already achieved; when the na, tional mind, as he believed, was made up on the subject of the im. portance of these services; and when the first act of the regent's unrestricted government was to mark that distinguished name with new honours, as it had been almost the last act of the sovereign's exercise of authority to recommend it to the gratitude of parliament? Did not every man, he would ask, hail this exercise of one of the noblest prerogatives of the crown? and yet the honourable baronet would begrudge the man who had received the gratitude of his country this small grant of 20007. With regard to the last achieve ment, he meant the recapture of Ciudad Rodrigo, he viewed it as calculated to produce a great moral effect on the minds of the people of Spain. It took place at a most critical moment for that country; at a moment, if not of despair, at least of despondency; and when the minds of the people were liable to be strongly influenced by the dazzling successes of the rival general. In this point of view, it was an achievement calculated to counteract the paralysing effects of the enemy's successes in another quarter and as to the recapture itself, whatever the honourable baronet might think of it, it had certainly outrun, in rapidity of execution, the expectations and even the fears of a not improvident adversary. As to the affairs of Spain generally, he did not even now despair of the ultimate triumph of that heroic people. He now alladed to the late reinvigoration of the Spanish government, from which he was prepared to augur the happiest consequences; and which, in his opinion, not only called upon this country not to cir

cumscribe its succours, but even to extend their supplies with a more liberal hand, if possible, than we had done before. By so acting, the house and the country would pursue the safest and the wisest policy, and their conduct would stand jus tified, not only in our own times, but in the page of history. This, however, was a subject foreign to the merits of lord Wellington; and he must be permitted to add, that, looking at the amount of the grant now proposed, he thought it hardly adequate to his lordship's deserts; for it should never be forgotten that his lordship had declined ac cepting any pecuniary reward from our allies, and looked to this country alone to appreciate his services. But as unanimity was peculi ly desirable on a subject like the present, he would not press the adop tion of any additional sum, and trusted that the house would cheerfully adopt the present motion.

Lord Temple and sir H. Burrard spoke on the same side; and the question was carried, with the single negative of sir F. Burdett.

The chancellor of the exchequer said, that the house would join with him in lamenting the account which had lately reached this country of the death of general Craufurd, in consequence of the wound he received in the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo. He was an officer whose merits could hardly be appreciated too highly, nor his loss too deeply regretted. When mounting the breach, at the head of the storming party which he led, he received a wound, which unfortunately proved fatal a few days after, and deprived his country of a brave and able officer.

The chancellor of the exchequer then moved « an humble address to the prince regent, praying that

he

he would be pleased to order a monument to be erected in St. Paul's, to the memory of the late majorgeneral Craufurd.”

Lord Castlereagh paid several high compliments to the memory of the deceased; and the address was ordered nem. con.

Lord Palmerstone rose to state the expenses for which it would be necessary for the house to provide for the estimates of the army, and the diminution in some branches, and increase in others, both as to numbers and charges. A considerable expense had been, for instance, incurred by the appointment of serjeant-schoolmasters. For some years past schools had been instituted upon a contracted plan, which depended on the zeal and intelligence of the officers, and other aids. The commander-in-chief had, however, determined to recommend the adoption of a school for every battalion; the expense of which amounted to 20,0007, including the cost of books, stationery, and other necessary articles.

When gentle

men considered the importance of this subject, they would see that the new regulation tended to make men better soldiers and better subjects; that the money was not uselessly spent; and that while it advanced the public security, it paid a just debt to the bravery of those who were to be benefited by it. His lordship here went into detail respecting the items of the army; and he added, that the staff was also increased by the conquest of colonies, such as the Mauritius, which was entirely a new expense. In the establishments at Chelsea and Kilmainham, there was a diminution, though possibly more would be wanted next year: but the increase for out-pensions created an expense at Chelsea of 16,0007.

and at. Kilmainham of 4,000/ Two years ago 200,000l. were recovered in aid of these establishments from agents, of which 100,000Z. were taken in 1810, and 25,0007. in 1811; but the remaining balance was not more than would meet necessary demands. On the head of widows' pensions there was an increase of 8251. There was an increase of 15,000/. on the head of local militia. Additional charges were incurred for foreign corps, partly by the establishment of the Greek light infantry, which had previously existed, but was now augmented and placed on the army establishment. It was an effective corps of 1000 strong, and there was no doubt about keeping it up or augmenting its numbers, if deemed adviseable. As to the military college, there was a diminution of 75177. arising from a balance of 70007, which had not been required, and which was consequently appli cable to the present year. There was no immediate call for money for building for the establishments for military education, but there might probably be one this year. Originally 170,000l. was the sum estimated for the college for the junior department at Sandhurst, of which 40,0007. were voted in 1810, and 30,0007. in 1811; there remained to pay 100,0001. exclusive of the necessary furniture, of which no estimate had yet been made. In the military asylum there was an increased charge of 13617. by the addition of 63 children at Chelsea, and 50 at the Isle of Wight. An increase of 18801. had occurred in allowances and charges to retired chaplains, and to garrison-chaplains, &c. From the list of all persons receiving bounty-money, the house would see that no improper allowances had been made. After

various

various other statements, and a refereace to the printed particulars of the estimates, the noble lord observed, that as it was possible that the country might be called upon to continue the war for a long time, and even to look to itself for all its resources, it was satisfactory to see that, though we were engaged in the most arduous operations, with our troops in every quarter of the globe, fighting great battles and carrying on important sieges, and conquering vast colonies-still the ravages of war in our ranks fell be. bow the casualties of former years; and that all was done without any severe measure pressing upon the civil population of the country. While our enemy was assailing us, he was even giving us the means of resisting him; for we saw the very people, whom he attempted to drag into his service, come and range themselves under our banners, enabling us still further to meet and to combat him. The noble lord then moved his first resolution.

Mr. Bankes said, that the state ments of the noble lord had been generally made in so satisfactory a manner, that he need not go into any detail upon them. He thought them more satisfactorily stated than they had formerly been; for he had often found reason to complain of the intricacy that pervaded the accounts of the war department. There were only one or two points on which he wished to make some observations. First, with respect to the new military college at Sandhurst. It had certainly created a great expense, partly from the considerable extension of the ground which had at first been allotted to it. More expenses would be incurred on this head; for it was well known, the estimated first charge was never the whole sum

which they would be called on to pay. He must, however, express his hope that this undertaking would be conducted with a due regard to economy, and that the public money would not be squandered away, as he had seen it, upon uscless schemes of magnificence, most expensive, and often with very little taste. But there was one matter connected with the estimate to which he could not agree, and on which he should feel it to be his bounden duty to take the sense of the house, on a proposition which he thought too plain to be disputed in that stage of the estimate, or, if he failed then, which he could hardly suppose, on the bringing up of the report. It was with much regret that he met with an anticipated charge for the office of paymaster of widows' pensions, particularly when he recollected what had passed in that house on that subject in the session before the last. It was true that such a charge, if to be made at all, found its place rightly in these estimates: but he lamented that ministers had filled up the vacancy of such an office with the resolution of the session before the last under their eyes. He should move the deduction of that specific sum; and he repeated that, failing in that, he would renew his endeavours on the report, and see how the house would act.

Colonel McMahon said, that in accepting the office, he never had any idea of acting against the sense of parliament. He did not mean to say that any services of his gave him a claim to remuneration. It had been observed before, that the situation he had the honour to hold was a sufficient compensation. For his part he would say, that in the rewards he had received from his royal master, he had met with such

numerous

after which, on the resolution for granting 61,000!. for widows' pensions, Mr. Bankes moved as an amendment, to omit the 20001. to colonel M'Mahon for the paymastership, and thus to make the sum 59,000. A division ensued: For the original motion For the amendment

Majority

39

15

The remaining resolutions were then agreed to. When, however, the report was brought up, Mr. Bankes renewed his amendment, and carried it in the teeth of administration by a majority of 3.

Feb. 25.-Mr. Bankes, in order to establish the case which he was about to bring before them, respecting a certain member of the house, wished to move for-1st, a copy of the recorded conviction of Benjamin Walsh-2d, an humble address to the prince regent, for a copy of his pardon, and of the letter from the judges in consequence of which that pardon was granted. This he conceived to be necessary, in order to repel any suspicion that the proceedings in the case of the gentleman in question were not such as ordinarily take place in similar cases-3d, a letter from Mr. Walsh to his brother, acknowledging the foulness of the transaction, and produced at his trial; and that Mr. Jenkins, the solicitor, do attend with the said letter. He had also to move, that Mr. Walsh do attend in his place in the house on Thursday next.-The result of this motion was the expulsion of Mr. Walsh from the house.

Mr. Drummond rose to move for leave to bring in a bill to pre

vent bankers and others from embezzling securities for money intrusted to their care. Without referring to a late case which had made much noise in the country, it was well known that a number of instances had occurred within these few of violations of trust, for years, which there was no existing punishment; and it became therefore necessary for the legislature to interfere, that the subject might have that security for his property to which he was entitled. The bill now proposed to be brought in could hardly be said to be an ad dition to the criminal code of the country: it was more properly an extension of an act already in existence, by which it was made felony for servants or clerks to embezzle or misapply the property of their masters intrusted to them.

Mr. John Smith seconded the motion. The bill was, in his opinion, very properly extended to all classes of persons to whom moneys or securities might be intrusted. It was well known, that though in general property might be deposited with the bank of England, yet that, in the cases of exchequer bills and India bonds, the bank of England would not take any charge of them, so that the subjects were compelled to intrust these to individual bankers. They are, therefore, out of the protection of the law. As the law stood, the servant was guilty of felony; why, for a similar offence, was the master not to be equally punishable?

After some discussion, whether it would be adviseable to make the penalty felony or misdemeanour, the bill was ordered to be brought in.

CHAP.