which the Commons of England, ever jealous of their own dignity, had found so respectful as to admit without opposition. He knew the forms of the House would not suffer the protest to be introduced; and he was sorry for it, as he was greatly anxious to see all the protests laid upon the table.

Lord North found the arguments against the protest in question to be childish and absurd. One gentleman had said, that care had been taken to word it in such a manner, that it might not be admitted. Could that gentleman be serious, when he saw that it was addressed to the Commons of Great Britain, and had been transmitted to an hon. member, to be by him presented to them? He held it to be much more probable, that wishing that their protest might find its way into the House, the protesters had worded their sentiments in the manner in which they appeared, merely because they were uninformed of the order of the House. To argue from the informality to the intention of men little conversant in parliamentary forms, was what logic would not justify; but to convert this informality into a libel, was a stretch of reasoning that nothing but extravagance could countenance or approve. Another gentleman had accused the protesters of disrespect to the House, even while they were rejecting a petition merely because they thought it disrespectful. And he proved they had been wrong, because the House had not objected to the petition. For his part, he could not admit, that because a petition is suffered to be brought up, it must necessarily follow that it is critically respectful. If the object of a petition was in itself proper and constitutional, he always held the right of petitioning so sacred, that he would not oppose its introduction because it might be worded in a more respectful manner. Therefore the gentlemen ought not to have made its admission without opposition, a ground for proving that it was respectful. But even if it was so, the protesters in the present case were free from any imputation of intentional disrespect to the House, because they had drawn up their protest before the petition, against which it had been levelled, had been presented to the House. However, if it had been made after the admission of the petition, the protest only contained an opinion, and it was rather unkind to handle people so severely for an opinion. For his part, he was not without his opinion

| on the subject; and he agreed pretty well with the protesters: associations at present he held to be highly dangerous, as they had a natural tendency to sow the seeds of discord and division in the state, when unanimity and concord were so necessary. He knew that according to the forms of the House, the protest could not be admitted, because it contained no prayer; he was sorry for it, and would be glad that it had been worded in a manner that would have rendered it admissible.

Mr. Fuller said, that when the petition for Sussex had been agreed to, he was down at Southampton canvassing for that honour, which the electors of that town had since conferred on him. It was impossible for him to be in two places at once. The petition was produced ready framed at the county meeting, and agreed to in one day. When he read the petition he disapproved of it: was it improper in him to express that disapprobation publicly? was it libellous in him to say that he was not included in that petition which purported to be from the county at large? Was it candid in gentlemen to call him a libeller? Did not those who called him by so opprobrious a name, for having done that in which he was warranted by reason and the constitution, deserve the appellation of libellers themselves? He knew that many gentlemen were prevented, as he had been, from attending the county meeting; he therefore contended, that he and they had a just and indisputable right to disclaim those opinions which the peti tion falsely ascribed to them.

Mr. Rous begged, that as the protests in general asserted some things that it would be proper to discuss, the House would dispense with its standing order, on so extraordinary an occasion.

Mr. Adam lamented, that the protest was inadmissible from its informality, and could not but condemn the gentlemen who reprobated as libellers, those who held associations in general to be dangerous. The present associations he was not afraid of; but it was because he trusted to the moderation of the gentlemen engaged in them; otherwise he held them to be of so dangerous a tendency, that if they should become general, they might at last degenerate into meetings absolutely dictatorial, and which, in the end, would render liament a mere court of record, to register their arbitrary dictates.

par

The order of the day being called for, Mr. Fox's motion fell to the ground.

Copy of Mr. Burke's Establishment | said office or offices, shall be, and the Bill.] Feb. 23. Mr. Burke presented to same is hereby taken away and abolished. the House his Bill for a general Reform in And be it further enacted by the authothe Public Economy; of which the fol- rity aforesaid, that from and after the lowing is a Copy;

A BILL for the better Regulation of his Majesty's Civil Establishments, and of certain Public Offices; for the Li

mitation of Pensions, and the Suppression of sundry useless, expensive, and inconvenient Places; and for applying the Monies saved thereby

to the Public Service.

the office commonly known by the Trade and Plantations, the commissioners name and description of the Board of whereof receive salaries for their attendance in the execution of the said commis

sion, together with the office or offices of the secretary or secretaries, and all other the said Board of Trade and Plantations, offices belonging, or reputed to belong, to shall be, and the same is hereby taken away and abolished.

And be it also enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the duty or business done, or which ought legally to be done, by the commissioners, commonly called the Board of Trade and Plantations, shall be performed in the manner in which the same was done or performed by his Majesty's privy council, or any committee or com

stitution of the said board, or in any other manner which his Majesty shall hereafter in the said council direct and appoint to be by the said council, or any committee thereof, done and exercised.

Whereas the large aids which have been given and granted to his Majesty in sup- And be it further enacted by the authoport of the present war, have caused a rity aforesaid, that the duty now done by very considerable increase of the public the third secretary of state, or secretary debt, and have subjected the good people of state for the colonies, shall be done and of this realm to many burthens and incon- performed by one or both of the other seveniences: cretaries of state, according as his MaAnd whereas further grants of his Majesty, in his wisdom, shall from time to jesty's faithful Commons, and further bur-time direct and appoint. thens on the subject, may be still necéssary, and it the bounden duty of the representatives of the Commons of this land, as well as most agreeable to his Majesty's fatherly love to his people, who have loyally and dutifully borne several new impositions in support of the honour of his crown, that all due care shall be taken, by a reduction of unnecessary charges, by in-mittees thereof, before the particular introducing a better order into the management of the expences of his Majesty's civil establishments, by rendering the public accounts more easy, by a further security for the independence of parliament, and by applying monies which are not now so profitably husbanded to the public service, to afford all possible relief and comfort to the said deserving people, adding thereby strength to his Majesty's government, and giving the greater effect to his exertions against the ancient enemies and rivals of his crown and kingdoms: in order, therefore, to make some provision towards the said good purposes, be it enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that from and after the the office commonly called or known by the name of third secretary of state, or secretary of state for the colonies (the same not being necessary) together with the offices of the under secretary, or under secretary of state, for the said department, and the places of all clerks or others employed in or under the

And be it hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all authorities, powers, and duties, which by an act or acts of parliament are directed to be exercised and performed by the said commissioners of trade and plantations, shall be transferred to the said privy council, or any committee of the same, in the like manner, and with the same directions, powers, and trusts, as by the said acts of parliament, or any of them, is or are vested in the commissioners of trade aforesaid.

And whereas the constitution of certain offices of the court, and of his Majesty's houshold, hath been framed, in many particulars, upon usages and customs which are long since discontinued, and the keeping up the same is inconvenient, and hath a tendency to create expence, and to prevent the superintendence necessary for establishing good order, and the frugal administration of his Majesty's Civil List Revenues, and the proportioning the se

veral parts thereof to the necessary charges of his Majesty's government; be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from and after the the offices of the treasurer of the chamber, the treasurer of the household, the cofferer of the houshold, the comptroller of the houshold, the offices commonly called the master of the household, and clerks of the green cloth, and the deputies, clerks, and assistants of any of them, and all inferior offices appertaining to the said above-named offices, or reputed or taken to belong to the said of fices, or reputed offices, or any of them, be abolished and taken away, together with all the offices, or reputed offices, belonging to or depending on the same.

Provided always, and be it further enacted, that nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to take away or in any respect derogate from the jurisdiction which now may be lawfully exercised by the court commonly called the Green Cloth; but that the same may be held and exercised, and it is hereby enacted that the same shall be held and exercised, with all the accustomed lawful jurisdiction, powers, and privileges, belonging to the same, by the chamberlain of the houshold, the steward of the household, the vice chamberlain of the household, the groom of the stole, and the master of the horse (without any treasurer or clerks of the Green Cloth) any thing in the present act, or any other statute, law, or usage, to the contrary notwithstanding.

so tabled; and shall contract for the keeping up the same, and all things to the same appertaining, at a fixed sum by the head; which contract or contracts shall be previously examined by the Board of Treasury, and shall, on due examination, and calling before them persons experienced in such matters, be approved or disapproved by the same, in the whole or any part thereof; and the sum which after such examination shall have been agreed to be paid to the contractors, shall be paid and discharged at the exchequer, and not elsewhere, by order from the lord high treasurer, or the lords commissioners of the treasury, for the time being; which order shall not be given until a certificate shall be produced from the lord steward of the houshold, that the said contract hath been faithfully performed, according to the true intent, meaning, and full effect thereof: provided, that nothing in this act shall extend, or be construed to extend, to restrain his Majesty from adding to, or diminishing the number and quality of the tables of his houshold, at his pleasure, provided that such new, as well as the old establishments, shall be kept by contract, with the regulations and conditions herein before enacted.

And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said contractors shalt be, for all matters relating to the due execution of the aforesaid contracts, under the constant and immediate direction and inspection of the said lord steward of the houshold.

Provided also, that every person who shall make or execute such contracts with the lord steward of the houshold, shall really and bona fide be such as is at the time of making such contracts or has been within years before the time of con

And whereas his Majesty's loyal subjects are interested that his Majesty's houshold should be kept up and maintained with due dignity, and at the same time that his Majesty's establishments should not be encumbered with debt; and forasmuch as the reducing all standing extracting, engaged in the trade and occupences to certainty, contributes much to pation in which he makes the said congood order and magnificence, as well as tract, and no other; and that no person to the prevention of all delays of pay- shall have or enjoy the profit of the said ment, dishonourable to the crown, and contracts, or any share or part of the beburthensome in the event to the public; nefit thereof, except the immediate person be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, or persons who shall have contracted for that the lord steward of his Majesty's fulfilling and executing the same, under houshold may and shall take an account of the penalty of for every offence conall persons who now are maintained, or trary to the true intent and meaning of whom his Majesty shall order to be main- this provision, to be recovered by action tained, at board, during his Majesty's plea of debt, bill, plaint, or information, in any sure, in his Majesty's houshold, and may of his Majesty's courts of record at Westand shall distribute the same into a cer- minster, in which no essoign, protection, tain number of tables, for a certain num- privilege, or wager of law, or more than ber of persons, according to the quality one imparlance, shall be allowed; nor shall and condition of the persons who shall be any person having a contract be, during [VOL. XXI.]

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capable | may authorize the said surveyor, architect,
or builder, to execute the same; and if
the costs and expences of the said work
shall be likely to exceed the sum of
in the whole, they shall and may direct
the said surveyor to contract for the exe-
cution of the said work; who may and
shall report upon, and controul the execu
tion thereof, in all its parts, and at all
times, during the progress thereof.

And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any building, or any repair, shall be thought fit to be erected, made, or done, about any public building, or if any public work or works for his Majesty's service shall be undertaken, or any sum or sums of money shall be directed to be laid out for the said purposes, or any of them, above the sum of to be incurred within the surveyor or comp-jesty's gardens. troller of his Majesty's works, shall present a plan (if a plan should be necessary or usual in such works) and an estimate of the same to the lord chamberlain, who shall certify the same to the commissioners of his Majesty's treasury, which board

payment of all salaries, and other charges. whatsoever, which were heretofore paid or payable by the treasurer of the household, treasurer of the chamber, or cofferer of the household, shall be hereafter paid at the exchequer, upon the certificate of the lord chamberlain, vice chamberlain, or steward of the household, within their re-ing to the body of the yeoman of the spective departments, to the commissioners of his Majesty's treasury, that the same is