Friday, May 18 1804

Mr. Pitt took the oaths and his seat upon his re-election for the University of Cambridge. The right hon. gent. was introduced by Lord Castlereagh and the Master of the Rolls.—The house having, pursuant to summons, attended in the House of Lords, the Speaker, on its return, announced that the royal assent had been given by commission to the Additional Import Duty Bill, and to several private bills.—Mr. Huskisson took the oaths and his seat for Liskeard.—New writs were ordered for the election of a representative for the county of Galway, in Ireland, in the room of Lord Dunlo, who has accepted the office of one of the commissioners for managing the affairs of India; also, for the borough of Christchurch, in the room of the right hon. George Rose, who has accepted the office of Paymaster-General of his Majesty's Land Forces; also, for the borough of Helston, in the room of Lord Fitzharris, who has been appointed one of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury.—The Solicitor-General brought in a bill for indemnifying such Attornies and Solicitors as may have neglected taking out certificates, pursuant to the act of the 32d of his present Majesty. Read a 1st, and ordered to be read a 2d time on Monday se'nnight.—Mr. J. H. Addington brought in a bill for amending the acts for regulating disputes between the masters and journeymen engaged in the cotton trade. Read a 1st, and ordered to be read a 2d time on Monday se'nnight.—Lord Marsham reported from the committee on the Middlesex Election, that it was their wish to be allowed to adjourn from to-morrow till Wednesday next. The house, on motion, granted leave accordingly.—The second reading of the Prize Agency bill was, on the motion of Mr. Jervis, postponed till Monday se'nnight.—Mr. Wilberforce said, that in order to suit the convenience of some gentlemen, he should postpone to Tuesday se'nnight his intended motion for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.—Mr. R. Dundas obtained leave to bring in a bill for regulating the expence necessary to carry into execution the several acts with respect to the militia of Scotland, and also the General Defence Act.—The house resolved into a committee on the bill for facilitating the arrest of offenders; but a wish being expressed by Colonel Vereker and Mr. D. Browne, that some provision should be made in the bill to enable grand juries in Ireland to raise a fund for carrying a into execution, the chairman was, after a few words from the Attorney-General and Mr. Ormsby, directed to report progress, and to ask leave to sit again on Wednesday next. On the house being resumed, leave was given accordingly.—The house in a committee went through the Scotch Excise Licence bill, and the report was ordered to be presented on Wednesday next.—Mr. Western, after some prefatory remarks upon the state of our Corn Laws, and the necessity of adopting some legislative measure respecting them, moved, in order to enable gentlemen to form an idea of the progress of our agriculture, and the quantity of our consumption for several years back, and thence to judge how far the necessity he had mentioned existed, "that there be laid before the house an Account of the quantity of corn, grain, meal, flour, and malt, imported into, or exported from England and Scotland; from the 5th of Jan. 1790, and also from the latter period, up to the 5th of Jan. 1804, together with an account of the bounties, drawbacks, and duties paid upon the same; also a statement of the average price of each species of grain in each year, distinguishing the quantity, &c. in each year. These motions were agreed to, as was a motion by Mr. Harrison, that a similar account should be made up to the latest period.—On the motion of Mr. S. Bourne, the account upon the table respecting the amount of drawbacks allowed to common Brewers under the act of the 42d of the King, was withdrawn in order to present a more correct account; which account was presented accordingly, and ordered to lie on the table.—The committal of the Irish Revenue Regulation bill was postponed till Wednesday next, as were the committees of supply and ways and means.—Mr. Pitt moved to postpone, till Wednesday, the reading the report of the Lords amendments in the Volunteer Consolidation bill. Ordered.—Mr. Pitt also moved to postpone till Wednesday se'nnight, the 3d reading of the Army of Reserve Suspension bills, for G. Britain and Ireland; and, at the same time gave notice, that he should, in the interim, submit to the house a proposition, connected with the subject of those bills. Ordered.—After some further proceeding on private bills, the house, on the motion of Mr. Pitt, adjourned to Wednesday next.