was as much or more due from the land- that an officer was not fo eafily formed, lord to the tenant, the tenant fhould be he fhould certainly prefer the latter. On allowed to replevy the diftrefs, and the this ground it had been determined to landlord fhould not be permitted to fell A reduce the companies from ten to eight, the goods till a jury had determined except in the guards and houfhold troops; whether a fair fet-off had been made in but as it must be with reluctance that the favour of the tenant. And that, if the country could wish to disband officers who jury fhould find for the tenant, the cofts had gallantly difcharged their duty, it fhould fall on the landlord. was therefore purposed to continue the Lord Mulgrave oppofed the claufe, as captains of the two reduced companies in fubverfive of the leading principle that full pay, the expence of which would was to be traced through all the laws of B not remain long, and those two captains England, That the land was to be the were to fucceed to fuch companies as fecurity to the owner for the payment fhould become vacant, as no others were of his rent, and that nothing should stand to be appointed captains in their stead. in the way of that fecurity. Some faving, he said, would be made by a regulation which would fhortly take place in converting two regiments of Another claufe was then propofed for heavy dragoons (the roth and 11th) into impowering the courts of law to iffuelight horfe, for the purpose of suppressing commiffions for taking depofitions beyond the feas. At prefent, the courts of As to the reduction of our force beyond law having no fuch power, the perfons fea, he could at prefent fay nothing. Upto whom the evidence of witnesses be- on the whole, the prefent intended reducyond the feas is neceffary, are obliged to tion, he believed, would produce a faving apply by bill to the Court of Chancery, of 100,000l. though he feared the exat a very heavy expence, and a great de- pence, for fix months to come, would be lay. This claufe was admitted; and the but little fhort of what it was at prefent, Committee having gone through the bill, D as it was not yet known how foon the the House was resumed; and troops in America could be disbanded.

The Committee divided on this clause, Ayes 68, Noes 78.

The bill for impofing taxes was read the third time, and a very ferious debate on the old ground commenced, which, however, had no other effect than to afford amusement to the by-ftanders. The bill paffed, with the contefted claufe for taxing receipts, just as it stood at first. June 13.

The House in a Committee of Supply on the army estimates.

Secretary at War [Col. Fitzpatrick] declared it was a moft pleafing circumftance to him to have it in his power to announce the intention of his Majefty to make a very confiderable reduction of the army, and that no more than 64 regiments of infantry fhould be kept on foot (excepting out of this regulation, however, the 65th and 68th, which were to be kept up in the room of two regiments now in India), and the reduction of the cavalry to take place downwards to the 13th exclufively. Oeconomy, he faid, was undoubtedly the principle on which the reduction ought to be founded; yet he would not helitate to give a decided opinion on a question often agitated, namely, Which was to be preferred, frong battalions thinly officered, or thin battalions ftrongly officered? Believing, as he did, that a private foldier was foon trained when placed among veterans, but

the fmugglers.

Having gone through what he called the painful part of his tafk, Mr. Fitzpatrick concluded with moving for the eftablishinent of 17,483 effective men, for guards and garrifons in Great Britain and the islands of Jerfey and Guernsey, Efron the 25th day of June to the 24th of December, being 183 days.

Lord Newhaven afked, Why the foreign troops had not been mentioned? Lord North faid, the pay of those troops had already been voted.

Sir J. Mawbey wondered the reducFtion had not extended to the Oxford Blues and the Horfe Guards, who had done no fervice during this war.

Gen. Sir G. Howard would never confent to the difbanding the Oxford Blues, the finest regiment, in his opinion, in Europe: nor did he like to hear of the converfion of the heavy dragoons into Glight horfe. The heavy cavalry of this country had established fuch a reputation in Germany, for being irrefiftible in their charge, that the French cavalry had not once dared to look them in the face. He approved much of continuing the captains, and at the fame time earnestly recommended to the Committee another defcription of men, many of whom, hav. ing ferved from 20 to 40 years, came recommended to him to Chelsea Hofpital,

where

where all that he could do for them was
to give them 5d a day, though their pay,
when on duty, had been a fhilling. There
was, be faid, a charity to which ferjeants A
were recommended, called King's Let-
ter-Men, who were allowed a filling a
dav, but their number was only 200; he
therefore fupplicated the Committee to
make the fame provifion for 200 more.
This idea feemed to meet the general
concurrence of the Houfe.

Mr. Fex faid, it had been fuggefted to him that the reduction of one drummer in a company might take place without inconvenience to the army. This would produce a faving of 6000l. a year, which might be difpofed of in rewarding meritorious ferjeants. No reduction had taken place in the guards, Mr. Fox faid, becaufe guards were confidered, all over Europe, as part of the fplendor of monarchs; and, in all the reforms that had been made, the Houfe had always paid attention to the appendages of majesty. The different refolutions on the eftimates were now moved for, and voted without oppofition.

June 16.

The refolution of the Committee for taking away the privilege of compounding for the duty on malt, by perfons who brewed beer for their own ufe only, came to be reported.

[Mr. Hill, in his oppofition, was ill fupported; the refolution was carried, and bill ordered in.]

a

Mr. Ord brought up the report of the Committee of Supply on the army eftiinates: and

Gen. Rofs rofe and apologifed for then entering into an extenfive difcuffion, not being prefent on the day when the reduction was before the Committee. He wished that a board of general-officers B had been convened, who, from a deliberate view of the relative states of Europe and America, compared with this kingdom, might have made their report to Parliament of a fuitable peace-eftablifhment of an army. On a peace, the po. pular cry is, "Reduce, reduce your army "and navy;" and, to use the vulgar proCverb, "in war-time we are pound-foolish, "and in peace-time we are farthing-wife." But let it be confidered that political, as well as felf prefervation, is the first law of nature. Had one year's lavish extravagance of the late war been properly applied, immediately after the peace of Paris, it was more than probable the late Dwar had never happened, and America might fill have been in our poffeffion.He was led into this confideration from the intereft he had in the Royal Manchefter regiment, which, he understood, was foon to be brought home; but the inftructions fent from the War-Office" were, to induce as many of the private Efoldiers, as could be perfuaded thereto, to inlift into the corps that were to remain in that garrifon. If the fact was fo, furely that was not the kind of reward their fervices merited. In the year 1778 the Manchefter regiment was raifed, without expence to Government, or fliFpulation to name their officers; but was prefented to the ftate with that zeal and liberality which is the characteristic of that great and flourishing town. It was compofed from their most healthy, robuft, and promifing youths; and, as foon as completed, were marched to Portfmouth, under the auspices of a very worthy and refpectable member of the Houfe, Sir T. Egerton, who had been active in bringing them together, and training them for war. On their march, near Windfor, they had the honour to pals in review before their Majesties, and, from the benign countenances of the royal perfonages, they derived freth animation. Upon their arrival at Gibraltar, they were inftantly reviewed, and placed under the parental care of that illuftrious foldier the then governor. It would

Mr. Hill faid, he had 500 objections against depriving the fubject of that privilege, but would reduce them to five: 1. Because it was oppreflive; 2. Becaufe it was partial; 3. Becaufe it was fordid; 4. Because it was odious; and 5. Becaufe it would be found impolitic. It was oppreflive, because it rendered useless the rections which the private compounders had been at great expence in completing, merely for their own convenience. It was partial, because the cyder counties felt none of the bad effects of it. It was fordid, because it tended to put an end to that liberal spirit of generofity to the poor that univerfally prevailed among the clafs of people who were the princi pl compounders. It was odious, becaufe he poor were principally affected by it. It was impolitic, becaufe what was gain ed on the duty would be found to be loft in the confumption. He profeffed himfelf a lover of hofpitality, and he believed he might lay, without boafting, that to feed the hungry, and to give drink to the thirsty, afforded him a fingular plea-H fure; but, if this new regulation took place, it would, in a great meafuze, tie up the hands of charity.

trespass

trefpafs on the time of the Houfe to enter into a detail of their fervices during the fiege. Suffice it to fay, they were pofted at the King's Bastion on that ever memorable day the 13th of September, 1782, when the united force of the Houfe of Bourbon was in vain ex

A

Mr. Brickdale faid, the bill was abfbTutely neceffary, as a capital of feveral hundred thoufand pounds now lay idle, which the merchants had laid out in brafs. The Houfe divided; for the amendment 17; against it 39.

Sir Cecil Wray brought up a petition erted in the general attack of that fort. from the people called Quakers, in beHe would, then, humbly fubmit it to half of the unfortunate negroes, the the confideration of the Houfe, Whe- traffic of whofe perfons they prayed, for ther it would not be more becoming the fake of humanity, to have abolished. the dignity of Government to bring that Sir Cecil ftated that a bill, now dependregiment home entire, than to moulder ing in that Houfe, relative to the flaveit away by piece meal? And when re-trade, had fuggefted to thofe humane, turned, and refreshed, to march it tri-refpectable people, the idea of presenting umphantly into Manchefter, the native fuch a petition. town of the greatest part of the foldiers, now become veterans, there to lay down their arms, and to lodge their laurelled colours where they firit took them up, amidst the heart-felt applaufes of their countrymen and friends? He was confident that, when they then should be difbanded, many of them would again return to the fervice like Cæfar's veterans, who every man knew where to take his poft. He should not, he faid, have troubled the Houfe on this fubject D but in confequence of a letter he had received, that the gentlemen of Manchefter intended applying to Government to have the regiment brought home and disbanded in that town.

The refolutions were then reported and agreed to.

Mr. Gafcoyne, jun. brought up a report of the committee, to which the petition of Sir Afiton Lever, relative to his museum, had been referred. The report was read, and appeared to be greatly in favour of Sir Ahton's application; but feveral gentlemen recommended caution.

Ld North paid fome very high compli ments to the feelings of the most mild and humane clafs of Chriftians he believed in the world; but he feared the Ctotal abolition of the flave-trade was impoffible. As to the bill depending in the Houfe, it mentioned the flave-trade only for the purpofe of prohibiting the fervants of the African company from engaging in the flave trade, to the detriment of their mafters.

The petition was brought up and read, and appeared to be the act of the general affembly at their yearly meeting. It was ordered to lie on the table.

Capt. J. Luttrell prefented a previous petition from Henry Philips, Efq; prașing the Houfe to difpenfe with its order, which provides that no petition praying for money thall be received after a particular day, which day had been long elapfed; the reafon for the delay, the petition fet forth, was, that the Houte having laft year paffed a bill to grant a F der for the invention of a certain powfum for deftroying vermin in bread, the Lords had rejected it till certificates could be obtained of its efficacy, the petitioner therefore having waited for thofe certifi cates, with which, he faid, he was now provided, had prevented his earlier apSir P. J. Clerke hoped gentlemen plication to Parliament, which he now would take time to confider before they G prayed might be permitted. voted away their conftituents money for ftuffed birds and butterflies.

Ld Mulgrave believed the trustees of the British Mufeum would fcout the idea of annexing the collection alluded to, to their repofitory.

Ld Surrey faid, he would oppofe the prayer of the petition, not only on the ground of informality, but likewife on the ground of demerit. He thought the Lords had acted wifely in rejecting the

bill.

Capt. J. Luttrell was of opinion, that Hif the ditcovery was fuch as the petitioner affirmed it to be, it highly deferved the attention of Parliament. On the quettion being put, it pafied in the negative without a divifion.

(To be continued)

MR. URBAN,

THE

Yours,

Nov. 4. HE following original letters to Dr. Birch from the author of "The Canons of Criticifin" (who by the way is not very handsomely treated by a correfpondent in vol. LII. p. 288) will doubtless be acceptable to your readers. S. J. "DEAR SIR, March 27, 1750. "I beg the favour of you to look into Hickes's Dictionary of the Northern Languages, for the etymology of the word Stalworth, or Stalwart. I have met with it in the Scotch authors in the fenfe of bold or courageous; but I should be glad to know the derivations to confirm the ufe of it in that fenfe. If I could, I would have waited on you; but, being contined, I muft beg your refcript to your most humble fervant,

THO. EDWARDS."

"Saturday, March 3. 1749-50. "Mr. Edwards's compliments to Dr. Birch, and he begs the favour of him to fend Mr. Warburton's Treatife on Prodigies."

"DEAR SIR, Turrick, 07 1, 1751. "I return you many thanks for Spenfer. I was surprised to find, by yours of laft poft, that you thought I had received it fo long ago, whereas it did not come to me till Sunday fevennight; I found it was advertised for a fhort time, and therefore went to work as hard as I could, that I might fend you the errata as foon as poffible. I hope they are pretty exact, at leaft they are as much fo as the time would allow; and I am fo much freightened in that, that I can only tell you I hope to fee you in less than a fortnight in the mean while, I beg my respects to all friends, and am your obliged humble fervant,

THO. EDWARDS."

"DEAR SIR, Turrick, Jan 29, 1753. "I return you a great many thanks for your kind and valuable prefent, the Memoirs of Archbishop Tillotson. He was a man of fo amiable a character, fuch an ornament to his Country and Religion, that one is interested in the LEAST circumftances of his life, and ia every incident that befalls him; and indeed, the high efteem I have for his memory made me fo very defirous of knowing all that was poffible concerning him, that I could not help grieving to find you had no more anecdotes from GENT. MAG. November, 1783.

the Lambeth MSS. But curiofity is infatiable, and ought not to be too far indulged. I ought to be, and am, very thankful to you, for informing me of very many things concerning him which I thould never have known but by you; and I cannot help adding, that I think myfelf obliged particularly to return you thanks for your juft vindication of that truly great writer. against the hafty and, I think, ill-judged cenfure of my friend Mr. M* I was always both furprifed and offended at that paffage; but, in my opinion, when he wrote that, he had got a falfe tafte, which, I doubt not, his better acquaintance with Tully, whom he converfes much with of late, will correct, if it has not already been corrected.

"Although we are not quite fo bad here as the news-papers represent us (for there was no foundation for that article from Quainton about the Glaftonbury thorn), yet I am furprised to fee what numbers in all parts of the country are infatuated with regard to the old ftyle. They make a distinction the farmers', and laugh at those for afbetween the gentle folks' Chriftmas and fecting gentility for keeping the Newday. At Waddefdon, five miles betioned their minifter to give them a fe low Aylesbury, they in a body peticond fermon on the Old-day (he is one Mr. Loft, a Cambridge-man too), which he, I think weakly, complied with; but he has affured me he uted only the common fervice of the day, not larger congregation than he had ever that of Christmas-day, and he had a feen; and, he fays, he will not indulge them fo any more. By the way, fhould the style, have altered thofe expreflions, not the Parliament, upon the change of on this day, in the fervice for Nov 5, and Jan. 30? I know an honeft Whig clergyman, who omitted the fervice laft 5th of November, because he could not ufe that expreflion.

"I afk pardon for this tittle-tattle; friends, dear fir, your most affectionate and am, with my humble fervice to all and ebliged, THO. EDWARDS."