arose in the minds of the ministers against their doing any thing, which should cast too severe a censure upon the conduct of their predecessors in office, inasmuch as Lord Ellenborough, a member of their own cabinet, had tried Judge Johnson, and on the trial had gone unprecedented, and in the opinion of the sounder part of the profession, most unwarrantable lengths, in order to render the justice of Westminster-hall ancillary to the policy of Downing-street. A practice too prevalent, alas!

the system both in Great Britain and Ireland: and that Lord Hardwicke had joined their administration. In order therefore to put as quiet a close to the matter as possible, the Attorney General was directed, and he accordingly did enter a noli prosequi on the record, as of Trinity Term 1806. The learned Judge, whose health was much on the decline, was allowed to retire upon a pension for his life.

1806.

The parliamentary proceeding of the session, Irish revewhich most particularly affected Ireland, was Sir sources.

All the above observations must be taken, as relating to the trial, as it is reported. The law of England is in such a state, that no man subject to it can possibly know, or unless he be personally present, can presume to know what passes in any Court of Justice. No official or authorised account is ever published of such proceedings. Trials reported are taken upon the credit of unauthorised reporters. They are mere historic memorials of the times; and authorize the annalist to submit these reflections to his reader, as arising out of them. This trial apparently tended to draw the sentiments of the Bench more closely into unison with the feelings of the Court, than the law and constitution of these realms either intend or warrant.

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1806, John Newport's statement of the revenues and the

resources of the country to the Committee of Ways and Means upon his opening the Irish budget. He assured the House, that though in some respects, he could not congratulate them on the state of the revenues of Ireland; yet whatever deficiency did exist, had arisen from the want of order, regularity, and arrangement in the management of the revenues. It was extremely desirable to establish the same regulations in Ireland, that were in force in England. However, notwithstanding the difficulties and impediments, which the trade and commerce of Ireland had to encounter, he was happy to state, that the country possessed means and resources, that would materially add to the strength of the Empire. The value of the exports from Ireland last year, amounted to £5,202,000, being a considerable advance upon the exports of the preceding year. The export of linens also, and the import of flax-seed, had considerably increased during the same period. exports of the last year were greater in amount, than the exports of any preceding year since the year 1792. Another proof of the progressive prosperity of that country, which arose out of the encrease of its exports, was the course of exchange, which had remained steadily, during the last four months lower, than at any former period. The terms, upon which the last loan had been negociated in Ireland, afforded a still stronger proof of its encrease of prosperity and confidence in the go

The

vernment. They were more advantageous, than 1806. the terms, upon which any loan had been negociated in Ireland since the year 1792. As to the supplies for the year, the proportion of contribution to be raised by Ireland to the joint charge of the Empire, was, with currency,

£5,739,880

The separate charge of Ireland, in

On the 1st of the preceding January, it had produced for the antecedent year £3,360,000, but he had reason to think, that £100,000 of the revenue of that year had not been collected. He proposed to carry the revenue of the year 1806 to £3,800,000, by the following new taxes, viz. By a tax of 3s. 6d. per cwt. on all brown and Muscovado sugar, with a correspondent duty on East India sugar, estimated at £74,000.

A duty of 2s. per cwt. on iron imported into Ireland. in place of the present duty of 12s. 6d. per ton,

An additional duty on all teas under

£15,000

1806.

Regulations of the duty on distilleries, by taking off the duty of 8 per cent. on stills of 500 gallons, and reducing the bounty from 16 to 8 per cept. on those of 1000 gallons,

Regulation of duty upon malt,

Ditto, of duty upon hats, auctions,
and paper,

£70,000

60,000

5,000

By taking away certain allowances
to Masters of ships in particular

Relief of the poor in Ireland.

ports,

5,800

The Hon. Baronet then stated, that as to the balances in the hands of deceased or dismissed collectors, no effort should be wanting on his part to recover them. They amounted in the year 1805 to £228,800.

Mr. Foster and several other gentlemen spoke upon the subject.

Mr. Parnell, who is ever alive to the interests of Ireland, most appositely drew the attention of the House to the general financial situation of the country, as represented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer himself. He calculated, that were the debt of Ireland to encrease with the same rapidity as at present for 15 years, it would at that period, amount to 120 millions. He therefore called upon ministers to adopt some efficient measures for restraining the progress of so alarming an evil,

Another object important to Ireland, drew the attention of Parliament to this country towards the close of the session. Sir Jolin Newport brought in a bill for the relief of the Irish poor, which was in part supported by Mr. Bagwell, but strongly

Opposed by Mr. Foster and Mr. Alexander. Mr. Parnell warmly supported the bill. Mr. Bagwell thanked the Right Hon. Baronet for his perseverance in this bill, but apprehended there was a point or two, in which they might differ. As the law then stood, Grand Juries had the power to raise £400 on counties, and £200 on cities; the consequence of which was, that in those counties, which had cities, there were houses of Industry, supported by the aggregate sum; but in those counties, which had no cities, the contrary was the case; he therefore hoped, that power would be given to the Grand Juries of the latter, to make up that deficiency, as many of the counties so situated in Ireland, possessed more opulence, than some of those, that had cities. From the time, that this assessment of £4001. upon counties was first granted for the poor, it had never been increased, although for other purposes, rates had been made to the amount of £30,000, though the people themselves were so anxious to have provision made for the poor, that houses were built by private subscriptions, rising in a gradation of from 100 to 1000 guineas. It should be remembered, that there were no poor laws in Ireland; and he hoped, it would remain so, for the country was too poor to support the extravagance of the English system of poor laws.

1806.

and Mr.

Mr. Foster considered this as a law professing Mr. Foster's to assist that of 1772, for taking up idle persons, Bagwell's and obliging them to work. That act was only opinions, carried into execution in Dublin, where now the