SHERIFFS appointed for the Year 1796.

Berks, Michael Anthony, of Shippon..

Bedfordshire, George Brooks, of Flitwick.

Bucks, Thomas Hibbert, of Chalfont-house.

Cumberland, James Graham, of Barrock-lodge, efqrs. Chefhire, the hon. Booth Grey, of Wincham.

Cambridge and Huntingdon, J. Gardener, of Chatteris. Cornwall, John Enys, of Enys, efqrs.

Devonshire, fir Bourchier Wray, of Tawftock, bart.

Dorfetfhire, Thomas Bowyer Bower, of Iwern-minfter, efq. Derby fhire, fir Robert Wilmot, of Ofmafton, bart.

Effex, Jackfon Barwis, of Marfhalls.

Gloucestershire, Samuel Peach Peach, of Upper Torkington. Hertfordshire, John Sowerby, of

Lilley.

Herefordshire, Abraham Whitaker, of Lifton.

Kent, John Mumford, of Sutton at Hone.

Leicestershire, James Richards, of Afhby de la Zouch.

Lincolnshire, William Earl Welby, of Denton."

Monmouthshire, Henry Barnes, of Monmouth.

Northumberland, Adam Mans field Lawfon Decardonnell, of Chirton.

Northamptonshire, Allen Edward Young the younger, of Or. lingbury.

Norfolk, Thomas Brown Evans, of Kirby Bedon.

Nottinghamshire, J. Wright, of Nottingham.

Oxfordshire, William Lowndes Stone, of Brightwell.

Rutlandfhire, R. Tomlin, of Edith Weston.

Shropshire, Ralph Leake, of Longford.

Somersetshire, John Tyndale Warre, of Heftercombe. Staffordshire, Henry Vernon, of

Hilton.

Refolutions refpecting a Negotiation with the French Republic, moved in the Houfe of Commons by Mr. Grey, Feb. 15, 1796.

HAT an humble addrefs be TH prefented to his majefty, ftating, that it is the wifh of this houfe, that his majefty may gracioufly be pleafed to take fuch fteps as to his royal wifdom fhall appear moft proper, for communicating directly to the executive directory of the French republic his majefty's readiness to meet any difpofition to negotiation on the part of that government, with an earnest defire to give it the fulleft and fpeedieft ef

fect

The above motion was rejected by a majority of 189 to 50.

Refolutions concerning the Public Expenditure, moved in the House of Commons, on the 7th of May, 1796, by Mr. Grey.

Refolved-I. That at all times, and under all circumftances, it is the indifpenfable duty of the house of commons vigilantly to fuperintend the expenditure of the public money, and strictly to inquire into the application of the grants made

by parliament to the fervice for which they have been voted.

II. That by an act paffed in every feffion of parliament, the particular fums granted for each particular fervice are specified, and the money that fhall be paid into the exchequer is appropriated to their difcharge; and that it is ftrict'ly directed that fuch aids and fupplies fhall not be applied to any ufe, intent, or purpose whatever, other than the ufes and purposes mentioned in the faid act.

III. That it appears from an account prefented to this house on the 21st of April, 1796, that the fum of 644,1061. 7s. gd. was then due to the feveral colonels or commanding officers of his majefty's forces, for net off-reckonings and clothing for the years 1794 and 1795, although by acts paffed in ed to difcharge the fame; and aland 1795, money was grant though the faid acts direct that the money fo granted fhall be applied in difcharge of the fame, and not otherwife.

1794

IV. That it appears from an acconnt prefented to this House on the 21ft of April, 1796, that the fum of 146,900l 12s. 4d. is now due to the general and staff-officers of

his majefty's forces for the years 1793, 1794, and 1795; although by acts paffed in the faid years, money was granted for the payment of the faid fum; and although the faid acts direct that the faid money, fo granted, fhall be applied in difcharge of the faid fum, and not otherwife.

V. That it appears from an account prefented to this houfe on the 21st of April, 1796, that the fum of 34,3131. 135. 3d. is now due to the feveral governors, lieutenant-governors, and other officers of his majesty's forces and garrifons in Great Britain, and parts beyond the feas, for the years 1794 and 1795, although by acts paffed in the faid years, money was granted for difcharging the faid fum; and although the faid acts direct that the money fo granted fhall be applied in difcharging the faid fame, and not otherwise.

VI. That it appears from an account prefented to this houfe on the 21st of April, 1796, that the fum of 31,0561. 9s. 9d. due to the general taff officers of his majesty's forces for the year 1794, was paid out of grants for the fervice of the year 1796, although by an act paffed in 1794, money was granted for discharging the faid fum; and although the faid act directs that the faid money fo granted fhall be applied in difcharging the fame, and not other wife.

VII. That it appears from an ac count produced to this houfe, on the 21ft of April, 1796, that the fum of 172,100l. due for off-reckonings to the 24th of December, 1794, and which remained due on the 21st of January, 1796, was difcharged out of the vote of credit granted for the exprefs purpose of defraying expences that may occur in 1796. By an act paffed in 1794,

money was granted for difcharging the faid fum; and although the faid act directs that the money fo granted fhall be applied in difcharge of the fame, and not otherwife.

VIII. That it appears to this house, that by an act paffed in the 23d year of his majesty's reign, for the better regulation of the office of paymafter-general of his majefty's forces, it is enacted, that no money for the fervice of the army fhall be iffued frora his majefty's exchequer to the paymastergeneral of his majefty's forces, or fhall be placed or directed to be placed in his majefty's hands or poffeffion; but the fame fhall be iffued and directed to be paid to the governor and company of the bank of England, to be placed to his account.

IX. That it appears to this houfe, from an account produced on the 22d of April, 1796, that in open contempt and defiance of the faid act, the fum of 430,200l. has been iffued directly to the paymaftergeneral of his majesty's forces, in exchequer bills on the vote of credit for 1796; and that a balance of 83,300l. was remaining uniffued in his hands on the faid 22d of April, 1796.

X. That it further appears to this houfe, that by the faid act, the paymafter-general of his majesty's forces is directed and required to form his memorials and requifitions to the treasury, and to iffue his drafts upon the governor and company of the bank of England, upon the 24th day of June, and 24th day of December, in every year, in equal payments, to fuch perfon or perfons as have a regular affignment from the feveral colonels, lieutenant-colonels, commandants, majors, and captains commandant, (F 2)

and

and captains, for the monies appropriated for the clothing of the non-commiffioned officers and private men of his majesty's regular forces.

XI. That it appears to this houfe, that the fums of money appropriated for the clothing of his majefty's regular forces, and which, according to the provifions of the faid act, ought to have been iffued on the 24th of December, 1794, the 24th of June and 24th of December, 1795, had been diverted to other purposes and still remained due on the ift of January, 1796, in open contempt and defiance of the faid a&t

XII. That it appears that an account is annually prefented to this houfe, fhewing how the money granted for the fervice of the preceding year has been difpofed of, diftinguished under the feveral heads, and the parts remaining unfatisfied with the deficiency thereupon.

XIII. That fuch account was

intended to be what in its title it profeffes to be, a real account, thewing how the money given for the fervice of the year had actually been difpofed of, in order that the houfe of commons might be informed of the state of the public expenditure, and fatisfy themselves as to the application of the money voted, to those fervices for which it had been granted by them.

XIV. That an account, of the above defcription, has been prefented to this houfe, in each of the years 1794, 1795, and 1796, in which the money granted for the fervices of each year is ftated to have been applied to the fervices for which it was voted by parliament, although it now appears from accounts fince prefented to this houfe, that the fum of 644,1961.

granted for off-reckonings for the year 1794, and 1795; the fum of 146,9col. granted for the pay of the general and staff-officers of his majefty's forces for 1793, 1794, and 1795; the fum of 34,3131. granted for the pay of the feveral governors, lieutenant-governors, and other officers of his majesty's forces in Great Britain and parts beyond the feas, for the years 1794 and 1795, and feverally stated to have been difpofed of for those fervices, ftill remain unfatisfied.

XV. That in the instances above mentioned, his majesty's minifters have been guilty of prefenting false accounts, calculated to mislead the judgment of this house, of a flagrant violation of various acts of parliament, and of a grofs mifapplication of the public money.

The above refolutions were negatived by a majority of 209 to 38.

Refolutions concerning the Public Expenditure, moved in the House of Lords, on the 2d of May, 1796, by the Marquis of Lanfdown.

That as we fee no effectual steps taken to realife thofe measures of reform, for which the prefent minifters, at their entrance into office, food ftrongly pledged to the pub. lic, or thofe earnestly recommended in the reports upon the table, by two boards of commiffioners, both appointed by parliament,

It is incumbent on this houfe to inquire into the cause of so extraordinary an omiffion, as well as,

Whether any new offices have fince been created?

Whether any old falaries have been increafed on flight pretences?

Whether any

falaries have been granted