of an independence he may endeavour to affume. Let us confult and improve upon every occafion that offers, the honour and advantage of our employers, and the increase of their trade and credit, and not let them fuffer any additional expence on account of purfuing any plan or fupporting any fyftem

whatever.

By acting thus I think we cannot err; we run at least no risk; and I believe the Company's affairs may be conducted by us under this Subah, as much to their advantage and credit, as any other whom a revolution may place in the government.

Inclofed I have the honour to fend Mr Amyatt's laft letter, received this morning. We have had, as you will fee, another brush with the Prince's troops, and with great fuccefs.-However, if the other plan goes on, we must put an end to this fighting fyftem, and talk coolly on affairs.I fhall expect the favour of your opinion with great impatience; and have the honour to affure you, that I am, with perfect efteem and refpect, Sir, your most obedient, and moft humble fervant,

JOHN CAILLAUD.” (To be continued.)

DECEMBER II.

-to DECEMBER 18.

Hamburgh, Nov. 27. Letters from Elfineur mention, that the exportation of Danish horfes and oxen to Sweden is forbidden; and an order was publifhed at Malmoe, that all farmers having corn to difpofe of, are to fend it to the royal magazines. All the Danish Captains have received orders to compleat their crews before the end of next January.

Zell, Nev, 27. Queen Caroline Matilda has a body guard to attend her, and when the rides out in her coach, a guard of horfe or dragoons. Her houfhold confifts of a Marfhal, a Chamberlain, a Gentleman of the Chamber, another of the Court, Ladies of Honour, and a numerous train of inferior officers and fervants. Her Majesty and the Marfhal have open tables, and every Monday is a public day at the pa

lace.

Stockholm, being determined to fupport the Swedes to the utmost, in cafe they should be attacked by the Danes, as there is reafon to apprehend.

Prince Callitzin, the Ruffian Minifter at the Hague, ftrenuously contradicts the report of the negociations of peace being broke off between the Ruf lian and Turkish Commiffaries.

The last letters from Paris mention the failure of Mr de V, heretofore Receiver General of the Finánces, who was looked upon as a Gentle man of great opulence; he is faid to be gone off to Spain.

year 1773.

Mr Poultney, I have been at fome pains to enquire into the different fums granted by Parliament for the navy, and I find that on the peace preceding the war before the laft, a fum greatly under 900,000l. was granted to the navy, 10,000 men were then fuppofed fufficient; and in the peace preceding the late war, I find 16,000 men were employed, and the fum 1,700,000l. upwards of a million and a half, granted for the fervice of the navy; an enormous fum, when we confider, Sir, that double the money was demanded, tho' not double the number of men employed. It is from thefe circumftances, Sir,

that I with parliament would be parti cularly cautious in their grants, and know to what purposes the public mo ney is applied. I could alfo with, Sir, that the accounts of the navy for the future be more particular, that we may know the specific charges. I do not approve of the method of granting in grofs, and fubmitting the difpofal of the public money to the difcretion of the Admiralty. It appears evident to me, that large, very large fums have been mifapplied. In the peace preceding the war before the latt only 800,000!. were granted; in the peace following 1,700,000l. were allowed; and in the year 1771 the enormous fum of 2,100,000l. was demanded. I wish, therefore, that the accounts for the future of the navy be divided, and pro

.perly arranged, that we may understand for what purpofes we grant the public money.

Lord North. I would chearfully agree to any measure which may in the leaft tend to the advantage of the fervice. By what the honourable gentleman oppofite to me fays, I underftand that he wishes a different mode be adopted; and if either that gentleto the prefent of the navy accounts to

man, or the other honourable member who spoke firft, will propofe any new method fuperior to the one which has been invariably purfued fince the Revolution, I will give it every affiftance in my power. I will attend to it with the strictest impartiality. But if no reafons fhould appear for an alteration, if this method which our ancestors purfued, fhould on enquiry appear to be the most eligible, I hope it will not be expected that I fhould contribute my fhare to what will evidently produce no advantage. I think no better method can poffibly be fuggefted than the prefent. It has fubfifted for many, many years, and I think that is one grand argument in its favour.

Mr Dowdeswell.-The noble Lord tells us, that if we will adopt any fcheme, he will very readily attend to

it, and do us the honour of hearing it. But I conceive that it is the bufinefs of administration to correct errors, and improve old regulations. The only defence of the old method of voting the navy fupplies we learn from his Lordship, is cuftom; from which fpecies of reafoning it would be no bad conclufion to fay, that it was impoffible for our ancestors to err. From the King's fpeech we are to understand, that the prefent establishment is a peace establishment; yet 20,000 men are demanded, when 16,500 have hitherto been judged fufficient. So that the nation are to be at the extraordinary expence of 3500 men, and there must alfo be hips, wear and tear, provifions and stores for thofe men; or they muft be unemployed. An honourable gentleman much more converfant in thofe affairs than I am, fays, that feamen unemployed are not feamen; fo that a ftanding force is fupported, and that at the pleasure of the Admiralty. I entirely acquit the noble Lord of writing the King's fpeech; but it is ftrange that any minifter fhould advife fuch a fpeech, and yet hold contrary fentiments to it in this houfe.

It would be much better for them at once to demand fuch a fum, and avoid the ceremony of acquainting us what it is for.

There was a time when a minifter would not dare to ufe fuch language; and I can not help agreeing with my honourable friend behind me, that the prefent method is illegal and unconftitutional. The very nature of our conftitution, Sir, is built upon jealousy. We are to fufpect abuses, and to guard against them. Here is a fum of two millions to be appropriated to the fervice of the navy. A few years back it was but 800,000. What can occafion this amazing difference! If the King's fpeech means any thing at all, we are to confider this as a certain peace establishment, and the minifter afterwards demands 20,000 men. Is that a peace establishment? I am to the VOL. II.

full as willing as any one to preferve the navy upon a refpectable footing, but let us at the fame time know what we are voting the public money for. The admiralty are to have a great credit, and we are not to fee the account.

Lord North-I rife up to thank the Right Hon. gentleman for his extreme candour in aequitting me of writing the King's fpeech; but for the fake of argument, I will acknowledge myfelf to have had fome fhare in it, and on that fuppofition will defend it,

It is afked, if 20,000 men are to be the certain peace eftablishment? I anfwer, no. That my endeavours fhall be employed to reduce them, but from the defperate and deplorable fituation of a great Company, it was neceflary to fend a fleet to a remote part of the world. It was notorioufly known, nay I believe the French themselves confeffed, that they intended to take advantage of our weakness in the East Indies, and ftrike a blow, which, though the French court might have seemingly dif approved of, yet they would raife a war rather than give any thing up. A fleet was in confequence difpatched, and the enemy's intentions are defeated. There are employed, Sir, in that fleet 3500 men, when they return they will be reduced, and the peace eftablishment will be only 16,500. As to the mode of delivering the navy accounts, I fee no reafon for changing it, unless a better can be adopted. The Right Hon. gentleman fays, it is the duty of admi niftration to correct errors. I will go further; and ask that gentleman, why he did not confine himself to the prefent only, and prove that it is the particular duty of the miniftry of 1771 to alter old cuftoms, and eítablish new ones? Why were the miniftry for years back and the one of 1766, to be spared? But, Sir, what is this complaint after all? Why this old method to be abolifhed? While the vote is general, a difcretionary power is lodged in the admiralty; and from the notorious inDdd

certainties

certainties of the fea-fervice, it is ne ceffary there should. To make a fpecific allowance, for wages fo much, for wear and tear fomuch, &c. would be eramping the fervice, as from unforfeen accidents, and confequences unavoidable, they may probably be obliged to appropriate what was allowed wear and tear, to wages or provifions. This would be acting contrary to parliament; a liberty I am perfuaded the officers of that board will not take. The fervice must then be cramped. If they have but 15,000 men employed, the remainder of the money lies ufe lefs, and for extraordinary events they are obliged to borrow, I am perfuaded the prefent method is the most eligible; and I will not, until I hear more fubftantial reasons, agree to any alteration. I have one thing more to anfwer before I fit down, and that is, with respect to the voting of 40,000 feamen in the year 1770, upon the eve of a war. Happily the ftorm blow over, and peace returned to us again. It was my firft care to leffen the expence as foon as poffible, and the fhips were immediately reduced. But it is afked what is become of the fum of upwards of two millions, which was voted in that year, I answer, that from the hurry of the late war, the fhips were built of green timber, and upon the alarm most of them found unfit for fervice. That overplus was applied for the purpofe of repairs; and from the situation of our navy, we may now have a fleet of 20 fhips of the line at fea in a fortnight's time. The admiralty, I am fure will have no objections to the having their accounts examined; and I am certain they wish for nothing more than to have the mot minute enquiries into their conduct.

Mr. Burke. If any regard is to be paid to the fpeech from the throne, we are to believe that this number to be voted of twenty thoufand, is a certain peace establishment. The minifter comes after, and tells us, that it is not a peace eftablishment, but that they are

to be reduced to between 16 and 17,000 men. Here is a pofitive contradiction. A language different from the King's fpeech. We have a war establishment, and no war; a peace establishment, and no peace. If the feeds of a war are yet lurking in a remote corner of the world, bravely declare it to the house, and the commons will as generously as manfully aflift you. Is generofity the virtue that we fail in? No! we have been too generous, without account. If we are neither at war nor peace, but fluctuating between both, give this extraordinary state a distinct name. I befeech you that we may understand you. Have you had any intelligence of pirates infefting the feas? Have the Chinese fitted out a fleet of junks, and paffed the ftreights in order to attack the coaft of Coromandel? Or is the renowed Angria put to fea again. Either, the French are in thofe feas, or they are not. There is no other alternative. What then is a fleet of fhips to be maintained at a very extraordinary expence, for no purpose, but to invite the the enemy to keep up an equal number?

The motion was read and affented to, that 20,000 men, including 4354 marines, be employed for the navy for the year 1773-The motion was read, that a fum not exceeding 41. per man per month be allowed for thirteen months. Mr Cornwall moved that their wages at least might be specified, and afked Lord North what were the fubdivifions. He and wered, 11. 10s. per month the wages; 11. 7s. wear and tear, and provifions 19s. It was moved and affented to, that a fum not exceeding 41. per month per man for thirteen months, be allowed for the year 1773.

Thurfday was held a general court. of the India company by adjournment. The chairman acquainted the court, that the directors had come to a refolution of recommending to the proprietors for the enfuing half year a dividend at the rate of fix per cent. Mr Sul