On the motion of Mr. Manning, the London Wet Dock bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed.—Sir Stephen Cottrell, one of the clerks of the privy council, presented to the house two books, containing "a Copy of the return or returns, made to the privy council by every archbishop and bishop, of the names of every dignity, prebend, benefice, donative, perpetual curacy, and parochial chapelry, within their respective dioceses, or subject to their respective jurisdictions, and the names of the several persons possessing the same who shall not have resided thereon by reason of any exemption under or by virtue of the act of 43 Geo. III c. 84; and also of all the persons possessing the same, not having any such exemption or licence, who shall not have resided on such dignity, prebend, benefice, donative, perpetual curacy, or parochial chapelry, so far as the bishop is informed thereof." Ordered to lie on the table.—Mr. Irving, the inspector-general of the imports and exports, presented the accounts of the exports to the island of Tortola, and the orders of council relative thereto, which were moved for by Mr. Rose. Ordered to be printed.—On the motion of lord Henry Petty, a new writ was ordered for Jedburgh, in the room of John Dalrymple, esq. who, since his election had accepted the office of steward of his 452 majesty's Chiltern hundreds.—The Mutiny bill, the English Militia Pay bill, the Militia Subaltern's bill, the Militia Adjutants' bill, and the Irish Militia pay bill, were severally read a third time, and passed.—Mr. Alderman Prinsep rose to give notice, that early in the next session he would move for a committee to be appointed to enquire into the state of the carrying trade of British India, unless it should be intimated to him before that period, that the proper board had taken that important subject into their consideration.—Mr. W. Wynne obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the act of last session, appointing commissioners to enquire into the abuses in the paving, &c. of Dublin.
[IRISH MILITIA SERVICE BILL.] On the question, that the Irish Militia Service bill be read a second time,
§ Mr. Whitshed Keene roseto offer a few observations. He lamented, that the measure proposed to be adopted, in 1798, for the English militia to volunteer their services in Ireland, and the Irish in England, had not been carried into effect. It had been so, indeed, in a partial degree, by some English regiments of militia, but not at all by the Irish, which he was very sorry for; as the Irish militia, by coming here, would see how much was done by industry, and would receive a good impression of its advantageous consequences. In time north of Ireland, he said, the people were naturally industrious; and, from being so, had acquired property, and he believed them thereby strongly attached to the limited monarchy of this country, and not liable to be led away by any splendid promises, that might he held out to them by the inveterate foe of the united kingdoms, and his satellites, in case an invasion should take place. In the southern and western parts of Ireland, it was, however, different; there the people were poor and ignorant, and, in general, without property. Such people were apt to be led astray by idle stories, and promises of having land given them for their services, and might be induced to join an invading enemy. They would, therefore, be better in England, where they would be of real service, in a military capacity; and the militia of England would be a certain security for the defence of Ireland. The legislative measure of union had taken place; a measure which he voted for, and hoped would, in the end, be productive of the happiest effects; but it was impossible an act of parliament 453 could eradicate old prejudices, and those who were poor and ignorant would, as he had before stated, be liable to all the bad effects of those prejudices, which might he removed by their being sent from home. At the breaking out of this war, he said, the government had resorted to a measure of raising sea fencibles, a measure which might do very well in England, but would not in Ireland. There were, however, in Ireland, many men upon the different coasts who were employed in a variety of small craft. Some naval officers had been employed by government to make a survey of the coasts of Ireland, and in doing so they had found, in the various harbours, creeks, and bays, a body of not less than 10,000 men, employed in craft of different kinds, who might, perhaps, become valuable assistants to an invading foe. He thought those men might be embodied and brought over to this country, with great advantage, to act in the capacity of sea fencibles. There would also a farther benefit result from employing them in this way. When the fertility of the Irish was considered, it was not going too far to estimate those men having families of five or six each; so that you would, in time, add to the population of the country, from 50 to 60,000 people. The hon. member mentioned several other good consequences which he thought would result from their mixing the Irish with the English militia, and hoped the bill would be productive of the most salutary effects.—The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow.