Star.
London, England, 1817-06-11 00:00:00

small ones--(l7ear.)—'Phis Bill would, fa the first
time, m-ke politics a trade; circurnstence ti.e more
to be regretted at a lime wl.en the public were not
diirsed to look with peculiar favour on otfici.l men
of whatever party. As to the argument about the
necessity of remunerating men who lett lucrative pro.-
lessions, he conceived that it would be better if such
persons remained in their profession, it gain was their
object, and if they could not be contented with the
higher honour of being called to assist the Sovereign
with advice for the benefit of the people. Much
nad been said about the services rendered to the
country by the labours of Ministers. (Hear, hear.)—
For his own part, he thought that instances might
arise when Ministers might do mach more good by
resigning than by keeping their places. But the paltry
temptations of the present bill would tend to keep
Ministers in till they had carried their pension by
length of service. Tints it was possible to imagine
(he was of course merely putting a supposed case),
that at some future time there might be serious divi-
sions in the Cabinet on some question of even vital
importance, and that some particular Minister might
be subjected to some disagreeable slight on that AC.
count ; and such a man might by thepresent bill be
induced to cling to the office which he wosild other-
wise reject. He might say, ,* Well, this is very un-
ip:easant : but let me wait a little longer, and then I
shall have a pension to console these indignities.—
Meantime, let " bear and forbear" be my maxim :
Queried nit : ngteranda *antis fortanaferende ed.
Mr. HAMMERSLEY asked whether the power
of Parliament was at an end, since it had been said
that the Crown would never have bren persuaded to
g ve up Sinecure Offices without an indemnification ?
blight not the House have enforced the abolition of
unnecessary offices ?
After a few words from Sir Roberti. HERON, the
House divided on the question that the Report be
brought up :—For the bringing up '‘''u—Against it
24—Majmity 46.
The Report was accordingly brought up.
LOAD COLCHESTER.
_ _

The Report of the Committee on Lord Colchester's
Annuity was also brought up ; the Resolutions were
agreed to, And a Bill ordered accordingly.

SUPPLIU.
Mr. BROCDEN brought up the Report of the
Committee of Supply on the Ordnance Estimates.
After some cbservations from General Fr:am-sum
and Mr. FaatirciAND Levers, who hoped that the
recommendations of the Committee of Finance would
be attended to, at the same time that he hcknow.
'edged that-the present Board of Ordnance had done
much of its own accord to rectify abuses. He wished
that in future no work should be undertaken without
the controul of the superintending Committee of Fi.
nance and a •ote of that House. Some regulation
would also be most particularly required' in that
branch called the Unprosided Service, in which large
debts had accumulated.
Mr. R. WARD said, that the Memoir furnished
by. the Board of Ordnance to the Committee of Fi.
mance was to be considered as a pledge of what were
the intentions of the Board of Ordnance. He hoped
that thisMemoirwould be laid before the House.

Lord MILTON noticed with reprobation the prac-
tice of applying the money voted by the House to
purposes for which it was not destined by Parliament.
He did not blame the present Board of Ordnance for
this, but it certainly had been done.
Mr. W. SMITH was not satisfied with the mere,
plods* of the Board of Ordnance. as to complying
with• the recommendations of the Finance Committee.
He thought the House should pass a Resolution on
the subject.
Mr. "I'REMAYNE wished to know whether it was
intended to continue the works at Plymouth ?
Mr. WARD said, that with respect to the lines at
Plymouth, it was not intended to continue them on
the scale of the original Estimates. All that was in•
tended was to join the old and the new lines by a com-
mon wall.—The Resolutions were then agreed to,
and Bills ordered accordingly.
The House adjourned at One o'clock this morning.