1786. Hiftory of the Briti]b Parliament. ternally would be found to be the fource of fatis faction, and of ftrength to this country. That a full and free participation of commercial advantages fhould produce any other confequences he did not expect. The kill and ingenuity of our manufacturers; the boldness, the enterprize, and the experience of our mariners; the large float ing property our merchants poffeffed, all thefe were circumstances to ground a rational hope upon, that with care and attention, economy and prudence, Great Britain would rife rapidly; her commerce was already encreasing apace, her vigour returning, and her wealth beginning to accumulate. To what then had we to look, but to the pleafing profpect of her being enabled foon to raise her head among the nations. Mr. Eden returned the worthy alderman his hearty and fincere thanks for the honour he had done him in feconding his amendment, and for the valuable body of information he had communicated to the committee. He faid, he would very readily embrace the worthy alderman's proposed amendment and let it stand ftates of America, instead of united states. Indeed ftrong reafons had occured to him that it ought to be fo, within thefe few minutes. Mr. Eden then proceeded to adduce a variety of arguments to fhew that the particular state of the tobacco trade and the different duties under which tobacco was ime ported into this country and into Ireland, rendered it highly neceffary, that fome guard should be put into the propofitions on that point. The Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowledg, ed that he perceived fome weight in the obfervations this day made, though he did not by any means view them in the lame forcible light, in which they seemed to appear to the hon. Gen tleman who urged them. He acknowledged that it would in fairness be expected of Ireland to lay fuch duties in Ireland as would give the produce of our colonies a preference over that of foreign countries, but beyond this we had nothing to require. We were not at prefent to regulate the foreign trade of Ireland, every fuch authority had long fince been difclaimed. But in what regarded the immediate produce of our colonies, there was not the smallest doubt but Ireland was to lay fuch duties on all foreign importation, as muft give ours an effectual preference. Under this head, however, he was not ready to fay that we were to include tobacco, which was not by any means fo much the growth of our colonies, as of other places, nor would their produce be adequate to the demand for tobacco, even to fupply the internal confumption of Ireland. He was not therefore to be underflood as pledging himself to go every length which feemed this night to be pointed out, while he acknowledged that the ideas fuggefted on this occafion were deferving of every attention and regard. Lord Beauchamp faid, that were his motion of yesterday adopted, it would prevent the difagreeable dilemma in which the house were now involved, by being obliged either to undertake the office of legiflating for Ireland, or facrificing, perhaps, in fome degree, the interests of the revenue of this country, as well as the advannge of its colonies. After this a long and very defultory debate 269 arofe, in which the article of tobacco feemed to be most alluded to, when after several speeches, in which Mr. Dundas, Mr, Fox, Mr. Jenkinson Mr. Powis, Mr. Pelham, the Attorney and Solicitor General, Lord North, and others fpoke, the question was put, and the refolution amended as above, and after fome explanations taking place, in which it was agreed to debate it when the claufe for giving a preference to the produce of each country should come to be discussed, it was carried without a divifion. The Chancellor of the Exchequer then moved his 6th refolution, which in its amended state ftands as follows: "Refolved, that it is the opinion of this committee. "6. That in order to prevent illicit practices, injurious to the revenue and commerce of both kingdoms, it is expedient that all goods, whether of the growth, produce, or manufacture of Great Britain or Ireland, or of any foreign country, which shall hereafter be imported inte Great Britain from Ireland, or into Ireland from Great Britain, fhould be put, by laws to be paffed in the parliaments of the two kingdoms, under the fame regulations with respect to bonds, cockets, and other inftruments, to which the like goods are now fubject, in paffing from one port of Great Britain to another." Lord North faid, he would, not at present op pofe this refolution, as he had little hopes of fucceeding in having it altered in fuch a manner as he should wish, viz. for changing duties for pro hibitions; he at the fame time laid in his claim to contend in favour of prohibitions in fome futue ftage of the difcuffion. The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, by making fome obfervations in fupport of prohibitory duties, againft direct prohibitions. Mr. Sheridan faid, that in the course of this bufinefs, he avoided giving his vote against any of the Irish propofitions, confidering them in their original state as ferviceable to that country, and poffeffing none of those ruinous confequences to the interefts of this country, which were fo generally attributed to them; but though the opinion he before entertained of them induced him thus, in fome measure to acquiefce in the provifons, he could no longer do fo, when he perceived the independance of Ireland so much affected by the alteration. He believed it neceffary that fomething fhould be done for Ireland; but delufive and chimerical advantages were all that at prefent retained in the provifion of this arrangement. All the advaantages at any time offered to Ireland confiited in foreign trade, which by the amendments and alterations daily making, were now reduced to nothing; and the privilege of the English market, which yet remained to them, was a circumftance from which they could not poffibly profit. After making a variety of obfervations on the provision of the 6th propofition, he moved that the laft claufe, from the word "another," be omitted. Mr. Rofe then rofe to speak on the advantages of prohibitory duties over direct prohibitions, which drew on a converfation between him, Mr. Pitt, Lord North, and Mr. Fox. The Solicitor General faid he wished the hon. Nor were we wanting in our best efforts, To teach him what was right, and what was wrong. But he, the wilful, self-sufficient youth, ALPINA S. Go, ftop the headlong cataract, command VARRO. N O T E. If this is fo, the jaws of jeopardy It may likewife be proper to add, that by the prefent performance,, which is founded on the truth of hiftory, the author intended to exhibit a view, of what fort of perfons thofe mafters of the world, as they have been called, generally were. Why he made choice of Commodus for that purpose, in preference to any of the other amperors equally vile and vicious, he has it not in his power to inform curiofity; as the circumftances, which give rife to literary productions, cannot always be ascertained with precifion. But he is enabled to obferve, what is much more worthy of being attended to, that whoever duly confiders the condition of the Roman people un H A Character. USH'D be each thought-let malice reign, Cries out the selfish man, 'tis plaing I'll nearer be to reft. Forth malice come, its envious darts, He's not content for ardour fmarts; O let him bear controul. This likewife haftes to foothe his mind, Nor this can pleafe, ftill crofs inclin'd On he purfues, 'till his weak bands, Point out to fhun the shelving fands; A Epigram. R. Y. Told his Curate each Sunday to pray for his health; Which oft having done, a parithoner faid, dead. For my truth, fays the Curate, let credit be giv'n, I ne'er pray'd for his death, but I have for his-living. N 0 T E. der the reigns of the emperors, from whatever A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty, FOREIGN ་་ Nor were we wanting in our best efforts, To teach him what was right, and what was wrong. But he, the wilful, felf-fufficient youth, ALPINA S. Go, ftop the headlong cataract, command VARRO. If this is so, the jaws of jeopardy N от E. J. H. * For the fake of the unlearned reader, it may be neceffary to mention here, that Commodus was the eighteenth emperor of Rome, and perHaps as bad a one as ever obtained that furpifing fummit of dominion; though fome of his imperial predeceffors, from the abandoned wickednefs of their lives, feem to have had renounced every claim to humanity. Who has not heard of a Caligula, and a Nero? Their favage difpofitions, and horrid crimes, have entailed upon their memories the deteftation of all ages. It may likewife be proper to add, that by the prefent performance,, which is founded on the truth of history, the author intended to exhibit a view, of what fort of perions thofe mafters of the world, as they have been called, generally were. Why he made choice of Commodus for that purpose, in preference to any of the other amperors equally vile and vicious, he has it not in his power to inform curiofity; as the circumftances, which give rife to literary productions, cannot always be alcertained with precifion. But he is enabled to obferve, what is much more worthy of being attended to, that whoever duly confiders the condition of the Roman people un der the reigns of the emperors, from whatever A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty, FOREIGN THE E. 273 High Mightiate it. to the fentiligh MightiMajefty, of ftruments ple, are now connections ppy in havand Royal lly happy to your Impefirmation of we have the Majetty on fer to your ledgments we deigned molt prowhich the pires. ir Imperial renown to records of eace, and answer in ir High el that the fo many annot be the re om that tiers of Is alone. ck that had ocfervant cer was ere re he inn>peared y were they horles peated d with ant to te pale ne of danger, determined ment, The |