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reafon for oppofing it was, that the Bill militated against a ftanding order of the Houfe, which was of the greatest importance to their privileges. This order originated at a time when, unhappily, there exifted differences between the two branches of Legiflature, and the Commons of that day took advantage, when they brought in money bills, to tack other matters to them, which were altogether irrelevant, and of a different nature, in order to compel the Lords to pafs them, or elfe be the means of refufing to raife the neceffary fupplies. The prefent bill was intended to provide more amply for poor curates, and by it there was a power given to raise 80ccl. which made it a money bill. The fum, indeed, was but small, but still it was fufficient, if the bill was fuffered to pafs, to trench upon the Conftitution and privileges of the Houfe; and he warned their Lordships to avoid fo injurious a measure. No man could more anxiously defire to fee that defcription of worthy perfons better provided for than they were at prefent, who were the objects of the bill, than he did? but, as the prefent feffion was fo nearly on the close, and as the meeting of Parliament again would, doubtlefs, be a very early one; if the bill paffed early in the next feffion, it could be no inconvenience to any one, and would avoid that unconstitutional ftep, which he so much deprecated. He, therefore, moved, that the bill be read a fecond time that day three months.

The Lord Chancellor agreed with the noble Duke as to the origin and importance of the ftanding order he had alJuded to, and fated in nearly the fame terms. He differed with him, however, in opinion, that this bill did infringe or trench upon that flanding order; for the 8cool. to be raised was not for fupplies; nor was the other part of the bill irrelevant to it, as it was for the better provifion of curates, and this 8cool. was to go in aid thereof. He did not know, however, how far their Lordships might be inclined to pafs this bill, in the abfence of fo many of the right reverend clerical part of that Houfe, who were so much interested in the fubject matter of the bill, he could not fay. If any information could be had from the two right reverend Prelates who were prefent, he thould be glad to receive it. For his own part he thought it worthy confideration, whether it might not be as well to poftpone it to the beginning of next fettion--which, as the noble Duke had faid," would, in ail Jikelihood, be a very early oue, and when the House would

have the benefit of the advice of the whole of that right reverend bench.

The Bishop of London faid, that he had read the bill with. confiderable attention, and highly approved its principles and provifions; he thould therefore be glad to fee it pals as foon as poffible. As to the opinions of his right reverend Brethren, he could not fay any thing; but as the bill was to promote fo worthy a purpose, he should be forry it should meet with any delay tat could with propriety be avoided.

The Duke of Norfolk retraced fome of his former argu ments, and preffed the Houfe to agree to his motion, as the delay would be fo fhort.

The Lord Chancellor said, that if the Houfe did not pafs the bill this feffion, and a bill of a fimilar tendency did not come from the other Houfe during the first week of the enfuing feffion, he would certainly bring a bill for the purpofe into that Houfe.

The Bishop of London faid, that if the Houfe were inclined to poftpone the bill, it was by no means his intention to perfift in the opinion that he had delivered, but would acquiefce in the judgment of their Lordships.

The question was then put, that the bill be read a fecond time that day three months, and carried nem. diffent. The bill was therefore deferred to the next feflion.

Adjourned to the next day.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5.

On the motion of Lord Hawkefbury, a new writ was or dered for St. Edmund's Bury, in the room of Lord Hervey, now Earl of Bristol.

The Tortola free-port bill, the warehousing and bonding bill, the Scotch affefled tax bill, the American treaty bill, the Bell Rock light-houfe bill, the confolidated fund bill, the Canada Courts bill, and the stamp duties bill, were feverally read a third time and paffed.

Lord Amherft's annuity bill, the Irish glebe-house bill, the wine prizage bill, the affeffed taxes bill, the Irish sugar importation duties bill, and the neutral fhips bill, were reported, and ordered to be read a third time the next day,

An account was prefented of the increase and diminution of the public falaries and offices.

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A meffage from the Lords informed the House, their Lordships had agreed to the receipt tax bill, the Irish tea duties bill, the deal and Dover pilots bill, and the customs' duty bill.

The House went into a Committee on the foreign notes bill. The report was received, and the bill was ordered to to be read a third time the next day.

A petition was prefented from certain innkeepers, complaining of the hardships they fuftained by the billetting of foldiers.

Petitions were alfo prefented from the debtors in the caftle of Cambridge, and in the New Compter.

The Lords' amendments to the volunteer corps bill were agreed to.

DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.

The general defence amendment bill was read a third time, after which the Secretary at War brought up feveral clauses; namely, a clause to allow commanders of volunteer corps to employ ferjeants to inftruct the volunteers in the military exercife, with an allowance of 2s. 6d. per day; a claufe to exempt masters and mates of merchant veffels from the pay- * ment of fines; a claufe for allowing Lords Lieutenants to appoint officers in the room of thofe difplaced; a claufe for enabling the Lord Lieutenant to appoint the Deputy Lieutenants to do duty for him in cafes of fickness; and a clause providing that all perfons enrolled thould take the oaths of allegiance and fidelity to his Majefty.

Mr. Sheridan said, that, before the amendments were introduced in the body of the bill, he withed to know, whether, by this and the former defence bill, the Lords Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants would be entitled to demand ofthe different perfons having horfes, and of the proprietors and keepers of public conveyances, to provide thofe means of facilitating the progrefs of the country towards the enemy, in cafe of invafion, which clearly Government might require. It was with fatisfaction he had feen an advertisement of the poftmasters, who had met voluntarily, and offered Government their affiftance in conveying the troops to wherever they might be wanted; but he wifhed, in cafe of actual invafion, there should be a compulfory power lodged in the hands of the Lords Lieutenants. He had, however, no doubt as to the zeal of the volunteer fervices; but at the fame time he withed to fuggeft, that the coachmafters of this city should furnish

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furnish Government with the means of conveyances, in order to difpofe of the force in a thort time. He thought every means thould be taken to convey the troops to the spot where they might be wanted, in as thort a time as poffible. He recollected that, in the time of the Holland expedition, the carriages were feized, and employed in a very tumul

tuous manner.

The Secretary at War obferved, that an act had paffed at the commencement of the feffion, giving a power to the Lords Lieutenants to obtain returns of all carriages and horfes, and of perfons willing to provide the fame for the ufe of Government.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, it might not be unfatisfactory to the Houfe to know that offers had been made to Government to a great extent, by perfons having posthorfes, chaifes, waggons, boats, &c. fo as to afford every facility to the troops and ftores in cafe of invafion.

Colonel Craufurd laid, he was glad to hear that his Ma jefty had power to obtain such returns.

The Secretary at War remarked, that every poffible attention had been paid to the fubject.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, the power was not given by any bill recently paffed, but by a bill paffed early” in June.

Dr. Laurence expreffed himself happy, that there was fuch a bill-be had not feen it.

The Secretary at War faid, it received the royal affent early in June. Gentlemen appeared not to have read it. The fact was, it had not been printed, because it was verbatim with the bill that paifed in 1798. It contained a number of ufeful provifions, though it did not go to the length of the prefent measure, by compelling military fervice.

Upon the question that the bill thould pafs,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer obferved, that a most extraordinary mifconception had gone forth, as to his honourable Friend having regretted that this bill had not been brought forward fooner. He had met feveral perfons who had mentioned the circumftance to him. The truth was, there was no pretence for fúch an idea. If the bill ought to have been brought forward fooner, the blame retted with other perfons.

The Secretary at War faid, he Aated, it might be a matter of regret that it had not been brought forward last war. Dr. Laurence was forry, be faid, to find, that the country

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was to understand from his Majefty's Minifters, that they were not perfons who looked to the prefent danger, but to old acts of Parliament, to fee what they could bring forward. There were two modes of making war-one with the talents and genius of a foldier, and another, like an advocate, following precedents, and looking at what had been done in former cafes, and following fome direct tract marked out. The prefent was not a ftate of the world, in which men, by following tracts, could fave the country. He was forry to fee them looking back to the year 1798. He would afk, was the danger then the fame as it is now? It was not. Why not? The Continent was not fo completely in the hands of the French; at least, the could not then avail herself of its refources. There were difcuffions with Auftria which shook the dominions of France to its centre. There was, however, no want of preparations on the part of France. She filled her arfenals, exerted her little means to make that attack it was probable the would now make. He had no intereft in fupporting the meafures of 1798 : for, when he gave his vote in favour of them, he declared they did not go fo far as they might have done. He had heard an observation with regard to a friend of his, that he was blameable at that time. The fact was, he differed with fome of his colleagues. It was well known that right hon. Gentleman then held anoffice not refponfible for the meafures adopted by Government. It was to be wifhed it was more refponfible. Why were Parliament to be told, that this or that measure was not taken when it ought to have been taken? The event justified the opinion of thofe who thought further measures neceffary. The Army of England affembled to attack our poffeffions in the East, by means of Fgypt, because, at that time, it could not attack Ireland. He believed the attention of France was directed more to Ireland than this country. He must allude to one thing:-the French could not, at the time he was speaking of, fend down to Breft without fighting their way. There was then a force ready to aflift the operations of this country. Many of thofe who conftituted that force, when they found they could not obtain a decifive anfwer, were picked out, one by one, and destroyed. Many of them, to his knowledge, had been shot. He was aware it was impoffible to have fuch a force on the Continent at the prefent moment. The greatest probability of injury to this country by France, was by her making Holland one outwork and Ireland another, and by that means to cut off our trade, VOL. IV. 1802-3.

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