Commons Sitting of 18 March 1805

MINUTES.
—The Speaker informed the house that he had been in the house of peers, where the royal assent was given by Commission to the Pleasure Horse Duty bill, to the Salt Duty bill, and to the Property Tax Amendment bill.—On the motion of Mr. W. Dickinson, an amendment was inserted in the Marine Mutiny bill, empowering provisional courts martial to ad

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minister oaths. The bill was then read a turd time and passed.—Mr. Johnstone from the office of chief secretary of Ireland, presented Returns of all Compensations for Boroughs, &c. which were ordered to be printed.—Mr. Francis gave notice of his motion relative to India for Monday next, but on the suggestion of lord Castlereagh, deferred it till Monday se'nnight.—Mr. Rose presented Minutes of the privy council with respect to licences for exporting goods to France and Spain.—Mr. Foster moved the 2nd reading of the Irish Drawback bill. After a few words from Mr. Dawson, Mr. Ker, and Mr. Corry, the bill-was read a 2nd time; as were likewise the Irish Excise Duty bill, the Irish Stamp Duty bill, the Irish Postage Duty bill, and the Irish Spirit Duty bill.—On the motion of Mr. Steele, a new writ was ordered for Bath in the room of lord John Thynne, who had rendered his election void, not having duly qualified himself by taking the oaths, &c.—Mr. Steele obtained leave to bring in a bill to indemnify lord John Thynne for having sat and voted in the house, without having previously qualified himself. The bill was accordingly brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be read a 2nd time to-morrow.—The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that a committee be appointed to examine and report the joint charges of the United Kingdom of G. Britain and Ireland, from 1st of Jan. 1801, to 1st of Jan. 1805; what proportion belonged to each country respectively; what are the balances now due; and what would be the best mode in future of ascertaining such balances at the expiration of each year. The motion was agreed to, and a committee appointed for those purposes.—The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice, that in the committee of ways and means on Friday next, he should move for certain taxes, to supply the place of the rejected Agricultural Horse tax. He likewise gave notice, that he should move for rendering permanent the present temporary tax on wine.—Mr. Alexander brought up the reports of the committees on the Irish Sugar Drawback, and on the Expiring laws, which were agreed to, and bills ordered accordingly.—Mr. Alexander brought up the Report of the Committee on the Irish Drawback bill, which was agreed to.—Mr. Huskisson obtained leave to bring in a bill to repeal that part of an act of last session which prohibited the issuing of Promissory Notes on demand, under the value of 5l.—Adjourned.