compense  the  services  of  persons  hold-
ing, or  who  have  held,  certain  high  and
efficient  civil  offices."     This  act,  I  appre-
hend, Mr.  Speaker,  is  little  understood  by
this  House,  and  still  less  by  the  country  ;
and  yet  it  is  an  act  as  injurious  to  the' in-
terests as  it  is  insulting  to  the  feelings  ot
the  people.    Let  me  add,  too,  that  it  is
utterly  subversive  of  both  the  principles
and  the  practice  of  the  monarchy.    Al-
though i  was  a  member  of  this  House,
when  the  act  in  question  was  passed,  I
was  not  then  in  England,  otherwise  my
vote  would  undoubtedly  have  been  given
with  those  who  opposed  the  bill..    As,
however,  it  is  understood  this  act  has  been
lately  brought  into  operation  for  the  first
time,  the  present  appears  a  very  fit  occa-
sion for  a  revision  of  it ;  the  Af|ieral  cir«
cumstances  too  of  the  times  give  a  great
additional  importance  to  the  subject.
