tion had been proposed and agreed to, 2 or 3 years ago, parliament would have been better able to have legislated for Ire. land. For the proof of this he would only refer to the speech of his right hon. friend, who had exposed the abuses with respect to tithes, the non-residence of the clergy, and the state of the Protestant schools. The hon. gent. seemed to be mightily of quiry would prove it unnecessary, to conti- derived from the motion now submitted to nue them for more than one year. This, he the house; for his right hon. friend had in was, for his own part, persuaded, would the course of it thrown out more inforturn out to be the case, unless gentlemen mation respecting the state of Ireland chose to continue in ignorance, and reject, than ever had been communicated by any ed the means of acquiring information. other member, or at any period for some But the hon. gent. dwelt a good deal upon time past.-But, another member accused general doctrine, and said that a boon him of libelling the legislation of this ought not to be granted till you were country, and our cosmopolitan and phistrong, and had enabled yourselves to lanthropic parliament! But what had our rush your petitioners if you chose! He most philanthropic parliament done for (Mr. S.) had really thought that men Ireland? Why, they had legislated without could distinguish between good and bad enquiry for that country; but, if his mo treatment, and that the one produced gratitude and attachment, as naturally as the other did revenge and hatred!" But no," said the hon. gent., "make them fear you first, that they may love you afterwards!" Then the hon. gent. accused him of having said that Ireland had been used worse than a conquered country. Certainly, he had said that England had adopted a more ignorant and barbarous system of manage-fended at his saying that government had ment with respect to Ireland, than ever not been attentive to Ireland. For a proof any one nation with any pretensions to of this, too, he referred to the speech of civilization had adopted with respect to his right hon. friend (Mr. Grattan), who had another. The hon. gent. said, that he was stated that 8000 acres of land only suptaken -back with regard to this statement, ported 18 Protestant schools; and yet, when he allowed that concessions had with all this before them, some gentlemen been made in the present reign, and con- pretended that government had paid the sequently the system charged. This, he requisite attention to the state of İreland! supposed, was meant, for he did not pre-He hoped, however, that an attention of a tend to understand the phrase "taken a- different sort would be given it. Ireland back," not being a naval man, as the hon. expected this; England expected it; and gent. probably was. That the concessions the result, he had no doubt, would be had been made with a very ill grace, he had beneficial to both countries -His right certainly said. He did not wish, as he had hon. friend had a 'verted to the. state of said before, to produce any irritation tithes in Ireland, and trom the ill-constructwhatever; but if the times and circumstan-ed method of collecting and managing ces when these concessions were made were them, had deduced a great part of the evils The considered, it would be found that they under which Ireland laboured. "Hearts of Steel" the "White Boys"had rather been wrung from most unwilling minds, than conferred in an the "Bright Boys"-and the "Threshers," open, liberal, and generous manner. He all arose from the tithes which appeared (Mr. S.) deprecated waiting for such times the most cruel of the burthens under which and circumstances. He was for conferring the lower ranks of people in Ireland groasfavours when they might be ascribed to a ed. Why, then, did not this sufficiently ac sense of generosity and justice, and not count for the disaffection in Ireland, with for waiting till they could be demanded, out having recourse to the idea of a French when you would not dare to refuse them.faction? His right hon. friend admitted the Now, his right hon. friend on the bench near him, (Mr. Grattan,) had made a more able speech in favour of his motion than he himself could possibly do. That speech was characteristic of his wonted genius and eloquence, and every thing must be full of genius, animation, and eloquence, that came from him. This very speech was one great instance of the benefits to be general loyalty of the people of Ireland; but still said, there was a French party in Ireland-a French party but contemptiblea miserable faction destitute of talents and energy, and of trifling numbers. What be wanted, then, was, to have the nature of this danger ascertained, to see in what it consisted, to find out the strength ofthis French faction, and, if so contemptible as his right answer to Ireland, and put an end to disaffection there, by removing the cause. Mr. Fuller thought that a proper and just view of the state of Ireland, could not be obtained without an enquiry. List of the Minority. Bradshaw, C. Barnard, S. Cavendish, Lord G. Calcraft, J. Johnstone, G. A. Laurence, Dr. Moore, P. Maxwell, J. Petty, Lord H. Parry, J. H. Phillips, R. M. Romilly, Sir S. Russell, Lord W. Sheridan, R. B. Somerville, Sir M. H. Windham, W. RESPECTING THE STATE hon. friend had said, to apply a remedy equal to the disease, and not to overturn the whole constitution of the country on account of a wretched faction. His right hon. friend close by him, (Mr. Windham,) had said, that he seemed to hold the conces- Mr. Cochrane Johnstone supported the sions to the Roman Catholics cheap. resolution; and thought that parliament He certainly had never done so, and his would become discredited in Ireland, if on right hon. friend was mistaken. He had all occasions a deaf ear was turned to the said, that if what was called Catholic eman-complaints of the people of Ireland.-The cipation was granted without some other house then divided; For Mr. Sheridan's measures in favour of the poorer classes, it motion 38; Against it 76. might excite envy and jealousy in themthe benefits to them they would consider as not running pari passu, with those of their superiors, and certainly without some caution what was intended to promote harmony, might become the excitement to contention. But, what did the bill proposed by the late administration in favour of the Catholics do? It certainly did a great deal indeed when it proposed to abolish the re'strictions on the Roman Catholic officer, when he came to a certain rank; an officer who stood in the singular situation, that he rose till he had an opportunity of doing some act worthy of preferment, and however great the services he might perform, there he stopped, and the disabili ties under which he laboured, damped his ardour, and rendered him less fit or dispo- Mr. Windham was on his legs, and stating sed for enterprise and exertion. The un- that he meant to propose some Resolutions fortunate Catholic officer might, therefore, relative to the Army, merely expressing be said to rise to his degradation. The re- facts as they appeared by the papers on the moval of such restrictions was doing much, table. He understood the noble lord had and the best effects would certainly have some resolutions to propose also, but they followed from the adoption of such a mea- consisted of reasoning instead of fact. sure. Was it not better to put confidence did not like this reasoning in Resolutions. in the Irish than to bind them down by re- It was like turning the statutes into verse, strictions? The enemy might hope to or like turning the speeches of the noble break their chains, but they could not ex-lord into rhyme to amuse the house at 5 pect to turn towards them those hearts, that o'clock in the morning.-After some conhad been conciliated by kindness and confi-versation between Mr. Windham, lord Casdence. Instead, therefore, of putting them tlereagh, and the Speaker, it was agreed on trial, his wish certainly would be, to that the Resolutions of each should be put give them the benefits of the constitution separately, and the debate on them adbefore they mustered in the field. Instead journed to this day se'nnight. They were of the yoke of slavery, he would hang the as follow. privilege of the constitution about their necks, and arm them with their rights. He again repeated, that if no other good effect should result from this motion, than an acknowledgment, on the part of parliament, of the importance of the subject, the motion ought to be adopted. Charles the First asked Seldon "What was the best way to put down a rebellion?" to which Seldon answered, "remove the cause." He begged of the government to apply this VOL. IX. 1 He Mr. Windham's Propositions. I. That the effective strength of the army was, On the 1st of March On the 1st of March Regulars. Militia. Total 173,600. 75,182. 248,782 181,856. 77,211. 259,067. A reduction having in the mean time taken place, of a local corps of 3,000 men and upwards, in the island of Ceylon. II. That the provisions of certain acts 4 I 8. For the Cavalry, from £13. 8. to 3. For the Infantry . - 16. 16. 11. 11. V. That the number of recruits raised for the regular army in Great Britain and Ireland, according to the adjutant-general's returns, was, in the first six months of By ordinary Additional 1805 1806 1807 Recruiting: 4,949. 11,413. Force: Total: 10,923. 4,834. 10,783. 11,413. XIII. That the number of men who deserted from the recruiting districts was, during the first six months of 1805 1807 1 in 10. Lord Castlereagh's Propositions. I-That the increase of 8,256 men, as stated, in the regular army, between March 1806 and March 1807, has been produced by 2,908 men received from the Irish militia, and 3,542 under the AddiVI.-That, amongst the numbers raised in tional Force act.-Total 6,450 men ;— the first six months of 1805, are included without which aids (deducting our losses 3,089 raised by officers recruiting for rauk.in Egypt and South America, vie. 2,185 VII. That the men raised under the Additional Force act were for home service only, and might be of any height not less than five fect two inches, and of any age VIII. That in the regular army no man could be received but between the ages of 18 and 30, and of a height not less than 5 feet 4 inches; the standard for men not entering for general service, but choosing their own regiments, being 5 feet III. A.-That the number of recruits rais5 inches, and for the guards and cavalry ed quarterly for the regular army, between still higher. the 1st of March 1805, aud 1st of March IX. That by recruits raised by ordi-1806, when the repeal of the Additional nary recruiting, are meant men raised either at the head quarters of regiments, or by the recruiting districts late under the superintendence of the inspector-general. the 1st of April 1806, was 20,003; the IV. That the expence of levy money number between July 1806 and July 1807, for general service has been reduced-for 17,689, being 2,314 less than in the for-cavalry, from 197. to 157. 4s. 6d. and for mer year; whereas the number of boys infantry, from 221. Ss. Od. to 18l. 12s. 6d. included in the 17,689, exceeded by 1,076 But the term of service has also been rethe number included in the 20,003, the duced, from service for life to service for preceding year's produce. ten and seven years, which supposes two III. c. That the number of men ob- additional periods of enlistment, and contained for regular service, including men sequently two additional bounties in the transferred from the militia (and exclu-course of a service of 21 years, exclusive sive of foreign and colonial levies) was, of the additional pay and pensions above between July 1805 and July 1806, 33,693 referred to. men; between July 1806 and July 1807, 20,681, being 13,012 men less than in the preceding year, exclusive of the services of the men raised in the latter years being determinable in seven or ten year, accord-cruiting to avoid reduction. ing to the terms of their enlistment. VI. That among the number raised in the first six months of 1807, being 11,413 men, 8,035 have been raised by the 54 second battalions; that is, by officers re VII, and VIII.—That, with the excep III. D. That whilst the number of mention of 6,242 men transferred to garrison levied in the latter year was less than in the battalions, all men raised under the Army of former, as stated in the preceding Resolu-Reserve and Additional Force acts have tions, an annual additional chargeof450,000l. been since enlisted into the line, being of in increased pay and pensions to the army the age and height required by his majesty's has been incurred, as an encouragement to regulations; and amongst the men so transinduce men to enlist, being at the rate of ferred to garrison battalions, are included about 251. per man; on the number of men all men who did not choose to enter for raised within the year; and which ex-general service, without reference to age or pence must be here after largely increas- height. ed, in proportion as the pensions on 14 and 21 years service come into operation. XI. That the men volunteering from limited to unlimited service, from 1st July III. E.—That during the former year the 1806, to 1st January 1807, received ten recruiting parties did not exceed in num-guineas bounty for only extending their serber 405; that in the latter year they hadvice from local to general service; whereas been increased to 1,113, exclusive of before that period (the bounty being the above 400 extra recruiting officers; and from the Sth of Dec. 1806, 54 second battalions have been recruiting, under an intimation, that if they did not raise 400 men each in 6 months, the battalions would he then reduced, and the officers placed on half-pay; which extraordinary increase of the number of recruiting parties must be considered not only as highly prejudicial to the discipline and efficiency of the army, but as so much expence incurred for the levy of men, as distinguished from the performance of regimental duty. III. F. That whilst the number of men raised as above for the regular service, has in the latter year been reduced, the proportion of desertions in the army serving at home has been rather increased; the proportion being, in the five successive half-yearly periods, as follows; Desertions in the Army at Home: Jan. 1805 to July 1805 1 in 194. 1 in 275. 1 in 236. same) the men transferring themselves to the line, exchanged their service, not only from home to foreign service, but from service limited in point of time to service for life; and the men in the latter period, who refused to transfer their services, were ordered to be drafted into garrison battalions. TRANSPORTS.-I. That the transports at home on the first of March 1806, consisted of 380 ships, and 87,717 tous; of which 50 ships and 16,894 tons were fitted for foreign service, and including tonnage for 1,785 horses. That the transports at home, on the 24th of March 1807, were 73 ships, and 16,468 tons, of which only 25 ships and 7,807 tons were fitted for foreign service; there being an excess of 307 ships and 71,249 tous at the former period, compared with the latter; and of 25 ships and 9,087 tons fitted for foreign service; in the latter period, the provision was only for 148 horses. II. That the above provision of tonnage on the 24th of March 1807, of 73 ships and 16, 468 tons, would have been further re the possible demands which those diffculties may occasion. duced under the orders of the treasury of the 22d of January 1807, in the amount of 29 ships and 8,586 tons, had not the full execu- "My Lords, and Gentlemen; tion of the above orders been prevented by "His majesty commands us to assure the contracts of 17 being such as to prevent you, that he deeply deplores the unfortutheir being paid off, and by nine being under nate issue of the war upon the continent. quarantine, having returned on the 20th of-The immense extension of the power March preceding from the Mediterranean. and influence of France, and the undisIII. That the transports on home ser-guised determination of the enemy to emvice, on the 8th of August 1807, consisted ploy the means and resources of those of 401 ships and 82,145 tons; of which 67 countries which he possesses or controuls, ships and 20,289 tons were fitted for foreign for the purpose of effecting the ruin of his service, including also a provision for 4,089 majesty's kingdom, undoubtedly present a horses. formidable view of the difficulties and dangers which this country has to encounter. But his majesty trusts, that the loyal [THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS' SPEECH]. and brave people over whom he reigns are About a quarter before four, the arch-not to be daunted or disheartened.-Frombishop of Canterbury, the lord chancellor, the recollection of those difficulties under earl Camden, and lord Hawkesbury took which his people have successfully strugtheir seats as his majesty's commissioners.gled, and of those dangers which they have Mr. Quarne, the deputy usher of the black rod, was sent to the commons, to require their attendance. Shortly afterwards the Speaker and a number of the members came to the bar, and the royal assent was given to several bills. After which, HOUSE OF LORDS. Friday, August 14. The Lord Chancellor, in his majesty's name, delivered the following Speech : happily surmounted, his majesty derives the consolation of believing, that the same spirit and perseverance which have uitt erto remained unbroken will continue to be exerted with unabated vigour and success.— And while his majesty commands us to repeat the assurances of his constant readi ness to entertain any proposals which may My Lords and Gentlemen; lead to a secure and honourable peace, ne "We have it in command from his ma- commands us at the same time to express jesty to express the satisfaction with which his confidence that his parliament and his he finds himself enabled to give you that people will feel with him, the necessity of recess which, after the great and diligent persevering in those vigorous efforts which exertions you have made in the dispatch of alone can give the character of honour to public business, must at this advanced any negotiations, or the prospect of security season of the year, be so peculiarly desira-or permanency to any peace; his majesty, ble. His majesty has been graciously therefore, trusts that his parliament and pleased to direct us to return you his his people will always be ready to support thanks for the steady loyalty and attach-him in every measure which may be neces ment to his person and government, and sary to defeat the designs of his enemies the zealous devotion to the public service against the independence of his majesty's which have characterized all your delibe-dominions, and to maintain against any rations, and most especially to thank you undue pretensions, and against any hostile for the seasonable exertions which you confederacy, those just rights which his have enabled him to make for the augmen- majesty is always desirous to exercise with tation of the military force of his kingdom. temper and moderation, but which, as es "Gentlemen of the House of Commons; sential to the honour of his crown, and "His majesty has commanded us to re-true interests of his people, he is deter turn you his warmest thanks for the sup-mined never to surrender."-A commission plies which you have granted with so for proroguing parliament to Thursday, the much cheerfulness for the current year; 24th of September, was then read. After and when he considers the provision which which, the lord Chancellor, declared the you have made for those contingent and parliament to be prorogued to Thursday, unforeseen services which the events of the the 24th of September next, to be then war may render necessary, his majesty there holden. has the greatest satisfaction in recognizing the wisdom wherewith, in a time of extraordinary difficulties, you have anticipated HOUSE OF COMMONS. Friday, August 14. A little before four o'clock the deputy |