DECLARATORY BILL.

Earl Stanhope stated, as the result of a conversation he had had with some noble lords in the House, that it would be adviseable to refer his bill for the more effectual discovery of truth from witnesses, to the judges, for them to consider it, and make such alterations as they should deem expedient. He had no doubt, however, that if it was wished to discuss his bill in its present state, he could defend it triumphantly against the objections of any noble lord, and gain a victory, such as he obtained over a noble and learned lord on a former day; but as he did not wish to provoke discussion, and as the reference to the judges might be made three weeks hence as well as that day, he should move to postpone the farther consideration of the bill till the first day after the recess.

Lord Ellenborough, in assenting to the motion, took the opportunity of observing, that the bill required material alteration, otherwise, if passed in its present state, it might, whilst it opened a door to truth on the one hand, close it on the other, and generate greater mischiefs than it professed to prevent.

The motion was agreed to.

The Lord Chancellor, in consequence of the absence of a noble and learned lord (Eldon), moved to postpone the third reading of the declaratory bill till the next day. Ordered. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, MARCH 17.

On the motion of Mr. Manning the London dock amendment bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time the next day.

Sir Stephen Cottrell, clerk to the privy council, presented the returns of the archbishops, relative to the residence of the clergy, in compliance with a provision in the clergy residence act. Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Cobb, from the office of the auditors of the public accounts, presented a list of the accounts delivered over by the late auditors. Ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.

Mr. Irvine, from the inspector-general of imports and

exports,

exports, presented to the House an account of the value of the exports from Great Britain to the island of Tortola, during the last seven years; and an account of the sugar imported from the said island. Ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.

A new writ was ordered to be issued for a member to serve for the boroughs of Jedborough, Dunbar, Haddington, &c. in the room of Dalrymple, Esq. who has accepted the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds.

The Tortola free port bill was ordered to be committed on Monday.

Mr. Dillon gave notice that he would on Wednesday next move for the production of a list, in order to ascertain the number of parish churches in Ireland.

The American wool bill was reported, and ordered to be read a third time the next day.

The mutiny bill was read a third time, and passed.

The English and Irish militia-pay bills, and the militia subaltern and adjutant bills, were read a third time and passed.

IRISH MILITIA SERVICE BILL.'

On the motion for the second reading of the Irish militia voluntary service bill,

Mr. Whitshed Keene rose to second the motion. He approved of it because he was convinced that the first point for which the enemy would steer in case of invasion, would be Ireland. It would be recollected that when the war broke out the enemy had at their command a great number of Dutch schuyts, though their flat-bottomed boats were not ready. Many regiments of militia in this country then offered to extend their services to Ireland, and it could not be expected that this could be accepted without a similar offer on the part of the Irish militia, to extend their services to England. A bill was brought in by the then government to this effect; but unfortunately, many gentlemen connected with the militia, thought it their duty to oppose it. But these gentlemen would go to Ireland again, as they had already done, in case there should be need. He hoped this both from their spirit and good sense, since it would be much better to combat the enemy in Munster or Connaught, than in Kent or Yorkshire. Our means of defence would, by these means, be materially increased. This was obvious; but there were two other positions which, as they were not so obvious, he would, with the

permission

permission of the House, expatiate upon more fully. It was well known that the object of the arch fiend, the enemy of this country, was to seize Ireland. Now, what was the state of Ireland? The honourable gentleman then proceeded to state that the population of the north was decidedly hostile to Bonaparte, his mamelukes, and satellites, but that the miserable inhabitants of the south and west were perhaps of another description. By the mutual transfer of the militia of both countries, he contended, that the comforts, the industry, and the happiness of the Irish, would be increased, and consequently their attachment to the country. He adverted toa survey that had been made, at the beginning of the war, of the Irish coast, when about ten thousand fishermen were trained to arms, and fitted for the defence of the country, who might otherwise have aided the enemy. If ten thousand Irish militia-men were to come here they might produce fifty thousand good subjects, (a laugh) and these five times as many. The other proposition was, that this measure would produce an increase of the revenue and a decrease of expence. The Irish would learn to procure the comforts of life, in the mean time what was the use of the tax upon leather where the people were not able to wear a shoe?

The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed the next day.

Sir Charles Pole presented a petition from the malsters of the borough of Newark against the clause in the malt act, which goes to regulate the wetting of malt. Ordered to lie on the table.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Mr. Windham, moved that the acts relative to the management of the Cape of Good Hope should be entered as read, and that the House should the next day resolve itself into a committee to consider the said acts.. Ordered.

NAVAL MONEY.

Mr. Whitbread rose, in consequence of his notice, to move for an account of the application of a sum of 20,0007. included in the navy estimates of the last year. It was said to be for the commissioners for examining into the civil affairs of the navy. But it was extraordinary that no account had ever been given of its application. The commissioners of naval inquiry had been sitting three years, and Vol. I. 1805-6. 3E

ΠΟ

no reward had as yet been given to them, though they had done the most essential service to their country. Upon this parliamentary commission, the late administration had founded another commission, and for this commission had applied for the sum of 20,0001. It was proper, certainly, that they who engaged in the public service, should be paid for it, but then there was a decency to be observed in the mode of proceeding; and here there were circumstances omitted, that ought to have been observed. It was always the custom on these occasions, to grant rewards to commissioners after their work was done, while here they had it before they had well begun. He did not mean to throw any blame on these commissioners: they might have done their duty, as well as the commissioners of naval inquiry; all he said was, that a proper detailed account of the application of this money ought to be laid before the House. Their salaries, at 15001. for each, would, in the space of two years, amount only to 15,000l. and thus 5000l. remained entirely unaccounted for, while the commissioners of naval inquiry, in all their journey to Portsmouth, &c. had expended only 50001. He concluded by moving for an account of the application of 20,000l. included in the estimates of the navy, for the years 1805-6, stated there to be for discharging the expences of the commissioners for revising the civil affairs of the navy, with the documents on which it was founded, and the correspondence between the commissioners and the admiralty.

Lord Castlereagh did not rise to object to the motion, but merely to advert to an unfair reflection which the honourable gentleman made, in stating that this was contrary to the usual practice in cases of commissions. He contended that there was a difference in this respect between a commis sion appointed by the executive government and one ap pointed by Parliament. In the former case it was proper, and he believed it was the practice, to give in an estimate for the expences of such commissions. The estimate he stated to be for two years; and as to the 50007. overplus, this would go to pay the salaries of the different officers attached to it.

Mr. Whitbread rather thought that this mode of esimates was not the usual practice.

Mr. Huskisson and Mr. Bastard said a few words on the game subject.

Mr.

Mr. Wilberforce observed, that in comparing the dif ference of the expenditure of the two commissions, it ought to be considered that the commissioners of naval inquiry were to be rewarded by Parliament hereafter.

Mr. Whitbread said, that the comparison was respecting the 5000/. surplus, and what the commissioners of naval inquiry had already expended.

Mr. Wilberforce explained.

Mr. Sturges Bourne observed, that out of this 5000l. the salaries of the secretary, which was 8001. and of the other officers were to be paid.

Mr. Whitbread observed, that the salary of Mr. Thomson, wheu secretary, was only 500l. and how the services of another came to be worth 8001. better than Mr. Thomson's were of 5001. he did not know.

The motion was then agreed to.

Mr. Bastard moved for an account of the expences of the commissioners of naval inquiry, stating the items since their appointment, to the end of the year 1805. Ordered.

A message from the Lords announced their assent to the Greenland-fishery bill, and the royal marine mutiny

bill.

INDIA.

Mr. Alderman Prinsep hoped that the notice which he was about to give, would not imply any doubt of his confidence in ministers that they would, as soon as possible, propose some measure relative to the subject which he had lately brought before the House His acquiescence in their desire for withdrawing his motion, proved his confidence. (He was proceeding, when he was requested by the Speaker to confine himself to his notice.) He then said that his notice was that he would, early next session, move for a committce to take into consideration the carrying trade of Bri tish India, in case something was not done on this subject, previous to that time, by ministers.

ADDITIONAL FORCE ACT.

Mr. Giles moved for some further papers relative to this act:-1st, For an abstract of the return of the inspectorgeneral, containing the total number of vacancies in 1805; and, 2dly, a copy of the apportionments on the different parishes, for supplying these vacancies, in 1806. Ordered.