Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Extract of a Memorial Concerning the Mal-Ad-
ministrations of Coll Nicholson Governo^r: of Virg^a:/
N^o: 4.

There is now no Check, nor Controul upon y^e Acco^ts:
of her Maj^ts: Revenue in this Country, Whereas formerly they
Used to be Examined and past in Council, at a Solemn—
Audit appointed for that purpose./

Extract of M^r: Thrales Answer to y^e Memorial
of M^r: Blair and others against Col: Francis Nicholson/

The Acco^ts: are not passed or Examined by the
Government but y^e same doth belong to y^e Auditor, So
that if there be any mistake, or Irregularity therein—
(which doth not appear) the Auditor ought to Answer
for y^e same./

Answer to y^e
th: Article

Do not know y^t there Used to be such a
Particular Audit Day and it seems. Unnecessary that
there should, seeing there is a particular Auditor appoint-
ed by y^e Crown, who is Lyable to Answer for y^e truth
of the Acco^ts:

Extract of M^r: Blairs further Affidavit.

I have never Seen a fair Audit of the Acco^ts:
of the Revenue in Council since he was Gov^r: sometimes
Indeed the Acco^t: was Slipt upon the Table, but never
publickly read or Examined, far less the Warrants
and Vouchers to y^e severall Articles produced and
approved./

I remember that there Used formerly to be
a day appointed annually on which y^e Gov^r: & Council
in a Solemn Audit Examined & past y^e Acco^ts: of y^e Revenue
but now that this Custom is let fall, I know no Check
at all there is in that Country upon y^e said Acco^ts:/
Extract

Extract of a Reply to M^r: Thrales Answer
to the Memorial of y^e Major part of y^e Council
of Virg^a: Complaining of Coll Fr: Nicholson
Gov^r: of Virg^a: Mal-Administrations./

For y^e Acco^ts: of her Maj^ts Revenue, M^r: Thrale
owning y^e Fact, Asserts y^t: y^e passing of them belongs not
to the Governo^r: nor Council, but only to y^e Auditor.—
Now We doubt not (besides y^e Innovation of this —
matter) Your Lordsps will see the Inconveniency of
this, That the Same man who receives and layes out
the Queens Revenues should account to himself, for
by this Rule of M^r: Thrales it must be so, the Re-
ceiver and Auditor being both in one person. It
is true there is another Auditor in England to whom
y^e Acco^ts: are Transmitted, but if there is no Check
or Voucher in the Country how is it possible the
Acco^ts. Can be well managed./

Your Lordps have proof Enough in the
Memorial and Affidavite that there Used to be a
Day appointed for y^e Councils Auditing the Acco^ts:
and may be further Satisfied by Examining Secr^ry:
Jennings and M^r: Robert Beverly, and by Inspect-
ing y^e former books of Council. M^r: Thrale pleads
for y^e Gov^rs: neglect of this that it is Unnecessary
there being an Auditor appointed by y^e Crown, who
is lyable to answer for y^e truth of y^e Acco^ts. if he—
means an Auditor in y^t Country. We humbly
acquaint Your Lordps, that there is no Auditor there
but y^e Receiver Generall, and if he must Audit his
own Acco^ts: Your Lordps will be sure they will be
Easily past, but if he means an Auditor here; We
humbly represent that the Several Articles of these
Acco^ts: relating to payments and Disbursements there
it Seems absolutely necessary for her Majesty's Service,
3 That y^e Acco^ts: be Audited by some, who in Case of any
doubt, Satisfie themselves by Examining y^e Warrants
Receipts & Disbursments upon y^e Place where the
Persons live, by, or to whom y^e payments are made
which Accordingly has always been done by the
Council./

Extract of An Abstract of the Chief
Articles of Gov^r: Nicholsons Mal-admi-
nistrations in Virg^a:

He has taken away from y^e Council the Inspect-
ing and Auditing the Acco^ts: of the Revenue, So that
all y^e publick Acco^ts: are now sent home without
any Check or Voucher in that Country to her Maj^ts:
great disservice and Contrary to former Service/

Virginia

Matters relating to y^e Auditor of
Virg^a: Extracted out of M^r: Blairs &c
Memorial: and further Affidavits
and M^r: Thrales Answer, and M^r:
Blair's Reply to y^e said Answer