The National Register.
London, England, 1816-04-07 00:00:00

MR. HARRISON.

Sir J. N, wen moved the the printing of certain accounts
respecting the Treasury contingeucies, which had been laid on
the table.
Mr. TteuNEY otrterved, that there was a paper presented a
week ago which she wed the increased oats:Maga of Vac Trea-
sury arc WOOL more than the last year.--in that accroint there
Is a sum of 35001. for the salary of Mr. Harrison, the Assistant-
Secretary, being an increase of 5001. beyond the former year.
He thought that the salary basing been increased from the
first appointment of Mr. Harrison up to 30001. that sum ought
to be considered as quite sufficient. At the same time he was
bound to say that this Gentlemen was entitled to every praise
for assiduity and attention in his official capacity ; but what
mast surprize the House more was, that in addition to an in-
creased salary of 3330!. a year, there was au item in the at:-
cannts awarding Mr. Harrison 30001. more for his services.
Now, he wished to know where the liberality was to stop? He
begged of the House to recollect, when they were dealing out
reforimi in the expenditure, that here was a Gentlemen, with a
liberal salary, receiving a suns in addition beyond any decent
precedent. With reapect to the proceeding to be adopted, he
should nut move any thing; because it' he did, it might be at-
tributed to party motives, anti it would not heroine him to im-
peach the Minister, for that, if he stirred at all, must be the
step to take. The Right Hun. Gent. observed, that this trans-
action would never have come to tight—it was detected merely
by his moving for the papers In question.
Mr. VANSITTART stated his readiness on every occasion to
give explanation on the subject. With respect to Impeach-
ment, if lie (Mr. V.) was to tall, he would 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 1903' with a salary of 20001. a year; in
1807, in consequence of the approbation of the Board of Tree-
eery, Lard Grenville gave him an additional 5031. In 1809,
the increase of business in his department Wag considered, and
en additional 3001. was made, making in the whole 30701. a
year. Besides this appointment, Mr. Harrison was engaged
in extra-official birtinesa, in corresponding, with the army on
Vile continent, anti rai-ing money for that army. In 151 J, being
ill, he applied to Lord Liverpool for a remuneration of his extra
Services. Out ;nature consideration, it was judged expedient
that a suns of 30001. would be the most appropriate mode Of
remunerating those services retrospectively ; and that sum
tva% Accordingly awarded him, with an addition of 5031. a year
so long as his services continued. He observed, that a sum of
ja,aool. had been granted to Mr. Campbell for services oh' Go-
% ernment, which was paid out of the Stamp Office. He did
not mean to contend fur the propriety of making these grants
precedents, but he woeld support the propriety of the grant
to Mr, Harrison, and be prepared to give any further eapla-
nation.
Mr. Ttantrev desired, that the Minutes of the appointments
slight be read by the Clerk, which would serve us an answer
to any ground of complaint against him (Mr. 'f.)
The Clerk accordingly read the Minutes.
Mr. METHUEN naked, whether any increased salary was
paid to any Gentleman for performing the duties of Mn. Har-
mon whiie he was
Mr. V VISITTA Pa replied, that a small sum had been awarded
to two Gentlemen.
Mr. C. WINNE thought, that when a Gentleman receive.' a
salary of 511001. a year, the whole of Ilia time was bought for
the public, and be conhd not be entitled to any further pecu-
niary grant. He shoaid, therefore, move fur an account of
.the contingencies far the last five years.
The papers were then ordered to be printed.
LOCAL POOR Avis. •
—••• • .

Sir R. Henna moved tor leave to bring in a Bill to regulate
the Local Poor Acts. There never was ► warn Bill passed
the Legislature than the last Act on this subject. The Hun.
Bart. noticed the confiihon of the pour in several towns in his
neighbourhood in the smeary. particularly Lineoln, Newark.
Isiotringliam, and Derby. The Hon. Member then adverted
again to the Act to which he had before alluded, and which he
said gave to the Magistrates a most unlimited power. It gave
them the power of detaining auy pauper, has lag one become
hargeable to the parish, in the workhouse till, by their labour.
they had repaid to the parish all which had been expended
*pun them. This might, in some cases, absolutely give to Ma-
gestrates a power of imprisonment for life. Another objec-
tion was, that the Act gave the Magistrates an absolate
power over the children of those who had been charge-
uble, if only for a day. They might dispose of them,
either by keeping them there, putting them apprentices
at a distance or at home,- for seven or fourteen years. A thr-
tlier objection to this act was, that it gave the Magistrates a
power of corporal punishment is cases of misconduct on the
part of the paupers. He bad a short ti:ue since visited
Workhouse which was situated its his neighbourhood; he had
to twit to find with the state of the house generally ; but he
ren there something which he much regretted—that was live
veils for the confinement os paupers; in the centre of the doers
of sylfielt were rings. to which he understood offenders were
frequently chained. He hail Yves. informed of two cases, which
he considered as most aggravated, of the confinemruit of pau-
pers; one related to the confinement of an old Chelsea pen-
sioner, near 70 years nt' age, blind and lame, who, le under-
stood, had been conlitied in one of these cells, and heavily
loaded s. ith chains. The excuse for this pnnishinvid was, that
at times, when he received his pension, he was in the habit of
.getting drunk, and beim* Mg in a most violent and outrageous
smaller. The other case was that of the confinement of a
!maw, wOmall,who, however, escaped with the rho in 1111011 her,
which weighed 30Ibs. The excuse for chaining this girl was,
that she was adlicted with a disease, which might have been
to; 11111 l %ideated to others hail she been at liberty. The Hou.
concluded by mos tog for kayo to bring in a Bill to
repeal and amend various local :Vets fur the maintenance and
goers-ea:tut of the poor.
Mr. Lour-11%11T adverted to the extraordinary horthen which
the pre', nt poor laws iiirposed on the public .--The sum pa;il
for the support of the poor last year amounted to m. 040,0001.
nearly one third of the whole rental of the kingdom. lie
considered the indiscriminate relief of persons because they
were t or, as built impolitir and irreligious; for though the
scripture recommended co:opassion and charity towards the
poor. yet the ',AMC scrip' wes .aid, that every man should gain
leis hi t:,o sweat of his brow.
Sir S. ,R 03,11 Li,v thought the oh;eets of his Hon. Friend's bill
were most.piaisewerthy. One olvet of the hill was to enact