§ On a new Writ for the Borough of Knaresborough, in the room of Sir James Mackintosh, who had accepted the office of one of the Commissioners of the Board of Control for the Affairs of India being moved for,
Mr. Humehoped, that the new Ministry would consider how unnecessary and how excessive was the expense occasioned to the country by the Board of Control, and determine not to continue it. He had great objection to numerous Boards, and still greater objections to the changes that were continually made in them. He was of opinion that if the Board of Control was necessary, no one could be fitter for the office than Sir James Mackintosh. His observation was intended to be general, and he must say, it seemed to him as if these offices were kept only for the sake of patronage. With the exception of changing the Lord Chancellor with every Ministry, which was abominable; he knew nothing more mischievous than the frequent changes of the public Boards, to answer the purposes of Ministerial patronage. The interest of nearly 100,000,000 persons was intrusted to the Board of Control, and it ought, therefore, to be constituted of persons of great eminence, talents and practice, not removable at the pleasure of the Administration. He did not make this remark as an objection to the present Ministry, but as stating a general principle that ought to be followed.
§ The writ was ordered.