Star. — London, England, 1810-01-05 00:00:00

LIST IND, 1 ?Y OT A LETTER FROM LORE! MINTO AND THE COtTN CF IHE BENGAL PRESIDENCY, TO SIR GEORGE BARLOW: Co 1!le Honourable Sir G. H. BARLOW, Bart. and L. B. Cover nor in Council, Fort St: George. 1-Ticnt7RABLE SIR—We have the humour to acknove e d g e the receipt of your dispatch under date the Ist u l:imo, enclosing copies of a proposed Memo: i e l to the Address of the Governor. General, from : he O ffi cers of the army of your establishment, and : den Address to Majot Boles, the late Deputy Ad- Intent -General, and reporting to us your proceedings Nish regard to the Officers who signed, and who were nderstood to have been principally concerned in pre eig and obtaining signatures, to those illegal and • ions papers, and in actively encouraging, or ta ws. permitting and approving t he p revalence of sen • e ras, and the adoption of measu re s , subversive of lit e first principles of subordination, and of the Con eitution of the British Government in India, as esta blished by law. The two papers which you have transmitted to and which have given occasion t o y our late pro clings, bear so strongly the charact er of bold and germ's sedition, and the principles which they pro ds, together with the habits and practices to which and principles necessarily lead, are pregnant withcon- 1 nc es so adverse to the tranquillity and even to the ocurity of these provinces, as well as of all the foreign minions of his Majesty, that we cannot but com end the wise energy, with which you have opposed, t he very outset, the licentious spirit which dictated .ese documents, and of which too many other proofs re been recently afforded. 3. We have at the same time observed with cordial satisfaction the disappointment of the few factious in dividuals who have taken the most conspicuous part 1 on this occasion, in their endeavours to mislead the ar my at large, and in the hope which, without regard to the misfortunes in which they were involving their e sociates,they appear to have entertained of implicat. ing the inexperienced members of their body in theirown reth projects, and all their calamitous consequences. 4 They could, indeed, seduce the coast army from its duty only by deceiving it ; and we can feel no re sentment against those younger men, who, unin structed as they may naturally be, in the just princi ples of the Military Constitution, are more obnoxious t, error, both in judgment and conduct, when it is inculcated by the false reasoning, and sanctioned by the pernicious example of their superiors.in age and authority. 5. Persuaded as we are, that any ill impression srlich may have been made on the army serving un der the Presidency of Fort St. George, may justly be imputed to the artful dissemination of erroneous opi nions and false theories, concerning the relation which an army beats to the State, and more particularly concerning that in which the armies of the East India Company have been placed by the law and constitu tion of this part of the Empire, with respect to the kcal governments under which they respectively serve, we entertain a sanguine hope, that the promulgation of sounder principles on these subjects may check the progress of etror, and effectually defeat the mischiev , ees designs of factious men, while it may relieve. you 1 from the painful necessity of extending beyond them selves the controul of severity and coercion. E., The subordination of military bodies to the state, is a proposition too well established and too uniVersally understood, to have been plainly and dis tinctly questioned in any quarter ; but it has been substantially disowned by the present agitators of the coast army ; inasmuch as they have contested and de nied the consequences which necessarily result from that fundamental truth. 7. The arms which are placed in the hands of an army are not given to them for any purpose of their own. They are a trust ; and as such are accepted by themselves, in order to fight the battles of their coun try, and promote the service of the public, under the direction and command of the Sovereign and his Go nemment, These are not only the purposes, but they me the sole purpose, to which the arms., or to speak more generally, the power of an army, may legally be applied. Any other employment of the force with • which military bodies are invested,any attempt to pro mote views of their own, to enforce pretensions just or uniust, or to redress grievances real or pretended, whether of individuals or of the body at large, either by the direct use of their arms or even by the influence attached to the possession of them, is not merely the breach of a sacred trust, but a positive and flagrant crime. 8. From this general and indisputable proposition it follows, that military combinations are forbidden, because the character of compulsion and menace is inseparable fronithe united and concerted demands of armed bodies. ,; 9. This argument would be misreprzsented, if it were stated to infer that military men have no rights, 0 5 have no means of bringing their interest tinder the consideration of the authorities competent to provide Icr them. 10. There is not an individual in the most nume rous armies, who does not possess regular and adequate Incas to advance any just and reasonable claim, or to obtain redress for any injury that may have been done to him. There is no necessity, and no pretence therefore, for recourse, either to actual violence, or to combnation, which always and necessarily partakes r,! violence. The representations of particular officers, addressed in their individual characters to their mili tary superior, and submitted through him to the pro ecr authorities which have the power of prononncing upon them, will obtain the object of any just demand. If it be said that representations in this form, especially in matters of general concern, are less weighty and im pressive than the united voice of a numerous and Powerful body, it must be answered that whatever aid is derived from the union of military numbere, is a perversion of the power confided to them, and falls distinctly within the guilt and danger of those viola tions of duty which we have already described. 11. The general discountenance and prohibition of combination is so wet established in the constitution of our government at home, that ate House of Com mons, to which the universal right of petition is amongst the most precious privileges of the sub j ect, . re j e c t s , however, every petition purporting to be pre ferred in the name of any body or description of men, with the exception of bodies incorporated by charter ; and vt the same petition with the same signatures, purporting only to be prevented by the petitioners in :ighd 10 ID ~.- s Pro-) fa" ore from I tell i;c 11 1 es..l jy ..-" lini asscis au.. 1r imagism& raTinamsow imp - - objection. 12. Such it the jealousy. entertained of contbk lll - 101, 1 11 1 1; antitIct iift to * al er t , a dheihien tsd , Could not ilt :4 2l9l.l Vait tion, even in the case of bodies the most insignificant, dlh* persons with eddal propriety. and the least calculated to inspire that sentiment.- - 18. All there irripottent points eciOld receive a dO. But a constitutional jealousy of the militaky power it ilhitite decision fluid the Supreme Authorities in in a manner characteristic of our Government and England alone. To agitate them here could neither Nation. This seittiment is far from derogatory to Matinee nor accelerate that decision, and could an .' the high respect and reverence in which the true cha- sorer one purpose alone, that of fomenting a spirit of tatter and apprVriMe virtues of that most honourable discontent and controversy, encouraging murmurs, profession are ever BIM. It is founded on the soundest and exciting heat and ferment in the army, all which principles of thilitattambordination and civil order. it was for the public interest, and 11;1 less for the in- A deliberative army and a deliberative navy are terest of the army than of government and the rest of both disqualified for the discharge of the proper and the community, to prevent or appease: It was sorely honourable duties 4ich form their true distinction; the manifest duty of every servant of the Company, and when their deliltations end in concert and corn-. whether civil or military, and must have been the bination, the public peace is endangered. earnest desire of every honest and honourable man, 13. We are accustotned in England, without dis to devise every pbssible means of tranquillizing tinction of profession ot degree, to speak with pride , the minds of the public, allaying past irritatio n, and and reverence of that nice and scrupulous solicitude! promoting a return of temper and harmony, at least, which pervades the constitutional policy of Great during that interval. Britain on every point that affects, however remotely, , 27. If the conduct of the Memorialists could not the great and primary concerns of civil liberty and contribute to the accomplishment of the ends they pro domestic security ; blessings which it is natural to fesseil, it is obvious that the manifestation of a turbu value most highly ; in a country where they are best lent spirit, and of a disposition to excite in the army known and experienced. It is this great national sentiments of disaffection, and to involve the Officers sentiment which requires, as the Main and most in- at large in actsof insubordination and hostility towards dispensable provision forcivil security, the absolute un- the legal Government of the country. could only pre• qualified subordination of the army to the State ; or, judice the public cause, which served as a etett for in other words, to the Government of the country. — the i r p roceedin g s, b y makin g it at least qu estionable Out of the same principle springs the necessity of whether the authorities to which the appeal was made pecitliar restraints on the military body, attd the might think it compatible with the honour of Govern abridgement, in their case, of some privileges Red ment and the interests of the public, that they should practices, which are permitted, because they are not concede to violence and sedition, even those points, if deemed hazardous, in other paths of life. there had been any such, in their case, which might, 14. Amongst the chief of those restraints are to be in other circumstances,, have been viewed more fa placed the strict prohibition of military combination vourably. for the furtherance of professional views or wishes, 28. If we confine ourselves therefore merely to this and of open and concetted opposition by military general view of the form which the Memorial bears, men, in their military character, to the Government, we should find too much room for censure. But the or the persons who administer it. impressions made upon us by the general character 15. They are not precluded in other capacities, and and aspect of this proceeding are coutirmed by a close in the proper places, to take whatever share they may examination of the matter and substance of the me approve, in the expression of public opinion, or in the morial. promotion of lawful objects connected with it. But 29. That the authors of this paper invite the army these are civil, not military pursuits, in which they at large to deliberate on certain measures adopted by can be permitted to partake, only divested of the se- the Government of Fort St. George, and to enforce, parate character and influence of their order, and by the joint and united act of a military body, the in blended with the mass of their countrymen. The exer- solent and factious demand of the removal of the first ciseof these political capacities is excluded from camps Member of that Government, is plainly written id the and garrisons, because its admission there is incom- memorial. This is alone a great and culpable de. patible alike with every military and civil duty ; and partnre from the first and clearest duties of the mili neither their Sovereign nor their Country will endure tare profession. that arm i es, which arc the servants of the State, should 30. But there is one feature of positive sedition tco set themselves up in tumultuous pposition to those plain and striking to be mistaken or oveilooked. who are clothed with its atithority,eind assume a tune 31. The paper bears the title of i Memorial e and of defiance and command, where they are beund as the epithet of • Respectful' is added to it. It is a soldiers and subjects to obey. It is in the field alone petition to the Supreme- Government, the praj•er of that armies can reap a fair and gentfne renown.— which is to remove the Governor of Fort St. George When they look for it elsewhere they lose their way, from his office. But . this Memorial does not trust and meet only reproach and dishonour in the intricate entirely to the reasoning it contains for the support 4)1 and disreputable career ot party feuds and dissension. a request so extraordinary. Tie Memorialists have 16. It were to be lamented, and little to the credit thought it advisable to fortify the argument, and to of military men, if on points which touch so nearly enforce the petition, by a pratty intelligible intima all that is most dear to their country, they should tion, that if the Supreme Government should hesitate cease to think and feel as Englishmen, when they to remove a Governor who is obnoxious to them, they become soldiers, and should suffer the partial spirit will take the matter into their own hands, and make of a profession to wean them from those sentiments ' a new Governor themselves They cannot sup and sympathies. which, like their Faithren iii civil 46 flttsithe expression of their concern at the. manner life, they imbibed with their milk, and which distin- " in which the exclusive rights of the army have • re guish and illustrate their nation. , 4, cently been violated, and of their sanguine hope 17. We cannot doubt therefore that when these true 44 and earnest entreaty, that the Supreme Govern- English principles are brought to the recollection of , 66 ment may in its wisdom be induced to appease the Coast Army, they will perceive, and we are per- ; 44 their just alarms, and to anthipate the extreme crisis suaded will acknowledge with candour and regret, 46 of their agitation, by releasing them from the con how far removed all that has been passing must be ; 66 troul of a ruler whose ensures, &c. &c in ." it; letter, thought, from these sounder no tions of professional If it is contended that ge is, ditty ; and we trust, the factious spirit of combination. Isusceptible of some other and less criminal interpreta which has lately been fomented amongst them, with tion, it must at the same time be admitted, that the all the irregular proceedings to which it has given words naturally bear the construction which we have birth, will appear as reprehensible to the Officers of put upon them. Such a menace was never addressed that Army, as we ourselves esteem them. i by such Memorialists to such a quarter, in plain un- IS. To apply these principles to the present case ;lambiguons language. That the phrase is equivocal the title alone of the proposed address to the Go- and may by any construction import a threat, is, (in vemor-General in Council must subject that paper to such a paper, signed, as was proposed, by all the serious censure. Officers of p a powerful Army), to be received as an 19. It is entitled, I explicit expression of that sense, and brings the crime, The respectful Memorial of the °jeers of the Ma.' fully and satisfactorily, home to its authors. dr i. as Army." 2'2. In considering the subject matter of this me. 20. It was not a representation of the Commander morial, we perceive that of the three complaints pre in Chief, or of the General Officer commanding that for lid in it, there is not one which could b tatie ma fdrom e, with propriety, the subject of a represenon Army on its behalf — it was not a communication ! from a few officers of rank and consideration, setting the army at large, even if such representation s were forth their own sentiments , or conve y in g respectful ' justi fi able in any case. advice concerning the military affairs or interest of 33. Whether his Majesty shall cal the Command the Coast: but it was to br in g to our Council Board ! der in Chief of the Army into his Cbinet Council or a clamorous demand, enforced by the combined and not, it is for his. Majesty, with the advice of his united voice of an army. In other words, it was to nisters, to decide, in his discretion. The Commander intimidate and over-awe the authority to which it was 'in Chief of the whole British Forces is not necessarily addressed. a Member of Administration , or of eithe r House of '2l. This attempt at.intimidation was the more re- Parliament and we are well assured, that no Officer prehensible, as it was altogether unnecessary, and , in his Majesty's service could be found, if the recent entirely inapplicable to the purposes avowed by the conduct of Lieutenant-General Hay Macdowall Memorialists. It will not be said, or to speak per- ' should not compel us to make an exception in his haps more correctly, it will not be avowed, that the case, who would countenance or promote a represen removal of Sir G. Barlow from the Government of tation from the British Army at large, to' his Ma- Fort St. George was the primary and substantive ob- jesty, or to Parliament on that subject. jest of their proceedings, and that the army was to 34. Whether the Commander in Chief of the army speak in a body, not for the redress of the grievances of the East India Company, serving under the Presi set forth in the Memorial, but for the purpose of dency of Fort St. George or Bombay, shall be ap. cashiering and electing Governors at the discretion of pointed to a seat at the Council Board or not, is a the Officers of the Army. If the redress of grievances question which is left by law to the decision of the then was the object proposed, it is manifest that the, Honourable s the Court onef Direc ac tors, whose tbeir v duty ieand purpose could not be accompli shed, but was likely I o privilege it i determi it, cording to ws to be impeded, by th i s cul p able p roceeding. public convenience and ad vanta ge . 22. The grievances e numerated in that Paper are, lofty and declamatory lan g ua g e, that the " humble 15. The compla int upon this subject is introduced The exclusion of Lieutenant-General M i acdowall in the Memorial, immediately after the assertion , in Council. Memorialists are not the abject dem of a country The release of Colonel Munro. thud the removal of th e Ad j utant and Deputy 64 enthrad by despotism : and that they respe c t full y 44 =al lle a claim to certain rights and privileges, the en jutant-General from their offices. 23. The first of th ose com p laints related to a mea• joyment of which ma y be allowed to them without sure, adopted, as the Memorialists' ell Ithow, by the ". impairing or encroaching on the dignity of Govern- Honourable the Court of Directors, and altogether be- , " ment, or in any other way interfering with the 1 " other departments of the State." yond the competence of any authority in India. 24. The release of Colonel Munro is a measure, 36. When such a body as an army is invited to which, if it was wrong, might be a fit subject of re- assert a claim of rights and privaleger, care should be presentation by Lieutenant - Genera Macdowall, token by those who do not propose to sow the seeds whose order for his arrest had been superseded. As •Of revolt and public trouble, to define those rights Commander-in -Chief, he was the proper channel of and privileges No affected ambiguity, at least, that representation, first to the Supreme Government, should attend such declarations; and when a com and then to the authorities at home. The interposi- plaint of the exclusion of the Commander in Chief' Lion of the army itself was unnecessary and culpable. from Council immediately follows such declarations, f or th th e , 2.5. The same remarks a pply . to the removal of the and stands in frontifoi f t wast he grievances notintended w h t i o ch class M g; Commander in Chief to Council Adjutant and Deputy AdjemutanbartkGeednerafo:.ETabsehAnd.dt taut General had gunge embarked madtaissiosetsnof . 111 - 1110tikr fel lAN ,aitriCitik a lg a" — - of `WOO Oa to ' blees,oollo.lii . countetbusie s i ; -. r . it , ip ' -ti #lo4faits*iii.a -. '• ' - der in • of tr 44, Arnty to t e stite:et the • I board cten g y, is not ernongit the ' stad r _ . 'Colin Army t and that any representattosi subject, in the name of the Army at L'" an imdue interference Kith objects competence, and would be a &tillable the military character, and froth the ' their station. 33. It has been af - ernpted to perplex by misrepresenting the office and duty model- hi Chief in his office of Count has a seat at the Board ; and, above .. ing some-indistinct and contused notions , sentative character which is ascribed to hire as . b.:r of Government: The confusion Of ideas ot. subject id still encreased, by their pointing natterat., at - some 111 k analogy between the rights of represen. tatiaiiintbe'political &institution of the British Legis6 latore, nhd the right of ihd army tf Fort St. George to be represented in the Government . - *Slat Presi dency.. 'ro this right it added the , Cotitinander in Chief for the time *fig cue of hit office, be that representative: 39. It is obvious that a step more, in th. of confused analrigy, would set up a claim . army to the ,election of-its own Reptedentative Government of Fort St, George. 40. This tissue of error must either ..e work of extreme ignorance, or roust have been constructed for thepopose of deception, and tendeted * designing men to the presumed ignorance of others ‘‘ut as it has been a fruitful dource of delusion, • 44 R e : presentittive In Council" has been • of watch-Word in these dissentions, it el to rectify the false opinions which ma) based upon these points, and to subetittn and reason in the room of all the - distinct fallacies in which it has been artful factiort to entangle the sense it. their unwary and less-informed brethren. .41. A Commander in Chief who is a Council leas precisely the same character as his colleagues. He is not the the army in arty sense of the worl 7 the sense which may perhaps ha , of his being charged in Council interests of the army, as distinct public, and the general service The Contnander in Chief, as a t is the delegate, not of the troops, character, he commands in the E ist India Company, and of the s charged• also with the interests is of the Military Servants of the.. the general prosperity of the whole ropean and native, of the pray; Presidency to which he belongs. no exclusive, nor even preferable ci counsels of the Commander in Chief Government, nor is it necessary I it should. To drop, therefore , iresent the k errorsinthe whit toprOdul te e ' anansid all tosp Civil and Militaryr Constitution _ the President in Council, who constitui litary as well as Civil Government ' 'charged, on one hand, with the the army for the public good, with that of providing duly for army itself. 42. That Government will of the Commander-in-Chief in both his Military Councils, if he is a MemL They will consult him out of Council colleague ; and if any Comm have rendered himself unworthy it is not to be apprehended that and judgment will be wanting i of the army to supply the blank. 43. We abstain from deliverin) the general question, whether it the Commander-in-Chief of the . should be a Member of Governmeni the present purpose to declare "- question of public expediency, netted with any claim of ri) army.—[To be continued.] D ANG ER TO OUR E MP IRK IN im portant article, of universal interest, upon , present situation and danger at our Indian Empire, pill ap pear in Bell's :Verily Messenger of Sunday next, Jan- 7. —Persons in Town, desirous or taking in this Paper„ should give orders to their Newsmen, or at the Office, corner of Southampton-street, Strand : and residents in the Country, wishing to commence the year with Bell's Weekly Messenger, are informed, that there is a Monday Edition of this Paper, containing all that is included in the Sunday Edition, together with the news of the week, printed expressly for the Country, with the most comprehensive and accurate statement of markets which has ever been attempted in any news paper. The Monday Edition, for the Country, may be ordered at the Post Office, in eveappost town in the kingdom. • Saturday se'nnight, a most alarming five broke out in the Barony Mill of Crossmichael, belonging to Mr. Napier, of Mollance, which, in spite of the 'Lions of of a number of hands , burnt down the kiln, and a great part of the mill. Happily the premises were insured in the Sun Fire Office. CORN EXC/lANOS I MARK-LANE, JAN. 5.—T t h i e le s re l plies of Wheat tea day are considerable, part t'le foreign arriyals general sales are heavy and scarcely at Icstlnices) but very fine Djntzic Ills. to . 115 s. per quarter—Barley a falling article—White. W and Grey Peas are each lower — Ne w T ick Beans s.' t 40s.—Old as per currency—There are tolerable supplies of Oats, and this article heavy sale at that late reduction—Flour as our last. - -I GRIII:ILAL MUMMY As 111010141.11 Wheat, 748. as.. 100.. leans (old) SU SU, Fins dkto, 104 s. 106 s. Tick to, (aid) 4118. S. Rye, 45.. as.. Mt% Its. Me. 110 s. /1, 4 Barley, 40164 U Od. • reismitatto. 115 L Od. 7' Mak, 741. ger lhates ate, Nth , Walt* Pas (Mr) Tas. Ws. Rape Said, 441. S$ TT 46. Grey ditto, 445.. Fins 4.4 Ens Thar, 90e. 951. Seconds ids. VOL t: • ~. -1111•11 i ott ai l l"11$1 .: 1 , Mtsegiegod Iv . . I is Owe hietotio coat rd of that Prat: • I Pri*itirg- RE didt nation 4440 large,. woidd not within theft le departurefrodi e proper duties of .plet this question duty of the Com- unsellor when he e all, by introdde. lotions of a repre- -1 to Win as a Mem- irt bf ideas on this pointing natteralty rights of represen- Fthe British Legit: . Fort St. George ent of that Presi- the claim that the *lit shall, by iirs tilt& are, .in this process p a claim for the epteterititive iti the . tiler - be the work of ieett constructed for deted by designing f others but as it 1000, and as en made a sort of t appears important May hive been int- ibStleute plain truth e perplexed and itt• ern the study of an inse and feelings of rethren. 11110 is a Member in hatacter and duties be representative .of ir - d, and still lets in tare been intended, it with the separate' from those of the of Government. — Member of COuncil, s, which in another 6 field, but of the British nation. He :s of the Civil, as he' Company, and with • tole population, Eu- 'inces subject to the But the army has able claim upon the ;:hief as a Member of y for its interests that the false term of ++a- which it is calculated' triii 'lingua& If the of these Protifices; onstitutes the, sole tai-' ent of the Country, is ie duty of regulating I, and, on the other, r the interests of the consult the experience both these branches of Member of their Board. :ouncil if he is not their hander-in-Chief should by of their confidence, at fidelity, experience, g in the superior ranks nk. ering any opinion upoa t is expedient or not that he Army on the Coast nment? It is enough fct •iie that this is purely st r t and in no respect con- ight or privilege in tie IN INDIA..-••A most iftl• interest, upon the present Indian Empire, pill Fr of Sunday next, Jan. 7. a of taking in this Pager.