ferred the mitigation by fine, and was not surprised at the opposition of the right honourable gentleman, because he was most animated in resisting every principle that was borrowed from himself; the fine being the principle of his training bill, which did not admit of substitution. The insurance he looked upon as injurious to the military service. In the case of insurance offices, the office keeper endeavoured, as was natural, to obtain the men on the cheapest terms, and so far interfered with the recruiting) for the army. The same effect was produced by the insurance clubs, and by the assistance afforded by the pa rishes to individuals of a particular description. The. insurance, if allowed in this instance, would have the effect of withdrawing the men from the service. The service under this bill was different from that under the perma nent militia establishment; for whilst persons could not enter into the latter, without destruction to all their domestic habits and prospects in life, the service under the former would not be attended by that ruin which the right honourable gentleman apprehended. The permission of insurance would have the effect of throwing the wholeburthen of service upon the poorer classes, by withdrawing all those whose means enabled them, by insurance,' to cover themselves from the personal service. He was convinced, that insurance was at complete variance with the principle of the measure, and therefore he could notconsent to allow it under any circumstances to interfere with the operation of this bill. 1 Mr. Davies Giddy thought that the clause, as worded, appeared to be too severe; because it would seem that in every instance the fine was to be the property of the person paying it, whereas he was of opinion that parents should be allowed to pay for their sons, and masters for their ap-prentices or servants. Mr. Babington spoke at some length, and, as far as we could collect, was not adverse to the clause. Lord Henry Petty contended, that by insurance they who insured would not do it to withdraw themselves from the service of the country, but to enable them to meet an option held out to them by the legislature. He insisted also that it was the middle class of industrious persons that would, by the prohibition of insurance be ruined, either by the fine, or by personal service, to the utter destruc tion of their business or professions. He entirely disapproved of the clause. Lord Castlereagh accedel to the principle suggested by a gentleman (Mr. D. Giddy), and had no doubt, that a proviso might be prepared to allow fathers to pay the fine for their sons; and masters for their apprentices or servants, without interfering with the general operation of the bill. Mr. Windham again insisted that this measure would operate lightly on the higher classes, and heavily on the poor. After a few words from Mr. W. Wynne, a division); took place, when the numbers were: For the clause Majority 106. 16 90 The other clause was then agreed to, and the house having resumed, the report was brought up, when the Speaker informed the house, that the whole report, was now before the house, and that the question would be that the amendments of the committee be agreed to, which passed in the affirmative. Lord Castlereagh then brought up a clause, requiring the clerks of subdivisions to give security by bond to the deputy lieutenants for such names as they should receive; which was agreed to: Also a clause to regulate the mode of making returns of the days of the attendance of volunteers at drill, and clauses for apportioning and raising the number of local militia in the cinque ports, together with several other clauses, which were severally agreed to. The amendments having been gone through, Lord Castlereagh proposed Wednesday next for the third reading of the bill. Mr. Windham expressed his surprise that the noble lord should be so anxious to precipitate the last stage of the bill, the more so, as it had this night been allowed to proceed two stages. Lord Castlereagh felt no less surprised at the surprise. of the right honourable gentleman, for surely no hurry had taken place in the progress of the bill; on Wednes day last the bill was in a committee, and then the only clauses to which the right honourable gentleman had obVOL. III.-1808. 3 B 370* THE PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER. jected, were again under consideration. There was now Ссом.. to occur an interruption of business for three or four days,. and during that period, the right honourable gentleman would surely be able to make up his mind with respect to any further objections which it might be his intention to offer against the principle or the provisions of the bill. Mr. W. Wynne, Mr. Tierney, and Mr. Calcraft, were exceedingly anxious the third reading of the bill might not be pressed for Wednesday next, especially if the curates' bill was to take precedence of it. The bill was unquestionably of more importance than any of those which were said to stand in the way. It was therefore their wish that the bill should take the precedence of any other, if not on Wednesday next, at least on Thursday or Friday. Lord Castlereagh and the Chancellor of the Exchequer observed, that the business which stood for these days could not possibly be postponed. The second reading of the curates' bill was to have come on immediately after the Easter recess; and the Dublin police bill was with universal consent fixed for Thursday, it being utterly inconvenient for many Irish members to attend after that day. Mr. Windham and Mr. Calcraft still pressed their objections to Wednesday, when the question whether the bill be read a third time on Wednesday, before the discussion on the curates' bill, was put, and the house divided: Ayes 56 7 Sir John Newport was for postponing to a future day the report of the committee on Irish finance, as far as re spected the admission of catholics into the direction of the bank of Ireland. This proposition produced a very warm conversation, and the worthy baronet's proposition was overruled. The other orders of the day were then deferred, and the house adjourned till Wednesday next. HOUSE OF LORDS. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8. Some bills on the table were forwarded in their stages. The orders of council warehousing bill, the Irish glebe house bill, and a private bill, were brought from the commus, by Mr. Wharton and other members, and read a first time; as were also some private bills, brought up by Mr. Blackburn and other members. Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8. Mr. Creevey postponed his notice for referring the papers relative to the droits of admiralty to a commi tee till Friday. The loan bill and gamekeepers regulation bill were read a second time and committed, the latter for Friday and the former for to-morrow. The copper duty bill and the pilchard bill were read a third time and passed. A petition was presented from the inhabitants of Arbroath, in favour of the alteration in the mode of administering justice in Scotland. Colonel Buller reseted a petition from the owners and occupiers of land in the hu dred of Rochefort, against the sugar distillery bill: ordered to lie on the table. The barrack estate bill was reported, and ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. The sugar and coffee exportation bill was reported, and ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. Mr. Rose moved that the hou e should to-morrow go into a committee to consider of the trade between this country and the Cape of Good Hope, and the southern whale fishery. Ordered. The inland coal carriage bill was brought u and read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to morrow. The American trade bill was brought up and read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow, Mr. Brand presented a petition from John Cartwright of Enfield, against the local militia bill, as ineffectual for its 4 object, and contrary to the spirit of the constitution. Ordered to lie on the table. SUPPLIES. On the motion of Mr. Huskisson, the house went into a committee of supply, and the petitions from the board of agriculture and the African company were referred to the committee. Mr. Huskisson proposed the following resolutions: £68,787 10 0 Salaries of officers in the houses of lords and commons Bounties on fish, for supply of London and Westminster markets Caledonian canal Works about both houses of parliament 54,0 0 0 0 1913 12 4. 6000 0.0 51,250 0 0 12,100 0 0 with several others. The two following were proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer : French emigrant clergy and laity For the use of our settlements on the coast of Africa 20,000 0 0 23,000 0 0 Mr. Curwen thought this a proper opportunity to mention the valuable discovery of captain Manly for saving the lives of seamen in shipwrecks on the coast, by throwing a rope over the vessel from a mortar on shore. He hoped that this would not escape the attention of ministers, with whom it ought to be a great object to preserve the lives of those gallant men. Admiral Harvey, Mr. Yorke, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, were disposed to think that the invention would answer; but that as it had not as yet been properly ascertained, it ought to be referred to the admiralty board first, that i's efficacy might be completely tried. Mr. Curwen would press it no further at present; but hoped, that though the gallant officer asked nothing, his merit would not be overlooked. The resolution was then agreed to. Report to morrow. PLYMOUTH DOCK-YARD. Mr. Tyrrwhit adverted to the great depredations committed in Plymouth dock-yard, and moved for leave to bring in a bill to establish a police for that yard. |