1801.) 
Previous Queftion, on which a divifion 
took place—Ayes, for the Previous Quef- 
fion, 94—-Noes, 53. 
On the sth of May the Tythe Leafing 
Bill, the Militia Pay Bill, the Militia 
Subaltern Officers, the Militia Adjutants 
Bill, the Irifh Hop Bill, the Ivith Sugar 
Diftilleries Bill, and the Irifh Provifion 
Bill, were read a third time, pailed, and 
fent to the Lords. 
The Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 
6th of May, purfuant to notice, moved 
for leave to ‘bring in a Bill to remove all 
Doubts relative to the Eligibility of Per- 
fons in Holy Orders to fit in the Commoxs 
Houfe of Parliament. Mr. Jolliffe op- 
pofed, and fhould continue to oppofe it; 
unlefs the incompetency of fitting was con- 
fined to perfons in Holy Orders, and ex- 
ercifing Sacerdotal Funétions at the time, 
and not to extend to thofe who had for 
ever refigned any claim to the character 
and advantages of the priefthood. Lord 
Temple, entrenched on the Oppofition 
Bench, remarked, with warmth, on the 
Jate difcuffion of his queftion, which gave: 
rife to the prefent Motion.. He obferved 
that, for his part, he had not learnt to 
accommodate his opinions to fluctuating 
temporary policy, nor fhould he, like 
fome, deliver his fentiment on one fide of 
the queftion, and then vote on the other ; 
nor compromife the dignity of Parliament, 
and violate confiftencyy nor call upon the 
Houle to fultify its own proceedings; and 
feeling it a conttitutional point to exclude 
the Prieithood from the Houfe of Com- 
mons, he would, from principle, not only 
affent to the prefent Motion, but to the 
furprize, perhaps, of fome perfons, his 
actions fhould accord with his profefions— 
he would vote for it. The Chancellor of 
the Exchequer, in reply to Mr. Joliffe, 
obferved, that his opinion was fixed as to 
the ineligibility of the clerical character, 
which, once aflumed, couid not be relin- 
quifhed; that, however, the wifdom of 
the Houfe, in a Committee, might limit 
the operation of the Bill, if it thought 
proper. Hetben proceeded to animadvert 
on the perfonal allufions made to himfelf 
by the Noble Lord who fpoke laft.. Mr. 
Grey, Lord Hawkefbury, Mr. Bragge, 
and fome other Members, fpoke fhortly 
on the fubje&, and thought the Bill, under 
modifications, neeeflary. Mr. Sheridan, 
firmly believing that the Clergy were com- 
petent to fit in the Houle of Commons, 
confidered the prefent meafure, in every 
point of view, asa Bill of disfranchifement. 
After a few ob{fervations from fome other 
Members, leave was given to bring in the 
State of Public Affairs in May, 180. 
447 
Bill. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
on the 8th of May, moved the’ fecond 
reading of the Bill to remove Doubts re- 
fpefting the Eligibility of Perfons in Holy 
Orders to fit in Parliament. Sir F. Bur- 
dett faid, he could not forego the prefent 
opportunity of exprefiine his difanproba- 
tion of the whole principle of the Bill, 
He faw no pretence for ftigmatifing any 
fet of men whatever, or of fuppofing, that 
becaufe the clergy wore black or grey: ' 
coats, they would be more dependent than 
others, or more likely to be under the in- 
fluence of the Crown. Mr. John Horne 
‘Tooke: faid, he rofe, and he believed for 
-the only time in his life, to differ from his 
Hon. Friend ; he then went into an ironi- 
cal commendation of the Bill, and thought 
the Chancellor of the Exchequer acted 
quite confiftently in bringing itin.; 
_ It .was then read a {econd time, and 
committed for Wednefday; when, pre- 
vious to the Order cf the Day being read 
for the Houfe to go into a Committee on 
the Bill, Mr. Vanfittart prefented a Peti- 
tion from Edward Rufhworth, efq.a Mem- 
ber of the Hovfe, fearing its operation, 
by a Committee of the Houfe of Commons. 
‘The Petition was.ordered to lie on the 
Table. When the Houle was in.a Com- 
mittee, Mr. Horne Tooke, after a long 
prefatery difcourfe, propofed an addition 
to the Bill, that, he conceived, would 
anfwer the purpofe aimed at, viz. that 
every perfon in Holy Orders, on accept- 
ing- a feat in that Houfe, fhall thence- 
forward be incapable of taking, holding, 
or enjoying, any ‘Isving or ecclefaftical 
promotion; and further, that he be inca- 
pable of holdimg any place'or office of ho- 
nour or profit under his Majefty. ‘This, 
he contended, with the omiffion of the de- 
claratory words of the Bill, would anfwer 
every end. After.a variety of arguments, 
ufed by the mofi refpectable Members, 
for and againft the Bill on its principle, 
and on the declaratory claule alluded to, 
the Houfe divided on Mr. Tooke’s Amend- 
ment. The remaining claufes were then 
gone through, a provifo was propofed by 
the Attorney General in favour of Mr. 
Tooke, and agreed to, and the Report 
ordered to be received the next day. 
Lord Hawkefbury, on the 14th of May, 
brought up a Meflage from the King to 
the following purport :—* His Majeity, 
taking into confideration the dangers with 
which his faithful Ally, the Queen of Por- ~ 
tugal, is now threatened, by a formidable 
invafion on the part of France, and con- 
fidering the very great advantages which 
the commerce of this country derives from 
3Ma its 
