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law was quite different. No dissen. majesty, who returned it without ter could hold a place without taking any objection or comment; it was the sacramental test within a. therefore immediately forwarded tain time. And if the Irish law of to Ireland. Doubts however as to 1793, by which the catholics were the extent of the measure, had been admitted to any rank in the army, entertained by some members of the not above that of a colonel, were not cabinet, who, being at last fully repealed, would not the English dis- aware of this, objected to it in the senter have a right to say, 6 On what strongest terms: and his majesty, principle of justice do you exclude being apprised that the measure was me, while you are a friend to the of far greater extent, than he had catholic?” 'A draft of a dispatch conceived it to be, expressed to lord to the lord lieutenant of Ireland, Grenville his decided objection to relative to the communications to be it. The ministers then endeavour. had with the catholics, was submited to modify the bill, so as to reconted to his majesty, by his ministers, cile it to his majesty's wishes, with. and met with his approbation. They out destroying the vital essence of pointed out the difference hetween the measure. Failing in this at. the law of 1793, and that which tempt, they determined to drop the they meant to propose. After some bill altogether; but, at the same objections, his majesty gave his con- time, in vindication of their own sent, that the measure should be pro- character, to insert in the proceed. posed, and authority was given to ings of the cabinet, a minute, reser. the lord lieutenant, to communicate ving to lord Grenville and lord by his secretary, to the heads of the Howick, Ist, The liberty of deli. catholics, that the army and navy vering their opinions in favour of the would be opened to them.-A meet. catholic question ;-2d, that of subing of the catholics was assembled mitting this question, or any for the purpose of receiving this in. subject connected with it, from time formation when Mr. Elliot, the to time according to circumstances,

: Irish secretary, was asked by one to his majesty's decision. But the of them (Mr. O'Connor), whether ministers were called upon, not only it was the intention of government to withdraw the latter reservation, merely to pass the law that was pro- but to substitute in its place, a writ. mised in 1793, or whether it was ten obligation, pledging themselves intended to allow the catholics to never again to bring forward the rise to all military offices, including measure they had abandoned. nor the staff -Mr. Elliot was not then ever more to propose any thing con. able to answer the question. But nected with the catholic question. the catholics understood by the dis, To this they found it impossible to patch, that they were not to be ex. assent. They could notfetter themcluded from any situation in the selves by a written engagement, army.

A second dispatch was inconsistent with what they might drawn up, removing Mr. Elliot's conceive to be their duty, which, doubt, and authorizing him to give even by their oaths, they were a decided answer to Mr. O'Connor's bound to perform. The two leading question, in the affirmative. This ministers having respectfully comsecond dispatch was laid before his municated to the king their senti.

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ments on this subject, they next day mouth, added, that at that time, the received an intimation from his ma. catholics had no idea of asking for jesty, that he must look out for that extension of power which the other ministers.

present bill would give to them. Lord Howick was particularly They asked for certain concessions, solicitous to establish the point, which the Irish parliament granted 66 That whatever misunderstanding to them. By the act of 1793, the might have arisen, the fault was not Irish legislature said to them, “ You with ministers, as his majesty was shall have such and sueh political afforded ample opportunity com- concessions: you shall have rank pletely to understand the object of in the army, to a certain extent; the bill.” But it would appear

that but beyond that you shall not go.” there must have been not a little This clearly was the ground on obscurity in the details of this hill, which his majesty meant to act to. since the Irish secretary, Mr. El. wards them, and accordingly he acquiliot, was unable to answer Mr. esced with some reļuctance in adopt. O'Connor's question respecting the ing the act of 1793, for the purextent to which it was carried, as pose of making it general: nothing admitted both by lord Grenville and could be inore clear, from the course lord Howick, in favour of the ca. of the transaction, than that this tholics.

was the object. But after the in. In the house of peers, after lord troduction of the new clauses, Grenville sat down, a conversation when his majesty, understood the arose among several of the peers, whole scope of the measure, he exwhich turned chiefly on the catho. pressed his marked disapprobation lic question. As this had already of it. Their lordships could not been so often discussed, and was forget that there ought to be two yet to be farther debated, we might parties to every contract. There be excused from giving any other were the reservations in the minute than a mere outline of the conversa. of ministers on one side. But in tion that ensued, or any of the sub. what situation would his majesty sequent conversations and debates have been placed if he had submitted on the catholic question, and the to them? In reiterated discus. change of ministry. Lord Sid. sions concerning this, or any other mouth stated that one of the dis- measure the ministers might have patches to which lord Grenville had in contemplation for the catholics, alluded, contained the advantages all the odium would fall on his magranted to the Irish catholics, by jesty, while the whole of the popu. the act of 1793, but did not, as ap- larity among catholics, would fall peared to him, go beyond the con- to the share of those that should cessions made at that time. Lord repeatedly propose and recommend S. was a friend to toleration. He it.- Again, his majesty might be ex. would let the catholics enjoy the posed to the re-introduction of the benefits of the act of 1793: but on measure in questión, at a time when that, he thought, a stand should be it might be difficult for him to opmade against farther encroachments, pose it. He conceived that thio Lord Hawkesbury agreeing in what placing of his majesty in such a prebad been remarked by lord- Sido dicament, was contrary to all pre3

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dedent, and indeed subversive of had been in power somewhat more the British monarchy. If there than a twelvemonth, were straits was not unity in the government, ened between the options of losing it could not last long. The sove- their places, or offending the catho. reign considering matters in this lics. They attempted a compro. point of view, had resolved to change mise, first by proposed modifications his ministers, The earl of Moira of the catholic bill, and afterwards said, that it was the duty of legisla. by protesting that, though they droptors to modify fundamental laws, ped it for the present, they were de. so as to apply to circumstances as termined still to urge it on any fa. they might arise.—The catholic po. vourable opportunity. But in all pulation of Ireland ought at least this management, the impelling prin. to give 100,000 soldiers to our dis. ciple was very generally supposed posable force. The bill in favour to be nothing else than a strong re. of the catholics would have opened luctance to quit hold of the emolua a useful vent for the population of ments, and power, and patronage,

, Ireland, and removed many from belonging to their offices. Either, the scene of discontent, while it it was every where said, the catho's would in a great measure have re. lic question was necessary, or it was moved the cause, Lord Melville not. If it was not necessary, why stated that Mr. Pitt, whose opinions take it up? If it was necessary, he wished to make the polar star of why abandon it? his life, though he had once enter- Both houses of parliament ad. tained an opinion that the catholic journed to the 8th of April.- This bill was indispensable, on consider. interval presents a natural opportu. ing the conscientious repugnance nity of noticing other measures, of his majesty, had changed it; and adopted or brought under the consi. that it was on his declaration of this deration of parliament, during what change of principle, that he had re- we must now call the late adminis turned to office in 1804.--The pro. ' stration; of less general operation ceeding of his majesty was abun. and influence than those of which we dantly justified by the late ministry have just given some account, and themselves, who thought the mea. relating more, or at least more ime sure they had brought forward so mediately, to the interests of india unessential as to give it up.

viduals, or of classes of people, than It will be recollected by every to those of the empire at large. one who has attended to the history As some encouragement, no doubt, of political parties amongst us for to our West India planters, and

the last thirty years, that the party merchants, amidst their apprehen, generally in opposition to the court, sions from the bill in parliament, for were the zealous advocates for all the abolition of the slave-trade, that that was claimed from time to time, lord Temple, in the house of com, by the Irish catholics, as well as mons, December 30th, 1806, moved protestants, conjointly or severally, the appointment of a committee, to Ireland was a grand fulcrum as they consider of the possibility, and, if conceived, for supporting their pre possible, of the propriety of permita tensions to the administration of ting sugar and molasses to be used government. That party, which in distilleries and breweries. It was ascertained, he observed, that there imported for home consumption; and was at present in the port of Lone of one shilling per gallon on all don alone, between 80 and 90,000 brandies imported for the purpose hogsheads of sugar upon hand. The of re-exportation. These resolu. quantity in the out-ports was pro- tions were agreed to, reported on portionally great: so that the quan. the 18th, and also agreed to in a tity of sugars on hand the whole committee of the whole house. of England, amounted to 150 or In the house of commons, Janu. 160,000 hogsheads. The object of ary 26th, lord Folkestone, agreeably the motion was to allow the use of to previous notice, suhmitted a mo. sugar and molasses in the breweries tion, with the reasons on which it and distilleries, not to the exclusion was founded, respecting the con. of grain, but on principles of fair duct of lord Wellesley towards the competition. Mr. Dent deprecated nabob and province of Oude. Cer- . precipitation on this important sub- tain proceedings had been instituted ject. Mr. Baker' recommended in the last parliament, founded on a serious consideration, of what papers that had been laid before the effect the measure proposed might house preparatory to an impeach. have on the value of lands and the ment of the marquis of Wellesley; interests of agriculture in this coun- which proceedings had fallen to the try. The committee moved for by ground by the dissolution of par. lord Temple was appointed.---Lord liament, The gentleman who had H. Petty, February 17th, after oh. instituted these proceedings, (Mr. serving that the great stock of sugar Paull) was not at present a member, on hand, arising partly from the though he was a petitioner to that situation of the continent, and partly house, with confident hopes of being from other circumstances, called seated in it. The object of bis mofor legislative interference, moved, tion was, that the papers relating “ That a bounty of 10s. per cwt. be to the Oude charge should be reallowed on the re-exportation of printed, and be laid on the table of all double-refined sugar over and the house as early as possible, as above the allowances now made on considerable delay had taken place the exportation of refined sugars. last session on this head. When That a bounty of two shillings per sufficient time should be allowed for cwt. be allowed on the exportation the consideration of the papers,

ascertained,

if of allraw and Muscavado sugars, un. the gentleman who had originally der the price of forty shillings per brought the subject before the house cwt.; and of one shilling per cwt. should not be a member, he should on all raw and Muscavado sugars, certainly bring forward the business between forty and forty-five shil. himself. A conversation ensued lings; whenever it shall appear by between lord Howick, lord Folke. the notices in the London yazettes, stone, sir J. Anstruther, Mr. Whit. that the average prices for the an. shed Keene, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. tecedent quarter have been of the Whitbread, Mr. Wellesley Pole, respective prices stated.

That an

and Mr. R. Thornton. Lord Howa additional duty of two shillings and ick wished the noble lord to give six-pence per gallon, shall be im. the house some general idea of the posed on brandy, or foreign spirits, line he meant to pursue opon the

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documents for which he moved, and heard something of the right honour. to inform the house whether he able gentleman's unwilingness to meant to bring forward any motion excite unpleasant sensations among on the Mahratta and Carnatic pa. his colleagues in office. That was, pers. Lord Folkestone replied, that in plain English, that he was not his purpose was, to move a resolution willing to lose his place. He was or resolutions, expressive of the however glad to hear his fresh pledge opinion of the house, relative to the that evening: for his strenuous and nabob of Oude; but without moving sincere assistance, wherever he for any impeachment or criminal should be strenuous and sincere, proceeding. As to the Carnatic would no doubt be a most impor. charge, a right honourable gentle. tant acquisition indeed.—To some man (Mr. Sheridan) stood pledged wishes expressed by sir John An. to support it, if not taken up by any struther, lord Folkestone replied, other person, and the opportunity that all he would pledge himself to, of redeeming his pledge, he rather was the Oude charge. And he supthought would be afforded him. Mr. posed that, in about a month or five Sheridan said, with some emotion, weeks after the printing of the that he had never forfeited the slight. papers, he should be ready to make est pledge on this business. The his motion. Sir John declared him. ground on which he had acted, he 'self to be perfectly satisfied with was ready to repeat again and again, this explanation. Mr. Whitshed and on those grounds he confident. Keene thought it was for the honour ly rested for the justification of his and dignity of the house, that the conduct.* And he was now prepa. : proceedings of the last session should red to declare, that if any other per. not now be dropped. The papers son, whoever that person might be, moved for were then ordered to be should bring forward the Carnatic reprinted : and on the motion of question, he would distinctly pledge Mr. Wellesley Pole, a similar order himself, to give that person his most was made respecting the other pa. zealous, active, and cordial assis. pers connected with the Oude tance. Lord 'Folkestone declined charge. to enter into any controversy with January 28th. The solicitor-ge. Mr. Sheridan on the subject of his neral, sir Samuel Romilly, agreea. former pledges. But he did recol. bly to notice, moved the house of lect very accurately, that the right commons for ieave to bring in a bill, honourable gentleman did promise for making the freehold estates of to bring this question of the Carnatic persons dying indebted, assets for before the house. As to the grounds the payment of simple contract debts. on which he had been induced to The injustice of the law in this case, abandon that question, he really was appeared to the solicitor-general, so not apprised of them. He had glaring, and the remedy for that

Mr. Sheridan, on the 22d April 1806, said in the house of commons, “ I retain my former sentiments of the transactions in the Carvatic: but I have expressed in confidence to the honourable gentleman (Mr. Francis) the impropriety of introducing any subject that would have a tendency to divide his majesty's ministers at this important crisis. A time may come perhaps, when the subject may be taken up, but I do not think that the present is a favourable one.” VOL. XLIX.

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