Star.
London, England, 1822-03-19 00:00:00

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living him a flag after this his dismission, was Ct—
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ing, and he • k success, the repeal of that shiest with the practice which' had long prevailed,
most odious tai, the Viat Tax—(Hear,and.laughter). he (Sir J. Yorke) was at a loss to lee. Either the,
Now it would be remembered that his proposition i Lords of the Admiralty were too hasty in dismissing
went no farthel. than a remission of £500,000. But i him in the first instance
.or they had done an input-
Sissliiglit Hon. Friend had just opened a plan by lice to the Public, by giving a flag to an O
iesfficer, if
which the House would be enabled not only to in. he had in fact been guilty of any delinquenc. In
demnify the Revenue for the loss of the Salt Duty -any case, the Lords of the Admiralty-were scarcely
but to raise an additional sum of £300,000 for the warranted in giving to an Officer a mark of distils&
service of the year. He trusted that the Gentlemen tion, and a degree of „promotion, which he himself
who were friends to the repeal of the Salt Tax would resigned all claim 'to by his own choice. He would
not lose sight of the auspicious circumstances which not say how.fa.r the public. el
vice h rad been
the benefi
ing
ted
now presented themselves. Before he sat down he ,by the dismon Admira Searle, and putt
would beseech the attention of the House to the-great of Colonel Stapylton, an old Colonel of the Guards,
disproportion of the duty on hops. According to the in his place. It appeared to him, that a man re-
Returns before the House, the number of acres em- cpiired to qualify for that situation rather in the cock-
ployed in the produce of hops throughout the king- pit of a man of war than the cockpit of Whitehall.—
The House had heard of an idle Secretary of Con-
dom was 50,000. The duty raised on amounted
to £240,000; so that there was a duty on the raw troul ; -perhaps it was intended to have an idle Chair.
material, the growth of our own country, at the rate man of the Victualling Board. But if it was intended
of £5 per acre. He would put it to the House if this to have a Gentleman filling an important office as
was not a monstrous burden on the hop harmer ? connected with the Navy, dressed tiot in unifoenrm,
Mr. HUSKISSON, in explanation, said that the but in a brown coat, he would at least recommend
duty which he proposed to lay on beer should be con- that the thing might be done with as little injustice
tingent on the continuance of the present price of as possible to individuals. Looking at the whole
beer. He had not the smallest doubt but that the in-, affair, he could not help pronouncing it the greatest
timation would be quite enough to induce the brewers job he had ever seen. If it was necessary to put a
to adopt the course which would render such a tax Civil Officer rather than a Naval one at the. head of
unnecessary—(Laughter). this department, there was a Gentleman under Co-
Mr. CALCRAFT." 1, on the contrary, reckon load Stapylton at the Navy Board, who had but
on the firmness of the brewers." £2OO a-year salary, and who would be therefore a
Mr. DAVENPORT expressed his approbation of fitter object for promotion. Colonel Stapylton had
the plan suggested by his Right Hon. Friend. been first Paymaster of the Navy, then a Commis-
Mr. BUXTON said that he had already stated his sioner of the Navy Board, and he was now made
opinion that it would be a monstrous thing that the Chairman of the Victualling Board. Having stated
benefit of a remission of the duty on malt,which was these facts, he wished to have an answer, whether
intended to be general, should be confined to the this case of Admiral Searle's was to be made a pre-
brewers—(f_ear, hear).—lt would be necessary, how. cedent for future occasions? and whether it was in
ever, to give the brewers a little time, as they had a tended by Government to bestow the flag upon Of-11
considerable quantity of malt on hand which had ficers who had accepted a civil office fiom choice,
paid the full duty, and it would be but fair to allow and, therefore, virtually abandoned their claim to
them the full price on the beer manufactured from that distinction ?
this malt. For himself he could only say that he Sir GEORGE COCKBURN rose to explain the
concurred so far with the Right Hon. Gentleman's reasons which actuated the Lords of the Admiralty
plan that, in case it should be necessary, be would in dismissing Admiral Searle, as well as to free -the
cordially second his proposition—(llear). -character of that officer from any imputation which
Sir J. YORKE said, that as lie had begun the con. might be cast upon him by such dismissal. In set-
versation on a former night, he hoped he would ting out he was bound to say, that there was not in
be permitted to suggest what he considered as im- tile service a more deserving officer than the gallant
portant in the plan of his Right Hon. Friend. If his Admiral in question. But he had to complain that
Right Hon. Friend should ultimately bring in. a Bill in the statement of circumstances connected with his
to the effect mentioned, lie (Sir J. Yorke) hoped that dismissal, the gallant Officer who had spoken last
it would embrace a penalty on brewers who should attempted to mislead the House by wilfully mime-
send out, under the name of porter, a beverage of presenting facts. The fact was that complaints had
inferior quality. been made as to the manner in which the subordinate
Mr. HUSKISSON said that would not undertake Clerks at the Victualling Office did their duty, and
to introduce such a clause himself; nor, if such a one he (Sir George Cockburn) together with others, found
was enacted, would he undertake to be the taster of themselves under a necessity of setting an inquiry on
the suspected liquor--(A laugh). foot. In the result it was found that there was not
Mr. CURWEN agreed in the policy of the mea- so much economy of time, a complete check on the
sire which the Right Hon. Gentleman proposed; but Clerks, which the Public had a right to expect, and
he believed that the feelings of the country were, un. under these circumstances the Lords of the Admi-
doub7edly, for leaving the Malt Duty as it was, and ralty removed Admiral Searle from the chief place
re,,ealing the ditty on Salt. in the Office. This removal, however, was not to be
General GASCOYNE approved of the measure taken as detracting from the merit of the gallant
of the Right Hon. Gentleinan, but wi-lied that the Officer in question, for as he said before, a more de-
Chancellor would give time until Friday to consider serving Officer was not in the service. It was cer-
the plan of the Right lion. Gentleman. tainly true that he had made his option of remaining
Mr. CUST objected to the delay, as likely to excite in the civil service rather than receive a flag ; and it
anxiety in the country. was no less true that that distinction had been con-
Mr. CALCRAFT, in explanation, said he was no ferred upon him a short time ago; but Government
friend to a commutation of taxes ; but he believed .sere doing but an act of justice, when they them-
that the repeal of the Salt Doty would be a far more selves thought proper to remove Admiral Searle, to
acceptable measure to the country than the present, put him in the same situation with respect to promo-
limited reduction of the Malt Duty. tion as if he had never made his election to remain
The amendments were then agreed w, and the Bill in a civil employment. The flag had been given to
was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. him with a view of sheaving to the world, that though
CONIMTILE OF 5r.:11,1.y. he had been removed from his situation, yet his cha-
On the motion that the House Liu resolve itself into ratter was unimpeached. Admiral Seal le, though
a Committee of Supply, a deserving Officer, and a man who in time of war
Mr. BERNAL said, lie thought this a proper op. could manage the affairs of' the Board well, yet,
per opportunity to correct a mistatenaent, uninten- from his naval education and habits, was unequal to
tiunally made by his Hun. Friend (Mr. Hume), re- the details necessary in a time of peace. It was from
specting the period of service of a Gentleman who a conviction of this nature that the Lords of the Ad-
had served as Comptroller of Customs at Dover, and miralty were induced to put a civil officer at the
who was now on the Superannuation List. His Ho- head of the Victualling Office, and to make a naval
nourable Friend had complained that this individual officer Vice-Chairman. With regard to what had
had been put on the Superannuation allowance, al- been said by the gallant Officer respecting his own
Clough he had served but fifteen years. The Hon. conduct at the Victualling Board, he (Sir George)
Gentleman proceeded to shew that lie had served in conceived that the avowal of his having voted against
other situations in the department for fifteen years his conscience for eight years did that gallant Officer
more, making altogether a service of thirty years.— no great credit; for he should have retired long since,
Ile had been superannuated at the age of 82 years. rather than have given his sanction to measures
Mr. HUME said, be had no recollection of the which his conscience did not approve. He would
name of the individual, but lie only founded his contend, that it was obligatory on every public man
statement on the Returns before the House, where it to follow the path which his conscience and his duty
would appear that fifteen years service only were pointed out to him, and when, by any circumstances
ascribed to this individual. he was prevented from following that path, then
ADMIRAL. SEARLE. ought he, by retiring, to discharge himself from the
Sir J. YORKE said, he had" now to call the at- responsibility which otherwise attached to him. This
tention of the House to a subject purely naval. The was the course which he himself would always follow.
case to which he alluded was that of Captain Searle, Mr. ELLICE said he had known Admiral Searle
who had been Head Commissioner of the Victualling for many years, and he never heard an imputation
Board, and was lately made Admiral of the White. thrown upon his character. His conduct at the head
It was necessary to premise, that the usage of the of the Victualling Board had been panegyi ised at a
Navy was, that a Captain, after a certain period of time when this country required the best zeal and
service, was entitled to a flag—but that if, in the in- the ablest integrity—when our fleets were in every
terim, he accepted of any civil situation, the course part of the globe—and it was a little uncandid now
of promotion was suspended in his case. In all in- to turn round upon him, when there was no longer
stances it was left to the choice of the individual the same necessity for such services. But, perhaps,
himself, either to hold the civil office or relinquish as the gallant Officer observed, the peculiar talents
it for the rank of Admiral. This Gentleman had, of Admiral Seatle fitted him to' grasp the great oc-
according to custom, been offered his choice of a flag casions which occurred in time of war, rather than
or to remain in a civil situation. Ile chose the latter., the minute details of an office in time of peace. It
It was, therefore, a matter of some surprise, that after was, be supposed, for these reasons that the Lords of
making his choice, and being dismissed that situation, the Admiralty thought proper to remove him. He
lie should be again gratified with a flag. He (Sir J. (Mr. Ellice) had called upon Admiral Searle lately,
Yorke) did not object to this arrangement, but he and he had then an opportunity of seeing the letter
wished to know whether it was intended to make this which the First Lord of the Admiralty rote to him
a precedent for future cases? It was certainly but announcing his dismissal. This letter was couched
just, that men who devoted themselves to an ar- in the kindest terms, and the Noble Lord wok occa-
duous profession, thereby giving up many 'of the Sion-to thank him for the many services he performed
comforts of life, should be duly rewarded, and he during the war. It was not true, therefore, as stated
was aware that Admiral Searle was a most merito- by a &anent Officer opposite (Sir Joseph Yorke), that
rious Officer. Indeed, the several marks of appro. Admiral Searle had any reason to complain of the
bation which he received from time to time from the manner in which the determination of the Lords of
Lords of the Admiralty, bore testimony to his worth. the Admiralty was conveyed to him. He (Mr. El-'
During the war, he received from the Treasury a lice) had seen the letter, and he could state from his
high salary, in addition to his salary as an Officer, own knowledge that it was couched in the kindest
and, besides that, there was a pension of £3OO given terms. He ants glad that this subject had been men.
to his Lady during her own life. Some time ago, tioned, as it gave him an opportunity not only of
however, he fell under the displeasure of the Lords vindicating the character of Admiral Searle, but also
of the Admiralty, and in consequence of complaints of paying a tribute to the kind conduct of the Noble
• being made of the manner in which the subordinate Lord at the head of the Admiralty.
Officers performed their ditty, lie ceased to be Chair- Sir G. COCKBURN said, there a regula-
man of the Victualling Boaid. Nowt bow far the, tion by which art Officer, on account of a certain ire-