Mr. Edwards feconded the motion, and condemned, in very pointed terms, as equally impolitic and unjuft, the partial diftribution of military ho nours. Mr. Beaufoy faid, that charges of fo ferious a nature against the executive government ought to be very carefully examined, efpecially when the charges were directed against a First Lord of the Admiralty, to whom the country owed fo much as it did to Lord Howe; a man, at once the pride and ornament of his profeffion. But thefe charges did not deferve confideration merely as they affected that noble Lord, but as they affected the Government of the country. Much was left, and properly left, to men high in office, in the adminiftration of those affairs that belong to their department; but, fhould the Houfe deprive them of that difcretion, and take upon itfelf, without any information on the fubject, to point out to the throne who fhould be made admirals; then our officers, instead of seeking honour in the fcene of action, would content themfelves with conciliating the favour of the members of that Houfe; and he fhould not be furprifed if, hereafter, on every promotion in the army and navy, gentlemen should be inftructed by their refpe&tive conftituents to vote that fuch and fuch men fhould be made generals and admirals. He forefaw that fuch an interference on the part of the Houfe would be attended with alarming con fequences, and therefore hoped the Hon. Member would withdraw his mo tion. Sir James Johnfione faid, the motion was fuggefted by a love of juftice and humanity; it should, therefore, have his fupport; and he hoped that the hon. gent, who introduced it might receive an honourable reward for his fpeech of this day; he wished that, at leaft, he might be foon enabled to call him a brother baronet. Lord Appley obferved, that there was nothing new or unprecedented attending the late promotion. In the year 1718, two officers, whom, on account of their abilities, the Board were defirous of employing as admirals, were advanced to flags over the heads of 27 fenior cap. tains. In 1747, took place the regula. tion of fuperannuating those who, from age or infirmities, were thought unfit for active fervice; and thofe who were upon the fuperannuated lift were not to be confidered as neglected or underva lued; the very words of the order by which they were put upon it fhewed that they were not ftigmatised, but re. ceiving the reward of paft fervices. Sir James Collier fupported the motion he said, that the fuperannuated lift, or the yellow flag, as it was called, might not be dishonourable to thofe who, from bodily infirmities, were really not fit for actual fervice; but it was certainly difgraceful to officers who were still able and willing to serve their country in active stations, to be put upon that lift. Capt. M'Bride faid, he would fupport the motion with the greater readiness, because, in doing fo, he confidered himfelf as pleading the caufe of his gallant brother tars. He admitted that the fuperannuated lift was an honourable retreat to officers worn out and exhaufted in the fervice; but he looked upon it as a degradation to any officer to be placed upon it in the vigour of health. He begged it might not be understood, that, while he cenfured the late promotion, he meant to call in queftion the merit of the officers who had received the ho nourable rewards of their fervices; but he muft fay, that as able and as gallant officers had been overlooked as any that had been promoted, or any that ever exifted. He had heard, without doors, fome reafons for the omiffions he complained of; but they were fo contradictory and abfurd, that he was almost afhamed to mention them. One gentleman had been paffed over because he was a commiflioner; and yet another was promoted, though he was also a commiflioner. Another gentleman was left out, because his health was fo much impaired that he was no longer able to ferve; and yet it is notorious that, notwithitanding his debility of conftitution, he hunts regularly twice a week; while another officer was made an admiral, who, probably, will never be able to leave his houfe, certainly never to mount the fide of a fhip. This latter circumftance he mentioned with regret, because he was an officer of great gallantry and ability, whofe lofs his country would have caufe to deplore; but he noticed it for its fingularity, and to fhew the force of the reafons which had been affigned. Capt. Gray was overlooked because, as was faid, he had not served according to order in the last war. The fact, however, was, that this officer had made an offer to Government to raife, by his influence in his native country, Summary of Proceedings in the prefent Seffion of Parliament. 6000 men; his offer was accepted, and he and his men embarked according to orders in tenders for that purpose. Was not this ferving? And were fervices fuch as thefe to be rewarded by neglect? Capt. M'Bride feared that he himself fhould never be able to obtain the deareft object of his withes-a flag, while fuch frivolous objections as he had flated might mar his hopes: for he had no other pretenfion to the honour than his endeavours to deferve it: but, were his efforts to deferve it fuccefsful, he might be laid afide for being too fat or too lean, too fhort or too tall. He concluded with expreffing a hearty wifh, that fomething might be done in favour of the gallant men whofe merits had been overlooked in the late promotions. Mr. Pitt readily admitted and maintained the indifputable right of that House to controul all the branches of the executive Government; and it ought in duty to interpofe its controyling authority, whenever any partiality, or unjust or capricious exercife of pow er, appeared in the conduct of any of the executive departments of the flate. The question, therefore, was not, whether the Houfe had a right to interfere, for that no man would deny; but on what occafions it ought to interfere. Did gentlemen mean, that the Houfe of Commons fhould, on all occafions, affume the right of telling the Minifter, whom his Majefty had placed at the head of the Admiralty, "we are better judges than you are, and know better who ought, and who ought not, to be promoted?" Was it better for that Houfe, which could not be called to account by any power, to attempt to exercife their judgement, without having proper grounds for forming that judgement, than to trust to one who was refponfible for every measure he adopted? The measure that was now made a fubject of complaint was not without precedents; for, in the promotions of 139 admirals, fince the year 1718, 244 captains had been overlooked, and yet the nagy had not murmured. He was forry to find that the regulation made by Lord Anfon, in 1747, which was intended as an honourable retreat for captains worn out by age and long fervice, was this day perverted into a mark of difgrace, than which nothing could be more remote from the defign of the inftitution. Nothing could be fairly argued from the vote of thanks paffed by the Houfe against the omiffions of the late promo 537 tion; the thanks were general to the admirals, officers, and feamen; so that, if the captains, included in that vote, expected from it to be made admirals, the mafters and commanders might as reafonably expect to be made captains; the lieutenants to be made masters and commanders; and the feamen, lieute nants. Lord Mulgrave faid, he would give no opinion on the late promotion; but he wished very much that a plan might be adopted, by virtue of which a captain in the navy, of 20 years ftanding, fhould be at liberty to demand his retreat, and that there fhould be a fixed income allowed him for the remainder of his life; the retreat would then be voluntary, and confequently honourable, because he would not be driven to it by any marked difrefpect, or any neglect whatever on the part of the Admiralty. Mr. Baftard at length confented to withdraw his motion; but declared, at the fame time, that he would bring the bufinefs forward again, on fome future day, in another shape. Friday, February 22. The order of the day being read, that the Houfe do refolve itfelf into a committee of the whole Houfe on the charges against Sir Elijah Impey; Sir Gilbert Elliot moved, that the faid order be deferred to Monday next, and that the witneffes do then attend. Agreed to. Mr. Burke rofe, and obferved, that, in opening the charges against Warren Haftings, in the high court of Parliament, he had taken a general hiftorical view of India; and, noticing the revolution in 1760, he had ufed certain expreffions which had given offence to fome gentlemen, who conceived that their characters had been injured by an unfair statement of circumftances. Wish ing to give every gentleman ample fatisfaction, he was ready to enter into an explanation of what had fallen from him on that occafion If he had erroneoufly ftated any particular, he was willing to retract; but if, on explanation, he found no mis-ftatement, he would adhere to his former affertions. He would, however, defer his explanation until perfons of greater weight than he could pretend to be, were in the Houfe (alluding to Mr. Pitt, &c. &c.), from whom he might receive instructions refpecting the best mode of entering into fuch explanation. Adjourned. Monday, Monday, February 25. The order of the day being read, the Houfe went into a committee of the whole Houfe, on the bill for regulating the intercourfe between the United States of America and the ifland of Newfoundland, the Marquis of Graham in the chair. Mr. Grenville faid, that, in opening this bufinefs, he had fully explained the whole operation of the bill. There was one claufe, however, which had been fince fuggefted to him, relative to the importation of provifions from America. From authentic information, he believed that the province of Canada alone would be able to fupply Newfoundland with provifions. He had, therefore, introduced a claufe to that effect, referving a power to the King in council, on any failure of the crop in Canada, to iffue fuch order as the exigency of the cafe might require.-The bill was read, and the blanks filled up. Mr. Pitt faid, he had a motion to make, upon a fubject of fome importance, to which he begged gentlemen would give their attention. It had been the unanimous opinion both of the Board of Controul, and of the Court of Directors, in October laft, that the fituation of affairs in India required a re-inforcement of troops from Europe for the Company's fervice. Accordingly, with the full approbation of both Lides, four regiments were raised for that fervice; but now, when they were ready to embark, the Court of Directors, under pretence that the troops were no longer neceflary, refufed to receive them on board their fhips. Upon this point it might be afked, has the Crown a right to fend troops to the British poffeffions in India, if neceffary for their protection, without the confent of the Company? This right is fo obviously poffeffed, that he would not at tempt to prove it. Another question might be asked, upon a point much more doubtful. Had the Crown a right to fend troops to India at the expence of the Company? By an act paffed in 1781, the Company might refufe to pay any troops that were not employed in India at their own requifition; but it did not prevent the Crown from fending troops at its own expence. By the act of 1784, the authority and power of the Court of Directors, in great political matters, and in the management of the Company's revenues, were transferred to the Board of Controul, which might, in his opinion, direct the appro priation of those revenues in the manner that should appear to them the mot conducive to the public advantage. But upon this it appeared there were differ ent legal opinions. To afcertain this matter, therefore, he should move, "that leave be given to bring in a bill, for removing any doubt refpecting the power of the Commiffioners for the affairs of India, to direct the expence of railing, tranfporting, and maintaining, fuch troops as may be judged neceffary for the fecurity of the British territories and poffeffions in the Eaft Indies, to be defrayed out of the revenues arifing from the said territories and poffeffions." Mr. Baring faid, that, if the bill paffed, it would effectually annihilate the Company, as not a veftige of power would remain with them. The late alteration in public affairs had fuperfeded the neceffity of fending out the new regiments; which, if they went to India, would, like the other royal regiments there, dwindle into skeletons. The Secretary at War said, that those regiments, fo far from being skeletons, did not, by the last returns, want more than 220 men. Mr. Baring afferted, that their defi ciencies amounted to 2400. Mr. Fox accounted for this difference of opinion, by faying, that Govern ment deducted from the actual deficiencies the number of troops on their way to India, without making any allow ance for the probable diminutions occafioned by the climate. He spoke at fome length, and with much energy and effect, against the motion. Mr. Dundas maintained, that the Board of Controul had a right, by the act of 1784, to manage the revenues of the Company; but were, at the fame time, refponfible for their conduct. It was undoubtedly, he faid, the duty of the executive Government to defend the territorial poffeflions of India, which were of fuch national importance; and it was equally the duty of the Company to defray the expence. Col. Barré confidered the whole as a mere question of patronage; the contest was, who fhould have the nomination of the officers in thofe regiments-the Crown or the Company. He spoke of the King's new officers fuperfeding the old officers of the Company, and faid, it would be a source of endless disputes. Mr. Pitt spoke in reply; after which his motion was carried without a divi on; and the Houfe adjourned. (To be continued.) 140. Honorary Premiums propofed by the Society of Arts, (concluded from p. 424.) 519 PREMIUMS FOR PROMOTING THE POLITE ARTS. 140. Honorary Premiums for Drarvings. For the beft drawing by fons or grandfons of peers or peereffes of Great-Britain or Ireland; to be produced on the firft fuefday in March, 1789; the gold medal. 141. For the fecond in merit; the filver medal. 142, 143. The fame premiums will be given to daughters, or grand-daughters, of peers or peereffes of Great-Britain or Ireland. 144. Honorary Premiums for Drawings. For the best drawing of any kind, by young gentlemen under the age of twenty-one. To be produced on the first Tuesday in March, 1789; the gold medal. 145. For the next in merit; the filver medal. 146, 147. The fame premiums will be given for drawings by young ladies. N. B. Perfons profeffing any branch of the polite arts, or the fons or daughters of fuch perfons, will not be admitted candidates in thefe claffes. 148. Sculpture. For the model of the buft of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, as large as the life; a filver medallion, in conformity to the will of John Stock, of Hampstead, Efq. To be produced on the third Tuesday in November, 1788. 149. Portrait. For a copy in oil colours of a portrait of the late John Stock of Hampstead, Efq. a filver medallion, To be produced on the third Tuesday in November, 1788. 150. Drawings of Outlines. For an outline after a group or caft in plafter of human figures, by perfons under the age of fixteen, to be produced on the last Tuesday in November, 1788; the greater filver pallet. 151. For the next in merit; the leffer. filver pallet. 152. Drawings of Machines. For the best drawing, by perfons under the age of twentyone years, of a crane by Mr. Bunce, in the Society's Repofitory; the greater filver pallet; to be produced on the third Tuesday in November, 1788. 153. Drawings of Landscapes. For the best drawing after nature, by perfons under twenty-one years of age, to be produced on the third Tuesday in November, 1788; the greater filver pallet. 154. For the next in merit; the leffer filver pallet. 155. Hiftorical Drawings. For the best original historical drawing of five or more human figures; to be produced on the third Tuefday in November, 1788; the gold pallet. 156. For the next in merit; the greater filver pallet. 157. Engraving in the Line Manner. For the best engraved plate in the line manner, twenty inches by fixteen, containing three human figures; the gold pallet and twentyfive guineas. To be produced on the first Tuesday in February, 1789. 159. Surveys of Counties. For an accurate furvey of any county in England or Wales; the gold medal. To be begun after the firft of June 1787, and produced on the last Tuesday in January, 1792. 160. Natural Hiftory. To the author who fhall publish the natural hiftory of any county in England or Wales; the gold medal. The work to be produced on or before the last Tuesday in January, 1789. PREMIUMS FOR ENCOURAGING AND IMPROVING MANUFACTURES. 162. Silk. For five pounds of Silk, produced by one person in England, in the year 1788; the gold medal. One pound, with certificates, to be delivered to the Society on the firft Tuesday in January, 1789. 163. For two pounds; the filver medal. 164. Machine for carding Silk. For a ma chine for carding wafte Silk; to be produced on the first Tuesday in November, 1788; the gold medal, or twenty pounds. 165. Weaving Fishing Nets. For the best fpecimen of netting, for fishing nets, twenty yards long, and fix feet deep, woven in a machine; to be produced on the fecond Tuesday in January, 1789; twenty guineas. 166. Cloth from Hop-falki, or Binds. For not less than twenty-five yards, made in England, the gold medal, or twenty pounds; to be produced on the fecond Tuefday in December, 1788. 169. Paper from raw Vegetables. For tea reams of useful paper from raw vegetable fubftances; ten guineas. One ream and certificates to be produced on the first Tuesday in November, 1788. PREMIUMS FOR INVENTIONS IN MECHANICKS. 171. Tranfit Inftrument. For a cheap and portable tranfit Inftrument, for the purpose of finding the latitudes and longitudes of places; the gold medal, or thirty guineas; to be produced on the last Tuesday in Janu ry, 1789. 172. Gun Harpo ́n. For every whale taken by the gun harpoon; to the person who first trikes fuch fith therewith; two guineas. Certificates of the taking fuch whales in the year 1788; to be delivered on the last Tuesday in December, 1788. 173. Gun for throwing Harpoons. To the perfon who shall produce the best gun for throwing Harpoons; the filver medal, or ten guinea. To be delivered on the fit Tufday in December, 1783. 174. Harpoon to be thrown by a Gun. To the perfon who thall produce the belt harpoon to be thrown by a gun; the filver medal or ten guineas. To be delivered on the firft Tuesday in December, 1788. 175 Cross-bow for throwing Harpoons. To the perfon who thall produce the best crossbow for throwing harpoons; the filver medal, or ten guineas. To be delivered on the firft Tuesday in December, 1788. 176. Grofs-bow Harpoon. For every whale taken by a harpoon fhot from a crofs-bow, to the perfon who firft ftrikes fuch fish therewith; two guineas. Certificates of the taking fuch whales in the year 1788, to be delivered on the last Tuefday in December, 1788. 177. Driving Bolts into Ships. For a model of a machine for driving bolts, particularly copper, into fhips, fuperior to any in ufe; twenty guineas. To be produced on the firft Tuesday in February 1789. 178. Improvement of the Hand Ventilator. For a portable ventilator to be worked by hand, better than any now in ufe; the gold medal, or twenty guineas. To be produced on the laft Tuesday in February, 1789. 179. Cranes for Wharfs. For a model of a Crape for Wharts, fuperior to any in ufe; the gold medal, or twenty guineas. To be produced on the first Tuesday in February, 1789. 185. Metal rope or chain. For a metal rope or chain to work over pullies, and anfwer the purpofe of a hempen rope, of at least two inches diameter; fifty pounds. Certificates of its ufe, and a sample ten yards long, to be produced on the first Tues day in November, 1789. 181. Horizontal Windmill. To the perfon who fhall produce a model of a horizontal windmill on a fcale not lefs than one inch to a foot, fuperior to any in ufe; the gold me dal, or twenty guineas. To be produced on the first Tuesday in February, 1789. 182. Handmill. For the beft-conftructed Handmill for general purposes; the filver medal, or ten guineas. To be produced on the last Tuesday in De. cember, 1788. 183. Machine for raifing Ore. To the perfon wro fhall invent a machine and produce a model for raifing Ore, &c. from mines, at a lefs expence than any in use; the gold medal, or twenty guineas. To be produced on the fecond Tuesday in February, 1789. 184. Machine for raifing Water. For a machine for railing water out of deep wells, fuperior to any in ufe; thirty guineas. Certificates and a model to be produced on the firft Tuesday in February, 1789. 185. Machine for clearing Rivers. For the beft model of a machine, fuperior to any now in ufe, for clearing navigable rivers from weeds, at the least expence; ten guineas. To be produced on the first Tuesday in February, 1789. 186. Securing Buildings from Fire. For an effectual method of extinguishing fires in buildings; twenty guineas. To be produced on the fecond Tuesday in February, 1788. PREMIUMS OFFERED FOR THE ADVANTAGE OF THE BRITISH COLONIES. 187. Nutmegs. For five pounds weight of nutmegs, the growth of his Majefty's dominions in the West Indies; the gold medal, or one hundred pounds. 194. For half a ton of oil and two hundred weight of cakes; the filver medal. Certificates to be produced on the first Tuesday in December, 1789. 189, 190. Bread-Fruit Tree. For the greateth number of plants of one or both fpeces of the bread-truit tree, in a growing flate, not lefs than three of either fpecies; the gold medal. To be produced before the fifteenth of August, 1789. 191. Bed Fruit Tree. For conveying, in the year 1729, trom the islands in the South Sea to the islands in the Weft Indies, fix plants of one or both fpecies of the breadfruit tree in a growing itate; the gold me del. Certificates to be delivered on the fecond Telday in October, 1790. 193. Ol from Corton Seed. For one ton of oil and five hundred weight of cake from the teed; the gol: medal. Cenficates to be produced, with two gal Jons of oil and two dozen of cakes, on the Jal Turfday in November, 1783. 197. Spirit from the Pulp of the Coffee Berry. For diftilling thirty gallons of fpirit, from the pulp of the coffee berry, and producing to the Society one gallon of the fpirit; the gold medal. 198. For fifteen gallons; the filver medal. Certificates to be delivered on the first Tuel day in January, 1789. 199. Senna. For two hundred weight, imported in 1788, the growth of any of the British inlands in the Weft Indies; the gold medal. Certificates to be produced on the first Tuefday in February 1789. 201. Kali for Barilla. For cultivating five acres of land with Spanish Kali for making Barilla; the gold medal. 202. For three acres, the filver medal. Certificates to be produced on the fecond Tucfday in November, 1789. 204. Cafhew gum. For importing into London, in the year 1789, half a ton of the gum; the gold medal or thirty guineas. Twenty pounds to be produced on the fe cond Tuesday in January, 1790. It is required, that the matters for which premiums are offered be delivered in without names, or any intimation to whom they belong; that each particular thing be marked in what manner each claimant thinks fit, fuch claimant fending with it a paper tesled up, having on the outfide a correfponding mark, and on the infide the claimant's fare and addrefs. Communicated, by Order of the Society. SAMUEL MORE. Secretary, |