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moft forward in oppofing the measures they fo uniformly and difgracefully purfued; it was impoffible that men fo very oppofite should ever act in real conjunction. He by no means condemned them for concluding a peace, though they difapproved of the terms; the public faith was pledged, and they were bound to keep it. But what had they done with the United States of Holland? It had been boasted that great advantages had been acquired from them; he knew of none; the treaty remained just as the Preliminary Articles had begun it. A very particular negociation, he said, was broke off; he meant the commercial treaty with America; this had not the most promising appearance of the good intentions of minifters. Having now returned to the fpeech, he confeffed he was very much difappointed, and fo, he apprehended,would the public be, that not the leaft notice had been taken of the alarming fituation of the funds; they were now lower than when we were most diftrefled, and very near what they fell to when the kingdom was invaded. This day had been looked upon as a period for raifing the national credit, yet not the leaft notice had been taken of it; of what confequence the difappointment would be, he could not fay, but he feared it might prove very ferious. The fituation of Ireland, in his opinion, another no lefs important matter, was likewife left unnoticed: this he thought a very delicate delicate fubject, and he almoft trembled to fay a word upon it, as nothing was farther from his intention than to throw the leaft impediment in the way of minifters; but could not help regretting that no mention was made of that people; had it been only an affurance of his Majesty's affection towards them, this would have evinced that they were not totally neglected. His lordship then glanced at our India affairs, and thought they demanded the most speedy investigation: he confeffed himself totally unacquainted with the revenue, exp nditure, or debt, of the Company, or their methods of paying that debt; but he was fenfible that much time and affiduity had been fpent to inquire into their state in another place, and that many papers were then upon the table which might throw light upon the fubject. There were feveral other circumstances in which he thought administration cenfurable; but as these muft neceffarily come before parliament, he would wave them at prefent; nor should he, notwithftanding what he had said, move any amendment in the address, as he did not wish to prevent it's paffing unanimously.

The queftion being then put, the addrefs paffed, and a committee was ordered to wait on his Majefty with it.

NOVEMBER 12.

The Lord Steward informed the Houfe, that, purfuant to their order of yesterday, the lords with white ftaves had waited on his Majesty, to know when he would be waited on by them with their addrefs of thanks; and that his Majesty had appointed that day at two o'clock.

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HOUSE oF COMMONS. (Continued from Page 312.)

NOVEMBER 11.

HE Speaker being returned from the House of Lords, Lord Aptley, the Honourable Mr. Erskine, Burrard, Efq. and William Clayton, Efq. took the oaths and their feats. A new writ was ordered for the city of York, in the room of Sir Charles Turner; and another for Surrey, in the room of Lord Althorpe.

The King's fpeech being then read from the chair, the Earl of Upper Offory moved an addrefs of thanks to his Majefty for the fame, being convinced that every part of it was unexceptionable. He faid that the great points on which it infifted, were the Definitive Treaty, the ftate of our affairs in India, and the prefent fituation of the public funds. He preffed the neceffity of entering on the immediate investigation of them, and illuftrated with precision the importance of each. He lamented that no specific re medy had as yet been applied to the peculiar evils which prevailed in our Afiatic affairs, and hoped not a moment would be loft in making the whole of that business an object of enquiry.

He

Sir Francis Baffet feconded the motion. was certain every man who had any regard for the welfare of his country, muft rejoice,with him, that peace was now finally established; but regretted there was ftill fo much neceffity for the exertions of parliament to retrieve the credit, the confequence, and the profperity, of the nation.

Mr. W. Pitt approved of the addrefs; and congratulated the House, his country, and his friends, on the event of a peace which opened a thoufand profpects of returning profperity. He was happy that the Eaft India affairs were fo foon to occupy the deliberations of parliament; as nothing, he apprehended, called more immediately for their interference and decifion. The honourable gentleman then obferved, that the fituation of naEarl Mansfield reported his Majesty's answer tional credit was never fo universally alarming,

The Houfe accordingly proceeded to St. James's with the addrefs.

NOVEMBER 14.

fo

fo precarious, and fo fufceptible of fraud, as at prefent; and that if ever the interpofition of parliament, and the united wifdom of the nation, were requifite to fave us from impending deftruction, this was the time.

Mr. Secretary Fox, in a long fpeech, delivered himself with his ufual flow of oratory; in the courfe of which he paid feveral compliments to the honourable gentleman who spoke laft, whofe opinion refpecting India affairs perfectly coincided with his own: he lamented that the confideration of them had been deferred fo long; and fo far was he from juftifying miniftry on this head, that he was himself ready to plead guilty; and pledged his honour, that on that day fe'ennight he would make a motion to fettle that matter, and requested the alliftance of parliament on a question of such importance. He alfo perfectly agreed with the honourable member's idea refpecting the public funds; and obferved, that whether ministry were called upon to reduce the public expenditure by obvious retrenchments, or to impofe new taxes, their duty was plain, and must be performed at the rifque of popularity, perfonal eafe, and every other confideration; that our debts, difficulties, and circumstances, were not promifing; but that, notwithstanding the preffure of all thefe calamities, the British government might yet recover much of her former profperity, and exert, with undiminished dignity, her wonted influence among the European nations.

The Addrefs accordingly paffed, and the Houfe adjourned.

NOVEMBER 12.

Ordered that his Majesty's Speech be taken into confideration on the morrow.

General Elphinstone took the oaths and his feat for Dumbartonshire.

Ordered in a Naturalization bill.

Ordered that a felect committee on India affairs be appointed, to confift of the same members as last year.

Lord John Cavendish made a motion for a congratulatory address to the Queen on her happy recovery, after the birth of her last princefs; which was unanimously agreed to.

The Earl of Upper Öffory brought up a report from the committee appointed to draw up the addrefs voted to his Majefty for his speech from the throne; which addrefs being read, was agreed to. It was then refolved, that fuch members as were of the privy council fhould wait upon his Majesty, to know when he would be pleased to receive the addrefs. Adjourned..

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Lord John Cavendish then reported his Majefty's answer to the addrefs of the Houfe.

NOVEMBER 17.

Agreed to the report of the refolution of Thurfday laft, for granting a fupply to his Majesty.

New writs were ordered for the election of two members to ferve in parliament; for the borough of Clithero, in the room of John Lee, Efq. and for the university of Cambridge, in the room of James Mansfield, Efq. the new Attorney and Solicitor General.

Admiral Pigot gave notice, that on Wednesday he fhould move for the fupply of seamen for the fervice of the year 1784.

Mr. Secretary Fox alfo gave notice, that tomorrow he should make his motion on India affairs.

Adjourned.

NOVEMBER 18.

Ordered a new writ for Bletchingley, in the room of Sir Robert Clayton, who has accepted the Chiltern Hundreds.

Ordered accounts to be made out of the produce of taxes for feveral years past.

A petition was prefented from the Juftices of the county of Gloucester, stating that, from the number of convicts in the county gaol, and the delay of carrying away those who are fentenced to transportation, the gaol distemper had broke out among them, and fpread into the country, where it had carried off fome of the people: fubmitted therefore to the Houfe for fuch remedies as they fhould think proper.

Mr. Secretary Fox then made his promifed motion relative to the East India Company. He faid, that it was not a measure of choice, but of neceffity; no idle fpeculation on his part, but a bufinefs which forced itfelf upon him, and upon the nation, and of which he could not defer the difcuffion. The many abufes in the government of the territories under the management of the India Company had been fo feverely felt, that parliament had found it neceffary to inftituțe enquiries, by which the fource of those abuses might be found out, and proper remedies applied: committees had been appointed; their researches had been pursued with uncommon industry; and their reports contained information fo compleat, that perhaps the like had never been laid before parliament. He obferved that the ftate of the finances of the East India Company was truly deplorable; that the Company had last year applied to parliament for pecuniary affiftance; that they had afked leave to borrow 500,000l. on bonds; had petitioned for 300,000l. in Exchequer bills; and for the remiffion or fufpenfion of a demand upon them on the part of government for 700,000l. due for cuftoms: that they owed 11,200,000l. and had stock in hand only to the amount of about 3,200,000l. which, when deducted, there would ftill remain a debt of eight millions; a fum to the highest degree alarming, when compared with the capital of the proprietors: therefore it was evident, that either government must interfere, or the Company must be annihilated. He farther obferved, that the profperity of the Company was fo intimately connected with that of

the

the state, that the credit of the former could not be injured without giving a fhock to that of the kingdom; that if the bills for two millions, which were shortly expected, should return protested, what would the world fay, but that the people of England were bankrupts, or they would not have fuffered the bankruptcy of a Company which paid them 1,300,000l. a year? The conclufion would be natural, and therefore the credit of the nation was deeply interested in their fupport. He then faid, that it was his intention, in the bill or bills which he should move for leave to bring in, to authorize the Lords of the Treafury to confent that the directors fhall accept the~ bills which are now on their way to England, though the nation by that means would be liable to pay the whole, if the Company should not be able to take up the debt: thus he hoped to fave the finking credit of the Company. The honourable gentleman then went largely into the conduct of the Company's fervants in India, particularly that of Governor Haftings, on which he reflected, in feveral inftances, with much severity: after which he pointed out a plan for remedying the various grievances and abufes in the government of India; which was, to establish a board, confifting of feven perfons, who fhould be vefted with full power to appoint and difplace officers in India, and under whofe controul the whole government of that country should be placed: also another clafs, confifting of eight perfons, to be called Afliftants, who fhould have charge of the fales, outfits, &c. of the Company, and in general of all commercial concerns; but fubject to the controul of the first seven. This board fhould be held in England, under the very eye of parliament: their proceedings fhould be entered in books for the infpection of both Houfes; their fervants abroad fhould be obliged to make minutes of all their proceedings, and also enter them into books, to be tranfmitted to Europe; and if ever they found themfelves under the neceflity of difobeying any order from the board, (and he was ready to admit fuch cafes might occur) a minute fhould be entered, ftating the reafon of their difobedience. There were other points on which he had alfo intended to touch; the devifing of means whereby criminals in India might be brought to juftice in England; and the abolition of monopolies, which, by experience, had been found highly pernicious. After lamenting the lofs of that fupport which he should have found in the eloquence and abilities of his noble friend, Lord North, then abfent through indifpofition, Mr. Fox concluded with a motion for leave to bring in a bill for vesting the affairs of the India Company in the hands of certain commiffioners, for the benefit of the proprietors and the public.

Colonel North concurred with Mr. Fox in every particular, and faid he felt a fingular fatisfaction in feconding his motion.

Mr. W. Pitt faid, that the whole of the right honourable fecretary's fyftem was abfolute def potifm on the one fide, and grofs corruption on the other; that the bill ought to be examined with the most scrupulous attention, and not read

a fecond time till a call of the House should have procured fuch an attendance as would make it fit for a minifter to proceed in fuch business.

Governor Johnstone complimented Mr. Fox on the candid manner in which he had communicated his plan; faid he would not oppose the bill; and then touched upon, and endeavoured to anfwer, the principal charges against Mr. Haftings.

Some other members fpoke; after which the question being called for, it was carried unanimously, and the House adjourned.

NOVEMBER 19.

Lord John Cavendish gave notice, that he fhould move on the morrow for leave to bring in a bill to explain and amend the act paffed laft feffion for impofing a tax on receipts. He said that gentlemen must have feen the law-opinions which had been handed about during the fummer on certain points in that act; and that, in anfwer to thefe opinions, the Lords of the Treasury had confulted the late and prefent Attorney Generals on the subject, and they had given opinions diametrically oppofite to the others. However, as it was not proper that there should be any doubt on the question, or that gentlemen fhould be expofed to penalties, where no evafion of the act was intended, he had, upon this ground, judged it expedient to have that act explained.

Admiral Pigot then moved the complement of feamen neceffary for the fervice of the year 1784. He faid, that the great force at present in India made a greater number neceffary than he could have wished; and accordingly moved, that a fupply of 26,000 feamen be granted to his Majefty, for the fervice of the year 1784; and that 41. per month to each man be granted to support them.

After fome defultory converfation, the question was put on Admiral Pigot's motion, and carried without oppofition.

NOVEMBER 20.

Lord John Cavendish moved for leave to bring forward his bill to explain and amend the Receipt Tax. Doubts, he faid, had arifen, whether any penalty was incurred under the act in it's present form, by those who had figned receipts upon unftamped paper; his object was to remove those doubts, by declaring, that the figning an unftamped receipt fhould be penal: at the fame time, he intended to indemnify such as might have incurred the penalty, by mistaking the meaning of the act of parliament.

Sir Jofeph Mawbey wished that the act alluded to might not be amended, but repealed, as it impofed an odious and oppreffive tax.

Sir Cecil Wray thought government were only fetting up a pretence, under the colour of amend ment, to extend the tax; this, he said, was pitiful, and he fhould therefore oppofe it.

Lord John Cavendish replied, that he did not mean to extend, but prevent the evafion of the tax, by fhewing that, in attempting to evade it, people would fubject themfelves to penalties.

Lord Mahon defired the Houfe to recollect, that, when the tax was propofed, in order to make it palatable, the introducers called a receipt a

luxury,

luxury, as no one was compelled to take a receipt; but now the law was going to be altered; men were to be forced to take thein. This was a strange kind of luxury, that a man could not enjoy the pleasure of paying his debts without paying alfo for a receipt.

Mr. Secretary Fox begged to fet the noble lord right: the bill, he faid, would by no means impofe a neceflity of taking a receipt, although it fhould pafs; it only went to declare, that if a man hould think proper to take a receipt at all, it must be on itamp paper.

Mr. Alderman Newnham condemned the tax, as burdenfome, vexatious, and oppreffive; and he knew it to be fo objectionable, that he pledged himself to move a repeal of it the firft opportunity after the holidays.

Lord John Cavendish faid, that he did not think the tax either burdenfome or vexatious; on the contrary, he believed it would be found both light and productive. The question was then put on the motion for leave to bring in the bill, and carried without a divifion.

Mr. Secretary Fox now brought up his bill for vesting in commiflioners the territorial possesfons, effects, &c. of the India Company; which was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. He then moved, that it should be read a fecond time on that day fe'nnight. This brought on a tedious debate; after which the question was put and carried, and the House adjourned.

NOVEMBER 21.

Ordered a new writ for Horfham, in the room of Mr. Wallace, deceased.

Sir Robert Clayton took his feat for the county of Surrey.

Paffed Splitzeberg's Naturalization bill. Lord John Cavendish made his motion for a felect committee to be appointed on Wednesday, to enquire into the illicit trade carried on in this kingdom, and report their opinion; and stated the neceffity of adopting fome measures to check the practice of fmuggling, which had been carried to an alarming height. The motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned to Monday.

NOVEMBER 24.

Sir Henry Fletcher prefented a petition from the Court of Proprietors of the Eaft India Stock, fetting forth, that the bill lately introduced by Mr. Secretary Fox, for vefting the government of India in the crown, was fubverfive of the constitutional laws of this country; that it tended to deprive the Company unjustly of their chartered rights and property, and of many privileges and immunities which had been confirmed to them by parliament, and purchased for feveral valuable confiderations; and that they could not fuffer the bill to pass into a law without af ferting their claims, and therefore wifhed to be heard at the bar by themfelves or their counfel. Agreed that the proprietors, or their counfel, be heard at the bar, after the second reading of Mr. Fox's bill.

The House then proceeded to the confideration of the records of the court of King's Bench, refpecting Chriftopher Atkinson, Efq. lately convicted of perjury; and, after a motion of Sir

Thomas Davenport's, that the record of conviction be read a second time on Thursday fe'nnight, and that Mr. Atkinson then attend in his place, which was agreed to, the House adjourned.

NOVEMBER 25.

Read a first time the Malt bill.

Lord Galway took the oaths and his feat, as member for York.

Proceeded to ballot for a felect committee, to enquire into the illicit trade of fmuggling carried on in this kingdom.

A pretty long altercation then commenced between three or four of the members, particularly Mr. Secretary Fox and Mr. W. Pitt, relative to a petition from the Directors of the East India Company, praying to be heard by counfel against Mr. Fox's bill for regulating the affairs of that Company: after which Lord John Cavendish gave notice, that on the morrow he should bring in his bill for explaining the Receipt Tax act. NOVEMBER 26.

John Nichols, Efq. took the oaths and his feat, as member for Bletchingley.

Mr. Fitzwilliams reported from the committee ballotted yesterday on the fmuggling laws, that the lift had been examined, and the quorum was to confift of five, who are to fit notwithstanding any adjournment of the Houfe.

Ordered in the Marine Mutiny bill.
Read a fecond time the Malt bill.

Mr. Fox brought in his fecond bill for the better regulation of Eaft India affairs, the breviate of which was read by the Speaker; and, after a fhort converfation, it was ordered to be printed, and read a fecond time on Tuesday.

Lord John Cavendish then brought up his bill for explaining the Receipt Tax act, and for indemnifying from the penalties incurred underit.

Mr. Coke faid, that the tax was greatly dif liked in Nottingham, the town he had the honour to reprefent, there not being a fingle shopkeeper who did not execrate it. He was aware that no man ought to move for the repeal of a tax, who was not prepared with another to replace it; but, if his lordship would honour him with a confe rence on the subject, he was ready to communicate one or two taxes, which he was fure would be productive, without being burdenfome. An order was then made for the fecond reading of the bill on Wednesday.

NOVEMBER 27.

Mr. Fox made a motion for copies of various applications from the Directors of the India Company to the Lords of the Treasury, relative to the ftate of their finances, &c. which was agreed to.

Lord North made a motion for leave to bring in a bill for the better regulation of the poftage and carriage of letters between Great Britain and Ireland; which was likewife agreed to.

Mr. Fox then moved for the fecond reading of the bill for vefting the effects, &c. of the India Company in commiffioners; and after entering into a pretty minute difquifition of the different articles ftated in the Company's accounts, as produced to the Houfe by Mr. Nicoll, their accomptant, he concluded by moving that the bill be committed.

Mr.

Mr. W. Pitt, by way of reply to Mr. Fox, entered into fome long calculations; but mistaking the fums which Mr. Fox was willing to admit in the Company's accounts, he moved for an adjournment, in order to confider of the bill, and compare the accounts.

Lord North difapproved of the motion of the honourable gentleman, as the judgment of the Houfe on the question before it would not then be conclufive: he faid that there were other ftages through which the bill must pass, when gentle men would have an opportunity to oppofe it; and

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POLITICAL RETROSPECT.

NOVEMBER 1783.

HOUGH the great national council has now fome time met for the difpatch of bufinefs, nothing has yet tranfpired refpecting the fo long talked of commercial regulations with America, or the conclufion of the Definitive Treaty with the Seven United Provinces. Indeed, the whole attention of minifters appears to be concentered in one grand object-the establishment of fuch a mode of governing our East India poffeffions, as may tend to check those shameful depredations on the lives and property of the oppreffed natives, which have fo notoriously difgraced this country in general, and the fervants of the Company in particular.

The introduction of a bill to break through the chartered rights of the Eaft India Company, fo lately recognized and extended by Parliament, was certainly a bold undertaking; and, whatever may have been Mr. Secretary Fox's chief motives for the adoption of fuch a measure, the fortitude he has evinced on the occafion confirms us in the idea we always entertained, that this gentleman is capable of being a great minifter. It was not

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by the dull, regular routine of bufinefs, that the Earl of Chatham rofe to fame: his purfuits were calculated at once to attract the attention and to command the approbation of the whole world. The private virtues of that great man have perhaps been equalled by fucceeding minifters, but when fhall we fee a ftatefman whofe public character will alike bear comparifon!

The melancholy news which has just arrived from the East Indies is certainly favourable to Mr. Fox's defigns, and we have no doubt that the bill will pafs into a law. Whether that law will ultimately moft tend to the honour or advantage of the British nation, the emolument of the Company, the comfort of the injured Gentoos, or the aggrandizement of individuals in favour with minifters, Time, the only certain developer of frate mysteries, muft one day reveal. In the mean while, we are not without hope, that the fcandalous peculations of adventurers to our Oriental poffeffions may be happily checked by the regulations which the bufinefs in queftion must neceffarily produce.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Lisbon, October 7.

HE fhip called Nan Dos Quintos, being the annual veffel from Rio Janeiro, is arrived in this road, and brings eleven millions in gold, a quantity of diamonds, and two millions of piaftres, for the Spaniards..

Petersburgh, Oct. 7. This day were launched from the Admiralty dock-yard, in prefence of her Majesty and their Imperial Highneffes, two fhips of war; the Freg-Hebarchia, of 100, and the St. John Chryfoftom, of 74 guns.

Orders have been given by our government to raife one recruit upon every 200 men capable of bearing arms throughout the empire. By thefe means 50,000 effective men, at leaft, will be added to the present number of our land-forces.

Vienna, 07. II. According to an account taken of the population of this city and fuburbs, the number of inhabitants amounts to 205,780, including 5519 foreigners, and 518 Jews.

The Emperor has iffued orders, that all new
VOL. III,

married couples in the country places fhall be exempt from all taxes during the two first years of their marriage; and that on the report made by the judges of the place, of their property, certain fums fhall be advanced to help them to set up, which money they fhall not be obliged to reimburfe until after a term of ten years.

Berlin, Oct. 14. A Pruffian nobleman having lately prefented a petition to his fovereign, for the purpose of obtaining a commiffion in the army for his fon, received from his Majesty the following anfwer

• Moft illuftrious, dear, and faithful!

I HAVE feen your petition concerning your fon. It is proper to inform you, that fome time fince I have given orders to admit no perfons of rank in my armies; as thote gentlemen, after a campaign or two, thinking themfelves exceeding ly clever, generally retire, fectling on their own eftates, where they enjoy the reputation of having been

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