Star. — London, England, 1824-05-26 00:00:00

iwww - sure to the friends of the Noble Earl opposite, or else, on the other hand, the enactments for which the Noble Earl's friends contended, were not essential to the safety of the State. He had always heard that the incapacity of serving his King and country, in any way or station, was regarded as the severest of all penalties, and ought never to be inflicted on any not guilty of the most de testable crimes. He knew of no crime perpetrated by • the Roman Catholics of this country, and therefore their exclusion from office was most disgusting to him ; it was, in reality, a crying sin of injustice on their Lord ships part. He never could understand how, after all, the newly-introduced clause, in the annual Act of In demnity, could indemnify those Commissioners who ad mitted the holding of places by Papists ; and if any thing were attempted, let it be done openly. For the purpose of ascertaining the practice that had lately been adopted, and also for the purpose of enabling their Lordships to legislate on the subject, he must persist in - calling for that information which had been moved to be laid before their Lordships by his Noble Fiiend. The Earl of ROSSLYN said, that the Indemnity Act allowed a latitude of swearing, in this instance, to holders of office up to the 25th of March, 1825, on the' condition of their taking the qualificatory oaths within;, the year; but he apprehended there was no protection' to the Commissioners in administering or permitting the oaths. Earl BATHURST postponed the Committee on the Newfoundland Marriages Bill to Friday ; and at nearly Seven o'Clock the House adjourned till to-morrow morning at ten. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Petitions were presented from Walsall, &c. in Staffordshire, pray ing the Douse to institute inquiry into the case of Missionary Smith. Mr. S. BICH, in presenting Petitions from Tanners, &c. asked *hether there was tube any drawback to the Irish Leather Dealers in consequence of the new Bill? and secondly, whether the trades a tanner and currier wtre to be separated? 111 r. DERBIES replied, that as the new regulations of duty were not to take place till January, 182.5, there would be ample time fur the trade to prottct themselves. Secondly, the new re gulations would uot apply to those who were now engaged as tan ners and curriers.—The Petition was from persons in Coleraine. Mr. HUME asked whether they could have the Treaty con- eluded with the Netherlands about the East Indies? It had been published in other quarters; surely the House ought to have it. Mr. Secretary CANNING replied, that it was the practice, though of inconvenience, in this country, to wait icr the ratifica tion. That was the reason of the delay ; it did nut result from in disposition to sohmit it to Parliament. Mr. HUME presented a Petition from Gteenock, against the Impressment or Seamen. Mr. BROU GII 31 said be could not bring forwarJ his motion cell Thursday regarding Mr. Missionary Smith—that he wilhed to know whether Mr. Hume would postpone his motion about the Impressment of Seamen, which stood for Tuesday ? Mr. HU3IF. eventually withdrew Ms motion, and postponed it till the 10th of June. Mr. BROUGHAM then gave notice, that on Tuesday nest be would bring forward his motion regarding the Came of Mr. Smith, the Afissionary—( Hear, heal9.—Petition ordered to be printed. Mr. S. WORTLEY postponed till Monday next, the further considerat of the Game Laws Amendment Mr. J. SMITH presented a Petition front Licensed Victuallers of Warminster, against the Beer Duties Bill. Ordered tube printed. Mr. J. Sill IT!! now asked whether there was any objection to the printing of a Petition which he bad presented on a former day from a man named Ill'Kester, of Fermanagh, complaining of out rages, of hit house having been broken into, his cow stolen, &c.? ' Mr. COULEUR answered in the negative, but thought that the case had been much exaggerated. The Government had di meted inquiries. Mr. J. SMITH said, except a nett , system were pursued, the' intelligence received this. day (from Eimismore) -.hewed that the irritations in Ireland utua continue... Petition mules ed to be printed. Mr. I'. WILSON gave notice, that nit Thursday lw should sub mit a motion for the butter regulation ut the Butter Trade in Ireland. Mr. LESTER presented - a I'Ltition from Shaftesbury, for the Abolition of Nezro Slavery. EQUITABLE LOAN COMPANY. Mr. MANSFIELD presented a Petition from the Pawnbrokers of Nlacclusfield, praying that the Equitable Loan Company Bill might not pass into a Ltw. lblerred to the Committee on the Bill. Mr. WIIII . I3IIEAD presented a similar Petition from ninety seven Pawnbrokers of Middlesex and Southwark, praying that the Petitionera might he heard by Counsel against the Bill. Sir J. CII:111A 11 objectt;d to the prayer of the Petition, as cloning too late. The Committee had been sitting for a considerable time ; and were ready to make their Report to-morrow. Sir F. BURDETT thought the Pawnbrokers had not yet had a fair hearing, and trusted these Petitioners would be referred to the Committee . Ile defended the Pawnbrukets from the charge so generally made against them, of oppressing the poor. On the con trary, it was well known that they were a very useful body of Men. The Pawnbrokers wcie loaded with unmerited obloquy. whilst on the other hand there was an undue encouragement given to these speculating bodies. lie misted these Petitions would be referred to the Coi 1111 l ittee.—The Petitions were then referred to tb Committee on the Bill. ISLINGTON SELECT VESTRY. Sir J. GRAHAM presenttd a Petition from the Churchwardens, Overseers, and Parishioners of St. Mary, Islington, praying that the Islington Select Vestry Hill might pa .s into 4 Lw.—Ordered to lie an the table. Sir F. BURDEII* presented a Petition from the same ntrids against the Bill.—Read, and oraered to lie ni the t..ble. Air. BY NC moved that tl►e 'Anion Select Vestry Rill be now -read a tlt'rd time. Sir J. GRAIIAII, Mr. BRIDGES, and Mr. PORTMAN, supported the till, on the ground th.,t Mr. Sturges It urne's Act bad been found of the greatest advantage in all parishes where it was brought into operation. Mt. lit:mums and Mr. llcms opposed the Bill, as one which went to deprive a cumber of parishioners of their nigh: of voting. Sir F. BURDETT strongly opposed the Bill, and proposed us a clause, that every person rated at 161. should have a vote in the ves try. As the Bill came out of the Committee, the suns was '2Ol. Sir J. GRAHAM oppusad the clause, as being opposed to the recommendation of the Committee. The must respectable part of the parish would have been better pleased if the qualification was WI. in place of EC/. After a desultory conversation, in which Mr. Alderman SLIM, All. N. CALvERT, Mr. T. Wn.sus, Mr. LAUD, Sir It. WILSON, and Dlr. 11. SLan:rn, took a part, the House divided on the clause pro posed by Sir F. Beissona.. Ayes Noes Majority against the clause 57 47 -10 During the eirclt:;ion of sirangerA, another divi4uu took place oss a cis..ls.., which wert to provide that three Governors or Trus tees sh.ll;id el,cted even• third year. It was eased by a majo rity of t:2, the titlilibu; trios — Ayes Noes 61 39 -22 Ilajority Before the re-admission of strangers to the gallery, the Bill was fired a third time and pasAed. A n2tv Writ waa ordered fur the election of a Member to serve in the present Panhandle for the Borough of Okehampton, in the room of Lord Det.m.i.v, who has accepted the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. JOINT STCCI: COMPANIES. Mr. ALEXANDER moved the third reading of the Alliance Insurance Company Bill. Mr. GRENFELL leizretted that he did not see the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Huskisson) in his place, *clic. resisted the establishment of these Joint Stock Companies. The Bill was read a third time, and passed. Mr. S. RICE moved the third reading of the Patriotic Insurance Company of Ireland Bill. Mr. GRENFELL referred to the opinion expressed on a former night by the Right Honourable the Presi dent of the Board of Trade, that these Bills giving liberty to Companies to sue and be sued by their Secretaries, dad not do away with the liability of the subscribers under the Bankrupt Laws, and that their names most be registered et the stamp Office. If this were correct, it was Important for the public.telnowfurther whether" the party transferring his - shales continued afterwards responsible for all debts contracted daring the period the share stood in his name? If it were otherwise, the House would see how little security the public had, and how impolitic it was to encourage the establishment of such Companies; for the moment a shareholder found that the concern was a losing one, and was likely to fail, he would have only to make over his shares to some man of straw, not worth a penny, and thereby free the, whole of his property from the peril in which it would otherwise be placed. He begged, therefore, to put it as a question to any Honourable Member on the other side, whether in law such a transference of property would not also transfer liability? Mr. BERRIES said the question was too important Ito be answered without the aid of high legal authority. Mr. BRIGHT and Mr. HUME thought the Bill ought not to pass until this point had been cleared up. Mr. S. RICE spoke a few words in support of ate,' Bill, which was then passed. Mr. HUMP. presented a Petition from the oe4piers of Tene ments in St. Catherine's, against the Sr. Catharine's Dock Bin.— Referred to the Committee. THE PRESS IN INDIA. Mr. LANIBION rose to present a Paition from Mr. Buckingham, Proprietor of The Calcutta Journal, com plaining of a series of ill-treatment from the Govern ment of India. This Petition was of considerable length, but he should lay it shortly before the House., Mr. Buckingham went by the Mediterranean, in 1813, through Egypt to Bombay, where he entered into com mercial pursuits. He got the command of a lrige ship in the China trade, when he was ordered away by the Governor, Sir E. Nepean, because he had no license. Ile came back, and got a license, in the year 1811 i, from the East India Company. Ile rhea went to Calcattr. and purchased the materials of two Newspapers for 3000/. and established The Calcutta Journal, which was supported and approved of by all the Europeans in In ' ilia, and which he raised to the value of 10,0(X1/. The Illnourable Member read the declaration of Lord llastings respecting the value of puhlic instruction and education, and of the liberty of the pres. Unfortu nately Loid 1-la,tings was succeeded by Mr. J. Adam, ashen an action was revived asainst tlr. Buckingham, which Sir F. M , Nagliten, the Chief Justice, thought t o unjust, that he refused to try it. But in consequence of some severe remarks upon Dr. Brice, the Head of the Scotch Church in Calcutta, for an appointment to sell to the Government pens, ink, paper, wafers, tape. pounce, leather, &c. Mr. Adams for this annulled his license, and he was sent out of India at, two months' notice, though both the ErF.t India Company • and the Presbytery of Edinburgh had anima.iverted most severely on this appointment of Dr. Brice.— Mr. Buckingham came to England, and petitioned both the Board of Controui and the East India Company for a new license to return to India, but was refused by both. Mr. Buckingham had left an Anglo-Indian to conduct his Journal, who could not be banished from India ; but Mr. Adams immediately put all the Press in India under license, a thing which had never been done before. Mr. Arnot was that agent, and though born in India, he was imprisoned for carrying on The Calcutta Journal. That was declared to be au illegal arre,t, and when he got his liberty, he retied to a foreign settle- ment, where he w as followed by a Military Officer, who took hint into custody, and put him on board ship, and he was sent to England by the unhealthy route of Ben coolem 1)r. Muston, Lord Amheist's Physician, was then made the Editor of Mr. .Buckingham's Paper, at a salary of 10001. a-year. The Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Lambton) meant soon to more for a Cammittee on the state of the Press in India. At present he would con fine himself to the cases of Mr. Buckingham and Mr. Arum, which he characterised as being marked with the grossest oppresion and persecution towards those indi viduals, and was such as to threaten the existence of our dominion in Itlia. Mr. WYNN said that in discussing this question, he meant to follow tic judicious example of the Honour able Member, and to abstain from entering upon the larger topic of a tree Press in India. Whenever that question was brought forward, he should be prepared to shew that the very principle and very reasons which induced him to support a free Press in Great Britain, called on hint to object to its introduction into India, where, in his judgment, it would be subversive of 13, tish authority. With respect to the facts of the peti tioner's case, he called upon the House to recollect that it was one of their leading maxims never to interpose their authority in a case in which the party had another mode of redress by law, and mute particularly when, as in the ptesent case, he was actually under recognizance to prosecute a suit against Mr. Adam, for the alleged Oppression he !Ltd endured from hint. This proceeding was authorised by the Act of the 2lst George 111. w hich provided, that in case any person found fault w ith, or felt himself aggrieved by any act or measure of the Governor General, or of any member of Council, he should enter into a bond effectually to prosecute the said complaint, and in sonic competent Court in Great and having done so, he was entitled to call for cispes of ail orders or regulations connected with his case, and also to examine witnesses.— These steps Mr. Buckingham had taken. The last communication on this subject took place on the 24th of January last, when his soiicitor wrote to the Court of Directors, stating that Mr. Buckingham had been in structed to commence legal proceedings against the Honourable J. Adam, pursuant to a bond which he had entered into for that purpose, and inquiring whether that body would defend him ? The Court of Directors immediately intimated their readiness to receive process. When this course had been taken, what, he asked, could stop Mr. Buckingham from 'rimming legal redress, if he were entitled to it ? This being the state of the case, was it fair to call on Mr. Adam to enter into his defence, when that defence might he made use of hereafter as a further ground to support the pending action ?—(lkar, hear): Ile (Mr. Wynn) could only state, that upon this case Mr. Adam was perfectly ready to defend any action that might be brought against him ; and he was con vinced, from Mr. Adam's general character, and from what he (Mr. IVynii) knew of these transactions, that that defence would be found completely satisfactory— (Hear). The Honourable Gentleman had stated, that up to the time of the departure of the Marquis of Hastings from India, there was no appearance of any measures having been taken against Mr. Buckingham.—. LAMBTON—I said that no conviction had been obtained against him for any public or private libel.] —The Honourable Gentleman had stated, that Mr. Buckingham had not, at that period, forfeited his claim to the protection of the Ind i an Government ; and that their displeasure then came upon him by surprise. Now, would it be believed, that he bad been warned, . . no less than five times, in consequence of diff e re nt pub liCations, of his danger ? In the last letter which was sent to him by the Secretary of the Government, and' which was written by order of Lord Hastings, it was distinctly stated, " if you persist in pursuing the same line of conduct, your license will be immediately can celled, and you will be ordered to depart from India." Yet this was a measure which was now represented as having been first thought of by Mr. Adam, and which, it was said, no Governor-General had ever before con templated. By the Act of 1813, this power of depor tation was allowed. It was there provided, " that if ra any in the pei-so person judgmentresiding o i o f India G o s v h e a r i n l or so .G c e o n n e d tic? to forfeit himself a his claim of protection, his license shall be r evoked, and he forthwith ordered to quit the country. It was not Mr. Adam alone who caused the removal of Mr. Buckingham ; the whole Council concurred in the pro priety of that proceeding. As to the regulation which Mr. Adam issued, he would not now enter into any discussion on that point; not because he was not pre pared to consider the subject, but because it was a matter pending befote the Privy Council. It had not yet been heard, as Mr. Buckingham had delayed send ing in his papers, after he had made a regular appeal to that tribunal. He was sure the House would feel, that while the question was pending—a question involv ing such important interests, not only as respected the 'freedom of the loess in India, but what was of far more consequence, the power of the-Government to make re- Eulations which were not conformable with the law of isgland—it was desirable that the subject should not be discussed. Hereafter, when it had undergone a judicial inves:igation, it might be made matter of discussion. The last pat t of this. case referred to the proceedings of Lord Amherst towards Mr. Arnot. With respect to that cir cumstance he had no information, except what he de rived throu . th Mr. Bnckingham's publication, and the hearing before the Supreme Court on Mr. Anne's ap plication. The Honourable Member 104 not referred to the mote material part of that case. The fact was, that Arnot was ie-iding in fedi., without Any license or authority whatever ; an] therefore, under the existing law, it became the duty of the Governor-General to put an end to his contirmance there. The Act gave the (i nyernor-Genet al the power to cause to be at rested and pot on ship-board, any person thus leiding with not atithotity ; and the question before the Court was, whether it :il,n gave the power to keep the individual in cn.tody, for any tine, between the period of arrest ing him and putting him on ship-brood? The Judge in Mr. Areot's case decided that it did not. As to the ship, on board of rt hich Mr. Arnot was placeJ, going Teruo] by 3st:eosin, it was an allegation which he could neither :tail in 11' , E CiCIIV, as he had no information' on the subject. But Iroin the character of Lord Amherst, who was remarkable for his mildness, he could conceive nothing more improhable, or which required stronger proof, than an accusation charging that Nobleman w nth having been guilty of harshness or severity towards any individual, be) and what he conceived to be necessary in the just performance of his duty—(llear). Mr. I lUNIF, denied that the Governor. General of In dia had a lig:a to send an individual from that country, except tinder great responsibility. Ile had perused care fully Mr. Adam', defellCe sent to the Court of Direc tors, and he had no hesitation in saying, that his con duct to Mt.. Bockin i Oarn wits the result of malice to wards that icrdisi.itail. The Paler of Mr. Buckingham had done much for the Government of India, by induc ing the Natives to give their opinions on passing events. The Indian Jokn 13311 was set up to write Mr. Bucking hum down. h. was supported by all the Clerks of the Government and Company, and its abuse was allowed to go unpunished. Mr. Buckingham was brought to trial, but acquitted ; and when be brought his action against his accusers, he was sent out of the country, that he might not b. able to go on with the action. He could not think that the night Honourable Gentleman lately at the head of the affairs of India (Mr. Canning) would sanction such treatment as that which Mr. Buck ingham has! received. He regretted. for the sake of the liberty of the Pic t s in Indi t, that the night Hon. Geotleman did not go to In(!ia, for Ire was sure he was not actuated by tire at bitrary and persecuting notions of the Company's servants in that country. Mr. Adam prohibited the circulation of the Edinburgh Review, or any other publication which he disliked. challenged the annals of the Holy Alliance to chew such a system of despotism with respect to die press. Mr. ASTELL said, the Honourable Mover had not told all he knew, while the last sreaker had considered Mr.Buckiosham as a much injured individual, and Mr. Adam as being actuated by premeditated malice to wards him. Nlr. Bockinglotor had a license as a free mariner, which did not entitle him to re-ide on shore, or to become the Editor of a Newspaper. But the Corn pally did not wish to stop him from making as much as he could of his ta!ents, until he had written various things of a most offensive nature against the Govern ments of Fort St.liteorge and of Calcutta. He once was obliged to make an apology, but notwithstanding many Wafflings, he still continued, from time to time, his at tacks on the Government and on the Bishop of Calcutta. The proceedings against Mr. Buckingham were counte nanced._ and agree d to by alt the !Members of the Coun cil, as well as by Mr. Adam. Mr. Arnot was not in India under any circumstance of license whatever. Sir C. POI:I3ES read a letter from a friend, recom mending Mr. Buckingham to him, and saying, that the ealcutla Journal had done much good. He thought they should pause before they declared Mr. Bucking- liam deserving of the severe treatment which he had received. He would be very much surprised, if the Government of India did not consider any one guilty of annoyance and presumption, wino wrote or published, or even had the audacity to speak anything against their actions. He had known a native ef high reipect ability threatened to be sent off the Island of Bombay, for having made a good bargain with Government which they wished to set aside, but which he very pro perly determined to make them abide by. Mr. Buck ingham did not deserve the cruel punishment which be had received, for he had been ruined by the Indian Government. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT could not withhold, in the first instance, his extreme gratitude to the Right Honourable Director who had spoken last, for the manly part lie had taken on this question. But his principal object in rising was to induce his Honourable Friend (Mr. Lanibton) who had introduced this subject to the consideration of the House, in a statement plain and level to the apprehension of every man who heard him, that he would not be satisfied by entering at a future period into the discussion of that general question of the free press of India, but that he would in this Session bring before the House the hardship that might be im posed on an individual by a temporary Governor of India. The question now before the Hou , e seemed to divide itself into two considerations—first, as to tite fact of oppression petional to . Ir. Buckingham ; econti:v, as to the liberty of the press in India. A very common. place argument had been used in this former questi ot ,, to which he was anxious to call the attention of tf.e House, by the President of the Board of Ccn. trout (Mr. Wynn), viz. that the petitioner, AI % Buckingham, should not apply to the Parliament for redress, seeing that he has appealed to a Court in India, —E Ir. Wysti—No, not in India—in rnglan,i. - !..._ Be it so. In England, at all events, the appeal has h' made to a Court of Law to obtain redress—( 1 bar,fi-0,,, Mr. Wynn). But that appeal had nothing to do ‘ k j : ;, the question of the violent course adopted by a U,. 0‘.,... _ . . . nor of India i►i his treatment of a British subject. A l , Honourable Member opposite, a Ditector ton, . , talked a great deal to very little pttrrse. Ile ILiti •:., of the repeated warnings given to Mr. Btickin:4l.l,l4.. But what was the origin of these warnings? r . ciLp, h e had laudably called in question borne of the :v.ct, of t i c Government, and indeed upon the very face of tl, e ceedings it did appear that some motives of sit,-,k3 on attached to his dismissal. It appeared that he fault with the appointment of Mr. Adam. 'fat pointment was s!:bsequently rescinded, end thus it w 4, proved that the obei vations of Mr. Buf.kiiigh.tm w ele not without foundAti,n. A Presbyttuian C;e:g)i;m a was not pi eciscly the pet son to invest % , ith the sittrition, and Mr. Buckingham had ventured to express his dis approbation, as a public jonmalist, of such an aiipont. meat. It appeared, too, that by the regulations of L: rd Moira, there was an actual induce;rent to Mr. Bud:. I itigharn to settle at Calcutta ; the libesal policy of t! os Marquis of Hastings was clearly an indiscsment to thrs effect. Ile hoped his I lonousable lend woola h on 4 forward this question of °pre .sion in its sit - risk fern as it regarded the treatment of Mr. Pueking%ain. Mr. Secretory CANNING said he ceitaisly lid n .r. intend to detain the House by entering into a sl.easeoa of any of the topics which by common era's...et were defeated to a distant opportunity. That lar : ns strhj..et concerning the press in India, and the taller pee::; equally important, referred to by the Hon. Bateniet, it would not he for the convenience of the 11.. usa Low to discuss. The question before them was, whether the petition should be permitted to lie on the tals:e, and to that he sertainly could have not the slightest objection. Should the Hon. Gentleman %alto had, is ith >o much calmness and ability, brought forward the present peti tion, persevere in the motion of %Illicit he had givel notice for the next Ses s ion of Parliament, he sheuld ready to meet him upon fair ground's, lot he !yid n o earthly prejudice to overlay his feelings ani his rative judgment on this question. But his objection z this petition arose, not to its reception, for to te he said nothing ; but from ita interfering with a question now pending in a Court of Law ; and he was per fectly convinced the interference Print prose prejudicial to justice. Whether it was originally wise to infest to those measures which placed the Press of India under peculiar restrictions, mightlte a iii subject for discussion. —lie certainly could not agree with the wide polo y which would throw open India to the advanta7s of a free press, in her preserit unenlthtened condiriale lE the system now established by a delibet ate an I recent decision in that great anomalous and a s tonishing ein phis, acted warnig, let that system be altered, but it not an individual be chat its deticier,cits. course which Mr. Adam :isto,sted was meted out i :o him by the law. It was just the case of a Govern:it, fixed in the unquestionable exeici.e of an undoubted author ity, apportioning to any person offeedirtg tl e exact consequence, as the law defined it, of his dello quency. If the Governor bad executed hi, atithorhe for the abuse, the House had also provi.ied a temedy for the suffering party, and of the remedy, it appeared, Mr. Buckingham had learnt to avail himself. Mr. Buckingham had now an opportunity of removing hi; case from that so much depreciated tribunal—an In ban Court of Judicature—to a British Jury. With u that semblance of equity, then, could a Parliament intesfete under such circumstances? When that snit seas de cided, he had, far one, no objection to enter into the discussion. The Member for Aberdeen had übseived that he (Mr. Canning) had seemed to express some sur prise at a passage in the speech of the Honourable Gen tleman, by whom Mr. Buckingham's petition had beet, presented to the Iloine. ‘• Undoubtedly, Sir," continued Mr. Canning, " I did express surprise at that passage, tor it was one well calculated to excite surprise in my mind. It was the passage in which the Honourab!e Member spoke of the tyranny of my Lord Andrerst. Stich a charge was new to me, and novelty is apt to produce sun prise. To hear Lord Amherst had become a tyrant, did not astonish me much less than it would have astonished me to hear that he had become a tiger. I feel, Sir, that I am hound to lisien to the declaration of the Hon. Member for the County of Durham on this point with that openness to conviction which we should all preserve, even when the character of those who stand the highest in our estimation is the subject of remark. I know that power has been frequently the cause of great changes in the human mind. It is possible that it has produced a great change in the mind of Lord Amherst. The possessor of the most mild, the Most gentle, the most amiable, the most lot bearing nature that I ever met with, may have been converted by power into a savage and tetocious spirit. Such a trans formation may have taken place; but if it real:y has taken place, I must say that it is the most extraordinaiF physical phenomenon that ever came under my obser vation"—(Gceers and laughter.)—Much misunderstand ing appeared to exist with respect to the conduct of the Marquis of Hastings with reference to the Press in In dia. It had been assumed, both in that House aml q•• where, that the Marquis of Hastings had thrown do wit all the guards on the Press in India; that he had al lowed the utmost latitude of discussion, and had almost offered prizes for disquisitions on the most delicate and dangerous topics. Nu such thing : the Noble Marquis (Hastings) had removed one set of restrictions on th.e liberty of the Press, but be had introduced another.-- When, therefore, the question came before him (Mr. Canning), at the tirne he was President of the Board of Controui, it was a question, not whether there sheeld be restrictions on the Press in India, or no rests ictira.s but whether the ancient restrictions which the Margins of Hastings had removed, and which the East India Company wished to see restored, should be preferred to those woich the Noble Marquis had substituted for them ? The Marquis of Hastings having removed ene set of restrictions and so bs:ituted another, the ,haft which had been sert to hint (Mr. Canning) by the Di rectors of the East India Company required the restora tion of the encient restrictions. Fiona that draft 11 , .t had tinea6l.t it his duty to withhold the approbation of e..e C own. it had appostred to him, that under the of the c..se, to restore the Ce 117.01 Ship of the Pies. iu lotha wood be to igterrnt that which A et 1, the boi (I 2( 4t des 4 , 1 . he ''. •6 1, OMCrt vt•r, " 4' APei •: (ye, 1 ,9 It •.._ ~t:Cl 1.( Ji;di; -a$ mos; ag