The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-03-30 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS,—Fe wee. Melee t 9
Cnun:el were fartber !maid relative ter the Scotch Appehl,
Cathcart, Barr. v. the Earl of Caudle, •is. Mr. Clarke, in con-
tinua, on, at second Counsel for the Appellant. 'i ne further
bearing w.t, deferred till Monday.
The Bills upon the Table were forwarded in their respec-
tive stages ;—.l\snotig these the Additional Leocy Tax Rill
wjs wad a third time and passed
trriIVERSITIES ADVOWsON
The Order being read for their L wdshqss going
into a Committee on the Bill (which we have given
at length in a former Paper), to repeal so much of
the A& of the 9th of George H. as went to restrain
Colleges in the Universities of Oxford and Cam.
bridge from purchasing the advowson of Livings ;
The Duke of NORFOLK rose to oppose the
proceedings. He thought adequate reasons should
be given to induce the Legislature to depart from
a regulation which the wisdom of their ancestors
thought a salutary provision. Their Lordships
would recolleia that the AEI which the present Bill
went to repeal, in one of its most important provi-
sions, took place principally at the instance of that
great and good Magistrate and Minister, Lord
Hardwicke. If the measure was a wise and salu-

tary provision, then why, he would ask, was it now
unwise and injurious ?
The Bishop of OXFORD contended generally
for the injurious tendency of the restraint, under the
circumstances in which the Members of the Univer-
sities now stood. The present proportion of Liv-
ings was by no means adequate to the end, of the
institution. It did not exceed a moiety of the num-
ber of the Members, and at least lie thought the
number of livings should be tendered equal to the
number of individuals to be provided for, and
which may cr.- done by means of the Bill. 'Die law,
as it at present stood, operated in an inconvenient,
and, in some respeels, a very injurious manner. The
measure in question would, he thought, contribute
to improve the discipline of the Universities, and
materially to pramote the interests of learning.—
His Lot &hip also alluded to the ill effei9s of the
present slow successions to the livings. With re-
spell to the provisions of the Bill, he should have
some amendments to propose ; hut seemed to say
they were not such as would materially alter them.
Lord Viscount SIDMOUTH was of opinion that
some farther time should be allowed Noble Lords
to inform themselves, and to make up choir minds
upon a measure of such peculiar importance. The
restraint, undoubtedly, was, as the Noble Duke
observed, sauaioned isy that great authority, Lord
Chancellor Hardwicke. What he beard from the
Rev. Prelate did runt make up his mind as to the
nec-ssiry of a lettislatire provision, at least, to the
full extent of the present Bill. Admitting the suc-
cession to livi••gs, under the restraint, may be too
stow. they may also, on the other hand, be too
quick ; nor, did he conceive, that the interests of
kratioing would he nucterialLy beriefitted by the al-
ter:4l,in ; as, through it, mernbeis might be taken
frori the UniverLity at too early a pet iod, and before
their literary accpiitemeutr had attained the neces-
sary degree of weight and solidity. Neither could
he see bow the discipline of the Universities would
be umtliorat..d by the present Bill. With respea
to else proportion of livings, on which much stress
bad been-laid, an increase of that, suppose to
two thisrs, of the number of persons, may be a
proper subjea fur discussion. All he would propose
at • r.siteitt was .1 hale delay in the progreks of the
in order to affurti time for maturely considc

ing the subject.
The LORD CHANCELLOR saw no objcaion
to the postponement debited by his Noble Friend,
but he considered the subject of the greatest im-
portance, and worthy the most serious consideration.
It embraced a variety of important topics, on many
of ol.::11 questions might arise. It may be matter
of discussion, whether the income of livings should
be augmented from the estates and other resources
of the Universities; or, whether, and how Mr, the
number of livings may, with reference to the im-
Tortant übjeas they ad had in view, be increased.
he result of his own experience on part of the sub-
jui:l was, that, under the present limitation, the num-
ber of livings was too small ; in what proportion,
and in what manner these should be increased, was
matter for serious consideration.
Lord AUCKLAND confessed, that in his pre-
sent view of the subject, he was, generally speaking,
I ivourably disposed towards the bill, as hew as to
every thing that proceeded from the Rev. Prelate
who introduced it : however, he thought some de-
gree of information on the subject necessary, as at
present they were totally in the dark as to the means
which the Universities now possessed of remune-
ating their members, as to the number and value
of the livings in their disposal, or other resources
for that purpose. He should, therefore, suggest the
expediency of the information such as he alluded to.
'I he Bishop of OXFORD replied at some length,
and enlarged upon and enforced the leading topics
which Le before urged in favour of the Bin ; which,
however, he had not the smallest wish to hurry
through the Ilouse. He would appeal to their
Lordships as to the great importance of education ;
to which the present Bill went to afford a boon;
one which the Legislature of the courtry should
not grant with a niggardly hand. He was im-
pressed with the convilfion that the Bill would pro-
duce the most salutary and desirable effeCts ; and,
adverting to what had fallen from Noble Lords on
toe score of modification, he hoped that principle
would not be too tar rated upon.
I.urd Viscount SIDMOUTH, in explanation, hi-
dicated his attachment to the genuine interests of
learning ; and observed, that his idea was, that
were the limitation taken away, the succession to
livings, in some instances, might be ton rapid. He
concluded by proposing, that the Committee on the
Bill be deferred till lttesday next.
The Duke or NORFOLK explained, that he was
not ag.inst all alteration of the present system. He
was too well aware of the importance of education;
but he entirely coincided with a Nobk Laren in his
lora, that some information should be laid before
to the proportion, number, and value

nt OXFORD explaitwd, as to some
obtaining an accurate account of the
in question.
of NOlfl-01.K. in farther eiplana•
led fta the necessity of some informa-
subieft, wi.h wl,ich idea he was so far

I

impressed, as to propose, in order to allow full time
to collet it, that the Committee on the Bill should
be postponed until Thursday, the 2d of May.
Lord REDESDALE (Chancellor of Ireland)
argued for the propriety of having information
upon the subjet, to enable the House to form a
just decision upon the subjet, and to pursue'the
right line of discrimination. He agreed with the
Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolsack as to the
different important questions which the subjet in-
volved. He was aware of the difficulties which, in
some points of view, existed, as with respet to pro-
curing satisfaftory information ; but what the Hou ;e
would have principally to consider was the general
policy of the measure, a• d to what extent it might
be expedient to authorise the conveyance of livings
from private patronage to that cf the Universities,
and the proper ratio, as far as such was praElicable,
to be established with respr& to the successions.
After some farther explanatory conversation be-
tween the Duke of Norfolk, Viscount Sidmouth, and
Lord Auckland, the Committee no the Bill was ad-
journed till Thursday next, and the Lords ordered
to be summoned for that day.
NAVAL DOCUMENTS.
Lord Viscount MELVILLE presented a variety
of Naval documents and accounts, which were those
ordered by the House, on his Lordships' Motions
on a former evening. They were laid upon the
Table, and ordered to be printed.
The Earl of DARNLEY brought forward hO.,
eromised Motions on this suloje& ; these he descriti-
ed to the House in a speech of some length. The
Motions were for the produCtion of a great variety
of Naval Accounts and Documents, many of which
were founded on those moved for by a Noble V is-
count, and produced as above stated ; which, he
thought, in several instances, by no means went
far enough for the full illustration of the sobjet,with
a view, coupled with the detached accounts, moved
for by his Lordship, to establish and substantiate,
AS he contented, the leading positions advanced by
him when be first introduced the subjeCt. Of the
impoticy, extravagance, and injurious tendency of
having recourse to the merchants in preference to
the Royal Dock Yards; the capability of King's
Yards, under a proper system of management, of
fully answering the demands of the Royal Navy ;
and building therein a given number of ships of
war annually ; and the injurious consequences
which were likely to ensue from the departure of
the present Board of Admiralty from the wise and
salutary system laid down by their predecessors in
office. The accounts moved for by his Lordship
necessarily embraced a variety of Naval details,
and included nearly the whole economy of the Royal
Dock Yards With a reference to a constrasted
view of the conduct of both Boards of Admiralty,
many of the motions were for accounts from the
Ith of March, 1802, to the 15th of May, 1804,
in which interval the late Board of Admiralty offi-
ciated. He disdained all personal motives in thus
confine forward. His objeCt was purely the pub-
lic welfare and safety, by endeavouring to throw
light upon a question of great national import-
ance, and which could hereafter be taken up and
argued by persons evidently more competent than
himself. He concluded by ire molly proposing
the first motion in his strinja, which was, for an
Account of all Ships fitted out and refitted for the,
Service of the Royal Navy, from the Sth of March,
1802, to the 15th of May, 1804."
On the question being put ;
Lord Viscount MELVILLE rose.--He assured
the House and the Noble Earl, that if he (the
Noble Earl) could but prove and substantiate his
leading and most important position, that the exi-
gencies of the royal navy could be supplied in such
a way as to render it unnecessary to have recourse
to any other than the K'ng's yards ; if His Majesty's
ships could he therein kept in repair ; and, in ad.
dition to this, that ten ships of the line could he an-
nually built therein ; he had made a discovery
which had never yet been made, and, that he would
lie, in point of fait, th- greatest benefaelor to the
navy of this country, from its first creation to the
present hour. With respeCt to the part he had him-
self taken in these discussions, it was merely defen-
sive ; a situation in which, their Lordships would
recolle& he was placed by Noble Peers opposite to
him. He would not, at present, enter into a de-
tailed consideration of the subjeit, but generally
contend, that a great de•tl of what the Noble Earl
moved for war at least unnacessary. With re:pet
to the great charge of employing merchants' yards
in preference, on many occasions, it was a measure
which he was responsible for in common with every
Naval Minister that preceded him ; for, he would
defy any man to prove that, in times of war and
difficulty, any naval Minister did not find it neces-
sary to have recourse to the merchants' yards, in
order to keep up the navy of Great Britain.--
His Lordship made some observations upon parti-
cular parts of the Noble Earl's statement ; and ar-
gued with great ability, that, from these, very dif-
ferent conclusions should be drawn. He obsetved,
that the papers already upon the table, were suffi-
cient for the due understanding of the subjedl, as
their Lordships would feel, on perusing the accounts,
when they should be printed. A great part of the
questions, which the Noble Earl's detailed observa-
tions involved, were already in a train of investigation
and enquiry, and which would be decided and sided
upon before the documents moved by the Noble
Earl could be got ready. He assured their Lord-
ships, notwithstanding all his diligence, it was not
until after be came to the House that day, he re-
ceived those documents he had moved for, and re-
ferred to a note from the Secretary to the Navy
Board, that the accounts intended to be moved for
by the Noble Earl could not, consistently with his
public service, be got ready, in his opinion, in less
than three months. He earnestly wished that at a
pt oper time, the subje& to which all the documents
referred, should be fully discussed and probed to
the very bottom ; but, for the reasons he adverted
to, he rather wished the Noble Earl would not now
press his motions.
After a short explanation from the Earl of DA a so
t. ay, and a few observations from the Duke of
CL A a uses, the questions were put on the motions of
the Noble Earl, which were successively negatived.
Some Financial Accounts were presented by Mr.
PA II%F.LL, from the Chancellor of the Irish Ex-
cher-leer's Office, and by an Officer from the British
Treasury, and laid upon the Table.
Adjourned till Mainday.

110CSE OF COMMONS.
Mr CURWEI moved for a Copy of the P
in the Petition of John Duke of Athol, praying for com;,els.i.
non for hi, feudal rights in the Isle of Man, in che yen
I;B3.—Ordered. As also seine other Accounts relative tai
therm claims.
The American Treaty, the Spanish Trid. Vcensing In
demnity, the Neutral Prise Ships, and the Amerlean Intetcottere
BMX, went through Committees, and were ordered to be repin-
ed on Monday. •
Mr MAGGINS moved for an Account of all dollars issued
from the Bank of England to the latest period that the same
could be made up.
Thu resolutions of the Committee yesterdaylfor'equalising
the Impu.t Duty on Red Spanish, with thole. upon Port Wine,.
were agreed to, and a Rill ordered to be brought In u;ion then,.
A Message from the Lords antionticed their hating arced
to the Legacy Bill.
The Customs mid Excise Additional Daty Bills were ordered
for a third reading on Monday.
Nlll.lTlk BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
declined entering into any explanations of this Bill,
which was upon the model of that respecting the j
English Militia, which had been very sufficiently I
discussed already. There was, however, one
ground, on which this bill stood upon a different
footing from that of England. The former alt for
augmenting the militia here did not extend, for
certain reasons, to that of Ireland, which was now
composed of no more than what might be thought
necessary, upon a permanent establishment. But,
as our objed was to obtain, zs soon as possible, as
large an accession of disposable force as possible,
this measure would be equally applicable to Ireland,
where the vacancies arising from the enlistments into
the regulars would be immediately filled up, the
orders for the purpose having been sent down al-
ready.
He then moved for leave to bring. in a bill, for
enabling a certain portion of the militia of Ireland
to volunteer in His Majesty's regular, artillery, or
marine force,.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, that though the
militia system may he very serviceable to England,
it never could be beneficial to Ireland. That coun.
try was allowed to be the most vulnerable part of
His Majesty's dominion:, and he thought, that, in
the present temper of Ireland, it would be danger-
ous to strip it of the disciplined men, during the
length of time that the recruits would require for
training. Besides this, he thought the Irish Gen-
tlemen who brought the men to this present state of
discipline, would not be well pleased, to find them.
selves converted into recruiting officirs.
Lord DE BLAQUIERE expressed his astonish-
ment that these hills should meet with any opposi-
lion in either country, and censured the assimilation
attempted to be made, of officers' of militia with
crimps and drill serjeants.
Sir .1. NEWPORT denied that he had used ei
ther of these words, having only mentioned their
conversion ioto rm•ruiting serjeants.
Col. BASTARD apprehended, that, as the bill
now stood, wiry little disposable force could be
gained by it—for the greatest part of the men would
choose to enter into the marines, on account of the
chance of prizes.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
replied, that the bill gave no sozh alternative to the
men, hut vested the discretion in the Crown.
Mr. CALCRAFT said, he would not objeet to
the bill, as there were no ballots ip Ireland, where
the men were raised by a small bounty ; and thought
it would be a produCtive resource, provided the
Irish Officers were willing to become recruiting ser-
prams.
Sir G. HILL spoke in favour of the bill ; and,
after a few words from Earl Tear's and Mr.
A EX AN D ER, leave was given.
After which, the bill was brought in, rea3 a first,
ordered to be printed, and read a second time on
Monday.
Mr. FITZGERALD brought in a bill for ascer-
taining the division of lands, and rights of com-
mon in Ireland ; which being read a first time,
Mr. ALEXANDER suggested the propriety of
printing and distributing it in Ireland, before the se-
cond reading, which he hoped would not be hurried ;
to which Hr. FITZGERALD acquiescing, it was or-
dered to be read a second time on the Ist of May
next.
'the bill for authorising the Governor General to
aft as Commander in Chief, and remain a Member
of the Supreme Council in Bengal, was lead a se-
cond time, aid committed for Monday. .
ENGLISII MILITIA.
The House having, in pursuance to the Order of
the Day, taken into consideration the Report of the
English Militia Bill, several amendments were
made in the Committee.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER'
proposed two new clauses, one for adjusting the
mode of ballots in those counties in which the
greatest and least number of men should enlist;
and another to prevent seijeants and corporal., of the
Militia from volunteering as serjeants and corporals
of Artillery ; both of which were agreed to.
Mi. BANKS said, that though it was thought
proper to put the ballots out of sight in the present
Bill, yet it was not the less in existence, and that for
the sake of uniformity in the recruiting, both for the
Regulars and the Militia, it was necessary, in his
opinion, that a clause should be inserted, enaCting
that when vacancies occurred, instead of obliging a
person to find a substitute, the men should be raised
by a small bounty paid by the parish. Having mov-
ed a clause to this effeek,
Col. BASTARD seconded the Motion. The
Parish, he said, was already obliged to pay half the
bounty given by an individival for a substitute, and
a small addition, he thought, might be sufficient to
release the individual altogether.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
declared his great willingness to accede to the
clause, with a view of abolishing the ballots, and
assimilating the enlistments for the Militia and the
Regulars, by pursuing the mode adopted its the
Defence Aft. But that Aft had not yet a fair and
sufficient trial. He could not yet consent to give up
the old and established rules of the Militia, and the
more so, as in time of peace he should think the an-
cient praftice the more eligible.
After some observations from Mr. Wilberforce,
in favour of the clause, and from Mr. Canning and
Sir James Pulteney against it, it was negatived with-
out a division. Some verbal amendments were
made; the Bill was ordered to be printed, and
read a third time on Monday.
Mr. MARTIN (of Galway) gave notice that on
Monday next he should move for a list of the Pro-

the 1-Ifluse, As I
vi the livings.
The Bit.h4ip
daciiitier in d
',sine of the lii
The Duke
Lion, conteliae
Chan on the sul