ing of an undue election, was not fri volous or vexatious. FRIDAY, MARCH 31. In a Committee of the whole Houfe upon the Bill to permit the exportation of Grain, Mr. Ryder propofed that the commencement of the Bill fhould be on the 30th of April.-Agreed to. Mr. Sheridan faid, that as he had put off the motion he had intended to make this day with regard to any further advances to the Emperor, in order that the Houfe might be in poffeffion of the Report of the Secret Committee, he was defirous to know when that Report would be produced. If there was not a profpect of the Report of the Secret Committee being before the Houfe in a day or two, he certainly fhould not defer his motion upon this fubject; and in this view he moved, "That there be laid before the Houfe copies of the reprefentations made by the Directors of the Bank, with regard to the advances to the Emperor, fince the first of January 1795, with the anfwer of his Majefty's Minifters thereto." The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that it was impoffible for him to answer the queftion, when the Report of the Secret Committee would be laid before the House. He did not with to avoid the difcuffion of the fubje&t, nor was it poffible for him to avoid it; but ftill he was defirous to meet it fairly and fully. In all the circumstances of the cafe, to make further advances to the Emperor, provided we could fo ubtain his cordial co-operation in the common caufe, he considered as a measure the most effential to the interefts of the country. Whether it was proper, however, to enter upon the fubje&t upon partial information, he would leave to the Houfe to determine. He did not oppofe the production of the papers. The motion was then carried. The Report of the Bill for continuing the Order of Council was brought up, read, and agreed to; and on the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the House again went into the Committee to confider certain claufes that were to be offered. Mr. Pitt faid, that after an intercourfe which had taken place between him and Gentlemen from the Bank, and alfo from the great body of the Bankers, he understood that they approved of the general principle of the claufe which he had to offer to the Committee. The fubftance of it was, to allow the Bank to repay, at different periods, in cah to thofe who may, at their difcretion, hereafter depofit cash with them, so that no more than three-fourths of fuch fum fhould be repaid by the Bank in cash during the continuance of the prefent Bill. This claufe, he apprehended, would be of great advantage to the Bank, and to the Public. After fome obfervations from Mr. Dent, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Sheridan, and Mr. Tierney, the claufe was agreed to without a div.fron. MONDAY, APRIL 3. On the Report of the Bank Indemnity Bill, Mr. Tierney moved a claufe to this effect, "That any perfon making a tender of Bank notes in payment of a debt, thould not be allowed to have this tender stand in the place of holding fuch perfon to fpecial bail, unlefs fuch perfon fhould make oath that he or the did not poffefs the whole or threefourths of the fum for which fuch perfon had been arrested.' The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, this claufe would entirely do away the effects of a former clause respecting the tender of Bank notes. The clause was negatived without a divifion. Sir William Pulteney prefented a claufe by which the Bill was not to have effect, uniefs at the third reading of it, the Directors of the Bank should notify to the Speaker of the House that the reftriction contained in it was at their defire. The Houfe divided on this claufe.Ayes 45, Noes 86. The Bill was then ordered to be engroffed. The Report of the Corn Bill was brought up, and, on the reading of the Amendment, That barley be exempted from exportation, Mr. Coke propofed to restore the claufe as it originally food; and that barley fhould be included in the regula tion. After a converiation of fome length, the Houfe divided :-Ayes 51, noes 75. Barley, therefore, cannot be exported. TUESDAY, APRIL 4, ADVANCES TO THE EMPEROR. Mr. Sheridan went over a long field of argument to prove, that the fending more money to the Emperor would continue to deprefs public credit more than it had yet fuit; and to fhew the rapid decline of cur finances, the low ebb of the credit we yet poffefs, and the want of confidence in Adminiftration (not in this this Houfe), he compared the price of ftocks this day with the correfponding day of last year-then, 5 per cents were 101-3 per cents. at 691; but to day, 5 per cents. are 71 and three per cents. at 49. Thefe difcouraging and alarming circumftances pointed out the ne cellity of restoring the public credit to its former elevation. It was not his wish to infufe a fpirit of defpondency into the public mind; but he wished to remove that fyftem of delufion which had proved fo fatal to the Bank of England, who were trustees for the public good; it would prove alfo, he faid, equally deftructive to that Houfe (mean. ing the Houfe of Commons) if they perfevered in their implet confidence in Minifters; for if it itill went on confiding, it would not indeed become the King's Parliament," but the confiding Parliament of the Emperor of Ger many. Mr. Sheridan concluded by moving, "That the Houfe should refolve itfelf into a Committee of the whole Houfe, to enquire whether the country could, confittently with its own fafety, grant any farther loans or advances to the Emperor." Mr. Pitt entered upon a very animated reply, deeming the motion unfair, contradictory, difingenuous, and premature; and proceeded to take a review of the general argument. "Thus much I lay the tranfmiflion of money to the Emperor will be found the moit effectual method of promoting the true interefts of the country, and of fecuting an honourable peace; for if we cut off our fupplies to the Emperor, the enemy will renew their attacks in the Tyrol and on the Rhine with redoubled fury, and force him to a feparate peace; which is what the French are labouring at daily; but fo magnanimous has the Houfe of Auftria fhewn itfelf to this country, that it has rejected hitherto the overtures upon this fubject with difdain, declating that it will make no peace with its enemy, but in concert with Great Brisain. After fo fair and open a declaration, at is manifeft, that if this country continues the conteßt, a joint war would be lefs expenfive, and more likely to be attended with a favourable iffue, than in a ftruggle where we are the only party. He paid many high compliments to the valour of the Austrian troops at the close of the laft campaign, which had to parallel in the hiftory of any country. As to the conclufions that had been drawn from papers, of the diftreffed The Order of the Day being moved, for the third reading of this Bill, Mr. Pitt moved, That it be now read a third time. Mr. Baftard, differing from all parties on this Bill, and thinking it injurious to the country, felt himself bound to give it his decided oppofition. The question for the third reading of the Bill was then put and carried. Mr. Wilberforce Bird prefented a claufe for the purpose of preventing diftrefs for rent after tender of the amount in Bank Notes. Mr. Pitt did not object to the claufe being presented; but entertained doubts whether it was necellary. Mr. Fox conceived that the cafe of diftrefs for rent was entitled to more relief than perfonal arrefts. The Solicitor General obferved, that to remedy a fmall and improbable evil to the tenant, the prefent claufe would engender a great and lafting one to the landlord. Mr. Marning was in favour of the claufe, though he spoke merely from his own opinion, without any authority of the Bank Directors. He faid, that at Plymouth Dock an affociation of pre feffional Gentlemen had engaged not to bring any action for a perfon refut. ing Bank Notes when tendered. The question queftion was then put and negatived. Sir William Pulteney faid, if the Bank had folicited the Order of Council, it moft certainly would amount to a conftructive furrender of their charter, and, as fuch, formed one material step to the plan he had in view of establishing another Bank for the purpofe of paying in fpecie. To afcertain the fact, he therefore proposed a claufe, by which the reftrictive parts of the A&t are an. nulled, if, within a fhort time after the Bill had received the Royal Affent, the Bank Directors fhould notify to the Speaker, that the continuance of thofe reftrictions were not with their confent. Mr. Pitt thought fuch an inference would be highly prepofterous, and unbecoming both the dignity and juftice of the Houfe. Mr. Fox was anxious to adopt every measure that tended to investigate the fað. Mr. Dundas faid, he had a right to affume that the Bank of England was not displeased at the restriction, because they prefented no petition against it. Mr, Sheridan could not affent to the claufe now propofed, unless it fpecified that the time allowed the Bank for the notification of its wishes fhould be after the fums now due to it from Government were paid. The Committee divided on the claufe, when the numbers were For it, 43-Against it, 79-Majoritỷ, 36. The Bill was then read a third time. THURSDAY, APRIL 6. Mr. Ellis rofe to make his promised motion refpecting the Slave Trade. It might be fuppofed, he faid, that the measure he intended to offer to the confideration of Parliament, was fome modification of the Abolition Bill; but it was of a directly oppofite nature; for he confidered an abolition of the trade, and the measures adopted for that pur. pofe, fo fraught with impolicy, and pregnant with injuftice to individuals in hort, fo radically faulty, that no poffible modification of them could be made innoxious. From the civilization of the Negroes in Africa, very falutary effects might be expected; but the process muft neceffarily be flow, and the effects produced be at a very diftant period; and much applaufe was due to thofe who had embarked in that laudable at. tempt. The civilization and reforma tion of morals and manners in the Negroes of the Weft-Indies was an object of ftill greater importance in the great fcheme of ultimate emancipation: for it would be found, that population was always on the decrease among these people; fo that the very existence of the colonies depended upon the fupply from Africa; and that decrease of po pulation was attributed, by fome, to z vicious fyftem of morals and manners among the Negroes; by others, to an excess of labour, and the waut of a fupply of proper food; and by others to both caufes taken together. After having enforced thefe topics by the relation of many facts, he moved, "That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, requesting that he would give direction to the Governors of his Welt India Islands, to recommend to their refpective Councils to adopt fuch meafures as will tend to the natural increase of the Negrocs, and to employ fuch means as will contribute to their moral and religious improvement, fo as gradually to diminish the neceffity of the Slave Trade, and lead to an ultimate Abolition, and fecure to them the protection of the laws." Mr. Barham feconded the motion, and fupported the measure in a speech of fome length. Mr.Wilberforce oppofed the motion, as falling fhort of what it was his with and opinion fhould be adopted. Mr. Pitt said, this funject had been fo frequently and fo minutely difcuffed, that very little argument was neceffary. The only queftion that remained was as to the time; and for himfelf he he fitated not to declare, that no Abolition would fatisfy him that was not immediate, jpecific, and total. Mr. Dudley Ryder moved to amend the motion, by leaving out the words "gradually diminish, and ultimately abolish." Mr. Fox reviewed the feveral arguments against the immediate abolition, and infifted they were totally unfatisfactory. He oppofed the motion, as tending to fubftitute an unreal and pretended remedy, inftead of that which ought to take place, an immediate abolition. Lord Hawkesbury, Mr. Dundas, Mr. Windham, and Mr. B. Edwards, fupported the motion. Mr. Ryder's Amendment was rejected without a division; and the ori ginal motion carried by a divifion of 99 against 63—Majority 36. FRIDAY, APRIL 7. BANK BILL. Upon the question, That this Bill's duration be to the 24th of June, Sir W. Pulteney rofe to oppofe it. He entered into a history of the Bank, from its commencement to the prefent hour, and declared himself to be perfectly perfuaded, that all the embarraffments which Government had in money tranfactions arofe from the monopoly of the Bank of England; from which he formed an opinion, that another Bank ought to be established; he did not mean a rival Bank, but a Bank that fhould ifue its paper, and be capable of paying that paper on demand. He knew that there was great terror on the idea of oppofing the Bank, but he did not think that fuch terror would be of long duration. He believed that the Bank itfelf would be benefited, and that the value of stock would rife, fhould the Bank monopoly be done away. In order to fhew that two Banks would be ferviceable to this country, he referred to Scotland, where there were two, the hiftory of which he gave at full length. There was no country in any part of the globe, America excepted, which had improved fo rapidly in Agriculture, Trade, Commerce, and Manufactures, as Scotland had fince the establishment of these two Banks, and this improvement was chiefly owing to those establishments. He enlarged much on this topic, and concluded by moving, that the Bill be in force only to the 6th of May, instead of the 24th of June. mifconceived by the Government of France, or unexplained to the French nation; the Houfe therefore prayed that his Majefty would be pleafed to adopt fuch measures as he may judge most effectual to remove thofe milcon. ceptions and mifreprefentations relative to the fincerity of his Majefty's Mi. nifters." Mr. Pitt faid, at the prefent conjuncture, the motion could not be productive of any practical benefit to the country, and might prove injurious to fresh negotiations. The Hon. Gentle man's lamentations on the calamities of war would always prevail, unless war could be wholly excluded; but on every evil the House ought to decide on the comparative evil, without fuffering their judgment to be biaffed by circumstances unavoidable in a contest founded on justice, neceffity, and felf-defence.With refpect to the Addrefs itself, it was calculated to encourage the enemy and embarrass fresh chances of general pacification.-If any fuccefs could be attained, it must be by a direct negotia tion in concert with our Allies. But he begged to prefs upon the Houfe that there were even limits to the wifh for peace. That object was only defirable where there was adequate fecurity against additional infults, and on this principle the Country ought to act. If therefore measures of this nature are now depending, any thing that may frustrate thein was dangerous at the prefent critis -Our views ought to be directed to difappoint the policy of the enemy, in difuniting our Allies. "I have," faid Mr. Pitt, "no difficulty in state ing, that his Majefty's Ministers are at this moment about to embrace an opportunity for negotiation. In confe quence of the determination expressed by the Emperor, not to enter into any Negotiation for Peace, except in concert with Great Britain, fteps have beca taken for the renewal of a joint nego tiation, aud his Majefty has determined to find a confidential perfon to Vienna to concert measures with the Emperor for a joint negotiation. Under thele He circumstances he hoped the Hon. Gen. tleman would not press his Motion. Mr. Pitt declined entering into the topics the Honourable Baronet had brought forth; but oppofed the Amendment, which was rejected, and the Houfe . adjourned. MONDAY, APRIL 10. Mr. Polien rofe, in conformity to notice, to fubmif a propofition on the fubject of negotiation. In doing this, he difclaimed the idea of being actuated by party-motives. He was impelled by a conviction of the neceffity of termi nating the war, or convincing the world, that the profecution of it was owing to the unjust demands of the enemy. then took a review of the calamities produced by it, expatiated on the critical firuation of this country, and concluded by moving an addrefs to his Majefty, reprefenting, "That it appeared, on mature confideration, from the refult of the late negotiation, that his Majefty's gracious and benign intentions had been Col. Porter contended, that Minifters were not actuated by a fincere defire to make Peace. Mr. Addington combated the topics advanced by Mr. Pellen, and entered into a vindication of the Minifter's conduct through the whole of this war, of which he gave a history of the origin and progrefs, and fuggefted the propriety of poftponing this Metion until the event of the Negociation alluded to was known; and concluded by expreffing his difapprobation of the motion, and moving the Order of the Day. Mr. Fox faid, it was impoffible for him under the preffure of calamities at the prefent conjuncture to give a filent vote. The Houfe was again called on to continue their confidence in thofe men whofe councils had been fo injurious to the country, and whofe negociations had been fo unfuccefsful. When peace was negociated he hoped it would be conjointly, but if the queftion was, whether the war was to be profecuted, or we were to have a feparate peace, be felt no hesitation in faving he preferred the latter. After a few remarks on the nature of the peace, which, he faid, ought to be on the fyftem of equal ity and just compenfations, but, above all, a reconciliation of the refentments of the refpective people in order to a permanent peace, to convince both countries that their respective Governments are not dangerous to each other, and that they are equally capable of maintaining the relations of amity and peace, he concluded by giving his moft hearty fupport to the motion. Several Members delivered their fentiments, after which a divifion took place on the Amendment: Ayes, 291; Noes 85; Majority against the motion, 206. The Houfe adjourned to Thurfday fe'nnight. THURSDAY, APRIL 27. This day the Houfe having met purfuant to adjournment, Mr.W. Bird obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the A&t paffed in the prefent Seffion, to enable Manufacturers and Bankers to iffue fmall Notes. The Bill was read a firft time. MONDAY, APRIL 24. The Speaker, on taking the Chair, informed the Houfe, that he had receiv ed a letter from Admiral Sir John Jervis, expreffing his most grateful acknowledgments for the honour conferred upon him by the Houfe, in voting him their thanks for his fervices on the 14th of February laft, when the Spanish fleet was defeated by the British under his command. The Order of the Day being read for the Houfe to form itself into a Committee of Supply, Mr. Fox enquired VOL XXXI. MAY 1797. whether any information was intended to be given to the Houfe relative to the proceedings which, he understood from the newspapers, had lately taken place on board the fleet at Portfmouth, and at what time it might be expected. The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that a communication upon the circumftances alluded to would be made as foon as poffible. He had none to make this day, nor could he state the precife day when the Houfe would be applied to upon the fubje&t; but he could promife that no time would be loft. On going into the Committee of Supply, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, after fome previous statements, which were remarked upon by Mr. Fox, moved, that the fum of 5,000,000l. be granted for the Navy; the fum of 1,100,000l. to difcharge Exchequer Bills; and the fum of 2,177,000).to make good charges on the Confolidated Fund. Various other fums were alfo moved for and voted. TUESDAY, APRIL 25. The Houfe, in a Committee on the Navigation Acts, resolved, “That it is expedient to giant to certain foreign hips under his Majefty's protection in confequence of capitulations, the privileges of prize fhips under certain regulations and restrictions. Alfo, to allow aliens, in certain foreign colonies furrendered to his Majefty, to exercife the occupations of merchants and fac tors. Alfo, that provifion fhould be made for registering fhips built in the Company's fettlements in the Eaft Indies, fo as to entitle the fame to the pri vileges of British built ships." The Refolutions of the Committee of Supply were reported and agreed to. Mr. Ryder moved the Order of the Day for the Houfe to go into a Committee on the Levant exportation Bill in British and foreign bottoms. The Houfe went into a Committee accordingly, and being re*fumed, leave was given to bring in a Bill to permit fuch goods to be imported in British or foreign bottoms for a time to |