the time of the delivery of this proposal, it could be no secret to Mr. Burrell and Mr. Bristow that the exchange from Jamaica was 1401. for your committee find in the minutes of a court of directors of the South-Sea company, when Mr. Burrell sub-governor, and Mr. Bristow deputygovernor, were present, the following order:

Friday, March 16, 1738-9. Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of correspondence to consider, and report their opinion concerning the exchange from Jamaica, which is now at 140l. for 100. sterl. and yet the company are not credited for the dollars, pistoles, and bar-gold, more than when the exchange was at 135 per cent.'

The circumstances which preceded and occasioned this extraordinary transaction, as far as your committee have been able to trace them, are of a very singular nature; for it appears by the examination of captain Alexander Wilson, who was agent to lord Cathcart, when he was preparing for the expedition to the West Indies, That in May or June preceding this contract, the paymaster-general communicated to lord Cathcart a method of paying the troops, which his lordship approved of; this was by sending a sum of money by the deputy-paymaster, who was to attend the expedition, and impowering him to draw what Bills should be necessary, and directing the troops to be paid at Jamaica, at such a rate of exchange, as should appear to lord Cathcart and the superior officers to be most advantageous to the troops; and it being intimated some time after to lord Cathcart, that a contract for paying the troops, at 1207. Jamaica money, for 100l. sterl. was then depending before the treasury, he immediately procured a meeting with Mr. Hanbury Willliams, paymaster of the marines, Mr. Burrell and Mr. Bristow, with a view, if possible, to get the troops paid in a more advantageous manner, for he did not apprehend the contract was at that time passed.

At this meeting he mentioned the inconveniencies which might arise from the paying the men at a rate so much lower than the known exchange, and the danger there was from what he had observed abroad, of its producing discontents and mutiny; and after several arguments raised on both sides, their meeting ended on Mr. Burrell's or Mr. Bristow's declaring, that they had made an agreement

with the treasury already, on the terms of 120l. Jamaica money for 100. sterl. and that they could not do it for less profit.

From the examinations of Mr. Burrell and Mr. Bristow, it appears, that they applied for this contract to the earl of Orford, and to no other person; for when it was publicly known that the troops were going to Jamaica, Mr. Burrell acquainted the said earl, that he had correspondents in Jamaica, on the South-Sea company's account, who were men of great credit, and had the greatest command of money of any in the place, and he thought, if money was wanted there, he could supply that afterwards, considering the great imthe government as well as any body; and portance of the affair, he thought it too much hazard for himself alone, and mentioned it to Mr. Bristow, and they together settled the terms of their proposal; and about the month of June, 1740, the parliament being then prorogued, they waited on the earl of Orford, and proposed to him the same terms, which were afterwards agreed to by the treasury; the said earl asked them if these were the lowest terms, and hoped they would not ask more than was reasonable, or what any body else should complain of; that he would not take it on himself, but desired them to make their proposals to the treasury, which seems to your committee to have been entirely matter of form; for it appears, that when this proposal was accord, ingly delivered to the treasury, the gentlemen cannot recollect to whom it was delivered, nor when, nor by whom they were informed of its being accepted; nay, one of the gentlemen even does not remember, whether they themselves went with the proposal when it was presented.

And your Committee having also examined Charles Hanbury Williams, esq. a member of this House, touching the con. versation that passed between Mr. Burrell Mr. Bristow, and lord Cathcart, at Mr. Williams's office, have also added his examination to the others in the Appendix, to which they beg leave to refer.

Your Committee cannot find that any notice or intimation was given to any person, except what passed between the earl of Orford and the contractors, as is before mentioned, of the intention of the treasury to make this contract; for it appears by the examination of James Knight, esq. that when he heard the troops were going to Jamaica, and was told the trea

half in moidores, 100%. sterling so sent would have produced 141. Jamaica currency, which is only 2. 10s. Jamaica currency less than moideres alone would have produced.

sury would contract with private persons for paying them, he did himself intend to make an offer of furnishing the money, but in a very few days after, he heard the treasury had agreed with Mr. Burrell and Mr. Bristow, at the rate of 120l. and he did not believe the treasury ever gave any notice of their intentions to make any such contract. That what he expected was not a formal public notice, but that it should have been communicated to merchants, as he has heard has been practised in queen Anne's wars, and had this been done, he believes several besides himself would have proposed, and that he himself would have furnished the money at 130. per cent. for 100. sterling, and should have thought it a good bargain, provided he could have had the same money advanced to him which he has heard was advanced to Mr. Burrell and Mr. Bristow; that after the first difficulty, which would be on the arrival of the troops, was over, he did not doubt but he could have contracted with the people of the island to furnish the money at the rate of 137, and if the whole money was advanced to him here beforehand, and he was only to send it over and furnish it at Jamaica at the rate of 130l. per cent. he thinks he should make 12, or 15 per cent. per annum of the sums he furnished, by returning the same money twice a year.

This led your Committee into a computation of the profits which might have been made on this contract, which they conceive to stand thus: if the value of 100%. sterling be sent to Jamaica in moidores, it appears they will produce 1437. 10s. Jamaica currency; but by this contract, only 1207. Jamaica currency was to be paid at Jamaica for every 100l. sterling received here: to this 120l. Jamaica currency, all the necessary charges must be added, which your committee conceive to be 17. per cent. commission, 24 per cent. insurance, 1. per cent. freight, and per cent. for the charges of shipping; in all, 4/. 15s. per cent. which on 1204. Jamaica currency, is 5l. 14s. of the same currency, in all 1257. 14s. Jamaica currency. So that the profit to be made on sending moidores, was the difference between 125l. 14s. and 1437. 10s. which is 17. 16s. Jamaica currency, or 121. 8s. 1d. sterling out of every 100l. sterling, which is 14l. 3s. 2d. 4 per cent. sterling. And your Committee observe that if half of the sum sent had been in six and thirty-shilling pieces, and only

And your Committee cannot help observing, that if the treasury had thought fit to send in moidores to Jamaica, on the account of the public, the same sums of money which they actually advanced to the contractors, then every 100%. sterling so sent would have produced 143/. 10s. Jamaica currency, except what may be allowed for insurance, which your committee is informed amounts to about 24 per cent. on money sent by ships of war. Nor could frequent opportunities have been wanting of sending, on board his majesty's ships, such farther supplies of money as might at any time have been necessary for that service. But if it had been thought more advisable to have sup plied part of this expence by draughts from thence, there can be no doubt but that the deputy-paymaster being furnish, ed with a proper proportion of specie from hence, would have been able to keep up the exchange at 140%. and in that case no charge would have attended that part so supplied.

It further appears, that in the course of this affair, and before the departure of lord Cathcart, still greater indulgences were granted to the contractors; for by their first proposal the sum of 27,0004 only was to be advanced them by the treasury before the departure of the troops, but the subsequent payments were not to be made to them till they produced the deputy-paymaster's bills or receipts: and yet on the 30th of September following, which was before the departure of the troops, 12,000l. was further advanced to them by the paymaster-general, for their bill of that date; and on the 1st of October 9,500/. more was advanced to them by the paymaster of the marines, for their bill of the 30th of September; and on the 23rd of December a sum of 12,000l. was advanced by the paymaster-general, for their bill of that day's date; and on the 6th of January, a farther sum of 9,000l. was advanced by the paymaster of the marines for their bill of the 31st of December. All in consequence of minutes of the treasury.

Here your Committee cannot help observing that the paying thesc sums amounting to 42,500l. over and above the 27,000l. originally advanced before there had been

Mr. Burrel said, he did offer the half of his share to his brother, and a gentleman engaged in business with them, but they thought it too great a risk for them to run: he likewise mentioned it to another gentleman (whom he did not name) who would not accept of it, that these refusals were very early, before any thing was done in it, more than passing the contract, and that he mentioned them, to shew that he thought he had no great bargain of it. And from the examination of Mr. Burrel and Mr. Bristow, it farther appears, that some time after the making of the contract, they offered Mr. Monson, a member of this House, one fourth part of it, as far as it related to the payment of the troops in the office where he is deputy, which he accepted of, and has shared accordingly the profits of this contract from the beginning; and some time after the earl of Orford mentioned to Mr. Burrel, that Mr. Hanbury Williams had desired to speak to him, Mr. Burrel, that one of Mr. Williams's friends might have a share in the remittances, but he added, you are to do just as you please, I do not ask you to let any body in, for the contract is yours; and soon afterwards Mr. Hanbury Williams spoke to the contractors, and told them, that he had a relation, one Mr. Hanbury, a West India merchant, to whom he had obligations; and as he had money and effects at Jamaica, he desired he might be concerned one fourth part with them for the future, which he has accordingly been, in what relates to the payment of the marines in Mr. Hanbury Williams's office.

And it appears to your Committee, that neither the one nor the other of those gentlemen advanced any money, or were concerned in the management, but were to be sharers of the profit or loss only.

And it farther appears to your Committee, that on the arrival of the troops at Jamaica, and the tendering the money to them at 1207. Jamaica currency, great discontents were expressed by the officers, and some actually refused to receive it, and with time the discontent increased, and nothing was talked of so much among the officers of the army, as the hardship of being paid at 120l. when the exchange was at 1401. every one of them became a

no more than 831. 14s. sterl. all which appears by the letters of Colebroke and general Wentworth; so truly were the fears of lord Cathcart verified.

And this uneasiness among the troops was greatly increased by the peremptory refusal of the agents of Mr. Burrel and Mr. Bristow, to furnish the deputy-paymaster at Jamaica with any money upon their credit, arising, as Mr. Colebroke says in his letter of the 20th of February, 1740, from their views of appropriating the profit to themselves, and being dazzled with the prospect of getting 15 or 20 per cent. instead of 2 per cent. their commission. Upon this the deputy-paymaster took up money from other persons and gave them bills on the paymaster-general; and though there were, as appears by the extracts of letters of the deputy-paymaster, of the 20th of February, and the 23rd of March, 1740-1, combinations to distress him, yet the first bills he thus drew were at the rate of 130l. and he, by degrees, raised the exchange, so that at last he drew at 140l. whilst the troops still continued to be paid at 120l.

And it further appears to your Commit. tee, that on the 5th of June, 1741, there is entered in the treasury-books the following minute:

"Mr Bristow, one of the remitters for the West-Indies, is called in, and acquaints my lords, that he and Mr. Burrel have discharged such of their factors and agents at Jamaica, as misbehaved themselves in their conduct about supplying the money for the public service there; and that as general Wentworth has applied for the troops to be paid at the rate of 125 per cent. he will take care that the remittance shall be made accordingly."

And on the 10th of July following, the commissioners of the treasury agree and order, "That Messrs. Burrel and Bristow pay the troops in America at the rate of 1257. Jamaica currency for 100l. sterl. from the 24th of April preceding."

Now your Committee observe, on this new contract, first proposed on the 5th of June, 1741, and finally regulated on the 10th of July following, that Mr. Colebrooke, the deputy-paymaster at Jamaica, did on the 24th of Feb. preceding, being 19 weeks before the settling of the said contract, draw bills on the paymaster-general to the amount of 1,250%. all at the

he rendered this contract more advantageous to the contractors than their most sanguine expectation originally suggested to them.

For though by the terms of the contract the public was to advance 27,000l. only, in money, yet we find the further sum of 42,000l. advanced to them before the arrival of the troops in America.

And your Committee observe, that the shares of the profits of this contract were dealt out to the deputy of the payoffice, and to a friend of the paymaster of the marines, at the request of the said paymaster, without any advance of money or trouble on their part, and it is very remarkable that these shares were confined to the sums issued from the respective offices. And here your Committee must observe, from the whole course of this proceeding, that neither the interest of the soldier, or the public, seemed to have been the object of the earl of Orford's attention.

The cries of the injured soldiers, who had lost one day's pay in seven, where provisions of all kinds bear an excessive price, made so little impression, that the only relief they obtained was an advance of their pay upon the contract from 1201. to 1251. though there had been drawn upon the navy-office, during the six months preceding, several bills, none at less than 135. and some at 140l. and though the deputy to the paymaster-general likewise, 19 weeks before, had drawn upon the office at 130l. and 15 weeks before had written to the paymaster-general, that he might depend upon being furnished with whatever sums should be wanted at 130l. and upwards, nor could there be any reason to fear a disappointment, in relying upon those assurances of the deputy-paymaster, because to his care wholly it was owing, that they were not disappointed upon the refusal of the contractors' agents to furnish him with money.

Your Committee cannot but observe that the treasury, in establishing this new contract, where the contractors proposed the advance from 120l. to 125l. to commence from the 5th of June, 1741, order it with a retrospect, and to commence from the 24th of April preceding, and are greatly at a loss to find if the first contract was upon just and equal terms, why the contractors submitted to any advance at all; and if it was not upon equal terms, why the treasury did not extend their retrospect, and order it to be rectified from the commencement.

And so little was the public to avail itself of this injustice to the soldier, that when the contractors could furnish no money at all, from their agents refusing to answer their credit, and consequently the contract was dissolved, and the army must have starved, if the deputy-paymaster, who is the officer of the public, had not procured money by draughts upon the pay-office, at 130, 135, up to 140 Jamaica currency, for 100l. sterling; yet those very bills were suffered to be paid by the contractors, and public money issued to them to pay the same, but by whose orders does not appear to your committee; as if the profits arising from the advanced prices of those bills, drawn by a public officer upon the public, had belonged to the contractors.

And your Committee observe, that when on the 15th of December last, the paymaster prayed directions from the treasury, whether the profits on those bills should be paid to the contractors, or reserved for the benefit of the public, even that could not be obtained, while the earl of Orford remained in the treasury.

Your Committee now proceed to lay before you, the great part which the earl of Orford appears to have had in several transactions which nearly concern the freedom of elections, and the independency of parliament, and they have the greatest reason to believe, that had the persons employed in these dark transactions been properly indemnified, many discoveries would have been made of the utmost importance.

Your Committee having in their former Report laid before you the share which Mr. Paxton and Mr. Lawton had in carrying on prosecutions relating to the borough of Orford, and particularly that Lawton had declared, that he did not pretend to say he should not be re-imbursed his expences on that head, think fit now to acquaint you, that Mr. Abraham Farley being examined, said, that about January, 1736, Mr. Lawton told him there was an order made out at the treasury, in his Farley's name, for 1,200. and bid him go and receive it, which he did, and paid it over immediately to the said Lawton.

And Mr. Richard Banks, upon his examination, said, That John Lawton, esq. of the exchequer, appeared to be his client in the prosecutions relating to Orford, though he did not know what relation Mr. Lawton had to the borough of Orford, but