Duke of Cumberland's annuity bills were read a third time. Adjourned to Monday.

House of Commons, June 17.The judges' salaries bill was read a third time and passed.

On the motion for the speaker quitting the chair to go into the committee of supply, Mr. Abercromby rose. It was perfectly consistent with the forms and precedents of that house, for any member to take the opportunity of the motion on which the speaker was to leave the chair previously to a committee of supply, to state any matter, which being in the character or having the appearance of a grievance, might still not be deemed worthy of the formalities of a specific motion. He acknowledged that every apology was due from him, for attempting to originate a discussion upon the subject to which he now invited their attention. The subject was that of a member of the house, a representative-he might say an ornament of the metropolis, and one upon whom the highest honours had been lavished by foreign prinThe house would see by this time, that he meant his gallant friend the member for Southwark. He wished to guard against any misapprehension. He was not about to say any thing which could tend ever so remotely to call in question the conduct of the commander-in-chief. He would be the last man in the house to originate any discussion which could have that tendency; nor was it his intention to call in question the exercise of the prerogative of the crown in relation to the dismissal of his gallant friend. They might differ very materially upon questions of prerogative, but

ces.

he hoped that those differences would not be allowed any place in this discussion. Nor did he complain of the opinions formerly expressed by any gentleman against his hon. and gallant friend, much less did he ask for any revision or retractation of such opinions. His object was to persuade the house to do honour to itself by expressing its sympathy for one whose eminent services and personal worth, whose noble soul and generous feelings, had endeared him to all who knew him, including a large proportion of that house. If, in the passages of his life which had been in the eye of the country and in the face of his enemies, some errors had been observed, even his enemies would admit that those errors resulted from the excess of a generous and gallant and ardent spirit, the transports of which merely wanted more control. His military career of 29 years was suddenly interrupted by a decree, which was not preceded by any court-martial. Looking at his whole career, his eminent qualities, his honourable and useful services, and his long military life, he would ask, had not his punishment been more than enough? Was he less cherished by his constituents? Was he less esteemed by the profession? Was the career which best suited his gallant spirit to be for ever closed? He was dismissed without the sentence of a court-martial. The house, being moved, refused to investigate his

ever since. Many who voted against him from a sense of public duty, were ready to express their kindly feelings towards him, and their admiration at his conduct in that trying period. Considering the age of the individual, and that this was probably the last session of the parliament, he wished to appeal to the house, and especially to those members who were now engaged in the profession of his gallant friend, for some declaration of their kindness towards him. He saw about him some of the companions in arms of his hon. and gallant friend-some who had shared in common with him his trials and his dangers. To them he appealed, if, upon the late promotion, his hon. and gallant friend had been restored to that situation which he had attained by his brilliant and glorious services, would not the army have been gratified-would not his brother officers have been delighted? He abstained from particularizing the brilliant feats in which his hon. and gallant friend had been engaged. In any testimony which he could give, he ought to warn the house that he gave it in the spirit of a warm and ardent friendship which he felt for his hon. friend. He only wished the house to listen to the opinion of those who knew and could rightly appreciate the character and services of his hon. and gallant friend. If the expression of that opinion should be such as he confidently anticipated, then he knew the effect which it would have in its representation to the proper quar

ter.

He wished not to be misunderstood. He was not suggesting to any member the performance of any thing which would

not as readily spring from the exercise of their own free willmuch less did he seek by this to shackle the exercise of those powers which were vested with the crown and its ministers; but he spoke in reference to the known kindness of a benign sovereign, and his benevolent intentions to those who had faithfully and zealously served him. Such an act of grace and favour as that to which he alluded, would be most grateful to the house, highly satisfactory to the profession, and a matter of rejoicing to the country. He was not dictating any particular method for carrying this object into effect. He was only endeavouring to arm those upon whom the affair would devolve, with reasons for furthering the generous intentions of the sovereign to all his meritorious servants. If these suggestions should lead to the restoration of his gallant friend, it would make him happy to think that he had been the humble instrument for bringing about that object.

Mr. Littleton said, that the same motive which had formerly made him withhold his assent to a motion for inquiry upon the dismissal of his gallant friend, now induced him to express the gratification given him by the sentiments of the hon. and learned gentleman. To excite discussion upon the former errors of his gallant friend would be bad taste and bad feeling in him. However they might have demanded attention, they were now forgotten. No other recollections were preserved but the services of his gallant friend. His restoration would be received with acclamations by the whole country, and would be felt almost as a

personal

personal obligation by every member of the house.

Mr. Wodehouse hailed this as a most welcome proposition. It was the more commendable, because it dictated no particular course to the government. Looking to the sovereign, and those in the probable line of succession, it was clear that acts of benevolence, of oblivion, of grace and favour, were most congenial to them all. He hoped for the best result from the expression of their opinions by the house, as they were all agreed that the hon. and gallant subject of the discussion was a man of a peculiarly generous and noble mind, which was evinced in all the connexions of life.

Lord W. Bentinck, if asked his opinion, or that of the profession, he would say, that the actions of no officer were supposed to have superior lustre. There was hardly an officer who had been engaged in more various services. He was not now apologizing for the errors of Sir Robert Wilson: he approved of the exercise of the prerogative in that case. He wished rather to

appeal to the generosity of the

house and to the benevolent recollection of his services in the mind of his sovereign.

Mr. Calvert bore testimony to the excellent conduct of his colleague in the representation, leaving his military character to those who could do it more justice.

Sir M. W. Ridley wished to add his tribute to the general feeling of the house. He had long known the hon. and gallant officer intimately, and could declare that he had the greatest regard to the honour of his country in all his undertakings. His errors were

momentary, and were quite eclipsed by the recollection of his great and brilliant services. His restoration would be in union with the sentiments of the country, and if he regained his station, he would impart a lustre to the profession which he could never tarnish.

Sir R. Fergusson had the honour of a professional acquaintance with him, having served with him on many occasions. No man existed who more invariably attracted the respect and honour of the profession. His restoration to the service to which he gloriously contributed, would be hailed by the whole army as much as it would gratify the house. Looking across the house, he saw a gallant member who must be the exception, if any were admitted, to the superiority of Sir Robert Wilson. That honourable and gallant gentleman was one of the highest military authorities known. It would be highly gratifying to the house to hear the opinion of that gallant officer upon the professional character and services of his gallant friend.

Sir George Murray did not rise in consequence of the suggestion of his gallant friend who had just sat down, but from a conviction, with respect to Sir Robert Wilson, that it was impossible to know any man whose qualities were better suited to the profession of which he had been before so bright an ornament. It would rejoice him to see that officer restored. if, when that were done, he could only keep his talents employed in the proper way, he would greatly benefit the profession. He took the same opportunity of observing, that the power which dismissed the gallant officer must, in his opinion, be vested in the crown,

And

for

for the due and proper control of the army.

Mr. Mansell said, that the gallant officer had committed errors, but he had been sufficiently punished for them. No greater favour could be done to the house, than to restore him to his rank.

Mr. W. Lamb spoke to the same effect, and said, that it was high time that the errors of the gallant officer were forgotten.

Mr. Brougham said, that only one opinion seemed to actuate all parties. He wished to add his full and complete testimony to the character given of his gallant friend, in regard to his conduct on a former very trying occasion. He was the professional adviser and friend of the gallant officer, and he had the fullest and most positive knowledge for inducing him to say, that the utmost exertion of human forbearance was manifested by his hon, and gallant friend. He (Mr. Brougham) had seen the documents in his possession, which, perhaps, no one besides his gallant friend could have refrained from publishing: not one word of them did his hon. and gallant friend divulge, notwithstanding the aggravating situation in which he was placed.

The committee of supply was then postponed.

Mr. Huskisson having moved the order of the day on the further consideration of the report on the customs' consolidation bill, several clauses were pro forma brought up; after which the house resolved itself into a committee.

Mr. Huskisson begged to remind the committee, that early in the course of the present session, on the 25th of March last, he had had the honour of submitting to their

consideration a variety of resolutions, tending to effect very important changes in our system of duties and customs, and applying, not only to the manufactures of this country, but to manufactured articles imported from foreign states. He had, on that occasion, entered at great length into a statement of the grounds upon which it was proposed that these alterations should be introduced into our commercial policy; and they were formally recommended in the resolutions brought in. At the same time, in effecting such extensive alterations. in a system of duties and customs that had existed through so long a succession of years, he had felt most desirous of availing himself of all the light and experience that could aid him in so arduous an undertaking; and he had accordingly invited the suggestions and observations of all practicable and intelligent men who might be willing to afford him the benefit of their counsel and information. He could assure the committee that that invitation was very generally accepted, and that his proposal was not unheard: for no person, he believed, who had filled his situation had ever become engaged in a more extensive correspondence than himself, or had received more numerous deputations, or had been a party at more conferences than he had received and met at the board of trade since those alterations were first announced in parliament. The committee would not be surprised to hear this, because it must be evident that many individuals, and many separate interests, would be seriously affected, or would consider themselves to be so at any rate, by the operation of such changes. In

mentioning

mentioning these facts, he did not at all desire to disparage either the motives or the proceedings of those individuals, or to discourage any other honourable gentleman who might hereafter fill the post which he now occupied from pursuing a similar course of action. His object was, rather, to apologize to the committee for now again adverting to the measures in question; and especially in the view of stating, that however great might be his desire to attend to the representations of every individual who might wish to be heard, in regard to any of these alterations, he was sure that it had not always happened that he could follow his own wishes by complying with such applications. But if he had in any case seemed to be inattentive to any body, it was only because it was merely impossible, amidst the claims of so many interests, to attend particularly to the case of every individual. And further, he did not feel it necessary where he was so called upon, in reference to points and questions on which he had already largely and explicitly explained himself, to enter upon such explanations again. Having now, therefore, heard, as he might assume, all that could be said upon the subject of those alterations by all parties interested in their operation; and not only all that could be said by such interested parties, but all the suggestions, proposals, and animadversions which had been made by those other parties who had accepted his invitation, he now came to indicate to the committee how far he had subsequently modified those resolutions which he had introduced on the former evening. The modi

fications which he had now to suggest were intended still further to extend and establish a more sound and salutary policy than had hitherto prevailed with respect to our foreign commerce, and in regard to the encouragement of our manufactures and the general trade of the country. In looking at the period of time which had been occupied in considering these changes and modifications, the committee would do him the justice to remember, that it was highly expedient and essential that important alterations in a system so vast and complex as that of our commercial revenue should not be inconsiderately or precipitately adopted. The numerous propositions that had been submitted to him in this respect by the many parties he had alluded to, he had received and reviewed with great jealousy. The alterations he had propounded to the committee in the beginning of the session were founded upon the best information he could obtain, and the most mature deliberation he could bestow upon it. At the same time he had felt then, and since, that it became him to study other statements, and to get information from all quarters; but he might add, in regard to some of the parties by whom it had been contributed, that there was in some instances, as between himself and them, an issue of statements as well as an issue of expediency. Now, in the most extensive branches of our foreign manufactures and commerce, he had been able, upon the result of all the increased knowledge that he had arrived at in respect of them, since he first proposed the alterations of duties in question,

to