The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-04-26 00:00:00

LOAN

The Chairman. Mr.ltaisv, informed the Court,
that he had called them togeths r for the purpose ut
laying a Petition before them for their approbation,
to be presented to the Legislature of the country,
praying fur a lean of two million four hundred
thousand pounds. He they moved “ That the Peti-
tion should be read," which wait carried 'in the af-
firmative.

The Petition stated that the Compsuy, from the
exigencies of the present state of their trade, were
unable to meet the great demands ou them ; that
they were indebted to Government in a large sum
for duties, which, added to Lepo,oool. which was
usceniary for them to have, to enable theta to pre-
verve their territories, would make the grant sun, 4
two millions four hundred thousand pounds, which
the Petitioners trusted the Legialatore would grunt.
The CNAIMILII then stated the unquestimuthle
ability to discharge all their present debt+ in Eng-
laud, and to repay any stid tha might he utiiietled ;
for, independent of the latiltan dein, elt...geable
on the Territories in India, on the Ist of. Alarch
last, the sum total of debts, with and without is-
terest, includiug the debts due to Hui 1141jr‘ty for
customs and excise, then amounted to 9,1;1.462 i
whilst the into owing by the public, aryl other
good debts, and saleable goods, Dow unsold,
houses, warehouses, iv. amount to 14.149,6231.
whilst goods expected from India and Chimes, in the
course (Atte present rear, *ill amount t05..4.71.0001.
which together weida make the actual property in
England 19490A/31.
Mr. Patmscp did not feel .a.doubt but the Le-
gislature would grant the sum asked for by the
Petition ; be also thought that the Petition was
necessary, and it should hare his entire support ;
hut, at.the seas time, be could not help saying, he
did nut believe all the allegations which st contained,
and he was cStilideot the Legislature would not
behave them.

Mr. GRANT, the Deputy Chairman, observed,
that lithe House of Commons doubted any allega-
tion in the Petition, they would call for documents.

Mr. RANDLC JACICSO-N trusted that the Petition
would be carried without a disecating voice. Not
only every individual of that Court, but the public,
Gov't to be satisfied au to the state and situation of
the Company. The public hail a right to expect
to be satisfied in every point, before they were
uNked for their money. if embarrassments had
beta caused to the Company by the Dation-4f they.
were milli rers by national occurrences, they had
every right to relief. But the qiu4stion are., were
they in that 'Rotation ? Their coinuierce had suf-
fered, but on what account ? For the good of the
nation. The nation had called on them to send
out huge crones, to conquer countries. They had
driveu the French out of India ; was not this fur
national purposes, cud national safety ? Ne con-
ceived he had a right to enumerate and strew that
every loss in their commensal affair, had been
easuisid by national purposes. The American
Treaty, to what et.tent did that iujure their com-
merce ? It cut off oat: half of it, anti ruined. the
other, and was not this granted for national pur-
poses? lie would contend. that they had been
prodigal of their icuiistance to the Goverurnent,
and, instead of lw,gging, they ought to make a
etasui. wished 10 {prove to the public, at the
Bar of the Homo. of Comiums, that their mbar.
ratio:tent' were not canoed by their own acts, "bat
for the attainment or national objects, and if tlia.
caw. were proved, they voted not refuse the relief

- .
eel. Store said It few words.
Mr. l)txox said, nothing had been adduced to
show that there Was a ray orhotie that they ewer
should he ahle to reps the sum peilioned for.
They might to %I.ew they had us,sl, ttud %rye
11.0411. /VOW) Ity awn th'atu hite economy
aiipe..red in isoy one of their arr.mgeinerna. if he
ivied that I'etitinn, it would be oo account of
the assurances from the Chairman, who had
vouched for the troth of its allegations.
Mr. Lows COV.4 COlleriVtit that the company
ought to she." to the public. that they had made
use of ecnnomy. lie much feared it was but in
their lower. When he saw Gentlemen in the tti-
ttuttiotot of Candidates foe I)irectors, worm! to such
au arriazing expense to carry their pnimt, he was in-
to•helieve there must he • grvater induct.:
nit.tt th...m !Mu!. a•year to till that office. lie .4,
convinced there was what tea. called ',caret service
tio..;er, and that to an cionuous amount. He
v.,“' I he wil:inL in support the I)irectors. if they
n and tlieir secrets to
*hp Pro!tvietor.,.. lie I* 4111 A. at a future upportn-
ft..c Mat the DI rectors should bate 14.5.:;1.
and lose :.:1 their perquisites."

The Deputy Chaittneu, Me. Gun,. toot to
snswer the two Hoooaraide tieutleturn who had
spolstai last. lie would have *hnd they had
,t►okra from route proof or not.iiiiietit, and not in-
dulged sit were detlaniatiuti ; but if they would
cmll for documents, they should he laiti oo
table. As to the buiiret of etohnioy, there
was great room for it ; the k' oprittots could
oat lie more anxious than the I/bettors uu that
subject. Every year, every month, they were
emeetheig towards its secomplislituei.t.—
The secret money was very• vinall, and neier put to
way WIC hut what it originally was ititended for,
which' is secret; but lie w 'told assuie theta, that the
Directors never benefited by uny rut ofit.
was a certain knit! of Linguta4t. to lie matte it,e. or
to the Legislature, and. although they might bit e
a chain, it would be indecorous to present it in that
ithiflte. _

Mr. Drcor thanked the Dtputy Chuirinan for

Lis rxi:Liiiatio.t.
After ...me further coo%ermition between Capt.
K uird, Mr. Kimble, Mr. Lushingtoo, Mr.
Oftek, the Demity Chairman, and Mr..13:1,um
Cie yy..lion was put. uhrther the Petition bhould
have thr Company's Seal alliwri to it, and b-lirr-
Rented to the !Naar of Commons by Mr. Grant.
the Deputy CiOrman. which SVA4 carried in the
atErmatiie, a it hout a diaseitting voice.
The Court then adjourned sine die.