§ Mr. Lyall moved, for leave to bring in a Bill to alter and amend an Act passed in the reign of his Majesty George 2nd, intituled, "An Act for the Relief and Support of Maimed and Disabled Seamen, and the Widows and Children of such as shall be killed, slain, or drowned, in the Merchant's Service;" and also to repeal so much of the Act 7th and 8th William 3rd, cap. 21, as prescribes the deduction of 6d. a month from the Wages of Merchant Seamen for the support of Greenwich Hospital, and in future to appropriate the Sums so deducted to the purposes named in the Act of 20th George 2nd, cap. 38, and to extend the provisions of this Act to Scotland and Ireland; and also to extend the provisions of George 3rd, cap. 73, relating to the unclaimed Wages of Seamen dying in the West-India Trade, to the Wages of Seamen dying at all employed in any other branch of the Merchant Service.
§ Sir James Grahamsaid, that he would offer no opposition to the introduction of the Bill, but he must at the same time state to the House, that with respect to abolishing the deduction of 6d. a month from the wages of merchant seamen, he must resist any such attempt, inasmuch as from that source was derived one-third of the fund by which Greenwich Hospital 1372 was supported. The question was one, however, of the greatest importance, and therefore he should acquiesce in the introduction of the Bill.
§ Mr. George F. Youngconsidered, that if his hon. friend, the member for the City of London was at all impressed with the idea, that his proposition would tend to injure Greenwich Hospital, he would be found the last person to introduce the measure. Such were also his feelings; but he thought Government should provide other sources for the support of that justly esteemed and celebrated institution.
§ Mr. Buckinghamdeclared it to be most unjust to call upon a poor class of men to pay for that from which they could derive no benefit. He would be happy to know how many merchant seamen had been inmates within the walls of Greenwich?
§ Sir James GrahamThere were at the present moment 2,700 inmates in the Hospital, of which number 1,100 had been employed in the merchant service.
§ Mr. Humebegged to ask the right hon. Baronet, if having been in the merchant service was the recommendation for the succour of Greenwich Hospital.
§ Sir James Grahamsaid, that one day's employment in the King's service was a sufficient recommendation. Many of the seamen alluded to had acquired chronic diseases when afloat in the mercantile navy; and having been for a short period on board his Majesty's ships, they fell back upon the Hospital, and were then receiving aid. Such diseases, be it always recollected, were not generated in the King's service.
§ Leave given. Bill brought in and read a first time.