The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-05-22 00:00:00

...
['ship :hen went into a minute account of the hietore
of the ()light of the au lions .t oablic accounts, and
the ends and purposes they were intended to aoswet i
that those!rillices were some years ago betel by two
very respectable Noblemen, the Earl of Bute and
Lord Sondes, who, thongh they never forgot they had
• considerable salaries to receive, did not remember
they had any duties to Perform. and the public ac-
counts had therefore been long riot totally negleEled
to be examiaed into. In the reign of Queen Ann..
d Godolphin had recommended, and procured
to be appointed, Comptrollers of Army Accounts, to
whom were to he submtited all accounts relating to
• the army. particularly for hospital stores and ;eld
works ; bur it appeared that of late years large sums
had been issued without submitting them to the
Comptrollers of Army Accounts ; that no less a
sum than seven hundred thousand pounds sterling
had been issued to one ind;videtal. Mr. Trotter,
who held the different offices of manufafturer
of public stores, Purveyor. Comptroller. and, finally,
Auditor of his own Accounts, and perhaps it would
appear rather surprising to the House, that for
standing in all these relation., he only made a
charge of 10 per cent. over and above all profits at
tached to the several departments he was employed
in. These accounts were never submitted to the
Comptrollers of At my Accounts. immense as they
were. The Barrack accounts contoined also a vast
• field fur peculation and abuse. Mr. Pitt saw
it was necessary to change tlie room and a Bill
was brought in, by which other Commheioners were
appointed for the auditing of public accounts ;
and by the commission issued last tear, it was de-
termines!, that those various accounts should be
1 submitr-d to the Comptrollers of Arrive Accounts.
That commission was. however, Jae:live, because
the Corumissionere had separate dirties to perform.
Another defea was, that ,a I!.it should have been
! eriniisted to the Board only, was committed
to interior offizors to port-ions ; and the effed
and consequence of that nos such as to render
the operation of the Board itself perfenly nuote-
tcry. Several attempts had been made to in-
crease the power of the Board; and for that
purpose thirty-five clerks had b ern aided, but
no effeilual remedy had therchy been obtained.
1 A Conaniesion had also ha co ;.ppninted for in-
quiring into abuses in the West Indies ; but from
want of the power of bringii g up the accounts, and
examining into them, netthiono effedual could be
done. In the coarse of the lest year, au attempt
I was made to remedy this, t.y a new Commission;
And the oonit of their inon.ry was, what he felt it
his duty to call the partiruirr attention of the House
I to. The last account made up in the Pay-office
was in the year 17132. The store accounts had not
I been examioed into once before the commence-
ment of the American war. The barrack accounts
annexed to the expeditions to the Heisler, and to
Egypt, had never been looked into at all. In short,
1 the state of arrears stood nearly as followe :—Oise
krodred eel oisto-seers adilrees pnexamined—ac-
connts no way proceeded in, Aft3l.eigirt wiliow—ic-
i counts not delivered in for examination,offieeeiehe
sorkiess—and various others, forming a total of, owe
ibooth-fel one ISOy warioo3 unaccounted for. In I nob,
1 accounts were delivered in for examination, exceed-
ing that amount. This matter ce-taioly called for
the investigation of the House ; and he was sure he
need Trot remind them how very important it was
to have an accurate inquiry into the aeptication of
• the public revenue. It was not only important
to the House, but to the accountant also; for
the honest accountant was prevented from bring-
, ing ferwatd his accounts, and getting them
passed by the Auditors and Commissioners. from
• the multiplicity of fraudulent accounts which took
up their time, and prevented them from the power
of examining into those of the honest accountants.
There was one instance of this kind, which he could
not forbear mentioning to the House, and that was
the late Earl Micartwy, who had formerly, that
is in 177% been Governor of Grenada, and who
was known to be a person of a high sense of ho-
nour, and who possessed as great a regard for the
principles of honesty and justice as any matt that ever
breathed ; and yet that very distinguished cha-
racter, who died only a very few months ago, stood
charged with an account against him of 70,0001.
sterling ; and notwithstanding all his efforts, he
could never get a settlement of that account, but ac-
tually departed this life at a very advanced age, with-
out having it settled, and without knowing how far
his family may hereafter be injured by so scan-
dalous a delay. lie then stated the means by
which he thought an effectual remedy might be
applied. He proposed to repeal both the Acts
which had been passed on this head, and to pass an
Ace to appoint ten Commissioners, who should act
separate, and independently of the Comptrollers of
Army Accounts, to whom it was intended to
confide, add render effectual, all the powers vested
in them by Lord Godolphin ; and that they should
also have the investigation of the barracks and
army stores—that they should be the confi.lentill
advisers of the Treasure, and 'heir Of be a sort
of military record, with regard to all military ac-
counts ; and that they should have the power of
calling persons before them. of administering oaths,
and compelling all fair and reasonable answers and
disclosures :—That the Conant:stoners of Audit
should consist of ten persons, not Members or Par-
liament, who shonld he divided into three Boards—
one to consist of four Commis-roam, and the ether
two of three each ; the first hoard to examine Iran
all accounts up to the list of December law ; the
second Board to bring up the accounts of the ex
heeded aid sixty nulleara, and the third Board to
bring up the arrears which h;d never been looked
ion.) at all. thus he hoped, that by keeping this
toonatrcus and immense mass of accounts distinct,
it nisoht he dissolved ; and, in time, by careful and
etntinned investigation, so well understood, that the
present impediments to a just and fair settlement,
met be removed, and proper and effectual steps
uteri •o orevent such a dreadful accumulation of
debts and difficulties in future. This Commis-
won was not intended to be permanent, but to be
dissolved by degrees. so that two should irt time be
niched into nor, and reduced to six, as scion as the
exigencies of the public accounts became so tar
- - such reduction. Hu Lord-
the West ladies
;tent—that every
forgery of cer-
kc.—That use

Ci'!le, tor had receised SO,OOOl. an 3 ar.ol,,:er
31.0:)0i. for giving these folic instruments. It
was, tbezefore, necessary, those innumerable frauds
and mischiefs should be Out an end to. If the
remedy now pro;icised should be ineffntual, it
would he the duty of Government to come again
to Palli anent to make mere particuLn provision for
cons: every public accountant to bring in his
occotrii, if not able to bring in the whole, to
bring in such parts as he could t and to compel also
the Auditors of Public Accounts to come to an ac-
count within twelve months. The Noble Lord
concluded w;th moving—" That leave he given to
bring in a Bill for the more effectual ex:mina:ion
into tlse expenditure of the public money in tlie
West Indies, and for the discovery of frauds and

abuses committed therein."
Mr. ROSE claimed for the late Chaneeihr of
the Exchequer all the credit due to the int- 4,l:rek
taken for more properly auditing the publ:e an-
counts, which had been neglefted during the Ame-
rican war, and which the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman opposite him (Mr. Fax) once declared, it
was not the intention of the short administration to

which he belonged, to remedy. There %vas a great
abuse still prevailing in the military expenditure,
which was, that there were no less than ten millions
annually expended upon the sole authority of the
Secretary at War, and for which there was no other
auditor but himself. He did not mention this in
disparagement of any of the Noble Lords who had
held that office; but in looking into ;he papers in
his office, the Noble Lord would find, that he (Mr.
Rose) was the first who proposed an effeaual audit
for those aCCOUIISS. These were now between two
and three hundred millions of these accounts re-
maining unaudited. and they had made an augmen-
tation of 50 or 40 clerk in the Secretary at War's
Office, to regaire the teginiental accounts ; he
knew not in what manner they had been employed.
He alao detecled vatious frauds in the West India
departments, for which he was providing a remedy,
which would be seen by the correspondence he has
With the Commis,::oners on the subject. All the
alterations and amendments. however, which had
hitherto been made, were at Cur suggestion of 11;s
Bight Hon. Ft tend, now no more; and he wa, ready
to maintain, that one half of the accounts yet un-
I audited. were only kept back by •oe negiea of
I the persons concerned in the WaT.Office. The Al.
ditors had no other process by which they could
call those accounts before there. but by a proceeding
en the yea of the 1:i; g's amembrancer in the
Court of Exchequer
Mr. Secretary FOX said. that from the News-
paper reports and Parliamentary Registers of' the
day, it would 1:e found, that the only part he
took in the proceedings alluded to. s as to secure to
Lords Bute and Sondes what legally belonged to
them.
Mr. YORKE conceived his Right Honourable
Friend ('sir. Rose) to be mistaken, when he stated,
that these accouats bring so long unaudited. was
owing to the neglen of the War:Office. Things
were much altered from what they were some
years ago, a; the number of hands then employed,
would not be at present. by any means, sufficient
for the dispatch of politic business. Twelve clerics
were found sufficient then, whereas silty now were
an inadequate fastr.ber. In the manner they were
now ordered to be b e regimental accounts re-
quired as .7 In examination as any other ;
and, duri g the last peace, he found a great
number of regimental accounts unexamined, for
oroor reason than because the Clerks had not
time t attend to them. He approved of the object
the Noble Lord (H. Petty) had in view, but
thought that his censors upon those who preceded
him, was meant for no other purpose than ad el.
tandunt.
Mr. WIND' lAM also corroborated what had
been said of the great inisease of business requiring
a great augmentation of assistance, and acquitted
the War-office from any blame in the accounts not
having been audited. As to the storekeeper's ac-
counts spoken of. he said. that the War-office had
nothing to do with it.
Mr. BATHURS I' said. that the Right Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Rose) would not be at a loss to ac-
count for the employ menu of the additional clerks
at the War-office. if he considered that such great
delays arose from the pressure of public business, as
rendered it impossible for the existing clerks to keep
down the arrears. A second board of clerks was
necessary to take up the business, when it was una-
voidably left by the others. It was a question with
him, he said, whether a contront might not be pro-
per to be formed. of sufficient authority to check'
the Secretary at War himself ?
Mr. ROSE disclaimed any idea of casting any
direct censure upon the Vs'ar-Office, though he
knew that there was an arrear of twenty years
I accounts kept open, because no opportunity bad
hitherto been afforded of having them examined.
Mr. W. DI NDAS disapproved of any censure
being thrown on that deserving body of clerks,
whose business, though they were straining every
nerve. remained in arrear. because their numbers
were not sufficient ; even their holm of overwork
did hot prevent the business from gaining on them.
The SECRETARY at WAR concurred in what
had fallen from his predecessors in office, but
thought that the existence of such a deficiency in the
office, must require further regulations.
Lord C ASTLERBAGH said. the complain: made
by his Right Hen. Friend (Mr. Rose) of the business
brag so arrested in these offices, as to be prevented
from coming before the auditors, had not been
dis-
prut.e by any thing that bad fallen from those who
Wok a part in the debate. The extension of busi-
mess must certainly now require an augmentation of
darks; but he thought that no blan:e could attach
to former Ministers for not lacing forward in in-
creasing them.
Lord HENRY PETTY reminded the Hoses that

be had anric.p4ted the observations trade in respeft
to the War-Lidice. and had therefore provided, that
the previous examinations sbould be t;:s;:slierred
from them to the Comptrollers of the Army Ac-
counts.
Mr. HORHOUSE said. be had to express his ap-
probstirm and thanks to the ',able Lord for the
rro.asures t,e WAS taking to cheek ao atrocious cot-
s-up:ion of twenty ye3rs standion, and hoped he
would further move for the appointmeot of another
Lommi.sion to report the Games of the offenders
in tha caw. so as to pr evert the feature from ever

happening egi'n—( A gen:ral ptal of lasigbt(r)—he
meant, so as to prevent the Ike from ever happen-
ing again. It was the first instance v hid, ever oc-
curred of a Chancellor of the Exchequer arraigning
the former Ministers of tWenty.years of coriuptior. ;
and if no Member of greater ability should under-
take it, lie would himself more a C,-nimittee for
the purpose he had already stated. of reporting the
names of the Ministers who had sanaioned such

measures.
Leave was then given to hilng in the Bill.
ARMY F_STIMATI.S.
The House having rz,nlved itself into a Corn-
miztee of Supply, to ehich the different Army Es-
mates were referred,
The SECRETARY at WAR observed, that the !
estimates he lied row to propose, would contain ao
diminution of es pence from those of the last year.
He paid the highest compliments to His Royal
1 lighress the present Commander in Chief, to whom
tht, was so much indebted for its high state
of
military disciplinc; and snid, that the main o'l-
je a he bad at this time in vow, was to propose such
measures as were thought mast likely to add to ire
military strength. Essential, however, as this must
be allowed to be, it was no less desirable that it
should be provided for upon principles of public
economy. It was hardly necessary to state to those
in any degree conversant with military economy,
how indispensib:e it must be to make the dis-
proportion as small as possible between the
regular military establishment of the year, and the
total number of effeftive men. By a compa-
risen of the estimates of the present year, with the
last, there would be po apparent diminution of es.
pence, but the comparison would not be thought
altogether fair, when it was considered, that in the
year 1305, there was a considerable augmentation
in the cavalry, royal waggons, and foot guards. In
the establishmen, of last year, the following alter-
ation would be made in the present. In the guards,
garrisons, and plantations, there would be a saving
horn the expense of last year. The cavalry would
be seduced in each regiment from 1000 to 1300 rank
and, file, making a deduction of '255,0001. In the
foot guards the reduftion would be from 140 to 120,
or 10 men in each battalion, leayisg a baying of
12,0001. ; and. in the Royal Waggons, the saving
woul 1 amount to 90,0001. making a total dednition
in thee:pence of 362,0001. After including with
this, the reduftions to be made in the expellees of
the Volunteers, and adding some occasional deduc-
tions, he stated the clear diminution of expense at
46.1,0001. or very near half a minion.
General TABLE lON here interrupted him,
wishing, he said, for the items of the accounts,
instead of taking them at round numbers.
The SECRETARY at WAR replied, that what
he had hitherto stated, related only to two items
out of twelve.
General TARLETON then wished to know how
he meant to make out the whole ?,
The SECRETARY at WAR answered, that
he meant to go through them regularly. lie then
sta:ed, that the total of the effeitive army of Great
Britain at home and abroad, including those going
to the East ladies, was, on the Ist of January 1800,
249,951; on. the Ist of May, 1806, they were
250,901.; making an increase rat 10.040 nat the
same time, that there was a decrease of nearly
010,0001. of cepeuce. As to the regiments in In-
dia, it would, be said, be unnecessary ranhias to
say any thing about them in these estimates,
;hey being paid by the East India Company. He
then stated the existence of recruiting at .50,0001.
Contingencies, 50,0001. Recruiting in Ireland,
2.5,000 L Total on these heads, 1:15,0001. The
expenee of the General Staff last year was 54,7531.
to which being added an addition not included in it
last year, of 56,0001. would make the total Staff
90,0001. The other deductions he said would arise
from the discontinuance of B:igadier-Generalss who
would be replaced by other Officers in the different
districts, &c. He hoped this day would put an end
to all the ill.founded alarms relating to the effect
which the measures of His Majesty's present Minis-
ters would, according to rumour, have open the Vo-
lunteer system. it would now be seen. that instead
of disarming or giving them offence, the only effea
the new measures would have open them would he,
that their otficers should no longer command field
officers of the line. the impropriety of which must,
no doubt, be manifest to those public.spirited gen-
tlemen themselves, who had so gallantly stepped for-
ward at the moment of imminent datiger. He then
adverted to the various alterations in that establish.

ment, in point of allowances. cloatf.ing,,kc. Scc. and
calculated that the total saving to Government, on
that head, would be 432,0001. After comparing
the eapecces of the different articles of charge for
volunteers, upon a compartion between the last
and the present year, he concluded that the
total saving to the country would be 660,0001.
The Right Hun. Gentleman, after referring from
time to time, to a great variety .f figure., which
neither his mancer nor tone of voice contributed to
render distinct or even audible in the gallery,
concluded by moving, " that 150.539 effective
troops be voted torthe Kt...-ice of the present !sear,
including commissioned and nor..con.rr 'swooned
officers, from the 25th of June, ISOC, to the loth
ditto, of December, both inclusive."
General TARLETON commenced by stating his
intention of Making a few observations on the dif-
ferent reduftions which dm Right Hou. Gentleman
in his speech had proposed to the committee. And
first, with respect to the cavalry, to which an aug-
mentation had been made by the former Govern-
ment. 1-k thought a reduction in that particular
I ~-ce would be improper, as British Cavalry must
always be an acquisition to any Continental Power
with whom we were in league; bet on this subject.
he thought he might, with more propriety, take up
the time of the House at a future petiod. The
reduction in the Guaris was the n.-st in order,
which the Right Hon. Gentleman had mentioned ,
and these he thought a ii.ost ;mood body of men ;
but he would also defer the catssideration of this
pointio some more convenient tame. At present he
did not think any diminution that could be made in
the waggon train, would be of service to the
country, nor did he think it would be in the slightest
degree economical. until a conaiderable.ispot was
estabiishad is the centre of the kings:ant ;
but to the lan reduction of expence mentioned
by the Right Hon. Gentians" namely, with rec.:iv d
to the Volunteers. he world slxielyccinfine

marks this night. lie. however. en euntentplarag
the whole of the proceeding of the present Ads's,.
nisteition, could not hut say, that they had Lees:.
like drones, on the collefted stores .of their peck.
cessors, without even being thankful for the benefit,
they had received. He would ask, was not the vie.
tory at St. Domingo the fife& of the late admiait.
t retina ? and- that at the Cape of Good Hope also?
but for the lattet he did not think they were eyes
thankful, as not the smallest COMF:lat.”l/
WA% paid, though the danger andgillanoy of leek
army and navy were considerable ; aad indeed from
this•circumstance it appeared, as if the Admireity
were determined never to thank Sir Horne Popham,
he being disagreeable to certain gentlemen. is.
what state was the House left ? four months had
elapsed witheut any measure be'ng proposed. arid • ,
then a slim of money was voted for the service of
the army, contrary to the opinion of many, tet,e
did not enesider it cenatitutiooal, until the eetineme
Were made. At my F.stimeies arid Ahttinv I ilk,
for limited periods, were then proposed. an.l ilia
the Additional Force Bill-had been Nice veer. .
these estimates were brought forward., Is about it,y.
ing the House any information as to rhe geitir4
plan. The Right Han. Gentlfman had stated. tees
great misrepresentationshad been made front the. sr.
position side of the House, with resped tattle slime
of the Right Hon. Secretary of State; but he would •
leave it to the candour of the House to judge whet •
then that was likely to be the case or nut
deed he did not see how they could he *loth,
of the misrepresentations. The Right lionoureblir
Secretary's speech was reported in the public
newspapers, and he believed every man must readily
allow that the Gentlemen who nuke it their hem,
ness to give these reports, he meant those concerned
in newspapers, were always more attached to a neW
administration than to a new opposition, so that it
was most likely the Right Hon. Secretary's Speed;
was repotted rather in his favour than otheraise
Considering, then, that the Right Hon. &cleany
had made a particular statement. with Teepee to
the Volunteers, he could not devise any reaaou whit
he had changed his opinion, except that having gone
to a city feast, after he had made his speech, es 4,4
veri/es, he drank the toast of " the Volunteers cf
England," Which had heen given by a worthy Aidtt
men, and on that account, when he came hack io.the
Huse. altered his tone. The Hon. Gentleman they
adverted to the savieg which was to be tirade be
the diminution of the field exezeke of the vole,*
teers. 'this, he said, would destroy the drscipline
of the different corps, and he thought be could but
prove the assertion by an example. He was every
year in the habit of assembling about ,50s00 volunteers
in Bristol; when they first assembled, they were xi. •
ways raw and unsoldier-like ; but at the end of the
fourteen days they were so much improved, that he
would ieel himself perfealy secure in going to meat
the roomy with them. For this reason, hp thane*
it would be the most imprudent measure that could
he adapted, to reduce the number of days that the
volunteers were obliged to be on petmenent dety,
The House. he trusted, tvoted'keep in mind, that no
plan lied as yet been proposed, and that the sole
se. tk of feu; mouths was to abolish the Defence
Act. He then coneheled by sayinp, that tneugat
the idea of having 500.0e0u mew it. arms, migas
captivate a man with sett euine expeSetions, yet he
would advise. the Right Honourable Secretary,
rather to follow the example of his pretlecessurs.
Mr. WHI I DREAD thought it by no means
collate in the Hon. General to call His Majesty's
Ministers a set of denotes. He would ask, couid
the Noble Lord (Lord H. Petty) who had the
tight made such a truly eloquent speech, be called
a drone ? or could the Right Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Fox) at the end of the Bench ? or, in fad,
could that epithet attach to any of them'? He also
blanaed the Einia.Gentleman ((Wien irregular *Russo..
to newspaper roblications; and, with respeß to the
jocular story of the die fear, he, a: all events, had
a better opinion of his Right Hon. Friend, than to
suppose that he should alter any plan he had consi.
dered pf, on account of the most of a worthy Alder,.
man. He then denied that there Wic any appearance
of an alteration having been TA from the nrigirsd
statement ; and, with respect to the mode to be
adopted fur the purpose o( instrußing the volun-
teers, he thought it was infinitely preferable to the
present, which was a kind of machinery he did rot
admire, as he conceived it was of service to none but
the machines themselves. The Flcu. Gentlentav
concluded by saying that he, for one volunteer, was
not offended at not being allowed to command a
field officer, and he conceived that every man of
sense in the volunteers was rejoiced at it.
Lord CASTLEREAGH ileclar-.1, that the only'
view he had in risiug, was. to obtein an explana•tro
of some points, with respeft to which the House
was entirely in the dark. These were the fourth
army estimates which had been proposed to the
House in the course of the present session, and the
fourth Mutiny Bill; witheut any kind of plan heeig
divulged. if they were ever to have any
information. he sincerely wished they had eg
now, as it Was of the utmo t contequeme
the ccuntryom know whet they had to depend oa•
The poly thi.sg which Lad as yet been dose, waste
bring in a bill to repeal the Army of Defence Bale
and that Bid was not, he conceived. a poll
sample of u hat they had to ea eat. It contauted
two clauses, test opt of them WAS so scandebieste
absurd, that it would have been pinch better it had
been ent;rely emitted. Whatever the plan was hoe
the Right Hun. Gentleman tistentled to prodoi e, he
tholight it would be apt to make a considerable
it.m in a supplemtnial budget, which it was more
than probable the Ncble Led, on the same bench
with him, would have to bring forward dnr:rg the
present Session ; and it was his fi m belief. tf
the present m:ment, Gentlemen ware trembl of
for the fate of the measure about to be meow!
and were wishing that they had nor given their
assert to is in another place ; but had been cement-
ed to follow the fo. uteps of thi se who preceasi
them, and who, no doubt, we:e better iefornaed.
Tie prodaSion of this plan ought not to be pro-
tracted, as many of the Members world now be ob-
liged to go out of town, and as His Ma ;cal/
Ministers bad taken faux months to convoy et
it, and had suhmitted to the igemniny of oropo•-
ing four estimates. for different peiiedas It w."
natur.l to suppose that the dense wonld tikes
time in considerine it. The Noble Lord thrr.
adverted to the different reductions whielt wet! .t•

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cleared AS to admit stf such realm
s-ip dim described the abuses in
to have aiisen to an enormous est
" sort of sr-au,' 'listed acre. such as
tisizs.es, false ills of Lomita', &c.