It was determined to have no ecclesiastical establishment whatever, nor any distinction of rank."

Witness being asked as to the practicability of Ireland being a separate state from Great Britain, when she had not means to build a navy, and must be dependent on England for the mere article of coals? he replied "that he thought Ireland fully able to stand alone as an independent republic; her wealth and population had infinitely increased within the last century, and though she might and would for ten or twelve years be much crip pled by the fleets and power of England, yet the strength of the British navy would soon fail when Ireland ceased to act with Great Britain; and as to the article of fuel, the extension of inland navigation would soon remove the necessity of importation."

It appeared by the concurrent testimony of all these witnesses, that as every individual concealed his own arms, no depot or collection of arms for the union existed.

Articles agreed upon for the Exchange of Prisoners, between the British and French Commissioners,

I. An exchange of prisoners of war shall immediately take place between the two countries, man for man, and rank for rank: and the French government shall begin, by sending over to England, in a French cartel vessel, a number of British prisoners, with the proportion of five officers to one hundred men; upon the arrival of whom in England, the British government will cause an equal number, of the same ranks, of French prisoners, to be

sent, in an English cartel vessel, France. The British government shall then cause to be sent to France, in an English cartel vessel, a number of French prisoners, with the sante proportion of officers, as abovementioned, for whom the French government shall return, by a French cartel vessel, the same number and ranks of British prisoners. The ex change shall be continued according to the same alternative plan, untilone or the other of the two governments shail think proper to put a stop thereto; and, in that case, the party so

discontinuing is to return, without delay,whatever number of prisoners may appear to be against it on the balance of the exchanges that may to that time have taken place if consequence of this cartel.

II. In order to prevent any diff culties that might otherwise arise from the diversity of ranks of officers in the service of the two countries, it is hereby agreed that the table hereto annexed, of corresponding ranks in the English and French services, shall uniformly be attended to by both parties, and that officers, on either side, of ranks of which there shall be no corresponding of ficer or officers in possession of the other power, shall be exchanged for their equivalent, according to the scale of value in men specified in the said table.

III. All the prisoners on both sides to be exchanged by this cartel shall be selected, according to their ranks, by the respective agents of the countries to which they belong, residing at Paris or in London, with out any interference whatever on the part of the government in whose possession they may be.

IV. It being stipulated, that the British prisoners shall be sent to Eng.

land

and in French vessels, and the French prisoners conveyed to France n British vessels, it is hereby agreed, that the whole expence atending such vessels shall be defray d by the respective countries by which they may be employed; and hat the prisoners, during their pasage, shall be furnished with the ollowing daily allowances, viz.

British Prisoners.

Bread

Beef

23.

1

1

French Prisoners.

Bread

Beef

Beer 2 quarts. A table of which allowances is to be affixed to the mast of each cartel vessel.

V. All prisoners on both sides, not being officers, who, from wounds, age, or infirmities, are rendered in capable of farther service, and also all boys, under twelve years of age, shall be forthwith returned to their respective countries, without regard to their numbers or equality of exchange; but the selection of persons, of the descriptions mentioned in this article, is to be left entirely to the agents and surgeons of the government of the country in which they are detained.

VI. All surgeons, surgeons' mates, pursers or aides commissaires), pursers' stewards (or commis aux vivres), secretaries, chaplains, and schoolmasters, being the classes comprehended under the denomination of non-combatants; and also passengers not of the sea or land service, in whatever ships taken, shall not be considered as prisoners, but shall be immediately set at liberty, to return to their respective countries

ficers to each hundred men, of privateers of fourteen carriage-guns and upwards, shall either be permitted to return to their respective countries on parole, not to serve until regularly exchanged, or shall have the usual indulgence of parole granted to them in the country in which they are detained. And it is agreed, that whatever officers may, by virtue of this article, return to their respective countries, shall be suffered to depart from their present places of confinement, to Dover or Gravelines, as soon as conveniently may be after the signing of the present cartel; and also that all officers residing on parole in their own countries, shall signify to the agent of the country to which they are prisoners, their respective places of residence, which they are on no ac count to change, without first intimating their intention to the said agent; and they are, moreover, at the expiration of every two months, to transmit, to the said agent, a certificate of the particular places where they may reside, signed by the magistrates or municipal officers of such places.

VIII. The settlement of the balance now existing on the account of

such

such exchanges of prisoners of war of both countries, as have taken place from the commencement of hostilities to the day of the date hereof, shall be deferred until the determination of the present war; but it is clearly understood, that all officers on both sides, who have been released and permitted to return to their respective countries on parole, since the commencementof the war, and who have not hitherto been re

gularly exchanged, are not to sen: in any capacity, either civil or m litary, until they shall have been duly exchanged for prisoners equal ranks, according to their c ginal engagements.

Done at the transport-c London, the 13th day September, 1798. Rupert George, John Shank, Ambrose Serle, John March. Nion.

French.

Vice-admiral commanding in chief, having the temporary rank of admiral.

Vice-admiral.

Rear-admiral.

Chief of a squadron.
Captain of a ship of the line.

Captain of a frigate.

Lieutenant of a ship of the line. Ensign of a ship of the line.

Midshipman, master of a merchant vessel, and captain of a privateer.

Lieutenant of a merchant vessel or

privateer, and all petty officers. Seamen, volunteers, and others, being considered as common sea

men.

Value in M

English. Admiral commanding in chief,

15

Post-captain of three years standing, whose rank answers to that of colonel. Ditto, having rank of lieut.-colonel, Masters and commanders, or captains not post, having rank of major, amongst whom are included captains of fire-ships, who are masters and commanders, Lieutenant, without distinction, Ô Lieutenant, when all the French shall be exchanged, and in default of English lieutenants, midshipmen, Midshipman, master of amerchant vessel, and captain of a pri

French.

English

Value

in Men.

Customs.

The first office to which their attention has been turned, is that of thecustoms, in which various alterations and modifications are proposed to take place, the most material of which are the following: 1st. The abolition of many of the fees taken at present, particularly on out-door business. 2d. The entire abolition of holidays in that office. 3d. The regular weekly transmission of moneys from Scotland to the hands of the receiver-general of the customs of England.

For some of these beneficial pur

poses instructions are given to the solicitor to prepare a bill for the inspection of Parliament. Recompense is, however, to be made to the present incumbents, for any loss that may be sustained by the

alteration.

Excise.

The second object is the office of excise. Here the primary consideration is the great expence of law charges, particularly those incurred for the last year, which, according to accounts produced, amounted to upwards of 12,000. the solici tor's emoluments on which are stated at 5,826/. 1s. 1d. To this article of expenditure particular attention is, in future, to be paid. In this department, likewise, much dissatisfaction is expressed, from the detention of the remittances from Scotland, together with some particular modes for the prevention of

the

the like in future. Respecting the abolition of holidays in this office, nothing is yet recommended.

Stamp-Office.

The first object of their lordships attention in this office, appears to be the great increase of incidental expences, particularly for Scotland. The next appears to be an order from their lordships, that in future all persons accepting places in this office, shall do their duty personally. To which are to be added, various economical variations respecting the emoluments of stamp distributors. In short, it is recommended that a complete alteration shall take place in the management of this branch of revenue; a bill for which purpose is to be brought into parliament.

agreeably to the recommendation of the finance committee.

The Hawkers and Pedlars, and the Hackney-Coach-Offices areliks wise proposed to be abolished, and placed under the commissioners for taxes.

Pension-Duties.

Some alterations are proposed i be made in the receipts of the pension-duties, to prevent the retention of those duties so long a time in the hands of the receivers as at presert.

Treasury-Office.

The only alteration in this office, is the total abolition of the new year's gifts in future; positive ci ders to which effect have been issued by the commissioners.

The offices of the Secretary of State, and the Admiralty, are to be brought under the consideration of parliament at an early period.

Transport-Office.

One source of emolument, namely, a per-centage on a ship's final settlement of her accounts, isordered to be abolished.

The arrangements in the WarOffice are postponed till the meeting of parliament, as are those of the Ordnance.