Upon account, for enabling the said hospital to put out apprentice the said children, so as that the said hospital do not give with one child more than 71. .... 2,000 0 0 FEBRUARY 8. To make good to his Majesty the like sum issued by his Majesty's orders, in To make good the deficiency of the grants for the service of 1767... sion To redeem and pay off the remaining parts of the said capital stock of annuities 156,803 14 6 10,500 0 0 392,484 5 88,435 19 6 8,750 0 0 1,750,000 0 0 Total of the Supplies granted this session. 2,250,170 3 117 •£.8,335,746 11 27 WAYS and MEANS for the Year 1768.] | from the 5th Jan. 1769; and that all the The following are the Resolutions of the Committee of Ways and Means: Dec. 7, 1767. That the duties upon malt, mum, cyder and perry, be continued from the 24th June 1768, to the 24th June 1769, and charged upon all the malt which shall be made, and all mum which shall be made or imported, and all cyder and perry which shall be made for sale, within the kingdom of Great Britain, 700,000/. Dec. 10. That 3s. in the pound, and no more, be raised within the space of one year, from the 25th March 1768, upon lands, tenements, hereditaments, pensions, and personal estates, in that part of Great Britain called England, Wales, and the town of Berwick upon Tweed; and that a proportionable cess, according to the ninth article of the treaty of Union, be laid upon that part of Great Britain called Scotland, 1,528,568. 11s. 113d. Feb. 9, 1768. 1. That 1,900,000l. be raised in the manner following; that is to say, the sum of 1,300,000l. by annuities, after the rate of 31. per cent., to commence from the 5th Jan. last, and 600,000l. by a lottery, to consist of 60,000 tickets, the whole of such sum to be divided into prizes, which are to be attended with the like 31. per cent. annuities, to commence [VOL. XVI.] said annuities be transferable at the bank of England, paid half yearly, on the 5th July, and the 5th Jan., in every year, out of the sinking fund, and added to, and made part of, the joint stock of 31. per cent. annuities, which were consolidated at the bank of England, by certain acts made in the 25th and 28th years of the reign of his late Majesty, and several subsequent acts, and subject to redemption by parliament; that every contribu tor towards the said sum of 1,300,000L shall, in respect of every 651. agreed by him to be contributed for raising such a sum, be intitled to receive three tickets in the said lottery, upon payment of 10% for each ticket; and that every contributor shall, on or before the 18th of this instant Feb., make a deposit with the cashiers of the bank of England of 15l. per cent., in part of the monies so to be contributed towards the said sum of 1,300,000l. and also a deposit of 5. per cent., in part of the monies so to be contributed in respect of the said lottery, as a security for making the respective future payments to the said cashiers, on or before the times hereinafter limited; that is to say, on the 1,300,000l. 10l. per cent. on, or before, the 9th of April next ; 10l. per cent. on, or before, the 7th of [2 E] June next; 15l. per cent. on or before the 19th of July next; 15. per cent. on, or before, the 20th of August next; 15. per cent. on, or before, the 21st of Oct. next; 20. per cent. on, or before, the 25th Nov. next. On the lottery for 600,000l. 251. per cent. on, or before, the 17th of May next; 30l. per cent. on, or before the 28th of June next; 40l. per cent. on, or before, the 8th Sept. next. And that all the monies so received by the said cashiers be paid into the receipt of his Majesty's Exchequer, to be applied, from time to time, to such services as shall then have been voted by this House, in this session of parliament; and that every contributor who shall pay in the whole of his contribution towards the said sum of 1,300,000l. at any time, on, or before, the 17th Oct. next, or towards the said lottery, on, or before, the 25th June next, shall be allowed an interest by way of discount, after the rate of 31. per cent. per ann., on the sums so completing his contribution respectively, to be computed from the day of completing the same, to the 25th Nov. next, in respect of the sum paid on account of the said 1,300,000l. and to the 8th of Sept. next, in respect of the sum paid on account of the said lottery. 2. That, from and after the 5th of April next, the annuities, after the rate of 4l. per cent., attending the remainder of the capital stock, established by an act made in the third year of his Majesty's reign, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty several additional duties upon wines imported into this kingdom, and certain duties upon all cyder and perry; and for raising the sum of 3,500,000l. by way of annuities and lotteries, to be charged on the said duties,' be charged upon, and made payable out of, the surplusses, excesses, or overplus monies, and other revenues, composing the fund commonly called the Sinking Fund, until the redemption of the said capital stock, which is to be completed on the 5th of Jan. 1769. 6 3. That the duties, revenues, and incomes, which now stand appropriated to the payment of the said annuities, be continued, and be, from and after the said 5th April, carried to, and made part of, the said fund, commonly called the Sinking Fund, towards making good the payment of the said annuities, and of the annuities after the rate of 31. per cent. intended to be granted in respect of the said 1,900,000l. 4. That the sum of 1,800,000l. be raised, by loans, or Exchequer bills, to be charged upon the first aids to be granted in the next session of parliament; and such Exchequer bills, if not discharged, with interest thereupon, on, or before, the 5th April 1769, to be exchanged, and received in payment, in such manner as Exchequer Bills have usually been exchanged, and received in payment. 5. That there be applied the sum of 2,250,000l. out of such monies as shall, or may, arise cut of the surplusses, excesses, or overplus monies, and other revenues, composing the fund commonly called the Sinking Fund. 6. That 70,000l. out of such monies as shall be paid into the receipt of the Exchequer, after the 2d Feb. 1768, and on, or before, the 5th April 1769, of the produce of all, or any of, the duties and revenues, which by any act or acts of parliament, have been directed to be reserved for the disposition of parliament, towards defraying the necessary expences of defending, protecting, and securing, the British colonies and plantations in America, be applied towards making good such part of the supply as hath been granted to his Majesty, for maintaining his Majesty's forces and garrisons in the plantations, and for provisions for the forces in North America, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the ceded islands, for the year 1768. 7. That such of the monies, as shall be paid into the receipt of the Exchequer, after the 2d of Feb. 1768, and on, or before, the 5th April 1769, of the produce of the duties charged, by an act of parlia ment made in the 5th of his present Majesty's reign, upon the importation and exportation of gum senega, and gum arabic, be applied towards making good the supply granted to his Majesty. 8. That the sum of 400,000l. which is to be paid within the present year, into the receipt of his Majesty's Exchequer, by the united company of merchants of England trading to the East Indies, in pursuance of an act made in the last session of parliament, intituled, An Act for establishing an agreement for the payment of the annual sum of 400,000l. for a limited time, by the East India Company, in respect of the territorial acquisitions and revenues lately obtained in the East Indies,' be applied towards making good the supply granted to his Majesty. 9. That the charge of the pay and clothing of the militia, in that part of Great Britain called England, for one year, beginning the 25th March, 1768, be de frayed out of the monies arising by the land-tax, granted for the service of the year 1768. Feb. 22. That 106,3581. 17s. 8d. out of the sums received for provisions delivered to the troops serving in North America, and of certain sums charged on the pay of the forces serving at Minorca, the Floridas, and in Africa, and out of the balance of the 12d. in the pound deduction from the pay of the out-pensioners of Chelsea-hospital, from the 25th June 1757, to the 4th Dec. 1767, and also out of the monies remaining in the hands of the earl of Kinnoul, and the executors of the late earl of Darlington, and of the late Thomas Potter, esq. being part of the balances of said earls of Darlington and Kinnoul, and Thomas Potter, as paymasters general of his Majesty's forces, be applied towards making good the supply granted to his Majesty, towards defraying the extraordinary expences of his Majesty's land forces, and other services, incurred to the 25th Dec. 1767, and not provided for by parliament. Feb. 23. 1. That grew or crow-salt, salt-scale, sand-scale, crustings, or other foul-salt, be allowed to be taken from the salt works in England, Wales, or Berwick upon Tweed, to be sold as manure, upon payment of a duty of four-pence per bushel only. though the same shall not be proof spirits. The King's Speech at the Close of the Session.] March 10. The King came to the House of Peers, and put an end to the Session with the following Speech to both Houses: "My Lords and Gentlemen; "The readiness with which you entered into the views I recommended to you at the opening of this session, and the assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the dispatch of the public business, give me great satisfaction. At the same time the affectionate concern you have shewn for the welfare of your fellow subjects by the salutary laws passed for their relief, in respect to the high price of provisions, cannot fail of securing to you their most grateful regard. "I have nothing new to communicate to you in relation to foreign affairs. The apparent interest of the several powers in Europe, as well as the express assurances I have received from them, leave me no room to doubt of their disposition to pre serve the general tranquillity: and, on my part, you may rest assured, that every measure that is consistent with the honour of my crown, and the rights of my subjects, shall be steadily directed to that most salutary purpose. “Gentlemen of the House of Commons; 2. That all policies, by which the pro- "Your cheerfulness in granting the neperty of one person, or of a particular num-cessary supplies, and your attention to the ber of persons in one general partnership, ease of my good subjects in the manner of or of one body politic or corporate, in any raising them, equally demand my acknowship or cargo, or both, shall be assured, to ledgments. I see with pleasure that you the amount of more than 1,000l. be stamped have been able to prosecute your plan for with two 5s. stamps. the diminution of the national debt, without laying any additional burthen upon my people. 3. That so much of an act, made in the 33rd of his late majesty, intituled, An Act for encouraging the exportation of rum and spirits, of the growth, produce, and manufacture of the British sugar plantations from this kingdom, and of British spirits, made from molasses,' as directs that the rum, or spirits, of the growth, produce, and manufactures of the British sugar plantations, in America, which should be intitled to the allowance of the duty of custom, and freed from the duty of excise, on exportation thereof, should be proof spirits, be repealed. "My Lords and Gentlemen; "As the time limited by law for the expiration of this parliament now draws near, I have resolved forthwith to issue my proclamation for dissolving it, and for calling a new parliament: but I cannot do this, without having first returned you my thanks for the many signal proofs you have given of the most affectionate attachment to my person, family, and government; the most faithful attention to the public service, and the most earnest zeal for 4. That upon the exportation of such the preservation of our excellent constiturum, or spirits, there be an allowance, or tion. When, by the vigorous support drawback, of all the duties of customs which you gave me during the war, I payable upon the importation thereof; and have been enabled, under the divine Prothat such rum, or spirits, be freed and dis-vidence, to restore to my people the blesscharged from all the duties of excise, ings of peace, you continue to exert yourselves with equal alacrity and steadiness in pursuing every measure that could contribute to the maintenance of the pub FIRST SESSION OF THE lic safety and tranquillity, which you well THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT understood could no otherwise be preserved than by establishing, on a respectable foundation, the strength, the credit, and the commerce of the nation. The large supplies you have from time to time granted, and the wise regulations you have made for these important purposes, will, I am persuaded, be found to have been productive of the most beneficial consequences. "In the approaching election of representatives, I doubt not but my people will give me fresh proofs of their attachment to the true interest of their country, which I shall ever receive as the most acceptable mark of their affection to me. The welfare of all my subjects is my first object. Nothing therefore has ever given me more real concern, than to see any of them, in any part of my dominions, attempting to loosen those bonds of constitutional subordination, so essential to the welfare of the whole. But it is with much satisfaction that I now see them returning to a more just sense of what their own interest, no less than their duty, indispensably requires of them, and thereby giving me the prospect of continuing to reign over an happy, because an united people." The Parliament was then prorogued, and on the 12th instant was dissolved.* *December 19, 1767. In one of our conversations, I desired lord Chatham to secure you a seat in the New Parliament; he assured me he would; and, I am convinced, very sincerely he said even that he would make it his own affair; and desired I would give myself no more trouble about it. Since that, I have heard no more of it; which made me look out for some venal borough; and I spoke to a borough-jobber, and offered five-and-twentyhundred pounds for a secure seat in parliament; but he laughed at my offer, and said, that there was no such a thing as a borough to be had now, for the rich East and West Indians had secured thein all, at the rate of three thousand pounds at least; but many at four thousand; and two or three, that he knew, at five thousand. OF GREAT BRITAIN. Meeting of the New Parliament.]* May 10, 1768. This day the New Par if I can find one, I promise you I will bid like a chapman for it, as I should be very sorry that you were not in the next parliament. "March 12, 1768. You will not be in this parliament, at least not at the beginning of it. I relied too much upon lord Chatham's promise above a year ago at Bath. He desired that I would leave it to him; that he would make it his own affair, and give it in charge to the duke of Grafion, whose province it was to make the parliamentary arrangement. This I since that, lord Chatham has neither seen nor depended upon, and I think with reason; but spoken to any body, and has been in the oddest way in the world. I sent to the duke of Grafton to know if lord Chatham had either spoken or sent to him about it; but be assured me that he had done neither: that all was full, or rather running over at present; but that, if he could crowd you in upon a vacancy, he would do it this accident; for I am of a very different opiwith great pleasure. I am extremely sorry for nion from you, about being in parliament, as no man can be of consequence in this country, who is not in it; and though one may not speak like a lord Mansfield or a lord Chatham, one may make a very good figure in a second rank. Locus est et pluribus umbris." Lord Chesterfield to his Son. *All England was agitated by the tumults incident to a general election, but particularly London and Middlesex, on account of the re-appearance of John Wilkes: he quitted England under circumstances so disgraceful, that his offer to represent the metropolis, or the county which includes the metropolis, was an incalculable effort of impudence, while the support he received seems to have flowed from an unprecedented source of popular delusion. "When Mr. Wilkes found it necessary to leave his native country, he repaired to France; on his arrival, he asserted that he was deputed ambassador to Constantinople, but he soon relinquished that pretence, and professed an inclination to reconcile himself with the ministry, "January 29, 1768. Lord Chatham is at and return to England. The appointment of his house at Hayes, but sees no mortal. Some the Rockingham administration flattering him say that he has a fit of the gout, which would with hopes of success, he repaired to London do him good; but many think that his worst in May 1766, and opened a negociation with complaint is in his head, which I am afraid is the friends of the Marquis; but as he could too true. Were he well, I am very sure he not obtain protection from them, nor place his would realize the promise he made me concern-outlawry in a train of reversal till November, ing you; but however, in that uncertainty, I he again went to France. In the course of that am looking out for any chance borough; and summer lord Chatham's administration was Who being come; the Lord Chancellor said: liament met at Westminster. It was opened by Commission. The Lord Chancellor commanded the gentleman usher of the black rod to let the Commons know "The Lords Commissioners desire their immediate attendance in this House to hear the commission read." "My Lords, and Gentlemen of the House of Commons; "By virtue of his Majesty's commission now read, and in obedience to his utlagatum was at length issued, and as no precedent could be found of a person in his circumstances being delivered to bail, he was or formed, and Mr. Wilkes conceiving new hopes, solicited, in earnest and abject terms, the duke of Grafton's interference with the King. This application being rejected, Mr. Wilkes, neg-dered into custody. The populace, however, lected and forgotten, remained an exile, till the approaching dissolution of parliament drew him to England. "In his retirement he reflected with anger on his repeated mortifications, and his spirit was inflamed to that degree of virulence which made him brave every danger, and defy every appearance of decency, in declaring himself a candidate to represent the city of London. In his address to the livery, he claimed credit for his attachment to liberty, and presented his contests with government on the two questions respecting general warrants, and the seizure of papers, as titles to protection and encouragement. As the outlawry was still in full force, to prevent his being apprehended he wrote to the solicitor and deputy solicitor of the treasury, pledging his honour as a gentleman, that he would personally appear in the court of King's bench on the first day of the ensuing term. reversed the decree of the Court; they stopped the coach in which he was proceeding, took off the horses, and dragged him through the city to a public bouse in Spitalfields, where they kept him till eleven at night, when he made his escape, and surrendered himself to the marshal of the King's-bench. The next day a mob assembled near the prison, pulled up the rails which inclosed the foot-way, and made a bonfire. At night they compelled the inhabitants of the Borough to illuminate; but at midnight were dispersed by a detachment from the guards. "From this period, a tumultuous meeting was daily held at the King's-bench prison, and many outrages were committed in various parts of the town. These proceedings alarmed government, and they were properly on their guard against the prevalence of the riotous disposition so forcibly displayed. "Mr. Wilkes was not chosen for London; "On the day of the opening of parliament, but the populace, sympathizing in his disap- an immense multitude assembled in St. pointment, and anxious to show their zeal in George's Fields, expecting that, by virtue of his cause, took the horses from his carriage, his privilege, their favourite would be liberated, and drew it through the city. He immediately and take his seat in the House. They depresented himself a candidate for the county of manded him at the prison with loud outcries, Middlesex, and was returned by a large majo- and soon grew extremely tumultuous. The rity. His friends, the populace, on this occa-justices, attempting to read the Riot Act, were sion testified not only their joy, but their resentment, by breaking the windows of lord Bute's house, and of the Mansion house; the air resounded with the cry of Wilkes and Liberty,' and those who refused to join in it were beat and insulted. "The new parliament met according to the return of the writs of summons, and sir John Cust was again chosen Speaker. The only business transacted was a continuation of the statutes respecting grain; and a motion that the proper crown officer might report to the House why the laws were not immediately put in force against John Wilkes, an outlaw, when he returned to England in February. "Mr. Wilkes was at this period already in custody. He appeared in the court of King's bench, according to his promise, and in a long speech complained of all the transactions in his case, but left the discussion of points of law to his counsel. The attorney-general moved for bis commitment; cause was shown against it, and a writ of error prayed. The judges censured both motions, as Mr. Wilkes was not properly before the court, and refused to commit, or admit him to bail. A writ of capias assailed with stones and bricks; great pains were taken to induce the people to disperse, but in vain the drums beat to arms, and the military assembled in great numbers, but the rabble persevered in their riotous behaviour, and even assaulted them. Some soldiers pursued a man who had been forward in maltreating them to some distance, and shot him dead in an out-house belonging to his father. The youth's name was Allen, and it was alleged, that he was a mere spectator of the transactions of the day, and had, by mistake, been singled out instead of some other person. Meanwhile, the riot increasing, and every effort to restore tranquillity proving ineffectual, the soldiers received the word of command, and fired; five or six persons were killed, and fifteen wounded. "The mob was dispersed, but inexpressible rage prevailed against the soldiery. The regi ment happened, unfortunately, to be principally composed of Scotchmen, which gave additional violence to the popular resentment. The coroner's inquest brought in a verdict of wilful murder against the soldier who shot Allen, and implicated another private, and |