Sitting of 8 December 1803

MINUTES.—
The Malt Duty Bill, the Irish Habeas Corpus Suspension Bui, the Irish Martial Law Bill, the East India Bonds Bill, and the Qualification Indemnity Bill, were severally read a third lime, and passed.—The Pension Duty Bill, the Five Million Loan Bill, the Expiring Laws Bill, l the Irish Corn Exportation Bill, the Irish; and the British Sugar Drawback Bill, the Irish Silver Note Bill, the Curates' Relief Bill, and the Irish Oats Distillation Bill, were reported, and ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.—Lord Castlereagh stated at the bar, that his Majesty had been waited upon with the address of that House upon the subject of his most gracious communication respecting General Barton being taken into custody; and that his Majesty had been pleased to receive the ad dress in the most gracious manner.—His lordship informed the House also of the gracious reception of the address respecting the sums of money which that House had voted and had yet to make good.—The Portugal Wine Bonding Bill had several new clauses added, the most prominent of which was one extending the benefit of the act to the importers and proprietors of Spanish Wine. The report was ordered to be received to-morrow.—The Irish Inland Navigation Accounts were ordered to be printed.

NAVAL INQUIRY.—
Sir W, Elfordadverted It a motion which had been made by him during the last session of Parliament, respecting the dismissal of a gentleman from his employment in his Majesty's dock yards. He wished now to know, and he was happy to rind that an hon. baronet was now in his place in that House, who might possibly have it in his power so inform him, whether it was the intention of the commissioners appointed under the authority of that house, to make any report upon the subject?
Sir C. Polesaid, that in his opinion there
150
was not any such an idea at present among the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry.
Sir W. Elfordthen desired to be informed if it was not intended to mention the name of that gentleman, or make any observation whatever upon the subject to which he alluded?
Sir C. Polethen told the hon. baronet that most probably that gentleman's name might be mentioned, but he did not think it a circumstance by any means likely to occur, that any comment should be made upon the subject.

CURATES' RELIEF BILL.—
On the Order being read for receiving the report of the Stipendiary Curates Residence Bill,
The Chancellor of the Exchequerobserved, that, in consequence of the absence of his right hon. friend who had been the mover of that bill, he thought it would be most proper to postpone the consideration of that report for the present; and as he had no doubt that the house would immediately concur in that opinion, he should move that the report be taken into further consideration to-morrow. There would most probably be a good deal of business then before the house, but it could easily be farther posponed till a more important discussion should happen to arise. The consideration of the report was then deferred till to-morrow.

SIERRA LEONA COMPANY.—
Mr. H. Thorntonpresented a petition front the Siena Leona Company, praying for pecuniary assistance from Parliament.
The Speakerobserved, that he thought it his duty to inquire, before such a petition was entertained as the present, whether it had received the approbation of his Majesty, as it would, if the prayer should be finally agreed to, be voting away the public money to the use of individuals, which requited that fact to be first ascertained.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerstated, that he thought there could be very little difference of opinion as to (he probability, or even the certainty, of his Majesty's giving t a most gracious reception, as a petition for a grant of 10,000. had at a former period received that sanction.
Mr. H. Thorntonthen moved, that the petition be referred to a committee, to examine the matter therein contained.
Mr. Dentstated, that the report of the state of the company's funds had been to very favourable, that in his opinion, that was in itself, the very best reason that that possibly could be against granting the prayer of a petition for parliamentary aid.—The question was then put, and the petition referred to a committee.

Preamble
Their lordships met pursuant to adjourn ment.—The English Bank Restriction Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow.