IN WHICH THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ARGUMENT IS ENDEAVOURED TO BE PRESERVED WITHOUT THE DECLAMATION, TH November 11, 1783. HE King opened the feffions with a moft gracious fpeech from the throne. Pr. of Wales, being of age, was introduced in form into the Houfe of Peers. See p. 976. The King's fpeech being read; E. of Scarborough moved the addrefs, which was feconded by Vifc. Hampden. E. Temple thought a fomething was wanting in the fpeech that fhewed all was not fairly intended-a fomething lurking, that, he feared, would one day break forth to the injury of this kingdom-There was a fubject of a very delicate nature indeed! and yet it was a fubject in every body's mouth, and engroffed the attention of all ranks was the affairs of Ireland. No anfwer was made; the addrefs was agreed to unani moufly. - it E. Powys moved an addrefs to her Majefty, on the recovery of her health. And the Houfe adjourned." In the Houfe of Commons. The Speaker, being returned from attending his Majesty in the House of Peers, read the fpeech. Earl of Upper Oory moved an addrefs of thanks-He expretfed his fatisfaction at being able to congratulate the Houfe on the ratification of the definitive treaties; on the firm profpect that all the late belligerant powers were equally inclined to keep the calamities of war at diffance, and to cherish the bleflings of peace by mutual returns of friendship-He magnified the importance of our territorial poffeffions in India, which he flyled the brightcft jewel left in the Crown, and gave the Houfe reafon to expect a wellregulated plan for the Government of that vait country, which, adonithing as it might feem, and which poflerity would hardly credit, had been gained by the arms of a company of merchants-He charged the low fate of the funds to the dark defigns of interested and feltish men-trefted his Majetty's minifters would be able to reflore public credit; increate the King's revenue; and fupprefs the fraudolent practices by which the King and the fair trader were equal fufferers. He concluded with moving the addrefs; which being read, Sir Fr. Bet rofe to fecond it. He applauded the fentiments contained in the speech; declared his reliance on the prefent Administration to carry into execution whatever they promifed; rejoiced at the extinction of war; trongly enforced unanimity in afting Miniftry to alleviate the burdens of the people; cxpreffed his abhorrence of the illicit trade carried on by fmugglers, who were the petts of fociety, who corrupted the murals of the people, and enticed them to become traitors to their country. It was, he laid, by their means chictly, that the enemy during the war got intelligence of the failing of our fleets, their force and deftination-He fpoke from knowledge, as his living in a maritime county gave him opportunities of knowing more of their practices than gentlemen could do who lived at a dittance-He spoke with tenderness of the natives of India-hoped the time was at hand when grievances would be redreffed by a welldigefted plan for their Government-He enlarged on the unparalleled fucceffes of Ld Rodney, and concluded with feconding toe addrefs. Sir J. Marubey blamed the coalition; but expreffed his high approbation of the peace, as the falvation of this country. He extolled the noble Earl who negociated the preliminaries; and declared, that if the noble Lord in the blue ribbon had continued in office and procured fuch a peace, he would have joined in praifing the man, though he detefted his principles. Mr. W. Pit approved the addrefs, which, he faid, was only the counterpart of that which was negatived on figning the preliminaries. He made forme pointed obfervations on the conduct of the prefent Minifters, who had reprobated the preliminaries, and yet, after a delay which it was not eafy to account for, had concluded a definitive treaty that contained ule more than thofe preliminaries: The late Administration, he fa:d, had been reproached in the feverest terms for having agreed to preliminaries without having first concluded a commercial treaty with the Americans; yet the prefent Minifters had ratified a definitive treaty without giving the public the leaf intimation of any fyftem of commercial intercourfe being at this hour in greater forwardness than at the time when they fit forced themfelves into office. He called upon them for an expla nation. Mr. Fox in reply faid, the loofe wording of the preliminary articles had occafioned infinite difficulties in fettling the definitive treaty; and as to the commercial treaty with America, he jullifyed the delay by piefing the importance of the object. The addrefs pailed unanimoufly; and both Houfes rote earlier than bad been known on the fift day of any feffion for many years. Nov. 12. The felect committee for enquiring into the state of the adminiftration of justice in Bengal was revived by Mr. Fx. Gen. Smith obter ed, that in confequence of a refolution of that Houle, an order for recalling Sir Elijah Impey trom Calcutta had been tranfmited to India; yet be underflood that, fubfequent to the arrival of that order, Sir Elijah, intlead of obeving it, had actually apeared in the feat of joffice as otual: Tats appeared the more xt dor dinary, as all the judgements he had prenounced fince the notification of his recall, if he [the Gen.] was rightly informed, were abfolutely null and void. He concluded with moving an addrefs to his Majefty in the ufual form, for the papers relative to that tranfaction to be laid before the Houfe. The motion was feconded, and paffed without oppofition. vance it. Twice he chearfully and readily complyed with the Governor's requifition, and a third time only with fome reluctance. But fuch an effect bad the want of immediate payment on the Company's fervants, that it brought on him the whole vengeance of the Company. He was accordingly ftripped of his hereditary eftate, and reduced in his native country to become a vagabond, without property, without friends, and without protection. Cafes, Mr. Fox faid, which difcovered the fame inhuman exercise of domination, were innumerable. It was therefore his intention to bring in a bill which fhould introduce a compleat revolu tion in the present fyftem of governing the affairs of the E. I. Company. As the prefent Courts which now poffeffed this power were embroiled in paltry altercations and cabals, he thould diveft them of all their prefent confequence, and annihilate the very conftitution to which they owed their exiftence. This he would do by appointing feven commiffioners invefted with the entire and abfolute management of the whole complicated government of our Afiatic fettlements; and to those seven commiffioners he would add eight in a fubordinate capacity; the territorial revenues and expenditure to be the more immediate object of the former; the commercial regulation, that of the latter. It ftruck him, that the nomination of the first should reft with the Crown, and that of the latter with the Proprietors; but in the first inftance the Crown thould nominate the whole, whofe duration fhould be reftricted to a certain period; and in the mean time the places of those who died be supplied in the firft board by the Crown; in the other by the proprietors. Having opened his plan fully and intelligibly, he concluded with moving for leave to bring in a bill for vefting the affairs of the East India Company in the hands of certain commiffioners, &c. Mr. Sec. Fox rofe to introduce his new plan for regulating the I, 1. Company. He entered into a very accurate statement of the Company's affairs, declaring them in his Col. North feconded the motion. opinion real bankrupts; their debt being Mr. W. Pitt admitted the neceffity of Parnot less than eight millors, without a poliamentary interference in the fituation the bility of being able to pay it uniefs afiifted by Government. Was it not then the duty, he fard, of every Member in that Houle to exert him felf on the prefent occafion, that the ruin of the country might not be the confequence of the ruin of the company? He attributed all the misfortunes that had befallen the Company to their want of control over their fervants; and to the rapacity, turbulence, temerity, and ambition of their fervants, in plunging the Company into a ruinous, bloody, usjef, and unprovoked war This, he infanced, in the cafe of Chait Sing, whom Mr. Haflings appears to have been under the moft folemn engagevents (on paying a certain ftipulated tum yearly) to fupport and protect. The Goverpoi, however, had occation for money, and this qufortunate man was called upon to ad affairs of the E. 1. Company were involved; but could by no means admit that an object of fuch magnitude was to be haftily hurried over without calm and deliberate confideration. The chartered rights of British subjects, confirmed by acts of the British legiflature, were ferious things, and could not be violated but by a breach of the conflitution. 1 he argument of neceffity was the compon plea of tyranny, to which Government had recourfe on all occafions when it wanted to opprefs men, and bring them to fubmition. To reform the abufes of any Government, Was there, he faid,a neceffity to annihilate the very existence of the conttitution of that Government by annihilating the conftiution of the E. 1. Company, efiablished on the moft facred bunds of civil government, you thake the fabric of the British conflitution to to the foundation-you at once deftroy the diftinétions of property, and establish a defpotic power in a limited government. If charters from the Crown, confirmed by acts of the fupreme legiflature, are to be dealt out to-day, only to be refumed, new modelled, and fold again by the fervants of the Crown to-morrow, what greater acts of tyrannic power can be alledged against the fervants of the Company, to authorise the feverities with which they are now threatened? Not to mention the great increase of that undue influence of the Crown, which the rt. hon. gent. lately appeared fo much in earneft to diminish, the measure is big with terror, it threatens danger to liberty, deftruction to commerce, and the moft alarming confequences to national faith and national credit. Mr. McDonald was eager to fpeak; but the clamours of the Houfe, which would fcarce admit a patient hearing to Mr. Pitt, overpowered his voice, and he very politely fat down. Gov. Jobnflone was not fo eafily repreffed. He treated with his ufual afperity the meafures that had been purfued by miniftry to diftrefs and debilitate the E. 1. Company. He applauded however the humanity and justice that conftituted the bafis of the bill fo far as it refpected reftitution to the native princes of the country, and the establishment of the zemindars and poligars in their farms at the old rents, and concluded with a laboured panegyric on Gov. Haftings. Gen. Smith declined pronouncing on the meafure till the bill had undergone a further difcuffion. He thought it doubtful in its effects. Ordered a call of the Houfe on Tuesday, December 2. Nov. 19. The Houfe refolved itself into a committee of fupply; and Adm. Pigot propofed a vote for 26,000 feamen, including 4495 marines, for the fervice of the year 1784, which was agreed to. This brought on a conversation relative to the number of cruifers which the Admiral meant thould be employed against the fmugglers, which the Adm. ftated at 54, viz. 7 frigates, 20 floops, and 27 cutters. Mr. Huffy expreffed a with that the veffels to be employed on this fervice had been of larger force, as the vellels employed by the fmugglers was fo ftrongly armed, that nothing less than frigates from 20 to 30 guns were able to cope with them. He men tioned a fmuggling veel of 28 guns, then lying at the back of the Ifle of Wight, that covered the landing of the goods on board her, which were carried off in open day by hundreds of fmugglers in perfect fecurity. Adm. Piggot owned he had heard of the fame veffel, and that the had efcaped the vigilance of the cruifers fent again her. He faid, moreover, that it was impoffible to prevent fmuggling, without employing a number of fmall cutters. Large vedel Nov. 20. Lord J. Cavendish moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the receipt act, by making it penal to give a receipt on unftamped paper. This was ftrongly oppofed. Lord Mabon obferved, that, when the tax was first propofed, gentlemen, to make it palatable, called a receipt "a luxury." He thought it a strange fort of a luxury, that a man could not enjoy the luxury of paying his debts without being obliged to add the luxury of paying for a receipt. Alderman Newnham pledged himself, after the recefs, to move for a repeal of this odious tax. He was told, that an act paffed could not be repealed in the fame feffion. muft therefore exert himself to prevent its' paffing. He A very auimated conversation took place between the lawyers of the Crown and the lawyers of the people, concerning the opinions delivered on the cafes ftated in the public papers, which, however, terminated in allowing the neceffity of an act to remove all doubts. In fupport of the tax it was infifted, that it could not be because it was heavy, that the people complained; it could not be forgotten that when Government laid only a duty of a penny per quart on wine, the vintner made that penny fixpence, and the people patiently acquiefced. There five times the duty went to enrich the vintner. Here the whole tax goes to the ufe of the public. Mr. Fox brought up his bill for vefting in commiffioners the territorial revenues and effects of the E. I. Company. It was read the first time, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Fax then moved, that it be read a' fecond time on the 26th inftant. The bill recites, that all powers and authorities now vefted in the Directors and Proprietors of the E. I. Company, and in the General or other Court of the fame, thali cease and determine. That the commiffioners to be named fhall immediately poffels themselves of all lands, houtes, warehoufes; of all books, records, charters; all thips and velfels; good, wares, and merchandizes; monev, fecurities for money, and all other effects whatever, belonging to the faid Company, and thall have and exercife al! and fingular the powers which have been at any time heretofore exercifed by the faid Directors or Proprietors, &c. &c. This brought on a tedious conversation, in which the merits of the bill were enlarged upon by fome, and decried by others; the only queftion was, Whether the bill: fhould be read a fecond time on the Thursday following, as Mr. Fox had moved, or on Tucfday fe'nnight, as Mr. Pitt withed it to be? Mr. Fox's motion was carried without a divifion. In the course of the converfation there was much good oratory. Mr. Burke exerted his talent of fatyrical ridicule against the enemies of the bill. He talked of India being in a very dangerous fate of health, and to restore her the must be bliftered, fearified, amputated, &c. Mr. Wilberforce obferved, that the rt. hon. Gent. had little to apprehend from the dif cafe, as a right hon. Secretary had befpoke teven phyficians and eight apothecaries. Νου. 21. Lord J. Cavendish moved, That a Select Committee be appointed, by ballot, to enquire into the illicit trade carrying on in this kingdom, to the detriment of the revenue, and to report their opinion.-in a thort introductory Ipeech he mentioned what had been done by other Committees; and he left it to the confideration of the Committee, whether rigorous measures were the beft calculated to produce the great end of checking that trade; for his part, he would not haftily refolve in the affirmative. Six Grey Cooper feconded the motion. He faid, much information might be had by fuch Committee from the two great Boards of Cufioms and Excife. By one of thofe Boards it had already been made to appear, that all along the eastern coast of England were employed, in the fmuggling trade, 128 vefiels, from 8 to 28 guns, that, befides thefe, there were 150 of a tmaller fize, which carried no guns. It appeared alfo, that on the wettern coaft, when a fmuggling cutter hove in fight, it was ufual for a body of men, fometimes to the number of 800, to come down and take charge of the cargo. These men had fometimes 40 waggons in waiting, to convey it up the country, from whence it was circulated, by fraudulent or forged permits, to every part of the kingdom.-This practice Sir Grey hoped the Committee would be able to defeat. Sir G. Longe obferved, that not a member of the Houfe, nor a man in the kingdom, bot knew the evil; but the difficuly was, to find a remedy. He wished the noble Lord, who made the motion, would lay before the Houfe the plans which he knew had been fuggefted to the Treatury. Lord J. Cavendish, in reply, faid, a cart would not hold them. Every body must know that there are fcheming individuals without number, whofe heads were fluded more with projects than with brains; from fuch very little information could be learned by the Committce. Ta. Speaker put the queftion, and the motod poate when molly. Nov. 24. Sir H. Fletcher prefented a petition from the proprietors of Eaft India flock, against the bill, now depending in parliament, for vefting the effects of the Company in commiffioners; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Sir T. Davenport rose, and after fome explanation, moved, That the record of the conviction of Chriftopher Atkinson, Efq. be read a fecond time on Thurfday fevennight, (Dec. 4;) and that Mr. Atkinson do, on that day, attend in his place. Mr. Wilkes moved an amendment, That the words "Thursday fe'nnight" be left out, and the words "24th of January next” be inferted in their ftead. This occafioned fome debate; but the question being put on Mr. Wilkes's amendment, the fame was negatived, and the original motion was carried without a divifion. Sir H. Fletcher then prefented a petition from the Directors of the East India Company, praying to be heard by counfel. The petition went particularly to two points: one, that the Directors held their places by virtue of a special act of parliament, and could not be removed without fome crime or m.fdemeanour alledged and proved; the other, that the Company's finances had been reprefented in fo alarming a fiate as that bankruptcy muft enive; which was by no means the cafe; for, with moderate affiance from Government, their affairs might be pot on as good a footing as ever. The petition was ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Fox did not, he faid, ftate that the Company was bankrupt, and owed eight millions more than it had effects to pay, but that it owed eight millions, and had no funds for the immediate payment. Mr. W. Pitt owned, that he was one of those who underflood the rt hon. Secretary in the fiat fente, but was glad to hear the fact difivowed; and now, as the bankruptcy had been made the pretence for robbing the Proprietors of their chartered rights, he hoped that gentlemen would not adopt the mont violent and unjust measures, when the very grounds on which thofe measures had been itated to be neceffary, had been abandoned. He was credibly informed that the affairs of the Company were far from being in fuch a flate as to warrant to pointed an affertion in the face of Parliament, but that, with the affiilance affitance of fome falutary regulations, they might be made to flourish again as much as ever. Mr. Fox obferved, that this was not the time for debate; but, if he was inclined to enter into argument, the rt. hon. Gent. had given him a fair opportunity; for before any measure was propofed, the language was, No palliative, no half-meafures, give us a fyftem that will embrace every part of the government of India; but now, when fuch a comprehenfive fyftem is brought before Parliament, the tone is changed, and the mighty plan is foftened down to the more calm and moderate propofition of feme falutary regulations. Mr. Burke faid, the rt. hon, Gent, who had fo roundly afferted that the affairs of the Company were in fo promifing a way that Jome falutary measures would effectually restore them, thould hold himself pledged to prove the Company's affairs in no danger of being any more brought into diftrefs, fo as to make the interpofition of Parliament neceffary.Violent measures, unjust measures, falutary meafures, were big words. Meafures contrary to the fpirit of all law, were founding words, and he could not tell what effect they might have upon children; he was fure they could not frighten men. Mr. T. Pitt obferved, that his right hon. friend had, on a former occafion, called for a well-digested plan for the government of India; but it did not follow from this, that he fhould approve a fyftem big with violence, injustice, and the most rigorous oppreffion. He had not pledged himself to prove the fallacy of the rt. hon. Gent.'s statement, butthat the East India Company would prove it, by evidence, at the bar of the House. The motion was put, and carried. Mr. Fox brought in his fecond bill, intituled, A Bill for the better Regulation of the Affairs of the Eaft India Company. Speaker read the breviate, and The prefent bill, its principle was clearly unobjectionable on the fcore of influence, for it militated against it. He prefumed, therefore, that there would be no objection to, fending the bill to the committee. An order was then made, that the bill be printed, and read a fecond time on the Tuefday following. Nov. 27. Mr. Fox moved for various applications from the Directors of the Eaft India Company to the Lords of the Treasury, relative to the state of their finances. Lord Mabon objected, as the House could have no time to confider them. Other ob jections were made; but the papers, being ready prepared, were laid upon the table. Lord Mabon defired gentlemen to underftand, that the Rt. Hon. Sec. ftood pledged to prove errors, in the account laid before the Houfe, to the amount of 12 millions. Mr. Fox faid, he food pledged to the Houfe for no fuch thing. He flood pledged to ftate exceptions to the Company's account to that amount, but would not fay that thofe exceptions would carry conviction to other men's minds, though they did to his. Lord North rofe to acquaint the Houfe, that when the Parliament thought proper to repeal the act 6 Geo. I. and, confequently, to acknowledge the independence of Ireland, it was natural to forefee that fome further regulations would be neceffary. The Poft Of fice of Ireland, for inftance, had hitherto been annexed to that of England; but now it became neceffary to be entirely feparated from it, and a mode must be adopted to fettle the postage of letters between the two kingdoms. The mode he had to propofe was, that each kingdom fhould profit in proportion to the labour performed; and, as England was in poffeffion of packet-boats for the conveyance of letters from one kingdom to the other, fome compenfation, he thought, fhould be made to Ireland, if Ireland thould forego the advantage of having packet-boats of her The motion he had to make went for leave to bring in a bill to enable the postmatters in England to cede to the pott-inaf own. Sir Edw. Alley rofe to warn the House to proceed with caution. If a measure thould be haftily adopted, that would put Ministers in poffeffion of an extent of patronage, imters in Leland the buildings, &c. of the Post menfe in every fenfe of the word, gentlemen might then find it neceflary again to vote, "That the influence of the Crown has increased, is increafing, and ought to "be diminished." He was ready to allow that the Company's affairs wanted fome regulation; that a company of merchants were not the proper legislators to govern great territorial dominious; but fill he thought Parliament fhould be upon its guard, left the measures propofed to remedy the evil thould prove ruinous to the liberties of this country. Mr. Fox remarked that the Hon. Baronet's objection went against the other bill; and when that bill came under confideration, he would endeavour to remove them, As to the Office at Dublin. And as Ireland, for the future, as far as the pollage of letters is concerned, mult be looked upon as a foreign country, the franking letters, from one to the other, could be no longer admitted. Even news-papers must not be fottered to pass free; but, to facilitate their circulation, a peony, or fome fuch trifle, might be im ofed, and the letters of certain departments of fate only to be exempt from poltage. These were the ideas on which he meant to four bis bill. Not the least objection was made, ajd leave was given to bring in his bill. Me Fox rofe, and moved the fecond reading of his bill for vesting the effects, &c. nå the E 1. Company in commiffioners. The notion was agreed to; the bill was read, is were |