House Of Commons
Friday, February 22, 1805.
Minutes
A messenger from the lords acquainted the house that their lordships had agreed to the coal factors' indemnity bill, the Irish habeas corpus suspension bill, and several private bills.—Mr. Creevey moved, that there be laid before the house, an account of the application of the surplus revenue of the isle of Alan, from the 5th of Jan. 1798, to the 5th of Jan. 1804. Ordered.—The quarantine bill was read a third time and passed.—The 22½ millions loan bill was read a second time.—The postage duties bill was read a second time.—Mr. Giles moved, that there be laid before the house a copy of the apportionment of the 9 thousand men directed by the additional force bill for England, to be raised in the several counties in England, for the year ending Oct. 1, I805, towards supplying the vacancies of those who had enlisted into the regular forces. The hon. gent. made the same motion in respect to Ireland, which were both ordered accordingly.—Mr. Me-heux, from the Commissioners of the India Board, presented copies of the. treaties and of the correspondence between this country and India, moved for by Mr. Francis on a former day.—Mr. J. Fitzgerald having moved the order of the house to be read, for an account of the salaries, payments, and compensations granted in Ireland, from Jan. 1799 to 1804; and that order having accordingly been read, moved that a return be made pursuant to the said order; which was ordered accordingly —Mr. Calcraftmoved, that there be laid before the house, a return of the number of effective men added to the royal artillery, from 1st of June, 1804, to the 1st of Jan. 1805.
Conduct Of Sir Home Popham
osberved, that the papers laid on the table relative to the conduct of an hon. baronet, who commanded the Red Sea squadron, rendered it necessary that other papers should be produced. He therefore moved, "that a copy of the examination before the commissioners of naval enquiry, relative to the management of the squadron in the Red Sea, under Sir Home Popham, should be laid on the table."
did not see the smallest objection to this paper; but, as it was certainly a motion of a novel nature, he thought that some previous notice ought to have been given.
concurred in the propriety of giving notice. He understood now that an examination of the case had taken place before the commissioners of Naval Enquiry, respecting the conduct of sir Home Popham. He was well pleased that this was the case, and undoubtedly it was of importance that every paper that could throw any light on this affair should be produced. At the same time, it was not usual to move for a paper of this nature; but, as the hon. baronet, who was a member of the commission, had no objection, it might, with the greatest propriety, be received.
observed, that the essential reason for the motion was this: it had been said in the house, that the commissioners, when directed to investigate this affair by the Admiralty, returned for answer, that it was not a matter within their province, but was rather a subject for a court martial. The hon. baronet (sir Charles Pole) had then omitted to state, through inadvertency, he had no doubt, that the commissioners had, however, proceeded with the investigation. Now it did happen, that we had the testimony of one Lewis, a most material witness, who could not, however, be heard at the bar of the house. It was necessary that we should, in this case, have the best possible evidence. It was fortunate that this man was brought forward as an evidence, as they had travelled out of their way to investigate this affair. He begged leave, therefore, to follow up the notice just now given by some other notices. He would move for the date of the paper containing the directions of the Admiralty or Navy Board, to the commissioners for proceeding in this affair; the date of the reference of the case back again to the Admiralty or Navy Board, by the commissioners; together with a copy of any answer made by the commissioners of naval enquiry to any communication from the Admiralty.
said, that if the right hon gent. had any charge to bring against the commissioners of naval inquiry, he had no doubt it would be fully met.
observed, that he had never stated that the commissioners of naval inquiry bad refused to proceed with the case, but merely said, that it was his private opinion that this was a case more fit for a court martial. It was extraordinary that he should have been misrepresented, since something passed at the time which shewed that he was not then generally misunderstood. The notices were then fixed for Tuesday.
Horse Duty Bill
This bill stood on the order book for a second reading this day. Mr. Huskisson and Mr. Sturges Bourne, the two Secretaries of the Treasury, wished it to be read accordingly. The members of opposition in the house, appeared to wish that the second reading might either be deferred, or debated then. The Chancellor of the Exchequer was not in the house. At length, after several short conferences across the table,
rose. He said, that the public business ought not to be made to wait for any member of that house. He certainly would not wait. He should move the order of the day.—The order of the day for the second reading of the Horse Duty bill was then read, upon, which the hon. gent, observed, that he did not wish to determine the course of the public business. What he thought was, that it would he highly improper in the house to suffer the business of the public to wait for any man.
said, that there were some amendments intended to be made in the bill; and therefore thought that; the order ought to be postponed to Tuesday next.—This was agreed to and the house adjourned.