ence.

gretted, as much as any man, the neceffity which called for a change in their habits, or for any innovation on their enjoyments; though he was convinced, if there was time for example and perfeverance to operate, the change, fo far from being a difadvantage, would turn out a great benefit and a great conveniFor it was well known that there were many kinds of bread which it would be to the laft degree mortifying to the people of fome parts of the realm to make ufe of, and it would equally mortify thofe of other parts to renounce; it was unwarrantable, therefore, and cruel, as refpecting the people, while abundance of fuch corn was in the country, to confound the partial fcarcity of wheat with actual famine, and agitate the minds of the people with the terrors of a diftress which cannot poffibly betal them.

He lamented that there was fuch difficulty in prevailing on the poor to adopt the fubftitutes; but their prejudices and enjoyments with him were facred, and he would never confent to use compulfory means their own common fenfe would point out to them the neceffity of adopting it. They would fee it was their intereft. Experiment would fhow them how groundlefs their diflikes were, and the prejudices which fand in the way of their intereft would gradually be overcome by example. Already, in many parts of the country, that had been accomplished. With refpect to the high price of wheat, however, it was in general to be lamented; it at leaft diminished the consumption of that article, without breaking in on the fubfiftence of the people. Ar all events, he thought the price enormous, and out of all proportion with the fcarcity; and he hoped, nay he believed, that those who kept it up with a view of getting a greater price, would fooner or later find themfelves materially difappointed. At the fame time, he would fay, those who kept up their corn, did it not from any mifchievous view, but merely on that principle of commerce which every man has a right to exercife, namely, getting the beft price he can.

It might be afked then,. If the diftrefs be not owing to real fcarcity, or to a fraudulent fearcity, whence then does it arife? or what can it be? He would anfwer, "It is that which attends fuch difcuffions as the prefent-fuch endeavours to inflame the minds of the people; which by increafing the alarm, increase the evil. Ed. Mag. June 1796.

It was important to let the country fee their anxiety and folicitude for their conftituents-but not to be proclaiming defpondency, when there was no reafon to be apprehenfive. If, on the contrary, Members would employ themselves in giving a juft picture of the ftate of the bufinefs, they would take away those falfe impreffions which magnified the evil, and enabled the people to bear the preffure of it, till the return of the feafon fhould make all apprehensions vanifh.'

After fome further obfervation, Mr Buxton's motion for the Chairman to leave the chair was put, and carried nem. con. and Tuesday next appointed for the Committee to fit again.

3. Mr Wilberforce moved for the fecond reading of the Slave Abolition Bill; to which General Tarleton moved an amendment," That it be read a fecond time this day three moths."

A divifion then took place on the queftion of its being read now a fecond time, when there appeared, for the fecond reading, 64; against it 31; Majority 33.

4. Mr Curaven rofe to make his motion for a repeal of the Game Laws. He went through an hiftorical account of them, and infifted that they were tyrannical and unconftitutional, and that, if repealed, the country would be filled with an abundance of game never before known,

In what he had to propofe, however, he did not mean to takeaway all penalties. He would fix a penalty of gl. on every head of game killed by any person after a difcharge, that is, after notice given by the owner of the ground to quit it; and the penalty for killing on waftes he would not alter he meant only to give the right to men to kill on their own property.

He therefore moved for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the Game Laws, or fo much of them as the Houfe should think proper; and to fubftitute, in the place thereof, fuch provifions as to the wisdom of the House should seem expedient.

This produced a long debate, or rather converfation, in which feveral Gentlemen delivered their opinions.It feered the general sense of the House, that the fyftem of the Game Laws required fome regulation and amendment. Mr Fox and Mr Wilberforce thought, if there was no alternative between their exiftence in the prefent form, and their abfolute

abfolute repeal, the latter was preferable and neceffary.

Mr Buxton propofed to make game private property.

Mr Francis thought great care ought to be taken not to decreate the motives which might induce Gentlemen of property to refide on their eftates: and this argument Mr Windhamn enforced, as applicable to all fudden alterations in laws, which might be attended with unthoughtof confequences.

Mr Jenkinson was against all inquiry. Though he admitted there was fomething tyrannical in the laws, yet they were mildly adminiftered; and he moved the queftion of Adjournment; which, on a divifion, was negativedAyes 27 Noes 50Majority 23.

Mr Curwen then moved, that the Game Laws be fubmitted to a Committee of the whole Houfe, which was agreed to without a divifion.

7. General Smith moved, that the Order for referring the Apothecaries Peti tion to a Committee, for a Bill to prevent Druggifs and others from preparing me dicines, be difcharged.

After a few words from Mr Dent, General Smith moved that the Petition be rejected, which was agreed to without a divifion.

The Black Rod attended from the Lords, defiring the attendance of the Commons. The Speaker having in confequence attended, informed the Houle on his return, that their Lordships had notified the Royal Affent by Cammiffion to 20 public and 18 private Bills. Among the former were the Vote of Credit Bill, and the two Exchequer Loan Bills.

Mr Wilberforce faid, that he intended to introduce in the Committee, for which he was about to move, alterations in the Slave Trade Abolition Bill. After paffing through the Committee, he would move that it be printed with fuch alterations, and recommitted.

He then moved, that the Speaker leave the Chair.

General Smith oppofed the Speaker's leaving the Chair. The Hon. Gentleman ought, he faud, to delay the Committee altogether, and give the Bill with the alterations he intended.

The queftion then, for the Speaker's leaving the Chair, being put, the Houfe divided, and the numbers were, Ayes 76, Noes 31; Majority 45.

The Houfe then refolved itfelf into a Committee, Mr Elliot in the Chair,

Mr Wilberforce moved, to fill up the blank in the firft claufe, for the duration of the trade till the 1ft of March

1797.

Mr Dent confidered this period as much too fhort; the amount of the exportation and importation of this trade, and on that which it was connected with, was not less than ten millions of money. The Houfe ought to take great care upon this fubject, not to do any thing that might be injurious to the Weft India Trade, fuch as he was confident this meafure would be, if adopted by the Legiflature.

Sir William Dolben did not fee what reason the friends of this trade had to complain of hafte in the abolition of it. They had reafon to apprehend that abolition feven years ago.

Mr Dent faid, this proceeding was a difgrace to this country, and contrary to one of the express declarations of Magna Charta; the words of the Charter were, "That right fhall be neither fold, delayed, nor denied." Now he would ask whether, if this Bill paffed, Right would not be fold, delayed, and denied? What was the Committee now doing? Selling, delaying, and denying the rights of the Weft India Merchants and Planters. The Houfe of Commons had paffed feveral Refolutions on this trade; thefe Refolutions were now before another Houfe. Would the Committee reflect on the indelicacy of carrying up to the Lords a Bill upon this subject, before their Lordships came to any determination upon the former Refolutions?

Mr Serjeant Adair recollected perfely well the paffage in Magna Charta alluded to, and he thought the paffage applicable to the Bill now before the Committee. But before we talk of right, we muft eftablish the exiftence of that right.

He denied the existence of our right to enflave others; he knew of no origin to the right of flavery in this country; he knew of no power that the Legiflature of this country had to protect the Slave Trade; and he muft proteft against the authority, if any fuch there was, for that protection. He agreed, however, that right in this cafe was fold, delayed, and denied.-Right was fold when the Africans were fold; Right was delayed when the Abolition of the Slave Trade was delayed, Right will be denied when the Legislature of this country fhall refufe to put an end to

that

that traffic which creates mifery and pro motes murder.

The queftion for the commencement of the Bull on the rft of March 1797, was then put, and carried.

Mr Wilberforce afterwards proposed a claufe, to fubject all who fhall in due form of law be convicted of carrying on this trade against this act, to the punithment of felony, by transpor: ion to Botany Bay, or elsewhere, for 14 years. Agreed to.

He allo brought up a great number of other claufes, which were agreed to.

The Houfe being refumed, the report was received immediately, and ordered to be taken into confideration this day fennight; and the Bill, with the amendments, was ordered to be printed.

8. Mr Ryder brought up the Report of the Select Committee on the high price of Corn. The Refolutions were read, which were as follow, viz.

"That it appears to this Committee, that every miller fhould be provided with weights and ftales, that those weights be liable to be inspected, and feized in cafe of deficiency. That millers be obliged to return the fame weight brought unless what is wafted in the act of grinding. That no miller do take toll in kind, unlefs at fuch mills as are authorized by law. That every miller have fixed up in his mill a table of rates, expreffive of the different prices of grinding. That Magiftrates be authorized to punish delinquents. That where any perfon brings corn to grind, and has no money, that the miller be permitted to take a reafonable charge in kind."

Mr Ryder moved, that leave be given to bring in a Bill on thefe fundry Refolutions. Ordered.

10. Mr Grey rofe to make his motion on the state of the nation. He made a long speech on the criminal prodigality of the Minifter of the public money, upon his illegal modes of raising money without the fanction of Parliament, upon the building of barracks which would now contain 40,000 men, separated from the mafs of the people, and upon his whole financial conduct; and be finally concluded by obferving, that if Peace were inftantly to be concluded, fuch had been the burdens incurred by the prefent war, that our peace establishment could not be reduced to lefs than twenty-two millions; that our income, including the new taxes, and fuppofing every tax to be efficient, cannot amount to

more than 19,500,cool. per annum; and that of courfe it would be neceffary to provide two millions and a half of annual taxes. He moved that the Houfe fhould relolve itfelf into a Committee on the ftate of the Nation.

Mr Jenkinfon oppofed the motion. Notwithstanding the great exertion of the enemy who oppofed us, who fent out of their country five-fixths of their fpecie, our Minifter had borrowed money on better terms than during the American war, though much more per annum was wanted; our commerce and revenue were rapidly increafing and he would venture to affirm, confidering our state altogether, we never had before us a greater profpect of profperity, therefore the motion was unneceffary.

On the fame grounds Mr Steele oppofed it. He pointed out feveral fallacies in Mr Grey's statement of finance and after fome other Members had fpoken, the Houfe divided--Against the Motion 207, for it 45-Majority 162.

15. The Houle being formed into a Committee on the Abolition of the Slave Trade,

Sir W. Young rose to oppose the Bill. By its provifions, he observed, that gentlemen of liberal education, refined manners, and ample fortunes, refident in England, were liable to an indictment for felony, and the confequent punish. ment of transportation, for crimes committed in the Wef Indies by their agents and overfeers. Their property alfo would be equally affected by its operation. The Hon. Baronet took a comprehenve view of the ftate of the Weft India Iflands, and enlarged on the loyalalty of the Planters, and their exertions for preferving the colonies to the mother country.

General Smith alfo oppofed the Bill. The attachment the negroes had lately fhewn to their mafters, and the alacrity which they had manifefted to protect their property when they were embodied and arms were put into their hands, completely controverted, he said, all the thetic tales that had been invented of cruelty towards them.

pa

"

cumfances

f

cumftances attending it, while it was carried on by any other country in Europe, would be impracticable. It would be impoffible for Great Britain, with all her maritime ftrength, to prevent the fmuggling of negroes from other iflands. The experiment had been tried. In the course of the prefent war, twenty-eight fhips of the line were found unable to prevent a communication between the negroes of the different iflands.

He gave it moreover as his opinion, that the Parliament of Great Britain could not declare the Abolition without colonial co-operation; that 'they could not pafs this Act without the confent of the Colonies, and without making in demnification to individuals, who had been induced to embark their property in the trade on the authority of various Acts of Parliament. A property of twenty millions, he understood, was embarked in it, which, with the colonial interefts, would amount to nearly eighty millions.

Some had pretended to fav, that the lofs of the Weft Indies would not be effentially felt by this country. He was aftonished at fuch language, and would controvert it by the following ftatement of the advantages derived by this country from her colonies in that quarter of the Globe:

For the year 1795, the imSports were

Net revenue (arifing from thence)

Veffels

£8,888,673

1,624,176 635 153,000 8000

Exports for the fame year,

Foreign and British

Veffels

£.3,743,431

700 177,000 12,000

£.3,773,000

Having thus fated the advantages derived from this country by the Weft Is dies, he gave it as his opinion, that inftead of abolishing, the trade only requir

ed further regulation. He could wish that the age of the flave imported should be reftricted to 20. This would increase their population in the country, supersede the neceffity of fresh importations, and prevent revolts, which arofe from the inveterate habits old negroes brought with them. He concluded by giving his moft decided negative to the motion.

Mr Fox was equally decided (as he had ever been) in favour of it. The abfolute confent of the Weft India proprietors to the abolition, he faid, could never be obtained, and the Legislature of Great Britaiu he maintained poffeffed powers fully adequate to colonial regulation. France, he obferved, flood pledged againft the Slave Trade, and when Great Britain had abolished it, he did not know what other nation could take it up. He then went into a minute analyfis of different arguments advanced by Mr Dundas againft the Bill, and concluded by faying, that they were now only perfor ming that duty to the public, which they decreed fhould take place on the ift of January 1796; and that they ought to let the world know that it was not the fault of that Houfe, if the measure was not now fully accomplished.

Serjeant Adair also spoke in favour of

the motion.

Mr Pitt, in a long fpeech, went thro' all the claufes of the Bill. When he came to that respecting which it had been afked-will you punish a man for what has been fanctioned for a century? he would anfwer-certainly; after the Legislature has declared that to be a crime which it formerly thought to be a piece of policy. For his part, he had no apprehenfions on account of any unfortunate events that might arife by the paffing of this Bill. The evils refulting from the continuance of the trade were much more to be dreaded; and not only juftice and humanity, but found policy, decided in favour of a prompt and speedy abolition.

General Tarleton oppofed the motion, and moved, That the confideration of the fubject be deferred to that day four months, which being feconded by Mr Dent, the Houfe divided--For the Amendment 74, againft it 70-Majority 4. So that this Bill is of courfe loft for this Seffion.

THE

"The 4th, we were employed in croffing the Elero, and conftructing new bridges across the Pefio; in the evening, our van-guard reached Carru. On the following day, after fome fkirmishes, we entered the town of Bene.

"On the 6th, General Sernerier cannonaded the city of Foffano, the headquarters of General Colli. The enemy, after having fired a few cannon fhot, evacuated the place, and re-croffed the Sture. This conqueft is for us of the greateft importance, as it fupports our right flank, and affords us great refources in point of provifions.

"The enemy have retreated to Carignon to cover Turin, which latter place is nine leagues from my head quar

ters.

"Both Foffano and Alba are in our poffeffion, and I have ordered bridges to be conftructed across the Tanaro, which is a very large and rapid river. We are here in the finest country in the world." (Signed) Buonaparte. ARMISTICE.

Head Quarters of the Piedmontefe Army,

April 26. 1796. Conditions of a Sufpenfion of Arms, agreed upon between the French and Piedmontefe armies; between Buonaparte, General in Chief of the French army in Italy, and Baron de la Tour, Lieutenant-General of horfe in the fervice of the King of Sardinia, and the Marquis Cofta, Colonel in Chief of the Staff commiffioned by the King of

Sardinia to treat with the General in Chief of the French Army:

Head Quarters at Oberefoo, April 28. ART. I. All hoftilities fhall ceafe be tween the French army in Italy and the army of the King of Sardinia, from the day that the under mentioned conditions fhall be fulfilled until the expiration of five days after the end of the negocia

tions, which are to be fet on foot to attain the conclufion of a treaty of peace between the two powers, viz.

The fortrefs of Coni fhall be occupied by the French on the 28th of April, of this prefent year; the fortrefs of Aleffandria fhall likewife be taken poffeffion of by the French as foon as poffible, and at lateft the 30th of April, until the fortrefs of Tortona can be furrendered to

them.

II. The French army fhall remain in poffeffion of its conquefts, that is to say, of all the country fituated between the right banks of the Sture, and its conflu ence with the Tanaro, and from thence along the right banks of the river as far as the point where it joins the river Po, as long as the French thall remain in the poffeffion of Aleffandria, but after this place fhall have been restored to the King of Sardinia, in confequence of the fortrefs of Tortona being occupied by the French, the boundaries fhall extend far, ther from the confluence of the Sture and Tanaro, to the height of Afty, on the right bank of the faid river; From this point, the high road which leads to Nizza de la Paille, and from that place to Caffigny, is to ferve as a line of demarcation; from thence croffing the Bormida under Caffigny, the French army fhall remain in poffeffion of the right bank of the Bormida to its difcharge into the Tanaro, and from thence to the confluence of this river and the Po.

III. The town and citadel of Coni, as well as the town and citadel of Tortona, fhall be furrendered up to the French,