JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE EIGHTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN. THE [Concluded from Vol. XXXIV. Page 411.] MONDAY, DEC. 10. HOUSE OF LORDS. HE House having refolved itself into a Committee on Lord Nelfon's Annuity Bill, Lord Walfingham in the chair, the Provifions of the Bill were agreed to nem. diff. MONDAY, DEC. 17. The Royal Affent was given, by Commiffion, to the following Bills, viz. The Malt Duty Bill, the Place and Penfion Duty Bill, Lord Nelfon's Annuity Bill, and the Bill for the better Prevention, &c. of Perfons ferving in his Majesty's Sea or Land Forces being feduced from their Duty and Allegiance. Mr. Hobart prefented from the Houfe of Commons the Bill for continuing the Act of laft Seffion refpecting the Service of the British Militia in Ireland. Mr W. Bird brought up the Small Note Continuation Bill, which, with the foregoing Bill, was read a first time. On the question for the fecond reading of the Bill for authorizing the Continuance of the British Militia ferving in Ireland, The Earl of Radnor rofe to exprefs his disapprobation of the measure. His leading objection against the Bill was, that it went virtually to diffolve the compact originally entered into between the Country and the Militia Force; a meafure of the kind was, he conceived, unprecedented in the legislative annals of the country. He objected alfo against the meature, as operating injuriously with relpect to the difcipline of the militia; and one of the worst effects it obviously must have, would be the prevention of men of property from ferving in the militia. The queftion was then put, and the Bill was ordered to be read a fecond time to-morrow, VOL. XXXV. JAN. 1799. TUESDAY, DEC. 18. Lord Grenville moved the Order of the Day for taking the Militia Service Bill into confideration; which being read, Lord Holland faid, this was a subject fo unconftitutional as to admit of no debate; that was even allowed by his Majefty's Minifter; but in a matter of fuch vaft magnitude, he was amazed they had not deemed it prudent, as well as political, to have a Call of the Houfe. He did not fee any neceffity for the continuation of the English militia in Ire land, now tranquillity was restored there, and he knew of no reafon for it. It was faid, that they had all volunteered their fervices: he knew the contrary to be the cafe. Officers of certain regiments, who had local interests in that country, exerted every influence to perfuade and induce the men to go thither; those who had no fuch interefts were obferved to be not only lef's fanguine, but in many instances not even to offer their fervices for that occafion. He therefore defired fome plausible pretext, if not argument, for fo great an innovation of the Constitution. Lord Grenville replied, that it did not appear that any Call of the Houfe was neceflary, as there was not a Noble Lord in it but who was acquainted with the progrefs of the Bill, and equally acquainted with its purport. If last year they fan&tioned it from the neceffity of the times, they would this year find the fame caufe for continuing it. Though the Rebellion was extinct, ftill there remained fufficient reafon to continue fome English regiments in Ireland, as it was just as important to maintain tranquillity as to fupprefs rebellion. The Bill was then read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed. Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. SATURDAY, DEC. 8. THE Speaker fated that he had, in compliance with the Orders of the Houle, tranimitted their thanks to Sir John Borlafe Warren; that he had received an aniwer from that Officer, in which he expreffed the high and grateful fente entertained by him, his officers, and his men, of the honour conferred upon them by the House of Commons; and adding, that next to the honour of ferving their Country, they confidered the approbation of Parliament as their greatest reward. The Report of the Penfion, Place, &c. Duty Bill was brought up and agreed to; as was that of the Malt Bill. MONDAY, DEC. 10, General Tarleton prefented a petition from the Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder, and Freemen of Liverpool, praying for leave to bring in a Bill for the improvement of its harbour.-The petition was received, and ordered to be referred to a Select Committee. The Houte in a Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. Pitt faid, he would not trouble the Houfe many minutes on the fubject of Finance, which he fhould fubmit for their confideration.-An estimate of the Supply was already before them, as was that of the Ways and Means. At prefent he would confine himfelf to the matter of the Loan recently made, the amount whereof was no more than three millions. In his opinion it was the most beneficial and advantageous to the country ever made fince he had the honour of filling the itation which he now holds; and he had the fatisfaction of informing the Houfe, that the offers were to any extent he might have reafonably thought fit to claim; but he confined himtelf to what he fhould only want until the meeting after the recefs, which he faid would be fufficient for the public fervice during that period, viz. three millions. The terms he made were as follow, viz. Confols taken at 521 Reduced at 534 which were thus agreed on, Confols of the Reduced Bonus inftead of discount o 13 52 10 46 12 11 4 which wasper cent. under the actual valuation of their money. This he fubmitted to be the best terms ever made on any fimilar occafion. The Houfe being refumed, the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow. Sir Francis Burdett, after fome few obfervations, moved, That there be laid before the House a lift of the names of the feveral perions committed by virtue of an Act, intitled " An Act empowering his Majefty to confine perions fufpected of being guilty of treafonable or feditious practices," together with the several prifons wherein they are confined. Mr. Pitt faid, he had no objection to the motion; but if it were intended to found any other motion thereon, he fignified that his oppofition then would depend on the nature of the intended motion. The motion was then amended, on a fuggeftion from the Speaker, that as it was a power committed to the Crown, an Addrefs to his Majefty was the proper mode to adopt. An Addrefs was agreed to, agreeable to the tenor of the motion. TUESDAY, DEC. 11. A Meffage from the Lords announced that their Lordships had agreed to the Bill for granting Lord Nelfon an annuity of 2000l. during his life, and that of his next two heirs bearing the title. Mr. Tierney, pursuant to the notice he had given, rofe to make his promifed motion. In doing which, he wifhed it might be known that he acted from himfelt as an individual, in no wife connected with any party influence. The purport of his motion was, "That it is the duty of his Majefty's Ministers not to advife his Majefty to make any Alliances which may impede or prevent a Negotiation for Peace with the French Republic, whenever that Power fhows a difpofition to make Peace confiftent with the honour and intereft of the British Empire." Concerning Continental Alliances, he was of opinion they could not be advantageous to England, and it must be other arguments than thofe he had already heard that would convince him to the contrary. It may be faid that the motion infringes on the Royal Prerogative; that he denied: as well might it be faid, that the withhelding, or even refufing the fupply, which can prevent carrying carrying on war, infringed upon the prerogative of the Monarch, who had the power of making peace and war. He was aware of the many objections that might be tarted to the motion. It might be faid it damped the rifing fpirit that prevailed throughout the nation, and throughout all Europe against the com mon enemy. He denied there existed on the Continent fuch a teniency. He begged the House to confider the rela tive fituation of Ruffia, Pruffia, and the Porte, the formidable Allies with whom we were to engage. Could any man of common fente believe that cordiality would exist between the Ottomans and the Ruffians? Or fuppofe that the Emperor and the Ruffians could agree in a common caufe? or could a child in politics be convinced that Ruffia, the Emperor, and the Porte, could be called together in any one caufe whatsoever, particularly in a fubfidiary war? He was convinced of the impoffibility. He adverted to the former "General Confederacy;" fhewed how Pruffia, with 1,200,000l. in her pocket, fell off the first; how the Emperor followed her example; and how, at this moment, each of these powers are actually endeavouring, each for themselves, to fecure a lasting peace with the French Republic on the beit terms they can. He was of opinion Peace could now be made with France on eligible terms; the time of victory was the time to achieve it. We manifefted a difpofition in a most generous way foon after the victory of Lord Duncan; it was still more within our reach now, fince that fplendid victory gained by Lord Nelfon. If, however, we are to have war and alliances, the way for England to cooperate would be with her Navy; but, if we were to fend away our troops, he would, by his duty as a Reprefentative of the Nation, proteft against it; and if we were to fend fubfidies, he would, by the fhare of domeftic happiness which he muft forfeit on the occafion, proteft against them. He then took a view of the ftate of Ireland, which he confidered at this inftant in a precarious fituation. He noticed the dangers that threatened our Eastern fettlements from the irruption of Buonaparte in India. He obferved alfo that the West Indies indicated Symptoms no lefs alarming. Whilft, therefore, we had fo much to apprehend at home, and fo little to do with foreign alliances, he would ever oppofe crufades. He then moved as before expressed. The motion being feconded, Mr. Canning oppofed it in very warm and energetic terms. He took a com prehenfive view of the war, its progrefs, and its prefent ftate; he adverted in a matterly manner to the obfervations made concerning our allies, and thewed in picturefque colours the cruelties committed by the French in Switzerland, the crimes committed against Venice, their uíurpation of the Netherlands, of Holland, and of Egypt, their depredations in Germany, and their fpoliation in Italy. Hence he argued the neceflity of refitting them, and of forming alliances for that purpose. He took into confideration, in a masterly manner, our relative fituation with that of all other countries, and displayed a vigour of mind equally intelligent, equally claffical, and having replied, in a convincing file of argument, to the feveral points adduced by the Hon. Gentleman who made the motion, concluded with invoking the House to refift it in every thape. Mr. Jekyll faid, he difapproved of continental alliances, and would therefore vote for the motion; as continuing the war, and increafing our expences in fo romantic a measure as improving French morals, would be attended with fuch an expence to English justice, that the amount would be infinite, and the end unanswered. Sir James Murray oppofed the motion, as did Mr. William Dickinson. The motion was then put and negatived without a divifion. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12. The Houfe in a Committee on the Bill empowering his Majetty to accept the voluntary offer of fuch militia regiments as tendered their fervices for Ireland, or elsewhere, Mr. Pitt introduced a claufe, that it fhould be in force till one month after the commencement of the next Seffion of Parliament. Mr. M. A. Taylor faid, the measure was unconftitutional in the extreme, and unneceffary in its purport. He paid many compliments to the Noble Marquis who is Lord Lieutenant in that country, and conceived that all that could be done for Ireland was already achieved under his wife and humane administration, and continuing any longer English regiments of militia there, he was of opinion, was wholly ufelefs, and a redundant caution. He could of himself fay (for he experienced it), that Ireland was now in a more flourishing state than ever it was. H 2 Mr. Mr. Pitt bore teftimony to the merit of Lord Cornwallis, but deemned it as juft and fair to pay a very extenfive tribute of applaufe to the Noble Lord (Camden) who preceded him, and who, in the hour of trial, difcharged a most arduous duty; as well as to the officers and men of every description, who, to their fignal honour, volunteered in the difficult and hazardous fervice. Sir James Murray, in like manner, complimented the army ferving in Ireland, and attributed the falvation of the country to their zeal and patriotilm. Mr. Johnes faid, he was a friend to the Bill, and differed only with the laft Hon. Gentleman in not thinking Ireland fafe whilft there was an armed rebel in the country. The Mutiny Bill was read a third time and passed. The English Small Note Bill was paffed, and ordered to the Lords. THURSDAY, DEC. 13. The Houfe went into a Committee on the Bill for explaining and amending certain Acts regarding the trade carried on by neutral vellels to the Cape of Good Hope. The Report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow. FRIDAY, DEC. 14. On the Order of the Day being read that the Report of the Committee on the Bill for a Tax on Income be further confidered, a divifion took place, when there appeared for the Recommittal 183; against it, 23. Majority for the Bill 160. MONDAY, DEC. 17. The Report of the Bill for amending the Land Tax Redemption Bill of lat year, was brought up, and the Order read for taking it into confideration, to which the Houfe agreed. Mr. Pitt then introduced a very confiderable number of claufes, which occupied the Houfe nearly four hours, all of which were mere matters of local tendency. Among the reft, he introduced one, the purport of which regulation was, that furveyors fhould be appointed by the Commiflioners acting under the law, who should be duly fworn to eftimate the actual value of fuch lands, previous to their fale." This brought on a very long and uninterefting converfation between the Mafter of the Rolls, Mr. Simeon, Mr. Ryder, Colonel Wood, Mr. Ellifon, the Solicitor General, Mr. Tierney, and Mr. Pitt, when it was at length agreed to. The Order of the Day being read for the recommitment of the Income Bill, and the queftion being put for the House to go into a Committee, a divifion took place, when there appeared for the motion, 116; against it, 3. The Houfe having refolved itself into a Committee, Mr. Tierney contended against the preamble of the Bill, Lord Hawkesbury having moved" that the preamble should ftand part of the Bill." This motion, therefore, produced a debate, or rather altercation, and the queftion was again put, "That this Preamble do make part of the Bill;" when Mr. Tierney oppofed the motion, and renewed, but in a more violent train, his former arguments, and concluded by ftating, that as the Chancellor of the Exchequer had rated the income of the people at 102 millions, out of which laft year they paid no lefs in taxation than one third; he thought, that in approaching them this year for an additional and ferious claim, he fhould have at least advanced with refpect, instead of charge, accufation, libel, and ingrati tude. This called up Lord Hawkesbury, who denying that the whole people" were implicated in the charge, read the words in the preamble as follows: "Whereas in fundry inftances the faid payments have been greatly evaded;" and thence contended that the meaning forced on the fentence did not apply. Mr. Tierney then faid, that this tax would be as unproductive as all the Minifter's new meafures turned out to be. He expected feven millions by his Affefled Taxes-they produced but four millions-he calculated ten on this-he would find himself equally deceived. Mr. Ellis profeffed his fupport of the Preamble of the Bill, from circumstances of evafion that came within his knowledge. The Attorney General and Mr. Pitt fupported the Bill in principle and detail; Mr. Tierney and Mr. William Smith oppofed it. At length Mr. Wigley, in arguing on the firft claufe, moved, That instead of the word "Income," the word "Property" be inferted; upon which, after fome further obfervations, the House divided, for the motion, 9; against it, 123. Adjourned. BATTLE BATTLE OF THE NILE. AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SQUADRON UNDER THE COMMAND OF REAR ADMIRAL SIR HORATIO NELSON, FROM ITS SAILING FROM GIBRALTAR TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE GLORIOUS BATTLE OF THE NILE: DRAWN UP FROM THE MINUTES OF AN OFFICER OF RANK IN THE SQUADRON. [Concluded from Vol. XXXIV. Page 416.] THE At about feven o'clock total darkness had came on; but the whole hemifphere was, with intervals, illuminated by the fire of the hofile fleets. Our hips, when darkness came on, had all hoifted their diftinguishing lights, by a fignal from the Admiral. The van fhip of the enemy, Le Guer. rier, was diimafted in lets than twelve minutes; and, in ten minutes after, the fecond fhip, Le Conquerant, and the third, Le Spartiate, very rearly at the fame moment were alfo difinafted. L'Aquilen and Le Souverain Peuple, the fourth and fifth fhips of the enemy's line, were taken poffeffion of by the British at half past eight in the evening. Captain Berry, at that hour, fent Lieutenant Galway, of the Vanguard, with a party of marines, to ake poffeflion of Le Spartiate, and that officer returned by the boat the French Captain's fword, which Captain Berry im. mediately delivered to the Admiral, who was then below, in confequence of the fevere wound which he had received in the head during the heat of the attack. At this time it appeared that victory had already declared itself in our favour; for although L'Orient, L'Heureux, and Tonnant, were not taken poffeffion of, they were confidered as completely in cur power, which pleating intelligence Captain Berry had likewife the fatif. faction of communicating in person to the Admiral. At ten minutes after nine, a fire was observed on board L'Orient, the French Admiral's hip, which feemed to proceed from the after part of the Cabin, and which increafed with great rapidity, prefently involving the whole of the after part of the hip in flames. This circumitance Captain Berry immediately communicated to the Admiral, who, though fuffering feverely from his wound, came upon deck, where the first confideration that ftruck his mind, was concern for the danger of fo many lives; to fave as many as poffible of whom, he ordered Captain Berry to make every practicable exertion. A boat, the only one that could fwim, was inftantly dif patched from the Vanguard, and other hips that were in a condition to do fo immediately followed the example; by which means, from the beft poflible information, the lives of above feventy Frenchmen were faved. The light thrown by the fire of L'Orient upon the furrounding objects enabled us to perceive with more certainty the fituation of the two fleets, the colours of both being clearly diftinguishable. The cannonading was ftill partially kept up to leeward of the centre till about ten o'clock, when L'Orient blew up with a moft tremendous explofion. An awful paufe and death-like filence for about three minutes enfued, when the wreck of the matts, yards, &c. &c. which had been carried to a vaft height, fell down into the water and on board the furround. ing hips. A port fire from L'Orient fell into the main royal of the Alexander, the fire occafioned by which was however extinguished in about two minutes, by the active exertions of Capt. Ball. After this awful fcene, the firing recommenced with the fhips to leeward of the centre till twenty minutes past ten, when there was a total cellation of firing for about ten minutes; after which it was revived till about three in the morning, when it again ceafed. After the victory had been fecured in the van, fuch British hips as were in a condition to move had gone down upon the fresh ships of the enemy. At five minutes paft five in the morning, the two rear fhips of the enemy, Le Guillaume Tell and the Genereux, were the only French fhips of the line that had their colours flying. 3 At |