The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-28 00:00:00

GRANT TO THE DUKE OF CLARENCE.

Earl BATHURST moved the second reading of an act
to grant further provision to the Deka and Duchess of
Clarence.

Lord KING stated that the Noble Earl, who had just
moved the second reading of the Bill for granting a further
provision to the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, had
thought proper not to say a word to their Lordships on
the subject. He should have rather thought, that in such
a case as the present the Noble Lord would have stated
some reason for the additional grant. From the circum-
stance of this Bil: s_sroing been left a long time elsewhere,
without any notice being taken of it, there seemed to he a
desire to get it smuggled through this House, without
saying a word upon the matter. Perhaps the Noble Lord
thought that, as he was going to make corn very dear, it
,was necessary to raise every thing in proportion. Or per-
haps it was because he thought the time favourable fee
ra4hl7, a grant. He had chosen a favourable opportunity
for it While great distress existed among the manufacturers,
as Belt year probably there would be great distress among
, the agriculturists. The Noble Lord had timed his shot
well—he had sent it between wind and water. He did
not know .the ,reason why the Government had been so
long without a bead. He certainly wished for an efficient
3liuister to take charge of such things as the present. He
thought the Noble Lord looked like an efficient Minister
yesterday. It w. certainly high time for their Lordships
that there should be an efficient Minister, for they looked
like a Bork of sheep without iheiih.rd, and til-v vsF•re

bleating in every tete of the gamut, from L sharp to n flat
But (pointing to Lord Bathurit)—
‘ Hic sir, hic est, tibi quern promltti swpitis
" Augustus Cmsar, Divuin genus, aurca condet
ig •

This was certainly a golden age for princes, for palaces,
and for Ireland, Ile had a petition intrusted to him to
present against the present Bill; but he had never known
when the Bill was to be read a second time.
Earl BATHURST stated, that his Noble Priend (the
Earl of Liverpool), in moving an address in answer to the
message of his Majesty, proposing an increase to the pro-
vision of the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, in conse-
qtience of their present situation, stated what would be
proposed as the amount of that additional increase. His
Noble Friend stated that an income of 3,000/. devolved
on the Duke of Clarence in consequence of the death of
the Duke of York, and that an addition of 9,0001. was
proposed to be made for the maintenance of the Duke and
Duchess of Clarence. He also stated, that 3,000/. was to
go to the Duke of Clarence, and 6,0001. to the Duchess.
Such was the statement made by his Noble Friend when
he moved the address, and their Lordships had unani-
mously consented to it, and he therefore had a right to
conceive that they had consented not only to the increase
itself, but also to the particular manner in which that in-
crease was made. Such being the case, he did not think
it necessary to trouble their Lordships with any observa-
tions in moving the second reading of the Bill, because
that Bill only enacted that which his Noble Friend, on
moving the address to his Majesty, had stated to their
Lordships, at which time it met with their unanimous
concurrence. And what was this increase ? It was an
increase by which the Duke and Duchess of Clarence would
be entitled to receive upon the whole, an income of
35,5001. He could net conceive that there could be any
serious objection to such income for the Heir Preeumptive
of the Imperial Crown of Great Britain and Ireland. His
Noble Friend had devoted a great deal of attention to the
financial distress of the country, but their Lordships would
recollect that they had unanimously granted 60,000/. per
annum as a provision to her Royal Highness the Princess
Charlotte of Wales. At that time she was standing in
the same relation to his Majesty as the Duke of Clarence
now stood in, namely, the Presumptive Heiress of the
Crown of Great Britain, the Duke of Clarence being now
Presumptive Heir. But the Princess Charlotte was one
degree further removed than the Duke of Clarence, being
Presumptive Heiress to the Heir Apparent. He was con-
vinced their Lordships could not object to such a grant.
The Bill was then read a second time.
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Lord KENYON presented a petition from Mr. Parker,
stating, that he had gone out to the Cape of Good Hop.
with a colony of 200 men ; that he had returned with his
fortunes broken, having met with a loss of 3,0001. and of
four years of his life, and praying for redress, and com-
plaining of the conduct of Colonel Bird. The Noble Lord
slid not wish to be identified with the party from whom
the petition came; but thought the circumstances of the
case well worthy of their Lordships' consideration, and
especially of his Majesty's Secretary of State for the Co-
lonies.

Earl BATIIURST stated, that Mr. Parker had made
several applications to be permitted to go out to the Cape
of Good Hope. He embarked, perfectly aware of the
conditions under which he was allowed to go, but ever
since his arrival in that country he had been making com-
plaints. The petitioner stated, that in consequence of his
representations Col. Bird had been removed from his situa-
tion. He was removed from his situation of Colonial Se-
cretary, not on account of any representations of Mr.. Par-
ker, not on account of his professing the Roman Catholic
religion, but on account of the serious misunderstanding
which existed between him and the Governor-General of
the Colony, which went to the interruption of the business
of that Colony. He had been removed with a pension in
consideration of his long services, and on account of his
large family. Mr. Parker states, that on his arrival at
the Cape of Good Hope, he was asked by Colonel Bird
whether he had not brought over with him any Catholic
priests, and when he stated that he had not, that Colonel
Bird had acted towards him with great hardship. The al-
legations of Mr. Parker had been submitted to the Com-
missioners of Inquiry, and had proved to be without foun
dation. There had been something stated in the petition
relating to the prevention of intercourse between the bor-
derers and settlers. It bad been found very necessary to
discourage all intercourse between the settlers and the
Catfres, and it was a penalty for any Caffre to be found
among the settlers. That intercourse had been discou-
raged for this reason—because, though at first it was corn-

eencnkeeitie, an makable feeling. ye‘it
On ware.

broultht

The Earl of CALEDON should say but a few words
after the clear explanation of the Noble Earl; but as he
had been officially connected with Colonel Bird, he could
assure their Lordships that there never was a better or more
efficient officer.

The Eatl of ROSSLYN thought the petition could not
be received, as it bad no prayer, but only pressed for an
inquiry into the conduct of an individual.
Lord KENYON said, that the petitioner stated that he
had suffered a great loss, and prayed for redress, as also for
a correction of the evils he complained of. With respect
to the person to whom the blame, if any were due, was to
attach, he could say that it was not to Lord Charles
Somerset, as he was absent at the time, and had left an
acting Governor-General.
After some conversation, the petition was ultimately re-
jected on the motion of Lord Caledon.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN gave notice, that he
should on Friday next move for an account of the number
of appeals brought over from the Courts of India, and the
number of decisions thereon.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY.

The gallery was not opened to the public this evening
until five o'clock, in consequence of the ballots which took
place for the Marlborough and Banffshire Election Com-
mittees. The names of the defaulters absent at the ballot
on Wednesday, the 21st of March, who had been ordered
to attend this day, and who had not attended, were then
called over. Several were excused, in consequence of ill-
ness and other causes; and the Hon. John G. W. Forester,
and another Hon. Member, whose name we could:not catch,
were ordered to be taken into custody by the Sergeant at
Arms.