Star.
London, England, 1802-03-09 00:00:00

ALIEDGED INSOLVENCY OF GOVF.INDIENT.

The CHANCELLOR of the ExcHEtty k Cad, that
in conk:ref:cc of uhat had palled in the Houfe
' previous to the recefs, he fhould on Monday next
move for the appointment of a Committee, to take
into confederation the hate of the Corn Trade be-
tween Ireland and Great Britain. He added, that
perforial confiderations, as to himfelf, and alto as
to his Right Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the
Irifh Exchequer, had prevented the fobjett from
hieing before now fubmitted to the Houfe. He,
however, fhould certainly bring it -forward on
Monday, if, as there was every reason to expetl,
his Right Hon. Friend Mould be able to attend in
his place. He added, that as he was now upon
his legs, he fhould advert to a converfation which
had pallid iu the Houfe on a former day. He
fhould have adverted to it the day fucceeding that
on which it took plate, had he not entered the
Houle after the difeuffion on the American Treaty
had commenced. It will, laid the Right Hun.
I Premier, be recollaled, and I trua I (hall be par-
doned for recurring to what pallid in the comic
of a debate on a former day, that an Hon. Gen-
tleman, whom I do not at prefent fee in his feat,
&flirted that Government was in a hate of infol vcncy,
and that its acceptances had been rcfufcd payment.
This affertion, made as it was with reference to the
plural number, was found, upon enquiry, to ap-
ply to no more than the acceptance at one office
of a bill, the amount of which was 191. 7s. 4d.
I am, therefore, entitled to Pity, that the Hon Gen-
tleman who made the charge, and who thought
himfelf juflified in bringing it forward, had no
other authority for fo doing than the folitary in-
fiance to which I have alluded. I am, however,
no ways difpofed to contradie the alba tion that in-
(lances have frequently occurred, and in the pre-
fent cafe did occur, in which a perfon prefenting a
bill accepted at a particular office, has been lent
away without the money: fuch inflances are not pe-
culiar to the office in queflion, for I underhand from
perfons in this and other offices under Government,
that they never have been held to a contrary prac-
tice. But I defy the Hon. Gentleman to produce
any one inftance where the Treafury, for it is there
the credit of the country reticles, was preffed for
money to difcharge a public demand ; or where,
immediately upon its being known that money was
wanted to difcharge a bill, there was any delay in
advancing it. It has been an object of Govern•
ment, and certainly a wife and prudent one, to pre-
vent large fums from being accumulated in its infe-
rior offices; but there neverwas an inhance in which
it was Rated money was required, that an advance
was not inflantly made. The very circum fiance,
`though I do not mean to fay I fhould with it too
frequently to occur, is fa far from being a proof of
the infolvency of Government, that it is quite the
reverie. If it was a circumaance that happened
generally, it would be generally known. Now I
appeal to every banker in this Hhfe, and'in the
City, to fay whether they do not covet tbefe kind at
bjlls from their knowledge of the facility with
which they can neigociate fuch fecurities, either for
themfelves or their cuflomers, and the abfolute
certainty of their payment ? There is only one
circumflance further I with to mention, and that is,
the obfervation of the Hon. Gentleman, that he
confidered it as a great aggravation of the conduit
of Government that payment of the bill had been
refuted to a perfon in indigent circumflances ; all
I know is, that the bill was tendered by one of the
molt opulent Bankers in the city of London.
have no reason to believe it was not his oun pro-
perty ; I therefore with to know what foundation
there was for hating it to have been the property
of another ?"

ME. JAMES MARTIN.-" I do not with to take
any part in the bufinefs. With regard to the fmall-
nefs of the turn, I confider, whether it 11::d been
only a tenth part of the amount, or an hunched
times as much, the difference would have been :n
material. The office laid to the perfou %Ow pit-

ro•
ion
rty

rented the bill, I e have tlo moneY,/ and that wit
the only fall the Hon. Member complained of. I
_repeat, I do not with to take any part in this affair,
inn:4.r than to remark, that the Gentlemen on the
°the - fide of the Houle attacked the Hon. Mettler
who brought it fi rward with rather ton much vi-
vacirr, and without making any inquiry with re-
gard to the truth of his affertion. He was attacked
as it he had uttered a faltehood, intlead of a fad
he was able to prove."
The Cam:cur-oft of the Even v.gy tta..." Sir,
the attack came from the Hon. Gentleman himfelf
a4ainfl the credit of Government. Ido not chute
to appl v the word falfehood, but the inaccuracy of
the itaterticat was, that Government was infolvent.
1 wilh to call on the Hon. Member to (tate to the
Houle whether he was not the proprietor of the
bill r'

Mr. MARTIN.--" I cannot fay—l fuppofe it was
paid irto toy houfe by fomc perfon in the ufual
courfe 'f hulinefs. I know no further."

CHANCELLOR f the Ex c H EQyElt.--" If he knows
n..thinz of it, at Icaft it is not likely that the Hon.
Gentleman who derives all his irformation on the
luhjeet from him, fhould know much more."
The CHANCELLOR of the 1• x cum!) EP. quitted the
Houle, and thorny after
Mr. Rossetti entered. The Hon. Member.ad-.
Ore.:lag the Speaker, Paid—"r In confequenees
of what paffed in the Houfe on I'hurfday, I
attended on Friday, in hopes I fhould have heard
a report by his Majefty's Minillers of the occafion
of the converfitinn which took place relative to
an acceptance of Government being dithonoured.
This day I have again attended, but on a fuppoli-
tion the public bufinefs did not begin till half-pall
four, I was too late to hear the explanation of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, in which, as a Mem-
ber of Parliament, lam fo- much interefled. I
have felt great uneafinefs fince that converfation,
left the Ifoute or the Public fhould think I had
afferted that which was not-true. As the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer is not here. I Ihall con-
tent royfelf with giving notice of a Motion calcu-
late.lro do away an impreffien which has gone forth
into the world. It is enough that I prove the fad
af this one note having been refufed payment ; but
have in my pocket papers that will prove many,
many thonfand indances of the fame nature. It is
my intention tomorrow, to move for papers relative
to the fubjesi, provided the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer k in his place, or if it is more convenient,
I will defer it to another day, but I nand pledged
to make the Motion."

Mr. BILAGGt—" I cnrinot, in Office to my
Right Hon. Friend, who has kit the Houle earlier
than ufual, on account of indifixltition, allow the
obfetcations of the Hun. Member to pats unno-
ticed. My Hon. Friend knowc no loch rule as
that the public bufinels of the Houle does not he
gin till half paR four. He attended on -Friday,
and was only prevented mentioning the fubjea of
the preceding day's converf.ation, by a debate on
a collateral itilsjcft, and by not feting -the Hon.
Member in his place. To-slay, by twenty
mi-
nutes paR four, he concluded he would not come
at all. it was from no with prematurely to bring
the bufinefs forward in the Hon. Membeetrabfetice
he mentioned it. 'Me qneilion is-not, Whether the
Hon. Menibzr has proof of the fad, but whether
he has proof of the confequences of the fad ?.
[Several Merger, wiled to oreler.]—l have a right,
and I or. it, to reply to the Hon. Metuber,
when lie lays he has papers in his pocket to prove
the fie)."

Mr. MA la I I apprehend there-is no quef-
'ion before. the Honk, and the Hon. Gentleman
has no right to proceed."
Mr. SPkGiCIA-" undoubtedly the Aria rule is
as has been !laud, when there is no quetiion :fore
the Houk, but the Houfe has generally relaxed
the re.: with regard to a Member who thinks him-
ICU perf i.ally ii.,:erefled in the explanation he is
cf making. It was, therefore, I peunit-
ted 1.. e lion. Member to exceed his right, in
giving notice of his motion, but the confequence
clinch pci mifron thews the propriety of adhering
to the ruie which does sot allow any Member in
giving a notice, to do more than flat: its objat.
Ur.cluninedly it had been of late years the condant
pia nice of the Honfe to proceed to public toulinefs
at four o'clock, and any Member having public
bulnefs, is at that lionr entitled to brin; it for-
ward."

♦Mr. tzaccr—" I was Pure, Sir, your plaice
wou:d not prevent we from giving an anfwer to
what was laid by the Gentleman who has jua
tliven notice of a motion ; and I am futprized at
it.tvurg been interrupted by the Hon. Member,
'who I%.:crns to have made himfelf a party in this
Luflnd's. I feel entitled to fay, that this never
or ought to be eonfidered as a quellinn of a
Tingle fat, but of the confequences of that fait
implicating the credit of the country. Don't then
let the Hun. Gentleman alert it is a dry queftion
of fad."

Mr. MARTIN—" I appeal to yon, Sir, 'whether
I did not fay. I did not with to have any thing to
do with the bufinefs, or take any part in it."
Mr. STEAMER repeatedly called to order, obktv.
inry he was in the judgment of the Houfe. Moil
of the Members exclaimed—Orden, order I Chair,
Anir

Mr. Ralson raid hetonld to-morrow bring the
butinef, thrward, by moving for Papers.
Mr. HELY ADDINGTON :liked what were the
Papers he Could move for
The Sr LISS& laid, it was a matter of difcretion
in the Hun. Gentleman to mention the precife
Papers he fhould move for. It was enough if the
notice was fufficiently dillina to convey the objea
of the motion.

Mr. Ransom fail he lhould, with the pennillion
of the Houle, ftibmit a motion for the purpofe of
obtai..ing that information which was not only
neccfrary to his own charaler, but—
The SPFAICiII again called him to order, re-
marking, that it was not cadlomary to make any
uhferratinns on giving a notice.
Mr. RORSON then laid he lhould confine his no-
t•re to a notion for the predation of papers re-
to the Sick and Hurt Office. _

The other orders cliche day were pollponed, and
the Houle adjourned.