Mr. Cochrane Johnstone ,in pursuance of his notice, rose to move, "that there be laid before the house, an account of all sums of money that had been received for the Sale of Commissions, which at any time became vacant by death, dismission, or in consequence of the promotion of officers, who were not allowed to sell out, from the year 1795 to the present time, specifying the names of the persons by whom paid and received, and the uses to which those sums were from time to time applied, together with receipts which had been given for the same."
The Secretary at War said, that although he had no objection to the substance of the motion, it must universally be allowed, that the sole disposal of commissions in the army was vested in his majesty, and he doubted whether it were quite proper for the house to inquire into the exercise of this prerogative; however, as he knew that the illustrious Commander in Chief was exceedingly desirous to give every information on this business, he should not object to the substance of the motion now made. The mode was for military commissions to be presented to his majesty, upon which his majesty's pleasure was taken, as to filling them up. The purposes for which any commissions were sold, were two-fold, and which shewed that the illustrious commander in chief both studied public economy and the private advantage of individuals, and that at the expence of his own private patronage. The first object in the sale of commissions was for the half-pay fund; and, secondly, for the relief of families of meritorious officers, who might fall in the service of their country. He particularly instanced the case of colonel Vassal's widow. The bulk of commissions was generally by purchase, particularly in time of peace; in time of war there generally remained a number of Vacant appointments, for which no purchasers were to be 750 found. At the conclusion of the late war there were a number of vacancies for which no ensigns were to be found. It had been proposed to lieutenants upon half-pay to serve on the pay of effective ensigns, and that ensigns' places should be sold. The price of 300l. was fixed for the sale of such commissions; but if every commission had been sold as it became vacant, it would have proved injurious to many officer. The commander in chief, therefore, suffered promotion in many instances to go on in a regular course; but still, from time to time, commissions were sold, and the money was vested in the half-pay fund. Another source from which this fund received support, was, when an officer wished to quit the army, he was allowed to sell what he had purchased, although not to sell the rank which he already possessed; thus, the difference between the price of an ensigncy and of a majority went to the same fund. The illustrious person at the head of the army had done much for its benefit; for formerly great abuses had crept into the purchase and sale of commissions. In the year 1793, officers had been advanced from the lowest ranks of the army up as high as that of lieutenant-colonel. This system had been put a stop to, and a salutary regulation had been established, that an officer, under two years standing, could not be made a captain; nor a field officer under six years standing. The practice of giving exorbitant prices for commissions, the effect of which tended to the deterioration of the army, had also been checked by the commander in chief. From what he had stated, he thought an address the most proper mode of proceeding, and therefore concluded by moving an amendment to that effect.
Mr. Cochrane Johnstonehad no objection whatever to shape his motion in that form. He could assure the house, that in bringing it forward he had no other than a public object. He had never entertained the smallest suspicion, nor given the least credit to the malicious and unfounded reports which had been in circulation, against the illustrious personage at the head of the army. But he thought it his duty, as a representative of the people, to watch over the expenditure of the public money, and he looked upon these sums to be public money. The account he was persuaded ought to be laid annually before the house, especially if, as he understood, the sums received amounted to one million.—The motion was then agreed to.