that the claims of his royal high ness were too firmly established, to be shaken by any opinions, that could be brought against them; and therefore, he could not but admire, the delicate and dignified conduct of the prince, in thus fore going those claims. There certainly had been no compromise, nor any thing resembling it; the intimation of the present measure, came upon his royal highness unexpectedly, and no terms were attempted to be imposed upon him. He repeated the statement that he had formerly made, that whatever were the expences, incurred by his royal highness, they had not fallen upon the public. In order to be convinced of that, it would be only sufficient to compare the present with former times; and the actual situation of his royal highness, with that of his illustrious predecessors. He concluded, by declaring he should vote for the resolution proposed.

Sir Ralph Milbank said, that it was notorious, that the prince had lived in a state of comparative obscurity, for the last eight years, and that it was time to restore him to that state and splendor, which became his exalted rank.

Mr. Harrison objected to the manner of granting this annuity, as a boon to his royal highness, when it was clear, that he was a creditor to the public, for more than the amount of his outstanding debts. The solicitor general had informed them, that legal opinions were agreed upon at subject. Although for his p did not think the dignity chy depended upen its yet when he saw sple ry corner of the

court, and in all its appendages, he saw no reason, why the prince of Wales should be the only person from whom it was withheld.

Lord Castlereagh was of opinion last year, when this matter was first suggested, that the time was come, for restoring the prince to the full dignity and comforts, which became his rank; but as the claims of the prince then came forward in a more legal shape, it was necessary to await a legal decision. He perfectly approved however, of the feeling which dictated that course, namely, that the prince wished rather that his debts should be paid out of his own means, than that he should appear burthensome to the public.

Mr. Sheridan said, he preferred so much, the character of his royal highness, to his comforts, that if this was to be represented to the public, as a boon to the prince (who had come down to parliament a third time for payment of his debts,) that he was not prepared to say, that he should support it. The fact was this, the prince had in the course of last session, applied for the restoration of his RIGHT not on his own account, but for the sake of his creditors: there was long discussion both historical and political, on his claims, but the house resolved they could do no thing in it. A petition of righ was then proceeded upon, but sud denly the proceedings were stopped and this message came down to th house. The right hon. gentlema (Mr. Addington) objected to th word compromise, but it was be cause he considered it a fair an honorable compromise, that h supported it. As to the petitio of right, it would have been ver

doubtfu

doubtful, when it could have been decided. The "glorious uncertainty of the law," was a thing well Loon and complained of, by all orant people, but all learned gentlemen considered it, as its greatest excellency. He therefore thought this was a fair and honora ble compromise; but he wished the house to bear in their minds, that his royal highness considered himself in honor and in justice, bound to pay his creditors, the £10 per cent, which the commissioners had reduced of their demands; and until that was done, his royal highess could not resume consciensly, nor in honor, his state and dignity. The chancellor of the exchequer, explained this circumstance in the buowing manner: For all the debts which were fairly and justly duc, there were given to the creditors, who were at liberty to accept them at their option, debentures of £100, bearing 3 per cent. interest, or £90, bearing 5 per cent. ; those who preferred the £90, could not be said to have their debt reduced, as by law, no interest at all was due on debts, which were merely book debts. He was very glad that this measure uld silence for ever the petition fright. Although legal opinions had said, that he was entitled to account of the revenues of Cornwall, none had said that in that account, no allowances were to be made for money expended this use; but at all events, if there were a legal judgment, the fand was gone on which it was to bean; and if the prince should be obliged at length, to come to parliament, for its equitable interpretation of the judgment, it would

let in an account, between the public and the prince, which it was much better not to go into. He concluded, by maintaining, that there had been no deduction made from the debts of the creditors.

Mr. Sheridan, and the chancellor of the exchequer, mutually explained.

Mr. Fox said, that as he conceived the account closed between the prince and the public in 1795, he thought it was improper to allude to what had passed in 1787. fa 1795, there were some persons who thought £125,000 per annum, was too great an income, to be allowed a prince of Wales; but he was not of that number. The chancellor of exchequer, in arguing that there had not been a reduction of £10 per cent. made by the commissioners in the prince's debts, said that book debts bore no interest; that was true, as long as they were book debts; but from the time you pretend to pay them,and give securities, then these securities always do bear interest, and therefore giving a security for £90, for a debt of £100, was most clearly a diminution of £10 per cent. As to the claims with respect to the duchy of Cornwall, the only way he thought, they could enter into the present question, was, that in addition to the consideration, that the prince had for eight years submitted to great privations and restraints, other reasons have occurred, which strengthened his claims on the generosity of the nation. In that point of view only, he considered the sacrifice of the Cornwall claims, applicable to the present question. He concluded, by observing the prince had now shewn himself

worthy

worthy of the management of a large income, by his prudence, which was the only virtue he was ever charged with wanting.

After some observation from Mr. Banks, who thought that the prince ought to prosecute his petition of right, the resolution moved by Mr. Addington, was unanimously agreed to in the committee.

His majesty's message on this subject, was taken into consideration in the house of lords, on the 25th of February.

Lord Pelham, after a very few preliminary observations, moved an address to his majesty, similar to that moved in the house of com

mons.

Lord Carlisle seconded the motion for the address, but wished the question, had been decided on the petition of right.

After a few words from lord Moira, in praise of the conduct of his royal highness upon this occasion, the address was unanimously agreed to.

On the 28th Mr. Tyrwhitt brought down a message from the prince of Wales, in which his royal highness, after expressing his gratitude for the liberality of parliament; declared that there were claims still upon him, both in honor and justice, for the discharge of which, he must still set apart a considerable sinking fund.

Mr. Calcraft gave notice of a motion, to enable his royal highness immediately to resume his state and dignity; which Mr. Erskine declared was without the prince's knowledge.

On the same evening, a bill for extending the period for exercising the militia from twenty-one to

twenty-eight days annually, was brought into the house of commons, by the secretary at war, and was passed there without any serious opposition.

It was brought into the house of lords, on the 3d day of March; and, on lord Hobart's moving for the second reading of the bill,

The duke of Montrose took a view of the relative and positive strength of France, in the present moment, which made the proper training and discipline of our militia, a very serious and important consideration. He considered twenty-eight days too few, and wished that at least one third of the militia, should be exercised double that number of days. He thought it necessary to augment the na tional defence, in proportion to the increased danger of the times.

After a few words from lord Ho bart, who complimented the zea shewn by his grace upon the present occasion, the bill was read a se cond time, and afterwards passed without any opposition whatever.

On the 4th of March there wa a very long and interesting debat in the house of commons, on th motion of Mr. Calcraft, respectin the prince's establishment. Tha gentleman began, by stating, the the motion he was now to bring for ward, originated solely with him self, and that he had not commun cated with any person on the sub ject, previously to his giving th notice. He said the country wa anxious, to see the heir apparer resume that state and dignity, de to his exalted rank; which, no withstanding the liberal grant parliament, could not now be don unless there were some arrangemen

mac