The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-31 00:00:00

VICTUALLING DEPARTMENT.

Mr. BARING observed, that Ministers overlooked generally
the principal points of the expenditnre of the country, and
thought they satisfied the people that in taking off some part of
the salary of the pocir Secretary, they had done their duty. He
had to state a most grievous charge against them in the Naval
Estimates, of excess in a sum of 132,9601. for victualling .1570
num, at the rate oils. 6d. per head. In order to elucidate this
point, he should move for the necessary Papers, convinced,
from the information he had received that they might be sic.
titalledat ls. per head, in the harbour of Minima, which would
make a difference of 41,0001. The Hon. Gentleman then
moved for a statement of the number of men victualled, other-
wise than by the competition of public tender.
Mr. CROMER denied that the men could be victualled in the
badman of Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham, Sheerness, &c.
at as cheap a rate as in Wales. He had, however, no objec.
Lion to grant the papers moved for.
BARHAM stated, that lie had lately come from Milford
Haven ;for the last three or four months the price of bread was
3d. per pound, batter sd. and pork 21s. per cwt.
Admiral MARKHAM, Mr. Crum en, and Mr. ilitouon vs, en-
tered into sonic explanation iii respect tothe contract at Milford
Haven. The latter Hon. Gentleman disclaimed the knowledge
of any contract.—'flie motion v. 4,3 then agreed to.
The Hon. Gentlemau then moved for the expence of fitting
for sea the fi 'gates Cydnus an Earotas, which were built in
1813, mid were now breaking up for tire-woad. Inc wished to
know why the country was to be put to the very great expence
of building ships not lit tbr service more than two or three
years.
Sir G. WARRENDER had no objection to the motion.
After a short conversation between Mr. Eronsleam, Mr. Cro-
ker, Mr. Forbes, Admiral Markham, and Mr. Saving, the 'no-
tion was agreed to; Adjourned.

WCDNESDAY, 2S.

A ittiition wss presented f, 0111 Wnrcebtor. prityi” retrenet-
int of in the i.xpenditure, and reduction of the Itlilitarf lAd-
hlishment. . . .

Mr. Loren Art? gave not:ee that he should stove for a returr
terull the rt,sitiabao4 fonds Prized within the I..vt six
Together wink the nausea of the p(rsosts to 11::..431 the goods
were

Ti.'l he Au a wean Trade Bill was read a third time, and passed.
A message from the Lords I-ought up a 11.01 which had
passed their Lorilihips' Hour, ,ter mituralizitil Leopold Prince
of Saxe Cubutirg; so which thug desired the concurrence of
the Bill went itooti ni.itely throng!) all it* strivi, nod

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

TREASURER OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL.

Mr. Wv ;,4 au said, the motion he was about to submit to the
House relutive to the appointment of Sir T. Thompson to the
office of Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital woof uot, he con-
ceived, occupy di time, since it was merely a question on
the constrnetion of an Act of Parliament. By the Act of the
6th of Queen Anne, it was provided that any person being a
Member of the House, and accepting a place of profit under
the crown should, in consequence thereof, vacate his seat.
*net e could be no enquiry whether it was desirable that the
person accepting office should vacate his seat : the only course
which the House had to pursue, was that pointed out by the
Act, without at all turning aside, either to the right or left.
The Hon. Member concluded by moving, that the Speaker
slmuld issue his warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, ordering
him to issue a new writ tiir the election of a Member to serve
in Parliament ior the city of Rochester, in the room of Sir T.
13. Thompson, who since his election, had vacated his seat by
accepting the office of Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital.
Mr. BA N ICES 'littered from the Hon. Member, though he con-
sidered the motion as a very proper one; but lie was of opinion
that the course which had been pursued in the case of Mem-
bers of the House accepting the office of Master of Green-
wich I lospital, was decisive of this question.
Mr. II tirituass. contended, that the office of Treasurer of
the Hospital must be considered as au exception from the ope-
ration of the Act, on the same grounds that the office of Master
was. If the House should decide that the Treasurer ought to
vacate his seat, so ought the Master of Greenwich and Chelsea
Hospitals also; and in formerly dc/ iding to the contrary, the
House had conic to an erroneous decision.

.....
After some observations from Sir J. Newport, and Mr.
Bathurst, Mr. Ponsonby moved, that a Committee should be
appointed to search for precedents, and to report to the House
thereon.
Mr. WyNste would not object to this course, he wished to
have this question decided; and, therefore, with the leave of
the House, would withdraw his present motion, and move for a
Committee as suggested. This was accordingly dune, and the
Hun. Member's new motion was agreed to.
The House then went into a Committee of Supply.
Sir GeKORGE WARRENDER then rose to submit to the
consideration of the Committee the Nasal Estimates. In
respect to half-pay, a charge would be incurred of 48,0001. in'
addition to the fund for providing for that branch of the ex-
penditure. lle then moved his first Resolution for granting a
sum of 1,5110;101, 10s. 9d. for repairs, &c. and service of the
civil department of the navy.
Mr. BAILING objected to this mode of putting the Resolution,
as it contained 18 different heads. He suggested the pro-
priety of dividing the heads, aid first voting the 01,0001. for
the service of the Admiralty.
Captain PELLEw noticed the expence of paying the widows'
pensions, and suggested certain retrenchments in the number
of officers in thediderent departments.
Mr. PONSONEY was anxious that the course pursued in re-
spect to the Army Estimates should be adopted on the present
occasion, and that the Estimates should be separately voted,
and not in the sweeping way proposed by the Hon. Baronet.
Mr. TIERNEY on referring to the clerks of the Admiralty
aid Navy °thee, wished to know wily it was necessary to
in-
crease their salaries by an Order in Council admitting they
were a meritorious set of men, it was, then-fore, with pain he
alluded to them at all on the subject of remuneration. lithey
had been let alone, all the business of the peace would have
been done equally as well. The total reduction of clerks was
21. In 1811 the salaries were 90,8101. and in ISIO the salaries
were 101,0001. So that all the public got by the reduction of
clerks was an additional burthen of 10,0001.—(firer, hear. )
But it was not only accessary to get rid ot' some of these clerks;
they must also be superannuated at an expence 0150901.; thus
saddling the people with 15,0001. additional expence.—tHror,
hear.)—The Hight Hon. Gentleman had no objection to vote
the Estimates for six months, and in the mean Rate lie would
suggest the appointment of a Committee to inquire into these
matter~.
The first Resolution was then withdrawn.
. . .

A Resolution was moved, that a mu of 59,7651. be granted
for the Admiralty offices, Cie.
To this Resolution Mr. TIERNEY moved an amendment,
that 29,8611. lbs. sii. be grautul fur the same office, being for
183 days, ti:c.
On the question being put,
Mr. Caoaan contended, that in the year 1891 and 1802 an in-
crease had taken place in the Naval Estimates, which were in
amount 210,0001. The Dock Yards in 1801 was 25,0001. and
in 1802 the amount was 77,0001. ; making in three Rents an in-
crease of 60,0001.; whereas now there is a diminution of 40001.
or 50001. The Hon. Gentleman then adverted to the case of
the clerks' salaries, and stated, that the superannnation did not
originate with him. In respect to the number of desks iti the
Admiralty Office, the Rt. Hon. Gentleman was in error. He
(Mr. ('.) had not added one clerk to the Establishment. Since
the Ist of March, 1814, there were not less than 20 clerks re-
duced. The Hon. Gentleman stated, that the labour of ollice
for the last four months had been greater tkan during the war.
One reason would suffice to .hew the increase of labour. In
1802 there were 3300 out-pensioners. In the present year the
number was increased to 33,000. Every one of those added to
the labour at the Navy-Office as well as the Admiralty. The
accounts were to be brought up, and in the first year of peace
there was no end to the trouble and labour of getting up Abe
accounts. With respect to patronage, every department was
restricted, in case of vacancy, from tilling it up. So that the
Bonilla Admiralty had every dispositi iiii to second the views
of the country for economy. It was his duty to state, that of
the clerks superannuated, two had served from 35 to 37 years,
(Mar, hear )—Five others were selected, who were the least
efficient, and they were dismissed.
Mr. BROUGHAM was not quite satisfied with .the Hon. Secre-
tary's explanation, as to the items of expenec in the Estimates,
and eatered into an enlarged statement of the increase of sala-
ries, and concluded by expressing his heartfelt conviction that
if tie House did not watch over the pledge that atinisters had
pot in the mouth of their master, of economy, they would be
negleeting their most sacred duties.
Mr. 1: NRES said, it seemed to be agreed that the Estimates,
as far as salaries went, were increased, and vet that fewer effi-
cient persons were employed. To him it appeared that the
Howe would be departing from its bounden ditty if it agreed to
an, augmeatatitia whatever in the salaries. In many instances
of dm kind, he had seen that the interests of the public went
for noOting ; but he hoped the house would ant sutler it to be
so in die present case. He thought this part of the Estimates
should be postponed.
Lord CAA ei.s..ae.thit defended the measures of Government,
and said Ministeis could not, consistently udb their duty, sub-
mit to regulate their conthiet entire ly by the .11%111111 of Gentle-
pen opposite. 1k ready as any of those Gentlemen tosiiii.
:mut) the real voiee.-if Parliament ; hut, whilst cutest:ions that he
• i.„..jz, t!pi io-st err Ilia fur time i,-,tv,tu•

MARCH 51.

Cage. of the country, he would not be clamoured down by Gcn.
tlemen who so loudly contended that their system only was the
system of ecnionny. (Ifeart4ear, hear!)
Mr. Possotinv opposed the vote.
The Committee then divided on Mr. Bankes's Amendment,
for the Chairman's reporting progress, and asking leave to sit
when the numbers were—For the Amendment 85—
Against it 163—Majority against the Amendment, and in fa.
s our of Ministers, 7S.
On our re-admission into the gallery, Mr. BARING Wei
speaking on the general question. The Hon. Member con-
chided by moving that n sun' of 57,7531. should be inserted,
instead of the original sum proposed in the Resolution.
The Amendment was supported by Mr. Caderaft, Mr. W.
Wynne, Sir M. Ridley, Admiral Markham, Mr. Forbes, Lord
Folkstone, &c. and opposed by Mr. Croker, Sir G. Warrender,
Mr. Rose, Mr. Wrottesley, Lord Binning, Lord Castlereagh,
and Mr. Fitzgerald.
The Committee then divided upon Mr. Baring 's Amendment.
For the Amendment 3S—Against it —Ma jori ty for Minis-
ters
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at Hall-past Two o'clock,

THIRSDAY, MARCH 28.
PRINCE OF SANE COROURG.

The Density Vsher of the Black llnd summoned the attend-
ance of the Mese in the House of Peers, to hear the Royal
Assent given by Commission to public Bills. The Speaker, up-
on his return, announced that the Royal Assent had been give n
to the Bill for permitting the tratittalization of the Prince of
Saxe Cibourg.
The Citaxer.t.ton of the E Wiltat! PR moved for leave to bring
in a 11111 to natiraliza and settle the precedence of Prince Leo-
pold. Leava given.
The Cita:set:town of the F.XCHECWFR brought in the Bill,
which wits passed through its several stages, and orilered to the
Lords.
A message from the Lords afterwards announced, that their
Lordships had also agreed to the Hill.
COUNTY RATP.I. _ _ _

Mr. Cia.spr.ts gave notice, that on an early day he should
apply for leave to introduce a Bill for the better regulation of
County Rate,.
0,1 the notion that the Wonky ich Ferry Bill be read a second
time, some diseos,ion arose between Mr. Swan, Sir J. Graham,
Alderman Smith, Mr. Calvert, and Mr. Barclay, who proposed
that the Bill he read a second time this day six months.
On this proposition a division took place. The numbers
were—Ayes 32 —Noes 16—Majority 16.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES,.
- -

The Report of the Weights and Measures Bill was brought
np, and the Resolution read and agreed to, the alteration pro-
posed by Mr. Termayne, that there be no iron weights under
.51b. instead of 11h. being acquiesced in.
Mr. LUMINGTON hiollght up the report of the Committee on
the Promissory Note Act. and the resolution that it was expe-
dient to revive and continue the Bill for susionding the Act of
the 17th of the King was read nod agreed to, and a Bill order-
ed accordingly.
Admiral Slsunlse moved for an account or all fees re-
ceived in 191.1, by the Admiralty,Navy, and Victualling Office,
and the appropriation thereof respectively. Ordered.
LEATHER TAX.

Mr. HART P IVTA Stated, that he had received several letters
from Bristol, upon the subject of the Leather Tax, a very gene-
ral opinion has ing got abroad that the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer intended to propose a repeal of that tax, or at all events
come mrstitication of it, he should be glad to learn from the Rt
Hon. Gentleman whether he had any such intention?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that awtn any
repeal or modification of the Leather T ix, be believed that
neither would be of any extensive benefit at tho present mo-
ment.