The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-03 00:00:00

CIVIL UST.

The Order of the Day for the Houle going into
n Committee on the Civil List Acts being read, the
Siie3ker necordingly left the Choir, whet.—

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to
move the first Resolormsi, the porprot of which
was, to grant to his Majesty an annual revenue of
850,0u0i. bur England, and Qt►7,ooo/. for lielknol.
The Right Roo. Gentlsoman prefaced the Resolu-
tion with some oblervetions, which, from the low
trine in which he spoke, were totally inaudible in
the Gallery.
Sir HENRY PARNELL affirmed, that, with the
information at present before the Douse, it was im-
possible for the !louse to do its duty. They were
culled upon by the Speech tram the Throne to pro-
vide fur the expenses of the Civil Government, and
they were informed that the hereditary revenues of
the Crown were placed at the disposal Of that Douse.
Tlw►e was a variety of points connected with these
topics, which it was absolutely tiecessvy the I louse
should be in possession of before they could with
propriety legislate upon the subject. The House
ought to be iiihnined what the expense of the
Civil Government actually was. The Honourable
Baronet quoted the authority of Dlr. Burke, iii
justification of his censure on the Royal House-
hold, as at present constituted. With regard to
for hereditary revenues, it was all important consi-
deration to make them as productive as possible.—
The expelaw of .collection might, lie thought, be
coosiderotily dimin►shed. The revenue of the
Duchy of Lancaster and Principality of Wales
ought also to come under their consideration. It
was impossible fur him at present to say what pa-

pets hantight to call for bet if time was grittlea,
be would come down to tke house prepaid to
move for inch papers se, in his view of the subject.
were essential before the House decided upon the
subject. Under the prevent want of information.
he did not think proper to commit himself by
outing for the Resolution.
The CitANCELLOR or the EXCHEQUER said, that
the present course was adopted in consequence of
what MI from some of the HMI. GefairPr.ll oppo.
inte. soul oa* acceded to by Ilion for mutual con•
"menet..

Colonel Davirl conceived that by this liesolu-
tion the woote revenue, as fixed in I'4 was pro-
pored to he settled on hit Nbijeety, with the excel,.
Lion of she allowance to his late Majesty,
The CIIANCeLLOIL of the ExcitutuEs said, the
Flom Gentleman was iii error : there were further
sums IltliNeted.

Colonel 134111 ES said, the error he had fallen into
Was a striking argument for a further delay, as It
evinced the necessity of Gentlemen being better
informed before they could conic to a decision.
Mr. CANNING sand, that lie was aware that in
strict argument no person in that Hasse could bind
the decision of even the person who sat next him,
but nevertheless it was the practice—a practice
adopted for mutual convenience, fur a certain dis.
position of the business of the House to he arranged
as to a eel tails stage of it, with the understanding
that no debate WIN to arise thereon itt that stage.
It such arrangements were not to be attended to,
if such tacit understandings were uut considered
binding, there was an cud at once of all the system,
and with it all the accommodation result lug.
Mr. TIERNEY observed, that in what he had
said me a former night which hail now been olliiiled
to, lie had merely wished that the House should he
rot iii possession of the line of conduct which the
Government intended to pursue on this occasion;
and in considering himself MS hound not to oppose
the Resnlutios.s in the present stage, he had by no
nieans meant to preclude himself from giving them
all the opposition in his power in their future
stages, should lie think fit so to do. Before he sat
down lie wished to know, if the revenue of her
Majesty was included in the arrangement made in
the year 1816 ?
Mr. flusxissost said, the income of the Queen
was settled by a suliecitiesit Act, and was payable
out of the Consolidated Fund.

Lord A. Mimi:you said, that notwithstanding
what hail beets said, he was fearful of being pre•
clotted, in the future stages, from diacuraing the
principle of the measure, if not the details of it,
sod therefore he 'null withhold his convent to any
arrangement by which his right to do that would
he compromisrd.—(Cries of " No, no," front the
Ministethl Benches.)—Unquestionably, he said,
if the whole subject was to be just as open on the
next stage as on the present, he could have no ob-
jection to postponing his observations till then,
though he thought the more regular way of proceed-
ing would have been to discus them in the first
stage. . . . . .

CANNING raid, that undoubtedly not only
in point of torn would the subject be fully open
for discussion in its future stages, but also from the
understandmg of the House on it. Hr agreed with
the Noble Lord, that the more natural way would
have been the one he had devitlerated, but it was
from the understanding of his Right Hon. Friend,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of what would be
most convenient to the Gentlemen opposite, ;hat he
had taken the presetit course, and it would be a
little hard, alter he had acceded to it on such cun-
sideratioiis. if they were to refuse the vote on
grinsoila which they had solicited him to take. The
object was merely to advance the measure one atage,
and no unfair advantage would or could be taken
of the present arraugensent. There would be many
other stages in which it would he perfectly open for
discussion, both in its principle and details.
Lord A ACIIIIIALO HAMILTON txpreased himself
satisfied, front what the Right Hum Gentleman
had said. to waive his objections.
Mr. Hung could not concur its the arrangement
now proposed, as he recollected on a former occa-
sion, in the year 1816, the House were shut out
from considering the subjeet of the hereditary
revenue. He thought the first step the House
ought to take should he to consider and deter 11l i l
wish regard not only to the hereitiary revenue, but
also the four and a half per cent. done'', and ail
other colonial revenues. The estimates, according
to the Speech of big Majesty, were to be nee 11111 l 11.
cally framed, but this was a part of the estimates
that he would maiut■in were most extravagant. as
would clearly appear as a ieference to the Fin •tice
Revisit. That Report states, that the years 1813,
1814. and 1815, were year,. or extravagant
expru-
diture ; yet the Civil Let now proposed is founded
on calculation's made us§ the expenses of those
year., and the House will not be redeeming its
pledges if the most rigid economy be not :mewled
to in every deportment. Ile had expected that thus
necessary regard to economy would base begun
with the estsblishment of In. MITsiY, soil
base been followed up by u reduction in the
salaries of every civil officer under the Govern-
ment. If some such system of economy were not
commenced we should be plunged ►till deeper into
difficulties, and he obliged to go on, year sifter
year, adding moist already memoirs debt. Muds
as he admired the civil institutions of the country,
lie had no hesitation in sas Mg they night be
bought too dear. The Civil Government w•as too
dear; and as individuals when labouring under
pecuniary embarrassments always commeoced by
reducing their domestic eineffilishments, the Mi-
nisters, if they meant any thing by their wars.
sinus of economy, ought to begin by rethictog every
expense as much as was practicable. Ile could not
consent to vote fur the present measure, as it was. in
his opinion. part of a system of expense. and not
of econosny. It was well known that one elf ct of
the resumption of cash payments by the liat.k.
would be n lull in the prices of all co tttttt whiles of
1011111611/1 25 per cent. ; the effect of this would be
to give the Crown a permanent revenue of one
million aunt:oily, instead of 850,080/. as stated in
the Resolution. All the additions which were made
during the last twenty year. to the salaries of civil
officers. were alleged to be founded im the increased
price of every necessary of life; surely, therefore,
now that every necessary of life lard fallen consi-
derably. there could be no hardship in snaking
reductions in some sort of proportion thereto. 111.
the Ministry do not do this, so far hum Itteping

their pledge, they will exhibit a total disregard of
all economy; and even single-handed, lie must
place himself in opposition to such conduct.
Sir H. PARNBLL admitted that the Right Holt.
Gentleman was perfectly correct in stating, that
there was as moderatanding between Ministers and
his Him. and Ri4ht Ilon. Friends, that the ruotiun
of the. Committee was to have passed In silence.
end the discussion reserved for the reception of the
Report. He did out admire the plan of that agree-
ment, as it set aside the whole policy usually acted
on in similar °carpi ssss s. He thought that before the
subject was brought forward its its present shape,
there ought to have been the utmost infornialisiv
before the House, as to the unionist rod applica-
tion, not only of the sum sender consideration, but
ell the other funds, generally received and disbursed
by the Crown. He words, further say, that he out
only (lid slot approve of the course adopted, to,
cause of its deviation tram the general mode of
proceeding, but he felt that there ought to have
been a Select Committee appointed, to sloth sli
the papers should have been referred, and the Re-
port of this Committee ought to have preceded the
deliberation of a Committee of the whole House.
He slid not feel himself boons! to the support d
any tiling now proposed, which was indeed oi,r
proposed by way of information. Every Mealliee
would be at liberty to determine according to ti.r
effect which further explanation end discussoo:
would produce un his mind when the del,we
should take place.
Mr. BEOUGHAN said, that the circumstance of
nut then typoising the motion, did nut in the less:
degree bind any Members from doing so iu the 11:1,-
euswion which would take !place on Use measure ou
Friday. The measure before the House was ooiy
parliamentary mode of 'styli% the accessary 11,-
1 fornsation before the House.

Sir J. Newrotty said, that certainly no Mrmher
h.itiel by deferring his oppiniihun to the prr-
sent minion to defer it altogether. lie reconi-
mended a strict investigation when the subject cause
under diseuivion. Of the reveinie of Ireland, One
entire branch of OtHCli had been (liveried aunt its
proper channel, and the charges which it insintaiii-
ed were now levied on the people. lie would not
then prolong the discinesiiiii by st Mine the particu-
lars of this affitr, to which he only wished thus
briefly to allude.
The Resolution was then carried.
tin the mutton of the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CHEQUER it was resolved, that these charges simian(
be taken out of the Consolidated Food.
It was ordered, that Accounts of the Hereditary
Reveuurs should he hid before the Douse.

The House resumed, the Chairman reported pro-
gress. and die Report was ordered to be taco ion)
consideration on Friday.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

The CHANCF.:T.LOR of the EICHEQURR moved
the order of the day toe receiving the Report of the
Committee of Supply.
The resolution of the Committee, that supplies
should be grouted, was read a first sad decowd time.
The Report of the Committee was ordered to he
referred to a Committee of the whisk House to-
morrow.

It was ordered, that there be laid before the
House copies of the 3d, 4th, sth. *ad Oth Re-
joins of the Collllllllll,lollela u ip iutwl to ibilltre
Into the departments of Customs and Excise.
()tarred, that there be laid before the House an
alistriee t of the net produce of thee revenue, with
lilt usual disituctious as to the time of the receipts;
nod u separate account of the ainouiet derived limo
the Hew duties. Also, 'camel* of the Exchequer
Bills received be payaneist of dunes. rtudingutitony;
the amounts received on the lit January, sth April,
and :24 Nlay, revera;ly.
Air. Hose moved foe accounts to be laid before
the Hoare, varsomly chivied and diatangotibeds of
the total fiddled and unfunded debt of Great Brl-
-14111, Ulid of the netereat paid thrr.on, between
sth January, 1819. mud sth January,
It 2O.—Or-
dered.