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

;on prided then:Kitts on the introduition of
:wore, and the progress of the -Coto-
-4„ But he Meld not - see ist what way
were justified to take that credit. The
could not forget that it 'was introduced
~ it ,nourable Viend of his (Mr. Bichlidph),
Jai toially uneonnedted with that Miaistry, and
received trom them a lukeirjirm and hollow
l'hey had continued one year in office,
had never seggested the necessity of such in
tu
•g aton into official abusei. With such a
japan as his Honourable friend ( Mr. Bantes)'
s, there was no doubt much benefit would tot-
, He meant something like praihcal good, 1
ach different from the pledges of those Ministers.
0, though they had crested Commissioners out
number, could claim no merit for the effects Of
r• iogniries. If the House direffied• its.view to
e chops in the Military Department, it would
w,rebsog but an increase of patronage and iss:
~-nce. In the general examination, • the result
,„..i prove, amidst the mutual recriminationi erf•
,: tat: a:-...1 present Ministers, a strong similitude
L'a conuu& of commit Stanhope and Mr. WA,
31:,, who, riough bitterly inveighing against sac%
her, were in the end obliged to coutine their ob-
Atolls to the service Which each had &Me to
iliseLf.
Mr. SHERIDA.N roes sad spoke to the follow.
g effe3 :—H Mr. SPetker. Sir, I have for come
'se, in my hatable apprehension. observed the
:,:n. Gentleman who last addreSsed the Chair, to
,:ic tillowed up his attacks *gaunt the late Minis-
el of the Criswn, with a peculiar acerbity. But.
ir, 160, by the concluding observations of has
recii. this niot, that, it not so severe in his con-
Imnation, he leas at least dev.•rmined to display a
philosophic neutrality towards their successors in
office; sod though it is impossible not to pereeivo
the acrimony wiffi which he follows up the antipathy
le has for some time cherished against the iate ser-
vants of the Crown; yet. methinks, I can recoiled
there was one" a time, in which the mews and con-
of that Administration did not appear to that
Bon. Geotlemao so hostile to the interests of the
eounuy. or co much at variance with•the public
principles, which, at Mat time, he professed. I do
maw% Sr. having hall Owe the bearer of a pub-
lic message, for I' am by Ito means the divulger of
private secrets, which fully convinced me that the
lion. Gentleman had then no obje&ion to the late
Ministry ; but rather. that if certain wishes were com-
plied with, and particular *Reflation& answered,
be would bare been completely dukified to the
it.ls and priociples el that Administration. (Hear !
A tor ! ) I will not, Bir. farther enlarse on this plain
matter of fait, or on the answer it gives to the accu-
sations against the late servants if the Crown, in
which the Hon. Gentleman has this night so libe-
rally indulged himself ; it is sufficient for the present
to assert, that I em confident that Hon. Gentleman
fully understands me (Nen. ! bear ! ) That Hon.
Gentleman has ---
my right lion..
stances they have
trenchment, and e
deure of the
Gentlemen yo ,
swerved from

First Lo:-d of the Admiralty was in conteagibtion,
and fully admitted, when a Noble Lord, erbo had
undergone the censure of this House, but avglitifter-
wards acquitted by his Peers, who, for what I
know, is now a Member of the present Adminis-
tration, was at the head, of that Board. He cer-
tainly did receive a compensation for the deficiency
of his official salary, by the legal interception of
large • f money, under an order of the Barons
of the Scotch Exchequer, and further continued to
receive the profits of this new office, subsequent to
the period at which he was arraigned by the censure
of this House, and had aaually resigned the offi:e
of Lotd of the Admiralty, for the deficiency its the
salary of which this new compensation was given:—
(nce,. ! keg,. I) If, therefore, the Km. Gentleman '
is unable to make better charges than he has this
night advanced, I do molt sincerely hope, • that'
he may long continue M fulfil thelonourable duties
of Charger• General to this House. Loyd lan:king,
and continued cries of Mar! bear!) There was
another Hun. Gentlernau (Mr. Montague) who had
thought proper to assert, that my Hon. lfriendi, at
this stJe of the House. were unable to reply to the
arguments be had brought forward. Surely he might
have bad the modesty to have waited,before he made
such a statement, fur their answer. For my. own
part, 1 am fret to acknowledge, that I have heed,
from that Hon. Gentleman, no one argument
which I should presume to answer. (Listrirece-
ing) It is true, that he has wandered into a very ex-
traneous discussion, and has very largely dealt fu the
ititreidlietiort of trey in ielicate Etas, by entering
into a gaup and estimate of the professional briefs,
' retainers, and profits of the HMI. and Learned
Gentleman tMr. Perceval), for whose private virtues
and Parliamentary talents 4 certainly entertain the
highest res2ea. It was nut very delicate either to
the house or to that Learned Gentleman, to corn-
. mence such an exarninacon of hi. legal practice, or
to attempt to convince the House of the amount of
the wit of money which, by his professional exer-
tions, that Learned Gentleman might be in or out of
pocket,(Heac I hear!) Ilia Ire had given up the
lucrative situation of the Attorney-Generalship,
estimated at 10,0001. per annum, could be no
argument with my side of the House, 'as I am
• confident, even the Honourable Gentleman will
give ms credit, when I sincerely and strenuously
assure him, that we (lid not want the Learned Gen-
tleman to fulfil the odice. (.4 load husk). In-
deed, I must confess, that with such talent, for his
profession, as that Lear net(Gentleman possesses,
with such opportunities sit advancing to the Most
eminent distrodions in that profession, and with
such an extensive field los the display of his abilities,
as the situation of Attorney-General afforded, I
cannot avoid expressing my surprise, that he should
have renounced that station, with an emolument at
1(1,0001. per annum, and.such great advantages, to
stake a tolerable Channel* of the Exchequer, with
ustly 3.5001. a year. With respett to the two cases
which h. been adverted to as the only preeedent,
e Duchy -

ecnnomy, of
exhilited by the , servants os
the punts; resources. or to increase nif
den, t ( rilawi cry oj Rear i he,.r I) Have t.. , misty support,
task. reduced the au ff, the Comanissariat. and the I In the other case, as referring to the late Lord
Barrack depertmems t ( Hear I hear!) But the Ashbutton, it must be relnemSered, that he was
honourable Gentleman flies from one unsupported ' seat into the House of Peers, and consequently ex.
charge to another. and he attempts to assure the eluded from prolesiional exertions. That he was
House, that the salutary appointment of the Corn- also a Cabine Miniver. and rccei.ied the Duchy of
mime of Financo vim aftuelly forced upon the Lincaster„ under the express conditilin. that it was
late Administration. can such an assumption be to be resigned on hi. expefted succession to the
m lls eogoised 10, sacred observance of those etbeo- high (Office of Lord Chief Justice of the Courtsof
tial and so strongly ineadeated principles cf re. King's :lunch. It is true, 4.1., that this distinguish.
penclament, which charattensed the march and ed charatner had been con- piceitus for his (Trott m
\
progress of my Noble Fliend. in that solid to the Servant: of the Crown. But said, I never
system of finance, which he so ably and so will admit, that such an opposition is a ?root of the
eloquently proposed to this House. Bet, Sir, I ap- want of allegiance or vent ration to my Sovereign—
peal _to die manly candour of m 2, Hon. Friend (Mr. ( kriet.ted cries If hear ! *hear ! ) ('he cry resoln.
Biddulph). for a confirmation of my statement I tion which eas proposed by a great Lawyer and
ask him, whether there was any other interference enlightened Statesman. has this night been ad-
exerted, thass manly to extend his purpose, and en- vetted to by some fienticman with a sneer.—
large his object ? and If my Nchle him! (Lord H. But the constitutional advice which that great
ratty) did not most seriously supp n his propo. man gave on the increasing iiifluence of the
intion ? Whist a Minister has been in the habit of Crown, was not to sap the power of his King,
"Livia* to dm Haw pledges of his intention to aft or to weaken the just and acknowledged prerega-
?poll the prinsip_le of a salutary economy. and whtn. tive of the Executive Authority, but to guard the
in the exercise ofhis duties. he has uniformly evinced liberties of the People front the invasion of the
the sincerity of those pledges, it does net, in my creatures of the Court, and to preserve, unim-
opinion, require any exertion of Ministerial power paired and undiminished, the affection and love of
to take out of the hands of any Member the intro- the people for thrift Monarch. ( Hear 1 hear!) It
dodie. of a legislative measure. according with the was honourable to see snch advice given to the
views which that Minister entertain*, and advancing Throne, by its Constitutional Servants ; and that
these beneficial °Noels which he had undeviatingly patriot, who thus establislted the principle. was
bete in view. Will the Honourable Gentleman, fully entitled to the honours he received. ( Hear !
Ali has made this charge whist the late Ad- Ater!) And again. I most be allowed to repeat,
*Mutation, and who is a Washer of that Cont- that the dearest and ultimate interests of the Soya-
Snit 0:—(1+4 I es! be N eel, ems (WWI sot ily semi reign, are better preserved by a Constitutional Op-
..ll4oisicrs) Well, as sot being a Member of that position, than by those craving and avaricious ser-
Commhtes (a 18810 J, he is enabled to give a more rants, who are unceasingly engaged in battling for
impartial opinion, ail! I can aria him to declare places and pelsions. ( Laud cat's of hear! bear.')
whether. in the formation of that Committee, there Bust in srhat manner can the claims of the lion.
;was the slightest exercise of partiality, or any elev. and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Perceval) be ap-
zon of ministerial management ? It was only for plied to the two precedentito which 1 leave advert-
he House to look to the Chairman of the Commit- ea' lie has 13•• tin, almost during his whole political
,ire, in older to ascertain the sincere disposition of I life, in the possession of great and lucrative offices.
.he Government, which supported its appointment, IHe has been Solicitor and Attorney-General ;he
and the purity of condua which distingui.hed the was in place during the whole art Lard Sidin-,uth's
Hon. Gentleman who was placed at lei head. The 1 Administration; a Nobleman. who, in a pal-en-
ema object of the Hon. Gentleman's attack was the ' thesis, I will say, was, from his see vices in that
increase which it was thought advisable to give to I Chair, entitled to a permanent provision, but had
the salary of my Right Hon. Friend (Mr. T. proufiy rejeeted this uffic^ of the Duchy for life,
Grenville), as the late First Lord of the Admiralty. I because he considered it an infringement of the
Whoever was acquainted with the important and Prerogative of the King. Duriag the Administta-
ardnuas duties of that ostensible situation. would 1 tion of Mr. Putt, the Learned Gentleman contimied
readily perceive that there was not any office un lin place. It then, I ask, the long possession of
der the Crown, where the remuneration was so in- lucrative offices to be considered a sufficient recom.
competent to the wilds performed. Such an esta- mendation for conferring on a Minister a great si.
blishMent should be sepreted in a correspondent tuat!o3 of emolument, for lite, in ender that he
manner; it should afford an opportunity to the head should be bribed into the acceptance of a high, dig- ,
of that department. of giving a hospitable reception 1 nifielf, and iesponsible station? ( Hear ! hear ! Fits'")
to those gallant officers who had signalised them Is it because the chill air of the opposition side of
- employed in the naval the' 1-tetiase has had for the last year such an Mit
do the fungi tend health Of the Learned Gentleman.
that be is not now to be induced to migrate to the .
cheathil, warm, and enviable region of the Treasury
ittucht,a dm/ bat i f *vrithoot. a settled bbiguin ne
bribe' for his dealer' of situation ? (Nur ! tar I)
iStalely it argues e litsit of pernuintemy is kurvillcial


existence of his Honourable Friends and Colleagues
(Hear! bear). And, When some of them speak of
the toss the country would sustain, from the want of
his exertions in thee office, and of the inzapability to
provide a person equally proper for the situation,
them most be s radical want of talent and ability
in the Administration, which could piss so poor a
panegyric oh themselves. Indeed, Su, however is%
norane'l must he of the neneber of unspun Astor-.
neys and Solicitors-general, and of unworked Masi
ten of the Rorie, the sew Ministry comprehended, I
most strongly believed that it was swarming with
Chancellors of the Excherer : (rontinsfed kiesh.mg ;
cries of 'hear ! hear ! ) For, when my Nettle Friend
near me proposed his system of Finance, a system
to which I gave my warmest support, convinced,
in the critical and arduous contest in which we
are engaged, that, if we failed, Ali was lost, but that,
if we succeeded, we left to our children and posterity
every thing which was truly valuable, with such an
opinion I hailed the introduetinn of that systemweich
guarded against the only real danger nom •ly, a
dejedlen ant apathy of the people. arising from the
pressure at public burdens, by ass accumulation of
public demands and increasing Ligation; but, l say,
this plan was 11') sooner proposed. than the House was
every day beset by a crowd of financiers, each with
Lis string of reaelneons, resembling Jews, with bare
kets strapped to their shoulders, impeding the pass-
ing travellers with their intreaeweAceemeseeis thews
as their goods were much better. (The House was
dross convulsed with laaghtee). An Honourable
General (Sir James Pulteney), fan. whent I die
certain a sincere regard, had . aloe propose&
his scheme of finance, and, as be as
it was peculiarly plain sad intelligiblrtit
am rather astonished, that he was riot seleeted foe
the, Chancellor of the Exchequer; (bear! Aetna
or, as they preferred a lawyer for that impertisee
situation, they might surely have conferred ups-. .
the gallant General, the face of Attorney Gee,:
ral. (Co/tressed lareetena). With respeet to the great
and laborinns duties of the Chanitellor of the Ere I
theseier, I arts inclined to a 'different opinion.
do think it requires but a knowledge of t
vulgar rules of arithmetic, with no small share of
plausibility; (e- ) ; and, from the repeated ,
specistent of the Hon. Gentlemen opposite, I woe
induced to think it art absolute drug in the Milne
terial market. (Heir i heir !) Bni, seriously, e age
impressed with this strong conviction, that qa pin
lumpy or nelirepieseurreen, or device, will tsar
from the public opinion, the high chareeter enter-
tained by the people, of His Majesty's late Millis.
ters ; the cherefter, I say, of retiring from office,
without granting to themselves or friends one single
place for lite ; contrasted as such condua most tio
with the eels of those who are unable to make op
an Adnietistration, without offering to their adhe-
rents the bribes of sinecures for life, to induce their
acceptance of !Vltnisterill responsible sitnations."
Mr. JOIINSTONE cow to explain; he never did
employ the Hneourable Gentleman as any bearer
of a message foam hen, es he knew he was barely
engaged in negeciating for himself and family ; and
if he was not so employed, probably ne would
have torgottea it. He certainly did express a wish to
tie usefully employed, bet rot with any view to she
• salary oremolentent which might accrue.
Mr. SHERI') AN replied, that souse want ton-
'icy, others are .grated by ambition; at all events,
the II moerable Gentleman looked for a Alcoa firm
die Lite Minitry. For himself, he could assure the
Bogie, that a dear departed friend (Mr. Fox) ex-
preened a with to give so him some permanent pro.
vision. after what he was pleased to state 27 years
services; • bat that when he understoad the late
Administration came to the honourable determina-
tion of making no such grants, he (Mr. Sheridan)
beseeched that dear friend not to make him an ex
ception to that general rule.
Mr. SIMEON proceeded, amidst a general call
for the question, to express his dissent hone the
mottem.
Mr. FULLER did not approve of such grants ge-
nerally, he would rezierimeod to the King to keep
the key of the oat chest, and deal them out gradually
to them. They would not serve him longer than he
continued to supply tt em. Bust he still thought
the merits of the lion. Gentleman fully as great as
those of Lord Ashbnema. He had uniformly sup•
ported the politics of Mr. Putt, who, with George
the Third and Nelson, were the Seviouis of the
Civilised world. As to tee cent of the Right Hun.
Gentleman, (fir :thered tn), that we go out so
and so," the truth wey they were literally shored
Mr. WILIetetFORCE wished that all party and
personal consid ireeons would yield to the critical
circumstances of the time. He disliked the spirit
of recrimination, to which, io the discussion of the
merits of a measure, many Gentlemen were so fond
of resorting. On the present motion. he should
vote for the address, because he felt the danger
of making precedents for a similar praßice.
Toe MASTER of the ROLLS catered folly
into ate metes tit the motion, he thought it mach
too general, it called for decision previous to inves-
tigation. It would have been, in his opinion, much
m Ire preferable to have salvo it up at another tune,
rather than the present, when His Majesty was en-
gaged is the undisputed exercise of his Prerogative.
['here never has been any general rule laid down
on the 'diem/ of such a disposal of the office.
The precedent of Mr. Burke's motion could not
apply, as it only restrained the exercise of the pram-
peeve. within a given time ; and thus by implication ,
admitting its complete revival after that interval had
elapsed It did not deny the abstraft right of the
Crown to make such grants, but did not think it right
to make such a grant, whiist an eaemination was
pending. Some Hon. Gentlemen had argued, that,
gee* such a place for fife, trenched upon the just
influence of the Crown ; but they wholly forgot that
the present Motion invaded the right of &tinny'
and determination, which the King undoubtedly
possessed. is the exercise of his Prelogatere. He
•espreesed himself unwilling to enter into any per-
weal considerations; but he thought it wrong, at
,•this inisinekt, to impose upon His Majesty such a
restraint. It did not come :commended from the
Committee of Filmset, of whose labours and in-
quiries so noels hod been said is tho course of the
debate.
Lord EIOWICK said, it had ant been his jam.
tion. ori!!istells, in trouble the kleuse with any ob-
servations opus Los present (within ; but, from

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t

1

what WWI some Hon. Members, in the course
of the Atisto, he felt himself personally called
upon to amerer some of their observations. The
Right Hon. and Learned Gendemin. who gra.
last. did net segue this question upon any particular,
astound; ban, in raking a general view of it, he said,
that, by this measure, th- Roue would impose a
general linsitatioa to the Prerogative of the Crown.
But be should consider what was the nature of
the present motion ; it was that His Majesty
should not grant any place, which was hiiherto held
during pleasure, for life; and his Lordship appre-
hended it to be true, that in the dispotal of al; an-
cient places, the Crown had not the power to gram
for life, those winch only had been held during
pleasure. This was the precise and clear meanie,'
of the presnit motion ; for he did not apprehend it
was within the Prerogative of the Crown to grant
places for life. which had been so held only during
pleasure ; for, it the King had the power to grant
the Chancell aship of the Duchy of Lancaster for
life, why not grant the Chancellorship of the Ex.
chequer. the otFrc of Lord High Chanoellew of
Lagland. or any other situation coder the Lawn,
in the sante way. His Lordship found it laid
down by Lord Coke, when adverting so a simi-
lar grant made to Cardinal %Volley, that such
a place moat be held maid, became tae grant
of an ancient ojfice owl % eat be altered. liter
therefore. consillepsktkineelted ass woe mew
stitutional, nor failed -arm
Motion thee seder diset war,
*1 the Prerogative of the Crown,
His Majesty ti adhere, to those principles whiels 114
been uniformly observed in such cases. The Gen/
thesestapos the other side had adverted to the mad
or Lord Ashburton as' a precedent ; but this melt
war the sabkd of great discussion and debatenend
as Hon. Member was Midland to make it thenathjell
of a specific motion. And upon this ceas hit Lori- .
ship entertained considerable doubt, that sass
was a legal grant. A Noble Lased, the blare* of
tdns, 'was seestiwz.preeedellt
zi having remite4 mu* iipamot
Efoble Lords from his known
dud; and from the high rested he ever eassmala4 •
fewness, he could not he supposed to rnena sy *ass
dation upon him ; but that ales was a groat
hir did not altogether aptness* of and, &orators.
itt Althea instances, &mind as they Tithe base
the palest question, he did not think they were
legally or oonstitutionally grassed. The Hon. soli
Learned Gentleman (Mr. Montague) had said, it
had been usaal to grant to persons who leave a legal
profession, is pause penned ohjente, some remune-
ration for the loss of their Mrofellawind entekintentm
but he knew of no instance where a plate had Wee
granted for life, as an inducement to quit any peed:.
miler profession, in ord.' to accept of a high and tar
cretin situation. He not iissateimast into any
comparison between the night Hon. and Learned
Gentleman ( att. P'ereeval), and Mr. Denning 4
he had a great respell for his talents and abiredes a
but if the House were to avail themselves of Isis
services, and in Mated of his being Cnancettor of
the Embalm*: he had been appointed Lord High
Chancellor. there was no man who could entes-
tain a higher opinion of his legal charade!
than himself ; bse could there be- any thing
owe In4likaY. in his juignient, than the pr..
sent appointment; he LMr. P.) was almost the
only person not known to that Hesse. ma the
sinned of finance ; but if he chose to take the
career of polities, instead rf his career of the law.
he should also 'eke its chances along with it; and
it was a most eztraordinnry fad, that among all
the Gentlemen at the opposite side of the House.
who bad ptofessed themselves conversant with the
subjeft of finance, not one was to be found to fell
the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer. unless
th, L:hancellorship of the Duchy of Lineages was
held out to him as an induceorent. His Lordship'{
only object for rising was to answer the observations
of the Hon. and Learned Geoileman. and he tell
what he had said:upos the guinea wit: little mote
than repetition ; he, however, toot that opportunity
to state, that a reversionary grant had come iate
his power within the last week, but he did not dies
porn of it ; and with Tensed to se reversal ni in the
gift of the Lord Chancellor. be begged leave to ob.
serve, that reversions in the law were mole properly
private property than any thing else ; and the case
of the Lord Chancellor, granting a reversionary
place to the person who had formerly been his
Clerk, was no more than a compensation to an
individual in one way, for a loss he had set-
tainted in another. But the most widens reason
his Lordship had for trespass's& upon the *war,
was upon the observations made upon the im-
propriety of his giving. notice for tonporrow. of
an explanation of the circumstance* which caused
the change in the Administration, in the absence of
those persons who might be best alsle to meet it.
He was exceedingly sorry to do so in their absence,
but he could :sot give that notice sooner, nor
could he permit the holidays to pass over. nor
suffer misrepresentations to go forth to the pub-
lic, which he was well aware would be otbersena
the case. All he wished was, an opportunity to i y
the whole circumstances before tb.t mouse and tl e
eorlotry at large; the more enncially as those mi
presentations and minatementi were dat:y publistres
as he should prove. by having read this morning
letter in a newspaper. quoting words entered in his
Cabinet Minutes, which could only be known to pet.
sons belonging to that situation, and who, his Lot&
ship was convinced, must have seen those Minutes.
When rich a quotation war made use of. and such a
discussion as the pre.ent followed, when there welt
such false statements, he would ask, vrlether it was
most consistent with toe established custom of that
House to come forward in a constitutional manner;
or would the House have had him meanly to attack
the writer of &at ritewspaper cry if Lear hear )
It was impossible for him to have 1:8ed otherwise
than he had done t and his only wish was that his
conduft should cosh: fairly before the world
In
conclusion, the Noble I.ord declared his most cor-
dial assent to the %loticn.
Mr. rURGES BOURNE, in explanation.
wholly disclaimed any Knowledge of the letter al-
luded to.
Calomel GRAHAM said, that however he bad
supported the measuresof Mr.Pitns government, and,
itannendent of general arguments, and his with to
avoid any interference, yet, from the meaner in
which the late Ministers were dismisred barna dim

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selves, and were attively employe; in the naval
service of their country. The increase to the Sat
Lary did uske place in the most open. &Arnow.
ledges!. and parliaoaentary manner, and it W4l
to be ascertained by the papers laid on the table
of the House, Mc Honaniable Pendensan mast
have Imown that the increaser to she salary a thq

s only supported his attacks against which h4ve been adverted to as use only prectueuss
Friends, by asking, what are the in- in which the appoiutmeat to the Duchy ot Laucas-
tare displayed of their spirit of re- ter *ere secured for the lives ot the grantees, I
nd their Aversion to a prodigal capon— am sere they will, on examinations be bound totally
pub 4money ? I ask that Hots. dissimPar t tam the grata uqw 'opposed to be to
le instance phete th4y have coutemplation. tu Leek's's', after a luag ea-
t e laudable Principles of statiosali My* 41 ithr 'rival, 61 elevated to a
where the slightest disposition was Peerago. eett hat items jest and 'Ma-
he late servants of the Crown to tioned usage of 'bit cour,try, to, rd to peesnas
ources, or to increase the public bur- elevated to that toga anal ..oupottant rat.k, a peso-
I cry .J Rear 1 I) Have they not, glary support, corre:pon.ient with its dignity.
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