Star.
London, England, 1808-09-07 00:00:00

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.

The latest :tdvices fi om Biscay are to the 29th ult.
At that time the French were still in possession of
Bilboa. The Spanish tropps which retreated from
that town when the enemy obtained possession, hay.
ing received considerable reinforcements, were pre-
paring to attack the French, and no doubts were en-
tertained of their driving them from the place. It
was believed, however, that the French would not
Wait the attack, but evacuate the place.
No farther accounts have been received from our
army at Liston. There can be no doubt, however,
that long before this time Jusor and the Russian fleet
Bart surrendered. ,It is ascertained, we understand,
from the verbal, details, given by .Major CAMPBSLLi
ivho brought the dispatches, that JUNOT had not a
single field piece left in his possession after the battle
of the 21st. In such circumstances no new action
could possibly take place. It is believed that if he
had had any means left for offensive operations, he
weld have hazarded another battle. but he had none
.she had no choice but to surrender, and news of this
event having taken place is hourly expected.

The force now collecting a_ Ramsgate, Etc. for em

barkation, will, when assembled, amount, it is said, to

10,000 men : there are various conjectures as to its
destination ; but there is a strong probability that it
h destined to join Sir JOHN STUART in the Mediter-
ranean.

As soon as transports can be found, the Foot

Guards will follow the rest of the army to Portugal,

Italy, or wheresoever they may be. The whole of
the Foot Guards will go, 'and the London duty be
left to the Life Guards and Volunteers.
Orders base been issued for the formation of a
Grand Depot of artillery and ammunition at Weedon
in Northamptonshire, as being the most centrical part
of the kingdom. A large portion of the artillery will

be drawn from the Southern district ; and it is under.

stood that the Depot, when formed, will be second
only, in point of magnitude, to the royal arsenal at
Woolwich.

A very large embarkation of artillery and ammu•

nition, destined for Spain, took place on Monday and
..Tuetsday, as. Woolwich. The guns were all Spanish;
eighty-two were shipped by Monday evening. The
French having taken away or destroyed As much as
they could of the artillery in the Royal Arsenals in
Spain, our Government has corne forward to afford a
fresh supply. It is considered as a compliment, that
the artillery and small arms sent to our allies, are all
of the fabric of their own country. Since the com-
mencement of the patriotic war in Spain, the exer-
tionsmade in preparing ammunition at Woolwich have
been incessant and unexampled. Above 1500 men,
women, and children, are employed in making up ball
cartridges in that depot alone.

Yesterday, His MAJESTY, Princesses SOPHIA,
Auot:srA, and Ametra, accompanied by Lady
TityxxE, General FITZROY, and Colonel TAYLOR,
/ode till noon in Windsor Park.
Yesterday a Cabinet Council was held at the Fo-
reign Office, which sat from two till nearly five o'clock.
The following Members assisted—
The Duke of Portland, Earl Camden, Mr. Canning; Lords
itaveliesbury, Castkreagh, and Mulgrave, and Mr. Pereeval.
Since the arrival of his Royal Highness the Prince
of WALES and his suite at the seat of the Marquis of
HERTFORD, the utmost gaiety has prevailed there.—
A series of entertainments have been given in a style
et almost unrivalled magnificence and taste. Seldom
less than from twenty to thirty persons have, each day,
sat down to table. Coursing and shooting occupy the
attention of the visitors in the morning, and music or
cards in the evening.
The Right Hon. J. P. CURRAN arrived in town,
on Monday evening, from Dublin.
Yesterday the LORD MAYOR ordered the price of
Bread to be raised to Thirteen-pence-farthing the
Quartern Loaf, Wheaten, and Household, Eleven-
pence.three.farthings.
SHAYSPEARE certainly predicted the Dram of 80.,
YAPART.E, when he enumerated, amongst the vagaries
of Queen Mai--
" Breaches, ansbuseadoes, SpaniA Mao I"
In antient days our Ladies were supposed to keep
:lair virtue in their chats, secured with whalebone
• stay; but since the fa:him requires the chest to be
spat, we may naturally enquire where they keep it
now ?—l'erhalu is their drawer: !
A few days ago, one of those untutored sons of
Erin, who sell nuts, &c. through the country, hap-
pening to go into a shop in Belfast, in which a very
tall gentleman was standing, the gentleman, after
chaffering some time with the nutman for his wares,
stepped to*ards the door, saying, " I am long enough
here." " Och ! God bless you, my hohey," says
Paddy, 44 you're too Ang any where.

• • ifo : I

ThE Antro
Aftei the first feelings have subsided, to which our
glorious victories in Portugal gaVe rise;- after our
feelings of sorrow have been softened for the many
fine telltiws who fell, and our proud exultation for a
signal ♦ictory over ati imperious, and for a long time
invincible foe, have passed off, we are enabled to give
their sway to common and moderate considerations.
Aitiong other thoughts, we now call to mind that of
the conquering army in Portugal; not a few of the
regiments were there who formed our artny in South
America, and where for a time the Britith arms and
'English laurels were supposed W be tarnished ; now
with pride a'e see, that under other leaders, British
soldiers are what they ever have been, the best in,the
world ; and that if, under Untoward citcumstances,
the glory of the British arms was obscured under a
dependency of Spain, it has shone with redoubled
splendour not far from the capital of the Spanish
monarchy.

Sir HEW DALRYMPLE, Sir HARRY BURRARD, and
Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY, it is said, are to be ad-
vanced to the Peerage. Why should Sir JOHN Moons
be excluded from honours granted to the first two of
these undoubtedly brave and excellent officers
Generals FERGUSON and HILL will immediately be
made Baronets, and as soon as can be, get red rib-
bands.

Major-General lizworm,, who has just got the
York Rangers, was for some time Secretary to the
Duke of YORK, and was subsequently high in the.
Barrack department.

The rank so meritoriously bestowed on Sir THOMAS
DYER, Major Ronal, Captain CARROLL, Captain
DAws, and COlOnel DOYLE, sill, it is thought, be
confirmed in this country to those able officers ; all of
them are well known for talent in our army. Major
RoActr, of the 17th Dragoons, the death and glory
regiment, particularly distingui.hed himself in South
Atnerica, at Buenos Ayres, where he acted on the
Staff.

If any thing was of late wanting in Portugal, it
was cavalry ; and it cannot but be regretted that we
.had only SOO there, while so many fine-dressed regi-
ments of Light Dragoons are in this country, and
who then could have followed up our victory with
success.

Lieutenant Colonel STEWART, who so nobly fell in
Portugal, was a man generally regretted throughout
the Army. He had served the greater part of his
life in that gallant regiment the 29th.
Liontenant•Colonel LAKE is well known in the
Army for his gallant conduct in India.

The charge of the 20th Dragoons was Most mas-
terly : had there been a larger body of cavalry, the
whole of the enemy's force must have been annihi-
lated. They were led on by Lieutenant-Colonel
TAYLOR, who, after completely cutting to pieces the
French column, that had been routed by the 50th
regiment.. fell
,by a shot through the heart. The
steady di;L•ipline of the_ 20th, and the gallantry by
which they distinguished themselves in this glorious
action, are the best proofs of the merits of this excel-
lent Officer : as a man, his heart was " full o' the
milk of human kindness ;" as a Gentleman, his man-
ners were elegant ; as a Christian, he was " steadfast
in faith," and " joyful through hope," whilst " cha-
rity, the very bond of peace, and of all virtues," was
eminently his. He has left a most amiable widow
and three children to lament their irreparable loss,
and dwell with fond and lasting remembrance on his
virtues !—Hail and farewell !
0 dolor, atilue dee' magnum rediture a
Parenti !
The 77th regiment, commanded by Colonel Wllll TE-
LOCK E, and which but lately came from India, has
marched from Lincoln to Winchester, and is again
nearly completed and ready for service.
The Royal York Rangers, under the command of
Major Heenensos, and the 51st Regiment, comman-
ded by Lieutenant-Colonel MAINWAHANG, still conti-
nue embarked at Portsmouth.
The First Royal Cornwall Militia have, one and
all, Volunteered their services for Spain.—This fine
regiment, unquestionably at this time one of the first
under the Crown, also in the last and present war
volunteered for Ireland. They are now at Lancas-
ter, but have received a route to march for Chelms-
ford barracks; where they will arrive on the 16th,
17th, and 19th instant.
Experiments having been tried in how far the Mie
litia Regiments were comretent to discharge the du=
ties required on board the prison-ships, in the river
Medway, it has bees clearly ascertained they were'
there out of their element.—That inestimable corps,
the Royal Marines, having been long accustomed to
sea duties, and naval etiquette, is now ascertained to
be the properest corps to undertake this office : ac-
cordingly, on Saturday last, detachments from that
corps were again embarked so do duty on board these
ships.

Monday last the officers of the Chatham division
of Royal Marines gave a dinner to their late worthy
friend and commandant, General BARCLAY, in their
elegant Mess-room ; the dinner consisted of fish and
venison, and every delicacy in season, which, toge-
ther with the dessert, consisting of pines, and a pro-
fusion of every sort of choice fruit, did infinite credit
to the taste and judgment of Mr. LawsoN, their
Sutler. The chair was taken by Colonel FOLEY, who
did ample justice to his post, by the neat selection of
.his toasts, and providing for the comforts of his
friends. General BARCLAY and Colonel ANDERSON
retired early ; and the worthy President having se-
:ceded also, the chair was taken by Major LODINGTON,
when the soal-inspiring juice was briskly pushed
round till a late hour, when the company retired from
this scene of festive conviviality, having truly enjoyed
" The Fist of Reas3n, IWO* nergot Sovir

~.

Ned Cr/at& `MR NI
IsLiCittoterft, Br.rrEmßEß, L- • .) I "
Cattle in, the troedorri, Capt. I...Loeut (rain barde-.
with wine; Gosport, Capt. Dammam, from
[Landon, for Malta and Trieste ; Ocean, Capti 1! L.
rawly, and Fiera, Cal% HAY, from Qttebee, with-
oval stores for the doet-yard—they sailed with the
gEbtL.S, of 32 guns, seven weeks since, in compant. ,
with four others,,which, with the frigate, art game up:
Channel—the Caledonia, Pallas, and Duke of Kent,'
were loading. at Quebec for this port HELENA, of
18 guns, with several vessels, from Ireland; POMPEE,
of 80 guns, and NEPTCNE, of 90 guns, from Torbay ;
ENCOUNTER, of 18 guns, from a cruize.—Sailed, the
SWALLOW, of 18 guns, with light transports for the
coast of Spain, to get Spanish sheep;* Linglavoun,
of 14 guns, with a fleet of coasters, for the Welch
ports.—The Channel fleet are gone to Torbay.—
Came in the Diana, Capt. WALLci, from Gotten•
burgh, forgMadeirA, with iron and deals.
PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. G.

0

Arrived the Gosu.twx slcop of war, from a cruize.
-Wind W.

DEAL, SEPTEMBER 6.
Arrived the PAZ schooner, from Portsmouth • the
NEMESIS frigate, from Quebec in 51 days„,k;ving
under her convoy the Flora and Ocean, laden with
'masts and naval timber, which went into Plymouth ;"
the Robert and Ann, an4l the Robert, with the like
,cargoes, which went into Portsmouth ; the Queen and,
the also with masts and timber on Govern-
Ment account ; and the . Rocket, laden with staves,
which have sailed through for Bheeniese.—the two
lamer and the latter for the River. The NEMESIA
spoke the AMEL.i'I frigate on the 18th of July last,
whch ship arrived on the 19th at Quebec ; also spoke'
on Thursday last, the SYBILLE frigate, which had
captured a French corvette brig, bound to Martinique,
laden with prey isionthand commanded by a Capitaihe
de Frigate.--Sailed the Isniosmir gun-brig, on a
cruize off Boulogne. ilk

Remain in the Downa—Ptincesa of Orange, Bellerophon,ln-
vincible, Hero, thus:riot:s, Leviathan, Borr.tn.y, Venerable,
Frosty, Ciyde, Nemesia, Alert, Pandora, Etagk, Kangaroo,
Challenger, and Paz.

FROM LLOYD'S LIST.

Gst.tyrsi: NO, SEPT. 6.,—Passed by the Sportsmar, Moore,
from St. Michael's; :I'raYelier, Coulson, from Cork ; Susannah;
/frocks, from Madeira; Galatea, Rerunson, from Mogadore;
i.yon, Myth, and the Jenny; Cr..ige, from Limerick:—Sailed the
Hector, Lirillith, I r Gibr.utar; and the Margaret', Brown, for
Cadiz.

The Thomas and Deborah, from Halifax, has been taken,
retaken, and carried into. Anti a.
The schooner Fanny and Polly, from St. Vincent's, bas been
:aken and carried into Martinique.
'1 he schooner DErbyphire is stranded at Dominica ; part of the
'crew saved.

The George, Town, from Belfast for Jamaica, was captured
oss the 31st of May, near' Barbadoes, by the .Serpcut french
toe Charks, armed ship, with the 'Thornton, Sacker, and
ib
under --

about 2S sail of vessels _ convoy, from Gottenburgb, are
arrived, in Yarmouth Roads.
~ The General Boyd, Smith, ho condemned at Surinam.

• The Dart, Lepelly, from Malta to London, is reported to be
evasive! off Tanis bit a French privateer.
;:lice' Sophia, Smith, from Loudon fur Malta, was all well on
,tbe)l6th August, off Cape Yinisterrt.
• A.brig (mu Falmouth is on shore near Dungeness, and it is ex-
peetid will be lost.
The Alexander and Northampton, from Lordon for the East-
.. _ .

Indies, were all well on the I 7tit June, in lat. 4R. S. long. 31. 25.
W. the brig Mentor, from London fur the C.ipe of Good Hope,
in company.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE-MONEY.

The Cruizer, for several snitigglirg vessels, captured January
27, 1806, will be paid on her arrival in port, and recalled at No.
21, Northumberland-street, Strand.
The Dido, for l'Etrusco, captured July 17, 1793, will be paid
cri Tuesday rest, at No. 8, Salter's•hall-court. Catintin,treet,
and there recalled on Mondays and Thursdays.
The Ariadne, for the Trente et Quarente, captured January 7,
1808, Slid the Petronelle, captured June 8, 1808, will be paid on
board, on her arrival at Leith, and recalled at No. 15, 'fbrognior-
ton-street.

The Satellite, for the Brothers, capture! October 7, 1807, will
be paid on board, at Portsmouth, on Wednesday next, and re-
called at No. ls, Clement's Inn, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

On Saturday there.were landed at Mill Bay, Ply-
mouth, and conducted to prison, from the HINDOSTAN,
from off Lisbon, 140 French soldiers, taken in the
forts at Oporto. They are fine young men, and are
all of them Swiss conscripts.

Monday se'nnikht, in the evening, Captain DAvnts,
of the DIANA, which sailed from Greenock that morn-
ing for Belfast, fell overboard when dff the Cumbraes,
and, tl e sea running high at the time, was drowned.
The vessel returned to Greenock.

Captain BRADFORD, of the Guards, who so glo-
riously fell in the' battle of the 17th ult. as men-
tioned in The Gazette Extraordinary of Saturday,
was a snn of T. BRADFORD, Esq. of Ashdown-Park,
hi Sussex; and an Officer of highly-distinguished
merit.
GE.tt4At. Dublin Papers assert that
...I.titzo'r is a native of Ireland, and one of them has
published the following notice respecting him :
" That the public may know the country and descent of that
noted and tyrannical General Junot, alias Julian, who Is Row
commanding in Portugalt—He is an lriAnan, born in the town
of Athy, within thirty mile* of Dublin, and having received
clamical and mathematical information tinder his father, who was
a professor of the same, left Ireland in the year 1792, and went
to France, where, from Ibis toward and enterprising spirit, he icas
arrived front the rank of a private soldier, to the fazcied great/-
nem he now possesses."
The naked fashions do not appear to have made
great progress among rational people in Ireland. A
witness, upon a late trial in that country, swore a
Lady was mad, merely because she went with her bo-
som bare.
In the vicinity of Hyde Park Corner are affixed
numerous Proclamations, offering " Pardon for De-
serters :" we suppose thar it is not intended,to in-
clude King JOSEPH in the amnesty !
A Gentleman lately complaining to his physicians
of *,ant of appetite, the medical wag prescribed a co-
pious potation of Hung'ry water.
A Countryman went yesterday into an Optician's,
in Piccadilly, to purchase. a Pair of Spectacles; and'
after numerous trials, declared that he could not read
with either of them. The shopman tired out, sulkily
observed—" Perhaps you can't- read at all." To
b.! sure not (replied Hodge) ; if I could read, what the
devil should I want with Spectacles ?

--

'The gbod nevil from Portugal was received Here
Olt Saturday inorning, broth throng of Fashionables,
With every pbssible mark of joy. The..bells rang
many merry peals, and a un**.trsal face of gl thi •s
pervaded all ranks and degrees through the town
At eight the Theatre boasted a most and
iumerous audience (the play being bespoke by the
Hon. Mrs. NEEDUAM). The perfLimances went off
*ith much merited iciest; and at the end Of the first
piece Mr. BEVERLEY, in a short, appropriate scoach,
mtroducel Rde Britalnia, with two addiLion..l and
appropriate stanzas] in which the whole house joil d
die chorus. • '
Mr KiNchelegAt villa, Cambray House, is taken
by the E.trl of ICpsmAitz, icir the *inter, and the
family rue in. Our latest arrivals are:
Tl:e Earl aid Count: sa of Suffolk, Lord Is-Idt:seer; IViarebioness
of li'aniford,Dsporner Lady Gel; ray, Lord Marks Spencer, bir
Nathaniel Dance, Mr.. Angerstaio; Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Hadir
ausitey, &t:. &c. . '

EARTO 2t7A ICE.—A few minutes before two o'clock
in the moraing of Friday se'iinight, the shock of an
earthquake was felt very sensibly in the town
Whitehaven and neighbourhood, and the agitation,
according to the most minute ob.,ercations respecting
it, continued from three to five seconds. The wea-
ther, as observed immediately after the motion ceased,
.was dose and suit y, the barometer stood at 22
'inches 3-4ths, and there was no wind. Its directi,
is supposed to hao e been from S E. accompanied
,axumbling noise 'n the air—there was not sufficiei
light ro make an • other observation immediately aft
the shock, except that of the atmosphere being ves
'thick and hazy. The consternation it caused in than
town was very great : a chimney in Tangier street
was thrown down ; three people, in dill'
—arent parts ,-
the warn, were thrown off their feet, and one of thei
-considerably hurt, hut no farther damage was d m
'We have accounts of the shock being felt in the fol.
lowing places, viz. Workington, the Qeay a little d,
Triaged; Marvport, Cockermouth, Redmain, Kesvric I
Lorton, very severe, but no damage ; Egremonl
some chimnies thrown down, and a part of the roin
of the Castle ; Bootle, Broughton, P, avengl iss. 1:11.
verston, no damage ; Abbey-holm, Wigton, Carlisl
Brampton, no damage; Kendal, Lancaster, Garstan.
-Preston, Hakesend, no damage ; Penrith, Appleby
Brough, some old walls were thrown down in the
neighbourhood of these places ; in the Isle of M
and at Dublin, no dama :;-e whatever; Neweattle,
Kirkcudbright, Dumfries, Leith,Edintur h, &c.
DREADFUL EXPLOSION.—On Monday, about twel,
o'clock, as some privates belonging to Woolwich g.
rison, were engaged in the act of driving home th
priming of a large shell, by some accident it caught
.fire, and exploded. One of the men had part of If
right hand whol:y carried away, and an amputatic
took place above the elbow. Three other men were
torn and lacerated in so\shockiag a manner, that .
little hopes are entertained of their recovery. The
garrison were thrown into the utmost consternation
and confusion from an apprehension that the Roy-'
Arsenal had exploded. Several thousands of the
habitants were setn.flying in alll directions, from itu,
tives of personal safety. And a considerable time
elapsed before any could be found courageous enoti,
(from the horrid and suffocating stench that was em.
ted) to examine and ascertain the extent of tMe damagr
FIRE.-- On Thursday, night, about twelve o'c lee
the back part of the house o(,Mr. Webb, Chemi
in Si. George's Fields, opposite the Obelisk,
cliscoered to be in flames by the watchman. All
family were so sound asleep, that the p ssage door
was obliged to be broken rpm, to gain a Imission
the fire-engine that first arrived. The principal
has been sustained by. some Jews, who had a ware.
room in 9se back premises, which was, with its
tents, consumed to ashes. Mr. Webb has also
fered considerable loss. The house itself wa%
tunately insured.
Yesterday se'nnight, a brewhouse belonging to Mi
Jones, of Adwell, Oxon, was totally destroyed by •
with all the brewing utensils, and an out-house
joining.
Sunday se'nniglit, a barn, in the occupation of
Izzey, of Loagworth, Berks, was discovered t,) be
fire, the flames from which raged with such fin
that seven cottages, together with the barn, (contain-
ing a great quantity of corn) were entirely consumed.
The accident happened during the time of Di,
Service, occasioned by a person throwing out _
hot ashes, which set fire to some straw, and commA
nicated to the thatch of the barn.
About six in the evening of Friday last, an
occupied by Mr. Wm. Pearson on the Hospital F,
at Stelling, and let by him to Mr. Harvey of Pethat
Kent, for the purpose of drying his hops, caught'firk
consequence of some charcoal having been placed
it before it was sufficiently extinguished, and being
constructed of weather board and thatched, 'was
short space entirely consumed.
Last night, about twelve o'clock, a fire broke
in the house belonging to Mr. WOODESON, of No.
Chancery-lane, which entirely consumed the same,
with all the furniture, in a few hours. The two houses
immediately adjoining are much damaged, and
iihabitants were able to save their furniture with
'difficulty. The active exertions of firemen from
various offices with their engines soon allayed
alarms of the neighbouring proprietors, and by
o'clock this morning the flames were complete
tinguished. Of Mr. WOODESON'S house the front
back- walls only remain. The fire is said to h 4.
been oceasioned by the carelessness of the servants,
Iwito had been junketing at Bartholomew fair, lea,'
a candle burning too near the bed-curtains.
WoonssoN is at present with his family at Margate.
CORN MARKET, MARK-LANE, SEPT. 7.—There
extreme short supply of Wheat to-day, and the 1
of the few sales effected are considered nominal—L.,
ley likewise - large supplies expected, ancla reduction
—White Peas are brisk sale and dearer—Beans
both sorts fetch rather better price—There is a •
rable supply of Oats, with a few foreign, and
ti7de is Quoted at little variation.—Flour fully
ports the Currency.
GENERAL CURRENCY AS UNDER:
Wheat, 621. 745. 81s. Beans Ch. 651.
Floe ditto, 88s. 929. Tick ditto 575. 614.
Rye, (new) 455. 50s. Oats, 355. 38s. 401.
Barley, 401. 455. Poland ditto, 411.446
Malt. 68s. 765. Potatne dam, 445.
White Peas (boilers) 1001.1101 R. Seed, 361. to 291.
Grey ditto, 565.625.
Fine Floor 70*. 711ip.Secendo 65e. 70s. 'o

I

s At
PO
-
▪ OP THE CONINIISSIOY/'"'' "F 'MILITARY INQUIR .
This Report cepa .ith an explanation of
• the ernefal nuture of the husioess of the War-Office.
which consists in superintending the Finance,
tinguished from rPsditiine of theAtinY, whicllkelePts
to 04,Departreertt of the Commander-in-Chief. T e
Secretary at War acts under the immediate comnitind:
of the King, but in matters of money the.,War.Office
, is. considered as subordinate to the Ikmard of Treasury.,
: -,The Commissioners are stated to have directed their
inquiry to four different heads
The Establishment of the War-Oflice, • •
The State of the Reettental Accounts,'
The Subject of Agency; and
The Cllthing of the Army.
• The:Establishment consists of about 112 Secretaries,
, -Accountants, Assistants and Clerks, and 20 Messen.
gers, with salaries from 901. to 2,4801., making an.
• aggregate annual expence of 34,7061. The regular;
hours of attendance are from 11 to 4 o'clock everyday.
vseepting Sundays, but in the time of the Parliamen- !
vary recess the attend.trice of a certain proportion of
the Gentlemen is dispensed with on Saturdays. It ap-
pears that the business is more than sufficient to oc-
cupy all the persons employed, and that there is con-
sideilable difficulty in finding permits Properly quali-
fied. for thealepartnaent of.Aoconnts, The Commits.
.sioners disapprove of. a grant of-2,44)1, to r Lewk,
,on his retiring upon a pension of-1(0301e a7lear. The
frofitsof the two offices whichi,lic Uhl iirtinuf of war,
presions to the.establislunent,o(slie fee.?unds Which
.now goes to defray the common. expences of the
Mike, amounted to 18,4001. a year, and. this 2,6001.
was granted to. him as a sort of compensation for the
loss which 'he sustained from the establishment of this
fund, and the consequent reduction of his emote-
meats from this enormous sum to a net, salary. of
2,20;01. a year. 66 It is not," says the Reptsrt."4, the
_amount, but the principle of this grant which we ob.;
iect to, and we think, as a general proposition, that
whenever the emoluments of a situation: have ea-
.creased to .an unreasonable estent, although, without
any blame imputable to the itsdividital, he ought to be i
:satisfied with-what he is permitted to retain, and that it i
Should have no weight in estimatingthe arnountof the
pension to be granted to hint on-his retirement." The
Commissioners farther advert to the privilege hell by
Mr. Merry, the. Chief Examiner of Army Accounts,
ef sopplymgthe Garrison ofGibtaltar with Coals. upon
which he hasa profit, varying from. seventeen to eleven
shillings and five-pence. per chalsiron, and reeonamend
that the future supply of Coals should be made on open
competition. There. seemsalso, to be some abuses in
.the Department of .the Messengers. One receives'
from 4.t0 6001. a year by delivering letters, which, in 1
, most oases, might be sent by the twopenny post; awe- I
deer, who is still a servant &Lord Liverpool, hasabout
SOW. a.year for doing nothing. 1
The actual state of Regimental Accounts was the
. subject to which the Cemzoisaioners turned their atten-
tion. These accounts are divided into two classes :
.those which were outstanding or. iven in, and not et-
funined previous. to 1797, when the present system of '
_ :having Civil Paymasters to evety•regamenr was adopt-
-Os and those which have been made out conformably
to the new regulations. Otthe old accounts of el 971
which were in arrear in 1797, at Christmas.lso6,
1638 still remained to be examined. The present
system is described as being far from being free from
Affects, and dw means proposed for remedying them
are, either a considerable augmentation of the depart-
:xlvait of accounts, or theadoption of Mmearrangement
for simplifying the accounts.themselves, so asset admit
-tot only of their being s.ottledmovesespeditiously; lint
eo make it unnecessary to require in the performance
mcfitiaut duty, so much official education .of.thepersoos •
- s ploycd to examine.. If neither oft** means are
.resorted to, the accounts are likely to fall in an-ear as
they Agtl under. the old. systems • . •
The subject of Army Agency is next investnetted.,l
The duty of a Regimenta/Centleman. is slefi be,
" to apply for, receive and disbtirse, and acceirnt for'
public money advanced to him undergeneMl rtgula-
tuns, or by particular orders. He is the ordinary chan-
nel of communicatiodletween the regiment- and the
public department, and is resorted to,:not only for pro-
vidiag and forwarding of arms, clothing, and other
regimentahupplies; but also in the busisess, public or
private, of the individual officers." -The earence at-
tending the „present system of Regitnental.Ageocy is
Jtatedso amount to no less a sum' than 80,0004 and 11
subjects the public to a risk ei twin seven•mil-
lions a ) ear. To obviate these-inconvenicece‘a plan
has been propoted by Mr. Merry of the War: Office,'
-to transfer the whole business of agency: to a :public
- Board, which shottld be instituted expressly .for the '
porposeipfesemiting its that this Board should receive
from the.Vayinaster General, by a credit on the Bank
of. England, the necessary funds for regimental ser-
vices. and should accept the-bills of the Paymasters.;
and others, payable at ite Bank (such bills being in-
variably fetunded nut estYmate), or should drtw on the 1
Bank for the sums necessari.. to be•-remitted to the
.RaPtutsters in cases where they cannot-obtain money 1
for their bills, and should also draw .for the salaries r,
..and contingencies of the Department, and for other !
brcidetttal.expencesr . The objections to this plan have
,:apreared to the Commissioners.inseamountable, In
• the first place, itovotild not be possible toneSuce such ;
• an establislunent from: times° tienee ill:proportion to
the decrease of-business. In the:neat place, a most
-.serious inconvenience would result from .the. adoption
. of, such. a plan 'to the Officers of the army.. •The
Commissioners, therefore, recommend in preference ra
. reduction of the allowance to Army Agents, that they
-.-should be required to, give a sufficient and distinet
se-
corky.,fur every regiment whose business they under-
take; that they should deliver in quarterly or half!
_yearly accounts for each regiment in their agencf,
and that the issues to them from the War Office should
be made twice instead of once a month.
The Cloth ig. of the Amu is the last head -of the
Report, and upon this subject. the Commissioners re-
. sommend that the Colonels ef repther regiments shall,
provide, as at...etresent, clothing for their respective
• corps, but that they shall only be paid fur the-number
of suits acinstUrdeliviredin each year, to the effect-
lives of their sevetalemps, at the rate of the estimatei
delivered in by Mr.- rivrse, and that • iste Compensa-
tion for the loss whiefirthey would suitain in ' conse-
enenee of. such . an acrungerneut, theXeOloncis, in
atidiii(ia to their preatat papitud4ubilisomoollsballre'-
iteive 7001. a year.—tslo alteration it fetPosed in the
lhiug Syston of tioi