The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-24 00:00:00

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OR,
LITER.,4Rrs_ .4DVERTISER.

just note and dignity. The. Right Hon. Gentle-
man then observed, that those Members who oppose
this measure, on the grounds of laying additional
burthent on the people, will o'ojea to the Speaker's
leaving the chair ; but how does any Hon. Gentle-
man know what proposition is intended to be made?
And surely any Hon. Gentleman will have a full
apportuaity of stating his objections in the Com-
mittee ; until then lie should not state his proposi-
tion.
The question being again put, that the Speaker
de leave the Chair, it was carried, and the House
resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House,
Mr. Wallace in .the chair.
His Majesty's Message was then read.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
rose and said, he was confident the proposition he
was about to make, would give the most general
satisfaaion. It we* not possible to entertain a
doubt, but every Member of this House was most
deeply interested in the support of his Royal High-
ness the Prince of Wales's dignity, with all suitable
splendour. As to The measure which took place in a
former period, he was one of those who concurred
in its neceasity, though it was brought forward with
reluaance ; and he was.persoaded it would dispense ,
very great joy to hear that the measures then
adopted for the arrangement of his Royal High-
ness's affairs had proceeded with uniform &lett;
and had been well dire&ed by those who had the
management of the Commission for that purpose.
It concerned the duty and charaaer of Parliament
to' refer to the proceedings which took place in
1795. About the end of April 1795, a Message
was sent to this House, mac:acting' the augmen•
tation of his Royal lighhess's establishment.
His Right Hon. Friend, who was then Chancellor of
the Exchequer, brought forward his proposition, by
stating, that in the year 1740 the then Prince of
Wales had an establishment of an hundred thou-
sand pounds exelusiat of the revenues of Cornwall,.
and argued ail the encrease of the expence of every
necessat y from that period to the time of his making
his proportion of adding sixty-five thousand pounds
to the sixty thousand pounds which was then the
Prince's establishment. 1::e motion W?.S carried by
a large majority ; and there were many who then
hoped his establishment would be made equal to
that of his Royal Grandfather. It was the inten-
tion of his Right Hon. Friend who brought forward
that measure, to combine justice with liberality,' and
consequently the Bill of 1795 invested powers in
Commissioners appointed to discharge debts of his
Royal Highness to the amount of sex hundred and
twenty thousand pounds,bythe application of certain
sums for that purpose, sixty thousand pounds per
annum to be paid from the Exchequer, and thirteen
thousand pounds from the revenues of Cornwall,
for carrying the same into effect, which would take
no less a spits e than twelve veers to perform, eight
of which had already passed. It seemed the ge-
neral wish of the House at that time, to have
'a ShottCr period determined on for finally ad-
justing his Royal Highness's affairs; and a de-
sire was manifested by many memhers of receiv-
ing some intimation on the subbed. A most
gracious message was, in consequence, received
from his Royal Highness, intimating that he had
no wish, during the discussion, of interfering with
their deliberations • that he submitted the matter
entirely to the wisdom of Parliament, and was
particularly desirous of having atny addition which
they thought proper to make to the income he al-
ready possessed, principally applied to the discharge
of his debts. Upon this they immediately proceed-
ed to instruct a committee, appointed for arranging
his Royal Highness's affairs, to appropriate certain
sums for the liquidation of the Prince's debts,
as it was the general opinion that the discharge of
the debts was a primary objet. Thus his Royal
Highness was made subjea by this austere obliga-
tion to a. privation for twelve years of many of the
comforts and almost all the splendor requisite for
the dignified support of his exalted station, by the
power vested in those Commissioners for appropri-
ating sixty thousand pounds per annum from the
Treasury, and thirteen thousand pounds per annum
front Cornwall for the discharge of his debts. Since
the 10th of Oaober, 179+, the sum of five hundred
and ninety-two thousand five hundred pounds in all,
has been paid out of his Royal Highness's income.
The sums remaining to be paid for the outstanding
debentures, would with interest, including the sum
that has been already stated, amount in the whole
to eight hundred and five thousand seven hundred
and fifty pounds, paid in the year 1806, leaving a'
balance of nearly 1001. in the Prince's favour. But,
said the Right Hon. Gentleman, when we consider
that eight years (the fifth part of his life) have
passed over his Royal Highness's head 'in nar-
row circumstances, are we to wish for its continu-
ance four years longer, particularly when we con-
sider that all the sums applied to the discharge of
his debts were paid entirely from the Prince's in-
come ? Every man, he observed, had an undoubt-
ed right to vote as his duty prompted him, but he
trusts there can be but one sentiment on this subjea.,
His proposition would go thus far, that his Royal
Highness should be placed in such situation and
circumstances as if the at of 1795 had not taken
place, by the grant of a sum not exceeding sixty
thousand pounds per annum until the ezpitation of
that ad. The Right Hon. Gentleman then observ-
ed, that ninety years ago a Prince of Wales had a
provision of 100,000 pounds ; that sixty years ago .
the Prince's Royal Grandfather had one hundred
and thirteen thousand pounds, and he argued, that
from the increase and expences, and the change of
the value of money, 1'2.5,000 pounds in 1799 was
not equivalent to either of the two incomes
he had above stated ; and if we cons:der the en.
creased expences of every thing even since that pe-
riod, what was thought moderate then must be, in-
deed, a very moderate provision now. He therefore
wished to see his Royal Highness in the uneon-
trouled possession of his just rights. There was
no point better uuderstood, or more wisely sties:xi:a-
ed in this House, than what relates to the economy
of the ettabhshments of the Royal Family. Bat

I

would any one pretend to say, that the state of he
country was such as nee to be alsk to after&
60,0001. per annum for the support of the neeessaer
state and dignity of the:, Heir Apparent to the
Throne of this United Kingdom ? What we give
to him, said the Right Hon. Gentleman, if we give
it wisely, we give nto ourselves ; I mean to the ge-
neral Interests of the country. Ile would not state
the inconveniencies under weich the Prince had
laboured since the ceternencemeht of the operation
of this Aft. It must -appear unnecessary to any
Orson Who considered for an instant the situation
in which he was placed under narrow circumstances,
with a heart glowing with benevolence, and a fore,
tune inadequate to his princely rank, which pre-
vented the exercise of the most amiable virtues. An
Hon. Gentltman, who objefted to the Speaker's leav-
ing the Chair, spoke something about a compromise-
.lf he had never heard of any Petition of Right,
(which in this case was entirely out of the question}
he would sanction the measure en constitutemal
grounds, as it came from his Majesty. For who cale
be indifferent to the situation of his Royal High-
ness, or adverse to any proposition for placing hum
in the situation of speedour and magnificent, to
which he is so pre-eminently entitled ? By these ex-
pressions, he did not mean barely to confine himself
to those ideas, which unfortunately seem, in general,
to be coley attended to grand equipages, and all the
external marks of greatness ; but would add the
power of extending his illustrious patronage to the
encouragement of the liberal arts—to the succour
and proteeion of literary characters, and to other
pursuits equally meritorious. He wished to see him
Royal Highness in a situation to return the loyal
and polite attentions of the nobility and gentry of
this kingdom : and shall (exclaimed the Right Hon.
Gentleman, with animated emotion), the heir to the
British crown, the greatest in the would, be pre-
cluded from the exercise of what his noble and
generous sentiments so naturally and warmly
• impel him to perform ? He disclaimed the Pe.
tition of Right, as a motive for this measure, anct
insisted that this proposition should be received
on constitutional grounds only. He apologized
to the Committee for trespating so long on
their time, and concluded the most animated.
speech we have ever heard him deliver, by moving
that a sum not exceeding 60,030 pounds per annum,
be granted to his Royal Highness, out of the Con-
solidated Fund of this kingdom, from the sth of'
January, leo3, until the expiration of the aft.of
179.3-
A few words then passed between Mr. Fox and
the Cisescettoa of the Ere:lmes:Ea, across the
table, is which the later stated that the 15,0'.2.9
pounds from the revenues of Cornwall, would be
free from the operation of the aft, from the sth of
April, 1805.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.
rose to answer a question from Mr. Harrison, as to
the total amount of His Royal Highaess's present
debt. He stated it to be 2.35,7341-. due on debene
.tures now in circulation r in that estimate he in-
I the whole debt, as well interest as principal.
The SOLIC ICO ;EN E RAL rose to testify
his warmest wish that his Royal Highness should
be restored to the rank and dignity which became
the situation of his Majesty's eldest son. He had the
honour of being in the service of his Royal High..
ness ; he had moreover the honour of being in his
confidence. He had it in commission from him to
state to the House his Royal Highness's warm and.
unfeigned gratitude to his Royal Father for the in-
terest which he took in his honour and comfort, a*
plainly appeated through the medium of the Royal
message upon which a question was now before the
, House. The Hon. Member stated, that he had
more than once in the late Parliament asserted, and.
with his Royal Highness's approbation, that his re-
spa and regard for his Majesty would induce him
to abandon any claim whatsoever, rather thee that
the prosecution of it should tend .to his Majesty's.
dissatisfaction. Of the legality of that claim, how-
eves, he would say, that neither he nor any other-
Member in the House, could entertain the least
doubt; but a discussion could not fail to draw for-
ward circumstances which must be highly cliotressingo
to those feelings, which were perfeely mutual to his.
Majesty and his eldest Son—fee!inzs which, he
hoped, would never cease but with their existence I
The grounds of the motion, the Hon. Member said.
had been stated in the-clearest manner by the Chen-
cellar of the Exchequer; he was perfaily well aF-
sprei that there was no suns thing as a compromise
between the Prince of Wales and him. If the
House adopted the measure which. might ap-
pear to them ' suitable to extricate his Royal •
Highness from the pressure which he had sus-
tained for eight years, it wield enable hint
to put a stop to a - disagreeable proceeding,
which, after a long forbearance, he aad fund
himself necessitated to adopt—He meant that of
prosecuting his right : it would enable hen to de-
sist from a discussioir of those pretensions, which,
however justly founded, he would rather, have fore-
gone, than that aay circumstances should have
-transpired to create uneasness between. his Royal
Father and himself. Those wore the Prince's sen-
timents, which, however wiegisal the Hon. Mem-
ber said he might be to the task of giving ex-
prepion to them, he was certain must do honour to
his heart. (General cry of Clearly ! Cfrarly !)
Ht
would state, that one great object of bringing fur-
ward the questicn respecting the Ptince of Wales's
claims, was to chew, that great as were the debts
of the Prince of Wales, they had not fallen. on the
public. The revenue of the Duch!' of Corn.walli
had, during his Royal. Highness's minority, been.
taken into the Civil List, and. apple:J towards de-
fraying those expenses which the public- would.
have been bound to defray ; it was. thetrfore, a.
debt due from. the public to his Ravel Highness,.
which he might justly cLmtaMi to have' reiuibursed
to hitn. As to the great amotant ofhis Royal High-
ness's debts he was very cerfaia that if any gentleman.
would. look back. on our historic-11 records,. and then,
c(2mpate the provision made for his Reyal lighe
eess with that of any felines Prince of. Irts Ales, ;MIR

7

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