Star.
London, England, 1810-02-16 00:00:00

FRENCH DECREE.

EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE SECRETARY OP STATE,
PALACE OF TUX THUILLIRULS, BY DECREE OF JAN. 30,1810.
" AU the English merchandize that exists in the towns and
places situated between Me Maw and tk: Scheldt is confiscated.
" The product is destined to repair the havock and piUage of
Flushing.
" All colonial merchandize is put In a state of sequestration:'
TRANSLATION OF A DECREE OF THE KING OF HOLLAND.

should be raised upon it. Is the present Instance
to agree in the motion of the Noble Earl; it was
did net I
that the parties might marry at a future period, bet lse
think that a case like the present, u wit no 'toed, wain thecae-
temptation of any one at the ilex the Standing Order was framed.
The Earl of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE thought, that a dmilar
case was in the contemplation of the Noble Mover of that Stand-
ing Order (Lord Auckland), now unfortunately net present.—
With respect to that Order he was ready to maintain his former
opinion of its policy and morality; but did not wish to give it a
retrospective operation in the present instance, and under all the
circumstances of the case was disposed to consent to the motion.
Lord GRENVILLE also agreed in the policy and morality of
the Standing Order, which he conceived to be necessary in the
present state of manners in society, in order to take away that I
temptation to the female, which arose from the hope of forming
another establishment instead of that she had quitted, and ima-
gining that she could retrieve her character by another marriage.
He was, however, disposed to agree in leaving out the clause in
this instance, where that temptation could not have operated, and
also upon the objection mentioned by his Noble Friend, of the
retrospective operation of the Order, although he was not dis-
posed to carry that principle so far as to preclude the adoption of
the clause in any other Bills of a similar nature, that might come
before the House during the Session.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY also defended the Stand-
ing order, as operating to remove the temptation to the female
of marriage with the person who had seduced her from her fide-
lity ; hut in this instance, where that temptation could not have
existed, and where it might not be advisable to ses.d dose is
Bill to the other House with a clause of this nature, when the
Standing Order was largely, if not wholly inapplicable to the
case, he was disposed to agree in leaving out the Clause.
The Motion was agreed to and the Clause struck out.
The Bill then passed through the Committee.—Report to-
morrovi.—Adjourned till to-morrow (this day).
•
HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEB. 15.
The Hon. Mr. WARD gave notice of a motion to-marrow, far
leave to bring in a bill to relieve certain classes of Naval and Mi-
litary Officers front the income tax ; and also certa n darriptions
of persons, whose annual income, from the funds, was under £lO.
He hoped to bring in the Bill before the 994 of March.
Mr. HUSKISSON moved for an account of all sums of money
advanced by the Bank of England, from the sth of January, 1798,
to the latest period, upon the security of the malt duty, land tax,
and other permanent imports. Also for some documents relative
to the present state of But- . .

Mr. MANNING gave notice, that on
again bring forward his motion on the petition for establishing a
new Marine Insurance Company.
Lord GRANVILLE LEVISON GOWER rose to defer his
motion respecting the army estimates to a future day, as he un-
derstood the estimates would not be printed ut:;il Saturday, and
consequently could not be In the hands of Members in time
endugh for consideration before the beginning of the week.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said. he had or-
dered duplicate estimates to be laid on the table, and believed
they would be before the House this evening, if not already
brought in.
The Clerk being asked if the Estimates were brought in ? an-
swered in the affirmative.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT thought, that in a matter of so much
importance, the House uught not to be pressed to a discussion,
wit bout reasuuable time to peruse and consider the necessary Do-
, cuments.
Mr. HUSKISSON said, be hoped there would be no objection
to vote the Subsistence fur the army in the Committee of Sup-
' ply on Monday ; deferring, till the Friday following, such of the
estimates as required discussion.—Agreed to.
Mr. GILES moved for an account of the number of ships and
their tonnage, which saded front the ports of Great Britain, front
the lit of October, 1606, to the !ante date in 1809; distinguish-
ing each year, and the nations to which each belonged.—Ordered.
The Annual Indemnity Bill, and the two Exchequer Bills Bills,
were rt ad in Committee, and ordered to be reported to morrow.
Mr. CALCRAFT moved, pursuant to notice, for certa'n Let-
ters front Sir Richard Strachan to Admiral Otway, on the 19th
of July last.—Ordered,
Mr. WELLESLEY POLE gave notice of a motion as fqr
Monday next, for leave to lazing in a bill le -the amendment of
the Laws for the Regulation of Prisons in Ireland,
Mr. H. THORNTON brought forward, after a few introduc-
tory observations, his motion to discharge the order to enlarge
the time for receiving rival petitions.
Lord BINNING opposed it, on the ground that ouch an en-
largement would open a door to litigation on the stfaject of tiec-
tion petitions. In the case of -Glasgow for in-tatice, he understood
there was such an intentiou if this motion passed. A petition had
been presented against the Snaps Member, but the petitioner bad
suffered the stipulated time to elapse without entering into recog-
nizance, or complying with any of the forms required of peti-
tioners within a limited number of days. If the motion of the
Honourable Gentleman was carried, the Sitting fslember would
he deprived of the advantage he was entitlted to, and again exposed
to expellee and litigation. The petitioners, who had time enough
to have brought forward ally evidence they bad to adduce, ought
not now to be allowed a renewal of the opportunity they had
forfeited by their own neglect. The motion was rejected, upon
the question being put.
Mr. GU .ES postponed his motion for the second reading of the
Bankers Draft Bill.
14AVAI, COURT MARTIAL.
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT rose to call the at-
tention of the House to a 'subject which he thought
demanded their serious consideration. He had no
other authority relative to the fact than the statement
he had seen in the public newspapers, in which it was
alledged, that a Sea Captain, in the British service,
had been lately brought to trial by a Court Martial
for a most inhuman act of wanton and deliberate bar-
barity towards a British seaman on board his own
vessel. It was stated that he had put this seaman
ashore upon a barren rock in the Western Islands
without provisions, and exposed him to perish by fa-
mine ; a circumstance which accidentally reached the
knowledge of Government through the American
Newspapers. This officer was brought to trial by
Court Martial, and on being proved guilty of Ile fact,
he was merely sentenced to be dismissed the service.
What the Honourable Baronet wished to know was,
whether the Government of the country meant to
stop here, with such a fact in proof before them, and
brought to light by the merest accident ? Or, whe-

":ruesday next be should

~'.~*:

. _..

_

--..w
. •
ma, hums BURDETT bowed to the audio- have been allowed to them. Having said thus
fr.l4
/sty' of the Chair, but `said, he did hope that on a in order to satisfy the House as to the grounds of hi,
matter so extraordinary, of so much importance to bringing these subjects under consielerati
qn, k ale ld
the liberty of the subject, the spirit of the Constitu- not trespass longer upon its time, but conclude,th
latetettoydsoenunaseativ a the AA:
don and the well-be of the Navy, be mighf be moving
indulged' in a few observations, without being re- e That there be laid before the House Copies of an Leam
strieted under the usual Order of the House. 1 L'hiebity .almnedmr.blstuett7
Clerk in the Navy OfSce, el t e -I.
bb claims for compemation, and his subsequent tesigrrAtioa ni. 6-
Here there was a call of Chair, Chair, Chair I .
The SPEAKER again rose, and said, he felt it tweeu the ist of may 1&)9, and the 16th of January inio:,si
nelle p..
his imperative duty to remind the Honourable Baro- also, Copies of all Letters which passed between the Lord, cm.
net of the established order of proceeding in that ners of the Admiralty and that person within tile M ssio
House, and he must now call upon the House for 14/4"
Mr. ROBERT WARD, observing that the Ha
their support and assistance.
l nourable Gentleman had divided the object of hir
(Chair, Chair, Char I on every side.) motion in his notice under two heads, one as rely' r
Sir. FRANCIS BURDETT begged leave just to
to the Admiralty, the other to the Barrack mu
remark, that be merely had risen to mention the mat- s, said,
that of course it could not be expected that he conid
ter for the notice of his Majesty's Ministers, in hopes
speak to the latter part. As to what had been
ram
1 they would take it up, and found on it some roceed - by the Honourable Member relative to the case g
of
I ing. It was hard to throw the onus upon his shoul-
Mr. Butt, he must be allowed to say that he mister
üb.
ders,as it was no duty that belonged peculiarly to him.
sented the %
case itself as much as be had done whathse
I However, he thought the subject so extraordinary ( Mr. Ward) had commuaicated to him on that
I and of so much importance, that he would take a
ject since has coming to the House that day. The
day or two to consider of it, and prepare a specific Honourable Member had represented him as hails
motion on the subject. :
I said that the practice he dedounced, the sale of Offites,
CHARITABLE DONATIONS. ' was not an abuse. Now, he had never said so, nor
was that his opinion. He had asked for the date of
Rations. WILBERFORCE, after some pmfatery obsetvationt,
moved for leave to bring in a Bill fOr Registering Charitable De-
Rations. Love given.--Her also moved that the Report of the the case respecting Mr. Butt, because he had never
committee appointed to consider the subject of Charitable Dons- before heard of it. lie supposed it, howzver, to
have been a case of the sale of an office. Such al
on the 10th June, pea, be reprinted. Ordered.
nausea IN NAVAL AND BARRACK CIVIL APPOINTMENTS. ' case ha knew, was an abuse; but if the practice
Mr. WARDLE rose, in pursuance of his notice on :was sanctioned by long usage, it could not justly have
a former night, to more for certain papers respecting . been considered criminal in those concerned in it—
the appointments to civil situations In the Navy i The Noble Person whose name had been mentioned
Office and Barrack Master's departments. His ob- rby the Hon. Gentleman could, he was convinced,
ject in this motion was, to shew to the H... ouse, that
have no objection to the fullest iuvestigatiou of every
many instances had occurred of abuses in the ap-
transaction which took place during his official ser.
1 vice. But before the House should sanction such an
pointments of both departments ; and if the papers
for which he should move were granted, he would I inquiry,
it was bound to see that good grounds wee
pledge himself to prove his statement. Apprehen- lai for it, What was the tact ? In 1786, a Cron.
sive, however, that the Papers would be refused, he - the

mitten was appointed to inquire into extent sal
propriety of fees. Lord Barham, who was then a
the head of the Navy Board, and the other Commix
sioners of that Board, were examined before theCce,
mitve, and fairly and openly stated that their solaria
were made up in part of gratuities and fees received a
consequence of the practice alluded to. The Rem
of the Committee declared that the practice eras a bail
one, but not that the exercise of it was an abuse ir
any of those who had been concerned in it, Tle
words of the Report were, " that the practice of re,
ceiving gratuities on the appointment of clerks was
bad, though it had been sanctioned by brig usage. 4
In ten years after, in the year 1796, the practice war
abolished, and in consequence the salary of the Comp,
troller was raised from £5OO nominally to RIR%
and an addition of 0200 given to the other Commis.
sioners. As to what had been said by the Hon. Gen-
tleman, with respect to the promotion of a juniorover
senior clerks, as he had not stated any specific case,
nor charged the practice as having been founded is
corruption or undue motives, the House, he was per-
suaded, would not think this an inquiry to be enter
tamed, to the great detriment of public business,
the mischievous embarrassment of the public offi
The Sick and Hurt Office, to which the Hon.
tleman had alluded, no longer existed. It was •
corporated with the Transport Office, and this gen •
bad given rise to arrangements highly adva.
to the public service. If the Hon. Member
the pension which had been granted to Sir W. e"
bon, on the suppression of the Board to which he h
belonged, as an instance of corruption, he must
on to charge the beneficial arrangements which
lowed the suppression of that office, u a corrupt
transaction. The pension was granted upon the same
principle as governed 'every similar case. Upon 4
these grounds, he should vote against the motion, to
far as the Navy Board was concerned.
Mr. WILBERFORCE hoped that the HonAlet.
tleman would withdraw his opposition to the 1110t1011/
because, as the question had been brought forward is
that House, it would be much mom 'reputable fa
the Noble Person alluded to, that a full and thorougi
investigation of the case should take place. As tb
friend of that Noble Lord, he wished chat the Inquit,
should proceed, and should be sorry that any pi!
ceeding.in that House should prevent the quail
from being placed in the clearest possible light.
could state of his own knowledge, that all the 4
rangements for Reform which had been adopted sal
sequent to the Report of 1786, had been introdea
at the express desire of Lord Barham. In shotte.th
Noble Person, then Sir C. Middleton at the nil
consented to remain in office only on the conditi(
that these Reforms should be carried into effect.
therefore, in justice to a Noble Person who had do
such service,i wished the opposition to the motion
be withdrawn. .
Mr. NOEL concurred with his Hon. Friend v
had just sat down : and, as the relative of the Pk
Person alluded to, was convinced that nothing co
be more satisfactory to his Noble Relative, than
the motion should be agreed to. Nothing, be
persuaded,couldplligachet
wthithe character othfathnathet N

should feel it necessary to go into the subject at some
length, in order to chew that he had not brought for.
ward his motion without sufficient grounds. A. gen-
tleman had applied to him not long since, who had
stated to him certain instances of such abuses, and
requested he would take some notice of the subject in
the House. He had assured him, that having a place
in the Naval Department, from which he was obliged
to retire, he was told by an Officer that he was en-
titled to some remuneration in consequence ; that
upon this subject he had applied to the Lords of the
Admiralty ; and stated that he was informed it was
not unusual, when Lord Barham was Comptroller of
the Navy, to sell places. Mr. Wardle said he did net
know how the practice could be considered fair or
proper, as he recollected that a prosecution had been
some time ago directed against a person for only at-
tempting to purchase a place under Government.
He did not know whether Lord Barham would vin-
dicate the practice ; but as things were circumstanced,
he conceived it highly necessary that Inquiry should
take place.; more especially when so late as the 31st
of October 1809', a specific charge was made against
a Mr. Prentice, for the sale of Clerkships in the Bar-
rack Department. This man bad been employed in
the office of General Delaney, and was implicated in
the fabrication of fictitious accounts, which had not yet
reached the public • and five or six places were stated
to have been actually sold by him ; but no inquiry on
this subject had yet taken place. He therefore stated
the facts, and trusted the House would go with him in
calling for the Papers: andhe would be content to aban-
don his charge, if he did not substantiate it from the
vouchers. In the Navy Pay Office and Admiralty, he un-
derstood that the appointments were made on a fair and
equitable footing ; but there were other offices where
the case was quite the reverse. In the Navy Office,
for instance, it uas usual to promote junior clerks
over the heads of men who were many years their se-
niors in the service. There was one instance in which
a junior clerk, who had been but eleven years in the
office, was promoted to a place of £3OO a year, over
the heads of senior clerks, who had been from twenty
seven to thirty years in the service. That fact he
should undertake to prove to the satisfaction of the
House, if the papers for which he intended to move
should be granted. Such a practice as this would,
he was convinced, appear to the House to call for a
speedy and effectual remedy. It was his opinion that
it could not be justified upon any public grounds,
and could arise from no other cause than that some
of the places were sold, and others not. ( Hear, Hear,
hear, from Um Treasury Benehm.) He would repeat
the assertion, that to him the difference in the amount
of these salaries appeared to be attributable to no other
cause; and all he asked for, were the documents, in
order to sheet that it must be so. He should not have
detained the House thus long, but with a view to
make out good grounds for calling for the documents.
There was another point to which he wished their at-
tention, concerning the superannuated list, and parti-
ci:Lady the case of a Gentleman who had been super-
annttated against his will. The officer to whose case
he alluded, had been obliged to retire on an allow-
ance of 8170 • annum, and a boy of 14 years of

..,utzi per , _ .in a higher . , pulilic _
. _.._
tiler `they meant to take any further steps upon a sub- age was then appointed to his situation, over the i est in in the whole of his ofOcial condett•
ject so disgraceful to the service, so materially inter- heads of senior clerks, and at a raised salary.—(lts i
1 Sir FRANCIS BURDETT thought tint the.
esting to the iife and security of every seaman in his what deftarement ? across the table.) In the Sick and ! amity for framing the papers was apparent no
Majesty's fleets a circumstance,-which, if so slightly Hurt Office ; and he should prove the case, if the do- ' what had fallen from the Honourable Gentian:in
passed over, might have the m st serious effects in i cuments should be granted to him. The usual mode the way (Mr. Ward). That Honourable Gentlest
the naval service. As no farther steps were taken,
of superannuating Officers was entirely done away ,
nor seemed to be intended by Government, he felt it in this instance. He wished also to bring the . allowed that the practice was an abuse in
though it might be sanctioned by long usage-
__,l
his duty, in his place as a Member of Parliament, to case of Mr. Isaac Butt, a case of much hardship,
had never understood that any usage could re 1!
call the attention of the House to the subject. He under the consideration of the House. ( What d
regard ~ 'de ? ion to an abuse ; and certainly in the case el'
. t
hoped, however, that Government would not allow was asked ) In the year 1794. With 'l3 the ' Macclesfield, though the of usage was 11,
it to pass over without taking some further steps ; for Pension List, he should shew that one Officer was ! disputed, it did not avail foleAtildefence. Wltat'
if such wanton and tyrannical occurrences were once pensioned off at his full salary of £5OO and an assis-
Hon. Friend had complained of was, that in tbe xi
suffered to obtain with impunity, 'there would be an tent appointed in his stead at a raised salary ofllooo, .
1793 or 1794, the tact he alluded to had occurr.o
end of all order and good Government in our fleets. being exactly double what the former Officer had.— •to after the practice bad been conderaned_iat
Mr. WARP said, he knew nothing mare of the ,In addition to all these cases, he had another not less . report of 1786. This case ought to be inquired ul_e,
transaction than that the Captain, to whom be sup- ' noeihy of the attention of that House to advert to—
I Mr. WARD and Sir F. BURDETT =Atm
posed the Honourable Baronet had alluded, was . namely, the creation of several new offices, with very • explained. eSi
brought to a Court Martial for the fact stated, had : unmerited salaries annexed—salaries for which no
, Mr. ROSE bore testimony to the honourabl
I
been found guilty, and sentenced by the Court Mar- • duties of correspondent value were to be performed.
and pure principles of Lord Barham, but thought I
nal to dismissal from the service. That sentence These practices took place amongst the Commissio-
had been carried into effect, and the Admiralty bad ' ners of the Navy, and the new offices were given to inquiry proposed unnecessary. the el
Mr. WARDLE replied, that it was not to ,
no power to do more. I the, Members of the Committee of these Commissio- to u
of Sir William Gibbons he had alluded, but ,
_.l.
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT thought, that 4 mere ners. One gentleman, for acting as Chairman of that
of a Secretary, of sound mind and health, .nr:,
dismissal from the service was not a punishment that i
i was allowed se2oo in addition to his for-
been removed from office with his full &star/ °,ll
could give satisfaction to the country for an act sp,i,ner salary Committee,of ,111000 ; and each of these Members had whilst a salary of Aim had been given te °Get%
atrocious. The Hon. Baronet was proceuding ; but '
fan additional £l5O. But to entitle these gentlemen
cessor. He had not misrepresented the Hon.
The as,
The SPEAKER rose to remind' him, that unless i to such augmentation of income, no additional
man (Mr. Ward). 'He had only said, t. ~,
he had some sPeciflc motion to offer, it Was contrary duties were required of them. All the business they p
to the established order of proceeding for `Members had to do was performed 'within the usual hours of
I tice was usual when acted upon by Lo,ru___..
he once
understood that it would be argued that I I!'"
to enter into discussions, when no question was before their sitting and in the Committee-room ; so that he
the, House. 1 allould contend that no additional "
, {glary eught to criminal in his case.
Mr. WELLESLEY POLE begged WI Agri

•
L
ft or.
vent
SUCII
T
fron
priq
L
eoni
OD t
L
exci
Gre
a ce:
Lon
prac
Ur
coin
in n
reig.
L
Bile
Agr
L
duri
Bill
bad
mot
DON
be'
slue
14101
rely
1.01
dal
ate
law
it 1
.
ri
tlei
ins
in
auj
jec
int
dif
thi
po
to
fiat
ob,
it
Sa
thi
ric
sni
lie