§ Sir H. Parnellrose, to move for certain papers connected with the Civil List, under a conviction that, if the subject were thoroughly examined, a considerable sum might be saved to the country. The present was the only opportunity of enforcing a strict inquiry, because the House was aware that, as soon as the bargain had been completed, the answer would be ready, that the matter was concluded, and that no farther investigation could be had. He was anxious that the report of 1815 should be laid upon the table, that all members might be put in possession of the nature of the settlement of the civil list in the year following: if it could be reprinted, it would be a still greater advantage, as it formed the basis of the present plan. In addition, he wished for papers to show what increase had been made to the civil 74 list, and what charges formerly paid out of it had been transferred to other funds. The most important, however, would relate to the total expense of the support of the civil government of these countries. The sums paid out of the civil list for this purpose formed but a small part of the whole, as altogether it amounted to about 2,000,000l. a year, including the votes of parliament, and what was called the fee-fund. By far the greater part of this expenditure was devoted to the support of official establishments. The House ought also to be in possession of some return showing the expense of collecting the hereditary revenues of the crown. The finance committee had reported that a great saving might be made in this department; and, to ascertain the correctness of this statement, he was desirous of returns from the alienation-office, the fee-farm rents'-office, the crown-lands'-office, and the woods-and-forests'-office. By an act of the Irish parliament, in the 33rd Geo. 3rd, on the demise of the crown, the hereditary revenues in Ireland were to be computed, and the civil list settled accordingly. The last documents he should require would refer to the revenue and emolument belonging to the duchy of Lancaster, and the other duchies and counties palatine. He then moved a long list of papers, to obtain the information he thought necessary.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerobserved, that the greater part of the information required by the hon. baronet was already before the House in different shapes, but it could not be collected and copied without such a loss of time as would be extremely inconvenient on a measure of so much importance and urgency. For the purpose of economical reduction, he could not see why it was necessary to enter now into a full examination of the official establishments paid out of the civil list. Many other offices came under the head of civil contingencies, which were annually brought before parliament. As to the report of 1815, he thought there could be no difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of copies of it to inform all who would be willing to go through its voluminous details, and he did not think it necessary to reprint it. He moved the previous question.
Mr. Tierneysaid, that it would be impossible to come to a vote on the resolutions of the chancellor of the exchequer 75 without considerable inquiry, and some farther communications from ministers as to facts and details. Although those resolutions had passed last night, he desired to be understood as not having waved his claim to papers of the kind now required, because he was persuaded that they were necessary.
Mr. Calcrafthoped that the hon. baronet would not withdraw his motion, and give way, unless the chancellor of the exchequer would undertake that the report of 1815 should be reprinted. He believed it contained all the information required by this motion.
§ Sir H. Parnelladded, that he would not trouble the House to divide, if that report were reprinted.
The question was then put, and the previous question was carried without a division. The chancellor of the exchequer then moved, "That the report of 1815, on which the establishment of the civil list in 1816 was founded, be printed."
Mr. Tierneysupposed, that the question would be set at rest before gentlemen had that report in their hands. They were to decide first, and have the report afterwards. Besides, he wished for additional information. He wanted to know what had been done since 1816.
§ The motion was then agreed to.