The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-05-01 00:00:00

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qtient visits to the different divisions and station
of Marines) from the want or neglect of which
great abuses hail prevailed. His salary was raised
by 'that Warrant to 10041. clear of all tletliictions,
with an allowance of 5301. for his clerks, 1901.
for honse.rent, &c. and a further allowance for
travelling expellees actually incurred. Nu exa.
initiation as to the stale of his accounts, which re-
mained unsettled for seven years at the period of
this re-appointment, appears to have taken place,
uor was the amount of his balance known or in-
quired into ; which is now ascertained to have
been, at the end of the year 1802, 177,8171.
" his accounts, which had been passed with to-
lerable regularity and expedition in the years
1794 and 5, fell into great arrear in the subsequent
years, both as to the time of delivery, and the
settlement of them. '
AN ACCOUNT, %HEWING THE DATES OP NR. VILLIERS'S
ACCOUNTS, THE •TIME WHEN THEY WERE REcEIVED
AND PASSEL, AND THE BALANCE UPON EACH. "
Balance due
Dates of Ac- When Ac- When Ac- frosts Mr. Vil-
counts. . counts were counts were lersowacknow-
received. passed. Jedged.by him.
From Jan. 10
to Dec. 31, Sep. 20, 1793 Dee. 31,1794 I £13,458. 13 --'
1791
For 1793 Not known. Do. 59,917 15 9
1794 July *61795 Dec. 31, 1795. 33,510 11 6
_ 1795 Apr. 26, 1797 .Dec. 9, 1802 26,142 156
1
1796 Not known. Nov. 4, 1804. 65,150 it 85
,-- 1797' July 7, 1805 July. 6, 1806. 74,1`2418A i
.L--.,.. 1798 Not known. Dec. -6, 1806 111,665.X'3
.—. I 1799 Der. 13,1806 Apr.2o, 1807 • 95,393 10 66
—,... 1800 AtiK.21,1807 Oct. 24, 1806 1'29.1ti 15 4i
-..-1-F, 180 t (M. 21,11143 Apr. 24, 1809 166,".9S 11 7.1
-7-•-• 188'2 Fe 12.21, 180 1 9 Ji42l, UM 177.14 a 986
•--- 1803 Apr. 11,1609 . Du. 256,539 7 8
---. • 1801 Aire.l4,lBoS ati ct. .
28503015 46
" From the time that Annual Accounts ceased
be delivered with punctuality, additional opportu.
nities were afforded for an improper itecumtdatiod
of money in his 'bands; the increase of which be-
came almost continually' progressive ; and thel
Commissioners of the Navy, whose duty it was to
call for and enforce the regular production of
those accounts, neglected to du SQ. I
" his, however, in evidence before your Com.
mittee, that the late Comptroller of the Navy
frequently represented to Mr. G. Villiers, that his
accounts ought to be more regularly delivered in,
and received assurances from him that they should
be so ; at the same tittle Mr. Villiers stated the tie.cessity of having the Imprests matte to him in full,
wheti the pressure of the public service,- about the
year 1798, made it expedient to pay 'only-in part;
and the Comptroller was led to believe, from bill.
conversations Kith Mr. G. Villiers, that there was
no balance of public money 'at that time in:the-AC:.
countanes hands. = .
" It is to be remarked with great • regret, that
the inefficient state of the Navy Office, fora pe-
riod of no Jess than 11 yiars, is given as an ex-
cute or palliation for this omission On the part of
the Board ; and some of the new regulations
adopted under an Order in Council of June Bth,
1796, at the recommendation of the Commission-
ers of Inquiry, are alleged es a principal cause of
the defeCtiie Moe of this Office.
" Theationgest representations from the Navy
Office to the Admireity were made on this subject
at different times trout
.1800 to 1807. Que, great
and obvions• itteonvintenee was iiointa . out as
arising from making the. Chief Clerk ,in the. office;
of Bills and Accounts, Secretary to the*Commit-
tee of Accounts (whit:it . was recently formed or
three Members of the Board, agreeably to the'di-
rectiOns of that Order in' Council), while the same
person had the guperintendane,• also of the VW:
reign Accounts: this incontenieuri. thi., Navy
Board endeavoured to remedy by some ()facial ar:.-
rangements, which diminished, but did not remove
the evil; and it continued to .be felt, until thedic.
ties of these separate departments were allotted to
three distinct officers. •
" The hardships suffered by. the Clerks in ge.-
neral, from the low state of their salaries, and tbs•
abolition of fees, the consequent inactivity and
langeor which prevailed in the different depart.
moots, and the difficulty of carrying on the busi.
ness, are enumerated in this correspondence; but
the actual evils from the accounts nut being passed;
are not, perhaps, set forth with sufficient force',
or with those details which were calculated to im.
press the Admiralty with a due sense of them,
Your Committee, however, cannot but remark the
willed. Kith which- thew representations were
treated. No answ.tir. whatever appears to havb
been made to, them before June, 1806, and no Ter
medy was applied by the Admiralty until Nova*.
ber, 1807, to a case which involved the efficiency
of this, great apd. most important office of ac-
count. . .. ..
•6 The balance ethiblted in .Mr. G. Villiers's
monthly account immediately subsequent to' 31st
Deceinber, 1802, 'when'the balance was 171,8471.
amutorts to tie more than 2,2551,4 and after the
31st.Decentlier, 1803; when tiro, balance upon the
settlement' of. the general account of
,that year
proved to be 256,3391. the balatteito, which his
name was subset-Wed amounted only to 12,0051:
. . •
" Your Committee, notwithstanding some pains-
taken to discover the meth9d by which these
monthly balances were made to exhibit so fallacious
a view of the whole sum actually in the Acount-
ant's.hands at any given time, hare not, beet p able
to satisfy themselves as to the particular mode by
which the real balance was limit out of sight. It
was suggested by ono of the late Marine Clerks,
that such parts of the Imprests as were not re-
ceived within foe current month, were never sub-
sequently brought to account; but, with the ex..
ception of 1,0001. (drawn out on 10th July,
1799) there is certaiuly no foundation for this
suspicion; and it seems probable; that the gene.
' rality of the statements of expenditure in the
monthly accounts, uitaccompettied as they neces.
sarily were by any' vouchers, may have served as
a covet for ISrge sums of money, which in fact
never may have been applied to the public service.
44 Not deeming it essential to pursue this parlt•of
the subject further, your Committee applied them.
selves to aseertain wli,t steps bad been taken. upon
the discovery of thesis deficiencies, to secure the
public from loss ; an& they find Olt extents were.
issued to the whole amount of the Accountant's
property; which, however. 'falls-far short of the
amoutit which Mr. G. Villiem appears to be re-
spoasible to the public, unless there should be

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artieleiof discharge it Ira to you( Committee
111145
or to 'the Navy-Ofirdey • the Ortiteitt unsettled
state of his account*, , . • •
'4 The debt for 4hit4l Ifitetent was v issued i
26.1,r,071.• I is. 6d.;, the, ts.*: • 4Je lauded pro..
perty is estimated at. 0311-.74;', Sit. There i',
also 21,6191. 10s. IOC: • '.. '; - cent—consols,
and the security given, , i
~.. taking of 'the
office, 'which was fiaiLi :r ; `.., ;••The • bond etre-
citted in 1792 is hot* i -forthcoming; and
there is reason to think that no bond was executed
on his subsequent re-appointment in, 1803, al-
though it was made a condition ofr his holding the
office, that he should give security in the sum of
10,0001. without reference to the security taken
in 1792.
" Your Committee cannot avoid observing Ippon
it as an omission of duty in the Board. of Admi...l
ratty; by whom he was re-appointed, not to have
taken a second bond; and the loss of the firsto
which remained in the Admiralty about the years
1806, shews,a culpable carelessness as to the cas.
totly of stich important instrUments. Securities
ought to be taken more frequently than has hi.
therto been the usage, from all officers in every
department, who hold situations connected nith
the receipt .or expeuditure of public mossey ; and
your Committee recommend that regulations should.
lie established to that effect, under the directions
or his Majesty in Council, or of .the Commission.
ers of the Treasury.***
4‘ In the course of these investigations, it be.
came a matter of consideration how-far the cond.
nuance of the office of Paymaster of Marines may
be. necessary for .conducting this branch of the
I public service; your Committee bearing in mind
that all useless offices ought to besuppressed ; and
that every additional channel through which pub-
lic money.flowr, affords an additional hazard of
the misapplication, detention, or lewd a part of
it. • • -
"Recent experience in the cases of the Acts for
regulating the offices of
.Treasurer Of the Navy
(25 Geo. 3. c. 31.) and Treasurer of the Ord-
nance (46 Geo. 3. c. 45.) induces a reasonable
mistrust as to the efficacy of all legislative provi
sions and directions. In cases where the temple.
, contrary
tions to a practice are great, the means
of evasion. have net been found impracticable.
64 The Commissioners on Fees,•&c...(iii, 1787)
in their Third Report, p. 104 and 5, referred, to,
and printed in the proceedings in consequence of
the Fininceßepurts, G. 11. pronounced an opia
Dion as to the inutility of this office, which, ' be.
' sides being an unnecessary. expence,, tends to
6 multiply accounts, and disperse the public
' money ;, as there will always be a balance left
A . in the hands of each Officer to whom any portion
6 of it is issued.' . They continue, 'that ' this
'.office ought, in their opinion, •to be carried on
6 in the office of the Treasurer of the Nary, nut
6 only as being a branch of the pay of the navy,
' but that the Officers may be Contiguous to Check
' the pay of the marines on ship board, the debts
' due from those who embark, and fur other ptir.
6 Poses.' . .
. .
" " There was at that tithe an Agent as well as a
Psytnaster, the former of *hoar acd as .Denstis '
and transacted almost 'the wholeofte the business ;
and the Commissioners recommended the continu-
ance of the efteielt*person in the office, with a ea,,
lary of 0001. and • the• discontinuance, of the Pay.
master; but the Board of .Admiralty, deeming it
more expedient to reseoeo the suggested improte.,
went, abolished the first, and, continued the se.
cond ; the great diligence and regularity of Mr.
G. Villiers, who was represented in the*.report
from tlje Admiralty of August• 1799, G. 11. as an'
able and attentive Officer, by whom,, since his ap.
pointment in 1792, the busitiess• Of nearly the
whole of the Marine Department had been con-
ducted, being given as a reason for disregarding
this recommendation of the Commissioners. The
removat of the Agent, after a service of 25 year 4
in the Marine Department, was attended with ati
annual -expellee in die nature of a compensation,
paid out of the marine poundage end Strippagee, s.
and directed to he inserted in the Paythaster's an!
nualaccount. * * * * * t . t at •/* *t
" Your Committee do not hesitate is mom-
mending to the House, that this. office of Pay,
master should be forthwith suppressed; and tliit
the business should be. transacted in the office .of-
the Treasurer of the Navy, under whosedireetion
drafts may be prepared of such regulations, and
an estimate of such an establishment as may be ne-
, emery for that purpose. which !nightie be sub-
initted to and approved, by the Commistionera of
the Treasury., . ' . ,
• - " Itnsay deserve,consideration; whether some
of the•hotises in Stimerset4late,, as they become
'vacant, m*7 net be applied` to the extension of
such office!..ne.are. at present cragged fur want of
room ; yeni.tomtnittee being 'of opinionf that
official houses are (except in some special eases)tin
improvident mode of 601439 Wailes, :or of. pay-
frig public siirsentti, inasniuchos the 'charges upon
the public, for building in the firsk instaneei and,
fur continual repairs afterwards, are, out of all
('proportion to the benefit or eccomtnedation which'
is derived to the officers who inhabit them.
I ' .64: The discovery of:Mr, G.. Villiers's default.•
...led, 'to the detection of another of very inferior.,
.:40iitiint,.,'but arising principally' froth the same
,ciaustss, in the Conductor's Department under the
' Treasurer of the Navy. .
i• o 'a • a * •*. • +s * , *
, . .
66 Mr. Charles, Barrow- (the late Conductdr)'
was responsible for thC .balance' of 37131.,.. it the
end of 1808, whicb was increased, to 568111. On-la.
. • i"
nuarr IEIIO.
sS Aft extent has been issued against him for the
suns ditp," heti there •is .no probability that more
than 5001, will be recovered. No security wine
'taken for the doe discharge of his duty, not has it
been usual_ to require it in_ that department. A
ease has fief • - ' befr n '`for:'
'their upiniou

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7,7;74...7" S'l7- •ii:
•

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I. 1(041k
Committee hoWeier desiri, TO pulsing, to eall ag tin
the attention. of •the (Upset(' the valeta imellie
ciency of the' late Art fur" the' regoifilton 4,411110.
011ipe, and to- enforce• the illßerr4Lititidf hp
Commissioners in p. 17, ' That triibe u sit 6
appointment of Mr Hunt, in. Mfg; ihe,.riA
taking any security from him,' *as Er .0111le.
sion of duty.
" From the inconvenieneies and losses attend,
ing either an imperfect or tardy etaMittaion (.1f
accounts, your Committee. are led to, the more ex.
teusive subject of the general audit of aceounts,
and to the constitntion of the present Board of
Commissioners under 46 Geo. 111 C. 14t.
" It was noticed in their Report upon the Pay.
Office ; and some part of their attention in the
two succeeding Sessions has been„ directed towards
this most essential object, while they were carry.
ing on their other inquiries.
" The novelty and aintried effect of some of the
regulations under which the Board of Auditors
were beginning to act in 1807 and (808, formed
one of the chief obstacles o hich prevented your
Committee from proceeding further to collect ilia.
terials fur a full Report upon the present s.,qcin
of examining and passing the accounts of all the
great branches of public expenditure, and lay.
ing them More, the House at a• much earlier pe-
riod.
66 Without an effectual and speedy audit, the
House may rest assured-that all other checks and
provisions will prove ineffectudl to secure the jute:
rests of the public against fraud or negligence. 'L'he
#tils of both have been long felt, and frequently
exposed to view ; and various attempts have'been
made to counteract them, by regulations, which
have front time to time been altered, modified, and
revised; with what success and utility your Con:
mitten will proceed to consider in the stcourparit
of this Report."
MONTHLY AGRICULI'URAL REPORT.
The fine weather towards the clOSe of the month
has been very favourable to the youitgh,eatsitt
most places,'having tended much to' recover tlrusp
of the late sown kiwis in different situations ; but
the great destruction of' plants ill many 'cases seen .
der them thin' up in the ground, abet hack*fird is
growth. Vegetation in general has been greatly
pushed forward within the two last weeks, as ip'
constantly the.calle after such colir,"-wet, late sea.
The pialtin4iii of the seed watt whips scarcely
ever more retarded, from the constant wetness and
general unfavoerablenesi of the whole of 'the list
and the 'beginning of the present month.
work of this sort is in cotisiltience sli!I to lie per.
formed, especially in the thine (11-ttictS•
G:reen crOps, as we long since segges,eil, have •
almost. Wholly 'failed, especially turni,s of the •
boramon kind; this has been portico! 'lily the case •
•in many parts of Norfolk,. and the. neighb:ittrini
couaties, from which great losses and vast expence
have been Suslained in• the thelp.!.totk,:for (he pur.
'thaloi.oTher'neteisary ailfcletl. This must of
Connie enhance Ott price Of tAtittiiti and lamb,
unless the ieason-becomes very fine and warm.
The *supplies of wheat have lately been inticfs,
• on. the decline at.the market in Mark-lane, but .
the fittiher importations that may now he expected •
from 'Holland, will most probabey obviate the in.
convenience and ke6p down the price, which must •
Otherwise- have advanced. Wheat !etches from
645. to 86s. per quarter ; Rye, 40s. t 0.485. ; Bar.
142_ 34.3.. to 465. ; Oats, 225. to ?Ss.
The backwirdnest of the .seasnii has,, in some
.
degree, rendend the' supplies 'of Tat.stoelt,. parti.
cularly sheet! and lambsj less abundant than 1i
mostly the mitt at this period of the'year. Beet
fetches from ss. to 6s. per stone of 81b.; MottoTt
ss. 4d. to '6s. 4t1.; Veal, ss. to as;' 341 i. ytirk,
65.. to Os. Bd. ; Lamh,.7s. to Bs. 4d.
The price or' hay has lately been titSihelvhel
hietherin the Lottdon markets.' Ilay .
51 los; to 71. ;. Straw, 31. to -3!•.l4ltr'''
,tris
TIIE
• •
#I4RICEM c.Aiditaiiir' •
• ; • 01
• • • VIBRIDGE:- '`.6
• Cortrlnspector's Return.-iTavasca.wo
Wheat, per 10ad........ 221. -4. is Sit. -s.
. • Earley, perquartte..,,...,32s.,
Oats, -d. to '
• &ate f09,,a4. -re*
Peas aas. p 64. -d• .
. Plti6.s GE RAY Arth STRAW YESTE4DAY7.
- • wri.r4Wits's. • ' warrocksrec..'-‘4
Hoy, .41. 10s. to 61. 16s. W. Han!. 51. 10s. to
Straw, 34 SL to St. ISCOd. Clover, 71.. Os. to el. Ito
'Straw, 521: 28s. to 81,.10?,
SMITIFIVIBLD-4Aram 91). t'
.r
f
• • • "'Oink the Offat, per stone or tilbt.
4. to. 6s. Od. Head of Cattle this dayo•l...iii
Motion ..4s. 'Bd. to Es. 4d; r
rent • •..sa: Od: to Is.' 04. i Sheep and Cambs. 1474
.Pork 41.1-, to ,7s. I Calves • .g• ••••• ! *lO
,odoo Bs. Od. I Pigs • „ 114#
tilde-MARKET.
I . 41. Os. od. to fit. es. .od. •
atm", 2ll. Itlf. Oil. to SI. lOa. Oti. .• 4'
Clever •(1. Os. UAL. to 71.
PRICE OF 'HOPS. .
•
• tugs:. POCKETS.
KEEt, AL Os.. lost. 15s. 'Kent,' Al. 01. to 61. 101 c
Suasex,, . 911 10s. to AL .40., ,Susiez, 31. le:. to 5.41.
Essex, 41. Os. to 51, tift ,Faruhany, Si. Os. to. lola Os.
MARKET 4.
• • •Carc4e.)
Beef 6..40d. 1. Yeah 4s. 4d.. to 6s. Qt 4
,Matto,to 44: if„ji 65.: ad. to
lamb -- to m..
• paid: OF TALC.fI*, Ate. -
St. puoits'a Market ..4s $' Tow 6 Tallow • 75s 66 oor
Olari Mprket bd Yellow Ruipisi.i6i. 403411
W6tledlUkited Market*, 44 I White ilitt4 ud uos dd
. per Gt. of Sib. Soap ditto 20. 04 pus Od
'1 Sd Matting : .311 A 4),1
Avow
' Graves
j • Good Ore,o 1* .11
r Tidbit lifiiik Obi-Mottled. Ots:-,Pirees, inkt
treat-Castile 5,49. Us a- 440-, • '
ptiee 401041e0,. per dozen,' 12s .6d-Mostkis, • 6.1,
• .* • ; • ;4' 4..1. . •
r. -.and *in • Ordinary 6d.
vrn-
-04. to Market Cal 14.. M. tack,
to Eng. /Wive 15s. to 16.. pg.: Is
..4s. &I -to Alt 4.1 d.
Si. 84. to 'Ss. Od.
lOAL MARKET. •
'4lhit sold.
•••. •• • • 101. 04. to SOO Si.
" • •'• -I• • • to 04.
. . -s. Od. to

as fieen had beforo die Cortiw • Lave.yers`for oast 11We:sand Stows (vet (
upiniou as to prosecuting him criminally. 'lt. • , t•T • la?
Skins „
defstiii to the anintiiircire,o26l% Skins .. •
ut of the Tressu ter of the. Ovilikanltn, *Diehl • •
COA IC
thalifoo,
tifnotu n4itilrittgoictist cti;gatoigripresfillrk,.l4:l4 -et.„Tikr.tr,e.
oinin!ssioners of Miiiissy.lnciklitultlyii.v. •-fr 96,6 e Cod' - -6
presoittedi their Tilltinh.WMM#4olll4l4. S Cinders ..
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