Sitting of 6 March 1806

MINUTES.
Colonel Verekerreported from the committee, to whom the petition from the city of Limerick had been referred, and obtained leave to bring in a bill for the more equal taxing, and the better paving, cleansing, and lighting the city of Limerick.—Mr. Alderman Combe presented a petition from several persons, owners and proprietors of houses, in Skinner-street, Snow-hill, and in Pickett street, Temple-Bar, praying leave to dispose of the same by way of lottery. He also presented a petition from the Master Shoe-makers of the city of London, praying for certai n regulations therein stated, for the better sup-

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pression of combination among the trade. —On the motion of Mr. Vansittart, a new writ was ordered for the Borough of Corfe Castle, in the room of the right hon. Nathanael Bond, who has accepted the office of judge advocate general.—Mr. Mainwaring presented a petition for leave to bring in a bill for building a bridge over the Thames, opposite to Vauxhall.—The report of the committee of yesterday, on the situation of lord Collingwood's family, was brought up and agreed to, and, on the motion of lord H Petty, it was ordered that it be an instruction to the committee, to whom lord Collingwood's annuity bill was referred, to introduce provisions agreeably to those resolutions.—Lord H. Petty brought in the bill for the better regulating the office of treasurer of the ordnance, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. Mr. S. Bourne asked if any additional salary had been granted, or was in contemplation to be granted, to the persons holding the office in question, and other similar offices, in consequence of the regulations now introduced? The noble lord answered, that no such addition had been made, nor was he aware that any such was in contemplation.

MR. TROTTER'S PETITION TO BE DISCHARGED.
Mr. Whitbreadstated, that the conduct of Mr. Trotter before the committee appointed to prepare articles of impeachment against lord Melville this morning, justified him in offering to the house a petition, praying that he should be discharged. The petition was then brought up and read by the clerk; setting forth, "that the petitioner was committed to the custody of the serjeant at arms, for not answering certain questions put to him by a committee appointed by the house; and the petitioner hopes that such his refusal will not be ascribed to any want of deference or respect to the house, or to their committee, but to a sense of regard to his personal security, which, from his legal advisers, he understood would be endangered were he to answer such questions; but, since the declaration of the house respecting such his refusal, the petitioner most respectfully acquaints the house, that he is now most ready to attend the said committee, for the purpose of examination, and to answer such questions, deeply regretting his error, and begging pardon for the same; and therefore praying, that the house will order him to be discharged
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out of the custody of their serjeant at arms." The petition having been read, it was ordered, on the motion of Mr. Whitbread, "that the said Alexander Trotter be brought to the bar of this house forthwith, in order to be discharged." Mr. Trotter was accordingly brought to the bar, where he received a reprimand from the Speaker, and was ordered to be discharged out of custody, paying his fees. The reprimand was as followeth, viz. "Alexander Trotter; a committee of this house, charged with the high and important duty of preparing Articles of Impeachment against Henry lord viscount Melville, having reported that you, upon your examination before the committee, refused to give evidence, this house, in its just indignation, ordered you to be taken into custody.—Your example, and the disgrace and imprisonment inflicted upon you, are a warning to all men, that resistance to the authority of this house "is vain.—But the atonement you have made this day, by an early and full submission, having induced the house to order that you be now discharged; you are discharged accordingly, paying your fees." On the motion of Mr. Whitbread, it was then ordered, "that what has been said by Mr. Speaker, in reprimanding the said Alex. Trotter, be entered in the journal of this house.

MINUTES.
Lord Tyrawley,one of the representative peers of Ireland, took the oaths and his seat.—The Qualification Indemnity bill passed through a committee, and was reported.—Mr. Johnson, from the office of chief secretary for Ireland, presented an account of the state of the prisons in Ireland for the year 1805, which was ordered to lie on the table.—Mr. Allnutt, from the commissioners of Thames Navigation, presented an account of the receipts and disbursements of that board for the year 1805, which was also ordered to lie on the table.