The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-03-03 00:00:00

INSOLVENT DEBTORS.

Lord Eimourii presented a Petition from the Inhabitants
of Plymouth, agaiust the renewal of the lusolvent Debtors'
Act.
The Marquis of Dam presented a similar Petition from
the Inhabitants of Frome Selwood, iu Soruersetshire.
Both Petitions were laid on the table.
PETAL LAWS.

The Marquis of LAwsoosin presented a Petition from
the Inhabitauts of Bury M. Edmund's, in the county of
PA. praying for a revision of the Penal Laws.—Laid uu
the table.

CHIMNEY SWEEPERS.

Lord AUCKLAND gave notice that be would, on Monday
next, wove the attead reading of the Bill for the better re-
gulation of Climbing Buys.

THANKS TO THE MARQUIS OF HASTINGS.
AFFAIR OF GENERAL HISLOP AND THI lIILLIDAR
OF THE FORT OF TALNEIIL.

The Earl of Ltveavoot, laid me the table Pa-
pers relating to the execution of the Killithor of
the fort of Talueir, by orders of General Sir Thos.
Ilivlop.
The order oldie d.iy being read—
The Earl of Livutroot. ►use, in pursuance of
his notice, to move that the 'l'hanks of the House
should be given to the Marquis, of [Listings, Go-
vertior-General of India, and the Officers and
Army who had served under his command, fur the
energy, vigour, and bravery displayed by them re-
spectively during the late campaign. The subject
to which he lied to draw their Lordships' attention,
war, in its nature, necessarily complicated and ex-
tensive. Ile was not aware whether their Lord-
ships had perused all the papers that had been laid
upon their table, but in those l•tpers were detailed,
with clearness end precision, the origin, prog►esw,
and commencement of the war. Through these

extensive and minute details, it was not his intention
to lead them ; but he should Hot properly address
their Lordships, nor could he its justice or in call-
dour nitrite their Lordships to concur in the Votes
of Thanks which lie should propose, were he not to
notice briefly and generally as possible, the causes
that led to the commencement of hostilities, the
policy that dictated the proceedings of the Gii-
veriunent, and the policy of the measures that were
subserviently pursued. The hostilities that were
carried on during the years 1817 and ISIS,
originated in measures of self-defence, and for
the protection of the subjects of the British
power in India against the incursions of the
Pindarries. This people, amounting to some-
thing between 20,000 and 30,000, under no regular
system of government. having in foci in) political
existence as a nation, maintained themselves for
many years solely by their predatory excursions
into the neighbouring countries, which they covered
with devastation and slaughter. With regard to
these people, if there was any question respecting
the policy of proceeding to hostilities against dull),
the objection should relate not to the pro-
ceeding itself, but to the unwillingness mani-
fested by the Government of India to engage
in the war under any circumstances. The po-
licy adopted by the Government at home, as well
as the Government of India, has been uniformly a
!whey of peace, for if war were once commenced in
any part of India, apprehensions might be enter-
tained of its leading to more extensive hostilities.
This feeling operated to prevent the Governor-Ge-
neral from resorting to the last measure*, and the
['Melanie. were suffered, unchecked, to pursue
their accustomed depredations, until the capture of
Bungapore, in the Presidency of Madras, and the
cruelties practised there, proved the necessity of
having recourse to war us a measure of self-defence.
The Marquis of Hastings, however, while he per-
ceived this necessity, was apprehensive that a war
spinet the Pindaric.s might involve one against
Sciudia and Holiest., with whom the Pindarries were
known to be on terms of strict alliance. A diffi-
culty was also felt from the circumstance of there

being a Treaty in existence. by which the British
Government was prevented from entering into any
engagement with the Rajpoots, who were under the
protection of Scindia, and which, by preventing the
British arniy from following the Pindarries into the
territories of the Rajpoots, rendered it impossible to
carry on a war against those predatory hordes with
any advantage. Scindia and Hollow secretly en-
couraged the Pindaric". of which the Marquis of
Hastings obtained 'sufficient knowledge, and hav-
ing intercepted certain dispatches from Scindra,
he, with a magnanimity that was characteristic of
the Noble Marquis, sent back them dispatches un-
opened to that Chief, and apprising him of what
he had teamed, thereby required of him to detach
himself from those dangerous connexions. and con-
clude a Treaty to that effect with the British Go-
vernment, which would free it from the previous
restrictions respecting the Rajpoot% This Treaty
was signed on the sth of November. Similar steps
were warned with regard to Ameer Khan, whsret.y
this Chief also was detached from all connexion
with the Pindaric% Such was the state of affairs
in halt i at Inc period of the last Session, and at
that period there was tio reason to think that a
general conspiracy had been formed by all the
Mehrattrah Powers,, of which the object was the
total destruction of the British Power its India.
' A. late as Mine, 1816, whets the conspiracy
was actually in course of preparation. Treaties
were signed by the Peishwa aid the Rajah
of Negpore. In November the conspiracy first
displayed itself at • Poona', in ass attempt
to murder Mr. Elphinstone, the British Resident to
that city. It wee a singular circumstance, that when
the Peishwet adopted that rash measure, he was not
appoisrd of the Treaty which Solidi* had nearly at
the came tune concluded with the British Govero-
merit; or that A sneer Khan bad been detached from
the conspiracy. In the meat time, the Governor-
General lied taken hie measures with foresight arid
vigour. He bad collected all his forces—this.
Madras army, the Bengal army, and the central
army, whereby lie had the means of controlling
every operation, aorta having all his force at his
immediate disposal. •S. 'onerous with the insur-
rection at Poorrah was au attack on the British
army at Nagpore by the Rajah of Berar, which
was attended by the imiuitieut personal danger of
the Resident. There was at the same time ;mother
Power which demanded the anxioue attention of the
Goer 1111 l ient, Mundy, that of Milker. Tort e was a
division in the Councils of that Chief, but war en-
sued, and the most important action of the war look
place 011 the 21st of December, between the artily
of Holkar, and the corps under the eliminated of
General Sir Thomas Ilislop, which terminated in
the complete destruction of Holkar's force. The
periods at which, these events took place, chewed
that they had occurred simultaneously, and were
the cotorequencesof a connected ardent, having for
its object the destruction of the British power. by
attacking it at mice on several points. The Mar-
quis of Hustings was, however, still desirous of
proving the lenity and disinterested policy of his
government, end was willing to overlook the con-
duct of the Rajah of Berar, sad offered to spare his
territories ; hut with respect to Holkar, it was
thought expedient, for the security of the Bri-
tish !rower, that this Chief should be reduced
iii influence. and in consequence he was com-
pelled to surrender by Treaty about two-thirds
of his former territories, The Peieltwa, miter the
defeat of his armies, took to flight end repaired to
the north, where the Rajas of Berar. notwith-
standing the proffered ineicy of the British Go-
verneneut, still coritinued in arms. Ile there threw
himself into a fort winch was reduced, and lie thus
fell into the power of the British army. The
Rajah of Hera still continued his hostile intrigues,
and in consequence the Marquis of Hastings
thought it expedient to raise another person to his
authority. He thus endeavoured to chew that the
war had commenced by the incursions of the Pin-
dailies of the peaceful inhabitants of India, It
was satisfactory tout this people were noa coin.
pletely dispersed, and had iii feet no • Oil:. ex-
istence. The war, however, was one of
fruce—it wile not the policy of the Government,
either at home or in India, to uitl 0118 *pone mile
to our envious possessions ; lint the tioverpitient
were compelled by the tteuClrery of the Native.
Powers, to devise such measures as could alone
give tranquilliiy to Mottos':err. No Power now
existed but Scindia, capable of giving airy
disturbance to the B itisle authority. These
measures had been adopted, not on N questlon
of doubtful policy respecting the expediency or
the danger of extending the British domirlion",
hut as the result of hostilities Consilleilting in
treachery, aggressive and unprovoked. But what-
ever might be Hie result of the measures, the
House, lie was sure, could not refuse the tribute
of their applause 10 the tierrgy and vigour that
conducted the tains of the State on such a tryisig
crisis. The Marquis of Ilasturge, it ii.eiremlesit of
has civil qualities, proved himself a consummate
Gcrierid. Ile had 'nought together au army
larger than had ever before beau assembled iii 15.11.111
wider EUriiiirait colours, froth the most dietairt
parts of that country. The House 11011 been so
much dazzled of late by the splendour of air-
tol les obtained nearer home, involving the more
immediate interests of the country, that the glory
which night be obtained in India was regarded as •
matter or cooperative unimportance ; but the
House should recollect what the circumstances of
our Indian Empire were, mid of whet materials our
army was composed. IF it were considered that in
it were to be found men of the same stamp end
same country 84 those who loot fought under his
guttered friend behiod.hins (the Duke of Welting-
ton)—if it were afro considered that that eriny
was, in a great measure, composed of native% dis-
ciplined ad truinal by British Officers, awl lied
',hewed themselves wootlay of fighting side by wile
with that filmy, which now, lie believed, c 1111 l mend-
eel the admiration of the world—the Hence could
not fail of trollying their admiration of its deeds
in the same impartial manner as they had done
towards those troop. Who had been eligagril OH
oilier service. The Noble Earl shortly recapitu-
lated hes ere ii meets, and c •Itided by 1111 l vstre
" 'flat Mr Thanks of die MOW be trivets, to Grarnl
the Marquis of Hastings,Guaiiror-Gene rah of lud,a, knight
of the Garter, Knight Growl Crust. of the Military (Inter of

the Bath, ated routimander-atoChitf of the Amoy of Indio,
for the promptitude anal vigour Ire replayed in the accent
military uper.itions in that part of tkc Empire."
Ti.e alutiuu bring read—

a
~\
' •
, • I

' \to

' The Maquis of LANSDOWN rose, and eXpressed
his assent to the motion proposed by the Noble
Earl. In his motion he the more willingly con-
curred, Iwcause, in so doing, he did not pro-
nounce an opinion on the policy of extending
and sgerniolizing the British power iu
on which he should hesitate to express any sen-
timent, will t taking a much longer time for
consideration than had beeioldlowed on the pre-
Pent motion. Ile felt that, whatever might be
the merits of that system of policy, the late hos-
tilities did not involve the consideration of that
question, for they were rendered imperative on the
Government of India by the irruptions of the Pin-
darries—in the account of whom, given by the No-
ble Earl, lie entirely concurred. But having thus,-
in unison with the feelings of she army and of the
country, given his most unqualified approbation to
the conduct of the Governor-General, and to the
bravery of the army of India, he should turn to
another and more painful subject, from which, in
the reiforinalice of a public duty, he could not
shrink. lie referring to this topic, he should be
extremely unwilling to prejudge the character of
any man ; but it was of a nature so marked, as to
demand the eurne,t attention Of Parliament. The
subject to which he alluded. was the execution of
the Killiilar or Governor of the fort of Till oeir, by
orders of Gen. Hislop. On this point the House had
no intelligence but what was communicated by the
dispatches of that Officer to the Governor-General.

and from these it appeared that the fortress of 'calorie
offered a very vigorous resistance to the British
army ; that the Eillidar came out, and surrendered
I • self, with some of his officers ; that subse-
quently the Arabs refused to give up the town, and
that several officers and men lost their lives in con-
sequence of the treachery of the garrison. These
Arabs suffered a dreadful vengeance, for they were
indiscriminately put to the sword. On this act of
severe retribution he should not speak, for possibly
the act was justifiable under the laws of ordinary
warfare, but it appeared that subsequently the
Killidar, who had surrendered himself to the Bri-
tish army, was, without even the intervention of a
Military Commission, hanged by order of Sir
'l'. Melo!). In the dispatch of Sr T. Hislop that
officer said, that even if the Killidar were not aware
of the treachery of the garrison, he yet justly suffer-
ed for his treason, iu not obeying the orders of his
Master, Holkar. But it did not appear that the
Killidar had been apprised of the Treaty concluded
between his Master and the British Government
but by the means of the British army. Wert the
House therefore prepared to establish a rule, that
the Contain:oer of a fortress should place implicit
coufi•lruc•r in the assertions of an enemy, and on
snob a•sertion deliver up himself and his garrison ?
This, tt oi,ce sanctioned, must give occasion to
strata;;,•cns in war, and atrocities, which, he was con-
vinced, their Lordships would not wish to establish.
But even though the Killidar did disobey the or-
ders of his Master, his disobedience was a crime
for which lie was acconotable to his own Govern-
ment, and not to the General of* hostile army. If
he erre at present called upon to give a vote ►e-
•prctiug the conduct of General Hislop, it should
he given in the negative ; but it was desirable that
the Honer should suspend its decision, and neither
condemn the conduct of General Hislop, in the
absence of fuller information on this subject, nor
yet seem, by implication, to sanction it. He
was confident the House would not approve of
any proceeding in that distant part of the world,
which they would disavow in Europe. The Noble
Earl opposite seemed to think that the coun-
try hod been of late SO dazzled by the splendour
of triumphs nearer home, as to become it'd&
ferent to those can more distant regions, but they
should at least curry to every country the same
principles of honour and of justice. If it were the
great destiny of this country to found the future
civilization of India, it would he to our actions
that those millions of inhabitants who were to derive
this benefit, and which it was our duty to God and
to the world to communicate as widely as possible—
it would be to our actions that they would have to
look (or the laws of war and of peace, whereby the
advantages of the latter may be improved, and the
honors of the former mitigated. He thought it right
that if the House should vote its thanks to General
Hislop, for his military conduct, there should be
annexed some re►olution, declaring that in this vote
was not included any opinion respecting his cony
duet at Tslueir. Fur Alin:li purpose he should
mote—.

" That this House, in giving its Thanks to ('several His.
hip for his military services, dues nut include in that Vole,
an °pintos* upon the conduct of General Hislop, in order-
ing the execution of the Killidar of she Furl of Talneir, the
Himae not having sufficient evidence before it to give an
opinion we point, and desiring further information."
Lord HoI.LAND concurred most readily in the
Vote of Thanks to the Nlarquis of llonstings, but lie
expressed his doubts respecting the lawfulness of
Banish authority in Lithis. With regard to the
military talents of the Marquis of Hastings, he
►hould not be such a coxcomb as that individual was
who hail been noticed in history for his folly in
plating of war in the presence of Hannibal.. He
►hould not prate of such matters in the pd-artice of
the Nolole Duke oppointe (the Duke of Weilingtoit);
hot, as a plain man, he could not avoid saying, that
the measures pursued by the Marquis of Hastings
weir masked by celerity, promptitude, and energy.
Ile then Ilittivd to the private character of the
Minions of Hastings, on whom he passed a high
rulogitam, and remarked, that although his private
inure r•iittld not of themselves justify the present
V 4.11". tiny atiorded an additional pleasure to the
pet iodinates of a duty. The Noble Lord con-
cluded by concurring in the opinion expressed by
the Marquis of Lansdown of suspending their judg-
ment on the case of General Hislop until they had
received fuller information.

The first motion of Thanks to the Marquis of
Hawing, was then put and carried.
The Earl of (ATSIIIIOOI, then rose, and moved a
Vole of Thanks to General Hislop, and the officers
and men alto served in India. He said, that if any
motion were proposed tending to throw a censure on
General Hislop, he should certainly oppose it, for
the House were not, in his opinion, ripe for passing
sentence of condemnation. It appeared that an

act of consummate treachery had occurred at Till-
heir, which led, according to the eatiablio.hed rules of
war, to the destruction of the garrison. With ie.
spritt In the subsequent event, some further expla-
uatiou was doubtless necessary, and with this the

Government was so impressed, that .
were sent out, requiring further explanation
circumstance. He admitted the justice
serrations that had fallen from the Noble
but he could never consent that a qm
Amulet be introduced into the middle of
Thanks, similar to that which had been
another place (the,.Coart of Directors)
rearoo : the Votes of the House should .
milted by the Lord Chancellor to thu Ginenior
General of India, and should be subsequently requl
at the head of every regiment in the service, dud he
inserted in the orderly book'. It would be rather pre.
mature in the House, before they found them., Ives
enabled to form an opinion, to qualify the Vote 10
Gen. Hislop in such a manner, and punish hiiii by
having it so recorded for every regiment in tilt. sig..
vice, He remarked as a strong circumstance u. rwo. •
Hislop's favour, that this event had met with the
approbation of the Governor-General, than whin, ilp
had never known. man of more sensitive humanity,
After the Votes of Thanks had passed, he heal then
no objection to receive the motion of the Nutile
Marquis.—(Hear, hear, p,nt the 111eirritais of
Laarduorn.

The Doke of WELLINGTON rose, and said, thlit
he had litelt the plan of the cmenimigii in Ind,,
and that in every respect it merited the spprolnifinit
of the House. He was happy that Ulric Lordships
had tirat opportunity of giving their opiiiiiia upon
it, and of ',hewing how highly they estim fled tir
Cervices of their army in that part of the world.
It had been the fashion of I ite to undervalue the
merits of the Indian aritiy, and he was happy ifb
have that opportunity of "%taut% that there were no
troops iii the world possessed of higher qualifica-
tions, whether they were to act in large
or in small detachments.--(llear, hear.)—Of
this the late campaign afforded the fullest prod,
for in no iiirtatice had the army failed to
port the high character of the British arms.—
(Hear, hear.)—j-ie complimented the Marquis
of Hastings on Ins military talente, and allud-
ing to Sir Thomas Hislop, said, that this General
had commanded in the most important and arduous
part of the campaign, and that his case ought to lie
regarded by the House with considerable favour.
His case, too, seemed to him to be prima facie jus-
tifiable. He had attempted no concealment, but a,
wool) as the event took place, immediately ~sea up
a full report of it, which he transmitted to the
Governor-General, and received from the Noble
Marquis the fullest opplubation. He objected
more particularly to the last passage iu the
motion of the Marquis of Linsdown, as it
seemed to impose on the Governor. General the ne-
cessity of proceeding to an immediate investigation
of the subject, either by military commission, or by
trial before the Supreme Court at Mastitis or Cal-
cutta. This was in his opinion unneeessary6 i,s
the Government hail already dispatched isiststic•
tions to India for the rroduction of further Mkt-
metion.

The Marquis of L*NtDOWN said he FHA no (.1,-
jection to leave out the passage alluded to :he
Noble Duke.

The N'ote of Thanks to General Hislop, find 'he
officers and troops in Indio, wu then (nil:ed.

The Emil of LIVERPOOL them moved a r solu-
tion, that the House saw with pleasure the Ltener
discipline and good order of the army a 11141,
which was acceded to.

The M arqu.s o.f __ANshowfi's motion, except
the conduct of General Hislop, at the Fort of "'.li-
nen., from the previous Vote of 'rlistilts, was timis
proposed and carried without opposition.
The House theu adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, TUESDAY, MancH V.

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