POLITICAL MISCELLANY,

COMPREHENDING

REFLECTIONS, STATE-DOCUMENTS, OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS, FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE, &c.

"COME THE THREE CORNERS OF THE WORLD IN ARMS

AND WE SHALL SHOCK THEM: NOUGHT SHALL MAKE US RUE,
IF ENGLAND TO ITSELF DO PROVE BUT TRUE."

SHAKS,

THE conduct of government in obtaining the relinquishment

of the treaty of Madrid, by which France proposed to make serious encroachments upon the Portuguese territories in Guyana, is an additional proof to the country of the good faith, wisdom, and firmness of his Majesty's new ministers. This unsolicited attention, for such we understand it to have been, to the interests of the sole power, which remained to the last moment uniformly faithful to us during the whole of the late arduous contest, is highly honourable to the character of the British nation, and must be a solid pledge to all Europe of the value of an alliance with Great Britain. The republican government has also, in consenting that this treaty should be annulled, given a satisfactory instance of its pacific dispositions, which is the more impressive, as the treaty had been sanctioned, according to the articles of the constitution, by the tribunate and legislative body.

The proposed treaty of commerce between Great Britain and France has been long under consideration; but it necessarily embraces so many important questions, and branches out into so many subordinate points, not destitute of interest, that we are inclined to think its final arrangement will be protracted for some months after the signing of the definitive treaty.

We learn with pleasure, that it is in the contemplation of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER to submit to parliament, soon after the recess, the propriety of making very considerable alterations and modifications in the Income Tax. This system of taxation, which was imperiously dictated by the exigencies of the war, is marked by many imperfections and inequalities. The scale of income not only commences at too low a rate, but the principles on which it is formed are evidently unjust. Its operation unfortunately affects those whose claims to total exemption in many instances, and in others to a more moderate ratio of imposition, are undeniable. It is, in every point of view, particularly dangerous to a commercial country, in which credit constitutes the grand basis of trade, manufactures, and mercantile speculation.

As

1801.]

AND IMPERIAL REGISTER.

As it was, when first proposed, and in all the subsequent stages, explicitly laid on as a war tax, the motives and reasons for its imThe posure are at an end, and the tax itself should cease. only question is, whether the interest of fifty-six millions, the sum for which the tax is pledged, shall be defrayed by annual taxes, or whether the nation shall bear the income duty for a number of years, perhaps equal to that during which the war has lasted? The sacrifices already made have been unparalleled, and it would be a folly to deny that they have affected the public in a very material degree. This is the moment to alleviate the burthens which the nation has lo long borne, and continues to bear, with dignified fortitude and patriotic resignation: and we have no difficulty in maintaining, that such a measure is a duty to the performance of which both the executive and legislative powers are irrevocably pledged.

The winding up of the war, and an increased peace establishment, must indeed be productive of considerable expence; but, on the other hand, we can confidently look to the multiplication of our resources, and the consequent increase of ability for the payment of taxes, in the restoration of peace, in the accumula tion of the sinking fund, and in the progressive extinction of the national debt.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY, NOV. 23.

COUNSEL was heard at considerable length in behalf of both parties in the case of Wilkie against Greig.-Adjourned.

Nov. 24.

Received from the Commons the Lottery Act amending Bill, the Molasses Distillation, and two Naturalization Bills, which were read a first time.-Adjourned.

NOV. 25.

The final decision in the case of Wilkie v. Greig, which was expected to take place to-day, was deferred until Friday next. Counsel were heard in the Appeal, Lee v. Murdock, Robertson, and Co.

The Molasses Distillery Bill, and Amended Lottery Bill, went into a Committee.-Adjourned.

NOV. 26.

Counsel being finally heard in the case of Lee against Murdock, Robertson and Co. their Lordships, on the motion of the Lord Chancellor, reversed the decree of the Court of Session. Adjourned.

Lord

NOV. 27.

Lord Carysfort was introduced, and took the oaths and his seat as a Peer of the United Kingdom.

The Bills on the table were read a stage each.
Adjourned till Tuesday.

DEC. 1.

On the motion of the Lord Chancellor, the judgment of the Court of Session, in the Appeal, Wilkie v. Greig, was reversed. The Bills on the table were forwarded one stage; and several private Bills were brought up from the Commons.-Adjourned to Thursday.

DEC. 3.

The Militia Bill, Poor Badge Bill, Naval Stores Bill, and the Foreign Correspondence Bill, were brought up from the Commons, and read a first time.-Adjourned.

DEC. 4.

The Counsel having finished their pleadings in the Scotch Appeal, Johnstone v. Scott, upon the motion of the Lord Chancellor, the judgment of the House was postponed to Thursday next. The Bills on the table being gone through, in their different stages, the House was adjourned to Monday next.

DEC. 7.

Mr. ALEXANDER brought up several Bills from the Commons, which were read a first time.-Adjourned.

DEC. 8.

The case of Stuart against Miller was deferred until the second day of causes after the Christmas recess. The Bills on the table were forwarded one stage. -Adjourned.

DEC. 9.

The Foreign Correspondence Bill and Militia Bill were read a third time and passed.

The House, in a Committee, made various alterations in the standing orders relative to private Bills.-Adjourned.

DEC. 10.

Judgment on the Scotch Appeal, Johnstone against Scotts, was further postponed till after the recess.

In the cause Allen against the Magistrates of Ruglen, the decree of the Court of Sessions was ordered to be affirmed.

Several Bills were brought from the Commons: those which had not been presented to the House before were read a first time, and those on the table forwarded in their different stages.-Adjourned.

DEC. 11.

His Majesty's assent was given, by Commission, to the Militia Bill, Foreign Correspondence Bill, Lottery Mistake Bill, Corn Importation Bill, Naval Stores Bill, Exchequer Bills Pending Bill, Exchequer Bills Loan Bill, five Inclosure and Road Bills, and eight Bills of Naturalization.

The Committee on the Poor Badge Bill, which stood for today, was put off until after the recess.-Adjourned.

DEC. 14.

Their lordships met at an early hour, and read a third time, and passed the organzine silk and flax bill, the rice and potatoe starch bill, and the Irish distillery bill.-Adjourned.

DEC. 15.

His royal highness the duke of Cambridge was introduced with the usual ceremonies, by his royal brothers, the dukes of York and Clarence, and took the oaths and his seat.

The commons being in attendance below the bar, his majesty's assent was given, by commission, to the organzine silk and flax bill, the Irish distillery bill, the rice and potatoe starch bill, and one private bill.-Their lordships then adjourned to Monday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. Nov. 23.

Mr. Sturgess brought up a bill for relieving overseers from penalties to which they are liable, in giving parochial aid to persons who do not wear badges. Read a first time.

The house then went into a committe of supply, in which seve ral sums, paid to different persons out of the civil list, and not made good by parliament, were voted. viz.

3001. For different erections and buildings, connected with both houses of parliament.

4001. 10s. For publishing the average price of sugar and rice in the London gazette.

100l. To persons for preparing abstracts of the population of Great Britain.

1351. 14s. For statements on the same subject,

15001. For the expence of the Thames police office.

500l. For enquiries into the mendicity of the metropolis. 3541. To George Rose, Esq. for the expence of the office of parliament.

27011. 9s. To lord Walsingham, as chairman of the committee of the house of peers.

991. 11s. 6d. For the expence of the committee appointed to enquire into the state of Cold Bath-fields prison.

22071. For the accounts of the clerks of parliament.

4711. 14s. For certain repairs to both houses.

5000l. To Mr. Wyatt, architect, for plans, public works, &c.

and

14,0901. Issued in conseqence of addresses not yet made good by parliament.

NOV. 24.

Lord Hawkesbury announced his majesty's gracious compliance with the address of that house, relative to laying before them a copy of the treaty between his majesty and the sublime porte, which he had given directions should be laid before them; and it was presented accordingly, and ordered to lie on the table

VOL. 2. No. 12.

31

The

The house having resolved itself into a committee on the bill for regulating the duties payable on spirits distilled from molasses, a desultory conversation took place, in which it was observed by several gentlemen, that the alarm which had gone abroad relative to the effect which the re-working of the distilleries would have on the price of grain, was entirely fallacious and erroneous, as, from authentic documents before the house, it appeared that the distilleries did not consume one twentieth, on an average, of the annual produce, in years of plenty like the present. Report ordered.Adjourned.

NON. 25.

Mr. Pierrepoint took the oaths and his seat as member for Nottinghamshire, in the room of his brother, deceased.

INDIA TRADE.

Sir W. Pulteney rose, pursuant to notice, to bring forward his motion upon the trade of the East India company. The substance of his motion related to the paper which had been laid before the house at the end of the last session, and after a speech of some length concluded by moving, that a committee be appointed to take into consideration the papers laid before the house last session, relative to the proceedings of the East India company upon the trade between India and Europe, referred to in the said papers.

In the further progress of the debate, the motion of Sir W. Pulteney was supported by Mr. Jones, Lord Glenbervie, and Sir H. Pulteney; and opposed by Mr. Tierney and Mr. Thornton.→→ Sir W. Pulteney having then replied, the previous question was carried without a division, in consequence of which the original motion was lost.-Adjourned.

Nov. 26.

Mr. Newbold moved, that, owing to an inaccuracy, the bill for protecting overseers from certain penalties, be withdrawn. He also moved for leave to bring in a new bill, which was granted. The bill was then brought in, and read a first and second time.

The secretary at war brought up a bill to do away doubts respecting the ensuing ballot for the militia.

Mr.Alderman Curtis gave notice, that on Monday next he should move for leave to bring in a bill to repeal two acts of the 37th and 38th of Geo. III. relative to the assize of bread.

Mr. Sheridan wished his hon. friend (Sir F. Burdett) to postpone till after the recess, his promised motion of enquiry into the conduct of the late administration. A number of gentlemen had, to his knowledge, leit town, and as it was a motion of great importance and interest, it ought to have as full a discussion as possible.

A conversation ensued, and Sir F. Burdett gave notice, that upon the first day of the meeting of parliament after the recess he should fix the day for his motion, and he should appoint an early one.-Adjourned.

NOV. 27.

Leave was given to bring in a bill for the erection of a new goal at Rochester, in the county of Kent.