Star.
London, England, 1821-05-03 00:00:00

'ful as it would be to him to hint the feelings of any
individual, yet he would•not be tempted to sacrifice
his feelings to the duty which he owed to the Public.
The House then divided, when the numbers were—

' For the Motion
Against it
Majority for going intethe Committee -

On the return of strangers to the Gallery,
Mr. HUME was on his legs eulogizing the system
lately adopted with regard to supplying the Army
with medicine. I►► consequence of this system a great
saving was gained by the Public. There was now a
difference in the prices of medicine furnished to the
Army and Navy of no less than nincteen per cent.
The question was then put for the House going
into a Committee of Supply.
Mr. HUME again rose, and made a series of ob-
servations on the system- of superannuation grants to
the Army. He referred to the sixth Report of the
Finance Committee of 1817, wherein, though that
Committee declined to interfere with vested rights of
long standing, yet they strongly recommended the
House "to reverse and curtail these grants." He
thought these grants ought to be referred to a Com-
mittee, to inquire into them, before the House went
into a Committee of Supply. He complained that
there was the most unjust partiality in giving away
these superannuations. In the Estimate which be
held in his hand there were Clerks who had pensions
of six and 'seven hundred a-year, whilst General Offi-
cers, Knights of the Bath, and men who had bled in
so many battles, were half starving on a few shillings
a-day. He concluded by moving, as an Amend-
ment, " That a Committee should be appointed to
examine the Superannuation List, before the House
went into a Committee of Supply."
Lord PALMF:ItSTON, in opposing the motion,
read a quotation from a Treasury circular, dated in
July, 1817, founded upon the Report of the Com-
mittee of Finance, and intended in some degree to
carry its recommendation into effect. With regard
to the comparison the Honourable Gentleman had
made between civil servants and military Officers, he
(Lord Palmerston) did not think it at all fair, nor
were the cases in any respect parallel or analogous:
" Ilellorum exuviz, truneis affila trophseis
larica, et ft seta de easside buocula pendens,
Et eurtum temone jugum, victzque trtremis
Aplustte, et sunnno tristis eaptivus in arcu,
liumanis majors bonis creduntur l"
—The situation of personeemployed for a length of
lyears merely in the situation of clerks or agents was
widely different.
Mr. BERNAL asked how did it consist with this
order that Sir Ralph Woodford, who had a superan-
nuation allowance of £7OO a-year, was suffered to be
Governor of Trinidad,where hehad a salary of 5,0001.?
Lord A. HAMILTON supported the motion ; and
thought it a reproach to the country that military
men should live on such pittances as they did, while
clerks in public offices were so amply paid.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, there
was an order to suspend the superannuated allowances,
until inquiry could be made into the situation of the
annuitants.

Mr. H. G. BENNETT supported the motion with
a view to alleviate the public burdens.
After a few words from the Marquis of LONDON-
DERRY, Colonel DAVIES, and Sir R. WILSON, the
House divided.

cient but mischievous, and could be no remedy for
the disgraceful scenes that occurred in the streets of
the Metropolis after dark. The objection to the old
system was, the greatness of the temptation and the
smallness of the pay ; and the same evils remained
under the present system. The first Police Officer
1)3.1 only a guinea a week, and no compensation for
danger cr wounds, nor any provision fur retirement
in declining years. He thought it a great defect in
the Bill, that there was no remuneration for deserving
Officers. Most of the Constables did duty in the
ni.;ltt by deputy, and many of these deputies were
little better than thieves themselves. Before blood-
money had been taken away, a person had always
been found to swear to the confession of the accused,
and which person was entitled to a share of the re-
ward. Since the reward had been done away, no
example of that nature had occurred. The greater
part of the High Constables were dealers in coals,
with which article they supplied most of the brothels
and alehouses in the Metropolis. Bill Soames was
pot fond of the other side of Temple-bar; and the
reason was, that the Officers were much more vigi-
lant, because they were much better paid. The whole
strength of the Marlborough-street Police was eight
Constables, to keep in order a population of 300,000
persons. At the Queen-square Police the number ot
Constables was the same, though the population was
only 24,000. In the months of November, January,
and February, it was unsafe to walk the streets after
dusk; and•the state of the Police was obvious, from
the rescue that had taken place of criminals as they
were in the act of being led to prison. Ills principle
was, that the Police Officers should be numerous,
and well paid, and under the controul of a Magis-
trate as independent as possible of the Crown. At
present, transportation operated as a reward, and the
prisons were seminaries of vice.
Mr. H. CLIVE observed, that the principle of the
Bill was the same as that passed in 1811. The Ma-
gistrates had been consulted, and their s►►ggestions
adopted. The Reports of several Committees had
also been acted upon. The object of the Bill was to
enable Magistrates to reward meritorious Officers,
and instead of a guinea, the pay of Officers was pro-
posed to be twenty-five shillings a week. The town
was to be divided into sixteen districts, and each to
have Patrols. It was also proposed, that the watch-
men should be put tinder the modified controul of the
nearest Police Office, and none could be appointed
above the age of forty years. To relieve the Marl-
borough-street district, the Office of Whitechapel had
been removed to Mary-la-bonae.
Mr. DENMAN said, that some of the clauses re-
minded him of the power possessed in a neighbour-
ing country. The latter part of the Bill had no con-
nection with the former, and the whole Bill was lia-
ble to many constitutional objections, and gave by
far too much power to the Magistrates. He would
recommend the introduction of a new Bill.

Mr. BATHURST complimented the Member for
Shrewsbury on the important suggestions he had
thrown out. In the Committee, the question of re
muneration to the Officers would come properly to
be considered. The Learned Gentleman who spoke
last was inclined to throw out the whole Bill, because
he disapproved of some particular parts.
Mr. BENNETT, Mr. DENMAN, and Mr. CLIVE ex-
plained.
Mr. Alderman WOOD stated, that the City Of-
ficers had about two guineas a week ; and hence
arose this superior vigilance. Of several parts of the
Bill he approved, and should vote for the Commit-
tee. The Bill was then read a second time, and or-
dered to be committed for this clay fortnight.
The other Orders were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at Half-past Eleven o'Clock to Fri-
day next.

THE EVENING STAR.