tely prepared. It produced many other debates, and was at
last postponed by dint of ministerial influence. The same venerable
patriot, who projected this scheme, moved that, as soon as the interest
of all the national redeemable debt should be reduced to three per
cent., the house would take off some of the heavy taxes which oppressed
the poor and the manufacturers: but this motion was rejected by the
majority.

{1737}

BILL AGAINST THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

The last disputes of this session were excited by a bill sent down
from the lords for punishing the magistrates and city of Edinburgh, on
account of the murder of John Porteous. In the beginning of the session,
lord Carteret recapitulated the several tumults and riots which had
lately happened in different parts of the kingdom. He particularly
insisted upon the atrocious murder of captain Porteous, as a flagrant
insult upon the government, and a violation of the public peace, so much
the more dangerous, as it seemed to have been concerted and executed
with deliberation and decency. He suspected that some citizens
of Edinburgh had been concerned in the murder; not only from this
circumstance, but likewise because, notwithstanding the reward of two
hundred pounds which had been offered by proclamation for the discovery
of any person who acted in that tragedy, not one individual had as yet
been detected. He seemed to think that the magistrates had encouraged
the riot, and that the city had forfeited its charter; and he proposed
a minute inquiry into the particulars of the affair. He was seconded
by the duke of Newcastle and the earl of Hay; though the last nobleman
differed in opinion with him in respect to the charter of the city,
which, he said, could not be justly forfeited by the fault of the
magistracy. The lords resolved, That the magistrates and other persons
from whom they might obtain the necessary information concerning
this riot, should be ordered to attend; and that an address should
be presented to his majesty, desiring that the different accounts and
papers relating to the murder of captain Porteous, might be submitted
to the perusal of the house. These documents being accordingly examined,
and all the witnesses arrived, including three Scottish judges, a debate
arose about the manner in which these last should be interrogated,
whether at the bar, at the table, or on the woolsacks. Some Scottish
lords asserted, that they had a right to be seated ne