tax of the Bank on the return they made that year? He was confident they would not; for the noble lord on the woolsack, instead of accepting of it for the minors to whom he was guardian, as lord chancellor, vested it in the 3 per cents. Under every circumstance, he would give his decided vote for going into the enquiry.

The question was then put and negatived.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,
Friday, May 1.

PETITION FROM BRIDLINGTON RESPECTING THE RENEWAL OF THE EAST INDIA Company's CHARTER.) Mr. Wilberforce presented a Petition from the merchants, ship owners, and other inhabitants of Bridlington, in the East Riding of the county of York; setting forth,

"That the approaching expiration of the East India Company's charter having occupied the attention of the House, the petitioners beg leave respectfully to state their hopes and wishes on that important subject; and that the petitioners are fully persuaded that if the trade to the British dominions in India, and to the immense and populous countries included in the charter, were laid open to the skill, industry and capital of private merchants, it would be conducted with a degree of energy and economy which a large public body is incapable of exercising; new channels of commerce would be discovered, the consumption of our manufactures extended, and our shipping increased, to the advantage of the parties concerned, and the permanent augmentation of the wealth, power and resources of the British empire; and that the extensive and flourishing commerce of the United States of America with India and the Chinese empire exhibits a proof that these expectations of ad vantage, from the exertions of private individuals, are not unfounded; and that the petitioners beg leave respectfully to represent, that any partial modification of the trade would, in their opinion, fall extremely short of those advantages which would accrue from the total abolition of the existing monopoly; and they do therefore humbly and earnestly deprecate any continuation of the Company's exclusive privilege to the commerce with China; they conceive that the British character forbids the injurious suspicion that their intercourse with the Chinese would be disturbed by a conduct deficient

in discretion or propriety, whilst the Americans and other nations have maintained a similar intercourse without interruption; they also think that no greater necessity for a monopoly exists with a view to secure the duties on tea than those on sugar, rum, or any other highly taxed article of importation; and they trust that no reason can be found, either in justice or policy, for the exclusion of the outports from the benefit of the trade with India; and the petitioners also hope, that the House will not impose any restraint on the British merchant respecting the burthen of any vessel to be employed in the trade, but leave the choice to his own judgment and discretion; and that the commercial distresses which the petitioners have, in common with the rest of the kingdom, experienced from the enormous power and influence of the enemy on the continent of Europe, furnish abundant reasons for applying to the House, with earnestness and with confidence, for the purpose of opening new channels of intercourse with those distant regions, where the success of his Majesty's arms, by sea and by land, has established British dominion on a permanent basis, and has secured British commerce against all danger of hostile interference; and praying the House to adopt such measures, as to their wisdom shall seem meet, for granting to all his Majesty's subjects, from and after the expiration of the East India Company's charter, a free trade to and from India and its dependencies, and to and from the empire of China."

:

PETITION FROM THE CALENDERERS OF LONDON RESPECTING THE RENEWAL OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER.) A Petition of several Setters and Calenderers of London, employed by the East India Company, was also presented and read; setting forth,

"That the petitioners are informed that numerous applications have been made from various parts of the kingdom, praying that the trade to the East Indies and China may be laid open to the public at large; and that the petitioners, in common with a great number of his Majesty's subjects residing in and near the city of London, derive their sole support from the trade which is there carried on by the East India Company; and that it is by the most strict attention to the various regulations which ensure the superior execution of the different operations on the East India Company's exports, that the confidence with which they are received by the consumers has been established; and that the petitioners have expended large sums of money in forming establishments suitable to those regulations in the different departments of the woollen trade, which they respectively exercise, all which, in the event of the dispersion of the East India Company's trade, must be dismantled, to the great injury of the freehold proprietor, and to the ruin of the petitioners, who would have no other means of employing their knowledge of that branch of the business to which they have been so long accustomed; and that the situation of the workmen employed by the petitioners, amounting to some hundreds, would be in the highest degree distressing, as they would be found equally incapable of adapting their habits to new modes of business, and consequently both they and their families would be deprived of the means of subsistence; and praying, that the House will take these circumstances into their most serious consideration, and by their wisdom prevent the dreadful consequences that are likely to ensue to the petitioners."

Ordered to lie upon the table.

BARRACK ESTIMATES.] On the motion for taking into further consideration the Report of the Committee of Supply, comprehending the Barrack Estimates,

Mr. Fremantle rose for the purpose of opposing it. There was nothing in the estimates to justify the House in granting the sums there named. There were three barracks to be erected, one in Marylebone, one in Bristol, and one in Liverpool. To begin with perhaps the least objectionable of these three plans, that of erecting cavalry barracks at Liverpool; these barracks were intended to contain 1,000 men, and the expence had been estimated at 82,000l. No less than 30 acres of ground at St. Domingo, near Liverpool, had been purchased for these barracks. Ground too, that had many buildings upon it. The expence of this purchase amounted to 27,000l. He contended, that the lot of ground was much larger than was necessary for a barrack for 1,000 men, and that a scite in every respect as eligible as the one selected, might have been had at a price considerably less. The Petition on the table from so many respectable inhabitants of Liverpool, against the erection of those barracks on this particular ground, (VOL. XXII.)

claimed the particular consideration of the House. He understood that colonel Dyer, a gentleman sent down to examine the situation fixed upon, had pronounced other situations in every way as eligible. He stated also, that he had understood that government might have had towards the north of the town, from lord Darnley, as much ground as they had paid 27,000l. for, for only 6,000l. The barracks at Bristol were intended for 800 men, and were to cost 60,000l. There was no reason assigned for these new barracks, but that of prisoners being kept at Bristol, as if that was peculiar to Bristol, or as if there were not many towns where prisoners were kept, and yet where there were no barracks. Besides, so far back as 1803, government had had some intention of erecting barracks there, but upon mature consideration had abandoned it. But the plan of erecting barracks in Marylebone, he thought of all the others the most seriously objectionable; they were called upon to vote a sum of 133,500l. for cavalry barracks for 450 men. Hitherto the 2nd regiment of horse guards had been reckoned at 416 men, but in this estimate they had been increased to 450. But this was not the whole, there were also artillery barracks, magazines, ordnance stores in contemplation. He affirmed that plans of such had been confidentially spoken of, and that as the House could not be ignorant of them, they would by voting this estimate be pledged to follow up the remaining plans, no matter what the expence. This was evident from the great extent of the ground, not less than 27 acres in the heart of the metropolis. It was a most serious matter, to consider whether they would give go. vernment the power to raise a military depôt, in such a city as London, a sort of Prætorian camp that could not but be hostile to the feelings of the people, and might eventually be dangerous to their liberties! It was equally objectionable on the ground of expence, ground near Marylebone would sell for 35 years purchase, this would make an addition of 35 or 40,000l. to the estimate, making the whole expence of purchase and building amount to about 170,000l. which would be at the rate of 400l. for every man and horse, besides the mere wall of enclosure would cost 4 or 5,000l. and the gravelling the ground would cost 8,000l. The cavalry barracks in Hyde Park, built in the years 1792-3, cost 52,2471. Exeter barracks for 215 men, cost only 29,6231. Dorchester bar(4 D)

racks for 421 men, cost 34,456l. being at the rate of 821. for each man and horse. Edinburgh cavalry barracks for 406 men, cost but 31,870l. being only at the rate of 78l. for every man and horse, whereas in the plan before them, the expence would be at the rate of 400l. for every man and horse, this was an excess that no difference in the price of materials then and now could at all explain or account for. It was, he contended, a total departure from all economical honest principles, and from all controul, and as such he disapproved of the whole business. Gentlemen should take into the consideration of the question, the heavy burdens which were imposed upon the people; there was, assuredly, no period when it was more necessary to do so. The last paper which had been put into the hands of the members of that House, ought to render them more particularly cautious in adding to a pressure already so severe. It appeared that of 98 millions of money, which now constituted the annual expenditure of the country, five millions had been added since last year; and there was an addition of not less than the enormous sum of 55 millions since the commencement of the war. Besides, great as were the estimates for the current year, he was confident that they would be exceeded by the expences of it, and he would beg further to remind the House, that our funded debt was not less than 817 millions, while our unfunded debt amounted to fifty four. He was influenced by no party feeling in what he had uttered, and would conclude, by moving, "That the further consideration of the Report be postponed to that day six months."

Some conversation took place on the effect of such an Amendment on the part of the Report not objected to, Mr. Fremantle consented to withdraw his Amendment, and another was moved at the suggestion of Mr. Bankes, substituting the sum of 434,000l. for the original sum of 524,000l. which the House was called on to vote.

General Tarleton objected to the erection of barracks at Liverpool, upon the ground of that town being by no means situated in the direct line to Ireland; and as it was important to preserve the intercourse with that country as closely as possible, he thought the most natural course of communication would be by the way of Portsmouth and Plymouth to the Cove of Cork, a course which would be peculiarly advantageous; first, from the march of

the troops from Kent and Sussex, the two principal military counties of England, being much less circuitous to the last-mentioned places than to Liverpool, and next, from the great facility of debarkation between Kinsale and Cork, from the peculiar boldness of the shores. He then adverted to the local objections to the erection of barracks at Everton, and suggested the propriety, if it was determined to erect barracks at Liverpool, to select some place less objectionable to the inhabitants. -A number of villas had been built on the adjacent grounds, and it was a favourite spot, to which the merchants and mariners of Liverpool retired after weathering the storms of life.

Mr. C. Smith thought that the profusion of the proposed grant had been unanswerably shewn by the hon. gentleman who moved the amendment. He himself did know of the scandalous jobs in the erection of barracks at Bath; and with re. gard to the scite of the proposed barracks at Liverpool, it was very likely that a beautiful view for the officers might enter into the plans of those who suggested them. The expence of the barracks at Bath was much greater than in any other instance, but the new barracks at Marylebone would cost four times as much. If the House assented to such profusion, they must labour under the grossest delusion with regard to the feelings of the people on the subject of our expences. A man could hardly enter a stage-coach, but the first questions which he heard were, "How is the country to go on with our present expences? How is the loan of the present year to be made?" and other én quiries of a similar kind. In the present depressed state of our manufactures and commerce, no one circumstance so much aggravated the feelings of the people from one end of the kingdom to the other, as the system of extravagant expenditure that was pursued. The Chancellor of the Exchequer seemed to lament it; and it really would appear that he had not the means of its prevention, but must conform to the wishes of those in a higher quarter. The last ministry had given pledges, and had shewn some disposition towards re trenchment; and he really believed that this was one cause why they had existed so short a time. Financial extravagance had been the destruction of all modern governments; the first disturbances of the French Revolution had been occasioned by the unbounded profusion of the Frenck

be quartered in the same way in which they were quartered before those barracks existed? The hon. genteman knew that was impossible; and it was, therefore, unfair in him to advance such an argument. As to the proposed barracks at Mary-le-bone, that subject divided itself into two considerations, - 1st, whether the barracks were necessary; and, 2dly, whether the plan proposed was the most proper to be adopted. As to the necessity, he considered it absolutely imperious; and he, therefore, should not waste the time of the House in making out that which was evident to every one; but the other consideration was one of detail, and to be met by calculation. The hon. gentleman who opened the debate had said, that the estimate of 133,000l. would not cover the whole expences, as the value of the ground, 35,000l. was to be added to that estimate. But did not the hon. gentleman know, that if the government were to purchase ground for those barracks, there would be incurred an actual expence of nearly the same sum? He did not wish to deny that the sum proposed was an enormous onebut at a rough calculation, he contended that it was impossible to build cavalry barracks at a smaller expence. It was said, that the plan adopted was more expensive than that on which the Hyde Park barracks were built. Now the fact was, that the

distant manner to the prices current at both periods. At the former period timber was at 3l. and now it was at 131. and other articles were nearly in proportion. He concluded his observations with a few remarks on the plan for building the barracks proposed by Mr. Nash. Mr. Nash said, that by a judicious arrangement, a saving of one-third might be made; but what was this arrangement of Mr. Nash, who he allowed to be a man of genius and fancy in his profession, though his talent was not particularly exerted in behalf of the soldiers on this occasion ? Why, that all the nuisances belonging to such a place as the barracks were to be in the very midst of the barracks themselves. After saying this, he thought he would be excused from arguing more at length on the judicious arrangement of Mr. John Nash. Mr. Nash was said to be in the habit of buiding very ornamental houses for gentlemen; but if he treated gentlemen as he would the soldiers, he could not well account for his press of business in this ornamental way.

Mr. Bankes spoke in favour of altering and reducing the present estimate. He said that he for one could not agree to vote away any sum at the present moment that could by possibility be avoided. He was convinced there were so many very heavy expences coming upon us from various

ception of one particular, which went in favour of Mary-le-bone barracks, and that was, that in the latter, there would be a parade; which would serve at the same time, for an exercising ground, while at present, government was at great expence for an exercising ground to serve for the troops at Hyde Park. It was asked by another hon. gentleman, was there not a sufficient number of barracks within two or three hours' march of London in case of any insurrection or disturbance: but he had to inform that hon. gentleman, that the barracks at Mary-le-bone were to be built on the principle of a depot (Hear, hear, from sir F. Burdett and other members.] He did not know what there was in this observation to excite the cheers of the gentlemen opposite. He then argued against the unfairness of the estimate brought forward by the hon. mover of the amendment. When that hon. gentleman made the comparison that he did between the expence of the former barracks and the estimate for the present, it was rather uncandid, not to allude even in the most

the utmost economy in every department of our expenditure was absolutely necessary; and he would not do any thing that might give a check to our exertions in the peninsula. If the country was to be burdened with large additional sums, let them be applied to carrying on the war in the peninsula. This was, in his opinion, a very bad time to build expensive barracks when timber was at so high a price : and it might, from various circumstances, be reasonably hoped, that in a short time a great alteration would take place. He was sure there was a very great profusion in the estimate of the present barracks, and he saw no necessity for building the officers' lodgings in the barracks.

General Phipps having heard it observed, that the oficers did not need to be accommodated in the barracks, thought that officers ought always to be lodged along with the men, otherwise they might easily be intercepted, on any emergency, in going separately from their homes.

Sir J. Newport wishe 1 to ask the hon. general, whether the officers of the foot