MONDAY, JULY 3.

ON the motion of Mr. Rofe, leave was given to bring in a Bill more effectually to prevent frauds and forgeries in the transter of funded property.

Mr. Abbot gave notice that he fhould to-morrow move for leave to bring in a Bill to explain and amend the Act of George II. to prevent the fraudulent Concealment and fequeftration of Bankrupts' effects.

Mr. Pitt moved the Order of the Day for the Houfe to refolve itfelf into a Committee on the Inland Navigation Duty Bill. It was, he faid, his intention at prefent merely to propole that the Order fhould be complied with, for the purpose of making fome alterations in the claufes, with a view to the Bill being printed, and taken into further confideration on Thursday or Friday next. On the question for the Speaker's leaving the Chair,

Mr. Keene faid, he rofe with reluctance to oppofe any measure of revenue, fo effential to the fupport of the State; but the prefent he confidered as calculated to diminish the revenue, by decreafing population and manufactures, and cramping the spirit of enterprize. He should therefore oppofe the Speaker's leaving the Chair, and hoped that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would abandon it entirely.

Mr. Dent faid, he had been at much pains to collect information on this fubject, and the refult of his refearches enabled him to affirm, that the measure was, in its prefent ftate, unjuft in its principle, and impracticable in its operation. Convinced that the only compromife that could be made in this cafe was to withdraw the Bill entirely, he fhould oppofe the Speaker's leaving the

Chair.

Mr. Pitt faid, in order to fuit the convenience of Gentlemen, he wished the Bill to go through the Committee, and the report to be received to night, and re-committed on Monday.

Sir W. Pulteney faid, the tax would fall on the proprietors, who had not the means of transferring the burthens on the confumers. He likewife mentioned, that few of the Canal Companies cleared five per cent. on their capital.

Mr. Pitt faid, this remark fhewed the neceffity of going into the Committee, as it was his intention to propole, that

the measure should not attach where the profits did not exceed five per cent.

A divifion then took place on the Speaker's leaving the Chair, when there appeared for the queftion, 45; against it, 14.

The Houfe then refolved itself into the Committee, the Bill paffed, the Report was received, and the Bill, with the Amendments, ordered to be printed, and that the Report should be taken into further confideration on Tuesday fe'nnight. Mr. Hobart brought up the Report of the Committee of Ways and Means.

Sir J. Sinclair objected to the tax on Farmers' Hories, and propofed as a fubftitute, that the tax on Gold Watches fhould be extended to one guinea.

The Refolutions were read and agreed to, and Bills ordered,

TUESDAY, JULY 4.

The Stamp Duty Bill, and the Clock and Watch Duty Bill, were brought in, read the firft, and ordered to be read the fecond time to-morrow.

The House having refolved into a Committee on the Infolvent Debtors Bill,

The Attorney General propofed that the blanks fhould be filled up.

The provifions of the Bill were extended to prifoners charged in execution on or before the first day of January 1797, whofe debts fhould not exceed 1200l.

The Report was ordered to be received on Thuriday.

Mr. W. Smith moved for an account of the produce of the different taxes to the 1ft of July 1797, diftinguishing each year, the total of each tax, and the taxes impofed fince 1793.

The Houfe then refolved itself into a

Committee on the East India Judicature

Bill.

Mr. Secretary Dundas entered into a long and elaborate defence of the Bill.

Major Metcalfe contended that the measure was an infringement of the rights of the East India Company, and calculate to place an additional influence in the hands of the Crown at the expence of the Company.

The different claufes were read, and the Report was ordered to be received

to-morrow.

Mr. Secretary Dundas gave notice, that to-morrow he fhould bring forward a propofition for regulating the trade

with India, in veffels belonging to countries in amity with his Majetty.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5.

Colonel Galcoyne brought up the Report of the Committee to whom the Ship Owners' Relief Bill was referred, and the Report was ordered to be taken into confideration on Monday next.

The Master of the Rolls moved, that the Order of the Day for the third reading of the General Incloture Bill, by agreement, should be discharged, and a new Order made for Friday.-Agreed to.

In a Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. Pitt moved, as a Refolution, that, towards railing the fupply, 646,2501. fhould be raised by way of Lottery. The Lottery to contain 55,000 Tickets, at 11. 158. per Ticket.

He likewife moved, that the fum of 3,200,000l. be raised on Exchequer Bills, and alfo that the increafed allowance to Officers in the Militia fhould be paid out of the land-tax. The Refolutions were read and agreed to.

The Clock and Watch Duty, and the Custom Duty Bills were read a fecond time.

Mr. Anftruther moved for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the trade of foreign fhips belonging to Nations in amity with his Majetty to the British Settlements in India. Leave was given, and a Bill ordered.

The Scotch Militia Bill was read a third time and paffed.

THURSDAY, JULY 6. The Farmers' Horfe Additional Duty Bill was read the fecond time.

The Bill for impofing an Additional Duty on Inhabited Houfes went through the Committee.

Mr. Pitt brought up a Meffage from his Majefty, which was in fubitance as follows: As the ftate of public bufinefs may foon enable his Majefty to put an end to the Seffion, his Majesty thinks proper to recommend to the Houfe of Commons to make provision for such extraordinary expences as the exigency of affairs may require; and particularly to afford pecuniary affiftance to his faithful Ally the Queen of Portugal, if circumftances should render it neceflary, for repelling any attack which may be made by the common enemy.

On the motion of Mr. Pitt, the Meffage was ordered to be referred to the Committee of Supply to-morrow.

Mr. Pitt itated, that in confequence of the advanced period of the Seffion, and the difficultius that had been urged to

the measure, he fhould not perfift at prefent in the propofed tax on Inland Navigation. At the fame time he wished it to be undertood that he by no means intended to abandon the meature; and that if circumfiances rendered taxes neceflary, he should again bring it before the Houfe in a more matured state.

He alfo gave notice, that to-morrow he fhould propofe a tax in lieu of that on the Inland Navigation.

On reading the Refolution for pension. ing the Judges in India who chole to

retire,

A divifion then took place, when there appeared for the Refolution, Ayes, 33; Noes, 3; Majority, 30; which, with the four Tellers, formed a Houfe.

Mr. Secretary Dundas then brought up the Bill, founded on the Refolutions of the Committee.

Leave was given to bring in a Bill to prevent the counterfeiting of Copper and other Coin of the Realm, and likewile to prevent the importation of purious foreign Coin.

The Bill to prevent Frauds and Forgeries in the Transfer of Funded Property was read a fecond time.

FRIDAY, JULY 7. The Houle in a Committee went through the Clock Duty Bill, and ordered it to be reported.

The General Inclofure Bill by Agreement was read a third time.

The Bill for preventing Custom-House and Excite Officers from voting at Elec tions, was read a firit time, and ordered to be read a fecond time on Monday.

The Bill for granting certain Allowances to Subalterns in the Militia, in time of Peace, was read a fecond time.

The Houte having refolved itfelf into a Committee of Supply, to which was to be referred his Majesty's Mellage of yesterday,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer rofe and faid, that for the further fervice of the prefent year he had to propose a Vote of Credit, not exceeding 500,000l. This fum was already provided for in the Ways and Means of the year. He had alfo to propofe, that his Majefty fhould be enabled to make fome pecuniary advances to his Ally the Queen of Portugal, the precile extent of which he was not now able to afcertain, but he did not expect they would exceed 200,000l. He concluded by moving the Refolution, which was agreed to nem. con, and the Report was ordered to be received on Monday.

The

The Houfe next refolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means; when Mr. Pitt faid, that it was now his intention to fubmit to the Committee certain fubftitutes which he thought proper to propofe in room of the Duty on Inland Navigation, which a variety of reasons had induced him for the prefent to reInquith.

The firft fubftitute he had to propofe was an additional tax on thofe who kept from two to four men fervants of ten hillings each; fifteen fhillings on perfons who kept from five to eight, and twenty fhillings additional on thofe who kept eight or more men fervants. The amount of this additional duty he had eltimated at 34,000l. The next fubftitute he had to propofe was a tax on harles kept for the purpose of pleasure, which would only affect the eafier claffes of fociety, as it was his wifh to exempt thofe who kept but one horse. This tax, he computed, would amount to 24,000l. and thus taken both together would amount to nearly 60,000l. to this he would add 30,000l. which, he trusted, would arife from the double horie tax, more than it was originally taken at. He concluded by moving the Refolutions, which were agreed to; and on the Houfe being refumed, the Report was ordered to be received on Monday.

The Attorney General now rofe to move for leave to bring in a Bill for more effectually preventing the adminiftration of unlawful oaths.

Leave was given, the Bill brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be read a fecond time on Monday.

MONDAY, JULY 10.

The Bill for regulating the Foreign Trade with India was read a fecond time. The Report of the Committee of Ways and Means was brought up, the Refolutions read, and Bills ordered.

In the Committee of Supply, to whem the estimate of Volunteer Cavalry Corps was referred,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, hitherto all the expences of the cloathing and accoutrements of the corps of this defcription had been defrayed by volun

tarv

fubfcription. It would not, however, be expected that the expences fhould be fo defrayed in future. With refpect to thele corps, the continuance of them was of the urmott importance. At prefent, however, he fhould not propole any thing permanent upon the fubct, but refcive any propofition that he might have to make to another feffion;

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when he should fubmit fomething permanent, even in time of peace. At prefent he should only propofe to defray the expence of the cloathing and accoutring, which (fuppofing the cloathing to be found once in four years, which was often enough, confidering the short time the corps were on duty,) would amount, one year with another, to 31. per man. The numbers of thefe men he should take at 10,000, a number which, he trufted, would be increased rather than diminished. The expence, therefore, would be 30,000l. When any thing permanent was adopted, he should hope that the expence might be defrayed in each county out of the land-tax. He then moved, "That there be granted to his Majefty the fun of 30,000l. towards defraying the expence of the cloathing and accoutrements of the Volunteer Corps of Cavalry.”

General Tarleton fpoke a few words against the Refolution, which produced a fort converfation. The Refolution was then read and agreed to.

The Report of the Infolvent Debtors Bill was brought up and read.

Mr. Serjeant Adair called the attention of the Houfe to the cafe of eight persons, who were Quakers, and had been confined for fome time in York Cattle, for the non-payment of tithes. He moved for leave to introduce a claufe, for extending relief to thefe individuals. The claufe was read and agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be engrofied.

The further confideration on the Inland Navigation Bill was poftponed to this day three months.

The Additional Duty Bill on Inha-. bited Houles was read a third time and passed.

The Additional Horfe Duty Bill went through the Committee.

TUESDAY, JULY 11.

John Lee, Efq. was appointed Clerk of the Houfe, on the refignation of Mr."

Iatfall.

the information he had collected, the export trade would more than counterbalance any diminution that could arite in the home markets, if the manufacturers were permitted to make watches with gold interior to standard.

A divifion took place, when there appeared for the Speaker's leaving the Chair, ayes 42; noes 7. The House then refolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.

Mr. Bouverie objected to the claufe for exempting the Royal Family, and hoped the time was not far diftant, when his Majefty would contribute of his own accord for the fupport of the Country. The Committee divided, for the claufe 35; against it 7.

Mr. Jolliffe thought it unbecoming that the Royal Family should be exempted from paying Turnpikes, but ftill more fo that their fervants fhould be exempted from paying what his and every other Gentleman's fervants were obliged to pay.

Mr. Pitt replied, that the Royal Family were only exempt from delivering lifts. Their fervants were not exempt from the duty, as it was collected at their homes.

A divifion took place, for the claufe 35; againft it 8.

The Pleasure Horfe Duty Bill was read a first time, as was the Male Sery ants Bill.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12.

The Report of the Unlawful Oath Bill was brought up, as were the Report of the Clock and Watch Duty Bill, and the Male Servants' Bill.

Mr. Percival moved for leave to bring in a Bill to enable his Majetty more easily and effectually to grant conditional par. dons to perfons under fentences of Courts Martial, and to regulate imprisonments under fuch commutations of punishment. Mr. Pitt, in confequence of the intimation he had given yesterday, rofe to move for leave to bring in a Bill for al lowing Gold Watches to be manufactured at a standard lower than is now allowed

by law. The prefent regulation had been long fought for by the trade, and the conceffion would give English manufacturers a fairer chance of competition abroad than they had hitherto enjoyed.

Leave was given, and the Bill brought in and read a firft and fecond time, and ordered to be printed.

The Houfe having refolved itself into a Committee on the Bill for allowing Nations in amity with this Country to

trade to our poffeffions in the East Indies, went through the claufes, and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow.

In a Committee of Supply, Mr. Pitt moved, "That 38,4551. be granted to his Majefty to defray the expences of the Commiffioners under the American Treaty to the 5th of July inftant."

On the motion of Mr. Roie, leave was given to bring in a Bill to enable the Commiffioners of Stamps to affix the additional duty to deeds in cafes thereinmentioned.

The Additional Stamp Duty Bill on Deeds was read a third time and paffed.

The Additional Pleasure Horie Duty Bill, and the Male Servants' Additional Duty Bill, were read a fecond time.

In the Committee on the Bill for preventing Fraud and Forgeries in the Transfer- of Bank Stock, a claufe was introduced for extending the provifions of the Bill to the South Sea and Eaft India Stock. The Report was ordered to be received to-morrow.

THURSDAY, JULY 13.

The Naval Court Martial Bill, and the Inferior Standard Gold Bill, were brought in and read the first time.

The Farmers' Horte Additional Duty Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Confolidated Fund Bill and the Bill for enabling Commiffioners of Stamps to ftamp deeds in certain cafes, were read a fecond time.

The Unlawful Oaths Bill, and the Copper Coin and Base Metal Importation Bill, were read a third time and paffed.

The Male Servants' Additional Duty Bill went through the Committee.

a

The Houte having refolved itself into Committee of the whole House on the Ship Owners' Bill, a divifion took place refpecting the claufe for exempting matters of fhips from refponfibility for accidents in tide-way rivers the fame as on the high feas; for the clause 33; against it 8.

Several other amendments were made, and the Report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow.

FRIDAY, JULY 14

Leave was given to bring in a Bill to explain and amend the Legacy Duty A& of laft Seffion.

The Order of the Day being read for the Houfe to refolve itself into a Com mittee of the whole Houfe, to take into confideration the Finances of India, and the Houfe having refolved itself into the Committee,

the

Mr. Secretary Dundas rofe to open