no] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814.. 



dence, of the only reward which 

 they had received for meritorious 

 public services. 



Mr. Creevey thought that at- 

 tention to this subject was parti- 

 cularly called for at this time, when 

 from the near prospect of peace 

 it was probable that a number of 

 very deserving persons would be 

 reduced to scanty half-pay, on 

 whom such honourable rewards 

 would be probably conferred, and 

 not disposed of to increase minis- 

 terial patronage. He then moved 

 a resolution conformable to his 

 intention above stated, as an amend- 

 ment of the motion for the Speak- 

 er's leaving the chair, which was 

 seconded. 



A debate ensued, a considerable 

 part of which referred to the ex- 

 pression of vested rights used by 

 Mr. Stephen with regard to the 

 interest of colonial offices in the 

 places which they held during 

 pleasure. In conclusion, Mr. 

 Creevey's amendment was nega- 

 tived without a division, and the 

 House went into a committee. 

 On the reading of a clause of the 

 bill relative to the power of grant- 

 ing leave of absence to officers in 

 the colonies, Mr. Browne opposed 

 it, and moved •' that leave of ab- 

 sence should not be granted for 

 more than 12 months, nor should 

 be renewed for more than the 

 like period, and that absence for 

 more than two years should incur 

 forfeiture of the office," This was 

 objected to as too short an allow- 

 ance in several cases, and the mo- 

 tion was withdrawn. The last 

 clause being read, by which it was 

 declared, that the provisions of 

 the bill did not extend to persons 

 now holding situations in the co- 

 lonies, Mr, Browne moved, " that 



the clause be rejected." A divi- 

 sion ensued, for the clause 32, 

 against it 9. 



On the motion for a third read- 

 ing of the bill. May 6th, various 

 observations on it were made as 

 being futile and unnecessary ; and 

 Mr. Creevey in particular said it 

 ought to be entitled. An Act to 

 dispense with the Act of the 22nd 

 of his present Majesty, in favour 

 of certain persons (whom he 

 named) and who were in posses- 

 sion of colonial offices by patent 

 or commission. On the other 

 side, the bill, as far as it went, 

 was represented as a great im- 

 provement on the colonial system. 

 The House dividing on the mo- 

 tion, it was carried by 48 against 

 8. The bill was then read a third 

 time, and passed. 



The failure of a motion made in 

 the House of Commons during 

 the last year by Sir Samuel tlo- 

 milly, for a bill to take away the 

 corruption of blood in cases of 

 attainder for high treason and 

 felon}"^, did not discourage that 

 persevering friend of humanity 

 from renewing his attempt in the 

 present session. On March 23rd, 

 he made a motion for leave to 

 bring in a bill, which he stated to 

 be precisely similar to that pre- 

 sented to the House in the last 

 year. He repeated his explanation 

 of its purpose and objects, saying, 

 that it did not propose to make 

 any alteration in the forfeitures of 

 property, imposed by the existing 

 laws on persons convicted of high 

 treason or felony, but merely to 

 do away what was termed cor- 

 ruption of blood, by virtue of 

 which such a person could not 

 form a link by which a pedigree 

 could be traced, whereby his de- 



