HC Deb 19 February 1813 vol 24 cc655-6
Mr. Henry Martin

rose, pursuant to notice, to move for leave to bring in a Bill relative to the office of the Registrar of the Admiralty. In the brief observations which he intended to make, it would be sufficient to observe, that a great part of the proceeds arose from the money of suitors in the Admiralty Court. It was not the intention of the Bill to interfere with the legitimate fees of the office. It appeared from documents on their table, that the average annual sum which was solely employed for the benefit of the noble lord (Arden) who now held the situation of Registrar, was 200,000l. and for which no security was taken. It had been conceded last session, by a late right hon. gentleman, who was certainly interested in the profits of the office, for the reversion of it was vested in him, he meant Mr. Perceval, that the situation required to be regulated, and indeed he proposed to regulate it much more extensively than it was the object of the present Bill to do, which merely went to assimilate the practice of the court of Admiralty in securing suitors' money, to the practice of the high court of Chancery. The hon. and learned member concluded by moving for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the office of Registrar of the High Court of Admiralty and the Court of Appeals for Prizes.

Lord Castlereagh

said, that he certainly should not oppose the Bill in that stage of it, hut that if it should prove to be a similar one to that brought in last session, he should feel himself compelled to oppose it in every part of its progress.—Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.