House might have every possible information on the subject. He also moved for several letters that passed between the Directors and the Board of Contronl, relative to the plan for liquidating these debts. Ordered.

Lord Howick gave notice, that he would on Monday move for leave to bring in bills relative to the increased pay to the navy; and that on the same day he would move for certain papers connected with the subject.

Mr. Moore, after some observations on the great advantages which this country was likely to derive from India, and the necessity which there was for having full informa tion on the state of that country, moved for several papers relative to the revenue and state of our eastern empire. These, after a few words from Mr. Grant, were granted.

Mr. Fox brought up the slave trade carrying bill, which was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Tuesday next.

Sir John Sinclair brought up a report from the highway and broad-wheeled waggon committee. Ordered to lie on the table.

Sir John Newport moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the Irish acts, relative to the election of members of Parliament. After a few words from Mr. Foster, Mr. Stewart, and Sir John Stewart, leave was given.

Mr. Bernard, with a view to bring before the House themanner in which the money committed to the charge of the directors for Inland navigation had been expended, moved for an account of the sums which had been expended on the port of Dublin, the authority under which tl:ey had been so expended, and the reports which had at various times been made by their directors, relative to the improvement of the same.

Mr. Foster said, that not a sixpence had been expended, except in procuring hands.

Mr. Bernard asserted that various sums had been expended, for machinery, engineers, &c. &c.

After a few words from Sir John Stewart, Lord Castlereagh, and Sir John Newport, the motion was agreed to.

WEST INDIA AUDITORS.

Lord Penry Petty moved the commitment of the West India auditors' bill. In doing so he hoped, that although he had pretty fully stated the nature of this proceeding be fore, he should be indulged for a few minutes with the at

tention

tention of the House, in consequence of what had been lately said on this subject by the right honourable gentleman opposite (Mr. Rose). A bill had certainly in 1800 been brought into the House for correcting the abuses in the West Indies, which had been found on inquiry more alarming than had even at first been imagined. The commissioners went to the West Indies, and in the course of two years found it necessary to send home one of their num ber, for the purpose of tracing certain delinquencies connected with the West Indies, which could only be found out here. Mr. Bearcroft accordingly, even at the risk of stopping the operations of the commission, arrived here in 1805, and certainly discovered many abuses. This shewed the necessity of having some of the commissioners here. But all that the bill referred to did, was to institute an inquiry into existing abuses, without making any provision for bringing up the accounts in arrear, which would be the means of eliciting much additional information. It failed in bringing offenders to punishment, and the accounts were not investigated by the auditors here. The object of the present bill was to renew the powers of that commission, and extend them to the present as well as to the late war, to enable the commissioners to bring up the accounts in arrear, and even to examine accounts after they had been passed by the regular auditors, if they should see fit. As to the patronage alluded to by the right honourable gentleman, there was a considerable difficulty in procuring proper persons to accept of these places, which would compel then to go to the West-Indies. As to the point of salaries, he thought these ought to be fixed and paid regularly. He also obviated the objection, as to the commissary acting with the commission by stating that this commissary was not a public accountant, but a comptroller of accounts. He considered this bill as in every point of view of the most essential importance.

Mr. Rose was as anxious to have these abuses correct. ed as the noble lord could be. The patronage he had spoken of referred to the commissioners at home, as he was aware of the difliculty of finding proper persons to go to the West Indies. To the principle of the bill he had no objection. It was indeed a proper thing to have such a bill, as it included the present as well as the late war. But he contended that there was nothing else in the bill beyond what had been in the former, or if there was any thing VLO. III. 1805-6.

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more, it was unnecessary. There was no occasion for having any of the commissioners at home, as, upon the reports from abroad, any thing that they could do would be as well managed by the auditors here. When they came to the Committee, he would take the sense of the House on that clause.

Mr. Fox said, that if Mr. Bearcroft had been found so useful here, it would be strange, if commissioners residing here with greater powers than he had, should be found useless. It was very erroneous, therefore, to suppose that those offices would be sinecures. Many persons would, no doubt, fly to this country to escape the rigour of the inquiry in the West Indies, and it was proper to be prepared for this. Besides, the commissioners would go in rotation to the West Indies. He therefore did not see any occasion for the right honourable gentleman's amendment.

Mr. Perceval thought it would be difficult to procure competent persons to go to the West Indies, and still more so if they were to go in rotation, for scarcely any one would be found who would engage, after residing here two or three years, to go to the West Indies afterwards, because he could not know how his situation might be be changed in the course of that time.-Mr. Bearcroft had, besides, the information collected in the West Indies to guide his inquiries here, while these commissioners would have no more knowledge of the matter than the regular auditors in this country, by whom the duty might be equally well performed. He could not conceive what employment there could be for those of the commissioners here, while only two went to the West Indies, where the heaviest duty lay; and all this while the instance of Mr. Bearcroft was the only one to shew that there was any use for any of the commissioners being here at all.

Mr. Fox in explanation said, that he had not stated the instance of Mr. Bearcroft was the only ground for having commissioners here. He merely mentioned it as a proof that these officers here could not be considered by the gentlemen on the other side as mere sinecures.

The House then went into the committed,

T

Mr. Rose proposed as an amendment, that three West India commissioners be appointed instead of five, which produced a debate, in which Lord Howick, Sir William Young, Mr. Perceval, the Attorney General, Mr. Morris, and Lord Castlereagh delivered their sen

timents,

timents. An observation on the extension of court patronage intended by this increased number of commis sioners, called up

Mr. Fox, who addressed the Committee with much animation "Non meus hic sermo," he exclaimed. He thought the last administration were the most unfit persons to make such a charge against their successors. It was true the remark did not escape a noble lord, whose practice in a neighbouring island, on the occasion of the union, was well known; for, to increase patronage and influence, he had condescended to an expedient vul garly called giving bribes, but more politely denominated political munificence. At least his lordship should not take up the gauntlet, which had been somewhat imprudently thrown down by an honourable friend near him (Mr. Rose). If the present administration were to be implicated in the same offence against their public duty, in only one hundredth part of what was chargeable upon his lordship, they would have sufficient motive for future repentance.

Lord Henry Petty said, the commissioners would have no sinecure; they had accounts to the amount of three hundred millions to examine: amongst these was one of Mr. Valentine Jones, who in one year had received to the enormous amount of 700,000l. and whose conduct had placed him in a very serious predicament.

After some further discussions by Mr. Rose, Mr. Wickham, and the Attorney General, the House divided on the amendment. The numbers were,

Against it
For it

Majority

91

41

50

Mr. Perceval and Mr. Rose next insisted, that the commissioners intended to be sent to the West Indies should have the duty assigned them in those islands on the face of the bill.

Mr. Fox and Lord Henry Petty argued, that the place of their employment would be more properly left to the direction of government, who would regulate this matter according as circumstances should vary the scene of duty.

Mr. Hawthorn then quitted the chair, and the House

Z 2

being

1

being resumed, it was ordered that the report of the bill be received on Monday next.

AMERICAN INTERCOURSE BILL.

Lord Temple moved the second reading of the American intercourse bill.

Mr. Perceval submitted to the noble lord if it would be proper to go into a question of so great importance at so late an hour (near Il o'clock).

Lord Temple said the learned gentleman and his friends would have an opportunity of expressing their objections to it on the motion for the Speaker's leaving the chair, as effectually as they could have in the present stage.

Mr. Perceval said, as he thought the present bill one of the very highest importance, so he was resolved to give it the earliest and most ample discussion in his power, which he might probably repeat on the after stage to which the noble lord alluded. He should therefore feel it his duty, even if the second reading were moved at two o'clock in the morning, to deliver his sentiments fully upon

it.

The Speaker requested of gentlemen to observe that there were petitions and counsel against the bill.

Lord Temple said he had no objection, if it was for the convenience of the House, to agree to postpone the second reading. He could not assent to it, however, either as an indulgence to the learned gentleman, or in consequence of the threat made by him.

Mr. Rose conceived the bill to be one of the highest importance to the country. It went simply to this, if we should permanently suspend the navigation laws, which had been the chief source of the naval strength of this country.

Lord De Blaquiere did not approve of, nor could he conceive any cause for the warmth of the noble lord (Temple). Ile did not like that time of night for going into a business of such importance as the present.

Mr. Perceval and Lord Temple explained.

Mr. Fox conceived the bill to be highly useful, but could not allow it to be by any means of the importance described. It was by no means a measure of a permanent nature, but one altogether temporary. Neither was it without a precedent. Twenty years ago the navigation acts, among many others, had been suspended for a

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