§ House in Committee (according to order).
§ The EARL of HARDWICKEsaid, he hoped this Bill would be advantageous to Her Majesty's naval service; but, at the same 1247 time, he feared that there was little chance of inducing seamen to enter for the extended period of ten years, unless some considerable immediate advantages were held out to them, their dispositions leading them to prefer immediate to prospective advantages. He congratulated the Government on retaining the power of impressment, believing that, whatever might be said with regard to it, when the emergency arose they would never want public support for using the only available means effectually to protect the maritime interests of this country.
§ On Clause 8,
§ The EARL of ELLENBOROUGHexpressed a hope that if the Bill, when in actual operation, should be found not sufficient to obtain an adequate number of men for the service of the Royal Navy, its provisions would be extended. Our Navy at the present moment was precisely in the condition that the French used to be. It was suffering from a want of men, and from that cause it was not so efficient as the Navy of Great Britain ought to be.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that, in his judgment, the Royal Navy was never in a more efficient state than it was at the present moment, and this Bill would increase that efficiency, as it would prevent that perpetual shifting of crews by which men were thrown adrift just at the moment when their services had become most valuable to the country.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Bill reported, without amendment.