commending a plan, which, in those cir- was firmly persuaded, however, that the cumstances, appeared to him absolutely ne- debt had not increased from this cause parcessary to be pursued, and expressing his ticularly, and he engaged to shew, unless opinion, that if it was not pursued, the the directors came forward in this affair, consequences would be dangerous, not that it was owing to a cause of a very dif only to the concerns of the East-India com- ferent nature. He was resolved, at least pany, but injurious to the prosperity of as far as lay in his power, to fix responsi the country at large. His object in mov-bility where it ought to attach, and this ing for this letter of lord Melville, written was the great object which he had in view, when the debt of the company was only in the efforts which be made, and was in14 millions, was this: he designed, on clined to make, on this subject. The hon. some future day, to move for a select gent. concluded by moving, "That there committee of the house, to enquire into the be laid before the house a copy of the let causes of the alarming increase of the ter from the right hon. Henry Dundas, now debt of the company, and of their failure lord viscount Melville, to the chairman of to comply with the conditions and stipula- the East-India Company, dated the 30th tions agreed upon in their charter. The of June, 1801." object which he had at present in view, Mr. Wallace said, he had no objection was one of the last importance, since the to the production of the letter now called debt of the company had increased from for, but at the same time he wished it to 14 to 30 millions, in the thirteenth year be understood that in acceding to this he from the renewal of their charter, without did not by any means accede to the proany of the conditions agreed upon having priety and truth of the observations of the been performed on their parts. It was high hon. gent. who had made the motion, or time to enquire into the causes of these to any future motions or opinions that singular circumstances. It was with this might, by him, be founded upon it. This view that he moved for the letter of lord also he must say, that the hon. gento had Melville. Having read the motion, the not acted altogether with strict fairness, in hon. gent. begged leave to add one word making his motion so early, and prefacing more: lord Melville had written to it with so many remarks, which would have the court of directors upon this subject, been more properly introduced when those in the most earnest manner; and, in-were present who might be able, from the deed, his opinion had been given them, in some measure, with all the solemnity of a death-bed warning. He would say this of lord Melville, that his plans for the regulation of India were well conceived, and discovered proofs of no ordinary comprehension in him who proposed them. Upon the execution of them, indeed, he was of opinion, that the very existence of India, as connected with this country, depended, and therefore he hoped that the directors themselves would come forward and pro- Mr. Paull wished to say one word in, mote this enquiry; or, if not, that the reply. He had come early to the house, board of controul, or some individual of and had certainly waited a reasonable time that board, would come forward and give for those who might be best informed upon, every assistance to the measure. If the and most interested in this business. It debt of 14 millions appalled lord Melville, was not his wish to take the house, or any what ought to be the vigour and attention person in it, by surprise; but he had a employed now, when the debt amounted to most important object in view, and was 30 millions? The directors and the board convinced that delay would be highly preof controul were in some degree bound by judicial to the interests of the country. If these circumstances to come forward and there was a cause of the debt, foreign to give their support to such an enquiry as he the war in which India had been engaged, proposed. It would be said, and he wished and if by this cause the public had been to anticipate this objection, that the alarm-deprived of the benefits that might result ing increase of the debt arose from the from the performance of the conditions of wars that had taken place in India. He the East-India Company's charter, it was

situations they held, to meet them in a clear and proper manner. The hon. gent. had adverted to the cause of the increase of the debt, and touched upon one argument against him, which he wished to anticipate. He was correct in supposing that war would be alledged as the great cause of the increase of the India Debt, and he had no doubt that when the subject came to be investigated, this would be proved to be the real state of the case.

high time the business should be investi- full attendance of their lordships, for the gated, and that no delay should take place, consideration of what he should submit.— beyond what was absolutely necessary from After some routine business was transacted, the nature of the thing itself.-The mo- the noble lord again rose, and stated, that on tion was then put and agreed to. After further consideration, he thought it would which the hon. gent. gave notice, that ou be proper, in order to insure a full atTuesday se'nnight he would move for a tendance for the discussion of a subject of select committee to enquire into the such public magnitude and importance, to causes of the alarming increase of the have their lordships summoned; and, as debt of the East-India company, and of Tuesday next would most probably be the their failure to perform the conditions, day on which he should have to submit the terms, and stipulations, contained in their considerations to which he alluded, he charter. should move, that the lords be summoned for Tuesday next: this, on the question being put, was ordered accordingly.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Friday, January 31.

[ARMY ESTIMATES.] The Secretary at War presented estimates of the expences of the army in Great Britain and Ireland, on the continent, and the colonies, of guards and garrisons, militia forces, &c. for three months, from 25th Dec. 1805. The right hon. gent. in giving notice [MINUTES.] Mr. W. Pole presented an that it was his intention to move these es- account of the expenditure of the ordnance, timates on Friday, thought it necessary to which had not been provided for by parstate, that he brought them before the liament, and an estimate of the probable house in consequence of the total exhaus-events of that department for a certain petion of the funds granted last year for the riod. The hon. member observed, that army estimates, by which an immediate his motive in bringing forward this account provision was required for the current ser- was, in order that the department to which vice. He had framed them on the scale it referred should experience no obstrucof the last year, and the short period of tion, but that the treasury should be enthree months, in order that the new ad-abled to issue the sums necessary for its ministration might have an early opportu.supply, until the new administration should nity of reconsidering them and making any be arranged, and prepared to bring forward alteration they might think proper. Under these circumstances, he trusted there could be no objection to his moving them on Friday.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Friday, January 31.

the ordnance estimates for the year. The account, &c. was ordered to lie on the table, and the hon. gent. gave notice, that he would on Monday next, in the committee of supply, move the grants required.-Mr. Alexander brought up the report of the committee of ways and means; the resolutions of which were read and agreed [CONTINENTAL WAR.] Lord Mulgrave to, and bills ordered to be brought in acobserved, that in reference to what he had cordingly.-Lord Stopford appeared at the stated on a former evening, he should have, bar, and stated that his majesty had been by command of his majesty, to lay before waited upon with the addresses of the the house, on Monday next, some addi-house, relative to the erection of a monutional papers and documents, relative to ment to lord Nelson, at St. Paul's; to the the treaties, copies of which he laid on erection of monuments to captains Duff the table last Tuesday. Of these, the and Cooke; the interment of the remains prints were ready for delivery. When the of Mr. Pitt, &c. and that his majesty was additional documents should be before the graciously pleased to express his readiness house, he should have to trouble their to comply with the wishes of the house.— lordships with some observations respect- Mr. Huskisson presented, a "List of Acing the nature and effect of those treaties, countants in respect of whom the execuand the reasons for the farther communi- tion of any process hath been controlled, cation of papers to the extent to which suspended, or prevented, by authority of they should be laid before the house, and his majesty, within the year preceding the why a farther selection of papers was commencement of the present session of deemed unnecessary. He hoped what he parliament."-Mr. Keene moved for "cothen said would be sufficient to induce a pies or extracts of the proceedings of the

aided by the advice of the assistant barrister, at a general quarter sessions, to appoint one or more householder, according to necessity, for each barony, parish, or such other district as might be deemed expedient, for the purpose of collecting a list of the inhabitants of such districts, the expence arising from such appointments, &c. to be defrayed by the assessment of the grand juries of the several counties, in the

chief governor and council of India, re- merating the population that were to be specting the several claims of individuals found in this country. For, in that part upon the late and present nabob of Oude, of the united kingdom, there was no regutogether with a report of the proceedings lar registry of births or deaths. Besides, of the court of directors upon the same there were no poor-laws; through the oversubject." Ordered. Mr. S. Bourne rose seers and others employed in the execu to move the reading of the order for a tion of which, in England, means were ballot upon the subject of the petition easily had to discover the number of the which related to the last Middlesex elec- population. Therefore, to remedy this intion; with a view, he said, to follow it up convenience with regard to Ireland, the by a motion, that that order should be dis-right hon. gent. proposed to introduce a charged, and the ballot postponed to ano-clause into the bill, authorising the magisther day. The hon. member stated, that trates of the county of the city of Dublin, as it did not appear probable that the num- with the advice of their recorder, and the ber required for a ballot, would in the pre-magistrates of the other Irish counties, sent circumstances attend on Friday next; and, as in case of their non-attendance, adjournment would of course take place, which would produce a delay attended with much inconvenience to the public business; it was therefore his wish to fix the ballot for Friday, when the attendance of a sufficient number of members was more likely. The hon. member thought it unnecessary to give any previous notice of this motion, as neither of the parties immedi-same manner as presentments for roads, ately interested had any objection to the proposed postponement. The Speaker apprehended that previous notice of such a motion ought to be given, even though both the parties concerned were disposed to consent to the motion itself. For the principal object of such notices was, that the house should not be taken by surprise. Agreeably to this suggestion, Mr. S. Bourne gave notice of his motion for Monday next. [IRISH POPULATION BILL.] Mr. James Fitzgerald rose, pursuant to notice, to move for leave to bring in a bill for the purpose of ascertaining the population of Ireland. The right hon. gent. expressed his wish to assimilate the laws and regulations of Ire-solve itself into a committee of supply, for land to those of this country, as far as it the purpose of taking the army estimates was just and expedient. To the speaker into consideration, took occasion to obhe observed that this part of the united serve, that he hoped there would be no kingdom was, among other advantages, in- objection to the proposed mode of prodebted for a measure of a similar nature; ceeding, although it was a departure from and he was happy to know that the pro- the general custom with regard to ariny position he was about to submit to the estimates. These estimates were, usually, house, met the approbation of that justly at least a week on the table, before any respected personage. It must indeed be proposition was made to vote them in the obvious to every man conversant with the committee; and such time for previous subject, that to ascertain the population consideration was no doubt proper and of a country, was a grand desideratum in necessary, upon a vote of such magnitude. political economy, whether considered with But yet in this case, although the estimates regard to its physical force, its agricultu- were but two days on the table, he trusted ral produce, or its financial capacities. In that the peculiar circumstances of the Ireland, the right hon. gent. observed, country would reconcile the house to the there were not the same facilities for enu- course he meant to pursue. When the VOL. VI.

&c. are now provided for. The right hon. gent. stated his intention to move that the bill should, as soon as it was brought in, be read a first time and printed. He would then let it stand over for some time, in order that all persons concerned should have a full opportunity of examining it, and from that consideration, he should not move the second reading until after the Easter recess.-The motion was agreed to, and the right hon. mover was appointed, with Mr. Grattan and others, to prepare and bring in the bill.

[ARMY ESTIMATES] The Secretary at War, in moving that the house should re

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new administration was arranged, an ad- missioned and non-commissioned officers journment for a fortnight was likely to for the service of the united kingdom, and take place, and if the estimates he had the on the continent, for three months, from honour to present, were not voted pre- the 25th of Dec. to the 24th of March, vious to such adjournment, considerable both inclusive. 2d, 1,193,1057. for the embarrassment would arise in the military subsistence of this force. 3d, 505,0371. department, This circumstance would, he for the use of our troops, &c. in the planhad no doubt, prevent any objection to tations, including Gibraltar, the Mediter the motions he proposed to submit; such ranean, Ceylon, and New South Wales. objection there would be the less inclina- 4th, 647,5847. for the subsistence, &c. of tion to press, when it was understood that the militia of the united kingdom, and of the estimates on the table reached only to the corps of miners in Devon and Cornwall. the 24th of March next, and were formed Sir John Wrottesley asked whether the on the same scale as those of the last allowance to the volunteers was included year; thus it was left open for those who in these estimates; and also whether any were to succeed to the administration to provision was made for the clothing of make up the military arrangements for the any of that body? remainder of the year. Upon these grounds The Secretary at War answered in the he trusted, that in bringing forward the negative. The estimate respecting the vosupplies in the way he had described, helunteers was brought forward separately should stand acquitted in the judgment of last year, and the same course would be the house of any wish to intrude himself, pursued in the present. The provision for or any unnecessary plan, upon their con- that description of force, was not so ursideration. If any precedent were wanted gent in point of time, as any of those to to justify the conduct he adopted, he could which the votes of the committee related. refer to the act of one of his predecessors No doubt, provision would be made for in office (Mr. Windham), to whose very the volunteer force in the course of the sessuperior abilities he was ready to pay the sion, and that the necessary allowance for utmost deference. That right hon. gent.clothing would be included in that provihe remembered, in the year 1799, laid the sion.-The house resumed, and the report army estimates on the table on the 1st of was ordered to be brought up on Monday, Oct. and they were voted on the 3d. They were on his proposition adopted. But, independently of precedent, he was persuaded that the urgency of the present circumstances would induce the house to accede to his motion. The army estimates were then referred to a committee of supply, into which the house resolved.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Saturday, February 1.

[MINUTES.] Mr. Alexander brought up the report of the committee of supply on the army estimates. The resolutions were agreed to, nem.con. Mr. Alexander brought The Secretary at War, before he made in bills for continuing for one year, from any motion, observed, that on recollec- the expiration of the last grant, the usual tion he had forgot to state to the com- duties on land, malt, &c. The bills were mittee that there was some addition to the read a first time, and ordered to be read a scale upon which the estimates for last second time on Monday.-Lord Castleyear were granted, and this addition was reagh presented the following message from occasioned by the augmentation of the re-his majesty, viz. "Geo. R. His majesty gular army; particularly owing to the" having taken into his royal consideration transfer of men from the militia, in conse- "the splendid and unparalleled achievequence of the act of last sessions. To this "ments of the late vice-admiral lord visaddition he, did not apprehend that any "count Nelson, knt. of the most hon, orgent. would be disposed to object. It" der of the Bath, during a life spent in would be recollected, that if any part of the service of his country, and termi the estimates should appear to be over"nated in the moment of victory by a rated, a proportionate deduction might be" glorious death, and being desirous of made in the estimates to be brought for- conferring on his relict lady viscountess ward in March. The right hon. gent. con- "Nelson a net annuity of 2000l. per ancluded with submitting the following num for the term of her natural life, reresolutions; which were acceded to." commends it to his faithful commous to 1st, 134,473 effective men, including com-" consider of a proper method of enabling

"his majesty to grant such annuity, and of" vision for securing to the said sir Richard "securing and settling the same in such Strachan a pension of 1000l. per ann. "manner as shall be thought most effectual" for the term of his natural life. G. R." "for the benefit of the said lady viscountess Resolved, that the house would on Mon"Nelson. G. R."-Lord Castlereagh pre-day next, resolve itself into a committee sented the following message from his ma- of the whole house, on the said messages. jesty, viz. "Geo. R. His majesty having-Lord Castlereagh gave notice, that he "taken into his royal consideration the would on Monday move an address to his signal and important service performed majesty, for the erection of a monument by Cuthbert lord Collingwood, vice-ad-to the memory of the late marquis Corn"miral of the blue, in the ever-memora-wallis. "ble and decisive victory obtained by the

[AFFAIRS OF INDIA.] Mr. Wallace "fleet under the command of vice-admiral rose, to move for the production of cer"lord viscount Nelson over the combined tain papers referring to a subject which "fleets of France and Spain off Cape Tra- an hon. gent. (Mr. Paull) had thought falgar, in the month of Oct. last; and proper to bring under the consideration "his highly meritorious conduct after the of the house. These papers, the hon. "action, not only highly honourable to gent. stated, were necessary fully to elu"himself, but greatly beneficial to the cidate the different questions to which an "united kingdom; and being desirous hon. gent. (Mr. Francis) had alluded in "to bestow upon the said Cuthbert lord the course of the last sessions. They re"Collingwood some considerable and last-ferred principally to those treaties and "ing mark of his royal favour, as a testi- transactions in India, upon which it was "mony of his majesty's approbation of the endeavoured to inculpate the character of "said services; and for this purpose to the noble marquis (Wellesley) who lately give and grant unto the said Cuthbert presided over the government of that coun"lord Collingwood, and to the two next try. To repel the charges against that nosucceeding heirs male of the body of the ble marquis, and to enable the house com" said Cuthbert lord Collingwood, to whom pletely to understand, and satisfactorily to “the title of baron Collingwoood shall de- determine upon the whole of the transac "scend, for and during their lives, a net tions alluded to, the papers he meant to "aunuity of 20007. per annum; but his move for were essentially necessary. The "majesty not having it in his power to hon. gent. concluded with moving for the grant an annuity to that amount, or to production of "extracts of the letters ad"extend the effect of the said grant be-dressed by the governor-general in coun"yond the term of his own life, recom-cil on the 28th of August, 1786, to the "mends it to his faithful commous to con- court of directors, on the subject of the "sider of a proper method of enabling his troops employed by the nabob of Oude, "majesty to grant the same, and of ex-&c. together with a copy of the answer "tending, securing, and settling such an- of the directors to the said letter in the "nuity to the said Cuthbert lord Colling-year 1787.”

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"wood, and to the two next persons on Mr. Paull expressed his surprise and dis→ "whom the title of baron Collingwood satisfaction that such delay should have "shall descend, in such manner as shall occurred in bringing forward the papers "be thought most effectual for the benefit which had been some time since ordered, "of the said Cuthbert' lord Collingwood pursuant to his motion, and wished to "and his family. G. R."-Lord Castle-know from the hon. gent. why such delay reagh presented also, the following mes- had occurred?

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sage from his majesty, viz. "Geo. R. Mr. Wallace replied, that, according to "His majesty being désirous of conferring the terms of the orders alluded to, which a signal mark of his favour and appro- left to the board of controul a discretion "bation on rear-admiral sir Richard of considering which of the papers the "Strachan, bart. in consequence of the hon. gent. moved for could be produced, " eminent services rendered by him, in the consistently with the interest of the public "capture of a French squadron in the service, that board had taken the subject "month of Nov. last, and of the valour into their serious consideration, and as "and skill displayed by him on that occa-soon as their decision could be formed, "sion, recommends it to his faithful com- the orders of the house would be complied "mons to enable his majesty to make pro- with.