Notes of the Bank, and the funds they had to pay them; and he entertained no doubt but the refult would prove not merely the folvency, but the flourishing ftate of that great Company. He underftood it would be urged, that the enquiry fhould travel farther back, and go into the caufes which had produced the neceffity of the prefent measures-but this he thought at the prefent period would not be a politic meafure; and he concluded by moving, "That a Secret Committee be appointed to afcertain the amount of the outstanding engagements of the Bank," &c. Mr Fox declaimed against the Order of Council as unconftitutional, and againft the Minifter who had advifed it, and who had brought us into a fituation fo unparalleled and calamitous. The proclama tion, he faid, gave a ftab to the vitals of public credit. He was nervous when he read it. "What," obferved he, " is the fense of it? It is to declare, though you have folemnly and repeatedly promised to keep your faith with the public creditor, though in all the difficulties, in all the emergencies of the country, you have hitherto avoided, wifely avoided, laying any kind of tax upon the dividends due; though you have done all these acts, yet, that the circumftances of the country are fuch, now, that you have looked to the great depofitory of cash, have taken that cafh, and have thereby defrauded the public creditor. Look at all your Acts of Parliament. Do they say, that you shall receive the money due to you at ftated periods of the year, in notes of the Bank of England? No; they fay that you fhall receive it in the coin of the kingdom. Should Bank-notes be at one per cent. discount, will not that be, to all intents and purposes, taxing the dividends! But it may be faid, that emergencies may be neceffary to break through all rules. Neceffity certainly is a plea to which no anfwer can be given; but the neceffity ought to be abfolute and irrevocable; it ought, too, to be strictly defined. I fhould have thought, that when the Minifter had been compelled by emergency to adopt a cafe of this nature, he would have efteemed it to be his duty to have explained the grounds of that emergency. mits propofed, or confined to a Secret Committee. Sir John Sinclair, Mr Hobhouse, Lord Wycombe, Mr Haffey, Mr Wilberforce Bird, Mr Smith, and feveral other Memhers argued on the fame fide; and Mr Dundas, Mr Thornton, &c. fupported the motion of Mr Pitt. Mr Sheridan, after recapitulating the arguments of the feveral speakers against the motion, concluded by propofing an Amendment to the original motion"That after the word "House" should be inferted these words, viz.-" and alfo to enquire into the caufes which have produced the Order of Council of the 26th inftant, together with their opinions thereon; and to confider of the propriety of continuing the faid order in force for a limited time." This produced fome further debate, and at twelve o'clock the House divided. For Mr Sheridan's Amendment, 86' Against it, 244 Majority, 158 [Mr Pitt was oftener than ufual upon his legs during this debate, and the great point in difpute was, whether the enquiry propofed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer fhould be extended to the caufes which produced the neceffity of the Order in Council, or fhould be confined, in the prefent inftance, merely to the stability of the Bank ultimately to anf wer every demand upon them -Mr Pitt and the other Minifters contended, that the occafion called for immediate deci fion upon the latter fubject; while the question of the causes of the neceffity involved many circumftances which would require more time than public credit, in the prefent crifis, would allow to be spent in uncertainty. Mr Fox and the Gentlemen in oppofition urged, that a fair, full, and open enquiry was abfolutely requifite, in order to calm the minds of the people, and to re establish public credit : they infifted that the connection of Government with the Bank was not for the advantage of the latter, and that great part, if not the whole, of the prefent embarraffments, had originated in the conduct of Minifters. However, both parties admitted the perfect folvency of the Bank to be a fact beyond difpute.] Accommodation Notes. He then argued, that the enquiry ought to go into the causes that had led to the prefent measure-that the public required a full, fair, and ample expla- March 1. Mr Wilberforce Bird flated nation, and that the refearches made the great inconvenience that arofe to mafhould be of the utmoft publicity and ex- nufacturers not having the means of paytent, and not kept within the narrow li-ing their workmen on a Saturday, in con 3 Cz Jequence fequence of the scarcity of fpecie. The giving currency to the paper of the Bank of England, and the Banks in Weftminfter and the Borough of Southwark, would be of little avail in the remote parts of the kingdom, where the tradefmen and labourers could not have half the confidence in a Guinea Bank Note iffued from Charing Crofs or the Strand, than they would if iffued by a man of known opulence and refpectability in their own neighbourhood. He concluded by moving for leave to bring in a Bill to fufpend the Act for a time limited, which prohibited manufacturers and bankers from iffuing fmall notes in payment, as far as related to manufacturers and bankers not refiding in London, Weftminster, and the Borough of Southwark."--Agreed to. The Houfe then refolved itself into a Committee on the Bill for permitting the Bank of England to iffue notes under the value of five pounds; the report was immediately brought up, read a firft and fecond time, and agreed to.-Upon the quefion being put and carried that the Bill be engroffed, Mr Pitt obferved, that the flate of the public intereft required that the Bill Thould be read a third time on that night, yet he had no objection that fome more time fhould be given for its confideration. -Bill ordered to be engroffed. Mr Fox then moved, "That a Committee be appointed to enquire into the Caufes of the Order of Council." After fome little more debate the Houfe dividing, there appeared for Mr Fox's motion 67; againft it 161. Mr Sheridan afterwards moved, 'that Mr Fox's name be added to the Secret Committee,' which was negatived by a majority of 91. Adjourned. March 2. Mr Wilberforce Bird brought up his Bill for fufpending the reftrictions of two Acts, the one of the 15th, and the other of the 17th, of his prefent Majefty, and permitting the iffue of small notes. -The Bill was read a first time; and on the queflion for the fecond reading, Mr Sheridan afked if the iffue of thofe notes was limited to Bankers only? Mr Bird faid, the operation of the Bill was general, and would extend to merchants, &c. After fome obfervations from Mr Sheridan and Alderman Lushington, on the danger of an unlimited iffue of fmall notes. Mr Bird moved, that the House do now refolve itself into a Committee; which being agreed to, the report was received, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time to-morrow, if then engroffed. March 3. On the order of the day for the third reading of the Bill for allowing Traders and others to iffue fmall Notes, after fome converfation as to the mode of enforcing payment of thofe notes, in which Mr Pitt alluded to the probability of a new Copper Coinage, the Bill was read a third time. A claufe was brought up by way of rider, fubjecting the Iffuer of a Note, on non-payment, to a penalty of twenty fhillings, with debt and cofts; and allo, on refusing to comply, to authorise Justices of the Peace to iffue a warrant of dif trefs on the party's effects. The Thanks of the Houfe were voted to Sir John Jervis, alfo to Vice-Admirals Thompson and Parker, Rear-Admiral Nelfon, and to the Captains, Officers, Seamen and Marines, on board his Majefty's fleet, for the brilliant and fplendid victory gained over the Spanish Åeet on the 14th of February. Mr Whitbread rofe, in pursuance of his notice, to move for a Committee of Enquiry into the measures adopted by Government refpecting the late _descent attempted by the enemy on the Coaft of Ireland; which was got rid of after a long debate, by Mr Dundas's moving the previous queftion; there appearing for the previous queftion 209.—Against it 62.-Majority 147. The Chairman of the Committee to enquire into the concerns of the Bank of England reported, that they had entered into a full examination of the engagements of the Bank, and of its funds for difcharging the fame-that they had found the outstanding engagements, on the 25th of February laft, to amount to the fum of 13,770,390l. and that the funds and fecurity applicable to the payment of the fame amounted to 17,597,280l. leaving a balance of nearly FOUR MILLIONS, exclusive of a debt due from the Government of the country to the Bank of 11,686,8ool. (upon which an intereft of three per cent. was annually paid ;) fo that they had left, after the discharge of all demands upon them, nearly Fifteen Millions fterling. THE Admiralty-Office, Feb. 28. Copy of a letter from Commodore Nelson, to Admiral Sir John Jervis, Commander in Chief of bis Majefty's fhips and veffels in the Mediterranean, dated December 20. 1796. AST night at ten o'clock I faw two L directed Cockburne, in the Minerve, to attack the fhip which carried a poop-light; the Blanche bore down to attack the other. I have not yet received from Capt. Prefton an account of his action, but as I faw the Blanche this morning to windward with every fail fet, I prefume fhe had not fuffered much damage. Captain Cockburne brought his fhip to close action at twenty minutes before eleven, which continued without intermiffion till half paft one, when La Sabina of forty guns, twenty-eight eighteen pounders on her main-deck, two hundred and eighty-fix men, Capt. Don. Jacoba Stuart, having loft her mizen-mast, (as he did after the action) main and fore-maft, one hundred and fixty-four men killed and wounded, ftruck her colours. You are, Sir, fo thoroughly acquainted with the merits of Capt. Cockburne, that it is needlefs for me to exprefs them; but the difcipline of the Minerve does the higheft credit to her Captain and Lieutenants, and I with fully to exprefs the fenfe I entertain of their judgment and gallantry: Lieutenant Culverhoufe, the First Lieutenant, is an old officer of very diftinguished merit; Lieutenants Hardy, Gage, and Noble, deferve every praife which gallantry and zeal justly entitle them to, as do every other officer and man in the fhip. You will obferve, Sir, I am fure, with regret, amongft the wounded, Lieutenant James Noble, who quitted the Captain to ferve with me, and whofe merits and repeated wounds, received in fighting the enemies of our country, entitle him to every reward which a grateful nation can beftow. The Minerve's opponent being comman ded by a gallant officer, was well defended, which has caufed her lift of killed and wounded to be great, as alfo her Killed-Seven. Officers Wounded-Lieut. J. Noble, Petty Officers killed and wounded. Damages-All her mafts fhot through, and furniture much cut. (Signed) Horatio Nelfon. Copy of a letter from Commodore Nelson to Admiral Sir John Jervis, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's fhips in the Mediterranean, dated Dec. 2e. 1796. feven P. M. In addition to my letter of this morning, I have to acquaint you, that Lieutenants Culverhoufe and Hardy, with a proper number of men, being put in charge of the Sabina, and the taken in tow, at four A. M. a frigate was feen coming up, which, by her fignals, was known to be Spanish: At half paft four the came to action with the Minerve, who caft off the prize, and Lieut. Culverhoufe was directed to ftand to the fouthward; after a trial of ftrength of more than half an hour fhe wore and hauled off, or I am confident the would have fhared the fate of her companion. At this time three other fhips were feen ftanding for the Minerve; hope was alive, that they were only frigates, and alfo that the Blanche was one of them; but when the day dawned, it was mortifying to fee they were two Spanish hips of the line and two frigates, and the Blanche far to windward. In this fitua tion, the enemy frequently within shot, by by bringing up the breeze, it required all the fkill of Capt. Cockburne, which he eminently displayed, to get off with a crippled fhip. And here I muft alfo do juftice to Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy, and exprefs my tribute of praise in their management of the prize; a frigate repeatedly fired into her without effect, and at laft the Spanish Admiral quitted the purfuit of the Minerve for that of La Sabina, who was fteering a different course, evidently with the attention of attracting the notice of the Admiral, as English colours were hoifted over the Spanish. The Sabina's main and fore maft fell overboard before the furrendered. This is, Sir, an unpleasant Killed-None. Wounded-Ten (Signed) Horatio Nelson. Admiralty-Office, Feb. 28. Copy of a letter from Commodore Nelfon, to Mr Nepean, dated on board the Minerve, at Porto Ferrajo, Dec. 29.1796. SIR, Herewith I fend you Capt. Prefton's letter to me, of his action on the 19th of December, at night, and I have the honour to be, Sir, your moft obedient fervant, (Signed) Horatio Nelfon. SIR, Blanche, at fea, Det. 20. 1796. I have to acquaint you, that laft night, after having hailed the Minerve, immediately as her hauling her wind across me to attack the larger fhip would permit the Blanche to wear, I bore up, and in three or four minutes after the Minerve's first broadfide brought the frigate to leeward to clofe action, the two fhips. juft clear of each other; the enemy made but a trifling refiftance, and eight or nine broadfides completely fenced her, when they called for quarter, and their colours were hauled down. I am forry to add, that the very near approach of three fresh fhips (two of which we difcovered nearly within gun-fhot before we went into action) rendered my taking poffeffion of her impracticable, when I wore to join the Minerve; but finding the hips did not then clofe with the fri gate I had left much damaged in her fails and rigging, I again flood after her, but fhe had by this time got her fore-fail, fore-top-fail, and for-top-gallant fail fet, and the only outfailed the Blanche before the wind, but was joined by another ship standing from the land. Nothing could exceed the fleadiness and good conduct of the First Lieutenant, Mr Cowan, the whole of the officers and ship's company I have the honour to command; and I have great pleasure in informing you not one person was hurt, or the rigging the, least damaged. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) D'Arcy Preston. P.S. I beg leave to add how much obliged I am to Capt. Maitland, who is on board a paffenger to join his fhip, for his very great affiftance on the quarterdeck during the action. D. P. Commodore Nelfon, Sc. Downing Street, Feb. 28. Head-quarters of the Austrian Army, My Lord, I have the honour to inform your Lordship, that in confequence of a capitulation concluded on the ad inft. between Lieutenant-General the Prince of Fuftemberg and the French General commanding the works of the Tete-de-Pont of Huningen, and of the island called the Shufterinfel, the faid works and island have been evacuated by the enemy and taken poffeffion of by the troops of his Imperial Majefty. The French had bestowed very confiderable labour on this poft during the time that the armies were advanced into Germany. The Tete-de Point itself was fupported and outflanked by the extenfive horn-work on the Shufter ifland, as were both by the fire of the fortress of Huningen, as well as of feveral temporary batteries on the left bank of the Rhine. But a confiderable quantity of heavy artillery having been fent to the Upper Brifgaw immediately after the reduction of Kehl, the attack, after his arrival, was carried on with effect, and by its fuccessful termination the right bank of the Upper Rhine has been completely cleared of the enemy. I have the honour to be, &c. Admiralty The hopes of falling in with the Spanifh fleet expreffed in my letter to you of the 13th inftant, were confirmed that night, by our diftinctly hearing the report of their fignal guns, and by intelligence received from Capt. Foote, of his Majefty's fhip the Niger, who had, with equal judgment and perfeverance, kept company with them for several days, on my prefcribed rendezvous, (which, from the ftrong South-Eaft winds, I had never been able to reach) and that they were not more than the diftance of three or four leagues from us. I anxiously awaited the dawn of day, when, being on the ftarboard tack, Cape St. Vincent bearing Eaft by North eight leagues, I had the fatisfaction of feeing a number of thips extending from South-Weft to South, the wind then at Weft and by South. At forty-nine minutes paft ten, the weather being extremely hazy, La Bonne Citoyenne made the fignal that the fhips feen were of the line, Twenty-five in number. His Majefty's fquadron under my command, confifting of Fifteen fhips of the line, viz. Victory, Britannia, Barfleur, Prince George, Blenheim, Namur, Captain, Goliath, Excellent, Orion, CoJoffus, Egmont, Culloden, Irrefifiible, Diadem, happily formed in the moft compact order of failing, in two lines. By carrying a prefs of fail I was fortunate in getting in with the enemy's fleet at half past eleven o'clock, before it had time to connect, and form a regular order of battle. Such a moment was not to be loft; and, confident in the fkill, val our and difcipline of the Officers and Men I had the happiness to command, and judging that the honour of his Majefty's arms and the circumftances of the war in thefe feas required a confiderable degree of enterprize, I felt myself juftified in departing from the regular fyftem, and paffing through their fleet, in a line formed with the utinoft celerity, tacked, and thereby feparated one-third from the main body, after a partial cannonade, which prevented their rejunction till the evening; and by the very great exertions of the hips which had the good fortune to arrive up with the enemy on the larboard tack, the fhips Salvador del Mun do, 112 guns; San Joseph, 112; San Nicolas, 80; and San Ysidro of 74, were captured, and the action ceafed about five o'clock in the evening. 1 inclofe the most correct lift I have been able to obtain of the Spanish Fleet oppofed to me, amounting to Twentyfeven fail of the line, and an account of the killed and wounded in his Majesty's fhips, as well as in thofe taken from the enemy. The moment the latter (almost totally difmafted) and his Majefty's fhips the Captain and Culloden, are in a ftate to put to fea, I fhall avail myself of the firft favourable wind to proceed off Cape St Vincent in my way to Lifbon. Capt. Calder, whole able affiftance has greatly contributed to the public fervice during my command, is the bearer of this, and will more particularly defcribe to the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty the movements of the fquadron on the 14th, and the prefent ftate of it. I am, Sir, &c. J. Jervis. Lift of the Spanish Fleet, opposed to the Britifh the 14th February 1797• |