Star. — London, England, 1810-01-13 00:00:00

... AT a numerous MEETING of PROPRIETORS of EAST-INDIA STOCK, held at the City of London Tavern, on Friday, Jan. 12, 1810, ROBERT WILLIAMS, Jug. Esq. M.P. in the Chair. Resolved unanimously, That this Meeting having received from numerous Proprietors, and from various quarters, the most un qualifit d approbation of the Resolutions entered into on the 2d Inst. are more than ever impressed with the importance of main taining the just rights of the Proprietors and the freedom of Elec. , Ono, in their opinion so unnecessarily attacked by the interference of the Court of Directors, in recommending a Candidate to fill the present Vacancy in the Direction. Resolved unanimously, That this Meeting conceive, that the maintenance of these just and incontrovertible principles cannot with propriety be termed " an injurious attempt to interrupt a good understanding and co-operation between the Proprietors and Directors," such interruption being likely to be produced only by an unusual assumption of pciwer in the Executive Body. Resolved unanimously, That there does not appear any thing particularly important at the present juncture in reference to a renewal of the Charter, which may not he entrusted to the wis dom'and experience of the Gentlemen at present inthe Direction, or which calls for an Invidious preference of either of the present Candidates. Resolved unanimously, therefore, That " as real friends and well-wishers of the East-India Company," this meeting will con tinue to maintain by every fair and honourable endeavour, their just rights, and earnestly and conscientiously exhort the Proprie tors in general, to unite with them in so important an object. ROBERT WILLIAMS, Jun. Chairman. Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this Meeting be given to Rosner WILLIAMS, Jun. Esq. for his able conduct in the Chair. TO THE PROPRIETORS OF EAST INDIA STOCK. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, rrHE very flattering support which T continue to receive on my canvas, impresses me with the deepest sense of gratitude, and leaves no doubt In my mind of the result of the contest in which I am engaged. As, however, many Elections have been lost from too much confidence, I trust that no relaxation in the exertions of my friends will take place, and I most earnestly entreat that they will do me the honour to attend the Ballot at the India House cm Tuesday next, the 16th instant. I have the honour to be, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your faithful humble Servant, JOHN BLADEN TAYLOR, No. 40, Devonshire-Place, Jan. 11 a 1810. Colonel Taylor's Committee meet daily at the City of London Tavern, where he particularly requests the attendance of his friends, as often as they can make it convenient. E4S7' INDIES. MEMORIAL FROM THE OFFICERS COMMANDING NATIVE CORPS UPON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FORT Sr. GEORGE, TO THE ileN. COURT OF DIRECTORS OF THE HON. EAST-INDIA COMPANY, ETC. Sheweth, 1. That we, the undersigned Memorialists, Officers commanding Native Corps upon the Madras Esta blishment, have the honour, with all deference and respect, to solicit the attention of your Honourable Court to the subject of our Appeal, which we, with the utmost duty and submission, offer to your consi deration. 2, Your Memorialists beg to state, that Captain John Munro, of the European regiment on this Esta blishment, and QuarteriMaster General of the Army, delivered, some months since, to the Commander in Chief, at Madras, certain Proposals, bearing date :50th June, 1808, recommending the abolition of the Tent Contract, which, on the Ist of July last, was taken from Officers commanding Native Corps in your Army at Madras. S. Whether the Tent Contract, as consistent with the good of the public service, should or should not have continued to exist, is a subject your Memorialists will not presume to trouble your Honourable Court upon; but certain articles which the Quarter Master Gene ral has inserted in his Proposals, as motives that pre vailed with him for recommending the abolition of l the Tent Contract, your Memorialists have to ob serve, no less excited their surprise, than they did the feelings of poignant concern, in perceiving such dis honourable principles so unjustly attributed to them. 4. Your Memorialists will here furnish the Ex-1 tracts from the Quarter Master General's Proposals,l on which they ground their complaint to your Ho nourable Court : .4 Six years experience of the practical effects of the existing system of the camp-equipage equipment of the Native Army, has afforded means of forming a judgment relative to its advantages and efficiency, which were not possessed by the persons who proEosed its introduction ; and an attentive examination of its operations, during that period of time, has suggested the follow ing observations regarding it : " By granting the same allowance in peace and war for the equipment of a Native Corps, while the expences incidental to that charge are unavoidably much greater in war than in peace, it places the interest and duty of Officer. Commanding Native Corps in direct opposition to one another ; it makes it their inte rest that their corps should not be in a state of efficiency fit for' field service, and therefore furnishes strong inducements to ne glect their most important duties. " By charging Commanding Officers of Corps with extensive , concerns, immediately affecting their private interest, it calcula ted, particularly in the field, to divert their attention and their pursuits from the discipline and management of their corps; ob-I jects that should furnish them with sufficient employment for the whole of their time. (Signed) " JOHN MUNRO, " Quarter Master General of the Army." 5. Your Memorialists, with the justest sentiments - - of deference to your Honourable Court, beg to state, that these articles unequivocally convey a most cruel and wanton insult, as well as an injurious aspersion, (we all feel it), to Officers who have faithfully serv ed their Country, many for nearly thirty years, some more, in affirming, that, upon the experience and ob servation of six years, formed upon the judgment of practical effect, it appears, Officers commanding na tive corps have strong inducements, from interest, to neglect their most important duties, in order that their corps should not be in a state of efficiency fit for field service. 6. Your Memorialists conceive that these asser tions, in their application with regard to time, and operation, with respect to effect, are no less than accusing them of having sacrificed the interests and security of the public service for a base purpose, and of having violated that trust which your Honourable Court, which Government, and which tha Comman der in Chief, in certain confidence, place in them. —Your Memorialists perceive in them also an insi nuation of an utter dereliction of the pride of mili tary spirit, in their having a wish, from pecuniary motives, not to be prepaied meet the enemies of their country. 7. Impressed with those painful sensations, which' such serious imputations cannot fail to create, your Memorialists in several instances, without delay, and with all possible respect, separately addressed them selves to his Excellency the Commander in Chief, Lieutenant General Hay Macdcwall, upon the sub ject of the Qiiarter NlAster General's allegations.— His Excellel.cy had the condescension to answer the ply, observing in substance, that as he had not consulted with regard to the abolition of the Tent Contract, he did not feel himself at liberty to intir2 fere in any matter connected with the subject, upon individual application. 8. Your Memorialists have to state to your Ho nourable Court. that; in consequence of this notifica tion, feeling the injury done them, bythe insinuations in the Quarter=Master-General's minute, they adopted the means of redress which appeared to them to be most consistent with their ideas of justice, and with the duty they owe to their superiors, submitted to their immediate principal the Commander in Chief, the substance of their complaints, in the form of a military charge • but finding that this mode was con sidered by the Judge-Advocate-General to be irregu lar, or ineffectual towards the vindication of their injured feelings, they respectfully abide by that opi nion for the present, and have solicited a suspension of the direct charge against the individual, while they appealed to the candour and justice of your Honour able Court, trusting it may please them to order an investigation of the subject, as from an investiga tion alone can they hope for a removal of the dis gaceful impression which the insinuations in the r QQuarter-Master-General's proposals are calculated to produce, and which your Memorialists in confi dence beg to assure your Honourable Court are equally unfounded in fact, as they are injurious to the characters of the Officers of the Honourable Com pany's army. 9. Your Memorialists have further to state to your Honourable Court, that had the Quarter -Master-Get neral promulgated his injurious insinuations, serious as they are, in his capacity of Captain in the European Regiment, a conscious integrity might, from the re pugnance your Memorialists feel to complain, have treated him probably with a dignified silence, or with private dissuasiye admonition ; but, armed with the autkority of the Quarter-Master -General of the Army, your Memorialists are of opinion, that they obtain a consequence and consideration, which it is appre hended by them, cannot fail to influence the public mind, not only in India, but in Europe; and create a belief, that a Quarter-Master -General could not possibly circulate such serious assertions, against a body of Officers of that Army of which he is Quarter -Master-General, without an existing just cause. 10. To remove such an impression, and to esta blish, upon incontrovertible testimony, that the Offi cers commanding Native Corps have faithfully ful filled those duties which the public service expects and requires from them, are the primary objects which gave birth to that solicitude on the part of your Memorialists, for an investigation. A secon dary object is to stamp, with due effect, the nature of that offence in promulgating , such serious and erro neous matter, so highly injurious to their characters as Officers and Gentlemen, as well as to the respec tability of the Honourable Company's service in ge neral. 11. Your Memorialists anxiously hope, that when the mag.nitude of the subject of which they complain shall be taken into consideration by your Honourable Court, it will fully appear to your judgment that they are not actuated in their appeal by any frivolous or unreasonably tenacious principles, on any object not strictly connected with that perfect moderation and temperate purguit of justice, which your Honourable Court, in its wisdom and consideration, are ever dis posed to attend to, with those who, under the feelings and firm persuasion of just complaint, claim your protection and support. 12. Your Memorialists, through the medium of their immediate superior, his Excellency the Com.' mander in Chief, Lieutenant-General Hay Mac- 1 dowall, transmit their memorial ;land in relying upon that distinguished liberality and goodness which have invariably marked his attentions to them, to give their cause that support which in his judgment it may deserde ; they will with every sentiment of profound respect and deference submissively wait for, and obe diently conform to, such decision as your Honourable Court shall, in the justness of your wisdom, deter mine upon their cause. Madras, Signed by thirty-two Officers, December, 1808. Conunanding Native Corps. [This was rejected by Sir George Barlow, and returned to General lidacdcnvall.] To the ADJUTANT-GENERAL of the ARMY. " Sut—We the under-mentioned Officers, commanding Na tive Corps upon this Establishment, have the honour to forward the accompanying Memorial, which we request you will lay be fore his Excellency the Commander in Chief, Lieutenant-General Hay Macdowall, and which we have to solicit his Excellency will take such measures as to him may appear-most suitable for the transmission of the same to the Honourable Court of Directors. " The Commander in Chief being already so well acquainted with the general and particular circumstances that gave rise to the inunediate subject of appeal, it becomes wholly unnecessary on our part to enter into any further explanation for his Excellency's information. " The long series of years which the Commander in Chief has served with the Coast Army, and that benign goddness with which he has invariably, both in his public and private tharacter,distin guisked many of those who now appeal through his authority, under a period of painful concern, creates every confidence and hope that his Excellency will, as our immediate superior, conde scend to honour our Memorial with such assistance and support, as in his judgment the subject has claim to; and which, we are fully persuaded, cannot fail to give it the most impartial introduc tion to the attention of the Honourable Court of Directors. ' 4l Madras Establishment, Dec . 1803." [Signed by 32 Officers commanding Native Corps.] CALCUTTA, JULY i 5. On Sunday last accounts reached Calcutta, via Bombay, of the unfortunate loss of the ship Arran, Capt. Ht .:m Wu.smq, of this port, on the island of Karak, near the entrance of the Persian Gulph. No expectation was entertained of saving the vessel, but a quantity of treasure which she had on board, and some of her cargo, had been landed on the island.— The same accounts stated, that the ships Colonel Ma cauley and Minerva, both belonging to the Malabar coast, had been cut off by pirates in the Gulph ; and the whole crews of both vessels inhumanly mas sacred. The latest advises from Bussorah mention the very nnfavourable state of the markets in that quarter. On the 25th of May, his Majesty's ships Chiffoirle and Caroline, with the Honourable Company's crui zer, Mornington, sailed from Bombay for the Gulph of Persia. The Canton, arrived at Kedegeree on the Oth inst. did not reach Calcutta till yesterday afternoon, her passage up the river having been retarded by light as she passed the garrison at Fort am. Oa the 21st May, in her passage down the China Seas, tbe Canton spbke his Majesty s frigates Psyche and Doris, cruising in quest of the Canoniere and Laurel. On the 13th of May, in lat. 43. 80. S. and long. 30. E. the American ship Augustus fell in pith the Nereide and Iphigenia frigates, belonging to the Cape station. _ _ , His Majesty's ships Piedmontaise and Samarang arrived in Madras Roads on the 21st ult. On Sunday last, the Non. Company's ship Wal thamstow, came up the Kidderpore, for the purpose of being docked. The lion. Company's extra ship Tottenham is on her return to town to be put into dock. The Warren Hastings is on her way from Diamond Harbour to Saugur, to complete her lading. The Boyne is in Saugur Roads. The Venus, Captain ARNO?, bound to Penang, sailed from Saugur Roads on the 10th current. ------- Lutchman Dowah, late Chieftain of Adjyghur, whose family was murdered by his father-in-law, has reached Calcutta, to lay his grievances before the Su preme Government. Letters from Delhi of the 25th ult. mention that the detachment under the command of Major Knox, had taken the fort of Burriala without opposition. On ' the approach of our troops before the fortress, the enemy fled, because it was a defenceless place. A few battering shot would level the fort to the ground. It was expected the detachment would go against Buhul, a garrison of some strength in that country. Colonel - Ochterloney's detachment is also stated to have had a skirmish with some men belonging to i Runjeet's Tarmah, at a Siek village on this side d the Sutledge, in consequence of a refusal to supply our cattle with forage, and having fired on our troops. Preparations were made to assault the village, on the event of its not surrendering at discretion. But the Runjeet's heroes took advantage of the night, and re tired in peace. The gates were thi-own open the next morning to our troops by the villagers. We had one man and several horses wounded ; but none killed. Mr. WM. Rosnison is appointed to fill the situa tion of Accountant and Auditor. C. T. METCALFE, Esq. late Envoy to the Court of Rungeet Sing, reached the Presidency on Friday last, by Dawk, having left Delhi the 7th ult. CALCUTTA LOTTERY.—On Tuesday, No. 755 was drawn a prize of 10,000 rupees, the property of Capt. J. W. Taylor and Lieut. Dixon. BANK OF BENGAL.—On Thursday last, the first half-yearly dividend was made to the proprietors of this Bank. It consisted of 9 49-64ths per cent. per annum, being Sicca rupees, 488 4-6ths on each share. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CATTACK, DATED JUNE 27, 1809 : The newspapers from your quarter have not touch ed upon all the disasters we have had the misfortune to experience during the late storms, which have been productive of very serious damages to us. The whole of the European artillery in garrison were forced to quit their barracks and seek shelter in the hospital.—. The magazine buildings, being mud walls, and tiled roofs, were reduced to a mass of ruins, and nothing could preserve the stores from destruction but the tarpaulins. Most of the -B ungal ow s, at the station, have suffered more or less, and many were under water for several days. The following respecting Loodeaunah town, and ' of the nes. cantonments established there, may not be unacceptable to many of our readers : The town was formerly a place of importance, the seat of au independent Chief, on the road from Delhi to Lahon, and completely commands the passage of the Sutledge, by which the extensive trade with Cas hmere, Motiltan, &c. is caned on, and with the advan tage it possesses of situation, could not fail, under a good Government, to become opulent. Its downfall has been great. The Sutledge left it about thirty years ago, shifting its bed to the distance of four miles. Since then it has ever been on the decline, and now almost destitute of inhabitants ; but from the gran deur observable in many of the houses, we have evi dence of its former consequence and extended popu lation • it has however been frequently attacked, con quered, and plundered ; the last attack was about nine years ago, by the Chief Bang Sang, to whom it belongs. At the western extremity of the town stands a fort, built of pucka materials, which was delivered over to us on our arrival here ; and being by us repaired and strengthened, its fences improved and rendered con siderably stronger, and with a well-provided garrison of British troops, enabled to resist the attack of any native power, forms an excellent depot for the supply of our armies, should they be called on to act on any of the lines of defence between the Attock and that frontier. Our cantonments run out from the fort along a deep sandy flat, their left flank is thrown as near to she walls as the nature of the ground will permit, while the right extends about 2000 yards, the whole! within the range of our 12-pounders, and consequently under the protection of the ramparts. Many difficul ties presented themselves before we could obtain ma te; ials for the erection of our huts, which are at length completed, and exhibit a motley grope. The climate is the worst I was ever exposed to ; tornadoes from the N.W. are constantly experienced. accompanied by clouds of dust, which produce the most direful effects among us. CEYLON GAZETTE, JUNE 14. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Major EDWARDS, of his Majesty's ad Ceylon Regiment, to be his Aid-de-Camp, vice Major B&i. yea, deceased. Richard Plasket, Esq. to be Civil Auditor-General. Thomas Eden, Esq. Deputy Secretary to the Government, and Secretary to his Majesty's Council. A. Beatolacci, Esq. Comptroller-General of Customs. Henry Layard, Esq. Collector of Mature. W. H. Ker, Collector of Galle. John Badger, Esq. Collector of Chilaw. S. Sawyers, Esq. Acting-Collector of Batticallso. William Orr, Esq. First Assistant to the Collector of Columbo, and Sitting Magistrate at Negouthe. James Gay, Esq. Assistant in the Paymaster-General's Office. Charles Scott, Esq. Second Assistant in the Office of Commis sioner of Revenue. J. Downing, Esq. Assistant In the Vice-Treasurer's Office. W. Greenslade and Ralph Sneyd, Ears, Assistonts in the Chief Secretary's Office. ... , . I STAY/311MT Or HIS EXCELLENCY MARQUIS DE LA Ro, MAWA TCI THE SUPREME CENTRAL JUNTA. SIRE—Your Majesty being convinced that the exist, Lag Government is not suited to the present stated affairs, you have determined to alter it, and for di, purpose you have empowered various individuals - the Supreme Junta, who declared their opinion oat h subject on the 19th of September last. Since then, y oe Majesty, wishing all possible assist ance on a subject so much importance, nominated a new Commission; which I had the honour to be included, that I might inquire, and pronounce my judgment. In order to form my sentiments on a concern such magnitude, I have directed all my attentioqto it, availed myself of the resources I possess, 1 , 1 4 avoided every thing that could divert my views in tz the true interests of the country. Three motives, according to my conception, ough t to produce a change in the system of Government,- Ist. When a nation, which ought only to obey, do uiti the legitimacy of the authority to which it i s to rah 4 mit-2d. When such authority begins to lo se i ts , fluence--Sd. When such authority is not only ro i , dicial to the public, but is opposed to the constitut4 of the state. Before exposing my ideas as t o t h e p , neral question, I shall endeavour to shew, that existing Government, in all these three respects, k liable to objection. The doubts on the legitimacy of the Governn it originate in the principles to which I am now to ac vert, and in others, perhaps, of which, on account my defective knowledge, r am not informed. The Constitution of the Spanish C;overnment Monarchical, and this character has not been resign. on account of the absence of its Sovereign. Thei practicability of the exercise of the supreme autho:, under the present circumstances, does not justify substitution of a Representative Government, und which the oath to the head of the Monarchy must disregarded. That the Government being Monarchical, carrs be represented by another of a diffetenc descriptio without injuring the Constitution, is perfectly ob ous ; so that a Junta composed of more than thin members, in the rank of Sovereigns in their respe tive provinces, instead of representing our bel oe King Ferdinand the Seventh, can only typify a su fering people. This Democratic form of representation is not oni , inconsistent with the Constitution of the Kingdom but is also inconsistent with the heroic loyalty of tit Spanish People, who have never assumed a soul reign character since the commencement of the of pression to which their Monarch has been expowl.- If they have acknowledged the Provincial Juntas, ( any other authority, they have had no intention I deprive your Majesty of your supreme attribute or to submit to any other will and command than th of their unfortunate Prince. Surrounded by the bar nets of the tyrant Napoleon, they have sworn wit heroic valour that they will submit to no power, bi to that of their lawful King, and to no Constitutit and Government but that which is Monarchical. Those who believe that the sovereignty of the tion is not firmly rooted in the discetylants of Pell forget the law of the Partidas, which prohibits King or the Nation from alienating the Crown; s both of them have sworn the vassal, under the ps ty of being punished as a traitor, not to consent tots dismemberment of the kingdom. It is one of the revocable duties of the Spanish nation, which it i faithfully performing during the present Revolutiz never to assume to itself the Sovereign Authoritl never to acknowledge any other Prince than the ick lized Ferdinand, and never to depart from the Cot stitntion, and the Laws of the Country. The Junta which the people appointed in the various province were not formed to acquire for themselves the SOVI reign Authority, but wore resorted to as a temporal. regulation, until the Legitimate Power should be n stored, and for the purpose of fulfilling a desig which Spanish honour and loyalty was alone to a complish. The Provincial Juntas had no authority but vii originated with the Sovereign ; and they represenu the Lordship of the Land, and of the Monarch, wl in condescension to his beloved vassals, and to relic them from distress, suffered in his own person greatest calamities. The Spanish people then having never departed a moment from submission to their Prince, or to I constitution of his kingdom, it is evident that they not the Sovereigns, and that they have not pretend to such a character. Neither the Provincial Jot or the Central and Supreme Junta, have the author' to govern the nation, since instead of representin Ferdinand the 7th, they not only disfigure his sa image, but would subvert the constitution of the narchy. These are not the only reasons which occasion doubts existing as to the legitimacy of the p Government. The usurpation of the throne, on extent of perfidy like that of the tyrant to deprive of otir lawful king, could not easily be foreseen, anticipated by the provisions of the written law ; but what the form of the Government directs as its establishment during the minority of the kings when he may be in a state of moral incapacity, oug to be strictly and literally obeyed. it is in tins la we find to be comprehended the situation of the Sp nish Monarchy, as it now appears every speciesofg vernment which is not conformable to the directi of that law, must give rise to the doubts of its leg iD macy to which we have adverted. The minority of the King or his moral incapao9 are cases for which the law has provided, and which it points out the mode of supplying the ref° sentation of the Sovereign. There is ground for 5 0 P posing, that when a King being insane, or under ar he cannot exercise the government, the substitute ought to be of a different kind, from that of the tas when a King is shut up in prison in his own or iD fa reign dominions. The Noble Marquis then proceeds to state son , metaphysical distinctions, and next introduces the marks which were inserted in our paper of Tees& last. He then resumes his observations.] We all know the necessity for unity-of power , a ll the evils that arise from the contrary. Tghere can no associates in the Spanish Empire, as the inunnty Saavedra has declared the majesty of the State call not be divided. It was sufficient that a new government vrasdeter mined upon, and this decision would render it on . E 0 C { I 1