Star.
London, England, 1824-03-18 00:00:00

MR. PERROTT.

Mr. HUME presented the Petition of Mr. Perrott,
late a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. He had hoped thJ
Admiralty would have noticed this application without
his being necessitated to apply to the House by Petition
to redress the grievances now complained of. The hard-
ship the Petitioner complained of was that, entering the
service early, he had been at the capture of 300 vessels,
at the cutting out of thirteen ships under a heavy fire,
and distinguished himself so much at Boulogne as to
have received tke thanks of his Commander, and finally
lost his arm in an engagement; that up to the period of
1812 he had enjoyed a pension for the loss of his arm,
but that this was taken from him on his obtaining a
Lieutenancy soon after. He stated that a Mr. Robert
Bullen had brought an action against him for £23 paid
to him to obtain for this Buller. anexemption from the im-
press service. It was now alleged by him that this money
was only borrowed by him, but the plaintiff proceeded
against him by indictment, and he was found guilty
and condemned to two years' imprisonment. In three
days after he was struck out of the list of Lieutenants
of the Navy. The Petitioner now stated that the form
of a protection alleged to be given to Bullen could be
Proved to have been filled up without his knowledge,
and represented by others, not by the Petitioner, to be,
a protection. Since the event of the trial, the verdict
had been reversed by the Court of King's Bench, and
he only thought it was proper, the action for a conspi-
racy being disproved to be well founded, the proceed-
ings of the Admiralty also should be revised,' and this
Officer restored to his rank. Admitting even the im-
proper conduct of this Officer, he should not be permit
ted to starve. His applications had been only met with an
offer to grant him the ordinary pension to seamen of'
£l4. a-year ; but this he rejected with disdain. He(Nlr.
Hume) had heard it acknowledged over and over again,
that half•pay was not to be taken away on every com-
plaint for improper conduct ; and Lord Mansfield had
decided that it was granted only irk consideration of past
services. It was true he bad been twice tried by a Court
Martial, and honourably acquitted. On a third Court
Martial he was dismissed, but subsequently restored in,
consequence of his long services and his wound. He
trusted that Government woad not act any longer with
that extreme severity towards the Petitioner, which alp;
peared now to be founded on a charge finally disproved.
The fact was that he was now reduced so low as to be in
want of a dinner, and in extreme wretchedness for many
years past. The Petitioner had appealed to the know-
ledge of several honourable Officers in the Navy as.to
his gallantry and geniral good character, and threw
himself generally on the humane consideration of the
House to grant him such relief and redress as it should
consider expedient.

Sir G. COCKBURN said he regretted that from what
had fallen from the Honourable Member, it had been
rendered necessary for him to detail at length circum-
stances in this case which he would gladly have passed
over. A more monstrous case he never knew. This
person had informed a poor and unfortunate woman,
whose husband was at sea, that it was in his power to
obtain a protection from the Admiralty against the im-
press service. She,, most anxious to save her husband,
entered into a negociation to procure one for her hus-
band; this poor woman gave him money to procure this
protection until she had no more to gtve, and at length
was obliged to borrow; he still continued to importune
her until the poor woman, having a small house fur-
nished, she consented to sell the furniture—(ffear).—
Whatever had been said of the verdict, he believed that
a more correct verdict on the merits of the transaction
could not have been given, and of course the Admiralty
could not hesitate to act as it had done. The verdict
had only been reversed. in consequence of a flaw in the
indictment. The Admiralty was always most anxious
to clear any man from aspersions and restore him to the
service, more particularly if he happened to be a
wounded man. Application was made to the Records
of the Court where he was tried, but all in vain; for al-
though the verdict was reversed it was found to be alto-
gether on a point of form. Several affidavits were made
to exculpate him, which were referred to Mr. Jervis at
the Admiralty, whose humane character was but too
well known. It was then found that these persons,
though aware of the trial, and some of them actually pre-
sent at the time, had not been examined, nor did the
Counsel think it safe to examine them. By
.offering
their testimony now it was not only too late, but they
did not subject themselves to an indictment for perjury
if they forswore themselves. Though all were anxious
to disprove these charges against a British Naval Officer
it was found totally impossible. The sigma rested on
the service. The Honourable Baronet observed that it
was the custom in the service when a petty officer wiic
had a pension for wounds became a commissioned offi-
cer, he increased both his rank and emoluments, and,
of course, gave up the pension for wounds. In this re-
spect, therefore, no injustice had been done him. He
should not oppose the Petition being read, but he cer-1
tainly thought that under the circumstances it would be
better nor, for the sake of the Petitioner hjmself.
Mr. HUME observed, that by denying all that.ivas said
by the petitioner, any case might be made out against
him ; but his case depended not on his own assertions,
but on the affidavits of others. He knew not the peti-
tioner, but presented the petition at the request of Sir
Edward Perrot, the petitioner's brother.
Sir G. CLERK contended that the affidavits were all
inconsistent with each other and with the assertion of the
petitioner himself. The question for the Admiralty was
not whether there was any absence of technicality which
would operate in Westminster Hall, but whether the
evidence against Lieutenant Perrot was or was not such
as would render it impossible to allow him to remain
in the service?
Mr. CHOKER said he had no doubt that the attempt
to shield the petitioner under the respectable name .of a
Baronet was done knowing he could not defend himself
in his own character. A clearer case never came before
the House, for the forged protection for Bullen was found
in the lodgings of Lieutenant Perrot, and in his own
hard-writing.
Mr. Secretary PEEL contended that the treatment
of Lieutenant Perrot was fully warranted by his conduct
and the evidence against him,. He should therefore
oppose the reading of the petition.
Mr. 11 LIME replied, and said that he would not press
the petition, but should withdraw it if such was the
sense of the House.

After A few words from Mr. CALCRAET aud Mr.
tloscK, leave was then given, and the petition was ac-
cvidisigiy withdrawn.

L2a..

FIRST RIGIttRNT OF FOOT GUARDS.
Mr. HUME rose to make his promised Motico for,
returns of the number Of soldiers of the Guards u ho -bad
been imprisoned within a given period ; and els() Of the
amount and application of the Stock Purse of the First
Regiment of Foot Guards. He was induced to take
that step, because he believed the Honourable Officers
who denied that the stoppages from soldiers while under
confinement went to the stock purse- of the Officers'
Mess, made that statement under the influence of mis-
information. He had asked two Officers of the Guards
the nature of the purse, neither of whom could
tell him—the fact was, that that fund was managed by
the Captains and superior Officers—the poor subalterns
had nothing to do in its management. He contended,
therefore, that there-ought not to be a single account
open in any regiment in the-service to which the Secre-
tary at War should nothas'e access. He felt quite satis-
fied that it would be more consistent with the charac-
ters of the Officers and the good of the service that these
,returns should be produced.—The Honourable Gentle-;
man concluded by moving for returns of the number of
men of the Guards confined since 1816, the amount of
stoppages accruing therefrom, the income and expendi-
ture of the stock purse, &c. &c.
.Lord PALNIERSTON said, he would state shortly!
the nature of the Stock Purse. Ile wondered the Hon.
Gentleman, who had devoted his attentien for so many'
years to the Army Estimates, was not better informed
on the subject. Previous to the Act of 1783, the whole
of the army stood upon the same footing with respect
to the Stock Purse, as the regiments of Guards were at
present. Those acquainted with` the practice of the
army were aware that payment was issued for every
regiment.on the supposition-that its establishment was
complete.' There were, however, always some non-
effectives, and the Stock Purse was made up of the dif-
ference between the amount issued on the supposition
of the establishment being complete,
,and the amount
actually paid. In a word, the pay of the non•efFectives
seas that mysterious fund. Out of- it was paid the ex-
penses of recruiting and of hospitals. The practice was
altered by Mr. Burke's Bill in 1783 ; but the Foot
Guards were expressly excluded from that arrangement.
It was not usual to give in any details ai to how the
Stock Purse was disposed of in the Guards. However,
those expenses were defrayed from that fund, which, as
regarded the Line, were provi4ed for by separate votes
of the House. Ile -was not aware that Mr. Wyndham
ever had in contemplation to extend to the Guards the
same regulations on this point that governed the
Line. Each plan had its own advantage. It was
stated to him that the course pursued in the Guards
was the cheaper of the two, but upon that head he was
never able to satisfy himself; he was certain the
public could gain little, if anything by a change.—s
So much for the Stock Purse. It was impossible to
render it more clear by the Returns moved for. Now
with respect to the application of the pay of soldiers
confined by Court-Martial. By the Mutiny Act their
pay was forfeited during confinement, but the Act did
not direct to whom the pay was to go. In the Line it
went to the public, but in the Guards it was clearly a
,legitimate part of the Stock Purse, and was disposed of
in one of these three ways : either the Officers, exercising
that discretion which as regarded the Line was vested in
the Secretary at War, restored the man the whole or a
part of his pay, or it was left in the hands of the agent,
payable to the public when claimed ; but in no case
was it ever divided among the Officers. The very idea
must be repugnant to the feelings of a British Officer.
The sum, in fact, was so small which could fall to each
Officer, that it might be counted in shillings. To place
the thing beyond suspicion, be had not the least objec-
tion to a Return dressing the amount since 1816, and
the manner in which it had been disposed of. The
Officers also were perfectly ready that it should be cre-
dited to the public, unless when returned to the man
who had been confined. With respect to the pay of such
as were imprisoned by the civil power, the officers had
nothing to do with it. That part of the Stock Purse which
arose from non-effective men could flat be diminished.
The Honourable Gentleman asked whether non-effec-
tives were part of the establishment or not ? It was clear
that a maximum must be fixed for each establishment,
for the purpose of forming an estimate. The establish-
ment, however, could not be always complete: there
must be at all times some'non-effectioe men, unless man
could be made immortal. The Noble Lord concluded
by moving, as an amendment,
" That there should be laid upon the table a Return of the
Amount of Pay forfeited under the Mutiny Act by men in the Re-
giments of Guards who had been confined under the "sentence of a
Court-Martial from 1816 to 18124, stating also the ;tunnel in which
it had been disposed of."
Mr. BERNAL expressed himself satisfied with the
explanation of the Noble Lord. He wished to know
what_ was done with the pay of those imprisoned by the
Civil Power ?

Lord PALMERSTON said, it went to the stock purse.
General GROSVENOR said, nothing could be more
igisfactory than the explanation of the Noble
With respect to the stock purse, it had existed from time
immemorial. •

Sir H. HARDINGE said that when the subject was
mentioned upon a forme: occasion by the Hofiourable
Gentleman (Mr. Hume), lie might have been led into
harsh language upon hearing it imputod to the Officers
of the Guards that they could have been capable of put-
ting the forfeited pay of the men into their pockets.
Had the Honourable Gentleman made then the same
statements he did now, no expression of warmth should
have escaped him. The pay of a Captain of the Guards
was only 4501. a year, while that of a Lieutenant-Colo-
nel of the Line, though their rank was the same, was
30 or 401. more. The full pay of a Lieutenant was-
7s. 10J. If he wished to retire, his half pay, ranking
as a Captain in the Line, would be 7s. So that in fact a
Lieutenant in the Guards was actually serving the public
'for lOd. a day. He had no objection to afford every
paper that had any reference to the establishment.
Colonel DAWKINS said he was borne out in the
statement he made the other night by what had now
fallen from the Noble Lord (Palmerston.) He was
glad this opportunity had been afforded for contradict-
ing the statements previously made; they proceeded,
he had no doubt, from some disaffected soldier.
After a few words from Sir J. SLIELLEY and Mr.
Hume, the original motion was negatived without a di-
vision, and the amend inent agreed to.
Lord PALMERSTON moved fur a Select Committee to prc-
pare Militia Estimates.

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A

BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ST. pArßicr.

Yesterday, the Anniversary Festival of this Societi
(being the Forty-first), was celebrated at the Freern
sons' 'tavern, G: eat Queen-street.

The great hall was filled, soon after five o'clock, by
a mo,t respectable company. At half-past sir o'clock,
his Royal Highness the Duke of YORK, the President
of the Society, entered the room, accompanied by the
Duke of WELLINGTON, the Marquis of Downtime;
Lieutenant-General Sir Jolts DOYLE, and several other
supporters of the Society. Shortly aftet
.dinner was
served up, the Right' Honourable .Grottoe Cazsmo,
M.P. entered, accompanied isy the CliaNcet.toli of the
EXCHEQUER, Mr. GOULEURN, and One Or two othir
Gentlemen : Mr. CANNING, who had passed nearly rb
the principal table before he was recognized, was the'?
loudly cheered.
After the company had partaken of the dinner pre.
vided for the occasion, the healthy of his MAJESTY and
the other branches of the Royal Family, were given
with three times three, from the Chair.

The ROYAL CHAIRNIAN, in prhposing the RtNo's
health, presented his MAJEs-ry's annual donation of
lOU guineas to the Society, which made up an amount,
from the .KING'S first subscription, of between three
and I:4,00), according to the Report subsequently read
by the Treasurer. .Tlfb anthem of ‘8 Gob :arc tie
King" was then sung by Mr. Charles Taylor, 74r.
Smith, Mr. Broadhurst, Mr. Webb, and Master Smith.
The next toast was,
" The Earl of Munster {:he Duke of 'Clarence), sad the Navy
of the United Kinzdom."-,—Three times tine'.
The Duke of WELLINGTON proposed
" The health of his Itoyal Highness the Duke of York, arl
the Army of the United Kingdnin."—Thrte times three.
His Roirm. lIIGHNESS, in returning thanks, expressed
the affectionate regard which he felt for the Sister King-
dom, also the gratitude which he always lelt as
Commander-in-Chief of the Army, for the uniform dism
cipline, zeal, and valour, which had characterized the
Irish part of his MAJESTY'S troops, and which uniformly
equalled that of any other branch of the service.
The CHAIRMAN then gave,
" Success to the Benevolent Society of St. Patrick."
The children supported by the Institution were then
introduced in the usual form ; they presented the inte-
testing Spectacle of a large number of youth of both
sexes, full of apparent health .and comfort", who owed
their education and subsistence to the chatitable aid of
this Society.—A large subscription was then chllected
at the tables. '

The CHAIR N next gave
" The health of the Marquis of ilastings."—Three times three.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed
" The health of the Duke of Wellington." Drank with applau.e.
The Duke of IN ELLINGTO.Z, it, recur fling thanks, said,
that having had the honour of his name being placed
upon the list of their standing toasts, it often fell to his
lot to acknowledge this high compliment; but he never
felt so gi atified as at present, when their illustrious Pre-
sident proposed his health, under whom he had been first
sent for th, and excited to assist in the performance of
those services which had led to his name being honoured
as it was this day. lie assured them that he felt this
compliment in the highest degree—(Applause).
The CHAIRMAN next proposed
" The health of the-Lord Lieutenant of Ireland." _ _ _

The Duke of WKLI.I46TONA in returning thanks for
his Noble Relative, said that there was no more ardent
friend to the objects of this Society than Lord Wellesley.
The healths of the Civic Corporate Bodies who con-
tributed to the Society were then successively drank,
andiolloWed by a humorous song by, Mr. Taylor.'
The CHAIRMAN then proposed
,"The health, of Mr. John Smith a►►d the Irish Committee." ,
Mr. JOHM SMITH, M. P. in returning thanks, said
that the people of this country felt, he was persuaded,
a proper sympathy for the people of Ireland, who would,
he hopec4 at no. distant period pal ticipate in the bles-
sings and privileges of the British Constitution. He
could not forget what this-society owed to the bounty
and co-operation of the city of London; and no man
felt more than he did, how meritoriously applied was
that bounty in this instance. He concluded by pro.
posing the health of " Mr. Wellesley," who was an active
member of the Irish Committee.

Mr. WELLESLEY in returning thanks said, that he
could never forget the, debt of gratitude which his fa-
mily owed to Ireland. He also expressed the gratifica-
tion he felt at being in any way instrumental to the
promotion of so excellent au institution as the present.
When the health of the Marquis of Downshire was
drank,
The Noble Maticiurs returned thanks, and expressed
the gratitude which he felt at finding their chair this
day filled by so illustrious a personage as his Royal
Highness the Duke of York. .He also congratulated his
country upon the new era in legislation Which was now
dawning upt,n it, and which he had no doubt would be
matured by mutual confidence and. kindness between
the people of England and those of the Sister Kingdom.
Ile spoke in the highest terms of rite value of educating
the poor—a duty which he WAS 1)1013d to find the higher
classes of society were so actively engaged in promotinE.
The CHAIRMAN then gave •
" The health of the Hight lion. George Canning."
Mr. CONNING, in retureing thanks, said that he
wanted words to expres his feelings on this occasion,
And, indeed,• voice to utter them. Tlas was not the
first time he-had had the honour of assisting at the fes-
tivals of this society ; but, above all other occasions,
this was one which, from what he had seen and heard,
held out the most cheering and auspicious prospects for
the future—
for their Pm e silent so
omen to have
so jar) ,t: ions a Member of that Ilith-
pipp/ause). It Was no slight
trious house which had 'st, long patronized this Institu-
tion, and whose fee.ings ia ha behalf were so decidedly
evinced in the manner in which lie had ear.:-essed him-
self respecting Leland this evening. His Royal Digh-
ness was long practised in the.exe; cise of benevolene.er
and had extended hi; bounty' to the great mass of the
public chat ities of the cointry. In that general cha-
racter he had given A genet al secarity for the interest
which he felt in the promotion of this se&e:y ; but no
Irishman could mistake the decided warmth which his
Royal Highness felt, upon. hearing the tone in which
he had spoken of' the society at this festival—(Applause).
They had also two other authorities this night to cheer
them in the path of their beneolence. One of them
(Mr. .1. Smith), who presided at an Irish society in
the City of London, had expressed to them his con.
viction of the progressive value of this institution.—
Another personage (the Marquis of Dowmhire) had told
them that a new eta was breaking upon his country,
which promised the brightest advantages. It was
not alone in the shape of eleemosynary bounty, how-
ever honourable to the giver and the receiver, that
Ireland wait destined to profit by their aid; but it
was through the stream of British capital, which had
begun to set toward Irelands that great benefits were to

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