The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-14 00:00:00

OF THE SHERIFFS 1

The Lord Mayor attended by Aldermen and Com-
mon Councilmen, here appeared at the bar with a petition
from the Corporation, which having been brought up and
read by the Clerk, stated that from time immemorial the
Corporation had enjoyed the privilege of addressing her
Majesty—that an Address had been unanimously agreed
to, congratulating her Majesty on her late auspicious
marriage with the Prince Albert—that it was the an-
ciont and established usage in such cases for the Sheriffs
—(A laugh)—attended by the Remembrancer, to wait
upon her Majesty, to learn the time at which it
would suit her Majesty to have the Address presented,
that the Sheriffs were prevented from so doing by reason
of their incarceration under the order of that House, and
they therefore prayed the House to discharge the remain-
ing Sheriff in custody.
Lord MA HON gave notice that he would bring the
subject forward to-morrow, and moved that the petition be
printed with the votes.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he could not agree to the
Noble Lord's having precedence.
Lord MAHON did not wish for that.
Mr. LAW gave notice that he should to-morrow move
that Mr. Sheriff Evans be discharged.
MILITARY AND NAVAL COMMISSION.

Lord G. LENNOX then moved—" That there be laid
before this Ilouse the names of the Military and Naval
Commissioners, the date of the appointment of that Com-
mission. Also, a Return, stating the days upon which
they have assembled, and the number of Commissioners
that attended on each day of meeting." In doing so lie
was very happy to say that it would not be necessary for
him to detain the Ilouse any length of time, for all that
he wanted was to be informed by a Member of the Govern.
ment, or by a Member of the House, who had been upon
the Commission, what was the cause of the delay which
had arisen in laying that Report upon the table of the
House. In 1837 he had moved for a Committee to in-
quire into the treatment received by the unfortunate men
who were officers in the Marines. On that occasion he
did not divide the House. In 1838 he renewed his motion,
and upon that occasion it was carried by a majority of

thirteen, and shortly afterwards the Noble Lord, now the
Secretary for the Colonies, came down and informed the
House that her Majesty had issued a Commission for the
purpose of inquiring into the manner in which promotion
was obtained, not only in the Marine Force but also in
the Army and Navy. That Commission had been in
existence for two years, and he thought the time had arrived
when the House ought to be informed of the cause of the
delay. The Noble Lord, at the end of last Session, told him
in that House, that he believed the Commission had
finished their labours, and that the Report would be soon
forthcoming. Indeed he ( Lord G. L.) had reason to
believe that it had not sit since last June. It was most
important that it should be laid upon the table, as much
injustice was the consequence, many situations in the Ma-
rine Force not being filled up until the Report was re-
ceived. He did not wish to enter at any length into the
grievances of the officers of the Marines; but there was
one circumstance he wished to call their attention to.

Unfortunately riots had taken place a short time since in
the town of Newport, and a small body of troops had
saved it from destruction. No one rejoiced more sincerely
than he had done at the well-deserved promotion of Cap-
tain Grey ; but if he had been a Marine officer, he could
not have received any such promotion. Again, Lieutenant
Park had commanded a small party of Marines at To-
ronto, in Upper Canada, and by his gallantry dispersed
the rebels, who had attacked the town. In that action
twenty of his party of fifty Marines were either killed
or wounded, and their gallant officer severely wounded.
Such conduct could not escape the notice of Sir
J. Colborne, who gave him all he could the tempo-
rary rank of Captain, which the board of Admiralty were
anxious to confirm at home, but it was prevented by the
Horse-Guards. It appeared that the Marine officer was
the only person who could not receive the reward of pro-
motion from his Sovereign for his gallant conduct. He
should detain the House no longer, but merely express a
hope that some satisfactory account would be given as to
when the Report would be laid on the table, and thereby
relieve the mind of many old and meritorious officers, who
were kept in a state of most disagreeable suspense.
Captain PE C H EL L seconded the motion, and observed
that he could bear witness to the extreme anxiety felt by
all the officers of his own service, as well as of the army,
for the appearance of the Report. That was the more
necessary as there was an opinion very prevalent through-
out the service that the Brevet usual on interesting
and important occasions, such as that which had lately
occurred, would have taken place if the Report of
that Commission had been laid before Parliament.

It would give great s atisfaction to the army and navy, and
to every one connected with those services, to know what
progress had been made ; and he was very glad to hear
that the Gallant OtE ;or below him (Sir 11. Vivian) was
ready to give an answer to the question put to him by the
Noble Lord opposite.
Sir H. VIVIAN said, that he had no objection to give

the first part of the returns moved for ; and in reference
to the second part, he had great pleasure in being able to
answer the inquiry of the Noble Lord..-4 Hear, hear. )
From the first moment the Commission had been appointed,
there never was a duty more anxiously and steadily per-
formed than the duty of its members.—(Hear, hear.) On
the first day, they all met with the exception of those,
whose other official duties required their attendance else-
where, and of two members who were absent from illness,
and of whom they had since suffered the loss—one of them
the friend and companicn of the immortal Nelson. The
Noble Duke at the head of the Commission was never ab-
sent one day. As to the names of the Members he had no
objection to give them, but he did not think it necessary
to give the date of their attendance. The Commission
Lad been appointed nearly two yearn, and constantly
met from week to week as often as could be consistent with
their ocher duties. It was necessary to adjourn from week
to week, because they went minutely into every question,
and every day when they met they found it necessary to
order returns from dill. rent regiments, which could not be
had till the next week. They had inquired into every de-
partment of the army, the navy, and the marines, and the
commissariat, and at the end of the last session they came
to a resolutiwt as to what they would recommend in each
branch. After that the Report respecting each depart-
ment was sent to the head of that department, and then

the whole Report of the Commissioners was sent to the Noble
Duke at the head of the Commission. The Report was
afterwards printed with the evidence. But as the printed
evidence gave the names of members who put each ques-
tion, and as that might, in some instances be invidious, it
was determined to reprint the evidence without the names.
The real cause of the delay was that it had been necessary
that each of the officers at the head of the particular
branches of the service who had served in the Commis-
sion, should have had an opportunity of going into the
whole of the reports with respect to the branches they be-
longed to before coming to the general Report. There
were yet some matters to be investigated, and as soon as
that should be done they would come to a decision on the
Report. He thought that the house would consider that
it would have been impossible to decide hestily in a ques-
tion of such importance. He was sure that when the Re-
port of the Commission should be produced, both services
and both sides of the House would do them the justice to
say that they had most anxiously and zealously considered
the matter. He trusted sincerely that before long the prc.
ccedings of the Commissi might be terminated.
\Vheth sr they might be satisfactory or not, lie could not
s,y, but he had no hesitation in declaring that no men
were ever more anxious then the members of the Com-
mission to do justice to both services, and to discharge
their duty to the country.
Capt. PEC HELL said that it was not his intention
to makc any reflection on the members of the Commission ;
be believed that they had all acted in the most fair and
honourable manner.
Sir 11. HA R. DING E was glad that no censure was
implied against the Commission. The House should re-
collect that a large proportion of those who composed it
were either Members of the Cabinet or persons filling
some high stations. These Members could not constantly
at'end to the labours of the Committee, being often called
away by other duties. The Right Hon. Baronet opposite
(Sir H. Vivian) had, for instance, been obliged for several
weeks to retire from the Commission. As a proof of the
readiness with which the duties of that Commission were
discharged, he could say that the Report had been sent to
Walmer to the Duke of Wellington and that the answer
of his illustrious Friend bad been received on the day
following.—( Hear, hear.) As to a Brevet not having taken
place on the occasion of her Majesty's marriage, he
trusted, at all events, that it would not be too late in the
event of a future birthday.
Lord G. LENNOX did not mean the slightest disre-
spect to any Member of the Comm.ssion, and after the ex-
planations that had been given, he did not wish to press
his motion.
The motion was then withdrawn.
TURNPIKE TRUSTS.

Mr. MACK INNON moved for leave to bring in a Bill
to alter and amend the laws regarding Turnpike Trusts,
and to allow of unions of the same.
Mr. FOX M A ULE trusted that the Hon. Member
would not press his motion for the introduction of another
Bill, as he was afraid it would lead to a delusive hope on
the part of many individuals.
Mr. M A CKINNON after what had been stated by the
Hon. Gentleman opposite, felt bound shortly to narrate
to the House the reasons which had induced him to bring
the present Bill before their attention. In 1835 he had
made some observations in the House with regard to con-
solidating trusts, and establishing a police ; in consequence
of those observations a Committee was appoint,-d in 1836,
which sat a considerable time, and the result of these de-
liberations was a Report strongly recommending the conso
lidation of those different trusts, and the establish-
ment of a p dice. In consequence of this sugges-
tion the Honourable Member opposite had taken up
the subject, and introduced a Bill, but that measure
proved to be so defective that it fell to the ground.
I i 1839 he had moved for a Committee on that subject,
which had been granted. Her Majesty's Government
shortly after issued a Commission for the investigation of
the subject, and he thought it was not a good precedent
for the Government to issue a Commission for the investi-
gation of a subject which was under the investigation of a
Committee of the House. They were now told that the
labours of that Committee were to be thrown away, and
they were to, wait for the Report of that Commission. If
this system were to be allowed there would be an end to
all Committees of that House. The Bill was nearly the
same as the one of last year, and he could not see any
harm in its being brought in. Let the Commissioners
bring in their Bill, and from the two a good Bill n.ight be
formed. He merely wished his Bill to be printed and
hid on the table, and had no wish to press it till the Com-
missioners had made their Report. He had merely brought
forward the Bill as Chairman of the Committee, and if It
were the opinion of the House that he should give it up lie
would do so.
Mr. SA NFO RD thought that the matter had better be
left in the hands of the Government, and trusted the
Hon. Gentleman would accede to the proposition of his
Hon. Friend.
Upon an assurance that the matter was at present under
the consideration of the Government, Mr. Mackinnon
consented to withdraw his motion.
STATE OF THE REVENUE.
Mr. HE RRIE S then rose, and moved for an Account
of the Income of the Consolidated Fund (including
therewith the Duties on Sugar), and of the charges there-
upon, in the year 1839 ; distinguished under the principal
heads of Receipt and Expenditure :—And also, an Esti-
mate of the same for the year 1840 ; showing in each
case the surplus applicable to the Supplies voted by Par.
liament. Account showing the amount of the Deficiency
Bills charged on the growing produce of the Consolidated
Fund outstanding, unsatisfied
,eboornru
at
drhyee,filcl4i
eBtrh4,
co; dayorf
respectively.
centbeirtvueal February
139
Account and
showing o 14th
theday surplusofy.
In-
come of the United Kingdom, compared with the Expen-
di ure thereof (exclusive of the charge for a fixed
Sinking Fund, while such was imposed by law), in
each of the five years preceding the sth day of Ja-
nuary 1831 ; and also, in each of the five years pre-
ceding the sth day of January, 1840. Account showing
the total amount of the Funded or Unfunded Debt croated,
and also, of the Funded or Unfunded Debt extinguished,
in each of the three years preceding the sth day of Ja-
nuary, 1840; distinguishing the Stock created in lieu of
Exchequer Bills cancelled, being the produce of monies
invested by Savings Banks. Account of the total amount
of the Unfunded Debt outstanding on the sth day of Ja-
nuary, sth day of April, sth day of July, and 10th day of