fresh obligations fhould have been contracted to fo large an amount. It became matter of interefting inquiry by what means the King, the Prince, the Parliament, and the Public, had all been fo grofsly deceived. It would be proper that the perfons from whofe neglect or misconduct this glaring abuse of confidence had proceeded, fhould be pointed out. The Right Hon. Gentleman had not ftated what degree of inconvenience would be incurred from the delay that would be neceflary for the purpofe of a Call of the Houfe. He had admitted that it was a fubject which demanded the fulleft and moft mature deliberation. He could not then fee any reason why the motion for the Call fhould not be adopted. There were fome inquiries which, he remarked, ought to precede any measure that might be adopted by the Houfe. Ought the Public to be called upon to pay the price of indifcretions? Ought they to be rendered liable for expences, which perhaps ought never to have been incurred? Was there no part of the burden which could be removed from the shoulders of the Public, already fo feverely fmarting with the neceffary load of taxa tion, in order to be laid on the civil lift? All thefe were ques tions, which, in his opinion, ought to receive a fatisfactory anfwer before the Houfe pledged themfelves to any refolution on the fubject.

Mr. Montague faid, that he coincided in opinion with the Hon. Gentlemen who had already spoken, that the importance of the fubject was fuch, as called for the fullest attendance that could be obtained: He fhould therefore approve of a Call of the Houfe. He did not with, on the prefent occafion, to anticipate any thing that might more properly belong to the difcuffion of the Meffage itfelf. The only reafon ftated by the Right Hon. Gentleman why a Call fhould not take place was, that other important bufiuefs, which would be likely to fecure a full attendance, was appointed to be difcuffed about the fame. time that the Meffage would come under confideration: But if other important business was to be thrown into the scale along with this, which he fhould contend to be, of all others, the most important, this was only an additional reafon why the Call ought to be adopted, The fubject acquired a peculiar importance from the circumftances of the times. But he confidered it altogether as of too grave and weighty a nature for him to fay any thing further without the fulleft deliberation. He fhould endeavour to come to the difcuffion without partiality, and without prejudice, prepared to act with an equal attention to the rights of the Prince, and the interefts of the People. Such was, in his opinion, the line of procedure,

which

which the folemnity of the occafion required, though he could not help confeffing, that he felt himself to a certain degree prepofleffed as to that part which the dignity of the Houfe required them to take in the prefent inftance.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that fo many Gentlemen feemed to be impreffed with the propriety of the Call of the Houfe, that he would readily concur in meeting their wishes. At the fame time, it would be defireable that as early a day as poffible fhould be appointed for that purpose. When he propofed that the difcuffion fhould take place this day fe'nnight, it was not because he did not confider it to be an object entitled to the most ample and mature deliberation, but because he conceived that the difcuffion at that period might have had every advantage of previous confideration, and a full attendance, without having recourfe to the expedient of a Call. In order to afford the neceffary time for the Call, it would be proper that he fhould withdraw his original motion, and a delay of at least ten days or a fortnight be allowed to take place previous to the difcuffion.

Mr. Sumner thought, that before the Houfe confented to make any provision for discharging the fresh obligations of his Royal Highness, it was incumbent upon them to know how their former grants had been applied; and before they confented to any alienation of the income of his Royal Highness for the purpose of gradually defraying the debts, it would be neceffary for them to be well affured, what fum would be adequate for that purpofe, and whether the application of thirty or forty thousand a year would be fufficient to extinguish them within any reafonable time. With that view it would be proper to afcertain the extent of the debts, with refpect to which public report fo much fluctuated, that he had at different times heard them ftated to amount from fix hundred thoufand, to feventeen hundred thoufand pounds. He objected to the phrafe that had been used by an Hon. Gentleman, “that the measure was the most exceptionable mode that could be adopted," as if the provifion to be made was granted for the perfonal gratification of the Prince of Wales, and not for the public purpofe of fupporting the fplendour and dignity of the heir apparent to the British Crown. He thought alfo, that it would be proper to inquire for what period of the time during which an income had been granted to his Royal Highnefs, for the purpofe of fupporting an eftablishment fuitable to his rank and dignity, that eftablishment had actually been kept up, in order to afcertain for what purposes the debts which they were now called upon to provide, had been contracted, and whether

they

they were neceffarily contracted by his Royal Highness, in order to maintain the credit of his exalted rank, and the munificent character of the British nation.

Mr. Buxton declared, that he had never, at any former period, in addreffing that Houfe, experienced fenfations fo painful as those were which he felt in the prefent moment. No man entertained more ardent loyalty to the King, or attachment to the conftitution, than himself, and on that account his feelings were the more acute on the prefent occafion. He would however proceed no further-but he could not refrain from expreffing the deepest regret, that after the Meffage which had been inferted in the Journals of 1787, and read to the House, fuch a Meffage as had been that day fent down should have made its appearance.

General Smith faid, it appeared to him that the matter was taken up in a point of view which it by no means merited. He was aftonished at one comparison that had been drawn between the fituation of his Royal Highnefs and that of the Princes of another country. He could take upon him to fay that there was nothing in point of extravagance in the prefent instance, which could, in the remoteft degree, justify fuch a comparison. He was forry indeed, after a pledge had been given that no future application fhould be made, that it hould have been found neceffary to come forward with a fecond demand upon the Houfe, to make provifion for the payment of the Prince's debts. He was ftruck with one thing that had fallen from the Right Hon. Gentleman-namely, that the provision to be granted to his Royal Highness would be little more than what had been granted to his grandfather, though the difference of times, and the advance upon all articles of living, was fuch as to render 150,000l. now not more than equal to the value of 100,000l. then. He was afraid if out of the income to be now granted to his Royal Highness, a provifion was to be fet apart for defraying his debts, that the confequence would be, that he and his Royal Confort would be continually involved in expence and embarraffment. It would be impoffible for them indeed to fupport the dignity of their rank and ftation fuitably, without at the fame time running in debt. He difapproved of Gentlemen holding out the idea that the provifion now to be granted would have the effect of pinching the poor and loading them with taxes. It was agreed on all hands, that a liberal provifion ought to be made for his Royal Highness; and if he fhould ftand fingle on that point, he thould contend that the provifion granted in the first instance ought to be fuch, as would be fully adequate to fupport him in the fplendour of his fituation.

Mr.

Mr. Buxton thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman ought to explain to the Houfe and to the country, how his Royal Highness should have been fo committed by his former pledge, and fo unfortunate as to have afforded occafion for the prefent application.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that as the motion for the Call of the Houfe would be attended with the delay of a fortnight, there would be fufficient time during the interval for the fullef deliberation, and for every explanation which the fubject might require. This was not the day for that pur pofe. Some topics, however, had been fuggefted, on which he fhould make a few remarks. If the Houfe thought it wife to make the provifion which was required, he would appeal to their own feelings and judgment, how far it would be prudent to enter into a retrofpect of that fort which had been fuggefted, and whether fuch a retrofpect would not increase the difficulty and embarraffment, which must already be felt from the nature of the bufinefs. After what was paft, it would indeed be proper for the Houfe to take the provifion for the extinction of the debts into their own hands, and he should fuggeft a propofition for that purpose. As to the extent of the debts, about which the public reports had been faid to be so fluctuating, he could ftate that the total amount of the debts was fomewhere between fix and feven hundred thousand pounds. So many charges had lately fallen on the civil lift, that there was no part of the burden which could poffibly be defrayed from that quarter. As to what had been fuggefted by the Hon. General, that the provifion for defraying the debts would be attended with a defalcation of income to his Royal Highness, he certainly admitted that fuch would be the fact; but in all the circumftances of the cafe, there was no alternative by which the inconvenience might be avoided, which in his confcience he could propofe to the Houfe. As the provifion for defraying the debts muft neceffarily be continued till the object fhould be accomplished, it was only in the event of the demife of the Prince, that it would become a burden to the Public. After the general outline which had been prefented to the Houfe, he would recommend to them to paufe upon the subject: Much as they might regret, and, to use the fevereft term, much even as they might difapprove what was pait, they had all an intereft in looking forward. They had an intereft in preferving the hereditary fucceffion, and in fupporting the character of the hereditary House of Brunswick.. They had an intereft in maintaining the character and dignity of the Prince of Wales, as a branch of that illuftrious Houfe; and before they gave way to any fentiments of heat or refent

ment

ment on the occafion, they would do well to reflect, that in the iffue of the difcuffion were involved the credit of the hereditary monarchy, and confequently the fafety of the country.

Mr. Martin. "I have only one word to remark on what has fallen from the Right Hon. Gentleman who has just fat down. He has profeffed much zeal for the prefervation of the hereditary monarchy. I feel that zeal as ftrongly as he does, but the way which appears to me the beft calculated to preferve the hereditary monarchy, is to prevent it from being oppreffive to the people."

Monday fe'nnight was appointed as the day for taking the Meffage into confideration.

General M'Leod adverted to the question which he asked on a former day of the Secretary at War.-Whether or not there had been any additional allowance made by the order of his Majefty to non-commiffioned officers and privates, of nine-pence a week, on account of the dearnefs of provifions? He underftood fince, that fuch directions had been given, and fent from the War Office to the different Colonels of regiments on duty. His object was to know the terms of that order, letter, or whatever it was, and therefore he moved "That a copy of it be laid on the table."

The Secretary at War faid, that when the Hon. Gentleman. had asked the question on a former day, the order was not made. He had not the fmalleft objection now to comply with the motion, which was then of courfe agreed to.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the Order of the Day on the Franking Bill.

A converfation commenced.

The Speaker obferved, that the Bill had been on the table, but after diligent fearch it could not be found.

The converfation terminated, but the Bill was only mislaid, for it was afterwards found, and the confideration of the Bill adjourned to next day.

The Bill for the relief of Innkeepers was read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed on Thursday.

The British Fishery Bill was read a third time, and paffed.-. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

TUESDAY, April 28.

The royal affent was given by commiflion to fifty-five Bills.

HAIR-POWDER BILL.

Lord Grenville having moved the Order of the Day for the third reading of the Hair-Powder Bill,

VOL. III.

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