Tuesday, July 2, 1805

[Minutes.] On the motion of Mr.Wigram, a new writ was ordered for the borough of New Ross, in Ireland, in the room of Charles Tottenham, esq. who had accepted the office of Escheater of Munster. In pursuance of a message from their lordships, the Speaker attended in the house of lords, and on his return informed the commons that he had heard the royal assent given by commission to the Irish Civil List bill, the Land Tax Redemption bill, the Irish Import and Export Regulation bill, the Coasting Seamens' bill, the Woollen Manufacturers' Penalty Suspension bill, and the Poor Clergy bill. Mr. Alexander brought up the Report of the Committee on the Townleian Collection bill; the amendments were agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. A message from the lords acquainted the house, that their lordships had agreed to the Stipendiary Curates' bill, with several amendments, to which they desired the concurrence of the house.—Mr. Rose presented some accounts relative to ships under quarantine, and obtained leave to bring in a bill to indemnify such persons from the penalties they had incurred by infringing the Quarantine Acts.—Lord Brooke presented a petition from Mr. Greville, an American settler at Milford Haven, against the Southern Whale Fishery bill; which, after a few words from Mr. Rose, was ordered to lie on the table.—On the motion of the Attorney-General, the Lords' Amendments to the Offenders' bill were taken into consideration, and agreed to. The house, on the motion of Mr. Rose, went into the further consideration of the Report of the Committee on the Irish Infirmary bill; when the amendments were agreed to, others were introduced, and the bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. On the motion of Mr. Rose, the house took into consideration the Lords' Amendments to the Irish Distillery bill, the Irish Paper Duty bill, and the Irish Hearth Money bill; when these amendments being found inadmissible consistently with the privileges of the commons, the further consi- deration of them was adjourned to this day three months. On the motion of Mr. Vanisittart, the further consideration of the Report of the Committee on the Dublin Police bill was postponed to this day month. The house went into the further consideration of the Report of the Committee on the Dublin Paving bill. Several amendments were introduced, on which a short conversation arose between Mr. Vansittart, lord De Blaquiere, and Mr. John Latouche. Eventually they were agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. On the motion of Mr. Huskisson, the Distillery bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. Rose brought in a bill for the better Regulation of Pilots and Piloting Vessels navigating the British seas; which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. On the motion of Mr. Huskisson, the Paddington Canal Coal bill went through a committee, and the report was ordered to be received to- morrow. Colonel Stanley presented a petition from Mr. Francis Chalmers, of Liverpool, against the Corn laws, "praying the house speedily to introduce such legislative measures as to their wisdom and mercy shall seem fit, for the repeal of the act of the 31st of his present majesty, so far as relates to the payment of the duty called the Middle Duty, imposed and granted upon Corn imported from foreign parts, and warehoused in these kingdoms, when taken out for home consumption; and also for the repeal of the said act of the 44th of his present majesty, intituled, 'An Act to regulate the importation and Exportation of Corn, and the Bounties and Duties payable thereon.' And also for doing away the power vested in his majesty's privy council, of advising and procuring the allowance of the exportation of wheat or any other grain, the growth of his majesty's dominions, to any country whatever, whether in a state of amity or hostility with the United Kingdom, at any time when the price of corn shall exceed the price at which corn is allowed by law to be exported, with a bounty; and that the exportation of grain, the growth of the United Kingdom, when the price is double that at which foreign corn is allowed to be imported at the lowest duty, may never again be permitted upon any pretence whatsoever; and that so the laws made respecting corn, may be a certain and steady government as to the corn trade to be confidently acted upon by the petitioner. The petition was ordered to lie on the table.—The Leith Harbour bill was read a third time and passed.—Mr. Baldwin brought up the Report of the Committee on the members of parliament's Bankrupt Privilege bill, and the amendments were agreed to. A new clause was introduced by Mr. serjeant Best; which, after being opposed by sir W. Elford, and defended by alderman Prinsep, was adopted, and the bill was ordered to be read a third me to-morrow.—Mr. serjeant Best, adverting to the notice of his motion on the 11th Report of the Commissioners of Naval Enquiry, which stood for Thursday, declared his intention of deferring it until the next session of parliament.—The Consolidated Fund bill went through a committee, and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow.—Linghams's Divorce bill was read a third time and passed.—The report of the committee on Gardner's Divorce bill was brought up by Mr. Baldwin, agreed to, and the bill Ordered to be read a third time on Thursday.—On the motion of sir John Frederick, the report of the committee on the Lambeth Water Works bill was taken into further Consideration, agreed to, and the bill ordered to be engrossed.—Mr. Alexander obtained leave to bring in a bill for Regulating the Collection of Duties on Hearths, Carriages, Servants, &c. in Ireland; also a bill for Regulating the Collection of Duties on Spirituous Liquors, &c. in Ireland; also a bill for Regulating the Collection of Duties on Paper, &c. in Ireland. The hon. gent. then brought in bills to the above effect; which were read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.—The Sugar Drawback bill was read a second time, ordered to be committed to-morrow; as were also the Glass Duty bill, the Hop Duty bill, the Linen Drawback bill, the Irish Military Survey bill, and the Irish Loan Amendment bill.—Mr. Alexander brought up the Reports of the committees, on the Spanish Red Wine Duty bill, and the Straw Hat bill; which were agreed to, and the bills ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. The Commissioners of Accounts' bill was read a third time and passed.

[TROTTER'S INDEMNITY BILL.]— Mr. Whitbread brought in a bill for indemnifying Mr. Trotter and others giving evidence in the case of lord Melville, from any penalties to which they might otherwise be subject for acts committed by them under that noble lord, during the time he held the treasureship of the navy. The bill was read a first time. On the motion that it be read a second time.

Sir William Elford asked to what extent the indemnification was to go, and whether or not the bill was to protect the persons alluded to from civil as well as criminal proceedings?

Mr. Whitbread replied, that the bill would certainly defend such persons against criminal prosecutions alone.—The bill was then ordered to be read a second time to-morrow, and to be printed.

[DUKE OF ATHOLL'S CLAIM.]—On the order of the day for the third reading of the Athol Compensation bill,

Mr. Creevey , made his protest against the bill, which he unequivocally condemned.

Earl Temple expressed his strong conviction that the passing of this bill deserved the epithet that had been applied to it, "of a scandalous job." No measure of this kind had ever been carried before without recommendation from the crown. That, or an address, ought always to precede the granting of a pension to that amount from the consolidated fund.

Colonel Stanley assured the house, that had he considered this measure as a job, he would have had nothing to do with it. On the contrary, he thought it a measure of justice.

Mr. S heridan had waited to hear a few more protesters; but he thought the gentlemen might protest in less strong terms. Their strength of language, however, might be intended to cover their weakness of argument. He should not follow their example, and call them a scandalous opposition. As the summer season was come on, they would have time in the adjournment to become better informed of the nature of the business; and he believed they would then rejoice that their opposition had failed, as much as he now did.

Mr. Calcraft thought the hon. gentleman himself had paid little attention to the subject, since he constantly argued from some private statement, and not from the parliamentary documents.

Mr. Wilberforce confirmed what had been stated by the last speaker, respecting Mr. Sheridan's reference to a private statement, which he called The Case of the Duke of Athol. The revenues, according to the profit of which the noble duke was to receive an annuity, were the consequence of acts of parliament passed since the transfer, and to which he had no claim.

Lord De Blaquiere spoke warmly in behalf of the claim; he never gave a more conscientious vote in his life, than he should do for this measure.—A division then took place, when the numbers were, for the third reading, 42; against it, 12; majority 30.

Mr. Fobustone proposed, that the annuity should commence at the death of the duchess dowager of Athol, which proposition was rejected without a division— Adjourned.