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They refer to the letter of Mr. Hamilton, the under secretary of state, of the 22d May 1815, in reply to a letter from Mr. Arbuthnot, for the footing upon which it is proposed, by the Secretary of State, in future to place the Foreign Ministers of this country, and the new regulations suggested respecting them.

Your Committee refer to the Report of the Committee upon the Civil List, of the 21st July 1813, p. 6, for the footing on which the Foreign Ministers in the Peninsula have been placed, with regard to the allowance of their whole expenses, and for the opinion, there expressed, as to the propriety of discontinuing that mode of payment, so soon as the circumstances should alter. The only additional remark which now suggests itself is, that the bills and vouchers for the extraordinary payments of these and all other foreign ministers, when sent to this country, are examined in the office of the Secretary of State, and signed, after examination by the Under Secretary; it may be further proper to observe, that it has been usual for some clerks in the same department to be employed as agents by several of the Foreign Ministers and Consuls, for the receipt and remittance of their money; but it appears that none of the same persons have had any share in examining or passing any of their bills and vouchers.

FOURTH CLASS.

Bills in the Department of the Lord Chamberlain, including the Office of Works: Lod Steward: Master of the Horse; and Master of the Robes.

As a considerable increase of expenditure has taken place in this class, the Committee have thought it their duty to examine minutely into the extent and nature of that increase; and various accounts explanatory of it have been laid before them.

The estimate of the Committee of 1804, for the Lord Chamberlain's Department, was 65,000l. per annum; the annual expenditure, for the three years preceding 1804, had been 83,000l.; and the actual expenditure, upon the average, to July 1811, was 122,640l.

This expenditure is divided into the Board of Works, and into the Lord Chamberlain's, Jewel, and Wardrobe Offices. The estimate of 1804, for the Board of Works, was 32,000l.; the expenditure for three years preceding had been 42,6651.; and the actual expenditure upon the average of seven years to the 5th July 1811, was 65,420/. The estimate of 1804, for the Lord Chamberlain's, Jewel, and Wardrobe Offices, was 33,000l.; the average of the three preceding years had been 40,786l.; and the average annual expenditure for seven years, to July 1811, was 57,2201.

From the 5th of April 1812 to 5th April 1813, the expenditure of this Department

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Making a Total of.........

£147,720

145,693
251,798

....... £ 545,211

or, upon an average, 198,250l. per annum; exceeding the actual expenditure of the average of seven years to 5th July 1811, by about 75,600l. The average expenditure for this period of the Board of Works has been nearly the same as that of the seven years ending the 5th July 1811, viz. 64,500l.; the whole excess of 75,600l. therefore, has been incurred in the Lord Chamberlain's, the Jewel, and Wardrobe Offices.

With respect to the Board of Works, it is to be observed, that in the expenditure are included two sums, one of 28,000l. for the temporary room at Carlton-house, and another of 22,600l. for permanent additions to that palace. Without this extraordinary expenditure, this branch of the Lord Chamberlain's Department would have been considerably less than the average of seven years to 5th July 1811. The whole of this branch has been since taken from the immediate control of the Lord Chamberlain, and put under new regulations, in pursuance of an Act 54 Geo. 3, cap. 157.

The excess of 75,600l. in the Lord Chamberlain's, the Wardrobe, and Jewel Offices, requires explanation, as that to which the attention of the House will be particularly called; and for that purpose an account is subjoined, showing in detail the particular items of the whole expenditure.

It will appear from this account, that a large expense has been incurred for the articles of plate, furniture, and jewellery. A part of this expense may be considered as in some degree connected with the Royal Visitors, who honoured this country with their presence in the course of last year. Furniture to the amount of nearly 35,500!.

was provided exclusively for their accommodation, which sum is included in the accounts of this department; and nearly the whole of this furniture is now in store in St. James's Palace, or in some of the residences of the Royal Family, with the exception of that which was put into the houses of the commissioner and lieutenant-governor of Portsmouth, which has been claimed by these gentlemen as perquisites of office.

The attention of the Committee of 1812, was directed to the expense of altering or of furnishing the apartments of the Royal palaces occupied by the younger branches of the Royal Family; and they suggested, that such charges ought either to be entirely discontinued, or be permitted to occur only on very particular occasions. This suggestion appears to have been attended to, and the expense recently incurred on this head has been inconsiderable.

THE LORD STEWARD.

The estimate of 1804, for this Department, was 75,000l.; the average annual expenditure for 7 years to 5th July 1811, was 105,4001; and the expenditure since the 5th April 1812 has been,

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Making a total of ......

£74,823

89,574

113,754

£278,151

or upon an average of 101,150l., being a saving of about 4,000l. perannum, as compared with the 7 years average to 5 July 1811. In this Department, expenses were incurred on account of the Royal visit, in the quarter ending 5th July 1814; which, in the accounts submitted to Parliament in the last session, were estimated at 50,000l. but which actually amounted only to 39,000l. which being deducted from the expenditure in the last 2 years, would reduce the average of that expenditure to 85,300l. This reduced expenditure has been effected by abolishing in a great degree, allowances of meat, wine, and other articles supplied under the head of Livery, as suggested in the report of the Civil List Committee of 1812, and making pecuniary payments in lieu thereof, and by other economical arrangements adopted in this Department. It is however, at the same time to be observed, that the King's family, at the period of this comparison, was more numerous than that of the Prince Regent.

MASTER OF THE HORSE.

The estimate of 1804, for this Department, was 30,000l. The annual expenditure in the 7 years ending 5th July 1811 was 29,3981., being a saving of 600l. per annum; and the expenditure since 5th April 1812 has been, for

One year to 5th April 1813
Ditto..... 5th April 1814
3-quarters to 5th January 1815

Making a total of

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.....

£ 47,885

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or, upon an average, per annum 57,5901.; being an exceeding over the actual expenditure for 7 years ending 5th July 1811, of 28,2001. per annum : but an expense was incurred in this Department for the Royal Visitors, of about 30,000l.; which being deducted from this expenditure would leave an excess of about 17,000l. per annum over the average expense of the 7 years ending 5th July 1811.

This excess is to be accounted for, from the Stable Establishment being larger since the commencement of the Regency than it was in latter years under his Majesty, and from the purchase of horses, which in the course of the last two years and three quarters amounted to 19,3591. A comparison has been made between the number of horses now kept by his royal highness the Prince Regent and by his Majesty, between the years 1792 and 1797.

In this Department, a part of the increased expenditure arises from the establishment of a stud at Hampton-court, the net charge of which, in the year ending 5th April 1815, amounted to 3,230l. The original estimate for the formation of the paddocks and stud-houses, including repairs and fencing, as authorized by Treasury letters, was for 23,834, and the amount already paid has been 22,2771. out of the revenues of the Woods and Forests.

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The Committee think it right to state, that, till within these few years, his Majesty had a stud, which in latter years had been discontinued.

It is not necessary to observe particularly upon the Department of the Master of the Robes. The estimate of 1804 was 2,5051.; it appears to have increased to 3,9421. in the year ending the 5th of April 1814, owing to the general increase in the price of the articles furnished under this head.

The Whole of the FOURTH CLASS.

The whole expenditure of this Class, for seven years to 5th July 1811, was
In the Lord Chamberlain's Department

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£ 393,701

457,924

6,902

858,527

737,767

205,789

17,453

Making a total of

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being at the rate of 259,9331. per annum.

The expenditure in two years and three quarters to 5th January 1815, was, for

The Lord Chamberlain's Department...........

Works .......

Miscellaneous

Lord Steward..............

Master of the Horse....

Robes.........

£. 362,674
176,480

6,057

545,211

278,151

158,362

10,819

Making a total of......... £.992,543

and being at the rate per annum of 360,9241.; exceeding the annual average of seven years to 5 July 1811, by about 100,000l.

From this Excess, the expenses of the Royal Visitors; viz.

In the Lord Chamberlain's Department, about...............£. 35,500

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being deducted, would reduce the gross expenditure to 858,000l. or to an average of 312,000l.; making an exceeding of 52,000l., per annum, as compared with the average expenditure of seven years, to 5 July 1811.

In stating the general expenditure of this class, it is to be observed, that in the Course of the two years and three quarters which have elapsed since the 5th of April 1812, an expense has been incurred from the particular circumstances of the times, for plate to ambassadors, &c. over the average rate of expenditure for the seven preceding years, amounting nearly to 26,000l.; and the expenditure on account of her royal highness the Princess Charlotte, in the departments of the Lord Steward and the Master of the Horse, has amounted to about 10,000l. The amount in the Lord Chamberlain's Department cannot be precisely ascertained.

It is probable also that some other expenses, which could not be distinguished with sufficient accuracy, may have been occasioned by the Royal Visitors; but the exceed. ing being very considerable, the Committee endeavoured to obtain further information respecting the circumstances of this expenditure.

The Committee have received information, from two letters from the secretary to the commissioners appointed to ascertain and settle the claims upon his royal highness the Prince of Wales, that the sum of 100,000l., granted to his Royal Highness by the Act, 52 Geo. 3, cap. 7, "for defraying the expenses incident to the assumption of the personal exercise of the Royal authority," had been made over to the commissioners, and had been employed in the discharge of engagements contracted chiefly in the year during which his Royal Highness had exercised the authority of Regent under restric

tions. If this sum, together with the expense incurred on account of her royal highness the Princess Charlotte, and the exceeding in the expenditure for plate to ambassadors, &c. as above stated, were deducted from the total amount of the exceeding in this class for two years and three quarters, from the 5th of April 1812 to the 5th of January 1815, a very small excess would be left upon the whole of this class.

FIFTH CLASS.

Salaries, in the Department of the Lord Chamberlain; Lord Steward; the Master of the Horse; and the Master of the Robes.

The estimate of 1804 was 98,5421.; the average expenditure to 5th July 1811, was about 102,300l.; and the average expenditure of two years and three quarters, to 5th January 1815, 111,630l. This increase has been occasioned by placing the servants at Carlton-house and Brighton upon the establishment, and by transferring the officers in the Lord Chamberlain's Department from the seventh to this class.

The Committee are of opinion, that all compensations in lieu of offices abolished, belonging to the fourth class, should be transferred to this class; so that the whole expenditure may be seen at one view. The estimate for such compensations, in 1804, was 11,258.; to 5th July 1811, average about 10,100l.; and to 5th January 1815, 11,6441. This increase has been occasioned by the superannuation of several persons, who had spent many years in his Majesty's service.

SIXTH CLASS.

Pensions.

The Committee having suggested, that the compensations in the departments above mentioned, and the pensions to foreign ministers, should be transferred to the classes to which they appear to them more properly to belong; this class will be confined to those pensions which have been considered as regulated by 22 Geo. 3, cap. 82, sect. 17; the amount of which pensions was limited by that Act to the sum of 95,000l. per

annum.

The pensions consist of those formerly paid by the Treasury, by paymaster of pensions; by sign manual; by patent; to the servants of the late queen Caroline and late Princess of Wales; and contingent pensions.

The estimate of their amount, for 1804, was 92,5821.; the average payments to 5th July 1811, amounted to about 86,400l.; and the average of the two years and three quarters, to 5th January 1815, to about 87,160.

By the foregoing statement it will appear, that the actual payments upon this class have not amounted either to the sum to which it was limited by the Act of 22 Geo. 3, or to the estimate of 1804; but as it has been the practice, very properly, to include in the gross amount the contingent pensions granted upon this fund, the payments on this account will generally be less than the amount limited by the above Act. The whole charge, including contingent pensions, amounted, on the 5th day of January 1815, to about 94,2001.

SEVENTH CLASS.
Salaries and other Payments.

This class consists chiefly of fixed salaries or payments, and requires little observation; the payments in the estimate laid before the Committee, are classed more correctly than in former accounts. The estimate of 1804, exclusive of the salaries of the Lord Chamberlain's department, included in this class, was 48,3391. The average expenditure to 5th July 1811, was 48,710., and the average to 5th January 1815, 46,4641. The variation arises chiefly from the transfer of some of the salaries to other departments, with which they are more immediately connected.

EIGHTH CLASS.

Salaries of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

No alteration has taken place in this class; and the expenditure, except in cases of vacancies for short periods, has been equal to the estimate.

OCCASIONAL PAYMENTS.

Under this head, the estimated sum taken in 1804 was 139,7371.; the average ex

penditure to 5th July 1811, was 187,000l.; and the average of two years and three quarters, to 5th January 1815, was about 323,270l.

So large an exceeding requires to be particularly examined and explained.

The extra disbursements of Foreign Ministers were stated only at 10,000l. per annum in the estimate of 1804, on the average of seven years to 5th July 1811, they amounted to 54,700.; and the annual amount, from 5th April 1812, to 5th Jan. 1815, has been 131,3961.

It is obvious, that this charge is not reducible to precise estimate at any time. The period of 1804, from the state of the Continent, rendered it peculiarly difficult to judge of the future expenditure, and the estimate then formed had as little reference to the actual expenditure of former years, as it could have to more recent times. The actual expenditure of 1801 was 41,4861.; of 1802, 26,3301.; and of 1803, 40,7381.

The presents to Ministers of Foreign Powers were estimated, in 1804, also at 10,000l.; average expenditure of seven years to 5th July 1811, 14,200l.; average of two years and three quarters to 5th January 1815, about 27,000l.; the average of three years prior to 1814 had been about 14,000l.

Equipage to our Ministers at Foreign Courts :-Estimate 1804, 4,000l.; average of seven years to 5 July 1811, 4700l.; of two years and three quarters, to 5th January 1815, 94721.

Special Service and Royal Bounty:-Estimate of 1804, 12,000l.; annual average to 5th July 1811, 23,000l.; average from 5th April 1812 to 5th January 1815, 24,8647. But in this average is included 40,0451. for Works in St. James's, the Green and Hyde Parks, connected with the celebration of the peace in August 1814; this sum being excluded, the amount of this charge would very little exceed the estimate of 1804, and would be considerably less than the average to 5th July 1811.

It does not seem necessary to enter particularly into the item of Messengers, the amount of which must necessarily be very uncertain, or into the contingencies or deficiencies of fees of the Treasury, or offices of the Secretaries of State, or Counciloffice; the increase of public business seems to account for some increase under these heads of expenditure.

The Committee refer to the account presented to the House 20th March 1815, for the further particulars of items belonging to this head; and for the purpose of carrying their general intentions into effect, they recommend that the Civil List be relieved of all that belongs to it which is uncertain and fluctuating, and that it be confined to those special payments only, which are of a fixed nature; this will reduce the future expenditure to about 35,000l.; and they suggest, that the other items which have been heretofore included under the head of Occasional Payments, be submitted annually to Parliament, with a particular statement of the circumstances which have given rise to each article of expenditure.

In withdrawing these articles of uncertain and occasional charge from the Civil List, and recommending that they should be annually voted, by estimates laid before the House, with such explanations and particulars as may be necessary, your Committee venture to suggest, that some economical regulations, particularly as to the charge of Messengers, might perhaps be resorted to, not only without inconvenience, but even with advantage to the punctuality and expedition of that service, to which the notice of the departments of the Secretary of State and Treasury cannot be too soon directed.

Since the accounts to the 5th January 1815, were presented to the Committee, upon which the foregoing observations are founded, a further account of the expenditure of the Civil List, for one quarter to the 5th April 1815, has been referred to them. By this account, the total expenditure for the quarter, appears to amount to 382,1764; and the total income to 368,8191.; only leaving a deficiency of 113,3561.

The Committee have examined and compared this account with the accounts before referred to them; and it appears, that the charge in respect of the first and second Classes, is entirely in conformity with the charges in the former accounts.

The charge for the third Class amounts to 42,851.; which, although considerably more than the average charge for the two years and three quarters to the 5th Jan, 1815, is very little more than the actual charge for the last quarter of this period; the great increase under this head having taken place since the 5th April 1814, in consequence of the general state of our foreign relations.

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