The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-04-28 00:00:00

IRISH 6t7PPLIES.

On the motion of Mr. Fo- srEit, the House re-
solved itself into u t:ot aaaaa ittee of Wish Supply.
He then moved. " That there be granted to His
Majesty u slim not exceeding .ClO,OOO Irish cur-
rency, to defray the expenses of printing prods-
tildt ions and advertisements in The Dublin Gazelle
and other Irish papers."
Mr. PARNKLL credit not permit this resolution to
pus without calling the attention of the Com-
mittee to the expense incurred in consequence
of publishing the Proclamations of Government in
the Irish Nes spapcni. It was totally unnecessary,
and had in its oawnition produced numerous abuses.
Such a practice did not exist iu this country, and
he could not two any reasons why it should be
loner continued in that part of the empire.—
If those proclAinatious were important, and re.
ferred to matters ou which the public mind was
sititious to be informed, it was equally the interest
and the duty of the Editors of those Papers to in-
sert them tor the betwat of their readers. His
objectious extended farther than the mere neces-
sity ; he had to complain that there was, in the
manner in which they were published, a waidcu
and scandalous expenditure of the public money.
It was true that lie had not in his ion the
. actual documents by which he 'Meat =bled to
prove that the publication of those proclamations
was paid for out of the public money. Still it was
a matter of admitted mooriety, that such connects
took plum between the Irish Government and
Newspaper Indeed, it was shameful to
ace the manner in which this branch of exuditti-e
was conducted. lie then held in his hand two
Newspir..ers. the perusal of which wits sufficient to
convince any man of the impropriety of continuii g
such a system. In these Papers there were three
different proclamations, enjuminx certaiu orders,
which, from their own construction, were totally
out of existence mid operatiou at the date of the
time when such Newspapers were published. Theme
was one inserted in a Paper of the lad month, et.-
forcing a stria awl vigilant quarantine upon all
ships coining tmin the Mediterranean, iii con-e-
-quence of a fever raging at Gibraltar nearly tin ee
jean ago. The proclamation itself was dated in
lveis, and surel: it would not be contended, that
such a public:oMo was now necessary, because the
fever had nut imbsided. There was another, which
was expressl2, li.ititrd in its operation to biz months
from Its date, and yet, though two years and a
half hare elapsed since that period has expired, it
has been routieued in these Newspaper, so late as
the sth of last March. Nothiug could he more
scaudalous than to persevere iu such a palpable
abuse of the public resources. For his part, he
should ever deem it his duty to oppose such grunts
upon every well just tied gun ind of suspicion, but
most part Willa' I, a here the object was unnecessary,
and the abase monstrous and di,,graeciol. Inde-
pendent of theie intlacrutews to persevere in
moving, as an amendment. that the words " and
other Irish Newspap,lrs," should be omitted, he
was impelled to this line of conduct, because he
felt that this system of traffic with the !inductors
of the Irish Newspapers was continued for the
purpose of exereising au undue influence over
them, by whiidi the people of that kingdom were
deprived of their coustitutioual right to a free and
unfinished press. _ _

Sir AIITYUa WELLESILZY presumed, that as the
Irish Newspapers were paid an annual stipend for
the publication of the Proclumations of the Go-
vernment, the public did net pay for the insertion,
when, by neglect or inadvertence, such YnH•lunta-
tions w.•re continued beyond the proper time.—
With respect to any alleged influence on the port
of the ditferent government, in Ire and, he could
only say for hunself, that he bud nevLr adopted
such a mode since his accession to office. It was
necessary to publish such proclamations in the dit-
ferent Newspapers, as there were many reniote parts
of the island where The Dttbriet Gew.rete was never
seen ; aid he was convinced that in the distribution
there was no distinction, whether the paper was
adverse or friendly to the Government.
Mr. WINDMAII considered the admission of the
last speaker conclusive in support of the amend-
ment moved by his Honourable Friend near him
(tlr. PorneU). If the lE.ditors of Newspapers wished
to promote the wile of their papers, they would
naturally print all those proclamations which re-
ferred to important national °lice*, and where
there were minor or subordinate documents, the
parties interested in their operation would take
care to inform themselves of their nature and ten-
dency by meats of The Dublin Gazette. The pre.
sent mode was proved to be a job, and one of the
most gemiAidoiss kind, aced ought instantly to be
abolished.

SirAfcrnuaWELLestite anti Mr. PAIMILL
mu-
tually explained. The latter Gentleman particu-
larly reprobated the negotiation which, even by
the Ainistion of the Right Honourable Secretary,
must, immediately on his accession to office, take
place between persons in that office and the con-
ductors of the Irish Press. Ile was confident that
he (Sir Arthur Wellesley}) was not less alert in the
performance of that duty, than in the other
branches of that important depaltment.
Mr. CROLER said, that he had heard from an
Irish liter, that it was the custom, whenever, from
the non-arrival of the packets, or the dearth of in-
cidents, to fill up the columns of the newspapers
with antiquated prod:mations. (A faargA.)
There was tao additional espense incurred to the
public : nor hail the Irish Govermnent any thing
to do with suck a proceeding. It was the general
usage with olfscure papers, where the sonnet of
intelligence were not ettensire.
Mr. YARN ZIA replied to the last remark, by &ly-
ing. that in order to refute it. lie was obliged to
make known the pa-ticniur impert to a Inch he had
before alluded. The Eveming Correspondent mid
The Da/die JoNrnal were the newspapers. f •
which he provisd die e-iistim; and manifest Abu w:
of this scstern.

The CIAUC2I.I.OI of the Ezeureu P advert.4.,l
to the words of the resolution. *hieli i• t.d Rat
only the Government Pruclamationa. taut cher.
tioements, for which it was neeemairy .1 tootle of
supply should be voted.

Sir-JOHN NSWPOILT answereti. Cat the odnit.,
tioeinents were paid by the respective Boards of
the Department to which such wireniseinelito
fermi.

After some few words from Mr. Foam'. the
angesidusent was negatived without a division, nint
the original motion was put and carried.
The following gums were then voted :
For defraying the 'apeman of craggiest presenn
lions, asd utber Ine-oruerears Liken)
For working the gold mines in the coast, of
Wicklow -
" 937 •
Mr. i'MINELI. tad Sir JOHN Mir PORT as.
pressed their determination to oppose any future
grant of this nature. It was now admitted, iyy
every person acquainted with the cireutustaneargue
the e-ar, that the speculation had totally failed.
Sir Asernre Wet.Lesmar admitted the failure,
but considered the grant necessary, as, by keeping
a guard and placing the management of the mil*
under the care of proper persons, the poolato of
the country would progressively be couvouced of
the failureof the plan, and those alisorderl; ugsram
binges prevented, width, under the indueme of the
delusive hope, would probably take place, Well: We
greet not continued. _ _

„,
gjr. Rase asked whether the Right Hon. Baronet
(Sir J. Newport) did not hituself an the late atlas's-
nistnition, propose such a grant ?
Sir J outs N kwrottr answeres/, that he most cer-
tainly diJ, with an expressed detertninittiois to take
the mod speedy means of stopping it, when the
probable failure of its object was fully ascertuined,
and genenilly admitted. At all etents, he did
nut are that the wonted principle of recrimination,
to which tie lag speaker, on all occasious, alone
adhered, was at all applicable to the propriety at
impropriety of the grail,. It did pig folk,.
thouen the late Ministry moved such a resolution,
that therefore it was wise to pensevere. He Sit.
Newnort) was never unwilling to retract en error,
nor did I.e wi.h to defend mistakes, by penning that
ha adiersary-h.sd coin Mara "curse.
Mr. }:ostan then moved that the following sup-
plies granted-
-6w lobbing Ow tepoin tot Dr. Stevens's Clinictl
Hospital L 1,3;4
Far exerting bundlers to Sir Patrick Dana's Mi.
diced siespitat - 4,03.
For repaqiug to Mr. Z. Kent • awn of money paid
by Kw into the Tn./tory Sit •
Solar, to tl.e Lottery Officer* in lerlaod - 4,444 v
Fee the City of Curk I natitutiuts - •
Sir JOHN Nits Peat spoke warmly in favour of
this Its.tiiution, which had done so much in atik -
ing the principles of sr letter to the augmeptatiou
the comforts and sires merits of life. ife did not
see any Gentleman then in the House v. ho *u_s cue-
netted with that city Par part of the island to *lino
he could appeal as authority for the services of
this most bentidicial institution. Ile tru.n.d it
would continue to receive the protection and sup-
port of the Legislature.
On the s ggestion of Mr. Ettaot, the resolntioa
ri fir ing to -the Maynouth College was deferred
.1 Frets.. next.
Mr. Finis* iutisnated, that it WIN his intention
to preppoiu au Ungineotatioa to the grant of.last
year, to the extent of supporting Atte additional
students, at 151. per enema each. It was also his
intention to propom some few remaining ressolutions
next Friday.
The House then resolved itself into a Com-
mittee of British supply.
Mr. Hvaatsaon stated, that it wee his wish, is
the first instance, to explain to the Committee the
causes of the deficiency in the %Vey* and Moats
of the last year. That deficiency amounted to
one hundred and nine thousand pouts's. It was
to be reccllected, tkat his Right lion. Friend. the
Chancellor of the Exchecluer. had. scone time ago,
funded four millions of Exchequer Bills, and that,
its order to produce a competition, it was judged
advi:noble to give the option to the holdei* of all
not-aticaliivc Lxehequer Bills. The consequence
was, that Exchequer Bills, to the amount of two
millions three hundred and sixty-three thousand
pound., elm:xi-able on the grants of the year 1807.
were funded. Another provision having been mod.
to meet this fund, the aids for the year were pre-
portiouably released. Subtracting the one hundred
and Paine thousand, being the amount of the ddi-
cience, from the amount of the two millions three
hundred aid sixty-three thousand 'pounds. for
which the separate provision was made, there theta
remained a surplus of two millions two hundred
and titly-rour thousand pounds at the disposal of
the House. He, therefore, moved, That this sum
be voted as a supply to His Majesty for the curreut
year.'' _ _ _

After a few words from SirJoiw Nswroar, the
motion was put and carried.

Tlie usual allowances to the disembodied Stall
of the Arlilitia both in Great Britain and Irel.uid,
were ordered to be paid out of the Land-Tax ,of
Elii iatid. and out of the Consolidated Fund of lit-
laud.

Mr. LUSHINGTON moved for returns of the quan-
tity of dried barley wheat exported fungi great
Britain for the last year, and also of the amount of
the dniwlsacts paid thereon. Ordered.
Adjourned at eight o'cloxlc.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LON DUN,
THURSDAY. Aran. 28.

The Duke of PORTLAND, before he wait4id upon
the KING. yeArrday, went to the apartments of
the Duke of n sD, in St. James-Palaeri
and reuiairml vios.t..tl with his !Loyal Ifightitiw