The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-02-05 00:00:00

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NOUSE 01 COMMOUS.

publication; thereby promulgating the law to the
whole of the Navy of Great Britain, for its regu-
lation in regard to the trade of neutrals.—
I may thus be thought, perhaps. to be idling
the time, and wearying the attention of the
House, by having given so long and protralleda
notice, when it will appear. that what I Ilene had in
view, is merely a motion of course. I therefore
deem it necessary, for my own justification. to remind
those who were present upon the former occasion,
when this subjea was touched upon, of the circum-
stances which occasioned this protraaed notice, and
to state to those who were not present, the mere fait.
I considered it. Sir. to be so much a mere motion of
course. that I intended to bring it forwar I the very
day after giving toy notice, but in coming to the
House, for that purpose, I was accosted, in a very
kind and friendly way, by the Noble Lord oppo-
site (Lord Howick) who stated, that he wished to
oppose the motion I intended to make. It occur-
red to me, that there could be no grounds for op-
position, except that it might be said. that there
was no necessity for such a production, owing to
the notoriety that had been previously given to it
I was, however, perfactly satisfied, that, should that
objenion be urged, it would be immediately remov-
ed ; as Gentlemen would see, that although the do-
cument itself had already been made public, yet the
most orderly, regular, and Parliamentary c 'urse of
proceeding, would be, to have the Authentic instru-
ment laid upon the table, before any discussion
could take place upon the sullied of it. I found,
however, that that was not the ground upon which
the Noble Lord inertit to objeft to the motion for its
produetrnn. He stated, upon the former occasion,
that he ould not anticipate any motion or measure
that I could possibly propose to lotted upon such
a proditaion, which it would not Le his duty.
as a htemblt ot Parliament, and one of His Ma-
jesty's Ministers, to oppose ; and for that reason,
he would not countenance it so far as to admit of
its being laid before the Ilouse. Now, Sir, it ap-
peared to me, that there Wall something to i ew in
that principle. that I should have deemed it highly
improper to take the House by surprise, on that
ground alone, which of itself I conceive to be of
considerable importance. The House must he
• aware. that those grounds on which the Noble
Lord means to oppose the produaion of the docu.
meat I anti& to, render it necessary is suppose,
that, by the weight of his eloquence, the force
of his argument, his high situation, and his in-
floe:ice, it would be undoubtedly unwise on
my part to hazard what I thought a question of
importance. to be discussed upon such a short no-
tice. As it became necessary to enter into the
merits of the measure I meant to propose, in order
to justify toe grounds of the produelion sought for,
I thought it necessary to give as distant it notice
for that produslion, as I should have deemed ne-
cessary to have given for the motion itself. The
ground upon which I understand it is still to be
opposed, is one which any man, conversant with
the proceedings of this House, or actiosinted with
the mode in whisk that Noble Lord himself :seed,
when s .aced upon this side of it, must conceive to be
totally inconsistent with his former principles and
professions. The more that inconsistency of con-
drift apperos evident, so much the more is the im-
portance of this question increased; and in the same
proportion too arises the necessity of tae House
exel ring itself for the proteftion of its most valuable
privileges, and to ascertain whether we are now,
or are to be hereafter. subjetted to some new sort of
controul ; or whether we are always to look upon
it as being necessary to state reasons for Motions,
although merely Motions ot course, and these rea-
sons, ton, such as might meet with his ( Lord How-
ick's) approbation. L cannot allow myself to be-
lieve, that the Government of this country can
really mean to establish such a general principle. or
that they can persist in opposition to the production
now sought for, when none of them can state any
detriment as being likely to arise from it. Tile
mode I am pursuing, is one which is known, and
admitted, as being the most advantageous for dis-
cussing the measures of Government ; and I cannot
think that the House will acquiesce in any new
proposition, contrary to what has been ailed upon
before, or that it will agree in any respeft with that
Noble Lord's ideas upon this particular suljaat. I
was disposed for a considerable time to imagine,
that the Noble Lord would have anticipated this
Motion, by showing in what manner he deemed it
to be unnecessary, and the House I am sure will
also be of opinion, that something of that kind
ought cos have been done. when they consider
what the paper is which I am to call for.—The
document I propose to call for iii, Sir, a mea-
sure of Government, which is complete in itself,
which has been published to the world, and which
has been :teed upon. The opposition to its produc-
tion, on account of its being unnecessary, is, as 1
have stated, already disclainted. It is a paper
which has been already published throughout the
kingdom, which is in the hands of every man, and
has been seen every where, except here, where alone
it can properly be discussed--/A load cry .f hoar !
bear!)—We, the Representatives of the people of
this country, are alone to he excluded from it.—
We are not to have the means of approving or
disapproving of it, or of taking it iii any shape into
oar consideration. I am persuaded, that the refusal,
1 upon such grounds its those stated upon a former oc-
-1 casioa by the Noble Lord, is perfealy unprecedented;
and. I think, that if the House abandons its right of
caliing for this produaion, they abandon the meatis
' they possess of inquiring into and reviewing the
measures of Government. which will .in the end
prove excaedingly disadvantageous to the public
service. The ordinary grounds upon which produc-
tions are opposed, cannot be urged in this case. It
cannot be stated, that there is likely to be given any
trouble to officers, nor any difficulty in making it
our, nor ran it be alleged, that it is merely to gra-
tify an idle curiosity. It is not said that any public
irjery will arise from the cnrrounniention of this
p toe', it being at present completely known to the
world. I think, too, that every one still admit, that
the sub's° of it is of considerable importance, ar.d
that the magnitude of it is sufficient to call upon
Parliament to pay some attention to the proceed-
ing. But we are to he told, that it man be re-
sisted. because His Majesty's Government cannot
conceive that any measure can be proaosed upon
it, that car meet with their approbation! Lest
such a coalud should ultimately discourage similar

Mr. Dennison, Member for Hall, took the noel
oaths and his seat.
Mr. Richard Wharton was allowed leave of ab-
sence, on account of his ill state of health.
Mr. PANE, Chairmsn of the Committers, upon
the Thetford Eledinn Petition, report-d, that James
Mingay. Esq. was not duly defied; and that "Thos.
Creevey, Esq. was duly eleded.
Sir. GILSERT HEATHCOTE, Chairman of
the Malden Committee. also reported, that I3enja.
min Gaitskill. Esq. was not duly elebted ; and
that Charles NVeltern, F.sq. was duly el-. Red.
Mr. ATKINS WRIGHT. Chairman of the
Penrhyn Committee, also reported, that Sir Christo-
pher Hawkins, Bart. was not July eleded ; and
th it John Trevannion. Esq. was duly eleded.—
He also reported, that the said Sir Christopher
Haw k^'s, and his Agents, had been guilty of gross
bribers and corruption.
Th.! Clerk of the Crown was then orJered to
attead the H .use, in order to amend the said seve-
re! rturns.

Mr. ATKINS WRIGHT then muvel—" That
the sai I Report be taken into consideration on Mon-
day fortnight."
Mr. Faw•kener, Clerk of the Privy Council, pre-
sented, at the Bar, an Arc of the Return of the
ArchbiThops, made to the Privy Council, of the
aurnbtr of non-resident Clergy, wit!: and without
;leave.
Mier a few words from Mr FE!.LOWES, the

atccoilot was ordereii to lie on the Tahle.
A Petition horn the fritstees of the Royal Naval
Asylum was presented to the 1-I)use praying I •tve
to bring in a Hill to authorise Ili. Majesty in grant
• certain marrsion-house and grounds in the County
of Kent. for the use of that Charity.—Ordered to
be referred to a Committee.
The LORD ADVOCATE of SCOTLAND

pnstom d his Motion, respeeing on augmentation
of i%•e Stipends of the Scotch Clergy, until ruesday
nem He also gave notice, that he would, on that
bight, submit for the consideration of the House, ano.
thee MOWN:. conntecd with th a sullen
Tit, Irish Treasury Bills Bill was read a third
time aid passed
The Order of the Day for the enl:srcernent of the
time for taking into consideration the Mayo Elation
Petrion, being read,
Mr. PA RNfI.L said, he :tmid have thought it
wrinecessary to have made any further observations
'on the subjee, bin merely to refer to those induce-
ments which on former and similar o!casions in-
fluenced the House. He alluded to the decision of
th: House upon the Aberdeen and the City of Dub-
lin Petitions; in the former case, th, . disiance was
cniisidered a suffirient ground for any delay that
might take place ; hot, as he apprehended, in the
present ease, a similar opposition to shat in the
Londonderry Petition might be made, he thought
his duty to state some reasons, which he trusted
would *ie sufficient to induce them to agree to the
eutargeraent be proposed. One we.. that in so pn.
puli-u, a county, 1111111 the extent and variety of the
evidence, a cansiderable time was necessary to pre-
pare the proofs. An eminent barrister, who had
taken an aaive part in the fileeion, and whose
eurtions wet. still further wanting, was 11,•avoidably
etsikaged to other professional avocations ; these,
wails the absenee of a material witness, were the
Toands on which he moved fir its enlargement.
he House had already admitted it in other cases,
merely upon geuer it grounds ; an 1, therefore, he
trusted, tisell after the special circumstances he had
stated, the House would agree to enlarge the time.
Mr. CORKY did not conceive that Scotch eases
ware at ali applicable In Ireland there was no
necessity of takins the evids nee any considerable
distance f: thi•sr own county; indeed. in the
present case, the Commissioners appointed to sit in
the ccurity of Down, which was the next county to
Mayo, were for the purpose of examining such wit-
nesses. and therefore the ease of Scotland could ant
apply. His Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Parnell) had
stated some special matter, which be did not coy
ceive would justify the House in deporting from its
general rule. or surrendering that principle of jea-
lousy which so strongly operated upon motions of this
hiod. It was to be recollefted, that this was the
se:ond petition presented against the return of the
Sitting Mcmher, who, on Ilse reiiult of the contest,
bad a majority of 4000 votes ; under all the circum-
at ince'. be did not see grounds for acquiescing in
the in.ition of his Right Hon. Friend.
Str.ingers were ordered to withdraw, and while
er iuded from the gallery, we understand Use elu-
tion for the enlargement was carried.
On our tv:urn to the gallery, we found the I louse
occupi: d upon the ;notion for enlarging the time
for the c insideration of the Downpatrick Petitions,
strangers were again ordered to withdraw, and,
Re ult.le!v.ind, the motion was agreed to.
Mr. ROSE moved s:vetal accounts relative to
the tnnntge of ships trading to China ; the value of
English merchandise export.d there, and the quan-
tities of tobacco, tea, rum, brandy, fze. imported
and exported, from the year 1767 to 1796.
The Secretary at War laid before the House a
Return of the men reported in the Monthly /Legi-
t/Witte Lists, returned to the Adjettant-General, who
bad veliesterred for general service daring the year
It —.Ordered to lie re the Tahoe.
Ar.Vansittart brought up the Dill foe the Import.
mama of Turkey Tobacco ; which was read a' first
time. and ordered to be read a second time to-
tter/110W.

OADIi.II or COUNCIL RI lATIVE TO NEU ritu.s.

NU. PERCKVAI.--.• Sir. I rise in pursuance of
a notice I gave, for the purpo• e nt moving for the
produffion of a Paper, which I have no doubt the
House will consider as worthy of their serious con-
sideration. Hut however much it may he fit for the
opinion and deliberation of the I louse, or of what-
ev importance it may appear, yet I cannot help
Sealing some apprehension, that I may be under the
neees•ity of °Laing same apology to the House tar
haring given the appearance of so much pomp and
solemnity to a motion of this description. This ap-
pearance has originated from my having given such
a distant notice inr a paper being Lid before the
blouse, which, it is clearly understood, has already
beets seen in every Coi:e-house, in London,
s.nl in ev.ry place where Newspapers are read, anJ
%emelt has been published in 71e .1.14061 Gazette, for
Lie ;forptise of giving it an cream, and authentic

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