Star.
London, England, 1808-08-30 00:00:00

surrendered, but the authority on which this report
rested, had not been ascertained.

The Third Report of this Committee has at
length appeared. _ It will be recollected, that the
Report now published excited a good deal of con-
versation, both in and out .of Parliameut, previously
to its being printed; and.it was generally understood
that a considerable difference of opinion prevailed
among the Members of the Committee, as to the
way iu which the Report was drawn up. The Ap-
pendix alone consists of 300 folkapages, containing
the names, &c. of every person in the Pension List
of Great Britain and Ireland.
We now subjoin some extracts :
" Your Committee cannot view without jealousy
the fund arising from the sale of Old Stores, which,
in the year ending 31st December, 1806, amounted
to 85,1151 ; and they suggest, that it would be more
advantageous to the public, if those pensions, which
have been usually granted out of this fund, should
be assigned only on the Ordinary of the Navy, and
that the Treasurer of the Navy should be made
debtor for. the produce of old stores, under the head
of voluntary account ; by which means he would
become accountable for the arrears to the Ex- '
chequer, according to the practice which prevails
with regard to old stores in the Ordnance.
" The number of persons receiving pensions in.
1761 was 49; in 1797 it had increased to 115 ; and
it now amounts to 331, exclusive of 21 contingent
pensions. The present pensions, however, are for
the mast part small, and.about two-thirds are granted
to females. .
" The Committee of Finance in 1798 remark on
Ithe delicacy with which a fund should be touched,
, which concerns the munificence of the Sovereign, as
applied either to the encouragement of learning and
religion, to the remuneration of national services, in
the rewarding of public merit, or in the support of
those branches of noble and respectable families,' which
the policy and principles of the British Constitution
cannot suffer to fall into indigence.' XXX. p. 12.
44 Your Committee by no means wish torepress the
' munificence of the Crown, as applied to the three
• first of these objects, nor even to exclude the last-
mentioned consideration ; but the undefined state of
the reserved revenues appears to have encouraged a.
1 be
facility in granting pensions, which it may.,
be on a future occasion important to restrain. It Is 1
obvious that a too general application of them 4to
the support of the' remoter ' branches of noble and
respectable families,' even though the individuals who
receive them should not be affluent, may serve to
spare the funds of the opulent at the expence of the
public, and may create an undue dependence upon
. those, in whose hands the distribution of Royal mu-
. niticence is vested.
" In No. 28, it has been observed, that pensions to
certain persons formerly employed in the Stamp Of-
fice are paid and included in the Bill of Incidents, in
i put mane of warrants from the Board of Treasury.
' Your Committee conceive that annual allowances
lought not to be granted generally, and without spe-
cial reasons, to persons retiring from official situa-
' tions, either by their own choice, or upon any new
arrangement in the mode of conducting business ;
and that such grants become more particularly ob-
jectionable, if the practice should be allowed to con.
tinue of charging any allowances, beyond such as are
superannuationsan the strictest sense, among the sa-
laries or incidents of any department, instead of
classing. and entering therm as pensions, so that they
may be kept entirely distinct from the salaries paid
DEAL, AUGUST 29. for transacting the current business of the office.
Sailed through the Downs the Desire, PRATT rand a Even where a meritorious Officar has served for
Johns, YATEs, for New Providence.—Came down j a number of years, he ought not to receive remunera-
from the River his Majesty's ships Bbssaav and 1 ticn as a mere matter of course, upon retiring, with-
Tauvre, and the HarrietrCiaax, for Barbadoes, and out tM 1 IC into consideration the emoluments of the
g
office, and the fortune which he may have had the
*main in the Downs with his Majesty's ships, &c. as ' means of acqniring in that iervivh. as well as the
per last.—Wind E. N. E. particular cirCUTASCLIKeII of lis ease: but .with re-
SHEERNESS, AUGUST 29. gird to such as may be inefficient or tiselesi (other-
Sailed his-Majesty's ship Timm, for the Downs; wise than in consequence of age orwinfirmity} speil
GAmSET, for Yarmouth, with a large fleet of trans./ cial circumstances alone can justify. the propriety'c
ports; and the Piettexa. gun-brig, Lieutenant Si. rewarding them, when it becomes °a4anient far thi'
BRELLI with a convoy, for Gottenburgh and the Bal. Public service, that their situations slinnidbeAlladty
tic. The JASPER has been paid, and gone to the persons better qualified to discharge the:clutiss..., ..
Nore.—Wind East, light breeze. 44 Your Committee cannot but discountenance the
GaAveseten, Aurinciple of granting compensation, for offices ,sup
sa. 29.—Passed by the Fides, Richari.r. on, P
from Gibraltar; and the Domingos, Sebastina, from the Erastils.ipresSed Or abolished, the possessors of which have
a
—Sailed the Simon Tayler, Meek, for the Cape Good Hope; not eitheiitad an interest ia, them for life, or by the
London, Hawkins, for Cadiz ; Eliza, Jackson, for Stockholtisj 61140111 ofMb cages have been justly considered as
and the Henrietta, Boyson, for Heligoland.l having such a tenure ift them.
a With ngard to the allowances made to those
who were formerly employed in the collection of du-
tics either repealed or transferred to other manage-
ment, it is impossible not to animadvert upon suf-`
fering persons to remain a permanent burden upon
the public, if there has been an opportunity of plac-
ing them in other offices, where their qualifications
and habits of business might render them useful, and
deserving of salary. The warrants for most of these
grants were in fact very properly drawn only ' dur-
ing the pleasure of the Commissioners of the Trea-,
sury, or until the parties are respectively otherwise
provided for.' The scale of all offices has necessarily
been so much extended since the repeal or transfer of
those duties, that little difficulty seems likely to have
occurred in giving employment to all those indivi-
duals; and their situation. would probably have been
more frequently presented to the notice of the Exe-
cutive Government, if the allowance had appeared in
the shape of pension, instead of being included
among the incidents of the establishment.
44 Since offices ought to be regarded :Is created
solely for public utility, and not for the benefit of the
individuals who happen to hold them, there must ex-
ist a perfect right in those who administer the affairs
of the public, to regulate, 'alter, and controul their
functions ; it becomes a duty to abolish such as ap-
pear superfluous, and to abridge the emoluments of
all which can be conducted to the same advantage,
but it a cheaper rate. Without the constant super-
intendence and vigilance of the House, irregularities
in the granting:of compensations and superannua-
tions may from time to time creep in ; but your
Committee conceive, that it may be some check
against this sort of expenditure, if all such grants,
besidei being brought as it were to one focus, where
they May be viewed collectively and distinctly, should
also pass Without exception under the review of the
Commissioners of the Treasury, who being constitu-
tionally responsible for all ' matters of expenditure,
should be intrusted with a general controul over every
article of it,and armed with powers to prevent in every
department any.,mproper accatnillatite of Charge.

The Earl and Countess of BESBOROUGII, and the I
Hon. Mr. WILLIAM PONSONBY, are arrived at Edin-
burgh.
About 25 transports sailed from the Nore, at an
early hour on Sunday morning, with orders to pro-
ceed with all possible dispatch to Yarmouth, where
a convoy is provided to conduct them to the Island
of Langeland, for the purpose of bringing away the
Spanish troops. They will come, in the first instance,
' to this country, in order to furnish them with ammu-
nition and cloathing before they are sent to Spain.
A letter, dated on board the Warley East India-
man, at sea, on the 24th February, at which time
she was within a few days sail of Bombay, states,
that on her arrival at Bombay she expected to be sent
up the Persian Gulf with troops. The Warky lost
her Purser, Mr. Hoar:mow, on her passage. The
same letter adds, that the market, at Madras, was
very good.
We are informed from good authority, that there
are now in this country Deputies from LINIERS and
the Cabildo, or Council of Buenos Ayres, and also from
the Governor and Council of Monte Videb, charged
with an important mission to the British government.
The object has not transpired, but the Deputies being
accompanied by a confidential Agent of the PRINCE
REGENT, from Brazil, it is supposed that the insight
which the emigration of the Portuguese Court ere
into the designs of BONAPARTE, upon the whole of
the south-western peninsula of Europe, had determi-
ned the Spanish Colonies on the Rio de la Plata to
take early precautions to secure their ultimate inde.
pendence, and to maintain that immediate peace with
their new and powerful neighbours in Brazil, which,
without special provision lor"the purpose, may other-
wise be endangered.
Sunday afternoon,a Windsor stage-coach was over-
turned on Hounslow Heath, near Butchers' Grove.
The passengers were very much bruised and hurt
some were conveyed buck to Longford, and others
were obliged to be left at the Bell, at 'Hounslow.

..-

observed, that it may materiall,
of public economy, if Parliar
require annual accounts of
nution which may have tal
each preceding year in the
expences of all public offices,
commend that it should _
House, that such an account
within twenty days after the
Session, and also an acct
sions and allowances paid _
4 4 In examining these severa,
of the House will naturally '
place to the magnitude of
various channels, to the use
performing any species of '
that considerable portions
regarded in the nature of
which have been renderer:
the persons themselves, or
to such as belong to this
been diligently and faith)
adequate period of time,
so circumstanced as to h,
public, no impediment is
,But though instances ma,
claims upon the public are
easy to be traced, your Cow
that it is their province to (
task of examining particular
carrying their retrospect
ficient to lay a foundation
.lation.
" The words with which
sec. 19. is prefaced, that
4 any persons to be relieved
their distress, but on the' c
on just cause to be thought
point out the grounds ur
bounty should be selected,
intended to allot so large
through favour, without r
art. But the practice whi
upon, of granting and
general expences of separate
elude the limitation which •
and by rewarding in this
portion athe _
vied, to leave a larger amount
gratuitous disposal.
44 It must not be overlooked,
tinguished merit, Parliament
exempt the Civil List from
and as instances of this hon(
fortunately for the country,
quently than ,within these
lity of the nation has been
tent than in any former

" A further considerati4
the grants are nominall;
generally regarded as eqi
life ; and that examples ra
in the circumstances of '
those who have the legitima
induce those by whom
surrender them. The footstep;
ty are visible in all directir bi
are discoverable.
" The 18th Section of
exception in favour of
Crown in foreign Courts,
the power, of granting at
et' their fo?mer appointmem
alter the expiration of the'
all those who now recei
count are contained itt ?
extent of their several services
No,. 64..
" The.' circumstances
make thii list unusually
little of friendly intercourse
country' and the Contir
therefore, amounts to 3!
cliiional list is contained
tiens.frant the Secretary
antes, to the amount of _
Four Committee conceir
pies which ought to regale
ration, can be no other '
the importance of the mission,
cases.
a It is desirable, unquestit
poses of economy, and
duties of Foreign Ministers, .
generally be made from among
the list ; but it. is not intended
mend an invariable rule - those I
May be unwilling to undertake,_
ecute missions, of partici
and siscumstances may
individuals to whom su
ought not to be ascribed
or private emolument. 7_
sausfeciioni that, according
lowances have been withdeal
ments to Foreign Courts,
could not be performed.
a With regard to the
each separate department,
tionably to be served as •-•
being served with integrit
be recollected that what
higher departments, is
consequence and consideration
power of obliging friends -
and, in the lower degrees,
vacement by industry as
gradually increasing salari,
service, and at fixed inte•
too short, is highly.to
due encouragement to
cases of superannuation,
an essential requisite ;
be had to .the condition
ability of continuing thk
situation in life from otN
In many instances
grant-A as compensation
the plea of superannuation,
tained them have, at •
pointed to other offices
vious, that the allowances
true principle applicable '
money should not be
du:y ; and all exceptions

e
- Finance (XXII.)-having'
aerially conduce to the ends
irliament should think fit to
of every increase and dimi. ,
nken place in the course of
le salaries, emoluments, and
)ffices, your Committee re-
be made an order of the
:count shall be produced, ,
the commencement of every
count of all additional pen-
I for services not performed.
several lists, the observation 1
ally be attracted in the first I
of the sum derived through I
use of persons not actually
f public service. It is true,
s of these payments are to be
of remuneration for services
'd to the public, either by ' 1
or their near relatives ; and
s class, where the duty has
I
ithfully done, and for an ,
and where the persons are
lave strong claims upon the
5 intended to be objected.— I
Lay occur of persons whose
1 '
re not equally apparent, or •
Committee do not conceive
o descend into the invidious \
.ular cases, being desirous of
no further than may be suf-
n 1 !
for future reform and regu. , 1
itch this part of the Statute, :
i
t ' it is no disparagement for i
eved by the Royal bounty in , \
I
he contrary, it is honourable
ought worthy of reward,'--
upon which the objects of
KI, and shew that it was not
a sum to be distributed
t regard to just cause and de-
which has been animadverted
charging pensions under the
rarate departments, tends to
ch was meant to be imposed, \ I
is Manner a considerable pro-
official wit, and long ser.
mount than was intended for
mlooked, that in cases of dis. 11
'meat has ever been ready to
From any additional burden ;
i
honourable description have,
1 i
try, never occurred more Fre-
ese latter years, so the libera-
!en called forth to a larger ex-
period. i
ation is, that although most of ll
Ily during pleasure, they are l'
equivalent to an interest for t
rarely occur, where a change
the grantees has occasioned
timate controul to abolish, or 1
they are held, voluntarily to
footsteps towards Royal boon- i
:tions, but few traces of return
)f the Civil List Act makes an f
persons who have served the
s, and continues to his Majesty
it his pleasure such proportion
ments as may seem expedient,
, 1
their service. The names of
rive allowances upon this ac-
No. 63, and the nature and
services are particularized in
,!,s attending the present war ii
y large, at a period when so il
'course subsists between this
tinental Powers—the charge,
;1,5891. besides which, an ad. o
d in No. 65, of reconunenda- 1
' 1
ry of State, for further allow. i
I 60001. I
onceive, that the true princi. - , •
olate this r,aecies of remune.
r than duration of service, and
nission, except in very special
luestionably, both for:the par-
I for theletter execution of the
asters, that a selection should
n among those already upon
intended absolutely to recom- ,
Le - those who have gone before
ndertake, or ill qualified to ex-
cular delicacy and importance, I
arise where appointments of I
uch business is entirely novel,
d to motives of mere patronage
Your Committee observe with
Prding to the last return, all al-
ithdrawn in cases of appoint-
arts, where service was not, or
d. No. 66. ,
the salary and emoluments of
lent, the public ought unques.
is cheaply as is consistent with
' 1
grity and ability—but it must
at makes office desirable, in the '
s not the salary alone, but the
isideration attached to it, the . 1
Ids and of creating dependants; .
rees, the char,ce of gaining ad-
and talent. The principle of . i
salaries after certain periods of
ntervals, if they are not made
be approved, as holding out a
) diligence and fidelity. In all
)n, duration of service should be
and even then, regard should I
m of each individual, as to his
the official labours, and to his
other causes.
es where allowances have been
ion for the loss of office, or upon
ation, the persons who have ob-
t subsequent periods, been ap-
ts ; in both which cases, it is oh-
aims ought to have ceased. The
)le to all offices, is that public- ,
: granted , without reference to
• 1
ions whatever ought to be justie
,
),
• .....
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