§ The report of the Committee of Supply was brought up. On the first resolution being read,
Mr. Calcraftobserved, that the salary of the Clerk of the Ordnance was very inadequate to the labours he had to discharge, and to the rank and station of the individual; for the office was generally filled by a member of parliament. As he had formerly filled the office, he knew that the time of the Clerk of the Ordnance was wholly employed; and he thought the present salary, which was under 1,000l. a year, much too low. The offices of Secretary to the Treasury and Admiralty, which were of the same scale as that of the Clerk of the Ordnance, were more amply paid. When he held the office, the salary was double its present amount; and yet he never thought he was paid too much [a laugh]. He did not speak with reference particular individual who might fill the to any office now, or at any future period, but he thought this officer justly entitled to double the salary he at present received. He did not intend to make any motion on the subject, but he trusted ministers would take it into their consideration.
Mr. Secretary Peelthought, without any reference to the comparative claims of the secretaries of the Treasury and Admiralty, that this subject was well worthy of the attention of his majesty's government. He was not, of course, prepared to give any assurance on the subject, as such an arrangement did not rest with him personally, but he repeated, that the subject deserved consideration.
§ Mr. Humetrusted that as the right hon. gentleman expressed his readiness to increase the salary of an officer in the Ordnance department, because the duties of the office were too heavy for the salary, he would also be ready to reduce the salaries of some other officers in the same department whose salaries were too heavy for their duties.