Star.
London, England, 1818-02-03 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY 2.

A: a quarter before four the Lose Cmaiscau.os. took Ms seat
on the lir oolsack, and after prayers were read,
Mr. Iltmax, from the Comndssioners for the Reduction of
the National Debt, presented at the liar, Accounts to the fol-
lowing effect
Account of the Monies applied by the Commissioners towards
the Reduction of the National Debt, for the year ending sth of
January, 1818.
Account of the sums paid by the same, for the purchase of
Life Annuities during the same period ; and
An account of the sums received from the Trustees of Saving
Banks, for the purchase of stock during the said period.
All which were ordered-to be laid on the table. _

Their Lordshsps then adjourned during pleasure. At five
o'clock the House resumed.

Viscount SIDMOHTII informed their Lordships, that 64
Royal piz,hrtes• the Prince Regent had been waited on with the
recent Address of the House, to which he was pleased to return
a most gracious 'answer.

orricz or CLIME OF THE PAI

The Earl GROSVENOR inquired whether it was intended
to move fur a Committee respecting the Office of Clerk of the
Parliaments ?

The li;icrf LIVERPOOL was ant aware that it
reed to mare for a Committee; bat k was iteresfely
Om awn of the gawaiea,-to.balbas it • MI fee the

:Xi—regulation of a, Office:of Clerk of the Parliaments, after
the termination of the vested interests, so as to render it an effi-
cient office. •

The Earl GROSVENOR observed, that it appeared the
Office was granted to the late Clerk of the Parliaments in rever-
sion, after the death of the person who was the successor to the
individual then actually holding the Office. He was highly de-
slmus that the Office should be regulated.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE observed, that the intc-nded

measure was similar to that which was applied to the Clerkship
of the other Haase, and that it was evident the two Noble Lords
meant the same thing, to have this once also regulated.

OFFICES IN REVERSION.

The Earl OROSVENOR then adverted, to the granting of
Offices In reversion, which he wished should be altogether abo-
lished, and expreseed his desire to move for an Account of all
Offices granted in reversion.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, if the motion only applied to
Offices granted by the Crown he had no objeculon; if to Offices
granted to other persons, he should object to it.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE could not see any necessity for
his Noble Friend pressing his motion in its present shape, not
could he understand the motive of the Noble Earl opposite in re-
jecting it, as the information asked for was in fact already before
the Hnuse. At ell events, he thought it would notbe necessary
for his Noble Friend to adhere to his large motion, and therefore
recomniendedit to him to divide it,
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, he should be very well
pleased to set a statement of all grants in reversion laid before
their Lordships, and probably should himself shape a motion
calculated to attain that object. His opinion with regard to
offices granted by the Judges, as he had already intimated, re-
mained unaltered. Many ounces formerly bestowed by the Chan.
cellar were now is the gift of the Crown.; but with regard to the
Judges in the other Courts, the power of giving those offices was
necessary, as a part of their emoluments arose front those gifts.
Were it not for this, the incomes of the Judges would be totally
inadequate to the laborious and important duties they had to per-
form. When the subject was last 'before the House, be had con-
vinced their Lordships of the utility of thi offices In the gift of

the lodges, as well 'it)! oth.As of a'similar nature ; and he had
rot doubt he should be equally successful when the question came
again before them. He had, however, no objection to an account
of all grants in reversion by thy Crown being laid before their
LOrdaitio •' and when it was produced, he should perhaps think
it" OWN to mil for an account of all landed property, held In virtue
of &Silk front the Crown, previously to the Act passed teepee-
. tang ti :se grants.
Earl GROSVENOR said, that an that had occurred since
the subject was last discussed had only tended to fortify him in
his opinion, that nothing could be more Injurious to the interests
of the, public than granting offices in reversion. In saying this he
by no means meant to suggest, that he thought the Noble and
Learned Lord, or any of the Judges, were overpaid for their
services. What he objected to was not the amount of their emo-
luments, but themode in which they were obtained. With re-
gard to the motion, the Noble Earl intir.uted his readiness to di-
vide it, and to press, for the present only, the first part relative to
grants front the Crown.
The motion, thus altered, was put and agreed to.
. ,PAPERS ON TOE STATE OF Tit! COUNTRY.

Lori SIDMUUTII said, he had now, in compliance with the
commends of the Prince Regent, to lay before their Lordships
certain papers relative to the state of the country. It was his in-
tention to have that night moved that these papers should be re-
ferred to a Secret Committee; but he was induced to postpone
the execution of that intention, as two Noble Lords (the Marquis
of
Lansdowne and Lord Holland) who wished to be prelent,
were prevented frees attending by a melancholy occurrence (the
death of the Earl of Upper Ussery.) It was understood, how-
ever, that one of these Noble Lords (the Marquis of Lansdowne)
might be expected to attend to-morrow. He would, therefore
on that day move for the appointment of a Committee. In the
mean time he moved that the Lords be summoned for to-nor-
, row. Ordered.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OP COMMONS.
There being only SS Members preen at four o'clock, there
+moo House.—Adjoirned ull tomorrow.