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Difporting Cupids frolick'd in my hair; Young Smiles and Graces in each feature play'd,

And all combin'd to render Stella fair. Amid the fuppliant crowd that own'd my

fway,

Alexis bow'd, a kind, engaging youth;
Upon his brow fair Virtue fat enthron'd,
And his blue eyes beam'd conftancy and
truth.

Coquettish arts awhile deceiv'd the youth;
At length he faw I fported with his pain;
To fhun contempt, he fought the hoftile
scene,

And met his fate on India's torrid plain.
Why, Retrospection, dwell upon the past?
I figh for prefent peace, for heartfelt

rest; O for fome male, fome tender-hearted male, To fill the craving void within my breast! O would he come, and proffer hand and heart!

Glad I'd relinquish fav'rite dog and cat ; Dicky fhould all my fond careffes lofe;

And gin give place to tea and focial chat.

GENT. MAO, April, 1803.

Ye Bachelors, attend to Stella's prayer,

Who longs" to love, to honour, and
obey;"

Then Love fhall crown you with his myr-
tle wreath,

And gentle Hymen the kind deed repay.
Haverhill, April 5.
JOHN WEAR.

IMPRESSIONS OF SICKNESS.

W

HEN Sickness fills the foul with
fears,

When Death with difmal face appears,
We earnestly do pray;
No fooner we have gain'd relief
From galling pain and bitter grief,
Than Virtue flies away.

A raging fever t'other day
(Seizing Avarus for its prey)

Confin'd him to his bed;

He feem'd to fee fell Death advance,
And point with certain aim his lance
At his devoted head.

He rais'd his fuppliant hands on high
Amidst his weeping family;

He gafp'd aloud for death.
He look'd upon his guilty store,
He wish'd it giv'n to the poor,

To ranfom life from death.
The skill of doctors now he tries;
Sleep (which had long forfook his eyes)

In medicine he feeks.
The fever now no longer burns,
Health to his frame again returns,

And colour to his cheeks.

His proffer'd vows neglected lie,
His well-form'd pray'rs now droop and die,
Since nature is restor❜d;

But, just before, he fobb'd and figh'd,
His tongue in broken accents cried,
"Have pity on me, Lord!"
Thus when the elements confpire,
And lightnings hurl their forked fire,
Alarm the Sailor's mind;
No longer blithe, no longer gay,
Nor pafs in mirth his hours away,

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To grief and prayer refign'd.
Soon as the dafhing waves fubfide,
Soon as he items the angry tide,

No longer fick nor faint;
But, juft before, when waves did roll,
And peals of thunder fhook the pole,
The Sailor was a faint.
He now throws off his difmal mood,
Refumes his mirth, nor loaths his food,

And merrily he fings
Of dangers paft, of woes to come,
The blifs, the hazard of his doom,

The happiness of kings.
Thus when Affliction and Difeafe
Deny our mind both peace and ease,
We pray, and look aghaft;
As foon as well, we err again,
Our fav'rite fins we still retain,
Unconscious of the past.

PRO.

PROCEEDINGS IN THE FIRST SESSION OF THE SECOND PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

H OF COMMONS.
March 7.

The Committee for trying the Stranraer Election reported, that J. Spalding, efq. was duly elected.

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On the third reading of the Prince's Annuity bill, Mr. Kinnaird delivered his fentiments, which were, that the object of his Majefty's Meffage had not been half accomplished he knew the Prince was not fatisfied, nor were the Houfe, because they have not gone to the extent of their own declaration: in short, the measure was quite inefficient.

Sir W. Delben moved that the portion of 6000l. should be set apart from the annuity for the increase of the establishment of the Princess of Wales.

Col. Stanley feconded the motion; but, after different obfervations from feveral Members, it was withdrawn.

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In the Commons the fame day, the Bridgewater Election Committee reported, that J. Allen and G. Pocock, efqrs. the fitting members, had been duly elected.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered the following Meffage from his Majefty; "GEORGE REX.

"His Majefty thinks it neceffary to acquaint the House of Commons, that as very confiderable military preparations are carrying on in the Ports of France and Holland, he has judged it expedient to adoptadditional measures of precaution for the fecurity of his Dominions. Though the preparations to which his Majefty refers are avowedly directed to colonial fervice, yet as difcufSons of great importance are now fubfifting between his Majefty and the French Government, the refult of which must at prefent be uncertain, his Majefty is induced to make this communication to his faithful Commons, in the full perfuafion, that whilft they partake of his Majefty's earnest and unvarying folicitude for the continuance of Peace, he may rely with perfect confi-, dence on their public spirit and liberality, to enable his Maje ty to adopt fuch measures as circumstances may appear to require, for fupporting the honour of his Crown, and the effential interefts of his People."

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the extraordinary preparations of the French, it appeared that they might be warranted by the ftate of their poffeffions abroad, but we must also feel for the fituation of our own country; and, while difcuffions of the utmost importance are pending, we should be juftified in taking precautions for our honour and fecurity. He faw no reason why those difcuffions might not terminate fatisfactorily; but Minifters ought to be prepared for the alternative. He then moved the addrefs, as given in our report of the Commons, p. 363.

Earl Spencer gave his ful! approbation to the propofition: he felt the neceffity of vigorous measures in the prefent relative fituation of Great Britain and France: the prefent crifis was one of the utmost importance; he trusted there was scarcely an individual in the country who would not fpill the last drop of his blood, and spendi the last fhilling in its defence; and he hailed' this first appearance of spirit in the councils with joy, as the only means left for our falvation, lamenting at the fame time that fuch conduct had not been earlier dopted.

Lord Grenulle cordially agreed with the laft speaker, and confidered the only chance. for the prefervation of peace to be the measure now reforted to.

Earl Moira gave his affent to the motion, but thought the Houfe was by no means fatisfied that the causes of this measure did not exift long ago; and as Ministers, at the close of the last feffion, had declared that no ferious apprehenfions were enter-, tained, though an increase of our establish-y ment was propofed, he thought the Houfe should at least be given to understand what had thrown fuch a new colour on the pretenfions of the enemy. After expatiating for fome time on the enmity of the First Conful towards this country, he contended, that we fhould not only place ourselves on the defenfive, but do it in a dignified manner; for a vigorous policy on our parts would probably prevent hoftilities. Taking a view of our fyftem of defence, he alluded to the affertion of Bonaparte, "that England cannot alone contend with France;" but the contrary was the fact, for, when we were fingle-handed with France, we were always fuccefsful. If the conteft were to be renewed, he thought we should be playing our last stake, and as the first object of the enemy, in a descent, would be the capital, a powerful army fhould be ftationed between it and the " coaft: in fhort, by a completely vigorous attitude, the enemy must be convinced, that no invader would return to tell his fate.-The Earl of Wesimerland and Lord

Auch

Auckland followed on the fame fide; the latter took a view of our improved finances, and, from a variety of calculations, deduced that the country now poffetled, after the discharge of debt, an income of not lefs than 17,000,000l. a year.

After fome explanations, the addrefs was voted nem, dis.

. In the Commons the fame day, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on propofing an addrefs, adverted to the military preparations on the coafts of France and Holland, and to the difcuffions fubsisting between his Majefty and the French Govern ⚫ ment. If the latter fhould not terminate happily, he declared, that the House should be put in poffeffion of every topic that could caft light on the conduct of Ministers, from the ratification of the Treaty to the prefent moment. It would occur to the foufe, that there should now be fome augmentation of our naval force, and some increase to our internal fecurity, by embodying the militia, &c. He hoped, that on this day the Houfe would give proof of their unanimous determination to enable his Majefty to adopt fuch measures as were effential to the interefts of the country; and concluded with moving, “That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majesty, to thank him for his gracious Meflage; and to affure him, that under the prefent circumitances his faithful Commons cannot hefitate on the expediency of adopting additional measures of precaution; that they partake of his Majeßy's earnestness for the continuance of Peace; and that he may rely on their exertions to enable him to adopt fuch measures as may be required for fupporting the honour of his Crown, and the interefts of his people."

Mr. Fox took a view of the different points in the Meffage; and lamented that he was in fuch utter darkness respecting its importance, inafmuch as his Majesty did not give the Houfe the flightest hint of the nature of the fubjects in difcuffion to which he alluded. He was ready to thank him for his communication; but there never was a period in which it was fo effential for us to avoid the calamities of war as the prefent; and, if we were involved in hoftilities from any fault of Minifters, they would be the moft guilty counsellors in the world.

Lord Hawkesbury faid a few words explanatory of the Meffage, and in defence of the conduct of Minifters.

Mr. Windham thought the House should be in poffeffion of more information, particularly as to what force was neceflary. He took a view of the arguments of those who opposed the war fome time fince, and, contrafting them with the prefent opimions, believed that they now began to fufpect that there were dangers in peace as

well as in war. He now confidered that Minifters had a double refponfibility attached to them, namely, that of making an improper war, as they have made an improper peace.

Mr. Sheridan compared the language of Mr. W. to that of the First Conful, as the object of both was to fhew that we were not now able to renew the war; but he had full confidence, that, if war were receffary, we should convince France that we were able fingle-handed to fupport our dignity.

Mr. Canning argued on the neceffity of receiving farther information, particularly as the people were fo docile towards the Executive Government.

·Mr. T. Grenville followed on nearly the fame grounds; he confidered the House to he kept in ignorance on the present oćcafion, but truited that the measures proposed would produce tranquillity.

The Attorney General defended the referve of Minifters in the present inftance, as the House must know that the measures/ of Government would at a future period be canvaffed. He hoped the country would not be too fond of an unstable and delufive peace, nor think, that nothing but an attack on the conftitution would justify hoftilities. At prefent the Houfe was only called upon to affure his Majefty of our determination to prevent furprife.

The question was then carried nem, con.

Mr. Corry, in confequence of the fuggef tions of feveral Members, now faid, he had no objection to the taxes being voted in the ufual way, or for one year; referving the privilege of making them permament in the prefent feffion, if he thought proper. After fome converfation, the refolutions for continuing the duties for one year were agreed to.

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to make this communication to the Houfe of Commons, to the end that his Majefty may caufe the faid Militia, or fuch part thereof as his Majefty fhall think necessary, to be forthwith drawn out and embodied, and to march as occasion shall require.

G. R."

The Secretary at War, after a few words on the neceffity of calling out the Militia, moved the ufual Addrefs, which was carried nem. con.; and afterwards gave notice, that on Monday next he should move to bring in a bill for consolidating and amending the existing laws for making provifion for the families of Militiamen called out.

March 11.

Mr. Garthbore, in a Committee of Supply, moved that 10,000 men be employed in the fea-fervice of Great Britain for to months, including 2400 Marines.

Mr. Francis was afraid that the debate on the King's Meffage might be misreprefented in France. The obfervations he fhould make did not arife from pique, but were the refult of deep reflection. He had given his fupport to Ministers ever fince they had been in power; but whether he would continue that fupport depended on his learning if the present fituation of the country was occafioned by their misconduct. Though difappointed with refpect to the Preliminaries, yet he was obliged to Ministers for making the Peace; and he would not quarrel with them about the terms, because it was an object fo defirable: but every reasonable man would say it had been obtained at a full price; it was therefore a matter of reproach if, for fuch terms, we had obtained only an infecure peace, or a certain war. Until Minifters gave the neceffary explanations, they could not expect the House to continue its confidence, particularly as the first alarm had a great effect on public credit. He lamented that fo many men of talent around him were excluded from his Majefty's Council, whofe intelligence and experience might be employed, at a crifis fo important, for their country's good.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in answer to the arguments of Mr. F. affured him that he lamented his own deficiency at the prefent crifis, but no man had more zeal in discharge of his arduous duty. If peace had been made inconfiftently with the honour and fafety of the country, Minifters were refponfible to the House and to the Nation. Ifit appeared that Ministers deferted none of those principles, when they advised his Majesty to make peace, then they did not deferve reprehenfion or reproach. There was no advice given to his Majefty with refpect to the difcuffion now before the Houfe, that was not in the true spirit of peace; and if the explanations that were demanded were to be given, they would only tend to embarrals the pending difcuffions. He con

cluded with affuring the Houfe, that Minifters were guided by moderation united with firmnels.

Mr. Dent obferved, that during the war 135,000 seamen had been voted: he did not now confider 10,000 fufficient, but fhould rather vote 15,000 more.

Mr. Fox (poke at fome length, to shew the neceflity of information from Minifters. He admitted that the prerogative of the Crown was to make war and conclude peace, but this power was limited in substance, though not in theory : in proof of this, he entered into long hiftorical details, to fhew that the Houfe had a negative power, to refift the Royal prerogative, by refufing to grant the supplies. At prefent, if an explanation were given, Parliament might differ from Minifters, and vote the war unneceffary; but if they risked another war, they had nothing to do with the Treaty of Amiens. In getting ri of the war, they get rid of great incombrances, namely, thofe deteftable principles on which the war had been commenced. He did not affert that religion and focial order were deteftable; but he meant the grofs hypocrify of afferting fuch to be the caufe of war. If, however, another war were neceffary to restore this country to her rank in Europe, then every British fubject would join in fo good a caufe. Mr. F. concluded with repeating, d that he hoped Minifters would fatisfy the House that they had cogent reasons for rekindling the embers of war. But if war was abfolutely neceffary, he difdained to repine. Our military officers had evinced that they were as fkilful as any in Europe; and as to the character of the Britifh foldiers, it never could have been o* greater; by their conftancy, fortitude, and good difcipline, they preserved their preeminence in every action in which they had engaged.

Lord Hawkesbury faid a few words in defence of the fecrecy of Minifters, and was followed by Mr. Elliot on opposite grounds. Mr. Canning pursued nearly the same argument as on a former evening, and conceived the present darkness in which Parliament remained, to be increasing.

Sir W. Pulteney defended the conduct of Administration, and obferved, that the Houfe were not to calculate upon great political queftions, as if they were fock-bolders.

After some explanations, the fum of 130,000l. was voted for the maintenance, and 27,000l. for the pay, of the ten thousand feamen, for 10 months.

The Committee on the Coventry Election reported that F. W. Barlow, efq. was duly elected, and N. Jefferys, efq. not elected. A new writ was ordered to be iffued.

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the Prince's Annuity bill, Earl Moira, as one of his Highness's Council, expretfed the duty and regard of the Prince for the measures taken in his behalf; but as there ftill remained fome claims on him, he thought it neceffary to create a very large finking fund in order to clear them off, before he affumed his dignity. With respect to the Cornwall claims, the Prince was full farther convinced of their validity; but, out of gratitude for the interpofition of his father, he had given directions to drop the fuit.

In the Commons the fame day, the Secretary at War obtained leave to bring in a bill to confolidate the Laws relating to the relief of the families of militia-men: the principal alteration intended to be made was, to throw the burden of providing for the families of fabftitutes on the county instead of the parish.

In a Committee on the Eaf India Accounts, Lord Cußlereagh entered on a detail. of the tranfactions of the Company, and the present state of their affairs at home and abroad. The accounts now before the Committee were the fame as thofe laid in the last fellion, the fubfequent Itatement not having arrived. The Company had reforted to every means for reducing their debt, and the prefent state of their affairs bare the moft pleafing afpect. He enumerated the different claffes of accounts with the various items, and drew the attention of the Committee to the benefits which the public would derive from the state of the accounts, and the probability that, if peace continued, a large diminution of the debt might take place. From the general view of the affairs of the Company it appeared, that the refult of the estimates for 1801-a,

was,

Revenue: Bengal 7,051,164!. Madras 3,899,040l. Bombay 171,8251. Total revenue 11,222,0291.-Charges: Bengal 4,582,2011. Madras 4,952,311). Bombay 1,185,3081. Total Charges 10,326,820l. The estimated revenue of the three Profidencies 895,209l. Dedu& Supplies to / Bencoolen, &c. 85,8401. Remainder 809,3691.

After deducting from intereft on debts 1,342,8541. the net deficiencies of the Revenues from the territories, &c. appeared to be 533,4851. which deducted from the estimated account of fales of imports, left a remainder of 31,0421. which is the amount eftimated to be applicable in 1801-2 to the purchase of investment, payment of commercial charges, &c. From the general refult of debts and affets at home and abroad, it appeared that, adding the decrease of the debts to the increase of affers, the improvement of the home concern, in 180a is 1,969,3301. From the balance at China and St. Helena in the preceding year, and that by the prefent accounts, the

net decrease of the latter appeared to be 187,0421. On a general comparison of debts and affets, the net increase of deb's was 2,462,8241. and the net increase of [fets 1,755,3511. This deducted from the increase of debts would fhew the state of the whole concern to be worse than at the conclufion of the last year in the fum of 707,4731. which fum is subject to alteration on the final adjustment of the claims of the Company on Government, included in the home affets to the amount of 3,573,3391 making an increase in this year under this head of 900,899l.-On exhibiting the Profpective View, it appeared, that the annual intereft of the Indian debt of 18,500,0dol. (of which 16, 00,000l. bears intereft) was 1,438,7921.-According to the latest advices, the Revenues and charges were as follow:

Bengal Revenue 7,218,850. Madras 4,486,4801. Bombay 2-0,9801. Total Revenue 11,976,180l-Bengal Charges 4,155,6671. Madras 4,250,300l. Bombay 845,46zl. Total Charges 9.246,3691. Nett Revenue 2,729,811l-Deduct Commercial Charges 155,0381. and Supplies to Bencoolen, &c. 82,4col. being 237,4381. Deduc 2,492,373!. Interest on Debt 1 438,7911. Nett Surplus 1,053,5821. Exclufive of 800,ocol. included in the Charge for intereft, now payable to Commiffioners on Debt hought up.

His Lord hip now entered into a variety of financial statements; the object of which was to fhew, that, after making the mott ample allowance for the event of a war, there will fill remain 500,000l. of net proceeds applicable to the reduction of debt, and that the available refources of the Company could leave them for the extenfion of trade 3,400,000l. Thus, from the detailed statement before the House, it was evident that the Company's affairs were in as good a way as at any period of the war, confidering the increase of debt. He then complimented Marquis Welleney on the fervices he had rendered, and obferved, that through his means the Empire of India was in, a ftate to bid defiance to the threats of invafion; the actual frength of the army in that quarter being 24,400 regular troops, including 17,000 King's troops; native troops 89,900; and of what he termed irregulars, about 10,0co, including Lafcars, &c, making in the whole an efficient armed force of 124,280 men, applicable to the defence of the empire. After adverting to the fituation of India previous to the war, which had left it with a debt of 10,000,0nol. and contrasting it with the prefent ftate of affairs, he augured the greatest benefits to the country by the continuation of peace.

Mr. Johnson attributed the increase of revenue folely to the violent grafping of territory to which we had had refource, from thofe we called our allies, and was con

vinced,

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