Part 22 (2/2)
If necessary the superintending Agent for unserviceable stores, whose functions have already been explained, could take upon him the sole management of the disposal of the chips at the different Yards, by which a handsome sum might be obtained annually in aid of the resources of the State, perhaps more than would be sufficient to pay the additional wages of the Artificers, while no existing arrangement in the Yards would be disturbed, nor any trouble given to the Officers, who at present fill the respective Departments in those a.r.s.enals.
VI. THE ABOLITION OF FEES AND PERQUISITES, AND AN INCREASE OF SALARIES.
The total Abolition of Fees guarded by the severest penalties, is an important object in the preventive System: Until this is effected, it will be in vain to expect purity of conduct. Under this pretext, men of loose principles, in transactions with Government, seldom fail to seduce from the strict line of their duty, _avaricious, extravagant, or indigent Officers_, whose business it is to check and control the receipt and delivery of property, and to _arrange, settle, and adjust Accounts_, or _to form Public Doc.u.ments_. The delusion and seduction of these Officers is not seldom effected by the supposed liberality of those whose business must pa.s.s through their hands; and they are not at all times perfectly aware of the injury that is done to the Public.
It has already been observed, and it is a circ.u.mstance much to be lamented, that in too many instances, where individuals have pecuniary transactions with any of the Departments of Government, a dereliction of principle is apparent which does not extend to the general intercourse of society, and hence arises the necessity of _stronger guards_, where the Public interest is concerned; and nothing appears to be better calculated to counteract this baneful propensity in the human mind than _the total abolition of fees and perquisites_.
It is said to be no uncommon thing to pay 300_l._ for a Clerk's situation in the Dock-yards, where the salary does not exceed 30_l._ or 40_l._ a year; and it is known that some who hold such situations live very expensively. It may be fairly asked, in what manner a person so situated is to reimburse himself? the conclusion is obvious, and the result has been already explained, which may perhaps be still farther elucidated by stating the following fact:--
An Officer of Justice having discovered some instances of pillage and peculation going forward in the course of the removal of old copper and other articles, from a dismantled s.h.i.+p of war, complained to the Store-keeper in the Dock-yard, whose province it was to have received those articles into his charge, which were conveyed elsewhere.--He replied thus: ”D--n it, mind your own business.--Such things have always been done, and will continue in spite of you and me; it will, at any rate, last our time.”
While the resources of Government are fully commensurate to the liberal remuneration of its servants, so as to place them above all temptations to abuse the trust reposed in them: and while such remuneration is in itself no less politic than just, the object and view of the Author of these pages differs widely from this faithless servant of the Crown. The suggestions now offered, lead to measures, which he now trusts to the honour and credit of those respectable characters, at the head of the different departments, are in the best train of being adopted, by the total abolition of Fees and Perquisites, and a liberal Increase of Salary, in lieu of the reduction of income, which such an arrangement will occasion: Such salaries as will secure to the Nation those inestimable advantages, which always result from _rect.i.tude of conduct_, _zeal_, _accuracy_, and _fidelity_, in the discharge of Public trusts committed to subordinate Officers. It is by this and other wise and practicable arrangements, that a confidence is to be established, ”that the resources of the State _will not only last our time_,” but extend to many generations; while the improvement of Public morals will contribute, in an eminent degree, to the happiness and prosperity of the country.
VII. AN IMPROVED MODE OF KEEPING ACCOUNTS.
Under an impression, that very few improvements have been introduced, since the establishment of the original System, for keeping the Navy and Victualing Accounts, brought forward by KING JAMES II. when Duke of York; while the frauds which have been committed by various devices, prove some imperfections in the mode of accomptants.h.i.+p as now practised, since no means appear to exist, whereby deficiencies can be checked and discovered; it may be worthy of inquiry, whether many of the modern improvements, which the vast extent of our Commerce has introduced, might not be rendered useful in establis.h.i.+ng new Checks, by means of a System of Book-keeping, which would have the same effect in detecting frauds, and discovering inaccuracies, as prevails in arranging and closing the accounts of well-regulated Commercial Establishments; adopting at the same time in the general detail, particularly in the transit of stores, some of these excellent regulations, which have been found so salutary and useful in the system of the Excise. Of the practicability of improvements of this nature there can be little doubt, since it merely depends on the exercise of that _knowledge, attention_, and _a.s.siduity_, which, when properly exerted, has generally accomplished objects, which have often appeared impracticable to minds uninformed, or not enlarged by an extensive intercourse with the world, or a knowledge of the general affairs of life:--But as this observation can in no respect apply to the respectable and intelligent Individuals, who superintend the Great Public Concerns, which have been subject to the various abuses, which they feel so anxious to remedy, sanguine hopes are entertained, that an improvement in the mode of keeping the Official Accounts may be speedily carried into effect.
VIII. AN ANNUAL INVENTORY OF STORES.
Supposing an accurate System of Book-keeping to be adopted, and to be followed as a part of the proposed System of Accuracy, indispensably necessary, _by an annual account of Stores_; the advantages resulting from it are not to be estimated by the most sanguine mind. Independent of the benefits which would arise from the general accuracy, which would thus incircle the whole oeconomy of the design, discoveries would be made wherever frauds or embezzlements took place, while the labour and expence, which such a task might impose, would be compensated one hundred fold, in the National advantages which it would produce.
Thus has the Author briefly gone over the whole ground, which he had a.s.signed to himself, as comprehending every object on the subject of the depredations on his Majesty's Stores, which appeared likely to render his suggestions useful to his country, whether they relate to improved Legislative Regulations requiring the aid of Parliament, or to Measures competent for the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to carry into effect. In the prosecution of this task he has been stimulated in a particular degree, by the laudable and patriotic disposition, which has been manifested to promote improvements in Naval Police, and the honourable proofs he has received of a desire to render his suggestions useful.
If the period should indeed arrive (and it is to be hoped it may soon arrive) when these suggestions, or even a part of them, shall be acted upon, in a manner calculated to promote the National Interest, the Author of these pages will then feel himself gratified, and rewarded by the pleasing reflection, that his well-meant labours, in placing an important branch of the political oeconomy of the country in this particular point of view, have not been in vain.
CHAP. X.
_Receivers of stolen Goods more mischievous than Thieves;--the latter could not exist without the a.s.sistance of the former:--the Suppression therefore of Receivers would restore to Society, and to honest Industry, a great number who at present live by crimes.--The increase of Receivers of stolen Goods to be attributed to the imperfection of the Laws, and to the disjointed state of the Police of the Metropolis.--The number of common Receivers does not exceed sixty; of whom not above ten are persons of property able to purchase valuable articles.--Thieves, in many instances, settle with receivers before they commit robberies:--Receivers always benefit more than Thieves:--Their profit immense:--They are divided into two cla.s.ses.--The immediate Receivers connected with Thieves, and those who keep shops and purchase from Pilferers in the way of trade:--The latter are extremely numerous.--The Laws are insufficient effectually to reach either cla.s.s.--The existing statutes examined and briefly detailed, namely, the 3d and 4th of William and Mary, cap. 9; the 1st Anne, cap.
9; the 5th of Anne, cap. 31; 4 George I. cap. 11; 29 George II. cap. 30; 30 George II. cap. 24; 2 George III. cap. 28; 10 George III. cap. 48; 21 George III. cap. 69; 22 George III. cap. 58.--Observations on these respective statutes.--Amendments and improvements suggested.--Means proposed to ensure the due execution of these improvements._
Having in the preceding Chapters completed the proposed explanation of the various depredations and frauds upon the Public: It remains now, in the order of the plan, to examine and follow up the progress of this property, from the hands of _Thieves_, _Robbers_, _Cheats_, and _Swindlers_, to that of _Receivers_, or first Purchasers of Goods stolen or fraudulently obtained.
In contemplating the characters of all these different cla.s.ses of delinquents, there can be little hesitation in p.r.o.nouncing the _Receivers_ to be the most _mischievous of the whole_; inasmuch as without the aid they afford, in purchasing and concealing every species of property stolen or fraudulently obtained, Thieves, Robbers, and Swindlers, as has already been frequently observed, must quit the trade, as unproductive and hazardous in the extreme.
Nothing therefore can be more just than the old observation, ”_that if there were no Receivers there would be no Thieves_.”--Deprive a thief of a sale and ready market for his goods, and he is undone.
Let the strong arm of the law, and the vigour and energy of the Police be directed in a particular manner against _Receivers_; and the chief part of those robberies and burglaries, which are so much dreaded, on account of the acts of violence which attend them, _would absolutely cease to exist_:--and the resource for plunder being thus narrowed in so great a degree, robberies on the highway would _alone_ seldom answer the purpose of the adventurer; where the risk would be so exceedingly multiplied, while the advantages were in the same proportion diminished;--the result therefore would be, that in _the suppression of the Receivers_, the encouragement to become Thieves and Robbers would be taken away: and the present Depredators upon the Public must either return to honest labour as useful members of the State, or submit to be starved.
Obvious and desirable however as a measure of this sort would be, it has never hitherto been put in practice. This has proceeded from a variety of causes; one of the princ.i.p.al of which is the disjointed state of the Police of the Metropolis, occasioned by a number of jurisdictions clas.h.i.+ng with each other, and preventing the full operation of a proper system of vigilance and energy; which, with the aid of apposite and improved laws and a superintending agency, could not fail, either to root out all the Receivers of stolen Goods of any consequence, or compel them to abandon their mischievous trade.
These observations apply to that cla.s.s of Receivers alone, who are in immediate connection with the thieves, burglars, and highway robbers;--and who aid and a.s.sist them in the purchase and concealment of whatever is stolen.--From the best information that can be obtained, their number does not exceed _fifty_ or _sixty in all_; of whom not more than ten, (whose names and places of abode are well known) can be said to be persons of property who can raise money to purchase articles of considerable value.
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