oses, when that is out of sight,
there is no rule so sacred which is not to be violated to manifest his
real esteem and perfect trust in the person whom he has rejected.
However, by overturning general principles to compliment Mr. Fowke's
integrity, he does all in his power to corrupt it; at the same time he
establishes an example that must either subject all future dealings to
the same pernicious clause, or which, being omitted, must become a
strong implied charge on the integrity of those who shall hereafter be
excluded from a trust so constituted.

It is not foreign to the object of your Committee, in this part of their
observations, which relates to the obedience to orders, to remark upon
the manner in which the orders of the Court of Directors with regard to
this kind of dealing in contracts are observed. These orders relate to
contracts; and they contain two standing regulations.

1st, That all contracts shall be publicly advertised, and that the most
reasonable proposals shall be accepted.

2ndly, That two contracts, those of provisions and for carriage
bullocks, shall be only annual.

These orders are undoubtedly some correctives to the abuses which may
arise in this very critical article of public dealing. But the House
will remark, that, if the business usually carried on by contracts can
be converted at pleasure into agencies, like that of Mr. Fowke, all
these regulations perish of course, and there is no direction whatsoever
for restraining the most prodigal and corrupt bargains for the public.

Your Committee have inquired into the observance of these necessary
regulations, and they find that they have, like the rest, been entirely
contemned, and contemned with entire impunity. After the period of
Colonel Monson's death, and Mr. Hastings and Mr. Barwell obtaining the
lead in the Council, the contracts were disposed of without at all
advertising for proposals. Those in 1777 were given for three years; and
the gentlemen in question growing by habit and encouragement into more
boldness, in 1779 the contracts were disposed of for five years: and
this they did at the eve of the expiration of their own appointment to
the government. This increase in the length of the contracts, though
contrary to orders, might have admitted some excuse, if it had been
made, even in appearance, the means of lessening the expense. But the
advantages allowed to the contractors, instead of being diminished, were
enlarged, and in