"to the utmost of my skill and dis"cretion, and according to equity "and good conscience, between the "public and such accountants as shall "be brought before me; and that I "will examine with diligence and "faithfulness, and determine without "favour, malice, or prejudice, ac"cording to the true intent and " meaning of the said Act, as far as "in me lies.

"So help me GOD."

And whereas several of the chief offices in the exchequer are, by law and usage, granted to be held during term of life, and have been reputed, in truth and fact, as pensions for life, and have been given as such, for the more honourable and independent provision of the persons or families of those who have served the state in great and laborious employments: and whereas it is for the honour as well as the advantage of the commonwealth, that whatever reward the said persons have acquired by their own merits, or those of their ancestors, and which the law of the land hath ensured to them, should not be taken away: and whereas it is equally expedient, that the crown should not in future be debarred from the means of making honourable and independent provision, according to reason, and the circumstances of the public, for those who shall serve the state: be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from and after the determination of the interest of the present possessors, and of the present grantees in reversion, the auditor of the receipt of the exchequer shall have, in lieu of all salary, fees, and dues, to the said office belonging, a salary or pension, clear of all deductions, per annum, and no more; and that the persons hereafter appointed to the offices of the two auditors of the imprest, the chamberlain, clerk of the pells, and clerk of the pipe, and tellers of the exchequér, shall have and receive, after the lives of the present possessors, and grantees in reversion, to each a salary of

of

per annum, clear, and no more, in lieu of all salaries, fees, and perquisites whatsoever, now claimed or enjoyed by the persons holding the said offices.

And whereas the constitution of the Mint is of a more expensive nature than is necessary, and the coinage ought to be of none, or little expence to the nation; be it hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the office commonly called [VOL. XXI.]

the Mint, with all places, salaries, and fees annexed to, or in anywise appertaining to the same, shall, from and after the day of be abolished.

Provided also, and it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that in compensation for the value of all or any of the offices in the Mint which by this Act are suppressed, and which by law are held for term of life (if any such there be) there shall be paid out of the aggregate fund an annuity equal to the salary and known legal fees and perquisites of the said office, as the same shall be proved before the commissioners of the treasury to have been received by the persons now holding the said offices, and to have been the annual value of the said offices on an average of years last past; and the same shall be certified by the commissioners of the treasury into the exchequer, and shall be paid half yearly to the person or persons so deprived, for and during the term of his or their natural lives.

And be it hereby enacted, that the commissioners of the treasury may and shall contract with the directors and company of the bank of England for the coinage, for any term not exceeding years, under such directions and limitations as they shall judge most expedient for performing the same in the best, safest, cheapest, and most beneficial manner.

Provided always, that the said coinage be executed by the company aforesaid, in the Tower of London, and no where else.

Provided also, that if the said corporation of the bank shall refuse to enter into such contract, or demand exorbitant terms, the commissioners of the treasury may, and are by this Act authorised to contract with any other body corporate, or private person or persons, for the execution of the same, the said bodies corporate, or private persons, giving full security for the faithful performance of the said contract, under the restrictions by this Act provided, in case of a contract with the bank of England.

And forasmuch as the bank of England will derive a benefit from the sums of money which are by this Act directed to be paid into the cash of the said bank, it is reasonable that they should, in some proportion, contribute to the public service; be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the directors of the said bank shall take upon them the remittance of all such sums of money as shall be remitted for the use of his Majesty's forces [K]

with a salary of

by sea or land, serving in foreign parts, without any allowance or reward for the same; and that they shall conform to the directions which they shall receive from the paymaster general, and treasurer of the navy, severally, for the sum or sums of money which shall be remitted and sent for the use of the forces serving abroad.

And whereas much of the emolument accruing to the several pay offices, agencies in the army and navy, are derived from the pay of officers serving in the army and navy; for the better encouragement of the said services, be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that upon any future appointment of any person to the office of a deputy paymaster, or army agent, no person but such as have served his Majesty, in his army or navy for years, shall be capable of being appointed to or holding the said offices, or any of them; and the appointment of any other person to the said office or offices shall be void, and the said person so appointed shall forfeit to be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information, in any of his Majesty's courts of record at Westminster, in which no essoign, protection, privilege, or wager of law, or more than one imparlance, shall be allowed.

the sum of

the civil

And whereas the command and direction of the ordnance is properly a military concern, and the establishment of the present board of ordnance is attended with great expence to the public; be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from and after the -day of branch, or what is commonly reputed and taken for the said civil branch of the said ordnance (that is to say) the master general, lieutenant general, surveyor general, clerk of the ordnance, clerk of the deliveries, treasurer, paymaster, secretary, architect, council, and all other officers on the same dependent, except the necessary inferior store-keepers, and clerks of the checque, in the land ordnance service, shall be, and are hereby suppressed.

And it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that for all purposes of the land service, the principal engineer (which said principal engineer shall hereafter be a general officer in his Majesty's service) shall be and is by this act authorized to exercise all the duty or duties which the said civil branch, or any part thereof, ought to execute; and to enable the said principal engineer the better to perform the said duty, his Majesty is hereby authorized to appoint one assistant engineer,

and no more, pro

vided that the said assistant be an officer of years service in the artillery, and no other shall be capable of holding the said office.

And it is hereby enacted, that the said assistant engineer, nor any other engineer, nor any other person or persons above the present establishment of officers of the artillery, shall be capable of being elected, or sitting and voting in parliament.

And it is hereby further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the ordnance for the navy shall be, from and after the day of under the care and direction of the commissioners of the navy, who, for the better administration of the same, shall have one commissioner, and no more, added to the number, with a salary not exceeding the salary of the other commissioners, and with the like powers; which said commissioner shall be a person skilful in the business of an artillery officer and engineer, and, where a person so skilled may be had, preference shall be given to officers who have served

years in his Majesty's navy.

And in order to prevent the unneces sary multiplication of offices, be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the office of keeper of the naval ordnance stores, be united to and consolidated with the office of keeper of naval stores, in each of his Majesty's dock-yards respectively, and shall be exercised by one and the same person.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that on a vacancy of any storekeeper or clerk of the checque, in any of his Majesty's yards, no person shall be capable of being appointed thereto, who has not served his Majesty in his navy, as a lieutenant or master, for years; and if any other than a person or persons qualified as aforesaid shall be appointed to the said offices, or any of them, he shall forfeit his said employment, and

the sum of

to be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information, in any of his Majesty's courts of record at Westminster, in which no essoign, protection, privilege, or wager of law, or more than one imparlance, shall be allowed.

And it is hereby enacted by the autho rity aforesaid, that the said chief engineer, and his assistant, as well as the said commissioners of the navy, may and shall contract, wherever the same is practicable from the nature of the service, for the execution of all works, buildings, and

stores to the ordnance belonging; and that all contractors with the said officers shall be under the constant inspection and controul of the said chief engineer, or the said commissioners of the navy, as the case shall be, for and in the execution of their contracts, and every part thereof: provided that no contract, exceeding

in value, be made without the previous approbation of the commander in chief of his Majesty's forces, or other general officer appointed by his Majesty, and the lords commissioners of the treasury, if the same be for the land service; and the commissioners of the navy, and lords of the admiralty, and the said commissioners of the treasury, if the same be for the sea service.

And it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the money payable on account of the said contracts shall be paid at the exchequer; and that all other payments to the said ordnance belonging, be made at the pay office, or the navy-office, as the service shall be military or naval, according to the course and manner that shall be hereafter used by virtue of this Act in the said offices.

And it is hereby enacted, that the estimate and accounts of the ordnance, be annually laid before parliament, as hitherto accustomed, except that the ordnance and stores for land and sea service be distinguished.

Provided, that nothing in this act contained shall be construed to exempt the chief engineer from the orders of the commander in chief or secretary at war, for the time being, or the navy board, from the orders of the admiralty, in all matters which regard ordnance stores, or any kind of military stores; but they shall be in all things bound to obey and conform to the orders and directions which they shall from time to time receive from the said superior officers.

And be it hereby enacted, in order to the more perfect regulation of the said ordnance, that in days after the passing of this Act, a commission be ap. pointed by his Majesty, which shall consist of the first commissioner of the treasury, the first commissioner of the admiralty, one commissioner of the navy, the secretary at war, the pay-master of his Majesty's forces, the treasurer of the navy, the commander in chief of his Majesty's forces, the chief engineer, and the following general officers and admirals; viz.

Which said commissioners, or any of them, may, and are hereby directed to regulate all things relative to the said ordnance, so as to bring the same to a more perfect conformity and accommodation to military purposes; and as much as may be, in all branches thereof, to employ military persons; and to reduce the expences of the same, by uniting of duties, where the same may be united, and separating the same, where the same may and ought to be separated, and reducing the number of unnecessary offices, clerks, and other persons, according to their discretion, and the true intent and meaning of this Act.

And it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all the salaries, lawful fees, perquisites, and profits whatsoever, belonging to all and every the offices by this Act suppressed, shall cease and determine with the determination of the said offices severally, and be no longer paid; and that the commissioners of the treasury shall, within

make, or cause to

be made up, an account of the salaries and fees now payable for or on account of the said offices severally, as also an account of all the charges whatsoever, ordinary or extraordinary, incurred for or by reason of the said offices, during years last past; and shall cause a sum, to the amount of a medium of the said salaries, fees, and charges, to be annually set apart, and a separate account to be kept of the same, and to carry the said sum or sums of money, together with the amount of each and every pension as it shall fall or determine, until the said pension list be reduced to (except as in this Act is otherwise provided) to the sinking fund, there to remain for the disposition of parliament.

And be it further enacted by the autho rity aforesaid, that it shall not be lawful to create any office, in the nature or for the purpose of those which are by this Act abolished, or to divide any office into several parts, to be held by divers persons, other than such as have been usually held in commission, or to create any new office whatever, or any additional commissioner, with a salary exceeding pounds by the year.

And, in order to prevent the reformation by this Act proposed from affecting private persons, whose whole livelihood, or the greater part thereof, consists in the profits of places by this Act suppressed; be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that it shall be lawful for the following

persons; viz.

or any

or more

of them, to be commissioners for receiving and hearing the representations of any persons affected by this Act in the manner above mentioned; and on what shall appear to them sufficient proof of the said person or persons having no other livelihood, or no other employment of profit, or pension, or upon proof of other circumstances of compassion, they shall have power to adjudge, according to equity and the reason of the case, and to allow half pay, or more, at their discretion, to such person or persons, until the officer by this Act displaced shall be otherwise provided for in his Majesty's service; and a certificate, signed by not less than of the said commissioners, shall be, and is hereby declared of sufficient authority for the commissioners of the treasury to make the said allowances for such persons: provided, that the said allowance do in no case exceed per annum; and that no peer, or member of parliament, shall be entitled to the said relief.

And it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all the clerks in office, by this Act displaced, and who shall be duly qualified to be employed as clerks in other public offices, or as officers in the customs, shall be entitled to the succession of any vacant clerkship in other offices, or to offices in the customs, not exceeding per annum in value (where any rule or practice of succession within the said offices doth not interfere) upon application made by memorial to the said offices, the allowance aforesaid being to cease on such appointment.

And it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, that in case, after months time given for due enquiry, and proof of their qualifications, the memorialist or memorialists aforesaid are not put into possession of the said vacant offices, the person to whom it belongs to fill the said vacancy shall forfeit the sum of for each such offence, to be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information, in any of his Majesty's courts of record at Westminster, in which no essoign, protection, privilege, or wager of law, or more than one imparlance, shall be allowed.

The Bill being read a first time, Mr. Burke mentioned the 29th as a proper day for reading it a second time, and begged the noble lord to inform the House, whether or not he intended to oppose it on that day.

Lord North did not yet know whether he should oppose it or not. It was a Bill of the utmost importance, and required time and leisure to determine on its propriety. The 29th, therefore, he thought was too early a day.

Mr. Burke observed, that in a moment when the minds of men were held in suspense, and when the nation was looking with anxiety and suspicion to the conduct of parliament, on the subject of their petitions, delay would be exceedingly dangerous, and ought to be studiously avoided. He did not wish to quarrel with the noble lord for a day. The Bill would be printed, and in the hands of the members before that time; and if it was agreeable to the House, he would move for Wednesday next.

Lord North still persisted the time was rather too short, and wished that it should be adjourned over the next week.

Mr. Fox said he could not conceive why the noble lord should wish to have so much time. The temper of the people was not such as would admit of subterfuge. There was something exceedingly suspicious in the noble lord's conduct. His plea of ignorance was absurd; he had not indeed studied all the parts of the Bill; it was not possible that he could have so done; but the general principle was well known to him, and the subsequent detail was the business of the committee. Did not the noble lord know whether or not he was to oppose the principle of the Bill, or when he was to oppose it? He thought it would be very becoming in the noble lord to declare his intentions; for he firmly believed that no member who could possibly attend would be absent on the day when the Bill was to be debated. The member who wilfully or negligently absented himself on that day would pay very little regard to his duty, and to the general voice of the people of England. If his lordship would speak out, and say whether or not, or when, he intended to debate the Bill, members would come prepared, and the point would be fought with fairness. But as it was, the House must be upon its guard, and that they might not be taken by surprise, must come prepared for the onset on the first day. The noble lord had also given very strong reasons for alarm in his wish to put off the business to a late day. What security could the people of England have of the system being adopted, if the House permitted all the supplies to be granted before the Bill had passed? The parlia

ment might not be dissolved, but it was very possible that it might be prorogued before the business was concluded; and he looked upon this to be the reason why the minister wished to postpone it.

Mr. Burke said that the principle of the Bill was simple, and required but little time for deliberation. It consisted but of two parts, the first was, to curtail a variety of useless and burthensome offices in the King's civil list, and other departments of government, in order to apply the savings to the constitutional services of the state; and the second, to provide against the revenues voted for the maintenance of the King, the provision of his family, and the ease, dignity, and independence of his life, being diverted to the uses of a minister, and applied to the corrupting of parliament. These were the simple principles, easy to be understood, but whether the regulations proposed for the attainment of these ends were the properest for that purpose, were considerations for the committee. He had other matters which he might propose to their consideration. Perhaps a better method might be suggested of furnishing the King's table, &c. by contract; but all these could not prevent the noble lord from deciding in his own mind whether or not the principle of the Bill ought to be opposed.

Lord North said it was true the principle was plain in appearance, but the truth and propriety of the principle could only be ascertained by an examination of the parts, and this required time and study.

The Bill was ordered to be read a second time on the 2nd of March.

Debate in the Commons on the Vote of Thanks to Admiral Sir George Rodney.] Feb. 29. Lord North rose to move a Vote of Thanks to admiral sir George Bridges Rodney, bart. for his late signal services. The capture of the fleet of transports was not only of considerable importance to Great Britain from the value of it, but was rendered additionally so, because he was warranted to say, that the want of the stores on board those transports, was a matter exceedingly distressing to Spain. The late success of sir George Rodney against the Spanish admiral Langara, was still more signal and serviceable to his country, and although it was true that his fleet was superior to that of the enemy, there were circumstances attending the engagement, such as the exceeding tempestuous weather, a high sea, and a very

dangerous shore near at hand, that made the risk and difficulty even greater than the admiral probably would have had to encounter, if he had met and fought with a squadron superior to his own, and consequently reflected the greater honour on sir George, as an officer whose conduct was equal to his bravery, and whose judg ment and ability kept pace with his resolution and gallantry. In that action sir George had dispossessed the enemy of eight sail of the line, besides greatly disabling the rest of their squadron, and he had added five ships of the line to his Majesty's fleet at Gibraltar. He had also so effectually relieved that important fortress, that he might now venture to assert, it was put into such a state as would secure it from future danger. His lordship then moved, "That the Thanks of this House be given to admiral sir George Bridges Rodney, bart., for the late signal and important services he has rendered to his King and country."

Mr. T. Townshend seconded the motion. He had long had the honour to be intimate with sir George, and was well acquainted with his singular bravery and conduct as an officer, having been the person, on the capture of Martinico, who had made a similar motion in that House. He was glad, however, that the motion now was in better hands, and that it was made at that particular crisis, when every man must be ready to confess his admiration and gratitude for the gallant services which the admiral had rendered his country.

Lord Howe said, that upon the present occasion professional men could have but one opinion, and that was, that the admiral merited every mark of distinction and honour which that House could bestow. He would not go into a discussion of the particulars of the admiral's last action with Langara's squadron, but thus much he would say, that from the circumstances of it, sir George must have felt great uneasiness in his own mind in undertaking it, and could not have completed it in the brilliant manner in which he had the good fortune to finish it, without an uncommon degree of resolution and judgment. He therefore amply merited the gratitude of that House, and he was exceedingly happy to find the minister stand up immediately on the confirmation of the news, in the absence of the admiral, and do him justice in the face of a British House of Commons. Such conduct became ministers, and was due to those who were risking their lives