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obferved, that according to the prefent rate, the Strand, the rental of which did not exceed 70.000l. per annum, paid annually 2151. while Mary-le-bonne, the rental of which exceeded 300,000l. paid only 541. per annum. The fame fort of argument he applied to Spitalfields and Shoreditch, where numbers of the poor induftrious people are compelled to contribute, with difficulty, a larger portion to the county rate than parishes (fuch as Mary-le-bonne) where scarcely any but the rich and idle refided. He cbferved alfo, that if the Bill did pafs, Mary-le-bonne would not have a great deal to complain of, fince an equal County rate would not affefs it more, in addition to the t.ide which it now contributes, than one penny in the pound.

The Marquis of Tichfield (fon of the Duke of Portland, the great proprietor of the parish of Mary-le-Bonne) oppofed the Bill, and argued for the ancient contributions, on the plea, that perfons who had made purchases fince they were fettled, and under an idea they would not be altered, would be material fufferers by the Bill. He was, however, out-voted. On the firft divifion, that the Bill be read a fecond time, there being for it 82, against it 71 and on the fecond divifion, that it be read a third time on Wednesday fe'nnight-the Ayes being 80, Noes 77.

THE SECOND BUDGET.

Mr. Pitt rofe, and lamented that the various circumstances of unforefeen difficulty made it neceffary for him to propofe a very large addition to the expenditure of the year, and confequently to the taxes to be borne by the people; but, difagreeable as the task was, he felt himfelf called upon to undertake it, as it was only by powerful and extraor dinary exertions that we could accomplish the object of univerfal defire,-a fafe and permanent peace ;-and he had. the fatisfaction to fay, if the people of this country continued to manifeft an unbroken fpirit, and undiminished alacrity in the defence of all that is dear to them, the refources of England were ftill great and ample, and would conduct us through the ftorm with vigour and effect.

Mr. Pitt then made the following recapitulation of the fums it was neceffary to call for :

The Navy ordinaries and ex

traordinaries

The Army

£12,661,000

6,600,000

Army extraordinaries, due the 5th of January, and Exchequer Bills on army

account

Future Army extraordina

ries
Ordnance
Barracks
Mifcellaneous fervices
Grenada Merchants
Loan to the Emperor
To the Commiffioners for
paying the National Debt
Deficiency of Land and
Malt

Bank advances, 1795
Ditto, 1796

Ditto on Land and Malt Ditto on Exchequer Bills, 1796

Deficiency in the Confolidated Fund

Vote of Credit for 1797

Total

5,475,000

4,000,000 1,623,000

737,000

929,000

600,000

500,000

200,000

350.000 1,054,000

1,370,000 900,000

1,110,000

2,177,000 2,500,000

£42,766,000

The fum total, he admitted, bore a moft formidable afpe&t; but then it was to be confidered, that in this was included the repayment of nearly the whole of the advances made by the Bank to Government, with all the expences, as far as they could be poffibly efiimated, of the current year.

THE WAYS AND MEANS

To provide for this expenditure the Minifter ftated as follows: Land and Malt Taxes Surplus of Grants First Loan

Lottery

Already voted

Exchequer Bills
Growing furplus of Confo-
lidated Fund
Arrears of Land and Malt

Tax, fale of Dutch Prizes,
and various other items,
including 13.000,000 of
the new Loan

£2,750,000

420,000 18,000,000

21,170,000

200,000 3,000,000

2,000,000

16,500,000

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The new Loan he had provifionally agreed for to the amount of 18,000,000l. (viz.) 13,000,000l. for British fervices, and 1,500,000l. for Irish fervices, certair; and 3,500,000l. conditionally for the use of the Emperor, if the Houfe (as he hoped it would) thould deem it neceffary to let him borrow that fum in this country. But this would be a fubject for future and feparate difcuffion. He lamented, that in borrowing the money he could not make a better bargain for the Public-but he had done his utmost fo to do. The bonus given to the fubfcriber was 4. 175. and the interest paid by the public 61. 178. per cent. Mr. Pitt here took occafion to mention, that he should bring forward a propofition to make fome further allowance (as they had been unexpected fufferers) to the patriotic fubfcribers to the late Loyalty Loan; and that in his eftimates of the Navy, he had not included the additional pay which the late proceedings at Spithead might make neceffary.

NEW TAXES.

To pay the intereft of the money raifed by loan, the Minifter then propofed the following taxes:

STAMPS.] He meant to increase all the branches of the ftamp paper and parchment duties, with the exception of fuch as had lately received an augmentation (fuch as legacies, &c.), and to lay a ftamp duty on authenticated copies of all deeds. On Attornies Certificates alfo he fhould propofe an additional duty.

PLATE.] An addition to the duty on ornamental plate he thought a proper ob ject.

TRANSFER OF PROPERTY.] The principle of taxing transfer of Property had been admitted in levying a duty on property difpofed of by auction-he therefore fhould propofe a tax of four-pence in the pound on all private transfers of property.

NEWSPAPERS.] He obferved, that the next tax he had to propofe would give rife to a good deal of difcuffion, not merely verbal. Newlpapers the Minifter thought proper to confider as a luxury, and that the taste for them was fo great and general in the country, that it was not likely to be fhaken by any addition to their price. The prefent ftamp duty upon a Newfpaper was two-pence, and he propofed to add to this a duty of three half-pence more, which would produce 114,000l. per annum at least.

ADVERTISEMENTS.] He would pro

pofe a fill further charge on this article. All Advertisements indifcriminately, whether long or fhort, now paid a duty of three fhillings; he thould therefore now proportion the duty according to their length, or their fituation in a print. Upon the fcale which he should lay down in this cafe, he calculated an increafe of annual revenue of 20,000l.

TOLL TAX.] Laftly, faid the Minifter, I fhall offer to the House a tax which has before been thought of-a tax upon the Conveyance of all Goods in Carriages of every denomination. He had feen the produce of the tolls in different parts of the country, "and I have," added he, "obtained an accurate count of the amount of them round the Metropolis; what proportion they bear to the Kingdom at large it is difficult to ftate; but I do not think that the tolls round the capital, amount to a tenth part of the whole kingdom. I hall, therefore, take the tax at 450,000l. a year, impofing upon all carriages for the public, the fame fum as taken by the Receiver of the Toll.

RECAPITULATION.

Mr. Pitt then recapitulated the whole of the new taxes as follow.

Increafed Confolidated Stamp

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450,000 £1,284,000

Mr. Pitt concluded with returning thanks to the Committee for the attention with which he had been heard, and trufted when the indifpenfable neceffity for thofe-additional burtliens was confi dered; when the House reflected on the permanent state of the revenue, which, the more it is inveftigated, appeared the more flourishing, he flattered himself, that the temporary emergencies would call forth all the wealth and energy of the kingdom, all the property of private perlons in fupporting their independence. "If we act with energy, if

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we do not fuffer ourselves to be led away by falfe alarms, if we do not diftruft our own caufe, we muft fucceed; for the fpirit of the country, if excited, is fuch as must eventually lead to the certain enjoyment of a fecure and honourable termination of the war."

The Refolutions were then put by the Chairman, and agreed to; but up on the Refolution for an increafed duty on Newspapers, a divifion enfued:

Ayes 151-Noes 43-Majority 108.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27.

The Speaker read a letter from Sir Thomas Moftyn, ftating, that he did not intend to oppose the Petition against his return, as a minor, for Flint fhire.

A conference was fixed with the Lords for Monday, on the fubject of the better promulgation of the Statutes. Mr. Fox told the Minifter, he could not make his taxes yesterday amount to the fum he had stated them at. It appeared that Mr. Pitt, in his fpeech, had forgot to inform the Houfe of the new duties he put in his lift, on Bills of Exchange, and Fire Infurances.

Mr. Fox again rofe, and declared, great as was the fum the Minifter was raifing this year, it was not fufficient to anfver the expences. He noticed the great failure in the produce of the wine tax in confequence of the laft duty.

Mr. Pitt faid, he had kept nothing back, and the expences would not exceed the fum raifed.

Mr. Wm. Smith obferved, that if the marriage of the Princefs Royal took place, there would be a further fum to previde for her dower of 80, or 100,000!. To this was to be added 400,000l. at leaft for the increafed pay of the Seamen, and the additional bonus to the fubfcribers of the Loyalty Loan would amount about 300,000l. more, making in all a further fum to be provided of 800,000l. Some perfons might think that we had finithed the bitter cup, but it would foon appear that we were doomed to drink its very dregs.

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Mr. Pitt made no reply. The question was put, "That the Refolutions be read a fecond time," and carried.

The Oppofition Members then rofe and left the Houfe in a body.

The Refolutions were read and agreed te, and Bills ordered to be brought in for carrying them into effect.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29.

Mr. Pitt prefented the following Me!fage from his Majesty :

GEORGE R.

His Majesty recommends it to the

Houfe of Commons to confider of en. abling his Majefty to make remittances from time to time, to be applied to his fervice in Ireland, in fuch manner as fhall be approved by the Parliament of that kingdom, to an amount not execeding 1,500,000l. on provision being made by the Parliament of Ireland for difcharging the intereft and charges of a Loan to that amount.

And his Majefty recommends to the Houfe to confider of guaranteeing a Loan on account of his Ally the Emperor, to be applied in making good the advances to the amount of 1,600,000l. which have already been made to his Imperial Majefty, and to defray the charge of fuch further advances as his Majefty may, from time to time, dire&t to be made in the course of the prefent year, to an amount not exceeding 2,000,000l.

His Majefty trufts that he hall experience the ready concurrence of his faithful Commons, at this important conjuncture, in a measure calculated to enable the Emperor the more effectually to continue his exertions for the fupport of the common caufe, and for the attainment of a general Peace on fecure and equitable terms.

And his Majefty relies on the zeal and affection of his faithful Commons, to provide for enabling his Majesty to defray fuch other extraordinary expences as may be neceffary for the public fervice, and to take fuch measures as the exigency of affairs may require.

G. R.

On the Meffage being read by the Speaker, Mr. Pitt moved, that it be taken into confideration on Monday.Ordered.

The names of the Members chofen by ballot to be a Committee to try the merits of the contested election for the county of Kent, were as follow:

William Macdowall, Efq. Chairman,
Lord Newburgh,
Lord Fred. Campbell,
John Willett Willett, Efq.
William Petrie, Efq.
Hon. G. Rawdon,
Marquis of Titchfield,
Hon. Lionel Damer,
Lord Fred. Montague,
Philip Goldfworthy, Efq.
Lord Levifon Gower,
Sir Wm. Johnstone, Bart.
Patrick Heron, Efq,
Lord Wm. Ruffell,
Ald. Lushington, S

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Nominees.

FOREIGN

FOREIGN

INTELLIGENCE.

[FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES.]

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, FEB. 28, 1797.
Copy of a Letter from Rear-Admiral
Bazely, Commanding Officer of bis
Majefty's Ships and Vefels in the
Downs, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated
Feb. 25, 1797.
SIR,

SIR John Colleton, Bart.

com

manding the Swift cutter, acquaints me, that he yesterday captured and fent into Dover L'Aventurier French fchooner privateer, of 40 tons, having on board 11 men with cutlaffes and piftols, which he fell in with about four leagues N. E. of the South Foreland, that had left Fecamp on the 20th inft. but had not taken any thing.

Sir John further acquaints me, that this privateer had been boarded by the Dolphin armed cutter off Dungeness, and that he himself had examined her, and fuffered her to proceed as an American veffel in ballaft, bound to London; but obferving that the afterwards altered her courfe, and fteered for the French land, he stood after her, and on boarding her a fecond time, and ftrictly examining the ballaft with a fpit, he found eight men concealed, with pistols and cutlalies, in a place made for that purpose, with a hole barely fufficient for them to breathe through.

I am, Sir, &c.

JOHN BAZELY. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, FEB. 28, 1797. Copy of a Letter from Commodore Nelson to Admiral Sir John Jervis, Commander in Chief of bis Majesty's Ships and Veffels in the Mediterranean, dated Dec. 20, 1796.

LAST night at ten o'clock I saw two Spanish frigates, and directed Capt. Cockburne, in the Minerve, to attack the fhip which carried a poop-light; the Blanche bore down to attack the other. I have not yet received from Capt. Prefton an account of his action, but as I faw the Bianche this morning to the windward with every fail fet, I prefume fhe had not fuffered much da mage.

Capt. Cockburne brought his fhip to clofe action at twenty minutes before eleven, which continued without intermiffion till half paft one, when La Sa. bina of 40 guns, 28 eighteen-pounders on her main deck, 286 men, Capt. Don Jacoba Stuart, having lost her mizenmaft (as he had after the action), main and fore mafts, 164 men killed and wounded. ftruck her 'colours.

ed with the merits of Capt. Cockburne, that it is needlefs for me to exprefs them; but the difcipline of the Minerve does the highest credit to her Captain and Lieutenants, and I wish fully to exprefs the fenfe I entertain of their judgment and gallantry: Lieutenant Culverhoufe, the First Lieutenant, is an old Officer of very diftinguished merit; Lieutenants Hardy, Gage, and Noble deferve every praife which gallantry and zeal juftly entitle them to, as do every Officer and man in the ship. You will obferve, Sir, I am fure, with regret, amongst the wounded, Lieutenant James Noble, who quitted the Captain to ferve with me, and whofe merits, and repeated wounds received in fighting the enemies of our country, entitle him to every reward which a grateful nation can bestow. The Minerve's opponent being commanded by a gallant Officer was well defended, which has caufed her lift of killed and wounded to be great, as alfo her mafts, fails, and rigging, to be much damaged. I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.

(Signed) HORATIO NELSON. Killed, feven. Wounded, 34. Miffing, four, fuppofed to be in the prize. Officers wounded. Lieutenant J. Noble, Mr. Merryweather, Boatfwain.

Petty Officers killed and wounded. Killed, one Midshipman. Wounded, Captain's Clerk, and Serjeant of the 11th regiment, ferving as marines.

and furniture much cut. Damages. All her mafts fhot through,

(Signed) HORATIO NELSON. Copy of a Letter from Commodore Nelfon

to Admiral Sir John Jervis, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships in the Mediterranean, dated Dec. 20, 1796, feven P. M.

IN addition to my letter of this morning I have to acquaint you, that Lieutenants Culverhoufe and Hardy, with a proper number of men, being put in charge of the Sabina, and the taken in tow, at four A. M. a frigate was feen coming up, which, by her fignals, was known to be Spanish: at half past four the came to action with the Minerve, who caft off the prize, and Lieutenant Culverhoufe was directed to ftand to the Southward; after a trial of strength of more than half an hour the wore and hauled off, or I am confident the would have fhared the fate of her companion. At this time three

Minerve; hope was alive that they were only frigates, and alfo that the Blanche was one of them; but when the day dawned it was mortifying to fee they were two Spanish fhips of the line and two frigates, and the Blanche far to the windward. In this fituation, the enemy frequently within hot, by bringing up the breeze, it required all the kill of Capt. Cockburne, which he eminently displayed, to get off with a crippled fhip and here I must alfo do juftice to Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy, and exprefs my tribute of praife in their management of the prize; a frigate repeatedly fired into her with out effect, and at last the Spanish Admiral quitted the purfuit of the Minerve for that of La Sabina, who was

fteering a different course, evidently with the intention of attracting the notice of the Admiral, as English colours were hoifted over the Spanish. The Sabina's main and fore-maft fett overboard before the furrendered. This is, Sir, an unpleafant tale; but the merits of every Officer and man in the Minerve and her prize were eminently confpicuous through the whole of this arduous day. The enemy quitted the pursuit of the Minerve at dark.

Killed, none. Wounded, ten. Officer wounded, Mr. Hinton, Gunner. Main-maft much damaged, fails and rigging much cut.

(Signed) HORATIO NELSON. Copy of a Letter from Commodore Nelfon to Admiral Sir John Jervis, K. B. dated Dec. 24, 1796.

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CRUIZING off Cape Dell Melle, purfuant to an order from Capt. Freemantle, at fix o'clock P. M. of the zd inft. I difcovered a fail to the Weftward. I made fail, and after a chace of fix hours and a half came up with her clefe under Mona. co, making in for the land, with an intention to run her on fhore. To obviate their purpofe there were no other means left but to lay her on board, as it blew a hard gale of wind to the S. E. Our

first attempt failed in confequence of heavy fea and the darkness of the night; however, the fecond was more fuccesful, as I threw men on board of her, and brought her off without any damage dorè to either veffel: the badness of the weather prevented our changing prifoners, or having any communication for 48 hours after we took poffeffion of her. She proved to be the Corfo, a fine Spanish man of war brig, of 18 guns, fixpounders, and 136 men, bound from Genoa to Barcelona, and commanded by Don Antonio Oacaro. She is a remark ably faft failing veffel, quite new, welf fitted, and armed at all points. I have the honour to remain, &c.

J. MACNAMARA. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, FEB. 28, 1797.

Copy of a Letter from Commodore Nex to Mr. Nepean, dated on board the Minerve, at Porto Ferrajo, Dec. 29, 1796.

SIR,

Prefton's letter to me of his action on the HEREWITH I send you Captain 19th of December, at night, and I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient humble fervant, (Signed) HORATIO NELSON.

SIR, Blanche, at Sea, Dec.20,1796. I HAVE to acquaint you, that laft night, after having hailed the Minerve, immediately as her hauling her wind across me to attack the larger fhip would permit the Blanche to wear, I bore up, and in three or four minutes after the Mi nerve's first broadfide brought the frigat to leeward to clofe action, the two ships just clear of each other; the enemy made but a trifling refiftance, and eight or nine broadfides completely filenced her, when they called for quarter, and their colours were hauled down. I am forry to add, that the very near approach of three fresh fhips (two of which were discovered nearly within gun-fhot before we went into ac tion) rendered my taking poffeffion of her impracticable, when I wore to join the Minerve; but finding the fhips did not then clofe with the frigate I had left much damaged in her fails and rigging, I again ftood after her, but he had by this time got her fore-fail, fore-top-fail, and foretop-gallant-fail fet, and not only outfailed the Blanche before the wind, but was joined by another fhip ftanding from the land. Nothing could exceed the (teadiness and good conduct of the First Lieutenant, Mr. Cowan, the whole of the Officers and ship's company I have the honour to command; and I have great pleature in

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