12 Debates of a POLITICAL SOCIETY. the weavers, and other poor tradesmen he had mentioned? Alderman Hopkins, Gov. Pownall, &c. rofe, and faid the queftion was improper, and defired the witness might have leave to withdraw, which being granted, Mr. Dempfter rofe and faid, that during the years he had lived, he never faw fo able an advocate as Mr. Glover that reaily, by the fenfible difcourfe he had then heard, it had greatly altered his opinion of the bufiness. - The committee feemed rather at a ftand what to go about next, upon which Sir George Younge informed the House, that the Ruffia merchants intended to prefent a petition to the Houfe in a few days; he Thould therefore move, that the committee do adjourn, and afk leave to fit again on a future day. The committee accordingly broke up, and adjourned until Monday next. April 25. The House refolved itself into a committee upon the linen business, Sir Thomas Clavering in the chair, when Mr. Arbuthnot, an eminent callico printer, was called in, and gave the Houfe an accurate account of the number of yards of each fort of linen printed, the expence of printing, and the excise duty on it, which amounted from 1770 to 1772, to about 103,0col. each year, but in 1773, to only 94,000l. He spoke greatly of the Dutch having got into the method of printing, and afforded the House much information. May 5. In a committee to enquire into the pretent ftate of the linen trade of Great Britain and Ireland, Mr. Forster, agent for the Ruffia Company, was called in, who, after explaining briefly the nature of the evidence he intended to produce, called Mr. Stratton, a very great importer of Rufia linnens. His teftimony went to prove, after Specifying the feveral fpecies imported, that no fubftitute whatever could be had to answer the demand; that the linens imported from Ruffia were almoft folely worn by the poor; and that if any additional duties were laid upon them, they would be equal to a prohibition. The laft witnefs examined was Mr. Kavanagh, a British merchant refident in Ruffia. He faid, that the exports from England to Ruffia were about 140,cool. and the imports of manufactures 200,cool. befides 100,000l. in materials not manufactured; that the manufactures, &c. confifted chiefly of all kinds of woollen goods, cutlery, hardware, tin, lead, dye-ftuffs, carriages, and jewellery; that the woollens paid about 18 per cent. and the others about 30 on an average; that the Ruffia linens paid on importation into Britain 35 per cent. that the balance against Britain, in its trade with Ruffia, was from 8co,ocol. to 1,000,000l. per annum; that this balance arofe from the purchase of raw materials, which we could not do without; that in particular, in the article of hemp, all Europe befides could not Jan. furnish a fourth of what we wanted; that the export of hemp from Ruffia was 20,000 ton, of flax 7000, of iron 30,000; that we could not carry on our linen or hardware manufactures, nor fit out our fleets, without thofe fupplies; that we were not only the most favoured nation by treaty, but were actually fo, for that we were in the daily exercife and poffeffion of rights, liberties, and immunities denied to any other nation, or even to the natives, He enumerated several, among which the following are the most remarkable: An English merchant can have no foldier quartered on him; he is not liable to an arreft, but when his effects are found infufficient to discharge his debts; his books or papers cannot be feized on any pretence, nor even inspected without an apparent caufe he is permitted to pay the imperial duties in the current coin of the country, a favour denied to any other foreigner, who is obliged to pay one half in Dutch dollars; befides which, he is exonerated from several fmall duties, which all other perfons, whether natives or foreigners, are fubject to. After Mr. Kavanagh had clofed his evidence, Mr. Forster, the agent, recapitulated the whole, and the committee adjourned to Thursday next. This May 12. Proceeded on the ftate of the linen manufactory. The evidence being clofed, the Speaker refumed the chair, and Sir Thomas Clavering reported that they had gone through the examination of witneffes, and moved that the report be taken into confideration that day fortnight. produced a debate, Sir George Younge having moved that the words that day fortnight do make way for Tuesday next; but it being obferved that the bufinefs of the Scotch colliers ftood that day for twelve, Sir George moved, in addition, eleven o'clock; and the question being put, it passed in the affirmative; and it being nine o'clock the Houfe adjourned. May 17. At four o'clock the Houfe went into a committee of enquiry into the prefent ftate of the linen trade of Great Britain and Ireland. As foon as Sir Thomas Clavering took the chair, Lord Frederick Campbell informed the committee, that feveral propofitions which had been thought of by the promoters of the enquiry had been given up on account of the ftrong oppofition they would likely meet with, particularly from fuch gentlemen as imagined that the woollen manufacture might be thereby affected; that in the one he intended to offer, every objection of that kind would be precluded, and confequently he hoped to meet the concurrence of both fides of the Houfe; he therefore moved, that a bounty of three balfpence per yard be allowed on all British and Irish linens painted, printed and ftained, exported from Great Britain. He was feconded by Lord Beauchamp, who 1775- Debates of a POLITICAL SOCIETY. Lord North faid he did not think the petitioners for relief had proved what they afferted in their petition, yet he could not think the propofition made by the noble Lord (Frederick Campbell) could any way affect the woollen manufacture: if it could, he should be much against it; otherwise not. A warm debate enfued, in which Mr. Byng, Gov. Pownall, Sir W. Meredith, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Pennant, Mr. Phipps, Sir T. Egerton, Gen. Burgoyne, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Fuller, Sir G. Younge, &c. contended, if a bounty was paid upon British linen it would materially affect the cotton manufactare, if not quite annihilate it, as it would render the linen cheaper than the cotton, and thereby give it a preference. The motion was as ftrongly fupported by Lord Clare, Lord Germaine, Sir Gilbert Elliot, Mr. Puitney, Mr. Dempfter, Gen. Conway, Mr. Townshend, Mr. C. Fox, Mr. H. Cavendish, Lord Advocate, &c. who afferted the laying a bounty on linen would no way affect the cotton, faying, that if fome relief was not given to the linen manufacture it must entirely perish. At a quarter paft nine o'clock, the queftion was called for from all parts of the Houle, and on the gallery being cleared, the Houfe divided, for the queftion 63, against it 129. A motion was then made," that the chairman do now leave the chair, without leave to fit again," which was carried without a divifion; confequently the linen bufinefs dropt for the feffion. Thus a matter which had taken up a great part of the attention of two feffions of parliament, two reports, and twenty-jeven days particular attendance in the committees, above and below ftairs, at length came to nothing. MARCH 3. The order of the day for the fecond reading of the Selby canal bill was read. Sir George Savile, in a judicious fpeech, went through the whole of the bufinefs from its beginning last year, and pointed out how deficient the evidences on the fide of the bill were: he faid, they had accused Mr. Burt (collector of the tolls on the old navigation of Air and Calder) of every fpecies of fraud and monopoly, on purpose to make their own caufe appear good; but their evidences had not proved a fingle thing against him, unless it was, that he had encreafed the trade of the country amazingly. He Spoke much against the bill, and faid he fhould be against its being committed. Mr. Fuller feconded him. Mr. Lafcelles fpoke much in favour of the bill, and rested his arguments on its being better to have two roads than one that you were lefs liable to be impofed upon where there were two inns than where there was but one — faid 13 it would be a means of rendering provifions cheap, by decreafing the number of expences that now attended trade. Mr. Howard fpoke much against the bill faid, it had been projected by a parcel of furveyors, whofe intereft it was to promote thofe things-that they drew people in to fubfcribe to them, by firft fubfcribing themfelves; then puffing what great profits would arife, until they got the fhares up to a high price; then they fold out, leaving the others to contemplate their folly. Mr. Turner fpoke much in favour of the bill faid, he knew it was oppofed by a party that the last time he was down in the country, he faw a number of ladies canvaffing at an affembly against the bill. that they applied to him to attend against the bill, but he was on the wrong fide of forty-feven, and refufed their request. The Solicitor General spoke greatly against the bill, and ftated how much it would injure private property he faid the honourable gentleman (Mr. Lafcelles) had confuted himfelf; for he propofed this new canal to engrofs the whole of the trade, and confequently one of his inns would be shut up that many of them last year had faid, "Never mind; let them have leave to carry into execution their canal: if they fail, the lofs will fall on themselves." Now it would be otherwife, for immediately as they got the grant, they would raise money on the fuppofed profit, and if that should not answer, parliament would be blamed for having suffered fuch an abfurdity to pass. Sir Richard Sutton spoke against the bill, and mentioned the great inconvenience that would arife from fuch a measure, as it was meant to be carried over feveral coal-pits, whofe roofs already were fo near the furface of the earth, that fhould not thofe canals be made water-tight, the confequence would be, they would break through and ruin the colliery. Mr. Curwen fpoke much against the bill, and related feveral accidents that had happened in his memory from canals being introduced near coal mines. Mr. Wallace fpoke a confiderable time in favour of the bill. Mr. E. Burke ridiculed the whole of the evidence that had been offered on the fide of the bill faid they had only one confiftent witnefs, and that was a perfon who frankly owned he knew nothing. He was amazingly fevere on Mr. Tr, who, he said, had proved himself an uncorrupt member, not even to be corrupted by the tender paf. fions. He kept the Houfe in a continual laugh during the whole of his fpeech. At three quarters past nine o'clock the queftion was put, "That this bill be referred to a committee." For it 33, against it 105. So this bill, which had been long depend 14 Debates of a POLITICAL SOCIETY. MARCH 4. The Houfe went into a committee of enquiry into the abufes committed in gaols, by detaining perfons for their fees, Sir Tho mas Clavering, chairman. Dr. Fothergill and Surgeon Potts were called in, and asked their opinions on the gaol distemper. They faid, it proceeded from a number of perfons being confined in a close place, and not kept clean that they recommended, as a prefervative to the courts of judicature, for the prisoners to be well washed before they were brought into court, and clean clothes provided for them to appear in that they would recommend the prifons to be often cleaned, fcraped, white-washed, and painted, and gave it as their opinion, that it was the clothes that carried the infection. 1 that the diftemper was of a fimilar nature with the fmall-pox, no perfon could have it more than once; and that hot and cold baths would be of great fervice in prifons. Several queftions were asked them, to which they replied in a very able manner. Cel. Onflow faid, he was often on grand juries, and fhould be glad to know, if putting tobacco up the noftrils would prevent the infection being caught. Dr. Fothergill answered, it was of no other ufe than stopping one of the paffages by which you might catch the infection; but, unless you could likewife ftop your mouth and ears, it would be of no fervice. Mr. Howard, fheriff of Bedford, was called in, and gave the Houfe a particular account of the impofitions that were practised in the different gaols of this kingdom - faid, he had travelled and feen 38 out of the 42, on purpose to make himself master of the subject, and explain the abuses to the Houfe, He mentioned releasing a perfon himself on the first of last month out of Norwich gaol, who had been confined five weeks, only on account of not being able to pay his fees, which amounted to 135.- that at Monmouth gaol the keeper, deputy-keeper, and ten out of eleven of the prifoners, lay now ill with the gaol diftemper that the fees in most of the weftern gaols were 11. 8s. but in the county of York they were only $s. He gave an account of the gaols being in general too clofe, which he imagined was in a great measure the cause of the diftempers that another infamous practice fubfifted in the gaols among the prifoners themfelves, which was what they called making a man to pay his garnish; and that keepers loaded thofe unhappy perfons they imagined could pay, with heavy irons, on purpose that they fhould give them money to put on lighter. After he withdrew, Mr. Dempfter moved, that the Houfe fhould return thanks to Mr. Howard, for the great zeal he had shown in Jan. endeavouring to find out the abuses that were committed in gaols. Col. Barre faid, he agreed with the honourable member, that too much praise could not be given to fo worthy a citizen. The Houfe refolved, that John Howard, Efq. be called to the bar, and that Mr. Speaker acquaint him, that this House are very fenfible of the humanity and zeal which have led him to vifit the feveral gaods of this kingdom, and to communicate to the Houfe the interefting obfervations he hath made on that subject. March 23. An ingroffed bill for the relief of prifoners charged with felony or other crimes, who fhall be acquitted or discharged by proclamation, refpecting the payment of fees to gaolers, and giving a recompence for fuch fees out of the county rates, was read a third time and paffed. to March 29. The Houfe went into a committee upon the bill for regulating the bill for the more effectually fecuring the health of prisoners in gaols during their confinement, &c. when Capt. Phipps and Mr. St. John objected to a claufe relative clothing the p-ifoners, which was very warmly fupported by Lord Folkstone, Mr. R. Whitworth, and Mr. R. Fuller, and after a debate of near two hours the bill was finished with feveral amendments, and ordered that the chairman do report the fame to the House. April 19. The report was made from the committee which fat on the gaol bill. Several very material amendments and regulations were propofed, fuch as warm baths, feparate rooms for the fick of each sex, feparate yards for the debtors and felons, fresh clothes, &c. the expence of which is to be paid by the county. May 11. The bill for the more effectually fecuring the health of prifoners in gaols, during their confinement, was read a third time and paffed. Capt. Phipps propofed a claufe, which was, that the gaoler should oblige every prifoner in health to work, not more than one hour in a day, at the ventilators, which are to be fixed to every gaol in the kingdom. He faid, it would greatly preferve their health, and keep them free from many disorders Mr. Gafcoigne faid, he did not object to the claufe, but did not think the prifoners would work, unless the gaoler had fome compelling power given him. Mr. Popbam and Mr. R. Whitworth feemed to think the claufe would occafion the gaoler to receive fees from perfons, in order to fcreen them from working. Mr. Mackworth faid, he did not altogether like the claufe; yet, if the, money paid by the perfons who did not choose to work was given to those who would work, he fhould imagine the claufe, with a compelling power to the gaoler, might do. 1775. Debates of a POLITICAL SOCIETY. On the question being put, "Whether the claufe should be inferted in the bill," it was rejected. MARCH 7. Lord North acquainted the House, that he had a meffage to it, figned by his majefty, which was prefented and read. This meffage had a reference to America, and ushered in the famous Befton Port Bill. The whole proceedings, and debates of the House upon it, to the paffing of the bill, have already been prefented to our readers in our Magazine for laft APRIL. MARCH 8. The House went into a committee, Lord Folkftone in the chair, when the bill to prevent frivolous and vexatious removals of the poor was read a fecond time, which occafoned a debate, not against the bill, but almost every member was for propofing fome amendment or claufe of his own. At half paft feven o'clock the queftion was put, "that this bill commence from the 24th of June, 1774" which, upon a divifion, was carried in favour of the bill. A claufe was thea added, for no woman to be removed to her own parish until after fhe had lain in fix weeks, which occafioned much debate, bet, upon a divifion, was carried in favour The of the claufe, ayes 29, noes 21. blanks of the bill were then filled up, and it was ordered to be reported the next day. MARCH 9. The speaker took the chair at two o'clock: feveral private bills, &c. were received. Lard Folkflone made his report from the committee, on the " bil." poor Mr. Greaves moved that the third reading might be on this day fe'nnight. Mr. Gilbert oppofed it, and said, that he fhould wish to fend it down to the country, for every juftice to fee and give his opinion upon: he complained against the bill in its prefent form, and moved that the second reading be on the 20th of April. Mr. Ongley Spoke nearly the fame : faid, by that time, the quarter feffions would be over, at which place the juftices would have mer, and had time to deliver their fentiseats; he therefore feconded Mr. Gilbert. Sir Charles Bunbury, in a short but severe fpeech, faid, was the bill to contain any bad or new principles, gentlemen might be alarmed, but it was only meant to allow the fame privileges to every perfon, as was ufually allowed to foldiers, failors, Irish, &c. He fpoke in favour of the bill, and feconded Mr. Greaves. Mr. R. Whitworth fet forth the abfurdity of putting it off; faid the bill was brought in laft feffion, and had been in most of this, which certainly was allowing time enough for any perfons to give their opinion; that the hon. gentleman ( Mr. Gil 15 bert) could mean nothing by putting it off, unless it was to throw it entirely out; for by putting it off, until the 20th of April, there would then be scarce any members to attend, and it might as well be put off for fix months: he was very fevere on members leaving their duty as foon as fine weather came in, and faid, he had fcarce miffed one day fince he came into parliament. Sir Cecil Wray fpoke against the bill. Mr. Henry Cavendish propofed a middle way between the 17th of March and the 20th of April for the third reading. Mr. Dowdeswell spoke in favour of the bill, and faid fufficient time had been given. Mr. Greaves defended his bill in a very able manner, and faid, that the juftices had had time enough to perufe it; for last year he caufed printed copies to be difperfed all over the different counties, and this year he did not prefent it until there was a full Houfe, on purpose that it might have a fair chance; that he should never fear its fucceeding in a full House, and dreaded nothing but its being put off until the end of the feffion, when but few members would attend. Mr. T. Townend was for the third reading on the day firft proposed, as after that time the House would be either taken up in other business, or members would be going into the country. Several other members fpoke much in favour of the bill, and on the queftion being put, is was carried without a divifion. MARCH 17. The order of the day for the bill to prevent frivolous and vexatious removals of the poor was read. A ftrong debate enfued; the arguments for and against the bill were nearly the fame as on the fecond reading: the friends of the bill contending, that the prefent poor laws were fuch as needed an immediate amendment, and that this alteration would put a stop to the numberless difficulties which the parish and vagrant poor were now liable to, through the inefficacy of our prefent laws; the enemies of the bill faid, this bill was of too general a nature, it gave the poor too great liberties; they might, if this bill paffed, travel about the country without controul, to the great hurt of the inhabitants. Mr. Greaves again fupported his bill, Mr. E. Burke fpoke in favour of it, and kept the house in continual good humour. Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Gafcoigne, &c. ftrongly oppofed it, and on a divifion whether the bill fhould then be read a third time, there appeared for it 53, against it 56. A motion was then made, that the third reading be on that day four months, which was carried, (To be continued.) For ( 16 ) For the LONDON MAGAZINE. AMERICAN PAPERS and PROCEEDINGS, in Confequence of the late extraordinary Acts of Parliament respecting that Continent continued. MARYLAN D. At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the City of ANNAPOLIS, on Wednesday the 25th of May, 1774, after Notice given of the Time, Place, and Occafion of this Meeting. 1. Rinous opinion of this meet-mittee, and that the gentlemen ap ESOLVED, that it is the una- vince, to constitute one general com ing that the town of Bofton is now fuffering in the common caufe of America, and that it is incumbent on every colony in America to unite in effectual means to obtain a repeal of the late act of parliament for blocking up the harbour of Boston. II. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that if the colonies come into a joint refolution to ftop all importation from, and exportation to, Great Britain, till the faid act be repealed, the fame will preferve North America and her liberties. III. Refolved, therefore, that the inhabitants of this city will join in an affociation with the feveral counties of the province, and the principal colonies of America, to put an immediate ftop to all exports to Great Britain, and that after a fhort day, hereafter to be agreed on, that there be no imports from Great Britain till the faid act be repealed, and that fuch affociation be on oath. pointed for this city immediately correfpond with Baltimore Town, and other parts of this province, to effect fuch affociation as will beft fecure American liberty. A Annapolis, May 27, 1774. Paper having been circulated this morning in this city, and diftributed with the gazette, defiring the public to fufpend forming any judgment of the fentiments of this city, on the fubject matter of letters from Bofton and Philadelphia, until they are furnished with more authentic grounds than the refolutions entered into by the meeting of the inhabitants held for that purpofe, all the citizens, and particularly thofe who diffent from the printed refolutions, are earneftly requested to meet at the playhoufe precifely at three o'clock this afternoon. IV. That it is the opinion of this meeting that the gentlemen of the A law of this province bring no fuit for the recovery of any debt due from any inhabitant of this province to any inhabitant of Great Britain, until the faid act be repealed. V. That the inhabitants of this city will, and it is the opinion of this meeting, that this province ought immediately to break off all trade and dealings with that colony or province which fhall refufe or decline to come into fimilar refolutions with a majority of the colonies. vi. That Meffieurs John Hall, Charles Carrall, Thomas Johnfon junior, William Paca, Matthias Hammond, and Samuel Chase, be a committee for this city, to join with thofe who fhall be appointed for Baltimore Town, and other parts of this pro a meeting of the inhabitants of the city of Annapolis, in confequence of the foregoing notice, after reading the feveral letters and papers communicated from Boston and Philadelphia, the firft, fecond, and third refolutions of this city on Wednesday laft were diftinctly read, one by one, and the question being put on them, feverally, that they be confirmed, the firft was unanimously confirmed, and on a divifion, the fecond and third were also confirmed, very few diffenting. The fourth refolution being read, the question was moved, and put, that the fame be expunged, and on a divifion, refolved, by a confiderable majority, that it be not expunged. The other refolutions were read, and, the question being put on each, were confirmed without any divifion : it was then refolved, that this day's pro |