nuing at the same time another act without which trade could not
have been carried on with England in American vessels.

FINANCIAL MEASURES.

In opening the budget for this year the chancellor of the exchequer
stated the amount of supplies at about L43,000,000 for England, and
L5,700,000 for Ireland. The produce of the war-taxes was estimated at
L20,000,000, and among the ways and means was a loan of L8,000,000, and
more than L300,000 additional taxes. As Portugal was occupied, Sicily
threatened, and Sweden brought to the brink of ruin by its alliance with
England, an increase of soldiers and sailors was demanded. The number of
seamen voted for the year was 130,000; and the total number of soldiers,
cavalry and infantry, was 300,000. All the corps were represented as
being in a higher state of discipline than heretofore; and although
24,000 men had been drafted from the militia into the regular army, it
was stated that it was nearer to its establishment than it had been
last year. On the motion of Lord Castlereagh a bill was introduced
for establishing a local militia of 200,000 men, to be trained for
twenty-eight days every year; and this bill, which passed into a
law, extended to Scotland. Lord Castlereagh moved, likewise, for the
insertion of a clause in the mutiny bill, to permit soldiers to enlist
for life; and this was carried in spite of the stern opposition of
Windham, whose system it affected. Early in the session Mr. Bankes
re-produced his bill for preventing the grant of offices in reversion,
or for joint lives with benefit of survivorship; but though it passed
the commons, it was rejected by the lords. Subsequently he brought
forward a new bill, limited to one year's duration, which passed into a
law.

DEBATE ON IRELAND.

In the course of this session there was a vehement debate on Ireland.
The late ministry and their friends attributed the disaffection which
still prevailed in that unhappy country to the coercive policy of the
present administration. The appointment of Dr. Duigenau, to a seat in
the privy-council, which took place about this time, was considered as
a wanton insult to the feelings of the Irish people; and as Mr. Canning
was mainly instrumental in making that appointment, he was unsparingly
condemned for the act. Mr. Tierney asked how ministers could suppose,
that in recommending such an appointment, they were cherishing that
unity and harmony which it appeared to be his majes