The house met pursuant to adjournment About thirty new members were sworn, and took their seats.—The new ministers also took their seats on the treasury bench.—New writs were ordered for the borough of West Lone, in the room of James Buller, esq, who had accepted the office of one of the lords of the admiralty; for the borough of Weymouth, in the room of sir James Pulteney, who had accepted the office of secretary at war; for Dorchester, in the room of the hon. Cropley Ashley, who had accepted the office of clerk of the ordnance; for Liskeard, in the room of the hon. W. Elliot; who had accepted the office of one of the lords of the treasury; for the borough of Haslemore, in the room of R. Ward, esq. and for the county of Dumfries, in the room of the hon. W. Hope, who had accepted the offices of lords of the admiralty— Mr. Vansittart, chairman of the Shrewsbury election committee, reported, that general Ferguson had been absent from that committee for some days, on account of illness. Dr. Scott proved the fact of the general's illness, and he was excused for his said absence —Sir John Newport brought in the Irish Loan bill, which was read a first time.—The Irish malt and spirit duty bill was 282 read a third time and passed; as was also the Irish office fees bill—Lord G. Thynne informed the house, from the bar, that his majesty bad been waited upon with the address of the 25th of March, praying his majesty not to grant any office during life, which was not usually so granted, and that his majesty had been pleased to return the following gracious answer:—" His Majesty acquaints his faithful Commons, that he will take the subject of their Address into his most serious consideration; and thinks it proper, at the same time, to inform. them, that lie has thought it fit to provide, that in a grant now to be made of the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan caster, the office shall he conferred only during his royal pleasure.—His majesty assures his faithful commons, that in the execution of the powers with which .he is intrusted by law to grant certain offices for life, as in the exercise all the prero gatives of his crown, his conduct will at " all times be governed by an anxious atten" tion to the public interest and welfare."