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Mr. R. Dundas wished that it should be distinctly understood from the lord adrocate, whether it was intended to bring for

laud in the levy for training? or whether it was now intended, for the first time, to depart from the system of uniformly defending the country, and making all parts contribute to that great object?

enemy who first used that sort of language to resign with a better grace. He con to which the rt. hon. gent. so frequently allu- sidered the assertion, that this bill was a ded. Ministers, however, had repeatedly breach of faith, to be altogether unfounddenied having ever put in such a claim, but ed and absurd. The parties to the conthey perceived that it gave the hon. gentle- tract, were not merely the volunteers and the men on the other side an infinite degree of government, but it was the whole commupleasure in repeating it; while on the other nity and the government. The question, side they might be assured that it gave no therefore, was merely whether the measure pain either to him or to his friends. The rea- was right or wrong, whether it was good son that he had expressly assigned for not for the community or not? If it were good extending the bill to Scotland in the pre- for the community, it would be most ridisent session, was not from any dissatisfac- culous to tell the community that it would tion which he supposed to prevail there, but be a breach of faith to them to give them merely from the absence of the Scotch a measure that was for their good; and members, whom he would wish previously that government was bound by a contract to consult. As compulsion was the princi- to them not to adopt such measures as were ple of the militia system, it appeared to him necessary for their security and protection. most strange, that militia colonels should inveigh against this measure as being compulsory. It put him in mind of an observation he had heard, that the most plausi-ward a bill this session, for including Scotble schemes of retrenchments and paying off the national debt, often came from persons imprisoned for debt in the King's Bench and Fleet Prison. It also appeared to him most strange, that this could be said to be more compulsory, than the Training act of a former administration, when it was recollected, that in the present bill, it was provided, that the service might be commuted for a fine, whereas under the former system no such commutation was allowed. Gentlemen on the other side had often stated, that certain expressions which he was supposed to have used at a former period, must tend greatly to the dissolution Mr. Rose, jun. said, that although the of the volunteers. If it were true that he opinions of the right hon. gent. (Mr. Windhad used those expressions, which he de- ham), had not much weight with the volunnied, and even if those expressions had been teers when he sat on the opposition benches, it as improper as could be represented to was a very different thing now he was a have fallen from any individual, he should minister. If they considered him not friendask, what sort of a volunteer army must ly to their establishment, that circumstance that be, for a great nation to place its de- must tend considerably to reduce their numpendence upon, who could be driven from bers.-The question was then very generally the duties they had undertaken by the ex- called for, and the house divided on the pressions of any individual, and who could question, "That the word 'now' stand part be disper ed like Virgil's bees-“ Pulveris of this question;" upon which it appeared exigui jactu?" If many of the corps were that there were, Ayes 139; Noes 53. Marapidly decreasing in numbers, he could as-jority 86.-The amendments were consesign a better reason for it. It was, because many officers who had most meritoriously advanced large sums in the origin of their corps, finding themselves unable to continue those advances, and perceiving that government did not wish to pay the expences which were formerly defrayed by individual subscription, now seemed to wish to find some point of honour that would give an occa-order being read for their lordships going sion for a quarrel, which would enable them into a committee on this bill, the chair was

The Lord Advocate replied, he had no doubt that the measure was applicable to Scotland; but it did not rest with him to introduce a bill, in defiance of the right hon. secretary of state; and he thought the honour of his country sufficiently justified by the understanding, that a bill would hereafter be brought in, for the purpose of embracing it in the operation of the act.

quently agreed to. Some new clauses were added by way of riders to the bill, and the third reading was fixed for to-morrow.-Adjourned at half after one o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Friday, July 6.

[CUSTOM-HOUSE FEES BILL.] The

accordingly taken by lord Walsingham. On the clause being read for abolishing the existing holidays observed at the Custom house, with the exception of four or five,

The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed his disapprobation, in a great degree, of what was proposed. He expatiated on the importance of a due observance of certain solemn church festivals and holidays, besides the Sabbath. He was not an advocate, in any point of view, for an excessive number of holidays such as were observed in the church previously to the reformation; a number of these were, he thought, very properly abolished; on the other hand, there were several which, he thought, a due respect and reverence for the holy religion of which we were members, should inculcate the observance. On this principle, he would wish that, perhaps, three or four more holidays were retained, beside those already allowed in the bill. Those to which he chiefly referred were holidays more particularly commemorative of the history of our Saviour. Before, however, he moved any amendment with respect to these, he should wish to hear from any noble lord who supported the bill, the objections which he entertained to suffering the other holidays in the protestant calendar, to stand in the present bill.

adducing some other observations in favour of the measure, in its present shape, he expressed his disapprobation of such amendments as we're adverted to by the right rev. prelate.

The Archbishop of Canterbury observed, that after what had fallen from the noble lord, he despaired of being able to introduce an amendment into the bill, for the observance of those holidays, he had at first in contemplation. There were some particular days, which he still remained strongly of opinion should be observed, such as those days for which regular church service was established. Notwithstanding, however, the objections which had been offered, he hoped their lordships would still agree to the addition of at least two holidays, which related to points essentially connected with the history of our Saviour. The first of these was the Epiphany, and which he should propose for insertion, as an amendment.

The Bishop of St. Asaph supported-the observations of his grace of Canterbury. Those holidays which were commemorative of the earliest and most important facts in the history of the Gospel, should, at least, be retained; those especially which referred to the history of our Saviour's own life, should be retained; he meant at the CusLord Grenville, argued in defence of the tom-house. Were those suffered to remain, measure, in the shape in which it came up he would not, in that respect, be so anxious from the other house. In a great degree, about the rest. The days to which we unthe precedent of former regulating acts of dertood the right rev. prelate to refer were, the kind, was followed with respect to the the Epiphany, the Annunciation, the Aspresent. The consideration of such days as cension, and the Nativity of St. John the the description of persons to whom the bill Baptist. In what he advanced upon applied were in the habit of devoting to the point, he observed, he was not actuated divine service, was kept in view, in framing by a puritanical desire for a rigid observthe present measure. Many of the holidays, ance of holidays. He knew there were which, as far as Custom-house attendance some wherein an idle or improper observwent, were proposed to be abolished, were ance of the holiday did more harm than not appropriated by those persons for divine good; for that reason he was not unwilling service, but for purposes of idle anusement to contract the number. or relaxation. The object was to compel that in some cases the commissioners took those persons who were to execute the the liberty to order the attendance of clerks duties of the respective offices, duly and on Sundays. In cases of urgent necessity, diligently to attend to the same. The in- with respect to public business, he, perconvenience and disadvantage which the pre- haps, should not decidedly object to that sent number of holidays at the Custom--but upon the grounds on which he had house produced to commercial men, was stated, as well as those advanced by the inconceivable. At times, and on days where- right rev. prelate, he was of opinion, the in all other species of commercial business holidays to which he referred should, at was in a train of regular transaction, the least, be retained on the present occasion.---doors of the Custom-house were shut. The The question was put on the first amendmerchant who could regularly perform all ment, and negatived. Strangers were orderhis other business, was unable to transacted to withdraw, but no division took place, that, often most important part of it, which and the bill passed through the committee appertained to the Custom-house. After and was reported.

He was aware,

[KING'S MESSAGE RESPECTING LORD RODNEY.] Lord Grenville moved the order of the day for taking into consideration his majesty's message relative to lord Rodney. His lordship stated that a pension of 2000l. per annum had been granted to the first lord Rodney for the eminent services rendered by him to his majesty and the public; 1000l. was to devolve after his death to his widow and younger children; the remaining 1000l. to his eldest son for bis natural life. His eldest son, the late lord Rodney, enjoyed the pension but a short time after his father's death, and it was now proposed to continue that pension to the present lord. There were several who heard him that were old enough to remember the brilliant victory gained by the distinguished officer who first possessed this title, a victory which, independent of its own importance, was of the most essential benefit to the country at that time, when the circumstances of the country were not the most pleasing, and when our military cha racter had been lessened. It was true, that the pension referred to in his majesty's message was granted for services antecedent to that victory, but not on that account the less important, which, on the contrary, entitled that distinguished officer to every mark of approbation from his country. As to the principle on which these remunerations were granted, there could not exist the slightest doubt of its being one of the best principles on which parliament could act. A reward of this nature granted for eminent services diffused an additional spirit over a whole profession, and stimulated every one engaged in it, to seize every opportunity of exerting to the utmost his skill and ability in the service of his country, confident that his success would receive a grateful reward, and that, if he fell, an ample provision would be made for his family. Public economy was at all times necessary, but that was the best public economy which afforded the best assurance of public services, and nothing could be more important than that those who were fighting the battles of their country should be thoroughly convinced, that if they were not wanting to their country their country would not be wanting to them, and that whilst England expected every man to do his duly, she was at all times ready to do her duty to them. He thought it was at all times adviseable, where his majesty was advised to bestow a peerage for eninent services, and where a pension was granted

with it, to annex such pension to the title, in order to enable its possessors in succession the better to support their rank and dignity, He had no doubt that at any future period, if the present lord should have successors to the title, that parliament would readily grant the pension to the possessors of the title in succession. Under the present circumstances of the case, it was only interded to propose to grant the pension to the present lord Rodney for his natural life; at any future period parliament would of course act according to the nature of the circumstances then existing. His lordship concluded by moving an address to his majesty, declaring their readiness to concur in the object of his majesty's message; which was carried nem. dis.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Friday, July 6.

[MASTERS IN CHANCERY BILL.] The Master of the Rolls rose, pursuant to notice, to move for leave to bring in a bill for augmenting the salaries of the masters in ordinary, belonging to the court of chancery, and also for granting a certain provision to such as may be or become unfit, from age or infirmity, for the discharge of the duty attached to their office. The sum necessary for this purpose, the learned gent. proposed to have made up from the interest of the money belonging to suitors, which the house must be aware was in the hands of the masters. This interest accrued from the vesting of such money in government securities; and the surplus beyond the purposes to which it was at present assigned would be quite sufficient to answer the ends which his motion had in view. The salary which the learned gent. proposed to grant to superannuated masters, he mentioned to be 1500l. a year.— The first motion being agreed to, the learned gent. proposed another, the object of which was to grant an addition to the establishment in the accomplant general's office, namely, that four clerks should be added, and that the salaries of all the clerks should be augmented, that the principal clerks should be allowed 5001. a year, the second 4001. the third 3001. and the junior clerks 180l. This augmentation of salary, combined with a sum which he thought necessary to defray the expence attendant upon the increased business in this office, and to satisfy the executors of the late Mr. Warner, for such expences incurred by him,

the learned gent. proposed to provide for |
from the surplus interest of the fund al-
ready alluded to. The sum now vested in
government securities by the masters in
chancery, the learned gent. described to be
about 21 millions; and the different ac-
counts opened at the bank, in consequence
of this sum by the accomptant general, he
stated at about 5000. This circumstance,
he mentioned to shew the increased busi-
ness of the accomptant general's office, and
he stated that the arrangement proposed
had been agreed to by the late lord chan-
cellor, by the present, and by himself.-
Leave was given to bring in the bill.
[TRAINING BILL.] Mr. Windham mov-
ed the third reading of this bill.

Mr. Yorke, pursuant to notice, proposed a clause to enable the government to suspend the execution of this act in such districts as might offer a sufficient number of volunteers. If the act before the house were to pass in its present shape, he was very much afraid that the volunteers would consider themselves deprived of that protection for which, from their services, they were entitled to look. The general understanding was, that the object of this bill was to substitute compulsory for voluntary services, and if the clause he submitted, which was to be found in the original bill, were expunged, there was too much ground to warrant that understanding. Were the right hon. secretary to adopt this clause, he was persuaded that the bill would be much more palatable even to its friends. But, however the clause might be disposed of, it was his wish to bring it up, in order that it should appear as a protest on his part, and that of his friends, against a measure in bis and their judgment likely to produce the most mischievous consequences.

Mr. Windham opposed the clause, as calculated to defeat the principle of this bill, which was not the substitution of a compulsory for a voluntary force; but the addition of the one to the other. As to those districts in which the volunteers were

particularly numerous, there was a provi-
sion in the bill which enabled his majesty
to return such districts in calling out, only
so many as he saw occasion for; and there-
fore the object of the right hon. gent.'s
clause was, in a great measure, answered.
Mr. W. Smith was only sorry
that the
measure did not go far enough, by pro-
posing to train the effective population of
the country. His opinion was, that even
children at school should be taught military

exercise, for his conviction was, that in the present state of the world, we should not, unless a greater portion of martial spirit were infused into the people, be able to maintain our rank among the other nations of Europe.-The clause was negatived.

Mr. Yorke then proposed a clause, to which he hoped there would be no objection, that every man called out under this bill should take the oath of allegiance. Such was, he observed, the clause of the former act, and such was uniformly the case with regard to the volunteers.

Mr. Francis asked whether, if a man should refuse taking this oath he should therefore be exempted from training?

Lord Castlereagh professed himself really surprized to hear the supposition supported, that any of his majesty's subjects would hesitate to take that oath, which by the common law it was the bounden duty of all to take, at as early a period of life as possible; and he would be glad to have the performance of that duty superinduced by any act of this nature.

Mr. Francis said, that he did not suppose that any individual would hesitate to take the oath alluded to, from a principle of disaffection; but if a man were conscientiously to decline it, what would be the consequence? Was he, therefore, to be excused from the training, or was he to be punished? If the latter, the measure would be compulsory indeed, with a vengeance.

Mr. Windham saw no necessity for proposing this oath; conceiving that every one of his majesty's subjects was equally bound to the duties which the oath prescribed, whether he took it or not; and he rather apprehended that the proposition of it might excite alarm among the more ignorant part of the community, and so defeat the object of the bill.

Mr. Yorke never heard of any alarm that was excited by the proposition of this oath to the volunteers, and why then apprehend it in this case?

The Lord,Advocate was at a loss to conceive the object of this clause. Compulsion was deprecated by those who proposed it, and yet they now enforced this oath. If, however, a man refused to take it, it did not appear from the bill what consequence was to follow.

Mr. Yorke observed, that a man was of allegiance, and in this case if a man refusbound by the common law to take the oath

ed such oath, he would of course be sub-
man refusing to be trained.
ject to the penalties which attached to a

Mr. Perceval corroborated this observation, and begged the house and the right hon. secretary to recollect the salutary consequences which resulted from the administration of oaths during those unhappy scenes which were gone by, he hoped, never to return. But a statesman, framing a permanent measure like the present, should provide against even the possible recurrence of such an evil; and, remembering that men who took the oath of allegiance were always the most difficult to draw into the societies of disaffection, he would take care to extend that additional guard to loyalty.-The house divided upon the clause, Ayes, 38; Noes, 81. Majority against the clause 46. The bill was then passed.

[KING'S MESSAGE RESPECTING THE ROYAL FAMILY.] On the motion of lord H. Petty, the house then resolved itself into a committee of Supply. His majesty's message was then read, requesting that the house would transfer the sums paid to the younger branches of his family, from the aggregate to the consolidated fund; and would be pleased to enable him to make such farther increase to their incomes, as circumstances might render proper.

Lord H. Petty then said, that the first part of his majesty's message sufficiently explained its object, and did not require much comment. A provision had been made for his royal highness the duke of Gloucester and the princess Sophia, out of what was called the aggregate fund, which was since transferred to the consolidated fund. This was discovered on the death of the late duke of Gloucester, when it was proposed to continue his income to the present duke; but as the aggregate fund did not now exist, it became necessary to transfer it, by the interference of parliament, over to the consolidated fund. On this subject, he thought no doubt or hesitation could possibly exist, as it was only meant that that should be made good which parliament had formerly thought fit to grant. But the message did not stop here, and he flattered himself that, on due consideration, the house would feel as little hesitation respecting that part of it which called upon them to make such adequate provision for certain branches of the royal family, as was called for by the increased expences of the times. It was not proposed to include the duke of York in this additional grant. Such provision had already been made for him by parliament as he conceived sufficient, and he had generously declined coming forward with any claim on the liberality of the

public. The provision for the younger sons of the king was fixed at 12,000l. per annum in 1778. This was judged at that time to be a proper sum, and adequate to the due support of their rank. But he would leave it to the house to determine, when they looked at the increased expence attending every article of consumption, when they considered that most of them were doubled since that period, and some of them more than doubled, whether that sum could be regarded as any way adequate. From the advanced ages also of the illustrious personages, more appearance and greater expenditure were called for, than in the younger part of their lives, when this sum was originally fixed. If it were necessary to look to precedent in support of what he should propose, it might be sufficient to observe that the late duke of Gloucester had an income from the public of 24,000l. a year, which he enjoyed to the last period of his life. This was considerably more than it was now proposed to bestow; though be was far from resting on precedent only, since only such an amount of income was wished for, as to enable the illustrious persons to keep up that state and situation in life, which it was incumbent on them to support. In this view it was proposed that their incomes, standing at present at 12,000l. should be increased in future to 18,000l. a year. It was also proposed to provide for the expences of the princess Charlotte of Wales, by a grant of 7000l. a year, instead of 6000l. which she had before. The provision for the princesses stood on the same footing. It was necessary, also, to acquaint the house, that the provision for the princesses stood on the same footing as that for the duke of Gloucester, and the princess Sophia, and must be transferred from the aggregate fund, now merely nominal, and fixed on the consolidated fund. The allowance to the princesses was to be increased from 4000l. to 5000l.; and it was proposed to grant 40001. a year to the duchess dowager of Gloucester, for whom no provi sion had as yet been made, which was the same establishment as had been settled on the late duchess of Cumberland, He concluded with moving, "That his majesty be enabled to grant, out of the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain, a yearly sum, not exceeding 6000l. to each of their royal highnesses the dukes of Clarence, Kent, Cumberland, Sussex, and Cambridge."

Mr. Rose made some observations on the nature of the aggregate fund, and ex pressed his hope, that the resolution would

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