sundry the heritors, conjunct fiars, life renters, tacksmen, tenants, and other possessors liable in paymant of the same, and for that effect to use all legal execution by poinding of the ground or otherwise, as accords conform to the law and practice of Scotland, and to grant acquittances, receipts, and discharges thereof, which shall be sufficient to the receivers: And his Majesty by these presents do also give, gtant, and assign to the said John Hope, Charles Hope, Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and 'the survivor of them, and their or his foresaids as trustees or trustee foresaid, the arrears of the said rents, feumaills, farms, profits and duties due and accounted for by the said beritors, conjunct fiars, life renters, tacksmen, tenants, and other possessors, or by his Majesty's Chamberlain of the said lands and lordships of Fife and Strathern, and all lands, baronies, and others thereunto belonging, at and preceding the said term of Whitsunday 1803: And his Majesty wills and requires the Barons of his Ma-. jesty's said Court of Exchequer in Scotland, now and 'for the time being, to grant, direct, and issue forth all precepts, warrants, and executorials, from time to time at the instance of the said John Hope, Charles Hope, Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and the survivor of them, and their or his foresaids, against the heritors, conjunct fiars, life renters, tacksmen, tenants, and other possessors of the said lands and lordships hable in payment of the rents, feumaills, farms, profits, and duties aforesaid, to make payment of the same accordingly; for the which tack and assedation the said John Hope, Charles Hope, Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and the sur vivor of them, as trustee or trustees foresaid, shall be holden and obliged to make payment to his Majesty and his royal successors, in name of tack duty, the sum of five pounds thirteen shillings and four pence sterling yearly during the continuance of the said tack,beginning the first year's payment thereof at the term of Whitsunday 1804, for the crop and year immediately preceding, and so forth, to continue thereafter at the said term yearly, ay and until the issue and expiry of the said tack. And His Majesty, considering the good and faithful services of John Crawfurd, Esquire, his Majesty's chamberlain for the said lands and lordships of Fife and Strathern, and of all lands, baronies, and others thereunto belonging, is graciously pleased, as a mark of his royal grace and favour, to continue the yearly salary or pension of six hundred pounds formerly enjoyed by him as chamberlain aforesaid, during his life: therefore His Majesty do by these presents direct and require the said John Hope, Charles Hope, Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and the survivor of them, and their or his foresaids, to pay to the said John Crawfurd, or to his assigns, the said yearly sum of six hundred pounds out of the first and readiest of the said rents, teufarm, profits, and duties aforesaid, hereby set in lease, and to report the receipt and discharges in our Remembrancer's Office in the said Court of Exchequer on or before the first day of July in each year during the currency of this tack, if the said John Crawfuid shall so long live, of the payment of the sum or sums that may have fallen due of the said salary or pension of six hundred pounds directed to be paid to him as aforesaid, for the year ending at the term of Whitsunday preceding the said fitst day of July, under which condition this tack is granted, and no otherwise: and the said John Hope, Charles Hope, and Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and the Survivor of them, and their or his foresaid, being always obliged to give security to the get liking of the said barons for the regular-payment of the said tack duty: and his Majesty ordains that the said tack to be further extended, with all clause needful; and for so doing this shall be a sufficien warrant, Given at our Court at Saint James's this 30th day of July, 1803, in the 43d year of our reign. By his Majesty's command, (Signed) Hesar ADDINGTON, G. THYNNE, N. BOND. GEORGE R-Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. Whereas we are graciously pleased, for divers good causes and considerations us hereunto moving, to grant and allow unto our right traty and well-beloved councillor Henry Lord Viscount Me ville, Keeper of Our Privy Seal of Scotland, nae annuity or yearly salary of one thousand five hundred pounds, over and above the yearly fee or salary of three thousand pounds made payable to him by virtue of our letters of Prity Seal of date the 10th of July 1800, referring to the letters patent by which he is constituted Keeper of the said Seal: and our pleasure is, that the said annuity or yearly sum of one thousand five hundred pounds so granted and allowed by us as aforesaid, shall commence and be accounted payable to the said Henry Lord Viscount Melville from the 5th day of July instant, and shall be paid to the said Henry Lord Melville, or to his assigns, during his continuance in the said Office of Keeper of Our said Privy Seal, quarterly, at the four most usual days of payment in the year, by even and equal portions; but onr royal intention is, that the said additional salary should be payable only as long as the said Vsscount Melville shall continue to hold the Office of Keeper of Our Privy Seal, and not be continued to his successor in that office: our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby direct, authorize, and command you to issue your warrants to the Receiver General of our land rents and casualties, authorizing and requiring him to pay unto the said Henry Viscount Melville, er to his assigns, the said sum of one thousand fire hon dred pounds a year, to commence from the sth July 1804, and to be payable and paid to him, or to his assignis, during his continuance in the said Office of Keeper of Our said Privy Seal, quarterly, at the four most usual days of payment in the year cordingly; but our further will and pleasure that the said additional salary of one thousand fie hundred pounds a year shall be payable only as lag as the said Henry Viscount Melville shall continue to hold the said Office of Keeper of Our Privy Seal in Scotland, and not to be continued to his successor in that office and we do hereby charge and command you to cause the said additional annuity or yearly sum of one thousand five hundred pounk, and all payments thereupon, as they shall fam time to time become due and payable, to be in serted on the quarterly establishments or lists p payments of our civil affairs there, so as the suns to be inserted therein may be allowed and paid from time to time in like manner as other the salaries or allowances on the same lists shall from time to time be paid; and for so doing this shall be not only to you, but to all others herein-concerned, a sufficient warrant. Given, &c. the 31st day of July 1804, in the 44th year of our reign-By Hir Majesty's command, (Signed) W. PITT, C. LONG, LOVAINE-To the Barons of the Exchequer in Scotland, Printed by Cox and Baylis, No. 75, Great Queen Street, and published by R. Bagshaw, Baw-Street, Covent Garden, where former Numbers may be had; sold also by J. Budd, Crown and Mitre, Pall Mall. COBBETT'S WEEKLY POLITICAL REGISTER. VOL. VII, No. 22.1 LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE, 1, 1805. [PRICE 10D "That the right honourable genzieman (Mr. Pitt) possesses great talents, no man is more ready to “acknowledge than I'am: his eloquence, his dexterity at debate, may be unrivalled, but, his talents are "rather showy than golid, and better calculated to defend bad, than to produce good, measures." Mr. Gazy's Speech, Felt May, 1802 · REFORM OF FINANCIAL ABUSES. STR, In my last letter (p. 769) I endeavoured to explain the necessity of rendering distinct the duties of incurring public expenses, of examining the accounts of them when incurred, and of paying for them according to the reports of those entrusted with the examination. This last duty is one of very great importance, for however simple and easy it may appear to make a payment, when the amount to be paid is ascertained, and the money is ready to pay it; it is in the transacting of this portion of the public business, that the greatest abuses take place. These consist in the practice of paymasters, holding large balances in their hands; the embezzlement by them frequently of the public money without detection; and the withholding of payment to those who are justly entitled to their money. As a first step towards preventing the continuance of these abuses, it has already been recommend, ed to form a part of the Board of Treasury into a board for the sole purpose of controling the public expenditure, and performing the duty of all existing paymasters general. But even if so much was done, it would still he necessary to do a great deal more to prodce à reform in detail throughout the paymasters' department. To point out what this is will form the subject of the remainder of this letter. If ALL the revenue was made payable into the Bank of England, the first obvious principle on which the expenditure of it should be regulated, is the direct payment of money by the Bank to the creditor himself entitled to receive it. If this principle could always be acted upon, an order of the Treasury on the Bank in favour of the creditor would be sufficient without further trouble, and the money passing directly from the place of custody to the pocket of the creditor, no possible misuse of it could ocear. It may, therefore, be laid down as a good regulation, that so much of the public expenditure as can be conducted in this manner, should be so conducted. The portion of it that would come under this regula tion would clearly be that which could with convenience to the parties be paid in Lon [802 don. If the different boards for supplying the army and navy, were obliged to agree for payment of what they might purchase at the Bank, the portion of the public money which would remain to be paid elsewhere than in London, would not be of a very considerable amount. It would be composed of few more than the following items. 1. Salaries and incidents in the departments for collect ing the revere, and other local or temporary expenses. 2. Wages to soldiers, sailors, and labourers. 3. Expenses in foreign settlements. To make the payments under the first head, an arrangement might be made between the Treasury and the Bank, by which the Bank would undertake to employ certain clerks for the purpose of remitting to the country the requisite sums. Paymasters of districts should be appointed to receive these sums, and apply them under the control of the Treasury, It is obvious, that as no money can be issued, according to the plan proposed, by the Treasury, except upon the report of an examining board, which board in this instance, would be that for miscellaneous services, there could never be any plea for impresting money to these paymasters, or any excuse for keeping a balance in hand. They would have no other duty to perform, than to receive and pay certain sums of money according to positive and precise orders. No principle can be more founded in sound sense and sound policy, with respect to the public expenditure, than this which ordains the previous examination by a responsible board, of Every claim for payment before any payment is made. This is a principle that should never be departed from in any instance whatsoever. ↑ And though many may plead the inconvenience of it, and will be able to plead also, that that inconvenience arises from legislative regulations that cannot be avoided, it should not avail against this principle, but the laws should be made to conform to it, and such further regulations made as will give it fill effect. There no doubt are cases in which it would be highly inconvenient to oblige every one who has a legal demand against the state, to come to London to prove the justness of it. In the case of drawbacks of duties, this inconvenience would exist. But why should not the system of drawbacks be abolished? Would it not be wiser to admit all goods to be warehoused that are intended to be exported, than to make two legislation of parliament, and that some steps wil would have been more becoming a regular work, than the contracted dimensions of few letters. I trust the consideration of the most important subject, will attract the atter be adopted for effecting a radical reforms tion in the management of our finances --I am, Sir, &c.—VERAK. May 23, 1805. TRISH COMMISSIONERS. SIR,I feel anxious, through the me dium of your valuable Register, to call the attention of the friends of economy, to a subject, which, I think well worthy of their attention.- -Soon after the unfortunate rebellion in Ireland, a Board of Commissioners was appointed by the Irish parliament for the relief of those loyalists who had suffered in the rebellion; they were empowered to investigate the claims of the persons injured, and to award such compensation as they conceived equitable. The Irish parliament, t the same time, voted a certain sum, to be appropriated to the purpose abovementioned The expense to which the nation was put by the establishment of this Board of Commis sioners, was as follows: Eight Commissioners at £400 1 Secretary £3,200 0 0 200 0 0 118 6 0 tive provocations to defraud the public; first by the necessity of receiving, and secondly, by that of repaying the duty? So also in all similar cases, regulations might be made for preventing inconvenience. With regard to salaries and incidents on the establishments for collecting the revenue, the Board of Miscellaneous Services, might order them to be paid upon quarterly certificates of the amount due to be returned to them by each Revenue Board. But, to return to our immediate subject.-2. The wages of soldiers, sailors, and labourers, must continue to be paid by agents; and in this and, 3. In the case of expenses for foreign settlements, the mischievous system of impresting money, must unavoidably be continued. As however, each officer who would receive money on account, would be directly accountable to the Treasury, it would be fully within their power to take care that no part of the money so imprested was misapplied, or too large balances kept in hand. The present system of leaving the duties of deputy paymasters abroad, to their deputies, is one that should be instantly suppressed. Two only, as it appears in the 19th Report of the Committee of Finance, of the whole number of foreign paymasters acted themselves in the year 1797. Whilst such practices are sanctioned, how can it be expected that any justice can be done the public in the distribution of its money?-Let the practice of managing the public expenditure be formed upon. sound and established principles, and let the legislative regulations for all payments, be made to conform to this practice. The public will then have the satisfaction of feeling and knowing, that what they pay, and in so doing suffer great privations, is fairly applied to their advantage. The business of public offices will no longer be mysterious and incomprehensible, and be thus screened from investigation as it now is. The code of regulations that now governs it, will then appear in the full deformity of their inconsistency, of their impolicy, of their inefficiency, and of their qualifications to cover rather than to expose frauds and crimination, it may appear trifling, however any nality.I have now, Mr. Cobbett, given you a sketch of a system, at least possessing, if it possess no other merit, that of being consistent with some clear principles of finance. I have not been able to enter as fully as I could wish into detai), in order to support it in all its parts. Such an attempt 1. Do. 1 Do. Annual charge 88-14 0 59-30 £3,666 36 I have only to remark that the sum granded by parliament has long since been epended, and that were a just claim to be made to-morrow, it could not be received, as t der the act, the commissioners are empowered to consider such claims alone as are tendered before a certain day therein specified. This day is long since past, yet still the ntion continues saddled with the salaries, &c. of these commissioners, without a possibility of its deriving any advantage from ther existence. The amount of the charge is, be sure, inconsiderable, and after the thou sands and tens of thousands lately lost to the humble opinion, it might be expended in manner rather more advantageous to the public than the one at present pursuedes When the subject comes to be investigated, I am satisfied that the statement I have made will be found strictly correct AD 14th May, 1905 EFTIRI ALES TOTRANSPORT AND OTHER BOARDS. Sin, The new bills, grant no power: for an inquiry into the office of Paymaster of the Marines; and of Navy Widows' Pensions; nor the department of Marine Cloathing, in which, it report speaks truth, there has, in the mode of contracting, been something worthy of examination.The colo nial agents, who are great accountants, have been overlooked. It might have happened, that these gentlemen have had balances, when supplies have not abounded, and when the civil officers have been suffering much for want of pay in our distant possessions. And, why not embrace the balances of receivers general, of duties upon uninhabited houses, and other sources of public income? Last and not least, the branch of the Transport Office under the Treasury. As the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry have only investigated such of the proceedings of the Transport Commissioners, as come within their relation with the Admiralty Board, simply the business of prisoners of war. But the great expenditure of the Transport Board, has been the performance of miscellaneous services for the Treasury and Secretary of State; doing all those things the clerks of the Treasury used to do; buying arms; hiring all the transports, and furnishing most of the articles for foreign expeditions.I am, &c. &c.-R, C.-23d May, 1805. Convinced by long experience that all kind of regard and moderation is useless towards the scoundrels who maintain the rebellion in Hispaniola, by furnishing supplies to the rebels, &c.--Art. 1. All individuals whomsoever found on board any vessel or vessels, allies or neutrals, bound to any parts in Hispaniola occupied by the rebels, shall suffer death. Those found on board any vessel, allies or neutrals, coming out of any ports in Hispaniola, occupied by the rebeis shall suffer death. Those found at two leagues from any port on the Coast of Hispaniola, occupied by the rebels, on board of allies on neutrals, shall suffer death2. All prisoners made in these different cases, shall be brought into one of the ports of Hispaniola, occupied by the French, to be tried by a military cominission, which is – to pronounce sentence: 8. This proclamation shall be put into execution on the 1st Floreal, (21st April). WAR IN WEST INDIES.-Letter from General Erno to his Majesty the Emperor, dated Quarter-General, from the Camp of Boulogne, near Basseterre, Gaudaloupe, March 12, 1805,.. 1 SIRE,By order of your Majesty, and in spite of the numerous fleets of the enemy, a fleet, has made its appearance at the Windward Islands. Its presence has in creased our force, and we feel the most lively joy at the sight of the formidable succours. Every where, in these sens, is the flag of the English humbled; all their men of war hide themselves; their trade is anni hilated, and their merchantmen have sought security and protection in neutral ports, since they did not conceive themselves safe behind fortifications which surrendered as soon as they were attacked.---This expe dition, as useful as unexpected, has fixed for the colonies the period of your glorious accession to the empire, and the true interest which your Majesty has in all your people, whatever part of the empire they inhabit What have we not to expect. from the future? -Your Majesty will deign to accept kindly the tribute of love, admiration, and gratitude, which I offer you in name of the first authorities, the inhabitants, the merchants, and the military of Guadaloupe.--I have the honour, Sire, with the deepest reverence, to subscribe myself, &c. WAR IN WEST INDIES. An Account of the Proceedings of the French Fleet in the West Indies; published at Paris, 19th May, 1805. Admiral Missiessy arrived at Martinique on the 20th February. Near St. Lucia he gave chase to a convoy, escorted by two frigates, but as the pursuit drew him to the leeward of Martinique, he relinquished it. He remained for twenty-four hours at Martinique, in which time he isnded a great quantity of musquets and ammunition of every kind. From thence he made sail for Dominica, and arrived on the 22d at Roseau, at five in the morning. The battery of Cacha Cron, before which the Majestueux passed at four o'clock, fired two alarm guns, which were not heard from the town; the squadron hoisted English colours. General Prevost took it for the squadron of Commodore Johnston, which he expected, and immediately sent the port captain to bring the Majestueux to anchor. The captain did not perceive his mistake until he was on board. At eleven o'clock the troops landed; the defence was very determined. At four the militia laid down their arms, the town avas taken, and the citadel capitulated. All the ships in the harbour, as well as the enemy's eighty killed and wounded. We met with no material resistance except at Dóminies; but the enemy suffered so much, that we think they will not be very forward aga into contend with our troops. General Prevost shewed but little talent: with the means he possessed, he might have made a more-determined resistance. Instead of which, he shut himself up in Fort Cabrita; where General Lagrange could have taken him in four days, if he pleased. DOMESTIC OFFICIAL PAPERS. PETITIONS AGAINST LORD MELVILLEThe following petition of Bedfordshire was presented to the House of Commons, on the 23d of May, 1805. magazines, fell into our power. All the troops became prisoners of war, except about 400, who, with General Prevost, took refuge at Fort Cabrita, about twelve leagues from the town of Roseau.General Lagrange was aware that there was no ship of war or merchant vessel in Rupert's Bay, and that Fort Cabrita was only an isolated rock at the point of a promontory: he did not deem it adviseable to attack it. After having taken away every thing that was valuable at Dominica, and sent the prisoners to Guadaloupe, he reimbarked on the 27th, and made for Guadaloupe, where he anchored at Basseterre. He landed there the ammunition, the cloathing, and the other articles which were intended for that island.On the 5th of March the squadron took possession of Nevis, and after having raised a considerable contribution, captured the ships in the harbour, and taken the garrison prisoners, it sailed for St. Kitts. The fort which protected the town made some shew of resistance, but the troops having landed with little difficulty, the fort surrendered at the second shot. At four o'clock 600 men were in possession of the forts. The light squadron entered the road; all the vessels in it were carried off, and the island laid under contribution. On the next evening the troops reimbarked, and the colony was evacuated. The squadron sailed for Montserrat; on the morning of the 9th the island was in our possession, the English garrison prisoners, and a heavy contribution imposed upon the inhabitants. The ships were all brought off as in the other islands.--The 10th, 11th, and 12th were employed in making a number of prizes, which the squa-ers, attentively to investigate all irregulari dron sent to Guadaloupe. -On the 14th the squadron returned to Martinique, and sailed again on the 16th, but for what destination is uncertain.The following is an account of the prizes sent to Martinique, and sold there, by order of Admiral Missiessy: The ship Glory, which sold for about 40,0001; the Apollo, the Stapleton, and the Marquis of Lansdowne, brought about 20,0001.; the Hawkesbury, the Mars, and William, 20,0001.; and the Peggy, Nelly, Juno, Richmond, St. Urania, and Progress, about 20,0001.Many other vessels had been sent in, but not sold; a greater nubiber had been sent to Guadaloupe.Guadaloupe and Martinique were in the bet possible state of defence. They were plenfifully supplied with ammunition, and had about 8000 troops of the line, and as many militia; a considerable corps. remained on board the squadrouifloss in all these expeditions not edit to tore then A petition of several freeholders of the County of Bedford; was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that the pe titioners unite with their constituents at large in thanking the House for their resolu tions of the 8th and 10th of April, founded on the Tenth Report of the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry: by the first of those resolutions the House vindicated the character of their country, by censuring a minister proved to have been guilty of a gross violation of law, and a flagrant breach of duty; by the second, the House laid before the Sovereign the sense of his people, and ens bled him, by a ready compliance with their wishes, to endear himself more than ever to their loyal and affectionate hearts; and the petitioners implore the House, steadily to persevere in detecting all other abuses which are pointed at, as well in the Tently as in the Eleventh Report of the said Commission ties which may be brought to light by any of their succeeding reports, impartially, minutely, and resolutely to examine into the public expenditure in all the other branches of administration, and to inflict exemplary punishment on all who shall be found guilty of, or in any wise aiding, abetting, or con niving at similar frauds and depredations; and that the petitioners are thoroughly per suaded that it is heedless for them to urge any fresh motive to the House in order to induce them to adopt such measures; they rely upon the knowledge the House have of their duties, and upon their sympathy and fellow feeling with their constituents, who during a long, a difficult, and trying period of war, in times of severe hardships and scar eity; have chearfully submitted to the heaviest burthens; that what they granted liberally should be applied honestly was the least the petitioners could hope from men whose con scientious and bounden duty enjoined a faith; 35 |