Summary of Proceedings in the prefent Seffion of Parliament. 417 Sir Elijah Impey, and the proceedings Should this motion be agreed to, Mr. Grenville faid, he should move to addrefs his Majefty, that he would give orders to the Attorney and Solicitor General, to profecute the authors, printers, and publishers of the papers, containing the paragraphs complained of, in the court of King's Bench. Thefe motions produced a long debate, of which the following is the fubstance: Mr. Fox, Mr. Burke, Mr. Adam, and Mr. Courtenay, feemed defirous enough to punish the libellers; but they wifhed that, as the libels were against the dignity of the Houfe, the Houfe would not truft to any other court the power of maintaining or vindicating its dignity. The Commons of England ought not to part with the peculiar prerogative of being the fole judges of their own privileges. On the other hand, Mr. Pitt and Mr. Grenville contended, that the Houfe, by fending this caufe to the ordinary courts of law, did not renounce any one of its prerogatives; it barely reftrained itfelf from having recourfe to thofe prerogatives in a cafe in which the ordi nary courts of law could and would do ample justice to both parties. On the question being put, Mr. Grenville's firft motion was carried without a divifion. On moving the addrefs to the King, that he would be graciously pleafed to order the Attorney and Solicitor General to profecute the printers, &c. of the libels, Mr. Courtenay obferved, that as Sir Elijah had fuppreffed the libel of Debrett, on having received an apology, he would move the following amendment, by way of addition to the laft motion, "unless the said printers shall make an apology to Sir Elijah Impey." This amendment was negatived without a divifion. The Houfe then divided upon the motion for the profecution, which was carried by a majority of 72. Ayes 109. Noes 37. Sir Elijah appeared again at the bar, and prefented a fair copy of the tranfiaGENT. MAG. May, 1788. tion of Nundcomar's petition, with a fac-fimile of the alterations and corrections in it; and faid, that any member fhould be at liberty to examine the ori ginal, which is kept in his poffeffion. Monday, February 11. Lord Courtoun reported, that his Majefty had been waited on with the Addrefs of that Houfe, praying His Majefty to order the Attorney General to profecute the printers of two morning papers; that his Majefty had fignified his acquiefcence, and that orders would be iffued accordingly. Mr. Stanley presented a petition from the town of Manchester and its neighbourhood, figned by upwards of 10,000 perfons, praying a regulation in the flave trade. The petition was received, read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Burgess gave notice, that he propofed to bring forward his bill, for modifying the laws refpecting debtors, on Monday the 25th inftant. That he delayed it fo long, was owing to a Noble Lord (Rawdon) having given notice in the House of Peers, that he would introduce a bill for the fame purpose. : That Noble Lord had favoured him with an abstract of his bill, and had honoured him with conferences on the fubject; by which he found that the bill differed from his, not only in particulars, but in principle. He fhould, therefore, fubmit his fentiments on the fubject to the confideration of the Houfe. Sir Thomas Dundas prefented a pe tition from a Mr. Walker, agent in be half of the Scotch diftillers, praying to be heard on the third reading of the bill for adding a further equalizing duty on Scotch fpirits, against the faid bill. The Speaker objected to the petition being brought up, as, by one of the ftanding orders, no petition could be received that had not been figned by the perfons petitioning. Mr. Pitt faid, it was equally inadmiflible on the ground of its contents, as it urged nothing but what had been already urged by other petitioners who had been heard on that head. Sir Thomas Dundas replied, that, if the Right Hon. Gent. would not precipitate the bill then before the House, he would procure a petition that should be unobjectionable in point of form; and he hoped that the Houfe would not ftrain an order for the purpose of preventing people from prefenting their grievances. At all events, he expected that, that, if the additional duty was impofed, fuch witnelfes as he wished to call might be permitted to affign reafons why the new mode of collecting the duty ought to be abolished. Mr Pitt objected to the hearing of further evidence only on account of the delay it would occafion; and as fpirits in prodigious quantities were daily pouring in from Scotland, gentlemen must fee that the bill ought to pafs fpeedily, if it paffed at all. As to the new mode of collecting the fpirit duty in Scotland, it was by no means applicable to the bill, as it had a view only to the Scotch market; while the bill related merely to the fpirits imported from that country into England. The Marquis of Grabam fuggefted a method by which the Hon. Bart. might procure the attendance of witneffes, and obtain a hearing for them, notwithftanding the informality of the petition; this was, to move that they should be ordered to attend the Houfe on the day when the bill came under difcuffion. Sir Thomas clofing with this propofi. tion, the petition was ordered to lie on the table. The Houfe then went into a committee, Mr. Steele in the chair, upon the bill for impofing an additional duty of 6d. per gallon on all Scotch fpirits imported into England, the blanks of which were filled up without any debate. The moft material of thefe refpected the time when the bill fhould take place, which it was settled should be the day on which it received the royal affent. The bill having been carried through, the Houfe was refumed, and the report ordered to be received on the morrow. The House then refolved itself into a committee, to take into confideration the commercial intercourfe with America. Mr. W. Grenville obferved, that hitherto this intercourfe had been carried on under the authority of annual acts of parliament; but he now intended to propofe, that the part which, from four years experience, was found to be eligible, fhould be made permanent by a new act of the Legiflature. It was the univerfal with, that the fupply of lumber, grain, fish, and other provifions, for the use of our Weft India islands, might be conveyed in British bottoms, for the benefit and increafe of our navigation; but many doubted whether a Tufficient quantity of thofe articles could be procured if American fhips were ex cluded our islands. The experiment, however, had been made, and with fuccefs; as for the laft four years no other veffels, but British had been employed in fupplying the islands, and they had never been more plentifully furnished. From this policy of em ploying British bottoms only, the plant ers had reaped great advantages, and the navigation of the empire been enlarged; as we now employed every year between 40 and 50,000 tons of shipping, and above 5000 feamen, in that trade alone; and the. freight of the shipping amounted to 250,000l. There was no occafion, he said, for any intercourse between the United States of North America and his Ma jesty's remaining colonies on that continent; but between the latter and our islands there was a growing intercourse; and he had reafon to hope, from the ra pid improvement of our colonies on the continent, we fhould foon have no occafion to refort to the United States for the articles he had juft mentioned. In our own colonies alto, our islands would find a market for the rum and melaffes which they had hitherto bartered for lumber, &c. It was a part of his system, he obferved, to encourage an intercourfe between thofe diftant parts of his Majefty's dominions. With refpect to a commercial fyftem between Great Britain and the United States of America, he could propofe nothing permanent this year. The latter were at this time deliberating about the eftablishment of a fœderal affembly, to be vested with fufficient powers to conclude treaties which should be binding upon all the States. Should this object be effected, we might then treat with it respecting a commercial arrangement; and he muft fay that the prefent mode of intercourfe could not, and ought not, last long. This country had fhewn, that refentment formed no part of its character; for it allowed advantages to American fhips, in its European ports, which no other nation, however favoured, was permitted to enjoy: America, however, did not return our kindnefs, as the fhips of Britain were treated with lefs kindness in her ports than thofe of any other nation. This was not to be long borne; it was derogatory to our dignity; nor would the refpect due to other ftates, with which we might be in treaty, fuffer us to leave it in their power to tell us that the Americans, by whom we were used fo ill, had more fa Summary of Proceedings in the prefent Seffion of Parliament. 419 roar fhewn them in our ports than our best friends. We muft, therefore, have a return for these favours, or we muft with-hold them. He concluded with obferving, that though Turk's Island (one of the Bahamas) abounded with falt, vet our own fhips did not appear much inclined to go thither for it; he would, on this account, propofe that the fhips of the United States might be permitted to load falt there, on paying a duty of 2s. 6d. per ton, and arriving at the island in ballaft. He then moved for leave to bring in a bill for fettling the intercourfe between the different places mentioned. After a few words from Lord Penrbyn, Ald. Watson, and Mr. Pulteney, the motion was carried unanimously. The Houfe, being refumed, refolved itself again into a committee on the charges brought against Sir E. Impey. Sir G. Elliot faid, he wished that Mr. Farrer, a member of that Houfe, might be asked if he had any objection to be examined on the charges. On the queftion being put to Mr. Farrer, he replied, that though he believed he could give more information on the fubje&t than any other man, yet he had objections of a private nature to being examined. To the fpecial favour of Sir E. Impey, he owed his appointment of fenior advocate of the fipreme court: from this circumstance, were his evidence favourable to that gentle man, he might be fuppofed influenced by gratitude, On the other hand, it was well known, that, foon after his appointment, he had had a ferious difference with Sir Elijah, and been ever after upon bad terms with him. Hence, fhould his teftimony be unfavourable, fome might infer that he was actuated by refentment. However, difagreeable as it might be to him to give his evidence under fuch circunftances, he would not decline it, if the committee were of opinion that it was not improper. This gave rife to a fhort converfation, at the end of which the Hon. Mr. St. John (chairman of the committee) informed Mr. Farrer, that it was the una pimous with of the committee that he would fuffer himself to be examined; on which Mr. Farrer acquiefced. He then proceeded to give his evidence, in the courfe of which he was going to read a paper, written by a Mr. Gerard, attorney to Nundcomar, purporting to be an account of the conduct of the judges, on an application from Nundcomar to be admitted to bail, which they ultimately refused. Mr. Set objected to the admisibility of this paper as evidence, because it was in the hand-writing of a third perfon, and not of the gentleman then under examination. Mr Scott laid it down as a principle, that no evidence ought to be admitted in this proceeding, which would not be deemed legal and admif. fible in Weftmiafter-hall Mr. Fox contended, that the Houfe of Commons was not bound by the fame forms which were held neceffary in Weftminster hall: it was bound to do juftice to the publick; and, provided that were done, it was of very little moment what forms were obferved. After a tedious debate on this point, the opinion of Mr. Fox prevailed, and Mr. Farrer was directed to read the pa per in queffion. He accordingly went on with his evidence till eleven o'clock, when the committee adjourned the fur ther hearing till the next day. Tueday, February 12. Several private bills were read a firft and fecond time, and committed. The bill for licenfing the Brighthelmftone theatre was read a fecond time, and committed. The Speaker gave notice from the chair, that it had been intimated to him, that it was the with of the Lords to be able to proceed on the trial of Warren Haftings, efq. to-morrow at 12 o'clock. He thought it was neceffary, therefore, that the House of Commons should be ready at eleven o'clock; for which purpofe he should come down to the Houfe precifely at half after ten. The report of the committee on the American intercourte bill being brought up, their refolutions were, on motion, read a ft and ad time, and agreed to. Ordered, that Mr. Steele, and the Attorney and Solicitor General, do prepare, and bring in, a bill for regulating the trade between his Majefty's colonies in America and the United States. A petition was prefented against the Slave Trade from the Proteftant Dif fenting Minifters of London and its vicinity, which, with another petition from Yorkshire to the fame purpose, was ordered to lie on the table, Mr. Steele brought up the report of the committee on the Scotch equalizing duty bill, which was read a first and fe cond time. It was then moved, that the House de do agree with the committee, that the duty hall take place from and after the day the bill thall receive the royal affent. After fome oppofition from Sir Thomas Dundas, the queftion was put, and agreed to without a division. Mr. Steele prefented a claufe, which was agreed to, and read a first and second time. Sir Thomas Dundas prefented two claufes, which were fupported by Sir Adam Ferguson, Sir James Erskine, and Sir Wm. Cuninghame, and opposed by Mr. Pitt, the Marquis of Grabam, Mr. Beaufoy, and Mr. Steele, and negatived without a divifion. The bill was ordered to be ingroffed. The order of the day was then read, for the Houfe refolving itfelf into a committee of the whole House, to confider further of the charges against Sir E. Impey; and the Houfe being accordingly refolved into a committee, Mr. Andrew St. John in the chair, Mr. Farrer was requested to proceed in his narrative. Mr. Farrer begged that the evidence which he had yesterday given in might be read over to him, which having been done, by the clerk, Mr. Farrer made a few corrections. The Hon. Gent. then proceeded in his evidence; and when he came to that part of the trial of Nundcomar where an interpreter was to be appointed by the court, a particular perfon was ob jected to by the court as improper to fill that office, for which they ftated certain reasons, by no means fatisfactory to him (the witness), and which he did not believe to be the caufes of their object ing to the interpreter; what he conceived to be their real motives, he would, with permiffion from the committee, lay before them. Mr. Scott objected to the Hon. Gent's giving any opinion as a member on the fubject. Having fubmitted to be examined as a witnefs, he could not, until his evidence was finished, give any opi. nion as a member. Lord Mulgrave, the Speaker, and Mr. Pitt, agreed with Mr. Scott. Mr. Fox diffented from thofe gentlemen; the point, however, not being deemed of much confequence, was given up, and Mr. Farrer defired to proceed in his narrative. At ten o'clock, having come to the defence of Nundcomar, Mr. Pitt propofed that the evidence fhould clofe there for the night, which being agreed to, the House was refumed, progress re ported, and the committee ordered to fit again on Thursday. Adjourned. Wednesday, February 13. At half past ten o'clock the Speaker came to the Houfe; and, prayers being over, it was moved, that the Houfe do attend, as a committee of the whole House, at Weftminster-hall, on the trial of Warren Haftings, efq They ac cordingly proceeded to the hall, in the manner previously prescribed. At half past five o'clock, the proceedings on the trial being concluded for this day, the Commons returned to their Houle, and the Speaker having taken the chair, Mr. Steele moved, that the Scorch equalizing duty bill thould be read the third time. The bill having been read and agreed to, The Marquis of Graham propofed a clause, to be added by way of rider, the purport of which was, that all Scotch fpirits, actually thipped for England on or before the 1 day of February, should be admitted into the English ports on the old duty. The clauie was admitted without objection. Sir John Sinclair faid, it had been his intention to ftate feveral general reafons against the principle of the bill; but, as a paper had just been delivered at their bar, and laid on the table, relative to the bufinefs, which paper he was prepared to speak to, he would not at prefent oppofe the bill, but he hoped that a permanent regulation of the trade would be adopted. Mr. Pitt declared, that he was as defirous as the Hon. Bart. or any other gentleman, that a permanent regulation might take place It was, however, impoffible that fuch a regulation could be introduced into the prefent bill, which, from the exigency of the cafe, fhould not be delayed. On the expira tion of the term of the prefent bill, a permanent regulation would be offered to the House. The question was then put, that the bill do pafs; which patfing in the affirmative, Mr. Steele was ordered to carry it to the Lords. A meffage was ordered to the Lords by Mr. Adam, requesting their Lordfhips to iffue fummonfes for the attend ance of witneffes on Friday next at Westminster-hall, on the trial of Mr. Haflings; after which the House ad journed. (To be continued.) ABSTRACT ABSTRACT OF THE PREMIUMS OFFERED BY THE SOCIETY, INSTITUTED AT SOCIETY'S OFFICE, ADELPHI, May 24, 1788. Ordered, that the feveral candidates and claimants, to whom the Society fhall adjudge premiums or bounties, do attend at the Society's office in the Adelphi, on the laft Tuesday in May 1789, at 12 o'clock at noon, to receive the fame, that day being appointed by the Society for the diftribution of their rewards; before which time no premium or bounty will be delivered, ADELPHI, June 1, 1788. The fixth volume of the Tranfactions of this Society is now in the prefs, and will fpeedily be published, when it may be had, by Members only, at the Society's houfe in the Adelphis and by all other perfons, of the principal book fellers in England and Wales; in which book will be found the particulars of each premium inferted in the following Abstract, and the methods to be purfued by thofe who intend to become candidates; together with many papers, communicated to the Society, in the feveral branches of Arts, Manufac tures, and Commerce, which are the immediate objects of their attention and encourage ment, TH To the PUBLICK. HE CHIEF OBJECTS of the attention of the SOCIETY, in the application of their REWARDS, are all fuch useful inventions, difcoveries, or improvements (though not mentioned in the Book of Premiums), as appear to have a tendency to promote the arts, manufactures, and commerce, of this kingdom; and, in purfuance of this plan, the Society have already been enabled, by the voluntary fubfcriptions of its members, and by benefactions of the nobility and gentry, to expend for fuch ufeful purposes a fum amounting to pwards of thirty thousand pounds. Whoever attentively confiders the benefits which have arifen to the Publick fince the inftitution of this Society, by the introduction of new manufactures, and the improvements of thofe formerly eftablifhed, will readily allow, no money was ever more ufefully expended, nor has any nation received more real advantage, from any public body whatever, than has been derived to this country from the rewards beftowed by this Society; and this obfervation will be confirmed by infpecting a general account of the effects of the rewards beftowed by the Society, annexed to a work in folio, printed in 1778, intituled, "A Regifter of the Premiums and Bounties given by the Society, inftituted at London, for the encou❝ragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, from the Original inftitution in 17549 4 to 1776, inclufive;" which work is fent to every Member on his Election, and may be feen by any perfon, applying to the Secretary, or other officers of the Society, at their boufe in the Adelphi. In order till further to promote the laudable views of this inftitution, and to enable the Society to profecute to greater effect the work fo fuccefsfully begun, it may not be improper to inform the Publick, by what mode, and on what terms, Members are elected Peers of the Realm or Lords of Parliament are, on their being propofed at any meeting of the Society, immediately balloted for; and the name, with the addition and place of abode |