when Mr. Rickman was appointed to the office he so long filled, I feel justified in saying he filled it not only with satisfaction to the House, but to every indivi

Original Motion agreed to, Bill to be dual Member of it; and in saying that, I brought in.-Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Wednesday, February 3, 1841. Minutes.] New WritS.-St. Albans, Vice Hon. Edward

Harbottle Grimston, Chiltern Hundreds.

Petitions presented. By Sir E. B. Vere, from places in

Suffolk, in favour of Church Extension.

am not only expressing my individual sentiments, but the sentiments of every one hearing me I have often myself experienced the benefit of Mr. Rickman's knowledge on subjects in general, for he was ever ready to impart to others the information he had acquired, and to enable those who took part in the debates of the House to make themselves masters of the subjects to which their attention was directed, and without which knowledge they would have been scarcely able to place their views clearly and accurately before the House. For myself, therefore, I most cordially join in the sentiments which have been expressed by the noble Lord in this tribute of respect to Mr. Rickman; and I am sure, that the country also is deeply indebted to him. I have no doubt that there will be a general feeling among those who have known the extent and value of his labours to express that opinion unanimously, and thus to mark the sense of the House of his services.

THE LATE J. RICKMAN, ESQ.] Lord John Russell:—Sir, in rising to move the resolution of the House of which I have given notice with respect to the late Mr. Rickman, expressing its sense with regard to the length and the meritorious nature of the services, I am sure it is one which will call for the general concurrence of the House. No man could have been more eligible or better fitted for the important situation he so long occupied; and no man was more eminent for a knowledge of the privileges, precedents, and every thing which related to the practice of the House. I wish, Sir, I could, without violating any of the forms of the House, add Mr. Hume: Sir,-I am unwilling to something to the resolution, expressing the allow this vote to pass without expressing sense of the House of Mr. Rickman's ser- my humble approbation of the conduct of vices to the country generally, by his la- the late Mr. Rickman. I have never known bours in everything relating to all matters a public officer so modest, so unassuming, of public interest where statistical informa- possessed of such varied knowledge retion could be required. No one can feel specting the affairs of Parliament, and yet so more strongly than I do the value of his ready to afford every information to others. services in matters of that kind; but it ap- The labours of Mr. Rickman generally in pears to me that we must confine our Reso- statistical matters, to which I have paid lution to the services performed by Mr. particular attention have been highly valuRickman to this House. I therefore moveable, and specially as regards the preface to this Resolution :the population returns, will stand unrivalled in the amount of information, and in the concise manner in which he brought it before this House. I therefore most cordially concur in expressing my sense of the value of his services. I may add that I had frequently, occasion to consult him on matters connected with the rules of this House, and the documents before it, and I always found him most friendly, and ready to afford every information in his power. I am bound to say that I received the most valuable assistance from Mr. Rickman in my various duties in this House; and no man who saw the manner in which he discharged his duties at the Table of this House, could doubt the value of his services. I there fore, most cordially support the motion.

"That this House entertains a just and high sense of the distinguished and exemplary manner in which John Rickman, Esq., late Clerk Assistant of this House, uniformly discharged the duties of his situation during his long attendance at the Table of this House."

Mr. Goulburn Sir,-I hope I may be permitted to mark my sense of the services of Mr. Rickman by seconding the motion of the noble Lord. It was my good fortune to have been acquainted with Mr. Rickman at a very early period, before he occupied a seat at that Table, where the manner in which he uniformly discharged his duties calls upon the House now to express its great regret at his loss. Mr. Rickman was distinguished at that time by all those qualities which have been enumerated by the noble Lord, and there was an universal feeling of approbation and pleasure + VOL. LVI. {Series} Third

Sir R. H. Inglis: Sir,-I desire to bear my part in this general testimony of respect to the late Mr. Rickman, and to the

I 11

the motion which has been placed in your hands by my noble friend.

value of his services to the House. My minant claim which he has to the attention of noble Friend has stated, that it does not this House in particular, is the facility with form any part of his resolution to express which we are now furnished with information the sense of the House upon other parts of of what passes in the House, in consequence his conduct and labour, because it did not of the alterations which he suggested. It appear to him that this was the proper tri- will be recollected by many of my hon. bunal to pay the tribute of respect due to Friends, that formerly the votes were not the general services rendered by him. Were delivered till four days after the business it not for this, Sir, there are many Mem- had occurred, and that it was in the year bers who would cordially bear their testi- 1817, in a paper which Mr. Rickman sent mony to the value of the assistance derived, to the Speaker, he suggested the alteration not merely from the personal services of which was adopted by the House, and Mr. Rickman in this place, but from his which led to the present plan. The form general knowledge and deep and accurate of recording the business of the House was information on every branch of statistics. so cumbrous, that four days were necessary It was stated of Mr. Rickman by one of to produce the votes ; and, in addition to the his earliest friends, the late Charles Lamb, evil of that delay, at that time Members had that he was a man of the most matter not the advantage of receiving notice of the and the fewest words; in fact, his voice proceedings of the House on the following was scarcely ever heard except for the day. All these facilities emanated, I may purpose of affording general information; say, directly from Mr. Rickman; they were and when a question was put to him, he of course the act of the House; but it was gave his answers in a manner unrivalled upon the paper drawn by him in 1817 that for precision and accuracy, and which your predecessor acted, and upon which the equally characterized all his communica- report of the committee was founded. For tions. Sir,-The value of Mr. Rickman's all these reasons I most cordially concur in services has been experienced in this House in another department of great importance to the House,-I mean the library. It Mr. Bernal: Sir, I should be very must be known to many Members that it sorry to allow this opportunity to pass was Mr. Rickman who drew up a general without adding any testimony to the value sketch of the library, intituled, "Catalogue of the services of our late Clerk Assistof Books in the Library at the House of ant; I have reason to speak of his meCommons," a classical sketch of the books rits, for I had good opportunity of testing which ought to form the basis of a Parlia- them. Sir, Mr. Rickman possessed stores mentary library. To many Gentlemen it is of knowledge, deep, varied, and extensive, not necessary I should refer to his labours not only with regard to Parliamentary matwith regard to the population returns; but ters, but other subjects connected with the I would venture to say, that independently history of the country generally. He was of its instructiveness a more entertain- an excellent scholar; and I never applied ing preface than the one to the last to Mr. Rickman when he was not ready to census can scarcely be found to any work. afford me the information required. He was These are minor matters, which hardly de- not slow to impart his knowledge to those serve to be mentioned when speaking of who sought his assistance: he was solid in the value of his services as an officer of the matter, though brief in language. When House. It is from the discharge of his first I had the honour of sitting at that graver duties, and the important assistance Table as Chairman of the Committees of which he has rendered to every man who has the House of Commons, I derived conborne a part in the public proceedings of stantly the most valuable assistance from the House, that his claim upon the grati- Mr. Rickman: he had the merit, and a tude of the House and the country arises. most valuable merit it was, of unwearying For his services in relation to the popula-industry; and if he possessed a great and tion returns, and the abstracts furnished of those returns, he was allowed a certain sum; but I believe it was never more than sufficient to defray the necessary expenses incurred; and I have good reason to know that he also incurred considerable expense (though some of those, in whose service it was incurred, might think it inconsiderable) out of his own pocket. But, Sir, the predo

deep store of knowledge and learning, he day by day added to that store of knowledge, and he was not slow in the communication of it to those who needed it; I can bear good testimony to that, because the little knowledge I have derived, while sitting at that Table, is owing to the kindness and amenity of our lamented Friend.

The resolution was then put by the

Speaker, and agreed to nemine

cente.

contradi-rison, every magazine, and every town, in short, the whole extent of coast from Tripoli to Jaffa had been reduced by one or other of the detachments of our fleet. Commodore Napier had twice marched on shore against the forces of Soliman and of Ibrahim which he routed and dispersed ;

HOUSE OF LORDS,

Thursday, February 4, 1841.

MINUTES.] NEW PEER-Lord Holland took his Seat for the first time, on acceding to the Peerage on the Demise and in the interval between these two

of his Father.

actions had proceeded to Sidon, which he entered by storm at the head of a mixed SIR R. STOPFORD.-VOTE OF THANKS.] force of British, Austrians, and Turks, The Earl of Minto rose, in pursuance of amounting to scarcely 1,000 men, and the notice which he had given, to move from which he returned, bringing in his the thanks of the House to Admiral Sir train, nearly 3,000 prisoners. He had felt Robert Stopford, G.C.B., and the officers it necessary to dwell on the rapidity with and men employed under his command in which these conquests were effected, bethe late operations on the coast of Syria. cause in this contest, time was every thing. In doing so, he should detain their Lord-It was not only most important to the ships for a very few moments, because he efficacy of our operations, but, if the confelt that it was really unnecessary that he test had been protracted to another camshould enter into any details with refer-paign, it might have been attended with ence to events with which their Lordships disastrous consequences to the peace of must be perfectly familiar. It was true, Europe. As a further proof of the prompthat, on many former occasions, the British titude which characterized the whole of fleet had been called into action against these transactions, he begged leave to more formidable enemies, and had been refer to Sir Robert Stopford's despatch engaged in more sanguinary contests; but of the 31st of October. He there stated, he was sure their Lordships would admit that he had just received instructions from that throughout the whole course of these Government to reduce the fortress of Acre, operations on the coast of Syria, abundant an undertaking which had already engaged proofs were given of the skill, of the his attention. That resolution was taken bravery, of the resources, of that originality on the 29th of September. On the 31st of of enterprise, and of character, which October, he wrote that all the arrangehad always distinguished the British ments were completed, and that he was navy. But there was one very peculiar prepared. In fact, the expedition sailed on circumstance connected with these opera- that day, and in three days from the date of tions which he wished particularly to his letter, the fortress had fallen before press on their Lordships' attention. He British valour. The Admiral was most alluded to the singular rapidity with ably and gallantly seconded in all his opewhich, and the very short space of time in rations by Admiral Bandeira, who comwhich, those many brave and gallant manded the Austrian squadron, in which enterprises, all of which ended in the most the spirit and gallantry of the Archduke complete success, were effected. On the Frederick was eminently conspicuous. In 9th of September, after receiving the re- Commodore Napier's account of the attack fusal of the Pacha to accede to the terms on Sidon, he spoke in the very highest terms proposed by the Sultan, Sir Robert Stop- of the conduct of the Archduke; and at ford appeared before Beyrout; and, with- Acre he landed during the night along out the loss of a single day, nay, he might with the marines of his ship, in order to say, without the loss of a single hour, he to secure the entrance of the town and launched Commodore Napier on that career fortress, a resolution highly creditable to of victory and success, which he so unre- the spirit and activity of this young mittingly continued to pursue throughout Prince. To Admiral Walker much praise the whole of the campaign. On the 9th was due. His services had eminently conof September, Commodore Napier landed tributed to the success of her Majesty's at Djouni, a bold and able operation in arms. He was in every action-had galthe midst of superior forces; and on the lantly maintained that reputation in 3rd of November, the contest was concluded the British navy-which had obtained by the reduction of the fortress of Acre. for him the high post which he now In those few weeks, the mountaineers had so ably filled, as commander of the been armed and organized, and every gar- Turkish fleet. He felt that it was quite

unnecessary for him to add one word more, | events had taken place while he was at the in order to induce their Lordships to con- head of the Admiralty, that satisfaction › cur in the vote of thanks which it would must be much increased by the reflection, be his duty to conclude by proposing. He that one of the officers commanding a would only repeat, that throughout the ship employed in the late operations on whole of these operations British valour the coast of Syria was a son of the noble and skill were most conspicuous; more Earl. The noble Earl had so fully deespecially in the last achievement, the at- scribed the series of operations which had tack on the fortress of Acre, where the taken place, that he would not trouble precision and accuracy of the British fire their Lordships by going over the same proved that we had added a new element ground. He would only say, that he enof strength and power to the British navy.tirely concurred in all that had fallen from From what had been done on this occasion by British skill and valour, their Lordships might judge what the British navy, if called upon, was able to effect; and showed that the talents and bravery of the officers and sailors of Britain had not in any degree deteriorated. He hoped their Lordships and the country would receive this as an earnest of what they might expect, should, unfortunately, the fleet be brought into any more formidable collision. In his opinion, the gallant conduct and consum-employed in the naval service. Charges mate skill manifested by our officers and sailors had given the best answer to all those cavils and complaints of the degeneracy and decay of the British fleet which had been made in many quarters during the past year. On that head he would not add another word. All must feel that the brave men in the fleet had given a much better answer to the calumny than any which he could offer. The noble Earl then moved

the noble Earl, as to the activity and dauntless courage displayed by Sir C. Napier, and in the tribute of praise which the noble Earl had given to the officers and seamen employed, more especially for the gallantry which they had shown in the attack on the fortress of Acre. The noble Lord had alluded to a supposed complaint, that the navy of England had degenerated. He was not aware that any such charge had been brought against the officers and seamen

had certainly been made against the civil administration of the navy, which this was not the proper opportunity to discuss; but he had never heard of any charge of degeneracy made against the navy itself. He would take that opportunity to offer his tribute of praise to Sir Robert Stopford, and with that view he would advert for a few moments to the previous services of that gallant officer. Were he to go through the whole of those services, he would "The thanks of the House to Admiral Sir have to recount to their Lordships the naval R. Stopford, G.C.B., for the operations conhistory of this country for nearly sixty years ducted by him on the coast of Syria, particu- past. Sir Robert Stopford had begun his larly for the decisive attack on the fortress of career with the victory of Rodney, in Acre on the 3d of November 1840; to Com-whose fleet he had served. He had on modore Sir C. Napier, K.C.B, and the several captains and officers of the fleet employed on the coast of Syria; and that the House highly approves of the services of the seamen and Royal marines employed on the occasion. Also, that the thanks of the House be given to MajorGeneral Sir C. Smith and the Royal Artillery and Engineers serving under his command on the coast of Syria; to Rear-Admiral Baron Bandeira and the naval force under his command, for their valuable assistance and cooperation during the proceedings on the coast of Syria; and to Sir B. Walker, commander of the navy of his Highness the Sultan; and that the Lord Chancellor be directed to signify the same to Admiral Sir Robert Stopford."

Lord Colchester heartily concurred in the tribute of praise which the noble Earl had bestowed on the navy in moving this vote of thanks. Great as must be the satisfaction of the noble Earl, that these

many previous occasions received the thanks of that House for his gallant services. On the 1st of June, 1794, Sir R. Stopford commanded one of the frigates attached to Lord Howe's fleet. He then received the thanks of the House as one of the captains engaged on that memorable occasion. In 1806 he commanded a line of battle ship, under Admiral Duckworth, in the action off St. Domingo, and received the thanks of Parliament as one of the captains who had fought under that gallant commander. Again he had received thanks for his conduct in the expedition to Copenhagen; and, in 1812, by name, for his services in the capture of the island of Java, this last expedition being one of so much importance, that the Governor-general of India left his government to accompany it in person. In 1830, after having held the

command at Portsmouth, full of years and his duty to warn their Lordships on this honours, he might have expected to retire occasion, that they must not always exfrom active service, being then nearly pect that ships, however well commanded, seventy years of age, but his country re- or however gallant their seamen might be, quired his services, and now, for four years, were capable of commonly engaging suche had commanded in the Mediterranean cessfully with stone walls. He had no re—an employment which, from the political collection, in all his experience, except state of the countries bordering on that sea the recent instance on the coast of Syria, was one of the most arduous nature. In the of any fort being taken by ships, exhostilities of last year his former skill and cepting two or three years ago, when the talent had been brought into action, and fort of St. Jean d'Ulloa was captured by he had given new proof of the ability and the French fleet. That was, he thought, judgment that had ever characterised him, the single instance that he recollected; by the late glorious operation before Acre, though he believed that something of the that fortress, which had been deemed im- sort had occurred at the siege of Havanpregnable, having been, in the course of a nah, in 1763. The present achievement few hours, reduced to ruins by the skill and he considered one of the greatest deeds of courage of the British fleet under his com- modern times. That was his opinion, maud, and the question of the Levant, and he gave the highest credit to those which had so nearly disturbed the peace who had performed such a service. of Europe, been in consequence settled. was altogether a most skilful proceeding. Those services, in his opinion, demanded He was greatly surprised at the small the warmest thanks of the House. Thanks number of men that were lost on board were all that this House could bestow; but the fleet; and on inquiring how it haphe did trust, that while honors and de-pened, he discovered that it was because corations were liberally bestowed on other officers who had been employed in the capture of Acre, their gallant commander, who had not yet received any mark of her Majesty's approbation, would not ultimately be neglected, but that the name of the conqueror of Acre might be soon enrolled in this House as it would at all events betained not more than 1-10th of the loss hereafter in the annals of his country with those of the victors of Algiers, of Bhurtpore, and of Ghisnee. He had thought it right, as a member of the naval profession, thus briefly to state his sentiments.

It

the vessels were moored within one-third of the ordinary distance. The guns of the fortress were intended to strike objects at a greater distance, and the consequence was, that the shot went over the ships that were anchored at one-third of the usual distance. By that means they sus

which they would otherwise have experienced. Not less than 500 pieces of ord nance were directed against the walls; and the precision with which the fire was kept up, the position of the vessels, and The Duke of Wellington expressed his lastly the blowing up of the large magacordial approbation of the services per-zine, all aided in achieving this great victory formed by the navy in the Mediterranean, which well deserved the thanks of the House, He was sorry that the noble Earl had adverted to any supposed complaints or cavils with respect to the degeneracy of the naval service. For his own part he had never heard any such charge made in that House. The noble Earl had also adverted to the time when these operations had taken place, and he could not avoid expressing his regret that the noble Earl had made the remark on this occasion. That was a matter entirely irrelevant to the present question, for all they had to do was to record their thanks for the services that had been performed by those who were engaged in this glorious expedition. He had had a little experience in services of this nature, and he thought it

in so short a time. He had thought it right to say thus much, because he wished to warn their Lordships against supposing that such deeds as this could be effected every day. He would repeat, that this was a singular instance, in the achievement of which great skill was undoubtedly manifested, but which was also connected with peculiar circumstances which they could not hope always to occur. It must not therefore be expected as a matter of course, that all such attempts in future must necessarily succeed.

The Earl of Hardwicke said, their Lordships must feel, after the very lucid statements which had been made to them by the noble Lord, and by the noble Duke, that it would be perfectly absurd for him to enter into any further statements, and