The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1781-07-21 00:00:00, page 4

House of Commons, Monday, April 9.
[ East-India Business.]
Lord North rose to make a motion relative to the Taft-India Com
pany. It was not his intention, he said, as he had before observed,
to move any fpecific proposition before the holidays; or to go into a
debate on the important business, that the regulation of the Com
pany's affairs would open to the view of Parliament. However he
thdtyht it would be proper for him to fay something this day on the
zabjeed, that Gentlemen might fee upon what grounds it would be
necessary to proceed. For this purpose, it would be requisite for
him to go back to the year 1767. In that year an agreement had
been made with the Company, by which they were bound to pay to
Government 400,000!. per annum for two years, in con fideration of a
furtiler enjoyment of the revenue arising from the territorial acqui
sitions in India. This agreement he confeffed was faulty, and hard
upon the Company, for it bound them to pay the Stipulated sum, un
der every possible lituation of affairs; even though they should be
obliged by war or any loss flowing from any other cause, to lower
their dividends, for that purpose. In 1769 another agreement took
place, by which the Company was bound to pay the annuity of
400,0001. for fix years: but this second agreement was not liable
to the objection that might have been made to the former; for the
Directors of the Company were empowered to regulate the payment
of this annuity by the dividends they should make; or rather by the
luccefs of their commerce, or the losses they should sustain ; so that
the annuity should so far fluctuate with the Company's officers,
that if their profits should be under the Standard, according to which
tine annuity had been regulated, then the annuity should be pro
portionably under 400,000!. a year; but if the Rate of affairs
should enable the Company to make- a dividend of eight per
rent, and still leave a surplus in their treasury, then the net pro
fits over and above the dividend of eight per cent, and all the cx
pences of the Company were to be divided between them and Go
vernment, at the rate of three fourths to the latter; and the remaining
exe fourth to the former. The completion of this agreement, which
was to have lasted from 1769 to 1775 was prevented by the calamity
that befel the Company in 1772; gentlemen might remember that
the drafts on the Company, in that year, were so great, that they
could by no means fatisfy them, in this almost bankrupt slate; for
bankrupt he might call it, when the demands on, the Company
were greater than their resources to fatisfy them, it was impossible
for the Directors to fulfill their agreement ; nay they were obliged
to petition Parliament, who immediately granted them relief, and
xaifed them from the brink of ruin, to that opulent flourifhing con
dition in which the Company now Bands. Parliament granted them
a loan of 1,500,000!. by which they were enabled to discharge all
the claims that were then made upon them : the conditions of this
loan were, that until the 1,500,0001. should be repaid, the dividends
of the Company fliould not exceed fix per cent, and that till there
bond debts should be reduced, 1,500,000). the dividends should not be
more than 7 per cent, but if the success of their affairs should enable
them to make a dividend of 8 per cent, after the extinction of the
loan debt, and the reduction of the bond debt, to 1,500,0001. then
the old agreement was to be resorted to, in consequence of which,
Lot only the annuity of 400,000!. for fix years, was to be paid to
Government; but all the net profits, over and above the dividend and
expences of the Company, were to be divided in the proportion al
ready mentioned, of three fourths to Government, and que fourth to
the Company. That sera had since arrived; for the Company had
Since divided 3 per.cent, but the net profit exceeding that dividend,
had not been divided with Government, who consequently had a
demand upon the Company for whatever sum the net profits would
have produced.
This was the situation of the Company and the Public, when offers
had been made by the former to Government, for a renewal of their
charter: these offers had . not appeared to him Sufficiently advantage
ous to the Public, who in his opinion, were justly entitled to a partici
pation of those profits and advantages, which the Company now enjoy
through the generous assistance of Parliament. It was now theXu
finefs of Parliament to interfere, since the Company had not thought
proper to renew their applications, or make better offers for the
Public. It would be for Parliament to pronounce whether it would
be proper for the Crown to take the territorial revenues and acqui
sitions into its own hands, or leave them to the management of a
Company. It was also for them to confidcr if it was l proper to throw
the trade to India entirely open, or grant the monopoly of it to
another company He did not mean to being before the House on this
, _/, tl e queltion of property in the territorial acquisitions and rcvi
dues; for his own part,it I was a fixed maxim, that whatever territorial
acquisitions are made by the fubje&s of this date, mult necessarily be
long to the public; and consequently he was as clear as he was of any
thing whatever, that the territorial poffuffa ns in India, are the un
«Aub.cd right and property of the Crown and the people. This was a
Parliamentary Proceedings.
House of Commons, TufFy, February 27.
[Debate on Mr. Burke's Bill, concluded.]
MR. Macdonald with great ingenuity opposed the Bill ; he replied
to a part of Mr. Pitt's speech, admitting that his definition cf
the duty of a Member of Parliament was Briefly proper, but that it
admitted of some qualification. He said, among other observations
Wrongly in point, that he had ever conceived, when the Crown ex
changed its hereditary revenues for the Civil Lift, it had a right to
so much Influence as that Civil Lift carried with it ; that it was an
essential part of the prerogative and as necessary to the. Crown, con
iidered as the executive hand of Government, as any one part of the
privileges of cither of the other branches of the Legislature ; that in
fa&, the Civil Lift so considered, made up what had ever beep un
derstood to be the Constitutional Independence of the Crown, and
which ought to be held as sacred as any other part of our constitution.
Mr. Sberidan reprehended Mr. Courtney for turning every thing
that passed into ridicule, and for having introduced into that House
a Rile of reafdnihg, in his opinion, every way unsuitable to the gra
vity and importance of the fubje&s that came under their difeuffion.
If they could not aft with dignity, he thought they might, at lead,
debate with decency. Mr. Sheridan said, he would not attempt to -
anfiver Mr. Courtney's arguments, for it was impossible seriously to
reply, to what, in every part, had an infufion of ridicule in it. Two
of the honourable gentleman's families, however, he mull take no
tice of. The one was, his having insinuated that Opposition was en
vious of those who balked in Court sunshine, and desirous merely to
get into their places. He begged leave to remind the Honourable
Gentleman, that though the fun' afforded a genial warmth, it alio
occasioned an intemperate heat, that tainted and infested every
thing it reflected on, that this excelhve heat tended to corrupt as well
as to cherffh, to putrify as well as to animate, to dry and fote up the
wholesome juices of the body politic, and turn the whole of it into
one mass of corruption. If those therefore who fat near him, did
not enjoy so genial a warmth as the Hon. Gentleman, and thole who
like him, kept close to the noble Lord in tire blue ribband, he was
certain they breathed a purer air, an air less infected and less cor
rupt. Another of the Honourable Gentleman's allusions was, not a
quite new one—he had talked of the machine of State, and of the
draff chain of Oppoftion. He would only observe upon this, that a
drag chain was never applied but when a machine was going down
hill, and then it was applied wifely. As to any thing else the Gen
tleman had said, he should not offer a reply, but Should fit down
with assuring the Honourable Gentleman that the most serious part
of his argument appeared to him to be the mold ludicrous.
The Lord Advocate, in one of the ablest and soundest speeches we
ever heard, argued the Bill on its general principle, as well as upon
the ground of its particular objects. He Shewed that the firft was
inadmissible, and the second frivolous, for that the real amount of the.
savings effected, would not be more than 30 or 40,0001. at the mod.
Mr. Burke answered with wonderful ingenuity. He turned every
thing the Lord Advocate had said, into ridicule, and very Strenuous
ly defended his Bill against all that had been said in the course of the
debate, lie answered Sir William Dolben's argument refpe&ing the
reforming the Influence of Duke, Lord, rich Commoners, and Na
bobs, and honoured the exit of his Bill, with an admirable discourse,
at once entertaining and moral.
Mr. Martyr said a few words for the Bill, and at twelve
o'clock the House divided, Ayes (for the second reading) 190 ;
A'oes, 233 ; Majority 43.
question which had been deputed by the Company, though the grants
made to the Company were founded on that right mod clearly ec
preffed; and the annuities Stipulated to be paid to Government, were
the price of the suspension, or waving that fighofor the terms agreed
upon in the different a reen ents made with the Company: this had
surprised him greatly; and nothing could heighthen bis surprise, but
to hear that the Company ihould deny the just claim that Government
had to an annual participation in the profits exceeding a dividend of
8 per cent.
But it might be said, that the commercial profit- alone, without
the territorial revenues were equal to a dividend of 8 per cent, and
consequently, that the Company ought to be entitled to such a divi
dend, without being liable to have y leflened, to procure greater emo
luments to Government on the (apportion, that the territorial reve
nues, and not the profits of commerce alone, enabled the Company
to divide 8 per cent, this objection might be founded on. the report
of a feledt committee, by which it appeared, that ,011 a medium of
47 years from 1708 to 1755, before the territorial acquisitions had
been made, the.Company had divided annually 8 per cent, .this ob
jection though seemingly very plauhble, was not unanswerable : the
committee who admitted the dividend, did not fay, that the situa
tion or posture of the Company's affairs during the 47 years alluded
to, justified so large a dividend; and the consequence that attended
it manifestly proved that it was highly unjustifiable : for when Go
vernment reduced the interests on the debt it owed to the Company,
one-half ,ez cent, the Directors reduced this dividend from eight to
fix per cent, which clearly proves that the debts accumulated in con
;fequence of former large dividends, were very great indeed: and yet
no sooner had the Company acquired their territorial possessions, and
been enabled, by the loan of 1,500,000!. to avail themselves of the
benefits, that in time they knew they mull derive from them, than
they not only repaid the 1,500,0001. and reduced their bond debt
lull 1,500,0001. but also raised their dividends from fix, to which
they had fallen, to eight per cent: hence it was clear, that the mere
trade of India could never enable the company, without the territo
rial acquisitions, to make a dividend of eight per cent.
His Lordship further observed, that though he did not then in
tend to date any fpecific proposition relative to the future manage
ment of the Company's affairs, bill he held it to be his duty, to date
to the Houle some points, that would be very proper fcr them 'to
confider, before they ffiould proceed to vote any queflicn. First, the
propriety of making the Company account with the Public, for the
three fourths of all the net profits above eight per cent. Next, the
propriety of granting a renewal of the charter, fcr an exclufivc trade,
for a Short, rather than a long term. Thirdly, cf giving a greater
degree of power than had been hitherto enjoyed, to the Governour
of Bengal; and that he might be in future something more than the
other members of the council, a mere primus inter pares. For his
part, he was an enemy to absolute power ; but if the genius, and ha
bits, and religious prejudices of India were incbnfiftent with a free
government, then neceflity would jugify Purriament with a degree
of absolute power, to be cxercifed by him with moderation and dif
crction. Fourthly, he would fugged the propriety of establishinga
tribunal at home here, for judging of India affairs only, and punifh
iog those servants of the Company, who ffiould be convicted of ha
ving abused their power. If gentlemen should object to this tribu
nal, that it would be wrong to have a man tried in a manner differ
ent from that in which the rest of his feUow-fubjh&s were tried, he
would in reply to this objection, observe, that there was no conipul
fion for any man to go out to India; the a& was voluntary, and
consequently an implicit fubmiflion to the authority and competency
of such a tribunal, muff necessarily be implied from the very a& of
going out; and a,perfon who ffiould be liable to be tried by fuch.a
tribunal, would have no more cause to complain, that an officer who
is tried by a Court-Martial —a court, which has jurifdi&ion only
.over military men, except in cases when martial law.prevails. Fifth
ly, gentlemen should determine whether it would not be proper
that, as by agreement, all the dispatches received from India by the
Directors of the Company, must be communicated to his Majesty's
Secretary of State, so all dispatches to India, should be Shewn to him,
before they are font out. To throw some light upon this Subject,
gentlemen should recoiled the great concerns which the Public have
in India affairs : the interests of the Company and Government were
the fame ; and as the latter mud necessarily support the former, in
cases of danger, so it was certainly proper that Government should fee
all dispatches, left the directors might at some time or other precipi-.
tate this kingdom into a war without necessity, with the princes of
that country. Sixthly, it would be the business of the House to de
termine upon what terms, and whether with, or without the terri.
torial revenues, the charter should be renewed. Seventhly, whether
if Government should retain the territories, it might not compel the
company to bring home the revenue for Government. And eighthly,
whether any, and what regulations ought to be made with rclpe& to
the Supreme Court of Judicature. In the whole of the business two
objects were to be principally attended to,.the benefit of this country,
and the happiness of the people of India, whose prejudices and long
habits certainly deserved consideration and indulgence.
With refpe& to the renewal of the charter, he recollected one
part of the offer made to Government, which involved no incon
siderable ambiguity; it was this; the Company demanded a full en
joyment of all their charter rights; he did not exactly know what
might be meant by charter rights ; in his opinion it meant no more
than this; an exclusive trade for the term of their charter ; but if it was
understood by the words charter rights, (and he believed the Com
pany wished so to underhand them) at enjoyment of the exclusive
right of superintending the whole of India affairs without any con
iroul from Government, during the continuation of the charter ;
then he would give it as his opinion, that Parliament ought not,
even for a day, to part with this superintending power: the reason
was obvious; the interests of this country were intimately connected
with India; and any mismanagement there might be to the last de
gree dangerous to Great Britain. It was consequently the duty of
Parliament, never to renounce a controuling superintending power
over India. His Lordship now concluded a long speech with the
following motion " That this House will, on Wednesday the 25th of
April, resolve itfelf into a committee of the whole House, to con
fider of India affairs; and to confider of the propriety of the Crown
taking into its own hands, the territorial acquisitions of the Eaft-ln
dia Company, and securing to the public, a share in the revenues
arising therefrom."
General Smith rose to reply to the noble Lord, that Gentlemen
might not go away with the impression that th 3 manner in which his
Lordship had Bated feme things, might make upon them.
The Secretary at War rose to request Gentlemen would not then
debate the business of the Company, but vgait fur the 25 th, when
the noble Lord would Bate his proportions.
Tyfr. Gregory expressed a willingness to support the noble Lord in
whatever measure should appear to him to have for its object the mu
tual interests of the public and the Company.
Mr. Burke rose, lie said, for the purpose of fopping the debate;
and yet he mod unaccountably loft fight of the object for which, he
said, he had risen; and by a blunder in fa&; flopped the debate by
—harranguing for near an hour. He concluded by pledging himfelf,
and his worthy friend who had preceded him, and those in opposition
with whom he had conversed on the fubjed, to support the noble
Lord in every thing that ffiould appear to them Conducive to the joint
interest of the Company, and the kingdom.
Mr, Gregory got up again; and with warmth, observed, that as
no man was more ready to support the noble Lord, in every thing
leafonable than he was, yet he requeued the Hon. member would
only pledge himfelf, and nobody else for the support of the measures
that might be propofcd: he said he flood conneded with no party,
nor with the honourable member who had spoken lad; he would
give his opinion freely; and his support where he thought it due;
bu' still 'regardlefs of the promises ol others, lie being as independent
in his principles, and hisfet as any man in the House.
Mr. Burke was hurt, and observed that as the Hon, Gentleman
thought proper to renounce any connection with him, he was very
welcome to do it.
The cueßion was then put on Lord Lurch's motion; which was
carried unanimously.
General Smith, in order to convince the House that the Company
were not in a Bate of bankruptcy, when Government advanced them
1,5CC,00C1, moved that there might be laid before the House, an ac
count of all trie uffets of tlie halt India-Com[ any in February, I„2,
The motion yd^d, a.id the House adjourned.
[To DE conririULD.]
'] TIT Co-partnerfh'p cf Lamotce & Geyer, bein^ dr
.1 folvai by mutual cud.m on the rich mil. it is requefa
all thole indebted to the lad company, will discharge their
immediately; and all thole who have any demands against the
co-partner Ship, are defaed to render in their accounts, to "°
t # JOHN GEYER, No. 87, Church-ft reet
Who begs leave to inform his Friends in particular and the P u i',rj
in general, that lie means to continue the business; and has for
on the mod reasonable terms, a general assortment of EUROPE
and EAST-INDIA GOODS, fuitahle to the season.
ALL thole indebted to the late copartnerfhip of Osb^
and Fagan, are desired to make immediate payment!
Bryden & Allan, to whom said debts are assigned by /
fiirviving partner. X '
r r OR sale, or to be exchanged for a HOUSE in Charleftown
X remarkable fine fall-failing Virginia BOAT, about 45 ton's
uncommonly flrong built, now fit for sea, being clean andi}
good order. Enquire of the Printers.
J\/[R. Paul Hamilton, who bath lately left this Province '
u.. f I for the benefit of his health, having appointed us his attorns
with poftive irfru&iuns, in writing, to call upon every person wh
is in any wife indebted to him for the inrereft due on their fevers
obligations: We do therefore give this publick notice to all concerned
thacunlefs the interest due on them refpe&ively, is paid to either
of us the fubferibers, on or before the 15th of Augtift next, in order
to furnifh Mr. Hamilton with a remittance, we shall immediately
after that day, be under the disagreeable necessity of lodging them
with an Attorney at Law to sue for both principal and interest, with,
cut further notice. NORMAND M'LEOI),
ALEXANDER CHISOLM
i ISAAC PEACE.
Charke%-wn, 12th %''v.l7Bt.
1
^M^ The Ship PALLA S,
GEORGE Cleiland, Matter;
^\l Wcl! kn ° wn f ° r 2 faic fiti ^ ^ d a remarkable fal
M*s^ lailrr ' mounting i 4 guns, with men answerable
having great part of her cargo already provided'
trc^RL—c—— .fkf wih fail as soon .as loaded, with or without convoy'
as most agreeable to the shippers. ler freight or pafrige, having
cellent at commutations, apply to the Captain on hoac{ or to °'
T SMITH, No. Bay.'
^,3 lor London immediately,
Tte Ship MA R S,
Captain Walter Dowdell;
#vftr A fine Bout vcffel, to fail with or without convoy
di^ffft For Freight of about three hundred barrels, or P^
F/G;.^i%-A j . Lye, having good accommodations, apply to the
^AriDx=^.^ Saia Captain on board, at Champneys' swharf or
n GREENWOOD & LEGGE,
July 34 I/01. $ No. 44, on the Bay.
7 '° r ' A ™ A L C A,
^t^ M T ° c ^ at Savannah,
„|ffift The Ship Susanna,
John Stewart, Mailer;
'^;-^^L^ Mounting 24 guns, and will have from forty to
KAtt=__tfty men ; foe will be leady to fail in ei^ht or
ten days. For freight or passage, apply to
* T'UddAM CLARK, No. 4, on the Bay.
7 ' or "' Augustine,
The Ship BALFO U R,
L"" P J^rnbaux, Master;
^^ v '^ " r - ady to fail in u fcw da y s# For freight or.
appl > rtu th< : Captain on board, at Burn!
wharf, 01 to WILLIAM SMITH
t No. 33, Bay.
^1 ~TO BE SOLD,
A faft Liling S L O O P,
B %'h" ab ° ut 50 t"" 8 ' vd^oia built, a staunch good
\t<= ^=4 \clivl, husexcellcnt accommodations, lately new fliath
^i^4 e d and complexly fitted, and was formerly employed
as a packet. Inventory to be seen by applying to
1 HOMAS SIEW ART, & Co. No. 43, Bay.
N. B. Bills of exchange will be taken in payment, or the above
Vessel bartered for a House or Lot in a good situation. t
For CAPE-FEAR,
{ To fail immediately zuitb Convoy,
The Schooner General Phillips,
. James Club, Matter;
=====^=^ She is a firm well found vcffel, has good accommoda
tions for passengers. For freight or pailage, apply to the Captain ob
board at Gadsden's wharf.)
To be Sold at Private Sale,
A Neat London-made CHARIOT, very little the worse
f I fur wear, lined with red Morocco, the front glass entire, with
patent wheels and fpriugs, and in every other refge& elegantly finifo
ed. The purchaser may have it for one half the prime cofl in Lon
don, at which price it mud be efteerned a great bargain. Any person
desirous of viewing the above, will plcafe apply at our store in Broad
ftreer. t COOKE & WEBB.
NOTICE is hereby given to those persons who have any de
mands on the estate of the late Daniel' Blake, Esq; or cn
William Blake, Esq; that they, are requested to make known the
fame to the fubferiber, that they may be refpe&ively fettled and paid
off; and all those that are indebted to the said Daniel Blake's estate,
or to William Blake, and also to the estate of 'Benjamin Stead, Esq;
late merchant in London, are desired to call and fettle the fame, as
soon as noflible. with %/b r ot'n Tr^T. THOMAE FARR +
Wanted to purcnale,
A Quantity of TURPENTINE, for which the Cash will be
paid on delivery, in good flapping order. Apply to
'GRAHAM & BURT,
%0 6, 1781. ±7. No. I, Queen-street.
For Sale by Private Contract,
For Cafo or Government Bills,
A LOT, No. 14, in Archdale-ftreet, 45 feet in front, and
40 in depth. On the premises is a wooden house 14 feet by 24,
with kitchen, neceffary-houte, and a well. If not fold before Tuesday
the 31st of July instant, it will then be put up at publick Lie by
Messrs. Cooke & Webb. */.
A LL persons to whom the late WiF.i&m Burovs, Esq; de
ceded, was indebted, arc desired to fend, in a Rate of their re
fpe&ivc demands, properly attehed; and ail th.de who are indebted
to the said estate, are requeued to pay the fame on or before the 10th
day of September next, to the fubferiber, as there is a necessity of
having those concerns fettled as soon as podible.•
Chart fonun, %?lv t 6, ivSt. 1. A I i\INSON, Aominiibator.
RUN away from the lubicribcr in j?.i.vary iart, a neg^
man named Bristol, short and very Lack, has h'p'™ S' I '''!
teeth, tills country born, formerly belonged re the titec of Wim^i
Elliot-, decoded, and ha: L + % teen fetr. going in a boat le^g^ I
to that estate, fappofed to be harboured by time negroes GJICT
estate, having many relations among mom Whoever wih
him to the fubfrrib T, or m Mr.. abocL I mom Lail be entitled
to TWO CL.N^s'r mb fAjx.a Auk BOLD.p.