House of Lords Journal Volume 39: January 1792

January 1792

Anno 32^o Georgii Tertii.

DIE Martis, 31^o Januarii 1792.

DIE Martis, 31^o Januarii 1792, Annoque Regni Serenissimi Domini Nostri Georgii Tertii, Dei Gratiâ Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei Defensoris, &c. Tricesimo Secundo; in quem Diem hæc Secunda Sessio Parliamenti, per separalia Adjournamenta et Prorogationes, continuata fuerat, in Superiori Domo Parliamenti Magnæ Britanniæ apud Westmonaster. convenere Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales, quorum Nomina subscribuntur, et præsentes fuerunt:

REX.

Georgius Princeps Walliæ.

The King present:

His Majesty, being seated on the Throne, adorned with His Crown and Regal Ornaments, and attended by His Officers of State (the Lords being in their Robes) commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know, "It is His Majesty's Pleasure they attend him immediately in this House."

Who being come with their Speaker; His Majesty was pleased to speak as follows:

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

His Majesty's Speech.

"The many Proofs which you have given of your affectionate Attachment to My Person and Family, leave Me no Doubt of your participating in the Satisfaction which I derive from the happy Event of the Marriage which has been celebrated between My Son, the Duke of York, and the eldest Daughter of My good Brother and Ally the King of Prussia; and I am persuaded that I may expect your chearful Concurrence in enabling Me to make a suitable Provision for their Establishment.

"Since I last met you in Parliament, a Definitive Treaty has been concluded under My Mediation, and that of My Allies, the King of Prussia and the States General of the United Provinces, between the Emperor and the Ottoman Porte, on Principles which appear the best calculated to prevent future Disputes between those Powers.

"Our Intervention has also been employed with a View to promote a Pacification between the Empress of Russia and the Porte; and Conditions have been agreed upon between Us, and the former of those Powers, which We undertook to recommend to the Porte; as the Re-establishment of Peace on such Terms appeared to be, under all the existing Circumstances, a desirable Event for the general Interests of Europe. I am in Expectation of speedily receiving the Account of the Conclusion of the Definitive Treaty of Peace, Preliminaries having been some Time since agreed upon between those Powers.

"I have directed Copies of the Definitive Treaty between the Emperor and the Porte, to be laid before you, as well as such Papers as are necessary to shew the Terms of Peace, which have been under Discussion during the Negotiation with the Court of Petersburgh.

"I regret, that I am not yet enabled to inform You of the Termination of the War in India; but the Success which has already attended the distinguished Bravery and Exertions of the Officers and Troops under the able Conduct of Lord Cornwallis, afford reasonable Ground to hope, that the War may speedily be brought to an honourable Conclusion.

"The friendly Assurances which I receive from Foreign Powers, and the General State of Affairs in Europe, appear to promise to My Subjects the Continuance of their present Tranquillity.

"Under these Circumstances, I am induced to think that some immediate Reduction may safely be made in Our Naval and Military Establishments; and My Regard for the Interests of My Subjects renders Me at all Times desirous of availing Myself of any favourable Opportunity to diminish the Public Expences.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"It will, I am persuaded, give you great Satisfaction to learn, that the extraordinary Expences incurred, in the Course of the last Year, have in a great Measure, been already defrayed by the Grants of the Session; the State of Our Resources will, I trust, be found more than sufficient to provide for the remaining Part of these Expences, as well as for the current Service of the Year, the Estimates for which I have directed to be laid before you.

"I entertain the pleasing Hope, that the Reductions which may be found practicable in the Establishments, and the continued Increase of the Revenue, will enable you, after making due Provision for the several Branches of the Public Service, to enter upon a System of gradually relieving My Subjects, from some Part of the existing Taxes, at the same Time giving additional Efficacy to the Plan, for the Reduction of the National Debt, on the Success of which Our future Ease and Security essentially depend.

"With a view to this important Object, let Me also recommend it to you, to turn your Attention to the Consideration of such Measures as the State of the Funds and of Public Credit may render practicable and expedient towards a Reduction in the Rate of Interest, of any of the Annuities which are now redeemable.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"The continued and progressive Improvement in the internal Situation of the Country, will, I am confident, animate you in the Pursuit of every Measure which may be conducive to the Public Interest, it must at the same Time operate as the strongest Encouragement to a Spirit of useful Industry, among all Classes of my Subjects, and above all, it must confirm and increase their steady and zealous Attachment to that Constitution, which we have found by long Experience, to unite the inestimable Blessings of Liberty and Order, and to which, under the Favour of Providence, all Our other Advantages are principally to be ascribed."

Then His Majesty was pleased to retire.

And the Commons, withdrew.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure to unrobe.

The House was resumed.

PRAYERS.

Ld. Gage introduced:

Henry Lord Gage of Highmeadow in the County of Gloucester, claiming by virtue of a Special Limitation contained in a Patent granted to his late Uncle William Lord Gage of Furle in the County of Sussex, bearing Date the First of November, in the Thirty-first Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, was this Day (in his Robes) introduced between the Lord Brownlow and the Lord Southampton (also in their Robes), the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Garter King at Arms, the Earl Marshall, and the Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain preceding. His Lordship, on his Knee, presented the said Patent to the Lord Chancellor at the Woolsack, who delivered it to the Clerk, and the same was read at the Table:

His Lordship's Writ of Summons was also read as follows; (videlicet)

"George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth: To Our Right trusty and well-beloved Henry Gage, of Highmeadow in Our County of Gloucester, Chevalier, Greeting: Whereas by reason of certain arduous and urgent Affairs concerning Us, the State and Defence of Our Kingdom of Great Britain and the Church, We did lately with the Advice and Consent of Our Council, ordain Our present Parliament to be holden at Our City of Westminster, on the Tenth Day of August, in the Thirtieth Year of Our Reign, which Parliament hath been from that Time, by several Adjournments and Prorogations, adjourned, prorogued, and continued to and until Tuesday the Thirty-first Day of January now next coming, at Our City aforesaid to be then there held; We, strictly enjoining, command you under the Faith and Allegiance by which you are bound to Us, that considering the Difficulty of the said Affairs and Dangers impending, all Excuses being laid aside, you be personally present at the said Day and Place, with Us, and with the Prelates, Nobles, and Peers of Our said Kingdom, to treat of the aforesaid Affairs, and to give your Advice; and this you may in no wise omit, as you tender Us and Our Honour, and the Safety and Defence of the said Kingdom and Church, and the Dispatch of the said Affairs.

"Witness Ourself at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth Day of December, in the Thirty-second Year of Our Reign.

"Yorke."

Then His Lordship came to the Table and took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes, and was afterwards placed in his due Place.

Pedigree delivered.

Garter King at Arms delivered in at the Table His Lordship's Pedigree, pursuant to the Standing Order.

Ld. Douglas introduced:

George Earl of Morton being by Letters Patent, bearing Date the Eleventh of August One thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, in the Thirty-first Year of His present Majesty, created Baron Douglas of Lochleven in the County of Kinross, was (in his Robes) introduced between the Lord Grenville and the Lord Walsingham (also in their Robes), the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Garter King at Arms, the Earl Marshall, and the Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain preceding. His Lordship, on his Knee, presented his Patent to the Lord Chancellor at the Woolsack, who delivered it to the Clerk, and the same was read at the Table:

His Writ of Summons was also read, as follows; (videlicet)

"George the Third by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth: To Our right trusty and wellbeloved George Douglas of Lochleven, in Our County of Kinross, Chevalier, Greeting: Whereas by reason of certain arduous and urgent Affairs concerning Us, the State and Defence of Our Kingdom of Great Britain and the Church, We did lately, with the Advice and Consent of Our Council, ordain Our present Parliament to be holden at Our City of Westminster, on the Tenth Day of August, in the Thirtieth Year of Our Reign, which Parliament hath been from that Time by several Adjournments and Prorogations, adjourned, prorogued, and continued to and until the Sixteenth Day of this instant August, at Our City aforesaid, to be then there held; We strictly enjoining, command you under the Faith and Allegiance by which you are bound to Us, that considering the Difficulty of the said Affairs and Dangers impending, all Excuses being laid aside, you be personally present at the said Day and Place with Us, and with the Prelates, Nobles, and Peers of Our said Kingdom, to treat of the aforesaid Affairs, and to give your Advice, and this you may in nowise omit, as you tender Us and Our Honour, and the Safety and Defence of the said Kingdom and Church, and the Dispatch of the said Affairs.

"Witness Ourself at Westminster, the Eleventh Day of August, in the Thirty-first Year of Our Reign.

"Yorke."

Then His Lordship came to the Table, and took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes, and was afterwards placed in his due Place.

Pedigree delivered.

Garter King at Arms delivered in at the Table His Lordship's Pedigree, pursuant to the Standing Order.

Lords take the Oaths.

This Day Shute Lord Bishop of Durham and Edward Lord Bishop of Carlisle, took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Bill proformâ read.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the better regulating Select Vestries."

His Majesty's Speech reported:

The Lord Chancellor reported His Majesty's Speech, and the same being read by the Clerk:

Order for Address thereon:

Ordered, Nemine Dissentiente, "That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, to return His Majesty the humble Thanks of this House for His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech from the Throne.

"To express to His Majesty, that deeply sensible of the many Blessings which we enjoy under His Majesty's auspicious Reign, we embrace with Eagerness the first Opportunity to offer to His Majesty our dutiful Congratulations on the happy Event of the Marriage of His Royal Highness the Duke of York with the Princess Royal of Prussia; and to assure His Majesty of the sincere and heartfelt Satisfaction which we derive from every Circumstance that adds to His Majesty's Domestic Happiness, and affords us a fresh Security for the Continuance of the Government of these Kingdoms in His Majesty's illustrious Line; that being strongly impressed with these Sentiments, we shall with the greatest Chearfulness concur in the necessary Measures for making a suitable Provision for the Establishment of their Royal Highnesses:

"To express the Satisfaction of this House in learning that the War between the Emperor and the Ottoman Porte has, under the Mediation of His Majesty and His Allies, been terminated by a Definitive Treaty, on such Principles as appear to His Majesty the best calculated to prevent future Disputes between those Powers, and that a Progress has been made towards a Pacification between the Empress of Russia and the Porte:

"To express our Sense of His Majesty's Condescension and Goodness in the Communication of a Copy of the Definitive Treaty between Austria and the Porte, and of those Papers respecting the Negociation with the Court of Petersburgh, which His Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct to be laid before us:

"That we regret with His Majesty the Continuance of the War in India, but that we have seen with great Satisfaction the Success which has already attended the Bravery and Exertions of the Officers and Troops under the able Conduct of Lord Cornwallis, and that we trust the War will, by their Efforts, speedily be brought to an honourable Conclusion:

"That we learn, with peculiar Satisfaction, that the friendly Assurances which His Majesty receives from Foreign Powers, and the general State of Affairs in Europe, appear to His Majesty to promise a Continuance of our present Tranquillity; and that we acknowledge His Majesty's paternal Goodness manifested in His desire to embrace every Opportunity for diminishing the public Expence, by such Reduction of the Establishments as may be found to be practicable and expedient:

"That every Circumstance in our present Situation must lead us to reflect with the deepest Gratitude on His Majesty's unremitting Anxiety for the Welfare of His People, and must confirm and strengthen in the Minds of all His Majesty's Subjects our steady and zealous Attachment to that Constitution, which we have found, by long Experience, to unite the inestimable Blessings of Liberty and Order, and which we consider as being under the Favour of Providence, the principal Source of all our present Advantages."

Then the Lords following were appointed a Committee to prepare an Address, pursuant to the said Order; (videlicet)

Their Lordships, or any Five of them, to meet immediately, in the Prince's Lodgings, near the House of Peers; and to adjourn as they please.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Committee withdrew to prepare the Address.

After some Time, the House was resumed:

Address reported and agreed to.

And the Earl of Chesterfield reported from the Committee an Address drawn by them as follows; (videlicet)

"Most Gracious Sovereign,

"We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, beg Leave to return Your Majesty our humble Thanks for Your Majesty's Most Gracious Speech from the Throne.

"Permit us to express to Your Majesty, that, deeply sensible of the many Blessings which we enjoy under Your Majesty's auspicious Reign, we embrace with Eagerness the first Opportunity, to offer to Your Majesty our dutiful Congratulations on the happy Event of the Marriage of His Royal Highness the Duke of York with the Princess Royal of Prussia, and we beg Leave to assure Your Majesty of the sincere and heartfelt Satisfaction which we derive from every Circumstance that adds to Your Majesty's Domestic Happiness, and affords us a fresh Security for the Continuance of the Government of these Kingdoms in Your Majesty's illustrious Line; strongly impressed with these Sentiments, we shall, with the greatest Cheerfulness, concur in the necessary Measures for making a suitable Provision for the Establishment of Their Royal Highnesses.

"We feel great Satisfaction in learning that the War between the Emperor and the Ottomam Porte has, under the Mediation of Your Majesty and Your Allies, been terminated by a Definitive Treaty, on such Principles as appear to Your Majesty the best calculated to prevent future Disputes between those Powers, and that a Progress has been made towards a Pacification between the Empress of Russia and the Porte.

"We return Your Majesty our sincere Thanks for Your Condescension and Goodness in the Communication of a Copy of the Definitive Treaty between Austria and the Porte, and of those Papers reflecting the Negociation with the Court of Petersburgh, which Your Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct to be laid before us.

"We join with Your Majesty in regretting the Continuance of the War in India, but we have seen with great Satisfaction the Success which has already attended the Bravery and Exertions of the Officers and Troops under the able Conduct of Lord Cornwallis, and we Trust the War will by their Efforts speedily be brought to an honourable Conclusion.

"We learn with peculiar Satisfaction that the friendly Assurances which Your Majesty receives from Foreign Powers, and the general State of Affairs in Europe, appear to Your Majesty to promise a Continuance of our present Tranquillity; and we acknowledge Your Majesty's paternal Goodness manifested in Your desire to embrace every Opportunity for diminishing the Public Expence, by such Reduction of the Establishments as may be found to be practicable and expedient.

"Every Circumstance in our present Situation, must lead us to reflect with the deepest Gratitude on Your Majesty's unremitting Anxiety for the Welfare of Your People, and must confirm and strengthen in the Minds of all Your Majesty's Subjects, our steady and zealous Attachment to that Constitution which we have found by long Experience, to unite the inestimable Blessings of Liberty and Order, and which we consider as being under the Favour of Providence, the principal Source of all our present Advantages."

Which Address, being read by the Clerk, was agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the said Address be presented to His Majesty by the whole House.

Ordered, That the Lords with white Staves do wait on His Majesty humbly to know what Time His Majesty will please to appoint to be attended therewith.

Congratulatory Message to the Queen on the Nuptials of D. of York.

Ordered, That a Message be sent from this House to Her Majesty, with Their Lordships' Congratulations on the joyful Occasion of the Marriage of His Royal Highness the Duke of York with the Princess Royal of Prussia; and that the Lord Steward of His Majesty's Household, the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's Household, and the Earl Harcourt, do carry the said Message.

Congratulatory Message to the Duke and Duchess of York.

Ordered, That a Message be sent from this House to congratulate their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, on the joyful Occasion of the Solemnization of their Marriage; and that the Earl Graham, the Earl of Hardwicke, and the Lord Viscount Sydney, do carry the said Message.

Hastings' Trial deferred:

It was moved, "That the Order made on the 2d of June last, for the House to proceed further in the Trial of Warren Hastings Esquire, on the first Tuesday in the next Session of Parliament, be now read."

The same was accordingly read by the Clerk.

Ordered, That the said Order be discharged.

Ordered, That this House do proceed further in the Trial of Warren Hastings Esquire, on Tuesday the 14th Day of February next, at Ten o'Clock in Westminster Hall.

Message to H. C. to acquaint them therewith.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Holford and Mr. Graves, to acquaint them therewith.

Committee of Privileges.

Lords Committees appointed to consider of the Orders and Customs of this House, and Privileges of Parliament, and of the Peers of Great Britain and Lords of Parliament.

Their Lordships, or any Seven of them, to meet on Monday next, at Ten o'Clock, in the House of Peers, and every Monday after; and to adjourn as they please.

Committee for the Journals.

Lords Sub-Committees appointed to consider of the Orders and Customs of this House, and of the Privileges of the Peers of Great Britain, and Lords of Parliament; and to peruse and perfect the Journals of this and former Sessions of Parliament.

Their Lordships, or any Three of them, to meet when, where, and as often as please.

Stoppages in the Streets, Order to prevent.

The House taking Notice, "That there is such an Interruption by Hackney Coaches, Carts, and Drays in the Streets and Passages leading to this House, that the Lords and others are frequently hindered from coming thereto:"

It is thereupon Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the High Steward of the City of Westminster or his Deputy, together with the Justices of the Peace of the said City, shall, by their strict Care and Directions to the Constables and other Officers within their Jurisdiction, take special Order, that no empty Hackney Coaches be suffered to make any Stay between Whitehall and the End of Abingdon-Street in Westminster, from Twelve of the Clock at Noon until Five of the Clock in the Afternoon of the same Day, during the Sitting of this Parliament, and that no Carriages, Drays, or Carts, be permitted to stop in the Streets and Passages between the End of Market Lane in Pall Mall, and the End of Abingdon Street, between the Hours aforesaid, or to pass through the Old Palace Yard from One of the Clock in the Afternoon, until One Hour after the rising of this House, during the sitting of this Parliament; And that all Carriages, Drays, or Carts, hereby permitted to pass through the said Streets and Passages, be obliged to go one after another in the Manner following, (that is to say,) all Carriages, Drays, or Carts, going towards Westminster to keep on the Side of the Street or Passage next to Saint James's Park, and all those going the contrary Way to keep on the other Side of the Street, and upon no Account whatsoever to presume to go two or more abreast during the Sitting of this Parliament, and herein special Notice is to be taken by the said Deputy, Steward, Justices of the Peace, Constables and all other Officers herein concerned as the contrary will be answered to this House:

And it is further Ordered, That the High Bailiff of the City of Westminster, and the Justices of the Peace for the City and Liberty thereof, or some of them residing in Westminster, be served with the Order of this House made this Day for the Purposes aforesaid.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Mercurii, primum diem Februarii, jam prox. sequen. horâ undecimâ Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.