The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-02-20 00:00:00

era, and in the very teeth of it. the appointment had taken
place which was now the subject of the Hon. Members
motion. It was how. however, argued that the place was
essential to the public service. Full as 'much had been
said of the nerves ty of basing two junior Lay Lords of
the Admiralty, and also of the propriety of baring en
additional Postina•ter General. In fact, nothing short of
a vote of the house would have induced them ever to have
admitted that these public otficers were uenecessary. He
considered the public ought to feel itself indebted to the
honest and laudable efforts of the lion. Member 'in ex-
posing on this, as on former occasions, that which lie,
and not he alone, considered to be a pro if of the lavish
and inconsiderate expensiveness of our public offices.
. Mr. Secretary CANNING —Although he might be
content time house should go to the vote on the speech of
his Hon. Friend in reply to the motion which had barn
submitted by the Hon. Memb-r for Montrose; yet bov-
ine been on a former night called on to stare the reason
of this appointment when lie was wholly unprepared to
give any such 'replanatim ti from any intimate knowledge
of the transaction, and bating since then informed Lim
self as frilly as the materials which cause in his way, or
the short interval of time which had since transpiree,
would admit, an t having in consequence come to the
conscientious conviction that a falser point never was
made than that time office of the Lient-General of the
Graame. was unnecessary—he could not permit himself
under such circtun,tances to give a silent vote. The sub-
bect of this appointment had, on the occasion alluded to,
een brought forward with the ai i of everypessible topic
of exaggeration, and all that species of unfair colouring
which might tend to stamp it as an iniquitous and cor-
rupt transaction. It was then stated that this appoint-
ment bad taken pl:e t, not only in defiance of the recom-
mendation of the cetitiTnissioners of military inquiry, not
only i* violation of time gracious recommendation of all
possible economy in the Speech from the Throne, but that
the appointment had actually been made in favour of a
'result who was unworthy of thesituation, and through
the most unworthy motives—(Cries of No, n i ! from Mr.
Hume and the back le nclies on the Opeo iiion side, with
considerable noise through the house.) Lie could not be
mistaken in the nature of the words u hick were used on
that occasion. The words then used imputed the ap-
pointment of the influence of family connexion—to an
unworthy and corrupt motive. It was a charge levelled
against the Government of the country for tnelver.
ratio!) in office, amid against Lord Beresford as having
been othernise unworthy of the aim mrion but through
the inilu once of lii• family, which had been improperly
exercised. What else was this, bust a charge of pet-
sonal demerit on the one hand, and corruption on the
other? Was it proper or becoming in that Hon. Mem-
ber to dm characterise the conduct of a Government
which had been sincerely labouring for the public bene-
fit at the moment when the accusation was levelled at
it; or would it be fit that His M 'jetty's Government
should, for 24 hours, permit itself to lie under such min-,
chirvims and false a calumny? He felt the effects of that
foal and disgraceful calumny hail been removed by the
official statements of his lion. Friend ; and before lie sat
down he believed lie should he able to remove all foun-
dation for the motion by the recital of a few facts, Udine.
were indeed necessary. The motion of the lion. Member
referred to and was forniled on the 13th Report of the
Commissioners of Military Inquiry, and should there-
fore be considered with a constant reference to
that on which it professed to be founded; which,
it was contended had expressed an opinion that
the office of Lieutenant General of the Ordnance was
not necessary in time of War. Now be would canton:ay
that in the whole &Oft of the Commissioners there
was no such pasitage ; the only one which was at all simi-
lar to it was that whiil stated that, " from the inform e.
tion the Commissioners fiat heen enabled to obtain, as to
the &mina duties which the Lieutenant-General of the
Ordnance had to perform, they were inclined to consider
the office of Lieutenant-General was not necessary except
in cases where the Masser-General of the Ordnance should
he absent from l,ondou. or withdraw his services or assist-
ance, owing to unforese-n circumstancee, from the office.
The evidence of Lord Moira, on this subject, was princi-
pally applicable to the possibie ease of illness on the part
of the .Raster-General ; whilst Lord Chatham's evidence
went to establish that the office of Lieutenant-General was
necessary to the due perform once of the duties of the Ord-
nance Department, the office of Lieutenant-General being
essential, as the link hetneen the civil and military servi-
ces of the Department. The report proceeds to say, that
Lord Chatham's evidence seemed to proceed on the suppo-
sition that at times the Master-General might be away, or
absent; but it lead occurred to thein—<" Malt, said Mr-
Canning, the vagueness of this language, ' It occurred
to us,' which is nevertheless to be construed into the so-
lemn recorded opinion of the Commissioners.")—it had
occurred to then' that in the event of the Master-General
of the Ordn ince being confined to the fulfilment of the
whole of the duties of his office, the situation of Lieu-
tetratit General might be dill) owed with • but except this
preliminary point were arranged, it would be impossible
for the Commissioners (as they stated) to wake any
recommendation relative to the reduction of the ot-
fice of Lieutenant-General. The Report then proceeded
to recommend the reduction of two clerks in this &part-
ment—which, by the bye, had since been semi al into ex-
ecution—and then with needless care provided. after
having it mi as said abolished virtually this officer, what
should be the ditties of this defunct Lieutenant-General
—(a laugh) ant also settled the precise amount of sa-
lary which should he equivalent to his posthumous la-
bour*, which, it s ated, might be performed by him or
the senior Board Offirer.—(llear, hear! from the Oppo-
sition benches.) Did the lion. gentleman mean that this
appeared to be a concession of the necessity or propriety
of a re luction of time members of time Board of Ord-
nance? Far front it; no point would be main. d by the
hon. mover were it possible to take it in that light ; for
there was now no proposition made for a redo. tion of
the members of this Board. So, whether the business
was done by the Lieutenant General, or the senior Board
officer, it would be oily changing the name of the officer
doing the business of this department, and it here would
be the economy effected ? A considerable change in the
constitution of the whole Board hid been stated to be
requisite; but if the lion. member wished to be at all
consistent, he should, as he professed to shape his motion
with a constant reference to the 13th Report of Military
Inquiry, he should have suggested the reduction of the
Mader General, and not the Lieutenant General, of the
Ordnance ; for the Commissioners expressly say, that no
change in the office of ihe Lient. General can possibly
be recommended, unless thepreliminary point of a change
*Rh respect to the situation of Master General shall first
take place. The motion of this night could only he con•
sidereal as according e ith the recommenrittion of the
1311 m Report, if the honourable member should first
hove succeeded in persuading the house and His Majes-
ty's Ministers to melte this change iii the office of Master
General. As to the very high and-confidential circa ion,
he should incidentally observe. that it alwa) s had hither-,
to been filled by some great military person who Ithid fill-
ed the highest commands. The Report proceeds on the
pr. seiteption that the. Lieutenant-General should be e-
wers capable of supplying the place of Master-Gen. of the
Ordnance, during his abstraction Irani its defies; but
there was nothing in time Report which stated that it
would be wise or proper to snake the Master-General the
constant drudge of the office, attending to i's most mi-
nute duties. It should be recollected, that in the reign
of Queen Anne, time Duke of Marlborough, then Master
General of the Ordnance, achieved the victory of Blen-
heim; and that, in our own day, the Duke of Welling-
ton, by not being fettered and restricted to time minor de-
tails of his situation as Master General, liael been en-

. TitE STATESMAN..

Mr' ••••• •

tabled to anotain so effectively at Verona, that high and
leading part which he then to ok in the Counsels ot
B:trope. He could not then see why bon. gentlemen.
well this experience before tier eyea.should contend for
the propriety of cbtionine down so stagily tot office duties
such men as a ere of that high zhararter and . siderat ion,
which alonecewld fit them to fill so high a station. With all
his respect for modern attainment.herould not be persuad-
ed that any new light had dawned en the public mind.to en-
force the opinionof the hon. Member, that persons of this
high char titer and distinction slionld be o upletely mer-
ged in the details of suffice. If others thought differently.
at all events they road' not. with setetilanee of truth,
game the recomtnendatim of the. Report in favour of
such an opinion. Once mo•e, to vary the groand of ob-
jection taken u 3 by the holoorable Memt•er, be would
observe, that if it could by possitoiiity lie proved, that
the recommendation to this noel mafiosi of the Noble
Lore!, Bereeford. proceeded on improper or corrupt noo•
Lives, it would be a just ground for moving that an Ad.
dress, stating this fat meet otinctly, should he laid at
the fo et of the Thro ie. But was it p essible a tilt an int-
potation cool,' enter (not in o the speech of the Hoes.
Member, for there it had been (mend), bet irsto the
mind of any other man in England ?—(hear. hear!)—
Wes there the least gro end fur any such imputation in
the n oninatien 'Batted to ? It is assn lied that after the
sittnatios had heesms• vacant, there was some hesitation
an the pert of the Government in filling it no ; that this
place was not filled up for four months ; that it was not
until after a long strokes Demerit cues ieme and cor-
ruption the latter overpowered the f and the untni-
nylon took pl ice. The real fast is simply thiio, that not
fame hours hesitation ever was apiarer t as to the proprie-
ty of making this appointment. The situation became
reran, on the death .1 that gallant and esteemed officer,
General Oak's, which took place on the 91' of
September. The Noble Duke set oat for Vien-
na on the 17th. and although so all tha: he was
confined to his renm, he had during that period
an interview ni h His Majesty, sod instead
of hesitating upon the snliket a 'moment. he Miring that
Orin interview recominentled, no one petaso to this
office, bat three; for being altoit io I ace England for
some time, he was anxious to let his Majesty know his
hole micd as to the Persons eligible to fill this eidiatian.
Influenced, as it has been slid, with thane corrnpt views
and moives,he named suecessively the Earl. f Uopetoun,
Lord Hill. and lastly L red Beret:fart On h s M %leafy
expressing his acqnieseenee. heaetptainted L asel Hooetoun
with his wishes that he woul t accept the situation. And
here the house shonbl first mark what were the charges
attempted to be brought home to the Noble Duke in mak-
ing this nomination. They were, that the Duke know-
ing, first, that this offre was at inecess ry, and had been
pro:Jounced (though it never had, as he hoped lie hail
disproved) to be unfit to be continued, had, through
corrupt motives, made this appointment. How utterly
must the science and tact of &planetary hare affected with
hypoerisy and utterly changed the wanly openness and
na oral eandoar of the Noble Duke might he best, per-
haps, detected by the perusal of she letters which, passed
on th it nceaseon, both of which, by permission of the
st,bte Ea..l and his Grace, he was enabled to read
.to the liouse.—(clear, hear, hear ) The Dolce'. letter
i begae, "My dear Lord, You are aware of the vacaney
which has oceurred in the Ordnance Office by the ,'cars
of Gettesal Oakes. it will be a &treat pleasure to me if
you will pemi• me to recommit I par apeenttenent to his
aiejesty. which I am certain will be agreeetle to his
wishes. The sa'ary is 15001. a year. 'the ditties of the
°lice are congas, and onremit'ing, and during one half
the year will rcaptire your constant te.iilrlire in town."
Here forsooth was a sinecure! Wel, Lord Hopetoen
writes him in reply, that he felt obliged by his kindness.
but that he had not softie:len• health to b ear confinement
to business, and that he must decline Isis offer. If this
was a Gls• representalon whit's the Solite Mike had
made of the labosions mature of the situation, certainly
Lord Hoe etonn had a right ta rein onetriate and consider
himself Messed by being thus deterred from the accept-
sure of the aup ointment in c.onsequence of the ttp,,rel,en-
sion needlessly awak lied In his mind of its beim, on
encumbered ;with labosiona dnties. No v lie wolf I ask
the house and the country, MSS this lento treble lair FieSS
Was this cendonr, or wis this public sprit to bring for-
ward aecusationa so IbUi, its caluntieioeta against the very
first and most distinguished men in the land, merely for
the purpose of carrying a proposition of this very goes-
tiostahle nature? But so it was ; the testa it of the Re-
port of the Commissioners was violated. Sentiments
were quoted which formed no one part of that Report ;
and a Noble Lord (Lord Cha.ham) was charged
hastily, or without reflecting on cousettencea, nits
wilful perjury, in the testimony givon before those
Commissioners.—(Hear.)—[Here the Itiglit Honourable
Gentleman rea I the letter of the Duke rC Wellington.
dated Verona, written ;annelid:ly doer recetved
the. former letter of Lord Hopetoun. It beg an —" My
Dear Hill.—Yon are aware of the death of our highly
respected fiend General Oakes. It places it in my power
to nominate to the valiancy. Da let me name you to
soiceeed him. The salary is IWO/. a year, and the only
drawback on the appointment will he your being obliged
to reside for a great part of the year in town, to attend
to the duties of the office.") Thus he still went on, this
incorrigible hypocrite! always mentioning the lehorions
Wine of the duties of the office, an I the necessity of a
prolonged residence in town; as if his letters hats pros-
pectively been formed, expressly to serve a purpose this
night which it could never have been in human sagacity
to foresee., namely, an sister to the motion of this even-
ing, in affording a proof of the I thorious feature of the
place (now (mitten to I to be a sine cure) out of the mouth
of the Duke of Wellington himself! Then what was
the bootee ta think of this false, foul, deliberate, and mis-
chievous caluntay, on the best and bravest lel eel in the
land? Personal merit, public character, tried integrity,
long years of faithful service in the path of honour and
refloat'. must all be sacrified, and trampled on, awl in-
sulted, to pave the way for a motion like this. The effect
of this 'notion being carried would be. that a malignant,
false, and scand 'lons imputation would be cast on all the
parties concerned. The Government of the country was
accused, the Duke of Wellington was accused, and the
Noble Lord wes accused, of being parties to the most
corrupt and disgraceful transaction a. But lie was conli-
dent, that, as they were now put put upon their trial in
the eyes of the whole nation, they would, to the confu-
sion of their accuser, be acquitted by the unanimous
verdict of their country.—(Laud and long continued
cheering.)
Mr. HUME said he was not one to be worked into a
passion like the Right Hon. Gentleman. Flourishing
was not his forte. The epithets " foul and ma'ignant
calumny." had been applied to his lib erration' ; and it
lied been sated that he had on a former night objected
to the apeointment on ;he ground of the personal demerit-
ef the. Noble Lord appointed. This was a total
misre-
presruta'ion. and the imputation was altogether false • nd
la wilful misrepresentation. If the Right Han. fiends-
Pion was made of such rery intlamm tble stuff—if he was
melt a touchstone, so apt to catch fire--(loud laughing)
-That laugh nas quite in the style and worthy of the
Right Hon. Gentleman ; for the Right Hon. Gentleman
very well knew what be wanted to have said When he
said the word touchstone. (A laugh.) That Right
Hon. Gent. might, to serve his purpose, flaurish a deal
about a MasterAleneral of the. Ordnance ritualising the
limey of Blenheim; but he would fell him of another
Master-liener.l who headed the disastroqvalstlditioa tO
Walcheren. " Now let him," said ht;:a takolfis dimwit
out of that."—(Loud laughing and hide h&L.;ltaliat the
Right Hon. Gent had sapid' aas cutrhut,lealifuldaMe•injury
to Colonel Chapman ;but he would contend that injustice