not far distant when Scotland would be able to shake off the yoke of the noble lord, and to vindicate the insult which had, through his means, been offered to one of the most learned and best beloved men in the country.

him best, I believe know, that if he made the two ends meet at the end of the year, he was well pleased. Much has been said about enmity and illiberality. I believe, sir, that all who know his lordship as well as I do, know him to be as honourable, liberal, and humane a character as ever existed. The subject which the hon. member below (Mr. Fox) urged so much, of his lordship's violence in turning out the dean of faculty, I must take the liberty of saying, is completely unfounded. Lord Melville had no more to do in the turning him out than you had. The dean of faculty, sir, is elected by the majority of the votes of that respectable body, over whom he presides, and no individual, however powerful, could influence them in their choice. I must also touch on something which fell from another hon. member of Ireland below me, who was offended with the right hon. gent. opposite (Mr. Canning) saying that no British lawyer would have so acted. The hon. Irish member I see does not know that we commonly, when speaking of British subjects, call them English, be they English, Scotch, or Irish; he therefore, I hope, will never be offended with the word English being applied in fu-stood that the motion was to be withdrawn, ture to express any of his majesty's subjects, or suppose it can be meant as an allusion to any particular part of the united kingdom.

Mr. Kinnaird said, that it was not his intention to have said any thing on the present question, had it not been in consequence of what had fallen from the hon. member who spoke last, founded on the observation of a right hon. gent. opposite to him (Mr. Canning). That right hon. gent. had said, that no man could reproach lord Melville with being a bitter political adversary. There was a country which was probably known to the right hon. gent. only by the account given of it by Dr. Johnson. In that country (Scotland) lord Melville was known to be a bitter political adversary, and he was therefore the more surprised to hear the hon. member who spoke last, who was a native of Scotland, say, that lord Melville did not exert his influence in that country, in a particular instance, which had been alluded to by an hon. gent. near him. He would ask that hon. gent. or any other member of the house, to step forward and say that lord Melville had not exerted all his political influence, and in consequence had succeeded in turning off from a post of honour in the faculty of advocates, a gentleman who was an honour and an ornament to his profession. He trusted the time was

The Secretary of War (Mr. William Dundas) said, that he did not expect that he should have felt himself called on to make any observations in the course of agitating the present question. He was aware that it would shew very bad taste in him to interfere, and therefore it was not his intention to have done so. Here, however, he felt himself called on by the hon. gent. who had just sat down. How had the hon. gent. found out that lord Melville was a bitter political adversary? Was it by going to his country mansion, and dwelling with him for weeks or months at a time, by mixing in his convivial moments, that he had acquired that knowledge? Had the hon. gent. only gone to the noble lord in his moments of conviviality, now to rise up against him in the hour of his need, when the hon. gent. was not called on, when, in fact, it was in a manner under

and that only for the sake of introducing extraneous observations and allegations against him? On such conduct he knew he needed to make no comment. He was conscious that the generous feelings in the breasts of Englishmen would speak more forcibly against such a practice than any thing he could say. With respect to the gentleman who had been deprived of the office of dean of the faculty of advocates, the case had been altogether misrepresented. What was the fact? That gentleman attended a meeting of the friends of the people in Edinburgh, when democratic principles were attempted to be disseminated throughout the country ; his conduct excited the indignation of the advocates, and animated by the esprit du corps, as he might call it, they unanimously concurred in depriving that gentleman of an office, of which there was no former instance of exclusion.

Mr. Fox begged leave to remark, that whatever had fallen from his hon. friend near him (Mr. Kinnaird), had been extorted by the remarks of the right hon. gent. opposite (Mr. Canning).

Mr. Kinnaird thought that the right hon. gent. had effectually displayed his bad taste in attacking him in the manner he had done. Was he to be reproached with ingratitude or any improper-feeling, because living in

the same county with lord Melville, no stranger to lord Melville's agreeable convivial qualities, he had occasionally mixed in company with him, and had even been pleased with his society; he had now, when called on by his parliamentary duty, discharged that duty with fidelity, though to the exposure of any thing blameable in lord Melville's conduct? The hon. gent. begged pardon of the house for noticing this indecent reproach which had been thrown out against him. In doing so, he meant only to put himself right with the house, without any regard whatever to the right hon. gent.

Mr. Ellison begged pardon of the house while he performed his duty in shortly stating his sentiments on this subject. He had come down the other night, as he had today, with every wish to check peculation, and with every intention to follow up, the resolutions of the house, as far as justice might seem to warrant. Expecting that the whole crime would be made out before the house ought to be called on to pass sentence, he on the former night voted for the committee, thinking that any sentence before the gravamen was made out, was worse than any punishment which the house might afterwards feel itself called on to inflict. The house, however, having determined that there was no necessity for a committee in the first instance, he came down this night with a determination to lend every aid in his power to bring the guilty to punishment, to pledge himself to assist any class of men to whatever party they might belong, who who would institute an enquiry, and punish abuses in every department.

tired! He ought to have been dismissed as well as Mr. Trotter. The hon. gent., however, had been arraigned, as being nearly connected with sir Charles Grey, and also with sir John Jervis, with having omitted to recollect that the noble lord whom he now accused, had been the advocate and supporter of the two hon. characters. It never, however, entered into his mind that those two persons did owe any obligation to lord Melville. He had never considered lord Melville as their advocate. But, supposing it to have been the case, what was meant to be inferred from the fact? Was it to be alleged that the support which lord Melville then gave his two noble friends was a job, and that he (Mr. Whitbread) was now bound to do a job for lord Melville ? Sir Charles Grey then stood on his trial. He was acquitted, and was twice thanked by that house for his conduct. Lord Melville, it may be said, moved for those thanks. Be it so. But would it be said he did so without thinking them merited ? Far more, would it be urged, because lord Melville chose on that occasion to abandon his duty, that the hon. member and an hon. friend of his (Mr. Grey) were now called on to desert their duty? The right hon. gent. opposite had given a promise that night, that lord Melville should never again hold any office of trust in the management of public affairs; but might not his majesty change his advisers, and might not lord Melville be then again admitted into his councils? What means had the king of knowing what was done in that house? Had the right hon. gent. communicated their resolutions to his Mr. Whitbread hoped it would not be ne- majesty? That could not be ; else he must cessary for him to make any apology for have been dismissed, and would not have offering a few observations on what had been allowed to resign. The hon. member been said. He had been arraigned by two felt anxious that the house should stand high right hon. gentlemen, both this night and in the public opinion; he felt doubly so, on the former night, for the way in which after the proceedings of the other night, he had opened the business. On the former lest it should be again let down. He begnight he had been accused of too much pas-ged to be allowed to state the way in which sion in his statement. As he was conscious matters stood on the morning when they last of feeling nothing of the kind in his mind, adjourned. Many members were anxious he hoped the right hon. gent. would do him that the concluding motion should then be the justice to suppose that he had miscon- made. He intimated his intention of bringceived him in this respect. As to his state-ing it forward that very night. Nothing fell ment of this night, he denied that he had from him indicative of any intention to reblamed lord Melville for tendering in his re-linquish his motion; he only wished to postsignation. He thought, on the contrary, pone the moving it for a few hours on acthat noble lord was right in retiring; but count of the exhausted state of the house. he must be of opinion that ministers were The right hon. gent., without assigning any reprehensible in allowing him. There was reason for the additional delay, proposed an t is difference between him and Mr. Trotter; adjournment for thirty-six hours. This was Mr. Trotter had been dismissed; he had re-objected to by his hon. friend (Mr. Fox),

unless it was understood that in the inter-ever, could not help having also a high val no public business should take place; respect for the authority and opinion of the and the right hon. gent. with a countenance commissioners of naval enquiry; they said, which he (Mr. W.) should not easily forget, and the hon. member said too, that Wilson said, upon every view of the case, it would was an improper person to continue in his' be better to adjourn. Could it, however, present or in any other situation of public be in the contemplation of the house, that trust.-The hon. gent. said he could not, this delay was for the purpose of allowing after what had fallen from hon. friends of lord Melville time to resign? If any mem- his, and from other hon. gentlemen, whose bers, however, found themselves taken by support he was anxious to procure, refuse, surprise, he should withdraw his motion, in the mean time, to withdraw his motion. but at the same time he knew that was not He was anxious, however, lest the public a thing calculated to satisfy the public. He should suppose that in passing their former said so, not in any spirit of resentment resolutions, they had only adopted in a against lord Melville, as if this resolution heat what they were unwilling to follow were necessary to make him feel his situa- up; he, therefore, had to suggest what he tion. If he had any feelings, and the hon. hoped would meet the opinion of every member entertained no doubt he had, no-gentleman present, that a copy of the rething could ring them more than the reso- solutions of that house, of the former night, lutions already passed by that house. He be laid before his majesty without any comwas conscious the sense of the house went ment. By this means he conceived that with him, that it was necessary that lord the house and the public might be saMelville should never again hold any office tisfied that lord Melville could not, with of trust. All, therefore, that he desired any consistency, be restored to any office was to find out some way of entering this of emolument or trust under the crown. opinion on the journals of the house, and This, he thought, was the best mode that the motion had on that account been of conciliating different opinions.-He withdrawn. The parallels which had been then moved, "that his original motion set up as to the motions against ministers be withdrawn;" which being agreed to, being allowed to drop on their resignation, the hon. gent. proposed, "that the resodid not at all apply. They were made on lutions of Monday be entered, as read;" the ground of incapacity; this was founded which was also agreed to. His next moon a delinquency. He knew that in com- tion was, "that these resolutions be laid mon cases, to be expunged from the list of the before his majesty." This motion was privy council was no disgrace. It had oc- agreed to, nem. con. curred to his hon. friend (Mr. Fox). The Mr. Whitbread again rose, and said, that right hon. gent. then in the plenitude of he thought the most solemn mode of carryhis power, had recommended it as a mea-ing such an important step into execution sure proper for his majesty's adoption. He ought to be adopted on the present occahad, however, since retracted that opinion, sion; on that account he should propose, and had recommended to his majesty not" that these resolutions be laid before his only to restore him to that honour, but to majesty by the whole house." promote him to his highest confidence. He The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that had asked pardon for his offence before he understood the hon. gent. to have meant God and man. But, could ever such a re- that the resolutions should be laid before his commendation avail in favour of lord Mel-majesty without any comment, and in the ville, after the resolutions adopted by that most simple form. house?—He was happy to understand that Mr. Whitbread replied, that it was his the Bank was not so much to blame as he intention they should be presented without had supposed; and also to learn, by what comment, but not without form. He fell from the right hon. gent. (Mr. Canning), quoted several precedents to prove the prothat the mode of conducting business in priety of the mode of proceeding which his office was entirely changed, such would be proposed, and observed, that even had always happen when principals began to do no precedent existed, that course ought their duty. But, why, he must ask, was to be pursued which gave most weight and Trotter dismissed, and Wilson not? The dignity to the transaction.-The motion right hon. gent. had said, Wilson was a was then agreed to, and it was ordered deserving officer, With all respect for the that such of the members as were of his assertion of the right hon. gent. he, how-majesty's most hon. privy council should VOL. IV.

2 B

wait on his majesty, to know when he would be graciously pleased to receive the

same.

tending in the house of peers, pursuant to a summons by the Black Rod, on his return, informed the house that the royal. assent had been given by commission to the Irish Militia Volunteer bill, the Irish Spirit Permit bill, the London Bread Assize bill, Boyer's Lottery bill, and several pri

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that the hon. gent. had already given a general notice of some motions he intended to make after the recess; he should wish to be informed, if possible, on what day he in-vate bills.-Lord Stopford informed the tended to bring them forward.

Mr. Whitbread said, that on the very first day after the conclusion of the holidays, he meant to move that instructions be given to the attorney-general to proceed legally against lord Melville and Mr. Trotter; and also, that an enquiry should be instituted for the investigation of those parts of the 10th report which had not been already considered by the house. There was one circumstance which he only wished to notice, though he did not mean to be deemed too severe in so doing. Ile merely meant to suggest to that hon. and learned gent. (the attorney-general) that it might be proper to introduce a restraining bill, to prevent the noble lord making away with his property. He did not mean, however, by stating this, to take the house by surprise.

house from the bar that his majesty had been waited on with the address of last night, and had been graciously pleased to appoint 4 o'clock this day to be waited on therewith.-A new writ was ordered for the borough of Malton, in the room of the hon. C. L. Dundas, who since his elec tion had accepted the stewardship of his majesty's Chiltern Hundreds.-The Prize Courts bill, and the Property Duty bill, passed through a committee pro formá, were then reported, ordered to be printed as amended, and the reports to be severally taken into further consideration on the 30th instant.

[PAYMASTER OF THE FORCES REGULA TION BILL.] Mr. Rose prefaced his mo tion for leave to bring in a bill to amend the 23d of the king, as far as it relates to the regulation of the office of payThe Chancellor of the Exchequer hinted, master of his majesty's forces, by stat that it was not impossible his majesty might ing briefly the objects he had in view in intimate his wish to receive the resolutions bringing forward this measure. He had before the adjournment. The extent of the looked into the reports of the commissioadjournment had usually been from Thurs-ners of accounts, and found that no acday to Monday se'nnight; but he should counts had been passed from the office of propose that, in this instance, it might be the paymaster previous to the passing of from Thursday to Thursday fortnight. that bill; the provisions of that bill were Mr. Serjeant Best gave notice, that on an sufficient to secure the passing of the ac early day after the recess, he should sub-counts; but they gave to the public no mit a motion to the house founded on the 11th report of the commissioners of naval enquiry.Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

means of compelling the production of vouchers, or of enforcing the payment of arrears that might accumulate in the hands of the paymasters; in consequence of which, considerable risk was incurred by the pubThursday, April 11. lic, from the length of time that often [MINUTES.] The royal assent was given elapsed before the accounts were audited. by commission to the Irish Militia En-One of his objects, therefore, was, to enlisting bill, the Irish Spirits Permit bill, force the production of vouchers to the the Bread Assize, and Boyer's Lottery bill. pay-office, and to give process to the public The Lord Chancellor stated, that very shortly after the recess, he should move to appoint particular days for the delivery of judgment upon such causes as stood over for ultimate decision,The bills upon the table were forwarded in their respective stages. -Adjourned to Thursday the 25th inst.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Thursday, April 11. [MINUTES.] The Speaker came down to the house at three o'clock, and after at

for the recovery of any arrears that may remain in the hands of the paymasters. Another was, to separate the acting from the retired or removed paymasters. There were many provisions in the existing bill which were found inconvenient or unnecessary. Another object consequently was, by omitting these parts, to accommodate the provisions of the bill to the practice of the office, under improved regulations, adopted since the passing of the bill. The measure he proposed he had prepared

during the summer, and had since submitted bill). It was his intention, if present, th to the consideration of the auditors of have made some observations, which, from the public accounts, and to the war depart- the accuracy of his information, might be ment of his majesty's government. It had of national advantage. It might perhaps received the approbation of both, and he be irregular to bring the subject then bewas sure it was now in a state in which fore the house, but he hoped that whatever he could confidently present it to the regarded essentially the interest and comhouse, the end proposed in it being pre-fort of the mass of the people would alcisely the same as the hon. framer of the ways have their lordships' support and former bill had in view, namely, to pre-hearty concurrence. It was truly lamentvent any misapplication of the public mo-able, that, at a period like the present, ney. If the house should agree to his mo- there should exist any men who endeavour. tion, he proposed to introduce a bill, and ed to amass fortunes at the expence of the after the first reading to have it printed, community, but particularly at the expence and the second reading fixed for this day of the poor, who were, at present, bearing three weeks, in order to afford time to with cheerfulness their share of the burthens gentlemen to make themselves acquainted of the war; but this was unfortunately the with its provisions. The former act having case, which he could not more clearly il been entered as read, leave was given to lustrate or satisfactorily prove to the house, bring in the bill; which Mr. Rose brought than by assuring their lordships, that the up, read a first time, and ordered to be quartern loaf was sold in Cheltenham, and printed, and read a second time this day many other large and populous towns three weeks. through which he lately passed, at one shilLord H. Petty observed, that more than a ling, when it was sold in London at 1s. 4d. month ago he had moved for copies of seve- The difference was nothing to a man of førral depositions relative to the gaol of Kil-tune, but to a hard-working man it was of mainham,and they were not yet forthcoming. the first importance, and ought to be reHe was surprised to find so much difficulty duced to its proper standard, if possible. in obtaining papers from Ireland. A simi-He had made the strictest enquiries respectlar circumstance had lately occurred, with ing the cause of this extravagant differrespect to other papers on a different sub-ence, and found that it was artificial. He ject, in which seven weeks had elapsed, stated this with the utmost confidence, bewithout any return being made. He should, cause he was sure of his information, and therefore, move" that the return for the could prove the fact. It was the practice papers he had moved for should be made of certain millers and mealmen, who reforthwith." Ordered. The house then ad-sided about 15 or 20 miles from London, journed to this day fortnight, and the right many of them possessing from 200,000l. to hon. the speaker, followed by several mem-300,000l. to receive expresses from town bers, immediately went up to St. James's with the resolutions of Monday last.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Thursday, April 25.

[MINUTES.] Several private bills were brought up from the commons, and read a first time. On the motion of the bishop of Oxford, the committee on the Universities Advowson bill was postponed till Monday, for which day the lords were ordered to be summoned. Mr. Johnson, from the Irish secretary of state's office, presented an account of the State of the Gaols in Ireland, during the year 1804.

[PRICE OF BREAD.] The Earl of Suffolk rose, and expressed his regret, that unavoidable business had obliged him to be absent during the progress of a late bill through the house (the Bread Assize

respecting the state of the markets, according to which returns they either sent or kept back grain and flour, as it best suited their purpose: He wished to be understood as not at all wishing to cast any odium upon, or excite public indignation against a particular description of people; but he could not, at the same time, refrain from communicating to their lordships the information which he had collected respecting this most serious and important matter. He thought it high time for the legislature' also to consider how the assize of bread was struck and regulated in general. He had reason to believe and be convinced, from the best authority on the subject, that if government established flour magazines at convenient distances from town, the high price of bread would be soon lowered, and always kept in due proportion to the quantity of grain in the country. It was really