duced to include the Hessian troops in that bill, as had been done in respect to the Fencible Regiments in Scotland.

Lord Grenville replied that such a measure required mature and serious deliberation. It did not to him appear necessary, but if the wisdom of Parliament should judge it expedient, a separate bill appeared more proper.

Lord Thurlow thought the subject was of a grave and serious nature, and deserved deliberation; but did not think it was properly brought forward in the present form. Lord Lauderdale declared he had heard language on the subject of introducing these troops, which made it highly expedient to come to some precise determination on the subject; and as the Muriny Bill did not expire till the 25th of March, the motion of Friday next would elucidate the business more clearly than at present.

Lord Stanhope entered into a warm Philippic against the introduction of the troops in question. He quoted from Blackstone, that if any should arrest a traitor in any treasonable act, and kill him therein, he should not be considered as guilty of murder. He concluded, we think not very appositely, with saying, that if any minifter, or any other person, should do any thing to destroy the liberties of this country, he hoped he would not survive it, but suffer the juft punishment of his crime.

Lord-Grenville said, he most heartily agreed with the wishes of the noble Lord who spoke last, that he who should attempt to destroy the liberties and constitution of this country might perish. That there were such persons was certain; and that they might meet with the fate they deserved, fhould they be rash and wicked enough to attempt it, he most devoutly wished.

When

Lord Lauderdale seemed to feel considerable emotion from this observation. assertions of that kind came, he said, from such high authority, each man would distrust his neighbour, and say, " thou art the man!" He wished ministers to produce proofs in support of such insinuations, and to punish those who might deserve it, or to enact such laws as might be necessary for that purpose.

Lord Grenville answered, if any one should be so rash as to make such attempts, it would be found that the existing laws were sufficient to punish them.

The Duke of Norfolk then deferred his motion to some future day.

21ft. The Eart of Albemarle presented a bill for the purpose of indemnifying his Majesty's ministers for the introduction of foreign troops into this country.

Lord Grenville and others resisted the bill, saying, that landing of the Hessian troops was an act of necessity, and ministers wanted no indemnity on that account. On a motion for a second reading, there appeared for it 12, against it 89.

The Duke of Norfolk moved, that the Mutiny Bill be recommitted, for the purpose of inserting a clause respecting the Hessian troops. The bill was ordered to be recommitted.

28th. On occasion of the General Fast, the Lord Chancellor, attended by a few of the spiritual and temporal peers, went to Westminster-Abbey, where they heard divine service, and a sermon, by the Bishop of Norwich, from Joel xi. ver. 15, 16, 171⁄2 and part of the 18th.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

FINANCIAL MEASURE OF FRANCE.

Mr. Pitt stated, that the French Convention had decreed that all persons residing in the French Republic should withdraw their property from the English funds, and exchange it for assignats. This measure, he said, was of the most important nature, and would require some extraordinary steps on our part; and as no time was to be lost, he moved that the House should sit next day (yesterday) on the business, which was agreed to.

A debate took place on the report of 85,000 seamen for the current year, which was at length agreed to, and the House adjourned.

Feb. 1st. Mr. Pitt gave notice of a Bill preparing to be brought in, to prevent the Transfer of any Stock belonging to French citizens.

Colonel Maitland made a motion respecting Emigrant officers being employed in the troops for the expedition under Earl Moira, which he conceived as highly illegal.

Mr. Dundas obliquely denied the existence of the fact, and thereon the Colonel's motion was negatived.

3d. The Solicitor General said, that after what had been stated by his Right Hon. Friend on a recent occasion to the House, relative to what he was about to propofe, it was unnecessary for him to say any thing; he therefore moved for leave to bring in a bill," To prevent the payment for a certain time, of effects or money, in the hands ..of subjects of Great Britain, the property of French subjects, to the orders, &c. of the persons exercising the powers of Government in France, &c. and for restoring the same to the individual owners."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer seconded the motion, which meeting the unanimous concurrence of the House, the bill was ordered to be brought in.

The House in a Committee of Ways and Means, voted the Land and Malt Taxes, in the usual manner.

Ordered, That the sums of 558,021/. and 547,310%. should be granted to his Majesty for the ordinary and extraordinary expences of the Navy, for 1794.

AUGMENTATION OF THE ARMY.

The Secretary at War having stated, that upwards of 10,000 men more had been raised last year, than had been raised in any one year of either of the last wars, moved, that 60,244 men, including 3882 invalids, be granted to his Majesty for the fervice of 1794.

Mr. Huffey thought the most vigorous exertions possible of this country, could never do any service to the cause she was engaged in; and said he was sick of the war on the Continent.

Major Maitland asserted, that the situation of the Allied Powers on the Continent was worse at present than at the commencement of the campaign.

The miscarriage at Dunkirk, he conceived, was to be attributed to the sending an inadequate force to attack it; and the unpardonable neglect of the Ministers at the head of the Naval and Ordnance departments refpecting the gun-boats and artillery.

Mr. Jenkinson contended, that the plan laid down by Ministers for conducting the campaign, and he efforts of the several officers in its execution, was such as merited the applause, instead of the censure of the House. He observed, that the enterprise against Dunkirk had been commenced as early as the season, with a view to the health of the troops in such a low marshy soil, would permit.

Capt. Berkley stated, that the orders which were received for the sailing of the gunboats were, that they should be before Dunkirk between the 21st and 24th of August; and that they arrived there on the 23d.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer observed, that as he understood it was proposed by gentlemen opposite to him, that the subjects of the present debate should be brought forward on a future day for separate and particular discussion, he should reserve all detailed observations until then. The question was put and agreed to.

The Secretary at War then moved for a grant of the different expences of the army ordinaries and extraordinaries, as well as for the subsistence of the above troops, all which were agreed to; as were those of the ordnance, on the motion of Captain Berkley.

4th. On the Report of the Committee of Supply, Major Maitland renewed those objections to the increased Staff of the army, which he pressed on a former night.

Sir George Yonge replied, that no addition was made more than necessity required. Mr. Steele remarked, that the Major himself had acceded to those terms relative to the promotions of rank which he appeared generally to condemn.

Major Maitland acknowledged this, and said, that if he had not availed himself of the late circumstances, he might have remained in his present rank as long as Mr. Pitt was Minister.

ROMAN CATHOLICS.

Mr. Mitford obtained leave to bring in a Bill to free Roman Catholics from the double land-tax.

The Attorney-General brought in a Bill for preventing the payment of any sums, bills of exchange, &c. to persons resident in France, and subject to the operations of a late decree of the Convention; which was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday.

Mr. Adam made a motion for assimilating the criminal laws of Scotland and England, by giving the power of appeal in cases of misdemeanor, from the Court of Justiciary and the Circuit Courts, to the House of Lords in England.

Col, McLeod seconded the motion, which, however, was negatived.

BUDGET.

5th. The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, Mr. Hobart in the Chair,

Mr. Pitt rose and said, he should divide the Supplies under three different heads, as distinctly relating, first, to the Ways and Means, secondly, to the Loạn, and other measures of Finance, and thirdly to the Taxes.

ESTIMATES.

To render these Estimates intelligible, observed Mr. Pitt, it will here be necessary to recapitulate the amount of the deficiencies respectively, and thus be clearly and perfectly understood as we proceed.

Navy Estimates

Army Estimates

£. 5,525,330 6,411,000

ORDNANCE.

L.324,000

377,000 643,000

£. 1,344,000 206,000

Which was exceeding, by 70 or 80,000l. the Estimates of Finance in 1791.

LOAN.

The terms and conditions of the Loan were, for every 100l. in money to receive 100l. in the 3 per cents.-251. in the 4 per cents.and ris. 5d. long annuities. The following calculation, giving the price of Stock at the time of the bargain, will prove the specific value of the negociation :

Three per cents

Four per cents

Long Annuities

67 1-half 84

20 years 1-8th

TAXES.

worth

£. 67 10 0

worth

Mr. Pitt then proposed to repeal the Tax on Gloves, Births and Burials; and proposed a variety of new and additional Taxes, the produce of which would be as follows

The House then, in a Committee of Ways and Means, voted

The fum of 11,000,000l. to be raised by Annuities, viz.

100/. Subscribers to be entitled to rool. 3 per cents. from the 5th of January, 1794 Also 251. 4 per cent. Annuities from the 10th of October last, and to an annuity of IIS. 5d. for 66 years. To be paid by instalments.

2,697,000l. out of the Consolidated Fund, which shall arise from the 5th of April, 1794, to the 5th of April, 1795

That there be granted to his Majesty, viz.

10d. per Gallon on single Brandy imported.

20đ.

8d. 16d. 8d.

16d.

1od.

20d.

on Brandy above proof imported.

on Rum from the British Colonies.
on ditto above proof.

on Warehoused Rum.

on over-proof ditto.

on single Spirits imported.

on over-proof ditto.

To be paid by the Importers.

d. per Gallon for wash for extracting Spirits for home confumption.

d.

2d.

for Cyder and Perry, or any other wash for ditto. for wash made from refused wine, or foreign cyder. 25. 8d. for every 96 gallons of wash made by Bishops of Maidstone. To be paid by the Makers or Distillers.

5d. 1-half-penny per gallon for Spirits made in Scotland and imported. Also an additional duty in proportion for over-proof.

To be paid by the Importers.

zod. per 1000 on Bricks.

18d. ditto on plain Tiles.

45. 6d. per 1000 on Pan Tiles not exceeding 10 inches square.

2s. 2d. do. addition exceeding 10 inches square.

15. 1od. per 1000 for Tiles other than the above.

To be paid by the Makers.

And a Drawback to be allowed on exportation.

l. 35. 4d. per cwt. upon Books imported.

15. 6d. for every 1000 Bricks imported.

s. 10d. for every 1000 plain Tiles imported.

45. 10d. per 1000 for Pan or Ridge Tiles imported.

114. per 1000 for Paving Tiles, not above 10 inches square.

1s. 10d. per 1000 for ditto above 10 inches.

Is. Iod. per 1000 for all other Tiles imported.

10s. per ton upon Slates carried coastways.

2s. 6d. ditto upon Stones, Gurnet, and Marble.

That the duties of Excise on Paper, Pasteboard, Mill-boards, Scale-boards, and Glazed paper, do cease, and that there be charged in lieu thereof,

No. I. 2d. 1-halfpenny per lb. Excise Duty upon Paper for writing, drawing, and printing.

No. II. 1d. per lb. upon Coloured and Whited Brown, except Elephant and Cartridge.

No. III. 1-half-penny per lb. for Wrapping Paper.

No. IV. 2d. 1-halfpenny per lb. upon all other Papers, except Sheathing and Button Papers.

No. V. 10s. 6d. per cwt. upon Pasteboard, Mill-board, Scale-board, and Glazed Papers.

A Drawback to be allowed on Exportation.

That the Duties of Customs of the above do cease, and there be taken in lieu thereof, 10d. per lb. on No. I. imported.

2d. per lb. on No. II imported.

6d. per lb. on Paper Hangings imported.

rod. per lb. on all other Papers imported.

25. per cwt. upon Pasteboards, &c. imported.

10s. 8d. 3-fourths on Flint Glass imported.

83.3-fourths on Materials used in making Window Glass.

A Drawback of 8d. 3-fourths, on every foot of Plate Glass imported.

14s. 6d. per cwt. on Flint Glass exported.

9s. 11d. per ditto on Crown ditto exported.

8d. 3-fourths, per foot on French Plate ditto exported.

14s. on French Plate ditto imported.

95. 11d. on French Window ditto imported.

145. per cwt. on other Glass imported.

Ios. 8d. 3-fourths per cwt. on Plates of Glass not less than 1485 square inches, made in Great Britain.

A Stamp Duty of 100l. upon Contracts of Perfons serving as Clerks to Attornies.

100/. Admittance for every Attorney.

50l. for Contracts of Clerks to Attornies in Courts of Conscience.

sol. for Admittance of Attornies in the Welsh Courts.

That the Additional Duties upon Foreign Spirits imported, granted and continued by Acts of 31 Geo. III. be made perpetual.

Also upon Sugar, by Act 31 Geo. III. be made perpetual.

Also a Drawback on Sugar, allowed by the said Act, to be made perpetual.
That the said Duties be carried to the Consolidated Fund.

After a few observations from Mr. Fox, who was the only Member that spoke on the subject, the Report was ordered to be brought up next day.

Feb. 7. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the Land-tax Bill, (Mr. Rose having previously moved, that a clause for making up the deficiency of the Land-tax for the last year, and another for exempting his Majesty's ' Roman Catholic subjects from the payment of a double land-tax, fhould be referred to the consideration of the committee) Mr. Hobart in the chair,

The bill having passed the committee, the report was ordered to be received on Monday.

SLAVE TRADE.

Mr. Wilberforce said, that probably it might have been imagined by some gentlemen, from the way in which his notice was worded, that it was his intention to move for the total and immediate abolition of the Slave-trade; but he could assure the House, that at present that was not his design. His sole object juft now was, to prevent our sup-! plying foreign possessions with slaves imported in British bottoms; and therefore, however warm certain gentlemen might be against the abolition of the trade in general, as affecting our commercial prosperity, yet as the branch of traffic which he now wished to stop was in point of fact annihilated by the present circumstances of Europe, those gentlemen must be lost to all sense of national shame, or concern for the honour of their common nature, if they threw any obstacle into the way of his motion; and as, on this account, he did not think it necessary further to trouble the House, he would conclude, by moving for leave to bring in a bill for the purpose he had mentioned.

The Speaker put the question, and observed, according to order, that the motion fhould be referred to a committee.

Sir Wm. Young said, that if we abandoned this trade, the other nations of Europe would pursue it. That its continuance was even a point of humanity, as when the natives of Africa could no longer sell their prisoners, they would murder them. He was no friend to political theories which were impossible to be reduced to practice He doubted not but he should divide with a large majority.

Mr. Whitbread, after regretting the thinness of the House, declared that he was much disappointed at the declaration of the honourable gentleman, that he did not mean to bring forward any proposition for the direct and total abolition of this infamous traffic. The House, in his opinion, ought to shew to the other House of Parliament, that their zeal in this great cause was in no degree abated, and, by thus testifying their own undiminished activity, to bring the other House to some sense of shame, on account of the criminal delay of which it had been guilty. And as no exigency of time, and no apprehensions of danger, could extenuate or sanction gross injustice, he trufted