imposed on the Bank of a certain sum. This had been done by a committee of the whole House; and as the clause intended to be proposed by the hon. gentleman would go to impose a higher tax on an individual (for the Bank in this case must stand in the light of an individual), he was of opinion that according to the forms of the House such a clause could not be admitted, nor properly taken into consideration but by a committee of the whole House.

General Thornton suggested the expediency of imposing a tax on pamphlets, similar to that on newspapers, by which they could be sent post-free. This, he thought, would be more productive to the revenue, and would tend materially to the diffusion of knowledge.

1

possible vigour, in order to secure that object which was the only proper and legitimate object of all our warlike exertions-a just and honourable peace. Deeming it improper, then, at this period, to enter into any details respecting the situation of public affairs, he should content himself with barely stating, that the sum to be taken in the vote of credit was six millions. He then moved an humble Address to the Prince Regent, thanking him for his gracious Message, and echoing the Message in the usual manner.

himself the pleasure to state how warmly he concurred in every mark of gratitude and approbation that could possibly be offered to those who had contributed to the splendid and glorious achievement to which he alluded: but, indeed, it was hardly necessary to state his concurrence; for whatever might be the difference of opinion as to the necessity and justice of commencing the war, when once we were in it, all must concur in the proposition that it ought to be carried on with the utmost vigour; and when intelligence Lord Grenville said, he did not rise to was received of this almost unparalleled oppose the motion, which, on the con- event, the heart of every one who felt as trary, had his most cordial approbation. a man, and an Englishman, must have Nothing could be more proper at the beat high at the elevation on which his present crisis, than that ample means country was placed by an achievement so should be put in the power of the Crown truly glorious and magnificent: for he to turn to the best advantage the great would venture to say, that this country exertions which had been made, and were was, by this event, raised to a pitch of now making, and at length to bring the elevation which it had never before occuwhole to an honourable and permanent pied, even in the most splendid periods of conclusion and, indeed, so very proper its history. It was an achievement, not and expedient in every point of view did only never surpassed in the history of this appear to be, that he should not have Britain, but one which had never been thought of troubling their lordships, even overmatched by any exploit recorded in with a few words, had he not been de- the history of the world. [Hear, hear!] sirous of doing that duty to his country Our gratitude and admiration ought, thereand to its noble defenders-that justice to fore, to be as unbounded as the merits of his own feelings-which he had not an that renowned commander and that galopportunity of doing on the occasion, lant army, who had raised so proud a when the subject was brought more di- monument to the fame and honour of their rectly under the consideration of their country, and contributed in such a wonlordships. He had, in truth, conceived derful manner to the great object of placthat his parliamentary duties had been ing its safety and prosperity on a secure finished for the session; but being in and permanent foundation. Ask the Comtown, and understanding that this business mander to whom all this was owing, and was to be brought forward this evening, he would tell them that it was owing to he resolved to come down, in order to add the invincible obstinacy and unshaken his humble tribute of applause to those courage, to the character and composisentiments of deep and heartfelt approba- tion of the troops which he had the haption which their lordships and the whole piness to command. Ask the troops to nation had expressed towards the truly whom it was owing, and they would tell noble and gallant men who had a share them with one voice-for so it appeared in that signal and distinguished achieve- by letters as well as by verbal communiment which filled the heart of every Eng- cations from those who were eye-witlishman with joy and exultation. It was nesses of the scene-that it was owing to only from not being aware, in time, of the the unparalleled exertions, the matchless day when the thanks of their lordships skill, and unequalled merits of the Comwere to be voted, that he was prevented mander. Ask their country to whom it from attending his duty in the House on was owing, and the nation with one voice that occasion, and joining the expression would say, that it was to the valour and of his admiration and applause to that of merits of both. The Commander was their lordships and the country. No dis-worthy of the charge of calling forth the tance of place, no consideration of personal convenience, would have prevented him from coming forward to discharge so sacred a duty. Nothing of that description would have prevented him from doing

qualities and directing the energies of such troops; the troops were worthy of being led to victory by such a commander. [Hear, hear!] But it was not merely with a view to the fame and military

to

JUNE 28, 1815.

The

[1018 if he were to see the ministers of government, from these or any other motives, prepared again to give up our advantages, and leave Europe exposed to new wars and fresh convulsions, then, and then only would he say, that the best blood of Britain had been shed in vain.-[Hear, hear!] But he had no reason to apprehend that this would be the case. universal opinion in their lordships House, and the other House of Parliament, and he trusted the unanimous sentiment of the nation was, that our exertions must be prosecuted with vigour till the great object of the war, of all our exertions and sacrifices, should be fully and permanently obtained. He had every reason to believe that such was the feeling and opinion of the members of Administration, and it was in that confidence only he wished to mark the circumstance-it was in that confidence only that he gave his most entire and cordial assent to this proposition. The motion was then agreed to, nem dis,

1017] Motion respecting Mr. Mallison's Invention.
glory of the country, that this event was
important. It was of vast consequence
with a view to that which was alone the
just and legitimate object of war-the at-
tainment of an honourable and permanent
peace; and he trusted that this grand
achievement would be attended with the
desirable effect of at length securing to
the nation that peace so much wanted.
He did not mean perpetual peace, for that
would be a vain expectation; but he
trusted it would have the effect of relieving
the country from the pressure of perpetual
war, or from such a state of peace as must
be attended with the apprehensions and
burthens of a dangerous war, and was
worse than war itself. The present con-
test was, in his opinion, most just and ne-
cessary in its commencement, and one
which ought to be prosecuted with a
vigour and decision worthy of its object;
and he was ready to give his tribute of
approbation to those by whom the means
of producing such a splendid result had
been furnished. The contest was, com-
menced as the last effort necessary
secure to the nation the benefits of up-
wards of twenty years active exertion,
and he trusted that now at last this country
and Europe would be suffered to enjoy
the blessings of peace. It was true the
boon, if it could be obtained, must be
considered as having been purchased at
the expense of the most valuable lives
which this country had ever produced;
but even those who were most nearly
connected with those departed heroes,
and who most deeply felt and lamented
their loss, even they must confess that
their blood had not been shed in vain, if
it purchased the permanent safety, tran-
quillity, and prosperity of their country
and of Europe. It was to be hoped, that
care would now be taken so to improve
our success as not to allow this great ob-
ject again to elude our grasp. If he could
perceive any disposition among their lord-
ships, any disposition in Parliament, or
in the nation in general; if he could
perceive any disposition in those to whom
the administration of the government was
entrusted, to remit our exertions, and to
leave the great object unaccomplished;
if he were to see them inclined, from a
spirit of premature accommodation, or
false notions of magnanimity, from a wish
immediately to relieve the country from
its burthens, or from a desire on the other
hand to insist upon any thing which ought
not in justice and honour to be demanded;

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Wednesday, June 23...

MOTION RESPECTING MR. MALLISON'S INVENTION.] Sir Francis Burdett, in pursuance of his notice, rose to call the attention of the House to the invention of Mr. Mallison, for preserving the lives of shipwrecked mariners. This subject, indeed, had been frequently before them, and he was quite at a loss to conceive on what grounds they could refuse to inquire into the expediency of adopting the invention. The Report of the Committee appointed to examine into the benefits to be produced by this invention had declared, that it would tend to save many valuable lives; and, indeed, it was ob vious to him, that Mr. Mallison had applied the power of cork to a purpose more beneficial than was ever before known. If this were true, the House ought not to refuse to make him an adequate remuneration, particularly as large sums had been voted to other gentlemen for their inventions. Captain Manby and Lieutenant Bell had received considerable compensations for their services to the public, and there existed no reason whatever why Mr. Mallison should be neglected. His invention was not only useful to the navy, but also to the army, as it would tend to save men who were wrecked in transports at sea; and when it was considered that 19,000 men of all descriptions had pe

cially where lives could be saved; but, in the present instance, he did not think that any farther remuneration was neces sary.

Sir Joseph Yorke ridiculed the idea of those jackets affording any security for seamen belonging to a man of war. For unless every seaman were dressed in a cork jacket, how was one to be flung to Jack, if he fell overboard while the ship was going at the rate of five or six knois an hour? He believed the plan to be wholly destitute of that practical utility which could justify the House in acquiescing in the motion. The great and only merit of Mr. Mallison's invention appeared to be, to have proved that cork was of a light and floating nature.

rished by shipwreck during the last year, no one, he thought, would question the expediency of adopting an invention which might save the lives of so many of his Majesty's subjects. The utility of the invention could not, he thought, be disputed, after the report of a committee of that House in its favour, and after the several testimonies from naval officers, as to its efficacy in saving seamen; some of which testimonies the hon. baronet read to the House, especially a letter from captain Harris, stating a case in which a boat's crew, employed to assist a transport which had got on the breakers, in the port of St. Andero, derived the utmost advantage from the use of Mr. Mallison's Seaman's Friend, while another boat's crew, which attempted to follow the former, was entirely lost. He therefore hoped, that as one committee had been appointed to examine into the facts, there would be no opposition to a committee to inquire into the expediency of carrying into execution Mr. Mallison's plan for saving the lives of seamen and others, whose lives might be endangered by shipwreck, and by the upsetting of boats. He concluded with moving, "That a Committee be appoint-vention of captain Manby, it was quite ed to inquire into the expediency of carrying into execution Mr. Mallison's plan of an institution for saving the lives of shipwrecked men, and men exposed to danger from boats upsetting."

Mr. Rose said, that the plan of Mr. Mallison had been tried in his presence, as a member of the committee to inquire into the merits of the invention; and his cork jackets did certainly serve to keep men afloat, who were incapable of swimming. But the cork jackets of Mr. Mallison proved to be really little more than the ordinary cork jackets. Yet Mr. Mallison had been rewarded for his invention, for he had been granted 100%., which, in his opinion, was sufficient. As to the motion, the fact was, that whether it were agreed to or not was not material to the saving of life or property from shipwreck; because, if the invention of Mr. Mallison, as it was called, were really useful, it would reward itself, for it would be generally purchased; but it was no proof of the ac curacy of the hon. baronet's information, that those cork jackets were not found to be much in demand among the mercantile officers or seamen, who would of course buy them, if assured of their utility. He did not wish to oppose a reward where any man was fairly entitled to it, espe

Mr. Whitbread said, that the committee had reported favourably of this invention; and as to the 100%., it was given, not by way of reward, but to protect Mr. Mallison against the expenses of bringing witnesses before the committee. He thought it would be a very good thing, if a certain number of these cork jackets were on board every ship of war and merchantvessel. With regard, however, to the in

distinct from that of Mr. Mallison; and he should be glad to know what steps had been taken for rendering effectual captain Manby's plan. He had heard that, notwithstanding the utmost, exertions made by that ingenious man, it had not been carried to its full extent. Great advantages were to be derived from it, and he thought the inventor ought to be better rewarded.

Mr. Rose stated, that the Secretary for the Home department and the Admiralty, vied with each other in promoting the use of captain Manby's invention, and in consequence no less than 120 stations were already fixed upon where materials where to be placed, in readiness for the execution of this meritorious plan for saving the lives of seamen.

Mr. Bathurst bore testimony to the eagerness of Government to give every possible facility to captain Manby's plan.

Mr. Wynn hoped that no means would be neglected by his Majesty's ministers to bring that most beneficial invention into general use. Upwards of a hundred lives had already been saved by it. He thought, however, that some compensation should be given, not only to the men who lost their boats, but also to the families of such as perished in their exertions; for

1021]

Duke of Cumberland's Marriage.

the case now stood, of leaving their wives and children unprovided for.

Mr. Rose replied, that the measure recommended by the hon. gentleman already formed part of the plan.

Sir Francis Burdett said, that a right hon. member had stated, that Mr. Mallison's plan could not be called an invention, on account of its great simplicity; but he should think, that that fact constituted its greatest merit.

As to what had been mentioned respecting a compensation to the families of those who lost their lives under captain Manby's plan, he thought it would be a much cheaper and more beneficial measure to encourage a plan that would prevent their lives from being lost. The cork jacket was much more simple and useful, and many naval men bad testified their approbation of it. Cap. tain Harris, in a letter dated Spithead, 1814, had declared, that it perfectly an swered all purposes; and he instanced a case where the crew of a boat, going to the relief of a transport, had been saved, while a boat belonging to another ship, which attempted to follow, was upset, and the whole of the lives lost, in consequence of the men not being clad in the jacket,

the

he believed that many were afraid, as | House should resolve itself into a committee to consider the Prince Regent's Mes sage respecting the marriage of the duke of Cumberland, said, that in submitting to the Committee the motion which he should have the honour of proposing, he should not feel it necessary to trouble the House with many observations; for he could not conceive, under all the circumstances of the case, any grounds upon which it was likely to be opposed. He was aware, indeed, that in the present state of the country, any proposition for throwing an additional burden upon it, might be received with extreme jealousy and reluctance; yet, consistently with the principle upon which Parliament had acted in similar cases, he could not imagine any wise ground of opposition. When any branch of the Royal Family married with the full consent of the Crown, which in this case had been obtained, he apprehended it had always been the course pursued by Parliament to make an inciexpenses adequate provision for such branch, so as to enable it to support dent to that situation, and to secure a reasonable provision for the Princess who might happen to be the consort, in the event of surviving her husband. The principle on which that had always been done was one so simple and obvious, that if no prejudice prevailed, it would naturally suggest itself; for the House was aware, that the provision granted to the younger branches of the Royal Family, was calculated with a view to their having merely to support an establishment as unmarried individuals. With respect to the amount of provision already made by Parliament for those younger branches, the House knew that it amounted only to 18,000l. a year, subject to the deductions for the Income Tax. It was evident, however, that if that sum was thought to be a liberal allowance for those illustrious individuals in their unmarried state, it could not be considered as an adequate one for maintaining with due splendour and dignity their rank and character when married. What he intended to propose, therefore, was that the sum of 6,000l. per annum should be granted to their royal highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland, for their joint lives, and in the event of the Duchess of Cumberland surviving her husband, that she should enjoy the 6,000l. as her dowry during the term of her natural life. He trusted the question was one so simple in itself that it did

Mr. W. Smith said, that without going into the comparative merits of the two inventions, he thought that Mr. Mallison had, at least, the merit of great perseverance; and he most sincerely hoped that some public notice would be taken of his plan, in order that it might be brought into general use. If encouragement were afforded by the public boards, a great Mr. number of lives might be saved. Mallison had written him a letter on this subject, wherein he stated, that three sloops were recently lost, and almost all their crews perished, whose lives might have been saved by the use of his jacket. Mr. Wilberforce was happy to hear that rewards were given to those who risked their lives under captain Manby's plan, and hoped that Government would employ every exertion to carry it into complete effect.

The question was then called for, and the House divided:

For the Motion
Against it

Majority.......

27

92

-65

PRINCE REGENT'S MESSAGE RESPECTING
THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND'S MARRIAGE.]
Lord Castlereagh having moved that the