Justices was taken away, it would be the same as a consi derable diminution of their salaries. Now, the apportionment of the fees of the places which at present were under the patronage of the Chief Justices only, and giving part of them to the other Judges, would be a diminution of the profits of the situation of Chief Justice. It appeared to him, that that high situation was rather under-paid than overpaid. There was no description of services that he thought ought to be better paid; and it appeared to him, that in the present times it were impossible to preserve the high chaFacter and dignity of the situation without annexing ade quate emolument to it. As to the objection made by the honourable gentleman (Mr. Martin), he thought that it was sufficiently answered by the preamble of the Bill. That preamble, which stated, "whereas it is no disparagement to persons who have served in the country in high situa tions, to receive, if they should need it, honorary rewards and pensions in consideration of their services," was copied from that of Mr. Burke's Bill. It, therefore, had appeared to others, as well as himself, that this could be no degradation. At the same time, he thought that persons of affluence, who had filled high situations, should be satisfied with the emolumehts of them, and ought not to be farther charge able to the country for pensions on account of those services. With respect to the Scotch sinecure places, it had been put to him by an honourable gentleman, whether, if there was any doubt or balance on his mind whether it was not a violation of the Act of Union, would he persist in recommending it? To this he must answer, that there was no doubt or balance of his mind upon the subject, and therefore he could not consent to take away from his Bill those great and glaring sinecures. As to the Irish Sinecures and Pension List, and the bargain that, was stated to have taken place in 1793, he must say that he could see nothing like bargain in the Irish Act of Parliament regulating the Pension List. He had moyed for an account merely on hearing it stated that there was a bargain; but by that account he found that one class of payments, which the Act of Parlia ment had expressly required to be made out of the Irish Pension List, was never, in fact, made out of it. He would then put it to the House generally, whether a Pension List of 80,000l. per annum was not much too great for Ireland to bear, when it was considered that a revenue could not be raised in Ireland at all equal to the annual expenditure? A right honourable friend had asked him whether be

did not know that pensions were not as obnoxious as sinecures? He knew they were at present, when it was generally supposed that pensions were not the reward of merits. or services, but given through mere favouritism; but when the time should come that pensions were strictly and exclusively confined to persons who have rendered meritorious services, and who stood in need of the assistance, he had no doubt but that they would completely escape that obloquy which now attaches to pensions as well as to sinecures.

The Speaker, before he put the question for the third reading of the Bill, wished to advert to an objection made by an honourable Member to the third reading, on the ground of an informality-some of the provisions of the Bill affecting the Civil List, and no consent on the part of the Crown having been given, this objection did not, in his opinion, preclude the third reading of the Bill, but he thought it would be contrary to the usage of the House, for the last century, if this Bill was permitted to pass without the consent of the Crown having been previously obtained. The Bill was then read a third time.

Mr. Bankes brought up a clause providing that no part of the Bill should affect the salary of any existing officer in any of the Courts of Justice, which was agreed to.

Mr. Lockhart considered this clause as obviating his objections to the Bill.

Sir W. Curtis brought up a clause, exempting the Mayoralty and other courts of the City of London, from the operation of this Act-which, after an observation from Mr. Wrottesley, who thought that the exemption should extend to other Corporations as well as London, was agreed to.

Mr. Martin (of Galway) proposed, that the words in the preamble "provided they should need such assistance," be left out. He repeated his objections to the principle of the Bill, and said that the honourable gentleman (Mr. Bankes) was as enamoured of his Bill as the lover in the play of his mis ́tress, and liked it for its very faults-but he still thought the honourable gentleman would, after all this, lose his mistress. He would find his Bill another Eurydice, and lose it at the moment he was sure of it-like another ill fated Orpheus. The House divided,

After some further discussion, the consideration of the Bill was postponed to Wednesday next.

COLONEL M'MAHON,

Lord Castlereagh had to communicate to the House, that his royal highness the Prince Regent had been pleased that the salary of his Private Secretary (Colonel M'Mahon) should be paid out of the Privy Purse. He could have wished to see an honourable and learned Member in his place who had given notice of a motion on this subject (Mr. Horner), as perhaps he would not, under such circumstances, now think it necessary to bring it forward.

Mr. Ponsonby said he believed his honourable and learned friend would consent to withdraw his notice,

MINISTERIAL NEGOCIATIONS.

Mr Sheridan rose to give notice of his intention to bring forward a motion on Wednesday next. He was sure there was no person in the House who felt more deeply than himself how desirable it was to stand well in the public opinion; but he was as sure that no person deserved the good opinion of the public who did not also desire to protect his personal honour when called in question. He therefore took the earliest opportunity of expressing his purpose to bring forward a motion on Wednesday next, desiring further official information respecting the negociations which had been lately carried on for a change of Ministers; and he now applied to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to allow him to take an early hour on that day. He should merely make a brief statement of facts, which would lead to no discussion, and which he was sure would admit of no contradiction. After the statement which he should make, there would not be a living being, he believed, in the character of a gentleman, who would countenance any reflection on his honour or character,

Lord Yarmouth was aware how unparliamentary a proceeding it was to refer to any thing that had taken place on a former debate. He hoped, however, the flouse would permit him to say, that when he made a statement to them on a former night respecting a right honourable gentleman (Mr. Sheridan), he certainly did fancy he saw him sitting in his place. As, however, that was not the case, and as what he had said had been misrepresented, he could now restate to him what he had then expressed.-(Cries of Na! VOL. III. 1812.

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by a few, and a more general cry of, Go on!)-When the right honourable gentleman alluded to the public, he meant him (Lord Yarmouth) in the public-he was not more than one in the public; and there might be persons out of doors capable of putting an unfavourable construction on his silence. He felt sure the right honourable gentleman was convinced he had not mis-stated what had passed between them; though what he had stated had certainly been misrepresented out of doors.-(Cry of, Go on with statement !)— He could not but express his gratitude to the House for their good humour in allowing him to proceed. He should do so with more surplusage than what was almost unavoidable by a man not in the habit of public speaking. He should now proceed to the statement, observing however that he had no thought of contradicting his right honourable friend. He did state to the House the other night, and he was happy now to restate it, because it was not heard by all, an intention on the part of a portion of the Household to resign their situations. He stated that they had determined to resign-at least that a large number of them had determined to resign on such a change of Ministers taking place as would necessarily induce a change of measures. He further stated, that they had made this determination known to the highest quarter with all possible respect, and that three great officers in particular had stated, within twenty-four hours of each other, this determination of those persons who might then be considered as at the head of the Government; in other words, that they made their intention to quit their situations known to the political chiefs of their party. Their intention to do so was certain, though it was combated in a certain quarter of the highest respectability. With regard to what passed between his right honourable friend and himself, he would now re-state it to the House. My right honourable friend and myself, continued the noble lord, happened to meet one evening in a well known place, where we were accustomed to spend our evenings.- hear, said he, you are all going to resign.-I said we were.-Let me desire of you, said he, as an old friend, not to do so-take my advice and think better of it we will talk of it, if you please, to-morrow. I then observed, what you say will always have more weight with me than any man in this kingdom. Accordingly we appointed an bour next day to talk further on the subject, but as the right honourable gentleman did not come at his hour, I

went out without seeing him that day. His lordship was about to proceed with his statement, when

Mr. Sheridan rose. He did not wish to stop any Member while addressing the House; but as he had already given notice of a motion, when every person would have an opportunity of making what observations he thought proper, he submitted it to the discretion of the noble lord whether or not he ought to proceed farther with his statement at this time. If, however, the noble lord was so inclined, and the House thought fit he should proceed, he hoped they would also allow him and any other Member an opportunity of afterwards making such observations as might occur to them.

Lord Yarmouth was sure there could be no possible difference between himself and his right honourable friend as to what really passed. He would not, however, say any more on the subject at present.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. - ARMY EXTRAORDINARIES.EAST-INDIA LOAN.

The House having gone into a Committee of Supply, Mr. Wallace rose to move the sum of 2,500,000l. by way of loan to the East India Company. He said he should not enter into minute financial statements; but, as it was intended to include the vote to the East India Company in the loan for the year, he thought it necessary to assure the House of the security which existed for the repayment of the sum prayed for by the petition. He was aware that various applications had been made by the Company during the last two years; but it should be remembered, that the loans which had been granted were the means, not only of the extension, but of the security of the territory in India. The debt under which they now laboured had arisen from no mismanagement on the part of the Company. He must also observe, that if the papers in possession of the House were looked into, it would appear that there was a material difference between the deficit and the sum now asked. The deficit was 3,500,000/. while the sum prayed for by the petition was only 2,500,000l.; but he should be doing injustice to the trust reposed in him, and great injustice to the East India Company, if he did not state, that in reality the loan actually advanced by the public had been threefourths anticipated by payments made in India for the public service. The honourable Member then read, from