one, that under the authority of it, an army might be kept up in India without the confent of Parliament-the other, that the bill would enable the Board of Controul to obtain all the patronage of the Company by indirect meatis. He informed the Houle, that should leave be given to the chairman of the Committee to bring up the report, he would then move, what he could not move, in point of order, until it should have been brought up, that it thould be recommitted; and that the Committee fhould be inftructed to receive claufes for enacting that no part of the King's army fhould te paid in India, that was kept up without the knowledge or confent of Parliament; and for laying fuch checks upon the Board of Controul in the diípofal of patronage, as would prevent any danger of an increase of influence in the Crown from patronage in India. Mr. Sheridan followed Mr. Pitt, remarking that he had departed from thofe principles which has given him popularity, and that he now always expected a blind confidence to what he propofed to the Houfe. This Mr. Pitt rofe to deny. Mr. Dundas difclaimed the idea of standing fingle in the direction of India affairs; which gave Mr. Burke an opportunity of applauding in a vein of high humour, his humility, and his liberality in fuffering his colleagues to fhare his glories. Mr. Fox concluded the debate by contrafting his own and Mr. Pitt's bill, and ridiculing all the checks propofed to be inttituted, which he declared would be inefficacious. Several other members spoke, and at half past two o'clock, the Houfe divided, Ayes 182, Noes 115, Majority, 67: the bill was then on Mr. Pitt's motion recommitted, and the Houfe adjourned. MARCH 10. The Houfe went into a Committee of Supply, for the purpose of taking into confideration the estimates for the household troops, prefented by the Secretary at War. Mr. Gilbert having taken the chair of the Committee, The Secretary at War 'rofe: He said that when he prefented the army estimates, he had not included in them thofe of the King's houfehold troops, becaufe, as he had long fince informed the Houfe, his Majefty bad at the time under confideration a plan of reform in those corps, by which it was expected a confiderable faving might be made to the public. He was forry that the plan could not be digested fo foon as his Majefty could have wished; and that the intended reform could not take place before the 24th of June It would therefore be neceffary for the Committee to vote the pay of all the next. houfehold troops from Christmas day laf up to Midfummer. After the latter period the two troops of life-guards would be reduced, and be replaced by the grenadier-guards. To the officers the pay would be continued, until they fhould be provided for in other corps; and to the private gentlemen, who, instead of receiving enlitting money, had purchased their fituations, it would be but juft to make compenfation. It was his Majefty's intention that the two Colonels of the troops to be reduced, should receive 1200l. a year for life; but a vacancy having lately happened in a regiment of dragoons (by the death of General Carpenter) one of the two Colonels would be appointed to fill it up; and thus the 1200l. he muft otherwife have received, would be faved to the nation. The other Colonel, who was far above all pecuniary confideration, and had nothing fo much at heart as the good of the fervice, had generously refused to accept the 1200l. a year, and requested that this fum might make part of the faving which was to arife from the reform. [We understand that this publicfpirited Colonel alluded to by the Secretary was his Grace the Duke of Northumberland.] The Secretary at War faid, that the faving to the public by the reform would amount at first to between 11000l, and 12000l, a year; but when the officers of the corps to be reduced thould have been otherwife provided for in the army, or should drop off by death, the faving would then amount to about 24000l. per annum. This faving, however, could not be expected this year: on the contrary, this year's expence would be much greater than that of any former year; but then it would be made greater by what would never occur again; and particularly by the fum of 28000l. which he should propofe it to the Committee to vote, as a compensation to the private gentlemen of the troops that were to be reduced, for the fums with which they had purchafed their fitua tions. He concluded by moving for the full eftablifhment of the 715 men, officers included, of the four troops of holte and grenadier guards up to Midfunimer day-after which time he faid, one half of their establishment would be reduced. He alfo moved for the compenfations, &c. But before he fat down, he remarked, that much had been faid of late on the subject of patronage :-This reduction propofed by his Majefty was a proof that the extenfion of patronage was not a favourite object with his Government; for his Majefty might have made a confiderable faving to the nation, and yet preserved the patronage, by reducing the privates, and keeping up the tablument of the officers. All ti e fqms moved for by the Secretary at War were voted without any debate, and the Houfe was immediately refumed. Mr. Alderman Sawbridge prefented a petition from the Commiffioners for affeffing the Shop-Tax in the city of London; ftating that from the number of appeals brought before them on the grounds of this tax, they were fully perfuaded that it was very burdenfome on the Shopkeepers, and exclufively fo, as they could not, by any means, levy it upon their cuftomers. Out of above 150 Commiffioners, upwards of 120 had agreed to the petition. It was ordered that the petition fhou'd lie upon the table. Mr. Sheridan faid he had fome motions to make for the production of papers, which would clearly prove that there was not a pretence for fending out new regiments to India; for though the Board of Controul had urged the necellity of fending out reinforcements, they had actually reduced the establishments of the regiments belonging to his Majefty actually ferving in India. He moved for feveral papers relative to five regiments that were fent to India in 1783, and the returns that had been made from them fince. Mr. Pitt faid the Board of Controul had fo little to apprehend from the production of thefe papers, that he, for one of that Board, was ready to concur in the Hon. Gentleman's motions. They paffed without any debate. The Houfe then refolved itself for the fecond time (according to the late refolution) upon the India Declaratory Bill. Four claufes were introduced; the object of which was, to make the previous confent of Parliament neceffary to the keeping up of any of the King's troops in India; and to oblige the Board of Controul to obtain the concurrence of the Court of Directors, and of Parliament too, on fome occafions, in the difpofd of patronage. The chaufes were received, and after fome converfation, the Houfe was refumed, and adjourned. MARCH 11. tempt to fubject it to ftrict regulations. It had been calculated, that there were about 3,000 perions confined for debt in the gaols of England; and that the number of perfons who had taken refuge in foreign countries from the demands of their creditors amounted to about 6000. The improvement of the laws of arrett would not only leffen the number of imprifoned debtors, but would in all probability be the means of preventing to many emigrations on account of debt.Many abufes alfo exifted in the interior government of the gaols, against which the bill now moved for would provide a remedy. The exorbitance of fees charged to the prifoners had arifen to fo alarming a pitch, that a speedy regulation in that particular was very defirable. He made feveral other ob. fervations; and was followed by Sir William Dolben, who was happy in feconding a motion for the introduction of fo beneficial a bill. Mr. Orde wifhed to know, whether the Hon. Mover had been favoured with the advice and atliftance of any of the heads of the law. Mr Burgefs replied, that he had received fome advice in the formation of his plan from persons of confiderable weight and refpe&ability. His motion was then agreed to; and be and Sir William Dolben were ordered to prepare and bring in the faid bill. Mr. Ladbroke brought in a bill for enabling his Majefty to grant a new licenfe to the proprietors of Sadler's Wells, This bill was read a first time, and the queftion being put, that it be read a fecond time, Mr. Sheridan rofe, and cenfured the application of the proprietors of Sadler's Wells as improper. For it appeared, he said, that they were foliciting a monopoly, for granting which he faw not the least reasonable ground. They had pretended, that the ma. nagers of the winter theatres had threatened to bring actions against them, for feveral performances which the had exhibited for fome time paft, and which were illegal in the ftri&t letter of the law. That this matter might be further enquired into, and counfel heard at the bar, he moved that this bul be read a fecond time on the 4th of April. Mr. Burgefs rofe to make his promifed motion for leave to bring in a bill to prevent oppreflive arrefts, to give better fecurity to the creditor, to regulate the gaols of this kingdom, &c. This motion be introduced with fome pertinent remarks on the fubject. He stated, that fo many abuses prevailed with regard to arrefts, as to render fome new regulations neceffary for the benefit of the public. The practice of arresting was now become fo general, and was fo frequently uted as an engine of fraud 2ad oppreffion, that no Sir Herbert Mackworth vindicated the proGentleman, he believed, would oppofe an at-prietors, and oppofed Mr. Sheridan's motion, Mr. Ladbroke denied that the proprietors aimed at a monopoly. He moved, as an amendment, that for the 4th of April.” there be fubitituted the words " Tuefday next." MARCH 12. Petitions from the county of Cambridge, and the University of Aberdeen against the Slave Trade, were prefented, and ordered to lie on the table. Two reports from the Committee on the Mutiny and India Declaratory Bills, fucceffively took up the attention of the Houfe till midnight, and the debate on either, if given in detail, would fill more columns than we could poffibly fpare; we can attempt to give barely an abstract of the proceedings of the Houfe. Mr. Steele brought up the report of the Mutiny Bill from the Committee of the whole House. Mr. Sheridan renewed his oppofition to the principle of extending Military Law to the Artificers, because if it was once introduced, none could tell where it would ftop. He obferved that it was rather fingular that it fhould be attempted at the particular time when we were in profound peace, strengthened by alliances on the Continent, and ftill more fo by the inability of our natural enemy to difturb our tranquility. Mr. Sheridan was fupported in his oppofition by Sir William Molefworth and Mr. Huffey, who expressed their apprehensions, that if the provifions of the Mutiny Act were once extended to the Artificers in the Ordnance Department, they would by degrees reach other bodies of men, and with them the influence of the Crown would be extended. Sir William faid he would guard against fuch an extenfion, by oppofing the attempt in limine; the measure was now on the first round on the ladder, and would in time afcend to the top, if not refifted at the outfet. VOL. XIII, Mr. Pitt faid that the danger fo much apprehended did not exift: for what might very well apply to Artificers belonging to the Train of Artillery, might be very inapplicable to workmen in any other department. The ground on which it was pro-pofed that thefe Artificers fhould be enlifted was, that the work in which they were to be employed, would be done better and cheaper, than it would be, if the perfous engaged in it were not to be under Military Law. Mr. Pelham thought that economy ought to be no object, in a cafe in which the conftitution might be injured. Nay, this very œconomy was with him a ftrong objection to the prefent meafure; for he was afraid that the Houfe might hereafter be deluded to adopt the odious and reprobated plan of fortifications, by having it represented to them, that by means of thefe artificers, the fortifications could be completed at lefs expence to the public, than had been stated in former estimates. Mr. Steele faid, that if the Minifter had not been fcrupulonfly jealous on this subject, he might have been able to extend the provifions of the bill to thefe Artificers, under the general defcription of" perfons belonging to the Artillery." He might also have caufed perfons inlifted in the Train to act as Artificers, and then undoubtedly they would have been, without a queftion, fubje&t to Military Law. Capt. Luttrel infifted this corps of Artificers would be very ufeful; at Gibraltar, where a fimilar body had been kept up during the fiege, they had been of infinite ufe; when our troops had, en fortie, poffeffed themselves of fome of the enemy's works, they could not deftroy them, till they had fent back to the garrifon for the corps of Artificers, and then the works were foon demolished. The Houfe at laft divided upon the queftion of agreeing with the Committee in the part of the bill for fubjecting the Artificers to Military Law. The quefticn paffed in the affirmative, by a majority of 47. Ayes 114. Noes 67. The rest of the Report was agreed to without a divifion. The Report from the Committee on the India Declaratory Bill was brought up, and the Houfe agreed to the amendments that were made in the Committee. Mr. Powys then moved a claufe for the purpofe of bringing more immediately under the confideration of the Houfe, whether the A&t of 1784, which the prefent Bill had been brought in to explain, did really, in the opinion of the Houfe, give the Board of ConFf troul troul all the powers which were claimed under it. The purport of the claufe was to declare," that the Act of 1784 did veft in the Board of Controul a right to exercife all powers and privileges, which at and before the paffing of that Act, were by Law vefted in, and legally exercifed by the Court of Directors." Mr. Flood in a most argumentative fpeech, contended for the negative of this propofition. Mr. Hardinge on the other hand, maintained that it spoke the real language of the Act of 1784. He went out of his argument, to animadvert on the conduct of fome of the fupporters of Oppofition, and went fo far in fpeaking of the public character of Mr. Powys, as to fay that it was degraded: but on his being called to order by Sir George Cornwall and Mr. Martham, he apologized for the expreffion as diforderly and improper. Mr. Adam, Mr. Sheridan, and Mr. Fox contended for the negative of the propofition, as did alfo Mr. Powys, who had made it, hot for the purpofe of supporting, but of combating it. Mr. Pitt and others fupported the affirmative of it, but they faid they would vote against the infertion of the claufe as unneeliny. On the question being put on Mr. Powys's .motion, it was negatived without a divifion. It was then moved that the bill with its amendments be ingrolled. This motion produced a divifion, and there appeared for it 210 -again it 122-majority for the Bill 88 -The Houfe adjourned at a quarter paft twelve. MARCH 13. Mr. Huffey rote, and renewed his objections to the claufe which fubjects the fix new corps of Artificers to military law. Mr. Courteney expreffed his doubts, whether the Artificers thus raifed were sworn and attefted. Mr. Sheridan commented on the idea of their not being attefted; which, he said, was an extraordinary circumftance in the rafing of troops. The Chancellor of the Exchequer referred to the warrant for the ra fing of the fix corps, in which it was ordered, that as foon as raifed, they fould be regularly fworn and attested. The bill was read a third time, and paffed. Mr. Fox, in a fhort fpeech, moved for leave to bring in a bill for the repeal of the Shop-tax. He obferved, that the arguments which had been urged in ts favour, arifing from its falling on the confumer were falla ous and ul-founded. If it hasen practi He cable for the fhopkeeper to lay it on the confumer, there would not have been that perfevering oppofition to it with which it had been attended from its commencement. had now a new ground of argument against this tax, founded on the petition prefented againft it by the Commiffioners employed in collecting it. This circumftance, he believ ed, was unprecedented in the hiftory of taxation. The principle on which it was adopt ed, that of laying it on the confumer, could not now be maintained; for bankers were acknowledged to be fubject to it; and how could they lay it on the confumer ?—He denied that it was at all proportionable in its affeffment to the custom of the fhop; for it frequently happened, that a fhop of fmali bufinefs paid much more than one of great cuftom. In Bath, for inftance, he could mention two poulterers, one of whom paid IOS. per annum towards this tax, and the other 51. 45. though the former had by far the greatest bufinefs. Upon the whole, he was juftified in condemning this impoft as a very partial, oppreffive, and unjust measure, and earnestly preffed the Houfe to concur with his motion. Mr. J. C. Jervoife feconded the motion. Lord Hood conjured the Right Hon. Gentleman to comply with the withes of fo refpectable a body of men as thole who opposed this tax. Sir Benjamin Hammett reprefented the tax as oppreffive, and injurious to the constitution. He faid, he was ready to propofe another tax in the room of this, which would be beneficial to trade, would produce not a fingle murmur, and would be more productive than the Shop tax. Sir Gregory Page Turner, in a digrefive fpeech, which strongly excited the rifibility of the Houfe, expreffed his averfion to tlus tax, and propofed as a fubftitute, a tax upon dogs, or on places of public amufement, or on fquibs in the public papers. Sir John Miller, as the reafons no longer exifted which had induced him to vote for the tax, new agreed to vote for its repeal. The Chancellor of the Exchequer did not confider the repeated complaints of the shopkeepers as conclufive evidence of the injurions tendency of the tax in queftion. They night be prevented, by their diflike to paying a direct fum at once, from coolly confidering the circuitous modes they might have of reimburfing themfelves. There might, however, be fome inconveniences arifing from this impoft; but he had no reason to think them of fufficient magnitude to induce him to agree to the Right Hon. Gentleman's motion. With regard to the petition of the Commissioners, many of them could not be deemed adequate judges judges of the injurious effects of the tax, as a part of them had qualified themselves to collect it but very lately. This, therefore, was not conclufive teftimony against it. He concluded with afferting this general principle, that the competition among traders would always be fuch as to infure them a living profit from their articles, notwithstanding the operation of particular taxes. Mr. Alderman Sawbridge fupported the motion, and thought that the petition of the Commiffioners ought to have great weight in inducing the House to affent to the repeal of the tax. Mr. Alderman Watfon argued for the re. peal as did alfo Mr. Alderman Newnham, Sir Watkin Lewes, Mr. H, Thornton, Mr. Mainwaring, Mr. Alderman Le Mefurier, Sir George Howard, and Mr. Martin. Sir James Johnstone vindicated the tax. Sir Edward Aftley, Mr. Drake, jun. Mr. Whitbread, and the Mafter of the Kolis, alfo spoke; after which the Houfe divided, when there appeared-for the repeal 98-Against it 141-Majority against it 43. Adjourned. MARCH 14. Mr. Pitt moved that the India Declaratory bill fhould be read the third time. Often as this bill had been before debated, ftill this motion produced another debate; fo that not a stage did it pafs through without difficulty and opposition, Mr. Anftruther infifted, that it faid more than the law which it was framed to explain, and confequently it ought not to be called a declaratory but an enacting bill. He found, by the prefent bill, that it was the intention of the Board to increase the number of European forces in India to 20,000, and to keep up that number conftantly; were they prepared to fay that England could bear to be drained of 8000 men a year to recruit and keep up fuch a force? Certainly not. The Board boafted longed in a great measure to Sir John Macpherfon, who had produced a faving of upwards of 600.cool. a year. England he believed could bear the drain neceffary to keep up an establishment of 20,000 Europeans, because great numbers of foldiers returned home every year; and moit of them with from 100l. to 300l. in their pockets. Mr. Francis could not believe that fo great an establishment as 20,000 Europeans could be neceffary, as all the Commanders in Chief we had in India for the last 20 years, had never thought of requiring fuch a force. The encreafing that force to 20,000, and af* terwards keeping up the establishment to tha number, appeared a fingular measure, and preparatory as it were, to fome measure relative to the territorial poffeffions, after the expiration of the Company's charter. The question was at lat clamorously called for; and the Houfe divided, when there appeared for the third reading 129-Againit it 74--Majority for the bill 55. The bill was then read a third time. Mr. Sheridan moved for leave to bring up a claufe to be tacked to the Bill by way of rider, the purport of which was, to limit the duration of the bill, and of the act of 1784, which it was to expound, to the duration of the Company's charter; fo that if the latter fhould not be renewed, the former should expire. The reafon he affigned for this clause was--that as the Board of Controul difclaimed all interference in the commercial concerns of the Company, they should have no pretence to exercife any power over them, after the expiration of the charter, and the transfer of the territorial poffeffions to the Crown, Mr. Pitt faid the claufe was nugatory: for if the territorial poffeffions were left to the Company, there would be as much occafion for the Board of Controul hereafter as now. If thofe poffeffions fhould be transferred to the Crown, it must be by the authority of the Parliament, which would take the proper fteps that the wisdom of the day fhould point out. In either cafe, therefore, fuch a clause would be unneceffary. The motion was negatived without a divifion, as was one made by Mr. Joliffe, viz. that in the title, the word enacting thould be substituted in the room of deciaratory.--- The Houfe adjourned to Monday, The Atlantic.-Hesperium Mare, fo called by the Antients. FIL Stalke |