Proceedings on Wednesday.

When the House met, it was moved to attend his ExcelTency directly with the refolution of the preceeding day, and was carried in the affirmative. Many Gentlemen feemed very eager to go up with it, and particularly Mr. Ogle, who wifhed they might go while it was day-light, that he might fee the Lord Lieutenant's countenance, while the refolutions were reading to him."

They were, however, obliged to wait till the Speaker could fend for his robes of ftate, and then they fat out, and came to the Castle between five and fix o'clock; one hundred and fifty-four members attending.

Proceedings on Thursday, Nov. 21.

The Houfe being met, the Speaker reported, that in purfuance of a refolution of the Houfe on, Tuesday night, the House had, on Wednesday evening, waited on his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, to lay before him the refolution of laft Saturday, and that his Excellency was pleafed to anfwer, that the King's Letters had come over, to order commiffious to be made out for feven Commiffioners of Customs, and five Commiffioners of Excife, but that fince the Houfe - of Commons had entered into that refolution, he thought it was his daty to report the opinion of the Commons to his Majefty."

It was then moved, that the Committee of Supplies should fit, which was agreed to after a fhort debate; and the Right Honourable Anthony Malone took the chair: the titles of fome papers were read; and alfo fome of them at length; but as the greateft part of the members had left the Houfe on the Speaker's leaving the chair, it was thought proper to adjourn the Committee.

The Speaker then refumed the chair, and leave was given to bring in heads of a Bill, more effectually to prevent the fteeping of flax in running water; and then the House adjourned."

Friday, Nov. 22. When the Houfe met, it was moved that they fhould go into a committe of fupplies, but before the question could be put, a motion was made, that it be an inftruction to the committee, not to provide for thofe penfions which feemed to them to be most burthenfome or unneceffary. This motion produced a great debate. The court party oppofed it, 'as quite needlefs, fince the committee had a power of itlelf to examine, if it pleafed, into any articles of

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the public accounts. To this it was answered, that, although the committee had undoubtedly fuch a power, it was not clear from thence that it would think of exercising it, unlefs fuch a duty was impofed on them by an inftruction; as many men have power to do things which they never think of doing, till they are previously put in their heads. Mr. Wood moved that the word most be expunged, fince he thought no penfion whatsoever fhould be provided for which appeared to be any wife burthenfome or unneceffary. Mr. Ponfonby obferved that though fome penfions had been deservedly beftowed as rewards for eminent public fervices, yet no man could fay that was the cafe in many which were on the lift; and that the names of Jeremiah Dyfon and Lord Camden, should never be named together, as equally meriting the fame penfion.

Mr. Scotanswered, that no man could tell the reasons which influenced the King to reward his fervants, and that in, the Royal mind, perhaps Mr. Dyfon feemed equally deferving with Lord Camden. That, for his part, he could not think how it was to be determined which penfions were most burthenfome and unneceffary. It would doubtless be thought by fome that the highest penfions were the greatest burthens; but which were most unneceffary was the hardeft point to decide. A poor woman's penfion of forty or fifty pounds a year, might be deemed by her highly neceflary to her fupport, and yet the bestowing it might not appear neceffary to the committee. And indeed the abfolute degree of neceffity could never be thoroughly determined unless the committee was thoroughly informed of the reafons for granting them.

Some members then feemed to doubt the legality of granting penfions on this eftablishment, fince, as they were charged on the Hereditary revenue, when that fell too fhort to answer the abfolute appropriations, and to pay these penfions, the overplus could not be raised without authority of parliament, and therefore must neceffarily drop off.

To this it was answered, that the legality of penfions was fatisfactorily afcertained by the act which laid a tax of four faillings in the pound on all abfent penfioners; and by fome of the branches of the Revenue being directly exempted from having any penfions laid upon them, which allowed that they were legally laid upon all those which were not thus exempted.

The country party ftill perfifted in the motion, and not one of the courtiers faid a word against the expediency of exa

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mining into the Penfion lift, but only wanted to infinuate that the committee had no need to be inftructed by the house, to what they had authority to do without. Sir George Ma cartney gave great honour to the Lord Lieutenant for having diminished the penfion lift fix thoufand pounds a year fince he came hither, and faid it was very hard people were blind to this great fervice, and denied him the merit thereof; when every Chief Governor, for many years paft, had conftantly left the penfion lift much heavier than he found it. Sit William Mayne replied, that whatever honour was due to his Excellency, he muft fhare that honour with Death, who had very kindly interpofed to cafe the burthen of Ireland. But the main queftion was, whether if fo many had not died off, the Lord Lieutenant would not ftill have laid as many penfions on as he has done; which, if Death had not intervened, would have put him on a level with his predeceffors. Till that question was fatisfactorily anfwered, it was impoffible to afcertain the quantum of merit to be afrribed to his Excellency, or the proportion of thanks due to him."

The courtiers then accufed the country party of effecting delay; and, by throwing in thefe bones of contention, of obftructing the fapplies. Mr. Anthony Malone very gravely, folemnly, and de-li-be-rate-ly obferved, that time would not allow very nice difquifitions; for if the committee was to be obliged to examine minutely into every article of the public accounts, and to fcrutinize critically into every penfion in the whole lift, it would not be done in three months time: and, for his own part, he would not for the largest penfion in the whole lift, attend to fuch a tedious proceeding.

Mr. Flood replied, that no artificial delays were made ufe of, but that when the nation was almoft ruined, and was groaning under an almost infupportable weight, it was the duty of every member to try every method to leffen that weight. As public advantage ought ever to be more attended to than private, he would never grudge any time he bestowed in attending in that houfe; and would never put his own private concerns in competition with thofe of a whole people. If the Right Honourable gentleman's age, infirmities, or any thing else, made it difagreeable to him to attend, yet the na tional bufinefs could ftill go on, though that Right Honourable gentleman fhould not be Chairman; and that he could not help wondering that thofe gentlemen were unwilling to beftow their time for the public good, who were ready to do the dirty work of any dirty adminiftration.

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Mr. Flood was immediately called to order by Mr. MaJone. The courtiers now rejoiced, and thought they had it in their power to retaliate the difgrace which had lately fallen on their friend Waller. Although the disparity was very great between the words of Mr, Flood, and thofe expreffions of Waller, the words were taken, and it was moved that Mr. Flood fhould either afk pardon of Mr. Malone, in his place, or be called to the bar. The question was as frequently put, and as frequently the decifion was put off by fome member rifing to speak, till at length, at near nine o'clock, a motion for adjournment was made, and carried, and the House broke up, without coming to any refolution on any of the motions made that day.

Proceedings on Saturday, Nov. 23.

This day was chiefly employed in a committee of fupplies, [Mr. Malone Chairman] the debates turned on that point which we have already mentioned in the proceedings of the committee accounts, namely, whether the arrear of government fhould be joined with the funded debt, as the debt of the nation. The Courtiers were for having them lumped together, and then left to the opinion of the Houfe, whether they fhould be equally provided for. The country gentlemen replied, as upon the former occafion, that to acknowledge a debt, and not provide for the payment, was unjust, and difhonourable to Parliament. That if the arrear was acknowledged, it must be paid; and fuch acknowledgment would encourage government to make what arrears they pleafed, on the confidence that Parliament would provide for them, however unjust, or however burthenfome they might prove. It was alfo obferved, that there were above four thou fand pounds of the public money ftill in hand, which, by the acknowledgment of Mr. Chaigneau, when he was examined, had not been demanded by widows, &c. for whom it was appropriated, for near five years; and that gentleman declared, that after fuch time was elapfed, feldom any claim was made therefore that should be ftruck off the national debt, that we might not be obliged to borrow money at intereft from year to year, to provide for what would never be demanded, and increafe the fictitious debt.

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Whenever the fictitious debt was mentioned, the courtiers put them in mind, that there was alfo a fictitious credit :this was admitted; but Mr. Flood defired that both might be properly afcertained, and a proper balance ftruck, that no more might be provided for than what was actually and bona fide due.

Proceedings

Procedings on Monday, Nov. 25..

This day was fpent in a Committee of Supplies, in which the most material paffage was the debate on the pension of Jeremiah Dyfon. It was urged, that this penfion was very burthenfome, as it was one thoufand pounds a year; and it was unneceffary, as it was beftowed on one who had never been of any fervice to this country, whofe chiefeft merit confifted in a pliability to every adminiftration that existed in his time, The Provoft expatiated very largely in Jerry's praife, and faid, that whenever any motion was made in the British House of Commons relative to Ireland, he always took that fide of the queftion which was for the advantage of it, and particularly in regard to the Linen Manufactory. This eulo gium was replied to by Sir William Mayne, and taken to pieces in fo ludicrous a manner, as to excite the laughter of the whole houfe. It was often remarked, that this very penfion was an actual breach of the Royal word, and for that reafon, if for no other, ought not to be provided for. At length the queftion was put, and on a divifion, it was carried against the penfion by a majority of one only: the number for the penfion being 105; and against it, 106.

The Houfe afterwards came to the following refolution : Refolved, That the penfion granted to Jeremiah Dylon, Efq; and his three fons, is an unneceflary charge upon the eftablishment of Ireland, and ought not to be provided for. Ordered, That the faid penfion be ftruck off the list of penfioners, upon the establishment of Ireland.

Proceedings on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

This day was taken up in a committee of Supplies, voting Grants, Premiums, Bounties, and Rewards to the Officers and Servants of the Houfe, and the Clerks who had furnished accounts, in confequence of orders of the Houfe. ow Mr. Ponfonby moved, that the fum of four thousand pounds fhould be granted to the Right Hon. the Speaker, to enable him to fupport the dignity of his office, and it was carried unanimously. No material debate happened on any of the numerous motions, and the Committee broke up.

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Proceedings on Wednesday Nov. 27.

The Houfe received the report of the Committee of Supplies, which confifted of a great number and variety of grants, and the houfe agreed to the greateft part of them without debate. Some, at the firft reading, were poftponed to be confidered more maturely after the lefs important were agreed to and when the Speaker had gone through the whole, the poftponed articles were read.

When