The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-03-26 00:00:00

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the year 17?... th• saelb cffiee was Itgais rata..
etsi for life to Lord A ikelton. Them were thci
only two instances 'kV+ had occurred du ;nit
the period of one hundred and twenty-two years.-
Upon these inetaacre, Ihave prepared myself with a
few of the fans to state in support of thin present
motion. The circumstances of the one cannot.
with propriety, be compared to those of the other,Lord Ashburton had filled the situation of Solicitor
General, had been at the head of his profusion for
many years (Hear! hear !), and bad dininguislted
himself, on many occasions, in this House, by his
consistency of conduce, and exertions to sup-
port the rights ef the people, and the dignity
of Parliament. 1 recoils* of no similar ,ex-
anions on the past of. the Right Honourable
Gentleman (Bear! eine: frays the Opposi-
tion Beaches.) That Noble Lord was also ea-
eluded from advancement in his profession, by at-
riving at the dignity of a peerage, Lord Mansfield
being at that time Chief dustier of the Court of
king's Bench, and Lord Loughborough Chief
Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. Under
thesecirennutances. Lord Ashburton being thought
to deserve well of his country, get the situation
now alluded to ; not as an inducewdet for what he
should in future do, but as a reward for what he
bad .already done. These, I behave, are the only
instances of the Chancellorship of the Duchy of
Lancaster being granted for life, but I wili not u-
nlit it positively. How, then, can it be said, that my
motion can trench upon the prerogative of the
Crown ? It must be its the tecolledtion of the
Howe, that in the month of December, 1783,
it being underssocd that His Majesty was about
to grant that office for life, on its having again
became vacant, the Hense of Commons did in-
terfere, and I hope this House will de the
same. On the 23d of December, 1783, an Ad-
dress was presented to His Majesty, praying that
he would be giaciously pleased not to grant that
situation again for life, but only for a limited period.
as at that time it was, thought it would be found
necessary either to do. away that office entirely, or
tc introduce certain modifications. I am net so
wedded to the terms of the motion I have now
inciposed, as not to ague to modify it in the
same tetm:, if more agreeable .to the House. A
Committee has been already appointed to inquire in-
. to Use please expenditure, and to suggest the most
proper modes of 'felling any savings therein. I
am pot yet warranted in stating that the office of
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will, in con-
scquesce of their inquiries, be abolshed t but I have
• reanen to think that they will unite in opinion with
Mr. Burke, that it might really be dispensed with.
It will shortly be a matter of consideration, in that
Committee, whether any office should be abolished
during the life of the grantee? and I think it may
be stated to be a grievance, as well as that of Rever-
sion. His lA-key has indeed the power of grant-
ing certain siteat ions for the life of the grantee ; but
it may perhaps he thought proper to allow that to
exist only during his own lite. The objet of favour
of one King. or of case Govettunent, may have no
claim of favour from rise next. is he intended
grant to be considered in the light of a reward for
set vices done ? 1 cannot make that admission.—
That Right Hon. Gentleman, if report says true, is
,bout to be entrusted with another very honourable
tand profitable situation. Are the Members of
hot new Adrainistration, already placed ip such
a notation with the public, as to take upnn them-
selves such a great degree of responsibility ? I should
be glad to know for what reason this additional office
is thus to be given away ? Bin, Sir, I have still
smother ground to gu upon ; I may proceed to sup-
pint my Metiou upou sue mete general principle,
that, pending LI-se investigation and inquiries of this
Coieuettee, so appoieird, wa ought nut to infer-
tile, so as to delay their deliberations, or impede
chair powers. The Measure which I propose
stria cettoinly not be liable to the ohjea.ion I heard
sta-ed, aenerday, relative to Reversionary Rights.
It is no innovation of established custom. On the
Address which 1 have alluded to being presented
to I li. Majesty, he was graciously pleased to state,
that he agreed with the suggestion. It cannot be
alleged with propriety, that this is a sort of taking
the House by surprise. Although I have been but
a short time in the House, I hope the House will
believe me. when they consider the circumstances of
this case, incapable of taking any such advantage of
those whom it may materially concern. I really
never intended to take them by surprise. This is a
motion which has sprung up nut of the Debate of
yesterday, and is of such a nature, that had I de.
layed, even fur a few hours longer, in giving my
notice, this motion would have been rendered nu-
gatory. AU who know the Hon. Gentlemen now
en the Ttessury Bench. might also know, that such
a motion would soon have been tendered unneces-
sary, as they are disposed to grasp at every advan-
tage. They will do well, however. if they will al-
low every opportunity to the Committee now sitting,
go go on redlifying•eilsOng *hoses, without any ir-
regular interference, in offices which are the subjeet
of their (the Committee's) deliberations." The
Hon. Gentleman tr.en concluded with reading hi;
motion, as stated at the commencement of his
e?eech.
Mr. WARD—" I rise for the purpose of sc.
cowling the motion which has just now been
made, and to express my full approbation of the
Hon. Gentleman's cendna and motives in bringing
it forward. It is recommended by every consider-
ation that can be derived from recent example or
Precedents. These precedents are sufficient to sa-
tisfy us that we are not interfering with the King's
prerogative. livery grant, of the nature of that
alliteLid to in this motion, tends to impair the dig-
nity of the Crown, in so far as it puss it out of the
Kirg'• power to punish a weak, an inefficient, or a
wicked Minister, by depriving him of those places,
a' pleasure, *hich he might, at a nature period,
think right to bestow upon wiser and better men.
I- takes away all iwnr, ihnsierout from the S'sve.
reign, even when he f:::Js he has been deceived in
his expeaations. It puts his Ministerslout of thepro-
tiaicn of their Sovereion, by putting it out of his
revue- to dismiss them t: (fin that patronage and in-
Beeline he formerly thought proper to bestow. They
may not only despise their Sovereign's authority, but
also the authority of the Srnate of the nation. Such
grants an- obviously tai c nstitiational, and have a
tendency tc raise up a race of men to be independent,
net tansy of their ; • etneign. from whom they ea.

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