— A petition of the noblemen, and the humble petition of the gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders, of the 847 county of Essex, convened by the high sheriff, at Chelmsford, the 28th day of May, 1805, was presented to the house, and read; setting forth, that the petitioners humbly feel, that it is no less their duty than their earnest wish and desire, to offer their warmest thanks to the house for their decisions on the 8th and 10th of April last, whereby they so clearly demonstrated, and justly censured, the gross violation of law, and breach of public duty, committed by lord viscount Melville whilst he held the office of treasurer of his majesty's navy; and the petitioners further beg leave to express the satisfaction they feel in witnessing, by subsequent votes of the house, their determination of prosecuting enquiries into all other violation of law and abuses of public trust, which may have existed in any other department of the public expenditure; and that, in the present situation of the empire, engaged in a war of unparalleled expense and difficulty, the petitioners feel, that it is essentially necessary to insure the strictest application of the national resources to the great an important objects for which they are called forth; that they entertain the fullest persuasion, an it is their earnest wish and prayer, that the house will exercise that control over the management of the public money which in their wisdom may appear necessary; that they will persevere in those measures which they have already begun; and that they will establish a system of just and prudent economy in every branch of the public receipt and expenditure." Ordered to lie upon the table.