The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-16 00:00:00

•
they could not, and so were content to make a
ent for themselves, infinitely to their
geced.e. At the eleventh hoar, and at the
sgry.moth minute of that hour, the Admiralty
Ibrought in a nasty bill for 6,5181. 12& for the wages
of the men employed, and an additional charge for
victuals, as if supposing the ship, this horrible brig had
not been there, she would have been nowhere else, and
as if supposing the men employed did not eat there, they
would not eat at all. Here there was a charge of 1,0001.,
when it was proved in evidence that the stores recovered
from the Thetis were worth upwards of 2,0001, and yet
the Admiralty declared that this money should be de-
ducted from the salvers, and to this day that decision
bad not been reversed.—(Cheers.) Now, it was evident
that there was a sum of 13,8001. which had been abtained,
more than any which had been paid to the salvers. He
should very much like to know what bad become of that
money? It had been paid to somebody. Somebody had
got it; but where was it? They were told that it had
been placed to the credit of the public; but he should
like to put his finger on the item of the public ledger,
which, he was very much afraid, he should not
dO---(Cheers)--but if he did, that was no rea-
son why this Committee should not be granted.
If the item could not be found, he said the House would
be wanting in its financial duty to the public if it did not
sanction the appointments of the rest. He was told that
search, diligent search had been butmade,. no such item
could be found, and there would be a slur upon the cha-
meter of the Government if, after what had been stated,
they refused the Committee.
Captain GLADSTONE must bear his testimony 'o
the high services which Captain Dickenson rendered .o
the country in i saving the ll• fated ship in question.
Great merit was due to him for the skill and enterprise
he had manifested in the affair, for at the time the ship
uran on shore there were no hopes that any part of her
o could ever be saved, and he therefore, after the
success which had attended the exertions of Captain
Dickenson, very much regretted the course .the Admi-
ralty had pursued in the matter.
Mr. THORNELEY remarked that it was unfair the
Admiralty did not come forward with their claim before
the salvage was awarded, for had the legal tribunals who
beard the case been awaic of the existence of the debt,
most likely a heavier salvage would have been awarded.
Sir J. GRAHAM said. perhaps he might be allowed
to answer the question of the Hon. Gentleman opposite.
He spoke from recollection, but it was his strong impres-
sion that the claim was made prior to the adjudication.
Mr. NICHOLSON thought his Right Honourable
Friend who had just sat down had acted most gal-
lantly in taking the responsibility of this case upon
his own shoulders, and all he could blame
the Admiralty for was, that they had delayed
making their claim so long. The legal tribunals had
now no power to act in the case, and he much regretted
that it had again been brought forward. He did not
think it a fit subject for the Committee of that House to
inquire into; and he thought, rather than grant the in•
quay, it would be much better if the Government coa-
ted to reconsider the claim of Captain Dickenson.
Mr. HUME thought, after what bad passed that
evening, Government could not refuse the inquiry. The
charge made upon Captain Dickenson was most unjust.
It was exorbitant and unfair, and ought never to have
been made. The Right Hon. Baronet opposite said all
his colleagues concurred with him in making the charge,
but he was authorised to state, that Sir Thomas Hardy
always repudiated the claim. Many of the materials
charged for were never used in saving the ship, while the
vessel for which wear and tear was charged, was on
the service of the country during the time charged for
and named in the bill of costs. Enterprise and exertions
of the kind displayed Ity Captain Dickenson in saving the
ship in question, ought n.,t to go unrewarded, and he
trusted her Majesty's Government would at once accede
to the request of the Noble Lord opposite.
Mr. RUTHERFORD could not see how the House
could interfere in this case. The matter had already
been decided by the Court of Admiralty, who awarded
17,000/. to the salvers, and 13,00e1. to the public. Cap-
tain Dickenson, as one of the salvers, felt that the sum
awarded as salvage was insufficient, and appealed to the
Privy Council, who eventually confirmed the decision of
the Court of Admiralty, and he could not see how the
case could be again gone into. He thought it would be
attended with great inconvenience, if the solemn deci-
sions of the Courts of law were to be set aside by the.
motions of Right Hon. Members. He totally deprecated
the present attempt.
Captain BERKELEY opposed the appointment of the
Committee.

Lord G. BENTINCK thought that a most imp srtaat
part in the debate had been overlooked, viz., that Cap
fain Dickeason should have the use of her Majesty's
ships. It was expressly stated on the part of the Admi-
ralty, that the salvers should have the free use of the
ships and the crew; but that the public should not be
put to any expense beyond that incurred by their use.
If such a system were to be adopted, a charge might be
made against the proprietors of the Opera House for the
attendance of the half body of Guards on the occasion of
her Majesty's attendance; and also for any other services
rendered by the military in cases of fire, or such other
emergency. Ha should most certainly vote in favour of
the appointment of the Committee.
Mr. B. CABBELL thought that justice would not be
done to the much injured and overlooked Capt. Dicken-
son, unless some reparation were made to him for the
injuries he had sustained by the charges made by the
Admiralty. It was most essential that officers of high
attainments and great abil;ties ehou'd be favourably re•
commended to the favour of her 3lajesty, and he thought
that beside the other acts of injustice done to the Gal-
lant Captain, and to the public, he had been most un-
fairly treated by
.not being so recommended. He was
sorry to hear an intimation coracle by some lion. Member
of the paltry and petticogging statute of limitations.
When such hints were thrown out, he would ask the
persons who made use of them, what was the last Mate of
the application wide to the Government On the
subject, for it was from that period that tho statute
would alone apply. The Gallant Captain had been
treated most unhandsomely by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer; he had celled upon him, for the purpose of
an interview, but was reined it and a request made to
bias for a wr,tten statement of the circumstances of his
case. He really trusted that justice would be done to
the Gallant Olfieer by the House, by the appointment
of a Committee to inquire into the subject. This House
was the last refuge for the unfortunate—(Loud laugh-
ter)—and he hoped the claims of one of them would
not be overlooked on the oresent occasion.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL thought that the conduct of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer in requiring a state-
ment in writing of the case Wai not 30 descrying of blame
as the Hon. Member who had just addressed the House
seemed to thick; he thought that that was the most pro-
per course to be adopted by the Chanc 11cr of the Ex-
chequer. Ile did not see any reason for disturbing the
decision which had been come to by the Bo ird of Ad-
miralty on the subject. It did not appear that the parties
before the Judicial Committee were discontentA with
the decision of the Court; at all events no attempt was
made to :dispute the claim of the Admiralty. The
jndicial Commtaee added 12,0001. to the sum of
17,0001. awarded by the Court of Admiralty,
and the sum of 13,0001., claimed by the Ad-
miralty, should have been paid to the merchants,
and not to the salvers. The refusel en the part
of the Chancell or to grant sums of money to indi-
viduals did not arise from a feeling of satisfaction in
refusing claims made upon them. The heads of the
various departments were plac,cl in situations of great
responsibility in dealing with the public money, and fit
the weight of that responsibility considerably more than
members of any popular assembly could by possibility
feel. He thought that if the Houie commenced a sys-
tem of granting sums of money, and revoking the deci-
sions of judicial tribunal:. they would be establishing a
dangerous precedent, such as the Hon. Member for Mon-
trose (Mr. Hume) would be the first to complain of ;
and he hoped that Hon. Members would take the ad-
vice, which he hai so often given the Government, viz.,
to reconsider his decision, and vote against the appoint-
ment of the Committee.
Lord INGESTRE said that his object in moving
for the Committee was not for the purpose of making
indiscriminate grants of public money, but merely for
the purpose of compelling restitution of the money due
to a much-injured and gallant officer of the navy.
The House then divided, when the numbers were—
For the committee 32
Against it
Majority
. .

The motion was consequently lost.
VAGRANCY (IRELAND).
Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved for leave to bring in
a Bill for the punishment of vagrancy in Ireland, and
as he intended to take the discussion on the measure at
a future stage he would not trouble the House with any
observations at present.—Agreed to.
SUNDAY TRADING IN THE METROPOLIS.
Mr. HINDLEY moved for a Select Committee on Sun-
day trading in the metropolis. In bringing forward this
motion ha did not wish to be understood as having any
desire to interfere with innocsnt and rational enjoyment
cm Sunday, but he wished to protect tradesmen from the
unjust competition of those who set at defiance the ob-
servance Of that day of rest and plied their calling as
they did on Houseany
to other day. He therefore called
upon thedo ju.
sfice and to put all
traders upon the same f
hands than his ; but the The subject was in abler
Honourable
Honourable Member for
Lambeth, and the rable Member for Hertford.
who were joined with 'al net like, in conse-
quence of their connexion' withl4 Government, to
take that prominent part for which
better qualified than he was. c they were so much
upon the subject in 1532 had made certain3yn Committee which _tat
tions which had been since acted upon, ree(amena%-
believed had been attended with the best
oaond Which he
especially that one relative to the closing of taverns &clock on Saturday night to one o'clnoChrooTa
Sunday. He would not take up the attention of then
House at greater length, but conclude by moving for a
Select Committee to consider till: subject.
Mr. HUME did not know what the Hon. Member
meant by his present motion. Did he mean to say that
men were to be prevented from purchasing meat or from
being shaved on the Sabbath-day, or what did he mean ?
—(Laughter.) He (Mr. Hume) did not think they
would be able to make women chaste or men virtuous by
legislation. He wished they could do it, but he did not
believe that they would ever be able to effect any good in
that way- He thought that the advocacy of such mea-
sures as the present was a very cheap mode resorted to
by some Members of endeavouring to procure a
reputation for superior morality, but he did not
believe the House would sanction or countenance such
attempts. He would, thifefore, oppose the appointment
morals could
of the Committee, for he considered good
never be advanced by such means.
Mr. B. ESCOTT opposed the motion, not on the
ground of its not being brought in by the Government,
but because he believed siteh legiAltion would be most
mischievous. Besides, even if they did pass such a
measure as that proposed, he believed it would be
found utterly insftScaciou3. If his Honourable Friend
Whale& to resort to such kind of legislation,