§ MR. CRAUFURDsaid, he would beg to ask the right hon. the President of the Board of Control, whether his attention had been called to the recent case of Græme v. Wroughton, in which the Court of Exchequer has decided that the practice of subscribing a sum of money to induce officers in the East India Company's army to retire is illegal, and a misdemeanor; and, if so, whether he intends to take any steps to remedy the effects of such a decision. The facts of the case were, that on an occasion of the officers of a regiment, 1781 to which Lieutenant Wroughton belonged, being called on to contribute their quota to purchasing one of the majors out, that gentleman declined on account of his inability to find the means, when Captain Græme lent him the sum, 4,000 rupees, on his bond. Mr. Wroughton had since himself been purchased out of the regiment, receiving 30,000 rupees, on which Captain Græme sued him on his bond, and he defended the action on the ground of illegality of the transaction, and the Court had decided in his favour.
MR. VERNON SMITHsaid, his attention had not been officially directed to the case in question. He had read the account of it in the papers, and he must say he did not understand the grounds of the decision. There was no doubt that the practice in question, and which had been declared illegal, did exist to a certain extent, and, under proper regulations, he did not think it was prejudicial to the service. He would, however, consider the subject in conjunction with the Court of Directors, with a view to its being placed on some more certain footing.