The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1807-02-03 00:00:00

liVrSt Ur COMMONS. Lord FUSTON, as Chairman of the Committee up , n the florough of Salt-4111 • 'etition. informed the Kenos, that in consequence of the indispositioo of A Roberts, Esq. one of the M=mbers of the Com mittee. they did not sit on Friday and Saturday last. Dr. Halley attended at the Bar of the Mous:. and 5ta .... : 1. upon oath. that he was called on to attend Mr RobAr is, in bis pmfessional capacity, on Thurs. stay teeming. and on Friday. the state of his health eras sucL, as to render it unfit for him to attend his dn'y urn that and the following day. l'ol3 Motion of Lord EUsTON. the further at ttinti.ncr of Mr. Roberts. upon the said Committee, was ordered to be excused. Mr. YURKE, as Chairman of the Committee upon the Weymos h Kleaies Petitioo, brought op the Report of the said Committee, which stated, that the Sitting Members were duly client, and that the 'Petition was not frivolous or vexatious. Sir GILBERT HEATHCOTZ, as Chairman of the Committee upon the Malden Eledion Petiona, reported to the t-4 use the absence of William Lewis Hobbes, E• zq. one of the M rnbers of the said Corn. trine., b contever:ce of tis having teceived an account, that his fatherlay in a state of danger, in Co country, which obliged him to leave town. 8:r Robert V.:idioms verified this Net up-n oath, end upon Motion of Sir GILBERT MATH. COTE, Mr. flugber vr-s excused any further at tei:danee upon the said Ctmmittee. Nine new Merabcrs were sworn, and took their _ _ Wm. Russel brought ia a Bill for regula tii.v the recovery of small debts in certain pans of trr ccunty of lent, which uas read a first time, a n .; ne dereJ to be s e4J 4 seconJ time tomorrow. Mr Pat preseuted at the Bar r.l the licose so • aceott:ts horn the Attican C'rnpany ei Mrr c• !rota the year leuS, to the year 1806.—Or u ,n lie nn the TA:111?• Z• .! 0 1 :):Ev% puitT ros,. to nova t i le Order et tie Li l y kr int.) a CoUlf:slMc vt:qat the List. TCJltellf/ 5ai.1,14 took that op pettunity to remove soma doubts Which seemed to have arisen in an I-1 Gentleman's mind (Mr. Johnstone),upon a former night, respaling th , state of the finances of Ireland, which that Hon. Gentle. man bad stared to be its a oaplorahle situation. A power bad been given last year to the Gz.verement Ireland. to raise one million upon Treasury Bills, se:tich power they did not field necessary then to put into execution ; he hoped, therefore, he would tot be considered as claiminz an unwarrantable cod deuce from the House, if he this year asked a si milar grant ; and as no Treasury Bills had issue.l upon the accouet aheady alluded to, he pegged leave to ask the Hlse, under such circumstances, were the finances of that put of the United King dom in that deplorable state the Hon. Gentleman had beets pleased to tepresent them f lHe had the satisfa&ion also to state to the Horse, that he had been able to discharge a debt of 276,0001. within the last year, being an advance from the Govern ment of England, to that of Ireland, for payment of Lottery Prizes, in the year 1802 ; there was, therefore, no failure of resources in this point. He ' also had the satisfation to state, that there still re mained in this country, in Rank, 140,0001. and in the Bank of Ireland, SOO,OOOI. more, to the credit of Ireland, both of which sums were unapplied at pres..nt. He regretted, exceedingly, that indispo sitton had prevented his being present at the bid ' liant display of eloquence and talent, of his Noble Friend (Lord Henry Petty), on the night alluded to, which was such as must have done credit to any nation. And he took leave further to deprecate any observations upon the financial impoverishment of any country ; because that country was not able to raise her gu4nOurn within the year, was she, r therefore, to be conadered its A bankrupt state But, he cont..nded, no country could be considered in a depressed state, while she was competent to charge her engagements. Mr .101-INS lON E, in reply, also regretted the Right Hen. Baronet's absence from the House upon that occasion, as it was far from him to take ad vantage of the absence of any Gentleman. He did much lament that the Hon. Baronet was not present when he made these observations, that he might not have taken them from repot t What he said was, that Iceland was possessed of little more than sufficient to discharge her own debts, and that she was obliged to raise a sum of four millions, by way of loan, which appeared to him to he a subjed of notice in the finances et the country ; but he did not say that Ireland was in a state of bankruptcy. He could only take his statement from the docii menu before the House ; and the fall was, that he was not in error, for it appeared, that a sum of 3.600,0001. was to be raised by loan ; if then, the Right Hon. Baronet chose to make a speech to repel a charge, formed in his own imagination, he was welcome—he simply stated that which was in his knowledge, and meant no refleaion upon the na tional resources of that country. Sir JOHN NEWPORT replied, that he must suppose the Ht.n. Gentleman had stated no more upon the former occasion than he did then. Mir. N E answered, that he was still jus tified in his observation, as there was still a sum of 4,0 , 10.0001. to be borrowed. The House then went into 2 Committee upon the 11;311 Treasury Bills Bill; the several resolutions were read and agreed to, and the Report ordered to be received to-morrow. I.nrd 110 WICK moved the thanks of the Horne to the Rev. Francis Bares, tor his very excellent ;es mi.ti preacned on Flisitty last. Ordered. Lord FOLK STON E gave notice that he would, to-mnirow, move for le tve to bring in a Bill to amend certain parts of the Contested Eleaion Regu la:ion Afts, so far as related to the time of sureties entering into recognizar.ces. Mr. ROSE gave notice that he would, on Wed neiday neat, move for certain Accounts, which he meant to make the stihjeft of investigation, upon the discussion of :he I.Mances is the Committee of Ways and Means. Lord HE PETTY begged to be informed whit particular description of account the Right Hon. Gentleman wished to have. Mr. ROSE replied, that it WAS an Account of the Price paid for certain Arecles, previous to the Commutation Ad. TREASURER Or TILE NAVY. Mr. SHERI6AN--s'iir, in pursuance of the notice I gave some days ago. I rise to move for leave to bring in a bill, for the purpose of regulating the office of Treasurer of the Navy. In doing this, it is unnecessary for me to say much. I nerd only observe. that it was intended to be ordained by the AEI of Parliament constituting that office, that neither the 'Treasurer nor Paymaster of the Navy should make any profit of the publiv money ; but the opinion of the Judges having tht own some doubt upon the suhjefl, some explanatory and regulating bill became necessary. With regard to the best mode of accomplishing this purpose, there may exist some uncertainty; but, after the most mature delibe ration, I have endeavoured to adopt that %ilia ap pears to create the least inconvenience to the pubbc service, and, at the same time, the least trouble to the B.tuk. This objeft may be best attained by calling in the abilities of those persons who arc most conversant with the subjeCi." The Right Hon. Gentleman then concluded by moving •' for leAve to bring in a Bill for further regulating the Oifize Treasurer of His Majesty's Navy ;" and leave was accordingly given. that the eharaller of that lionse mizht he continued to he held high, tind that they might guard their futute pro:ecdings on this Bill against any imputa tion of precipitancy. The Earl of WESTMORELAND observed, that this, stas._at .itsostion _which involved many distinft interests. He therefore wished to leave the Cour sel egaina the Bill mifetteretti with regard to whatever ar ? ,uenerits zr-oeideuce they might adduce; whilst he, at the same time, wished for no unnecessary de lay on the one ham:, nor precipitancy on the other, might be inconsistent with the eh:trader of the House. Lord HAWKESBURY remarked, that Chet• wi;e three separate interests and classes of persons affeaed by the object of the Bill now before the /buss. the old Planters incur West Lelia Islands, the Proprietors in the more recently acquired island of Trinidad. and the Ship-owners, lkierchar.ts, and others in the Port of London. lie thought, there f re, it might he agreeable to the House to admit tile different parties to be heard on then distinta in _ . The question for heating Counsel against the kill was then put and agreed to. Lord ELDON then adverted to the increasing hu,iness in the Court of Chancery, and s,id, th.it, from his own experience, when tie presided in that Court, and he believed the Noble and Learned Lord, who now presided in it, would concur with him in acknowledging, it was fuund imprAtaicablete bring the deci•tous to so early a conclusion as might lee desirable. He had turned his Attention midst subs jet. and he now merely rose to give notice, that it sires his intention to take an early opportunity ut Trci•esing certain resolution , . with a view of tt • eilitatiog the claims of suitors its the Court 8f Cf . tneery. The LORI) CHANCELI.Oft corroborated the eb:e• rations of the Noble and Learned Lord, respeet inir the Ares-nt diffi , ultws that occurred in the way e briegsng Ch sixtry suits is an early decisions set) rem LAW. GRENVILEEtiIenroe, and adverted to the irsolutious which h.d been brought torward in tilt tut Parliament, ;elemt to the waministration of the LAW in England. He m•ntiontd his intention to move to tnisqg in a Hill with a view to assimilate the ;..:minim etion of justice in the Courts of the ited Kingdom. at the same time he wished to affoid ample time hr profesdenal Gentlemen, par ticularly in .he Nsrthern part of the Kingdom, to offer any remarks or suggest hints of further im prominent He declared his ohjea was to pro mote the welfare and happiness of the itihah;taiits of, Scotland, by , he till which he proposed to intro duty. Lord ELLIt)N said, this was a subjed of great importance and difficulty. The number of appeals Irons theCoim: of Sc %non in Scotland, had greatly increased of lat- years, and it was certainly desirable that the amenity rf :'em shrill,' be diminished. He by no means meant to throw out the least insi. nnamsa against the drci ion of the learned and able Judees of Scotland ; bet he believed the increase of tie se appeals was in a great measure to be attributtd to the increasing affluence and 1,. osperity of that r .,1 of the is'and. But the alterations in the Scotch Law, as proposed by the Noble Lord, he was afraid would be attended with ra.h difficulties as would, in a great niestorc, render it impraeficsble to put thein into exe.mion ; at the same time that he ebould he ever disposed to lend any assistance in his power, with a view of remedying the evil com plained M. lord GRENVILLE said. he had been much fr.ditl.traf to professicnal grinlrmen for the aos i 1 t ante they hae already aff , rded him, and he united be shpuld continue to be favoured with them, in pile/our& the measure now in contemplation.-- lie sa.. no neccisiii, :.rmrver, of delaying to come . to wane praiiical conclusion in the course of the present Session; for the plan he had brought to:- ward last year had been aided by the best advice, and, in falit. was so matured, as to render it un necessary that the Sant degree of inquiry s:iould be at.ain afiorded for the minute discussion and details of the 'aka, as when it was originally brought !inward. Lend Grenville then declared his ni tration of moving for leave to bring in a Kill on the schje," of the Scotch Law, on this day sen aight.—Adjont ned. TIIIRD REPORT 0/ MILITARY INQUIRY. Lord ARCHIBALD HAMILTON rose, and spoke as follows--a Sir. Since I gave notice to the House of a motion I intended to bring forward upon this subjea, I have understood that proceedings are now in a train of going forward, as instituted by the Lords of the Treasury. Under these circumstances, I am rather apprehensive that were I to make any motion upon this business. it might be looked upon only as trespassing upon your time, tend to em barrass those who have thus taken the matter up, and not terminate more favourably than the pi o. ceedings I have alluded to. I shall, however, Sir, read the motion I intended to make, and shortly state my particular situation, by bringisg into the view of the House the motives which induced me first to interfere. In the first place. than. I in•ended to move that the Attorney-General be &reds.' to tabs such steps and me tsur-s is it Court of Law, as may be deemed most eff.::laal tor asartaioing the simouat of, and securing to 4.• the public, :u-ll sins of money a' may be doe by Alexander Davowas, in eons-quence of the trails astions disclo-ed hi the Third Repbrt. Mot, a. to the situation in which I now stand, I ti:.ve only to observe, that the sr-at impoito3Ce of thoonisjeft. and the fraudulent and iniquitous traloolions there ditel.)sed, aill, I hope. piad my excuse in having stood forward on such an occasion. Indeed, should any charge be in-instated of ay having been too forward in proposing to the House to enter into inch an inquiry, I own it would be one which I would not wish to tar ink (torn, nor wonid it snake me retract from my former condo& I have 1/11 doubt that many Members n.ight have been wishing to deliver their opinions upon the subjell in question, and that, therefore, they will feel a certain degree eE mortification from their losing the opportunity of doing so. by my thus relinquishing it. I feel it my duty, however, to state to those Members, and to the House at large, that whe th er the proceedings upon that Report be moved in this House or not, it would not. in my opi nion, have been very creditable to us to have it said, that such a Report should remain upon the Table unnoticed ; therefore it was, that I first call ed the attention of the House to then con ceived th.tt it was even more adviaeable, that tile House should institute some proce.s ag.iinst Mr. Davison, than that it should be done by the Lords of the Treasury, without our interference. That opinion, however, which I formerly entertained, is now considerably weakened ; but it remains for me yet to say. that the magnitude of the @Oka, and the extensiveness of its opetation throughout the country, would have rendered it the most unfor tunate thing in the world, had it been here passed over in silence." Here the SPEAKER called the Noble Lord to order, by observing, that if he (Lord Archibald Hamilton) had no ritentioo ci submitting any Mo tion for the adoption of the there was really no question before them, and it was altozeibee irregular to state :arguments ;:nd ob.etvationa upon the subjeA. Lord ARCHIB A.LD I lAMI LTON added, that his intention was only to explain his conduct. The Noble Lord then sat down, without petsistin in making further observations. Lord HENRY PETTY rose aid said " I certainly conceive, Sir, that any observations (rem me, after what has passed, will be deemed equally irregular ; however, 1 think, that as the subj,ct in question has occasioned, of late, considerable agita tion in the piihiic mind. I may be excused I Jr the liberty I with to take, in stating to the House what are those measures adopted by the Lords of the Trasury, which the Noble Lord. who has just nosy spoken, has alluded to. It is perfectly true, as has been stated, that no delay has taken place in rag: r.: to the adoption of those steps and measures whi‘h it was deemed the duty, and which it was all along the intention, of the Lords of His Majesty's Trea sury, to pursue upon the Third R-oort of Military Inquiry—l conceive that it would have been rather unnecessary and out of the usual course of our pi o ceedings, for the House to take any step at the very time His Majesty's Government were intending to do so. The facts attending this business are these: In the early part of last autumn, before the Com missioners had made the Report which is now upon the Table of this House. they thought it their duty to communicate with the Lords of His Ma jesty's TINISSUrri and to state to them, that, from the investigation of the whole accounts, they thought it desirable that Mr. Davison should be called upon to produce his cash accounts with the Barrack Mas ter General (Gen. Delancey)—ln consequence of this opinion, these Commissioners called upon Mr. Davison for the production of that Cash-Account-- They addressed two letters to him successively, to which they received no answer whaterir—they again applied to the Lords of the Treasury, who peremptorily called upon Mr. Davison to pr . duce his Cash Books--To this lie replied ; and after as signing a domestic misfortune as a reason for not having done so formerly, alleged, that he was ready to make any explanation of the account they wished for ; but that, as various circum stances had prevented him from separating his other accounts from those of the Barrack blaster General. it was impossible fur him to produce it. The Commissioners, on being informed of the na ture of Mr. Davison's answer, declared it as their distint opinion, that such an allegation could not be fairly considered as a just one, because they could, from an iospeetion of his books. deduce and form, for their own use, that account which they called for. Mr. Davison was again applied to. and at the same time, the Repast of the Commis sioners of Military Inquiry, the Correspondence be twixt the Commissioners and the Lords of the Treasury, and that betwixt the Lords of the Treasury, and the Commissioners for the Barrack Account+, were all laid before the Attorney and Solicitor-General, to consider and advise what means were the most effectual to make Mr. Da vison pi oduce his cash-account, and also to state what steps were the most prudent to he adopted. for the purpose of securing the public interest, as connected with the whole proceedings. These Law Officers have reported their opinion. that, rather than proceed in the Court of Exchequer, it miet be a more speedy mode, and likewise more dethable ftr'Parliament, to pass a Bill, to enable the Barrack Commissioners us call upon Mr. Davison for the production of that cas.h-accosint. This advice is to be adopted ; and, I believe, my Learned Fricnd,(the Attorney-General,) is ready, this day, to move for leave to bring in the Bill so suggested ; and should Parliament approve of it. be is to j rasecute the fur* ther investigation of them transaftions. Upon this oc casion, I may observe too, that theta is not at present evidence sufficient to justisfy a criminal prosecution being instituted, bat it is the opinion of the Com missioners, that much snore evidence may yet be made to appear. 1 shall not state my own opinion upon this sillies% but shall only add, that every Measure has been taken to ascertain where such evidence really exists ; and when further evi dence is obtained, if it should appear that tl.e whole mass of it email justify such a proceeding, a criminal prosecution may then be instituted.— Mr. Davison, in a letter to the Lords of the Treasury, intimated his intention of laying his defence before them t bet it that defence does not give them tne account wantesf. Parliament will, by the proposed Bill, which I have mentioned, enahk them to call upon him to produce it. further Assure the finest, that, whenerur due to the lie can he propetly d step shall be immediately taken for the p e securing their intaest sad h•mour. li t • grounds then, I am sure, 0:.• Lors/•‘... lame soy occasion tom"retter ftis truentich drawing this Motion, or which Yo• had goer: r, The Motion was accordingly wit? d rit e lv , Aftrr a considerable litierni, during tv1,4!1 other business was ph* through. The AT I'ORNEY•OENERA L : there be laid before the Ifouse a Copy .! mission appointing Chitties H • ris And . Bragge, Emirs. Commission• rs f.r examen': , State of the Accounts in the Bat tac k I.hpartia t —Ordered. The ATTORNEY GENERAL th. 9 gave notice, that to-morrow he o.ofal i leave to bring in Bill, to invect the ebi.vi.:,‘ Commiiituners tor the Barfack the same powers as thaw app:.inted fir the u Military Iliquif y. The Corn Intercourse Bill was read a and passed. _ INVTINY BILL. On Lord ISOWICK moving the second re 3 of this Bill, Mt. ROSE mished to be informed, whrther i t price of clothing of the Vcterat, Co•,n r same as lay year ? Mr. C. W.W. Vs YNNE said. he was.not pviler prepared to answer the qttesivon. not have Papers befo.e him. He believed the price somewhat higher than last year. The Bill was then read a second tiro., an,i, r , dere.' to be committed on Friday seonight. Mr. WHITOR r.AD stared .rs the Hour. the further diseuseion et the Financial R • 4.; was heed by a Notale Lord n.ar for W...driesday se'sr.ight; anti as the which be (Mv. W) had formertrgiven n t r • five to the Pones hoes, stood err following, be sh-uld postpone. Ih u M . t i on Thursday thereatter,b.st t!le two di.co any ways interrei.e. the Anny Sodu k ainn 13;1; wu crordniste 1, , o the Report orderrti to be receive to•nt r,,w .....„- On the motion of Mr. V ANSITI AR.T. t' House went tn.o a Comnittee t') cnesithr 1: ) , t which related to the Drawha . c.k upon then propos:Ain the Convolute. thot the Ch..;, r ! should :nave the IL me for (rave to hrinz in 'a : to suspend, for a time to be limited, the Dr a wy z . „ upon Spirit iin;yirted into Britain from Jrela• J. exported from Britain to Ire) tad : and also 'countervailing Jaties upon !rich Spirits inerri,l Late Seotlivad.- The Houle resumed, and Mr. Rohl/ono; Chairmen, moved actor.ling Sn tte above resolui and leave was given t'o bring in a Bil:. • The Canada Warared Yarn B was read a t-col i l time —Ordered t., be ccmtnitred to-on :row. The Secretary at War presented rh .itcrruirlrg Returns daring each iniinzir, from tire enh 4t.ba4e, ISO, to the month of 34nnary, 1..; ; eat a It-turn of the narnh.2V of men raiise... f..r the Rep. Le SA-vice, from lit of J4141411y, 1806, to t t of J an u try, 1807, ev:lutive or Colonial Levu,. Ordered to lie nn the '1 ahfr. Mr. GILES gavc n tvoul.4, on Wed. nesday ni.t.t. move .6 .. 1. ••• laid Infoni the House an a.cenuat of ,n.f .11 ~Jallowatic s, ind enaoluments, of the varitme. once 's , cnuhett e d rick the Board of Sick and Hurt." The Order of the Day for the House resolving itself into a Coalmine* of Ways and Means was discharged, and another fixed for Friday. The Annual India Judicature Lists were related to a Committee, of which five cynstitute a qaarunt. Mr. PARNELL moved, " That the Papers pre sented by Mr. t!ittord, on the Slit of December rtlative to the importation rt grain twin Ire land into Scotland, be printed."—Ordes.l. Adjourned until to-morrow. TILE BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, TUESDAY, FzeaumLy s. Lord Aacnrasto Ham,Live, last night, in the House of Commons, declined the Motion of which he had given nonce, upon the Third Report of the Military Inquiry, respediait .Alr. A Litzswosa ♦tsos's contraets with the lirrrack Department, Iris Lordship having learned that the business has been taken up by' the Lords of the Treasury. Lard Hamer Plume stated wivit had bee:r done in that important business—that Mr. I.).svasos fad refused to produce his cash-accounts with the late Bartack. Matter, General Ds •A SCSY, aid that it WAS deemed advisable to cu end the rooven of tl e Commissioners to compel him to do so. The etidenoe hitherto obtained, lie said, wis not considered sufficient to justify a criminal prt.- secution, but farther evidence was sapetied, the aatare of which would deter:nine the course to be adopted is dais case. The Arroenstr-GsssaaL then gave notice of a motion ri-morrow, for leave to bring in a Bill to estend the power. of the Com missioners for the above purpose. Finis ^.pt•rs tl the 31)1n, &tad Dutch to the 25th ult. have been receive.' ; the former 'o ~n ; eltuato any thing of the least importance. fte only ticks in the latter watch mentioning 4re Cie lolloo ing: ' " A Frankfort Paper. on the authori•r of a letter from Vienna. speaks ul ..n obarnata battle said t• have been fought in NI ind. on the oi 30t.1 of December. bnt without mc.m.3niag the mit r. The number of peraats alt v.. ytitts teas to► yet been ascertained, nor c.v. it bs dons vita say precision till all the ruins have been remi.ve is a work of time and imutenea INead bttditas nt :;:ain.relt°l:3 lV neirrisct ;:ist e tt'' Teeter. Le suit 1 , "1' t:•-• c•olar I . on do re.; . the I haun t flese t t. .Vt•:,%q TI Cl Lott rlcd Pop , d re 3 even lather t, urn If.ts Pelfer- ' V*l priuc r a Wo• • Cat t. Aw e. I. lir i ; hi.. be c a La. mai rt t. OTI W r Cot . t tits. • V :1141.; r in 1 12 W%;:. also a inaft,rt-.1 owe, @solo.' I, I 1 t•Voi j w ; cc 'Airs I 4.t sane, Ind air. a t , e Ni, to t e II LOW lc% nn Wed. aid Wore ate ind ,~.