The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-03-10 00:00:00

Of regara to the tfignitted moon who was the ehjectof charge before them. He sincerely treated that ao oue Member would give a vote upon the subject, without having deliberately considered the subject of so grave and serious a charge against Marquis Wellesley, as Governor-General of India. -rho charge was, that that Noble Marquis had wielded the stipulations of a treaty with the Nabob of Oude, to whom he also acted cruelly and oppres sively. By that treaty the whole of the connection between the Compauy end the Nabob of Oude was to be regulated and defined ; and it was evi 'dent that the 'Nabob could have no improper view, bee show any partiality to other Powers, by any port it his conduct. The Nebo') haying certain in elebseets tai pay to the Company, was consideraMy is arena upon the Marquis's arrival iu India, mad being written to, paid all that was due, with a s set regularity afterwarta. Ti n s Nabob of, area also punctual in keeprig up the requi , • e and stipulated armainent ; but the Company did not perform their part of the agreement, so re !pact to furnishing troops to protmt him against' tavaitou from a neighbaaritig Nabob. This he could prove, from the letters of Colnuel Scott, sad other do'cnatents before tire 11oLae, was awing to the Marquis IVellealev, arid that it wee the ultimate taktlSC of the ;!Lob or Otide deft dispossessed of his tneritories. The East lees Company being lemnd to defend his dotainioas with not less than 13,010 men, u de an* as. made by the Nabob to hove those tfoops that were promised to him, but which was rebated ' by 1111arquis Wellesley, who took upon himself to , le r , that it was an improper demand, rind that the reSsapouyouglit at he released from such etipula- Isom mi to keeping up any specific number of troops disitisildausce. The fact was, that it was owing to the emberneued state of the' Company's atiairs, which net only induced theta to withheld the ne cessary aasistance, hut even to infringe the treaty, to Jai es to 'sale the Nabob cede to them' half of his territonea, besides the subsidiary sum whith was levied ihean him. The fact was, that the Na tal+, wattle to support the charges that were accu oamiated upon turn, was under the necessity of dis charging his battalions, and expoeing himself to in. Callen from all quarters. At length, after makiug empplissats to the Marquis, without any sort of re dtetts, the Nabeb of Oude intimated that through iikiispontioit, he found himself under the necessity aliabdteeting lois threw to favour of his snn. Not withstaudia.; the euuse assigned for his abdication, 010114 ilts:aklsatiory the Marquis Welleiley, but the aactuing the exclusive management of this kintortunete Neilinh's doininian i e which he actually cliil. under specious pith:we*. Demands upon de eds were urged, and at length troop* were witc lied- into his territory against his consent.— Toe original demand arm the Nabob was ouly pvesteen has of rupees, which was afterwards ex kended to 39 Fuca, which he repeatedly resisted, as contrary to the original treaty. This 'mode of treatpeout of the Nebo%) deserved the severest roe probettue of the House, it being perfectly imbe corartig a persn:i in such a high and responsible situation as the Marquis Wellesley. lie shnuld conclude with begging the House not to consider the wealusear of his statement, but to look at the otatements and letters of Marquis Wellesley hiniselt end to reelect that this unfortunate Nabob had no abeam 'Worded him of stating his grievances. Ile bed no doubt, that from a mature consideration of -the doeemeute before them, which had been ob tained will. so much difficulty, they would he able to give a candid and deliberate judgment upon a point which materially coneerued the honour and credit of the country. Mr. %%rummer) gee se then rose, and entered into a long narrative of the affairs of India, from the earliest period, in order to shew the necessity iteepiag up a course of absolute and despotic Government in Bengal, in order to suppress the machinations of mast experienced assassins and notorious rohbers. We understood the lion. Gen tleman by this to vindicate the Noble Marquis whose roniliLA was rolled in question. • Je/41 AxsritornEe expressed himself as dis satisfied with the delay which had taken place on tlbi present qtiestioa. lie did not, however, inean le attach sac blame to the condnnt of the Noble Lard who had hitherto endeavoured to bring the Oniieet of the Noble Marquis's conduct before the " in a meaner so devoid of all personality, and sesiesidedly on public gmunds, that he had nailed himself to the approhatmil of all persons iddeeceted so the support of the Noble Marquis's coodoce. or the welfare of our colonial possessions sad systsin of government in the East Indies. He could lint but ! my this tribute of applause to the Nettle 1.,0n1'0 :mislay on the present qtiestion, with whit-ii the chnracter of his Noble Friend was es jutiewiteiy cootweted. Thu (louse, he conceived. had bent, in some degree, culpable, by permitting the chime made against his Noble Friend so lent/ to remain before the 11011%4•• it two. to all intents and purposes, m libel, and that of the grvi.4egt nature ; Rs such he eniihl not but feel h i ppy tis the subject at length brought to a tniCtii.orpri; whist be felt would most inevitably terutidate in the complete esculpa . tion, or rather the complete justification, of the Noisle cemented. lie wishe d to at trart the utteation of the Home to the different nature of the eharge in this cow preferred against a davertior of I,oha, to all otherit antecedent it.—Other charges had hero grounded nii the cruelty and alb-age of person. entrusted with that malted situation, while at the lead of the Goversinicot of that country. This, on the contrary, turned merely on the ab.sirmet cniwi deratien of the policy of the Noble Lord, as Go vernor of the Indifts. Whilst others have been stressed of proemial corruption and undistinguished rapine, the Noble Lond bad roufined his aceitsa tint's one:ely to the policy of the ltlarquis lay's zoverionent in India, and if any one charge had barn P•rOfe e‘ f OrP,Pay Wade out than another, it was a charge surainst tbe Noble itlatinis of . an in ordinate Jove of power and donsuiton ; and this closer even is particularity *Wird to hi 4 moaner, at the very moment he was obliged to Itsiye his Griterisment, and relinquish all tlio a sche,tlP4 of personal ser.zreoliseisent, whirs, ha,l he not kno-vii were on the point of h forfeits', ruir...sit hays. wiyen an ter of scrainsoecs to tttt M arge , of which it was now necessary to roo fers they were ainiJst csyn:detely -- - It had been said by a late Member of this Howe, that this question involved three distinct particle.. the Court, the friends of the Marquis Wellesley, and those iuterested hi the feelings and suffering++ of the people of !sidle. In the last class M tepid reckon all the people of. Eughwil, whose paeoliar character it was to ‘. feel for sorrows out their own." A theoretic system had been said to be the bane of oar Government in ; w had seen service in Inds, and was so far qualified to state an opinion on the sobject ; mid front all he bud been ahle to observe, or collect from the opinions of others, on the ethieet of out Indian policy, it had been perfectly suited to the state of nor po,seesions there, the honour of our East India Government, and the interests of this • great conotiertial nation. It would be enough for, bins, he said, to state, that the principle on which he hail acted, had met with the approbatinn of the East India Company, to insure the recognition of' that Nobleman's integrity in that House. On this head, he could furnish the House with the most ample docoments.. The Ctimpalv had even con sidered the trawinnitittion of subsidy fur terri tory a deeirable species of policy. This had been repeatedly acted on by the Noble Marquis. In. Loot Helmet's Government. they had repeatedly! expressed iu their dispatcher, a wish, that in gene r e territory should be exchanged for subsidy, an d the reasons of this were evident. There exist e great danger, lest the territory which 'nigh; b aildsritto our dominions in India should, in taut e of war, become so •uueroductive, either by miss maisageinent or the native disaffection of e in habitants, that they would become bunk 11 , .11111. to •the Company. In consequence of the N ebb, Agar gels's adherence to this principle, had received the most satisfactory letters from the Company, which were then on the table of the Muse ; and in consequence his politic and just treatment of Tippoo Saib, he had received an annuity of *Dol. sterling per annum from the funds of the Company. Ile had next proceeded to reform the civil and mitt tare expenditure of the Nabob of Oude. This was in direct conformity to the express instructions of the Court of Directors, to introduce the power of the Company into the territory of Oude. In the performance of these orders, he had their direct approbation in 1800. Marquis Wellesley had, on the Ist of Jannery, inclosed a letter to the Chairman of the Company, containing all the transactions of (Jude. together with the tinfoil:lid re eelations adopted by him relative to that country ; this was approved by the Company, and oaths 13th of March he acquainted the Company that these re gulations had been carried into execution. There was then no remonstrance, no complaint against the extension of the British power in India. No, their reply was, that he had made judicious and politic arrangements, and the answer of the Company dates that it was their intention, iu the course of the en suing season, to perfect what their Governor had GO happily begun. The defeuee of the Govern ment of Bengal could only be made on the Banks of the Ganges or the Jumna ; and of course Oude was the best went whereon to meet the enemy, and proceed to the defence of the interior provinces.— The evidence of Sir John Shore, he stated, and sup ported by various documents of the Noble Baronet, to be exactly in unison with the sinitimeuts which governed the Noble Marquis. The testimony and conduct of the Marquis Coniwallis has strongly in favour of the conduct pursued by the Noble Mar quis Wellesley. Marquis C•rowallii had appoint ed two Ministers to the Nabob of Oule, aud re quired them to do as he should eoininand them, without regard to cousetiusuces. Ile stated to them the absolute necessity of reform, end avowed his firm resolve to carry that intention into effect. The Nabob of Oude had made encroach ments, and it hence became necessary either to relinquish the territories of Bengal, or increase our power in. that part of the peninsula. Mar quis tVellesley's conduct, he stated, if called in question in any grave assembly in India, would only excite feelings of derision and contempt.— They . felt the pressure of the times, the danger of the circumstances in which they were placed.— Terror was the order of the day till the Marquis Wellesley made his appearance. A large French force was at that conjuncture in Egypt, which threatened India. The Mahrattas were in a state of insurrection, or at least of disaffection ; the people of Oude in a state of open rebellion was hence necessary to reduce them to a state of complete subordination, or else resign all hopes of maintaining our superiority in that peninsula. The arrangemeats of the Marquis Wellesley, on this occasion, were such as com pletely effected the conciliation of the whole province, insomuch, that Holksr, at the head of an army of 16 thousand horse, scoured the whole province without being able to effect any thing like a diversion in his favour, or an aulenientatisin of his arms.. So much were they satistiell with the British Government. Major Onslow's testimony at the Bar of the House, he contended, went materially to support the system pursued the Noble Marquis. Of the respectability of this OAiew'ssestinroay, no permaid diet Rouse could possibly have any doubt, wince he had proved himself a man of experience and prudence in public atikirs as well as bravely in arms. From his teetimone it had appeared, that Marquis Wellesley luid placed the country in a fair de fensible state. Ile, from this view of the subject, wished not to go farther into the case, bat would confine himself merely to the question of the policy of the Noble Marquis's conduct. On all the Revo lutions of the Noble Lord, he was incliued to move the previous question, except the last. On this, as the Noble Lned has constructed his motion on as to attack t* Noble MaripPs's conduct personally, I shall move the following Resolution : .. . " That It appears to this Havre, that the 'table Margolis Wellesley hay lbera actuated, daring the whole period uf his iturerntarat is India, by thee/not ardent zeal for the welfare of Ills contain, sod the prusperity of her Colonies in the East Indies." Alajor ALLAN wad of opinion the Papers edii- Gitr.l against the :Solite Marquis were the hest pa ntile arguments iu refutation of the charge. Ilia conduer, he contended, was not only justifiable, but laudable. in raising supplies, sod adding to the revenue at. the 'colony; under Lord Nlacarbiey's govor, ttttt it kati l.rrn found necessary to restrain the ;power of the Nabob pf (hide. Whilst our terri tory in India hail been assailed on all aides by the united energies of the Euttern Princes, the Noble • vir" Kirquily. by his appearance in India, destroyed every age of hostility, and redece4 all India to submission. Beiseeted defeats of the Pintive Princes were the consekuences of hie uppaiiittneat to the' government, eithouglete whole cAlati y . war over ran by French-94km mai Freud, polities This iu t e i a v i r u as owinist s o the heroic conduct of that ever to- ented cer, Lord Lake ;shut the ar rangeniecits of *vernment, to Aid,. be owed his ultimate succe were undoubtedly due to the measures of the Noble Marque. He concluded with signifying his SHSVAHR to oppose the Resole tiotis of the Noble Lord. Mr. CHARLES GRANT 'aid, he totally di with the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat own, and to far from thinking that the niensurai of the Noble Marquis would have a beneliciol effect upon • oaraffairs in India, lie was satisfied they would be prejudicial in the extreme. They were essentially unjust, vinleat, and uncalled for by the circum stances of the times. The affaint o f India were an important. consideration, mud stroidd claiin the • peculiar attention of the House. Gar empire there was vest and exteutive, and those to whom the Government of was submitted, must be en trusted with a -great portion of power, and'abuses must notitrully aria& Under these eircionstanfes, we were called upon to decide ou this question, without the least regard to personal consideratioa. The measures pursued by the Noble Marquis were in violation of existing treaties acid solemn eligie,o..- ments entered into with these power, It was not denied that abuses would and did exist. Menials CoruwaHis watt as sensible ao tiny man of the disor ders compluieed of, yet considered that treaties entered into with those powers should Ise moat reli giously observed. It was imposeible for any liar s/114y; however great, to shew that those treaties were not violated. la 1798, a treaty was entered into for the military protection of the country aloue, without any reference to civil affairs ; Let ia six months alter it was violated. In taut, the Nabob was forced into a new treaty, under the threat of forfeiting the whole of his territory.:— We not only forced him to pay for the process tion of what we left with him, but also for what we took from him. The reasons tired for those unjust pmceedings were the situation of the country and our own security. Oude placed herself under oar protection, under the faith of a treaty solemnly entered iuto, in which our interests were folly provided for. We could have no right whatever to interfere with her affairs but what was derived from this treaty. It was most faithfittly observed upon the part of the Nabob, and he was sorry to say, violated by us. A great deal had been urged about the disuraleis existing in that province, and the situation of Egypt, overrun by Bonaparte at that time. There was, however, a letter from the Noble Marquis at that period, to the Secret Committee of the Court of Di rectors, stating, that the danger from the invasion of the neighbonrin,,o hostile Princes had been entirely removed, and the north-writ frontier completely strengthened. This, he eau tended, went to prove that the country was not in the situation to warrant the viOleut and unjust measures pursued. lle could • not discover the necessity for the great changes introduced atlbis period, when the thuncen from invasion were coin pletelv over. The msg of the I:emetic was of a different nature from the present one. The Right honourable Baronet, Sir John Anstruthcr, had relied.a good deal upon the sanction given to the Noble Marquiss's conduct to the Court of Directors. Those letters strongly recommend every attention to the will of the parties entering into those treaties, When it was assuined, that the Court of Directors were pieties to these Acts, he could assure the Honourable Baronet it was a mistake; reference to the letters would chew that they were not. The letter- written to the Noble Marquis. requesti:l4 him to remain iu Indio for the space of a year after his resignation, had uo reference to the affairs of Oude trner, but was written, requiring him to complete certain measures, of refunn mentioned iu his &patches.— The Dude negociation papers for ceding part of her territory had not been laid before the Council of Calcutta until 24th June, 1:404, six months lifter the treaty had been entered into, and they were not sent for the purpose or discussion or approval, bet as matter of information. They were not coonerunicated to the Court of Dire.:tors until Deceellscr 1d05; it was therefore impossible for them to hive their sonetion to the =ermine before they were acquainted with it. The Honourable Baronet has argued, that the country was consider ably more happy under our Government than under its former one ; that might or might not he the case. That was not the question before the House. . The vi deuces and outrages that have been committed demand retiree, and he had no hesitation iu saying it ought to be given. The House were bound to expressllteir disapprobation of the measures pursued, and to shew to bribe that we would not recognise or miuction such conduct. Our character, our hot our natioaal faith, and our interest, were cunt trued lii it ; and we were in every respect culled upon to puss a ',r ival' vote of crinionf na the measnre. • Sir JOHN ANSTRUTHER eNplained, and con tended, that the Gnverninent of the Noble Nlar- . quis was elionicterised by moderation and 'nibbles-. Mr. WALLIS was anxious, on a measure of such importance as the present, to trespass upon the' limn* with a few observations. It was not his in tention to enter into the details of papers upon the table, bid to take u view, upon the whole, of the soundness, the wisdom, and the pulley of the Noble Martinis. and to entlnuvour to ii,rertain whether be had been guilty of the viltiellet• and oppres.iou charged upon him. If the de scription of nor connection with ()tide, give,' by Lord l'eiginliontli, a man of ;rest ability and information, uoithl be relied upon, we should have a decided iiithieuve in the affairs of that country. F.‘ery treaty that bud taken place w its a history of its dependence moon its. In 1787, •ill interference with her internal regulations was re nounced. The treaty of 1758 lends us to all the' charges e%hibited avitet the Noble Martini:. It was by that agreed. that if more than 1:t,o00 men were necessary, the Nabob should dcfrl the ex pense of them ; and that a perfect dominion over his subjects. and the entuidete regulation of his internal affairs, should be allowed. This was at,- ptovad by the Court of Directors, oad tut; es- % reword &eh' hope that it would give such au mieendaocr, as that '-. 411 vomit; would be materially hews:lite& What , the situation in which the Noble Marquis this country ? In the mo s t deplorable state of wretchedoesi, neither law nor justice, e , et , species of crime passing with impunity, Isri tection fur person or property, populati on de. creasing, and revenue diminishing the coun try oppressed by •a licentious soldiery, the N a . bob complaining that no reliance could b e placed upon 14 subjects, awl culling ler th e interference of the liritish Closzrannent. 11, had confined himself to a discussion of th e titular merits of the transactions with Oode, co n . as he did, that the general policy aduptvil by the Marquis Wellesley was not relevant to the insinediate question before the House. Not that he shrank from that consideration, becaus e be w e , convinced that the system adopted was calculat e d to secure the peace of . ladle, and increase the la ma _ rity mid pre-eminence of the British pOwer there. The Noble Marquis, undeterred by clamour, or hr facfru, lusd called into exerciwe all the tiogrgitt i f his Hoserunsent, in a manner similar to that par. sued by diode Honourable Friends near luta, o ue happily entrusted with the Adininistratio u of this kingdom, mid who ha I, by such conduct, proud themselves competent to the high and respo n idA e situations which they OHM. Mr. Le sittristroy; iu.o speech which fixed th e attention of the House, contended, that the o f ssr , rations ma d e by the ilanourabla Gentleman els preceded hiin, did not, in a great part, apply to th e question the aubusitted to the consideration of the House. Without feillotving him throughout the extensive circuit he had taken. the pamistoinit qu es . tion was, whether the cheracter cir Great-Britain, for good faith, had been maenad ? It was, isle thee the Marquis AVellealey, in those treaties, which pledged the houonr and credit of this eosin tie. had uot s without any pretest on the rot of the Nabob of Gude, violated theirspirit and letter, sad consequently deteriorated our r with ti;a sa tire' Powers of Ilindostan ? The Hon. Gent. had astkedortnit besefit could Marquis Welt e d, ' a „„ quire re 'Leaping powafision of the priocipality of Onde ? That was not the questiou ; but the fact Was, that he lead contioued in possession of th at principality from leaf until lea*. The Noble Marquis lied disdaiueil to regulate his policy is the (.svertiment of India, by that system winch the F.nst India Directors had recom mended; regard. lens of the voice of the British Legislature, of two Acts et 'Parlissuient, forbidding the extension of territory, he had, coafideat is his own talents, and in i , nitification of his own. ambitious view s , abets ravel the solemn provisions of ratified treaties, and temmitted, by his disregard of the recorded injunctions of Parliament, the good faith of the British character, mud the secu rity of our possessions in ludic. it h as been said that such a system of action was exe 'elated for the public good, that it Was not osly celeulated to produce lametit to Great Britain, hat to the very people and government against hem the aggrewsion was committed. Against this infers ence he should ever contend, that it was the uni versal plea of tyrants, it was the read); defence of oppression, nod it was that palliation which heretofore had bee,, given ;di the proinotem of conquest end sulsjitgatioa in Judie. Such a slefooce was similar to that assumed In' Bu itaptirte, it v,as oaly to be co.upared with the Frauds I)erree 17:,1, whir' this and every other moral couutry reprobated, because it Was founded on that reprehensNle principle. that a foreign power was justified in interfering with the domestic ar rangements of a tsta:•., ander the professed pretext of correcting the errors of its domestic policy, aod of advalicia.. , the general happiness of the reoph. Was it in Ragland 014 such a plea could be to!.. - rated ? Was it irithis country that such a prete?.t of interference with the rights and indepentlen..e of a recognised Government. could receive aisectioa and support from its. legislature ? But what was the first mode of relief'? It was a monopoly of salt, from which the, Houourable Gentleman who spike last said, n revenue of 113,0001- Was derived. Such an horst, as creating a ns000pol:., Was, in every view, mjurious • but, as seeming a necessary of life, was unjust and tyrannical. Tie llosionnable Gentleman opposite has reviewed the whole history of India, from the first establishment of the British power in that quarter of the world, and has laid coosiden.hle sties. on the Frolsable dangers which threaten ed the Indian interests of this country in Cie yea It 1790 and 1791. In what way do they . apply to t merits of the present question ? For any e pima i nor defence to I.e xtracted from st ch a refers Lee. might as w P have talked of the pet be'ile d ngers with whiUs this country was nicoared by, the Spanish Power, in the reign of (been Elizabeth. .Übe' fsct still remained undenied and indisputable, that the Mire', a M'elkoley had violated the recorded alai positive determinatioit of l'suliameot, and there fore lie trusted that ti e I e of Commons, in dt.rence of their orra ri-bolet o Is, in support of the law of the bald, iu liosheatim, of the maimed lila meter, would visit Al idLits..m.aaa't 11Wy n.. 181 1.2 the lowest servant ill the service f tile rxat l'ontrany, to the proud red mighty Governor, o. travelled with his tient, of horse. who aloud to act in disrdseiliesiec to tnefirotsisegn'ed r!!:!c!... meitts of the 1. g ist:store. iiniltothetottil e•ktine; treaties. There VI rrs proof of that ev;:r.• nece-eitv.evltith erinl.l alone iv;:restot the lam fe • with ill's. Nabob of 0w1... Ti;. re was no b., • narchiess iii the payment of his iiistiihninit• 0.5 • !.1 part of that Prince. lint it was cadent, that thr eery moment that Marquis NVellesley nrrivt d U IA hen lo• unto searve warm in his ofrn e, FrF any ro:aplui,t i%a4 ur *mold he mode as.tt.ta • Nahoh, TIC, the Marquis, had, in his fist .1 to Colo:iel Scott, the itc+,:dt Luoknow, • - pressed his d-termination of po.,sessing hinn4-11 . ‘,l* the cry extensive proportion of the It; •t• ton' of °tide. 11"iiiiAt, therefore, Ow ufthc sule.i Iv wt:i intid4 the visiblr wound for IN t'ef! of t Lai 1-'4 irce, the eseot 31 aixotopli•innimt to a terti•“n3: cet,...uii RIM the f•. ' 7 3,11 .4. .I( itiot.nt A44 . t14 I f. (14: tl.r Irman it:. (S. i.u.,de i.:ntt tticle was ib bf , (l UPW+ t( tuc suwe asom.eut be tracta but c:, hohli:.g cv.:t Nabub me o f hyyners. ends ended, feSelleT tine I old 12•11111•1 of try =ti tO. Ondei Ci coed Homo reedier British the by that Ile from to one mil A pre and oi the n u disi hat pay f, Wi ts for al p ted !deft. Ca- Ottde to bell Ile by as if the set surely tlefeoc his ,purts rd Fire, I hie patina with tl the qui. 1 not ca He co the for n tiro alarm the tonal perlid lin, the f lu- that mend an- treat) the did p tad the a. itself had of 17, over ref Coal ice a eon llat Nob! , ble there r u 1 ur ti Ach iu to 'rd. phis. two ofa. of lace ob, ed d tire tied Wel of peal , Pod !eu- up"r lots viol me- prov sly crow hat of h iota step few pub ani N. - ,tuce eith uh quo tem Ilea vela of f ind' the for then tha Idetl and >wet P. B e ar- text urd rest Ile to'd - ma, rte .t hoi •r• of a t :floe was en Iv of ba on Wat Ci ST Xing ar The the to cunt orid, able jo is of what !sent o I.e w hide oil er. still t rile d Slot hen:- •s, In