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that some provision should be made, for building parsonage houses in small livings; and giving some assistance to the curates, who might be dismissed by the operation of the present bill: and he would wish to follow it up with some measure of that sort; but he had not introduced it in that now before the house.

Leave was then given, to bring in the bill. The next day the report on the Grenada loan bill, was taken into consideration.

Mr. Wilberforce considered it impolitic, to continue this measure at the present juncture. When first this measure was brought before parliament, they were told, that the money would soon be repaid; but instead of that, frequent applications had since been made to parliament, for farther loans! Although he was no enemy to the West Indian interests, yet he did not like to see large sums of money, which could be better employed at home, sent over, to what he conceived, the most vulnerable part of our empire. He thought the same money employed in our own country, would be laid out, both on better security, and more to the public advantage.

The chancellor of the exchequer said, the honourable member had not sufficiently taken into consideration, the peculiar embarassments of Grenada, and St. Vincents, in the year 1795: he had not sufficiently weighed the advantages of the West India trade: nor did he seem to have recollected, that every hogshead of sugar, or puncheon of rum, was paid for by British manufacture: he could assure the honor

able member, that government had taken great pains, to be satisfied, that the persons who received this loan, were sufficient securities for the re-payment of it; they could not however, fulfil their engagements in the present year, without the most serious inconvenience; and their present application was not for farther aid, but for farther time to make good their instalment, in the re-payment of what had been already borrowed. This was an indulgence, they were entitled to, from the liberality of the house.

He

Sir Robert Peele was friendly to the measure, and approved of the principle upon which the loan was first made; it was demanded by the West India gentlemen, to enable them to defend their property, at a time, that it was perhaps very doubtful, whether government could have done it or not. thought the claim of the gentlemen extremely moderate and reasona ble; and that perhaps they migh with justice have demanded, no merely a loan, but an indemnity for losses, occasioned by the inade quate protection their property ha received. As to the objection, tha property in the West Indies was ra ther of a precarious nature, h thought that was rather a reasor why it should be assisted in time need, by the powerful arm of th government.

Dr. Lawrence thought, that ther had been no impropriety in orig nally granting the loan; and it a peared to him, that the same re sons required its continuance. I feared the islands would be in dreadful state of confusion a

miser

misery, if by withdrawing from them the support of government, the blacks (whose sanguinary temper was well known) should be left idle and unemployed.

Mr. Johnstone and general GasCogne also supported the bill. The

report was then agreed to, and the bill ordered to be read a third time, on the 19th of April.

The house, then adjourned from the 7th to the 19th of April, for the Easter recess.

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CHAP. X.

Proceedings in Parliament, after the Easter Recess.-Committee of the House of Commons, on the giving Facilities to mercantile Transactions. -Chancellor of the Exchequer's Plan, for the Consolidation of the Duties. Proceedings on the Report of the Ilchester Election Committee-And on the Coroners' Bill-Lost.-Lord Folkstone moves for Papers, respecting the Cape of Good Hope-Refused-Debate in the Lords, on the Irish Bank-restriction Bill.-Lord King-Earl of Limerick―Lord Auckland. -Nottingham Election Bill, carried unanimously.-Clergy Bill-And Mr. Markham's Divorce Bill.-Sir Henry Mildmay's Motion on naval Abuses.-Debate.—Irish Bank-restriction Bill.-Clause agreed to, in the Clergy Residence Bill, allowing the Rector three Months' leave of Absence.-Debate in the Lords, on the Insolvent Debtors' Bill.-Ketrospect.

MMEDIATELY on the meeting

the Easter recess, pursuant to adjournment; on the 21st of April,

The chancellor of the exchequer moved, that the house should resolve itself into a committee, to consider, that part of his majesty's speech, which related to the giving facilities to mercantile transactions.

General Gascoygne declared, that he thought it absolutely necessary, for the house to know, whether these regulations applied to a state of war, or peace? On this point, he asserted, ministers had been most unaccountably silent; and yet, he thought, it was intimately connected with the question. Although the professed object of this measure, was the consolidation of duties, yet he found, by the schedules, that a considerable increase of revenue was intended. He therefore thought, he had an undoubted

right, before he should give his vote,

creased revenue was to be applied; whether to a state of war, or a state of peace?

The chancellor of the exchequer, in reply, said, that it was impossi ble for him, consistently with his duty, to make any communication to the house, at present; but he denied, that the principal object o the proposed measure was, as sup posed by the hon. general, an in crease of the revenues.

The house having then resolve itself into the committee,

The chancellor of the excheque proceeded to detail his plan for th consolidation of the duties, whic were now raised, under no less tha 170 acts of parliament; he state that the principal object of the bi was to simplify the mode of colled ing the duties; although, ultimat ly, it might lead to an increase

revenue. He dwelt, with considerable force, on the great resources which this country derived from its commerce, which has increased, under every presure of circumstances!

General Gascoygne, repeated his opinion, of the necessity of the house being informed of the state of the country, as to peace or war, before they could form an accurate judgment on questions of Lance.

Alter some farther conversation, the chairman reported progress, and Leave to sit again.

On the following day, Mr. Smyth reported, from the committee, apPted to try and determine the erits of the Ilchester election, Laat such a system of corruption was formed, and such individual atts of bribery committed, to infence the said election; as to reader it necessary, that the same sa ald be taken into the most serious consideration of the house;" be farther reported, that "Mr. White Parsons and Mr. Alexander Davison, were implicated therein;" be therefore moved, as a second resolution," that the attorney general should be instructed to prosecute Mr. White Parsons and Mr. Davison."

Mr. Wallace, objected strongly to this resolution; he considered, that there was, by no means, such evidence before them, against Mr. Davison, as would induce a jury to find him guilty.

Mr. Burdon thought, there was rafficient evidence of bribery and corruption, to induce the house to Come to the resolution that was submitted to them.

Mr. Johnstone, expressed him

seif, very strongly, of a similar opinion.

Mr. Sheridan declared, he could not feel, that vehement degree of indignation, against poor freeholders, who sold their votes; when he recollected, that great Lords sold boroughs, by wholesale; and considered their unconstitutional influence, as part of their property. He did not see sufficient evidence to prosecute Mr. Davison, and he hoped the house would examine the minutes very carefully, before they resolved on such a measure.

The master of the rolls, though it neither consistent with the dignity of the house, nor with justice, that another prosecution should be instituted against Mr. Davison, at a time, that he was liable to prosecutions, from any common informer. Bribery could be punished in the common way; and he had not sufficiently considered the evidence, to say, whether any conspiracy had been proved. He therefore moved, the previous question.

After some conversation, the previous question was agreed to, and the farther consideration of the report, put off for a fortnight.

On the 27th of April, upon the question being put, in the house of commons, for the house resolving itself into a committee of the whole house, on the coroners' bill; sir Robert Buxton, sir Robert Williams, and Mr. Dickinson, jun. opposed the question, as disapproving, altogether, of the principle of the bill; and considering the present emoluments of the office, amply sufficient. Mr. Hurst, on the other hand, supported it; and, on a division, there appeared a majority of eighteen, in favour of the committal of the bill;

but when, on the 10th of May, the report was brought up,

General Tarleton, compared the situation of those coroners, with that of brave and meritorious of ficers, who lived on much smaller incomes, and scorned to come to parliament, for an increase of their half-pay.

Mr. Shaw Lefevre, also opposed it, on the ground of its being notorious, that the situation of coroner, was one much sought after; and that, in the present situation of the country, salaries ought not, unnecessarily to be increased; he concluded, by moving as an amendment, that "the bill should be read a third time, this day six months."

The amendment was adopted, by majority of five, and the bill was consequently lost.

The 24th, lord Folkstone rose, in pursuance of a notice he had formerly given, to move for copies of the different orders which had been issued, respecting the evacuation or retention of the Cape of Good Hope; as also, for an account of the discussions, relative to this subject, between the govern ments of this country and France, previously to the last orders sent out for its surrender. It had appeared, that a variety of contradictory orders had been sent out by ministers: sometimes they wished to retain it, at other times they determined to abandon it: and yet no reasons for those sudden changes of disposition, had been stated to the house! The orders for retaining the Cape, did not arrive there till after the Dutch troops had landed; and were executed, rather by a recapture, than a retention. News

of this capture, had only arrived in England, twenty-four hours, or, at most, not more than forty-eight hours, before the message was delivered. It therefore, appeared, as if ministers had sent the message, merely from a consciousness, that they had committed an act of hostility, and not at all for the reasons therein alleged. This act of hostility, in re-taking the cape, must certainly have produced much discussion; although it were true, that orders were sent out, after the business of Switzerland was over, that the cape should be again restored. He concluded, by moving for the copies of the papers, before mentioned.

The chancellor of the exchequer, professed every desire to give information, but declared, that if the papers were granted, they would require explanations, which could not be given, at the present moment, with safety to the public in terest: he had no objection to granting the information sought for by the motion, as soon as it could be given, with safety. He thought it his duty then, to move the previous question.

Mr.Windham felt convinced, that his noble friend had no wish to em barass the proceedings of govern ment; and, therefore, would no press for any information, which his majesty's ministers had de clared to be prejudicial to the pub lic interest; he was sorry however that the reason given by minister was such, as must debar the hous from information, so long as the should think proper to with hold it.

Lord Hawkesburry, thought impossible to discuss the question respectin

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