The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1781-10-06 00:00:00, page 4

As soon as-Led North had moved, that the order of the day for
the House to resolve itfelf into a Committee on the Commidion
of Accounts Bill be'read, his Lordship moved a chafe as an infracti
on to the Committee, that the Commissioners be empowered to call
for all papers, &c. relative to the extraordinaries of the army, &c.
This elaufe having been read by the Speaker,
Colonel Barre rose and said, he had been given to understand, that
the noble Lord intended to have excused himfelf from keeping his pro
niife, to move an infraction, that the Commissioners be directed to
turn their attention to the army extraordinaries, and that on account
of the Commissioners having already examined several of the fub-ac
countant', now in England, of whom they could make neither head
nor tail. the Colonel, after exprefling his furprize at the noble
Lord's having changed his intended mode of proceeding, made a very
long speech, in the course of which, he paid the present Commifli
oners a handsome compliment, declaring that they had very great
merit. Their reports in particular, he said, were drawn up with a
clearness of expreflion, a lucidus onio, a fort of propriety and simpli
city of language and stile that was most admirably adapted to the fub
je6L From this the Colonel proceeded to animadvert with great
harffmefs on Lord North's conduct in fuffering the Commissioners to
proceed upon a business, whicli he well knew, they could do no good
with. He asked, if they ought to be embarrassed with an enquiry into
th^ expenditure of bat money, marching money, and other militaiy
minutiae, below the notice of a Commission of Accounts? He repre
hended the noble Lard for having expressed his amazement at the
iargentfs of the amount of the Extraordinaries, and yet at the
fame time declared that no foody was to blame. He pointed out
the amounts of the charge for provisions for the army in Ame
rica in the years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780, Shewing
that although we had as large an army there the firft year
of the war, as at present, the amount was at fifft (in 1776) but
between 300,0001. and 400,000!. whereas the amount for 1780 was
900,000!. and upwards; more than double the amounts of the chaige
for provilioib for 1777 and 1778 put together. He declared, that
looking to the stoppages was the only means of ascertaining the num
ber of the army. And after a variety of arguments upon the Extra
ordinaries, advised the not referring the eight millions that had been
sent to America, to the enquiry of the Commissioners, nor the
*lso,oool. of bills drawn by niiniflry, but to let ministers remain ref
ponhble for both, and to inftruft the Commissioners to proceed firft
to enquire into the nature of the contracts and agreements made by
minillers liere at home, to serve the army with different articles. If
idy other mode were pursued, he should conlider it as an attempt to
Sacrifice the Commissioners, to degrade their characters, ^nd to de
lude the Public. The Colonel concluded with offering a, motion to
this purpose; and also to insert the word " immediately in the be
ginning of the motion.
Lord North rose and aufwered the Colonel very fully. His Lord
flip said the Colonel had milfeprefented his words, he never had said
that nobody was to blame; what he had said, was this: the Extra
ordinaries of the Army amounted to a sum which astonished him,
but that he would not impute blame to any man. He was ready to
fay tile fame thing again. 'I he enormous amount of the Extraordi
hriries was ground of suspicion, and consequently ground of enquiry;
but God forbid that he should possess so unjust a mind, as to impute
blame to any man, before it had been proved that he deserved it.
Other gentlemen miglit be less scrupulous, he hoped he never should.
With regard to embarrassing the Commissioners of Accoi&s with an
'enquiry into bat money, marching money, or any other 'tailing arti
cles of military expenditure, he had no fucli intention; but why
-should the Commihioners be limited at all ? Surely they had proved
their judgment, their integrity and their ability fufficiently, to be
'entitled to aft as their own diferetion should direct. He did not
doubt if the matter was left at large, without limitation, the Com
"miflionefs, who had already given fucli fatisfacHion to the House,
would continue to a& in a manner equally fatisfa&ory. With ref
ped to the word " immediately" he had not inserted that, because
it would be going counter to the original intention of the Bill,
which was, that the Commissioners should firth enquire what ba
lances were in the hands of Public Accountants, and could nioft spee
dily be paid into the Exchequer. That part of their duty they had
not finifhed, and they dented to get through it, before they proceed
ed to any other. The honourable gentleman had asked, when were
the eight millions to be accounted for? In answer, he muff reply,
when the Army Accounts were made up and passed, which might
not be till the end of the war? [A loud laugh from Mr. Burke and
others of the Oppofition.] His Lordship said, he was not aware
that he had said any thing ridiculous; and after some other observa
tions, he concluded with a declaration, that he should oppose the
Amendment.
Geticr.il Berfye rose, as he said, to exculpate general officers from
rhe charge of being tardy in getting ready '''' accounts for fettling.
The General declared, that the day after he landed in 1778, he sent
word to the Treasury, that he was ready to fettle his accounts im
mediately, but they were not yet palled. He said further, that a
fab-accountant, with whom he made a contraH greatly in favour of
the. Public, had been in town ever lince, till the hit week, when he
went abroad; but before he went, he came to him and said, he hoped
he would not take it amiss, but it his accounts were not ipcedily let
led, he should be under the ncceffity of commencing a fait against him
for fix and thirty thousand pounds.
Lord North explained this, by flaring that the Treasury had taken in
finite pains to fettle the claim in question; but the fact was, there was a
difference between them and the Auditor of the Impreft, they not agree
ing together, with regard to the fairnefs of the amount of the claim.
Mr. Bowlby confirmed what his Lordship had said, and declared
that the cause of, contention was, the claimant infilled on the full
completion of his whole contrail, whereas it was thought that he
had a right to be paid, only up to the convention at Saratoga.
Mr. Burke in a long, irregular, and diffufive speech, was extreme
ly witty at the expence of the noble Lord in the Blue Ribband. He
begged his pardon for laughing, but he hid mistaken his serious affcr
tion, that the army accounts would be known as to their amount,
when they were palLd and fettled, for a very good joke, ft reminded
him of the old line, Certum est, quod certum reddi pots. From this he
flew to the explanation, which the noble Lord had given relative to
the difference between the Auditor of the Impreft and the Treasury,
and was remarkably rleafant upon it. He allowed that the nation
was ruined in the moil methodical manner pollible, fecundum artem.
Every separate portion of ruin was done by the proper officer, from the
firft Lord of the Treasury down to the lowed runner of the Minis
try. There was great good sense, propriety and policy in his ho
nourable friend's motion, but yet he said, he was perfectly sure that
House would reject it, and that, because the majority had received
proper rcafons for so doing from the proper officer. He mentioned the
trivial objeds of the ' enquiry, submitted to the Commissioners of
Accounts, while Harley and Drummond's account lay unthought of
in the Treasury, He wiihed to fee the time come,
When GAfcara s knife was marked on Harley s goH,
and longed for the opening of the Harleian Miscellany.
The Lord Advocate said, the Hon. Gentleman must excuse him, hut
he could not help faying, he had made use of a great many words,
and had scarcely said any thing to the motion and amendment in
question. The Lord Advocate shortly aligned his rcalons for voting
Against the latter, and in support of the former.
Colonel Barre', General Bugbyne, and Mr. Burke, were on their
legs a second time. Colonel Hartley also said a few words in favour
of the amendment.
At length the amendment was rejected, and the original motion
carried without a division.
As soon as the question was decided, Colonel Bane rose again,
and in a speech of considerable length inforced his old' argument rtf
pefting the impropriety of allowing the Commissioners of Accounts
to be gentlemen, who were not in Parliament. The Colonel said,
that the House, being itfelf a delegated body, had no power to dele
gate to others, that with which it was cntrulled; and this lie put
into a variety of Shapes, drefling it up with many Strong |hrafes,
and Supporting it with hjs usual energy of manner, and firmnefs of
tone of delivery. He warmly attacked I.ord North, on different
grounds; in particular, he charged him with having told the House,
Parliamentary Proceedings.
House of Commons, Maj 30/
[Commission of Accounts Bill.]
that the only proportion that went towards a plan of reformation,
which the Commissioners had ventured to make in their reports, was
impracticable. He said, difficulties had arisen to the present Conn
miilioners, which would not have been the case, had the Commis
sioners been members of parliament; in particular, the difference of
opinion between them and rhe Commissioners of the Navy, would
never have occurred. He next reprehended Lord North for taking
all the bufmefs of that House into his own hands, and said, tliat he
had not only nominated the present Commissioners, but had also no
minated the Secret Committee to enquire into the affairs of the Carna
tic. He declared likewise, that it was univerSally said, that two of
the present Commissioners, Sir Guy Carleton, and Mr. Pigott, had
defined to retire, and to aft as Commillioners no longer; for which,
is well as other reasons, he pressed it home to the House to relume
their right, and no longer to fuffer the Public to be robbed, without
their doing their duty, and proceeding to search out the robbers, and
after due examination, to drag them to public justice. He conclud
ed with moving, in substance, " That it be an inftrudtion to the
Committee, that the present Commissioners of Accounts might be
provided for; and that the names of a certain number of members of
the House of Commons be inserted in the Bill id their heads''
Lord North said, his ideas and his opinion as to the propriety and
advantage of having the Commissioners of Accounts, employed un
der the Bill, at present in force, to be gentlemen out of Parliament,
had so often been explained to the House in the last Sefhon, and were
so generally known, that it was unnecessary fpr him to go much at
length into an answer to the objections that had that day beep dated
by the Honourable Gentleman, who made the motion, then before
the House, and by others. The Honourable Gentleman had talked
of the various modes of election, and had even questioned the faireft
and most impartial mode that could poflibly be devised, by faying
that the Secret Committee appointed to examine into the State of the
difalters in the Carnatic had been chosen at liis nomination. Every
body knew, that the Committee in question were cholen by ballot ;
the assertion therefore of the Hon. Gentleman, went rather to accuse
the majority of the House with having a&ed improperly, than to
charge him with having made a nomination, which the Journals
shewed, most incontrovertiby, to have been the nomination of the
House of Commons. But it had been said, that "'it would be more
fatisfadtory, even for the noble Lord to nominate Commissioners of
Accounts, from among the Members of tliat House, than for gentle
men, who were not in Parliament, to be continued as Commissioners
under the present Bill." In answer to this, he must fay, that the
noble Lord, he was sure, if the Commissioners were to be choien
from among rhe Members of that House, would not wish to have
the nomination of them. The honourable gentleman had also char
ged him with having said, that the alteration proposed by the Com
missioners of Accounts in one of their Reports, with regard to the
manner of keeping the accounts of the Navy, and with regard to the
future conduct of T'reafurers of the Navy, was impracticable. He
had said no such thing; the honourable gentleman, probably from a
misapprehension of them, had miftated his words. What he had said
was this; that on receiving the report of the Commissioners, the
Lords of the Treasury had paid immediate attention to it, and had
taken a great deal of pains to enquire by what means the ideas of the
Commissioners of Accounts might be best carried into execution.
With this view, they had sent for the Commissioners of the Navy
Board, had consulted them upon the fubjed, and after the Commis
sioners had taken time to conlider upon it, they had declared that the
plan was impracticable. Exactly, in this manner, had he Rated the
matter to the House, while in a Committee on the Reports of the
Commissioners of Accounts; and he had expressly said, at the time,
thafje did not pronounce the plan impracticable, but that the Navy
Board had; and that sometimes the certainty of finding considerable
difficulty in the way, made men thinlc that impracticable, which,
ftri&ly speaking, if attempted with spirit, and followed up with
perseverance, would be found to be otherwise. He now repeated,
that perhaps this would be found to be the case, in the inßance al
luded to; but the objection that had been Rated by the Commission
ers of the Navy Board, was a fufficieut inducement for him to de
cline proposing making the alteration suggested, by introducing any
clause for that purpose in the present Bill. And indeed, he could not
but observe that the aniniadverfion, that had been passed upon him
on this account, was far from civil with regard to the Commillioners
of the Navy, who were men of known character and tried integrity;
men, who were-as anxious to promote the public service as the ho
nourable gentleman, and who had on many occasions diftinguiflied
themselves equally by their zeal and their ability in office. He was
at a loss to imagine how the Commissioners, being Members of Par
liament, would have prevented this difference of opinion. The pre
sent Commissioners of Accounts had ample powers to examine on
oath, and how they pleased; and if their present powers were not
fufficient, he should have no objection to enlarge them. The fact,
however was, that the Lords of the Treasury, who had treated with
the Navy Board, were all Members of Parliament, and therefore,
the whole argument, on this point, fell to the ground. Among
other things, the Hon. Gentleman had said, that Sir-Guy Carleton
and Mr. Pigott, two of the present Commissioners, had desired to
aft as Commillioners no longer. It was true, that both of those
gentlemen had expressed a with to retire, the one on account of his
ill health, the other on account of his profeffional avocations; but
such was the public spirit that animated those gentlemen, fucli their
zeal to promote the interest of their country, such their confeioufnefs
of the advantages that had already resulted from their labours, and
.of the Rill, greater advantages that would, in all. probability, result
nereafter, that they were determined to . forego all personal consider
ations, and to make the Public Good their sole object He could
therefore affiire the House, that both of those gentlemen were willing
to continue in the unwearied prosecution of their duty, as Commissi
oners of Accounts: this he was authorized to fay, and this the House
might rely on. Since the firft Bill had passed, one of the Gentlemen
nominated in the Commifiion, Mr. Tierney, had died; the burthen
therefore had devolved'wholly. on the fix surviving Commissioners, and
that burthen they were Rill willing to sustain. Indeed, Mr. Tierney's
bad Rate of health obliged him, very soon after the Bill passed, to ab
sent himfelf from the Board, and therefore the House would easily fee
that the present gentlemen could not pollibly have received any great
afliftance from the deceased. For this reason, he did not intend to
add any new name to the fix gentlemen, who Rill added as Commis
sioners of Accounts. His Lordship said further, that last year, when
the fubje& had been so often brought before the House, Ind had been
difeuffed again and again, he had repeatedly Rated the reasons for his
preferring a commission filled with the names of persons, who Were
not in Parliariient. If he then was of that opinion, he would not
surely be expelled to lay it down now, and adopt a new one, after
experience had proved, that his opinion was well founded; indeed al
moß every gentleman, who had spoken at all upon the fubjed, had
agreed that the present Commissioners had faithfully difeharged their
duty to the Public, and that they merited universal praise. Why
then mould he be called on, to adopt the proportion moved by the
honourable gentleman, and agree to nominate Members of Parlia
ment to fill up the commission, when experience had proved, that
more honeß, more able, more clear, more afliduous men could not
be found, or men more fit for the purpose, than the present Commis
sioners. Nor Was this the only reason that operated in his mind for
continuing them in the Commission, they had themftlves Rate d that
they met with many difficulties in the commencement of their enqui
ry, indeed, the House muR be aware that there muR be many diffi
culties, and the chief of them rose from the novelty of the under
taking. that difficulty the present Commissioners .had surmounted,
why then fhotild it betn countered a-new ? which muR undoubtedly be,
the case, if Members of Parliament were to be fubflituted, in lieu
of the Gentlemen already employed- The latter were not only ex
perienced in their duty, and masters of the proper method of pro
ceeding, but had fhewh great readiness, great skill, and great inte
grity in doing the duty of the office tlrey here invested with; where
as Members of that house, however equal in point of ability, and
desire to serve their country, certainly had not the fame experience,
and would have to learn all that the present Commissioners were al
ready mallersof. For these, and for a great variety of other reasons,
which his Lordship Rated, Lord North declared he muftoppofe the
Hon. Gentleman's motion.
[To BE CONTINUED.]
WANTED TO KE NT,
A Small convenient HOUSE in any public part of the
town, Inquire at No. 46 on the Bay.|
To be Let, ofnvbich immediate Possession aci/l be given,
A PLANTATION on Cooper 'river, 'belonging to the
estate of William Holliday, deceased, about two miles
above the Quarter-House, has on it every necessary building and an
excellent garden, which renders it a very pleasant retreat. The
terms may be known, by applying to Messrs. Zephaniah Kings
ley and Jacob Valk, Executors, ors
SARAH HOLIDAY. Executrix,
Who requests all persons indebted to said estate, to make imnt
diate payment; and those who have any demands, to bring them in
properly attested, at No. 97, Broad-street.
r £ TIE books of accounts, bonds, notes and other fpccialties
X belonging to the estate of the late Mr. Edward Oats, decea
sed, being put into my hands by the Executrix, in order to obtain
speedy payment, it is therefore desired, that all persons indebted to
the estate will call and pay their refpe&ive debts, on or before the
fifteentli day of October 1781, on which day all debts then due will
be sued without further notice or diftin&ion; and in the mean time
all persons are forbid fettling any debts or tranfseting any business
relative to that estate with Mr. Charles Morgan Connell or
any other person, unless thereto authorized by f
ROBERT JOHNSTON, No. 2, St. Michael's-Alley.
A LL Persons having any demands against Mrs. Mary
Carwithen, deceased, are requeued to render accounts of the
fame; and those indebted to the estate of said deceased, are desired to 1
ettle with f ELISHA POINSETT, Executor.
T O B°E SOLD,
THREE young NEGRO-MEN, one of whom is a com
pleat waiter, barber and groom; another has been used to a.
house; and the third is a good sawyer. The reason for felling them
is, their matter has gone to reside in England.— Bills of Exchange
will be taken in payment. For particulars enquire of the Printer.'
Malt, Strong and Table Beer,
OF an excellent quality, brewed by the fubferiber in
Charleftown from rice malt not inferior to, nor diftinguiihable
from that made of barley, to be fold at a moderate price by the
ton, barrel, gallon, &c. any day of the week (Sundays excepted.)
Also to be fold, Annifeed, Clove, Mint, Orange and other excellent
Cordial Waters, and best Stomachic Bitters.
Balsers, &c. may be supplied with Veaft ; and those who would
fatten hogs or feed cows, so as to give a flow of milk, may be sup
plied with Brewer's Grains at sixpence per bushel, at No. 7, Kin,
fireet, by f WILLIAM HORNBY.
rjWE subscribers give this public notice to all persons that
JL are any ways indebted to John Fripp, late of St. Helena, de
ceased, to call and niake immediate payment ; and all those to whom
the said deceased is indebted, to bring in their accounts, properly at
tested, to the'fubferibers on St. Helena.
WILLIAM FRIPP,I
Sept. 26, 1781. WILLIAM FRIPP, jun.> Executors,
* JOHN FRIPP,)
•TAKEN up by my negroes, September 18th, on the marih
I opposite to Colonel Fenwicke's landing on John's Island, a
CANOE, about 21 feet long, and 3 feet wide. The owner may
have it again, on paying fir this advertisement, and giving the ne
groes fomc gratuity. Apply, in St. Andrew's Parish, to
BENJAMIN ELLIOTT.
ANY person or persons having PEWS in St. Michael's
Church to hire out, will plcafe to intimate the fame to Abra
ham Pearce, Undertaker, No. 33, Broad-ftrect.
N. B. Coffins and Funerals decently furnished. f
RUN away from the fubferiber, about five weeks ago,
a Negro Man named Champaign or Sam, well known in
Charleftown, being formerly the property of Mrs. Janet Cummin;
is a likely, well made fellow, about thirty years of age, speaks good
English, and as artful and sensible as any of his colour. I will give
THREE GUINEAS reward for his being delivered to the Warden
of the Sugar-House, or to myfelf at No. 84, Church-street, and for
the information of his being harboured by a black; and TEN GUI
NEAS if harboured by a white man or woman, or if carried off the
Province by any maftrr of a vessel or other person, to be paid upon
proof and convi&ion, being determined to put in force the. laws ref
peefting such atrocious offenders.
In consideration of liis past faithful services, I will pardon him the
second time for this crime, if he returns to his duty immediately.
Char le,own, 2()th Au^v.,, 1781. | BRIAN CAI'L,
RUN away, a Mulatto Wench, named Sukey, well known
in town, she had a ticket of leave to find a mailer, with which
she may perhaps impefe. 'IWO GUINEAS will be paid by the
fubferiber to any person that will deliver her to him, or to the keeper
of the Sugar-house. THOMAS PHEPOF..
RUN away from the fubferiber the 3d of October infant,
a negro fellow named DUBLIN, about 40 years old, hrs face
very much marked with the small pox, has a very short nose, about
five feet high, had on when he went away, a blue jacket and breeches,
•a new ofnaburg shirt, and a new round hat with yellow binding;
he has a pafs.to go out of town. Whoever will bring the said ne
gro ro me at No,u, King-street, Charleftown, lb all have a reward
of SIX DOLLARS. I. HENRY BLANKENHORN,
WILLIAM CLARK
No, 4, Bay,
Has on hand, a few PACKAGES of
HARD Ware, Shoes assorted, Broad-Cloths, Fur Hats
Worßed, Thread and Silk Stockings, &c. which he will
pole of at a very low Advance. „.
JUST IMPORTED, " '
In the Pallas and British Hero, from London, and to
other the latest Vessels from Europe,
A compleat ASSORTMENT of
Ufeful Drugs and Medicines^
Which are for SALL, at No. 9, Grange-Street,
Wholesale or Retail, vii.
GLAUBER Salts at two Shillings an^ fix-pence per Pound 4
Epfoni Salts at Two Shillings and Fourpence, and by the caft'
cheaper ; a large quantity of Copperas, Allum, Brimfloiie '
Nitre, Sal Ammoniac, Aqua Fortis and Sal Signette ; best Jefuit' sßark'
Eleutheria and Cafcarilla Barks, Aloes, ,Columbo Root, Russi a
Lust-India Rhubarb, Castor, Opium, Spanish Flies, Manna Ch
momile Flowers, Senna, Cream of Tartar, Affafeetida, Nu'x Vol
mica, Arfenick, Coculus Indices, Magnesia of a superior quality
to what is generally imported ; Tartar Emetic warranted Spirit
of Lavender, Hartfhorn, and all other Volatile Spirits and Salts
Oils Of Cinnamon, Cloves, Bergamot, Lemons, Annifeed
most other Chymical Oils; Liquorice Roots and Juice;. Sperma
^atti^ Salop, Sago, Spices, and Mocco Coffee; Quick-Silver, and all
its preparations;^ Antimony, and its preparations; I)r. Huxhanfs
Bitters, so neceffaiy at this season of the year, at 10 s. per quart*
Stoughton's Bitters, at 2s. per bottle, or 18s. the dozen; Turlin^
ton's Balsam, large bottles, at ss. Dr. James's Powders, at fs. the
packet; empty phials,' old Batavia Arrack, with a variety of other
aiticles, on the lowest terms, for Cafli or Bills of Exchange.* Phy.
ficians, and Bra&itioners in Phyßc and Surgery, on taking an Affor.
ment, will be fupplied,on much lower terms thqn usually fold.
As the lubfcriber intends as soon as may be, after his arrival i n
England, to establish and be concerned in a House here, in the Drue
Medicine, Grocery, Perfumery, and Oil Man's Branches, on a more
extensive plan than ever was in this Province, he fells at these low
prices, to shew such of hjs former Customers, or those who may now
deal with him whilst here, or favour the Concerned in future with
their orders, how reasonably they may, even in these times, be ftp.
plied, and yet afford an ample profit to the Importer.
Ilie HOUSE in Orange-Street, and LOT in King-Street, arc Rill
for Sale.—Conditions may be known by applying to
J SAMUEL CARNE., No. 9, Orange-Street.