Sitting of 8 April 1807

MINUTES.
The house met pursuant to adjournment About thirty new members were sworn, and took their seats.—The new ministers also took their seats on the treasury bench.—New writs were ordered for the borough of West Lone, in the room of James Buller, esq, who had accepted the office of one of the lords of the admiralty; for the borough of Weymouth, in the room of sir James Pulteney, who had accepted the office of secretary at war; for Dorchester, in the room of the hon. Cropley Ashley, who had accepted the office of clerk of the ordnance; for Liskeard, in the room of the hon. W. Elliot; who had accepted the office of one of the lords of the treasury; for the borough of Haslemore, in the room of R. Ward, esq. and for the county of Dumfries, in the room of the hon. W. Hope, who had accepted the offices of lords of the admiralty— Mr. Vansittart, chairman of the Shrewsbury election committee, reported, that general Ferguson had been absent from that committee for some days, on account of illness. Dr. Scott proved the fact of the general's illness, and he was excused for his said absence —Sir John Newport brought in the Irish Loan bill, which was read a first time.—The Irish malt and spirit duty bill was
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read a third time and passed; as was also the Irish office fees bill—Lord G. Thynne informed the house, from the bar, that his majesty bad been waited upon with the address of the 25th of March, praying his majesty not to grant any office during life, which was not usually so granted, and that his majesty had been pleased to return the following gracious answer:—" His Majesty acquaints his faithful Commons, that he will take the subject of their Address into his most serious consideration; and thinks it proper, at the same time, to inform. them, that lie has thought it fit to provide, that in a grant now to be made of the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan caster, the office shall he conferred only during his royal pleasure.—His majesty assures his faithful commons, that in the execution of the powers with which .he is intrusted by law to grant certain offices for life, as in the exercise all the prero gatives of his crown, his conduct will at " all times be governed by an anxious atten" tion to the public interest and welfare."

MINUTES.
The house met pursuant to adjournment About twenty peers were sworn in, and took their places. An interval then succeeded of apparently much suspense, when it was expected that the order of the day would he moved, for the marquis of Stafford's motion respecting the recent change of administration. After some consultation, however, between lords Holland, Grenville, Stafford, &c.
The Marquis of Stafford roseand said, that in consequence of the indisposition of

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many noble lords, who were anxious to attend the debate upon the motion of which he had given notice for that day, he was desirous to afford every accommodation in his power for their attendance. In that persuasion of the existing circumstances respecting these noble persons, he should move, that the order of the day for taking that motion into consideration that day be discharged, and that a new order be made for the entertaining the same motion on Monday next; and that their lordships be accordingly sun, moned for that day. Ordered.
The lord Chancellor (Eldon)who this day took seat on the woolsack for the first time since his recent appointment, rose to make some observations on the probable impracticability that the report of the bill on the Scotch Judicature, could be ready before Tuesday; on that day it might be settled what situation was to be occupied by the Scotch judges during the present discussion. Until that decision took place, he was of opinion that the report on the-bill could not well be proceeded on. He should therefore move, that the report be taken into consideration on Wednesday next. Ordered.