Star.
London, England, 1826-03-04 00:00:00

HALT PAT OFFICIRS.

Mr. CALCRAFT presented a Petition from two
Officers of Marines whose Half-pay had been rescinded
on account, of their having taken Holy Orders. The
Honourable Member thought theirs a very hard case,
for they had taken Holy Orders without being aware
of whit had since followed. It would appear, he said,
that the regulation, which prevented Officers, who had
taken Holy Orders from receiving half-pay, had been
adopted after they had taken Q.ders, and thereby they
bad been prevented from making their choice of the
two professions. The regulation had been issued by
the Admiralty, and he felt disposed to doubt whether
it could be enforced against these two Gentlemen, for
they were in fact in the Army. Their Commissions
were signed by the King, and this was not the case in
the Navy. They bad rank in the Army and not in the
Navy, and their wives received pensions as wives of
Officers in the Army. When he had mentioned the circumstance
of the half-pay allowed to Oaken some time ago in the House, an
Honourable Member bad stated that the half-pay was not only a
remuneration for past services, but also a retaining fee for their ap-
pearance when called upon. These Gentlemen, be argued, were
not to be considered in that light, for they were on the permanent
half-pay list. They had been permitted, after a kngth of service,
to enter on the permanent half-pay list. in 1815.---Petition was laid
at the table.

Sit O.tOCKBURN was extremely sorry to oppose
the Petition, .but he could assure the Honourable
Member, the reason why the Admiralty had adopted
the regulation of not allowing Officers in Holy Orders,
te,etve their half-pay was, that they deemed it incom-
patible with the situation of anOfficer to take Holy Olders.
A Committee (for the purpose of putting the Army and
Navy on an equality with regard to certain restrictions)
bad beeq.luld, and it was decided that the regulations
relating to half-pay, adopted by the Army, should for
the futute be adopted also by the Navy. The Army
bud at that time made a regulation which prevented'
Officers on half-pay from taking Holy Orders, this,
therefore, had been adopted by the Navy.' The army
bad been induced to draw up this regulation, because
at that time commissions in the Army were looked
upon as me chandize, and the most extensive specula-
tion car. ied on in the purchase and disposal of them.—
It as nothing uncommon for a person at that time to
purchase a commission one day and sell it the neat, and Mira on
half.pay. He was sorry that the regulation bad effected any
praiseworthy individual, but be was medial the Admiralty would
not turn a ded ear to the Petitions of Persons who were reduced
by this regulation to any personal incomrealeuos. The Admiralty
had only done their duty in enforcing the regulation. He was the
last man who would throw any obstacle is the way of a deserving
Officer who had b.en injured by incorrect:anat.
Sir GEORGE CLERK said it would be unfair
to the Officels of the Navy, who were snuck off
from the service, when they entered into Holy
Orifer, if secrecy on the subject sho!.ld be a protection
to the Marines. The returns laid before the House on
the Ist of March, 1822, stated that none of the Officers
on ha.f-pay were in Holy Orders; but 19 July of the
'tree year. wh n returns were required of the number'
of Officers, their ayes, and the professions in which
they might have engaged, the very Gentlemen whose
ca e was now under consideration, stated that he, was
about to enter into Holy Orders, and to become an as-
sistant in a school. So it was clear that he had not
then beet ordained, and when he had taken Orders, in
the year 1825, he was fully awate of the condition under
which he did so. He (Sir G. Clerk) did not conceive
that there Was any provision in the Act 56 Geo. lIL
hich war ranted the inference that Officers were thereby
licensed to enter into the Church, still retaining their
!rail. pay. That Act indeed permitted Officers to engage
in certain employinents, but such only m were not inconsistent
with the resumption of their military duties, as the ecclesiastical
state evideatly was. lithe House were of opinion that there was any
individual hardship la the pretenflastance, it was but fair to grant
individual remuneration. To sods an arrangement he had no ob-
jection ; but be was decidedly spread to general regulations
founded upon the pankuLu cam. It was unfair with relation to
the Navy ; and teen in the Army, the Duke ca York considered
it quite improper that Ecclesiastics, who had previously been in the
aerate. should retain haff-pay. They were accordingly obliged
to take the earliest opportunity of selling out.
Sir C. COLE was,for taking a general rather than a
particular view of the question as it concerned Marine
Ufficers on the Half-pay Establishment; years ago,
when the Hon. Member for Liverpool desjaed to
bring in a Bill for incteasing the amount of Raltpay,
be was opposed on the ground that the Half-pay Offi-
cers were in gene:al young men, and capable of enter-
ing into any profession they pleased for the. improve-
ment of their finance% On the faith of that public inti-
!tuition a great number of Officers actually entered
Into Hai Orders, and subjected themselves to many
stsponsibilities, by cnatritnony and other engagements,
which they would certainly have avoided but for the
assurance which ,was held out to them of the continuance
of their pay. It was therefore cruel and unjust, he con-
tended, to abstract from them at this period the pittance
of VA a-year, which though trivial in positive amount, was yet of
great importance to the poor sufferer, burdened, perhaps, with the
starlit: of a large family. He thought that there were many other
matters in which the system of nelson and retnenchinent might
With elore propriety be perused. To remove an imputation from
the character of a most respectable tlerglosans aid in disabuse the
Gallant Admiral who had uttered it of a MOPE il"P".418(1% he
wished to state, than 141 r. Williams did sot rarest permissions to
retire, until be bad sustained a severe hurt in his base, whiall too-
dereihlift unlit for the service—and dint was his strie motivierar
prefeting the request.
Sly C. LONG recommended that the Half.pay in all branches of
the Service should be put on a fair footing. Olken of the army who
had taken orders were allowed to sell out their eoromialoos while
those of the navy were not.
After a few words from My CALCSATT the Petitions was re-
ceived and tiered to be printed.
Petitions were presented against Colonial Slavery, by Sir T.
Lasnaastioa, fruit the gaily of Beth and Wells; by Mr. Cva.

by.
ram., front Leamington —The Petitions were ordered to be printed.
Mr. Cuevas presented a Petition against the. Coen " Laws, and
made some observations as -to she real advantage which poor

-
farmers would derive from the repeal.
The Petition was ordered to be printed.
Lord J. RUSSELL obtained leave to bring In $ Bill for the
more easy discovery of Bribery and Corruption at Efectlowts.—
Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time as nun.

day nest.
blr. HUME presented a Prt,tition from the Magistrates and
Town Council of Culross, against say aberatioasin the present state
of Scotch Currency.—Ordered to be printed.
Sir CHA ItLES LONG obtained lest, to bring ip a Bill foe
consolidating the several Acts relating to Chelsea Nospital—
Read a first time, ordered to be printed, and read i ateani time
on Monday.
Alderman WOOD presented a Petition from an Individual
praying that the Inclo-ure Bills might be so amended asto insures
foot-path in cross roads fur the convenience of pedestrian travellers.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought the
prayer of the petition prinsofacie reamnable and proper, and that
the same convenience ought to be afforded on the cross roads as
existed on the highways.
COLONIAL STATUTES.

Mr. BROUGHA M put a question to the Secretary for tbeCelo•
Met, as to the nature of the relief afforded by the Colonial Legis-
latures to the Slave population, and as to how far that relief had
been established by Mils or Acts.
Mr. W. HORTON replied, and stated that the relief was af-
forded by Acts passed by the Local Legislatures.
Mr. BROUGHAM said, that compuhory manu-
mission, or an enlargement of the slave, when able to
purchase his freedom at the appraised value of his
services, independently of the consent of his master,
wasenot established by any legislative enactment. The
cart-whip and driving system continued; and, except
the Acts of Jamaica, nothing was done as to slave evi-
dence. There were 20 colonies, ircluding Honduras,
the Cape of Good Hope, and the conquered colonies.
.Of those, thirteen had Legislative Assemblies. It was
.said,that seven of them had adopted measures of ame-
lioration; but sinless some change had taken place
since the 22d of last November, not more than three
had passed any legislative measures as to the admissi-
bility of slave evidence, namely, Tobago, Barbadoes,
and Dominica. The' Act of the last had been passed
eight years since, and so could not be said to come
within obedience to ',the Order in Council. In Tobago
the evidence of a slave was allowed-in one case. only,
where a slave was murdered by a fide man, and where
slaves only witnessed the act. In Barbadoes, the evi-
dence of a slave could not be received, unless he pro-,
duced a certificate of his credibility from a regular
Clergyman of the Establishment • though the Order
in Council required only the certificate of any Clergy-
man, whether Protestant, Catholic, or Dissenter.—
That Act was very properly dilillowed by the Mi-
nisters of the Crown as making the slaves' coo-
-1 (titian infinitely worse than it was before. It was
said that five Colonies tolt measures to legiti-
mate the man iage of slaves; but he found that such
improvement was confined to Bahama alone, where the
right of the master was still reserved. The right of
property WAS also stated to have been secured to the
slave; but he found that it was in Trinidad and Dean-,
rare only the order in Council was promulgated ; and
in tht latter pin* its promulgation was productive of
mischief rather than good, by the omission of that
-clause which established compulsory manumission,
thereby intimating to the other Colonies that that order
was retracted by Great Britain. In Trinidad the slave
had a right of property ; but he was prohibited from
cultivating any of the staple articles of the island, and
therefore excluded from the only means of purchasing
his freedom. In five of the Colonies, it was said, that
the separat'on of families on a sale of slaves was pia
hibited. It was true tbat in either Tobago or Granada,
several partial measures of the kind were introduced.
A mother could not be separated hem her child. but
a husband and wife might be divided. The regulation.
so far- as it went, was good; but a great deal more was
necissary. They were told of modifications of punish-
ment which took place in eight Colonies; but instead
of eight, he was only. aware of one Colony, Tobago,
where a !eduction of punishment was agreed to, thirty-
nine lashes having been brought down to twenty. But
then the Act was so mixed up with other measures
which defeated its beneficial eff.cts, that it was not ad-
mitted by Mioisters. The Acts of Mitigation were
enumerated as seventy or eighty. He would, therefore move for
return of the Acts which had been passed since the 16th of May,
1823, for promoting the religious instruction of the slave—autho-
rizing their marriages and their manuntission—prohibiting their
separation by the sale of those attached to estates—restricting and
regulating the rusWitnents- inflicted by masters—distinguishing
the titles and dates of the Acts, and the places of their enacunent—
and whether they had been allowed or disallowed. He would
further move for Returns of the Papers which had arrived since
the 20th of December. These would shew how far the statements
whiels had bests made were born out by facts, and whether harm
or good had been done. Tile was important, as great misappre-
hension must have arisen from what passed on a former evening,
auto what had been done, unless much more WAS dose than that
which appeared.
• Mr. WILMOT,HORTON said. that as the Honour-
able and Learned Member bad not given him any inti-
maw' n of his intention to bring forward his motion, he
could not give a derailed answer to all the questions
which he had put to him. He had no hesitation, how-
ever, in declaring that the Colonial Office was respon-
sible for the papers which had been laid upon the table,
and to which the Hon. and Le.trned Member had ad-
vetted. With respect to Demerara, the House would
recollect, th it the question there was one of coitumacy.
The Hon. and Learned Member had spokes of the dint'•
lowanee of the Acts of the Legislatures of Tobago and the!
Bahamas. The Hon. Member had, however, been mis-
informed upon this subject. It was his (Mr. W. Nor-
ton's) intention, shortly to submit to the House a tabu-
lar statement, specifying the colonies in which the Act
had been introduced, together with the modifications
proposed by the Colonial Legislatures. He had hoped
to have had it in his power to lay this statement before
them at an earlier period, but be bad been prevented by
the illness el a Gentleman connected with the Colonial
Department, whose assistance was necessary to the pre-
paring of the vat ions documents. This Gentleman was
Mr. INephen, the Colonial Counsel. Owing to the
reductions which had lately taken place in the depart-
ment to which be (Mr. W. Horton) belonged, the
public business was likely to be frequently retarded by
a circumstance such as that to which be had alluded ;
and such was the rage 1 r economy in petty &sags,
introduced by the Hon. Member for Montrose. that he
Colonial
r.
M. Herten) thought it would be but justice towards the
e, to pass as Act to render it irresponsible foe tbio
future—(Hear, bear). The Han. Member concluded, by saying!,
that he would not forestall the information which would be com-
municated to the House to the papers to which be had alluded, awl
which be hoped very shistly tc be enabled to lay upon the takle.

DROUG H ',molten in what Wanks the Order in
' was received es law Le.
WILMOT-HORTON replied in St.iipenie and
,e Honorable Gendeinan was aware, is Deduirara.
furtniehthence it would be the law of the Cape of Good
I•Pg:anikip Tobago. In the Island of Manikin a little mote
dry WNW be required as the Consmlssionets there *add not re-
so soon.
. HU ME objected to the appointment of Mr. Stephens to
the place of Colonial Counsel, inasmuch as he considered hie father
the most determined enemy to the Colonies.
Mr. WILMOT-HORTON would make it a question
for the profession of the air to decide whether a man's
private feelings could be supposed to interfele with his
public duty. Bet independently of that consideration, he could
assure the Hesse, that Mr. Stepnen never entruatinto cinsultation
with his father upon Colonial subjects. To his integrity, ability.
and attention to proksdenal duty he (Mr. Wilmot-Horton) bore
the most unequivegalteetineony. When his father bad published a
pamphlet in which.** sailed the Oulu in Council men hub, be
vraithereby pawing a tenethe upon the work of bh son.
Mr. F. BUXTON agree 4 with Mr. W. Horton in the view
which he had taken at. MN Stephen's character. He was aware,
front a conversation .wkb Mr. Stephen. the Muter in Maury,
that be had arranged never to hold auy communication with his sou
upon Colonial alfalfa.
Mr. HUMS explained. He had no intention, he said to dis-
parage the character of Mr. Stephen.
The motion was then put and earned.
Mr. BKOUGHAM rose to give notice, that on the eOtb of
April he Wield move forking to bring in a Bin for ameliorating
the condition of the Slaves.

• •
• • . - •...
*my from the Parish Nortalogialli. .111NOt by Mr. Ass*. Mr. I!
OOP% the *eifieet isf MiWord ; Mr. BA ; w reunion, and .Connsil
'frotthe liwtteeire and Inhabitants s>t G glens ;by Mr. Pommy% Mr.
from Caton, in Laneaahke; by Sit ReXuwortsiksons,l.edbury, la 'as the •
Herefordshire ; and the inhabitants of Elavedford-strart ; by Mr. la a fur
F. linsiren, from the Parish of Gillinginint; &adwkk; in jai
Herefordshire • Dartmouth ; Chatham, &seed, and Kingsbury, dairy an
in Kent; South and West Corringbam, in Nottinghamshire; cries; it
Beckford ; the Clergy of Gkinworth and froth the fehabiteets Mr.
of Monmouth ; by Mr. BIRWAL, from Rochester; tri Mr. Gale- the ose