The duchess of Brunswick's annuity bill was read a third time, and passed nem. con.

The military commissioners' bill was read a third time and passed.

An account of the proceedings of the Dutch detained ships at the commencement of the war, was brought up, and ordered to be printed.

The Lord Advocate of Scotland moved for leave to bring in a bill for regulating and defining the power of the court of tiends for augmenting and modifying the Stipends of the Scotch clergy. Leave given. The bill was brought up, and read a first time.

The land revenue bill was read a second time, and or` dered to be committed for to-morrow.

Mr. Wardel moved, that there be laid before, the house certain papers relative to the clothing of the army. Or dered.

The Scotch hare shooting bill passed through a com mittee of the whole house. Report to-morrow.

The report of the committee of the Irish prisoners' fees bill was brought up and agreed to, and the bill was or dered to be read a third time to-morrow.

Lord Folkstone wished to know whether any proceeds ing was intended to be instituted upon that part of the fifth report of the commissioners of military inquiry, which related to the medical department of the army; VOL. III.-1808.

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because it hap ened to come to his knowledge, that some medical gentlemen of great respectability (he particularly mentioned Mr. Keates and Mr. Knight) had been rather hardly dealt with in the report. The noble lord enume rated some important services which Mr. Knight in particular find rendered to the public.

Mr. Sturges Bourne said, that the report required seri ous investigation, and that the board of treasury would not take any hasty steps in consequence of it.

Mr. Huskisson rose, pursuant to notice, to move for leave to bring in a bill to evable the present commissioners appointed to examine the accounts of public expenditure in the West Indies, more speedily and effectually to investigate the said accounts.

Mr. Bankes Iroped that some mode would be found out for more effectually auditing the army accounts, which remained in arrear for twenty-three or twenty-four years. Leave was given to bring in the bill.

Mr. Huskisson also moved for leave to bring in a bill to enable the commissioners appointed to examine accounts in the barrack department, more speedily to investigate the said accounts. Leave given.

Sir Charles Pole withdrew his motion relative to the droits of admiralty, on an intimation being given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that his majesty had given directions to investigate the business, and that the investigation was now in train.

Sir John Newport gave notice, that on Monday next he would move certain resolutions relative to the bank of Ireland.

Mr. Bankes moved, that the account presented yester day by Mr. Palmer be referred to a committee, and that it be instructed to report thereupon to the house, for the purpose of ascertaining, more precisely than could be done at present, the sum due by the public to Mr. Palmer. The committee was appointed.

Mr. G. Vansittart moved that there be laid before the house an account of the sums paid into the hands of the receiver-general of the army by persons drawn for the militia and who have not served. Ordered.

Mr. Tierney moved the order of the day for proceeding in the examination of witnesses on the orders of council.

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Lord Castlereagh urged the propriety of proceeding to the further consideration of the local militia bill; at the same time he left it entirely to the feelings of the right honourable gentleman, whether he thought that the business which he had brought forward ought to take the precedence.

Mr. Rose stated that some of the witnesses, not expecting to be called upon on this evening, had not attended. The serjeant at arms having inquired, it was found that no persons were in attendance, and Mr. Tierney having declined to move any new order on the subject,

Mr. Whitbread thought that the attendance of those witnesses should be enforced, not so much by way of punishment as for the sake of example in future.

Lord Henry Petty supported the motion.

The Speaker said, that the house had a right to compel the attendance of any witness, and it was for the house to consider whether their absence was wilful or accidental. If it was wilful, the course would be, to order them into custody; but if it was accidental, it would be for the house to order their attendance on another day.

Mr. Whitbread moved, that they be ordered to attend to-morrow.

While the conversation was going on, the Speaker informed the house that the parties were come.

The Speaker having left the chair, Mr. Moling was called to the bar, and examined by Mr. Tierney. His answers to the questions put to him being given in rather an indecorous style, he was reprimanded in the course of his examination, and ordered to be more cautious in the language he used in future.

The above witness was examined at considerable length by Messrs. Tierney, Whitbread, Stephen, and Eden. The purport of his testimony went to prove, that the orders of council had not been attended with any of the effects he had expected would have resulted from them upon the continental trade; at the same time that he persisted in declaring it as his continued opinion, that of such effects they would sooner or later be ultimately produc.tive.

Three more witnesses were examined, after which the house resumed, and the further proceeding was fixed for Thursday.

The Dublin police bill was ordered to be committed to

morrow.

The ship privilege bill was brought up, read a first, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.

Mr. Rose moved for an account of the shipping entered, into the port of London in 1780, and 1802. Ordered.. The other orders were disposed of, and the house ad. Journed.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

FRIDAY, MAY 27.

The royal assent was given by commission to ninety, six public and private bill. The commissioners were, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Bathurst, and Lord Walsing

ham.

The military inquiry continuation bill, and the duchess of Brunswick's annuity bill, were brought up by Mr.. Wharton, and other members, and read a first time, as were also several private bills, brought up by Mr. Fane, şir Martin Foulkes, and other members.

Lord Auckland gave notice of a motion for Monday, for som accounts, but the purport of which we could not hear.

Several bills on the table were forwarded in their stages.

IRISH CATHOLICS.

Lord Grenville moved that the petition of the catholics of Ireland be read,

The petition was accordingly read by the clerk..

Lord Grenville. My lords, in bringing this subject under your lordships' consideration, I think it necessary to say a few words with respect to the delay which has taken place, in consequence of the postponement of the discussion from the day originally fixed. If that postponement has caused any inconvenience to those noble lords who hold official situations, or to any other noble lords, it is to me a matter of sincere regret. I was only induced to delay the discussion of this important question, on the account of a noble carl, my noble friend (carl Grey), whose talents are an ornament to this house, and to the exertions of whose ability this subject would have been

much indebted. I lament, however, to say, that domestic affliction, which would have prevented the attendance of my noble friend on the day for which this discussion was originally fixed, operates also now, to prevent his attendance on this day. It is unnecessary, my lords, for me to declare what are the sentiments of my noble friend upon this question; they are known; in order, however, to prevent any possible misrepresentation from going abroad, in consequence of his inability to attend here on this day, my noble friend wishes it to be distinctly understood, and has authorized me to state, what indeed every one of your lordships is, I am sure, fully convinced of namely, his full and entire concurrence in the object of this petition. If, however, I have reason to regret the delay which has taken place in the discussion of this question, on account of any inconvenience which mayhave thence arisen to any one of your lordships, I have ample ground for the greatest and most heartfelt satisfaction, that the discussion has been delayed till now; when I consider how much advantage this question has gained within that period, and how much beneficial assistance the subject has derived. Whether I consider the ability and the moderation with which this question was conducted, or the manner in which the proposition was received, I cannot help expressing my sincere satisfaction. A discussion so conducted, where nothing was said that could irritate the feelings of the catholics, or that could tend to produce any feelings of hostility or irritation between any classes of his majesty's subjects, must, I am convinced, have the happiest effect. I am convinced that the catholics must feel that such a discussion is highly beneficial to their cause. I rejoice at it, as displaying a disposition to conciliate a numerous class of our fellow-subjects. I rust that the same temper and moderation, the same disposition to conciliate, will be evinced in this house in the discussion of this night; that such will be the case, and that nothing will be said to excite irritation, I have the fairest hope, after the discussion to which I have alluded, that has taken place in the other house; for such a discussion, freed from all tende.cy to irritate and inflame the character of your lordships' house is a sufficient pledge. On my part, however inferior I may be in ability in urging these claims, to the person by whom they have been urged in another place, I am determined that