HL Deb 17 February 1812 vol 21 c825
Earl Grosvenor

said he took the first opportunity on his return to town, of calling their lordships' attention to a subject, which, whatever others might think, he considered to be of great importance. He lamented that a Kill prohibiting the granting of Offices in Reversion had been lost in the House of Commons, and he could not but consider the decision as an instance of great in-consistency. He was at a loss to conceive what arguments could have been urged to induce the rejection of such a measure. It surely could not heve been argued that it was of too trifling a nature to deserve the attention of the House, for if it were of a trifling nature, why not pass a measure so consolatory to the feelings of the people. It could not surely have been argued that the passing of it would have engendered a difference between the two Houses of Parliament, because that might easily have been got rid of by agreeing to a temporary bill, as in a former instance. But whatever might have been the arguments on which the rejection of such a Bill was founded, he could not but consider it as deeply to be lamented, inasmuch as the passing of the Bill would have been a first step towards the extinction of that system of corruption which unhappily prevailed; and would so far have gratified the just expectations of the people. The continuance of the practice of granting Offices in Reversion was greatly to be deprecated, pregnant as it was with every species of underhand transactions. It was probable, however, that a Bill would come before their lordships for suspending this practice for a limited time; and he trusted that if such were the case, the suspension would not be merely for a year, but for 20, 30, or even 50 years. If such should not be the object of the Bill, he gave notice that he should propose to extend the suspension for a considerable period, in order that they might not be called upon to consider it from year to year, merely as a temporary measure. If such a Bill did not come before their lordships within a reasonable time, he gave notice that it was his intention to propose a measure of that description.