The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-03-30 00:00:00

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Loss arising from the Most. of paying the Interest on Navy
and Transport Bills.
Ey an Act of the 34th of His present Majesty, cap. 21, it is
enacted, that after the sth da► of Aril, 1794, alt navy and
♦ictullliug bills shall be made payable on a certain day, not
later than fifteen months from the date of each bill ; and that
the interest on such bills as shall carry interest, shall cons
mence from the day on which the saul bills shall IM registered.
And by a subsequent Act of the 97th year of Ma present
Majesty, cap. 26, it is directed, that all navy, victualling, and
transport bills, shall be payable on a certain day, to be ex-
pressed in each bill, which day shall not be hi', than three
calendar months, from the day of the date thereof; and that
every such Bill shall carry an interest after the rate of three
pence and one halfpenny tier ceritum per diem, to commence
from the day of the date of each bill.
Upon the passing of the last Act, the Commissioners of the
Victualling transmitted to the Navy Board an account of
victualling bills, payable in course, which had been registered
in this month of January, 1797, tinting there to become due
in 90 days from theday of the date, which day was not included.
The Navy Board, on receipt of the account, stated their ob-
jections to this method of computation in a letter to the Vie
walling Board, in which they obi:erred, that all bills made out
under the same Act, should be uniform in all their terms; that
on all o. cannons dependent on time, it wascustomary to
both the first and last day; that this mode of computing inte-
rest oil the navy ►ills had prevailed during the late Act, was
followed in the Transport Office, and was in conformity with
the present Oct.
The Commissioners of the Victualling, in reply,forcibly con-
troy's* these io ition:. They state, that it had always been
the custom of their office not to include the first arid last days in
the calculation of interest, until that rule had been departed
from in recknning the interest on the bills issued under the
95th of His present Majesty, and which was done at the sug.
gestien of the officers of the Navy Board; that the rule now
again adopted in the Victualling Office was cousistent with that
imiversany observed in respect of bills of exchange; to which,
except in the instance of the three days grace usually taken,
they understood thee bills were, as nearly as possible, to be
rendered similar: that they conceived their mode to Ire con-
formable to the Act of Parliament, and that it had um uccasien-
ed the slightest remonstrance from any persons receiving or
holding their bills. To this letter no answer appears to have
been returned.

In punning different lines of conduct on the same occasion,
both the Boards could not be right; and, as the interest of the
public was committed in the question, it might have been ex-
pected that a reference would have been made to the superior
Word for a decision, particularly by that Hosed whose conduct,
if ermeeous, subjected the public tot loss.
It does nor, however, appear that this difference produced
either referenceor enquiry and the rule adopted by the Nsmy
Board, of making the ninety•day bills payable on the eighty•
ninth day from the date, continued in practice in that and the
Transport Office until the month of December, 1801
On the 12th of that month a minute from the Committee of
Account, (one of the Committees into which the Navy Board
is divided), stating, that doubts had been suggested of the pro-
priety of the mode in which ninety-day. bills issued from
that office had been made out, was referred to the Board at largo.
lit this minute the Committee set forth the propriety of their
present mode of proceeding, grounded on the established prac-
tice of their eines, and the necessity of keeping faith with the
merchants, who had been used to this mode of computieg the
interest on their bills. They also express their &otos whether
any envies would accrue to the public from the day's interest
in question, on a presumption that the contractors reckon
upon it in the terms of their contracts; yet, notwithstanding
these reasops offered in favour of the existing practice, the
Committee refer to the considerstiou of the Board, whether it
might be preper at that time ls to depart from the ancient
usage of the office, arid make an alteration in the computa-
tion of the time the ninety-day hills are made out to run, in
conformity with the Victualling Office, arid the custom of
merchants in discoonting
In cnnsequence of this minute, the Navy Board, upon the
18th of the same month, came to a resolution, that the Navy
Riffs issued in future should not bear interest for the day on
which they are dated, agreeably to the practice with regard to
Exchequer bills, and bills made out at the Victualling Office,
and direct this change to commence on the following der.
Previously to our having any knowledge of the above minute
and resolution, we had desired infoesnatiou of the Navy hoard
as to the causes of the rejection, and subsequeet adoption, of
the mode use at the Victualliug Office, of excluding the lay
of the date in reckoning the ereat on the ninety-day hills
The rejection of that mode is no otherwise accounted for, then
by observing, that they did not see reason, on receiving the
letter from the Commissioners of the Victitallitig, to change
the constant practice of their office since the first establish.
meat of Naiy interest bilk, and which extended to all pay-
ments rit'salarv, pensions, fell or half pay, and all other atlas.-
&vices issued from that department. The ft/1041/ 11151111 ed fur
the suhsequentalterathui are, that art minter y might pervade
the several public hoards from which bills of a similar description
are issued ; and that when the time :mired, at the conclusion
of the late war, that malty contrails were put up, and many
more were intended to be so, it was thought a good opportunity
for making an alteration in the mode of paying the interest on
Navy Bills, which could curt, without itnpination of departing
from an universals understexl custom, be altered whiht the
contracts were roiling. It is likewise intimated to be iodate
tenet whether the bills were paid one day rooster or liter, the
sum pairlfor the interest being the same w one case as the other.
We shall now make some remarks en the above proceedings
of the Navy Board, and afo.rward• observe on the bills drawn
by the Commissioners of Transports.
Although the Navy Board might have been unlatirmed of
the general practice of computing the discount on bills of ex.
cheese, and the mode of calculating interest on exchequer
bilk, yet, when the Victualling Board se strongly punted out
to there that they were In error and that error injo r i ~, to the
public we think they shout I have instituted an inquiry: had
they inns so, they must have come to the same ceisclosimi
then which they did afterward,, and on the same grounds ; for
the meth,*l of computing interest on exchequer bills was the
same in 1787 fns in 1101, and the practice of the Victualling
Board they were befare fully acquainted with, and had rejected.
It is certainly the rule in paying of wages, salaries, &c. as
observed by the Navy Board, to include bush days, but nothing
is gained by this to the person receiving such payment, as his
time is afteraaals reckoned from the day neat to th it included
in the former account, so that in the course of the rear he has
is only paid 540 days ; but by the Navy Word's mode of malt-
ing the 90 days 'merest payable on the stOth day, a person
might obtain 369 days interest in the COIIMI of the year; or,
by following up that mode, a day's intered might be gained
every time individuals changed their security, peovided the mo-
ney was again lent on the day of i's being received.
The faith to be preserved with passion whose contracts wore
pending, Is a circumstance much insisted upon in the Navy
B.ard's letter to us, and in the minute of the Committee of
accounts. In order to judge what influence that consideration
could have had upon the resolution of the Beard, at the time it
was carried into execution, we called fr an account, spewing
what standing contracts had deternitned between the Ist of
October, and 19th of December 11101 (the day on whch the
alteration took place), and an account of such as were then in
force, and continued to be so for twelve months. By the re-
turn made to nor precept, it must appear how little the cowl-
deration of keeping faith with the contractors could have in-
fluenced the decision of the Navy Board, es roily two contracts,
of small cousequence, had terminated within the first-mention-
ed period; and one hundred and twenty-three contracts were
remaining in force a year after the change, beyond which time
we thought it useless to carry our enquiries; and the change
being ordered to take effect the day after the resolution, oper-
ated immediately upon all these contracts, contrary to what was
alleged to be the comment understasiditig of the parties.
It further smeared, by the examination of the Secretary to
the Navy Board, that altlimigh the contractors were not con-
sulted on the alteration, they did not object to or complain of
it, confirming in this respect what had been observed in the
letterof the Victualling Board.
The f'arnenistionem of Transports, in answer to our applica-
tion to them on the subject, informed us, that they had allow-
ed interest troth for the day on which the bills were dated, and
that on which they became payable, because the persons to
whom payments were made by ninety-day bills were, in strict-
ness, entitled to their money upon the completion of the ser-
vices performed ; brit that an interval of several days almost
sayariably occurred whilst their accounts were under investiga-
tion, and the bills preparing ; and because' accoiding to their
construction of the Act of Padiaesent, they couceivod it to
have been intended that the bills should be so paid.
If Use Transgott Band thought themselves justified in their

•
practice by their construction of the Ad, they should raid have
deoaried from it without legal advice, or proper authority. If
a compensation, in proportion to the delay, was looked for by
the Cintractors, ono day's interest was not sufficient. it would
seem that this &wad followed the course taken by the Navy
Board, and altered their practice when they found that the
Navy Board had resolved upon a chawge.
We rather think the contractors dad not look for any antici-
pation of payment, as a cowirensation for the Iris of time,
whilst their accounts were pmeng, sore, delay iii which must
necessarily occur, and that it had not then, not has Once had,
any we ght with them an regulating the prices at which they
mad,• vieir tender+ to Government
The loth/rime is the amount of ninety-day bills, issued be-
tween the 26th of Dr cember, 1796, and tho 19th of December,
lent, at an interest of three pence halfpenny per coot per
day, allowed both for the day of At,, date,, IA the day of the
payment of the bills:
lasaled by the Navy Board . L.. 19,747,635 II 11
Transport Board . 6,305,976 11 7

L. 26,053,812 3 6
-----
Leas of one day's interest on the above sum L. 3,799 10 3
Although the loss of between seven and eight hundred
pounds per annum, adds little to the vast amount of the
national expenditure, yet it is because the necessary expendi-
ture is so great, that all possible care should be taken ter avoid
any improper increase of it, such as we think this to have
been. To the public, one day's interest on ninety,.mxrating
on so many millions, was a consideration; to each individual
it was not,.

We think it right to ebeerve, whenever a difference of opi-
nion may arise between the Nara:/Ward:, on tile cun,tiuction
of an Act of Parliament, or any ether general regulation, that
such difference of opinion should be laid before the Lnrdi
Commissioners of the Admiralty, for their decision thereon,
as the pursuing of different li,,es of conduct mull tend to pro-
duce dissatisfactiow, and will in general be found to be inju-
rious to the public interest.
Money imprested by the Navy Board for Secret Naval

Services.
On examining the book containing the registry of bills is.-
‘1,10.(1 by the Navy Board, we discovered that consid,:rable sums
had been advanced, by way of imprest, during the late war,
for the performance of secret naval SCIViCei.
The impress against one of these parties, amounting to one
hundred thousand pounds, having t-en taken off, and the ac•
count closed in the books of the Navy Office in a manner
which appeared to us irregular, we enquired into the circum-
stances of the transaSion.
From the examination 'of the Comptroller of the Navy, we
learned that this sum had been advanced by the Navy Board,
in consequence of directions given by the Lords COMMiSSiOliets
of the Treasury to the Comptroller, which were smirked
" Most Secret ;" thr five thousand pounds had been repaid
into the hands of the Treasurer of the Navy, and that the re-
maining iniprest of ninety-five thousand pound. had been
domed, or takers o(, by the direction of the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Treasury. signified by their Secretary's letter to
the Navy Board, dated the Ist of May, tIIO4.
By His Majesty's Order in Council for regulating the Navy
Office, dated the Pith of June, 1796. the Comptroller of the
Navy is authorised to execute such secret naval services an may
be directed Sy the First Lord of the Admiralty for the time
being, and, after the services are performed. the Comptroller
is required to communicate his orders, and his proceedings
thereon, to' the Navy Board fiat their concurrence. In case a
majority should disapprove of any part of hie conduct, they are
to submit the whole, with the rearms for such disapprobation,
to the First Lord of the Admiralty, whose decision thereon is
to he considered as final

Upon this Order in Council, instructions were &Iwo ap by
the Lcyds Commissioners of the Adni..talty for the conduct of
the Navy Bolni, and they were directed to conj.:lr.', thereto by
their Lordships order of the 17t1. of August 17%, in which
them is au onii4sion that we think it right to notice.
It is out stared iuthat ordcr, under whose directions or ail-
thority the Comptroller is to perform the secret services there-
in mentioned ; the order runs this.
',All contracts ate to be made by the Board at large, those
for secret settle., only exceptea, which are to brt entrurt•d
to the Com,•tiotlff, who is hantetsy authorised to executu
such duty."
Whereas, in the Order in Council, after dating that contracts
of every kind orate be made by the Board at large, tiro e fuj
secret services excepted, which are to be entrusted to the Comp.
truder, it is expressed,
" That the secret services above-tritatilned should be per-
formed under the authority of tin: Fast Lord of tune Ad

niiralty for the time being "
This oiniesion aooula be rectified, as we are of opinion, oi is
cnnsiderable importance, that tie several subotelniate Donrds
should !visa precios inforniAtion, not only of the client or the
authority vested in them, but of the authority under which they
are to act.

The Navy Board, by their patent of appointment, are requir-
ed to folow such orders and instructions as they may from time
to tune receive from the Lord High Admiral, or the Commis-
sioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral fur the
time being; and it don not appear that they are authorised to
follow directions which may be given to them by any other
department of Government It is, howrer,nated by Cm
Comptroller and the Secretary, that the Board' have been iii
the constant practice of receiving and following direetio.is from
the Lents COlillMi4lollefS of Ilia Majesty's Treasury, in certain
cases, which they have enumerated. Itmlso appears, by th."
account entered is the Appendix, N... 4. that 16,0001. have
been advanced by the Navy Board to Messrs. Ifaninieraley and
Company, for the performance sofa secret naval service, which
wan dire-ted by one of lin Majesty's principal Summaries of
State. If it be judged expedient that the Navy flood should
follow the directions of any other department of Government
than that under which they are placed exclusively be their
patent, we think they mould he furnished wirh specific autho-
rity to that effect; and that thee should in no ease depart from
their instructions without the sanction of the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Adirtar.lty.
It is stated by the Comptroller, that theservices for which the
sum in question, of one htlll.lMt thousand pxrunda, was ad-
vanced, were not performed under he orders, but under the
directions of the Lord. Commis.ioners of the Treasury, by
Wean authority the imprest was cleared, without any account
of the expenditure of the money bang rend, red to the Navy
Board.

It is most pmbible that a commimieation of the circuit-
1114110er of this transaction was mole to the First Lonl of the
Admiralty at the time a advarciiig the first panel' this money;
it does not, however, appear, hem his Lordship's examina-
tion, that he directed the measure ; an,l the First Lord of the
Adminlty, at the time the hut adverse, was made, and woen
the impress was taken off, was altogether uninformed of the
transact Mo.

Notwithstanding the time which has el it:iv/ since the ad
ranee of the money, and the iniunctions ii( the order in Coun-
cil, we find that the daptrolltr has not comniunic tied to the
Navy Board his proceedings in this business, or even made them
acquainted with the nature of the servies performed. The rea-
son mewl by the Comptroller for this depaiture from his in-
structions is, that the service is ides delicate a nature, 'hat he
does cot think it prudent to make the circumstance public.
After this declaration, we forbore to inquire into the pur-
poses to which this money had been applied, and, of course,
have no evidence of the services performed ; yet, we have rea-
son to believe, that they were of such a nature as to come
within the description of naval services. There are circuits.
stances, connected with the public interest, which have to
deceit us to withhold the name, of the parties t• whom the
money was advanced, and the nature of the service to which
we apprehend it has been applied ; hut, as the rdv seestrit,
which the public have for the propriety of the disbursements of
public money by the Comptroller of the Navy, which may be
considered of a secret nature, n the ultimate investigation of
the Navy Board, to which all transactions of this nature are
directed by the Outer in Council to he submittal, upon the
completion of the services, we thick so salutary a regulation
ought not to be departed front.
By the account entered iii the Appendix, Nu. 4, it will be
seen that other sums have been advanced by :Fe Navy Board
for the performance of secret naval sersiom ; hut, as ti se
vices are not yet tennicared, we inn oitly reconimend, that,
as soon agility are completed, the commimication, directed by
Ills Majesty's Order in Council, he modern the Navy Board
CNA. M. POLL, EWAN LAW, JONI( Fopo,
H. NICHOLLs, W. MACKWOItTIf Ps .% ED.
Office of Naval IN dley,
24, Great George street, Ma-ch 4,1955.

77TE MARKEn•

1111EXCIIANGZ, roma', Matte 111.
The fresh arrivals to &yam but kw' pert are =Mk; of
foreign. This trade has slow sale, for second and 0tg.,,,,y
qualities, which decline in twice; but baying little act "
band, it readily obtains our currency. The lideksltos
linen buying so little Barley at present, it is lather cheeps
excepting fine' which continues high. Ws bite greot,„,,.
plies of Oats, although with the many from Prima', the pre.
sent demand supporn the prices. Fluur renkcirs in v„,
plenty, and expected cheaper ; bet the prices of t?at sad onity
articles are at small fluctuation.
CURRENT PRICE OF GRAIN.
W haat . 6ss. 84t. 9U. Nein, Mk. 4st v.
Flee d0......1001. 104 s. 04. I 'lick Beans ay, 04.
Rye s4s 60s. 04 Oat. .112 s. 25.. 281, 04.
Barley 424 47r Od. Pi:4lmin .... • --MIS 30. OA.
!Waft 745. riot. 04. Rape 5eed.......441.r1 or.
Peat 425. 48s Od Fine Flour .....Ws. eh 04
Grey Puss 38s 41s. Od. Seconds Mr MX Ort.
- - • --

PRICES OF HA/ AND STRAW.
ST I Ahltirs . WISITZCW tr.!.
Hay .91 Oa a 41 19Y Hay y 1 Ifla a 4' r.
New 01 is aOl Os New 01 Os I a
C10ver......01 Os a 01 Os Clover 41 104 a 1 s
Straw 21 5s a 21 17s Straw 2l 6s a ti

PRICE OF HOPS.
SACS. POCKETS.
Kent 41 81 to 51 is I Kent
Sussex .41 6s to 41 Itls Susses 41 8s is 51 Ot
I
Essex 41 6s to SI Os Ftroham.....7l Os to 71 10,

SMITHFIELD, Fee oar, Mascia29.
To sink tiro Offal—ow Stone of Blb
Beef 4i 4,1 to 5: 4d I Veal .ss Od to N
Mutten.....4s 6d to 5s 6d Park ..4s Od to Sr
Head of Cattle this Day,
lasts, about 500—Sheep, 12,100.

NEVVG.VIE ANL) LEA

By the
Beef.— 9e ed to 4. 4d
Mutton 3,4 d to 4. 441

NIIARKETh
Carc.tte.
41 44 Nt
Od to 5. 44

TALLOW.
'Fran 4
Rtrsia ((ans)... €4l,(y ,
Roma do. ( • • • • •
Melting T. ..... •• •• •
Ditto rough.. lfs
Games 1.1.*
I Good Dregs ..... ••• „IA
f•ottle.l, 925.
Its 6d.-- \1,1,31(14. 12: PO.

PRICE OF
St. James's Market..4l 01 f
Clue Market........ 4; OA
Whitechapel Market. 44 I Ift
Per Stone of Blb. -
It< 114
Average Price... 4e Od

Yellm•Soap, 78s—M,
Price or Candle., per doz. I

COAL FXCH NNGE, MARK,, :7.
Best Coale, per (Alai/iron ♦9 6d
Delivered to Housekeeper*
Sunderland, per Challrun Os Od
Delivered to Housekeepers at

PRICE of STO(KS YESTERDAY.
3 peeCemt Consuls aell2
5 per Cent. Na,,.. . ...6911
Imperial 3 per Cent. .. 573
Onv.ium Si
Exchequer Ril!.
P:ng. Lottery Tickets
Consuls fer . . SBI
T. Blatt, Stnck.'broker,
144- 4, Gambill, and No 9, Cha•i : r-ese.

PRICE OF DOS!! srocKs
Gov. Deb. II per Cent. •March 32 ) PBl

CI /UKSE OF EXCHANGE, FILID•r. Mance 23.
Nmateniain .... IP II 21!• Genoa 4.4
Di.t.. At %est .. :41 0 l'eniee
Rotterdam l4 32 U. ll.i+bnw 641
ilap.b.inakt 33 5 1411. Oporta .....
Alton..& .
Alto ~ 33 6 1140. Dublin
Pant I dsrs date IS 13 '
Ditto ' .. II- 3'2 Cr. 11911110$1. 11. . 4.
linunleaan • •26 3 Portugal Grid in CLAW
Cali:.. in paper aol &ars per 0z... 4 0 0
Dm° 3ij ei,ct D,,uloinmis . ..... ... 0 0 •
Madrid .....
Oat, 331 erect. S.lver in liars ..... 0 0 0
361

Bibs

Nrw I.otili each.... O 0 e

I.ogtmen BO
Maple.

A 4.f, on the blank of HeLanif
5 per Cent

MARRIAGES.

La•ely, the Rev. Wigiaoi Rons F.IIi ombe, ealeit an of aka
Rev. W. Ellicombr, Hector of A phington, to Miss hue, if
C.bst St. George, in Cornwall.
Lately, at Kilinurry Church, near Limerick, Ere Ir.sar.,
of A4lk hill, Co. Limerick, to Miss Maunsell, eaughta.
of Rciuert Minutia, Esq. of Limerick, Banker.
bEATHS.
Lately, of a Decline, in 11'2 19th year of her age Miw Ss.
eannah Ldaile, second daughter of Jamm LA. 4
Upiiii.ister, Ewes.
On the 27th of August last, on his !massage to Cakutta, C.
Law, Ey. seuior merchant on the Bengal Establishment.
Lately, at Mrs. Laiie'4, in Greet Orinonct.sheet, Cna its
Titre' M..rgan, Eaq. of Fairford, Gloucestershire

HIGH WATER TIII DAY AT LONDON BRIDGE,
Mnrw 59 mitt. after I.—E4eit. 14 twin. Aft 2.

SALES BY AUCTION.

TO BLACK COACH MASTERS, STAGE MASTERS,
KACKNEY-MEN, AND OTHERS.
By D. SADLER,
On THURSDAY, the 4th April, 1905, at the Red Lion,•
Whitechapel,
THE following HORSE', CARRIAGES, tte.
Twelve Bonvy useful Long ELek 111
BUM,/ %Vida! ttriwii Hones Two Honer tearful Bay
a flearve, we Mourning Coazhes, a li;law Coazh, a
Clisiw, Six tLektiey 0121C:Irl cimidete (w Sottree
Win.% h,K One Horse Chain», a Chae.e CAW, 'it t 4 Clack
&sties, Twn Hvekney Carnagev, Twn N'tl N,v/ Cow*
Witr-L, aryl about Fifty..ld "Into, a Q -aiitit! of Coach Inn,
and Stable Utcosili—The P.onerty td Lee, mod are to Se
sold without iteserre, lie ft ,ig the Hackney ftlaw,e—
-tir•ly. The robin: in general w.ll hod the
bon •ro br•iewed the Mornn.t.',f Si'•

?KIN-1-s, MAPS, DRAwist.s, 1641.1p.a vf
AND PORT kOLIOS.
fly Mr. it ICIIARDSON,
At his blase, Nu. 31, in the Straw!, oa TIYURSD
April 4, and the following Der, at Toe's, 0C10..k, by
Order of the aging Execuitir of the late Elwar.l
Elq. deceased,
rr HE Valuable Colleetion of PilIN After the
I ben Baden and other M.otort in :lite vt '..:136'n •
oolong others, equally valoabie, is baniert Vistet in PR,
coluired View of Rome on Twelve Sheets. Rauh+.
Hrstrwicai Pilot. and Oreain,nts of the Vats.= and V,na
Ano.ainily, by Volpetn, te.—Some Proofs, and other% highly
painted, equal to Maosatures —King Charl.s the First
ud
Cbseelt, by Sir Robert strange, very fine. MAPS--Itwo 401
Plan of lAnolun nit Thirty-one sheets, coloured. A curtain Cul-
lettion of Or ginal Orawines of Mai and Plan, of Canino.
arc. Oinks° Crnturne, Manners, Diserooli, The
Collection, I Vol. Denou's Egypt, 2 Vol. Hod; 's View"
Loki , (;i,ten** Views tit P•440,p,00t4; I.e Roy (..ceze i and
PORT FOLIOS.
To he *leveed on Vifedneslyy tor !, and Mornings of Sale:
Cal b • hail of Mr. Rt.dirdoii, N 0.51, Strand; anj
Mt Clarke, Bookseller, Bath sweet

LONDON:—Punted by GORGE ttVILNIUS, No.
Wych Wow, St elem.:tali antl published by .1.4101
RN DER, at the Office, No. 15. beck at St. Chew"
Church, Stned, where Orders t.. the Paper, ier. (1.4.1.4)
will be deli aesedeil ie.