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was made in Feb. 1801, was remembered last July, when an immense addition was made to the grants for the Civil List, and when an addition of 1,5001. a year was made to Lord Melville's salary for the sinecure place of keeper of the signet.--The next speech I shall quote from was the second he made. It was upon the subject of a Board of Commissioners of Accounts, and on the 31st March, 1801.--" What is it that

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gives the House of Commons its im46 portance? What but the power of the "purse? Every branch of the legislature "has something to distinguish it, and that "which at once gives the character and "elevation of the Commons House of "Parliament, is, that they hold the "strings of the national purse, and are "entrusted with the great and important "power, first of granting the money, and "then of correcting the expenditure... "How humiliating, how miserable a picture "of parliamentary power is it now wished "to be exhibited! So, then, all the power "of parliament, with respect to the allevia"tion of national burdens, the redress of "grievances, the reform of expense, the "economy, the system, the elucidation of "office, is sunk into a disgraceful negative! "One positive power, indeed, remains; the "odious power of taxing the people, whenever "the minister thinks proper. The odious "power of making them pay for his wild "schemes and lavish corruption...

Bravo! But, let us take breath a little, for there is something still better coming...... "The minister has disregarded the report "of the Commissioners, a report delivered "in upon oath, and having all the facts sta"ted in it ascertained upon the oaths of a "variety of witnesses, and has preferred the "loose conversation of a public board, suf

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fering them to become the unsworn witnesses "in their own cause!...... And, here I "must remark, and I verily believe it, on " my credit, my honour, and my conscience, "that the minister means and designs, that "the Commissioners shall spend their time "in inquiring into trifles, without going into "an examination of any great, extensive, "and important object, the better to con"tinue the deception, and to carry on the hy"pocrisy and deceit that have already led "the House into so many votes disgraceful "to themselves and ruinous to the public.

I earnestly conjure the House to use their own eyes, and to consult their "own understandings; to return to a sense "of their duty to the people; to act like bo"nest independent members of parliament,

and no longer implicitly pin their faith 66 upon the sleeve of a minister, whose sole

"object it is to deceive and mislead just as "best answers his purpose."- -With language and professions like these it was that he began his career; that he gained the confi dence of the people of England; that he became prime minister of the crown, and that he seated himself so firmly as to be able to set all his opponents at defiance. At a moment of more leisure, I shall, probably, trace him onwards from the year 1782, under the title of the "PATRIOT'S PROGRESS;" which, I am inclined to think will bear no very faint resemblance to the " Progress of Love." For the present, I must leave the reader to the assistance of his own memory, which will, doubtless, furnish him with an abundance of facts applicable to the present scene of things.--I shall conclude with begging the reader's attention to one short remark upon a passage from the memorable Addingtonian pamphlet by the "NEAR OBSERVER." That writer attributed to the Now Opposition the clamours against the inquiry instituted to reform abuses. "The insurrection of job"bers in the dock yards," says he," was "abetted and defended, and the rebellion of "boards and departments encouraged and "promoted." I have once before denied this, as far as relates to persons in the opposition, and I now deny it again. My work was regarded as an opposition print; and I defy any one to point out a single sentence of my writing defending any jobber, or other suspected person; or, in anywise blaming Lord St. Vincent for his endeavours to bring them to justice. The letters of several correspondents. having, perhaps, such an object in view, were published by me; but lam sure my readers will recollect, not only that I was always ready to admit, but that I a tually did admit, several very long articles on the other side. Indeed, I never, in any single instance, refused admittance to an article sent me in defence of any part of the administration of Lord St. Vincent. And, as to the members of the opposition, we shall now have an opportunity of comparing their sentiments, and what is more, their conduct, with that of the persons, who took so much credit with the country for having instituted the Board of Naval Inquiry. All pablic men are now upon their trial; the whole nation are the spectators, and are waiting most anxiously for the result. ... [Several other subjects, the ELEVENth Re PORT, the Affairs in the WEST-INDIES, &C. &c. would claim attention; but, till we see what we have in future to expect as to mat ters like that which now fills the minds of all meu, all other concerus are, comparatively, of little moment.]

Printed by Cox and Baylis, No. 75, Great Queen Street, and published by R. Bagshaw. Bow-Street, Covent Gaiden, where former Numbers may be had; sold also by J. Budd, Crown and Mitre, Pall-Mall.

VOL. VII. No. 15.]

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1805.

An ANT there was, whose forward prate

Controll'd all matters in debate:

Whether he knew the thing or no,

His tongue eternally would go ;
For he had impudence at will,
And boasted universal skill.
Ambition was his point in view.
Thus, by degrees, to pow'r he grew.
Behold him now his drift attain-
He's made the treas'rer of the grain.
But, as their ancient laws are just,
And punish breach of public trust,

was order'd (lest wrong application,
Should starve that wise industrious nation)
The gran'ry keeper should explain,
And balance, his account of grain.

515]

He brought (since he could not refuse 'em)
Some scraps of paper to amuse 'em.
An honest pismire, warm with zeal,

PARLIAMENTARY CENSURE

ON

LORD VISCOUNT MELVILLE.

Previous to any remarks upon this important proceeding, it may not, with respect to foreigners, and even with respect to many of our own countrymen, be unnecessary to observe, that the person, now known by the title of LORD VISCOUNT MELVILLE, is that HENRY DUNDAS, Esq. who was formerly a lawyer in Edinburgh; who became Lord Advocate of Scotland during the Ame rican war; who was a supporter of Lord North's administration; who was made Treasurer of the Navy at the same time that Mr. Pitt first became Chancellor of the Exche quer, in Lord Shelburpe's administration; who again became Treasurer of the Navy in the administration of Mr. Pitt, in 1784; who afterwards became President of the Board of Control for India affairs, and afterwards Secretary of State for the department of war, retaining all the three offices in his own person, 'till the year 1800, when he gave up the Treasurership of the Navy, still retaining the other two offices, till he resigned together with Mr. Pitt and the rest of that ministry in the month of March, 1801.This is the person, who, being again brought into place by Mr. Pitt, and put in possession of greater power than ever, has now been degraded by a censure, inflicted by a solemn decision of the Commons House of Parliament, of which proceeding I shall first give an account, and shall then trouble the reader with such remarks as appear to me calculated to turn his attention towards those further inquiries

In justice to the public weal,

[PRICE 10D.

Thus spoke "The nation's hoard is low.
"From whence does this profusion flow?
"I know our annual fund's amount.

"Why such expence, and where's th' account?" With wonted arrogance and pride,

The ANT in office thus replied.
"Consider, Sirs, were secrets told,.

"How could the best schemed projects hold?
"Should we state mysteries disclose,
""Twould lay us open to our foes.
"My duty and my well known zeal
"Bid me our present schemes conceal.
"Consider, when invasion's near,
"Intelligence must cost us dear;
"And in this ticklish situation,
"A secret told betrays the nation.
"But, on my honour, all th' expence,
Though vast, was for the swarm s defence."
GAY's Fables, Part II.-Fab. IV,

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[546 and further legislative proceedings, which are now become obviously necessary to the safety of the nation.--On Monday, the 8th instant, Mr. Whitbread, agreeably to notice before given, entered, in a speech of great length, into the subject of the conduct of Lord Melville, as exhibited in the Tenth Report of the Naval Commissioners, at the end of which speech he submitted the following resolutions to the House.

I. That it appears to this Committee, that on the 18th of June, 1782, the House of Commons in a Committee of the whole House came, amongst others, to the following Resolutions:-That it is the opinion of this Committee, that some regulations ought to be adopted for the purpose of lessening and keeping down the balances of public money which appear to have usually been in the hands of the Treasurer of the Navy and it would be beneficial to the public if the first and other Clerks in the different branches belonging to the said Office were paid by fixed and permanent salaries in lieu of all fees, gratuities, and other perquisites whatsoever.That it is the opinion of this Committee, that from henceforward the Paymaster General of his Majesty's Land Forces, and the Tre surer of the Navy, for the time being, shall not apply any sum or sums of money imprested to them, or either of them, to any purpose of advantage or interest to themselves, either directly or indirectly.That it appears to this Committee, that the Commissioners appointed to examine, take and state the public accounts of the kingdom, have, so far as appears from the reports which they have hitherto made, dis

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charged the duty entrusted to them with great diligence, accuracy and ability; and if Parliament shall carry into execution those plans of reform and regulation which are suggested by the matter contained in the Reports of the said Commissioners, it cannot but be attended with the most beneficial consequences to the future welfare and prosperity of this kingdom.

II. That in furtherance of the intention of the House of Commons expressed in such resolutions, his Majesty by his warrant dated June 26th, 1782, directed that the salary of the Treasurer of the Navy should be increased to the sum of 4000 l. per annum, in full satisfaction of all wages and fees, and other profits and emoluments theretofore enjoyed by former Treasurers.

III. That it appears to this Committee, that during the Treasurership of the Right Honourable Isaac Barre, the conditions of the aforesaid warrant were strictly complied with; that the whole of the money issued from the Exchequer to Mr. Barre for naval services was lodged in the Bank: that it was never drawn from thence previously to its being advanced to the SubAccountants, to be applied to the public service that during the time Mr. Barre acted as Treasurer and Ex-T:easurer, he had not in his possession or custody any of the public money, and that neither he nor the Paymaster of the Navy did derive any profit or advantage from the use or employ

ment thereof.

IV. That the Right Honourable Henry Dundas, now Lord Viscount Melville, succeeded to the office of Treasurer of the Navy on the 19th of August, 1782, when a further addition was made to the salary of the said office, in order to produce a net annual income of 4,000 l. after the payment of all taxes and charges on the same; and that this additional salary was considered by the said Lord Viscount Melville as granted to him in lieu of all wages, fees, profits and other emoluments enjoyed by former Treasurers.

V. That the said Lord Viscount Melville continued in the said office till the 10th of April, 1783; that being asked whether he derived any advantage from the use of the public money during that period, he in his examination before the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry, declined answering any question on that head; but that he has in a fetter since written to the said Commissioners, and dated the 28th of March last, declared that previous to 1786, "He did not derive any advantage from the use or em ployment of any money issued for carrying

on the service of the Navy;" but Mr. Douglas, who was Paymaster, being dead, and his Lordship having refused to answer any questions on this head as aforesaid, no evidence has been obtained as to the appli cation of monies issued for the service of the Navy, or the mode of drawing the same from the Bank during this period.

VI. That the Honourable C. Towns hend, now Lord Bayning, held the office of Treasurer of the Navy, from the 11th April, 1783, to the 4th of January, 1784, and that from the examination of his Lordship it ap pears that during his Treasurership no part of the money issued for the service of the Navy, was applied to his private use or advantage, and that he does not believe that Mr. Douglas, who acted under him as master, derived any profit or advantage from the use or employment of the public money, except the money issued for the payment of Exchequer fees.

pay.

VII. That the Right Honourable Henry Dundas was re-appointed Treasurer of the Navy on the 5th of January, 1784, and continued in the said office until the 1st of June, 1800.

VIII. That in the year 1785 an Act of Parliament was passed 25 Geo. 3. chap. 31, intituled "An Act for better regulating the Office of the Treasurer of his Majesty's Navy;" whereby it is directed, that no money shall be issued from the Treasury to the Treasurers of the Navy; but that all monies issued for naval services shall be paid to the Bank on account of naval services, and placed to the account of the Treasurer of the Navy, and shall not be paid out of the Bank unless for naval services, and in pursuance of drafts signed by the Treasurer, or some person or persons authorised by him; which drafts shall specify the heads of service to which such sums are to be applied, and that the rega lations under the said Act shall take place from the 31st July, 1785.

IX. That the execution of the said act was postponed till the month of January, 1784, and that, from that time till the month of June, 1800, when Lord Melville left the office of Treasurer, contrary to the practice established in the Treasurership of the Right Honourable Isaac Barre, contrary to the resolutions of the House of Commons, of the 18th of June, 1782, and in defiance of the provisions of the above-mentioned Act, of the 25th Geo. III. Chap. 31. large sums of money were, under pretence of Naval Services, and by a manifest evasion of the Act, at various times drawn from the Bank and invested in Exchequer and Navy Bills,

lent upon the security of Stock, employed in discounting private bills, in purchasing Bank and East India Stock, and used in various ways for the purposes of private emolument.

X. That Alexander Trotter, Esq. the Paymaster of the Navy, was the person, by whom, or in whose name the Public Money was thus employed, and that in so doing he acted with the knowledge and consent of Lord V. Melville, to whom he was at the same time private agent, and for whose use or benefit he occasionally laid out from 10 to 20,000!. without considering whether he was previously in advance to his Lordship, and whether such advances were made from his public or private balance.

XI. That the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Melville having been privy to, and connived at the withdrawing from the Bank of England, for purposes of private interest or emolument, sums issued to him as Treasurer of the Navy, and placed to his account in the Bank, according to the provisions of the 25th of Geo. III. Chap. 31, has been guilty of a gross violation of the law, and a high breach of duty.

XII. That it further appears, that subsequent to the appointment of Lord Melville, as Treasurer of the Navy in 1784, and during the time he held that office, large sams of Money issued for the service of the Navy, were applied to other services, and that the said Lord Melville, in a letter, written in answer to a Precept issued by the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry, requiring an Account of Money received by him, or any person on his account, or by his order from the Paymaster of the Navy, and also of the time when, and the persons by whom the same were returned to the bank, or Paymaster; has declared that he has no materials by which he could make up such an Account, and that if he had materials, he could not do it without disclosing delicate and confidential transactions of Government, which his duty to the Public must have restrained him from revealing.

XIII. That Lord Melville in applying Monies issued for the service of the Navy to other services, stated to have been of so delicate and confidential a nature, that in his opinion, no Account can, or ought to be given of them, has acted in a manner inconsistent with his duty, and incompatible with those securities which the Legislature has provided for the proper application of the Public Money.

The Speaker having put the question upon the first of the resolutions, Mr.. Pitt rose, and, in a speech of several hours, urged the

necessity of further inquiry, previous to any decision on the part of the House; and, in order to make such inquiry, he proposed to appoint a select committee consisting of members of the House. The motion he proposed was as follows: "That a select

committee be appointed to consider the "Tenth Report of the Commissioners of "Naval Inquiry, and the documents there"with connected; that they examine the

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same, and report their opinion thereon." This motion Mr. Fox objected to altogether, because, if it were carried, the resolutions of Mr. Whitbread would not be recorded in the journals of the House. Whereupon Mr. Pitt agreed first to move the previous question. Lord Henry Petty (son of the Marquis of Lansdowne) opposed the motion of Mr. Pitt, and, in a very animated and masterly speech answered the arguments of that gentleman. The Attorney General followed Lord Henry Petty, and took the side of the ministers. Mr. Tierney spoke on the side of Mr. Whitbread. Mr. Canning (the present treasurer of the navy) spoke for the ministers; Mr. George Ponsonby spoke against the ministers. The Master of the Rolls followed on the side of the ministers; Mr. Fox spoke against the ministers; Lord Castlereagh (the president of the Board of Controul) for the ministers; Lord Audover against the ministers; Mr. Wilberforce against the ministers; Sir C. Price against the ministers; Mr. Wallace (one of the lords of the admiralty) for the ministers; Lord Archibald Hamilton against the ministers. A division then took place

For Mr. Pitt's motion of the previous
question
Against it

216

216

The numbers being even, the Speaker, after a short and dignified speech, in which he stated the reasons for the vote he was about to give, gave his vote against the motion of Mr. Litt; and thus were the ministers left in a minority of ONE.The House then returned to Mr. Whitbread's resolutions, the first ten of which were carried without opposition; but, when the Speaker put the eleventh, Mr. Pitt moved, by way of amendment, to leave out the words, " gross viola "tion of the law and a high breach of duty," and to insert in lieu of them, the words, contrary to the intention of the "law." On this a debate of short speeches took place. Mr. Grey contended for the original resolution; and Mr. Pitt withdrew his amendment, and moved to insert, after the word "emolument," the words, "10 « Mr. Trotter." Sir William Pultney said, he thought this would be reasonable, proś

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led the words, as acknowledged by Lord Melville," were inserted after the words "Bank of England" Mr. Whitbread having no particular objection to this, the resolution was then read from the chair, and stood as follows. That the Rt. Hon. "Lord Viscount Melville having been privy 66 to, and connived at, the wi hdrawing from "the Bank of Eng'and (as acknowledged by "Lord Melville) for purpo-es of private "interest or emolument, to Mr. Trotter, sums issued to him as treasurer of the

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navy, and placed to his account at the "Bauk, according to the rovisions of the "25th Geo. III. cap. 31. bas been guilty of

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a gross violation of the law, and a high breach of duty." Mr. Windham positively objected to these amendments, and contended, that the resolution ought to be left as it originally stood. Mr. Fox took the same ground, and Mr. Wilberforce, rising with the exclamation, "Sir, this is too bad!" said, that not to brand the transaction as a gross violation of the law would be ignomi nious to the House. Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Bastard and Mr. Grenville said the same. Mr. Pitt did, however, persist in his amendment, but the question being put, on the ori ginal motion, and the Speaker declaring that the ayes had it, Mr. Pitt shrunk from the division. The twelfth and thirteenth resolutions were not put, as they belong to a subject of future discussion.-Mr. Whitbread then said, that he had, of course, a motion to make for an address to His Majesty to remove Lord Melville from his presence and councils; but that the hour was now too late. Mr. Pitt moved, that the House should adjourn to Wednesday the 10th instant; but Mr. Fox thought, seeing that the country was now in the hands of a disgraced ministry, the House ought not to adjourn over a single day. At length, it was agreed, that the adjournment should be till Wednesday, provided that no other business should be entered on previous to the resuming of that which was now in hand.

On Wednesday, when the House met, Mr. Pitt informed them, that, in consequence of the resolutions of the House, passed on Monday, Lord Melville had tendered his resignation to His Majesty, by whom it had been graciously accepted. Mr. Whitbread thereupon said, that it would, nevertheless, be necessary to address the King to remove that Lord from his presence and councils for ever; but, it appearing to the House, that that object was already substantially secured, and Mr. Pitt declaring, that it was to be, as a matter of course, understood, that Lord Melville never could again enjoy any post of public trust or confidence, Mr. Whitbread

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efrained from urging his motion, and codtented himself with moving, that the res lutions of Monday be presented to His Majesty by the whole House; which moton was agreed to without a division. --~ At the same time, Mr. W hitbread gave notice, tha", after the Easter recess, he should submit two motions to the House; one for the purpose of obtaining the appointment of a coolmittee to inquire further into the sub et matter of the Tenth keport of the Naval Commissioners; and, the ober, for or dering the Attorney General to prosecum Lord Melvilie and Mr Trotter for in order to recover that which the public had lost by their conduct, and, in the mean time, for restraining their persons and property.Mr. Serjeant Best gave notice of a motion upon the subject of the 11th report.-The remarks, which have to setm upon these proceedings, will, perhaps, contain little that can have any claim to novel ty; but, it is, after the close of a widely extended discussion, always of some use to bring the principal points into one view, and so to arrange them, that persons, not having the command of ail the channels of informa tion, shall be able to form a clear notion tí each, and a correct judgment upon the whole of the subject. With a view of affording this aid to my readers, particularly those at a distance from the metropolis, I shall divide what I have to say under the following heads: 1. The conduct out of doors, c those who have maintained the justice of a vote of censare against Lord Melville. 2 The object of the proposed select committer. 3. The fact of a wilful violation of the law by Lord Melville. 4. The actual pecuniary loss to the public from the misconduct of Lord Melville. 5. Lord Melville's carelessness of wealth. 6. The fact of Lord Melville's participating with Mr. Trotter. 7 The misemployment of the Naval money with the connivance of Mr. Pitt. Frast: it appears to me an outrageous insult to the public, to a burdened and a wronged people, to ascribe their resentment against Lord Melville to any thing but a due sense of the injuries they have suffered at bis hands. Mr. Canning conjured the House “put 12 "be led away by prejudice within and by "intimidation and clumear from withom.“ What could that gentleman mean by clamour and intimidation? What clamour has been heard? What attempt at intimidation has been made? But, let us hear Mr. Pitt. I "complain," said he," that the hon. gent. "has endeavoured to mislead the public by "endeavouring to circulate the notion that

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great additions have been made to the "public burdens, when no such additions

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