The Sun. — London, England, 1824-03-04 00:00:00

EAST INDIA THE MARQUIS OF HASTINGS. Yesterday a special General Court of Proprie tors was held at the East India House, for the purpose of tak ing into their consideration the services of the late Governor- General the Marquis of Hastings. After the minutes of the last Court were read, The CHAIRMAN announced the specific purpose for which the present Court had been convened. Mr. Done LAS KIN NAI lID said, that the necessity of dis cussing the subject which had just been announced, rendered it unnecessary for. him to offer any apology for the course which Se was about to take. As he :had to advert to matters of re cord.. die. best course he could pursue was at once to proceed iii es‘Uids res, and state the b - aSes upon which he meant to .found startlains .3f the Marquis of Hastings to the gratitude 'and- re= %tank of the East India Company, and the applause of his counJ try. Ile would atatethe services of that Noble Marquis while .o.lvernor-General of India from the records of Parliament, as' as of that Court. The first he should read was the Reso fution. of the Court of Directors, for his conduct in the Nepaul sae:: it was as follows : • . " At a Court of Directors, held on 'Wednesday, the . .20th of Istesainth'er, Itilfi, it was, on several motions, ". Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this Court be eivein to the Eerl of Moira, K.G., Governor-General and Corn ..,a3iinder-in-Chief, for the prudence, energy, and ability; corn-; 'based with a judicious application of the resources of the Com .pasy, displayed by his Lordship in planning and directing the Sperations of the late war against the Nepaufese, 'undertaken in-consequence of a persevering system of eneroachthent and insult on their part; and also for his wisdom and moderation, in-availing himself of the successes obtained by the army, for concluding a peace with the Ghoorka Powers, on terms both .Honourable and advantageous." This resolution was carried. unanimously by the Court . of Prjaietors as well as that of the Directors. When the same iub3e.ct was discusSed befote the House of Peers, Lord Liver pool, in an allusion to a remark which had on a fomer evening fallen from Lord Grey, said'-that he should not call for any opinion " on the ju 3tice or necessity of that war," and he add ed these words—" In reference to what 'had been said by a Nobfe Lord the other evening, as to difference of opinion e specting-the prosecution of the war, he must observe, that the statement was founded in error. That Noble Lord was com pletely wrong in supposing that any protest had been made by certain members of the Council in India against the war.— With respect to the justice and necessity of commencing hos tili.ies, there certainly was no difference of opinion in India; and it also had been the opinion of the Government of this country, that in order to check the encroachments and aggres sions of the Nepaul power, no other remedy remained but an appeal to the sword." He concluded by moving, "'That the thanks of the House be given to. General the Marquis of Host ings for his judicious arrangements in the plan. and direction of the military operationsagainst Nepaul, by which - the war was brought to a successful issue, and peace established upon just and honourable terms." in the House of Commons, when Mr. Canning introduced on the same occasion a similar vote, he complimented the sagacity of Lord Hasting's policy, and said, " that such was the im pression made upon .the 'Government in this country by the representations of the Bengal Government, respecting the ag gressions of Nepaul, that orders were framed for the - purpose of directing that very course of conduct which had then already been adopted by Lord Hastings. Before recourse was had to hostilities, every mode of remonstrance and iiegociation had been exhausted, and apparently with such success, that the Bengal Government, more than once, thought that all disputes and differences were at an end." He explained, too, that " the chief purpose of the war was to detach ' from the Ghoorka _ power its more recent conquests. But no addition to the terri tortes of the British empire was contemplated, except where there were no means of restoring the former Governments. The campaign ended by leaving no less than one-third of the Ghoorka dominions in the power of the British, and by the rest being restored to its former condition." He added that " the result, of this war he believed to be a source of safety—cer tainly of honour and glory—to this country, but in its future consequences of an importance . not easy to trace." Mr. Brougham, who followed Mr. Canning, said, that " the dif ference of opinion as to the policy and conduct of the war to which he alluded, existed in a quarter well known to that hcuse and the India Board. Mr. Edmonstone and Mr. Dowdeswell's names were familiar to all persons conversant with Indian affairs." But Mr, Canning, inieply, declared' " that it was totally a mistake to supposethat any difference of opinion as to the policy oldie war. existed between the Mar quis of Hastings and his council." The next vote to which he would call the attention of that Court was thet of the Court of Directors, dated the 20th of January, 1819—" That the thanks of this Court he presented to the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings Knight of the Garter, for the great and signal wis dom, skill, and energy, so eminently displayed by hi s Lordship, in planning and conducting the late military operations against tee pindarrees, of which the happy result has been the extincs lien of a predatory power establishing itself in the heart of the empire,- whose, existence experience had shown to he alike in compatible with the security of the Company's possessions and the general tranquillity of India.• Also, that this Court, while it deeply reg,rets any circumstances leading to the extension of the Company's territory, duly appreciates the foresight, promptis tude, and vigour, by which the Most Noble the Marquis of Hast ings, by a great combination of political and military talent, dis persed the gathering elements of a hostile confederacy amongst the Mahratta states against the British power in India."— The Chairman, in expatiating upon the merits of the above proposition, remarked, that the papers which had been laid be fore the proprietors afforded the most manifest proofs of the ability, foresight, and wisdom with which the Noble Marquis had met the exigencies .of th e ti mes . At the same period, Lord Liverpool, in moving thanks to the Marquis of Hest ins, in the house of Lords, said, " that the late hostilities in India originated in necessary measures of self-defence, adopted by. the Government in India against the aggressions of the Pin darees." And lie afterwards added, that "he had shown that the war had been one of self-defence, and it was not necessary for him to endeavour to do this by remote inference of argu ment. The fact appeared directly from the papers on the table. The warhad been undertaken on no grounds of doubt ful policy." Ile afterwards said, that "no General or troops had ever more meritoriously distinguished themselves." The Marquis' of Lansdown in the same debate had said, that " whatever might be the character of the policy which had been adopted with regard to India, the Governor-General had, on this occasion, been placed in a situation which rendered hostilities unavoidable, and that lie had displayed consummate abilities on a field of operations more extensive than iehad ever fallen to the lot of any one Commander to direct. Lord Eiol. land, on the same occasion, said, that " he had a high gratifi cation in paying this tribute to the Governor-General of India, because he remembered that he was the same Marquis of Hastings whom he had often heard with satisfaction •in that place, who was an ornament to the House by his elo quence and 'his virtues, whose voice was always 'raised in defence of innocence and weakness. against oppression, • and in maintaining the rights of the people as well as•those of the Crown." Mr. Kinnaird then proceeded to 'quote similar sentiments' which were delivered by Mr. Canning, when moving the vote of thanks in the House of Commons on the same occa- • sion,_ and dwelt with consider a ble fo r c e , on the eloquence with which Mr. Canning had displayed the services of the Noble Marquis in the Pindarree war. So that, both in the Nepaul Pindarree campaigns, he had received the enthusiastic thanks of both Houses of Parliament, and the two East India Courts. It was in consideration of these eminent services that it►the year .1819 they entered the following record of their re ward to the Noble Marquis :—" On Friday the sth of March, the Chairman stated to the Court of Directors his intention of submitting, on the Wednesday following, a Resolution, grant ing a certain sum of money to the Most Noble the• Marquis of Hastings. On Wednesday the 10th of March, the Chairman, with the consent of the Court of Directors, withdrew the motion of which he had given notice, and moved, in lieu thereof, that the sum of 60,0001. should be granted in trust to toe Right Hon. Charles Hope, Lord President to the Court of Session, the Right Hon. Cathcart, Lord Galloway, David Boyle, Esq., and T. W. Adam, Esq., to be laid out in the piucbase of estates in any part of the United Kingdom, for the use and benefit of the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings, his Marchi oness, and their issue." It was proposed to amend this motion by leaving out all the words in the latter part of the Resolution relative to placing in the hands of trustees - the sum or 60,0001. for the purchase of estates, and inserting instead of them, an annuity of 5,0001., to issue out of the territorial revenues in India, for 'the term of twenty years.' The question that the words proposed to be left out, stand part of the Resolution,' passed in the negative by the ballot ; and the words of the amendment passed by the ballot in the affirmative." So far every, thing was declaratory of the Noble Marquis's merit ; and then came their last Resolution of. 1822, which closed their notice of his brilliant career. It was as follows : " Resolved unanimously, That this Court most cordially cOn cut with the Court of Directors in their estimation of the un remitting zeal and eminent ability with which the Most Noble tha Marquis of Hastings has, during aTeriod of nearly nine years, administered the Government of British India with such high credit to himself, and advantage to the interests of the E a st India Company. -74 That this douri, referring to the sentiments expressed by themselves, and the Court of Directors, in December, 1816, on returning thanks to Lord Hastin gs f or hi s s kilf u l an d suc cessful operations in the war against the Nepaulese; to their resolution.of the 3d of February, 1819, recognizing the wisdom and energy of those measures which extinguished a great pre datory power that had established itself in the heart of Hin doostan, whose existence experience had shown to be alike in compatible with the security of the Company's possessions, and the general tranquillity of India, applauding at the same time the foresight, promptitude, and vigour with which his Lord ship, by a combination of military with political talents ; hiiil anticipated and encountered the proceedings of an hostile exU federacy among the Mfttitta States, defeated their aimies;fe .duced them to sulipisslein, and materially lessened tlitt means of future aggression ; referring also to the resolution' of thi Court of Directors of the 10th of March, 1819, in which they appeal, at the close of two glorious and successful wars, to the recerds of the East India Company, for the great services which his Lordship's unwearied assiduity and comprehensive know ledge of the Company's affairs had enabled him to render to its most important interests ; this Court cannot but with the highest satisfaction w itness their executive authority again com ing forward at the termination of a career so Useful and-bril liant, to express and_promulgate their sense of his Lordship's exalted merit, and their deep regret that domestic circumstances should withdraw him from the Government of their Asiatic territories. That this Court strongly participate in, that regret, and reqiieit the Cotirt of Directors to convey to the Marquis of Hastings ; Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, their expressions of their unfeigned admiration, gratitude, and applause." 'From the time when this resolution was so unanimously adopted, he challenged the Court of Directors :to say in what Lord Hastings had, .failed. to. deserve a continuance of their thanks and their gratitude. Hid any thing since come to light to Shake their con - Hence - in his honour and integrity ? • If not, why not proceed towards him in the ultimate reward, as in all previous cases of meritorious Governors-General? He had now shewn, froni authentic documents, the series of services performed by t: . .e Marquis of Hastings—and why, he repeated, was the usual reward; withheld from such.a Nobleman ? The Noble Marquis was not a man for half-measures ; and. he had given a dignified proof of his high'sense of feeling in the cold thanks he hatrreturned to Parliament, .for, the limited thanks (always excluding the policy, although the Ministers admitted it in their speeches) which theyhad conferred upon his measures. The Marquis of Hastings was permitted to retire with just half the reward which the Marquis Wellesley had received, although lie (Lord Hastings) had doubled their amount of stock, and increased their rank and property throughout the whole of the Indian empire. The Hon. Proprietor concluded by an elo quent appeal to the Court, to do justice to the integrity, and honour, and services, of the Marquis of Hastings, and by apologising to the Chairman for any warmth which an honest and generous sense of . feeling had betrayed him into when he last addressed the Court upon this subject. His motion " Resolved, That this Court, recurring with undimished pride and gratification to the repeated occasions on which the distinguished services rendered to the East India Company by the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings have been under its consideration, and more especially to the 20th day of Decem ber, 1816, and to the 3d day of February, 1819, when the una nimous thanks of this Court were successively voted to his Lordship for the planning, conduct, and conclusion of the two splendid military achievements ; and which were again more especially acknowledged and rewarded by a grant of 60,0001. unanimously voted to die Marquis of Hastings and his family, on the sth of May, 1819 ; and further adverting to the unani mous expression on the 29th of May, 1822, of this Court's high sense of the political and military talents displayed by the Go vernor-General during nine years' administration of the supreme power in India, as well of its deep regret as having then learnt his determination to return to Europe, is of opinion that the time is at length arrived when the splendid and glorious results of the Marquis of Ilastings's government, to the financial pro sperity, and to the permanent tranquillity of India, ought to be adequately rewarded, as they are fully appreciated by the proprietors at large, in common with their applauding country men, both in Europe and in Asia " That it be therefore referred to the Court of Directors forthwith to take into their consideration, and to report to this Court, the means and the measure of such a pecuniary grant, for the approval of this Court, as may be at once worthy of our gratitude for the benefits received, and of the illustrious per sonage who has so mainly contributed to the reigning tran quillity of their. empire, and the financial prosperity of the Company." 31r. RANDLE JACKSON seconded the motion. On its being put from the Chair, Mr. JOHN SMITH, M.P., said that he felt under consider able difficulty as to the course which he ought to pursue on the present occasion. He admitted the high character of the Mar quis of Hastings, the great achievements he had performed, and the gratitude he was entitled to for his . public services. But how did this question come before Court?tpe‘vhatgrounds linrds y as there not some difficulty in the consideration laid for its discussion ? With respect to the Noble 3larquis's military career in India, he believed it was very glorious; but he (Mr. Smith ) was one of those who looked with a littlejea lousy upon wars in India.—(Hear!)—He knew, indeed, that they were to be defended in a variety of ways; but the de fences set up were always those by which the extraordinary man (Napoleon) who had lately ceased to figure in the world, had sought to justify his military conquests. He was free to confess, that whatever opinion had been formerly enter tained of British policy in India, of late it became manifest that the wants and comforts of the native population were always considered by the British authorities, and their con- dition under the government of the East India Company uniformly approved.—(Hear, hear !)—But in the reward of their public servants, the constitution of that Court reposed in the Court of Directors the responsible task of selecting and apportioning that reward. 'What reason was there to doubt their decision in this particular case—had the Directors forfeited their confidence? Before this question were enter tained, he thought it essential that some papers or documents, for the purpose of giving the necessary information upon the subject, should be called for and given to the Court of Pro prietors, many of whom were doubtless as ignorant as him self upon the real merits of the case.—(Hear, hear !) He believed that the conduct of the Marquis of Hastings would stand the fullest investigation. When he said this, he knew that some unfavourable, and he believed unfounded, reports had gone abroad respecting some loan at Hydrabad. That subject, for the sake of the Noble Marquis, ought to be inves tigated ; and if any blame were imputable—he repeated he knew nothing of the real state of the circumstances—then they could set off against it the distinguished merits of the noble individual throughout his general Indian government. For the purpose of obtaining some information upon which they could ground their proceedings, and in justification to the Noble Marquis, he would, if no other. Gentleman better quali fied undertook the task, more for the production of papers : he was indiffirent as to the terms of the motion, and would move for general papers touching the Marquis of Hastings's admini stration in. India. The Honourable Proprietor, after consult ing with some Gentlemen near him, said, that perhaps, for the purpose of raising the question, he had better move a more specific proposition, on which they might raise a larger ques tion. He should therefore conclude by moving, " That there be laid before the Court all such papers or documents respect ing the loans made by Messrs. Palmer and Co. to his High ness the Nizam at Hydrabad, as will enable this Court to decide upon the merits of the Marquis of Hastings, and upon any claim he may have on the liberality of this Company." The Hon. Gentleman observed, that he had heard the rumour relative to the loan at Hydrabad, and he had also heard from the highest authority that the statement which had been insi nuated respecting it was a delusion, and utterly unfounded. Mr. Po YNDE a seconded the amendment, because he thought an inquiry was called for, and was the only way of getting at the real facts. They could not shut their eyes to the fact that a great dissonance of opinion prevailed upon this subject within the bar, and he really thought the Directors ought , to furnish some ex_planation respecting what had t a ken place.—( Hear !) The CHAIRMAN said, that in abstaining from replies to cer tain questions which had been propounded to him on the former day, he had only acted in obedience to his sense of the official duty which his station in that Court imposed upon him. He was now glad to find that the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Kinnaird) had, with the feelings which became a Gentleman of his con sideration in society, disclaimed any intention, when he spoke warmly, and was hurried away by his zeal, on the former day, of aspersing the conduct or motives of others. He was sorry, with referen?e to the past, that the gallant General (Sir John Doyle) had, on the former day, refrained from the courtesy usually shewn, of giving some private intimation beforehand of the questions which he meant publicly to put. If he an swered in one case, he might be called upon to answer in another ; and after the Court of Directors had declined, upon the mere whisper of rumour, to answer the specific interroga tories submitted by letter to them from the gallant General's honourable relative (Col. Doyle), it would have been unseemly for him (the Chairman) to have given an answer verbally to the same requisition when addressed to him in the public Court. —( Hear !) Mr. Huai said, that respecting the amendment which had been moved by his Hon. Friend (Mr. J. Smith), he had a few words to say , in the first instance; and he seriously called his Hun. Friend's attention to the position in which, if he perse vered in his amendment, he would place their proceedings. In the name of common sense, how could it be said that they had no information before them on which they could ground their proceedings ?—(Hear !)—Did not his Hon. Friend hear the dif ferent votes and resolutions, both of Parliament and the East India Company, which had been that day read by his Hon. Friend (Mr. Kinniard) ? Mr. Hume here repeated several of the resolutions which had been already read by the mover, and asked whether, up to the period of the last vote, when the Mar quis of Hastings retired from India, there was not the most flattering and unequivocal testimonials of his transcendant merit ? What, then, had occurred since? What had the Noble Marquis done since to forfeit their confidence and esteem ? There was a rumour that the Court of Directors had refused him the retiring pension of 5,0001. a year; that was a mere rumour; (A cry of" Mr. Pattison said so");—but still it wanted the sanction of authority. Let them have all the papers shewing the administration of the Noble Marquis, and then they could form a just estimate upon the whole case. 'Why specific particular, or isolated documents ?—(Hear, hear!)—With reference to the affair at Hydrabad, either the Noble Marquis was to blame, or he was not: if the former, why not make the charge boldly? The Noble Marquis challenged investigation ; and even eup:. - posing that an error of judgment could he discovered in that Nobleman, was that alone to rivet and absorb their attention, and "turn aside their contemplation frOi r i the b r illi an t career of his services in India? They would neither perform their duty to that Court, nor justice to themselves, if they stopped short at receipt of the information comprehended in the amend- Meiit, and did not include the larger inquiry. Sir Jortar DOYLE said, that he had to apologize to them for intruding this day upon their attentiez. He had come prepared to take a comprehensive view of the whole question of the Mar quis of Hastings' government in India • but the new and un expected turn which the subje c t h a d taken in consequence of the amendment, rendered it necessary that he should entirely abandon the ground which he previously meant to occupy. With respect to the want of courtesy with which he had been charged by the Chairman, he really confessed, that of all his faults, that was the last he expected to have had to answer for: nothing was farther from his intention than to have evinced a want of courtesy to the Chairman ; indeed, he thought the mode he had adopted was exactly that which would have been deemed the most courteous, under circumstances in which they were placed. He had first asked the Chairman, in his capacity as a Director, to answer him the question he had put on a former day; but there official etiquette interposed, and no answer was to be had. He (Sir John) turned round a second time, and thought he could at once hit the Chairman — (a laugh) —not by asking him a question officially, but by putting one to him as an honest man. That was, he thought, the plain and ingenuous course; and before the public, he had expected to receive a plain, a candid, and a fair answer. All he asked in behalf of his Noble Friend the Marquis of Hastings, was full and open discussion —no whispering, no insinuations, nothing but plain dealing.--(Hear, hear !),--With these feel ings and these expectations, he was astonished at the course which had been taken this day. Nothing coming from so de servedly honourable a man surprised him so much as the amendment ; for if ever a friend, meaning, and honestly mean ing, to promote inquiry, had, by his proceeding, rivetted and dovetailed, and fastened in a calumny, to affect a great public character, that was done this day by his Hon. Friend in shap ing his amendment. Indeed, he deprecated the qualified way in which the general question of the M arqu i s o f H as ti ngs ' s services had been taken off. He wanted no reservation— let his character be alike estimated, and his claims rewarded, as a statesman and a soldier. Let his policy and his achievements be considered together. He (Sir John Doyle) was at once pre pared to justify the military system of his Noble Friend in India. His wars wer e no t wars of aggression, but for the resistance of attack—for the very existence and salvation of the British em pire in India.—(Hear, hear !)—Passing by the question of these Just and necessary wars, he would ask them, whether, in this age of miracles, they could, in the greatest credulity of their dreams, have anticipated, the almost miraculous success which had at tended the extirpation of the Pindarre freebooters ? There were of these, 40,000 regularly mounted banditti, well equipped as regular troops for the field, carrying, rape, fire, and destruc tion wherever they advanced. Flying and protecting themselves in mountains deemed inaccessable—they were unincumbered 'with either baggage and stores, for they helped themselves wherever they appeared from the defenceless hamlets. The Noble Marquis with peculiar sagacity saw the dangers to be appre hended from the fixed organization of this hellish band of depree dators, and determined upon their extinction. No course was left but to annihilate these depredators, or to abandon the peaceable inhabitants of immense districts to their rapacious apoliations. The Marquis of Hastings accomplished his object with unparalleled success, and peace and comfort reigned where desolation and misery had been previously felt--(H ear ! ) How was it, then, th a t hi s H on . F r iend c onfin e d hi s amend ment to the false calumny in a contemptible newspaper about the Hydrabad loan ? lie was afraid that his Hon. Friend had heard from one Director this Hydrabad story, and that some mean imposition had been attempted to be played off upon him in this business. He objected to any garbled papers ; as the friend of the Marquis of Hastings, he demanded the production of all the papers connected with his whole administration—he challenged inquiry from first to last, anti scorned any set-off or compromise.—(Loud cries of" Ilear!")—What he wanted was I discussion ftheysup i p n o f s a e i d, rowpielnendahye,oabniedetnedot to on this amendment, lloseconclave that(He harie) wanted to have „ingle paper k e pt b ac k , they were egregiously p whatmista j k le en w — an h t e ed w w an a t s ed all ; in the simple an d express i ve p h rase, the truth, , g M r the whole tr u th and nothing but the truth."—(llear , hear !) ame ndment, and expressed surprise that his Hon. Friend should have confined his view of the inquiry to a statement which he, at the same instant, itJACKSON his e ntirely disc proved of the declared he believed to be untrue—thus, as it were, sanctioning wit hin doors a polluted paragraph which some calumniator had circul a t e d wi th o ut. He s trongly de; precated such a course of proceeding, as tending to shut out the general consideration of the merits of the Marquis of Hastings in the theyeve ry h w en a e y nte b d u thiyn the non career whole sy stem of Indian government. In more than in a pecuniary way, had this to he his final treat ment ? The Hon. and Learned Gen tlemane of the Noble Marquis, and was improved state of their finances administration of the Marquis of Hastings. _ durhig tool: t a review of' th e In 1013, when . the Noble Lord wen t ou t t o I n di a , so low was their credit, that thei r b onds were at a discount of 12 _ per cent. When he left and 16 per cent. (Hear : hearlndia they bore a premium of 14 e—ln 1814, (30th of April), in their treasury they had six millions. In 1822, when the Mar quis left India, they 1 'ad 12 millions—exactly doublee hear, hear)—an additional sum which would have covered the whole expences of his Indian administration.—( Hear, hear!) The average of the 20 Years' investments before the Noble Marquis went to India was 450,0001.: on his return it was 1,300,0001. In the revenue, the excess was now six millions ; and obtained, not by g rindi ng taxation, for the Marquis of Hastings did not lay on a single impost, but by encouraging anti protecting the industry of the inhabitants.—(Hear !)—For the part which Sir David O ehterlony had had in the Pindaree campaign, they voted hi m a pension of 1,0001. a year : that gallant officer was afterwards deputed to visit and survey the districts from which the Pindarrees were effectually expelled, and he had reported, that he had found throughout, except on the spot where Scindiah's near relatives resided, nothing but peace and plenty, happiness and comfort—every tongue eloquent in praise of British rule, and grateful for British pro tection.—(Hear !)—The sante description was also given of the same regions by Sir John Malcolm. He had watched the foot steps of the Marquis of Hastings throughout the whole of his Indian career, and was proud to do homage to the wisdom and Statesman-like sagacity of his plans, and consummate skill with which he had always Carried them into execution. He disclaimed the argument of set off.—(Hear !) If any man meant to impeach particle of the Noble Marquis's conduct, let him come forward openly, and put his charge in a tangible shape.—(Hear !)-_He hoped the amendment would be with drawn. Mr. J. Surru ustified the course he had taken, and dis claimed any desireof countenancing any calumny against the Noble Marquis. If it were his own brother, lie would have taken a similar cotrse. He positively declared that he had not received a particle of information from any Director in this business—he had leard of the rejection of the vote of 5,000/. a year merely as a common topic of conversation. He re peated, that his qole object was to promote inquiry, not to limit it. When he one subject was introduced, the wider question could be Irgued. He never heard before this day that the Marquis of 3astiny,s had been rewarded upon a smaller scale than any previous Governor; let that be explained. Mr. DouGLASKIXNAIRD said, that 'in 1803 the Marquis Wellesley had received a settlement of 5,000/. a-year, which was antedated t years,---thus at once putting 30,000/. into his pocket; the 5,000/. a-year was settled upon him until the expira tion of their charter ; and when that expired, the same income was settled upon him for life,—not so in the Marquis of Hast ings's case. _ 'he CHAIRMAN' said, that the Hon. Proprietor was mis taken. It way in 1800 the first pension was settled on the Marquis Welbsley, and it was only antedated two years (to 1798.) %Ir. JouN 3miTH repeated his desire merely to be for in formation, and he could add, that he had the highest respect for the Noble'Marquis, and the most anxious desire that he should he played in that situation which his merits and services entitled him o hold. Mr. ELPIINSTONE strongly objected to the amendment, and declared hat if nobody else voted for the production of the general paper, he should feel it his duty to do so. They met there as merctants; and he would pledge himself in the result of the cash acount, to show that the Marquis of Hastings had placed to ther credit half a million at one side, while they had heard of onlythe Hydrabad shilling at the other—(a laugh) ; which lie pledged himself, should not remain one minute there the moment the inquiry commenced.—(Loud cries of " Hut !") Mr. DOUCLAS KINNAIRD said that he meant his inquiry to comprehend he minutest points. Mr. him insisted that the Marquis of Hastings had not been ungraciusly treated by that Court; on the contrary, he thought thaDoth among them, and within the bar, he would find some of iis warmest friends. As a proof of this, he refer. red, serially, (in the terms in which they had been already quoted), to Se votes which had always attended the Noble Marquis's exploits, and the pecuniary grant which had been ap. plied to his use. He was strongly of opinion that the whole of the papers, and not a portion for a specific object, should be furnished. On the subject of the Hydrabad Loan, the report was, and it was merely a report, that the Government of Bengal had sanctioned a . loan to a native Prince, contrary to an express law. Mr. PETER MOORE said that he really could not see the object of this debate in the way in which it was now carried on— it was a most clumsy piece of business, and he could not make head or tail of it.—(A laugh.)—Let them produce all the pa pers—all or none was his demand.—(Hear !)—When all caine, then they had 19,00 0 volumes of pr a is e f or th e M arqu i s o f Has tings. Why was a whisper from a blackguard paper, in John Bull's slanderous style, to be taken as authority against such a man, or whispers from two Gentlemen in a hackney-coach ? bet the whole come out, and then the light and glory of the Marquis of Hastings would be seen. The Honourable Pro proprietor-then repeated the praises which had been bestowed upon the Indian Government for' the Mahratta and Pindaree wars, and said, that before Lord Moira went to India, he (Mr. Moore) had read to him a speech of his which he delivered in that Court, pointing talthe necessity of extinguishing that Mahratta confederacle was, therefore, upon that point particularly, proud of the Noble Marquis's ultimate and tri umphant success.—(Hear, and a laugh.) Mr. '!'RANT also enforced the necessity of a full inquiry, but could not permit the merits of the Marquis of Hastings, however high, to supersede or cast iuto the shade those of his predecessors whose career had been equally brilliant. He re membered when he first went out-to India, the Marquis Wel lesley was engaged in a brilliant military career, and his Hon- Friend near him (Sir David Baird) was then acquiring re nown at the storming of Seringapatam. He would vote for theproduction of the general papers. A long conversation then arose respecting the wording of the motion for papers, in which Mr. Kinnaird, Mr. Hume, Mr. Weeding, and Mr. P a tti son too k a part, whe n— The CHAIRMAN suggested the following substitute of Mr. John Smith's amendment :—" That there be laid before the Court, all correspondence and other documents to be found in the public records of this house, which regard the administra tion of the Marq uis _ of Hastings, and whi c h may ena b le t h e Court to judge of the propriety of entertaining the question of any farther grant to the Noble Marquis.:' Mr. DOUGLAS KTNNAIRD replied, and the question was put upon the amendment last propounded by the Chairman. 1 which was carried by a large majority, and the papers ordered to be printed for the use of the Court. The Court, which was exclusively crowded, did not adjou until five o'clock. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 3. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four, when only thirty-five Members being present, the House was adjourned. [The HOUSE of LORDS did not sit yesterday.] LIST OF THE MINORITY On the Conduct of the Lord Chancellor.—March I. Allen, J. H. Gordon, R. Rumbold, C. E. Althorp, Visct. Haldimand, W. Bickford, W. Acland, Sir T. D. Hamilton, Lord A. Scarlett, J. Baring, A. Heathcote, J. G. Sefton, Earl of Baring, Sir T. Heron, Sir R. Stanley, Lord Bennet, Min. If. G. Honeywood, W. P. Stanley, Hon. E. C. Benyon, B. Hume, J. Staunton, Sir G. Bernal, Ralph Hurst, R. Smith, R. Birch, J. Hutchinson, Hon. Smith, W. Brougham, Henry C. H. Smith, J. Browne, D. James, W. Smith, George Bright, Henry Ingilby, Sir W. smith, S. Calcraft, J. Kennedy, T. F. Smith, Abel Calcraft, J. H. Lamb, Hon. G. Stuari, Lord J. Campbell, Hon. G. Leycester, Ralph Sykes, D. Calvert, C. Lushington, S. Tremayne, J. H. Cavendish, C. Leader, W. T aylor, C. Cavendish, H. Maberly, J. Tennyson, C. Chaloner, Robert Mackintosh, SirJ. Tierney, Rt. Hn.G Clifton, Viscount • Martin, J. Tulk, C. A. Coffin, Sir I. Milton, Viscount Warre, J. A. Creevey, T. Moore, Peter Webbe E. Crompton, Sam. Newman, R. W. Western, C. C. Curwen, J. C. Newport, Sir J. Whitbread, S. C. er, C. Palm Davies, T. H. Ord, Wm. Whitbread, W. H D Williams, W. Price, R. Phillips, G. H. Wil son, S i r R. Denman, T. Wilson, T. D a venport, D. Poyntz, W. S. W oo d, M. Denison,enison N E V . . J. Ellice, E. Portman, E. B. Wyvill, M. Evans, William Ramsden, J. C. Wrottesley, Sir .T. Ellis, Hon. G. A. Rice, T. S. Wilberforce, W. Farrand, R. Robarts, A. Grattan, J. Robarts, G. Grenfell, P. Robinson, Sir G. Guise, Sir W. Rowley, Sir W. TELLERS. Abercromby,Hn.J. Duncannon, Visct. MINORITY Who voted for Mr. Hobhouse's Motion, For repealing the Tax on Windows. —March 2. Abercromby, Hn.J. Heron, Sir R. Poyntz, W. S. Allen, J. H. Honeywood, W. P. Pym, Francis Althorp, Visct. Hume, J. Ramsden, J. C. Baring, Sir T. Hutchinson, Hon. Rice, T. S. - Bennet, Hon.H.G. C. H. Robarts, A. W. Bernal, Ralph James, W. Robarts, 0. J. Brougham, H. Jervoise, G. P. Robinson, Sir G. Burdett, Sir F. Johnstone, W. A. Rowley, Sir W. Be'grave, Visc. Kemp, T. P. Russell, Ld. J. Bright, Henry Kennedy, T. F. Sefton, Earl of Calvert, J. Keck, G. A. L. Smith, John Calvert, C. Lennard, T. B. Smith, Wm. Carter, J. Leycester, Ralph Stuart, Lord J. Cavendish, C. Leader, W. Sykes, D. Cavendish, H. Lloyd, T. M. Taylor, C. M. Chaloner, R. Lethbridge, Sir T. Tennyson, C. Clifton, Viscount Lockhart, J. J. Tierney, Rt.Hn.G Colburne, N. W. Mundy, J. T ynte, C. K. Creevey, Thos. Maberly, W. L. Warre, J. A. Davies, T. Marjoribanks, S. Webbe, Ed. Denison, W. J. Milton, Viscount Whitbread, S. C. Denman, Thos. Moore, Peter Whitbread, W. H. Duncannon, Visct. Arldmay, P. S. Western ' C. C. Dundas, lion. T. Mon c k, J. B. Wilson, Sir R. Davenport, D. Newport, Sir J. Wood, M. Ellice, Ed. Ord, W. Wyvill, M. Graham, S. Pares, Thos. Wrottesley, Sir J. Guise, Sir W. Portman, E. Gurney, R. H. Palmer, C. F. Gordon, R. Palmer, Colonel Hamilton, Lord A. Phillips, G. Heathcote, J. G. Price, R. TELLERS. Hobhouse, J. C. Maberly, J. THE ARMY. The 94th Regiment of Foot has been ordered to march from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The head-quarters of the 97th (to be raised) Regiment of In fantry will be stationed at Gosport. The head-quarters of the 98th (to be raised) Regiment of Foot will be fixed at Chichester. The head-quarters of the 99th (to be raised) Regiment of In fantry will be stationed at Glasgow. The Ist Royal Veteran Battalion arrived in three divisions, viz. on the 12th and 14th January, and the 16th February, at Galway from Cork. The 3d Royal Veteran Battalion arrived on the 21st Febru ary at Cork from Galway. A detachment of the 94th Regiment of Foot ha marched from Glasgow to Manchester, as volunteers to the 95th Regi ment of Infantry. The TIEItS CONSOLIDE.—The history of this Fund is little known. It is as follows :—ln the commencement of the Revolution, the French Funds were reduced to one-third—under the Directorial Government this third was reduced to a third again, under the name of the Tiers Consolia. So that a person who, under the old Monarchy, had 9001. stock, then had but 1001. This fact is stated in a pamphlet, written about 27 years ago by the late Sir Francis d'lvernois. It is now a scarce work, yet amongst our nume rous intelligent Readers some have no doubt a copy of it. It will also appear, that at the time when Sir Francis wrote, the interest was paid in Bons, a species of paper money which at that time had never fetched more than 75 per cent. It was not till Buonaparte usurped the Govern ment that the dividends were paid in full. $OO, /,"k• MASONIC NOTICES FOR NEXT WEEK. ENGLAND. Mondoy, March 8, LONDON. Nos. 40, 143, 241, 319 ' 329, 335. COUNTRY. N 05.131, 45t 4 5 .24 7 3 3, , 3 5 2 1 0 7: 53 3 1 : 433, 546, 553, 570, 574, 57 8, 791. Tuesday, -9, LONDON. .151iA. , 23; 62, 100, 290, 309 ' ;ifyi", 421, 479. • • . . • . CoUNTI.Y: N 05.24; 67, '133; 145, - 21 1, • 263, 292, 427, 471, 497, 501, 528 ; 537, 579, 604, - • 1;26, 668, 714. Wednesday, - 10, LONDON. Nos. 3; 1416,19,-29, 47, 96, 237, 257, 334, 435. COUNTRY. Nos. 126, 129, 159, 21 3, • • 215, 232, 314, 344, 400, 440, 442, 447, 468, 478, 577, 606, 647, 661, 690, 705. • - . Thursday, - 11, LONDON. Nos. 6, 18, 25, 34, 7 9, 194,.271, 299, 301, 325, 338, 49P. CouNTllv. Nos. 70, 79, 110,111, 153, 172, 178, 214, 269, 27 3, 354, 397, 518, 531, 540, 560, 591, 642, 679. triaay, - 12, LONDON. No. 275. COUNTRY. Nos. 53, 282, 283, 53 3 * 550, 655, 709. - 13, LONDON. *- * COUNTRY. Nos. 358; 412, 675. • IRELAND. Tuesday, March 9, CORK. No. 71. Saturday, WEST INDIA DOCKS. DELIVERIES for the WEEK, and STOCK ON HAND, for the Week ending the 28th of February, 1824. Delivered. • Articlos. Ho me Stock on Con- Exporta- Hand. sumption. tion. --.... Sugar -1 (Hlids - - 2,277 - 20,981 (Tierces - 122 - 1,572 f Puncheons - 51 400 28,478 Rum - 1 Illids 4 55 1,019 { Inds and Tierces G 3 62 0,799 Coffee Barrels and Bags 93 322 17,103 { Bales and Bags 52 - 322 Cotton Pockets and Serons - - 6 ( Butts and Pipes 12 3 1,541 Wine J, ( Mills and ,} Casks 10 3 879 Pimento i C°6" - - - _ 84 IBags - 14 103 4,970 1 Casks - - - 4 Ginger Bags - - - 66 j Casks - - G - 513 Cocoa 1 Bags 20 - 265 - - Logwood Tons - _ 94 - 4,3791 Fustic Tons - _ 51 -2,100 i Chests of Sugar Casks of Molasses - *.s. This Article was acciden, Lily oinitti :d on Tuesi PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. 2,1001 ;9,532 401 w ivt• HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mercurii, 3° die iVartii, 1824. The House met, and Forty Members not being present at four o'clock, Mr. Speaker adjourned the House. NOTICES OF MOTIONS FOR THIS DAY. I. Colonel Davies—Papers explanatory of payments made froro French Indemnity Money. 2. Sir J. Newport—To repeal Statute 91h William, c. 1, (Irish Stat.) and for securing tie right of burial of Roman Ca' tholics and Dissenters in Ireland. 3. Sir Henry Parnell—Bill to enable Roman Catholics to pur chase and hold lands for charitable and pious purposes. 4. Sir Robert Heron—Bill to prevent the necessity of reneWal of official appointments on the demise of the Crown. ORDER OF THE DAY FOR THIS DAY. Austrian Loan Convention Bill—Third Reading. PRIVATE BILL—SECOND READING for THIS DA Y. Hertford Union Canal. Dropped Notices of Motions of Yesterday. 1. Mr. Curwen—Copy of Memorial concerning the absence of the Attorney -General from the Isle of Mann; also, CopY • of Patent of his appointment. 2. Mr. Wallace.—Select Committee on Foreign Trade. Dropped Orders of the Day of Yesterday. 1. Supply —Committee. 2. •.slarine Mutiny Bill—Committee. 3. Clergy Residence (Ireland) Bill—Second Readin g . 4. Ways and Deans—Committee. 5. County Courts Bill—Second Reading. 6. Mutiny Bill—Committee. 7. Revenue Inquiry Bill—Third Reading. 8. Church Rates (Ireland) Bill—Report. 9. Four per Cents. Bill — Committee. 10. Postage Races Bill — Committee. 11. South American Postage Bill—Committee. Dropped Second Reading of Private Bill. Camerton Inclosure. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT TWO O'CLOCK. India Stock India Bonds 72s. South Sea Stock Old Annuities.. Ex. Bills Ditto Small Bank for Act. India for Con. Acct. Cons. for Act. 94 Bank Stock 238 3 per Cent. Red. 948 3 per Cent. Cons. 946 36 per Cent _. - • 4 per Cent. f New 102107 5 per Cents. 1797 . . Bank Long Ann 234 Imp. 3 per Cents. :4 - '2 4-I PRICE OF FOREIGN STOCKS IN LONDON, .M.tacu 4, AT ONE o'cLocii. f Five per Cents. 000. 1. Scrip,. 114 pm.- I Six per Cents. 00. -s' Five per Cents. (Metallic) 00. . ( Ditto New 94. Five per Cent. Bonds, 87i. Scrip, 122 prem. { Five per Cent. Bonds, 1820, 00. Dittp 1821, 24g. Ditto 1823, 19. J Five per Cent. Bonds, 994. 1. Ditto New, 974. Five per Cent. Bonds, 99g. f Bonds, 92. 1 Scrip, 7. Scrip, 00. 842. - , • ,-. Six per Cent. Bonds, 672. ..- -- Scrip, 7 prem. f 00. .4 - • ~-.4 1 New, 00. f Hullett's 1 prem. . . I. Anglo, ii prem. , -- 21 prem. Bank Shares £23 2s. 6d. Seven per Cent. 95. Six per Cent. 94 —lO2. Five per Cent. 100-102. .Three per Cent. 766. ..., French rtussian Neapolitan Austrian Spanish Prussian Danish Portuguese Peruvian Chili Colombian Mexican Poyais Mexican Mines Greek American