The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-06-28 00:00:00

HUSBANDRY HORSE TAX.

Lard MILTON, in behalf of the Hun. Member for
Cumberland (Mr. Cur►re's), postponed the tbird read-
ing of this Hill till tomorrow. He *ls) gave notice of
Isis intention to more for the insertion of a clause to
exempt from the tax bosses employed iu carrying
stone, slate, straw, 1:c.

Mr. T. HOOK.
Mr. BENNET iu proceeding to make the motion
of which he had given notice, relative to Mr. Theodore
Hook, who had formerly held an official situation at
the Mauritius, begged to state that he was actuated
solely by public motives, in thus calling for intermit-
lion on a subject of individual character. The Hun.
Menther then proceede I to state, that on the 15th of
January, ItolS, the ALting Governor of the Colony
of the Mauritius, received a letter from one of the
Clerks of the Colony, subscribed with the word "con
fidential," which informed him of certain means prac-
tised by Mr. beodore ilook for ;appropriating to his
own use portions of the public money which passed
through his hands. 'Air. Allan, the Gentletuau who
made this confidential communication also stated that
the amount thus misappropriated by Mr. Hook, was
not less than 37,150 dollars, the truth of which might
be seen by a reference to the Treasury Reports ; and
at the same time expressed surprise, that the Let had
escaped the notice of the public Auditor. To this
communication, the Governor replied. that notwith-
standing the express ti wish of Mr. Allan, that it
should remain confidential, it was of such a nature that
he felt himself called upon to refer it to .lr. Hook.
whom he charged with the conveyance of the answer
he then made. Mr. Allan the same day received this
letter from the hands of Mr. Hook, accompanied with
his discharge front his situation, with the remark from
Mr. Hook, that be was ruined fur ever. On the 26th
of October, Mr. Allan wrote another letter to the Go-
vernor, in.orming him that lie had receiied a visit
from a Mr. Hope, who had given him orders to quit
the island, but told him, that in consideration of his
former services, and his having a family, he was to be
allowed • pension of 25 dollars a month. 'the Go-
venor informed him in reply, that he had not autho-
rised Mr. Hope to make any such communication, and
Mr. Allan remained on the Island. '1 he last com-
munication made on this subject by al r. A.. plainly evinc-
ed that his mind was somewhat shaken, proceeding, no
doubt, from the extreme anxiety and distress of mind
which his situation endured. On the 9th of P-bruary
following, a Committee was formed, consisting of the
Chief Secretary, the Governor, the Auditor, and the
Paymaster-General, and after the examination into
the state of the accounts, it was discovered that there
was a deficiency of sixty-three thousand eight hundred
awl sixty-five dollars. It then appeared that all
the information given by Mr. Allan was correct. Jus-
tice was done to his character, but be did not survive
to receive the reward of his integrity ; he died before
t!.e examination was inetituted:- It was discovered
that a number of fraudulent notes had been put in
circulation, by which means the deficiency in question
hail occurred. The result of the investigation was.
that the Governor sent Mr. Hook a prisoner to Eng-
land, t.y the advice of the Attorsey-GeLersl of the
Colony. When he arrived in England he was, pro-
perly as he (Mr. Bennet) supposed, released, and had
been ever since at large. it appeared by the account
current of the Treasury of the Mauritius, of the tith
December, 1513, that there was a deficiency on the
part of Mr. T. Hook, of 39,733 dollars. lu order
to put the matter in proper train for Parliatnen.ary
notice, be should snore for the production of an ex-
tract from a dispach from Governor Hall, relat-
ing to the deficiency of Mr. Kook, and for the ac-
count which contained an official statement of the
amount. He knew there were many other matters
treated of in the dispatch in question, and he should
therefore content himself by leaving Government to
present that part of it for the information of Parlia-
ment which related to Mr. Hook. If it should ap-
pear that there was a deficiency he should call upon
the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite to state
whether any sureties were taken for Mr. Hook on his
receiving the appointment, and if so why they were
not come upon ? He trusted he had nut overstated
any part of the case. He had stated it as shortly as
he could, and, not, he hoped, in an unbecoming man-
ner. He thought the public had a right to know to
what extent Mr. Hook was a defaulter, and what steps
Government bad taken in the matte?. He moved,
" That an humble Address be presentel to his Ma-
jesty, praying that be will order to be hid before
the House an Extract from the Dispatch of Governor
doll, Acting Governor of the Mauritius, bearing date
the 411th April, 1018, respecting the suspension of
Mr. Theodore Hook, and an Account, coatalning a