Star. — London, England, 1805-04-06 00:00:00

PARLIAMEArARr PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS. FRIDAY, APRIL 5. The Royal Affent by Commillion title Chancellor, LordsWal- Ingham and Auckland. fitting as Commiffioners) was riven to . the Cußome Duty, Excite Duty, Lciacy Duty. and eleven pri. vate The Bills on the table were forwarded in their refpenive Rages. A Copy o a Lent r from Yi(count Melville to the Commit . - Rimers ut Naval Enquiry, together with the anfwer of the Commif- Ilosiers, were prefent..d at toe Bar, and °sacred to ha printed. Lord HAWKESBURY moved the Order of the Day, for the commitment of the Englifh Militia Bill. The blotife having re- Calved itfclt into a Conanirtcc , be moved if Nobie Lorda had no objedtions to propofe to any of the chid - Ls, that the Bill fliuuld he , read Own, which was aceerdingly done, and an turd r made. on the motion of his Lordffiip, that it be read a th.rd time on.: Monday. comvirs,rvs or NAVAL EN'ZIJIRY. Lord KING willred to afk of the Noble secretary of State, whether it was the intention of his Majpity's Miniflers to propofe any Bill fr , r prolonging the Corm. million of Naval Enquiry, which, owing to th.. , ar. rangements that had been adopted for the , Tcrling of the prefent Salinn, would expire with the S.ilion ? It Minifters did not think proper to renew a c...tninif. fion, from which fo much advantage had been de rived to the public, he would feel it incumbent on him to hritr,t, for ward a Bill to that effeet. Lord I-I AW KESBURY was not aware that his Miniuers had come to any determination on the fuhje,st, but he underliood, from what had pall fed in another place, :hat time would he allowed to them to &rill) the important enquiries in which they were engaged. IRISH MILITIA. The Itifn Militia Bill, and feveral Private Bills were brtiught iip from the Commons, by Mr. ALEX ANWR and others. The frith Militia Bill was read a firft time, and, on the motion) of L9rd HAWKESBUItY, ordered to be react a fecond time on Monday, for which day an order for Itimmoning their Lordfhips was made. not make thefe profits they ought to make them, and they affelred them accordingly. Leave was then given to bring in the bill, Mr. Pitt explaining to Mr. Fox that the evil be had alluded to would be altogether done away by the bill. VIUGGLING. The CHAINICELLOR of the EXCHEQUER next moved in a Committee for leave to bring in a Bill, for more effeetually preventLig the praCtice of Smuggling. He oblerved, that he fhnuld render (mall packages, even found on board of veffels not fewer than lcc, leagues from the Englith Ihore, lia ble to feizure, arJ that he had in contemplation to enaCt ce:tain regulations for the trade of Goernfey, and the other Iflands contiguous thereto. In thofe iii utd~. fmuggling was carried on to a very enor mous annoint. He (Mould fubjett the crews of ret ie's, employed in Imuggling, to penalties, unlefs transferred with their own content to the navy. It was further his intention to prevent imnggling li quors being fold at the out ports, a praCtice which at prelim gives great facility to the felling of ipitits under proof. The Bill was now ordered. STATE OF OUR AFFAIRS IN INDIA. Mr. FRANCIS then rote, and in a masterly and luminous fpeech, to which we confefs our inability to do anything like full Office, took a view of our af fairs in India. It would not, he fat out by oblerving, be denied, that the ftate of our immenh dominion in the Eaft, was a fubjed of the higheit importance that could be fubmitted to the conlideration of Parlia ment. In proportion, however, as this empire was extended, it feemed to excite lefs of the attention eit ther of the Houfe or the Public. It feemed as if its very g reatnefs had rendered it fuperior to the capa city o f the Hook fully to underhand or beneficially to regulate. If this 'catty was the cafe, it was only an additional proof of the impolicy of that all-gralp. ing fyftem which had too long guided our councils in India : an additional confirmation that loch a fyftem mult continue to produce cortfequences of the molt diflittreus nature. AbuLs mull, from the very nature of things, fpring out of this excellive lull for power. Abutes mull arife from the remotenefs of our poffeffions, fit little liable to inveftigation or pu nifhment. But it was fit that the Houfe lho o ld b ear in mind, that evils which originated in India would not confine themfelves to that country. Even at this moment, fome of there evils were already felt, and many more would follow in their track. India, un der its prefent Government, afforded us no revenue. It was on the contrary there that our ref at , ces were confutned in ruinous c-nquelts, that the flower of our troops were cut off, fighting unneeefiloy battles. In dia, under a wife fyllem of po . licy, might be at once a fource of revenue and a fund of the moll bench cial commerce. Before tbefe effects took place, how ever, the prefent lyflem of apathy, with regard to our Indian affairs, mull be abandoned for a fyttem of jealoufy, of juflice, and of moderation. From the conduft of Parliament now, with regard to India, it appeared as if her authority ro legiflete for that part of the Empire, were ablalittely abdicated. From a deep convidion that this lyflem could not long he re: tilted in, he had rifen to call the attention of the Houle to the lubjeft, as he had felt it his duty to do on many former occafums. Since he had loft fob mitted the confideration of our affairs in India gene rally to Parliament, the conflitution of the Houfe had been lo much changed, as well as the individuals who compofed it, that it became neceffary for him to take a fhort view of our India policy, from the time of our firli fettling there down to the prefent day, de feribing briefly the principles which Paiiiament had at different per iocis laid down for the reoulation of our Government. In the firfl place, he had to Rate the 'colons which induced him fo often to take up this office ; this thanklefs office, as he had often ex perienced it. It was in 1773 that his firfl connec tion with India originated, when he was fent out by the Government of that period to be a Member of the Supreme Council. During a refidenre of lix years in India, his conduet had ever received the ft,congeft marks of approbation ; and on his return in 1781, it had undergone the molt rigid exami nation. A Committee of the Houfe had examined every aft or every opinion which he had deli. vend while a Member of the Supreme Council ; and he was proud in the recolledion that the Report of 'flat Committee was as favourable as ever hi; molt fanguine vines cr uld have defined. It was a Re port of the molt unqualified approbation. Other Committee. had made flmilar reports, and after all the inquiry which did take place, he had a right to fay, that though not formally tried, he was as much on his trial as even Mr. Hollings was, when he was formally arraigned before the higheft tribunal in this country. To himfelt, who had received fo little lolid advantage from the attention he had bellowed on Indian affairs, it was a confolation to know, that his conduit, and the policy which he had ever recom mended, had received the moll flattering tellimonies. —Having Paid fo much relpeding the origin of his conflation with India, he proceeded to ate dired confideration of the quellion, in doing which, he af fi:red Gentlemen, that they had no occafion to be alarmed by any apprehenfion of long, dry details.— Ail that he had in contemplation was a bird's eve view of the Wind's, for that would be fully fuffi cient for the object he had propofed on the prefent occafion. There was a great deal of matter in the papers before the Houle, to which he should not feel it neceffary to allude, nor did he now mean to fay any thing of thole military operations, the de- tails of which were fo numerous and intricate.— With regard to the origin of our conflation with In dia, it was hardly neceffary for him to remind the Houfe, that it was originally purely commercial, but it was marked on the part of the native Princes. with every appearance of good under ftanding and even kindnefs. They not only afforded us every facility for carrying on an advantageous trade, but actually conferred on us immunities and exemptions which many of their own fubjeds did not enjoy. It was, in a mercantile point of view, wife in the na tive Princes to encourage trade with foreign nations. But while their commercial eye was opened, their political eye was clofed. They did not at on thole principles which had fa effed ually excluded European nations from the dominion of China. It was not till 1765 that our fituation in India fullained any impor tant change. Our tirft conflation with Bengal, was in the character of adventurers. After that period, we began to airtime the charafter of Sovereign. But what was then the language of Lord Clive, a man to whom we owe the erection of our inuncahr caftcro " My refolution and my hopes will always be to confine our conquelts and our pofreffions to Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa. To go farther h, in my opinion, a fcheme fo extravagantly ambitions and abfurd, that no Governor and Council in their fettles can ever adopt it, wilds thc whole fyftem of the Compat.y's intereft be firft entirely new modelled." Such was the language of one whole knowledge was unquetlinned, and whole policy laid the on!) fore foundation of our Indian pofferfions. He himicif knew that the government of that day fully adopted thefe principles of limited dominion. When in 1774 he went with the other Commiffioners to India, the Government gave thc molt pofitive inffruEtions to fee that the fame principles were followed up, and the commands of the Direetors were abfolute on the fubjeCt. There were principles laid down while a French force had poffetrion of a considerable part of India, and when the idea of undertaking a war ler conquell might have appeared fame excufe for devi ating in a particular care from the general ly item of limitation. But it was not on theta declarations that he found himfelf obliged to reft his opinion. In I^Bz Parliament unanimoufly refolved that the Briti/li em pire llama not be extended in India, and that no war fhould be undertaken from a hilt of conqueit. The fame refolution was followed up by an tepids aet of the Legiflature in 1784 ; and at the renewal of the charter in 1793, the continuance of the fame policy was provided for in the molt explicit terms. This general principle was therefore fo clearly laid down, that it was.abfolurely itnpoffible to attempt to contro vert it. He was aware that a diltinaion was attempt ed to be taken betwixt the wars of oppreffion, which were never to be undertaken, and wars which were founded on jullice and neceffity. It was not very eafy to fee on what grounds filch a plea was brought forward. Of the origin or jultice of many of the wars in India, the ionic and the public were frequently, or rather always, with out the means of (Orating a proper judgment. We had never any evidence but the tellimenty of one of the Belligerent Powers againit the other, and there fore fuch tellimony WAi to be received with dill - l• deuce. \Ve View only in general that wars had bren begun—that great acquifitions were made, and we gave ourfdves little trouble to afeertain bow far they arnfe, either nut of juitice or necetiity. The .Dative Princes of India bad no Ambafradors to plead their caufe. They law their country overrun—their wealth deftroyed, and then they had only the fatif fairtiron of being told that they had been antrated by l i lawlefsambition. Many Members might not, per haps, be aware that there formerly eeilled in the Government of Bengal a commilfion of Perflan cor refpondence, through which our relations with the Native Princes were conduCted. In looking, howe ver, to the vaR body of papers on the Table, he had not been able, after the moll diligent enquiry, in find above three nr four lima documents, cons :fining no intelligence of the flighteff importance. This cor refpondence was now, therefore, either altogether aholithed, or had for a confiderable time been inf pended. Thus were the Houle and the Public with out means of jndging of the origin of conrelts in In dia. Our Commiffioners might he honea perfons, and their reprefentations might be freq'rcntly found ed in fairnefs and truth. But we were forced to be• lieve them, without knowing what was the naoire of the remonffrances of the Native Princes, or what facrifices they had made for the prcfervation of peace. He delved the I-joule to confider what was the extent of our conquelts in India. The Honour able Member proceeded to read the following lilt of I Native Prince , . who have either been extii pared, cr whole Cates have funk into oors : Nabob of Bengal, Rajah of Benares, Nabob of Oude, Rohillas, Fer rokabad, Nabob of the Carnatic, Tippoo Stiltaun and Myfore, now under an infant Rajah. He then Rated the following to be the liit of thole Princes who forvive under our Government, or are Coffered to remain a , feeble tributaries : Rajahs of Tanjore, Tiuncvelli, Travancore ; nubadar of the Decan by a I . lll)f:diary treaty made in 1798 ; Gwicowar and Grizzerat, Buodelcund, the Mogul, in llior t the A' stole Peninfola from Delhi to Cape Cormotio, CACCr. the Mahratta country. But tt ith all this extent of em pire, wiih all . .hat vat icty of dominion, the third of coneuet remained unbounded, and the pofitive law of P.oliarrient for the limitation of our territories has been again violated, by a war with the Mahratra Powers. The pretext lcr this war (truck him AS At) turd, and indefenAle in the higloOt degree. There was not the ilightell trouped for fuppoting that t::e Mahrattas entertained any views hollile town. power. It was true, that they were agitated by inte:iine but he defied any member, from the papers on tine table, to thew that their proceedings could irifei: . c any one with fribjeit for jealonly or alarm. i-le knew it was common to reprefent the Native Pt inces in the molt odirats light, as ab!olute monllers of de pravity ; but from the language of thole employed under the Government of Lord Wellefley, it WAS easy to fee in what light thele deferirtions fhould he con sidered. To facto c the tranqiiiiity of our polleillans it was neceffary that a treaty with tole of the hl.rh• ratta Chiefs thould be concluded, and the Pello.va was feleaed for that purple. Now what is the cha raeler of this Prince, with whom it is necefrary to Rand on good terms to promote our own ft emit y ? Colonel PALMFIR rays, I am to have my lift private audience of the Pelhwa this evening, when I will tualtt!a Goa effort to con vince his Highnefs of the tatting (enmity, power and prosperity, which he will derive from r nihracing your Lordeli , ; , 's propte.ds; though I apprehend that notl..ing short of imminent and certain de ftruetion will induce him to make conceffions which nninate arrninft his deep rooted kale,* and prejudices. and of which he thinks he has already nude extraordinary sacrifices. Colonel CLOSE Pays, every day's experience refute to itrergth eu the imprellion, that, from the tilt., your Lord!iiip's and liberal views in relation to this tAtc, hive not tlii;y !'ten dii COrd'alt with the natural dirpontion of thc Pethwa, but t o ally ad verfc to that felfith and wicked policy, which, in a ccr.aiti degree, he Teems to have realized. In the midit of perfonal peril and the loweft dehafement, he viewed the admiMon of permanent fuppurt from your Lordthip with the depeft avertion. The dark complexion of the Pefhwa's difpontion and charadler, the difguitful hiftory of his domeitic and public conduct, his atro cious machinations, &c. His faithlefs and fordid policy, his hatred and Jealoufy of the Btitifh name. - - . ..... The prefent Pethwa has, ever fence the year 1798, aeted more like an enemy, than a friend of the Company's Govertucent. Yet, after all, he appears to be a young man, o whom a Chief of his own family far that he had retired trum Poona, owing to the thoughtlefrnefs of youth. Thus it is that a Native Prince is loaded with abufe by the Government of India, that he is called on to give up t great prop'rtinn of is dominions, and all this lot the parpoce alienating tranquil Feel:Goo of his throne. It was not a little flngullr foe CI Pefhwa is altv:zys reprefented As A iv.c, that he was the head of the Maltrattas., mi.l iltat other Chicfs wet e only hi, fervarts. This zepvt'..-1 tation w's d refllr ccnttary to fail. Ti c '• r was Lothing 'nine than Cte Prole (4111111 re nil; I the Moir au,' ('mliedegicy. Tie oriy i Pares, and had no right to c3:.clude tile{ tic:at) , ogaintl hick it wa, eritie cl , iar he eine' toined a naid, p aid, in his ftwatiiin, overtiou.- I'ne Hone: wank Merrihei diretted the at teiition of the 1 - 1•••.•de to the manner in which Sciadia by the in the Indian G•ivernme:it.. I; is in terms filch as thile that a hig'i (ph i•ed Pi ince w a s litied and gaduced, though it did not appear that l••• had ever etri.•riai ed oily views triltile inzeteii.. I'!ie r - fiily a:n.l violence of that urprineipleill:::unt. The corrupt :aud profligate coulC I. uf that wi.ak, arnyant,io laithlefs Chic'. Hi vioknco, rapicitr, and lawlefs ambition, h:ve been :he natiks of thr prefrin war with the con ederate An inexructiced youth, who as yet a old (oral jud t ;ntent of hi: own Me interea9. • Indeed, Seind;a appears to he an inexperienced youth, and i,. i underitand, slat ..t all convcrinnt in Minna:. He left the I loufe to make th .ir n comments (41 loch apparent inconlittency. But he deli; ed to c ill the attention of Gentlemen to the Ipecies of treaty offered for the acceptance of Scindia, thus fi) violently denounced as the great ,e to the tranquillity of Incha. The pi opoial was tranfmitted toSciudiain isc2, from the teat of Government at Bengal. _ _ _ tit, To lublitiize a confide rabic Brii:ifti force to he Rationed within hi. teriatuity : to cede in perpetual fovereigiity. to the Company :in extent of territory, the net produce of whien Ell4il be alequate to the charges of that force : to admit the arbi tration of the Government in all difputeg and dillerences between Scindia and hi. Highnefs the Nizani, and eventually be tween .`::ebielia and the other power:: of Hindullan. otitain for the company the cellion of the part of the Du3b which is in Scindi..', point:ion, and that the tortreffes of Agra and Delhi fbould be ceded to tha Company. • Whatever propotals yuu may otter Scindia, tinder the forego irk; inuructio;ii, Mould be Rated to hint in the light of a concciTme on the part ui the &Mill Government. tending to the fccurity of his hurt-efts and the itability of his dominion ; not as directed to objects iu any degree necuffary to the Itcuri:y of the DritiLlt in India. Colonel Collins inilrnaed to Rate to Scindia the rnanifft ad. vantats to th_ ita;ality of Li, Giiveininent, and to the nroliierity o: his affairs, wiaelt eonneclion is calculated to terurr He was aware that the great argument againft the Mahrattas was their harbouring French Officers among them, with views evidently hostile to our fu periority. It was even alerted that there was an army of 4,0c0 -French troops, tinder Captain Per ion. Of the est deuce of noir a body of troops as thele there was not a tiogle tittle of evidence before the Howe. It there was fo large a body under his com mand, it was quite clear they were nut French troops. Indeed, alter tne minutett invedigation, he found that there were not in the whole Mahratta army more than twelve French Officers. It was, how ever, further urged, that the French Officers would introduce European taCtics among the Mahratta troops. .Ihis, or tar from linking his mind as an evil, was a [Ling much to be &tired, if war was to he kept up with the Mahratta States. It was by abandoning their own irregular mode of fighting , that they hollered fo leverely, and were fo effedually re pubed. Had they pertevered in the irregular warfare common to their country, they would have exhibit ed an appearance far more formidable, and difplay ed a refiltance far mote dreadful. The hiltory of all ages proved the truth of this aflertion. The l'arthi ans often repulled the difciplined legions of Rome. not indeed in regular combat, but by furrounding them, by cutting off their lupplies of provilions, by taking all thole advantages peculiar to a barbarous enemy. His view of the fighting of the Mahrattas had been well undertiood by military men. Mr. Hal tings,one whole name he never could mention except when he had an opportunity of mentioning it with approbation, was fuliy of this opinion, and the fame gentleman had exprened binned in very lining terms on the policy of limiting our dominions. As to any with rit Scindia to admit French coops into his do noniens, he dmied its exitlence. It was notorious that Semdia abhorred the idea of foreign troops in any 'talc of his dates. Perren was equally hateful i and dreadful to him. It was a lid well known, that the knowledge of this hatred was one great induce ment with Perron to c.ontulate with the few troops under Lis command. In no view of the cafe, did he think, their, that the justice or necedity of the war had bzen eitablithcd in a tatisfaetory manner. The reluctance !hewn againft the proud and imblent terms Moor treaty was mutual. It would have been alto ' itithii:g it . it hal not (sifted. The Hun. Gentleman ! telited Members to put the matter to their own feel. togs. Was it not natural for a high cpitited Chief to porn at terms to abjed ? To be told that the cap i tat of the Mahratta Ensoire was to be in the hand.: Bor a'uitith an d i to be fupported by the ha :tee Princes, was furely the extremett degradation.-- It was unqueflionably adding injury to intuit. He begged leave to put a parallel cafe, and atk thee. winat would be gentlemen's ideas of the attempt, it Bonaparte were to propole to the independent Empe ror of Aolnot to fill Vienna with a French gastifoo, and to have t! is garrilin tupported out of the Em peror's code: s ? What would be thought of fact' a monifrons propolitidn ? Would it not be neatto with cdutempt fred indignation ? Would the Kin.; of utlia, the Ekdor of Saxony, or any other Mem ber of toe Gc: manic Body, lee it even hinted at wit,: ? Saould we not expel to fee them i;• ar m s t o refill it, if attempted by force, or Ihould w ont equ.:!ly detta and deipile their cowardice, if allov.ed it to pats with impunity ? Human nature v..... the lame in all countries on Come grand fuljeco. reateming and If we lhould commend r.• ropean Sove.eigus relenting jot. thence and oppretlion, lhould we not allow tionething to 1.. feelings of a Mahratta Chief, indignant at leer:lj capital of lii Empire in the hands of a fotei:o gars; fin ? He caned on Gentlemen to think and and then he thought there could be little d u uh: the re!dlt of their enquiries. He was hinifell r : fatisfied that the war against Scindia was jolt or ceffary. He limd mill i.ng in the papers on the tat.: to fopport inch an opinion. The Honourable M.on• her touched on the mode in which our wars were or dated in India, allowing them even to he just of r - celrary. He Itrongly condemned putting Bo.o:i troops fo much in the brunt of every engagement.-- If town was to be Icaled, if a pals was to be am it any fervice of difficulty was to be pet toimed, ropra:,ere fl invaluable,sweirealwaysem w a s altogether 'i ed.lsw; tc l e i c t , t ,u t: : ::t: who bit. It should be reculltdcd that Europeans —......5....--___ _ - l not make there profits they ought to make them, and ei My refolution and MY hopes will always be to his throne. It was not a little finguler too, tile! :i e . PARLIAMEArART PROCEEDINGS. 1 they a ff elfed them accordingly. confine our conquelts and our po ff e ffi ons to Bengal, Palma is always reprefented as a Severeig: Pi eess , Leave was then g iv e n to bring in the bill, Mr. Pitt Bahar, and Orixa. To go farther he in my opinion, that he was the head of the Mailroom, mel Mat Ihe HOUSE OF LORDS. FRIDAY, APRIL s. explaining to Mr. Fox that the evil be had alluded to a fcheme fo extravagantly ambitions and abfurd, that ; other Chiefs wet e only his fervarts. This tem Met The Royal Affent by Commiflion tale Chancellor, LordsWal- would be altogether done away by the bill. no Governor and Council in their ti nfes can ever tenon W4E, cl!reelle rrntlary to fad. TI c MM.,. a Ingham and Auckland. fitting as Commiffioners) was g iven to t.!l UGGLING. adopt it, lintels thc whole fyllem of the Compaay's ; was nothing tisoi e than Cie Pi im e Mi n i il er e en; ...., . the le Bills . Cottons Duty, Excite Duty, Legacy Duty. and eleven p o i- The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER interell be firft entirely new modelled." I the Main art,' (' einedentey. Tie %ea: °My I'r: -••r• l a. va The Bills on the table were forwarded in their refpeCtive !laces next moved in a C o mmittee for leave to bring in a Such was the language of one whole knowledge I Parer, and had no right to ceeclu.le that tecaly n AC si or I,, t ia , ,,a a i l i emr from Vileount Melville to the Commit% Bill, for more effeftually preventang the practice of was uncoeftioned, and whole policy laid the on! ) fore ageinfi n hich it wa s Intite clear he enteitained a 11.011 aner nquiey,tr v ih er w i t h t h e an f wer o f t h e Comtnif- Smuggling. He oblerved, that he fhnuld render foundation of our Indian Poffeirlons• He himielf knew p )wci fill, and, in his fiaratien, nett:nil evertioe.— husierswere preterit al at we Bar, and ordered to he printed. Lord HAWKESBURY moved the Order of the Day, for the (mall packages, e v en found on board of veffels not that the government of that day fully adopted thefe foe aionomeMe. Metraw, directed the at teneion of the - commitment of the Englifh Militia Bill. The Houle having rc- fewer than Ice) leagues from the Englith More, Ha- principles of limited dominion. When in a.m.} he 1 - 1••t-ile to the manner in which Sciadia v. Jos fp• , keii i f fol t, ye a d i itfelt into a Conitnntee, he moved if Noble Lords had no ble to feizure, and that he had in contemplati o n t o w e nt w ith th e other Commiffirmers to India, the by tile Oilieere in the Indian Gevernmente I: is in oj a th s tor,po w te a which t s o ac a r7 rd o i t n th i c thatcja n of,s, ad flu' e ß e il r l fLu ri tild be enaft cc: tain regulations fir the trade of Ge ern f e y, Government gave thc moll pofitive intlru.Etions tn terms feels as thefe that a hi s : l ll;4h i•ed Pi ince was s . rea the motion of lii, Lordthip, th at it o be read a n ' thad " Le . °On" end the other Minds contiguous thereto. In thole fee that the fame principles were followed up, and lified arid ti educed, though ii did not appear that le• Monday. - iii Inds, finuggling was carried on to a very coot- the commands of the Direftors were abfolute on the had ever etnertai ed any views 11 , 1111 e to our inzeteil.. comer:v:ln"; 01 NAVAL EN ')DIRT. moos anionnt. He fliould fubjeft the crews of ref- f u b je ft . There were principles laid down while a rie pee fidy aed violence of that u n principled l'hiei•taiti. tai ' t l il li h e is e. c ir li niz , t aud profligate caul c I. of that w,.ak, arnyant, ....! Lord KING willted to ark of the Noble Secretary of Ids, employed in frnuggling, to penalties, unlefs French force had poffeilimi of a contiderable part of Stare, whether it was the intention of his falMetty'e transferred with their own confent to the navy. It India, and when the idea of undertaking a war fen fin eienneC,rapteite, and 'mid's ambition, hav e b een t h e n - , . Minifters to propole any Bill for prolonging tl:e Com. was further his intention to prevent imoggling lie conquell might have appeared fame excufe for deyi- cam r .es 0. the omren( war with the vie ederate h'illaratta ~ ..'hiet . million of Naval Enquiry, which, ow in g to the ~ quors being fold at the out ports, a pr a Cti ce which ating in a particular slate from the general lyttem An lilt/W:1 lellCed youth, who of as yet c .uld rural no e-: i ... rangements that had been adopted for the ermine. at prelim gives great facility to the felling of Ipitits limitation. But it was not on theta declarations that joannent cif irk own true lltteralß. Indeed Scisid.a appears to he an inexperienced youth, and i. i of the prefent Salon would expire with the selionci under proof. The Bill was now ordered. he found himfell obliged to reft his opinion. In t 78z dad ' d ii r i n • ( ' All el' II , Mit ..1 .t.. Cl/11Ver.AIll eiiiiiien. Parliament unanimoufly refolved that the Britilli em- He left the I l o ul e to make ili.ir on n comments n o If Minifters (Int not think pr o per to r e n e w a et.lennif. STATE OF 01/R AFFAIRS IN INDIA. firm, from which In much advantage had been de- Mr. FRANCIS then role, and in a matterly and pine !honld not be extended in India, and that no loch apparent inconlittency. But he deli; ed to call rived to the public, he would feel it incumbent on luminous (peed), to which we confefs our inability to war (hold be undertaken from aloft of conqueit. The the attention of Gentlemen to the Ipecies of treats- e him to Mina fox ward a Bill to that drat. do anything like full Office, took a view of our af- fame refolution was followed tip by an exprefe ad of offer ed for the acceptance of Scindia, thus fit violently Lord HAWKESBURY was not aware that his fairs in India. It would not, he fee out by 01-nerving, the Legiflature in i eB4 ; and at the renewal of the d eno un c ed as th e grea t fi e t o t h e tranqu illity o f I n d ia . Itiaje li v's Miniiters had come to any determination be denied , that the ftate of our immenfe dominion in charter in i-93, the continuance of the fame policy • rhepinpnfal was Cranfinitted to Sciudia in lb:Ca, from on the . fuhjed ii , bin he ndertiond, from what had pat- the Eall , was a fubjeet of the higheit importance that was provided for in the molt explicit terms. This the teat el Government at Ben . r. I . fed in another place, that time would h e a llow e d to could be tubmitted to th e conlideration of Parlia- general principle was therefore fo clearly laid down, act, To lubliaize a confidtirable Beir l if: force to he Ration ed them to finifh the important enquiries in which they ment. In proportion, however, as this empire was that it was.abfolutely itnpoffible to attempt to contro. within his ainnii,...iis t..i the Company a 0 i•x i 'te i n e t' l 'Of t ';e h r i ncr t i ( r'y c ,' d t h e e ili n per et rir e o tu d a u l ee k 7 ' w eig h .l l7 Were engaged. extended, it teemed to excite left of the attention ei , vert it. He was aware that a dittination was attempt- s t e 4 t ' n c ieta r Za n IRISH MILITIA. they of the Houfe or the Public. It teemed as if ice ed to be taken betwixt the wars of oppreffinn, which h , i, oe fi ,r i is ,i i t i i i , e l t th in e aNllizdaiinputeg and chilerences oration l io li t e a t .le :l u . a ß re t ... , th ce charges of that force : to admit the ar .,i. ik ar n. e v entua ll y The Irifn Militia Bill, and feveral Private Bills very g reatnefs had rendered it ftiperior to the capa- were never to be undertaken, and wars which were hetwel:: twcen t:.eiudia and . the ot.ie i r' powers of Hind l e; be- were brought gip from the Commons, by Mr. Aims. city o f the Hook fully to underhand or benef i ci a lly founded on pace and necellity. It was not very i o ritoain for the Cu:t i p:lay the cellion or th e l iar of th e Duab I ANN R and others, to regulate. If this 'call) , was the cafe, it was on ly eafy to fee on what grounds filch a plea was s ys u e ii i i 'c i n k i l s hi rr th e o c u n ita cti b e• s po:! ci LLioand . :AIL that the !ortreffes of Agra The frith Militia Bill was read a firft time, and, an additional proof of the impolicy of that all-grafp • brought forward. Of the origin or jultice of propo e m c h ate to th e Lompaoy : . on the motion of Lord HAWKESBURY, ordered ing fyftem which had too long guided our councils many of the wars in India, the Houle. and the Whatever h 0,1..ti1,e, titint Lr i ru :ftr e t t , i ,, ... t i , i ,t s dh , et t: t o r u til l t d ai fhb l i v itit;y t o t vaoctiendhmitsioed::::iit,,,ii tending you may err :4 I)eindia,tmder the tomer.- to be read a fecund time on Monday, for which day in India ; an additi o n a l confirmation that loch a public were frequently, or rather always, with inz in el n :i h n ; e g n i t i o r g . t h t h t a e o s f d f i c a r c e u c :ri t n e t‘ d y Cli7 e7t . fyftem mull continue to produce corfequences of the an order for fummoning their Lordfhips was made. nut the means of forgoing a proper judgment. We AMPRICAN SHIPS LICCNCE RILL. matt dirattreus nature. Abufes mull, from the very had never any evidence but the tellionoty of one of init ..= any degree necetlary to the I.curity of the laritith Empit , On the commitment of this Bil, nature of things, fpring out of this excelliee lull for the Belligeient Powers againft the other, and there- Lou d SHEFFIInLD exprefted his difapprnbatino power. Abules mull arife from the remot ene f s o f fore fuch tellimony wai to be received with dilii• 1 Colonel Collins intimated to Rate to Seindia the manif,ft ad. of the prine'ple of the Bill, and proteßed aga w inf 3 / 4 ex our peffef fi nns, ni littl e li a bl e to invefti gation or pi n deuce. \Ve View only in general that wars hail been vanta g es to tlO ita;ality of Li, Gover nment , an d to t h e prol p er i ty .o: his allhirs, hich the propol, .1 connedion is calculated to terure tending fuch advantages to Foreign Ship Owners, nithment. But it was fit th a t the Houfe fhould bear begun—that great acquit tions were made, and we when the Ship Owners of this country were, many in mind, that evils which originated in I n di a wou ld gave ourfelves little trouble to afceriain how far He was aware that the great argument agai n ft th e of them, nototioufly in a Rate of infolvence, occa not confine themfelves to that country. Even at this they arnfe, either nut of juilice or neceffity. Th e ftlehrattas was their h ei hou r in g F renc h O ff i cers honed by want of employment for their tonnage.— moment, fome of there evils were already telt, and .Dative Princes of India bad no Ambafradors to plead among them, with view s e vid e n t ly h o ttil e to out - f u - It was not, however, his intention to divide the Houfe many more would follow in their track. India, tin• their caufe. They faw their country overrun—their Periority. It was even alerted that there was an on the Bill. The Bill was then reported. der its prefent Government, a ff orded its no revenue , wealth deftroyed, and then they had only the fatif- army of 14.,0c0 -French hoop After having difpofedmf fome other routine buff- It was on the contrary there that our ref Alt ces were fadion of being told that they had been :satiated by lon. Of the exiitence of tilde a body of troops as thefe nefs, their Lordfhips adjourned till Monday. confioned in ruinous cenquelts, that the flow er of our lawl e fsambition. Many Members mi g ht not, p m - there was not a bugle tittle of evidence before the _ troops were cut off, fighting unneceffery battles. In- haps, be aware that there formerly milled in the Howe. it there was fo large a body under his com- , HOUSE OF COMMONS dia, under a wife fyltem of policy, might be at once Government of Bengal a commillion of Perfien core mend, it was quite cl ea r th e y w ere n o t F re n c h troo p s . i The Speaker went to t he Nonc e o f Peers, c o hear the Royal of a fource of revenue and a fund of the moll bench- refoondence, through which our relations with the Indeed, alter toe ininutett inveaigatinn, he found tent given by Commifflon to feveral public and private bills (for c : a.I commerce. Before tbefe effeds took place, how. Native Princes were conducted. In looking, Inswe- that there were not its the whole Mahratta army more than twelve French Officers. It was, how- which fee the Lords.) several pareanerewdbeforethe Houk relative to the frail ever, the prefent lyftem of apathy, with regard to ver, to the veil body of papers on the Table, he had ever, further urged. that the French Officers would proceedings of the Navy Board, in the cafe of Sir H. Popham. our Indian affairs, mull be abenderned for a fyisem o f not been able, after the moll diligent enquiry, to fluid %Vigil a Member moved io be read. This motion, after a few ob- jealoufy, of jutlice, and of moderation. F rom t h e above three nr four Runt documents, contetnina no introduce Emonean taetics among the Mahratta fervations from Sir Harry Mildmay, Earl Temple, Sir William conduft of Parliament now, with regard to India, it intelligence of the flightefl importance. This cor. troops. . 1 Me, to tar from ttriking his mind as an Burroughs, and Adml,al Markham, was agreed to; hut the Re- appeared as if her authority to legiflete for that part refpond port of the Navy Board proving tedious, Mr. PITT moved " thatence was now, therefore, either altogether evil, was a tiring much to be delired, if war was to he kept up with the Mahratta States. It was by she papers Mould be read Mort," and they were read accordingly. of the Empire, were ablaliately abdicated. From a aholithed, or had for a con fi derable time been lid- WEST INDIES. deep convidion that this lyflem c o uld no t long he pended. Thus were the Houle and the Public with- abandoning their own Irregular mode of fighting that Mr.BARHAM, in confequence of what he deemed re:llama in, he had rifer to call the attention of th e out means of judging of the origin of cornetts in In. they foffered In teverely, and were fo effedually re- the alarming (fate of our Well India iflands, role to Houle to the lubjed, as he had felt it his duty to do dia. Our Commiffloners might he linne4 parlous, pulled. Had they pertevered in the irregular warfare . move Mr copies of any papers or letters received from en many former occafions. Since he had lag Mb- and their reprefentations might be framently found- common to their country, they would have exhibit- . Admiral Cochrane and others, on the cons& o f ou r milted the confederation of our affairs in India gene- ed in fairnefs and truth. But we were forced to lie ed an appearance far more formidable, and difplay- forces &Rifled to, or Rationed in the Well India rally to Parliament, the conliitution o f th e H ou k h a d li e ve them, without knowing what was the nantre ed a refinance tar mote dreadful. The hiltory of all I Minds, efpeeially of any tnealur es taken for adding been to much changed, as well as the individuals who of the remonftrances of the Native Minces, or what Rhos proved the truth of this aflertion. The Parthi- to our force there fince the intelligence of the failing compofed it, that it became neceffary for him to take facrifices they had made for the prefervation of alts often repulled the difciplined legions of Rome. of the Rochefort frmadron. He remarked, that he a fhort view of our India policy, from the time of peace. He defired the Houle to confider what was not indeed in regular combat, but by furrounding withed this, as, if proper meaftires had been taken, our firli fettling there down to the prefent day, de the extent of our conquelts in India. The Honour- I them, by cutting off their supplies of promfions, by there would be no oecation for alarm ; and, if inade. bribing briefly the principles which P a rli a m en t had able Member proceeded to read the following lilt of taking all thole advantages peculiar to a barbarous qiiate meafuree were taken, it would he deferable to at different perigee's laid down for the reoulation of Native Prince', who have either been cxtii pared, cr enemy. His view of the fighting of the Mahrattas remedy the evil, and obviate the Ma fears of thole our Government. In the firft place, he lead t o Rate whole flaws have Conk into ours :N I hof _A.llO,, Bengal, had been well undertiood by military men. Mr. Hal- r More immediately concerned in Well India property. the morons which induced him fo of t en to t a k e up Rajah of Benares, Nabob of Oude, Rohillas, Fer- tinge,one whole name he nave could mention except The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEZIEM this office ; thi s t h en ki e f s office, as he had often ex- rokabad, Nabob of the Carnatic, 'Pippo° Sithaun when lie had an opportunity of mentioning it with bad not the Righted ohjention to the produdion perienced it. It was in 1773 that hi s &HI connec . and Myfore, n o w tinder a n infant Rajah. He then approbation, .vasfully of this opinion, and the fame of the fullell information on every one of the min with India originated, when he was f e nt out by limed the following to be the lift of thole Princes gentleman had expreited hinitelt in very lining terms points to which the Honourable Gentleman had the Government of that period to be a Member of who forvive under our Government, or arc Coffered on the policy of limiting our dominions. As to any alluded. At the prefent, however, he could affire the Supreme Council. Du r ing a refidenre of lix to remain a" feeble tributaries : Rajahs of Tanjore, with of &MUM to admit French coops into his do- the Hook that their produdion would be attended years in India, his conduft had ever r ece iv e d th e Tiuncvelli, Travancore ; nubadar of the Decan bs- nimions, lie deMed its exitlence. It was notorious , with the molt ferious inconvenience to the public fteongeft marks of' approbation ; and on his return a I . llbl:diary treaty made in 1799 ; Gwicnwar and that Scindia abiturred the idea of foreign troops in fervice. When he mentioned this. he Mulled the Hon. in 1781, it had undergone the mat rigid exemi- Guzzerat, Peiedelctind, the Mogul, in thou t thew hie j any pal tof his il a tes. Perrin was equally hatettil e Gentleman would in the mean time confent to with- nation. A Committee of the Houfe had examined Peninfisla from Delhi to Cape Cormorie, excel" t h e i and dreadful to him. It wag a fad well known, that , draw his motion. every aft or every opinion which he had deli• Mahratta country. But nith all this extent of en.- I the knowledge of this hatred was one great induce- , This liaggellion was acceded to. But vend while a Member of the Supreme Council ; and pine, with .01 !hat moiety of dominion, the third of mein with Pet out to cenittilate with the few troops t Mr. ST. A. ST. JOHN role, and Rated his under- he was proud in the recollelion that the Report o f concucti remained unbounded, and the politive law tinder Lis summand. l ' n no view of the cafe, did , akt nding that the naval defence of our Welt India that Committee was as favourable as ever hi ; m nft of railiammt for tile limitation of our territories he think, then, that the judice or neceflity of the war - • Mends had not been greater after the expiration of a fanguine willies cr uld have defined. It was a Re- has been ;,gain violated, by a war with the Mahratta had been ettablithed in a latilaetory manner. The .. naval campaign than it had been during the peace. port of the moll unqualified approbation. Oth er Powers. The pretext ler this war [truck him as ale reluittance (hewn agaitill the proud and intblent terms If this was rehhly the cafe, it betrayed the moll col- Committee. had made limiter reports, and after all turd, and indefenAle in the highe!l degree. T;ere oh our It e•e'Y was mutual. It would have been alto- i pable negligence en the part of Minifters, and it was the inquiry which did take place, he had a right to was not the ilightell ground for fuppoting that t::e I iiithieg it it bad not c 'titled. The liras. Gentlemen fit that the matter fhould be fully invefligated. He fay, that though not formally tri e d, b e was as muc h M a hrattas entertained any views hottile town- prewar. I delirad Members to put the matter to their own feel • therefore gave notice of a motion on the lubjeift. on his trial as even Mr. Haltings was, when he was It was true, that they were agitated by inimi Me :Mato i togs. Was it not natural for a high fpirited Chief to No reply was made by Minifters, formally arraigned before the higheß tribunal in but he defied any member, from the papers on the Tian at te.rms to ahjeit ? To be told that the capi- VICE ADMIRALTY AT MALTA. this country. To himfelf, who had received fo little table, to thew that their proceedings could irifpii.e i tat of the Main-acts Entnire was to be in the hand , : On the motion of Sir WILLIAM SCOTT, the Iblid advantage from the attention lie had bellowed any one with fobjed for jealoufy or alarm. m e . of aTtitilli m a :dim, an d i to be fupported by the lia. Howie refolved into a Committee, to confider of the on Indian affairs, it was a confolation to know, th a t knew it was common to reprefent the Native Pt inces rive Princes, was Cutely the extremeltdegradation.--- expediency of fixing the Calories of the Commif ion. his conduit, and the policy which lie had ever ram- in the molt odioits light, as abtolute monllers of de- It was unqueflionably adding injury to infult. He ors of the Vice Admiralty Court at Malta at two mended, had received the moll flattering teltimonies. pravity ; but from the language of thole employed begged leave to put a parallel cafe, and atk thet'. thoufand guineas each annually, and augmenting the —Having laid fo much re/pelting the origin of his under the Government of Lord \Vellefley, it was eat y . what would be- gentlemen's ideas of the attempt, it allowamee to inferior officers in the fame Court. conflation with India, he proceeded to elle dire& to f e e i n w h a t li g ht thel'e delcriptions fhould be con- Bonaparte were to propote to the independent Empe- The Committee came to a refolution to the pre- confideration of the queflion, in doing whi c h, h e a f. lidered. To feciiie the tranqtriaity of our poileillans ror of Aoltrio to fill Vienna with a French gat lifter. eedi:.g effed, and the Chairman was inftrufled to move ft:red Gentlemen, that they had no oesafion t o b e it was neceffary that a treaty with one of the lalah• and to have this garribin lopported out of the Em- for leave to brine in a bill to carry it into execution. alarmed by any apprelienfion of long, dry details.— ratta Chiefs fbeuld be concluded, and the Pelliwa perm's cede: s,? What would be thought of fete: The Hmile reflated, the Report was received, and Ail that he had in contemplation was a bird's eve was feleaed for that purple. Now what is the cha. a Inm:in-oils propolithin ? Would it not be of tieilltk: . the law ocers were initialed to bring in the bill. view of the bufinefs, fo r th a t would be f u lly fuffi. raacr of this Prince, with whom it is neceffary to . with cmitemp ion! t indignation ? Would the Kin,; o f 0 PAPPFSTY TAX. cient for the objea he had propofed nn the pr e fent Rand on good terms to promote our own tietirit y ? nutlia, the Eleclor of Saxony, or any other Mem- ~, • The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEOSER, occa fi on. There was a great deal of matter in the colonel PALNIFIR rays, lam to have my lift private audience her of tile (-.c: manic Body, lee it even hinted at wit: , ' agreeably to n.,tice, r.•le to move for leave to tiring papers before the Houle, to which he Mould not ofthe h P i efl z a h th er is ev r e t n h O c ag, h w t. hcii I f will tuafte a f r inal ,, i d ifort il to con - .. in,!ili.:l-criec ? Siiroild we not ex il ed to fee them le a bi:l to amend certain provitions of the Property feel it neceffary to allude, nor did he now mean to vi n es el, h . e wi l l derv s ?! from ..n i Zaci e n's nr y t . t .u Y 'r P l7ltli , :,'i P p r rol l ;::: t ii Y : I aim , t e refill it, if attempted by force, or Ihould w- in AC. He explained to the Houle very briefly the ob fey any thing of thole military operations, the de- though I apprehend that notlln g Mort of imminent and certain de- , not equally cletta and deipile their cowardice, if th , jt.9 which he had in view. The bill was meant to tails of which were fo numerous and intricate.— ftruetion win induce him en make concrilioni which nOii , ate ! allowed it to pals with impunity ? Human nature w.• give frefh facilities in procuring the abatements for With regard to the origin of our connedion with In. amintt his deep rooted kilo* and prejudices,. and of which he i the lame in all countries on Conic grand funjan , • hints he has already made extraordinary iacrahees. I reatiming and feelite, , ,. If w e ilteuhl .- commend to thol e not liable to the payment of the tax, and to dim it was hardly neceffary for him to remind the t Colonel CLOSE i' iays, every day's experience textile to ftr,outh grant relief to rams burdens attaching on leaks given Honfe, that it was originally purely commercial, eit the imprellion, that, from the heft, your Lord!iiip'. anieir:le ropean Sove..eigue relenting iiiedetice and retell, 1 eld we Lot n allow i oni e thin g to t.. by Cerpnrations , but it was mai ked on the part of the native Princes. and liberal view* in relation to this :tate , have not r ...t y b eet . dir. I oppreillun, lien I Mr. FOX called the attention of the Houle to the with c very appearance of good under Rending eorWant wit h the natural dirpontion of thc . PaLwa, hot t : ltally act- I feelings ot a Mehratta Chiet, indignant at wee to that felfith and wickcd policy, which, in a cer.en degree, 1 . • fevere hardihips to which many pertons not afteffed and even kindnefs. They not only affoided us every he 1 capital ot In Empire in the havid, ot a foteio gar.: fee to h a l t realized. f ?on He caked on Gentlemen to think and 1.2 I ! were now liable. They were exempted, but fo great facility for carrying on an advantageous trade, but In rm . midit of perfonal peril and the loweft dehareme . m, he 1 I in many cafes were the difficulties attending the adually conferred on us immunities and exemptions viewed the admiMon of permanent ruppor front your Lordrhip ' and then he thought there could he little (foul): ..: abatements that the exemption was, in fall, a mere which many of their own fubjeds did not enjoy. It with the depeft avertion. the reMlt of their enquiries. He was hinifelt I • : of the Pefhwa's difpontion and charadter, . • • The dark complexi on . : fattshed that the war againtt Scindia was jolt or nullity. He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman bad was, in a mercantile point of view, wife in the na- the deguftful hiftory of his domeltic and public coliduet, Mr atro- ' ibe remedy of this evil in view. tive Princes to encourage trade with foreign nations. cious machinations, nee. celfary. Ile t•tund mill i I.llg in the papers on the t e l • Mr. ST. A. ST. JOHN feggefled tome further But while their commercial eye was opened, their His faithlefs and fordid policy , his hatred and Je alo u f y o f thc to fo pp yrt foci) an opinion. The Honourable Mem t provilions for the exemption of charities, now fnbjed political eye was chafed. They did not aft on thole Britifh name, her touched on the mode in which tour wars were C.-- The preterit Pethwa has, ever fence the yea r 1798, acted more dulled in India, allowing them even to he jutt or re - it e the tar. principles which had foeffedually excluded European d at the Coman s Government. like an enemy, than a friend cellar y. He Itrongly condemned putting 13:1•1•: , r, Colonel BASTARD recommended tome relief to nations from the dominion of China. It was not till Yet, after all, he appears to, be a young man, o' whom a Chief farmers, who now Coffered feverely tinder the tax.— 1765 that our fituation in India ((attained any impor- °this own family lays that he had retired tram Poona, owing to troops fo much in the Mont of every engae,ement.— Nike() of being afraid on ablolute property, they taut change. Our firtt conflation with Bengal, was the thoughdeffnefs of youth. MA town was to be waled, if a pals was to be Rot ill' l ' were aifeffed on nominal property, which the Corn- in the cbarader of adventurers. After that period, Thus it is that a Native Prince is loaded with abufe it any fetvice of difficulty was to be polo:med, Lit• m miffirers awned to ihemfelves , they derived from we began to airtime the charafter of Sovereign. But by the Government of India, that he is called on to ropean s w e re alwa y s em p lo y ed. This is :tile et me: the cultivation of their land. The Commillioners what was then the language of Lord Clive, a man to give up i great proportion of his dominions, and all who were In invaluable, was altogether or mcgiume• fecund to proceed aka the principle, that Willey did whom we owe the eredtion of our immca& cam this for the parpele of ticuling tranquil polfeffion of , bit. It Mould be reculledcd that Europeans we:: . . I • AMPRICAN SHIPS LICFSCH RILL On the commitment of this Loud SHEFFIELD exprefred his difapprobation of the pritte'ple of the Bill, and proteßed againit ez tending fuel) advantages to Foreign Ship Owners, whin the Ship Owners of this country were, many of them, nototioufly in a Rate of infolvence, occa (toned by want of employment for their tonnage. — It was not, however, his intention to divide the Houfe on the Bill. The Bill was then reported. Afte► having difpofed•of tome other routine bufi nefs, their Lordthips adjourned till Monday. HOUSE OF COMMONS The Speaker went to the Hook of Peers, to hear the Royal of lent given by Commifflon to feveral public and private bills (for which fee the Lords.) Several papers were laid before the Houfe relative to the frefh proceedings of the Navy Board, in the cafe of Sir H. Popham . Which a Member moved .0 be reed. This motion, after a few ob fervations from Sir Harry Mildmay, Earl Temple, Sir Burroughs, and Adm:ial Markham, was agreed to; but the Re port of the Navy Board proving tedious, Mr. PITT moved " that the papers Ihauld be read °tort," and they were read accordingly. WEST INDIES. Mr.BARHAM, in confequence of what he deemed the alarming hate of our Well India iflands, nice to move for copies of any papers or letters received from Admiral Cochrane and other., on the fohjeel of our forces denined to, or Rationed in the Well India Minds, efpecially of any tneafui es taken fur adding to our force there (ince the intelligence of the failing of the Rochefort fqoadron. He remarked, that he ssithed this, as, if proper meaftires bad been taken, there would be no occalion for alarm ; and, it inade quate meafures were taken, it would he tiefirtble in remedy the evil. and obviate the OR fears of thole more immediat:ly concerned in Vila India prnpertv. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQIIER bad not the flighte,i ohjeftion to the produaion of the fuliell information on every one of the points to which the Honourable Gentleman had alluded. At the preterit, however, he ct.uld allure the Houk that their produaion would be attended with the mod ferious inconvenience to the public fervice. When he mentioned this, he trulled the Hon. Gentleman would in the mean time content to with draw his motion. This Inge(lion was acceded to. But Mr. ST. A. ST. JOHN role, and (fated his under- A►nding that the naval defence of our Welt India ands had not been greater after the expiration of a naval campaign than it had been during the peace. If this was really the cafe, it betrayed the molt cul pable negligence en the part of Minifters, and it was fit that the matter should be fully inveiligated. He therefore gave notice of a motion on the lubjeft. No reply was made by Minilters. VICE ADMIRALTY AT MALTA. On the motion of Sir WILLIAM SCOTT, the Hoare refolved into a Committee, to confider of the expediency of fixing the falaries of the Commiffion• ers of the Vice Admiralty Court at Malta at tao thouttn,i guineas each :annually, and augmenting the allowa:loci to inferior officers in the fame Court. The Committee came to a relblution to the pre cedi:.g effen, and the Chairman was infirmEled to move for I:ave zo billy.; in a bill to carry it into execution. The 1-I , oife reinmed, the Report was received, and the law ofEcers were inarneled to bring in the bill. PILPPFItTY TAX. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEOSER, agrezably to notice, r..: to move for leave to on-in; in a bill to amend certain provitions of th. Property AC. He explained to the Hot►fe very briefly the oh jell which he hod in view. The bill was meant to give frefh facilities in procuring the abatements for *hide not liable to the payment of the tax, and to gear t relief to fomc burdens attaching on leales given by Corporations. Mr. FOX called the attention of the Tionfe to the fevere hardittip.; to many pertons not affiffed were now Bahia. They were exempted, but lo great in many cafes were the difficulties attending the abatethents that the exemption wac, in faa, a mere nullity. He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman had the remedy of this evil in view. _ _ Mr. ST. A. S I'. JOHN fuggefted tome further provilions for the exemption of charities, now fubjat t) the tar. Culoncl BASTARD recommended fome relief to farmers, who now fuffered fevercly tinder the tax.— lead of being Ai:fled on ablolute property, they were alfeffed on nominal property, which the Corn sniffirmers alfumed to themfelves, they derived from the cultivation of th,ir land. The Commiffioners fecund to proceed 4ku the principle, that if they did