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the Consumption of Spirituous Liquors; the other volume contained various Anti-Reform Pamphlets, some modern Sermons on Passive Obedience, and Plans for Lotteries every Month, to be drawn daily throughout the Year, (Lent time and Sundays, and the 30th of January excepted). Before Mr. VAN could replace his books, the Noble Lord rose from his chair, and assuming a parliamentary air, pulled an Irish newspaper, printed in 1790, from his pocket, and moved that the title of the said paper and certain extracts therefrom should be read. His Lordship thrust the reading of it upon Mr. W-B-F-E, who read the title as follows:

"The Belfast News-Letter, June the 4th."

"God save the King," said Mr. C-NN-G; Ministers looked at each other and cried, "Amen!"-" Go "on," said the Noble Lord. Mr. W-B-F-E proceeded to read from the Belfast News-Letter, as follows: "We are desired and authorised to inform the public, through the medium of this paper, that at the "commencement of the election for the County of "Down, on Saturday last, the following TEST, "which, with the signatures of the Hon. E-w—D W-D and the Hon. R-B-T S-w—T”————— his Lordship interrupted the reading by calling out "that's me!"-Mr. W-B-F-E resumed his reading,

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Saturday last, the following TEST (which with the signature of the Hon. E-w-D W-D and the Hon. "R-B-T SWT is left at this office,) was proposed, by a very respectable Gentleman, to three of "the candidates: the Hon. E-w-D W-D and the "Hon. R-B-T S-w-T signed the same as under"neath, and Lord H-LLSB-R-H refused.":

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Mr. ORANGE P-L interrupted Mr. W-B-F-E. He protested against reading the TEST. He thought such reading might be taken as in the nature of administering an unlawful oath.

Mr. C-NN-G rose to order. He was afraid the Honourable Member, much as he respected him, was liable to a preminure for barely supposing that His

Majesty's Ministers could either be united men, or do any thing illegal. The Noble Lord had taken the TEST. What then? he had no objection to take it perhaps, if it even embraced high treason and cotton twist! (Loud and long continued cheering.)—But what did his Lp do? It was well known there were certain oaths administered in Ireland, which, being kept, hanged the persons who took them; whereas those who perjured themselves made their fortunes by their loyalty. He dared any body to say, that his Lp had either perjured himself, or would be hanged; but his L -p's loyalty was undoubted; and as all present were friends, he would not interrupt the amiable member whilst reading the paper, which he was sorry to see in his hands.

Mr. W-B-F-E then read from the Belfast Newsletter

THE TEST.

"We will rigidly attend our duty in Parliament, "and be governed by the instructions of our con"stituents.

"We will in and out of the House, with all our "abilities and influence, promote the success of

"A Bill for amending the Representation
of the People.

"A Bill for preventing Pensioners from
Sitting in Parliament.

"A Bill for limiting the number of Place-
men and Pensioners, and the amount
of Pensions.

"A Bill to Protect the Personal Safety of
the Subject.

(Signed) EDWARD Ward.
ROBERT STEWART."

The reading of the TEST had a visible effect upon the Noble Lord's feelings. A recollection of former times came over him. He frequently interrupted Mr. W-B-F-E, by crying out, "I'm a Whig-I'm a

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Whig!" When the TEST was concluded, his Lordship's friends groaned, and Mr. W-BFE read again, from the same Paper, the following:

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UNITED MENS' DECLARATION.

We are embarked in a much more interesting and glorious cause than our success as individuals"we are called forth as instruments in your hands "to emancipate the country.

(Signed) EDWARD WARD,

.

ROBERT STEWART."

"I say again that's me," exclaimed the Noble L-d.

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The company again groaned, and Mr. P-L in answer to His Lordship, said, "I am sorry for it." Sorry!" vociferated the Noble Lord? Hang care, and drive away sorrow. I'll sing you one of our songs at the Dinners of the Whig Club in Dublin, when I was Chairman." His Lordship accordingly sung with great animation:

"The Press is my artillery, no hireling can debar me

"To rouse each grand auxiliary, and thus arrange my army :—

"I have Reason drawn up in the van; and Liberty's the stormer, "My centre is the Rights of Man, for I am a bold Reformer !”

L-d S-TH was evidently alarmed by the merriment of his colleague, who, being exhausted by the effort, sat down.

Mr. ORANGE P-L enquired the object of causing this extraordinary paper to be read? Had the Noble Lord any thing to propose?

wonted gravity,

The Noble L-D, recovering his said, the TEST was proposed to me. "I, and my colleague subscribed it, and we became United-men, and issued our Declaration for the Emancipation of Ireland. I therefore move, that the printed paper, containing the same, which is in every respect true, be declared a blasphemous, scandalous, and seditious LIBEL; and that the Atty GI do file exofficio informations against the publisher thereof,

and that all persons reading the same be declared traitors."

Mr. W-BFE thought there would be the appearance of some inconsistency, both in proposing and agreeing to such a motion.

Mr. CNN G said, the Hon. Member who spoke last was not warranted in exclaiming against inconsistency; an imputation, which, when attributed to His Majesty's Servants, God knows, they thoroughly despised. They laughed at the charge as often as it was brought forward. Why was not the charge put in the shape of an impeachment? Ministers knew how

a motion for impeachment would be received by the House. They avowed their responsibility. Petitions for Reform and threats of impeachment were alike objects of their mirth.

Mr. W-B-F-E disclaimed all intention of bringing a charge of inconsistency against Ministers. He himself, subject as he was to infirmity, would neither prefer or support such charge; it would be inconsistent in him to do so, and would sit heavy on his conscience as often as he had the honour of sitting in the great council of the nation. With respect to Parliamentary Reform-a subject on which he did not mean to touch when he first rose, but which was now forced upon him, he would openly express his sentiments by saying, that he should feel it his duty to take the sense of his constituents at Bramber, upon that most important topic, and would pledge himself to abide by their instructions. There was a time, when in his conscience, (as member for Yorkshire), he believed, it would not have been prudent in him to pursue such a course. He could do so now, and he was thankful that circumstances, in their nature afflicting, had rendered it safe and agreeable to him.— (Hear, hear.)-He intreated pardon for the digression. (Hear.)-He hoped nothing further would be said respecting inconsistency in any quarter. He had merely meant, that the N-e L-d's motion for ex-officio informations, appeared to him inconvenient for gentlemen to entertain, considering how little good was derived from the trial of such infor

mations. He was friendly to a middle course, and would move as an amendment, that it would not be false to declare, the Noble Lord and his colleague had taken the TEST in Ireland, and become United-mens but that to say the N-ed had done so, would be scandalous and seditious, and tend to bring into disrepute his Lordship's administration in this happy land.

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Mr. VTT-T fully agreed with his excellent friend the last speaker; but, nevertheless, felt himself bound to support the N-e L-d.

Mr. ORANGE P-L said, he was sorry to prevent an immediate decision; but as there was no real opposition, he would ask the Right. Hon. Gentleman who spoke last, whether he felt inclined to resign his situa tion as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was the more anxious for a direct answer, because he (Mr. P-L) was quite ready to step into the office.

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Mr. VTT-T, (in great agitation) declared he was wholly unprepared for the question, which he was free to say he did not like. He could not help having strange suspicions. He would ask his colleagues whether they knew or heard of this matter before.

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(A pause, and no answer.)-He was absolutely thunderstruck at this want of confidence. He asked again.—(A similar pause.)—He saw they were just as much agreed upon suspending him as suspending the Habeas Corpus Act; but he would not be suspended at least by them. He would resign directly; and he accordingly gave notice, that he should from henceforward oppose all lotteries and dram shops as immoral.

Mr. W-B-F-E, (greatly alarmed at the state of Mr. VAN's mind) rose and said, his wish was to preserve harmony amongst his Majesty's confidential servants.(Cries of impossible.)-He was not to be deterred from attempting what was so desirable. (Increased cries.) He would not make a speech. He deplored the condition of the Noble Lord, who had created Union in a sister country, and he fondly hoped had been ordained to preserve it here, lamentable as was his Lordship's present infirmity.

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