697 HOUSE OF COMMONS. Thursday, June 8, 1815. MR ROSE in moving for a Committee to inquire into the state of mendicity in the metropolis, said, that the number of persons in the metropolis and its vicinity who subsisted by begging, amounted to 15,000; viz. 6000 adults and 9000 children: allowing 6d. per day for the maintenance of the former, and 3d for the latter, the whole would amount to £100,000 a-year. On bringing up the Report of the Com. mittee of Supply for increasing the duty on law stamps, and also imposing another halfpenny upon the stamp of every newspaper, and 6d. additional for every advertisement, Sir J. Newport recommended, that the duty on the newspaper stamp should be omitted, as injurious to the sale, and prohibiting information: on a division, however, the resolution was carried by 63 to 17. Friday, June 9. Mr Ward moved for sums for the ordnance service: the total of the estimates for Great Britain amounted to £.3,459,000; and the estimates for Ireland to £.584,000, making,in all,£.4,043,000; being £.582,000 more than if the peace had continued, but £.784,000 less than the last war establishment: the resolutions were agreed to. Monday, June 12. Lord Castlereagh, on presenting a copy of the Subsidiary Treaty, concluding with the King of the Netherlands, moved, that the interest of the Dutch Loan of 25 millions of florins to Russia, be paid out of the Consolidated Fund.-Messrs. Whitbread, Tierney, Bankes, Baring, W. Smith, Lockhart, and Sir J, Newport, opposed the prin ciple of the Treaty, by which the debt of Russia was assumed to be paid by us to a nation which had already so materially benefited by the termination of the late war. It was said, that this charge was only contingent upon the Netherlands remaining under the dominion of the House of Orange; and if re-conquered by France, the charge would cease. The country was now pledged for five millions sterling, and the possession of the Cape of Good Hope, with the Islands of Demarara Essequiebo, and Berbice, ceSeptember 1815. ded to England, was not a sufficient compensation; the motion was ultimately carried by 104 to 19. In a Committee of Supply, among other sums voted, was one million to make good the convention with Sweden. Wednesday, June 14. In the Roseberry Divorce Bill, the clause for bidding the marriage of Sir H. Mildmay to Lady R. as incestuous, was moved to be omitted by Mr M. A. Taylor, but carried by 111 to 20; another clause, proposed by the same Gentleman for increasing her annuity from £.300 to £.500 was carried by 69 to 16. THE BUDGET. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, after a preliminary speech, in which he regretted the amount of the sums required, entered into a statement of the Supplies for the present year for the Navy, (including 3,746,945/ for transports), was 18,664,2007; for the Army, (including Extraordinaries, Barracks, Commissariat, and Storekeeper General) 39,150,7567; Ordnance 4,431,643/ Foreign Subsidies, Payments, and Bills of Credit 9 millions; Votes of Credit six millions; Army Prize-money, £.942,327; and Miscellaneous, three millions. The grand total of the joint charge for Great Britain would amount to £.89,728,926, from which deducting the separate charge of £.9,760,314 for Ireland, would leave the charge of Great Britain at £.79,968,112. The Ways and Means for the above charge were as follows: Annual Duties and Surplus Consolidated Fund, three millions each; War Taxes, 22 millions; Lottery, £.250,000; Naval Stores, £.508,500; Vote of Credit, six millions; Exchequer Bills funded and Loan in Five per cents. £.18,135,000; Loan, 27 millions; total, £,79,893,500. After some lengthened observations from Mr Tierney, the Resolutions were agreed to. In a Committee of Supply, another sum voted was £.3,325,000 for the transport service. become matter of speculation to builders and others, who derived considerable income from them: supported by Messrs Vansittart, Butterworth, and W. Smith: thrown out by 41 to 22. Tuesday, June 20. A motion was made by Mr Marsh, for inquiry into the conduct of Gen. Gore, Governor of Upper Canada, upon allegations, preferred by Mr Firth, late Attorney General, who, to escape the influence exercised against him in numerous ways, had desired leave to retire; which being denied by the Governor, he had secretly withdrawn to England. Lord Castlereagh was convinced that nothing would be so injudicious as for the high dignity of Parliament to interfere in cases of Colonial disputes. The conduct of Governor Gore had been taken into consideration by the three Secretaries of State-by himself, by Lord Liverpool, and Lord Bathurst, and had appeared entitled to their approbation. This was the result of their looking into the statements of Mr Wyatt, who, as a young man, had so indiscreetly conducted himself, that it was the opinion of Government that he ought, for the benefit of the Colony, to be removed from it, without however prejudicing him as to any other appointment; his errors having arisen from the indiscre tion of youth. Governor Gore. In order to draw the true contrast, he would, with the permission of the House, read part of the Address of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada, una. nimously voted to Governor Gore on his leaving that country, when his influence there might be considered at an end(Cry of read, read.)-He then read the following extract from the Address referred to: -"May it please your Excellency-We his Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Upper Canada, beg leave to assure your Excellency of our approbation of your Excellency's administration of the Government of this Province, which, since your arrival among us, has increased in wealth, prosperity, and commerce, far exceeding our most sanguine expectations, aided by your wise and liberal exertions to promote the same."-Mr Benson resumed From his long intimacy with Governor Gore, he considered him incapable of an act of oppression, or an illiberal sentiment: the motion was negatived without a division. Thursday, June 22. Lord Castlereagh brought down a message from the Prince Regent, noticing the glorious victory obtained by the Duke of Wellington over Bonaparte in person, on the 18th, and requesting additional provision to be made for his Grace, as a testimony of public gratitude. Friday, June 23. Lord Castlereagh, in moving the Thanks of that House to the Duke of Wellington, Marshal Blucher, and the Officers and Soldiers of the Army, said, that the British and Prussian forces had not been concentra Hav of Mr Benson, from the long intimacy he had with Governor Gore, was unwilling to give a silent vote upon this occasion; but from what had fallen from the Noble Secretary of State, and the Under Secretary of State for the Colonial department, it would be unnecessary for him to trepass on the House at any length. Had the Hon. Secreted, because part of the Belgic frontier would tary for the Colonial department been induced to entertain the motion for referring the Petition to a Committee, he should have been prompted to a full investigation of the allegations of this extraordinary petition. As to the memorial which the Hon. Member for Coventry (Mr P. Moore) had stated to have been sent over from some of the inhabitants of Upper Canada, thanking his R. H. the Prince Regent for the recal of General Gore from his Government, he (Mr Benson) was not disposed to dispute to have existed; but he was perfectly aware of the class of people from whom such memorial came; as well might this country judge of the true sentiments of the loyal inhabitants of the good cities of London and Westminster, by a Memorial from the worthies of Palace yard, as to decide by the Memorial alluded to by the Hon. Member for Coventry, of the sentiments of the respectable body of inhabitants of Upper Canada towards have been left open to invasion on the part IRISH BUDGET. Mr Fitzgerald submitted the items of the Supply for Ireland: total, £.16,672,364. The Ways and Means to meet them, were £.16,854,112; or an excess of £.171,000. Mr F. then spoke of the contemplated union of Lord Castlereagh moved the grant of £.6000 yearly to the Duke of Cumberland, to devolve on the Duchess, in case she should survive. Messrs Keene, Bennett, Wynne, and Sir M. Ridley, opposed the grant: they asked why the marriage was not announced before; and argued, that as the Duke would probably reside abroad, his present income of £18,000 would be amply sufficient, and equal to £.30,000 in England. Sir C. Burrell said, His Royal Highness had a house furnished within the palace equal to £.1000, which, with £.1500 for his cavalry regiment, made his income equal to £21,000. This he conceived to be a liberal allowance, and many gentlemen, upon a smaller income, lived with more hospitality than had ever been displayed by the Royal Duke. Mr W. Wynne asked, was this a marriage likely to be serviceable to the interests of domestic virtue ? Mr B. Bathurst said, the provision was very small for the Duke's change of state: and an individual who had £18,000 per annum when single, ought to have £.6000 additional when he married: the grant was carried by 87 to 70. On the motion of Mr Vansittart, a vote of credit for six millions was granted. Thursday, June 29. In consequence of a petition from certain prisoners, testifying to the good conduct of Mr Jones, the marshal, Mr Bennett said, that the report of the committee to the House appointed to inquire into the state of the King's Bench prison, had cast no other reflection on Mr Jones, than what was warranted by the evidence that had been adduced before them. That evidence proved, that he was little acquainted with what occurred in his prison; and he avowed himself, that he seldom or ever entered within its walls. The committee had therefore stated, that a keeper of a prison, receiving an annual income of £.3500, and not daily inbeing personally acquainted with all that is specting and visiting the prison, and not transacted therein, seemed to them to prove the existence of a state of things that ought not to be suffered to continue. On the report of the committee regarding an additional allowance to the Duke of Cumberland, Messrs. Gordon, Wm. Smith, Protheroe, and Tierney, strongly opposed it, contending, that the same reason which had induced Her Majesty to break off a match between the Princess of Salms and the Duke of Cambridge, would operate against the marriage entered into by the Duke of Cumberland with the same lady, who would not be received at Court by the Queen. Mr Forbes contended, that the reports to the prejudice of the married pair were mere scandal; for his part, he did not credit half of it. Mr Tierney said, if only half that was reported was believed, it would be enough: he was surprised that Ministers should press, and the Royal Duke not decline, a grant which would have been rejected by a fuller to 62; and the bringing in of a bill pursuhouse the report was then received by 74 ant to the resolution was carried by 75 to 62. Lord Castlereagh said, that Government had not, up to that day, received complete returns of those brave men who fell in the battle of Waterloo: it was determined not to wait longer: he should move, therefore, an address to the Regent, praying directions for a national monument, to be erected in honour of the splendid victory of Waterloo, and to commemorate the memory of the officers and soldiers who fell on that glorious day. Mr C. Wynne suggested, that distinct monuments should be erected to the memory of Sir T. Picton and Major-General Sir W. Ponsonby. The former, on leaving this country, and anticipating his fall, had said to his friends, "that he hoped his country would pay this tribute to his memory.' Lord Castlereagh agreed to the petition, and added to his motion, that the monuments to the memory of those brave officers should be erected in St Paul's Cathedral. Mr Mr Bankes was desirous that Paris should not be spared a second time-that it should be stript of the trophies pillaged from other nations, which might be brought to Eng land. Mr M. Fitzgerald said, that we ought not to imitate the conduct which we blamed, the trophies ought to be restored to the countries from which they were taken. When it was remarked to the Duke of Wellington, that on our last entrance into France, his troops shewed great delicacy towards the French, the Duke answered, "I will promise, if I can influence them, that they will be equally moderate now."-The motion was agreed to. Friday, June 30. Another discussion took place on the first reading of the Duke of Cumberland's Additional Bill, when it was carried by a majority of 8: numbers 100 to 92. Monday, July 3. The Duke of Cumberland's Additional Allowance Bill was further opposed, on the 2d reading, by Messrs Western, Wilberforce, H. Sumner, Colonel Ellison, and Sir T. Acland. Mr Wilberforce said, that if the Lady should ever be in a state of widowhood, that House would always be disposed to grant such an allowance as would enable her to live suitably to her rank and dignity-the House ought not therefore to be betrayed into a sanction and approbation of that marriage, under the plea of providing against a contingency which might never happen. The 2d reading was negatived by 126 to 125: the bill was consequently lost by a majority of one, Tuesday, July 4. Sir J. Marjoribanks, after alluding to the indefatigable exertions of the Duke of York in the organization of the British army, to which the Duke of Wellington attributed, in a great measure, all his victories, moved a vote of thanks in the following words :"That the thanks of this House be given to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, Captain-General, and Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Forces, for his effective and unremitted exertions in the discharge of the duties of his high and important situation, during the period of upwards of twenty years, in the course of which time the British army has attained a state of discipline and skill before unknown to it, and which exertions, under Providence, have been in a great degree the means of acquiring for this country the high military glory which it enjoys among the nations of Europe." The Chancellor of the Exchequer would not oppose the motion, though he thought it would have been brought forward with more propriety at the close of the services in which our army was engaged. Mr Western opposed the motion on the Constitutional ground, that the Commander in Chief was as much an officer of the Government as any Member of the Adminis tration he believed if the office of Commander in Chief had been filled by any other person than the Royal Duke, the present motion would not have been entertained. Mr W. Pole thought no man with true British feelings would say they ought not to consider the merit of the illustrious Commander in Chief. His relation (the Duke of W.) had written to him, that he was astonished at the improved state of the army, brought about by the unremitting exertions of the Duke of York. Mr A. Baring censured the warmth of the preceding speaker, and recommended an additional provision to his R. Highness, as a small reward for 25 years laborious ser Ivice in his Department. Mr Whitbread allowed there was weight in the objection of the Hon. Gent. (Mr Western,) but as the motion was submitted, he should vote for it. He condemned the high tone of Mr W. Pole. Mr Serjeant Best said, if the Duke of York was thanked for the effectiveness of the army, and the Duke of Wellington for his victories, an Address should be presented to the Prince Regent, who had continued them in their commands: the motion was agreed to. Monday, July 10. Mr WHITBREAD-The Marquis of Tavistock rose under the evident impression of the strongest feelings, which continued during his speech, and had nearly prevented him from proceeding several times. He addres sed the Speaker to the following effect : Sir, I am persuaded that it must be quite unnecessary for me to say that I am at this moment labouring under feelings of the most painful and afflicting nature (hear! hear! hear!) I wish, however, shortly to state to the House the reasons which induce me to depart from the usual practice in moving for a new writ, in order that I may pay a humble but sincere tribute of affection, to the memory of my departed friend. Sir, it is not on any consideration of private friendship-it is not on any contemplation of his many virtues as a private individual-it is on the reflection of the great space which he occupied in this House-it is on the recollection of his splendid abilities-it is on the conviction which we who thought with him on political sub jects |
