The Sun.
London, England, 1802-12-18 00:00:00

A BILL,

CAS' AIZINDED Y TILE COr..NaTiZZ]

I or appointing Commissioners to inquire and examine into
• any Irregularities, Frauds, and Abuses, which are or.have
been lately pradised by Persons employed in the several
Naval Departments therein meationee, and in the business
of Prize A:ents i.and to report such Observations as shall
occur to thentiittor preventing such Irregularities, Frauds,
and Abuses in future; and for the better concluding and
managing the business of the said Departments, and of
Prize Agents.

Whereas it is highly expedient for the public ser-
vice, that an, inquiry should be, made by Commis_
sioners specially 'appointed for thaCpurpeise, into
any irregularities, frauds, or-abuses, which may leave,existed, or been pradised by perSOns'employed, in
the several Naval' Departments hereinafter-mention-
ed, and in the business of Prize. Agency :
Be it therefore enaded by the King's Most Excel-
lent Majesty. by and with the advice arid consent
of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons,
in this present Parliament assembled, and by the
authority of the same, That Sir CHARLES MC:11(1U E
POLE, Bart. HUGH LETCESTEIL, Esq. EWAN Law,
Esq. JOHN FtiltD, Esq. and HENRY Nxcrior.Ls,
Esq. .shall ,be and they are hereby constituted
Commissioners for making the inquiries intended
by this A : and that they the said Commissioners,
or any two of them; shall- and they are hereby re-
quired to examine into and investigate all such cor-
..ttspt and fraudulent pradices,' irregularities, frauds,'
andabuses,i or other miscondud, as may he found
to have existed or to exist in any of the several of-
ices or departments hereinafter mentioned, or to
have been pradised or committed by any person
or persons'that now are or have been concerned in
managing, .condueling, or transacting the business
thereof respegively, or employed in any manner
therein, either at home or abroad ; that IS to say,
the Office- of the Commissioners for executing the
Office of Lord High Admiral of the United King.
dom of rear Britain and Ireland, the several offices
and departments of the Commissioners of His Ma-
jesty's Navy, the Treasurer of His Majesty's Navy,
the Commissioners for vktualling His Majesty's
Navy, the Commissioners fokr taking care of Sick
and Wounded Seamen and Sick Prisoners of War, the

Commissioners fur Transports and Prisoners of War,
the Commissioners for the receipt of sixpence a
month paid by all Seamen in the Merchant ,Service
for the use of Greenwich Hospital, the Office for'
the receipt and management of the monies paid on

account of the Chest (if-Chatham; His Majesty's se-
veral Dock-yards and Naval-yards in the Counties
of Kent, Hants, and Devon respectively, or else-
where within His Majesty's domioions, the Royal
Hospitals and Naval -Hospitals for Seamen at Haslar
and East Stone-house, or elsewhere within His Ma-
' jesty's dominions, andahe late Prisons for Prisoners
of _War, Prison-ships, Prison hospitals, and Prison.,
ship-hrispitals in the said Counties of Kent, Hants,.
and Devon respedively, or elsewhere within His
Kijesty's dcmittion--.; or in the business of Prize-
Agency ; and the said Commissioners shall from
time to time report and certify their proceedings,
in writing, under the hands and .seals bf .them, or
any three of them, to the King's Most Excellent
Majesty, send to both Houses•of Parliament, upon
each office and department, and upon the business
of Prize AgeF:cy respectively, specifying such mai-
pradiees, irregularities, frauds, or abuses, as they
may have discovered or investigated ; adding, at
the same time, such observations as shall occur to
them, and such plans either for corrediog and im..
proving, or for abolishing or regulating any of
the said departments or offices, or the business of
Prize Agency, as may appear to them to be proper
to he adopted for the rime to come. .
And be it further enaded, That for the better
execution of this present At, the Commissioners
hereinbefore named, or any two of them, are hereby
authorized to meet and sit, from time to time, in
such place or places within the Cities of London
and Westminster, or elsewhere within the United
Kingdom, as they shall find most convenient, with
or without adjournment; and to send their precept
or precepts, under their hands and seals, or under
the hands and seals of any two of them, for any
person or persons whomsoever, and for such Books,
Papers, Writings, or Records, relating to any of
the Offices or Departments, or to any contracts,
dealings, or transadions, which may have taken
place with the said Offices or Departments herein_
before mentioned, or to the business of Prize
Agency, as shall be 'necessary for carrying into exe-
cution the purposes Of this Ad ; all which persons
are hereby required. and direded punctually to attend.
the said Commissioners at such time and times,
place and places, as shall be by them appointed, and
also to observe and execute all such orders and di..
redtions as the said CoMmissioners, or any two of
them, shall make or give for the purposes before-
mentioned ; and such persons as shall so be sent for,
shall have such costs and charges as the said Com-
missioners, or any two of them shall think fit.
And for the rendering more efFedual all such
examinations as are intended to be had under this
Aa, Be it enaCted, That it 'shall and may be law-
ful for the said Commissioners, or any two of them,
and they ate hereby authorized and required, to
examine upon Oath (which Oath they or any two
of them are hereby authorized to administer) all
persons whom they shall find occasion to call before
them, to be examined touching all matters and
things necessary for the execution of the
.powers
vested in them by this ACI.

And be it further dialled, That if any person or
persons, summoned to appear before the said Com-
tn.,ioners, or any two of them, shall negleli or re-
fuie to 'appear before the said Commissioners, or
any two of them, or to bring or produce any Ac-
counts, Books, Papers, Writings, or Records, re-
lating to any of the said-Offices or Departments, or
to any contralls, dealing's, or transallions, with
t'le said Offices or Departnients, or any of them,
or to the business of Prize Agency, that shall he in
her, or their possession or custody, or in the
possession or custody of any other person or per‘ons,
for him, her or them, having no lawful impediment
such as shall he admitted and allowed of by the said
Commissioners, or any two of them, and which shall
be signified or made known to the said Commis_

stoners at the time of. their meeting,'or shall refuse
to be sworn, or being sworn shall refuse to answer
to and before the said Commissioners, or any two
of them, any question, on oath or affirmation,
touching or concerning any matter or thing relating
to the several Offices or Departments above men_
tioned, or any contracts, dealings, or Aransaetions
with them, or any of them, or to the business of
Prize Agency, then and in every such case it
shall and may be lawful to and for the said Com_
misSiontrs, or any two of them, and they are here..
by authorized and empowered, to make and issue
their warrant or warrants, under their hands and
seals, or under the hands and seals of any two of
them, for taking and apprehending any such person
or persons, and committing him, her, or them, to
such prison as the said Commissioners, or any two
of them, shall think fit, there to tem-ain, without
bail or mainpi ize, until he, she, or they shall sub..
mit to be examined, touching and concerning all
matters and things necessary for the execution of the
powergiven by this Att ; and such Commissioners
may likewise proceed by imprisonment of the body
of any such person as aforesaid; in like manner as any
Court or Courts of Record within this kingdom,
having competent authority for that purpOse, may
proceed against any person or.. persons for any. con-
tempt committed against the authority of any such
Court ; any law, usage, or custom to the contrary
thereof in anywise n:)twithstandiog.
And be it further eniEted, That nn Confession,
Deposition, or Exaiflin.ition, taken and made under
this Aa, shall be used or given in Evidence against
the.person making the any Court whatsoever.

,
And he it further eructed, That the said Corn_
rnissiorters named in this Att, before they enter upon
the execution of the same, shall rake an Oafh before
the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the time being
(which Oath he is hereby aujlirir ized and required
administer) the tenor whereof shall be as ;01-
loWeth ; (that is to say):

_ •
" I .4.13. do swear, That according to the best
" of my skill and knowledge, I will faithfully, im-
" partially, and truly execute the several powers
" and trusts vested in-me by an Aft for [here
sere the Title of the Al?)
,according to the tenor
" and purport of the said Ad."
_ _

And be it further enaded, That in case any per-
son or persons, upon examination upon oath before
the said Commissioners respenively as before men_
tioned, shall wilfully and corruptly give false
deuce, every such person'so offending, and being
thereof duly convicted, shall be and is, hereby de-
clared to be ,subjed and •liable to such pains and
penalties, as by any law now in force, persons con-
viaed of wilful and corrupt perjury are subjed and
liable to.

And be it further enaded, That in case of a
Vacancy or Vacancies by death or resignation of
:any one or more of the said Com Missioners during
the continuance of•this Ad, it 'shall and may be
lawful for His Majesty to nominate and appoint
such person or persons as he may think proper to
supply such Vacancy or Vacancies ; and that every
person so nominated and appointed, having taken
the Oath of Office abovementioned, shall he held
and considered to he invested with all the same
powers as are delegated to the Commissioners ap-
pointed by this Aft in whose room such person is so
nominated.

And be it further enafted, That no person who
shall be hereafter appointed a Commissioner to ex-
ecute this Ad, shall be thereby disqualified from
being elefted, or sitting, or voting as a Member of
the House of Conimons ; nor shall the appointment
of any such Comissioner, if a Member of the said
House, vacate his seat in the said House, any thing
in an Aft made in the sixth year of the Reign of
Queen Anne, intituled, " An Ad for the security
of Her Majesty's Person and Government, and of
fte Succession of the crown of Great Britain in the
Prqtestant Line," to the contrary notwithstanding.
Provided always, and be it further enafted, That
no Action shall be brought against any of the said
Commissioners, or any other person or persons
whomsoever, for any matter or thing whatsoever,
done or commited under, or by virtue, or in the
execution of this Aft, unless such Aftion shall be,
brought within six calendar month next after the
doing or committing of such matter or thing : Pro-
vided also, that if any Aftion or Suit shall be here-
after commenced or prosecuted against any _person
or persons for any matter or thing done under, by
virtue, or in the execution of this Aft, such person
or persons may plead the general issue, and give this
Aft, and the special matter in evidence ; and if the
Plaintiff hall become nonsuited, or suffer discon-
tinuance, or forbear further prosecution, or if Judg-
ment shall be given for the Defendant or Defendants,
such Defendant or Defendants shall recover treble
costs ; for which he, she, or they shall have like
remedy as where costs by Law are given to De-
fendants. •

And be it further enaeled, That this AEt may be
altered, varied, or repealed, by any ACt to be
passed in this present Session of Parliament.

- And be it further enacted, That this Ad shall be
deemed and taken to be a public ad; and shall be ju-
dicially taken notice of as such, without specially
pleading the same.
And be it further enaEted, That this Ad shall
continue in force for the space of two years, and from
thence to the end of the then next Session of Parlia.
ment.

BIR rm.

On Wednesday the tsth inst. the-Lady of john Bat neby,
Esq. of Brockharnixon, is the County of Hereford, of a Son.

MARRIED.

At Aberdeen, on the Ist inst. the Rev. James Burns, one
of the Ministers of Brechin, to Miss Christina Chalmers,
daughter of Mr. Chalthers, printer: -
At Drum, the 13th inst. Joseph 0 utram, Esq. Manager of:
the Clyde Iron Works, to MisS Elizabeth Knox, datighter of
the late George Knox, Esq.
At Kilmichail-house, Island of -Arran, the Reverend Dr.
M`Kinnon, to Miss Isabella, Fullerton,
,daughter of the late,
Lewis Fullerton, Esq. of Kilmfthail.
At Kilmarnock, 9th inst. Mr: fames Hawthorn; merchant,
Newcastle, to Miss Jane Brown, fourth daughter of Mr. tali.
Brown, writer, Kilmarnock.