HC Deb 11 May 1808 vol 11 cc142-3

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that the house should go into a committee of supply. In the committee, his majesty's Message, recommending a provision for the duchess of Brunswick, being read, the right hon. gent, expressed considerable satisfaction that it would not be necessary for him to enter into any detailed statement, in order to induce the committee to accede to the Resolution which he was to propose in consequence of his majesty's Message. It would be idle, to enter into the circumstances which led to and accompanied the death of the illustrious personage for whose relict it was now proposed to make a provision. It would naturally occur to gentlemen, that the death of that illustrious personage had been encountered during hostilities, in a cause in which the best interests of this country and of Europe were involved. Whatever impression the event and circumstances of that death might have produced, it was not on that ground, but in consequence of the near relation which his relict bore to his majesty, that the present application was made. He was confident therefore, that no objection would be made to enabling his majesty to provide out of the consolidated fund an adequate establishment for the duchess of Brunswick, who had sought an asylum in her brother's dominions. The only question would be as to the quantum of that provision. And when the committee considered, that she had been a sovereign, and was driven from her territories to seek refuge in this country, he was certain the committee would act with liberality, and that the difference of a few hundreds more or less would not be any object on such an occasion. It was upon this ground that his majesty abstained from recommending any grant that might appear extravagant, whilst his majesty's ministers, on the other hand, thought it their duty to avoid any niggardly limitation of the proposed provision. Under that impression, he should move a Resolution to enable his majesty to grant a sum not exceeding 10,000l. per annum, out of the Consolidated Fund, as a provision for her royal highness the duchess of Brunswick. The house was aware that an establishment to that amount had already been advanced to the duchess of Brunswick out of the Civil List, since her arrival in this kingdom; in consequence of which, he should have, on another occasion, to move the restitution of the sum so applied from that branch of revenue.

Mr. Whitbread

rose, not to object to the Resolution, for he concurred entirely in the sum proposed. That house, he was sure, would, at all times, be ready to shew its attachment to his majesty's person and family. It was on that ground alone, and not in consequence of any circumstances that attended the death of the duke of Brunswick, that he consented to this resolution. So far from considering the hostility in which that event had taken place, as involving the best interests of this country, he looked upon the last coalition as most disastrous to the cause of Europe; and so far was Prussia from being in alliance with this country at that period, that we were at war with that power. Undoubtedly, a minister had been sent to negociate an accommodation with Prussia, but the noble lord who had been sent on that mission, had returned without having been able to reach even his destination. He had said thus much, because he would not omit any opportunity of declaring his opinion, that the last coalition bad been ruinous to Europe. As to the vote, he fully approved of it, tho' he should not be committed to any future proposition which the right hon. gent, might think proper to bring forward in addition to it.

Lord Morpeth

highly approved of the grant, and trusted the house would always recollect that the princess was an Englishwoman, in addition to whatever claims she might have to their regard.

General Tarleton

approved of the grant, and affirmed that the duke of Brunswick had, on different occasions, done, much service to this country.—The Resolution was then agreed to.