil before stated was not foreseen till tioners regard, with veneration and gra after the time limited by the house for re-titude, those unextinguishable principles ceiving private petitions had elapsed; and which led the legislature of that day to therefore praying, that they may have leave provide for the happiness and freedom of to present a petition for the purposes afore- their posterity, by so carefully guarding said."Ordered, that the said petition be the protestant succession, which has pla*referred to the consideration of a commit-ced the house of Brunswick on the throne tee; and that they do examine the matter of the united kingdom; and they rely, "thereof, and report the same, as it shall ap-under Providence, that the spirit of our -pear to them, to the house. And a com- forefathers will animate and strengthen mittee was appointed accordingly; and the virtue and patriotism of their honourthey have power to send for persons, pa- able successors, the commons of the la pers, and records. perial parliament, to preserve, uninjured, [PETITION FROM LONDON RESPECTING the glorious fabric they have raised ; and PETITION OF THE CATHOLICS OF IRE-that the petitioners conceive every equaLAND] A petition of the lord mayor,lity is already allotted to the Roman daaldermen, and commons, of the city of tholics, in common with the rest of his London, in common council assembled, majesty's subjects, consistent with the was presented at the bar by the sheriffs; safety of the church and state; but that, setting forth, that the petitioners have to grant an indiscriminate participation of observed, with infinite concern and dis-power, without requiring and enforcing quietude, a petition lately presented to the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, the house by the Roman Catholics of taken by every other class of his maIreland, on behalf of themselves and of jesty's subjects, must be productive of fuothers, his majesty's subjects professing ture unavoidable anately and misery; and the Roman Catholic religion,"praying therefore praying, that the remaining sarepeal of the several statutes by which lutary restrictive statutesi respecting the C 1 |