The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1824-02-28 00:00:00

1 1. .•• EAST INDIA HOUSE. DAILEY E. A Special General Court of Pruprietors of East India stack was Uhl yesterday, pursuant to adjournment from Wednesday last, to 'hike hoed corinider aeon the propriety of applying to Parliament fur the repeal df the the huh clause of the Act of the 33d Owe 111. cap. 151, by which thet'ourt of Directors is prohibited hum mending to I ilia, im the rapacity of a writer, any person who shall nut have r sided during four terms at lisileybury College. The Court sas .e.nit very numerously attended by proprietors:. The gallery was ie.., cell filled. en the outer done a board was posted, noat tine but proprietors of hitiuL stock could be admitted into th ey of the Court. This order, however. was not applied to the re p utters, who took their usual statism). EXt:IJUSIf /N TILE REPORTERS. • Before the consideration of the question was resumed, 3lr. Ktai.rATatca adverted to the statements that hail ap peared in the neersiers, respecting the exclusion of the reporters hem the body of Court at its last meeting, in consequence of milers given by the Chairman to that effect; he stated that he rose us ask the Chairman whether it was true that he had given any rich directions ? She Costae** (IV. 11'ignem, Esq.) said that no orders had been issued by hint previous to the last Court, that were not COll. wawa 'snit the preemie of the Mat—namely, that none but pro. proton shoothi be obn'ited into the Court until twelve o'clock. It was not till Ise iii the evening that he was aware that any Moon. ernence b al be: .1 sustained by the reporters, whom it was certainly /WI his wish or desire to have excluded. 3lr. Kiss i•as RICK remarked, that he had been induced to no ti-e the sob ect, only with the view of centring to the fientlonot SI who aitem , , for the Press, the usual indulgence which .t was so tOli them to retain. The CHAIRMAN observed that he did not perfectly understand the mewing of the phrase used by the Honourable Proprietor. I'lr re opuld be no doubt that the persons who were first entitled .• sconionindation in the 'Dun were the Proprietor.. lie hoped • Reporters for the tublic Yaws then present would find all the which they desired to possess for the the performance of their Whom* ; but as they were not entitled to claim seats in the body of the Court, unless, us matter of right, seats had been eranted to them, he trusted they would be content with the accom modation they received. The *object was then dropped, and the debate respecting Ilailey limey College was mooned. lI.EVIICRY COI.I.ECE. kir. lostr.••• rose to witlress the Comet. Ile stated, that he brought at least one qualification to the discussion of this important ' quentiom, which wits of some value. Ile could assure the Court of impartiality. Hie opinion was founded solely on the attention he had bestowed nap the subject. He had had no concern its found ing thin college. llis early impression was decidedly inlavourabie to the institution; but the success which bad followed the expert. inent hid induced him to alter his opinion, and he therefore felt hound to oppose a 1111A1101, which, in his view of it, went to destroy ow college altogether. It was admitted by all diet the best 'duca t nin was neressary fur the civil servants of the Company. Where timid such an educasion batik:Ai:led so well as at that college, where lode were to be found cooeentered all the requisites for quslilying 'nein fiw the high duties that were to devolve upon theni ? li the Hain Mover's arguments were sound, his minim' did not go for enough. Ile nag it, in ounsistency, to have moved for the abolition el the College NA sn expensive establishment, unattended with may beneficial results, to justify the expenditure upon it. 't he CM of public examination proposed by the lion. Mover, instead of edao whin at the College, was detective in a material respect. It might he sufficient as to arriving at the intellectual attainments Of t tic candidate, but it led to no knowledge of his individual or morel horecter. Unhappily it too often occurred that the most brilliant edema were combined with the strongest piano:l,olnd the most un g.neonable temper. But it was numitist that a character so com posed would be wholly moat to rule over the various nations that were witted in oar Indian empire. To his mind there appeared no means so effective to train the civil servants of the Leonppany to the diffirult art of self-government, as that subjection of them for two years to a course of college discipline. The power of expul sion was s powerful and salutary check upon vicious and disordered ioclonstions without which the College could not be governed. It was natural that parents, whose hopes were blighted by the mis conduct stud consequent expulsion of their sons, should complain of the disappointment they had sustained • but he was persuaded that no man who dispassionately examined the question, could doubt th.it the existence of this power was necessary for the govern ment of ley academical institution ; and if its existenre was nevus. very, no man could doubt that its exercise was equally met-Angry. That it had not been exercised with rigour was clear trim the fact too out of 721 students educated at the llollege at Haileybury, only 2U had been definitively expelled. But each of these expul sions Itnel been attended with much excitement of the public maul. The whole question of the College was detailed every time an aca &mienl delinquent wait to be punished. There had been a recent instance of insubordination at one of the l, , niversitiete. l'he offenders had been expelled, but no sensation was excited in the public mind—no feeling of reprehension exprezaed aqiinct die prafesaor, who, In the undoubted discharge of their, deny, had punished their refractory subjects. It cost the venerable seat of learning itself no blot on its fair fame. Why was there so wide a &Nereus when the delinquents of liaileyburyCollege were to be punished? Because of the great value of the appointment to which they were otherwise in the course of succeeding. (Ifear.) 4he of the strongest arguments in favour of the good government of the ('ollege was, that the students themselves made no complaint of their treatment; they were perfectly contented. The Hon. Unmoor then read an extract from a letter written by his own son, w student an the College, who, when on the point of heaving that • woninary, where he had gained the highest honours in the power of tte Professors to confer upon him, expressed himself highly satis fied with the training he had received, previous to his departure for India, to diffuse the benefits and example of self-government over the vast population of that extensive region. If the compulsory s.;,euse were withdrawn, the College would become useless. What parent would run the risk of sending his son, and subjecting him to the chance of expulsion t when he might obtain all the benefits .of education elsewhere? The greatest mischief to the civil stn. vfce of India would fellow the relaxation of die moral scrutiny to which students were now exposed. The College was instituted to remove the lamentable edicts that had resulted in former days from tile ignorance of the Company's civil servants. The first question before the Court was, whether it had answered the purposes for which it was established P The best answer consisted in the fact, that never had justice been so ably and impartially administered in India as at the present nwment. Never had the native subjects linen so wntented and happy. Since the foundation of the College the docuinions of the Company had been greatly enlarged, and its obligation proportionally increased, carefully to select the ablest anti worthiest servants. ` Hess, hear.) The lion. Director, conclusion, conjured tbc Court to give a decided negative to the motion, which went to the destruction of the noble editice they had themselves founded, flit the noblest of designs, and which. though it might. as indeed what human institution did not, labour under some defects, was yet capable of being made as perfect as any con. trivatoce of human wisdom admitted of being rendered. (('heers.) 'Mr. TRA It T said, he trusted this question would not be treated in that Court, as some questions were in other places, when they had, what were called cabinet questions. Ile hoped it would be fairly and rationally considered on its intrinsic merits. lle believed he had had a re recent experience of the state of the civil service India than any other Proprietor, and from his own knowledge Le could affirm the uselessness of the compulsory clause as a AMAMI to' insuring efficient servants in the civil department of the CO4ll - duties. As great names had been quoted is the progress of t..e discussion, and as he wax anxious w give the question a full conwideration in every point of view, he would refer to lord Cron vdle's opinion. Hu Lordship, speaking of an academical insti tution for due Indian service, for which he hail been anxi o us, made rite hollowing observati 4444 on the patent I:ollege at Hertford : l'he King's Commissioners forbore to interpose for the prat:c lip° ut this admirable Institution; why they did so, I know not, and I greatly lament it. l'he plan was, therefore, limited and •motilated; and it exists now only as a wreck of its tint noble ce.ign. s"fhe deficiency was. lowever, acknowledged, and a separate College has been entaldinheil in England, for the trluuat inn of the young melt destined tor India. It I speak of this plan as I think rat with strong ,disamintinition and regret, kg it not be inferred that I isbj..•et to any degree of attetition which can be given, even to We widest instruction and discipline of those who are destined for Indian service..-fm from it. No nun will more rejoice in this than 1 shall _nuu man more zealously contend for its advantage. But I aver can persuade myself that it was justifiable to form a sepa rate establishment in England. It may be doubted at what age those youths may MOGI advantageously be sent to India. But up to the latest moment of their niatinuanee in this country, be that period what it may, I see the strotocest possible reasons agoinst their Leong separated in education from die young men of their own age sod @titian in life. Instead of forming them beforehand into an occlusive dawn into linug resembling a distinct cast of men, deemed to administer government in remote provinces, they ought, shove all other public servants, to receive. so twig as they con tinue in England, an education purely English. Instead of re. meting, we should, I think, have embraced with eagerness the ed vaousge which our great inland. and Universities would have af. !itesluel to them fin this purpose: that they might learn there, I trust, with not less facility Won elsewhere, the elements of whatever s•oetices yoo could wish Went to possess; that in addition to . Wear., they might find theme, sod there only could they find, that hest of a ll education to a public man, which tonne the wind to wanly exertion and honourable feeling--the education which young ua receive from each other its the numerous and noised society of their equals. collected from various classes of our ei 11111111 l nitr, and. destined to various ways of life; that they might there be imbued wait the deepest tincture of' English masiii.rs sod English attach nients--of Loglish principles—and, I am not afraid in this case, to say, oho of English prejudices; an I that they might airy out with them from thence to India remembran:es and alfietions, not local only, - but personal—recullections mot merely of the scenes, but of the roilividools endeared to them by early habits, mixed with the indelible impression of those high sentiments and virtu ous principles, which, I am happy to thank, float in the very at itsausphere of our public places of education, and contribute much more, I think, than is commonly supposed, to all on which we mest value ourselves in our motorist character." that he should colour the facts rather highly. On cool reficetion It was impossible that any titan could believe that the British Empire in India could have been administered either safely or succesofidly by such agents as Lord ki'ellesley bad described the civil servants of his day to be. One objection which he (Mr. Tacna had to the college at Ilertford, was its incompetency to answer the purpose. for which it was established. He would ask the Iliairman whether the Bengal Government had not lately applied fur s considerable augmentation of writers? He believed they had. That was the etmsequence of the compulsory clause? There were now only 21 students at llailcybury who had kept three terms; therefore, for six months to come the Company could only send out that number. Would it not be much better to leave the patronage of the Coin. pany open to fair competition ? What ground of alarm was there that the nitverdtint were unable to educate public servants ter India as well as for England ? From whence came the statesmen he British Empire had been governed? It was from ' Cambridge that Mr. Pitt was taken, and, as it were, at once placed at the head of the ad • • ation of the empire. Oxford had pro. duced the 3larquis %Vent-sky, the Marquis of 'lasting's, Mr. Can ning, the late President of the !fiord of Control, and Lord Gren ville, the first President of that body which immediately superin tended the Indian government. Ile (31r. T.) would prefer to take a young man from Oxford or Cambridge, well versed in general literature, with an opportunity of grounding nimself in the oriental languages, rather than any student educated in this college, spe cially set apart fur Indian knowledge. Ile spoke from the result of his observation and experience in India. The Honourable Member t:,en quoted the following extract from the (leerier/a lirvirw foe Apnl, 1817: " I tempted, indeed, as the students are at the English ('allege, with the simultaneous pursuit of several branches of European learning and science, and compelled, as they are, to accomplish their whole course within the short space of two years, it would be preposterous to expect that their acquirentents in the Oriental languages should, for the most part, be considerable; or, with re ference to the extent and difficulty of those languages, should even reach mediocrity. We hesitate nut to ray, that ID the sense de ' scribed they ought not to reach this limit. They should, as was observed in an early part of these observations, be purely rudi mental. Oriental literature, at any seminary established for the l'ompany's servants in England, is to be considered rather as an appendage, though an important one, than as a principal, and should be pursued in careful subservience to those European studies which constitute the and primary business of such a place. in this view we canno t unequivocally disapproving of what has been established at the present college, under the name of the hiental Test, though it appears to have been originally suggested by Mr. Malthus hinuielf. AS an indispensable condition of leave to proceed to India, the students are required to attain a certain given degree of proficiency in I hiental learning, and in this alone. But let there be a general test, or none at all. There is no reason why one particular branch of study should thus be promoted in pre ference to the rest ; and if one BOOK be preferred, there are good reasons why that one should not be t hientul literature. The truth is, that Oriental literature has already sufficient encouragement, from the prospect of the distinctions conferred on it in the college at Calcutta, and this is precisely the rag 1111 l ent against distinguish ing it by peculiar honours in the college at Ilertfonl." ii ith respect to the expulsions front the college, he was glad to remark, that the amount had diminished from four per cent. t• which it had formerly reached, to two and a half per cent. which was the latter average. While he was at Eton there In been no expul s ion at au. There must therefore he come radical difference in the constitution of this college, which rendered all attempts to' saidmilate it to the public schools and universities abortive the not meld the question was reduced to arithmetical computation. If the college was to be continued, the professors ought certainly to have the full power of expulsion vested in their hands. The question , was exceedingly important, and he felt that the floe. Mover had aced rightly in declining to sweetie to the suggestion of the Chair at the commencement of the discussion on Wednesday. He hoped that some definitive 'volution would that day be adopted. As to the morality of the college, which had been so highly vaunted, he 01/11finscil he was sorry to differ widely from those who had de scribed it as the happy valley, front which care and vice were ha. niched. Ile had visited it in the hope of finding it a kind of' sequestered abode of innocence and happiness, but he found the county of Hertford no more congenial to the growth of virtue titan these in which the universities were situated. The fashionable and destructive vice of gaining was prevalent there to an alarming pitch ; and generally the college. in matters of vice, was not behind' any of our univenons. lie would not dispute that some of the students came forth well qualified ; but the retie was stated on the other aide as if it was all mire guild without alloy. When in India he had acted with and ovei some young men educated at the college I Ilaileybury, who were fully competent to their duties, but he had also met with others whom he should never have suspected of hav ing been at any college at all, if he had not known that they had passed their terms at Ilaileybury. The lion. Proprietor then ad. ruled to the particular case of an individual, who, having spread contagion at the college, was now engaged in a similar career in ladle. (What was the d ate of his appointnient The Co A I MAN said, the matter to which the Hon. Proprietor alluded was a case of notoriety behind the bar, and he misted he would abstain from stating any particulars that might go forth to the public. Mr. TRANT resumed. Ile again referred to the inadequacy o f the college to supply die dentand for civil servants. (1n the 18th of July last, 3lr. Adam, the Governor-General, in an address on the distribution of prises and honorary rewards at Fort William, observed.— " The exigencies of the public service and the consequent de mands for public officers to carry on the indispensable business of the llovernment, must always have a powerful influence on the affairs of the college. Those exigencies have, for some years past, compelled us to test satisfied with a scale of distinction, somewhat below that to which we might naturally and reasonably aspire under • different state of circoniatances. " The facilities which, in order to meet this urgent demand, have been alliirded to the students of leaving college on proof of their competence hie the public service, not merely at the half. yearly examination, but at intemtel•ate iseriods, necessarly operate to prevent the attainment in college of that proficiency which would otherwise be manifested by many of them.' It thus appeared that the necessities of the Indian Government hurried the students in an immature state. Ile agreed with the lion. Mover, that a public examination would remove all the ob jections arising from the repeal of the compulsory clause, and con. stitute a sufficient check against abuse in the disposal of the corn "" p atronage lie should thetetore support the motion cordially, satitfies that no alteration could do harm, as things as they were could hardly be wont as to the education f the civil servants of the company in India. (Hear, bear, hear.) Mr. BENS said, there were many in that Court who deprecated the discussion of this question. lie believed the professors did; but he did nut, because it was in his opinion right that the constituent body should keep a vigilant eye on the executive. The first fact he would refer to was, that in neither of the Governments of Madras, Bengal, or Bombay. was there one individual educated at Bailey bury college. The lion. Director then traced the rise of the Com pany's power in India, and the history of their government. The latter 40 years of that period, compared with the former, was mere play and trifling. All the difficulties of the establishment of the empire in India had been encountered and overcome by men who had sot received the supposed benefits of a peculiar education. If the I question were siniply whether the t'ompany's servants should be educated or ignorant, no man could hesitate, and he confessed that when the College was originally proractl, he was one of its wannest adviasites. Ile was caught with the speciousness of its I kplan ; but he should betray his duty to the Court if he did not ac- : nowledge that his experience of what had passed had shaken his opinion. lie telt obliges' to the Ilan. Proprietors by whom the I Court had been convened, for giving hint an opportunity of avow ing his altered sentiments. No man denied the advantages of edu cation ; but did it follow that a sufficient education could be had at , Ilen ford only ? When the college was established, oriental litera ture was little cultivates!. Now there were many persons able and willing to teach it. There was this distinguishing feature in Ilaileybury Cullege. There was not, as at the Universities, a series of graduates connected together by the class of private tutors; the undergraduates looking not only to the honors.y degree, but also to the lucrative benefits of the itstitution. At Ilaileybury the terms were passed, because they were compulsory t but as soon as the certibeate of qualification was obtained, the College was die. regarded, and became as nothing in the opinion of' the student. Tell I lion. Ditector then examined the course of studies pursued at Ilaileybury. The lectures occupied wine of the professors four hours* week, some five hours, and others nine hours. The amis. tant professors were occupied ten hours a week. The attendance of ' the students during sonic of the term was over by one or two o'clock. The remainder of the day was spent, of course, in such amusements as were more natural to their age, than their expected retirement like monks to meditation in the cells, The College Committee hail proposed the institution of evening lectures, but the professors, through their outer elii refused -to accede to the at nutgement. Sir Uniting ROBINSON rose to order. The lion. Director was bound to confine himself to arguments on the question, and, should refrain from attacking the characters of the professors I who were absent, and therefore unable to vindicate themselves. Mr. It. JACKSON said, if the Honourable Baronet's point of order were tenable for a moment, the discussion could not go mi. unless the Company made the professors proprietors; for otherwise, according to the board posted at the door, they were not admissible. The conduct of the professors was part of the question. 'flee Com a NAN held that the Hon. Director was not in order. Ile was alluding to matters not regularly before the Court. After a few weird. from the Iliniourable D. KINNAIRD, Sir G. ROPINsON, Mr. PATTISON. and Mr. K. Jacasost, Mr. Itten remount. As an inatunce of the practical results of the habits acquired at Ilaileybury College, be proceeded to feral wine vitriol, of letters rkrelVoll front a WOW educated there, Anil now in India. Ile was deeply in debt, and paying sixteen lice cent assurance and interest. lie divided the writers into four classes : the first deeply-involved class contained those who were in debt from 2.00011. to 10,0001. ; the second, or much involved, from 1,0001. to 3,111101. : the third ; or slightly involvetl, from 100 i. to 111100 i. ; and the fourth, who were not at all involved. but entirely free from debt, and worth a little nos. IA latish.) In the first class there were eighteen, nearly a majority of the whole; in the second eleven, of which this writer warn one ; in the third eight ; and in the fourth only three. After reading this attract, it might perhaps be considered his (Ileer, beer Aim.) The writers of four year, standing were gc bed policy to sit down—for reams inure sonclusise ' or better ex. nerally muck ia debt, for which they were paying fourteen per pressed, he could hardly hope to bring forward. I' such an cent. assurance and interest. He (Mr. Debbi had passed twenty. •iodiridUal they ought to be decisive. Much strata had been laid on seven years in the civil service in India, and knew the eiLellent the cel braied Minute of Council by the Marquis Wellesley ; but moral qualities of the people of that country. The attempts though he had a great regard for that noble person, he had a greater made to aduniniate them proceeded from those on:y who had rega rd He did not wish to charge the Noble Lord with viewed them with jaundiced eyes. Ile tilt it his duty to serve lirepresent the state of the civil servants of them ; and he sincerely believed he could not do so more eke , but it ought not to be forgotten, while the wally than by exposing the evils of this establishment. The I read, that Lord Wellesley had to make out lion. Director then adverted to the Statute of Selection, by which .penditure of half a million of money an the the protestors are empowered to choose any number of students at Fort William. It vas !Waal, chador% wheat they may suspect of bang the most guilty of any violation of academic discipline. and unless they conkers, expel them, tinder the penalty of never re-admitting them. This statute was con ceived in the spirit of the Spanish Inquisition. It was a disgrace to the Court by which it had been proposed—to the Board by which it had been approved—and to the nation at large to which they belong ed. lie acknowledged that he shared deeply in the disgrace, having been a member of the executive when it was enacted. lie felt re morse that he had not protested against it, but he trusted he would be allowed to plead as a palliative of his offence, that he assented to it in the expectation that it would tend to prevent the commis , slot) of outrages. Ile knew nut in whose niind it had originated ; but he was sure that its author was only prevented by the temper of the times from resorting to the rack. (Ilear, hear, hear.) He !approved of the proposed application to Parliament, because the repeal of the compulsory clause would eeneet the evils of the College. Students then, if bound %alined for the place, would, as elsewhere, be advised to withdrutl.'and their parents would assent, if they could, without forfeiting the patronage of the Company. Ile implored the Court, as they wished well to the millions en. trusted to their government in India, to remove the evils which originating here led to danger and misery there. (Cheers.) FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE'. FRENCH PAPERS. Mr. ROBERT (;RAPT said, that though the discussion could never be unattended with mischievous consequences, they would have less reason to deprecate it if it were conducted in the spirit in which the Honourable Mover had introduced it. It was an ex tremely serious question. He could not concur in the motion, be cause he was satisfied that the system proposed to be substituted would prove inefficient. It was not possible to send the question before Parliament with the proposed alternative. In whatever terms the Court might send it before Parliament, the question they would consider would be the general question. The instant the clause was repealed, Parlizunent would consider for themselves what substitute they should enact. He had heard the statutes of the College represented as absurd, unjust, and tyrannical. The complaints which had been vaguely rumoured in other places, had received a full and minute specification in the speech of the vener able Director (Mr. Hebb). The only proposition actually betore the Court was, w halter a certain clause, making it obligatory to attend at the College a certain time, should be repealed ? ne general evils of the institution were not, therefore, the subject of debate, unless it could be 'hewn that they necessarily emanated from the com pulsory clauses. If they did, was it not the duty of those who complained to set on foot an alteration or amendment of the statutes of die College, by proposing that the Court of Direc tors should take Mem specifically into consideration ? Ile was anxious not to enlarge upon the question before them, but when, he heard a law, recommenied by dip majority of the Court of Directors, and approved by the I.keid of Contrail stigmatized as conceived in the spirit of t/te Spanish Inquisition, and its author an possessing a mind that. would hev..: resorted to torture, hr felt that he must deviate from the line within which he should be happy to confine himself, to repel so extraordinary • charge. Ile would refer the inquiry shortly to two points:— First, had the Institution, in any fair degree answered the pur poses for which it was Intended ? Secondly, was there any rea sonable probability that those purposes would be better answered by the substitute proposed? If the Institution had simmered the purposes for which it was intended, there arose &strong presumption that it ought not to be altered. If the proposed substitutes could not answer those purposes, there arose an irresistible presumption agaiust that particular change. It had been asserted, that the in. %tit ut ion had completely failed ; and facts were appealed to in cor roboration of the assertion. lie had been taunted with his relic.: lions seven years ago, and asked what he had now to say in their defence ? It would be well if in this, as in other arguments, the disputants commenced by defining their terms. The question here was, what was the criterion of success ? Ile had presumed to pre. did it confidently ; but in what sense 1 , --as a 'dace of probation-- as forming a standard of qualification—as fixing a test to discri minate merit. But did he predict of the college that it would be a place of probation in which there would be no failures,—as form ing a standard of qualification which everybody would reach,—as fixing a test that would discriminate nobody,—meant to distin. guish merit, but cakultaed to reject none? (Hear, hear, hear.) It had been objected, that Lord Wellesley had added a shade to his graphic delineation of the state of the civil service before the in stitution of the college of fort William ; but there could be no ' doubt that the present state of that service was higher as to integrity, ability, public spirit, disinterestedness, mental il lumination and efficiency to discharge their duty than at any runner period. That body never possessed a greater, never indeed so great, a share of merit, or was in a course of more rapidly pro gressive improvement. The civil servants of the Company were such a set as it would be difficult to rival throughout the world. This progressive improvement was owing to the energy of the Go. ' vernment at home and abroad, to the overflow of public opinion from this part of the world to that, to the improved regulations of the service, and in particular that by which no civil servant was al. lowed to employ any creditor in hie office. There were other causes which grew out of the nature of a self.improving system, but which nobody could particularly assign. They resembled those delicate plants that grew wild in a flue climate, without any one being able to assign the particular cause of their production. Of this talent 15-7ths was supplied from the college at Haileybury. If they admitted the hnproyement,anild they contend that the feederof this great sup. ply of talent could be as impure and corrupt as it had been described? He would not rest upon this arithmetical refutation of the calumny. There was this remaining circumstance, of which ne had • right to avail himself :—at format periods the improvement had descended from the higher to the lower departments of the service, but now it was rather ascending. The testimony of Lord Minto and Lord Hutinp, though they might mistake the cause, were decisive as to the fact. Yet it was maintained, that though the civil servants of the Company learned nothing but mischief before they go . to India, yet when there, it appeared they dispensed mercy and jus tice in a manner most honourable to them. The Honourable and Larval Proprietor then read an extract of a letter front Mr. Ster ling in which he stated that the scenes of riot and extravagance formerly prevailing among the writers had disappeared, and that prudence and economy were becoming fashionable virtues. Another letter be had left at home, written by the young man, on whose information the venerable Director (Mr. Hebb) had relied. If he had brought it with him, on comparing notes he had no doubt of altering his conviction. The lion. and Learned Proprie tor then referred to the progress made in India by the students from the college of Haileybury. Even in the time of the Marquis Wel lesley the advantages of education were not unconfirmed or unac knowledged. In reference to the subject the Noble Lord had stated : " The study and acquisition of the languages have, however, b een extended in Bengal; and the general knowledge and qualifi cations of the civil servants have been improved. The proportion of the civil servants, who have made • considerable progress to. wards the attainment of the qualifications requisite in eth several stations, appears great and even astonishing, when viewed with re. gard to the early disadvantages, anboxrastmenut, and defects of the civil service. ..... But it was argued that the College at Haileybury was useless, because In 'listen or seventeen years it had not produced a (lover. ' nor ! He admitted the fact. It was not reasonable to have ex. petted otherwise; but fur their standing, It would be found that the most important stations were filled by the distinguished students of Ilaileybury. There was another short proof of their profici ency, and not the worse, perhaps, because it was indirect. The distinguished students of !'net William were the same as at lisiley bury. He would stake the whole question on the opinion enter tained by the young men who had gone out from the College. lie had access to only twenty-six, and their testimony was unanimously in its favour. In June, 1817, the Marquis of Hastings had given his testimony decidedly as to its success, and again inlAugust 1818 ; and he (Mr. G.) agreed perfectly with the excellent observa tions that had been made by an eminent person, and which he would take the liberty of reading " 1 conclude, therefore, that the system, in its usual operation. is good ; that the usual course of management is good ; that ; everything is well.arranged and well-(conducted; in short, that no blame call be imputed either to the constitution or to the admi. nistration of the college, but that the origin of the evil to be accounted for must be sought in something extrinsic, and perhaps adventitious. Now, in this point, it must be recoibxted, that the r India college is in some respects very differently situated from all other institutions of the same species. The generality of collegiate establishments have been fowided in times of very imperfect illu mination, and by an authority which was considered paramount. They have, therefore, easily acquired an unresisted sway ; and having beg u n by being strong in power, have ended with being strong in opinion, they have become interwoven with all our national prejudices, and may be said to have struck their roots into the perpetual rook of the Constitution. Hence they command the unqualified reverexce of mankind; and any attemp to shake their authority, much more any attempt to endanger their existence, would be considered the last extreme of fully. The India College, on the other hand, has had to contend with something of those disadvantages that are experienced by a government established in times of light and liberty, in times when almost every man has an opinion, a voice, and a pen. It ne cessarily wants all that hold on the public mind, which is the ' growth of prescription and antiquity; that is, it wants one most impuriant it ty for the preserves on of discipline and the prevention of designs of tumult. A student of evil dispositions, and we must expect a mixture of such in every numerous assemblage of indivi duals, may he led to entertain the idea that even s.:project of over setting the establishment is not wholly out of reach : and, at all events, when a crisis of' any kindarises, an institution like this is iletictist in the means of overawing disturbance." The Hon. and Learned Proprietor then enumerated several in stat.ces of the success of the students from Haileybury. Of live Civil Secretaries of Calcutta three were from Ilaileybury, the oldest of whom had nut been there seventeen years. Of four at ' Madras, two were front Ilaileybury; and the same number at Bom bay. The first student who set his foot in India was immediately promoted ; and on his deeesie lately, the settlement had entered into a subscription to commemorate his talents and virtues by a statue to his honour. There were three objects which it was hoped to answer by a collegiate education.—literary instruction, the forma tion of good habits, and the acquisition of valuable friendships and We each of these , lie contended, no better place than the College at Ilaileybury could be devised. The lion. and Learned Proprie tor titen proceeded to examine minutely in detail the system of education, which, he contended, was as perfect as could be framed. The inherent evil of the institution was the value of the ap pointments, which would always seduce the friends of the expelled student to appeal to every tribunal from which they could hope fur either justice Or revenge. Ile concluded a very long, able, and eloquent s....ech, by exhorting the Court not to abandon a system of education so beneficial on account of inconveniences not to be avoided, and in search of ad vantages that were unattainable. ( general burst of applause followed the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's speech.) Dr. PATTERSQN then Mee to move an adjournment of the debate till that dm( se'nnight. He esid, that at that hour (half. past five o'clock) It was impossible that the lion. Mover could reply with effect. The Court was then adjourned till Friday Deal, for the further consideration of this question. The Paris Journals of Wednesday morning and evening arrived yesterday : The Monitevr contains two Royal Ordinances, the first ap pointing the Presidents of sonic of the Electoral Colleges; and the second for dividing the Court of Assizes for the department of the Seine into two sections, which will be simultaneously oc cupied, and thus expedite business. Baron d'Emles, the Captain-General of Catalonia, entered Barcelona on the 14th inst. accompanied only by an escort of fifteen cavalry. On his arrival lie issued a Proclamation to the 14arcelonians. A letter of the 16th inst. from Muccilles states that the Spanish' general Villaeamoa had arrived in that port; it is said he has asked permission to reside there. (From the Afositear..—Non-offieial part.l BARCELONA, FEN. 14. ' On the 7th of this month, a great pan of the Commanders and Officers of the Constitutional Amiy left this city, with nn unlimit, eil leave of absence, going to their native places, nor is there at this moment any thing said of pay, or of any kind of indemnity or allowance. This order contained an exception in favour of those who are natives of Barcelona, or of its district : as for the latter, they must choose a residence in this city, or at least in one of those which are accounted the most in favour of royalty. This measure includes the officers who have been allowed to retire since March 7, liett. Paris, Fen. `2l. The article Bayonne, inserted in the Ilfoodirtir of Saturday last, needs wane correction. Count Florida performed his journey to Paris with a passport signed b the Count d'flfalia, Minister for Foreign Affairs to his Catholic. Majesty, by the King's permission, l which passport was countersigned by the French Ambassador at' 31adr:d. Count Florida Bianca has been at Paris since the 17th I , inst. and has nut met with the least difficulty oe delay in fulfilling .he fbrutalitiot required by the police regulations relative to strangers. From the EVffe of Thursday.] l'an is, FER. 23. . . . News from Ronne of the 12th has been received The health of the l'opc in daily becoming stronger. On the 9th his Ito heess was pleased to receive a deputation from the town of Ma t2lica with his accus:onittl kindness. . . . . . It is affirmed that the marriage of the Archduke Francis Charles is speedily to take place. and that this Prince will reside at Milan. Prince Cafforedo, it is said, is to ask the hand of the Printua of Ikvaria. taougn nenau a great rq regard for truth. lie dii designing wilfully to nil. te Company in India, I iJui ecame to i ` justirtiyn e thewelasper .entraul of a college at THE WEST INDIES. We are requested to insert the following letter, by a most respectable Correspondent:— Bristol, Feb. 26, 1824. I have lately met with a most ingenious statement by 31r. T. Clarkson, which is admirably ralrolated to impose on all those who are ignorant of the true state of the cane. I allude to Mr. Joshua Steele's Copyhold system in garbadoes.• It so happened that I resided on the nearest adjoining estate to Mr. Steele's, and superintended the management of it myself for many years. I had therefore a far better opportunity of forming an opinion than Mr. Clarkson can have. Ile has read Mr. Steele's acnotint,.-1 witnessed the operation and effects of his plans. The results have since spoken for themselves, and the following state ment ma) be relied on. Any one judging from Mr. Clarkson's publication, would conclude that the resident proprietors, attorneys to absentees, and managers in the island of Barb:aloes, must be the most blind, ignorant, and perverse people in the universe, see ing that they would not adopt Mr. Steele's plans, and that even that moat powerful of all human excitements, self-interest, failed to operate upon them. But if, instead of relying upon Mr. Clark son's account of that system, we were to suppose the very reverse, we should be more likely to arrive at the truth. Mr. Clarkson tells us, " that it was attended with considerable advantage (in a pecuniary point of view) to Mr. Steele, and most agreeable to the negroes." I am ready to make great allowance for Mr. Clarkson. He has evidently been misled by Mr. Steele's plausibility. That gentleman, like many of our philosopher' and enthusiasts of the present day, was visionary and theoretical. Ile made a great figure in his study, with pen, ink, and paper, whilst more than one third of his land was actually overrun with bushes, and his cane fields and provision grounds always grassy and in bad order. lie possessed one of the largest and most seasonable plantations, in a delightful part of the island. With all these advantages his estate was never in as good order as those in the name neighbourhood, and thecrops were neither adequate to thesize and resources of the estate, nor in proportion to those of other estates in the same part of the island. The copyhuld system was noxious to the slaves, because the power w a s placed in the hands of a few ignorant and unfeeling negroes, slaves like themselves. frequently governed by motives of private pique and secret malice. This could not fail to produce jealousies and heart-burning% among them. They were paid for the work which they actually performed, not in the currency of the island, but in copper pence, which would not pass out of the plan tation, so that they were obliged to lay them all out in the estate. To avoid this regulation, they would purchase articles from the plantation storekeeper, and sell them again to the neighbouring ne groom at a lots, in order to obtain die money of the island. Fi nally, after an experiment of thirty years under Mr. Steele, and his executor, Mr. F. Bell, Mr. Steele s debts remained unpaid, and the plantation was sold by a Decree of the Court of Chancery. After the debts and costs of suit were paid, very little remained out of 45,0001. to go to the residuary legatees. 'lt was very well known that the Negroes rejoiced when the change took place, and thanked their lied that they were relieved from the copyhold system. Such was the final result and success that attended this system, which has been so much eulogized by Mr. Clarkson. A rematkable absurdity appears, however, to have escaped his notice. The West Indians have been repeatedly charged with over-working their slaves, under the powerful ex citement of the tremendous cart-whip ; yet strange to say, 'lr. Clarkson assures as that Mr. Steele, by a trifling reward of three halfpence sterling per day, got more work done by sir of his negroes than was fornserly flogged out of eighteen of the same people. I would beg leave to ask rile. Clarkson, whether Mr. Steele's negroes had no feelings, or the tremendous cart.whip no terrors ? Again ; Mr. Clarkson tells us of another wonder per formed by Mr. Steele's three-halfpenny specific: he says, " The weak and poor, as well as the lazy and indolent, were brought to perform the most laborious work with case and ofacsky." How can persons of common sense reconcile such gross and palpable absurdities ? In thin manner Mr. Steele led his negroes to the very threshold of liberty," if we toy rely on his own statement : but most assuredly his plan was more likely to conduct them to the brink of the grave. Certain it Ls that .Mr. Bell, who suc ceeded Mr. Steele, adopted a very different plan.; for he hired all the labourers that were to be procured, to assist the copyholders. The weak and infirm composed a feeble gang, and were not per mitted to do hard work; but with all this they decreased under the system, and were harpy when it was ended. That they were not disaffected to the usual mode of treatment is proved by their conduct during the insurrection in 1816, which happened after they had returned to their original state; not one of them was impli cated in the rebellion, although they were pressed to revolt by some of the insurgents. As I before observed, my residence ad. joined Mr. Steele's estate; and as the oopyholders did not grow enough food for their own consu.nption, I for many years under took to plant a large field of Mr. Steele's land in Guinea corn, a moiety of which, when reaped annually, was allowed to me, as an equivalent for the labour of planting, reaping, & c. I haithere thre an opportunity of witnessing the management under the copy hold system. After the estate was sold, and the system changed, I had equally an opportunity of observing the management • and certainly the manifest improvenient was strong evidence in f avour of the change. Fields which had been covered with bushes for a series of years were brought into cultivation, and the number of pounds of sugar was in some years more than doubled, under the new management. The provision crops also were abundant ; con- sapiently the negroes and stock were amply provided for. If Mr. Clarkson, or any other person, should doubt the tor- eeriness of what I hare advanced, they may apply to the records' in the Secretary ' s and Master in Chancery's Offices in Barbadues, where what I hare asserted will be fully confirmed. I am, &c. Re HENRY SEAI,Y. N.11.--Some further account of this notaiXe — ;cl;eine, w hit An been highly eulogized, not only by Mr. Clarkson but by the Edin burgh Reviewers, Mr. Cropper, and by almost every writer opposed to the present Colonial system, will be found in the •• Correspon dense between John Gladstone, Esq. M.P., and James Cropper, Esq., on the present state of Slattery in the British Wen Indies," lately published. • Vide Tboughts on the necessity of improving the condition of the Slaves. &c. &c., by T. Clarkson," (printed for the Abolition iociety), p. SI. - - - HUNTING APPOINTMENTS FOR NEXT WEEK. rox _not: NM. Lard Petre's will meet this day, Billericay, at ten. Mr. Winnington's on Tuesday, at ➢tumble Village; and Fri. day, at the Hundred House, at ten. - ----- MARRIEIM The Brighton, on Monday, 11 ednesday, and Friday, at Patcham, near the Race Course, and at the Dyke, at half-past ten. The Brookside. on Monday. on Newmarket hill; IVeidneaday, at Kennel ; Friday, at Telescombe Tye; st ten. The Earl of Derby's Stag-hounds, this day, at One hundred Acres. CORN EXCHANGE. Fey. 21, The arrivals of every description of Grain have been short this week, but a fair supply of flour. Fine Wheat was *calve, and in demand at an advance of about ?a. per quarter on Monday's cur rency. Higher priers were demanded for Barley, and, in some in stances, obtained; but the quantity of good malting quality at market was very trilling. The advance of Is. per quarter obtained on the prices of Oats on IVednasday, was fully supported this morning, and line samples were *farce. Beans and Peas were brisk sale, at a small improvement in prices. In prices of Linseed or Rapeseed we cannot note any variation, but neither very brisk I sae. DOW-STREET. Mama R .—Yesterday a robbery to a considerable extent was committed in Carey-street, Lincoln's Inn, by some daring thieves, whose intentions are supposed to have been nothing less than burglary. At the house of Mr. Radford, the lock-up house, they actually unmated the top of the lead, with which they got clear off fur the time. Suspicion fell on two persons, who were yesterday examined at the above office, and remanded for the pur. pose of searching their lodgings. The officers were directed to use every exertion to detect the whule gang of thieves. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. CUSTOM.UOVSK, Fro. 27. ENTERED i Nwmtus. Amphitrite,Pinitlenhaun (Castendeick, broker), from Dattsic. Beata Christina, Caliber( (Lindgren), fruin Guttenburgb. Nora, Evansen, (11011eii), from fredmckstadt. Eden, Smith (Ndaun), from Petcrsburgh. FROM LLOYD'S LIST. FALMOUTH, Fes. 21—Arrived the Blues, Blues, from G en , in thirty days, for London; on the I ith instant was ran on board of by an American schooner, and carried away her bulwarks and staunchions, and tore away three planks neat the gunwale. The brig Gratitude, Bowen, from Hiunburgli, for Vera Cm; which put in here the 18th inst. and has been lying war the pier, to stop a leak, was .iiscovered to be on fire this morning; steps were mediately taken to discharge the cargo, and water was poured Into the hold in great quantities, and after some time it was got under, but a considerable part of the cargo was damaged, and the package s broken and burnt; it is not yet ascertained ho w the tire (which never burst into a flame) originated. PLYMOUTH, FEN. VA—Arrived the °Math. Brown, from Charente to London, with ions of bowsprit, havinr been run foul of at sea; also the Thane, Wilson, trout St. Illicl:sers. PORTVMOUTII, FEB. 26.--The Sir Da*id Scott, for H •nyfal and China, passed the Isle of Wight--all well. Arrival, tna William Money, Jackson, from the Downs, fur India; Caroline, Harris, from ditto, for Batavia; %Vest Indian, Cook, frau the Downs, for Antigua—Sailed, his Majesty's ship Pandora, tot Falmouth. DEAL, PER. 26.—Passed through this afternoon from the River, the Dunira, Hamilton, fur Bombay and China; Earl of Balciirras, Cameron, for Bengal and Chita; Canning, Pattison. tor ditto; Abeona, Turner, for Jamaica; Nile, Davidson, for }Whoa ; kangaroo, Bunnell, fur Genoa; Hopewell, Smith, for Jat i; .,,.. ; Liberator, Cobden, for Valparaiso ; and several others, names unknown. BoyEa, Fes. 21i. ailed, his Majesty's packet Arrow, foe Calais, with his Excellency Lord Granville and suite, Attibas. sailor to the Hague. Gaavgsews, Fes. 26.—Arrived, the Beata C a th er i ne , C o l. burn, from Goeinburgh ; Eden, Smith, from Petersburgh ; and Ocean, —, from Limerick—Sailed, the Onyx, Laugfiton, for Ilonduras ; Barclay, Ferrier, for Jamaica ; ()port packet, South, fin' Pernambuco ; Matilda, Moore, for Lisbon ; Renard, Hams', for Southern Whale Fishery ; Altnorall Boyd, for New So ut h Wales; and Idassaanit, Armstrong, the Baltimore. Newar, FEB. 23.—The sloop Barbara and Jannette, from Irvine to Dundalk, struck on a rock outside the Bar litth inst. and sunk.--Crew drowned. PENEANCE, FEN. 24.—The Jeune Aime, Forton, of and f•ir Bourdeaux from Bristol, was brought into the pier thi s evening, in a very le aky state. VESSEL. SPOKEN %ATM—George, —, for Gambia, by th e Eclipse, Thompson, arrived at Falmouth. A schooner was stranded near Cuxhaven, on the 13th instant= name unknown. The Mercurius, Kaasen. from Konigsberg, bound to Hull, put into Cbriatiansand the 7th inst. with damage, and would be obliged to discharge. The Mercury, M'Nully, from the South Seas, had arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. The Jonge Cornelia, Knyl, from Amsterdam, far Bayonne, sailed with other ships on the 4th Feb. from (ieesthaven, where she had put in. A letter from Caralinerzyl, of 19th Feb. states, that she had been brought in there by a lighter, for which about 2,000 florins were paid. She was very leaky, had lost rudder, &c., and it was feared part of the cargo was damaged. A letter from Hocksyl, of the 20th Feb. states, Captain Berend Hendrik* and his crew bad arrived there, having abandoned their ship, the Jonge Catharine. from Bergen to Hamburgh Oast from I.)&zyl, where she bad put in damaged) on account of her b e i ng so leaky. OLD BAILEY SESSIONS. The trials of the several prisoners being concluded, yesterday morning, at half past ten, the Common Sergeant passed sentence on such of them as had been convicted. The following criminals received sentence of Death, vis. Richard Stagg, Walnut' Sykes, Samuel lirigg, Joseph Thomp. son, William - Thompson, James Thompson, John Adams Hill, John Willis, James Moore, John Dickson, }Aware, Sams, John Easterby, Richard Ryan, Henry King, James Lovett, Mary Webb, James Darner, Catherine Driscoll, Amelia Milford, James Nelson, Thomas Phillips. and Thomas Sutton. The sentence of transportation for life was passed on one— , that of transportation for fourteen years on another—and that of seven years on 37 prisoners. Fifty-nine were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. The Costat;ix SERGEANT, in passing sentence on those cri. minals who were capitally convicted, observed that the mimes of those who had been enumerated, and whose several crimes had been stated, to the number of twenty-four, .were all of th em in the prime, many of them in the dawn of life, and they now stood convicted, and their lives forfeited to the laws of their country. It was the duty of the Court to pronounce the dread. ful sentence of the law on all who stood at the bar; and if any had as application of mercy to make, it mast be male elsewhere. If there were circumstances in any of their cases that could lessen the aggrarction of their crimes, or any tkinc in their natural situation or conduct that could be made appear fa. vourab ,le there was a quarter where these favourable circumstances might be stated. If a rational doubt should appear in any case, it would be fully considered ; but the Court could hold out no hopes of mercy to any of them. They stood convicted of great crimes, and, if they were to $o unpunished, no society would be secure. Some of them, convicted of stealing in dwelling-houses, stood in the relation of servants to their prosecutors; others were convicted of burglary, which almost always was attended with violence; others had been convicted of crimes regarding the currency of the realm, which, in a commercial country like this, was an offence of a most dangerous tendency. It was the duty of the Court now to pass the awful sentence of the law, in doing which he wished all who heard him to reflect, how different was the worst situation any one of the prisoners was placed in some years ago, to what the situ. ation of that one was at present. It was some consolation, bow. ever, to the Court to reflect, that none of the crimes charged on the prisoners had endangered the lives of others. The Learned Com mon Sergeant then passed the awful sentence of the law on the se. sera prisoners, and the Court adjourned. DREADFUL FIRE. We have obtained the following further particulars of the de struetive fire which broke out on Thursday evening in the exten sive wharfs and warehouses of Messrs. Pickford and Co. on the banks of the City Road Basin. The fire was first observed in the interior of the middle row of warehouses, and so rapid was its pro gress as to defy every effort to prevent it from spreading destruc tion around, and in a short time it communicated to the budding. At this time vast crowds of persons thronged the exterior of the building, while as many more were observed Instating from all parts of London, guided by the column of flame, which was visible many miles ; the persons employed in the interior, olitiernng the immense mass press upon them, very prudently closed all the gates, to prevent the ingress of any individuals. Those premises, which contained a great quantity of the product of the Northern part of England, were seen In entire flame, while the various corn ' niodities recently imported presented a heap of smoky ruins. The engines, as they arrived, were brought into play, partly standing in the Canal, while the fi remen manned a boat, and boldly ventured as near the flames as the scorching heat would allow them. The flames at this time had obtained such ascendency that all attempts to save the building were useless ; every engine that was then in full play seemed not in the least to damp the flame, nor prevent it spreading its destruction : the firemen therefore turned their at tention to the adjacent buildings of Messrs. Pickford, lying east ward of the City-road, and displayed their utmost efforts to prevent them falling a prey to the fire. Their exertions were successful, and they saved the object they aimed at ; had they caught, there is not the least doubt but Mr. Holt's warehouses would also have shared the morn fate ; the werehenses, however, where the fire first originated, being stored with goods, particularly from Liverpool, Manchester, Staribrdshire, Birmingham, and Shef field, defied all exertions to save a single article ; the flames continued spreading in every direction, and several engines were brought round within the walls, and then commenced play ing upon the aide warehouses near the City-road, which contained an unusual quantity of china and glass in crates. All the gates in Ratcliffe-row and Macelestield-street were closed; but the walls, standing eighteen feet high, were lined with persons, and the crowd at length forced one of the great gates, and gained the banks of the canal opposite to the fire ; it was spreading then far and wide &boat die warehouses, while the red-hot tiles from the roofs, splitting into a thousand pieces, resembled an explosion of gunpowder. At length the flames were somewhat abated in the first quarter, oral then began its ravages in the left.hand range of warehouses, prin cipally °alned by crates of china, /sc. which were almost totally consumed. At half-past eleven o'clock at night. the Moors mere entirely subdued, but vast columns of smoke were still rising from— all parts of the ruins. The total amount of what is destroved by this destructive fire has not been ascertained. Mr. Pickford's pro perty, it is said, is insured to an amount sufficient to cover his total loan ; but it is asserted that such is nut the ease with a great quan tity of merchants' property. The conflagration was not owing either to the explosion of gait, or the taking fire of tow, as reported, but from the bursting of a carboy of vitriol, and commenced in a warehouse to the eastward of the Basin, on entering by the arch from Ratcliff-row, and was first discovered by a bargeman). The loss of property is reported at upwards of 20,00141. The half.consumed body of Mr. V tells, the collecting clerk of Messrs. Pickford, was dug out of the ruin', at eleven o'clock yes terday morning, together with the mangled joints of a boy named Thomas, and conveyed in a shell to St. Luke's bone-house ; two others, labourers in the wharf, were taken home, dreadfully scorched. None of the firemen received material injury. James Pogo, of the Royal Exchange, and Richard Simpson, of the Guardian, fell into the dock, but regained the wharf ; another fireman was maimed by a handspike tinced into his hand. It is thought, had it been pos sible to have Lunched one of the engines, the flames might have been earlier extinguished. HIGH WATER THIS DAY AT 140NDON-BRIDOL Morning, 8 min. Mgr I. I Afternoon, 31 loin. dter H. Printed at THE BRITISH PRF.SS CHlice, by J. W. Cmtasoi, 181, Strand; and Published by R. CAN xox, was piace. T ). I