The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-03-20 00:00:00

PUBLIC ECONOMY,

The reports of the Finance Committee were en
tered as read, and the same referred to a coonnett e
of the House, to consider thereof. The flutist hat-
ing gone into this committee,
Mr. MAIIITIM said, he rose to discharge tie duty
he had imposed on himself, of bringing under the
discussion of Parliament, the third report of the
Committee of Finance. In doing this, hr woe glad
to know that no opposition would he made to the
principles on which he set out ; when they iecol-
lected their writhe:4.es to the throne on two diffeient
occasions, mid their pledges on the subject of pub-
lic economy, he was sure there could be no
iodis-
posiri„n iu uny individual, to assist, asfar us lay in Isis
power, in the task of reaming t;.est asourare es to
practice. That economy was necessary, no one would
venture to deny ; that it was necessary for our
own political system ; that it sous necessary front
the aim of the enemy at our finaticial resources ;
that it was necessary, from being the wish of the
people, was obvious to every one. lints even if
Parliament had not been pledged as they were, if
any one looked at the immense expense, diecluserl
by that report, in sinecure placer, there was enough
to induce a determination to reform. From the
report, it appeared that the amount of sinecure
places arid pensions was nearly 1,300,0001.-01
this stun it was but fair to say, that a great many
of the pensions were necessary, as having hems
granted by Parliament, in reward of publie
services; yet, even the amount of these. held as ne-
cessary, was an arguineut in favour of removing
those which could be done away without injury to
individual rights, or the legal prerogutive of the
Crown. This 4300,0001. it west also be recol-
lected, was independent of the Duchy of Lamas-
ter, which was not included in the Appendices to the
Report, and of which Mr. Burke bad said it pro-
' duced a revilitie of 4,0001. nod patronage to the
amount of .10,m/01. a-year.. All these MUDS it was
to be reeiembered, were either raised by direct
taxes, or by fees, which operated as rates. When
they considered the remainder and weight of the
taxes paid by the people, they would be anxious
to avoid any thing that could reader it necessary to
bare recourse to new and additional burdens. At the
time he first proposed his resolutions, he had been
extremely anxious VI have them carried into effect
with all possible speed ; but be was happy to think,
that no injury had been sustained from the delay
which had talsen place. Since that period, the
declaration of a Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Hus-
kisson) had deservedly called for the most earnest
attention of the House, and to public expenditure
and public estimates more attention was now paid
than had ever been paid at any former period. If
they wanted other reasons to induce them to per-
severe in a system of reform, they would be found
in "Ant passed out of doors. They would he
found in the ci rcumatances attending the defalcations
of a Trealurer of the Ordnance and a Paymaster wf
the Marines. In mentioning the last, he should
merely notice, in pawing, that this was one of the
offices specifically pointed out as no longer neces-
sary by the Finance Committee of 1796. Though
the principles on which he stood were not objected
to, yet there might he, and was some difference in
their application.
had
Right Hon. Gentleman,
(Mr. Perceval) had proposed a double set of reso-
lutions, framed to his view of the subject. These
lie did not think went far enough. Another Right
Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Banker) had formed
a third set of resolutions, as amendments on
both the former, amid with these as far as he
had seen them he generally concurred.—He was not
wedded to his own opinion. with too mach perti-
nacity, but would cheerfully adopt atiy others that
might appear better calculated fur the public ser-
vice. Every thing that had passed since he framed
his resolutions had convinced him, however, that
they ought to be made stronger, rather than be
weakened. • He was happy to are the Right Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Banker) again taking an active
part in such discussions, as, from his knowledge of
the subject, his past services. and the promise of
still greater benefits to be derived from his
labours, he was sure the country would reap
great advantages. The Honourable Gentleman
then entered into an explanation of some points, on
which he bad been misunderstood, when bringing
forward his Resolutions last session: He had never
sail that nothing hid hems done for time reform of
public offices; on the contrary. he had stated, that
mush had been dime, but that utore was still pos-
sible. In 1796, after the recommendations of the
Committee, great reforms had taken place in the
Courts of Low, but since that period *not a step
had been taken; many of the sinecures were again
tilled up amid granted as they had been before. Ile
had also to notice the case of Judges and Chancel.
Tors. Their salaries soil peusions on retirement had
been increased ; but note of their perquisites had
been given up, in aniseipuisee of that increase.

. -
This fuconsidered as improper ; and Parliament,
when granting • better income, ought to have de-
manded from them some of that official patronage
which had been granted to them of old, whets they
were removable at pleasure, but was now uncalled
for, since they were independent of the Cinwn, and
fixed for life. If the suggestions of the C 'ttee
of MG, on this subject, had been attended to, tlq
far from Judges, &e. bring • burden ou the pub-
lic, there would have been a fund, not only fur
the payment of those who retired, but of the sala-
ries of those in office. The Chief Clerkship of
the Court of King's Bench, too, was an office
which might well have contributed to this fund fur
the general good. It would lse much better so.
than falling as a kind of lottery to Chief Justice*

with their aiffiev. and depending upon chance 'whe-
ther they would have the benefit of it or not. lu
fact it had only been five times vacant since the Re-
storation. In saying this, he wished to be undet-
stood not to desire to take away from throe patties
say of their right and just emolument or perquisites,
brit only to cave the public as much as possible in
mAintr, provision for them, by resuming the patron-
age granted under other circumstances. There

Was arotlier part or the ltdittie EXooedilur..
called loudly and imperion.ly for the enosi.tel
of the Ilouse—he meant the peitois
the ptereptive of the Crow°. lie might tot
a iiblic.,tion well known out of do,us, fin
pen a 111Ltlit Finn. Meinh,r of that Flouse,
ffnie) ; mot 'ten after weighing the known
ci th.o lion. Gentlemen, his eellitdi
is with tnil:+4, in which lie lord pas Sell 111,
part of a life, and his neeesa
re. of ilifotu.ltion, be se:•s rash euoligh
that mans- of his positions were erroneous
in eoutr.itliction to tl:e whole tenor (It' tl at
he would uudertalte to prove to the llout
the 11.0 w-tier of the Crown hail er.ormmtbi
irmitlgly I lea ed. Whi•thr they I
ist the amount of the public debt ;
lookesl at the'army, at the nary, at ti
wooer, at the pensions; they must be the inn
inoie eoileii:eed of this ; and he challenged t
l lon. brut. to the discus-ion of su opnotsre nl
lie did not meats to go at length into the
now, but would shortly notice these saran:,
In the first glare then, the prerogatite of
arts increased by the increased revenue tai
of the suliject. riia was out of their a.
From the mode of collection anti the
tiara expenditure, would the Rt. lion.
say, that in this retthect the intlne,:ce
Crown was leK4 110 W, 1111111 it W. 15 :I
time the celebrated u-bertiop was made 1,,
Donning? From pipers pr:dercd to the i
the reverse could be bitevio. At the
of Mr. Dion ii ioo ? the total public debt and n
was 144,830,4141.; the interclass, and rap
inanausug which, was 5,560.910 i. Ou
January lust, it amounted to 7:44,552,000!
the interest calculated ou 20th June Is
49,992,5361. Titus, in this branch, the h
hail been above five time; the original IMO
With respect to the Establishment of the
in Mr. Diiimiog's tine. though ei,,sged
•with France, Spain, Holland, and Ainern
number of our voilal and field-tar, r.
It was now U 03.2 Our expenditure a;
6,589,0501. Now it was 19032.0001.—S;111
create in expenditure and influence ha,
in the Ordnance. At the former period
pence was 1,270,0001. It was It ow, areor,
the estimates given in, 3,01910001. In Ili
the total number of Consmiesioneci Off(
I 13, t bry now amounted to °pale:di,
Their expense had beets ti,742,:titi. ur
1,500,0001. to pay off the navy debt ;
last year 1947801001. The same provosts.
observations held with respect to the ut
debt :•
That of the N say was
Of an the other - •
Boit what wait the previa tuns total ?
The Navy
Debt

Oostandiag Esebripier Bab -
it was true, the Minister in ended to fun.
millteneof this sum ; hut tins would cost Ws mil-
lion of further esp. me. These were ar,,u,neliti
agoiust this Right Hon. Gelid, man's position, th.,
the isfluetsce of the Crown hit diminished r.i
the time of Mr. Dunning, which could nut eloir
be whited. But iadepeadeut of these inuirr.mt
additionoto that influence. in the enormous gtcoth
of utabliihed sources, there had been others en• .
ted since that period. Did the Bight lion. Genii .
man forget the Barrack Department—did he far.
get the Transpoit Board—did lie forget the Board
of Controul. (described by Mr. Burke as the tint.
bed where young statesmen learnt. at 10.001. per
annum, to serve the state its other ofhLet, hot
trouble. at a greeter salary,) all of which added,
most materially, to the power and influence of the
prerogative ? lu those days of which they were
speaking. Sir Grey Cooper brought up to the Howe
a return of all the civil officers sprouted from the
year 1775 to SO. Would the lit. Hon. Gest. do the
same up to the present day. and satisfy the House oti
this important particular? The 'report, toe, au
conclusive evidence ou the subject of the lin:weed
influence of the Crown mi the matter of pen•irsi
Only look at the Appendices Not. u, 9, 10, 11, I:,
13. 14, and they would see them filled wilh Vie
various description.. tiers' the Hon. Gentleinis
enumerated them, and in particular called the
tention of the Home to those on the 41 per cent.
fund, which he contended had been pervert,/ :0
the increase of the prerogative, from the into,
for which it war originally destined, o.z. no
erection of fortification'. He then
being appropriated in pensions to Lord Kiai.o.
to Lord Chatham, and to the Doke of G oices:•r.
and the pensions of the latter bring t-iioscerred
to another (the consolidated) fund, wink other pet,
limbers were saddled 01 these. He did not meet
to enter into a minute discussion, nor to riti;el re
pensions as to the persona on whom tiiry
bestowed, but merely se increasing the inthr:•re
of the Crown. They had sprung up with the other
points he hail mentioned. since the 11:111 of Mi.
Burke ; and how then could the infiiteriec
said to have decreased since that period? He
objected to the granting of pension% on pub hi:
places. The Crown ought to have no power to
grant them, as Buike'o Bill limited the grants to
90,0001. f then it was thought that the ',woo-
tire was too limited, it would be better to come Joan
to the. House and ask for itr extension, rather thon
come by subterfuges. and, do it in a way the le:"
lity of which might well be doubted. It wes
wish that every year an estimate of the Pe"'"
should be laid before the Home. that all should
placed upon the annual list, and voted 'nasally
and he was sure. that no deserving officer wou
suffer from such a regulation. It was WWI"
that r o considerable reduction would take p'
at the rust adoption of this system, bat that was ro
reason why they should not proceed to reform 11
hoped after what bad passed lately in the I •
that this was only the prelude to other coriUdri.b•-i
riving, which a little time would realise: lie 11"1).
that they would not separate that rilzht.
Anteing his itesolutioos, or such of than a'
;reared necessary and etleantageons. He mg!!
ih
that in the former session they seemed so in,tiez lee
to the subject. ar.d feared, from the prereot
ante of the House, that %Ley were tile): to Ire !'
too careless. lie 0111 11111111.4 in adopt the to •
and second resolutions of the Chaticeller of
Exchequer, as there woo in re.dits on little -
rence between them nod hi.. own, hit, the Ow •I •
solution of the Rt. Hon. (teat. to n •

.61 Its

P

ter

2)4,h
.2 13
etatin to
I,y ter
1.0 ,Io set
the his
'Pt tio
taleine the
intan„ of
gren, r tht
mr,„ he
for
; ".4
dis
it work,
lel
sly
to
10,h61 it'
of
the r,•,t,
4re ;,,,(1
the It% i o
apiniol, fel
bt'4.l"l de
• 0
;Cum
se.' ma 1,,
'• Gm,
or the
It 'lie t h
Y:r,
in
le 'lute h'
revenue
pause
t,
the s y 1:
)!. ; stul
nst n,e
inerrioe
mod.—
.'. Arms ; re
1:1 a war e:
the st
,4+ the, el
Id riven it
the ex.
Wing to
al
I Of
lulu'', 4 tc
it 'sac t 1
ions sad
to( uLded
07
9,543,144
1i
',W of tl
10,112 i,
ul e,414
%Ira mil.
.:,u.nentt
loth th.it 3
hied !s c!
tot eloic
o growth
eri erte-
. Genth,
i he fee.
he Board
s the tot.
111001. per 4
Icts
h added,
ice of the
[hey were
Hoose
I from the
la. do the
House oo
Ito, was
int:typed
0, I I, I!,
I h tht
krllletnl2
d the
per cep?.

s principle which he (Ur. Martin) .eft it lit (lute
to oppose namely. flat some offices should b., indt.
tent of pntronatr,.. Three were he understinx.i,
resolutions to he prorriseti by an Hon. Fs ielid 0!
his (Mr. Bunke-) which lie should have no chive-
tion to, as far as Ina Wa. 114.1kie Hllll4llltelt Wait
their nature and substance. The eighth r. solution
of ti,e Chancellor of the Exi i,eyucr went In liimt
the !mission list to foreign its iii tern to 2 min ii-your,
he knew Volt many pet...mini had hero laieie giant. i
for rely short service.., and would a i,h to 'see some
distinction established, by which 1110,e who hod
serv,d long and successfully, should be
gnisiwd from those of a contr dest riptio.i. A.
to the influence of purliainent viich occasion-,
it was on new thing, they hal reduced the ilICOIllt
of the auditors of impressed accounts limn 13,0001.
a rear• ;to 7 0001. and ull the officers of the Ex-
.7!,equer, including the Teller hinifelf, had escaped,
in the year 1780, by u majority of live only. With
.em<ct to the officers employed iu the Chanecry
depart nent, who mad: use of the money helonging
-ii suitor., he thought that the interest should go to
Ice persons to whom the moneybelonged ; he saw
mason why it he otherwis-. He coii-
t.i:ded with proposing his Resolutions.

. .
Mr. 11.tivaEs stated, that he had au am. ntlinent
*lnch he Mtended to move In the sd Itesolution.
The ti. t (testilntim' was then pat, which stated,
ti.a. the uttno4 attemi.in In ecouo:ny was a duty
iiclaibent upon that [louse.
Mr. Ptx.c.Evat. said, that the only amendment
si.]ied to stig4est to that was, that it Wa4 a
ditty," for tio doubt every male engsg-
t. I : s pabitc ftinctioa, whether in or out of Pai-
-1 ~„•••,,t, wlis bound by that principle.
:V.:. floss begged have to notice some obser-
t:c.ifin which had been thrown out respecting a
n'cuio :.t which he had published, and In which hr
his name. in order that he might he
for the conteuts, and be liable to i•e

uOllll for an explanation of such doctrines or
as Gentlemen might be inclined to (hy-
po,. llc w:111 ready to allow that the ititere.t of
the de:,t VS:IS iticreas.• I i•li the principal of the
cl-ht oself, but how the ilifin nee of the Crnwn was
inerrascil l.y that weans, he d.d not know ; a greater
„,, h.,. of clerks might he to be appointed by the
Ea k, hu a,, what manner the Crown was to be
off eI by -old) .1 ppoluttnent., lie was yet to un-
Titere was, also, an additional revenue
01 tiny milieus sterling a year, but that reventr.!
co.ieeted by forty ur fifty persons, under
th.• nanq jtmdic ons useful regulations. He
I..id it, his paoto:,let by him to recur to—
t( brigh ivr ota!ti state the fact.—
•;.,,,. next ',ill(' t W 1,., the A •ity and Navy, upon
the !fon. Gentleman had dwelt for some
• chilly no rue tho Staff Department. On
t Itose) would acknowleilp,e
NiN not wry accurately acquisidten; but he
real I that in all the time during which he
hat ailimitistrition, he did not know that
t euty ,dEe, s' ,ommissions had here given away.
had a cused lii a of haw ng stated
upon the head of Barracks, or Trumped's,
or of the Board of Controtil. As to Betruckp, he
would r Ay, , VIA he wilt particular ; that be had
even corrected a mistake, and entered far into de-