the word "now," be substituted "this day six months." In this he was supported by Mr. Lushington and Sir W. Curtis, and opposed by Mr. Marryatt, Mr. Foley, Sir E. Knatchbull, Sir C. Burrell, and Mr. Calcraft.

The House then divided :

In favour of the original motion
Against it

Majority

58

6

52

Ordered, that there be laid before the House, a copy of the General Order of the Commander in Chief, relative to the attendance of Catholic soldiers at public places of worship.

A memorial was presented by Mr. Wilberforce from several traders and manufacturers in the North, praying for an extension of the provisions of the Riot Act to warehouses and outhouses.

Mr. Canning stated, that in consequence of the postponement of the Call of the House, he should postpone his motion relative to the Catholics, till Thursday fortnight.

ADMINISTRATION.

Mr. Brougham rose to move for an account of the duties collected in the London Docks for the last five years. To this motion he understood there would be no objection. The right hon. gent. (the Vice-President of the Board of Trade) last night stated as an objection to the production of some papers moved for, that there was no Administration in effect, or in other words, that it was in a sort of abeyance. That objection to day could not apply, for as he understood, and he believed his information to be correct, the same vigorous and efficient Government as guided the Councils of the country during the last week, possessed again the confidence of the Prince Regent, and expects to regain the confidence of the House of Commons. If this was true, and that his Royal Highness was determined to continue his confidence to those persons, it became a matter of much alarm. He was also informed that there was an intention of moving an adjournment of the House this day. In the present state of the Government and of the country, such an adjournment was most lamentable. He deprecated it altogether. If there was any thing more imperiously called for an opposition to such adjournment, it was what came out on the last evening in the examination before the Committee on the Orders in Council. It was there stated by an Ame

rican merchant, that in consequence of the embargo laid on in America, flour had risen in Lisbon market from 15 to 22 dollars per barrel, and that, in consequence of this rise, he was obliged to purchase 6000 quarters in our market, to supply the scarcity there. Now such a proceeding, at a time when, without wishing to create alarm, there was not an over abundant supply for our own consumption, was of the most serious import. Under these circumstances he must enter his protest against any adjournment.

Mr. Stephen was not aware how the production of a paper of the kind moved for could bear upon the subsistence of our armies in Portugal. He should therefore not offer a word upon it. At the same time he could not imagine where the honourable gentleman had made the discovery as to the Government. He had made inquiries of his friends around him, and he could assure the House that they were totally ignorant of any such intention in the head of the Executive. It was however an instance of pure benevolence in the hon. gentleman to take upon himself the trouble of collecting new information, for the gratification of the House and of himself. The honourable gentleman was in the practice of hearing what no other person had heard on this side of the House, and therefore he must take it to be the fact, having no authority to contradict it. With respect to his observation of what his right honourable friend had stated the preceding evening, he misapprehended the nature of the objections then made. The information also respecting an adjournment was equally unfounded with the other; but supposing that the causes for laying on the embargo were still in existence, it was not in the power of any new Government to raise that embargo.

Mr. Whitbread said that there undoubtedly prevailed, not only in the House, but in the country, a most painful anxiety with respect to those steps which were to be taken in consequence of the vote of the House of Commons on Thursday last. He was sorry that the honourable and learned gentleman, sitting where he did, had not been pleased or able to afford them any information on this subject. He now rose, however, to ask of the noble earl opposite, an explicit answer as to his situation, and the situation of his colleagues in office. That noble lord had intimated on Friday last, that the present Government was in fact dissolved; it appeared, notwithstanding, that they still enjoyed, in some degree, the confidence of the Prince Regent; that

they still assembled, and deliberated, and advised—(Hear, hear!) It was certainly impossible that any man could approach his Royal Highness without acquainting him with the perilous situation in which he and the country stood.(Hear, hear!) It was impossible, whatever the honourable and learned gentleman might say as to the immediate effects of the embargo, that when we were on the eve of that last calamity (a war with America), any person admitted to the Royal presence should neglect to inform the Sovereign of the internal and domestic situation of this country, and of the disturbance, discontent, and dissatisfaction that pervade every part of the empire which the Regent now governed, either without the aid of Ministers or with the aid of Ministers, whose incapacity had been proclaimed by Parliament. He begged from the noble lord, therefore, some distinct information respecting his own situation, and the progress made in forming an efficient Administration.

Lord Castlereagh said, that the honourable and learned gentleman who had first spoken, was in the habit of making so many erroneous assumptions, and commenting upon them in so irregular a way, that it was difficult to give any direct answer to his questions. He knew of no intention of moving an adjournment. As to his own situation, he had only to say, that it was now precisely what it was last Friday, he and his colleagues still retaining their offices, during the interim occupied in concerting arrangements, on an extended basis. The honourable gentleman who spoke last, had mingled also some irregular observations with his question; and for his own part he begged leave totally to disclaim any knowledge whatever that this country was on the eve of a war with America. The state of the country undoubtedly was alarming, but he was happy to state that every post furnished intelligence of the most agreeable nature, and through the exertions of the magistracy, and the uniform good conduct and regularity of the Local Militia, the spirit of disturbance was daily decreasing (Hear, hear!) He hoped the honourable gentleman would endea your to derive the information on which he relied, from more authentic sources than those of his honourable and learned friend. With respect to the surprise of the hon. gent. at the length of time the new arrangement had occupied, it would not be for him to learn that it was much easier to destroy than to create a Government. As the honourable gentleman had been a little instrumental in overturning the VOL. III.-1812. Τ

present, he ought to have rather more patience in waiting for the establishment of its successor.

Mr. Whitbread explained, that his information was derived from public documents and the Acts of the American Government.

Lord Castlereagh observed, that there had been an embargo on the American ports three years ago, which however had not yet produced war.

Mr. Whitbread replied, that the act of laying the embargo was not the only cause from which he deduced the probable and calamitous effect of a rupture between the two countries.

Mr. Brougham alluded to a recent declaration of Lord Bathurst, that there was a faint prospect of conciliation with America.

Mr. Stewart Wortley deprecated an adjournment at so momentous a period, but was not of opinion that too much time had yet been taken in accomplishing the object of a new and more efficient arrangement.

Lord Castlereagh said no motion for adjournment had been made, nor bad the House therefore cognizance of any such intention. Here the conversation dropped.

MR. ST. JOHN MASON.

Mr. Sheridan moved an humble Address to the Prince Regent, praying that he would be pleased to order to be laid before the House a Copy of the Lord Lieutenant's Report on the case of Mr. St. John Mason.

Mr. Ryder took the occasion of saying, that he thought the House had acted hastily in originally consenting to this inquiry.

After a few words from Mr. Moore, Mr. Sheridan, and Mr. Hutchinson, the motion was agreed to.

The Clandestine Marriage Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Bill for making a Provision for Mr. Perceval's Family, was read a first time.

THE PUBLICANS' BILL.

Sir T. Turton moved that the Publicans' Bill should be referred to a Committee of the whole House.

Mr. D. Giddy remarked, that it was from no disrespect to the author of this measure that he pronounced it to be the most absurd and preposterous Bill ever brought into Parliament. It was useless to any good, and efficient only for

139 mischief. It not only would operate to injure the dealers in pewter, but to prevent the public in a great measure from drinking porter out of pewter pots, which Sir H. Davy had recently demonstrated to be a practice that greatly improved the taste of that beverage.

Sir T. Turton and Mr. Whitbread supported the Bill.

Mr. Sheridan expressed some surprise at the unusual tone and manner of the honourable gentleman (Mr. Giddy), who departed on this occasion from his characteristic gravity, and attempted to laugh the measure out of the House. With all his respect for him, he (Mr. Sheridan) would at any time rather listen to his arguments than his wit. Mr. Sheridan then contended in favour of the Bill, and agreed that far from injuring it would rather tend to augment the produce of the Cornish mines, which seemed to be the chief object of the honourable gentleman's anxiety, and in which he himself must be allowed to have a fellow feeling, since he held an office, the salary of which was in exact proportion to that produce.

On a division there appeared only eight on one side, and seven on the other. The House was accordingly counted out.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27.

Earl Grosvenor moved that the account of the Salary and Emoluments of the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod be laid before the House.-Ordered.

His lordship then proposed a Resolution, suggesting the inexpediency of filling up the office of Gentleman Usher, till regulated; but afterwards agreed to postpone it till to

morrow.

Several witnesses were examined on the subject of the Orders in Council.-Adjourned.