The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-04-07

noblelord's account, 6 900 was thought iuit-
dent at tae.concluGon OF the late war.
MIR. Dowdefwell faid, that he LETT town lait
yeal two or three days before the ieiilons ended,
bur reading theKing's ipeech IN the counfry,he
was furprized at the following words, "
am glad to find you have in iome meaiure been
able to reduce the national debit" He laid ne
did not recoleet that any of the per cents,
or other funds, had been paid off, or that any
ofthe navy bills had been discharged the only
thing he knew of was 1 90, oool. exchequer
oils paid off, but I 300, oool. more ne under
food were borrowed that if any thing had
heen paid of, it was more than ne recoileetcd
that though the land tax was milling IN the
pound more than in any former peace, It ala
not raile iupply Of more than two millions
clear of all deductions, which exPenee was an
nually laid out on the navy, 10 that It inc name
ofwar ihould break out we ihould be IN oaa
fate to defend ourlelves, as all the land tax was
expended on the navy only, and our credit was
lower then ever, as appeared by the funds' Tor
in Mr.. Grenville's time, per cents. were o7'
and now they are but IS, 70 that IT any iaving
could be made it was highly necefaY.
Lord North replied, he agreed with the no.
nourable gentleman, thstevery iaving that could
be made was highly necefary that what the
hon. gentleman had Eaid in regard to none
of the fund, being paid of was true, but he was
wrong in the exchequer bills, as 1900, oool.
were paid off, and only one million borrowed,
70 there was faving of oo,oool, 3oo,oool.
of which had been applied to the navy,
and the remaining 500, oool. to the diicharge
of the debt, which he thought was fufficient to
juaify the words in hisMajeay's ipeech. That
in aniwer to the honorable gentleman, (Mr.
Townfend) why II, 900 men fhould be employ
ed when 10000 were thought iufficienr, ne
imagined the following reafons would explain,
that during the Turkilh war the merchants trad
ing there had deGred leave to have two frigates
to protect their trade that it was true one OF
them had been recalled, but affairs were 70 def
perate in that quarter, that it was feared 1t
mutt be fent again. That laft year two Hoops
were ient to Falklsnd's- ilands, but now there
was but one. That though the honorable
gentleman (Mr. Dowdeiwell) had iaid we were
not in a condition to go TO war, ne would ven
ture to fay, that we never had more respectable
feet than at preient: That we had now ieventy
lhips of the line in good repair and the twelve
that would foon be launched from the merchants
yards, would maket them eighty-two, number
that we never had before that fome gentle
men, perhaps. would fay greater number than
we had occafon for but hould a war break
out, we ihould require great itrength, as we
ihould lave to combat Two Of the mott formid-
able powers, France and Spain, and that at
tempting to fave triRe by 1000 men wemight
loie more than we ihould be able to recover.
The motion was then read, that 1t is the opln-
ion of this committee, that &c, 900 feamen, &c.
and afterwards, that it is the opinion OF this
committee, that fun of money, not exceeding
al. per man per month, be granted for the pur-
poie of the navy for the preient year.
The order of the day was then read, and the
houie broke up at quarter paf four O'Clock,
and adjourned till this day.