The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1806-03-08 00:00:00

••• The Mr rude lh eitus, No: 111 Mni lay. THE BRITISH PRESS. LONDON', SATURDAY. Magma 8. The Twelfth Report of the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry contaiaa il♦ folio paps, and the appendix to it, 305 ; the whole mounting to 339 pages. It relates to purchase" of hemp, masts, and fir timber, on eommision, by Mr. ANDREW LINDEORRN, for the service of His MAJESTY'S Navy, from 1793 to 1799 ; transfer of contraEts ; and also contails observations, by way of Supple ment to the First Report of the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry, on the Memorial of the principal Officers and Commissioners of His Maixsr v's Navy, in answer to that Report. As it is impossi :de to detail so voluminous an article in a news paper, without excluding much matter of pressing ❑ecessi';' and impoltai.ce, we must limit ourselves correct sketch of its substance. The Report v.'s out with stating, that— t):i the far of Januat y, 1793, the First Lord of the Admiralty instruned Sir ANDREW SNAPE Hammon°, the Comptr , ller of the Islivy, to send P7l able and contiden it ctrv-n to Rigs, to pur chase as much homp ai he cc:lid agree far, on pro per terms; which invtruftion; appear to have been given, in consequence of information which Go vernment had received, that the French were buy i:-g up large quantities of ltema at Iltat place. His Lordship appears to have entertained hopes, that by this measure His t.foo KSTY'S stores would not only be fmnished with hemp of a better quality, but that the supply cf the enemy would be foie called. g‘ The person scla'aed by the Comptrol:cr of the Navy for the pet twmance of this service, was Mr. ANu Row TANDEGkEN, of FOrtSMolltil. 111 C autho rity given to him by the Comptroller, dated the 9th of January, 1793, is not in conformity with the mitten imtrunioris of the First Lord of &Admi ralty ; but it is stated :ty the ComptrollMsat he also received verbal elireelions from the First Lord of the Admiralty, and that the instrudions given by him to Mr. LINDCOREW, were the result of various conversations with his Lordship. " Mr. LINDSGILLN was required, by his instruc tions, to proceed without loss of time to Riga, and autnorisel to purchase from thice to four thousand tons of t)a best brmp, upcti the most rea.onahle terms in his polw•er. " He was direCted to use his best endeavours to prevent any supply of Riga hemp from going, to France; and. if it mull not be procured fiom the superiority of the credit of this country, or by any other means that might occur t him on the spot, be was at liberty to give an advance upon the price which tie enemy might have agreed for, taking can to hive proper vouchers for such transainicz. " In case he should meet with any malts of the size of twenty inches and up Wards at Riga, v, hich he might Nave reas..n to believe were going to the er.emy, he was to privnt their receiving such sup ply by the means above pointed out, or any other nn then foreseen. " In the event of any thing happening to delay him on his journey to Russia. he was to use su:l , means by his correspondents on the Cona n:E, as niipht prevent may disappointment in pro ing the quantity f hemp from Riga, above-men tioned ; and it it should appear to bi:n, upon his arrival there, that such a quaatity could not be ob tained, he was at liberty to make it up with the best f etersburgb hemp, not exceeding It out sive to six bundled tons. Fot the due Caren:if-a rf this servic., he was to be allcwed his traveiiing expences, and a commission e'f five per coot. on ail the purchases he should m. ke ter Gnvernment. " Ai.d, as it was j.idgost absohrel!nesesssry, that there should be at. establ:shed Russia l.:::chan: in L "don, appointed so transaa the bu.tio s, in this cuontry, he Was authorised to engage islesrrs. Gun tape Tonanrors and SON, for that put ; who "'le to be paid a Is...tun:44e commission bare C.Gir vcibk. " On the Irth of hbruary. 1795, Mr. LINDE -42t•-, and Messrs. Guosass raosecos and Sae, earated into articles of agreement, witne.sed by the Comptroller of the Navy, by which it was stipu lated, that Messrs. Goosast imoaseurs and SoN. al Anotaies fur Mr. LtsUEGIIIII, should be tor- t•'►L.J with such sums at money, in Navy Impress they might, horn time to time, apply frw ; that the accounts relating to all matters, transaaeil by them, as Agents for Mr. Lisocoacii, shi , ulJ 1 ): farniihed to him ; an.,l that, for their trouble in transuding the basing,. ua freig:-.ting ships. making i nsurAncts, conevnisjitsg, kreisiug accounts, and furnishin g the requisite credi:s. they should have a cleat alLdwaince of two and a b.l per cent. as.a commission, to be charged at the foot of every in voice of stores provided by Mr. I/NOV:RES, and delivered into His Nfaitsrv's Dock-Yards, such invoices to contain the amount of the prime cost, and all the charges and expellees of every kind. " Under this commission, Mr. Limoec atm made considerable purchases both of hemp and masts. He was also employed for the same purpose in each year, until the termination of the war." In detailing the result of their inquiries, the Com missioners, for the sake of greater clearness, speak of •tbe purchases of hemp and masts separately, and int o with regard to purchases of hemp "By virtue of specific dinnftions in a commission of the 9th Jan. 1795, Mr. LINDEOREN pnrchased and delivered at His M ...AJ ES I' V% yards, 4.163 tons, thirteen hundred, three quarters, and four pounds, • of Riga hemp. " The cost to the Pub;ic, upon an average of the whole (plucky, w.te 561. Is. 2.1. per ton. " The commissions charged m the purchase and delivery of this hemp, seem as fullow : Five per cent. by Wr. Lindegren, on the 1.. a. d. amount of the first coat and charge., at Rita. 11,549 3 0 Two-and a-ha f per cent. by Messrs. Godfrey • Thornton, and Sun, on the amount of the first c.ot, and all the charity, except Mr. Lindegten's commission " These commissions were hi conformity to the agreements entered into with Mr. LIN I, Le 4 IS, and Messrs. GODFR EY THORNTON, and hos ; but these was, in addition to Mr. Liriuso.,ties corn m;ssion on the purchase, a further charge on that account, of Two itgr Cent made in elch invoice b? Mesa's. L. a. d. Tho.ley, Monson, and C0...1 litga, the hos,* through whom Mr. Lindegion mule his inn -3,1i4 11 9 " The amount of these conanissions,beingl7,24sl. .18s. appearing to us exorbitant, we xxmined THoatcoN BONA I?, HON.( BROCCI4, and GE°. TODD. Esquires, RnS5l4 merchants, from whom we obtained much general idermatkin as to the mole of contlutling the trade, both in Russia and this counts y. " From the evidence of these Gentlemen we learn ed, tl.at k is the general praEtice at Riga and Pe tersburgh, for the merchants hemp to charge a commission of 2 pet cent. at the former, and three per cent. at the I4,ter place, for their ttouble, in making the purchare auti shipping the article, and that an Agent sent to those plases, must employ a resident Merchant, or lak,e }.ii put. tinder very greet d,sadvant:tger. " With re•peet to the rate of commission usually charged by Merchants in this country for procuring hemp from Riga, and managing the whole of the business attending the importation, it was sttei to us by Mr. BOMA 11 and Mr. 13a ourau, t7i.rt the usual commission charged in such cases was .2 per Cent." " In consequence of this information, the Cpm missioners called upon the Navy Boars!, for an ac count of the rates of commission granted to per sons employed by them to purchase Naval stores, daring the American war, when it appeared, that they were for Riga hemp. II per Cent. to the per so.:t at home, and managing the importation, and 2 per Cent. to the merchants purchasing at Rigs. As the rates of commission on the purchase made by Mr. Li Nusoit str, exe,:eded, by five and a half per Cent. what would have been allowed, if the hemp had been procured through established merchants in the Russia trade, agreeably to the former praCtice of the Navy Ward, the Commissioners endeavoured to ascertain, whether any advantage resulted from sending an agent.to compensate for this additional ex pence ; and they found, that Mr. Linotna ts's first step after his apppoiotrnent, was to employ Mr.JOHN hloutsou, a partner in the house of THoaccv, Mo s tins, and Co. of Riga, H:10 was then in England, to part:l.l7.o from 3 to 4000 tons of Riga hemp, tinder an agr...ement. that he should be allowed the same ciirtnni;-,ion as was charged by other merchants of that place. Mr. Moatsus being euthorised.to draw upon Mtssrs. Gs:storeys. TAI3RMTJX, arid SON, for th.r amount, accordingly set out for Riga, and ar rivad there in the beginning of March ; Mr. Lin- DE,*ll EN followed him, but did no: arrive until the beginning of May, at which time Mr. Moutsos had purchased, or contraeled fur the whole, or great er part of the 4000 tons of hemp. "It it evident, thereore," says the Report, " as far as regards this esantity, that if the order had been given. in the first instance, to Messrs. Goof Kau Tmoanyou, and Soa, and conveyed by them to Mr. Mon:sore, this hemp might have been obtained as advantage ously, and without the allowance of a commission of rive per cent. to Mr. Li mt., so a EN, which amount ed, spun this Firchase, to Emir TiIIOLS•ND. Five HeIIiDIIID AND FORTT.MINE POUNDS, THILit jai 1, L MOS ASO Nine -peace." The report, after stating that the appearance of au Euglisb Agent in'tlie Riga market, was likay to mate as expeastion of an unusual demand, and that from the statement of Mr. H•LLIDA y, the price of hemp wet actually enhanced by the appearance of Mr. Lull:manEtt at Riga, next examines the advantages expeeted from employing Mr. LitroL a EN. On this subjeCt it proceeds thus— " It is stated by the Comptroller, that the cir cumstance which led to the sending of Mr. Lisot- Gnat( to Riga, was the information which Govern ment had received, that the Enemy were talcin , ,f measures to buy tr? large citittitities of Naval S:orcs, tss effete Ivhich, they had, at that time, an Agent :it Riga; and as it was understood that they had nearly exhausted their stores at Brest, in their endeavours to fit out their fleet, alter the ation of the Ist of June, 1794, it became a great otica to interrapt their supplies. " We are ready to admit the importance of this ohjeCt ; bat nee d 1 not perceive that any advantage WAS obtained, by sending an Agent abroad, be yond what ralg!lt have been expeeted from the employment of an established House in London. whose correspondent at Riga might have performed every service whicii could have been required from an Agent. " It is like.vise stated by the Comptroller, that considerable advaatage was ex?edel to be •deriased from having an agent on the spot daring the ship ping season, to give info rm %dna of the vessels %Thiel (right load wit it n Iva' stnres on account of the French Government. This service is not men- ti,:aed in :5: in itract:ons which ware Elves to Mr. ; but direaions on this heal were com municated to him by the Comptroller verbally; and it appeari, that Mr. LINDEGRES did frequently, in the course 'of the year 1793, transmit lists of ships loading at Riga oat account of the enemy : but we are of opinion, that even this service might have been better performed by a resident merchant. " sPr. LTMDEGAES, under the authority given to him to prevent any supply of Riga hemp from going to Prance, purchased two thousand nine hundred and two tons, ten hundred, one quarter, and eiAhleen pounds, which were said to have been obtained out of she hands of agents of the Is'rcnzh G prernm •n:. •• The cos: of this hem,) to the publir..-, on on average o: . the whole cpantity, w.is 6)1. 19s. per ton. " The invoices, which are all made out by Nlessrs• TitOß LEY • MO MlSo`;s and Co. state the hemp to has/. boon sold t:iern to Mr. LINDEORfiti, and each invoice contains a charge of commission, at the rate of two per . e-lt. It ;revs, therefore, from these eirco:nlancei, as well as from the telor of Mr. Lnrettlar cnrLespvtience with the Navy Board. that this quan;ity, i wet,' of :14ving been obtained out of,the hands of AJ,enti i.l the French Gqvern - merit, was purchatti in the mtr!:^z, opal the grortail, tkat it would othcwise be bat ght up for the :apply c.f the enemy. " It was upon this ground alone, that Mr. Lis iienstm could 'atm& his porchases beyond the four thousand tins specitialy mentioned in his inttrulions ; and his cindult, is this particular, seems to have excited the joal.ous7 of the N.lvy 130ard, by their dile:bog him, on the Sth of July, 17)5, not ti purchase any mire hemp, unless it 'tad been previiusly conrcheml for the et:erny, and was adually shipping, or shipped, on account., " NJrvithstandin; this auvar inc.: of suspicion, and the clause in Mr. LINE/LC:LEN% instruaioac, by which he was authorised to us, h:s best ended,- VOiri to prevent any supply of R;gl hemp from Bing , to France, required that ha sh produp proper vouchers for such a transaltion, yet the. Navy glard, on passing his account, slid not requite any ['Articular vouchers for the purchases said to be made from French agents. •' The commis:ions charged on the purchase of this quantity of hemp were, Towattl4-bolf per ceat. by Mr. Lindegren, on tie amount of the Sim cost am charges at Nina 9,53312 3 Utt«aatd.a•bif per cent, by Mmsrs. rd'rey Thornton arsi Son, an the amount M . the fret coo, and all the charges, ♦acept Mr. cortosission Two per cent. 011 the mow of the purchase at Rica, charged in catch invoice Loy Messrs. Thorley, Morrison and Cotn;any, on such part vi was not pr.cured frail Messrs. Man and tiat!idAy " These rates of commission are considerably less than those authotized by t!.c criginal agreements with Mr. LINDIGICN Messrs. GOD/ILLY Tociattrort and Sort, and which were allowed on the purchase of the fcur thousand tons; but they ate still considetAbly greater than would have been charged by the first houses in the Russia trade for the performance of the same business." The Report next notices some errors in the ac• counts respefting he purchase•, as paned by the Navy Board. but none o: any magr.stude ; and then ptoceeds thus : " The Second Statement made by the Navy Board of Mr. Livoaosics's accounts for the purchase of hen,, is for that provided by him under the com mission of we 41' of August, 1796, amounting to ono hundred and silty-seven thousand seven hun . . dyed and fifty-otie pounds', seventeen shillings, and tour pence. ." . " In this year, Mr. I..repeonce went to Ft.g. and by the direetum of the Navy Board, under au.- then ity from the First Lord of the Adutiraltyg:ven on the 2d of Aug tr,t, Purchased 2 4 464 coos, 16 bun ire?, 2 quarters, and 18 pounds, the cost of 7,144 u?3:1 an average of the whole, including the da :aaged, amounted to 551. Ts. 9d. poor ton. " In the authority given to Mr. Liensoa re, no mention is Made of the commissions that were - to 1 . 6 Allowed on this transadion ; by tire accounts, how ever, we find the following were charged: Tw"-antl-3-I,alf per Ceot. it Mt. Ltedipela 3 •• . t 1,4 amount of the first Cust and ceases at f.. 3,249 $ One•:.n.l•s.N.ll( per Cent. by Meollll. Calernie Thornrou am: Son, so the amount of the first 1 •••• • • • cos., ned all ithe ctarger„ exont Mr. Liad,l - CuiniaAon - Teo I.er an figs amount of the p hue at . Rica charged io ‘ach invoice, ty '.lle,*rs Tno,ley, wd Co ^ ,544 lti "The whole of this hemp eves purahased by Messrs. TPICIULIEY, as:d Co. for Mr. Liens° ace, and the emnr.-:i..sion charged by . them was overlo..ked by the Navy Board, as itt the former cue, from the Clerk who drew up the Abatra& and Statement hieing inserted the total !mount of the invokes, as the prime rose of the different cargces, without any distin&ion or notice of the Commission; and,' by ibis neirlefl. cannot but consider, that the ;while sustained a Teas, equal in amount to the commission charged by Messrs. THORLEY. MOCISON. and Co. being two thousand five hundred and forty-four pounds, twelve shi::ings, and seven pence. " The third Statement, made by the Navy Board, or Mr. LINDLI3RI.N'S account for the purchase Of hemp, it for that provided by him in 1797, amount ing to 5123 tons, 7 hun:red, 3 quarter., and 9 pane.'., one-third of w! kb was darn t::ed and bite, 1:1 , -( of whi.:ll, •Inn an avrroge, arm:rested to fiity-eight pounds and twe.pence per ton. The different commis-ions, charged and allowed on Mr. Lisp/cartes accounts, are the same as in the leer account, although the Comptroller had pre viously agreed that Mr. LIaDIICRV4 should be al. 1-wod two and a half per cent. commi:sion on the purchase at Riga, and Messrs. Coriratr, and Co. per Cent. for negocieting the business in London. which two cowirritnons were to include all ripener.' •• This account," Cie Report says, was passpd by the C..mmitieeinMarch. 1798. and it is stated by Mr. G liaise, that it was examined and compared with the of statement by the Mernby-rs of the Committee thernselres, so as to satisfy them that the account was coned!. It may. therefore, seem surprising, that the charge of commisdon by Mows. Twat v, MokISON, and Crspany, 0 - ieuld hare been allowed ; the amount ei s.i.ich was, Two Tisousass• Shy en Hobs:sans AND SartaTT.Nntga PCVNDS, TWILYC ENILLINOS. Lan TIN PLNC/.." The Report next says, "It having been &- coveted. upon an examination of the account of Mr. Lismecaan, for the. purchase of masts, in 1797, that the invoices contained a charge of com mission, by Mews. THORLEY, Moaisosi, and Co. of 41. per cent. the Committee submitted the pro. priety of this charge to the llo.ard at large, who decided, that the charge was right, as Mr. 1A... Drawls lying detained here, by order of the latar:l„ for the purpose of passing his accounts. was allowed to employ an Agent at Riga, for the purchase in question." The Commissioners, on the contrary, contendin the Report, that if Mr. LINDIGILN was to be allowed a commission, it ought to have been a very small one—and adds, Mr. Ltr4ozofteri himself admits, that nerdy wril:rg the letter to Messrs. Tao&Lev. Mousui., and Company, ordering the hemp, was Al; the ser •ice he pet formed for the sum of three th , :usAnd five hundred and fifty pounds, eighteen shillings, mid two pence, the amount of his commit,ion on this trans.i&ion." The Report next states, " that the Comptt-I:sr, on the 6th of March, 1799, authorised Mr. 1.: eats to purchase 2,000 toss of hemp. for tl.e i.t-- formance of v b ch he was to be allies, ..1 a catmints 'lion of 41. per c'mt. for himself and agents, upon the amount of the disbursements, under which tra de: he purchased 2,244 tons, upon this rate of 'com mission of 41. per cent. ; and thus," says the R.port, " a stop was put to the extravagance in the amount of commissions." It also states," that in the same ' , tar. the Navy Board purchased at Portsmouth and Ply. mouth, 1,000 tons of hemp, all of a good qoalityt upon en average, 481. 7s. 6d. per tcn ; wt ereas that provided by Mr. La anasotaa, upon an average of dm whole quantity, con 521. 61. 6411 . natwithatanding one-fourth of it was daeaaged, or of such quality as would not have boon received front Contractors " Here ensis the srsr pa:t of the Report, which or clusirelr relates to tie purchase of hemp, from which ir. appears, that Mr. Limnsoasm receive.:, upon his several purchases, a sum which might la t