The Virginia Gazette

HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 2.

Mr. Hartley, member for Kingston upon Hull, rose a little after four, and in an introductory speech, which lasted till near six o'clock, he went through the management of the American war in all the departments of the army and navy, and endeavoured to shew that the expence far exceeded what had been stated the House by Administration; that the supplies voted would prove inadequate; that the estimates fell short as they had been laid before the House; and that the real charge of the war for the current year remained unprovided for.

He therefore moved, that a full and clear account of the total expence for the navy and army should be laid before the House, and he thought it would be found to amount to twelve millions.

This is the best information we could collect, and we hope it in substance the meaning of the motion; but the gallery doors, as usual, were locked.

Lord Irnham said it was a shame to punish the poor voters of Hindon and Shaftesbury for bribery, while the names of several members of Parliament were to be found in the list of contractors, amassing sums of money out of the calamities of their country.

He moved that the accounts on the table of all the articles of extras for the army at Boston, throughout and all, might be published.

Mr. Tuffnel complained of an extravagant article for pickles and vinegar for 6000 men at Boston for three months, and said, that if they had lived upon nothing else the whole time, it could not have come to half the money.

Sir Joseph Mawbey objected to the war, and all the charges of it; he was bitter against the Ministry, and said somebody must answer in the long run for this destructive war.

Lord North, Sir Grey Cooper, and Mr. Pownall, spoke in support of the measures, the expences and the resolutions of the Committee of Supply, and on putting the questions they were carried.

Mr. Burke then made the following motions:

Resolved, that it appears to this House that the sum of 849,000 l. 14s. 10 1/2 d, charged as extraordinary expences of the army, was chiefly incurred for services within the town of Boston in North America. It passed in the negative.

Resolved, that ample provision for the comfortable accommodation of our troops at Boston having been made by the public, there could be no pretence to call upon the nation for any further supply. Passed in the negative.