Star. — London, England, 1806-05-17 00:00:00

MR. jusrice FOX. Lord GRENVILL - E, after adverting to the im poffibiliq, in the prefent Rate of public bufinefs, of Vroceeding with the bufimefs of Mr. J4itlice Fox, on the day flied by the fall order of the Houle, namely the ,9th inflant, moved, that the laid 'order be defcharged," which being done, he laid he fhould move fur an order for the futtber proceeding on the 3oth inßant. The Duke of CUMBERLAND obferved, that in the abfence of his Noble Friend (the Marquis of Aber. corn) he had to Rate that the Noble Lord bad no objedion to the propoted poßponement ; in agreeing to which, his Noble Friend by no means wifbed it to be underßood, that he agreed to any propofition for pollponing the bufinels, fine &e. For his own part, he thought if the poßpunetnent were kr a few days longer, it would be better, as the Houfir would not be able to refume the proceedings on the 3oth. He accordingly put this to the confederation of the Noble Lord. Lord GRENVILLE deeming the day he fittl pro pofed fuffitiently convenient for the purpore, in the firft iallance, though he by no means then pledged bimfelf to any fpetific line or principle of proceeding at that time, was not inclined to alter it. Accord ingly, on the quefion• being put, the order for the /9t h was difcharged, and an order made for the far ther confideration of the cafe of Mr. Juflice Fu:, on the 30th intlant. DIVENCII ACT Lord GRENVILLE ogler ved, the copies of this Bill being now upon the Table, he Ihould move that the Bill be read a fecond time on Monday nett. Lord HAWKESBURY was of opinion the inter val propofed by the Noble Lord wa. ton (bort. The quettions to which the Bill referred, embraced other topics of confideratico, than that s• Lich its title im ported. Suppole Tburfday WAS heed. The mea fire feemed to make part .f a general military fyf tern, which his Majelly's preterit Miniflers had under confideration. He thought a general idea of thole Mould be afforded the Houle, beoru the piefent mea• lure was urged for final adoption. Lord GRENVILLE oblcrved, that the ground urged by the Noble Lord WAs by no means fufficient fur the poflponemcnt of the difctiffion. His opinions on thole points to which he had alluded, were widely different horn thole of the Noble Lord. Whatever might have been thrown out by his Majefty's Minifters in another Houle, they could have no regular know ledge of in that. When thole 'matures Ihould come regularly before them, they could thca be properly ditculkd ; the confideration of the preen' meafure, ab'lra.tte.: from any fyllem that may be in contempla tion, was futhcient to engage the attention •of Parlia ment, and it wit, one which he thought Ihould Ipeedily be adopted, as a mcature, whole consequences, iniiead tif being beneficial, had pored highly injurious. His Lou Whip then :mired, that the above 3ill be tead a fecond time on Monday, and that the Lords be fummoned fur that day," which was otdered ac• cordingly. ;LATE IMPORTATION RESTRICTION RILL. The Order of the Day for the third reading of this Bill being read, alter fame converfation actors the Houfe, as to the mode of debating the amnion, His Royal Highnefs the Duke of CLARENCE rofc, and expreffed his regret, that the duty of oppof ing the principle of the Bill had not Fallen upon Coate other Noble Lord. It was a lubjed upon *filch he had to ohen delivered his lentiment►, that he &fink ed of being able to add any thing to What he had before urged againft the meafu►e. There war one part of the Bill. the Order in Council, to which be would not At all wirer! ' on account of tit, hour •• 4.e. ' great political objeas it involved. They were fo portant, that it would be dangerous to (lir 'bun.— He would not detain their Lordships long, for, as he meant to conclude with a motion, he would, of courts be allowedl the coartery of a reply. He - propofed confining himfelf to two parts of the Bill, but as the allegations in the different petitions on the table, and the arguments of Cnunfel at their Lordthips' Bar, had made no impreffion, he could not expedt that what he had to fay would have much weight with the Houle. He was convinced that if this Bill thoold pats, it would be the complete ruin of a very coati derable branch of our commerce, he meant the capi tal employed in the traffic of flues. That branch of our trade gave employment to 168 (hips, to two thoufand femme, and to one million of money.— The quantity of Englilit manufattures, which it was the means of circulating. was immenfe. lithe trade was prohibited, it would be impoflible to introduce them into the Spanifh colonies, for it was under co ver of the commerce in flaves, that we were able to obtain communication with the Spanifh colonies.-- His Royal Highnefs concluded with moving, that a 'certain part of the tide of the Bill (hoold be omitted. The Earl of SUFFOLK wilted the Bill to pats upoc principles of humanity, religion, and morality. He fugeeQed the poffibility of cultivating the Weft l lndia Mends, by introducing Sepoys from the Eaft, or Tome ofthe inhabitants ofthe Cape of Good Hope. The Bi(hop of LONDON could not fatisfy his own mind if he fat Slew upon what he mutt confi der as a queftion of morality. The objettions which bad been urged againft the preterit Bill, did not weigh much with him, for they were the fame that. had been advanced sgainft the Bill for 'bathing the Slave Tralle. The continuance of this traffic could not bemaintained for an infant upon the (core of morality, and here he was glad to find that the ob jeBions upon the ground of political confideration, made no lets againli it. If it contributed to prevent that mortaltiyirthich was always found to accom pany the cultivation and . breaking np of new grounds, that would be a great inducement to him to vote in fupport of it. He had for a whole year conftantly attended a Committee which fat in that Houle, to confider of the propriety of abolifhing the Slave' Trade, and the refult of all he had heard was, that it was p offible to keep up the quantity of negroes nee' ceffary for cultivating the Welt Indies without recut.' ring to importation, or the dreadful praftices to which it gave rife. Wherever that unfortunate race of men were treated with common humanity, they increafed like other human beings. In Virginia,' where the importation of 'negroes had been probi.' bited, a centus was taken in the year 1786, and it wu found that in that pet-mince their number had in created upwards of fifteen thoufand in the cootie of three years that the trade was prohibited. He was anxious that his countrymen thould be entirely &fen gaged from all concern in that opprobrious traffic, and therefore he would vote for the Bill before their Lordlhips. The Earl of WESTMORELAND oppofed the Bill at confiderable length, upon the ground of its being productive of a great branch of our trade, and as being little better than an abolition of the, Slave Trade in difguife. Foreigners, he was con• vinced, particularly the Americans, would take up the trade if we did not ; fo that the caufe of huma nity would not be in the lug benefited by the men• Cure, and we fhould lute the advantage of a ♦ent for a confid Table portion of our manufactures. The Marquis of SLIGO (who (poke fitting, with permiffion of the Houle), oppofed the Bill, as preg- nant with infinite danger to the very mifience of the Weft India Wands. Lord HOLLAND (aid, that it was almoft unne . celfary for him to trouble their Loran'''. All the cbjedions to the principle of the Bill had been urged over and over, upon every difculLon which took place on the Bills, which had been almoft annually fubmitted to Parliament for aboliflting the Slave Trade. So far from the planters being alarmed by the prefcnt Bill, all of them he had convened with were decidedly in favour of it. So far from its be ing prejudicial, they were decidedly of opinion that it would be advantageous to their interefts. Were the traffic to ceafe to-morrow, he was convinced that, not an article lets of Brit masufadure would find its way into the Spernifh colonies. Fortunately, Britifh manufactures were become of ab(olute neceffity to the inhabitants of South America, and they would have them, though the Slave Importation Trade, which, according to the Ratement of a Noble Lord, was ufed as a cover for a more important branch of commerce, were annihilated. Lord WESTMORELAND made a few °Wheys tions in the way of explanation. The Bufhop of ST. ASAPH Paid, that the Noble Lord who had firft fat down, had charaderized the Bill before their Lordfhips as abolition in difgui(e.— He was no friend to any thing in difguife ; but, ' while he was in that Houle, he would , - by every means in kis power, whether fair or foul, whether by open hofiility or ferret firatagem, labour to de &cry that infamous traffic, which was no lets a dit grace to humanity, than it was deftru&ive of the mo rals of the nation. His Lorelfhp, with that energy which is peculiar to him, urged a variety of argu ments againfl the Slave Trade, and fup ; orted the Bill, as the firft Rep towards its abolition. Lord ELDON (poke again(' the Bill, on the. ground of its injuring the commerce and (hipping of this country, while it threw the trade into the hands of the Arnel leans, who were not fubjed to thofe hu mane regulations which the Britifh Legillature had introduced into the trade. He alto entered much at length into the general quellion of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, and contended that, were fuch a meafure to be adopted, it would he neceffary to grant indemnification to thole who had embarked their capital in that branch of commerce, on the faith of exiiiing ufage, and legiflative fan Lion. Lord DARNLEY fupportcd the Bill, on the ground of its being merely a regulation of policy, with regard to the colonies of the enemy, which, though now in our poireffion, might be reflured when a peace took place. He likewife obfervedt that though &jilt!' capital might be thrown out of this particular branch of commerce, yet it would eaftly find foam other channel, in which it might be em ployed in a manner equally beneficial. His Highnefs the Duke of GI.OUCESTER fup ported the Bill, as tending to dicoinint that traffic in blood which he , fhouid eyer con Oder di difgrumful to AU country: Lqrd GRENVILLE ennfi.tered the Slave Trade ' in general as onjultin Will; and ploduliHve of much human mifery. Bet he trußed that the estate of juf lice and humanity was every day making its way, and would at length receive the full Rapport of the Houfe and the country. It had been laid, that if we &sold relinquifh this branch of trade, other nations would take it up ; but he contended, that other na tions could sot (apply the poitcffions of the enemy, without our permiffion. and that their colonies might be In blocked up as to prevent the introdultion of Slaves for the purpofe of increafed cultivation.— He contended. that by promoting the civilization of Africa, which could never take place while the Slave Trade was left unlimited, a much more extenlive mart would be opened for nor manufailurers, than the relltittions the prefent Bill would prevent ; and he denied that Slaves were neceffary as a cover to the introduaioo of our manufaastres into Spanifh America. The fupply of the Colonies of the enemy with Slaves had already been prohibited by an Order in Council ; and when this Rep was taken, why not proceed farther, and prohibit it by Legiflative inter ference. One nbjelt of the Bill was to favour the cul tivation and induftry of our own Weft India Wands. and this °tied might be fairly oppofed to any intereft which individuals might derive front that branch of the commerce which the prefent Bill went to fhut up. Lord HAWKESBURY (poke at conhiderable length, in oppofition to the Bill; and obferved, that the Order in Council which had been referred to by the Noble Lord, permitted fuch an importation of Slaves into the Colonies of the enemy now in our poi% feffion, as might keep up the numbers of thole who had been prevtoufly introduced. Lord ELLENBOROUGH thought, that the mil chiefs which arofe from this trade had been greatly exaggerated ; but, as the Bill before the Houle was a mere cautionary policy againft the firength of the enemy, he warmly fiapported -the meafure. Lord ELDON was in the comic of explanation, when The Earl of L AUDERDA LE called him to order. Lord Sidmouth, the Earl of Buckinghamfhire, and Lord Auckland, feverally (po ke in fupport of the Bill; and the Duke of Suites and Lord Sheffield againtt it. After a llsort reply from his Royal Highnefs the Duke of CLARENCE, the queftion was loudly called for, and the Houk divided, when there ap peared, for the Amendment, Contents tB—Non Contents 43—Majority 25. The Bill was then teed a third time and patted.— , At twelve o'clock the Houfe adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS: A Meffage from the Loads annoimeed their Lordfhips' lute:Won of proceeding further to miaow minting with the trial of Hairy Lord Vifeount Melville. A Petition was prefented from fist Judge and Buenas of the Maude* Court,Soutawark, sgaiME the Brixton Hundred WWI Debt BW now pending. The Petition was received. and leave given to the petkieccrs to be beard by Caulk' upon the (mond reading of the bin. Sir JOHN NEWPORT relented the IrlOt Malt Duty Bill, read the ern time, and ordered to be read a fccond time oa Monday. The fame Meg Hon. Member gave notice that be Ihould, so Monday, move for leave to bring In Bills, for the better regulation of Ermithot.fes In Ireland, for the better regulating the collodion of Taus in thee part of the United Kingdom, and for better Pao - int. amid% and Lighting the City of Dublin. Mr. ALEXANDER brought up the Report of the Committee on the Propaty Tax Bin : Ordered that the raid Itepon be taken . Into farther confklaration on Monday. Read the fecond time the I, Stamp Duty, Diftillery Regula• efett,aod Cuftom Duty 15illa,and Committed for Monday. Read the third time, the leth Bank Annuity Bill : paid and ordered to the Lords. AAAAA CK °APARTMENT. Mr. ROBSON, in riling to move for certain pa. pers relating to the Barrack Department, Rated, that if his fuggeßions on the Antics in this department about four years ago, had been attended to, the Blameful tranfaltions contained in the Report of the Military Commilfioners, new on the table, would never have veined. The ezpences for barracks had begun at a very (mall rum annually ; they were now increafed to an enormous amount. In 1803, they were 3,300.000 l.; and left year, they were 1,900,0001. It was particularly neceffary to enquire into-fuel,' a large branch of expenditure, when fuch large fupplies were called for, and fuch heavy taxes impofed as thofe of the prefent moment. The papers he would move for tended to elucidate cm-if:talons well worthy of the inveßigation of the Houk, and likely to produce much public benefit, if the difcovery of the abufes they would (hew (hould be properly followed up. He moved that there be laid before the Houk a lift of all the barns taken up for barracks, in the department of Sandown, the Ifle of Wight, with an account of the rents of the fame, and the periods at which they were taken up. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had no objeftion to grant this paper ; he wiled the Honourable Gentleman had, according to cuftom, though certainly there was no obligation on him, communicated the lift, and the motives of writhing the papers to be produced, to any of his Majefly's Mini- Rees. It was the *Oh of his Majelly's Government to grant every information the Houle or any Mem ber of it wilhed for ; but he would fubmit to the Honourable Gentleman, whethet it would be difcreet or proper, when there was a Committee authorized by Parliament aCtually inveliigating this department, to anticipate the refults of the inveftigation of that .--Committee, by any premature interference with the objeas entrußed to it. Mr. ROBSON, if he had not known the contrary, would have been lute it was the OA of the late Minißer he had juft heard. (A loud laugh.) What the Noble Lnrd had Paid now, was precifely what had been raid to him by the late Minifler on a fimi• ler occalion four years ago. What he propofed to bring before the Houk, would not interfere with the Military Commilfion. That Commiflion had made but one Report, of which no notice had yet been taken, though it Lad been fix weeks on the table.— Don't tell me of a Commillion of Inquiry ((Paid the Hon. Gentleman), what am I here for ? Am I not a Member of Parliament ? am I not a guardian of the public ttua—(a loud laugh).* Am to be told, that becaufe there is a Committee, I am to make no in quiry ?—The Honourable Gentleman then adverted to the delays in theft public inquiries. He Rated that the tranfaetions lie had alluded to had gone to the Trezfury, then to the Secretary at War, and at length it Lad blown itfclf u , , by its own corruption and inanity—(a laugh). He complained of the delay in palling the public accounts, by which he conCeiv ad the late Barrack Matter Galena had fuffered. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER appealed to tie Houfe, whether Government had 101 l any time in proceeding on the fuggeftions of the Re. ,^ port of the Commitlion of Military Enquiry. He had himfelf made a diflina fkatement to the Houfe on that fubjet. He did not deny the right of a Member of PArHelmut to interfere with the enquiry delegated to the Committee. He only appealed to the Hon. Gentleman's difcretion, an appeal, of which, after what he had paft heard, he fhould always doubt the fuceefs. Mr. BASTARD recommended to the Hon. Gen. tleman to fubilitute the word " buildings" for " barns," and to make the motion general. Mr. ROBSON—" I thank the - Honourable Gen tleman—that will do for another day"—(Loud burl. of laughter). The queftion was put, and the motion carried. Mr. ROBSON then moved for "' the copy of a letter from James Day, of Brayden, to the late Sc cretary at War, in December, tflos, inclofiog an Efiimate for building Barracks in the Sanduwis Diftrici." Mr. PERCIVAL role, not to oppofe the motion, but to exprefs his hope that the Hon. Member would have no °Nation to explain to the Houle his objett in moving fur this paper. Mr. ROBSON Paid, it was to elucidate this im portant branch of she public expenditure, for which he was entitled to the thanks of the Hou fe and the, country, for having fi at brought it into notice(4 brig and lord laush.J The SPEAKER having looked at the written copy of the motion, 'rinsed to know whether the let ter alluded to was a letter se orfrew the Secretary at War? Mr. ROBSON.—" From, Sir, if you pleafe"-- (4 loud lase.) The SPEAKER." The Hon. Member having, in his verbal motion, fpoken of the letter which is the fubje& of it, as a letter from the Secretary at War, and the written motion being for a letter to the Secre tary at War, the obje& of my queftion was to know which the Hon. Member meant ?" _ _ Mr. ROBSON. To, Sir, if you picnic ; as it is written"—(A loud laugh.) Mr. PAULL complained of the levity with which the Hon. Gentleman was treated, on a matter of Co much public importance. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rote, with much warmth, to deprecate the language of an Hon. Gentleman, which he conceived to con vey an indirect cenfure, as it were, by a fide wind, upon the conduet of Parliament, and which ill be came that Hon. Member o offer, who had himfelf been in the habit of frequently moving in that Hoofs for Papers, with the tenor and purport of which he was unacquainted, as well as in many inflances with the objets he meant to prove by them ; and of which he hoped and trufted the Houfe would take proper cognizance in due time. Mr. ROSE expreffed Come furprife, that the Hon. Gentleman who made this motion thould refute to explain to the Houle what was the objeft of it. He was entirely of opinion.vrith the Noble Lord(H.Petty) as to the impropriety of initituting an enquiry in that Houfe at the fame time, and upon the fame fubjeft, that Parliamentary CommilGoners, tinder the dele gated authority of the Houle, were employed in the inveftigation elfewhere. Mr. W. SMITH was convinced his Hon. Friend (Mr. Robfon) had too much pleafantry and good humour to feel hurt, if a (mile was excited in the Houfe by the •uncertainty he evinced on his own motion, as to whether the letter for which he moved was to or from the Secretary at War. - Mr. HILEY ADDINGTON hoped the Hon. Gentleman would nut perfift in his motion, for the reafons that had beetafo clearly affigned by his Noble Friend. Mr. ROBSON was Rill pofltive. Mr. CALCRAFT thought there never was an occafion, or a fubjea, on which a motion for the previous queftion could Cu properly be put. He (poke at Come length in coincidence with the argu ments of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and con. eluded by moving the previous queftion. Mr. ROBSON flrenuoufly inveighed againft the previous queftion, put, as he laid, to preclude an enquiry into the profligate and corrupt profufion which had taken place in an expenditure of ten or t a millions of the public monzy ; and this at a time when the People of England were loaded with new and intolerable burthens of taxation, and every man called on to flied the haft drop of his blood, and to deliver the haft guinea from his bureau, for the de fence of the country. If ever, in his time, the Houfe of Commons Ihould pals fuch a refolution as to pre. dude any one of its Members from the right of mo• ving for Papers of this fort, he would refign his feat. He hoped the Hon. Gentleman, therefore, would, on cooler refleCtion, withdraw his motion. Mr. CALCRAFT explained, that by the previous queftion, he only meant to interrupt enquiry for the prefent moment, while it was in the hands of Parlia mentary CommilLeners ; and by no means to pre clude the Hon. Member from any privilege as a Member of Parliament, or to prevent his inftituting ! enquiry hereafter, fhould it appear neceffary. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (aid, he felt hiinfelf julli fi ed in fupporting the previ ous queftion , moved by his Honourable Friend, be caufe, though the forms of the Houle had permitted the Honourable Gentleman to make two fpeeches, finoe he was requelted by the Honourable and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Percival) to explain his objeft in the paper he IA moved for, without con defcending to give any anfwer ; therefore, for the realm)* already atEgned, he thought the Hoofs would not be difpored to indulge him. In fupport ing the previous queftion, however, he cleared ex prefsly to ddi:lairn any with of precluding enquiry, or any denial of the undoubted right of every Mem ber of that Houfe to move for any papers he might think neceffary. But the queftion of right was one thing, and the expediency of exercifing thole righte in all cafes, quite another: there might be many rights unquatonable in the pnlfellion of many men, but there were many cafes in which it might be wife and expedient to diipenfi with the exercife of them. The prefent he conceived to be one of thole cafes; but by °pooling the Honourable Member's withes on this occalion, he by no means meant to preclude him from the fulleft information he Should feel it necef fary to demand upon this fubjeCt, at a future day, when ;hot . ; Conuniffionets thould have fiuilhed their I ~f~~ THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE. THE c0.p00..... of T., MCYTYI.Y MAGAZiNt, free ha left commencement to the paint dim, haring ben an Advartifernent Atilt' that Dr. Atom has no further con cern in that Wort, thinks it incumbent upon him toe:plain, that the concern" of Dr. Atkin extended noly to the fuperintendance of certain parts of one department only of the variety diviOwo of that Work, and to the perufal of certain of the proof Owen. On the firft commencement of the Monthly Magazine it war arranged by the Proprietor and Projeetur of the Work, that the Mifeellaiteous Communications mould he referred to the pirufal of Dr. Aikin ; but during the fix left years, fence his retirement from the metropolis to the country, where tbenumeroua literary (peen culations in which he is engaged have neceiTarily abforb,d all bit time, his fuperintendance of the department which had been con fided to him, has been unfettled and &fakery, and Dr. Aikin has frequently become acquainted with the Contents of the Monthly Magazine only after its appearance and incomings with the Public at large. The Proprietor having, for reafons fatkfaCtory to hlmfelf and kis Friends, withdrawn his confidence and periodical remuneration from Dr. Atkin, and transferred the fame to a Gentleman of equal kerning and more attivity, the Public can be at no lofs to Wet to its )roper fans: the condut2 of Dr. Aikin, in advertising that Ms unknown, unoftenfible, and indmportant engagement in the Monthly Magazine has terminated I London, May to. tBO6. PARLIAMENTARY PIadGEEDItvGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, FRIDAY, MAY i 6. After their Lordftdps returned from the High Court, In Welt • Rdnfter Hall, about four o'clock, they remained a wort time In dole difeuffson, pending which an Order was mad, for the farther proceeding with the Trial of Vlfeount Melville to-morrow. The Bills upon the Table were then forwarded in their refpre tive (lager The Houk was then adjourned till five o'clock- At that hour kraal Peers returned to the Houk, and the Lord Chancellor took his feat upon the Woolfack. The Lord Advocate of SCOTLAND brought up the Scots Ad miralty Judges' Salary Bill, which, together with a few Private 1111 s, relented by Mr. peahens and others, weie read a firft time. _ _ Mr. Virtu.% ars, Secretary to the CommifSon of Naval Inquiry, relented the 13th Report of there Cornmaaners, which, on the motion of Earl SPENCER, was ordered to be printed. The Uri of SUFFOLK took an opportunity to allude to a Pe tition prefented, as we underßood him, Come time fince, claiming one of the titles borne by Ws Lordliiip, which was alledged by it to be in abeyance. He had been indifpcifed at the time it Wllll pre fenced, and was obliged to kave town foots after; which would (portly, he obierverL be the cafe on u.rtain pealing domeßic ma tions—what he had to Windt to the Houk, in the way of regal- Scion, LINO may not be deemed improper or irregular, was. that no proceedings Mould take place refpeeting the Manners, during bis abfence, which, when he confidcred the advanced nate of the Sellite, and the great prefiltee of public borate's, he thought could be with propriety complied with. The LORD CHANCELLOR etiferved, the Noble Earl need not be appreherfive of ■ny proceedings obtaining with reined to t►e petition alluded to, this bJibon ; for w►em their Lordthips con- Odered the great weight of public bufinefs, attd the imnienfe quan tity of Judicial bands, on which great property, and interefts important to their fellow fubjtdts, depended, they mutt feel they could (pate no time for inveitigating *hat Peerages were In abeyance. The Earl of SUFFOLK then made Tome alltdlon to the Suffolk property, the bulk of which was enjoyed by two other Noble Fa milks, and, in contemplation of his own claims, xpreffed his with that the records or milers were kept and ' , relayed, as they are in Scotland. 1 i . ' . . . i , ! f - , I t !, 1 IV,