MONDAY, MAY 1.

THIS day the various Bills upon the Table were read in their respective ftages. Among thefe was the Minute of Council Bill, which was read a third time, and paffed.

The Ufher of the Black Rod apprized the House, that a number of Members of the Houfe of Commons were waiting for a conference with their Lordships in the Painted Chamber, which took place with the accustomed forms. The Deputation from the Commons was headed by the Mafter of the Rolls, who read the Refolutions agreed to by that House refpecting a Plan for the more effectual Promulgation of the Statutes. After fome private bufinefs had been difpofed of, the Houfe adjourned.

TUESDAY, MAY 2.

Lord Muncafter prefented, from the House of Commons, certain Reports, made by the Secret Committee of that Houfe, for the ufe of their Lordships.

Lord Grenville prefented a Meffage from his Majefty, precifely the fame as that delivered to the Houfe of Commons on Saturday laft [fee page 356.], which was read by the Clerk.

His Lordship then moved, "That his Majefty's Meffage be taken into confideration on Thurfday next, and that the Lords be fummoned for that day;" which was ordered accordingly.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3.

The Royal Affent was given by Com miffion to the Minute of Council Bill, the Irish Funds Transfer Bill, and to nineteen private Bills.

ROYAL MARRIAGE.

Lord Grenville prefented a Meffage from his Majefty, fimilar to that delivered to the Houfe of Commons, reSpecting the intended Marriage of the Princefs Royal to the Hereditary Prince of Wirtemberg. His Lordship then moved an Addrefs to his Majefty, in anfwer to his gracious Meffage, which he prefaced by obferving, that the utmoft unanimity muft pervade the Houfe on fuch an occafion, and that all their Lordships muft feel happy in expreffing their fincere congratulation at an event which produced fuch an advantageous

alliance, and contributed to the domeftic happiness of his Majefty's Royal Family.

The Address was then read, which, after thanking his Majefty for his moft gracious communication, faithfully echoed the Meffage, and expreffed the fatisfaction and concurrence of the Houfe in the warmest and moft affectionate language.

The question was then put, and the Addrefs was voted nem. dif.

The Duke of Bedford intimated his intention to bring forward, on some future day, a Motion for the production of papers relative to the late proceedings on board the Channel Fleet at Spithead, unlefs Minifters deemed it expedient fo to do of their own accord.

Earl Spencer faid, that he had it not in command from his Majefty to make any communication to the Houfe on the fubject; nor did it appear to him as likely that he should be ordered to do fo.

Earl Howe faid, that he had attended the Houfe lately feveral times, and waited with anxious impatience for an opportunity of vindicating himself from an unfounded charge that had been alledged against him, which affected his profeffional credit and character: he felt that he could not regularly have originated the difcuffion himself, but was fo far happy, that he was likely to have a regular opportunity of vindicating himself; at the fame time it ftruck him (alluding to the affair of the Mutiny) as a very improper fubje&t for difcuffion, and, in the prefent circumftances, rather likely to be productive of mifchief, than of good effects.

His Royal Highnefs the Duke of Clarence took the opportunity to exprefs his opinion, that the Noble Admiral's conduct had been perfe&tly unexceptionable, and that when the opportunity arrived, he would be able to vindicate himself in a manner confonant to the illuftrious character he had always maintained. He alfo coincided with the Noble Admiral, in deprecating the dif cuffion of the fubject, as likely to be productive of no pollible good effect.

Lord

Lord Grenville obferved to the fame effect. He deprecated the difcuffion of a fubject of fuch delicacy and importance, as of the moft injurious tendency, and, under the prefent circumstances, as had better never been mentioned.

The Earl of Carlifle faid, that allowing the prefent moment not to be a proper one for fuch a difcuffion, it might be proper to inveftigate the affair, for the purpose of determining where the faults lay, or how an affair of its alarıning tendency had originated.

Earl Howe rofe and faid, that by what had tranfpired, it was not likely that he fhould have a fitter opportunity than the prefent moment, for ftating to their Lordships the hare he had in the unfortunate tranfaction before alluded to, which to the beft of his recollection was this: During his refidence at Bath, about three or four months ago, the Noble Earl faid he received feveral pe. titions, accompanied by anonymous let ters, reprefenting the existence of grievances on board the fleet which he once had the honour to command; but, on account of their coming in fo queftionable a fhape, he did not tranfmit them to the Admiralty. He was induced, however, to communicate what had happened to an Officer on board the fleet, and requested information as to the existence of thofe grievances. His friend affured him in reply, that if any grievances did exift, they were unknown to him. With this anfiver his Lordship was fatisfied, and concluded that the allegations in the petitions were without foundation. On his return to town, however, one of the Lords of the Admiralty cailed at his houfe on the fubject of the petitions, and the fequel was well known to their Lordships and the Country, by public rumour.

After a few explanatory words, the converfation dropped. Adjourned.

THURSDAY, MAY 4: ADVANCES TO THE EMPEROR AND IRELAND.

The Order of the Day, for the confideration of his Majesty's Melage to the Houfe, delivered on Tuesday, refpecting a pecuniary Loan to the Emperor, and alio a Loan to the Govern. ment of Ireland, having been moved,

Lord Grenville then rofe to move an Addrefs to his Majefty on the occafion, which he prefaced with a very few obfervations, as he was confident that but one opinion could prevail among their Lerdips on the fubject of his Majefty's

communication. The fituation of Ireland was obviously fuch as to render the propofed pecuniary affiftance neceffary: to this he deemed it impoffible. to offer an objection. With refpect to the projected Loan to our illuftrious Ally, his Imperial Majefty, it was deemed expedient, under the prefent circumftances of the War, to enable this Country to accommodate that Prince with a Loan, to the amount mentioned in his Majefty's gracious Meffage, thould the fituation of affairs require it, as the beft means of effecting a general and fecure Peace. His Lordship then read the Addrefs, which, after thanking his Majefty for his gracious communication, as ufual, faithfully echoed the Meffage. The Addrefs being read from the Woolfack, the queftion was put, and it was voted nem. dif.

The Addrefs was then ordered to be prefented to his Majefty in the usual form, and an adjcnment took place.

MONDAY, MAY 8.

The Loan Bill was brought up from the Commons, and read a first time.

Various Bills were forwarded in their refpective stages, after which the Houfe adjourned.

TUESDAY, MAY 9. On the Queftion for the fecond read. ing of the Loan Bill,

The Earl of Suffolk took the opportunity to obferve upon the magnitude of the fum that was intended to be sent to Ireland, and thought that the meafure required explanation.

Lord Grenville replied, that the fituation of Ireland was obviously fuch, as to leave no doubt of the propriety of raifing a fum of money for its defence, in this country; and that its difpofal was to be under the direction of the Parliament of Ireland.

The Earl of Suffolk obferved, that if he imagined it were to be applied to the external defence of Ireland, no perfon could be lefs inclined to oppofe it, as he well knew the importanee of Ireland to this Country; it was its right band, which, if lopt off, the effects might be fatal: but if it was for the fupport of a fyftem of coercion in that Country, he deprecated the confequences.

Lord Moira adverted to the Motion he had not long fince made refpecting

Hhh 2

the Affairs of Ireland, and afferted, that had his advice then been taken, the various unfortunate circumftances that had fince happened in that Country would not have taken place. It was not yet too late for the Houfe to interfere, and to prevent Minifters from carrying their nugatory fcheme of coercion into effect; they might addrefs the Sovereign, and by his paternal intervention, his Kingdom of Ireland might yet be faved. He did not allude to a feparation of the two countries, but feared that Ireland would be plunged into fuch a fituation, as to be not only not a fupport to Britain, but to become dangerous to her.

Lord Grenville obferved, that at prefent there was no queftion before the House. With refpect to what the Noble Earl (Moira) had alluded to, and the Motion he propofed, he must fay, that its adoption would be a violation of public faith and of the folemn contract made with Ireland, which was guaranteed by the Parliament of this Country, of vefting in the Parliament of Ireland the abfolute and exclufive legiflation with refpect to Irish con

cerns.

The Earl of Moira faid a few words to the fame tendency as what he had before advanced; and he cenfured the diftinctions made by Minifters as evafions.

The Bill was then read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed.

The Duke of Bedford ftated, that feveral Gentlemen of the Surgical Profeffion confidered themselves as aggrieved by fome of the provifions of the Surgeon's Bill, and requested to be permitted to be heard by Counfel against it. His Grace therefore moved, "That the third reading of the Bill be deferred until the 19th inftant," which was ordered accordingly.

Mr. Pybus prefented a Bill from the House of Commons, to enable his Majefty to carry into effect the Order of Council of the 3d of May, refpecting a certain increase of pay and allowances to the Seamen, &c. which was read a first time.

Lord Grenville moved the immediate fecond reading of the Bill.

The Earl of Suffolk having expatiated on the great importance of the meafure, wifhed to know of Minifters, why they had not brought it forward earlier?

Lord Strange (Duke of Athol, in Scotland) rofe, and with fome warmth

deprecated all difcuffion of this measure, which, amongst other evils, might afford the opportunity of mifrepresentation, and might be attended with serious confequences.

Lord Grenville ftated his firm conviction, that all difcuffion of the prefent fubject was highly improper; and better reafons could not be affigned by him againft it than thofe given by the Noble Earl (Strange).

The Duke of Bedford faid, he had no wish to provoke difcuffion; but his duty led him to deprecate the conduct of Minifters, in thus delaying to come to Parliament. What paffed that night could not be cenfured as difcuffion; it only afforded Minifters an opportunity to vindicate themfelves, and to ftate their reafons for delaying the measure.

The Earl of Moira obferved, that an explanation on the part of Minifters was neceffary to fatisfy the Country, as well as Parliament, refpecting the caufes of their delay in bringing forward the Bill; and that a fatisfactory explanation might prevent the evil from spreading farther. The Seamen would then fee that they were not neglected. The queftion propofed by the Noble Earl, he thought, embraced no difcuffion.

The Lord Chancellor quitted the Woolfack, and obferved, that he would appeal to the understanding of all prefent, if the prefent moment was to be loft in unavailing difpute. Let them confider what might be the prefent condition of the Fleet.-Tranquility was the object of all.-There was no objection to the paffing of the Bill.Then why clog its progrefs by inquiries, for which there would be time enough hereafter?

The Bill was then read a fecond time, the commitment of it negatived, and then read a third time, and paffed.

The Houfe then waited for fome time for the arrival of the Commiffion to authorize certain Peers to give his Ma jefty's Affent to the Seamen's Increased Pay Bill, and to other Bills. On the Commiflion being brought down, the Houfe of Commons were fent for, and his Majefty's Royal Affent was given to the Bill for Increafing the Pay and certain Allowances to the Seamen, and to eight private Bills.

The Houfe then adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10.

The various Bills upon the Table were forwarded in their respective stages. Six-private Bills were brought up from

the

the House of Commons and read a firft time, after which the Houfe adjourned. THURSDAY, MAY 11.

The Royal Affent was given by Commiffion to the Bill enabling his Majefty to raise the fum of 14,500,000l. by the way of Annuities, and to eight other Bills. Four Bills were brought up from the Houfe of Commons, which were feverally read a first time.

The Duke of Bedford acquainted their Lordships, that, on account of the prefent ftate and agitation of the public

mind, he was inclined to postpone the Motion he had intended to bring forward to-morrow, relative to the Report of the Secret Committee of that House. At the fame time he would wish to have the Order remain for fummoning the Houfe for to-morrow, as he believed, that unless fome intelligence to quiet the public mind arrived before that period, he should bring forward a Motion relative to the present state of the Marine of this Country. Adjourned.

MONDAY, MAY 1.

ON the Motion of Mr. Abbot, a Committee was appointed to conduct the conference with the Lords, relative to the Bill for improving the Promulgation of the Statutes.

SCOTCH DISTILLERIES,

Mr Grey faid, that he had in his handa Petition from the Distillers in the Lowlands, complaining of the grievances under which they laboured, from the difproportion between the tax on their fills and that on ftills in the Highlands. The Houfe would recollect, that in 1793, when the duties on ftills in the Lowlands had been inere fed to 21. per gallon, no increase had taken place on ftills in the Highlands; that when the duty on the former was afterwards raifed to gl. per gallon, that on the latter was increafed only to al. 10s that the Lowland ftills were afterwards taxed at 181. per gallon, and that they were now 541. per gallon, though thofe in the Highlands continued to pay only

al. 10s.

The Petition was brought up, and ordered to lie on the Table.

HIS MAJESTY'S MESSAGE. The Order of the Day being read for the consideration of the King's Meffage, and for the Committee of Supply,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that of the three points which his Majefty's Meffage recommended to the confideration of the Houfe, namely, the Loan for the fervice of Ireland, that for the fervice of the Emperor, and the other Extraordinary Expences for the Public Service which might be ren dered neceffary by the exigency of affairs, he should only trouble the Committee upon the two firft;-and, with refpect to the Loan for Ireland, there was, he believed, fo little difference of opinion, that, though he should make a

motion upon it, he would not follow it with any obfervations. On the fubject of the Loan to the Emperor, he was not fanguine enough to expect the fame unanimity, though the general propriety and prudence of retaining the affiftance of the Emperor, as long as the war fhould continue, was almost univerfally admitted. It would, however, not be neceffary for him to do more than remind the Houfe of the chief points difcuffed in the laft debate upon this subject. In that difcuffion, the benefit of fuch a diverfion as the arms of the Emperor produced was generally acknowledged: in point of economy it was alfo agreed, that no expenditure of equal amount at home could produce the fame effect; and it was almost as generally admitted, that the refult of the diverfion effected by the Emperor was highly beneficial, if confidered only with a view to our domeftic credit. The only difference between the period of the laft difcuffion and the present period was produced by the circumstances which had occurred at the Bank by the courfe of the Exchange, and by the advantage which the House had in poffeffing the Report of their Committee of Secrecy upon the Public Finances. That Report, Mr. Pitt contended, fhewed the difficulties with respect to cash to have been occafioned by the concurrence of many caufes at home, and not either immediately or exclufively by foreign remittances. During the continuance of the late drains from abroad, fo much were they counteracted by the flourishing ftate of our commerce, that the courfe of the Exchange had rifen. Mr. Pitt concluded by ftating, that of the three millions and a half which he should propofe to grant by way of Loan to the Emperor, the fum of 1,620,opol. had been already

remitted;

remitted; so that the Refolution which he had now to move was for the further fum of 1,880,000l.

Mr. Fox obferved, that however the Hon. Gentleman might rejoice in holding out the Imperial Loans not to have been the exclufive caufes of the prefent difficulties, which no man fuppofed, it was well known that they were material causes of those difficulties. The great importation of corn might have been another caufe, and it was time that this did not now exift; but in the courfe of the prefent year the payment for neutral cargoes might be a drain equivalent to that. The real difference, however, between the prefent period and that in which the laft Loan was granted, confifted in the interior circumstances of the country. It was unneceffary for him to ftate the alarming facts which conftituted that difference. There was now alfo a drain for Ireland. The Hon. Gentleman had referred to his triumphant arguments in a former difcuffion; and certainly they did procure him all that triumph, which, in the circumstances of the country, the majority of the Houfe could beftow; yet he was furprised to find that triumph, and the fame arguments, referred to upon the prefent occafion.

Mr. Fox, after feverely condemning the conduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in draining the Country of fpecie and impoverishing all ranks of people, in granting Loan after Loan to the Emperor, faid, he did not know that he fhould object to the Loan propofed for Ireland; not that he thought the fum inconfiderable; but when measures were taken for bringing that country into the fame fituation as America; when there was apparently a vain intention, he had almoft faid he hoped it would be vain, to fubject it by armies; when that ifland was in a ftate almost as bad as rebellion; in this fituation, however much he might feel for affifting Ireland, he did not know whether he could entirely approve the Loan. He concluded by faying, that, as the Houfe might in a few days know on what grounds they were to vote the Loan for the Emperor, he would move, "That the Chairman now report progrefs, and afk leave to fit again."

After a debate of confiderable length, in which Mr. Grey, Sir W. Pulteney, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Wilberforce, and Gen. Tarleton, feverally took part, the

The Houfe, in a Committee of Ways and Means, voted, That Exchequer Bills, made out after the 1st of May 1797, may be paid for the subscription of 18,000,000l. and that 51. per cent. be allowed to perfons paying in their fubfcriptions before the inftalments become due. To be reported to-morrow. Adjourned.

TUESDAY, MAY 2.

The Report of the Committee of Supply for guaranteeing the fum of 1,500,000l. for the fervice of Ireland, and 2,000,000l. to be advanced to the Emperor, was read a first and second

time.

Mr. Hobart brought up the Report of the Committee for a Loan of 13,000,000l. for the fervice of the current year. Read a firft and second time, and agreed to.

Mr. Mainwaring brought in a Bill for preventing foreftalling, regrating, and engroffing live cattle. Read a firft time, and ordered to be read a fecond.

The Foreign Shipping Bill went through a Committee. Ordered to be reported.

Mr. Ryder moved, "That the House do refolve itfelf into a Committee of the whole House, on Friday fe'nnight, to take into confideration the Treaty with America.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3.
ROYAL MARRIAGE.

Mr. Pitt delivered a Meffage from his Majefty, of which the following is the fubftance:

"His Majesty having agreed to the marriage of the Princefs Royal with the Hereditary Prince of Wirtemberg, has thought fit to communicate intelligence of it to the House of Commons, His Majefty is fully fatisfied, that the marriage of her Royal Highness with a Proteftant Prince, fo confiderable in

rank