The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1805-07-05 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. .1 C HOUSE OF I.oll9S—Tnuottotr, Jutr ♦. The Balls u:6on the ahl„ were (onward •cl in their ,tetrad stlgeti. Among the.-, the Foie ue Law Extension Bill. the Warehousing Bill, the Isle of \i3ll S iiogtrling XII, and the British and Iri,h Lora Importation Bill, were read a third tone a:661 pared. Th e ii.oth Haehoor piti, the Maitis Officers Beniiinerat on, the Palace Yard I.6ipt-ivenicia Rill , and the Corn A;i Arn.nid nieot Bill, sever..':y pasn i th.augh Committee: cia the whole Rouse, and were ordered to be On the occasion of the report of the Palace Yard Improve them B II ; The Earl of SUFFOLK took oeta Ono to abeam», that a !Il an at the ~.tended imp...emends and alt-rations, incloding thfte proposed in that House, nught to b. lain before the Haase. With respect t the to ..ottf 11 prospeti of that eerier • able edifice the Abort, which the opetnngs twee iraking e•ou'd afford, ht expresold his hop.:, that thee would not be closed up by newly erected buildungs On the whole. he thought the SuLOject worthy of thu consideration of that llouse. A number of 8.11. wort broue'.it uo from the Commons by Mr. ficuder.un. and Sir J. W Andes. t ; ..ev-ral of those were private or return bills ; ono.ig the public Bills wen...teal ' were the Dublin Pasibg 11111..... the 1,6.1% Innr6naties Bil—wrhe 111traw Plat W.:L.4h° Spaaibli Red Wm. —a,nri ,he Thasnos ;banal iota Theo' won reap tensely read a first tone. The Earl of SUFIOI4 to Actium opportu.ine, no t le reading of the Infttruory rute he opa4ion, that the system allopted with respect to 11.firmaries, and the Medical treet- Meat a NW, VOW, required insprover.6ent ; he adverted to ebtaatbiagtllN ihe psinci..l. the Bill Inc jest road, asatlyaualassas ea is ado nod i,, this country. COLONIAL INTERCOURSE WITH AMERICS. Lord HOLLAND rose, to bring forwartl his promised motion for some important information on this subjet. He prefaced it with a very able lend argumentative speech of considerable length (of which, as well as the consequent debate, our limits restrit us to a very brief sketch). He de scribed the proceedings which had taken place in 111611111111 of the British West India Islands, parti solarly in Jamaica, which induced him to think ' the present appeal to the wisdom of Parliament honorary. 'I hey arose principally from the con. eta of the Governors of those island:, with re gret to the discretionary power exercised by them, relative to the commercial intercourse between the islands, and the United States of America. He alluded to the suspension of the Navigation Laws, ill one point of *iew, but more especially to the re strilive power exercised by them, with respea to the importation of American produce ; so necessary fillr the sustenance of tEe islands, on the shipping of that country. The line of condua to which he re ferred, either in a political or commercial point of View, was of the most serious importance, and still winre, as it affeaed the supply of the islands with articles of the first necessity, as lumber and provi sions. The inhabitants of Jamaica, in particular, felt it so strongly, that their Legislative Assemblies made repeated representations to the Governor up on the subjea, who, in one of his answers, stated, be could not permit the importation in neutral Into toms, longer than a given period. With respea to the quest:on, though, as affeaing the interests of the islands, of great importance, was still of greater, as it may aired the commercial intercourse and good understanding, between this country and the United Sous of America. He deprecated every thing Vhs a narrow, seiriab, commercial policy, with r♦ spa to America. Ministers should consider the airciemotasces ead situation of America, the great nos of Maiming that good undeirstandireit Z ta extensivo Commercial and friendly inter. noon which *ow happily subsists between the cowries, to/ to which, • their cemrtiop ori- E wa laureate, sad manners. et very fortunately them. Ole of his obis& in coming for. ward was to give an opportunity to His Majesty's Minions to disclaim any such notions or principles as atuated their condos with respea to the restric- Sloes on the trade and commercial intercourse be tween the West India Islands and America. It so happened, and fortunately, he thought,that our West India Islands could not be adequately supplied with articles of the first necessity, except from the United States. He thought this was eventually fortunate, because the important consideration to which he ad verted would operate as an additional inducement with the Government of this country to cultivate a friendly understanding with America. He advert ed to some ineffeaual attempts which had been made under former administrations to supply our West India Islands from the British dominions in North America. Adverting to the incalculable import ance of the American commerce to this coun try, he observed, that any attempts to exclude America from the trade of our West India Is lands, would be worse than the conduit, as related in antient fable, of the dog in the manger, whose de terminati-,n was comparatively wise and liberal.— It would go to remind him of the fable of the two petitioners to ./up4er, to whom the Godhead said, that whatever he gave to the one, the other should hare double ; then, said one, in a paroxysm of folly and malignity, give me blindness in one eye, that my neighbour may be blind in both eyes ? So would it be metaphorically, did this country wish to exclude America from our West India Trade, upon the narrow principle of commercial jealousy. His Lordship took a view of the policy and effeds Pf the Navigation Aft, in its different bearings; and argued, that the changes in the system of Eu rope, and the relative situation of this country, ren dered the policy of aOing upon it very different from what it was at its first eniament. In war, generally speaking, it was impraeticable. He wished the affairs to which he adverted were placed on a liberal footing and permanent basis; and it was im portant they would declare what line or system of conduit they intended to adopt, respeSing the in tercourse between America and our West India co lonies, in time of war. Through the whole of his speech, more especially towards the conclusion, the Noble Lord expatiated upon the great national im portance, either in a political or commercial view, of maintaining an amicable intercourse and a close con netition with America; and repeated, that one of his principal objects incoming forward was to give Mi nisters an opportunity of disclaiming all notions of narrow or selfish policy, with respect to the intcr cou:se in question ; a circumstance which woo; .1 give great satisfaCtion to all parties; mad with re gpeft to their intended system in future, he thought they should be explicit. I tis Lordship concluded by moving an Address to His Majesty, for the pro sluElion of the communication which rook place be - the Legislative Assemblies of Jamaica and ' , este. Governor of that Island, touching the between that colony assd the United States of America, from the commencement of the war with France, to the 21st of May last ; also, for copies of the correspondence between His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonial De partment, and the Governor of Jamaica, on the sub jeet, within the same interval; also, for various do. cements. reap-Cling the quantities of ptovisions, &c. imported from America and the isl.nd of Jamaica, at certain given periods, distinguishing those im ported from British America, and those from the United Slates of America." The question being nut on the first motion ; The Earl of CAMDEN, in allusion to what had transpired on the sulsket nn a former evening, oh served, he had stated that no counter-orders had been sent out to the governors. The orders which were sent relative to the condiril of the governors, respeeting the suhjed in question, were precisely to the same effea as dyne sent nut for the same purpose during the last war. By the A.ft of the 24th of the Kine, he observed, all goods and commusiities were proLibited from b •ing imported into the British West India Islands from the United States of Ame rica, with the exception of certain articles, as pro visions and lumber, ie cases of necessity ; of these, the respeetve governors were generally constituted the judges. rhey were to ea upon their re. spnnwhility with respee to the admission of these articles, and hills of indemnity were passed, when they had ailed contrary to the law. '1 he Noble Earl adverted to ihe extensive nature of the inform ation called for —th- propriety of accompanying thew documents with others which were necessary f - the full ills aration of the subjea, and which, in this very advanced period of the Session, it would be impratticable to produce He, therefore, sub- Mitted to the Noble Baron the propriety of with drawing his motion for the present ; or, in case he persisted, he should think it his duty to move the order of the day upon them Lord HOLLAND shortly explained. Lord HAWKESBURY's objeseions were not so much against producing the required information, as against producing that alone, which would give a false prejudice upon the subjeet, and would by no means put the House in full possession of the case. Under that conviaion, Ministers would feel it their duty also to move for a number of additional docu ments. With respee to what was said of the restric tions upon the trade in question, he had to observe there were many representations made, from respect able and important quartets, of a direct contrary tendency to those alluded to by the Noble Baron, and reasons adduced, that Government, instead of imposing unnecessary restriei• ns, were, in fait, too indulgcnt, with respea to that part of the trade of the United States, to the great detriment of the British merchants; their Lordships would, there fore, see the propriety of the proposed additional do cuments. in order to afford Parliament and the pub lic an opportunity to decide and judge thoroughly of the merits of the question. He admitted the sub)eft was r re which any Noble Lord might fairly bring before Parliament, but the advanced period of the Session rendered the prodneion of the necessary do cuments impra&icable. He was, therefore, of opi nion with his Noble Friend, it would be preferable to postpone the discussion to another Session, when all the information proper to be laid before Parlia ment could be produced. With respea to the line of conduit intended to be pursued by His Majesty's Government,, relative to the subjee in question, it would be regulated by their conviaions of the true interests and thank:ter of the country, and a due re. sped for the principles of the Navigation Laws. With respect to what was said of their views, in re gard to the trade of America, they would be r laced by no sentiment contrary to those just and N. beral principles of commercial policy, so well under stood in the present day ; upon principles, founded not only upon the true interest of their own country. but even with a proper regard to the interest and prosperity of America herself, Earl STANHOPE contended that Ministers had not been sufficiently explicit, particularly with re spea to their intended condua during recess. In stead of giving a plain answer to the queries of his Noble Friend, the Secretary of State answered only by generalities. His Lordship then spoke in sup port of some of his Noble Friend's leading argu ments, with respect to the great importance of a good understanding hetweea America and - this country, whose example the latter ought to follow, with respea to her line of internal and external policy. The Duke of MONTROSE replied, with con siderable spirit, to many of the positions advanced by the Noble Earl who spoke last, whose warmth of expression, he supposed, might arise from die warmth of the present season—a period in which he r nerally thought proper to attend his duty in that H otse. He contended that his Noble Friends had been sufficiently explicit; the orders given, they stated, had been the same as during the last war ; and the line of condua would be persevered in. He conceived that every country had a right to re gulate the trade of its own colonies, and that no other state could properly complain of it. With respell to the Noble Earl's panegyrics upon Ame rica, he understood a certain Noble Earl had lately disposed of his property, and gone to that country : perhaps if the Noble Karl opposite to him would follow the example, he might, after a short residence in that country, return home in a better humour with his own ! The Earl of LIMERICK was of opinion. the auswets given by Ministers were explicit ; and ad verted to the consideration, how far too great an indulgence, with resped to the trade of America, would operate injuriously upon the trade of Ireland with our West India Colonies. The Earl of SUFFOLK spoke in support of some of the positions of his Noble Friends, Lords Holland and Stanhope. Lord ilawkw4avav, the E. 411 of CAM Der, and the Duke of MONIRUSL, spoke severally in expla- nation. Fad STANIIOPr.. in explanation. said it was the duty of a person in his situation, to watch over the interests and concerns of his country at home; and not to leave it. because he might be out of humour. at the misconduCt of weak, inefficient, and incapable Ministers. The Lark of DA Amur and CAILTSIONT spoke shortly in support of the leashing arguments of No ble Lords on that side of the House. Lord if A RROWSY briedy vindicated the con dual of Ministers on the subjed in question ; and he deemed them aufficientl) explicit in their declara tions. Lord HOLLAND spoke in reply, and contended that Ministers had not been explicit; their declarations were There generalities ; in allusion to what was said of the emigration of *Noble Earl (Selkirk) to America, he referred to his late work upon the subjed, which he regarded as full of useful information, and vindi dicated the motives whic'i induced that Noble Lord to gn to the country in question. He warmly repre hended the idea of Noble Lords being to!J,when they openly and freely declared their opinions of the mis condua or incxpai:itv of Ministers, that they should leave their country if they did not like it. No, it was the duty, as his Noble Friend well observed, of per sons in their situation, to stay in their country, watch over its interests, endeavour to r,•scne it from de struaion. and to abide i.s fate. Such was the duty of Members of that House, and they who aA.erted otherwise knew little of the duties of Legislature . The Duke of MON MOSE said a few words, in consequence of what fell film Noble Lords opposite; he would not be dictated to, as to the line of debate or observation he should pursue. He would adopt that which he thought most likely t conduce to his objets ; it was not his praflice to rebuke others, neither would he be rebuked. The question being loudly called for, a division took place. For the motion, is--Against it, 1& Majority The Earl of WESTMORELAND moved, that there be laid before the House, copies of all Petitions and memorials presented to His Majesty's Govern ment, on the part of the Duke of Athol, in the year 1802—and that the second reading of the Bill, granting an annuity to John Duke of Athol, be fixed for Monday next, and that the Lords be summoned on the occasion.--Ordered. Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Counsel (Mr. Alla sa) and evidence were heard on Moore and Gardner's Divorce Bills, by which the marriages and adulteries were proved, as also the judgment obtained in the Court of King's Bench; but no order was made upon them. A message from the Lords announced that they had agreed to the three Exchequer Bills, the isle of Man Duty, and several private Bills. IMPEACHMENT OF LORD MELVILLE. Mr. WHITBREAD brought up the Report of the Committee appointed to inspeiFt the Lords' Journals in respell to their proceedings on the charges adduced agai ;.tucl Viscount Melville ; which was ordered to lie on the table. 1 le next brought up the Report of the Committee appointed to draw up the A.. 1.9 of Impeachment, voted by the House, against Lord Viscount Mel ville; which being shortly read pro forma, he stated, that when he moved a Resolution in the House that the Noble Lt-rd should be impeached, he was prepared with the Articles whichhe proposed. He then considered the balances lost, in the case of Mr. lel lime, to be of serious importance ; but as that opi nion did nut seem to meet with the general concur rence of the House, the Committee had thought (roper to limit it. The Charges, which he first in tended to canfine to three heads, now consisted of Eight Articles, in which there was only one which was absolutely new, and not included in their former Resolutions. .1t the time Mr. Trotter was ap pointed Paymaster of the Navy, it appeared that Viscount Melville was in possession of a balance of, 10,0001. which had not since been satisfaftorily ac• . counted for. There was another charge, arising out of the admission of Viscount Melville on the flour of that House, when he was making his defence, that he had been possessed of 10,0001. Navy money, the application of which, he declared that he never would disclose to any human being. The Com mittee, therefore, agreed to make that the ground of a specific article. Besides these, there were the sums of 72,0001. advanced to Viscount Mel ville, without interest ; 22,0001. also. for which it appeared that interest had been paid; and from 10,0001. to 20,0001. which went to what was called between them the mixed account, and which, hi therto. was altogether inexplicable He thought it right that this explanation should, in the extent, be given to the House ; and moved, in the first place, "that the report do lie on the table, and be printed for the use of the House;" which being agreed to, he moved, in order to give Gentlemen time to examine the articles of charge after their being printed." that the report be taken into consideration on Monday nest."—Ordered. The Irish Revenue Regulation Bill was reported, and ordered to he read a third time to-mot row. On the third reading of the Bill to indemnify all persons for the evidence they may give on till im peachment of Lord Melville ; Mr. WHITBREAD said, that, as Mr. Trotter must necessariiy be a very material evidence in this case, on account of the many trans.saious which were only known between him and Lord Melville, he had a clause to move, for making his exoneration more comprehensive than was first intended. Se veral great and eminent lawyers, he said. held the opinion, that, notwithstanding any civil process against him, Mr. Trotter could not refuse, but may be compelled to answer any questions that may be demanded of him, on a criminal prosecution. Butt, as there were other lawyers, of considerable authority. who maintained a contrary opinion, he wished to obviate any difficulty that stay occur— and. in doing so, he made no doubt of being vir ported by an Hon. Gentleman opposite him (Mr R. Dundas, son of Lord Melville), who had 'hew , a snoderation and temper, throw;hout the whole of these proceedings, which entitled him to his re sped, and to every consideration from the Howe. The clause he had to propose was as follows; " That any evidence which Mr. Trotter might have given before the Committee of the House of Common,, or may here-after give in the impeachment against Lord Viscount Melville, should not be brought against him in any civil suit instituted by the Attor ney-General, by order of this 1 louse." Sir W. ELFORD did not think that the claose proposed was sufficient for its object. It could not re lieve Mr. Trotter from all embarrassment in the de- livery of his testimony ; for though it would prevent its being brought as evidence against him in a civil process, it might make a very unfavourable impres sion on the minis of some of those who might have afterwards to decide upon his condu4l as a Jury. There was a great diversity of opinions hetweet. lawyers en this subject and he begged leave ti, read one, of s Gentleman of considerable emine:,ce, Mr. • ballat,whieh is ld, chit, the situation wf a witness, is he compelled to give evidence nate himself. That opinion . honk for authority, and cases He admitted, that he was not think this a sulijea of . the Resolutions of the Houi scinded, and as the 434 . 10 that the ends of substantial ed, the witnesses ou4ht sort of embarrassment, that sitation in freely answering be pin to them on their crosc•er ; I.ordsliip's Counsel. MO.-- against Mr. Trotter had taro might, by their vote, he renewechtgain der t, putt him in a situation of pro' all c.trisequences of his evidence, he that the civil suit should be given ur Mr. WHI I'BREAD replied, Gentleman would propose mentioned, it would be whether they wailful adopt Mr. ROSE observed, that bread's clams, Tmtter's e anent could not be produced m ty afford suhj' of inquir ral, which would lead to , evidence that might equally Mr. S. BOURNE argued, this indemnity against any - not prote& him against it he should contradiel any deuce. Mr.Serjeant BES I' did fording a favour to Mr. T , think entitled to any, but more competent and better s wise might be. The Clause dente he may give should brought against him ; but place him in a situation of sufficient to protea him own evidence, and he deserved any peculiar indulgence whatee, Mr. S. BOURNE expli-' deuce might possibly Uffor, Anal ney-General, which I against him. Mr. ROIIERT I)UND. jortion to the measure now think it sufficiently eaten'' , justice, Trotter should be rassment, and totally exempts. sequences. Mr. IV H 'THREAD explained be. that Trotter should be - biassed evidence. Mr. ALEXANDER declares.', that he had so wish whatever to get rid, by a side-wind, of ate Resolutions or Votes of 'the Hoese, however he might have disapproved of them; but he sutrittoi, whither it would not be better to postpone the further consideration of the Bill till the Reale should have decided on the articles of impeachment? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCW:QUEIt thought, that for the justice of the case, t'. - .e House should have the benefit of Trotter's unbigassed evi ,dence, which would not be obtained by -be yrri ,, posed Clau-e; t it was not enough t.h.g: his err dense could not be ;.lodated in a civil 104.agzillR him, as that very same evidence may mak, a ;stoned , for further examination and ingnity by the Orlicers of the Crown. 'the evident and simple proyosnina therefore was, whether, after the impeacieeent had been voted, the civil process should not cruse ? He WAS aware that, si' , Ce• the vote of sniper ;tin, the Attorney-General could not take any fur wer pro ceedings, without fresh instru&ions from the H. use; bon to put the matter out of d iubr, he thug t the civil process should he put an end to. Mr. WHITBREAD aid, that if such was the sense of the House, he should consent to withdraw psis Motion. Mr. C. W. VYNNE in favour of a total exemption. _ _ BITRROUGHS was of the same opinion. He recommended, that the record of the civil pro ccss Sh.sllld be withdrawn ; and for that purpose, that the further consideration of the Bill be deferred till to-morrow. Sir W. ELFORD said, that in case of the Mo tion being withdrawn, He should to morrow move, that the civil process against Mr. Trotter be with drawn. After a few observations from Mr. Wu sin. maul:, the Motion was withdrawn, and the furtbe: consideration of the bill postponed till to.rootiow. Mr. HUSKISSON moved that a message be sent to the Lords, to acquaint them that their re quest to communicate tbe reasons and ev;der.ce on which a sum of mane, was voted, in compen.ation to the Duke of Athol, was contrary to the praaice of Pailiament, and that the House deems that a sufficient answer to their message, which was:greed to, and Mr. Alerander olde:ed to carry up this aa saver. PUBLIC It EVIENry.e. Mr. JOHNSTONE resented hi(estimate, with out any comment, of the finances of the cotuary for the present year, consisting of a long string of revilutions ; the first of which was--" Resolved, that the public debt of this country, on the lit of Fe bruary, 11505, was 5670511,0001. out of which the sam of 542140001. had been redeem.] by the Corn. elissioners for administering the Sinking Fund The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved tit' t the Lords' Amendments in the Stipendiary Clea:t. Bill be now taken into consideration ; which be agreed to, when the Speaker came to some whrcli altered the qu thrum m.mey, he reminded them Oat it was of such a nature that that House couldrau, consistently with its peculiar privileges, concur in. On the motion of the ATTORSIY Gcsitaist4 the further considerao,n of the Bill was postponed to this day three months. He thew said, that as the:es• sign was so near its close, and that his motion mg' be productive of some discussion, he should del r bringing it forwa:d till early in the nest c•ssion. aed The Pilots' Regulation Bill was c u mmitt sal, ordered to be read a third time to-morrow ; as ws also the Southern Whale Fishery Bill. The Paddington Coal, the Scotch Asses" d Taws and the Consolidated Fund Bills, woe readadu l time, and passed. The Irish Duty Colleaion Bill. the Trish DistS lery, and the Irish Milit ,iy Suivey.fiills, were ig" put ttud, and otdeiel to be reported toiimoricw. [Teen jty ee s I Dfa th o i s .i ' l a •• intercourse k 1=M1.1111111.11 'Criminal and citil ca e its neither case could lance which might milt Also Mitred to M. p eC les to support that datria, is one of those, wh o d, any promeution—Lon, louse remained yet u of every. inan mu,t sl justice shot* be °Stith Pc to be relirved from ely A Jut they might have to he. NI gsuch ques7lnns as mar cmscrexaM•watior-, b, itherto, the evil procN st only been suspe: ded, ar t enewettigain ; but, in or. 1 ation of proteftioa ag,: tt ,', Jenne, he thought it rig:a 11 e gi wen up altogethe-. replied, that if the lion. ti a Clause to the ere* be for the House to decid r , tit or not. hat though, by Mr. evidence on the imptuc l . iuced Agai nst hi m, yet it tiny to the Attorney -;,r„•. o the produition of start Ily afift.:l him. ued, that, notwithstats':, cavil process, yet it Cnu! ' ,l an indictment I>r pmj ltt! , .y part of his former est. id not confider this as f. Trotter, whom he (V-1 oat t as meant to regale; bim er evidence than heather. use provided, that any evi. lould not afterwards be t as it was never meant to f complee comfort. it was against the effects at his !served nothing more, nor whatever. ,lained, that Trotter's ear. rd matter cf inquiry to the s would afterwards oi,er-te DAS said, he had no s!,:! ow proposed ; hot die. no; nsive, as, for the ends 4 e relieved fr .m all erab.7- mpted from all future co. xplained his main dried to be enabled to give An ..tre declares!, that he had se d. by a side-wind, of arr tt a il thbti a r t icle s eimtetHhatleeie;7l,lboict:txiihmic"eh:etils;:twert:;:iiiell:tte?