notice of the charge against his right hon. friend, respecting the patronage of contractors, and contended that it had been the peculiar object of his right hon. friend's administration, to prevent the system of contracts altogether, and to leave such things to the different boards, contrary to the system of his predecessors, who generally distributed contracts among members of parliament, or their relations. The right hon. gent. concluded with stating, that although he felt his objections to some, parts of the conduct of this commission to be well founded, still he would not oppose the motion, as the sense of the house seemed to be in its favour.

he pointed out some parts of the conduct of the Naval Commissioners, which did not in his opinion justify the unqualified panegyric which the hon. mover would have the house pronounce upon them. The conduct which he deemed particularly exceptionable was to be found in their third re. port. This report almost altogether, consisted of a censure upon a most respectable man, a Mr. Taylor, who was one of his constituents. It appeared that Mr. Taylor was an eminent block manufacturer. He had supplied the navy with blocks at Chatham and Portsmouth, since the year 1762. Those commissioners thought proper to pronounce his charges excessive. In consequence, a public advertisement was sent forth for con- Admiral Markham said, the hon. comptracts to supply those yards. And, would troller of the navy had said a great deal rethe house believe it, that Mr. Taylor, un-specting the memorial of the Navy Board, der this advertisement, obtained the Chat- and the justification they would have set up ham contract, at 10 per cent. more than his if not counteracted by lord St. Vincent. He former charge of which the Commissioners would ask the hon. baronet if he would now of Naval Inquiry complained; and Mr. deny the substance of the report? The real Dunstanville obtained the contract for Ply-facts, he would declare, were a thousand mouth, at 5 per cent. above Mr. Taylor's price-such then were the frauds detected, and the retrenchments produced by these commissioners. But what must still more surprise the House, those commissioners were aware of those facts before they made their report, for they took place two months before that report was laid on the table of that house. Yet no part of the censure of Mr. Taylor was abated. Every part of this statement the right hon. gent. said he was ready to prove at the bar, if required. There was another circumstance, with respect to this much abused man, which he begged to mention. His blocks were stated to be of an inferior quality. He had a rival, a Mr. Garnett. The blocks of both those rivals were compared by a special commission in 1791, and those of Taylor were declared to be decidedly superior Capt. Nicholl, who sailed in the Formidable, took Garnett's blocks on one side of his ship, and Taylor's on the other. But after he had returned, and was about to set out on another cruize, he gave orders to have his ship furnished with no other blocks than those of Taylor's. As to the fraud respecting 13,000l. worth of wood, which the right hon. mover had alluded to, Taylor had nothing to do with it. Nor had those commissioners any merit in detecting it; for that merit belonged to the Navy Board, who had found out and were Sir A. Hammond observed that, when the prosecuting this fraud before the naval com-report came to be fully considered, it would mission existed. The right hon. gent, took be fully answered. The machine made VOL. IV.

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times worse than the statement; and he wished the gross negligence of the hon. baronet's colleagues had not been what it was. He must complain of the unfair proceeding of gentlemen in arguing upon the authority of papers scarcely laid before the house, and without notice. With respect to the lecture on blocks, delivered by a right hon. gent. opposite to him, he would say a word or two. When a contract is entered into, the party contracting to furnish an article is bound by the stipulated price, whether the article rises or not; and he maintained, that an application to raise the price of blocks, which was the case, annulled the contract. That Taylor was thought to have a good bargain of his contract was plain, because Dunstanville at Plymouth gave him ten per cent. for permission to have the article at the price of his contract. The contracts for blocks still go on, to the great loss of the public money, although the machines at Portsmouth are sufficient to supply the demand of the whole nation. When the war broke out, contracts were made for a short time; but that was for want of lignum vitæ. And they were not then intended to be continued.

Mr. Rose said, in explanation, that Dunstanville got 10 per cent. above the price given to Mr. Taylor.

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blocks of an inferior size, of ten inches; | the words. He was ready to repeat, that but as to the making of large blocks, it had made no progress.

Mr. Jeffery (of Poole) contended, that whatever might be the portion of praise to which the Naval Commissioners might be supposed to be entitled, he was still bold enough to say, that the affairs of the navy were never worse conducted than during the administration of lord St. Vincent; not only the navy, but the whole of the commercial part of the community were loud in their complaints against it. (A general cry of hear! hear!....chair! chair !)

The Speaker observed, that the line of argument of the hon. gent. did not apply to the question now before the house.

Mr. Wilberforce heartily joined in ap proving the conduct of the Commissioners of naval enquiry, and thought them fully entitled, upon their general conduct, to the thanks of the house, and of their country; but at the same time he must request, in mercy to those who had not fully informed themselves of the contents of all the reports, that the words" the whole" of the conduct of the commissioners, might be omitted in the motion. There were now eleven of the reports, many of them extending to considerable length, before the house, and scarcely any but the tenth had yet undergone a due investigation. Indeed the omission of these words would give more meaning to the vote of the house, and at the same time render it more worthy the acceptance of those whom it was intended to commend, than if it stood in the manner in which it was originally proposed. The Commissioners had undoubtedly detected very great abuses, and had thereby rendered very signal service to the country; and on that ground he felt them entitled to the thanks of the house and the gratitude of the country. He hoped, however, that nothing he now offered to the consideration of the house would produce any division of opinion; for he threw out the consideration merely to guide the conduct of the house; not in the least to detract from the merits of the commissioners. Much of their proceedings yet remained to be examined and discussed; and it might, perhaps, hereafter occur, that something would be considered in a light that might induce the house to express an opinion contrary to what the present motion called upon them unreservedly to declare. This was the only motive that prompted him to suggest the omission of

in his mind the motion so amended would have not only a more distinct meaning, but must prove more acceptable to the commissioners themselves. Under that impression he should now move that the words "the whole of" be struck out of the motion. The question so amended, being put from the chair,

Lord Henniker said, although he approved of the conduct of the commissioners, it was too far to approve of it in all its detail, as if they acted by divine authority, and could not err.

Mr. Rose thought the original motion would be rendered much less exceptionable by the proposed amendment, but said it would be still more eligible, if the words

so far as yet appears," were omitted; since the whole of their reports, save only the 10th, had not yet undergone any examination.

Mr. Wilberforce thought the last proposed alteration wholly unnecessary.

The Attorney General approved the amendment proposed by Mr. Wilberforce, but should think it still better, with the addition of that proposed by Mr. Rose. There were eleven reports before the house, and only one of them had as yet been examined. There were even several papers now before the house quite fresh from the press, which could not yet have been examined, but which, however, were represented as urgently calling for examination. The vote, therefore, in his mind, should not be general, as fresh materials might hereafter be produced in defence of those whose characters were affected by the reports of the commissioners. As the amendment seemed to him to improve the motion in the sense which he thought it should be received, it should have his concurrence.

Mr. For said, certainly the original motion of his hon. friend near him (Mr. Sheridan) meant to approve the whole conduct of the commissioners. He could not agree to the amendment, because, being entered on the journals, it would imply an opinion, that the whole of the commissioners' conduct was not entitled to thanks. He thought that any expression of general approbation of their conduct must mean the whole, and, therefore, he liked the motion neither the better nor the worse for the omission of that word. If the house did not mean to express full approbation of the conduct of the commissioners, or to say this was not the time, let

ports in many instances as going to censure persons non corum judice, he could not vote for the original motion, or even for its amendment. He did expect some person would have moved the previous question, for which he should have voted, conceiving it better to retain the approbation or disapprobation of the house until a future occasion, when the merits or demerits of the commissioners' conduct would be fairly balanced.

them reject the motion altogether; but he could assent to no amendment that could be deemed an abatement to the object of the original motion. Many of the reports of the commissioners had been above a year before the house, and yet no fault was found with them by gentlemen on the other side, nor any proposal made for their investigation. Even the tenth report was not fully considered, but was referred for farther consideration to the select committee up stairs. It was well known that carpings, cavillings, Lord Henniker again rose, and said, though and malicious insinuations had been direct- he approved the conduct of the commissioned against the conduct of those commission-ers, yet it had not yet been so scrutinized as ers, by persons whom their vigilance had to warrant a decisive vote upon it. Thinkdetected and exposed. The motion of his ing, therefore, that both sides of the house hon. friend was designed to refute those ca- should pause before they came to any decilunnies by a general declaration of thanks sion, he concluded by moving the question from the house. From what had fallen of adjournment. from a right hon. gent. (Mr. Pitt), early in the debate, he was taught to believe there was no very material objection to the motion. If the house, then, did thank them, let it be done liberally and generally, or not

at all.

Mr. Lingham thought the motion of thanks altogether unnecessary, as well as untimely, inasmuch as the vote of a majority upon a former night, in approbation of the tenth report, was already a vote of approbation; and because a much better opportunity for expressing the sense of the house generally upon the conduct of the commissioners, would occur when they had concluded the labours entrusted to them, neither which, nor the period of their appointment, were yet terminated. Why had there been no motion of thanks proposed to them on the seventh or ninth report as well as now? He could not think the commissioners themselves really wished for any thanks for any consequence resulting from their enquiries. Such a vote, he thought, would rather have the effect of biassing the commissioners, and involving thein in those party differences which seemed to exist in that house. Besides, the commissioners, in any thing they had done, had only complied with duties to which they were bound by oath, and it would not be holding them very high to thank them for doing a duty to which they were solemnly sworn.

Mr. Coke (of Norfolk) thought the original motion of his hon. friend deserved the fullest concurrence of the house. There seemed to prevail on the opposite side of the house a singular degree of eagerness to get rid of the original motion. One mem ber moved one amendment; another suggested a second; and a third urged the question of adjournment. But to his mind, the commissioners had done their duty as honest men; by their vigilance and firmness a noble lord had been detected in peculation, malversation, and every species of misconduct that could degrade him. As a plain, honest man, he should give his cordial support to the original motion.

Mr. Bond desired, most unequivocally, to, declare his most cordial approbation of the conduct of the commissioners. He never would wish to screen delinquency wherever it was to be found; and if he were to vote otherwise than in the most hearty support of the original motion, he must vote in violation of his own feelings, and the principles which had uniformly guided his conduct to the best of his judgment: but though he fully agreed in general thanks and approbation of the conduct of the commissioners, yet he did not thereby mean implicitly to approve every thing they might have done. What they recommended, it would be for the judgment of the house to decide upon; but in declaring general approbation of what Sir William Elford agreed in the construc- they had done, the house would not bind ittion given by an hon. gent. (Mr. Fox), that self to agree to every thing they recommenda vote of general thanks to the conduct of ed. Some trivial charges had been alledged the commissioners must mean the whole, against them: but, had any thing been said and, therefore, not approving their whole by them that did not mark zeal and ability? conduct, though he highly commended For his own part, he was convinced that. many parts of it, and conceiving their re-their conduct reflected the highest honour

upon them, and had produced the greatest benefits to their country.

Sir Join Wrottesley was glad to hear the sentiments expressed by the learned gent. who spoke last, and he most cordially concurred in them.

Mr Gregor was rather inclined to vote for the amendment.

and peculation was the order of the day, it was the duty of parliament to institute the strictest enquiry, and to protect, support, and encourage those to whom enquiry was deputed, and who acquitted their duty with the diligence, the impartiality, and the firmness of honest men.

Mr. Sheridan rose to reply. He trusted Mr. Bastard thought the commissioners the house would give him credit for having did not only deserve the present thanks, acted fairly, in the manner in which he but were also entitled to the best support of brought forward the motion. It was, he that house. It was well known that insi- would confess, a subject of regret to him, nuations had been made, and reports in- that he had inserted the word "whole" in dustriously propagated, against them by his motion; and particularly so, as it had persons in power, whose conduct, they had met with objections from a quarter for shewn, deserved dismissal from their offices. which he entertained the highest respect. Reports had been laid upon the table of the It was not without mature consideration that house, clearly pointing out the contumacy he worded his motion in that comprehenand delinquency of many of those persons, sive way. His reason was, that difficulties and he should be glad to know what had of the most extraordinary nature were, at been done towards, bringing those persons every instant, interposed between those to task. From those reports it also appeared gentlemen and the arduous duty in which that boards were still continued in authority, they were employed, and he therefore under whom the grossest peculations had thought no acknowledgment to them could been committed and connived at. If those be too strong. When they were encounboards were still continued, what security tered at every step by all the acts and subhad the country that the same abuses would terfuges of that corruption which they were not be repeated? He had heard of some appointed to detect, it was the duty of the gentlemen called on by those commissioners house, whose ministers they were, to mark for necessary information in the line of their their approbation of their conduct, and their official duty, and yet refusing to answer, and determination to support them in the most screening themselves under the pretended comprehensive and emphatic manner. When meaning or defects of the act: a conduct an hon. gent. rises and declares in his place, at which an honest man would shudder. that the person who was the heart and germ

Mr. Fuller said, that as a friend to his of that commission was unfit to be continued country, and an honest man, he would as a member of it, it was high time indeed most cordially vote for the original motion, for that house to step forward for his proand he thought no man a friend to his coun-tection. It was upon that ground that he try that did not earnestly wish that enquiry, inserted the word whale in his motion; and in the present circumstances of the nation, that he proposed that the thanks of the house should be carried to its utmost extent in should be extended to the commissioners in every branch of the public expenditure. as general a way as it could possibly be. This was no party question, but one which He wished to tell them what he, and he equally concerned every side of the House, was persuaded a great majority of the counand every part of the empire. Those who try, felt towards them for their unabated knew any thing of Roman history, must re- perseverance and industry. He endeavoured collect, that from the moment a profuse and to mark, in as strong a manner as his powers corrupt expenditure of the public money of expression could command, the obligabegan to be laughed at in the senate, as a tions he owed them for their ability, dif matter of indifference, the ruin of that em-gence, and fortitude (that word he would pire took its date. For his own part he not have spared) in pursuing the arduous cared not who was at the head of the go- and disgusting task which was imposed upon vernment, whether a branch of one family them. Their conduct in it was well entitled or of another; whether the representative to the praise of fortitude, a virtue which of my lord this, or the relative of my lord admitted of being as fairly exercised in the that, so long as the affairs of the empire pursuit and detection of abuses, as in those were wisely and honestly administered; situations to which, in its ordinary accepta but when the public money was in question, tion, it was generally applied. He wished and he had some considerable stake in it, to convey to those gentlemen the thanks of

the house for their conduct in pursuing the character, because he expected it from a enquiry, for the firmness they had mani- committee who had no power to do it? fested in prosecuting it against all the ob- Another rt. hon. member (Mr. Rose) had also stacles which guilt, and fraud, and avarice, brought forward his charge. Why did not had erected to obstruct them; there was no the house hear of it before? Why were his occasion to have read all the reports to es- feelings so long silent with respect to his timate the merit in that part of their duty: constituent and friend Mr. Taylor, who, it it was sufficient to know that they met with seems, had fallen, by some means, under opposition from every quarter; and that, the censure of the commission? What prenotwithstanding, they persevered and suc- vented him from making it the subject of ceeded, and that the result of their la- complaint before this night? nothing but bours was before the house and the country, his delicacy he supposed. It was really too exciting the admiration and gratitude of both. much, when the noble lord who proposed He had also another motive for wording his that commission professed himself ready to motion in the way he did. He wished to meet every charge which could be made compel the right hon. gent, on the opposite against him, that he, as well as the membench, to state to the house precisely and bers of that commission, should be assailed positively why he objected to the conduct from so many quarters. When a member of the commissioners of naval enquiry? He has the indiscretion, to say no worse of it, to had done so; he had stated them candidly rise in his place, and unblushingly proclaim, and temperately, (he was happy to avail that earl St. Vincent was the worst lord of himself of the few opportunities the right the admiralty that had ever appeared at the hon. gent. afforded him of commending head of the naval department of the country, him); and after all what did they amount to? it was the duty of the house to mark their one of the most important was, that they reprobation of the sentiment. Was it fitcharged a jury that it had been tampered ting, he would call upon the house to dewith; that was no new charge. He recol- clare, that the noble lord should be attacked lected its having been brought forward by in that vile way? Was it just that his hoan hon. baronet (sir W. Elford) before, whonour, he would say the honour of the counthreatened to make it the subject of a mo- try (for the honour of that noble lord was a tion in that house, but who was finally part, and a proud part, of the glory and obliged to give it up, because he could get the honour of the country) should be thus no one to second his motion. Another hon. struck at and wounded in that base and inmember (sir A. Hammond) had complained glorious manner? The blow, which was apof reflections which had been thrown out in parently directed against the commissioners one of the reports, against that board of of naval enquiry, was in truth, and in fact, which he was the head. It was full twenty-levelled at that noble lord. The commistwo months since that report was made; sioners had a claim upon the gratitude and and why, he would ask, did the hon. baro-protection of the house. While they were net acquiesce, during all that time under those imputations? Was it that he was deterred by the rebuke which he is said to have received from earl St. Vincent, or that he looked forward to another proceeding which was going on (he meant the commission for examining into the civil affairs of the naval department) for satisfaction and justification? He was much misinformed as to the nature of that new commission, if it was to act as a committee of revision, to controul and annul the decisions of a commission appointed by the joint authority of both houses of parliament, and accountable only to them. He could not conceive, that it could even have been intended to degrade a commission so constituted, by subjecting their labours to be criticised and reversed by a committee of placemen. Did the hon. member decline `doing early justice to his

hunting down corruption and peculation, and pursuing them through all their foul and secret retreats and lurking places, they were entitled to all the encouragement which the legislature could hold out to them. He should be sorry that the motion he proposed should occasion any diversity of opinion; he wished to meet the feelings of the house. He would be sorry that any division should arise on a motion, which he had hoped would have been almost unanimously acceded to, but he could not consent to abandon the word whole in the manner proposed. He would not be satisfied that the amendment should appear upon the Journals, although he was disposed to meet the ideas of the hon. gent. who proposed it, if he were allowed to amend the motion himself.

Mr. Wilberforce acquiesced in the propo sition of Mr. Sheridan, and declared his rea