cret Committee be ballotted for to-morrow, to confider and report the papers laid before the Houfe by his Grace the Duke of Portland.

His Lordship then gave notice of his intention of moving that the Commons be requested to tranfmit their Report of their Secret Committee to that House, that the fame might be referred to their Lordships' Secret Committee.

May 1. On the motion for the Secret Committee, Lord Grenville acquainted their Lordships, that having a circumstance to communicate which nearly concerned the privileges of that Houfe, he would move the order for the exclufion of ftrangers.

The ftrangers were accordingly or dered to withdraw-they were ftrictly excluded until the tranfaction of the routine business, during which interval the Secret Committee was ballotted for, to examine and report upon the State Papers laid before the Houfe by order of his Majefty.

3. Lord Grenville moved, that the Order of the House be read, commanding the attendance, at the Bar, of Mr Flower, the printer of the Cambridge Intelligencer, for having published a libel on the Lord Bishop of Llandaff, a Member of that Houfe. The order to that effect being read, on a motion of Lord Grenville, after a few observations of Lord Kenyon, he was fentenced to pay a fine of Icol. and fuffer one year's imprisonment in the gaol of Newgate.

6. His Royal Highness Prince Edward took the oaths and his feat this day as Duke of Kent; and his Royal Highness Prince Erneft Auguftus took the oaths and his feat as Duke of Cumberland.Each of the Princes were placed on feats recently erected for them on the left hand

The Meffage being read, Lord Gren ville moved that the fame be taken into confideration in a Committee of the whole House to-morrow.-Ordered.

The Bill for granting to his Majefty 3,000,000l. by Exchequer Bills, was brought up from the Commons by Mr Long, read a first time, and ordered for a fecond reading to-morrow.

10. The Royal Affent was given by Commiffion to the Bill for granting to his Majefty a Loan of Three Millions; to the Bill for extending the time for making returns to Commercial Commiffioners under the Income Bill; to the Land Tax Redemption Bills, and to 37 private Bills. The Commiffioners were the Duke of Roxburgh, the Earl of Leicester, and Lord Kenyon.

20. The Royal Affent was given by Commiffion to the Bill for continuing the Sufpenfion of the Habeas Corpus Actthe Bill for better regulating the Accommodations of Judges upon the Circuits the Bill for rendering perpetual the A&s affixing Punishment of Felons in certain cafes and to three private Bills.

The Order for the fecond reading of the Slave Trade Limitation Bill, which ftood for Thursday, was discharged, and renewed for Monday next; for which day the Houfe was ordered to be fummoned.

21. Read and forwarded the Bills on the Table in their respective stages, and agreed to the Scotch Bail Bill and Weft India Governor's Indemnity Bill.

22. Read a third time and paffed the English Small Note and other Bills, and forwarded thofe on the Table in their refpective flages.

24. The Report of the Militia Reduction Bill, which stood for this day, was, on the motion of Lord Grenville, poftponed to Monday next, as were allo the other Orders of the Day.

27. The Duke of Clarence brought up a petition from the Liverpool Merchants against the Slave carrying Bill. It was ordered to lie on the Table.

Lord Grenville, as Chairman of the Committee appointed to examine into the purport of the treasonable papers. which, by order of his Majesty, were laid before their Lordships, reported the fame, which upon his Lordships motion was ordered to be printed.

The Bill for preventing fedition and feditious meetings was poftponed.

28. The Order of the Day for the confideration of the Slave-Carrying Bill

was

was poftponed to a future day, after a converfation between the Duke of Clarence, Lord Grenville, and the Lord Chancellor.

31. On the motion of the Duke of Clarence, the Houfe was refolved into a Committee on the Slave Limitation Bill, when witneffes were called in and exa mined.-Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. April 21. On the motion of Mr Rofe, the Bill for allowing further time to make returns of ftatement of Income to Commercial Commiffioners, was ordered to be committed to-morrow, being read a fecond time.

Mr Pitt moved the Order of the Day for taking into confideration the Addrefs of the House of Lords to his Majefty, on the fubject of the Union with Ireland, which being agreed to, and the Address read, he next moved, "That the fame be now taken into confideration."

Mr Douglas feconded the motion, and, in a fpeech which occupied upwards of three hours, took a moft comprehenfive view of the neceffity and utility of a Union with the Sifter Kingdom. He entered into a diffuse and general hiftory of Ireland, and minutely animadverted on the rage of party in that country, opposed to its intereft, for a fucceffion of nearly 200 years. He then proceeded to combat the prevailing arguments urged on that fide of the water against the meafure, and feemed to be of opinion that prejudice more than principle governed thofe who refifted it.

General Loftus fupported the quef tion, and ftated, that unless the measure be adopted, this country and Ireland would inevitably be feparated, and the feparation of either from the other would be the deftruction of both.

General Fitzpatrick was of a different opinion, and could not fee how a Legiflative Union was to prevent fuch a feparation, if the like were intended. On the contrary, as it would tend to aggravåte the mind of that people, so it would tend to difunite the two countries. He also thought the forms adopted to carry this object were highly improper and impolitic.

The queftion being put and carried, it was agreed, that to the Addrefs of the Lords the word "Commons" be added; therefore the Addrefs to the Throne on this fubject will be that of the Lords and Commons of Great Britain.

The Lord Mayor then brought in the

Mr H. Thornton moved the Order of the Day for the farther confideration of the Slave Trade Limitation Bill.

Alderman Lufhington brought up a petition from the planters, merchants, and others, interefted in the trade to the Weft Indies, against the Bill.

On the motion of Colonel Gascoyne, the petition of the Corporation, and alfo from the Merchants of Liverpool against the Bill, were read.

Mr Dent moved, that the farther confideration of the Bill be poftponed to this day four months.

After a few words from Mr Pitt, the Houfe divided-for deferring the Bill, 14; againft it, 35.

Another divifion took place on hearing counsel against the Bill, pursuant to the petition of the Merchants of Liverpool ayes 19, noes 19.

Several new clauses were then brought up, and the Report was agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.

The House then refolved itself into a Committee upon the Slave Carrying Bill. Mr Law was heard as counsel againft the Bill, and feveral witnesses were examined.

24. Mr Abbot, pursuant to Refolutions of the Committee appointed to confider the ftate of the expiring laws, brought in feveral Bills to continue certain Acts now in force, for the punishment of offences within benefit of Clergy, and for other purposes, all of which were read a firft time, and ordered for a fecond reading.

Mr Pitt obtained leave to bring in a Bill to extend the time for making trans

fer of Stock to thofe who contracted for the purchase of Land Tax prior to the 1ft day of May 1799.

The House then proceeded to the third reading of the Slave Trade Limitation Bill, when counfel were called in and heard thereon.

25. A Meffage was received from the Lords,

Lords, ftating that their Lordships had agreed to feveral private Bills.

Mr Dundas obtained leave to bring in a Bill to render more effectual the recruiting for men to ferve in the army of the Eaft India Company.

Mr Pitt announced his Majefty's compliance with the Addrefs of that Houle, in giving orders that certain other accounts fhould be laid before it."

The other Orders of the Day were poftponed.

The Houfe proceeded on the Committee on the British Herring Fishery.

26. The Committee of Supply and Ways and Means, and the other Orders of the Day, were poftponed to Monday, and the Houfe then proceeded to St James's, to prefent the Addrefs to his Majefty.

29. On the motion of Mr Henry Thornton, the confideration of the Slave Trade Limitation Bill was postponed to Thursday, in confequence of the abfence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; as was that of the Slave Carrying Bill, on the motion of Mr W. Smith, for the fame reason.

Mr Long moved for an account of Exchequer Bills iffued to be laid before the House.

Mr W. Dundas brought in a Bill, which was read a firft time, for regulating the Militia of Scotland-fecond reading ordered for Friday.

Accounts were laid before the Houfe of the quantity of copper purchased for the ufe of his Majefty's Navy fince the year 1788.-Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr Hufkinfon brought in a Bill, which was read a first time, for the better recruiting the forces of the Eaft India Company, and ordered for a fecond reading.

The other Orders of the Day were poftponed.

30. A Meffage was received from the Lords, ftating that their Lordships had agreed to the Rape Seed Bill, and to the Attornies' Clerks Certificate Bill, befide feveral Road and Inclosure Bills.

The Bill for the better fuppreffing Sedition was read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed on Friday next. Mr Pitt having poftponed the further confideration of the Report of the Secret Committee till this day fe'ennight,

Mr Abbot took that opportunity of giving notice, that on the fame day he would move for a repeal of the Acts of Queen Anne and his late Majefty, as

far as they related to the forfeitures of eftates of perfons attached to the Pretender, for the purpose of introducing a Bill for extending the law of forfeitures in all cafes of Treafon hereafter."

The House then went into a Committee on the Bill for extending the time for making returns to Commercial Commiffioners under the Income Act, and

Mr Pitt then gave notice, that in a Committee of Ways and Means tomorrow, he would move for a further loan by the iffue of Exchequer Bills.

The Bill for extending the period for transferring ftock upon contracts for redeeming Land Tax, was read a first time, and ordered for a fecond reading to morrow.

May 1. Several petitions from Manchester and Bolton, against the Eaft India Warehoufing Bill, were received.

The Houle in a Committee of Supply, Mr Pitt moved for a loan of three millions, by iffue of Exchequer Bills, for the uses of the current year. No Gentleman oppofing this motion, the Refolution of courfe paffed the Committee, and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow.

The Mafter of the Rolls moved, that a printed copy of the Report of the Secret Committee be fent to the Lords. It was ordered, and Mr Bragge was desired to deliver the fame.

2. Mr Bragge brought up the Report of the Committee of Ways and Means, and the Houfe having agreed to the Refolution for granting to his Majefty a loan of three millions, by way of Exchequer Bills, a Bill was ordered in accordingly.

The Bill for extending Bail in cafes of Sedition in Scotland, was poftponed to Monday, as was the Bill for preventing fedition and feditious affemblies, till the fame day.

The Bill for limiting the African Slave Trade was read a third time, paffed, and ordered to the Lords.

3. Read a first time the Bill for granting to his Majefty a loan of three millions, by way of Exchequer Bills.

The Houfe then went into a Committee on the Slave Carrying Bill, when feveral claufes were received.

4. On the motion of Mr Long, the Bill for granting to his Majefty, for the fervice of the prefent year, the fum of three millions, to be raifed on Exchequer Bills, was read a fecond time.

The Lord Mayor brought in a Bill for continuing, for a time to be limited,

the

the further fufpenfion of the Habeas Corpus Act. Read a first time.

6. The Bill granting his Majefty three millions, by way of Exchequer Bills, went through a Committee, and ordered to be reported to-morrow..

Mr Burdon moved for leaved to bring in a Bill for the continuation of the Act for the authorizing the circulation of Small Notes in England.-Leave given.

The Bill for continuing the Sufpenfion of the Habeas Corpus Act, was, on the motion of Mr Pitt, read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed on Wednefday next.

The Houfe then proceeded to a Committee on the Bill for preventing Sedition and Seditious Practices, when several claufes were introduced by Mr Pitt, and agreed to; amongst which was one for exempting Freemafons from its pains and penalties.-The Report was brought up.

7. Several petitions were received, among others one from perfons confined for debt in the goal of York. They were ordered to lie on the table.

The English Small Note Bill, on the motion of Mr Burdon, was ordered to be read a fecond time to-morrow.

The Bill for extending the period for Returns under the Income Act to Commercial Commissioners, and that for extending alfo the period for transferring Stock, under the Land Tax Redemption Act, were feverally ordered for a third reading to-morrow.

On the motion of Mr H.-Thornton, the Slave-Carrying Bill was read a third time, paffed, and ordered to the Lords.

8. The Bill for granting his Majefty three millions by way of loan on Exchequer Bills, and that for extending the period to make returns to Commercial Commiflioners under the Income Act, and fome private Bills, were read a third time, and ordered to the Lords.

A Meffage from his Majefty (for which fee page 59.) was prefented by Mr Pitt for granting 2000l. per ann. to Sir J. Marriot. It was ordered to be confidered to-morrow in a Committee.

The Houfe in a Committee on the Bill for fufpending the Habeas Corpus A&,

The Solicitor General filled up the blank for the fame to continue in force till the rft of March 1800. The Report was then brought up, and the Bill or dered for a third reading to-morrow.

The Marquis of Tichfield gave notice, that after the holidays it was his inten

tion to bring forward a motion to amend two Acts paffed relative to the Militia. He pointed out how far thefe Acts had proved defective, efpecially as they related to the Militia of Middlefex; and he fhould alfo propofe, that the sum of about cool. raised from defaulters, be applied to the better recruiting of the Militia.

The Committee reported on the Acts for allowing a bounty on linen-yara inported.

9. The English and Scotch Small Notes. Bill was forwarded; and the Bill for continuing the Sufpenfion of the Habeas Corpus Act was read a third time, and ordered to the Lords.

Mr Pitt gave notice of bringing forward his New Budget on Saturday the 25th inft. He also gave notice, that in purfuance of the Report of the Committee of Finance, it was his intention, as foon after the recefs as convenient, to make a propofition to that House relative to the fituation of the Judges, who, from that Report do not appear to be adequately recompenfed for their laborious avocations.

Mr Abbot rose, and, in pursuance of notice given, moved, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill to repeal so much of the Acts of the 7th of Anne, and the 17th of George II. as limits the for feiture in cafes of Treafon, and to extend the fame.”

The Master of the Rolls vindicated the neceffity, the policy, and the wisdom of the measure.

The queftion being put, was carried, and leave given to bring in a Bill ac. cordingly.

The Sedition Bill was read a third time. A claufe was added by Mr Pitt; it was then paffed, and ordered to the Lords.

10. A Meffage was received from the Lords, ftating their agreement to the Exchequer Bill, the Income Statement Bill, and to feveral private Bills.

The English Small Note Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Houle, in a Committee on Sir James Marriot's annuity, agreed thereto; and a Bill was ordered accordingly.`

The Houfe, in a Committee on the Parish Overseers' Bill, went through the fame.

20. The Tanners' Indemnity Bill and the Scotch Small Note Bill were read a third time and paffed.

The Treafon Forfeiture Bill was brought in, read a first time, and order

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