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

REVERSIONS.

The last general head is that of places granted in
Reversion ; a power which appears to have been ex•
ercised by the Crown with regard to particular depart•'
znents for a very long period, without any fixed rule
or principle which is discoverable, as guiding its dis•
cretioll in the original selection ; the-right therefore

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'rests upon usage, and the extent is limited by no
ten-law.
a But although no reason* can be assigned for a.
practice which perhaps must be referred only to acck
ern or temporary ace+ mmodation, it becomes obvi-'
-ons that it can never have obtained with regard to
efficient offices, without considerable risk of ultimately'
producing the effect of converting them, so far as
respects the principals, into sinecures, or into offices
to be executed wholly by deputy.
a.The chief objections to this method of conveying
contingent interests are, that in the first instance of
every such grant, a diminution must take placioin the
permanent prerogative, equal to the difference in
value between expectancy and possession; that the
appointment of fit and sufficient persons tohold offices,
is‘less likely to be regarded when it is to take effect at
a 'distant and uncertain period, than when a certain
notoriety attaches upon the manner in which each
vacancy is filled ; and it can hardly be disputed that
incapacity from age, sex, or natural disability, may
be disregarded, in the former case, which could not
be tolerated in the latter. It may be further urged,
that the anticipations of this sort tend to perpetuate
iinAcient places, and to render any alterations and
regulations less effectual, and more distant, which the
wisdom of Parliament may think fit to adopt with
regard to them.
a On the other hand, Reversionary Grants may be
defended as a cheap and economical mode of confer-
ring favours, of paying services by expectation, rather
than by actual office or pension ; and of enabling the
Crown to draw distinguished talents and eminent
characters into the public employ, who, without some
prospect of .permanent provision for their families,
might be unwilling to give up their time and labour,.
and above all their professional emoluments, upon
the hazard of the short and uncertain duration of two
things, so precarious in their nature, as office and lila.
a It must be admitted, that the prerogative w.ll
he abridged during the suspension of the power of
making any such rants, so far as relates to the va-
lue of the reversionary right in these particular
offices; and no farther.
a It is also contended, that grants of this sort have
neither been carried to excess, nor become chargeable
with actual abuse.
a With the view of fairly stating this part of the
case, your Committee proceed to lay before the
House the extent-and amount of all subsisting rever-
sions, some ci6 which be found to,,come dis-
tinctly within the class of these offices which they
recommend to be regulated, or suppressed; and with
regard to the remainder, they see no cause to depart
from ,theii opinion, which was =reported to; and
adopted unanimously by the House on the 24th of
March,. 1807, thinking it safer to invigorate and re-
vere to an' entire state this branch' of the prerogative,
than to allow that it should continue encumbered by
any such anticipations. The right of the Crown over
its own demesne lands was formerly as complete as
its power of conferring cffiees ; and-yet the use which
was made of that part of its prerogative occasioned
Parliamen' frequently to interpose; and particularly,
after the Crown • had been greatly impoverished, an
Act passed whereby all future grants, for any longer
term than thirty-one }Tart, were declared void.
a The misfortune is, as Mr. Justice Blackstone re-
marks, that the Act was made too 'late, after every
valuable possession of the Crown had been granted
away for ever, or else upon very long leases.
84 It must not be passed altogether without notice,
that reversionary grants have, in some instances,
been applied to perisians on the Civil List; and it is
easy to see to what an extent such a practice might
be carried, and how entirely it might exhaust the fu-
ture means of bestowing the royal bounty, even upon
the most deserving objects. Appendix Nos. 77 to 79.

44 Upon the more general question relating to the
prerogative of the Crown, as connected with, and af-
fected by, the proposed arrangements, your Commit-
tee proceed to submit their sentiments to the judge-
ment of the House, trusting that the same disposition
which has so often been manifested by Parliament, I
will never be wanting, to correct the growth of such
abuses as the lapse of time, or alterations .in the
mode of transacting business, may have impercepti-
bly introduced into any of the departnaents-of the
Executive Government. , - . , .
44 The Civil List Act in 1792, .the Acts for abo-
lishing certain offices in the years 1798,44 1807,. that
already ieferred to of the present Sesseino 43144nany
others, afford abundant examples Oitemperate and
judicious retrenchment; nor coati the beneficial ob=
jects proposed by the institution of the Committee of
Finance. in 1797
.have been atotined, nor din those'
for which your present Committee was appointed, be
expected, without interfering, in some degree,with
'the patronage and influence of the Crown.
• The subjects which are detailed in this Report,
}laic been specifically brought under consideration
by the direction of the House; in obedience to which
your Committee now present them, in the full per-
suasion that the reforms which they venture to re-
commend, may be made without detriment to the
public service, and with advantage to the public re-
venue.
No offices of an% description were originally
created for the purpose of giving lucrative appoint
ments into the disposal of the Crown. The fact is,
that duties were formerly attached to many places,
which a different manner of transacting business, or
accidental alterations, have long rendered sinecure ;
and therefore the patronage of the Crown has, in
some cases, been unintentionally increased, by trans-
ferring to new offices the business of the old ones,
without abolishing the latter, or the salaries attached
to them.

" Under the words directing g the names and de-
scriptions of the persons to be reported, by whom,
and in trust for whom, all offices, pensions, and emo-
luments, payable out of the funds applicable to the
public service are held,' your Committee conceive
that the House may be desirous to see at one view,.
which of these are possessed by their own Members ;
and the subjoined List gives the names of all those
who appear so described, upon a careful inspection
of the Returns.
LIST OF MEMBERS OF TiiitROUSX or cosoion, HOLDING
OFFICE 3, &C. AND TAMA ANNUAL VALLI&
Admiralty-I,.ords Commissioners, Viet:T*lord Sir Richard
Bicker:on, Bart. 10001. Captain William Johnstone Hope, moot
I Robert Ward, 10001. Viscount Palmerston, 10001 James Buller,
1 OWL Hon. W. W. Pole, Searetai y, 40001. object pm ilsitmesion

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of I addoewo ;Aso secreurristotamOir,
for Poor Widows, 1661.
Alienation-Office—Rtceiver.General:ftlit Hon. Gcorge Cart

ning 492 L V See No. 252.
Auditor of the Land Revenue forWalf•-•Thoinas Jedsnes, Lord
Lieutenant nf Cardiganshire, and Steward of seteral Minors and
Lordships belonging to the Crown in that county, 15051.
Lord Chamberlain 'e Office-Secretary, 1. Calvert, appointed
by the Lord Usaenberlain, 13891.
Clerk of the Parliaments--Reversion vestal in George litenrx
Rose, 32781. See No. 333.
Exchequer, Teller of-Hon. W. F. E. Eden, 27001
Governor of the Isle of Wight-Viscount Fitzharris, for life,
13791. . .
Groom of the Bedchamber to his 1:;„,_
ware Finch. - •
India Board, Officers of the receiving. salary from the East!
India Company only-Right Hon. Robert Dundas (see No. asg),
Lord Lovaine, Right Hon. Thomas Wallace. George .Tottnstone
is also a Commissioner, but receives no salary. Secretary, .Gre.
Holford, paid by the Ease-India Company.
Kings Printer-Audrew Strahan, by patent,for 30 years from
21st./anuary, 1800. No salary is =Wield to this office,.*o64lo4
paid for the work done as Printer.
Master of the Horse-Office of First Equerry, Robert Man-
ners, 7361.
Mint-Clerk of the Irons and Meltings, Right. Hon.ftenper
Perna's", 1141. See also No. 314.
Navy Office-Comptroller, Sir Thos. B. Thompson, ilfftffitl'End
a Pension of 500 L on account of wounds in service. • . - -• •
Navy Pay Office-Right Hon. G. Rose, Treasure): Ofthe-Navy
4324 L Clerk of the Parliaments 32781. and Keeper of the Records
in the Receipt of the Exchequer 4001. •
Ordnance-Clerk, Hon. Cr. Aibley Cooper, 19' 8 Store-
keeper, Mark Singleton 17991. ; Treasurer, Jos. 11, n 6251.• and
a Pension paidout of the sale of old naval stores, 50ot. ; Clerk of ,
the Deliveries, Thomas Thornton, 12431. -
Pay Office-Joint-Paymasters Right Hon. C. Long 20001.
and a Pension of 15001. suspended on holding any office exceeding
20001. • Right Hon. Lord C. Henry Somerset 20001.; Joint De-
puty Payn?aster, Lord R. Edw. H. Somerset 5001.
Ptivy Seal--Principal Clerk ,lamea Macdonald, 3581. appointed
by the Lord Privy Seal, fur life.
Popham, Sir Home Riggs, Pension, and after his death to his
Wife, 5001.
Seeretary of State, Ferries Department-Right Hon. G. Can-
ning, 60001. See also No. 196.
Secretary of State, War Department-Lord Viscount Castile-
reagh, 60001.
Under Secretary r: State--Brigadier-13eneral Honourable C.
Stewart, 20001.
Under Secretary of State, Home Department -Hon. Cecil
Cope Jenkinsou, 205E1.
I.ord Steward's Office-Treasurer of the Household, Viscount
Stopford, 12001.; Comptroller of the Household,,Lord George
'I hynne, 12001.
Treasury-Right Hon. Spencer Perceval, 16001. (see Nos. 312
and 560), and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 45251. ;
Hon. Wm. Broderick 16001. and Pension of 19.001. ot.avhich 6001.
is suspended, 6001. ; Hon. W. Elliot 16001.; W. Sturges Bourne,
16001.; Secretaries, W. Huskisson, 40901. ; and Colonial Agent
for Ceylon, 7(01. Pension of 12001. for life,suspended ; Hon. H.
Wellesley, 40001.
Vice Chamberlain to his Majesty, Right Honourable Lord John
Thynne. - _ _

>nourable• Ece.

Ditto to her Majesty—Edward Desbrow.
War Offiee--iSecretary at War, Right lion. Sir James Puke-

ney, Ban. 2stinl.
Clerk of the Supreme Court, Jamaica—Right Hon. Sir Evan
Nepean, Bart.
Secretary and Clerk of the Inrolments, Jarneiza—Hon. Chad's
William Wyndham.
Provost Marshal, Barbadoes—Thomas Carter.
Members of the. House holding Offices in Courts of Justice :
Attorney-Generals,-Sir V. Gibbs. No return of annual value.
Clerk of the Declarations, King's Bench, 1571—held in trust
forW. Lee Antonie, by grant from W. Lee, formerly Chief Clerk.
Chzeellor of the Court of Exchequer—Right Hon. Spencer
Perceval, 26051. See Nos. 314 and stio.
Clerk of the Juries, Common Pleas—Sir Thos. Turton, Bart.
961.

Master of the Rolls-Right Hon. Sir W. Giant, 44031.
Master in Chancery-J. Simeon, 21491; appointed by Lord
Chancellor, for life.
Master in Chancery-Edward Morris, 20831.
Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer-Snowden Barre, 3401. .• •
Surveyor of Green Wax-Viscount Mahon, 2.6olsund Keeper.'
or Records in Birmingham 'l'ower, N0..637. •
Judge of the Consistory Court-Right Hon. Sir Wm. Scott,
1701 ; Vicar-General and Master of tie Faculties; also Commis-
sary alsd Official of Canterbury; and Judge•of the High Court of
Admiralty, 65241.
Judge Advocate-General....Woht Hon. R. Ryder, 2:tool.; and
Joint Registrar (820) of the Censistory Court, 1801:- - • -
Chief Justice in Eyre S. of Treut,-Right Hon. Ti4rlrciiiite;"
23161. "
Chief Justice in Eyre N. of Trent,--Right Hon. J. C. Villiers,
22.50 L • . .
Judge of Great Sessions, Denbigh and Mantgomeryrstrapis
Burton, 8501.
kine• Advocate General-Sir John Nichol!. No return Ow.
,nital value. SaLu•y 20!. • •
Ring's Professor of Civil Law, Oxford, for life.-Dr. French"
Laurence, 1471.
Court.-Cbarles Moore' Joint Registrar, 3670 L
end Principal Registrar of the Faculty Office, 4401. Anointed
by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Judge of Great.Se”ions; Merioneth, Carnatlon and Anglesea,
.'Hugh Leycester, 7701.
Solicitor.Gereral-Sir Thomas Plumer; and Justice of Great
Sessions for *Merioneth, Caruarvon, and Anglesea, 7501. ; and
Kinfi Sgrjeant, Duchy of Lancaster.
3/embers of the:House holding Offices in Scotland.
Keeper of the Signet,'Right Hon. Robert Dundas, 20691. '
King') Remembrawer, Court of Exchequer, Sir P. Murray;
Bart tiool.
Presenter of Stvkatures,VOttxt of Exchelineri Sir James Mont-
gomery, 7891.
Lord Advocate, Archibald Colquhouni
Solicitor General, David Boyle, 6001.
Members of the House holding Offices, &c. in Ireland., •• -
Treasury, Right Hon. J. Foster, 31011.; Annuity for life, by
Irish Act, 40 Geo. 111. 50331; Sir G. F. Hill, 12001. • Annuity by
said Act of 22651.; and Recorder of Londonderry, 601; 1. Barry;
12001; C. Vereker, 12001.; Hon. T. H. Foster t2OOL ; Secretary
to Chancellor, J. Leslie Fester 4331. • Chief Secretary, Right
Hon Sir Arthur Wellesley, K. B. 6566 C •
Muster-Master-General, jointly with the Marquis of Drogheda,.
W. Bagwell; salary.llo7l; fees suspended, 6411. ' ,
Vicar-General, Armagh, appointed by Primate for life, Patriell
Daigenan, LLD. and Judge of the Prerogative Colin, 1081. - •
,Coaalshary Court, Dublin; Official Chancellor, Ste. Patrick
Duigeniu, L. L. D. 3491. Appointed by ArclAtiahop of Dublin,
for hie:
Kuper of Records in Birmingham Tower, lm PAteat for life:-
Viacount Mahon, 430.; and. Surveyor of Green Wax: No. 532.
Prothonotary Office; Lord Robert Beytnoor-Joint Keeper-of
the Writs, du. forlife, by Parent, 12,3111. Crown Office ;.Lord
Robert Seymonr.-Ditto' jointly with' ,Lord Henry Seymoiti;
4271.-Filarers Office: Lord Robert *eytnour-.-Ditto, 11051.
Keeper of the Signet,--Right H. C. Abbot, Speaker, 15001.
Quarter•Master-General,-Brigadier-deneral W. H. Clinton.
11507 L
Chief Remembraneer, Court of Riehequer-Hon.W. W. Pole,
jointly *lth the Marquis* Wellesley, 42011.; and Secretary to the
Admiralty. Net 412.
Taff of the Er.cheimer-Itlehard Neville, 21951.
Right Hon. George Ponsonbr, as late Lord High Chancellor,
pension of 4000 E
One of the joint Solicitors in Great Britain,-Wiliam Henry
Fremantle, 3941.

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