Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

House of Lords, June 29.

American Trade. Lord Hawkesbury presented, by his majesty's command, the order in council, continuing the provisions of the American Intercourse Act, which expired during the recess; and gave notice, that it was the intention of his majesty's government to propose to parliament a bill for continuing the above act for a time to be then specified, and to propose in such bill a clause of indemnity for the advice given to his majesty to continue the provisions of the former act, after it had legally expired.

Lord Auckland stated, that the reason he did not, when in office, recommend the continuance of the act which had now expired, was that when the pending negotiation came to be discussed, it would be discussed as a treaty ratified, and he felt satisfied it would be found that every possible attention had been paid to the interests of this country. He thought it but fair now to state, that when the question of the renewal of the American Intercourse Act came to be discussed, he should probably be of opinion, that the same reasons which before operated did not exist for the continuance of the act. One part of it, in particular he objected to, and did object during the negotiation; he alluded to that part of it which allowed to the Americans a carrying trade between our possessions in the East Indies and Europe.

House of Commons, June 29.

America. Lord Temple said, that seeing the chancellor of the exchequer in his place, he would beg leave to ask him a question. In the course of the last session it had fallen to his lot to bring in a bill, which had been passed contrary to the opinion of those who composed the present administration, he meant the American Intercourse bill; And he wished to know if the present ministers meant to move for its repeal?

Mr. Rose said, that he for one had strenuously opposed the bill alluded to during its progress through the house, because he disapproved the measure; but as it had received the approbation of the house, and passed into a law, he did not think it would be decent to move its repeal till its operation was better known.

June 30.

Foreign and British Shipping. Mr. Eden rose, in pursuance of his notice, to make a motion relative to this subject. This he prefaced by a speech of considerable length, stating the object he had in view to show the prosperity and increase of our navigation while the country was under the management of the late administration. One great cause to which the decline of British navigation was ascribed was the passing of the bill called the American intercourse Bill which had been represented as a wanton innovation; and yet by the answer given last night by the treasurer of the navy, he learned that ministers had no intention of repealing it, although they had alleged that it went to do for our enemies what they could not do for themselves, and to resign to other nations our naval superiority. The house has been told that the whole conduct of the late ministry was a series of concessions to neutrals, and that they were weak enough to commence a negotiation during the existence of the non-importation act?

Mr. Rose said, he did not rise to oppose this motion, but to state that he was at a loss to know what the hon. gentleman could possibly make out from such an account. The only law passed during the last session, which had any relation to this matter, was the American Intercourse bill, and upon that subject the noble lord opposite to him (Lord Temple) had asked him yesterday whether ministers intended to repeal it, in consequence of the objections formerly stated to it? To this, he answered, that it was rather an important question to be determined, during the pending of a treaty with America; although he was convinced that such a repeal must be of advantage to the country. During the time that bill was pending, he was convinced it would prove a mischievous bill, and he was now more confirmed in that opinion, as he could venture to say, that it actually puts this country in a worse situation than we were in before, by enabling the Americans to drive the British shipping out of the colonial trade, as the West Indian had no means of carrying his sugar to America. On these grounds, he very much doubted whether upon a competition between British and American ships, the latter would not gain the ascendancy.

Viscount Howick said there was no man more desirous than he was to cultivate the good will and friendship of America, being convinced it was for the interest of both countries; but he could not carry that desire so far as to say, that an act of parliament, detrimental to our interest, and destructive of the British colonies, should not be repealed as soon as its evil effects were discovered. If the right honourable gentleman had experienced the inconvenience he expressed, nothing could justify him in not repealing it. The truth was, all the charges brought forward upon this head formerly were totally unfounded, and had been only made by the present ministers, to serve their own purposes when in opposition, but to which they in their consciences, could not now venture to support. Before he sat down, he could not help saying a word or two respecting the conduct of another right honourable gentleman opposite (Mr. Perceval) respecting the order of council passed in consequence of the French decree of the 21st of November, That right honourable gentleman had stated, that he thought then, as he seemed still to think, the measure of the last administration wholly inadequate to the purposes intended; and if so, why did he not now take upon himself to advise his majesty to correct the spiritless measure--Was not that decree just as much in force against this country as it was when he first objected to it? The whole conduct of the present ministers manifestly showed, that they do not believe what they themselves formerly said when in opposition.

Mr. Rose repeated, that so far from repealing the American Intercourse Bill, he would rather, under existing circumstances, advise its renewal.

The chancellor of the Exchequer rose, he said, not for the purpose of prolonging this discussion. He did still continue to lament, that the measure which the late government had thought proper to adopt at the time when the violent decree of France respecting neutrals was passed, was not met in a manner more efficacious; but still he did not conceive that this would be a proper or convenient time to make any alteration in it.