Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-07-07

Timberlake, who had been purser of so large a YES
sci as the Constitution from the Goth Of June, 1924.
until April Cd. 1928, should not realize a handsome
p'oht upon his cruise. But it must be remembered
that the settlement Of his accounts with the Treas
ury, furnishes no Certain indIcium of the pecunlary
result to the purser whether profitable or otherwise.
Inc documents III the possession ofthe Auditor show,
as a. himself states, that various renittances were
made by Mr. Timberlake whom IN the Mediterra
mean with the amount of these rrmi,tances, / am
not fully apprised, but that n sum exceed,np the re-
Pol'ea oaiance against INN was paid in New York,
prior to the sailing of the Constitution, aud RENTED
curing the cruise, for matters of private concern. is
susceptible of proof: a
II must also be obvious, to every ore familiar with
.ms uu'e "' u Phfser' THAT the most scrupulous ac-
cHrecy and system in the conduct of the business,
aho IN the Keeping of the accounts, are necessary To
ensure that profit to the individual which the law al
lows him. But the Auditor himself states that the
%deranged condition"
IL Is also within tho knowledge of all the officers
" me CONSTITUTION, that at least from the early part
OF November, 1897, when the unfortunate circnn-
se occurred which caused the premature death
OF mr.. undertake, he was frequently in n situation
winch absolutely inca pacitated him from that active
ana via'lant attention to the business OF his Office,
winch can alone prevent it from bet omingh highly dis
advantageous TO the pecuniarv interests of the officer.
A more specific detail of facts will perhaps here
ai'er be given, which will demonstrate that ample
grounds existed, without impugning the honor or
the integrity OF any individual accounting fully for
'NSe I"ut q ouiuuCc ei1Oul appear against BIT.
iimberlake upon a settlement of his accounts with
the government.
There are two circumstances upon which the
Auditor appears mainly to rest his allegations of
fraud and embezzlement The one is, that no in,en-
tory of tie public stores of Mr. Timbcrlake should
appear in the Office; the second, that no precise &C.
count OF the money left by him should be exhibited.
In my statement, as given by the Auditor. I am
represented to have said, on the 18th February. 1880
-"that the amount OF money received (by nc) left
oy Mr Tum5erlake. was upwards of eleven thousand
ootiars, OF the amount OF which he has a private me-
morandunl, ana thut he never received fror, those
VINO counted the money, or others, any inventory or
memorandum of the amount of money or uutl;c nro-
perty lett by Mr. Timberlake." This is a piain nm.
vanished statement, literally true in cverv particular
"ht which Is assaulted by the Auditor in no very mea-
sured terms of direct allegation and calnmnions in
slnuat,on. Commodore Patterson, who WAS in com
mana OF the Constitution, states that lie ordered
Lieut.. %. A. + Valcttee, LIST lieutenant, to cause
ah inventory OF money and articles of every dcscrip-
ton IN charge OF the la'e purser ito he made con
formally to the rules ond regulations of the service
in suchscases. Lieut. 'Vallet,e subseoueptlv ranorted
to me- that he had appointed Lieut.. R.. B Randolph,
ed Lieut.. OF thai ship, Midshipman Amasa Paine;
ana - Norman, Stcwsrd to the late purser.
VINO he informed me had performed the duty assign,
ea them, and made to me a statement of the amount
OF money on hand G1r. Valleitc, in the n,emo-an-
dum given Of his statement, says-.he received n
verbal order from Com. Patterson TO have ipvento-
RES taken OF all property left by HIM (Ir. Timber
iske) on board, public aud private; he gave to Nr
Randolph, and he thinks to Mr.. Auasa Paine, Mr..
Lord, and probably AR Norman, directions to tax
the inventories. '-s.Invcntories OF Nj. r. clotbinr
and certain articles that he had purchased for his wiz,
and family were given to him. (Vallotte,) which be
now produces: he drj not sec the inventories of Mr.
is money, Stops, and stores, but he always under
stood lhat such We're taken; and that they were in
the possession of MIR. Randolph and a copy c,ryard-
ed to the Fourth Auditors Office. A menorandun,
9 . a aas 20 s eon 8. money was gwen to HIM, which he
sle lnterrOlQtOrleS QTODOSed Ia him N ~ ct L.,. T.
state most poStfcey that I never did comm. or aid in
SO DONG. any money left by AR. Timberlahe. nor To
my recollection Designated to count the same. or
take inventories OF his public stores. l was des;g.
mated by Lieut.. Val!ctte, to take an inventory of Ar.
is wearing apparel, and l did so, and packed tn,
same IN two chests, putting an inventory of the nrti.
cics IN each chest into the same. locked and sealed
the same, and directed them 10 Mrs. Margaret Tim
6erlase, Washington City. which two chests Mrs.
L. received in Boston, and informed me there thai
the articles and inven cries agreed. also lodged
a duplicate of each inventory and the KEYS of fbn
chests with Mr.. Vallette.:
IL appears trcm the documents which the Auditor
mas annexed to his report, that there is no evidences
from any individual that any inventory of the nubiic
!ett oy Furser il'nberlake was ever taken. In
iact, situated as they were, in hogsheods, &c in the
hold OF the ship, the fact of their being opened ana
must have been notorious 70 eue,v ona
on board: 1t is possible that Com. Patterson and
ireu'. Yalette may be correct in their recollection
OF the terms of the order which was issued. al,bonub
an inaccuracyI IN this particular is more than probahlo
IN.
ai'er a lapse OF two years; but it seems difficult tn
reconcile the fact, that such an order was given with
The circumstance, that neither OF these officers ever
gave himself the least trouble to ascertain wheeler
or rot 1t had been complied with, and neither of
then could have been ignorant of the fact that tbese
pue'!c articles could not have been inventoried with
OUT the circumstance being known throurhout the
s ZIP lAcn OF these gentlemen had the evidence
that the money was counted, and the private Droner-
y examined; and 1t appears somewhat unaccoun,e.
oIe that neither of them should see to the execution
OF that part OF the order which related to the nubI;c
stores: In tact, SO far as I have any knowIodqe or
grounds OF belief upon the subject, no such inye6torv
was teken' AM certainly none was eyer made. or
seen, by me- Upon whom censure is to res,- IN tho
supposiuon that no such order was given, or that it
was not opeyed, 1t Is not for me to decide. Never
haVing received any such order, l feel that mn CON
sure IN either aspect of the case is atiributable to
me itis only by sarmising That such document vas
n'aoe-that Eta contents would in some wav or ano
ther have implicated me-and thai | fraudulen,I,
1t, that it can have any BEARING mon mo
my accounts, or my character. A similar Train ~
baseiess surmises and insinuations mlrht. with eo,.i
p!ausibihty and equal truth, have made anv other aHs'
hAA