Star.
London, England, 1809-04-15 00:00:00

if he could consistently agree with the majority of
any assembly in which he happened to sit, but while
he could not do so, he would never shrink from his
duty, however painful the task of performing it. As
to official forms, which had been dwelt upon by the
Hon. Secretary, the Hon. Baronet allowed that re.
cent experience shewed that all those forms might be
strictly complied with while the grossest mal-practices
went on. After recapitulating and enforcing his argu-
ments the Hon. Baronet persisted in his intention to call
the persons to the Bar, who were most competent to
inform the House upon this transaction, which he con-
tinued to consider a job ; which, leaving the Infir-
mary entirely out of the question, ought not to be dis-
posed of in a way that would take from the beauty of
the Hospital. The Honourable Baronet approved of
the idea thrown out by his Honourable Friend, of
moving that a plan of the grounds alluded to should
be laid before the House. But he would recommend
Gentlemen to go, as he had done, to look at the
building under consideration, and their own observa-
tions would, he was confident, serve more to convince
their minds than any argument that could be offered
upon the subject.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
in explanation stated, that he did not mean to im-
pute any improper motives to the Honourable Ba-
ronet. If he had done so, he was ready to apolo-
gize to the House and to him. At the same time
the Honourable Baronet must expect the language
of irritation from him, when he characterized as
a job a transaction in which he had been concerned.
Mr. STURGES BOURNE observed, that all that
had been required for Chelsea Hospital was granted.
If thosemoreparticularlyconnected with the Hospital,
had desired the whole of this ground they would have
had it. He could conceive no motive that could have
induced them to ask less than was really wanted.—
The Treasury, he contended, had throughout strictly
performed their duty—and had expressly restrained
the lessee from building houses, or planting trees in
any situation where they might be in the slightest de-
gree inconvenient to the purposes of the Hospital.
Mr. GEORGE VANSITTAR r asked what was
the quantity of the ground ?
Mr. HUSKISSON replied, that this would appear
when the plan and the papers were before the House.
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT replied, that it con-
sisted of four acres and a quarter, of which the quar-
ter had been assigned to the Hospital, and the four
acres to Colonel Gordon.—(Hrar! Hear!)
Mr. STEWART WORTLEY observed, that the
Treasury had acted with all the precautions required
by the Act of Parliament. It was a serious thing to
bring a charge against the Treasury of having been
engaged in a scandalous job, and then to say that the
Honourable Baronet had been unacquainted with the
circumstances under which they had acted.
Mr. P.. MOORE said, that all who were interested
in Chelsea Hospital, were greatly obliged to the Ho-
nourable Baronet for having brought forward this
business. Of all the things wanted for an Infirmary,
fresh air was the most requisite, and he hoped the
building on this ground would not be permitted to
proceed until some further inquiry was made. He
also expressed his wish that the terms on which the
lease had been purchased by the Treasury from Lord
Yarborough, should be stated, because this appeared
necessary for the purpose of comparison, and would
contribute materially to the attaining of correct
views on the subject, he even thought it might be
adviscable to move for the proper documents on that
point.
The motion of Sir Francis Burdett was then put
and carried.

Mr. HUSKISSON in moving for the other papers
said, that he need not trouble the House with much
farther observation. He denied, however, that the

Infirmary would be cooped up in the manner des-
cribed by the Hon. Baronet. He stated that the sum
which had been paid to Lord Yarborough, upon the
report of the Surveyor, was 45000, but he saw no
reason for calling for the documents. He concluded
by moving for a copy of the letter of the Secretary of
Chelsea Hospital to the Treasury, soliciting a grant of
part of this ground for an Infirmary—for the letter
from Colonel Gordon for the lease—for the warrant
to the Surveyor to examine the ground—for the re.
port of the Surveyor, and other documents to shew
the course of the transaction.

Mr. PETER MOO RE remarked upon the extraor-
dinary nature of the proceeding in this case, where
£5OOO was admitted to have been given for four acres
and a quarter of land, of which the quarter only had
been assigned to the Hospital, while the four acres
were given to Colonel Gordon at £52 a-year.—
( Hear, hear ! ) This he thought a matter for seri-
ous inquiry—for, if the business was not a scanda-
lous job, it had at least been conducted in a dark
corner.

Mr. HUSKISSON's motions were then agreed to.

ADMIRAL HARVEY.

Mr. ROBERT WARD stated at the Bar, that the Admiralty
had found it necessary to issue its Warrant to take Rear Admiral
Harvey into custody, in order to stand his trial before a Court
Martial, under charges of a breach of Naval Discipline, exhibited
against him by Lord Gambier. As Admiral Harvey was a Mem-
ber of the House, it had been thought a mark of just respect to
state the circarnstance, and lay a Copy of the Warrant on the
Table.
The SPEAKER ordered the Warrant to be delivered in at the
Table.
The Clerk read the Warrant, which purported that the proper
Officer was to take Admiral Harvey into custody, and to bring
him before a Court Martial, to be held at Portsmouth, on Mon-
day, the Ist of May next, or as soon after as a Court Martial
could be assembled, to answer to Charges exhibited against him
by Lord Gambier. It also itttimated, that it was not the inten-
tion of the Admiralty that the confinement of Admiral Harvey
should extend any farther than he should give his honour to ap-
pear before the Court.