The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-01-26 00:00:00

Ettlt EIGN 1111 MENTS.

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Mr. PON SON 11Y rose for the pii Tow. of putting
a question to Ministers. the object of which was to
know, whether they would have any objection to
lay before the House, as speedily as possible,
copies of such papers as passed between this coun-
try and Itilesia relative to mediation. He wished
to have this point settled previously to his %Ora.-
ilueut motion, more especially as he conceived it
could oat be a point of difference, as it was totally
unconnected with the affair at Copenhagen.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
assented, and seemed to imply that they would be
laid on the table to-morrow.
REVERSIONARY GRANTS. . .

Mr. EANKES moved that the Address voted by
the House lust Session relative to this subject
should be read from the Journals previously to his
making his promised motion. This bring accord-
ingly dote!, the Hon. Gentleman then rose, and
addressed the /louse in pursuance of his former no-
tice. He observed, that towards the close of last
Session of Parliament, the measure which he was
about to move for leave to bring in a Bill to effect,
was considered to be of such importance as to call
for the Address which had just (bet, been read, and
to which His Majesty had been pleased to return
most gracious answer. These eircatn.tances evi-
' dently sheared the conviction of the !louse as to the
necessity of that measure, and the support it had
already received, and 'made him rest assured iu the
confidence, that the House had seta no reason to
depart from their former opinion, and that he
should experience then, at least, no obstacle in the
passing of a similar Bill. It was indeed not rest-
ing upon himself, neer upon any particular
; but it deeended upon the *ease of dile
which the House itself must entertain in perfecting
and maintaining its owu work.. It might perhaps
be sufficient fur him to put the House in pm/mission
of the fact, as, it stood, and wily recommending
them to persevere in what they formerly conceived
to be an useful end beneficial measure; but lest
any suspicion* should exist in any other quarter,
that the House was eudenvouring, in any way what-
ever, to trench or encroach on the prerogatives of
the Crown; he was desirous to state to them, that
it did nut, in any degree, touch the prerogative at
all. If the measure tended to create any to ry
suspensions of that prerogative, as at presasf ewer-
cised, it restored it fuller and inure strongly, and
in a way more advantage/au* to the Crow., and
more beneficial to the public. These consequences
would result for this among other reasons, that of-
fices, when becoming sweat, were more likely to
be bestowed up at more proper objects of howdy
than when the public notice was less attracted to the
circumstances under which they were given ; and to
prevent undue motile* from being operative in
granting offices to persons unfit for their csecupe.
tiou. On thole grounds he thought this ei lit mea-
sure to pass at any time, but more particularly un-
der the present circumstances of the country. It
was well known thin a Committee of Enquiry into
certain measures of economy had been going on
during the two last Sessions of Parliament, and
still continuing, by whom many offices of emolu-
ment, but with no deity to exercise, might he en-
tirely suppreioicil; but the existence of offices in
reversion world have the effect of putting off, to a
great length of time, the execution of any permit-
rnendation proceeding from that Committee. This,
which had formerly been urged as an objection
Noised the pn•sent measure, was, with them, a
ground on which he 'night chiefly rely in urging its
expediency. He did not conceive, however, that
there could be sue occasion to trouble the House
further upon A motion which formerly passed with
its unsiiittione.coneurrence. He should only ex-
press his hope for the same degree of unanimity
regard to the Bill he should now propose. The
Hon. Gentleman concluded with moving for leave
to bring in a Bill to prohibit the granting of Offices
in Reversion for joint live*, or for the benefit of
survivorship.
Mr. W. DUNDAS opposed the measure, upon
what he called the distinct and bread gowned that
it violated the preroe,stive* of the Crown. It was by
no totems to le deemed customary to have the
same ioensuree brought forward in each Session of
Parliament, notwithstanding a variation of cir-
cumstances which might, in the intervals, have
taken place. The proposed measure, in his opi-
nion, interfered with the Finance Committee, al-
ready appointed. Besides, what was to he feared
from the grantingof revennons by the Crown, when
in uo instance had the Celown been known to abuse
it ? If any such attempt wee inede, the agents r/f
I the Crowu world be responsible for it, and if Noy
could be pointed oat, it tranild be no dtiuma upon
the (7ommittee now existing, to proprew recom-
mendation to them to rectify such abuse. It nes,
he believed, merely the spirit of reform ac-
tuated iudividuala to propose what might be deem-

ed unnecessary, under existing circumstances. He
remembered that, many years ago, a person, who
was an eager reformist of the day, and tipok an active
part iu almost every motion of a reforming ten-
dency, he meant the lute Mr. Bourkg,do,recatodin
his latter Tears. there active exertions which he had
made in his earlier days. It was the duty of time
House oft:ominous, so far from being jealous of the
rights and privileges of the Crown, to be the guar-
dians and protectors of them, as constituting the
foundation of their own.
Mr. WHITBREAD observed, that he could
net allow such a statement as lie had beard to pass
without comment. The single reason which the
Right Honourable Gentleman had adduced as an
argument against the proposed bill, was that it
trenched upon the prerogatives of the Crown.—
Ile denied the position, and in the next place
Jsuid observe, that it was au argument which was
incontrovertible ; it would not be a sufficient rea-
son alone for the House not encouraging the mea-
sure ; for if the immunities of the Crown were too
great, it was the duty of that House to restrain
them. He was not ut all surprised at the Right
Honourable Gentleman urging the sentiments he
did, as he thought it would be but gratitude in him
to favour such existing privileges, lie being himself
in expectation of enjoying an Office in Reversion.
It writ, however, the duty of the House of Com-
mons, in consequence of the address they voted last
Sessions, to take this matter into re-consideration,

and having done so, they were at liberty to take
what measures they thought proper ; for whatever
might be the opinion concerning it elsewhere, and
the opposition it might meet with, he was convinced
it would meet general support in the House.—
The Honourable Mover had jusly observed,
that the bill in question merely suspended,
and did not trench npon the prerogatives of
the Crown. He was decidedly of the same
opinion, as it only went to take from the Crown
the •poaer of appointment, at a period when it
cannot be exercised in a manner otherwise than
unjustifiable. The Right Region:able Gentleman
had observed, that in such Cll4Ol there was a con-
trout of the Kings Ministers, to prevent its being
abased. The Right Honourable Gentleman may
have been in that situation at the time that an
office will granted in reversion to him, but there
might be cases where persons were infants,
or in their cradle, when offices were granted
to them. If he, Mr. Dundes, thought that this
was not an improper appointment to en office, it
was in vain to argue with him. From the size and
capacity of the Right Hon. Gent. however, he had no
reason to suppose, that he, at the time the reversion
now in his expectation, was granted, was either an
infant, or in his cradle. The Right Hon. the
Chancellor of the Exchequer opposite, stood, how-
ever, iii that situation, for if he was not misinform-
ed, he was either a minor or an infant, when a re-
version was granted to him. He meant to speak
also of Lord Arden, who now held a lucrative of-
fice, which he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
would hold in reversion. It wait not at the time
that this was granted to be conceived that that
Right lion. Gentleman was to be a man of abi-
lities, as he now was, ►sir was it conceived, that he
was to hold that high situation which he now held,
but in troth it was a reversionary office, and re-
quired.no more talent than to heatbk to count the
money into his pocket. Having thin alluded to
the principal ohjlectlons or the Right Hon. Gentle-
man who opposed this measure, he should only
' further add, that it was his anxious expectation to
have it sent to the House of Lords by unanimous
vote.

Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, he could state
one instance, within his own knowledge, wherein
rcvenionary grant had proved injurious to the
Realm. 1k meant iu the case of the Custom-house
Collector of the port of Dublin. That oMee could
not undergo any regulation, because it was grant-
ed in reversion for three veers, although it had
fallen vacant twice 'within the space of twelve
mouths ; so that the regulation of it is still suspend-
ed. Tien was such a glaring case in point, that he
could not avoid alluding to it on the present occa-
sion.

Mr. HORNER next rose, and stated, tbat in
addition to what had fallen from the two last speak-
ers, he could not refrain from adverting to one
particular point, which had been alluded to by the
Right Hon. Gentleman who had opposed this mea-
sure. In doing so, lie was merely attempting to
execute what might be called the duty of every
Member of that House, namely, to remove any
groundless or ill-founded aspersion thrown out
against a respectable and highly-deserving charac-
ter, who bud sat in it. The Right Hon. Gentle-
melt had ftid, that in his latter days, Mr. Burke
repented hint of his measures of economical reform,
and of every other measure of reform, in which he
had taken a part during the American war. On
that fact he would venture boldly to come to an
issue with the Right Hon. Gentleman. Ile would
say that Mr. Burke, not only in his declining
years, but in those work, which he has transmitted
to posterity, so far from expressing remorse
or regret for tW part he took in reform, and
in that cause in v&ich he was ever engaged;
testified the most sincere conviction of the
propriety of the principles sad opinions he
heti formerly pursued, and evinced the utmost eon-
eistency of conduct. In the last work of Mr.
Burke, in which he repels the attacks made upon
himself, he takes glory to himself in having been
associated in all the measures which distinguished
the party to which he belonged, it opposing wars
and oppression, and in proposing the foundations
of economical reform. This 'hewed to his
(Mr. limner's) mind what was the real ob-
jecting' to the present measure ; it was not
because it trenched upon the prerogatives of
the Crown, hut because it was a measure of reform,
' although a slight one; and it was such like mot-
' sures, as those of reform, that that Right Hon.
Gentleman, and those who would join bun in op-
posing, world wish every one who took a part in
them to repent of at the end of their lives. He
thought that this was a measure that ought to be
encouraged, and even to base been underteeen by
Adininistration. it went to leave the King's pre-
rogative where it was, and might even protect it in
some itistinces. As a measure of reform and
economy, lie thought it was one highly entitled to
their atte,ition because it was instituted for the
purpose of reducing the public expenditure. If