The Sun.
London, England, 1802-12-04 00:00:00

110 USE OF COMMONS,

FRIDAY, DEc. 3.
TI;E Report of the Committee appointed to in-
quire into the Petition for a new Burying-ground
for the Parish of St. Giles in the Fields, was
brought up, agreed to, and a Bill ordered to be
brought in upon it.
A Petition was presented on behalf of John
Macnarnara, Esq. one of the late candidates for
Radnorshire, complaining of an undue Eleftion.
Ordered to be taken into consideration on Tuesday
-the z9th of March; and a Petition complaining
of an undue Election for Kingston-upon-Hull, on
Thursday the 3 tst of March.
Some Public Accounts were presented, and or-
dered to lie on the Table.
Mr. CoRRy brought up the Bill for the Enrol-
ment of the Irish Militia, which was read a first
time, and ordered to be read a second time or.
Monday.
Mr. CORRY said, he had given notice of his in.
tention to propose another Militia Bill, for the pur-
pose of assimilating, as far as possible, the Mili-
tia Laws of Ireland with those of England. He
wished now to renew that notice, and to state, that
it was his intention to take an early day next week,
for the purpose of proposing a complete Militia
system fur Ireland. The mode of proceeding which
he intended to adopt, with the permission of the
House, was this, viz, to propose that the Bill
should be read a first and second time, and then
committed, pro forma, in order to fill up the blanks.
He should then propose that no further proceeding
should be had upon the Bill until after the Recess,
by which time the House would be able to consider
the subject maturely.
Mr. Poo LE brought up the Estimates of the Ord-
nance Service for the ensuing year, for Great
Britain and Ireland.—Ordered to lie on the Table.
Mr. PoonE gave notice, that he should propose
to vote Ordnance Estimates in the Committee of
Supply on Wednesday next.
Mr. VANSITTART rose to move for leave to
bring in a Bill, which, he said, it was unnecessary
to preface with any observations, as it was the An-
nual Indemnity Bill, which he meant to move for.
—Leave was given to bring in the Bill.
The Order of the Day was then read for the
House to resolve itself into a
COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS.
The House having- 'resolved itself into the said
Committee, •
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
he rose to move the Resolutions of which he had
given notice yesterday, viz. for the annual Duties
upon Malt, Mum, Cyder, Perry, Tobacco, and
Sugar. He also meant to propose the Duties upon
what remained of the Land Tax, and upon Pen-
sions, &c. Ifit should be the pleasure of the House
to agree to these Resolutions, he should afterwards
propose a Resolution for the issue of five millions of
Exchequer Bills. With regard to the former Re-
solutions, he supposed they would not be objected
to, as they were the usual annual Votes. With
respect to the one he had last mentioned, he would
submit a few observations to the Committee before
it was proposed.
The Duties upon Malt, Mum, Cyder, Perry, To-
bacco, Sugar, Laud, and Pensions were then voted.
The CHANC EL LOR of the EXCITEQUER then
rose. He said it was unnecessary tor him to state
to the Committee the advantages which resulted
from keeping in circulation, a certain number of
Exchequer Bills. The only point %Aida required at.
tention was, that the Supply of Exchequer Bills
should be regulated by the convenience of Public
Service, and the state of the Money Market. The
quantity in circulation had accordingly varied, at
different times, and under different circumstances.
Previous to the commencement of the late war, the
sum in circulation was 7,4.78,0001. In the com-
mencement of tBO2, the amount of circulation was
29,000,0001.; since then, a considerable reduc-
tion in the amount of the Exchequer Bills had
taken place ; and at the moment he was speak.
ing,. the amount of those in circulation was
about sis,coo,cool. In the sum he had mentioned
was comprised the 5,500,0001. Exchequer Bills fund-
ed by an ACt of List Sessions, and also those of
which an account had been laid upon the Table. In
'1793, previous to the commencement of the War,
the Navy Debt amounted to 3,344,3971: in 18oz,
to 7, i iO,BSoI. to which night be added 1., r 78,0001,
being the amount of what was paid by advance out
of the Supplies of 180 z ; making togethei• above
8,600,0031. At present the Navy Debt might be
stated at about 4,500,0001. so that the Navy -Debt,
had been teduced nearly one.hAlf since last
year ; and with regard -to the Unfuldcti 1.-):'br) •

it bad been relueed above 18,000,0001. In stating
the amount of he Exchequer Bills at i 5,000,0001.
he comprised those Exchequer Bills which Were in
the possession of the Bank, and which were to be
repaid by the Instalments of the Duties upon Malt
&c. as they came in, and therefore they could not
be considered as being in the market ; taking out,
therefore, the amount of the Exchequer Bills in the
possession the Bank, which amount to 900,0001.
there would remain 14,100,0301. In this sum
were to be comprised the Exchequer Bills not in
circulation, viz. 3,000,0001. which would not.bc
payable till t 806, taken by the Bank in consequence
of the renewal of their Charter, and also ,z,980,0001.
charged on. the aids of t Sot. There was also a sum
of 1,500,0001. of additional Exchequer Bills to sup-
piy the chasm that would be created by taking out of
the market the Exchequer Bills bearing an interest of
31d. per day. That the Market would bear the ad-
ditional issue of five millions of Exchequer Bills,
there could be-no doubt, because they were now at
a premium ; but there was another infallible crite-
rion by which the Committee might judge upon the
subjed, viz. that although by the plan adopted,
some years ago, persons were allowed to pay in
Exchequer Bills for their Taxes, Duties, &c. yet
a very small proportion had been paid in Ex-
Chequer Bills, which was a plain proof that the de-
mand for them was great. Another proof was,
that there was now a greater demand for them
than could be issued, from the residue that remained
in the Exchequer. He begged leave, before he sat
down, to give notice of his intention, on this day
seennight to enter into a statement of the financial
circumstances of the COT) try, as far as they could
be at present stated. He coecluded with moving
that a sum not exceeding five millions be raieed
by Loans on Exchequer Bills.—Agreed.
The Report was ordered to he received-on Mon-
day.
General GAscovr;tti presented a Petition from the
Merchants of Liverpool, against the Ad impos-
ing a Duty upon Tonnage.
The Petition having been read,
General ge.scoTTNE moved, that it shottl,4 lie on
the Table.
General Lek L ETON said a few words, which we
did not distindly hear.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, it would be perfeCtly improper for him to
enter into the discussion of the subjed at present,
but he was anxious to take this opportunity of de-
claring that there was not a man in the House,
who attached more importance to the Shipping
interest than he did : They were, to use the language
of the Petition, the Manufadurers of British Seamen,
, and a more noble Menufadory it would be im-
possible for any man to be engaged in. If it could
he satisfadorily proVed that the duty in question
affeded them in the manner that was stated, he need
not say that the proof of such a circumstance would
lead to the repeal of the Tax.—Bat he was con-
vinced that no such effeEt was to be apprehended.
All the information he had received tended to shew
that those who thought that the Shipping Interest
would decline with the Peace, were fortunately er.
roneous in their apprehensions—He would not say
that in some parts of the Country there was not a
decrease in the Ships which entered inwards and
cleered outwards from Particular ports. He grieved
as much as the Hon. Gentleman could do at such
A circumstance ; all he meant to contend was, that
the Export Trade of the Country of British Ma-
nutadures had increased Aince the Peace ; that the
number of British Ships which sailed from the Port
of London had increased, and that of Foreign Ships
had decreased.
The Petition was ordered to lie on the Table.
Mr. 3:EFFERYS said, that having presented to
the House, a few days since, a Petition from the
Maitsters of the City of Coventry, praying.relief
from the penalties of certain Clauses in a Bill, lay-
ing great resttidions on their Trade, he wished to
be informed, by the CHANCELLOR of the VXCH E -
QU ER, Hit was his intention to fix an early day for
the consideration of the Petition ; he said his mu-
tive for pressing the Subjed, arose from information
he had received of legal proceedings for the penal-
ties being commenced against many of his Consti-
tuents, Mr. JEFFERYS added, that he did not en-
tertain a doubt, that every degree of attention and
redress would be afforded to the case of the Penis
tioners, which it would be found to merit.
Mr. ADDINGTON replied, that he was to have
a meeting to-morrow with several persons in the
Malt Trade, and every attention would be given to
the Prayer of the Petitioners.
A Petition, complaining of an undue Eledion,
was presented from Newcastle.—Ordered to be
taken into consideration op the same day' with the
former. •
,Mr. DENT presented a Petition from the Pri-
inecr3 confined in Lancaster Goal, praying for
itliel.—Ordered to lie on the Table.—Adjourned
till Monday.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,

2d Dec. 1802.

Mosr of the Papers have attempted to display
thz..ir wit, at the expence of the Officers who chose
to amuse their friends and themselves with Drama-
tic Performances ; nay, some have insinuated, that
the Representation of Heroic Exploits, or exquisite
Humour, and the reciting with energy and feeling
the dignified sentiments of our immortal Bard
SHAKSP EAR E. will unfit them for their Duty to their
Country in, the Field of Battle I I, Sir, have had
the honour to serve several years in His Majesty's
Fleets, and in every Ship .I have served, theAding
of Plays ills been a favourite amusement, not of the
Officers alone, but also of the gallant fellows that
formed their crews. These men, Sir, fought their
Country's Battles bravely'; nor did I ever find, that
the mei hero of the Drama, proved otherwise than
a real hero in the Fight. Surely, Sir, these Gen-
tlemen havek, been harshly used, and most unfairly
condemned ;Land 1 think there can'be little doubt,
that the representation of the atlions of Henry the
';ft,, of Hotspur, &c. is quite as likely to stimu-
late to the performance of noble deeds, as the des_
perate courage of risking all on the cast of a die, or
rilibirg the constitution by drinking to excess.
I am, sir, yours, &C.