Baltic and Mediterranean; the great numbers of seamen in those ships, and the keeping those seamen in pay during the winter season; concluding, that, in his opinion, those extraordinary expences were not necessary for the service of Great Britain. His lordship was supported by the lord North and Grey, the earl Cowper, the earl of Strafford, the bishop of Rochester, the lord Trevor, and the earl Coningsby but they were opposed by the earl of Sunderland, lord Townsend, duke of Argyle, earl of Ilay, and the duke of Newcastle. : Protest against rejecting it.] The question being put, it was resolved in the negative. "Dissentient' "1. Because it being now admitted by the House, in the instruction given to the Committee, that the Navy-Debt was increased by employing more men in the sea-service yearly than were provided for by parliament, and by the not paying them off in the winter; the intention of the House in that instruction must, in our opinion, manifestly be to direct the Committee to inquire into the true occasion and reasonableness of those services, by which the Navy-Debt was increased; and that end could not, we think, be any ways attained without a sight of those treaties, instructions and orders, upon which those services were founded, since the considering the occasion of an extraordinary acknowledged expence must, we conceive, imply an inquiry into the true causes for which such an expence was made; we did therefore think it necessary to desire copies of the treaties, instructions and orders relating to the several Baltic expeditions, because without them we could not possibly learn the true reasons of those expeditions; and it seemed to us incongruous that the House should direct an inquiry, and not contribute to it, by directing also those materials to be laid before the Committee, which alone could render such an inquiry effectual. 2. Because the want of such authentic papers and instructions could no ways, we think, be supplied by any verbal representations, that might be made by lords in the minis ry, as facts occurred to their memory in the debate; this being no sufficient foundation for any parliamentary inquiry, much less for such a one as tends to approve, excuse, or blame the ineasures of those in power; since we cannot think it suitable either to the rules of reason or the dignity of this House, to proceed to resolutions relating to the conduct of ministers upon facts stated by the ministers themselves. "3. Because motions for such papers and instruments have been frequently made and complied with, nor bath any such motion ever (as far as we can learn) till of late been refused; the only paper included in the general motion that we thought any ways doubtful whether we should obtain, was the lord Carteret's instructions, which was moved for before, in this session, without success; however, we had hopes of prevailing even for a sight of that paper, when it became necessary, as we apprehend, to qualify the Committee of the whole House to do the work appointed by the House. "4. Because the great increase of the NavyDebt arose from the frequent sending of strong squadrons to the Baltic, and continuing them there at seasons of the year when the British fleet has seldom been known to be employed so far from home, and in so rugged a climate; and therefore we thought it reasonable to expect the fullest satisfaction in our inquiries into the grounds of expeditions, which had been carried on in so unusual, expensive and hazardous a manner; which the more extraordinary they were, the more they needed, in every respect, to be cleared and justified, that misapprehensions prevailing without doors, in relation to these Northern transactions, might be rectified, and such precedents might not remain without the reasons on which they were founded; whereas we are now apprehensive, that any resolutions on this head may lose much of their weight and influence, should they be known to have been framed upon the facts barely asserted by the ministers, without evidence of any sort to prove the truth of those facts. 5. Because one great view we had in our motion for those papers was to satisfy ourselves and others, that the Act of Settlement had been no ways infringed by those Northern expeditions; a point of the utmost consequence to the present establishment, and on which therefore all our care and circumspection ought to be employed: It is the birthright of the peerage, as to concur in the enacting all laws, so to inquire into the observation of them; and the more momentous the law is, the more it becomes us to consider how far it hath or hath not been violated; and one great inducement to our inquiry into the observation of that law, was the jealousy entertained (as we conceive) on that head, by many of his majesty's good subjects, observing that the war in the North ended at last in a peace, which stripped Sweden of all its best provinces, and confirmed the acquisition of them to the several Northern powers concerned, without any particular advantage, that we hear of, stipulated in behalf of Great-Britain, besides that of a new guarantee for the Protestant succession: A sight of the said treaties, instructions and orders might perhaps have dispelled these apprehensions; and therefore we thought it our duty to move for them, and to express our concern that such a motion was over-ruled; for we cannot think the argument used to discourage us from insisting on that motion (that it amounted to an inquiry whether the King had broke his Coronation oath) was consistent with the freedom of Parliamentary Debates, or agreeable to the known rules of our constitution, which free the crown from all blame, and suppose those only who give pernicious counsels answerable for the fatal effects of them.(Signed,) W. Ebor', Boyle, Foley, Weston, Bristol, St. John de Bletsho, Montjoy, Bingley, Scarsdale, Aberdeen, Compton, Fr, Ces triens', Fr. Roffen', Guilford, Straf- Resolutions of the Lords touching the NavyDebt.] Then the House, according to order, was adjourned during pleasure, and put into the said Committee: And after some time spent therein, the House was resumed, and the earl of Clarendon reported the two following Resolutions: "1. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the employing great numbers of seamen for several years last past, more than were provided for by parliament, and thereby increasing the Debt of the Navy, was occasioned by services which either were pursuant to the previous advice, or had the subsequent approbation of one or both Houses of parliament, and which were also necessary for the safety of the kingdom, and the tranquillity of Europe. to the evidence pointed at, we could wish that the growth of the Navy-Debt had been explained and justified by an inquiry into the ends and reasons for which it was contracted; but this way not being taken nor being possible to be taken, till the treaties, instructions and orders requisite to this purpose are produced, we know not in what sense either those sea-services, or that great Navy-Debt they caused, may be said to have been ap proved by this or the other House of Parlia ment. true motives upon which those services were 3. "But had we been duly informed of the undertaken, and thereby enabled to judge of their reasonableness, (as, we think, we in no degree were) yet we still must be of opinion, that those considerations, how important soever, would not have justified the exceeding the number of men asked of and allowed by parliament, which nothing but absolute and unforeseen necessity can ever excuse; whereas the occasions of these extraordinary expences were foreseen, and the fleets were sent out for many years successively, (the parliament sitting) without any previous demands made of such supplies as were proportioned to the exthat whenever such a debt is unavoidably incurred, it should be especially stated to the parliament, together with the necessity that occa sioned it, at their next assembling, that the excuse exceedings provided for in time, instead of may be then either allowed or censured, and the being offered to run on for many years together, till an insupportable debt is contracted, without any other notice taken of the reason of its growth, than the laying annually a general state of the debt on the table of the House of Commons. This we conceive to have been the case, and, if it be, we think, we do not err in affirm. ing, that had the services appeared to have been necessary, yet this manner of increasing the debt would not have been warranted. "2. That the nature of the said services neeessarily requiring some of his majesty's squadrons to be kept out the whole year, and detaining others abroad till the months of November or December; and it being requisite to fit out the said squadrons in the month of Fe-pence intended; and we are further of opinion, bruary or the beginning of March, in order to their sailing early in the spring, the paying them off, upon their return, was inconsistent with the due performance of those services; nor could the saving (if any) by such payment have in any degree made amends for the ill consequences which must thereby have arisen from the disappointment to the service." Protest against the first Resolution.] The first of the said Resolutions being read a second time, the question was put, whether to agree with the Committee in this Resolution? It was resolved in the Affirmative: "Dissentient "1. Because this resolution seems to clash with the instruction from whence it sprung, which was to consider the occasion of the increase of the Navy-Debt that arose from employing more men in the sea-service than were provided for by parliament; whereas from the resolution it appears only, that the services occasioned the debt, not what real occasion or reason there was for those services, which yet was the point we suppose chiefly in view, and most worthy of a parliamentary inquiry. "2. Because those services are, in this resolution, supposed to be justified by the previous advice or subsequent approbation of one or both Houses of Parliament: whereas it did not any way appear to us that either House of Parliament had previously advised, or subsequently approved such services, though the vouchers in that respect were often and earnestly required; nor doth it appear to us, how that assertion is warranted, either by general expressions in votes and addresses, or by a state of the NavyDebt communicated every year to the parliament; and therefore being still in the dark, as 4. "Neither can we apprehend, how the safety of the kingdom depended upon those extraordinary services, some of which were per formed in the Mediterranean, others in the Baltic, against powers not at enmity with GreatBritain, whose friendship (it seems to us) we should rather have cultivated, and whose resentments we had, and still have (we fear) reason to apprehend: we cannot but think it the true interest of Great-Britain, to intermeddle as little as is possible in the quarrels of Europe; and then, by our good offices chiefly, without declaring any resolution to support our mediation by force, or making ourselves either principals or parties in wars that do not immedi. ately concern us. We look upon our navy (the natural security of our Island) as too much hazarded, and some chief branches of our trade as highly endangered, by the consequences of those remote expeditions; nor are we yet satisfied, that the peace, by us mediated and concluded in the North, hath not made the provision of Naval Stores for our fleet more I 1. precarious than formerly, though on that single a time, when every way of getting money at the article the safety of the kingdom may possibly expence of the public, is found to be less in depend; nor can we judge the present tran-people's thoughts than formerly) may probably quillity likely to last, since after all our expence the late Northern Peace hath reduced Sweden so low, and left the Czar in the possession of such provinces as may render him very formidable; and what matters may still remain unadjusted in treaties, whereby the present tranquillity may soon be disturbed, we cannot determine, since we have not been indulged in our desire of inspecting into those treaties. -(Signed) W. Ebor', Aylesford, Foley, Scarsdale, Trevor, Aberdeen, St. John de Bletsho, Strafford, North and Grey, Fr. Roffen', Gower, Fran. Cestriens', Boyle, Bathurst, Bristol, Weston, Uxbridge, Cowper, Guilford, Compton, Bingley." Protest against the second Resolution.] Then the other Resolution being likewise read a second time, the question was put, whether to agree with the Committee in the said Resolution; it was resolved in the affirmative. "Dissentient' encourage those, who shall have opportunity in future times, too readily to contribute towards the encrease of Navy-Debts, though they are attended with so many ill consequences, that his majesty, in a most gracious speech from the throne, has very lately been pleased to say, they do not only affect all public credit, but greatly increase the charge and expence of the current service, and are, of all others, the most heavy and burthensome.- (Signed) W. Ebor', Cowper, Trevor, North and Grey, Weston, Compton, Uxbridge, Strafford, Bristol, Aylesford, Guilford, Boyle, F. Roffen. Bathurst, Scarsdale, Gower, F. Cestriens. Aberdeen, Foley, St. John de Bletsoe." Victualling the Ships abroad was one Cause of the Accounts and Orders, relating to the Victual- shew, That one occasion of the increase of the 1. "Because that part of the question which concerns such of his majesty's ships, as are said, but not proved, to have been necessarily kept out the whole year, has not the least relation, as we conceive, to any thing that has beening of those papers, his lordship endeavoured to yet objected to; which was the not paying ships that came home before winter, and ought, by the antient usage of the navy, to have been paid off, and therefore, we cannot but think, was very improperly made part of the question. 2. "Because it being admitted in the question, that the ancient usage of the navy was, that all ships, when they returned home from their several voyages, should not be kept in pay during the winter, (as was the case of the late Baltic squadrons for some years past) and it not having been made appear, as we think, in a parliamentary way, that by any treaty with Sweden it was necessary to send ships sooner in any year, than might have been consistent with the said antient usage, we are of opinion, that the resolution will encourage the practice complained of, and will greatly contribute to make flects, so much the honour and security of this kingdom, too chargeable to be sup ported, 3. "Because we cannot but be surprized, that there should be the least doubt, as in the question, whether any money might have been saved by paying off the men, when it appears by a paper upon the table, that several ship's companies, amounting to many thousands of men, have been kept in pay during the winter, which expence, we cannot but think, ought to have been avoided, it appearing from other pers and representations upon the table, that by paying the men off, more than five parts in six of the whole charge of those men, during the winter, had been saved to the public. pa 4. "Because a resolution of this House, that seems to countenance a practice of this sort, (at flected upon, as he was commander in chief in The Lord Torrington thinking himself rethe Mediterranean, endeavoured to justify himself from any imputation of that nature, and among other things alledged, That provisions were much dearer there than in England; that it was impossible to carry such quantities and therefore they are obliged to buy them there from hence, as would serve for any long time; at any rate." Townshend and the earl of Ilay; and though His Lordship was supported by the lord the earl Cowper, the lord Bathurst, the earl of earl of Uxbridge, yet the question being put, Strafford, and the earl Coningsby backed the "That the Victualling his majesty's ships by any other than the Victuallers appointed for that and by taking away the proper cheques, is one service, is contrary to the course of the navy, Debt:" it was resolved in the negative without great cause of contracting so large a Navydividing. turned before this House from the VictuallingOffice, that many ships and squadrons of ships have of late years been victualled by the commanders, very few of which were so victualled by any order, and amongst those many instances a few only were excused, because there were no agents for the Victualling-Office, nor any stores in the places where the ships then were; we think it reasonable to conclude that all the several victuallings in the said paper contained being much the greater number, which were neither excused therein, nor said to be ordered, were so provided without any order or excuse whatsoever; and consequently were a needless breach of the said good course of the navy, and by taking away the proper check made to save the public money must, in our opinion, necessarily have been one of the occasions of the increase of the Navy Debt. 2. "We cannot but observe, that if the said excuse had (in the paper above-mentioned) been applied to all the several instances there of victualling, in a manner contrary to the course of the navy, yet it had been insufficient, since it is not alledged that agents for the victualling and stores might not have been timely had in the places where the ships were victualled, if due notice had been given to the commissioners of the Victualling, and proper precautions and endeavours had been used to that end. 3. "We cannot but think, that carrying this question in the negative will undoubtedly encourage this breach of the course of the navy, as it is acknowledged to be, and in consequence put it into the power of every admiral or commander in chief of any squadron, and every commander of a particular ship, not only to furnish such provisions, both in quantity and quality, as they shall think fit, but by letting the men go on shore when in port, on pretence of supplying provisions, leave a charge on the public for want of the proper check, though to the detriment of the sea service. 4. "Because by this leave given to the commanders on the head of victualling they have it in their power (through the want of the said true and ancient check) to bring a very great charge upon the head of wages, which must undoubtedly, as we apprehend, occasion a great waste of the public treasure, and consequently an increase of the Navy-Debt. 5. "Because, we think, that to suppose the commander of any squadron or ship will not, when it is so entirely in his power, do what shall be for his interest, is to believe him less inclined to his interest than the generality of his fellow-subjects on shore. 6. "Because, we believe, if this House will not discourage taking away proper checks, till proof had (as urged in the debate) of what had been got by individuals for want of those checks, the delay and difficulties attending such an inquiry will probably hinder any discouragement being given to such practices, which are allowed to be contrary to the standing instructions to the commissioners of the Victualling, and to the commanders of his majesty's ships.(Signed) W. Ebor', North, and Grey, Compton, Boyle, St. John de Bletsoe, Bathurst, Scarsdale, Trevor, Strafford, Craven, Guildford, Bingley, Litchfield, Aylesford, Bristol, Uxbridge, Cowper." Protest on refusing to adjourn when the Lord Chancellor came late to the House.] Feb. 3. The Lord Chancellor not coming to the House till the Lords had been met above two hours, and not having sent to the lord chief justice King, whom his majesty, by letters pa tent under the great seal, entered in the journal, had authorised to supply the place of the Lord Chancellor, in his lordship's absence, Earl Cowper moved, That in order to go upon the business of the day, they should proceed to the choice of a Speaker, pro interim; named, but these going out of the House to and the dukes of Somerset and Kingston were avoid it, the lord Lechmere was named next, and like to be chosen; while this matter was debating, ing some uneasiness among the Lords, acquaintThe Lord Chancellor came in, and observ moned to attend his majesty at St. James's, had ed the House, "That be, having been suinaccordingly waited upon his majesty there, where he was detained, longer than he could foresee, by his majesty's command; and that as soon as he was at liberty, he came hither with the utmost expedition; and asked pardon kept in expectation of him.” for his stay of the Lords, who had been so long Several lords would not admit of that excuse, but suggested, That the House of Peers, being the greatest council in the kingdom, to which all other councils ought to give way, ought not to be made to wait on any account; and therefore moved, That, in order to shew their resentment, the House should adjourn to the Monday following; but the question being put thereupon, was carrried in the. negative, by 49 voices against 31. Hereupon the following Protest was entered: "Dissentient' "1. Because the House standing adjourned to this day at eleven o'clock, and a great num. ber of lords being met, and expecting the com ing of their Speaker till near three o'clock, they seemed to us generally to resent this usage, and without any dissent, that we could perceive, proceeded, according to the standing order of this House, towards chusing a Speaker; but meeting with some difficulties as to the persons nominated, the Lord Chancellor came before any choice made; and as soon as the House was sat, the Lord Chancellor alledged, as the reason of his long absence, that he had been summoned to attend his majesty at St. James's, where the business had lasted much longer than was expected; which excuse, though it might in great measure free the Lord Chancellor from the imputation of wilful neglect of duty, yet it seemed to us in no degree to justify the indignity which we think was upon the whole matter done to the House, which is undoubtedly the greatest council in the kingdom, to which all other councils ought to give way, and not that to any other; and therefore the business of any other council ought not to have detained the Speaker of this House after the hour appointed for its meeting, and during the time of the day the House has usually of late spent in business; and therefore we thought the least resentment the House could shew on this occasion, to prevent its being used so for the future, was to adjourn without entering on any business and this the rather, because we foresaw it could not obstruct any public affairs, since the time was so far spent, as that no business of consequence could well have been gone through with effect, though entered upon. : "2. As we may venture to say, that the dignity of this House has not been of late years increasing, so we are unwilling that any thing, we conceive to be a gross neglect of it, should pass without some note on our records, that we were sensible of such neglect, aud did not approve it; which we thought would have been in some measure attained by an immediate adjournment, nor was any other method proposed; and since that could not be effected we enter this dissent, with our Reasons, that it may appear to posterity we were zealous to withstand, in a manner proposed, the further progress of a practice so injurious, as we conceive, to the honour and authority of this supreme council.-(Signed,) W. Ebor', Uxbridge, Weston, Boyle, Cowper, Somerset, Scarsdale, Bingley, Maynard, Guilford, North and Grey, Litchfield, Bathurst, Osborne, Strafford, Craven, Montjoy, Trevor, Ashburnham, Bristol, Foley, St. John de Bletsoe, Fran. Cestriens', Aberdeen, Compton." one of the barons of the Exchequer, with endeavouring to corrupt the borough of Banbury in the county of Oxon, in order to procure sir William Codrington to be chosen a representative for the said borough in the ensuing election. The sum of this Charge was, that Mr. Baron Page had not only offered to the said Corporation to forgive them six or seven hun dred pounds, they owed him for their new charter, but likewise to give them another large sum in ready money, which sir John Cope having offered to prove by undeniable evidence, set the whole House into a flame; and some members were for censuring the Baron immediately; but Mr. Robert Walpole moderated that heat, representing, "That it was unreasonable to arraign, condemn, and censure a man, especially one in so eminent a station, before they heard what he had to say in his own vindication; and besides, that it would look like prejudging the merits of the election of that borough; and therefore he was of opinion, they ought not to take any notice of that Complaint, until the election was over, and then, if any thing of that nature appeared, the House might proceed to censure as they should think fit.' He was supported by several other members of the Court-Party, who alledged, That when they should hear what Mr. Baron Page had to say for himself, the matter might appear quite otherwise; and that the gentleman who accused him, might be either misinformed, or imposed upon. Hereupon the matter of the said Charge was ordered to be heard at the bar of the House the 13th. Feb. 2. Ordered, That the Complaint made yesterday, by sir John Cope, bart. a member of this House, against Mr. Baron Page, be by him put into writing, and delivered to the clerk of this House: And that a copy of the said Charge be delivered to Mr. Baron Fage. Sir John Cope charges Mr. Baron Page with Sir John Cope accordingly delivered the said endeavouring to corrupt the Borough of Bun-Charge in writing, to the clerk of this House: Which is as follows; viz. bury.] February 1. Sir John Cope, bart. member for Tavistock, charged sir Francis Page,* *This was the notorious Judge Page so rePeatedly mentioned by Pope: "Morality, by her false guardians drawn, "Chicane in furs, and Casuistry in lawn, "Gasps, as they straiten at each end the "cord, "And dies, when Dullness gives her Page the "word: "Slander or poison dread from Delia's rage, "Hard words or hanging, if your Judge be "Page." "There was a judge of this name, always ready to hang any man that came in his way, of which he was suffered to give a hundred miserable examples during a long life, even to his dotage."-Pope. "In the early editions of Pope's Works, a blank was left for the word Page, in the above VOL, VII. That Mr. Baron Page hath endeavoured to couplet. The judge, conceiving that his name was meant to fill it up, sent his clerk to Mr. Pope to complain of the insult. Pope told the young man that the blank might be supplied by many monosyllables other than the judge's name: But, Sir,' said the clerk, the judge " says, that no other word will make sense of 'the passage.' So then it seems,' says Pope, your master is not only a judge but a poet: as that is the case, the odds are against me. 'Give my respects to the judge, and tell him, 'I will not contend with one that has the adhe pleases."-Dr. Johnson's Life of Pope. vantage of me, and he may fill up the blank as |