The National Register.
London, England, 1812-03-29 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Prince and Princess not living together, he himself felt no concern about
it; but it appeared to him, that in the present circumstances of the
Country, there was no sufficient reason for increasing the income of the
Princesses, and he should therefore move, that the House resolve itself
into a Committee that day month.
Nit-. ROSE stated, that the Hen. Gentleman was not aware that pro-
vision was made, by Act of Parliament, for the security of the surplus
of the Consolidated Fund.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not of opinion_ that this
question should he postponed. The Hon. Gentleman, when alluding
to the revenues of the Queen and Princess of Wales, observed, that it
would be easy to meet the charges of the household of the latter, as the
expenses of the former were withdrawn from the Civil List; he begged
leave, however, to state, that the revenues of the Queen still came
from the Civil List, and through the hands of the Prince Regent, as
they did through the hands of the King. With regard to the annuity
of: the Princess of Wales, he stated that it had been found insufficient,
and that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales had discharged debts
incurrtd in consequence of that insufficiency, to the amount of 49,0001.
without bringing any charge on the Public Fund. The annuity had
some time since increased from 12 to 17,0001. Respecting his Royal
Highness's own debts, the yearly sum of 70,0001. was transferred,
under the seal of the Duchy of Cornwall, to certain persons, for their
di•ebarge.

Mr. WHITBREAD thought it was expedient to postpone this question
for one month. Hearing the different statements which were made
from both sides of the House from the said papers, he conceived that
it would be important to inquire into the actual state of the Govern-
Milt of the country.
The question was then put, and negatived without a division.
The House then resolved itself into the Committee, and _

The CHANCELLOR oP the EXCHEQUER moved, "that the sum of
30,0001. per ann. already granted by Parliament, be increased to
5.i,0001. to he given in annuities from the present time, to their Royal
Highnesses the Princesses Augusta Sophia, Elizabeth, Mary, and
Sophia."
Mr. TiritNEV apprehended that this resolution proposed to the Prin-
cesses 15(01. more than the act of 1799 had provided, and that, includ-
ing the 40001. from the Civil List, the, income of each was to be now
13,0001. Alluding to the Civil List, he stated that 1,666,0001. had been
pald out of it to the Royal Family; he did not say that it was not ne-
cessary, but he thought that the sum was enormous, and that some
attempt should be made at controlling the extravagance of the Civil
List. He had heard something of a separation between the Prince and
Princess of Wales whispered about, but the House knew nothing about
it. He asked why they did not now see Courts and Drawing-rooms,
and why the people did not behold something of that splendor for
which they paid so dear ? He had no doubt but that the reparation had
taken place on good grounds; the Right Hon. Gentlemen opposite (the
Chancellor of the Exchequer) knew more of that person than any one
the, lie was her counsel; yet he now was contented that she should
be kept on a scanty pittance. All he could say about it was, that there
was a person in this kingdom, the wife of the Prince Regent, who was
now as much the Queen as he was the King, who, in the new arrange-
tnents, had been completely passed by, and that under the administra-
tion of a gentleman' who was once her greatest champions.
Mr. W. San ris was aware that it was obnoxious to oppose this mo-
tion, but he 'thought that, in the present state of the finances of the
country, they should be careful of the expenditure.
Mr. PON SONBY said, that unless the Right Hon. Gentleman would
give some farther explanation respecting this subject, he should vote
against the motion. This was a proposition, not only to increase the
annuities of the Princesses, but to anticipate the period when they
were to commence the enjoyment of them. 1
Mr. FREF.MANTLE thought, that this increase of income was due to
the high and amiable characters which their Royal Highnesses had
always held in the country. He was convinced that. if the Civil List
was Inquired into, enough would he found to meet the increase, with-
out imposing any additional burthen on the people.
Mr. D. GIDDY spoke in favour of investigation of the Civil List,
previous to any additional grants.
Mr. BENNET r spoke warmly against any increased expenditure. He
has
against voting for the resolution at present.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER remarked a strange inconsist-
ency in the speech of the Hon. Gentleman, who began with recom-
m . ending economy, but, before he ended, was for an increase of splen-
a_.or.aed dignity, and a large settlement. As to the present condition
etthelllustrieus Personage alluded to, he was averse to speak, it had
nothing to do with the question before the Committee. The grant of
!rat additional to her Ivlajesty, was entirely unconnected with the
resolution. Concerning the Civil List much representation had gone
labroad, as to its amount and application. Much of this representation,
believed, was wilful, as if the whole expenditure was confined to
that the
family, which is far from being the case. He did not think
the Civil List promised any saving at all adequate to the extent of
the resolution; but, if he did, there was no necesse.y for postponing the
emlution.
•
,ulsler'inNa3c; to whom
lamented, extremely, the situation of the illustri-
whom allusion had beeri made in the course of the de-
bate, and thought it the duty of the Right Hon. Geutletuan to explain

193

to the House the reason of that situation. If he should remain silent
now, the House would recollect that there was a time when he
was ready to explain ; when he was not sati-fied to confine his justifi-
cation to the walls of that House, or to the limi•s of the empire, but
was preparing. by a publication, to extend it over all Europe. The
situation which he holds now, and which he held formerly, made it
competent to a Member to put such a question.
Mr. W. WY ti xF. thought it unfair and invidious to support the pre-
sent grant, by.in,isting on the many virtues of those illustrious females
who were the objects of it, as if those who might oppose it were of a
different opinion respecting tficir virtues and merits. It was not from
being of a thffirent opinion that he wmild oppose it : but he thought
that if the Civil List were examined, we had the means in our hands,
and he thought inquiry should always precede grants. He was sorry
that the necessary infnrm.qion was withheld a certain Illus-
trious Lady, and Jameuteci the great falling off of Court splendor.
Mr. PONSONBY, coinciding in the opinion, that to rest the present
claim on the virtues of the claimers was a most unfair meth ordeter.
ming the moi-bn, he tkou7ltt that character was, on that occasion, en-
tirely to be left out of com,id,.,ration.
Mr. H. TiloßNroN and Mr. Witoi-risLET spoke for the postpone-
ment, as did also Mr. BAR HARI.

Mr.TiE RN v V inferred, from the silence of the Right Hon. Gcnt. ( Nfr.
Perceval) that there was a separation.—(Mr. Perceval, No, no !)—'lleci
I am to understand that the Princess lives on the bounty of the i)ti.;ce ;
but that might be taken away ; and all then which would would
be 3,0001. It was impossible he could be ignorant of Itor situation,
and the Lord Chancellor intot be acquainted with it. He mi,st have
made up his tnird as to what conduct he was to pursue. He wished to
know why he had chanced, and what was the cause of it ?
Mr. PimeEvAL replied, that he himself was the best judge what he
was bound to say or tcAlo in defence of his character or conduct. He
had no charge, nor had he ever any occasion to intimate any reflection
on her Royal Highness. He had no &legated authority as to her; but
he had no donht,if Parliament noticed her situation, that he might be
commissioned to accede to the of the House.

Mr. Tierney and Mr. Whit breal, speaking successively on the same
topics, Mr. Perceval ref,,eatcd, that neithtr in his character of
counsel, or any f,ther,lnd he inlinuated any thing that would constitute
a charge against her Royal Hig!tnes3.
After a few words from Sir J. NEWPORT, the resolution was carried
without a division.

On the second reading of the Bill for excluding Members of Parlia-
ment who had become bankrupts, Mr. Rochdale and Mr. H. Smith
spoke against the Bill; Mr. Lockhart, Mr. W. Smith, and Mr. W.
Wynne, in favour of the Th:: same principles were urged on both
sides as at the first reading.
A division took place, u hen there appeared—For the Bill, 22 ; Against
it, 19 —Miority S.
The Bill was accordingly read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted on the Bth of Aprii niAt.
The Securities Bill VSYS Ore ,•;-e.:!, on the motion of Mr. Wriaß-rox, to
be read • a second time on tle 7:h of itpr:l rust.
The Irish Militia Bill, and Mi!itia Families Bill, and the
Irish Soldiers Wives BPI, were severally a third time and passe.%
J anwica Trade Bill was read a t!•1!-d time andpassed:—Adjourned.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24.

The Hon. Mr. EDEN moved that Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Hudson,
the Sheriff's Officer, who was charged with a brea..h of the privileges
of the House in arresting Mr. Campbell, should he called to the bar.
On their appearance, Mr. Campbell stated the circumstances attendbq
his arrest, and Hudson, in answer to a question from the Speaker,
acknowledged he had arrested Campbell; hut was not aware he had
acted wrong in so doing; Mr, Dan, s..liieltor for the plaintiff, .at whose
suit Campbell was arrested, ordered him to keep the defendant in
custody.—Mr. Eden then moved, that Campbell be discharged from
custody ; this motion was agreed to ; and Dan and Hudson were or-
dered to attend the House to-n'orrow.
Mr. BA KrS obtained leave to bring in a Bill to abolish and regulate
Sinecure Offices.
Mr. Wt..sTERN moved for copies of rll documents connected with
the case of Captain l'emlinson, of tht Navy, who, he said, had, 'from
malicious motives on the part of the Navy Board, been iniliczed
tried at the Old Haile}', on a charge of o:•?.ery contrt&t,ci tiftt'cr; years
ago, arising out of the F. upply of torn stores fur the use :)t. the ship
under. Captain Tomiinson' :: s
commend, by a shipwright of Dartmouth,
named Tanner.
Mr. CROKER opposed the motion, contending that no part of the
proceedings against Captain. TemEnson, bad originat,!ci in malicious
motives on the part of the Navy Board, but that the Joard was actua:A
by ruotiver of public duty.
After a long discussion, the House divided—For the motion, 91 ;
against it, 53.—Adjuntutd.

WEDNESDAY, NI AACSI 25.
The Hollse having ref:olved into n Committee upon the Pario) P rE;9.
tf!r• 13111, Mr. Rosa stated, at son le :enf;th, :he neeroity of ptch a mea-
t.l. ai !ie abort to 1,roos•-!, ar,l•l;t:tlied the parts 0; iHe
ti,4t Ca: re,;,-Airity wheat prevail,:d in tly.: kec.1.:14; of