1. s. d

Capt. Atkinfon and others, Commiffioners

for Transportation, their Charge du-938646 19 09 ring the late War

Their Discharge by Accompts lying be- 935807 08 04.

fore the Auditors

Remains to be accounted for 2839 11 05 Capt. Atkinson and others, their Charge for? 120108 16 031

this War

Their Discharge by Accompts rendered or

lying before the Auditors

of } 60546 13 111

Remains to be accounted for

59562 02 04

s. d.

Mr. Micklethwait's Charge is His Discharge by Acccompts lying before the Auditors

480209 00 11

ore }

376442 10 091

Discharge

Remains to be accounted for

276078 08 081

1. s. d.

Thus we fee the Thirty five Millions and upwards reduc'd to less than Four and a half, which is much fhort of one Year's Supply; not to mention other Accompts that have been brought in fince the Report, particularly Three of the prefent Paymafter of the Sick and Wounded. And now, if I may be allow'd to fuppofe what I think I have fully prov'd, That many Irregularities and unavoidable Delays attend the paffing of fome Accompts, which no Care or Industry can prevent: If it appears that the Nature of the Services, and the Method of Payment in fome Offices being inconfiftent with the Course of the Exchequer, require Privy Seals, and are the Work of longer time than is limited for paffing Accompts, if it appears that thofe Irregularities, incident to Accompts, are yet neceffary for the Accommodation of the Service, and not to be avoided without infinite Prejudice to the Management; and if it appears that the Security of the Publick does not entirely depend upon the actual paffing of Accompts, provided they have been duly render'd, I hope People will begin to be fatisfy'd, that the Nation has not been cheated of Thirty five Millions, and will not perfift to reflect fo much upon the Houfe of Commons, as to fuppofe they could difcover fucha Lofs of Publick Money, and not find out the Perfons that had wickedly imbezzel'd it. For I am oblig'd to think that the Justice of this Houfe of Commons is equal to their Mercy, and that they would have nam'd, and effectually have punish'd any of the late Minifters, whom they had known to be the Authors of fuch unpordonable Mischief to the Publick. But I have still a greater Authority to perfwade me that no Body was guilty of these high Offences, because among the ma ny Removes that have been lately made, I hear of no Man turn'd out for ill executing his Office, nor of any one Accomptant remov'd for neglecting bis Duty in paffing his Accompts; which furely muft convince the World, that that Her Majesty and Her prefent Minifters, who have Power and Opportunities to infpect narrowly, and to be fully inform'd of the Conduct and Behaviour of every

Man in his Employment, are fatisfy'd that the Delays which have happen'd in passing the several Accompts have not proceeded from any neglect in the Officer: And what then was to be done by the late Minifters, who were equally_fatisfy'd that none intrufted with the Receipt of Publick Money during their Administration, had wilfully delay'd the paffing their Accompts?

To conclude therefore, I hope I have made it appear, as plainly to others as it does to me, that of the Thirty five Millions, &c. Accompts have been duly render'd for all but Four, &c. That the Delays which have happen'd in paffing moft of the Accompts, have arifen only from Neceffity, and the Nature of the Services: That the.common Course and Method of Business make it impracticable for feveral Accomptants to comply with the Rules of the Exchequer: That if in fome few Inftances all poffible Care and Difpatch have not been used to profecute and finish the Accompts, the blame is by no means to be laid where the general Clamour has fix'd it: That of all the Money granted for the Service of this War,and iffu'd during the Administration, it does not appear there has been the leaft Lofs and Embezzlement: That there is no ground to fufpect, that by not compelling the Accomptants to pass their Accompts, any Frauds or Mifapplications have been skreen'd or conceal'd; and that, upon the whole Matter, there never was a greater Calumny rais'd upon lefs Grounds, than that which I now have dif prov❜d.

Numb.

NUM B. IV.

An Act for Preferving the Proteftant Religion, by better fecuring the Church of England, as by Law Established; and for Confirming the Toleration Granted to Proteftant Diffenters, by an Act Intitu. led, An Act for Exempting Their Majefties Proteftant Subjects, Diffen ting from the Church of England, from the Penalties of certain Laws, and for Supplying the Defects thereof; and for the further Securing the Proteftant Succeffion, by Requiring the PraEticers of the Law in North Britain to take the Oaths, and Subfcribe the Declaration therein mentioned.

W

"HEREAS an A&t was made in the Thirteenth Year of the Reign of the late King Charles the Second, Intituled, An Act for the well Governing and Regulating of Corporations; and another Act was made in the Five and twentieth Year of the Reign of the faid late King Charles the Second, Intituled, An Act for the Preventing Dangers which may happen from Popish Recufants; both which Acts were made for the Security of the Church of England, as by Law Eftablifhed: Now for the better fecuring the faid Church, and Quieting the Minds of Her Majesty's Proteftant Subjects Diffenting from the Church of England, and Rendring them Secure in the Exercife of their Religious Worfhip, as alfo for the further ftrengthning the Provifion already made for the fecurity of the Succeffion to the Crown in the House of Hanover, Be it Enacted by the Queen's

E 2

moft

moft Excellent Majefty, by and with the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament affembled, and by Authority of the fame, That if any Perfon or Perfons, after the Five and twentieth Day of March, which fhall be in the Year of our Lord One thousand feven hundred and twelve, either Peers or, Commoners, who have or fhall have any Office or Offices, Civil or Military, or receive any Pay, Salary, Fee or Wages by reafon of any Patent or Grant from or under Her Majefty, or any of Her Majesty's Predeceffors, or of Her Heirs or Succeffors, or 'fhall have any Command or Place of Truft from or under Her Majefty, Her Heirs or Succeffors, < or from any of Her Majefty's Predeceffors, or by Her or Their Authority, or by Authority • derived from Her or Them, within that part of Great Britain called England, the Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick upon Tweed, or in the Navy, or in the feveral lands of ferfy and Guernfey, or fhall be admitted into any Service or Empleyment in the Houfhold or Family of Her Majesty, Her Heirs or Succeffors, or if any Mayor, Alderman, Recorder, Bailiff, Town-Clerk, Common-Council Man, or other Perfon bearing any Office of Magistracy or Place or Truff, or other Employment relating to or concerning the Government of any the refpective Cities, Corporations, Boroughs, Cinque-Ports, and their Members, or other PortTowns within that Part of Great Britain called England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of < Berwick, or either of the Ifles aforefaid, who by the faid recited Acts, cr either of them, were or are obliged to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, according to the Rites and Ufage of the Church of England, as aforefaid, fhall at any time after their Admission into their refpective Offices or Employments, or after having fuch Patent or Grant, Command or Place of Truft, as aforefiid, during his or their Continuance in fuch Office or Offices, Employment or Employments, or having fuch Patent or 'Grant