HC Deb 11 April 1808 vol 11 cc3-7
Sir Charles Pole

rose, in pursuance of his notice, to move a certain Resolution relative to the above institution, somewhat similar to that which he had lately proposed as to Greenwich Hospital. He knew it would be objected to what he was about to propose, that this charitable institution had been originally supported by private voluntary donations, but it appeared to him to be now under the immediate management of government, the more especially as parliament had been called on to vote considerable sums of money for its support. No doubt the private donations from other individuals were very important, but still there appeared no reason for separating its mode of management from that of Greenwich Hospital, as described in the Charter. Here the hon. baronet gave a statement of the most important public and private contributions to this Asylum. He observed, that a very large portion of that called "private contribution" was given from the Patriotic Fund, which was avowedly for the purpose of relieving the distresses of the relations of those who fell in the naval battles of their country. Surely, then, the offices of this charitable and naval institution could not be better bestowed than upon those who had survived these battles, but unfortunately were disabled. The sum subscribed by the Patriotic Fund amounted to 40,000l. and such being the intention of that fund, it surely never could be supposed, that other persons subscribing small sums could mean that their donations should be bestowed otherwise than upon individuals connected with the navy. They could never imagine they were subscribing towards the relief of persons, such as those already appointed to offices in that Asylum, who were as far removed from the naval service as the Great Mogul. The house were formerly told, that the office of Auditor of Greenwich Hospital must be filled by a lawyer, that Hospital possessing great sugar estates, and also great estates of other descriptions in the North; but, in the present case, what was there of law business to transact for the Naval Asylum? It was not, however, a lawyer that had been appointed to the Asylum, but a wealthy clergyman, who, fordoing little or nothing, was to enjoy, in addition to other income, a salary of 300l. a-year as Auditor. Besides which, he was to possess a free house and garden; and a very large sum of money had been laid out in repairing a house for his residence, amounting, he believed, to about 1700l.; and added to all this, even furniture for the house. He really was convinced the duties of the office he alluded to might be performed by some poor wornout or disabled naval or marine officer at a salary less than 100l. a-year; but instead of this, no less than 700l. was thus squandered away upon a spiritual gentleman, who had no occasion for any assistance whatever. Another thing he should object to upon this establishment was, the appointment of a surgeon who had never been at sea during his life, and inducing him, by a great salary, to give up his private practice, instead of appointing a naval surgeon, who would be less expensive and more thankful for the favour bestowed upon him. There were various other appointments, which he thought objectionable, such as the clerk to the institution, the clerk of instructions, &c. but the chief ones were those he had mentioned, the auditor and the surgeon. He had no difficulty in saying, that the persons who had appointed an Irish clergyman to the office of auditor of the Naval Asylum, had done wrong, if they knew that he was already possessed of four church livings in Ireland, and a glebe land so extensive, as to contain 540 Irish acres. The gentleman he alluded to was Dr. Thomas Brooke Clarke, to whom besides, there had been granted several very large sums, by resolutions of the house, as might be seen by their Journals. Here certain Resolutions were read by the clerk, at the desire of the hon. baronet. Amongst these was the sum of 556l. granted to Dr. Thomas Brooke Clarke, for his trouble in enforcing the residence of the clergy, whilst he himself intended to establish ins residence at the Naval Asylum, instead of being at any of his livings in Ireland. This rev. doctor was also secretary to the library of the prince of Wales. Had all this been known when this reverend divine was recommended, he certainly thought he could not have been appointed to that lucrative situation. There were many of the old disabled officers in the navy, with large families, who would have been most thankful and grateful for the appointments of auditor, surgeon, or clerks to the institution. He should now sit down with the hope that the Resolution which he should propose, would meet with some consideration; for in doing this they were saving the public money, and adding to the comforts of those really entitled to relief, and who would ever be grateful for the favour bestowed. It was with that view that he should propose this Resolution, "That it appears to this house, that the appointment or competent and qualified persons from the naval and marine service to hold offices and employments in the several departments or the Royal Naval Asylum will be productive of much advantage to the empire, by materially encouraging the naval service, and diminishing the public expenditure."—This Resolution the hon. baronet said, if acceded to, he should follow up with another, for an Address to his majesty, praying that he would be graciously pleased to take the most summary means of carrying that object into effect.

Mr. Rose

said, he was happy to concur with any motion that was made for the benefit of those who served in the navy, or the near relations of those who fell in battle; but he must inform the house, that the present motion was unnecessary; as the commissioners were framing regulations for the conduct of the Naval Asylum. Two years ago an account of the state of the Naval Asylum was laid before the house, and the hon. admiral now only came forward with a pompous parade of his complaints, though he never said any thing on the subject while he was himself one of the lords of the admiralty. The institution was established originally by voluntary subscription; and when it was taken under the protection of his majesty, and the duke of Cumberland was appointed president, it was then agreed to retain Dr. Clarke, who first suggested the idea of the institution, and two commissioners, at the request of the original subscribers. He declared that he was not personally acquainted with any of the parties, nor did he recommend a single person to any office, and for these reasons he moved the previous question.

Mr. Whitbread

said, if the right hon. gent, had imputed to his hon. friend the charge of having brought forward the present motion with that simplicity, manliness, and good sense which distinguished all his efforts in that house, it would have been a charge more likely to be credited than that of parade and ostentation. As to the motion itself, he could see no one ground for rejecting it. He thought it very strange, that a person who had been so active in informing against non-residents, should himself have been all the time a stranger in Ireland, though possesing two such lucrative livings there. He thought it upon the whole so gross a job, that he did think the house was bound, not merely to agree to the motions of his hon. friend, but to follow them up with an address to his majesty, for the immediate dismissal of that gentleman from a situation he must be in every respect so incompetent to fill.

Mr. Biddulph

said, that he had never heard of a transaction, that could with greater justice be termed a job, than the appointment of Dr. Clarke; but could not agree with his hon. friend on the floor in his expression of surprize, that the reverend doctor should himself prove to be one of the non-residents he had been so active in detecting; as it appeared to him to be nothing more than an illustration of the truth of the homely proverb, "set a thief to catch a thief."

Mr. Lockhart

entered into a vindication of the character and conduct, and appointment of Dr. Clarke, who, he said, was a gentleman of high respectability and accomplished manners; and such a man only was fit for the situation he filled, and the official intercourse he had to maintain. His employment, however, was not such as could be easily filled, as the hon. admiral stated. He had not only the disbursements of the charity to audit, but the accounts of the officers in every department. He had to prepare the estimates, to manage the contracts, and to examine the accounts of all the builders and other tradesmen employed. Besides, to his superintending care of this institution in its infancy, was its present existence owing; and his continuance in the situation which he held from the beginning, was at the special and stipulated recommendation of the private subscribers, who had contributed 40,000l. to the undertaking. He could not, however, reconcile the zeal of the hon. admiral for economy, and his abhorrence of profusion, with his declaration this night that he should not have thought any thing of the extravagance he arraigned, had the fruits been enjoyed by naval men.

Mr. Windham

supported the motion. He said, an hon. member had given a very comical reason for the appointment of doctor Clarke, viz. that he had good will to the navy. Why, upon the same ground every man should become an auditor, for every one bore good will as well as the good doctor; it was said, however, that the doctor was concerned the origin of the institution; aye, so it seemed, for he took especial care, to provide for himself. The good doctor was so fond of charity, that he was determined to follow it in all its branches, and so let it begin at home. It put him in mind of some pious founders of a temple, who, in their great and ardent zeal, made a niche for themselves. But the good doctor was a man of liberal education and therefore fit for the office! But if every man of liberal education were to put in his learning as a plea, pray how many auditors should we have? He did not think the general objection to the doctor's appointment was at all done away by this enumeration of his qualifications. It was said, that it would be a breach of the contract entered into by the founders of this institution with the crown, on its receiving the royal charter. However, that could be no reason why the house should not interfere to remedy an abuse. Gentlemen were however ready to cry out, 'what, do you attempt to throw impediments in the way of good actions? Will you repress charity?' &c. This was not his desire; he wished to prevent the perversion of charity; he wished to counteract the injustice of putting a man not in the naval service nor at all connected with it, in the situation purposely formed for the protection of distressed naval characters.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

observed, that at the commencement of the institution, it was made a point by the founders that Dr. Clarke should be placed in his present office; and it would be a little hard if he who was himself one of the first founders of this establishment should be himself precluded from all its advantages. An hon. gent. (Mr. Whitbread) thought a great point was gained for him by the motion for the residence of spiritual persons in Ireland, since he had found out that Dr. Clarke possessed livings to a great amount. This very bill should set the hon. gent, at ease, for by it Dr. Clarke would be reduced to the dilemma of either relinquishing his valuable livings, or of relinquishing the situation of auditor of the Naval Asylum.

Sir Charles Pole

said a few words in reply, in which he stated the case of a purser who had served a long time in the navy, and who certainly was full as competent to fill the situation of auditor as a doctor of divinity.—The house then divided, For the Resolution, 46; Against it, 71. Majority, 25.