Mr. Wardmoved that 130,000 seamen should be employed for the year 1809, including 31,400 royal marines, which were voted accordingly. The hon. gent. then stated, that the Estimates for this number of seamen and marines were precisely the same in amount with the estimates of the last year, though it had been thought desirable to make some alterations in the comparative amount of some of the branches. The allowance for wear and tear was last year taken at three pound per man, whilst the provision for victuals was estimated at 1l. 19s. only per man per month. The latter estimate had been found to fall greatly short of the actual expenditure, whilst the wear and tear fell considerably below the actual estimate. The committee would therefore be aware of the propriety of endeavouring to reduce, both to an amount that should be nearest the truth, and this he proposed to accomplish by taking a guinea from the allowance for wear and tear, and adding to the allowance for victuals. The following sums were then moved by Mr. Ward, and voted by the committee: For wages for 130,000 seamen and marines for thirteen months, at 1l. 17s. per man per 326 month, 3,126,500l. For wear and tear of ships for ditto during the same period, at 1l. 19s. per man per month, 3,295,500l. For victuals for ditto during the same period, at 2l. 19s. per man per month, 4,935,500l. The hon. gent. then observed, that the house would learn with satisfaction, that the number of seamen now serving in the navy, covered entirely, if it did not exceed, the number which the committee had just voted.
§ On the question that a sum of 591,600l. should be voted for Ordnance for the number of men voted,
§ Sir C. Polecould not suffer this subject to pass, without expressing a hope, that his majesty's ministers entertained a disposition to regulate the course of proceeding at Doctors' Commons. It was his opinion, that the offices of king's advocate and king's proctor ought to be divided. He did not mean to object to the vole of any sum for the navy; but he mustadd, that he should like to see those who were to manage the expenditure of it, such as ten commissioners of the navy and of victualling, selected from amongst naval men. The practice, as well as the whole system of selecting officers of the army for such offices, he deemed altogether improper, as the appointment of persons not acquainted with naval affairs, to such situations, could not but be most mischievous. In the estimates then under consideration, he lamented that he did not see any provision made for the protection and support of the orphans of marine officers, and hoped that before the end of the session, some establishment, corresponding to the Compassionate Fund for the army, should be instituted for the navy. This he looked upon as a proper time for mentioning the subject; and if it should not be taken up by his majesty's ministers, in whose hands it most properly ought to be left, he should feel it to be his duty to submit the matter to the house in the course of the session.
The sum was then voted; after which, on the motion of Mr. Huskisson, two several sums of 10,500,000l. and 1,500,000l. were voted to be raised by exchequer bills, to pay off similar sums of exchequer bills issued last session, and now outstanding and unprovided for.