The Report of the Bill for the better Regulation of the Poor being brought up,

Mr. Pitt moved, that the further confideration of the Report be deferred to Thursday fe'nnight.

Mr. Whitbread faid, that if the schedules were to be circulated through the Country as the Eill had been, and as it was his opinion they fhould be, there was no hope that the Bill could pafs in the prefent Seffion. The Bill was of a different nature, full of complex, and, in his judgment, of impracticable machinery.

Mr. Pitt faid, that there was nothing in the Bill which was not neceffary to the fyftem which he had laid before the

House.

Mr. Sheridan gave it as his decided opinion, that this Bill would not pafs, and that it ftill would be met by the phrafe of "new and unforefeen occurrences." It was a libel on the rich as well as the poor. It libelled the benevolence of the one and the industry of the other. He repeated his with that irs principle should be brought into difcuffion.

Mr. Pitt wished, undoubtedly, that it could be reduced to a lefs complicated fhape, but had no objection to fet apart a day for its difcuffion.

Mr. Vanfittart was of opinion that the Bill thould give way to the preffure of public bufinefs, and that the blanks being filled up, it may be meliorated by the confideration of Gentlemen in the enfuing fummer.

Mr. Jolliffe faid, that it was neceffary for Members to understand the intent and meaning of the Bill. For this purpose one day, at leaft, may be devoted in the month of April.

Sir W. Geary was of opinion that the Bill fhould be poftponed to another

Seffion.

The Report was ordered to be re ceived on Thursday fe'nnight.

TUESDAY, FEB. 28.

On the morion of Mr. Pitt, feconded by Mr. Dundas, an Addrefs of Thanks was voted his Majefty for the communication in the Meffage of yefterday.

Mr. Pitt then rofe; and after juftify. ing the Order of Council from the neceffity of the cafe, when fuch immenfe drafts were unneceffarily made upon the Bank for fpecie, and expreffing his confidence that that order would per fectly fatisfy all reafonable perfons of the folvency of the Bank; yet to put it beyond a doubt, and to relieve fufpicious minds from the leaft apprehenfions, he thought it neceffary to move, That a Committee of that Houfe be appointed to enquire into the quantum of the outstanding Notes of the Bank, and the funds they had to pay them; and he entertained no doubt but the refult would prove not merely the folvency, but the flourishing ftate of that great Company. He understood it would be urged, that the enquiry fhould travel farther back, and go into the causes which had produced the neceffity of the prefent meafures-but this he thought at the prefent period would not be a politic measure; and he con. cluded by moving, "That a Secret Com. mittee be appointed to ascertain the amount of the outstanding engagements of the Bank," &c.

Mr. Fox declaimed against the Order of Council as unconftitutional, and against the Minifter who had advised it, and who had brought us into a fituation fo unparalleled and calamitous. The proclamation, he faid, gave a ftab to the vitals of public credit. He was nervous when he read it. "What," obferved he, "is the fense of it? It is to declare, though you have fo lemnly and repeatedly promised to keep your faith with the public creditor, though in all the difficulties, in all the emergencies of the country, you have hitherto avoided, wifely avoided, laying any kind of tax upon the dividends due; though you have done all these acts, yet, that the circumstances of the country are fucn, now, that you have looked to the great depofitory of cafh, have taken that cafh, and have thereby defrauded the public creditor. Look at all your Acts of Parliament. Do they fay, that you shall receive the money due to you at ftated periods of the year, in notes of the Bank of Engiand? No;

they

they fay that you fhall receive it in the coin of the kingdom. Should Bank notes be at one per cent. difcount, will not that be, to all intents and purposes, taxing the dividends? But it may be faid, that emergencies may be neceffary to break through all rules. Neceffity certainly is a plea to which no anfwer can be given; but the neceffity ought to be abfolute and irrevocable; it ought, too, to be strictly defined. I should have thought, that when the Minister had been compelled by emergency to adopt a cafe of this nature, he would have efteemed it to be his duty to have explained the grounds of that emer. gency.

He then argued, that the enquiry ought to go into the causes that had led to the prefent meafure-that the public required a full, fair, and ample explanation, and that the refearches made fhould be of the utmost publicity and extent, and not kept within the narrow limits propofed, or confined to a Secret Committee.

Sir John Sinclair, Mr. Hobhouse, Lord Wycombe, Mr. Huffey, Mr. Wilberforce Bird, Mr. Smith, and feveral other Members argued on the fame fide; and Mr. Dundas, Mr. Thornton, &c. fupported the motion of

Mr. Pitt.

Mr. Sheridan, after recapitulating the arguments of the feveral fpeakers against the motion, concluded by propofing an Amendment to the original motion" That after the word Houfe" fhould be inferted thefe words, viz."and alfo to enquire into the caufes which have produced the Order of Council of the 26th inftant, together

with their opinions thereon; and to confider of the propriety of continuing the faid order in force for a limitedtime.' This produced fome further debate, and at twelve o'clock the House divided.

For Mr. Sheridan's Amendment, 86 Against it, 244

Majority,

158 [Mr. Pitt was oftener than ufual. upon his legs during this debate, and the great point in difpute was, whether the enquiry propofed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer fhould be extended to the caufes which produced the neceffity of the Order in Council, or should: he confined, in the prefent inftance, merely to the ftability of the Bank ultimately to answer every demand upon them.-Mr. Pitt and the other Minifters contended, that the occafion called for immediate decifion upon the latter fubject; while the queftion of the caufes of the neceflity involved many circumftances which would require more time than public credit, in the prefent crifis, would allow to be spent in uncertainty. Mr. Fox and the Gentlemen in oppofition urged, that a, fair, full, and open enquiry was abfolutely requifite, in order to calm the minds of the people, and to re-establish public credit: they infifted that the connection of Government with the Bank was not for the advantage of the latter, and that great part, if not the whole, of the prefent embarrassments, had originated in the conduct of Minifters. However, both parties admitted the perfect folvency of the Bank to be a fact beyond difpute.]

not taken any thing; he is Southampton-built, and has made a practice of running along fhore as a coafter. The Jaft cruize he was at fea fhe was boarded by one of the armed luggers in the North Sea, but got clear by producing Swedish papers. I have fent her into Dover harbour, and, when I have land. ed the prifoners, fhall immediately proceed to my ftation. She had nothing but fmall-arms on board. I am, &c.

(Signed) JOHN TALbot. P. S.-I fince find he has four fourpounders and two fwivels in her hold.

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, DEC. 24.

Copy of a Letter from Captain James Young, Commander of his Majesty's Ship Greybound, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated at Spithead, Dec. 20.

SIR,

I HAVE to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that yesterday, at four A. M. I fell in with, and captured, off Barfeur, L'Aventure French privateer brig, of 16 four-pounders, and 62 men, commanded by Citizen Peltier, two days from Calais, on her firft cruize, and had not taken any thing.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c. &c.
JA. YOUNG.

ST. PETERSBURGH, NOV. 18. Last night her Imperial Majesty, who had been feized with an apoplectic fit on the preceding day, expired at a quarter before ten o'clock.

Immediately after her Imperial Majesty's decease the Emperor Paul was proclaimed before the Palace, in the ufual form, and the whole Court, which was there affembled in anxious expecta-, tion from the morning of the Emprefs' accident to the moment of her, death, immediately took the Oath of Allegiance to the new Sovereign, as did the four regiments of guards, and every thing paffed with the greateft order and tranquillity.

WHITEHALL, JAN. 3.

BY difpatches received on Sunday even ing from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by his Grace the Duke of Portland, his Majefty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, it appears that a part of the French Fleet, confift ing of eight two-deckers, and nine other veffels of different claffes, had anchored in Bantry Bay on the 24th ult. and had remained there, without any attempt to

land, till the 27th in the evening, when they quitted their station, and have not fince been heard of. The wind at the time of their failing blowing hard at S. S. E. From their first appearance, every exertion was made by General Dalrymple, the Commanding Officer of the District, and a confiderable force wascollected to repel the enemy.

The accounts further state, that the Yeomanry and Volunteer Corps difplayed the utmost zeal and alacrity, in undertaking the guards in those places from whence the regular troops were withdrawn; and the universal readiness fhewn by all defcriptions of people to forward the preparations for defence,left no doubt of the event, in cafe the enemy had ventured to make a defcent. In particular, the fpirit, activity, and exertions of Richard White, Efq, of Seafield Park, deferve the most honourable mention.

An Officer and feven men were driven on thore in a boat belonging to one of the French fhips, and were im mediately made prifoners. The Gentleman was conveyed to Dublin, and upon examination ftates, that the fleet, upon its leaving Breft, confifted in all of about fifty fail, having an army of 25,000 men on board, commanded by General Hoche, and that it was deftined for the attack of Ireland.

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, JAN. 3. Copy of a Letter from Captain Sterling, of his Majesty's Ship Jafon, to Mr. Nepean, dated off Cape Clear, the 24 of December 1796.

SIR.

I HAD the honour to inform you, on the 20th inft. by Le Suffrein, a French veffel, armé en flute, which we had taken with 250 troops, arms, &c. on board, that my intentions were to cruize fome days, to endeavour to intercept any of her conforts.

The prifoners have fince informed me, that the failed on the 16th in company with fixteen fail of the line and tranfports, having 20,000 troops. As the wind has been Easterly fince the date of my letter, and blowing very hard, I hope they have not reached a port; and as the troops had only ten days provifions, they must be badly off.

I faw a large fhip of war laft night, and I am perfuaded the body of the fleet cannot be far from me. Á rudder, and other pieces of wreck, have floated paft us to-day.

ADMIRALTY

I BEG leave to acquaint you, that on Wednesday the 2d of November, at one P. M. a fail was difcovered, bearing about South from us, to which I gave chace, and upon nearing her could difcover the was a ship of war, and at which time the bore up, quartering, having been upon a wind before, which gave fufpicion of her being an enemy. Atten, P. M. came within hale; and as fhe would not heave-to, or fay of what nation fhe was, a broad fide was given, upon which fhe ftruck, and proved to be the San Pio, Spanifi corvette, of 18 guns, and 140 men. Having the day before received intelligence that Admiral Mann's fquadron had been chaced by the Spanish fleet, and also that they had taken an hofpital-fhip from us, I deemed it justifiable to detain her.

WHITEHALL, JAN, 7.

BY difpatches received this day by his Grace the Duke of Portland, his Majefty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Mr. Pelham, dated the 3d and 4th inft. it appears that a part of the French fleet had returned to Bantry Bay, and that a further part had been feen off the mouth of the Shannon; but that both divifions had quitted their ftations, and put to fea, on the evening of the ad inft. without attempting a landing.

The accounts of the difpofition of the country, where the troops are affembled, are as favourable as poffible; and the greatest loyalty has manifefted itfelf throughout the kingdom; and in the South and Weft, where the troops have been in motion, they have been met by the country people of all defcrip. tions, with provifions and all forts of accommodations to facilitate their march; and every demonftration has been given of the zeal and ardour of the nation to oppofe the enemy in every place where it could be fuppofed a defcent might be attempted.

Ee2

ADMIRALTY.

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, JAN. 9.

Extract of a Letter from Sir Richard Strachan, Captain of his Majefty's Ship Diamond, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated in the Ance de Vauville, the 24tb of last month.

I HAVE to inform you, that this morning, being off Alderney, we saw a brig, which we gave chace to, and in the evening we came up with her in the Ance de Vauville; the is called L'Efperance, has been out from Havre four days.

Extract of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Murray, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board bis Majefty's Ship Cleopatra off the Start, the sf inft.

ON the 16th of December, in the morning, latitude 48 deg. 42 min. N. Jongitude 20 deg. 31 min. W. we fell in with and after a fhort chace captured L'Hirondelle French privateer of 12 guns and 70 men, fifteen days out from Bourdeaux.

She is a fine brig, pierced for 16 guns, but now mounting only 12, and newly coppered.

Extract of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Sir George Keith Elphinstone, K. B. to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board his Majefty's fhip Monarch,Crookhaven,, the 30th of last month.

I HAVE the honour to inform you, that the Impatiente French frigate, carrying 20 four-pounders, 320 men and 250 foldiers, came on fhore near this place, about one o'clock this morn. ing, and was totally loft. Seven of the m.n efcaped on the rocks.

WHITEHALL, JAN. 10.

BY Difparches received this day by his Grace the Duke of Portland, his Majefty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, dated the 6th inft. it appears that his Excellency had received accounts from Vice-Admiral Kingfmill, ftating, that on the gth inf. his Majefty's fhip the Poly, phemus, Captain Lumfdaine, had captured and brought into the Cove of Cork La Tortue, a French frigate of 44 guns, 625 men including troops; and that he had alfo captured a large transport full of troops, which being extremely leaky, and night coming on, with heavy giles of wind, Captain

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, JAN. 14. Extract of a Letter from Vice- Admiral Kingfmill, Commander in Chief of bis Majefty's Ships and Veffels at Cork, to Evan Nepean, Ef. dated L'Engageante, Cork Harbour, Jan. 2, 1797.

PLEASE to inform my Lords ComMajefty's floop the Hazard has captured miifioners of the Admiralty, that his a fine coppered French fhip privateer, La Mufette, of 22 guns and 150 men.

In this laft cruize fhe had, about 30

leagues weftward of Cape Clear, taken two velfels; one of which, the Abbey of Liverpool, from Lisbon to Liver poool, is recaptured, and juft brought in by his Majesty's thip Daphne.

Extract of another Letter from the game to

the fame, dated Jan. 2, 1797.

LES Deux Amis French privateer, of fchooner of about one hundred tons, is 14 guns and 80 men, a fine coppered just arrived, prize to his Majesty's ships Polyphemus and Apollo.

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, JAN, 14. Copy of a Letter from Captain Barton, of bis Majefly's Ship Lapwing, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated in Baffeterre Roads, Dec. 3, 1796.

SIR,

A PACKET leaving this place today from England, I embrace the opportunity, for the fatisfaction of their Lordships, to acquaint them, that I anchored at St. Kitt's on the 25th ult. when an exprefs boat had been fept from the island of Anguilla, to inform the Admiral, that the inland was at tacked by two French men of war and feveral fmall veffels, containing four hundred troops. I felt it my duty (as the exprefs boat returned here with the lofs of her mainmaft) to leave the fervice I was ordered on, and to endea vour to relieve that place. The wind