he was no such character. He certainly did hear from Sir John Henderson the nature of this case; and he knew no reason whatever' why a Member of Parliament should not hear the case of a party aggrieved, who came to the House to ask redress-as a Member of Parliament he addressed the House on such a case. As to taking an active part either one way or the other, he saw no impropriety in that, so that a man followed the conviction of his own mind. He denied that he took upon himself this matter as an agent of a party. The Rt. Hon. Gent. ought to recollect, that none of this matter of aggravation was recommended at first by him; for the course which he advised was, that the House ought to proceed immediately upon the Report of the committee, which course, had the House taken it, would have saved all the trouble which

must now be taken. Under these impressions, he could not help feeling a little sore, under the idea of being called upon in this manner: he should repeat, that he had reason to be perfectly convinced, that if this matter was followed up, certain foul proceedings would appear, and facts would come out against some very high persons; and he thought, that instead of accusing him of going further than he ought, some parties ought to thank him for his lenity.

Mr. BRAGGE saw no reason why the Hon. Gent. should feel sore at any thing that was said; there was nothing intended to hurt him. If he knew of any underhand proceeding in this business, he might make it the subject of a substantive motion: all that was said upon that by him was, that the Hon. Gent. seemed to have some information from one of the parties in this proceeding. Mr. Bragge retained his opinion that Trotter ought to be heard upon the subject-matter of the acpravation of his case, because upon that matter he had not been heard at all; but that he could call no witnesses.

Mr. SHERIDAN differed from both the Hon. Gent. who had spoken on the subject, both on the former day, and the present occasion, for he thought that the matter ought now to be concluded. The prisoner could have no more to say, for he had been heard already, and his crime stood established, and was even admitted by himself. But as to evidence being given on the part of this man's accuser, what would that be but trying this cause over again; and, perhaps, implicating parties who have not had an opportunity of being heard, and perhaps, too, upon charges of a very serious nature? This would be bringing forward again the whole case of the election, which had been already decided by the committee, and would be superseding the authority of Mr. Grenville's bill.

inquiry would not encroach upon the provi sions of Mr. Grenville's bill, because this was not an inquiry into the merits of the election, which had been settled by the committee, and whose decision was not t ́, be reviewed by the House; but it was an inquiry into collateral matter, which the provisions of Mr. Grenville's bill did not touch, and in which the House was at liberty to proceed according to its usage, as if Mr. Grenville's bill had never passed.

The question was then put, that the said James Trotter, for his said offence, be com mitted to his Majesty's gaol of Newgate.-Ordered nem. con.

the

The bill being read a third time, The Earl of RADNOR rose to propose introduction of a clause by way of rider to the bill, the particulars of which he stated to their Lordships; but the leading effect he described, would be to restore the command of those companies to the field officers of the militia corps, of which, by the regulations not long since adopted, they were deprived, but which were still held by officers of corresponding rank in regiments of the line. In recommending the clause to the adoption of the House, his Lordship recapitulated some of his former observations on the proceedings with respect to the militia, and urged, that besides tending so far to restore the militia to its original constitutional principle. it would diminish the difficulty of finding officers properly qualified, by lessening the number of captains in each corps. The Noble Earl also made some observations with respect to the subordinate parts of the clause, and concluded by regularly moving for its adoption.

Lord HOBART felt himself called upon, under the present circumstances, to resist the adoption of the proposed clause. In the first place, he observed, it would directly controvert a legislative provision made in the last sersion of Parliament, by which that altera. tion, proposed after a due consideration of the point, was deemed advisable. The effect of that regulation, which he thought likely to be advantageous, they had not yet had an opportunity of experiencing; and he was * Kk 2 Mr. FRANKLAND thought that the proposed of opinion, that, at least, such an opportunity

should be given. Nor was this the only objection he entertained against the clause; it would go, in a great degree, to render inefficacious one of the leading provisions of the bill itself, as it would so far give a greater latitude to the power of the Lord Lieutenants in these respects, than was in the contemplation of the bill. The Noble Secretary here described the effect and intention of that part of the bill to which he alluded, and having argumentatively enforced the above points, concluded by observing, he felt it his duty to oppose the clause moved by the Noble Earl.

Earl SPENCER delivered his sentiments on the question at some length, in the course of which he expatiated on the importance of the militia as a constitutional defensive force, and expressed his regret at the alterations which had been lately made in that system. He thought the bill before the House, in that point of view, one of considerable importance, and, with respect to it, he must observe, that no case of necessity for it had been made out by Ministers, which he thought should have been done before they could be justified in calling upon the Legislature to adopt provisions so contradictory to the constitutional principles of the militia as originally established. On these general grounds, he was inclined to support the proposition of the Noble Earl, whose particular observations in recommendation of the clause his Lordship also enforced.

The question was then put, the proposed clause was rejected, and the bill read a third time and passed, and a message sent to acquaint the Commons therewith.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Wednesday, April 6. (See Minutes, p. 669.) [CLERGY NON-RESIDENCE BILL.]-Sir WILLIAM SCOTT addressed the House upon the nature of the bill he meant to offer to the consideration of Parliament. He said it was not his intention to trespass on the House any length of time, as the subject had undergone much discussion at various times; but he considered it necessary to observe, that ever since the establishment of religion in this country, there were existing laws which regulated the national church, and these laws possessed considerable merit, and evinced the wisdom of those legislators who framed them, and which enforced the clergy to give the strictest attention to the duties of the church, as well as allowing a certain provision to render her members in every respect comfortable. But these ancient laws had for centuries lain dormant. There were also several acts of a more recent date; in Lord Bacon's time, laws were framed for the regulation of the clergy; the letter and spirit of them were nearly the same as those of an anterior date, but which

had also lain dormant till within these five years, since which time they have been brought into use, and, he was sorry to say, to the injury of many worthy men. Among the members of the church of England, he had to contemplate with pleasure many characters who were the highest honour to the nation; men of simple habits, amiable disposition, and laborious life, who were liable to feel the effect of one of these old statutes, and who would rather redeem themselves with money, than suffer the exposure which an information, founded on the act of Henry VIII. would enforce. Notwithstanding, it was his wish that some measure should be adopted to make the clergy attentive to the duties of the church. As the laws stood at present, relative to the duty of clergymen, they doubtless contained much defect; and it was high time to do what my Lord Coke had recommended above a hundred and fifty years ago, that was, to revise the statutes applicable to the regulation of the church. By the advice of his friends he had undertaken to give this subject serious consideration, and it would give him considerable pleasure, if he could serve a respect. able class of men, consistently with the safety of religion and the morality of the country. On a former occasion, when this subject was discussed, he had expressed his wish that time should be given to deliberate on the bill then before the House; but every Member must recollect what a mob of bills rushed through the House, in the last agony of passing; yet he did not expect that the former bill would have been one of them. With respect to the present bill, he would inform the House expli citly, that it is fundamentally the same as the former bill. The bill he was about to submit to the wisdom of the House, contained an exemption to several persons; whether this was right he would leave the House to decide. He had not made any provision for the parochial clergy, not but it would be right to do so, but he thought it ought to come from anʊther quarter. It was his wish that the parsonage-houses should be put in proper repair for the reception of their proper inhabitants: from the great decay these dwellings had been suffered to go into, many clergymen were under the necessity of residing at a great distance from their duty. As to those benefices to which there is no house attached, some provision ought to be made to render the clergy more comfortable. With respect, said the Learned Gent. to the small benefices, something has been done by Mr. Gilbert's act, but he thought it had not gone far enough to be of real service to this order of the clergy. The method he should propose would be, that Government should advance a large sum of money, as a fund, to mend the stipends of curates; this he thought necessary for the better support of those numerous, worthy, laborious men, on whom the religion and morality of the country much depended. He would

had been since made to Parliament for additional assistance, and repeated sums voted by the House for the support of the West India trade. Different periods had also been mentioned for the repayment of the money advanced by Government; but the House well knew that it had been a promise without a performance. A large sum of money was granted in the year 1799, for the service of our West India connexion, and not long after this period an application was made for a longer time to repay the borrowed sums. He was ready to acknowledge that he had no objection to the West India security, but he thought their applications grew upon us; we therefore ought to be cautious how we make use of the public money. And he did not doubt but every Member in the House was acquainted with this fact, that year after year application has been made to pay the St. Vincent's and Grenada loan, and that the application was always granted without much oppo

not wound the feelings of the House, by any recital of the gloomy stories which had been communicated to him, of the extreme distress these gentlemen have suffered since the act of Henry VIII. has been put in force, as it has been the means of their losing those livings which just gave them bread. The letters he had received from clergymen of this description, who are now in the greatest misery, affected his mind much; he therefore hoped some measure would be adopted by the wisdom of Parliament to relieve their necessities. The alteration of Queen Anne's act has made some progress to relieve the evil of small benefices, and it would be a matter of future consideration, whether it would not be better to consolidate Queen Anne's bounty for the advantage of small livings. He had not made any provision for the sister church, if that might be called the sister church, which was identically the same. The Learned Member said he had nothing farther to observe at present on the bill; but he hoped that it might gosition. He must acknowledge that it appeared through a committee after the recess, as it to him that the longer the planters had our possibly may be better regulated in a com- money, the period for repaying it was farther mittee than on a first reading.-If, on the removed. It was his opinion, that the money perusal of the bill, the House should express might have been employed much better than their satisfaction, he should be happy that he sending it to the most vulnerable part of the had been the means of rendering an effectual world; indeed the late attacks which have service to a large and valuable body of gentle. been made on the West India islands, as well men, who have been much disturbed within as their internal inquietude, do not promise these few years, by the letter of an old act of much return for our assistance: it is therefore Parliament.-But if the bill should be found,necessary that the House should consider the

by the good sense of the House, not to answer the intended purpose, he should be one of the first to relinquish it. He however hoped, that it would be found calculated to answer every purpose for which it was designed; therefore he should move for leave to bring in a bill for preventing spiritual persons from holding farms, and to enforce their re. sidence on their benefices.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Thursday, April 7. (See Minutes, p. 659.) [GRENADA LOAN.]--The report of the Grenada loan bill was taken into consideration, with the amendments, and ordered to be read a second time.

Mr. WILBERFORCE rose, and entered into a long account of our first connexion with the West India planters: he observed, that whatever might have been the wisdom and policy of Government in giving their support to those planters at one period, he did not think it politic to continue it at the present time. When the measure was first discussed in the House, Parliament were informed, that the money applied for would be very soon repaid, and that the House would not be troubled with any future application for money; but every Member in the House must know that had not been the case: repeated applications

value of our money, and the many valuable uses to which it may be applied, before they vote it away for the support of an unprofitable connexion. He had long been of opinion, that property was not to be considered safe in that country, and it would be extremely impolitic on the part of Government, to lend large sums of money for foreign use: in his mind it would be a dangerous practice, and if often carried into effect, the nation would feel its bad consequences. It had been rumoured that this money was employed for various purposes foreign to its intended application, but he did not mean to say there was any truth in the report: the only object he had in view, was a proper application of the public money: he thought, that if our money was employed in our own country, it would answer the purpose of Government better than in giving it to the West India islands. If he could judge from the conduct of Government, it was their wish to get rid of the public money. These, he said, were his candid sentiments on the Grenada loan bill; and instead of advancing any additional sums of money to the West India planters, we ought to lose no time in getting back the money we have already advanced,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he was sure it must have been felt by the House, while his Hon. Friend was speaking, that a great part of his argument was addressed to them against the policy of the measure it

self, and not to the circumstances of Grenada | respect was unfounded. His Hon. Friend had and St. Vincent's, either in the year 1795, or also observed, that Government ought to at present. His Hon. Friend had said, that by know whether the money already advanced some Gentlemen that aid had been represented under this bill had been properly applied or as a profitable and lucrative application of the not; whether some of the parties had not public money, and his Hon. Friend had stated made use of it for the purposes of extending it as money lent out at interest to those per- the cultivation of other lands besides those sons who were the objects of it. He thought that were in a state of cultivation at the time indeed it was both profitably and lucratively when this bill was first introduced? To this laid out at interest, bat not in the way stated the answer was, that it was the duty of the by his Hon. Friend, who had said some things commissioners appointed to act under the auwhich he could not hear from him without thority of the bill, to see that the aid of Parregret, particularly as the statement was made liament should not be improperly applied; by one of so much general correctness of judg- and he did not think it proper to apply it to ment. A great part of the argument of his the purposes of extended cultivation; but, as Hon. Friend went to underrate the value of to the security of repayment of the money the object, for which this aid was given to the granted under the authority of this legislative trade of Grenada and St. Vincent's, and he measure, he could assure his Hon. Friend, had suggested that it was employed in a differ- that Government had taken great pains to ent way from that which was professed to ascertain whether the parties were able to have been the object of it; that it had been discharge the engagements they entered into employed on the subject of the slave-trade, or on receiving this aid; and they were, as they cultivation for extending that traffic. Now, ought to be, perfectly satisfied with the result Mr. Addington said, he hoped, let the senti- of that inquiry, which was made by commisments of that House be what they might on sioners acting under the authority of that the slave-trade, it had not made up its mind House. But it appeared also, from equal auto do any thing that was unfavourable to the thority, that the individuais to whom the acprosperity of any of our West India colonies. commodation was granted, could not, without Did his Hon. Friend not recollect that every incurring more than inconvenience, discharge hogshead of sugar, and every puncheon of their engagements in the present year. What rum, and every other article of the produce of then was now asked? Not a renewal of aid, our West India colonies was material to us, as but a continuance of indulgence, from the last it tended to sustain the public credit of this session of Parliament for one year longer. country, by contributing its share in defraying What was the proposition in regard to the inour expenditure? Did his Hon. Friend not dulgence already granted? That 200,000l. recollect, and feel how much the West India out of the remaining sum should be discharged trade in general contributed to the maintenance in the course of one year, and the same sum of the maritime strength of this country? He in the following year, so that the whole will was persuaded, that his Hon. Friend would be discharged in three years from the present upon reflection feel the weight of these obser- time. It was to be recollected that one third vations, and he was confident that the House was discharged already, together with an inwould not suffer any considerations, even of¦terest, not to call it lucrative, but a limited humanity, to mix with the consideration of interest of 5 per cept. and if the House would policy to which he had adverted, as it might refer to the price of sugar at the time this be supposed to bear on the measure now be-indulgence was first granted, and the price of it fore the House; and in this he was confident he should have the concurrence of his Hon. Friend, for he was confident it was possible for many who wished for the abolition of the slave trade, to attach the highest importance to our West India colonies and trade; but his Hon. Friend stated the danger which might arise from Government lending money to persons over whom it might afterwards have an influence. Could this be sericusly stated in the House of Commons?-Was this a loan from Government to individuals?-No; it was an aid given by Parliament to a particular part of trade connected with the public interest of the state. The sum was voted not by Government, but by the House of Commons, to individuals not connected with Government, to be distributed, and security taken for the repayment of it, not by Government, but by persons appointed for that office by Parliament; so that his Hon. Friend's apprehension in that

for the last two years, they would see clearly the ground on which that indulgence was granted. The House had already acted on the ground that extraordinary indulgence ought to be shewn, and in so doing the House had proceeded with caution. In the present session of Parliament, a bounty had been granted on the exportation of sugar, in consequence of the low price, occasioned by a glut in the market at home, from the arrival of large cargoes from the West Indies. Under these circumstances those who suffered in this respect, did so more than formerly, and they stated to the House all the circumstances, by which it appeared, that by an ordinary price of sugar, they will be able to pay off 200,000l. in the present year, and a similar sum in each of the succeeding years, so that in three years the whole of the engagement of these persons with the public will be fulfilled; and the question now was; whether the House would

continue the measure which had been already | adopted for so many years with so much advantage, or would contract its disposition, and subject these gentlemen, and all the property, perhaps, of jamaica, to something more than inconvenience? He thought with his Hon. Friend, that this was an occasion which called | for the vigilance of the House; not for its jealousy, but its attention, for there was nothing to suspect, but much to encourage; and on a view of all the circumstances of this case, he was convinced that the House would not only act liberaly, but wisely, by acceding to the present proposition.

acquainted with the true and enlarged interests of this country. The Legislature saw it in that light, and afforded assistance to the persons who made the application; in which it had acted wisely, for he had ever considered that West India property was a part of the interest of this country, and which had a perfect claim to the protection of Government. It was immaterial to him whether the produce of it was consumed here or in any other part of the globe; it was enough for him that it constituted part of the strength, as indeed it did the sinew, which was the marine strength of this country; for it was impossible not to know that our ships of war derived much of Sir ROBERT PEEL said, he was relieved their vigour from this trade; and those who from a considerable anxiety by what the House conceived that the landed interest of this had just heard from the Minister; for it was a country was not intimately connected with subject that interested him greatly, and he did this interest, were but superficial politicians. conceive it to be a subject, which, if discussed One would have imagined from some things by men competent to that discussion, would thrown out in the course of discussing this appear in proportion as it was discussed, im- measure, that Government had been flippant portant and interesting, not merely to the in lending this money, when, in fact, GovernWest Indies, and to persons concerned in that ment acted in a manner that did it the greatest trade, but to the people at large of the com- credit, and by which they removed a very munity in which we live, and even the great considerable embarrassment, not only from landed interest of this, not less than any other Grenada and St. Vincent's, but from this class of persons: it was therefore on this prin- country itself, which must have been ultimateciple that he defended and supported the ly affected if this measure had not been adoptmeasure now before the House. What gave ed. The measure had hitherto been attended rise to this loan?-he did not call it a grant. by the best effects, and by no inconveniences; Was it an unwise and imprudent speculation but if the Hon. Gent. (Mr. Wilberforce), by of a set of men who had no interest in the the exertion of his talents, should impress the welfare of this country, with whom the mea- | House with an idea that this measure was an sure originated? No; had it not been made ap- improper one, he would do an act of great pear that it was a measure of the wisest policy, mischief, becse he would do an injury to to protect our property in the West Indies, at the trade and manufacture of this country, for a time when, without it, perhaps, it would indeed they derived great support from the have been questionable, whether Government trade which this bill was calculated to protect; itself could have done so?-There was no and he should be very sorry indeed to see any blame attached to Government in consequence Ministers in this country inattentive to these of that state of things at that time in the West considerations. He conceived this measure Indies; it arose from circumstances which calculated for the interest of the whole, not a were unavoidable. He spoke with perfect in- part, of our community. It had been said, dependence upon this subject; for he did not that our property in the West Indies was of a so much as know the gentlemen who solicited precarious nature. Good God! that was the the assistance of Parliament.-They applied strongest reason upon earth why it should be for pecuniary aid from the House, not to in-assisted in time of need by the strong arm of cur any expense to this country, but merely Government. If it could not be supported for aid until their own affairs should come without our aid, then they had a double claim round; and in the granting of which the one upon our policy, the other on our greatest advantage might be derived to the justice. In whatever light he considered this trade of the West Indies, which was so mate-measure, it met his entire approbation, alrial to the whole of this empire. He was not only well convinced of the propriety of this application to Parliament, but he was also surprised very much they did not come forward with claims of a much stronger nature; that they did not apply to be reimbursed some losses which they sustained in consequence of a certain pressure which came on them.-The claim they brought forward was, in his opinion, moderate, nor was it an appeal to the humanity of the Legislature, or to the feelings of individuals, but an application to the good sense and the justice of those who were best

though he should always be glad to see this, as well as every other matter, watched and examined.

Dr. LAWRENCE said, he had not heard any thing to convince him that our support to the West India trade would be injurious to this country. A loan had been granted from time to time; it was a principle that had been acted upon with great benefit to this nation; and he considered it the duty of Government to protect the West India trade. If we were to withdraw our support, he would ask what