was received, and the third reading was fixed for the next day.

The report of the Irish militia augmentation bill was alfo received, and the bill was ordered to be read a third time the next day.

Mr. Calcraft faid, that at that late hour he would not delav the Houfe by making any obfervations on either of the bills, but fhould referve him!elf until the third reading. A tourned.

HOUSE OF LORD S.

FRIDAY, APRIL. 13.

Counfel were heard in continuation relative to the appeal, Abercromby v. Fleming. To proceed again on

Monday.

The bills upon the table were forwarded in their several ftages.

The order of the day being read for going into a Committee on the priests' and deacons' bill, Lord Walfingham took the chair.

The Bishop of St. Asaph, pursuant to his intimation on a former evening, made a variety of obfervations on the fubject. After referring to the leading provifion of the bill, he proceeded to oblerve, that the facerdotal character in itfelf could not be done away by the fecular power; the Sacerdotum Catholicum was that which no fecular power could either give or take away; it was derived from a higher fource. He agreed that it was neceflary and proper, that fome exact and defined limits fhould be put to the age at which perfons fhould be admifiible into the facred orders of deacon and pricft. In defcribing to the Committee the hiftory of the fubject, the learned Prelate referred to various ecclefiaftical authorities, whereby it appeared, that fome variations had obtained with refpect to the age at which perfons were admiffible into the orders in queftion. In the earlier ages of the church, deacons were required to be of the age of 25 years, and priests of that of 30: this was about the fourth century. In fome time after, by a decree of the council of Trent, perfons of the age of 25 were admiffible into prieft's orders. After contending for the indelibility of the facred character, the rev. Prelate obferved, that in cafes where a radical or original defect in the ordination existed, as in the cafe of marriages improperly folem

nized,

nized, &c. the Legislature may declare the nullity of fuch proceedings; and it was upon this principle chiefly, that he agreed to the relevant provision of the bill.

The Duke of Norfolk expreffed his concurrence in the principle laid down by the rev. Prelate, as to the indelibility of the facerdotal character. Refpecting this, it was a maxim in the antient Catholic Church, Nec herefis, nec apof tafia delit; but with refpect to the fubject, there were one or two confiderations which ftruck him as material. A perfon may innocently become fubject to the enactment of the bill, as in the inftance where he was, through mifinformation, or other cauíes, led to fuppofe that he was either 23 or 24 years of age, when in fact it might not be fo. Theie were cafes alto in which the bifhop who ordained may not be wholly exempt from blame; and it may not be unworthy of confideration, what degree of punishment should be incurred by a diocefan who fhould fo infringe upon an act of Parliament.

The Bishop of St. Asaph explained: The cafe adverted to by the noble Duke was one of thofe, he conceived, within the contemplation of the bill. With refpect to the latter confideration, bifhops were, as the law now flood, liable to be called to account fhould they act in violation of an act of Parliament.

The leading provifion of the bill, which enacts that no perfon fhall be admiffible to the facred orders of deacon and prieft, unless he fhall have completely attained the 25d or 24th year of his age refpectively, &c. was then agreed to.

After fome further obfervations on the part of the rev. Prelate and noble Duke above-mentioned, the remaining provifions of the bill, with a few verbal amendments, were agreed to.

On the motion of the Bishop of St. Afaph, a clause was inferted for the confervation of the rights, with respect to, this bill, of the Metropolitans of the refpective parts of the united kingdom.

The Houfe then refumed, and ordered the bill to be reported on Monday.

The report of the volunteer bill was then received prø› forma.

Lord Auckland obferved, that in confequence of the una-, voidable delay of printing the bill, be did not think the report could be confidered on fo early a day as was at faft propofed. He feemed to think not before Tuesday.

The

473

The bill was then, with the amendments, on the motion of Lord Walfingham, ordered to be printed.

Adjourned till Monday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

FRIDAY, APRIL 13.

Sir John Newport moved to difcharge the order for taking into confideration the lichefter election petition, in order to fix it for a future day; which motion, after fome converfation between Mr. J. Graham, Mr. Baldwin, and Mr. Hiley Addington, was negatived.

Mr. J. Graham prefented a petition from certain voters. of Chippenham, refpecting the right of voting in that borough, which was ordered to be taken into confideration on the fame day as the former petition.

Mr. Secretary Yorke, after referring to the order of the 28th of March, giving leave to bring in a bill to fufpend the operation of the army of referve act, obferved, that it had been more convenient to bring in two bills, one for Great Britain, and one for Ireland. He therefore moved to difcharge the former order, and for leave to bring in a bill or bills refpecting the fame fubject. Leave given.

Mr. Secretary Yorke afterwards brought in the bill for fufpending the army of referve act in Great Britain, which was read a firft time, and ordered to be read a fecond time on Tuesday, and to be printed.

Mr. Secretary Yorke called the attention of the Houfe to an act of laft feffion, for the more fpeedy and effectual completing the officers of the militia, which being limited in its duration to the 25th of March in the prefent year, had, through inadvertency, been fuffered to expire. It appearing, however, abfolutely neceffary to revive and continue that act, he therefore moved for leave to bring in a bill for that purpose. Leave given.

MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the order of the day, for a Committee of Supply; and to refer to the faid Committee the eftimates refpecting the militia pay, cloathing, and allowances, and alfo the estimate of fecret.. fervices; which was ordered.

The Houfe having refolved itself into a Committee of Supply,

VOL. II. 1803-4

3P

The

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the following refolutions and fums, which were feverally agreed to.

To make provifion for the pay and cloathing of the militia of Great Britain, for the allowances to adjutants and ferjeant-majors of ditto, and alfo for the militia of Ireland and fubaltern officers of ditto.

Secret fervice money

Sums awarded to be paid by the British Government, in pursuance of the 7th article of the treaty with America

To make good Exchequer bills iffued laft upon the aids of 1804

Truftces of the British Museum

£. 150,000

412,000

year

11,000,000

000

The Houfe having refumed, the report was ordered to be received, and the Committee to fit again on Monday.

IRISH MILITIA AUGMENTATION BILL.

Mr. T. Grenville obferved, that feveral Gentlemen had understood that both the bills were not to be read a third time on the fame day, and fome who were not then present wifhed to speak upon the bill for augmenting the Irish militia; he therefore propofed, if the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Secretary Yorke) had no objection, to poftpone the third reading of that bill till fome day next week.

Mr. Secretary Yorke faid, if there were any Gentlemen who did not expect the bill to come on on that day, he had no objection to poftpone the third reading till Monday.

Mr. Sheridan thought the priority ought to be given to the bill for augmenting the militia of Ireland, as they ought to augment firft, before they drew away the exifting militia, fince it would be very prepofterous if the bill for accepting the offers was to be agreed to, and then the bill for augmenting to be negatived.

Mr. Secretary Yorke obferved, that the addrefs upon his Majefty's meffage only fpoke of enabling his Majesty to accept the offers of the Irish militia, but took no notice of the augmentation; the former, therefore, of courfe had the priority.

The bill was then ordered to be read a third time on Monday.

RUSSIAN MEDIATION.

Mr. Fox wished for an answer to a question refpecting a fubject he had formerly adverted to, namely, the Ruffian mediation, which, if it was fatisfa&tory, might fave him and

the

the House much trouble. He had had an intention to bring forward a motion upon the fubject very foon after the recef; he had however heard reports of fome important tranfactions going on with Ruffia, which, if true, might form a confiderable objection to the production of papers. If he received a fatisfactory answer upon this fubject, he fhould avoid making any motion upon it.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was glad of the opportunity of explaining what had been rather feverely animadverted upon by the hon. Gentleman on a former occafion. He ftated on a former day, that there was every wifh on the part of the Minifters to put the Houfe in poffeffion of all the information in their power, but that there were objections which might render it highly inexpedient to lay any papers refpecting the fubject before the Houfe. He then stated two objections; the one arifing from circumftances exifling at that time, and the other from fubfequent circumftances, which might ftill prevent his Majefty's Minifters from making any communication to the Houte: thefe latter circumstances ftill exifted. Whether any negociations were fubfifting with Ruffia, he was fure neither the hon. Gentleman nor the Houfe would expect to be informed; nor, he was convinced, would the hon. Gentleman, if he knew of the circumftances which ftill exifted, prefs any motion upon the fubject. He affured the hon. Gentleman he had been as explicit as he could, confiftently with. his duty.

Mr. Fox faid he was fatisfied with the explanation of the right hon. Gentleman, and thould therefore wave making any motion upon the fubject.

Whilft upon his legs, Mr. Fox gave notice of his intention to make a motion, on Friday next, relative to, what had been done for the defence of the country.

Mr. Johnftone moved for a detailed account of the receipts and difburfements of the island of Ceylon, from the time it came into our poffeffion to the lateft period to which the fame could be made up. Ordered.

་་,

Mr. Corry faid, he had the preceding day begged leave to poftpone his intended motion, refpecting the circulation of Ireland, till that day, it being the with of his Majesty's Mi-. nifters to wait for the lateft communications from that country. No communications having, however, been received, that day, he should again poftpone the motion till Monday. Lord Folkestone wished to know, if any ufe had been

3 P2

made