Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-07-09


in the Mediterranean. With the amount of these re-
am not fully appraised; but that sum ex-
ceeding the reported balances against him was paid
m New York. prior to the sailing of the Constitution,
and RENTED during the cruise Tor matters Of private con-
Germ, is susceptible of proof
IL must also be obvious 20 every familiar with the
duties of purser, that the most scrupulos accuracy
and system in the conduct OF the business and in the
kepng OF the accounts, are necessary. to that
proht To the individual which the law allows him. But
the Auditor himself states that the accounts of Mr. Tim
beriake were found "in most derangcd condition
Ii is also within the knowledge Of all the officers Of the
Constitution that AT least from the early part of Novem-
bcr 1927, when the unfortunate circumstance occurred
which caused the premature death of Mr. Timbcrlake
he was frequently in situation which absolutely inca
pacltated him from that active and vgan attention to
the business of his Office which alone prevent IL from
becoming highly dsadvantageous to the pecuniary in
terests of the officer.
more specific detail of facts will perhaps hereafter
be given, which will demonstrate that ample grounds
existed, without impugning the honor or the integrity
OF any individual, accounting fully for the fact that
balance should appear against Mr.. Tmbcrlake upon a
settlement oil his accounts with the Government.
mere are two circumstances upon which tho Au-
dor appears mainly to rest his allegations of fraud
ana embezzlemcnt The one is, that no inventory of
the public stores of Mr.. Undertake should appear i'm
the Office The second, that precise account OF the
money left by him should be exhibited
In my statement, given by the Auditor, am re-
presented TO have said onhe 18th February $780, hat
the amount oil moaey received, (by mel lett by Mr..
Inbcrake, up wards of eleven thousand dollars of
the amount OF which he has private memorandum and
that he never received lro those who counted tho mo-
ney, or others, any inventory memorandum of the
amount OF money public property left by Mr. Timber.
lake. This is plain unvarnished statement literally
true i'm every particular; but which is assacd by the
Auditor in no very measured of direct allegation
and calumnious insnuation. Com. Patterson who was
IN command OF the Constitution, states that he ordered
sit T. a. f. Valeuc, LIST Lieutenant, to cause an in
Ventory OF money, and articles of every description in
charge oil the late purser 10 be made, conormably TO
the rules and regulations OK the service in such cases
Lieut. aeite subsequently, reported TO that he had
appointed It. X ID. Randolph, I'd Lieutenant of that
ID, ms
stewart to the late purser, who, he informed me- had
performed the duty assigned them, and made to me
statement oil the amount of money on hand" Mr.. VAL
e"e' In me memorandum given of his statement saws
she received verbal order from Com Patterson to have
inventories taken of all property LETT by him NIr Tim
berake) on board, public and private: he gave TO Mr.
Randolph. and he thinks 10 Mr.. Amasa Paine Mr. Hand
and probably Mr.. Norman. directions to take the nven
tories. "lnventories of Mr. rs clothing, and certain
articles that he had purchased for his wife and family
were given TO him (Valctte) which he now Produces
he did not see the inventories of Mr. rs money slops
ana stores but he always understood that such were Ia
Ken, and that they i'm the possession of MIR
handoph, and copy forwarded TO the Fourth Auditors
ounce. memorandum OF the amount OF money was
gwen 10 him, which he gave TO Commodore Patterson
Mr. Paine, in answer to the nterrogaories propoed 10
im' says have TO state most positively that never
ana count, or aid in doing any money left by Mr.
Undertake nor, to my recollection, designated to count
the same, or take inventories of his public stores 7
was designated by Lieut. Vallee TO take an .nyentorv
ol Mr. s wearing apparel, and did So and packed
'ne same IN two chests, putting inventory of the ar
IN
same, and directed them 10 Mrs. Margaret Timberlake
W ashingon City, which two chests Mrs T. received i'm
Boston, and informed me there that the articles in
ventorcs agreed. | also lodged duplicate of each
inventory, and the keys OF tue chests with Mr. Val
lete. " "
1t appears rom the documents which the Auditor has
annexed 10 ms report, that there is evidence from any
individual that any inventory of the public stores leit
by purser Iimberlake was taken. In fact situated
as they were in hogsheads &C. in the hold of the shin
he TACT OF their being open and nventored must have
is ME
that Com. Patterson and Lieutenant Valette nav be
correct IN Their recollection OF the terms of the order
which was issued although inaccuracy in this par
ucuar Is more than probable after lapse of two
years. but it seems difficult to reconcile the fact that
such an order was given, with the circumstance that nei
er oil hese ocers gave himself the least trouble TO
ascertain whether not it had been complied With and
neither OF them could have been ignorant of the fact
that these public articles could not have been inven
torled without the circumstance being known throughout
me SNIP Each oil these gentlemen had the evidence
tha ne money was counted, and the private property
cAahea ana IL appears somewhat unaccountable that
heher Oh mem should see to the execution of that part
oil the order which related to the public stores In fact
SO lar as nave any knowledge grounds OF belief up
on he subject, no such inventory was taken: and GER
fanny none was ever made by me Upon
wnom censure is to rest the suppositon that no such
order was given or that was not obeyed is not for me
10 decide Never having received any such ord r. |
mat no censure, in either aspect of the case is at
trbutable to me. 1t only by surmsing that such
document was made that its contents would in some wav
or another have implicated me- and that frauduenu
suppressed it, that have any bearinr unon mo
my accounts or my character. similar train of base
less surnscs and nsnuaons might, with equal plausi
p'y' ana equal truth, have made any other officer on
BOARD the object of suspicion and charge.
In regard to the money left by Mr.. Timberlake il
was counted, statements of the received by me
were made out, placed i'm the hands of Mr. Yallette
anu Dy nun communicated TO Com. Patterson This A.
mount nave on every occasion admitted To the An.
dHor as he himself has stated in the presence of the
Zhd comptroller and Com. Patterson, stated il TO ex
coed eleven thousad dollars but that not having the
morandum with me, was unable TO give the precise
sum- In his report, he SAYS that admitted prevous
~ Wat MT l. had lett sum of money which had
expended in paying rs public debts i'm the Mederra
mean. 10 Mr.. Vallette he represents me as HAVING
stated that the sum exceeded eleven thousand dollars
J. ne amount now alleged to have been thus received
Is $li,75O. Where then is the foundation for anv i'm
Pntaon upon my character? No concoalment apnears.
IN ms as IN every other act my conduct has been
frank aud consistent with truth.
Oh all these occasions, then, have admitted If the
UNIFORM assertion OF the fact be properly stvlsd
an ADMISSION, that the amount specified came into nv
hands and uniformly accompanied this with the add
Mr.. rs account in the Mediterranean /. bis asser.
non gainsayed! II | am unable so 10 establish the
rum OF mis- allegation, upon myself must the responsi-
phV rest The burthcn of proof is upon me- and be.
lore any competent tribunal, am prepared 10 encoun
yer all That can be adduced upon the subject The doc
eh ana accounts are in general in the hands of Gov
eminent Access 10 them exec pfine under rcs,r.,o.
going 10 prescribe even the form Of nv account and
me items OF which shall consist, is prohibed and
mus precludec from complying with the reanisi.ions
made on me, my failure 10 comply is made the FONDA
ton OF another series of insnuations and of ober,o
Most sincerely do unite with the Auditor in his hone
that " this affair will no investig aed b., tribuns ~
sssslne more power than do, end that facts ,of;yos
and names will be fully disclosed" I, is probabe tai
80 small matter as an indulgence OF this desire will