REDEMPTION OF THE LAND-TAX, ETC.
Early this session Pitt proposed and carried a bill for the redemption of the land-tax. This was followed by a bill, proposed by Mr. Dundas, for enabling his majesty to call out a portion of the supplementary militia. A second bill was also carried, to encourage voluntary armed associations for the protection of the country, it being now considered as menaced with invasion. Another bill was brought into the house by Dundas, by which the suspension of the habeas corpus act was revived. The alien bill also was renewed; and Pitt proposed and carried a measure for more effectually manning the navy. As in the last session, so likewise in this, the chancellor of the exchequer found himself compelled to lay before the house a second estimate of supplies, and to make a further demand of more than £3,000,000, which was readily voted, as were also a new increase of taxes on salt, tea, dogs, horses and carriages, &c. to meet it. Late in the session Mr. Wilberforce renewed his motion for the abolition of the slave-trade; and though his proposition was rejected, several regulations were enacted for alleviating the sufferings of the wretched Africans on their passage. These were the principal measures taken into consideration during this session. Parliament was prorogued on the 29th of June.