ject of fuch great political importance, that whoever exerts his abilities in endeavouring to bring about fo defirable an event, delerves the thanks of the public. It has accordingly engaged the attention of many, who tho' they all agree in one point, the neceffity of reducing it, yet not any two of them approve of the fame means to effect this purpose. Lord Newhaven proposes two fchemes.

"One hundred millions," he fuppofes, (which is under what others have calculated it a) to be the annual income of Great-Britain, ia land, houses, and perfonal property; which, valued at the moderate rate of 20 years purchafe, makes a principal of 2,000 millions, on which an annual charge of one per cent. will produce 20,000,000 From this

£. s. d. 7,951,930 IO

after the first payment of one per cent, made at the Exchequer. By this plan no individual would pay near fo much on his rental or expenditure as he now does for taxes of every kind, and be relieved from the perpetual irritation and difquietude of tax-gatherers of every denomination.”

To provide for the army, navy, and other branches of civil government, when the home-taxes are abolished, his Lordship propofes to continue the duties on importation, which he conceives to be nearly adequate to defray all expences civil and military in time of peace.

The following is his fecond fcheme :

"Suppofe there is to be found in GreatBritain the following number of persons, one with another, capable of paying the following annual rates, in confideration of which to abolish a certain part of the moft burthenfome taxes every year, in proportion to the money paid into the exchequer, fuch as thofe on foap, candles, leather, falt, window-lights, land-tax, houses, &c. viz.

he de

dufts the

annual

intereft

of the

funded

debt

Ditto of

unfund

612,742

fons at

251. $25

ed do.

Annual

Sea

Houle, J

8,698,963 14 1

"So that any of the above numbers, at these respective rates, would pay off 200 millions of the national debt in eight years." But to calculate with certainty the operation of these plans, the property of Great-Britain must be afcertained with more precision than is hardly poffible; for without the greatest precaution much inconvenience and more confufion would in all probability arife.

The

WAS

FEB. 14,

As the day appointed to ballot for a Committee to try the merits of a petition complaining of an undue election for the borough of Honiton; but there not being a fufficient number of members prefent to conftitute a houfe, agreeably to Mr. Grenville's Act, the Speaker adjourned the House without proceeding to any business. FEB. 15.

The House ballotted for a Committee to try the merits of Honiton Election petition. Received and read a petition from Sarum against the fhop-tax.

The Houfe proceeded afterwards to ballot for a Committee to appoint Commiffioners from different lifts, delivered in at the table, for exceuting certain parts of the East-India Judicature bill; previous to the difcuffion of which a lift was circulated as of ministerial dictation.

On this fubject a debate fucceeded, of which we cannot mention more than the fubitance, as in the cafe of a ballot all ftrangers are excluded the gallery. The members in Oppofition objected ftrongly not only to the Minister's selection, but alfo to the general policy of the meafure. Besides debating the propriety of the latter, they introduced a crofs ballot, by propofing to fubftitute other members in the room of a part of the Minifter's lift. A retrofpe&t followed of the meafures which have been adopted in the adminitration of India, and of those confequent diffatisfactions which have already been anBounced to the public.

The following are the names of the gentlemen ballotted for Commiffioners of the Court of Judicature: Francis Annefley, Efq. |* Wm. Lygon, Efq. Sir Edw. Aftley, Bt. Sir Rob. Lawley, Bi Henry Bankes, Efq. Sir Wm. Lemon, Bt. Jn. Barrington, Efq. Sir Ja. Langham, Bt. Ju. Pollexfen Bastard, Sir Ed. Littleton, Bt. *Tho. Maiters, Efq. W. M Dowal, Efq. Rd. Slater Milnes Efq.

Efq.

* Hen. Beaufoy, Efq. Tho. Berney Bramfton, Efq. Ch. Brandling, Efq. 1. Hawkins Browne, Eig. Ja. Blackburne, Efq. Lord Fred. Campbell Sir R. S. Cotton, Bt. Sir W. Dolben, Bart. W. Drake, jun. Efq. Hen. Duncombe, Efq. *SirA.Edmondstone,

Bart.

Wm. Egerton, Efq. Sir A. Ferguson, Bt. *Joshua Grigby, Efq. Amb. Goddard, Esq. Lord Vif. Grimstone Sir Richard Hill Sir Harbord Harbord, EUROE. MAGI

|

* Lord Mulcafter
W. Mainwaring, Efq.
*Henry Peirfe, Elq.
Wm. Praed, Efq.
Hen. Ja. Pye, Efq.
Edward Phelips, Efq.
Wm. Pulteney, Elq.
Wm. Morton Pitt,
Efq.

John Rolie, Efq.
Sir John Rous, Bart.
Hon. Fred Robinfon
Hon. Dudley Ryder
* Sir G. A. Shuck-

burg, Bart.

Walter Sneyd, Efq. * Ch. Lorain Smith,

Efq.

Bart.

Sir H. Houghton, Bt.

John James Hamil ton, Efq.

Arthur Holdfworth, Efq.

John Galley Knight, Efq.

John Smith, Efq. Sir John Sinclair, Bt. Sir R. Smith, Bart. * H. Thornton, Efq. Brook Watfon, Esq. Sir John Wodehouse, Bart.

Philip York, Efq.

The above names were read over at the table, and are to be certified to the Clerk of the Crown by the Speaker. The Act impowers three Judges, one from the Court of King's-Bench, one from the Common-Pleas, and a Baron of the Exchequer, to meet and ballot forty members only out of those chofen by the Commons. A commission is then to be made out under the great feal, by which authority they are to act.

The names marked with an afterisk (*) were not in the Ministerial lift, but all the others were.

FEB. 16.

Ballotted for a Committee to try the merit of a petition complaining of an undue elec tion for the borough of Ilchester.

Mr. Baftard moved for leave to bring in a bill for continuing an act passed last feffion, to prevent the exportation of hay. Leave was given.

Mr. Sheridan called the attention of the Houfe to the fhameful proceeding of the printed lifts which had been delivered to all the members, with a view to influence them in the ballot for the Eaft-India judicature. It was a mockery of the independency of the new tribunal, and an infult to the dignity of the Houfe. With a view therefore to afcertain whether those printed lifts came from the Treasury, or were authorised by any of the fervants of the Crown, he moved, "That Jofeph Pearfon, the doorkeeper of this House, be now called to the bar and examined relative to the printed lifts which were yesterday delivered to the members previous to the ballot."

After fome debate, in which Sir Jofeph Mawbey, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, Mr. Drake, and others fpoke, the House divided, when the numbers were, for the question 38, against it 138, majority 100.'

Mr. Sheridan next went into a view of the intended system of fortification, and of the circumftances by which it was accompanied. He felt himself authorised in saying, that the fentiments of the House were laft feffion decidedly against fuch a measure. Without any change in the circumstances, they were now called on to enter into the fyftem, and to pledge themselves to its fupport. A Right Hon. Gentleman had talked with confidence on the report of a Board of officers, who had decided in favour of the measure; but furely the information contained in that report should have been communicated to the Houfe; it thould not be confined to his Majesty, the Master General B b

of

of the Ordnance, or his Majesty's officers of ftate, as it could never have been intended for their ufe. Under thefe circumftances he moved, that an address should be prefented to his Majefty, humbly praying that there fhould be laid before them copies of the names and appointments of the officers who compofed this board of enquiry, the inftructions given them, and fuch extracts from their report as could be given confiftently with the public fafety.

Mr. Pitt faid, that when the prefent motion was first fuggelted, he had objected to granting any extracts from the reports until he knew from more mature deliberation, whether fuch could be granted with fafety, He had perufed them carefully, and was happy to declare his opinion, that they might be allowed with trifling subtractions and a few verbal alterations. He would propofe, only for the fake of order, a motion different in form, not in ipirit, from that of the hon. Gentleman opposite him. Mr. Sheridan aflented to this, and withdrew the motion he had made.

Gen. Burgoyne exprefied his pleasure on the information he was about to receive. TheHoule would then, he said, be convinced with him, that the Board could not decide otherwife than they had done; yet the Houfe ught not to be bound by their decifion. The Mafter General of the Ordnance was certainly a very able engineer, and he confelfed to have received from him much information in that science while at the Board. But he thought much more highly of his abilities in another point of view. The noble Duke had evinced fingular acutenefs in ftating every question hypothetically, in fuppofing cafes which were fcarcely poffible, - yet leading the judgment gradually and in fenfibly from one deduction to another, notil the mind was brought at length to affent to propofitions which it was predetermined to reject.

Mr. Fox faid, that the cafe was certainly poflible. A proficient in logic may mislead › even men of good fenfe and informed judgments; and he knew no perfon whofe taFents were more equal to fuch a task than thofe of the noble Duke, of whom, if he were not prefent, (his Grace of Richmond was at this time in the gallery) he would fay more than that he regarded him with equal affection and reverence. He thought it a queftion to be argued on grounds of general policy, and as fuch, more proper for the confideration of Parliament than for that of any fet of men, however intelligent otherwife, or how ever profeffedly informed.

Mr. Pitt's motion was then put and agreed to.

FEB. 17.

The bill for restraining the exportation of hay for fome time longer passed through a Committee, where, after fome little conver

fation, a claufe was admitted for prolonging the duration of the bill to the opening of next feffion of Parliament, and for one month after.

Mr. Jenkinson faid, that the regulation of the commerce between the United States of America and our Weft-India islands, and that of the trade between this country and the United States, claimed the attention of the Houfe. Many had apprehended that the plan that had hitherto been adopted in temporary acts of parliament would prove injarious to our iflands; but this apprehenfion was now removed by experience; and, therefore, he thought it might with fafery continue on the fame footing. As to the in tercourse between Great Britain and the United States, it was fo hampered and clogged by the acts of those States, though Great-Britain had behaved with liberality towards them in encouraging their trade, that until they fhould bring forward fome regular and permanent plan of commercial intercourfe, he was of opinion, that the temporary act of parliament for keeping up that in tercourfe fhould be prolonged, and that no other measure ought for the present to be adopted on our part. He concluded by moving for leave to bring in a bill to prolong the faid act; and leave was accordingly given.

The papers on the fubject of Fortifications, which were yesterday moved for, being brought up and read,

Mr. Pitt moved that they may be printed, with an exclufion of certain eftimates, the publication of which, as they contained the precife dimenfions of the new buildings to be erected, may be attended with injurious coa fequences; and it was ordered accordingly.

Mr. Burke made this day a fpeech full three hours long; in which he charged Mr. Haftings with the most flagrant mal-adminiftration in India. The juftice of the nation, he said, called aloud for a victim, that future governors might be deterred from ruining the countries they should be sent to govern. The affair was of too great a magnitude to be profecuted in the ordinary way by the Attorney-general in the Court of King's-Bench. The proceeding by a bill of pains and penalties, was by experience known to be a most effectual way to bring a criminal to public juftice. He therefore would prefer the trial by impeachment at the bar of the House of Lords. To enable him to do this, he should be obliged to call for a great number of papers, out of which he would colle&t such a body of charges of criminality, as would astonish that House and all the world. He accordingly made many motions, ten of which were carried. On the 11th motion, however, a difference of opinion having arifen, it was moved by Mr. Dundas, that the debate on that queftion thould be adjourned to Monday next. The motion paffed without oppofition.

FEB. 20.

Mr. Brent from the Tax-office prefented, according to order, An account of the total fums affelfed in Great Britain for horfes and carriages, heretofore under the manage ment of the Commiflioners of Extise, for waggons, wains, and other fuch carriages, and for male and female fervants, and for fhops." And also,

The total of fums affeffed upon all inhabited houses, as far as the fame can be made up in complete periods, diftinguishing each period and each affeffment." The titles were read, and the accounts ordered to be printed.

Affeffment on houfes for half

Ditto male fervants, three quarters

Ditto female fervants
Ditto horfes, half a year
Ditto four wheel carriages
Ditto two wheel

£. s. d.

259,224 6 11

55:481 4 9

66,997 9 4 24,426 16 6 67,115 4 5 87,992 10 9 10,907 9 O The Speaker having called the attention of the House to that part of the business at which they had adjourned, Mr. Burke declared he had two objects in view: The firth was to obtain truth, and the second to fave time. With regard to the grand and fundamental principles of the business now in agitation, he entertained confiderable con fidence of fuccefs, as he conceived that the Houfe was pledged, by every tie of honour and dignity, to fupport him in his allegations, and encourage the investigation of a fubject that had for its ultimate end the redemption of our candour, probity, and jaftice as a civilized nation. In the profecution of fuch an intricate affair, which required much attention, diligence, and indefangable perfeverance, it must be obvious to every gentleman, that much information was wanted, and that the production of various papers illuftrative of the fubject, would be abfolutely necessary; he therefore hoped, that there would be no objection to the communication of evidence which appeared of an important nature. He then begged leave to withdraw the motion which the Speaker had read, which was agreed to; when one to the following effect was fubftituted :-"That there be laid before the Houfe, duplicates of the correfpondence, inftructions, or minutes, from the Governor General and Council, concerning the ftate of the country of Oude, and the Royal Family there:-Alfo copies of the inftructions given to Meirs. Johnltone, Middleton, and Briftow:-As alfo so many of the papers connected with the foregoing as relate to the tranfa&tions with Almas Ali Cawn,"

The motion was feconded, when Mr. Dundas expreffed a wish to know, whether the Reports on the table pledged

the House to allow every paper, of whatever defcription foever, to be produced. In the prefent ftage of the business, the accufation against Mr. Haftings was only implied. It refted chiefly on the authority of the Hon. Gentleman who had come forward in the bufinefs. Before the House therefore should go on piling volume on volume, and paper on paper, agreeably to the fuggeftion of the Hon. Gentleman, he thought it was highly proper to confider whether it was under any obligation to gratify bim on this point, os whether it would act wifely and formally by fo doing. There was as yet no fpecific. charge before the Houfe. Would the Hon. Gentleman come forward with a specific accufation? If he should, in that cafe there might be fome plaufible reafon which he might urge for calling for certain papers, neceffary to fubftantiate his charge; but under the prefent afpect of affairs he could fee none. He concluded by declaring, that he would act on the liberal side with regard to the production of papers.

Mr. Burke contended, that the learned Gentleman's reafoning was not at all juftified by the practice of the Houfe. It was usual to call for papers, without mentioning for what purpose. Papers had been laid upon the table the last feffion in this very manner. He recollected the cafe in point, and would bring to the learned Gentleman's recalléetion, that this inftance had obtained relative to the Nabob of Oude. He confidered the rejection of his request as a ftratagem to get rid of the whole enquiry; and although, formally fpeaking, he might take the advan tage of the learned Gentleman's fubterfuge, and steal away from the enquiry, yet he felt too lively a fenfe of public juftice to defert its caufe. He well knew how much a criminal profecution depended on the firmnels, vigour, and fidelity of the profecutor. When Cicero accufed Verres, he was not abandon ed, but fupported by the flower of the Ro man Senate. The Hortenfii, Metelli, and Marcelli, were ftrenuous in the cause. The public records were laid open to him, Every fpecies of evidence was furnished. Perfons were even fent out of Italy into Sicily, to fish for proofs of his guilt. No means were left unemployed to bring to public juftice its proper victim. In like manner, the Cicero (Mr. Dundas) of the British Senate, when he seemed to feel that indignity against public crimes which did him fo much honour when ardent in the execution of public juftice, in a cafe which could not have efcaped the recollection of any who attended to the hiftory of the India delinquency, had every afftance be ftowed on him. The flower of the orators at the bar fupported him, Every paper which he wanted was produced. Every avenue of information was laid open. Crown lawyers were engaged in the research. Treafury clerks exerted themselves with all the Bb 2

enthu