Sitting of 25 March 1806

MINUTES.
The bills to authorize the issue of 10½ and 1½ million of exchequer bills, were read a 3d time and passed.—The order for the committal of the bank charter bill was discharged on the motion of Mr. Vansittart, who stated that before the house
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went into the committee, he wished to have laid on the table an account of the circumstances connected with the loan of 3 millions due by government to the bank, and lent under the act of the 39th and 40th of his majesty, together with the interest accruing on the said loan. This paper was ordered and produced accordingly. Mr. Vansittart presented, pursuant to order, a return of the amount of the funded and unfunded debt; of the permanent revenue; and of the interest due on exchequer bills to be paid off.—The house in a committee went through the customs expiring laws bill. A new writ was ordered for the borough of Rye, in the room of Thomas Davis Lamb, esq. who has accepted the office of steward of the Chiltern hundreds.—The Secretary at War presented a return of the casualties, &c. in the army since the year 1801. The total number of men raised Great Britain and Ireland, for unlimited service since the 1st of Jan. 1801 to the 28th Feb. 1806; and also, return of the casualties in the British army since the year 1801, inclusive, distinguishing each year, and the casualties in the army at home from those in the army abroad, to the latest periods in the year 1805, for which returns have been received from the several stations abroad. —Mr. Whitbread reported that he had presented in the house of lords the replication of the commons to the answer delivered in by lord Melville to the last article of Impeachment.—Ordered on the motion of Mr. Whitbread, that an address should be presented to his majesty, praying for a copy of the second report of the commissioners for revising the civil affairs of the navy.—A message from the lords stated, that their lordships had appointed Tuesday, the 29th of April, for the trial of lord viscount Melville, at the bar of their own house, and that arrangements would be made at the said bar for the convenience of the managers of the impeachment, &c.—On the motion of Mr. Whitbread, it was ordered, that managers should be appointed; and that those managers should consist of the committee appointed to prepare the articles of impeachment. Also that Joseph Kaye and John Winter, esqrs. should be appointed solicitors for the conduct of the said impeachment.—Mr. Whitbread postponed till tomorrow his notice of a motion for the attendance of a committee of the whole house, upon the trial of lord Melville, in order to convenience an hon. gent. (Mr. Saunders Dundas) who was particularly interested

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in this question, and who could not attend on this day.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.
Mr. Hawthornereported from the committee the following resolutions:—1. "That 693,076 l. 15s.9d. be granted to his majesty, for paying off and discharging certain annuities, after the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, being part of the annuities granted by two acts of the 37th and 42d years of his present majesty; and that the said sum be issued and paid without any fee or other deduction whatsoever.—2. That 2,381 l. 17s. 6d. be granted to discharge the annuity granted to his late royal highness the duke of Gloucester, from the time it was last paid to the day of H. R. H.'s death. 3. That 51,250 l. 14s. be granted, for defraying, the expence of making an Inland Navigation from the eastern to the western sea, by Inverness and Fort William, for the year 1806.—4. That 10,250 l. 14s. be granted, to be applied in further execution of an act, of the 43d year of his present majesty, towards repairing and maintaining roads and bridges in the highlands of Scotland, for the year 1806.—5. That 1,934 l. 4s. 5d. be granted, for defraying bills of the usher of the court of exchequer for supplying the court and officers with stationery, &c. for the year 1806.—6. That 4,994 l. 1s. 8d. be granted, for defraying the charge of the works and repairs of the military roads in North Britain, for the year 1806.—7. That 48,329 l. be granted, for defraying the expences attending the confining, maintaining and employing Convicts at home, for the year 1806—8. That 10,000 l. be granted, for defraying the expence that may be incurred for reprinting, in the proportion of 8 volumes a year, of the Journals, Indexes, and Reports, of the House of Commons, agreeably to the resolutions of the committee of the house of commons in the sessions 1802–3, for the year 1806.—9. That 4000 l. be granted, for defraying the expence which may be incurred for printing 1750 copies of the 58th volume of Journals of the house of commons, for the year 1806.—10. That 290,300 be granted, to defray the charge of printing and stationery for the two houses of parliament for the year 1806.—11. That 20,000 l. be granted for defraying the expence of printing and delivering the votes of the house of commons, and for printing bills, reports, and other papers, by order of the house, during the present session of parliament.—12,That 143,849 l. 17s. be granted, for the relief of
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the suffering clergy and laity of France, Toulonese, Dutch, and Corsican emigrants, and American loyalists, for the year 1806.—13. That a sum, not exceeding 12,000 l. be granted, for defraying the expence of the public office, Bow-street, for the year 1806.—14. That 5,210 l. be granted, for paying the salaries and allowances to officers of the houses of lords and commons, and sergeants at arms for the year 1806.— 15. That 1,707,589 l. 10s. 3¼d. be granted to make good the deficiency of the grants for the service of the year 1805.—16. That 3,400 l. be granted towards enabling the trustees of the British Museum to carry on the execution of the trusts reposed in them by parliament.—17 .That 1,000,000 l. be granted to his majesty, for discharging the interest of such Exchequer bills as may be paid off in the course of the year 1806.

VOTE OF THANKS TO ADMIRAL DUCKWORTH, &c.
Mr. Greyand said, that since he had the honour of a seat in that house, he had never risen to perform so agreeable a duty as that which was now imposed upon him. To say that he anticipated the unanimous opinion of the house, and their approbation of the motion he had to make, would be to express but coldly his feelings of the sense they entertained of that most meritorious and important public service which had been lately performed. In speaking of the success oldie brave sir J. T. Duckworth, and of those officers who had seconded him with so much gallantry, he could not speak, as heretofore, of a victory gained over a superior force of the enemy; but this circumstance did not in any degree lessen the merit of the brave admiral who commanded. The promptitude with which he left his situation at Cales, when he heard of the enemy's fleet being at sea; the skill that he displayed in taking a position to intercept them at the time they owed their escape merely to the superiority of their sailing; the arrangements that he made to pursue them; and the immediate resolution he formed upon his arrival at the West Indies to attack them, although they were reported to be much superior in number, were deserving of the highest praise. As he approached them, he learned that their squadron had been divided, which division will, in all probability, afford another occasion for a new triumph. The fleet with which he had to contend, were anchored near the town of St. Domingo; they at first endeavoured to escape, but when they found that

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that was impossible, they made such a resistance as added to the glory of the brave admiral, and of the gallant officers who seconded him. The whole of the enemy's fleet were, after a short engagement, captured or destroyed. In whatever light this victory was considered, whether as adding to the naval glory of the country, or as affording an additional protection to its commercial interest; whether as giving increased means for the prosecution of the war, or for the future security of a peace; the grateful acknowledgements of that house and of the country were due, in the first place, to Providence, that had so often afforded its signal protection to the British empire; and, next to Providence, their thanks were due to those brave men, whose gallant exertions had achieved those victories which were the subjects of national triumph, and the causes of the security which was generally felt. Upon the present occasion, he thought he might venture to say, that those marks of royal approbation, which were generally given upon similar events, and which might now be expected, would not be withheld. He thought it would be unnecessary to detain the house, by making any further observations, and therefore concluded simply by moving the following resolutions:—1."That the thanks of this house be given to vice-admiral sir John Thomas Duckworth, knight of the most hon. order of the bath, for the distinguished valour, ability, and conduct shewn by him in the action with a French squadron on the 6th of Feb. last, when all the line-of-battle ships of the said squadron were taken or destroyed.—2. That the thanks this house be given to rear-admirals Cochrane and Louis, and to the captains and officers of the squadron under the command of vice-admiral sir J. T. Duckworth, who by their bravery and good conduct contributed to the success of that day; and that vice-admiral sir John Thomas Duckworth do signify the same to the rear-admirals and the several captains and officers.—3. That this house doth highly approve of, and acknowledge the services of the seamen and royal marines on board the ships under the command of vice-admiral sir John Thomas Duckworth, in the victory obtained over the squadron of the enemy on the 6th of Feb. last; and that the officers commanding the several ships do signify the same to their respective crews, and do thank them for their good behaviour." These resolutions were carried, nem. con. and the
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speaker was ordered to signify the same to vice-admiral sir J. T. Duckworth.

WATERFORD WRIT.
Mr. Secretary Foxsaid, he wished that the deputy clerk of the crown should be called in, to be examined as to the non-arrival of the return for Waterford. A considerable time had now elapsed since the election had taken place, and yet he understood that the return was not yet received by the clerk of the crown. The return ought to have been forwarded the day after the election. In the present instance the delay was extraordinary, and there were surmises that it was not purely accidental. He gave notice, that If the return did not arrive before that day, he should, on Thursday, move that the sheriff of the county of Waterford be ordered to attend at the bar. The deputy clerk of the crown was then called in and examined. He said that the return had not been received by him. Mr. Fox then gave notice of a motion on Thursday

DUBLIN PAVING BILL.
Mr. C. Wynnemoved the further consideration of the Dublin Paving bill.
General Loftuscomplained of the hardship which the Paving board of Dublin suffered in consequence of the suspension by lord Hardwicke, and the stigma which that suspension attached to their character.
Mr. C. Wynnebegged gentlemen to understand that this bill did not at all affect the question between lord Hardwicke and the Paving board, as the object of this bill was to grant a certain sum of money for the paving, cleansing, and lighting of the streets of Dublin.
Lord De Blaquierespoke in favour of the Paving board, of which he was a member, and requested the house, before they passed this bill, to take time deliberately to ponder.
Mr. J. Latouchevindicated the conduct of lord Hardwicke, who suspended the paving board in consequence of the report of a commission of enquiry; which report contained many and strong charges of malversation against that board. But this report would be soon laid before the house, and gentlemen would then be enabled to judge of lord Hardwicke's conduct, and of the character of those who complained of him.—The bill was ordered to be read second time this day three weeks.

MINUTES.
The Committee of Privileges sat some time on the claim of the duke of Clarence to vote as a peer of Ireland in the election of representative peers for that country, but strangers were excluded.—Mr. Hawthorne brought up from the Commons the 1,500,000 l. and 10,500,000 l. Exchequer Bills bills, the Spirits Excise Duties bill, the Irish Common Lands Partition bill, and the Felons' Transportation bill, which were read a first time.—Lord Radnor moved, that the proper officer do lay before the house, Copies of the Enrolment of any Patent of Peerage in Ireland, granted since the Union with Great Britain and Ireland; which was ordered.
IMPEACHMENT OF LORD MELVILLE.
Mr. Whitbreadand several other members of the commons, presented at the bar, in the name of the commons of the United Kingdom, a Replication to the Answer of Henry lord Melville, declaring that the said lord Melville is guilty of the high crimes and misdemeanours charged against him in the Articles of Impeachment, and that the commons are ready to prove same. The Replication having been read at the table, earl Fitzwilliam moved, that a day be appointed for the trial of Henry lord Melville: that the trial of the said lord Melville take place at the bar of the house, on the 29th of April next, at 11 in the forenoon; and that a message be sent to the commons to acquaint them therewith, and require them to appoint a committee to manage the impeachment; all which motions were agreed to, after a few words from the earl of Radnor respecting a point of form.

VOTE OF THANKS TO ADMIRAL DUCKWORTH.
Lord Grenvillesaid he had requested a noble and learned friend to move
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yesterday, that their lordships should be summoned for this day, in order that he might submit to them a motion for a Vote of Thanks, on account of our late success in the West Indies, respecting which he did not conceive there could be any difference of opinion. It was scarcely necessary, indeed, to make any comment upon the subject, or any preface to his motion. A series of the most splendid achievements had raised the character of our navy to the highest point of pre-eminence, whilst they proved the unrivalled skill and valour of our officers, and the irresistible bravery of our seamen. The victory recently obtained by sir J. T. Duckworth in the West Indies, evinced that the gallantry and skill of our officers, and the bravery of our seamen, were undiminished. A circumstance had attended this success which very seldom happened any of our victorious contests with the enemy, that we had a trifling superiority of force, but this could not in the least take away from the brilliancy of the victory, or the merit of those by whom it was achieved. Every thing had been done that could be effected; every thing had been done that was admitted of by the possibility of the case. The enemy's force consisted of 5 ships of the line, and 5 ships of the line were taken and destroyed. He was one of those who thought that the thanks of the house ought not to be given except in those cases where such a vote was called for by great and exalted merit; that so high an honour ought only to be granted where it was eminently deserved, thus rendering the reward the greater, by the rarity by which it was conferred. He thought however, that this was one of those cases which called upon their lordships to confer that high honour, and that so brilliant a victory entitled those who had achieved it, to the thanks of the house for the skill and bravery they had evinced in thus diminishing the means of the enemy, and adding to the security of the country. He conceived it unnecessary to comment any further upon the subject; to enter into any lengthened detail would, he thought, derogate from the splendour of the achievement. His lordship concluded by moving for the thanks of the house, in the usual form, to vice-admiral sir J. T. Duckworth, K. B.; the hon. rear-admiral Cochrane; rear-admiral Louis; and the captains and officers of the fleet; and an acknowledgement of the services of the seamen and royal marines.
The Duke of Norfolksaid, he could not help taking this opportunity of again calling their lordships' attention to the case of sir Robert Calder. He thought it hard that the services of that gallant admiral in the action of the first day, when, with an inferior force, he achieved a victory, should not be acknowledged by some public mark of approbation. The thirteen gallant officers who composed the court martial, he had no doubt, decided most properly; still, however, the merit of the gallant admiral on the first day remained undiminished. He spoke on this subject entirely as a landsman, but it was the opinion of others as well as himself, that sir Robert Carder was hardly dealt with in not having the merit of his first day's rencontre with the enemy publicly acknowledged. He had not the honour of being personally acquainted with the gallant admiral, but merely spoke from the impulse of his feelings upon the subject, and he had hoped that the business would have been taken up by some other noble lord.
The Earl of Romneywas proceeding to speak on the same subject, when, he was interrupted by
Lord Grenvillewho spoke to order. He put it to his noble friend and relation, whether it would not be more advisable to avoid any discussion upon a subject which had no connection with the motion before the house. If what had been alluded to by the noble duke should ever become the subject of a motion in that house, which he hoped would not be the case, he should then deliver his sentiments regularly upon it, but at present he conceived it to be irregularly introduced.
The Earl of Romneyassured his noble friend and relation, that in addressing the house upon the subject, he had been solely actuated by feelings of friendship for the gallant admiral alluded to, which he trusted would plead his excuse with the house.—The motions of lord Grenville were agreed to, nem. diss and the lord chancellor directed to communicate them to vice-admiral sir J. T. Duckworth.