The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-20 00:00:00

A plan of this kind would remove the blot which had lon,

rested on this magnificent charity, and would go far to
prove the standard of morality in the navy. (Hear.) In con•
elusion, he wished to know whether her Majesty's Govern•
meat intended to introduce a bill this session embodying
the recommendations of the commissioners, and whether
the Admiralty intended to carry out those regulations which
they could eaforce propria motu, and without any legisla-
tive action. (Cheers.)
Mr. STANSFELD said it could not be denied that the
subject introduced by the hon, gentleman was one of great
importance, and that the report to which he referred con-
tained many valuable suggestions. The recommendations
contained in that report had enabled the Board of Admiralty
to
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institution, and of its founders, or, in other words, what was
the original scope of the intention of the founders, and how
far it had been carried out. In the second place, he had to
consider the question how far the military establishments
might be said to have diverted, or rather perverted, the
funds of the institution from being applied to the objects
originally intended. Now, he had no desire to make out a
case against the one stated by his hon. friend ; but he would
set out the history of the institution, in order that the house
might understand the question with which it had to deal.
The hon. member then referred to the charter of Wm.
under which the hospital was founded, and to the several
Acts of Parliament which had been passed from time to time,
and he expressed his concurrence with the view of his hon.
friend that that charter and those acts, taken in their en-
tirety, yet subject to modifications, must be held to constitute
the foundation deed of this great national charity. And what
was the construction to be put upon that deed? The true
construction to be put upon it was that it left open to the
Lords of the Admiralty to extend to the very widest limits the
benefits of the foundation, and to decide with respect to the
priority of all claims upon it. As to the benefits of the
charity having been diverted in these later years, that was a
question of fact which must be solved by a reference to dates'.
The hon. member then referred to a return which gave the
comparative number of officers and pensioners on the este.=
blishment for several years, beginning with the year 1705,
tLe year the institution was opened, and ending with the
year 1840. In the year 1705 there were 100 pensioners and
six officers upon the establishment, and in 1849 there were
1,783 pensioners and 20 officers, However, in 1862 two lien-
tenants and one commandership had not been filled up, so
that the number of officers was reduced to 17. There was
no doubt that, according to the very oldest charters, the
presence of officers in the institution was recognised, white
in several of the acts of Parliament special reference was
made to them. But further, he was there to maintain that
the officers had solid grounds for consideration, in the fact
that they had been all along contributing to the capital
fund of the hospital. From the first they had contributed
the monthly sixpence as well as the men—they had also
contributed five per cent. of their prize money, and one-
fourth of the freightage which would otherwise have fallen
to their share. The hon. member referred to the great im-
provements which had been recently introduced in the con-
dition of the pensioners. Additional gratuities had been
given to the men at a cost of XlO,OOO a year—while during
leave of absence they received the money value of the pro-
visions they would have consumed in the institution. Then
the widows of seamen were employed in the establishment,
and the maximum superannuation allowance was raised to
£25. In the next place, he enumerated all the improve-
ments which had been introduced in the arrangement of
the establishment: He did not deny that it might not
be more economically conducted; indeed, it was his
opinion that the expenses might,
reduced. In the comparison of the establishment
count, angdeg'thaant could, and ought to be
charges of 1805 with those of 1859, the increase of re-
pairs,w a
d
tween £21,000 and £48,000. There were 500 servants woot hatuledr mg
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--
re-
ceiving wages, but the majority of them were pensioners
and the widows of old pensioners who it was thought de-
sirable should receive some extra reward. He was not there
to withdraw, on behalf of the Duke of Somerset, the opinion
he expressed two years ago when he introduced his bill in
reference to Greenwich Hospital ; but he mast remind the
house that that measure did not meet with a favourable
reception in either House of Parliament, and the Board of
Admiralty came to the conclusion that it would be better to
exercise the powers they possessed, and ascertain before
they came again to Parliament how far those powers would
carry them. The appointment of Sir R. Bromley was in the
spirit of the recommendation of the Rcyal commission.
They recommended a financial committee, and who was so
well qualified as that gentleman to fill that office ? His
energies and abilities were well known, and his reputation
ensured his efficient discharge of hie duties. The present
condition of the wives and families of the pensioners cast a
slur on this great national institution, and they were a re-
sponsibility on the shoulders of the Admiraltyof which they
ought to be relieved, and he could assure the house that in
the shape of an increased allowance to married men, the
board hoped to be able to accomplish some good in that
direction. Next to the wounded seamen there could be no
class of persons who had greater claims on the considera-
tion of the country than their widows. Provision would be
made for their relief outside the hospital, and next week he
should ask leave to introduce a bill to empower the Admi-
ralty to carry their intention into effect. More ambitious
schemes:had been proposed and discussed, but he doubted if
there had been a more practical one submitted to the house
than that he had shadowed forth. The hospital was a provi-
plise
sion for war, and room and means should always be ready
to succour tho
whoGr might require
hadheard
it.
Sir cc
J. Am
with
great
pleasure
the statement made by the hon, member for Halifax, aaue
andr