HC Deb 06 February 1810 vol 15 cc322-3
Lord Cochrane

rose to move for the production of copies of the Oaths administered to the members, witnesses, and judge advocate, upon naval courts martial. His lordship disclaimed any party motives with this motion, or any motives originating with a recent transaction of this nature, but was solely actuated by a wish to set right the misunderstanding upon this subject. He had been a member of numerous courts martial, where he had an opportunity of observing the evil consequences arising from the misconstruction of the oath, and the want of those regulations on the part of the judge advocate, which were practised in military courts martial so benefi- cially to the public service. He meant afterwards to move for a committee, to consider the construction of those oaths, and in what manner they might be amended.

Sir F. Burdett

seconded the motion.

Mr. Croker

had but one objection to the motion, viz. that these documents were already before the House. The oaths of the members and judge advocate would be found in the stat. 22 Geo. 2, then on the table, and the oath of the witnesses in a book, called, The Naval Code; and thus, where such documents were so accessible, he could see no parliamentary grounds for the motion.

Lord Cochrane

agreed to withdraw that part of his motion relating to the oaths in the statute book, upon an understanding that he should be at liberty to read them upon any motion he might hereafter think necessary.—The other part of the motion was then put and carried.