the continuance of peace fhould render us lefs able to renew the war. Mr. Fox animadverted on the speech of Lord Temple, and went over nearly the fame argument as on the preceding evening. Mr. Windham replied to Mr. Fox. The Chancellor of the Exchequer condemned Mr. W.'s defpondency; and in the courte of his fpeech, in reply to a financial queition by Mr. Elliot, as to what would be the economy of peace, he faid, that the faving might be twentyfive millions per annum, being nearly the difference between the expences of the last year of the war and a peace eftabdigunent. TUESDAY, NÓV. 30. Several petitions from different parts of the country were prefented, complaining of undue elections.-Leave was given for a bill to enable the Directors of the Grand Junction Canal Company to raife a farther fum of money. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1. The Secretary at War prefented the Army Eltimates. Gen. Gascoigne, after alluding to that part of the Speech which ftated the commerce of this country to be in a molt Aurifhing condition, moved "That there be laid before the Houfe, an account of the number of fhips, with the amount of tonnage, and the number of men employed, who have cleared outwards, and entered inwards, from October 10, 1800, to October 10, 1801, and from that period to October 10, 1802, dittinguifhing Foreign from British fhips." The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that this information could not be given till the month of January; though it might be produced as far as it related to the port of London. General Tarleton faid, he had reafon to know that the commerce of this country was in as flourishing a ftate as it could ptibly be after fo long a war. After fome farther converfation, the motion was negatived. In a Committee of Supply, the Chancr of the Exchequer moved that a fum 0 2,781,5321. 158. 34d. be granted to pay off Exchequer Buls, iffred in purJuance of the 42d George III. The ob ject of this motion was to discharge thofe bills which bore an interest of 3d. a day; the other Exchequer Bills only bore an intereit of 3 1. per day. The motion was agreed to Sir P. Stephens moved the following eolutions, which were agreed to, viz. "That 50,000 men thould be em ployed for the fea fervice, for the year "That a fum of 1,202,500l. be granted for wages for the faid 50,000 men, for thirteen lunar months, at the rate of 11. 175. per month, per man. "That a fum of 1.235,000l. be granted for victuals for the faid men, for thirteen lunar months, at the rate of 11. 185. per month per man. "That a fum of 1,950,000l. be granted for wear and tear of the fhips on board of which the faid men are to be employed, for thirteen lunar months, at 31. per man per month. "That a fum of 162,500l. be granted for ordnance ftores, for the fea service, for the faid fhips, at the rate of zs. per man per month " Mr Corry, after fhowing the neceffity of enabling the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to give orders for the enrolment of the Militia, moved "That the Commiffioners of the Treafury of Ireland be authorifed to advance the fum of 40,000l. to defray the expence of railing the Militia of Ireland, &c. &c. Agreed to. THURSDAY, DEC. 2. On the vote for 50,000 femen being brought up, Mr. T. Grenville condemned the novel and unprecedented mode now adopted, of calling for fuch a number of men in time of peace, without any explanation why they were voted; this was the more fingular, because the late Speech from the Throne was of a warlike nature. In June, when 70,000 men were voted, the Minifter expreffed his belief that the next vote would only be for 30,000; the Houfe ought, therefore, to know the grounds of the vote they were about to give. Mr. G. then took a view of the relative fituation of Europe, and the state of the navy of the different Powers, and expreffed fome alarm for the fafety of our Wet India pofleflions: in thort, from the preponderating power of France, be could not confider our fituations in the Ealt as perfectly fecure; but as it had been faid that this country could have no apprehenfion from the Navy of France, he concluded with wishing to know what was the object of the prefent Vote? The Chancellor of the Exchequer defended the conduct of Ministers, and entered into a juftification of the meature in queftion. He obferved that 45 0 o men were voted as the Peace Etablishment in 1793; the object of the prefent vote was, to continue the number for the enfuing year; and the Military Etablid:ment was > was intended to be much larger than at any former period,because it was thought, that in order to preferve tranquility, a defenfive fyftem fhould be adopted. The Minifter then adverted to the naval fituation of France and Holland, and drew a favourable picture of our force at sea. He pofitively contradicted the rumour of 27 fail of the line having left Toulon, a rumour which, he said, must have ori ginated in the work of motives. He then took a comparative view of the nas vies of the Continental Powers, and that of Great Britain *. From this comparifon, it appeared that we had an excefs, above the combined force, of 60 fail of the line. In short, the reafon of fo large a Vote, was the anxiety of Minifters to be prepared for difficulties, though he did not confider the prefent as the permanent Peace Etablishment. Sir S. Smith thought that the Dock. yards ought to be manned as well as the Navy; and alluded to the circumftances of the difcharge of a number of artificers, who might enter into foreign fervice. He made fome humane remarks on the difcharge of feamen, by which they were left to become beggars. He then depicted with great feeling, the. prefent diftrefs of hundreds who had applied to him. After ftating his want of confidence in the pacific intentions of the French, and touching on feveral other points connected with the fubject, particularly on one relative to the fale of places of truft in this country, he concluded by concurring in the Vote. Mr. Sturges went nearly over the fame ground as Mr. Grenville. Refolutions were agreed to. The FRIDAY, DEC. 3. In a Committee of Ways and Means, the Chancellor of the Exchequer proceeded to move different Refolutions; among others was one for a grant of 5,0co.cool. on Exchequer Bills. From his obfervations, it appeared, that at prefent the amount of the outlanding Bills is 15.080,000l. and the prefent amount of the Navy Debt is 4,500,000l. a reduction of full one-half fince the Peace; after alluding to a plan under confideration, relative to Exchequer Bills, he concluded with moving that the fum of 5,000,000l. be raised by Loan and Exchequer Bills, for the fervice of the year 1803, and intimated that this day fe'nnight he fhould move for a fum of 4,000,000l. to be raised on the growing produce of the country. MONDAY, DEC. 6.. Several Accounts were laid before the Houfe, and Petitions prefented. Mr. Blackburne prefented a Petition from Middlefex, from W. Mainwaring, Efq. complaining of partiality in the Sheriffs, Rawlins and Cox, as Returning Officers, during the late election; and alfo of corrupt practices being employed on the election; which was ordered to be taken into confideration on the 12th of April. Mr. Vanfittart moved to bring in a bill to amend an A&t of the 41ft George III. which related to Navy Bilis, which were circulating at an intereft of 3d per cent. per diem. The reafon of this motion was, he faid, that the flourishing state of the country enabled Government to circulate Exchequer Bills and other fecurities at a leis intereft, by which a faving of 90,000l. a year would be made to the publick. Leave was given. TUESDAY, DEC. 7. Election Petitions for a number of places were prefented and several bills read. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 8. After the private bulinels of the day had been difcuffed. The Secretary at War, in the Committee of Supply, fubmitted the propofed Military Etablishment for the enfuing year: he admitted that the Estimates prefented the details of a Military Establiftment, greater, both with respect to. the number of men, and the expence that would be incurred, than any which had ever been maintained by this country in a period of peace, but it was evident that a larger eftablishment was neceffary in the prefent pofture of affairs; for the overgrown power of France had now realifed all the dreams of of Louis XIV. The Secretary then took a view of the power of France at the commencement of the prefent year, the total amount of which, it appears, was 930,000 men from which we were compelled to keep up a much larger force than in any preceding period of peace. He then proceeded to answer fome objections which had before been made relative to our estab The total number of Ships in commiffion, is 38 of the line, 13 of 50 guns, 107 frigates, and 143 floops. There are in ordinary at the different ports, 134 of the line, 12 of 50, 103 frigates, and 75 floops. 0902 lishment, lishment, and denied that there was any danger to be apprehended, in a conftitu. tional view, from the intended number of the military. The force intended to be kept up was then explained by the Secretary; and from fome economical arrangements, it appeared that nearly 50,000l. per year would be faved to the publick: he admitted that there would be fome difference between the present slatement and the Abftra&t (given below*), but from the particulars of his statement, it refulted that the whole of the expence that would be incurred for the Army for the enfuing year would be, as appeared by the Fitimate, 5,270,000l. and together with tome neceffary additions, it would fall within five millions and a half: this was less than the expence of the present year by 2,070,0col. and less than that of the last year of war by 10,130,000l. In fort, it appeared from the remainder of the Secretary's ftatements, that our united force would be (exclufive of the Army of India) upwards of 200,000 men: this he thought a refutation of the charges of timidity, &c. made against Minifters, and concluded with moving the first Refolution. Mr. Banks made a fpeech of some length, the tenor of which was, that if we were quiet and contented at home, it was not half a million of men on the oppofite coaft that ought to strike a panic amongst us. Sir W. W. Wynne thought that the Militia men ought not to be discharged before the termination of the period for which they were enlifted. Sir E. Coote confidered the proposed * ABSTRACT of the ESTIMATES of ARMY SERVICES for 1803. force to be neceffary, from prudential motives. Lord Temple faid, he could not oppofe the motion, on account of the excess of force it propofed, becaule he was convinced that the ruling paffion of France was to destroy this country. But the Houfe might be voting an immenfe eftablishment without the leat information concerning the real nature of it: he thought it incumbent on Minifters to explain why they were now propofing this establishment, when they had been following a fyftem of reduction all the fummer: he then proceeded to cenfure the conduct of Ministers on this and other points, and concluded with obferving, that it was on the neceffity of granting great fupplies that he grounded his affent to the pretent vote. Gen. Maitland paid fome high compliments to the Secretary at War for his judicious fpeech; thought the preparations we were making just and neceffary, and fuch as our ancestors would have made under fimilar circumstances. General Tarleton regarded the prefent as a vote for the fecurity of the country; and though he had voted against the war confcientiously, he voted for the present eftablishment from a conviction of its neceffity. Mr. Archdall animadverted on the conduct of France; and thought, that if we are doomed to fall after our exertions and advantages, we need not be ashamed of our destruction. Mr. Whitbread adverted to the indecifion of Minifters, and thought that the only point with regard to France that was worthy of our attention, was her political power; yet he did not fee how the prefent vote tended to diminish that tremendous power. He faid, he should delight to fee the Government of this country placed in the hands of one of his friends, who would conduct it to the highest pitch of political happiness. The Hon. D Ryder defended the conduct of Mr. Pitt, and approved of the eftablishment in question. Mr. Sheridan, in his ufual train of fatire, thought it incumbent on him to prove to the people, that none of their Members were scrambling for power or emolument, but only differing as to the beft means of providing for the fecurity of the country in obferving on the fpeech of Mr. Banks, he felt furprised that any man could doubt of the danger in which we are placed, who had viewed the map of Europe. "I cannot (faid Mr. S) bring myself to think that the infatiable ambition of the First Conful, aiming at univerfal dominion, would very willingly leave the fraction that now belongs to England. His power and his inclination must neceffarily be progreffive. France is by no means what it was under the fceptre of the Bourbons. They had fome regard to hereditary fuccellion, and the various relations compofed with it: but Bonaparte is under the moral and phyfical neceffity of coming to an agreement with his fubjects, that he will make them Masters of the World, if they will but content to be bis Slaves." He proceeded to comment at length on the fpeeches of most of the Members who had spoken in the present debate, and on thofe who perfevered in the war against Mr. Fox's warning voice. and concluded with declaring his opinion, that this great country had no retreat in infignificance, and that if we were reluctantly compelled into a war, we should purfue it with vigour and effect, or refolve to perish in the facred flame, with glory and with honour. Mr. Canning complimented Mr. She ridan, and palled an eulogium on Mr. Pitt. The debate continued till half paft three o'clock in the morning, in the courfe of which, Mr. Fox fpoke, and was anfwered by Mr. Windham. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in answer to fome questions put during the debate, ftated, that circumftances had arifen fince the figning of the Definitive Treaty, which tended to fupport the opinion in favour of large eftablishments; but that from the flourishing "ate of the revenue during the two last quarters, there was every reafon to believe that the means would arife from it of defraying all expences. THURSDAY, DEC. 9. The Irish Militia Bill was read a third time, and paffed. Mr. Vanuitiart moved for an account of money paid to the King's Household, and not provided for by Parliament.Agreed to. largely into a defence of the conduct of the late Minifters, condemned Continental alliances, and fincerely hoped that Mr. Pitt would foon be reitored to power. Lord Hawkesbury replied to Mr. Grenville, and entered, as ufual, into a defence of the conduct of Minifters; in the courfe of his fpeech, he touched on all the points adduced by Mr. Grenviile, admitted the right of Parliament to control him and his colleagues; and clofed with expreffing the with of Minifters to fubmit to the opinion of the House. Sir F. Burdett, in delivering his opinion on the fubject before the Houfe, thought we ought to abftain, as much as possible, from all Continental Alliances; he was furprised to hear the return of Mr. Pitt withed for; touched on the old grounds of the neceflity of a reform in our folitary cell fyftem; and concluded with his opinion, that the great power of France would speedily fall. Mr. Browne, Mr. Calcraft, and Dr. Lawrence, delivered their fentiments. The Chancellor of the Exchequer obferved, that there feemed to be a fyftematic determination to imprefs an opinion, that Minifters had compro mited the character, and tarnished the honour, of the Country. He confidered the arguments that had been used as a proof of the neceffity of the vote. Mr. Fox fpoke in refutation of the Chancellor, but regretted the aggrandifement of France. After feveral other Members had delivered their opinions, the Report was read and agreed to. apprifed the Houfe of his intention to move for granting 4,000,cool. on the growing produce of the Confolidated Fund: he did this on the probability of our being in a profperous fituation, and alfo in an embarraffed one; for in confequence of the increafe in our revenue, there might be a larger fum in the Exchequer than that for which credit had been taken by Government, and without permiffion of Parliament, this redundance could not be applied to the public fervice. Up to the 5th of April, 1803, he had taken credit for 4,500,cool. as the growing produce of the Confolidated Fund. On the 5th of October, it Bad amounted to 3,800,000l. fo that there would be a confiderable furplus ; and as the House would doubtless vote the fupplies of the year, he thought proper to lay before them the fate of our finance, previous to Christmas. Before producing the Ways and Means, he ad. verted to the arrangements of the prefent year. A capital of 97,000,000l. had been provided for; the Income Tax was mortgaged for 55,000,000l. which, together with interest, loan, &c. amounted to the stock of 97,000,ocol. above mentioned, the intereft of which was 3,100,cool. He now admitted the charge that had been made against him, of having laid on more taxes than were required; the statement, however, he had formerly made, had been realized, namely, that the produce of the last year would not be thort of 4,000,000l. ; for the first quarter's taxes had amounted to 1,170,000l. In the course of the current year 18,000,000l. of unfunded debt had been taken out of the market by Government; and he was able to fate, that the grants of last year, with the exception of the Army Extraordinaries, would be fufficient to provide for all the fervices of the year. The excess in the Army Extraordinaries would probably be more than 1,000,000l. but he bad the fatisfaction to flate, that the whole amount of the Army Extraordinaries of the next year are not likely to be half the amount of thofe of the current year. The Navy Debt had been reduced one half, from 9,000,000l. to 4 500,0col. The Unfunded Debt, at the commencement of the laft Seffion, amounted to 37,377,260l. The prefent Unfunded Debt 19,580,000l. including 4,500,000l. the amount of the Navy Debt for the year; but he was not able to flate this with was pre |