§ Mr. H. Addington, in moving for a committee to consider the expediency of granting an increase of salary to the Police Magistrates, observed, that these meritorious officers had had no advance of salary since the year 1792, when the salary of each was settled at 400l. a-year, which sum was at present obviously inadequate. It was clearly desirable, that such selections should be made as to insure that these offices should be filled by persons of respectability and competent intelligence; and his noble relation at the head of the home department, who was alive to the consideration, concurred with him in thinking that an advance of salary to these officers was peculiarly just and necessary. There could indeed, he thought, be no difference of opinion on the subject. The right hon. gentleman added (in a tone which we could not distinctly hear, but as we understood him), that the proposed advance should be such as to raise the salary of each magistrate to 600l. a-year.
The House having resolved itself into the Committee, it was resolved, upon the motion of Mr. Addington, that it is expedient to make farther provisions to defray the expence of the police department in Middlesex and Surrey, and for the more effectual administration of justice within the said counties.
§ The House being resumed, the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow.