The Sun.
London, England, 1826-02-22 00:00:00

SUPPLY REPORT.

Mr. IimOODENT brought up the Report of the Resolution of
the Cotnmi: tee of Supply.
Sir F. O.IIM ANNE). made some observutions which were
generally inaudible. We understood hire to complain of the
regulations respecting the appointment of Pursers, and to
recommend the claims of two widows to the Lorda of the
Admiralty.
Upon the first Resolution for n grant of 30,000 men for the
sca service of the year. _ _

Mr. HUME said he had heard nothing yet to convince him
that these large establishments were necessary. When the esti-
mates were framed, the Ministers could not have contemplated
the circumstances under which the country was now being
placed ; and he regretted that none of them were present, as he
had hwould have given a promise to reconsider
the subject.op
t. f
theyth e
House would not support him, the Mini-
sters were right to do as they did in keeping up these enormous
establishments; but he should do his duty and enter his pro.
test against them. As far as he could understand the speech
of the Ilonourable4lentleman who preceded him, it appeared
ling he had taken two widows under his especial protection—'
'Ca laugh)—who had claims upon the Admiralty, but could
not obtain satisfaction. It was useless for any persons to apply
in that quarter who were not backed by family interest. Voting
men who had the support of the aristocracy were continually
hoisted over the heads of old and deserving officers, for the sake
of being afterwards pensioned off' upon the State. He saw this
every day, and he was sorry to say that the mass of the Nobi-
lity regularly put their younger sons into the army and navy
in order to make provision for them by pensions paid out of the
taxes exacted from a miserable and starving people. If the
House would do its duty—and if there was a reformed Parlia-
ment it would—they would force Ministers to retrench, not only
in this Estimate, but in all other branches Of expenditure. To
compel therm to do this he would stop the Supplies. The Hon.
Member concluded by moving an amendment, which pledged
the House to a concurrence in the recommendations of economy
contained in the Eighth Report of the Finance Committee of
1810.

Lord J. RUSSELL said that he agreed entirely with what
had fallen from the Hon. Gentleman, and should divide the
House upon the question.
Sir 0. COCKBURN reminded the House that His Hon.
Friend (Sir U. Clerk) had, upon a former night, stated the rea.
son of the increase of MOO men in this vote to be the assistance
given to the East India Company in prosecuting the war in
India. In the present state of the country he knew not how
the force could be reduced. If the House dallied upon cutting
down the Navy, there would be less to do at the Admiralty ;
but while they were expected to answer the falls of the country,
they must have the means to do it. The conduct of our Navy
in its difficult employments upon the stations near the new
States had been such as to avoid disturbance, and yet to keep
the British flag respected. if commerce was to be carried on
in those quarters of the world, it must have protection ; and if
protected, it would produce more to the revenue than the ex-
pellee which it created. There was one statement of the Hon.
Member for Aberdeen of which he complained strongly, and
to which he would give a direct and unqualified contradic.
Lion. The Honourable •Meniber had said that it was of
no use for any man to apply to the Lords of the Admi.
ralty, unless he possessed family interest. This he positively
denied. lie, for one, was already to hear the case of any
man, high or low, and gave orders that all should be admitted
to him. Nay he would go further, and tell the Honourable
Member, that he wits more ready to receive persons who had
not the recommendation of family connections.—(Hearo hear !)
For the truth of this be appealed to his Colleagues, and to
all connected with the department.--(Hear, hear !)—lt al.
ways had been his desire to encourage to a certain extent the
entrance of the sons of the Aristocracy into the Navy, because
he was convinced that such a system was mot advantageous to
the service.
•
Mr• ItO4MTSON supported the amendment. He was
surprised that no
Minister was in the House to account for the
increase which appeared in the estimates. The Lords of the
Admiralty had not given an adequate cause for the increase.
Naval force was not wanting in India. There was no utility
to be derived from the employment of seamen in the Bur.
mese war.
Mr. CROKER said, he hall that morning received from the
Commander-in. Chief in India, dispatches, stating that he had
collected a force on the River Rangoon, and WAS to prticeed

mediately.with an etpedition against the enemy consisting of
more than 1,000 men. This proved beyond a doubt that naval
forces were useful in India.

Sir C. COLE said he had recently called on the Admiralty in
behalf of a meritorious officer who had two sons in the Navy,
and the greatest attention was paid to his representation. A
hope was held out to him that the two sons of the officer would
be promoted. He thought it ought to satisfy the Hon. Member
for Aberdeen, who had stated that attention at the Admiralty
was only shewn to those who were patronized by. rank and
power. It had been lsaid there was no necessity,for naval forces
in India; but the gallant Admira from long service in India
kqe‘t statement to' be incorrec t should be recollected
thdt tiv lia station ex,seittied over o quarter of the globe 4---
Ir,exteede • oin A rabiath the'Paeific ocean. It had been his
fortune to serve on the coast of. India with two or three frigates,
and he knew the greatest services could be done by boats up
rivers; but he had understood the Lord of the Admiralty as
speaking of service up the Mediterranean, where the peculiar
state of nations rendered a British force absolutely necessary fur
the protection of commerce.
111 r. I,lrvv tr. r. supported the Amendment.
111 r. HE It RIES said, an Hon. Member had complained of the
absence of Ministers. There was no necessity for an extraor-
dinary attendance of Ministers to answer the questions of the
Hon. Member for Aberdeen. The Estimates had been drawn
upon the lowest scale. The opposition to the Estimates was
made with intention to stop the Supply. The Amendment
moved by the Hon. Member was calculated to arrest the pro-
gress of any Administration, and he would ask the House. whe.
ther there was any thing upon the face of the estimates to justify
such an attempt. at was said the Estimates were not likethose
of 1817; but the circumstances of the country had changed every
year. Could any man suppose that the Committee of 1817
could see what might be the proper expence of 1826 ? Was it
reasonable to suppose that an Increase in the estimates rendered
necessary by the circumstances of the country was sufficient to
justify the stoppage of supply ? The motion of the Hon. Gen-
tleman was quite unexpected, and there was no reason why the
House should agree to it.
_ _

Col. DA V lEg thought a case of necessity ought to be made
out before any Member in that House voted a single Estimate.
The Hon. Member found himself compelled to support the re•
solution. He had heard that our naval force on the west coast
of America was too large. Be gave notice that he should do
all he could to reduce the Army Estimates.
Sir F. OSCMANUY explained.
Captain GORDON stated, that persons going into the Navy
were obliged by the rules of the service to serve six years;
then, if promoted, he had to serve 2 years as Lieutenant, and
one year as Commander. After thirty years service such an
officer might obtain a pension of 1301. a.year, which all must
admit was hardly earned.
Mr. TR EMAYNE expressed a wish for the reduction of the
navy estimates.
Mr. HOIHIOUSE begged to be understood that in support.
ing the Amendment of his Hon. Friend he did not oppose tl-.3
Supplies to the Navy, but, on the contrary, was desirous to
vote the establishment of last year. It could not be said that any
Gentleman who took the line he adopted had a wish to embarrass
his Majesty's Ministers. lie agreed with them on the commercial
question. With a change in the currency and contracted issues
it would be impossible for the people to pay the taxes of the
country. It was too much when they were told in his Majesty's
speech there was nothing but tranquillity, to find the Estimate's
increased.
For the Resolution 43
For the Amendment . 15

Majority against the Amendment —2B
Upon the Estimate 1135,957/. for timber stores and other ma.
terials, for building and repairing his Majesty's ships, Mr.
lIVDIE objected to the expenditure of money for ship-building
when they had so many ships. He wished the expence m
every department of the navy reduced one-third.
tTpon the sum of 898,0001. being proposed for the half-pay of
officers

Sir C. COLE considered it a hardship to take away half-pay
from marine officers who might enter into holy orders.
Mr. HUAI E said, he had originally taken up the same view
of the subject, twenty-four individuals had been derived of
half-pay, and he expressed a hope that his Majesty's Govern-
ment would place them on the same footing as officers In the
army.

Sit G. COCKBURN said, there was an order in the navy,
under which no person Who entered into Holy Orders could re-
ceive, half-pay. It' they could claim it on any principle of equity,
be should certainly not oppose them.
The Resolution was agreed to.
On the Res ilution of granting the sum of 260,0001. to make
Ogood the deficiency in the funds fur defraying the charges'of
ut-pensioners of Greenwich Hospital,
Mr. HUME said, that some difficulties were thrown in the
way of the relatives of Out-pensioners, when they applied for
the payment of their arrears, and he trusted they would be
lookedinto.

Ch OKER was convinced that there was some mistake,
but he would look into the books of the Hospital, and he felt
convinced that he should be able to explain the subject to' the
satisfaction of the Hon. Alember.—Adjourned at IlAt.r.pAsT
TWELVE.

LIST OF THE MINORITY
On Mr. Ihnue's Amendment.

Alleni, J. H. MOnek, J. 11. Wyvill, M.
Cavendish, 11. Palmer, C. F. Whitbread S. C.
Denman, 'l'. Robertson, A. Wood, Alderman
Evans, Win. Russell, Lord J. TELLERS.
(Irattan, J. Tremayne, J. H. Hume, Joseph
Hobhouse, J. C. Taylor, M. A. Davies, Col.