in the moment of their country's danger, at the complete fulfilment of their predictions; this would have been the period-the proudest that perhaps ever fell to the lot of statesmen to enjoy: but as, in the hour when confidence took the lead of experience, they had not been awed or depressed by numbers into silence, so were they now, not betrayed into immoderate exultation Acting upon immutable and firm principles, they were found in their ranks, at this moment of consternation, cheering and encouraging their country to exertion:-congratulating the ministers on the appearance of vigour which they had shewn :and proffering their assistance and co-operation in every meritorious effort, that they might make for the restoration of the honor of the nation. It must however, have been matter of satisfaction to them, to, scc, the government, though tardily, complete converts to that system they had so long abused, and vilified; the approximation,

with some few shades of difference, of the remaining two great leading parties of the country to their opinions; and above all, that by a steady adherence to their principles, they should at last have the satisfaction of establishing, such an union of talents, political experience, and property, as might prove the best, perhaps the only defence, against the despotic machinations of the powerful and inveterate enemy to the British name.

But, however praiseworthy the moderation of the "new opposition," certain it is, from henceforward, in proportion as their popularity and their credit with the people increased, in that proportion did Mr. Addington and his colleagues decline in public opinion; and it was evident to all, that the moment when a junction should be formed between the three great parties, who seemed, though in different degrees adverse from their measures, that, that moment would witness their dismission or retreat from office.

CHAP.

ON

N the 14th day of March, in the house of commons, Lord Castlereagh brought for ward, the India budget, for the years 1800-1, as the accounts for the last year had not been yet received. He stated, first, the revenues on the average of three years; next he compared the estimated and the actual amount of the revenue of the last year; and thirdly, the estimated revenue for the succeeding year. The revenues of Bengal, for the year 1800-1, amounted to 6,650,000l. which exceeded, by 319,000l. the estimated revenue. The charges also exceeded the estimate, by 358,500l. The net ro venue of Bengal was 1,877,000l. for that year. He estimated how, ever the net revenue of the ensuing year, at nearly 600,000l. higher. The excess of the charges above the estimate, was owing to the war, and the Egyptian expedition; as to the Madras revenues, notwithstanding Vol. XLV.

that they had increased in that year 350,000l. above the estimate, yet the charges had also increased beyond the estimate, by near 260,000%. This was owing to this presidency having borne the principal burden of the Egyptian expedition. After going through a very minute detail of the affairs of the company, he stated the following, as the leading heads. The army of India, now consists of 24,000 Europeans, 89,000 natives, and 10,000 lascars, making altogether, an army of 124,000 men. The debt of India was 18 millions and a half, of which near ten millions had been added, within the last ten years; but, on the other hand, it must be recollected, that those were years of war, and that the Indian empire had been doubled in extent; and the means of the company every way increased in proportion to its debt. If peace continued, the country would participate, next

H

year

year, to the amount of half a million, in the prosperity of the company; but if war should again break out, they must, for a time, forego this advantage. He then moved a variety of resolutions, conformable to the statements in the budget.

Mr. Johnstone thought, his lordship was not justified, by any past experience, in drawing such a flattering view of the future prosperity of the company: the fact was, that hitherto, notwithstanding the fine statements, annually made to parliament, the debts of the company were annually increasing; there had been no less than seven millions of difference between the estimates and the results, for the last three years; which prevented him from giving much credit to the calculations of the noble lord for the future. He then entered into a variety of calculations, to prove, that the financial statements of his lordship were much exaggerated. As to the extention of our territories in the East, it was not only contrary, in point of policy, to the opinions of every man of abilities and superior judgment, but contrary to a positive act of parliament; and they were obtained by violations of national faith, as disgraceful as any of the most reprobated acts of the French go

vernment.

The chancellor of the exchequer denied, that our conquests had been made unjustly; as to the circumstance alluded to (the assumption of the territories of Arcot) he hoped that the house would not entertain any prejudice, against some of the most meritorious men the country could boast; but allow them time to explain and justify their conduct in that affair.

Mr. Francis, objected to the statements of the noble lord, as built upon estimates which might, or might not, be made good, and perhaps on false documents. Those estimates were nothing but promises, held out from year to year; and promises which, hitherto, had always failed. On the renewal of the charter, half a million annually was to be paid to the public; and yet the public never yet had received more than one year's profit from this. He contended that the whole statement of to-night, was fallacious, and not to be depended on; and that the accounts were not fairly drawn.

Mr. W. Dundas, and Sir Theophilus Metcalfe, replied to the arguments of Mr. Johnstone and Mr. Francis, and supported the statement, made by the noble lord, in the name of the East India company.

The resolutions were then voted, and the report received.

On the 15th, the house of peers resolved itself into a committee, on the prince of Wales's annuity bill.

The earl of Carlisle was still of opinion, that this bill was inadequate to the object it professed; but, in the present circumstances, it was perhaps better to be silent on that subject. He did consider the present times, extremely perilous; for though our soldiers and sailors were brave, we had but a weak administration. The spirit of the country could not fairly be called into effect, when its rulers were incapable of directing its energy. He said, that to the present bill, he must give reluctant concurrence; but expressed a strong hope of a change being made in the administration.

Lord Pelham, defended the conduct of ministers, who had not sought

sought their situations, but were called to them by his majesty, on the recommendation of him who was at the head of the last admininistration. Nor had they ever experienced a want of confidence, on the part of the nation. He was glad, however, to learn, that this supposed want of confidence, was the only ground of his lordship's fears for the safety of the country. The lord chancellor complained of the irregular turn the debate had taken. The question was about the prince's annuity, and the arguments about the general merits of the administration! He confessed, that the situation he held, had always been his highest ambition; he knew that he had done his duty, and while he was sensible that he had the approbation of his king and country, he troubled himself but little about the sentiments of his lordship. The bill was read a second and a third time, without further opposition, and finally passed.

On the same day, there was a long conversation in the house of commons, upon a resolution, moved in the committee, upon the Irish militia bill.

Mr. Wickham proposed a resolution, authorising the lords of the treasury, in Ireland, to give boun ties, not exceeding four guineas a man, to persons enrolling them selves in the militia of Ireland; at present, they being only allowed to give two.

Mr. Elliot wished, that the militia, in Ireland, as well as in England, were raised in the constitutional way of ballot, rather than by bounties; as it must interfere sery much with the recruiting for

Mr. Wickham replied, that in Ireland, it had been found almost impossible to enforce the system of ballotting; it was therefore necessary to have recourse to bounties, otherwise there would be no militia in Ireland.

The secretary at war (Mr. Yorke) observed, that the hon. gentleman, (Mr. Elliot) from the official situation he had held in Ireland, must know, that bounties were the most effectual means of raising a militia, in that country, where they were unaccustomed to the ballot. The Irish militia had displayed great spirit and energy, during the war, and most of them made general offers of service, for any part of the globe; there should, therefore, be no objection now to raise this force, in the only manner that it could be done.

Sir Lawrence Parsons took no¬ tice of the difference of the constitution of the army in England and Ireland; in the latter country, where most of the recruits are of the catholic persuasion, the catholics in the army, are allowed the free exercise of their religion, which is not the case in this country. He had the honor of being a governor of a county in Ireland, and, at a meeting of the deputy governors, it was unanimously agreed, that recruiting by bounties, and not by ballot, was the only effectual mode, for that country.

Colonel Fitzgerald confirmed the statement, that the system of ballotting was not practicable in Ireland, where the people are not used to it; and that the price of the substitutes

substitutes, if that system were adopted, would be much higher than what, by the present bill, was proposed to be given to recruits.

Colonel Bagwell contended, that the Irish militia was highly serviceable to the recruiting service; and exemplified his observation, by stating, that last war, when there was a pressing necessity for a large body of troops, the Irish militia colonels became recruiting officers, and in a few days procured 10,000 volunteers, for the expedition to Holland; a similar levy was made for the expedition to Egypt.

After some farther conversation, the bill was agreed to.

On March the 16th, Mr. H. Browne, as chairman of the committee, upon the Nottingham election, presented the report, which stated, that the last election was void; that John Allen, the returning officer for Nottingham, had acted contrary to his duty, in opening a poll, at a time when there was no third candidate; that the freedom of election had been grossly violated, by riots and disturbances; and acts of personal intimidation and violence practised, during the election; that Daniel Parker Coke, esq. the petitioner, was obliged to quit the town, from a just apprehension of hazard to his life; and that a large number of electors, in his interest, were deterred from polling; that John Davison, esq. the mayor, John Allen, esq. the returning officer, and the magistrates of the town of Nottingham, took no steps at all, to secure the freedom of election, and the peace of the place; and that it appeared to the committee, that there was no chance of a free elec

tion in Nottingham, unless the magistrates of the county had a concurrent jurisdiction with those of the town, to preserve the peace of the place, during the election. He therefore moved, that the farther consideration of the report should be postponed, till the 20th of April; at which time he intended to bring in a bill, pursuant to the report.

On the speaker's putting the question, upon the first resolution,

Mr. Fox thought it would be too precipitate for the house, to vote such resolutions, merely upon their being read to them by the clerk. The committee might be in possession of good reasons for their resolutions, but, he thought, it would be, perhaps, too much to say, that Nottingham should be without a representative in parliament, until the house should have time to decide, upon what measures ought to be taken on the voluminous report, which was not to be presented for their consideration, sooner than in a month from this time! It would, perhaps, be keeping the town of Nottingham, too long in a state of ferment.

After some farther conversation, the motion of Mr. Browne was agreed to; and the house came to a resolution against issuing a new writ for the town of Nottingham, until the farther consideration of the report.

Upon the day appointed for the farther consideration of it, when the different resolutions were agreed to,

Mr. H. Browne moved for leave to bring in a bill, to regulate the elections at Nottingham. It had appeared, by the report, that the freedom of election had been grossly

violated;