The Sun.
London, England, 1820-07-13 00:00:00

AUDI l' OFFICE.

Mr. BENNETT rose to move for extracts of the
Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee
of Finance in 1819, respecting the Audit Office.
The Honourable Gentleman expatiated on the,
abuses and profuseness of the Audit department,
and instanced various particulars which he
thought improper and discreditable. He con-
eluded by moving for the whole of the evidence
taken •on the examination of the Audit depart-
ment before the Committee of Finance.

Mr: D. GILIjER.T had no objection, as one of
the ComMittee, to the production of the evidence,
if the "Hon. Member thought it necessary for- the
public good.
But some of the particulars to which
he had alluded, could. not be beneficial 'to the
public interests by publishinv,, them, and perhaps
the defects of the whole depaitioelt would be
much more effectually, as well quietly, re-
formed by the Bill which had been brought in for
the purpose.
The CHANCELLOR of tht- EXCHEQUER said, he
had no objection, whatever to the production_ of
the Papers to the extent necessary to illustrate
the recommendations of the Committee. He be-
lieve& that they would disclose, nothing deroga-
tory to the public service, or to the chaticter or
honour of the parties concerned. On examina-
tion it would appear that those Who recomMend-.
en the establishment of an audit office had no
reason to take blame to themselves. The duties
had been discharged with great fidelity, but-un-
fortunately differences had taken place, which he
feared would reflect in some degree on both
parties. _
Mr: HUTCHIN. SON referred to certain papers
calculated to illUstrate the subject, ordered so fax
back as Jul); and November, 1819, but which
were not presented till the sth June,, and hoped,
there would be no objection to printing . :
After a few words fiorn -the CHANCELLOR..Of.
the EXCHEQUEP.;.the.IIIO6OII vas agreed.tp
the papers ordered to be printed.
. . .

NEW_BARRACK.

Mr. CALCRAFT said, if the Right, lliin. Gentle-

man was not prepared to explain the proceedings
of Government. in regard to -the. New Barracks in
the Regent's Park, be should move that - the
Comptroller of the Barrack Department be or=
dered4o-attend at the Bar of the House to-mor-
row, with the view of ascertaining by whose
order the work had been commenced, without
having had the sense of Parliament taken upon it.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER detailed
•all the official proceedings on the subject, which
were merely_ formal, between the Treasury and
the Barrack Department! = He defended • what
had been done. The moment the contract was'
completed he had come down to the House with
a Bill for its sanction, and therefore no conceal-
ment could-be -possibly. intended: As for the
bargain itself, it was eminently adVantageous,
Sittee.therexpensewas the same, 540.01. per an-
num, as the rent of the Portman Barracks, where
the horse Guards had hitherto been, and they
would now not only be better accommodated;
but at the'end- of- 31 years the whole property
would belong to the .public without any annual
•ex pense. .
Mr. ABERCROMBIE contended, that Parliament
had been„too little previously consulted with re-
spect to the EstimateS. He did not object to the
Barracks,,but-to undertaking an expellee for 31
years, in,tead of from year to year, without the
authority of the House. •,. _ _

Mr. liviKisoN- observed, that they had only
returned to the lease system which existed in the
Portman ,Barracks *till within these ten years,
when circumstances put them to the inconveni-
ency of becoming yearly tenants.. The annual
Estimates, must be before the House, and as ,the
expense was the -same as before with the ultimate
advantage pointed out by his Right lion. Friend,
he could see no ground for complaint of any kind.
Sir J. NEWPORT insisted on the impropriety of
having proceeded so far, without Parliamentary
sanction.