King's meflage into confideration, being read,

zdly. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a drawback be allowed of the duties now payable on all foap and Lord J. Cavendish moved, That the ftarch used in preparing the raw mate- Afum of 60,00cl. be granted to his Marials of flax and cotton for manufacture,jefty, towards enabling his Majefty to make a feparate eftablishment for his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

and in the progrefs of the fame to a finifhed ftate for fale.

3dlv. That a drawback be allowed of the duties now payable on all brimftone and falt petre used in making oil of vitriol.

4thly. That the duties now payable on the importation of pot, pearl, wood, and weed afhes, do cease, determine, and be no longer paid.

Mr. Stanley concluded by moving the firft refolution; and

Mr. D. P. Coke feconded the motion, on the ground, that the diminution, as he was well informed, of the revenue would not amount to more than 9000l.; a fum too trifling to be an object, when confidered as given in favour of manufactures which, as had been faid, gave bread to 800,000 fubjects.

Mr. Martin gave his hearty affent to the motion. He rejoiced to find that the attempts which, he understood, had been made to disturb the peace of the Royal B Family, by turning one part of it against the other, had failed.

This revived fome former promises, which Lord North took occafion to explain.

His Lordship faid, that when the bufinefs of granting roo,oocl. a year to the civil lift was formerly before the Houfe, Сno propofition, relative to the establishment of the Pr. of Wales, was thought of. It was granted in confideration of his Majefty's increafe of family, and to enable him to make provifion for the younger branches of it, and the children of the Duke of Gloucefter. It was also at a time when an intermediate eftablishment is always made for a Prince of Wales, between the time when his Tutors leave him, and that of the establishment of his feparaté houthold. It was to that establishment, Lord North faid, he formerly alluded. This occafioned a loud laugh.

Lord J. Cavendish faid, he was not then fufficiently mafter of the fubject to fay whether the drawbacks should be al-D lowed, or not. He however owned, he was no friend to drawbacks. Poffibly, he faid, gcool. might be the whole amount of what the honeft manufacturers might put in their pockets; but draw backs were ever the parents of frauds, and three times 9000l. would be loft to. Government by allowing the relief required.

Lord North oppofed the motion on the ground of being too infignificant either one way or the other. It would neither diftrefs the manufacturers, if refuted, nor increase the manufactures in queftion to any confiderable degree, if admitted. At best it would only be a bonus to a few opulent manufacturers, but could never operate as an encouragement to the marufacturers themselves.

Mr. Dempfier was very fevere on the contruction which Lord North had put upon the motion. He faid, it had been a principle, invariably adi.ered to in all well regulated fates, never to clog the current of raw materials into any country with high duties. It was laying the axe to the root of the tree, before it had time to bring forth fruit

The revolutions were severally put and canied, with some lirie amendment to

Mr. W. Pitt allowed the explanation to Ehe ingenious, but, how far it was fatisfactory, might be gathered from the fenfe exprelled by the House.

Lord North, in reply, faid, that probably his explanation had not given the Right Hon. Gent. fatisfaction, and that for the beft reafon in the world-becaufe he was determined not to be fatisF fied. The fact was, nevertheless, as he had' ftated it.

On the queflion being put, the motion for 60,000l. paffed unanimoufly. June 26.

The bill for impofing a duty on quack medicines went into committee, and the blanks were filled up. On the claufe for Gexempting druggifts, chemifts, and graduates in phyfic at either of the Univerfities of Oxford and Cambridge, from taking cut licences, being read,

Sir Ad. Ferguson food up. He could' not hear, he faid, without feme emotion, an exception in favour of the two learnthe fecond, by Lord Mahon, to prevent Hrefection on the University of Edined English seminaries, that feemed to caft

frauds and abufes in the drawbacks.

June 25

burgh. He contended, that Edinburgh

The order of the day, for taking the was the fuft medical ichool in the world.

And,

June 27.

And, in proof, obferved, that the gentle dom who would more zealously endeamen intended for the medical line, after vour to fupport fuch a propofition as had taking degrees at either of the univerfities, A been moved; but as a bill had lately been generally reforted to Edinburgh to finish brought in for inftituting a commiffion their ftudies. After fome little converfa for the purpofe of inveftigating the partion, the English universities and that of ticular merits and fufferings of the LoyEdinburgh were placed upon the fame alifts, and the perfons in queftion feemed footing (fee p. 619). properly to come under that commiffion, and it was to be expected that a due difcriThe bill from the Lords for quieting mination would be made of their respective the minds of patrons and incumbents in B merits. In point of merit, as foldiers, confequence of the late decifion in the that furely was fo broad a plea, that cafe of Mr. Ffytche and the Bp. of Lon- every regiment raised at home which had don (fee p. 574) was read the first time. ferved abroad meritorioufly must be adThe bill was thrown out at the inftance of mitted to have an equally just claim to Sir John Delaval, who oppofed it on half pay. The circumftance of having the ground of its being a call upon that borne arms and been in active fervice Houle to give a fauction to a decifion of would doubtless appear to the commifthe Houfe of Lords, in oppofition to aC fioners a matter strongly in favour of the Stream of precedents to what had been provincial corps; and the commiffioners declared the law of the land for near 'two would by their manner of recommending centuries. them take care to place thefe Loyalists in The order of the day was read for a point of view infinitely fuperior to going into a committee of fupply. When that other description of Loyalists who - Lord North role to move, that it be had ignominiously left America on the an inftruction to the faid committee, to, commencement of the war, and by their receive and take into confideration a pro-Dinfidious counfels and their artful mifrepofition for half pay to the officers of prefentations induced government to certain American corps raifed to ferve perfift in their fatal error, and had in fact in America during the late diftractions been themfelves the principal caufe of all of that country. His Lordship enlarged our prefent misfortunes. He concluded upon the bravery and merits of thofe with recommending it as the beft mode faithful fubjects and gallant foldiers, of rewarding the officers of the provincial who had abandoned their poffeffions, fa-. corps to confider them as Loyalists who crificed their fortunes, and had rifked had fuffered for the public caufe. E their lives in the caufe of Great Britain. It had been fuggefted, he faid, that there were perfons in the provincial regiments who did not come under the defcription of American Lovalifts. He had taken pains to be informed, and had found in 21 of those corps three defcriptions of officers; the firit, thofe who, born in America, had facrificed their fortunes to their loyalty; the second, those who, born in his Majeftv's European dominions, had been long fettled in America; and, laftly, thofe who, born in Europe, went over to America when the war broke out, and ferved as volunteers in our army there. The half-pay for the whole of the officers would amount to 31,7881. He enlarged upon the fervices of those gallant men, and concluded with moving for only 15.000l. towards, and on account of halt-pay to thofe corps.

Mr. W. Grenville did not, he faid, object to the relief, but to the mode; and if there were no other means of reward-1 ing the merit of the officers of the provincial corps than granting them haif. pay, there was not a man in the king

After a very long and warm debate. the queftion was loudly called for, and the motion for half pay carried without a divifion.

In the course of argument it came out, that feveral of the officers of the provin cial corps had fold out of the British army, and afterwards got commiffions for higher rank in the provincial corps; thefe, Gen. Sir G. Howard faid, he would by no means confent should have haif pay, one only excepted, a Major Green, for his gallant fervices.

June 30.

G The report of the vote of yesterday for half pay was brought up, when

Mr. Martin rofe not, he faid, to dif agree with the committee in their refo lution respecting the Americao Lovalifts, whom, if they had acted confcientiously, and not from interested and dishonelt motives, he hoped GOD would forgive but juft to oblerve, that the American war had ended, and as had been long foretold, in the triumph of right and jutice over tyranny and defpotium. He trufted this fignal event would be an

awful warning to this and every other powerful nation, to govern their fubjects with mildnefs and perfuafion, for fhould we continue to act, he faid, upon the principle of coercion, it might be expected that the juft judgment of Heaven would light upon us, and deprive us of that liberty which we denied to others, Lord Surrey faid, the ruinous American war had been very generally blamed, but he thought the nation bound by every tye of honour to hold out fome protection to the poor Loyalifts.

with a refolution (now on the Journals of the Houfe) that the state of the E. I. Company should be taken into confideration early in the next feffion; and that now the next feilion was almoft over, yet nothing had been done in the bufinefs; for which he blamed the lare AdminiftraAtion, and pledged himself to bring that business forward early in the next feffion. The two motions paffed unanimously. [2000l. a year was granted to Ld Rodney and his two fucceffors in the title, and 1500l a year to Gen. Elliot and his fon, in pursuLord J. Cavendijo delivered two writ- ance of his Majesty's meffages on June 30.] ten meffages from the King; one, for the B July 2. House to take into their confideration the many eminent and fignal fervices per formed by Geo. Ld. Rodney; the other for beftowing fome fignal marks of royal favour upon the rt. hon. Sir Geo. Auguf tus Ellion; for both which fee p. 624.

The report from the committee of fupply was brought up and agreed to without any divifion; the articles indeed relative to 25,00ol. for carrying on the buildings at Somerfet Houfe met with fome oppofition from Mr. Hufley, who faid, that all the buildings in Somerfet House ought to be pulled down and the materials fold, for though 150,000l, had been already expended on them, they would coft 500,000l. more before they could be compleated.

Mr. Pulteney understood that Sir W. Chalmers had the laying out of all the money, and that he would not so much as fuffer an officer of the board of works to measure any part of the building. Mr. Payne indeed had been employed, but Mr. Payne was the intimate friend of Sir W. Chambers.

Lord 7. Cavendifb owned the Lords of Treafury were no judges of the buildings; and all they could do was to felect an architect of the firit reputation.

July 1.

The Houfe went into a committee on the petition from the E. I. Company. Gov. Johnstone in the chair.

Sir Henry Fletcher obferved, that in the prefent itate of the Company's affairs two things were abfolutely neceflary to their fupport. one, to keep back the demands of government, the other to grant a loan of 300,000l. from govern

mient.

The House went into a committee on the propriety of making fome alterations in the revenue laws.

Lord J. Cavendish proposed that the duty on auflins, callicoes, and nankeens, be reduced from 481. to 181. per cent. Cand a draw-back of 10l. per cent. be allowed on exportation. This regulation, he flattered himself, would operate strongly against fmuggling; and therefore met with no oppofition. He propofed likewife to reduce the daty on cocoa and coffee, the produce of British D plantations, from 1s. 6d. per lb. weight to 6d. per lb. weight, in order to encou rage the Loyalitts to feule in Jamaica, where there were lands, which tho' not fit for fugar, were very proper for those articles. This alfo was agreed to withE out oppofition.

F

Mr. Dempfer moved an addrefs to his Majefty, that he would be gracioufly pleafed to inftitute an enquiry into the facts relative to the railing a regiment by Col. Efkine laft, war, on the borders of Switzerland, and that he would order fuchrelief to the officers as should appear to him warranted by the refult of the enquiry. He faid that many of the officers, who were Swifs, were banished their country, and their property was confif cated, because they had engaged to raise men for England. The regiment was Graifed with the countenance of Govern ment for the E. I. Company. But the Company refuting now to make any compenfation to the officers, they were literally Rtarving in London. This mode of proceeding, without any papers having been laid before the Houle, relative to bufinefs, was declared irregular, and or

Thefe were reduced to two mo- Haered to be referred to a committee.

tions, and both feconded by

Lord John Cavendish, who obferved, that the intereft of the public and Company were fo connected, that both muft itand or fall together.

Mr. Sec. Fox faid, it was really a fhame that the lait feflion fhould have clofed

Mr. Courteney ftated, that the Col. and his officers had expended full 20,cool. in raifing the regiment, and other expences incidental to that fervice, and that they had never been able to receive more than eight thoufand. Mr. Courte

Dey

nev added, that Col. Erskine undertook vernment had endeavoured fo to correct the bufinefs on the good faith of govern- it as to provide an effectual and permament, tho' for reafons of policy the name nent advantage to the public in future. of government was not directly used. It had been the general opinion that the This being the true state of the cafe, he emoluments of the principal officers of A left it to the honour of the Houfe, whe-the Exchequer ought to be reduced to ther the Col. and his officers ought not the ftandard of their amount during to be refcued from the fituation into which they had been thrown, which was literally the moft diftreffing.

Mr. Sheridan recommended it to gentlemen to exert themfelves in committee, and to report upon it in as few days as poffible.

July 4.

The Houfe went into a committee on the bill for regulating certain offices in the Exchequer.

Lord J. Cavendish proposed, that after the intereft of the prefent auditors and teliers of the Exchequer, and of the clerk of the pells, in their respective places, fhall have ceafed, the falaries of thefe officers in future thall be fixed and certain, as follow: the place of auditor 4000l. a year; and tellerfhip 2,700!. clerkship of the pells 3,000l. the place of deputy to each of the four tellers 1000l. the place of deputy to the depa-D ties to be totally abolished. The deputy clerk of the pells 800i. and the receiver 2col. He faid that the fees fhould for ever be continued, but not divided among the different officers who fail fucceed thofe who now hold by patent; that of thefe fees a fund fhould be made, out of which the falaries fhould be paid, the furplus to be divided into three parts, two of which to be applied to the ufe of the public, the other to the civil lift, if it fhould be found to fland in need of it. From the reports of the commiflioners of accounts it appeared, he faid, that the prefeat income of the tellers amounts in peace to fomething more than 2,500l. a year, and in war to 8000l.

I he commithioners of accounts had pointed out the degree to which the caufe of complaint prevailed, and they had advised a correction of it. "That any individual fubject thould hold an office fo circumflanced that its emolument should increase in proportion as the expence, diftrels, and difficulty of the country increated, was certainly a matter that every man muft think improper, and wifhed to have altered." This, he faid, was the evil which the prefent bill was intended to cue, and upon that ground principally was the whole of it conftructed. In applying the remedy, however, goGENT. MAG. Dec. 1783.

G

peace. In effe&ting an alteration of fo much importance two things were neceffary to be adverted to; finecures of too enormous a fize ought not to be fuffered to remain; neither ought they, if it were judged proper that they should remain at all, be fo cut down as that they might not be held out by the Crown, and looked up to by men of confiderable talents, as fit rewards for diftinguished public fervices in eminent fituations in the ftate : he had therefore, his Lordship faid, chofen a middle path. He had not rated the emoluments of the tellers and their clerks to high as to provoke a justifiable negative; neither had he pared thein down fo low as to give rife to a refiftlefs oppofition. He had taken them at what he thought might pafs, and therefore he fhould hope the committee would agree to them. His Lordship, having gone thro' the matter fully, moved that the blanks in the claufe be filled up as he had mentioned.

Mr. Huffey made fome objections, to the falary of the tellers, as exceeding even that of the prefent telers in time of peace, by near zool. a year each. And

Mr. Pulteney oblerved, they were not only to have 200l. a year more than their peace emolument, but their cleris were to have 1000l. a year, and that the tellers were to have the appointment of their own clerks, which, as it was known that the buncis of the head clerk was done tor 400l. a year, the whole of the teller's place would amount to 3,400l. a year nearly.

He concluded with moving, that the blank to be filled with the fum voted for the tellers deputies be 400l. Instead of 1000!

This was ftrongly oppofed by Mr. Sec. Fox, on the ground of the impoffibility of carrying on the government of a great kingdom uniefs it had certain lucrative and honourable fituations to beftow on its officers as a provifion for their families, and as a reward for their eminent and diflinguifhed fervices. He laid the bill was brought in not merely for the purpofe of effecting an economical reform in little matters, but to reduce the extravagant increale of emoluments of

fome

fome offices, which arofe in proportion as the expences of the country increafed, and who grew rich upon the grievances of the public. As to the argument that giving the clerks 1000l. a year was in fact giving their principals 600l. in addition to their 2,700l. it thofe who held the offices were bafe and fordid enough to floop to fuch meannefs, no bar the legitlature had in its power to provide could poffibly prevent it.

Mr. Dempfler could by no means agree that 400l. a year was a fufficient falry, even were the clerks alluded to fingle

men and had no families. In this town the committee must know that 400l. a year is but a fcanty provifion for any gentleman; but if the deputy tellers had families, it was impoffible for them to live upon it in any manner refpectable.

Mr. Huffey obferved, that there were other ways of dividing the falary of a deputy than fharing it between the deputy and his principal. Had gentlemen never heard of minifters quartering one perfon upon another? But be that as it may, why give tellers 2,70cl. a year? what neceflity was there to give them more than their peace eftablishment: He * should therefore propofe, that instead of 2.700l. the blanks for their falaries to be filled up with the words 2,500l. He con cluded with moving the fame in form.

opinion, that his noble friend was entitled to the reverfion of a tellership in as large and beneficial a manner as any other perfon who ever had a grant of a reverfion of the fame kind. That his noble friend had fo long forborne to feAcure the grant in due form, was to him a moft unaccountable neglect. He concluded with moving his provifo exempting Ld Thurlow from the opera tion of the bill.

This brought on a long and tedious converfation, in which most of the gen Btlemen of the long robe bore a part.

. Mr. Sec. Fox role, and declared the matter did not appear to him fo very unaccountable as it did to the hon. gent, and his friends. When the offer was firft made, one reversion of a tellership was actually granted; the noble and learned CLord might think a fecond not fo good a thing as poffibly might come within his grafp, and perhaps in the peculiar cir cumftances under which it had been made (with two very young men in poffeflion, a third young man in reverfion, and the fift teller at that time, to all appearance, a good life), it was of lefs value than at any other time it could have been offered. Was it to be wondered then that the noble and learned Lord fhould have fince changed his opinion, and grown more willing to accept a reLord John Cavendish faid, the matter verfion in proportion as the object apin difpute was fo trivial that he, for one, E peared more within his reach? Gentlefhould have no objection to give it up. inen might imagine, Mr. Fox faid, that the difference that had happened between the noble and learned Lord and himself might render him adverse to the clause. He affured the committee he spoke from no fuch motives, and tho' the noble and learned Lord had thought proper to fay that when the Crown was ftripped of its power of reward, none but defperate and needy adventurers would accept of offices; he did affure that noble Lord's Mr. Orde then proceeded to put the friends, that he by no means wished to queftion on Mr. Huifey's motion, when deny him a fhare of that affluence which the Houfe divided: Ayes 37. Noes 46.he feemed to confider as fo etlential a Majority for 2,700l. 9.-The committeequalification for office. then went on with the rest of the bill, and having come to the fit ftage,

Mr. Sec. Fox was ready to agree with his noble friend, provided that no perfon - would afterwards move a clause to exempt any particular individual from the operation of the prefent bill.

Mr. Rigby immediately got up, and declared that it was his intention, in the proper place, to offer a claufe exempting the late Lord Chancellor from the operation of the prefent bill.

Mr. Rigby rofe, to move the claufe alluded to. He faid, his noble friend, when he accepted the office of Lord Chancellor, quitted a fituation in his profeflion pregnant with emolument. His Majefty, confcious of this, promifed him a tellerthip of the Exchequer whenever it should become vacant; this promite was made fo long ago as the year 1778. He therefore trufted the committee would be of

F

Mr. Hufey rofe, and flated the motion in a very candid manner; either, he faid, Ld Thurlow was promifed a reverfion of a tellerfhip in 1778, long before the prefent bill was thought of, or he was not. It had been acknowledged on all hands that he had been to promifed; undoubt edly then, that being the cafe, he ought to ftand on the fame footing with every other poffeffer or grantee of a tellership at the fame time that the promile was made. It was a bargain for which the

royal