Went through, in committee, the bill for quiet- The order of the day for fummoning their lordfhips being then called for, the Duke of Portland informed their lordships, that they had been called together for the purpose of receiving a meffage from his Majefly, which he would now lay before them. This meffage was, That his Majefty found it neceffary to form a separate houfhold for the Prince of Wales, and to request that their lordships would affift in eftablishing the fame. The meffage being read, his Grace faid he was perfuaded it required but little argument to induce their lordships to acquiefce with his Majefty's wishes, and regretted that a business of fo much importance had not fallen to fome one more able than himself: however, as it was cuftomary to regulate matters of this kind in another place, he fhould not now enter into particulars, but would content himself with moving, that an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, expreffive of their zeal and readiness to comply with the meffage. A long altercation then took place, in which Lords Abingdon, Temple, and Stormont, bore a confiderable part; after which the queftion for the addrefs being put, it was carried without one. diffenting voice. JUNE 25. Paffed Sir Thomas Rumbold's Continuing and Reftraining bills. Paffed the Stamp Duty, St. James's Paving, and Powis's Eftate, bills. Counsel was then heard on the report of the Lambeth Poor bill. Lord Thurlow animadverted on the nature of the bill, objected to many of it's clauses, and concluded with moving that it might be re-committed, and receive an amendment. Lord Dudley, as chairman of the committee, defended their having gone through it without amendment, and wished it might not be re-committed. Lord Mansfield was of the contrary opinion; and the question being put, it was carried for the re-commitment. JULY 3. Paffed the Juftices Gaol bill. The bill for the relief of infolvent debtors being read a fecond time, Lord Effingham moved for leave to call witneffes to the bar: fuch a meafure he thought requifite to fubftantiate several matters of fact relative to the miferable situation of many of thofe unhappy perfons. His lordship entered into a detail of the numbers now either confined or fled into foreign parts, through an incapacity of paying their debts. In the firft were Lord Effingham noticed the defects of the fe- upwards of 10,000; in the last, more than 13,000. veral laws refpecting debtors; he wished fome me- It was needlefs, he faid, to inform the House what thod could be adopted for their amendment; and a difadvantage it must be to the community at faid he had endeavoured to form a plan for that large to have fuch a number of useful members purpose, which he meant so lubmit to their lord-precluded from rendering service to their conn The bill for regulating and amending the acts for regulating Gaols was read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed. try. try. To have these circumstances fully and clearly explained, was his reason for making the motion, and for the fame reafon he hoped their lordships concurrence. Lord Mansfield objected to admitting perfons to the bar as witneffes in this inftance; what they were to prove having nothing to do with the bill. Upon this principle he could not fee any occafion for the prefent motion. Lord Effingham differed in opinion from the noble lord who fpoke laft; and, for several cogent reafons, wished to call witneffes to their lordships bar. Lord Bathurst and Lord Walfingham disapproved of the motion; but Lord Effingham perfifting therein, it was accordingly put, and negatived without a divifion. JULY 15. The royal affent was this day given by commiffion to feveral bills. Ordered that the Lords be fummoned to attend his Majesty on the morrow. Lord Abingdon made a long speech against an order of council iffued in the Gazette of July 5, for the purpose of confining the trade and commerce between the American States and his Majesty's West India iflands, to British-built fhips, owned by British subjects, and navigated according to law. Lord Stormont defended the order, of which he owned himself one of the advisers; and called Lord Abingdon's fpeech, as it really was, declamation. Lord Abingdon expreffed himself very happy that he had extorted a confeffion from the noble lord, which had been so often attempted in vain, that the definitive treaties were not yet figned. His lordship faid a few words more, and the Houfe adjourned. JULY 16. tended by the Duke of Montague and Lord Willoughby De Broke; and having taken his feat, and the Commons being come, the Speaker addreffed his Majefty in a fhort fpeech, in which he alluded to the various money-bills paffed this feffion, and hoped that, as peace was now brought about, this country would experience an alleviation of that burden occafioned by the expences of the war. The speaker likewife faid, he was happy to inform his Majesty that, by the perfeverance and affiduity of his faithful Commons, they had fo arranged the affairs refpecting the Eaft Indies, that there was but little doubt of bringing them to a final iffue at a very early period in the next feffion. He then prefented the Sinking Fund, Lord Rodney's, and Sir George Auguftus Eliott's, Annuity bills; which having received the royal affent in the ufual form, his Majefty put an end to the feffion by a moft gracious fpeech from the throne*. them. Mr. Eftwick promised to enter into the subject the next day. Mr. William Pitt then brought in the bill for regulating the different public offices, fuch as the Admiralty, Navy, &c. Lord John Cavendish defired to fee the bill, as he could not pledge himself to support it; on the contrary, he was of opinion that all the purpofes of it would be as well answered by judicious regulations of office as by an act of parliament. Mr. Montague faid, a fufficient number of copies ought to be printed. Mr. Pitt declared he had not the least objection to it; and his motion for the bill having paffed, he then moved for accounts of all the fees in the different offices; which motion likewife paffed unanimously. Mr. Burke moved for an account of the fees paid for paffports at the Treasury, from the 30th of November 1782, to the prefent time; which motion alfo paffed without oppofition. The Lord Advocate remarked, that as Sir Thomas Rumbold had finished his defence, it was now the duty of the Houfe to take the evidence both for and against him into confideration; but, as the feafon was too far advanced to enter into fo arduous an investigation, he would move to put off the farther confideration of it till the next feffion, and to bring in a bill to continue the reftraint on Sir Thomas Rumbold and his eftate; which motion paffed without oppofition. JUNE 3. Lord Mahon moved, that leave be given to bring This day his Majefty came to the House, at* See Page 68. bring in a bill to prevent Expences at Elections; which was agreed to. A motion was then made that the Pay Office Reform bill thould be read a third time; upon which an uninterefting converfation took place; after which the Houfe adjourned. JUNE. 5. Read a third time, and paffed, the bill to prevent bribery at elections. Mr. Dempfter laid before the committee a report from another committee appointed to confider the crops in Scotland. He obferved, that the last harveft in that part of the kingdom had nearly failed, in confequence of which many had perished; and moved for leave to bring in a bill to enable his Majefty, with the advice of his privy council, to allow the Importation of Corn into North Britain for four months, from the 3d of September 1783; which motion paffed without oppofition. The committee having proceeded to the Receipt Tax, the Lord Mayor obferved, that it was generally thought burdenfome and oppreffive; and that it would fall heaviest on the poor: to prevent, therefore, as much as poffible, the extenfion of the burden, he moved an amendment, that in the exemption for all receipts for fums under two pounds, the word two be left out, and five fubftituted in it's ftead. After fome altercation, the committee divided on the Lord Mayor's motion; when there appeared for the original claufe, reftricting the exemption to receipts for sums under two pounds Ayes Noes 126 21 Majority against the amendment -105 It was then moved, and carried, that all drafts on demand, within ten miles of the place where drawn, fhould be exempted from the tax; which being agreed to, the blanks were filled up, and the Houfe adjourned. JUNE 6. Ordered in a bill for allowing the Free Importation of Corn into Scotland for a limited time from Great Britain, purfuant to the refolutions of yefterday; and another for allowing a Drawback on the Duties on Cuftoms on the Exportation of Rice. Ordered an addrefs to his Majefty relative to the fcarcity of corn in North Britain. Lord Mahon moved the fecond reading of his bill for preventing Expences at Elections; giving notice, that when it fhould be fent to a committee, he would move for the infertion of a claufe to prevent candidates from giving cockades at elections. Mr. Fox objected to the bill; faid the House had already decided upon it, and therefore it did not stand in need of any farther difcuffion: he however moved that the second reading of it be deferred till that day three months. A short converfation enfued; after which the Houfe divided, when Mr. Fox was left in a minority, there appearingFor his motion Against it Adjourned till Wednesday. 37 45 JUNE 11. The fheriffs of the city of London prefented a -petition from the mayor, aldermen, and commons, of the city, against the taxes on promiffory notes, bills of exchange, and receipts, praying to be heard by counsel on the fame. The Lord Mayor obferved, that there never was a tax fo univerfally difapproved of in the city as this; all claffes of people condemned it as injurious to trade, and partial in the extreme. He therefore hoped that due attention would be paid to the prayer of the petition, and that no objection would be raised against a motion he propofed to make; which was, that the petition fhould lie on the table, and when the report from the committee fhould be brought up, that counsel might be heard in it's behalf. Sir Grey Cooper oppofed the motion, alledging that it was contrary to the established ufage of the Houfe to receive petitions against a tax. The Lord Mayor faid, that the granting the prayer of the petition would not be unprecedented, as the city of London had been heard by counfel against the House Tax. Lord North obferved, that the cafe alluded to was not in point, becaufe, with regard to the HoufeTax, counfel were heard, not directly against it, but merely to amend it. But here was a direct attack against the tax before them; copfequently, the petition could not be liftened to without a breach of the rules of the House. Sir Grey Cooper then faid, that if the worthy magiftrate's motion fhould be agreed to, he would move an amendment, which was, that after the words, that the petition lie on the table,' the remainder be omitted. After fome farther debate, the House divided on the amendment propofed by Sir Grey Cooper; when there appeared→→→ 178 15 Majority-163 JUNE 12. Read a first time the Scotch Corn bill. As alfo the bill for Regulating the Exportation and Importation of Corn, a fecond time. The bill for impofing taxes on Bills of Exchange and Receipts was then read a third time. When the clerk came to the first claufe by which the ftamp was to be impofed on receipts, Sir Ce cil Wray oppofed it, by faying he difliked the tax himself; but what weighed much more with him was, that his conftituents difliked it: he moved, therefore, that the claufe be left out. Alderman Sawbridge was of the fame opinion with Sir Cecil Wray. In confequence of the above motion, a tedious debate commenced; in the courfe of which Mr. Fox took occafion to obferve, that there could not be a more effectual way to breed difputes, and make them produce difagreeable effects, than to tell the people they might get tax-laws repealed whenever they should think proper to fay they difliked them: that, had he even forefeen the confequences which followed the paffing of the bill in favour of the Roman Catholics, he should never thelefs theless have voted for it, as it was founded in policy, humanity, and juftice; and, to the honour of the House, and of the nation, that act still remained a law of the land; a monument not only of the justice, but of the fpirit of the country, in ftemming the prejudices and illiberality of the lower order of the people, and a warning to others how they attempted to force the legislature to repeal any law! Several other members replied in oppofition to the tax; and the Houfe at length divided on the motion for rejecting the claufe, when there appeared For rejecting Against it 40 145 JUNE 16. Paffed the Vagrants bill. Counfel were called, and heard, for and against the St. James's Paving bill; after which it was read a third time, and paffed. Perfons brewing beer for their own use, and not for fale, are permitted by act of parliament to compound with the Board of Excife, at fo much per head, for the real duty on malt they thus confume; which compofition freed them from the vifits of the excife-officers: but great frauds having arifen under this act, Lord John Cavendish moved, that the Houfe in committee take the matter into confideration. Accordingly the Houfe having gone into a committee, a refolution was moved by his lordship, that the power of compounding ceafe; which refolution was carried without oppofition, and a bill was ordered in. JUNE 17. the petition do lie upon the table; which was agreed to without oppofition. The Houfe then refolved itself into a committee, and went through the bill for abolishing fees, and making regulations in the public offices; and, after much defultory converfation, adjourned. JUNE 18. Paffed the Scotch Corn and Rice bills. Mr. Minchin moved, that a fum, not exceeding 4,8781. be granted to his Majefty, to pay for lands purchafed for the purpose of raising fortifications for the better defence of the dock at Portsmouth; which motion patled without debate. JUNE 19. The Houfe went into a committee on Lord Mahon's bill for preventing fraudulent voters from polling at elections of members to ferve in parliament. Lord Mahon moved a claufe, that all freeholds fhould be registered by the parith-clerk, excepting fuch as are acquired by defcent or marriage. Mr. Byng oppofed the bill, as it would subject the electors to great charges. Mr. George Onflow alfo difapproved of the bill. The committee then divided on the motion, when there appeared For it JUNE 20. Lord John Cavendish gave notice, that on Monday next he fhould deliver a meffage to the Houfe from his Majefty: after which his lordship, moved for leave to bring up a petition from the American Loyalifts; which being read, he then moved that it should lie upon the table, as he intended making a motion relative to it on Tuesday next. 'His Majefty having taken into confideration the propriety of making an immediate and feparate establishment for his dearly beloved fon the Prince of Wales, relies on the experienced zeal and affection of the Houfe for their concurrence in and fupport of fuch measures as shall be most Ordered the Scotch Corn and Rice bill to be proper to allift his Majesty in this design.' engroffed. Paffed Sir Thomas Rumbold's Continuing bill. Sir Cecil Wray brought up a petition from the people called Quakers, in behalf of the unfortunate Negroes, the traffic of whofe perfons, they prayed, for the fake of humanity, to have abolished; which being read, appeared to be the act of the general meeting of the Quakers affembled annually at Whitfuntide. Sir Cecil faid, he went heart and hand with the petitioners, and wifhed that fomething might be done towards abolishing a traffic which dif graced humanity; and concluded by moving, that VOL. III. The Speaker having read the meffage, Lord John Cavendish moved that it be referred to the confideration of the committee on Wednesday next, Mr. Powys called upon the noble lord to ftate fomething to the Houfe of what he intended to move in the committee of fupply; efpecially as he had formerly affured the House that they would be able to establish a fund to fupport the prince's houshold without any additional aid. Lord John Cavendish replied, that it was not his intention to call upon parliament for a fupply to fupport the prince's eftablishment, as the king 2 R would would be enabled, by proper regulations, to do it from the Civil Lift; and all that was wanted from parliament would be a fum to begin with, to defray the expences which attend the fetting on foot a new establishment. This anfwer giving general fatisfaction, the question was put for referring the meffage to the committee of fupply, and carried unanimously. JUNE 24. Paffed the Vellum Stamp Duty bill. Lord John Cavendish proceeded to the propofition relative to the petition from the Loyalifts, ftating the obligation this country was under to make provifion for them; and moved for leave to bring in a bill for appointing commiffioners to enquire into the circumftances of fuch as had fuffered by the diffentions in America. After a short converfation, the question was put, and leave given to bring in the bill.. JUNE 25. The order of the day for taking the king's meffage into confideration being read, the Speaker left the chair, and the House went into a committee of fupply. Lord John Cavendish faid, that the committee must necessarily feel the most lively sentiments of affection to his Majefty, for the gracious manner in which he had determined to provide for the eftablishment of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, without calling upon his people for any additional fupply to his Civil Lift. His Majefty had graciously refolved to take upon himself the whole of the annual expence, and to allow his Royal Highnefs 50,000l. a year; but the committee could not be ignorant of the ftate of the Civil Lift. About 50,000l. had been fet afide towards paying debts, which would keep the Civil Lift down to 850,000l. a year for about fix years to come; and 50,000l. a year more to the prince would leave his Majefty's revenue fo low, that it would be barely fufficient to difcharge the different claims upon it. In fuch a fituation, it was not furprizing that his Majefty fhould call upon his faithful Commons for a temporary aid to equip his fon at the outfet; and, he was perfuaded, there was not a perfon in that Houfe who would not feel a readiness to provide for the ease and convenience of the royal family. The prince's house had not been inhabited for a long time; and a thoufand things were wanting to make it convenient. The prince was a young man, confequently could not be expected to be a very great economift; and no one would wish to fee him uncomfortable at his firft outfet in life. His lordfhip concluded by moving,that the fum of 60,000l. be granted to his Majefty towards fettling the eftablishment of the Prince of Wales. The question was then put, and carried nem. con. Paffed the Carriage Duty and Malt Compounding bills. The bill from the Lords, to quiet the minds of Patrons and Incumbents, who may have incurred penalties, &c. in confequence of the late decifion in the cafe of Ffytche and the Bishop of London, was a read a first time. The order of the day for going into a committee of fupply being then read and carried Lord North moved, that the committee take into confideration a propofition for half-pay to' the officers of certain American corps railed to ferve in America during the late diffentions. His lordship obferved that they had, though comfortably fettled in their respective provinces, chearfully ftood forth, in obedience to his Majefty's procla mations, to teftify their loyalty to their fovereign, leaving their friends, relations, and poffeffions, facrificing their fortunes, and rifquing their very lives, in our caufe. Would that Houfe, therefore, to which those gallant men now looked up as their only hope, abandon them? Would they fuffer the heart-breaking and cruel tidings to be carried over to America, that they were deserted by England, for whofe fake they had relinquished every thing dear to them? He trufted the justice, the humanity, the gratitude, of this country, were too deeply interested in their caufe, ever to fuffer them to turn their backs on fuch faithful fubjects and fellow-foldiers. His lordship concluded by faying, that in the committee he should move only for 15,000l. as half-pay to these corps. Several of the members then gave their opinion on the motion; and the question being put, it was carried unanimously. The House afterwards went into a committee of fupply; and, having voted the half-pay, adjourned. JUNE 30. Paffed the Quack Medicine Duty bill. Lord John Cavendish delivered two written meffages from the king; in one of which his Majesty informed the Houfe, that having taken into confideration the great and diftinguished fervices of the Right Honourable George Brydges Lord Rodney, his Majefty was of opinion that a penfion of 2000l. a year, net money, fhould be fettled on him for his own life, and the lives of the two next heirs of his body, to whom the title of Lord Rodney fhall defcend. The other mef fage ftated the eminent fervices of General Sir Auguftus Eliott, in his gallant defence of Gibraltar, and acquainted the Houfe, that his Ma jefty intended to fettle 1500l. a year on him for his own life, and the life of his fon, Francis Au guftus Eliott, Efq. His Majesty not being em powered by law to grant a penfion for more than his own life out of the Civil Lift, applied therefore to parliament for fuch a power. Thefe meffages were agreed to be referred to a committee of the whole Houfe to-morrow. The report from the committee of fupply be ing then brought up, was read, and agreed to with out a divifion. JULY 1. 1 Read a fecond time the bill for laying a duty on Births and Burials. The king's fpeech relative to his debts being read, refolved that the Houfe will to-morrow go into a committee to confider of the fame. Rejected the bill for quieting the minds of Patrons and Incumbents. The Houfe then went into a committee to take into confideration the king's meffage relative to Lord Rodney. Lord John Cavendish faid it would be fuperfluous to ftate the merits of the great officer who had so nobly served his country, as they were too great |