Star.
London, England, 1808-05-17 00:00:00

difrerence between a paper being brought in snppol
lof the political conduct of a Government in origint.
ting an expedition, and :I.•e same being moved for as
an article on which to found a charge against an Of.
iicer who conducted the expediti,!n. After what had
been said by his Right Honourable Friend (Mr.
Yorke), he saw the ma' ter in a different point of view,
and found himself compelryd to resist the production
of the paper, and to induce the House to do the same.
Mr. W INDHAM said, he would neither oppose
nor call for the production of the paper, lest his mo-
tives should be mistaken ; being for himself and col.
leagues perfectly indifferent as to the issue.
Mr. R. WARD said, there did not exist in the Ad-
miralty any wish to impute blame to the gallant
Admiral.

Mr. PONSONBY said, that feeling which ever war
he vote], a misconstruction might be put upon his
conduct, if the motion was persisted in, he should
withdraw.
Colonel WOOD wished to withdraw the motion.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, he saw no reason why
the paper should not be granted, as he understood Sir
John Duckworth had no objection to its production.
He thought the House might wiar great propriety
enter upon a charge of this nature, if it was brought
forward without resorting to a Court-Martial. It
seemed there wits a letter of Admiral Duckworth's,
whicli stated the situation of the wind on the several
days he was with the fleet before Constantinople, and
this paper was moved for to elucidate that letter. He
saw no reason, therefore, why the Right Honourable
Secretary set his face against the production of the
paper now any more than when it was first moved
for ; but if the Honourable Gentleman was desirous
to withdraw his motion, he had no objection, as the
honourable Member certainly understood his own
views and intentions best.
Mr. YORKE said a few words in explanation, after
which the motion was withdrawn
AIR. PALA! ER'S CLAIM.
Mr WHARTON brought up the Report of the
Committee on Mr. Palmer's claim, when, on the
SPEAKER meting the question, that the same be
lead a second time, .
Mr. BANKS objected to it, as an extraordinary
circumstance, that the House should come to such a
vote, on a question wherein the Public were so much
concerned. He contended, that Mr. Palmer was
fully indemnified in the remuneration which had been
made to him during the Administration of Mr. Pitt.
Mr. WINDHAM justified his former opinions, an&
insisted on the idea of its not being a party question.
Mr. ROSE went over the original ground of his
objections, sliming that Mr. Palmer had been suffi.
ciently remunerated when he enjoyed a salary of
15001. per annum.
Mr. S. WORTLEY thought Mr. Palmer fully
compensated in the pension %elicit he had cheerfully
accepted from Government, and that the House had
no right to grant him any more, unless it received
Message from the Crown to that effect.
Sir THOMAS TURTON defended the Commits
tee, of which he was a Member, and insisted that no
man had a better claim to the indulgence of the House
than Mr.. Palmer, who by his exertions had conferred
singular benefit on his country ; and, notwithstands
ing his talents had ceased to he of advantage, yet he
was entitled to every remuneration, agreeable to his
original grant from the Crown, which could not by
any misconduct be violated.
Mr. LONG spoke against the two and a half per
cent. and said that Mr. Pitt had never intended such
a grant, unless Mr. Palmer attended to other duties
in the Post Office.
Lord MILTON was of opinion that the contrect
between Mr. Palmer and the Public was decisive on
this question ; and he lamented that when it was be-
fore the House some years ago, it was got rid of by
the previous (1 nest.'oo.
Mr. STURGES BOURNE thought it somewhat
singular. that Gentlemen who agreed on this occasion
so entir.ly in favour of Mr. PaimA-, were these who
oppos.:d tire present Government in general ; and he
contended there was no reason for rescinding now
what was done on a former occasion, when there were
112 to 98 against the present application.
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said, that the facts
which were disclosed, and the argum'nts that had been
adduced on that evening, tended to confirm bins the
more in the justness of Mr. Palmer's demands. He
was not afraid to encounter the complaints of the
people against what had been denominated a wanton
profusion of the public money ; but lie was happy to
congratulate the country on the strange rcvclution that
had taken place in the minds of Miaisters, when they
began to preach economy, and denounce him and those
with whom he was going to vote,as improvident squan-
derers of the pubic purse. He was unwilling to argue
the subject in the narrow way wherein it had been
argued by some Gentlemen who had spoken earlier
in the debate, but he should confine himself to its con-
sideration on the broad basis of common justice. It
was admitted that the community at present derived
a very great benefit from the plan originally suggested
by Mr. Palmer, and that the Minister to whom he
disclosed his project had promised him per cent. on
the excess that would accrue to the revenue of the
Post Office by the adoption of his plan above the usual
revenue. It therefore was incumbent on the House
to reward him according to his stipulated agreement.
Mr. HOLFORD defended Mr. Pitt's bargain, and
contended that if that great man had felt it to be ime
provident, he never would have shrunk from acknowe
ledging it.
Mr.-MARRYOT could not see any reason for
changing the opinion which he had formerly expressed
I respecting Mr. Palmer's claims, not at least without
the production of further documents and proofs, in
maintenance of these claims.
Mr. SUM proposed to adjourn the debate till
to-morrow se'nnight, for the purpose of obtaining fur-
ther evidence.—The question being put, the House
divided—For the adjournment 87-7 against it 137
Majority
50.
When the Gallery was re-opened, we were given to
understand that the House had agreed to the resoltte
tion for allowing the per tentage.
After some further conversation,
The SPE2I4.ER observed, for the information of
the House, thet it was to be understood that the Ace
count of the Arrears due (to be ascertained) would
be submitted to the'Committee, and that on Friday
the Honourable Member. (Mr. Lethbridge) would
move for leave to bring in a Bill to legalise the fill
tine pay.—Adjourned.