Page images
PDF
EPUB

Sir William Pulteney and the Mafter of the Rolls made a few obfervations; after which it was understood that the propofed reduction to 75 was to be abandoned, and the original number of 100 to remain in the prefent Bill.

The Committee then proceeded to difcufs the propofition for reducing the number, from which the Election Committees were to be struck off, from 49 to 27, and for reducing the number of Members compofing the Committee from 15

to 11.

A divifion took place on this point, when the numbers were,

For the original Number
Against it

53
37

Majority 16

The Chairman reported progrefs, and the Committee was appointed to fit again on Thursday.

EARL FITZWILLIAM.

Lord Milton faid, that he wifhed for a moment to call the attention of the Houfe to a circumftance which had lately taken place in a neighbouring kingdom-the difmiflion of Earl Fitzwilliam from the high fituation which he held in the government of Ireland. He understood that on a former occafion a Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Pitt) had faid, whatever might be the caufes of the removal of the Noble Lord, no blame whatever attached to his Majefty's minifters in this country-an affertion which feemed to imply, that the blame must neceffarily attach elfewhere. It was proper that there fhould be fome inquiry made into the grounds of this infinuation, in order to afcertain to what quarter the blame really belonged. He wished therefore to know, whether minifters were prepared to appoint a day for the investigation of the fubject.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that all who had heard him on the former occafion would be fenfible that he had then faid nothing which called upon him to appoint any day for the investigation of the fubject, or made him feel it any part of his duty to enter at all into the difcuffion.

Mr. Jekyll faid, that he could not help feeling fome degree of indignation, that minifters fhould come forward to affert that no blame attached to them, and afterwards decline to appoint a day of inquiry, in order to afford an opportunity of exculpation to those who were the objects of their infinuated cenfure. The whole of the tranfaction alluded to by the Noble Lord was before the Public, and perhaps ministers

L 2

acted

acted wifely in fhrinking from inquiry, as they must be well aware that their fhare in the bufinefs was of fuch a nature as could by no means bear investigation. But though they might be difpofed to flinch from the queftion, it became that Houfe to adopt a different conduct. When fuch ferious confequences had been produced; when a whole country had been thrown into a state of extreme agitation, and an opening afforded for the worst confequences of political diffenfion; when the union of the British empire had been endangered, at a period too, when its most important interefts were at stake, it was proper that there should be fome inquiry into the caufes of these alarming evils, in order to afcertain who were the men from whofe mifconduct they originated. With this view he fhould propofe fome day to be appointed for the confideration of this momentous fubject. And he trufted that the Houfe would feel it to be their duty to enter into the difcuffion, from whatever quarter the propofition might proceed. He concluded with giving notice that on the first open day he should move for a day to be appointed for the Houfe to inftitute an inquiry into the grounds of the difmiflion of Earl Fitzwilliam from the fituation of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Friday next was the day appointed for the motion.

SOLDIERS AND INNKEEPERS.

Mr. Secretary at War prefented to the Houfe (according to order) a Bill for increafing the rates of fubfiftence to be paid to innkeepers and others, on quartering foldiers during the prefent war; and the fame was received, and read the first time, and ordered to be read a fecond time on the Monday following.

VETERINARY COLLEGE.

Mr. Sumner moved, that the petition of the Veterinary Col lege be referred to the Committee of Supply.

Mr. Powys moved the previous queftion, to give the House a longer confideration upon it.

Mr. Sumner then entered into a general statement of the institution, and the advantages refulting from it. He recapitu1ated all the practical experiments in the army upon gun-thot wounds, &c. in horfes, on the authority of the Earl of Pembroke and other officers, whereby he contended that he was warranted in confidering it as of material faving to the nation. This was the only country, he obferved, without fuch a ufeful eftablishment by public authority. France, Spain, Auftria, Pruffia, Sardinia, all have it; here only it has been made by the fubfcription of a few individuals, which is confequently inadequate to carry it into proper effect; and yet even small as

their refources have been, they have educated a number of pupils, who have fince difperfed themfelves and fettled in various country towns, to the extenfion of fcience and the be nefit of the community.

Mr. Powys explained his intention for moving the previous question, merely to gain fome time for the confideration of the petition, in fupport of which the documents to him appeared deficient.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer fupported Mr. Sumner, and obferved, that the experiment was at firft but for one year, the advantages of which would be demonftrated by the trial. Mr, Sumner's motion was carried.

[ocr errors]

The House went into a Committee to take into confideration the petition of -Meredith, refpecting a depofit of money paid into the Exchequer, on the purchase of lottery tickets, by a person who acted as his agent, and which had been forfeited from his ignorance of the forms of the transaction.

After a few words from Mr. Hufey and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a refolution was come to, which was read-a firft-and fecond time, when the Chairman reported progrefs, and afked leave to fit again.

Sir John Frederick moved that the Order of the Day, for the fecond reading of the Dead Body Bill, be poftponed till Wednefday next.

Mr. Wigley moved the Order of the Day, for the Houfe to go into a Committee of the whole Houfe on the Bill for the relief of the widows and families of privates and non-commiffioned officers ferving in the militia,

Mr. Powys stated two claufes in favour of the widows and families of fubftitutes ferving in the militia, which after fome. obfervations from Mr. Wigley, were brought up and read a first and fecond time in the Committee. The report ordered to be received on Monday next.

The Order of the Day for the feçond reading of the Datchet Canal Bill being moved,

Mr. Mainwaring fhortly stated his objections to the Bill, and likewife the thinnefs of the Houfe; he therefore moved that the fecond reading be put off till that day three months. Upon which a divifion took place; for the fecond reading,

Ayes
Noes

Majority

33

22

II

A fecond divifion took place on a motion for calling in counsel, which was negatived. The Bill was then proceeded in.—Adjourned till Monday.

HOUSE

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY, April 27.

Lord Grenville delivered a meffage from his Majefty, which was read firft by the Lord Chancellor, and afterwards by the Clerk at the table.

He then moved, that the meffage from the King be taken into confideration on Friday next, and that the Lords be fum. moned.—Ordered.

The Bills on the table were read, and feveral private Bills received from the Commons.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, April 27.

Mr. Mainwaring prefented a petition from a large number of British fervants, complaining of the encouragement given to foreigners; but no Member appearing to fecond it, it could not be laid upon the table.

Mr. Powys gave notice of his intention to move for leave to bring in a Bill for more effectually preventing deficient weights and falfe balances.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES, AND PROVISION FOR HIS DEBTS.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought down the following Meffage from his Majesty, which was read by the Speaker:

"GEORGE REX.

"His Majefly relies on the liberality and affection of his faithful Commons, and on the cordial interest which they have manifested in the happy event of the nuptials of the Prince and Princess of Wales, that they will be ready to concur in fuch provifion as they may judge neceffary, to enable his Majefty to fettle an establishment for the Prince and Prince's, fuited to their rank and dignity.

“On an occasion, in all other refpects fo fatisfactory, his Majefty feels the deepest regret in being under the neceffity of communicating to the House, that the benefit of any fettlement to be now made, cannot be effectually fecured to the Prince of Wales, without providing the means of freeing him from incumbrances to a large amount, to which he is now subject.

"Anxious as his Majefty must neceffarily he, particularly under the prefent circumstances, to relieve the Prince of Wales from thefe difficulties, his Majekty entertains no idea of propofing to his Parliament to make any provifion

'....

provifion for this object, otherwise than by the application of a part of the income which may be fettled on the Prince; but he earnestly recommends it to the House, to confider of the propriety of thus providing for the gradual discharge of these incumbrances, by appropriating and fecuring for a given term, the revenues arifing from the Dutchy of Cornwall, together with a proportion of the Prince's other annual income; and his Majefty will be ready and defirous to concur in any provifions which the wifdom of Parlia-ment may fuggeft, for the purpose of establishing a regular and punctual order of payment, in the Prince's future expenditure, and of guarding against the poffibility of the Prince being again involved in fo painful and embarraffing a fituation.

"G. R."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer then moved, that this Message be referred to a Committee of Supply.

Colonel Stanley desired, that his Majefty's Meffage of the 21st May 1787, be read,

Mr. Grey obferved, that it was very important for the House to hear that Meffage and the Addrefs of the House in answer to it.

They were both therefore read.

The Meflage was as follows:

"GEORGE REX.

"It is with great concern his Majefty acquaints the House of Commons, that from the accounts which have been laid before his Majefty by the Prince of Wales, it appears that the Prince has incurred a debt to a large amount, which, if left to be difcharged out of his annual income, would render it impoffible for him to fupport an establishment fuited to his rank and station.

"Painful as it is at all times to his Majefty to propofe an addition to the heavy expences neceffarily borne by his people, his Majefty is induced, from his paternal affection to the Prince of Wales, to recur to the liberality and attachment of his faithful Commons for their affiftance, on an occafion fo interefting to his Majefty's feelings, and to the eafe and honour of fo diftinguished a branch of his Royal Family.

His Majesty could not, however, expect or defire the affiftance of this House, but on a well-grounded expectation that the Prince will avoid con. tracting any debts in future.

"With a view to this object, and from an anxious defire to remove any poñible doubt of the fufficiency of the Prince's income to support amply the dignity of his fituation; his Majefty has directed a fum of 10,000l. per annum to be paid out of his Civil List, in addition to the allowance which his Majelty has hitherto given him; and his Majefty has the fatisfaction to inform the Houfe, that the Prince of Wales has given his Majefty the fullest affurance of his determination to confine his future expences within his income, and has alf) fettled a plan for arranging thofe expences in the several' depart

2

« PreviousContinue »