The National Register.
London, England, 1821-05-06 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

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Ou that respecting allowances to geurtsl officers nut haviug
regiments,
Sir R. FERGUSON complained of the hardsuips of many
General Officers, reduced :o mete half p,). He knew en
instance where no individual had served the king faithfully
and diligently for 40 year., and yet tie had tint appeared to
have been of as much consequence as a clerk about to be
removed from office. He hoped that taking some care of
such ■n officer would not be deemed improperly breaking
through rules
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, the case could
not escape the attention of GiVerionent.
4444 agreed to—as were the remaining resolutions.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCH EQUER Olen mov-d,
that the resolution respecting half-pay other's be taken into
cobsideration.

Cul. DA VIS said, this was a subject which merited the
attention of the house. There were near 9,000 officers
receiving half-pay—such pay ;amounting to 763,7811.; but
they had little chunce of gettiug into full pay. Such had
been the ~sstrm of favour, (lint x 'lure one half-pa) officer
got into commission, ten persons were appointed Who had
not before been in the army. This he considered a great
hardship to the officers, us well us something like breach
of faith.

Lord PALMERSTON said, the wishes of those in civil
life must be attended to—for it was essential to identify the
interest and feelings of the allay with those of the people.
Mr. HUME observed, that, had he been in the house
earlier, he should have made some statement of facts as to
the resolutions that had passed—but the opportunity would
recur when he brought forward the general propositions
which had been adverted to by his hon. friend( Mr. Bennett.)
lle concluded with moving a resolution, us an amendment,
declaratory of the number of commissions disposed of during
recent years, distinguishing those by purchase, &.c.—there
having been IWO commissions, upwards of ..511.) of them
without purchase, and given to those who had not before
in the army, while there were so many half-pay officers
unprovided fur. To have provided for them would have
effected to the country a saving of 365,1)0:4.
Mr. HUSKISSON hoped the amendment would not be
pressed. if it were agreed to, what would be the practical
effect T It would be that One person ought to have been
brought from civil !ifc into the army (rein 1816 to 1b41.
It would be to assert that the arm) should be closed against
those who might seek the profession alarms, till all the half
pay officers are disposed ot.
Mr. HUME replied. This resolution would not interfere
with the regulations of the army. It was his wish to close
the army against persons desiring commissions till the half_
pay officers were disposed of. Amendment negatived;
resolution awed to. Adjourned.

WEDZIESU•%, MAY 2.
Mr. BYNG presented petitions from the parishes of St.
James and St. Martin's, st Inch, after advt., tint( to the police
regulation bill now before the house, complained of the
nuisance occasioned by persons hawking goods about the
streets.

hlr. S. BOURNE presented a petition ram Lient..Gen.
Thornton. It called the attention of the house to the act of
Geo. 11. passed fur regulating the puldie.houses and houses
of entertaiincat, by which it was provided, that any house
in which persons should assemble to practice the amusement
of music or dancing, should be deemed a disorderly house,
and the persona so amusing themselves be liable to be taken
before a magistrate and committed as vagrants. 'The peti-
tioner also stated, that it appeared (ruin what had been
published in the public prints, a number of respectable
in-
dividuals who had assembled at a house in St. Martin's-lane,
to enjoy the amusement of dancing, ignorant of llieexistence
of such a lau, were taken into custody, and SO kept during
the night, and subsequently carried beiore a magistrate. A
similar circumstance also occurred in another part of the
metropolis. The petitioner urged the vexatious nature of
the law which sue jetted innocent persons to such severe
pnuishment, and imposed an imperative duty oil magistrates
to imprison persons who were ignorant and innocent offend.
era. Ile further said, that lie was a magistrate and liable to
be called on to discharge this duty, vt Inch lir could nut (1,,
without sensations most painful to iiiinseif, He therefore
humbly submitted to the house that the law should be altered
and that the constables should in the hist instance only want
the persons thus assembled to disperse. lie hoped the
house would take it into their serious consideration, and in-
troduce some regulation ienpeCtille. It into the police ameed.
picot bill.—Petition read, aunt ordered Ili he printed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER sauved that
the house at its rising should adjourn to Friday. Agreed tn.
Mr. P. GR ENFI,LL, having again adverted to the enor-
mous profits made by the bask on the balances of public
monies in their hands, 'wised for all account, showing siti one
side the Stunlpaid by the politic to the hank, as interest at the
rate of 9 per cent, loom money advanced by the bank to
make good demands on, mid defirieores of the consolidated
food ; and sin the toner side, t(te amount of the Molest at
the 3 per ceut. on the bulauce. The I . seemlier observed,
that the balance in April last was 3,731,0001.
Agreed to, after some remarks front the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Mr. Baring, and Mr. Ricardo.
Gkasuow Riters...Lord A. I-I 1 MILTON presented tr
petition from an individual named 'Turner, alio had resided
in Lanarkshire fur heruty year., eiiiiipliiining of the arbi-
trary coedit t of the Lotti Advocate and the el-insisters.—
The petitioner about o year ago was taken into custody on
it charge of treasonable and seditious practices. lie (the
pet I loner) aas committed to pi 'soil, kept in close euilliiie-
Went, but lie had never beta hiought to tend. Ile there-
fore called on the house to allied him relies for Ille loss of
charactt r which lie had sustained. While eumnied lie hail
been subjected to considerable severities—pen and ink, &e.
has ink only het% allowed at the c 00000 mencement of the cops.•
linestient. The noble bad, though lie had to present this pe-
tition, deemed it just to hear his testimony of the gerwial
good conduct of the magistrates of (ilas,,iive, during a city
trim leal period. The petitioner tot ilier acid, that his house
aas seal cited for papers and arms. Some volunteers' units
having beeu found—amd that a charge of high ii seism) is as
mentioned—acrd yet, after nine or tin day, :uidary cunfisie-
mem he aas admitted to hail, although lie isudei.tond the
charge to lie high treason. His lordship observed, that the
conduct COW nut be justified. He could not eat! no the
Lord Advocate to give up (ht.'s* spit. who might give iiifor.
'nation, but he might call on the Mauled lusd for an adults•
sion of the petitiouer's innocence.
't he LORI) A D V OCA TI. observed, that as to the apps i.•
licik.iott of the petitioner, it must be allwitivd that Hopi-v.4m-
silent at one period was justiliable, with ch iniabt br must
Wet re at another tone ; but he denied most distioctiy that
in sill the it ausactiou, sa Seollano there had been employed
any spy ur uatrnr. 'The flinege Undoubtedly V.,4> high *sedum ;
but n, it wan limitdean.-, ash iscable 10.10410 g him to trial,
tt.e sidaattni4 of tom to bail art urged as a wail( a of Luta.