within the meaning of the order fees of the secretaries of the Adof 1800, refused to pay the war miralty were very considerable, salary till they had consulted with and in lieu of them it gave an inthe Admiralty. The navy-office crease of salary. He never deby their question clearly thought manded this increase as a favour, that there was no title made out but as a pure right. to an increase of emoluments on Sir Joseph Yorke observed, that account of the expedition to Al- the question to be decided was exgiers. The utmost duration of tremely simple. The salary of the war, according to the admiral's the first secretary was fixed at statement, was two days, which, 3000l. per annum during peace, computing the rate of increase, with an additional 10001. in time entitled the hon. Secretary to of war : that of the second secre51.3s. 9d. It might have happened tary was 15001. in peace, and that Lord Exmouth would have 20001. in war. The commissioners found the Dey ready to comply of the navy did not send to the with the demands of the British Admiralty to know whether this government without coming to country was at war or not, but to extremities; and what would have ascertain at what time the war been the situation of the secretary salary should commence The then? There would have been no answer of the Adıniralty was, that war, nor any additional allowance. it should be paid from the 29th of

His lordship concluded with June to the 24th of September, moving, “That the issue of the the day on which the treaty was war salaries to the secretaries of signed. He had no hesitation in the Admiralty, and certain other signing the paper for the increase persons connected with the navy of salary, and should do the same and dock-yards, in consideration thing if the paper were put again of the expedition to Algiers, which before him. terminated in hostilities with that Admiral Markham said, that his government, is uncalled for by opinion remained as at first, which the order in council of January was, that the secretary was not 15th, 1800, and therefore an im- entitled to the war salary. If proper application of the public this was to be called a state of money."

war, what was an armament? In Mr. Croker said, that he was the case of Nootka Sound, had quite above denying the part he the order of council existed at that had taken in this matter. He had period, was it to be supposed that made the demand, because he the secretary of thit time would thought it a matter of right, and be entitled to demand an additional due to the office. This right it salary? The expedition required was his duty first to establish, and no additional trouble : there was then he might come forwarıl and nothing to be completed but the give up what the necessities of the armament. tines might seem to require. The The essential point of argument question l'ested upon the construc- on this occasion was the question tion of the order of council. That whether this was a case of declared order stated, that during war the war, or only, till the time of the

MOTION RESPECTING THE

LORDS

OF THE ADMIRALTY.

MOTION ON THE PUBLIC INCONE

commencement of hostilities, of would be graciously pleased to a threatening armament? It was give directions, that the lords decided in favour of the ministry, commissioners of the Admiralty but by a majority considerably may be reduced to such a number less than their usual numbers. as the exigencies of the public Lord Milton's motion was de service may actually require." feated by 169 to 114.

This motion being evidently, as the hon. baronet achnow ledged, a trial of strength between the

pirties, it was argued chiefly upOn February 25th Sir Matthew on that ground ; the ministers and W. Ridley rose to move an address their friends, strongly resisting to the Prince Regent, requesting any further attempts to limit the him to remove such of the lords power of the crown; whilst it commissioners of the Admiralty as was still considered as abundantly could be spared without detriment too high in the nation at large, by to the public service. After some the advocates for independence observations respecting the former The previous question being put, conduct of government,

when the House divided, when a majothey were prodigal in their pro- rity appeared for the ministers of mises of economy, and as prodigal 208 to 152. in their waste of the public money, he said that he did not expect much from the measure he now

AND EXPENDITURE. proposed, but it woul:l be laying Lord Castlereagh, on February the foundation of a system of re- 7th, began his motion by causing duction by which the undue in- the clerk of the House of Commons Huence of the ministers might be to read such part of the speech of abridged. He then went through the Prince Regent as was particua cursory view of the formation larly addressed to that Ilouse, and and progress of the navy-board; which referred to the distress conand having attempted to shew that sequent upon the war, and his the present number of six lords of own confident expectation that at the Admiralty was much beyond no distant period the native energy the wants of the office now that of the country would enable it to the number of seamen was re- surmount iis difficulties duced from 140,000 to 19,000, he The time, said Lord C. was concluded with the following mo- now come, when the House ought tion : " That an humble address to consider what would be a probe presented to his royal highness per permanent system for a peace the Prince Regent, to represent establishment; and he trusted to his roval highness, that his that gentlemen would bring to the Majesty's faithful Commons, re- subject that combination of firm. lying upon the gracious disposition ness and wisdom which they so of his royal highness to make eminently exhibited in the course every reduction in our establish- of that arduous contest in which ments which the safety of the em- Great Britain had been so lon, pire and sound policy allow, hum- involved. The House wouli yo bly pray, that his Royal Ilighness along with him when he laid down

as

as an incontrovertible maxim, that the number of the government no.country, especially one so much troops in India to be reduced from involved in debt, could consider 20,000 to 17,000. In the estiits prosperity in time of peace es-, mates there would appear a sum tablished on a firm foundation, of 220,000l. to be provided for on unless its expenditure was reduced account of regiments which had not only to the level, but below not yet returned from abroad, but the level, of its revenue.

were on their way home, and in It was not his intention to go a course of reduction. The whole minutely through the several heads of the army estimates, with of expenditure in the different certain contingent expenses, and branches of our establishments that of the militia, would amount for the present year; but he was to 7,050,0001.; to which the comdesirous to state, that in order to missariat in Great Britain will add prevent the House from being 500,0001. The barrack establishfettered by the votes which it ment has been reduced from might be necessary to call for, 178,000 to 70 or 30,000. The they would not be required to fur- army extraordinaries for this year nish sums for more than some will be 1,300,000l. Total charge months, so that the public service for the army 9,230,000). For the might be carried on in the mean navy, the House had last year time. To this circumstance, after voted 33,000 men, of which, as some general observations, his 10,000 were in the progress of relordship now proceeded.

duction, it was understood that He first requested the attention only 23,000 would be the permaof the House to the subject of the nent establishment for the prearmy expenditure. The number sent year. But upon further conof the land forces during the last sideration, it has been determined year, (excluding those in France that a larger reduction was pracand India, which were utherwise ticable, and 19,000 men have provided for) was 99,000 men, been proposed as the vote of the namely 53,000 for the home ser- present year. The reduction of vice, and 46,000 for the foreign the wear and tear, ship-building, establishment. This was to be and other expenses, would, of reduced in the present year by course, be very considerable. On 18,000; that at home by 5000, the whole, the aggregate of charges, and that in the colonies, &c. by comprehending all the various 13,000 : and thus the comparison branches of the public service, will between the two years would stand stand thus : from 99,000 to 81,016. The total Army .... £ 7,050,000 number for which a vote had been Commissariat and taken in the former year was Barracks

880,000 150,000 men; and the total num- Extraordinaries 1,300,000 ber for this year would be pro- Ordinance.

1,246,000 posed at only 123,000. The reason Navy

6,397,000 for this was, that by the conven- Miscellaneous.

1,500,000 tion with France the number of our troops there was to be reduced Gross total of charge 18,373,000 from 30,000 men to 25,000; and

This was the sum which his times, he begged that they

would Majesty's ministers would pro- always separate the charges which pose to the House for the service were wholly unconnected with the of the present year; but it would service of the present year. be unfair to themselves not to de- The right hon. member then sire them to distinguish between passed an eulogium on the Prince those items which might be more Regent, who had resigned to the durable, from those which, al- public about a fifth of his whole though voted for the present year, receipts, namely, fifty thousand would in all probability not again pounds; and he stated that the recur. For the army, for ex- public servants of the crown were ample, the sum of 220,0001. was also anxious to offer their assistfor the purpose of defraying the ance by contributing what the expense of regiments all which property-tax, had it been conwere actually in a progress of tinued, would have taken from reduction. The extraordinaries, them. In conclusion, he proposed as well as could be anticipated, the formation of a select commitwould be reduced by 300,000). tee to inquire into and state the and the ordinance by 50,0001. In income and expenditure of the the navy, he had stated, that united kingdom for the year ended 500,0001, of the sum proposed to the 5th of January, 1817; and be voted was for the liquidation of also to consider and state the a transport debt. These several probable income and expenditure items added together would aniount (so far as the same can now be to 1,070,000l. which would di- estimated) for the years ending minish the future charge of the the 5th of January, 1818, and the year to the same value.

5th of January, 1819, respectively; There was another view of the and to report the same, together subject which he was desirous that with their observations thereupon, the House should take—that be- to the House; and also to contween charges which were for sider what further measures may services that had been performed, be adopted for the relief of the and charges for services still to be country from any part of the said performed. He had already stated expenditure, without detriment to that the army estimates contained the public interest." a sum of 2,551,0001. for services Mr. Brand said, that with rethat had actually been performed. spect to the first part of the noble If charges of the same kind were lord's motion he had nothing at separated from the navy estimates, present to observe; but as to the they would amount to 1,271,0001. second part, he thought that Those in the ordnance service when, at such a conjuncture as were 223,000l. ; and the three the present, the House was about services put together would a- to inquire what reductions ought mount to 4,045,0001. When the to take place in the public expenHouse was therefore occupied in diture, placemen and persons contemplating the great existing holding sinecure-offices ought not charge of the army and navy, to be on the committee. He should compared with those of former therefore move as an amendment,

" That

“That the select committee to be had therefore repeatedly supported appointed, should inquire into the propositions brought forward what reductions since the year by his friend the member for Corfe 1798 had taken place in the salaries Castle (Mr. Bankes). The system and emoluments of the different was peculiarly liable to the charge persons holding public offices, and of favouritism; and another strong to consider what farther measures objection to it was its being grantmight be instituted for further re- ed in reversion, which always apducing the expenditure of the peared to hin a great abuse. country.”

mig!i be objected, that no great The Speaker having suggested savings would result to the public to Mr. B. that it would be neces- from the abolition of those offices. sary for him first to move, by way The present savings indeed could of amendment, that the second not be much, because it was nepart of the noble lord's notion

cessary that good faith should be should be omitted, be shaped his kept with those who had vested motion accordingly.

interests; but in the course of a After a considerable uumber of few years a material benefit would members had given their opinions, be effected. When the committee Mr. Brand's motion was put, and recommended that certain offices was negatived by 210 to 117. should no longer be suffered to

exist, it was necessary that they REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.

should point out some other mode The names of the meinbers of by which his Majesty could rethe comnittee was at length ap- Ward meritorious services. With pointed, when they stood as fol- this view a system was recomlows : Lord Castlereagh, Mr. mended, which, under certain re

, Bankes, Mr. Tierney, the Chan- strictions, would answer every cellor of the Exchequer, Lord purpose. He alluded to the grantBinning, Mr. Booile Wilbraham, ing of pensions for services perSir John Newport, Mr. Peele, formed, the time during which Mr. Hart Davis, Sir George Clerk, individuals had occupied their Mr. Frankland Lewis, Mr. Hus- offices being one of the criteria by kinson, Mr. Tremaine, Mr. Nic which the crown was to be guided chulson Calvert, Mr. Davies Gil- in rewarding the exertions of pubbert, Mr. Cartright, Mr. Holford, lic officers. If the committee Mr. E. Littleton, Lord Clive, Mr. agreed to the motion with which Gooch, Sir T. Achiland.

he should conclude, namely, On May 5th, the first report of “That the chairman should be the Finance Committee, relating directed to apply to the House for to the Abolition of Şinecures, be- leave to bing in certain bills for ing laid before the House, Mr. carrying into effect the recomDavies Gilbert rose to address the mendations contained in the recommittee. He began with ob- port," they would then have the cerving that he had uniformly con- subject introduced to them in a sidered the existence of sinecure more detailed shape. After some places as a great blot and blemish further explanations, he moved n the system of this countıy, and “ That the chairman be directed

to