SOME OBSERVATIONS Relative to the L A T E B I L L For Paying ofF the RESIDUE of the NATIONAL DEBT O F IRELAND, Humbly fubmltted to the Confideratlon of the TRUE FRIENDS of thisCOUNTRY. pro Rege fepe Pro Patria femper. DUBLIN: Printed in the Y E A R M DCC LIV. 1 lomr i (iii ) TO THE R E A f..., .r.-f IT well becomes the Dignity of "G^overnment to defpife the Revilings of a dlfappointed Party, and to fet at Naught the Writings of thofe who invent, and propagate Stories, in order to give fome Colour to the Attempts of their Patrons, for obtaining that Afccndency in the State, which they afpire at. But there are ibme Things, in which it will be always pro- per for the Friends of a good Government to take Pains, to rectify the Notions of a mifin- formed and deluded People. The Writer of the following Paper, how- ever unequal he be to the Tafk, has, with du- tiful Loyalty to the bed: of Kings, with the highefl: Refpedl for his Grace, who doth with fo much Candour and Benignity, reprefent his Majclty's moft facred Pcrfon in thi;» Kingdom, A 2 and (iv) and with the fincereft AfFe(5lion for his Coun* try, undertaken fome Part of this Work. The Quotations from the Journals of the Houfe of Commons, and the Abitra^ts from the Public Accounts, with the Obfervations on fome of them, may, perhaps appear fomewhat tedious ; but they have been thought ufeful. If not neceiTary to the giving a true State of the main Queftion. If the Writer of this Paper hath as flilly fuc- ceeded, as he has fairly and with Candour at- tempted to fet thefe Matters in a true Light be- fore his Countrymen, he doth not grudge the Pains he has taken on this Occafion. SOME (5) SOME OBSERVATIONS Relative to the Late BILL, &c. IN order to fet the Matter now intended to be obferved upon, in a full Light, it may not be improper to give a fummary State of the Here- ditary Revenue, and additional, unappropriated, Duties ; as alfo, of the Origin, and Encreafe of the Debt of this Nation, and of the Means whereby it was in Part paid off, and how the Refidue was intended to be difcharged, by the late Bill. And, as, in flat- ing Matters, preparatory to the Queflion on that Bill, it will be thought proper to quote fome Parts of our Parliamentary Hiftory, which cxpofe the fee- ble Condition of our Conftitution, Endeavours will be ufed, to point out the prudent Maxims of Policy, eftablifhed by the true Friends of Ireland^ foon after the late happy Revolution, and which have ever fmce, been fteadily purfued, to the great Benefit of this Kingdom, by a Majority, at lead, of the Houfe of Commons, until this Seflion of parliament, which A 3 will (6) will fhew the mlftaken Notions of thofe who proceed iipnp. dilTcrent Principles. The hereditary Revenue of Jrelnr.d^ is accounted for under the following Heads ; and the grofs Pro- duce of them was, at a Medium for twelve Years ended at Lady-Day 1741, 392,755/. a Year, and at a Medium, for the twelve Years ended at Lady-Day 1753, they produced 443,073 /. a Year. Cufl-oms Inwards 1 -o ,.a . ^ r it r-^^ « ^ rL r\ J >By 14 and 1 5 Lar. IJ. Lap. 9. Cufloms Outwards^ ^ ^ '^ ^ -^ Imported Exciie? r» , i - /^ . tt n^^ o , ,' J „ -r m5v 14 ana i ; C^;;-. 11. Cap. 8. Inland Excue S Ale and Beer Licences, by 14 and 15 Car. II. Cap. 18. Wine and Stronsr- 7 ^ lor-.^TTr'^, ,,r T . ^ >By 17 and 18 Car. 11. Cap. ig. \\ ater Licences \ c j Quit-Rents, Crown- ] Quit-Rents, by 14 and 15 Rents, and Compo- > Car. II. Cap. 2. and by 17 fition-Rents. J and i H Car. 11. Cap. 2. Crown -Rents, are Rents re- ferved to the Crown on Grants, Charters, ^c. Compofition-Rents, confift of Rents accepted by the Crown, in lieu of Services, £5?t-. — referved on feveral antient Tenures. And where the Crown has re- duced Quit-Rents, ihele reduced Rents are com- monly called Compofition Rents. Hearth-Money, by 14 and 15 C^r. II. Cap. 17; and 17 and 18 Car. II. Cap. 18. Fines, Seizures and? Arile from the Revenue Laws forfeitures, J and Forfeitures. Prizage on Wines. An antient Du;y to the Crow^n, but it was granted to the Houie of Ortnorid., (7) Ormond, and is now rented by the Crown at 4000 /. a Year, clear of Fees, altho' it doth not yield fo much, Light-Houfe Duties. By Prefcription, for the Main- tenance of Light-Houfes, and is at the Rate of Four- Pence per Ton on foreign Ships. Cafual Revenues, confifts of Fines in Courts of Law, Amerciaments, Trea- fure-trove, &c. Thus we fee that feveral Branches of the Heredi- tary Revenue, are Parts of the antient Inheritance of the Crown. And it appears in the Journals of the Houfe of Commons that not one of the Ads of Par- liament, whereby the other Branches are granted, or confirmed to the Crown for ever, took its Rife in the Houfe of Commons, They were every one of them framed in the Council here, fent to England^ from thence tranfmitted into Ireland^ under the great Seal of England, according to Poyn'ing's Lavj, received, and pafTed by the Commons, without any Murmuring, much lefs Complaint, of Encroachment on their Right or Privilege. The Crown having by thefe Laws, obtained a Re- venue, fufficient to anfwer the Expences of the State, the Parliament was diilblved on the 7th Day of Aii- gttft 1666, and no other Parliament was called during the remaining Part of the Reign of King Charles the Second. It is not necellliry to our prefent Subjedt, to point out the Diftreiles brought upon this Country, the Opprellions of its Inhabitants, the Negle6\ of encou- raging Induftry, Arts, and Sciences among them, even the Mifmanagement of the Public Revenue, 'Vi'hich attended the Want of Parliaments. Every Perfon acquainted with the Hiftory of thofe Times, A 4 tnuft (8) miift be convinced, that Ireland was in a moft wretch- ed Condition for v/ant of a Parliament. That this was the Senfe of the Nation, appears from the following Refolution, reported on the 19th of September 1695, from the Committee of the whole Houfe, for taking into Confideration the State of the Nation, and which was agreed to by the Houfe neniine contradicente. " Refolved, that it is the Opinion of this Com- *' mittee, that the long IntermilTion of Parliaments ■ *' in this Kingdom, has been one principal Caufe of *' the many Grievances this Nation has hitherto lain *' under." It was therefore with the greateft Joy imaginable, that the Friends of Ireland faw this Country reftored to the Blefling of having a free Parliament called, foon after the happy Revolution, by King William (their great Deliverer) and Queen Mary. This Parliament met on the 5th Day of Goober 1692. Henry Lord Vifcount Sydney^ being then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland^ and Sir Richard Levinge^ their Majefties Solicitor General, was chofen Speaker of the Houfe of Commons. It may be prefumed, that many Perfons returned as Members of the Houfe of Commons, fo foon after the Rebellion, were not very well affected to the EjigliJJ: and Proteftant Intereft of Ireland. It is cer- tain, that two Members were expelled for their noted Delinquency herein. On the 2 2d Day of O^ober 1692 Copies of two Bills tranfmitted under the Great Seal of Englatid, were delivered to the Houfe of Commons, by Order of the Lord Lieutenant. One Bill whereof was entitled, " An Afl for an ** Additional Duty of Excife, upon Beer, Ale, and ** other Liquors." The other Bill was entitled, " An A6t for grant- ^* ing to their Majefties, certain Duties for one Year." Which Bills were received, and ordered to lye on the Table. On (9) On the 27th Day of Ocloher 1692, the following Refolutions are entered in the Journals of the Houfe of Commons. " Refolved, that it was and is, the undoubted " Right of the Commons of Ireland in Parliament *' afiembled, to prepare and refolve the Ways and " Means of raifing Money. " Refolved, that it was and is, the fole and un- " doubted Right of the Commons to prepare Heads " of Rills for raifing Money. " Refolved, that notwithftanding the aforefaid *' Rights of the Commons, this Houfe doth think *' fit, upon Confideration of the prefent Exigency of *' Affairs, and the public Necellity of fpeedily raif- " ing a Supply for their Majefties, to order a Bill, " tranfmitted out of En'^lcmd^ entitled, an Ad for " an additional Duty of Excife upon Beer, Ale, and " other Liquors, be now read. Whereupon the faid " Bill was read the firft Time, and ordered a fecond *' Reading To-morrow Morning at ten of the Clock. " Refolved, nem. con. That the receiving or read- " ing of the faid Bill, fo tranfmitted as aforefaid, be '' not drawn into Precedent hereafter." On the 28 th Day di O^oher 1692, " A Motion " being made, and the Queflion being put, that ^ " Bill now on the Table, entitled. An Ad for grant- " ing to their Majefties, certain Duties for one Year, " might be read, it paifed in the Negative. " Refolved, that the faid Bill be rejeded by this " Houfe. " Refolved, that it be entered In the Journal of " this Houfe, that the Reafon, why the faid Bill was " rejeded, is, that the fame had not its Rife in this " Houfe " The Bill, entitled, An Ad for an additional Duty of Excife upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, was this Day read a fecond Time, and ordered to be en- groffed. And on the 29th of OMer it was read the third Time, and pafTcd nan. con. On ( JO) On the 3d Day of November 1692, the Lord Lieu- tenant gave the Royal AfTent to the faid Bill, and his Speech to both Houfes of Parliament is as follovveih. " My Lords and Gentlemen, " Upon the opening of this Seflion, I did acquaint " you, with the Motives which induced their Ma- " jefties to call this Parliament, which were no other, " than what entirely regarded, a happy Setdement *' of this Kingdom, upon fuch Foundations, as might " not only fecure the Peace, but bring you into a " profperous and flourifhing Condition. '■' I am forry I cannot fay, there hath been fuch a " Progrefs made by you Gentlemen of the Houfe of Com- " iuojis^ towards thefe Ends, as their Majefties had *' JLift Reafon to expedl ; and I am the more troubled, " that you, who had fo many, and fo great Obliga- " tions to be loyal, and dutifully affeded to their *• Majefties, fhould, fo far miftake yourfelves, as to " intrench upon their Majefties Prerogative, and the " Rights of the Cro^yn of England, as you did on *' the 27th of Onoher laft, when, by a declaratory " Vote, you affirmed, that it is the fole, and un- ♦' doubted Rightof the Commons of /r^/^w^, to, pre- " pare Heads of Bills for raifing Money ; and alfb *' again, on the 28th of the fame Month, when you " rejeded a Bill fentover in the ufual Form, entitled, ♦' An A6t for granting to their Majefties certain Du- »' ties for one Year, you voted, that it ftiould be en- *' tered in your Journals, that the Reafon why the " faid Bill was rejefted, was, that the fame had not " its Rife in your Houfe. " Thefe Votes of yours being contrary to the Sta- " tutes of the Tenth of Henry the Seventh, and the «' third and fourth of Philip and Mary, and the con- « tinued Pradice ever fince ; I find myfelf obliged " to affert their Majefties Prerogative and the Rights 'i of the CrQwn of England in thefe Particulars, in *' fuQh ( '• ) *' fuch a Manner, as may be moft public and per- *' manent : And therefore I do here, in full Parlia- " ment, make my public Protefl againft th'ofe Votes, " and the Entries of them in the Journal of the " F-Ioufe of CoramoxHs, which Proteft I require the " Clerk of this Houfe to read, and afterwards to en- " ter it in the Journals of this Houfe, that it may *' remain, as a Vindication of their Majedics Prero- *' gative, and the Right of the Crown of EnglancJj *' in thefe Particulars to future Ages." After which his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant delivered the Proteuation to the Lord Chancellor, who delivered it to the Clerk of the Houfe, and he read it, and the fame is entered in the Journal of the Houfe of Lords. Then the Parliament was prorogued to the 6th of Jpril, and notwithftanding the Lord Lieutenant, had, by his Meffage, delivered to the Houfe of Commons on the 2 2d of O^loher (when he fent Copies of the faid Bills to the Houfe) declared that their Majefties intended, that the Parliament fhould meet again fom.e- time the next Spring, yet itnever afterwards met, but was on the 5th Day oi September 1693, diiTolved. The next Parliament met on the 27th Day ol Au- gxift 1695, Henry hord Cnpell^ being then Lord De- puty of Ireland, and Robert Rochfort, Efqj his Ma- jefty's Attorney General was chofen Speaker of the Houle of Commons. The Lord Deputy in his Speech to both Houfes, on the 2yth of Aiigujl^ declared, " that for raifing " fome Part of the Supplies neceflary for the Dif- ** charge of the Debts due from the Crown, his Ma- " jefty had font to the Commons, a Bill for an ad- " ditional Duty of Excife, and that he expeded from " them, that they would confider of Ways and " Meap?s, for raifing fuch other Sums as are necefifa- " ry for his Service, This Bill was received, and read, the firll Time, QH the 2d Day of September^ and it was read a fecond Time ( 12) Time on the 4th, and it was the fame Day commit- ted, and ordered, on the Report, 7iem. con. to be en- grofled. Which being done, it was on the 6th Day read a third Time and pafled by the Commons, and fent to the Lords, and on the 7th Day, the Royal Aflent was given to it. And all this was done, be- fore the Committee of Supply was clofed, for the Sapply was not voted, until the 9th Day of Septem- ber^ fo defirous was this Houfe of Commons, " to ♦' apply tbemfelves''' according to what they had pro- mifed in their Addrefs to the Lord Deputy, " to "• 'what JJjoidd be agreeable to his Majejlys Expedatmiy " and for the Service of the Public ^'^ and lb careful were they to avoid any Imputation of intrenching upon his Majefty's Prerogative, and the Rights of the Crown of England. Many other Inftances may be quoted from the journals of this Sellion (which continued by feveral Adjournments, from the 27th Day of Auguji 1695, when it was opened by the Lord Deputy Capell, to the qd Day o^ December 1697, when it was prorogued by the Lords Juflices., the Marquis of PVijichefier, and the Earl of Gah:ay) to prove this moderate and prudent Behaviour of this Houfe of Commons. Votes for continuing of Duties. Refolutions of the Committee of Ways and Means for impofing new Duties, when agreed to by the Houfe, were ordered to be laid before the Lord Deputy with the humble Defire of the Houfe, that they might be drawn up in Form, and tranfmitted into England. So that it evi- dently appears, that the Method now practifed of drawing up and fettling Heads of Money Bills, be- fore they are fent to the Chief Governor, was not pradifed by the Houfe of Commons in the Year 1695. And that Houfe was fo fenfible of the Bene- fits received during the Adminiitration of the Lord Capell, that in their Addrefs to his Majefty, they ex- prelled themfelves thus. »' Wc ( '3 ) ** We muft ever acknowledge the great Benefits " we do, and our Pofterity (hall, receive by thele " ineftimable Laws, given us by your Majefty in " this Seflion of Parliament, held under your Majef- " ty's Deputy, and our excellent Governor, the Lord " Capell, whereby not only our Religion and legal " Rights are confirmed to us, but this Kingdom of " Ireland is firmly fecured to the imperial Crown of ** England." It was by a Behaviour of this kind, in cheerfully granting Money to anfwer the Exigencies of the State, that this Parliament prudently acquired and cherifhed the Favour and Protedion of their Prince. However, it muft not be forgotten, that there were, even then, fome Members of the Houfe of Com- mons who did notrelifh, the giving to the Chief Go- vernor, a Teftimony of their grateful Acknowledge- ments, for his prudent Adminiftration ; for we find, that when the above-mentioned Addrefs was report- ed to the Houfe, a Queftion was put, that the Words, held under your Majejiy's Deputy, and our excellent Go- vernor the Lord Capell, do ftand Part of the Addrefs, but it was carried in the Affirmative, for there was not at that Time, an Intereft formed in the Houfe of Commons, by Connexions, ^c. for private Views, fufficient to weigh down the true Intereft of this. Kingdom, which was, is, and ever will be, to cul- tivate the Favour, and Protection, of the Crown, by fupporting its Rights and Prerogatives, and by treat- ing its Vicegerents with Gratitude, and Decency, at leaft. The next SefTion of Parliament began on the X7th Day of September 1698, under the fame Lords Juftices. The Houfe of Commons continued in the fame moderate and prudent Difpofitions they were in laft Seffion. They purfucd the fame Methods in grant- ing Money. Their Refolutions were carried to the Lords Juftices, with the humble Delire of the Houfe, that ( H ) that their Excellencies would be pleafed to order that the fame fhould be put into Form, and tranfmitted into Eu^l^nd according xo Pcyn'wg^ Laze;. And, it is obfervable, that all the Refolutions in this Seffions, for raifmg Money were defired to be put into Frrm, and tranlmitted into Englattd^ according to Poytjwg's Law, which fhews how much this Houfe of Com- mons had the Ad of the loth of King Henry the Vllth (mentioned in Lord Syc^nty's Proteftj in their Thoughts. There is alfo an Inflance during this ScfTicn of Par- liam.ent, of a Money Bill tranfmitted from England, that was received by the Houfe of Commons and paffed, aliho' it had not its Rife in that Houfe. The next Parliament was called in the fecond Year of the Reign of Queen Afih, and met on the 21ft Day of September 1703, the Duke of Onn:nd being Lord Lieutenant, and Allan Brodrick, Efq; her Ma- jefty's Solicitor General was chofen Speaker of the Houfe of Commons. The following remarkable Paragraphs are in their Addrefs to her Majefty. " We cannot, but with the deepeft Concern, take " Notice to your Majefty, that our Enemies, *' have, by many groundlefs and malicious Calum- *' nies, mifreprefented us (the fad and ievere Effects " whereof, we too fenfibly feel) and efpecially, as if '* we thought ourfelves, or defncd to be, Inde- " pendant of the Crown of England. " In Duty therefore to. your Majefty, and to vin- " dicate ourfelves from fuch foul and unworthy A- " fperfions. We here declare and acknowledge, that " the Kingdom of Ireland is annexed and united to " the Imperial Crown of Efigland; and by the Laws " and Statutes of this Kingdom, is declared to be '' juftly and rightfully depending upon, and belong- *' ing, and for ever united to the fame, and that it •' never entered into our Thoughts to wifti the con- " trary ; the Happinefs of this Kingdom entirely " depend- ( '5 ) « depending on a fleady Duty paid to the Crown of " En2;land^ and a good Correfpondence with your " Majeity's Subjeds of that Kingdom." The Behaviour of this Houfe of Commons was agreeable to their Sentiments exprefied in this Ad- drefs. On the firfl of O^ober, a Bill entided " an A61 for " an additional Duty of Excife upon Beer, Ale, and *' other Liquors," was received and read, and after- wards pafTed into a Law. And it is worthy of Obfer- vation, that not only then, but in the f rft Seffion of ^very new Parhament fince that Time, even in this now fitting, a Money-Bill tranfmitted from England was received and palled into a Law, without any Ob- jedion to it by the Commons, for it's not having taken it's Rife in their Houfe. So careful has the Re- prefentative of the Nation been, ever fince the Year 1692, to avoid pretending to the Right which the Houfe of Commons in that Year, alTerted they had, of having all Money-BiUs take their Rife in their Houfe. And, it is not altogether foreign to our Sub- jed to obferve, that the Benefits which this Nation has obtained, and daily receives, by having Parlia- ments frequently held in this Kingdom, have been, and are of too ineflimable a Value, to permit any true Friend of this Country, to think that they have been purchafed at too dear a Rate, by the fmall ad- ditional Taxes levied on the People. It fully appears by the foregoing Abftra(f\s from the Journals, that the fole Right claimed by the Houfe of Commons in the Year 1692 of preparing Heads of Bills for raifmg Money, was not only protefted a- gainfl, as an Intrenchment on their Majefties Prero- gative, and the Rights of the Crown of England^ and as being contrary to the Statutes of the loth K. H. 7. iaod the 3d and 4th of K. P. and Q^ M. and the continued Pradice to that Time, but that all fucceed- ing Parliaments have behaved therafclves in a Manner diredly contrary to this Claim. The (.6) The maintaining a Standing Army in Ireland^ fince the Revolution. The building of Barracks for the Eafe of the Country, and Reception of the Army. The fupporting of thofe Barracks. The Increafe of the Civil Lift, and feveral other Exigencies of the Scate, having exceeded the Produce of the hereditary Revenue of the Crown, it became neceffary to have frequent Parliaments in this Kingdom, in order to ob- tain Aids by additional Duties, which are generally granted for two Years, and therefore the Parliament ailembles every fecond Year. And, it has always been thought prudent, by the true Friends of Ireland, not to be over-fparing of the Grants made by Parlia- ment, for the Encouragement of Trade and Induftry, and for the Improvement of the Country ; nor to look with fo grudging an Eye, on the Encreafe of the Mi- litary Eftablifhrnent, Civil Lift, and other Expences of the State, fince they all contributed to make it ne- ceffary to call frequent Parliaments, which, perhaps, a more prudent OEconomy, and, a more careful At- tention to the Improvement of the Hereditary-Re- venue, would have rendered unneceflary for the Ser- vice of the Crown. Accounts are ftated in every Seflion, of the Ex- pences of the Government, and of the Produce of the Revenue, as well Hereditary, as Temporary or Additional. And, Mr. Burgh, the then Accountant- General, having in the Year 1709, laid the publick Accounts before the Houfe of Commons in a Method which appeared to the Committee of Accounts, to be plain, juft, and regular, and to their Satisfadlion ; the fame Method has been ever fince purfued, with very little Variation, altho' it is believed that fome further Alterations, which are very proper, might be made in the Method eftablilhed by Mr. Burgh. It were to be wifhed that thefe Accounts had been all •publiftied in the printed Journals of the Houfe of Com- mons, but none of them are in thofe Journals before the 3fIT ( '7 ) the Sedion held in the Year 1731, and this Is not the only material Omiliion in that very expenfive Work. The Produce of the feveral additional Funds grant- ed by Parliament, was fo fufficient to anfwer the Debts of the Crown, and the Expences of the State, that the Debt due of the Nation at Michaelmas 17 15, was only about 16,000/. But the unnatural Rebellion at that Time in Great-Britain, animating the noted Zeal of the Commons of Ireland, for the illujtrious Houfe of Hanover, they on the 28th Day of January, 1 715, palTed a Vote of Credit, to enable his Majefty to put the Kingdom into a Pofture of Defence, againft the Invafion, it was then threatened with, upon which Vote of Credit, the Sum of 50,000/. was raifed, and this was the Origin of the national Debt of Ireland. The Debt of the Nation at Midftimmer 17 17, was 9^->531 ^- 17 •^- I ^- 4? including therein the 50,000 /. raifed on the Vote of Credit pafled in the lafl Seffion of Parliament, and in the Act palled this Seffion of Parliament, whereby the additional Duties were con- tinued to the 25th Day of December 17 19, there are Claufes for fecuring the Repayment of the faid 50,000/. witli Inrcreft. The Debt due of the Nation at Lady-day 1729, was increafed to 220,730/. 155. 3^. ^, of which, <2oo,ooo/. was converted into a Loan, and for paying Intereft for the fame at the Rate of 6 /. per Cent. per An. and towards the Difchargeof the faid Princi- pal Sum, the following Duties were granted to con- tinue from the 25th Day of December 1729, to the 25th Day of December 1731. s. d. For every Tun of Portugal Wine \ imported — • — — 3 ^ ^ For every Tun of all other Sorts 7 c<\ -n- c w- ^ . A I" 40 Shi mgs or Wmemiported — — i^ » For every Gallon of Spirits im- ? -o p,rted - - - i 4 Pence B For ( IB ) For every Pound Weight of Silk Manu--^ factures, except of Great-Byitaiii^ China, v 2 6 Perfia or the Eajl- Indies, imported J Of all Sallaries, Employments, Fees, or Penfions of Abfentecs, four Shillings in the Pound. And by another Ad, the old additional Duties were granted to his Majefty from the 25th Day of De- cember 1729, to the 25th Dav of December 1731. The Duties which are diRinguflied, in the late pub- lick Accounts, under the Title of old additional Duties^ are on, Tobacco imported, 3 d. \ per Pound Weight "Wine imported, 4 /. per Tun Spirits imported, 8 VtnzQ per Gallon Muflin imported, 6 Pence /)«?;• Yard Ea /I' India Goods, Silks, one Shilliiigand fix Pence per Yard Unftatutable Yarn, one Half-penny per Pound Weight Molofl'es, twenty Shillings p^r Hundred Weight Cambrick, three Pence per Yard Inland Excife, on Ale two Shillings on the Barrel, containing 3 2 Gallons On Small-beer, four Pence ^f";- Barrel On Strong Waters, four Pence ^cr Gallon. And there is granted to his Majefty, as a further Aid, the Fees of Sixpence a Pound, payable to the Vice-Treafurers, out of the additional Duties. The grofs Produce of the old additional, unappro- priated, Duties, without including the fix Pence a Pound payable to the Vice-Treafurers, was, at a Me- dium for twelve Years, ended at Lady-day 1741, ic,o.393 /. a Year, and, at a Medium for the twelve Years ended at Lady-duy 1753, they produced 149,865/. a Year, and this, with many Deductions ihercout, for Parliamentary Grants, 'd^c, is all the Nation ( 19) Nation pays for having the Benefit of frequent Parliaments. The Debt due at Lady-day ly^i, was, including the 200,000 /. Loan 335,466 /. ys. ^d. %. The old additional Duties were continued to the 25th of De- cember 1733, and the Loan was increafed to 300,000/. and towards Payment thereof, with Intereft, at the Rate of 5 per Cent, per Ann. the following Duties, were granted for two Years from the 25th Day of December 1731. /. s. d. For every Tun of Wine of the Growth 7 of Portugal imported — — i ^ For every Tun of all other Sorts of Wine 7 imported — — j •^ For every Pound Weight of Silk Manu- •% fa6lures, except of Great-Britain^ China., > o 2 6 Perfia., or the Ea ft- Indies imported j For every Pound Weight of Hops imported, half a Penny. For all China, japaned or laquered Ware 5 per Cent. of the Value. And of all Salaries, Fees, Penfions, and Employments of Abfentees, 4 Shillings in the Pound. As there is very litde Material to our Purpofe, to be obferved on the State of the Debt of the Nation, from this Time to the Year 1741, we (hall pafs over the intermediate Years. The Debt of the Nation at Lady-day 1741, is re- pprted by the Committee of Accounts to have flood thus. B a Due ( 2° ) Due on the Loan after all De- /. s. d. dadions, on the Application of the Surplus of the Loan Duties towards Payment of the Principal; asdireded by the Ads of Parlia- ment — — — 218758 9 9 And exclufive of the Loan 117850 17 2 Total Debt of the Nation at Lady-day I'] 4.1. /^ 336609 6 iii It appears by the Report from the Committee of Ac- counts in this Sefllon of Parliament, that there were Savings to the Nation in the two Years ended atL^^- day 1 741, viz. Is. d. On the Military Eftablifhment 178 130 11 oi On the Civil Lift — — 1202 i z In all £ 17933a 12 2 i Which was a very great Eafe to the Nation. The old Additional Duties were granted to his Majefty by one Ad palled in this Seflion, to continue to the 25th of December 1743. And the Loan Du- ties were, by another Adt, continued for the fame Term. And by the laft mentioned Ad, it is dired- ed, that Intereft upon 125,000/. Part of the Sum which fhall remain unpaid of the Loan on the 25th cf December 1741, fliall be reduced to an Intereft of 4. per Cent, and to continue the Remainder of the Loan at the Rate of 5 per Cent, till paid. And alfo to pay an Intereft at the Rate of 4 per Cent, for the Sum of £. 1 25,000 to fuch Perfons as fhall advance the fame, in order, it is luppofedi to pay off the Ar- rear due on the Lftablifhments. And to apply the Surplus of the Loan Duties, after Payment of Intereft, in the firft \ lace, to difcharge the Principal of the Sum, (21 ) Sum which is to remain at an Interefl of 5 per Cent. The Debt of the Nation at Lady-day 1743, flood thus . The Loan, including the^. 125000, borrowed, in Purfuance of the lall mentioned Adt of Parliament, amounted £. s. d. to ■ 327^590 '8 11^ And exclufive of the Loan 3^849 13 6| Total Debt of the Nation at ? ^ Lady-day 1743. \ 33i»440 la 61 It appears by the Report from the Committee of Accounts this Seffion of Parliament, that the Savings to the Nation, in the two Years, ended at Lady-day 1743, were On the Military Eftablifhment £. 1 1 1,374 1 1 8§ On the Civil Lift — — 2,187 15 7i In all I. 113,562 7 4 Which was a great Eafe to this Nation. The Loan Duties were, by one Ad of Parliament, continued to the 25th of Becemher 1745. And the old additiorml Duties were, by another A6t, granted to his Majefty for the fame Term. The Debt of the Nation at Lady-day 1 745, ftood thus. On the Loan Duties there was 1 r reported due _ - - } 330,4^4 >4 95 B 3 Por 7>'947 4 3t (22 ) But the Report fays, that the Hereditary Revenue, and the Produce of the additional Duties, exceeded the Payments made pur- fuant to A6t of ParHament and _ King's Letters, the Civil Lift and > Military Eftablifhrnent, the Ex- " ceedings on the Concordatum, Military Contingencies, Barracks, Prizage, Bounty to the Linen Manufacture, c5?t. by the Sum of_ Which being deduced from"^ the Debt due on the Loan, leaves/ ^ ^^ the Debt of the Nation at Lady-Y ^5«»5i7 lo &* day I 745, to be — — j But it appears, that the Nation paid Interefl: for 335,000/. It alfo appears by the Report from the Comniittee of Accounts this Seflion of Parliament, that the Savings to the Nation, in the two Years ended at Lady-day 1745, were, L. s. d. On the Military Eflablifhment 72,432 8 icf On the Civil Lift — — 1^55^ i^ ooi In all 73,984 6 II Which was a further Eafe to the Nation. The old additional Duties were, by One Ad of Parliament pafled in this Seflion, granted to his Ma- jefty for two Years from the 25th Day of December 1745, and th^ Loan Duties were, by another Adt, continued for the fame Term, and the Loan-Duty on Wine was raifed to 40^. for every Tun of Por- tugal Wine, and to 4/. for every Tun of all other Wine to be imported. And ( 23 ) And by the lafl mentioned A61 it is direded, that Interefl fhall be paid, upon a further Sum of Money not exceeding 70,000/. to be borrowed for providing Arms for the Ufe of the Militia of this Kingdom, and for ereding a Battery, or Batteries, for the Security of the Harbour of Corke. It may be here obferved, that it was fomcwhat ex- traordinary, that an additional Loan (liould be made of 70,000/. at this Time, when fo large a Sum of Money as 71,947/. was allowed to be due to the Na- tion (abftraded from the former Loans) after an- fwering all the Demands on account of the Efta- blifhments, and all other Charges whatfoever to the 25th of March ij^S-, and that it is well known that a confiderable Arrear is conftantly due on thefe Arti- cles. The Debt of the Nation at Lady-day 1 747, ftood thus. L. s. d. Due on all the Loans — — 33139^7 ^ i From which deducing a Sum"^ of Money remaining in Credit to / the Nation after anfwering all J> 17,68., 9 10 Demands on the Eilablifhments, 1 ^c. as before-mentioned — — J The Debt due of the Nation 1 o at Lady-day 1747, was j -^ "^'^ ^ ^ It appears by the Report from the Committee of Accounts this Se:lion of Parliament, that the Sav- ings to the Nation in the two Years ended at Lady- day 1 747, were, L. s. d. On the Military Eftablifhment — 30,385 11 2i On the Civil Lift ' c)zg 12 (i In all 31,315 ^ 9 B 4 Which (24) Which was a yet further Eafe to the Nation. The Loan Duties were, by one Ad of Parliament, continued to the 2 §th IDay of Deceml/er 1749, and the additional Duties were, by an other Ac5l, granted to his Majefly for the fame Term. The Debt of the Nation at Lady-day 1749, flood thus. L. s. d. Due on the Loans, as by the^^ Report from the Committee of?- 383,321 18 o Accounts — — — J From which deducting a Sum*) of Money reported to remain in I Credit to the Nation, after an- I p r fwering all Demands on the Efta- T ^/^»2°3 ^9 o blifhments, ^c. as befcre-men- 1 tioned, amounting to — — J The Debt of the Nation at) o ^ T J J ^ \ 205,117 18 6 Lady-day 1749 — — — 3 -" / And yet the Nation paid Intereft, at this Time, for at leaft the Sum of 385,000/. And z.1 Lady-day 1749 the Balance in the Hands of the Vice-Treafurers was ■ — — — £. 220,999 3 ici And the Balances in the Col- lecflors Hands, and the Arrears r ^ , on the Hereditary Revenue and ^ ^ "''^Sd 3 s. the old additional Duties were Making in the whole, in Cafh •\ and in the Courfe of fpeedy {357,454 7 9 Payment, the Sum of — J It appears by the Report from the Committee of Accounts this Seflion of Parliament, that the Savings to (25 ) to the Nation in the two Years ended at Lady-day 1749, were L. s. d. On the Military Eftablifhment 55,858 13 8^ On the Civil Lift — — — 3,202 — 31 In all 59;06o 14 o The old additional Duties were, by one A6t palled in this Seffion, granted to his Majefty for two Years, from the 25th Day of December 1749, and the Loan Duties were by another A6t continued for the fame Term. There are Claufes in the laft mentioned A(5l for paying out of the Money in his Majefty's Treafury the Sum of 70,000/. remaining'due of the old Loan, at t^ per Cent. Intereft, and 58,500/. Part of the new Loan, at 4/. p^r Cent. Intereft. Wherefore there is the following Paragraph in this A(5t, byway of Preamble to the enacting Claufes, for paying off thofe two Sums of Money. " And whereas, on the 25th Day of March laft, ** a confiderable Balance remained in the Hands of " the Vice-Treafurers, or Receivers-General of this *' Kingdom, or their Deputy or Deputies, unapplied, " and it will be for your Majefty's Service, and for " the Eafe of your faithful Subjeds of this Kingdom, " that fo much thereof as can be conveniently fpar- *' ed, fhould be paid, agreeably to your Majefty s mofi " gracious Intentions^ in difcharge of Part of the afore- *' faid National Debts : We pray it may be enadt- " ed." We do not find, in the Journals, after what man- ner, his Majejly' s ?noJl gracious Intentions were fignified to the Houfe of Commons. But, it miift be prefum- ed, that they were fome way made known, to, at leaft, fome of the leading Perfons in that Affembly, or thofe Expreflions would not have been inferted in the A6t of Parliament. It may be well reraembred that ( 26 ) ■ that, when his Majefly's Attorney-General moved the Houfe, for this Application of Part of the Money in the Treafury, towards difcharging the Debt of the Nation, the Motion was received as a fingular In- ftance of his Majefly's Attention to the Eafe and Happi- iiefs of his faithful Subje^s, who, at that Time, had it frefh in their Memory, that the great Redundancy of Money in the Treafury, was occafioned by the large Savings on the Military Eflablifhment, and Civil Lift. And it is fubmitted to the Judgment of every impartial Reader, v/hether thofe Words, agreeably to bis Majepys moji gracious Intentions do not fully, im- ply his Majefly's previous Confent^ obtained. The next Scflion of Parliament was opened on the 8th Day of 05fober 1751, by a Speech made by the Lord Lieutenant, his Grace the Duke of Dorfet, to both Houfes, and we find, in the Part thereof ad- drefTed to the Houfe of Commons, the following Pa- ragraph. " I am commanded by the King to acquaint you, " that his Majefty, ever attentive to the Eafe and *' Happinefs of his Subjeds, will gracioufy Confent, " and recommends it to you, that fuch a Part of " the Money now remaining in his Treafury, as fhall " be thought confiftent with the Public Service, be " applied towards the further Redudion of the Na- *' tional Debt." The National Account at Lady-day 1751, is thus flated by the Committee of Accounts. There remained in Credit to the Nation, after pay- ing off" the 128,500/. mentioned in the Acfl pafTed in the lafl Seffion of Parliament, and after anfwering all Demands on the Eflablifliments, and all the other • ( 27 ) other Expences and Exigencies L, s. d of the State, the Sum of 253,044 17 8; From which deducing the' Sum of Money reported to be/ ^ ^ due on the Loan at Lady-day C -^ > 74- 5 9 ,.751 ,. 22,370 I II There remained in Credit to' the Nation, befidcs having a| fufficient Sum of Money to dif- charge all the Loans It appears by the Report from the Committee of Accounts, this Seflion of Parhament, that the Sav- ings to the Nation, in the two Years ended at Lady- day 1 75 I , were, L. s. d. On the Military Eftabhfhment 7,827 8 — ^ On the Civil Lift 4,419 2 si In all 12,246 10 6 It Is to be obferved, that the Balance in the Trea- fury at Lady-day I'j^i^ was, by the Deputy Receiver-General's L. s. d. Account — 248,366 17 41- And it appears by the Accomp-'\ tant-General's Abftrad, No. I. I that the Balances in the Collec- V 40, 160 i 4^ tors Hands at Lady-day 1751,1 was — J That the Arrears on the Hearth- j money was • — (32,310 00 On the Quit ^fff. Rents — — 31 ,43' o o So that the whole Sum of Mo- 1 ney in the Treafury, and under I the Command of the Vice-Trea- ca o r furers, or their Deputy, and in a >352,206 18 Courfe of fpeedy Payment was not lefs than — . »_ 1 And ( 28) And yet the Nation paid Intereft on 242, 500/, due on the Loans from Lady-day 1 751, until fome Part thereof was difcharged by the Surphis Produce of the Loan Duties, and 120,000/. was paid, by applying fo much of the Money remaining in his Majefty's Trea- fury, purfjant to the Ad palled in thisSellion of Par- liament. The old additional Duties, were by one Adl of Parliament palled in this SelTion, granted to his Ma- jefty for two Years from the 25th of December 1751, and the Loan Duties were, by another Adl, continued for the fame Term. By the laft mentioned Ad 1 20,'00o/. Part of the Loan was direded to be paid out of the Money in the Treaiury, and it is allowed, that in the Heads of the Bill, drawn up in the Houfe of Commons for this Pur- pofe, the Preamble to the enading Part, for the Pay- ment of the 1 20,ooo/. did not contain Words ex- prefsly acknowledging his Majefty's previous Confent, and the Bill tranfmitted into Great-Britain from the Council here, was agreeable thereunto. But when the Bill was confidered * in Great-Britain^ it was thought proper to fubftitute another Preamble agree- bly to the Lord Lieutenant's Speech in the Words following. *' And whereas on the 25th of March laft a con- " fiderable Balance remained in the Hands of the " Vice-Treafurers, or Receivers-General of this King- " dom, or their Deputy or Deputies. And your *' Majejiy, ever attentive to the Eafe ajid Happinefs of *• your faithful Suhje£is^ has been gracioufly pleafed to fig- *' nify that you would confent^ and to recotnmend it to tis^ *' that fuch Part thereof as jhall he thought confident with *^ the puhlick Service be applied, towards the further *' Redudion of the National Debt : We pray it may " be enaded.'* When ( 29 ) When this Bill was re-tranfmitted into Ireland^ fbme Objedions were made, without Doors, to this Alteration, for about this Time Jealoufies had fprung up, and been fomented among fome great Men in the Kingdom. But what was faid about this Altera- tion, was looked upon to proceed, rather from a De- fire to make a Difplay of Power, than as an Intent to exert it, by rejecting the Bill. For, as the Words in the Preamble in the Bill pafled in the lail Seflion of Parliament more fully implied his Majefty's ^r^x'/oi/i Confent obtained^ than the Words now inferted in this Bill, the Objedions made to this Alteration, were confidered as only a Difpute about Words, which implied the fame Thing, and therefore very little Notice was taken of them. And as there was not any Objedion made to the Bill, in the Houfe of Commons, it foon paded into a Law. Among other Stories of the Day^ it has been, this Winter, reported, that the Lord Lieutenant had pro- mifed that if the Bill, altered, as is before- mention- ed, were permitted to pafs, no Alteration of the fame Nature fhould be made, in any future Bill of this kind. And, however improbable this Story was, yet it was propagated wuh fuch Art and Induftry, as to obtain Credit with many. But the Perlbns, to whom this Promife was faid to have been made, hav- ing been called upon, and they having denied the Charge, it has not now any Credit, but among the uninformed People. As it is not our Intent to treat of Contefis which are purely Party^ v/e (hall only obferve, that the Animo- fities, which fprung up, during the laft Seflion of Par- liament, among fome great Perfonages, about engrof- fmg or dividing of Power, were afterwards fomented with great Induftry, and Stories were invented and propagated with uncommon, and, indeed, indecent Licence, in order to captivate the Minds of the Peo- ple. It muft however be obferved, that fome of the Perfons ( 3° ) Pcrfons who mod warmly interefted themfelves in thefe Contefts, often took occafion to declare, that the Bufinefs of the King, fhould not be thereby delayed, nor the Rights of the Crown, or his Majefty's Prero- gative, be at all intrenched upon. And, it were to be wifhed, for the Service of this poor, diftrelTed Country, that they had adhered to thefe Declara- tions. We are indeed inclined to believe, that fome of thofe Gentlemen, intended to aft conformably to them, but when Men give up the Ufe of their Judg- ments, in order to follow the Didates of Party, they are too often hurried into Meafures, which, if con- fidercd coolly, according to the Rules of Reafon, they would detefl and abhor. The prefcnt Seflion of Parliament was opened on the 9th Day of O^oher 1753. And his Grace the Lord Lieutenant, has, in that Part of his Speech to both Houfes, which is particularly addreflfed to the Houfe of Commons, the Words following. " I am commanded by his Majefty to acquaint you, *' that he isoill gracionjJy confent^ and he recommends it *' to you, that fo much of the Money remaining in " his Treafury as fhall be neceflary, be applied to the *' Dilcharge of the National Debt, or of fuch Part *' thereof, as you fhall think expedient." , We purpofely omit mentioning, what was medi- tated to be performed, even in the firft Days of this SefTion. Want of Power, net want of Inclination, put a Stop thereunto. We fliall alfo omit taking Notice of any other Tranfaftions, than what may conduce to the clear Knowledge of the Operation, propofcd for our prefent Obfervations. It appears by a general State of the National Ac- count laid before the Houfe of Commons, for two Years ended at Lady-day 1753, that after anfwering all the Charge of the Civil Lift, and of the Military Eftablifhment, and the Payments made purfuant to Aft ( 31 ) Ad of Parliament, King's Letters, £s? 77,500 o o Lady-day 175J — — ^ There remained in Credit to the"J Nation over and above what/ ^ was fufFicient to pay all itsT 7? 73 9 » Debts, the Sum of — j It is to be obferved that the Mo- -j ney in the Treafury at 7.^(^-^315,822 13 10 i day 1753, was — — 3 That the Balances in the Colledors'J Hands at Lady- day 1 7 5 2, on the I o c TT J- r^-^ J IJ J /- 48,056 ir IQi Hereditary Revenue and old ad- r ^ ' -^ a ditional Duties amounted to j That the Arrear of Hearth Mo- 3 > 54,4.10 o o ney was — — 3 ^^ ' Of Quit, Sc. Rents 3I5300 o o In all I A^9,5^9 5 ^i Which, may be looked upon, as Money in the Trea- fury, the Arrears being in a Courfe of fpeedy Pay- ment, out of which the Arredrs due on the Eftablifh- me.itsand on the other Charges of Government at Lady -day 1753, and the Debt due of the Loan might be difcharged. The old additional Duties are, by an A6t pafled in this Seilionof Parliament, continued to the 25th Day of Dejemhcr 1755, but it being intended to difcharge the Refidue of the Loan, as recommended from the Throne, the Duties appropriated thereunto, were fuf- fered to drop, from the 25th Day of December 1753. And thus the Creditors of the Nation, are deprived of the { i^) the Fund, out of which the Interefl of the Money due to them was to ariie. Leave having been, given by the Houfe of Com- mons, to bring in Heads of one or more Bill or Bills, upon the Refolurions reported from the Com- mittee of Ways and Means, and agreed to by the Hoiile, the Right Hon. the Mafter of the Rolls, Mr. Prime Serjeant, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Solicitor General, Colonel jobn Bourke and Mr. John Gore, were appointed to prepare and bring in the fame. But it feems, they could not readily agree in the man- ner of purfuing the Inftruttion, given to them by the Houfe, to mfert a Claufe or Claufes in the (aid Heads of a Bill or Bills, for applying fo much of the Balance remaining in the Vice-Treafurers Hands at Lacy-day laft, as fhould be, for that Purpofe, necef- fary to pay off and difcharge the Sum of 77,500/. "remaining due of the feveral Sums heretofore bor- rowed by the Public at Interefl, with fuch Intereft as fhould accrue due for the fame, until the 25th Day of March next. For, although thele Gentlemen, a- greed to purfue that Inftruction, by drawing up Heads of a feparate Bill for that Purpofe ; yet three of them were for having the Preamble thereunto, without Words importing his Majefty's previous Con- /'///, and thex>ther three were for inferting Words, agreeably to the Act, which palled in the lalt Selhon of Parliament, and conformable to his Majefty's tncjt gracious Intentions^ fgnified from the Throne, to the whole Houfe. To prevent therefore the Delay, w liich it was apprehended might be given to the Mo- ney Bill, as well as to this Bill, it was thought pro- per to fubmit to the drawing up of the Heads of this Bill, in the former Manner, and the fame being tranfmitted into Grera-Britain in due Form, the Bill was re-tranfmitted from thence, with a Letter from his Majefty's moft Honourable Privy Council there, figned by eighteen Members thereof, to his Grace the. ( 33 ) the Lord Lieutenant, and his Majefty's mofl Honou- rable Privy Council of this Kingdom, wherein No- tice is taken, *' that the Words inferted in the Pre- " amble to the Bill, pafled lad Seflion of Parliament, " for Payment of Part of the National Debt, relat- " ing to his Majefty's previous Confent^ for the Ap- *' plication of Part of the Money then remaining in " the Treafury, are omitted in the Bill now triinf- " mitted for the Payment of the Refidue of the faid " Debt ; which having been laid before his Majefly, '* and taken into mature Confideration, his Majefty, " with the Advice of his Privy Council, has judged " it neceffary to caufe Words of the like import to *' be inferted in the prefent Bill." Their Lordfhips, " do therefore, by his Majefty's ** Command, and in his Name, fignify the fame to " his Grace, and to their Lordfliips of the Privy " Council here, that the taking Notice of his Ma- " Jefty's previous Confent^ in a Cafe of this Nature *' and Importance, is abfolutely neceffary for the Sup- *''portof his Majefty's Prerogative and Dipiity^ and *' for the preferving the Regularity of the Proceed- *' ings of the Parliament of Ireland^ whofe jujl Rights .*' and Privileges his M^jefty is determined to tnain-^ ** tain.'' And their Lordfliips declared, " that they are " further to fignify his Majefty's Pleafure, that their ,♦' Letter be entered in the Books of the Council *' here." Which is accordingly done. This folemn Declaration of his Majefty's Judg- ment on this important Cafe was, one would have thought, fufficient to have opened the Eyes of all the true Friends of this Country, and have made them cheerfully accept this Declaration, that his Majefty was determined to maintain the juft Rights and Pri- vileges of his Parliament of Ireland. But alas! fuch was the Infatuation (let the ExprefTion be pardoned) of fome Gentlemen, even of fome who are of liis C Majefty's (34) Majefly's mofl Honourable Privy Council here, and of others, who hold Employments under the King, that, laying afide the prudent Maxims of Policy, which ought always to be purfued, for maintaining the Favour and Protedion of the Crown, they re- folved to employ all the Influence they had, in order to reject the Bill on Account of the Alteration in the Preamble. Innumerable Stories were raifed, and propagated through the Kingdom, of intended Innovations in the State, and of intended Incroachments on the Rights, Liberties, and Properties of the Nation, and the Fate of this Bill, was propofed as the Criterioji for diftinguifh- ing who fhould be deemed the AJferters mid Defenders of the Liberties of the People^ and who the Betrayers of them. Thofe who intended to rejed the Bill affum- ing to themfelves the firft Tides, and afcribed to thofe who fhould oppofe them, the other Title, with many opprobrious Epithets, to render them odious to their Fellow-Citizens. The Arguments employed for rejefling the Bill, were raifed, on the Pretence of ihtfole Right of hav- ing Money-Bills take their Rife in the Houfe of Com- mons, and that no Alteration fhould be made in thofe Bills after they are prepared by the Houfe. And they pretended to believe, that the Manner of infert- inp; his Majelfy's previous Confent in the Preamble to this Bill, was an AdmilTion, that his Majefty had an abfolute Right over all Money that fhould come into his Treafury, and that he could, by virtue of thi^ new acquired Right, difpofe thereof, as he fliould thiink proper, to other Ufes than for the Service and Benefit of this Kingdom. On thefe AlTertions, the Preamble to the Bill was, on the 17th Day of Decem- ber, difagreed to in theCommittee of the whole Houfe, to whom the Bill was referred, by 122 againfl 117, befides two Tellers of each Side, and upon the Re- port, on the fame Day, the Bill was rejeded by the Houfe, It ( 35 ) It is not denied, that the Houfe of Commons hath a Power to rejedt Bills. It was not -againft the Exer- cife of that Power in the Year 1692, but againll the Refohitions entered in the Journals of the Houfe of Commons, declaring the Foundations on which tliey claimed that Power, that the then Lord Lieutenant entered his Proteftation. The late Operation, is not perfedly, although it is nearly, firailar, to the Tranf- adion in the Year 1692. The Reafons given for re- jeding the late Bill, are very near the fame; and the pompous tumultuary Oftentations, upon its being re- jeded, very much aggravate this Cafe. The Quotations, herein before given, from the Journals of the Houfe of Commons, fufficiently ex- pofe the Weaknefs of the AiTertion, that the Commons of Ireland have i\\Q file Right of drawing up Heads of Money Bills, and that when they are drawn up, the Privy Council in this Kingdom, or in Great-Britam^ have not any right to make Alterations in them. And if there were Occafion of more Evidence to prove the Weaknefs of this AiTertion, many other Inftanccs could be produced for that Purpofe, out of the Jour- nals of the Houfe of Commons. Nay, Inftances could be given of more material Alterations, than was in this Bill, which were made in real Money Bills, and were fubmitted to, by even the prelent Houle of Commons. We may be allowed to obferve, that we tliink that this Bill cannot be properly called a ?vioney Bill, for there is not one Claiife therein for granting Money to the Crown. The Bill paifed, with the Alteration be- fore taken Notice of, in the Year 1751, was really a Money Bill, for by that Bill, the Loan Duties were •continued for two Years, and yet it v/as then paffed, without any Objedion made to it, in the Houfe of Commons, As to the Pretence, that tl'.c King would acquire a new Right to difpolc of the Money in his Treafury C 2 by ( 36 ) by inferting the previous Confent of his Majefly, as it is, in the Preamble, we have already obferved, that thofe who made ufe of this Argument, pretend to be- lieve what they faid on this Occafion. But, to pay a juft Deference to their confummate Wifdom, we can- not think that they did really believe what they faid, to be Lav/, and it is hoped, that every intelligent, impartial Perfon, who calmly confiders this Matter, will be of our Opinion. If the pafling of the Bill in this Seflion, would give his Majefby the tiew Right they fay it would, why has not the pafling of the Bill in the laft Selfion of Par- liament done fo ? and why was it not then oppofed, if the true Reafon for oppofing it now proceeded from the Spirit of Patriotifm, and the Love of their Country ? But it is an ungrateful Return to his Majefty, for the parternal Indulgence he has, on all Occafions fhewn, to his Subjeds in this Kingdom, to fuppofe that he would make ufe of his Prerogative, to dif- pofe of the Money in his Treafury to improper Ufes. Can any Inftance of this Kind be given ? On the con- trary, it appears, by what has been extraded from the Reports to the Houfe of Commons from their Com- mittee of Accounts, that his Majefty has greatly eafed his Subjedls of Ireland, when the Debt of the Nation lay heavy upon them. Thus 179332 12 2f ^^3^5^^ 7 4 73.9^4 6 II B^^3^5 3 9 59,060 14 12,246 10 6 ■ ( 37 ) Thus we find that the Savings to the Nation, on the Military Eftablifhment, and Civil Lift, in the two Years ended /. s. d. at Lady-day 1741, amounts to the Sum of ■ And in the two Years ended ^ 2it Lady-day 1743, they were 3 And in the two Years ended 1 at Lady-day 1745, they were S" And in the two Years ended 7 zt Lady-day 1747, they were i And in the two Years ended > at Lady-day 1 749, they were 5 And in the two Years ended 7 Qt Lady-day ly^j, they were i What they amounted to, in"j the two Years, ended at Lady- I ] day 1753, we cannot fet forth, | ' as we have not feen the Report, )• from the Committee of Ac- I counts, in this SefTion of Par- } , hament. — — — — J But, the above-mentioned! Savings to the Nation, without j taking Notice of feveral inter- I mediate Savings, which if add- >■ 469,501 14 Si ed together, would make a ve- ry confiderable Sum of Mo- ney, amount to — — —J "Which by much exceeds the largeft Debt ever due of this Nation, and has been all faved by the graci- ous Favour of his Majefty, towards this Country. This, one would imagine, ought to have received from his faithful Subjects, the warmeft Acknowledg- ments of Duty and Gratitude, inftead of ill-grounded Sufpicions and Infinuations. Can ( 38 ) Can it be denied that his Majefty, if he be graci- outly pleafed lo to do, may, in Compaffion to the Creditors of the Nation, who are now without a Fund for paying the Intereft: of the Money remaining due to them on the Loans, and in Eafe of his Subjeds, order, by his Letter, and give public Notice thereof, that fuch of the Creditors as are wilHng to receive their Money, fhall be paid out of the Money re- maining in his Treafury ? If this can be done, doth it not prove his Majefty's fole Right to the applying of Money in the Receipt of his Freafury, to public Ufes ? And if this fliuuld be done, how can thofe, who plead fo much Merit by this Operation of re- jecting the Bill, anfwer to their Country, for having obliged his Majefly, to this Exercife of his Preroga- tive, whereby the Lon.|s and Commons o/i Ireland^ are deprived of the Share); the , would have had there- in, if the Bill had pafled into a Law ? Upon the Whole, it appears, that the redundant Money in the Treafury, did not arife, as fome have vainly imagined, from Exceedings in the Aids granted to the Crown. It arofe from Savings on the Military Eftablilbment, and Civil Lift, which amount- ed, to above 100,000/. more than the higheft Loan, and other Debt of the Nation, ever was at. When Part of this redundant Money was to be applied in Difcharge of the Refidue of the Loan, and that, by his Majefty's Command, it was declared from the Throne, that he would gracioujly confent thereunto, can there be any Reafon ailigned, on the Principles of true Patriotifv-i^ and Loz'e of this Country^ confider- ed in the feeble Condition of her Conftitution, for reieifling the Bill for having thofe Words, infert- cd in the Preamble efpecially, when a Bill, with the fame Words, was palfed, without Oppofition, in the Seflion of Parliament, immediately preceding, and an other Ad was palTed in the Scflion before that again, (39) again, with Words implying more ftrongly, his Ma- jefty's previous Confent. The Writer of this Paper, hath confined his Ob- fervations to Fads, that cannot be controverted. He has avoided, fetting forth, or guclling at, the Motives for this mod extraordinary, and moft impo- pohcic Operation. And he beHeves, that the unpreju- diced Reader, will find fufficient Reafon to judge, that the Fomentors of it, do not deferve the much refpeded Names of PATRIOTS, and DEFENDERS OF THE LIBERTIES OF THEIR COUNTRY. The END. ERRATA. Tide-Page, in the Motto, after fepe place a Comma. Page 1 6. Line i6.fQr with fo, read with too. Page 32. Line 3. dele the Comma after been, and place it after given. llCSa llERARV, SOUTHERN ( 000 222 996 ,