The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-03-25 00:00:00

s The Hon. Mettler was the easeluding
• s•iifin:, a infiroll t when
11,- :4 E A Y. ER observed, that the most regular
e- seotOd be to appoint a future day to take
i. t •-•.:,•riAilit into C.9l,aderatton, and to move that
ri c•s:s he orelerfot to attrod
I,lr r said, that the sooner the matter was
v"' the httter ; ha shnold, therefore. move,
‘. That Mr. Al:ock and the witt eases be ordered t
atters.l th. 11,)4‘. to-morrow, and that the said
attune:lint he than taken into consideration." •
spoke in favour of this Geotle-
tr. an, Mr. Alcock, who, he said, was a h iend cif his,
and to VI hum acknowl,dged
_himself under the
restest ilattaran. Now that he bad lost all can-
not:lion v ith the borough, he cc:uld not, on this oc-
casion, avoid rating, that the eleSions there were
over cousiosled by Mr. Akock with the greatest im-
partiality and justice. Toe Hon. Gentloman had
made some vent plain allusions to forgeries having
brae corntr.ito .1 in the saturants ; he shoold. there-
fore, hope, that Mr. Alcork should be heard in his
&knee ; and, for that pur!...se, fof thought the con-
sideration of the complaint shoteld be postponed to
some future day.
Mr. ci 1 URGES BOURNE said, he did not
'Wok it ought to be postponed, as the Witnesses
had ahea.ly come from a great distance. There
were two ballots to take place upon Thursday n-xt,
and then it would be necessary to adjourn for the
Holydar ; and, therefore it would certainly be
;wire draftable to hear the evidence to •morrow, and
so allow Aft. Akoek a further time to prepate his
defence.
Sir JOHN NEWPOR'r thought, that, consist-
/111y with the former arrangements of the public
M•.: en, it would be impossible to proceed with this
matter to-more, w. He had state-d, yesterday, that
'the Loan few Ireland- was 'fleeted ; and that certain
Resolutions as to that . Loan, and as to the Finance
II that country, were to he moved to M-n row.
He could not think it would be fair cr rig'.t to poct-
pose these matters of public interest, on account of
aloe business now uoder discostion.
Mr. 5.4 pou it add.d, that it was not his
lvish to postpone the publ'e businesson account of
iltas inveiligation. The hweaor Should have the
• 1". releten: e.
Mr. TIERNEY said, that all'he was afraid of,
Os, that by its coming oa 10-1130170 w, Mr. Aleock
wight nr t he apprised so proper time, so, as to pre-
pare his Ye it nesses.
Mr. DEN r stated. that he bad nn ohjeaion en
make his motion conditionally, se thaP et might
come t‘,, tn.:morrow, if eitctimstances suite&
motion was then pot from the Chair and
allied to; and also sev,ral persons named. were
War, e.si it, attend to-morrow, as 'Witnesses.
Lori 110 WICK iittiniated, that it was I.is inten-
tion, to-m-orow. to prep-es the further postpone-
mNtt of the Aberdeen Eredion Petition.
ReVEWSIONARY GRANTS.
Mr. BANK Ei lose, and spoke upon this stilled
a. follows I rise. in pursuance of a notice I gave
.yesterday, to submit a Resolution anal Motion to the
flow.. found- I upon the previous Resolution. of a
.Committer of Founea In doing this, I shall not
loons -ccasion to detain the House long. It is in
he xecntirslieti of the flour., that a Committee was
• Ireele d to iona;re into the state of Public
4 .01es ; of ow Committee I have the honour to be
Cf airman. and therefore I have it more llama.
di: My in my power an state the purport of part of
th.iyovestigation. It struck that Committee, that
itte granting of places rn reversion, although sot ,
Lithe: to much abused. was a subjed eaceedinglyft to
be Wormed and altered. The papers already
lisetoe tae klouse will chew the extent to which these
revel eisios have gone in this coactry. By our con-
straion i-h Ireland. as lately formed, this predict,
of granting reversions is carried much clothe'. than
• I.rmerly. I shall not enlarge upon this topic, but
merely add, that after the House shall have agreed
to the Resolution of the said Committee, it would
be necessary, in older to re train the prat ice, before
it rises to a great allure, to bring in a Bill for that
purpose. This if. therefore, the • plan I propose,
aftsr submitting the Resolution to which I allude. for
llhe acqtriescetice and approbation of the House."
Mr. I3ANEE then moved. "'that there be a
Acvlutien of mit I-1
-,use, in conformity with that of
the Committee of Isioenee and Ir.quiry into the
&ate of Public Offices, that no office, place, em-
ploy ment, or sdaey. in any part of Ills Istijesty's
mulnisms, ought hereafter to be granted in revet-
sion.r
Mr, VC RE E—" Sir, I most confess that I feel
ery;siderable difficulty in assenting to this motion,
being vr. y doubtiul as to the propriety of making
an alteration of this kind, in this country ; the mote
etpiettaily, who n the Hon. Gentleman himself states
that co consbierabie abuse has exi led in regard to
retiersionaty graots. 1 am exceedingly hoots to
thing. t e accuAcroed praftice in this particular,
without. very strung reasons being assigned. With-
out gotr.g to agitate the coettino fully. I will
only, say,!that this power in the Crown, in granting
oli•ots in reversion, has been long enjoyed without
aosse—it has been enjoyed, for the purpose of IC*
wardirg the setfices of those who have distinguished
tl.cin.elves in their ex-rt ions for their country'ssood.
principiet. i should by us means wish to
take away that poorer from the Crown, the more
so, as in my opinion and view of the &Mika, it
is an admit saving to the State, that such a prac-
tice be Continued. The public are, at present,
paying one person, by granting him the emolu-
" .nents and salary of one reiSce at a time ; whereas,
by the proposed alteration and innovation, they
would. in cases of meritorious services, be under
• the necessity of rewarding one person with two
or mote offices, sp as to compensate the ser-
e'en he may have rendered. Notwithstand•ng
this being the case. we are now called on, at
once, or op en a notice merely of yesterday, to
take a, ay from the Crown part ot its prernsts-
tive. That notice was so given. that I declare I
• did not know whether the Hun. Member had post-
' ported a Malicia, or given notice of one, when
I came down to the House this day. I should re-,
con-mend, at all events, that the House should
take more time to consider of a mater of such ma-
terial importance. I think it is y very grave and
gt4.;•41.4 mater, and ought not to be decided upon,
without mature ennstdorattico."
Aritctrunt HOW1::.1:.1 Sir, I rise to state, that
this motion has my most decided 'omen. I canton

think it statuary to pottpone the consideration cf
such a Resolution to a future occasion. Ilse no-
tice WAS given yerterdah, in a full linage, end was.
I remember, pariictilatly marked by my Ghsereirhg,
that I would support it. The pre-cut Administra-
tion, far from being inclined to grant reversions,
have only granted one, and that wits tiedlr certaiish
circumstance. There liai beetta revinhion given
a certain Lew Officer in the Court of Chancery,
and in that case an application; was made mi me-
diately to the Crown. the Lord Chancellor ha.
obtained-His Majesty's permission to grant two small
places in reversion to a very old and meriim inus
servant, a man who had long been clef k to
and enjoyed a very comfortable and lucrative situa•
tion, till that Noble Lhrd came into office ; at
which time it became absolutely necess.ny t
provide for him. Tie ad iitional reversion which
has been thus created, is the 'relict-thin al that Court.
As to the propitety of the m^tinn, I do not think
that the mete statement of any usage, howe-
ver old, should ioduce the House to continue
it, if it is found not to be conducive to the pun-
lie se vice. I think, that no useful end CASS be
attained by it, and I never riser woh a difference of
opinion upon the subjed. When the Bill is bionght
in, there may be future stagesein which further aigu-
meats may be gone into ; but I cannot think, that in
any point of view, the present motion, a. to the
House agreeing with the resolution of their Com-
mittee, and allowing that resolution to be entered
upon their Journals, can be in the smallest d glee
ohjettonable. The Right Honourable Gentle.
man has observed, that it may be is. cessary to
grant double appointments, were such reversions
put an end to ; whereas, the public are at present
only saddled with one ; but, I think, S r. that the
case is perfeily the reverse; and, therefore, I am
inclined to suppose, that that Right Honourable
Gentleman must have only looked at the matter
slightly. Grants of reversion have been often
given to persons unfit for the situation they
hold, and not given merely as the rewind of
services ; while the public is thereby saddled with
additional expenses. Upon the ground alone of
this measure tending to prevent a double burden
coining upon toe public, I should be inclined to
suppi rt the proposition. The Right Hon. Gentle-
man teems to disapprove of the mode of bringing
the matter forward ; but as to that point, I have
only to observe, that as I approve of the measure, so
I approve of the method by which it ha; been
brought forward; it being founded upon the Resolu-
tion of a Committee already appointed by the
H; use. I approve, very much, of that Resolution
standing upon the Journals of the House; for
when that is the case, no Miniver will ever
take upon himself to grant any Reversion, contrary
to a standing order, even although no Bill was
alually brought M. As to insinuations which have
been made in this House, relative to more Rever-
sions having been granted of late years than for-
merly, I am not prepared to answer ; but this I
may stater-hat, undoubtedly, the praCtice has been
carried much too fart both in this Country and in
Ireland. Upon the whole, Sir, I have only further
to observe, upon the present occasion, that I wish
this Motion had gone a little further, and had
been accompanied with a proposal that there should
be a declaration of the decided and general opinion
of the House, against the prailice even of granting
any places for -life." (Lead and puerile cross of
Hear! hear ! Pent all all pert: of Orr Home).
Mr. PLUMES., as soon as silence was again
restored, rose and said—ii 1 wish, Sir, that this
measure had been brought forward forty years ago.
This has beets bithetto my sincere desife ; 'and I,
therefore, give the Motion, now made, my most
hearty assent. Having said thus much upon the
measure itself, I cannot help embracing this oppor-
tunity of paying a compliment to the present Ad.
ministration (I say present, upon the supposition
that they are still in office), as I really think
they have shown every disposition to benefit
the country by their judicious measures, and
their avoiding the pradice of former Adminis.
trations.-vet granting terethions. Upon this occasion,
too, I have another observation to make, which is
this : in coming down to the House this day. I hate
beard a report, which I am very sorry to hear ; I
have heard, Sir, that the new Government which is
now forming, or to be formed, have agreed to give
to a Right Hon. and Learned Member of this House
(alluding to Mr. Petceval, who was not then in
the House) an appointment to the Chaarellersbrp of
the Dario" of liairroshe far life, in order to tempt that
Gentleman to take a place in that new Government.
Upon this, I may observe, that it men of great
abilities are not satisfied with the rewards attached
to the situations which His Majesty t'ahsses to
appoiht them to hold in the Government cf their
country, if they do net think the usual cornpensae
tion sufficient, they ought not to accept of offices
at all. I Lin, however, at all events, eater my pro-
test most solemnly against the measure of giving a
man a situation for lite, in order to entice hint to
occupy another, which may be more fleeting and
temporary." (These observations of Mr. Plutner
were followed by loud marks of approbation from
the majority of the Members present.)
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, that if this
plan of *Within reversions had been brought into
the liaise two or three yeses ago, the Houseivolshil
not have been en the situation it now is, in regard
to certain offices in Ireland, such as the Colleetnr
ache Customs in Dublin, &e. fur which reversions
had been granted, previous to the Bill which had
been lately brought in for the abolition and better
regulation of 'erne of these offices.
Mr. JOHNSTONE—is I very much approve of
the Motioes that has been made ; but, at the same
time, I must say, that the observations of the Hnn.
Member below me (alluding to Mr. Plum),
might have come better at some future period, if lie
could have had better authority to proceed upon,
I than mere rumours. As to the Right Hon. and
Learned Gentleman to whom he alluded. I can
venture to sae, that his whole conduft has shown
that be is one who will never aft from any nthsr
motive than a strict sense of public duty to his So-
vereign and his country. ' Those are the most loud
against such measures, who, at the same time, have
'hewn themselves reit:ad:es% of the public economy.
I wish that such a measure as the present had been
proposed sooner ; for we should then not have found
one Noble Famil y alone, vs se. singsituations amount-
) itig to about 60,0001 per Annum. I am glad to

fiat n sw. that the Gentlemen epposite have thaaish
itprver and expedient to clraugie their trine."
t.fr. PLUME& lb answer t • the alNFaioti Mai%
by the lam • Speaker. to what• lie had' ohservel,
added. V.v.. he WAS prrfealy aware. that a pe•son
c.s.ring into the Hosses,conid not, upon every occa-
sion, be j irtifi,d in making important observations
unnu mererutunurs heard out of doors; but, upon
this occasi.on, i.e had in addition heard something
.corrnismaiive of what he had stated, irons a Nohla
Lord. since he came into the House. At any rite,
he might further °list-fire, that. even granting the
rumours were fate, what he had said would de fli
harm ; if trite, he was cinvinced such observations
might he of some use.

Lord HENRI, PETTY—" I rise, sir, to say
one word in my own justification. for not having
brought forward a motion of this kind myself, as I
had formed precisely the same opi"ion which the
Hon. Mover has stated. I certainly did move fir
the papers which are now upon the table of
House, with the iiitotitirn of proposiqe, a Bill si-
milar to that now to be suggested, and I had the
assurance of the sown tof the Noble Lord who is
now Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as Well as that of
another Noble Lord, where family emoluments
have been animadverted upon. I was may waiting
for the proper opportunity; but, although it has
not hitherto been put into ezecuthen, yet I can
safely state, that no bad consequences have otiginat•
ed from the &lay. The Noble Lord at the head of
th • Treasury has shown, by his conduit, that .e has
abstained from abusing that power which he pas!
'rued. in the same manner as had been done by
his predecessors. That Noble Lord has been lay.
ing down that rule in praftice, which his I-ton.
Friend (Mr. Banker) was now proposing in theory ;
yet, the t feet of such a condu.2 was to call forth
•evere animadversions. It was, indeed, from my
knowledge of the determination cif tbat Soble
Lord, that I delayed claming forward with a similar
motion."

Mr. HENRY MARTIN here rose and sairlz--
Sir. I rise, on this occasion, to give notice, that
I shall to•mnsrow move, that an humble address
be presented to His Majesty, praying, that he may
be g►aciously pleased not to grant any offices, not at
presalt held for life, for any longer term than now
held "

General GASCOYNF. said, he certainly had
come to the House, vrithon: knowing any thing of
this Motion ; and he had to observe, that it was
brought forward in the absence of almost every
individual who was likety to compose the New Go.
vernment (at least as far as tumour goes), who
he believed were perfeAly unacquainted with any
such Motion. He did not think it was candid to
propose such a measure, without givit.g a longer
previous notice.

Mr. FRANCIS HORNER said, that as "a
member of the Committee alluded to, he begged
leave to answer an observation made by an Hon.
Gentleman opposite, whe had thrown cut ins.
auctions. The propriety of stopping Reversions
had been a question before the Committee from time
to time; and, therefore, it had by no means crigi.
nated from recent circumstances. He could info, m
the }lease, that, besides such a Rill being the rust
objeff of their conglderation, the very Gentleman
who had first suggested it in the Committee!! was
*tie who was likely to be a Member of the new Ad.
mini Az ation

Mr. SHERIDAN could not consider the obser-
vation of the Hon General (Gascoyne), that the
objed of the present motion was to restrict the in-
tended Administratioorne any imputation on the
lion. Mover, or His Maksty's present Servants.
The imputation, strong and gross as it was, was
cast upon their immediate successors to office. He
never indulged in political animosities ; and, there.
fore, he would endeavour to rescue the Ministry, now
forming, from the foul charge of the Honourable
General. What, could it be supposed, that men,
avowedly coming into office under the direa pre-
text of guarding the Royal Prerogative from
violation and infringement, were yet so remiss
to their duties, tad so inattentive to the noble, ge-
nerous, and disinterested porposes, for which they
originally interposed. as to suffer such important
considerations to be intertupted, and their execution
retarded, by cavilling, buying, and bargaining, for
this specific place, and that particular reversion ?
Does the Hon. General mean to insinuate, that the
intended Administration will allow the prerogative
al the King to be invaded, his conscience to be
forced, and his most serious interests to he crippled,
determined not to interpose their proteaing influ-
ence, unless some are compensated by peaces for
life, and reversionary grants are insured to caliers?—
(Hear / bear Another lion. Gentleman (Mr.
Johnstone), had alluded :o the place held for lite by
the Noble Lord at present at the head of the Tree.
sury. There was no necera:ty in that House to
speak of the services of that Noble Lord, and of Ns
family. The distinction they had obtained, and the
situations they held, were for services aftually per-
formed; and, therefore, it was impossible to make
them the precedents for any pre ant and intended
disposal of grants and cfliees. It was the usage of
the country. and the duty of the legislature, to re-
ward great and distinguished setv.ce,, by well de-
served and appropriate compensators ; but it never
• Wal in' the eontempletiern oftessy-swearesument, to con-
sider the commencement of services as worths- or
entitled to any remuneration. He trusted the Ilan.
General would no longer stigmatize the efiar..Cter
pt the succeeding servants of the Crown, whom he
affeaed so highly to approve, and that he would
endeavour to give them, when firmly seated in
place, a more effectual assi.tanee and support.
Mr. HUSKISSON expressed his willingness to
relieve the Hon. Mover from any suspicion, that in
submitting the preserst Resolution to the Hots*, he
was situated by any party considerations. He (Mr.
Hoskisson) was consci_us. that the objea of that
Resolution had is a great degree engaged the at-
motion of the Committee of I.:nage*, and that at
the commencement of their inquiries, such a mea-
sure was determined oyes. With rasp et to the
observations which had fall:n from some Hon.
Members, as to the conduit of the present Admi•
nistration, relative to the disposal of places, he had
oniy to recollea, that one of their first acts was to
I legalist the holding of two situations (alluding to
the Act for empowering Lord Grenville to hold
the office of Auditor of ILechequer, with the place of
First Lord of the Draw pi which were previously

incompatible. An allusion 'had hem make by
Hon. Member opposite, (Mr. Hornet), lir prettlm,
to him, as to any knowledge he in'e'd pones: c
the component parts of th- .ir ratittenn.nt. I(
cotild assure the Homo- t:Gil li•• knew no InEte 01.
the passing rumours of the day. It was. imp., for him or others to have stop coriefl iniotmai as he was inclined to believe, that it was n— •
submitted to the approbation of the hiebes: q• it:%;
Mr. WHITBREAD said. he 51i.44.1 nor
into a review of the early part of the debate,
almithl rather confine himself to the 05ot-rats-I
which had fallen from some Han. Members en
opposite side The Right lion. Gentleman
spoke last, had elides/oared to enurpne tbe
pointment to an l'ifit'e for lie, which was rutn,to,,;
to have been in conremplation, with the AA •.,
which a Noble Lord, at she head of the Toasts..
WAS enabled by Parliament to continue in a s:tuai,
which he had held for a long time
formation of the present sidmieistrs.tion, art
WAS g;VAII at a remuneration for serv;ces
performed. But there was a rule ditrereote*
lateen the adoption of a measure, making it I-wa
for the Noble Loral to continue in that office. 4.4
the conversion of another into a grant for
which was usually held during pleasure. Ant y:(
Honourable Gentleman had asserted, that
hold such offices was incompatible with poin:cal
purity. In rich In opinion. he could by LO rata-,
agree; indeed the efiarafter for integrity and
peodence of the N.•ble Lord alluded to (C
Grenville), made it impossible to • maxi ibe t 3 sae,
a position. And surely the House could not cot.
ceive it-a very graceful introduflion of such au tee
Man, by the friend of the Hnn. and Learned Gra-
Roman, whose name had been so frequently 4,44
to that night, when it was recollected, that a hey
great and lucrative office (the Registrar of the Ci,..t
of Admiralty) was aftuafly held by one persica; he
earns of Perccval, and the reversion of the same s,a/ e
secured to Smother Perceval, the brother of .t.
former. When ate present mo- ion was antiblitsd
to party motives, the Hon. Gentleman appeared t,
forget who the proposer nth iris I for it WAS in•
poss;ble in the whole House to selea any one Nle-a.
bee so entirely free from such a bias, and from •:
an influence as the Hon. Gentleman who th
thought it hi at s
duty, as the Chairman of the ('
mince of I'inanc.e, to subm: t to the consideratio
Parliament the present motion. It was Amok, ,!,.
necessary for him to say, it had his most firm st.t
decided support; as
•also wculd the pintn;se,l n.-.
tirn, of which notice had that night been giver:,
Wive to an Address to the Throne.
Mr. PARNELL was a friend to the Meshes,
from the experience he had of the had efirefts of re-
versionary grants in Leland. The question rf
Union was first negatived in cons :hence of the
neutrality of two very great political inureess.
In the course of two years, this neutrality WAS ars-
vetted into an adive support. But. in %hat m..iincr
procured? The reversion of the ClerkAip of th.
pals, in Ireland, was *acute.] so tii• sun of one of
these parties, whilst the son of the other was pro-
moted, not altorther to a reversionary grant,
lot to the fiat vacant bishoprick which ensued
(A kepi).
Mr. JOHNSTONE explained.
The Resolution was then put. and almost upani-
mnusly carried, and leave granted to bring fa ?ea
accesedingle. •
Sir JOHN NiCHOLL gave notice of his ;nut.
tion to propose on tomorrow a riser to the dicihas
Prize Bill.
Sir JOHN' NEWPORT moved for leave a
bring in a Bill, empono ring the bafons of the
Coutts of Exchequer, Common Pleas, and Kills
Bench, in Ireland, to appoint officers rf :%eletrit-
spellive Courts in that part of the United Kingdere:
Granted.

Mr. Sheridan'bron;,ht up the report of• the 13.;11
for regulating the otliee of Tleastirer of Hi'
jesty's Navy, w:tielt wits ortirred to be taken iota
fetcher conadrration to.mt,t tow.

Sir JOHN NE W POLL r 'slaved for leave to brig
in a Bill to amend the several acts for the Coile
of the Malt Duties its Ireland.; also tcr lease ti
bring in a bill for regulating the issuing of Liceeses
for vending Spirituous Uquors in Ireland; also,
for regulating the Collection of the Duties on To.
baceo in Ireland; for the better regnlation in grart•
ing Permits, and for regulating the Collcaioa of
Wool, Silver Plate, &c. in.lteland.
Leave au panted accordingly.
pnn clic reading tif the Lords' aniendmmts tr
the Sierra Leone
The SPSAKBR observed, that the Lords Las.
made divers amendments in a Bill, vestipg cei-
lain lagds in the Crown, which was similar is prin.
ciple and effect to the venial; of money; he ;to-
prehended that ft was contrary to the rules of Me
House to. twee to cunt an amendment. _ _

Earl TEMPLE then moved, " That this Bill be
laid aside," which was agreed to, raw. con.
• tad: TEMPLE gave notice, that he shottil
move to-roorruw for the House to gn into.* CIT.
rniitee, to consider of the several Ails 10r reguls •
ing the colony of Sierra Leone.
Mr. VANSIT EMIT sa,d, that as Chairman tf
the Shrewsbury Committee, he rose to tetiorst lE-
formation, whether, in consequence of a Member ,f
obev.C.tabatiae• accepting a place of trultlP=4'r
tie Gown, and vacating h.s seat in cnomqu:-
thereot, the Committee could proceed in unit ert
vestigation, in the absence of such Member
he SPEAKER o'iserved, that although sin;
Member most VACA:e his P.trliameotery duty,
under such circumstances, it was not unusual fc:
an Eiefliun Committee to proceed in the ablate or
such Meml,er.

S;r Jahn Newport brought in a Bill for ri gc'•at;r
the Wages of SaVlll33 in lreianel, which *AS feAti
a fiat time.

The S..lt Duty Bleaching Bill was committed.
a►d the Report ordered to be received to-morrow.
The Irish Stamp Duty Bill WAS re.,' a second
time, and fled-eed to be committed to-mom:iv.
The Coffee Warehouse Bill was lead a thitsl
and passed.
The House, in a Committee, went through the
Eill for lig: .ting. cl-ansing, and wats.hing the Chita
anti Towns m Ireland, and the Report ordered to
be received to-mi rr
The Comtism... on the Land Tax Commissioners'
Biil. was postponed to this day three weeks.
The Irish Cummissionors Continuance Bill, tl.e