COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 19 June 1865)

§ SIR WILLIAM JOLLIFFE
said, he had formerly drawn attention to the memorial of Sir Francis Head, asking that his claims should be considered; but it now appeared that the Government were unwilling to make any special provision in his favour. Under these circumstances he had received the following letter from Sir Francis, asking that his case should not be pressed:— 513 Croydon, June 6, 1865. My dear Sir William Jolliffe, — In cheerful submission to the adverse decision of Her Majesty's Government with respect to my services in Canada, which has just been privately communicated to me, I lose no time in expressing to you my earnest desire that you will kindly abstain from uttering in the House of Commons another word in my behalf. For, as my case is now hopeless, you will, I am sure, concur with me that it would ill become me to allow—if I can possibly prevent it—any Member of Parliament uselessly to interrupt, for a single moment, the unanimity with which the Colonial Governors Pension Bill will, I hope, without any further reference to my services, now pass into a law. Believe me to remain Yours faithfully and gratefully, "F. B. HEAD.

§ MR. NEWDEGATE
said, he wished to ask what rule had been adopted with regard to these pensions, and upon what principle the claims of Sir Francis Head had been rejected.

§ MR. CARDWELL
said, this Bill was based upon length of services, and the period of Sir Francis Head's service was extremely short. Last year he had given a pledge that the subject should be fully considered; so that, if they were unable to admit the claims of Sir Francis Head, the right hon. Gentleman opposite should have the opportunity of taking what course he felt inclined to take upon this Bill. Since then the case had been fully considered, and the Government thought it impossible to insert a clause providing for that particular case.

§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTON
said, that Sir Francis Head's letter did that distinguished public servant great honour. He expressed his deep regret at the decision come to by the Government.

§ MR. ADDERLEY
moved the insertion of words limiting the grant of these pensions out of the British Treasury to cases in which the salaries were a charge on the British Treasury. It was an act of absolute folly to charge the Imperial Revenue with pensions in cases where the salaries were payable by the colonies. The Bill was a continuation of the old vicious system by which the interests of the Crown and of the colonies were regarded as being separate.

§ MR. CARDWELL
said, the objections taken to the Bill were the same as those which were made on the second reading, and they had therefore already been disposed of by the House.

MR. HENLEY
said, he wished to remind the House that it was already nearly a quarter to two o'clock, and that they had to meet again at twelve o'clock.

§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANE
said, it would only take twenty minutes to go through the Bill.