The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-03-15 00:00:00

at the ettrnee, and in violatik of thisse prinetple4
which it is no less the duty of this country, than it
has ever been part of its national eha • raler t' pre-
serve. lam truly sorry the Hon. Gentleman should
entertain such an unworthy sentiment ; but I am
•tll more sorry that he should have expressed it at
such a time as the present, when there is no subjeal
of investigation before-the Committe which could
justify me in proving that St 'is unfounded. The
Hon. Gentleman will forgive me, if I.express my
Bret at what (I hope unadvisedly) has fallen from
h:nt, and the more so that he should have intimated
such an idea now. All I ask of the House is, that
if Gentlemen have not investigated the suhjetSt, they
will at least abstain from foaming any judgment, or
safferiag their minds to he blessed by what the Hon.
Gentleman hes ale:treed. I have thutight it neces-
sary to say thus much, because I know how expres-
sions are sometimes hastily-taken up, and adopted as
proofs of fasqs. This is due to some of the most
meritorious men the country can boast. It is due
tri them, that selsde they are serving their country
abroad, we should not suffer feelings and i. •pres•
sifts to go f: rat which must have the Kea of de-
priVing them of what they -have eartied*by long set-
vices—she 4ttinttion of their countrymen, before
they have had an opportunity of inquiring into all
the partienlars their conduit. Upon the result of
.sack an Mvestigation, I am sure, they are willing to
.7.C:q what is dealer to them than any cnnsideration—
their private cher:LS.ler. 1 beg pm-don for what I
have said, but I thought I was only dischargime a
debt of jastice."'
Sir HUGH INGLIS said, that for the last four
years the prrelts of the IndiaTrede had been nearly
eqnel to those of the China Trade. The China
Trade had produced near 3/)00,0001. and the India I
Trade 2,700,0001. Was not that an object ? Would
any man wish to throw up such an advantage ?
He hoped that we should ever preserve them.
Mr. FRANCIS said, he 'had ever looked upon
estimates as no better than promises. Nothing
was more Edlaeines ; of the 503,001 a year
to be paid for the renewal of the chaster, only
one year had ever been received. in the ac-
counts on the Table, he faund the whole capi-
'tal stock of the Company was omitted. Why it
had been omitted, he knew not ; but it appeared
plainly, that no less a sum than 7,8(TZ,0601. has been
entirelrleft out of the debits. There was also a
snm mentioned as due by Government, amounting
to 3,573,0001. But did Covernment e':cr acknow-
ledge the debt ? att.l it was not so acknowledged,
why was it stated as-seeh? if he coald have his wish
(uncormeiled as he was w'ith aa•eirs) he would
be ler a Corernitese to investigate those .accounts,
when he was confident it would appear, that instead
of the Company having five millions in its favour,
it would be found that they had so rnstch against
them ; and he concluded by observing, that the
Papers onthe Table, afforded a false and very de-
lusive view of the akeirs of Llia, and the re-
soarcos of the East India Compeny.
• Lord CASTLERF.AGH, in explanation, said
that the Bon. Gentleman's expressions were rather
harsh, when• he accused such a body of men as the
Directors of the East-India Company with intentions
of laying a false view of the affairs before- t'ist
House, for the purpose of misleading the public.
He insisted that •the Company was incapable of
such conduit; and that the accounts on the table
were as correct as it was possible to make them. •
As to the capital stock, it was expressly stated to be
excluded, and as to the 3,573,0001. due by Govern-
ment, that was mentioned barely as a memorandum
-at the bottom, as it was a subjeet for future consi-
deration, and he was confident the statement made
by the Company was exact and prudent, and such,
as on the most severe scrutiny, would be found, in
every point of view, unexceptionable, when it came
properly before the House at another period of disc
elusion. The noble Lord then recapitulated most
of his observations oa the affairs of India, and stated
that the debts in Europe amounted to 12ai00,0001.
The debts in India amounted to 16,`.200,0301.
amounting to a debt of 28,800,0901. in the whole,
at home and abroad. It would be founl, therefore,
that the debts and the assets balanced each other ;
and it was but fair, when the Hon. Gentleman con-
sidered the debt, to consider the assets also. The
Noble Lord then entered again into a description of
the flourishing state of the Company, and concluded
by asserting that it was able to liquidate every de-
mand, anti leave. a balance of 5,800,0901. in its fa-
vour. • •
Mr. FRANCIS said, he stuck to his account.
The Noble Lord had gone into matter entirely irre-
levant thereto. The Noble Lord did not answer
why the capital stock of tbe Company was omitted ;
for his part, he was confident it could not be left out
for any fair purpose. He would insist on it, there
were ten millions omitted, via. the capital stock,
amounting to. seven millions, and three millions due
by Government, equally unaccounted for.
The Rt. Hon. WILLIAM DUNDAS rose and
said, that the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last, had
thought proeer to expatiate on the contents of the
papers on the Table, to a very extraordinary man-
ner indeed, which he had thought proper to class
without further ceremony, under the denoMination
of lase accounts. The Honourable Gentlemen says
—Why is the capital stock omitted, unless for the
purpose of deception ?---but he would reply, that
any clerk at the India-House could give the Hon.
Gentleman the answer for which he prest so closely;
and as the Hon. Gentleman had resigned all manner
of pretensions to infalibili.y, he would, notwith-
steadily; that he was almost choaking with the in-
H (a kw! laugh.) endeavour to satisfy the Hon.
Gentleman, which could be done in a most satisfac-
tory manner front the very accounts which seem to •
have so very much engaged the Hon. Gentleman's
attention ; and as a proof of the accuracy with which
the lion. Gentleman had considered them, he
would read as far as his voice enabled him those very
accounts to him. Time Right Hon. Gentleman then
read the account, which explicitly mentioned that
the sums contained therein were exelsr,ive of the capi-
tal stock of the Company. The Hon. Gentleman
had thought proper to make some allusions to a No-
ble ltelavon of his (Lord Melville) whom he stated
to have deluded the country for twenty years past.
It could nut be expelled that he should stand up in
vindication of the charter of his Noble Friend and
Relation, as any thing he might urge would be liable
to the imputation of partiality ; and though the ver-
dkt he might give in would have but little weight
of' itself with the House, yet he trusted that a um-
, Ment's consideration of the merits, the services, and
the zeal of his Noble Friend, Which was acknow-
hedged by his country, would give it a sandiOn. The


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}ion, Gentleman has said, that the. liable Perdu
Alluded to, had been vapouring for twenty years
past with promise; s:milar to those mentioned by his
Noble Friend (Lord Castlereagh). Perhaps the
Hon. Gentleman mey have some season• to dislike
him ; but he was confident that Noble Person
never made a promise but what was founded on
the fairest prospeEts—founiled on the soundest
policy.—But twenty years ago he could make no
such promise, for the eause.did not then exist ; and
if he had ever held out a hope,, at a later period, of
having; the public particirate in the five hundred
thousand pounds, it was prevented by an uninter-
rur.ted state of war ; and there was not a person
who knew the Noble Lord (Melville) but had re-
peatedly l'lard him say, in and out of this House,
that the five hundred thousand pounds could not he
paid in time of war—He must therefore observe,
that the Hon. Gelaleman's oblation, in every point
of view, wined to be timnded on misconception or
misinful mation.

Mr. FRANCIS explained, and still contended,
that lie had not been answered.
Sir I'IIANCIS BARING said, that though lie
m.l>t acitaowlcalge tlite accuracy of the Noble 1 r:rd's
statement, he could not attempt to follow him in
..!7e prophetic spirit in which he had so deeply in-
The Noble Lord had undertaken a task
which stagsjcred It. man possessed of the greatest
abilities and experience (Lord Melville), and he
hoped the Lord would sustain it with credit
to himself and advantage to the country. The
In.i is Dircciors proposed to raise two millions without
raising one penny stock. This had his approbation;
but the Noble Lord in the beginning of his career
was rather bold in promisinv to the public a speedy
participation of the 500,0007 which his predecessor,
notwithstanding all his knowledze, would -not yen-
titre to do ; he concluded by cieOlaring himself de-
cidedly against raising any more stock. • •
Lord CASTLEREAGabrieIIy explained:

Sir T. METCALFE said, that the Noble Lcrd
who lately managed the affairs of India, regularly
laid e§tiaiates on the table for the last ten years,
which were always to be proved by the accounts of
the ensuing year. The Hon. Gentleman opposite
to him (Mr. Francis) has thought proper to say that
the East India Company was guilty of fallacy in
the accounts now before the House. But he would
say, that the East India Company—the first com-
pany of merchants in the world, were incapable of
fdsifying an account. He denied it; and defied the
Hon. Gentleman to prove it. The Hon. Gentle-
man no doubt best knew why he thus attacked the
Court of Direaors ; hut why would they falsify an
account against themselves ? For the sum the
lion. Gentleman alludad to, instead of appearing for,
woad be evidently against them, .accoraing to the
manner it stands in t'he account. The Hon. Gen-
tleman thinks that the flattering prospects of the
Noble Lord (Castlereagh) would never be realized,
but if we take a view of the state of India—our -ac-
quisition of territory, revenue, &c. we dill no longer
consider it an unreasonable expedation to have the
Noble Lord's prospeds realized in their fullest ex-
tent. (Here the Hon. Gentleman entered into a very
minute and flattering description of the anirs. of
India.)" Put," said the. Hen. Gentleman, " the best-
informed' men on the subjed have pointed out the
pro pr'ety and necessity of liquidating the Indian debt.
We ail know, that by the orders of his Majesty's
GovernmentacOnsiderable xpeditions were made, at
a very heavy eipencea which made it necessary to
borrow money to a greater arnpunt than he in sound
policy thought it should have done, and which
debt the Court had determined to. liquidate. He
then again adverted to the word falsify, which was
an expression which he did not expeft from the Hon.
Gentleman's liberal mind, and he hoped it was
dropped inadvertently. • The subject of the Car-
', natic WAS almost improperly introduced by another
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Johnston.) It is a question
by itself, and when it came in a proper manner be-
fore the House, he was confident every thing con-
nected with it would be explained in the most satia-
fakdory manner. As to the trade of India, for the
last four years, after every charge
.had been paid,
the balance in favour of trade was upwards of three
millions each year. It is true, there was an increase
of debt, but it should also be considered, that there
was an increase of assets in proportion. The capital
stock, which was stated by the Hon-Gentleman to
have been omitted, should, if mentioned at all, be
stated at twelve millions, as it was guaranteed for
so much by an ad of the Legislature. The India
Company had now a clear b:ilance of two millions
t aao lrandred thousand pounds in their favour. The
Noble Lord (Melville) whom the Hon. Gentleman
had thought proper to animadvert upon, had lea a
high charzader behind him in the department which
he'filled, and it was pleasing to retied that his suc-
cessor was possessed of such assiduity, zeal, and ta-
lents, as prothised the fairest prospeds. As to the
debt due-by Government, he thought it a fair debt,
notwithstanding what had been urged to the con-
trary by the lion. Gentleman. He was sanguine
in his hopes of having the prosped of the participa-
tion of the public in the 500,0001. speedily real-
ized. And he could not help alluding to a certain
description of persons, who were not fairly krefore
the House—he meant the Proprietors of East India
Stock, and urged the propriety of raising the di-
vidend to 11 per Cent. in justice to them, which
would tend to reduce the debt. He concluded by
giving it as his decided opinion, that Great Britain
will derive mare advantage from her East India
possessions than the rest of Europe from all their
colonies.

Mr. JOHNSON explained.
The Resolutions were then read and agreed to,
and the Report brought up and onkred for further
consideration on this day se'imight, and copies of
the Report to be printed.
Mr. ALEXANDER brought up the Report of
the Committee of Supply, for ten thousand sailors
for eleven lunar months ; when the Resolutions were
read and agreed to, and a Bill ordered accord-
ingly.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
gave notice, that he should, on Wedne;day next,
move for a Committee to enquire into the Charges
on the Civil List, and to prevent the Acmmulation
of Debt.
The LORD MAYOR postponed his Motion on
the Ship Owners' Petition, until Wednesday. fort-
night.
The house went through a Committee on ti e
Irish Law Courts Hill ; which was reported, and or-
dered to be read a third time on Thursday right.
Mr.TANSITTART moved; that • a lOW ivr*st
should be issued :lot—Ayrshire, in Scotland, in :h:

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root% of W. Fiatiton, f"5l. w7to v•le
one of the Commissioners for the Nand of Tnnidal.
Mr. WICK HAM moved, that this House sHottl‘
on to,rnorrow, reimlve itielf into a Committee of

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the witole House, on the Irish Militia Cloathing
Ad..—Agrted to.
The Report on the Iri,h Bill was post-
poned to this clay fortnight.
The House went through a Committee on the
Grenada Bill, which was reported, and a Bill ct-
dered accordingly.
The House went tilt-I-igh a Committee on the
Expiring LAWS Bill. Report to-morrow.
The other Orders of the Day were then read and
deferred. Adjourned.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FROM T:IE FRENCet PAPERS:

•

PARIC. MAP'" 10.
• Letters from the Hague mention, that t:•he French.
exredition destined for Louisiana, will set sail in
eie end of March.

A private letter from the Cape, of the 11th of
January- last, says-44 Pert-de-Paix, is retaken by
2000 troops who have arrived froni Brest ; we have this
Moment received an account of it. The rebels
sustained the shock from twelve o'clock until-five in
the evening, when our troops entered the place.
We have,had thite killed; and 17 wounded. Ge-
neral Rochambeau is esteemed and respeaed."
Letters from Brest, of the 2d March, state, that
the expedition for the East Indies was to sail in a
few days : it is composed of the Marensc, of 74t
guns, the frigates 4talarite, le Bdle Pode, la Send-
la•dt, le Ccte d'Or, and the transrport la Marie
Franroi:e. The troops embarked consist of one
battalion of the 109th demi-brigade of the line, of
one of the 18th light infantry, a company of light
artillery, and a company of guides, some artisans,
and the corps of clicers of the two battalions
of Scapoys,• who are to be formed in India.
There troops are animated with the best sririt.
The Commander in Chief sails on board the Ma-
roue, in which ship is also rear-Admiral LI NWS,
and part of the Staff and of the En;-?veers. Th‘.,
Civil Officers, who are very naincrous, are distri-
buted among the other vessels.
At the Diplomatic Audience of the 6th March,
Lord WHITWORTH presented to the haST CONSCL
Messrs. SANDFORD* JOHN SANDFORD* Ciptail S
CR AIOIE and Ci.ivt, Major BARNI:S* Lient.-'.201.
Cc.AUFian, M.P. -- Ls TE, of the 3d regiment
of Guards, Capt. DUNBAR. (.1 the 21st Light Dra-
goons, Lieut.-Col. CHAMBERS.* Lord JOHN CAII?
SELL', Ca't. J4eicsox of the Foot Guards.
Letters from Basle of the 4th March state, that
Ar.ors REDING, and the other Swiss Patriots, lately
confined in the citadel of Arbotirg, have been set at
liberty, in pursuance of orders from the French
Governimnt.

General BIWNE, Ambassador of the Fiench re.
public to the Siblime Porte, arrived at Constanti-
nople the 21st of January.
His squadron was composed of six ships,' large
and sinail, one of which was a ship of the line.
He has been received by the
.Captain Pacha. Th-
Vizier and the Divan have'sent him presents, a: d
his reception has been attended w'tli the great. s:
solemnities. The news of his arrival has spread joy
throughout the whole empire.
The same day the Ambasdador of England cm•
barked on board a frigate of his nation, to replir to
Palermo, and from thence to England. His fri-
gate got ender weigh about eight in the eveninF,
he thought proper to salute the Seraglio with
18 discharges of cannon, though it was night, a cir-
cumstance which extremely alarmed the city.
The Cormnissaries for Foreign Affairs in all the.
trading towns of the Levant, have obtained fir-
mans, and have departed for their destination on
board the different small vessels of the squadron.
The Porte has nominated GA Lte F.FPLNDI the
resident Ambassador at Paris. AU the commercial
relatians of the French have been resumed in the
trading towns of the Levant their ordinary course.
They have reason to flatter themselves with the re-
ception they have met from the Turks. On the de.'
mand of General Si-I:Aar, the Point has granted
to the Mamelukes that part cf Upper Egypt com-
posed of Scvan and Senile.
The CAPTAIN PACHA daily expecas news of
-
evacuation of Alexandria.

LLITC:i MAIL.

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SALTZBL;RG, En. 17.
This day has been a day of mirth and joy to 1:5,
on which we are become the subjects of the intended
Erector of Salthbtarg, his Royal Highness Duke Fer.
dinand. We now possess a Prince on whom the
Florentines cannot think' but with regret. This
evening, in the magnificanly illuminated theatre,
will be performed the dramatic piece entitled
burg's Goklen
The Duke has also been proclaimed anew Go-
vernor in fierchtolsgaden, and other counties which
are comprised in the Grand Duke of Tuscany's in-
demnities.

ROTTERDAM, MARCH 8.

The funds have not acqui:cd any sort of additional
Lriskness since our last. The Batavian rescrip:ions
payable after peace are noted at 681 a 69 pr. c.
The oti...x stocks do not vary meili in price.
The navigation and trade to Batavia and the
Dutch West and East Indies, is de'clar,'d., by Govern-
ment, to be free and open for all natives of this Re-
public, under certain conditions.

ri:tnA. FEB. 18.
Through the ilcd7..fa`igable diiiTenor of the secret
Commission of Coifference, the Orange Principality
of Fulda is at length orgiinized : of the twenty
Princely Offices, and the ten remaining ones belong-
ing to the Dome-Chapter, twenty-one offices of Jus-
tice and Police arc formed, which are freed of various
military services. The Collage of SuFreme Fores-
ters is also united to the Court,of Exchequer Evei y
thing is fixed with respell to the salaries of place.
men, and other persons receiving ralhries or pen-
sions. The Dome-Deacon gets YOOO gileers, and
the Abbcts from 2.500 to 6000.
The Convention proposed on May 2d lest, with
the Prince ,f N.msan Siegen,.now in Paris, )s,
hear, finally concluded: and he is to have from .our
Prince u certain pension, in-that Convention,
a:i is tt.oru his own property.

CurrMRAGEN, FIB. 22.
His Majesiy has been extremely indisposed Sian
.some clays pt t.
During the last year, morchanslisel to the amount

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