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• to the principle of the Bill, which was a fair one, and b.mte out by precedent and the practice of Parliament. Ile thought there was evidence rtir:i cient to induce them to entertain the measiirc in those duclmcitts alluded to by his Noble Friend ; an 1, as coining from t: grand ingar,t of the na tints, it was tlairefore admissible in point of princi ple. The qitestions vihich remained, involved the nature and e:fea of the provisions of.the Bill, and the probability, whether those could be so correaed end amended i:t a Committee, as to induce thrm, upon the w isle, to we:• to the measure. He. therefore, could not uhjeB to the Bib going to a Committee. As to the words °brae,' to by his Noble and Learned Friend, they might be left out, or any tither, which would hot produce inconve nience, affefl the principle of :he kill, or frustrate the objeas of those who brought it forward. With tespeet to the latter clauses—those indemnifyiag the parties front all civil suits and applications—it was, he thoneht, an unheard of extenst,m of the principle, and would tend to set a pi ecedent of a very ci.togerous nature. In this view, it should be considered what may be done with a ;elerrme to the desired ob j-Cf, without the interference of the l..egisl iture, es in the instance of the Attorney-General's entering a • 0,7? , nr4sera, in the ca.t. f a criminal proceeding, which would leave the patties liable to a civil anion. His Lordship r'-.en referred to a part of the provisions of the Bill, and which had a prospective operation, with respell to an indemnity against all civil aetien,, es well as criminal prosecutions, and which, he eon feext.d, appeared to him to I. so violent and out rageous an extension of the princi s le, as, he thought, could neve: he ser'onsly in the contemplation et the promoters if tbe le .advert d to the propriety of limcing the indemnities, with rerrence to the circumstances of the pending impeachment ; and of placing the parries in that situation, in which a mill proteindi would leave them. At the saute time at the el.,se of the ses-.ion, he thought as little delay as possible ,hretld obtain ; and that it tiould be het ter to let the Bill go threugh i s two next stages, and consider the proposed alterations, on the 9d reading. Lord Viscount SIDMOUTH short- delvered his sentiments He agreed in a great deal of what fell from his Noble Friend who spoke last upon the suhjea, and thought the obj•Elions made to the lan guiefe cf the Bill were such as might easily be ob viated in a Committee; hut he thought it would be a l amentable consideration, were the Bill altered in such a way as to throw obstacles ia the way of attaining the evidetice necessary for the ends of sub stantial justice on the one side, or of estate Oh in` the innocence of the individual accused, on the other. lie thought that all due facilities should be given, and that they may confide in the vigilance ache Noble Lord on the Woolsack, that no ille gitimate measure should he resorted to. . After a short explanation from the LORD CHANCELLOR, the House resolved into a Com mittee on the Bill, passed it without amendment, forthwith received the Repo) t ; and, On the motion of Lord HAWKE:3BURY, or dered the Bill to be read a third time to-morrow; on whi h occasion it is understood the proposed =cud =edits will be discussed. Their Lordships then went intrie Committee upon the Pad iington Canal B.il, against which the Alarsptis of Buckingham had previously presented a petition. In the Committee, th • Noble Nlerquis spoke at &Aside: able le , igth against the kin aid so vrengly was he impressed with the injurious eels of the measure, that he mopesed the Chairman should leave the Chair, in order to move afterwards, that the further consideration of the Bill be deferred to that dey theee months. Lord liA RROW BY defended the Bill. The Marcois of BUCKINGHAM explained ; after which, he moved, for the above purpose, that the Chairman do now leave the Chair. On this the Committee divided— the Motion B—Against it I—Majority 5. After some further discussiort, in which Lo-d newt:miner and other Peers took a part, the Bill went through the Committee, and was ordered to be reported tn-morrow. The House went into a Committee of the whole Rouse on THE SMUGGI.F.Itv rif t. lord HOLLAND opposed the Hill proceeding Irny further during the present session, on the for grounds :—That it WAS a Bill of the highest importance to the best and dearest rights and pri. vileges of the inhabitants of the Islands of Jersey and Guernsey ; that considerable doubts were enter tained by the inhabitants of those Islands, which doubts had been strongly supported by Counsel iie both Houses, whether the Parliament had a right to legislate for those islands, it having been the custom, time oat of mind, fur the King in Council to be their sole Legislator. He did not say that he was pre pared to admit those arguments, as to the rights of legislation ; hut he could have no doubts on his own mind, that if the iehabitants of those islands entertained such sentiments, the passing cf this all could not fail to engender discontents, whose ef teas would be highly injurious to the interests of this country. His Lordship went into a consider:a. bd.: length of argument t on the great hardship and tip prcssinn of many of theclattses,which empowered C us tom-house Officers to bring persons, who were only passengers on board ve,scls in which contrabandgoods were tound, to any part of the United Kingdom, to be tried by laws of which they were totally igno sant, and Isfrire tribunals to which they were utter strangers. He was certain, he said, that these nho framed the Bill, and ehose who had passed it in alio iinitse, did not understand the UAW.: of many - persons cons ild be brought Peoer—ts de :flown and sin e complained of ;h the Hill had , and the very ted to be hue / Lordships to inaccuracies—to I . alluded, the ill (night give defer it to tie seriously And e.l, that the t progr.ss. I.u'eness .if business which ;. ..1• wns now before the House for its eonsiderat ion ; if, bowev •r, such was ever excusable, it war during the present session. .'He differed, however, from his Noble Friend.who spoke last, as to the principle of the Bill. The belandsof Guernsey and Jerset were well knnem to be a great erarrAt for various kinds of ro:rehandise ; they, of course, became a great entrept for smigAng also ; and the state of our trade rr spired that smuggti:lg should be sup pressed Ai mob and as speedily as possible, manor:ally hr those Islinds, in and from which it was carried on to an a:nazing extent. The Bill, he allowed, was of the highest importance, and, as sikh, it had receive' the fullest and most serious con sider:Lion —it had heels !refine the other House ever sines the lOth of ; had been repeatedly dis crused ; Counsel had been fully heard against it in both Houses; the people of Jersey had made no objeflion to it ; and, fur all those reasons, it had his decided support. The Duke of CLARENCE ohjealed to so im portant a qaestion being brought forward at so late a period of the session. He regretted he had lea had an opportunity of hearing the Counsel at the bar on a former occasion. His Royal Highness oh served. he had hewn more than once in the Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, and could vouch for the luyalty and attachment of the inhabitants to th: Government of this kingdom. In the year 1783 it WAS the wish of Government to employ officers to pr event smiiggltng; and it wat•then found, that ves sels of very small construetion only could be service a!de. Is Was impossible for French vessels to navi gate near Normandy, without coming within a few leagues of those islauds. Exclusive of the lateness 1 the session, he considered this by no means the proper time for considering a question of so serious importance. The Officers who were empluyed up on that service, thought that such a measure was certainly necessary ; but they considered that this WAS by no means the One for entertaining the ques tion; he there ore give his decided opposition to the further progress of the Bill. Lord HOLLAND shortly explained ; he thought the bill replete with incenveniencies, and must give rise to many difficulties and disputes, and if nil rejected altogether, he at least wi s hed it should not take place till next session. Lords Hawesseuev and HOLLAND severally explained, when the question for tire Chairman leaving the Chair, was put, and negatived without a division. The first clause was then read in Committee, and Lord Hot.i.attn moved, " That this clause should be omitted," when a division took place, and die numbers appeared. For retaining the clause P)—For rejelting it 7--- Majority against Lord H. , lland's Motion 11. The several other clauses were then read, the House resumed, and the report ordered to be re ceived to-morrow. Lord HAWKESBURY moved the Order of the Day for the further consideration of the Duke of Athol's claim, in Committee ; when The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM rase, and ob served, that several of the papers, which were es sentially necessity fur !be consideration of this ques tion, had not been printed, nor had even the Coun sel beets apprised of the order for their attendance until if i• day; he therefore considereJ their Lord stips could not then discuss the subject with pro priety, and moved the Questi(al of adjournment. The Earl of WESTMORLAND obje&ed to the motion. A division took place, and the numbers appeared —For the questing of adjournment 7, proxies 5, total 12—Against it 21, proxies 20, total 41—. M ajority against the adjournment 29. While strangers were excluded, a conversation took place between the Marquis of lice Itit.inH a 4, the Earl of CAR Yiro sr, Lord HAWIRI.SBLIKV, BCC . 1 he I louse then went iato a Committee, and Coun sel were called in. Mr. Romilly was heard at great length nn behalf of the Petitioners. against the ; after which, The Earl of WESTMORLANI) said, that after the utmost attention that he could pay, he had not heart: one argument which here against the Bill. A conveis tt:oa then ensued between the LORD CMAKCCILOa and the Marquis of BLit:1111011A hi, in which the former argued against the calling in Counsel, and the latter for it. Counsel were then heard, and witnesses were ex amined in support of the all , 4kations in the Bill. After this proceeding had taken place, and the Counsel withdrawn. their Lordships entered upon tUsctissina of Cie c:aases (If the Bill. The praamble being postponed, and the question on the principal enacting clause, that of granting the Annuity to the Duke of Athol, to the amount of one fowls pan of the customs, Stc. of the Isle of Mao ; The Duke of NORFOLK strongly opposed it in a speech of some length, and afterwards took the sense of the Committee upon the Clause; when there appeared—For the Clause 19— Against it s.—Ma jority 14. • After some farther discussion, the Committee went through the remaining clauses, on the suggestion of the LORD CHANCELLOR, without amendment. It being agreed th:tt the farther debate, and what ever amendment any Noble Lord may propose, should he on the third reading of the Bill; The report was further received, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow, when, the Lotto Cu ANCRI Loit remark, I, in the coutse of the above conversation, Noble Lords could debate the measure eight, nine, or ten hours, if they thought prt,pee. At FOE: R O'CLOCK this morning their Lord ships adjourned till the usual hour this day. parts of it ; for they had emitted, that p 11 snitling efences ag.iinst the AR, shouis to answer hefore the .1 egti'eet of the scrip:ion of parsons altogether unknol b il e :e ard of in c Ire s it o . d he n r f o t f the he.. He c c which been brought forward in dud Horse, i hasty mai.aer in which it was attempte4 tied shrimp. lie entreated their I. pause—to consider well the many inaci say the least of the.u, to which he had numerous mischiefs to which the Bill rise, and that they wool.] ci nient to de west Session, when it might be more si fully considered. 1-ie thzrcfore move Chairs i n e f.) leave the Choir, and repot' 'Lord 1-i A‘VK P.SCU Y allowed she the stessitits, and the iratzrAtse press at btu INOUYE OF COMMONS. JALDS MACDONALD, Esq. (sow of the Lard Chi?, B.•un of the • twuk silo , OMN and hit Scat as Re. , rr•cutetive fur the Ronnuglis of March, Dingwall, Am in Sonlitisd VISCOUNT 'tIFIATII.T.E'S IMPEACIIMENT. Mr. %if I Blit.Al) moved, that the *crossed Ankles of Impeachment against Lord N. iscount Melville be now redid ; which being accordingly done pro Arma, they were accordingly sent off to the Lords by Mi. WH IT SRC AD, who, on his return, in• formed them, that be haJ exhiLited, putsuant to their command, Articles of Impeachment. in the mane of all the C3mmons of Great Britain and Ire against Henry Lord Viscount Melville., be fore sot: I louse of Lords. Mr. WHITBREAD next said, that, in coil formity with the notice he had given y2steeday, he rose to move , s For leave . to bring in a Rill to con tinue the power of the Impeachment Committee to proceed in their examinations, and to enable the Committee already appointed to sit, notwithstanding any prorogation or dissolution of Parliament. He was aware, he said, that he was calling on the House for a deed which was almost without a precedent ; but he thought that every deviation of this kind, from established praElice, should be regulated by the circumstances and necessity of the case. Impeach ments were things which so rarely occurred, that they must necessarily he less subject than others to any ordinary rules; and as the Commons had al ready voted the present articles, the House must be sorry that any thing should be omitted which might he likely to bring it to a successful termina tion. it was to be considered that this proceeding took place at a very late period of the session, when the Committee had not to pursue its investigation to any very great extent ; and though one of the wit. nessei, from Edinburgh, whom he alluded to yes terday, had this day arrived, yet it was probable that it may be necessary to summon others from the same remote quarter. Every one must perceive the evident necessity of obtaining Mr. Trotter's evidence as soon as he should be set at liberty to make a full disclosure, should the other House be pleased to concur in the Indemnity Bill, which was now before them. He was sensible that the power lie proposed for the Committee was very great ; but he hoped, that if granted, the House may confidently trust to its not being abused, and that it would he exercised with every degree of dis cretion. At the same time, though the Committee thought it their duty to instruct hint to malie this ap plication, in order that they may be enabled to pur sue more effeClually their delegated funatons, it was not meant to be pressed, if any strong objections should be made to it. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it would not he necessary for him to employ many words upon this motion, as the lion. Gen tleman had expressed himself conscious that it was liable to nhjesi•ms ; objections, in his opinion, so strong as to be absolutely insurmountable. lie was confident that no precedent would he fonnd for such an inroad in the Constitution as to interfere with the prerogative of the Crown at any time to put an end to all Parliamentary proceedings whatever. He assured the House, however, that if those Constitu tional objections had presented themselves, he should be far from opposing any thing of enquiry, or to stand in the way of due justice being administered; but he confessed that he saw no great disadvantage that could arise from adhering to precedent ; there was no probabiiiiy that the Lords would appoint the earliest day of the next Sessions for the trial of these charges ; and though the Committee might be unable to conclude its examinations before the pro- rogation took place, it would be an easy matter to employ for that purpose a certain number of days in the next Session, without taking a step, which would break down one of the land-marks of the Constitution. He should therefore find himself under the necessity of giving his negative to the Motion. Earl TEMPLE observed, that his Right lion. relation had not stated all the grounds of the mo tion then before them ; as it was possible that the other House might take the very earliest d.iy for griing into the trial, and, therefore, no time should be lost in having all the evidence prepared. Mr. C. W. \VYNNE thought it very material, that the Committee should he in possession of Mr. Trotter's unbiassed testimony, as it may open the sources of other evidence, which could not, perhaps, be easily obtained after the vacation. Mr. WEI I I BREAD, in his reply, said, that lie did not consider the power of continuing proceed ings, although unprecedented, to be any inroads on the Constitution. The Right Hon. Gentleman said, that the ohjeel might be obtained by the ap plication of a few days after the recess ; but casual ties should be allowed for, and it was no: impossi ble, that by the death of Mr. Trotter or others, the evidence to be obtained at present may then be out of their reach. He would not, however, press his motion any farther ; but suggested ohether, as was done in the case of Mr. Hastings, it would not be expedient to bring in a bill to provide for the con tinuance of the Impeachment, notwithstanding any disAution ; which might be dune by art amendment to his former motion. Lord HENRY PETTY then moved an amend ment for leaving out the word," to enable the Com mit!ee to sit•" The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, it would, in his opinion, be better to follow the exalt words of the precedent given in the Impeach ment of Mr. Hastings. Mr. WHI I BREAI) acquiesced in this sugges tion ; and, having obtained leave to withdraw his former motion, moved for •• leave to bring in a Bill to provide that the proceedings now pending in the impeachment of Lord Viscount Melville should nor he discontinued in consequence of any prorogation or dissolution of Parliament ;" which was agreed to, and a Committee appointed to prepare the same. IMPRISONMENT OP CAPTAIN WRIGHT. Mr. WINDHAM adverted to a subjea which he had before brought under the consideration of the House; he meant that of Captain AVright, of His Majesty's navy, taken while sailing on the high seas, and tyrannically imprisoned by crier of the Emperor of France. The most material point to consider was, whether there were any circumstances in this to distinguish it from other cases of captures made at sea ? He had already described the situa tion of Capt. Wright at that time, ailing iii the way of his lawful oecupation according to the at know'eJged rules of Belligerent Nations. The French Emperor, ho..vever, it seemed, suspeded that he had been previously employed in send ing enemies to the present government upon the coast cf Fiance. Captain Wright was examined upon this point ; and, though threatened with all the severe penalties of refusal, he aged, as even a British officer of less ',ilk would have done, in declining to give any answer. Ever since that time the gallant Officer was detained as a close puss soner, cut off from the use of pen, ins, paper, and every thing else that might tend to alleviate his suf ferings. He was sorry that a renowned Officer (Sir Sydney Smith) was not then pie era, to whom he could appeal for a description of the nature of THE BRITISH PRESS. the similar imprisonment which he till when, after four months severe close, he was allowed the privilege of shew; and walking about for a stated time his prison. Wnether Captaia Weight ployed in the praftice impu ei to him, say, as it made no part of the question. of landing enemies, or proscribed per, ways usual in time of war, and consu l by the colidnet of the French thorns,'' occasion which presented itself. The vernment, amongst many other Theohald Wolfe Tone in Ireland ; soff !red when taken, as A rebel arel a benly ever thought of treating the brought him with the rigorous sever-it he fallen into out hands. I have the sonally knowing Captain Wright; . who had not that opportunity of being with him, most admit that he has A rie thing that his country can do for him. may be asked, after all this, what What is there in our powet to relieve His answer was, that we should do all true, that if a man be murdered, we t him to life, but we punish the offender to prevent as much as possible the repotitio: crimes. Such wan the proper law -` The manifest way would be, if re affotdecl, to treat all the prisoners of hands exadtly in the same manner. Bon gat te, " we will not irritate you . you may do worse," it would be the same as Clol• feising him our master—it would be a degrad ing confession of our own inferiority, and would not fail of making that injurious impression on the 'Kende of the people, and of the officers in our service. What man could be expeCted to enter vice of a Power which would not aft r.l bun this just and reasooable prnettiorg Allegiance ani protettion were allowed to go band in Jim', and the principle was the same in militate service and probath n. But it may be said that were we to do this, it would be retaliatcd on the prisoners at Verdun. Ile could see no pre. ferable distindlion between those hostag's, and host ages of star. Of the two, he could see reasons why they had not so groat a cl nin as those taken in war. Most of them were there not as a matter of erre lir or force Some of them went to France for whoal. ment, for play, or fur lie enjoyment of ventnan's will, &c. others were takin in their passage front foreign places; but none of .hem were taken in service •a their country. 'lhey may be of =aeon senteence at home, and have more aequaintances to feel for them than ordinary prisoners, to whe in his opinion, they had an inferior clainr. ghat Bonaparte :night be, and however beynn 1 the reach of controul and punishment, he was not be yond the reach of popular opinion, and particularly of that of his own army and navy, which wend scarcely brook to be sulij..Ct to such retaliation, brought upon them by his injustice, inhuneinity, and contempt tor the s ights of war, and the laws rine hors. lie owned, he said, that this was not the most seasonable time for propnf;ng any motion on this subjeCt, a compliance with which hie ht posei- Lly tend to provoke obstinacy on the pill if the oppressor, niter so long an interval. durb'g which he was suffered to do as he thought proper ; hut, had the measures lie siiirgested been adopted in the first instance, upon his recommendirion, he be lieved it would be successful, as it must be danger oils for Bonaparte, that his tyranny would be pro d iCtive of such spitited effeets. He would grant, that something had been dune ns obtain redress; but, as it was not successful, it w s one duty to re taliate. Were he disposed at this ime to offer any motion, it would be for an acconiit l el what pro ceedings bad been t a k en on this subjeef ; but, as he did not wish to do so at this period of the •ession, he should content himself with giving notice, that if nothing decisive was adopted on that subjeCt, during the recess, he should think it his duty to take the earliest opportunity, in the next iession, of bringing it under the consideration of Parliament. Adjourned to to-morrow. ••• PICTYaat G , No. VI. To-inotrow. The Law Intelligence is given In 'he Law Part. LONDON, WEDNESDAY. JULY 10. LORD NELSON and th COMBINED FLEET. At half-past one o'cio k, p. w. en Sunday, a sloop of war arrived in Plymouth Sound, under a press of sail. From the cir..umstances of her not making her number, bearing a white ensign, and her crew, who went aloft to furl her sails, being dressed in white jackets and trowsers, and straw hats, the people on shore concluded that she must !wee corn. from Vice Admiral Lord NI,LSON in the West Indies, or from Rear-Admiral Sir EDW4ID PELLEW, in the East. The moment the sloop brought to in the Sound, she put out her boat with an officer on hoard, who immediately procee‘led up the har bour to the Port Admiral. The sloop proved to be the Cur:cna, of la guns, and the officer, her commander, Capt. lirrotswoirit, th irged with dispatches from Vice Admiral Lord NELSON. At half past five, Capt. BETTESMORTII set of for London, and yesterday morning at two o'clock a. he arrived at the Admiralty. The grateful news, of which he was the beaus, soon transpired, and at tin o'clock, several copies of the following letter from Plymouth, containing the substance of the account given by Captain Bar reswoave during his stay at that place, received by the M iil, ware widely circulated in town : " Plymouth, July 7. Came in Ls Curlews sloop of war, Capt. B ttesworth, from the Loeraal !thuds, w.tii tisystchte from Lcil Neso", vr.m,o she left ma the t9th June, a Ataigua, steering to the P:',itlota:•!, after t Frunds 44.1 Spawsit Elms, bani-g r•• 111.11 he ezperianak gel V ° lose confineateb % .it or hewing Iliem r k r d le in the yard f have ht had Item eon the, m, he could not 1 Sig h on. The p ra a k .. e persons. Nas 41. on nstantly justified t' !selves, ni every ' Ihe l'rencli C u . „starers landed ~them ard, thOugh le • te , a tr.titor, }et 1, 0 aeu re Caplan., rho • l it ies of war , had .1 e pleasure of p er . • N' ; but even s h oe ' t stati being acquainted The 4 right to even. n. The q uts ,i on 'ricers. t is to b e d one t at ye his sufferin,,,+ to t he tll we can. It 1 4 - 1. t' -e cannot restu te ,nder with serh, pad V •eptition of rie, w of re ta li at i on. CI redress WAS not 40114 . I war now in tar. d r. If sid to su'l al in this for feu the same as con. be a degrading , and would not lion on the made .1 h• s i r our servic:. ter t ff r.l Inm thin Allegiance ani 'Alt band in hand, ". ne in mditary may Le said ld • Le retaliat e d r, • . • said see no pre. ttages, and h iss . 1.1. r see reasons why rise taken in war. latter of race ranee for what!. cldti rent of ternnu,n's Ida. :ir passage fume vere taken in di, 1;:a be of =Aeon. a...quaint:tucks to NF ors, to wbe in br.,l lain. 1iu.....er revel. berml the the he was not be. dist and particularly An th) h a. suc bet h h:sh; n; was : i. r .aa i i: e c s. Inis t ttt l tiy i W , : p t ,tn t n i Atn o j :hlo ; : n e d i: ... g rt the pin 1-f the al. durid.g which im :In proper ; hut, ct I adopted in the nd aeion, he he. an must be danger. , e a t y would be ten. fe would grant. re: obtain redress; Tr, s oar duty to re. at me to offer any bee what pro- ije ; but, as he tf the •ession, he al ig notice, that if t subjett, during ea ar . ro .Inn of o i b PRESS. t oc yt . n w t A r k i. . r sl e l i ne R e g t di i i r 10. FNED FLEET. 1 on Sunday, a Sound, under a neat of her not ensign, and her Is, being dressed