The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-04-29 00:00:00

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its bounty liberally as the reward of past services.---
Such bounty woeld he tieice blessed—it would. bless
those who gut's. weft; as those who received. It
was. this prindple-mehi Obit of generosity which
marked the regulation e-that led him strenuously to
oppose it. Was it not better that a very few rich
should receive what they did net want—than that •
grist many poor should be deprived of 'what was,
fairly due to them?--[!leer, heir U.—Miniature
talked of eqsalising the two services. • The tree way
of assimilating them was this—by tieing away the
hardship of which the navy complained altogether
and not by introducing the same gross injustice of
which they complained into the army.—(Hear!)—
He knew it was necessary that economy should be
pursued--but that was not true economy which corn-
promised the best interests of the country.—[llear,
hear !I—Economy was a nobler virtue. It ought to
interfere with the grants of the rich—but it might
never to contaminate itself with the mites that fell
from the table of the poor.—Lllear, hear !]
Mr. CROKER said, the pensient payable to the
widows of naval officers, Arose from a contribution,
deducted from the emoluments of all navel officers
—and, in addition to that, in time of war, there
was, in every 100 men, one who was called a widows'
man—a fictitious man—( Laughter)—whose pay
went to the sante fend. This was the fact. Though
100 men were counted, there were in fact, but 09
--the 100th, ehO was denominated the wi.low's
man, and the pay for whom went to use Widoes'
Fond, was, ill* troth, a fictitious being. Toe gilln was
so divided, that those widows who wanted it the moat:
derived the greatest benefit from the charity. lie
heard an Hon. Member echo the word " charity ;"
but as that was the term used in the Charter of
George 1., he might be allowed to use it. The Right
lion. Gentlemen then entered into a short review of
the manner in which the Widows' Fund in the navy
was apportioned, and ea pressed his opinion that an
equalization of the two services would produce very
beneficial effects. He nest adverted to the regulation
so much complained of—and observed, that, on the
death of military officers who bad married after
having retired upon half-pay, their widows flowerer@
not entitled to pensions, whilst those of the navy
were more liberally provided for. That regulation
which lately had taken effect in this respect, had
very improperly, he thought, been denominated the
equalization of the two services. He thought the
and precedent state of the service. Ile thought the
original and precedent state of the service was more
equitable, then itipiiuent ezisteot regulations. The
regulating' now proposed, proceeoing on the grounds
of economy, he hoped would amend the system, and
effect the equalization desired.
Mr. CA LCR A ET, though a Member of that Com-
mittee upon which the Noble Lord had thought fit
to impute as a charge all these reductions, contend-
ed, that neither they nor the House were answer-
able for the retrenchment, nor the way in which it
had been attempted to be effected. The regulation,
had proceeded from the Prince Regent, from whom
it was just it should of course emanate. B cer-
tainly neither he nor his friends, when pressing the
Ministers to adopt economical regulations in this or
other branches, never had uttered one syllable of
fs
the propriety of cutting off or limiting in, this pal-
try and niggardly way the pensions of the unhappy
wives of those gallant men who had so glerinaily
pedalled in the cause of their country.—(/fear,
hear, hear!)—lt would have been much mote
becoming these economists to have reduced an
ezpeesive regiment of cavalry, and appropriate
the saving to this object.—(Hear, hear, hear !)
lie should always avoid speaking of the two services
in that way which be feared was likely to produce
feelings of rivalry between these gallant and ho-
uourahle professinos.—(fleer, hear!).—They were
in their nature peeler:le distinct and dissimilar, and
had nothing in them alike hut the zeal and devo-
tion with which they had fought the battles of their
enuntry.—[lleor:]—All married officers, it was
.aid, up to the month of last December, were es.
mowed, and their widows were to be entitled as be-
fore, on their decease; but he would ask, what
should prevent officers subsequently marrying to fib.
lain similar favour at the hands of Government? Did
they not pay also for their commissions ? and should
not equal justice be done to both one class end the
other? If the Noble Lotd would withdraw the war.
rant, he would pledge himself to show him fifty ways
to make up the deficit lie who could vote 100,0001.
additional allowance to the Princes of the Royal
Family, ought to extend his kindly feelings to the
widows of those men, but for whose valotir and the
sacrifice of whose lives in the field, there would now
have been no free Senate in this metropolis di'cuss.
inn the nature of their hapless widows 6 claims--
Pear, hear!]—and of whom it might be justly
said, the bullet which took away the lives of their
gallant husbands, snatched also from them the very
property upon which they could rely for scanty
means of subsistence.—[[Considerable applause.]
Mr. WILBERFORCE endeavoured particularly
to press on the attention of Government and the
House the propriety of increasing by all moans the
bonds which drew the soldier still closer to his
country and its interests, and teach them they hail
the duties of husband and parent to perform, as well
as those more alluring duties of a professions which,
while it stimulated them,to deeds of desperate we-
lour and lofty ambition, not unfrequently seduced
them into the paths of voluptuousness and immoral
gratification.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
confessed the regulation had been adopted by him as
part of a great system of economy so strongly re.
commended by Parliament. Previous to the lettere-
gelation, Widows' Pensions had always been consi-
dered altogether eleemosynary, and not any thing in
the nature of a claim of right. If, however, it
should be, as he was induced to think it was, the
pleasure of Parliament that the restriction was knots.
sistent with the well-being of the 'Perak', he should
feel no objection to submit it as a matter of advice
to the Illustrious Personage at the head of the Go.
rernment of the country.—Pear, hear !j—But he
suggested there would be a great indelicacy in any
attempt on the part of Parliament to take out of the
hands of the Crown that which., in all former cases,
had been ceusidered its province and privilege excite,
lively.
Mr. LYTTELTON expressed his great satisfae-
lion at what he had jest heard from the Right lies.

THE S'II.ATESMAN.

of the EXCHEQUER
the mattes would come better- •frolii-lie
Crown ; and the House, he was convinced, would
feel the propriety of withdrawing the motion.
Mr. Lyrr ELTON -said, if the Right Hon. Gen.
Heinen would engage to advise the Crown to with.
draw the regulation entirely, be would withdraw his
add ress.—( Hear !
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
thought that, by whit he had said, be had engaged
himself to represent what be understood to be the
sense of the Hoe',.

J 4 .3, ~

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44.3

justice or ecessity of fresh demands of saw
such purp f hind frkas funds dectri to L_'
ible to so,taiti heir niost kelplesi s "
Is
pendams.
JI it could only by these paltry expedients to
abridge the support of the widow and the orpho
k
that the Royal grants could have best, Nod hod
they been obtained, and therefore this •wat the'son
of economy to be practised to carry into erect iis
virtuous purposes of the matrimonial bargains 144
projects that were on foot. No other retrenchment,
can be thought of, aboie the grad,,: of the widow
of the man who has perished amidst the evils that the%
men have brought upon mankind, though the so&
minished pensions given to the female betted...4i
Mr. CANNING'S family, or the 'mount of toe 4141,8
emoluments which he and many others of the uhlys.
pathizing sineemists who might bementiened,,,,joy,
taken singly, would go far to supoty the who's of
the sum thus attempted to be withdrawn from th
widows' allowance. The rebuts ion Imply adoplei
to this effect v. as last night the subject of a mOO%
by Mr. LYTTE TON, who, with other Genuses;
failed not to co ,tract, and reprobate, at 0,1
‘'elleservis, the extitiv4g.iire sad parsimony, thot*,.
strargel v blended in the I, ,rt 11 wise and Pointilpefili
en. cases of the present Adm'etistratien. Tiitmoit
was. that Minister s feel snishamed (a wondrous op
of grace) of attempting In enforce a regulation /its.
flounced by almost esety Otte as unjust in itselfssil
degrading to the service, as the propositions fellow.
moos additi-ns to greater incomes *ere monstrous
and, absurd, that they lave enticented to abandon
the design of diminishing the Widow's mite in ills
4anner proposed ; but, amidst all the allusions,.
other methods of increasing the means of the State
by retrenchment, and all the explanations given boo
the Ministerial side of the House, no intimation inn
made of any intention to reduce the Windsor Eits.
blishment, or any other of the enormous end evelen
sources of expence to the nation, which Lift their
heads with pompous and profligate splendour over
the many scenes of misery now exhibited on theism
of the country.

French Papers, and Letters from Paris, to the
26th inst. hove reached us. The promised comma.
nication to the Chamber of Deputies, relating to the
settlement of the pecuniary claims of the Allies opm
France was to be made on Saturday. We hue al.
ready stated the sum which Prussia is to receive—it
amounts to 52 millions, with interest. The (du.
ing is reported to be the sutitance of the indemal.
ties to the other Continental States, with the elm.
lion of Austria, whose c•faims ore not correctly
known, but which are understood to be
,very cow

Milliassaf
Hanover
Simla •••••., o 0000 o •••1•:•.11
Itth•ia e. .
Comet Dachy of Ileara4 l3
Bavaria
%V Weinberg • 500,000
Switzerland and Baden, noknawa.
The discussions in the Chamber of Deputies on some
items of the Budget have been very lively. In the
Sitting of the 24th (heel penditure of the War Depart-
ment was fitted at 161,000,750 francs; and a son
not exceeding 42,500,000 francs was voted fur the
Marine.—The proposed charge for the Administration
of General Police came under discussion on the now
day, when M. nE LA Boustuoismays contended that
the whole systeth of Police, as now organised is
France, ought to be abolished. 66 lam saw,*
said he, "how many prejudices I, have to encounter is
attacking a system which, since the Revolution, has
played such an important part in the political eventsthat
occurred." He desired that it should be stripped °fits
present portentous power and my aterionscharacter,sad
reduced to thesimple exercise of those functions which
are necessary to maintain order, end secure lives and
property, in a large city. The discussion was ad-
jhurned to the following day. There is nothing fur.
ther of interest respecting the affair of FUALDES.--•
The evidence in behalf of the accused had been eo•
feted upon, hut there was no Indication of a speedy
conclusion of the trial.

The Duke de fircttruru had another conference
with the Duke of WELLINGTON on Friday.
The accounts from Italy in these Journals state,
that the Princess of WALES is so sfilictecLon aceocot
of the death of her daughter, 'the Princess CH
LOTTE, that her health is visibly affected.—Freud
Funds 68i.

The dress party at Carlton-house on Monday is
described as having been particularly splendid. The
QUEEN arrived at ten o'clock ; the company began to
arrive about the same time, and continued to pent
till twelve : the QUEEN and PnincEssE4 having re-
ceived thecompliments of the whole assemblage, took
leave, and reached Buckingham.house at half-pest
twelve. As soon as her M aiesey was gone, the cote.
patty began to move, but did not all leAse till two
o'clock. Refreshments of all kinds were furuishrd
to the guests in the course of their somewhat transi-
tory
On Sunday the Prince of HESSE-HOMBURG went ea
board the Royal Sovereign yacht, at Deptford, which
is to convey him and his Psiecess to Germany. li•
appeared highly delighted with the fittings.up and
preparations. Yesterday his Serene Highness dined
with her MAJESTY, as did the Dukes of CLAGERCP
and SussEX.
The following Genttemen were yesterday called to
the (levee of Lisrrister at 145., by the lien. Swivel
of Lincoln's Inn :—J. BLATD., Esq., S. G. plcis
Eq., J. W. ,‘PUISRIEIt E 4.1 and P T.
Esq.

‘
Gentlams& lie should be sorry to infßptsie iny the
thinaSif.a harsh description, and was wilitog to with. for
.dreti,"ot,tfaiddi (this motion) in' any, miner. which ens'
would-El" 94 vilies of the. Cheated*, of the ..
, . . . ISot
fachittieer.' .. ; y •
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