Volume 2

The nineteenth report of the Commissioners of Military Enquiry ; appointed by act of 45 Geo. III. cap. 47. Royal Hospital at Chelsea. Commissary General of Musters. Royal Military Asylum.

Great Britain. Commissioners of Military Enquiry

Date:: 1812

Credit: The nineteenth report of the Commissioners of Military Enquiry ; appointed by act of 45 Geo. III. cap. 47. Royal Hospital at Chelsea. Commissary General of Musters. Royal Military Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$Q, 30. Has there been any instance of the amount of the Poundage Fund remaining in ' the Deputy 'Treasurer’s hands, being stated In the Estimates?-A. There have been frequent instances of a certain portion of that Fun being stated in the Estimates as applicable to the general service of the Hospital. Q. 40. Has it been usual to state in those Estimates, the charges upon the Poundage •Fund ?-A. The charges upon the Poundage Fund, have been also frequently stated in the Estin >.ites. Q- 41. V. hm aie the ]>resent cnarges on that Fund?-A. The present charges on that I und, aic the Annuitants ot the late 1st and 2d Troops of Horse Guards • twenty-five pounds per annum to the Widow of the late Butler of the Hospital’ am! 70 in, addition to money collected at the altar, for the reli. f of the Y\ idows of Jr.-Pensioners. '1 here were two Salaries, one of £. 1,000 per annum to the Agent.of Out-Pensioners, and one of £ 600 per annum to the Deputy Treasurer, formerly paid out of this Fund; but being now put upon the general Establishment, it is understood by the Auditors that those Grants are no longer to be acted upon, (d) Q. 42. If the remaining charges on this Fund, were included in the Contingencies of the Hospital, would any inconvenience arise, ir the Poundage Fund were entirely put an end to •-A. I conceive that no inconvenience could arise as to the payment of those charges m that way ; but by ; tie abolition of the Poundage Fund (which I presume could oidy bo done by the repeal of the Act of the 28th of George the 2d, under ihe authority of which, tiie deduction has hitherto been made) the whole of the Out-Pensions would receive an augmentation of £. 5 per cent., and the Public would consequently be deprived of the benefit of that Fund, which has always been considered in one shape or another as applicable to the general expenses , of the Hospital. ^ Q. 43. Under what authority have payments been made out of this Fund for the general Expenses of the Hospital?-A. They can only be made under the authority of His Majesty s Warrants. J Q. 44.Have Warrants been generally obtained, previously to the application of the Money ? ' A. No j the amount is taken at the discretion of the Board, in reduction of the Estimates laid before Parliament, and His Majesty’s Warrant is afterwards obtained authorizing the application ot tiie Money. Q. 4.v When the Board direct payments to be made out of this Fund, do their Warrants express the same?-A. 1 think not; their Warrants do not express out of what Fund such payments are to be made, hut they direct the payments to be made out of any Monies in the Deputy Treasurer’s hands, applicable to the service of the Hospital. How then can it be distinguished, what Sums have been actually paid out of this M 1 tun uoi able to answer that Question ; it is m the Department of the Deputy Treasurer. > “ % Mr. Just. Q. 46. Fund — Q. 47. If the Warrants under the authority of which the Deputy Treasu xpress out of what Fund they are to be made, how can i payments, do not ex. Fund to debit with them? usurer makes his , „ -, - ~~~ he know what A. i cannot answer that Question, for I do not know his of manner of making up his Accounts, never having seen them. Q. 48. Do you prepare the Requisitions of the Board to the Paymaster General, for issues Money to the Deputy Treasurer of the Hospital ?-A. Yes. Q. 49. Do you at those times state to the Board what is the amount of the Balance in the hands of the Deputy Treasurer?-A. No ; it has not been usual to state the Deputy Trea¬ surer’s Balances to the Board. Q. 50. Do you know, whether the Board is regularly informed, at stated periods, of the Balances in the Deputy Treasurer’s hands ?-A. I do not think that the Board is regularly i.douncd as to these Balances, but there is a general communication between t .c I ay master General and the Deputy Treasurer, to decide upon what Sum snoulu be iequired from the Treasury, in addition to the Balanceinthe Deputy x reasurer s hands, to make the requisite payments. Q. 51.. How arc Provisions, Coals, and the other Articles of consumption procured for the use of the Hospital? A. l hey are furnished by Annual Contract, after public notice. i Q. 52. Are the Bills for the expenses of the Hospital, considered by the Board, before they are paid ? A. ihey are examined and certified in the first instance by the Comptroller and the Steward of the Hospital, and they are afterwards particularly examined by the board, previously to their signing the Warrants for payment. Q- 53* ^iro the Accounts of the Deputy Treasurer for the expenses of the Hospital, laid before the Board ?-A. Not to my knowledge. Q. 54. Does Mr. Soane, the Clerk of the Works, receive any allowance or per-centage beyond his Salary ?-A. None ; there was a per-centage paid formerly to the Clerk$