would make the estimates, and the accounts moved for, tally exactly.

Mr. M. A. Taylor faid, that he would perufe the paper prefented by his right hon. Friend, and he made no doubt but that the matter it contained would fully anfwer the object of his motion.

The Mutiny bill was read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed the next day.

The Three Million Loan bill was read a firft time, and ordered to be read a fecond time the next day.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved that the Houfe do refolve itself into a committee the next day upon the bill for continuing and amending the Land Tax Redemption Act. He alfo obferved that he faw nothing which could prevent him from going into that business the next day.

The Houfe then refolved itfelf into a committee on the bill for continuing, for a time to be limited, an Act paffed laft Seffion for enabling his Majefty to accept of the voluntary offers of the English militia regiments to extend their fervices to Ireland.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that he had only to remark to the committee that the time to which he wished to limit the operation of the bill was one month after the commencement of the next feffion. He had alfo a claufe to propofe which would fufficiently characterife the fpirit of the Act, and the object of this claufe was, that no perfons should be called upon to ferve, but fuch as had already made a voluntary offer of their fervices, or who might hereafter voluntarily engage in fuch fervice.

Mr. M. A. Taylor faid, that laft year he had oppofed this bill becaufe he thought it unconftitutional; even now he wifhed it to be understood, that he did not confeat to it. He took this opportunity of faying, however, that the conduct of the Noble Marquis who now prefided over the affairs of Ireland, had his perfect concurrence; the affairs of Ireland were in a better fituation than they had been for many years. He both faw and felt this to be the cafe.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that as it had frequently been the practice with Gentlemen who last year reProbated the fyftem purfued in Ireland, he wished to fay a few words against the conclufion which this language was intended to infer. He was perfectly aware of the merit of the Noble Marquis now at the head of affairs in Ireland in every fituation he had filled. At the fame time, he was not VOL. 1. 1798. blind

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blind to the merits of others.-This much he was ready to fay, that to the firmnefs, the moderation, the wisdom, and the vigour of the Noble Lord who preceded the Noble Marquis, was it owing that the latter had an opportunity to purfue at all any measures for the fafety of Ireland.

Mr. Taylor hoped that nothing that had dropped from him fhould in the leaft be conftrued into any thing like blame on the conduct of the Noble Earl who preceded the Noble Marquis. He had the honour of fome perfonal acquaintance with that Noble Earl, and it was impoffible for any words he could make use of to do juftice to the candour, the mildnefs, the moderation and generofity of that worthy Nobleman; both to his private and public virtues he was always. ready to pay a due tribute of applause.

Mr. Jones faid, that he had on a former occafion voted for the bill as a meafure of State neceffity, though in a conftitutional point of view he neither did then, nor could he now approve of it. In his opinion Ireland was under great obligations to the minifters of this country, and he hoped they would purfue every fair means of restoring fafety and tranquillity to that distracted country.

Mr. Ellison faid, that he would vote for this bill and for every fuch bill which minifters would introduce for extinguifhing any thing like rebellion, or averting the dangers to which it might expofe us. For their conduct in the affairs of Ireland they had his moft heartfelt gratitude, as they ought to have that of every well wifher to the fafety and profperity of the British Empire, and he trusted they would not relax in their vigilance and activity as long as there remained in Ireland a fingle rebel in arms.

The claufe was then read and agreed to, and the report ordered to be received the next day.

The bill for preventing and punishing attempts to feduce from their allegiance his Majefty's failors or foldiers was read a third time and paffed.

The Cape of Good Hope Trade bill was read a fecond time, and committed for the next day.

The Committees of Supply and Ways and Means were then deferred till Friday, and the Houfe adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

THURSDAY, DEC. 13.

The Earl of Cork took the oaths, on having fucceeded his

late father in the Peerage.

Mr.

Mr. Hobart brought up and prefented the Penfion, Offices, and Place Duty bill, the Annual Malt Tax bill, and the Army and Navy Seduction bill, which were read a first time, and ordered to be read a fecond time the next day.

Mr. W. Dundas alfo brought up the Scots Small Notes Bill, which was likewife read a first time.

The Appeal caufe, which ftood for hearing the next day, avas put off till Monday next.-Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,
THURSDAY, DEC. 13.

The Three Million Loan Bill was read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole Houfe the next day.

The annual Indemnity bill was read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House on Monday next.

The Bill to enable his Majesty to accept of the services of fuch of the militia as may chufe to ferve in Ireland for a limited time, was ordered to be read a third time the next day, if then ingroffed.

The Mutiny bill was read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole Houfe on Tuesday next.

LAND TAX REDEMPTION BILL.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the order of the day, which was for the Houfe to refolve itself into a committee of the whole Houfe on the bill to alter, amend, and enlarge the provisions of the Land Tax Sale bill.

The queftion being put, "That the Speaker do leave the chair."

Mr. Jones faid, it was of very little ufe for fo helpless an individual as himself to say any thing upon this bill, after the marked, manifeft, and avowed indifference of the Chancellor of the Exchequer towards every thing that was faid against the measure. This bill was faid to be a measure to give effect to the former bill; and fo, indeed, the preamble indicated. He could not oppofe any modification of the former bill, after all that had been faid upon it. If it should appear from one corner of this country to the other, that this bill was a good one, however violent he had been against it, (and againft it he was from principle), he should be glad

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to

to hear it. He had acted upon this measure from his own judgment. If he was wrong, he thould have nobody to blame; if right, nobody to praise for it. However, he retained his opinion upon one part of the bill, and he had no idea that any thing could ever change it; that was, that the bill was an unconftitutional meafure. Good, or bad, in any other refpect, it was a violence to the conftitution of England. He believed he was borne out in that affertion by the bett authority; he meant De Lolme, on the conftitution of England; who ftated, that the land tax, if made perpetual, might be applied to the payment of a ftanding army. He fhould fay no more, but leave the bill to the country, to confider whether it was good or bad.

The Speaker then left the chair; and after various claufes were offered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and adopted by the committee, who went through the bill, the Houfe being refuméd, the report was received immediately, read, and ordered to be taken into further confideration on Monday

next.

Mr. Ryder faid, that the Houfe laft year nominated a committee to confider of the Herring fisheries; that committee had proceeded in part upon the fubject, but had not concluded it: they had made a report. He wished to propose, that a committee be re-appointed to confider of the Herring fisheries. He therefore moved, that a committee be appointed to inquire into the state of the Herring fisheries, &c. Ordered.

He moved, that the report of the former committee be referred to this committee. Ordered.

The Cape of Good Hope Trade Regulating Bill paffed through a committee, and the report was ordered to be received the next day.

Mr. Tierney moved, that the account of the number of General and Staff Officers, their pay, ftation, &c. in this kingdom, be printed. Ordered.

Deferred the other Orders of the Day.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

FRIDAY, DEC. 14.

The penfion duty bill, the malt tax bill, and the Scots fmall note bill were read a fecond time. Adjourned till 12 o'clock to-morrow.

The

The penfion duty bill, and malt tax bill, will receive the royal affent, by commiffion, on Monday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

FRIDAY, DEC. 14.

The Sheriffs of London brought up a petition from the Lord Mayor and Commons of the city of London in Common Council affembled, against a bill now pending and brought in on behalf of the Merchants, &c. trading to the port of London, and for making wet docks.

Mr. Manning obferved, that this petition was verbatim the fame as that which was prefented from the fame quarter upon the fame fubject last year, which occafioned a delay of 136 days. He hoped that this petition would not have a fimilar effect.

Sir John Anderfon maintained that there had been no affected delay on the part of the corporation of London, which he vindicated as having done that which was laudable in defence of their chartered rights.

The petition was ordered to be laid on the table until the bill fhall be read a fecond time; and all parties are to be at liberty to be heard by Counfel.

The three millions loan bill paffed the committee, and the report was ordered to be received on Monday, on the motion of Mr Rofe.

The bill to empower his Majefty to accept of the fervices of fuch militia forces as may voluntarily offer to ferve in IreJand for a time to be limited was read a third time and paffed.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the order of the day for the farther confideration of the report of the committee on the income bill, which being read, he moved, "That "this report be now taken into further confideration."

Sir John Sinclair faid, he thought it was a duty peculiarly incumbent on thofe who have directed their attention to financial enquiries, to take an early opportunity of stating their fentiments on this fubject; and under that impreffion he now rofe to ftate his fentiments to that Houfe.

After enumerating the different ways reforted to for raifing the fupplies, he faid, he knew of none of fuch tried efficacy and fafety as that of the funding fyftem; to this was owing the great fplendour of this country, for it was by it we had been enabled to check the ambitious projects of our enemies. But we were now told that the funding fyftem is

exhaufted,