A learned serjeant (Best) had given notice of a motion on the subject of the eleventh report next week, and in adverting to the charge of notices that had taken place, his right hon. friend had only said, that it was impossible for the house to know whether the motion would be made for a committee or not.

The papers were then read by the clerk, and are as follows:

"Copy of a letter from the comptroller of the navy to the lords commissioners of the admiralty, dated the 22d of April 1805, on the subject of the evidence printed in the eleventh report of the Commissioners of Naval Enquiry:-together with copies of Mr. Grey felt it impossible to suffer the sundry papers therein referred to. Navy house to be led away by false impressions. office, 22d April 1805.-My lords, having He was sure the statement from the other read the eleventh report of the commisside was not correct relative to the order of sioners of naval enquiry; and thinking the the motions (on Thursday). He had himself evidence given by the earl of St. Vincent as suggested to move for the committee first stated in the appendix to that report, was and for the prosecution after. But he obser- incorrect, and likely to lead the public into ved a uniform endeavour to mislead the an opinion prejudicial to my official chahouse, that they who supported him opposed racter, that I kept his lordship in ignothe production of documents. God forbid! It rance of material transactions in my office; was to the manner of moving for the docu- I was desirous of being again examined, ments they objected. He was happy to and for that purpose I wrote to the comfind that no gentleman attempted to jus-missioners the following letter on the 1st tify the manner in which the hon. bart. had April; "gentlemen, having read your elebrought forward his motion. The report "venth report to the house of commons, had been printed on the 11th of March, and" and observing from the concluding part It was not till the 22d of April that the hon." of the appendix to that report, that the bart. wrote the letter to the admiralty; "earl St. Vincent declared before you, on the 25th he gave his notice, and on "that he had no knowledge of the transthe 26th he moved for its production." action therein alluded to, in respect to What was to be concluded, but that he" which, the sums of money therein menhad written the letter for the purpose of" tioned were severally issued; I beg having it produced to parliament ? "leave to be again examined before you

Sir A. S. Hamond said, he had lost upon that subject, in order that the tesno time. It was extremely late in March" timony I propose to give, may be made when the report had been printed, and the" a supplementary report. I have in my next day he wrote to the commissioners" possession such proofs as will convince of enquiry. As he held a high office, it" that his lordship was acquainted with was no slight matter that he should stand" those transactions; these proofs in jusright with his superior board. He had" tice to myself, I desire that I may be written his letter on the 1st of April, and" allowed to lay before you."-I attended delivered it with his own hand to the com- with the letter myself on the day it bears missioners. On the 17th he received the date, and having delivered it, I retired answer, and on the 22d he wrote to the into the next room to wait their pleasure admiralty. The documents were in the upon the subject of it; after waiting a regular form of documents from one board short time, I was informed that they would to another, and numbered from 1 to 10, send me an answer; and I received in conbeing letters from the secretary of state, sequence, the following answer, dated the and from the earl St. Vincent, and if the 17th instant. " Sir, we have received your secretary of the admiralty did not produce" letter of the 1st instant, respecting the them with the proper titles, it was not his " evidence given by the earl of St. Vinfault. The reading the papers would not" cent, entered in the appendix to our take up ten minutes, he should therefore" eleventh report; and proposing to us vote for the motion. "to re-examine the matters to which that

Mr. Kinnaird should not have risen, if it" evidence relates. We have very lately had not been for a personal allusion to" had occasion to decline resuming an enhimself. Previous to the motion which had" quiry after having submitted our report been observed upon, he had presented a upon the subject of it to the three branpetition from Mr. Tucker explaining the "ches of the legislature; and we do not nature of his grievance and the motion. any thing in the circumstances commuVOL. IV. 2 [I

"nicated by you, which requires us to for his sanction; and his answer was, that "adopt a different line of conduct."-lord Spencer had not mentioned any cirFeeling much disappointed at not having cumstance of the kind to him, or left any the opportunity of giving the explanation memorandum, having emptied his drawwhich I wished to the commissioners, and ers previous to his (lord St. Vincent) takbeing desirous that your lordships should fing possession of his office room. I then not remain in ignorance on this subject, I told his lordship, that it became my duty take the liberty of submitting to your lord- to inform him of various particulars that I ships the following statement and decla- considered absolutely necessary he should ration, which I should at any time be ready be acquainted with, I mentioned to him to verify upon my oath before the com- the circumstances under which the mermissioners, or in any other manner in chant builders were then going on with which it might be thought desirable that the 74-gun ships contracted for in 1800; I should swear to it. I have the honour that instead of having complied with their to be, my lords, &c. &c. (Signed) A. S. request to increase the price they had en Hamond." gaged for, I had been authorized by lord “Statement and Declaration.-On reading Spencer to give them assurances, that if the eleventh report of the commissioners they went on and built the ships accordof naval enquiry, and particularly the evi-ing to contract, their case should be fully dence given by the earl of St. Vincent, as considered, and a compensation made them stated in the appendix to that report, for their losses, if the same should be made which appears to me not to be correct; I appear to the satisfaction of the navy have judged it proper to make the follow-board; this, lord St. Vincent fully aping declaration. I declare, 1st, That I proved of at that time. I also informed have written documents in my possession his lordship, that Mr. Lindegren was em(copies of which are hereunto annexed)ployed as an agent to procure hemp for which appear to me to prove that his lord- the navy through the neutral merchants, ship had a thorough knowledge of one of (the Russian ports being then shut against the transactions; all knowledge of which this country); which his lordship also aphe has denied:-And, 2dly, I declare, proved of, and continued.-I stated likethat although I have no written testimony wise to his lordship, all the circumstances to prove that his lordship was actually ac- that had occurred in the change of the quainted with the other transaction set mode of paying the navy bill; shewing forth in that report; and also stated in what an immense saving it had been to the the appendix by his lordship to have been public; and the difficulties which arose unknown to him; yet that his lordship in 1797 in first getting the ninety-day bills was not unacquainted with its having taken into circulation; and informed him of the place; and the fact of his having denied expedient the treasury had been obliged the one, which is capable of distinct proof, to resort to for keeping up their credit, may tend to confirm my declaration upon when there did not happen to be money the other, as the same degree of forgetful-in the exchequer to discharge them.-And ness which occasioned his denial of the I do as confidently assert, upon the same one might occasion a similar mistake in principle, and either at the same time, his denial of the other. I therefore de- or shortly afterwards, I informed his clare, that feeling it to be my duty to take lordship of all the circumstances of the care that the first lord of the admiralty transaction relative to the issue of the should be informed generally of the trans-100,000 1. stated in page 491 of the comactions of my office, and particularly, of missioners' report, and which is described such as were out of the ordinary course by me to be of a nature not fit as yet to of proceeding; I took occasion not long be made the subject of a public report: after the earl of St. Vincent came into and I add now, that I not only am ready office as first lord of the admiralty, to ask to give to your lordships the most com his lordship if his predecessor lord Spencer plete explanation of the transaction; but had acquainted him with any services I subjoin to this statement and declaragoing on under the authority of his ap- tion a copy of a letter, which, though subprobation or order, that still remained un-sequent to my examination, yet previous executed, and to which I might have oc- to their making their report, I sent to the casion hereafter to call upon his lordship | commissioners of naval enquiry, tender

ing to give them also every information visable,under the present circumstances of upon that point, provided they would not the war, that an attempt should be made make it the subject of a public report; for carrying into execution the project sugand which letter, if they had added to their gested in the inclosed paper for choaking appendix would have shewn that it was up the entrance into the harbour of Bounot a transaction which I had any wish logne; and the success of such an enterto keep secret, except so far as the dis- prize depending in a great measure upon closure of it would be detrimental to the the secrecy and dispatch with which the public survice; and I do declare, that I preparations may be made; I have the believe, if the commissioners had entered king's commands to signify to you his ma into this examination, which I tendered jesty's pleasure that you do take these prein that letter, that they would have had parations under your immediate control, no difficulty in stating, that the reasons and that you do communicate confidenupon which I was desirous to observe this tially with Mr. supplying him with secrecy, were perfectly satisfactory and such funds, and giving him such orders for sufficient. And I do declare, that with the purchase of vessels, and providing the respect to the last issue of 30,000/ the or- stone and other materials which you may der for which is dated from the treasury judge necessary to be embarked, as shall on the 14th March 1801, it was consider- be requisite for accomplishing the object ed as forming a part of the above trans-in view. The advances you may have ocaction, and took place before Mr. Pitt casion to make for this service will herequitted office, although the bills were not after be replaced by the treasury. As actually passed until the 9th April, and therefore this particular issue was not distinguished by me, when I related the circumstance to lord St. Vincent. (Signed) A. S. Hamond. Navy Office, 22d April 1805."

soon as the vessels shall be sufficiently laden, you will give directions that they should proceed with all possible expedition to the Downs, where all further orders will proceed from lord Keith. I am, sir, &c. (Signed) Hobart. Sir A. S. Hamond, baronet, comptroller of the navy."

have the honour to be, sir, &c. (Signed) St. Vincent. Admiralty, 10 March 1804. Sir A. S. Hamond, baronet, comptroller of the navy."

"No. 1. Copy of a letter from Sir A.S. Hamond to Earl St. Vincent, dated Navy "No. 3. Sir, I have received your letter Office, 9th March 1804.-My Lord, As I of yesterday, inclosing an instruction had not the honour of seeing your lordship which you had received from lord Hobart this morning when I waited upon you at for the execution of a secret service, and the admiralty, I beg to inclose, for your which I have no doubt will be well perinformation, an order I received the 9th formed; but as the whole expense is to be of last month from lord Hobart; and to defrayed by the treasury, I do not see ocacquaint your lordship, that in conse-casion for any part of the detail being quence thereof I have forwarded the ser-submitted to the admiralty board. I revice therein mentioned as far as it was in turn herewith lord Hobart's letter, and my power, and that three ships fitted for the purpose have now sailed down the river to join lord Keith.-I beg further to acquaint your lordship, that I have avoided as much as possible taking any people) "No. 4. My dear sir, I hope you can or stores from his majesty's dock yards for report progress. I have not seen or heard this service; but, from the want of exer- from Mr. since I saw you; lord St. tion of the parties whom I was directed to Vincent approves much of the direction control, and from the necessity which being with you, and will himself write to existed for extraordinary dispatch, I have lord Keith when the preparations are suf been obliged to have recourse both to ficiently forward. Yours faithfully, J. Woolwich and Chatham yards, the parti-Sullivan. Downing Street, 18 Feb. 180+, culars of which shall soon be laid before Sir A. S. Hamond.' the admiralty. I have the honour to be, "No. 5. My dear sir, LordHobart begs my lord, &c.&c. (Signed) A. S. Hamond." me to say, that he hopes the vessel's ha"No. 2. Copy of an Order inclosed in ving taking the ground, is not an indicaSir Andrew Snape Hamond's letter of tion of her draught of water being too great the 9th March 1804, to the earl of St. for the proposed service. He is going to Vincent. Downing-street, 9th Feb. 1804. settle with lord St. Vincent a cut t ́e pro(Most secret)-Sir, It being thought adtections; and I am going to anange with

the treasury about the instructions to the in February 1804, namely, the project for Custom House. I am, my dear sir, faith-blocking up the harbour of Boulogne ; and fully yours, J. Sullivan. Downing Street, as I understood both from your lordship 21 Feb. 1804. Sir A. S. Hamond."

and Mr. Sullivan, that the plan had been "No. 6. DowningStreet, 23d Feb.1804. first submitted to lord St. Vincent, whose My dear sir, Lord Hobart proposes to opinion was, that if executed by the send a messenger to-night to lord Keith, smugglers themselves, there was reasonand hopes you will send your paquet to able ground to expect success, but not so, go by him. Lord St. Vincent's letter will if put into the hands of the officers of the accompany it. Mr. Frewin of the Custom navy; that it was in consequence of this House, assures me that surveyors are not opinion, that your lordship determined to sent on board ships unless notice is given employ Mr. to carry the project into that a drawback will be claimed for any immediate execution, to direct me to part of the cargo, or unless some suspi- take the preparation under my control, cion is entertained of fraudulent practice. and to provide naval funds for the exHe will be in the chair of the Custom pence thereof, as the more effectual means House all next week, and will see Mr. of keeping the exdedition secret, and and act upon any communication which was to be repaid by the treasury from him, if it should appear absolutely when the amount was ascertained.-As I necessary; but until the necessity shall find a considerable impression is made on occur, he is decidedly of opinion that it the public mind, that a transaction of this would not be advisable to give an order, nature should be carried on by the compbecause it would inevitably give publicity troller of the navy, without the knowledge to the business. Mr. Frewin has been of the first lord of the admiralty, I feel fully informed on the subject. I beg of myself under the necessity of requesting you to send me the original paper of your lordship will have the goodness to Mr. or a copy of it. I am, my dear furnish me with some document that will sir, &c. J. Sullivan. Sir A. S. Hamond." fully shew I was not guilty of that breach "No. 7. Downing Street, 26th March of my duty, which I cannot but think is 1804. My dear sir, Though the accom-intended to be imputed to me by lord St. panying are rather rejective, I have had Vincent. I have the honour to be, my some comfort from the report of who lord, &c. &c. (Signed) A. S. Hamond. arrived about an hour ago. He says, posi- The earl of Buckinghamshire, &c, &c. &c. posi-The tively, that the other pilots agree in opi-late lord Hobart." nion with that the project is practicable, and that if the ships should be placed in the proper births, they will produce all the effect we have been given to expect. will call on you. I have sent them to lord St. Vincent. Yours truly, (Signed) J. Sullivan. Sir A. S. Hamond, baronet."

and

"No. 8. Downing Street, 12th April 1804. My dear sir, When you have looked over the accompanying papers, have the goodness to return them to me. If you think yourself at liberty to give me a copy of captain Owen's letter, for the purpose of my shewing it to the first lord, I will thank you for it; I have shewn him in confidence the papers I now send you. Truly yours, (Signed) J. Sullivan. Sir A. S. Hamond, baronet."

"No. 9. Navy Office, 1st April 1805. My lord, As I find, upon reading the eleventh report of the commissioners of naval enquiry, that lord St. Vincent does not appear to recollect the secret service your lordship placed under my control

"No. 10. Grosvenor Place, 3d April, 1805.-Sir, I avail myself of the earliest opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 1st instant, which did not reach me until yesterday. In order to intimate for your satisfaction, that you had full authority from me to understand, that previous to any determination being taken, the project for blocking up the harbour of Boulogne had been submitted to the consideration of earl St. Vincent, and that he had approved of my suggestion to place the necessary arrangements for that service under your direction and control. have further to add, that I signified to you the king's commands for supplying such funds, and giving such orders as might appear to you requisite, with a view to the ultimate success of the undertaking. Informing you at the same time that the advances which you might have occasion to make for the service in question, would be hereafter replaced by the treasury, I have the honour to be, &c. &c. (Signed) Buckinghamshire. P.S. If it be intended that

I

those of a person unknown to me, and over whom, whilst money was at his command, I could expect to have but little control; I judged it most advisable to have the money imprested to Messrs. Hammersley, and Co. who have no other concern in the transaction than paying such bills as had my approval. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) A. S. Hamond."

On the motion for their being printed,

your communication to me, should be made that case I should consider myself not at a public document, I must request, for very liberty to make the communication without obvious reasons, that the name of the indi- first consulting the government. With vidual principally employed in the business respect to the 2d issue of navy bills to may be omitted. B. Sir A. S. Hamond, Messrs. Hammersley and Co., I beg leave Bt." to acquaint, you that lord Hobart, one of "No. 11. Navy Office, 30th Nov.1804. his majesty's principal secretaries of state, Gentlemen, Since my return to town, your signified to me the king's pleasure, that I precept to the navy board has been put should take under my control, and prointo my hands. I find the board has al-vide funds for the preparation of a project ready signified to you, that the navy nine-intended to be carried into execution on ty-day bills, mentioned in your said pre-the enemy's coast (a copy of which I have cept, on the days and for the sums parti- the honour to inclose in obedience to your cularized, were issued, by my written precept); and considering it more for the directions, to the committee of accounts, in interest of the public, that the funds should consequence of secret orders I had receiv-be in the hands of a banker, rather than in ed from government for specific purposes, and which were kept in my possession.I have now the honour to acquaint you, that the first sum stated in your precept, was issued by directions from the lords commissioners of the treasury, dated 4th October 1792, and marked most secret. The subsequent issues, viz. 22d November 1799, and 9th April 1801, were made by similar orders. The service for which these naval payments were made, was communicated to me in confidence, and I consider it to be of so delicate a nature, that although the late treasury board signified in a secret letter to me from Mr. Vansittart, dated 1st May 1804, "That "the individual in question had performed "the service for which the navy bills had "been issued, to their lordship's satisfaction, and therefore directed the navy "board to make out a clearing bill to dis"charge Mr, and his partners "from the responsibility of the debt to government;" yet I am decidedly of opinion, that even mentioning the name of the parties, with the sums issued to them at the particular periods before-mentioned, in any report to be laid before the public, would not only endanger the loss of a great part of the money to government, but would subject the party who had been employed to very great inconvenience.therefore submit these circumstances to your consideration, as I find it impracticable to give you a copy of the orders under which I acted, "omitting the secret "instructions respecting the services to be "performed," as they are contained in almost every line of the authority: I am, nevertheless, ready to lay before you, privately, all the papers relative to the transaction, provided I am assured that it is not to be publicly reported upon, as in

Mr. Tierney called the attention of the house to the papers. It was a direct and wilful perversion to call them papers that corrected the evidence of lord St. Vincent. That evidence stood unimpeached. The house had an interest in the character of lord St. Vincent, and his private friends had an interest. The charge here was no less than one of direct perjury. It was the general fate of all men in high situa tions to subject themselves to calumny, if they touched the work of corruption. He would aver, and that without fear of contradiction, that with regard to the secret expedition, lord St. Vincent never did give his sanction to it. Lord St. Vincent uniformly protested against the appropriation of naval money to any but naval services, or to other purposes than those for which it was voted by parliament. His lordship uniformly took care that not one farthing of the public money of his department should be misapplied. Lord St. Vincent never made any appointment of a single naval officer to the expedition, although he might have desired lord Keith to give it a convoy. The whole was left to the persons appointed by the treasury. The papers which were just read, had nothing to do with the charges against lord St. Vincent. By lord Hobart's letter, it appeared that the whole expence was to be defrayed by the treasury. Lord St. Vincent washed