Star.
London, England, 1805-03-20 00:00:00

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notteeefarlly.. The Impolicy and difadvantage of this
prattiee were teen ,by the Comnaioners for taking
and Rating the public accounts of the kinßdr.m, anti
k was recommended by them, in their-third Report,
that the prallice fhoold be alsolifhed.
No meafures have, however, been adopted in con-
fequence of that recommendation ; and the Compt-
roller of the Navy Rates, he does not conceive that
much benefit would be derived from carrying it into
execution, as the Navy Board have transferred firms
from one head of fervice to another, whenever it has
appeared to them necefary, which have been replaced
when money has been received on the head of fey.
vice to which the advance was made. _

The applying of the money iffued from the Exche-
quer to the general purports of each department,
would not only prevent the irregularity in the ac-
counts, and the unnircefftry trouble occafioned by
the mode of transfer above mentioned; but the a-
vantage to be derived therefrom in leffening the ba-
lance which it may be neceffary to keep in the hands
of the Treafurer is fo obvious, that we think it expe-
dient that the recommendations of the Commilfioners
of Accounts fhould be carried into execution.
Mr. Trotter, in his jollification alferts, that the
public has not (attained any fors from his ore of the
money iffued for the rervice of the Navy. To thi;
obfervation we cannot allow any weight ; he might
have been unfuccertful in his fpeculations, or the per-
fons with whom the public money was lodged might
have failed; and in either of there cafes the lofs
wotiPd probably have fallen on the public; or, in
cafe of Mr. Trotter'ssdearh, it might havebeerme
necefary to unravel his very intricate accounts in a
Court of Law, before the balance in his hands could
have been recovered. At any rate, the public money
has been unneceffarily put to hazard; and that in de
fiance Of the precautions taken againfi it by the Le-
giflature.

It appears that by his Majefly's• warrant of the
:6th of June, 478 z, the falary of the Treafurer of the
Navy was increafed from zoool. to 40001. in full ta-
tisfadion of all wages, and other profits and emulu-
menu before enjoyed by former Treafurers.
During the time Mr. Barre held that frmation,
chafe conditions were flriftly complied with. He was
(weeded by the Right Hon. Henry Dundas, now
Lord Melville, who held the office from the 39th of
Augun, 1783, to the toth of April next ye3r.
Lord Bayning held the officefiom the I tth of April
1783, to the 4th of January, 1784, and during his
time, " no part of the money ailed for the fervice of
the Navy, was converted to his ufe or advantage.
In reviewing the coildna of other Treafurers of
the Navy, the Commitlioners fay," Lord Harrowby,
the immediate fucceffor of Lord Melville, difapproved
of the praCtice, as being incontinent with the lOirit of
the Ail."

" The Right Honourable Chatles Bathurn, who
fucceeded Lord Harrowby,difapproved of Ole prac•
%ice of drawing the money out of the Bank, and
lodging it in the hands of a private Banker, in the
funnmer of 1802, from a conviftion that fuch a prac-
tice was incontinent with the fpirit of the A& for the
tegulation of the office of Treafurer of the Navy."
" After Mr. Trotter quitted office, he propotid
to the Right Hon. George Tierney a plan (which
was immediately adopted) that put an effellual bar
to the ctraElice that had prevailed during the Treafu-
rerfhip of LordMdville."

The Report-likewife takes notice of a very confl-
iderable lofs fuflained by the public through Mr.
Adam Jellicoe, who was employed in the o'Ece of
the Ti.ealurer of the Navy, and who died indebted
to Gbternment in the fum of 39,6761. los. 30.—0 f
which A8,i4.21. 151. 41. was during Lord Melville's
treafuretlhip. On the agth of May, t 800, a balance
of 2+Bol. (till remained doe by Mr. Jellicoe'seltate,
and for this Lord Melville, in confequence of a mi-
nute of the Lords of the Treafuty, dating that he
Ibould be exontrated, his Lordfhip was acquitted of
the fame by a Writ of Privy Seal.
_ _

Since the date of the Writ of Privy Sea!, no trou.
Me has been taken for the recovery of any further
tams for the reduations of the balance due by Mr.
je'Luse.
• The Commiffioners adduce the inflance of Mr.
jellicoe as affording an example how dangerous it is
tb fuffer individuals to turn the public money to their
own fpeculations.
' The Report concludes with recommending various
new regulations for the office of 'ft cafurer of the Navy.