Star.
London, England, 1812-02-25 00:00:00

Ithis office, as being
. . .
s
ght
of no menher or nee.— trent of a sintenre place, but lie tont6tved that both
ors after this recommendation was made, were under the controul of that House, from whose
1114'
value of the office had increased, instead of vote proceeded the motley which carried on the one,
gto!lbg a fresh lease as it were, was granted. and supported the other. The Right Hon. Gentle-
r,...t point was, that there was something in man animadverted upon the refusing this grant on
..,,,,-- of the office, and of the source from grounds which had so long lain dormant. He was
bobibedb
do ire eni 1 ts Were derived, which rendered sorry to say, that too many Reports were offered to
ts o umen
libiPetooot to
to the public misunderstanding, I.e unnoticed on the table, but this could only be at-
'''':•oo, and obloquy. If' a principle of the kind tributed to the dexterity and designing conduct of
wraora by the Honourable Gentleman was to be Ministers. The Right Hon. Gentleman bad very
1ii......hiat0 the public expenditure, there was no improperly taken great credit to himself for submit-
where it would end, nothing could be more ting this measure to the cognitance and disposal of
or extravagant. This country enjoyed a Parliament, but he should like to know how the Right
portion of liberty and order than any other in . Hon. Gentleman could avoid it. He observed, that
Pr xtd world—but,e whenever a deformity was the Miniiter had of late carried questions with small
000.1.
i A among its virtues, it was always dwelt on, and majorities in that House ; who were to be his col-
ject of animadversion and censure. At leagues, or whether they should have a general prin.
P-01:1, subject
the vessel of the State should be light- ciple among them, upon which they should act, and
01. they should not endeavour to sink it, by put- people,
which they could hold forth to the or be a
401
1.7 fresh burdens. He knew the purity and ho- 1 cavilling and disputing Cabinet, remained for consi-
.
01111 S Right Honoutable Friend (Mr. Perceval) ! detation at another time. There could be no doubt
whe could not help deeply regretting that he did i hut that the source from whence the emoluments of i
fee the danger of measures of this description, Colonel M'Mahon's office flowed was obnoxious to I
: their openness to invidious construction. In ' the people; the objection was not urged on the score
oboe the present, it was the duty of the House ; of econdmy,for if the same sum was dispersed among 1
0 0 gray those large blots which were so liable to those whose natural protectors had been destroyed in
;pinta at. He maintained that the duration of . the service of their country, he was convinced that
hoice, which had been long since doomed and the proceeding would be received with universal ac.
eitho to annihilation, should not be defended by I clamation and applause. Numerous appointments
,hoesiar arguments. He gave Ids vote most hear.; were now vacant ; one appointment in their Houie
ilk the amendment. was vacant (the Serjeant at Arms), which had been
Lod CASTLEihEAGH said, that when Portia- lately held by a distinguished Officer. Was not that !
tespassed the Resolution which had been so often a fit place for Colonel M'Mahon ? In this measure
too to, they did not mean it as a direction to the there was one thing worthy of consideration, namely, i
ineldsre Government, but as a guide to their own that it stamped the character of the reign; the me- i
• • This determination was coupled with the mory of it would not pass away, if even his Royal
• , that whenever sinecure places should be Highness should fill the Throne for a longer time
• o a countervailing fund was to be vested in than his revered Father did. On these grounds he
„ Down, to enable it to confer rewards on merit. supported the Amendment.
:.. • aunt being thus charged with the selection of Mr. SHERIDAN approved of the disposition to
ohms which were to be abolished, any interpo- abolish all unmerited places and appointments; but
; o en the part of the Minister of the Crown would he thought that too great a degree of warmth was in- ,
o usurpation of their rights. This was the case troduced in the discussion of the present subject. He '
~ the Widows' Pensions—the subject was forced acknowledged the importance of the question, when
... ate attention of the House in the vote of the looked at in the light of stamping the character of the
my Estimates—but he did not think that the wish Prince's reign. The tone of hi Hon. Friend, with
hidt had been manifested by the Hon. Gentleman respect to Colonel M,MAhon, ltd been Altered : be
hohrsaght this subject forward, of taking away had formerly stated, that if theaslace was to be con-
. imatiments of the office, and leaving the exer- tinned, none was so proper as the Hon. Officer.: It
dtheperson who filled it without remuneration,, was now said, that by this appointment the Minister
ellient with the mode of Parliamentary pro- wished to gain personal influence with the prince Re-
. . It was not right to east in this way a cen- ' gent. His own wish was, that Colonel McMahotehad
"kik Executive Government and its Minis- not taken the appointment. Why not, instead of an
He gave every credit to the motives of the Amendment, make a motion for the abolition of Use
i • i Gentleman; but under the circumstances office ? No man knew better than himself thejrttle-
- aseladatated, and giving no opinion respecting pendent spirit of Colonel McMahon. Should Phrlia-
Al= If the otha, be would vote against went be adverse to the grant, he would resign all pre-
* t. tensions to it. Had Colonel McMahon declined the
16.11111 YES explained. appointment, would not some other person in that
Gural TARLETON said, that the character case have accepted of it ?
'filth Colonel McMahon deservedly held, far good Mr. WHI'FBREAD stated, in explanation, that
sele sad Martial 'courage, rendered him worthy of the appointment of Colonel McMahon would have
lass a high rank in the Army, but be regretted more tufluence with many in the vote they would give,
bilge placed in a situation which exposed him to than that of any other person. He had expressed the
*obloquy of the House. Looking to all the ar- greatest respect for the Hon. Officer, and, in particu-
*gestalts which hadlately taken place, he could lar, pointed out an honourable and lucrative situa-
stood coming to the conclusion, that the posses- tion to which he might be appointed.
of power is an intoxicating thing—(a laugh.) Lord COCHRANE was against the grant, and
The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEVUER. declared that be felt himself not justified la voting,
that the Hon. Gentleman who had just eat with the Ministers of the Crown.
bed declared his opinion that Colonel McMahon The House became impatient for the question, and
netted with great unkindness in having this a division took place :—For the Amendment, 115 ;
obatehaferred on him : he could not see the hard- against it, 112.—Majority against Ministers, 3.
slip of the case, for the gallant Colonel was at liberty, Mr. BANKES gave notice, That on the 20th of
if he pleased, not to accept the office. He feared, March, he should bring forward a Resolution on the
-Ithat he had incutred the Hon. Gentleman's subject of the Report of the Commissioners of Fi-
• hostility, by recomMending him to the go-
nonce for 1783.
of the garrison which he then held (Loud The other orders of the day hiere then disposed cf,
Weer, Hear). The Hon. Member for York-
and the HoUse adjourned.
teed that he (the 'Chancellor of the Ex-
- ) did not see this question in a different
!file agreed with him in thinking that all the
does of the country were to arise out of this sine-
. be 'would have considered the propriety of not
Wag the opportunity of advising that it should be
b " -• ; but as he saw the subject differently, and
he theahht that greater dangers would accrue to
the State from declamation of this kind, he could not
at approve of the line of conduct which he had pus.-
* The Hon. Gentleman was generally consis-
tent in his arguments, which he followed with as cono
shalt rotes (H:ar, hear,) but he conceived, that in
thane he did not act or speak as he was accustomed.
191thte act to the Report of the Commissioners, he
did sot know whether it was to be considered as law,
sitte Parliament, during so long a period, had not
acted upon it ; but if this office had been so particu-
Leh denounced, why was it not abolished by Bill,
caber sinecures had been ? One observation was
,which was rather strange. It was said, that
'teudd have been much fairer to have granted this
11:40 to some cf his political friends ; he, however,
r'sstin, that if it was to be granted at all, it was
16_4 Inter to advise that it should be conferred on
4inson who had particular claims on the Regent.
lie Sought that it was not. .constitutional to reward
s!sites by votes of Parliament instead of grants of the
/ .''scs. He again stated his readiness to take upon
I..*elf
every responsibility for the advice which he
rett upon this subject ; and as to sinecures in
- be thought that one was not more obnoxious
' osaother.
it HOME SUMNER said a few words in ex-

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4

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I. I

e-
tee

THE EVENINU STAR.

LONDON.

kl!
r

I
4

Kr.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25.
PRICE OV STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CW)CIL
3 per C. Reduced 621-4 per Cent. 78}
S per Ct. Cons. for money 624f—Do. for acc.
5 per Ct. 934—lionds 14s. 13s. pr.—Omnium
Bich. Bills ss. 7s. pre.—Long Anns. 16 ..IGth.

The debate on the Estimates last night, gave rise
to a most impixtant division on the question of Sine-
cures. The discussion turned upon the admission of
the salary to Colonel M,Mairox, as part of the supply
for the payment of Widows' Pensions. The place
referred to had been noticed in various Parliamentary
Reports as one that should be abolished. The jet of
the argument in favour of Ministers was simply this :
that though recommended to be abolished, it never
had been abolished by Parliament—and therefore it
fell to the Minister to fill it up when vacant. The
argument has some force in it ; but of what use are
Parliamentary enquiries, if they arc never to be acted
upon ? The vote of last night holds out a strong
pledge to the country, that Parliament will do its
duty ; and we may now reasonably expect that other
Sinecures will shortly be abolished.

Since the arrival of Mr.Forrna's dispatches (torn
America, we have reason to believe that certain pro.
posals from the American Government, with a view
to induce our Cabinet to rescind or modify the Or-
ders in Council, have been taken into consideration.
The result has been, that Ministers have resolved to
adhere firmly to the principles which have hitherto
guided the British Cabinet on the question of Com-
merce with America—no actual change having taken
place in the French system. In fact, the Orders in
Council are considered as interwoven with the vital
interests, the prosperity and the independence of the
British Empire ; nor will the ,s manly attitude" as-
sumed by Mr. MADDISON have any effect whatever in
inducing our Ministers to depart from the line of con-
duct which they have adopted.

HITBREADstated, that he would be glad
.)ama whether, when the Right Hon. Gentleman
r!,ceded the appointment of his Hon. Friend
real Tarlet.m) to the aovernment of Berwick,
~:r4 actuated by the desire of rewarding his mili-
,""erakes, or by a wish of procuring his Parlia-
rulrY support? If the Right Hon.Gcnticman had
iduenced by the former motive, he was con.
Zed that be never had acted more conscientiously.
Present question was different in respect to votes
ram
4111 Wier of a simikr nature ; for it there should
!majority in favour of Col. M'Mahon, it would
rue --.44-- the consideration that he was a personal
"utile of the Prince Regent. The very worst fea-
ielaf the commencement of his Royal Highness's
)relfras, that offers of place had been made to per.
ith all parties, and these offers had been refused
on c?ntempt. A Noble Lord said, that the objec-
_lthe Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Bankes) to 1.:
atin
a,.. lathe vote was made in an unparliamentary Yesterday the Duke of Cos completed I
,tte conceived, that the declaration of war was 57th year, which was celebrated at Windsor by the
Duke of YORK, and °thee branches of the Royal Fa.
" the Prerogative of the Crown, as was aláo the
oily diains with the Qum.