§ Sir J. Sinclairbrought up the report of the committee on the Forfeited Estates in Scotland.—The Irish Election bill was brought up, and read a first time.— 672 The Gibraltar and Malta postage bill was brought up, and read a first time.—Sir J. Newport moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the Irish Spirit License act of last session.—Sir J. Newport moved for leave to bring in a bill to revive and amend an act of the Irish parliament, of the 28th of the king, for appointing commissioners to examine into the state of the funds and revenues of the schools in Ireland. He stated that the powers of this act had been continued by others acts up to the year 1796. Though great abuses had been discovered, no legislative measure had as yet been brought forward for remedying these abuses, and preventing the misapplication of the funds in future. The object of the present bill was to appoint a seperate enquiry, so that, from a comparison of the various reports, some data might be obtained for a permanent legislative measure, as the subject was of the utmost importance. Leave was given.—Mr. Bernard requested to know from the chancellor of the exchequer for Ireland, if it was his intention to bring forward any measure, during this session, to regulate the paper circulation of Ireland. He stated the great inconvenience which existed in that country on account of the great issue of bank paper, and the numerous frauds practised by persons styling themselves private bankers, who were not possessed of any real property whatever. The people of Ireland, he knew well, expected some immediate redress upon this head, and looked with considerable anxiety to the right hon. baronet, from the great information he possessed respecting that and other subjects relative to that part of the united kingdom. Sir J. Newport replied, that he certainly had intended to bring forward certain propositions relating to that subject, but had been prevented from submitting them at present, in consequence of several failures, which had produced considerable distress among the banking companies in Ireland; and therefore he conceived that any step of that kind, would, for the present, do more harm than good.—On the motion of Mr. Paull, the following gentlemen were ordered to attend the house, when the charges against lord Wellesley should be taken into consideration: W. Cowper, esq. John Stracey, esq. J. Riley, esq. lieut. col. Merick Shaw, and Henry Strachey, esq.—Mr. Bankes gave notice, that on Wednesday next, immediately after reading the first charge against marquis Wellesley, he should move that the house should 673 entirely dismiss the same.—Sir. H. Mild-may begged to learn from a noble lord, whether any measure relative to an exchange of prisoners between France and England had been agreed upon by the two governments? He was induced to put this question, from the circumstance of certain French naval officers having been allowed to return to France. Lord Howick replied, that no exchange of prisoners had yet been agreed upon. Some persons had indeed returned from France, who could not be considered in the light of prisoners; he meant those who had been detained on the breaking out of the war. Only one naval officer, Capt. Gower, who had been a prisoner, had been permitted to return to this country, and he had come on his parole.