tion of righteousness and the punishment of sin, it is very obvious that repentance and humiliation, gratitude and thanksgiving, are means of ensuring the prosperity of a country more effectual than the most consummate wisdom of statesmen, and the most determined prowess of armies. "Whoso offereth me praise, he glorifieth me, and to him who ordereth his conversation aright, will I shew the salvation of God."

PEACE was proclaimed on the 28th of April, with all the usual ceremonials, and with a degree of pomp perhaps never before witnessed on so joyful an occasion. That auspicious day, we trust, will long be remembered as a day which has put an end to the public solicitude, and restored, through the goodness of Divine Providence, those blessings which can be only appreciated by the deprivation of them.

The Illuminations at night, it is said, were the most general and brilliant ever beheld in London.

The Definitive Treaty of Peace underwent, on the 13th instant, the careful investigation of both Houses of Parliament, and was approved of by very large majorities. In the House of Lords, after a debate of fourteen hours, there appeared for it 122, against it 16. In the House of Commons, where the debate continued for two days, and was conducted on all sides with more than usual ability, the numbers, were, 276 for and 20 against. The result, independent of this large majority, is highly favourable, in point of argument, to his majesty's ministers.

A considerable promotion, both of naval and military officers, has taken place in the course of the present month. The petty officers of the navy, who are too numerous to be generally promoted, are to be employed in double the usual number during the Peace.

His Majesty has signified his gracious approbation of the services of that highly meritorious corps, the Marines, and as a mark of his royal favour, has directed that the corps shall in future be called the ROYAL MA

RINES.

Mr. Manners Sutton has accepted the office of Solicitor General to the Crown. Mr. Adam will succeed to that of the Prince of

Wales.

The following is an account, presented to the House of Commons, of the Gross Assessment and Net Produce of the Income Duty, in Great Britain, for the year ending 5th of April, 1801; distinguishing the charges of collection and deductions, and distinguishing the returns made to Commercial Commission

ers:

Plymouth Newcastle-on Tyne, with Gateshead, in the County of Durham Norwich

Bath

Portsmouth Sheffield

Hull Exeter York

Males. Females. Total.

393,369 471,476 864,845 39,110 44,910 84,020 34,367 43,286 77,653 34,716 38,954 73,670 26,943 36,702 63.645 25,504 27,658 53,162 18,016 25,178 43,194

16,343 20,620 36,963 15,810 21,044 36.854 11,441 19,759 32,200 14,309 17,857 32,166 15,483 15,831 31,314 13,051 16,465 29,516 7,314 10,084 17,398 7,018 9,127 16,145 On the 6th instant the drawings of the Reverend William Gilpin, Vicar of Boldre, in Hampshire, were sold at Christie's, and produced the sum of 15001 The use to which the sum is to be appropriated, gives this article a peculiar claim to insertion. About ten years ago Mr Gilpin, at his own expense, erected a school-house in his parish of Boldre, for the instruction of twenty poor boys, and as many girls. A master and mistress have likewise been provided at the expense of Mr. Gilpin.* The venerable founder of this in stitution used occasionally to amuse himself with his pencil; and the number of his productions, which were highly esteemed by many of the best judges of the art, became at length considerable.

The whole of these drawings Mr. Gilpin had ordered in his will to be sold, and the produce of the sale to be appropriated to the endowment of the schools he had instituted. On reconsidering this scheme, however, and being now, perhaps, too old to add to his collection, he judged it advisable to complete the design in his own life time: that before he departed to a better world, he might have the pleasure of seeing all the arrangements made to his satisfaction. This valuable treasure was, therefore, offered to the public, and it produced, to the gratification of the friends of Religion, no less than of the lovers of the arts the sum above-mentioned.

It is but doing justice to the generosity of Mr. Christie, to inform our readers, that he opened the sale by an address to the company assembled; in which, having expressed a hope that the benevolent object of the sale would operate on those who came to purchase the drawings in addition to their known intrinsic value; he declared, that he felt himself bound to follow the example by which he endeavoured to stimulate others, and should therefore, on the present occasion, charge nothing for his commission.

* For an account of Mr. Gilpin's schools, see the 5th Report of the Society for Bettering the Condition of the Poor.

Christ. Observ. No. 5.

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

(Continued from p. 280)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

February 19, 1802.

Mr. William Dundas moved for leave to bring in a Bill to authorize the East India Company make Fort Marlborough a settlement and factory subordinate to the Presidency of Bengal, and to transfer their servants and writers to that place.-Leave given.

February 23.

Dr. Lawrence rose to ask the noble Secre.

tary of State, whether the intelligence had yet been received, as he understood it had, of the formal ratification of the Treaty by the court of Denmark.

Lord Hawkesbury replied, that it was perfectly true that government had received the formal ratification of the court of Denmark to the Convention alluded to by the Honourable Gentleman.

February 25.

Mr. Tierney presented a Petition from the German Jews residing in London. It stated, that their numbers had greatly increased; that their poor, now numerous, were prevented by the tenets of their Religion from enjoying parochial relief, the benefit of hospitals, and from apprenticing their children to useful trades; and that the relief received from the Synagogue was inadequate to their wants. The petition, therefore, concluded with praying for leave to bring in a Bill to enable the petitioners to tax themselves for the purpose of raising a fund for the support of their own poor-Ordered to be laid upon the table.

Mr Wilberforce presented a Petition from Dr. Carmichael Smith, praying a compensation for his discovery of an effectual preventive of contagion in infectious diseases.

something above 200,000, and the expense for 'two months would be £1,270,095. He then moved that a number of land forces, not exceeding 61,176 men, be employed in Great Britain, &c. &c from the 25th of March to the 24th of May next.

Mr Elliot, in a speech of considerable length and great ability, stated the necessity of a pow. erful force, and the grounds of alarm which might justly be entertained from the manifest fraud and ambition of France, and blamed ministry for their too easy confidence in the intentions of Bonaparte. He was supported by Mr. Wyndham and Dr. Lawrence, and opposed by Lord Hawkesbury, Lord Castlereagh, Mr. Baker, and the Attorney General; the question was at length put and carried.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, when a motion made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that a supply of one million, to be raised on Exchequer Bills, should be granted to his Majesty, was put and carried.

Thursday, March 4.

After some business had been gone through, and leave given to Mr. Dickenson to bring in a bill for continuing the act to suspend the proceedings against Non-Resident Clergymen, Mr. William Dundas moved the order of the day for the Second Reading of the bill to ena ble the East India Company to transfer their servants from the establishment of Bencoolen to Madras. On the question for reading the Bill a Second Time, a debate took place. The Bill was supported by Mr. Wallace, Mr. Metcalfe, Mr. D. Scott, and Mr. W. Dundas; and opposed by Mr. Johnstone and Mr. Tierney. The Bill was then read a Second Time, and ordered to be committed on Monday.

The Report of the Committee of Supply was then brought up by Mr. Alexander. It was objected to by Mr Robson, and defended by the Secretary at War and General Gascoyne, who explained some points which had been animadverted upon by Mr. Robson. The question was put and carried, and all the other resolutions agreed to.

Bill now under consideration did not infringe the Navigation Act. The increase of American shipping, if any argument could be drawn from that, was certainly in favour of the Bill. If the countervailing duties were inefficacious to protect the trade of Great Britain, they ought to be repealed; by taking off these duties we should serve our manufactures. They were chiefly consumed in America, and the cheaper they could be got there, the more of them would be used. But it was not on these grounds that he wished to defend this mea sure, but on those of national good faith and general policy.

Dr. Laurence entered into an enlarged view of the question in all its different bearings and relations, and concluded by seriously recommending to the House to defer the measure.

Lord Hawkesbury replied to Dr. Laurence. The measure, he said, was an act of justice as well as an act of expediency. After some further conversation, the Bill was ordered to be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

March 10.

In the Committee of Supply 130,000 men, and 1,820,000 pounds were granted for the service of the Navy for two months.

March 11.

Mr. Simeon moved for leave to bring in a Bill for more effectually distinguishing and relieving the industrious Parish Poor, regulating Overseers' Accounts, and preserving the Lives of adjudged Bastards. The object of the Bill, he briefly stated to be, to enable every parish to execute the poor laws in a more favourable manner; to put bastard children more under the eye of the magistrate; and, for the first seven years of their life, to prevent the removal of them by the father from the care of the mother. Leave was granted to bring in the Bill.

March 12.

On the motion of Mr. Corry, the account of the Permanent Charges of Ireland were referred to a committee.

Mr. Jones moved for an account of the total produce of the Tax upon Income, as far as it could be made up. This Tax, he said, was one of the worst practical taxes that ever was made. It was a tax upon common honesty.

The motion was objected to by Sir Robert Buxton and by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The latter expressed his hope that the Honourable Gentleman would postpone his motion, as it was his intention, in the course of the next week, to submit to the House se veral motions relative to the Income Tax. Mr. Jones withdrew his motion.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, to which the estimates of the ordinary and extraordinary of the Navy, the Transport Service, the expenses of Sick and Wounded Seamen and Prisoners of War, were referred.

HOUSE OF LORDS. March 15.

The Earl of Carlisle rose, and, in a short speech, touched upon the present circumstances of the country, as relating to the Negotiation. The recent additions to the territory and power of France were certainly causes of alarm, and on these subjects the House should be properly informed. They ought also to be informed if the Definitive Treaty was to be expected shortly. The Noble Earl forebore to make any motion on the subject, declaring, that he trusted to the candour of Ministers for a satisfactory explanation.

He was answered by Lord Pelham, who stated, that the information required by the Noble Earl, could not, at present, be properly given.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. March 15.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved for a Committee to examine the state of the Corn Trade between Great Britain and Ireland. The question was carried.

March 16.

Mr. Fox, in moving for a new Writ for the Borough of Tavistock, pronounced a long and animated eulogium on the late Duke of Bedford.*

Mr. Corry then moved the Order of the Day for the Second Reading of the Irish Duties Continuation Bill. This gave rise to a Debate of considerable length. The measure was opposed by Mr. Foster, and defended by Mr. Corry, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Ormsby. The question was then put, the Bill read a Second Time, and ordered to be committed.

After receiving a Petition from Dr. Jenner, the discoverer of the Vaccine Inoculation, the House, in a Committee of Supply, voted the sum of £266,666, 13s. 4d. for the service of the Office of Ordnance.

March 22.

After some observations from Lord Temple and the Speaker, the Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of the City of London, praying the repeal of the Income Tax, was ordered to lie on the Table.

Lord Belgrave then rose, and moved for leave to bring in a Bill relative to the 7th of William III. known by the name of the Treating Act. The words of that Act were, he said, obscure and mysterious, and called for some amendment previous to the general elec. tion. The whole act was, in truth, defective, but at present he thought it would be sufficient to repeal a part only, for the purpose of introducing more efficient clauses. It would, he said, be the object of his Bill to render incapable those persons who had offended against this Act, and to make the punishment

See the Obituary for March, 1802.

attach, as well upon the unsuccessful, as the successful candidate. Leave was given to bring in the Bill.

March 23.

Mr. Jones gave notice of his intention to bring forward a motion, relative to the Polygar War, on that day fortnight.

March 25.

In a Committee of Supply, Mr. Robson opposed the resolution for granting forty-five thousand pounds, to indemnify Lord St. Vincent and Lord Grey, against American claims, as the acts it was meant to indemnify were arbitrary and illegal. The commanders had erected Admiralty courts in their own authority, and ought to abide by the consequences.

Mr. Vansittart in reply stated, that the Noble Lords in question had merely obeyed the orders of government in what they had done. The Court of Admiralty at Martinique had been properly established. It was, therefore, highly improper that the Noble Lords should suffer for their obedience to the orders of government. After some further conversation the Resolution was agreed to.

HOUSE OF LORDS. March 29.

The Order of the Day was read, for taking his Majesty's Message, relative to the Civil List, into consideration, and produced a very animated debate. Lord Pelham, after adverting to the heads of the Report on the Civil List, explaining the items, and defending those who had been in charge of this branch of the public service, concluded by moving an Address to his Majesty, expressive of the affection, loyalty, and attachment of the House to his person and dignity, and of its intention to take the subject into immediate consideration, and concur in any prompt and effectual measure for relieving the present Civil List embarrassments. He was followed by Earl Fitzwilliam, who, giving his hearty assent to that part of the Address which expressed the affection of the House to his Majesty, opposed that part of it which pledged the House for the payment of arrears, without examination of the subject, and moved to amend the Motion by inserting instead of that pledge, the words, "and we will inquire into the causes that heve occasioned those arrears and embarrassments." This Amendment was supported by Lord Holland and Lord Caernarvon, and objected to by Earl Moira, Lord Hobart, Lord Pelham, and Lord Westmoreland. On the question being put, there appeared for the Amendment four, against it sixty.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

March 29.

The House having resolved itself into a committee on the subject of the Civil List Debt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a speech of great length and detail, went into

He should

the question before the House. not rely, he said, on the mere feelings of the Committee, not even on its generosity but on its justice. Documents more clear, distinct, and satisfactory, were never laid before the House on any subject than on this. It might now be seen, how fallacious were the opinions of those who represented the Royal Income as enormous. That income was, in truth, not more than equal to any former King of England. He then entered into the history of the King's revenue, and of the various applications for the relief of the Civil List debts. In the information now given to Parliament, there was not the least room for doubt or cavil. No concealment had been used. No imputation of mismanagement could be made. No instance of corruption or profusion shown in the use of the Civil List revenues. The Honour. able Gentleman, in support of his assertion, quoted the Report, from which it appeared, that from the year 1786, a period of sixteen years, the net increase was only £80,403 4s. 8&d.

Appealing to the Committee, whether it was possible, even for an individual, to maintain his rank in society without an additional expenditure, he declared his conviction, that the present debt of the Civil List would not be considered as excessive; more especially as a great part of it was contracted during a period of war. It had been made a ground of complaint, that Mr. Burke's Bill had not been adhered to. Of that Bill the wording was loose and indeterminate. But, in his opinion, the spirit of its provisions had been complied with. After going at great length into the various heads of expenditure, he concluded by moving, "That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a sum not exceeding £990,053 be granted to his Majesty, to discharge arrears and debts due and owing on the Civil List, on the 18th of January, 1802"

Solemn

Mr Fox then rose, and in a long and animated speech opposed the Motion. ly disclaiming any wish to treat with unneces sary severity the expenses of the Civil List, he could not suffer the present call upon the purse of the country to be passed over without animadversion. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, he said, had not proceeded candidly in treating the subject. He then enumerated" the sums already granted to his Majesty for the discharge of the Civil List debts. Mr. Burke's Act had been said to be loosely word. ed; however that might be, the spirit of it was precise and obvious. As a friend to the monarchy, he could not acquiesce in the pay ment of this arrear. It was essential to monarchy that the King should have a revenue for the Civil List independent of Parliament. The King, however, was dependant on Parliament, if he was from time to time obliged to come to it for the payment of the Civil List debts. Ministers ought not to be suffered to exceed the sum granted, as in so doing they were, in truth, setting their own authority above that of the House.

The Honourable Gentleman then entered into an examination of several of the charges, which he commented on with great severity, particularly on those incurred by the prosecutions for treason.

On the ground, therefore, of all these considerations, it was his opinion that the Motion should be rejected, and an Address presented to his Majesty, entreating that he would be graciously pleased to confine the expense of the Civil List within £900,000, and to establish such savings as might create a sinking fund, to pay off the debts contracted by the misconduct of Ministers.

He was followed by Mr. Pitt, who commenced by commenting with the most sarcastic severity on what had fallen from the Honourable Gentleman with respect to the state prosecutions. The conviction of one of those persons ought not to have escaped the recollection of the Honourable Member and those who sat near him. There was something in the compassion shown for those persons, which was truly whimsical.

The arguments of the Honourable Gentleman went to shew, that it was inconsistent with the duty of Parliament to pay those debts, and that Mr. Burke's Bill had been violated. With regard to the first, the Honourable Gentleman had been particularly unfortunate in his proofs. He had not shown a single case in which the debt had not been paid. As to the second, Mr. Burke, himself, had never opposed what was now considered as a violation of his Bill. If the construction now put upon the Bill had been its true one, would it not have been urged by the diligent and watchful framer of the Bill?

The Right Honourable Gentleman then entered into a defence of the establishment of a third Secretary, and the various missions to the continent; and concluding by a comparison of the revenue of his present Majesty with that of former sovereigns, gave his hearty assent to the Motion made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mr. Tierney thought that a strict investigation was necessary. He would, therefore, propose, that the Chairman should leave the chair, report progress, and ask leave to sit again.

After

Mr. Rose, opposed the motion, and Mr. Tierney explained. Before the question was put, Dr. Laurence rose, and, in a speech of some length, satisfactorily explained the intentions and conduct of Mr. Burke. some observations from different members, a division took place on Mr. Tierney's motion, which was negatived by 228 voices against 46. The original Question was then put and carried; there being 51 against, and 226 for it.

The same day the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice of his intention to move for the repeal of the Income Tax.