The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-23 00:00:00

ANNUITY TO MRS. FRANKLIN.

The en•l ''' have to state that this l'ourt was made
special, foe the purpose of considering said confirming the grant of
an annuity of 301. a-year to Mrs. Franklin, who was the widow of
one of the most distinguished officers in the Company's service—.
the late General Stephenson.
11r. liowwnes...lVhat rank was be
The Cilateataw—A General in the Madras army. His wife
I enjoyed the pension for only one year, having at the expiration of
that time 'leveled a gentleman of large V. at India property, of
the Lame of Franklin. This gentleman died in 11112; the property
he left dwindled away to nothing, and Mrs. Franklin was now
' almost pennyless. Under such circumstances the Court of Di.
rectors thought it but just to resurie the payment of her pension. '
In fact, she had by her marriage saved the Company the payment
of the pension (min the year 11106 to this day.
Mr. Lownurs—Whin a lady pleads I hope she will never
plead in vain ; but here we are not to look to a female. (A laugh.)
Upon lam marrying, Mrs. Franklin should have had her quid pro
quo. (Loud laughter.) This West India storm about the property
was nut at all sudden, and should have been provided against.
The business at St. Domingo should have opened people's eyes ;
until llisalonasics were sent out to the il'est Indies there were
no insurrections of the slaves, notwithstanding all that had been
said by the Saints. The Missionaries introduced the scalping knife
and the axe to the property of the planter, and did no good to the
slaves & Mrs. Franklin should have secured another 3001. a year on
her second marriage ; and officers' widows generally may thank
George the Fourth fur being able again to enter into that happy
lor unhappy state in which they were before. Mrs. Franklin gave
up her pension, in order to enjoy sweet liberty in the arms of a
second husband. (Laughter.) 1 think it no great hardship for
ladies to do without second husbands; let them have either love or
money, but not, as the Scottlintan said, have baith." If this
pension be given, let it be as an act of indulgence, and of !write
eoasidetation for the alteration which has taken place in %Vest
India property, all owing the Missionaries. Talk of slaves there
indeed 1 Why the people here were more slaves to the brewers
than the negroes to the planters. (Loud laughter, and cries of
" Order.") Well, then, I shall vote for this grant, in order to
shew that I can make a diatinction between right and wrong.
lie. Sr. Dix° am favourable to this grant. As the brewers
have been alluded to, it is but fair to do theta justice. 1 remember
the time when, if a man took a pot of ale, the widest street in
London would be too narrow for him; whereas, now.a.days, thanks
to the brewers,
.you very seldom see a man get drunk from any
quantity. of their articles, however his. bowels may feet affected.
(A lauga.)
Mr. lloste.--General Stephenson was one of the moat distin-
guished officers in India, and I gladly give my vote for the conti-
nuance of his pension to lies. Franklin, who W:11 his widow before
her second marriage. I wish to ask, end, if, having this pension
in 11)01, she Vita not entitled to its etottinuante, corn tlinigh the
had married five times, at tacit period when tube liocame a wi.
dew ? Secondly, I wish to ask if application was or was not
made fur the pension after the death of Mr. Franklin ? And
thirdly, I wish to ask if site be rot entitled not only to the
pension, tint also to the arras? I think giving the pettaion only
giving one-half her right.
Thr Crtatati•e.—The grant of 11k11 was only to continue
while she remained • anti tho three different points
touched on by the Honourable Member were all under the con-
sideration of the Directors. If the arrears had only extended to
• year or two, there could be little objection ; but front 1003 to
1820 covered uni much.
The grant was then confirmed.
ALLOWANCE T 1) MR. MARJORIBANKS.

The CuatastaN.—l am nest to amt.. that an allowance is pro.
posed to be made to Mr. James Marjorihanks of 611.026 rupees,
tinder these circumstances. Mr. illarjoribatiks, and two other gen..
Outten, had obtained leavens* alneucc for two year', front Bengal,
and were going to the Cape of Good Dope, toe the improyetticilt of
their lt altlt, liefore, however„they melted tl.e Cape, the small. 1
pox hrtke out in the Orient, the vessel in which they sailed, and
on arriving at the Cape, they were not allowed to land. They them
proceeded to St. Ilelens, where they wete sintibuly heated, and
they had no alternative but pursuing the voyage to England. On
their arrival here, they detailed the circumstances to the Court of
Directors, and they were desired to proceed again with all despatch
to India. During this time, Mr. Marjorihanks became entitled to
several allawanees,:oul it would be untair, bemuse he was fiweed to
England, that Its should be deprived of them. hind he been al.
lowed to remain at the Cape, there would be no necessity roc •
single question on the subject.
Mr. eate.-1 wish to know if there be any precedent on this
subject ?
Mr. LOWNDEll.—ll'hen near relations' conduct is discussed, I
think the freedom of debate rather crippled in their presence. Ltics
t. 31arjuribacks, the Director, withdrew.]

The *CHAIM/CAN.—The brother of Mr. James Marinribankt
took no part whatsoever in the business. The Court did by 31r.
Perry as they did by 31r. 31arioriliatikv, only with this diFerence,
that Mr. llaryoribanks olniost immediately returned to India, and
Mr. Perry, having urgent private affairs, requested leave to stay in
England during all that time, which would nut cause a forfeiture of
the service, and he did not apply frir the allowance to which he would
have been otherwise entitled. From CAptain l.4aurniers there was
no application. With respect to any precedent. lam not aware
of one. . _ .

Mr. Hume saw no necessity whatever :or granting this enormous
allowance. To grant it would not only be stretching our liberality,
but evidently bordering on prodigality. He had no objection to
allowances being made when the scale was properly graduated;
but in this case he doubted if by far the greatest portion of the
cham should not be disallowed. The fact ass that Captain Wall.
lace of the Orient could not wait to perform quarantine. Mr. Mar.
jonbanks did not like to be transshipped on board any of the
vessels lying in Table Bay ; and thought too, perhaps, that a toy.
age to England would do as much for his health as a residence at
the Cape of Good Hope. The Governor of the Cape was written
to by these gentlemen, Mr. Marjoribanks and Mr. Perry ; and no
doubt, as they were not labouring under the infection, every neces.
nary for their comfort would have been sup pli(d to them during
the quarantine. However, on their arrivid in England, the settled
matters easily. and obtained leave of absence from the ( oort of
Directors, contrary to their previous regulations. He (31r. llorne)
wished to prevent such abuses for the future, and therefore felt it
hi duty to oppose the grant. An absentee allowance of 7,0/01. for
sisteen months was really too much.
Mr•TIMIIIIT thought that the observations made by Mr. bowndes
were indelicate and unnecessary. With respect to the remark
that the ('ape of Good !lope was the best place for recruiting a
man's health, it miglit cotne very well from the Hon. Alenibet
(Mr. Hume;, but lie (Mr. Trent) was of a very different opinion.
In fact, Mr. Alarjoribanks was accused of telling lies. (" Order,"
from Mr. Lowndes). iVell then, of making an Melon et watement.
For himself, he confessed he was the friend of Mr. Markibanks,
and never saw • case of stronger necessity than that now before the
Court. Ile thought every effort rout made by Mr. Alarjoribanks,
and that no doubt could be entertaihed of the propriety and just-
ness of the sick certificate which he hail received. The ill
health of Mr. Marjoribanits was brought on by exceasive labour in
the performance of his many very arduous duties. Again, with
respect to the ptrioil of leave recommended by the Aledical Board,
two years at least were considered absolutely necessary lotathe
re-establishment of health. That of 11r, Alarjoribanks was now
happily restored; and, under all the circumataions of the use, he
was fully satisfied that the Court would sanction the vote now pro-
M
posed.
r. S. Dixow thought the offer trade to these Gentlemen by
the Governor of the Cape tot. litHkl IlOre was a fair and liberal
ofhi, and should have been accepted by them. lie required some-
thing more in the shape of L.:planation before he would consent to
the proposed vote.
Air. I.owsrmai said. that certainly esteem at the ('apeof Good
Hope was a very serious matter, as any one might see by a picture
in any of the shoo-windows. With respect to the propriety of
granting leave of it6tence, to one could doubt it, and some com-
pensation should be made to persons who ',offered in their voyage
home from the perils of the ocean. lie highly approved of the
grant to Mr. Alarjoribanks, and would therefore give it his full
support. A man should net be allowed to be tossed about Table
Bay, where a man could not put a hit to his month without sonic
unfortunate wave coming to dash it front him. lie had now been a
Proprietor for above years, and had expended a sum of DIAL
in coarh.l. ire. (Laughter.) lie seldom asked a favour, but "pith
respect to favours, he only asked two, one of which was for a
barber; aye, and as honest a man as ever lit ed. Fur him lie ob-
tained sonic allowance, and therefore he considered it a case in
point to the present. (lanai laughter.) He wished to know from
the Learned Gentleman (Mr. Hemet, whether a cold climate was
good or not for a liver complaint, as he (Mr. Lowndes) was always
told a cold climate was necessary for its cure ? (Laughter.) lie
would not trespass further 011 the patience of the Court, but simply
to give his assent to the grant to Mr. Alarjoribanks.
Ale. liIGBY thought, that in order to preserve the freedom of de-
bate, all Gentlemen sliould hear those observations which might be
made, as long as they were confined to decency and to sense. There
was nothing personal said of, or insinuated against, Mr. Marjori.
banks, than whom there was no more respectable an individual. But
then came the question, whether he %WAS entitled to the sum of mo.
ney now proposed to be granted to him ? The papers submitted
to the Court did not justify it, and he wished for stub information
as the Directors might be able to "-Ore upon dirt subject.
Mr. ISUCKINGIIAII said, with reference to what was observed
about Table Bay not being • place for the restoration of health,
it was generally understood to be the practice to send invalids
there to be tossed -.bout, end that in the proportion of tho violence
of the Monti and pitch of the sea, was the acceleration of the health
of invalids. There was no greater fallacy on which to reason, than
that personal character was a guarantee for the due discharge of
men's ditties. There was now the case of Mr. Fauntleroy before
the public. (" Order, he is now as if on his trial.") He (Air. B.)
had no persor-al knowledge of that individual, and he only nien.
Bone' the circumstance in illustration of the position he had just
laid down. There was no insuperable necessity for Alr. Marjori.
banks to come to England, and therefore the proposed allowance
should not be granted.
Mr. PATTIVO/i said, the question before the Court wall very
simple, and it was this, whethez Mr. Alarjoribanks was placed in
that situation which made it almost absolutely necessary fur hint to
conic to England, rather than endure all the difficulties of being
transshipped at the Cape of hood Hope? Mr. Alarjoribanks,
after his arrival in England, *hewed the most dete 111 l loci! purpose
to return to the discharge of his duties; and though absolute emu•
puhsion could not perhaps be proved, he thought that reasor.able
compulsion was fully ,hewn. Therefore lie should support the
grant.
General TtioaNTON said, that consistently with his public duty
I he could not vote for the proposed grant. If it were made, it would
open the door to great abuse aid great public inconvenience. This
was not like the last case, one of fission, and he confessed he
saw no reason ally the sum of 7,0001. should be granted to Mr.
Al •rjuribanks,
. .

11ivr. JOHN STI:WASIT hoped the Court would pause very long
before they mate such grants, for in making them they would open
the dour to great abuses.
A Proprietor, whose name we could not learn, supported the
grant.
Mr. IVIEDING also spoke in favour of the 'notion.
The CHAIRMAN defended the conduct of 31r. Marjoribanks in
making his claim, which the Court of Directors now brought fit,-
ward, not as a boon, but as a right, It the documents he inspected
did not satisfy him as to the propriety of making this grant, he
would be the last man to vote for it ; but the documents did satisfy
him, and therefore the grant had his approbation. The arrival of
Mr. Marjutibanks in this country was not his own act, but the act or
Providence, and he should not be, therefore, deprived of those
emoluments to which lie would have been entitled if he had re-
mained, or could have remained, at the Cape of flood !lope. This
grant was recotimmided by twenty...one Directors, and with Mr.
Marjuribenks would unlike twenty-two. lie thereftwe trusted that
the Proprietors would give the Directors their confidence, r.likh
they might be assured would not be abused.
Mr. 11 u stg, in explanation, said, it being attributed to him,
without Ida saying it, that Mr. IBarjoribanks had come here under
false pretences, lie (51r. flume) now would say so, and prove it too.
The eurriopondence proved it, and proved more, that for 300(. Mr.
)larjoribaakts and his friends could have hired a ship to return to
Bengal, but he ltked a vi gage to London much better.
Mr. TI•NT briefly ixplatned.
Mr. S. 1)110N wished au anjournment, in order to afford time for
further inquiry.
Mr. IJOHNDR3 TOSS to speak, but was put down by cries of
" spoke."
Ihe CHAIRMAN here suggested that an adjournment could do
no good, as further iiiiiironation could not be hail. However, if a
motion to that ilfat acre made, he would of course put it. (Cries
of question.)
3lr. liixox—l do not move it now, but 1 am ready to do so.
Mr. Low DIDES again rose, but was put down by erica of •• spoke,
*puke."
Mr. Ruler —I move the adjournment of the further considera-
tion of this grant to this day hot:tight.
tlencral IiOUXTUY seconded the motion, but it was negatived
by a large majority.