§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a: (The Duke of Somerset.)
§ VISCOUNT STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFEsaid, that as this Bill affected the interests of one of the noblest institutions of the country, be should be sorry for it to pass without some expression of sympathy for those who were intended to be benefited by it. If there was one institution which, during the last century and a half, had done more honour to this country than another, it was Greenwich Hospital. But a painful impression had recently prevailed that the interests of the pensioners of Greenwich Hospital had been greatly neglected, and that the administration of the Hospital was capable of great improvement. The revenues of Greenwich Hospital amounted to a very considerable sum; but the expenses were enormous, amounting to £47,000 or, £48,000, being nearly one-third of the income. The Hospital was originally designed exclusively for seamen and their families, but a great portion of its revenues had been absorbed by the officers, of whom a disproportionate number had been maintained in the establishment.
§ THE DUKE OF SOMERSETsaid, he did not think that this was a convenient occasion on which to discuss the general question of the management of Greenwich Hospital. He reminded their Lordships that after the Commission of 1859 presented its Report he introduced a measure, to which so many objections were raised that he was compelled to withdraw it.
§ Motion agreed to: Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.