PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY

The first Session of the Fourth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.-47. GEO. III.

CHAP. I.

Address to His Majesty-Vote of Supply-
State of the Nation-Places and Pensions
-Abuses in the Navy-Defence of the
Country.

The new parliament having been assembled, in due form, the Royal Speech was delivered, June 27th (vide Panorama, p. 885), In rising to move an address to his Majesty in the House of Peers, Lord Mansfield briefly adverted to the political events which had recently taken place; noticed the expressions of loyalty and attachment which his Majesty had received from all quarters of the country; congratulated the nation on the measures which had been adopted, to strengthen Qur connexions with the Continental powers; hinted at the proceedings which were in train, to conciliate the Sublime Porte; and mentioned, with peculiar satisfaction, the assurance which his Majesty bad given, of a careful and economical administration of the supplies. The address, which was seconded by Lord Rolle, was a mere echo to the speech.

Lord Fortescue, after dwelling t some length on the merits of the Catholic question, and censuring his Majesty's present ministers, for the cry which had been raised, of no popery, moved an amendment, importing,

That the house was well aware that his Majesty wished to exercise all his prerogatives for the public benefit, therefore stated the misconduct of his ministers in dissolving the late parliament, to the interruption of private bills, to the great and needless interruption of useful laws, and to much mischief public and private-they also justifying their evil advice under pretences calculated to excite dangerous animosities among the people, when their united efforts were more than ever necessary for the security of the empire, and when to promote the utmost harmony and co-operation among them would have been the first object of faithful and provident ministers."

In the ensuing debate, which consisted chiefly of crimination and recrimination, on the topics which had been discussed with so much acrimony in the preceeding parliament, Lord Holland reprobated the introduction of his Majesty's name into the discussions of that house; and expressed a wish, that the expeditions to Constantinople and Egypt should become the subject of parliamentary enquiry.

-On a division, at three o'clock on the ensuing morning, the original motion was carried, by 160 to 67, proxies included. 2 N 3

In the House of Commons, on the same evening, Lord Newark moved an address to the King, on the subject of the Royal speech; which was seconded by Mr. Hall, who defended the royal prerogative, and delivered a handsome eulogy on the conduct of his Majesty, relative to the Catholic Bill, &c.

Lord Howick, in proposing an amendment, entered into a fresh vindication of the conduct of his Majesty's late ministers, and condemned the present, for the rash and unwarrantable manner in which they had dissolved the last parliament. He agreed, that unanimity was never more requisite than at present; but ministers, while they expressed unanimity with their lips, prevented it from taking place, by bringing forward improper topics of discussion. They had endeavoured to set man against man, and to exasperate the people of Ireland with a notion, that the people of England were hostile to their views-his Lordship adverted to the injury sustained by individuals, from the dropping of the private bills, occasioned by the late dissolution; alluded to the Committee of Military Inquiry, which had also been crushed by the same measure, and particularly to the contract between government and Sir H. Mildmay, respecting the occupation of Moutsham Hall; a circuinstance which has since been cleared up, to the credit of all the parties. His Lordship likewise expressed a wish, that a bill should be brought in, conformably to the resolutions of last session, against re. versionary grants; that the Finance Committee should be renewed; and that Lord Henry Petty's finance system should not be departed from.

Mr. Perceval justified the late dissolution; and observed that, with regard to the private bills, little or no injury would be sustained by the parties interested, as it was intended imme diately to originate a measure, restoring those bills to the respective stages at which they had dropped, at a very slight expence, if any.This measure has since been adopted, by a relinquishment of the fees of office, &c. General Crawfurd, Sir H. Mildinay, Mr. D. Browne, Mr. R. Dundas, Mr. B. Bathurst, Colonel Hope, and Mr. Croaker, spoke in favour of the original address; and Mr. Windham, Mr. Grattan, Lord Milton, Lord Temple, Lord H. Petty, Mr. Whitbread, and Sir J. Newport, in favour of the Amendinent. On a division, there appeared, for the original address, 350; against it, 155, majority, in favour of ministers, 195.

JULY 3.-In a committee of supply, on the motion of Mr. Ward, the following reso lutions were agreed to:-That 130,000 men he employed for the sea service, for the year 1807, including 31,000 marines; that £3,176,500 be granted, for wages to the seamen, at the rate of £1. 178. per man.

per month; that £3,311,000 be granted for victualling the same, at the rate of £1 18s. per man, per month; that £3,700,000 be granted for the wear and tear of ships, at the rate of £3 per man, per month; that £422,500 be granted for advance for sea service; that £1,135,000 be granted for the half-pay of the Navy; that £2,134,093 be granted for the rebuilding and repairing of ships, for the year 1807; that £1,500,000 be granted for the transport service for 1807; £300,000 for the charges of the sick and wounded; and £500,000 for the charges of prisoners of war.-On the motion of the secretary at war, the following resolutions, on the army estimation, were also agreed to: -That 113,795 men be the amount of the land forces of Great Britain, for 1807, including non-commissioned officers; that £4,516,023 be granted, for the charges of guards and garrisons at home; £2,609,120 for his Majesty's forces in the plantations; £277,049 for recruiting and contingencies; L195,529 for the expence of staff officers; £2,497,000 for the charges of the militia; £620,133 for militia contingencies; £34,483 for supernumeraries; £221,000 for allowances to officers; £467,268 for the increased rate of subsistence; £186,982 for half-pay officers; £25,214 for dragoons; £750 to officers late in the service of the states general; £460,380 to the out-pensioners of Chelsea Hospital; 832 £,540, fort be expence of foreign corps; £21,000 to the Royal Military Asylum; £459,459 for the barrack department in Ireland; £2,287,000 for the charges of the office of ordnance: 301,460 for deficiencies underthis head in 1805; £252,635 for deficiencies in 1806; and £471,242 for the charges of ordnance in Ireland.

JULY 6.-Mr. Whitbread rose to bring forward a motion, respecting the state of the nation; but, at the commencement of his speech, Mr. D. Browne moved the standing order of the House, and strangers were compelled to withdraw. Mr. Whitbread was followed by Mr. Milnes, Lord Milton, Mr. D. Browne, Sir A. Pigott, Messrs. Montague, Adam, H. Martin, General Tarleton, Mr. Wilberforce, Colonel Duckett, Dr. Lawrence, Mr. Bathurst, General Craufurd, Sir J. Newport, Mr. Croaker, Mr. W. Smith, Mr. Perceval, and Lord Howick. On a division, at four o'clock on the following morning, the numbers were:-Ayes, 136; Noes, 322; majority, 186, against Mr. Whitbread's motion.

JULY 7.-Lord Cochrane moved "That a committee be appointed to enquire into, and report to this House (Commons) an account of all offices, posts, places, sinecures, pensions, situations, fees, perquisites, and emoluments of every description, paid out of, or arising from, the public revenues, or the fees of any

courts of law, equity, admiralty, ecclesiastical, or other courts, held or enjoyed by, or in trust for, auy member of this House, his wife, or any of his descendants, for him, or either of them, in reversion of any present interest; with an account of the annual amount of such office, post, place, sinecure, pension, situation, fees, perquisites, and emoluments, distinguishing whether the same arises from a certain salary, or from any average amount; that this enquiry do extend to the whole of his Majesty's dominions, and that the said committee be empowered to send for persons, papers, and records."-This motion, after a tedions and uninteresting debate, was lost by a division of 90, against 61.-It was afterwards carried, on the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, “That instructions be given to the Committee of Finance, to enquire into the nature of all pensions, places, sinecures, and salaries, arising from the public revenues, and to ascertain the names of the persons so receiring, with the exception of officers holding commissions in the army and navy, and of all collectors of taxes and revenue, whose salaries do not exceed £200 a year."

JULY 10.-Lord Cochrane moved for a variety of papers, for the purpose of shewing that many parts of the naval service had been carried on, in a manner which was highly prejudicial to the interests of the country. His lordship stated that he held two letters in his hand, written by officers of the Felix schooner, a short time before that ship went down, stating that they were entirely out of fresh provision, that she sailed worse and worse, and that they feared they should never be able to bring her back to an English port. The captain of the Atalante had told his lordship, that he had applied to the Commander in Chief for a survey, but had been refused. A short time afterwards, the Atalante was wrecked. He believed that there had been more men lost on the Rochefort station, last winter, than would be sufficient for the task of cutting out the squadron in that port. Men were not allowed to be sent on shore, though sick, without an order from the surgeon of the Commander in Chief, by which many lives were lost. The Plantagenet had been eight months off Brest, excepting twelve days that she was wind-bound at Plymouth; during the whole of which time, there was an order in force, that no officer or man should set his foot on shore. This was a piece of unnecessary cruelty. He had seen a ship going out of port with seventy men ill, who were not allowed to go into the hospital, and could not be cured at sea. Captain Cooke had stated, that he had been 117 days at sea, and the scurvy had not affected his men ; but his (Lord Cochrane's) ship had been constant

ly within four hours sail of the coast, and yet they were most grievously afflicted with that disease. It was formerly the practice, when vessels had expended their fresh provisions, to return to port to revictual and recruit; and that practice also prevailed at present; but it was not so under the late Commander in Chief, who, while he would suffer neither officers nor men to come on shore, was enjoying himself in London, and deriving great emoluments from his official situation. Economy had been carried so far, that lint for dressing sores and wounds was not allowed; and, in his ship, if they had gone into action, there was not half enough to have dressed the men's wounds. This lint had been cut off by a person unworthily employed by the late administration, as Commander in Chief. He had no hesitation in naming Lord St. Vincent, as that person.

Sir Samuel Hood stated, in reply, that the Atalante had run on shore in harbour, and, if she had not been in excellent condition, she could not have saved the number of men which she did save. The Felix schooner was lost in a very heavy gale of wind, which lasted three days. The soundest and tightest ship in the service might have the same fate, in the same place.

Admiral Markham, at considerable length, vindicated the conduct of Earl St. Vincent. With respect to surgeons stores, they had been supplied under his lordship, or precisely the plan which had originated with either Lord Melville or Lord Barham; and he never before had heard the slightest complaint of their deficiency. As to the difliculty of sending men to the hospital, the new regulations were extremely proper. Formerly, when offlcers had any dislike to men, they had nothing to do but to obtain the certificates of their own surgeons, and send them ashore to the hospital, by which means, though others might suffer by it, they got fresh men. Respecting the supply of the ships with fresh beef, more had been done in the administration of Lord St. Vincent, than under any former administration. There were two modes formerly adopted: one, to send bullocks out alive; the other to kill them before sending out. Both those practices were subject to inconvenience. In rough weather it was very hard to get the cattle on board, and many died on the passage. If they were killed, the wind were unfavourable, the meat was often spoiled before it could arrive, The course which was now taken to remedy these inconveniences was, to parboil the fresh beef on shore; and when it reached the ficet, it made most excellent soup.

and

After a discussion of considerable length, Lord Cochrane's motion was negatived without a division, it being the general opinion, that if the alledged grievance bad existed, an

application ought in the first instance to have been made to the Admiralty.

JULY 13-In a Committee of Supply the following sums were voted:£792,710, towards the defraying of the army extraordi naries, in 1805, not provided for by parlia ment; £2,950,000, for the army extraordi naries of 1807; and £600,000, for ditto, for Ireland, for the same year.

JULY 16.-In a Committee of Supply, it was resolved, that there be granted to his majesty, £506,307, for the barrack departments; £845,600 for the extraordinary expenditure of the commissary department; and £10,306 to be paid to the captors of th, second Swedish convoy. It was also resolvede that the sum of £13,000 be granted, for defraying the expences of the Catholic College of Magnorth, in Ireland, from January 1807, to January 1808.

JULY 20.-On the motion of Lord Suffolk, the Bar of the House of Lords was cleared, for about half an hour, whilst his lordship delivered some statements respecting the de fence of the country.

JULY 21. In the House of Lords, Lord Lauderdale moved that there be laid before the House, an account of the number of places granted in reversions, agreed to.

In the House of Commons Mr. Whitbread's Bill for the Relief of the Poor, was read a second time.

JULY 22.-Lord Castlereagh moved for leave to bring in two bills relative to the defence of the country., Vide Panorama, Vol. II. page 897, et seq.

Among the miscellaneous business of the present session, various motions have been inade, relative to the clothing of the army, &c. The Finance Committee has been re-constituted. Bills have also been brought in, for preventing reversionary grants; for prevent ing smuggling; for placing members of parliament, as suitors in courts of equity, on an equality with other persons; for suppressing insurrection, and preventing the disturbance of the public peace, in Ireland; for enabling the East-India Company to borrow money upon bond, to the same extent as they were before empowered to do by increasing their capital stock, &c.

-Rev. G. F. Nott, Fel. of All Souls', Sub Preceptor and chaplain to the Princess Charlotte of Wales; and Rev. A. Robertson, of Christ church, Savilian Professor of Geometry, B. D. admitted Doctor in Divinity.Mr. E. West, B. A. of University col. admitted M. A.-Sir E. Synge, Bart. and C. C. Chambers, Esq. of Christ church, admitted B. A. Grand Compounders.-Messrs. W. Crabtree, of University col.; H. Yeomans, of Pembroke; R. Marsham, of Christ church; G. Hanbury, of Worcester; E. Thomas and W. Ellis, of Jesus, admitted B. A.

Rev. C. Dunne, B. A. of Oriel, has been presented to the rectory of Earl's Croome, near Upton-upon-Severn, in this county, in the gift of his uncle. M. Dunne, Esq., M. D. of Gatley Park, Herefordshire, void by the resignation of the Rev. H. Green M. A.

Rev. J. Williams, M. A. late of Christ. church, has been instituted by the Chapter of the collegiate church of Southwell to the prebendal vicarage of North Leverton, Notts., on the presentation of the Rev. S. Smith, B. D. canon of Christ church. He has been also instituted by the Bishop of Oxford to the vicarage of South Stoke in that diocese, on the presentation of the Dean and Chapter of Christ church.

25. Rev. J. Tedstill and Rev. T. Andrews, of Magdalen hall; Rev. E. W. Stillingfleet, of Lincoln col. J. W. Hanmer, Esq. of Christ church; Rev. J. James, of St. John's, B. A. admitted M. A.-Messrs. M. Lunn and J. N. Johnson, of Magdalen hall; T. Westcombe, of Trinity; Thomas Pearce, of Exeter; J. Musgrave, W. H. Beach, and F. Trotman, of Christ church, and W. Powell, of Jesus, admitted B. A.

26. Rev. B. Coleman, B. A. of Worcester col. admitted M. A., and Mr. W. M. S. Preston, of Queen's, admitted B. A.

Rev. John Collins, M. A. Scholar of Worcester col., is elected Fellow of that society; and Mr. J. Waldron admitted Scholar of the same, both on the foundation of Sir T. Cookes, Bart.

The new Statute, relative to the examination for the degree of B. A., has at length received the decisite probatum est of Convocation. Public examinations will in future, therefore, only take place in the Michaelmas and Act Terms; and there will be two lists of the names of those who have most eminently distinguished themselves, classed according to their respective merits. The method of conferring honours, adopted by the late Statute, being done away, we recognize in the mode now instituted something similar to the Cambridge plan; except that the Mathematics will here only retain their due proportion of weight with the rest of the Sciences and Classical Literature. There will, moreover, in future, be no examination for the

degree of M. A. These are some of the principal heads of the new Statute, which has several times been debated, and was finally confirmed by a large majority in full Convocation on the 16th. inst.

29. Messrs. J. Harris, E. Hampson, and J. Roberson admitted Fellows, and Mr. E. Buckle admitted Scholar of St. John's col. 30. Came on the election at Wadham col., when Mr. J. Griffith was elected Scholar; and on July 1. Messrs Paget and Dyer were admitted Fellows.--Same day. Mr. C. Chichester, Commoner of Exeter col., elected Fellow.

Rev. H. Marriot, of Worcester col., has been nominated by the Trustees of Marston chapel, in the diocese of Worcester, to the curacy thereof, vacant by the death of the Rev. E. Wigley.

July 1. Rev. J. C. Jones, M. A. and Stu dent in Divinity of Exeter col., admitted B. D. Mr. J. Ager, B. A. of Pembroke col., admitted M. A. Mr. T. Thompson, of St. Edmund Hall, admitted B. A.

The munificent prize of £500, which was during the last year proposed to the Members of the university of Oxford, by the Rev. C. Buchanan, D. D. Vice-Provost of the College of Fort William in Bengal, for the best composition in English prose, on several subjects relating to the propagating of Christianity in the East, was, on the 4th day of June last, adjudged to the Rev. H. Pearson, M. A. of St. John's col.

The Rev. T. B. Coleman, M. A. is insti tuted, by the Bishop of Hereford, to the rectory of Church Stretton, Salop, on the presentation of his father, T. Coleman, Esq. of Leominster.

er,

The visitor of Exeter college, (Dr. J. FishBishop of Exeter,) has determined the appeal respecting the last election to a fellowship in favour of Mr. Darke, on the ground that Mr. Bradford's qualifications were not correct and ordered that Mr. Darke should be accordingly admitted to the same rank and privileges as he would have enjoyed had he been declared elected at the time.

Cambridge.

June. Rev. Dr. C. Barton, chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, is presented, by his Grace, to the rectory of Pluckley in Kent, vaca.. ted by the death of the Rev. Dr. Disney.

-21.Mr. R. Kedington, B.A. of Caius col.

elected fellow.

Select preachers, appointed for Sunday after.

noon turns at St. Mary's church, from Oct. 1807 to May 1808:

Rev Mr. Chafy, Sidney col; Hornbuckle, St. Johns; Rogers, Magdalen; D'Oyley, Benc't; Plumptre, Clare hall; Kerrich, Magdalen; Brownesen, Trinity; Shield, St. John's.

The members prizes of 15 guineas each, are this year adjudged to Mr. W. G. Cautley, of Pembroke hall, senior Bachelor, for his dissertation on the following subject:"Utrum mores Civium emendet an corrumpat Commercium;" and to Messrs. C.S. Mathews, of Trinity, and J. Turner of St. John's, Middle Bachelors, the subject of whose dissertation was: "Utrum Literis prosit Librorum quanta nunc est editorumCopia?

27. Rev. R. Joynes, fellow of Catharine hall, and H. A. Mayers, Esq. of Jesus col. admitted M.A.

Mr. T. Inman, M. A. fellow of St. John's, is appointed Mathematical professor at the royal naval col. at Portsmouth.

son, and T. Waldron Hornbuckle, fel. of St. John's ;S. Chilcott, fel. of Sidney; J. Gilpin, of Magdalen; W. Evans, of Pembroke hall; T.C.Fell, fel. of Jesus col.

2 Honorary Masters of Arts-The hon. P. A. Irby, of St. John's, 5th son of Lord Boston; hon. R.R. Bernard, of St. John's, brother to lord Bernard.

6 Bachelors in civil law, C. Edwards, Esq. and Rev. R. George of Trinity hall; Rev.G.G. Stonestreet, of Jesus col.; Rev. W. Elstob, and Rev. J. Jones of Trinity hall; W. H. Carter, Esq. of Peterhouse.

96 Masters of Arts-King's College, Messrs Vince, Hatch, Ford, Yonge, Hodgson, Kilty, Sumner, Sargent, Plumptre, Heald.-Trinity col. Sutton, Preston, Mansfield, Dobree, Powell, Monk, Henshaw, Wright, Jolliffe, Clowes, Garratt, Whitby, Deason, Wray, Ram, Carruthers, Ord, Bent.-St. John's, Owen, Gabell, Fiske, Pepys, Simons, Hall, Fellowes, Holmes, Bagge, Isherwood, Quantock, Palmer, Pratt, Saliren, Browne, Lloyd, Travelyan,Mackintnon, Raikes.-Peterhouse. Whaley, Bryan, Walter, Archer, Hollingworth, Bent.-Clare hall, Cook, Molineux,

Howlett. Caius col. Watson, Edwards, Reynolds, Polson, Whish, Wedge.-Bene't col. Dods, Clark, Mills, Glossop.-Queen's col. Gledow, Wait.-Catherine ball, Joynes.

6. Mr. Paul, of Christ col. admitted fel. Mr. J Fiott, B.A. of St. John's, is elected into one of the travelling fellowships founded by W.Worts, Esq; vice Mr. T. Johnes, of Peterhouse.

Rev. K. Foster, B. A. of St. Johns, has been instituted to the rectory of Dowsby, Lincolnshire, on the presentation of the Rev. T. Foster, of Tinwell near Stamford.

The bishop of Litchfield atid Coventry has instituted the Rev. S. Pearson, L.L.B. and F.A. S. minister of Osmaston, to the rectory of Weston-upon-Trent, Derbyshire, on the presentation of Sir R. Wilmot, Bart.

Commencement, July 7ik.

4 Doctors in divinity- Dr. R. Ramsden, fel. of Trinity, deputy regius professor of divinity (by mandate), Dr. T. Ackland, of St John's, rector of Christchurch, Surry; Dr.G.Andrewes, of Trinity, rector of St. James's, Westuninster; Dr. J. Bristow, of Clare hall, rector of St. Mary's Nots.

4 Doctors of Physic-Dr.J.Warden, of Emmanuel, Physician at Warwick; Dr. R. Sill, of Emmanuel, late fellow of Clare hall, physician in Camb.; Dr. C. Larchin, of Emmanuel, physician to the army; Dr. T. Witter, of Christ's col. physician at Worthing.

house, Dealtry, Tancred, Ferris.-Christ col. Kaye, Willoughby, Mapletoft.-Magdalen, Widing, Roberts, Cole, Maddock.-Emmanuel, Bevan, Slade, Parke, Hurd.-Sidney, E.T.M. Phillips, Yonge, Crowther, Blackburn, Thornton, Rogers.

17. Rev. W. Webb, fel. of Clare hall, admitted B.D.

The Archbishop of York has instituted the Rev. D. Ferguson, B.A. late of Emanuel col. to the valuable rectory of Breughton Sulvey, Nots. on the presentation of T. Booth, Esq. of Killerby.

Rev. E. Ryley, M.A. of Halford, Warwickshire, has been instituted to the vicarage of Eatington, by the Bishop of the diocese of Worcester, on the presentation of E. Shirley, Esq.

Rev. J. Satterthwaite, M. A. F. R. S. late fel. of Jesus col. is empowered by a dispensation under the Great Seal, to hold the rectory of Whicham with the valuable rectory of Bootle, Cumberland, both in the gift of the Earl of Lonsdale.

Rev. B. E. Bridges has been presented by D. Papillon, Esq. to the rectory of Boaning ton, void by the resignation of the Rev. T.

Wilkinson.

The Lord Chancellor has appointed T. E. Fisher, of St. Ives, Huntingdon, gent. to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of