HC Deb 12 April 1809 vol 14 cc15-6

On the motion of lord Ossulston it was Ordered: 1. That there be laid before the house, a Return of all Offices regulated or abolished since the year 1782, in pursuance of the recommendation of the Commissioners of Accounts in 1787, or of the Committee of Finance in 1797, together with an account of such as have not been regulated or abolished in pursuance of such recommendation, distin- guishing with respect to these, whether they have not yet fallen in, or have since been filled up: 2. A Return of all such Offices in the appointment of the Lords of the Treasury, or in that of the Commissioners of Excise, as have been created since the year 1782, together with the date of the first appointment, and the authority under which it was made: 3. A Return of all such Offices upon the Establishment in the appointment of the Lords of the Treasury, or in that of the Commissioners of Excise, as were not included in the Returns to the Committee on the public Expenditure, as being in value under 200l. per annum, specifying only the description of the Office and the number of Offices of each description.—On the motion of Mr. Huskisson it was ordered: That the two Bills of Exchange for 50l. each, drawn by E. Farquhar, and which were produced in Evidence before the Committee appointed to examine into the conduct of his royal highness the Duke of York, be delivered to Mr. Charles Cookney, the attorney of captain Milbanke, to whom they belong.—On the motion of lord Folkestone it was ordered, that the several Papers relative to the Bankruptcy of Robert Kennett, which were likewise produced in Evidence before the said Committee, be returned to Mr. Duff.—Sir John Newport, pursuant to notice, moved, that there be laid before the house a Copy of the Order or Warrant appointing Beauchamp Hill, esq. Inspector-General of Excise in Ireland. The ground upon which he brought forward the motion was, that this gentlemen had admitted, in his examination before the Commissioners of Inquiry, that whilst he was an Inspector of Excise, he used to receive 20 guineas monthly from each distiller in his district. Such conduct rendered him unfit to hold any employment, and yet that gentleman had been since promoted to the office of Inspector-General of Excise in Ireland.— Mr. Foster and Mr. Croker did not mean to oppose the motion, but could not forbear to give testimony to the merit and activity of Mr. Hill as an Excise officer; at the same time, however, admitting that, in consequence of the smallness of the former salaries, not only he, but almost all the other officers of the Excise in Ireland, had been in the habit of receiving fees contrary to law, that practice was now at an end, and it was only in consequence of his exemplary activity that Mr. Hill had been promoted.—After a few words from sir John Newport, the motion was agreed to.—Sir John Newport then stated, that he had to move for one or two papers relative to the Linen Board in Ireland, in order to complete the series of papers already before the house. When these papers should be produced, it was his intention to bring the whole subject before the house, and to exhibit this Board and its constitution in their proper colours. The hon. baronet concluded with moving, "That there be laid before the house, copies of all Returns made by the Architect to the Trustees of the Linen Board, from the date of the Report thereon, together with an account of the money due to the artificers, and of other claims outstanding; also a copy of the Statement made in February or March last, relative to repairs, and an account of all outstanding demands upon the funds of the Linen Board." Mr. Foster did not mean to oppose the motion, but rose to vindicate the character of the Trustees of the Linen Board, which was composed of seventy-two of the most respectable of the nobility and gentry in the kingdom, if the terms used by the hon. baronet, that he would exhibit them in their proper colours, were meant to convey an insinuation of disrespect to that Board. Mr. Ponsonby observed, that he had the honour to be one of the Trustees of that Board, and had not taken any offence at the expressions used by his right hon. friend. The object of his right hon. friend, who had communicated some of his views to him, was to expose the defects of the board as it was at present constituted, and when the matter should be before the house, it would appear that the views of his right hon. friend were directed to the welfare of the country. The motions were then agreed to.