§ The sheriffs of London presented a petition from the lord mayor, aldermen and common council, praying for the adoption of some additional regulations in the coal trade; and also another, praying for leave to raise money for the purpose of making some improvements in the entrance, of the port of London; 675 both of which were ordered to lie on the table.—The house was then summoned, by the Usher of the Black Rod, to attend the Lords Commissioners in the other house, and the Speaker on his return acquainted them, that the royal assent had been given by commission to the loyalty loan, the Greenland whale fishery, and some private bills.—A message from the Lords announced that they had agreed to the quarantine bill.—Mr. P. Moore presented a petition from a great number of calico printers, in different counties, praying for the aid of parliament, in enabling them to settle, in an amicable manner, and without any litigation, the differences subsisting between them and their employers. Mr. Sheridan said, that having last session presented a petition to the house, from the same parties, he did not expect that any further application would have been thought necessary, he hoped the matter might be accommodated in a friendly way; but if not, there were such serious points stated in the petition, that he should think it his duty to give it every support in his power. The petition was then ordered to he on the tabic.—Lord Boyle presented a petition from the retail dealers of Londonderry, against the 61. per cent, duties in Ireland, which, he said, were found so very oppressive and disadvantageous, that he understood it was the intention of the wholesale merchants of the same place to present a similar petition. Ordered to lie on the table.—Mr. Calcraft moved for a new writ for the borough of Honiton, in Devonshire, in the room of George Shum, Esq. deceased. Ordered.—The Secretary at War presented an account of the number of recruits raised for the army, from the 1st of Jan. 1804, to the 1st of Feb. 1805, distinguishing the number raised in each month. Ordered to be printed.—On the motion of the Secretary at War, the house went into a committee on the mutiny bill. Several new clauses were introduced, among the rest one for subjecting ordnance stores and other bulky articles belonging to the army to tolls, when conveyed by inland navigation; and one for the better regulating the law with respect to the enlisting of apprentices and servants. The Secretary at War agreed in the propriety of making the provisions suggested by an hon. general (Fitzpatrick), relative to the age of officers on courts martial. He should consider the rest of the clauses proper to be offered 676 on that head, which would be ready by Monday. He should therefore move that the chairman report progress. After a few words in assent from General Fitzpairick, the chairman reported progress accordingly, and obtained leave to sit on Monday.—Lord W. Russell, reported from the committee on the petition from the returning officers of Knaresborough, "that the petition was not frivolous; that it appeared to the committee that the election had been prevented by the riots; that John Carr and James Collins, the returning officers, were prevented by the riots from doing their duty; that J. M. Allen, W. Whitehead, Ann Housemann and others, were active in promoting the riots." The resolutions were entered, and the report ordered to be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next. Lord W. Russell stated, that the counsel before the committee apprehended a renewal of the disgraceful scenes that had caused the complaint, if a new writ should be issued, before which the house should take some measures on the report. The committed appeared to him to be of the same opinion, though they had not come to any resolution on the subject. He therefore moved "that no new writ be issued for Knaresborough for a fortnight." The Chancellor of the Exchequer thought the withholding of the writ too strong a measure, where there was no crime but a single riot, on which there was reason to suppose the committee would recommend no other proceeding than the punishment of the delinquents. After a few words from Mr. Grey, in which he agreed with lord W. Russell as to the sense of the committee on the suggestion of the counsel, though he coincided with the right hon. gent, opposite as to the impropriety of withholding the writ on insufficient grounds, lord W. Russell withdrew his motion—Mr. Thornton brought up a petition from the the Court of Directors of the Sierra Leone Company, setting forth, "that the petitioners having, in the last session of parliament, presented to the house a petition for the continuance of a grant of 10,000l. for the support of the settlement of Sierra Leone, and for such other relief as the house should seem meet, a committee was appointed, which reported favourably on the said petition; and that, in. consequence thereof, the sum of 28,000l. was voted in the last session, for the maintenance of the Company's establishment 677 for two years, and for works of defence; and praying that the sum of 10,0001. may be granted in like manner in the present year, for the maintenance of the Company's civil establishment, and of 4,000l. for the support of a volunteer force; and the further sum of 4,000l. for the completion of works of defence, in conformity to the recommendation of the said committee." Ordered to lie upon the table.