The Sun.
London, England, 1834-02-19 00:00:00

people in that House were unwilling to hestiew the path
of the Ministry with difficulties in addition to the many
against which they had already to contend.—(Hear.) He
should feel inclined to deny the position, even if the acts had
been passed after the gravest deliberation—if they had re-
ceived the solemn sanction of a Parliament composed of men
deeply imbued with the feelings of the people. But as it was,
he could not conceive that any obligation rested upon a Par-
liament pledged to economy,—pledged to inquiry into every
payment not justified by necessity, and sanctioned by individual
merit.—(Cheers.) He begged to ask the Hon. Gentleman if
those pensioners stood in a better point of view now than
they did in the reign of George IV. ? Were they more de-
serving—more renowned more pure— more virtuous ?
(Hear, and laughter.) No! All that Government could
claim for them was, that they were no worse.—(Hear, and
laughter.) Had not the House then the same right to deal
with them now that it had when the Government was at that
side, when the Noble Lord and his friends were in opposition ?
—(Hear, hear.) But when the Hon. Member behind him
moved in 1828 for an inquiry into this list, how was it put by
the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel), who had that night so
consistently supported his own doctrines as put forward by
his old opponents from the Ministerial benches ? The Right
Honourable Baronet spoke of these pensions as a sacred fund,
accessible only to the Royal hand, to be distributed by the
Royal will, and in such sort as the Royal feeling might
direct. Oh ! it was to be sacred from the vulgar scrutiny
of the public, and the meddling interference of Parlia-
ment !—(Hear, hear, hear.) But what said the Noble
Lord the Chancellor of the Exchequer ?—(Cheers.) He said
that the Hon. Member for Middlesex did not desire to bring
the House into unnecessary conflict with the Crown, but simply
to know if certain sums of money were not improvidently dis-
posed of.—(Hear.) And then the Noble Lord proceeded to say,
—in that plain, unadorned downright style for which he was
remarkable, and which was far more forcible upon occasion than
the most exquisite eloquence—(Hear, and laughter)—if there
was nothing discreditable in the expenditure, wherefore was it
that Government resisted the inquiry ?—(Loud cheers.) The
Noble Lord convinced him.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He
voted with the Noble Lord—(Hear, hear)—and were they
now to conclude that the conduct of the Noble Lord upon that
memorable occasion was only a passage in the tactics of oppo-
sition ?—(Cheers.) Were the doctrines which the Noble Lord
had advocated when out of the place to be flung aside, like in-
fected garments, the moment he made the haven of power ?
(Cheers.) If not, why was it that he now seemed 'to regard it
as his duty to cherish and defend that pension list of which
he had strenuously demanded an investigation ?—(Cheers.)
The Hon. Secretary for the Treasury had certainly displayed a
most laudable zeal in the same good cause. Now, it was true
he was not the representative of the corporation, but if not
now, he would be so hereafter. The corporation would see that
they had altogether mistaken him ; a member of a Go-
vernment half-Whig, half-Radical, he was naturally regarded
with apprehension and distrust.—(Hear.) He was looked
upon most probably as an ally of those travelling commis-
sioners who went about the country seeking whom they
might devour—(Laughter)—hunting out every minion of
corporation corruption, that they might drag him into light,
and expose him to the public contempt.—(Hear, hear.) But
now, after the Hon. Gentleman's vigorous defence of vested
rights, the corporation of Cambridge would at once perceive
their error, and joyfully exclaim, " This is the very man for
us!—(Laughter.) This is just what we wanted—a representa-
tive who will see in every alderman a Peer, and in every com-
mon-councilman a Member of Parliament" (Hear, and
laughter.) The Hon. Member next proceeded to disclaim all
ungenerous or unkindly feeling towards persons on the pension
list. If there were any on that list either so extremely young,
or so stricken in age, that their helpless condition might ren-
der them objects of solicitude to the great, he was satisfied to
permit them to be excepted from the proposed inquiry.—
(Laughter.) And with respect to cases of another kind, he
was quite sure that if there could be raised in favour of their
exception from investigation anything which, if modesty might
conceal, generosity would yet suggest, the Committee would
receive it cheerfully.— (Hear, hear.) He remembered that
the present Earl Grey, when a Member of that House, opposed
it motion brought forward by Mr. Huskisson, touching the
amount of pensions paid to retired Chancellors, and the time
of their services. The motion was made with the view of at.
tacking the pension of Mr. Ponsonby, who had only held pffice
for some six months under the Whigs. But upon this question
Lord Howick observed that Mr. Huskisson was not the best
Man in the world to resist improper grants of the public
money, when so many had been made to himself and his con-
nections. Now, if he (Mr. Harvey) were to describe the
pensions of the most obnoxious person upon the list, he would
not desire to employ other words than those addressed by the
present Earl Grey to Mr. Huskisson upon that occasion, for he
proceeded to say, " Got by what means the Lord only knew,
and for what the Devil only knew."—(Laughter.) If he (Mr.
Harvey) were to apply such language to the pension of
anybody it would be declared a piece of gross vulgarity
and low abuse.—(Hear, hear.) But yet Lord Grey was not
ashamed of the expressions. Why, they embodied the sound
Whig doctrines upon the subject—(Cheers)—and when Lord
Howick, in the excess of his virtuous indignation against un.
deserved pensions to the connexions of an individual in power,
used these words to one who was present—to a man, and one
so capable of defending himself, like Mr. Huskisson,—what
would he not have said if he had to deal with the persons now
upon that list, who were less capable of defending themselves,
and who were, moreover, absent ? The Noble Lord opposite
refused them inquiry ; but he promised them amendment. It
was easy to give promises ; a stock of promises was one that
never failed, it possessed the power of internal renovation.—
(Laughter.) He aopealed to Hon. Members to remember the
pledges they had given to their constituents, and he called upon
the House, without inflicting injury upon the existing race of
pensioners, to take care that the list should be more pure
hereafter. If there was amongst us aught of military glory,
of glory on the sea, of literary renown, or of philosophy in re.
tirement, for examples of these we should be enabled to turn
an eye of pride upon our pension list. In conclusion, he anxi-
ously demanded an inquiry, and besought the House not to in-
sult the sorrows of the people, or excite their indignation.
Lord ALTHORP said he had one word to say in ex-
planation—not or anything he heel slid that night—hut
of what he had said in the year 1828. The Hon. Gen-
tleman, in quoting his speech of that year, ma the motion
of the Hon. Member for Middlesex, had only quoted a
very short portion of it. He should have quoted his
(Lord Althorp's) arguments on the subject, and not have
contented himself with taking one sentence out of them.
The Hon. Gentleman should have stated, that on the
debate on the pension list, in 1828, be (Lord Althorp) did
not contend that pensions should be taken away, but that
persons should be called to account if it were found out
that they had granted pensions improperly. It was upon
that ground that he supported the motion of 1828, that
had been so frequently alluded to. However, it was
satisfactory to him that his arguments upon that occasion
were judged convincing by the Hon. Member for Colches
ter ; but it would be still more satisfactory to him, for
the sake of the consisteney and veracity of the Hon.
Member, if he (Lord Althorp) could find the Hon. Mem-
ber's name in the list of the division that then took place.
,--(Cheers and laughter.)
'The House then divided
or the amendment l9O
Against it 182
Majority in favour of Lord Althorp's amendment. —8
The result was received with three distinct rounds of
applause.
During the absence of strangers, we understood that
Mr. HARVEY gave notice that he should at some future
period of the session bring the subject forward in the
Committee of Supply, and move for a call of the House
on the occasion.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM moved for leave to bring in a
Bill kn. better regulating the receipt of his Majesty's
Exchequer at Westminster.
Mr. HALCOMB moved that the two petitions from
the inhabitants of Leamington Priors, Warwickshire, for
and against the extension of the borough of Warwick
franchise to their hamlet, presented in the last session, be
printed.—Ordered.
Lord ALTHORP moved that Wednesdays should be the
days on which orders should have precedence of motions ;
which, after a few objective remarks from Colonel DA.
VIES and Sir R. Notts, was agreed to.
SUITORS' FUND.
Mr. HUME reminded the Noble Lord (Althorp) that
lie bad promised last session to bring the subject of the
Suitors' Fund before the House, and hoped the Noble Lord
would still do so. He viewed it as unconstitutional, that
such a fund should be managed without any control on the
Pa.
rt of the House.
Mr, BERNAL brought up the report of the Committee
of Supply on the Navy Estimates, which was received and
agreeu co.
Mr. LITTLETON moved the second reading of the
which, being read, was ordered to V:
Irish Juries Bill,
committed.
The House adjourne'i at a quarter to one.

SEDUCTION AND SUICIDE.—Yesterday an
inquest was held in the City Bridetvell, Bridge-street,
Blackfriars, on the body of Anne Bather, aged IS, a very
fine young woman. Ellen Smith, a young female resid-
ing at a lodging-house kept by a man named Mordock, in
Neweastie•court, Strand, said that about two months ago
the deceased was brought to the house by a gentleman who,
ske believed, was in tee profession of the law, and had
chambers in one of the Inns of Court. Tbe deceased was
afterwards in the habit of meeting him at his chambers;
JattLatiast her friend abandoned ber, and she became re-
,l (bad 41' g
.`';worth,
poverty. The deceased told witness that
-;the' Vras to daughter of respectable parents at Wands-
-'''' ;worth, and. that the gentleman referred to came there to
44(
recruit his health, and meeting with her persuaded her to
C....)r—\ seine her home.. The deceased was obliged to quit her
G. ......,lotlgings on Sunday, in censequence of her inability to pay
C... 1 ter-reat.l ;Mania six o'cicck en Monday morning slue was
0 i, . .nbservell osl,,PUckfriars'-bridge talking with a gentleman,
* - . -ving -, -e
ckt(e_ pules vibina she went down the steps leading to the
•'".....!ws,ter, and plunged into the river. EtY its were mad to
\ 4 Tot Mr, butt without AVAIL Verdict—Flo de cc.
•