General Fergussonsaid, that as all the petitions which had been presented to the House on the subject of reform prayed for an abolition of sinecures, he begged to ask if the report in circulation was true, which stated, that a noble marquess, one of the greatest sinecurists in the country, had, in consideration of the almost unanimous feeling of the nation, and the general distress, surrendered his sinecure?
Lord Castlereaghanswered, that the report was well founded; that the marquess Camden had resigned all the emoluments and profits of the office he held, and only retained the regulated salary of 2,500. [Cheering]. The noble marquess had been for some time desirous of making this sacrifice, but as his office was in the nature of a vested right, and as he did not know what effect this surrender might have on others in a similar situation, he delayed till the meeting of parliament. Seeing, however, the example of retrenchment and sacrifice set in the highest quarter, he no longer hesitated, and now offered all the emoluments of his appointment.
General Fergussonwas exceedingly gratified with the intelligence now communicated to the House, and trusted in God that the example would be followed by others.