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Mr. M. A. Taylor moved for leave to bring in a bill for the farther regulation of the trials of centroverted elections, and for expediting the fame, Agreed to.

April 27.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer prefented the following Meffage from his Majefty: "GEORGE R-His Majefty being defirous of making a competent provision for his dearly-heloved fons, their Roval Highneffes the Dukes of Suffex and Cambridge, and the money applicable to the maintenance of his Majefty's Civil Lift being infuthcient for the fame; his M jefty claims the affiftance of Parliament; and relies that his faithful Commons will make fuch provifion as the circumftances of the cafe may require."

The Meffage was referred to the Committee of Supply.

After a long debate, the Export, Import, and. Tonnage Duty bill went through a Committee, and received feveral amendments. The bill was oppofed by Gen. Gaf coigne, Sir Robert Peele, Mr. Dent, Mr. Wilberforce, &c. who commented at length on the nature and tendency of the measure; and was fupported by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Hawkesbury, &c.

April 28.

The Houfe having refolved itself into a Committee on his Majesty's Meffage relative to the provifion for the Dukes of Suffex and Cambridge, the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, "that a fum not exceeding 12,000/ be granted yearly to his Royal Higbeefs the Duke of Suffex, out of the confolidated fund; and a fum to the fame amount, to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge, out of the fame fund." Agreed to.

H. OF LORDS.

April 19.

The Lord Chancellor informed the Houfe, that he had received two letters from the Commader in Chief, and Vice-Admiral Lord Keith, acknowledging the receipt of their Lordships' laft vote of Thanks to the Army and Navy.

Lord Pelham prefented to their Lordships copies of the Definitive Treaty of Peace hetween his Britannic Majefty, and the French Republic, his Catholic M jefty, and the Batavian Republic, figned at Amiens, the 27th of March, 1802. To le on the table.

In the Commons the fame day, Lord Harukefbury prevented the Dennitive Treaty.

H. OF LORD S.

April 30.

The Royal Affent was given, by Commition, to the Malt and Beer Duty hill, the Affeffed Taxes bill, the Bink Reflection bill, and a great number of private bills.

The Commons, the fame day, being refolved into a Committee of Ways and Means, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated the terms on which the Lottery for the prefent vear had been contra&ed for. He was of opinion, that, by confolidating the two Lotteries of England and Ireland, the iniquitous practice of infuring would be prevented, provided the drawing were fubje&t to certain reftri&ions. The advantage of the prefent contract to the publick was no lefs than 555,000l. two thirds of which were for the fervice of England, and one third for Ireland. The drawing to take place at three periods, each of which is to laft only last eight days. After defcanting on the advantages of the plan, the Chancellor moved, that there should be raised by Lottery the fum of 1,450,000l. of which 970,ocol. fhall be for the fervice of England, and 480,ocol for the fervice of IreJand. The motion was agreed to; and alfo another, hat fach Lo tery thould confift of 100,000 Tickets, at 141. 10s. each; the drawing to be at three different times, &c. and the purchase-money to be paid by inftalments, the first, 11. ros. on each ticket, on the 3d of May next.

May 3

The fugar draw back bill was paffed. Mr. Windbam rofe, to state the grounds on which he thought a motion might be founded re alive to the Definitive Treaty. As the most convenient mode of thewing the refous on which he intended to found his motion, he fhould divide the fubject into four heads. The first comprised fuch points as were unknown at the time of the Preliminary Treaty: under this clafs was the ceflion of the Island of Elba, the new boundaries of French Guiana, and the cef, fion of Louisiana to the French Government. The ceffion of the land of Elba was of the greatest importance, on account of its excellent harbour and impregnable fortrefs; and the manner in which it was given up was a matter of no lefs confequence. By the treaty of Luneville, when ufcany was given up, Elba was retained; but France, by fubdividing her territories into Republics and Kingdoms, obtained poffeffion of this ifland, white the cellion appeared to be made to the King whom he had fet up in Tuscany. The new boundaries to the French poffeffions in Guana furnish another inftance of difference between the Prelimi naries and the Treaty; but, leaving the importance of the object itself to future confideration, he should only advert to it as a other instance of the bad faith of France. The integrity of Portugal had been exprefly fecured by the Preliminaries. This article had been directly violated by the Definitive Treaty; and in this affur he was at a lofs whether most to admire the da pl.city of the French Negotiators or the fa

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Proceedings in the laft Seffion of Parliament.

cility of the English in fubmitting to fuch impofition. If we look towards Louisiana, the immenfe tract of country given up to France must confound us. On the North we behold America fubjected to the domineering spirit of the French; having no alternative, her fears would induce her to court France, by joining in enmity to this country. In fhort, fuch was the fituation of Louisiana, that the whole wealth of the New World muft inevitably flow into the hands of France. The fecond divifion comprehended thofe points which appear to have been known, but the confequence not weighed, at the time of the Preliminary Treaty. Under this clafs he should comprehend the Italian Republic, and the armament to the Weft Indies. From thefe events Mr. W. contended that the change in the state of Europe was fo great as to juftify us in abolishing the Preliminaries and renewing the war. With respect to the armament to the West Indies, he did not intend to dwell upon it, but only to fhew that it altered our state in that part of the world, while it greatly increafed the French influence. The third divifion comprehended those points in which the Definitive Treaty departed from the Preliminaries: the first article was the large debt due to us from France for the support of prifoners; and the fact was, that France refused to pay this debt; and we had not courage to demand it. We were allo not only to pay the expences of our own troops, but those of Ruffia; the cloathing and equipping of Ruffian prisoners was at our expence. The next fubject was the reftoration of Malta to the French, for fuch would ultimately be the event; as the revenues by which the order was to be fupported did not amount to above 30,00ol. Hence there was no provifion for troops to garrison the island; and, instead of a neutral guaranteeing power, we had fixed upon one entirely under the influence of France, viz. Naples. By the Preliminaries all fhips were to be indifcriminately admitted at the Cape; by the De. finitive Treaty, the full fovereignty is given up to the Dutch, who are not reftricted from putting a garrifon into this colony.The fourth divifion comprehended thofe points which had been added in the Definitive, and not mentioned in the Preliminary Treaty of thefe the most prominent was the non-revival of all former treaties, and the total neglect of our ally the Prince of Orange. From the former circumftance Mr. Windham predicted the greatest evils, the remedy for which could only be ob tained on the field of battle. we had allowed yen our honour to be inHe faid that fuited. A whip had been applied to the pofteriors of the nation, and the feat of honour attacked. The Dutch Ag no longe bowed to ours; which conceflion we had made, as it were, from fear of France.

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riously to thefe fubjeAs, he concluded with
After conjuring the Houfe to attend fe-
giving notice, that to-morrow fortnight he
day take into confideration the Treaty figned
fhould move, "That the House do on that
Spain, and the Dutch Republic.”
at Amiens, between Great Britain, France,

of the Exchequer, in a long and animated
On the motion being put, the Chancellor
fpeech, replied minutely to the feveral ar-
began by paying the highest compliments to
guments adduced by Mr. Windham. He
tinguished by the appellation of bis Right
Mr. W. (whom he at every opportunity dif
Hon. Friend); and expreffed the greatest
fatisfaction at the motion then made, in
his Majefty's Minifters an opportunity of
fubftance, becaufe, he faid, it afforded to
entering into an explanation, and which
he trusted would be accompanied by a
complete juftification of every part of their
Amiens, and the advice they gave to his
conduct during the late Negotiation at
Majefty for concluding it. He next ad-
verted to the points as specifically brought
forward; and intimated that, as an ample
field remained open for discussion at a future
day, he fhould then only touch on them
flightly. He denied that his Majefty's Mi-
nifters could take any active part in the
furrender of Porto Ferrajo to the French,
or in that of the Grand Dutchy of Tuscany.
Guiana, he referred to a converfation
With respect to the French territory in
which took place in that House upon the
fubject of the treaty of Madrid and the
treaty of Badajos, when it was stated that
globe was to be limited by the treaty of Ba-
the French territory in that part of the
dajos. In short, the Portugueze Govern-
ment declared, in the most explicit terms,
tunate, if we could be inftrumental in pro-
that they should think themselves too for
curing for them the terms specified, and
having the boundaries fixed as stipulated by
fore, made an express ftipulation, that the li-
the treaty of Madrid. This country, there-
fhould be as agreed upon by the treaty of
mits of the French poffeffions in Guiana
Madrid, but the European boundary should
be fixed by the treaty of Badajos. As to
America, if St. Domingo were tranquil,
the French could become formidable either
to North or South America, without pof-
feffing their prefent extent of territory,
provided the fubjects of these states were
Louisiana, he admitted, was important to
not difpofed to offer them refillance.
France, but not fo greatly as the Right
Hon. Gentleman feemed to think. On the
proceedings relative to the Italian Repub-
lick and the Weft India Armament, he
Houfe would not have deemed the renewal
fhould only fay, that the good fenfe of the
of the war a proper measure to have had
recourfe to, becaufe thefe circumstances
had occurred between the Preliminary and

the

the Definitive Treaty. The different states of Europe did not appear to be alarmed at, but had fanctioned, the very events of which the Hon. Member complained. It must be admitted, that the ufurpation of the Black Government in St. Domingo was the most formidable of all apprehenfions for the fafety of our own poffeffions; and he was confident, that, had his Majefty's minifters prevented the failing of that armament, it would hereafter be matter of fincere regret to the publick. With respect to Malta, the natives were perfectly satisfied, and full of gratitude to Great Britain for the terms the had procured for them; and it was generally admitted that no difadvantage would refalt to this country from the change adopted at the Cape. Touching on the treaties, the Chancellor declared, that no rights whatever, on the part of Great Britain, were furrendered by this treaty. The queftion of right, as determined either by the treaty of 1783 or the Convention of 1787, did not interfere with the difcuffion of the present treaty. After adverting to the indemnity of the Prince of Orange, and other inferior points in the fpeech of Mr. Windham, he concluded with moving, as an amendment, that, instead of to-morrow fortnight, Tuefday fe'nnight be inferted ; or, more formally, that, inftead of the 18th, the 11th of May be inferted in the motion. Mr. T. Grenville gave it as his opinion,that 14 days were at least neceffary to prepare for this important difcuffio 1.

Lord Hawkesbury rose to make fome obfervations on the time propofed by the motion for taking the treaty into confideration. He went over nearly the fame grounds as the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and concluded by fupporting the amendment.

Mr. Windham and the Chancellor of the Exchequer explained.

Mr. Pitt paid fome compliments to the information of Mr. Windham; and faid, that, as a confiderable time would be required to prepare all the papers that might be wanted, the fooner they were moved for, the better. He denied that there was any juft caufe for alarm refepcting our poffeffions in India; and, after fome flight obfervations on the non-renewal of treaties, expreffed his hope that Mr. Windham would move for the papers to-morrow.

The amendment was carried without a divifion.

H. OF LORDS.

May 4. The Royal Affent was given, by commiffion, to the Exchequer bills bill, to the Income-duty repeal bill, and to feveral private bills.

Lord Grenville, in a speech of near three hours, took a general view of the Preliminaries of Peace and the Definitive Treaty, pointing out wherein the former differed

from the latter; and inferring, that in the refult very important advantages were yielded to France, while the interefts of this country were in the fame proportion abandoned. In proof of this pofition, his Lordship noticed the alteration introduced with respect to Malta, which was tantamount to conceding that ifland to France; the ceffion of the Cape of Good Hope in full fovereignty to the Batavian Republic, though it had been originally proposed to establish that poffeffion as a free port, open to the trade of all nations; the celfion of part of the dominions of Portugal, which were to have been preferved entire; the boundaries of French Guiana, which were fo marked as to operate injuriously to our trade; the neglect of the interests of the House of Orange, which, though it was promifed fome indemnification, no stipulation was made as to from whom or to what amount; and the omiffion to renew the commercial treaties of 1783 and 1787.

His Lordship, having urged a variety of arguments.founded on the above and other topics, concluded with moving, "that the Houfe do take into their confideration, on Friday fe'nnight, the Treaty of Peace concluded at Amiens.”

Lord Pelbam acknowledged that many things he wished had not been obtained by the Definitive Treaty; but he would put it to the House, whether the objects obtained by that treaty were not preferable to a continuance of war? His Lordship moved, that, instead of Friday fe'nnight, the treaty fhould be confidered on Wednesday, the 12th; which, after some obfervations from Lords Thurlow, Grenville, Carlisle, Car. narvon, Auckland, and the Lord Chancellor, was agreed to.

In the Commons, the fame day, the Se cretary at War moved for leave to bring in a bill to continue the service of certain volunteer corps, under particular regulations. The unanimous vote of thanks which the House had already pronounced being read by the Clerk; the Secretary observed, that, after fuch a decided expreffion of public gratitude, he saw no occafion for confuming the time of the House by any endeavour to prove how defirable it was to keep up fuch an available force; a force which, in the moft critical circumstances, had contributed in fuch a high degree to preserve the tranquillity of the country; and although he hoped there would be no alarm in future as to domeftic tranquillity, he did not think it would be advifeable to lay afide our means of defence, and upon that confide this bill was propofed; the first principle of which was, that the fervices of every individual should be purely voluntary; the fervices of each corps to he continued only at their own request, and no corps to be allowed pay as heretofore. This would

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be a confiderable faving, as the expence of allowing certain Yeomanry corps two days pay per week, during the laft war, coft the nation not less than 700,cool. a year. He propofed alfo, as an encouragement to the Yeomanry, that they should be exempted as follows: Every Yeoman cavalry-man who fhall appear on parade, fully equipped, feven days in the year, should be exempted from the militia, and from the horse duty; gentlemen to bind themselves on their hoHour to attend the call of the Lord Lieute nant or Sheriffs of counties, to reprefs any tumult; or of Government, to refift any attack on our coaft. The infantry corps only to be continued in large towns, fuch as London, Brittol, or Edinburgh. Such of the infantry as fhould appear on parade, in arms, 14 days in each year, to be exempted from the militia and from the powder-tax; a ferjeant and corporal to be allowed to each company; and, when any corps amounted to three or 400 men, an adjutant to be paid by Government: 21. per year to be granted to every man of the Yeomanry Cavalry, to keep his horfe accoutrements in order. Such were the outlines of his plan. After exhorting the House to use every endeavour to preferve the military spirit of the country, he put the motion for leave, which was seconded by Sir Edward Knatchbull, and oppofed by Mr. S. Stanhope.

Leave was given to bring in a bill.

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May 5. The Farl of Carlisle, after adverting to the infult given to the family, in fuffering the French to dictate its title of a branch of the House of Najau,— and briefly going over the fame grounds which had formed the debate of yesterday, concluded by moving an Addrefs to his Majefty, for a copy of any Convention entered into by any of the contracting parties, in explanation of the 18th article of the Definitive Treaty.

The Marquis Cornwallis had no doubt but that compenfation would be made to the Prince of Orange.

After a log and defultory conversation, the motion was withdrawn,

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affected the integrity of Portugal. His fe cond motion was for copies of all the ar mistices and conventions concluded between Spain and Portugal in 1881. One of thefe, he understood, contained the hasis of a confiderable ceffion made to France of Portugueze Guiana. His third motion was for copies of all the treaties or conventions between France and Spain, concluded fince the figning of the Preliminaries of Peace, by which any part of the Spanish territories in America have been ceded to France, which may have been communicated to his Majefty. It was well known now, that the British Flag was already degraded by what had been yielded in negociation.

Lord Harukafbury did not object to the first motion; but could not help making fome observations on the irregular, if not disorderly, manner in which the Hon. Gentleman had brought it forward; and concluded by a strong and animated cenfure of the affertion refpecting the degradation of the British Flag.

Dr. Lawrence made fome observations on the treaty with Portuga, to fhew that this country had deviated from the stipulations of the Preliminary Treaty.

Mr. Jones faid, the honour of our flag had not been invaded; and that the peace had brought comfort to every fire-fide in the kingdom.

Mr. T. Grenville, after fome obfervations on the remarks of Lord Hawkesbury, faid, that the papers moved for were necessary to a full understanding of the subject.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a mi nute and candid reply to Mr. Grenville, defended the conduct of minifters, and infifted that the interefts of Portugal had not been abandoned. He expreffed his defire, at a proper time, to justify his own conduct and that of his colleagues.

The two fuft motions were agreed to; and the third was negatived.

May 6.

Earl Temple, in an appropriate speech, moved "That an account be laid before the Houfe of all territorial revenues and com. mercial duties raised in Malta while in his Majefty's poffeffion, diftinguishing the fame into annual accounts;" which was agreed to. His Lordship then moved for a "copy of the treaty of Luneville," and alfo, "a copy of the laws and ordinances of Malta, referred to in the roth article of the Definitive Treaty." After fome conversation, thefe motions were negatived.

of HERTFORDSHIRE (See p. 632.) Success will not always follow the honourable means ufed to attain it, in oppofition to the practices of a perverfe and crooked pol cv: but it is fortunate for me that I am to be judged by an enlightened and candid publick, not by the wretched fibricators of thote falfehoods with which I have

been

heen attacked; and, in justifying my own conduct, I claim the right to examine theirs. It is not difficult to trace the motives of those who have united to fruftrate my re-election; but I have lived too long in the world to be furprized at any changes which may arife in that most capricious of all fentiments-Popular Opinion; efpecially when influenced by the mixed confiderations of an inveterate party spirit, in ducements of private intereft, the unforgiving remembrance nf past defeats, and a fyftem of politicks which can never be reconciled to the true principles of the British Conftitution.

The fummary of the charges against me is this, that I bave deferted my principles; and it is thus attempted to be proved. It is faid, that I was the champion of the freeholders in the year 1790 again a domineering aristocracy, and that I am now a fupporter of the meafures of Governmen. Whatever I was in the year 1790, I am still the fame: nay, more; if I was then the oppofer, I have now a right to be confidered the facrifice of that fame ariftocracy, confirmed in power, and rendered doubly formidable by the most prepofterous coalition that ever disgraced the annals of election in this or any other county. In the former inftance, I refifted the attempt to introduce a meniber for the county by improper means: in the prefent, I have done the fame, with this additional circumftance in my favour, that I have now improved my claim to your approbation by 12 years of faithful and difinterested service; and it is for thofe, who were divided before in opinion on that point, to account to the world for fo heterogeneous a combination of difcordant parties as we have this day witneffed.

I am charged with having abandoned the ufe of the people, by with.bawing myself from the friends of Parliamentary Reform — On this it is fuiticient to fay, that, in the face of the county, and to your perfect fatisfaction, I thamed my accufers in the year 1992. Who were then mott forward in approving me? This fame aristocracy. Who condemned me? That party alone with which the arutocrarcy, then at variance, is now thamefully united. And for this reafon only was I condemned, that I had detected, and proclaimed to the world, a ftrong tendency to Jacobin:sin in thofe who profulled themfelves moderate Reformers. So much for tranfactions of a more early date.

But to have fupported the war is an unpardonable offence. What! in the judgment of thofe who have themfelves fupported it throughout ? In the judgment of thofe (if, indeed, they have any judgment of their own on luch momentous fubject,) who, gorged with places, patronage, and difunctions of every kind, by the bounty of

that Government which had been cruelly forced into the war, have now the vanity and the weak nefs to think that they are recommending themselves to their paymafters by oppofing me; and, blind to the precarious fituation in which they ftand, feem wholly to have forgotten, that the breath of the Court, which they are thus inconfiftently affecting to serve, can annihilate in an inftant all their confequence, and all their power. It will not create much furprize, that the other head of this monstrous faction, with all its tongues and all its venom, fhould be raised against the supporter of a war, undertaken in defence of our Sovereign on his throne, and of our happy establishments in Church and State : that those who have exulted in the triumphs of our enemies; have palliated Irish rebellion; and in every inftance, where public exertion was required, have endeavoured to paralize the nerves and vigour of the State; have decried the firmnels of our counfels; have undervalued the fucceffes of our arms; have attempted to blait the credit of our finances; have affected to confider thofe temporary reftraints on the liberty of the fubject, which were called for by the combined intrigues of outward foes and domestic traitors, 4s odious invasions of the Conftitution; and, finally, have laboured, by all the mea is in their power, to reprobate and difcredit every tax which the vigorous profecution of fuch a conteft demanded, and, failing in their object of creating general confufion, conclude their flimfy rhaplodies againit the Government under which they live; their miferable cant about the oppreflions of the poor, with a patriotic threat of fecking more perfect freedom in the bleffed regions of French defpotifm: that men of this defcription, aver fe from every system which accords not with their own vifionary ideas of innovation, should object to one who has known through life no other rule for his political conduct than the laws and con◄ ftitution of his country, and has never been of any party but that of Great Britain against the enemies of Great Britain, of whatever defcription, or wherefoever found, can excite no wonder in the mind of any man, nor produce much regret in him, who has been the object of their unprincipled perfecution but that fuch an union as we have feen thould exist for any honest purpose, or with the least profpect of cordiality or permeance, can never be expected without, a miracle, greater than any which have been recorded in this age of ftrange and anomalous productions.

In difapproving the Peace, it is true, I have differed equally from both parts of this honourable allocation. But let it be remembered, that thote, who the belt of it, lament that it was not procur d

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