§ Lord Althorp moved the Order of the Day for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of Supply.
§ Sir George Clerkbegged to ask the noble Lord, upon what plan he intended to proceed with regard to the Navy Estimates. He understood the right hon. Baronet, the First Lord of the Admiralty, did not intend to call for any money for the Naval Department for the present quarter, as there was a sufficient balance in hand to cover the expenses, and he (Sir G. Clerk) could not think it right to vote Estimates for five quarters when the funds already in existence were sufficient for one. The same remarks were applicable to the army; there was a large sum in the Exchequer remaining on account of that department. He wished to ascertain, therefore, whether it was intended to apply those balances to the service of the year?"
§ Lord Althorpreplied, that it would be necessary now to vote the supply for five quarters, and it was intended to apply the surplus to the aid of the Ways and Means.
§ Sir Henry Hardingethought that the mode of preparing the Ordnance Estimates ought to be adopted in the other branches of the public service. Whenever a balance occurred in that department at the end of 971 the year, it was placed to the credit of the 1 public, and applied to the service of the following year.
Mr. Humewas sorry to differ from the hon. and gallant General, but his plan would go to prevent the House from knowing what sums were really expended in each particular department. It was necessary they should know whether the amount expended was agreeable to the Estimates; and the simplest way of ascertaining that was, to keep the receipts and expenses of each department under separate heads.