ment should be given to the commerce of foreigners with this country, that is given to our own merchants. Such a question depending, he thought it due to the situation of the right hon. gentleman to postpone the discussion on account of his absence. Lord H. Petty observed that the consideration of this measure had been twice postponed already.

Mr. Huskisson stated that the same cause which prevented the attendance of his right hon. friend the preceding day, still subsisted, namely indisposition.

Mr. Giles said, that the only thing new in the bill was, a clause to permit five ships belonging to foreigners, which were expected, to land their cargoes without being subject to the alien duty; and this clause might be amply discussed without · requiring the presence of the chancellor of the exchequer.

Mr. Rose disapproved of the clause alluded to by the learned gentleman, as it proposed to take 24,000l. from the revenue, in order to bring into competition with our merchants American shipping, which had already, from the cheapness of freight, provision, &c. but too great advantage over the shipping of this country.

After some farther conversation, in which Mr. Windham and . Alderman Curtis took a part, the motion for postponing the order till the next day was carried on a division, the numbers being 38 to 29.

The Attorney General, after observing that the stipendiary curates' bill had returned from the lords with such amendments as, consistently with the privileges of this house, were not admissible, gave notice that he should the next day move for leave to bring in a bill upon the same subject.

The third reading of the American wool bill was, on the motion of Mr. Rose, postponed for a month, in order, as the right hon. gentleman observed, to give time to those who objected to the measure, among whom he certainly was not one, to inquire into its nature and tendency.

A petition was presented by Sir Charles Price, from the merchants and shipowners of London, against the proposed clause in the south whale fishery bill before alluded to by Mr. Giles and Mr. Rose. Ordered to lie on the table. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

THURSDAY, JULY 4.

Their lordships, in a committee of privileges, heard counsel for the claims of the royal dukes to the rights and privileges of peers of Ireland. Mr. Davis, from the rolls office in Ire

land,

land, produced copies of the patents of several peers of Ireland, whose creations were under the great seal of England; and Mr. Johnson proved, by extracts from the journals of the Irish house of lords, that the several lords thus created had sat and voted in that house in virtue of the creations by patent, under the great seal of England, according to the form in which those of the princes are executed under the same great seal. The further proceedings on this subject were adjourned.

The bills before their lordships were forwarded in their several stages. On the Irish infirmary bill, the Earl of Suffolk said the provisions of the bill were insufficient. He had a plan for the relief of the poor of that country, which he meant to submit before the next session to those who were most likely to give it effect.

WEST INDIES.

Lord Holland rose, pursuant to notice, to move for several papers relative to the trade between our West India colonies, and the United States of America. The interest of our West India colonies deserved, at all times, material consideration, but particularly at present, when they were perhaps suffering all the calamities of war. He would not here enter into an inquiry whether, if the money granted for secret service had been properly applied, ministers should have been aware of the destination of the enemy's expeditions, and should have had an adequate force prepared to meet them. As things were managed at present, a thing unheard of before, the enemy had twice rode triumphant in seas where for years they were scarcely known. He insisted much on the impolicy of enforcing the restrictions with respect to the neutral trade with the colonies in provisions and lumber. The inevitable consequence of that enforcement was, that the price of all the necessaries of life was enormously enhanced in the islands, and a great part of the produce of the islands was debarred from its most natural and proper market. -He allowed the propriety of keeping the trade with our colonies as much as possible to ourselves; but in this instance it was impossible. It was found unavoidable occasionally to relax the restrictions, and it was matter of complaint that this important power was left solely at the discretion of the governor-general of the islands. He did not believe, though it was generally reported, that one of the objects of ministers in these restrictions was to check the growth of American tonnage. He wished to give an opportunity of denying so malicious a design on a power known and acknowledged by our friends and our enemics, even by M. Talleyrand

3Z2

Talleyrand himself, to have a decided and natural preference for British connection. He moved that there be laid before their lordships copies of all representations made by the colonial assemblies on the subject of the restrictions on the trade with the United States, and all answers to them; also several other papers relating to the trade.

Earl Camden would have no objection to the production of the papers moved for at a proper time, when the subject could be fully entered into; but he did not think it right to place the documents on one side of the question before their lordships and the public, when the late period of the session did not allow a similar production of papers on the other side, or a comparison of the merits of both sides. The instructions sent to the governors of the colonies did not go to authorize them to suspend the restrictions on the trade with America altogether. Whatever power of relaxation was given to the governors it was found necessary rather to keep them alive generally to the restrictions. This was the system of the board of trade, from which the present government thought it not right to depart.

Lord Hawkesbury said, there were representations on the part of the merchants here as strong against the admission of the American trade with the colonies as any that came from the colonies in favour of it. He wished the motions to be withdrawn for the present, as they would only go to give an ex parte statement to the public.

Earl Stanhope contended that the restrictive policy pursued by this country with regard to Ireland and the colonies was most injurious. The weight of taxes in this country, which Admiral Vernon had described as heaviest taxed after hell, (and what would the gallant admiral say if he lived now?) together with the expences of shipping, and other expences annexed to the trade of this country, enhanced the price of the provisions brought from it to the colonies to an extreme height.

The Duke of Montrose maintained the propriety of restrictions. If the noble earl who had spoken last, found his own country so intolerable, he may go to colonize America, and possibly may return with better dispositions towards the country he left.

Earl Stanhope in explanation said, it was no want of affection for his country, if he was dissatisfied with the government of the most stupid, ignorant, and wrong-headed ministers it had ever had.

The Earl of Limerick argued in favour of the restrictions ;

the

JULY 4.]

IMENT

IMPEACHMENT OF LORD MELVILLE.

541

the Earl of Suffolk against them. Lord Camden, the Duke of Montrose, and Lord Hawkesbury explained. The Earls of Darnley and Carysfort supported the motion. Lord Harrowby opposed the motion, and defended the restrictions. Lord Holland replied, and said he saw no reason for not pressing his motion.

On a division there appeared for the motion 8; against it 14. The Earl of Westmorland moved, that an humble address be presented to his majesty, praying that he would be graciously pleased to order copies to be laid before the house of all memorials, &c. presented to his majesty's ministers on the Duke of Athol's claim, on or before the year 1802.-Ordered; and also that the lords be summoned for Monday.

Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

THURSDAY, JULY 4.

The house went into a committee on Moore's divorce bill. Mr. Adam was heard as counsel in support of the bill, and evidence was adduced to prove the facts of marriage and adultery.

The house also went into a committee on Gardner's divorce bill, before which counsel was heard, and witnesses examined in support of the bill.

A message was delivered from the lords, stating that they had agreed to the eight million, the two million and a half, and the one million and a half loan bills, the Isle of Man duty bill, and several private bills.

IMPEACHMENT OF LORD MELVILLE.

Mr. Whitbread brought up the report of the committee which had been appointed to examine into the lords' journals for information as to their lordships proceedings in cases similar to that which was now brought against Lord Melville. Ordered to be laid on the table.

Mr. Whitbread brought up the report of the committee appointed to prepare articles of impeachment against Henry Lord Viscount Melville. The hon. member then stated, that the number of articles was eight. He had himself thought that the transaction relative to Mr. Jellicoe's arrears was sufficiently strong to constitute a distinct article in the impeachment; but, as it was found that that case did not make an equal degree of impression on the minds of other gentlemen in the house, that transaction was now excluded. And, though the

articles

articles might be somewhat extended on account of necessary forms, there was in fact no new matter but that which was contained in one article only. It had been already mentioned, that there was the sum of 10,000l. unaccounted for, or in advance at the time that Mr. Trotter became paymaster to the navy. There was a sum of 10,000l. also, which had been mentioned by Lord Melville in his defence in that house, the application of which he had refused to reveal. Now, he wished it to be clearly understood, that that sum appeared to the committee to be entirely separate and distinct from that which had been previously mentioned, and that, therefore, it formed a new article in the impeachment which they had the honour to prepare. The sum of 22,000l. which had been borrowed without interest, and the 22,000l. for which interest had been paid, were both already spoken of, and of course the house were aware that they would form a part of the articles to be drawn up against that noble lord. There was a sum amounting to something from 10 to 20,000l. which had passed through the hands of Tweedie; with this circumstance the house was already acquainted. There was another charge, however, which had not yet been mentioned; and though it consisted of nothing that was new in point of fact, he thought it necessary to state it to the house-that was, a general charge of violation of the law. As the whole would not be likely to be printed before Monday, he should conclude with moving, 1st, That this report be printed; and 2dly, That it be taken into further consideration on Monday.-The motions were then unanimously agreed to, and orders made accordingly.

On the motion of Mr. Vansittart, the bill for continuing the act for the regulation of the Irish revenue was read a third time, and passed.

TROTTER'S INDEMNITY BILL.

Mr. Whitbread moved the order of the day for the third reading of the b ll for indemnifying Mr. Trotter, and all others who may give evidence on the impeachment against Lord

Melville.

Upon the question being put, Mr. Whitbread informed the house, that in order to obviate as much as possible, all objections which might be made to the production of testimony in the course of the impeachment, and as Mr. Trotter, who was known to be a material witness, might be supposed to be under some degree of embarrassment, if he was to think that any thing which he might say before the committee, or at the bar of the

house