£796.) 
muft, therefore, on the return of peace, be 
again reforted to, and which will, confe- 
quently, bring with it the neceflity of find- 
ing new taxes, if new and productive taxes 
can be invented in our then exhautted ftate. 
“In a fituation fo alarming, and fo 
manifeftly tending to deftroy the confi- 
dence of the people in parliament, which 
has for fome years paft been rapidly on 
the decline ; 11 behoves parliament, by a 
revival of its ancient energy and integrity, 
to convince the people that their conftitu- 
tional guardians are awake to the com- 
mon danger, and are determined to come 
forward with fuch meafures of public or.. 
der and reform, as will effectually relieve 
the fubject, and remedy evils, which, if 
fuffered toaccumulate, will, in time, be paft 
all remedy, and muft inevitably terminate 
in public confufion.” 
The motion was fupported by Lord 
Lauderdale and Lord Moira, and was op- 
pofed by Lord Grenville, Lord Auckland, 
and the lord chancellor. :On a divifion, 
the marquis’s motion was rejected, the 
numbers being, 
Contents 9 
: 12 
Proxies 3 
Non-Contents 42 
: 104 
Proxies 32 
In the houfe of commons, the fame 
day, Colonel Cawthorne, againf{ whom a 
featence had been paffed by a court mar- 
tial, was expelled-the houfe. 
On the 3d of May, was a fhort debate 
in the Houfe of Commons, relative toa 
vote which had been paffed, for granting 
200,000], to his Majefty, to enable him to 
fulfil his engagements to his Sardinian 
majefty. Mr. Fox obferved, that there 
appeared reafon to fufpeét an intention 
on the part of his Sardinian majefty to 
make a feparate peace. He did not, 
however, with to take that confideration 
‘into difcuffion. The queftion was, on 
what principle we fhould continue to fur- 
nith fo large a fum? It was neceflary to 
aicertain, whether the propofals, as re- 
ported, cf the king of Sardinia, were 
made with the confent of this country, or 
not? If it fhould be ftated, that no 
meafures of that nature were to be taken 
without the acquiefcence of Great Bri- 
tain, it would be requifite to fhow how 
far we had it in our power to prevent a 
feparate peace. _ 
Mr. Pitt declared, that the fame prin- 
ciple which had hitherto induced the 
Houfe to grant the fum of 200,000. to 
the king of Sardinia, could be brought 
forward in defence of the fubfidy. But 
Montuty Mac, No IV, 
Hiftory of the Britifh Parliament. 
‘led to fuch an event. 
329 
it was at the prefent moment more ins 
cumbent than ever on the Houfe, to com- 
ply with the refolution. Without en- 
tering into particular details, he could 
af@ure the Houfe, that the conduét of his 
Sardinian majefty, fince he had engaged 
in the war, was, with refpeét to this 
country, perfeéily honourable, confiftent, 
and exemplary. Ihe king of Sardinia 
had certainly made propolals, but only 
for the purpofe of afcertaining the claims 
of France. An armiftice had been alfo 
propofed by that monarch; that proceed- 
ing, however, had taken place with the 
concurrence of this country. It was alfo 
true, that the French had offered to con- 
clude a feparate peace with the King of 
Sardinia, if he would confent to let them 
retain their conquefts, and unite againft 
Great Britain ; which offer was treated 
with contempt. He would, therefore, 
put it to the houfe, whether, in fuch a 
cafe, we fhould be more or lefs inclined 
to continue the fubfidy? The enemy 
would not give his Sardinian Majefty bet- 
ter terms, if we withdrew the fubfidy. 
A condué direétly the reverfe might be 
expected on their part. ; 
Mr. Fox explained; and, after fome 
farther debate, the refolution of the com- 
mitteeof fupply, for granting the fubfidy, 
Was confirmed. : 
On the 5th, was a debate on the new 
duty on wine ; and complaint was made of 
the conduct of the cuftom-houfe officers. 
A tax, it was faid, was laid, before any law 
to authorife fuch a meafure exifted ; and 
‘it was obferved by Mr, Grey, that too 
great a latitude had been taken by minif- 
ters in difpenfing with the laws. The 
fame day, a debate took place on the bill, 
for a tax on real eftates in collateral fuc- 
ceflion. It was moved by Mr. Pitt, that 
the bill fhould be re-committed. ‘This 
was oppefed by Mr. Rafhleigh, who re- 
marked, that by this bill a man’s eftate 
might be taxed two or three times over; 
he moved to have the committee put off 
to that day three months. 
Mr. Fox faid, the prefent bill was anew 
principle of taxation, which might throw 
the whole capital of the country into the 
hands of Government, and might even- 
tually tend to make the Sovereign heir 
to allthe landed property in the king- 
dom. The prefent tax did fo but in a 
{mall degree; but. the principle of the 
tax, which might be repeatedly increafed, 
The bill would be 
a particular hardfhip on perfons who had 
ftipulated, by a valuable confideration, 
to have the reverfion of landed eftates. 
aera : There 
