attempt to depofe and dethrone him. Their Lordships would alfo find, that to compafs the levying a War againft the King would equally come under the penalties of Treafon. Whether this was done by writing, or advifedly fpeaking, in effect amounted to the fame thing, and was originally intended to be fubjected to the fame penalties. The other provifions of the Bill refpected Sedition. It made a fecond offence Transportation. The Duke of Bedford faid, He lament, ed, as every one did, the unfortunate circumftance of the infult offered to his Majefty; but, he asked. were the laws as they now flood, not fufficient to punish it? He believed they were: and if, in confequence of the Proclamation, any of the actors in that outrage were apprekended, he was convinced no man, nor any Jury in the country, would hefitate to find them guilty. Lord Lauderdale role with great warmth, and declared, it was perfectly aftonishing to him, that Minifters fhould expect of that Houfe to pafs Bills upon their bare affertion of the neceffity of them, efpecially when it was confidered to what an enormous extent the meafure now propofed went.-They were told, that the outrage committed against the perfon of his Majefty had its foundation in certain popular Societies, but he expected, and should have fuppofed that the Houfe would alfo have expect ed, that if fuch was the cafe, it would have been traced and made evident to their Lordships, and not have refted on the bare unfupported affertion of Minifters. In all times Revolutions were preceded by unusual feverity of Laws, which as conftantly had failed in their intended effect, and ftrongly proved this truth, that they afforded no fecurity. His Lordship concluded by obferving, that the outrage againft his Majefty was to be attributed to the difcontent of the People under the preffure of War, and not chargeable to any of the Popular Societies. Lord Grenville faid, that the manner in which the Noble Lords who oppofed this Bill had conducted the Debate, had left him but very little to trouble their Lordships with. A Noble Lord had asked, upon what Thursday, Nov. 19. 41 25,-66. 5 2, -7. 59 Lord Lauderdale, without any preface, moved for an humble Addrefs to his Majefty, praying that he would give directions that there be laid before the Houfe a fatement of all Grants and Penfions which had been fettled upon the Right Honourable Edmund Burke. Ordered. The Royal Affent was given, by Commiffion, to the following Bills: The Land and Malt, and the Act to prevent the Exportation of Soap, Candles, and Tallow, for a limited time, and to permit the importation of these articles duty free. An act for the continuing an Act of laft Seffion, for permitting the impor tation of organized Thrown Silk, &c. A Proteft was afterwards entered on the Journals against the Bill, which was Sgned by the Duke of Bedford and the Earls of Derby and Lauderdale, be prefented to his Majefty by fuch Members as were of the Privy Council, befeeching his Majefty to order the proper Officers to lay before the House the eftimates. The Order of the Day being read for going into the subject of the high price of Corn, the House accordingly refolved itself into a Committee of the whole Houfe, Mr Ryder in the Chair. Mr Pitt said, that the subject which he had to lay before the Houfe for their inquiry, was one of the most important that could come before them; they muft therefore apply any remedy that feemed beft to them to remove the distress which it was the intention of their prefent deliberation to alleviate; it became them, therefore, to proceed with all due caution, and carefully to weigh every circumftance; as, of all other fubjects, none called fo much for the attention of every Gentleman of that House as at the prefent. He propofed, then, firft, that this bufinefs fhould be referred to a Select Committee, which would make every inquiry, as well respecting the causes of the fcarcity, as the beft mode of obviating fuch a fcarcity; and that their bufinels fhould be facilitated, as much as poffible, by every information that could be afforded them by the Executive Government; he was perfuaded, that in all parts of the Houfe, no Member would be wanting to do every thing in their power to promote fuch a defirable object, at the fame time, fteering clear of every thing that could poffibly excite any uneafinefs or alarm on that head. There was a law, he said, relating to the Affize of Bread, which ought to be laid before his Majefty's Privy Council, that means might be adopted of regulating the proportion in price between bread made of all forts of grain, and that of wheat on ly, in order that impofition might be guarded against. The most certain mode of relieving the prefent want would be, to adopt in common ufe, bread not only mixed with all kinds of grain produced in this country, but alfo with Indian corn and potatoes; bread of this kind he was fure would be as wholfome and palatable as that made of flour.-Firft, then, as to the laws relating to the Affize of Bread, he did not think them fufficiently explicit, whence there might arife a very great grievance to the purchaser-There was another sircumftance, though not fo extenfive, viz. a confiderable quantity of wheat was confumed in making ftarch: ftarch might have been imported, but some time fince it was prevented, as it was fuppofed we had a fufficient quantity of 'wheat on hand, which being fuperfluous might be used for that purpose. He could wish that these articles, which were not neceffary for the food of many, might be used for this purpose; for these reasons he would move, That a Bill be brought in, to prohibit making starch of wheat for a limited period, and for lightening the duty on the importation of that article. He would alfo move for a Bill to prevent the obftruction to removing grain and other articles of provifion from one part of the kingdom to another. These were the only specific measures that occurred to him as yet, but he was confident, that other measures would refult from the deliberation of Parliament on this fubject. He concluded by moving, that the Chairman be directed to move the Houfe for a Select Committee to inquire into the high price of Corn. Mr Fox role to make fome obfervations on what had been said. He was far from objecting to any means of fupplying the deficiency which had been stated by the Right Hon. Gentleman oppofite. As to the Affize of Bread, no doubt but fome regulations were neceffary; materials were never dearer than this fummer, and he was fure that the Bakers gained very little fome means ought to be adopted, in order to fupply our present deficiency. He had eaten very good bread made of various grains, but the queftion was, whether, when Gentlemen wished to make experiments, thofe would answer their expectations? or, whether, if a mixture of one fourth was used, it would fave one fourth? Another confideration was the cause of the fcarcity. The fcarceness did not arife from the smallness of the crop, but from an increased confumption. In all the parts of the country where he had been, he could perceive nofcarcity of grain, nor could he fuppofe that it arofe from a failure of the crops. The cause of barley being high, he attributed to the diftilleries. The war particularly was the chief caufe, as it increafed the general confumption; and nothing would make matters worse, than if those who fat in the Committee fhould attribute the fcarcity to any one caufe, but to a complication of various caufes, among which the confumption of ftarch, no doubt, was one: if then potatoes should be used for that purpofe, the remedy would be nearly as bad, unless something could be fubfti fubftituted which was not fit for the food of man. Mr Pitt expreffed the great fatisfaction he had in the concurrence of the Right Hon. Gentleman. The war, no doubt, had contributed to the fcarcity, as the moft tertile countries in Europe were engaged in it; if diftilleries were topped, the revenue would be weakened, and fmuggling increafed; but even under all thefe inconveniences, he would readily confent to flop the diftilleries for a year, fhould it have the defired effect. Mr Curwen said, that if labour was railed in proportion to the price of pro vifions, it would then become the intereft of farmers to keep grain low. Leave was then given to bring in a Bill to amend the laws relative to the Affize of Bread, and to prevent making of flarch of wheat, and to permit the importation of starch and other articles ufed therein duty-free-a Bill for prohibiting diftilleries for a limited time-and a Bill to prevent any obftruction in the transportation of grain and other articles of provifion from one part of the kingdom to another. Leave was given to bring in the Bill. Nov. 4. Mr Secretary Dundas brought up Copies of the Treaties of Defenfive Alliance between his Majefty and the Empels of Ruffia; of the Treaty of Defens five Alliance with the Emperor of Germany; and the Ratification of the Treaty between his Majefty and the United States of America-Ordered to be laid on the table. Lord Arden moved the Order of the Day for the Houfe to refolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to confider further of a Supply to be granted to his Majefly. The Houfe having gone into a Committee, Lord Arden moved, "That it is the opinion of this Committee, that one hundred and ten thousand feamen be employed for the fea fervice of the year 1796, including eighteen thousand marines." prevented. Our lofs in the article of filk was very confiderable, and therefore he hoped there would be permiffion to im port filk of a certain fort from any coun try in amity with his Majefty. The Chancellor of the Exchequer faw no objection to this. Nov. 9. The Order of the Day being read for the Houfe to form itfelf into a Committee of Ways and Means of the whole Houfe on the Land Tax and Malt Duty Bills, Mr Rofe moved, that it was the opi nion of the Committee, that the Land Tax of 4s. in the pound, aad no more,' fhould be continued the fame as laft year. Nov. 10. Mr Dundas, previous to the Order of the Day, role to move the thanks of the Houfe to Vice-Admiral Lord Cornwallis, for his very gallant and judicious conduct against a very fuperior detachment of the French fleet on the 16th and 17th of laft June. The motion was agreed to nem. con. The thanks of the Houfe were alfo voted to the Captains, Officers, Seamen, and Marines, for their gallant conduct on the fame occafion. The Order of the Day on the King's Proclamations being called for, Mr Pitt role to Itate the reafons for taking thefe into confideration. Every one, he said, was well acquainted with the circumftances that gave rife to these Proclamations; circumftances which made fo ftrong an impreffion on every one, as well without as within that House, it was not neceffary to detain them long on the tranfactions of that day. The bufinefs of this Motion related to Societies in general. Thefe Societies were of two descriptions: The first were public, held under the general pretext of petitioning both Houses of Parliament for redrefs of national grievances: other meete ings were held for the purpose of propagating grounds of jealoufy, and every thing which tended to bring about treason and treafonable practices; the intent, there före of this Bill was, to give a reasonable fecurity to the perfon of the King and his Government. Firft, then, he granted that every perfon had an undoubted right to affemble peaceably, to petition for redrefs of grievances, and far be it from him to oppofe fo valuable a privilege; but if this was fuffered to be made a pretext for acts which endangered the SoMr Alderman Curtis alluded to the vereign and the people, and which tendlofs which we had fuftained by the cap-ed totally to overthrow liberty, it was ture of part of the Mediterranean fleet; neceffary fome remedy fhould be applied a lofs which, he faid, nothing could have to prevent this--The prefent Bill on the The queftion was then put and carried. Lord Arden then moved, "That it is the opinion of this Committee that four pounds per man per month be allowed for thirteen months for the fea fervice," &c.-Paffed. one we to meet to confider of our grievances, muft we fend word to the Magiftrates (a cry of no, no, from the oppofite fide); What then, fays Mr Fox; advertise? Good, we may; and go to the meeting. For what purpofe? To hold our tongues. He hoped this bill would never take place; if it did, all was at an end. Mr Fox concluded by obferving, that in a land of liberty like this, it would be moft extraordinary to have our mouths ftepped up: he would, he faid, as his duty demanded, oppofe the Bill in all its ftages, and for that purpofe would move for a Call of the Houfe. Mr Stanley fpoke against the Bill. one hand, while it took care not to infringe the liberty of peaceably affembling, would on the other, curb the licentioufnefs of feditious meetings. The intent of the Bill therefore was, that whenever meetings were to be held, public notice fhould be given, that Magiftrates, with civil officers, might attend, and be empowered to apprehend any perfon or perfons fpeaking feditiously; and that in cafe any obftruction was made to their apprehending, that thofe guilty of fuch obftruction be guilty of felony; and that in cafe the affembly was defired to difperfe and did not, the perfons oppofing fhould, as in the Riot Act, be guilty of Felony. This did not, he said, go to the preventing of petitioning in a peaceable and orderly manner. Thofe were the outlines of the Bill at prefent; but in a future ftage of it perhaps he might fubmit to the Houfe, whether it would not be expedient to make fome alterations. He al- Mr Sheridan rofe, and faid, he wished luded to another fpecies of meetings,cal- that if there was any fhame in Minifled Political Lectures; meetings where ters, that fhame had produced contrition, acts of fedition were made the fources of and that they would have abandoned the living to those thus guilty of them: to Bill, but the Right Hon. Gentleman thefe meetings perfons were admitted for wished to hand down liberty to us, which money, or tickets; it was therefore part was done by a direct violation of the of the intention of this Bill, that no firft claufe of the Bill of Rights. He greater number of perfons than thofe of fhould think, fhould the prefent Bill país, the family fhould affemble, without li- that both Houfes of Parliament were uncenfes from Magiftrates. He would there-worthy of the exception made in their fore conclude by moving, That leave be given to bring in a Bill" for more effectually preventing feditious meetings." Mr Fox faid, that he felt as much abhorrence at the outrage offered to his Majefty as any perfon, either within or out of that Houfe, to which nothing could be equal, unless the abhorrence and indignation which he felt on this day, at the Bill now offered to the Houfe. He I would not go into a detail on the Conftitution; but it was obvious, that the Conftitution of this country had lafted for ages with its present laws: the drift, then, of this Bill is, that the Laws are not com-, petent. It was faid, there was a feditious meeting; if there was, why were the Speakers not taken up? why were not the writers of thefe proceedings, and of the feditious hand-bills, punished? He knew that there would be an attempt made to confound fedition with the attack made on his Majefty's perfon. According to the Right Hon. Gentleman's outline, whoever fhould tak of meeting for the purpose of petitioning, would be guilty of fedition: this was, he faid, rank defpotifm. Were we to meet now to petition against this Bill, were Mr Curwen fpoke in an animated ftrain against the Bill. Mr Wilberforce fpoke for the Bill. favour, and that inftead of being honour- Mr Martin poke against the Bill. On the divifion there appeared for the When ftrangers were admitted, Mr Fox was urging a Call of the Houfe, to difcufs this bufinefs in all its ftages. A converfation then took place between him, Mr Pitt, Mr Grey, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheridan, and Mr Dundas, the refult of which was, that the Call of the House should take place on that day fortnight. Nov. 11. Mr Rofe brought up a Bill to prohibit, for a limited time, the making of ftarch from wheat, and for taking off the duty on hair powder and flarch imported. Alfo, a Bill to prevent making low wines and fpirits of barley, rye, &c. --. 12. The different orders of the day being difpofed of, Mr Dundas rofe to move the first reading of the Sedition Bill. Lord W. Ruff! moved the queftion of 'adjournment, Mr Mr Pitt propofed the fecond reading before the Call of the Houfe, and for the fecond reading he should propose Tuefday next. An animated debate, or rather converfation, took place between both fides of the Houfe, in which Mr Stanley, Mr Hawkins, Mr Brown, &c. &c. Mr Grey, Mr Pitt, Mr Duncombe, Mr Wilber force, Gen. Tarleton, Gen. Smith, and Sir Wm. Milner, took a part; after which, a divifion took place on the queftion of adjournment. For it 42; against it 145. Majority 103. Two other divifions took place. One, Whether the Bill fhould be read a fecond time?, For it 133; against it, 21. Majority, 112. The other was, that the fecond reading be on Tuesday next. For it, 129; againft it, 23. Majority 706. Adjourned. : Nov. 16. A partial Report was brought up from the Select Committee, on the Corn Bill, which was read by the Clerk, and which was in fubftance nearly as follows: viz. "That the Select Committee had made every inquiry, poffible; that they had received various reports from the Board of Agriculture, and from many other quarters, which were not fufficient to warrant them to give a final opinion; but the fubftance of them was, that all crops, except wheat, were very plentiful." Thofe Reports they propofed to communicate when fully inveftigated. That it appeared to the Committee that the most obvious mode of providing for the approaching scarcity would be to encourage importation. Perfons had been examined relative to the quantity of grain in other countries; in America there was great plenty, but the price was high, confequently there would be a difficulty in fupplying this country from thence. The next mode that offered itself to them of answering that end, was to confider the Executive Government and the fpeculation of Merchants. As to the Executive Government they would recommend it to defift, and leave it entirely to the fpeculation of individuals, encouraging the fame by a bounty of 20s. per quarter on every quarter of wheat imported from the Mediterranean, and fo in proportion, until there were three hundred thousand quarters imported; the bounty from America and the Baltic to be 158. per quarter, and fo in proportion; the bounty on Indian corn to be 38. per quarter; and this bounty to be continued till the 31ft of Auguft 1796. Similar measures were recommended with refpect to rye. They were far from the opinion that any fupply from abroad could be depended on; they would therefore recommend economy at home, and adoption of every means that could obviate a fcarcity. They finished this Report by an affurance, that they would, from time to time, report whatever might come to their knowledge, that could be of advantage. A motion was made, that the Bill for the fecurity of his Majefty's perfon, juft received from the Lords, be read a first time. Mr Sheridan rofe to oppofe it. He was not much, he said, in the habit of arguing any Bill on the firft reading, but the Bill in queftion was of fuch an objectionable nature, that he would oppose it in every stage. The Queftion being put, there appeared, for the firft reading, 170; against it, 26. Majority, 144. Another divifion then took place; whether the Bill fhould be read a fecond time on Thursday next, which was carried in the affirmative. For the fecond reading, 151: against it, 25. Majority, 126. Mr Sheridan rofe to make his promifed motion relative to a Committee to inveftigate whether there was fufficient caufe for the introduction of the two Bills now in queftion. This day, he faid, had exhibited a proof of practical temper in the people (alluding to the meeting in Palace Yard,) which gave the lie to all infinuations of their having a feditious intention. Yet, had it happened previous to the infult to his Majefty, that atrocious act would have been attributed to it; and indeed, he believed, might with as great reafon and justice as to the London Correfponding or other Societies. Mr Sheridan concluded by moving," That a Committee be appointed to inquire into the existence, extent, and danger of feditious meetings referred to in his Majefty's Proclamation" Mr Fox faid, as to the Bills themselves, he would not now enter into them, but wait until they came in detail before the Houfe. -But as to the ground upon which they were introduced, he really did not fuppofe that Minifters would have ventured to have brought forward meafures fo replete with deftruction to the Conftitution, without laying fome grounde |