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Sir John Sinclair, alluding to the preamble, faid that it be gan with thefe words, "whereas it is expedient to call out half the Supplementary Militia;" what freth evidence Government procceded upon he knew not; but he thought it would be better to alter the preamble in the following manner, "whereas it may be expedient." For his own part, he thought that as it was known the French were making great preparations, not only half, but all the Supplementary Militia fhould

be called out.

Mr. Dundas faid, that it was not very material whether the words were" is expedient," or "may be expedient," nor was it neceffary to provide in this bill for calling out all the Supplementary Militia, for the power of doing fo refided in the crown already.

The fuggeftion of Sir John Sinclair was adopted, and the words may be were introduced into the preamble. The Bill was then read a third time and paffed, with the addition of feveral fresh claufes.

MAROONS.

Colonel Walpole afked whether any steps had been taken upon the fubject he had mentioned, the Maroons ?

Mr. Secretary Dundas replied, that either the Colonel or himfelf might move for the production of the correfpondence upon the bufinefs alluded to. He concluded by moving, that extracts of letters from Sir John Wentworth and the Duke of Portland be laid before the House.

Colonel Walpole had no objection to the production of that correfpondence, but the Maroons, he believed, entertained a very different opinion from that of the Secretary of State. Their language was," Our wives and children are not able to bear the cold; we only request to be removed; or if you will not confent to remove us, and if it is as a punishment you fend us here, that you will even hang us, and fend our wives and children to a warmer climate." He therefore fhould move for a copy of the petition prefented from the Maroons in August 1797.

Mr. Secretary Dundas faid, that the petition would be found among the papers which he had moved for himfelf.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Friday, Feb. 16.

The Duke of Bedford gave notice that on Monday the 19th inftant, he would move that the Houfe might be fummoned, for the purpose of a Motion he meant to make. His Grace did not mention the fubject of his intended motion. 4 F

No 17.

Mr.

Mr. Abraham Newland, from the Bank, prefented an account of the monies paid by the Commiffioners for liquidating the National Debt, from 1ft February 1797 to the 1st February 1798. Alfo an account of money paid for Exchequer Bills, with the fums repaid by Government during the year 1797. An account of the fums difburfed by the Thames Navigation Company, was prefented.---Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Friday, Feb. 16.

A Petition was prefented from the Clock and Watchmakers of Carlifle, praying for a repeal of the Clock and Watch A&t. Ordered to be refered to the Committee to whom the former Petitions upon the fame fubject were referred.

Several accounts were prefented from the Bank, and ordered to be laid upon the Table.

The order for taking the Petitions refpecting the Tewkesbury Election into confideration on the 22d inftant, was discharged, and the Petition refpecting the right of Election ordered to be taken into confideration on the 19th April---and the Petition complaining of an undue election and return, on the 3d May.

Upon the motion of Mr. Rofe, the Acts of the 34th and 37th of the King were read; he then moved, that the Houfe Thould refolve itself into a Committee on Monday, to confider of the propriety of bringing in a Bill to repeal fo much of the former Act as relates to impofing a duty upon gold and filver ufed in the manufacture of watch-cafes. Agreed to.

This

Mr. Hobhoufe moved for an account of the value of British and foreign merchandize, exported and imported in the half years ending the 5th January, and 5th July 1797, and 5th January 1798, as far as the fame could be made up. motion, however, was withdrawn, upon the statement of Mr. Rofe, that fuch an account would be prefented in a few days. Mr. Hobhoufe moved for feveral other accounts, which were ordered to be prefented.

In a Committee of Supply, the fums of 10,5871. 17s. 11d. and 1,920l. were voted for Ordnance fervice.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Saturday, Feb. 17.

The Supplementary Militia Bill was read a third time, and, together with feveral private Bills, received the Royal Affent. The Commiffioners were, the Chancellor, Duke of Portland, and Marquis of Salisbury. Adjourned.

HOUSE

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Saturday, Feb. 17.

The Supplementary Militia Bill was received from the Lords,
without any amendments, agreed to, and returned.
The House then went up to the Lords to hear the Royal
Affent given to it by commiflion, and, on their return,

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Monday, Feb. 19.

The Duke of Bedford faid, that in pursuance of the notice he already had given, he rofe now to ftate, that before the recefs he had wished to move an address to his Majefty for the difmiffal of his prefent Minifters. Their Lordships had feemed to think it unnec ffary to defer the adjournment of the House on that account; and he had relinquished all intention of making it from the little likelihood that his motion would be fuccefsful; but fome of his friends were of a different opinion. He, therefore, now propofed that their Lordships fhould be fummoned. He was well aware that, feeling as he did, whatever time fuited their Lordships would fuit him. He had confulted fome, and had found that it would not be convenient for them to attend till the expiration of three weeks. He wifhed, therefore, their Lordships to be fummoned for Monday, March 12; but if it would be more convenient to bring forward the motion on any other day, he would confent.

Lord Grenville faid, that it did not become him to state upon what day their Lordships would take the motion into confideration; but he flattered himself, that it was not extremely preffing, fince fo diftant a day had been named. He had alfo the fatisfaction to find, that it was not neceffary to have put off the adjournment of the House, as fo diftant a day had been named now. Whatever day, however, the notice fhall ftand for, he should certainly attend, ready to ftate the motives, and the only motives, upon which his Majefty's Minifters ftood, and prepared to ftate the reasons which they conceived fhould induce the Houfe to exclude from the Adminiftration of Public Affairs, men who had avowed principles and expreffed fentiments that must be deftructive to the country.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Monday, Feb. 19.

A meffage from the Lords informed the Houfe, that their Lordships had agreed to the Supplementary Militia Bill with

4 F 2

feveral

Thefe amendments were immediately

feveral amendments.

taken into confideration and agreed to.

Mr. Rofe moved for the Houfe to refolve, itself into a Committee upon two Acts of his prefent Majefty, respecting the Duties upon Gold and Silver Plate. When the House had refolved itself into a Committee,

Mr. Rofe faid, that the Petitions against the Clock and Watch Duty had no connection with the prefent measure. The produce of the tax upon Gold and Silver used in the manufacture of Watches was fmall, and was found to be injurious to trade, and therefore he fhould propofe the repeal of it.

Mr. Wilberforce Bird faid, that if the prefent measure was meant to be a compenfation for the continuance of the Watch and Clock Act, he fhould oppofe it.

Mr. Rofe replied, that the measure was certainly intended as a relief to the trade.

The House then refolved itself into a Committee, and a refolution was agreed to, that the Duty on Gold and Silver manufactured into Watch Cafes fhould ceafe and determine.

The report was ordered to be received on the next day.
The report of Supply was brought up and agreed to.
Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Tuesday, Feb. 20.

The Royal Affent was given by commiffion to the Supplementary Militia Bill, and two private Bills. The Commiffioners were, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Portland, and the Earl of Chefterfield."

In a Committee of Privileges, their Lordships heard Mr. Plomer on behalf of the claim of Thomas Stapleton, Efq. to the Barony of Beaumont.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Tuefday, Feb. 20.

SUPPLY.

The Houfe refolved itself into a Committce, in which Mr. Rofe moved, that leave be continue the Scotch Diftillery Act. to have introduced a permanent Bill, had not yet been collected.

given to bring in a Bill to It was intended, he faid, but fufficient information

Mr. Macdowall wifhed the meafure not to be deferred longer than a Committee could be formed. The worst confequences would refult from the uncertainty in which the business remained at prefent. In December laft there were entered 19,000 gallons, which produced an immenfe revenue. From

a return,

a return, however, which he had received from the Board of Excife of Scotland, only 5000 were entered now; a number that did not amount to one third of the quantity entered in the period of December to which he had alluded.

The Refolution proposed by Mr. Rofe was agreed to, and ordered to be reported.

The Bills for granting an annuity of 2000l. a year each to Earl St. Vincent and Lord Viscount Duncan, were committed, and ordered to be reported.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Wednesday, Feb. 21.

The Speaker intimating to the Houfe the indifpofition of Mr. Lee, the Clerk of the Houfe, and recommended that Mr. John Benfon might be permitted to officiate at the Table.

A Petition was prefented from certain Sculptors, praying for leave to bring in a Bill to allow them a Copy Right in new Models. Ordered to be referred to a Committee to examine and report.

FINANCE.

The House refolved itself into a Committee to take into confideration the reports prefented by the Committee of Finance. The proceedings of the Treafury upon thofe reports were ordered to be referred to the Committee.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that it would not be neceffary for him to enter into any great length of difcuffion upon the fubject before the Houfe. By the printed papers upon the Table it would be fufficiently feen, what measures had been adopted by the Executive Government. There were only a few points that would be found to require the intervention of the legislature; and he fhould therefore confine himself at prefent to moving the principles of the measures which he meant to propofe. When the Bills fhould be brought in, Gentlemen would have an opportunity of entering into any difcuffion that might be neceffary. The first motion which he fhould fubmit to the Committee, was founded upon the fourth report of the Finance Committee, relative to the cuftoms. The fuggeftions contained in that report were few in number, and related principally to the continuance and confirmation, together with a parliamentary fanction of what had been done by the Executive Government for the last 14 years; refpecting the difcontinuance of patent officers, and the modifications of other officers in the customs. The benefit, however, that would refult from prefent regulations would not be immediate, but would tend to give ftability to fyftems adopted in future. He moved, that the Chairman be directed to move, that leave be

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