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Irifb Parliamentary Intelligence.

(Continued from page 102.) Thursday, January 17, 1788.

HAT we entertain the highest sense of gratitude for the affurances which we have received from the throne, of his Majefty's paternal wishes for the happiness of this kingdom. That we shall cultivate with earnestnefs those objects which have been recommended to our care, by directing our attention. to the further extenfion of our linen manufacture, the protection and regulation of the Proteftant charter fchools, the lecurity of the established church, and to, thofe principles which wisdom and humanity point out for the promotion of education and uferal knowledge. That in relieving the progrefs which our commerce, manufactures and credit have made under his Majesty's aufpicious protection and influence, we are ftimulated to cherish with encreased affiduity the bleffings of peace. To repeat, however, with chearfulnefs, our declaration to ftand and fall with Great Britain: And to affure his Majefty, that if the honour of his Majefty's crown, or the interefts of his dominions, had obliged his Majetty to refort to the fpirit and refources of his people, there is no part of his empire from which his Majefty would have received a warmer and more zealoas fupport than from his loyal fubjects of Ireland."

The motion was feconded by Captain Packenham.

Mr. Parfons, College. I am not inclined to give my affent to the Addrefs as it now ftands. In the first place it is nothing more than the echo of the Speech-and I think at the prefent moment the Commons ought, in their Address to their Sovereign, to declare their fentiments relative to the fituation of the kingdom-befides, it in fome measure approves of many measures, and all the measures of the fate Adminiftration, by lamenting the heavy lofs which his Majefly's service had sustained by the death of the late Duke of Kutland, who was at the head of that Administration. For my part, I disapproved of all its measures. Were the reftrictions laid on the prefs by the late Adminiftration a measure to be approved of? Thefe restrictions are not known in England and tho' I will not fay that the laws of both countries should be in all cafes the fame, I will contend, that whenever there is a departure from the known standard, it should be in favour of liberty and conftitution. And I hope that fuch will be the principle of the prefent Adminiftration.There is the measure of ATTACHMENTS-is that fit to approve of ?no, the people ought rather to be protected against a revival of the fame practice. We ought not the first day of the leffions, to enter into an Addrefs that binds us to approve measures of a former Administration-and the measures of a new Adminiftration, whofe system has not been communicated to us, and which we know nothing of, I wish to know, whether the general Police, that abomination of the conftitution, is to be a part of that fyftem? If it is not, why pledge the Houfe? the Riot-act is another exceptionable matter and I muft obferve, that Gent. Mag. March, 1788.

like every act of the late Adminiftration, it tend ed to the increase of prerogative, and to the di minution of the liberties of the people-yet by the Addrefs, the Houfe is in fome measure pledged to approve of the whole.

Nota fentence is mentioned of economy in the Speech or Addreis, although there has never been more occafion for it, than in the prefent fi tuation of the public money and height of taxes. To prove the prodigality that has prevailed in the expenditure of the public money, I will relate one fact. The expenditure of the last year, under the late Adminiftration, exceeded by fix hundred fixty thousand pounds, any year in the Adminiltration of Lord Carl fle. Now the expenditure of public money during the Administration of Lord Carlile, had been pronounced extravagant-monftious-by feveral of the wi'est and moft virtuous chara&ers in this Houfe-and with fuch an exceffive increase do they wish to perfevere in the fame fyftem? When we neglect to maintain a wish to economife, what will the people infer, but that the fame ruinous fyftem is to be perfevered in? all our examination of the public accounts, I flattered myself, took place with a view to economy-but I am afraid they will not be productive of the object.

I ask again, if Ministers intend to persevere in the abominable measures of the late Adminiftration? How abfurd is it to vote thanks to a Chief Governor, without knowing any part of his fyfa tem? In England, and in this country, it has been customary to give fome outlines, by which the intentions of Minifters might be afcertained, and when it had been omitted, I cannot conceive how the Houfe can agree to the present Addref.

Sir H. Hartftonge imagining that Mr. Parfons had concluded, interrupted him, by saying that he feared his Hon. Friend had mistaken the Addref, As to the omiffron of the word economy, he was very glad of it, as the word had been fo often abufed.

Mr. Parfens resumed-and after having repeated his question relative to the intention of Adminiftration, moved, "that the words which lamented the lofs fuftained to his Majefty's fervice, by the death of the late Duke of Rutland, &c. fhould be omitted."He obferved at the fame time, that he did not mean to caft any ftigma upon the character of the departed Nobleman. If it had been injured, it was by the acts of certain men-[alluding to the Treasurybench]. The Duke of Rutland came to this kingdom attended with many advantages, and poffeffed of a great degree of popularity—it was not him he blamed for the pernicious measures parfuedbat "mifadvisers and evil counsellor.'

"

Sir R. St. George feconded the motion:

Hon, D. Browne faid, it was not my intention when I came down to the Houfe to have spoken a fingle word-but I find myself called upon in a peculiar manner, from the hostile attack that has been made upon the character of our late Chief Governor. I never will fit filent and hear his memory afperfed. And I am forprized that fome Gentlemen in my view, who were the companions of that Nobleman, did not rife when the attack was made, and repel it

with

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with indignation. Perfuaded I am that there is net a man in this Houfe who is not convinced that our late Chief Governor was as good and virtuous a Lord Lieutenant as ever this country was favoured with--and his premature departure was univerfally and fincerely regrettéd.

As to the measures mentioned by the Hon. Gentleman, and which he has thought proper fo highly to cenfure beg leave to obferve, that they received the fanction of both Houfes of Parliament, and were not the act of the Chief Governor. If he is determined to go against the fenfe of Parliament, he may-but I believe he will be fingle.

Attorney General. Mr. Speaker. If I should hear an attack made upon the character of the late Duke of Rutland, worthy a reply-Ifhould not for a moment fit filent-but as to the very wak and impotent attack that I have just witneffed, I shall treat it as it merits-with contemptuous filence.

Chancellor of the Exchequer. As an inftance of the credit due to the kind of random general affertion thrown out by the Hon. Gentleman, (Mr. Parfons) I will produce the national accounts of the periods alluded to by him-and then it will be easy to difcover, whether his charge of profufion in the expenditure of the public money be founded. It appears, that the expenditure in Lord Carlifle's Administration, was two millions, fifty-feven thousand eight hundred and twenty pounds-the expenditure of laft year was one million, one hundred and eighty-two thousand pounds. Now let him take half of the fum off the expenditure in Lord Car. life's Adminiftration, and where will the defi ciency which he mentions be found? Such charges are perfectly futile, and would be endless if encouraged. He made honourable mention of the Duke of Rutland's Administration.

Right Hon. Mr. Brownlow. Really, Sir, I do not think it neceffary on this occafion to dif approve of the Addrefs, nor in voting it to enter into the merits of the former Adminiftration. If that was the question, I should speak to it--but it is not. I do not wonder that Gentlemen with to pay a compliment to the memory of that departed Nobleman-for my part, I fhall not op pote it- but I muft not lay, that I difapproved all the measures of the late Administration.

Our prefent Chief Governor, I confider in a fituation different from the generality of Lord Lieutenants. He is a Nobleman that has already given us an earnest of what we may expect from him-a Nobleman that has difplayed a capacity for looking into the public accounts, and effecting retrenchment; and think we have every thing to hope from his Administration,

As to

the omiffion of economy in his Speech, I fancy he has looked into former fpeeches, and purpofely avoided using a word that has fo often been vied to no purpose. I think, however, more relance is to be placed on his actions and difpofition, than on the generality of profeffions from the throne.

Right Hon Mr. Conolly. The memory of our lace Chief Governor I think entitled to re(prêt--and though I frequently diffled in opio on with thote who acted under him, i am cerain that he never gave he confent to any mea

fure that he was not perfuaded was for the profperity and welfare of this country. This is my firm opinion, and I am convinced, that no earthly idea could have swayed him to act otherwise.

I esteem him to have been as faithful, as honeit, and as great a man, as ever honoured this country, or dignified the important ftation he held. I never put my opinion in competition with that of the House-bet I am fure there are none who hear me that will not agree to transmit his name to pofterity with honour and refpect-[a general cry of hear! hear!—in approbation of Mr. Conolly's fentiments.]

Mr. Parfons role to vindicate himself from the fufpicion of wishing to reflect on the character of the late Duke of Rutland, He intended no fuch thing-he meant in fact to pay his memory a compliment, by imputing all the odium of his Adminiftration to evil caunfellors and misadvisers. He replied to the Chancellor of the Exchequer relative to the encrease in the expenditure of the public accounts-and they agreed to difcufs it on a future day.

He moved an amendment to the following purport, that after the word "fervice" in the Addrefs, should be inferted," and an effectual fyftem of economy in the expenditure of the public money, in the room of the late profufion which we have had fuch reafon to lament."

The former motion having been withdrawn, a converfation took place between the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Parfons, which contained nothing new.

Mr. Corry. This is not the first time that I have rifen to intreat the attention of the House, when the late Administration was the fubject of debate-but I rife now with different feelings, and in a painful fituation, I must regret that any queftion fhould be put relative to the much lamented and unfortunate Nobleman, after his death. If this was a queftion that could tend to any potlible fyftem of economy or retrenchment, there might be fome colour for it, and Gentlemen might difcriminate between the feeling of the heart and the counsel of the judgment.But it is not; and I fubmit to my Hon. Friend, the impropriety of preffing it, when he can at any future day have an equal remedy against profufion, and must request him not to ftain the journals of the Houfe with a charge on the memory of the departed Nobleman. I am not one of those who received his favours-and who may therefore be fufpected of reflecting a ray of light upon themselves, by illuminating his character. I have however experienced his fociety, and have known him to be a Nobleman whose private cha racter merited respect and esteem. The amendment is abfolutely a feverer cenfure than the original motion-that only went to expunge a compliment-this brings forward a pofitive charge.

-Mr. Corry concluded by requetting his Hon. Friend to withdraw the amendment.

Mr. Parfons went over much the fame ground in vindication of his motion.

Attorney General. If the Hon. Gentleman is fuffered to go on with motion upon motionand amendment upon amendment-and to speech upon every one of them, we shall never have an end to the business If he has a mind to wave

the

borne, Efq; deceated.

the original motion, let him put his abfurdity to fort, county Wicklow, in the room of J. P. Of the Houfe, and take their fenfe upon it Mr. Parfons's motion was rejected,

The original motion was put and agreed to

nem. con.

An Address was moved for to the Lord Lieutenant, by Lord Headfort, and feconded by the Hon. J. Maxwell, and a Committee appointed to prepare the fame.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, that he had affued his warrant to make a new writ for the election of a member to ferve in this prefent Parliament for the borough of Carysfort, in the county of Wicklow, in the room of John Proby Ofborne, Efq; deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do iffue his warrant to make out a new writ for the election of a member to serve in this prefent Parliament for the borough of Hillsborough, county Down, in the room of James Bailie, Efq; deceased, and for the borough of Newtown, county Down, in the room of the Right Hon. John Ponfotoy, deceased.

Right Hon. Mr. Beresford prefented to the Houle, pursuant to their order, an account of fuch yearly allowances as have been placed upon incidents from the 18th Jan. 1787.

Ordered, that Mr. Speaker do iffue his warrant to make out a new writ for the election of a member to serve in this prefent Parliament for the borough of Killyleagh, county Down, in the room of Robert Blackwood, Efq; deceased.

An account of the receipts and difbursements of the commiffioners of impreft accounts, from 17th January, 1787, to 16th January, 1788, was prefented and ordered to lie on the table,as was an account of the exports and imports of Ireland for the year ending 25th March, 1787. 18.] Lord Delvin brought up the report from the Committee appointed to prepare an Address to his Majefty.

The Addrefs was read-when

Mr. Partons moved, that the part of the Addrefs which lamented the lofs fuftained by his Majefty's fervice from the death of the Duke of Rutland, should be omitted.

This brought on a converfation between him and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, nearly the fame of the preceding day. Mr. Partons repeat ed his charge of profufion in the expenditure of the public money, and infifted that the annual expenditure exceeded the last year by 660,000l. any year during the Administration of Lord Carlife. This the Chancellor of the Exchequer denied and defined it to be proved by any poffible calculation. He obferved alfe, that any opinion upon the finances of the country before the accounts were laid before them must be prema

ture.

Mr. Parlons's motion was rejected. Lord Headfort brought up the report from the Committee appointed to prepare an Address to the Lord Lieutenant. The Addrefs was read, and fuch of the Members as were Privy Coun fellors, ordered to wait on his Excellency to know when he would think proper to receive the Addrefs.

19. Right Hon. Alleyne Fitzherbert took the oaths, and his feat for the borough of Carys

Houfe adjourned for half an hour, and having met again, purfuaat to faid adjournment,

Mr. Speaker reported that the Houfe had attended his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant with the Addrefs of this Houfe to his Majetty, and that thereupon his Excellency was pleated to return the antwer following:

"I will forthwith transmit this dutiful and loyal Addrefs, to be laid before his Majefty "

Mr. Speaker reported also that he had prefented the Addrefs of thanks to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, for his most excellent Speech to both Houses of Parliament, and that thereupon his Excellency was pleafed to return the anfwer following:

"I return you my best thanks for this Addrefs, fo ftrongly expreffive of your partiality to me; and I trust that by perfeverance in the fame conduct which was formerly marked by the ho nourable teftimony of your approbation and regards, 1 fhall not be unworthy of the confidence which you have fo kindly repofed in my zeal for the King's fervice, and my affection for this kingdom.

A petition was presented and read, from Francis Saunderfon, Elq; complaining of an undue election for the county of Cavan, and that John Maxwell, Efq; had been improperly returned a member for faid county.

Ordered to be taken into confideration the 18th of February next.

Thursday, January 24.

COMMITTEE or ACCOUNTS Sat at half paft two o'clock.-It appeared that 28col. had been paid to the late Duke of Rutland for wool-licences. Mr. Corry defired

an explanation of it, and was informed by Mr. Clements, that it was usually allowed to Lord Lieutenants.. -A charge of 1oool. paid to Col. Vallancey, was defired to be accounted for by the fame Gentleman-an answer was made, that the Colonel was employed in making out a military map of the kingdom.-A charge of 27001. made to the Speaker and feveral officers of both kingdoms, were objected to by Mr. Burgh, of Oldtown.It was replied, that the fum arofe from the fees of office, and of the Attorney and Solicitor-Generals in England, on paffing bills.-A charge of 2001. for repairing roads in the county Waterford, as a partial application of the public money. Adjourned till three o'clock

to-morrow.

NEW ROOMS ROTUNDA.

After the Committee of public accounts adjourned, the Speaker took the chair, when

The Chancellor of the Exchequer informed the Houfe, that he would make a motion next day, however unpleafing it might be to him, relative to the granting no fums of the public money, unLefs for purposes which had already received the aid of Parliament.

Mr. Trench role, in order to present a petition from the governers and guardians of the Lyingin-Hofpital; and he introduced it with faying, that he would not enlarge on the merits of the U 2 charity

charity, but only mention, that the patients in 1775, had coft 11. 18s. 4d. and in 1787, only 19. 48. each. That as the petition was not in paint, he would ftate fome paragraphs."

The prayer, he faid, was to enable the truftees to difcharge an advance which was due above twelve months, and to pay the balances due to different artificers for value delivered. He faid it must appear to any ope converfant in business, that if these two fums had been with-held, the whole must have been in ruins, unfatisfactory to the public, and unproductive to the charity They also prayed, to discharge the expence of refitting their Hofpital, which a contagion in Spring, 1787, rendered unavoidable, where, near 20 beds had two patients in each, and nine died in a few days. In this was included the charge of refidence of officers, eftablishing 16 new beds, (one-fourth of the whole foundation) a dormitory and fixtures for fix pupils, wash. houfes, and many other matters, which the peculiar nature of the charity rendered expensive. Thefe three, he thought the public were, in reafon and juftice, bound to make good.

The petition likewife prayed, an additional annual income as their patients were likely to encrease one-fourth. To that he said, on the account ftated, a fmall balance only was due -and if private voluntary benefactions were regularly collected, and the public room took, there would be ample revenue. He did not with one fhilling furplus, it would be perhaps the fubje&t of jobbing.

The Trustees alfo entreated a fufficiency to compleat their works, now in forwardness, by adding ftairs, &c. and likewife to erect a waiting-hall for fervants, which would be conducive of order and fobriety.- -The Houfe, he faid, would judge of the measures. It was indifferent to the conductors, who were heartily tired of the business, Some Gentlemen, he faid, might afk, why expences incurred on the opinion or caprice of an individual fhould expect retribution from Parliament? Having anticipated a charge, he would add a reply. Every step that prudence could dictate had been taken. At the very foundation, the character, the first then in rank, and then conceived the first in power in the kingdom, was present. Under his special authority were the dimensions and the materials determined-his private munificence more than defrayed every ornament that might now feem unneceffary or expenfive. The circumftances of the preceding leffion, he faid, were fresh in every Gentleman's recollection. He should not recapitulate private difcourfe, which no one could controvert he would appeal to the recollection of fome Gentlemen, to whom a communication of what paffed had been immediately made.

In fact, he confidered the noble perfonage as perfonally interested in the bufinefs, and counted the mea ure as certain, though perhaps it might be remote. The whole pocels was, in fone meafure, intended to be complimentary. It was Dow, alas! become commemorative. Thofe, he faid, who were the Oppofition of that day, who loved the man, but fometimes difapproved the measures, would not oppose him--and three Firle months should not have diminished the affection of his friends!

Mr. Trench requested any gentleman, whe was averfe to the petition; to rendering the winter residence and course of society more agreeable; to affifting a deferving charity, without annually incumbering the public; or who was averfe to marking refpect to the memory of the founder; to rife and oppofe it, in its prefent stage, as from the prefent opinion of the Houfe, go-verament might judge, if it was, or was not the wishes of the public.

He faid he was almost a stranger to the prefent adminiftration. He could not, in the ordinary acceptation of the word, have the remoteft demands on them-yet he felt moft ftrong, forcible, and he almoft believed fuccessful grounds of claims, founded folely on, the known integrity of their public intentions, and in the conscious integrity of his own conduct.

He faid the truftees as honeft men, must be juft before they can be bountiful; that the ho neft artificer, who expended his property and his labour, had a claim on a proportion of the flender pittance, and that the effects of the charity must be inftantly reftrained; that being himself perfectly independent, the proportion of lofs that might fall on him was of little confequence; that his objects were humane, and no one would dare to fuppofe they were interested.

Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that the duty of his office, obliged him to declare, that however well he might with the charity, or respect the advocate for it, he had never received any official inftructions from the nobleman alluded to, in favour of it; that he believed his private liberality was unreftrained—and he declared upon his honour, that he knew he did not wish to lavifh public money; he knew his regard to that charity and perfonal esteem for the gentleman who efpoufed it, but conceived it limited to his private munificence. He at the fame time declared, that there were certain principles, which if government did not adhere to, would be attended with ruinous confequences, and however well inclined he might be, yet there were particular circumstances, when local advantage mult give way to the public interest.

Mr. Trench faid in reply, that though in a former feffion, the recorded fenfe of parliament was with him, he did not wish to force that government, even if it was in his power.

He faid no individual in the king/om kad given more unequivocal proofs of his perfonal attachiment to the Duke of Rutland, or felt more reverence for his memory; that as perfonal matters had been referred to, he laid he was abfolutely defired to find out fome unexceptionable me thed of contriving the business of the laft feffion. He moved a return of jobs, (a return that would perhaps, be more painful at the prefent) there was a fufficient amount; it was a concealment and fraud on the public, yet he tared worse than the jackall, for the lions of government, and the police fwallowed it all.

He again lamented the certain neceffity of limiting the reception of patients, and appropriat ing part of the funds to the payment of debts, and that a charity he had fo ftrenuously laboured to extend, must now become contracted. He then

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