the resolution relative to the fuppreffion of the tribunal of the inquifition was communicated to Father Mabel, the inquifitor, who sent back the following anfwer in writing, which he undoubt edly addresses to all the municipal officers:

"You have, gentlemen, promised fidelity to the Sovereign Pontif. He it is who entrusted to me my jurifdiction, and he alone can deprive me of it. Violence alone shall hinder me from exercising it; if you use it, my duty obliges me to declare to you, that the authors and fupporters of this violence have incurred the fentence of excommunication awarded by the bulls of the Popes."

Many cities of the country of Venaffin are going to adopt the French Constitution. The states of Carpentras intend to form a confederative camp by the of next month; in consequence

of which they have requested the fanction of the Vice Legate, who has thought proper to refuse them.

ENGLAND.

Parliamentary Intelligence. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Friday, May 21.

Breach of Privilege.

General Burgoyne rose to undertake what, to his feelings, was a difagreeable task, namely to move a cenfure on a Member of that House. He was confident that when men were aspersed for the exercife of their duty as Members of that House, and when fuch aspersions were made known to the House, every man in it who felt for its honour, would give him their fupport to the motions he intended to offer. The Hon. Gentleman entered into a detail of what he considered to be libels on the House, and on the Managers ers of the impeachment against Warren Hastings, Efq. which had been written and propagated by an Hon. Member of that House (Major Scott), by which the honour and juftice of the House had been infulted, and the privi. leges of Members scoffed at. The Hon. General delivered to the clerk at the table The Diary of the 18th of May, in which was inferted the letter he complained of, and on which he intended to found two resolutions, which letter was figned by John Scott, Efq. and had been avowed by that gentleman. The letter being read, the Hon, Gentleman stated

his resolutions, which were as followi viz.

"That it is against the law and usage of Parliament, and a high breach of the privileges of this House, to write or publish, or to cause to be written or published, any fcandalous or libellous writing, reflecting on the honour or juf tice of this House, or on the conduct of any member of this House, respecting an impeachment in which the House is engaged, and carrying on before the House of Peers:

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"That John Scott, Efq. a Member of this House, and who had been agent to Mr Hastings has written scandalous and libellous papers against the honour and juttice of this House, and against the managers thereof appointed to conduct the impeachment of Warren Haftings, and has thereby been guilty of grois and scandalous violation of his du ty as a Member of Parliament." The Speaker immediately rose, and sta ted the practice of the House to have heen, except in the cafe of Aldermen Crosbie and Oliver, to hear the party accused in his defence prior to any motion being put. He therefore called on

Major Scott, who rose and declared that no man living had a higher refpect for the rules of the House than he had; and if he had broken them, he had done so unintentionally, and was forry for it. The Hon. Major then entered into a general justification of his letter, and decla red, that if he had been guilty of an error in his conduct he had been drawn into it by great examples. He then enter ed into a variety of publications by Mr Burke, Mr Sheridan, and General Burgoyne, which he considered to be by far stronger libels than he had ever written. Major Scott, according to the prac tice of the House, having given in his defence, immediately withdrew,

The first motion of the Hon. Gene ral was then put, and carried without any objection.

Upon the fecond question being put, Mr Sheridan rose to suggest that it would be proper first to vote the paper scandalous and libellous.

This being agreed to, and the queftion put,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer rofe, and declared, that no man was more averse than himself to libels, and he should be very ready to give his cenfure, if the paper alluded to should prove to be as libellous as ftated by the Right Honourable Gentleman. He was of opinion, how

ever, that upon a point of the present deficacy, and in which the honour of the House was concerned, it would be proper to adjourn the debate, that Gentlemen might have an opportunity of confidering the letter, and forming their judgements thereon, which they could not do on the first hearing. He therefore moved, "That the debate be adjourned to Thursday next."

Mr Fox had no objection to the mo. tion, and hoped that on Thursday the question would meet an ample difcuffion in a full House.

Mr Sheridan and Mr Burke also acquiefced in the motion.

The question was then put upon the

adjournment, and agreed to.

May 27.

The order of the day being read for refuming the debate on the complaint againft Major Scott.

Mr Wigley moved, that the Major be heard a few words in addition to what he had faid on Friday last.

Major Scott then repeated, that in what he had written, he had no intention of giving offence to the House; that all anatters of importance, which of late years had come before the House, had been made the subject of discussion out of doors; that the charges preferred against Mr Haftings, and the articles of impeachment as foon as they were voted, having been printed and published by feveral booksellers, he had conceived them to be open to public discussion; and that if he had in consequence been guilty of any trespass on the privileges of the House, he was extremely forry for it. But that having said fo much in deference to the House, he felt himself bound to add, in justice to his own character, that if he had erred, he had been misled by great authorities-by the authority of gentlemen who were now his accufers; and referred to a letter on the subject of the impeachment, published with the fignatures of the Managers, and particuJarly to Mr Burke's speech, printed in 1785.

The Speaker then read the motion, viz. "That it appears to this House, that the letter delivered in and read, figned and acknowledged by John Scott, Esq; a Member of this House, is a scandalous and libellous paper, reflecting on the honour and justice of this House, and on the conduct of the Managers appointed to conduct the impeachment now proceeding against Warren Haftings, Efq.

Mr Wigley contended, that if the Hon. Gentleman had been guilty of any offence, he had been betrayed into it by the remissness of the House in paffing by things of a much more offensive nature; that he had made a sufficient apology; that had the paper complained of been referred to a Committee of Privileges, that Committee would have inquired whether the matter contained in it was true or falfe; and its truth, although not a defence, would have been an extenuation; that his confeffion, according to the practice of the courts of law, ought to be taken altogether, and admitted as evidence of his motives, as well as that he was the writer; that if any one branch of privilege was proceeded againft, all others ought to be so too; and that if the House should be difpofed to do extreme justice in the present cafe, he, as a young Member of Parliament, should acquiefce, but should take an opportunity of bringing forward many others to their notice.

Mr Burke faid, the apology of Major Scott was a most audacious recrimination on gentlemen against whom no charge was preferred, The argument of his learned advocate, a menace, that the House should not vindicate their privileges against his attacks without straining their orders to the extreme, a menace which he hoped every Member would defpife. The practice of the House was to exert its prudence, and to proceed against such breaches of its privileges only as were of fufficient atrocity to call for their animadverfion. To adopt the Stoic doctrine, and say, that every offence, however small, being equally contrary to order with the most heinous, far from establishing any principle of morality, would be to turn morality itself into ridicule, The question was not whether they were to punish every breach of order, but whether the breach complained of was of fuch a nature as to call for punishment? To publish speeches delivered in the House, had always been, strictly speaking, contrary to order; but the practice had occafionally prevailed fince the time of Clarendon; and he recollected a speech on the Middlesex election, published by a gentleman, whose memory was justly esteemed by the House (Mr Grenville), which would transmit his conftitutional principles with honour to pofterity. Mr Hastings, by his agents, appealed from the tribunal before which he was brought, and libelled his accusers from one end of the kingdom to the other; fo that, without the protection of the House, they they were more like parties accused than he. Mr Burke entered at length into the libellous affertions of Major Scott's S

letter, and the progress of libels against himfelf perfonally, from the first moment of his appointment as one of the Committee on the transactions in India to the present time. It was not, he said, on account of the matter, or able compofition of these libels, that it was proper to repress them, but because, being published by one of their own body, the House, by forbearance, appeared either to admit that they were true, or to be in disgraceful collufion with the perfon against whom they had ordered a profecution.

mot

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, The could confider, on the prefent question, the matter only which had been complained of. He could not confider the Member complained of as acting by the instigation of Mr Hastings; nor the attrociousness of the charges preferred againft Mr Hastings, with regard to which he had certainly not changed his opinion, and felt that the House was bound in juftice and honour to give the Managers appointed to profecute them every degree of fupport. The truth or falsehood of the paper complained of, he also laid out of his confideration, although he had no difficulty in faying that the imputation wilful delay, delay, which it contained againft the Managers, was utterly unfounded.But it was neither neceffary nor befitting the dignity of the House to enquire into the truth of a charge which could only come regularly by a motion to the House. Any reflection, merely perfonal, on the Managers appointed to conduct a public profecution, was undoubtedly a breach of privilege. This the paper certainly conTained. How far it reflected on the homour and juftice of the House, he wished to I ear pointed out. Though he did not admit that the circumftance of the House having overlooked other libels was a a jufAification of this, yet it was ftrong reafon for proceeding with temper and mode

ration.

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Mr Fox infifted, that a libel on the Managers of a public profecution was more dangerous in its nature than a libel directly on the House. He did not admit that the remiffnets of the House in punishing libels was any extenuation. There were breaches of privilege which ought not to be regretted; and were the House to infift on the literal obfervance of all its orders, the rule would be a public nuisance, not a public benefit. It was not true that the House in noticing

the present offence was departing from its usual practice. The complaint was the fourth that had been serioufly ta taken up on India affairs within little more than two years. A printer was commonly little more than the instrument of some other person; but the Gentleman complained of knew what he was doing, and had the means of bringing a charge against the Managers regularly before the House. That there was no instance of a similar complaint by the Managers, of any for mer profecution, was eafilyaccounted for. No prosecution had been before conducted under circumftances that encouraged perfons to brave the resentment of the Commons, by libelling the Managers; and by how much the fituation of the Managers of this impeachment differed from that of former Managers, by so much was the House more bound to protect them. His Right Hon. Friend and he, as public men, had borne to be libelled without much complaining; they had fuffered their public measures and their private weaknesses to be libelled with impunity.; but when they were attacked in their judicial capacity, and through them the inquifitorial power of the House of Commons, they felt themselves bound in duty to notice it. With regard to the manner in which the House might think proper to proceed, he should certainly approve of the most rigorous; as no Gentleman, he believed, had ever taken more pains to draw down the vengeance of the Houle upon him, or had less excuse for fo doing, than the Member complained of.

Mr Dundas faid, that while he confeffed the enormity of the Major's offence, he could not quit that House, without making a few observations upon the relaxed practice of the House of late, respecting libels, and he thought that relaxation had in various infiances encouraged publications of that kind. With regard to public calumny, he believed he had fuffered his share with a tolerabie degree of patience. Among many ine stances, he should mention the conduct of the tobacconists, at their meeting at the St Alban's Tavern-There he had been likelied, not only for what he had said, but what he had not said. Yet he had not commenced a profecution against them, for this very reafon-because he did not feel himself fufficiently angry. Viewing the present question in a more ferious manner, he faid, that the Managers deferved the brightest eulogies, therefore should be supported in the profecution:

and

and that upon this occafion proper notice should be taken, and a juft punishment inflicted. He did not wish, how ever, that many opinions which had been maintained that night should go abroad, as if the only delinquency which attended libels was in the cafe where Managers of the House of Commons, during impeachments carried on by that House, were affected by them. He thought that libels, in all cafes, as well political as judicial, deferved the interference of the laws. In truth, the arguments that had been ufed appeared to be a justification of all libels, except in the cafe immediately before them. Mr Dundas supposed, how éver, that juftice should be inflicted with temper upon this occafion; motives of private friendship might plead strongly in mitigation of the fault which had been now committed, and a teftimony of marked difa disapprobation would be a fufficient warning to prevent a repetition of fimilar offences.

The question was then put, viz. that the letter figned John Scott, published in a daily paper of the 18th inft. was a gross libel, reflecting on the Managers of the impeachment now carrying on against W. Haftings: Which being agreed to,

Gen. Burgoyne then moved, that John Scott, Esq; a Member of that House, in publishing the faid letter, was guilty of a gross and scandalous libel, reflecting upon the House of Commons, and upon the Managers of the Impeachment.

After feveral amendments proposed by different Members, it was agreed that the motion should stand as follows: "That the faid John Scott, Esq; having avowed the faid letter, as a Member of Parliament, was guilty of a violation of his duty as a Member of that House, and of reflecting upon the Managers of the Impeachment."

Mr Jekyll then moved the previous question, which was negatived, and the motion as amended agreed to.

Mr Pitt afked the Hon. Gentleman if he intended to follow up the last refolution with any other; if not, the motion was nugatory.

Gen. Burgoyne replied, that he did intend to follow it up with a motion tending to cenfure the Hon. Major, in the most pointed terms; however, he would fatisfy himself for the present, by moving that Major Scott be reprimanded at the bar of that House, for his conduct in publishing the faid libel.

This motion brought on a very long and personal debate, in which Mr Pitt, VOL. XI. No. 66. M

Mr Fox, and Mr Wyndham took a part; and after confiderable oppofition it was agreed that Major Scott should be reprimanded in his place.

Mr Wigley then attempted to speak, but the House, being tired of the fubject, would not attend to him.

Mr Pitt then moved that John Scott, Esq; do attend in his place in that House to-morrow-which being agreed to, the House adjourned.

May 28.

John Scott, Esq; attending in his place (according to order) was reprimanded by Mr Speaker, as follows:

"Mr Scott, the House have refolved, that you, being the author of a letter which the House have declared to be a scandalous and libellous paper, reflecting on the honour and justice of this House, and on the conduct of the e Managers ers appointed to manage the impeachment now depending againit Warren Hastings, Efq; are guilty of a violation of your duty as a Member of this House, and of a high breach of the privilege of this House.

"On the nature and magnitude of your offence it is unnecessary for me to dwell: Whatever has a tendency to depreciate the honour and justice of this House, particularly in the xercise of its inquifitorial function, tends, in the fame proportion, to weaken and degrade the energies and dignity of the British constitution.

The privileges of this House have a claim to the respect of every subject of this country. As a Member of this House, it is your duty, as it is a part of your truft, to fupport and to protect them. Had a fenfe of these obligations produced. its due influence on your mind and conduct, you would have avoided the difpleasure of the House, and I should have been spared the pain of declaring to you the result of it. The moderation of the House is not, however, less manifeft on this occasion, than their just sense of their own dignity, and of the importance of their own privileges. It is my duty, in addreffing you, to be guided by the lenity which marks their proceedings: And in the perfuafion that the judgment of the House will operate as an effectual admonition to yourself and to others, I forbear to fay more, than that the House have directed that I reprimand you for your faid offence; and, in obedience to their commands, I do reprimand you accordingly." Ordered, nemine contradicente, That what has been faid by Mr Speaker, upon

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upon reprimanding the faid John Scott, Esq; be printed in the votes of this day.

HOUSE OF Lords.
June 10.

His Majesty in the usual state being feated on the Throne, the attendance of the Commons was commanded, when

The Speaker attended at the bar, with a great body of its Members, and holding in his hand several bills which had to receive the Royal affent, addressed his Majesty in the following speech:

"SIRE,

"Your faithful Commons have now completed the supplies requifite for the fervice of the current year; they have manifested their loyalty and their attachment to your Majefty's perfon and government, by their uniform attention and diligent exertion in passing such bills as were most likely to conduce to the honour and dignity of your Majesty's Crown, and have, in all their proceedings, shown the spirit of a great, a powerful, and a free people.

"Your Majefty's Commons cannot but contemplate with peculiar fatisfaction the growing produce of the revenue, the rapid progrefs of our manufactures, and the general increase of commerce and trade, circumstances affording the most flattering proofs of the profperity of the country, in which they have no doubt of your Majesty's participating with them the fatisfaction that must arife by the contemplation of fuch objects.

"Your Majefty's Commons are well aware that the principal cause, among many others, to which these great national benefits are to be afcribed, is the continuance of peace; but, fenfible as they are of these bleflings, and anxiously defirous of rendering them permanent, they have lately afforded your Majesty a fubstantial proof that peace ought not to be maintained but on fuch terms as shall be strictly confiftent with the honour of your Majesty's crown, and the interests and welfare of your Majesty's subjects."

The Royal afsent was then given to the tobacco and lottery bills, after which his Majesty made the following most gracious speech from the throne:

"My Lords, aud Gentlemen,

"The neceffary public business being now concluded, I think it right to put an end to this feffion of Parliament.

"I have not hitherto received the anfwer of the Court of Spain to the repre

sentation which I have directed to be made at that Court, in support of the dig nity of my crown, and of the interests of my people. I continue to entertain the strongest defire for the maintenance of peace on just and honourable grounds; but, under the present circumstances, I feel it indispensibly necessary to proceed with expedition and vigour in those preparations, the objects of which have already received your unanimous concur

rence.

"The affurances and conduct of my allies on this interefting occafion have manifested, in the most satisfactory manner, their determination to fulfil the engagements of the exifting treaties; and I trust that our mutual good understanding and concert will be productive of the hap-' piest effects in the present conjuncture of affairs in Europe.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons, "I return you my particular thanks. for the readiness with which you granted the supplies for the current service, and for your unanimity and difpatch in enabling me to take those measures which the prefent crisis has rendered necessary.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"As I think it may be of material convenience that the election of a new Parliament should take place without delay, it is my intention forthwith to give directions for diffolving the prefent, and for calling a new Parliament. But, in fignifying to you this intention, I cannot omit to afsure you of the deep and grateful fente which I must ever entertain of that affectionate and unshaken loyalty, that uniform and zealous regard for the true principles of our invaluable conftitution, and that unremitting attention to the happiness and profperity of my people, which have invariably directed alt your proceedings.

"The rapid increase of our manufactures, commerce, and navigation, the additional protection and security afforded to the diftant poffeffions of the empire, the provifions for the good government of India, the improvement of the public revenue, and the establishment of a permanent system for the gradual reduction of the national debt, have furnished the best proofs of your resolution in encountering. the difficulties with which you had to contend, and of your steadiness and perseverance in those measures which were beft adapted to promote the essential and lafting interests of my dominions.

"Ther