Lord Howick,on consideration, felt that the motion, of which he had given notice for this day, for leave to bring in a Bill to make more effectual provision for the Pensioners of Greenwich Hospital, could not properly be submitted to the House, without a message from his majesty to recommend the measure. No time, however, would be lost, as in the mean time he should move for the production of such information, as would have been necessary to be produced to the House before the second reading of the bill. The noble lord concluded by moving, "That there be laid before the House a copy of the minute of the Commissioners and Governor of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, of the 5th instant, relative to the mode of ameliorating the condition of the Out-Pensioners, and making provision for the inferior wounded and disabled Officers of his majesty's navy." On the question being put,
§ Mr. Canningsaid, he entirely agreed in the object of the noble lord, and in the course which he proposed to pursue for the attainment of that object. He was happy to have at length a recognition on the part of one of his majesty's ministers, that any boon to the military ought to originate in a message from his majesty, because that was the proposition that had been so often lately, and so distinctly urged from his side of the house. The noble lord's conduct on a former occasion, had been even frequently adverted to in the course of these discussions, and he was happy to find that noble lord, for whose character and person he entertained so high a respect, not influenced by the example of his colleagues, but persevering in the constitutional practice.
Lord Howickcould not but be gratified by an expression of approbation of his conduct from any member of that house, but particularly from the rt. hon. gent. who had just sat down. But when this approbation 676 was given by contrasting his conduct with that of his colleagues in office, he could not persuade himself, that it was not bestowed rather with a view of condemning others than of complimenting him. The present instance could be no precedent, as the right hon. gent. would have known, if he had waited for the information which he proposed to have laid before the house. The assistance intended to be given, was to be derived from a certain proportion of prize money which was to be transferred to the Hospital. Prizes were exclusively the property of the crown, and there was no instance of a grant out of such property, without the authority of a message from his majesty. The noble lord again disclaimed any compliment at the expence of his colleagues.—The paper was then ordered; as were also, an Account of the revenue and expenditure of the Royal Hospital of Greenwich, on the 31st of December 1805, distinguishing the several branches; A copy of the minute of the Supervisor of the Chest of Greenwich, relative to the mode of ameliorating the condition of the In-pensioners of that Hospital; and An account of the revenue and expenditure of the Chest at Greenwich, on the 31st December 1805, distinguishing the several branches.