; HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
Mr. Addington, in a reply of 
considerable length to all who had 
opposed the bill, declared, that if 
he supposed any considerable num- 
ber of the reflecting part of the com- 
munity, doubted the sufftciency of 
the bank, he wouid agree to an in- 
; if he now resisted it, it was 
erely because he was convinced it 
as unnecessary: he thought the 
whole object of the. amendment 
would be accomplished, by declar- 
ing, that it should be in the power 
_ of parliament to repeal or amend it 
in the present session. He however 
had no expectation, that the cir- 
cumstances of the times would al- 
low it so soon to be repealed. 
The bill went through a com- 
‘mittee, and after some general ob- 
servations from Mr. Johnstone, it 
was read a third time on the 14th 
_ of February, and passed without any 
farther opposition On Thursday 
17th, it was carried into the 
lords, where upon the first reading 
being moved by Lord Pelham, se- 
cretary of state, lord Auckland 
moved for an account of the bank 
notes outstanding; which was or- 
dered. 
The earl of Moira, could not a- 
gree to absolve the bank for a fur- 
ther term from its engagements, 
without being perfectly satisfied 
from full inquiry, that the public 
anno risk; and that the necessi- 
ties of the state required it. The 
bank could have no necessities to 
plead; and if it was for the accom- 
‘Mmodation of government, govern- 
- Ment ought to confess the reason. 
Tf the wealth of the bank Was, as it 
Ought to be, infinitely superior to 
the demands upon it, it could re- 
€eive no injury by the greatest pub- 
ity respecting its affairs. 
4 
He- 
67 
seemed to consider, that ministers 
continued the restriction, merely to 
induce the hank to take their ex- 
chequer bills. He concluded, by 
moving an account of the money 
and bullion in the possession of the 
bank, and of its other property, ex- 
clusive of the debt due by govern- 
ment, on the 5th of January 1803. 
Lord Peiham assured the noble 
earl, that the measure was not call- 
ed for by the bank; nor was pro- 
posed in consequence of any such 
connivance, as had been supposed 
between government and the bank ; 
but bona fide upon the grounds, 
which had been stated wpon bring- 
ing in the bill: he therefore oppo- 
sed the resolution as unnecessary. 
Lord Auckland was of the same 
opinion; that as the validity of the 
bank was undoubted, any resolu- 
tions tending to an inquiry were un- 
necessary. 
Lord Moira’s first motion was 
therefore negatived; but subse- 
quent resolutions which he moved, 
with respect to the amount of notes 
outstanding: to the exchange, for 
the last thirteen months between 
London and Hamburgh; and the 
prices of bullion ; were severally 
agreed to. On the question for the 
second reading of the biil on the 
22d of Bebruary, 
Lord Pelham, restated the 
grounds upon which the bil was 
brought in; and expressed his 
hope, that as there had been a gra- 
dual amelioration in the rate of ex- 
change in the course of last ycar, it 
might have compleatly returned to 
its level by the time the bill expir- 
ed; and that probably, a less ha- 
zardous time might occur for re- 
moving the restriction, éven before, 
this bill should expire. 
F 2 
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