and the condu& of Minifters as it regarded the Negociation; arguing from it, that before he was convinced that a war was neceffary, he must be convinced that it was juít; and how was he to decide on the refufals, the fubte fuges, the redress and reparation required, as set forth in the documents before the Houle, if he was not allowed to canvass the manner, the time, and propriety of making thofe demands infiited on by Ministers? He concluded with giving his fupport to the Amendment, as the only means of preferving his confiftency.-[Mr. Fox's fpeech was confidered as a masterly effort of oratorical ingenuity; but it was throughout rather calculated to excite alarm than to produce unanimity.]

of

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, after animadverting on feveral parts of Mr. Fox's fpeech, as they related to the different branches the Negociation, entered into a latement refpecting the expences incurred by the French military for the laft three years. For 1801, the pay of the French armies amounted to 238,000,000 of livres, in 1802, an army was fupported at the expence of 240,000,000; and in 1803, at 123,000,coo. With refpect to the miffion of Sebaftiani, he declared that that proceeding was confidered by Government as the avowed intention of the French to violate the Treaty of Amiens, by endeavouring to overthrow the Turkish empire. It was only by the poffeffion of a naval ftation in the Mediterranean that we could fecure ourselves against the views of France; and on this he refted his juftification for the retention of Malta. We were now at war; but if there was any body who could bring forward a practicable propofition by which peace could be rettored, the Minifter would be an enemy to his Country who fhould not accept it. Under the prefent cir cumftances, however, he fhould be only deceiving the country, were he to fay that he faw any thing in the French Government that warranted fuch expectation.

The Attorney-General oppofed the Amendment, and the comments made on it; obferving, that if an apologist for Bonaparte had been in the Houfe, he could not have advanced stronger arguments to the purpose than thofe ufed by Mr. Fox.

Mr. Windham alfo fpoke in warm language against the arguments of

Mr. Fox; after which the House divided-For the amendment, 67; against it, 398.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25.

Mr. T. Grenville moved for three Papers, viz. ft, for afcertaining the date of the annexation of the Spanish Langue of Malta to the domain of Spain; 2d, for Copies of the Reprefentations made by Minifters on this fubject; 3d, for the Anfwer to the Emperor of Ruffia, refpećting his propofition to guarantee Malta. Agreed to, with the exception of No. 2.

Lord Hawkesbury pretented Copies of Difpatches from Mr. Liiton, relative to the occupation of Holland by the French troops.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought up a Message from his Majelty, fimilar to that delivered in the Upper Houfe; to which an Addrefs was ordered.

On the report of the Address, several Members delivered their fentiments, who had not an opportunity of speaking on the preceding evenings.

Sir R. Peel, Mr. H. Lafcelles, Sir W. Pulteney, Sir R. Hill, Mr. Hobhouse, and Mr. S. Lefevre, all spoke in favour of the moderation of Minitters, and of the neceffity of the prefent war.

Mr. Wilberforce spoke in favour of the amendment, and hoped peace would be preferved by the interference of the Emperor of Ruffia.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer urged the neceflity of pui fuing the war with vigour.

THURSDAY, MAY 26.

The Speaker reported that his Majefty had returned a most gracious anfwer to the Addrefs.

On the order for the third reading of the Clergy Non-Refidence Bill, Sir F. Burdett fpoke with much warmth against its principle, which went to put the Clergy entirely at the direction of the Bithops, and confequently to influence them with respect to elections. He then drew different inferences as to the hardships which would be futtained by the inferior Clergy; and moved hat the Bill be read this day three months. On the fuggetion of Mr. Sheridan, however, who faid that feveral new claufes were to be added, he withdrew his motion, and the Bill was pafled.

FRIDAY, MAY 27.

Mr. Canning moved for Papers relative to the French Commercial Commiflioners, which was agreed to.

MEDIATION

MEDIATION OF THE EMPEROR OF

RUSSIA.

Mr. Fox, in pursuance of notice, prefaced his motion on this fubject, by adverting to the importance of adjulting the differences, and the neceffity of terminating the conteft as fpeedily as poffible: his propofition therefore was, to advife his Majetty to avail himself of the good-will of the Emperor of Ruffia: he then proceeded to fhew the nume rous advantages that would result from fuch a mediation, and the qualifications of the Emperor to effect fuch an object; obferving, that no Power in Europe had fo great a right to prefcribe peace. Some parts of the Treaty of Amiens were highly objectionable, but for the fake of Peace he had given it bis fupport; and if Rulia undertook to advise both parties to perform their refpective tipulations, the herfelf might fulfil fuch parts as would give confirmation to the whole. Mr. Fox next endeavoured to fhew the effect of fuch a mediation upon France, who would, from motives of alarm, put an end to her project of aggrandizement; but if the prefent opportunity were not feized, all thefe advantages would be loft. To ftrengthen the neceflity of fuch a mediation, he stated the improbability of our forming a new alliance with Auftria to carry on the war; and after many other remarks of a fimilar tendency, he moved an Addrefs to his Majesty, praying him to avail himself of the difpofition of the Emperor of Ruffia to offer his mediation, as a means of terminating the contest, &c.

The motion was feconded by Mr. Sheridan.

Lord Hawkesbury faid, that the intention of Minifters to avail themfelves of the firit opportunity of confiftently terminating the war, was manifelt by the fentiments of the lat pragraph but one of the Declaration; so that the prefent motion was unneceffary. He proceeded to fhew that Minifters hid all along been ardently delirous of pace, and agreed in the neceflity of taking fome means for preventing the fytem of aggrandizement of France; but the only method of effecting this, was a perfect union among the great Powers of Europe, not on a felfith, but on a bioid and liberal bafis!-( A loud cry of Hear! by Mr. Pitt.)-He agreed to the propofition, that Ruthia was the only power that could afford hopes of arretting French ambition; but he op

pofed the principle of the motion, on the ground that it was calculated to unhinge the public mind.

Mr. Pitt, amidit a general call, exprefled his hope that the motion would not be preffed to a divifion, because there could only be one fentiment on the occafion. He concurred wholly in the fentiments of Lord Hawkesbury, particularly as to a continental union; fuch a meature being always advantageous, by protecting the minor Powers against the violence of the stronger, and preventing any aggreffion that might affect the interefts of Britain. He, however, was not contending for such Continental Alliances as would create inceffant fubfidies, or where we must, on all occafions, volunteer our fervices; but now we knew the hoftile fpirit of France, it behoved us to make every arrangement for fupporting the content with unanimity; and he trusted it would not be withed that we should abate in our activity or vigour. He concluded with obferving, that it would be but just to leave Minifters to purfue their own measures.

Some explanations then enfued between M. Fox and Lord Hawkesbury; after which the former withdrew his motion.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1.

A new writ was ordered for Southwark, in the room of Mr. Tierney, appointed Treasurer of the Navy; and another for Fermanagh, in the room of Viscount Inniskillen.

The Secretary at War prefented the Army Etimates for 18c3, and ob ferved, that he thould make a motion on the fubje&t on Monday.

Lord Folketone wished to know whether the fecond article of the Treaty of Amiens, relative to the mainte nance of French prifoners, had been carried into effect; or if not, what remonftrance had been made on the subje&t?

Lord Hawkesbury faid, the article in queion had been inferted only in purfuance of precedents. None of the ba lance due to this country had ever been paid, the French having pleaded a fet-off, by their maintenance of foreign prifoners. After this explanation, he moved the order of the day.

Mr. Grenville faid, Minifters were bound to answer the question, whether any steps had been taken with respect to the article? if not, the infertion of it was a fort of fraud on the public.

General

General Gafcoyne spoke on the fame fide; after which the order of the day was carried.

On the third reading of the Militia Bill, a claufe was introduced, impofing a penalty of 5ol. on any Serjeant, High Conftable, &c. who hall take money for infuring.

ASSESSED TAXES.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer exhibited a propofition for confolidating the duties on Houfes, Windows, Servants, &c. His object was, to confolidate all the Acts, and render the duty of the Commifiioners lefs irkfome. With respect to the alterations in the taxes, it would be propofed that one large window in houses should be rated as two windows. In the Servants' Tax fome regulations would be made refpecting Gardeners and Gamekeepers: he alluded to perions keeping a man who acted in that capacity, and who occasionally waited at table, perhaps not more than four or five times in the year. It was hard that perions fo fituated should be liable to the whole duty; it was therefore intended, that where a fervant was really employed for thefe purposes, a tax of five thillings only fhould be enforced. With respect to the Horse Tax, it was intended that all hories kept either as race or faddle-horfes fhould pay the famme duty; and that Carriages which carry more than one perfon, fuch as fociables, &c. which now pay a duty of ten guineas, hould, according to the number of perions they hold, pay in proportion. An annual tax of one guinea is to be laid upon Riders to Tradefmen, Clerks, and Shopmen, which would induce hopkeepers to employ females instead of men. then moved, that the prefent duties do ccafe, &c.

He

Mr. S. Lefevre approved of the regulations, and fuggefted lome alterations in the Dog Tax; after which the relo lution was agreed to.

In a Committee of Sup⚫ly, the Cancellor of the Exchequer moved that the pay and clothing of the Militia for one year, and the provifion for its Officers, be defrayed out of the 1 and Tax.

The Land Tax Bill was read a third time, and paffed.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3.

The Convoy Bill was read a third time, and pafled.

Colonel Patten, in purfuance of his notice, made his motion of cenfure on

the conduct of Minifters. He began by giving a brief sketch of the proceedings previous to the Meilage of the 8th of March, and accufed the Miniftry of lulling the public fufpicion with the faireft pretences, while the mifunderftanding between the two Governments was little fhort of actual war. The confequences of their indeterminate conduct refpecting their orders and counter-orders to the Cape, &c. he confidered as ruinous to the mercantile intereits; fuch tranfactions, after a fatal fufpenfe of feveral months, being now brought to a paufe by the Meffage. The time for official fecrecy, he obferved, was pait, and the people felt they had no right to be kept in the dark. He then, in frong language, afferted his independence, against the infinuations of the newfpapers, &c. that he was the tool of a party, and exprefled his with to fee all the talents in the country united in its defence. With respect to the military preparations in the ports of France and Holland, he could not believe they exilted at the time of the Mcflage, having been aflured of the contrary by Gentlemen who had visited thofe ports; he even apprehended that Lord Whitworth had no knowledge of fuch armaments when he received orders to remonstrate against them. He was nevertheless convinced, that the aim of the First Conful was ultimately to deftroy the independence of this country; but as Minitters complained that Bonaparte had, ever fince the Treaty, evinced the utmost perfidy against us, why did they fo long endure his infults? The Colonel proceeded to make remarks on the conduct of the French in Switzerland, on the Commercial Commitlioners, &c. and concluded with moving four Refolutions, to the effect, that the aggreffion of France being evident, Minifters were cenfurable for not have made the cir cumftances known; and that, by furrendering fo many places fince the 26th of November, they were unworthy of the confidence of the country, &c. &c.

Colonel Baftard and Mr. H. Browne expreffed their approbation of the conduct of Minifters.

Lord Kensington followed on nearly the fame grounds.

Lord Temple and Mr. Wynne attacked the conduct of Minifters, in the fame manner as Colonel Patten.

Mr. Hobhoufe, Mr. Fonblanque,

and