Star. — London, England, 1807-01-21 00:00:00

AI il• To the PROPRIETORS of EAST INDIA STOCK. 'tabus AND CINTLINIZN, EDUCATED in your Civil Service. I have already Rated to von the public grounds on which my hopes have been founded, of being held worthy to occupy the Vmeoey in the Fx.Lift of your Court of Mt - et:tors. I have only now to add my fineere affurance, that &mid your fuffrages place me in that high trait at the next General Eledtion, when it Is my fixed put.- pee to (tannic my pretenfums to your dccifion, my condo& mall evince the fame principles which have uniformly governed me, in the Various ftations which ! filled during the courfe of twaaty three years of senal ferviec.—l have the honour to be, Ladies and Gentlemen, your faithful butnblc Tenant, I3edfotd•plaee, junary tB, Ilk 7. EVLES IRWIN. ARMY IN INDIA. ri'o BE DISPOSED OF, for the Regulation . 1 . Price, a Cornetcy of Light Dragoons, in a Regiment ferving In the Raft-India, by Mr. Joludon, N 0.6, Craven. itrect, &rand, tendon. mildrior IN.Q,UIRT. OFFICE Or THE BARRACK MASTER GENERAL. swum AND SUPPLIPS. (Condensed from the STAIt of Monday Lilt.) We mull obferve that the duty of regulating the fillies of Cafh and Bills to Mr. Davifon feems to have reflect in a great meafure with the Accountant, who, although he was acquainted, he admits, with foam of the balances, did not think them of fufficient mag nitude to notice the circumaance to the late Barrack Matter General, or to jullify a refutal of further • Miles to Mr. Davifon, until he had knowledge of the large balance which was in his hands on 24th of jtme aos. This, however, he was not informed of, he lays, till the beginning of 1803, when he Mentioned it to the late Barrack Mailer General. Mr. Davifon, in his letter of loth January i 7995, before given at length, propofes that he fhould be allowed two and a half per cent. commiffion on the whole amount of his accour.ts (including all per centage on making infurance, recovering loftes, ave rages, &c. and replacing all damaged or unfervicea hie articles delivered to the Barracks) ; and we find that he has been allowed this Commiffinn nn the amount of thefe charges as well as on his putchafes, and alfo on all charges and expences on package, warehoufe, rent, clerks, porterage, cartage, pot tage, &c. Sometimes on an emergency Mr. Davifon furnifh ed the Barrack articles to a very confiderable amount from 1111 own fiores, for which he charged as a whnlefale dealer, and on which he takes no corn- The whole amount of Mr. Davifon's account, for articles thus fupplied by him on commiffion, exceeds eight hundred and fixty two thoufand pounds ; the balance of which, againß the Barrack Office, in his half year's account, made up to the a4th December 1804, is Rated by him to be nine thoufand three hundred and fixty-eight pounds twelve fhatings ; and we have therefore obferved, in our firll Report, that the balance was in his favour. But we have fince received from the Barrack Office Mr. Davifon's fop plemental account made up to the 15th May lA, by which, it appears,notwithllanding that no money had been advanced to him by the Barrack Office, yet. that by giving credit to the Office for various fums recovered for lodes, averages, and deficiencies of Rote., &c. a balance arofe agaird Mr. Davifon amounting to fix thoufand and forty-feven pounds feventeen fhillings and eleven pence. This was paid to the credit of the Barrack Mailer General at the Bank an the t7th of May 'att. From a Ratement which we have procured from Mr. Davifun of the periods when the fums fo credited in this fupplemen tal account were received by him, it appears that -upwards of feven thoufand pounds had been received in 1796 ; upwards of four thonfand more in 1798 ; and upwards of two thoufand in addition in t 799 . -- This Ratement therefore affords another reafon for recommending that an interea account fhluld be Rated between him and the late Barrack Mader Ge neral. On this view of the courfe obferved by the late Barrack Maher General in procuring all the articles (except coals) wanted for the ufe of the Barracks, we cannot but remark that it differs molt materially from that hated by him in his examination before the Selea Committee of Finance in June 1797. He then hated (about two years and a half after the agree ment with Mr.D tvifon,and whilil he was acing under it) that coals and candleswere in all inharrces provided on the fpot, wherever it was found that they could be purchafed cheaper than they could be furnifhed from any general market ; that bedding furniture, and utenfils were had on the loweit terms from the whole. Pale dealers, and that the charges for them were checked by the certificates of refpeetable perfons, &twit% that they did not exceed the prices in the market at the time, and alto by the perfonal Qnit .l trout and invelligation of the officers of the depart molt ; and that the receipts of the Barrack Matters, of the articles delivered to them, were the vouchers cn which payments were made. But, although we fi:td that in fait no competition was encouraged among the dealers, and that certificates were not procured of the reafonablenefs of the prices charged, and that, inhead of the payment .for the limes not being wade till after their delivery at the different bar racks, Mr. Davifon, who furnifhed them, has had in his hands, in the way we have before (hewn, the calls and acceptances hated, beyond even the colts of the llores provided at the end of each half year, yet we have no reafon for believing that the articles fup plied by him were not conformable to the patterns w. hick Mr. Davifon lays he had from the Barrack Office, or that they were not procured at a fair whole fate pike. Two or three indeed of the dealers, of whom Mr. Davifon purchafed fupplies, have hated to us that, in confequence of his regular and early payments, they charged him Ids than they charged at the fame period to merchants who took a longer credit. And we are ready to admit that at times ethane when the demands of the Barrack Office for efts were large and urgent, a perfon in Mr. 'Davi on's fituation, and with his connections, might'have provided the articles wanted When they could not have been other wife eafily obtained. Still, however, we cannot but ”prefs our difapprobation that the experiment iva.s never made of ifrocuring the 'flores by competstion and open contrail, whicWis the prac tice of other public departments, and which it mutt be prefumed, therefore, has been proved to be the ?iaoft edvamageous mode for the public. - Add we learn In m the examina:ion of the dealers Wirt; fold the barrack articles to Mr. Davifon, that . w ouldt h em they w h s o ld immediately to thep A r. • • . ..... twit Office on the fame terms as they fold them to him, could they have been allured of the &me regw lar and prompt payment. With the condition of prompt and regular pay mentt therefore, it Teems that the commiaion paid to . Mr. Davifon. and tome part of his contingent charges might have been faved to the public, and the public would moreover not have bolt the ufe of its own money in the advances which were made to him. Our opinion is confirmed by the mode which is at prefent °bin ved in procuring the articles for barrack ufe, as will appear in a fubfequent part of this report. The gores and fupplies thus provided in the time of the late Barrack Matter General were difiributed to the different barracks by orders from the Office to M. Davifon, given on the application of the Barrack. Mailers ; fuch as were procured by Mr. Davifon were fent by him at his own rifk, the carriage being charged to the Office. On the receipt of the (torts, the Barrack Matters ufually examined them with an officer of the corps Rationed at the time in the bar racks ; and they reported on their quality and quan tity to the Office ; on which the Barrack Matters were charged with them in their [tore accounts. It does not appear that any (landing patterns were de pofited in the barracks with which the articles thus lent were to be compared, or that the Barrack Mall ters had any particular inftrudions for the mode of their examination ; they were, however, generally direfted to fee that the articles were of good quality, and fit for the fervice. Neither, therefore, in London, previous to the articles being diltributed, nor after wards. when they were received at the barracks,was that kind of examination had which was fufficient to inform the Office of the reafonablenefsof the prices charged ; and even in refped of their quality, as there were no (landing patterns in the barracks with which the articles could be compared, it might hap pen, from the differencein the experience and means•of judging in the different Barrack Mailers, that articles of very various quality, although charged at the fame price, might have been reported as fit for the fer vice, and taken into the Ilores. Yet we do not learn that complaints were often made of any defeCtivenefs in the quality of the articles font by Mr. Davifon, and when any complaints were made, it appears that immediate attention was given to them ; the articles were then examined by the direction of the Office, and, if found to be unfit, they were exchanged for others of better quality at the expence of Mr. Davi- Con, agreeably to what was propoled in his letter of loth January, 1795. The iffues of the articles to the troops in barracks are governed by the King's Regulations, counterfign ed by the Secretary at War ; thefe limit the quantity according to the number of the rooms, and of the men Rationed in them. The checks, therefore, on thefe iffues, although confuting of a variety of ar ticles, are not difficult, and, as far as we have been able to examine, have been well attended to at the Office. In thole regulations it may be teen that all loges and damage to the gores, furniture , and buildings, occafioned by the careleffnefs or wantonnefs of the troops, were to be charged to the corps Rationed therein at the time ; and we find, that confiderable firms were fometimes received on this account, which have been regularly carried to the credit of the office. When articles of furniture, &c. are thought by the Barrack Mailers to be ao longer fit for ufe, they are put away, and at the time of the AQiflant Barrack Muller General of the Diftritt's attendance, they are furveyed by him, the Barrack Mailer, and an o ffi cer of the corps in the barracks ; and if on fuch furvey any of them Wall be judged to be repairable, it is fo ordered, and the remainder are direfled to be fold.— The tale is after public notice, and is public, but not by auction. A circumliance, in refpeet of coals laid in for Bar rack ufe, has fometimes occurred, which it may be proper to mention in this place, viz. an apparent in crude on the quantity laid in ; this, which is called favings, is differently accounted for :—Lieutenant Colonel M'Kenzie fays, that it may afire from the different modes of meafuring in the due, or from the breaking of the coals ; he obferves that this cir cumflance has occurred in the cafe of lea coals only, for, from fume late information, it appears that on Scots coals there was generally a deficiency. Mr. Knollis, who was the Barrack Mailer at Plymouth for fix or (even years, and at the time of v.hofe re tiring from office, in September, ifiog, it was found that there was the large quantity of 6438 bufhels and a half in !tore beyond what was to be collefted from the returns of the receipts and ifines, conceives that this faving may have arifen principally from the coals (welling, by being expofcd after their delivery into the yard to the fun and wet ; and alto frum the large coals received from the (hip breaking, whereby they fill more fpace ; and a fur plus fometimes arifes i he lays, from all th e coals not being drawn for on tome occafronal hurry of marching out of barracks. He calculates the increafe altogether to amount on an average to one buthel per chaldron on the quantity delivered in. The Living in this cafe was transferred by Mr. Knollis to his fuccetfor, and was therefore carried to the °credit of Government, as Lieutenant Colonel M-Kenzie lays has always been done ; this is obviouf ly tight, and we make the obfervation becaufe• we apprehend doubts have prevailed as to the property in thefe ravings. We have before obferved that the articles provided by Mr. Davifon on commiffion, did not include coals. The preceding flatement and obfervatinns therefore refpating flexes, do not apply to this the molt confi derable article of barrack confumption. ft was criFinally intended by the Barrack Matter General, that coals thould be - provided on commiffion, the tattle as the other artiefes • but Mr. Davifon, in a letter of 3il March, 170 s, having !listed that de pots, and their accompanying eflablithments, , would in fuch cafe be neeeffary, the late Barrack Matter Gener.sl very properly objeffed to the e*pence, and to the difficulty of preventing abufes if fuch arrange. men's were made, and clefirest that Tome other mode might be adopted, fo that the coals Iltould be aftually delivered intd the barrack yards, and the receipts of thelbarrack matters be the votachers for the paymepts. Mr. Davifon, in his aniwer to this letter on the 4ptil followi4g, after ohferving that the mode he had pointed out was the only one poffible in cafe the butineli was to be done on commiflion, Pays, " that the fole means by which the fupply can be made, G. as to deliver the article direilly into the barrack Am, and to eau ,all expences ttua i4C3 I is tq have the fame fupplied at the rates *hitt the irbole dealers are paid at the feveral places where' tht barracks are fituated ;" and he adds, "as 1 can, from the conneetions I have in the bait coal coun tries, execute the bufinefs on as favourable terms as any perlon whatever, I will undertake to fupply any bafracks you may be pleafed to dire& with the heft coals, taking back all loch as fhall be found of inftlf ficient quality, to be paid for the number of bufhels a&ually delivered into the Barrack Matter's (lore, on prOduCtion of his receipt far the fame, at fuch rate as is the market price with the coal dealers, at the time of delivering the fame, to be afcertained by the pro dation of certificates of two (nth refpeCtable perfons refident in the places as you (hall approve." The late Biarack Mailer General acknowledges the receipt of this letter on 25th April, 1795, and fays, 44 that if the fupplies be made at the mot} advantageous lea lons, the mode pointed out would, in his opinion, be the molt beneficial for the public ;" and he defires Mr. Davifon to execute the (apply of coals on the terms he bad mentioned ; and he adds, 4 6 that the perfons whore certificates are produced mutt be of the mod refpeCtable defcription, and whole, charaCters would bear the ilriftell inveftigation." (To iv continua.) PATL.I/IMENTART PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS. JAN. 20. The new /Hemp of Oxro aID (D►. MA) was introduced with the =untamed prelatical formalities. (warn, and took his feat.— His Lordfhip's fupporters were the Difhops of Lusnwas and Noawicm. Previoully to the above proceeding, the Rifhop of Doa UMW took the oaths and his feat, as did the Earl of LIIIEIIOI, one of the Irifh Rtprefentative Peers. Counfel were beard at fome length refpeeling the Appeal Carafe from the Court of Chancery in Ireland, D'Aacr v. !arises and others, namely, Mars. Adam and Stephens, on the part of the Refpondents. The LORD CMANCRLLOR, who kilned to have his mind trade up u to the merits of the cafe did not deem it needfary to hear the Counfel for the Appellant, the SOLICITOR GINKRAL and Mr PowsLa moos, who were in attendance. He made a few remarks honk to the cafe of this Appellant ; and under his impreffions thereof, he laid he (tumid propofe that the Decree be affirmed, with thelargeft amount of 'tufts which the rules of the Houk would allow. Lord RIDSSDALK made fome obfervstions on the leading cir cumllances of the cafe; and Teemed to concur in the conclulions formed by the Noble and Learned Lord on the Woo Week The Loan Cossecitttoa than moved, That the Decree made by the Irith Court of Chancery in this Cafe,be affirmed, with 2031. colts—which, on the queftion being put, was ordered accordingly. The new Malt Duty Bill paired through a Committee of the wholeHoufe, Lord WALSINGUAxi:in the Chair, and was rCpUrt ed without amendment. On the Motion of the Loan CHANCILLOII, the Order which Rood for to-morrow, for the further confideration of the Appeal Cade, Clamley v. Lord Dunfany, was difchargad ; and a new Order for raking the fame into confideration was appointed for Monday next.—Ajounscd. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The frith Militia Service Bill was read s the fecond time and committed ft.r to•morrow. The (bialifiestion Indemnity Bill was read the third time, paired, and ordered to the Lords. The Stratford-le•Buw Water-works Bill was read the firft time and ordised for a fecond reading. Mr. C. W. WYNNE pint - enrol, purfuant to order .an Account of the Number of Lunatics now confined in the different Horpi tale and Poor hooka throughout EngLind.—Ordired to lit on the table. New Writs were ordered for the Borough of Medhurft, in the room of John Smith. Ffq. returned for that place, and for the Town an County of Nottingham. but who makes Hs elodlioo for the latter; and of the Right Hon. W. Wickham, who makes his eleetion for Callinron. Mr. VANSITTART prefented a variety of Fltimates of the lizpence of Civil Eftablifbments of the ycar.—Ordered to lie on the table. The Houfe proceeded to ballot for a Committee to try the merits of the Malden filcetion Petition. The following Members were choke— R. M. Phillips, Efq Hon. H Caulfield Love Parry Jones, EN Lord Vircount Cork Hon W. F. E. Eden Rickard Eknyon, Efq Hon. W. B. Lygon J. Nl`DonAld, Efq B. Hall, Efq Sir W. I.cman, Bart. W. L. Hughes, Efq H. C. Combe, Efq. and Lord Vircount Cli•e J. Simeon, Efq Sir Geo. Heathente, Barr. Of whom the two laft were chofen Nominees. DU IS I. t N PITITION AGAINST MR. GRATTAN. Mr. STURGES BOURNE rote, and Rated, that as all pradti cable diligence had been ufed by the perfons appointed to fcrve on Mr. Grattan the order of the Houfe to enter into the ufual recog nizance for abiding the drum and eventual mem, of trying the merits of his eletrtion, without (need's, he fhould lug leave now to move, that the time for taking into confideration the, Petition agaimß Mr Grattan 's return he further enlarged to Friday, the 6th of February —Ordertd accordingly. AMERICAN TERATY—sunems AYRES—RUSSIA. Sir THOMAS TURTON rote and laid, that teeing a Noble Lord (Howick) now in his place, he fhould take the liberty of afking him two or three queflions, upon fubjeas in which the public mind was much interefled at the prefent moment, and tome information was neceflary for the fatisfailion of the Houfe. The firft of thole quellions would be upon a fubjea appointed for an early difcuffion, the motion of a Right Honourable and Leartied Gen tleman near him (Mr. Perceval), namely, the order of Council, directing the Reps to be taken by his Majefly's cruizers towards the (hips of Neutral Powers trading to and from the enemy's ports, in conk. quence of the meafures adopted by the enemy for excluding Britifh commerce from the Continental ports under their controul. He wiflaed to know whe ther any modification of, or exception from thole meafures, in favour of America, was made in the late treaty with that Power, or whether his Majefty's Minifters had refereed or furrendered the pitvilege of adopting fuch meafu re s as circumflances might tender seceftary, as well towards the (hips of Ame rica as thofe.of any other neutral power? His Ma jelly's Minifters had announced that a Treaty was concluded with America, which would be aufpicinus to the mutual interefts and amicable intercourfe be tween both countries, but he trolled that 'no prlvi lege had been relinquifhed under that Treaty which could eventually reltrain his Majefly's Government from the adoption of any meafures which good policy and the maintenance of Br itifhinterefts might require, in counteracting the milchievous purpofes of France ; for, notwithstanding the Treaty which had been formed with America, the infidious pas tialiry fhewn by that power towards France, and the advantages which the had afforded to the enemy by the carrying trade between Fiance and her colonies, demanded the Mae° vigilance, ae well towards American (hips frequenting the enemy's ports in the Weft Indies, as in . Europe. Without the fulled i n f ormat i on f rom hi s 24efiyEa Minifters on this fubjea, as to the precife terms of the Treaty, it would be impofSble for the Houfe competently to difcuf; fubjea propofed by the Right Hon. Gentlem4n ! !'}le (econd queflion he %ifhtd tq a elated to a large Aim in fincie 9 6 Minillec,, a c i rcurn. a m o un t i ng t o 3 or 400,0001. recent l y tranfmitted o bi rt e u a ! to every t fl h a e ne Cont e w c n h t b te y i 6 1 si n s to body withed to know for what purple fo large a fum was tranfmitted. or by what vote of that Hnufe it was atrbot ized And the third and lag quelliun related to a fubjed upon which the public mind had be en for fomerdays in much agitation, and could not but feel extreme anxiety, from the accounts given in fome letters which had been recently circulated from high authority. He alluded to the Ilate of Buenos Ayres. He wiihed to know whether his Majetty' s mi n u tely were really in pofrellGon of any authentic intelligence relative to that Placer whether it was retaken by th e enemy, or (till in polfellion of a Nita force ? For, if the intelligence they had publicly communicated upon this fubjed was not authentic, they were guilty of a moll reprehenfible degree of weaknefs in giving the fansftion of their authority CO fuck a commtuu. cation. Lord HOWICK laid, that he could only repeat what he had raid upon a former occafion, in anfwer to the queftion of the Hon. Cattleman rerpeding neutrals. As the treaty had not yet been ratified, if was not to be expelled that he fhould enter, at pre• fent, upon a recapitulation of all the articles that treaty contained. Whim it was ratified and laid upon the table, the Houle would then fee what it contain. ed, and would have an opportunity of examining the articles feparately, and or giving or withdrawing their approbation. He was only at liberty, at the prefect time, and the Houfe would perceive the propriety of his condo& to fay that there was no article in the treaty with America which prevented his Majetly from exercifing thole powers of dittreffing the enemy which might be judged proper, As well with regard to America, as any other neutral power. He was of opinion, that this fhould fatisfy Gentlemen•at the prefent ',age of the progrefa of the treaty ; he could only again fay, he could give no further explanation and indeed it was not to be expefted. With regard to the right of blockade, he could only fay, that this was a right which we always pofreffed, and which never was called in queftion. It was unieerfally derftood that it was poffeaid by us in its full extent, With regard to the tecond queftion, the iffue of mo. ney which had been fent to his Majefty the Empe ror of Kuflia, he begged leave to inform the Honour. able Gentleman, that it was only the balance due to the Emperor of Ruflia for fervices which had been al. ready performed—in fhort, it was the balance of the fobtirly to Ruffia, which had been voted by the Houfe. This the Houfe would fee was an explain- Lion which mutt be fatisfaftory to every one. As to the third queftion which the Honourable Baronet had put to him, he could only affure the Houfe, that letters and information, Inch as had been made public, were received by Government—whatever report; may have been circulated refpelling tome further in• formation laid to be received by his Majefly's Mini. litre, he could allure the Houfe that loch reports were altogether falfe, and that no further informs tion whatever had reached Government refpeftiag Buenos Ayres. Sir T. TURTON expelled his thanks to the No ble Lord for the very candid manner in which he had anfwered his quell ions. Mr. PERCEVAL role, and propofed, with the indulgence of the Houfe, to poltpune the dircuffiorl on the queflion jun alluded to by the Honograble Baronet, (tom Thurfday fe'nnight until the Tuerday following. He felt it tight at the fame time to de. dare, that it was not his intention to profs for the produaion of the paper which his Majefte's Whirlers had deemed it improper to communicate, namely, the Order in Council. ARMY ESTIMATES. The SECRETARY at WAR prefented the Ab• flraas of the Army Ellimates fur the year s op the motion of Lord Catilereagh. Lord CASTLEREAGH obferved, that it was his with to move for the priming of chute Abaratit, but he thought it better to poßpone the printing un til after the difcutlion upon that fubjea, as the Ab aradls could hardly be printed time enough for the difcutlion, and as the order for printing now would remove them from the table of the Houle, and de. prive Members of the opportunity to recur to that in the interim. Mr. JOHNSTONE obferved, that upon the fq►• mer motion of a late worthy Member for Cornwall ? a regulation in limilar cafes was adopted, and for come time generally afted upon, though it had ?ince fallen into difule—.namely. that of piefenting dupli• cate accounts ; fo that while one was printing, the other remained upon the table, for the fatisfadiou of Members. The SPEAKER laid that fuch a principle cer ! tainly was adopted, and abed upon to fome extent, though not univerfally. But now that it wts men tioned, it became meaty that there fitould be fume undeManding upon it, as the fenfe of the Houle ; becaufe in fome cafes, where accounts were very voluminous, it would be attended with confi derable additional labor. The CHANCELLOR of the .gXCHEQUEII thought the principle a gond one, with refpea to fnsall accounts, and cfpecially theft including many figures—although in voluminous parrs, fur the con. venience of bawds, he thought at lhould be di penfed with. SICILIA LIANI. Mr. THORNTON indented a petition from the Sierra Leone Company, praying leave to bring in a Bill for re invefling that Settlement in the bands of his Majtily, and for limiting the duration of the Ccmpatst. The SPEAKER obferved to the Honourable Member, that if the petition contemplated a Bill which was intended to produce any eapence to the public, dire& or confequent, it was not the ufage of the Houfe to receive fuch petitions upon the autho• rity of any individual Member, unlefs recommended by his Majeßy's Minifters. The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER lignified that the objeft of the Bill had the approba tion of his Majefty. The Petitiun was then received, read, and referred to a Committee. CAPTVRID SHIPS. Mr. MANNING moved for a return of the names and tonnage of Britifit (hips captured by the enemy during the prefent ware and carried Into other ports. Ho obferved, that by much the greater number of hoc. Wpm were fold to neutrals, and eta' wards Tads:pitted regiltry which wu Nterady 0 1 4 the enemy a pretniush upon the captured ; as, were it not f r this *cull:dance, thty'would not fell for one half she price the" 414 hitherto brought. Ttit datum; was ordered socesdivgli: r