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ordinate societies at Hamburgh and Altona are all under the controul of the committee or principal society before-mentioned. This committee constantly corresponds with Great Britain and Ireland, and al parts of Germany. It has secretaries skilled in different languages, and corresponding agents in different towns, particularly in London. It may become a formidable engine in the hands of the French Directory, and it appears to be making considerable progress; but there is reason to hope that it has at length att acted the notice of the government of those places.

Upon a view of all the circumstances which have come under the consideration of your committee, they are deeply impressed with the conviction, That the safety and tranquillity of these kingdoms have, at different periods, from the year 1791 to the present time, been brought into imminent hazard, by the traitorous plans and practices of societies, acting upon the principles, and devoted to the views of our inveterate, foreign enemy:

That although the society of United Irishmen in Ireland has alone been enabled to attain its full strength and maturity, yet the societies instituted on similar principles in this country had all an un. doubted tendency to produce similar effects, if they had not been checked by the general demonstrations of the zeal and spirit of his majesty's faithful subjects, and by the timely and judicious use of those extraordinary powers which Parliament has, in its wisdom, from time to time confided to his majesty's go

vernment:

That, either directly or indirect ly, a continual intercourse and connection have been maintained be

tween all these societies in Great Britain and Ireland; and that the real objects of the instigators of these proceedings, in both kingdoms, were no other than the entire overthrow of the British constitution, the general confiscation of property, and the erection of a democratic republic, founded on the ruins of all religion, and of all political and civil society, and framed after the model of France.

The vigorous resistance opposed to the rebellion in Ireland, the success of the measures which have been employed for detecting and defeating the designs of the conspirators here, and the general and ardent spirit of loyalty and attachment to the laws and constitution, have hitherto counteracted the progress of the mischief, and averted impending danger; but even these circumstances by no means appear to your committee to justify the hope that the mischief is cradicated, or the danger passed.

The principles and views of the conspirators remain unchanged. Their reliance on the assistance and co operation of France, by which they expect ultimately to effect their purpose, continues undiminished. And the systein of those secret societies, which are at once the instruments of seditious conspiracy at home, and the channel of treasonable correspondence with France, though in many parts broken and interrupted, is by no means destroyed,

Your committee have already referred to the positive information laid before them, stating that hostile preparations are now making, with extraordinary vigour and exertion, in some of the ports of France, for the invasion of this country, or of Ireland. The activity

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of seditious and treasonable societies, in their correspondencewith France, and in their endeavours to gain proselytes here, keeps pace with the preparations of the enemy; and the principle of secrecy, generally enforced by unlawful oaths, which is the great characteristic of these societies, peculiarly fits them for the most desperate enterprises, and, by holding out a prospect of security, increases the means of se. duction. It has, at the same time, an obvious tendency to elude detection in the first instance, and to defeat legal inquiry in the next. To this principle, therefore, in the opinion of your committee, such further measures as Parliament in its wisdom may think fit to adopt for the public safety, should be more immediately and decisively pointed.

Your committee have seen, with satisfaction, the powers which, in conformity to the ancient practice and true principles of the constitution, have from time to time, as the urgency required, been con. fided to his majesty's government; and they feel it their duty particu larly to remark, that the power of arresting and detaining suspected persons (a remedy so constantly resorted to by our ancestors in all cases of temporary and extraordinary danger) has, under the present new and unprecedented circumstances, been found particularly efficient. It has greatly interrupted and impeded the correspondence with the enemy, and has checked, from time to time, the progress and communication of sedition and treason at home. But from particular circumstances, which have come under the observation of your committee in the course of their inquiry, they fee it their duty to remark, that the good effects of this mea

sure would be rendered more complete, and the public tran quillity better secured, if the leading persons who have been, or may be hereafter, detained on suspicion of treasonable practices shall hereafter be kept in custody in places sufficiently distant from the metropolis.

The whole of the secret information which has been laid before your committee has strongly confirmed them in their opinion of the necessity of confiding these extraordinary powers to his majesty's government; and the very circum. stances which created this necessity, and which continue at this time to operate more powerfully than ever, have rendered it their peculiar duty to abstain from disclosing, in its full extent, the particular information, of which they have stated to the House the general result, and on which their judgment is founded; but they trust that they have laid before the house sufficient grounds to justify their persuasion, that the multiplied and various attempts, by which the enemies of their country carry on their dangerous con piracies, can only be defeated by a corresponding vigilance on the part of government, and by the exercise of such additional powers as may from time to time be intrusted to it by Parliament, and may be best adapted to the peculiar exigency of the moment. And although your committee do not think it any part of their province to suggest particular measures, the consideration of which must be left to the wisdom of parliament, they cannot forbear particularly and earnestly pressing their unanimous opinion, that the system of secret societies, the establishment of which has, in other countries, uniformly preceded the aggression of France, and, by taci(N 3) Itating

Vitating the progress of her princi'ples, has prepared the way for her arms, cannot be suffered to exist in these kingdoms, compatibly with the safety of their government and constitution, and with their security against foreign force and domestic treason, b

Protest against the Bill enabling his Majesty to arrest and detain Persons suspected of empiring agaiast his Person and Government...

DISSENTIENT,

1st, Because the existence of a conspiracy, of an extent so formidable, and of a nature so complicated, that the public disclosure of the evidence necessary to the convic tion of one conspirator might enable bis accomplices to ascertain the information of government, and to elude the justice of the country, can alone constitute a necessity sufficient to justify a peer of Parlia ment in assenting to any suspension of the habeas corpus,

2dly, Because no measures have been taken to make such necessity apparent...

Your committee have great satisfaction in adding that if this grow ing and formidable evil can be effectually repressed, and if the same system of vigilance and precaution, which has been successfully adopt ed for some years past, is adhered to, there is every reason to look forward with confidence to the ultimate disappointment and defeat of the projects which have been so long pursued by our foreign and domestic enemies. Impressed with a just sense of the blessings enjoyed under our happy constitution, which dis- 3dly, Because if, from private tinguish this country from every information, or from the general nation in Europe, all ranks and circumstances of the country, the conditions of society have shewn House were convinced that such their determination to preserve necessity did actually exist, it those blessing's entire, and have would, nevertheless, be more constood forward with a becoming ar- sonant with the usages, and less dour and alacrity in their defence. derogatory to the dignity of ParliaWhile this laudable spiritcontinues ment, to produce substantial docuto pervade every part of the king-ments, rather than the suggestions dom, and while the wisdom of the of ministers, or the vague suspici legislature encourages and directs ons of individuals, in justification its exertions for the public safety, of so extraordinary a measure. your committee entertain a full conviction that the religion, the laws, and the constitution of Great Britain, and with them the interests and happiness of all classes of his majesty's subjects, will, in the midst of surrounding danger and calamity, and in spite of every ma chination at home or abroad, rest, under the protection of Divine Providende, on the surest basis, secured by the energy and firmness of the government, and by the courage, the patriotism, and the virtue of the pation.

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4thly, Because the alarms of ministers are always to be received with mistrust by the legislature, when the remedy proposed is an extension of their power, diminution of the liberty of the subject.

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5thly, Because these principles of jealousy, applicable to all times, appear to me to be peculiarly so to the present, when a system of government by alarm has been resorted to year atter year, and powers, similar to those required by this bill, been obtained on the score of atle

gations

gations which subsequent events have refuted; a memorable example of which occurred in the years 1794 and 1795, when a number of persons detained under the provisions of a bill similar this, were all either liberated to without trial, or acquitted by a verdict of their country.

6th, Because the danger of an invasion (the pretence for suspending the habeas corpus last session) exists no longer. And it is subversive of that mutual confidence which should subsist between the government and the governed, to requite with distrust in their dispositions, and a continual suspension of one of the most essential safeguards of their liberty, the affections of the 'people, manifested in their late exertions at the moment of alarm, and in the cheerfulness with which they have submitted to burdens unparalleled in their pressure, and now confessedly unequal in their operation.

kingdom: we have, therefore, thought it necessary, for the safety of our kingdoms, to prevent all persons engaged in such treason. able designs from passing from our said kingdom of Ireland into this kingdom: and we do, for that purpose, by and with the advice of our privy council, order, and do hereby strictly charge and command, what, from and after the 20th day of March inst, no person whatsoever be permitted to pass from our said kingdom of Ireland into this kingdom, except such persons as shall be in our service, and actually so employed; and such persons as shall obtain a passport for that purpose from our lord lieutenante of our said kingdom of Ireland, his chief or under secretaries, the mayor, or other chief magis. trate of some city or town in Treland, or one of our general officers commanding our torees within the several districts in our said kingdom: vand, by ande with advice HOLLAND. aforesaid, we do further order, and hereby strictly charges and command, that no person whatsoever (except as afores d), coming from Pour said kingdom of Ireland, be By the King. A PROCLAMATION. permitted to land in this kingdom, GEORGE R, Letoninio. without our license for that pirWhereas we have reason to ap- pose first obtained; and that all prehend that divers persons, en-sdeh persons (except as aforesaid), gaged in the treasonable conspiracy who shall land, or attempt to land, against us in our kingdom of Ire- in this kingdom, without such liland, which lately manifested itself censeo as aforesaid, shall be forthin open Den acts of rebellion' and war with taken into custody, and đeagainst us in our said Kingdom, tained in custody until our pleasure have not abandoned their treason-shall be further known and we do able designs against us; and, act-Further order and require that al persons having suchspassports as aforesaid shall produce the same to some officer of our custos, attie port ur place us which such person

(Signed)

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foreign enemies, are preparing to assist our said enemies in an invasion of our Kingdoms, and for that purpose are deavouring to incite and stir uppene betare such persons teliou and war against us in this shall be put to Jaud:at such bentivo benapot Pull of re 46 to 3100 gift bristd) 996

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port or place and we do hereby, by and with the advice aforesaid, strictly enjoin, require, and command all and singular justices of the peace, mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables and all other our officers and subjects, to use their utmost endeavours for the due execution of these our commands.

Given at our court at St. James's, the 15th day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, in the thirty-ninth year of our reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

Message from bis Majesty delivered to Parliament, June 6. GEORGE R.

His majesty thinks proper to acquaint this house, that he had some time since concluded an eventual engagement with his good brother and ally, the emperor of Russia, for employing forty-five thousand men against the common enemy in such manner as the state of affairs in Europe at that period appeared to render most advantageous. The change of circumstances which has since arisen, having rendered a different application of that force more desirable, his majesty has recently had the satisfaction to learn, that the views of the emperor of Russia in that respect are entirely conformable to his own. But his majesty has not yet received any account that the formal engagements to that effect have been regularly concluded. He has, however, the satisfaction of knowing that the same promptitude and zeal in support of the common cause, which his ally has already manifested in a manner so honourable to himself, and so signally beneficial to Europe, have induced him already to put this ar

my in motion towards the place of its destination, as now settled by mutual consent. His majesty therefore thinks it right to acquaint the house of commons, that the pecuniary conditions of this treaty will oblige his majesty to pay the sum of two hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds in stipulated instalments, as preparation money; and to pay a monthly subsidy of seventy-five thousand pounds, as well as to engage for a farther payment, at the rate of thirty-seven thousand five hundred pounds per month! which payment is not to take place till after the conclusion of a peace made by common con.

sent.

His majesty relies on the zeal and public spirit of his faithful commons, to enable him to make good these engagements.

And his majesty being desirous of continuing to afford the necessary succours to his ally, the queen of Portugal, as well as to give timely and effectual assistance to this important conjuncture to the Swiss cantons for the recovery of their ancient liberty and indepen. dence, and to make every other exertion for improving to the utmost the signal advantages which, by the blessing of God, have attended the operations of the combined arms on the Continent, since the commencement of the present campaign; recommends it also to the house of commons to enable his majesty to enter into such farther engagements, and to take such measures as may be best adapted to the exigency of affairs, and most likely, by continued perseverance and vigour, to complete the general deliverance of Europe from the insupportable tyranny of the French G. R. republic.

Protest

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