The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1805-02-19 00:00:00

- to consider what he had suggested, be should take the liberty of moving, that the order for the Com mittee sitting to-morrow he discharged, and a simi lar order made for Thursday. Lord HAWKESBURY said, he differed widely in opinion horn the Noble Baron, in what he had advanced upon the subjea, Us every point of view, either with reference to the individual concerned, the interests of the administration of justice in II e land, or to the public at large. He thought the investigation should be proceeded with in the way already agreed upon, and with as little delay as the circumstances of the case Would admit. Their Lordships would have to consider the situation in which the case stood before them. It had been brought forward by a Noble Member of that House towards the close of the last Session. After some discussion, it was adjourned to the present Sessions, when there arose some doubts as to the proper course to be taken ; the result of their Lordships de liberations on that point was, that it was desirable, before Mr. Justice Fox should be called upon to an swer the matters alleged, some enquiry should be ma .le into the case, and some trhum facie evidence offered, with a view to establish a ground for subse quent proceeding. A farther delay was then ac ceded to, about a month, in order to afford time to enable witnesses to come from Ireland. That last interval of delay being elapsed, he was surprised to hear on this day, for the first time, new doubts thrown out as to the propriety of what had been done, and a considerable further delay pressed for. Upon the whole, he was decidedly of opinion, the most regular and expedient way would be, to pro ceed in the line already resolved on. With respeft to the Constitutional consideration of the case, he saw no objection whatever against the matter as given in that House. He was aware of the respettive le gal right of either House to originate things of the kind; yet there were considerations which more pro perly, and, with a view to general praftice and usage, more particularly fell within the province of the one House than of the other. Matters of com merce, revenue, and finance, lay more particularly with the Commons. On the other hand, there were several matters which, by the same rule, it lay with their Lordships to orig inate . Such, particularly, were cases of Divorce Bills. Certain considerations, with resped tu the law, in deciding upon which. they could have the assistance of - the Learned Judges, who occasionally attended for the purpose; and also that of the beads of some of the Courts of Justice, who were usually Members of that House He was convinced, the ends of justice would be mere satisfactorily answered, by suffering the busi ness to proceed in its present course ; not only in this, but in point of expedition, it was infinitely preferable. In any mode of proceeding, the con currence, or the co-operation of that House urarld be eventually necessary. As the case stood, the mode recommended by else Noble Lord would be only prodndtive of farther and even injurious delay. The Commons could adopt no middle course be tween a Vote of their House, either for red. ess or impeachment ; in the,pending interval the charafter of the individual would remain at stake, and in some degree the administration of justice in :lean.] suspended, far, by their single vote, the judicial funEtions of the individual would not be entirely taken away. Upon the whole, though he differed entirely from the Noble Baron in his proposition, yet he was not, adverse to deferring the farther consi deration of the case for a very short time, in order to afford their Lordships an opportunity of turning over in their minds what had been respeeively thrown out. His mind, however, upon the point was made up ; and he should have seriously to re commend to the use to proceed in the course already resolved u d with as little farther de lay as possible. The Earl of CARLISLE made a few observa tions in support of what had fallen from his Noble Friend ( Lord Grenville). He pressed the consideration, that their Lordships, in the mode proposed, would have to proceed as a Grand Jury, in an ei prie way ; aed upon a case, which possi bly might afterwards come bel ire them as Judges ; and he contended, that, on the score of expedition, the line of conduit recommended by his Noble K Friend was by far the preferable. The LORD CHANCELLOR quitted the wool sack, and directed his observations chiefly to the si tuation in which the question stood, and the most eligible mode of proceeding in point of form ; but declined delivering his sentiments upon the subjea, till a future opportunity ; but seemed to prefer pro ceeding with the investigation, as the House had already determined. There was one point which transpired in the course of th..t evening's discus sion, which he was happy to obsri ve. and mr which he had to express his thanks to \oble Lords— nay, even his gratitude—the appairot disposition to aa npnn the opporrunitiis which the Constitution afforded them, of having recourse to the assistance, when necessary, of the Law Lords, and to render their attendance effedual. Lord GRF.NVILLE spoke in explanation ; and expressed his astonishment at the way in which the Noble Secretary of State seemed to consider what had fallen from him. He thought his conduel, on the occasion, required no ;piston ; it was the bounden duty of every Member of that Houle to come forward and offer his opinion, in every stage of a business, and on every opportunity, as to what he drought might best favour the ends of pub lic justice. lle was prevented, by indisposition, from attending, when the subjeti was last discussed. Nn considerations of delay or inconvenience should militate against the paramount principles, and more important ends of public jtotice. They should con sider the novelty of the case before them, and that they were about to set a precedent to future ages, on a point of thelastimportance, in the exercise of all their (nations. Lord HAWKE'S/WRY explained ; as far as his recolleEtion served him, he had said nothing which ought to induce astonishment on the part of the No ble Baron ; he regretted the cause of his inability to attend when the subject was last discussed; but a considerable interval had since elapsed, in which the Noble Lord had an opportunity of coming forward. He had so far conceded as to agree to the Noble Lord's proposition in the first instance, but he had to deprecate all unnecessary delays in the investiga tion of the case. The Duke of CLARENCE expressed his &via faCtion at what had fallen from the Noble Lord who had opened the discussion ; but not having attended A ....m the former discuuion upon the In*" he confessed himself rather at a loss to know the precise situation in which the case then stood, and any Noble and "Learned Lord present would beggedom him. The LORD CHANCELLOR quitted the woolsack, and explained generally to His Royal Highness, that the obje& of the Committee, which had been ordered to sit, was to investigate the truth of matters alleged, so far as to ascertain whether a sufficient ground appeared to war rant their Lordships in calling upon the accused to answer, or to entertain a motion for an address upon the occasion. The witnesses were to be ex amined upon oath before the Committee, as to the truth of matters alleged, but to what extent it was for the Committee to determine. After a few observations from the Duke of Cta recce, the question was put upon Lord Grenville's motion, which was ordered accordingly. SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS ACT. Lord KING called to the recolleaian of their Lordships what had fallen from him on a former evening, relative to the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus AEI in Ireland, and the great discretionary Dower vested in the Crown in consequence. It being in agitation to renew the measure, as one of very questionable importance, he thought that ade quate reasons should be assigned for it. With that vies►, he called for the information which was stated in his motion on a former night. He expressed his hope the Noble Secretary of State had, upon further consideration, altered his opinion upon the point, and would agree to the produaion of the inform ation required. His Lordship then proposed his motion, similar to that offered on a former night ; the leading point was, " That an account of the conditions on which such persons as were liberated from confinement under the Suspension of the &brat Corpus Mt, were discharged, be laid before the House." Lord HAWKESBURY replied, that the more he had considered the point, the more confirmed lie was in his oblations to such a proceeding. The Noble Secretary then repeated his observations on the former occasion, as to the dangerous tendency, in various points of view, of making the disclosure required; this, he thought, so obviously the case, that he did not wish to take up their Loidships' time in further descanting upon the subjeet. Lord GRENVILLE argued in favour of the pro duaion desired, as, without it, the House would he at a loss whether or not the King's servants made a wise or a beneficial use of the discretionary powers vested in them by the Ad of Suspension. In Ina, that part of the information required by his Noble Friend, was by far the most important of the whole, and on which, in a great degree, the whole merits of the question would depend. The Marquis of SLIGO made a few observa tions in support of what fell from the Noble Secre tary of State. Lord GRENVILLE spoke in explanation, en forced part of what he had in the first inst ince ob served, and hoped the point in question would, on a future occasion, and in a fuller House, be again brought forward. After afew words from Lord KING, that part of his Lordship's Motion in question was, as we could collea, withdrawn. The Noble Lord then moved for the produttion of certain accounts respeaing the issue of Bank of Ireland notes, within a given period. These, he explained, were precisely similar, except in point of time, as what he had moved for List Session. Lord HAWKESBURY expressed his wish, that the Noble Lord would defer his Motion until to morrow or Thursday. Lord KING was at a loss to see what objeCtion , the Niible Secretary of State could entertain, to ac ceding then to the Motion. However, he had no objeaion to postpone it till a future day ; when he most probably would have to move, as he had for merly stated, for an account of all sums remitted to Inland, on account of Government, from the Ist of January, 1804, to January I, Inos, distinguish ing the modes of remittance and other particulars. This he was induced to do, with a reference to the state of the Exchange between the two countries. some private business was then disposed of; and a few witnesses sworn. A number of witnesses had attended the greater part of the evening for the pur pf.se of being sworn with respct to their proposed evidence before the Committee of their Lordships, on the matters alleged against Mr. Justice Fox. Sonic or their names were called; but the Gentle men, in general, having retired hefore the discus sions of the evening ended, the Clerk expressed his wish that they should attend to-morrow, in order to be sworn.—Adjourned. 110t 7 S E OF COMMONS. ..... The SECRETARY at WAR presented. pursuant to order, a return of the men un the Royal liniment of &witty, aod 3f the new Levies, which were ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. DUNDAS twought up a P.tition item the Commission ers of Excise, in Scotland; the contents of which we were unable to hear, which was referred to a Committee to examine and report. A Moti•in h.ising been Mad!, that the Message from the Lords, of the 28th January last, respecting the attendance of several Membris, be now taken into cuieWileratian ; it was ordered that Criron .1 CM:. arid Sir limes Stewart, Bart. two of the said Memb.oe, have lea,' Co go to the House of Lords when they think ht. Ms. FRANCIS sensed, that there be laid before the flow:, *epics of all the Treatias, engagements, and correspondence, entered into between the British Government in tadia, and the Great Mogul, previous to the Treaty of Merle. Mr. DUNDAS (in the absence of Mr. Pitt) said, that thine WA% no objection to the production of these Papers, which was ordered accordingly. A person from the Exchequer presented various accounts of ' the Duties on Imports and Exports, to and from the Isle of Man, up to April last year, which were ordered to be printed. The accounts of the ch arges of the repel,' of the Romney and LA Sensible frigates, when under the command of Sir Ilome Popham, were also ordered to be printed. • The Report of the Commitke on the Quarantine Bill was brought up, and the aniendinents read and agreed to. The Order of the hay for a Committee on the Mutiny Bill was discharged, and another appointed for Friday next. SIrJOHN NEWPORT gave notice, that he should move, on Thursday next, that there be laid before the Houma return of the Irish Pensions, granted since 170; also of compenta. kc. granted in consequence of the Act of Union, as ter as the same can be made up. The Land Tax Cominissinners Indemnity Bill was read a second time and committed. Admiral POLE, after a few observations, moved, that the House being informed that the proper signature to the 6th Report of the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry had not been signed in the usual manner ; he therefore moved, that the same be withdrawn, and another presented. Mr. ALEXANDER brought up the Report of the Cuat miuee Supply. The Resolutions were read and agreed t o . A Member pve notice, that he should make • Mytiun to morrow, relative to the detention of the passengers taken on board the Soanish frigates. The following were ordered to be laid on the table, •ra. An account of the Duties payable upon Salt ❑t England and Scotland, for three years, ending the sth January, 1805, distinguishing the amount in each year, Sic. An account of the Duties upon Salt, ettported for three years, ending the sth January, 1805, distirgualting the amount in each year, &c. An account of the Duties payable upon Horses and Carriages, for the years 1803 and 1804. An account of the Duties upon Horses and Mules, used in husbandry, in England arid Wales, fur three ytars, ending the sth of April, 1804. • of the net amount of the Assessments, under the An account Property, fur the year ending the Mh of April, 1104 Mr. la vam c, litopector-General of Imports and Exports; and Mr. YARQVII•II, from the Tax Office, presented the alauve accounts which were laid upon the table. The S PEAKER ' said, he thought it right to state, that a ballet for an Election Committee stood for to-morrow. lie, therefore, gave notice, that lie should come down to the Hoots! to-morruvr, at half-pest three, and take the Chair precoely at four o'clock. COMMITTEE Of WAYS AND MEANS. TILE BUDGET. The Order of the Day being moved for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, the above financial papers were ordered to be referred, and the House having resolved itself into said Committee, Mr. ALu AN OLR in the Chair ; BUPPI.IES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER arose, and spoke to the following effeSt r—u. Mr. ALLIANDEII, Sir, the first article of supply to which I feel it my duty to call the attention of the Committee, upon the present occasion, is the Naval service, the total amount of the various sums voted for which is upwards of fourteen millions and a half. I may state it at 14,645,0001. being about 1,800,0001. above the grants of last year for the same . service. This difference has arisen in consequence of the vote for 20,000 additional seamen, and also on account of some encreased expellees which have oc cerred in the department of the transport service. The next article of supply is the army, for which 10,000,0001. has been voted in the present session, including various sums for militia, foreign corps, guards, and garrisons, the barrack department, &c. with the particulars of which 1 shall not detain the Committee, as they are already in possession of the detail. There remain, under this head, two arti cles of expence, not voted—and, for which provi sion must be made—l mean the Volunteers, at.d the Extraordinaries of the Army. The amount of the sum voted for the former, in the last year, was one million three hundred thousand pounds ; but I shall now move only 1,100,0001. for that service. The extraordinaries of the army, last year, amounted to 3,660,0001. ; and I would estimate them, this year, at the same sum; maki tg, in the whole, fourteen millions seven hundred and sixty thousand pounds ; being about 300,0001. more than the amount of the army expenccs of the last year. For Iceland, 2,738,0001. has been voted, tinder the head of guards, garrisons, &c. But there are two heads of expence, for which no provision has been made. 1 mean the army extraordinaries, and the Volunteers ; but I take them at little above 500,0001. each, mak ing together 1,1 18,0001. Adding, then, these se veral sums together, the total amount of the set viers of the army will be 13,til 6,0001. being less than the total amount of the expellee of the same service for the last year, which was 19,143.0001. — The next heads of expence for Ireland are, for Mi litia, Ordnance, kc. 4,000,0001. Miscellaneous ser vices, &c. 2,t98,0001. These constitute the great heads of the joint charges upon England and Ire land —amounting, in the whole, to 39.559, 0001 . I think it my duty to notice, in this place, an- . other article of expence . I allude to one of great importance, in whatever light it be viewed— whether in regard to our own particular interest, or in relation to the general security of Europe. Gentlemen are aware that His Majesty communi cated, in his Speech, at the opening of the Session, that a correspondence then othested between him and some of the powers of the Continent, particu larly the Emperor of Russia. Upon that occasion, I had the great setisfation of hearing only one ge neral sentiment expressed in this House, that the se curity of this country is intimately connate,' with the security of the Continent. It must be my hope and wish, that this connection may lead to the per manent security of the one and the other; hut, know ing the character of the enemy with whom we have to contend, it would be rash and presumptuous to entertain a confidence, that this great object can be Attained without great sacrifices, and extraordinary exertions on our part. It may be stiggested, that the expence cannot be ascertained until the arrange ments are complete, and that the Committee have no means of ascertaining the necessary sum until papers containing the details .trc all before the I liaise: but I rely that it would nat be wise to post. pinie making a provision of pecuniary succours, to enable us to avail ourselves or the opportunity when it shall arrive, without delay. With this feel , ing. and with this view, I propose to ptovide for given expence upon the possibility of its becoming necessary, and in the progress of the business to ob tain the pecuniary supply which may be wanted upon its completion. For this purpose then I mean to call upon the Committee for a sum of .5,000,0001. which, added to the 39,559,0001. above stated, will make the joint expence to be borne by F.ngland and Ireland, amount to the sum of 44,559,0001. Of this sum, by the 1: ticks of the Union, 2-17ths are to be paid by Ireland. Ireland is also to pay t-t7ths of the expence. of the Civil List, and other charges on the Consolidated Fund, not relating to the pu!dic debt, amounting to 5,433,0001. If then you deduSt this sum from 44,590,0001. the total of the joint ex pence, it will leave a sum of 39,157,0001. to be de frayed by Great Britain alone. It is also neces say to take notice of some separate espences, which will necessarily swell the amount of the sum paya ble by Great Britain. In the first place, 1,000,0001. will be necessary to discharge the debt on account of the East India Company, and I must provide a sum to that amount. There is also a further sum . of 474,0001. for American claims ; and, in addition r to these, there. is a much largo sum, which has arisen from a cause which I shall briefly explain. In ' the last year the surplus produce of the Consolidated , Fund was estimated at 5,000,0001. but a variety of circumstances contributed, in the course of the year, to diminish the produce of the revenue. On a cons , parison, however, with the three preceding years, it will be seen that this reduCtion is of a temporary nature, am' that there is nothing discouraging in the prosped of the country. In the first place, the pro. - 7 duce of the year immediately antecedent was at an unexampled height, and the estimate was fornie.l, of course, upon the gtcatest possible produce that could be expeCted. If it did not come up to that standard, we have therefore no great cause for sur• prise or disappointment. There was also aCo they sum to be dedueled 0f`+450,0001. on account of the Volunteers, leaving together an aClual deficiency in the surplus of the Consolidated Fund, of 2 , 8 00, 1 51Y01. which, added to the three former sums, on account of the East InJia Company's account, the American Claims and Volunteers, make a total deficiency of 4,651,0001. which, added to the sum of 39,136,00 x will make the total sum to be dthayed by Great Britain amount to 49,690,0001. The whole account, upon reference to the above items, will sand thus : Navy - - - L. 14 .545,11001. Army ;Fillan,l) - -14,616,10 W - Army (Ireland) - - 4,000,0 VI Punt expellee of England and Ireland • 10 7 .1 G, CO Miscellaneous Sas vices, Ordnance, 3::: for England • _ .. • and Ireland - - 6.:105,,, LO Total Joint Expetice - -80. J v 9.4 .1 Add, fur Continental Servietu - 544.y14) Total Joint Eltpetiee - - 4•;10 .. t. Deduct the Share to he borne by Ireland - 5,11.....* Audit leave to be defrayed by Groat Illrd.tin :Own, 59,131.; (14 To which is u, be „4k.% our aecoo,:t of rittszie4ee. 4,,.:4,•tbi Final guru to be defrayed by Great Britain - 4:.t,,.90,h40 WAYS ANY) MEANS. "1 next proceed to state the ways and means to de. fray this sum. The first which 1 shall mention re. quires no explanation—it is the malt duty, 750,0001. ditties on pensions, &c. 2,000,0001. surplus of w a y, and means of last year 123,6401. It appear. also, that there is a surplus out of the navy arnountiu k : to 1,600,0001. It is well known that a great por tion of the expenditure of the Navy is in Navy Bills, the total amount of which outstanding is known, and there are Alin other arrears, such as those of seamen's wages, &c. The rests is, th a t the whole of the 12,000,0001, voted last year fee the navy has not been called ; and, that 1,600,0001. of it remains applicable for the present, to the Ways and Means of the present year. It will he neces sary, before I quit this subjeft, to state, that the amoo•it of the navy debt is much less than it was in any former year; certainly much less than it was in 1601, and does not now exceed 8,705,0001. "l'he next artcle of Ways and Means, which 1 shall men tion, is the surplus of the glowing produce of the Consolidated Fund. It appears, that the total amount of the permanent taxes, exclusive of those imposed within the two last years, has amounted, for the three last years. to 90.507,0001. giving an average produce in each year o: •30,:99,0001 add to this the produce of the permanent taxes ;in pr oo f within the last two years, amounting so 1,306,0901; the Land Tax, 1,230,0001 &c. and taking away the duty on malt. there will remain a total of s't 000,0001. as the amount of the annual produce of the per. manent taxes, the permanent charge against wh ch is 28,000,0001. Front tits is to be dechated a oas t on account of Courts of Justice, &c. amounting to shoat 300,0001., leaving a surplus of 4,300,0001 Gentlemen, will see mat I have taken into this coi mate a part of the dim'nution of the last yew.— This ha- isen ttrim circumstances that are teeny,. racy, pi Mcip.illy in the arzic:es of malt, spirits, us. and wine. 01 these a large stock was oriailooly bought up in cootemplation of a rise, and the c n sumptirn has been since in leoperzion oral; IN the article of wine, A simal duty w a ., iro i us 4 with a notice that a I.i ger mi;11 be expeated. This notification produced an immediate demands and it was bought op CO a considerable amount. Speculation was farther excited, in consequence of its being understood that the duty was only to be temporary. To corral this, however, in future, I shall take an opportunity tg,propose, upon a tutu e opportunity, that the dutpli s oon wine shall be made permanent. But, allowing for the difference, that difference is only about 120,00a1. as compared with the average amount of the three years. Under all the circumstances of the case, this does not appe,r extraordinaty ; but. I shall make ample allowance for it, and only take credit for 4,000,0001. as tta surplus of the growing produce of the Consolideui Fund. " The next article comprises the duty upon pro perty, and the other war taxes. The produce of there taxes was calculated last year at a sum of 9,(00,0o01. but I do not think I should be justified in taking , credit on their accoent, more than 4,30 0 , 0 0 0 but I think I am fully authillisag to state them at that sum. The duty upon property was esti mated last year, at 4,700,0001. 1 nova find, foon tha List accounts Made up to the latest pm;ible date, and making allowance for deduetions on ac count of surcharges. &c. that the amount corn more nearly to .1,600,0001. But, Sir, the yea: I has not yet rece:ved the full benefit of I: e .• . granted for its support. It must be allow- I, pal t of the produce has not yet come list re mains outstanding, and is consequenny nu airisr due, upon the credit of which, Excheqrer Bills may be drawn. just as the sum voted for the preseat. if not collated in due time, is applicable to the ea pence of tha year ensuing. Upon that supposition. it is likely that there remains a sum of 630,0001. in arrear. 1 shall. however, only take the amouut at the property tax as it stood fast year; but as • amount of the war taxes would not come up to th,ir estimate, I feel it my duty to call upon the floe for extraordinary energy, to propose to it. b?. a fresh display of its spirit, to make an exertion 51 keep down the amount of the public debt, and Pre vent, as much as possible, its accumulation. The effect of this system has always been found benclici.l, but never more so than upon the press& occa , 111 l . This is most evident, when we lotu at the antoton and terms of the present loan. compared 'At% 011 use of former loans in the late war, or even those of the loan of last year. The addition which I pr•lpase to make to the property tax is one fourth of the pre sent duty, amounting to 1,050,0001. making, wins the taxes within the year, about 1.5,756,00 01 . There will remain Lilco about 23,000,0001- of loan to be raised by Great Bruins, making 45,000,0001. and upwards, and exceeding the amount of the Supplies by a sum of 100,0001.-- The Ways and Means thus povided, will stand as follow : Malt Duty Duty on Pensions, 016 res, &e. Surplus of the Cormalitlated P.m.! War Taxes Duty on Property Additional ditto Lottery . L 730,0' 0 . 2,000,00 0 4,400,0 0 • 1000,000 . 4,700,0 00 • ),130, 000 200,000 . • poi A" ea "- Sor it#44 , l ." L6 O Thic wiU X 37 5 0,0001. I g a su:n of .1 II I must it< I, in contra , t i tr e have he insols, and i xic for ev varbe of the oz k, and I rc ,rl 1001. ont ly 101 w ltibute rA kiaz Pr' services of tl pro7n.ss of m on 10 leaving a b only to au' once, and are the gre: it is a gro short space for, it has ea the par Lion that ] 14 ere lOU' Ibis loan. an] 7 Pe 1476,01901 account N 1,350,0001 Upon i an encrea raise . the teakuj LECIA sum nn tl thins had Duty uft„ brit teem eta, the Debates. M arrow anel.t he ttxt Th dun a au 'Ch Ini , itentu chap suttpect 1. , trA, whir ut WI s",itierg u,V4lght Fmno be fount Lnaa Whe year of the one courag crease found t oar gre :ry at I is won seen to 11:i e :t ...