The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-04-18 00:00:00

LORD CHATHAM.

This question he considered to he of extreme
importance, and it was of such a nature, that when
he heard of the fact, he could scarcely believe it to
be possible. He hail heard, that notwithstanding
the tender of his resignation by Lord Chatham. and
its acceptance by Iles Majesty, of which they had
been assured by the Hight lion. Gentleman °pito-,
site, that Noble Lord still continued to fulfil the
dutiesof Master-Grater:ll of the Ordnance, and to
draw the salary, and exercise the patronage per-,...
I/tilting thereto. lie swished to be inforin'ed by the
Hight lion. Gentleman, if this was true or not
The Cr ANCILLOS of the ExcHaqu et said, that,
in point of fact and of law, Lord Chatham conti-
nued to transact the business of Master-General of
the Ordnance, from day to day, till his successor
should be appointed.' This was necessarily done in
all patent places. Cut hr had merely fulfilled the
duties of the offiea,and had abstained from advising
in the Cabinet. earn iug in the reports, &c. to His
Majesty. or &M.; any other official act connected
with his situation, which had devolved, in the inte-
rim, on the Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance.

Mr. Wurraatan conceived this to he 1 gross and
scandalous delusion, practised on the Mouse and the
country by His Majesty's Ministers. They had in-
fanned the House that the Noble Lord's resigna-
tion had been teudervd and accepted; but hr could
not understand how that was done, if he still cam-
tinned to fulfil the duties of the office. Ile had of
late given the Right Hon. Gentlemen opposite se-
veral opportunities of explaining th's matter, by
urging the inexpediency of Living so important
an office as Master-General of the Ordnance Ira-
coot, and had once directly asked him if it was
filled up ? But still the Atelusion had been car-
ried on. They were now met by the foirn of
patents ; but how would that have hero, had the
Noble Lord been deprived of his came in couse-
qiience of a site of the ? Would lie then.
still have been allowed to do the duties of that im-
portant office, and manage trifler military etl'airs, of
which they thought bins so ut.iit c The 'Ugh! Ilon.
Getstleman, he fancied, nits aware that a motion to
this effect was only not made. beesiew the Noble
Lord resigned his situation. It was not whether he
attended Cabinet Councils, advised Ministers, or
performed other acts, but whether he actually re-
mained in office, alter the Illative and Country uu-
derstood he hail retired ?

The CHANCILLLOII or the Eat HEQUER explain-
ed. By law, one patent could only be revoked by
the communication of another. and the duties of
an office must be discharged by the last patentee,
even after hie resignation, till such time as his suc-
cessor was appointed.
Mr. Whyratc,to rose to speak, when he was
collad to order .by a Member, who %titer', that
there was no question on this subject before the
Wiese.
Mr. WHITBREAD then sail, he would raise a
question in a motorist. i-h.ol to be informed,
in point of fact, if Lord Chatham still recei►ed the
salary of his office?

The CUANCLLLOS of the EXCUEQUIER thought

„,,b74,,,,,r,„rh.eetAvent.ittlac.etitionoytord:ecad,seie it, id
oivioi
rannostb:: did ntohte
'stated, that Lord Chatham had received liar i
as Nlaster-General of the Ordnance, till the ,;;
of the last quarter.
Mr. Wxyriattan expressed a hope that he
do so no more, to prevent the disagrt ealdr
of hlts bringing a” question on any subject bi 11;,,,.
the Noble Lbrd, under the discussion of the
The oIuLICITOWGEMERAL then reties ed ttietv;
versatiOn with respect to Mr. Hunt; and alter gvi
remark. from the Chancellor of the Exr+tm..
the Speaker, Mr. Wilson, and Dlr. Cali r;
further consideration of the matter esg p.,:pc!.
till the loth of May.
LON DuN WET DOCKS.

Mr. W. SMITH moved the second rending id 1;,
London Wet Docks Compensation I:ill.
this merely for the purpose of having the
referred to a Committee to recon.iiit r the
of curtain individuals injured the eoi:Shi„l.„•,
these Docks, and who had not bre o snit. ,•
coutipemated for their losses, under the I.
passed by Parliament for their relief.
The CHASCEI.Lua of the N.Yt NI ovs „. 3
this as •cessary; and contended, that th,
missioners for granting c.enpensatiotis had ;
the most Wirral in, er. Hr itl,o ain.„
on the made of brinuing ward a rlaitu 1..1
money, by a Hilt, itrneinl of a ti:,
eeAding the u.nal concurrence of 11, Nil, ~,••
Goverument. If it had liven done in the
way, as a Counsellor of His Nlsjesiy, he aoril.! .•
felt himself bound to advims a refusal ; MINI•
Was nothing in the course adopted to ircuinunim
the claim to his concurrence.

Mr. Holmes Sumner, Mr. Hibheft. Mr. W.
Smith. Mr. Willictforce, Mr. Matey at. awl Mr.
Merlimn, severally delivered their opinions oil the
queetuni.
The SPEAKER, before potting the question, had
to slate what was of some impurtatice to the pm_
credings of the House. The present claim
further demand on the public purse than had beet,
already granted to the claimants by Parliiiii.ent. if
it had originated Inc petition, it must have received
the sanction of His Majesty's Government; bet this
was avoided, and a bill was brought in to explain
and amend a.former Act. and call for more moon.
This was deserving. of the serious attention of the
House, as it was giving. the go-by to their sm..
turned forms, and potting on a mast to deceive
the House, and put an end to their custom--
The Bill was not declaratory. but to explain and
amend a former Act, and ovoid the sanction of the
Crown. Under these circumstances, he' I. ft it to
the House to decide whether it could by porsibility
be received ?

Ali. W. SMITH felt that this remark us. fahi in
the Bill; hat explained. that the persons tut altpui
he was interested. had no drt•ite but to lv,re .
explauied, arb;eli, in their opts r on, had
bar tn:-in-
terpreted. He trusted thec would 1101 out
from sU redrew.

The question was then put, and the tow:oz.. -
Fpotired.
Thermstrcet.r.on of the Ext,tirltrs „no.-
tire, that he would, to-morroio, n.,,,e fu. Ivor et
1)644 in a Bill to consolidate into one the Mb,
40,.reyor of the Crow n Lan,ls, sod Sur
Woods and Forest,. The Itvit lieu, t;• ni!,a“l.l
gave a notice with re spret to the
of olfier, but, from the low tout it tua e.
we could tint aseertuin what it was.
tieollll JUDGIN. _

The Immo .t D C 11. A N bronzht
a Bill f.r nitgoatotiog the salaries or the
Judges; wis.olt was read a first time, aud ordertd
to be rend a trentoll trine to-morrow. _ .

• Mr. Ll !ROTOR brought up the Report of the
Committee on the Guadeloupe trade.— rhe Ite,o-
lutioos were weed ►o.
Mr. LIJERINOTOII also brought up the Report of
the Supply, when the Irish, Commissariat and bar-
rack Estimates, were agreed to.
The Isle of Mao Trade, and the Irish Conover
went severally through Committees.—The
Reports to be received tn-morrow.
Mr. A. COOPER presented the Papers ordered by
the House respecting the securities takeu by the
Board of Ordnance from Mr. Ridge.—Laid on the
table, and ordered to be printed.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed
of, and the House Adjourned at Nine o'Clock.

WESTMINSTER MEETING,