Poffibly the event of that debate might facilitate the difcuffion of the fubject of the Noble Duke's Motion; and perhaps it might appear more eligible to bring in a distinct Bill for that purpose. Lord Thurlow thought a meafure of fuch importance as the Noble Duke thought this to be, ought not to be brought into a Committee on the Mutiny Bill; nor could he imagine the juftice of introducing it by a previous Motion in the Houfe, which Motion was to bind the Committee to adopt it, thereby making them but a mere cypher. If the measure intended by the Noble Duke was a just one, the only true, proper, and conftitutional method that offered, was to move for a Bill, and to give previous notice of what were the principal heads of that Bill. By these means the legality of landing the troops would come into open and fair difcuffion: whereas by the prefent mode, a new matter of infinite importance, which in a great measure altered the law of the land, was to take its origin by way of amendment to an old law, though it was a law annually paffed. Lord Lauderdale faid, that, as a friend to the Constitution, and jealous of the liberty of his country, he could not consent to any measure which tended to the infringement of either. He attacked Minifters for bringing into this country Foreign Troops, contrary to the spirit and letter of the Conftitution. He inveighed against that fyftem of Government which refifteth all enquiry into the real caufe of the landing of these troops, and wondered much at their refufing to fay for what purpose the Heffians were intended, to what expedition their affiftance was requifite, how long they were to continue, what their numbers were, and whether those numbers were to be increased? If (faid the Noble Lord) British Subjects are to be sent to the Continent to fight the battles of the Allied Powers, and to bring Foreign Troops to the internal defence of this country, I will oppofe fuch a measure to the last extremity. His Lordfhip pofitively infifted, that Foreign Troops in this country, unfanctioned by Parliament, were dangerous innovators. They were ever held to be fo, and at this moment particularly to be dreaded. His voice, he faid, was for the liberties of the people, and the fecurity of the rights of mankind; and he could not fee thofe rights invaded, without doing his duty, in oppofing that which he deemed to be dangerous. He thought it rather strange, and indeed fufpiciously to be apprehended, that his Majesty's Minifters fhould prefer having Foreign Troops to protect this realm to the native citizens of the country; and he could not but blame that measure which fent Englishmen to shed their blood in defence of Germany, whilft Foreigners were imported to guard the realms of Great Britain. He therefore thought that fomething fhould be done which might bring thefe Foreigners under the fubjection of of the military laws of this country; at prefent, they were not amenable to them. He wished to know, what was the purport of their taking up their refidence in the Ifle of Wight, for Parliament was wholly uninformed on the subject. There was not a fingle document on their Lordihips' table to prove to what end their landing pointed, or what benefit this country was to reap from their arrival. Lord Stanhope in very ftrong terms condemned the landing of any Foreign Troops in this Country for any purpofse whatever; for, notwithstanding the falfe alarmn which Minifters had fo artfully propagated with refpect to the difaffected people of this country, they had not been able to bring the name of any one before the House. He was of opinion, that notice fhould be given before any matter of importance was agitated, that the Lords might be duly fummoned, as was the ufage of Parliament; but in refpect to the prefent bufinefs, he had this to fay, that he thought His Majefty's Minifters acted most unconftitutionally. He had heard it averred by a Minifter, that the landing of Foreign Troops in this country, without the confent of Parliament, was conftitutional; and he had heard it treafonably afferted, that this was the prerogative of the Crown. He called it treafonable, and he would define what Judge Blackftone faid of treafon.-It was a felony, in which the perfon who killed the traitor was juftifiable-Juftifiable homicide, faid the Noble Earl-But if the traitor killed the citizen, who in fuch cafe attempted his life, it was murder.-For his own part, he faid, he would defend the liberties of the people against all Traitors to the Conftitution, at the hazard of his life and fortune-and he cared not who they were. [The Noble Earl faid much more than we have derailed, but in fo pointed a manner, that we deem it prudent not to follow him.] Lord Grenville faid he agreed with the Noble Lord's conclufion of facrificing life and fortune IN DEFENCE OF OUR LIBERTIES; and he also agreed with him that there were TRAITORS IN THIS COUNTRY; men who were ready to OVERTURN THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION; who had their PRIVATE CABALS, and their SECRET MEETINGS, for that purpose; and who were endeavouring to diffeminate ideas, which, if adopted, muft finally be the ruin of Great Britain; opinions which would destroy that venerable fabric which was the envy and admiration of the world; but he faw no neceffity for enacting new laws for its protection, thofe already in force being fufficient to punish their impotent attempts to violate it. To fuch men he willingly allowed that no compaffion should be fhewn, however high their ftations, however nobly allied their connection. If they wifhed to undo their country, it was but common juftice that they themselves fhould be undone. Dd d No. 9. **** Lard Lord Lauderdale, with much warmth, faid the language was fo pointed, it could not be misunderstood who were the perfons the Noble Secretary meant. He thanked God that his confcience was clear and demanded to know, if fuch men exifted as the Noble Baron defcribed, why they were not taken in cuftody, why they were not profecuted, and why Parliament had not inftituted a ftrict enquiry into the subject? Lord Grenville replied, that the number was infignificant, and the cause weak, and that as the prefent laws of the land were adequate to punish the offenders, it was totally unrequifite to form any new Act on that fubject. Some of the inferior delinquents had already been brought to punishment by their country. The Duke of Norfolk withdrew his Amendment, as he underftood the matter was to be argued on Friday, which he did not know until it fell from a Noble Earl, (Stanhope.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. Paffed Boderick's and Serfant's Naturalization Bills. Upon the question for the second reading of the St. Alban's Bill, Mr. Buxton moved an Amendment, that the words, this day fix months" fhould be inferted instead of the word "now." After a fhort converfation, the Motion was withdrawn, and Counfel were heard, and Witneffes examined, against the Bill, after which the debate was adjourned to the 20th.-Adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS. Thursday, Feb. 20. Heard Counsel in refpect to Claim of the Barony of Clinton, and adjourned the Committee until One o'Clock next Day... The Loan Bill, and two Naturalization Bills, received the Royal Affent by Commiffion.-Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Thursday, Feb. 20. The Warton and the Shelton Inclosure Bills were reported, and ordered to be engroffed. Mr. Bingham moved, that the St. Alban's Canal Bill be com mitted. Mr. Speaker then put the Quftion, when there appeared, For the Commitment 23 Majority against the Bill I Adjourned. END OF VOL. VIII. A. ABINGDON, mo- tion for acknowledging the French Republic, 88, 89. Adair, Mr. Serjeant, his fentiments on the criminal law of Scot- land, 214. kingdom, 285. Adam, Mr. his intended motion for aflimilating the criminal law Addrefs to the King, (motion for an) on the fubject of his fpeech Alien Bill, motion for the renewal thereof, 305. Anderfon, Alderman, his remarks refpecting convoys, 123, 160, 373. Anftruther, Mr. his obfervations on the criminal law of Scotland, 211. Anfwer (his Majefty's) to the address from the Houfe of Lords on Army extraordinaries, for the year 1794, 175, 199. Attorney General, his obfervations on the French property bill, B. Bill relative to French property in English funds, &c. 248. Burke, Mr. his obfervations on Mr. Sheridan's motion for the Burrell, Sir Peter, his obfervations on the motion to address the C. Carnarvon, Lord, his remarks on the Marquis of Lansdowne's Canning, Mr. his fentiments relative to the treaty between the Carlisle, Carlisle, Earl of, his obfervations on the motion for an addrefs to Cavendish, Lord George, his remarks on the landing of the Cawthorne, Colonel, his obfervations on the flave trade, 256. King at the opening of the feflion, 28. On the motion of Earl Cliffden, Lord, his motion for an addrefs to the King in thanks Conventions, various, between his Britannic Majefty and the al- Convoys, Mr. Fox's motion relative to the convoys provided for Coventry, Lord, his obfervations on the motion for an address to Courtney, Mr. his remarks on the motion to address the King at Curtis, Mr. Alderman, his remarks on convoys provided for the D. Darnley, Lord, his remarks on Earl Stanhope's motion for ac- Dent, Mr. his remarks on the flave trade, 257. Derby, Earl, his remarks on the fubject of the motion for an ad- Dundas (Mr. Secretary) his statement of the exertions ufed in Durham, Bishop of, his fentiments on Earl Stanhope's motion for E. English funds, French property in them, 169. Eftimates for fea and land fervices for the year 1794, 226. F. Fitzwilliam, Earl of, his obfervations on the Marquis of Lans- Foreign |