The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-07-01 00:00:00

attily, One praying for public aid in widening
as.d improving the Port of London.
All these Petitions were severally ordered to be
referred to Committees, to examine the matters
thereof, and to report their opinions to the House.
Mr. BASTARD brought up a Bill for the far-
ther Regulation of Parish Apprentices. Read a
first time ; and on the Motion for the second read-
iu
Mr. CURWEN took occasion to notice a cir-
cumstance, which had lately occurred to him in tra-
velling through Yorkshire. He had seen no less than
60 poor children crammed into a waggon, in the
most disgraceful manner, going to some employ-
ment in our manufaaories. As it was the duty
of the Legislature to encourage our commerce and
nsanufatures as much as possible, he hoped that
some means would be adopted to oblige the masters
into whose service these eliildi en were sent, to sup-
ply their wants, and attend to their proper matiage-
ment, in the same manner as could be done by their
parents.
Toe Bill was then ordered to be read a second
time, and to be printed.
Mr. Foster brought up a Bill for continuing cer-
tain Rates and Duties, and allowing certain Draw-
backs and Bounties, upon Goods imported and ex-
ported to and from hula:ad.—Read a first, and or-
dered to be read a second rim- toenorrow.
The MASTER of the ROLLS gave notice, that
he would to morrow isinVe for leave to bring in a
Bill to enable His Majesty to grant a lease of the
lands of Frozmore to Her Majesty for of) years.
F.:::EIGN AND BRITtsII SHIPPiNt.:.
Mr. EDF.N rose, in purooioce of his notice, to
make a motion relative to this subj.ra. 'lbis he
prefaced by a speech of coosid.srabie length, stating
the °Ned he had in view to be to show the post-
pvity and increase of our navigation, while the
country was under the management of the late Ad-
ministration. lie was aware that he might appear
to same to be entering rather late into this investi-
gation ; hut he could inform them that it was his
intention to have done i: daring last Sc.sion, but
the (Jaws-tiled dissolution of Pal liament prereuted
hitri. The insinuations which had been thrown out
against the lute Administration, upon this bead,
Wle perfedly Absurd, and without foundation. lie
trusted that when tit account he was now wishing
was laid before the House, he should prove them
to be tueelly free from imputotom. On great
cause to which the decline of British navigation
was ascribed, was the passing of the Bill called
the American In.ercoorse Bill, winch had been
represented as a wanton iroauvation ; and yet,
by the answer given, last Wgtit, by the
Treasurer of the Navy, i.e learned that Alinisters
hal no intention of repealing it, although they
had alleged that it went to do for cur enemies
what tloy could not do for thenisolves, and to re.
!Oen to other rations our naval superiority. Tile
If ore had been told that ex whole condul of the
Lte Ain:str v was a series of cwices,ions to neutrals,
and that they were weak enough to commence
tro'ciatian diming the eOsttioce of the Nonomportt-
tion rift. He adverted toe treaty conelu led with
Russia in IS.il,and to the Speech et the Cliancelior
ct the Es:hiquer, relative to the production of an
Order at Coancil, passed in conscoucace st the
Freoc:s Decree as to neutrals; and although he
:bought tho ca on:ry had reason to rejoice having
eseaped from tae plans stotge.otid by that Right
11)0. Gentleniun, ye: it had n LI congra-
tulate him upr•ts Iris consistency of con Jul, he
having shzvi'n, by his act purtu;ng now his former
riggissrions, the manifest injustice of his former
coetol tints. Toe Hoti. Gentleman concluded with
movi ig, •• *I hat there tae i ;rd before o.e I louse an
account of the Bratss and foreiort shipping em-
ployed in the trade of Great Britain, for tnree years,
ending sth January, 1807, and showing the Lum-
ber of tons of said vessels, and the men employed
in clearing outwards and inwards in each year."
Mr. ROSE said, lie did not rise to oppose this
motion, but to state that he was at a loss to know
what the lion. Gentlernaii coilid possibly make out
from such an occoubt. The only law passed dur-
ing last Session, which had any relation to this mat-
ter, was the American lineicouroe, Bill, anJ upon
that subjea the Noble Lord opposite to him (Lord
Temple) had asked him yesterday whether Allah-
ten imenii •d to reveal it, in consequeoce of the
o:onions hoimerle stated to ? l'o this, he
answered, that it st as rather an importaut vestion
to he determined, doting the penJ:ng of a treaty
with .America ; although he WAS convinced such a
repeal must be of advantage to the country. Dur-
ing Cie time that 80. seas pealing, he was eau:
vinced it would prove a nuschievous Bill, and he
was now more confirm, d in that opinion, as lie
could venture to say, that it achially puts this
country in a worse situation than we weie in be-
fore, by enabling the Americans to drive the Bri-
tish shipping cut of the c locial trade, us the
Vs'est Indtan had net means o, carrying his sugar
to America. On these grounds, he very much
whether, upon a competition between Bri-
usti and American snips, tax latter would not gain
the ascendancy.
Viscount HOWICK thought the Right Honour.
tittle Gentleman Lad hitherto treated the respea-
shie body of SOip Owners with great contempt, and
therefore it was his wish to vindicate them. 'lite
erroneous representations which had been made
might be prejudicial to them, but could not be fair-
ly argued or persist al in by those who propagated
there. It vois very extraordinary, that the Right
llonourahle Gentleman, after having boldly as-
no Led, dot the American Intercourse 'hit had pro-
duced all ll.r evil ersilts that he had pretliifled, by
tti.i.hing the West India Trade from British ship.
and eaeouraging the American trade, should
rovertheless inform the House, that be had nu in-
teotion of repealing it. There was no roan mute
duteous than he was to cultivate the good-will and
friendship of America, being convinced it was for
the interest of bath countries i but be could not
carry that desire so far as to say, that au Ad of
Parliament, detrimental to our interest, and de.
strut:live of the British colonies, shouldeioot be re-
p-sled as soon as its evil elfeEts were discovered
It 0:e 'fight Hooutuaole Gentleman had experi-
enced the roc,invenience lie expressed, nothing could
tenuity him in not repealing it. There was one cir-
oirustaace to which the Right Hon. Gentleman slid
rot seem to advert—he meant that it was not ISeCeS•
etteetliesmorail*

to suspend it ; hut iffs he had not heard; that the
Right Hon. Gentleman had thought proper to advise
His Majesty to do so. The truth was, all the
charges brought forward upon this head were totally
unfounded, and had been only mule by the presen:
Ministers, to serve their own purposes when in Op-
position, but which they, in their consciences, could
not now venture to support. Be:ore he sat down,
he could not help saying a word or two respeding
the condud of another Right Hon. Gentleman op-
posite (Mr. Perceval) respeding the Order of Coun-
cil passed in consequence of the French decree of
the 21st of November. That Right Hon. Gentle.
man had stated, that he thought then, as he seemed
' still to think, the measure of the last Administra-
tion wholly inadequate to the purposes intended ;
and if so. why did he not now take spun himself to
advice His Majesty to corred that spineless mea-
sure? Was not that decree just as much in force
against this country as it was when lw st obj;:ded
to it ? use tad was, the whole conduit of the pre.
sent Ministets manifestly sheaved, that they do not
believe chat they themselves formerly said when in
Opposition.
Mr. ROSE repeated, that so far from repealing
the American Intercourse Bill, he would rather,
binder existing circumstances, advise its renewal.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
rose, he said, net for the purpose of prolonging; this
discussion, by objcding to the motion, but merely
to account for his condun u?on the su'jet alluded
by the Hon. Mover, and dwelt upon with so much
force by the Noble Lord who had just spoken. He
did still continue to• lament, that tile measure
which the late Government had thought proper to
adopt at the time when the violent decree of France
respeding neutrals was passed, was not met in a
manner more efficacious; but via he did not con-
ceive that this would be a proper or convenient time
' to make any alteration in it. It did not appear to
him to follow, necessarily, that, under different eit-
cums,ances, and at different periods, tlii,isters
should endeavour to pot in execution those plans
which they had formerly sugges,ed. It was LIVOII
such grounds he had ran thought it advisable. to re-
commend to His Majesty's Government to :at upon
the principles he originally entertained.
Sir CILII:I,ES PRICE said a few word, which
we did no, diatindly hear.
Lord HENR Y PET I Y noticed tL very extra.
ordinary ground upon which the present Minivere
seemed to be ading. Hi, Lordship contended. t:..it
if the coarse recommended by the Iti-gbt Han Gen-
tleman at di- time et the passing of t::e decree was
advisable at that time, it must be equally s-1 now ;
a.:j .16.0 that it theArn-rc in In:etcolt-se 8.11 appear-
ed to Ministers to he so detrimental to British com-
merce, they could not he justified in petrnitti.l3 its
c nvinu'inee Ili. Lordsh;lscrioclud:d with ex:), e.s-
wi•h that all the information upon the subjea
sbnuld be laid before the Hilv.r, In order th it the
public might be able to form an accurate idea of
the rate of fads, relative to British navigation and
commerce.

VliCo113: CASTLF.RE AGH supported the con-
dna of his Right Hun Ftiend, the Chancellor or
the Exchequer, in hot rashly proposing any altera-
tion of the -rder of Council, to v hieh he hail for-
merly obj.lted, however erroneous and in tTicacias
it might be. tie would put it to the Noble Loud
opposite, whether that matter wis equ shy open to
d7c:sion now, as when the measure seas first adopted
by the late Government? It was a perteftly new
question upon which the House W4i how called
upon to an ; but still the present Government had
given nn pledge respeeling the system winch they
meant to (Mlle.
Mr. CANNING observed, that this was a dis-
cossion arising out of a motion for papers, to the
produstion of which no objeltion had been made,
merely for the purpose of ma:dog an attempt to in-
duce fts Majesty's Ministeis to come to an 'apts.-
nation upon the course which they intended to pur-
sue respelling Neutrals in general, and to find out
how far they were prepared M advise His Majesty
to carry into elfea those principles which they had
formerly urged as more consistent with the inter-
ests of the country. This was certainly matter
foreign from the subje.9 in question, and he could
see no political good consequences likely to ensue
from it, hut, on the con•rary, that it merely tended
to gave a flu:l:ration to reports abroad. which might
have a mischievous tendency. It WAS in comm sn
sense perfoily demonstrable, that whatever objee•
t;n ,s there might be existing to any system, WhCa
fiat suggested, the qta..stion, at a sutirequent period,
would resolve itself unto th- question or as t‘s what
would now be best, according to esistin.,..T circum-
stances ? If, however, by tiieir aciniescence in any
measure of the formino Administration, it was to he
inferred, that the present Ministers mist om:clarify
be converts to their principles, lie begTf.l leave to
objeft in the most unqualified manner to such an
inference. Ile could assure the House, that he was
no convert to this particular measure; but, at the
same time he would say, that after looking into it.
and having experienced its consequences, be had hit
hesitation to acknowledge, t:sat it a more vigorous
and efficacinur principle had been adopted at the
outset, it would have Answered the purpose better,
and afforded the means of avoiding fumy inconve-
niences.

Mr. Will THREAD stated, that whatever the
Right Honourable Gentlemen might think of the
system formerly, they were bound, in doing their
duty as servants of the public, to adhere to their
avowed principle, and consult consistency ; this
duty he did not think they could discharge without
proceeding imtnediatcly to reverse that system
which they had formerly so inuc:l condemned. An
observation had been made, that the American In-
tercourse Bill was attended with mischievous conse-
quences, in preventing the sugar and other %Vest
India produce from being sold. not these
Right Honourable Gentlemen know, that that AA
could not be called into operation without the ad-
' vice of the King in Council, and if not called into
anion, all obj:nions would consequently be dote
away ? The blame therefore attachable to Minis-
ters, was fur not suspending an AR, by the opetrat.on
of which our iiipping interest in their opinion was
likely to bz ruined. These were public servants,
who were neglening their duty, unsizr pretence that
something in the American 'Freely might miffed the
question. For his part, he thought it was still
more necessary for him now than it was formerly
to {IV hillibliitPasiitipasilsta-arsatites .nrovisicsl they

could boast any validity. He begged leave to re.
mind those who were list merly so violent in Council,
that such violence very often produced an elfeel
contrary to what was originally intended by these
blustering politicians.
Mr. CANNING observed, that he would father
he at all times considered an injudicious
than a blundering accuse;.
Mr. BARING said a few words in su;sport of
Lord Howick's arguments.
Dr. LAURENCE observed, that with raven
to the attack made by the Right Hon. Secreias y
(Canning) upon his Hon. Friend near him (Mr.
Vhithread), he would say, that it was not by the
blunders of the accuser, but by the decision of his
Peers, that the Noble Lord alluded to was acquitted;
or was the Right lion. Gentleman willing to rescue
the chrraa,rr of his friend only by attributing his
escape to the mistakes of his acetts.a. ?
Mr. RYDER and Mr. MON I'AGUE spoke
briefly on the other side.
The Motion was then put, and agreed to.
PARLIAN.F.NTARY REPORTS.
Mr. STURGES BOURNE rose, and observed,
that before the House proceeded to further business,
he wished to call their attention to a matter ma-
terially conneted with their privileges. He had
upon a late occasion troubled them on the subject
of a series of calumnies, and had the satisfattion
to receive Irons two Noble Lords opposite (liuwick
and H. Petty) a liberal interpretation of his condua.
7b• ALrnia; Chr9.7/c.':, however, had made a report
ot what had pa.scd yesterday in that business,
and had suppressed every thing said by these
two Noble Lords in his vindication, although
it had given the report fully in every other
par:. Ot this condua h.: had to complain ; and
in doing so, ha had to assure the House that he
was as warm a friend to the liberty of the press as
aoy man, but he highly condemned its abuse. He
was also tar from wishing ro impede the circulation
of reports of Parliamentary proceedings in the world,
which tend so much to eidighten and inform the
public of the pi oceedings of that House ; while, at
fire same time, he was aw..re, that, by the standing
orders, were lie itanced by a vindidive spirt, he
could call the Printer and Publisher of that Paper
tolihe Bar. lie thought, however, it was but jostle:
to himself, to state, that it such things were repeated,
he should certainly notice it in a more s•:rious
m.tnner, as it was surely high!) improper to sup.
press any particulars stated, that involved the
cha-
rafter and honourable zepotation of individuals, wit
were often as it were put upon their trial, and re.
ceived jodiraeat in that House.
Viscount FOLKS CONE rose to speak to or.
der ; when he was interrupted by the SPEAKER,
wh • observed, that there was no gleation before
the House.

mEmIIERS OF PARLIAMENT.
Sir S, ROMILLY gave nonce, that, on Monday
Wiluight, he should move for leave to bring in a
Sill to alter the pr•Sice of Courts of Equity, in suits
in which the interests of Members of Parliament
were involved. He gave this long previous notice,
merely as it was a matter which would necessarily
occasion the giving up of one of the privileges of
Members of that House. The alteration he proposed
was eattive to a considerable partiou of expense,
from a h ic:l, accordiug to the pi esent practice. Mein.
hers of Partin nent were relieved, while the opposite
party had to sustain it. A Member of Parliament,
when Plaintiff, was not obliged to give a copy of
the Bill to the Defendant, wink, it Delendant, he
must receive one Iron* the Plaintiff. It was merely
for the purpose of putting Members of Parliament,
when suitors in a Court of Equity, upon all equality
of expense with the rest of His Ilaysty's subj refs.
Upon thenrition of Mr. IJA NKES, • Commit-
tee was appointed to examine 111 W the situation of
the Rii.isli Museum.

Mr. Banker: Also brought up a Bill for preventing
the gr•at of offizes in reversion or tot joint byes
Re4l • first time, And °Wet ed to be :cad a second
time on I hursdoy
Lord limry l'etty obtained leave to bring in
Biil for the timer regulAtiuts of the payment of
taxes in Scotland, and 'emitting the revenue of that
country to the B ink of England.
Mr. W HI ri(E.u.) postp-med his notice, which
stood lot Friday, 'Lull Thursday se'nnight.

I• %%As
C)1. COCHR A N JOHNS !'ONE state.!, that
having been an eye witness to the dreadful mentality
among our soldiers in the West India islands, he
1 ad endeavoured, for many years, so far as lay
in his power, to retflify certain errors, for tie pot-
pose of a nteltoratiog their situation. Ile attributed
the many deaths which took place to two cans-s,
the situation of the bat racks in these islands and the
want of ventilators on the tops of them. It
had been an invariable custom to elect them upon
the se:.-Otore, while experis!.ce had sliewet, that the
interior of the eousitry wis far more healthy. It
had come within his knowledge, that in the course
of five week; no fewer than 57S men died in the
Barracks, situate upon the Ct./ISt, While there Wai
not a single death an the same period in the Bat.
racks in the interior. This was an important con-
sideratior, when it was known that every soldier
sent cut to the West Indies con Government at
I lets: tool, lie was confident, that were proper at-
. intim; p rid to these particulars, the Barracks would
become much more lmalthy, and the mortality no
greater than in any nihrr place. The Honourable
Alrmber also a Iverted xi the situation of SnbaL
terns in those islands, which he described as truly
d:s:ressing, they having only Ss. aid. per day
for subsistence, which, during indisposition, could
not afford them the means of recovery; and, in many cases, they were unde, the absolute necessity
I of being indebted to the humanity of people of
colour, who aeually gave their labour, and afforded
them that fool which their small pittance warun-
able to procure. The Medical Board was certainly
a very proper regulation, but as it existed in this
country, unless a pour ()dicer WAS able to pay SOL
or 601. for the purpose of defraying exoet.ses,
he
could not cline home. He hoped, that under such
circumstances lie should be excused for bringing
this matter forward, being only aduateJ by a de-
sire to procure justice for his fellow office; s ; he
hopes' that the Noble Lord, now at lite lead of the
Colonial Department, would pay curry tem ion to
the subjeft, and not object to the Niutum which he
was about to Propose; tor, nolms some r-goz,lati, 41
oneeJils dud. a v.aul:4 tees:erit d• the

country to withdraw our troops from the West ye.
dies altogether. Should his Motion be agreed to
it was his intention to move for a Committee to in.
quire into the cause of that mortality, and the best
mesas to prey, nt its continuance. He concluded
with moving, "That there be laid before this Eimer,
eeeement of the number of His Majesty's troops
in the West Indies, from the I a January, 1797, to
Ist dAtitiAry,t./807, with a statement of the number
of desalts is each year, distinguishing Officers hum
men. aril the name; of such Officers."
Vie:twin CAS MERL AGII, while he did justice
to tie lion. Member's feelings in bringing tin- e
circumstances to the consideration of the House,
felt it peintul to state that he was under the meet-
-s.ity of objeaing to the motion. In his opinion, a
Committee of the House could not be able to pros,.
cute the twee:s4l'y inquiry, and it would be better
to leave it in the hands of the Executive Govern-
ment, unless it were thought that the Government
v.t.is likely to sleep upon its post, even in a matter
regarding the humanity and the interests of so msev
of His Mej isty's subj.es. There was a circerre
stance besides, that even though the House were to
accede to the granting of this account, it would he
found not to be a document that could give sati.-
felory informetien. Oo the contrary, it would
only send to afford a very improper compArison, as
there was an improper impression upon this suhjsell already existing in the public mind. The N./hie
ford then entered into a detail of the various means
adopted by successive Administrations, for the lest 10
years, to preserve the health of troops in the West
Indies, which he stated bad been attended with very
considerable success.
Mr. WINDHAM could nut give his support to
the motion of the Hon. Officer, inasmuch as it
woad lay before the House a statement, in his op;.
nion unnecessary. It would appear as if a f
lus was wanting, both by the House an.: the Execu-
tive Government, to attend to that important con.
sideration. or to su 'gest any system of alteration.
During his short official existence in the Colonial
Department. he had done much to lecture intie m-
inion upon that subjeCt, and much had been cf.
felted. It was hoping too much, to suppose thet
tropical chromes could be made Altogether cones.
nial to the natives of but wee ; but it was <dll to be
wished and expetted, that many of the eviis arising
from those contagious disorders which have at:i ned
those puts of the world, would not contir.o • to nee.
rate, or that their fatal effcets would he aheshecd.
It was no slight difficulty in deci tint on the best
mode of adoption, thin der:rein opteiens on the
cAuses of colonial mortAety, and of the meant of
preventiotewtre given by mAny well Liimmed per-
sons; persons who, nnruil authority commanded
a similar confhlence. Fut-inserter. with reiteCl to this
lodging of tt troops, sumo proposed hammocks,
others again insisted that beds were pi derAble. Oa
one stile fleeting hospitals were preferred, whilst
even), respeetable au thniii y wasdeclared in favour of
those on land. In fad, in a consideration of this
kind, what might be good inone point of view, would
be attended with manifest inconveniencies in anti.
ther. Thus the situAtiou for barracks, which might
have the beet. effect on the health of the troops,
might be highly dangerous to the d, fence of
the islend. The 1-13 n Gentleman leho breught for-
ward the motion. may effect good by the introduc-
tion of it to the consideration of the Government
and the House, but the result of prosecuting it far-
ther in the mode prescribed, might be less thin bene-
ficial. With respell to the embarrassed situation of
'teethe; n officers, he Lad only to say, that however
he had to regret it, y,t it seas one et those incidental
I evils, which, he feared, it was not in the power of
the State to redress. It would come to this, that
met; most net go into the service without a suf-
ficiency to suppers ein't. The effeet was only in
that, the sAme as in on., r occupations, where men
e Tier in them without a su,ticient capital. Wl•.e..
deer any increase to such a description either ought
ar will rake place, lie did not toe; discuss, but he
felt convinced that the principle of the Hon. Gently.
m in, on the: point, was entirely fallacious.
Sir JAMES PULTLNEY spoke a few words
on t!iis suSjed, and was couvinced that much good
would result from a great many local correftn
in the Colonies.
Mr. WILLIAM SMITH could not recognize
general admissions as sufficient grounds against
Parliamentary inquiry. 11:thin these ten years the
mortality had increased in the proportion of sm.-
third. Yet if the Colonial Secret try of that time
had been consulted upon the subjeet, he certainly
would have indulged in the same hopes and expect-
ations which they had that night heard from the
Noble Lord. Toe argument of the Noble Lord
proved too much If the accounts of the mortality
in the %Vest Indies were (As he said), exaggerated.
it was then mote aecessiry to produce the accounts,
in order to verify his own assertions, and to allay
the doubts which the public entertained. The
Committee were therefore best calculated to male
the inquire. though not to carry its result into ese-
cution. The question WAS of high importance in
another view, we ch as it concerned the safety
and exeense of our Colonial possessions. It would
be material to ascertain at what expense of men and
money our pe,sessions at the other side of the At-
lantic were m iintained, and such au inquiry
enable the HOUte to appreciate the nature of oar
Colonial system.
Colonel COCHRANE. JOHNSTONE &The- ',
that he never would have hroiight this subject beet::
the !disuse, without first laying Isis statement
the existing Government. He had done so as Weil
to the last as to the present Administration. F..r
theth e
ardent present.he ee
ed. withdrawdentreaty.
that his motion,
would tinder
be-
come an obj el of liornediAte investigation and
l
re-
dress with His NI .iesty's present Government. If
the contrary senuld he the result, he pledged him-
self to bring it aaheAlly before the aueutiou of
PArlianseie.

The moiion was withdrawn.
Mr. LE 11-111 aI DO moved the appointment of
a Select Committle tin of Mr. PAlnier,
prying for comp.tt.ition In, his serv;ces to
revenue, in co..sevence of the Mail Coach Este-
After sans: ohserv.rions from the CHANCEL,
LOa of the F.X.:I 11.Q1; Lit 4,1 d the SPEAKLIt,
the m nits!' wee cairsesi, and the Committee ap-
pria:ed.

The Ca AN =LIAR 41
_lke EISCLIEQUER

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