The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-14 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

This morning was issued the first report of the
'sleet committee appointed for the examination from year
to year of the audited accounts of the public expenditure.
The committee suggest for consideration whether the ad-
vantage of the independent check of the Audit-office over
the receipts might not be secured either by • concurrent
audit or by an examination from time to time
of a portion of their account, by the Audit
Board. The committee then proceed to call atten-
tion to a point to which they attach numb importance :
To enable parliament to obtain a satisfactory account of the
expenditure on any vote, it is essential :-1. That the rote
should be taken " for services which will come in course of
payment during the year." 2. That at the close of the
financial year (via., March 31), the account should be
closed, and no belance be carried on to meet payments
in • subsequent year. 3. That the account should be
audited by the Audit Board, and any balance de-
dared by the auditors aborikl be restored to the exchequer.
4. That the Audit Board should present to parliament an
appropriation account, setting forth the amount of the vote,
and of the expenditure ; and this in sufficient detail as to
the items included under each vote. With regard to the
revenue departments, the votes are for " the services which
will come in course of payment within the year."
The balance on the vote of one year is not earned on
to be applied to the payments of another, and
any balances remaining unissued from the exchequer
at the close of the year are surrendered. It re-
mains that an appropriation account should be framed
annually by the Audit Board, and laid by them be-
fore parliament ; mid that the sanction of law
should be given to the whole arrangement, am has been
done with respect to the army and navy accounts. The
committee have the concurrence of the Board of Audit in
this view, and the opinion of the different witnesses from
the revenue departments, that such accounts could be
prepared without difficulty. From Mr. Anderson they
have learnt that the subject had been under the con-
sideration of the Treaanry, and a bill has been
wry into effect the recommendations of the
prepared to
Ponies Committee, which bell includes the votes for
the revenue services. As those recommendations are of an
extensive character, and may require much consideration,
both by the government and parliament, the committee
would suggest that this improvement, es regards these
revenue accounts, should be effected separately, and without
delay. Is ardor to enable the Audit Board to present
• satisfastory report of the appropriation of the ex-
plaudit's', cm buildings, especially as regards the
post-ounce, the committee consider that it will be
necessary that the estimate should be presented
ilosater delaiL They suggest that the estimate
specify the mint required for ordinary repairs, and
the sweats sum for each building not of an ordinary cha-
racter. Other questions have arisen in the course of this
inquiry respeedng the form in which the estimates should
Its framed. On these the committee purposely abstain from
rrikia:a t
ufaitzs a
rs
they do not consider these questions
of reference. The report is dated the
llth Instant.

COST OF TUN EDUCATION CONCKUNION. —A parlia•
mastery return tinned this morning shows the total cost of
the Eduestion Commission from its appointment on the Anh
Jane, 1858, to the conclusion of the inquiry on the 3mh
Jane, 1861. For salaries of the establisihment, the sum of
3,3831. 13s. 11d. was paid; for inquiry by the twelveassist.at
commissioners, 7,4561. is.; for statistical returns, short-
hand writers' notes, stationer for oopying and books, isqual
hitoeducatlooal endowment ,travelling and hotel exposited
the commissionam, and offloe expenses, 1,850/.—in
12,8891. 18s. I.ld. This return is exclusive of the expecoa
incurred in printing and stationery. The account has beta
made up to the sth instant. There is a balance of rash of
145/. 4s. 3d. in the bands of the commissioners, which it is
skated will be quite sufficient to cover every expen-e to the
does of the oommission on the 30th instant.

A letter from Turin in the Messayer du Midi. s
legitimist journal, sus :—" The King, immediately after
the death of Count Cavour, retired to hie country house as
La Venetia. Baron 13k81101i is well known for his hortilay
to the Pope ; and, as the firmness of his character is es•
trans, be will never come to any compromise on the Roman
question. Bum iticesoli ie such an enemy to Rome that
he has abjured the catholic religion, and become • I."'"
Want. His journal, the Narione, is always filled 1131,
letters Malls to the Papal court. In that respect the 'woo
will ague well with the Oaribaldisn party, but in every
dim he is completely at variance with them."