The Sun.
London, England, 1813-03-29 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PAIII:TA)IENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,
SATURDAY, MAR6II 27.
The 5,000,000 t. EXchequer Bills Bill, and the
IAOO,OOOI Exchequer Bills Bill, Nverc reported,
and ordered to be read a third time - on Monday
next.

EXCESS OIE4 .
Sir F. BURDETT said, that :the case which he
then felt it his duty to lay. before the House, was
one of the most cruel and unmerited he had ever
heard; At a time when the DiadeM, Captain
Ilimore, was lying at Cto alongside of a
hulk, Mr. Hancock, the unfortunate Gentleman,
the subject of his complaint (foil be was indeed a
Gentleman by birth, as well as by the situation
he held in his country's service), was ordered by
the Master to go from t4e hulk on board the
Diadem, in order to quell some disturbance which
had taken place on board of her. Mr. Ilancocik
bad lost one of his legs and part of the thigh at
the battle of Trafalgar ; and having, at .the time
he received this order to go on board the Dia-
dem, broken his wooden leg, be.remonstrated
with the Master, stating his inability to go along
the plank which communicated between the
and the vessel. Next day a formal complaint was
made to Capt. Phillimore, who ordered him to go
aloCt and stand in the riggiul, ssith his .1111'11'0mi
turned. On his statiag the i•urossibliiy of stand-
ing in the rigging on C. Nvooden leg, (~,pt.
Yliilli-
ruorc' sent for the captain of the sweepe.rs, nod or-
dered him to ,talie !,iin into his gling, make him
Sweep the ship, and if lie did not, to get him well
started (beaten Vit 411 a rope's end). Mr. Han-
cock again remonstrated against this treatment,
and desired that his conduct might be iovesti-
gated by a Court Martial. On this Captain Plid-
limore had him tied up to the rigging, his swill
clothes let down, and in that situation he re-
ceived three dom.,: and two lashes. He was, eon-
vinced that the }louse would say with him, that
this was not treatment which a:Master's Mate

(as Mr, Hancock was) ought to have received,—
It was true, that a Court oflnquiry bad been in- ,
stituted on the conduct of Capt. Philfimore, but the
proceedings bad never been made public and in-
deed he did not thiik that it Was the proper mode
of investigating conduct wbkla ought to . have
been the subject of a Com-c ...Al,: dal. The Hon. •
Baronet concluded by moving, " That a copy of
the Minutes taken on a Court of Inquiry, held on
Cavto ;Philliniorer ofthe Diadem, on the com-
plaint of ....-- Hancock, Master's Mate of tliat
ship, should be laid before the House.—
Mr. CI;OKER expressed his regret that the Ifon.
Baronet should have lent a ready ear to represen-
tations like these, without making inquiry at the
.Admiralty whether the allegatiOns were true or
false. It was true that Mt... Hancock had written
to the Admiralty, requesting that a. Court of In-
quiry might be held on captain P.'s conduct; and''
as soon as they could lioth be brought face to face
(which Conld not be done until some months hail
elapsed), the Inquiry was held by Captains Bolton,
Bull, and Sir A: Dixon, wlici reported that:the pit-,
nishment was deserved, and the repre,ientat',ous
o 1 Cant. P. undenied by Mr. tlitueock
,1,i,,,0:a:11',--
, Mr.n..s uncle was holvfp.vain of a ;:':.a.c.'idp, ~,,a
nu )64 ,wcount, and 'becaisse 'Mr, It W.. 1 ~ 01. of
intim, Captain P. lint been induced to e Cusp leis
repeated errors, until they, at last, arri, tar lit
a
point to which indulgence and lenity could not mot-
low their. 'Captain P. had transmitted to the Ad-
miralty copies of letters from the young man and
hi, uncle, expressive of their obligations to him
for his indulgence towardS the complainant's er-
ror,. The Honourable Gentleman trusted the
House would see no necessity fOr entertaining this
motiOn.
Sir F. Buitnitrr,said, that he had eertainly not
received this acconnt from the unfortunate Gen-
tleman himself, but from slime casual in'Yormant ;
and he hoped it Would taut operate to Elie disad-
vantage of Mr. Hancock. -.:For his own part, he
did not Wish to press the motion on the Howse,
reserving to himself the .power ,of again I)ringing
it forward, if lie saw a more urgent oceasiOn.
• After a few words from Mr, %V. Dundas, Mr.
Croker, ati4 Sir F. Burdett,,the motion Was with-
drawn, ' •
The Bill founded on the ncw.fmancial Itesolu-
thins was brouglit,up by the:Chancellor 'ofthe
Exchequer, and revel it first time: It was ordered
to. be read a second time on Friday next, and to
be printed:--Adjourned. . .