The National Register.
London, England, 1816-04-08 00:00:00

MIL HARRISON.

Sir J.Wew potrr moved for the printing of colain accounts
♦expecting the Treasury contingencies, which had been laid on
the_tutile. .

Mr. TtfiRNEY observed, that there was a paper presented a
week ago which sheaved the increased outgoings of the Traa-
aury tire I a,0031. more Mau the lastyear.—(u that acenant there
Is a sum of 34001 for the aainry of Mr. Harrison, tie Assistant-
hecretary, being an increase of 3001. beyond the former year.
He thought that the salary having been increased from the
Hirst appointment of Mr. garrison up to 30301. that sum might
to he considered as quite solicited. At the same (lute he %vas
bound to say that this Gentlemen was entitled to every praise
ior assiduity and attention in his offieial capacity; but what
must surprize the Hoare more was, that in addition to an in-
creased salary of 33001. a year, there was an item in the ac-
rmiuts awarding Mr. Harrison 50001. more for his services.
how, he wished to know where the liberality was to stop? lie
bettged of the House to recollect, when they were dealing nut
reforms in the expenditure, that here was a Geutlemeu, with a
liberal salary, receiving a *ma in addition beyond any &Tent
precedent. With respect to the proceeding to be adopted, he,
should not move any thing; because if he did, it might be at-
tributed to party motives, and it would not become him to im-
peach the Alinister, for that, it' he stirred at all, mast be the
step to take. The Right Hon. Gent. observed, that this trans-
action would never have come to light—it was detected merely
by his moving for the papers in question.
Mr. VANSIrrIItT stated his readiness on every occasion to
give explanation na the subject. With respect to imeach-
meat, if he (Mr. V.) was to fill, he woold rather fall by the
hands of the Right Hon. Gent. than by less able means. The
Right Hon. Gent. then stated, that Mr. Harrison was appoint-
ed by Mr. Pitt, in 1503, with it salary of 20aal. a year; in
1807, in consequence of the approbation of the Board of Try:t-
eary, Lord Grenville gave him as additional rtUtd. In lalu9„
the increase of business in his department was considered, and
an additional 5001. was made, making in the whole 30J01. a
year. Besides this uppointinant, Mr. Harrison was engaged
in extra-official business, in corrcspouding with the army on
the continent, and raising money for that:limy. in ISt t, being
411, he applied to Lord Liverpool for a remuneration of his extra
services. On mature consideration, it was judged expedient
that a sum of 90001. would be the most appropriate mode of.
remunerating those services 'Nigro:inactively ; and that PM
was accordingly awarded hint, with an addition of .0001. a year
so long as his services continued. He observed, that a sum of
10,0031. had been granted to Mr. Campbell fur services of Go-
s erienelit, which was paid out of the &tamp Office. He did
mot Meall to contend for the propriety of makkig these grants
precedents, hot he would support the propriety of the grant
to Mr, liarrimm, and be prapareil to give any fuither expla-
nation.
Mr. TISRMEY desired, that the Minutes of the Appointments
onight be read by the Clerk, which world serve us an answer
'to any ground of complaint against him I Mr. To
The Clerk necordingly read the Minutea.
Mr. Meatterrs asked, whether any hiereased salary was
paid to any Gentleman for periimuing the duties of Mr. Har-
mon while be vas ill?
Mr. V4NSIFFAIIT replied, that a small sum had been awarded
'to two Gentlemen.
Mr. C. AVyNNE thought, that when a Gentleman received a
salary of 50301. a year, the whole of his time was bought for
the public, and he could not be entitled to any further pecu-
niary grant. lie should, therefore, move fur an account of
the contingencies for the last lite years.
The papers were then ordered to be printed.
LOCAL POOR ACTS. •

fir R. HERON moved for leave to bring iu a Bill to regalate
the laical Poor Acts. There never was a worse Dill passed
the Legislature than the last Act on this subject. The Hon.
Bart. noticed the 4:Audition of the poor in several towns in his
neighbourhood in the country. particularly Lineoln, Newark.
Nottingham, and Derby. The Hon. 31ember then adverted
awake to the Act to which helmet before alluded, and which he
saidignve to the Magistrates a most unlimited power. It Base
them the power of detaining any pauper, having mare hecome
ehargeable to the parish, in the workhouse till, by their lithium,
they to the parish all which hail been espesoled
spun them. This might, ia some cases. absolute I. give to Ma-
gistrates a pin% er of imprisonment C]r lire. Auother objec-
tion was, that the Act gas e the Alagistrutes nu absolute
power user the children of three Wl4O bad twen charge-
able, if wily for a day. They might dispose of thorn,
either by keepity.t them there, puttiug them apprentices
at a distance or at twine, for seven or fourteen years. A flu r-
ther objection to this act wits, that it gave the -Mtigistnites a
power of corporal punishment iii cases of misconduct on the
part of the paupers. He had a short time shire visited the
Workhouse which was rititated in his aeiglitamthood; lie had'
no fault to find with tile state. of the house poser:illy ; but lie
.saw there something which he lunch regretted -that was five
cells for the coulinemeut of pauper ; in the oetitre o 1 Hos floors
of which were riags' to which 1w lerrtood offenders were
frequently chained. tie hail been informed of two eases, which
Lc considered as most aggravated, of the confinement of pau-
pers; one related to the confinement of an old Chelsea pen-
sioner, near ill years tit' age, Whitt and lame, whe, he under-
stood, hull been confined in one of these cells, and heavily
loaded with chains. The excuse for this ponishwent was, that
at thaws, when lie received his pension, lie was its the habit of
.getting dismal:, and behaslog in a most violent and outragemis
manner. The other ease was that of the confinement of a
young woman, who, howeser, escaped with the chain epos her,
whieli weighed 301bs. The e ruse Ihr chaining this girl was,
that the was ataieted with a dee:lse, whirl' might have been
coin 111111 l i l .ated to others Irtil she been at liberty. The Hon.
Member euncinded by moving for leave to bring in a 11111 to
serval and various local Acts for the maintenance and
Over ttttt eel of the poor.
Mr. Lurn.nalet adverted to the extraordinary hurdle]) which
"Hie present poor laws imposed on the publie.—The sum pail
tar the support of the poor lust year mauouated to 24.030003 i.
nearly one third or the where rental of the kingdom. He
canlidi red the ioiliscriminate relief 1f pet•sults because they
were poor, as both impolitic and irrelii,:ions: for though the
scripture recommends d compassion at.:) charity towards the
poor. yet the same scriptures said, that every man siimuld gain
his knead lit the sweat of his brow.
Sir S. kunnt.t.v thought the objects of las lion. Frien4]; boa
%sere tuustyraisewortily. Ouc object of dm bill was to ea:.ct