That in the summer of 1745, indeed, a warranty countersigned by the Secretary at War, was sent to the Pay-Master for clearing the four last raised Regiments of Marines, notwithstanding the want of muster-rolls; but not being signed by the Lords of the Treasury, it was not attended to.
This hardship was peculiar to the Marine Regiments, as it became evident to the Gentlemen forming the Committee of Inquiry, that the different Corps of Foot employed upon the same service had been cleared by such authority countersigned by the Secretary at War alone, without any objection, though the pay had been issued in the same manner to them, and the want of muster-rolls equally their case.
Marine Officers, it appeared, were not allowed to take their servants, when ordered to embark.
At this period, there was a sum of £101,551 3 4 in the hands of the Pay-Master of Marines; the amount of the above-mentioned claims, whose character and motives, however, were clearly exculpated from any blame; but it was not so with his Deputy or Cashier, who had appropriated near £90,000, bearing interest upon land-tax tallies, East India Bonds, and clothing assignments, without the knowledge of his Superior, who had been informed, and till this investigation took place, always understood that the whole had been deposited in the Bank of England.
Another Subordinate, the Accountant of the Pay-Master, shared in the annual profits of these investments, which were derived from the invaded rights of the injured Officer.—After having divided the spoils during some years, and having made a restitution of the principal, they were both deprived of their situations.
Such a scene of grievance appeared through the whole of this scrutiny, that the Committee emphatically closed their report, by the ingenuous avowal, that the facts which appeared called for public notice, and highly deserved the attention of Parliament.
It ought to be related, to the honour of these suffering Corps, that during the long period of nearly six years they suppressed their feelings until the present occasion, of which they very properly availed themselves.
They now submitted their wrongs to a Board, instituted by legislative sanction, and for the express purpose of redress, as well as of inquiry; the following are the terms in which the Memorial of one of the Marine Regiments were couched:
To the Gentlemen of the Committee, and which may be considered as engrossing the general sentiments of the whole that were employed in the Expedition to the West Indies.
1st. "That in the month of August, 1740, when this regiment was one of those embarked for the expedition to the West Indies, the Captains were obliged by order, out of their own pockets, to provide and lay in a stock of sugar, tobacco, snuff, shirts, shoes, stockings, jackets, trowzers, and other sea stores, for the use of their Companies; and were considerable losers in the waste and weighing, and in the division of the several species to the men; that farther, if any man died (which was frequently the case,) who had not lived long enough to pay the charge of their slops, the Captain was the only sufferer, as he received his mens' subsistence according to the effective monthly returns only, by order of the General; nay, the ordinary allowance of the two Warrant Men, paid in Great Britain and Ireland monthly to the Captains, with their subsistence, was here deducted, notwithstanding they embarked complete.