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of the town, in the vicinity of the docks. Referred to the committee.

Several bills were forwarded through their different stages. Adjourned

HOUSE OF LORDS.

TUESDAY, JULY 14.

Sir Samuel Romilly, and several other members of the House of Commons, brought up the traders assets bill and some private bills, which were read a first time, and the former ordered to be printed.

The Duke of Norfolk, with reference to this bill, observed, that at this late period of the year it was not probable, that there would be that full attendance of their lordships which was requisite for the discussion of a bill of this importance. He therefore thought, that the further consideration of the bill ought to be deferred till next session.

A short conversation ensued, in which Lord Redesdale and the Earl of Suffolk concurred in opinion with the noble duke. The Lord Chancellor also had no objection to the proposed postponement. Lord Holland thought the House should wait before they came to such a determination, until the clauses and provisions of the bill were fairly in the possession of the House. The Lord Chancellor professed himself not unfriendly to the principle of the bill, but at the same time thought that many limitations were required in order to carry into effect the real object of the bill. He wished, however, to call to their lordships' attention the old custom of the House, that the second reading of the public bills should be moved by some noble lord who was prepared to state the reasons upon which such bill was founded. Lord Harrowby agreed in the propriety of this custom as tending to keep up the dignity of that House. Lord Holland declined to piedge himself to move the second reading, but thought the bill would not remain on the table for want of some noble lord to move it. After some further observation the conversation ended.

The House having resolved itself into a committee on this bill,

Lord Holland moved to leave out the preamble, and to substitute another, which his lordship read, and which

referred

referred to the navigatio act, the bill of rights, the acts respecting the trade with America, the late abrupt dissolution of Parliament, and the necessity thereby created for this bill, &c. Bills of indemnity, the noble lord observed, had of late been very frequent, and therefore he thought it bighly necessary to move this amendment, in order to give more solemnity to a bill of that nature, and to shew that such bills were not passed as mere matters of cource.

The question was put that the words proposed to be ft. out should stand part of the preamble, which was carried. The House resumed, and Lord Walsingham repor.ed the bill without amendment.

Lord Holland again moved his amendment, which was again negatived.

AMERICAN TREATY BILL.

On the question of the third reading of this bill, Lord Holland congratulated the noble lords on the change which their opinions had undergone, respecting this subject, since they had come into office, as whilst in opposition they had arraigned the conduct of the late ministers for continuing the very act which they now themselves proposed to continue. He warmly supported the present bill, conceiving it to be called for by every ground of expediency. He thought it of essential importance both to this country and the United States of America, that a friendly intercourse should be maintained between the two countries. The increasing prosperity of America added to the prosperity of this country, whilst the independence of the former derived one of its best supports from the firm stand made by this country against the enemy of the independence of all nations. The present ministers, when in opposition, had harassed the late ministers with repeated questions respecting their conduct towards the United States of America, they had now come into possession of all the documents which formed the reasons and the grounds of that conduct, and as they had not publicly complained of it, it was to be presumed they could not discover any objection; as likewise they had brought forward a similar continuation of the act which the late ministers thought it necessary to continue, it was evident, that notwithstanding their former opposition, they thought the late ministers right.

Earl

Earl Bathurst expressed his surprise that it should be thought necessary to make any observations on this bill, which was precisely the same with that brought forward in the year 1805, nor did he conceive that any inconsistency was justly chargeable to ministers, in thus bringing forward this bill. It certainly did not follow that the present ministers were nécessarily to change the measures of their predecessors. When they came into office they found a new treaty concluded by their predecessors with he United States of America, no ratification of which had yet been received. It therefore became incumbent upon the present ministers, in point of policy, to propose the continuance of the trade with America upon the same footing on which it had been hitherto carried on. He could not enter into any discussion respecting the new treaty with America, because it was not on their lordships' table; but he could not conceive any doubt as to the propriety of continuing, for the present, the trade on its former footing.

The Earl of Suffolk made a few observations on the importance of the trade carried on by this country with the United States of America.

Lord Holland in explanation observed, that the noble earl (Bathurst) had passed over the continuation of the act proposed by the late ministers.

Lord Harrowby defended the conduct of the present ministers when in opposition, and contended that no ministry could have wished for a less troublesome opposition than the late ministers experienced. The reason of the objections made when the continuation of the act was proposed by the late ministers was, that there was a non-inportation act passed in America against this country, which act was now suspended.

Lord Holland in explanation contended, that the nonimportation act was at the period alluded to by the noble lord also suspended.

Lord Lauderdale contended, that nothing could be more widely different than the conduct of his friends, when in opposition, from that of the noble lords opposite to him, when they opposed the late administration. With smooth and gentle tongues they professed a readiness to support that government, but with these professions on their lips, they resorted to every illiberal, underhand, unmanly means, VOL. 1807.

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to subvert the power of those whom they were pretending to support. The very opposite was the character of the opposition to which he was ambitious to belong; an open, fair, liberal, and principled opposition; and he trusted he never should expose himself to the disgrace of belonging to such as the last, who were now in power, and ought to be contended against by every man who understood and cherished the spirit of the constitution.

Lord Mulgrave recollected that the noble lord had attached himself to a variety of persons both in and out of place: but had distinguished himself most by a disciplined opposition to his majesty's government. For his own part he had but one political attachment, and to that he gloried to adhere. If it was a disgrace to have belonged to any opposition, it was not for him exactly to say, to what opposition the term of disgrace belonged; that must depend upon the sense and opinion of the country at large, and not of any individual: but late events had pretty clearly shewn what was the true feeling and opinion of the country.

Lord Lauderdale did not mean any thing personal to the noble earl; for he could not indeed charge his me mory with any thing the noble earl had ever said or done to distinguish his political conduct.

The Lord Chancellor alluded to the irregularity of the conversation, and observed that the present was not the moment for discussing all these matters. He should not now enter into any vindication of his own conduct, either as it appeared in the late opposition of the present administration; neither should he pretend to mark the pe culiar lineaments which distinguished the one opposition from the other. The distinction however was at once pretty broad. For as on the side of the late administration was ranged, "all the talents," what could the opposition have been?

The bill was then read a third time, and the House adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY, JULY 14.

A new writ was ordered for the election of a member for the borough of Bandon Bridge, in the room of Lord Vis

count

count Boyle, now earl of Shannon, a peer of the United Kingdom; and a new writ for Tralee, in the room of Sir A. Wellesley, elected also for Newtown, and choosing to serve for the latter place.

Mr. Long moved, according to notice, for leave to bring in a bill to enable the trustees of the British Museum to exchange, sell or dispose of certain articles in that museum. Ile prefaced his motion by observing, that these articles consisted of anatomical preparations, or things that might do very well in other collections, but were of no great use in this. It required seven of the trustees to do any business of this nature, and among them must be two out of the three persons of the most prominent official situations in the country; the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord Chancellor, This was a sufficient security, that nothing should be done inconsistent with the interests of the establishment or of the public. Leave given.

A motion was made, that the evidence of Mr. John Blackford, taken before the West India trade committee last session, should be referred to the present committee for considering the commercial situation of the West Indies. Ordered.

The port of London improvement bill, was read a sc cond time, and ordered to be committed on Friday.

On the motion of Mr. Mellish, the flaying bill was read a second time, and ordered to be referred to a committee. up stairs.

On the motion of Colonel Foster the House resolved itself into a committee to consider of the expediency of granting money out of the consolidated fund to the Irish infirmaries. It was agreed that a sum should be granted for this pur pose, not exceeding 10007. for each county.

On the motion of Mr. Foster, the House resolved itself into a committce to consider of granting compensation to custom-house officers, for the loss of the abolished fees.

Mr. Foster proposed, that six per cent. should be levied for this purpose on the customs inwards, with the excep tion of salt, and articles the growth, produce, and manufacture of Great Britain. The amount of compensation stated by the commissioners was 100,000. A million and half was the amount of the duties adverted to, and six per sent, on that would be only 90,0007. But the officers in question

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