ch neither law
nor justice can support, and that those, whose experience has made them
cautious, have not been always equally honest.

But this is a subject upon which I am not inclined to dwell, and only
mention as the reason which convinces me of the propriety of the bill
before us.

Sir William YONGE spoke to this effect:--Sir, there appears no
probability that the different opinions which have been formed of this
bill will be reconciled by this debate; nor, indeed, is there any reason
for wondering at this contrariety of sentiments.

The several clauses of the bill have relations and consequences so
different, that scarce any one man can approve them all; and in our
present deliberation, an objection to a particular clause is considered
as an argument against the whole bill.

It is, therefore, necessary, to prevent an unprofitable expense of time,
to resolve the house into a committee, in which the bill may be
considered by single clauses, and that part which cannot be defended may
be rejected, and that only retained which deserves our approbation. In
the committee, when we have considered the first clause, and heard the
objections against it, we may mend it; or, if it cannot be amended,
reject or postpone it, and so proceed through the whole bill with much
greater expedition, and at the same time, with a more diligent view of
every clause, than while we are obliged to take the whole at once into
our consideration.

I shall, for my part, approve some clauses, and make objections to
others; but think it proper to reserve my objections, and the reasons of
my approbation, for the committee into which we ought to go on this
occasion.

[The bill was referred to a committee, but not forty members staying in
the house, it was dropped.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 2, 1740-1.

DEBATE ON THE BILL FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND INCREASE OF SEAMEN.

The bill was ordered to be read the second time, and to be printed for
the use of the members, that it might be thoroughly examined and
understood.

On the forty-fourth day, the second reading of the bill was postponed to
the fiftieth; but the grand motion being debated on that day, nothing
else was heard.

On the fifty-first it was again put off; but

On the fifty-sixth day, being read a second time, it was, after some
opposition, referred to a committee of the whole house, to sit five days
after. In the meanwhile,

On the fifty-seventh, it was ordered that the pr