compensation, further than a stipulated pension which government allowed, had been hitherto resisted) it was moved, that " Mr. Palmer was intitled to 2 per cent. on the improved revenue of the post office," which was carried, on a division of 137 to 74.

Friday, May 13.

Mr. Perceval in a committee, moved a resolution permitting the holders of 3 per cent. stock to transfer the same to the commissioners for paying off the national debt, for the purpose of procuring annuities proportioned to the quantity of stock transferred. After some conversation the resolution was carried.

In a committee it was resolved to permit the exportation of sugar and coffee from the West-Indies in British shipping to certain parts of Europe.

The house went into a committee on the local militia bill.—Anamendment was introduced making it compulsory on ministers to act upon it immediately, or as soon as possible. Sir J. Montgomery proposed an amendment to the effect of taking all young men from 18 or 19 to 25, to have them trained for 3 months the first year, and for a shorter period each year afterwards, as they advanced in proficiency; and when they had passed the age of 25, then to be exempt from service. In this way the whole of the young men in the country would soon be trained, and at a small expence to the nation, as they would have fewer wives and children to provide for. -A division took place on this amendment, which was negatived, the numbers being

Leave granted, and the in, and read a first_time Tuesday, May

Sir T. Turton entered detail of the usurpation India company connecte Nabob of Arcot's terr since the Marquis Welle val in India, in 1793, it mined that the Carnatic sl to be an independent prov cordingly, the Nabob Ome rah, a young Prince of 1 age, was seized by a boc company's troops, and dep his cousin, Azeem ul Doula on the throne, as more p agreeable to the views of nor-general. The unfortuna was then confined to his p the usurper, and in less tha he was no more. The hon asserted that there was no for suspecting the Prince of correspondence with those w inimical to the company, had rigidly paid them his Sir Thomas read the variou that were necessary to sup arguments, and concluded ving a string of resolutions demning the administration Wellesley, as governor-gen India.

On the question being pu Wallace rose, and stated, that the facts advanced by the hon net were partly true, still it follow as a consequence th these transactions, in whic Marquis Wellesley had been ed, were dictated by crooked or that they were intended to disturbances in India. After

Colonel Allen said he had been many years in India, and was, from his situation, well acquainted with the Carnatic question. The line of conduct pursued by the noble marquis was justifiable, as the interest of the company required the adoption of strong measures! It was, therefore, with a view to secure peace and good order in the Nabob's territories, that it was found expedient to depose him!

On the motion of Mr. Windham, the further debate on the question was postponed till Tuesday next.

Wednesday, May 18.

Sir Samuel Romilly obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the 4th. chapter of the Sth. of Queen Elizabeth, which takes away the benefit of clergy from persons stealing privately; and he also obtained leave to bring in a bill to grant a compensation of damages to such persons as were tried and acquitted.

Lord Castlereagh moved the order of the day for the re-committal of the local militia bill. A short conversation took place on the clause regulating the age at which the ballot should take place, and the period to which it should be extended. It was at length resolved, that the ages of those who serve by compulsion should be from 18 to 30; and that those who served voluntarily should be from 18 to 40 years.

The committee then went through several other clauses, after which the house adjourned.

Thursday, May 19. The order of the day for the second reading of the parish settlement bill being read,

Colonel Stanley stated the object of this bill, which was to prevent any settlement being gained by renting any dwelling under the value of 201. instead of 101. or by purchase, under the value of 1001. instead of 301. The next object of the bill was to pass Irish and Scotch paupers to their respective parishes.

Mr. Curwen spoke against the bill as an unnecessary interference with the existing laws on the subject of the poor. He moved an amendment, leaving out the word "now,” and inserting those of "this day three months."

After some observations from Mr. D. Giddy, Mr. Horner, and Sir S. Romilly, against the bill; and Mr. Whitbread in support of it, the house divided, when the amendment was carried by 114 to 11. The bill was of course lost..

Mr. Rose pursuant to notice, moved for leave to bring in a bill to prevent the excessive depression of the wages of cotton manufacturers in England.

On the motion being put, it was negatived without a division.

Mr. Rose then moved for leave to bring in a bill to repeal and amend the several acts of parliament respecting the woollen manufactures. Leave granted.

Lord Binning rose to make his promised motion respecting the report of the sugar committee. The subject which the committee had in view, was to afford relief to the WestIndia planter. They had found in the course of their investigation, that the harvest of last year was more than usually deficient; and the consumption of the distilleries exceeded 479,000 quarters of grain; but the present situation of Europe left little hope of importing the constant deficiency of consumption, amounting, on an average, to 770,000 quarters. With these conclusive facts before the committee, they apprehended a scarcity, and to ob

viate that, they recommended, if found expedient, to put a stop to the distillation from grain, and substitute sugar for a given period; but in case of an abundant harvest, sufficient authority should be vested in the crown to do away the restriction. He was well aware that one class of men should not be relieved to the injury of others; but it was an urgent case, and the landholders would not by any means suffer, though distilleries were prohibited from using 'grain. Many witnesses, who had been examined, proved that the last harvest was extremely deficient in England. Mr. A. Young in particular, whose agricultural knowledge must be known to all, had stated that in the district with which he was best acquainted, Suffolk and Norfolk, the crop of barley had been deficient. The testimony of Mr. Wakefield was also much to the same effect: it also appeared from the evidence of certain corn-merchants, that the crops of barley and oats in the north of Scotland and Ireland, had sustained great injury from the wetness of the season, and were unusually deficient. It had been urged, that the adoption of this measure would discourage the cultivation of Barley, but that he maintained, was impossible, as long as there would be a demand for it; independent of this, it had lately risen from 46s. to 50s. and the small quantity on hand would always keep up the price. Should the house think it expedient to receive the report, and resolve itself into a committee to consider it, he had only two resolutions to submit, namely, that all kinds of grain be prohibited from being distilled from the first of July to the first of October; and that it might be lawful for his Majesty, after the first of September, to discontinue the restriction if found expedient; if otherwise, to continue it till 30 days after the meeting of parliament; and

in the committee he would propose the reduction of the duty on sugarwash. He concluded by moving, that the report be referred to a committee of the whole house.

Mr. Coke, on the motion being put, rose to object to it. He said the establishment of distilleries in this country had taken place so far back as the reign of William III. and for the express purpose of encouraging the agriculture of the kingdom, and in this view he should ever be a strong advocate for them, as furnishing a market for the surplus grain of the farmer, and particularly such grain as could not be used for the purposes of brewing. It was not the wish of the landed gentlemen that the price of grain should bẹ high; they wanted only such a price as would afford a fair remuneration to the farmer. It was not long ago since he left the county (Norfolk) which he had the honour to represent, and then he believed that barley had not risen above 4s. per quarter which was only a fair remunerating price. The price had probably risen since that time, as the noble lord had stated; but he really believed this rise was occasioned by the enquiries set on foot by the committee, as to the average stock of grain on hand in different parts of the country. One great objection which he had to make to the resolutions was, that they materially interfered with the system of agricul ture pursued in the county with which he was best acquainted. In no other part of the kingdom was agriculture better understood, or conducted with more skill, and there the barley system chiefly prevailed; and to adopt any measure that would interfere with its produce, would tend to the greatest detriment. The noble lord had told the house, that since last autumn there had been no importation of grain in this country. He was glad to hear that there had not; for if, with only the average

nued so stationary as in the present year; and this fact would almost induce him to believe that great fluctuations in the price of grain were chiefly caused by those speculations of the corn dealer, to which importation gave rise. He had understood that the great object of the committee was, if possible, to administer relief to the West-India planters. If any relief uld be given, it ought to be afforded by the country at large. We had captured a great many West-India Islands, which were stated to be very valua ble, but he did not suppose that the real worth of many of them was so great as an ozier bed in the river Thames. Upon the whole, he conceived that it would be much better to leave the measure of stopping the distilleries in the hands of government. They had twice, within his recollection, had recourse to it when the danger of scarcity impended, and they ought to do so again if circumstances called for it; but at present he saw no necessity for the proposed resolutions.

Sir W. Curtis conceived, that in the present circumstances of the country, the resolutions were dictated by sound policy, and deserved support.

Sir J. Sinclair contended that the report did not contain the whole merits of the case; as such, he thought it his duty to oppose it, as it went to injure the interest of the country; but he was well convinced that the alarm which this report sounded was entirely erroneous.

Mr. Curwen deprecated a plan which came before the house unsupported by evidence. He attributed the late rise on 'grain to the

Mr. Gooch felt for the of the West-India mercha could not put these in co with the discouragement w adoption of the resolution offer to agriculture. He mu fore oppose the motion.

Gen. Gascoigne insisted West-India interest had a look for redress, as well as holders. When the price was above 80s. per cwt. mini posed the present duties, ground that the revenue participate in the gains ma planters. This was not the ed; but, according to the sa ciple, those duties ought been lowered when the p from 80s. to 34s. which was sent price.

Mr. Perceval under the curate review he could besto subject, supported the mot

Mr. Ponsonby and Sir J. severally protested against troduction of the proposed to Ireland, and contended scarcity in that country v temporary.

Sir A. Wellesley and Co gomery supported the motion

Mr. Foster was sorry that to Ireland compelled him the measure, if it were mea tend it to that part of the e

Mr. C. R. Ellis vindicated ciple of the measure. He ed, that even in the most p years this country had ever ed, still we had been unde cessity of importing grain f continent. In the present stances of the country, an by the enemy, we were from the whole continent,

sential that distillation should not be suffered from grain.

Sir H. Mildmay proved from the public returns, that the price of barley was 3s. 4d. less at present than in 1802, when the antecedent scarcity was supposed to be nearly at an end.

Mr. Windham, Mr. W. Smith, and Admiral Harvey, spoke against the motion; and after several other members had delivered their sentiments, a division took place, when the numbers were, For the motion 122; against it 108.-Majority 14. Adjourned at four o'clock in the morning.

Friday, May 20.

Sir S. Romilly brought in a bill allowing compensation to persons imprisoned, and not found guilty.

The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole house to consider Mr. Palmer's claim, when Mr. Lethbridge moved for leave to bring in a bill founded on the resolutions of a former committee, granting him in future 2 per cent. on the improving revenue of the post office, agreeably to his contract with government in the year 1789.

Mr. Bankes and Mr. Marryatt objected to it; when the committee divided. - For the motion 63; against it 31. The bill was ordered

to be brought in.

Mr. Taylor brought forward his motion relative to the Dardanelles, and concluded with a resolution, that his Majesty's fleet under Sir J. Duckworth had appeared before Constantinople on the 20th of Feb. 1807, and continued there for 10 days without doing anything, and that it was the opinion of the house, that arrangements had not been made by the then ministry adequate to the occasion. He was ably answered by Mr. T. Grenville, and after some farther discussion, the motion was negatived without a division. Adjourned to Monday.

Monday, May 23.

The bill for rebuilding the town of Chudleigh, in Devonshire, recently destroyed by fire, was read a third time and passed.

Mr. Grattan presented a petition from the Roman catholics in Ireland, praying the repeal of all the statutary disabilities under which they labour.

Mr. M. Matthew presented a petition to the same effect from the catholics in the county of Tipperary.

In a committee of supply, 147,1791. were voted as, arrears for army services of last year, 2,850,0001. for the extraordinary services of the army of Great Britain, and 500,0001. for the same purpose for the army in Ireland, for 1808; and 1,000l. were voted towards the repairs of Henry the VIIIth's chapel.

Mr. Lethbridge brought up a bill for making compensation to Mr. J. Palmer, for the improvements made in the revenues of the post office, which was read a first time.

Lord Binning moved the order of the day for the house going into a committee on the proposition for preventing distillation from corn; which being read, he then moved, "that the speaker do leave the chair." -On the question being put,

Mr. Coke said, that he felt it a duty which he owed to the country at large as well as to the interests of his constituents, to take every opportunity of opposing this measure. Mr. Perceval supported the measure upon an idea that corn was high, than which there could be no opinion more erroneous. Corn was so far from being high, that it barely afforded a remunerating price. Nothing, he observed, could be more dangerous than to hold out the apprehension of a scarcity, for which there was no foundation. The crop of last year, he would admit, was not abundant; but it was sufficient nevertheless. No importation took place, for none was necessary; and