Lord Auckland took the opportunity off the house were to sit in protracted discusdeclaring, that he would not consent to sion to a late hour on Monday night, it postpone the 2d reading of the bill on ac- was impossible there could be that full atcount of the papers moved for by the no-tendance on Tuesday that the dignity of ble lord. the house, the importance of the occasion, and the respect due to the Speaker required. After Tuesday, the first day of the impeachment, the same full attendance on that business would not be so necessary. He would, therefore, propose Wednesday or Thursday for the 2d reading of the bill.

Lord Holland suggested, whether the noble lord had not better move, amongst other voluminous works, for Anderson's History of Commerce and Postlethwaite's Dictionary. After some further conversation the motion was negatived.

Lord Sheffield then moved for copies of all memorials and petitions presented to the board of trade since 1801, relative to suspensions of the navigation act.

Mr. Canning did not object to the motion; but he hoped the day now to be fixed for the second reading of the bill alluded to, would be adhered to definitively. WithLord Auckland objected also to this mo-out entering into the reasons which were tion, as the memorials (there were no pe-given for deferring the proceeding beyond titions) would form several folio volumes, Monday, every one must allow that this and were of no consequence to the ques-business was also of the most important tion. Any of the memorialists, who now thought it necessary, might petition the house against the bill.-The motion was negatived.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Friday, April 25. [MINUTES.] Sir J. Anderson brought in a bill to enable the proprietors of the new houses near Temple Bar and Snow Hill, to dispose of them by way of lottery, which was read a first time.-Mr. Manning brought up the report of the committee on the London Dock Improvement bill. The amendments were agreed to, and the bill ordered to be read a 3d time.-On the motion of Mr. W. Keene, it was ordered that there be laid before the house, copies of all applications to the court of directors, for claims on the Nabob of Oude, with the amount thereof, and the decisions thereupon.-Lord H. Petty, in consequence of some informality, felt himself obliged to postpone, for a few days, the motion of which he had given notice, relative to the provision for the family of the late lord Nelson, which he would bring forward, however, at an early opportunity.

nature. Various reports and considerations had gone abroad on the subject, embracing the whole military system, which it was extremely important to settle and set at rest as soon as possible.

Mr. Secretary For acknowledged the importance of the bill; but the force of the grounds for putting it off must be felt by every one-the indisposition of his right hon. friend who originated the bill in the first instance, and the magnitude of the business to come on on Tuesday in the present. He agreed to fix the 2d reading for Wednesday.

[INCREASED PAY OF THE NAVY.] The house having resolved itself into a committee of supply, to which were referred the navy estimates, presented yesterday, respecting the allowance of additional pay to the officers and seamen of the navy,

Lord Howick rose and spoke as follows: I rise, sir, pursuant to notice, to submit to the house a proposition, upon which I am persuaded there can be but one opinion in this house. It must be equally the wish of every Englishman to contribute to the adequate provision and comfort of a class of men who stand so high in universal estimation, as the British navy, and who have claims so peculiarly strong upon the esteem and gratitude of their country. It must, I say, be our wish not only to pro

[REPEAL OF ADDITIONAL FORCE BILL.] Mr. Secretary Fox, when he had, on a former day, moved that the order for the 2d reading of the bill for the repeal of the additional force act be deferred till Mon-mote the comforts, but to secure the necesday, had not in his recollection that on sary rewards to that gallant body. FeelTuesday a business was to come on of as ing this, I cannot suffer myself to entertain great parliamentary importance as any the a doubt of unanimous support. But, alexecutive government could have to be sanc- though I am confident that the principle and tioned by the house, he meant the impeach-justice of the measure I am about to subment of lord Melville, which the house mit will meet the most cordial and lihad determined to attend in a body. If beral concurrence in all quarters, still, lest

any exception should be taken as to the Some years since application was made in expediency of proposing it at the present their favour, and the consequence was, an moment, I think it necessary to state the order merely to raise the pay of the lower reasons which have induced me to bring it lieutenants to a level with that of the under your consideration. This statement higher. So far as the arrangement went, I feel it right to make, in order that it may it was, no doubt, advantageous, but to only not be supposed that I have acted rashly one of he parties, although the complaint or unadvisedly, or that I have undertaken, was from the whole. That the ground of without adequate motive or due considera- such a complaint should be totally remotion, to propose any addition to the pub-ved, I am sure the house will concur with lic burthens. I trust it will appear to every me in thinking; and also that no comthinking man, that this addition, although plaint should be allowed to exist in any considerable, is called for by the most pres-rank of our navy, from the highest to the sing claims of justice and necessity, and lowest. Indeed, it can only be necessary that the country cheerfully yields to those to state this proposition to insure acquiescalls, from a well deserved attention to the cence, without any argument whatever. I quarters from whence they proceed. An shall, of course, exclude from the new araddition to the pay of a certain class of rangement, those officers who received last our navy, has long been thought necessa-year any addition to their pay; I mean the ry, and that necessity has been frequently masters. and surgeons. They were unurged in vain. I was but a short time in the doubtedly entitled to the attention they office which I have the honour to hold, when have experienced, but they have received I found that measures were taking to lay the their due proportion upon the scale I now claims of this class before parliament; infor- propose. To all the other officers I shall mation reached me from a variety of chan-extend the augmentation. I have said nels, that petitions were left at the different that I shall make no partial selection, and ports for signatures, praying an increase of in this resolution I am justified by the adthe pay of naval lieutenants, and that it was vice of the most competent authorities, of intended to have such petitions presented to persons best qualified to judge upon the parliament. The copy of these petitions subject. It has been strongly urged to me, I have seen, and it was, no doubt, couched by every person with whom I have conin terms the most proper and respectful sulted, that the warrant and petty officers that could be devised; and the object of are particularly entitled to a liberal allowthe petitioners struck me to be unexcep-ance; and not only the necessity of pretionably fair. But still I had objections to serving a fair proportion, and the policy that mode of proceeding. I therefore of guarding against discontent, but justice thought it my duty to discourage it. I how-itself pleads in favour of the seamen. Inever took every means in my power to en-deed, in the opinion of all naval men, it quire into the case, well satisfied that if would be highly imprudent to advance the there were any ground of complaint in any part of the navy, parliament would seize the first opportunity to remove it, and the country would be forward to applaud the

act.

A

pay of the warrant and petty officers, without granting a proportionate advance to the able and ordinary seamen. I am aware that an advance was made to the latter in The result of my enquiry has served 1797. But still it will be admitted that, to convince my mind, that not only the from the enhancement of all articles of class alluded to, but every other class in the first necessity, and the depreciation of the navy, from the superior officers down money which has taken place within the to the ordinary seamen, labour under dis- last nine years, the demand of a further advantages which ought to be immediately advance to these meritorious men cannot set aside. With this conviction I am of be considered unreasonable. To establish course of opinion, that no measure of re-any increase of wages proportionate to the lief can be effectual, that in fact, any con- circumstances I have mentioned, it is not cession will lose much of its value, if par- my intention to attempt. Indeed such a tial in its application; and that the only way of doing substantial justice, and giving general satisfaction, is by raising the rates of allowance to all the classes of the navy. The complaint of the lieutenants, the house will recollect to be by no means new

thing would be, scarcely possible. I have endeavoured to keep equally in view the degrees of rank and the merits of service; and hope I have avoided the injustice and inconvenience of any partial selection, such as prevailed in 1797, when the addi

tion to include all those who are denominated on board, the captains of the forecastle, of the mast, of the tops, and of the afterguard, who are the most active seamen on board; and to each of them I propose an increase of 9s. 6d. per month. To master's-mates and warrant officers I would

tion to the seamen's wages was not such as so much at large, the motives which have to afford them much advantage or satisfac-induced me to bring forward this proposìtion, and yet it created an undue propor- tion, I shall now proceed to detail the setion in their favour. By any man who re-veral items of the encrease which I have to flects but à moment on the sufferings, the offer for your consideration. It will be obprivations, and the services of our seamen, served, that my arrangement does not init is impossible that a doubt can be enter-clude the landsmen; because I feel, that, tained of the propriety of affording them as they enter voluntarily, aware of all the every means of consolation in our power. circumstances of the situation in which Look but at the difficulties and dangers to they engage, they stand on a footing quite which they are exposed every hour; review different from that of the seamen. Now, as the manner in which they have overcome to the scale of augmentation, I propose to every difficulty and danger that has here-allow every ordinary seaman an additional tofore assailed them, and mark the glory pay of 28. per month; to every able seawhich you have derived from their daunt-man 4s, per month; to all petty officers, less exertions. After this review, is there who, according to the universal opinion, an English heart which would not revolt are so materially instrumental in preserv. at a moment's hesitation to grant the just ing the discipline, and promoting the succlaims of an English seaman? But inde-cess of our fleets, 58. per month. At the pendently of any appeal to liberality, the same time I mean, that a considerable adpretensions of the seamen are incontrover-dition should take place in the number of tible. When we consider the nature of this very useful body of men. This addithe service in which they are engaged, what must be our reflections? Withdrawn from all the enjoyments of domestic com fort, exposed to all the hazards of war, deprived of the profits and security they had on board merchant-ships, from which for the most part they have been taken; the prospect, in fact, of future advance-give an addition of 6s. per month. As ment cut off, and perhaps forfeited for the warrant officers are retained and reever; such has been the state of the greater ceive their pay during peace, as well as part of your present seamen for years back, war, the addition to be granted them, in excepting in some degree, that period of this instance, is only to be allowed while disturbed and agitated peace, if that could they are in actual service. To the master be called peace, in which you were subject and surgeons, I have already stated, no to all the embarrassments, and obliged to addition is to be made. But there is a maintain all the expences and apparatus of class of persons in the navy, whose claims war. A large proportion indeed of your to attention are as well founded as the seamen has been in actual service for 12 general respectability of their character, I or 13 years, and in actual service of the mean the chaplains; among the general most toilsome, dangerous, unprofitable, and advance, I propose to grant to the chaplain unpromosing description; compelled for the appointment of schoolmaster, which the most part, of late years, to encounter will form an addition to his revenue of 201. the inclemency of all seasons, they have a year. I now come to the commissioned had to watch the enemy in his ports, with-officers, whose pay has not experienced out even the hope of meeting and conquer-any rise since the days of queen Anne. ing him, which would render a British sea- First, as to lieutenants, who have receimen indifferent to fatigue. No; the enemy having no means of safety but in eluding the vigilance of our seamen, disappoints that thirst for conquest and glory which distinguishes our gallant tars, and which reconciles them to danger. Under such an accumulation of disadvantages, can you, I say, refuse them any comfort in your power to administer ? can you hesitate to furnish them with the means of solace on their midnight watch?-Having now stated

ved but 5s. per day since that period, I should add Is. per day; to the captains and admirals, whose pay has been as stati onary as that of the lieutenants, I would also make an addition. The captains, I assure the house, although their complaims have not been so often heard, have as much ground to complain, and are as much entitled to attention, as any class in his majes ty's service. To the pay of these officers, therefore, I would add 4s, per day. The

for the one, it may be impossible to give to the other. I, therefore, hope the two cases may not be confounded, and that in discussing this subject, gentlemen will avoid any reference to extraneous topics, but decide upon it from a fair view of its own justice and expediency. The motion for the grant of 193,1687. with which the noble lord concluded, being read by the chairman; in reply to a question from Mr. Wilberforce, he stated, that the proposed addition to the number of petty officers, would amount to about 10 in each ship of the line.

gradation respecting the admirals I would reconcile all sides. I flatter myself that arrange thus: to rear-admirals an addition the outline will not be ungraciously reof 38. 6d. per day; to vice-admirals, 5s.;ceived by any one. If, however, any dif to admirals, 7s.; and to admirals of the ference of opinion should arise upon the fleet, 10s.-The aggregate of the estimated detail part, on which I may perhaps have charges under these several heads will be deviated from principle, which I trust is 288,3661, or say 300,000l. per annum. But unexceptionable, I hope that the whole as the increase for the present year will may be considered on its own merits. My only commence from the 1st of May next, wish is, that no comparisons may be made. I have only now to move for the grant of They must tend to excite the most invi193,168/. To the principle of this arrange- dious feelings, possibly other mischievous ment I have no fear of any opposition, and effects, while they can serve no purpose of if in the details any thing objectionable legitimate argument. The army and navy should occur, I shall be very willing to at- are both the means of our safety, and entend to the suggestion of any gentleman titled to our warmest gratitude. The conupon it. The plan of providing for those dition of both is deserving our most diliwho are able to serve being gone through, gent attention. But then they stand upon we naturally turn our attention to those different grounds. No comparison can who are disabled by age, infirmity, or be fairly instituted between the state and wounds, from any longer serving their pretensions of both. What may be a boon country. For such persons Greenwich chest and Greenwich hospital already furnish some provision. As to the hospital, that institution has quite sufficient funds to answer its object, and any further allowance to the seamen who subsist on it would be rather liable to abuse; but as to the chest, its funds would be insufficient for the purpose. Those in view require an addition of from 14 to 20,000l. Out of this sum I would have allowed to out-pensioners a certain addition to each, to be regulated according to their services and their present situation. From 77. a year, it should rise in gradation till it reached 1s. per day. For this sum I mean no addition to the public burthens. I propose it to be provided for by a measure which will require a bill to be brought in, namely, by a grant of 1s. in the pound from all prize money; and, in addition to this, I have no doubt of his majesty's consent to set apart, for the same purpose, all droits of the admiralty. His majesty's uniform solicitude for the comfort and reward of the navy, warrants a confidence in his acquiescence upon this subject. It will be seen that I have altogether omitted any allusion to the marines, not however from any disposition to overlook their just claims. But this description of force having so much analogy to the regular army, I thought it better to postpone any refe-pleasant comparisons would be made elserence to their case, until the question respecting the pay of the army shall be determined. I have now nothing more to Lord Garlies said, that having very freadd, than to assure the house, that in the quently and maturely considered this subpreparation of the arrangement I have de-ject, he thought great credit due to the tailed, my anxious endeavour has been to noble lord, who, after being so short a VOL. VI..

Mr. Francis confessed that the business was new to him, and thathis apprehensions might appear to have no foundation; but he had one general question to ask he wished to know whether, when the pay of the officers and seamen was originally fixed, the probability of prize money was not tąken into consideration, and whether on that ground the pay was not fixed at so much lower rate? whether the pay, as connected with the prize money, was not considered as sufficient? As to his noble friend's request, that no comparison should be instituted in this discussion between the case of the navy, and that of the army, he rather apprehended that if there should be any inequality in the proposed addition of pay in the two branches of service, un

where, however studiously any allusion to the subject might be avoided in that house.

3 N

time in office, was already prepared with he feared a great number of them would so desirable a measure. But though he quit his majesty's service, for one in which highly approved of the principle of the they could find superior encouragement. measure, he could not equally approve of Were it done now, he thought it might prothe application proposed to be made of the duce the best effect; for though, perhaps, sum of nearly 300,000l. in the classes in no man would prefer submission to military which it was meant to be distributed. The discipline, to being at his own liberty, yet, warrant and petty officers were known to when accustomed to it, and already plaall professional men, to be the life and soul ced in a satisfactory situation, he might of the navy of Great Britain, and even feel no inclination to change it. As to the according to what was now proposed, able-bodied and ordinary seamen, they would be inadequately provided for. It were certainly deserving of every encou was of the utmost consequence to attach ragement that could be given them; but that class of men so to the naval situations meritorious as their services were, he would they held, as to take from them all wish rather see the chest of Greenwich apor inducement to go into the merchaut plied to the encouragement of the warrant service; to which, he lamented to say, and petty officers. The house would perthat many of them were at present strongly ceive, that the only difference of opinion inclined. He had no objection to the gra- between him and the noble lord was resdation made from admirals to lieutenauts, pecting the appropriation of the money. but very much wished that greater atten- He would go farther in his observations, tion had been paid to the pay and situa- and though the practice of impressing for tion of the first lieutenants of men of war, the navy was one, no man could ever who had now no more rank or pay in the dream of giving up; yet he would mainservice, than young lieutenants of a day's tain, that it would be much better to get standing, though in action they were every as many men as we could voluntarily, moment liable to have the whole command than to depend entirely upon that practice. of the ship. He thought that, for the He also suggested the expediency, as a sake of maintaining a proper distinction, further inducement to the service, to grant they should be allowed a further daily en- the out-pension of the chest of Greenwich crease of 5s. pay, which, to the nation, to the widows of such men as had been would not make an additional expence of slain in service; and also to all such petty more than 57. a day throughout the whole and warrant officers as had served navy. As to the warrant and petty officers, for a certain number of years, without he would again repeat, that they were the incurring any punishments by Courtsflower and strength of the navy of Eng- Martial, or by desertion, which was the land, and amongst other things, had charge bane of the service. He concluded with of the stores of the ships, which cost the saying, that he should be sorry if these nation so many millions. He thought it were only the singular opinions of himself, but reasonable that their pay should be en- an individual unaccustomed to public creased to 51. a month, which was what speaking, and therefore the more diffident they could get in the inerchant's service; in addressing himself to the house; but and as there were but 3 of them in each he had the satisfaction to state, that his ship, the rise could not be attended opinion was fortified by that of the noble with any great expence. In great ships, lord (Melville) who, however he might where there was more duty, they cer- have lately fallen under the displeasure of tainly were inadequately paid, though he the house, must be admitted on all sides to would not say the same of them from 74 be a great practical statesman; and he felt gun ships downwards. In his opinion, the himself authorised to add, that had that situation of petty officers should corres-noble lord remained till this time at the pond with that of quarter-masters, and head of the admiralty, the suggestions the situation of warrant officers with that which he now humbly submitted, would of serjeants in the army. The petty officers, have been carried into effect. He hoped in time of peace, would get 31. per month the house would pardon him the slight diin the merchant service, but if govern-gression, if he further stated his perfect conment were to allow them the same, viction, that it was to the measures adoptthey would have no inducement to entered by that noble lord and excellent statesit; and he thought it would be much bet-man, that we were indebted for all that ter to do it now, during war, than wait extent of glory, which the navy of Eng. till a time of peace, on the arrival of which land had acquired in the course of the