Sitting of 28 November 1803

MINUTES.—
The Speaker took the chair at half after three.—Col. Hayne then presented a petition for leave to bring in an inclosure bill, which was granted.—Mr. Foster appeared at the bar from the Exchequer office, with an account of the net produce of the taxes of the current year, ending the 10th of October. The account was ordered to lie on the table, and a sufficient number of copies to be printed for the use of the members.—Sir C. Bunbury presented a petition from the debtors confined in the county gaol of Suffolk.—Ordered to lie on the table.—Mr. W. Dundas gave notice of his intention to bring in a bill to explain the acts relating to statute labour in Scotland, with respect to the construction of which, doubts subsisted. He declined mentioning a particular day, stating that it was his intention to write to the representatives for Scotland, and to fix such a day, as would be convenient to them, for the discussion of the subject.—Lord Castlereagh gave notice of his intention to move, on Wednesday, for leave to bring in a bill, relative to the bonding of East-India goods.—Mr. Hobhouse brought up the report of the committee of supply. The resolution for granting a supply was agreed to nem. con. and the committee ordered to sit again on Wednesday.—Mr. Vansittart moved, that there be laid before the house, the following estimates, viz.; An estimate of the ordinary expenses of the navy for the year 1804; an estimate of the expense of the half-pay of officers of the navy, and such officers of the royal marines, as served in the last war; an estimate of the expense of building and repairing ships of war, and other expenses in his majesty's dock-yards, generally known by the denomination of wear and tear, for the year 1804; an estimate of the expense of guards and garrisons, and other descriptions of his majesty's land forces for 1804; an estimate of the expense of ordnance for land service, for the year 1804; an estimate of the expense, incurred for services, not provided for by Parliament; an estimate of the expenses of transport service, for the year 1804. Ordered.—Mr. Vansittart also moved, that an humble address be presented to his Majesty, praying that his Majesty would

45
be graciously pleased to give directions, that I the proper officers should prepare such estimates, and lay them before the house. Agreed to.—Petitions relating to the controverted elections, for the following places, were laid on the table, and appointed for consideration in the following order:—Aylesbury and Glasgow, February 14; Baldock and Honiton, February 16; Carrickfergas and Sudbury, February 21; Minehead and Hereford City, February 23; London and Coventry, February 28; Stirling, March 1, 1804.—Mr. Adams gave notice, that on Wednesday next, he should move to vote the seamen, deemed necessary for the service of the year 1804.

INCOME TAX.—
Mr. Alderman Combewished to be informed by the Secretary of the Treasury, whether there was any intention to bring in a bill to simplify the act of last session, relating id this tax. Much difficulty was, at present felt, in making out the returns; and it was therefore extremely desirable, that it should be decidedly stated, whether any alteration was to take place in the standard by which the return was to be regulated, and the manner in which it was to be made, as the act now stood.
Mr. Vansittartsaid, he had no intimation from his majesty's ministers, that any alteration was to be made in the act alluded to by the worthy Alderman. On the contrary, he understood it to be their intentions, that, for the present, the returns should be made, according to the act, as it now stood 5 and that this should be continued for one year, in order to afford a full and fair trial to the present system. The whole of its faults and deficiencies, which would then be perfectly understood, may be then corrected by one bill, which would be much better than to trouble Parliament at present with separate bills on every supposed and ill-conceived difficulty or imperfection.
Mr. Alderman Combeexpressed himself satisfied with the answer given by the honourable gentleman.

BARRACKS—
Admiral Berkeleywished to know, whether the expense of the barracks now building, was to be included in the estimates just moved for.
Mr. Vansittartsaid, the expense of barracks was not one of those included in the estimates, which he had moved the house to order.