sition was negatived. Lord Eldon moved to extend the time limited for taking out licences for navigating vessels in the trade from the 1st of August to the 1st of September. This amendment was also negatived, as was likewise an amendment proposed by the Earl of Westmorland, to limit the duration of the bill to the end of the next session of parliament, instead of two years. The bill then passed through the committee, and was reported without amend

ment.

The bankrupt laws bill was read a second time, and committed for the next day. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, JULY 15.`

A message from the Lords declared their assent to the quarantine bill and others; and also requested a copy of the report of the committee for examining the accounts of the exchequer of Scotland, relating to the grants from the forfeited estates, with abstracts of the proceedings. To this part of the message the Commons resolved to send an answer by messengers of their own.

Simpson's divorce bill was committed, and after the examination of witnesses passed through the committee.

The ordnance lands bill, the seamen's allotment bill, the Bell Rock bill, the Scotch forfeited estates bill, and Lord Rodney's annuity bill, were read a third time and passed.

Mr. Willian's Wynne moved for a copy of the commission or commissions, granted to provide for the proper arrangement and preservation of the public records of the kingdom, on the 11th of July 1803, pursuant to the address of the House, stating what had been done under the commission, and what were the present proceedings. Ordered.

Mr. Wynne then presented an account of the qualifications of deputy lieutenants and militia officers, from the date of the last return. Ordered to lie on the table.

The stage coach act amendment bill, the general warehousing bill, the woods and forests regulation bill, the Windsor forest inquiry bill, the Irish hops, glass, &c. bill, and the lottery bill, were reported, and ordered to be read a third time the next day.

The militia officers pay bill was reported..

Mr.

Mr. Perceval said, that he would not say any thing against the bill at present, but would take the sense of the House on the third reading.

The bill was then ordered to be read a third time the next day.

The London additional force repeal bill was committed. Report the next day.

The report of the committee of supply was brought up, relating to the additional pay to the army.

General Tarleton was of opinion that the cavalry officers ought to be included in this. It was thought, it appeared, that cavalry officers were generally persons of some fortune. But this was by no means the case; and it was to be considered that the dress and accoutrements of a cavalry officer were so expensive, that he must spend a year and a half's pay before he could mount guard.

The Secretary at War said, that the situation of the cavalry officers was much better than officers of the same rank in the infantry. He, however, observed, that it would be considered whether an additional two shillings a day should be given to any cavalry officer commanding a regiment.

General Tarleton explained.

The Secretary at War then moved an amendment in the estimate of the officers' widows, by which 1007. was deducted.

Colonel Wood did not know why such a grant to the officers of the army was made at all at the present time. It was so small that it would afford but little satisfaction to the army, and still was a great addition to the burdens of the country. It would not, therefore, answer the object which government had in view.

Mr. Windham said, that if we were to consider the discontent on the one side, and the satisfaction on the other, the result would be that we could do nothing. As to the satisfaction of the officers of the army, it was not done with a view to give them satisfaction. The object was the good of the service, as by this grant you might get many ineritorious men who could not otherwise be got.

Colonel Wood explained.

General Tarleton said that his honourable friend (Colonel Wood) had objected to this increase at this particular time, when the army was so large, and when we were engaged in such a war. When peace came, and he hoped it

would

would be a glorious one, then the addition would be made. But if the pay was granted, it ought to be extended to the cavalry.

The Secretary at War explained, after which the amendment and the resolutions were agreed to.

Mr. Hansard, printer to the House, presented an account of the expence of printing the Indian papers from the 1st of April to the 30th of June. Ordered to lie on the table. Lord Henry Petty moved the third reading of the auditors' bill.

Mr. Huskisson proposed a clause for remedying the defects of vouchers, which was adopted and added to the bill by way of rider. He then proposed another clause, which was rejected as interfering with the exercise of a proper discretion in the treasury.

Mr. Rose then proposed a clause, limiting the power of the treasury as to the charges on accomptants.

Lord Henry Petty opposed this, on the grounds abovementioned, and it was rejected. The bill was then read a third time and passed.

Sir C. Pole moved the second reading of the public har

bour bill.

. Colonel Wood said, that there was a great deal of private property connected with this bill, if it was to extend to all the navigable rivers, and care ought to be taken that no injustice should be done. But he would not oppose the bill till he saw what could be made of it in a committe. In the mean time he asked, whether it was to be confined to the harbours of Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Sheerness, or to extend as far as he had before stated?

Sir C. Pole said, that it certainly was not to be confined to the King's harbours alone, but to extend also to all harbours for commercial purposes; but it would not interfere in the least with private property, as the object was only to keep the anchorage at what it was, and this had been judged necessary from what had been observed of the embankments at Catwater.

Colonel Vereker wished that his honourable friend had not only proposed to prevent nuisances but also to remove them. He hoped he would introduce a clause to remove the two rocks that occasioned so much inconvenience at Limerick harbour, which might be done at the expence of 20007.

Mr.

Mr. Huskisson said that this could only he done by a petition to the House.

Lord Henry Petty was well convinced of the importance of giving facility to the commerce of such a port as that of Limerick. But the thing proposed by the honourable colonel could not be done without a grant of money in the committee of supply, and to introduce it here was altogether out of the question.

Mr. Foster said that as the honourable colonel had now learned what was the most proper way to proceed in this business, he hoped he would not forget it the next session. The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed the next day.

The Irish post roads bill was committed. Several amendments were proposed and adopted. Report the next day.

Lord Temple moved for leave to bring in à bill to regulate the business of pilots navigating the British seas. The necessity of such a bill, he said, was become as obvious as its utility must be important to the commercial interests of these countries, inasmuch as the losses sustained every year both of property and lives, in conse quence of the business of pilotage being frequently undertaken by persons unlicensed, ignorant, and unskilful loudly called for some such regulations as he intended in the bill. He did not mean to press it through the House at this late period of the session, but merely that it should be read the first and secòud time, and go into a committee, for such amendments as should immediately appear necessary, and then to be printed for the informa tion of the parties interested, in order to such further suggestions as might be made, and to bring the measure for ward in the next session of Parliament, in as perfect a form as possible.

Mr. Alderman Prinsep seconded the motion, and only regretted the absence of several members interested in commercial concerns, who he was sure, if they were present, would heartily approve the measure, and cheerfully join with him in returning thanks to the noble Lord for bringing it forward. It was not merely from the ignorance or unskilfulness of such pilots that the extensive losses in property and life, alluded to by the noble Lord, annually occurred, but from their combinations, their obstinacy, and their desire of extortion, in refusing to go out for the assist

ance

ance of vessels in rough weather, or apparent danger, until they had made the most exorbitant stipulations with the mercantile interests in the different ports, for the reward of their services, by which means their assistance was often delayed so long as to come too late for the salvation of ship or crew. He hoped, therefore, the bill would include some measure of effectual regalation.

The motion was agreed to, and Lord Temple presented the bill, which was read the first time, and ordered for the second reading the next day.

Lord Henry Petty moved, that the reports of the committee appointed by the act of the 25th of the King, respecting the salaries and fees of officers and clerks in the dif ferent public offices, together with the appendix thereto, be printed for the use of the members. Ordered.

LORD NELSON'S FAMILY ANNUITY BILL.

Lord Henry Petty moved the order of the day, for the House to resolve itself into a committee, on the bill for granting annuities to the family of Lord Nelson; and, upon the question that the Speaker do now leave the chair,

Colonel Wood rose, he said, with considerable reluctance, to oppose a measure so congenial to the sense which the country entertained of the eminent services of that noble Lord, in remuneration of which these annuities were now proposed. But participating, as he did, most sincerely in those feelings, he could not, consistently with the princi ples he entertained, and his sense of duty as an individual member of Parliament, assent to so large an appropriation of the public money, in the present arduous circumstances. When he considered, that 3 or 400,0007. had been recently added to the public burthens, for an increase of pay to the army and navy, and that every class of society was loaded with imposts to support the exigencies of the country, he could not consent to the grant of the public money in any way not absolutely and indispensably necessary; and feeling, as he did, that an allowance of 50001. a year had already been voted to the representative of the noble Lord who succeeded to his title, he thought it amply sufficient, without any farther allowance to his relations. Had the noble Lord himself been living to enjoy the public remuneration of his splendid services, he should not be the person to oppese a grant even to a much greater extent: but as the grant VOL. III. 1805-6. 4 P

Now