Star.
London, England, 1802-06-23 00:00:00

FOREIGN tOSTAGIF.

On the queltion being put for the third reading of the Foreign
Letters Pottage Bill,
The Earl of Sucrose role, and repeated his obfervatlons
of laft night relative to the injury which the Inhabitants of
Doves would Italian by certain regulations in the Bill. He
knew that their Reprefentative wiarld be inftruCted on the
occafion, and he thought the Bill Ihould be deferred until the
parties were heard on the fuhjedt.
Lord HOBART, in cited, oblerved, that he entertained no
doubt of his b. ing able to relieve the Noble Earl's an x icty upf n
the point, as he held in his hand a letter written by the per-
fans principally intereded in the meafure at Dover, addrelTed
to a Noble Lord not then in his place; the letter was of that
nature, that he could not read it as part of his fpeech, but it
W-4$ expreflive of the perfect feisfaaion of thole perfons at
the regulations, in confequenee of the reafons affigned by the
Noble Lord. Lord Hobart then ,oent aerofs the Houle,
flamed the Letter to the Noble F, rl, who was apparently fa-
tided. and made no further ohjraion to the Bill, which was
then real a third time and paffrd.

CoVikRFNCE.

On the mltion of Lord Huss lit., a Meffage was difpatehed
to the Commons to dare a conference on the fubjed of the
Amendment to itie Militia Bill, irnifted upon by their Lord-
fhips, in cteffi rime of wh.ch it w..s thorny alter announced,
that the Com.aons were in waiting for the fame; accordingly,
ate Earls of Dartmouth at.d Ft. flin, Lords Hobart, Waltiog-
ham, Somers, and were depute I to manage the con-
ference on the part of their Lordfhips. After a (hurt interval,
the above mentioned Peers rcturiml, and the Earl of Dart-
mouth reported the rtfu:t to the Hnufe, which, in a few mi-
nutes, regularly a; reared, by Lord Gletrbervie, attended by
fever.! I‘l, wirers a, the Vat with the Militia Bill, and Met.
lase, Rating th ,s the Cononon‘ did s'4 MGR upou their dita-
greentent to the Amendment In qi.eftion.

Al.liN HILL•

The Honfe having refolved itfelf into a Corn-
nsittee on the Bill for making regulations with 3e-
fpeet T.-) Aliens 'coming into this country,
role, not, he Lid, for the pur-
pole of o.f.pi,ling the Bill altogether, but with a
view to propote fuLlt modifications in it as might
tend to promote the convenience and comfort of
a large and refpedable clafs of people, by pre-

venting thole oppteffions to which, by the prefent
Bill, they would be liable. At the fame time that
he did not directly oppofe the Bill, it was one,
the principle of which he never aid, nor never
fhould concur in : it was a Bill which had thrown
a great power into the hands of his Majefty's Mi.
nillers ; a power that had often been exercised
with extreme harffinefs and feverity. A Noble
Duke, who, for fume years, had held the Office
of Secretary of State, who, at the fame time, fu-
perintended the Police Department of the country,
and who always appeared in fuel: a dubious cha-
ratter, that it was not even known whether he
was or was not a Member of his Majcily's Cabi-
net—this Noble Duke had atfumed the power of
fending perfons nut of the country, for reafons
very different from thole intended by the framers
of the law under which lie aEted. The object and
policy of that law was clearly underftood to be,
that no perfon fhould fuller any hardfhip under it,
except on charges of a political nature; drat no
foreigner fhould be liable to be fent out of the ;
country, except for fome aa, which, in its politi-
cal tendency, was hottile to the Conflitution of
this country. Such was the intent and meaning ;
of the firft Alien Ad; but i: had been unjuftly
and feverely exercifed towards perfons who had
made no profeffion of political fentiments what-
ever. Many foreigners, from family pique only,
had been fent out of the country, and fubjeaed to
the greateft per fonal inconvenience and hardilips.
While he was fpeaking on the principle of the Bill,
there was another obfervation to which he mutt'
call their Lordfhips' attention. He would main- I
tain that there never was a time, in which it was I
lefs necefftry to exercife fuch vigilance and feve-1
rity towards foreigners, than this moment. At
the time when a Pretender was aiming at the
throne of Great Britain, and when the greateft ;
dangers were likely to be apprehended from the ;
intrigues of foreigners in this country, no fuck ;
Bill as the prefent was thought necetfary to be
patf.:d against them ; and at this moment there
could not, in his mind, exift the flighteft ground
of apprehention from the defigns of any foreign
State againft our Laws and Conftitution. His
furprifc was, therefore, the greater when he faw
this meafute thus continued in time of profound
peace and tranquillity. He could with the mca-
fure to be done away altogether; but as he did
not hope to be fuccefsful in oppofing it, he wifhed
to off,r fuch amendments as might do away fome
of the fevere parts of it. In one part of the Bill,
Magiftrates had a power to keep in confinement
thofe who fhould refute to comply with the terms
of the Aa ; and the period to which this confine-
ment was to be limited, was not fpecified in the
Bill, therefore a man might, at the difcrimination
of a Magiftrate, be kept in a (late of imprifonmen:
ever fo long. Thofe who might prefer a refidence
in our free country, and with to efcape from that
tyranny which a tingle perfon fhould think proper
to exercife over them in their own, a regulation of
this kind mutt infpire with very ftrange notions of
our Conftitution. In order therefore to prevent
them from fuffering the hard(hips he alluded to,
he fhould move an amendment, providing that
no perfon taken into cullody by virtue of this Bill,
fhould be confined longer than two mouths; and
that at the end of fuch period every perfon in eon-
finement should either be liberated, or fent out of
the kingdom. His Lordfkip Paid he had feldom
teen a Bill drawn up in a more bungling manner
than the relent ; and it was abfolutely neceffary
to make a number of amendments in it. It was
his intention to propofe another amendment, to
limit to the ("pace of one month, the period in which
a man, about to be fent out of the kingdom, was
to be kept in cuftody.
Lord WALSING HAM, as Chairman of the Com-
mittee, wifhcd the Noble Lord might propofe his
amendments.

Lord HOLLAND replied, that he confidered it
the bell mode, and one lealt likely to take up the
time of the Houfc, to Mite the nature of all his
amendments in the courfe of his obfervations on
the Bill, and to propote them afterwards ; but if
he was out of order in doing fo, he was ready to
comply with the rules of the Floofe.
The LORD CHANCFLLOR thought the old Oa-
tainted praftice was the bell, and tended molt to
lave time. This practice was, to propofe amend.
ments one by one, and debate them feparately.
Lord HOLLAND, after fume further converfa-
tion, laid he would yield to the opinion of the
Noble and Learned Lord, and then moved his firft
amendment.

I'he LARD CHANCELLOR raid, he did not rife to
nppore the amendment, but to fuggefl fuch an al-
to ation as would make the meafure pra3icable,
and at the fame time anfwer the objeift the Noble I
Lord had in view. This was, that the parties
kept in cuflody, if they ill-night themfelvts ag.
grieved, fhould have the power of applying to any
of the Judges, or of the Tribunals of the country ;
and that ilon a proper enquiry being made, they
were found to have been treated with hardfhip,
they mould obtain redrefs. He did not then mean
to reply to all the oblervations of the Noble Lord,
but he mutt take notice of one atfertion, namely,
that perfons had been unjuilly fent out of the
country ; and that many of them had committed ,
no political offence whatever. He had that opt.
nion of the juftice, integrity, and humanity of the I
Noble Duke alludt.d to, as to believe that he had
never improperly exercifed the power vetted in
him ; and he did not think any had been fent out
of the country but perfons whom, if Minifters
had left in it, they would not have done their
duty. Theae were various :embus betides political
ones which rendered this exercife of their power
neceffary. Supple there happened to be a coun.
try, the people of which had (hook off all the
wholefome rearaints of religion and morality—
fuppofe Come of them to come and propagate their
profligate principles, and carry thofe principles
into prailice, he would alk if it would net he both
juft and neceffary to fend fuch perfons out of the
kingdom,to prevent the morals of our people front
being corrupted? Such perfons did come here ;
they were received ittto families, where they ailed
with thebafell ptoffigacy and ingratitudc; andthey
were very properly fent out of the kingdom, as I
being 13114 L to live in it.

Lord SUFFOLK Ciid, that in anfwer to the
Noble Lord's declaration, he would Rate what
might be relied on ; and which came within his
own knowledge. There was a French Abbe who
had taught tis children the French language,
whom he had known for upwards of eighteen
years, and who was a man of the ftritleft integrity
and honour ; a man of great learning, of the
purelt principles, and the molt correct conduct ;
as a proof of his humanity, he had for a confider-
able time taken care of a near relation of his
(Lord Suffolk's), an old Lady, who was blind
and infirm ; and if that relation had been a male
fhe would have had the title which he then bore,
as the was of the elder branch of the family ; her
name was Harvey, the Honourable Mrs. Harvey;
the died about fottr yeat s ago. This Gentleman,
who was 70 years of age, and againft whom no
crime could be imputed, was by an order from
the Noble Secretary of State alluded to, fent out
of the kingdom at twenty-four hours notice. This
tranfaCtion took place about four years ago ; and
he ltimfelf was in Scotland at the time. The
unfortunate old Gentleman, although he had been '
acquainted with Renbel, who was then in the Di-
reaory, was not flattered to go to Paris ; and the
treatment he had received actually broke his heart,
for he died in about a sear or two afterwards.—
He thought it necelfary to relate the Rory, to thew
the manner in which the power yelled in the
Noble Duke by the Alien ACt had been exercifed.
Lord PELHAM faid he could hardly exprefs the
great anxiety he felt, at hearing fo grave and feri-
ons a charge made againit a Noble Duke who un-
fortnnately was not in his place, for if he was, be
might probably do away the charge to the entire
fattsfaCtion of the Houfe. For that Noble Duke
he entertained the warmeß friendfhip ; and cer-
! min he was that no man poffeffed a larger !hare of
juftice and humanity ; and no man was lefs likely
to do fuck an act as was now laid to his charge.—
But it was necelfary to obferve, that the Noble
Earl had laid this French Abbe was acquainted
with Reubel ; and perhaps that circumltance be-
ing known, might have formed a very juttifiable
ground for fending him out of the country.

Lord Ross LYN bore teftimony to the great in-
tegrity and humanity of the Noble Duke in quef-
tion ; and laid he could not help remarking, as a
circumftance rather extraordinary, that the Noble
Earl who now made fuch a weighty charge againft
him, had not called on the Noble Duke atehe time
of this Gentleman's being ordered out of the coun-
try, and remonftrated with him on the fulled :
inftead of which, he took occafion after an interval
of luta ••tars, to make this charge againft him,
when he was not prefent to defend himfelf.
Lord SUFFOLK replied, that he was in Scotland
when the event took place, and did not know of it
for near three months after. He then Rated that
the Abbe had been applying fome time before this
to the Duke of Portland for a paffport to go to
France.

Lord HOBART Paid the whole of the hufinefs ap-
peared to be nothing more than this—that an old
French Gentleman had applied to the Duke of
Portland for leave to go to his own country, and
that the Noble Duke facilitated his departure
thither.

The LORD CHANCELLOR fpoke in favour of the
Duke of Portland. and obferved, that there had
been many Foreigners in this country, the fending
away of whom might be confidered a great hard.
fhiV; but although their moral charadcr might
have continued unimpeached, he was convinced
it would have been dangerous to fuffer many of
them to remain in the kingdom.

Lord HOLLAND Paid he had heard a great deal
about the integrity, the candour, and humanity
of the Noble buke in quellion ; and if, after all
thole great qualities, the man who poffeffed them
was capable of exercifing with feverity and rigour
the powers veiled in him by the Alien Ad, it fur-
nifhed an additional reafon why Minifters fhould
not have fuch a power.
Lord ELLEN VOROUCIH, in allufion to the Rory
related by Lord Suffolk, laid, if he had been in
the fartheß part of Scotland or Ireland, he might
have written to the Duke of Portland concerning
the unjiift hardthip inflided on his acquaintance.
It was his duty to have done fo ; and as he had
not, he ought not to have mentioned the circum-
Rance afterv:aris. When he returned from Scot-
land, why did he not wait on the Noble Duke,
and make fuch a reprefentation of this man as
might be the means of bringing him back to Eng-
land again?
Lord SUFFOLK Enid, he thought he had already
fufficiently explained this fitbjed ; but inflead of
his explanation being attended to, he law he was
attacked by a poweiful phalanx, confilling of Se-
cretaries of State and Lawyers. Confcious as he
was of the reditude of his own principles, and the
propriety of his condud, he would meet thefc at-
tacks, and not be intimidated by thofe who made
them. Once more he would nate, that he had
never heard of the circumaance till near three
months after it took place ; and when he did hear
of it, he was overwhelmed by a domeilic calamity
which deprived him of the power of attending to
any thing. He had jua loft a Gm, the very recol-
ledion of whom at that moment drew tears into
his eyes.
Lord CARLISLE laid he had originally approied
of the Alien Bill, and he was of opinion that a Se-
cretary of State was not bound to affign any rea-
fon for the exercife of that difcretion which the law
gave him.
Lord Hot.utato withdrew his firfl and fecond
amendments, on account of the Lord Chancellor's
declaring that, on the report of the Bill, he fhould
propofe others which would anfwer the objet of
them. His Lordfhip afterwards propofed an
amendment for fending away dittrefred Aliens at
the expence of Government.—This was withdrawn,
the Chancellor obferving, that it IA as unneceffiry :
fur if the perfon to be tent away was rich, he would
not k+ut up with the accommodation afforded him
by Crovernment ; and if he was poor Government
mull of courfe bear the expence. His Lordfhip
propofed a great number of other amendments,
none of which were adopted.
Lord Fir ZWILLIAM made a number of Werra-

tions on the Bill, and at length concluded by mov.
ing a claufe, the object of which was, that the Bill,
as far as rerpeeted the delivering up perfons ac.
cufed of murder, forgery, and fraudulent bank.
ruptcy, thould not extend to natural born fubjetts, '
denizens, or perfons naturalized.
The LORD CHANCELLOR objated to the clauft,
and (fated the inconveniencies which would refult
from the adoption of by violating one of
the compaas upon which the Definitive Treaty
was founded ; fecondly, by producing that delay
which might be eventually fatal to the Bill.—The
claufe was withdrawn.

Lord HOLLAND moved that the clanfe allowing
the Bill to be altered and amended during the Sef.
lions (hould be omitted ; but the Lord Chancellor
objeaing, he withdrew his motion.
Lord FitzwiLi.tam obferved, that the hour of
danger was pall—that there was no necellity for
it even as a temporary meafore— and that he could
not content to the Bill's being perpetual. He
therefore moved its continuance Should be limited
to the asth of March, 1803.
The LORD CHANCFLLOR agreed that the hour of
danger was pall, provided we (Lill preferved that
Caution which had averted the danger. He pledg.
ed himfelf in the mule of nett Seißon of Parlia•
ment, to recommend its being made temporary.
Lord FIrzWILLIAM expreffed his fatisfaelion at
the pledge given by his Lordihip, and withdrew
his motion.

The Report was ordered to be received to-mor-
row.

Lord HOLLAND gave notice he fhould oppofe
the principle of the Bill upon the Report, and the
Houle was ordered to be fnmmoned.

INDIA AFFAIRS.

Lord SUFFOLK obferved, that as the Honfe was
fummoned for to-morrow, he would not at this
late hour profs the motion of which he had given
notice yellerday, relative to the Affairs of the
Eall India Company, but would defer it till To•
morrow.

The Earl of Darr/awn, aid, if he only in-
tended to bring forward the Motion, of which he
had given notice yefterday, as no oppofition would
be made to it, he might as well Rate it now.
Lord HOLLAND faid,his Noble Friend's intention
was not merely to move for Papers, but he meant
to comment at large on the affairs of India.
Lord Sorroec Paid, he did mean to make thofe
comments his Noble Friend had alluded to ; he
lhould abßain from any oblervation on the politi-
cal part of the queltion, and confine himfclf to the
debt of the India Company, and the general Rate
of its finance, a fithjed which he thought highly
important to be laid before their Lordthips and
the public, in all its various details.

DEER STEALING BILL.

While the Deer Stealing Bill was in, the Com.
mittee, Earl RADNOR moved an Amendment in
the third Claufe, but the LORD CHANCELLOR beg.
ged him to withdraw it, in order that he might
move, That the Noble Lord do leave the Chair,
and report progrefs—after which he raid he would
move in the Houfe to re-commit the Bill on that
day three months.—This was accordingly done.
All the other Bills on the Table patFcd their re.
fpedtive Rages, and at ten o'clock the Houle ad.
journed.