The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-05-02 00:00:00

lttioa it 'mild hbariatul they had appropriated to ;
themselves very neat e 7,0001. each for a service of
4 years. They had received in wauy cases 10 per
cent. while they claimed 1, although' 21 was de-
clared to 'bre'the regular *am ; the trench Coin-
missieuers received only 21 upon the net proceeds,
amounting to little more than 10001. each.. They
wished to come under the description of prize
agents, hut prize agents were liable to loss which
they were unt. Two of them, it was add, had
thought fit to give ue their professinns to attend
t these ditties ; yet Mr. Johu Bowie* had had time
to write thirty. palm b'ets. The floe. Member
then said, it was uatoral to give up professions for
places like these. A person opposite had thought
proper to give up his' plats in the Admiralty for
10001 a-year; end a Mr. M'Dmiald had been in-
dorsed for 15001. a yeale and a premium of 50001.
to accept the situation of en A.nerieen Commis-
sioner. Iletrusted that Mr. Bowles 's conduct had
s town what autejacoliins are, end looped it world
preveut Ministers frum employing such men in
fotiare; lover hireling authors—putting 200,0001.
hod their hoods, WLIS like granting a bounty on
..„iery.• (Hens hew, The Him. Gentleman
'len itetnatite.d upon the trimmer in which the se-
, mints had been missed. anti in which Mr. Roec
heel committed *rune ecru s, though no doubt nn-
setentionally. He mold propose nothing upon
what Adel ressuaeration they • filet to have, Lnt it
routs not be what should be given to Arnim and
faithful servants ; per could agree to give them
what wets proposed by the Committee. lie might
have been inclined to propose some kind of pro-
ceeding agitimit them, but this he knew could not
he done tilt their accounts were finolly
The Hon. Me;nl coticlis.led with moving—
" That it is, the opinion of this noose, that to commit
pecuniary trails of great maguitude to prisons, however
respectable as individuals, and however qualified fur their
employments, without providing any check un their pro-
ceedings, sad without calling for any regular or periodical
&meant, is a sieglect which must lead to the most prejudi-
cial cosisequenct a, and is a violation of the most emulous
duties of Guversiinent."
'rite ne a propositions went to condemn the Cow.
missioners, as not havingdone their duty, and that
under suspicions circumstances, rem nnerstiun
should lie suepeuded, until the fuel settleuneut of
their &crowns.
Mr. Tnous roe said, to put the opinions of the
Committee iu their proper view, it was necessary to:
state rte..; had thought of recuininencling" est
mutual iilowauce to the Commissioners, but tine
iu vecoiumeuiling 5 per ceut. upon the net pro-
ceeds the auditor! would be liable to charge them
with 'arrest oo moory, impropetly withheld, and
that thus they would hot be go highly remune-
rated as was premised. The Committee had ez.
pressed their opinions upon the merits and demerits
of the 4.'avingetiseloowni, and of the Government, mid
the wordier the first Resolution were nearly those
of the Committee ; tel hr mold not agree with
the Hun. Meech us his Reenlutions went to threw
blame indiserinterataly upoo the whole of the Mem-
beis of Goverument, while he could wish the blame
to fall only where due. The !Immutable ilembee
concluded' with 'ming. that he seethed to know the
' setaiineitto of ills Majesty's Ministers, lend whe-
ther they intended to act upon the opinions of the'
Committee ?
Pcitc.r •AL said, that lie carne prepared to
*tete to the [loose What proceedings had been
tarn he Government, in consequence of the Re-
port hrfore them. It would be recollected that
some time had elapsed liefor,! the. Report was
Feinted. after being laid before tie! Homo-, end
that within fourteen days after it •veui delivered to
the Members, the Honourable Gentleman had
• given notice of his motion. 'ehe Tieusnry had,
hrtiArer, given orders for the Fru ilf!taii of t lir com-
mission to be bronght to an issue; they hurl m-
etered the Commissioners to be allowed 5 per cent.
upon the net proceeds, ',eying their own expenses
and the interest of the balances retained by them,
in couformity with the opinion of the Conimithe ;
but allowing deductions for loss, where any had twill
sustained. lie teemed with the general prin.
ciples of the proposed ResolotiOes, hot could
conceive cages to which they would not
.apply.
In a recent instance Commissioners had been ap-
pointed to restore Portuguese property to claim-
ants without any deduction, from which he
apprehended no censivre. He did not conceive any
practical .convenieuce was to br derived from the
propoeitio.is of the Honeurahle Gentleman, which
went to calory a censure upon ail Ailimuisontions,
since the appointment of the Cominiseimiens, and
from which the present Governmeet stool clearest
of any. If the House threw a reflectioe moss Go.
stermuents in general, it would naturally fall the
heat isst upon that of the day, nod hoped this con•
oideratioo, this injustice, would initiate the
noaranle Member to withdraw his Resolutions if
not, he should feel it his duty to move the previ-
ous question. Ihe previous question was then
world,
Sir done Newroar paid that he could not agree
to p.weiies; by the amino, as recommended by the
Hight HMIs Gentleman. It was evident that the
Coss tuouintiers bad taisapplied the meuey entrusted
to their care ; and if they were nut visited with
censure, a great instatement would be held forward
by the (mime violation of trust ; if any instance
aanouuted more directly than another to inalversa-
trou of public trust, it was that which they were
then cuusidering; they were thereflore foteunil to nee
that it did not puss. tuipuuisbed. When he looked
to the manner in which the Commiseieneers gave
them, lie was still more convinced of the pro,.
potty of vomit% Hula with jmnishinetit. They
asserted that they bud of the inoiley after
um manner of tenet paiblic offices, but ;lel ether
;intik offices despore of the public money Us float-
wig see Av.? They ought to have
the matey in the Bank of En4daiiil, but instenit of
tleit they put it ;eta tile 'amid, of private Bankers,
se the auinusit of 'eight huodred cud fifty thousand
tiountle. They took care to •opprepriote to theut-
, *elves a *Kw large reniuseeratiou for their trouble,
but still thev tools merit to themin.4ves fur haring
relisiti milted demands with a new to the venue:si-
nter of the puhlic ; if 0 leisikropt had kept his sic•
count. is; Oct; a iiiaotier to they hail done, he eas
persuaded teat this I.;ntamireionerewould look Maim
it ps an evidefice of fraud. There were many nc-
omits blts, Mit t Iit:M.(4.CA which they said did not
appear io the tail:: hook. The Grow:rine:A wee
celpabli. hi !mini eioue pothiug! eith tespect to

a .

(Leas. Re thought not only that the Resolutions
might to be passed, but that they ought to be fol-
lowed up by an Address to His Majesty', praying
that the Attorney-General should be directed to
prosecute the offenders for malversation in office.
If the Resolutions were passed it was his intention
to propose a motion to that effect.
Mr. ROSE said that whatever blame was to ut-
tech to Government, it belonged entirely to that
Treasury, by whom the commiesion was appointed;
he thought that when the time of the conunissitne
expired, then was the pima proper opportunity fur
ascertaining the amount of the remuneration. It
had been said, that a party writer was appointed in
this commission ; he could assure the House, that
he did sot know the writer alluded to—lie had iv:-
ver seen him, nor had he ever read one of his
pamphlets ; he did not know any thing of the com-
missioners until they were appointed, and it &lever
entered his bead that they would think of re-
warding themselves. It had been /Looked why
they were not compelled to account be-
fore, but that neglect might have occurred from
the weight and hurry of business. He considered
such inquiries of great use, for it was imposeible for
any man to say that lie had omitted moiling. He
hoped the Home would agree with lam in thinking,
that.the.cirenmstanees did not call for that strung
centime upon the Government which had been pro-
posed.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, Olathe was sure the Right
Hon. Gentlemen had conducted himself properly,
but he could not allow that Government should be
permitted to get off lightly, because the Rt. Hon.
Gent. had entered into a defence of hiersell. With
respect to the Dutch Commissioners, any member
of Parliament wishing to discharge his duty, must
mark their conduct with the tinger of reprobation ;
he must point out the individual who was so much
concerned—eau individual who had been in the con-
stant habit of libelling whoever opposed the Trea-
sury: smoke had for a long while issued front that
transaction, hut it was not expected that it would
have terminate,' in such a fete. The Commie-
simiers upon their examination were guilty of gross
• prevarication; one of the leadiug characters was
thin public censor Mr. John Bowles : the manner in
which they were appointed ought to be attended to.
An Order in Conned was issued,invitingD itch ships
to come to our coasts, in order to preserve the pro-
perty from the French ; they coulialed in our pro-
tection. and Caine, but at the same time Commis-
sioners were appointed, mid they were condemned.
Those (:ounnitsionera did not wait as others did,
but beget' to think immediately whet they ought
to be paid : they did cot go to the Privy Council to
ask their opinion, hat went down to Chelsea to
consult with Mr. O'1• mare: he told them that he hail
5 per cent. in the proceeds, and they put upon it
the construction most favourable to themselves,
and concluded that it must be gross proceeds he
ineant—could any thing be more gime than such a
proceeding? They said they did so according to
common usage : it was a grows falsehood. They
were indulged toe great degree; ou the examina-
tion they were permitted to explain away their
answers, end amasser their explanations; and after-
wards they wrote letters to the Members of that
House, and canvassed for dreg votes. The Right
Hon. Gentleman heel asked, would Parliament iii-
terfere? -He (Mr. W.) would. /hear hear !)
They stated they had served without fee or re-
ward; they could not mention the extent of the
compensation. Mr. Pitt, upon one occasion, ap-
plied to them for money, and they said they could
afford none, unless the East India Ccenkniny would
give them an advence, yet our of these was a life and
Conine gentleman—he would risk his life and fortune
in the• see vice of the public, and yet he would not
allow the public to de eve ;my edvneittege from their
own money. The Right Hon. Gentleman !mil
asked would they pass a sweeping censure upon all
Governments? He (Mr. W.) del not wish the
I louse to imitate the Christi in author, John Bowles
in meowing a victim intothe ;pave; he rather agreej
with the Hon. Gentleman who said, that it we. pro-
lane to disturb its repose; but, without going in
the memory of Mr. Pitt, there were other Mem-
bers of that Government alive, on whom it
might net be unjustifiable to visit censure. Mr.
Bowles might attack the memory of the Duke of
Bedford, but he was little inclined to tUllow
his exempts in attacking the memory of any one
else. The Right lion. Gentleman opposite might
come in for his share of blueing. Ilei (Mr. W.)
was willing to allow him industry ; lie was not
its-
dined to detract from the abilities by which that
indent'', was directed; bathe questeou was, whe-
ther that industry and their abilities were always
exercised in the proper way ? Mr. Pitt hsviog made
a request to them for money, and being refused,
ought not the Right Hou. Gentleman to have said,
you shall pay in the money immediately ? Should
not the House inquire, when the Right Honourable
Geutlernaii ecknweledged that he was negligent?
—ln his (Mr. W.'s) opinion, Government was
highly culpoble. Some Honourable Friends of
lies, when in power, had omitted to do the
seine : he was sorry far it, but it was easier to
account for it in their Adiniiiistretion, . which
was SO duet, and so much occupied with matters
they' might hive deemed more important ; lie
hoped that the resolutions would be carried, and
that the emeecittion would be instituted ; that he
who had spent so lunch time in libelling those he
called laieobins, world be punished. Since the dis-
covery of Philavapher Square, there was never such
▪ one as the late discovery of this gentleman ; it
was said that he gave np his profeteeios, but what
was that professiou ?—if lie (Mr. %V.) was rightly
isiforuicd—uothiag. In a letter which Mr. Bowles
hall directed so him there were many passages ail-
milady adapted to binteelf ; at present so much
so, that her was sure Mr. Bowles could tent dare
.to look into what lie had written--{Herr the
tionoutable Member rend several passages from
• pamphlet of AIN Bowler's, lamenting the corrupt
state of society, aged declension of morality in the
present day).- Flee Comenessimegire were appointed ;
although the Act of Par:eiment specified three, or
more, lie did out know mite Vie mintier should
have exceeded three. Mr. 13owles' was well re-
warded far his exertions, at a time when popular
fiery was more alive than at toe present day ; be les
-I•Oured its humble prose, while others preferred the
vehicle of chime to crush their opponeuts ; those
were. Kenning times with the ale.-jacohiges. One of
the sisti-jacolneis was now Secretary of State in diet

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