The Sun.
London, England, 1821-06-26 00:00:00

AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS.

On the motidn of the CHANCELLOB of the'EXCHE-
QUER, that the House should resolve itself into a Committee
upcin the Audit of Accounts Bill,
Air. G. BENNET rose and complained. of the late period of
the 'Session, as well as the lateness of the hour, at which this
measure was brought before them, especially considering its im-
portance and the voluminous documents which Were before the

'House:upon the subject. The last of these documents7had been
laid Upon the table in April last, and he was at a loss to divine
upon what ground the proposition of this Bill had been so long
delayed. Inconsequence of this delay there were many. Gen-
tlemen now absent who had • investigatedthe subject-who
aware of all its bearings, and who were disposed to speak upon
its merits. Therefore he was left quite alone to enter into the
discussion, by the absence of his Honourable Friends, the
ber for the Queen's County 'and the 'Honourable Member for
Wycomb, who had devoted lunch of their consideration to the
question. According to his view, it was very desirable that
there Should:be a regular classification of the Public Accounts,
that is, that the Accounts of the Army, the Navy, the Ordnance,
&c. &C.- should be distinctly submitted to the consideration of
the Auditors, But the great evil of the system of auditing
was the perpetual -interference of ' the Treasury with 'the
Auditors of• Public Accounts. By this interference the bu.si.
ness of the Auditors was considerably impeded, 'especially
with respect to those public officers who bad certain influenot
and connections... He did not mean to say that the Trea-
sury should be altogether excluded. -from interfering, but thet
such interference should be subject to certain limits. In
• order to spew the necessity -of establishing such limits, as to
guard.againstimproper interference on the part of the. Treasury,
the Honourable Member referred to the evidence of Mr. S.n.-
!, jeant Praed. before the Committee appointed to inquire this
. subject in the year 1819, especially With regard to the accOt:iits
of the Payrriaster of-the Army. and the Treurer of the:Navy.
What had become of the documents which bad been submitted
tO•the Committee in illUstration of this subject, 'he could ot
' pretend .to say, as they were withdrawn in a most extraor-
dinary manner from the possession of -the Committee; But
enough of evidence was still forthcoming • to sustain .b2s
opinion as to the necessity of providing against the tin-
' due or partial interposition of, the Treasury . with, the
auditing of public accounts. • _There were no doubt some
changes proposed in the present Bill, which 'were calculated to
' improve the. system of auditing, but yet in. no very important
degree. He however approved of the abridgment o'f the perkid
at which the accounts were to be presentedAothe auditors.-Ant
li6 thought more material changes shoUld be made ; and among
' others, he trusted the Right. Eon. Gentleman would haveno
objection to the introduction Of a clause for the abolition of all
fees Upon the passing of the Public Accounts. Lord Muirst
held ten thousand pounds of the public money in his
.hands for
uPwards of 14 years, which might still haveremained there, but
for an aCcidental discovery. -The eonduct oldie Government in
ekcusing that Neble Lord from the payment of the intere't,
was most profligate and unjustifiable.. He contrasted this case
with that of Sir J. Johnstone, who was allowed only 304)1.
by; the Government, when he had a toniz fide claim upon theth
to the amount of £2009 for his services in North America. In-
terest was refused altogether, nor was the claim alfowedat all
till.-after the long 42se of 40years. The negligence of Minis-
ters-in bringing agents to account, - was productive of great loss
to the public., .Thus in the case of Brigadier-General Nichol-
son, the debt arose in 17911, and no inquiry was instituted till
after the ilcath of • the -.public debtor. The whole sum was,
therefore, lost to the public. He concluded by protesting against
the insufficiency of the. Bill, brit declared, that it was notbis, in-
' tendon to,oppoe the motion for going into the Committee.
Mr. BANKBS thought this Bill should have been brought
before the House -in the last Session, or at an earlier period, as
they had long had information in their possession to justify its
provigoni.— With respect- to the increase of the Audit Office,
it should be recollected, that that .department was, originally
plated upon toolow a scale. He denied 'that any improper
titeanlmpelnact!, orHe thateou ltdhenAotuagditre?
thatifr.ze
tc
aprNhici
recasting
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hneorlijo.
et.t.lifosm:;et,
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undergoiope
rnu t
a. b public
thn.tethee grievous
mofficeaGentleman
accountst
or
fefgro
contended.o irurbnrela
ofy
erein tebfe'°,o4rfbd:ligUtil'n!ce(liihngtttho:3
lities auditing-their aceounth before Commissioners .- atL.
mitred that much of, the-conduct of the Audit Board was un-
fortunate, partly from • its constitution, and partly from-its
lcction ofimproper and incompetent persons.
After a few .wordsfrem 111 r„ Sst T!rt, the CHANc.ELLoit..of
the tkatEQ'uriit., and Mr.' :TiEttwiNE, the 'Bill. pissed`
through the Committee, and the Report Was received; and or,
dered to be taken into further consideration on. Thursday.
• . •
nslr‘t
.I.l'teieleslntete i had 6 co

Mr. CHETWYND gave .notice. that he should move, to-
morrow; for a return of all fees, paid into the EccicSiastical.
Courts of England, and a List' of the Persons cominittod to
Prison for lion-payment of such fees. • •

Mr. WALLACE brought in his Navigation Bill, which wa
read the first time, and ordered •,to be printed, and read the se-
cond time that day three months. . .
. .

. .
After some.brief obseryatiots from Mr. F. Palmer, Mr. C.
Smith, Mr. Bankes, .Mr; monck4 -and Mr. R. Martin, the
House divided on the third reading of the 11l Treatment of
Horses Bill— . •
For .the. Motion
• Against it" • - _
Majority
On the Motion that the Bill do pass,
Mr. C. WYNN'lnoved, as an Amendraent, that the Public-
Debate on the Bill be postponed. to Friday next.
Mx„ll,A=.ll.N-agreed.to,postpone the question tO•Thursday",.
for which day it was accordingly. fixed. •
.i• , . " •
The other Orders of the'Day were then disposed of, and the
Houtie adjourned at ONE 9'CLpeic.

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