The Statesman. — London, England, 1813-03-31 00:00:00

possinillty of doing it by will; but tweet-ding to the spirit of that Act allslevisses for the splitting of votes oug .t to be null and void, in the same manner as conveyances were. Mr. W. W YNNE and Mr. BATHURST ex plained. Sir JOHN NEWPORT had a Petition to present from certaiea Electors of the Borough of Weymouth, complaining, that by this Bill the Borough would be surrendered head and foot into the power of two or three iudividuals. On what principle did the House prank to new model the Borough of Weymouth l— it ear not on account of any corrupt exercise of their privilege. But It seemed the ',reties of split ting votes lied been fonnd inconvemer.t. But why was this shlntOti of a right net tp 'he ae good as others ?—lfe was afield. there were few close Bo roughs in England which.,_ if the ground of pahlic convenience were to be admitted as a test, would have a right to their franchise. The effect of _this Bill would be to throw the right of eleckioa into the hands of 40 or 50 voters. • The ATTORNEY-GENERAL . thOught the dig cussion on the Bill would be more imitable at a future stage. All were agreed that the Bill ought not tube received in its present state. He, like others, was adverse to it in its present form; but it might come out of the Committee in a ' less objectionable shape. He thought, therefore, that the Bill ought now to be Lead a second time, to be ready to go into a Com mittee. He thought also that the Rtil 'should be ex tended to all Boroughs to which the statute of King William respecting splitting of •oteli by cenveyanCe applied. Mr. Alderman ATKINS made a few remarks in support of the Bill. Sir J. NEWPORT explained. The Bill was then read a second time. On the Motion for referring it to a Committee of the whole House to-morrow, Sir J. NEWPORT remarked tkat this Bill ought to be withdrawn and made general. Mr. BATIIURST opposed this, as it was calcu lated to suspend the issuin ,, of a new Writ for the Election of Members for 'Weymouth. After a few words from Sir JOHN NEWPOR in explanation, and from Mr. W. WYNNE, the House agreed that it should be referred to a Commit• tee to-morrow. Lord CASTLEREAGH then moved the Order of the Day for n Committee of the whole house on the Affairs of Italia. Mr. Warren Hastings being called in, Mr. Adam, on the part of the East India Com pany, said; that he meant to examine the Witness only on two points :—the Ist related to the effects of Colonization by Europeans in India ; and the 2d point was, whether it was probable that the popula tion of India was likely to demand an increase iu the exports from this country for the consumption of In dia ? As to the effects of .Europeans being allowed to settle in India according to their own pleasure, and without being subject to the controul of the Com pany, Mr. Hastings was of opinion, that it would be most ruinous to the interests of the people, and of the Government. Though the people of India were naturally very quiet, still they could be easily roused to a general insurrection. Colooisatlon, be thought, would be ruinous to the peace of the coun try, as well as to the interests of the Company. As the strength of every Government depends on the affections of the people, and the satisfaction they feel under it, the stability of the Government of In dia might be shaken by too great au influx of stran gers, or by a disposition shown by any neighbouring state to invade it. Ile once thought that the admis sion of free traders into India, if under the cuntroul of the Company, would be useful. But should slaw be passed, giving them free admission there without the Approbation of the Company, such an admission of Eur. peans would be dangerous. Vile authority of the Company would be counteracted, and the time of their servants misted in petty contests:- - -- Could not answer as to the effects of opening a free export and import truck hetweeu all parts of India and Britain ; but he was certain that the peace of the country would be endangered, were Europeaus al lowed to go and settle as they pleased India. Mr. Hastings thought that the demand for our Manufactures would not be increased by ti.row ing open the trade to India. The manners of the people were simple, and their wants were few, and such aa they could immediately supply from the pro-. duce of their own soil. The higher classes of so ciety, he said, expended their superfluous wealth in the same manner as those of other countries, allow ing for the difference of fashions, in pleasure, dissi pation' and luxury of diffe r e n t ki n d s . Th ,ey em ployed a part of their wealth iu the purchase of Eu ropean commodities, such as lace, broad cloth, and articles of furniture, but to no very considerable extent ; nor did he believe there was a probability of any great increase in thii respect.—To the questioo put by Mr. Adam, Whether the character of the ' tires of India was not stationary an .jemwtable 1., Mr. Ilastii h o answered, that" it certainly was very statioilary, though 'he could not Say that it was im mutable. The Ilindoos had reinained nearly the sane in all their habits and customs from the earliest records. He had seen very few initances of Asiatics being idectedsiith European miners or fashioee. Articles of English manufacture were always, and are still exposed for sale in all priricißil settlements, but the Europeans were the chief purc.haSers.. 'Mr. PASCOE GILENFELL rose to ask. Mr. Hastings a questi on ,' w h e n h e sa id th a t he wished to add cmq observation on the subject of the cense nences* of - id uniestralued intercourse between 'etropriatis and the natives of India. The general tehout of that'evldeui:e Wei-certainly against any such Indiscriniluite intercourse, and he wished to obviate suipictoir Which it was possible might be entertain_ tiol,"thst tris . oPi4on was influenced by talas of at tishievent to the East India Company. That attach. istenf - Wiertilnly did feel, - an' ettse.hmeut of grati tude to the Company wlio had given him bread, and employed what 'he peisesset of talent dur iiig the Relive part of his this was neither the place nor the occasion to arailifest his • ettachment. ; ----Tha (Tinian he bad given *le the deliberate result of 'many years', sip.. tip ue and observation. Twenty sears ago he had sti- r t,s o il A l e tt er t o t h e C ourt of itectors on tois e. I y subject, lo 'which he had strongly remonstrated sir' the necessity of preventing Ike 470044 ftr i . ..• . - t 1 • • • • is his tp's opinio n :a l oes counteract Ito , Manli woulizattempt and some Might succeed? doting tilts period; PM obtaining a iesidaoce in India;. but he dick', riot tidn'lS the restraint on such intercourse would Wu impracticable where the Company's authority ei ,..:f teneitki: 0 1 4 I Being asked if She eseeche of this authority on the part of the Company should fall in preventiwg such unresttained intercourse, what was his opinion 1 as to the consequences of ouch failure ?--Ills Lord-1 ship answered, sueh a circumstance would imply that there was a defect in the superintending power in 1 India, as it would in feet amount to a sospecition oft the functions of the Indian Government. Being dern"P. , - the conversion of oueletltie'4iii ahnonnosa. There was, besides, a Catherirep*,t, who bad collected round him a great nutniste‘of people. whom leiliallesl christians, Ina he appeUred very ignorant • 4111 their language. These Orions, he belleved,o werspiendliesV the controul of the . Company. Mr ifictritrttrivall': greatly beloved and respected. He wig ats*,*l give any decided °pluton as to the general agrpt the permission olipersons to preach the aristiii• gion unrestrained and unlicensed would heti upon the natives. 'With respect to himself, if the ails siooaries demeaned themselves properly he should have taken oo notice of them, but if he hod found them Improperly interfering and ezercisi?goan undue ehauld iii - influence, he have no hesitation sendimg them out of the Colony. Mr. PONSONBY eel:faired as to the comparative danger to be (eared from licensed er unlicemied intli- , vidnals sejoureing in the Emit Indian territories, and Mr. Hastings replied, that his terror would be chiefly excited by the latter. Mr. CREEVEY put several questions on the sub ject of remonstrances made by the witness against the proceeding of the Company In laying investments upon its tribute, in reply to which Mr. Hastings re ferred to his correspondence in the Ninth;Report of the Committee en th e Aff a i r s of the E as t l u d ia Com- P3"Y-__ asked, supposing such a failure, even as he bad conceived it, to exist, to describe the evils, likely to result from such a catastrophe?--. He sairi c , it would have t tendency to depreciate the general European Character; particularly in a country where the population of the waft tires, in proportion to the British, was, es 2,000 to one. The Indian Government was 2 Government of, opinion, and such a circumstance must tend to irri' tate the natives, and to shake that opinion in the superiority of the Indian Government, on which so much of their success depended. Mich In thif , respect would depend on the number of Europeans, and on the state in society which they filled. Len 4. • b THE EARL OF 11.101R.f, - Sir H. MONTGOMERY pursued the Subject of i injury probably would result from inch intercourse religion, and asked what nould be the effect in India were the people in a higher rank than it they were lof a Church Establi s hment ?—Th e a nswer was , that of a lower degree ; and if the persons availing them it was a subject of great difficulty and delicacy, upon' selves of the intercourse were seamen and traders, which only conjectures could be formed. The wit- 1 the danger would be proportionably greater. By an ness wished that auy other time than the present had i open trade, the consumption of British inanufac been selected for making the attempt, because sur- • tures, he (10004 would not be materially in mises hadgoneibroad, even as tar as our settlements, ! creased, as few had the desire, and few the means of that it was the ;rdention of Government to force the i purchasing them. • The Nabob of Oude eas the only . Protestant Region and a Church Establishme n t on 1 person he knew who bad auy considfrable collection the natives ; he dreaded the consequences, particu- of English manufactures. Some natives of property lady upon the Native Infantry, upon whom a great purchased English articles of furniture in icompli deal would rest in the hour of peril. The manner meat to the English. Their opportunities lof pur in which the propositinn would be received, must, chasing were, however, equal to their wishes. however, depend upon the temper, conduct, andde- Being questioned as to the danger from Missiona meanour of the individuals selected to fill the higher ri e s preaching publicly that Mehemet was an ifn religious offices. He dared not state 411 that occur- postor, or reviling on the same occasion the Brah. red to his mind upon this delicate subject. minical rites, his Lordship said, that though from Mr. FORBESrose to examine, but Mr. BARING preaching publicly such doctrines there might be some interfered, and seggested that as Mr. Hastings had danger, there' would be none from asserting them in now been three hours under examination, he might, conferences. His opinions on this subject were as if he pleased, terminate his evidence ta-morrow. establish- The witness replied that he 4 4 1 no, dettle..that he serted in a pamphlet on the question. The ment of the Bishops, he thought, would be regarded should be able to answer the questions of the Hon.' with indifference, neither would any allowance to Gent. In continuation he said, that great Jaren .Missionariee to spread the Christian doctrines in In would result from altering the present system witi al a , have any bid effect on the natives, who were regard to India. Being asked whether, in his opi• . well convinced of the deference of the Government • nion, it was beneficial to the Settlements, that the to their religious and civil prejudices. _commercial and political powers should be united un- , der one head ? He stated, th a t he supposed • that . Lordship stated, that broad-cloth was almost the question to refer to the general ma x i m o f th e i m p o - - only article of British manufacture consumed by the licy of such a combinat! on , b u t such a max i m cou ld / natives. only apply where there were competitors who might ' In answerto Mr. TIERNEY, his Lordship re-a. be destroyed by political power, but could not refer . to the East India Company, because, asserted his opinions on the subject of the ingress of yet, they ' strangers into India, and explainNl the existing po had.no competitors to struggle with. The trade, as lice regulations, there being, in each district, an it was now cond u cted, was f ar more advantageous to i English Magistrate, to whom a subordinate cadre this country than it could he under auy alteration i that had been sugg es ted. officer made periodically, a full report of all re , markable occurrences within their districts, emong I At answer to another question on the same sub. ject, attributing to the witness the fact of his hay. ing, on a former occasi',n, entertained a different view of the mettir, the witness said, if he had am expressed oimself 30 years ago, which he was not• prepared to deny, such were not his. present senti... ments. He Lad not comc to that bar for the purpose. of reconciling his own inconsistencies. The exten sion of the con.merce of any country, be was con vinced, must be beneficial to that country. If the t trade to the East Indies were granted to America, as 'lan indulgence, it might be of adianiage, but' not, as a right. 1 Being asked, if it would. be consistent ,vrith the salvation 01 the British Empire in India to allot Missionaries to preach publicly in contempt of Ma. hornet ; to represent him as an impostor ; to treat him with contempt, and to talk in opprobrious terms; Of his religion ? The witness answered, that it could not be consistent with the salvation of the British empire in India, tsi allow any thing of the kind.-1 Such proceedings would have a natural tendency, If there were any persons fanatically religkoas., awing the natives,' to stir' up their most violent passions.— He did not say that such must be the result, but such a thing had happe ne d a l rea d y , and, if the provoca which the arrival of Europeans would be included. - In answer to seme.q nestions by Mr. STEPHEN, as to the character of the Hilidoos is compared with in habitants of Christian nations, his Lordship de scribed them as a compound of fraud, servility, and deception, which arose in a greet degree from the ancient despotism, servility ana 4 fraud being the, necessary artifices to elude extortion. His Lord ship spoke also to the welt known circumstances of the burning of widows, self-inimelation, infanticide' in certain districts (which latter crime, however, has been lately pat an end to, it being contrary to the. Hindoo religion), religious obscurity, and 914 existence of the.civit immunities of the Brolitn;ttical cast. To be the cause of the death of a person at this cast was deemed so inexpiable a sin, that the Brahmins resorted to the, threat of killing themselves for the putposes of extortion. He thought Chris tianity would improve the civil condition of the natives. The Danish and Dutch Governments had made efforts for the conversion of the natives, which had never beeti attended with any evil consequences. ‘ •And such was the respkt in India for the Missionary Schwartz, that a grant of land to ,build a church, had been made by the Rajah of Tanjore, out of re . - to hi •. ,—Your Lordship has, I find, swarmed the Public, in vindication of the pa rt have unhappily taken against the Princess You have addressed your defence to a the Grand Lodge of Freemasons, Brother-Mason, my Lord, am bound to re. motives which have promptektbe desire to ith our body; or, at left i st; I mast ap. you hal snattivr,that sep.k, which you recently pos. seised in 'our esteem, by an elaborate defence. As I shalt still eddsider myself! to be addressing E t British Nohleran,nd npta..l4ukeit t I shall • pass , o, PCr ng the casnlidOl thitinction yew Lnulihip endation dcaw,.between 010 happeni to be at Be lvede re s an& really happening to examine the 'servants of Belvedere In London. To that exam' na. tion, ited . your Lordship's accioutot of it, . I h ums . diately proceed. Mr. Keany, the stewa-d, and Partridge, the .porter, were the only two whore you examined. What the testimony of the former may have been, we know not precisely, though I 64alt i have great occasion to speak upon Ms point here after: but the depositickg of Partridge, given on sebeetasent tad more solemn bceasion, is most hap pit'', before the world. lie saw her Royal Highness but once, with three, or four other ladies, and on, gentleman, at Belvedere: none of the party went osp stairs; they merely •iewed the pie. tures; lunched; walked up and down in the portico, till their carriage. drew , up, and departed. ' Yet to this mats, a porter, 'sons .1 4 or4ship is stated to have represmated the subject' on which jekwere examin. ii 'mt to be one 44 of - importer '" ing great .npoi ince ; • you sent for him L Second' time, ,and ask.ed him if he was sure that "that was all he eobld say respecting the Princess ?"—The man replied, he was sure that was all, and he was ready to _take his oath,of it.— ' Faillitg then, my Lord, of eliciting more, you now inform the world, that. this man .Pirtsidge, Lord Eardley's porter, " was devoted to the Princess of of Wales."' Of what nature the devotion might be, or how excited, you have not deigned to explain ; nor is there any cause for believing in its existence. Indeed, the devotion of Lord Eardley's porter to the Princess of Wales, is an absurdity that needs no comment or exposure. The account which your Lordship has now, for the first time, give°, of Mr. Kenny's conversation with you, has astounded not only the `.others of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons, but every consi derate man in England : it forms a new chapter in the history of this black transaction, and constituter yourself, as the sole depositary of Kenny's know. ledge, the only remaining accuser of the princess of Wales. My Lard, you say, that the legal advisers of her Royal Highness did not dare to speak of your examining Kenny till after his death r " the mea sure, of thus examining him and Partridge," you allow to have been 66 most offensive, if not justified by some uncommon peculiarity of circumstance. Yet absolute silence is preserved upon it for so long a period by her Royal Highness's Advisers : a for. bearance (you dare to say) only to be solved by their being too cautious to touch upon the point while Kenny was alive." Kenny's account, then, was of that nature, your Lordship avers, that the advisers of the Princess did not risk the procedure of touch• lug upon it during his life-time. My Lord, you caw. not leave England till you have wiped off the asper sion, which you have thus at parting cast upon the iral ordinati, of Pro. character of one, whom a natal of ion vidence may place upon the throne of it, before you are three day's sail from it; shores. Why dared not the Princess of Wales, or her Advisers, speak of your " offensive" examination of Kenny, as you call it, during that man's life-time?—Tell the world while you are yet alive, lest the perilous secret should 'die with you: But, my Lord, if her Royal Highness's advisers thus cautiously abstained from making any comments on your examination of Kenny (their knowledge of which la, by the way, mere surmise with your Lordship), till after his death; how came it that you also waited fur the same erect,--and that it Tear never till after the death of Kenny, that you gave the slightest intimation that his evidence was unfavourable to her Royal Highness Y Nay, far ther, my Lord ; how came you, in direct contradic tion to your present insinuations, to avow, during Kenny's life-time, that his conversation with you was the very reverse of unfavourable ? You only ex., mined Turtrike and Kenny of tertrArdley's ser. rants: Partridge is happily alive, to tell your Lord ship upon oath, as he has done, that he knows nothing wrong in the Princess of Wales : Kenny, therefore, was the only hostile evidence ; and yet it - - - spelt to hie memory. tion were given, be was afraid it was likely to recur. immediately after your examination of Kenny, His Lordship concluded by a p ologising, for any was . He could not say wheth er th e Ch r i s ti an dress referred imperfections which might have arisen in his evi- that, to use your own words, " your Report to the to by him in a former answer was of European ma -9 dente , as several of the nos trums heltad then answer- Prince was, that it was entirely unn e cessa r y for his uufacture or not. It wa s on ly a s i mp l e cover i ng . 'ed were such as he should have wished some day to Royal Highness to notice the Report against the In talking of Europeansotot servants of the Co- have considered. • • Princess in any shape." My Lord, it is now too pony, he meant English, and not Americans. Could certainly make a distinction between English' II Pit MI said He The House then resumed, and Lord CASTLE- late fur you to attempt to tly from the situation in --....5..... , that as the evidence on the East India which you have placed yourself; understand then and' Americans as to the degree of danger arising question would it would well what that situation. is : you examine Kenny and (rein thy intercourse of th e t wo . I t wou ld cons i st occupy a considerable time, be conveni en t t o come to an understanding that the' Partridge secretly — you charg e th em " never to talk in tiro right of appe a l, w hi c h t h e E ng li s h at al l evidence should every day be entered mi at an early upon the subject"—you conceal the nature of their times make to thp laws of their country', and to their hour and that afterwards the House should return to evidence for years—you do nut even mention it to fellow subjects. , 1806 There being no other Hastings, questions to the business of the day. He should propose from put to Mr. ' half past four to haMpast seven, as the daily data -, 40 . the four Lords who conducted the enquiry in , on the issue of which your Master's heart must he made his bow, and withdrew amidst the naturally have been so much interested—you suffer cheers of the House. Boo of ithe sittings . of the Committee.—The Com i mittee was accordisigte fixed for to-morrow (this Lord Eldon and Mr. Percent" to tax that master Lord Teigiumouth was then Called in, and a chair : day). t• • . ' with " cruelty and injustice," tsas placed for him., ' . dic.a and you never step forward to alle g ein his vin in so many words ; _ On the suggestions of *P.C. W. WYNNE, how/. name we could not learn, in answer to a question from a Member, whose i tion, when all the evidence against the Princess was Aye!, it was settled, as a matter of privilege, that. r . .netther his Lordship, nor any other Peer, could claim Lord CASTLEREAGH said that it was impos- I preyed to be either futile, malicious, or sidsorned, ad as a right to anslver the questions sitting, but that be op . questimis, unless as a matter of courtesy, were to . ' T he H ouse then ad answered by Peers standing . . • Hein Bible at that period to say whether an decision could that Kenny's statement was such as might excite come to On his Resolutions before the reCess . ' loorned at acttrier past twelve . else. !LAP ,sesaisseessommems ' reasonable suspicion in his Royal breast : but now, Kenny is no more, you first have the coat • dance to appear before the country, and to in & ezamin9d by Mr. Randle Jackson, on the It is curious .t o mar k t m ftrpr i c i atra or the per; deem,' that his secret SiltoMiftitt to you were Mart of the Company, his ~-Lordghip Kid he had An the employment oil the Compeuy for 30 yeers. 4n , ing 'only Wardens) been epiee humoor of the public; hen a Court mourn- injurious to her Royal Highness. But if they ,venrestrictolow x o f strangers !sod be prejudicial' hiscii_iwunt t gieer , a p ia ll the i t g ater is o : d la t az pu t u tha w) y w o e u reso, it I. now your duty to explain, why b enpy s evalettal 4 6 1 1 4 Istereoll of this poeutry )l4 e mested , ith int . iii A lines limit an .. ~ . . . 2. . . 1 e t never , risentioned this before. Why, my Lord, f IT c were silk as gnifht food tr, . . . . ..• . r \-MAN • • • , . . • ...........__._____. _____. • - , - • --_--_ ---- - .._ ~,. • • Europeans into the country, which be ,- • „ t .,_ * 1110. , •_ .ple brought up in this country would sot TO molest the peace of the natives aid e ` '"'"7 .gfivit t weight to the prejudices of the natives of . safety of the Company. On other '' - ' :Idea that persons educated i ln India must naturally id I Mr Jonas, expressed the same sentiments to the Company. Htflit supposed o mentioned this to show that what he had edvaisced VW th edoOed in the Ber e tt ... .... ' 'Ater to ti Li tt to-night teas penortd , ee,gkhoty malt Ws iho ' wield be I . Ithich you ha ripirgau kid bfeWfo .4 44adaellieertil l if t le o t o rull trading : .of Lau • Wale.. 1 earniestnesc his hit' it ~ , f p l i nn i nt i a th e country ;et all .trelsts,:if Member of ti lis answer to r. tar fetes gentions, the wit- individuates inikenetrating into the county as a -Broth nen said, that while hew at .ifft,„MiseletaX,llll .Ikop-milbe- . •' 'WOW • • pect the mot ifidlided' ettiPl6or tont. is el 1 . Among dourse werA eg, T c ri nn . a the individuals at. i . • stand well wit them was a very !Fork otabAf tbiletliploflielittift4 tobiliting tivilll i vi; is hid no doubt it would i n- and a Mr. Fernando, sent from London. He re- crease toe.egreat slogvessat -first; buts the disappoint- Iliad fike.SMl membered the Circelastassesistekeisemp s t itkehtch meld arising Nat the magnitude of the trade, would, need to suet* the conversion of one-lindilirsiii antiminCod. .Then! is his . Lordship's opipion,, soes countenict 41. , Mane !K is se d in 'our _,..- V..~~.r...• --• t'