Could it be criminal then for the people to govern themjelves in this inftance by the fame principle as in exercifing their legiflative function ?-Certainly not. He then reafoned from the danger and impolicy of this measure at this particular crifis. He recommended to the Houfe to confider whether restraint impofed on an unquestionable right, would not prompt the people to exercise that right through oppofition, and if it should have that effect, in what fituation would the Houfe find itfelf with 110 of its members placed and penfioned?

The committee went through the bill, and the House ordered the report to be presented the following day.

Mr. George Ponfonby faid, if the bill only went to prevent reprefentative bodies from affuming functions peculiar to parliament, he fhould not have objected: but if any attack should in future be made on the liberty of the people by any future government, they were deprived by this bill of all means of refifting it, but by an appeal to

arms.

The bill having been read a third time, was paffed.

The following bills among others were paffed during this feffion..

I. An act for the advancement of trade and manufactures, by granting the fums therein mentioned for the fupport of commercial credit.

2. An act more effectually to prevent, during the present war, between Great Britain and France, all traitorous correfpondence with or aid or affiftance being given to his Majesty's enemies.

3. An act for revefting in his Majesty the eftates forfeited in 1688, yet remaining unfold.

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4. An act for the trial of treasons committed out of the King's dominions.

5. An act to remove doubts refpecting the functions of juries in cafes of libel.

6. An act to prevent the election or appointment of unlawful affemblies, under pretence of preparing or presenting public petitions, or other addreffes, to his Majefty or the Parliament.

7. An act for fecuring the freedom and independency, of the House of Commons, by excluding therefrom perfons holding any offices under the Crown, to be here after created, or holding certain offices therein enumerated, or penfions for terms of years or during his Majesty's pleasure.

8. An act for regulating the trade of Ireland to and from the Eaft Indies, under certain conditions and provifions, for a time therein mentioned.

On the 16th of August, 1793, his Excellency clofed the feffion with the following fpeech.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

"The wifdom and firmness that have diftinguished your conduct during the prefent feffion, and the attention you have afforded to the many important objects of your deliberations, demand my fincere acknowledgements, and enable me to relieve you from further attendance in parlia

ment.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I have his Majefty's commands to thank you for the Kherai supply you have voted for the public fervice, and for

the

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the honourable support of his Majefty's government. You may rely upon their faithful application.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"The wisdom and liberality with which you attended to his Majefty's recommendation, in favour of the Roman Catholic fubjects, are highly pleafing to the King. You must be fully fenfible of his Majefty's gracious condefcention in committing to your judgment the application of the hereditary revenue; and I am ordered by his Majesty to fignify his approbation of the provifions which have been made for the fupport of hls civil Government, and the honour and dignity of his Crown; and to express his confidence that your liberal conceffions to the Roman Catholics, and the measures for the regulation of the public expenditure, and for the limitation of offices and penfions, to which his Majesty has been graciously pleased to confent, with a view to the advantage of the public, will cement a general union of fentiment among all claffes of his Majefty's fubjects, in fupport of the established con ftitution.

"His Majefty has feen with real fatisfaction that friendly difpofition which has been manifested by the parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland, for ftrengthening the connection of the two kingdoms by mutual acts of conceflion. I am authorised to acquaint you, that an act has paffed the British parliament to permit goods of Afia, Africa or America, legally imported into Ireland, to be imported from thence into Great Britain. This is a fignal proof of her attention to your interefts; whilft the confirmation of the charter of the East India Company by the parliament of Ireland displays on your part a cordial zeal for the fupport of Great Britain, and a judicious confideration of the great and effential interefts of the empire.

66 I am

"I am to make my acknowledgments for the many falutary laws you have enacted to strengthen the executive government, which will materially tend to defeat the designs of the enemies to the freedom and happiness of this kingdom.

"The apprehenfions of embarraffments, which for a time hung over commercial tranfactions, were to me a fubject of the utmoft anxiety; and I am to return you my thanks for fanctioning those measures which I took in fupport of credit, and which, I trust, have had the happiest effect in preventing the ill confequences of fuch apprehenfions.

"The fpirit of difcontent which prevailed amongst the lower claffes of the people at the beginning of the feffion, has fince burst into acts of riot and infurrection; and I have been under the painful neceffity of employing his Majesty's forces, whofe fteadiness and good conduct have on all occafions been manifefted, and by whofe exertions the civil magistrates have been enabled, in a great measure, to reftore the general tranquillity.

"Under all the circumstances of the country, I thought it proper to call forth a very confiderable portion of the militia of this kingdom. I am to exprefs his Majefty's approbation of a measure which affords at prefent material affiftance, and lays the foundation of a permanent conftitutional force, that has been found by experience in Great Britain of great refource in public emergencies.

"His Majefty feels with the greatest concern the expence brought upon his people by domeftic difturbances, added to the consequences of a foreign war, into which we have been forced by the wanton and unprovoked aggreffion of France; but you will reflect that you are contending for

the

the prefervation of your property, and for the fecurity of your happy conftitution.

"The fucceffes with which it has pleafed the Divine Providence to blefs the arms of his Majefty and his allies, afford the beft profpect of a happy iffue to this important conteft; and it is his Majefty's earnest hope that a continuance of vigorous exertions will finally obtain a fecure and lafting peace.

"I have entire confidence that in your refpective counties, you will exert your utmost influence in maintaining the public tranquillity, and in carrying the laws into full execution. You may be affured that I fhall on all occafions take the most speedy and effectual measures, in the exercise of thofe powers with which I am invefted, for the repreffi on of outrage and tumult, and the protection of his Majesty's faithful and loyal subjects."

After which, the Parliament was prorogued to Wednefday the 25th day of September next.

CHAP