§ Mr. Crokerhaving presented some papers relating to the Navy,
§ Sir Joseph Yorkesaid, he should take the oppportunity now offered of mentioning the case of Mr. Seppings. The committee of finance, in giving their opinion of the improvements made in naval architecture by this gentleman, had said, that "these services, although they have nothing of that brilliancy which forcibly attracts public admiration, will continue to confer a lasting benefit to the British nation, long after that period when the beneficial effects of victories, however splendid, shall have passed away." If such were the advantages to be derived from this gentleman's discoveries, he surely was entitled to as great a reward as was usually conferred on those generals and admirals by whom victories were achieved. He was afraid that the 1118 session might be allowed to pass away without any practical proof of gratitude being given to this deserving man; and therefore he should not cease to agitate the question till he knew what reward it was intended to give.
§ Sir Isaac Coffinsaid, that Mr. Seppings had received 1,000l. for his beautiful invention for suspending ships; and having been appointed to a situation in the naval service, his abilities, after that, were to be considered as engaged to the country.
§ Mr. Crokersaid, it was unnecessary for him to enter at present into the question of Mr. Seppings' merits, as he had, on a former occasion, stated his opinion of that gentleman's high abilities, and had agreed to recommend him as a navy-surveyor. He entirely agreed with the suggestion of the committee, as to the propriety of noticing the services of Mr. Seppings. The Admiralty accordingly had recommended to the Treasury to grant him a pension, which would be placed on the navy estimates and would be as honourable and useful to him as any grant that could now be made.