Thanks to Generals Medows and Aber. erombie, for their brave and gallant conduct during the war in India, and then, clared his intention of opposing it in all its ftages. FRIDAY, DEC. 21. Lord Rodney and the Bishop of Exeter took the oaths and their feats. That a fimilar Vote fhall be given to the Officers, Subalterns, &c. for their meritorious fervices under the auspices of the Noble Marquis during the war in Indi. Lord Grenville rofe to move the fecond Lord Grenville feconded thefe motions. reading of the Bill to establish regulations reLord Rawdon could not fuffer the Vote lative to aliens coming into this kingdom, or relative to the Noble Marquis to pafs with-fu.h as were refident therein, under certain ont declaring his moft hearty concurrence; and chiefly because he had the honour to ferve under him in America, and had been an eye-witness to his gallantry when the tide of fortune was adverse. The Votes paffed nemire diffentiente. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19. * Lord Grenville faid, that the vast number of foreigners and aliens now in this country, and the difpofitions and practices of fome of them, had given the officers of Government fufpicion of their evil intentions towards this country. He should not enter into the merit of the Bill which he now held in his hand, as it was his intention to fubmit the propriety of having it printed, in order that all the provifions of it might be well underftood by their Lordships, when the principles of the Bill came under confideration at the fecond reading. The general view of the Bill was, to provide against any evil that might be apprehended from the great number of foreigners in this country. In former days the prerogative of the Crown of itself governed cafes of this nature, and that prerogative was confidered to be very extenfive; for a length of time, however, this power Ind not been exercifed, and, perhaps, fome might think it obfolete. This Bill had no reference to that subject—it neither increased nor diminished the prerogative of the Crown -the law on that point thould be entirely untouched by this Bill. The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered to be printed. The title is, "A Bill to regulate Aliens, &c." It was afterwards ordered to be read a fecond time on Friday Dext. THURSDAY, DEC. 20. Lord Loughborough's Bill for the revival of the Lords' A& paffed the Committee. Lord Grenville informed their Lordthips, that printed copies of the Bill for impofing Restrictions upon Aliens in this Country were laid upon the table previous to a fe. cond reading. The Marquis of Lanfdowne declared, that this Bill was not more remarkable for its principle than for the precipitancy with which it was offered to the Houfe. He deVOL. XXIII. circumstances. The Marquis of Lanfdowne rofe and expreffed his difapprobation both of the principle of the Bill, and the hurry and precipi. tancy with which Minifters endeavoured to have it paffed through the Houfe. It was to him extraordinary and unprecedented. He agreed in the propriety of entering into fome folutary measure relative to the relief of thofe foreigners whom the distractions on the Continent had forced to feek an afylum in this country; it called loudly for the interference of Parliament. Thefe unfortu nate men had nothing to fubfift on but the charitable donations of individuals, and, from their vast numbers, these modes of relief were far from being fufficient. His Lordship expretfed his aftonishment at the reluctance which both Houfes of Parliament feemed to fecl at the idea of fending a Minifter to negociate with the exifting Government of France, and to compofe the mifunderstanding which feemed to exist between the two nations, and which femed now ready to break out into an open rupture. The fending of a Minifter to France would not only tend to the preven tion of a war between this country and her, and to the confequent effufion of our blood and treafure, but might compose the troubles that now exifted on the Continent between the Belligerent Powers, to which Auftria and Prullia would be the more inclined, inafuch as the diftance of the leat of war from these countries would be fo difadvantageous to them, and add to the ac quifitions of the French army. His Lord!hip obferved, that this country hould too well know the blethings of peace to rush into a dangerous and expensive war, the event of which would be uncertain, which would heap fresh burthens on us, and deftroy the fruits of labour, induftry, and commerce. An interference relative to the navigation of the Scheldt could not justify us in fuch proceeding; and he then had a communication in his hand, by which, if authentic, it would appear that the Dutch did not object fo ferioudy to the opening of that river, as that it would be neceffry for us on that account .to enter into war with France. The prefent state of an unhappy monarch was another reafon which, in the eyes of every feeling man, should render a negociation with France neceffary. This unfortunate Perfonage, who might be called the Reftorer of Liberty to France, was now in a state of imminent danger, as well as degradation. A timely interference, therefore, on the part of this country, might prevent his fate, which probably had not been as yet determined, His Lordship had two motions to make on the above fubjects; and if they did not meet the concurrence of the Houfe, he how ever would be confcious of having done his duty. The firft was, "That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majesty, requefting that his Majefty would be gracicufly pleafed to appoint a Minifter for the purpose of negociating with the perfons who exercifed the Executive Government in France; and who should reprefent to that Council his Majesty's feelings as to the fitaation of Louis the XVIth; and endeavour that no injury fhould take place as to his perfon;" and that, fecondly, "An humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majesty, intreating that his Majesty would be pleafed to fend an Amballador to negociate with the Executive Council of France, and reprefent to the Members of that Council his Majefty's compaffion for the fituation of the unfortunate Emigrants in this country from the French nation, who were in a state of famine, but that his Majefty intended to con cert meatures for their relief, by giving them Mettlements in Canada, and to request that thefe Emigrants might be made fome reftitution by the French nation for the lofs of their eftates." Lord Grenville fpoke for fome time against the motions which had been made by the noble Marquis. A negociation with France, he contended, would be impolitic and ineffectual; and it did not become the dignity of this country to treat with such persons as Book upon themfelves the Government of France. The Duke of Norfolk fupported the motion. Lord Sydney oppofed it on the fame grounds which Lord Grenville went upon. The Marquis of Lansdowne again fupported his motion for fending an Ambaffador to France; and deprecared the frequent mention of that word dignity, which had been to unfortunately used on many former occafions, but particularly in the cafe of America. At the time of our hoftilities with that country, it had been repeatedly faid in both Houses of Parliament, that it would be difgraceful to the kingdom--be neath her dignity-to treat with fuch en temptible people as the Americans. But this country was afterwards glad to do fo; and perhaps it might hereafter be the cafe with refpect to France. The functions of Government were exercised there; and he could fee no humiliation on our part in ne gociating with the perfons who exercised it, especially when two fuch defirable objects were likely to be attained as his motions went to apply for. At the recommendation of the Duke of Norfolk, the noble Marquis withdrew his firft motion; but insisted on having that one relative to Emigrants put to the fenfe of the House. Lord Loughborough oppofed it, and ohferved, that no perfon could be faid, in this. country, to be in a state of famine. Lord Lanfdowne replied, that although the country was rich and plentiful, yet the unfortunate men whom this motion went to relieve were, for the greatest part of them, in an actual fate of want. The whole of the French Emigrants amounted to about 8,000, and it was impoffible that the donations of private individuals could be of much fervice to fo great a number. Lord Grenville again oppofed the motion. He faid there was a number of perfons from France who were emiffaries, and had carried arms about them. Befides, the fevere decree paffed against all Emigrants by the National Convention, would render any interference of ours ufelefs and abfurd. The motion was negatived without a divifion. Lord Grenville then enteres into the confideration of the Bill which was before the House. The Duke of Portland fupported the motion, because he conceived it neceffary in the prefent fituation of affairs. Lord Lauderdale opposed the motion, and condemned the conduct of Ministers, who had acted inconfiftently with themselves on the prefent occafion, for they were about to deng protection to those unfortunate men who were obl ged to fly from France; and fo far their conduct coincided with that of the Government of France, whofe proceed. ings they had laboured fo much to paint in the most detestable light. The Marquis of Lansdowne perfifted in his oppofition to the motion; and entertained no doubt but that it was intended as the forerunner of the fufpenfion of the Labeas corpus a; and that its fufpenfion, with refpect to foreigners, was only a preparatory step to the fame with refpect to the people of England. Lord Hawkefbury fupported the motion, The The Duke of Leeds likewise supported it, and declared, that he would himself, if nec.fiary, vote for a fufpenfion of the babeas pus aft, even with refpect to the people & this country. Lord Stormont fupported the motion. The Bill was read a fecond time, and oréred to be committed. SATURDAY, DEC. 22. ALIEN BILL. The order of the day being read, the House refolved itfelf into a Committee of the whole Houfe, Lord Cathcart in the chair; and on motion of Lord Grenville, the Bill was read paragraph by paragraph, the blanks filled up, and a variety of amendments made therein. The principal movers of the amendments were, Lords Thurlow, Loughborough, and Grenville; Marquis of Lanfdowne, Duke of Norfolk, and Earl Lauderdale. Thofe propofed by the three latter Lords were negatived; those which were made by the three former were accepted, and went merely to the legal forms of wording, and not to any alteration of the fpirit of the Bill. In a Committee of this nature, it is a con verfation at the table, and not a debate, which paffes. To follow it with regularity would be therefore impoffible. Lord Loughborough contended for the legality of feveral of the claufes which were conceived to be erroneously worded by Lord Thurlow, and he fupported his opinion fuccessfully; but he admitted of the justice of an alteration in respect to what related to Scotland, as in that country the words baitment and transportation had a different meaning from that by which they were understood in England, and the claufe therefore was amended. Earl Spencer, in the course of the evening, took occafion to exprefs his hearty concur rence with the conduct of his Majefty's Minifters as to the prefent Bill, and faid they should have his fupport in the measures they were now fo properly taking; and he trufted that, at this critical moment, all men would unite in ftrengthening the hands of the Executive Government, and in fuppreffing whatever might tend to disturb the tranquillity of the kingdom, or endanger its most valuable Conftitution. By this, however, he did not mean to have it underflood that he agreed in political fentiments in any other measure with the prefent Ministry. Their ideas and his widely differed as to the general political scale by which Adminiftration should be governed; but this was not the time for difcuffing thofe points. There was but one obje& before the great body of the people at present-and that combined in it the fafety of their Constitution and the dignity and honour of the empire. For this the people in and out of Parliament had united-all little political bickerings were forgotten and the nation feemed to have but one mind. He had already faid he gave his concurrence to the prefent Bill, and he wifhed now to guard Ministers against any abufe of that confidence he placed in them by fo doing, as there were fome stretches of power in one or two of the claufes that nothing but the most urgent neceffity fhould oblige them to exercise. Earl Lauderdale was very ftrenuous to have the clause respecting fervants altered. He conceived it to be a hard cafe that a gentleman of this country coming here from France fhould have his fervants ftopped, their arms taken from them, and a kind of inquisition established to make them confefs who they were, where they were going, and what their bufinefs was. He thought it alfo a very hard cafe, that a Frenchman who came over from motives of curiofity should be treated as the suspected spy of an enemy-that his word, which was a part of his drefs, fhould be feized; and that when, perhaps, he did not rightly know how long he should stay in London, or where he should refide, he must describe his last place of abode-his intended place of refidence, and have a paffport to prevent his being arrested as,a fufpicious perfon. This was not the conduct of the French towards Englishmen; for even when there was a general fearch for arms in Paris, and that the municipal officers came to his refidence-for he happened by chance to be in France at the time although he had two pair of pistols, they only asked him "if they were for his perfonal fafety?" and on being told they were, very politely withdrew. Lord Loughborough faid, the cafe which his Lordship stated, and the measure to be provided against by the prefent Bill, were widely different; nor did he fee any impropriety, but much good precaution, in difarming every Frenchman: and the French would do the fame in a fimilar cafe with vifitors from us; but they had no caufe to fufp:et fuch of the few English as go there, of overturning their new-fangled Conftitution. They were friends to that kind of Republicanism which now distracts that unhappy country; and in respect to the inconvenience of topping perfons and examining them, that was very fmall indeed--nor could he fee the impropriety of subjecting the engrant or the vifitor to that trouble, when he could neither tell from whence he came, to what place he was going, nor what H 2 he meant to do. Nothing that he faid could perfonally affect the Noble Lord, as his refdence in town and country was well know?, and he always knew where he was going, from whence he came, and what he meant to do. Lord Cathcart, after a conversation which lafted until paft nine o'clock, the amendments having paffed, and the bill got through, quitted the chair and reported the bill. Lord Grenville moved that it should be read feffed, that they were fignals of anarchy, and the harbingers of Mob Government. Lord Loughborough in a moft animated fpeech tupported the bill. He asked Lord Lauderdale if he was ferious in saying, "he fiw no danger to this country." Was there none in the feditious pamphlets iffued, and crammed into every hole and corner of the kingdom; none in the feditious clubs holding correfpondence with France, encouraged by the Convention, and endeavouring to overawe, a third time on Monday, and then the Houle like the Jacobins, the Leg flature 2 Yes, there adjourned to that day, MONDAY, DEC. 24. Lord Kenyon, as Speaker, reported his having communicated to General Medows the thanks of their Lordths for his gallant fervices; and that he had reclived an anfwer from the Gener-1, expreffing the fenfe he entertained of the high honour conferred upon him by the thanks of that House. The report of the Alien bill was brought up, and the amendments adopted in the Committee foverally read, and agreed to, it was ordered to be engroffed. The Lords Act was read a third time, and ordered to the Commons for their concur rence. Adjourned to WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26. ALIEN BILL. was danger, and Minifters would not have done their duty had they not acted with vigour, and prepared themselves again infidious attack. He intranced the conduct of Queen Elizabeth's Maniftry in guarding against the machinations of Spain, to thew that administration had a precedent for what they now did. He then alluded to the Atheism of the French; noticed the circumftance of a Member of the Convention denying the existence of a God, and being applauded; and asked if it was with fnch rulers and fuch morality we were to form alliances. Wou'd the Noble Lord fay, that the fyftem eftablished for the prefent moment in that country did not declare in their Convention, that all love and affection and duty fhould ceafe between parent and child, as focn as the child was able to feed itself-that there was no moral obligation pending, and that private charity and virtue were mistaken The question having been put, that the ideas imbibed from a falte education? If he Bill be read a third time, Lord Guildford rofe and oppofed the Bill as exceptionable and inexpedient, and as totaily incompatible with the generous fpirit of our Conflitation, vach offered eu lliberty, and equal freedom, to every perfon who got foot on English ground. He concluded by moving, that the bill be read a third time on this day fortnight. Lord Hawkefbary fupported the Bill, upon the ground of providing against thofe internal dangers which were to be apprehended from foreign Emiffaries. Lord Lauderdale oppofed the Bill. He could not fee that this country was in any danger, and urged a negociation with France, asa measure of great wifdom and great fafety, Lord Carlile faid, a negociation with France would attra& the contempt and abhor, rence of every Power in Eurone.-He faw the expediency of the prefent bill, and gave it his hearty fupport. The Marqu's of Lansdowne reprobated the bill, which he faid was a mere pretext for a war, as had been the afferting of infurre&t Ton", to obtain fubfcriptions to fucleries which af feed to fupport the Conftitution; but none of which he had fined, because he thought hey operated against the principles they pro d.d, the decrees of the National Affembly and their debates would foon inform him to the contrary. Would the Noble Lord attempt to deny that this fame ruling power, by their authority, feat men into the farmers yards to take away the corn; and that when the farmer remonftrated, the Municipal Officer told him, the land was indeed his, but all corn belonged to the people-for them it grew, and among them it ought to be divided Lord Loughborough then (poke of the Affociations against Republicans, and declared them legal. He begged to inform the Noble Lord, that as thefe Meetings were legal, he fhould state thofe which were not legal.-It was a high breach of the law and the Conftitution for any body of men to affembie, and infolently and daringly to publish Refolutions decwatory of their difapprobation of the judic al conduct of a Magutrate high in office, who acted legally under that authority with which the low bad inveiled him. It was a daring violation of the law to affeable and publich opinions which melitated against the exprefs ter and ipint of an exilung act of Parliament. Let the Noble Lord comment en tuis. He has ahinttes to understand, and cannot miflike what the real Conftitution is. It is not founded in the wild ideas of mittaken philofophy. This philofophy. Its bafis is Juftice-its ftructure is Wifdom. The Noble Lord had faid that we were not warranted in entertaining any ideas of infurrection in this country, or in any juft fuppofition that the English would ever attempt to follow the French in their new political maxims. To this he should reply, that when the French firft altered their fyftem of Government, and imprifored their Monarch, there was a gleam of joy, which could not be hid, very visible on the countenances of a certain defcription of people, and perhaps they went fome extraordinary lengths in celebrating the event. was in fome measure checked by the vast armaments formed against the ufurping power in France; and when the Auftrian and Preffian armies approached the capital, all was difmay with a certain party. They hung their heads in filent defpir, and confidered the fyftem of levelization and plunder as for. ever destroyed; but when the fate of war had changed the afpect of fuccefs to the combined armies, the joy of a certain pirty knew no bounds, and the focieties again opened their communications in a manner publicly hoftile to our Contitution. Embathies were fent to France, to congratulate the atheistical National Aflenty of that country on their fuccefs, and even fo far as to promife the affiftance of certar numbers here in c.fe of an infurrection, wt would endeavour to plant their tree of infamous liberty in this happy country. Was not this full time for the Executive Government of this country to interfere? Would pot the Noble Lord declare, that Ministers were culpable, if they permitted fuch matters to pafa unnoticed? Government did interfere; a Picclamation followed, which had the defired effect; and then Affociations were formed, which befpoke the fenfe of the country in fuch a manner as made thofe focieties hide their diminished heads. One thing more he wished to remark was, that mach had been faid about a perfon well known here (the ci-devant Duke of Orleans we fuppofe to be meant), and who probably would be profcribed in his own country, and naturally feek an asylum among the English, not being by the prefent Bill allowed the legal benefits which he formerly enjoyed here. To this he should without any referve reply, that if even that perfon attempted to land here, be should not be permitted to contaminate Brith ground, for he was a difgrace to his own Country, where he had openly and in public Affembly declared, that the first principle of the harman mind ought to be infurrection ganit Monarchy. He trufted Minifters would fhew a proper fpiritin reje&ing such a c as this. His Lordthip then faid, he refed the motion of Lord Guildford, and gave his hearty allent to the Bill. Lord Lauderdale felt himfelf extremely hurt at what fell from the Noble Lord. He called it a cruel attack on him who had fo long been of the fame party with the learned Lord, and by way of retaliation, mentioned the fpeech Lord Loughborough made before the Privy Council against Dr. Franklin, Lord Loughborough, in a thort reply, fail,` he never was of any party with the Noble Earl. Those with whom he had connected held opinions, as well at prefent as formerly, different from thofe of Lord Lauderdale, who was the Cato of a little Senate of his own; and time would fhew who were in the greatest estimation with the voice of the people. Lord Guildford begged to fay a few words he forgot; which were, that this Bill, by its paffports, fubverted the commercial treaty with France. The Duke of Richmond denied the position; for the French firit broke the treaty in that refpect, by refufing the egrefs and ingrefs of Englishmen without pasports. The question was put on Lord Guildford's motion, and negatived without a diffent; and then the third reading of the Bill was carried nemine diffentiente. SATURDAY, DEC. 29. Lord Hawkesbury moved, "That an Humble Address be prefented to his Majesty, to beseech him to give directions for the plan of improvements propofed to he made in that Houte to be carried into effect, together with fuch additions as the Committee fhould think neceffary; the whole to be completed by the 19th of January." Ordered. SATURDAY, JAN. 5. The Affignats Bill was read a third time and paffed, as were the Naval Stores Bill and the Amended Debtors Bill. MONDAY, JAN. 7. Read and agreed to, without any debate, fome amendments made by the Commons in the Aliens bill. Warren Haftings, Efq. was, upon motion, The further proceedings in the trial of put off to Thursday the 14th of February next. TUESDAY, JAN. 8. The Duke of Montrofe, Lord Kenyon,and Lord Grenville, being feated in their robes, gave the Royal Affent by Commiffion to the bill for the regulation of Aliens in this country; he bill to prevent the circulation of French notes; the Corn Indemnity bill; the bill to prohibit the exportation of Naval Stores; the Debtor and Creditor's bill; and one private bill: after which their Lordships adjourned the Houfe till the 22djnít. THE |