honourable baronet to know, whether the bill contained a clause for incorporating all the insurance companies. If the honourable member who took the first objection had read the votes with his usual attention, he would have seen the reasons assigned by the petitioners, and as these reasons satisfied the House, he hoped they would have the same effect upon his honourable friend.

Sir Theophilus said that the plan upon which the bill was founded, being an offer to pay a hundred thousand pounds into the exchequer for the benefit of the public, could not be carried into effect without the interference of the King's prerogative, which obliged the petitioners to submit their propositions, in the first instance, to that branch of the executive government where such proposals were always investigated, and the final approval of the lords of the treasury and privy council recommending the introduction of the bill, was not made known till the 9th of the month.

With respect to the other objection, that the bill did not contain a certain clause, a little consideration would satisfy the honourable member that such a clause could not be admitted, as every company desirous of obtaining a charter must have a separate act. But if the company in which the honourable alderman has an interest will come forward with an offer to give the public an hundred thousand pounds, the measure should not experience from him any jealous or envious opposition. He added, that as it was not usual to oppose a bill in that stage, when the House was ignorant of its contents, he trusted it would be suffered to go to a second reading, when every member would have a printe copy, by which the merits of the bill would be explaine1, and till then he begged leave to assure the House, that in his opinion the measure was calculated to promote the interest of the public, and the general advantage of the community at large.

The bill was then read a first time, and ordered for a secon 1 reading.

Petitions were afterwards presented by Sir John Anderson and Sir W. Curtis from several insurance companies aging the globe insurance incorporation bill. Ordered to lie on the table.

Sir John Sinclair gave notice that he would, the next day, call the attention of the House to the report of the committee

committee on the broad-wheeled carriage bill, particularly to that part of it which related to the number of outside passengers allowed upon stage coaches.

The Irish export and import bill, and the Irish spirit licence bill, were reai a first time, and ordered to be read a second time the next day.

Mr. Mcheux presented certain papers from the India House pursuant to order. Ordered to lie on the table.

Sir John Newport moved for leave to discharge the order for committing the ish militia services bill, with a view, as the right honourable baronet stated, afterwards to move for withdrawing the said bill and substituting another in its place, which should be free from the objections to which the measure before the House was liable.

Colonel Bagwell expressed a hope that the right honourable baronet would, in framing the new bill, a tend to the objections against the former bill, which were communicated by several Irish gentlemen who were interested in the

measure.

Sir John Newport observed that this was not a measure of the present administration, but of their predecessors. In arranging a substitute for it his Majesty's ministers would of course feel it their duty to consider the objections alluded to by the honourable gentleman; though for himself he was ready to say that several of these objections had no weight on his mind. The bill was withdrawn.

The Irish election regulation bill, the Irish miners' bill, the Gibraltar and Malta post bill, the Duke of Grafton's agreement bill, and the Prussian yarn bill were read a second time, and the four latter were committed for the next day; the first was ordered to be committed on Thursday.

The production of certain papers relative to India, which were ordered some time since, but which were not yet on the table, was ordered forthwith.

Ordered, on the motion of Mr. Calvert, that a return should be presented to the House of the informations brought forward, and of the convictions and compromises which had taken place in consequence of the offences against the act imposing a duty on malt, for ten years, ending in June, 1806.

Mr. Wallace, with a view, as he stated, to shew that no blame was imputable to the late board of controul, for resisting the production of certain papers on the subject of

India,

India, on the ground that their production would be injurious to the public interest, moved that these papers, comprehending the correspondence between Lord Wellesley and Colonel Scott, in the years 1799, 1800-1, respecting the conduct of the Nabob of Oude, and which was not already on the table, should be laid before the House.

Lord Morpeth objected to the motion upon the same grounds which induced, as the right honourable mover stated, the late board of controul to meet the same motion before. The part of the correspondence which was withheld contained particulars relative to the private conduct of the Nabob of Oude, which it would be highly improper, in his opinion, to lay before the public, especially as they related to a prince at present in amity with this country. The noble lord had no objection to afford any private information desired upon this subject, but he would resist the idea of giving publicity to the case to which the motion referred.

Mr. Paull animadverted upon the singular ground laid by the mover of this proposition, that though he had resisted when in office, the production of certain documents, as injurious to the public interests, yet still he would press his successors to grant precisely the same documents. He was, however, ready to support this motion, as he wished the House to have the fullest information relative to the affairs of India. As to the objections which were expressed against these papers, because they contained some statements upon the misconduct of the Nabob of Oude, he was prepared to say that he could prove such misconduct was the result of oppression, injustice, and tyranny, practised towards that prince.. It was idle therefore to say that the real motive for refusing these papers was a desire to avoid injuring the character or feelings of that prince. There were, however, as he wished the House to be sensible, several extracts in the papers moved for, which had no reference whatever to the conduct of the Nabob of Oude, but which were material to elucidate some part of the conduct of Lord Wellesley.

Sir A. Wellesley, on the part of his noble relation, desired that nothing might be brought forward which could have a tendency to injure the Nabob of Oude, even though the production of such documents might be somewhat advantageous to his own case.

After some further remarks from Mr. Calvert, Mr.

Holford,

Holford, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Rose, Mr. Paull, and Sir A. Wellesley, the motion was withdrawn.

The Secretary at War presented certain accounts relative to Chelsea hospital, which were ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Paull asked the noble lord (Temple) whether it was his object to press coming to a final vote upon the charge against Lord Wellesley the next day. He was induced to apply for information upon this point, as there were several gentlemen as well as himself who did not clearly understand the noble lord's object. It certainly would be rather singular if the noble lord should press for a final decision upon the charge the very same day on which the evidence, respecting it was to be examined.

Lord Temple replied that his object was to prevent delay in the investigation of this business; and his motion simply. was, that if no motion upon the subject should be made the next day by any other person, he should feel it his duty to bring it forward. The honourable gentleman, therefore, having given notice of a motion for the next day, his purpose was answered, and he meant to give way to the hon. gentleman.

Mr. Paull called to the recollection of the House, that his notice on this subject was given the day before the debate took place upon the noble lord's motion, and he appealed to the judgment of the House, whether any delay in the prosecution of this business was attributable to him.

Lord Temple presented petitions from the merchants, planters and agents of the island of Jamaica, against the slave trade abolition, praying to be heard by counsel, upon the second reading of the said bill.

Mr. Fox observed, that he meant immediately to move the second reading of this bill; but that the petitioners' counsel might as well be heard upon the report.

The petitions were ordered to lie on the table, as was a petition to the same effect, presented by Mr. Rose, from several ship-owners.

The bill was read a second time and committed for Thursday, Mr. Fox stating, that if business pressed on Thursday he would move to postpone the committal of this bill till Friday.

On the motion of Lord Temple, the thread-lace bill was ordered to be re-committed the next day.

Mr.

Mr. Alexander brought up the report of the Irish postroad act.

Mr. Ker proposed a clause, that the expence to be incur red under this bill should be levied upon the county at large, and not upon the particular barony through which any new road might pass.

Mr. Foster, Mr. Stewart, and Mr. M'Naghten recommended rather to leave this part of the arrangement to the discussion of the several grand juries, who were best competent to judge of the local circumstances in which it would be right to act upon the honourable mover's propo sition, or the contrary.

The clause was withdrawn.

The report was agreed to, and the bill ordered to be read a third time the next day.

Mr. Hawthorn brought up the report of the committee of supply relative to the grant of compensation to Messrs. Chalmers and Cowie, which was agreed to.

The West India auditors bill was read a third time and passed.

Lord Henry Petty gave notice of his intention to move on Monday for leave to bring in a bill for more effectually auditing the public accounts of this country.

AMERICAN INTERCOURSE BILL.

. Lord Temple moved the order for the second reading of the American intercourse bill; and, upon the motion that counsel should be called in on the part of the petitioners against the said bill,

Mr. Rose said, no man in this House rates the abilities of the right honourable gentleman opposite to me (Mr. Fox) more highly than I do, but he has not considered this subject with the attention it merits. He says the bill under consideration repeals no law. It is truc, Sir, the word. "repeal" does not occur in it; but the enactments do effectually and expressly remove all the colonial restraints in the navigation act, the principle of which was established as carly as the time of Richard the Second; further regu lations were made for the benefit of British shipping in subsequent reigns, till that of Charles the Second, when the system was brought to nearly its present state of perfection. Under the wise and provident restrictions of the law then passed, our naval power has grown to its present strength; it is on that ground, I contend, no permanent alterations should