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length, 15 in breadth, and 3 ftories high, capable of containing 300 looms, for the purpose of giving employment to weavers of Dublin out of work; that a great number of that defcription were there employed or fubfifted until they fhould get employment, at the rate of 9d. for the men, 6. for the women, and 4d. for the boys and girls per day.-That at faid manufactory of Profperous there were actually 300 looms at work, &c.

Mr. Fofter faid-The witnefs is employed by the linen-board to go round the kingdom, and make his return on oath. After expatiating on the great merit of Captain Brooke, Mr. Fofter mentioned that he had a refolution to propofe to the committee, which he hoped would meet with their approbation: He muft obferve to gentlemen, that this could not be called a grant of public money, it was only a loan; there was no tax to be laid on for it. He then moved, "That the fum of 25,000l. be advanced to Robert Brooke, Efq; in Exchequer bills, payable the 25th of March, 1784, he paying intereft for the fame, and giving proper fecurity for faid fum of 25,000l. and for employing 2000 perfons in the manufactory at Profperous, from the 25th of March, 1784, to the 25th of March, 1794."

Mr. Pelham declared, that Captain Brooke was called upon by government, when various petitions were prefented at the caftle, ftating the wretched fituation of the weavers: Captain Brooke informed government, that, with their affiftance, he would give employment to several of them; and on confulting with some of the magiftrates, it was agreed to fend down to Profperous fuch unemployed weavers, properly certified, as were unable to get employment. Mr. Pelham spoke much of the utility of the meafure, and faid, he would give his hearty concurrence to the refolution.

Mr. Griffith faid, that from his local knowledge of the town of Profperous, and reading the allegations of Captain Brooke's petition, he was competent to declare, that they were not only true, but rather moderate; he faid, about fix or seven days ago, he went to Profperous, examined the houses, looms, &c. and faw competence and induftry in the countenance of the people; he particularly examined how thofe people, fent lately from Dublin, for want of employ, were difpofed of: He faw fome at work, others preparing work for the loom; an univerfal fatisfaction prevailed with thofe, who, a few days before, were configned to dejection and mifery: he hoped that though he gave this refolution his warm fupport, he would not be charged with inconfiftency, as no man had a greater regard for public œconomy than what he had; but encouragement to your manufactures will be a great means of equalizing your revenue. He faid, he knew the petitioner himfelf; he knew him in Afia and in Europe; and a man of greater worth did not exist: he hoped the committee

would not think that his private predilection should influence his voting on this occafion.

Sir Henry Cavendish obferved, that the witnefs had faid that Captain Brooke had got 3000l. from the viceroy; it was not right that government should give money without confent of parliament, and come now to parliament to fanctify it. This is not the only grant given in that manner, the king's letter having that effect in a grant of 1000l.

Mr. Fofter faid, he knew the Right Hon. Baronet's skill in fhort hand, but that conftruction was by no means warranted. In Lord Temple's administration number of cotton manufac

turers were going to America; Captain Brooke was applied to; he found out where thefe men were, brought them down to Profperous, and Lord Temple gave him 1000l. which was fufficient for the expences he had been at. He faid, that if money granted by a Viceroy be well applied, the Viceroy gives it at his own rifque.

Sir Henry Cavendish asked what fecurity could Captain Brooke give, either for the money or keeping 2000 people employed for ten years?

Mr. Fofter faid, a bill would be brought in for this business, and care should be taken for the fecurity, and keeping the perfons employed; and he affured the committee, that without 'proper security no money fhould be granted.

The Provoft faid, from the information he had, great exertions had been used by Captain Brooke to make his manufacture a national object: As to the fecurity that the Hon. Baronet speaks of, the House of Commons is not competent to take fecurity; but the bill may direct fecurity to be given before one of the barons of the exchequer: He faid there were two circumftances that fhould induce him to agree with this refolution; and the one was, that in Lord Temple's time, Captain Brooke prevented the emigration of a number of manufacturers to a rival country; and the other was, that he acceded to the humane purposes of government, when our poor manufacturers were ftarving in our ftreets, by engaging a great number of them at his own risque.It was mentioned, that it was not right for a Viceroy to grant the public money without the confent of parliament, but a Viceroy, now dead, had got the thanks of parliament for granting money for corn in times of great distress.

Sir John Blaquiere did not think the intended mode of railing money for Captain Brooke, was at all favourable to him; he could not get the bills payable in 10 years, discounted at less than 12 per cent.

The resolution being put, the committee divided, when there

were,

For agreeing to Mr. Fofter's refolution,
Against it,

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Houfe refumed-Mr. Burgh reported: Ordered, that the report be received to-morrow morning.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1783.

The House in a committee of trade, Sir Henry Cavendish in the chair.

Examined Mr. Batty, a hat-maker, relative to the state of that trade in this kingdom, and the means to improve and extend the fame.- -Houfe refumed.

Sir Henry Cavendish reported to the Houfe, that the committee of trade had made fome progrefs, and asked leave to fit again.-- Leave granted.

Thomas Burgh (of Athy,) Efq; complained of the breach of privilege in the perfon of a friend of his (a member of that House) who had been arrefted as he was mounting his horse, by virtue of a writ iffued out by a John Blacktin, an attorney.

Ordered, that the faid John Blacktin do attend at the bar of this Houfe to-morrow.

A bill for indemnifying certain perfons therein mentioned, who had advised the proclamation of the 13th of Auguft, 1782, laying on an embargo on the exportation of corn, and the order of council thereupon, read the firft. time, ordered for a fecond reading to-morrow.

Bill for the encouragement of the hemp and fail-cloth manufactory, read the first time, and ordered for a fecond reading

to-morrow.

Bill for enabling James Singleton, Efq; to difpofe of part of his eftate.

-Read.

Mr. Fofter reported from the committee of ways and means, the propofed duty of one fhilling per entry inwards, for the purpofe of conftituting a fund for the payment of a debt contracted by the trustees of the royal exchange, and for the maintenance of that edifice.

He alfo reported from the committee appointed to take the petition of Robert Brooke into confideration, their refolution of lending him 25,000/-Both ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Fofter then prefented, pursuant to order, a bill for the advancement of the trade between this kingdom and the United States of America. He obferved, that this bill was limited in its operation, being only to remain in force for three months, as, by that time, fome more permanent regulation than the prefent bill, which was only a tranfcript of one paffed in England,

would take place, by a commercial treaty or otherwife. This bill enacts, that veffels from America may be admitted to make their declarations or invoices in any port in Ireland, though they fhall not produce an American cocket or clearance; as alfo, that American veffels may bring cargoes of their produce into Ireland, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.

Mr. Huffey reported from the felect committee for the trial of the Baltinglafs election,

"That Warden Flood, Efq; and the Hon. John Stratford, are duly returned to reprefent the borongh of Baltinglafs."

The Hon. John Stratford faid, that he was returned member for the county of Wicklow, and alfo for the borough of Baltinglafs; he would make his election for the county of Wicklow.

Right Hon. the Speaker ordered, that a new writ be iffued for the borough of Baltinglafs.

Mr. O'Hara.-There were lately granted 12,000 men for the peace establishment of Ireland, but if there can be any reduction made in the expence of that establishment, it would be highly improper to decline doing it. The fituation of this kingdom is not as it has been; formerly Great Britain protected Ireland from different motives than what he does at prefent. England confidered Ireland as her property, as her farm, and our countrymen as flaves of a plantation; but we are now to be protected from different motives, a fudden change has taken place in this kingdom. During the laft feflion this nation obtained all the could defire, and much more than we could have expected; we have acquired new trade and new confequence. We seem to be an ifland rifen from the fea; the doors of our prifon are open to us, and our better angel points to fcenes of wealth. He wished that a ftrong connection fhould fubfift between the two countries, and that we fhould remove every cause of fufpicion; he was on that ground in favour of the peace establishment; but in his opinion many articles of expence might be diminished. He therefore moved, "That a committee be appointed to take into confideration" the military establishment of this kingdom, and to report to the Houfe what retrenchments may be made therein."

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Mr. Mafon moved the following amendment, that, may with propriety be made therein."

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Mr. Secretary Pelham feconded the motion. Mr. Mafon moved an amendment after the word made," or ought to be made with propriety;" which amendment was agreed to.

Mr. Pelham faid, there were now more men in the regiments by ten men per company, than there were laft peace establish

ment.

Sir Henry Cavendish.-I do not rife to oppofe the motion, but without any pretenfions to prophefying, I can fee that the chairman of that committee will report that no reduction at all can be made of the military establishment, and I think it would be better for the firft mover to point out the particulars of the reduction.

Mr. O'Hara faid, the enquiry would go to the whole, and the particular parts would be pointed out of course, and he could not fee any reason why the Hon. Baronet should be prophetic as to this report.

Sir Edward Newenham faid, this motion comes in a very queftionable shape: it originates with a member who voted for an augmentation of the army, and it is feconded by the Viceroy's Secretary, and fupported by a commiffioner of the revenue; I like it not-it may be fo fhifted as to injure this kingdom, and cannot eafe the establishment; the report of fuch a committee (compofed of minifterial advocates) cannot prove of national advantage; I fhall give it a negative.

The queftion was put and carried without a divifion.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1783.

On a complaint being made, it was ordered that John M'Evoy, an officer of mace, do attend at the bar of the House on Monday

next.

An engroffed bill from the Lords was received.

Captain Moore, of the battle-axe-guards, was fworn, and took his feat.

Read, for the first time, the bill for facilitating the trade with America.

Mr. O'Hara moved, that the order for appointing a committee to take into confideration what reduction may be made with propriety, in the military establishment, be discharged.-Discharged accordingly.

He then moved, that a committee be appointed to take into confideration the military establishment, and report what reduction may be made therein.

Mr. Flood was of opinion, that a committee would by no means answer the purposes of the Honourable Member: He did not entertain a doubt of the purity of his intentions, but a committee was a round-about way. He was for fome simple and adequate manner of reform. A discontinuation of the augmentation of the army would be the great means of retrenchment.

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