HC Deb 22 July 1834 vol 25 cc361-3
Mr. Labouchere

hoped he might be allowed to bring up the Report of the Committee of Supply, in order that the men interested might receive their shares immediately.

On the first Resolution being read,

Mr. George F. Young

objected to the grant being treated on the principle of the Proclamation Act. There was no analogy between it and capture or prize-money: it was an act of bounty, to which former precedents would not apply; and it ought to be distributed so as to afford larger shares to the poor men who took part in the battle.

Mr. Hughes Hughes

objected to the proposed distribution. Out of 60,000l., the Commander was to get upwards of 7,0001., the sailor but 4l. 10s., and the boys only 1l. 10s.

Mr. Secretary Rice

said, that the grant was made by the House in consideration of there not having been any prize-money; the House stepped in and supplied that deficiency; and he thought that the money ought to be distributed in the same proportions in which it would have been, had it been distributed as prize-money immediately after the battle.

Mr. Sheil

considered this a pure act of honesty on the part of the House; and, under all the circumstances, the grant ought not to be subject to the Prize Act.

Mr. Hughes Hughes

, to afford his Majesty's Ministers the opportunity of considering a more just distribution, begged to move as an Amendment, "That the further consideration of the Report be postponed till Monday next."

Mr. Labouchere

said, all that was asked was, that it should be left to the Crown to distribute the money in the manner that it might consider most advisable. He ought to add, however, that the Crown would most likely act on the recommendation of the Lords of the Admiralty, who had given their attention to the subject, and who were of opinion, that the money ought to be distributed in the proportions in which the prize-money was distributed after the battle of Algiers. Between that battle and the battle of Navarino there was a great resemblance, and the distribution in the former case gave perfect satisfaction.

Mr. Secretary Rice

would remind the hon. Gentleman, that the object of his Amendment was to give time to his Majesty's Government to consider this matter, but it was proposed by the hon. Gentleman to give only until Monday next for that purpose; whereas, if the Bill were passed, inasmuch as it left the distribution entirely to his Majesty's Government, they would have as much time for consideration as could be desirable, and a much longer period than the hon. Gentleman himself contemplated.

Mr. Hughes Hughes

was much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for his instruction, which he was always very ready to afford to Gentlemen sitting on that (the Opposition) side of the House; but he (Mr. Hughes) begged to inform the right hon. Gentleman that he moved the Amendment he proposed to instruct his Majesty's Government to reconsider the subject between now and Monday, and then to report the result of their re-consideration to the House. He would press his Amendment to a division.

The House divided on the Amendment —Ayes 14; Noes 30; Majority 16.

The Bill was reported, and the Resolutions agreed to.