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conduct of the noble lord, would remain unanswered, and

Mr. W. Smith spoke to order. Unless the honourable gentleman meant to conclude with some motion, his observations were very irregular,

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Mr. Leycester was not prepared to make any motion; but when the honourable baronet made his statement, he trusted they would allow him to make a counter statement, under the same circumstances. He was proceeding when he was again called to order by

Mr. W. Smith, who observed, that unless the honourable gentleman would move for some paper, such observations could only lead to disorderly discussion.

Mr. Leycester then stated, that he would conclude by moving for the production of an order of the court of king's bench, for the discharge of a rule moved for in that court for a new trial, in the action brought against sir Francis Burdett. On the suggestion of the Speaker, however, who intimated that it was usual to give a formal notice of such a motion, Mr. Leycester abstained from any further remarks, and gave notice, that he would move for the production of this paper to-morrow.

'DISTILLERIES.

Lord Binning was desirous of postponing his motion for taking into consideration the report of the committee on the distillation of spirits, until to-morrow, if an honourable gentleman, whose notice, stood for to-morrow, would consent to put it off.

Mr. W. Taylor replied, that he had been that morning applied to, to postpone his motion to-morrow (relative to the Dardanelles), for the purpose of allowing the local militia bill to be proceeded with. Considering the investigation of the subject of his motion as of the utmost importance tó the character of the country, and having already frequently postponed it, he could not consent to postpone it any longer.

: Mr. Windham reprobated this sort of hocus pocus, by which the house was kept ignorant of what business would come before it. If the arrangement that seemed to have been made was carried into effect, then it would happen that the gentlemen who came down that night to listen to a discussion on the distilleries, would find themselves engaged in a debate on the local militia; and that

to-morrow, those who would come to debate the local militia, would be surprised by the substitution of the distilleries.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer denied that there was any thing more in this circumstance than what frequently occurred, namely, that when the first notice on the order book was not proceeded with, the next was taken in its stead.

Lord H. Petty observed, that some disappointment must certainly exist in consequence of the postponement of the noble lord's motion; the more so, as in giving the notice on Monday, the noble lord had declared that the motion would certainly come on this day. With respect to the motion which stood for to-morrow, it related to a subject, the investigation of which it was most desirable no longer to defer.

Mr. Barham, after an eulogium on the industry and talents displayed by the noble lord in the chair of the committee, observed that he had been given to understand that a disposition had been manifested in a certain quarter to bring the parties who now differed so widely, nearer to each other in opinion. He thought,, therefore, that the house would consult its own convenience, by allowing an opportunity for any arrangement to be made upon this subject.

Mr. Coke was proceeding to state his objection to the report, when he was called to order by

Mr. Broderic, who observed, that the subject before the house was merely the time at which the report should be discussed.

Lord Binning said, if a right honourable gentleman would postpone the Dublin police bill from Friday, he would willingly bring his motion on that day.

Mr. H. Lascelles, if any thing like an accommodation was in view (of which he declared himself perfectly ignorant), thought that Friday would be a better day than to-morrow,

Mr. W. Wynne lamented that the noble lord had not Aetermined upon this postponement last night. Had he done so, the discussion of the local militia bill would not have been brought ou so unexpectedly, and in the absence of several gentlemen who were anxious to deliver their sentiments upon it.

Mr. Curwen was of opinion, that the state of the coun

try might be such, with relation to other powers, as to render it a precedent to adopt the recommendation of the committee.

Mr. Thornton requested that the discussion might be postponed till Monday, as his colleague, and he would have an opportunity before that day of learning the senti ments of their constituents. A public meeting in the county of Surry would be held on Saturday, and he should be sorry that the debate came on before that time. After some further conversation, in which Sir J. Seabright, Sir S. Romilly, Lord Binning, Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Barham, Mr. W. Taylor, Sir A. Wellesley, and Mr. Windham, participated, it was agreed that lord Binning's notice should stand for to-morrow, and Mr. W. Taylor's for Friday.

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DROITS OF ADMIRALTY.

Sir C. Pole having had the satisfaction since he came to the house, of being informed by the chancellor of the exchequer, that the subject of his motion was investigating by order of government, postponed it to Thursday se'nnight.

Ordered, on the motion of the Chancellor of the Exche quer, pursuant to notice, that the house should to-mor row resolve itself into a committee to consider of so much of the act of the 48th of his present majesty as relates to the duties on goods, wares, and merchandize imported into Great Britain, and Ireland, which had been warehoused for exportation; and also with respect to prize goods imported within the period mentioned in said acts, previous to the publication of the orders of council.

Mr. Rose gave notice, that he should to-morrow move for leave to bring in a bill for the regulation of wages amongst the cotton manufacturers, and respecting the use of machinery by the same.

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ANNUITIES.

Mr. R. Baring asked the chancellor of the exchequer whether it was intended to go into the committee for the consideration of the plan with respect to the public annui ties to-morrow.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that the tables were not yet printed, and if they should not be ready

by to-morrow, that he would not press the resumption of the committee on that day.

LOCAL MILITIA.

Lord Castlereagh moved the order of the day for the house resolving itself into a committee on the local militia bill.

Lord Milton objected to the speaker's leaving the chair, on the ground that the gentlemen who were now in the house had come in expectation of other business; and that those persons were absent who most wished to take part in the debate, and were enabled by their information to throw light upon the subject.

Lord Castlereagh understood that the arrangement had been agreed to, by which this business would come on tonight. He did not expect a fuller house on the local militia bill than he then saw.

Mr. Windham said, that notwithstanding the easy, selfsatisfied way in which the noble lord expressed himself, he should have recollected that if the house was full, it was filled by gentlemen who came down to the discussion of another business, which had been positively fixed for that night. On account of the absence of many gentlemen, who wished to take part in this discussion, he moved that it should be postponed till Friday.

After a short conversation, the question was put on Mr. Windham's motion:

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On readmission into the gallery, we found the house in a committee on the local militia bill, and in discussion upon that clause, which determines the ages between which in dividuals are liable to the ballot.

Sir J. Hall thought that the period of eighteen was certainly the fittest time for young men to commence military service, and that every year after they became less and less fit. He was of opinion that if the ballot was confined to young men between eighteen and nineteen, a suffi cient number would be found to answer the purposes required, without carrying the ballot to men of more ad

vanced years. He thought the age of thirty-five much too far advanced.

Lord Castlereagh admitted, that in some counties the principle of the honourable baronet might answer, and produce even more men than were wanted for the particu lar district, but in many others it would not at all preduce the number required, and the age must be extended.

Sir James Montgomery thought the range of years stated in the clause too extensive, as it would give a greater number of men than were required.

Lord Castlereagh answered, that the numbers were salculated by the population of each county; and: a nat-' rower limitation would not give the number of men required.

Sir James Montgomery observed, that last year's militia bill excepted numbers on the ground of being volun teers; but in this bill, every county was ordered to find its quota, without any regard to the number of its volunteers, Neither was any exception proposed on account of the number of a man's children, however great; and in this respect he thought that carrying the ballot so high as thirty-five years of age, would be extremely oppressive to numbers of poor men with large families depending on their industry. He therefore suggested an exception in favour of men having more than three children; and he also thought the hardship much greater on men after thirty than before; more especially a poor shop-keeper, or any man settled in life, of small capital, whose income does not exceed 1007. a year, who must in this case be driven to the necessity of serving to the ruin of his business, or paying a fine equal to one-fifth of his income, besides his liability to the income tax, which was already intolerable.

Sir W. W. Wynne thought that by making the term from eighteen to thirty, about one in five would be drawn for service in the county where he lived; but the clause as it stood would take two out of three of the male popu, lation.

Lord Castlereagh said, that the committee, on considering the measure maturely, would find that it would on no account be so oppressive as seemed to be apprehended To the working manufacturer who could earn six shillings

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