PROCEEDINGS OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE EIGHTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN, Lord Holland faid, the precipitation with which Minifters hurried on this Bill, and their attempt to carry it through its feveral flages in one day, was unparliamentary, informal, and improper.-That they had not even the plea of neceffity for it; but his motive for making thefe obfervations was, that the precedent fhould not be followed by practice, and that the experiment fhould not be converted into a regular cuftom of the Houfe, which, he was forry to obferve, of late happened but too often. The Lord Chancellor replied, that the circumstance arole from inadvertency in the Houfe adjourning over to this day, inftead of yesterday, which was intended: for in that cafe the Bill might have been read then a first time, and proceed ed through its regular ftages without infringing on the cuftoms of Parlia Lord Holland gave notice, that on the further reading of the Bill, it was his intention to oppofe its principle. 27. The Bill for continuing the Sufpention of the Habeas Corpus Act was read a third time, and paffed. 28. The Royal Affent was given by Commiffion to the Habeas Corpus Suf. penfion Bill, to the Scotch Distillery, and to two private Bills. March 3. The Bills before the Houfe 'were forwarded in their refpective ftages. 4. The Marine Mutiny Bill was read a third time and paffed. 5. The Annuity Loan Bill was received from the Commons, as was the Bill for increasing duties on foreign and home fpirits, and on teas. They were feverally read a first time. 6. The 20, 500,oco Loan Bill, and the Tea Duty Bill, were brought up and prefented by Mr Bragge, and read a first and fecond time. 7. The New Loan and Tea Tax Bills were read a third time and paffed. Ir. The Bills before the House were forwarded in their respective stages. 13. Seven private Bills were presented from the Commons. 14. The Bill for preventing for a time to be limited the making of ftarch, the Bill for granting 200,000l. towards the reduction of the National Debt, and the Hull Pilot Bill, were brought up from the Commons, and read a first time. 17. The feveral Bilis before the House were forwarded in their respective stages. 18. The third reading of the Starch Prohibition Bill was poftponed to Thurfday next. 19. The Bills before the House were forwarded in their respective ages. 20. The Starch Bill was read a third time. Lord Darnley moved for a Committee to inquire into the flock of Corn remaining from laft season, the deficiency of the late crop, and the fupplies now on hand, which was negatived. 21. Read a third time and passed the Bill for granting 2co, ocel, towards reducing the National Debt, and the Starch Bill. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-Feb. 24. The Lord Mayor prefented a petition from the City of London in Common interfere with his Majefty, that he would Hall affembled, praying that House to be graciously pleafed to ufe his beft endeavours to accomplish peace on fafe and honourable terms. The Bill to continue the further fuf pension of the Habeas Corpus Act was read a third time and paffed. Budget. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the Order of the Day for the House to refolve itself into a Committee of the whole Houfe, to confider of Ways and Means for railing a Supply. The Houfe having refolved itself accordingly, Mr Bragge in the chair, The Chancellor of the Exchequer proceeded to open the Budget, and spoke to the following effect: In ftating the principal heads of Service of Supply of the year, I fhall have little more to do than to recapitulate the items which came before the Houfe on the preceding year."-Here Mr Pitt ftated the various items which compofe the different heads 3 C 2 10. The Royal Affent was given by Commiffion to the Loan Bill of 20,500 oool. to the Bills for increasing the Duties on Home and Foreign Spirits and on Teas, and to the Marine Mutiny Bill. of of Service, of which the following are ing produce of the Confolidated Fund is the fums in grofs: not only what will give fatisfaction, but will excite furprize, it being no less than Five millions and an Half, it being between Three Millions and Three Millions and an Halt beyond the ordinary produce." Here Mr Pitt ftated the dif ferent Items of Ways and Means, of which the following are the fums in grofs: Ways and Means. Sugar, Tobacco, and Malt, L. 2,750,000 Surplus Confolidated Fund on 5th April, 1801, efti- Exports and Imports, 200,000 .. 5,500,000 1,250,000 £7,000,000 1,771,215 о tereft on £8,000,coo Ditto on 11,000,000 Ditto on 15,500,000 Bank Charter, -5,300,000 3,000,000 18,500,000 36,500,000 3,000,000 £.39,500,000 Having ftated the Ways and Means, and enumerated the articles of which they are compofed, it remains for me to ftate to the Committee the terms of the Loan, the means for defraying it, by way of permanent charges; and the Taxes to be added for that purpose. With respect to the Loan of 18,500,000l. exclufive of 2,000,000 for Ireland, thefe terms are so well known that I need hardly repeat them; but, however, that there may be no deficiency upon that fubject, I will flate the terms, which demonftrate the fufficiency of this country to meet the conteft, and fupport us in the ftruggle in which we are engaged, and which terms are as follow: 110 3 per Cent. Confols. Mr Pitt then proceeded to explain the Ways and Means of the year to meet the above Supply, and ftated the different heads. Upon the fubject of the Tax upon Income, he observed, that Vote of Credit, the produce of it for the year 1799 was 6,200,000l.; but (including remittances which are to come from foreign poffelfions connected with this country, the whole might fairly be taken at 7,000,000l. "Upon this fubject," faid he, "I fhall hereafter have to fubmit to the confideration of the Houfe fuch regulations as may be deemed adviseable upon that fubject, and I am perfuaded that Gentlemen will have no difficulty in conceiving it not to be over-ftated at the fum for which I take it; indeed it can hardly happen that in collecting a Tax for the first year of its impoft, it can amount to the fum at which it is eflimated; but it has so happened in the courfe of this War, contrary to the experience we have had in former Wars, that Taxes have been productive in the firft inftance. That arifes either from the Taxes being laid on fubjects that were well known, or the collection of them being rendered fimple, fuch as we may fately rely on as to their produce. The Tax upon In come, however, connot be expected at prefent to produce its maximum. I am perfuaded that neither feven nor eight millions will be its maximum; but I fhall take credit for no more than what I have already stated, and which I fhall ftate again amongst other Items. The grow a 614 47 Ditto Reduced a 617 Difcount at the rate of 4 per £67 7 6 29 O 8 96.8 2 3 14 6 £99 2 8 eluded it have good reason to be satisfied. At the time when the bargain was made, neither myfelf, nor thofe with whom I treated, knew the ftate of the funds; but on the day before the 3 per Cents fluctued a little, that is from 6c to 60, 60 to 614, fo that if there be any doubt upon the fubject, the doubt is, whether a finali Bonus was given by the individual. to the public, or by the public to the individual; but in fhort, the bargain is un der four three quarters per cent interest on the Loan. I do not mean to enlarge upon this fubject now-I only afk Gen tlemen to compare thefe terms with the terms of former Loans, before the adoption of the plan upon which Loans are now conducted, for then they will fee the terms of this Loan in their true light. I am not arguing the point, it needs no argument; it is a thing depending upon a plain fiatement of facts and figures; it is a flatement made purpofely without comment, in order that each Gentleman in the Committee may draw his own comment. It next remains that I fhould fubmit to the Committee the New Taxes for the purposes of paying the intereft of the debt thus created. The firft which I fhall propofe will be a fmall increase of duty upon the higher priced Teas; a fum of 5 per cent. upon thofe Fine Teas, not to attach to any under 2s. 6d. per lb. I am encouraged to hope that this tax will be unexceptionable, from a confideration of the fales of the India Company, notwithfanding the increafe of duties laft impofed. The produce of this tax I eftimate will amount to 130,00ol. The next article I fhall propofe as an object of taxation will be an additional duty on both Foreign and British Spirits-one penny a gallon on the wath of the latter, which will be equal to 5d. per gallon on the former, with a new increase upon Rum and Brandy in the fame proportions. With refpect to the articles themfelves, no Gentleman will diffent from the propriety of taxing them as high as they would bear. But with regard to the thing, as taken in another point of view, I will not now enter into the dif cuffion of ftopping the diftilleries, and how far that may be adequate as to its object of fupplying an increase of food for the country, or whether the inconveniences which would arife to the public in another point of view may not overbalance the advantages to be derived from it, but furely it cannot be thought that a ftoppage of a temporary nature These contain all the articles of taxation. But I muft beg leave to ftate, that with refpect to one article in the Ways and Means, the furn of three millions for the Bank Charter. It is not my intention now to enter into any difcuffion of that measure, efpecially as it flands for dif cuffion hereafter, but I feel entitled to take credit for it upon the ground which has been difcuffed already. It is necelfary to add this fum to make up the aggregate of 39,500,000l. Ways and Means. Sir, I really think thefe fimple facts themfelves, the facility with which the neceffary fupplies are raised, unaccompanied with any comment, prove, beyond the power of language, the growing proffperity of the country; and afford us an additional reafon for carrying on the War until we can arrive at a fecure and honourable Peace. After a fhort debate, or rather converfation, in which Mr Tierney, Mr Jolliffe, and Mr Bu don took a part, Mr Pitt moved the feveral Refolutions, which being agreed to, the Report of the Committee was ordered to be received to Teas exceeding in value 2s. 6d. per lb. was read a first time. Mar. 3. The Bills for increafing the feveral Duties according to the new Taxes went through their refpective ftages, and the Loan Bill went through a Commit tee. 4. A Meffage was received from the Lords, ftating that they had agreed to the Marine Mutiny Bill, and to a private Bill. The Bill for granting 200,000l. towards reducing the National Debt, was read a firft time. 5. Colonel Stanley prefented a petition, which he moved might be referred to a Committee, from the journeymen cottonworkers, weavers, and fpinners, in the counties of York, Carlisle, Lancafter, and Derby, praying for fome regulations refpecting their wages. Sir Charles Bunbury moved for leave to bring in a Bill to explain and amend the 36th of the King relative to the Poor Laws.-Leave given. 10. The Mutiny Bill was read a fe cond time, the Bank Charter Bill went through a Committee, and the Bill for granting 200,cool. towards the reduction of the National Debt was read a third time and paffed. This being the laft day for prefenting private petitions, a vaft number were brought up, and laid on the table. 19. The Bill for extending the time for Bodies Corporate to redeem the Land Tax, was read a firft and ordered to be read a fecond time to-morrow. The Report on the Mutiny Bill was brought up, the amendments agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. The House refolved itself into a Com mittee on the Expiring Laws Bill-re He prefented another petition from the mafters in the faid occupations, of the counties of York and Lancafter; and fumed. it was ordered to lie on the table. Mr Parker Coke, after making fome obfervations on the exifting laws of mafter and fervant, and ftating that it was necessary to make fome regulations therein, moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the better fettlement of difputes between Mafters and Miftreffes of Families and their menial or domeftic fervants, which being granted, the Bill was immediately brought in, read a first time, and, to accommodate the Magiftrates, that they might be afforded the opportunity of confidering it at the enfuing feffions, the third reading was ordered for the 22d day of April next. The Loan Bill and the New Taxes Bill were read a third time, and ordered to the Lords. 6. The Bill for granting 200,000l. for the reduction of the National Debt paf fed through a Committee of the whole Houfe. Lord Hawkesbury brought up the Re port of the Corn Committee.-Referred to the Committee of the whole Houfe appointed to confider farther of the prefent fcarcity. 7. The Bank Charter Bill was read a fecond time. Mr Baker moved for leave to bring in the following Bills, viz. A Bill for amending and explaining the 36th of the King, for regulating Mills; a Bill for granting a Bounty on the Importation of Corn; a Bili for regulating the Price and Affize of Bread; and a Bill to prohibit the making of Starch.-Leave given. The Report was brought up, and ordered to be received to-morrow. On the Order of the Day being read, for the Houfe to refolve itself into a Committee on the Bill for cultivating Potatoes on Common or Wafte Lands, A converfation enfued on the techninal application and meaning of the words "Common" and "Wafte" Lands, which ended in omitting the word "Common" throughout the Bill, and reserving the word " Wafte” only. 20. The Report on the Expiring Laws Bill was received and the different Refolutions agreed to. The Mutiny Bill was read a third time and paffed. Mr W. Dundas, after noticing the preffing wants of Scotland, where ninetenths of the people, he observed, lived chiefly on oaten bread, moved, that the Houfe fhould refolve itfelf into a Committee of the whole Houfe on Wednesday next, to confider of granting a boun ty on Oats and Oatmeal imported.Ordered. Mr Dundas alfo gave notice that on Tuelday next he would make a Motion for granting certain Allowances to Adjutants, Serjeants Majors, and Ser jeants of the Militia who had been embodied. Mr Bafard thought fome allowance fhould alfo be made to Subftitutes of the Militia who were ftill liable to ferve, though they were not now in actual pay. Mr Dundas faid that the prefent was not not the occafion to take the allowance alluded to by the Hon. Gentleman into confideration. Mr Dundas moved for leave to bring in a Bill to Exempt ALL perfons employed in Volunteer Corps, of every defcription, from the Hair Powder Tax, and to indemeify fuch of them as had neglected to take out a licence for wearing hair powder. He alfo faid, that it was his intention, that all horfes employed in Volunteer Corps fhould be exempted from tax; but when the owner had others, that the tax upon the reft fhould be proportioned to the whole number. 21. The Bill for prohibiting the importation of Lawns and Cambrics, went through a Committee, and was ordered to be reported on Monday. The Order of the Day for the Houfe to refolve itself into a Committee of Sup ply and of Ways and Means, was deferred till Monday. Mr Hobhouse moved, that there be laid before the Houfe an Account of the Expences of the Public Offices during the year 1798, and an Account of the Increafe or Diminution in the falaries, emoluments, and expences of the Public Offices during the year 1799. He was induced, he faid, to make these motions from a claufe in the Report of the Com. mittee of Finance, which flated that it would be highly expedient to ascertain thefe circumftances, and he meant to make fimilar motions every fucceeding year.-Ordered. Mr Bragge brought up a Bill for rendering perpetual fo much of an Act which impofes, for a limited time, a Duty upon Glafs.-Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. Mr Bragge likewife brought up a Bill for indemnitying thofe ferving in the Volunteer Corps who had neglected to take out the Hair Powder Licence, and to explain and amend fo much of an Act paffed in the 35th year of his present Majefty, as regards the faid perfons paying the Hair Powder Duty.-Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. The Corn Bounty Bill was reported. Lord Hawkesbury moved that a claufe be added, enacting that the average price by which the Bounty fhall be regulated fhall be determined by the price flated in the London Gazette two weeks after the importation.-Agreed to. The Bill was ordered to be read a third time on Monday next, and to be reprinted as amended. On the motion of Mr Bragge, a Committee was appointed to eftimate the expence of paying and clothing the Militia for the year 1800. The Bill for the Renewal of the Charter of the Bank of England was read a third time, and ordered to the Lords. Adjourned. THE MONTHLY REGISTER FOR MAY 1800. Interesting Intelligence from the London Gazettes. Downing-Street, Jan. 31. 1800. Α' ing is a copy, has been received from the Right Honourable Lord William Bentinck, by the Right Honourable Lord Grenville, his Majefty's Principal Secretary of State for the Foreign Department. Head Quarters, Borgo St. Dalmazzo, Dec. 4. to your fatisfaction that I announce = Lordship the furrender of Loni. The -batteries opened on the ad in the morning, and early on the 3d the Commandant defired to capitulate. The garrison, confifting of 2,844 men, exclufive of 800 wounded, whom the French had not time to remove before the inveftment of the place, marched out this morning prifoners of war. The loss of the Aurians does not exceed fifty men in killed and wounded. The very short defence |