§ Mr. Alexander brought up the reports of the committee on the Irish cloathing militia bill; also of the cloathing militia bill for Great Britain; also of the bill for ascertaining the amount of pay for serjeant-majors in the militia; which reports were received.—On the motion of. Mr. Alexander, leave was given to bring in a bill for fixing the rate of allowance to innkeepers for quartering soldiers—The militia subaltern officers' pay bill, and the ship duty bill., were committed.——Mr, Alexander, 873 brought up the report of the committee on the expiring laws' bill, which report WHS received, and bills were ordered to be brought in, pursuant to the resolutions of the said committee.—The Irish duty bill, the Irish countervailing duty bill, and the Irish malt duty bill, were read a third time and passed.—The two millions exchequer loan bill was read a second time.—Mr. Pitt gave notice that it was his intention, on the first open day, to move for leave to bring in a bill, the professed object of which would be to introduce some amendments in the army of reserve bill, as well as some other provisions for the more effectual recruiting of the army. He should wish to have this bill brought in previous to the ensuing holidays, and printed in time for its being taken into consideration as soon as possible after the recess. Mr. Pitt, after a few words from the Speaker, fixed Tuesday next, as the day for bringing forward his motion.
Mr. Howardsaid, that he should move the second reading of the Croydon and Portsmouth canal bill, for the purpose of afterwards moving that the said order be discharged (on account of the important business expected to come on), and that the said bill be read a second time on Thursday the 12th of April next. Having moved accordingly.
Mr. Howardexpressed his surprise, that, in a business of this sort, of so much importance to the commercial world, the hon. gent. should not be willing that the bill be referred to the consideration of a committee. This he thought necessary, in order that gentlemen might have time to consider a business of so much importance to the public.
§ Lord W Russellobjected to the progress of he bill, on the ground that the total estimate of expense amounted to 800,000l. whilst not more than 120,0001. of this money was actually subscribed.
Mr. Somers Cocksstrenuously objected against the bill's going into a committee. He allowed that canals were in many instances beneficial to the public; but, in the present instance, the House would look carefully how it gave its sanction to a bill which appeared to him to be contrary to every principle of propriety. The subscription money, little more than one-fourth part: of the total estimated expense, had induced a resolution of the proprietors that the canal should not carried farther than to croydon or 874 thereabouts, until more money should be subscribed, which was an acknowledgment of sufficient weight, in his mind, to prevent the bill being carried any farther through the House, as it was a sad principle, and not to be encouraged; giving encouragement to canals when there was no rational prospect of their being brought to a completion. It would be to afford a pretext for projectors and adventurers to introduce much mischief through the country under such circumstances. In addition to this objection he had to state, that the line of country through which the canal was proposed to pass would prove infinitely injurious to the landed proprietors, who, he believed, gave little or no support to this bill.
§ Mr. Hurstwished that the House, by going into a committee on the bill, might have an opportunity of reconsidering this measure, and he believed that it was the desire of that part of the country, through which it was proposed the canal should pass, that the bill might meet with a fair discussion; nor could the House come to a proper decision without hearing counsel, if required; and the examination of evidence both for and against the measure.
§ Sir John Andersonsaid, that he rose to declare, as president of Christ's hospital, that the property of that charitable institution would be materially injured were this bill to pass. He should, therefore, vote for the amendment.—The motion for the bill's being read a second time this day six months, being put and carried, it was consequently I thrown out for this session.