VoL. VII. No. 11.] LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1805. [PRICE 100. "Mr. CANNING said" (debate of 18th June, 1804): " Tobjected to the administration of foreign affairs, "and that has been changed.—Mr. PITT said " (debate of 6th March, 1805) "A change did, no doubt, take place in the ministry; but, that change was made with the entire free-will of the noble lord (Hawkesbury and could ever have been proposed upon any other ground." 66 adopted by the House of Assembly of Jamaica, relative to the Governor's Speech at the preceding prorogation Dated 12 December, 1504. (N. B. The Speech of the Governor bere animadvertel on will be found in the Register, Fol. V. p. 397.) Report made from the committee appointed to take into consideration his honour the lieut. governor's speech at the last prorogation, to search into precedents, and to report the same with their opinion of 'he measures proper to be adopted by the House in consequence thereof, stating that they had proceeded to take the said speech into their most serious consideration; that, from. the period of the revolution, when the rights and privileges of the respective branches of the legislature were more, accurately ascer tained than in remote and turbulent times, the committee have carefully searched the records of parliament, and can find no instance of a minister having ventured to suggest to the sovereign a speech animadvertIng on the proceedings of either House of Parliament. The addresses of his present most sacred majesty in particular have ever been most gracious, worthy of the,exalted virtue which has endeared him to all his subjects, and dictated by, a sacred respect for the principles of freedom, which have been uniformly displayed by the illustrious princes of the House of Brunswick on the British throne: the committee have also searched the Journals of this House, and find that, from the year 1679-80, when the political constitution of this island may be considered to have been settled, there have been few attempts to encroach on the liberties of the people, or abridge the privileges of their representatives; and none but what have been vigilantly attended to and firmly resisted by the House of Assembly: it is with the deepest regret that the committee feel themselves under the necessity of giving their opinion that the speech referred to their consideration is a breach of the privileges of this House, which, if submitted to, might be drawn into precedent, and lead to the most fatal consequences; it contains not only direct animadversions on the proceedings of [386 the House, but on the particular subject. which the Commons House of Parliament have ever regarded as resting exclusively with them, viz. the extent of the supply proper to be granted for the exigencies of the government. The law of parliament on this subject being very clearly laid down in the elegant Commentarie, of Sir William Blackstone, the committee will refer to his authority, and with the greater confidence, because on political questions he has not been uspected of partiality for the popular branch of the constitution; yet he observes, " If the two Houses of Parliament, or either of them, had avowedly a right to animadvert on the King, or each other, or the King had a right to animadvert on either of the Houses, that branch of the legislature so subject to animadversion would instantly cease to be part of the supreme power, the balance of the constitution would be overturned, and that branch or branches in which this jurisdiction resided would be completely sovereign. The supposition of law therefore is, that neither the King, or either House of Parliament collectively takep, is capable of doing any wrong," He adds, that such cases being out of the reach of express legal provisions, "if ever they unfortunately happen, the prudence of the times must provide new remedies upon new emergencies.' It is the painful duty of the committee, in obedience to the orders of the House, to suggest the proper remedy in the new emergency arising out of this speech: following the precedents established by the wisdom of our ancestors, and uniformly acted upon by the House of Assembly, the committee recommend to the House to come to the following resolutions;-RESOLVED, That the loyalty and patriotism of his Majesty's subjects, the inhabitants of this island, have ever. bean most conspicuous, and that their representatives could at no time be justly charged with refusing the supplies necessary for the support of government and the defence of the country, from motives of disaffection. KESOLVED, That, in the session of 1903, this House granted for the service of the following year 311 0401 : That a large proportion of the money voted was for the expense of the army and bar rack department, which were fully provided for to the extent for which the faith of this country is pledged.--RESOLVED, That nothing but an anxious desire to aid and support the government, to the utmost of our ability, could have induced the House to vote so large a supply in the distressed situation to which our constituents were reduced. RESOLVED, that the assumption of any branch of the legislature, of a right to animadvert in any manner upon this House, in the exercise of its rightful powers as a component part of the same legislature, and more especially in matters of supply, is unconstitutional, and, if submitted to, would destroy the independence of this House, and the legislative constitution of the island. qua SIR,- herewith transmit to you an order of His Majesty in Council, dated the 23d of April last, disallowing an act passed. by the Legislature of the island of Jamaica in December, 1802, intitled, "An act prevent preaching by persons not duly qualified by law," and a further order of His Majesty in council of the same date, to which is annexed the draft of a bill upon the same subject, which, in compliance with the directions conditioned in the said order, I am to desire you will take an early opportunity of proposing to the Assembly to be passed into a law. JAMAICA ASSEMBLY.- Message relative to Intercourse with America, dated 13th December, 1804. House resolve, that it appearing, by an order of His Majesty's council, dated the 21st of November last, and published in the Royal Gazette, that his Honour be advised. to signify to the officers of His Majesty's customs in the respective ports of entry and clearance of this island, that from and after the expiration of six months, to be com puted from the present date, the resolution of council of the 17th July 1800, is to be no longer considered in force, and it being evi. dent that the interruption of the intercourse between this island and the United States of America cannot fail to be highly detrimental, the following message be sent to his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.-MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR,-We are ordered by the House to wait on your Honour, and to request that you will be pleased to lay before the House such papers and do. cuments as may have induced the council to advise your Honour to signify to the principal officers of His Majesty's customs at the several ports of this island, that from and after the expiration of six months, to be computed from the 21st of November last, the resolution of the board of the 17th July, 1800, is to be no longer considered in force. (N. B. The order of council relative to which these documents are demanded, will be found in the present volume of the Register, p. 208.) JAMAICA LEGISLATURE. ——, -Resolutions ар. proving of the meritorious Conduct of Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth. Dated 17th December, 1804 Resolution agreed to nem. con. that the thanks of this House be presented to ViceAdmiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, K.B. for the effectual protection afforded to the commerce and coasts of this island, by his able and disinterested distribution of His Majesty's naval forces under his command; and that he be requested to accept a sword as a testimony of the high sense entertained by this House of the eminent services he has thereby rendered to the country.——Mr, Speaker ordered to transmit to Vice Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, K. B. a copy of the above resolution.--To direct the Receiver-general to remit to Edmund Pusey Lyon, Esq. the agent of this island, the sum of 1000 guineas, for the purpose of pur chasing a sword, to be presented to ViceAdmiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, K.B. JAMAICA LEGISLATURE.--Resolution relative to the Interference of the Board of Trade, in the internal Concerns of the Colony. Dated 17th December, 1804. To send a message to his honour the Lieutenant Governor, to acquaint him, that in consequence of his Honour's message of the 12th instant, accompanied with a report from the Lords of Trade and Plantations to His Majesty, and an order of His Majesty in council thereupon, the House have ma turely weighed the purport of the proposition recommended to them, to enact into a law the bill framed by that board for the prevention of unlicensed preachers in this island; but are of opinion, that any attempt by that board or of any other to direct or influence the proceedings of this House in matters of internal regulation, by any previous proposition or decision on what is referred to ot under their consideration and deliberation, is an interference with the appropriate functions of the House, which it is their bounden duty never to submit to. JAMAICA LEGISLATURE.--Copy of Lord Camden's Letter upon the subject of American Intercourse, upon which the LieutenantGovernor of Jamaica founded bis Order of Council of the 21st of November, 1804. (See also bis Answer to the Assembly, in this Volume, p. 210.) Dated 17th December, 1804. [COPY.]-Downing-ssreet, 5th September, 1804.SIR,-In consequence of a report of the committee of His Majesty's Privy Council for Trade and Foreign Plantations, I am to instruct you not to open the ports of the island over which you preside for the admission of articles from the American States, which are not allowed to be imported by law (except in cases of real and very great necessity), and not to fail to apprize me, in every instance wherein you shall so do, and to state at the same time the reasons which induced you to adopt the measure, taking care also, in every proclamation which shall be issued for this purpose, to insert conditions which shall prevent importations being made from the States of America ou more tavourable terms, as to duties on entry, than on similar importations from the British colonies in North America, where any such duties are due and payable. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, CAMDEN.-Lieut.-Governor Nugent, &c. &c. &c, JAMAICA LEGISLATURE. — Address of the Assembly of Jamaica to His Maje ty, upon the Subject of the Prohibition of the Intercourse with America. Dated 18th December, 1804. To the King's most Excellent Majesty. The humble address of the Assembly of Jamaica. Most Gracious Sovereign, We your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Assembly of Jamaica, most humbly beg leave to submit to your Majesty's consideration the very serious and alarming evils, which threaten this colony from a Resolution of Council, dated 21st November, 1804, announcing a terminafion after six months from that date, of the intercouse which has been permitted, in times of war, betwixt America and this land. The ruinous and fatal consequence, inseparable from such a measure, we have deprecated in an humble address to his honour the Lieutenant-Governor, to which we have been impelled by existing Facts and the most urgent and imperious necessity, which a continuance of the reciprocal interest of the parent state and this island, and of the very existence of the latter, could dictate.--We have, how ever, the mortification to state to your Majesty, that our application has been refused; and, as his Honour's answer to our address informs us, in obedience to the imperative orders transmitted from England by your Majesty's ministers. --Conscious that the wisdom of your Majesty's council never direct and persist in orders inconsistent with both general and individual welfare, suffer us, most gracious and beneficent Sire, with the utmost humility, and with hearts replete with gratitude, loyalty, and affection, for the many in estimable blessings we have ever experienced under your Majesty's most auspicious reign, to represent to your Majesty that in times of war, we cannot, without a permission of this intercourse with the American States, procure the articles of lumber necessary for carrying on the business of our plantations, and for packages to convey the various produce of the colony to the markets of Great-Britain and Ireland, nor the provisions wanted for our own subsistence, but more especially so for that of our negroes, besides the accommodation which your Majesty's forces on this station, both by sea and land, derive from thence; that the British NorthAmerican colonies cannot furnish these supplies, and that, in time of war, British vessls and British seamen, cannot be procured to carry on this trade.--Permit us, august Sire, while we presume to lay before you these our most humble and earnest solicitations for the continuance of this intercourse, to express our fullest confidence that it only requires to make known to your Majesty the grievances of your faithful and loyal subjects, however distant from the seat of empire, when your royal and paternal regard will direct the proper relief. JAMAICA LEGISLATURE, Prorogation of the Assembly, 18 Dec. 1804. Gentlemen of the Council,-Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly,-Having passed the bills which have been presented to me, I grant you the recess which the season of the year requires.--Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly, I return you my thanks for your dispatch of the public business.- -Gentlemen of the Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly,-1 have very great satis. faction in acquainting you that the fortifications of this island are about to be put in the best gate of defence, and I have only to recommend to you that vigilance and attention In your respe cuve parishes, both in your military and civil capacities, so requisite at | all times for the security and tranquillity of the island, but most particularly so at a period when, in the event of a war with Spain, the situation of this colony may be rendered much more critical than on former cccasions.. I do now, in His Majesty's same, prorogue this General Assembly until Tuesday the 29th January next, and it is hereby prorogued accordingly. Reso INLISTING FROM THE MILITIA. PRESENT. Marquis of Buckingham, Lieut. of Bucks. Earl of Derby, Lieut. of Lancashire. Earl of Eglintoun, Lieut. of Ayrshire. Earl of Fortescue, Lieut. of Devon. W. L. Hughes, Lieut.-Col. Royal Anglesea T. Stanley, Col. 1st Royal Lancashire Re- J. Lowther, Col. Westmorland Regiment. The Marquis of Buckingham having been called to the chair,Several of the lieutenants of counties, and officers of militia, who were present at the meeting convened by Mr. Pitt, on Friday, March 1st, for the purpose of considering a plan for recruiting the army from the militia, by directing the general officers commanding brigades to notify to the militia regiments the powers to be given by law to the privates to enlist for life in such regiments of the line as may be named to receive them, at a bounty of ten pounds, and for general service, stated to this meeting the conversation that then passed, and the objections almost universally made by every lieutenant of county and mihtia officer then present, to a measure from which they apprehend the most fatal conse quences, as being subversive of every principle on which the militia con exist with advantage to the country; and it having been further stated, that at the said meeting Lord Romney proposed that government shouldbe advised to disembody (ander the existing law) such part of the militia as exceeds 40,000 men in England, and 8000 men in Scotland, and that in such case, and so soon as the respective colonels shall have disembodied such proportion of their men, the army should be enabled by law to recruit from and out of the portion so disembodied in the manner practised in the last war.. RESOLYED, Ist, That the inlistment into the regular army of men from the militia is subReversive of that establishment, and a violation of the principles on which it was formed.RESOLVED, 2d, That we have reason to fear that this proposition (as we now understand it) will overthrow the first principle of the militia, by leading gentlemen of the first consideration to decline that service.. RESOLVED, 3d, That the measure suggested by the Earl of Romney tends to remove, some of the important objections to the system proposed by government, and might be entertained although this meeting agrees with his lordship, that it does not remove all the constitutional objections "to it. SOLVED, 4th, That the cordial thanks of this Re-meeting be given to Lord Romney for his Earl Temple, Col. Royal Bucks Regiment, Viscount Bulkeley, Lieut. of Carnarvon*shire. Lord Stanley, Col. 2d Royal Lancashire Re Lord Montgomerie, Col. Ayrshire Regiment Lord Grantley, Col. 1st Royal Surrey Lord Braybrooke, Lieut. of Essex.. Hoa. J. W. Grimston, Major Hertfordshire Hon. H. Walpole, Col. West Norfolk Re- Sir C. Eampfylde, Capt. 1st Somerset Regiment. Sir W. W. Wynne, Lieut. Denbigh and Merioneth. Sir W. Lennox, Col. Royal Cornwall Regiment. W. Braddyll, Col. 3d Royal Lancashire giment. J. Calcraft, Major, Dorset Regiment. B. Cooke, Col. 3d West York Regiment. constant attention to the constitutional esta blishment of the militia, and for his particu lar services and suggestions on this occasion. RESOLVED, 5th, That government having expressed the wish of collecting the W. Frankland, Lieuf-Col. North York Re-opinions of the lieutenants of counties and giment fonts 4 officers of militia, on the subject of the plan opened by Mr. Pitt, a copy of these resolutions be transmitted by our chairman as their opinion, by letter, directed to him in London, on this interesting matter, for the information of this meeting, to be communicated afterwards to the secretary of state for the home department, and to the chancellor of the exchequer.RESOLVED, th, That this meeting be adjourned, subject to the call of the chairman.RESOLVED, th, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Marquis of Buckingham, their chair man. FOREIGN OFFICIAL PAPERS. FRENCH GOVERNMENT.- Proceedings between the Emperor Napoleon and the different Public Bodies.--Paris, 11 Fb. 1805. Yesterday, at noon, the great officers of the legion of honour, to whom his Majesty has granted the grand cordon, having been. convoked by the great chancellor, repaired in grand costume to the Palace of the Thuilleries, and met in the saloon, preceding the hall of the throne. His Majesty being seated on the throne, the princes, and grand dignitaries took their places in front of the throne. The grand chancellor, and the grand treasurer were placed on his right and left. The grand master of the ceremonies having taken the orders of the Emperor, then invited successively the princes and grand dignitaries to approach the throne, to receive from the hands of his Majesty the decorations which have been presented by the grand chancellor, and the grand treasurer. The princes and grand dignitaries having afterwards taken their accustomed places on the right and left of the throne, the grand master of the ceremonies introduced one after the other the great officers comprised in the imperial decree of the 12th of this month; they received successively from the hands of the Emperor the grand cordon of the legion of honour, and resumed to the right and left the places assigned to them, agreeable to the functions with which they are invested.--The grand master afterwards introduced the Prince Borghese, who, in like manner, received the grand decoration from the hands of his Majesty.--The Emperor sitting, and covered, then spoke in these words:"GENTLEMEN,-The grand "decorations brings you near the throne "without requiring from you new oaths: "it imposes on you no new obligations. It is a completion of the institution of the le"gion of honour. This grand decoration "has also a particular object; that of con 66 "necting with our institutions the institu. "tions of the different states of Europe: "and to show the regard and respect that L "have, and that we have, for what exists among the neighbouring nations, our "friends."At two o'clock a deputation from the legislative body was introduced by the grand master into the half of the throne, where were present the princes, grand dignitaries, ministers, marshals, and great oficers of the empire, the senators and counsellors of state. M. Fontanes, the president, read the address of the legislative body: to which the Emperor, sitting, and covered, replied in the following words: Gentle men, deputies of the departments to the "legislative body. When I resolved to "write to the King of England, I made a "sacrifice of the most legitimate resent"ments, and the most honourable passions. "The desire of sparing the blood of my people raised me above tho e considera"tions which usually determine men. "shall always be ready to make the same "sacrifices. I have placed my glory and 66 I my happiness in the happiness of the pre"sent generation. I wish, that as far as my influence may extend, that the reign "of philanthropic and generous ideas may "be the character of the age. It is for me "-to whom such sentiments cannot be "imputed as a weakness-it is for you-it "is for the mildest, the most enlightened, "the most humane people, to remind the "civilized nations of Europe, that they only "form one family, and that the efforts they as in the bravery of my army:"The deputation of the legislative body having re-tired, the grand master of the ceremonies introduced the tribunate in a body, when M. Fabre, the president, read an address; to which his Majesty returned the following answer:--" Gentlemen members of the "tribunate, -The present generation has "need of happiness and repose. Victory is "obtained only by the blood of the people. "The happiness of mine is my first duty as "it is my first sentiment. I feel in the "most lively manner all that you have said. "The most delightful recomperice for all "the good that I may have done, will always be to me the union and love of this great people." LETTER FROM NAPOLEON to the Landamman of Switzerland, dated 4th January, 1805. |