Star.
London, England, 1807-07-03 00:00:00

ohj 6 more *orthy of GOverntent, than an even-.
ti ),, to the general diffufion of knowledge. This Was
the foie purpdfe of the late Minifters in theik appoint-
mots. But It appeared; that thii as in died
about which the prefent Minifters were little con.
cerned.
Mr. COCHRANE JOHNSTONE contended
that the affair of the Sheriffs was a complete job.—
The Sheriff of Stirling icarcely heard ten caufes in
a twelve-month. He happened to be prefent when
Mr. Williamfon; the Sheriff of Stirling, received
Lord Spencer's letter, requefting him to refign,
Mr. Williamfon was a very relpetlable gentleman,
and fpeke the Scotch dialed in all its native purity,
When he lead the letter, he turned to him, and ex.
claimed" Gude too, Mailer Johnfione, did ye
ever fee fit a job ?"—(loud laughter.)—With regard
to Lord Cullen, he concurred in the high charader
that had been given of him, but this reverfion of
zool. 1 year was an infult to the feelings and morals
of the 'people of Scotland.
Mr. ROBERT DUNDAS never heard of any
neceffity for thefe Sheriffs. The Sheriff of Edin-
burgh did more in a week than the others in twelve
months. He agreed in the charader given of Lord
Cullen, but thought .that the feledion of one man,
out of a eery reipedtible and learned body, was a
thing that ought not to be rafhly done. He could
not perceive the great neceffity for the profefrofhips;
but thefe things would of courle come under the re•
view of the Finance Committee.
Mr. LAING defended the appointment of the
Sheriffs. The queflion was net, whether the Sheriffs
of Stirling and Fife declared that there was nothing
to do in Clackmanoan and Kinois, but whether the
people of Clackmannan and Kinrofs were (atisfied
with the Sheriffs not coming there to do any thing
for them ? He had never underfiood that Lord Cullen
was a very particular friend to the left Adminiftra-
tam, and he could not therefore fee the jellice of
Imputing the grant which he had received to party
motives. Adverting to the arguments urged by a
Learned Lord againtt the appointment of the two
new Profefforfbips at Edinburgh, he oblerved, that
fimilar arguments might have been applied with
equal force againft the appointment of Dr. Blair, as
Regius Profeffor of the &lies Lettret ; or of Dr.
Walker, as the Regina Profeffor of Natural Hillory.
Thole appointments might as well be called jobs as
the prefent ; but he confeffed he was not furprifed,
that men who had belonged to an Adminittration
the moll unfriendly to Literature that ever exifted,
and by whom genius of every defcription had been
left to pine in want—he was not furprifed that inch
men fhould condemn condu9 Co oppolite to their own.
The Marquis of TICHFIELD exprefred his belief
that the Duke of Portland was not acquainted with
the particulars of the tranfadion which was then the
fubjett of debate.
Mr. W. DUNDAS, (the Reprefentative of the'
County of Sutherland) declared that he had heard
repeated complaints from various perfons in the
county of Sutherland, that juftice could not be ob.
mined in that county. If he could call a Noble,
Lord (Reay), who had a large domain in that
county, he would prove, he was certain, from his
knowledge of that place, that a poor man in that
county mull, in ionic inflances, have travelled
diftance of 7o or 8o miles before he could obtain
juflice. If on an application from a county which
extended, from call to welt, actors to the two leas,
a diftance of 8o miles; and from north to fouth, a
diftance of so miles ; a county which contained about
60,0c0 inhabitants, Earl Spencer had that his ears.,
againit the application for ju nice, he then would have
laid it had been a job indeed.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL of SCOTLAND
declared, that the flatement of his Hon. Friend had
hot iatisfied his mind. He had not Rated how many
months the Gentleman who now filled the office re
Tided in the county. He could himfelf Rate it for a
fad, which could not be controverted, that that Gen.
tletnan refided in Edinburgh. However, he thought
that the Hoeft was not yet in poffeffion of (efficient
information on the fubjed in general ; he therefore
moved, that there be added to the words of the ori-
ginal motion, "Together with all Correfpondence and
Official Documents relative thereto." That filch an
addition fhould be made was immediately agreed to.
Mr. CROKER would be glad to find that all lite-
rary merit was liberally and fairly rewarded. But
this he witted to fee done not by fantaflical names,
but avowedly as a reward for the Learned Doctor
or the Learned Lawyer, or otherwife, as the cafe
might be.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
declared himfelf averfe to that woman's war of re-
crimination which had lately been waged; but at the
fame time he confeffed that he was furprifed to find,
that thole who made a mighty rout about the cry of
.4 No Popery," fhould in return raife a cry of 4, No
Peculation," as if they were the only perfons who
profeffed any purity of public pi inciple. He had had
his eye on that Adminiilration. he had watched them
pretty narrowly, and be found that their parity con-
lifted in ptofeflions, but not in performances; that
they wanted to obtain public favours by Palle pre-
tences ; but he would tear off the mafk. Then a
word or two as to the manner in which this matter
has been defended. Did his Honourable Friend
mean to fay that it was right that his Majefty &mild
penfion what, judge he thought fit ? Would he fay,
that it was likely to be the means of fecnring the in-
dependence of judges, if Come were to have penfions,
whilft others of the fame rank would not ? He only
dated this, in order to 'hew that other perfons betides
the Friendiof the late Adminiftration were fit to be
chofen Members of the Committee of Finance.
Mr. MARTIN was extremely happy to find that
he had the approbation of a Right Hon. Gentleman
on the other fide (be was Coppoied to have alluded
to Mr. G. Role) whole name was proverbial as-an
enemy to jobs, who knew all the arcane of the pro-
ceedings of office. That Right Hon. Gentleman
could, he was well convinced, be very ferviceable to
the country, if he was to devote his time to an en-
deavour to make out difenveries of this nature, and
if he had the fupport of • Parliament, the coqntty
would not fay that this was a woman's war. He
was not himfelf, he confeffed, nor, could he be ex-
pelted, to be fo capable of defending, again(' an accu-
Cation of this fort as thole who had (pent fourteen
years in extending the power of France. But oh
Tuefday next all thefe independent Gentlemen would
have an opportunity of trftifying their zeal for the
detedion of sibyl-es, by fupporting the motion of a

Noble Lord (Cochrane) for a Litt of tilde Membiri
who have Penfions, Places, &c. either in perfon or
by other branches of their family. The infinuations
which had been thrown cut generally, Gentlemen
might like fpargere wee: amhiguat, but he did nit
believe tkat they would be bold enough to bring any
one of them 'forward as a fpecific charge.
Mr. CANNING, in a drain of irony, lamented his ability to
rife, after the very able, recite, and formal fpeech of his Leafod
Friend (Adam) However. the neeeffity ~f the new appoint-
ments of Sheriffs, he conftffcd he did not fee to be very clearly
made out, neither was the term of Merited JUtifprodarce, Vert
accurately defined. And the matter of the penfion to Lord Cul-
len was Rill kilt fatisfadorily explained. As his Learned Friend
had not given Dim the molt ample foisfaition opoo the whole. he
mould cute in fupport of the Motion for the produdios of the
papers.

Mr. ROSE got up In great warmth, and alluded to what bed
been Paid by Mr. Martin. If the Hon. and Learned Gas.leman
(raid lie) thinks be can put me down by any fuch infinuations as
he has juR made, he will find hingelf mittaken. He lays that my
name is conneded with jots-1 de. e that Honourable and
Learned Gentleman to (hew the inttance in any part of my life in
which I was conneded with and jobs. An the rewards I have
received from the public are known to the pub/ie.—l never put
the public to the expellee of a tingle thinks that is not publicly
known. Whether I amunder or over rewarded is another que'•
don. Over rewarded I have been, I am willing to admit; bat Rill
I fay, that the public have not been put to a tingle Wiling of es-
pence on my account, politically or privately, that is not publicly
known. If I had concealed any reward that I had from the public,
I Mould think tnyfelf the molt (can dalous perfon in this country.
Mr. MARTIN laid, that he would, as long as he had the ho-
nour of a feat in that Houfe, fpeak his fentiments freely on any
public topic; and, with the permitBon of the Houle, be would (peak
as freely, though always, he crafted, in a manner becoming a gen-
tleman, of any Member of thu Houfe.
Mr. WINDHAM obferved, that, after the (train of vehemence
and irony, after the woman's war in which two of the Gentlemen
on the other fide had indulged, it was necelfary to make a few
fiber remarks. It was ken then, that there were two Counties;
the one had, and the other had not a Sheriff; the nest thing to be
deem was, had the one as good a right to be provided with fuel an
officer as the other? On that head, they had, for Matinee, the tef-
(tawny of a gentleman from Suthcrlandthire ; for initance, that
that County contained Woo° inhabitants, and extended from kat°
Ica. Would any one contend that it was not right that this Coun-
ty Ihould have a Sheriff?—Then, is to a Medical Profeffor, let us
not delude ourfelvea, by giving way tb the conceit that this office
was imaginary; as it is known, that in other countries upon the
Continent, as enlightened as our own, there was an appointment
of aradly the fame nature and defeription in every Univerfity that
was melt dittinguiatecL Then, as to the manner of the appoint-
ment t—woule. any one pretend to fay. that it had the appearance
of a corrupt motive. to grant a place to a friend, not for life, but
during pleafure ? What was that, not during their own, but during
other people's pleafore, as the friend was left at the mercy of the
ant Minifter that came into power.
Mr. HUSKISSON objected to the pennon granted to Mr. Pon
fonby,the late Lord Chancellor of Ireland. which, be kid, was not
done in the fame form as thole which had been granted to other
Chancellors on retiring from office.
Lord H. Parry ;aired the Houfe, that if there was any dif-
ference it was purely accidental.
Mr. ADAM, in reply, kid, that Lord Cullen, who was a molt
honourable man, wrote to him on the Bth of April, do', requelt-
ing him to go to the Duke of Portland, and (peak to him of hi.
pennon. He afterwards told him in converfation that he had
brought to the Duke of P.'s mind every eircumftance conneeted
with his petition. He regretted that he was under the neeeffity of
calling the attention of the Houle to this point; but the Houfe
would fee that it was an ad of juftice for him to do fo ; he did not
aceufe any one of having Paid what was wrong, bat there might be
a failure of memory in a particular inftance. But, above all
things, he was molt particularly lorry that the two legal adrift:*
of the Crown for Cut part of the kingdom (the Lord Advocate and
Solicitor General) had declared that in their judgment an office
ought to be "honied becaufe the officer did not attend and do his
duty. Did not this conk(' that they were in tome degree culpa-
ble in not having "dirtied the difmiffal of thefe officeni It appeared
by their coofelion,if correct, that the men, and tot the place, were
in the wrong. It was alto to be obferved that the Sheriff's Depute
mould be juris.perlti, as well as that they Ihould be diligent in
the performance of their duty; but he had known a (urgent. in
Kinrofs, to fill that office fur fifteen years; yet the refponfible law
officers, Inhofe duty it was to do 10. did not take any notice of this
circunaltance. There crown lawyers Ihould confider a moment
before they scatted his Majefty's late Government, of having been
over greedy in their parfait of patronage. If that bad been the
cafe, would thole very Gentlemen thentfelves have been fuffered to
remain in office during the late Adminittration I The profefforthip
then was begun, nadir in the fame manner that Dr. Blair', pro.
kilbrthip of rhe;bric was firtt begun. Each of than gave private
leaner' firlt, were molt highly approved of by the molt eminent
judges, and the profefforthip of them commenced. In this, as in
all ether cafes, Earl Spencer was a molt truly impartial friend to
literary merit. If this was termed a job, he witted to fee it fitted
to the very bran.
Mr. HUSKISSON, after briefly commenting on the error
which he Rated had occurred in the warrant granting Mr. POO.
fonby good, per annum on receiving the feats, moved, that copies
of all the Warrants granting Penfions to Chancellors in England
and Ireland, Once the year aim, be laid before the Houfe.
I.ord HOWICK Paid, that the Houk could not but be fenfible
of the qualifications"poffeffed by the Hon. Gentleman for ditcharr
big the duties of inquiry. He (Mr. Hulkiffon) was perhaps the
belt qualified of any Gentleman upon that (the Treafury) bench,
for concluding an inveitigstion into the nature of grants, that there
could not be found among the prefent Miniflers one who did not
hold tome place, or bad not in expedtance tome contingency, yet
among them all, lardy none could be found better qualified for cor-
roding all errors with refped to grants, than the Hon. Gentleman.
As to Mr. Poofonby, all who knew that diftinguithed charader,
knew that he would be incapable of holding any thing which he
could not hold with honour and with juftice, and that he would
(eons to avail Mulletf of any error or infurrnality that might have
crept into the grant; but it mutt be obvious to the public that this
was nothing more than a pretence to divert the attention of the
public from the Finance Committee—Ricer, bear!]-'from the
means to which Minitters had rcfotted to (ecure their own majo.
rity in that Committee--[Hear, hear!]—Their Median of Mr.
Sharp and Mr. Lambe, who had been the molt alive, vigilant.
and atthntive men on that Committee—too waive, too vier

lent, perhaps; for, if he remembered rightly, both thole Wised.
able men had taken a leading part in oppo6ng the memorable job
with which the Right Hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer thought
to have comnsenced his minifterial career, and which that x /In
to jobs would have carried Into effete, had it not been for the
virtue of thejatc Parliament—[Hear, hear!)—Let it be remem-
bered too, that the profeeutor of Lord Melville was excluded
front that Committee ; and, above all, let it not be forgotten,
that thr. fubititute of that Gentleman was one who had, in that
profecution, taken a widely different part. And if all that be
but a pretence, who might with more juftice be charged with mil;
leading the public t As to the infinuaticms which he was fo much
in the habit or hearing from Gentlemen oppofve, againft the late
Minifters, he had only to repeat, t►at he challenged inquiry. Let
them not innovate, but fpeak openly, and if they brought fadsfac-
tory evidence agalnft his own brother, upon that evidence Ihould
he convid him. Peculation was a charge that the molt rant, or
molt inveterate enemy of the late Mlnifters, dare not even intl.
nuate againft them. Among their many alledged crimes, peeula •
don was not to be found—they [corned its grolibefs as they ab.
horred it. It might, perhaps, Cave only to revive unpleafant re.
colledions, to attempt to apply loch lengoage to all thole con.
neded with the prefent Mini&Tentetwithftanding the ilmederifig
accsferr. He (Lord Howick) bad his fears that t►is blunder was
too thread by half in the produdion and application of his
proofs, to the Charge that Houle had preferred,- before the
firft Tribunal In the country. Sorry • was be to withers the
general (pint of attack and recrimination whoefed within that
Houle—tit was not a feafon for ft—but when one pasty was
continually throwing out dark and ambiguous hints, threet-
ening to expofe a foenething here, and to detedt a founding
there--perhaps the belt, the unit manly way to raft foch
vague attacks was by bold, refs, and dlred oppondeamtis
anfwer hints by fads, and "fen clth cries" by a &swag •gbh
immediate inquiry. He begged pardon of the Houle for trefpaf.
nog fo long at fo late an hour; be had been -hurried to *greater
length than he had intended to have gone, but it was not oafil, for
a man to keep his temper, when he beard of charges and sash-
does. aqd law what kind of men they were that preferred them.
Mr. HUSKISSON, in esplanadow, denied that k had fald any
thing in the flightett degree derogatory to the late Chaecenoe
Ponfonby, for whom he profeffed the molt unfeigned refpedt.
The motion was then anal toi..-Adjourood at /Wpm* is..