§ Lord Henry Pettymoved, that the house should resolve itself into a committee, to consider the circumstances of lord Coilingwood's family.—On the question being put,
Mr. Bastardsaid, before the house went into the committee, he wished to address a few words, by way of question, to the noble lord. He understood lady Collingwood, in case of her surviving her lord, was to have the annuity continued to her for her life. He thought it very right it should be so; but, what he wished to know, was, whether any provision was intended to be made for the unfortunate widows of captains of men of war, whose husbands had fallen gallantly defending their country in the glorious battle of Trafalgar? Captain Duff had so fallen, and had left behind him a disconsolate widow to mourn his loss, and, at the same time, the loss of her subsistance, for he understood she was very ill provided for; capt. Cooke had also fallen on the same glorious occasion, and had left a widow in a similar predicament. He wished, therefore, to know, whether it were intended any provision should be made for those unfortutunate ladies? and he hoped he should not be deemed troublesome by the noble lord in asking the question.
§ Lord Henry Pettyexpressed his partci 351 pation in the feeling so properly expressed by the hon. member; but he believed it was not customary on such occasions to make any particular provision for the widows of naval captains. He understood, however, that some application had been made on behalf of those ladies for his majesty's bounty, which was at present under the royal consideration, but he was not yet prepared to communicate the result.—The house then went into a committee: in which the noble lord moved a resolution, that in the event of the decease of lord Collingwood, the sum of 1000l. a year should, from the tune of his decease, be settled on lady Collingwood for her life; and, after her decease, if the daughters of lord Collingwood be living, the same annual sum to be settled on them, to commence from the day of lady Collingwood's decease.—The house resumed, and the report was ordered to be received tomorrow.