Lords Sitting of 7 March 1804

MINUTES.
Counsel were finally heard relative to the Irish Appeal, Stewart v. Young. After which their lordships affirmed the decree of the Irish court.—The bills before the House were forwarded in their respective stages: among which the

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Duke of York's Estate Bill was read a third time and passed, and the Marine Mutiny Bill, and the Scotch Bankrupt Law Bill were read a second time.

MUTINY BILL.—
On the question for the third reading of the Mutiny Bill,
The Duke of Norfolkrose, and made some observations relative to certain provisions which had been introduced into the bill, the effect of which, and more especially their introduction into a bill such as that under consideration, he highly disapproved. The provisions to which he alluded, went to authorise the collection of tolls upon the passage of army waggons, &c. over certain bridges. Having stated his grounds of objection to such a regulation, in some detail, the noble duke observed, that the principle upon which it proceeded was a novel one, with a reference to bills of a similar description of that before their lordships. His interference was guided by no other motive than a view to the public service. Mutiny bills may be said to be regular annual bills since the establishment of a standing army, and were necessarily so, as long as that establishment continued. He did not then move to expunge the provisions in question, but he trusted what he had thrown out: would have its weight with the framers of such bills, and induce them to amend the act accordingly.—Some private business was then disposed of, and the House adjourned.