earliest and most ample encouragement for the importation of all defcriptions of grain from abroad; being fully fenfible that fuch a fupply, aided by a general and ftrict attention to economy and frugality in the confumption of corn, is most likely to contribute to a reduction in the prefent price, and to infure, at the fame time, the means of meeting the demands, for the neceffary confumption of the year. The prefent circumftances will undoubtedly render the fate of the laws refpecting the commerce in the various articles of provifion the object of our ferious deliberation; if, upon the refult of that deliberation, it fhall appear that the evil neceffarily refulting from unfavourable feafons has been increased by any undue combinations and fraudulent practices, for the fake of adding unfairly to the price, it will be our earneft defire to take the moft effectual measures for fuppreffing fuch abufes; but we are fully fenfible of the importance of diftinguishing practices of this nature from the regular courfe of long- eftablished trade, which experience has shown to be indifpenfable for the fupply of the markets, and for the fubfiftence of the people, in the prefent ftate of fociety.

We cannot have feen without the greatest concern those temporary disturbances which have taken place in fome parts of the kingdom; nothing can exceed the malignity and cruelty of those who take advante of the difficulties of the moment to delude any of your Majesty's fubjects into acts of violence and outrage, which immediately tend to increafe, in the highest degree, the evil complained of, and are equally injurious to the well-being of the induftrious claffes of the community, and to the permanent tranquillity of the country. We join with your Majefty in applauding thofe zealous and voluntary exertions which have on this occafion been made for the immediate repreffion of thofe outrages, and in fupport of the laws and of the public peace.

We thall proceed with the utmost readinefs to grant fuch fupplies as may be neceffary for carrying on the public fervice, till a period when the Parliament of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland may be conveniently affembled.

We acknowledge your Majefty's goodness in having been pleafed to direct copies to be laid before us of thofe communications which have recently paffed between your Majesty and the French government, and in the expreflions of your Majefly's earnest defire to adopt every measure which could beft contribute to the re-establishment of general tranquillity. Concurring with your Majefty in the anxiety which your Majefty entertains for the fpeedy restoration of peace, we fhall fee with the utmost fatisfaction the adoption of all fuch measures as may best tend to promote and accelerate that defirable end, confiftently with the honour of this country and the true interests of your people; but, if the dif pofition of our enemies fhould continue to render it unattainable without the facrifice of thefe effential confiderations, we fhall

feel

feel it our indifpenfable duty to perfevere in affording your Ma jesty the most zealous and effectual fupport, and to omit no exertion, on our part, which can enable your Majefty, under the blefling of Providence, to conduct this important conteft to a profperous conclufion, and to maintain unimpaired the fecurity and honour of thefe kingdoms.

On Wednesday, the 12th of November, Mr. Tierney moved, in the Houfe of Commons,

THAT the Houfe fhould be called over on that day fortnight,

L

to take into confideration the ftate of the nation.

[Ayes 24-Noes 104. Majority 80.]

On the 13th of November, in the House of Lords,

ORD Grenville prefented the correfpondence between the English government and the French republic, relative to a negotiation for peace.

Same Day, in the Houfe of Commons,

THE above correfpondence was prefented by Mr. Dundas.

On Friday, the 14th Day of November, in the Houfe of Lords, Lord Holland moved,

THAT an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, praying that he would be pleafed to order that fuch official communications between the French and Auftrian governments as have taken place fince the 1ft of June 1800, and have been communicated to his Majefty, fhould be laid before the House. This motion was negatived without a divifion.

Same Day, in the Houfe of Commons,

MR. Speaker reported to the Houfe, that the House attended his Majefty yesterday with their addrefs; to which his Majesty was pleased to give this moft gracious answer:

Gentlemen,

I thank you for this loyal and affectionate addrefs.

The diligence and promptitude with which you propofe to take the earliest and most effectual measures for alleviating the diftreffes of my fubjects, by encouraging an ample importation of corn, VOL. X.

Z Z

and

and promoting economy and frugality in the confumption, cannot fail to produce a falutary effect; and the temper and moderation with which you are prepared to enter on the different points connected with the important objects which I have recommended to your deliberation, will, I truft, be attended with present and future benefit to the country.

I receive with great fatisfaction the affurances of your concurrence in my wishes for the speedy restoration of peace on grounds confiftent with the honour and true interefts of my people; and at the fame time of your determination, if that object thould be unattainable, to afford me that continued and decided fupport which may best enable me to maintain unimpaired the fecurity and honour of thefe kingdoms.

On Tuesday, the 18th of November, in the House of Commons, Mr. Jones moved,

THAT an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, praying that he would be graciously pleased to order copies of all the papers which paffed between Lord Keith and General Kleber, to be laid before the Houfe.

[Ayes 12-Noes 80. Majority against the motion 68.]

On Thursday, the 20th of November, in the House of Commons, Mr. Sheridan moved,

THAT an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, praying that he would be gracioufly pleafed to order that there be laid before the House,

ift, Copy of the articles which the Auftrian officer Count St. Julien figned at Paris, and which are termed by M. Otto preliminaries of peace.

2d, Copy of any remonftrance or representation made on that fubject by Lord Minto to the court of Vienna.

3d, Copy of the exprefs declarations made by his Majefty the Emperor (afferted by Lord Grenville to have been tranfmitted) to the court of London, that the faid articles were wholly unauthorized, and muft be confidered as abfolutely null.

4th, Copy of any reprefentation or application made to the court of Vienna, by Lord Minto, on the fubject of negotiation for peace, after the correfpondence had commenced between his Majefty the Emperor and the French government refpecting the overtures for peace, and previous to his Lordship's letter, dated Vienna, Auguft 9th, 1800.

5th, Copy of all the communications made by the Emperor's directions to Lord Minto, by his Excellency Baron Thugut, relative to the correfpondence which had taken place between his Majesty the Emperor and the French government refpecting overtures of peace, and transmitted by Lord Minto to the court of Great Britain.

6th, Copy of all communications received by his Majefty's minifters from the court of Vienna, after a correfpondence had taken place between his Majefty the Emperor and the French government respecting overtures for peace; containing assurances that his Majesty the Emperor would on no account negotiate for peace with the French government but in conjunction with the King of Great Britain.

7th, Copies of the original powers and inftructions given by his Majesty's minifters to Sir Sidney Smith, on his miffion to the Ottoman Porte, and his command on the coaft of Egypt.

8th, Of all letters, or extracts thereof, from his Majesty's minister at Conftantinople refpecting any authority or instruction given by him to Sir Sidney Smith, to treat for the evacuation of Egypt by the French.

9th, All letters, or extracts thereof, from the said minister, or from Sir Sidney Smith, refpecting any printed addrefs to be cir culated by Sir Sidney Smith among the French army.

10th, Copy of the faid printed paper or addrefs actually fo circulated by Sir Sidney Smith.

11th, Copy of the dispatch sent to his Majefty's minifters from Sir Sidney Smith, by Sir John Douglas, containing an account of the battle of El-Arifch.

12th, Copy of any new powers given to Sir Sidney Smith upon his being authorized to engage the British faith to ratify or renew the negotiation.

13th, Copy of any letters, or extracts thereof, either from Sir Sidney Smith or Lord Elgin, refpecting the failure of the said negotiation, and of Mr. Wright's fubfequent appointment and failure on the fame fubject.

14th, Copy of the official engagement afferted by Lord Grenville to have been entered into by General Kleber in his letter to the Kaimakan, by which that general, then commanding in chief the French army, and confequently poffeffing full powers to bind his government in this refpect, formally undertook that the convention of El-Arifch fhould be executed as foon as his Majefty's acquiefcence in it fhould be notified to him.

[After a debate the motions were severally put, and negatived without a divifion.]

Ou Thursday, the 27th of November, in the Houfe of Commons, Mr. Tierney moved,

THAT this Houfe fhould refolve itself into a committee to inquire into the state of the nation.

[Ayes 37-Noes 157. Majority 120.]

On Friday, the 28th of November, in the House of Commons, Mr. Robfon moved,

THAT an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, entreating that his Majefty would be graciously pleafed to take into his royal confideration the many important benefits that would neceffarily refult from reducing the number of cavalry now maintained on the British establishment.

Humbly representing to his Majefty, that the fame establishment is altogether unprecedented in any preceding war; the number on any former occafion having never exceeded 10,866.

Whereas now the number which it is intended shall be maintained for the internal defence of this country alone, is 20,766, and the estimated expense thereof 1,497,1967. exclufive of cavalry in Ireland or on foreign fervice, flying artillery, horses kept by the ftaff, by field-officers, and other perfons employed in the eftablished military fervice, and without including either the yeomanry or volunteers.

That if the number of horfes kept on the establishment of this country was reduced to the greatest standard ever heard of during any former war, namely, 10,866, it would make a faving of 850,000l. per annum; which fum, if it were employed in promoting the cultivation of the country at home, or encouraging the importation of corn from abroad, would greatly tend either to alleviate the preffure of the present scarcity, or to prevent the occurring of another.

That by reducing the number of cavalry to 10,866, a confiderable faving would be made in the confumption of various articles, which either directly or indirectly become the food of man; and that the price of fuch articles would thereby be confiderably leffened; for, as the demands of the cavalry for any article they require must be supplied, whatever it costs, it neceffarily tends to enhance their value in a most exorbitant manner, to the infinite prejudice of the public.

That his faithful Commons moft earnestly fubmit it to his Majesty's royal confideration, as a subject entitled to his Majesty's moft peculiar attention, whether, under these circumstances, so

immense