The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-23 00:00:00

Those were the opinions of Mr. Pitt, and certainly they were whilst there were two Gallant Admirals -who, if necessary,
very applicable to the objections of the Hon. and Gallant could oppose the-proposals of the First Lord.
Officer. There was another observation made by the Hon and ' Sir R. PEEL said hesmust ask the House to pause before
Gallant Officer ( Sir C. Napier) to which he (Sir J. Graham)' it adopted the resolutions of the Hon. and Gallant Officer.
could not fail to refer ; he meant the Hon. and Gallant Offi- He thought it would be a bad precedent for the House of
cer's otnereatien with reseect to the danger of the British ships Common!, at the instance of a professional mars, however emi-
in the Mediterranean, as a matter of prudence and precaution. vent, to ',lace any restrictions on the selection of persons for
He (Sir J. &Abe. m) was sorry that an officer of such &Vince the head of the naval administration. If the House should
tion as the Hon. and Gallant tfficer undoubtedly woe— think fit to sanction such a restrict on, let them do it in a de-
( Hear, hen.)—should have proclaimed to the world that, if the finite and intelligible manner, but not by such resolutions as
Mediterranean was attacked. our ships would Lave a good chance these. The first resolution was to the effect that in tee
of being defeated. The Hon. and Gallant Officer did not do opinion of the House, the advantage of having the Naval
justice to himself in saying so, for, he was sure, the Hon. and Board composel of • naval officers ought to be fully considered.
Gallant Officer. and his brother officers, would have been fully He Slid not doubt, taken as an abstract proposition, the propriety
able, unit, r any circumstances, to sustain the honour of the of that advanteze being consideied; butlet that consideration be
British flag.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. and Gallant Officer ad- left to the same I ower which selected the head of the army.
verted to various other points which it would be necessary for The resolution went to Alt m that the whole Board ought to
him (Sir J. Graham) to follow ;-..first, the Hon. and Gallant , be compose.( of naval men, and that civilians ought to be ex-
-Officer recommended a new scheme of purchase in the navy. ' eluded entirely from it. If that was the proposition of the
It was impossible that his (Sir J. Graham's) attention was not Gallant Officer, he must dissent from it. Experience, long.
called to the subject before; it had been already discussed and usage, and the practice of all Governments, showed that tivi-
considered ; much might be said in favour of that scheme, but, ' lions should not be so excluded. if it was only intended that
upon the whole, he (Sir J. Graham) was of opinion, that it : the head of the Admiralty should be a naval man, the proposi.
would only introduce an entirely new system which would be at ten was injurious. Supposing he (Sir R. Peel) had brought
variance with the wishes and interests of the British Navy. forward such a proposal when Lord Minto was First L rd—
It was true that the effect of political interest with respect to ! could he have continued to discharge its duties satisfactorily ?
prom :tion could not he superseded ; but if the interest of if the house s .id that the head of the naval service should at
wealth were added, it would be impossible for an unobtrusive a future fme be a naval man, surely 'it was very in-
man to obtain promotion. But the Hon. and Gallant Office: I consistent that for the present and temporary period, that
had suggested anther mode of dealing with the crowded list of officer should be a civilian.—(Cries of " Hear, bear.")
captains, which was not open to the same objection. The Hon. 1 The Gallant Officer said he did not wish to cast any reflection
and Gallant Officer proposed that there should be a list of aged ' on either Lord Mute or Lord Haddington. He said it would be
officers who should, e pecially in time of peace, retire from , impossible to select a civilian, who, in the short time he had
active service. He could well conceive that there was advan- ! filled the office, had given so much satisfaction as the present
tape in that prop st'ion ; and.he had not understood his Right First Lord of the Admiralty. If he had so conducted himself
Hon. Friend, the First Lord of the Treasury, on any occasion as to extort this not reluctant praise from the Gallant Officer,
to state that such a Alin was not worthy of the moat serious at. the House ought not to throw a difficulty in the way of his
tcntion of the Goverament. But he thought that those were I discharging his duties satisfactorily, by appearing divided
questions which might safely be left in the hands of the Execu- I in op nion as to the person who should hold the office
tive Government; Ile conceived that to press resolutions of the That would be a most injurious precedent, and a stretch of
House of Commons on a subject of that nature was a course I the powers of that House. The Gallant Officer tad himself
which, though it might relieve the Executive Government of admitted .that the late Noble Lord at the head of the Admi-
. great responsibility, would not conduce to the real interest of ralty, as well as his predecessor, had discharged the duties of
the service.—( Hear, hear.) Then the Hon. and Gallant Of- their office as well as could have been possibly anticipated from
fiver had alluded to the various measures which had from time arty unprofessional men. It would not follow, either, that if
to time been suggested with respect to the manning of the the House adopted the resolutions of the Gallant Officer, parties
navy ; and he had thrown out a suggestion that it might, be would still be satisfied with the administration of the Board of
expedient, when the Pcor.law Bill was under the Admiralty. The House of Commons had formerly worried
consideration of the House to introduce some clauses for mak- Lord Keppel, and afterwards Lord Howe, with their resolu-
ing the overseers of the poor to bind pauper boys compulsory as tions, but no general satisfaction was still given by the
apprentices into the service of her Majes•ye Now, be must administration of affairs at the Admiralty.—( Hear, hear. )
say, that he did not think such a proposal would at all increase • Lord Howe was, indeed, worried out by motions.—( Laughter. )
the popularity of the Poor-law—( Hear, hear)—nor did he He made a motion on the subject, but it was .negatived by a
think there was the slightest necessity to resort to such a step. majority of, he believed, 50. He was worried out of the House
The national taste of British peasants living on the British of Commons--( Laughter)—he was worried out of the office
coast would obviate the necessity for resorting to sompulsnry of First Lord of the Admiralty—(Laughter)—but he was
.not
a! prenticeship ; they would, when necessary, volunteer their so far worn out that he was not able to fight, and fight well,
services.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. and Gallant officer sat the action of the Ist of June, 1794.—(Cheers.) Would the
down with referring to the saying of Mr. Tierney, " Give us a Gallant Officer allow him to say, that he did not see any use,
well-manned Navy and a full Exchequer, and we may bid de- or any public advantage, in specelating in hypothetical ques-
fiance to the world—a sentiment in which he (Sir J. Graham) tiers as to the power they possessed. He herd speculations as
must cordially concurred." One oortion of it was already to the result of a naval action with France ; but while ' they
realised; the Hon. and Gallant Officer admitted that the navy may be proud of their own power, why should they be stirring
was well and fully manned. It would be for his Hon. Friends . up ill-will— Chters)—by any speculations whether France
to persevere in their endeavours, and the last proposition also on she one hand. would defeat them, or, on the other, whether
would be realised ; whatever deficiency there might be, the they would defeat France?-.( Cheers.) He would enter into
Exchequer wouldebe repleneshel.—( Hear, hear.) They Pp- no speculation of the kind.—( Hear. ) Theywere now at peace
pealed, with c tnfidence, to the w.sdom of Pat 'lament and to the with France. The misunderstanding-which had eubSistedbetwet n
good sense and patrietic feeling of the nation ; they had not the them had ceased, and why, then, should they go back to trans •
slightest doubt that the Exchequer would be replenished, actions on the coast of Spain and Syria, or speculate on the
and when that happy day ariived they you'd bid defiance to results of sin action with France ?—(Chcers. ) While he had
tie world. W.th respect to the resolutions of the Hon. and the greatest confidence in the navy of the country he did not
Gallant Officer, ts ere were some of them to which he (Sir J. think it wise to make any reference to such a subject.—
Graham) had no objection to give an assent, stating his con- ( :tear.) He hoped the House would pause before it gave its
viction, however, that the matters to which they referred assent to the motion of the Hon. and Gallant Commodore.
would be better left to the Executive . Government. Enter • He (Sir R. Peel) had laid down 'no rule with respect to the ex-
taining the highest respect for the Gallant Commodore, and elusion of naval officers-(Hear, hear)—but he did not want to
for the intentions with which he had brought the present sub. purchace the abandonment of the motion by the ex, ression of
jest under the consideration of the House, he should feel him- any hope on the subject. The subject was reserved
self, notwithstanding, bound to move the previous question. for the Crown, and he deprecated the House of Commons
The SPEAKER having put the question, interposing any restriction on the exercise of the prerogatives
Captain 'BERKELEY iii,' not wish to trespass on the of the Crown.—( Hear, hear.) Where were they to stop in
House, but as this was a sueject which did not involve imposing such restrictions, if they began once ?—( Hear, hear.)
any party question, and was one dear to naval men and to His Right Hon. Friend near him moved the previous question,
the country generallys he hoped the House would bear with an-I he hoped the Hon. and Gallant Commodore would, when
him for a short time. He regretted that the Right Hon. he considered the relation in which he himself, the relation in
Baronet had adverted to a topic upon which he (Captain which the navy, and the relation in which the country stood
Berkeley) had differed with these who tad been acting with him with respect to the Crown, deem it the wiser plan to leave the
in the Admiralty—he meant the manning of the navy. The Crown to consider what course was best to be adopted.
navy was now properly and thorougly manned, and he was in Mr. CHARLES WOOD trusted that the situation which
hopes that the subject would be left at rest. But in justice to he had formerly held at the Admiralty would justify him in
the Gallant Cfficer who had brought forward the present sub • offering a few observations to the House, and they should be
jest, he would mention mac fact, and one only, because be did a,very few ; in fact, had it not been that his Hon. and Gal-
not wish to meddle with the subject at all—with respect to the lant Friend, who had broue,ht forward the motion had, in tieing
circumstance of our ships being placed in jeopardy fi om being so, cast imputations on the character of his Noble Friend (Earl
inefficiently manned. Four sail of the line had been placed !Uinta) formerly at the head of the Admiralty, h, (Mr. C. W.)
under the command of his Gallant Friend behind him ( en. C. would not have troubled the House at all on the question. With
Napier); in the Mediterranean, in 1840. They were short of regard to the general terms of the motion, ho entirely concurred
their complement of in: n, and within a day and a halt's sail of , in all that had fallen from the Right lion. Baronet, the Secre-
them were stationed twenty Egyptian :hips to relieve Bey- tary for the Home Department, and from the Right Hon.
rout. Had the enemy bore down upon us, and his Gallant Baronet who had just sat down.--( Hear, hear.) He perfectly
Friend were inclined to avoid the action (which was not likely) agreed with them in opinion, that the present constitution of
he would not have had it in his power to do so, neither would the Baird of Admiralty was the one, on the whole, most cal-
culated to be beneficial to the service. Like those Right Hon.
he be able, manned as las ships were, to oppose the enemy.
He only mentioned this as a proof that ships sailing with peace Gentlemen, .he had no wish to exclude naval officers from the
situation of ,First Lord of the Admiralty, but he thought it
complements might sometimes be at fault; he hoped, however,
wrong and inexpedient to attempt, by a resolution of that
that they would never run that risk again. With regard to
what the Right Hon. Baronet had said relative to a naval man House, to fetter the discretion of the Crown. He also agreed
being at the head of the Admiralty, he (Captain Berkeley) with the Right Hen. Baronet that it was better not to go beck
to consider what might have been the result of a collision in the
must say, that he could cot understand why professional know-
tedge. was to be a disqualification for a First Lord of the Ad- Mediterranean two years since. He thought some considera.
Lion was due to the opinion of his Hon. and Gallant Friends—
miralty—at least not exactly a disqualification—but the Right
Hon. Baronet said it was much better that a civilian should be (Hear, hear)—although, he thought that, perhaps, they would
at the head of the Board than a naval man. He remembered have acted more wisely had they abstained from giving that epi-
thet when his Gallant Friend (Sir C. Napier) brought Mon. He fe t mewed, however,that thehonour of the British navy
could have been placed in no hands more safely than in theirs,
forward a motion rely ive to bishops going to the
colonies, he was told that he had much better and that in their hands the honour of the British flag would
leave... the matter to those who had the managed thought
have been tarnished.—(Cheers.). Perhaps it might be
ment of ecclesiastical affairs.—(Hear.) On the same ground thought that from the situation which lie (Mr. C. Wood) had
he conceived that a naval man knew much more of naval mat- held at the Admiralty, under Lord Shinto, that he could not be
an impartial witness.. On the contrary, however, he contended
tors than a civilian could possibly do.—(Hear.) Besides this,
that he (Mr C. Wood) had been in a situation to form an im-
he could assure the House that when a civilian visited the
dockyard he had not that weight with the naval officers pareal judgment, for, from the moment he had accepted office,
which a naval man would have.—( Hear.) It fell to his lot he had laid down a rule for his own conduct, to which he had
once, some time ago, to be appointed to a squadron, ap-
rigidly adhered, and that teas, never to interfere in any manner,
!
pointed for a particular service. The First Lord of the Ad- or to offer any opinicn, upen any question relating to the pro-
motionmiralty was expected down. Every officer and man strained of officers —(cheers.) He took no credit to himself
his utmost exertions that their several vessels should be on that account, as he considered he had only been doing his
turned out in a way fit for a Board of Admiralty to inspect.. duty ; but to that rule he had ever constantly adhered, there-
The First Lod came—he was a civilian—every officer was fore, with regard to all such questions, he was merely a
looker on, and he felt bound to declare, as an impar-
anxious that his own -ship should be examined; and every
tial witness, that if ever there was a First Lord of the
midship Man and lieut nant was anxious to see the First Lord
Admiralty Who, in the prometion of naval officers,
and that he should inspect every vessel. The Noble Lord
had looked solely to the merits and professional claims of the
visited only one ship, and went away no doubt very
officers, who had taken infinite pains to acquire a knowledge of
much tired with the labour of the investigation.—( Hear. )
those claims, and who had been anxious only to do his duty to
He was certain that if the Gallant Admiral opposite (Sir G.
the claims of those officers, uninfluenced by personal considera-
Cockburn) had been at fife time First Lord of the Admiralty,
ttons, th,:t man was Lord Minto—(Cheers)—and what' his
he would have made it a point to visit and inspect the different
Gallant Friend had alluded to an officer bear.ng the same
ships, and thus gratify the officers and men. Add to that,
name as his Noble Friend, to an officer of the name of Elliot,
that it was upon those minute details, with which no civilian
he (Mr. C. Wood) thought his Gallant Friend must have been
could be thoroughly acquainted, that the efficiency of the navy
aware that that gentleman was no relative or connexion of the
mainly depended, there was a prevailing feeling the, ughout
Noble Earl's.—( Hear, hear.) The merits of that gentleman
the navy—he feared not contradiction when he said so—that
had been admitted on a former occasion by the Right Hon.
they were neglected, and that if they had a naval officer at the
Baronet when discussing the naval estimates, and he (Mr. C.
head of the service, they would not at least be so frequently
Wood) could assure his Gallant Fri rid, that if he adduced
neglected. As he had said upon a former occasion, it was iin-
possible that a civi fan could enter into the feelings of officers
personal pnronage on the part of his Noble Friend, he (Sir C.
like abt othereofneer. With regard to the number of promo-
Napier) did that Noble Earl (Minto) great injustice. That
tions under Lord Miele, and the nettite of those promotions, be
gentleman wa, to. ally unconnected with the Noble
begged leave to relate a circumstance which had conte tin-
Lord, an I liad distinguished claims on the moun-
der his immediate knowledge. At the Coronation he had
try, and whatever might have been the appointment
recommended a young man of the best character to Lord Minto
which he had recei .ed from the late Board, or whatever might
. -.
for promotion, confessing to him, however, that he was politi-
be the event of that faveurable consideration of his services
catty connected with the borough which he tied the honour to
hwhieh he (Mr.C. Wood) understood had been promised him
reptesetit ; the reply of Lord Mint° tette that he would ptrh6
amtrlsties.
"y i!le present Huard, he owed it all state), to his distinguished
a peeson recentmended by him, bait it *as on condition services, and not to any personal or political connexion what-
should be entirely ufitmetlected *his Pelitiee, lie did tectem-
ever: He thought he should be trespassing on the time of the
mend a person of that description, who received an advance,
Hedge if he seas to attempt to go over the points of the discus-
ment in the service, while the party whom he, had originally
on whichhad obtained a desultory character, anti which could
i
recommended still remained unpromoted. He mentioned that
bel productive' of but little goal. He confessed that h' did not
for the purpose of showing that Lord Minto had not been info- agree with what had been seated by many Hon. Gentlemen, on
tSpced in the eistribation of his patronage by political motives. with resit - t to the naval service, for he
lie had lielfd ndthing CHileii calla iteltfce hltti to thiek that that side of the H
believed hat all‘tho(s)uesnte:atters of detail were infinitely better left
the navy could not be governed by a naval Min as e'ell
lard claim
Heh would only-remind his Gallant
as the army was governed by a soldier. Great incon- to ttebetechtive 1
motion that the Noble Lord
venience resul ed from the adoption of a different ' aye- Fe lend, when lie'
to whom he had alluded ill'atdo teWithdrawn a motion of which he
tern. In the case, for instance, of an equal division had given notice on his (Mr. W.'s) assurance that the subject
Of votesetweeng the Fordshf the Admiralty, the subject would would conic under the consideration of the Board of Ailmi-
be decided by a 111211 who might, lietseefer, knew nothing of the r alty although it was true that on a subsequent occasion a
matter. He also felt that there was so little patronage to tie • • • '
Centtilit tee was appointed in consequence of that motion, and
distributed in the navy, that it would be considered the greatest
when that Comunittee came to investigate the marine service,
boon by the officers that one of their own body should be ap-
they found that the Board of Admiralty had left them but
pointed to preside over the service. He could state that it was
little to do.
Hitt eptnien; that, there wag mare difficulty in finding officers to TROUBRIDGE said he hoped the House would
fill situations, than in find fig situations to give. to officers Sir T.
incl7lge him for a few minutes, while he alluded to one or two
(Laughter.) There was no reward for all their toil and
trouble, awl he trusted that a retiring list would be made for
poitite iii the debate on this subject,. The first point was with
them. He hoped that, with respect to the dockyards, all
respect to the Board df Admiralty as it was at present consti-
good artificers, having. served a certain time in the navy. tuted. He did not believe that the present system could
*wild have the firet• eleim to situations in them. be changed to advantage.—( Hear, hear.) He thought
—( Hear, heAr: ) it Oeuld be enebtifakitig pereons to enter that the First Lord of the Admiralty was one of the
the navy, and contribute to render it populate liff hid one Word most important of the Cabinet Ministers, and he thought he
should be borne out in this. His opinion was, wherever there
of that House, who were more than sixty years of age, were
to say with respect to the ages of Admirals. • Hon. Members
was ti Min of high character and standing in the country,
exempted from serving on Flection Committees, and yet they
wherever 1 hatftlan omelet be found, that was the man most hfit-
e
Settt, Men at sixty and seventy years of age to contend with the
tang for the First Lord of the Admiralty. In s
40:tiervi and the ,euemies of the eottntt ..-e( Hear, hear.)
did not exclude naval officers ; a naval man ofh h standin
Hattilig heard nothing to sheer that meal o core *ere ineard•
tgaying this, g
in
the country was as. fitted for the station as any other. If he
ih
citated from being placed at the Board of A ctidalif, he Shoitld were to give Isis opinion as to that man, e should probably name
es. • es- the resolution of the Hon. and Gallant Oilieer Vid de Gteys not for telisame reason as the Hon. and Gallant
rose ee. .- • ' teleTecee behind him (('egtain Pechell) did, but for his high
behind him. .
standing and pOeition, for ha talent and rank. He thought,
•! fetid INQESTRiE said ;that whatever opinion may be ene where en offeer of this detetiption could be found, he was the
ferteihed iqf •the diseretide o.t the Hod; And Gallant Corn
itiodi4 in britigittg fel4itrel his rest:W*lli At theteittres there man to be Fiest Lord of the Admiralty, in order that
he might be a guaiantee to the public that the duties
could be no doubt that the navy owe( hitii A deep alit of elf the office would be properly performeeh The second point
gratitude for the way he advocated its cause in that Was Ono with vt hi.:ll he was rather more intitOtely connected,
Howe. (Cries of " Heat, hear.") It may not be that was, that a natal officer should form one of the Roard of
right in, a lessislatise assembly
to meddle in matters Ordnance. Whet he happened to be Secretary to the Anae!-
there initiiediAtely - ,beluil2,ing, to -the Executive, but at ralty, that department was under his control ; therefore he
the same timei if the iiiiey did tfdi title tit Stepertanity of spoke confidently, and he believed that great advantage
Milling its sentiments known, it would he iniiiassible fur the stored *rise from a communication between the Board of Ord-
-1 ieeutive tel knot+ the opinion of the navy on any subject. wince and the Board of Admiralty. He formed this opinion
LOOking td the expefienhe and
-t knowledge posse sed by pro- u experience. ?low with respect to the situations
feseionel Men, he thought Muth Pnl
teas tet be, raid in favour of a at the head of the dockyards being filled by naval men,
raYal ofe4er being p'fied it the heed of the Beard of Admi. he thought that' this was a subject which ought not to be
raltieeeseelteersl: if tete iesoldtiott of the Heil; and Gallant brought before the House. The next point was with respect
was for a ititilfe eolialeuctioti of the Boirds he
redid give his vote for it. With respect to the belief reeo- to te rettrem_ent of officers, and hno
e had e hesitation in
hitions.of the Hon: and Gallant Officer, he should have no sting that he should be glad to see officers retiring
hi.,:elikloti, in Rup:pBiiink his p Opesition. In consequence of a if' there Was a probability of increasing their allowance.
But at the same tittle, he thought it was not to be lost sight of,
protracted war, the list was teb leill Of aged Officers for the exi-
that
geticiet of the country: . Ile shduld note eller Into any many ne-ethe lion. Gentlemen vrha supported teat motion
eamento that House pledged. He had had the honour of
qteettent of the tee of those officers, but in Case coining into that House, many years ago, pledged to nnflisching
w a *ii• sBthe Wads tftirst be devised for calling eeonotTly, if there was any money to spare, he did not hesi:
yotinger officers into active service id evert ?Wok. He Would fate in giving his opinion that there was another class of the
petneose some plan of retirement, as only just to these bid& nevi which deserved increased pay, and that was the petty
officete Whet lila acted as examples to those who were coming officers. He should say, that the best mode of remedying the
after tnedi. Theft *ere mint civil officers connected with the inconvenience attendant upon manning the navy, would be to
nave that.might be filled by natal edifier, as efficiently as by increase the pay of the petty officers ; and he should, there-
Eiviliens, by *Mob a great Wing to the eoutitty might be ef- fore rather give any surplus money for that purpose, than to the
feeted in the lisilf-pal. allowance of retiring officers. This was his opinion, and he
Captain PI CHELL suppotted the reeolutiotiss ands iii proo gave it with periesct confidence to the House. Now, the next
df the good t-)lat ieefiled froni such discussions, tie e• slid r: fat object to which. he would allude, was the state
to the eseien 'level Coiihngsionerg whose tippointrrieet of the Mediterranean flee'. He thought a great deal too much
ensiled; lie delibt, from these diseeeeifint. He thought had been sled on this subject, hut he felt called upset to
it itts. t eying ,a 4eiy foot csiniplitiaent, iftdeeds to say-a few wores. The Gallant Officer had said that from the
the seri;lees 61; the 14o; L&tl Hiiii Adrhirel, to Say that a naval fitful Wog ashore, and the inefficient state of the fleet, if the
officer ought not to preside. With ftgard to Aft, had lie ti Eg)ptiall fleet had come down upon them they would have
said relative to the responsibility of the Board of Adrnifelte; he feeen overpowered. Ile (Sir I'. Troubridge) would say that
(Captain Pechell) would say that he thought the Board tees a Wl:t4#l ihe ships came home, • and he would mention the Asia,
very irresponsible and secondary one, and he thought a better several M. !TWO, went down to view her. They told him
instance of its irresponsib lit y and secondary character could themselves that !hey were delighted with the regularity of the
not have been given than that which had b. en stated, that discipline, and more partici:loY
the gunnery of that ship.
when the First Loral was applied to some time ago to He wool t also mention the Rodney,' which was a brilliant
protect the fishermen of the coast of Kent, he would nit do sample of what a man of
was.. ought to be. There
so, on the ground that he cold not undertake the responsibility. was the Princess Charlotte, and-- no
would
He thought, however just the apprehensions of the Gallant. the Thunderer. Well, here were four line f battle
mentiolne,
Coremodnre that our fleet weul t not have been beaten if an shies, all of ehich had the highest encomiums passed tie
action had taken place between us and the Frentl in the yfedi- their discipline and gunnery; how then was it possible, with
terraneari in 1840 ; still the manning of the ships should be kept such ships, they could be captured by the Egyptian
elicat fleet?
up if it were only to avoid the great labour that must other- With respect to patronage,-he was afraid lie was on de
wise fall on the men, especially in cases of sickness. With groued, for it had been, in all Admiralties and in all Govern-
respect to the pensions of midshipmen for wounds, it should be ments, hut he ventured to say that with respect to private pa-
observed that these pensions were discontinued immediately trenage he knew nothing of it, nor was he responsible frost
they were promoted. With respect to the manning of ships, but when they came to the coronation, or general promotion,
reat
the Admiraty ought to be convinced of the necessity of pre- I his friends, Admiral Adams and Admiral Parker, had a g
serving to the sesvice the seamen brought up to the practice ! deal of trouble in looking over the lists, in order to do justice to
of gunnery •in the Excellent at Portsmeuth, and ought all parties, and they ought not to have been so attacked in that
not to suffer the navy. to be deprived of their valuable House. No sit of men could have taken mitre trouble, or have
services. He 'mita', the time was nut far .alistatit when the shown more anxiety than those gentlernen. /Duce snore,
pay of those men would be increased, and to arrive at the rani: of lie begged to state that lie thought the Boaiii of Admiralty
a petty officer would be a matter of ambition. There was no could not be changed with advantages
and he thought
danger he thought of the interest of the navy being sacrificed that great responsibility was thrown on the Prime Ministc. of
. , I