in the moment of their country's danger, at the complete fulfilment of their predictions; this would have been the period-the proudest that perhaps ever fell to the lot of statesmen to enjoy: but as, in the hour when confidence took the lead of experience, they had not been awed or depressed by numbers into silence, so were they now, not betrayed into immoderate exultation Acting upon immutable and firm principles, they were found in their ranks, at this moment of consternation, cheering and encouraging their country to exertion:-congratulating the ministers on the appearance of vigour which they had shewn :— and proffering their assistance and co-operation in every meritorious effort, that they might make for the restoration of the honor of the nation. It must however, have been matter of satisfaction to them, to see, the government, though tardily, complete converts to that system they had so long abused, and vilified; the approximation,

with some few shades of difference, of the remaining two great leading parties of the country to their opinions; and above all, that by a steady adherence to their principles, they should at last have the satisfaction of establishing, such an union of talents, political experience, and property, as might prove the best, perhaps the only defence, against the despotic machinations of the powerful and inveterate enemy to the British name.

But, however praiseworthy the moderation of the "new opposition," certain it is, from hencetorward, in proportion as their popu larity and their credit with the people increased, in that proportion did Mr. Addington and his col leagues decline in public opinion and it was evident to all, that the mo ment when a junction should be formed between the three great par ties, who seemed, though in differen degrees adverse from their measures that, that moment would witnes their dismission or retreat from offic

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year, to the amount of half a million, in the prosperity of the company; but if war should again break out, they must, for a time, forego this advantage. He then moved a variety of resolutions, conformable to the statements in the budget.

Mr. Johnstone thought, his lordship was not justified, by any past experience, in drawing such a flattering view of the future prosperity of the company the fact was, that hitherto, notwithstanding the fine statements, annually made to parliament, the debts of the company were annually increasing; there had been no less than seven millions of difference between the estimates and the results, for the last three years; which prevented him from giving much credit to the calculations of the noble lord for the future. He then entered into a variety of calculations, to prove, that the financial statements of his lordship were much exaggerated. As to the extention of our territories in the East, it was not only contrary, in point of policy, to the opinions of every man of abilities and superior judgment, but contrary to a positive act of parliament; and they were obtained by violations of national faith, as disgraceful as any of the most reprobated acts of the French go

vernment.

The chancellor of the exchequer denied, that our conquests had been made unjustly; as to the circumstance alluded to (the assumption of the territories of Arcot) he hoped that the house would not entertain any prejudice, against some of the most meritorious men the country could boast; but allow them time to explain and justify their conduct in that affair.

Mr. Francis, objected to the statements of the noble lord, as built upon estimates which might, or might not, be made good, and perhaps on false documents. Those estimates were nothing but promises, held out from year to year; and promises which, hitherto, had always failed. On the renewal of the charter, half a million annually was to be paid to the public; and yet the public never yet had received more than one year's profit from this. He contended that the whole statement of to-night, was fallacious, and not to be depended on; and that the accounts were not fairly drawn

Mr. W. Dundas, and Sir The ophilus Metcalfe, replied to the arguments of Mr. Johnstone an Mr. Francis, and supported th statement, made by the noble lord in the name of the East India com pany. The resolutions were the voted, and the report received.

On the 15th, the house of pee resolved itself into a committee, the prince of Wales's annuity bill

The earl of Carlisle was still opinion, that this bill was inad quate to the object it professed; bu in the present circumstances, it w perhaps better to be silent on th subject. He did consider the sent times, extremely perilous; though our soldiers and sailors w brave, we had but a weak admi stration. The spirit of the coun could not fairly be called into effe when its rulers were incapable directing its energy. He said, t to the present bill, he must give reluctant concurrence; but pressed a strong hope of a cha being made in the administratio

Lord Pelham, defended the d duct of ministers, who had

ought their situations, but were called to them by his majesty, on the recommendation of him who at the head of the last adminiEstration. Nor had they ever experienced a want of confidence, on part of the nation. He was cat, however, to learn, that this pposed want of confidence, was the only ground of his lordship's fars for the safety of the country. The lord chancellor complained cf the irregular turn the debate had ken. The question was about the prince's annuity, and the arguments but the general merits of the admistration! He confessed, that the si*ation he held, had always been highest ambition; he knew that he had done his duty, and atile he was sensible that he had approbation of his king and ty, he troubled himself but about the sentiments of his

The bill was read a seand a third time, without furcoposition, and finally passed, Or the same day, there was a conversation in the house of ons, upon a resolution, movthe committee, upon the Irish tia bill.

M. Wickham proposed a reso, authorising the lords of the try, in Ireland, to give bounnot exceeding four guineas a to persons enrolling themes in the militia of Ireland; at et, they being only allowed to

Mr. Elliot wished, that the miin Ireland, as well as in EngSand, were raised in the constituway of ballot, rather than bounties; as it must interfere mach with the recruiting for

the regulars, to give men bounties for staying at home.

Mr. Wickham replied, that in Ireland, it had been found almost impossible to enforce the system of ballotting; it was therefore necessary to have recourse to bounties. otherwise there would be no militia in Ireland.

The secretary at war (Mr.Yorke) observed, that the hon. gentleman, (Mr. Elliot) from the official situation he had held in Ireland, must know, that bounties were the most effectual means of raising a militia, in that country, where they were unaccustomed to the ballot. The Irish militia had displayed great spirit and energy, during the war, and most of them made general offers of service, for any part of the globe; there should, therefore, be no objection now to raise this force, in the only manner that it could be done.

Sir Lawrence Parsons took no tice of the difference of the constitution of the army in England and Ireland; in the latter country, where most of the recruits are of the catholic persuasion, the catholics in the army, are allowed the free exercise of their religion, which is not the case in this coun try. He had the honor of being a governor of a county in Ireland, and, at a meeting of the deputy governors, it was unanimously agreed, that recruiting by bounties, and not by ballot, was the only effectual mode, for that country,

Colonel Fitzgerald confirmed the statement, that the system of ballotting was not practicable in Ireland, where the people are not used to it; and that the price of the

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substitutes

substitutes, if that system were adopted, would be much higher than what, by the present bill, was proposed to be given to recruits.

Colonel Bagwell contended, that the Irish militia was highly serviceable to the recruiting service; and ex'emplified his observation, by stating, that last war, when there was a pressing necessity for a large body of troops, the Irish militia colonels became recruiting officers, and in a few days procured 10,000 volunteers, for the expedition to Holland; a similar levy was made for the expedition to Egypt.

After some farther conversation, the bill was agreed to.

On March the 16th, Mr. H. Browne, as chairman of the committee, upon the Nottingham election, presented the report, which stated, that the last election was void; that John Allen, the returning officer for Nottingham, had acted contrary to his duty, in opening a poll, at a time when there was no third candidate; that the freedom of election had been grossly violated, by riots and disturbances; and acts of personal intimidation and violence practised, during the election; that Daniel Parker Coke, esq. the petitioner, was obliged to quit the town, from a just apprehension of hazard to his life; and that a large number of electors, in his interest, were deterred from polling; that John Davison, esq. the mayor, John Allen, esq. the returning officer, and the magistrates of the town of Nottingham, took no steps at all, to secure the freedom of election, and the peace of the place; and that it appeared to the committee, that there was no chance of a free elec

tion in Nottingham, unless the magistrates of the county had a concurrent jurisdiction with those of the town, to preserve the peace 0 the place, during the election. H therefore moved, that the farthe consideration of the report should be postponed, till the 20th of April at which time he intended to brin in a bill, pursuant to the report.

On the speaker's putting th question, upon the first resolution Mr. Fox thought it would be to precipitate for the house, to vo such resolutions, merely upon the being read to them by the cler The committee might be in posse sion of good reasons for their res lutions, but, he thought, it wou be, perhaps, too much to say, th Nottingham should be without representative in parliament, un the house should have time to d cide, upon what measures ought be taken on the voluminous repo which was not to be presented their consideration, sooner than a month from this time! It wou perhaps, be keeping the town Nottingham, too long in a state ferment.

After some farther conversati the motion of Mr. Browne agreed to; and the house came a resolution against issuing a writ for the town of Nottingh until the farther consideration the report.

Upon the day appointed for farther consideration of it, w the different resolutions were ag to,

Mr. H. Browne moved for I to bring in a bill, to regulate elections at Nottingham. It appeared, by the report, that freedom of election had been gr