confidered. Whether this be the firft of many profecutions that are intended to be commenced on account of libellous publications, as has been intimated by the learned Counsel for the defendant, is not the question at prefent. You, Gentlemen, are to confider the cafe as it lies before you, without any refpe to the patt or the future. That the Ambigu is printed in French, is only an aggravation of the offence in this initance; as it is the more likely to engage the attention of Frenchmen, and must therefore prove addition. ally injurious and offenfive to the perion on whom the attack is made. Two trials for libels upon foreigners have taken place

of late years; one for a libel on the Queen of France, and the other for one on the late Emperor of Ruffia. What were the verdicts then, is of no confequence in the cafe before us. The matter refts with you, Gentlemen; and I have no doubt that your verdict will be fuch, as will give complete fatisfaction to every mind that is not biaffed by improper prejudices; that you will come to that conclufion which your reafon fuggefts, and your confcience approves."

The Jury, within one minute of the time when his Lordfhip concluded, returned a verdict of Guilty. The trial lafted feven hours.

MONDAY, FEB. 14.

THE Dukes of Athol and Montrofe, the Earl of Pembroke, Lords Montfort and Sheffield, and the Archbishop of Cafhel, took the oaths and their feats.

The Lord Chancellor gave notice that he would, on Monday, explain certain difficulties refpecting the fitting of Prelates under the Act of Union.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16. Lord Pelham brought down a Meffage from his Majelty, recommending to the

confideration of Parliament the fituation of the Prince of Wales, and relying on their attachment, to take fuch meatures as are calculated to increafe the comforts of fo distinguished a branch of the Royal Family.-Ordered to be confidered this day se'nnight.

THURSDAY, FEB. 17.

On the first reading of the Bank Refriction Bill, Lord Auckland moved tor an account of the outstanding bank-notes at different periods last year*; after which

On the 1st June, 1802 ift Aug. 1802

rft Oct. 1802

13,257,600

14,386,640

13.111,510

12,075,020

12,874.030

It Feb.

1803

On the aft June, 1802

it Aug. 1802

3,013,610

3,292,520

ift Oct. 1802

ift Dec. 1802

3,435,130

3,236,530

1st Feb. 1803

3,234,530

Bank of England, Feb. 7, 1803.

VOL. XLIII, March 1893.

Gg

W. WALTON, Acc. Gen. Lord

Lord Moira expreffed his fentiments at fome length; and obferved, that no meafure ever more loudly called for difcuffion and explanation on the part of Minifters: he confidered its continutrce either as a measure of Government at the inftance of the Bank, or the effect of an accommodation between thofe parties; and contended, that the reftriétion produced the prefent unfavourable ftate of exchange, and that no neceffity existed for the meafure. He concluded with moving for a tring of documents relative to the affairs of the Bank.

Lord Pelliam, in anfwer, afferted, that the measure was not propofed at the inftance of the Bank; but was deemed neceflary by Government. He oppofed the production of any papers that might tend to reflect on the vali. dity of the Bank.

After fome farther converfation, the accounts moved for by Lord Auckland were ordered, and additional information was agreed to be given.

FRIDAY, FEB. 18.

Lord Jerfey was fworn, and took his feat.

Lord Pelham gave notice, that the confideration of his Majelty's Meffage would be put off, on account of the day fixed being Ah-Wednesday.-Adjourn. ed till Monday.

TUESDAY, FEB. 23.

The Duke of Montrole alverted to the late confpiracy, and defcribed the deteftation which every loyal heart felt at i's difcovery, in an elegant fpeech, the cbject of which was to move, that " an bumble Addrefs be prefented to his Majelly, in the name of both Houses, con gratulating him on his providential efcape; exprefling their abhorrence of the plot again his Perfon and Government; and affuring him of their firm attchment to our prefent happy Conticution, as well as to the Perton and Family of his Majelty."

Lid Camden feconded the motion; and the Addrefs was voted nem. dif. Certain accounts refpecting the iffue of Exchequer Bills, &c. were laid before the House, after which,

Lord Pelham moved the fecond reading of the Bank Restriction Bill, and urged the fame arguments as before, in fupport of the meature.-Lords King and Moira spoke at fome length, to fhew that the meature was not necefiary: Lords Weftmorland and Auckland argued in support of the bill.

THURSDAY, FEB. 24.

Marquis Townshend took the oaths; and the Bank Rettriction Bill paffed the Committee without any amendment. FRIDAY, FEB. 25.

The Bank Restriction Bill was read a

third time, and passed.

The Mellage, relative to the affairs of the Prince of Wales, was taken into confideration.

Lord Pelham moved an Addrefs to his Majefty, alluring him that their Lord. fhips would readily concur in any meafures adopted for enabling his Royal Highness to refume his neceffary dignity, &c.

Lords Carlile and Moira faid a few words: the latter deprecated all premature difcuffion, and reminded the Houfe of the lentiments of the Prince on the occafion. The addrefs was voted nem. dij.

A converfation took place between Lords Auckland, Grenville, Moira, and the Duke of Norfolk, relative to the general financial state of the country, in confequence of various decuments, relative thereto, being moved for by the first mentioned Peer. The accounts were ordered.

MONDAY, FEB. 28.

The Royal Affent was given to the Bank Restriction Bill.

THURSDAY, MARCH 3. On the fecond reading of the Militia Training Bill,

The Duke of Montrofe fpoke at fome length, to thew the neceffity of our being always in a strong defenfive attitude. With this view he thought, instead of twenty-eight day's training, double that time fhould be enacted, and a third of the whole Militia fhould be called out.

Lord Hobart denied that there was any neceflity for extraordinary expediThe bill was read.-Adjourned.

ents.

The Bank Reftriction Bill was read a third time and patted.

M Wickham obtained leave to bring in a Bill for preventing Irith Revenue Officers from voting for Members of Parliament.

Petitions were prefented from Leeds, Halifax, and other places, praying fome alterations in the Cotton Apprentice Bill.

Mr. Manning presented a Petition from London and Westmintter, for leave to continue the Canal from Paddington to Wapping. Referred to a Committee.

TUESDAY, FEB. 15.

A Bill for improving the Port of Southampton, and abolishing certain duties, was brought in and read.

Petitions were prelented from feveral Brewers against the Malt Duties; and one from the Overleers of St. Pancras, for leave to build a new Work-houte.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16. Several Petitions were brought up from Brewers, and ordered to lie on the table.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought up a Mellage from his Majesty,

which was read from the Chair as follows:

His Majefty having taken into confideration the length of time elapfed fince

the adoption of meatures which the wil dom of Partament thought fit to fanction for arranging the affairs, and difcharging the incumbrances, of his Royal Highnels the Prince of Wales; and having adverted to the progreis made for carrying the fame into effect, recommends to the confideration of his faithful Commons, the prefent fituation of the Prince; and notwithstanding the very great reluctance he feels in fuggefting any additional burthen on his people, is induced to refort to the experienced liberality and artachment, to his Royal House, to often manitelted by his faithtub Commons, and to recommend fuch measures as fhould feem belt calculated to fupport the dignity, and promote the comforts, of lo distinguished a branch of his Royal Family.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that his Majesty's mott gracious mellage be referred to a Committee. Agreed to.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer then moved, that the Houfe fhould relelve itielt into a Committee of the whole House, to take the fame into confideration on

Wednelday next.-Agreed to,

Mr. Dicken fon moved to have the Clothiers Petition inquired into by a Committee, which was ordered.

MONDAY, FEB. 21.

The Secretary at War gave notice that he thould draw the attention of the Houle to a periodical publication, called "The Monthly Army Lift," which contained matter of an improper tendency.

The Sheriffs of London prefented a Petition to enable them to pull down Bethlem Hofpital, to build a new one, and convert its present scite into a square, Referred to a Committee.

Petitions were allo presented for the relief of the Merchants of Grenada, and relative to the improvement of Bristol Harbour.

Sir W. Elford made a long fpeech relative to the dimiffal of Mr. Marshall from Plymouth Dock-yard; his motion was, that a Committee be appointed for inquiring into the realons of his dimiffal, &c.; but not being feconded, it fell to the ground.

TUESDAY, FEB. 22.

tive to the Woollen Manufactories; and Several Petitions were prefented relaafter the private business of the day,

Lord Eufton called the attention of the Houfe to the fubject of the late extraor

dinary Confpiracy. In delivering his

fentiments, he obferved, that upon the late trials fo much had occurred, that, unless the Houfe and the Public were to firit principles, they could not but conappear guilty of a dereliction, of their fider themselves highly indebted to the Government, for the wife steps they had taken to develope that plot, and to bring its authors to punishment. He afterwards moved an Addrefs, fimilar in fubfrance to that of the Lords. (During his speech, Lord E. was feveral times interrupted by general and enthusiastic cries ot bear !)

Lord Boyle feconded the motion."

MUTINY BILL.

The Secretary at War called the attention of the Committee to improvements in this Bill: the firit clais of amendments were, to check or prevent the criminal practice of deferting. It was a practice which had continued dur ing the war, and is prevalent till; and it was a fact that nearly one-fourth of the whole army had deierted within the year; he propofed to deprive Courts Martial of the option of sending deferters to the fettlements abroad, instead of con demning them to death. The amend

ment

ment was, to fentence them to "tranf portation for life, or for an optional term of years:" he should also propofe, "that any foldier confined for debt, fhould forfeit his pay while in prifon." These amendments, and others of an inferior nature, were agreed to.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23.

PRINCE OF WALES.

On the motion for confidering his Majetty's Meffage,

Col. Stanley wished to know whether the difficulties of the Prince were to be removed by any new step, or whether the matter was like a compromife on account of certain claims. If it was to be confidered as the latter, he knew that the first

law authorities were divided on the fub

ject of the legality of tuch claims. He thought the Prince was precluded from any application in his behalf, in confequence of the King's Meffage on the 21ft of May 1787.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer declared, that the fubject of compromife had not induced him to fubmit his intended propofition.

The Speaker then left the chair, after

which,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer in troduced his propofition, by alluding to the conflitutional intereft of the Com

mittee in the splendour and dignity of the Heir Apparent. He referred to the pro. ceedings refpecting the Prince in 1795, and recapitulated the different grants made to Princes of Wales fince the year 1742, in order to fhew that the income of the prefent Prince, in 1795, was not greater than that enjoyed by his grand father. He then entered into a detail of the application of the funds for the liquidation of the Prince's debts; the relt of which was, that on the 5th of January last, there had been paid off 563,8951. and continuing the operation of this plan, the whole would be dif charged in July 1806, leaving a balance of fomething less than 1ool, and allowing 6ocol. for the charges of management he next adverted to the Meffage, and ob ferved, that his Highnets had pailed a fifth part of his life in embarrasment and obicurity. His propotition was, "that his Royal Highnes fhould be placed, from the 5th of January 1803, in the fituation in which he would have been but for the provifion which was made for the arrangement of his affairs in the year 1795, or that he fhould receive a grant of 60,000l. per annum. He did not wish

:

to interrupt the plan adopted for liqui dating the debts, or for preventing new ones. After taking a view of the great change in the value of money during the last eight years, in order to fhew the neceffity of his propofition, he moved, "That it is the opinion of this Committee, that his Majefty be enabled to grant vearly any fum of money out of the Confolidated Fund, not exceeding60,000l. to take place from the 5th of January 183, and to continue till the 5th of July 1806, towards providing for the of Wales." He obferved, that the rebetter fupport and dignity of the Prince venues of the Dutchy of Cornwall would be free during this period to the amount of 13,000l. otherwife he should have pro queftion put by Mr. Harrifon he said, pofed the vote for 73 cool.; and to a that the amount of the debt liquidated by payments up to the 5th of January 1803, was 563,8951. and that the refidue was 235,754. including principal, intereft, and charges of management.

the Prince, ftated his Royal Highnets's The Solicitor-General, on the part of King in his welfare, and his readiness to acknowledgement for the interest of the acquiefce in the determination of the

Houfe.

With respect to the Cornwall claim, the Prince, in duty to his parent, had determined to forego it, rather than profecute fuch claim in a hoftile manner.

Mr. Sheridan made fome obfervations wall claims, and obferved, that the on the transactions refpecting the CornPrince did not come to the Houfe to beg, but to obtain his right; and if he relinwere the glorious uncertainty of the law, quifhed the meafure, his inducements and a with not to add to the burthens of the people.

his Highnels ought to receive a remuneMr. Fox expreffed his opinion, that The motion was agreed to. ration equal to his station and character.

THURSDAY, FEB. 24.

On the question for receiving the Report on his Majesty's Meffage,

Mr. Fonblanque wifhed the Report to be poftponed, as from the difcullion that had taken place, many circumftances had induced him to fuppofe that the propolition was not in unifon with the withes

of the Prince.

Training Bill, General Tarleton adverted to the pofition of our Continental Neighbour, who was at the head of 500,000men, well manned and difciplined. He thought the recruiting of the Militia interfered with that of the Regulars.

On the refolutions being put, a long and defultory converfation enfued between Mr. Lee, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Bagwell, Mr. McNaughton, Mr. Latouche, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, refpecting the precipitancy with which the measure was attempted to be hurried through the Houfe. The prin

MONDAY, FEB. 28.

Mr. Tyrwhitt faid, he had it in command from the Prince of Wales, to make the following communication to the Houfe: the Prince acknowledges with gratitude the liberal confideration of his Majesty's Meffage by the Houfe; but considering himfelf bound to discharge certain claims which exifted, and were yet unfatisfied, he fhould be obliged to apply to large a portion of the income to be allotted him, that he must be obliged to poftpone, for fome time, the refumption of that dignity which his Majefty and the Houfe defired; that he knew, from experience, he could not refume his wonted dignity without a repetition of thofe circumstances and occurrences which had hitherto embarrassed his mind. The Prince, therefore, with the limitation fixed to his income by the refolutions of the Houle, would continue in his prefent fituation; but that with respect to whatever arrears may be, fince the year 1762, accruing to him, and which he declares upon the best and indubitable legal authorities of the kingdom to belong to him, he was urged by motives far exceeding any confiderations which could arife to his financial interefts, to wave all claim to them."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved a claufe for altering and repealing fo much of the A&t of the 35th of the King, as applies the fum of 13,000l. annually out of the revenues of the Dutchy of Cornwall,towards difcharging the Prince's debts. Agreed to.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1.

dows, and the tax on tanners, which, Meflrs. Bagwell, M'Naughton, and Latouche contended, were extremely noxious to the people of Ireland.

fome remarks in favour of the meafure by After a reply from Mr. Corry, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the refolutions were agreed to.

time and paffed. The Mutiny Bill was read a third

cellor of the Exchequer oblerved, that a In a Committee of Supply, the Chanfum of 1,600,000l. had been voted for the Army Extraordinaries of last year: he at that time faid, that the fum would

not be fufficient for the current expences of the year; and as it had fince been found neceffary to augment the Army, an increate of expence had occurred of 1,032,150l. To defray this, he moved that a fum not exceeding 1,032,1511. 48. 8. be granted, to make good the like from the 25th of December 1801, to the fum paid for the Army Extraordinaries, 24th of December 1802, inclufive.

ler, the refolution was agreed to. After fome objections from Mr. Ful

THURSDAY, MARCH 3. Mr. Fox prefented a Petition from the Druggifts of Westminster, against the late Stamp A&t.

On the Report of the Irish Revenue Acts, Col. Bagwell re-fated his objections, particularly to the tax on Tanners.

Mr. Sheridan objected to the fhortness of the notice given, that these taxes were to be rendered permanent. He wifhed for a claufe to continue them for one year, before the expiration of which, a difcuffion might be had.

in and read.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2. The Houfe in a Committee on the Irish Revenue Acts.

Mr. Corry made a propofition, the object of which was, to aflimilate the cullection of revenue in that kingdom with this country, by moving refolutions for continuing the prefent duties granted for the fupport of the Government, perpetually, instead of annually.

to.

On the motion of Mr. Vanfittart, an account of the number and tonnage of thips built in the ports of England, diftinguishing each port, and the hips entered outwards and cleared inwards, &c. was ordered to be laid before the Houle.

FRIDAY, MARCH 4.

Mr. Calcraft fubmitted a propofition on the state of the Prince's affairs. He