Page images
PDF
EPUB

made it a great crime in me to have said that which they asserted to be likely to induce the enemy to attempt an invasion.—— But, the truth is, that fear, base fear, is at the bottom of the hearts of these boasters. They tell us, that they have 800,000 men in arms; we know that they have 905 vessels of war, of which 183 are of the line of battle; and, yet they are afraid; yet they tremble; yet they even pray! Eight hundred thousand men in arms, and pray! Why the number is twice as great as that which Napoleon professes to have in arms. He never states his numbers at more than 500,000 men. What, then, are we afraid of? Why cannot we disband the half of ours? Has our valour, or our strength, depreciated as well as our currency? Has the Pitt administration sapped our hearts as well as our purses? Has it so completely degraded us, so complete ly altered the opinion we were wont to entertain of ourselves, that we are ready to allow that it requires three or four Englishmen to beat one Frenchman? If this be not the case, why keep 800,000 men in arms? Where is the use of it; especially while we have a fleet far superior to all the other fleets in the world put together?As to the real state of the case respecting invasion, there appears, I think, very little probability, that it will be attempted, for two or three years to come, unless some internal circumstances

but I should not wonder, if, in order to give them popularity enough to preserve their places, he were to restore to them the cream-coloured horses, or some such thing, upon condition of England's restoring all the colonies and all the treasure she has taken from the allies of France; the fulfilment of the Treaty of Amiens, and, of course, the surrender of Malta, being a preliminary. Oh! how charming it would be to hear the King's Friends" descanting on the im portance, the value, the virtues, of the cream-coloured horses!

"

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. The first division that took place in parliament, since the beginning of the present session, was on the 9th instant, upon the subject of the continuation of the suspension of the Habeas Corpus act in Ireland. Sir Evan Napean, Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieu tenant, moved for leave to bring in a bill for that purpose, to which motion an amend ment was proposed by Sir John Newport, the object of which amendment was to pro cure the appointment of a secret committee of 21 members to inquire whether there were any grounds for continuing the said suspension. Upon this motion a division took place. Noes 112 Ayes 33'

Majority for the Minister.. 79

In the House of Lords a division took place, on the 11th instant, upon a motion of Lord should arise to favour it. It is so obviously Spencer, to amend the address to his Ma the interest of Napoleon, as well as so jesty relative to the papers on the Spaexactly conformable to the plan long agonish war, which address was moved by Lord adopted in France, to keep us for years in our present state of uncertainty, agitation, and alarm within, while our fleets are exposed to the winds and the waves in the Channel, that, to expect an early attempt

Mulgrave, the Secretary of State for foreign
affairs,
Noes 114
Ayes 36

Majority for the Minister... 78

In the House of Commons, on the 12th instant, a division took place upon a motion of Mr. Grey for amending the address, moved by Mr. Pitt, relative to the papers on the Spanish war. Noes 313 Ayes 100

Majority for the Minister.. 207

at invasion seems to discover an entire
want of reflexion, The French govern
ment knows our situation as well as we
ourselves do. They know what will ruin
us. They know that time is constantly
at work for them and against us, as long
as our present system exists; and theirs is
not a policy of existing circumstances."
They fix upon their point, and they keep
on steadily towards it, till it be attained.
One of the things which they ought to de-
sire, is, that we may continue to be ruled
by Lord Sidmouth and his Second, Mr.
Pitt, aided by Lord Melville. It would
be worth Buonaparte's while to make a
considerable sacrifice rather than that these
ministers should be changed. He will not
yied upon the point of Malta; nor, indeed, Majority for the Minister,.~ 68
wil he concede any thing of real value;

[ocr errors]

In the House of Lords, on the 15th instant, a division took place upon a motion of Lord" Darnley for leave to bring in a bill to repeal" Mr. Pitt's Additional Force Bill, better known under the appellation of Parish-Ar my Bill, Noes 113 Ayes 45

In the House of Commons, on the 15th-in-
stant, a division took place upon a motion
made by Lord Henry Petty for limiting the
duration of the Irish Habeas Corpus Sus-
pension Bill to the term of two months, in
order to afford time for making an inquiry
into the reasons for continuing such sus-
Noes 159
pension.
Ayes 54

Majority for the Minister 105

In the House of Commons, on the 21st instant, a division took place upon the motion of Mr. Windham," that it be referred "to a committee of the whole House to revise the several bills for the defence of the country, and to consider of such fur"ther measures, as may be necessary to "make that defence more complete and “ permanent ;” a motion expressed in the very same words, in which was expressed Mr. Fox's motion of the 23d of April last, which motion was strenuously supported by Mr, Pitt. Noes 242 Ayes 96

Majority for the Minister 146

[ocr errors]

Some circumstances relating to this last motion and division deserve to be particularly noticed. The public are informed, that the discussions of the important subject of our military force has been looked forward to with great expectation from the first day of the session; and, to those who are unacquainted with the motives, it will, doubtless, appear strange, that the minister en second, who is also a famous colonel, should not attempt to answer a speech of three hours, in which the imbecillity of his projects was so amply exposed, but to leave the task to be performed by a mere young "friend," and then to call for the ques tion. And, still stranger must this appear, when it is recollected, with what boldness of words Mr. Pitt defied the inquiry, on the first day of the session." The honourable "gentleman" (Mr. Fox)" has," said he, "adverted to the bill which I last session "introduced for the defence of the coun"try, and has expressed a hope that some "more efficient bill will be substituted in * its room. This is not the time for a ❝ discussion on the subject, but I feel my"self called upon to state, that I have seen "no reason to alter my opinion of the "grounds on which that bill was founded, " and though I admit that its effects, in "adding to the numbers of our military

force, have indeed been exceedingly small, nothing that has happened, con"sidering all the circumstances under

"which the bill was proposed, and the "principles on which it proceeded, induces "me to think that it was a measure which

ought not to have been adopted. I am "ready at any time to meet the honourable "gentleman and bis friends in reviewing the "state of the country in all its various re"lations. I am ready, in particular to meeti the bonourable gentleman, respecting the "state of our military force and the improved "condition in which it now stands, compared "to what it was last session. I am ready

σε

to shew that, at the present moment, "we have a regular disposeab'e force far "more considerable than gentlemen seem "to be aware of."* And yet, when was called the time came; when he upon to do what he was thus so firmly pledged to do; when the folly of his projects, when the utter inefficiency of all his measures, were fairly brought forward, be sat. mute, and delegated Mr. Canning to make his defence! Indeed, to have attempted to answer Mr. Windham, in this instance, must have rendered the defeat and humiliation still more signal than it was. After a speech of such length, containing so much useful information, discovering so perfect a knowledge of every part of a great and interesting subject, exhibiting so many original views; coming immediately after such a speech, mere words, mere frothy declamation, which, in this case, is all the House would have heard, would have forced into men's minds a contrast very disadvantageous to Mr. Pitt. This he appears to have been fully aware of, and, therefore, he did not venture to speak. He would have been cheered; but, knowing very well how to estimate that sort of cheering, he was not disposed to trust to its effects in opposition to those of the facts and the reasoning, which his audience had just been so attentively listening to, and which it was not in his power to controvert. What would any friend of Mr. Pitt have said, if, four years ago, any one had predicted what has now happened to that gentleman? Who would then have believed, that, in so short of time, he would have fallen so low a space as, upon any subject, and under any circumstances, not to dare venture on a speech, lest he should not obtain a hearing? That he would have been heard with more patience than Mr. Canning was is certain; but it is equally certain, that his speech would have been very flat. It was noticed, that, during the greater part of Mr. Windham's speech he appeared sunk; accablé, to use a French word; and, indeed, there was poured ont

[ocr errors]

* Parl. Debates, Vol. III. p. 87.

Pitt. He knows that mere numbers will not long do. He knows what difference there is in men. And he knows too, that, there are a hundred thousand thinking peo ple who will read Mr. Windham's speech, and who, will in yain look for an answer to any part of it in the "able and eloquent "speech of Mr. Canning."--Mr. Sheri dan has given notice of a motion for the repeal of the Parish-Army Bill, which mo tion will be made on next Tuesday week. In the mean time, it appears, from a circular letter to the Lords Lieutenant, that the ministers have resolved on levying the fines upon the parishes, whose officers have not raised their quota of men; and, it is said, that orders are actually issued for causing the money to be assessed. Thus, as was foretold, this scheme has ended where all Mr. Pitt's other schemes have ended, in a tax. The present tax will be attended with one advantage; it will make men begin to understand that there is no longer any danger of their being balotted for in the militia or army of reserve; and, they will, of course, quit the volunteer corps with great.. alacrity, and remain steadily at their work again; a change that will contribute not less to their own hap

him wherewithal to sink a stouter man. His cause was so bad; his projects were all so completely exposed; he appeared, as to mi.. litary affairs, in a light so perfectly inferior to his antagonist, that, to have attempted an answer to Mr. Windham would only have been a proof of a total want of discernment, or of feeling The division was much less on both sides than it would have been, if the House had not been taken by surprise.. Many members had taken the opportunity. which Mr. Canning's speech afforded them. of retiring to take refreshment;, and, as, Sir William Young's reply to Mr. Canning was but short (as, indeed, the speech required very little reply), they had not returned be.. fore the division took place.--The representation which the Pitt newspaper,, the SUN, has given to this debate, is worth notice. "Last night," says that piper of yesterday, Mr. Windham brought forward "his long promised motion in the House "of Commons respecting the state of our "military defence. The debate took a singular and very unexpected turn'; for, after a most able and eloquent reply from Mr. Canning, the opposition did not feel themselves disposed to continue the contest, or "possibly hope to derive some advantage "from an early division;, and this threaten-piness than to the tranquillity and safety of "ed attack, which was to shake the stabi"lity of the administration, ended in their

[ocr errors]

46

[ocr errors]

complete triumph. It is evident that there "is a want of cordiality in the different orders "of the opposition, as not one of the members "of the old one supported Mr. Windham, "and as Mr. Sheridan, as soon as the mo"tion of that gentleman was disposed of,

[ocr errors]

Be

announced his intention of bringing "forward another of a similar kind.". This is most curious logic cause Mr. Sheridan, immediately after Mr. Windham's motion was disposed of, proposed to bring forward another of a similar kind, it is evident that, there is a want of cordiality amongst the different orders of the Opposition! Another proof of this is, that not one of the Old Opposi tion supported Mr. Windham's motion. Sir William Young followed, and effectually replied to the little that was urged by Mr. Canning therefore, there was no support of Mr. Windham's motion wanted; and it was the ministry that cried out for the question, and hastened the division, and not the Opposition. And this is what this Pitt news writer calls a complete triumph!" The complete triumph of 242 over 96 is all that he looks to. Not so, however, Mr.

[ocr errors]

their country.

THE CATHOLIC PETITION is said to be unanimously agreed to. Lord Fingal, Sr Thomas French, Sir Edward Bellew, with Messrs. Dennis Scully, and James Ryan, are appointed to present it, and to proceed to London forthwith; a Committee of twenty-one remain in Dublin to correspond with the Deputies while occupied in their Mission.

ERRATUM. In the last line but two of the English part of p. 256 read wait instead of await. The reader himself will correct some less important errors in that poem.

Owing to an unfortunate disagree. ment, as to prices, between the master and journeymen printers, which disagreement extends through the whole trade, except, that part which belongs to the daily papers, where the arrangement is entirely different, it is possible, that the Register may be prevented from appearing next week.-I hope, on every account, that this will not be the. case; but, if it should, the readers will, have perceived, that even the parliamentary papers are not exempted from the incourenience arising from the same cause.

Printed by Cox and Baylis, No 75, Great Queen Street, and published by R. Pagshaw, Bow Street, Covent Garden, where former Numbers may be had; sold also by J. Budd, Crown and Mitres · Pall-Mall.

VOL. VII. No. 9.]

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1805.

[PRICE 10: "By 31 Charles II. c. 2. commonly called the Habeas Corpus Act, the methods of obtaining the writ of "habeas corpus are so plainly pointed out and enforced, that, so long as this statute remains unimpeached, "no subject of England can be long detained in prison, except in those cases in which the law requires and "justifies "uch detainer. Of great importance to the public is the preservation of this personal liberty: "for, if once it were left in the power of any, the highest, magistrate to imprison arbitrarily whomeyer he "or his officers thought proper (as in France it is daily practised by the crown), there would soon be an end "to all other rights and immunities."- -BLACKSTONE'S COMMENTARIES, Book I. Ch. 1.

321]

FOREIGN OFFICIAL PAPERS. AMERICAN FINANCE.Report (annually made) of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to the two Houses of Congress. Dated at the City of Washington, 19th November, 1804.

REVENUE.

[322

and fifteen thousand dollars. And notwithstanding the difficulties which exist, in drawing into the treasury the monies collected by the receivers of the remote land offices, it is believed that the actual receipts from that source, will for the ensuing year, exceed fou hundred and fifty thousand dollars.The permanent revenue of the United States may therefore, including the duties on postage and other small incidental branches, be computed at eleven millions two hundred thousand dollars.And the payments in the treasury during the year 1805, on account of the temporary duties which constitute the "Mediterranean Fund" are estimated at five hundred and fifty thousand dollars; making in the whole, for the probable receipts of that year, a sum of eleven millions seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, 11,750,000

EXPENDITURES.

The nett revenue, arising from duties on merchandise and tonnage, which accrued during the year 1802, and on which the estimates of last year were predicated, amounted, as will appear by the statement (A.) to ten millions one hundred and fifty four thousand dollars. The nett revenue arising from the same sources, has amounted, as appears by the same statement, to eleven millions three hundred and six thousand dollars. And it is ascertained that the nett revenue which accrued during the three first quarters of the year 1804, considerably exceeds that of the corresponding quarters of the year 1803. Without drawing any inference from the increase of the present year, an increase which must be ascribed to the situation of Europe, and will eventually be diminished by the subsequent re-exportations; that branch of the revenue, may exclusively of the Mediterranean fund, be safely estimated at ten millions seven hundred and thirty thousand dollars, which is the average of the two years 1802 and 1803. The actual payments in the treasury on account of those duties, during the year ending on the 30th Sep-2. For the civil department and tember last, amounting nearly to the same sum; (A) and there is no reason to suppose that the receipts of the ensuing will fall short of those of last year.The state

The expense of the year 1805, which must be defrayed out of that revenue, consist of the following items:

ment (B) exhibits in detail the several species of merchandise and other sources, from which that revenue was collected during the year 1803.-It also appears that the revenue, arising from the sales of public lands, is gradually increasing. The statement (C.) shews that exclusively of the September sales at Cincinnati, three hundred and fourteen thousand acres have been sold during the year ending on the 30th of September last. The proceeds of those sales, calculated on the supposition that every purchaser will be entitled to the discount allowed in cases of prompt payment, would yield five hundred

1. The annual appropriation of

eight millions of dollars for the
payment of the principal and
interest of the public debt; of
which near 3,700,000 dollars
will be applicable to the dis-
charge of the principal, and
the residue to the payment of
interest

all domestic expenses of a ci-
vil nature, including military
pensions, the light-house and
mint establishments, and the
expenses of surveying public
lands,

3. For expenses incident to the
intercourse with foreign na
tions, including the payment
of awards under the 7th arti-
cle of the British treaty, and
the permanent appropriation
for Algiers,

4. For the military and Indian
departments, including the
permanent appropriation for
certain Indian tribes,

8,000,000

952,000

294,000

954,000

5. For the naval establishment, viz. annual appropriation charged to the ordinary re

venue,

Extra expenses of the last expedition against Tripoli, which will be payable in the year 1805, and are charged to the Mediterranean fund,

6. Reserved out of the Mediterranean fund for meeting other extraordinary expenses which may be incurred under the act constituting the fund,

Making together eleven million five hundred and forty thousand dollars, and deducting from the revenue of

eighteen months commencing on the first July, 1804, and ending on the 31st December, 1805, at one million one hundred and 650,000 seventy thousand dollars. The expenses authorised under the act constituting the fund have been predicated on that estimate, and apportioned in the following manner: 1. For the navy department (in addition to the annual appro priation of 650,000 dols.) viz. There had been advanced from the ordinary revenue, prior to the 30th September, 1804, A further payment will be made before the 1st Jan. 1805, of 100,000 To be paid during the year 1805, on account of this fund, as stated under the fifth item of expenditures for that year,

590,000 1,240,000

11,540,000

- 11,750,000

Leaves a surplus of more than two hundred thousand dollars, 210,000

MEDITERRANEAN FUNDS.

The sum which may probably be received during the year 1805, on account of that fund, and the payments during that year, which will ultimately be charged to the fund, are included in the preceding estimate of receipts and expenditures; but it is necessary to give a distinct view of the whole amount of revenue and expenses under that head.The value of merchandise, paying duties, ad valorem, which was imported in the year 1802, amounts, after deducting the exportations of the same year, to thirty one millions seven hundred and six thousand dollars. The value of the same description of merchandise imported in the year 1803, amounts to thirty four millions three hundred and seventy thousand dollars. The additional duty of two and a half per cent. on that description of imported articles, constitutes the Mediterranean Fund, and calculated on the average importation of the two years, would have yielded annually eight hundred and twenty six thousand dollars. But several articles which, in the year 1802 and 1803, paid duties ad valorum, having in lieu thereof, been charged with specific duties, by an act of last session, are not liable to the additional duties of two and an half per cent. A though the value of those articles cannot be precisely ascertained, it is believed that the deduction on that account will not amount to fifty thousand dollars, and that the proceeds of the additional duty may be computed at the annual sum of seven hundred and eighty thousand dollars; and for the

350,000

130,000

590,000

[blocks in formation]

Those duties began to operate on the first day of July last, but as they are payable six, eight, nine, ten, and twelve months after the portation, no part will be paid in the treasury during the present year; and a sum of only 550,000 dollars, is expected to be received in the course of the year 1805. For that sum only credit has been taken in the general estimate of receipts for that year; whilst a part of the 1,170,000 dollars, chargeable to the fund has already been expended; and the rest is included in the preceding estimate of expenses for 1805. The difference amounting to 620,000 dollars, will at the end of the next year, consist of outstanding bonds payable in 1806; and if the additional duty should as well as the extraordinary expense for which it is appropriated, cease at that time, that outstanding balance will, as it is collected, replace in the treasury the sum advanced from the ordinary reve nues in anticipation of the proceeds of the fund. For it is hoped that the situation of the treasury, will render it unnecessary to recur to the authority, given by the act, to borrow on the credit of the fund.

BALANCE IN THE TREASURY.

The greater part of the balance of 5,360,981 dollars 54 cents, which on the 30th day of September, 1803, remained in the treasury, was, in the last year's report, condered as applicable to the payment of certain extraordinary demands therein stated.

« PreviousContinue »