The deputy usher of the black rod appeared, and required the immediate attendance of the house, in the house of peers, to hear a commission read. The speaker and several members, accordingly attended. On their return, the speaker informed the house, that the lords, au 448 thorised by his majesty's commission, had signified the royal assent to the Exchequer Bills bill.—The speaker also informed the house, that he had received from Mr. Bouchier, the deputy clerk of the crown in Ireland, a return of barristers, qualified to act as commissioners under the Election act.—The speaker likewise informed the house, that the following persons having presented petitions on the 1st of January, complaining of undue returns for the places annexed, and not having entered into the recognizances prescribed by the 28th of his present majesty, he had caused the orders for taking such petitions into consideration to be discharged: W. Baker, Newcastle-under-Line; sir J. E. Brown, county of Mayo; sir C. Saxton, and H. Bouverie, Malmsbury; several burgesses of Malmsbury; T. Stacy and others, freemen of Hythe.—He also observed, that although no recognizances had been entered into on the joint petition of sir C. Saxton and C. H. Bouverie, esq. yet that, with regard to a separate petition from one of those parties, the forms had been complied with, and consequently, that the order for taking that petition into consideration would remain on the journals.—On the motion of lord Castlereagh, it was ordered, that the abstract of the army estimates for 1807, presented by the secretary at war on the 14th inst., be printed.—On the motion of Mr. Grenville, it was ordered, that there be laid before the house an estimate of the debt of his majesty's navy, as it stood on the 30th of September, 1806. The right hon. gent. immediately presented the above-mentioned estimate, and gave notice, that he would make a motion on the subject in the committee of supply, on Friday next. He added, that it was also his intention, on that day, to move for an additional number of seamen to those already voted: 120,000 had been already voted: he meant to propose a vote of an additional 10,000.—On the motion of lord H. Petty, there was ordered to be laid before the house a return of the effective number of volunteers, on the 1st of January, 1805.—Mr. C. Wynne obtained leave to bring in a bill for continuing the act of the 44th of the king, empowering his majesty to accept the extended services of volunteers from the militia of Ireland. This act had hitherto only remained in force from year to year. His object was, to continue it during the war. He then brought up the bill, which was read a first time. Mr. Biddulph 449 obtained leave to withdraw his motion relative to sinecures, &c. with a declaration that he would bring it forward on some future day.—Sir J. Newport brought in a bill for abolishing certain offices in the Customs of Ireland, and for abolishing and regulating certain other offices; which was read a first time. On moving that it be read a second time, sir J. Newport took occasion to observe, that the recommendations of the commissioners of enquiry (as far as it depended on the executive government of Ireland) had either been already carried into effect or would speedily be so. The principal of these recommendations was comprised in the bill before the house; and two or three others of a minor description, would be submitted to the house in the course of the session.—On the motion of sir J. Newport, the house went into a committee to consider the act of the 46th of his present majesty, commonly called the Grain Intercourse act. He observed, that he had yesterday stated the object he had in view. From the generality of the wording of the act, considerable doubts had been entertained whether it did not extend to a point which was not in the contemplation of those by whom it had been proposed. He meant to the introduction of foreign corn and flour through the circuitous medium of one country to another. He now, therefore, moved for leave to bring in a bill, declaring that certain provisions of the act of last session, which related to the intercourse of every species of grain between Great Britain and Ireland, should extend to grain, the produce of those countries only. In answer to a question from Mr. Bagwell, as to the operation of the act on malt, sir J. Newport declared, that it did not apply at all to malt. By some error, the word malt had crept into the preamble of the bill, but had never been introduced into any of the enactments.—The house having been resumed, the report was received, and leave given to bring in a bill accordingly.—Lord Folkestone presented a petition, praying for an enlargement of the time for entering into a recognizance in the case of the Milbourne port election. The ground of this motion was that the agent for the petitioner, a country attorney, did not know of the order of the house requiring a notice to be given to the sitting member, of the time when the recognizance was to be entered into by the petitioner. He held in his 450 hand another petition, stating, that the attorney had not received the speaker's order till the 14th of this month, owing to its not being sent by the messenger, though the attorney had left directions for that purpose. He moved that the time be enlarged to Wednesday next. The speaker stated, that it was no good ground for this motion, to state that an old and established order of the house was not known. The messengers were not in the practice of sending the speaker's orders to any agent not residing in London, and it would be attended with great inconvenience if this should be altered. Mr. Leycester, Mr. Wynne, and Mr. Perceval severally objected to the motion, and were of opinion, that the prayer of the petition could not be granted. The first of these gentlemen stated, that the speaker's order had nothing to do with the recognizance. It only referred to the time when the merits of the case were to be tried. The motion was then put and negatived.—Sir J. Newport presented a petition from the right hon. Isaac Corry, praying that the time for entering into the recognizance might be enlarged. The ground was, the distance from which the sureties had to come, and the possible delay from adverse winds. He moved that the time be enlarged for three weeks. The discussion upon this motion was postponed till Tuesday.—Mr. S. Bourne presented a petition from John Hawkins, praying for an enlargement of the time for entering into the recognizance with respect to the petition against the return of Mr. Grattan. The ground was, that the petitioner could not find Mr. Grattan in order to serve the notice within the limited time. He moved that the time be enlarged to the 5th of February. The discussion was postponed till Tuesday.