Naval, Victualing } and Ordnance Stores } at Deptford and Red House £.1,800,000 Woolwich 150,000 Sheerness 100,000 Chatham 200,000 Portsmouth 1,300,000 Plymouth 900,000 Ireland, Leith, and other parts 50,000 { in the Arsenals at Halifax, } { and the East and West Indies } 150,000 Gibraltar, Minorca, &c. 50,000 { in 900 Ships of War and } { Transports in Commission } 2,300,000 ----------- Total £.7,000,000 ----------- The annual pecuniary Supplies for the Navy may be estimated at _Thirteen Millions a year_ during war; of which sum about _Six Millions_ may be applicable to the pay of the Officers and Seamen, and _Seven Millions_ to _Ships-Stores, Provisions, &c._ The last two, namely, the stores and provisions being in a constant state of movement, both at home and abroad, furnish abundant resource for frauds and depredations, which may certainly be greatly diminished, though perhaps impracticable to be eradicated entirely. The object, therefore, is to devise means whereby this _diminution_ may be accomplished: and in pursuing this important inquiry, it will be necessary to precede it by the following general view of the Laws now in being, which relate to offences committed in the Naval and other Public Departments. The Acts of the 31st of Elizabeth, (cap. 4.) and the 22d of Charles II. (cap. 5.) made it felony, without Benefit of Clergy, to steal or embezzle any of his Majesty's Military or Naval Stores or Provisions, above the value of Twenty Shillings. By the 9 and 10 of William III. (cap. 41.) the Receivers of embezzled stores, or such as should have the same in their custody, are subject to a penalty of £.200. From this period, till the 1st of George the First, the attention of the Legislature does not seem to have been directed to this object; when by the statute, 1st Geo. I. stat. 2. cap. 25, the principal Officers or Commissioners of the Navy were authorized to issue warrants to search for Public Property stolen or embezzled, and to punish the Offenders by fine or imprisonment.