Star.
London, England, 1819-02-10 00:00:00

GRANTS TN REVERSION.

The Order of the Day being read,
Earl GROSVENOR rose to make his noticed
motion on this subject. On former occasions, he ob-
served, he had frequently addressed their Lordships
on this subject, and though some of the propositions
which he had the honour to make were negatived,
others were approved of by their Lordships. The
object of his present motion was not to destitute the
Crown of the power of granting places in reversion,
or even to suspend such power for a limited time,
but to obtain information to a certain extent respect-
ing grants in reversion. What he should move for
was, for a Return of such Places or Offices as may
be granted since the Ist of January, 1818. This
proposition be thought could net he consistently re-
sisted, as their Lordships knew there have been am-
ple returns on the subject for the preceding ten or
twelve years. There certainly may have been no
grants of the kind since the period stated ; in that
cL e it would be a blank return. However, he
the pail:city on all occasions of the kind was
productive of the most salutary effects, as then the
public would scv what grants were actually made, a
consideration which must have a great check upon
improper grants. But in the present instance he
meant to go a little farther than the case of Grar.ts
made merely by the Crown. lie thought it would
be beneficial also, to have a specification of grants
made by other persons in situations of public autho-
rity ; with a view to the eventual correction of abuses i
on the part of persons, should any he found to
exist ; and, he observed, that nothing could more dis-
gust the public than any endeavours at concealment.
It was his wish, therefore, to know what grants of
the kind had taken place within a stated interval.
Their Lordships ?nay recollect, that in the last regu-
lations which were adopted with respect to these offi-
ces, three in particular had been expressly excepted,
namely, the Clerkship of the Parliament, the Clerk-
ship of the Pleas in the Irish Court of Exchequer, and
the office of Lord Justice General of Scotland. The
N,+ble Earl then moved an Address to the Prince
R agent, praying that there might be laid before the
I!utise a return of tll offices granted in reversion by
tbeCrciern since the Ist day of January, 1818; and
secondly, for a similur return of grants made by per-
sons in other situations of public authority. The first
branch of the motion was read in the usual way from
the Woolsack. Witlerespeet to the second branch,
The LORD CHANCELLOR quitted his seat, and
observed the motion was couched in so indefinite and
informal a way, as diet no order could, with propriety,
be made upon it. The designation should be mete
specific. There were situations of the kind apper-
taining to the different Courts of Justice, as well ;is
to other particular departments of the public service,
and which should be duly specified.
Earl GROSVENOR observed, his wish was to
Lave his motion as clear as possible, and he there-
fore could have no objection to amend the latter
part of it.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL, said, the motion could
not be agreed to in its present shape ; it should be
rendered- clear and specific. Persons in other situa-
tions of public authority, were words so indefinite,
that the Officer of the House would not know upon
v.hoin he was to serve such an ruder.

Lord HOLLAND thought such an order, if at-
tended to, would produce the desired return.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL explained. He thought
such an order by no means sufficiently clear or
distinct.

Earl GROSVENOR observed, his wilt was to ob-
t.tin full information upon the subject, and he thought
it preferable to make the wording as general as pos-
Fibl; for without full iv:formation no beneficial re-
gulation could be hereafter made. To litnit their
consideration merely to such grants as were derived
from the Crown, would be far from sufficiently ex-
ten,ive. With their Lordships' leave, however, he
world withdraw the second branch of his motion, in•
order to render it more specific ar.d •di,tinct for the
consideration of the house on a future day. .
This was accordingly done ; and on the question,
the first branch of the motion was agreed to by their
Lordships.—Adjourned till to-morrow.

lIOUSE OF COMMONS. •
The House met at three o'clock, and proceeded to elect Com.
Inktees by ballot, to try the entrits of the Elections for the Bo-
ro-sghs of Fowey -Canielford, on the I'4titions which bad
been presem:il: