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corn, malt, cyder, or any mixture therewith, or from worts, or wash of British or foreign materials, of the ftrength of one to ten over hydrometer proof, which fhall be imported into England from Scotland."

The Earl of Surrey defired to be informed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any measure was meant to be taken this feffion relative to the fale of the Crown Lands. It was a bufinefs, his Lordship faid, that he withed much to fee brought forward, and therefore hoped fomething was meant to be done to restore the heirs of the Derwentwater eflates to their property, the fame as had been last year done with other noble families, whofe eftates had been attainted. He alfo wifhed to be informed, whether any thing decifive was to be done this year for fettling the claims of the American Loyalifts.

Mr. Pitt in answer faid, undoubtedly it was his intention to bring forward the bufinefs of the Crown Lands as early as poffible; but he was fearful nothing more could be done this year than ufing parliamentary authority for a more actual and accurate furvey. As to the claims of the American Loyalifts, every ftep poffible was taken to accomplish the bufinefs; but he did not imagine the Houfe would be called on to come to any thing decifive on that head this year. Mr. Young brought up the Report of the Committee on the militia bill, which was read; but when the Speaker came to the claufe which flates that only TWO-THIRDS of the militia fhall be called out annually, a converfation took place between Mr. Marfham, Mr. Powney, Mr. Jolliffe, Mr. Pye, &c. &c. whether it would not be better to call out FIVE-SIXTHS, on which the Houfe divided, for calling out only two-thirds, Noes, 13.

Ayes, 49

Mr. Rolle propofed a claufe, not to fuffer any man to become a fubftitute who had more than one child born in wedlock; which, after a trilling conversation, was withdrawn.

JUNE 9.

The Houfe refolved itfelf into a Committee of Supply, to take into confideration the eftimate for the new buildings to be erected It appeared near the Admiralty Office. from the estimate, that the fum of 13,000l. would be necellary for the erecting those works; and it was moved that 6000l. of that fum fhould be advanced this year towards carrying them on.

After fome little converfation and oppofition on the part of Mr. Hulley, the question was put, and on a divifion was carried by a majority of 27:

Ayes, 63

Noes, 36.

The House was then refumed.

On the third reading of the wine duty bill, fome alterations were made, and new EUROP. MAG.

claufes added; and a motion having been
made, "That this bill do pass,"

Mr. Alderman Newnham oppofed it, as impolitic and oppreffive. He faid he had little hope that his oppofition would be of any effect; he rose therefore principally to request the Minister would pledge himself to this, "that if it should be found that this experimental plan did not produce the great increafe of revenue that was expected from it, he would fuffer the win: trade to return to its old fyftem, by a repeal of the bill next feffion, fhould it pass into a law in the prefent one," which, faid he, may the LORDS in their mercy prevent!

Mr. Alderman Hammet joined in this hope; he said it was reported that the Right Hon. Gentleman was an enemy to the trade of the country [This raifed a loud laugh on both fides of the Houfe]. He called upon him therefore to prove that the report was ill founded, by declaring, that if the experiment fhould fail, he would not continue to ruin the trade of England by oppreffion.

Mr. Pitt faid fmilingly, that if he was an enemy to the trade of the country, he had the mortification to find that ever fince he had been at the head of the Exchequer, that trade had been improving, and was ftill likely to grow and improve. He could feel no objection to grant the request of the Hon. Member, taking it on his own terms; and "that if the therefore he might fafely fay, experiment fhould fail, he would not continue to ruin the trade of England by oppreffion." In answer to the request of the other worthy Magiftrate, which was very differently expreffed, he would fay, that if the fuccefs of the experiment fhould fall short of what he expected from it, he would then endeavour to devife fome fubfidiary regulations that would render the plan more effe&tual.

Mr. Alderman Sawbridge obferved, that this was a poor confolation for the country to be told, that if the present oppression did not raise money enough, the oppreffion fhould be made heavier next year. For his'part, he detefted the principle of the Excife laws, and as he was refolved to oppose every attempt to extend them, fo he was determined to take the fenfe of the House on the palling of the prefent biil.

Mr. Fox and Mr. Sheridan expreffed their difapprobation of the refolution the Right Hon. Gentleman feemed to have taken.

The Houfe then divided on the question for the paffing of the bill, which was carried by a majority of 38: Ayes, 71 Noes, 33. The bill was accordingly paffed, and ordered up to the Lords.

The Houfe then went into a Committee, to take into confideration a petition from the Eaft-India Company, which had been M m m prefented

prefented a few hours before, praying for leave to borrow two millions fterling.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer obferved, that, as he could not foresee any objection to the prayer of the petition, he would not tire the Committee by urging arguments to enforce it. It was a fignal fatisfaction to him, he faid, that the propofition which he was going to make, would relieve the Eaft-India Company, without laying any burthen on the nation. He was not going to propofe that the public fhould lend the money, but that the Company might be fo far releafed from its legal reftraints as to be at liberty to borrow it on its own credit. The fum wanted by the Company was two millions fterling, which he propofed to raise in this way by the fale of an annuity of 36.000l. due to the Company by the public: this, he faid, would produce 800,000l. and by an enlargement of the Company's trading stock from 3,200,000l. to 4,000,000l. the additional 800,000l. ftock would fell for 1,200,000l. which would complete the fum wanted. He then moved,

That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the Eaft-India Company be enabled to raife a fum of money for the purposes mentioned in their petition by the fale of 36,2261. 16s. being an annuity due from the public in confideration of 1,207,559!. 155. part of 4,200,000l. advanced by the Company to the public under the authority of feveral Acts of Parliament.

That the faid Company be enabled to raise a further fum by adding 800,000l. to their capital flock of 3,200,000l. fo as to make the whole capital in future 4,000,000l. and that fuch additions be made by opening a fubfcription to that amount, after the rate of 160l. for every 100l.

This brought on a converfation, in which Mr. Sheridan, ard other Members, entered largely into the state of the Company's affairs. After a long converfation, the queftion was put, and the resolution carried without a divifion; and the Houfe being refumed, adjourned at ten o'clock.

JUNE 12.

The House refolved itself into a Committee of Supply, Mr. Gilbert in the chair.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer thenmoved, that an additional duty of fix fhillings pr baricl be impofed on all sweets made for fale.

The Report of the Committee on the election bill being then brought up, a great many amendments were propofed and adopted, when the Houfe adjourned.

JUNE 13.

Mr. Fox defired the third charge against Mr. Hattings relative to Benares to be read; which being done, he enlarged upon each article of the charge and commented with much feverity on Mr. Haftings's conduct,

obferving, in the words of Mr. Dundas, "that Mr. Haftings feldom or ever went a journey in India, but it was marked with the ruin of fome prince." The right honourable Member, in a fpeech of two hours and a half, difplayed his ufual abilities, and after recapitulating fhortly, that Warren Hallings had, in violation of every tie of honour, and in defiance of exprefs agreements entered into, exacted great fums from Cheyt Song, and wantonly, through a determined enmity to him, endeavoured to find means to drive him from his country, thereby bringing difgrace on Englishmen; he concluded with moving, "That the Committee having heard the charge, and examined evidence thereto, were of opinion that it contained fufficient grounds for impeaching Warren Hastings, Efq.

He was feconded by Mr. Francis.

Mr. Nicholls defended Mr. Hailings, and faid, if he was guilty, the no. Lord in the blue ribband was guilty in not bringing him

to account.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer declared that he fhould take a general view of the question; that he should draw his arguments from the general refult as it impartially weighed in his mind, neither leaning towards the prof cution on one hand, or endeavouring to extenuate the supposed criminal on the other. Here the honourable Gentleman took an opportunity to cenfure the vindictive fpirit with which the profecution had been inftituted. The politics of India were involved in obfcurity, even upon the very spot; how then was it poffible for gentlemen to form a clear and distinct idea upon every tranfaction which was fo diffuse and complicated? He had, with as much attention as he could poffibly appropriate from the other concerns of Government, endea voured to inveftigate the grounds of the charge now under confideration, and he had made up an opinion upon it which was entirely fatisfactory to his confcience. He ac knowledged the task was arduous, he would not fhrink from it, but boldly avow his opinion, as an honeft man, whatever might be the confequence.

After this exordium, the honourable Gen tleman proceeded to ftate, that, upon the prefent enquiry, there arofe two questions,

1ft. The right which Mr. Hailings poffeffed of calling on the Rajah for his contribution; and, 2dly, the propriety of making it.

The firft head of this question naturally divided itfelt into three branches :——— ift. The penalty in refusing the ftipulated quota;

2dly. The nature of the conflitution of the Afiatic governments, by the tenure of which Cheyt Sing held. And,

3dly. The agreement between him and the Company, which had been fo warmly infifted

infifted upon by the right honourable Mover of the question.

On the first of these branches it would be prepofterous to affert that there could exist a government without a power to "command refources in the time of exigency. All governments in the world, whether defpotic or limited, muft of neceffi y poffefs fuch power. The hiftory of our own country, under the feudal fyftem, was a striking inftance of it. Without fuch a power indeed, no regular government could exist.

As to the fecond head, the conftitution of Afiatic principalities; it appeared to him that the land of the country, by a fort of feudal fhackle, was bound to anfwer every all which the Nabob, Rajah, or Prince (by whatever title he was diftinguifhed) should make upon the owners; nay, it was even a question in India, whether the Zemindar had any natural right to the foil, or whether he and all his under tenants were not confidered merely in the light of stewards to the Nabob under whom they held.

He did not mention thefe circumstances by way of giving the leaft approbation of them; but he must reafon upon the ftate of India in the fituation in which it REALLY WAS, and not what it oUGHT to be. In this view of the conftitution, and the tenure on which the Rajah held, it was evident that Mr. Hastings, on behalf of the India Company, might lawfully call upon him for affiftance whenever neceflity required it. He then adverted to the third head, namely, The agreement between Sujah ul Dowlah and Mr. Haftings, on the one part, and Cheyt Sing on the other.

Here he entered into a variety of forcible and ingenious arguments to fhew, that altho' by the agreement in question, a certain annual fum was ftipulated, after payment of which the Rajah was not to be called upon; yet this was to be confidered as a fort of peace eftablishment, and by no means precluded Mr. Hattings from calling for auxiliary aid, when the neceflity of the empire demanded a general exertion. In order fully to clear up this point, he entered at large into the manner in , which the territory of Benares became in the poffeffion of Cheyt Sing, by means of Bulwant Sing, his father,Here the Hon. Gentleman evinced a thorough and compleat knowledge of his fubject; and very clearly proved, that the tenure by which he held, was entirely fubordinate, and therefore liable to all thofe refraints incident to fuch fituations in India. As an auxiliary argument to fupport this opinion, he fhewed, that at a period when Warren Haftings had propofed to make the Rajah Dowlah entirely independent, under a confideration that it would ftrengthen his hands, he was oppoted by a majority of the Council, and in particular by Mr. Francis.

Having thus cleared his ground, he next adverted to the feveral steps that Mr. Hadings

had taken to draw from the Rajah the extra fupplies of money and troops; and read extracts from the feveral minutes of the Council Board at Calcutta, in which the Members had acceded to the demand of the five lacks for three years; and even Mr. Francis himself had gone fo far as to give his confent to fine the Rajah in one lack, as a punishment for having neglected to comply with fuch demand. Nay, further, that Mr. Francis had actually, in the first inftance, given his confent to threaten the Rajah with military execution, if he made any further excufe or delay, with this provifo, that " he hoped the threat would be fufficient." This Mr. Pitt urged was fairly recognizing the power, although the blame was now entirely thrown upon Mr. Haftings. Having thus made out the two pofitions, viz. the right of calling for the aids in queftion, and the propriety in doing it; he then traced Mr. Haflings step by ftep, until he arrived at the city of Benares, with the avowed intention of enforcing compliance to his demands.

And here he came to the most painful part of the task impofed upon him by the duty that he owed to the cause of Justice.

Mr. Haftings knew, when he departed from Calcutta, all the circumftances that had attended the Rajah's delay. He therefore left that place with a full determination of infifting upon his demands being complied with, and with NO OTHER INTENTION whatever. Nothing new happened on his paffage, except that the Rajah met him, and made the most humble fubmiffion—a fubmiffion, which, by the wav, fhewed the inferior condition in which he confidered himself. When Mr. Haftings arrived at Benares, without taking any preparatory fleps, he determines to fine him 50 lacks, (about half a million) and arrefted him in his palace, in order to enforce immediate payment. Here it was, that the tranfaction affected Mr. Haftings-allowing him every merit in the previous tranfactions, and exculpating him entirely from any crimes on that fcore. Yet this was fuch a breach of faith-fuch a cruel oppreffion-fuch a heavy exaction-and upon the whole, a conduct fo cruel, unjust, and oppreflive, that it was impoffible, he, as a man of honour or honefly, or having any regard to faith and confcience, could any longer refift; and therefore he had fully fatisfied his confcience, That Warren Haftings had been guilty of fuch enormities and mifdemeanors, as conftituted a crime fufficient to call upon the juftice of the House to impeach him.-A great cry from all parts of the Houfe, hear! hear! hear!-Mr. Pitt then went into feveral particulars of the fubfequent conduct of Mr. Hattings, and exculpated him from any charge.

The above is only a faint idea of the wonderful difplay of oratory, found fenfe and fenfibility which Mr. Pitt difplayed upon this M m m 2

inte

interefting occafion; and to which nothing but want of room fhould prevent us from attempting to do juftice.

Mr. Dempfter agreed with the last Honourable Speaker in all but his conclufion. He was confident that Mr. Haftings' motives were pure; that we owed the prefervation of an empire to his exertions.

Lord Mulgrave, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Vanfittart, Col. Phillips, and Major Scott, fupported Mr. Haftings.

Mr. Powys thanked God that the Minifter had declared himself in fo honourable and manly a manner; but at the fame time he faw him ftand alone; his friends avowed the arbitrary principle which was fo jufly and honestly reprobated by the Minifter. He then

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POE TR

ODE to SLEEP,
Written at Midnight, by WM. PARSONS, Efq.
NOW ebon fhades obfcure the room,

And no kind rays the fcene illume,
Save through the pane in languid streams
The wan moon theds her yellow beams,
With chequer'd radiance decks the ground,
And gently gilds the gloom around.
At this lone hour, when midnight reigns
With filence o'er the twilight plains,
While drowsy birds forget to fing,
No echoes in the foreft ring;
No zephyr through the valley blows,
But all is hufh'd in deep repofe;
Shall I alone fad vigils keep,
Why doft thou fly me, gentle fleep?
O'ercome with toil, the cottag'd fwain
Is fure thy partial fmiles to gain ;
On hardy bed outstretch'd he lies,
And ready flumbers close his eyes.
L'en the poor fea boy on the maft
Thou deign'ft to lock in fetters faft,
Tho' round him blows the whistling gale,
And rattling shrouds his ears affail.
Nor doft thou to the flave refuse
The balm of thine oblivious dews;
He, yielding to thy welcome fway,
Flies from his tyrant far away,
Efcapes the fcourge and galling chains,
And temporary freedom gains.

Lo! where with weight of forrows prest,
Pale Grief reclines and finks to rest;
E'en pining Care forgets his woes,
And Pain to thee a refpite owes.
Love only thou forfak'st, O fleep,
Love only wakes-and wakes to weep!
Once thou wert wont unfought to shed
Thy peaceful poppies on my head;

༢.

But fince my Stella's angel charms
Have fill'd my foul with foft alarms ;
Sadly I wafte the night in fighs,
And no kind flumbers clofe mine eyes.
Oh come! diffuse thine influence bland,
Steal on my fenfe with downy hand;
And, Morpheus, on thy friendly wing
Some (weetly-foothing vision bring.
I afk not dreams of high renown,
The Poet's wreath, or Monarch's crown,
Or to deform the fancied plain
With clouds of smoke, and hil's of flain;
Far, far, fuch awful forms remove
From him who only thinks of love:
But bear me to fome vernal scene,
Empurpled mead, or alley green,
Where o'er fam'd Arno's gentle tide
The dark pines wave their umbrage wide,
And bring my Stella to my mind,
Ah! bring her fair-and bring her kind!

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ODE to INDOLENCE.

By

MERRY, Efq.

PEACE to yonder tumult rude,
That bursts upon my folitude;
And mingles with the storm afar,
The frantic ravings of defpair;
While thro' the dreary deep of air

Thy fatal voice is heard, O blood-ftain'd war!
Yes, now the paffions wildly rage,
And fadly gloom the human scene;
Forgotten all the poet's page,
His penfive joy and hour ferene.
O hence, ye furious paffions, hence!
But welcome to my longing arms,
Array'd in all thy fober charms,
Mild tranquil Indolence!

Shakespeare's Henry IV.

For

For much I love to view thy melting eye,
Thy wanton treffes careless fly,
The zoneless breast, the open grace,
The vagrant undetermin'd pace,
The aspect bland, the form benign,
The winning air, and fmile divine.

Amid the filent noon of night,
When failing on in luftre bright
O'er pathlefs wilds, and mountains drear,
The pale moon throws her filver ray,
Guiding the pilgrim's lonely way

To where the convent's diftant fpires appear;
O then thou lov'st, at ease reclin'd,
With Contemplation by thy fide,
Where gently steals the whisp'ring wind,
And foft the ling'ring waters glide,
To think, alas! how fhort, how vain,
The rich man's boaft, the poor man's woe!
What madness to exult below,
What folly to complain!

See Hope's gay altars by fresh vot'ries drest,
The fwarm of yesterday at reft!
Those budding flow'rs their feasons gave,
Have prov'd the blossoms of the grave;
And Death alike shall foon efface
The glories of the prefent race.

O goddess! wave thy lily hand,
That meekly bears the magic wand,
To foothe the mental storm to rest!
And now Life's drops unrufled flow,
Nor burn with rage, nor chill with woe,
But all is fweet and tranquil in the breast:
Nought now the placid foul can move,
Save P.ty comes with tearful eye,
Or the fixt gaze of feeling love,
Or gentle Mercy's heart-felt figh.
Yet these will not disturb thy cell,
For Echo's dirge-like notes, and clear,
Shall oft inform thy lift ning ear;
With thefe the Virtues dwell.
And fee the fleecy clouds tranfparent Aly,
Leaving ferene the fummer's sky:
-And fee gray evening's gloom appears,
While Nature melts in dewy tears.
O hither come, and bring with thee
The rural nymph, Simplicity.

Where Arno's waves uncertain flow,
Where rapid rolls the brighter Po,
Oft have I woo'd thee, goddess dear!
To blefs with ease my future days,
From cenfure far, or noify praise.

O may thy clarion, Fame! fublime to hear,
Be ever to my fenfes mute:

'Tis true, the thrilling notes are strong,
Yet cannot charm like Pity's lute,
Nor Philomela's plaintive fong.
Beneath his courfer's boundings fleet,
The laurell'd hero, as he goes,
Tramples unfeen full many a rofe,
Nor heeds the perfume sweet.

The upland lawns, the fhadowy vales,
Cool lucid ftreams and tepid gales,
And where the feather'd choirs around
Wanton amid the wilds of found.

Each haughty tyrant fcorns to tread
Thy fimple path, with flow'rs bespread.
He, too, whofe fordid foul requires
Still to increase his daily heap,

453

Who leaves th' unfriended race to weep,
Bafe, wretched victim to his own defires;
Alas! his bofom ne'er fhall feel
The blifs thy radiant fmiles bestow,
When foft thy 'luring flumbers steal,
And charm away the fenfe of woe.
But bright Content shall thee be near,
And oft, to catch the breeze, unfold
Her waving locks of downy gold,
And chafe the rifing tear.

[way,

But thou, indulgent power! canft point the
Where all the milder pleasures stray,

There glowing Genius fhall in rapture muse,
And round his holy rays diffuse ;
With comprehensive thought shall fean
The windings in the maze of man :
And thus with thee my limbs reclin'd,
Far from the world shall foar my mind.

HORACE, Book II. ODE 16.
Otium Divos, &c.

By Mr. HASTINGS,
On board the Barrington in his Voyage from
Bengal to England in 1785.

Addreffed to JOHN SHORE, Efq.

OR ease the harrafs'd feaman prays,

F When equinoctial tempefts raif

The Cape's furrounding wave ;
When hanging o'er the reef he hears
The cracking maft, and fees or fears,
Beneath, his watry grave.

For eafe the flow Mahratta spoils,
And hardier Sik erratic toils,

While both their eafe forego;
For cafe, which neither gold can buy,
Nor robes, nor gems, which oft belye

The cover'd heart, bestow.

For neither gold nor gems combin'd
Can heal the foul or fuffering mind.
Lo! where their owner lies:
Perch'd on his couch Diftemper breathes,
And Care, like fmoke, in turbid wreaths
Round the gay ceiling flies.

He who enjoys, nor covets more,
The lands his father held before,

Is of true blifs poffefs'd,

Let but his mind unfetter'd tread
Far as the paths of knowledge lead,
And wife, as well as bleft.
No fears his peace of mind annoy,
Left printed lies his fame destroy,

Which labor'd years have won;

Nor

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