§ The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, on the motion of Mr. Arbuthnot the following sums were Voted for the service of the ensuing year:—41,021l, 14s., 24,315l. 19s. 0½d., and 3,225l. 18s. for the Civil List Deficiencies; 5,454l. 9s. 5d. for Parliamentary Services; 10,000l. for the improvement of the communication between the counties of Edinburgh and Fife, in North Britain; 119,500l. for the French emigrants.
§ Mr. Whitbreadsaid, he had been applied to by a Mr. Remouy, a gentleman who was high in office in Toulon when the English were in possession of that place. He had rendered the greatest services to the fleets and armies of this country at Toulon. Among other things, he paid over a great portion of the aids to our government. This individual only received the small pittance of one shilling per day when the first came here. This allowance was afterwards raised to 100l. per annum, at which sum it still remained. Applications were made in his behalf to the Treasury by sir David Dundas and lord Nelson, who both had the highest opinion of his services, and his claims on this government for an augmentation of this sum; and the matter was referred to a Mr. Howard, who gave an opinion against the increase. Sir David Dundas afterwards gave in another representation, which was equally unsuccessful; and applications have been fruitlessly made to the Treasury every year since Mr. Remouy bore the most irreproachable character; he was 74 years of age, and his Wife 68; and at an age when the comforts of life were more especially wanted, he was not in the receipt of an allowance equal to the mere necessaries. An opinion had gone abroad among the public, that the distribution of the money voted to the emigrants was not made with sufficient care; probably, from those to whom it is entrusted being occupied with more important objects. Certainly there could not be among the emigrants a man more deserving of notice than M. Remouy. He had told that gentleman, when he mentioned his case, that if the representations of sir David Dundas and general O'Hara failed he (Mr. W.) had but little chance of succeeding; though it was but justice to state, that all applications made to the Treasury uniformly met 106 with the utmost attention. He merely wished now to call the attention of his Majesty's government to the case of this deserving individual.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerremembered more of the name than of the circumstances of the case. The matter had been referred to Mr. Howard, and the augmentation refused on the opinion delivered by that gentleman; The emigrants came into this country under various circumstances; and were the allowances to be regulated anew, a very different distribution would probably be made; for some who came first over were treated with a liberality that, if extended to all, would have entailed a very heavy burden on us and posterity.
§ Mr. Whitbreadthought if any exception could be made in favour of any individual, it ought in the case of Mr. Remouy.
§ The following sums were then Voted:
- 8,000l. for the St. Domingo sufferers.
- 3,500l. for the Dutch emigrants.
- 11,500l. for the Toulonese and Corsican emigrants.
- 19,000l. for the relief of American loyalists.
- 4,000l. for the Goree emigrants.
- 3,250l. for the relief of the French emigrants in Jersey and Guernsey.
- 5,000,000l. to pay off Exchequer bills issued in terms of the Act of the 53d of the King.
Mr. Baringwished to know why no statement was submitted to parliament of the sums expended on the new Customhouse?
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, no application was made to parliament for sums for the improvements at the Customhouse, and consequently no statements were laid before the House.
Mr. Baringsaid, the outlays were made from the customs, and consequently from the public revenue of the country. So important an article of expenditure ought to have the sanction of the House in some way or other.
§ Mr. Arbuthnotsaid, whether the practice was good or bad, it was one which had always been followed.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, one great reason for making this outlay without waiting for the sanction of parliament was, to prevent the public service being impeded.
§ Mr. Whitbreadsaid, the expence of the improvements at the Customhouse was defrayed out of the public revenues of the 107 country, over which parliament certainly had a right of control. The dilapidated state of the Customhouse having been known for many years, it was rather singular that no plan and estimate should be submitted to the House. A great many things of this nature had formerly been done, without the consent of control of parliament; for instance, barracks were at one time built without any communication to that House. It was said, that parliament had nothing to do with the matter. The House however, had thought proper to look a little more narrowly into those things of late years. He wished to know if the treasury had taken upon them to do what parliament had not done? If a plan and estimate had been submitted to them? and if it was known what the expence was likely to be?
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, a plan and estimate had been given in — the execution was thrown open to public competition, and fell considerably short of the estimate proposed.
Mr. Wynnesaid, the inconvenience to the public business would be nearly as great, in waiting the decision of the treasury as the decision of parliament.
§ The House then resumed, and the Report of the Committee was ordered to be received to-morrow.