on both fides of the Houfe. To permit gentlemen holding high offices in this country, to refide in another, was a practice of a destructive nature. A few days fince, gentlemen on the other fide of the Houfe were profufe in their encomiuns on Lord Northington, for his provident bargain of giving 2,500l. for 1,500l. a year. In confiftency, therefore, they were bound to fupport his motion, which had refpect to the end they profeffed themselves friendly to. Thefe gentlemen had applauded Lord Northington's bargain with Mr. Hamilton, Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the ground that it would be for the public intereft, that an officer of fuch importance fhould be efficient and refident. His motion had a tendency to that end: he did not, therefore, fee how they could oppofe it. But let other gentlemen think as they may, to him the conduct of that adminiftration had appeared to pregnant with ruin and difgrace, that he fincerely wifhed this country was never curfed with fuch another. If Mr. Hamilton be not equal or willing to discharge his office, he ought to refign it. He then moved, that it is the opinion of this Houle, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland ought to be refident in the kingdom.

The Attorney General faid he had no objection, if the Hon. Mover permitted him to make an amendment of only one word, by adding "henceforward" to the motion.

Mr. Molyneux objected to the amendment, as there might be fome hidden meaning under it.

The Attorney General faid, his meaning was, to prevent any ftigma being thrown on the character of a very worthy and re1pectable gentleman. He had not the honour of knowing him but from fame; however, that juftice due from man to man, fhould call on gentlemen to ufe every precaution against any thing that could, by any implication, convey the most remote cenfure on a very honourable character. In fuppofing that he could have any hidden meaning, the Hon. Member had given him credit for more ingenuity than he poffeffed.

Right Hon. the Prov.-It is not, I am convinced, the intention of this Houfe, or of the Hon. Mover, to 5x a ftigma on one of the worthieft gentlemen living. It is not, Sir, confiftent with the juftice of the Commons of Ireland, to caft imputations on a very honourable character, unheard. As fuch a, refolution implies a fort of cenfure, why is it confined to a particular gentleman? Why, if it be requifite, not make it general? There are many other offices of the first rank and importance, which are filled by non-refidents. I hope, therefore, the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Molyneux) will treat them all in the fame manner, and not felect Mr. Hamilton as an object of particular attention, especially as the negociation now on foot, will render the motion unneceflary, by which I understand the

office is to be transferred to a Right Hon. Gentleman, who as able to discharge the duties of it, as any man, without exception, in either country. I feel myself called on to oppofe the motion, both from public motives and private refpect for a very worthy character, with whom I have the honour of a long and intimate acquaintance; as its peculiarity looks like a cenfure on the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Were the motion to be extended to all who poffefs offices, and are absent from this country, it would include Mr. Rigby, and fome other characters much esteemed in this country. I muft alfo oppose the amendment propofed by my Right Hon. Friend (the Attorney General) under me, as conveying an implication of cenfure, I am fure, from his ufual candour, he did not intend. The word benceforward has a retrofpect to what is paft, and in my mind fhould be omitted.

Mr. Griffith faid, he wifhed zealously to extend this motion to every abfentee officer.

Sir John Blaquiere faid he was against it, whether applied in general, or to particulars; and in order to give the honou rable member an opportunity of re-confidering it, and confulting his friends on the fubject, he would call for the order of the day, which he was in fome degree entitled to do, having given way to his motion, fuppofing it a motion of course.,

Mr. Chatterton rofe to give his moft hearty affent to the motion; the falary was great, and fomething fhould be done for it.

The Attorney General faid when he propofed the amendment, he had not the moft diftant idea of throwing the leaft imputation on Mr. Hamilton, he did not think it capable of fuch interpretation, however as a Right Hon. Gentleman (the Provoft) behind, thought otherwife, he would withdraw it.

Sir Richard Mujgrave fuppofed gentlemen proceeded on the patriotic principle, that the influence of the crown was too great in Ireland, and therefore they wished to keep the Chancellor of the Exchequer abfent in England.

for

Right Hon. Mr. Brownlow-I am not only of opinion with the Right Honourable the Attorney General, that no cenfure is conveyed by the amendment, but am perfuaded that the original motion, fo far from being a mark of difapprobation, is a teftimony of our refpect for the Chancellor of the Exchequer; were he an infignificant or bad man, we fhould not be defirous of bringing him among us; but as he is a gentleman of worth, and a very honourable character, we wish to have his company.

Mr. Corry was againft the motion, as he respected the charac ter of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and as he thought improper to be conftantly troubling the Houfe with fuch a puerile

impetuofity; he begged leave to recommend more maturity of confideration to the Hon. Member (Mr. Molyneux) in fu.

ture.

Mr. Molyneux faid, he admired the character of the Chancellor of the Exchequer as much as any man who had fpoken in his favour; but he was fhocked at the idea of a treaty to give him 2,500. penfion; and he thought compelling his refidence would be the most effectual bar to that penfion. He said he had no objection to include the Mafter of the Rolls in his motion; and if it was the defire of the Houfe, he would. But he was forry to find himself deferted by his friends, and by the Right Hon. Gentleman who had feemed to promife him fupport, and even made an amendemnt to facilitate his motion; fuch volatile and unfteady conduct he thought unbecoming the gravity and importance of his office..

He withdrew his motion, giving notice that in a few days he would again introduce it.

Mr. George Ponfanby faid, the Hon. Gentleman feemed equally unacquainted with the intereft which Mr. Hamilton had in his office, and with the negociation which had been talked of, and which he denied to be as reprefented. Mr. Hamilton, he faid, had a life intereft in his office, it was his freehold, and the House could no more deprive him of it than it could him (Mr. Ponfonby) of his eftate; as therefore, the Houfe could not compel him to refide by taking his office in cafe of refufal, it could not be fuppofed that Mr. Hamilton, contrary to his intereft and his inclination, would, in obedience to a vote of that House, either refign his office or refide in Ireland.

Mr. Brownlow faid it was a new method to debate a question after it was withdrawn

Mr. Molyneux faid, he had been declared ignorant of the negotiation concerning Mr. Hamilton's place. He admitted that all his knowledge of that tranfaction was what had been mentioned by Lord Northington's advocates in that Houfe. But as to the power of the Commons of Ireland, he believed, Mr. Hamilton would treat it with more refpect than the learned gentleman did, especially as he was palpably wrong in point of law, for the tenure by which Mr. Hamilton held his office, was quamdiu fe lene gefferit, and whether total and per. petual abfence was confonant to that tenure he fubmitted to the Houfe.

The Houfe then discharged fome perfons who had been ar refted, when attending on a committee; and ordered the deputy ferjeant at arms of the court of Exchequer, and his bailiff who had arrefted them, to attend at the bar to-morrow.

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1784.

Alderman Warren moved, That leave be given to bring in a bill for paving, cleanfing, lighting, watching and better regulating the police of the city of Dublin.- -Ordered, and that Alderman Warren and Lord Delvin do prepare and bring in the fame.

The Houfe, according to order, refolved itself into a committee of the whole Houfe, to take into further confideration a bill for relief of infolvent debtors, William Meade Ogle, Efq; in the chair.

Sir Henry Cavendish moved, that the name of William Bayly, an uncertified bankrupt, be expunged, as an improper object of the bill, and the more fo as there was a petition figned by three of his creditors against him.

Mr. Greene faid, that having in a former feffion moved for precluding this bankrupt from the benefit of an infolvent bill, then depending, he had, confiftent therewith, alfo oppofed his receiving the benefit of the prefent act. But having had time, during the recefs, to inform himfelf of the real circumftances and cafe of this unfortunate gentleman, he could fay, on the most thorough conviction, that he did not know any individual, who was more truly an object of the bill. It was true, three of his creditors had petitioned against him, but annexed to Eayly's petition, which he held in his hand, was alfo a petition figned by thirty of his creditors, which conflituted a large majority, both in number and value. He had found the fituation of Mr. Eayly to be uncommonly affecting, for inftead of the affluence which concealing his effects might enable him to enjoy, he was himself, with a wife and feven children, ftruggling with every want, in prifon. If any actual benelit could accrue to his creditors, by thus debarring him of his liberty, he (Mr. Greene) would not become the advocate of his enlargement; but the unhappy man had been already five years imprisoned, and nothing but the indulgence of an uncommendable rigour could warrant the continuance of his mifery. Satisfied that he had rendered up his all, and was an individual, greatly mifreprefented, he thought him the moft proper of all the objects to which the humanity of the prefent bill fhould be extended; particularly as he could be enabled thereby, to aliift in getting in the debts due to him, and render all the juice in his power to his creditors.

Mr. Annefle, faid that the bill before the committee would repeal the bankruptcy laws. Mr. Bayly had been examined by the commillioners of bankruptcy, who found the nature of his cate fuch, that they could not grant him a certificate. He would,

therefore, be for allowing gentlemen time to enquire into the matter, and moved, that it be poftponed till to-morrow.

Right Hon. Luke Gardiner-This gentleman was treasurer to the county of Dublin, and was very much in debt, but his affairs were in fuch a fituation, that when the grand jury infifted on his accounting for, and paying the county money, he could pay but 1,500!. which on account of his embarraffinent, they were well fatisfied with. But Mr. Bayly has a great many debts due to him, and it is probable, if he were allowed a reasonable time, would be able to fatisfy his creditors. I really, Sir, do not well know how to vote on this occafion, though I am inclined to think it would be for the advantage of his creditors if he were enlarged, as he would then poffefs many opportunities of acquiring wherewithal to fatisfy them, which his prefent confinement precludes him from.

Mr. Hartley faid, that if he had conformed to the bankrupt law, and delivered his effects to affignees, the Lord Chancellor would have ordered a commiffion, and he would, after the ufual proceedings, be discharged.

The Attorney General-This gentleman has a wife and a great many children, on whom his confinement brings numerous dif ficulties. I have a petition in my hand, which fets forth his fufferings in the most affecting manner, and ftates that four-fifths of his creditors, in value, have given their confent to his enlargement. Is it confiftent with the juftice and humanity of the Houfe, to gratify an obftinate creditor fo far as to decree fo fevere a fentence as perpetual imprisonment against the unhappy debtor? Is it not rather the intereft of the creditor, that he fhould be enlarged? He is a man of profeffion, and would, if restored to his liberty, be restored to many opportunities of acquiring money to pay his debts, which he is now deprived of.

Mr. Chatterton faid, if gentlemen wifhed to poftpone this unfortunate man's cafe, on the principle of gaining information, he thought deferring it altogether unneceffary. He had propofed this bill fo far back as the 10th of November, which, in his mind, was allowing full time for the members to make themfelves acquainted with it. If the committee poftponed it now, Mr. Bayly would not be affected alone; feveral other unhappy perfons in cuftody would have their unhappiness prolonged. They all threw themselves on the humanity of parliament, and he hoped parliament would not disappoint them. As for him, he would candidly acknowledge his wifes that the time would foon arrive when imprisonment fhould be no longer the punishment of debt. It was against the principle of the common law, and an innovation on it, which he earnefly hoped would fhortly have an end.