when £250 at most, ought to have been is sued for the repairs of Sir Henry Mildmay's house, £643 were ordered to be issued, and we have nothing to make us believe, that that sum was not issued, a point upon which no member of parliament recollected to touch, but one which is well worth inquiring into.So, it is not surprising," that mistakes of this sort are made! Then we are in a comfortable way indeed! When we complain, that such enormous sums of the public money are expended upon salaries with scarcely any duty attached to them, "oh," say our enemies, but the respon"sibility Would you allow nothing for that? And when we discover that the money is wasted in the way now exposed, we are answered by merely saying it was a mistake, and that we ought not to be at all surprized at it. Surprized at it I am not; but, to be told, that I ought not to be surprized at it, is being a little too bold with my endurance. Mr. Sturges has complained of the Morning Chronicle for not inserting the speech of Lord Henry Petty, who acquitted him of any blame; but, of what consequence is this sort of acquittal-? At most it amounts merely to evidence to character; and, of that evidence every man will, of course, form his own opinion.--I do not wish to labour this point against Mr. Sturges. Here are the documents, and I wish to leave the reader to form his own opinion.-N. B. Sir James Craig's paper to the two Justices and the award of Jury are omitted, because the former is of no consequence at all in the consideration, and because the substance of the latter consists wholly in the dute of it, and in the sum awarded, the rest being a mere mass of verbosity and tautology. Extract of a Letter from Sir Henry Mildmay, Baronet, to the Quarter Master General; dated Somerset-street, May 15, 1804. The substance of my proposition is, that the house and stables should be appropriated to the residence of the staff which may reside in that district, and the rent which I annex to the occupation is four hundred pounds a year. I propose to leave in the house the whole of the furniture (with the exception perhaps of a few trifling articles) which I found there, which was always considered as fully sufficient for the use of the family who previously resided there.The term which I mean to let it is four years, or five, at the option of either party. I expect to be exempted from all taxes; and as the house is now in perfect repair, I think it reasonable, that, in case any dilapidations should arise, that government should undertake to replace them, Letter from Major General Brownrigg to Francis Moore, Esq. Dated Horse Guards, 16th May, 1804. SIR,I have it in command from his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, to request that you will call the attention of the Secretary at War to the following circumstances: A considerable extent of the entrenched camp at Chelmsford passes through Moulsham Park, a residence of Sir Henry Mildmay. This gentleman, by the will of a relation, was bound to residence; but being willing to accommodate. the public, he admitted of the works being constructed, and a general authority was given to the Commander in Chief by my Lord Hobart, to hire the house for the ac commodation of the general in command, and his staff,- -It was found this transaction could not be completed without an act of parliament, to exonerate Sir Henry Mildmay from the penalties attaching to nonresidence, according to the will of his relation. A bill has in consequence, been car ried through both houses, and I am commanded by his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief to request the authority of the Secretary at War to conclude this transaction, by hiring the house and furniture. för a period of four years, at the annual rent of four hundred a year, the terms which are specified in the inclosed extract of a letter from Sir Henry Mildmay. I have it further in command to observe, that, should the lieutenant general commanding in the district judge it expedient to fix his head quarters at Chelmsford, the amount of his lodg ing-money, and that of his staff (which will be saved by his occupying this residence) will be equivalent to the rent paid to Sir Henry Mildmay. But, should it be occupied by a major general, some unavoidable expence must annually accrue to the public. I have, &c.--(Signed) ROB. BROWNRIGG, Q. M. GI. Letter from James Johnson, Esq. to Lieut General De Lancey. Dated Barrack Office, 24th May, 1804. SIR,- -In obedience to your orders I proceeded to Moulsham, near Chelmsford, in Essex, the seat of Sir Henry Saint John Mildmay, Baronet; inclosed I transmit you the plans and particulars of the said preInises.The mansion is strong and well built; the roof is covered principally with patent slates, that continually let in the wet, of course it is a business that should be kept in repair by Sir Henry, as it is owing to the construction, and cannot be remedied; 'great part of the wood-work inside and out the house require painting; paring in the area center of the house requires re-laying, and making good, stone steps should be re-set, and made good with new; great part of the wood-work in basement story, such as floors, joists, skirting, &c. require immediate repairs, being rotted by damps; brick-work outside of house, garden walls, doors, doorcases, require repairs.Stable building: roof very bad, brick-work to external walls require making good, and settlements secured; floors in hay loft, and servants sleeping rooms very bad; it rains in in several places.The mansion is in general furnished, which may be more fully explained by inventory from Sir Henry Mildmay.-To put the house and offices into tenantable repair will cost the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds; the annual amount after will not exceed fifty pounds to keep them in repair. The taxes are supposed to amount to one hundred and forty three pounds. If the said premises are put in proper repair, and to include the twenty acres of pleasure ground, &c. round the house, as described on the general plan, I am of opinion, four hundred pounds per annum is a fair rent to give for the same, after Sir Henry has put the premises in repair. I have, &c.-JAS. JOHNSON. Arch. Letter from the Right Hon. Win. Dundas to Lieut. General De Lancey. Dated War Office, 11th June, 1804. SIR, Having communicated to Sir Henry Mildmay the report of Mr. Johnston, transmitted in Lieutenant Colonel Gordon's letter of the 29th ultimo, and Sir Henry Mildmay having offered to relinquish half a year's rent (£200) on condition that the repairs pointed out by Mr. Johnson should be executed at the expence of the public, I have thought it right to accede to this proposal, and am to desire that you will accordingly enter into an agreement with Sir Henry Mildmay, for the hire of the premises of Moulsham Hall for four years, charging the rent, taxes, and repairs thereof, in your accompts, and availing yourself, for the use of the public, of the advantage (if any) that may arise from the possession of the land attached to the said premises.- -I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, W. DUNDAS. Letter from Lieut. General Hewett to Major General Brownrigg. Dated Barrack Of fice, 27th Nov. 1804. SIR,--The expences which will attend the taking of Sir H. Mildmay's house ampunting to a sum beyond the latitude given by the Treasury to the present Barrack Master General, I am induced, previous to my transmitting it for approval, to observe, for his Royal Highness's consideration, that the situation and extensive scale on which it Estimate of Sir H. Mildmay's House. Rent Taxes 143 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 £643 0 250 0 0 Letter from Major General Brownrigg to the Barrack Master General. Dated, Horse Guards, 23d Jan. 1805. SIR, I have it in command from his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, to desire that the premises hired from Sir Henry Mildmay, near Chelmsford, may be put in a state of repair, to be occupied by the general and staff officers attached to the troops at that station. These repairs, as stated in your communication on this subject, will amount to two hundred and fifty pounds. I am further commanded to observe, as you remark upon the expence of these premises being disproportioned to the public utility which may be derived from them; that the agreement entered into by the late Barrack Master General was sanctioned on account of its being necessary to hire these premises, and in doing so, to remunerate Sir Henry Mildmay, whose resi dence had been destroyed by the field works which had been constructed in the immediate vicinity of the house.You will be pleased to direct a report to be made to Lieut. General Sir James Craig, when the building is in readiness to receive the officers he may direct to inhabit it.I have the honour to be, &c. &c.ROBERT BROWNRIGG, Qr. Master Gen. Letter from the Barrack Master General to William Huskisson, Esq. Dated, Barrack Office, 13th Feb. 1805. SIR,Inclosed is the copy of a letter from the Quarter Master General, notifying to me the commands of his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, to put in a state of repair the premises hired from Sir Henry Mildmay near Chelmsford, to be occupied by the general and staff officers attached to the troops at that station; but as the lease of the said premises was not signed by the late Barrack Master General, although possession was taken by placing a person in charge thereof, and the repairs, mentioned in Major Gen. Brownrigg's letter, executed, amounting to two hundred and fifty pounds, I have the honour, in conformity to the Treasury minute of the 6th Nov. (which precludes me from incurring any expence exceeding five hundred pounds, without the previous sanction of the lords commissioners) to request their lordships approval to complete the lease in question.--For their lordships further information, an estimate of the expence is herewith transmitted. Letter from William Sturges Bourne, Esq. to the Barrack Master General. Dated, Treasury Chambers, Feb. 26, 1805. SIR, Having laid before the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury your letter, transmitting a copy of one from the Quarter Master General, notifying to him the commands of his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, to put in a state of repair the premises hired from Sir Henry Mildmay, near Chelmsford, to be occupied by the general and staff officers attached to the troops at that station, and inclosing an estimate of the expences thereof, amounting to six hundred and forty-three pounds, and also requesting the approval of this board to complete the lease in question; I have received their lordships commands to authorise you to pay the said sum, and to complete the lease accordingly.-Iam, &c.-W. STURGES BOURNE! Examination of Sir Henry Paulet St. John Mildmay, Bart.; taken upon Oath, the 29th April, 1806. We have learned that a military work has been carried through your park at Moalsham, near Chelmsford; state under what authority was this done, what quantity of land the work occupies, and when it began?A. The land was taken under the.. authority of the Defence Act; the quantity now occupied is, I think, about thirty-two acres; it was originally only twenty-nine; the work began about the year 1803.Q. 2. What compensation have you received, or are you to receive, on account of this work being carried through your park ?—A. A jury was impannelled, who made an award to me of one thousand three hundred pounds for the first year, and six hundred a year so long as the land should continue in the occupation of government; and that govern- › ment, when they ceased to occupy the land, should restore it to its original state. I have understood, that the jury gave two hundred pounds per annum for the occupation of the land, and four hundred pounds per annum to provide me with another place of residence... The two hundred pounds a year is actually paid by me to my tenants.- Q. 3. Have you still the right to the feed of the land so occupied-A. It is a complete occupation on the part of government.- -Q. 4. Was the offer originally made by you to any public authority, to take your house at Moulsham, or was an application made to you for it ?-A. I made the offer, I think, to the then Deputy Barrack Master General. Q. 5. What was the reason of your making the offer?-A. From my having resided a good deal in Essex, I had seen the difficulty the different generals on the staff had of procuring residences, and, in consequence of repeated applications to me for the house from different general officers quartered at Chelmsford, I made the offer of it. Upon my making the offer to the then Deputy Barrack Master General, I was informed, that nothing could be done without a survey and report to him: some time afterwards I heard that a report had been made to him, and, in consequence of it, I was referred to General Brownrigg, and the Secretary atWar, who treated with me for the house and premises.- Q. 6. Was this your usual residence whilst in the country?--A. I was bound to reside there, by will, three months in the year, till relieved by an act of parlia ment, procured at the expence of govern ment, in consequence of the works erected, near it, as already stated.- -Q. 7., Is the land let with the house, stated to amount to near twenty acres, mere pleasure ground, of: -1 can it be applied to any useful purpose, con- & sistent with the terms of the lease granted by you?-A. It is partly pleasure ground; but, there is a large garden, partly inclosed, of about two acres, which I have no doubt would let for about eighteen pounds a year, including the gardener's house; besides which, there are about fourteen acres of very good pasture land, on which I have fatted sheep. The shrubbery consists of about two acres. -Q. 8. What will be the annual expence of keeping this shrubbery in proper order?-A. For perhaps half of what the garden might let for. -Q. 9. From whom do you receive the rent for the land occupied by the military work; and from whom for the house and premises?-A. For the land, from the Receiver General of the County of Essex; and for the house, from the Barrack Office.-Q. 10. Were any considerable repairs wanting to make the house habitable?-A. The house wanted painting; but I cannot conceive that it Svanted any considerable repairs, as three or four years before I had entirely new covered it.Sir Henry Mildmay having attended the same day to sign his examination, desired to add to his answer, No. 5, that the house was let furnished. H. P. S. MILDMAY. FOREIGN OFFICIAL PAPERS. TURKEY AND RUSSIA.-Manifesto of the Porte against Russia. (Concluded from Vol. XI. p. 1140.) When the Porte, with great propriety, requested of the Russian Minister at Constantinople, that these proceedings should be desisted from, an evasive answer was always returned, and no disposition whatever was shewn to make a becoming reparation.-The Couduct of the Court of Russia seems always to have been actuated by a spirit totally contrary to the terms on which she had allied herself to the Porte. Both empires had agreed that Russia had no superior control over the Republic of the Seven Islands, which had acknowledged the sovereignty of the Sublime Porte. Each power had given that Republic a guarantee. When circumstances required troops to be marched into these territories, both the allied powers were to furnish them jointly, and the constitution of the Republic 'was fully established, acknowledged and approved of by both powers. Notwithstanding this convention, the Russian Court sent as many troops as they pleased to these Islands; a constitution was framed at St. Petersburgh, and transmitted to this republic, the offices in which were filled up by Russia, as if it were a country which lawfully belonged to her. Besides all this, these Islands were made a receptacle for the Turkish subjects from Romelia, who were either secretly or publicly seduced from their allegiance; and protection has been thus held out to traitors of every description. Not satisfied with chis, there was no intrigue which was not resorted to against the ministers of the Sublime Porte in these islands and particularly against his Excellency Ali Pacha of Janina. The Sublime Porte has resolved to observe the most conscientions neutrality towards the powers of Europe now at war; and the Russian court, which observed none of the rules of neutrality, and also sought to destroy that of the Porte, abused the privilege allowed her of sending her ships through the Black Sea for the use of the Seven Islands alone. The Russians, by means of their emissaries, secretly collected troops in Albania, and transmitted them, by means of the above privilege of navigation, to Italy, without the knowledge of the Porte Russia seemed determined to disturb the peace of mankind, when she excited, by means of her emissaries, an insurrection at Montenegro, when she marched troops into the very heart of the Turkish capital, and committed a variety of other acts tending to provoke hostilities-With the same views, Russia published patents in the Provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia, and appropriated to herself inhabitants without number, under various pretended titles. She treated both these provinces as if they were her own possessions: her consuls took a share in their administration she pestered with constant complaints and hostile demonstrations the Hospodars who had been named by the Porte, and who did not fulfil her wishes, and openly protected all such as testified an adherence to Russia; so that the nomination by the Porte of the Hospodars of these two provinces became an object of derision.-Although every item of this conduct of Russia might be a justifiable ground for a declaration of war, yet the Sublime Porte always evinced the ntmost patience, not because she thought herself weak or incapable, but because she wished to conduct herself in the most friendly manner in respect to the subjects of both empires, and was anxious to avoid the shedding of human blood. We shall here give an example of this -The Sublime Porte lately dismissed the two Hospodars of Moldavia and Wallachia, in consequence of existing circumstances. The Russian government took offence that they were not con• sulted, and presumed to oppose this arrangement. Any longer indulgence to the taitorous Hospodar of Wallachin, whose perfidy had been sufficiently evinced on many occasions, would have been highly detrimental to the Porte, and if Russia had been apprized of his intended dismissal, the intelligence would have reached that Hospodar, which would have occasioned a great deal of confusion; on which account Russia was not informed until he was actually dismissed Some time afterwards, the Russian minister at Constantinople made a requisition to the Porte on behalf of his government, that these Hospodars should be restored, and he was commanded, in the event of a refusal, to leave Constantinople with all his suite, as he asserted in all his communications. He afterwards declared that his government did not seize this as a pretext to display the hos tile desigus imputed to it; but added, that the restoration of the Hospodars was the sole and true object of his government; and that if the Porte consented to it, all misunderstandings between the two courts would ceuse; and that as he was commanded to commanicate the result of this negotiation to the frontiers, he would immediately write on the subject. The Sublime Porte saw from this official declaration, that the Russian court sought a pretext for declaring war, and it was obvious from her unjustifiable and narrowminded arrogance, that her object was to blame, the Porte with the display of those hostile inteutions which she herself cherished. The Porte consented, though contrary to its interest, to restore the two Hospodars, in order that the Russian government might have no cause for complaint to the other powers of Europe.-It was for a while believed that Russia, ashamed of her conduct, had desisted from all intention of making war upon the Porte. Two months and a half thus elapsed without suspicions, when, at the very moment that every thing bespoke peace and friendship, Russian troops appeared on the Turkish frontier, while the inhabitants, as well as the Governors of Choczim and Bender, considered themselves in full security in consequence of the alliance subsisting between the two empires. The commanders of the Russian troops abused the confidence thus reposed in them as friends, and after practising every species of artifice, possessed themselves of these two fortresses, contrary to the law of nations, as respected by every civilized power.--The Sublime Porte, which had not been apprized of this invasion, required a declaration on the subject from the Russian minister at Constantinople: the latter repeatedly declared that he had written to his court of the restoration of the Hospodars, as well as that of the Russian consuls on the Daiester, by virtue of the dispatches he had received on these subjects; and that the recent advance of those troops was no consequence of the above proceedings; so far as he was concerned himself, he knew of no ground or any rupture, and his court had made no communication to him on the subject. As the Sublime Porte received the intelligence quite uneas pectedly of the hostilities of the Russians, by their occupation of the above fortresses, and the usurpation of the Turkish cities, they might have removed the Russian minister immediately from the capital; and al hough it would have been but fair to resort to usurpation against usurpation, yet the Sublime Porte, which had always evinced so much lenity, was unwilling that individuals should suffer from the inconvenience of war and therefore allowed the Russian minister a certain time in order to obtain from his court a declaration on the subject of these proceedings. The Ottoman Porte acted in this manner with the view of giving the court of Russia an opportunity of acting with seeming consistency in the eyes of other powers, and thinking she would, for shame sake, at last respect the laws of nations. But after waiting 30 days from the com mencement of hostilities, no answer was obtained from the Russian minister, except assurances that he had received no declaration from his court on the subject; and as the patience of the Porte was nearly exhausted, it would have been dangerous and detrimental to have granted any further delay. On the other hand, General Michelson had sent inflammatory proclamations to the judges and governors of Romelia, in order to seduce the Mussulmen, and to sow discord in the cities of the empire.-To conclude, the disgraceful conduct of Russia to the Ottoman court is without example, and will never be imitated perhaps by any other power. As the hostilities of the Russians have now openly commenced, every Mussulman is bound, by his religion and the law of na tions, to take vengeance on these perfidious enemies, against whom it has become necessary solemnly to declare war. The Sublime Porte places its whole confidence on the Almighty and avenging God; and in order to check the career of the enemy, it has become necessary to make exertions both by sea and land, to organize all our forces, and to act with energy and vigour. The Sublime Porte has therefore declared war, because its extraordinary lenity has only tended to increase the arrogance and usurpations of Russia. As the Sublime Porte has done every thing to conciliate, the Russian count will be answerable for the blood which must be shed, and the miseries which must befal mukind; and until the latter court is taught to respect her treaties and alliances, the impossibility of placing any confidence in her must be allowed by all nations who are guided by lenity and candour.-Although the above motives for going to war are there sult of transactions openly acknowledged by |