20.-Tax on Cottons, Cotton Stuff, &c..... .... MAY 9.-Tax on Female Servants 10.-Ways and Means...... 30.-Ditto ditto 1786. FEB. 8.-Army Estimates ... 10.-Ditto ditto JULY 8.-Exportation of Materials for the Manufacture of Iron 10.-Estimate of the Expense of Erecting Fortifi- 16. Mr. Sheridan's Motion, that Mr. Joseph ..... .... .... 17.-Proceedings against Mr. Hastings ........ 24.-Government of India ... 11.-Claims of American Loyalists. 26.-Proceedings against Mr. Hastings 28. Mr. Powys's motion for leave to bring in a .... JAN. 24.-Proceedings against Mr. Hastings FEB. 7.-Ditto Mr. Sheridan's celebrated Speech on the fourth charge; viz. the Resumption of the Jaghires and the Confiscation of the Treasures 8.-Ditto 12.-Petition from the Chamber of Commerce, for further time to consider the tendency of 15.-Commercial Treaty with France 16.-Proceedings against Mr. Hastings ........ APRIL 2.-Proceedings against Mr. Hastings (Mr. She- ridan's Speech upon the seventh charge) •. SPEECHES OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN. NOVEMBER 20, 1780. In the General Election of 1780, Mr. Sheridan was returned for Stafford, upon which occasion a Petition was presented to the House, complaining of an undue Election, and containing a charge of Bribery and Corruption against the sitting Members for that Borough. MR. SHERIDAN rose and complained, that it was in the power of any petitioner to bring a charge of crimes and misdemeanors against any members of that house with impunity. Where it is alleged that an election is undue on account of informalities, or upon certain points of law or custom, the character and feelings of the member against whom such a petition is brought, receive no hurt ; but the case is otherwise where an accusation is brought of bribery and corruption; crimes so high in the eye of the laws and constitution of this country. He therefore expressed a wish that some gentleman, of greater experience in parliament and consequence than himself, would devise some method of preventing frivolous and malicious petitions; VOL. I. B |