Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

to be deferving of applause inftead of cenfure; and, therefore instead of negativing the motion, he should first move the previous queftion; and, fecondly, in order to Thew the neceffity of the Houfe repeating its former declaration, he would put the following refolutions:

"That the inhabitants of the French Weft-India islands not having availed themselves of the proclamation of the 1ft of January, 1794, was not to be confidered as a general rule for the British forces in that quarter to act upon.

"That, as the proclamations of the 10th and 21st of May were not carried into effect, the Houfe conceived it unneceffary to give an opinion upon them. "And that the House ftill retains the fenfe which it has already expreffed of the able and gallant conduct of Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis during their command in the West Indies."

Sir Wm. Scott feconded the motion of Mr Dundas. He faid, it was improper for the Houfe to give any opinion on the law of nations; nor fhould it think of proceding to a vote of censure without full and fufficient evidence.

Mr C. Dundas rofe merely for the purpose of reading a letter from an officer under the command of Sir Charles Grey, refpecting the conduct of that gallant officer, and the measures had recourfe to by him; setting forth, that he had preferred the lenient mode of contribution to the more fevere proceeding of confifcation, which the nature of his conquests might have warranted him in adopting.

Sir W. Young faid, that although, he did not entirely difapprove of the conduct of the officers who were the fubject of debate, he nevertheless thought that they were not wholly warranted by the laws of war in adopting the fevere measures against the inhabitants which they had done, and fhould vote for the original motion:

Mr Sheridan was perfuaded that the officers had acted in a manner that reflected the highest honour on their wif dom and humanity.

Several other members fpoke; after which the Houfe divided on the previous question; when there appeared, Ayes 67, Ñoes 17.

The next divifion which took place was on the first refolution moved by Mr Dundas. Ayes 64, Noes 13.

The fecond refolution was carried by a majority of 43; the numbers being, for it. 57, against it, 14.

Ed. Mag. Jan. 1796.

I

The queftion on the last refolution, expreffive of the approbation of the Houfe of Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis, was then put and carried with only one diffentient voice.

5. The Chancellor of the Exchequer propofed to the Houfe fome additional refolutions, as inftructions to the Committee who are to prepare, and bring in, a bill relative to the Prince's debts.

Mr Sheridan, in a speech of great length and eloquence, entered into a detail of the Prince's affairs, from the time of his eftablishment being formed, down to the present time. He contended, that the pledge given to Parliament, in the year 1787, was without the confent of the Prince, and ftated a variety of facts to corroborate that affertion. He then adverted to the mode to be adopted for the payment of the debts, and fuggefted, that ten thousand a year might be allowed from the King's privy purfe, and five thousand from the Queen's; and that the remainder might be made up by the abolishment of finecure places. He concluded with moving a refolution, purporting that no burden fhould fall upon the people for the payment of the debts, until it appeared that the privy purse, and the abolishment of finecure places, were found infufficient for that purpose.

Mr. Dundas replied; and contended that it was impoffible to apply those funds to that object.

A long converfation enfued; after which the Houfe divided; for Mr Pitt's motion 148, Against it 93.

Mr Sheridan then proposed a refolution; and Mr Pitt moved to adjourn. Ayes 153. Noes 29.

8. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that the fum of 65,000l. be appropriated from the Confolidated Fund for the payment of the Prince of Wales's debts, in cafe of his demise. This produced a long debate, at the conclufion of which the Houfe divided, for the motion 93, against it 68.

Mr Anftruther then moved, "That it be an inftruction to the Committee, that they may have power to apply the revenue of the Dutchy of Cornwall to the purpofe of dilcharging the Prince's debts; on which the Houfe again divided; for the motion 58, against it 96.

Mr Pitt now moved, that the Speaker do leave the chair, in order for the Houfe to go into a Committee on the bill.

Another debate enfued, in which Mr, Sheridan and Mr Whitbread opposed the

bill,

bill, and condemned it, in toto, as difgraceful, degrading, and inconfiftent. The Houfe then divided on the queftion of the Speaker's leaving the chair; Ayes 157, Noes 36.

In the Committee on the bill there were divifions on three clauses.

On the claufe for granting his Royal Highness an additional allowance of 65,cool. a year, an amendment was propofed by Mr Wilberforce, that, inficad of 65,000l. the blank be filled up with 40,000l. After feveral other Members had fpoken, a divifion took place, for the amendment 38, against it 141.

On the claufe impowering his Majefty to appoint commiffioners, &c. Ayes 132, Noes 35

And on the claufe appointing the 65,cool. additional income to be taken from the Confolidated Fund, Ayes 149, Noes 16.

10. On the fecond reading of the Imperial Loan Bill, it was oppofed by feveral gentlemen, particularly by Mr Fox, who moved, as an amendment, that, inftead of the word now 'be inferted, this day two months.'-On a divifion the amendment was loft by 55 to 29, and the original motion was carried.

11. Mr Fox moved, that a new writ be iffued, for a burgess to ferve in parliament for the borough of Helftone, in the room of Sir Gilbert Elliott, bart. appointed viceroy of Corfica. This was ordered. The fame day, Lord Sheffield prefented a petition from the merchants trading to the islands of Grenada and St Vincent's, ftating the calamitous effects of the infurrections in those islands, on their commercial dealings, and praying for relief. His Lordship briefly alluded to the fupport which the commercial credit of the nation received in 1793, by a loan of Exchequer bills, and thought a fimilar measure in the prefent cafe would produce equally falutary effects. He concluded by moving, That the petition be referred to a committee, to examine the matter of it, and report their opinion to the house.

[ocr errors]

Mr Pitt feconded the motion. Mr Fox faid, that the calamity in quef tion was an additional proof of the ruis nous tendency of the war; and he could not help fooking upon the prefent application as illuftrative of the motives which actuated commercial men to fupport adminiftration in the profecution of it, who, apprehending danger in their own credit, fanctioned by their voices what they condemned in their hearts, for the pur

pofe of having parliamentary aid afforded to their embarraffinents; a proceeding which he deemed highly dangerous to the conftitution, and to the liberty of Englishmen; for thofe innovations were

oft dangerous which were filent in their effect. He concluded by faying, that it was his intention to give the negative to the application.

Mr Dundas defended the measure. The queftion was then put, and carried in the affirmative.

[ocr errors]

15. The Auftrian loan bill was read a third time, and paffed. The fame day, the Houfe came to a refolution, that Exchequer bills, to the amount of one million and a half, be iffued for the accommodation of perfons trading to the islands of St Vincent and Grenada, to be advanced to them by commiffioners appointed for that purpofe, who fhall receive proper fecurity for the fums so advanced.'

17. The bill for providing for the payment of the debts of the Prince of Wales was read a third time, and paffed. The commiffioners named to carry it into execution are, the Speaker, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the mafter of the rolls, Sir F. H. Drake, mafter of the household, and John Robinfon Efq. furveyor of the Crown lands. The bill afterward went through the ufual forms in the other Houfe; and, on June 27, his Majefty put an end to the feffion by the following moft gracious speech from the throne:"

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The zealous and uniform regard which you have fhown to the general intereft of my people, and particularly the pru dent, firm, and fpirited fupport which you have continued to afford me, in the profecution of the great conteft in which we are fill unavoidably engaged, de-, mand my warmeft acknowledgements.

The encouragement which my allies muft derive from the knowledge of your fentimeuts, and the extraordinary exertions which you have enabled me to make, in fupporting and augmenting my naval and military forces, afford the means moft likely to conduce to the reftoration of peace to thefe kingdoms, and to the re-eftablishment of general tranquillity, on a fecure, an honourable, and a lafting foundation.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I have to return you my hearty thanks for the liberal and ample supplies which

the

the refources of the country have enabled, you to provide, beyond all former example, for the various exigencies of the public fervice.

I have alfo to acknowledge, with peculiar fenfibility, the recent proof which you have given me of your attachment to my perfon and family, in the, provifion which you have made for fettling the establishment of the Prince and Prin cefs of Wales, and for extricating the Prince from the incumbrances in which he was involved.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It is impoffible to contemplate the internal fituation of the enemy with whom we are contending, withou: indulging a hope, that the prefent circumftances of France may, in their effects, haften the return of fuch a ftate of order and reguJar government, as may be capable of maintaining the accuftomed relations of amity and peace with other powers.

The illue, however, of thefe extraordinary tranfactions is out of the reach of human forefight.

Till that defireable period arrives,

when my fubjects can be reflored to the cure enjoyment of the bleflings of peace, I fhall not fail to make the most effectu al ufe of the force which you have put into my hands.

It is with the utmoft fatisfaction that I have recently received the advices of an important and brilliant fuccefs ob tained over the enemy, by a detachment of my feet under the able conduct of Lord Bridport.

I have every reafon to rely on the continuance of the diftinguished bravery and conduct of my fleet and armies, as well as of the zeal, fpirit, and perieverance of may people, which have been uniform. ly manifefted through the whole courfe of this juft and neceffary war.

Then the Lord Chancellor, by his Majefty's command faid,

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It is his Majefty's royal will and pleafure, that this Parliament be prorogued to Wednesday, the 5th of Auguft next, to be then here holden: and this Parlia ment is accordingly prorogued to Wednefday the 5th Auguft 1795.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE SEVEN. TEENTH PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

HE order of the day being

tures, on certain conditions, as might be compatible with the accustomed relations

08. 30. Tread for taking into cons of amity and peace, and this concelhon

deration his Majefty's fpeech to both Houses of Parliament, (fee p. 397 of our laft volume,) and the fame being read by the principal Clerk,

was, in his opinion, all that candour could expect or policy allow. In allufion to the Weft India expedition, he said he looked with a fatisfaction much increated towards the fucceffes he anticipated in that quarter. Our affairs were, upon the whole, so profperous, that inftead of unbecoming and imprudent condefcenfion on our part, he recommended, in the language of the Speech, that we fhould be prepared for the alternative of war, and continue undiminished our activity and vigour. This was the mode of conduct beft calculated to produce a peace on terms fafe and honourable to accept. He then entered into a minute investigation of the ftate of the French finances, which he contrafted with our own, and contended, that fuch was the rapid depreciation of affignats, that it would be impoffible for them to continue the war on the fame principle. The Noble Lord concluded by reading the Addrefs he moved, which was, as ufual, refponfive of the fenti ments contained in the Speech. Lord Walfingham feconded the Addrefs. 1 2 A meflage

Lord Mount Edgecumbe rofe to move an Address to his Majesty in return for his gracious communication. He began by reviewing the leading circumftances of the war, and remarked that the very defeats of the Allies had been favourable to us, for unless the military force of France had been fo occupied, it would have been feverely felt by this country. The defection of fome of our Allies, he faid, was of lefs moment than might have been expected, for no ferious inconvenience could accrue from that defection, when we confidered this country as feparately at war with France. Our own operations had, upon the whole, been greatly if not uniformly fuccefsful. In the East and Weft Indies we had made many conquefts, and ftill retained a decided fuperiority. His Lordship next adverted to the difpofition expreffed in his Majefty's Speech to receive fuch over

A melage from the Commons ac quainted the Houfe that the Commons had agreed to the Address for a confer

ence.

The question being put on the Addrefs,

The Duke of Bedford rofe to ftate his objections to the Addrefs in its prefent fhape, and to propose another exactly fimilar to the one which had been propofed in the House of Commons. His Grace faid, it would be more confiftent with the dignity of Parliament for the Houfe to fpeak their own fentiments than to fubfcribe to a mere echo of the Speech, and happy fhould he be if their decifion was a recommendation for a pacification. He then animadverted on the different topics contained in the Speech in an able and satisfactory manner. But as the remarks were in fome degree anticipated by the debate on the Addrefs in the Houte of Commons, we deem it unneceffary to follow his Grace in a detail of thofe remarks. He next arraigned the conduct of Adminiftration, whom he termed wicked and corrupt, and conjured the Houfe to draw afide that Alimfy veil which was thrown over his Majefty, whole paternal care would induce him to exercife an act of the Royal Prerogative, which alone could fave the Country from deftruction. He concluded by moving an Amendment to the Addrefs.

Lord Grenville, in a fpeech of two hours, combated the arguments that had been adduced by the Duke of Bedford, and concluded by giving his moft decided negative to the Amendment.

The Marquis of Lanfdowne expreffed his aftonishment at the words that had been put into his Majefty's mouth, and delivered from the Throne; and having paffed a number of ftrictures on the Speech, proceeded to the topics that had induced him to attend the House on this occafion. The enormous price of grain was the fubject he alluded to, Laft January, when he read a paper, ftating that the industrious poor of his neighbourhood could not procure other food than bread and water; and when he mentioned the exceffive fcarcity of provisions with which the country was about to be afficted, he was branded with the appellation of Jacobin, who wished to aroufe the populace against the Government of the Country. How far his predictions on the fubject of fcarcity had been realized, he left for others to determine. The poor, he said, in many parts of the

country, were unable to procure even bread and water. The Government Contractors were always upon the watch, and bought up all the cattle and hogs that were formerly flaughtered for the ufe of the poor. Befides this, they were generally killed half fattened, and before they had attained their full growth, which deftroyed the breed, and extended the inconvenience to pofterity. The confumption in fleets and encampments was much greater than if the men were difperfed in the country villages, exercifing their respective trades. Peace, immediate peace, was therefore, in his opinion, the only remedy that could reach the root of the evil, and save the country from impending ruin. Next to this, he thought the sufferings of the poor might be alleviated by the equalization of labour; and he fu gefted the propriety of bringing in a Bill for that purpose, in order that every man's pay fhould be in proportion to the increased price of provisions. After reprobating in fevere terms the conduct of Adminiftration, the Noble Marquis concluded by giving his moft hearty fupport to the Amendment.

A debate of confiderable length enfued, which being merely a repetition of the arguments used in the Houle of Commons, we shall not lay it before our read

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Od. 29. The Speaker having read his Majefty's speech, Lord Dalkeith, son of the Duke of Buccleugh, rose to move an Addrefs. His Lordship proceeded to take a general view of our refources, the extent of our commerce, and the fucceffes which have attended our arms, both

in the Eaft and Weft Indies; which having gone through, he moved, that an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, for his moft gracious fpeech which he had been pleafed to deliver from the Throne. [Here followed the Addrefs, which, as usual, was an echo of the Speech.]

The Hon. Mr Stewart, fon of the Earl of Londonderry, role to fecond the Addrefs. It was not neceffary to go back to the beginning of the war, in order to prove the defperate ftate of France; the prefent was fufficient to prove that the conteft must be brought to a conclufion favourable to this country. Affignats and the fyftem of terror, two great fupporters of the French refources, were How almost exhaufted. The Hon. Gentleman here entered into a calculation of the loffes on the affignats, and the enormous expences of the French government. The prefent fyftem, he maintain ed, would also be abandoned by them, as well as the fyftem of terror. He conluded by feconding the Addrefs.

Mr Sheridan began with expreffing his fuprize that the word fatisfaction fhould appear in the firft line of his Majefty's Speech. He conceived it a mark of true religion, to be fatisfied in the midft of diftrels and difappointment. The abftinence, the religion, the meek nefs, and piety of his Majefty's Minifters were generally acknowledged, but it was neceffary to know on what their fatisfaction rested. When the Houfe is now affured from the Throne, that they are menaced with famine, how could the Minifter have the affurance to ufe the word fatisfation.

[ocr errors]

Mr Sheridan then expatiated on the wildom of the Elector of Hanover in making peace, and obferved, that however averse the House might be to the introduction of Hanoverian troops, he ventured to pronounce it would have no objection to make an exchange and bring over his Majefty's Hanoverian counfellors. He then went into a long difplay of the catalogue of our misfortunes, to place the conduct of Ministry in the most contsmptible light imagin able.

Mr Sheridan then cocluded a very animated speech with a declaration, that he would not vote a fhilling for the fupplies, except fuch as related merely to the Navy.

Mr Jenkinson replied to Mr Sheridan. He reverted to the origin of the war, which was first begùn by the French.

1..

Their views of aggrandizement were founded on overturning the government of this nation, through the propagation of their opinions and political fyftem.He thought that thefe objects were to be oppofed by every effort of our arms. At the period when hoftilities commenced, the French fyftem was ruinous, but now their conftitutional ideas were fomewhat altered. Inftead of that unqualified democracy they at firft profeffed, they now required of their electors a qualification of landed property greater than in England. He obferved, that the proposed divifion of offices in the new, French Legislature afforded a prospect of greater fecurity, and removed in part our. objections to peace, which would be still further leffened, when the new government now forming was fairly reduced to practice.

Mr Jenkinfon next adverted to an effect of the prefent war, which he confidered of no fmall confequence. All ranks of his Majefty's fubjects, except the most profligate among the rich, and the vileft among the vulgar, had ftepped forwards to exprefs their deteftation of French opinions; for there could be no compromife with thefe opinions and the fafety of the conflitution. He then took a view of the internal, state and distress of France, where there are affignats now in circulation to the amount of 780 millions fterling, which are growing daily into fuch difcredit, that one guinea in gold will purchase 50 guineas in affignats.

Mr Fox declared, that after the very extraordinary Speech which he had heard from the Throne, he could not pafs it over in filence. He wished to know how long his Majefty's Ministers were to build on fpeculations of terror and anarchy. Was it not fufficient to add 500,0ool. fterling to the annual taxes to pay the interest of 100,000,000l. and to have brought on the fcarcity of laft year; but muft Minifters, befides, infult the people, by telling them that their condition is better than it was laft year?

With respect to the victory of the Auftrians, is was not victory of last year, but last week.

He then entered on thefe topics, the general defection of the Allies, and the expeditions to the Coafts of France, which he confidered as conceived in the true spirit of madnefs and folly to reinftate the defpotifm of the Bourbons.

He maintained, that not one family in

[ocr errors]
« ElőzőTovább »