1799.) 
cells, for the greater part of every 24 
hours, at an inclement feafon, without 
fire, candle, or even the light of heaven, 
except at the expence of expoiing them- 
felves to the wind and cold; and that to 
thofe to whom re ding or writing would 
have been a temporary alleviation of their 
fufferings, the ule of pens, ink, and paper, 
were denied. They itronyiy contended, 
that rigour like this, to men who haa uot 
been found guilty of any citme againit, 
the laws of their country, and who were 
deprived of a trial to determine their guilt 
or innocence, could not be juitiied either 
by\the fpirit of the Sritifa conttitution, 
or the pretent ftate ot the couniry., The 
treatment o: Colonc! Deipard was cited 
in proof ef the above ilatement. 
The minitterial fide of the houfe. ex- 
hibited the inguiries, which had been 
exprefsly ordered to be made into the 
ftate of that prifon; and the treatment of 
the prifoners, and urged that the various 
refults juftified them in alarming, that 
the prifoners weve treated with all the 
humanity and indulgence ot which the 
fatety and nature of a prifon would ad- 
mit: they contendsd, that falfe and ex- 
aggerated accounts had been promulgated 
by evil-minded perfons refpetting the re- 
gulation of that place. 
After a fruitleis but able oppofition, 
the fuipenfion bill was read a third time in 
the commons on the 28th of December, 
and ioon afterwards was paliled into a 
law. 
Mr. Dundas, on the fame day, moved 
the order of the day for the third reading 
of the bill to exempt volunteers from 
ferving in the fupplementary militia: he 
then moved a claufe, obliging the par- 
ticular attendance ot volunteers, to en- 
title them to the exemption, unlefs they 
were prevented from attending their exer- 
cife and duty by ficknels, or any other 
eaufe which fhould be deemed iatistactory 
by the commanding officer. The claule 
was agreed to; and the bill was then 
puled, and ordered to the lords. 
The income tax-bill, which was noticed 
~~ i our lat, underwent feveral alteraticns 
! 
| 
in its tubfequent fiates through the com- 
mons, particularly fome mitigations in 
favour of thofe who have children. When 
the order of the day for the third rerding 
of the bill in the houtle of lords was read, 
on the 8th of Janiiry, Lord Suffolk arofe, 
and at fome length condemned the mea- 
fure, chiefly as bearing partially hard 
upon the landed intereft: it would allo, 
efaid, be productive of banetul effects 
in various points of view. Lord Liver- 
» MonTaiy Mac. No. X11, 
State of Public Affairs. 
73 
pool argued fhortly but ingenioufly in 
fupport of the bill, as a meature founded 
in ound policy, as well as economical in 
point of finance. Lord Holland {poke at 
great length and with great ability againft 
the bill, as well ina political as a finan- 
ial point of view: he recapitulated a va- 
riety ot objections to the meafure, and 
concended that feveral other medes of 
railing the money would be preferable, 
even admitting the pelicy of raifing fo 
great a part of the fupplies within the 
year. Lo Lord Holland’s fpeech Lord 
Auckland replied at tome length. The 
Duke ot Bedtord excited the attention 
of the houle for upwards of an hour by 2 
moit malterly fpeech, which for political 
knowledge would have done credit to the 
firft {tareiman in Europe... The bill was,» 
however, finally paffed. 
‘The fpeaker ot the houfe of commons, 
on the 7th of January, informed the houfe 
that he had received a notification from 
the Bank, purporting ** that the court 
of directors had determined that the bank, - 
on and after the 12th inftant, would pay 
in cafh, during the ufual hours of bufi- 
nefs, all fractional fums under five pounds; 
and that on and after the firft day of 
February the bank would pay cafh for all 
notes for one and two pounds value, that 
are dated prior to the nrit day of July 
1798, or exchange them for new ones of 
the fame valwe at the option of the 
holders. 
On the 22d of January, a meflage from 
the king was prefented to the houfe of 
lords by Lord Grenville, and to the houfe 
of commons by Mr. Dundas, purporting, 
<¢ that his majefty, having perceived the 
uncealing perfeverance of the enemy to 
feparate Ireland from England, was con- 
vinced that parliament would confider of 
the moit effectual means of counteracting 
their defions. In taking a review of al] 
the circumftances that had occurred in 
Ireland, he felt that the parliaments of. 
both countries would proceed to per- 
petuate the connection between the two 
countries, for the common fecurity, and 
for augmenting the ftrength and refources 
of the Britith empire.” 
The miniterial fide of the houtfe pro- 
pofed a motion of thanks to his majefty, 
to be brought torward the next day, and 
that the meffage fhould be taken into con- 
fideration on the Thurfday - fe’nnight, 
which was agreed to. 
The ifland of Minorca has been taken 
poffeffion of by his majefty’s forces under 
the command of general Stuart and com- 
modore Duckworth, without any lofs. 
K & 
’ 
