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to be deferving of applaufe instead of cenfure; and, therefore inftead of negativing the motion, he should first move the previous queftion; and, fecondly, in order to fhew the neceffity of the Houfe repeating its former declaration, he would put the following resolutions :

"That the inhabitants of the French Weft-India islands not having availed themselves of the proclamation of the ift of January, 1794, was not to be confidered as a general rule for the British forces in that quarter to act upon.

"That, as the proclamations of the roth and 21st of May were not carried into effect, the Houle conceived it unneceflary to give an opinion upon them. "And that the House ftill retains the fenfe which it has already expreffed of the able and gallant conduct of Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis during their command in the Weft Indies."

Sir Wm. Scott feconded the motion of Mr Dundas. He faid, it was improper for the Houfe to give any opinion on the -law of nations; nor fhould it think of proceding to a vote of cenfure without full and fufficient evidence.

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Mr C. Dundas rofe merely for the purpose of reading a letter from an officer under the command of Sir Charles -Grey, refpecting the conduct of that gallant officer, and the measures had recourfe to by him; fetting forth, that he -had preferred the lenient mode of contribution to the more fevere proceeding of confifcation, which the nature of his conquests might have warranted him in adopting.

Sir W. Young faid, that although, he 'did not entirely difapprove of the conduct of the officers who were the fubject of debate, he nevertheless thought that they were not wholly warranted by the laws of war in adopting the fevere measures againft, the inhabitants which they had done, and fhould vote for the original motion:

Mr Sheridan was perfuaded that the officers had acted in a manner that refected the highest honour on their wif dom and humanity.

Several other members fpoke; after which the Houfe divided on the previous queftian; when there appeared, Ayes 67, Ñoes 17.

The next divifion which took place was on the firft refolution moved by Mr Dundas. Ayes 64, Noes 13.

The second refolution was carried by a majority of 43; the numbers being, for it. 57, against it, 14.

Bd. Mag. Jan. 1796.

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The queftion on the laft refolution, expreffive of the approbation of the Houfe of Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis, was then put and carried with only one diffentient voice.

5. The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to the Houfe fome additional refolutions, as inftructions to the Committee who are to prepare, and bring in, a bill relative to the Prince's debts.

Mr Sheridan, in a fpeech of great. length and eloquence, entered into a detail of the Prince's affairs, from the time of his eftablishment being formed, down to the prefent time. He contended, that the pledge given to Parliament, in the year 1787, was without the consent of the Prince, and stated a variety of facts to corroborate that affertion. He then adverted to the mode to be adopted for the payment of the debts, and fuggefted, that ten thousand a year might be allowed from the King's privy purfe, and five thousand from the Queen's; and that the remainder might be made up by the abolishment of finecure places. He concluded with moving a resolution, purporting that no burden fhould fall upon the people for the payment of the debts, until it appeared that the privy purse, and the abolishment of finecure places, were found infufficient for that purpose.

Mr Dundas replied; and contended that it was impoffible to apply thofe funds to that object.

A long conversation enfued; after which the Houfe divided; for Mr Pitt's motion 148, Against it 93.

Mr Sheridan then propofed a refolution; and Mr Pitt moved to adjourn. Ayes 153. Noes 29.

8. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that the fum of 65,000l. be appropriated from the Confolidated Fund for the payment of the Prince of Wales's debts, in cafe of his demife. This pròduced a long debate, at the conclufion of which the Houfe divided, for the motion 93, against it 68.

Mr Anftruther then moved, "That it be an inftruction to the Committee, that they may have power to apply the revenue of the Dutchy of Cornwall to the purpose of discharging the Prince's debts; on which the Houfe again divided; for the motion 58, against it 96.

Mr Pitt now moved, that the Speaker do leave the chair, in order for the Houfe to go into a Committee on the bill. Another debate enfued, in which Mr Sheridan and Mr Whitbread oppofed the bill,

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bill, and condemned it, in toto, as difgraceful, degrading, and inconfiftent. The House then divided on the question of the Speaker's leaving the chair; Ayes 157, Noes 36.

In the Committee on the bill there were divifions on three claufes.

On the clause for granting his Royal Highness an additional allowance of 65,cool. a year, an amendment was propoled by Mr Wilberforce, that, instead of 65,cool. the blank be filled up with 40,000l. After feveral other Members had spoken, a divifion took place, for the amendment 38, against it 141.

On the claufe impowering his Majefly to appoint commiffioners, &c. Ayes 132, Noes 35.

And on the claufe appointing the 65,cool. additional income to be taken from the Confolidated Fund, Ayes 149, Noes 16.

pofe of having parliamentary aid afforded to their embarraffments; a proceeding which he deemed highly dangerous to the conftitution, and to the liberty of Englishmen; for those innovations were moft dangerous which were filent in their effect. He concluded by faying, that it was his intention to give the negative to the application.

Mr Dundas defended the measure. The queftion was then put, and carried in the affirmative.

15. The Auftrian loan bill was read a third time, and paffed. The fame day, the Houfe came to a refolution, that

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Exchequer bills, to the amount of one million and a half, be iffued for the accommodation of perfons trading to the iflands of St Vincent and Grenada, to be advanced to them by commiffioners appointed for that purpose, who fhall receive proper fecurity for the fums so ad

Io. On the fecond reading of the Im-vanced.' perial Loan Bill, it was oppofed by fes veral gentlemen, particularly by Mr Fox, who moved, as an amendment, that, inftead of the word 'now' be inferted, this day two months.'-On a divifion the amendment was loft by 55 to 29, and the original motion was carried.

11. Mr Fox moved, that a new writ be iffued, for a burgefs to ferve in parliament for the borough of Helftone, in the room of Sir Gilbert Elliott, bart. appointed viceroy of Corfica. This was ordered. The fame day, Lord Sheffield prefented a petition from the merchants trading to the islands of Grenada and St Vincent's, ftating the calamitous effects of the infurrections in thofe iflands, on their commercial dealings, and praying for relief. His Lordship briefly alluded to the fupport which the commercial credit of the nation received in 1793, by a loan of Exchequer bills, and thought a fimilar measure in the prefent cafe would produce equally falutary effects. He concluded by moving, That the petition be referred to a committee, to examine the 'matter of it, and report their opinion to the house.

Mr. Pitt feconded the motion. Mr Fox faid, that the calamity in quef tion was an additional proof of the ruinous tendency of the war; and he could not help looking upon the prefent application as illuftrative of the motives which actuated commercial men to fupport administration in the profecution of it, who, apprehending danger in their own credit, fanctioned by their voices what they condemned in their hearts, for the pur

17. The bill for providing for the payment of the debts of the Prince of Wales was read a third time, and paffed. The commiffioners named to carry it into execution are, the Speaker, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the mafter of the rolls, Sir F. H. Drake, mafter of the household, and John Robinfon Efq. furveyor of the Crown lands. The bill afterward went through the ufual forms in the other Houfe; and, on June 27, his Ma jefty put an end to the feffion by the following moft gracious fpeech from the throne:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

The zealous and uniform regard which you have shown to the general intereft of my people, and particularly the prudent, firm, and fpirited fupport which you have continued to afford me, in the profecution of the great conteft in which we are fill unavoidably engaged, demand my warmeft acknowledgements.

The encouragement which my allies muft derive from the knowledge of your fentimeuts, and the extraordinary exertions which you have enabled me to make, in fupporting and augmenting my naval and military forces, afford the means moft likely to conduce to the reftoration of peace to thefe kingdoms, and to the re-enablishment of general tranquillity, on a fecure, an honourable, and a lafting foundation.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I have to return you my hearty thanks for the liberal and ample fupplice which

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the refources of the country have enabled you to provide, beyond all former example, for the various exigencies of the public fervice.

I have alfo to acknowledge, with peculiar fenfibility, the recent proof which you have given me of your attachment to my perion and family, in the provifion which you have made for fettling the establishment of the Prince and Princefs of Wales, and for extricating the Prince from the incumbrances in which he was involved.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It is impoffible to contemplate the internal Atuation of the enemy with whom we are contending, without indulging a hope, that the prefent circumftances of France may, in their effects, haften the return of fuch a ftate of order and regular government, as may be capable of maintaining the accustomed relations of amity and peace with other powers.

The iffue, however, of these extraordinary tranfactions is out of the reach of human forefight.

Till that defireable period arrives,

when my fubjects can be reftored to the fecure enjoyment of the bleflings of peace, I fhall not fail to make the moft effectual ufe of the force which you have put into my hands.

It is with the utmoft fatisfaction that I have recently received the advices of an important and brilliant fuccefs oktained over the enemy, by a detachment of my fleet under the able conduct of Lord Bridport.

I have every reason to rely on the continuance of the diftinguished bravery and conduct of my fleet and armies, as well as of the zeal, fpirit, and perfeverance of my people, which have been uniformly manifefled through the whole courfe of this juft and neceflary war.

Then the Lord Chancellor, by his Majefty's command said, My Lords and Gentlemen,

It is his Majesty's royal will and pleafure, that this Parliament be prorogued to Wednesday, the 5th of Auguft next, to be then here holden: and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednefday the sth Auguft 1795.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE SEVENTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Oa. 30. Tread for taking into confiHE order of the day being

deration his Majefty's fpeech to both Houses of Parliament, (see p. 397 of our laft volume,) and the fame being read by the principal Clerk,

Lord Mount Edgecumbe rose to move an Addrefs to his Majefty in return for his gracious communication. He began by reviewing the leading circumfiances of the war, and remarked that the very defeats of the Allies had been favourable to us, for unless the military force of France had been fo occupied, it would have been feverely felt by this country. The defection of fome of our Allies, he faid, was of lefs moment than might have been expected, for no ferious inconvenience could accrue from that defection, when we confidered this country as feparately at war with France. Our own operations had, upon the whole, been greatly if not uniformly fuccefsful. In the Eaft and West Indies we had made many conquefts, and ftill retained a decided fuperiority. His Lordship next adverted to the disposition expreffed in his Majefty's Speech to receive fuch over

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tures, on certain conditions, as might be of amity and peace; and this conceflion compatible with the accustomed relations

was, in his opinion, all that candour could expect or policy allow. In allusion to the Weft India expedition, he said he looked with a fatisfaction much increated towards the fucceffes, he anticipated in that quarter. Our affairs were, upon the whole, so profperous, that instead of unbecoming and imprudent condefcenfion on our part, he recommended, in the language of the Speech, that we should be prepared for the alternative of war, and continue undiminished our activity and vigour. This was the mode of conduct beft calculated to produce a peace on terms fafe and honourable to accept. He then entered into a minute invefligation of the flate of the French finances, which he contrafted with our own, and contended, that fuch was the rapid depreciation of affignats, that it would be impoffible for them to continue the war on the fame principle. The Noble Lord concluded by reading the Addrefs he moved, which was, as ufual, refponfive of the fentiments contained in the Speech.

Lord Walfingham feconded the Addrefs. A meffage

A meffage from the Commons acquainted the Houfe that the Commons had agreed to the Addrefs for a confer

ence.

The queftion being put on the Addrefs,

The Duke of Bedford rose to state his objections to the Addrefs in its prefent fhape, and to propose another exactly fimilar to the one which had been propofed in the Houfe of Commons. His Grace faid, it would be more confiftent with the dignity of Parliament for the Houfe to fpeak their own fentiments than to fubfcribe to a mere echo of the Speech, and happy fhould he be if their decifion was a recommendation for a pacification. He then animadverted on the different topics contained in the Speech in an able and fatisfactory manner. But as the remarks were in fome degree anticipated by the debate on the Addrefs in the House of Commons, we deem it unneceffary to follow his Grace in a detail of thofe remarks. He next arraigned the conduct of Adminiftration, whom he termed wicked and corrupt, and conjured the House to draw afide that Aimfy veil which was thrown over his Majefty, whole paternal care would induce him to exercife an act of the Royal Prerogative, which alone could fave the Country from deftruction. He concluded by moving an Amendment to the

Addrefs.

Lord Grenville, in a speech of two hours, combated the arguments that had been adduced by the Duke of Bedford, and concluded by giving his moft decided negative to the Amendment.

country, were unable to procure even bread and water. The Government Contractors were always upon the watch, and bought up all the cattle and hogs that were formerly flaughtered for the ufe of the poor. Befides this, they were generally killed half fattened, and before they had attained their full growth, which deftroyed the breed, and extended the inconvenience to pofterity. The confumption in fleets and encampments was much greater than if the men were difperfed in the country villages, exercifing their refpective trades. Peace, immediate peace, was therefore, in his opinion, the only remedy that could reach the root of the evil, and fave the country from impending ruin. Next to this, he thought the fufferings of the poor might be alleviated by the equalization of labour; and he fuggefted the propriety of bringing in a Bill for that purpose, in order that every man's pay fhould be in proportion to the increafed price of provifions. After reprobating in fevere terms the conduct of Administration, the Noble Marquis concluded by giving his most hearty support to the Amendment.

A debate of confiderable length enfued, which being merely a repetition of the arguments uled in the House of Commons, we fhall not lay it before our read

ers.

The fpeakers in favour of the Addrefs were, the Earl of Mansfield, Lord Hawkefbury, Earl Spencer, and the Lord Chancellor.

In fupport of the Amendment, Lord Darnley, the Duke of Grafton, and Lord Lauderdale.

The Duke of Bedford did not choose

to take the fenfe of the Houfe on his Motion, and accordingly withdrew it.

Earl Spencer gave notice, that on Monday next he fhould propose a Vote of Thanks to Admiral Lord Bridport for his meritorious fervices.

At half paft one o'clock the Hufe adjourned to

Od. 31. This day the House met at half paft one,and proceeded to St James's with their Addrefs.

The Marquis of Lansdowne expreffed his aftonishment at the words that had been put into his Majefty's mouth, and delivered from the Throne: and having "paffed a number of ftrictures on the Speech, proceeded to the topics that had induced him to attend the Houfe on this occafion. The enormous price of grain was the subject the alluded to. Laft January, when he read a paper, ftating that the induftrious poor of his neighbourhood could not procure other food than bread and water; and when he mentioned the exceffive scarcity of provisions with which the country was about to be af Alicted, he was branded with the appella- Oct. 29. The Speaker having read his tion of Jacobin, who wished to aroule Majefty's speech, Lord Dalkeith, son of the populace against the Government of the Duke of Buccleugh, rose to move an the Country. How far his predictions Addrefs. His Lordship proceeded to on the fubject of scarcity had been reali- take a general view of our resources, the zed, he left for others to determine. extent of our commerce, and the fuccef- The poor, he said, in many parts of the - fes which have attended our arms, both

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

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in the Eaft and Weft Indies; which having gone through, he moved, that an humble Addreis be prefented to his Majefty, for his moft gracious speech which he had been pleased to deliver from the Throne. [Here followed the Addrefs, which, as ufual, was an echo of the Speech.]

The Hon. Mr Stewart, son of the Earl of Londonderry, role to fecond the Addreis. It was not neceffary to go back to the beginning of the war, in order to prove the defperate ftate of France; the prefent was fufficient to prove that the conteft must be brought to a conclufion favourable to this country. Affignats and the system of terror, two great fup-porters of the French refources, were now almoft exhaufted. The Hon. Gentleman here entered into a calculation of the loffes on the affignats, and the enormous expences of the French government. The present fyftem, he maintain ed, would alfo be abandoned by them, as well as the fyftem of terror. He coneluded by feconding the Addrefs.

Mr Sheridan began with expreffing his fuprize that the word fatisfaction fhould appear in the first line of his Majetty's Speech. He conceived it a mark of true religion, to be fatisfied in the midst of diftrefs and disappointment. The abftinence, the religion, the meeknefs, and piety of his Majefty's Minifters were generally acknowledged, but it was neceflary to know on what their fatisfaction retted. When the House is now aflured from the Throne, that they are menaced with famine, how could the Minifter have the affurance to use the word fatisfaction.

Mr Sheridan then expatiated on the wifdom of the Elector of Hanover in making peace, and obferved, that how ever averfe the House might be to the introduction of Hanoverian troops, he ventured to pronounce it would have no objection to make an exchange and bring over his Majefty's Hanoverian counsellors. He then went into a long dilplay of the catalogue of our misfortunes, to place the conduct of Miniftry in the moft contemptible light imagin

able.

Mr Sheridan then cocluded a very animated fpeech with a declaration, that he would not vote a fhilling for the fupplies, except fuch as related merely to the Navy.

Mr Jenkinfon replied to Mr Sheridan. He reverted to the origin of the war, which was firft begun by the French.

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Their views of aggrandizement were founded on overturning the government of this nation, through the propagation of their opinions and political fyftem.He thought that thefe objects were to be oppofed by every effort of our arms. At the period when hoftilities commenced, the French fyftem was ruinous, but now their conftitutional ideas were fomewhat altered. Instead of that unqualified democracy they at firft profeffed, they now required of their electors a qualification of landed property greater than in England. He obferved, that the proposed divifion of offices in the new French Legislature afforded a profpect of greater fecurity, and removed in part our objections to peace, which would be still further leffened, when the new government now forming was fairly reduced to practice.

Mr Jenkinfon next adverted to an effect of the prefent war, which he confidered of no fmall confequence. All ranks of his Majefty's fubjects, except the moft profligate among the rich, and the vileft among the vulgar, had ftepped forwards to exprefs their deteftation of French opinions; for there could be no compromife with thefe opinions and the fafety of the conftitution. He then took a view of the internal state and distress of France, where there are affignats now in circulation to the amount of 780 mil lions fterling, which are growing daily into fuch difcredit, that one guinea in gold will purchase 50 guineas in affignats.

Mr Fox declared, that after the very extraordinary Speech which he had heard from the Throne, he could not pass it over in filence. He wished to know how long his Majefty's Minifters were to build on fpeculations of terror and anarchy. Was it not sufficient to add 500,000l. fterling to the annual taxes to pay the intereft of 100,000,000l. and to have brought on the scarcity of laft year; but muft Minifters, befides, infult the people, by telling them that their condition is better than it was laft year?

With respect to the victory of the Auftrians, is was not victory of last year, but laft week.

He then entered on thefe topics, the general defection of the Allies, and the expeditions to the Coafts of France, which he confidered as conceived in the true fpicit of madnefs and folly to reinftate the defpotifm of the Bourbons.

He maintained, that, not one family'in

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