The National Register.
London, England, 1812-05-10 00:00:00


HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY) MAY 4.
SINECURES.
Mr.BANIZS moved, that the report of the Sinecure Office Bill be
taken into consideration.
Mr. W. Denims argued the against principles of the Bill. in,
chief ground of objection was, however, that it violated the articles of
Union with Scotland.
The LORD AnvocaTz ow SCOTLAND followed on the same side. He
was quite aware that gentlemen by no means conceived to what evil
results this Bill might lead. Scotland was united to England in their
public seal, but in matters of private right it reserved that Scotland
should have a keeper of the Great Seal. This office was therefore a
memorial of the antient Scotish Monarchy,—it was a lasting symbol of
that independent kingdom : and, he conceived, that without the gene,'
outrage to the feelings of a great portion of the British empire, it cotiltt
not be destroyed. The House had lately heard of Ireland coming in
person to their bar—of Ireland appearing there with her imperial crow ri,
demanding the concession of what were called rights, but what he
might conceive as privileges, which, it granted, would endanger the
safety of the State. The House had lately been threatened with this
pompous appearance ; but he did not appear in his place as the advocates
for Ireland did. He asked no privileges—he prayed for no favour ; hill
he demanded the fulfilment of a contract, the preservation of rights
1 which were never considered injurious to any mortal, which were the
legacy given to her children by an antient kingdom, and which were
now sanctioned by an union of one hundred years.
Mr. LYTTLETON supported the Bill.
Mr. COURTENAY spoke at great length against the Bill. It went, he
said, to entail a charge on the people in perpetuity, by giving large pen-
sions
to those Who held the first offices in State for a number of yeart,
which would, in the end, prove far more burthensorne to the people
than those offices and sinecures which it intended to abolish.
Colonel BASTARD said, the House had been long told by Minister
that no office in reversion should be granted till the opinion of the Hoa.o.
was known ; and now, when, on the recommendation of do many
Committees, a Bill has been brought in, and the expectations of :Lc
people raised to the highest pitch, they were told the Bill was not prop::
by those very men, who, instead of rejecting, ought to do every thing
in their power to amend it. An Honourable Gentleman opposite (M...
1 Courtenay) had said, the House must not look at things as they are,
' as they were.—Good God! could they shut their eyes to what was p.:,;•
ing at the present moment?—Could they . be blind to the starving situ.,
non of the people, and say, it was impossible those wifortun .3
wretches could bear to see the iota torn from the famished lips of Oa.:
wives and children, to pamper in luxury a set of men who are walk "•.
ing in wealth produced by places and pensions wrung from their gar'
and incessant labour. . .
The CHANCELLOR of the FXCHEQUER rose. As to the principle of
the Bill, his opinion was that it was perfectly wrong and mistaken. 4
went to say, that the Crown should not. have the power of securing
a, fore
its service men whom it might judge to be the most capable, if th
men happened not to be in a situation to resign all other profession; OT
pursuits In order to enter into the public service. It was only by sw.,
places as these, that the Crown had now the power of prevaiig tx'
men to accept of offices who were not completely independert in th,::,
fortunes, and who were obliged.to look to their own exertions foil.
maintenance and provision of their families. It might be Luppese,.t.h.,t
those observations proceeded from a personal biaL ; but he should r.,,:
pretend to say that his public services were of such importance to tl;
country as to make such a measure necessary. He Lliuuld, licn
ivev,l
suppose a case of the Crown hdlg at any future time surroum.ed ily,
aristocratic combinations, and that to preserve its proper place ,
Constitution, it should deem it necessary to call to its service some (~ .
~,,-,
tleman from the other side of the House. It would be very posq,-',l,
that the Gentleman whom it might so select, and who milt ht be nt Id
i worthy of such selection, wouldwouldbe fount] in such a sltuastivn

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