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HOUSE OF COMMON S.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17.

SUP PL Y.

The order of the day being read for the Houfe to go into a Committee of Supply, Mr. Ord took the Chair.

Sir George Yonge, after ftating that the eftimate had been made out with all poffibleaccuracy, moved, that the fum of 17,0011. 158. 5d. be granted to his Majefty for the the pay, &c. of Chelfea Hofpital for the year 1784.

Sir Cecil Wray remarked, that according to the number of men now in Chelsea Hofpital, the above fum amounted on an average to 511. 5s. per man, which, in his opinion, was too enormous; but how to remedy the evil he knew not, unless it was by pulling the Hofpital down, which in his heart he wished to fee fpeedily done.

Nothing could exceed the univerfal deteftation which feemed to be expreffed in the countenances of all the members of the House of Commons when Sir Cecil Wray propofed the annihilation of Chelfea Hospital; an idea fo repugnant to every principle of juftice could never have entered into the head of any man but one whofe heart must have been callous to the feelings of humanity, and that noble spirit of generosity which beats fo actively in the breaft of every Britain. What! fhall that man who has fought in defence of his country, and preferved her from becoming a flave to foreign tyrants, who has endured the fummer's heat in the parched regions of the torrid zone, and the numbing cold in the frozen winters of Canada--who has given up every confideration, even his deareft connections--his wife--his children, when glory has called him forth; fhall that man, after having made fo many facrifices, when he returns to his native country, perhaps with the lofs of his limbs, be abandoned in his old age to penury and diftrefs? Forbid it honour! Forbid it juftice! No! while Britain exifts, the will ever find a quiet retreat, where the exhaufted warrior may fafely rest after all his toils are over.

Sir Cecil Wray's fcheme of pulling down Chelsea Hofpital will be received with the warmest fentiments of gratitude by thofe mutilated veterans, who have fought the battles of this country, and expofed their lives to the mouths of the enemies cannon, whilft fuch men as Sir Cecil were quarrelling in the Houfe of Commons about the diftribution of political loaves and fifhes. Hard indeed is the fate of thefe poor fellows; they allow themselves to be shot at for about fourpence three farthings per day for the good of their country, and the profpect of being amply provided for in Chelfea Hofpital with a pitcher of broth and a flannel night-cap, when they are rendered incapable of further fervice to the nation; and then gets up a Senator in his place to with their houfe pulled down. We hope there are few Sir Cecils in the world. It may not be improper here to remark, that the estimate at 50l. a man is not any thing great, confidering the whole of the expences.

No lefs than feven different boroughs have been offered to Mr. Fox, if he would decline the conteft for Westminster. But Mr. Fox is firm and trufty to the firmness: of his friends.

It argues an unparalleled degree of arrogance in a certain naval character, to propofe himself for Weftminster, in oppofition to Mr. Fox. What are his political qualifications, that he should prefumingly ftep forward to contend the point with the first Senator of the prefent age; whofe abilities truly do honour to the citizens who have hitherto given him their fuffrages. The Electors of Westminster will no doubt decide whofe claim is beft, and not fuffer themselves to be HOOD-winked..

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The Naval Commander, who has profeffed himself a candidate for Westminster, must have a contemptible opinion of the difcernment of the Electors, if he imagines they are to be deceived by idle parade; they will remember the officer in queftion was anchored off St. Kitt's, when that ifland, together with Nevis and other fettlements, furrendered to the French arms; they will remember this, and not be HooD-winked by the amazing boaft of " feats of broils and battles!"

The Pages of the Back Stairs have been hard at work in favour of the Court candidates all over the kingdom: How do you vote Mr. Dip? Their Majefties admire your candles amazingly. Mr. Putty, you'll give Sira plumper---Upon my honour their Majefties mean to have all their windows new glazed. Mr. Buckskin, we make fure of you by the bye---Their Majefties intend to give us all new leather breeches after the election. Tradefinen of fenfe and spirit laugh at these petty devices; for they know that thefe demi-minions of power have not the lighteft authority for ufing the name of Majefty for fuch mean and mercenary purposes.

Sir Cecil Wray is now endeavouring to do away his wifh for the annihilation of the Chelfea Penfioners, by alledging he only wifhed the houfe pulled down, that the lame, the blind, the deaf, the bed-ridden, might be permitted to live out-penfioners on about three-pence farthing per day, and out of that buy clothes, pay for a nurse, houfe-rent, taxes, food, phyfic, &c. &c. Benevolent economy! this, in a man who himself was a foldier!

There is not the leaft doubt but every foldier in Weftminster will remember the worthy Baronet, who fo humanely wifhed to pull down Chelsea Hofpital, and deprive him of a place to retreat to in his old age.

To cover his inhuman outrage against the poor decriped penfioners of Chelsea Hofpital, who owe their misfortunes to exertions in the fervice of their country, Sir Cecil Wray pretends to provide for them more handfomely at a lefs expence. Was ever fuch an injury offered to an inftitution of this liberal defeription, without an affectation at least of œconomy? The branches into which the public expenditure is divided, are infinite. It is wonderful no other faving can be made than from the comforts, the conveniences, perhaps the neceffaries of the lame, the aged, the worn out veterans. Can he poffefs a fingle fpark of public fpirit, or be the friend of this country, who would make retrenchments on her attention to her best friends? Is he a proper candidate for reprefenting the city of Weftminster, who thus ftands forth the avowed enemy of every provifion made by the wifdom of our forefathers, for those who have spent the prime of their lives and their beft blood in our defence.

A more unmilitary fentiment was never uttered than Sir Cecil Wray's expreffion refpecting Chelfea Hofpital; it has been confidered in all the horrid fhapes that indignation could fuggeft. What perfon can hear, that each of the penfioners on the Chelsea eftablishment, who coft to this country almoft fifty one pounds per annum, knowing at the fame time, that they could not be better fubfifted, nor with more content to themselves in any other inanner--who can hear this without heartily wishing the fabric to ftand, and its revenue be thus beneficially applied? The munificence of the nation fhould be directed folely to objects of compaffion, to heal the wounded, to comfort the distressed, and to recompence the toils and dangers of the brave; under this fyftem are the appointments and the well-earned rewards affording comfort and an afylum to the veteran who has fought in his country's caufe, proportioning penfions to the merits of profeffional claimants, and confequently admitting the prefent number to its comfortable participation; alas! who can but exclaim at the worthy Baronet! The income is expended on those appointments and enjoyments of the old, the infirm, and the mutilated foldier.

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The Tory who attacked the principle inherent to the conflitution of Alfred.

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The Influence that feduced the Tory, to attack the principle inherent to the conftitution of Alfred.

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The War produced by the influence that feduced the Tory, to attack the principle inherent to the conflitution of Alfred.

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The Lofs that refulted from the war, produced by the influence, that feduced the Tory, to attack the principle inherent to the conftitution of Alfred.

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The Peace in confequence of the lofs that refulted from the war, produced by the influence, that feduced the Tory, to attack the principle inherent to the conftitution of Alfred.

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The Coalition, which commenced on the peace, in confequence of the lofs that refulted from the war, produced by the influence, that feduced the Tory, to attack the principle inherent to the conftitution of Alfred.

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This is the Lord, who oppofed the coalition, which commenced on the peace, in confequence of the lofs refulting from the war, produced by the influence, that feduced the Tory, to attack the principle inherent to the conflitution of Alfred.

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This is the Commoner who deferted the Lord, who oppofed the coalition, which commenced on the peace, in confequence of the lofs refulting from the war, produced by the influence, that feduced the Tory, to attack the principle inherent to the conftitution of Alfred.

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