AMBASSADORIAL SERVICE.

We observed, in the Supplement on PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, that the Diplomatic service was the most lucrative in the patronage of Govern- ment. A glance at the reduced Table of Ambassadorial emoluments will convince the reader of the truth of the assertion. It will be seen that, exclusive of outfit and contingent expenses, the salaries of Am- bassadors of the first class greatly exceed those of the Lord Chief Justices, who resign a lucrative practice on accepting office ; they are double the salary of a Prime Minister, and of the President of the United States ; they are more than ten times the pay of a General Officer. The emolument of the inferior classes is in proportion.

It has been alleged that an Ambassador is subjected to heavy ex- penses. The sources of additional charge cannot, however, exceed those of a Minister of State. An Ambassador, moreover, resides in a country where the price of all things is much lower- than in England, and where luxuries—in which the greater part of his additional expen- diture must be spent—are out of all comparison cheaper. In the majority of the smaller states, the expense of living is not more than half what it is in London, if we estimate the difference both in the mode of life and in the cheapness of commodities. The only countries that approach to the cost of England are Holland and Belgium; and here the salaries are comparatively low. It will be found, too, by a patient examination of the Tables, that the plea of additional expense is in a great measure unfounded. A -very liberal outfit is given by the nation. A palace is provided for the Ambassador; or so large an allowance for house-rent is granted, that it is utterly impossible for him ever to expend it on that object. It will also be seen, by the Extraordinary disbursements, that fixtures and furniture are provided ; their officials, their Chaplains, are paid for by the People ; their travelling expenses, their postage, are defrayed out of the Taxes ; and if, moved by that charity which covers a multitude of sins, they subscribe, in a fit of enthusiasm, to the erection of an hos- pital, they quickly repent them of the selfish deed, and, charging the subscription to the public account, diffuse the benefit over the nation.

Thus far as to the naked amount of the payments. If we compare the actual service rendered, with the money which is paid for it, the Diplomatic expenditure will seem still more enormous. The office of a Judge is laborious and responsible ; it is exercised in the presence of men fully competent to criticise the performance; whilst the acquire- ments necessary to discharge its functions have been obtained by the outlay of a fortune, and by a life of labour in a profession where success is a lottery. A Minister of State must, generally, have exhibited abilities of some kind or other before he is appointed to his situation. The mere formal attendance at his office and in Parliament (supposing him to delegate even the routine business of his post to a deputy) is a great tie, and a labour of an irksome nature. Excepting sinecures, some sort of service or attendance is required from most officials in return for the (frequently disproportionate) salaries they receive. Very luckily for the country, the majority of Embassies are quasi sinecures. An attendance at Court, the interchange of compliments, the giving and the partaking of entertainments, form generally the sum and sub- stance of an Ambassador's duties. If business of a more serious and important nature devolves upon it, the Corps Diplomatique becomes a mischief to the country and a laughingstock to Europe.

It may naturally be inquired, how is this ? We answer by repeating our former observation, that the service is devoted to the "sole and separate use" of the Aristocracy. In some cases, the parties who fill situations may have received such training (at the public expense) as is given by the receipt of a liberal salary with little duty to perform. In many cases, even this probationership was not deemed necessary. If the affairs of an extensive boroughholder were embarrassed, and he deemed +fitting to retrench,—if himself or a near connexion required change of scene, or wished to travel,—if a political opponent became Weary of his unprofitable -warfare, yet was too sqneanlish suddenly to enrol himself amongst the ranks of his quondam enemies, or if a supporter's conscience suddenly grew tender, and induced him to waver in his allegiance,--an Embassy was the ready resource. By a residence at a foreign court, with a princely income, the noble insolvent could retrieve his affairs without suffering the privations attendant upon rigid economy; the aristocratic libertine could repair his constitution or vary his pleasures at the public charge ; the political changeling could bide himself till the nine days' wonder at his tergiversation had blown over ; and the honourable man who shrunk, from supporting a Ministry at home, could receive their pay and become their representative abroad. When another emergency arose which rendered a remove necessary, the Pension List was ready to enrol their names. And it was, perhaps, the necessity of these frequent removals which has so swelled the amount of Diplomatic Pensions,—their abstraction from the control of Parlia- ment only facilitating the job. It should be observed, in fairness to the present Ministry, that they have diminished in some degree the facility of granting pensions for Diplomatic services. We only regret they did not push their improvements further.

In presenting the Table of Ambassadors' Salaries, we should ob- serve that we are not positive as to its accuracy. When the Diplo- matic Expenditure was separated from the Civil List, it appears that 140,0001. was required by Government " for the future salaries and al- lowances for house-rent of his Majesty's Diplomatic servants abroad ;" but its appropriation was referred to a Committee of the House of Commons, which drew up the following Table. Whether this appor- tionment was adhered to by Government, or whether more may have been expended, we are unable to ascertain. We assume that the ex- penditure has not been less. . . .

In reporting upon this part of the Diplomatic expense (the only One that came under its notice), the Committee recommended that it should be charged upon the Consolidated Fund, and not annually voted by Parliament. The reasons for this recommendation are not given ; what they were, we are unable to conjecture. Notwithstanding the as- sumption of the Committee to the contrary, a charge upon the Conso- lidated Fund is virtually equivalent to a permanent expenditure. It is paid under a fixed Parliamentary authority; any savings are quite optional on the part of Government ; the attention of the House is not formally drawn to the subject (even should an annual account be presented) ; and though Parliament may " at all times take cognizance" of the expense, just as it may of the cost of collecting the revenue, or of the Pension List, we know enough of Legislatorial "cognizance," when an expense is directly submitted to it, to have much faith in its economical exertions when the matter has to be sought for.

This, however, is not the only instance where the Committee negl;:eted its duty. The members seem to have had a "large and liberal discretion" intrusted to them, and to have possessed the power, if they chose to exercise it, of reducing the gross amount. If we are mistaken upon this point, they clearly might have remonstrated upon the lavish expen- diture; or, alter appropriating such a sum as the exigencies of the public service required, have thrown the onus of expending the remainder upon Government. Had this been done, a saving of nearly 60,0001., or not

fi: short of one hall the expenditure, might have been effected. The Governments beginning with Naples and continued to the end of the Table, are not of such importance as to require a resident Ambassador. In each of the new American States, with the exception of Buenos Ayres, Brazil, and Banda Oriental, we have Consular officers with salaries varying from 1,0001. to --I,000/. a year, besides Consuls or Vice- Consuls at different mercantile towns. The Ministers fortunately were more economically disposed than the Committee; and the 5,9001.

appropriated to Chili, Peru, Guatemala, and Banda Oriental, has been saved for the present, the Government being represented by Consular officers. The principle is so good, it should have been extended to the other new American States, with which we can have no negotia- tion upon any but mercantile affidrs. At the nine petty European States commencing with Naples and ending with Greece, if a dip- lomatic resident Minister was required, an Agent at 1,0001. or 1,200/. a year would have answered every purpose (there are many persons perfectly competent to the situations who would accept them for this or even a lower stipend;; whilst the fund to remunerate them Might have been provided by reducing the salaries of the higher class of Ambassadors, and the whole of the expenses from Naples to the end of the chapter have been Saved: ' If the Reformed Parliament does its duty, the Diplomatic expenditure will receive an early and a searching investigation, and be completely remodelled. The pecuniary saving resulting from this inquiry will not be the only or the least benefit. When the salary attached office is 'merely a liberal remuneration for the labour required, the competition is between talent ; if it rises beyond a liberal reward, or becomes an exorbitant overpayment, the

rivalship of ability is superseded by that of interest; and there is every probability that the most incompetent candidate will be the successful

one. This principle, which is peculiarly true of the Diplomatic service,

may be predicated more or less of every department under Government. The following.- Table, exhibits the scale of Outfit which it was pro- posed by the Committee.each Ambassador should receive, together with

his own Salary, his Allowance for House-rent, and the Salaries of his Secretary and .Attache. The last column shows the total cost which is incurred at each Court for salaries and rent. To reader the account as complete as possible, we have given the names of the individuals who at present fill the appointments ; they will be found to belong chiefly if not entirely to the Aristocracy.

TABLE SHOWING TIIE AMBASSADORIAL SCALE OF OUTFIT, AND THE ALLOWANCE FOlt HOUSE-RENT, WITH THE SALARIES OF AMBASSADORS, THEIR SECRETARIES AND ATTACHES.

FRANCE.

Ambassador, viscount Granville

Secretary of Embassy, A. Aston,Esq First Attache

nom provided.

RUSSIA.

Ambassador, Sir Stratford Canning Secretary of Embassy, lion. J. D.-Bligh

First Attaché Allowance for lloase.rent 400 280 203 1,000

11,400

4,000 2,800 2,000 10,000

400

280 200 1,000

400

1.000

12,403

SCALY OF OUTFITS. AnotTAL

4,000 2,800 2,000 10 000

£ £ £ SxALARIZTft,,,twaxe:

Foil. Two-thirds. One-half.

11,050 7,550

S.0 400 0 4 , 500000

99 50

4000

90 500 500 2,600 4,600

2,700 Europe.

550 400 2,000 FRANCE.

• • • • • • • • • 800 550 400 2,000

150 100

200 " • ' • ' • ' • £133,900

£139,800 The sum required for this Service was £140,000. By some slip or clerical error on the part of the Committee, their account only amounts to £139,800. We have already observed that we have only Consuls in the four last-mentioned, states. • The Allowance to a Chaige d'Affaires at Mexico is 41. a day. The Salary, &c. in the Table is the =a appropriated to a Minister Plenipotentiary.

CHITA. Minister Secretary PERU.

Minister Secretary

GUATEMALA. 5,900 Minister

Secretary BANDA ORIENTAL. Minister • Secretary • Atfifitt A.

Ambassador, Rt. Hon. Sir F. Lamb 3,000 2,000 1,500 9,000 Secretary of Embassy, Hon. W. T. H.

Fox..strangwiys 300 200

First Attache Allowance for House-rent TURKEY.

Ambassador, Lord Ponsonby 2,500 1.700

Secretary of Embassy, Lord A.M. Dill 300 200

First Attache Palace provided. SPAIN.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Ple- nipotentiary, 11.1.1. Addington. Esq 2,000 1,400 Secretary of Legation, Lord W. Hervey 200 140 First Attache Allowance for house-rent PRUSSIA.

Envoy Extraordinary andMinisterPleni- Patentiary, Eail of Miuto 2,000 1,400 See. of Legatiou, R. Abercrombie, Esq 200 140 First Attache Allowance for House-rent WASHINGTON.

Envoy Extraordinary and Miuister Ple- nipotentiary, C. lt. Vaughan, Esq. 1,800 1,200 Secretary of Legation, C. Bankhead, Esq 200 140 First AttaelW Allowance for House-rent PORTUGAL.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Ple-

nipotentiary 1,600 1,100

Secretary of Legation 180 130 Allowance for House-rent HOLLAND.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Ple- nipotentiary, lion. J.Jerningham 1,300 800 Secretary of Legation 180 130 Allowance for House-rent BELGIUM.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Ple- nipotentiary, Sir Robert Adair 1.300 800 Sec. of Legation, Sir G. Hamilton 180 130 Allowance for house-rent SWEDEN.

Envoy Extraordinary, Lord Howard de Walden 1,100 750 Sec. of Legation, I ion. J.A. D. Bloomfield 180 130 Allowance for House-rent . • • • • DENMARE. Envoy. Right Hon. II. W. W. Wynn 1,100 750 Secretary of Legation, Peter Browne, Esq 180 130

Allowance for House-rent 00“. "00

NAPLES.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Ple- nipotentiary, lion. W. Temple 1.600 1,100 Secretary of Legation, J. Kennedy, Esq 180 130 Allowance for House-rent BAVARIA.

Envoy, Lord Erskine 1,300 e00 Secretary of Legation, Hon. R. Bingham .180 130

Allowance fur House-rent . SARDINIA.

Envoy, Sir Ang. John Foster. Bart. 1,300 800 Secretary of Legation, 'lion. J. For 180 130 Allowance for House-rent . . GERMAN DIET.

Minister Plenipo., T. Cartwright, Esq 1,000 700 Sec. of Legation. J. R. klilbanke, Esq. 150 100

Attache, and German Trauslator

Allowance for House-rent WIIRTEMDERG, Minister Plenipo., Sir E. C. Disbrowe 800 550 Secretary of Legation, -Wellesley, Esq 150 100 Allowrinee for House-rent SAXONY.

Minister Plenipo., Hon. F. it Forbes 800 Sec. of Legation. C. T. Barnard, Esq 150 Allowance for House-rent • ... TuseANY.

Minister Pleuipo, G. H. Seymour, Esq 800 Sec. of Legation. Hon. G. Edgcumbe 150 Allowance for House-rent . . SWITZERLAND.

Minister Plenipotentiary, D. Morier, Esq. Secretary of Legation, T. F. Wilmot Allowance for House-rent GREECE.

Minister Resident, E. J. Dawkins, Esq Secretary of Legation, H. Parish, Esq Allowance for House-rent BRAZIL,

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Ple-

nipotentiary, Hon. S. Fox Sec. of Legation, W. G. Ouseley, Esq First Attaché Allowance for House-rent *MExrco.

Charge d'Affaires, - Pakenham, Esq. Secretary of Legation First Attache Allowance for House-rent COLUMBIA.

Minister Plenipo., W. Turner, Esq. Sec. of Legation, Lieut.-Col. Campbell First Attache Allowance for House-rent BUENOS AYRES. Minister Plenipo„ H. CA II amnion, Esq. 750 Secretary of Legation, R. Y. Gore. Esq 180 130 Allowance for House-rent AT.RA'NIA.

Political Agent, W. Meyer, Esq •• • • • • .• 250 RUSSIA.

200 140 100 600 NETHERLANDS-

- ANNUAL

SCALD OP 01,1791115. SALAsias, Ac.

Full, Twathints. One-halt. Total.

£ £ £ £ £

1,000 6,000 100 550 250 500 •

1.000 5,009

100 550 250 000 1,250 6,500 150 800 250 550 3,000 90 500 400 550 3,000 90 500 400 650 3,600 90 500 400 650 3,600 90 500 400 900 4,500 100 550 200 500 800 4,000 90 500 400 2,000 400 300 2,600

OUTFIT AND EQUIPAGE OF MINISTERS, Pee: AT FOREIGN. coeiers.

There seems no necessity for the expense of an outfit at any thin., like its present scale. The only special articles which a Diplomatie Minister can require, are furniture, plate, and a carriage. At Paris- and 150 900 Constantinople the first is provided; and in other places, its expense 250 is covered, and more than covered, by the extravagant allowance for 900 house-rent. A service of plate is now attached to the Ambassadorial

office. Neither 8001. nor 1,5001. are requisite to purchase a carriage, or to provide the little etceteras which a gentleman requires on a foreign tour, As the pay of a Secretary is not illiberal, and he is put to no more ad- ditional expense than an officer who is sent upon foreign service, his

outfit might certainly be abolished. We scarcely know whether even the Ambassador's outfit, as a rule, might not share the same fate. An Attorney-General might as well call upon the public to pay for his wig and gown, or to present him with a carriage, as a Diplomatic Minister.

7,300 The Right Hon. Sir F. J. Lamb. G.C.B., to provide for the expense of his outfit and equipage as his Majesty's Amba,sailor Extraor'Iinury and Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of Austria Lord Ponsouby, ditto ditto, as Envoy Extraordinary cult Minister Plenipotentiary at Naples The Hon. J. 1). Dligh, ditto ditto, as Secretary of Embassy to 11w 6,300 Hague 200 J. H. Mainieville, Esq., ditto ditto, as ditto at Constantinople 150 Lord W. Harvey, ditto ditto, as Secretary of Legation at Madrid 200

H. II. Parish, Esq., ditto ditto, as ditto in Greece 1501i))

C. F. Wilmot, E&k., ditto ditto. as ditto in Switzerland 150 R. Abercrombie Esq., ditto ditto, as ditto at Berlin 100 5.750 G. B. Hamilton, Esq., ditto ditto, as ditto at Brussels 180

IL B. iloppner, Esq., ditto ditto, as acting Consul•General• at Lisbon 13000

Total of Outfit and Equipage £3,5 4,900 . - EXTRAORDINARY DISBURSEMENTS• OF DIPLOMATIC MINISTERS AT FOREIGN COURTS.

These diplomatic expenses are exhibited in the Estimates amongst

4,500 Civil Contingencies ; where no one, by the by, would dream of looking for them. From the nature of the items, no idea of them can be given but by an account of the payments, as the estimate must of necessity be for round sums. Thus the expenditure in 1831 for Civil antingen- 4,500 cies was 174,657/. 2s. 5d. ; the estimate for 1832 is 200,0001. This cir- cumstance, however, has no effect upon the nature of the payments ; and, unless in special cases, the expense of one year must be nearly the same as that of another. It should be observed, that the Attaches are 3,900 now paid, we believe, wholly from the sum appropriated to Diplomatic servants. In exhibiting the account at comparative fulness, we do not wish it to be understood that we object in toto to the payment of the 3,900 items. An individual, in England, if connected with the Government, and in the receipt of a salary of some 10,0001. or 12,0001. a year, might perhaps put his establishment into black on the occasion of a public mourning, without calling upon the Treasury to pay his tailor's bill. 4,900 An employee receiving 400/. a year, might probably illuminate his 650 3,600 house at a time of public rejoicing, and not expect to be reimbursed for

the expense of lighting up. If, however, charges of this kind are 4,500 made by the representatives of Majesty, we do not say refuse the pay-

650 3,600 merit, but let us not, whilst they are preferring claims of this kind, be 500 told of their disinterestedness and of the "additional expenses" they

• • • • are put to for the public good.

Some of the charges, however, seem prima facie singular. Thus the 7 5 400 200 Postage of the Minister at Naples for one year is 419/. ; that of the 11E- 300 sister at Florence ( Tuscany) for half a year 2001. We know not the 3,500 bulk of the epistles emanating from the Foreign Office; but this sum, if 400 it were paid for common letters, would give an average of about twenty 75 despatches per day to and from two of the most drowsy courts in 2,700 Europe.

10075 200 Lord Stuart de Rothesay, for Post Office charges and Couriers, al- 300 lowanccs to the paid Attaché and Chaplain, wages to the person • • • • • ' " 2,500 in charge of the Ambassadorial House, expenses of the Chancery 550 400 2,000 of the Embassy, expense of putting the whole establishment into 100 75 400 Mourning on the death of King George the Fourth. and Consulta- 300 tion and other Law Expenses, in the two quarters ending 31st 2,700 December 1830 1,718

800 550 400 2,000 Viscount Granville. for charges of a similar nature in the three

150 100 75 400 quarters ending 30th September 1831 1,077 250 Paid on account of repairs to the Ambassadorial House at Paris, 2,650 and for the purchase of furniture and fixtures, between 1st July &rid House" 1,600 46:? 1828 and 31st December 1831 75 400 Law expenses incurred perfecting the title to the Azabassa. 925

815

419 964

• It is not usual, we believe, to allow an outfit to Consuls; but Mr. IR/mum, on this occasion, was charged in some measure with the duties of a Minister during the sus- pension of our Ambassadorial communications with Don Muunt.

AUSTRIA. 1,600 1,100 800 4,000 Lord Cowley. for Post Office charges and Couriers, and allowance to the

200 140 100 550 Chaplain to the Embassy, in the three quarters ended 30th June 1831 787

500 Lord Heytesbury, for Post Office charges, allowance to the paid Attache. 5,300 and wages to the Chancery Messenger, in the three quarters ended 1,300 800 650 3,600 30th June 1831 .... 21)0 Sir Charles Bagot, for Post Office charges and Couriers, allowances to the . .. 400 Chaplain snit paid Attache to the Mission, to the 5th January 1831: ad- 4,800 ditional house-rent to 31st December 1830, in consequence of the hereto- 1,300 800 650 3,600 fore double residence of the Court at Brusselsand at the Hague; ex- 600 ',elms of the removal of his Excellency's effects from Brussels to the 300 Hague upon the Court establishing its residence at the latter place, and 400 likewise for the erpenses of the removal of the Reverend Mr. lioleborthll,

4,900 the Chaptaiu. his. family and eyj'ects, from Brussels on the same occasion, 1,100 550 3,000 and in remuneration of the services which Mr. Holworthy there rendered

90 500 to Mr. Cartwright employed on a special service, in the four quarters 300 ended 30th September 1831 3,800 NAPLES. 1,000 . Right Honourable W. Noel hill, for Post Office charges, for the four quarters ended 30th September 1831 SPAIN. George Bosanquet, Esq. for Post Office charges, journies performed by him on his Majesty's service, and expenses of illummabons on the occasion of the King of Spain's Marriage; in the quarter ended X 31st December 1829 246 Henry Unwin Addington, Esq., for Post Office charges and Couriers, allowance to the paid Attache to the mission, expenses of an illumi • nation'on the birth of an Infanta, expenses of a journey to and from Aranjuez and of a residence there whilst attending his ' Catholic Majesty, expenses of journies to La Granja to attend the Court of his Catholic Majesty, for certain law expenses and loss by exchange on bills drawn on the public service, from March 28th to June 30th, in the four quarters ended 30th September 1831 718

£

1,504 840 4,857-

TUSCANY.

The Honourable J. D. Bligh, for Post .0ffice charges and journey performed by him on his Majesty's service,for two quarters ended

31st December 1930 tG..H. Seymour, Esq., for Post Office charges for two quarters The Ilon. G. Edgecumbe. for Post Office charges for one quarter

CONSTANTINOPLE.

Sir Robert Gordon, fur Post Office charges and Couriers, expenses of the that Dragoman, repairs to the Palace at Constantinople, salary to the architect Peverata, pension to the widow Deudriuo, and allowance to the paid Attache to the Embassy, three quarters ended30th June 19'31

J. Mandeville, Esq.. for Post Office charges and Couriers, ex- penses of the first and second Dragomans, salary to the architect Peverata, pension to the widow Dendrino, expenses attending the recovery of plate in the ruins of the British Palace at rem, and subscription towards the erection of a Plague Hospital at

Therapm, in the quarter ended 30th September 1831

Disbursements of a similar nature to the foregoing, but chiefly for Post Office charges, Couriers, and Allowances at— Prussia Quarters of a Year

Sweden Denmark Bavaria Frankfort Switzerland Saxony Wurtemberg Sardinia America Greece

?bRM;.ar..

Colin Mackenzie, Esq.. late acting ConsulDeneralo in Portugal, salary from 5th July 1830 to 12th February 1831, the termination £ of his employment 1,211 Salary to the Courier and wages to the boatmen employed in hs Majesty's service, and attached to the Mission at Lisbon, one quarter to the 30th September 1830 43 It. B. Hoppner, Esq., acting ConsulGeneral in Lisbon, for expenses incurred by hint on his journey to that city 31 Ditto, salary from 15th December 1830 to loth October 1931 1,626 Ditto for salary to the boatmen and Courier employed ou his Ma- jesty's service at Lisbon. and to the Messenger attached to his Majesty's M ission, in the four quarters ended 30th September 1831 203 !;''SNOS AYRES.

W. Parish, Esq., temporary allowance for a Secretary, and expense of pro- curing returns of the produce of the Mines for the purpose of being laid before the House of Commons, for the two quarters ended 30th June

1831 Disbursements of a somewhat similar nature, and for Post Office charges and Couriersat-

Brazils Quarters of a Year 4

Columbia 2 Mexico 2 Total of Disbursements of Diplomatic Ministers at Foreign Courts £18,043 SPECIAL MISSIONS.

The nature of Special Missions is told by the name. Their neces- sity arises or is presumed to arise from the want of influence (read in- competency) of the resident Minister, from the peculiar knowledge which the missionary is supposed to possess of the subject, or from its being necessary to visit several courts in succession. Occasionally, the ambassador may have been recalled, and the missionary acts the digni- fied part of a warming-pan. Sometimes there may be no resident Minister at the court, or perhaps his dignity may not be sufficiently great for the importance of the matter in hand, and sometimes it may be a convenient mode of making the grand tour.

vsssows.

Sir B. Taylor, expenses incurred by him whilst employed on a special mission abroad L254 The Right Honourable Sir R. Adair, G.C.B., advance to meet the expenses

incurred and to be ineUrred by him whilst on a special mission abroad 2,000 The Right Honourable Sir Stratford Canning, K.B., towards the expenses

of a special mission abroad 1,000 NETHERLANDS.

Thomas Cartwright, Esq., expenses incurred by him whilst em- ployed on special service in the Netherlands. from 6th September £ to 6th December 1830 418 lord Ponsonby, ditto ditto, from December 1830 to June 1931 696 Total of Special Missions £5.368

EXPENSES OF ENTERTAINING AND CONVEYING PERSONS OF DISTINCTION, AMBASSADORS, Sze.

Had it not been for the events which took place (a "mighty pretty deka way of expressing " revolution) at Rio Janeiro, the charge for this purpose would have been inconsiderable. This is perhaps ac- counted for by the expenditure being made by the Navy. The "triumphant sons of truest blue" do not seem so skilful at whipping up a charge as the Corps Diplomatique. We may observe en passant, that whenever any expense of this kind is to be incurred, it falls upon the shoulders of John Bull. A runaway legitimate even of the deepest dye seems to prefer taking refuge with Milord Anglais. If "events should take place" at Constantinople, " our ancient ally," " our good old friend" the Grand Seignor, would doubtless ensconce himself on board an English ship ;. should our other " ancient ally " at Lisbon he obliged " to be entertained in consequence of events taking place," the entertainment would doubtless be on board a British vessel; and if our still more " ancient ally" of Holland should lose his throne in consequence of his obstinacy, we apprehend that, instead of flying to his " ally " of Prussia, he would pay another visit to England, " on

board his Majesty's ship , with the Queen and suite."

A difference will be found between the amount of the present Table and the sum stated; under this head, in our Supplement. This difference arises from our having separated the charges for Consular and Colonial service frOM the Ambassadorial. The item of 1201. 10s., for the "conveyance of Sir WALTER SCOTT, Bart., and his family, from England to Malta," we now omit altogether.

For the entertainment on beard 'Of hii Majesty's ship

contequence of the events which took place at Rio Janeiro in the month of April last, of the late Emperor of Brazil, his family, and part of 4"‘Ye apprehend these salaries and allowances, like the payment incurred for outfit, are an Ambassadorial and riot a Consular charge, and incurred for the same reason— the suspension of our Ministerial communication with Don Miguel.

152 200 80 432 1,002 320 1.322 5 800 4 238 3 237 3 141 4 352 4 109

5 160

4 183 4 276 4 710 4 311 3,114 140 252 131 437 1,114

his suite, together with a number of persons of the Diplomatic beciT and others, who resorted on hoard to visit the Imperial Family

For having entertained on board his Majesty's ship Volage, at thd same time, other persons of the suite of the late Emperor of Brazil For the conveyance of the late Emperor of Brazil, with the Empress and suite, on board the same ship from Rio Janeiro to France 703 For the conveyance of Mr. Fox, his Majesty's Minister to the 'United Pro- vinces of the Rio de Is Plata, and his suite, on board his Majesty's ship

Tyne to Buenos Ayres For the entertainment on board his Majesty's sloop Rapid, in the Meld- pelage, during two short passages—

Two Greek Deputies and their Secretary £ 9 Colonel Baker, Commissioner for the Greek Boundaries, and his Secretary Mr. Dawkins, hie Majesty's resident in Greece, and suite 6.1 Ditto on two occasions on board his Majesty's ship Blonde 60 For the conveyance of Mr. Mandeville, Secretary of Embassy to the Ottoman Porte, in his Majesty's sloop Raleigh, from Malta to Cape Janissary

Ditto of Mr. Kriotzolf, a Russian Gentleman, charged with despatches from his Government, in his Majesty's bomb.vessel Infernal, from Naples to Malta Ditto of Monsieur Navorie, a Gentleman attached to the French Resident in Greece, and who was charged by the. Minister of the Allied Powers with a special mission to the Governor of Athens, in his Majesty's sloop Rapid, from Napoli di Romania to Athens and back Ditto of Major Fraser. Vice-Consul at Bona, with despatches for England relating to the surrender of Algiers to the French, in his Majesty's sloop

Ferret, from Algiers to Gibraltar Total of Entertaining and Conveying Persons of Distinction, Ambassadors, Re. £9,039 PRESENTS TO PERSONS OF DISTINCTION AND MINISTERS AT FOREIGN COURTS.

The following Table is a sample of the "good old Tory times,"— a trifling specimen of bygone profusion. We exhibit it as a sort of account that will soon, we presume, be seen no more. " His Majesty's Government have discontinued the interchange of diplomatic presents subsequently to the 5th January 1831." The wording is, however, somewhat obscure or deceptive. What is the strict meaning of " in- terchange ?" Did Prince POLIGNAC present Lord AIIERDEEN a snuff- box value 1,0361. I5s. ?

Another item in the account is worthy of observation. It is the present to Mr. SARELL for services performed during the absence of the embassy from Constantinople after the "untoward" battle of Na- varino. The discharge of public functions at such a period, and with- out any recognized public character, must have been a task of difficulty and delicacy, and (especially at the Ottoman Court) must have required peculiar knowledge and some address. Mr. SAHEL'. gets a present of some bauble charged at 124/. 19s. The Ambassadors of Foreign potentates (the Minister of the Grand Duke of Saxe Meiningen inclu- sive), for presenting a letter of condolence and congratulation, receive a present worth 436/. 15s. ; but then; Mr. SARELL was only a "British Merchant."

Expense incurred for various articles sent as presents to the Ras of Abyssinia. £250

Messrs. Mandell :Ind Bridge. for Gold Snuff-Boxes, Re., as Presents from his Majesty to Foreign Ministers, Re., on the following occasions, viz.— by Direction of the Earl of Aberdeen : To the Prince de Polignae, on the termination of his embassy in 1829£1,036 Mr. Sarell, a British merchant at Constantinople, for Public Services

during the absence of his Majesty's Embassy from Turkey in 1829

and 1829 124 The Austrian Ambassador, on the exchange of the ratifications of a

convention signed in London on the 21st December 1829 836 The French Ambassador, the Duke De Laval Montmorency, on the cessation of his functions in 1930 836 General Batffirausl, charged with a Special Mission from the King of the French to announce his accession in 1830 436 The Bearer of the Ensigns of the Order of the Elephant, from the

King of Denmark, to his Majesty William the Fourth, 1830......, 105 The Austrian Minister, on his presentation of letters of condolence on the death of George the Fourth, and of congratulation on the ac-

cession of his present Majesty The Russian Minister, ditto The Neapolitan Minister, ditto The Prussian Minister, ditto The Swedish Minister, ditto The Saxon Minister, ditto By Directions from Viscount Palmerston : To the Minister from the King of the Netherlands, ditto 436 .. .. Grand Duke of Saxe Meiningen. ditto 436 The Danish Minister, on the occasion of his being charged to present the Insignia of the Order of the Elephant to his Majesty : 436 Total for Presents to Persons of Distinction and Ministers at

Foreign Courts £7,547 400 861s.

6 50

1,6N:

281

125 56

7

6 436 436 436 436 436 436 5,999

1.303