The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1804-07-20 00:00:00

tare the House, be wished shortly to state the me t vex hick had induced him to bring forward the Measure he intended to submit to their considera tion. He believed there was in fait very little dn . - femme of opinion between the Gentlemen on the opposition side, and those who brought forward tit India Budget. Only the Gentlemen opposite had always taken *cession to travel into other years of arcoithts, than those which were immediately be fore them, by which means they wee enabled to Sake particular statements, and to seize on some particular items. which seemed to militate against the statements brought forward in the Budget of the present day. His, objed was to bring into one account all die accounts which had been made out since the renewal of the Charter, or for the last ten pears; by which means it would be easy, at one view. to see, the whole of the statements, and to *beck suelt d errors as they might at any time attri tmle to hi The Gentlemen on the other side the Hoitte had given him an additional desire to have this account. from their having broadly insi nuated, that he and his predecessors (not with any intention to mislead or deceive, it was allowed) had stated matters in some instances more favourably than they really were, and in other instances had formed predictions, and given oledees of the flou • fishing state of the Company's affairs which had never been realised. He was, therefore, desirous to put into one clear concise account, the estimates and results of the last ten years. Ile accusation they bad held out was, that both he and the Noble Lord who preceded him had held out great promises a, to the revenues of the Company, and had formed and raised in the mmds of others, the most flourish ing state of the Company's affairs; and had given repeated pledges that the revenues of India would sooner meet the public expenditure of the country, than this country would be called on to pay any part of the expences of India. This, he contended. had been already verified. As to the assertion made by his Noble predecessor; it was true the Gel tlernen opposite had eh. ays pertinaciously said, that his predecessor bad given a pledge, it would be so, in case of either war or peace ; but the contrary was the fait. His Noble Predecessor had expressly made the assertion, on the supposition of the con tinuance of peace; and had said. that in case of a was intervening, it might cause a considerable alte ration in the finances of the Company. To the war, therefore, it was fairly to be attributed. that this medidion of his Noble Predecessor had not been ful filled. Not only the European war must necessarily have had considerable effect on the Company's fi. *maces, but the Mysore war was attended with such considerable ex pence, and with such difficulties, as could not fail to impede and interrupt events and occurrences of the highest importance. which might otherwise have been 'seeded. To this cause it was owing. that the participation did not take place, and rarely nothing could constitute a more ample excess', than a war of so much magnitude and im portance, unexpectedly arising at the very time, when the affairs of the Company wore so pleasing end prortthing AO toped, as to draw from his Noble Predecessor, a prediction founded on the fairest and most promising prospcfts. His Lordship then ad verted to the charge, that the estimates and revs anes were by no mains commensurate. In this he appealed to the candour of the House. The esti mates, in ten years, had amounted to 91,000,000 and upwards; the actual revenues to upwards of ; inn 0,000; so that there was only a difference of 3,000,000, which he thought very small, in so very Loge an accottat. During that time, which he had mentioned, there had not been more than three months peace, and yet the surplus amounted to no less a sum than '2,110,0001. There were, he two mistaken opinions, respenting India affai.s.-- One class of persons asserted, that the territory was supported and can ied on by the commerce ; the other, that this c iterative was carried on by the territory. For his own r.ase, it had never been his chief" to hold out a vin e -.l;tir view of the Company's affairs, which their *dual state would hot warrant. The territorial revenues. of late years, amounted to 10,000,0001. and if the war had not happened, they would, in all probability, Lave been nearly doubled. His Lordship conclude.! by moving, That there be laid before the House, an ac..ount • Amin; the estimate of *dual revenue aid charges is India, with their results for tea years. 1793-4, to those of 1502-3, together w:th dean charges relative to Bencoolen, distinguishiug each year." Mr. JOHNSTONE said, that notwithstarding all the statements made by the Noble Lord, he could act but contend. that the whole Mewed every thing he had advanced on the subject was 'trinity true. After the Noble Lord had made his annual statement in the form of an Indian Budget, he now same forward with a new set of accounts unknown Se my use but himself, with which he most ingenu ously preteeded to combat arguments urged against the el,l oats. He thought such a mode of pro seeding was unparliamentary and uncandid. It was else sisprecedimtesi, except in one instance, and that Wes el his predecessor, who came to the House and sagest, strenuously from a letter of the Duke of York, which he had in his pocket, and which no body had seen hot himself. He insisted that, in stead of having docharged six millions, as had been . pretended, the Company had incurred a debt of twenty millions. The Noble Lord had promised that, in case of a war, he would discharge one mil • lion of the Company's debt, and in case of Peace two millions ; instead of which, he has incurred a debt of 1,600,0001. From the paper of the Noble Lord, it would seem as if he had charged 1;631 and his Noble predecessor, with having embezoled the money, but he had never even dreamt of stizh a thing. lie had only charged them with having cr.ord boils estimates and results higher, and more favour...hit, than they really were. He thonht that atter tin. Noble Lord had brought forward his accounts. and then found they did not answer the arguments of his opponents, it was unran.lid to bring out a new set; however, he insisted it was a in.. at and striking roof of the truth of his Argun - , nt. The Noble lord now talked of the fibtAining blihert, the dit..:cu:.y of getting bi!.i, and many nit- Eculties w hick he ceght to have • re,een. that a twelve-munth coca he asnaeo t!.e looor .se should he able to dimnish the debt •ne noha ; instead of which there was upwards rniLani o: debt. and a deficiency in use revenoto so two neil iioac three e.; -di. Lord CASTI.F.ItrAGH dorm d, that in ivltat hitbad said he wax tither unpArliamentary or un candid. Ite would have thought he was uncandid, if hi, had moved fur the accounts without explain-. had dime so. The gentlemen oppeite had all complained of the inaccuracy of the ac counts, and he wished to have one where the whole Flight be seen together, and errors. if ai:y rbere e. mnre easily deteded. His Lottishi:, in explana tion then recapitulated several of his former state ments. Mr. JOHNSTONE, in explanation, did the same. Mr. WALLACE begged leave to say a very few words, relative to ona asszrti:m which had been made of the Nasle Lord'. predecess4: ( Lord Melvillci s having said, that at a particular time, the public had a right to a participation of the Company's re venues, under all cir:unistances, whether there was war, or whether there was peace, he had taken the trouble to investigate this point, and he found, on relerrimi: to a speech of the Noble Lord's pre decessor, w:::ch he delivered in t 79ti, in which he then refert,:d to another speech made by him in 1794. He says, "It may be asked, if there be snch improvement in the Company's revenues, why does not the public participate ?" He answered, because no such promise was made but under certain condition!. and in his speech of 1794, which he referred to, he had expressly excepted the interference of war. lie had, in short, uniformly contended, that the partici pation in a considerable degree depended on the continuance of peace. He was indeed surprised, he said, the Hon. Gentleman should maintain the con trary ; it w.O impossible the Noble Lord should have used such an argumept • as, th it war or peace would make no difference in ahe affairs of the Com pany. Ile was a man of tot mods good sense to entertain such an idea fir a marnem, and hi hoped that assertion respeding him would no snore be resorted to. Mr. JOHNSTONE. in explanatior, , insisted on his former sta.ements being curreitt, respefling the Noble Lord's predecessor. Mr. PITT said, he should only trouble th- House with a very few words. His Noble Friend, Lord Melville, had stated, that his expeaations re speCting the participation were not likely to be dis appointed, unless t he re should be a war on the Con tinent; but he had said, at the same time, that to a certain extent they would. It was for the House therefore to consider how far circumstances had hap pened which had a tendency to affect materially the Company's revenues. All the &el nations and pro mises if Lord Melville were madeexpressly exclusive c.f a war in India. It was now ten years since they were made, and there had been a rebellious fully as expensive as a war; besides the different expeditions fitted out by the Company in aid of the public service—there were die expedition to :sula alibis, and the expeditious to F.gypt, the last of which cost upwards of two millions, and for both of which the Company have an unsettled account, and claim against the public. • The present *eft of his Noble Friend was not to bring forward new ac counts. It arose fiom the gentlemen opposite having taken occasion to compare the different ac counts of ten years, and to urge them in argu ments, as best suited their purpose. His noble friend wished for such an aceouta. as would give a recapituhtion in a clear point of view of the different accounts it refer red to. He had no doubt it would do this. and he was equally sure, that if it did, the Hon. Gentlemen opposite bad too much candour not to acknowledge it. If it was not satin. Gamy to them it would be in their power to take such steps as they should think proper in the present Sc .sions, if they did not think it too late ; but at all events, it a ould enable cheat to form a decided opinion against the next Session. Mr. PRINCIIP entered into calculations upon many of the accounts, respec"ng which he said he differed materially from the Noble Lord. The re- suit of the Hon. Member's arguments appeared to be that the affairs of the Company ware now in a worse situation than they ever were in F cfore. In the course of ten years a debt had been created, which made the whole debt now zaiount to 2': millions. Yet, with ail this acctimulae3n of debt, it had been repeatedly assertesi, that the affairs of the East In dia Company were in a most prosperous situation. He contended, that so far from that being the case, the trauc was at this momenta losing trade. • Mr. C. GRAN Tcontended, that the a.f.i; s of the Company were not in that state the Hon. Member would represent. Th., commerce of the Company had detived very bale advantage from the revenues. And the revenue in a long ccurse of years owed very little to the commerce. In the course of IS years, there was not ab-ve 2 or Suo,oool. difference between England and India. Dr. LAURENCE said, the affairs of con sisted of political and commercial considerations; and they could not be discussed without reining such discussion both these topics. They were 24) *connected together, that one part could not be con sidered without the other. Hon. Gentlemen, on both sides of the House, it appeared, were not decid ed in their figures; and whichever was right or wrong, this was evident, that something precise was w tnung upon the subject of Indian a:Tairs. Some thing must be done to remove that ecnfusion and embarassment in w . dch they appeared to have been continually invoiv,J. Ile was convinced, that the whole of the bad s} stem now prevailing in the af fairs of India, arose nut of the monopoly by which the trade was limited t, a Company in this country. Whenever that monopoly was done away, end the trade Lid open, the b..d system would fall. 'f 'us was a que,tion of great imitortance, and one whi sh would, sooner or later, force itself on the considera uon or Psliarnent, ant to tho III) ice of the public. 'Fre c•ttili n 4.1 last ; it would go on eoct.:::tc. in}, a. it h 1 I hizherto done, u n til it could keep it selt o nt, lit:Ter. Th.: Noble Lord, who sonar years Ago over the Affairs of India, 1.4.1 said in that llonea that tile Comparr,'s debt Was toe g;-eatest e. e ily they had, w:nch ftc wool( resist at all tunes; and that he nevr- world sole, - it to ex cec.l Ani3unt or fytrteen m;11i(.11s. N:v.v, so fir from p:o.nt,e naiwing b-en teAlisecl, ever/ body saw ; .41 tt.e debt had been since to c:e (se.i A -Torton i : to t: manner in which esti mates were made it a: ii..)tatKt, from year to year, 1.) 'IC at the affairs of Ind:. , .ts 1.•• • .! ::..4 p•;C' .rettolll,lliLltic)ll. 110‘t C4 , 111d 4 they be r ._s ta.-11 a Join as th:lt the ...s with ! The w!tt_le subjen must came to some kind of enquiry, and that in a short time. There was another point to which he must' call the attention of the House ; and that was the Government in In.lia having vio lated a positive Al of Parliament, which had been iltroduced by the predecessor of the Noble Lord. Ily that Al the Government there was tied down from making any conquests for the extension of ter ritory. The Ad was violated in the late war car on in India. Was it not, therefore, necessary to enquire why laws had been thus broken ? ft was an coquiry that must be taken up at some future tulle. _ Lord DUNI.° said, it was very true the Go vernment in India was prohibited from making con quests for the purpose of extending the territories of the company. But it was not prohibited from mak ing conquests after being obliged ti enter into a war ; which was the case in the instance alluded to by the Learned Gentleman. Lord CASTLEItEAGH, in explanation, said, the question was nearly balanced between India and Great Britain ; for the acquisition of territory in India had realised a revenue of near four millions annually. The motion was then put and carried. Lord CASTLEREAGH then moved, that there be laid before the House all estimate of the profits and loss arising out of the Company's sales in Eng land for ten years, ending the Ist of March, 1:404, distinguishing the amount in each year, with the other payments made in England therefrom, distill giiishing those of a political from those of a com mercial nature; and also distinguishing the Indian from the C..ina account. He also moved for the Accniints of the Company's Debts abroad and at h-"tne, including those relating to China, from April, 17:n3, to Anril, 1813 ; and from March, 179 1 ., to M.. 1: h. 1304, both inclusive, and distia guislMig . 0 • .3:c.nints of each year. Th^ , after some observations from Mr. Pr Mr. JOHNSTON r, were agreed to. ir:: s • I.i I'LERE AGII next moved, that the n. ;-- of the Committee on the India Budget he en into f irther consideration and as the resolu tions wr about to he read, Mr. I'ItiNSEP rose to make some observations on tbem. Lotd CASTLEREAGH said, if there was :Inv debate likely to arise upon the resolutions, he should move to put off the report till Nionday. Mr. PIUNSEP said, the discussion would not take up the time oldie (louse a quarter of an hour. Upon which Lord CASTI.V.REAGLI moved to poetroue the report till Monday. Mr. JOHNS FON E opposed this motion. as one wholly inconsistent with the sand or observed by the Noble Lord on every other occasion. He surely conlki not think of doing a thiag that tied so much tls ap pearance of a trick ; in 0r..12r t ) preclude hi, H m. Friend from the opoortuni y of submiaing some ob servations to the House. Lord CAS I'LEREAGH said, he was ready to suffer the business to proceed as the Honourable Gentleman wished; hut if the discussion went to any length, he should move to put off the consi deration of it to a future day. The first and second resolutions were then agreed to. On the reading of the third resolution Mr. PRIMEI made some observatioas, which were answered by Lord CAITIARCAGII. At nine o'clock the House adjourned. THE BILITII-1 11.21.1E5. LONDON, FRIDAY, Jour 9.1. Letters were yesterday received by a respettable house in the City by an American ship, from India, bringing the important intelligence that two Fnglish line of battle ships were spoke with in the Straits of All .s, ' and to Canton, as convoy fur the home y:aid bound China ships. A private letter from Berlin, dated July 3, says, " It is reported here. that the Representative of Bo is ay Arra delivered, last Friday, a note to our Court, demanding a passage for an army through our ter. r . •rries, to invade the Russian empire, in case of a rupture between France and Russia. It is univer sally considered certain here, that at no former pe riod was the exchange of couriers Letweess Paris and St. Petershur;h more frequent, nor our cabinet more busy to nettle all differences, and to prevent the war from extending it.clf to the continent. Th. - ) of the foar 1-14n:burgh Mails that were due, arrived yc.terd.in with lette:-.4 and paper. to the Bth instant. The Corn Bill .c.t, last night in ete House of Cornmit, .t latolsiznit Bill, we fear, will suffer a sta:tiat late on Isload.ay in the Loads. A Common Hall was het l at Guildhall yesterday, for the eleCtion of a fit and *tie person to be Sheriff of this City, and di.: County of V.iddlesex, in the room of THOM Aa PA •s v, Esq. who has paid his fine—when Cita stirs Cm its, citizen and staticnier, was, by a great slew of hands, elaled thereto. Mr. Cot.i.s, hes; iag of his Lein!! elated to the above office, immt:diately paid the tine of tiool. and 10 marks, into the Chamber of London, to Is., dis charged' from such elation; and the Lolto NI A r 4) it nrekTed a precept to be issued for a Corn-rma 1 Lai to be held this day, for the elation of another per son in ►he room of the said CHARLES COLE.., Esq. A sprited remonstrance has been presented by the Envoy of the Elatorate of Hi L NSW:C:: itg%:'i..t tht: claims of roan! BLNTHEIM S r Lu. t It I H to a ! tti tory which His HIM ANNIC MAJE;I Y iS Said to hold as 4 %Mark: . BM it cannot at the present be attend ed with an% effea, fir the French G..rcrnrnent abet the claims .1 the C. r, who is mint servilely de voted to the will 1,, , .1 interests of the l•rench Govern ment. The (het • ems still to continue averse from Liking into consisier.itiun the Note set the Ele,:tur of Thor.\• '.]~ LOAD viscotrar buNCAK Ire are much concerned testate, that t ie isall.ht Admiral Lord Viscomit DUNCAN yesterday etpe tit need an Alarming indisposition, Whlat Occasioned a report of his death. Such an event is, however,' we live, far distant; and his Lot &chip still 'lives, to the great satisfaeliots of his ft lends and country, The circumstances of the case are as follow. Lordship, while at breakfast, felt himself not so well as usual, and, after reading some time, dres:cd f,it a walk. About eleven o'clock, he went fr om his liceicc, No. 17, Buckingham -street, York-buildings, Adel phi, attended by one servant, and had not proceeded many paces from his door, when the heat of the wea ther overcame him, and he dropped down sense less. In this situation his Lordship remained far some time lying in the street. The passengers, however, immediately crowded round him; he was taken up, anal conveyed to his house. Several Gentleme n of the faculty soon arrived, and, with their assistance, his Lordship recovered the use of his faculties. Th e report of his Lordship's indisposition circitlaud ta• pidly through the town, and the inquiries at hi, Lordship's house were incessant during the er- r . ing. At nine o'clock last night, he was pronounc e d out of danger. THE NORTHUMERLANU kANULY. Last week, Lord PE ;icy arrived at Isiewcaalr. upon-Tyne ; and, on Thursday, the Duke ..i Non ritum Blatt auo and family. On Friday, his Grace reviewed the Percy Tenantry, at I:ymirno u ,J., and the North Shields Volunteer Infantry, both .1 which corps he complimented upon their milit4ry appearance and discipline. lle nest proceeded to the camp in that neighbourhood. The next oi)ita of his attention was the No Mumotrland L'fe•h- at. It was Lunched, proceeded ver the bar, and re turned. The Mika seemed highly gratified lei it s ma ..c: In passing Will's End, he WAS Sa luted by the Rifle Corps of that place, who were drawn out to receive him. lit continued at New castle until Sunday, when the whole family set cad' for Capheaton, upon a Visit to Sir Jove Ss% tNatAsi., whence they will proceed to Alowiek Castle-- It is said, that the visits of the family to the North will be more frequent than they have been for many years'. Thursday evening, His MAJESTY, accompanied by Generals Ca RTWRIGIIT, karzaov, and the Hon. Mr. Vi cc BPS, rode on horseback, in the neighbein hoad of Richmond. Her MAJasry and the PutN cciscs followed in three open carriage,. Yesterday morning, Their hliassri cs and the Princesses ELIZ•111CTIII, MA `f, and Surma, ar. rived at the Queen's House, frcm KnV. About two o'clock, His NIAJaSTY give an awii ence to Lord L►vssox Cowes, when his Lordship h4d the honour to kiss Hi: &Cu Est y's ban!, us his being appointed Am')assador to th! Court of Russia, in the room of Sit Joiia BoaL•st WAVE.s. At half past two o'clock. His MAJESTY hell Privy Council. when Lord I.Evasom ("owls WAS introduced. and sworn in one of His MAJESTY'S Most Honourable Privy Council, and took his , eat at the Board accordingly ; after which His M JESTY held another Frivy. Council, for the purpose • of receiving the RECORDER of London's Report et the capital Convids under sentence of death at tb: Sessions before last. The RFCORD e■, being Admi tett inrn the presence of His MAJILbSY in Council, reported the following Convidr: Jos Th Jackson, for forgo,; 1.4 n Pelmet, f.r fr g t ii Lewis, for one defy ttealsos; John Nl,,•elt and fluters Done°, for stealing goods in a dwelin at II .xnnt ; 'Ch dole W. lilt, a `.rl only e cyan yenta ago, for .tealotg a S. me^ . Thom.; Huey, for a highway rubtacry ;; and koalas • . for full ri : when Joseph Jackson, add• Thomas BoAncll, were ordered for execution on Wednesliy Tile rest were respited during Ihs Tf•JE,I are. There were present at the Councils, 6,7 11. Of MONTROSt,eIe LORD C.IANCLLLOR, of 11ER I I ORD, Earls CAMDIN and CNA rHA'I, Lords HA !MOWRY, lIAWRISRURY,MTULI:I:A•. C ) NILLL and Guwi,R, and Mr. Pra r. After tlit Councils Hiti MAJESTY gave private andicnces to the Lord CIIANCELLOR. Mr. Pi a t, and EAtICIIATHAM. Lord A m Issas r was the Lord ht Waiting. Soon after fuer o'clock, the Rot' AL I'A MILT TO. turned to Kew. Yesterdsy morning, the Princess Sone t of Chr cester •i.ited the QULIN and PanscLiscs, at tisC Queen'%-I , ouse, and rem.iined with them trom 11 o'clock till 4. This day, the ROYAL FAMILY are expeded remove from Kew to Windsor. e F:Ar 1 and Countess of Mora • left Hamoted Court yesterday, for Donnington.park, from e :ee after a short stay, they vidiprec ted to Edinburgh. Earl Mura• had a conference with the 1.050 CHAtsc►LLoa for three quarters of an hour on Tues day last. The Noble and Learned Lord left the Chancery Court in or 'c: to attend the Noble Earl an ad , oining room. Report says that it was VS a subj.:a nlater ail, interesting to the puSlie. - • the r.:_•w musical afterpiere was r pett•-•3 scarcely a uwt ur of disapp. , • h.ii.se overflowed with All elegant • • and the pi..ce had certainly a much fairer uial upon the first nigi t. Paitts•er, whit has so long delighted the put' ' with graces nn the stage, is said to hire bre' , I murk.' to a Gentleman of consi,:ei tone, and will therefore retire to the inclependen ,. .• of h•ir ilew situ :lion. are carrying an a murk rte'' vit lent contest, than that between Mr. M AIN A • • and Sir FRANCIS DV R DST T. One r,f them. wl l4 ' "J . employed during the late elenion, bat is now throe . oat, constantly follows his rival, and texts down'" the hills as last as the other sticks then: sip. We cannot but admire the great pir: , ' , Ths'n which that beautiful flower, the ('sits A TIC '• broil:4la. A more brilliant collection of hcii::!•• in that line was never exhibited, than there is at I•rc' sent in the Gar...lens of r ist w a lwal • who permits pet sons c.f resrictability to view t -) ": tiii 'ix o'cLidc e....cry evening. They ate •esi neder an awning, 153 feet in length, tort:iv:l.: A xue :u o t f i i t i h i l e pm a r a o m: en s the pi the L .2r e n e a u t 1 0 0 116 . n An ina71.51! mta.itlr:Lbest, beautiful promenade