The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-06-29 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE SUPPLIES.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
the Order of the Day for bringing up the Report
of the Committee of Supply.
Mr. Gou LIMON brought up the Report, and on
the motion that the Report be now read—
Mr. CALCIAFT ruse and said, he understood
theft: were in the Report no less than one hundred
and two Resolutions. One of those Resolutions,
,ipht it he meant particularly to oppose, we•, he be-

~.--.

lieved, about the fifty-Alit, under the head o'fOlaims
of General IDesfoortseaux, which was for a sum of
40,0001. He should therefore saggest to the Right
Hon. the Chancellor of the ExcheqUer to withdraw
that Resolutions by way of pre'verding hint (4r.
Cslcraft) from opposing the whole of the Report.
( Hear, hear, hear.)—That, he thought, was a good
way titconsuieocing a negOeirtion in favour of that
economy which they lad heard so much talked of
last night, but of the practice of which they saw so
little. lie wished tb iinpress upon the minds of
every one who heard him, that here was an oppor-
tunity offordetl them of the practice of retrench-
ment, in one instance at least, in which they might
with safe consciences acquiesce, as Witinist any re-
duCtion either of the army or navyl or any other
establishment, nor the abolition of 'any place or
pension whatsoever, they might aid in the promotion
of that object to the extent of 40,000/. He should
take as the ground of his opposition to these claims
the 'Report of the Comptrollers of Army Accounts,
and a Minute of the Board of Treasury: These
claims were said to arise out of occurrendes which
took place in the island of Guadeloupe in 1794,
when it was conquered by Sir Charles Grey. It
!, was said, that because Sir Charles Grey. for the
aecousasodation of the sick and wounded Of his
army, took possession of certain -hospitals, which
had been used by the French Government for a
similar purpose, he took upon himself all the Con•
dirions of the agreement by which the French
`Government was bound to the owner of those hospi.
tals. In the expulsion of the British, two months
after their occupation, two of these hospitals were
said to have been destroyed, and reparation was
claimed on the ground that the French Govern-
ment had undertaken to make good any loss arising
from their damage or destruction. Bat no proof
was adduced that Sir Charles Grey ever NW such
an agreement. and no claim was preferred or even
heard of until the year 1810, when Sir A. Cochrane
again took poossession of this island. There the in-
dividuals preferred a claim to him. on the subject
of which he referred them to the British Govern-
ment. No application was, however, made by
them to the Government until the year fBlB, when
this claim was first heard of hy the Government
here, twenty Sean after the pericoi of the trensuctions
on which it was founded, and with two intervals of
peace having occurred iii the interim. U pan the claim
being then brought [lnwood it was referred to the
Comptrollers of Army Accounts for investigation.
The Hon. Gentleman then reed some extracts from
the Report of the Comptrollers of A nay Accounts, iu
order to chew that to manly of the cialllllll there were
no vouchers, and is every instance where they were
examined the unfairness of the claims immediately
appeared. lie next adverted to the minutes of evi-
dence taken before the Treseiury, 111111 it appeared
strange to him that the two Lords of the Treisury
who hell • been pr. seat no that occo lied ab-
sented themselves from the House on Friday sr.'s-
night, when the claims were discussed, from
whence lie judged that lied they v been present
lie should have had their votes.- The Govern-
ment had offered 1,4001. to General Desfour-
neaux, to defray the expenses of the hoepital
for our sick, and io this lie had no objection ;
but he thought lie 11‘41 said enough to spew
the )!nose that the claims should he rejected.—
Strange reports were abroad respecting the inter-
ference of other countries in ibis matter, and
amongst other individuals the name of a French
Banker was mentioned as having written to Mem-
bers of Parliainetit, and personally solicited their
support in favour of the claims. For this, however,
he had no proof, it was merely a report ; but if
this was not a proper time to carry into effect the
professious of economy and the resolutions of the
House passed last night, and to save the country
17,000!. he did not knew when the time would
arrive.

Mr. T. WILSON thought the reports alluded to
were discreditable to the parties flout whence they
originated, fur they had cast aspersions on indivi-
duals without sufficient attention, by no means war-
ranted. The lion. Gentleman then read some ex-
tracts from the evidence, and said that froth all the
testimony received it appeared the claims had been
well founded.

Mr. Wittig said. the more ht considered the
question, and he had paid great attention to it, the
inure was he divposed to adopt the sentiments of his
Hon. Friend (Mr. Ca'craft).
Mr. GRENYBLL proposed as an amendment,
that the sum of 3,5001. should be substituted fur
20,0001.
Mr. House Strum sa seconded it.

Mr. Wis. Page expressed his opinion that the
House should adopt the amendment just proposed.
Mr. HUDSON GURNEY said that as it appeared
that these claims bad been overrated, it might not
be an improper suggestion that the claims should
be recommitted to smother Committee.
Mr. KEITH Doual.“ expressed himself favour-
able to the full extent of the demands, and com-
plained that Gentlemen had not come better in-
firmed to the consideration of the question.
Mr. PEEL said, that lie attached no weight what-
ever to the opinions of the French Government on
the subject, lie had himself given the most im-
partial attention to the question, and he came to
this conclusion, thatithe claims of General Destour-
neaux were most unfounded, and these were
times when no single grant of public money should
be made without the clearest and most undoubted
claims ; and when lie compared the minutes of
evidence, and the well-reasoned argument of the
Board of the Treasury with the Report of the Com-
mittee, much as lie respected the merits of that
Committee, he could not consent to their Report.
Mr. MANSFIELD suid he should support the
amendment for the smaller sum.
Mr. MONCK said that from the nature of the
case he was obliged to vote in the dark, and lie
was more disposed to tun the risk of granting a
claim urgently made, than reject a claim founded
in justice.
Mr. !avian supported the claims, and con-
tended that they should not be rejected as untrue,
because the authotities iu support of them were
French and not English. He could by no means
concur with an Hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr.
Calcrsfi), that the vote of last night pledged the
House to do an act of injustice. The Hon. Gentle-
matt then defended Inv own conduct, and said, he
bad no personal inte►e►t in bringing it forward, lie
was solely actuated by a feeling of justice.
Lord Btxxlsts opposed the grout, but if lie

~'"~'~'

were compelled to decide fur one sum or art other
which had been proposed, he would vote for the
smallest one.
Lord CRANBOREE said, that if he had moved
an amendment it would have been for the.sum of
1,400!. As it was, he thought that the liberal
course would lie the best, mud he would support
the grant of 3,500/.
The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER con-
sidered himself bo•ind by the decision of the Com-
mittee, unless the House found reason for deviating
therefrom. That some compensation was due he
hrd no doubt—how much he had not yet fixed in
his Mind, and he waited to determine that question
until the sense of the House should be more ape•
cifically shown.
Ste F. OMMANNEY, amidst laid cries of g, Qees-
lion I" objected to the grant of any sum wintery:
The House divided—
For the original Motion
Against it •
tHijorki • 47

On bur return to the gallery the House was in
discussion, as we understood, on the amendment.
Mr. T. Wilson, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Irving, and
Lord Binning, said a few wo►ds each.
The House dividsd again on the amendment—
For the Motion
Against it ..... •. ..... ▪.• i ' • ..‘111

Majority

In the course of the other liesolutioos being pro-
pored Mr. HUME took occasion to ask how the
clothing for convicts was supplied, whether by
public or private contract ?
Mr. H. Cm vs said, that until of late the contract
had been held by one individual. If the Hon.
Member would look into the accounts he would
find that the whole expense of a convict was not
more than 74/. per annum under the present regu-
lations.

Mr. Hung wished for an answer to his question,
being convinced that the public could be supplied
in no way ►o well as by public contracts.
Mr. H. CLive repeated his former observations,
and wished to have time to give a more satisfactory
answer to the question of the Hon. Member.
Mr. blvstE did not wish to urge the Hon. Gen-
tleman, and therefore proposed that the supply
bhoul4 be postponed till to-morrow.
After • few words from Mr. H. CLivn, Mr.
Huns, and Mr. A RBUTHNOT, the risolutiun was
postponed according to Mr. Hume's amendment.
The resolution was shortly after put agsin, and
adopted, on condition that the information asked
by the Hon. Member for Aberdeen should be
itu-
mediately produced.
Mr. HUME wished the fees of the Fee Fund to
be stated under the sepasate heads from which
they were received. He thought also that the total
fees of all the off►ces ought to be taken its one sum,
and credit taken for the full amount.

Orr the Resolution for bunting 25,0001. for the
expenses of the Mint—
Mr. Husle wished to know if this sum were for
the establishment, or for expenses of coinage.
Mr. ARBUTHNOT said, that the money was
waisted for the coin Age, the Bank having given no-
tact that tbere would •he a considerable gold coin-
age in the course of the year.
On the Resolution for granting 3,5001. for print-
ing 1,700 copies of the Journals of the /louse of
Commons—

Mr. Hums proposed to reduce the sum to
2.000/. so he knew a person who would perform
the work quite as well in all respects as at present
for 1,5001. less.
Mr. ARBUTHNOT said, that it was the intention
of Ministers to seek the assistance of the Hon.
Member in a Committee for considering how far it
would be possible to reduce these Estimates, and
the labours to which they referred. to a more eco-
uotnical and convenient system. He therefore put
it to the Hon. Member, if it were necessary to press
his tnotion under such circumstances.

The SPEAKER explained the manner in which
the printing of the Journals was conducted, which
left him no discretion as to the amount of expense,
his duty being merely to take care that the work
should be done.

M►. ARBUTHNOT explained the manner in which
the expenses were drawn from the Treasury,
Mr. H. SU➢INEB attributed the great amount of
printing expenses to the indiscreet and thoughtless
manlier in which Members multiplied orders for
papers.
Mr. G. BENNETT said, the question was not
how many papers were printed, hut if it was neces-
sary for the printer to receive 1,5001. more than the
work could be done for.

Mr. Hums, under the pledge given by the Hon.
Gentlemtui. consented to withdraw his motion.

Mr. G. BENNETT complained of copies Gf the
minutes being withheld from Members like himself,
who were too poor to pay fur them. Most of them
were left on hand, and yet they were denied to
those who had the best right to them. The some
might be said of the eul•rged edition of the Sta-
tutes, which were chiefly valuable to Members of
Parliament. He would put in • claim in behalf
of hims,lf and all other poor Members to a copy of
that work.
Mr. 11. SustNElt observed, that there was •
more unique and u•eful edition in eve►y Court of
Ju•tiee and of Quatter Session, and therefore there
could lie ow public benefit from presenting Mem-
bers with copies of the Statutes at large.

The SPEAKER described the circumstances which
made the Statutes, us printed by Parliament, so
valuable. So little was the work sought alter or
preserved, in the printing of the early volumes,
that they were disposed of to booksellers about
town. As the work went on, it became more va-
luable from its extent, and the rarity of much of
its contents; hut by this time the Ilotioe had
taken awry from the Members the right of claim-
ing copies of the work, oil account of the iirgli-
gritee and 'huge of that privilege, which he bud
stated in regard to the early volumes. As to sup-
plying Members with copies at present, or for the
future, prospectively it would not incur much ex-
pense, add it. would only be to order sit many more
copies of the work as it proceeded; but retemptc.
tively it would attnount to a very heavy burn,
which must be incurred for resetting the press,
with regard to all die volumes now printed.
Mr. G. BEEN ETT only wished to have the copies
ou hand giveu out among Nitolbtr., together

.

with 'Copies ht the succeeding volumes as they
should be printed.
After ■ few words from Mr. H. Sumner, Mr.
Gurney, the Speaker, and Mr. HUMP. the Resolu-
tion in cptestion was agreed to.
Mr. Huila wished to know where they could find
the accounts of the whole amount of the expense
intlirted for printing the Records of Scotland,
for managing which he raw a grant of 5,400 f. to
Sir D. Hunter Blair, of Edinburgh ?
Mr. ARBUTHNOT and Mr. BUTTER*ORTH said
a few words each.
The SPEAKER explained the item 'Abided to, as
being granted for bringing the work, which was one
of ettraordinary difficulty, out of the press.
The Resolution was then agreed to. _ .

On the Resolution for granting 3.0001. for print-
ing the Journ.ils and Reports of the House of
Commons being read—
Mr. Hums sa►d, he *as Informed that a proposi-
tion had been made to the Right Hon. Gentleman
opposite for performing this work at one half the
price. He hoped the offer would he attended to.
Mr. ARBUTHNOT expressed his readiness to give
every attention to matter.

On the Resolution for granting • sum fur con-
fining criminal lunatics—
Mr. Hustx ro►e and said, that it had come to his
knowlege that some persona were confined as eri-
minal lunatics who were in reality in their perfect
senses. Early in the Session he had presented a peti-
tion from a pe►son who, on the report of the physi-
cians, was described as sane in his conversation and
conduct. but absurd in writing. The fact was, he
would fill three or four sheets of paper with
matter which might well be expre►sed in s
quarter of a sheet, but he (Mr. Hume) doubted
whether • man should he confiued merely be-
cause he had the cacorthes scribendi strong upon
him. There was also the cave of Hatfield, from
whom a Petition had also been presented by the
Member for Weymouth. tie thought the House
ought to be assured of the proper application of
these sums before they agreed to this resolution.
Mr. BENNETT thought from the difficulty there
was in distinguishing madness, it was a subjtct that
the House ought not to interfere with, it was much
better left in the hands of his Majesty's Govern-
ment, who could have no desire to keep the patients
one moment longer than was necessary.
Mr. CLIVE said, that both these tinhoppy persons
were subject to sudden fits of in•autty, which ren-
dered them dangerous to the community and unfit
to be at large.
After a lew words from Mr. W. Smith, Mr.
Hume, Mr. Clive, and Mr. N. Calvert, the reso-
lution was agreed to.
On the resolution for granting 6.6311. for allow.
afire. and superaunuatioos to retired civil servants
lAing proposed—
Mr. Hume objected that the item of 1,8651. for
retired allowances to persons connected with the
Foreign Embassies ought to have been paid out of
the Civil List.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, that it was
qui►e impossible it should ever have been contem-
plated that the Civil List should provide for all
future super/mon:dims.
Mr. Hums said, that certainly no exert. of any
charge winch properly ought to be paid out of
the C►•il List ought to be charged to the
Consolidated Fund, as the intent of granting
a Civil List was to fix • limit to the sitm.—
He contended that the whole of our Foreign
Ambassadors and Consuls were overpaid. The
Consul at Oporto, for example, received 8001. a
year; and at the Brazils !Os. per cent, ad sala:eas
was charged on the cargoes of ■II British ships,
which was an enormous charge, and ought to be
reduced. He alloired that it was authorised by so
Act of Parliament, but he thought the Act requir-
ed amendment.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, that when
the subject of the allowances to our Foreign Am-
bassadors was fully discussed the Hon. Member
(Mr. Hume) was not then in tlth House, but it was
allowed that it was a branch of the public service
not at all overpaid—on the contrary, it was con-
sidered the most unfortunate branch of the public
service.

Mr. ROBINSON said, the mode of remunerating
Consuls might be disputable, but it was matter of
isece-sity that in every port where great commerce
was earned on such an officer moot exit.

Mr. ARBUTHNOT said, the names of the persons
to whom the allowances were niade to which the
Member objected were Mr. Allen. now be-
tween 70 and 80 years of age ; Mr. Stanley. 80
years of age, and who had been 403 ears in the pub-
lic service at Trieste ; and Mr. Watkins, who was
80 years of age. and had served above 50 years.
Mr. W. SMITH would not oppose the ',resent
vote, at the same time he thought the lion. Alvin-
her for Aberdeen deserved well of his country for
his vigilance:
Mr. Hums said, that he was satisfied a reduc-
tion of one half might be made in the charge for
Consuls.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, in many
instances the Consuls ►erred without any salary
whatever. In all the ports of France the Consuls
had 110 salary, with the exception of the Consul-
General and the Consul at Calais.

The Resolution was then agreed to.
On the grant of 21,5001. for Toulonese and
Corsican emigrants being read—
Colonel DAVIES objected to the grant as to the
Toutonere. He contended that as those persons
were deprived of their estates at the time of the
revolution in France, on the iesioration of the
Bourbons any claim which they might be supposed
to have oat this country ceased, •nd it became the
dusty of the King of France to !provide for them.
He had htard a report that the Russian Minister
at the Court of France was actually in the receipt
of a pension from this country. He should like to
beinfornned if that were correct.

Mr. ARBUTHNOT said he believed that the Gen-
tleman alluded to did heretofore receive a pension
from this country ; at present he believed it was
discontinued, and he would readily admit it would
be most improper were it now to be continued.
Colonel DAVIES wished to know if he were to be
considered as entitled to claim ■t any future pe-
riod ? lie was glad to observe the Noble Marquis
woe signs of dissent, for it would certainly be
moat improper and dangerous principle to establish.
Ile objected to the pensions also allowed to the
Knights of Malta.

Mr. AimTimm' would agree with the conclu-
siens drawn by the Hon. Member were the circum-
stances as he had stated them ; hitt it might be
retollected by the House that when Lord Hood
took possession of Toulon it was in consequence of
a capitulation, and under that, and for services
performed to Otis country, end not to the Royal
Family of France, it was that the pensions were
granted. As to the Knights of Malta, the amount
of their pensions was between 2.000/. sod 3,000!.
It was the intention of Government mot to propose
this vote in the following year, but he hoped there
would be no objection made to the present vete.
and then the parties would have doe intimation of
the intended discontinuance.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ►aid, that
the Toulonese to whom these allowances were made,
were officers in possession of allowances to the same
amount from their own Government, when the ca.
pitalstion was entered into with Lord Hood.
Mr. Hume asked if the Dutch were also officers ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
in the affirmative.

Mr. BENNETT said, either these officers had
taken part with an enemy to their native country,
or they nod opposed themselves to the then ruling
Powers, in favour of the Bourbons and the Stadt-
bolder. In the first case he would object to their
being considered as entitled to receive a single
larilitriv.. and in the other alternative he would my
what they ought to receive should come not frorn
this country, but from those whose interests they
lia,lespoused.

Mr. Gontatran disclaimed the principle laid
down by the llon, Gentleman, whirls went to this,
that we were to receive great services during the
war, and now refuse the payment on the score of
_ .

Colonel DAVISS asked if it were the intention
of Government to continue these allowances ?

Mr. A autyrnmoT replied, but his answer was
not heard in the gallery, after which the Resolu-
tion was agreed to.
The next Resolution was 33,5671. for the Police
Ertablirlunent at Bow-street and the Thames Police.

Mr. BEN NETT complained of the inefficiency of
the police, and expressed his hope that next year
the wholr of the subject would be inquired into.
Mr. W. SMITH thought the state of the police
a disgrace to the country. During the last winter
it was abbolntel• dangerous to go about the erects
of the metropoli..__

• The Marquis of LONDONDERRY allowed that at
one period during last winter some cases occurred
which might seem to warrant ■ charge against the
police, hut in fact those very instances were rather
a woof ihKt the police was most effective. During
the proceedings in the House of Lords the horse
patrol were drawn into the metropolis, and un-
doubtedly persons then took advantage of their
absence to combine together for the purposes of de-
predation, but when the patrol were again dis-
tributed those acts of outrage totally ceased.
The increased vote now proposed would ensure a
more effectual degree of protection dam hitherto,
as it would enable the police to cover the whole
surface of the metropolis by a moving force, and
also a stationary force, from which drafts could he
taken in case of emergency, and no part of the
metropolis be left as heretofore bare of protection.
He could assure the Hon. Member, that since the
new distributioo of the force of the police, the dr.
minution of crime had been so marked, that if it
were continued little would be left to be desired.

Mr. BENNarr quite agreed with the Noble
Marquis as to the Propriety of the plan.
Mr. Hosts asked when the returns of the Po-
lice Establishment, which had been moved fur,
would be kid on the table 1
Mr. CLIME—"To-morrow."

The Resolution was then agreed to.
The next Resolution was for 4,250/. for the re-
pairs of Henry the Seventh's Chapel.
Mr. Baba Err asked if any persona belonging
to his Majesty's Government were in charge of the
monuments, which were in a state of dilapidation
highly discreditable to the Dern and Chapter, or
those whose duty it was to protect them ? If the
interior of Westminster Abbey were compared with
Gloucester, Worcester, or any other cathedral, the
difference would be most striking between them
and the mean, low, money-loviog, grasping, and
lucre-thirsting conduct of those who had the charge
of these monuments. He never could look at the
Abbey or St. Paul's without sensations of shame,
knowing, as he did, what must be the opinion of
foreigners us well as our own countrymen on the
subject.

Sir CHA RLES LONG said he felt equal mortifica-
tion with the Hon. Member at the little rare which
was taken of those monuments, designed by the
fir►t artists to perpetuate the memo►y of British
►alour and do honour to the country. His Majes-
ty's Government were in no way responsible for the
manner in which they were kept. The Dean and
Chapter had that charge. and how they executed
it was well known. It was really lamentable that
those who made a profit from those works of art
should take so little care of them.

Mr. W. SMITH said. that on the occasion of his
attending the funeral of the late venerable Presi-
dent of the Royal Academy. his feeling on enter-
ing St. Paul's was. that it was a receptacle of dirt
and cobwebs rather than a place fit to do honour to
the distinguished persons who►e remains were there
interred. He had heard of* report which was in cir-
culation that seemed to indicate some mismanage-
ment of the revenues of that Cathedral ; a doubt ex-
isted whether a sufficient sum of money would be
forthcoming to put the cross and ball at the top of Sr.
Paul's in a safe condition, and, as the report went,
the munificence of the present Dean (uncalled fah
certainly, by the length of time he had held the
situation), to preclude inquiry into the revenues of
the Cathedral, did himself undertake to dam,' the
expenses. He thought the Dean and Chapter of
intuvter might appropriate to the repairs of
Henry the Seventh's Chapel some part of do
money they were about to collect for gratifying the
public with a sight of the approaching cereuiony.
The CttaricaLLoa of the Exciastuga said, the
repairs of Henry V H.'s Chapel were never consider-
ed as a charge to fall on the Dean and Chapter.
The interior of the Abbey certainly was trot in
good state, but lie knew that within a short period
the Dean mid Chapter had spent 10,000 i. upon it.
Mr. A RIBUTINNOT said, that in 1807, the Dean
and Chapter, in ■ Petition to the House,
that repairs were wanted to Henry the barna) a

•1

chapel, which they were not capable of performing,
sod in consequence of that Petition the House
undertook to do the repairs ou the part of the
public.
The Resolution was then agreed to.
The next resolution was for the sem of 15.0001.
for the charge of the forts 11141 pomessious of the
late African Company.
' Mr. WM. SMITH alluded to the claims which he
gnderstood had been made on Government by the
lanai. Officers of the A fricuu Company, for com-
pensation for the reduction of their offices. From
ill he had heard, he had no hesitation in stating
it as his opinion that those claims stood on no
ground whatever, and if those remunerations were
contemplated in the proposal of this vote, he should
not agree to it.
Mr. GOULBURN said, the sum comprehended in
this vote was not at all intended to be applied in
granting those compensations.
The resolution was then agreed to.
The next vote proposed was for the sum of
22,4441. 3s. for the civil establishment at Sierra
Leone ; on the reading of which
Mr. W. SNITS rose and said. although he might
he blamed perhaps for bringing the question for-
ward out of order, and in a rather irregular
he would take that opportunity of expressing
his dissent from the vote of 18,0001. for the ex-
pense of the Mixed Commission. The lion. Gen-
tleman at much length objected to the appoint-
ment of the individual filling the office of Chief
Commissioner, and to his hiring paid it salary of
3,0001., while the Commissioners at Rio Janeiro.
Sitrinain, and the Havatinah, had only 1.5001.
a year each. If these latter were persons properly
qualified for their situations, and were comiidereil
as sufficiently remunerated at that rate of salary.
the present Commissioner at Sierra Leone will
he sufficiently well paid at half the amount.—
Ile was a man who had been brought up to mer-
cantile pursuits, and did not possess any one of the
qualifications necessary for his office. In support
of his opinion of shit intlividoal's unfitness, of
whom lie personally knew nothing, he could ap-
peal with confidence to the information lie had re-
ceived respecting him, he was not ashamed to say
in what manner, and also to the Report of Sir
George Collier, who spoke of him as a man whose
ituhecility In the discharge of his official duties
defeated the objects of the Comnaisi .
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY contended that
he was free front any blame for the mode in which
the appointmeut had been made. He had thought
lie should best discharge his duty by referring the
choice of persona to fill the situations of Commis-
blotter, in the Mixed Commission Court to those
who were hest qualified to judge of the requisite
professional rptitlificationa.• He therefore left it
entirely with the Chief Judge of the Admiralty
Court and the King's Advocate. The salary for the
office at Rio Janeiro, Surinam, and the other places
was 1,500/. but the dread of the climate of Sierra
Leone was so great. that no persoo could be found
to undertake the office at that scale. It wits there-
fore raised to 3,0001. and even for that sum no
professional man could be found to accept it.—
Those appointments were in teality the most
urli-
'a'e piece of patronage he had ever had to manage.
He must add that he could not but protest
otosinst the ernsig gof the characters of indivi-
duals in this moaner on the mere dictum of a
naval officer, whose short mid temporary visits to
the country •ttortiell him but slender opportunities
of forneiesg a judgment of the characters of persons
stationed there.
Mr. W. SMITH said, he had not the slightest in-
tention of imputing to the Noble Marquis the
smallest degree of partiality in filling up the situa-
tion.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY repented, that
be felt perfectly justified in havin:, left the choice
of the persons to Sir W. Scott anc:FStr Christopher
Robinson.

&Ir. BROUGHAM said, it would be thilictilt to
persuade him that the profession of the law was so
flourishing that member., young ones cei trendy, hot
fully qualified for the situation, could not be found,
who might be induced by the temptation of a sa-
lary of 3,000/. u year for six year., and a pension
of 1,000/. afterwards, to proceed to Sierra Leone.
He should, indeed, rather feel surprised if what
had parsed to-night on the subject did not give
rise to a multiplicity of tenders from the junior
launches of the professiosi in the Courts of West-
minster to fill the situationa which were thus
handsomely paid.
On the Revolution far granting 100,000/. fur the
new street from Westminster to Mary-le-bone
bring read—
Mr. HUME asked for some explanation of the
item of 11,000/. for surveyors, law exproses, &c.
and of 1,2001. for salaries of persous in the new
street department.
Mr. Huai:mow said. if the Hon. Gentleman
wished to be furnished with the particulars. there
would be no objection to lay the account before the
House. The salaries of the clerks employed were
on the lowest scale, and there were none of them on
the permanent establishment of the office of ‘Vootla
roll Forests.
Mr. W. SMITH Si few words, of er which
the Resolution was agreed to.
On the reacting of toe vote for the Cape of Good
Hope—
Mr. H. G. BEN N ETT asked what further encou-
ragement had been givias to new settlers at the
Cape?

Mr. COULOURN said there was none.
Mr. W. SMITH remarked upon the facility of in-
troducir.g Flavor intothe new colony, and auggested
the propriety of some measures being adopted fur
preventing it.
Mr. GOULBURN said that no means would be
neglected of guarding against the evil.
Sir It. suggested the propriety of the
purchase by Government of the few slaves now w
the colony as a mesuure of prevention.
The Resolution was then agreed to.
On the vote for the building of New Churches
and Glebe Howes— _ _

Dlr. lIUME hoped no further 'urns won'," be
grata. d on this head umil bottle information were
afforded as to the application of the produce of the
Ii st fruits and tenths. fir also ohserved upon the
tlereilee in the mode of valuation of the Ii rat
I ti' and truths, and that of the tithes. The
Lbw( h of Ireland was •ert rich., and did not etand
in any .recd of further easistance.

Mr. H. G. Stifilltrr hoped some information as
to the amount and distribution of the church reve-
nues in Ireland would be demanded by the House
before one shilling more of the public money wits
voted for its assistance. He believed the church
of Ireland to be the most richly endowed of any
in the world, in proportion to the number of its
incumbents and the einem of its Congregation.
Lord MILTON expressed strong doubts whether
the wealth of the church of leeland was ant an
obstruction to its atility. Wealth genetrilly begot
indolence, and indolence certainly did net inctealie
proselytes.
The Resolution was then agreed to. .
On the grant or 14,000/. for the Board Of Works,
Mr. Mug recommended that the six Commis-
sioners should in the nett year be reduced to ones
es one would be quite sufficient to perform the
duty.
GOVERNMENT PROCIAMATIOteS.
On the grant of 7,0001. to defray the expenses of
Government Proclamations—
Mr. BENNETT wished to call the attention of the
House to this subject. He had in the first instance '
to complain of the milliner in which the proclaim•
bons bad been inserted, namely, in inserting adver-
tisements, affecting a particular county, in a news.
paper 100 miles olf. l'lst barony of Rithville, in
the county of Carlow, had been proclaimed, and
the prodamatiot was not inserted in a Carlow
newsp o'er, but in an Enniskillen newspaper,
more than one hundred miles away.—(Hear, hear.)
And for what reason? Because, indeed, the Editor
was a supporter of the Government, or rather
abused those who were opposed to it. In the
Drogheda Journal, too, a proclamation had been
inserted respecting the county of Galway, and that
five days sitar its operation was to commence.—
( Hear, hear.)—lsi the same Jonrnol a proclama-
tion had been inserted respecting the Liturgy, two
months after it had occurred ; the proclamation of
a barony in Westmeath, two months slier, although
perh ps the paper never was seen in Westmeath. The
Lunatic Asylum, five months afterwards ; and • pro-
clamation respecting the currency, five months after.
It was high time this disgraceful practice should be
checked. It was, in fact, nothing less than a bribe
to the press; and he had seen Irish papers, •nd he
must say, that without exception he had never seen
hi any paper in this country such monstrous attacks
upon private characters, both living end dead, and
nothing could exceed the base and cowardly and
disgusting publications with which the Irish Go-
vernment papers teemed against her Majesty the
Queen.—(Hear, hear.) —The proclamations were
inserted by order of Mr. Grierson. a Gentle-
nyiti who held a situation of 5001. a year un-
der Mr. Price, who enjoyed a salary of 3,000/.
a year es editor of the Dublin Gazette, in fact
for doing nothing at all ; and if his information
was correct, Mr. Grierson, the deputy, had been
in the Milk of making returns for more than
bad been inserted. If this were the case, lie
thought Mr. Grierson should be ordered to
the bar of the House, and made to account
for thesie false and scandalous returns. He (Mr.
Bennett) lied moved on ■ former occasion for
an account of the manner in which 10,000/.
had been expended on proclamations; and by the
returns it appeared that from the gunner ending
in 1818 to tire sth January 1840, 400 proclama-
tions had been inserted in the Dublin Correspond-
ent, for which they received 1,17 a/. ; the Dub-
Ins Patriot received 282/.; the Hibernian Jour-
nal, 1,4031. It would appear that this Journal
received a regular salary, independent of the va-
rious advertisements, for they received every quer.
ter 259/. and it was impossible the ndvertisements
could have amounted to that sum ; end the only
reason why this paper was thus favoured was, that
it basely and indiactiminately slandered every man
!list was at all opposed to the Government. It
was notorious that the Dublin Evening Post, Car-
rick's Morning Post, rod 7'he Freeman's Journal,
bad five times the circulation. " But." soy the
Government, " these are vile opposition papers ;
such is the bad taste of the people of Ireland, that
they are universally read throughout the coun-
try, but we shell nut encourage them." The Dublin
Patriot psid in stamps 608/. in the period he had
mentioned, and received for the Government ad-
vertisements efli/. while Carrick's Morning Post
paid for stumps 2,8661. and received for Government
advertisements in the same period 401. He had said '
enough to spew the extent to which the abuse had been
curried. But this was hot all : the same system was
practised by the Masters its Chancery, who ac-
tually directed the Solicitors in what papers their
decrees al Id he inserted, and he had in his pes-
o ssion letters from the most respectable Solicitors,
whose names, if necessary. he was at liberty to
use, setting forth what lie hail stated. This con-
duct afforded a strong contrast with the course
pursued in the Excise; for Mr. Hawthorn, a most
excellent and respectable gentleman, caused all
the advertisements relative to that department to
be inserted in those papers that had the most cir-
culation, instead of the other poor paltry journals.
It was neediest' to point out the evils resulting from
thus bribing the press. They were bought tip for
vile lucre to abuse and revile all the opponents of
the Administration, and he sincerely trusted that
the Irish Secretary, to whose heart he knew every
thing was dear that concerned the interests and
happiness of behind, would inquire into the evil,
and use every means to correct it.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. C. GIIANT said, the House must remember
this was not a new grant ; however. he did not men-
tion this in justiGration of his conduct in continuer%
it. it had, however, been reduced from 10,000/. to
7,0001. It had been justly stated that the object
of inserting proclernetioes was to obtain publicity ;
one mode of doing this was through the Dublin Ga-
zette, the authentic cheitirel of informution ; and he
confessed that he had been ignorant or the manner
in which information was circulated to distant parts
of this country. But when he had come over and
inquired, he found that in order to circulate the
prot •letnationa through distant parts or the country,
messengers were sent down from the Exchequer,
who, for a small sum, were responsible for circu-
lating them. This he considered a good end cheap
mode of communicating informat , end it was
his intentiois is, impure whether a similar regutr-
lion could be extended to Ireland. The vote hail
been reduced with a view to consider the subject.
On the general question he could only say that he
should turn his attention to it, for no man was

--P•vr-

'

more anxious to correct any abuses that might
exist.
Lord Mt Llton had no doubt that the Right Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. (Lent) was anxious to correct
abuse; and if it 'were true that Mr. Grierson had
made false returns, it was most important that
seri) a transaction should not pass unnoticed.
After a few words from Mr. ii3CIaPILTT and Mr.
GOV 1.111! 1111
Mr. Hume said, the wiry way to correct the abuse
inJrel Ind* and check its progress here, was to re-
duce the grant. It appeared that the stein was
not confined to the Government, for the Commis-
sioners of Wide Streets had paid within three years
to The Correspondent 1,2301. for advertisements ;
and from various other estahlishmetttli they had re-
ceived for advertisements 3,750 Z., Ore 'time* more
than any of the papers that had three times the cirCe=
' lotion. He now wished to call the attention of the
House to the state in which the English Press was
l•krly soon to be. He had lately called the attention
of she House to the Times newspaper, and the Chan-
cellor nf the Exchequer stated that no order's bad
been given respecting the printing the Government
advertisements. He had 'nice inquired, and he
found that within the last year the Government had
caused that no Goverornent advertisements should
be inserted in it, in consequence of the part it had
taken in politics. He deprecated dna system. and
he lamented that any Government should he obliged
to resort to such a course; yet the Times paid,
in the last year, 50,0001. for stamps. To the paper
it could be no injury, but to the public it was very
considerable.

Mr. DAWSON said the Government should not
support any useless papers, and lie regretted that
they published their advertisements iu Ireland in
one of the most obscure and useless, as Well as the
most contemptible and odiousjournals that ever was
published, he meant the Hibernian Journal.—
(Hear.)—lt had lately sent forth abuse upon the
character of Mr. Grattan, whose memory would
ever be esteemed and d by every Irishman
who loved his country.—(Cheers.)—lt roused the
indignation of every man in the count►• that even
the mime of that great and good man should ap-
pear in this paltry and contemptible Journal.--
( Hear, hear.)—And during the late discussion
upon the Catholic Question, it contained para-
graphs calculated to stir up the people of Ireland
to acts of open rebellion.—( Load cheers.)
Mr. GRATTAN •aid, on the paper to question he
was not now disposed to waste an observation. He
hail seen the paragraph alluded to by the Host.
Gentleman opposite. and at the spur of the mo-
ment he was induced to reply to it ; but he wished
the attention of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Grant) would be directed to the subject, for it
was unbecoming that the characters of men who in
their life time deserved well of their country should
when dead be submitted to unmerited obloquy.
Mr. llstimax corroborated the statement with
respect to the Times, and wished to know whether
the Secretary to the Treasury was prepared to
deny it ? _

Nn answer being given—
Mr. iloonousa wished to know whether the
House were to infer from the silence of the Govern-
ment that the statement was troe ?

Lord MlLTON—Surely the Chancellor of the
Exchequer will give some answer;
No answer was given, and the grant was agreed to.
Sir R. WILSON said, as the hoar was now late.
and as many items would be brought forward that
were likely to create discussion. he thought it
would be prudent to adjourn the debate.
At the request of Mr. GRANT, he consented to
let the remaining Irish Estimates be gone through.
On the proposed grant fur the Police end Witch.
Mr. Hums expressed a desire that this should
stand over, as he had some observations to make
upon the Magistrates.
Mr. GRANT said, it was his intention to intro-
duce next year a Bill to regulate them ; at present
the Magistrates were divided into districts-12 were
chosen by the Government, and 12 by the Corpo-
ration. three of whom were Barristers and three
Slieriffs' Peers.
Mr. Hums raid, that under these circumstances
he should not oppose it.
On the proposed grant for the Bsrrack Depart-
ment—

Mr. GRANT *Mid it was the intention of the Go-
vernment to consolidate the two departments of
England and Ireland into onr.
Mr. GRATTAN complained of the immense num-
ber of barracks kept up in Ireland, and also of the
frequent use of the military power. By this means
the civil power had almost gone out of use ; •
soldier was employed upon every occasion; but a
few resolute Gentlemen would, in his opinion, do
more to quell any disturbances that might arise,
and in this department considerable reduction
might he made.
Mr. GRANT said the Government were endea-
vouring to dispose of as many old barracks as
possible.
Mr. stoat? said, there were in the city of Dub-
lin, at the Royal Barracks, • Barrack Master and
a Deputy Barrack Maste►. Clue of those, Sir Ed.
Stanley, was, he lerstood, a renowned " City
Knight" and • red hot loyalist.—( A laugh.)—
' Ile might, fur aught he knew, be a good kind of
111411 ; but, as he had no duty to perform, the coun-
try should not pay him 500/. a year, and he
prayed the attention of the Irish Secretary to it.
Mr. GRANT Paid, that this was one of the stut.
tions g►anted sunder the Act of 1797, and it became
extinct on the death of the present possessor._

Sir R. WILSON again pressed upon the Hoeise
the necessity of adjourning the debate ; on the pro-
priety of which • conversation arose between the
Marquis of Londonderry, Mr. Hume. Mr. Mouck,
Mr. Broughton, Mr. Arbuthnot, sod Mr. Robinson,
when it WWI finally agreed that the further consi-
deration of the Report should be adjourned to
tu-morrow (this day).
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed
of, and the House adjourned at • QUARTER TO
ONE O'CL‘ER.

I.ord STRANGFORD had his public audience of
the GRAND N'IZIER on the 19th, and of the
thiAND SEIGNIOR on the 2241 of May. Lady
STRANGFORD accompanied her husl►and in male
attire, and although the streets through which they
passed were thinned with people to witness the
procession► not the slightest disorder took place.—
(Ercning Paper.)

ffeN,PP/....•••