Star.
London, England, 1822-03-23 00:00:00

Resolution was then agreed. to.—.a-"The following sums were
'nen-need, viz.
For Half-pay in respect of the Forces hi Ireland - £44,765
For Allowances to reduced Officers - . 60,193
On the question for voting £114,870, for Half-pay of reduced
Foreign Officers in the English service, their Widows, and
Orphans.
Colette! DAVIES said, that an English Officer, on receiving
his half-pay, was compelled to sign a certificate, verified by affi-
davit, that he held no military situation under any foreign Power.
This. regulation was enforced by the Foreign Enlistment Bill,
Which deprived Officers of their commissions if they entered into
military service against the provisions of the Bill. But foreigners
in this respect had an advantage over Englishmen ; for there
were many instances of the former holding commissions under
this Government while they were in foreign service. There was
one case of an Officer who held an English commission, and was
at the same time a Sub-Prefect of France. The gallant Colonel
here read a letter from an English Officer in France, stating that
two foreign Officers in military service abroad had been allowed
to draw their half-pay uuder their English commissions. He
thought some regulation should be adopted to prevent this. A
certificate from the Government-under which the Officer resided
t answer the purpose. 1 11.ord PA I. M Elia'sTON said every possible attention was paid
to pri vent the practice alluded to. If the gallant Officer would
give Wm the names of the two individuals, he would inquire
into the circumstance, and, should the statement prove correct,
ahoy wank! rt.ctiv.: the puni:htnent which they certainly merited.
Similar instances had been mentioned to him, but, on inquiry,'
he had always found that the Officers alluded to had not drawn
their half-pay. The German Legion were paid under an Act of
Parliament passed to recompense their services, and their case,
therefore, stood on different grounds.
Sir C. LONG said, if the names of Officers in foreign service
were given, their half-pay would be stopped.
Mr. HUME wished to know why half-pay was given to the
Officers of the German Legion who held commissions in Hano-
ver, when none was given to F.nglish Officers?
Lord PA L3IERSTON said, that this took place by special
Act of Parliament. The half-pay to the Officers of the German
Legion was a reward for past services. Our own Officers could
not hold another commission and be on half-pay too, because
half-pay was not only a reward for past, but a retaining fee for
future services.
Mr. H U 3IE said, if this was the case, he hoped thou Officeisl
who entered Holy Orders, and who, of course, could not be
again called into active military service, would be required to
surrender their half.pay. They should not take a retaining feel
for services which they could never perform.
Sir C. LONG defended himself from the charge of neglect
brought against him by the lion. Member for Aberdeen, and
stated that lie had no power by the Mutiny Bill to ask individuals
coming to receive half-pay whether they were in Orders or not?
Mr. HUME repeated his argument respecting Clergymen re-
ceiving half-pay.
Mr. GOULBURN declared that it would be, in his opinion,
a most harsh and tyrannical act to ask of individuals who came
to receive half-pay, whether they were in Orders or not; and to
compel them to answer any questions that might be put to them
relative to their private circutastances.
After some observations front Lord NOSMANST, Mr. Gout.-
' can, Mr. Hume, and Lord PALMSESTON, the motion was
agreed to.
The following Resolutions were then agreed to, without any
material observation, viz. £35,675 for In-pensioners of Chelsea;
£16,247 for those of Kilmainharn Hospital; 1975,453 for Out-
pensioners of Chelsea; £214,C00 for those of Kilmainham;
£26,200 for the Royal Military Asylum ; £102,627 for Widows'
Pensions; £21,449 for those of Ireland; £179,250 for the Com-
passionate List; £36,932 for the Superannuation List; and
40,606 for that of Ireland.
A vote was then passed for 2,690 men for the Irish Veteran
Battalions ; and another for £83,176 for paying them.
The House then resumed, and the Report of the Committee
was ordered to be received on Tuesday.