as a minifter of England, could ever liften to fuch terms but with surprise and indignation. There was, however, one poffible degraded ftate in which a minifter may be induced to entertain, and even accede to such miferable conditions; namely, when the refources of the nation were perfectly exhausted, and when the pufillanimity, abjectnefs, and cowardice of the people were proclaimed by their representativas in parliament in the manner propofed by the motion of the hon. gentleman. If we were not prepared to accept of peace on the terms already propofed by the enemy, he would request the houfe to confider how much harder the terms may be to make the declaration for which it was now called upon. He had already stated, that a speedy peace was not in our power; but by manliness and perfeverance an honourable peace was. During the interval that occurred fince the delivery of the meffage and the meeting of parliament, minifters had omitted no honourable means of giving effect to the declaration; and he could not therefore, perceive to what additional ground of diftruft they had fubjected themfelves. But if this motion was adopted, he would ask, what propofal he could make, or what answer he was to expect? If peace was at a distance, it was not our fault, but muft wholly be attributed to the aspiring and immoderate pretenfions of our adverfaries; and the fame fenfe of honour which would induce him to reject all dishonourable and unsuitable conditions of peace for this country, imposed upon him the neceffity of giving his negative to the prefent motion. Mr. Fox, in reply, endeavoured to shew, that, after the many favourable opportunities for negociation that had already occurred, and been neglected, little could now be hoped from the events of the most successful campaign. The declaration made by the French, that it was their object to propagate the principles of their government throughout Europe, had been held out as a principal cause of the war; but this declaration they have formally rŕtracted, and they have lately difavowed it in their very oath against royalty. This would be an example which it would be prudent for us to follow; and as the French government have abandoned all idea of interfering with the government of other countries, fo alfo ought we, by an explicit declaration, to relinquifh all ideas of intermeddling with the internal affairs of France. The object of the negociation might be more effectually accomplished by a declaration of the house, that it was difpofed to acknowledge the French government, than by any commentaries which minifters might think proper to make on it: for it was not to much the form and nature of the negociation and its conditions, that stood in the way of the attainment of peace, as that hoftility of difpofition and inextinguishable jealousy that was excited and kept alive between the two governments. The fame arguments and artifices had been used during the American war, but they were wifely rejected by parliament, and fcouted as bugbears held out by minifters. Were this declaration once adopted, it would unite and increase our exertions at home, as much as it would relax the vigour of the ene my, and we should rife in honour and character in the eyes of Europe, and gain in this refpect that ground which France would be fid to lofe; but this declaration fhould be explicit, made through the channel of the house of commons, and authenticated in its votes, and not through the medium of the minister's fpeech, which might be fairly or unfairly reprefented. While fo much had been faid concerning the ruinous state of the French finances, Mr. Fox could not help looking at home, where he faw the expences attending this ill-fated conteft amounting to an enormous fum; the ill confe quences of which could fcarce be remedied by years of peace. The taxation of the country we now calculate to amount to the immenfe fum of twenty millions, which, together with the poorrates, equal, or nearly tallied with the whole amount of the landed property of the kingdom. This was a truly alarming confideration, and whatever went to diminish or prevent the evil, Mr. Fox declared himself eager to adopt; he would therefore give his decided approbation to the motion of his honourable friend. The house then divided, (Continued from our last.) HOUSE OF COMMONS, HE right hon. Mr. fecretary Pelham, rose to Tbring forward his promifed motion, for a committee to enquire into the ftate of the corn emice: eminently profpered. However the relative fituation of Europe, and the scarcity, and confequently high prices of grain in other countries, and which >were by no means so prevalent in this, would na turally point out Ireland as a probable market for fupply, and naturally induce merchants to fpeculate, in their avidity for grain, by exports to other ⚫countries to fuch a degree as might bring scarcity home to our own doors. The fuftenance of the people was a preffing and primary object to which it was the first duty of government and the le giflature to attend, and therefore as the corn laws permitted the export of grain, when the price did not exceed a certain average, and as this point was very often effected by the artifices of the fpeculator, anxious for his own gain, and perhaps careless of the confequences, it would behove the legislature to fatisfy the people as to the fupply on which they had to depeno. Se condly, to guard against any artifice which might tend clandeftinely to diminish that fupply through avarice of individuals, with injury to the whole. Another reason why he wished the inquiry in stituted, in order to establish the truth on this head, was, that an opinion was very generally entertained in England, he feared erroneously, that a very ample fupply of corn was to be had in Ireland. The inquiry would fhew the people of England the imprudence of indulging an erroneous reliance, and teach them to direct their exertions elsewhere. A notion was entertained by fome, and he believed it was expected, that his excellency the lord lieutenant could authorize the exportation of corn, notwithstanding the regulation laid down by the corn laws; this, however, was equally remote from fact and probability, that his excellency would difpenfe in fuch a way with laws fo wifely framed by the wisdom of the legiflature. Amongst the most falutary and efficacious regulations made by the corn laws of Ireland, none perhaps tended more to ftimulate a spirit of agriculture, and at the fame time to have plenty at home, than the granting of bounties upon the exportation of corn. A fimilar regulation was adopted the time of the revolution, fo early as the years 1689 or 1690, and although the agriculture of the country before that period was by no means adequate to the confumption of the country, yet fuch was the rapid growth of agriculture in confequence of the bounty, that England for a series of years had not only an ample fupply of corn for her own confumption, but a very confiderable redundancy for exportation. A contrary policy was adopted, and under an idea of rendering cheap the maintenance of manufacturers, a bounty was granted on the importation of corn; the confequence of which was, that the culture of corn had progreffively dwindled ever fince, and that for many years paft the produce of England had falen vaftly fhort indeed of the confumption. He ftated this as a fact which he confidered moft materially interesting to the farmers of Ireland, and one which must operate to the advantages of agriculture in this country, perhaps as much as any other object in the contemplation of the corn laws. Mr. Pelham concluded by moving, that a fpecial committee be appointed to inquire into the prefent ftate of corn and provifions in this country. After a few words from Mr. Vandeleur acceding to the principle, the motion was agreed to, and a committee appointed to fit to-morrow in the fpeaker's chamber. Mr. Pelham then moved for leave to bring in his bill, for empowering his excellency the lord lieutenant to prevent the exportation of corn for a certain period. Leave given, and a committee appointed to prepare and bring in the fame. Mr. Barrington faid, he had heard much in that houfe of the diftreffes of the lower orders of the people of exaggerated grievances and theoretic remedies; but when a real grievance exifted, he wished to apply a practical remedy; and the indigent poor and lower claffes in Dublin required, in one particular, the immediate interpofition of parliament; the temporary rife on food rendered it more difficult than ufual to provide, and when provided, the exorbitant price of fuel rendered it difficult to be made palatable. Whilft the price of coals was fubject to the combination of factors and captains, it mult not only prefs heavy on the poor, but materially affect many of the manufacturers of this city.-Delicacy to the right hon. member who reprefented this city, had hitherto reftrained him from propofing measures upon the fubje&t; in vain had he waited for the beneficial effects of that gentleman's regulations; old bills had been carelessly adopted; the remedies were inadequate the extortion continued. Whilft the reafon and feelings of gentlemen feemed abforbed in the difcuffion of party grievances and political remedies, the poor of Dublin were fuffered to groan, nay, almost perish, under a real grievance, which common reafon and plain underItanding could both afcertain and remedy. Under that impreffion he would submit to the house, that the coal trade of Dublin required their immediate interference; and as the first step towards that measure, he should move, that a committee be appointed to inquire into the state of the coal trade in Dublin, and to report to the houfe fuch remedy as to them should seem most conducive to lower and keep down the price of that neceffary article:" and on the report of that committee, he faid he would submit to the house bill to carry it into effect. a Another circumstance, he said, preffed heavy on the poor of this metropolis. The dearness of provifions, he faid, arofe in some measure from a temporary caufe likely foon to be removed; at prefent the fcarcity was fictitious and the price unnatural, that is in its extent; and it ftruck him forcibly that the practice of foreftalling and monopoly must be the true caufes of any fcarcity or high price of neceffaries. Laws to prevent foreftalling in Dublin and its vicinity were in force, but they were ineffectual; and foreftalling all the neceffaries of life coming into Dublin market continued in full force, and must be repreffed-he therefore moved, "that a committee be appointed to inquire into the practice of foreftalling of provifions and other neceffaries in Dublin and its vicinity, vicinity, and to report to the houfe fuch measure as to them may feem môft likely to prevent that pernicious practice." The right hon. Mr. Grattan faid, that he lamented equally with any other gentleman, that the bill he had the honour to introduce, had not been attended with the defired effect, and the reason was, that the only remedy which promifed on the best confideration of the cafe to be effectual, was not adopted. The fupply of the metropolis with coals depended on the circumftances of winds and water; and it was uniformly found that the contrariety of wind in winter prevented the regular supply, and consequently gave occasion to enhance the price. The only remedy then, appeared to the committee, who before inquired into this fubject, was extenfive ftorage during the fummer months, while the article could be had cheap; and therefore it was, that he before propofed a bounty on the ftorage of coals, in the fummer, that the good effects of a plentiful fupply might be felt by the citizens in the winter. He did intend to have called forward the business again, as a part of his duty; but he thanked the hon. member for bringing it forward, and should be happy to give it his affiftance and support. Mr. Barrington coincided with Mr. Grattan in the neceffity of the remedy he had propofed, and faid his object was to prevent the article from rifing above the price of 21s. per ton in Dublin. Mr. J. C. Beresford prefented a petition on this fubject, which was figned by the chief magiftrate, high fheriffs, and several reputable citi zens, which was received, and the committee appointed. The right hon. D. Browne moved, that the petition of Henry Ottiwell be now read, which being done, he ftated, that he was not in the kingdom when the business was before agitated in the former feffion; that as far as the subject met bis obfervation, he understood that the original object of the house in examining this bufinefs, and interrogating Mr. Ottiwel, was not any crime alleged against that gentleman, but a fufpicion of criminality on the part of fome of their own agents in difpofing of the ground; if this was really the cafe, and that any of the perfons fo fufpected had been fairly and fpecifically pointed opt, and that Mr. Ottiwell on being called to give evidence before the house, touching what he knew relative to the conduct of fuch person or perfons, and had refused to answer the interrogatory, then indeed he would have fully and defervedly incurred the difpleasure of the house, and no man would have been more prompt than the right hon. member himself to move for his committal; but on being called on to anfwer a queftion, touching his own private affairs, when no charge of criminality was exhibited againft him, and by his answer to fubject himself to law-fuits, and his property and credit to ruin, he humbly apprehended, that there was no principle in law or equity, which could criminate the man; that as the house had now vindicated its privileges by fending him to prison for refusing to anfwer, and as the man had made in his petition Such conceffions, as he hoped the house would think fufficiently humiliating, he should move that Mr. Ottiwell be now enlarged. Mr. Hoare, after profeffing that his private feelings towards Mr. Ottiwell fully coincided with the motion of the right hon. member, yet his public duty forbad him to indulge thofe feelings at the expence of parliamentary privilege and dignity. He then went over pretty much the fame arguments as on Saturday, touching the deficiency of the petition in not ftating Mr. Ottiwell's readiness now to answer the question, for refufing to anfwer which he had incurred the displeasure of the house. The right hon. Mr. Pelham said, he must own, that from the opening of his right hon. friend (Mr. D. Browne), on Saturday night, he was taught to expect that the petition brought forward would have at least ftated, that had this unfortunate gentleman been brought to the bar, he hoped to be able to give fuch explanatory reafons as would be competent to fatisfy the houfe, and to mitigate the difpleasure he had the misfortune unadvifedly to incur, by declining to answer their queftions. If therefore he should be fatisfied that there was no objection on the part of Mr. Ottiwell's friends, to withdraw the petition in order to give it this additional claim to the confideration of the house, he should have no objection to vote for poftponing this business until to-morrow and in his mind this would be the most advifeable mode for Mr. Ottiwell's friends to adopt. After fome further confideration, the right hon. Mr. Browne withdrew the petition, fub filentio and the business was poftponed till to-morrow. 2.] Mr. D. Browne, after a fhort preface, prefented a petition from Mr. Henry Ottiwell, praying to be difcharged from his prefent confinement in Newgate. The petition was received and read; it ftated amongst other things, that no commiffioner or any of their connections, or any perfon in truft for them, was a partner with him in the take from the commiflioners of wide streets-to this petition there was an affidavit of Mr. Ottiwell's annexed, fworn this day before the right hon. William Worthington, lord mayor of this city, averting that the allegations of the petition were true-the petition further ftated, that he was ready to fubmit to the pleasure of the house. Mr. Browne obferved on the petition, that the words, "ar any of their connections, or any perfon in truft for them," were interlined; bug he pledged himfelf, that Mr. Ottiwell would come forward and fubftantiate it on oath. Sir John Blaquiere, was of opinion, that from the petition which had been read, fatisfaction had been done to the injured authority of the houfe. The petition had satisfied his mind. He was ready to admit, that Mr. Ottiwell had tranfgreffed, but now that he ftates, that he is ready to fubmit to the pleasure of the houfe, is a complete atonement for his tranfgreffion. He said, that perhaps, the commiffioners of wide streets in their traniaction with Mr. Ottiwell had made rather a hasty bargain; for his part he fhould not take upon him to cenfure the conduct of the commiffioners, but in his opinion the honour of the 278 Poetry. the houfe was vindicated, by the fubmiffion con- Mr. Egan conceived the prefent queftion to be After adverting to the cafe of a printer, who was examined this feffion before a committee of the English house of commons, for printing a pamphlet alleged to be written by Mr. Reeves, and which was confidered a libel, and who refufed answering questions put to him by the committee, on the ground that it might materially Esjure him, and although Mr. Sheridan had reported the fame specially to the house, yet the house made no order thereon, moved, that Mr. Ottiwell be now discharged. The Speaker obferved, that the petition which Bad been prefented was a very unusual one; there was fcarce any inftance of an affidavit being annexed to a petition prefented to this houfe, and hefides, there were interlineations in the petition, and on the whole of it, he entertained doubts whe March, ther this petition could be entered on the journals. was fo unufual, that he wished the right hon. gentleman who had introduced it would withMr. fecretary Pelham faid, that the petition draw it; he faid the question was not the merits but the question was fimply this, whether Mr. Ottiwell who had incurred the cenfure of the or demerits of the commiffioners of wide-ftreets, house, had made that degree of atonement, so as to induce the house to difcharge him from his confinement? and he suggested that Mr. Ottiwell should be brought to the bar, and then the house would have an opportunity of examining him, and if his answers were fatisfactory, no doubt could be entertained but that the humanity of the house would be extended towards him. He contended that Mr. Ottiwell was compelled to which, on the question being put, was agreed to. which was received and read. He then moved led upon to fupport its own dignity; the petition quiere, and Mr. Sankey, contended that a peti- question of adjournment; and on the question be- (To be continued.) 43 34 P O E TR Y. Elegy on the Death of Mrs. W-y-n. fo Written This folemn theme-fo fad-but yet so dear, OME heaven-born muse, companion of my 'Tis all alas! that's left me now to pay. COME woe, In fofteft numbers let my forrows flow; And if dear faint, thy hovering fhade is near, 'Tis 1796. Poetry. Mar Tis the !-'tis the! and thus in accents mild, from b #3 Then ceafe your tears, and let your joys' Since I at laft, a refting place have found, 279 Fair fancy's vifions, real grief has calmed, No fordid motive dwells within her breast, Dublin, Jan. 25, 1796. On Reading the Caffle of Otranto; an Italian To Mifs By, on the Death of her Father. FA Story. AREWEL Matilda! beauteous maid! With tears thy fate I now deplore, Thy tender heart by love betray'd, Its woes with gentle meeknefs bore. No fordid choice engaged thy mind, That could adorn the noblest youth. Thy generous love he well returned, His love each word, each action show'd. fate! your By aftern father's wrath pursued, In jealous rage-he faw too late, Dear lovely pair! how hard A daughter's blood his hands imbrued. O blefs my father! heaven, she cried, Forgive dear mother-Oh! forgive my death; My Ifabel-more I would fay-the fighed,➡ Then with her lover's name gave up her breath. Farewel fweet maid! thy mournful life is past, To hopeless grief he's now a constant slave. Unhappy youth! what woes can equal thine, 'Tis death alone that now can end thy grief, Written in the Year 1790. EASE lovely maid-ah! cease that mourn. CEAS Thy tender fighs are now alas! in vain ; heart; For well, I know! the lofs you now deplore, Shall afk but in thy griefs to bear a part; In Lurgan Castle's grand demesne, With every earthly beauty crown'¿; Long may the noble, happy pair Enjoy connubial, splendid eafe; INCOGNITO. Stanzas |