"That Lord Penrhyn be requested to present to the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Report of a Committee of this Meeting, on the subject of the Marine Police Institution, and the Resolution of this meeting approving the said Report.
"That Lord Penrhyn be requested to communicate the thanks of this Meeting to Mr. Colquhoun for the zeal, ability, and perseverance with which he has endeavoured to form an effectual check to the system of depredation which prevailed on the River Thames."]
_Reflections on the Causes of the Existence and Continuance of the Frauds, Embezzlements, Peculation, and Plunder in his Majesty's Dock-Yards and other Public Repositories, and in the Naval Department in general.--Reasons why the Evil has not been suppressed.--A summary View of the Means employed in committing Offences of this Nature.--Reasons assigned why the Defalcation of this Species of Property must be extensive.--Illustrated by the immense Value, and by an Estimate, and general View, of the Public Property exposed to Hazard.--A summary View of the Laws which relate to Offences on Public Property; proofs adduced of their Deficiency.--Remedies proposed and detailed under the respective Heads of--1st. A Central Board of Police--2d. A Local Police for the Dock-Yards--3d. Legislative Regulations proposed in Aid of the Police System--4th. Regulations respecting the Sale of Old Stores--5th. The Abolition of the Perquisites of Chips--6th. The Abolition of Fees and Perquisites, and liberal Salaries in lieu thereof--7th. An improved Mode of keeping Accounts--8th. An annual Inventory of Stores in Hand--Concluding Observations._
Under the pressure of those accumulated wrongs, which constitute the extensive frauds, embezzlements, pillage, and plunder, known and acknowledged to exist in the Dock-Yards and other Public Repositories, it is not easy, at first view, to assign a reason for that apparent supineness, on the part of men of known honour and integrity, who have heretofore presided, and who now preside at the Public Boards, in not using the means necessary to remedy so great an evil.
This may possibly be accounted for, by the extreme difficulty which men, constantly occupied in a laborious business, find in pursuing inquiries, or forming arrangements, out of their particular sphere; more especially when such arrangements require those powers of business, and that species of legal and general information, which do not usually attach to men whose education and habits of life have run in a different channel.