The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-23 00:00:00

finguishing the causes that had been brought before the Court
of Assistant Barristers, so as to comply with the terms of the
lion. Gentleman's motion.—The Returns were then ordered.

MILITARY ACCOUNTS.
Mr. HUME said, that he observed by returns, that had been
laid on the table, that there were 11,270 military accounts due
and outstanding in the year 1810, of which 590 were preceding
the year 1738, he wished to see the nature of those accounts.
In 1307, the evidence given before a Committee of that House
by Mr. Collins, one of the clerks in the War Office, induced
the House to believe, that all the accounts prior to the year 1798
-would be passed by the year 1810, but notwithstanding that, in
V:e year 1825, it appeared there were still 590 of them un-
eetled. Not less than 83,0001. had been expended in this De-
partment of the War Office since its establishment. He would
submit to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether claims of
this kind should not in justice be dealt with in the same way as
those that arose under the Legacy Tax. He had no doubt that,
upon inquiry, it would turn out that the expences incurred ex-
ceeded in amount the balances recovered. After the lapse of
so many years, some scale should be taken in favour of the un-
fortunate individuals concerned. The Hon. Member concluded
by moving, that there be laid upon the table, a Return of the
11,270 Accounts of Army Agents and Paymasters of Regi-
ments, 'existing previous to 1310, and remaining unsettled in
the W `liar Office in February, 1825; together with the date of
each account, when delivered in, the names of the parties, &c.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that
however voluminous the papers moved for might be, he did not
mean to oppose their production. He begged, however, that
the House would not run away with the notion that this was an
evil for which no remedy had been provided. From the im-
proved method of keeping the accounts which had been intro-
duced, it was impossible that such a length of arrear could ever
occur again, except in consequence of the fraud of the party.—
In many cases the delay was occasioned by the accountant, who
protracted the settlement of the accounts to serve his own pur-
poses. So far as the War Office was concerned, such delays
could never occur again. He,knew that there existed on the
part of his Noble Friend at the head of that Office (Lord Pal-
merston) a disposition to be as lenient as the interests of the
public could allow. As a remedy had been provided against
the future occurrence of the evil, he would submit to the Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Hume) whether it was necessary to press his
motion ; which, as the accounts were voluminous, must be
productive of considerable expence.
Mr. T. WILSON said, that great inconvenience had arisen
from delay in the settlement of these accounts. He believed the
Right Hon. Gentlemen (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was
disposed to do any thing in his power for the advantage and con-
venience of the public. But, with every disposition to leniency,
still there were delays and difficulties that ought to be got rid
or. He knew the Right Hon. Gentleman must feel some diffi-
culty in consenting to a motion which might have the effect of
casting some slur on those who went before him ; but it was
right that the House should he afforded the opportunity of
ascertaining that he or his Colleagues were not to blame. It
would be better perhaps if the Right Hon. Gentleman recom-
mended the postponement of the motion until such time as he
could come forward with some statement satisfactory to the indi-
viduals concerned.

After a few words from Mr. LOCKUART and Mr. H trxE,
the Return was ordered.

On the'motion of Mr. HUME, a Return was also ordered of
the amount of balances in the Arrear department of the War
Office due to and owing from the public since the establishment
of the Arrear department on the 27th November, 1815, together
with a Return of what were and were not considered bad debts,
the expence of the said department. the retired allowances, &c.