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Monday, and Lord North argued, that the delay of four and twenty hours was a matter of very little difference.

Mr. Pitt was of a contrary opinion, and paffed many fevere obfervations on his Lordfhip's adminiftration; hoping he would recollect, that in his vigorous and fuccessful government, he had never, on any urgent occahion, afferted, that the delay of twenty-four hours was a matter of indifference.

After a few other remarks a divifion enfued, when the numbers were, Ayes 89, Noes 24. The report was then received in the usual form, after which the House adjourned.

MARCH 27.

Mr. Jenkinson, after making a few remarks on the bill which he had last year introduced for regulating the Newfoundland fisheries, recalled the attention of the House to the fubjeet. Having received two readings laft Seffion of Parliament, it had been delayed merely from an idea of its great importance, in order that gentlemen might have an opportunity of fully deciding on its merits during the recefs. He expatiated on the Newfoundland fisheries, as an object of national utility. They not only ferved as a fource of wealth, but as an excellent nursery for our feamen. The bill to which he now alluded was fraught with many falutary regulations, which, he imagined, it would at prefent be unnecessary to explain minutely; he would, therefore, content himself with mentioning its principal features. The first of thefe was, to preclude those concerned in the fisheries from becoming ftationary refidents in the island; because, should an extensive colonization take place, it would deprive the nation of thofe advantages derived from a circuitous navigation. In the year 1700, that acute politician, Sir Jofiah Child, predicted the confequence of a colonization being permitted to the Newfoundland fishermen. Experience had confirmed the hypotheli, for the Newfoundland fisheries, according to the advancement of colonization, had gradually decreafed in utility to this country. In order to obviate this circumfrance, he intended to infert a claufe in this bill, to enjoin, that a part at least of the feamens wages fhould be paid in this kingdom. In another claufe of the bill, he would enforce the limitation of a year for the tenure of those temporary buildings, which were found expedient for the curing of fish, and for the refidence of those employed in the hufinefs. The fecond part of the bill affected the regulation of particular bounties, which our neighbours imitated from objects of policy. The French had, for a series of years, granted to their fihermen a bounty of five livres per quintal, and had alfo laid a prohibitory duty of ten livres per quintal on all fish imported in any other than French bottoms. With regard to this particular ftep,

it was intended to follow them, but with this neceffary economical precaution, that the expenditure should not amount to more than 7000l. per annum. He afterwards concluded with moving, that a Committee should be appointed for the purpose of drawing up certain refolutions, to be laid before the House, previous to the introduction of the bill.

The motion was then agreed to, and the Committee appointed.

Major Scott rofe and moved for feveral papers in addition to thofe already in the poffeffion of the Houfe. They were all ordered.

The order of the day was then read for the third reading of Mr. Dundas's bill for regulating the jurifdiction of India; on which

Mr. Dempster moved a clause, as a rider, for limiting the extraordinary powers conferred by the bill on the Governor-General, and on the prefent Governors of Madras and Bombay; and alfo for limiting the duration of the act for five years.

Mr. Dundas opposed it.

The House then divided, and the numbers

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Sir James Erikine propofed feveral claufes A fhort converfation took place between Mr. Fox, Mr. Dundas, and the Attorney Gene ral, when the claufes were rejected without any divifion. The bill was then read a third time and passed.

The order of the day was then gone into for the second reading of the Stourbridge ca nal bill.

Mr. Minchin made fome obfervations upon the impropriety of the intended canal: that there were parties faid to have confented to carry it into execution, who, on the contrary, were now petitioners against it. That it was given out, that a meeting of the county would be affembled to take the fense of the landed gentlemen, and other perfons cou cerned in that measure; but that no fuch meeting had taken place. That the scheme would be highly injurious to the neighbour hood through which it was to take its direc tion, more particularly the proprietors of mills, and be very detrimental to the prefent Staffordshire canal. For all these reas fons, he moved to poftpone the second read. ing until this day three months.

Lord Weftcote affured the Houfe, that the friends of the bill had evidence now ready in waiting to fupport the utility of the mea fure, and for that reafon he objected to the poftponement. The gallery was cleared, and the Houfe was upon the point of dividing, when Mr. Minchin withdrew his motion. Several petitions against the bill were then read, and

Mr. Plomer appeared as Counfel for the petitioners, and

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MARCH 29.

The House ballotted for a Select Committee, to try the merits of the petition of Mr. Campbell, complaining of an undue election for the fhire of Nairne.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered a written meffage from his Majesty, which was read by the Speaker (the Members fitting uncovered): the purport of it was, that it was with great concern his Majesty informed the Houfe that he had not been able to prevent the expences of the Civil Lift from exceeding its income; that an arrear had consequently been incurred, for the discharge of which he relied upon the zeal and affections of his faithful Commons.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid he would lay upon the table to-morrow fome papers relative to the arrear alluded to in the King's meflage; intimating at the fame time that he intended to move (on Wednesday next) fome propofitions relative to that fub ject.

The House went into a Committee on the report from the Select Committee to which it had been referred to state what furplus might be expected upon the grofs produce of the taxes.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer then opened his plan for the redemption of the national debt. The limits allotted in our Magazine for parliamentary debates, will not allow us to follow him into a detailed report of a speech that he was two hours and three quarters in delivering. We shall endeavour, however, to ftate briefly the fubftance of his plan.

The report as drawn up by the Select Committee, ftates on one fide the produce of the taxes for the prefent year; and fets against it the expenditure not of the prefent year, but the probable expenditure of the year 1790; and between thefe two ftatements there is a furplus of taxes to the amount of about 900,000l. In the navy eftimates for this year, and for 1790, there is a difference of 600,000l. Mr. Pitt laboured to prove, that though the naval establishment amounts this year to 2,400,000l. yet that of $790 will not exceed 1,800,000l. The caufes

of the difference, he faid, were the extraor dinaries of the navy, for furnishing hips now building upon contract; and when they are finished, the expence, being temporary, not annual, will not occur another year. The taxes, he said, would also produce much more in future, when evasions would point out new remedies to enforce the payment; and trade, by finding its level during the peace, would be extended, and consequently the receipts of the cultoms would be increased. New regulations might also be framed to prevent the fmuggling of wine, which had increased to so altonishing a degree, that though the confumption of that article had been doubled and trebled of late, yet the duties on the importation of it produced annually, thirty years ago, 200,000l. more than they produce now. From thefe different circumstances he concluded, that the revenue might be fo improved, as to keep up, and even increase the furplus of 900,000!.

He admitted, that if the public expendi ture for and after the year 1790, was to be eftimated for the expenditure of the prefent year, there would not be fo great a furplus, as the difference between the two amounted to three millions: but this difference he would provide for, without breaking in upon any part of the actual receipt of the taxes: the means he would have recourfe to were thefe; he would call upon the public accountants, who had been entrusted with money during the war, to pay in their balances; this he expected would produce 1,000,000l. in the course of the three years between this and 1790. A lottery, which, like that of the prefent year, would produce 140,000l. per annum, would in four years give 560,000l. and the money payable from the non-effective fund of the army would amount to a prodigious fum, as the Committee, might well imagine, when he fhould inform them, that the pei fons who were employed in paffing those accounts had the accounts of one hundred and eighteen regiments of foot to go through; that they had already gone through one regiment only, and by that regiment the fum of 22,0001. was due to the Exchequer, and would be paid by the agent. Thefe fums would, as they came in, be applied to public demands, and would anfwer the difference of three millions that would arife in the course of three years, between the estimates of this year and of 1790, fo that the furplus of 90,000l. or thereabouts, would remain untouched.

To make this furplus up one million, he would propofe three taxes.

An additional penny per gallon on spirits in the wash, which would produce from 50,000l. to 60,000l. per annum; a regulation of the duty on deals, beams, and battens imported, which he said would produce about

30,0001.

30,000l. a year; and lafly, he would propofe a duty on perfumery, that would bring in 15,000l. perhaps 30,000l. per annum.

The manner in which he would propofe to manage the furplus was this; he would propofe to appoint the Speaker, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Matter of the Rolls, the Accountant General of the Court of Chancerv, and the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank, all for the time being, as Commiffioners to manage it: that 250,000l. fhould be iffued to them at the beginning of every quarter, beginning on the 5th of July next; that they fhould divide that fum into as many parts as there are transfer days in a quarter; and that they fhould lay out the allotted thare on each of those days in the purchafe of flock; the interefts of the debt bought up to be applied in aid of the furplus till there fhould be a clear revenue to the country of four millions, which would be procured in twenty-eight years; but after that period to fisk into the mafs of the fupply, and be applied in aid and relief of the fubject. He juít obferved, that he would on Wednesday next move, that Parliament would redeem the mortgage of 50,000l. of the Civil Litt, which now amounted to 180,000l. that fo the Crown might have a full revenue of 900,000). a year. He concluded by moving, that the fum of one million ought to be unalienably appropriated to the redemption of the national debt, and be charged upon the furplus of the taxes.

This motion, after fome debate, in which Mr. Fox, Mr. Sheridan, and Sir Grey Cooper, controverted many of Mr. Pitt's pofitions, and maintained that many of the grounds on which he built his hopes of a furpins were fallacious, was put and carried without a division; as were the following refolutions refp. cting the three new taxes.

Relolved, "That all perfons dealing in, or vending, perfumery goods, fhall be obliged to take out licences charged with a famp duty of 5s. if they vend in London, Weftmintter, or Southwark; and if fuch person fhall live in any other part of GreatBritain, the licences to be subject to a itamp duty of 2s. 6d.

3d.

fhall be increased 1d. according to the ratio of the former duties on wath." MARCH 30.

On the report of the new taxes being read, Mr. Pulteney withed to know if the one million intended to be annually applied toward the reduction of the national debt, fhould be only applied to the debt at prefent exifting, and not to the difcharge of any new loan in future, which, in his opinion, would give ftrength, fecurity, and spirit, to the old funds.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer pro mifed to give his candid opinion on that point, when the subject came to be debated in a Committee; declaring, at the fame time, that whatever might fall from any gentleman, on that or any other head, should have its proper weight with him.

Mr. Jolliffe pro effed himself as warm a friend to the obje& of the impofts as any gentleman poffibly could be, notwithflanding he was fenfible, that with economy in the collection they would prove much more productive; yet, on this occafion, he thought they were not the proper objects of taxation. In his opinion, it was the landed intereft that fh uld bear the burthen, as the molt capable of bearing it, and not ftripes of tape, pomatum, and hair powder: this would let the world fee, that we were in earnest in the work we had fet about; that we neither intended to amufe or deceive; it would gain the confidence of the whole nation, and the furrounding nations, who would be at a lofs which to admire moft, our honefty or difinterestedness. The language he spoke, he well knew to be unpopular, but it was the language of his heart, which would ever beat high to the caufe of his country. Two millions annually, in his opinion, would be much more eligible than one, or three, if poffible.

Mr. Dempfter was apprehenfive that the additional tax on fpirits would increase the fmuggling of that article; experience, and the highest information, confirmed him in this opinion. So far was fmuggling from being deftroyed, that it feemed to gain frength in feveral parts of the kingdom, particularly the northern; that Government, in this very article, was defrauded of between four and five hundred thoufand pounds, which he faid he could prove by wituelles at the bar of the Houfe.

"That upon all perfumery goods fold, there fhall be paid the following duties: (that is to fay) Where the price shall not exceed the fum of 8d. a ftamp duty of id. Above 8d. and not exceeding is. 1ld. Above 15. and not exceeding 1s. gd. Mr. Pulteney faid, that this tax would Above 18. gd. and not exceeding 2s. 6d. 6d. operate in favour of the illicit trader was Apove 2s. 6d. and lefs than 5s. gd. visible on the face of it; and if it was ne Of the value of 55. and upwards 15. ceffary to take the tax off the tea, in order Retolved, 66 That the prefent rates to deftroy fmuggling in that line, he did not whereby deals and battens are chargeable, fee but the fame reafon would apply in the fhali ceafe; and that 51. fhall be the rate prefent cafe. The morals of the people whereby the duties thall be computed on might be hurt in fo doing, but the caule of 100 deals, and 21. 12s. 6d. on 100 battens." fmuggling much more fo, as the fpirits come Refolved, "That the prefent duties upon confiderably cheaper through that medium. wath used in the diftillation of corn fpirits, The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, he

would

would feverally meet the objection of every man in the Committee on each point; he wished to have the firft and fecond readings of the bill on Monday and Thurfday next, in order to fix a day for the commitment. that each gentleman might be enabled to make up his mind to his own fatisfaction, if poffible, which was agreed to.

The order of the day was then read, for the fecond reading of the bill introduced by Mr. Marsham for fufpending the election franchife of perfons concerned in the civil departments of the navy or ordnance.

Mr. Bamber Gafcoyne obferved, that it went to exclude all those who received falaries in the naval line, fo that he did not fee who could efcape. Having humouroufly commented on the bill for fome time, he concluded with a promise that it should meet his negative.

Mr. Drake, junior, ftated his objections to the bill in a fpeech of fome length.

Mr. Marfham rofe, and after dwelling for fome time on the utility of the bill, declared, he had feen fo much benefit arife from that of Mr. Crewe's, that he was urged to extend it to a line that feemed to call as loudly for it-fo loudly, indeed, that not ene petition appeared against it.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, he had voted for Mr. Crewe's bill, on the conviction of its utility in the department to which it was directed; but as this came in on a different principle, he would vote against it.

1

Mr. Fox believed the principal object of Mr. Crewe's bill, though fome considered it only as a collateral one, was, the coll-ction of the revenue; and his Hon. Friend's bill (Mr. Marfham), he believed, would have a good effect in point of work, which fhould be made the itandard of promotion, instead of a vote. After many obfervations and pertinent remarks, he declared that he would fupport the bill in queftion to the utmost of his power.

Lord Mulgrave infifted that a fuffragt, or vote, was never known to be the ftandard of promotion in the dock-yards; on the contrary, the work was ftill better done in the King's yards than in the merchants. He likewife contended, that it would tend to fend our artizans abroad, with many other points, in anfwer to Mr. Fox; and as to petitions, faid he, I hope they are better employed than to bufy their heads with fuch stuff.

Alter this the conversation became general; when, after fome time spent, the Houfe divided on the bill, and there appeared, for the bill 41-againft 117-majrity 76.Adjourned.

MARCH 31.

Ordered out a new writ for Carlife, in the room of the Hon. Edward Norton, de

ceafed. For Newtown in Lancashire, in, the room of Sir Thomas Davenport, deceafed. For Hants, in the room of Henry Seymour Conway, Efq. who has accepted

the Chiltern Hundreds.

The order of the day being read for the farther confideration of Mr. Dundas's India judicature bill,

Mr. Dundas rofe and obferved, that as he had an important claufe to expunge, he would now move, that the order fhould be difcharged; and that leave should be given to withdraw the bill which he had propofed. This being confented to, he would next move for leave to introduce a new bill, in order totally to refcind that part which related to the difclofure of fortunes acquired in India. Still, however, he meant, that the fame furety should remain for checking peculation and plunder, as that to which Parliament had wifely affented. He was happy to inform the Houle, that the intelligence recently received from India, rendered it unnecellary to enforce fuch a measure, as the principal defects which it was meant to rectify had been happily remedied.

Mr. Francis declared his approbation of the alteration, and was glad that the Right Hon. Gentleman had more carefully revifed the fubject, and corrected what mult appear to every man a grievance.

Mr. Dempiter was of opinion, that the alteration intended by his Right Hon. friend would ferve to eafe the minds of many refpc&table gentlemen who were about to retorn from India. He then took notice of Mr. Dundas's bill, fo far as related to a trial by jury, and thought it exceedingly oppretive. He was wellintormed, that many of our fellow fubjects in that quarter of the world had declared, that they would fooner part with their lives than fufter fuch an infringement of their liberty.

Mr. Dundas faid that his Hon. friend was millaken. With regard to what had been infinuated by the Hon. Gentleman concerne ing an infurrection in India, he was not in te lealt apprehenfive of fuch an event. IF it wore to happen, the infurgents could not derive ben fit from it, as the natives in any India would throw off their yoke, and cut the throats of the Europeans.

The quetion was then put, when the or der was difcharged.

Mr. Dundas then gave not er, that he would bring in his new bill on Monday

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cordingly left the chair, and Mr. Orde took the chair of the Committee.

Mr. Burke immediately moved that Leonard Jaques, Efq; be called to the bar.

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This motion produced a debate, that lafted till ten o'clock; but as it turned chiefly upon a point of order with refpect to the regula rity of the proceedings, we fhall juft report the fubftance of the debate, which, from the number of speakers, and the number of times that many of them rofe, it would be impoffible for us to give at full length. An objeon was started by the Master of the Rolls, and fupported by Mr. Nichols, Mr. S. Smith, Mr. Dundas, Mr. Jenkinson, the Lord Advocate of Scotland, the Solicitor General, Mr. Young, Sir Gregory Page Turmer, Mr. Grofvenor, and Mr. Wilberforce that the bufinefs of the Committee was to receive charges and not to hear evidence; for until the charges were received. it would be impoffible for gentlemen to know to what points the witnefs could be examined, and inded it would not be lefs fo to determine, whether there was really any impeachable matter in the different articles which might be produced as the ground of impeachment of Mr. Haflings and confequently it would be mifpending the time of the Committee to make it fit from day to day to hear evidence before it could be known whether fuch evidence would in the end be applicable to the object of an impeachment of Mr. Hastings. Befides, it would not be lefs contrary to the eftablished rule or order of the Houfe than of all courts of juftice, that accufation should precede the evidence; for the latter was a relative term, and fignified that which makes evident or plain." On the other hand. Mr. Fox, Mr. Burke, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Wyndham, and others, maintained that the Committee, fo far from being reltrained to the bare receiving of charges, was in fact a Committee of Enquiry; for it appeared from the order of the day, that the Committee was to take into confideration the papers relative to India; and by the fame order, witnelles were bound to attend and were attending. It would, therefore, be an extraordinary proceeding, if the chairman was to quit the chair, and report to the Houfe that the Committee, though directed to take papers into confideration, had confidered none; though ordered to examine winefies, had examined none. If the charges ought to have preceded the production of evidence, the gentlemen who advanced fuch a polition ought to have attended to the Houle fooner, and prevented it by their advice from doing fo abfurd a thing, as to order the Committee to examine witnelles, and take papers into confideration, before the charges, to which they were to be applied, were produced. But, in fact, when the right honourable Member (Mr. Burke) had mov

ed for the papers, he had, at the exprefs defire of the House, stated a cha ge, not espe cial indeed, but a general one, as a preamble to each motion, and thus pointed out the particular point to which each paper was applicable.

At laft Mr. Burke faid he would propofe an amendment to his own motion, which would, he hoped, fatisfy the gentlemen who oppofed his original motion; and that was, that Leonard Jaques, Efq. be called to the bar to be examined relative to letters that paffed between him and Nathaniel Middleton and Richard Johnfon, Efquires, when the faid Leonard Jaques, Efq. was on guard over the grandmother of the Nabob of Oude, an ally of this country. This amendment, however, was not received more favourably than the original motion: The Committee called for the queftion, and was proceeding to divide upon it; but the oppofition having been given up, both the original motion and the amendment were negatived without a divifion.

Mr. Burke then declared, that, bowing to the authority of the Committee, he would, notwithstanding his own objection to fuch a proceeding, bring forward his charges, at leaft fuch of them as he had prepared. The first of them was then produced, but as it was very long, the Committee feemed to wifh that it fhould be read hort, as the term is, and merely pro forma.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer afked Mr. Burke if he intended to call any witneffes in fupport of that charge before any more charges were delivered in. That gen tleman replied, that it was certainly his with to fubftantiate each charge by itfelf, before he proceeded to another; but as he perceived the with of the Committee to be that the charges should be all produced and printed before any wineffes were call d, he would facrifice his own judgment to the fenle of the Committee. Upon this it was agreed that the chairman fhould report progrefs, and afk leave to fit again, for the purpose of receiving all the charges, and of taking them into confideration at a fubfequent period.

The Houfe was refumed, and then adjourned.

APRIL 4.

Mr. Burke, in his place, charged Warren Hastings, Efq. late Governor-General of Bengal, with fundry High Crimes and Mil demeanors; and prefented to the House feveral articles of charge of High Crimes and Mifdemeanors against the faid Warren Haftings, which confift of the following particulars:

1. The Tranfa&tions of Rohilla;
II. The Confinement of the Megul;
III. The tranfactions at Benares ;
IV. Ditto, at Oude;
V. Ditto, at Fanuchabad;

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