April 25. That the monies which have been, or shall be paid at the Bank, in pursuance of the resolutions of this House, of the 14th of March last and 4th instant, be applied towards discharging bills payable in the course of the navy or victualling offices, or for transports, which were made out, on or before the 30th of June, 1764. April 30. 1. That the bounties and drawbacks now paid upon the exportation from this kingdom, of refined sugars, and ground sugar, be discontinued. 2. That, upon the exportation from this kingdom, of refined sugar in the loaf, complete and whole, being nett, that is to say, of one uniform whiteness throughout, and which has gone through the operation of three clays at the least, and been properly and thoroughly dried in the stove, according to the present practice of refining, a bounty be allowed after the rate of 14s. 6d. for every hundred weight thereof. 3. That upon the exportation from this kingdom of refined sugar called bastard, and of ground and powdered refined sugar, and of refined loaf sugar broke in pieces (the said sugar having been twice clayed, and properly dried in the stove) a bounty or drawback be allowed, after the rate of 6s. 4d. for every hundred weight thereof. 4. That liberty be granted for a limited time, to carry rice from the province of North Carolina, directly to any other part of America, southward of South Carolina and Georgia, subject to such duty as is now payable upon rice, carried from South Carolina and Georgia, to any part of America, to the southward thereof. 5. That the duties, which shall arise in respect of rice, so carried from North Carolina, and the duties which shall arise in pursuance of an act made in the last session of parliament, intituled, An Act for granting, for a limited time, a liberty to carry rice from,' &c. be paid into the receipt of his Majesty's exchequer, and there reserved to be from time to time, disposed of by parliament, towards further defraying the necessary expences of defending, protecting, and securing the British dominions in America. 6. That bounties be granted upon the importation of deals, planks, boards, and timber, into this kingdom, from the British dominions in North America, for the term of nine years, in manner following; that is to say, during the first three years, for every hundred, containing six score of sound merchantable deals, planks, and boards, not less than ten feet long, ten inches broad, and one inch and one quarter of an inch thick, 20s.; and so in proportion for any greater length, and for any greater thickness, not exceeding four inches, and for every load containing forty cubic feet, of sound merchantable squared timber of all kinds (the timber not to be less than ten inches square) 12s.; and during the next three years, for every hundred of such deals, planks, and boards, 15s.; and for every load of such timber, 8s.; and during the last three years, for every hundred of such deals, planks, and boards, 106., and for every load of such timber, 5s. 7. That the additional inland duty of 1s. granted by an act made in the 32nd of his late majesty, upon every pound weight avoirdupois of coffee, sold in Great Britain, do cease and determine. 8. That there be granted to his Majesty, an additional inland duty of 6d. upon every pound weight avoirdupois of coffee, not being of the growth and product of the British plantations in America, which shall be sold in Great Britain. 9. That the said additional inland duty be appropriated to the uses, to which the said duty of 1s. per pound weight was made applicable. 10. That the allowances directed by law to be made in respect of hard soap, which shall be refreshed or made new, be discontinued. | 11. That in lieu thereof, the duties upon one pound, in every ten pounds weight of such soap, be allowed to the makers thereof. 12. That all linen cloth and diaper of Russia, which are not at present particularly rated in any act of parliament, or book of rates, be, upon the importation thereof into this kingdom, rated in manner following; that is to say, all such cloth and diaper, being in breadth more than 22 and not exceeding 311⁄2 inches at 47. and being in breadth more than 31 inches, and not exceeding 45 inches, at 6l.; and exceeding 45 inches in breadth, at 10l., for every 120 English ells thereof respectively, and so in proportion for any greater or lesser quantity; and that the full amount of the several duties now required by law to be paid, for every 20s. of the value of the said goods, be raised and collected according to the said respective rates. 13. That no drawback or bounty be allowed upon the exportation of any goods, from this kingdom, to any of the islands of Faro. which shall be exported from thence, as are now allowed on the exportation of British or Irish linens, and under the same restrictions and limitations. May 6. 1. That every instrument, letter, entry, minutes, memorandum, or other writing whereby any officer is admitted, in any court whatsoever, to serve or to hold such office, as is charged with any stamp duty within the meaning of the acts 5 William and Mary, 9 William 3, and 12 Anne, whereby the several duties of 40s. are imposed upon every piece of vellum, parchment, or paper, on which any admittance of such officer is ingrossed or written, shall be deemed and taken to be an admittance of such officer. 2. That the present stamp duty upon the admission into any corporation or company be repealed. 3. That instead thereof, a stamp duty of 2s. be charged upon the entry, minute, or memorandum, made of such admittance, in their court book, roll, or record. 4. That the present allowance for prompt payment at the stamp office be repealed. 5. That instead thereof an allowance at the rate of 41. per cent. per ann. be for the future made. 6. That an additional stamp duty of 20s. be charged upon every policy of assurance, in which the properties of more than one person, in any ship, cargo, or both, or more than a particular number of persons in partnership, or more than one body politic, to a greater amount in the whole than 100%. shall be assured. 7. That of the monies agreed to be paid by a convention, between his Majesty and the French king, concluded and signed at London, the 27th of February last, for the maintenance of the late French prisoners of war, there be applied a sum not exceeding 308,000l. May 7. 1. That out of the monies which shall arise from the produce of the duties laid in this session, upon the importation and exportation of senega and gum arabic, there be issued and applied a sum not exceeding 12,000l. 2. That the 2s. stamp duty to be imposed by the third resolution of yesterday, be applied to the uses, to which the stamp duty repealed by the second resolution of yesterday was applicable. 3. That the additional amp duty of 20s. imposed by the sixth resolution of yesterday, be applied to the like uses to which the duties upon policies of assurance are at present applicable. 4. That the same bounties be allowed upon all linens to be made in the Isle of Man, and imported into Great Britain, 5. That the inhabitants of the Isle of Man may import into any lawful port of Great Britain or Ireland, the bestials, or any other goods, wares, and merchandizes, of the growth, produce, and manufacture, of the said isle, except woollen manufacture, beer, and ale, without paying any custom, subsidies, or duties, for and in respect thereof, (except, such excise or other duty, as is now, or shall hereafter for the time being, be due and payable for the like goods, wares, or merchandize, of the growth, produce, and manufacture of Great Britain) liable to certain limitations and restrictions. May 9. 1. That towards making good and securing the payment of the sums of money directed by an act of 32 Geo. 2, to be applied in augmentation of the salaries of the judges and justices therein mentioned, in England and Wales, there be granted an additional stamp duty of 47. upon every piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, upon which any admission into any of the four inns of court shall be ingrossed or written; and an additional stamp duty of 6l. upon every such piece, on which shall be ingrossed or written, any register, entry, testimonial, or certificate, of the degree of utter barrister, taken in any of the four inns of court. 2. That out of any of the surplusses which shall arise upon the funds established for payment of the said augmentation, and upon the said additional stamp duty, after the payments charged thereupon, are, from time to time, satisfied, a sum not exceeding 3,6251. be applied in augmentation of the salaries of the said judges and justices, from the 5th of January to the 5th of July, 1759, according to the proportions appointed by the said act, with respect to the augmentation therein mentioned. 3. That out of any of the duties and revenues in Scotland, which by an act of 10 Anne, were charged, or made chargeable, with payment of the fees, salaries, and other charges allowed, or to be allowed by her majesty, her heirs, or successors, for keeping up the courts of session and justiciary, and exchequer court in Scotland, a sum not exceeding 2,100l. be applied in augmentation of the salaries of the judges in the courts of session and exchequer there, from the 5th of January to April 30. The House being informed, that, by accounts received since the order made yesterday for Mr. Speaker to issue his warrant to the clerk of the crown, to make out the said writ, it was uncertain whether the said Mr. Willy was dead at the time of making the said order; and Mr. Speaker having acquainted the • "In the debate upon this proceeding, the lawyers, amongst which were Mr. Fazakerley and Mr. Wilbraham, doubted the authority of the House to order a Supersedeas; and rather recommended an application to be made to the Lord Chancellor for this purpose. But the House rejected this proposition, well knowing that every proceeding which regards the direction for issuing, suspending, or superseding writs for the electing members to serve in the House of Commons, is solely and exclusively within their own jurisdiction. This opinion from two very considerable lawyers (at that time the most eminent in their profession) upon a subject of Parliamentary Law, only serves to illustrate and confirm the truth of an observation, which Mr. Onslow used frequently to House, that he had, in pursuance of the said order, issued his warrant to the clerk of the crown; and that the said writ had been made out accordingly; and was now in the hands of the messenger of the great seal; and a motion being made, that the clerk of the crown do make out a Supersedeas of the said writ: The House was moved, that the entry in the Journal of the House, of the 19th of December 1702, relating to the proceeding of the House, upon the issuing of a new writ for the city of Gloucester, might be read: And the same being read accordingly; the said motion was, by leave of the House, withdrawn. Ordered, That the messenger of the great seal do forbear the delivery of the said writ, for the electing of a burgess to serve in this present parliament for the borough of Devizes, until the further order of this House. May 6. The House being informed, that William Willy, esq. was alive at the time the order was made, for Mr. Speaker to issue his warrant to the clerk of the crown to make out a new writ for the borough of Devizes, in the room of the said Mr. Willy; the House was moved, that the order, made upon Tuesday last, that the messenger of the great seal do forbear the delivery of the said writ until the further order of this House, might be read. And the said order being read accordingly; was ordered to be discharged. his warrant to the clerk of the crown, to Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue make out a Supersedeas to the said writ for the electing of a burgess to serve in this present parliament for the borough of Devizes, in the county of Wilts. make, 'That Common Lawyers, accustomed to the forms and practice of the courts of Westminster-hall, know little of Parliamentary law, or of the forms of proceeding in parliament. Remember, young man,' (speaking to new members) I foretell, if ever you live to see a Common Lawyer elected into this Chair, the authority and dignity of the House of Commons will from that time be absolutely destroyed.' Mr. Onslow was himself of the profession; had a proper sense of its its importance, and a regard for the professors of it; and for their opinion upon subjects, on which the course of their studies had rendered them competent to give one." Hatsell's Precedents, vol. 2, p. 75, The King's Speech at the Close of the | Session.*] May 25. The King came to the House of Lords, and put an end to the Session with the following Speech to both Houses: "The ministry had never been popular; and they had how perceptibly lost the King's confidence; their conduct on the Regency Act betrayed an inclination, if not to oppose, at least not to favour the inclinations of the sovereign. It is even averred, that several posts of honour an emolument were bestowed in opposition to their advice, and without their knowledge, which produced offensive remonstrances, in consequence of which the King, by the recommenilation of lord Bute, determined to dismiss them. This account forms part of the fable of lord Bute's secret influence, which was so long implicitly believed, and which still affords an easy solution of every political problem, for which no satisfactory explanation can be found in the ordinary details of diurnal oc currences. "My Lords, and Gentlemen, "The dispatch which you have given with so much zeal and wisdom to the public business, enables me now to put a period to this session of parliament. "In consequence of this counsel, the King required the ministry to state the conditions on which they would remain in office. A meeting was held in Downing-street, at which the first lord of the treasury, the lord chancellor, the duke of Bedford, and the earls of Halifax and Sandwich, were present. At the conclusion of this conference Mr. Grenville was directed to wait on the King, and state five propositious as the terms of retaining their situations; 1. that lord Bute should not interfere directly or indirectly in the affairs of government; 2. Mr. Stuart McKenzie, lord Bute's brother, to be dismissed from the office of keeper of the privy seal for Scotland; 3. lord Holland to be deprived of the paymastership of the forces, which should be bestowed on a member of the House of Commons; 4. The marquis of Granby to be at the head of the army; and 5. The government of Ireland to be left to the discretionary arrangement of the ministry. "Although it may not be true that lord Bute interfered in the transactions of the cabinet, yet the jealous apprehension on that subject probably occasioned the ministry to do many things offensive to the King. Lord Temple "The difficulty already experienced in formboth in the House of Lords and in private, bading a new administration, rendered it necessary repeatedly condemned lord Bute's secret in- to comply in part with these propositions. fluence; he was about this time reconciled to Stuart McKenzie was dismissed from the privy his brother Mr. Grenville, and although they seal of Scotland, which was given to lord Freprofessed the reconciliation to be merely a derick Campbell; Charles Townshend was apfamily transaction, it could not fail of producing pointed pay-master of the forces; and lord a considerable effect on the political conduct of Weymouth lord lieutenant of Ireland. Still Mr. Grenville. the disunion between the King and the ministry existed in all its extent: a spirit of violence seems to have possessed some members of the cabinet, and urged them personally to insult their sovereign, in a manner which rendered their longer continuance in office impossible. All previous attempts to form a new administration failing of success, the King himself sent for Mr. Pitt, and held a conference with him at Buckingham-house. In consequence of this interview, Mr. Pitt, and lord Temple had a joint audience, and the King condescended to lay before the two brothers certain propositions for their acceptance. Mr. Pitt seemed disposed to comply with the most important, but required time to deliberate, Lord Temple declared his repugnance to all the conditions, and Mr. Pitt afterwards adopted the same sentiments. "Such was the state of the ministry and their adherents when the duke of Cumberland entered into a negociation with lord Temple and Mr. Pitt, respecting a change, and first applied to lord Temple for his conditions. The duke did not object to them; but required that the earl of Northumberland should be at the head of the treasury: this proposal was not agreeable to lord Temple, and the conference broke off. The duke, however, did not yet relinquish the hopes of success: be waited on Mr. Pitt at Hayes, where he was met by lord Temple, and the subject renewed. Mr. Pitt declared he had no objection to go to St. James's, if he could carry the constitution with him,' but declined all connection with the earl of Northumberland. The next day, lord Frederick Cavendish was sent from the Duke to Mr. Pitt, with a modification of the propo“The duke of Cumberland being again apsal respecting the earl of Northumberland, and plied to, negociated with the duke of Newcastle Mr. Pitt returned the same answer which he for the formation of a new ministry, which was had given to the duke of Cumberland. The si- speedily adjusted. The marquis of Rocktuation of first lord of the treasury was then of-ingham was placed at the head of the treafered to lord Lyttelton, who desired to consult lord Temple and Mr. Pitt; and the Duke, convinced that no advantage could be derived from a new negociation, reported these transactions to the King, advising him to continue his present servants. | sury; general Conway was appointed secretary of state, with the management of the House of Commons, the other secretary was the duke of Grafton; the duke of Newcastle was lord privy seal; Mr. Dowdeswell chancellor of the exchequer; and the earl of Hertford lord lieute "No alteration in the state of foreign affairs has happened since your meeting, to disturb the general peace: and it is with pleasure that I inform you, that the present dispositions of the several powers of Europe promise the continuance of this blessing. nant of Ireland. These were the leading men in the new administration, though changes took place in every department. The high popularity of the duke of Cumberland, who formed this ministry, and the characters of the princi. pal members, promised a great degree of public favour, and one of their first acts, that of making Mr. Pratt, the chief justice of the Common Pleas, a peer, by title of earl Camden, was highly gratifying to the people. "I have seen, with the most perfect approbation, that you have employed this season of tranquillity in promoting those objects which I have recommended to your attention; and in framing such regulations as may best enforce the just authority of the legislature, and at the same ceal himself, and to give greater weight to his design, his first care was to put the negociation into the hands of the duke of Cumberland, with some limitations. After his audience with the Duke, he and his brother appeared publicly at his Royal Highness's levee, more than once during the time the Regency Bill was in parliament. These circumstances were not unknown to the ministers, nor did they scruple to declare to their friends, That the King's confidence was not placed where it ought to be. Yet they did not refuse a necessary measure. But they were particularly blameable for admitting one part of it, which whoever advised gave bad advice: it was a proposition, for an unexampled encroachment on the inherent fundamental and essential rights of parliament, and a dangerous precedent for an addition to the pretensions of the crown, by entrusting to the sole and secret nomination of the prince upon the throne, the appointment of the person to exercise the regal authority during a minority. "The duke of Cumberland, perfectly satisfied with this administration, contributed to their permanency by constantly attending the council, thus assisting them with his advice, and sanctioning their measures by his splendid reputation; but of this inestimable co-adjutor they were soon deprived, by his sudden death. His great popularity, the deserved meed of tried valour and undoubted patriotism, rendered his loss extremely afflicting at this period, when a new ministry was preparing to try the effect of new measures. As their operations were intended to contravene the prejudices and opi- "Mr. Pitt having declared in parliament, nions of all other parties, they required, in a that he would live and die with his brother (lord peculiar manner, all the support which could Temple) the confidential contrivers of this sebe derived from personal estimation. The de- cond project to bring in Mr. Pitt, resolved to cease of the Duke was generally deplored as make the application to lord Temple, with the well by the nation as the royal family; and hope of obtaining his favourable opinion, which the King sustained an additional loss by the was considered the most essential step towards death of his brother, prince Frederick, who ex-gaining Mr. Pitt. Accordingly on the 15th of pired in the 16th year of his age.' Adolphus. May, the duke of Cumberland sent for lord Temple from Stowe. As soon as possible his lordship waited on the Duke, who began by informing him, that the King had resolved to change his servants, and to engage his lordship, Mr. Pitt, and their friends, in his service; but first he (the Duke) wished to know their conLord Temple most respectfully assured his Royal Highness that their conditions were not many. The making certain foreign alliances, the restoration of officers (civil and military) cruelly and unjustly dismissed, a repeal of the excise on cyder, a total and full condemnation of general warrants, and the seizure of papers. His Royal Highness perfectly approved of these conditions, and said they must be agreed to: and then added, that he had a proposition to make,-this was, That it was the King's desire that lord Northumberland should be placed at the head of the treasury. Lord Temple replied, He would never come into office under lord Bute's lieutenant.' [Lord Northumberland was at this time lord lieutenant of Ireland.] Here the conference broke off. This proposition having been made in the negociation in the year 1763, when lord Bute appeared openly in the measure, left no room to doubt of his lordship being still the secret ad "Whether during the King's late illness, or at whatever moment earlier, or for whatever cause, the earl of Bute took a resolution of removing the ministers, are points, which can be explained by only those persons who were at that time in his confidence. The sincere opi-ditions. nion of other persons was, that some representations having been made by the subsisting ministers, upon the appointment of sir H. Erskine; upon filling the see of Armagh, and upon other promotions, some of which had taken place contrary to their advice, and others without their knowledge, the King was offended, and applied to his favourite to emancipate him from these importunities. Whether this opinion was well founded, or not, it is certain that, ten days at least before any intimation was given to the ministers of the Regency Bill, the earl of Bute obtained, through the interest of the earl of Albemarle, a private audience of the duke of Cumberland, His wish was to bring Mr. Pitt into office. His project had failed in the year 1763, through his own cowardice. This year he resolved not to appear in the measure; perhaps he was still influenced by his fears, and therefore, the better to con |