The National Register.
London, England, 1817-02-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

that a minute examination hail token place, and there wail no
reason to expect it would be cketvded.
Mr. 'ftEnsl;.t said, the t:ommit lee of Etittiry hod not yet
done a stroke of work, iu consequence of the Estimates not
Wing ready.
'flue motion was then agreed to; as weir ulso the following
mom, s iv. 21ii,61/01. for wages; 2:1:1,7W11. for victualling ;
21,,,1001. for wear and tear; and 22,6001. or ordnance.
The report was ordered to be ree ei.e.l to-morrow.
THE sEcitry.% HY TO TUE ADNIIII.‘L'IN.

Lord Mivripsi rose to bring tiiil;rth,.tOtisititratii-o; of the
House the Salary of the First Secretary of the Admiralty.
The Noble Lord observed, that in the opinion of hk B. H.
the Mince Regent, the country was in such a state as to
require from hint a surrender tilt one fifth of his income. A
Noble Lord had folloned his example; and others, he be-
lieved, were following. But at such a moment another Gen-
tleman; in a Subordinate sititution, conceives that his merits
were such as to entitle him to au eacrease of salary. The
order made tor the iacrease in the summer of 18111—most
taken as applying to a state of war, and he was prepared to
deny that the country was in that slate to warrant such an in-
CI ease. The Expedition to Algiers sailed to he suite, but
no letters of r...prisal or marque were issued at that liine,
constituting a state of oar. Lord Exmouth went oat a tieLm-
eiator, to deitiaml an answer to certain terms; trod the limy
answer of the Noble Lord justified him in stating that cireinit-
stance, for the Noble Lord, In Iris di pair hes, sav s, " Thus
has a provoked war of t ,lays existence been concluded."
'Fisk being the fact, the Admiralty think it necessary to grant
au increase of salary to their Secretary. He denied that
either in this case or the expedition to Copenhagen, there
Was any real ground for giving war salaries. In the papers
on the table there were two persons stetted to he entitled to
war salaries; but these grams savoured too much of farmir
itista—he did mit know theist to be :pally so. If th^ir call
was not attended to, the people, would thank that the House
were really not intent upon retrene,iment, and only axiosis to
favour its own nody. It was impossi'de to say in what ligh.
this remititeratio:, was made, whether for his services at the
Admiralty, or in the Idolise, or elsewhere; for the secretary
had iierformed various duties to „,overninent. 11,, coula not
conceis e that an expedidtm like the one to Algiers eintel
have iiiereased the la Minis of th • secretary. flirt pn ;lie
t ad Steen dee,• led. fm- the Navy office had iso idea of paying
die salary until the lien G •utlemin demanded it. The
Board referred to Ow duns r:tv, to ascertain whether the
country was at war with Algiers, and received an answer in
the affirmative. It was clear, there,' -re, they had nn Idca of
paying him auy tiatitg lies ond his peace salary. The Hou.
Gentleman seemed to think, that because lie had cointurneed
a war against pirates, that lie was entitle•l to Wall pirate li:tn•
self, and make war on the finances of the country.
trusted that the home would wrest the contimil out of fits
hands, mid cons hire the lion. Gentientan that his appetites
when other public men were giving up tlieir incomes, were
not to be gratified at the espetiee of a country already una-
ble to hear their burthens. lit cum-hided with snoring a
resolution to t!ui etr,Ct " Thlt the i.sue of the War Salsi-
fies to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and certain other
officers in .con-aleration of the expedition to Algiers, is un-
called for, and therefore an improper aiiplicatiou of the pub-
lic motley."
Mr. CaOk FR claimed the attention of the House to his case,
which the Noble Lord had made SO personal, that the Hmse
waist be induced to think that the favour was purely a per-
sonal 011,.. He was far front dens rig that lie had dente:tiled
the increase. He made it after ice service was performed ;
and he considered the sin mitt sii paltry, that he w, old not
have dime justice to the office whit In he tilled, if he had nut
made the demand. The Noble Lard had talked of sacrifices ;
and he could assure the House, that be was as ready to come
forwatd as the Noble Lord, or the Right lion. Gentleman
(Mr. l'oa.onhy).; but it would hware bees an unworthy act to
give what he was not entitled to. In the turath of August,
therefore, he had made the demand, conceiving it was %Atilt
he was justly entitled to. With respect to Algiers, it was not
a mercantile State; consequently letters of marque or re-
prisals could not have been issued. The expedition to that
place was actually fitted out during a state of war. Lord
Exmouth went out less of a negotiator thau any other Admi-
ral that had left the country. The Hon. Gentleman here
contended, that the duration °lithe war made no distinction,
whether two days or two yeas; the fact was undoubted, and
his claim well timuileil. lie denied that he had demanded
the increase as a matter of favour, but of right precedent
aosi right alone had guided him iu making the demaudoshieb
he had done openly, without auy secret reservation.
Mr. CA ICK SET thought the matter was not personal, but
belonged more properly to the Lords of the Admiralty ; for
the Navy Board were in so much doubt whether the time was
one of peace or war, that they were obliged to apply to
that Boaui, to know whether the Hug. Gentleinan had the
right of making the claim. How stood the fact—Loll! Ea-
mouth went out with a treaty—the ley dill not accept the
terms at first—war commenced—and then the terms were ac-
cepted. Under these circuinstauces, the Hun. Gentleman
'night have waived his claim, and pocketed his susceptibility
for his successor ; the blame, however, was not his owls.; it
rested with the Admiralty Board, and could not be supposed
to influence the conduct of the Hon.• Secretary—a Sinn of.
al. 3a. od. the sum total of the inerassed salary tor two day's,
hostilities. lie wished to know what additional trouble the
lion. Gentleman could have had with this estiedition, which
his salary of 30001. a-year, grimiest by the Order-in Council,
did not amply pay.
Sir:l. Non an defended the conduct of the Board of Admi-
ralty in signing the was rant, which he did tint regret,
tiering alba matter of right, and nut of laVOur ; sod he should
do the same again.
Sir G. Huta:observed, that if the Admiral had stet lite
Algerines at sea, he was fully authorised to attack and Cap-';
tore them; so that it was not au expedition for mere ne- '
gociation.
Admiral MARYIIAII supported the motion, but denied that
this expedition could be called a state of war. He observed,
that expeditions might befitted out for any petty place on the
coast of Africa; but it could not be called an armament for
the purposes of war.
Mr. Ti Eke ha' was satisfied, that, in point of principle, the
' transaction mast create much desist thimighout the coon-
try. The right would depend solely upon the noutuer into
which the Order in Council wax to be cuirstruest and hese.
he would blame the Lords of the Admiralty ; for iboy had a
discretionary power, either to giant an addition, or withhold
it. Th., (::der of Isoo authorised them to gniJIL a satin, of
30901—and an addition, in time of sear, of 1001. more. Now,.
unless they were perfectly satisfied that the Hon. Gentleman
was justified in making the claim, and tLit the nation was in
That state of war as to authorise them to act, they should un-
doubtedly have refined to sign the warrant, because the pa-
naltY Nouid fall ui)ou the people of Eagiaad. It was [SUMO-

able Aosee the Lords of the Admiralty straining every pu
the public, fur the treaty had actually attired on f e
day of thst warrant bring signed. Mr. 'l'. then ridirulnil the
idea of' the disinterestedness of the Hon. Secretary, who lust
year hail drerelaiowd all claims, and'inive 000101 formied to as-
sert Ids right. The Lords of the. Admiralty had said to hint,
" you make year demand, and we'll stand by von."
Lord CASTLEMMAGIE considered the conduct of the Right
Hon. Gentleman as actuated by a spirit of detraction, with 4
view to run down MI politic men, audinjore them in the est:
mation of the (mount,. tin thet, the !loose itself imposed the
task 'thou the Board of Admiralty, and strongly denied that
they were at liberty to use their own distortion. He com-
plained of the course pIIIPSIMI by the :noble Mover, in, cot
first calling for information.; and considered the line adopted
as a cruel trap set tier piddle men, to render them odious.
With respect to the facts of the cast., hostilities bad actually
commenced ; for the letter of the Secretary of State to Iles
Admiralty Board stated, that the aggression began with the
Ma .were lit BOlla ; and it was tirstaactly declared in the body
of instructions to Lord r.snintitle„ to consider all Ah.t.rive
vessels which lie met at sea as enemies, and to capture then.
the only discretion which he was at liberty to use was in le-
spect to those in port.
Mr. Lavine maintained, that if the House did not support
the motion, they would degrade theinavit es.
Mr C. BA ItCLAY was not convinced, born all dist had
transpired in debate, that the country, with reference to the
claim of the Hon. Secretary, was in a state of peace.
Mi. W. SMITH supported the moth n
The }loose then derided—Fur the motion 141—Againstit
IW--;tlajority 55 agamst Lord Milton's motion.