sary, before he held himself justified in stating the principle and object of the bill to the house, why should not the members of that house be allowed time for equal preparation, and for the acquisition of the same extent of intelligence. Mr. Sheridan, therefore, hoped that the right honorable gentleman would not so hastily forward the bill, but, that having had it read a second time that day, he would not press for the committee upon the ensuing day; but would give time for the petitioners to prepare their counsel, and to bring up their witnesses, who were now upon the road.

Mr. Pitt said, that Alderman Watson and Mr. Sheridan had stated that the frauds committed on the revenue in the article of tobacco, amounted to no less a sum than from £300,000 to £500,000, and the object of the bill was, to endeavor to recover the greater part of that sum, by means of the excise laws, and by accommodating them to that article, which was universally admitted to be a fit article of taxation. To such a principle, the friends of the public credit and of the public safety, could not surely be inclined to object. The worthy Magistrate over the way, and the honorable gentleman who spoke last, had said, they thought that he wished to shrink from discussion, and to avoid it by precipitating the bill through the committee. From such an imputation he should appeal to the sober sense of the house, and ask them, when it was considered that counsel were to be heard, and witnesses examined, and that consequently there was not a probability of their doing more than hear them in part the next day; whether his being anxious to commence an enquiry into the subject in the most circumstantial and regular manner looked like a wish to avoid its fair discussion? With regard to the honorable gentleman's intimation, that it was necessary for him to run about the town to converse with the manufacturers of tobacco, if he really was in earnest, and seriously wished to learn information from them, the best mode of his obtaining it would be for him to attend his duty in that house the next day, and listen attentively to the arguments and the evidence.

Mr. Sheridan observed (in answer to Mr. Pitt), that he had said it was necessary to go into the committee for the purpose of enquiry, whereas he must know that if the members of that house were not allowed time to read and understand the bill before they went into a committee, the enquiry would answer no purpose whatever. Whether they were to run about the town after the tobacco manufacturers,

as the right honorable gentleman had chosen to call it, was another matter. But since he had risen last, the worthy Magistrate behind him had added another and a very strong objection; and this was no less than a defiance to any member of that house, a particular description of it only excepted, to stand up and declare that he had read the bill. Surely this was an unanswerable argument against precipitation.

Mr. Pitt answered, that with regard to the honorable gentleman's argument of members not being prepared, the best way would be to attend the committee. With respect to the witnesses of the manufacturers being upon the road, the manufacturers of London had originated the opposition to the bill, and would, most probably, produce the evidence they wished to have examined; and of their intention to oppose the bill, they had, by public advertisement, in almost every newspaper, given notice for full three weeks. He hoped that gentlemen would attend the committee, whatever inconvenience to themselves it might occasion; and indeed when the advanced period of the session was considered, he should think it trifling with the convenience of the house, by delaying the going into the committee with the bill a moment longer than was necessary.

Mr. Sheridan replied, that with regard to the convenience of the house, he thought the right honorable gentleman would consult it more by giving time for members to understand the bill. Mr. Sheridan was proceeding to answer Mr. Pitt, when he was desired by the Chair to confine himself strictly to explanation. Mr. Sheridan then said, that the right honorable gentleman had attempted to ridicule his explanation; to which, in explanation, he wished to state, that the right honorable gentleman's argument was perfectly ridiculous. [Here a great part of the house laughed.] Mr. Sheridan resumed his argument once more, and the house calling Chair! Chair! in which cry Mr. Pitt joined, and the Speaker thereupon again desiring that Mr. Sheridan would confine himself to explanation, Mr. Sheridan answered, that he would take care that in future the right honorable gentleman should be as strictly confined to explanation, when he

spoke a second time, as he had been. Mr. Pitt bowed, and sat down.

The bill was then ordered to be committed for the morrow.

JUNE 25.

REFORM OF ROYAL SCOTCH BURGHS.

Mr. SHERIDAN, adverting to the case of the royal Scotch burghs, begged leave to remind the house that the bill for bringing in of which he designed to move was precisely of that nature which the house had given leave to have introduced in a former session of parliament; and as he understood there was no objection to the principle of it, and that those who meant to oppose the bill, intended to make their stand at the second reading, it was unnecessary for him to trouble the house with more than a very few words, just to state that the conduct of the town councils of the several royal burghs of Scotland, as it now prevailed, was not more contradictory to their original charter than repugnant to every one of those principles of justice and propriety to which men, of a delegated trust, ought strictly to adhere. On the second reading of the bill he would fully state the objects of it, and the reasons why the means of attaining those objects which the bill provided, were by him deemed such as the house ought to adopt; for the present, he considered it as sufficient to move,

That leave be given to bring in a bill for regulating the internal government of the royal burghs in Scotland."

Mr. Dundas remarked that, reserving himself for a future oppor tunity, he should now only declare that whenever the honorable gentleman came forward with his reasons for thinking the bill advis able, and that it was becoming by one short clause to pronounce upon the constitutions of the royal burghs of Scotland, which had continued uninterruptedly ever since the year 1400; as what ought not to continue; he would be ready to assign his reasons for differing totally in opinion from the honorable gentleman upon the subject. He

hoped, therefore, that the honorable gentleman would name a precise day for the second reading, and keep to that day when he had named it, that the bill might not be kept hanging in the wind as a matter

IN TERROREM.

Mr. Sheridan answered, that the right honorable and learned gentleman had no occasion to be in such very great haste, because he ought to recollect that they had waited a good while for him, while he was canvassing in Scotland.

REVOLUTION COMMEMORATION BILL.

Mr. Sheridan agreed completely with the honorable gentleman (Mr. J. H. Browne), that the fittest time to establish a commemoration of the Revolution was, when parties, otherwise opposite, concurred in endeavoring which should best commemorate that important event. But he differed from the worthy baronet (Sir Joseph Mawbey) in one respect, because, so far from thinking the gentlemen on the other side would not subscribe to their column, they reckoned on their subscribing largely, as they were ready to subscribe to their thanksgiving; but from what the honorable baronet had said in favor of their column plan, should there be a deficiency, they had now learnt that they might look up to him for large resources. With regard to the trouble the bill would give the parsons, when it was considered how essentially benefitted the church had been by the Revolution, it surely could not be improper to oblige the ministers of it once a year to put themselves, as well as their congregations, in mind of that event, from which the church had derived such very important advantages. As to whether the wording of the preamble should stand, as the amendment had been first proposed by an honorable gentleman near him, or whether it should run "That God's providence upon the virtuous efforts of our ancestors, &c. &c." Mr. Sheridan said, appeared to him to be a matter of immaterial signification; and the contending about

such a trifle, reminded him, if it were not thought too ludicrous a comparison for the occasion, of what Dogberry said in Shakespeare's play of " Much Ado about Nothing," when in the examination of Conrade and Borachio, he says, " Write God first; for God defend, but God should go before such villains."

The bill was directed to be reported on the 29th.

JUNE 26.

BILL FOR REGULATING ROYAL SCOTCH
BOROUGHS.

Mr. SHERIDAN brought in this bill for regulating the royal Scotch boroughs, which was read a first time, and upon motion ordered to be read a second time.

Sir James Johnstone declaring that much reform was wanted in Scotland, but in a variety of particulars that reform which the bill held out was needless; and, therefore, unless the honorable gentleman would say, that he introduced the bill merely to amuse the house, and did mean seriously to urge it, he would count the house.

Mr. Sheridan assured the honorable baronet, that he had not brought in the bill merely to amuse the house, but with a serious intention of endeavoring to get it passed into a law. He hoped, therefore, that the honorable baronet would not put an end to it, and interrupt the other important business of the day, by counting the house. If the worthy baronet could prove that the grievance complained of did not exist, let him come to the point, and do so on the second reading. The petitioners for the bill were ready to prove every fact which the bill stated as an existing evil.

Sir James Johnstone answered, that he understood it was not usual to put an end to a bill in the way that he had proposed; and, therefore, the honorable gentleman might continue to amuse himself and the house with the bill some few days longer.