house that they had agreed to the land-tax commissioners nomination bill, and the slate duty bill.

Another message stated their lordships' desire to be informed by this house upon what grounds, and for what purpose it was, that the attendance of the Earl of St. Vincent was required before the select committee appointed to examine into the subject of the repairs of the Romney and La Sensible, and other topics connected therewith. The house resolved that they would send an answer by messengers of their own.

The house then proceeded to ballot for a select committee of 21 members, to consider of the matter contained in the eleventh report of the commissioners of naval inquiry. When the glasses were closed, Mr. Huskisson, Mr. Sturges Bourne, Lord Fitzharris, Mr. Boyd Alexander, Mr. Ormsby, and a few other members were appointed to examine the lists, and report to the house on what 21 gentlemen the choice of the house appeared to fall.

The post-horse duty farming bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

The auditor's office regulation bill was read a second time, and ordered to be referred to a committee on Monday.

Mr. Rose reported from the committee to which the free ports act was referred. The resolutions were read and agreed to, and a bill ordered pursuant to the spirit thereof.

A new writ was ordered to be issued for the election of a member for the borough of Newtown, in Hampshire, in the room of Charles Chapman, Esq, who has accepted of the Chiltern Hundreds.

The Attorney General gave notice, that on Monday next he would move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws respecting the apprehension of public offenders who may escape from one part of the united kingdom to the other.

Mr. Brooke moved for leave to bring in a bill to explain and amend several acts relative to the woollen trade of Great Britain.

Admiral Berkeley observed, that the former bill to this effect was thrown out in the lords, and it was not likely that the subject could obtain a full consideration at this late period of the session. When the bill was brought forward, he should think it his duty to move a further continuance of the suspen

sion act.

Mr. Brooke, however, obtained leave to bring in the bill, and it was ordered that Mr. Brooke, Mr. Wilberforce, and Sir Wm. Young, be appointed to prepare the same. M

VOL. III. 1805.

Mr.

Mr. Vansittart moved for leave to bring in a bill to appoint commissioners to inquire into irregularities or abuses that may have existed in the paving board of the city of Dublin. . Lord De Blaquiere informed the house that there were but 68 lamps in that city when he first took the business in hand, and at the expiration of that year there were 7000. If the conduct of the board was referred to a committee, he had no doubt that the matter could be as fully inquired into as any other subject that had been referred in a similar manner to a select committee.

Mr. W. Brabazon Ponsonby said that the city of Dublin was so much deserted in consequence of the union, that it must be very difficult to levy the expence incurred by lighting it.

Mr. Vansittart observed that the imperial parliament was to the full as well inclined to attend to the interests of the city of Dublin, as the parliament of Ireland could possibly have been. He confessed, however, that he was deficient in local information, and, indeed, it was impossible that a parliament sitting in London could have the same opportunity of forming a correct judgment as to the local concerns of the metropolis of that island, as a parliament which was regularly assembled in that city. He therefore trusted that such gentlemen as could give any local information to the house would do so.

Several of the representatives of that part of the united kingdom spoke in favour of the motion, and a bill was ordered. It was then brought in, read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday.

Lord A. Hamilton gave notice that on Monday he would make a motion relative to the powers of the corn committee. Colonel Bagwell moved the third reading of the Irish election bill. An amendment was proposed to be made by the omission of the word "instrument," in a particular part of the bill; but its frequent recurrence throughout various parts of the bill, induced the house, on the suggestion of the Speaker, to postpone the third reading until Monday.

The Irish customs and excise commissioners bill was moved to be read a third time.

Mr. W. B. Ponsonby opposed it, and the third reading was fixed for Monday.

The Irish small debts bill was reported.

On the motion of Mr. Denis Browne, it was ordered that the report be taken into farther consideration that day six nonths; the bill is therefore lost for the present session.

The

The Isle of Man bill was put off till Monday fe'nnight. Several other orders were poftponed, and the house adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY, MAY 27.

The Earl of Suffolk, on the second reading of the Pancras bill, wished some delay to take place, for the purpose of allowing the parties to come to an understanding. It was on this ground that Earl Moira, the Bishop of St. Asaph, and himself had opposed the former bill, and he thought sufficient time had not yet been given. The bill was then ordered to be committed for Thursday, Earl Suffolk, however, intimating that he should the next day move that the committee be postponed till Wednesday se'nnight.

His lordship also discharged the order for summoning the house for Wednesday, on his motion on the state of Ireland. He then renewed his motion for Wednesday se'nnight, signifying at the same time, however, the probability of his not bringing it forward this session. He should consult with his friends on the subject.

Mr. Adam was heard on Moore's divorce bill. Postponed till Friday.

CALICO PRINTERS.

Lord King prefented a petition from the journeymen calico printers of Lancashire, Derbyshire, Chefhire, Lanark, Renfrew, &c. &c. complaining of the distrefs they fuffer in confequence of their inability to procure employment, owing to the exceffive multiplication of apprentices, and ftating other grievances to which they are fubject. The noble lord prefaced his motion that the petition fhould lie on the table, by affuring the house that the cafe of the petitioners was one of peculiar feverity, and ftrongly entitled to the attention of the houfe. It was a great hardship, he obferved, that those poor men fhould not, after ferving a long apprenticeship, have at least a fair opportunity of employment. But the number of apprentices introduced of late years into their trade, which exceeded very far indeed the proportion ever known before in any mechanical profeffion in this country, excluded the journeymen from almoft even the chance of being able to earn their fubfiftence. Indeed in many inftances thefe journeymen were refufed employment,

M 2

unless

unless they confented to fign a fecond contract or indenture for five or seven years on fuch terms as the mafters thought proper to prescribe. This was a cafe without parallel, and which could be fcarcely heard of without furprise. Howover, notwithstanding thofe acts of injuftice and oppreffion, it was not the wifh of the journeymen to engage in any litigation with their mafters, but rather to have matters fettled amicably. It was not his defire, the noble lord ftated, to interfere with the freedom of trade, but the houfe would recollect that fuch an interference was warranted by the operation of the combination law; and that in this inftance he had a precedent precifely in point, he meant the filk weavers act, which limited the number of apprentices which mafters fhould take. The petitioners, he trufted, would meet that confideration from the house which their conduct deserved. They had not resorted to those combinations which were fo injurious to trade and the peace of the country, but appealed to that houfe for redrefs. It was much to be wished that their example should have a due influence upon all the journeymen throughout the country, and he had no doubt that the fate of this petition would be fuch as to encourage thofe journeymen to feel that, when they had any real grievances to complain of, they might apply to that house with confidence of redrefs. The noble lord concluded with obferving that he did not mean to take any proceeding this feffion upon this petition, and he hoped the conduct of the masters in the courfe of the recefs would render any further proceeding unneceffary. If, however, he should be difappointed in this juft expectation, if no amicable adjustment should take place between the parties, he should feel it his duty at an early period of the next feffion to bring for ward a measure grounded on the prayer of this petition.

The Earl of Suffolk confidered the cafe of the petitioners as peculiarly entitled to the confideration of the house. The petition was ordered to lie on the table.-Adjourned,

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, MAY 27.

A new writ was ordered, on the motion of Sir John Wrottefley, for the election of a member for Dornock and Dingwal, in the room of the right hon. John Charles Villiers, who had accepted the stewardship of his majesty's Chiltern Hundreds.

Mr.

Mr. Grey prefented a petition from the gentlemen, freeholders, and electors of the county of Northumberland, congratulating the house on the votes of the 8th and 10th of April relative to the tenth report. The petition was ordered to lie on the table; as was also one from the inhabitants of the town and county of the town of Southampton."

The committec on the South London water-works bill obtained leave, on the motion of Lord William Ruffell, to fit, notwithstanding any adjournment of the houfe. "

IMPEACHMENT OF LORD MELVILLE.

Mr. Leycefter brought up the report of the committee to which certain parts of the matter contained in the tenth report of the commiffioners of naval inquiry had been referred. The report was ordered to lie on the table. am

Mr. Leycefter then moved, that the report be printed for the use of the members.

On the queftion being put on this motion,

Mr. Whitbread rofe, not for the purpofe of objecting to the motion for printing the report; on the contrary, it ap peared to him highly neceffary that every facility fhould be afforded gentlemen to make themfelves acquainted with the important matter of the report. But he took that opportu nity of giving notice, that on the firft open day after the report fhould be printed, and fufficient time be allowed to members to confider its contents, he should fubmit to the houfe a motion for the impeachment of Lord Melville'; and alfo move certain refolutions, expreffive of his opinion on the conduct of the chancellor of the exchequer, with refpect to certain tranfactions which had been referred to the con~~~ fideration of the committee. Mr. Whitbread then added, " that, confidering the advanced period of the feffions, bitv might be convenient that he fhould as nearly as may be, fix the day for the difcuffion, at least on his firft motion. He believed the report might be printed and ready for delivery on Thursday next, and if fo, he fuppofed Thurfday fe'nnight would not be thought too early a day for bringing forward his motion.

A perfon from the office of the chamberlain of the city of London prefented the chamberlain's annual accounts. Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Serjeant Beft, pursuant to notice, moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the fourth of his prefent majefty, relative to the privileges of members of parliament who, having been engaged in trade, may become infolvent. His

object