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4 EVIDENCE RELATING TO CHARITIES INQUIRY.
John W.Warren
Esq.
18 March,
1828.
Do any of the honorary commissioners make excursions?—No, never.
You have described the clerks as being intelligent persons, fir to associate with
yourselves, and to assist to in your work; are they men so competent as to be
able to carry on an investigation of this kind by themselves?—They have much
assisted us in subordinate parts of the investigation, but I do not think them com-
petent to carry on the investigation by themselves.
Are they bred to the law?—Yes, they are most of them gentlemen intended,
I believe, for solicitors, or actually such, and one who means to come to the bar.
Of course the travelling expenses are charged only for four months?—Only
for the time that the commissioners are actually out, from the day leaving London
till the day that they return.
Even when they are resident for some time in certain places a daily allowance is
charged?—Yes.
Although they should be stopping for a month at any particular place?—Yes,
the allowance is intended to meet their expenses of living at inns; it does not cover
the charges of the road, that is, posting and coach hire; they are charged as con-
tingent expenses.
Was it left to the discretion of the commissioners to apportion their own cir-
cuits?—Yes.
Honorary com-
missioners do nothing.
Do the honorary commissioners ever interfere to direct the course which the
other commissioners shall take?—They never do. At the setting off of the com-
mission there was a general consultation with the honorary commissioners as to the
course that should be pursued, and the circuits that it was proposed to take were
submitted to them, and they approved of them; but from that time they have never
interfered, but have left the stipendiary commissioners to pursue their own course.
Have the commissioners you have now named been the same the whole time?—
Yes, except the two last, who came in on the second commission; under the first
commission there were only eight commissioners; Doctor Burnaby and Mr. Daniell
were the two last appointed.
Is Doctor Burnaby an advocate in the Commons?—Yes, he is.
In what branch is Mr. Daniell?—He is at the Chancery bar; I believe he has
now withdrawn from practice.
Have the honorary commissioners the same power under the Act as the stipen-
diary commissioners?—Yes, precisely so.
The only difference is, their not receiving pay, and not going circuits?—Yes,
they may go to the circuits if they choose.
You enter sometimes into very minute inquiries?—Yes, we sometimes do.
Importance of the
greater number
small.
Are not the greater number of cases of very small amount, and such as turn out
not worth inquiring into?—The greater number perhaps are of small amount;
we frequently find that those of the smallest amount give us the greatest trouble,
they are the most likely to be overlooked and lost.
Does your experience as to what has passed, in an examinations of this sort, lead
you to think it would be possible to take a somewhat more summary view of the
charities in the remaining counties you have not inquired into, b which the trouble
and expense might be materially abridged?—We have thought that the mode we
have pursued was that which alone was calculated to give such a knowledge of
the state of the different charities as should secure them from future oblivion, or
future abuse; I am far from saying it might not be done in a more abridged form,
but we have frequently considered the case, and have come to the conclusion that
we could best perform our duty in pursuing the course we have done.
Although it is evidently desirable to have it as much in detail as possible, yet
considering the great expense to the Public, might not the substantial part of the
inquiry be attained without going to the extent of detail which you have hitherto
gone into?—I cannot say that it might not be done, but I can but repeat what I
have stated; that we think we have not gone into any further detail than was
advisable for giving a complete knowledge of the state of the different charities;
I am quite aware how desirable it to make the inquiry as little expensive as pos-
sible; I would rather, before I answer that question, consult my colleagues
when they come to town; an individual opinion of my own might mislead the
Committee.
[The Witness was requested, after consulting the other members of the
board, to furnish a statement in writing of the view of the commissioners
on the subject.]
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charities inquiry / evidence / taken before the finance committee, and the return laid before the committee in 1828, which were presented to the house upon the 24th day of june 1829 |
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