sure he only expressed the common feeling of the house. He lamented his absence for many reasons, but principally on account of the loss which the cause of India sustained in consequence. He most particularly wished that this right hon. gent, was more frequently visible in his place in that house, and as he had not the pleasure of seeing him there or elsewhere, he hoped that his wish would be conveyed to him, and induce him to attend. He trusted that the right hon. gent.'s becoming a minister was not to deprive that house of the advantage and pleasure which his abilities were capable of affording. The house had, unfortunately, for a considerable time but very seldom seen the light of his coun tenance. But it was to be expected that such absence would not long continue. He could not suffer himself to apprehend that that right hon. gent. would long decline to advocate the cause of justice. No. His mind and bis feelings were too strongly attached to that cause to refuse it his aid, and

would recollect was in the year 1784, when the house and the country, upon the want he situation of the India company was al- of assistance he had experienced from those most prosperity itself, compared to what it who ought to be forward, in consistency, was at present. But even then, as Mr. to support his endeavours to procure a full Burke remarked, the company's servants investigation of the affairs of India. In were in affluence, while the company itself this instance particularly there were many was very much embarrassed. Yet although for whose presence and co-operation he such was the case, although the company's had a right to look; among these was the servants were possessed of no less than respectable member for Norwich (Mr. W. 10 millions, still their claims of three mil-Smith), whom he did not then see in his lions of debt upon our subsidiary princes place, and from whom much useful inforwere paid off by order of the board of mation could be had upon the subject of controul, against the strongest remonstran-India. There was another distinguished ces from the court of directors, seconded person whose aid he was entitled to exby the opinion of lord Macartney. This pect he meant the Treasurer of the Navy served to shew what might be done through (Mr. Sheridan). In regretting the general the interest of individuals, notwithstanding absence of that right hon. gent. he was this distress of the company's affairs; and as bearing very closely upon the present question, he requested gentlemen to look at the speech of Mr. Burke, to which he referred, and which, independently of its relevancy upon this occasion, must be read with pleasure by every man of taste; for certainly among all the productions of ancient and modern eloquence, nothing could be found worthy to be put in comparison with it. The hon. gent. adverting to the bill in progress through the house, observed, that it was not accompanied by any specification whatever of the amount or nature of the debts to which it was meant to apply. This specification it was his wish to obtain. Seeing that so many millions had been already paid on this score, and that the more these claims were paid, the more they seemed to grow, he desired at once to ascertain their precise extent; that knowledge attained, questions would then arise whether such claims were made by bona fide creditors or not; whether any, and which of them, should be paid; whe-his powers to serve it were still undiminishther, in a word, under all the circumstances, ed. For he would not believe that the that money should be granted to such volcano, of that right hon. gent.'s genius claimants which ought to be applied to the could yet be burned out. After repeating support of our army and navy? That no his sincere regret for the absence of Mr. equitable demands were to be found among Sheridan, because he highly respected his tathose brought forward, he was not pre-lents and integrity, and because he would pared to say. But, before any were acceded to, the house should be made acquainted with the whole amount. It would be unsafe to proceed without such knowledge, for if a comparatively small sum were at first granted, it would be difficult to say how far the house might be led upon the principle of that grant. It might not be known when to stop, and therefore he thought it best to make a stand in limine. The bon. gent, took occasion to appeal to

much value his assistance, the hon. member concluded with moving an "Account of all monies which have been paid to the private creditors of the Nabobs of the Carnatic since the passing of the act of the 24th of his present majesty, containing the names of the individuals to whom, or on whose account, the same have been paid, the several periods when the debts were.contracted, and when paid, and distinguishing the several classes of debts called the registered

debts, the cavalry loan, and the consoli-protection in his power, as earnestly as dated debt of 1777; and also distinguishing if he had accepted his present, But the principal of the said debts from the in- what was the result of this generous, upterest claimed or accruing thereon." This right, and exemplary integrity and indehe thought the more necessary, as it ap- pendence of that noble lord to himself? peared from the speech of the noble lord Why, that his conduct was every where reopposite to him (lord Castlereagh), which probated and reviled by the servants of was afterwards published by him, (see vol. the Company, and every pains taken to ii, p. 1158.) that the interest-money had slander, misrepresent, and vilify him, for been converted into principal, which was venturing such an innovation upon the one principal cause of the great increase system they had so long established; and of the debt, lord Macartney resigned a government Mr. Paull, in seconding the motion, cau- which he felt untenable, consistently with tioned the house to beware how they sanc- the feelings of a man of honour. Had the tioned the principle upon which the bill hon. gent. heartily approved the system of of the hon. gent. (Mr. Hobhouse) was investigation so earnestly recommended by founded, as, if that principle were esta- the hon. mover, and observed, that, though blished, claimants would, no doubt, im-it might visit with compunctious feelmediately come forward for above 3 mil-ings the bosoms and apprehensions of lions, alledged to be due in the same way some men, who had, by a corrupt abuse of from the Nabob of Oude and other native their mission in India, amassed rapidly princes in India. enormous fortunes, those who had made an Mr. Whitshed Keene seconded the mo-honourable and upright use of their aution; he said, he believed he could be able thority there, had no terrors to meet, no to throw some light on the causes which qualms to be excited by the most scrutiled to involve the Nabob of the Carnatic nous investigation: "Let the galled jades in such embarrassments and claims of debt wince; their withers were unwrung." from the company's servants. Having the Mr. Hiley Addington said, he had not honour of an early and long intimacy with the slightest disposition to oppose the molord Macartney, who was, at one time, tion of the hon. gent.; on the contrary, he sent out as governor to Madras, that no-wished to grant him the papers he required. ble lord, after his return to Europe, had He was very glad to observe, that the hon. told him, that he had scarcely reached the gent., notwithstanding the declaration he seat of his government 24 hours, when he had a short time since made, that he would received a message from the Nabob, re-decline all farther interference with India questing to see him: the noble lord accord-questions, seemed of late rather disposed ingly paid an immediate visit, and was to promote investigation into India affairs. astonished to find it was for the purpose He rejoiced at the circumstance; because, of being presented by the Nabob with a from the hon. gent.'s great knowledge and sum of money adequate to 30,000/. with extensive experience upon India subjects, proportionate tenders to the officers of his he was certainly competent to throw very suite. Lord Macartney expressed much important lights upon such subjects, and astonishment, and declined accepting the bring them home with more effect to the money, at the same time wishing to know attention of the house and the public; the motives that induced such an offer: he which might have the good effect of renwas told by the Nabob, that it was quite dering the servants of the company in India a customary present to every new gover-less lax in their duties. But his purpose nor; had never been before refused; that for rising now was, to set the hon. member there was no violation of propriety what-right in his conception of the bill, the true ever in accepting it; and the offer was re-objects of which he seemed 'wholly to mispeated, with a pressing request to take it, apprehend. His hon. friend had not brought as it was considered a proper compliment to the head of the British Government, whom, ever since the taking of Pondicherry, he considered as his protector against the French. Lord Macartney, however, still persisted in his refusal, assuring the Nabob, at the same time, of his determination to render him every service and

forward his bill with the precipitancy imputed to him, but had given fair notice of every proceeding with respect to it; and to his certain knowledge, the report upon which the bill was founded was delivered to members at their residence on the Friday before the bill was introduced. The bill was not a call on parliament to sanction

Mr. Serjeant Best observed, that the deed for the settlement of the claims under consideration, was so contrived as to hold

the claims of the creditors of the Nabob with a very considerable portion of just of the Carnatic, nor to appoint any com-claims in this case, there was blended an missioners: those commissioners had been enormous one of unjust, unfounded, and already appointed between the parties at fraudulent claims; and it was for the purissue, namely, the directors and the claim-pose of enabling the Commissioners to dising creditors; and the commissioners, criminate, that the bill was desired. The with an earnest view to the strict ends of discharge of the just debts would be projustice, had been desirous of examining ductive of important advantages to the the parties brought before them on oath; company, and it was, therefore, desirable which, however, it was found they were not to ascertain them, in order to a speedy legally authorised to tender. It was sug-settlement; and, with respect to the apgested then, that the parties might be exa-prehensions expressed by the hon. memmined upon their voluntary oaths; but, ber, that those debts might ultimately form on consultation with eminent law authori- claims upon parliament, the idea was un. ties, it was found that this mode also was founded. The debts were charged upon objectionable. The present bill, therefore, the revenues of the Carnatic; whatever only called upon the authority of parlia- those revenues annually produced over the ment to invest the commissioners with interest, would go to a sinking fund topower to administer oaths for the purpose wards clearing off the principal, and when of their enquiry, and to render parties that was paid off, the whole revenues would swearing falsely liable to punishment for revert to the company. perjury. It was not because the company wished any sanction from parliament to the authority of the commissioners to enquire, for to that they were already legally au-out the prospect of doing too little, if any thorised, but with a view to procure for them such authority as should best tend to obtain that justice: not to evade the payment of debts justly due, but to separate just claims from fraudulent ones. The hon. gent. had said, his hon. friend had not voluntarily undertaken this business, but had been induced by importunity to bring forward this bill. It was certainly true, his hon. friend had expressed great unwillingness to interfere in this business, lest he should be deemed an interested party; but his known talents, good sense, and integrity, made it extremely desirable that a person of such a description should take an active part in the business, and he was induced by earnest entreaty to forego his scruples, and assume the part he had taken with so much advantage to the object pro-gent. (Mr. Francis), against him, which it posed. In no instance had he betrayed was impossible for him to pass over in sithe smallest inclination to precipitate the lence. He had been accused of hurrying bill; on the contrary, he had set out with this measure, and endeavouring to take the declaring his wish, that every member in house by surprise. The hon. gent. had said the house should have the fullest informa- that the printed report and papers were not tion on the subject, and the fullest time delivered to the members until the mothat could be desired for considering it; ment before the subject was opened on and he was convinced, that if the hon. Monday last. Here the hon. gent. was under member now wished to postpone the fur-a mistake. They were delivered at the houther proceeding on this bill to a more ses of the embers early on Friday morn distant day, his hon. friend would concur with the utmost readiness.

Lord Castlereagh described the purview of the bill, in the same light precisely as the last right hon. gent. He said that,

thing, for those who had equitable claims, and of doing too much for those whose claims were fraudulent. Many of the demands under consideration were, he contended, completely illegal, as they referred to sums lent against a positive act of parliament.

Mr. Hobhouse said, that after the statement made by his right hon. friend (Mr. H. Addington) it was scarcely necessary for him to animadvert upon the charge preferred against him, as a commissioner, for having introduced this measure to parlia ment. The explanation which his right hon. friend had given, he trusted, would be satisfactory to the house; and, if so, he should be at his ease.-There was, however, another accusation made by the hon.

ing in the last week, so that nearly 4 days were allowed for the examination of a very small collection of papers.-The house having honoured him with their attention on the general subject for so long a time on

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a former night, he should not now have compatible; and what had been stated as taken any part in the discussion, but for to the scruples entertained by the hon. gent. some observations which fell from his himself, as to the propriety of the bill orilearned friend near him (Mr. Serjeant ginating with him, seemed to shew that he Best). His learned friend had insisted that himself was not exactly satisfied that two the agreement between the creditors and such characters ought to be united in the the East-India co. was not founded on fair same person. The noble lord opposite had principles, because the terms were too hard admitted that many of the claims made and severe against the real creditor, while against the Nabob had no existence in He was to the fictitious, all which he obtained truth, of course that there were here enorwould be gain. It did not appear to him mous frauds to guard against. that this argument was entitled to great certain that all the persons who at present weight. If the real creditor became a formed the court of directors were men of party to the deed, he had no right to com- honour and probity, but he could not say plain of terms, for his execution of it pro- what they might be 20 years hence. It ceeded from his own choice. If he declined could not be said there never was an into accept it, the deed did not stand in his stance of a man's sacrificing the interest of way. He was, as before its existence, at any corporate body with which he might be liberty to pursue any means of recovering connected to individual feelings. All he his debt, no remedy was taken away from contended for was, that the thing was posAs to the validity of many of the him; the same redress was open to him. sible. This alternative considered, his learned debts, he had to state a fact, that a house friend, he thought, would not be inclined of great eminence lately failed at Madras, to risk the same observation a second time. among whose assets was found a paper, aHis learned friend had, also, spoken of the mounting to 10 lacks of pagodas, of the The house had emact of 1797, which prohibits the servants Nabob of Arcot's. of the company from engaging in loans to ployed the money entrusted to them in the native princes of India. Although buying up the paper of this prince, which, such loans were a violation of the orders from being a drug, worth next to nothing, of the company, yet that act, by prohibiting and which in all probability did not cost them, admitted their previous legality. more than 2d. in the pound, would, if adSubsequently to the passing of that statute, mitted without proper enquiry, produce a if any person engaged in such loans, with- fortune to the holders. This, he thought. out the previous sanction of the court of deserved serious attention. He had used directors, or the governor in council of one of the company's governments, the contract was void, and the party was guilty of The commissioners, a misdemeanour. though unrestricted in this respect by the deed, could allow no claim contrary to the statute. After a few more remarks, by Mr. Serjeant Best and lord Castlereagh, the motion was agreed to.

the freedom, in making his former motion, to call the particular attention of certain individual members to the business. He now begged, in addition, to request to it the attention and assistance of the honourable directors, and particularly of their respectable chairman whom he now saw in the house, who, he hoped, would, if possible, attend and give his assistance in the Mr. Francis then said, that in prefacing discussion. As to an observation by an his second motion, he should intrude but a hon. gent. (Mr. Addingtou), he had to few minutes on the patience of the house. state that he never did say that he would In what he had said, he had not entered not, in future, attend to Indian affairs, alinto the merits of the bill, good or bad. though what he did say on that occasion He had indeed stated, that the hon. gent. had been misrepresented out of doors. He seemed to him to have carried on the mea-had put what he then said on record, (see sure with precipitancy; but that, he now p. 394), and to that he referred. agreed, had been sufficiently accounted concluded by moving for an account of the for. As to his having insinuated that the several debts now due or demandable from hon. gent. was himself interested in the the said Nabobs, distinguishing as in the measure, he begged it to be understood former motion. that he had not insinuated, but had expressly stated, that he did not think the situation of a member of such a committee and of a member of this house exactly

He then

Mr. Grant declared that he had no objection to any scrutiny of the kind. No person could be less interested in it, personally, than he and the other members of

the court of directors. The interfering in occasion, and seemed to entertain a similar the business originally, was very far from idea with his noble friend, respecting the being a favourite with the directors, and if misconception of the noble lord opposite. they could, they would have had nothing to With the latter, he concurred that the sub do with it. They only believed that there ject adverted to was one of considerable was actually something due to the credi-importance, and that full and ample time tors, and all their wish was that this should ought to be allowed noble lords to investibe paid. Such was the object of the bill.gate and to make up their minds upon the That it could have the effect of making a subject. However, he did not deem it nerise in the value of the debts, he could not cessary to postpone the consideration un conceive. The very reverse must have til the next session; for that, on Monbeen the case. It reduced the annuities at day next, it was his intention to bring forthe outset, to the one-half, by making the ward a bill to the effect alluded to, and for interest 6 instead of 12 per cent.; and the the consideration of which, previous to its principal must have experienced a propor-second reading, he certainly meant to give tional depreciation.-The motion was then put and agreed to.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

full and sufficient time.-The bill was then read a 2d time, and committed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Thursday, April 17.

[MINUTES.] A new writ was ordered for the borough of Kinsale, in Ireland, in the room of Samuel Campbell Rowley, esq. who has accepted the Chiltern hun

Thursday, April 17. [AMERICAN INTERCOURSE BILL.] Lord Auckland, in moving the order for the 2d reading of the bill upon this subject, briefly adverted to the circumstance of a noble friend of his, then absent, who would re-dreds.-Mr. Francis, previously to the 2d serve his sentiments upon the subject for the committee. He would therefore move, "that the bill be now read a 2d time."

reading of the bill for extending the powers of the commissioners for liquidating the Debts of the princes of the Carnatic, wished Lord Hawkesbury did not mean to oppose to throw it out, in the way of a suggestion, the motion, particularly as he understood or a notice, that he thought it extremely from his noble friend, that it was intended proper for the members of that house, who to render the prospective part of the mea- were of the legal profession, to be prepared sure, or rather that which was thrown out to give an opinion, whether, by the fait on a former evening, as intended, by means construction of the act of 1784, the court of an additional clause, respecting the dis-of directors of the East-India company had cretionary powers to be vested in the gover- a right, by law, to delegate the powers with nors of the islands, the matter of a distinct and separate bill. Respecting this very important consideration, however, which involved topics of the greatest consequence to the commercial interests of the empire, he had it seriously to recommend it to the attention of ministers, that under the circumstances, it was preferable to postpone the discussion of that part of the subject till the next session. This proceeding would not only not operate injuriously, but not be productive of any in-relating thereto. convenience. His lordship pressed this point upon the serious consideration of ministers, and adverted to the importance of any topic which so deeply involved the commercial concerns of the country, and its navigation laws, as that to which he alluded.

which they were invested by the act, to commissioners or any other persons?-On the motion of sir P. Stephens the house went into a committee on the acts relating to the discovery of the Longitude. A resolution granting 10,000l. for the purposes of the act was agreed to. On the motion of sir J. Sinclair, a committee was appointed to examine into and report upon the grants already made payable out of the Forfeited Estates in Scotland, as also the balances

[WITNESSES' Declaratory BILI.] The house having resolved itself into a committee on this bill,

The Master of the Rolls said, that from what had passed upon a former occasion, he had reason to expect that such objec tions as he had stated to it, would have Lord Auckland shortly expressed his opi-been obviated; and even though he had nion, that his noble friend seemed to misconceive what had fallen from him.

Lord Holland made a few remarks on the

found it to be so intended, he knew that, having declared his opinion that the bill was quite unnecessary, he was not bound

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