Roguery, and deceit of a body of men joined together, in such a pernicious design: And praying, That effectual care will be taken in the discovering and punishing all the offenders, aiders, and abettors, in this grand and wicked undertaking.

Borough of Chipping Wycombe.

Setting forth, That the inexpressible calamities they now lie under, by the decay of trade and credit of this once flourishing kingdom, now reduced to the utmost degree of misery, by the vile and scandalous practices of the late South-Sea Directors, their aiders and abettors; And praying, That a vigorous inquiry may be made, to bring to justice, and deserved punishment, the authors and contrivers of these unparalleled grievances.

Borough of Abingdon.

Setting forth, That they are infinitely concerned at the deplorable and melancholy condition to which this nation is reduced by the general decay of trade, manufactures, and public credit; cccasioned by the fatal practices of the late directors of the South-Sea Company, and their perfidious accomplices: and praying, That proper measures may be taken, that trade may flourish, public credit be restored, and justice done to an injured people.

Town and Port of Hastings.

Setting forth, That the Fishery, which, for ages past, hath been the chiefest support of this and many other maritime towns, is now reduced to a very low ebb, through the power vested in the late directors of the South-Sea Company, their advisers, aiders, and abettors and praying, That such measures may be taken to bring them to condign punishment.

Borough of Haslemere.

:

Setting forth, That the villainous practices of the late directors of the South-Sea Company, and their abettors, have occasioned a great decay of trade, and scarcity of money; and without a brisker circulation of which, the worst of consequences must inevitably ensue : and praying, That those Monsters of Pride and Covetousness may be detected, and punished.

Borough of Southwark.

Setting forth, That they cannot but be sensible of the misery brought on this nation, by the evil intentions, and worse practices, of the late Directors of the South Sea Company, their accomplices, aiders, and abettors; by which many thousands have been reduced to misery and want: and praying, That the Robbers of their Country, of what degree or quality soever, be punished; and that trade may be restored, and credit revived.

City of Hereford.

Setting forth, That the general decay of trade, and the dismal calamities brought upon the nation, by a set of wicked and avaricious

Borough of Aldeburgh.

Setting forth, That the universal decay of trade and credit, which this nation at present labours under, occasioned by the notorious management of the late South Sea Directors, their agents and confederates: and praying, That the authors of these calamities may be brought to condign punishment.

Borough of Derby.

Setting forth, That the general decay of trade, manufactures, and public credit, are the sad effects of the mismanagement, boundless ambition, and pernicious practices, of the late directors of the South Sea Company, their aiders and accomplices: and praying, That such further measures may be taken, that trade may flourish, public credit be restored, and justice done to an injured people,

Borough of Cirencester.

Setting forth, That they being chiefly employed in the woollen manufactures, the preservation of which is very essential to the wealth of this kingdom; and that the same is reduced by the villainous execution of the late pernicious South Sea Project: and praying, That justice may be done to those Betrayers of their Country, who have been the occasion of these fatal mischiefs.

Borough of Appleby.

Setting forth, That they being touched with a most compassionate sense of the great and inexpressible calamities brought upon this kingdom, by the diabolical artifices of the South Sea Directors, and their confederates: and praying, That those which have been the ruin of our late most flourishing trade, and public credit, be brought to condign punishment.

County of Surrey.

Setting forth, That they would appear totally insensible of the universal calamity of their country, and, in some degree, consenting to the guilt of the late infamous Directors of the South Sea Company, and their aiders and abettors, should they any longer refrain from declaring their utmost abhorrence of those detestable machinations, and vile practices, which have brought a most flourishing nation under the utmost difficulties and distress: and praying, That just measures will be taken for the restoring credit, and doing justice, to an injured people.

Town and County of Southampton.

Setting forth, That they are brought into a very low condition by the great decay of trade, occasioned chiefly by the wicked practices of

some covetous persons, who have diverted great part of the wealth of the nation out of its proper channel, and taken it to themselves: and praying, That those who have been accessary to the general calamity be brought to exemplary punishment; and that some speedy method may be provided for the reviving of trade.

Borough of Stamford.

Setting forth, That they declare their utmost detestation of the crimes of the late Directors of the South Sea Company, their agents and accomplices, who have been the ruin of both public and private credit, discouraged industry, and rendered them in such a condition as otherwise would not have been known to the trading people: and praying, That such measures may be found as may be judged most proper to discourage, and, in due time, bring all the criminals to just punishment.

Borough of Sudbury.

Setting forth, That the corrupt and enormous practices of the late South Sea Directors, their confederates and assistants, and the mischievous consequences of their detestable schemes, have very much contributed to the present decay of trade, and public, in general; the fatal effects of which have been no where more sensibly felt, than by those whose dependence chiefly consists in thewoollen manufactures for exportation: and praying, That care may be taken to revive the languishing trade, and re-establish public credit, and in bringing to exemplary punishment all the authors of these calamities.

Borough of Westbury.

Setting forth, That bearing so great a sharof that extensive calamity this poor and dise tressed nation groans under, by the boundless avarice, and corrupt practices, of the late Directors of the South-Sea, their aiders, abettors, and confederates, who have occassioned the great decay of trade in the woollen manufacture: and praying, that relief may be given therein by giving encouragement to trade, redressing their grievances, and restoring of public credit, and doing justice to an injured nation.

Town and Borough of Pontefract. Setting forth, That the loss of trade, occasioned by the dark schemes, and vile practices, of a set of men who have engrossed a great part of the treasure of the nation into their hands, to the utter ruin of a great many families and praying, That proper measures may be taken to revive trade, and give restitution to the oppressed.

Borough of Colchester.

:

Setting forth, That out of a deep sense of the miseries of many unhappy families, deluded and undone, by the unparalleled fraud and corruption of the late Directors of the South-Sea Company and their secret accomplices, and the fatal wound that has been given to public credit, is

Setting forth, That they beg leave to express their concern for the unspeakable miseries this once flourishing nation is reduced to, by the corrupt management of the late South-Sea Directors, their agents and abettors; who, notwithstanding the immense sums they have cheated the nation of, have yet the confidence to conceal their estate and effects: and praying that trade may be revived, public credit restored, the grand corruption detected, and no obstacle to hinder the plunderers of the public from being brought to speedy justice.

Borough of East Retford.

Setting forth, That being deeply affected with concern for the calamitous condition to which they see this nation exposed, by the pernicious and wicked execution of the South Sea Scheme which has decayed their impaired credit, and drained away the money and praying, That this nation may be restored to a flourishing condition, and become the resort of credit; and that the offenders may be brought to condign punishment,

:

clear up this difficulty in the most expeditious and certain way, and to put this matter in the fullest light that could be, for the information of the House, made several orders, whereby the said sub-governor, deputy governor, directors, deputy cashier, and accountant, were ordered to lay before your Committee an account of the present estimate, or value, in money, of their several real and personal estates, contained in the said inventories or particulars, in the most summary manner; and that, in such estimate, or valuation, they should estimate, or value their Bank stock, South Sea stock, and East India stock, at 150 per cent. one with another; their Bank and Lottery Annuities, lottery tickets, exchequer orders, East India and South Sea bonds, at par; their Long Annuities at 20 years purchase; their Short Annuities at 14 years purchase; and their other stocks and securities as they were currently sold for, or valued at, upon the 25th day of March last:

"That, in pursuance of the aforesaid Orders, the said sub-governor, deputy-governor, directors, and deputy-cashier, attended your committee, and left with them abstracts, in writing, of the estimated Values in money, of their several real and personal Estates, comprised and mentioned in their said respective inventories and particulars; and have balanced the same in such manner as that the said several balances may be taken as clear money, over and besides what they severally owe, or are indebted; except some contracts for lands, and other things, which are under contest; and over and besides such settlements and provisions as they allege to have been made for their respective families: and Mr. Grigsby, not being able to attend the committee, sent his abstract, and balance, in the same form as the other: all which balances, amounting, together, to the sum of 2,014,1237. 16s. 7d. your committee have inserted in a schedule, and annexed the same to this their report, shewing what each person's particular balance amounts to.

"Your committee craves leave to inform the House, that sir John Lambert having attended them, on the third day of April, with the abstract of his estate, and thereby stated his balance to be 72,508l. 1s. 5d. he afterwards, on the 6th of April, attended again, and alleged, That he was mistaken in his said abstract; and desired your committee to receive a supplemental paper, by which he would have reduced his balance, so delivered in as before, 22,6101. 8. 4d.; and thereby the said balance of 72,508. 1s. 5d. would have been not more than 49,8977. 13s. 1d.: but, your committee, foreseeing the inconveniencies that might probably arise to them from others, by their receiving such paper, thought fit to reject the same, and to take only a minute thereof, to enable them to represent the fact to the House.

"As to the other part of your order, whereby your committee are directed to make their observations upon the said inventories and particulars; your committee crave leave to in

Total 2,014,123 16 7

Petitions of the South Sea Directors for Compassion.] April 20. Five Petitions of Francis Eyles, Richard Horsey, William Astell, James Edmondson, and of William Tillard, late Directors of the South Sea Company, setting forth the case of the several Petitioners, and praying the Compassion and consideration of the House, according to their respective circumstances, were severally presented, read, and ordered to lie on the table; and Mr. Brodrick, having acquainted the House, That the Committee of Secrecy, since their former Report had come to a farther knowledge of some matters, and were ready to lay a farther Report before the House, at such time as the House should appoint: it was ordered, that the said Report be received the next morning.

THIRD REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF SE

CRECY ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOUTHSEA COMPANY.] April 21. After the reading of six Petitions of as many of the late Directors, and of a seventh of John Grigsby, late accomptant general of the South-Sea Company, praying the consideration and compassion of the House. Mr. Brodrick presented the said Report; and afterwards delivered it in at the clerk's table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

count: That 44,000l. part of the balance of 77,000l. due from the Sword-Blade Company, is the Examinant's own money; and the remaining 33,000l. belongs to Mr. Aislabie : Being asked, Whether, at the time of his be ginning to deal in stock, he was possessed of a considerable sum of money of his own, be refused to answer; alledging, It was his own private concern.

Your Committee afterwards received a letter from the said Mr. Waller, dated the 19th of April instant; wherein he desired to be again

That the Committee of Secrecy appointed to inquire into all the proceedings relating to the execution of an act, passed the last session of parliament, intitled, "An Act for enabling the South-Sea Company to increase their present capital stock, and fund, by redeeming such public debts and incumbrances as are therein mentioned; and for raising money, to be applied for lessening several of the public debts and incumbrances; and for calling in the present Exchequer-Bills remaining uncancelled; and for making forth new bills, in lieu thereof, to be circulated and exchanged, upon demand, at or near the Exchequer," have proceeded further in the examination of the matters referred to them: And, ob serving, that, upon their former Reports, it was thought proper, that the examinations referred to by your Committee, should be laid before the House; and several other matters appearing to your Committee fit for the consideration of the House, your Committee report the same in the words of the examinations themselves, and according to the papers laid before your Committee. Your Committee, in a former Report, acquainted the House, That the indisposition of Edmund Waller, esq. had prevented their laying before the House, in that report, a more particular account relating to the sum of 794,451l. 15s. 9d. received and paid, by Turner and Company, upon the account of the said Mr. Waller, between the 28th of March 1719, and the 21st of November following: And, having since, viz. on the 22d of March 1720, examined Mr. Waller, he saith, That he did, from time to time, settle accounts with Mr. Aislabie, his father-in-law, of his transactions in money and stock for him, and has not any account thereof: That he did keep some memorandums of his said transactions in a book, which book he has since torn; but says, That he did keep a copy of his accounts with the Sword-Blade Company: That he has, from time to time, destroyed all his papers and memorandums relating to his transactions for Mr. Aislabie: Says, He cannot tell what dealings he has had in stock for Mr. Aislabie; but that far the greatest part of his transactions in stock were upon his own

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were any, in his former examination, and to give the Committee the best information be could: Whereupon your Committee did take his further examination; which is as follows; when he began to deal in stock, he had of the He says, That, in February or March 1719, money of his mother, his brother, his own, and which his wife's fortune was 5,0001, which be his wife's fortune, about the sum of 20,000l. of had in bank notes; that he employed the said 20,000l. in buying stock. That he cannot tell how much of this 20,000l. was his own money. That he never kept any account in writing of that part of the said 20,000l. which belonged to his mother and brother, but that he has told them, what belonged to them. That his mother and brother gave him leave to employ their money in stock, but he never had any order in writing from thein for that purpose, but has paid them several sums of money upon account thereof, and never took any receipt, the same; that he has also transferred some order, or other writing from them concerning bank stock to his brother. That the tearing of his books mentioned in his former examination, about the 22d of August 1720. was at several times, the last of which was

And your Committee inform the House, that the said Mr. Waller, upon his said farther examination, did declare, that there was not in the said book any article relating to Mr. Aislabie; but this appearing to be in direct contradiction to what he had said in his first examination, your Committee did not insert the same in this subsequent examination, signed by the said Mr. Waller, but think it proper to represent this matter to House the.

Your Committee having, in a former report, taken notice, that James Craggs, sen. esq. had 30,000l. South-Sea stock taken in for him, or his friends, they sent for an account of transfers made to the said Mr. Craggs, which was accordingly laid before them, a copy of which account is hereunto annexed in the Appendix, No. 1, by which your Committee find, that (among other great sums) there was on the 28th of March 1720, a sum of 30,000l. stock transferred by Mr. Jacob Sawbridge (one of the partners of Turner and Company) to the said Mr. James Craggs.

And your Committee proceeded to examine the following persons concerning the tranfers.

Mr. Jacob Sawbridge (late one of the direc tors of the South-Sea Company, and a partner