Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-06-22
The Hon. ANDREW STEVENSON,
Speaker of the tiouse Of Representatives.
TaEAsURY DEPARTMENT,
Fourth Auditors Office, e5th blay

olr 1 nave now the manor 20 SUBMIT 10 you vi tue
information which appears to be required from this
office, in reply to so much of the resolution
! OF the House of Representatives, by you re-
/ frrrcd TO me- relates the accounts OF John 3.
'Fmberlake and Lieutenant Robert b. Randolph,
late Purscr and acting Purser of the fr;gae Cons,l-
tuition.
To save time, haze taken the liberty to copy
portion Of report already made to ynu on this sub
5ec', dated ED February, 1880, which is as follows,
viz:
John B Undertake commenced his duties as
Purser of the figa!e Constitution the 28ih June,
1924, and died at Port Mahon the Cd April, 1929.
Lieuteifant Robert u Randol ph succeeded him
acting Purser The ship arrived IL, Boston the 1st
July 1893 and the crew were paid off on the 18th
August.
! On the sath September 1928, Lieutenant Randolph
delivered 10 Tobias Watkins then Fourth Auditor,
the books, papers, and accounts Of Nir Timberlake
together with his own An examination of Mr fim-
beraRes papers took place, and, then said, all
the pirate letters and papers delivered Mrs.
1'imbrrloke. On the eth October ensuing, Lieut.
Randophs account acting Purser. closed and
reported, while the previous account Of klr. Timber
! lake renal med untouched.
! entered this Office March 23, 1899. Mr. TIN
bernkcs accounts were in The of Mr. Ezekiel
Macianiel, hen at the head of the Pnrscrs Depart
ment, BY WHOM, hey were given to Mr.. James Ii.
Handy, for settlement. mr. Handy progressed with
the examination of the account which he found in
nost dcrangcd condition. and submitted 10 me few
OF the vouchers for my decision.
On the s9rh july left tho city for the purpose Of
icy Idnl!iy rom heDt'icKy. MI. Thomas II.
Giss, chief clerk was appointed by the President.
To act rs Fourth Auditor ~ absence. On the
18th August. he reported Mr. Tlmberlake's account,
exhibiting against him balance of Sl7e4i o.
FINDING that appropriate credits had omit
ted, the th September lie again reported the &C
coup exhibiting against Mr.. Timberlakc, balance
of Sl4373 So
| On the 18th October l resumed my duties as
Fourth Auditor a few DAYS ate. wa rds YOU called
! at my Office, and inquired whe ner there were among
/ Mr TiHberleke's papers. letters from any persons
showing that the former had made to the latter remit
tancss ot9noney ir"Dl the Mediterranean. | inquir-
ed Of ii Handy. and he put into my hand q file of
private letters, HEB he said he had found among Mr.
Undertakes papers, among which were three from
F.. Mayor Ea,on After perusing them, made inquiry.
of Mi Eston, relative 10 The transaction which
they referred lie gave full detail; read an ar
tcle dated, thmk. in 1898, stating the purpo
ses fr which he bad become the purchaser Of the
prop arty alluded TO- showed me book in which MI
T.mberiake had charged him with the amour, of the
rcmittances and gwen credit, all, believe IN his
oWn hand; ard said ne should be ready pay over
the balance 10 the Governments when should be as
cstrSined that Mr, Fimberlake in truth public
debtor, which he doubted. At my request, Maj Ea-
tn has reduced writing be statement made TO me-
which is herewith submitted, marked A, b. l also
submit 80 much ofhis private letters to Mr Timber
lake, found IN this cfice (having obtained his con
Sent as reiaes to his pecunUry transactions with that
! gentleman, ma ked G, d, j.. These, with COPY of
letter to the Secretary OF the Navy, marked F. con
! stue, beeve al! the information possessed by me-
relative 20 tue OF person
for the balances reported to be due from John Tim
berlake. do not to this hour, know who are his
securities in his o6iciql bond Such papers are iodr-
ed inyour Depar Inent, and it part of my du
ty toiake steps for the recovery of balances due to
the Government either from principals securities
have had no indacensn to inquire who Mr.. Timber
lakes securities
In others of the private letters delivered 70 me-
there evidences of considerable amounts of prop
erty owned by hir-1'nberIakc IN The United States
at the tire OF their date. The information may be
useful, II shall become necessary to take steps for
the recovery OF the balances reported 10 be due and
it will not be concealed by me.
deem my petuliar duty that all settlements
made IN my ofhee are fair aud honest The confidence
with which the fdmy Of Mr.. Timberlak asserted
that there must be- error fraud IN the settlement OF
his account, induced meto give it full investigation
Attic first step found that he had not credit for
dollar left board at the time ofhs death. Deemiup
ltmprobable thata purser ofso large ship should die
in distant entirely noneyess, applied for infor-
nation to Commodore Patterson of the present
Eavy Board, who commanded the ship lie informed
that Mr.. Tmberlake had left large sum of mo
ncy and other property ut the time Of his dea that
be directed inventories to to be taken Of the whoe
and he expressed much surprise that credits mad not
beea given and that the inv entories were not in nv
Office. few days afterwards, he put into nv ba Dds
a letter from Lieutenant u. A F. Vallette whom
he had drectssfto inventories TO be taken da
ted November 10, 1899, of which the following is an
extract:
Your order to have inventories taken OF all
on public account and amount of cash the purser's
department at the death of MIR. Tiuberlake, was
strictly complied with. Mr. Paine, and Lord, and MS |
Norman attended to that duty, leaving ouc copy in
the chest, box, &C. containing the articles and fur
nshing Mr. Randolph with another
No inventory to- be found in this Office and the
clerks who had settled Rsndoiph's and Tfnberake's
accounts, assured me, that they bad seen or
heard of any Mr.. Handy brought me NJ. Timber /
lakes letter book, from which bad been cut more
toan twenty leaves, with conceivable motive but 10
suppress evidence connected with his account; and |
he told me that it was in that coalition when he first
saw IL
communicated these facts to Lieutenant Randolph.
lie declared that he was ignorant of the existence of
any inventory but admitted that Dir. Timberlake left
sum OF money, which, he alleged he had expended
~ paying rs public debts in the Mediterranean. lie
did not state the amount of money, nor specify anv
one debt which he paid; but said, that Sr Thomas
NORMAN or New York, who had attended to his bus
mess could explain the whole matter; and promised
to procure his attendance.
Not having Lic,..n,a-. I,a-..I.I,L.