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The Chancellor of the Exchequer obferved, that, from what had been ftated in evidence last night, it was clear the Scotch diftillers enjoyed in the London market advantages over the London diftillers, which it was not the intention of the Legislature to allow them when the act paffed for altering the mode of collecting the duties on diftilled fpirits in Scotland. The Legislature, indeed, intended that the Scotch diftillers fhould derive, under that act, an advantage in the Scotch market; but it never meant that they fhould be able to fell their fpirits in London on better terms than the London diftillers. It was his wifh to mediate between them, and to equalize the duty as fairly as poffible: he knew that this was a delicate task; and that, by attempting to pleafe both, he might be fo unfortunate as not to please either. However, his duty to the publick compelled him to make an effort. The London diftiller paid 25 9d. per gallon; the Scotch nominally 10d. but, in reality, not more than from 2d. to 3d. to which the import duty of 25. being added, the whole would make as. 3d. or thereabouts: he propofed then, in order to equalize the duty in both kingdoms, that an additional duty of 6d. per gallon fhould be laid upon. fpirits diftilled in Scotland, and imported into England. He concluded with faying, that it was the opinion of the cominittee, that this additional import duty of 6d. per gallon be laid upon Scotch fpirits.

Six Wm. Cunynghame was of opinion, that as the prefent duty was fettled by the mutual confent of both nations, and fan&tioned by an act of the Legiflature, the faith of Parliament was pledged that the act hould remain in force the full time for which it was originally paffed. The Scotch diftillers had, upon the faith of this act, laid out great fums of money, and confequently must be great lofers by any ftep to hafien the diffolution of the act, which of itfelf would expire in the month of July.

Mr. Put replied, that if the Scotch had availed themselves of the new mode of collecting the duty on fpirits in Scotland, for the purpofe of fupplying their own market, they would then have enjoyed an advantage which the Parlia ment intended they should poffefs. But when they worked their fills three times oftener in the 24 hours than it was thought they would, or than, according to the fpirits act, they ought, for the purpofe of fupplying the Lon.

don market at a much lower duty than the London diftillers paid, then they aimed at an advantage which Parliament never intended they should enjoy; and therefore they could not complain of a breach of faith, if the legislative power fhould deprive them of an advantage, which it would be injurious both to the publick and to individuals that they fhould continue to enjoy.

Mr. Pulteney, Sir Adam Ferguson, and the Marquis of Graham, agreed that, though Scotchmen, they thought Mr. Pitt's equalizing duty equitable in its principle, and, they believed, just in its calculation.

The Minifter's refolution was then put, and carried without a divifion; after which the Houfe was refumed, and immediately adjourned.

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Mr. Marfbam moved for leave to prefent a petition from the supervisors and other officers of excife, praying for an increase of falary.

Mr. Pitt objected to the petition, as informal, in not having obtained his Majefty's concurrence; and it was rejected accordingly.

Sir Peter Burrell moved, that he might have leave to attend the House of Lords, at the trial of Mr. Haftings, as Lord High Chamberlain; leave was granted.

Sir Grey Cooper prefented a petition from a clafs of American loyalifts, who, he faid, ftood in a very different predicament from that of all their brethren, and whofe claims would be found, upon enquiry, to be as strong upon the juftice of this country, as thofe of their brethren was upon its humanity. The men he alluded to were thofe, who, during the progrefs of the war, had, on the requifition of the proper officers, fupplied the British armies, at different times and places, with ftores and storehoufes to a very confiderable amount. At the end of the war they had applied, in common with other claimants, for reparation; but what was their furprize, on being told by the first commiffioners for inveftigating the claims of American Loyalifts, that they were not confidered as coming within their cognizance! Upon every treth commiffion inftituted up. on that bufinefs, they had renewed their applications without effect to this day. They therefore now laid themfelves at

the

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the feet of Parliament, fimply praying of them, that an enquiry may be inftituted into the juftice of their claims. The petition, after a fhort obfervation from Mr. Pitt, was received.

The refolution of the committee on the Scotch diftillery duty bill was brought up by Mr. Rofe, read, and agreed to by the Houfe, and leave was given to bring in a bill founded on that refolution; it was brought in immediately, and read the first time.

Sir William Cunynghame moved for leave to prefent a petition from the Scots diftillers at large, the former petition having been from only a fmall number of them; praying leave to produce evi dence, and to be heard by counsel against the allegations on which the bill was founded.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer objected to hearing evidence to the fame purpose with that already heard, as tending to introduce a fyftem of delay that would extremely retard business.

The Speaker was of the fame opinion; and faid, there was no precedent for receiving a petition under fuch circumstances.

It was, however, after fome converfation refpecting the point of order, agreed that a new petition should be prepared; and that, if a precedent could be found, the petitioners fhould be heard on the fecond reading of the bill.

Mr. Francis obferved, that when Sir Elijah Impey was laft before the Houfe, he had read a paper, lefs calculated for the purpofe of exculpating himself, than of criminating the fupreme council of Bengal, or at leaft the three members of it (Sir John Clavering, Col. Monfon, and Mr. Francis) who at the period alluded to constituted the majority of that council. Sir Elijah's object in reading that paper was to fhew, that the council had approved of the proceedings of the fupreme court of judicature in the case of Nundcomar; and confequently that he (Mr. Francis), the only furvivor of the majority of that council, was inconfiftent in now condemning what he had formerly approved fo much, as to have moved, that the dying petition of Nundcomar fhould be burnt by the hands of the common hanginan at Calcutta, becaufe it was a libel on the judges who had tried Nundcomar. Sir Elijah had informed the Houfe, that the original petition was burnt by the common hangman; but that he had a copy of the tranflation, altered and corrected by Mr.

Haftings himself. If that copy was laid before the Houfe, as in juftice to his character it ought to be, he would pledge himself to give a full and fatisfactory answer to the infinuations thrown out by Sir Elijah; and he would fuffer his name to be handed down to poflerity with infamy, if he fhould fail in that anfwer. He then moved, that Sir Elijah Impey be called in, and required to deliver to the Houfe the papers which he had read in his defence purporting to be a tranflation of a petition from the Rajah Nundcomar, and delivered by General Clavering to the fupreme council of Bengal in the month of Auguft 1775.

Mr. Pitt, the Solicitor General, Mr. Hardinge, Mr. Scott, and the Mafter of the Rolls, infifted, that it would be unjuft to oblige an accufed man to give out of his poffeffion a paper that he might think neceffary for his defence.They admitted, however, that it would not be improper to ask him for a copy of it; and agreed that, if he refused it, the Houfe ought to throw away from its recollection whatever part of the defence fhould be grounded upon that paper.

On the other hand, Mr. Fox, Mr. Burke, and Mr. Adam, maintained, that the very paper itfeif, and not a copy, fhould be produced; and that, if Sir Elijah fhould refufe to produce it, he ought to be compelled to deliver it. The Houfe had not ordered him to attend at their bar; he had voluntarily appeared, to ftate reafons that might induce the Houfe to drop the accufation against him, and not to fend it up to the Lords. In the course of these reafons he quoted a paper that might have great weight with the Houfe-perhaps fo much as to induce them to drop chat charge: but was it not poffible that the paper might be a forgery? and would it not therefore be abfurd to drop the accufation upon the authority of a paper which the accufed would not permit the Houfe to examine, in order to form a judgement of its authenticity?

Mr. Pitt, adhering ftill to his own opinion, moved an amendment to Mr. Francis's motion, that inftead of "be required to deliver," the following words fhould be inferted," be asked if he has any objection to deliver." After a long converfation, the Houle divided upon this amendment, which was carried by a majority at 63-aves 107-noes 44.

Immediately after the divifien, Sir E.

Impey was called to the bar, and afked by the Speaker if he had any objection to produce a copy of the paper which had been the fubject of the motion; his reply was, that he had not the leaft objection, and that he would take care that the House fhould be furnished with a copy of it.

He then informed the Houfe, that, under the very peculiar circumftances of his cafe, he found himself reduced to the neceffity of calling for the protection of the House. It was not enough, he obferved, that he fhould fand accufed, be fore that great affembly, of enormous crimes; but he must also be attacked and traduced in the public prints, even at the moment when he was defending himfelf against thofe heavy charges. Upon his arrival in England, he had determined not to communicate any part of his cafe to the publick through the medium of the papers, or endeavour to prepoffefs the nation in his favour by any publication whatever. Some few people had endeavoured to shake that refolution, by recommending to hin certain news-papers as proper vehicles for conveying his fentiments to the world; and threatened him with attacks upon his character if he refused to comply. But neither their foothings nor their menaces had power fufficient to make him alter his determination. The threats had been carried into execution; for there appeared in The Morning Herald of yesterday a moft virulent libel against him; and the principal part of it had been copied into The Public Advertifer of this day. Another grofs libel had also come out in a pamphlet published by Debrett. At Sir Elijah's requeft, the obnoxious paragraphs were read to the Houfe; after which he obferved, that, had his cafe been before any of the courts of law, the judges would readily grant an attachment against those who should prefume to poi fon the public mind against a man who was to be tried: how Parliament would act in fimilar circumftances, he did not know; but, at all events, he demanded the protection of the Houfe, and flattered himself that he should obtain it.

Mr. W. Grenville moved, that Sir Elijah might withdraw from the bar; and, that gentleman having accordingly retired, Mr. Grenville faid, that the publications relative to the proceedings of that Houfe had of late been highly derogatory to its dignity. It was an un

* A mistake for the Gazetteer.

pleasant thing to complain of the prefs; but as a complaint had been made, the Houfe could not in juftice pass it over unnoticed; fome proceedings ought to be grounded upon it; and for that purpofe he moved, that the House should, on the morrow, take the faid complaint into confideration. The motion was carried unanimously.

Sir Elijah was then re-called to the bar, and proceeded in his defence. At 10 o'clock he finished his answer to the charge on the Patna cause, and there he ftopped. On the motion of Mr. Pitt, he was afked when he would wish to be heard in reply to the remaining charges? His anfwer was nearly as follows:

"From the moment I understood that I was to be accufed, I refolved not to fink under the charge, but to meet it with fortitude. However, fince the accufation has affumed its prefent form, and the first charge is of fo heinous a nature, the horror I feel at being thought capable of fo black a crime, added to the bodily exertions I have been obliged to make in preparing and stating my defence, has been too powerful for my ftrength, which begins to fail me: for fome days paft I have been ill, and am fo now while I am addreffing this Hon. Houfe. The charge relating to Nundcomar preffes most upon my mind; and, until I know the opinion of the House upon it, I cannot think of defending myself against the other charges. Tell me, before I proceed to them, whether or not, after the defence I have already made, this Houfe thinks me the murderer of Nundcomar? Should you anfwer me in the negative, you will relieve me from fuch a weight of horror, that I shall give you but little trouble about the other charges."

He then withdrew from the bar.

Mr. Pitt faid, that he faw no inconvenience in gratifying the with expreffed by Sir Elijah, that the Houfe would firft decide upon the charge relating to Nundcomar, before he fhould be called upon to defend himself against the remaining charges. He therefore moved, that Sir Elijah fhould be informed, that the House would take the first charge into confideration before they called upon him for any further defence. After fome converfation, the motion was a◄ greed to; and Sir Elijah made acquainted with the determination of the House.

Refolved, That the further hearing of evidence in fupport of the profecution be adjourned to Monday.

(To be continued.)

56. Whalley's Mont Blanc, &c. (continued the ingenious to the following paffages from frem p. 147.) Mr. Whalley's Mont Blanc, thus infolently

MR. Urban's Reviewers, unconfcious traveftied. After a forcible defcription of

of being actuated in any cafe by improper motives, cannot poffibly have the leaft objection to being themselves reviewed. On all occafions they are as ready to insert strictures on their own performances as on thofe of other writers. Of this affertion they perhaps cannot give a more pointed proof than by printing the following critique, which (we may hint to the lively writer of it) would have appeared earlier had it been fent to us in the first inftance. Former productions of this correfpondent have not unfrequently graced our pages, and have had every attention paid to them; but "Mufes of fire" are not easily inclined to bear “a rival near "the throne." This is not the first inftance of the fort we have had occafion to notice and lament; but, for the fake of a character we highly esteem, we hope it will be the last; and earnestly with that this fuggeftion may operate as a flag of truce.

"In juftice to a gentleman diftinguished by poetic genius, polished literature, engag ing manners, warm benevolence, and faultlefs morals, 1 truft you will allow a place to the enfuing obfervations.

"During his late refidence on the continent, Mr. Whalley, with an ardour of curiofity that scorned all difficulty of accefs, explored the matchlefs features of the Savoy and Switzerland fcenery. He was fortunate enough to fee their moft ftupendous object, MONT BLANC, wrapt in one of thofe violent ftorms that often, with little warning, come furioufly on amid the Alps, and, difperfing as fuddenly, leave the moistened woods, rocks, and mountains, the dazzling and never-melted fnows on the fummits of the latter, with their enormous glaciers, to be illumined by the emerging fun.

"Mr. Whalley has given the poetic landscape of this scene in its priftine horrors, and in its fucceeding refplendence, with a force, and with a glow of colouring, that fhews to our imagination the wonders he actually beheld. Dulnefs or Prejudice only can view this landfcape, never before stretched on the poetic canvas, without feeling love and honour for the genius of the draughtfman, and without generously difdaining to take excephon at the few carelets and erring ftrokes of fo free and bold a pencil.

Ho

"This work is, however, treated with unmerited contempt in p. 146. All elevated poetry is capable of being burlesqued. mer and Virgil feem ridiculous when we fee them traveftied. I folicit the attention of GENT. MAG. April, 1788.

the rifing tempest,

"Did you not hear the eagle wail ?.
He dares not rest upon his rock,
But plunges headlong to the vale,
Scar'd at the elemental fhock!

There, nestled clofe, he trembling lies,
Mournful ftoops his haughty crest,
Hangs his dread beak upon his breaft,
And drops his daring wing, and shuts his
piercing eyes!"

"The increafing horrors of the storm are
next as finely defcribed; the winds howling
louder round the head of the angry moun-
tain! the throud that wraps the horizon
blackening! the launched thunderbolts, from
whofe fires the eye fhrinks as they run along
the ground! while the vaffal mountains,
combining with the fury of their monarch,
"Rife dark-and on their haughty heads
Shake to the winds the lofty shades
Of many forefts," &c.

"The difperfion of the storm is thus beautifully painted. The fubordinate Alps that

furround Mont Blanc

"In fhadowy majesty arise,

Dimly through their misty throuds,
In gather'd troops, the fleeting clouds
Shew a glimpfe of clearer fkies.
Round their king's triumphant brow
No longer midnight darkness lours;
While his ample cheft below,
Shining through the cryftal fhowers,
Like a vaft Behemoth, again

He heaves above the watry plain !"

"Then follows a noble view of the celebrated Glaciers, compared to a tempeftuous fea, whofe conflicting billows had been inftantaneously arrefted by a froft. It is illuftrated by a fimile, which pourtrays, in all the ftrength of poetic colouring, that miracle which left the Egyptians "a way in the fea, "and a path in mighty waters."

"The riting of the Lamyr-Gryer, that vast Alpine eagle, after he had dropped terrified, during the ftorm, from the highest rock to the valley, is one of the finest descriptions that has adorned poetry. A large, white, fwift, and ftrong goat, called the Chamis, is the prey of this immenfe bird. Neither the eagle of Pindar, nor that of our great modern Pindar, Mr. Gray, equals the Læmyr-Geyer in fublimity; for he is fhewn in more energetic action, and in more various points of view. When he wheels around the cliffs, as he pursues the Chamois, that bounds affrighted from rock to rock, the whole fcene is alive. The enfu ng panage, in which he foars to the returning fun, will convince every reader of tatte, what tort of credit is due to critics who, either through dulnefs, or from fome more blameable caute, defpife,

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or affect to defpife, this poem. The Bard
addreffes the mountain, which is all along
finely perfonified, and thus fpeaks to him of
his chofen bird:

"Triumphant on thy head he ftands!
The volume of his wings expands,
That glitter like the burnith'd gold;
And fwells his cheft, and stretches bold
His wreathed neck, and turns on high
The orbit of his radiant eye,

does not know that to pervade is to pierce through. But when he talks of pouring ferrows upon a caft, he flounders beneath all fight, in the profundity of the bathos.

"In the fecond extract, two lines, taken almoft verbatim from Mr. Hayley's Ode to Howard, and a thought pillaged from Shakefpeare, about the twice-bletted quality of mercy, both given without acknowledgement, are the only couplets that are worth any thing in the whole boafted extracts.

"From the compofitions of a Yearsley, a Burns, and, above all, from thofe of the fublime, unfortunate Chatterton, we have learned to difallow the plea of a mean education as an excufe for obtruding mean veríes upon the publick. Their poetry fhews us, that real genius can come forth with luftre from beneath its clouds. A LOVER OF JUSTICE."

To drink new fires from the fource of light." "Apprehenfive of extending thefe remarks into inconvenient length, I reluctantly turn from the Poet to the mere Rhymer. The fame publication that burlesques Mont Blanc afferts, that the compofitions of a certain Engraver, intituled, THE WREATH, "difplay a "juftness of thought, and vigour of fenti"ment, far above the ordinary level; that "the Mufe has received him with a partiality not always flewn to her more diftin-57. The Epiftolary Correspondence of Sir Richard 66 guifhed and importunate votaries; that his imagination is warm, his numbers, in general, varied, nervous, and harmonious, "though he may, in fome paffages, be ob"noxious to criticifim." Finally, we are affured by this eminent judge of poetry, that if Mr. N. the Engraver is patronifed in proportion to his various merits, his moft fanguine hopes will be exceeded.

"We muft fuppofe the extracts would be felected from the best parts of a work fo highly applauded. If one ftriking image, original idea, or ray of imagination, can be found in thofe extracts, to recompenfe the vulgarifm of the language, and the infipidity of the verfification, we will confeís our Zoilus a Longinus. Behold a few of the 1 nes triumphantly produced by the critic, as fpecimens of poetic excellence-the fubject fuch as must have awakened all the exifting powers of a mind which, like that of our honeti engraver, confidered it rightly. After withing for the power to rule, that the "fons of Afric might feel his care; that he "might bind their foris, and pour a cheer

ing him into their bleeding fores; put a "robe upon their hides, prevent their feeding on fare loathed by their mongrels, and give "a bangman's cord to their lazy lords," he proceeds,

"Great God of Mercy, and of Pity toc,
Whofe eye pervades the vast creation through;
How long shall these proud infulated knaves
Heap deaths and torment, on their helpless
flaves ?

When will thy vengeance overtaketheir guilt,
And make then fuffer for the blood they 'vè

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Steele; containing Letters to bis fecond Wif', Mary Scurlock, and ber Two Daughters; now first printed from the Originals, which are depofited in The British Museum. Alss, Letters to and from his Friends and Patrons. Now first collected, and the Whole illustrated ub Literary and Hiftorical Anecdotes, by John Nichols. 2 Fols. 8vo.

WHEN the intention of introducing this work to the world was firft announced, we waited with impatience for its appearance. To every man advanced in life, who had an early relifh for literary excellence, the name of Steele is particularly dear. The found of it brings to his recollection a thousand charming ideas. He calls to mind, with all the ardour of affection, the friend who formed his youthful tafte, inftructed and amufed his riper years, and adininifters confolation to his declining age -the man who drove Aufterity from the train of Virtue and fhewed, by his own example, that Levity is not neceffarily attached to Gaiety-nor Profameneis, or Indecency, to Wit. In a word, the man

"Who from the tafte obfcene reclaim'd our

"youth,

"And fet the Pattions on the fide of Truth; "Form'd the foft bofom with the gentleit art, "And pour'd each moral virtue o'er the "heart."

For furely this fine compliment, which datinguished worth extorted from a rival genius, not prodigal in the praife of contemporary merit, is at least as applicable to Steele as to his refpettable friend and coadjutor Addison, who only occafionally affifted in culti

*But certainly printed two years before Mr. Hayley's Ode appeared. REVIEWER.

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