Star.
London, England, 1802-06-24 00:00:00

•LIFN BILL.

On bringing up the report cf the Alien Bill,
Lord SUFFOLK faid, that as he faw a Noble
Duke then in his place (the Duke of Portland),
who had been alluded to in yefierday's debate, he
would beg leave to explain a few of the circum-
It ances he had related at that time ; particularly
Gy as one part of his fpeech had been mifrepre-
fented in the public prints. He did not Itate that
the Abbe Sechant, to whom.he alluded, had beeti
connelted with the Direetor Reubel ; what he laid
was, that their families had been conneeed, but
he did not think that the Abbe was known to the
Direaor, who had probably been a child at the
time when the Other left his native city of Strati

it. Aka this man—ratipaid fuch attention to
his old female relation, as muft have contributed
to prolong her life, he wifhed to retire to his na-
tive country, to live upon an annuity of tool.
which the had fettled upon him. He had applied
feveral times for a paffport, and as foon as he had
obtained it he was obliged to depart at a Ilion no-
tice, without being even allowed any time to fettle
his affairs, and he was landed in a part of France,
from which he was never permitted to go to Straf-
burgh. His Lordfhip declared he was a man of
as corral morals as any he ever knew.
Lord PELKAM Paid, that although ftrangers
might find their way into that Houfe, and mutate
what might fall from him,that circumftance would
not give him any concern: he fhould (till continue
to addrefs the Woolfack, and direa his fpeech
as the Noble Earl had done, to a different part of
the Houfe. With refpea to the charge that had
yefterday been made againft his Noble Friend, the
cafe was fimply this : the Abbe Sechant had ap-
plied for permit ion to go to France, and it was
not confidered prudent to fuffer him to go, and
return to this country again. After applying two
or three times, he was at length informed that
he fhould have a' paffport if he left the country
within the fpace of four days. He confented,
and departed out of the country at the expiration
of that time. With refpea to the charaaer of this
man, he did not doubt what the Noble Earl had
laid of him ; but he mutt obferve, that it was
known what were the fentiments delivered by him
in the neighbourhood where he refided.
Lord SUFFOLK contended, that he had been fent
away under circumftances of great hardihip, and
at fitch fhort notice as not to have time to fettle'
his affairs. But he would Rate another cafe of '
(till greater hardfhip. A French gentleman of the
bell moral charaaer, of polithed manners, and
great learning, who had been feveral years mar-
ried in this country, and had feveral children,
happened to be fo reduced in his eh climilances us
to make a livelihood by teaching the Italian lan
guage at Bath. Being at length unable to purfue
this employment, he wifhed to retire on a very
fmall income to Wales, he aiked for a paffport to
go there, and this fmall indulgence was refitfed ;
although the whole city of Bath bore teftimony to
his proper conduit and principles.
After Come further converfation, their Lordfhlps
entered into the confideration of feveral claufes in
the Bill.

Lord HOLLAND inveighed, with a confiderable
degree of warmth and energy, againft the unjuß
and oppreffiveoperation of this Bill with regard to
Aliens, by its fubjeding them to be detaineJ, har-
I railed, and put to expence without the polEbility
of obtaining redrefs, even after it was difcovered
their condud had not merited fuch treatment. He
took fhame to himfelf for having, when on the
Continent, boated to Foreigners, that, whatever
might be the cafe with regard to other countries,
it was peculiar to England, that the moment a
Foreigner Pet foot on its foil, he was free to go
where he pleated, without the danger of being
molefted. When he returned with thofe friends, 1
it was with the deepeft regret he found they were
liable to all the penalties of the Alien Ad. He
confidered it highly unconftitutional to give any
Minifter fo unlimited a power over fuch a number
of perfons as was granted by this Att. He repeat-
ed his former arguments againll the perpetuity of
the Ad, at the fame time admitting he mould be
ready to anent to another Bill for the purpofe of
enading what the Government was pledged to by
the Definitive Treaty. For thefe reafons he con-
cluded by Paying he was averfe to the principle of
the Bill as it now flood, and fbould vote againft it.
The Loan CHANCELLOR Paid he should decline
anfwering a great many of his Lordlhip's argu-
ments, becaufe they had been fully difeuffed in va-
rious Rages of the Bill. His Lordfhip urged the
neceffity of adopting for a time the fyttem of cau-
tion to which the country was indebted for its fal-
vation, obferving, that the objedion to now paging
the Bill, as a perpetual one, had the.lefs weight,
becaufe after what had palled laft night their
Lordfhips Rood pledged to repial it, if it could be
done with fafety, in the courfe of nett Seffion.—
He defended the policy and principle of the Bill,
and trailed it would be adopted 'as a necefFary mea-
lure of precaution by their Lou:Mips.
The Report was agreed to, and the Bill ordered
to be read a third time to morrow.
The other Bills on the Table were forwarded in
their refpedive Rages, and their Lordfhips at nine
o'clock adjourned.
Lord Hutchinfon's Penfion Bill was read a third
time.
Adjourned at nine o'clock.