Star.
London, England, 1802-03-25 00:00:00

peaces, &e. of the Comm4oners for the Redoe-
ion of the National Debt.
t On propofing the Vote to pay off the third of
the Annuity of the Duke of Richmond, in lieu of
the Duty on Coals, &c. granted by King Charles
the Second,

•
Mr. Ronson obferved that this was a very fa
vonrable compliance on the part of the Lords of
the Treafury, with the requeft of the Duke of
Richmond, granting him a large fum of money,
when it was wanted for the Public Service, where.
as he ought to have been made to Ray for his
money, whatever it might be eventually right that
he fhould have.

The CHANCILLOIL of the Excn :twit Paid, that
as to the compliance of the Lords of the Treafury,
the fah was, that they Vied under the compul-
lion of an Ala of Parliament in this cafe.
Mr.' Sims Paid, he obtervtd the Hon. Gen-
tleniln had proved on this, as almoft on every
other fubjea, his total and confummate ignorance
on what he was (peaking. He took the Vote now
propofed, as if it were granting a turn of money
by virtue of an aa of grace, and favour to the
Duke of Richmond, becaufe the Duke wanted
the money. This was a total mifreprefentation of
the fad. It was not in the way of favour or of
grace to the Duke of Richmond, nor was it be-
caufe the Duke wanted the money; but it was a
meafitre propofed in purfuance of an ACt of Par-1
liament, which empowered the Duke to call on
Government for that funs, and- which fum, was
only 39,0001. in lien of 2i ,0001. which he had
given up to the Public.—He might have received
a t,oool. but, he contented to take 19,0001. The
Treafury had made the contra& with him, the AR
of Parliament had empowered him to make fuch
contra& and, on fix months notice to be given by
the Duke, the Lords of the Treafury were bound
to enter into that contra& : he had given that no-
tice, and therefore no option was left in the Lords
of the Treafury. This contrad took plaie in Au-
gull t 799, betvieen the Lords of the Treafury and
his Grace : in thoo the contrad was confirmed by
Government : in tilo t a redemption took place,
and the Lords of the Treafury had no difcretion to
exercife upon the (tibial ; they were bound by the
Aet ; and if the Hon. Gentleman had taken the
trouble to look at the A& and to read it with at-
tention, he would have found this to be the cafe.
It was owing to the confummate ignorance of that
Hon. Gentleman that fuch an obfervation was
made by him.—(Here there were font murmur:. )
Mr. proceeded.—He conceived he was re-
gular in faying thefe things, becaufe •it appeared
to him to be abfolutely necettary ; for the obferva-
tion of the Hon. Gentlemen meant, (if it meant
any thing), to make an imptelllon, firft upon the
Committee, and then upon the Public, as tilt had
been an improvident bargain entered into by the
Lords of theTreafury with the Duke of Richmond;
whereas it was no fuch thing. It was prudent on
the part of Government, and moderate on the part
dins Grace, and fuch as the Lords of the Trot-
fury were bound to comply with, by the Aft of
Parliament to which he already alluded. He
thought it neceffkry to fay this, to prevent any
falte imprelfion being made, in confequence of the
obfervittons made before the Committee. He laid
this, with full confidence, becaufe he had full
knowledge of the fubjed ; he being one of the Truf-
tees for the Duke, under the authority of that Aa,
and he could not help calling the attention of the
Committee to the fubjed, and refuting the inju-
rious affertions of the Hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Rossou thought himfelf unhandfomely
treated, and begged the Right Hon. Gentleman to
recall his words. He called for the proteltion of
the Houle.—

Mr. Ace:mum R (the Chairthan of the Commit-
tee) Paid, that if he had thought the Right Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Steele) had been cliforderly, he
fbould have interfered, but he had confidered that
to impute to a Member ignorance of a particular
fubjed in debate, was not irregular. Mr. Rosson raid, he thought it was an honour
to be abufed by a Placeman, and a double honour
to be abufed by one who held two places. He
infifted the Hon. Gentleman's words were unpar-
liamentary, and that he onght to recall them.
Mr. Sr sacs faid, he fhourd notretrae any thing
he raid of the Hon. Member who (poke laa, and
as to the honour he talked of, that of being cen-
lured by him, it was an honour likely to be often
conferred on him. The refolution was then put
and carried.

The following refolutions were then voted:—
For extra trouble to the ()Seers of Exchequer
in making out Exchequer Bills - 4. Soo 0 0
To the lank of England for difcount for

prompt payment on Loans, Lottery of
1801, &C. - - - 438,514 8 7
To the Bank alto, an allowance for receiving
money on LOW &C. • • - 23,362 3 4
For incidental means, Re. attending the
• Lottery for slot it 0 0
for paying off and difebarrfar Exchequer
Bills, made out by dram of rental Adis
of Parliament, lke. for dot 3,aa0,c00 0 0
For indannillcadoo, &c. to Earl St. Vincent

and Lord Grey, late Commanders in the
Weitlndies, on account of proceedings

againft then; in Courts of Aainiralty on
account of Captures, dtc. - • 45,332 t 7 6
Mr. Rome faid, that there were not fufficient
papers before the Houfe to juftify him in voting
fo large a fum, particularly as there was above
good. for law charges. Befides, if this was paid,
perhaps other Officers, upon the fame fervice,
would alfo bring forward claims. He laid this
cafe was fimilar to the cafe of Lord Rodney, who
had not been indemnified.
The CHANCELLOR of the Excatkpaa faid, that
if the flaternents made by his Learned Friend had
been as accurate as they generally were, he thould
have thought it his duty to propofe to poftpone
the difcuaion. The Hon. Gentleman, who (poke
laft, had affirmed, that there were not fufficient
papers before the Houfe; but he (the Chancellor
of the Exchequer) held in his hand the Memo.
rial from the Noble Lords in queftion, and alfo
the letter of his Majefty's ProElor. Rating, that
he had laid the Memorial before his Majefty's Ad-
vocate-General, and the refult was, that the claim
appeared to be well founded. It appeared to him,
that the propolition he had made to the Com-
mittee, was not only founded in juice, but