Star. — London, England, 1802-04-07 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY' PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, A►m 6. Mr. Adam and Mr. Montgomery were heard on behalf of the Appellants, the Clerks, and Officers of the Signet in Scot land 1.. the Writers and Solickon, refpeding certain feu: and the Attorney-General was heard in part for the Refpon • dents. after which the further hearing was adjourned till to morrow. TOUR •ND A HALF PER CANTS. Lord HOLLAND movedfor tomeaccounts tive to the four and a half per cents. duty paid to thz Crown by the Leeward Hands, and in the caurfe of his fpeech had occation to mention Hay, Earl of Zarlifle whole defcendants' names tiocd in the penfion lilt among other penfioners. His Lorillhip explained the grounds on which he thought himfelf at liberty to take up the fubjed as a Member of Parliament, and concluded with his motion. Lord Plumage rofe to explain that the four and a half per cents. in queftion was the fpecial and private property of the Crown, and therefore not tabled to Parliamentary inveftigation. Lord HAT (Earl of Kimmout.) felt it incum• bent on him to take tome notice of what had fallen from the Noble Lord who made the motion, re lative to the annuity now enjoyed by the deka). dams of his anceltor, Hay, Earl of Carlifle, and went into a full explanation of the nature and ori gin of that affair. He Paid the Earl of Carlifle alluded to was a man of fincere loyalty and un- Ibaken firmnefs, even in fuch times as thofe of Oli ver Cromwell's ufurpation. That the glowing language of the addreffes of the Honks of Allem bly in the Wands at the time, would amply thew how firongly they approved and 'applauded his condud and his high fpirit. That the Earl cern muted an income of eight thoufand a year, ariting from his hereditary claims on the iflands, tor an annuity of one thoufand a year-17. exchange of which the public, at leaft, h: great right to complain. His ordfhip faid o fuch annuity as that fill paid to the defcendants of the then Earl of Carlifle ought to Rand in the penliGn lift; 'that it was in fad no penfion, but the refult of a very different tranfadion, which he was glad to take that opportunity of explaining, as the public ought clearly to underftand the ditlindion on which that matter relied, which would neceffarily thew that the annuity had no reference to the pen fion Lord HOLLAtro's motion was put and agreed to. Lord HOLLAND then rofe again, and !fated his reafons for moving for other papers relative to the fame fund, of the right to enquire about which he again explained the grounds, that be confidsred fufficient to entitle him to call for any papers in that Houle. Lord PELHAM hid, he begged the Noble Lord to confider, that notwithftandtng what the Noble Lord had Paid upon the fubjed, he by no means admitted that the foul' per cent. duty, which be longed to the Crown, was fubjed to the inveftiga tion and difcuffion of Parliament. Lord HOLLAND Paid, the Noble Lord had mil: bhn and applied what he had Paid to the very reverie of the argument he had ufed. He did not pretend to Rate it generally, that the Par liament had a right to interfere with the four . cent. duty, but be had contended when tht Chan cellor of the Exchequer, as in the year 1786, called upon Parliament to difcharge the arrears incurred on that fund, at a part of the Civil Lift, and brought it forward to public view, as a deficiency which the public were bound to provide for, it then became warrantable for him, or any other Peer, or Member of Parliament, to call for ac counts of the Rate of that fund. His Lordlhip called for feveral other Papers, which were ordered. PAPERS RILATITI TO THY ?AMNION LIST. The Earl of Summit raid, he thought that the Houle of Lords had as much right to call for pa pers explanatory of the public accounts as the other i-loufe of Parliament had, and yet he obferved that no notice was taken in that Houk of many papers of great importance which were laid upon the table of the other Houle. He wilhed particularly to have the account of the Penfion Lift upon their table. His Lordthip was proceeding to make a motion; but on a word or two from Lord Hol land, Cad, he would, for the prefent, defer his motion. *MINKS TO THI MATT AND AtMY. Lord HOBART then rote, purfuant to his notice of ycfterday, fel the purpofe of moving the thanks of the Houfe to the Navy, Army, &c. for their fervices during the late war. He obferved, that if ever there was an occafion, in which unanimity prevailed in that Honfe, he was certain it muff be on the prefent ; for, wit h Tepee to the fetvices of thefe gallant men, whatever opinion there might call as to the conduEt of the war by Minifters. or as to the terms, under all the circumaances, upon which peace was concluded, there furely could prevail no difference of opinion ; for, certainly never were fervices in either of thofe lines, more fignal, or more meritorious. In calling their Lordfhips' attention to the fubjeCt, he would not advert to particular adions, the details of all there were now well known, and the moll prominent of them had already their Lordfhips' thanks. He would refer to general refuhs. With refped to the Navy, their Lordlhips would have to confider with pride and fatisfattion that no lets than feventy feven (hips of the line had been either deftroycd, or I taken from the enemies of the country, together with one hundred and twenty-four frigates, and upwards of one thoufand armed veffels. With re gard to the army, indeed, it was more difficult precifely to enumerate the extent of their fervices; it was enough to fay, that in all quarters of the globe, from the canern teas to the Mores of the Mediterranean, the prowefs of the Britith arms was felt, and their glory eflablifhed ; their Mecca - es were unexampled in former periods. His Lord. ihipobferved, there was one Officer whom he lhould name, becaufe, by millake, no mention had been r..ide of him in the difeatthesof Lord Hutchinfon, to pa& him over without notice would be doing an irretrievable injury to his fame; the Otli ter he alluded to was General Doyle. It happened at the time his divihon proceeded to attack a fort neat Alexandria, that he was at the diftanee of near forty miles_ labouring under a revere fit of illnefs; the moment he heard of the intended at t ick he got out of his bed, rode over the defart, joined his troops, and fought with the fame de gree of bravery 'which he had always difplayed on every former occafion. His Lordthip then read a letter, which he Gild he had received from Ge neral Lord Hutchinfon, dated Malta, in which that brave and noble perfon expreffed his regret, that, in his former difpatch, he had omitted the name of General Doyle; of whom the letter alfo fpoke in high terms of praife. His Lorcifhip raid, he thought it but juftice to Rate this fact ; he alfo conceived it would be onnecefrary to dwell any longer on this fubjea ; and, after a few general obfervations, he moved, " That the 'hanks of the Houk be given to the Officers of the Navy, Army, and Marines, for Gle very meritorious and eminent Cervices rendered by them to their King and Country, in the eourfe of the War." _ _ . This, on the queftion being put, was inllantly voted ;maim rfifintients. He then propofed the following, as conneeled with the former Motion : " That the Honk do highly approve of and acknowledge the Services of the Petty and =Mooed Meal, and Men employed, &e —And alto, that the Lord Chaimlist do requetk the Lard High Admiral and the Commander in Chief of his Majafty's Army, to mute the Paid Votes to be duly com municated, &c.'—Ordered. Lord Hower then proceeded to the confedera tion of the fervices rendered by the Militia, which he (poke of in fuitable terms of praife, and parti cularly adverted to their readinefs to ferve in Ire land,.where they were fo highly inflrumental in cruthing the rebellion which exilled in that Coun try ; for which, and for their other fervices, he deemed them highly deferving the thanks and gra. titude of that Houfe. His Lordfhip then moved the Thanks of the Houfe to the Militia Corps, in the ufual form, which were unanimoufly voted. His Lordfhip finally moved the Thanks Of the Houfe to the Yeomanry and Volunteer Corps, Ca valry, Infantry, &c. after a fuitable commendation of their fervices—and the Ctieilion being put on the fame, as alto on the fubordimite and collateral Motions, for requefling that the Commanding Of ficers be defired to communicate their Lordihips' thanks to the refpeaive Corps, &c. the whole were immediately voted by their Lordhips, amine After fome private butinefs was tranfa&ed, an Adjournment (till to morrow) took place. HOUSE OF COMMON& The County Bridges Bill was read a fazed time and com mitted for the nth of April. The Report of the Grenada and St. Vincent's Loan Bill was received, agreed to, and the Bill ordetcd to be mid a third time on Friday. The Woolwich Military School Bin was read a firn time, and ordered to be read a fecund time to-morrow. The Report of the Committee on the Corn Trade was brought up, and ordered to be taken hito further eonfolaation to4norrow. Mr. Coar rote to take notice of a report in circulation in Ire land, and which had created confiderablc alarm it that country, that • Bill was introduced in that Houfe for materially chang ing the Butter Trade of Ireland. Though the Report was , be thought it needfary to mention k, in order to make it known that if fuch a meafure was intended by any Hon. Member as that alluded to, be would Brit conceive it prudent to prspofr a Committee to examine the Rate of the Butter Trade of Ireland. A Menage from the Lords informed the Houfe that their Lordfitips had agreed to the kith Rotate Collation IWI, and feveral private Bills. DUTY ON NALT.• Mr. Was moved that there mould be laid before the Houk an =own of the Quantity of Mak made in Great &J -uin for two years, ending the stb of July, aes. The Hon. Gentleman made a fimilar motion as to the quan tity of Hops grown in Great Britain, and the Barrelsof Strong Beer brewed within the fame period.—Ordered. COTTON TRADE. Sir. ROMT PULLS Paid, he rofc to call the at tention of the Houle to a meafure, to which he trufted there would be no objeaion ; it was for the pus pofe of bettering the condition of Apprentices employed in the Cotton Trade. It vraswell known that the Cotton Manufaaure gave employment to a great number of children of both fetes. The advantages, however, retuning from this, were accompanied by a confiderable evil. It would ea fdy be believed that where a large number of per. font were crowded together, impurity would arife, and that impurity would be followed by difeafe. The objeft of the Bill which he wiflied to introduce, was to eflablifh regulations for the purpofe of re moving the evils complained of ; another objea of it alto was, to give the poor Children inftruaion, the want of which had given rife to much immo rality. If the Houfe thould grant leave to bring in the Bill, he intended to propofe that perfons should be appointed to infpefl the Rate and condition of there Children, at the different Manufaftories where they might happen to be placed. He con cluded by moving for leave to bring in a Bill for the better prefervation of the health and morals of Apprentices, and others employed in Cotton Mills and Cotton Manufaaories. Lord Be toeeve feconded the Motion, which in. volved, he raid, confiderations of the greateff penance to the Community. There were many manufatories in .which the health and morals of a great number of Children employed in them were endangered. He thought the meafure ought to be extended to all the children employed in them, as well as Apprentices, the latter clafs forming the fmaller number ; nor did he fee any reafon why the Bill (hould be confined to the Cotton Mann- faaures, and not extended to the Woollen Menu-' factures and others. There was a van number of Children employed in the different Manufaftures, whole fituation he thought loudly called for the in terference of the firong arm of the Law. Sir Roy IT 8. , x TON obferved, that Woollen Manufafturers were precluded from taking any more than two apprentices without a proportional number of journeymen, whillt the Cotton Mann faCturers were fettered by no fu-h reflriaion. Sir Roane PEELS d-precated the idea of re- Rriaing Manufafturers in the employment of their capital, and trolled the Houte would not counte nance it for a moment. Mr. NV: Lli ER RAC k was of opinion the Bill on ht to be extended to' other Manufaltories as well as that of Cotton. The Children employed in diem, laboured for the benefit of the Public. mid it was but kill that Guardians lhonld be provided for their beAlth and murals. He inuvcd to amend the ma tion, with the words Cotton and other Mills, and Cotton and other Manufatturics. , A Member having objeded to the general words of the Amendment, Lord HAWICESSURY obferved, that the Amend ment did not pledge the Houle to make regula tions with raped to every manufadory, but mere ly prevented them from being reftrieted to the Cotton Manufadory only. Mr. BRAGG! thought the general words of the Amendment did contlitute an objeflion to it, as it was holding out unneceffarily to the Public, that they were likely to make regulations with refped to every manufadure. Sir ROBERT PEELS laid he could feel no objec tion to enlarging the objeft of the Bill. He was only igfligated to bring it forward by Humanity, and the more extenfively ufcful it could be render ed, the better his purport was anfwcred. After a few words from Lord BFLCRAVE, Mr. CORRY expreffed his hopes that the people of Ireland would turn their attention to this Cub jea. Sir ROBERT PEALE explained. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. THANKS TO THE ARMY •ND NAVY. The CH•NCELLOR of the EXCHEVE It laid, " I rife, Sir, to make a motion which I am confident will meet the unanimous concurrence and cordial approbation of this Houfe—a motion, the objea of which is to render a tribute of justice and of gratitude to thole gallant men who in our Army and Navy have expoled themfelves to all the risks of -war, to fight the battles of their country abroad ; and alto to thofe brave patriots who took up arms to defend their country at home. Be tween the exertions of the army and navy, I feel it would be unjust and unwarrantable to make any diftiation : the fervices of both, during the lall war, mull be the theme of wonder—long and end lets praife—for they have been produitive of un exampled fuccefs and unfullicd glory. It is not, however, to the Army and Navy alone that I propofe to confine this fliftinguillied mark of pub lic acknowledgment. It is well known that the condo& of the Fencibles has been, during the courfe of the war, peculiarly meritorious. Su perior to the idea of limiting their Cervices in the caufe of their country to the aria terms of their original engagement, they Chewed a readinefs to meet the perils of the war in the remotest quar ters of Europe, or wherever they might be called upon ; and in Ireland they have been eminently ufeful. There is another branch o( the military fervice, entitled in the ftrongeft manner to the praife and gratitude of the empire. The Houle no doubt is aware of that to which I allude—l mean the Militia—a body of men whore zeal and devotion to the public caufe is fo generally known as almoll to obviate the neceffity of de fcription I fpeak not of the privations to which the ofh-ers of that corps have fubmitted, nor of their abfence for nine years from the comforts and fuperintendance of their domellic eftablifh ments, but I claim the molt exalted favour this Houfe can bellow for the ardour, patriotifm, and loyalty which the whole of that body has ex hibited—a condo& which is not lets calculated to retie& eternal honour upon their charatter, than it has been to maintain the importance and security of the nation—a conduit which Ireland is forward to atteft ; for in that country the aai city of the Drib& Militia in fuppreffing a danger ous rebellion, and reftoring complete tranquility, was eminently confpicuous. The Militia has alto, it will be reconciled, travelled out of its precife contrail, in offering its affiftance on the Expedi tion to Holland ; an offer of which the Govern ment very wifely availed itfelf, and it was found in the courfe of that conflia, that thole brave men were not inferior in difcipline, courage, or &adj. nefs in attion to the moll experienced veterans. By the gallantry of theft men were fo many bril liant vifiories achieved in the courfe of that expe dition ; in which, upon the whole, it would Curdy be admitted on all fides that nothing of the mili tary charader of the nation had been loft, but rather that it had been confideiably advanced; it would be an injuftice to the Houfe to fuppofe it poffible that any objettion could be made to in clude that refpettable body in the Vote of Thanks; and perhaps (till lets was any difference of opinion probable as to the pretenfions which the volunteer corps had to the applaufe of the country—they who came forward to protat dovneftic tranquility —and, when the country was threatened with foreign invafion—with a degree of patriotic virtue feldom paralleled, they gave up their private en gagements, and rallied to the (tandard of public defence. In reference to their behaviour since, I than only fay, that they have evinced an energy and zeal well fuited to enfure the (meets of the wife and energetic plans which the Government had deviled ; and they have afforded the moll fa tisfaCtory pledge of the fpirit and refources of the country —that if war should again unfortunately occur, we have among our own community, a number of men of fufficient valour, determination, and difcipline, to fecure the defence of the country, independent of our own regular forces. From the confederation of this circumftance another pleating reflation arofe, that it was mended, from the for midable amount of there corps, that the views of Government were in conformity with the temper of the people ; that the bleffings dour happy Con ftitution were fairly appreciated; and that it was the refolution of the Britilh people to defend it. to the Taft extremity. This was matter of juft exul tation ; but it was a fubjea of (till higher gratifi cation, that the firmnefs manifefted by thefe corps by Viewing the energy and patriotifm which ani mated the whole Britifh Empire, had contributed to procure for us a happy and honourable peace." The Right Hon. Gentlemait concluded by moving the Thanks of the Houfe to the Officers of the Army and Navy for their splendid fervices in ,he defence of the country during the !alt war. Lord Hawn Essuar role to fecond the motion. He Paid he entertained little doubt of the unani mous assent of the Houfe to the propofition of his Right Honourable Friend, and he would feel him felt extremely toblame if he attempted tri introduce any topic into the dircuftion, which could tend to produce the flighteit difference of sentiment upon this occation. It would be confidercd, that what-. ever opinions might be held as to the p.IIU, events of the war, lo far as the army and ni:‘ - were concerned, their exertion, valour, and 1104 were eminently confpicuous, and completely h,.. nourable to the cilaraCter of the ow:my ;ro into i t • fig, that he would not be afraid to enter into comparifon of the achievements of the lalt ‘,.tr with any that preceded it, confident that if they did hot furpafs, they were, at leaft equal. As navy. he believed it would not be contended th.it vietories lb brilliant as had been obtained in tile courfe of the laft war, were to be found in the annals of the world. If he looked at the army, he thought their fervices not lets the fubjeet of commendation and praife, though certain even! s might have diappointed the belt calculAtiou. policy, or defeatecl, the utmoft exertions a valour, nothing had happened in the courfe of the war that was not highly honourable to the reputation of our army. He particularly dwelt on their gal. lant conduit in Egypt, which in fait materially contributed to produce the conclufion of the war; and he claimed the approbation of the Houle for there iptrepid men. Whatever might be the opinion of fome Gentlemen as to the terms of the Peace—it muft be admitted that it was con eluded under circumftances peculiarly favourable in this point of view, that it took place at a time when our vielories were frefh in the recollectio n of Europe, and when foreign nations mutt feel that if it fhould be again necelfirry to alert our hono ur , or to maintain our intereft, • againft any enemy, we were polliffed of vigour and energy fully adequate to the conteft. For the continuance of the peace he did mull earneltly pray, and he could allure the ' Houle that every effort would be made by Govern_ went, confiftent with the fupport of our honour and intereft, to preferve peace; but every Englifh man mutt retie& with pleafure and with pride on the power and fpirit of his country, to confpicu. oufly difplayed during the late war : for it any fymptom of a hoftile difpofition fhould unfortu nately appear, the fureft tell for the continuance of peace would be our capacity to meet the war with firmnefs, and of that the late conteft had af forded abundant proof. He agreed with his Right Hon. Friend that a fyftem of caution was at all times neceffary, but that jealoufy ihould be got rid or; for jealoufy, by exhibiting an irritation in our own minds, might excite it in the minds of others —it was inconfiltent with the nature of a pule& good underftanding—it was opposite to the fpirit of peace to indulge it. Our condu& ibould be plain, manly, and unequivocal, always difpofcd to sincere amity with other nations, and always alive to the honour, dignity, and independence of our own. The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHECLSTER Paid, he was obliged 'to his Right Hon. Friend near him, for reminding him of his having pared over th. Militia and the Fencibles of Ireland. This was purely accidental; he thought he had taken notice of both, as molt certainly he felt the fame fenti ments for them as he did for thole of this country; they were both perfatly meritorious in their con dua. The Motion was then put and carried, nem. can. That this Houfe doth approve of, and acknowledge the Services of the Petty and Non-coenmiSoned Officers and Men employed in his Majefty's Navy, Army,and Marines, and that the fame be communicated to them by their refpedtive Com manders, Exc. who are dellred to CIA& them for their excellent condtufk, Scc."—Carried emcee. " That Mr. S do communicate the kid Refolutiors to the Lord High Admiral of England, and Commander in Chief of his Majelty's Land Forces, ate."--.Ordered. " Thanks to the Militia of Ireland, and acknowledgment of the Service of the Men, to be thanked by their Conantaiders is like man,ocr"—ww. swa * Thanks to the (rectal °liters of the Yeomanry, Volunteer Corps, CavWq, ace." "AcknoveWimmt of the Service of the Men, to be thanked in like manner, Br.c."—..essi. con. That Mr. S do communicate the Paid Reunified so the Lord Lieutenants of the Counties, du.—Ordered. WAYS AND MIAMI& The report of the Committee of Ways and Means was brought up,and the feveral Refol awns read a fiat time, as follows : __ That it is the opinion of this Committee, That towards :Wing the (apply granted to his Majefty, tho Cunt of twenty lye millions be railed by annuities; whereof the charges of twenty-three millions are to be defrayed on the part of Great Britain, and of two millions on the part of Irebod. That it Is the opinion of thin Committee, That every contri butor to the raid Cum of twent -five millions than, for every one hundred pounds 000trmated and paid, be entitled to the principal flint of 6.61 in annuities, after the rate of 3L per cent. to commence from the sth day of Jan. dos, and to be added to, and made one joint Rock with the 31. per cent. annuities, confolidated by the ads of the ssth, sllth, 19th, 32d, and 33(1 years of the reign of his late Majefty King George the S zco nd , and by feveral fubfequent acts, and to be payable and tran,fer rabic at the Bank of England, at the fame time and in the Lai: planner, and Cubic& to the like redemption, as the faid 3L pc: ataturn eonfolidated annuities. That every fueh contributor dull likewife be entitled to the further prindpal Cum of 6L z9s. 3d. In the like 3L per cent. an. unities, an commence from the sth day of January, t 808, ..nd to be added to, and made part of, the Lid 31. pa cent. annuities. That every Inch contributor &all likewife be entitled to the further principal fum of 6oL in annuities, after the me of 11. per cent. to commence from the sth day of April, Ito:, nt,tl to be added to, and made one joint flock with, crtaitt ties, after the rate of 3L per cent. which were reduced from 41. to 31, per cent. by an wet made in the 23d year of the reign of his late 11Nefty, and to be payable and transferable at the 11 ink of England, at the fame time and in the fame manner, and fob- Jed to the like redemption by Parliament, as the Paid 31. per cent. reduced annuities. That the fad fermi annuities, fo to be payable as aforefal3. Sall be charged and chargeable upon, and payable nut of. the confohdated fund of Grearliritaio, or any Ga:r duties and re venues which shall be appropriated for that purple by ary art or ads of this prefent &Sun of Parliament. That every contributor ilia, on or before the 14th day of this init. April, make a depofit of aoL per cent. on lush tam as he or the &all chafe to fuhleribe towards oiling the laid farts of twenty-five milliOns, with the chief calbier or eufhleri .E the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, as a fcrarty for making the future payments on or before the days or inlrs berein-after mentioned. that is to fay. sok per centsizn, on or before the 20th day of May, thoz. id. per centurn, on or before the 18th day of Juae 15L per centum, on or before the 16th day of July next. zol. perceittum, on or before the zoth day of Aug. next. zed per centum, on or before the 17th day of Sept. next. zol. per centum, on or before the 19th day of 04L new zoL per centum, on or before the 19th day of Nov. next. zsi. per =cum, on or before the 17th day of Dee. next. That every contributor who 1411 pay in the whole of or her contribution money, towards the faid fum of twentive millions, at any time on or before the xßth day of Norsmorr, 18cri, Iball be allowed an intereft by way of di r cuunt, itt•r the rate of 41. per centum per annum, on the rum to udtrinee I for completing his or her contribution refpedlively, to be (-m --uted from the day of completing the fame, to the 17th tidy of )eceutber, 18oz.. That all the amain A to he received by the Lid callin or