Star.
London, England, 1805-05-03 00:00:00

Moore. and yet no fault was found with them by '
Gentlemen on the other fide, nor any prowl/id made
for their inveltigation. Even the Tenth Report wan
not fully confidered, but was referred for farther eos-
fideration to the Select Committee up (Lairs. It was
well known that earplugs, cavilling., and malicious
infinuations had been directed againft the condua of
thofe Commiffioners, by perfons whom their vigilance
had deeded auchexpofed. The motion of his Hon.
Friend was &flatted to refute thole calumnies by a
general declaration of thanks from the Houfe. From
what had fallen from a Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Pitt), early in the debate, he was taught to believe
there was no very material objection to the motion.
If the Houfe, then, did thank them, let it be dont
liberally and generally, or not at all.
Mr. LANGHAM thought the motion of thanks
altogether unneceifary, as well as untimely, inafmuch
as the vote of a majority upon a former night, in ap-
probation to the Tenth Report, was already a vote
of approbation; and becaufe a much better oppor-
tunity for expreffing the fenfe of the Houk generally
upon the condo& of the Commiffioners, would occur,
when they had concluded the labours entruficd to
them, neither which, nor the period of their appoint-
ment, were yet terminated. Why had there been no
motion of thanks propofed to them on the Seventh
or Ninth Report as well as now ? He could not
think the Commitlioners thanfelves really wifhed for
any thanks for any confequence refulting from their
enquiries. Such a vote, .he• thought, would rather
have theeffc&bf biafing the Commifhoners, and in-
volving them in thole party differences which teem-
ed to exill in that Houfe. Betides, the Commit:Gon-
ers, in any thing they had done, had only complied
with duties to which their were bound by oath, and
it would not beholding them very high to thank them
for doing a duty to which. they were folemnly (worn.
Sir WILLIAM ELFORD agreed in the conaruc-
• tion given by ,Mr. Fox, that a vote of general thanks
to tie condua of the. Commiffioners mull Mean the
whole, and, therefore, not approving their whole con-
duet, though he highly commended many parts of it,
and conceiving their reports in many inftances as go-
ing to endure pedant son corals judice, he could not
vote fur the original motion, or even for its'amend-
anent. He did tape& fome perfon would have moved
the previous quellion, for which he thould have vot-
ed, conceiving it better to retain the approbation or
difapprobation of the Houfe until a future occafion,
when the merits or demerits of the Commiffioners'
conduit would be fairly balanced.
Lord HENNIKER again rote, and Paid, though
he approved the condua of the Comniillioners, yet it
had not yet been fo tcrutinized as to warrant a deci
five vote upon it. Thinking, therefore, that both
fides of the Houfe should paufe befOre they came to
any decifion, he concleded by moving the mieflion of
adjournment.
Mr. COKE (of Norfolk) Paid, as a plain and
honeft man, he mull give his mod cordial fupport to
the motion. Malverfation, peculation, the worft
Statefmen could commit, were brought to
light by the Commitfioners.
Mr.BOND gave his unqualified praife to the Coin.
zniifioners for their zeal, integrity and fortitude.
Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY heartily fupported
the ()troll motion.
Mr. ' REG.OR objected to the motion, as rearain-
ing the Houfe from further enquiry. • ,
Mr. BASTARD concurred in the fame fentiment.
Sir ANDREW HAMMOND laid a few words'
in explanation.
. Mr. FULLER laid, that as a friend to his country,
and an honett man, he would moil cordially vote
for the original motion, and he thought no man
a friend to his country that did not earnefily
with that enquiry, in the prefent circumftanCes of
the nation, thould be carried to its utmolt extent iu
every branch of the public expenditure. This was
• no party queftion, but one which equally concerned
every fide of the Houfe, and every part of the em-
pire. Thole who knew any thing of Roman Mao-
ry, mull recoiled, that from the moment a profufe
and corrupt expenditure of the public money be-
gan to be laughed at in the Senate, as a matter of
indifference, the ruin of that Empire took its date.
For his own part he cared not who was at the head
of the Government, whether a branch of one family
or of another ; whether the reprefentative of my Lord
this, or the relative of my Lord that, fo long as the
affairs of the Empire were wifely and honettly admi.
nittered ; but when the public money was in queltion,
and lie had fome confiderable (take in it, and pecola-
lion was the order of the day, it was the duty of Par-
li.iment to intlitute the firiaeft enquiry; and to pro-
tea, fupport, and encourage thofe to whom enquiry
was deputed, and who acquitted their duty with the
diligence, the impartiality, and the &milers of bo-
nen men.
Mr. SHERIDAN, in reply, expreffed himfelf ex-
tremely forty that the ward whole" had been in-
fitted in the motion. He was convinced it would do
as well without it, but having been placed there,
though he would do every thing in his power to pro-
cure unanimity, he would not agree it thould appear
in the journals that he had withdrawn.it ; but if it
would meet the opinion of thofe who inclined-to the
amendment, he had no objection to withdraw his
motion, in order to offer it again without the word .
" whole."
Mr. WILBERFORCE accordingly withdrew his
amendment; Mr. SHUMAN alto witbdtew his ori-
ginal motion, and brought it again forward fo as to
fait the fuggeltions of Mr. Wilberforce.
The Motion of Thanks was then agreed to with.
out a clivifion, and ordered to be tranfinitted by Mr.
Speaker to the fetid Commi(lioners.
It was then fettled that Mr. WHITIR FAD'S Motion
thould hand for Monday; and that of Mr. Segjeant
Bssr on the Eleventh Report for Monday.fe'nnight.
Mr. KINNAIRD fixed his motion rcfpeOing Sir
Home Popham, for Wcdnefday.—Adjourned.
The following are the words of Mr. SHIRIDAN't
Motion, as carried without a divifion :
Refolvcd, That it appears that the Commilfioners appointed by
an Ad of the 434 year of his Majefty's reign to inquire and exa-
mine into any Irregularities, Frauds or Abufes, which are or have
been pi-added by P. dons employed is the kraal Naval Depart-
ments therein mentioned, have, as far as appears from the Reports
which they have hitherto made, exerted tbeinfelves with great di-
ligence, ability and fortitude, and that their conduit in the exe-
cution of the arduous duties entrufbid to them, entitles them. to
the warmcft approbation and encouragement of this Houle.
Reicved,That Mr. Speaker be (Warted to conuntuticatethisße- ,
folution to the CominiZonert.