The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-23 00:00:00

RE.?tI'POINTMENTOF SIR J. E.COLEBROOK.

The CIIAIRMAN stated that the Court of Directors had on the
7th instant come to a resolution to recommend to the Court of Pro-
prietors to restore StrJ.E. Colebrook to the rank which he formerly
held in the civil service in the Bengal establishment, and which
had been forfeited by his residence in this country beyond the
period of time allowed by Act of Parliament. The Court of Di.
rectors in general were much averse to make such restorations after
an extended period of absence; but they had considered the ease
of Sir J. E. Colebrook to be a peculiar and an especial one, and
theretore entitled to be excepted out of the general rule; he should
therefore move that Sir J. E. Colebrook be restored to his former
rank in the service.

The DEPUTY Custa MAN seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN then moved (agreeably to the 33 Gen. 111.
cap. 58, s. 78.) that tbia question he pat to the ballot on the 6th of
April next.
Dr. GILCHRIST asked whether the case of Sir J. E. Colebrook
was similar to other cases where applications had been made to the
Court of Directors by persons to be restored to the service, and
which applications were rejected
The CHAIRMAN considered that the present was a much stronger
case than any other that he knew of. Sir J. E. Colebrook had been
very lung in the Company's service, his merits were veer high as an
officer, and he had only exceeded by a very short period the time
allowed by the Act of Parliament to persons absent from India,
and this was principally owing to a mistake on the part of the gal.
last officer, he not being acquainted with the precise terms of the
Act of Parliament, nor knowing whether the period of absence
allowed commenced from his arrival in England, or from the mo.
anent he left India.

Air. THANT having himself served in India, both under and
with Sir J. E. Colebrook. could bear testimony to the gallant offi-
cer's merits, and he considered it a subject of great pleasure at hav-
ing the prospect of seeing that most useful and eminent member of
the service restored.
The motion was then agreed to.
EAST INDIA WRITERS.

The CHAIR MAN then acquainted the Court that it had been made
Special agreeably to one of their bye-laws, for the purpose of laying
befure the Proprietors a draft of a Bill which was now before Per.
liament. entitled "An Act to suspend the provisions of anAct of his
late Majesty respecting the appointment of Writers in the service
of the East India Company ; and to authorise the payment of the
allowances of the civil and military officers of the said Company
dying while absent from India."
The Bill was then read by the Clerk, after which
The CHAIR MAN moved, that this Court do COOCUt in the pro.
visions of the Bill.

Mr. Poy Nina asked whether this Bill had been introduced
into Parliament in consequence of any decision upon the question
in the Court of Directors ? His reason for asking this was. that as
the Court had already by a very considerable majority (no less than
'lBO decided that the Colrege at Harleybury was a right and
proper institution. and that it should be continued, it appeared to
him somewhat extraordinary for the Court now to be called upon
to comply with a measure that went to upset that decision, without
any discussion, or a single reason being stated even in the Bill itself,
for making such a change.
The CHAIRMAN said the Bill was introduced into Parliament
in consequence of a letter addressed by hint (as Chairman of the
Court of Directors) on the 9th of August last, to the Board of
Commissioners; and the best answer that could be given to the
lion. Proprietor therefore was to have that letter read.
The Clerk then read theiletter, which stated that, on the 3OtbJuly
last, there were In the three Presidencies of Bengal, Madras, and
Bombay, a deficiency of servants in the civil departments of no less
than seventy-two, and that the casualties amounted to fifty annu-
ally ; so that in order to complete the service. there required to be
appointed 172 writers in the course of two years. The largest num,
bee that had ever been supplied by the College teas forty-eight in
the course of the year ; the average bomber being truly thirty-five.
The average number of students was peventy.seven. But suppos-
ing the College to have its full complement of ninety-four, and
supposing all the students to pass their tour terms, then the Col-
lege would supply only forty-seven annually, which would not meet
the casualties, and would leave the deficiency of seventy-two
wholly unprovided for. It being therefore obvious that the pros-
pective duties of the Company could not be adequately provided
fur by the College, the attention of the Board of Commissioners
MU called to the subject, and it was suggested that the deficiency
might be supplied either by an enlargement of the College, • limi-
tation of the number of terms required to be primed, or that the Di.
rectors should be authorised to appoint persons efficient to enter the
service, although they had not gone through the necessary number
or terms at the College.
Mr. Po XDE a felt satisfied by the explanation given, and at the
present moment should not office any observations upon the
subject.
Mr. Ormanew thought the letter which had just been reed
showed the inefficiency of the llaileybury Institution to meet the
casualties and contingencies of the Company ; and that their own
celebrated and mach-boasted Institution did not answer the purpose
for which it was intended. . _

Mr. Hums: wan happy to concur with the Court of Directors in
adopting the Bill now before therm He only regretted that his ef-
forts to accomplish the same measure several years ago hail not
been successful, but he was always willing to take what was offered
whenever it came, agreeably to his motto--" Better late than
never." He only hoped that the restriction placed open this Bill
would be extended. He was anxious that a longer time than three
years should be given, now that his Majesty's Government were
disposed to make the experiment of a more liberal course. He
therefore submitted that the Court of Directors ought to take into
consideration the question, whether the time of probation of this
new measure should not be four or live years instead of three. No
man was more anxious than he was to NO their public officers well
educated ; but they ought to consider at the nine time how many
meritorious officers there were In India, who were utterly precluded
from availing themselves of the friends they hail In the Direction,
from their not being able to afford to maintain their children at the
Company's seminary, although they had the means of giving them
goitres complete en education out of it us they would acquire In it.
With regard to that part of the Bill which went to indemnify the
Board of Cuntroul for the advances which they hail illegally made
since 11121, lie perfectly agreed, and thought they Mid acted wisely
in making those advances. But although lie would not interfere
with the payments actually made to the military service in this
way, yet, as he understood no such payments had been made to any
of the civil wearily. he thought it doubtful whether they ought to
go bark to the year 11:2I in making those payments, or whether
they ought not to commence them from the present time.
ASTLEY did not consider this bill as 11 condemnation of

the College at Ilalleybury, hut a a trial which necessity had
called upon them to adopt. The accession of territory in the East
r.quired a larger nuthber of civil servants than the College cotild at
present furnish, and thie b:11 was to supply that deficiency. %Whe-
ther it would not be proper to abridge the necessary tune of re-
sidence at the College was a question which he was not prepared to
dispute. It was the fashion with sonic lion. Proprietors to con-
demn the College as inefficient, but, dies an experience of twenty
year of its efficiency, tie could not sit quiet under such obscrea-
tiono. lle thought the period of three years 'ut sufficient for the
purposes sought to be erected by the bill.
111 r. %VIP:Moto was of opinion that the time of residence at the
College ought to be restricted.
11r. Pal-meow thought It rathei hard that this moment
should be taken to run down the College. The President of the
Boort! of Control had said that the College was at prevent not
inefficient, but insufficient ; he therefore hoped Oentlemen would
look at the subject candidly, and not decide against the College
until a frit trial had been girth to the mode now about to be
adopted, and that the merits or the question would not be further
gone foto till it was ascertained which of the two modes was the
most efficient. Ile, however; agreed with the Hon. Proprietor 1 Mr.
Hume) that the extension of the period for this trial to five years
would be better than the term of three quirt ndw fixed upon by
the bill.

Colonel BATLEY considered that this meseure was not an expo.
riment, but an expedient to supply the insufficiency of the College
during the temporary emergency which circumstances bad oc.
casioned.

After a few words from Mr. Trent, Dr. Ililchrist, and Genera/
Thornton,
The question that the provisions of the 'oaf be concurred In was
put and agreed to.
Captain MAXWELL complained of the expenses of shipping and
tonnage to China and India, in which he contended the most ex.
Lenitive savings might be effected. The expenseil freight at pre.
sent actually amounted to 651. per cent. MI the prime cost of the
cargo. The powers at protest ezercised by the owner of a vessel oa
arriving inindle, rooked tonnage heirtenant.oolonel Its theassnys thee
superseding old men who hail held commissions, even in some
cases, prior to his birth. This was a defect attributable to the great
source of all the defects in the Government in India, namely, com-
mercial influence. This he merely mentioned as being worthy of
consideration, but the matter of moat serious importance was, the
expense of tonnage. By the charter of the company it was itnpos.
sible to divide more than 101 per cent. profit upon their shares
and it was not, perhaps, therefore ninth to be wondered at if no
surplus profit had been realised. lie was Jpinlon that the cheapest
and of course the best mode of procedure would be. to engage ships
as they might be required, rather than engage them tor a certain
number of voyages, as was the custom at present. He could not
see the necessity tor the company to keep ships of its own, which,
bun the expensiveness of their equipment. consumed an immense
sum, which must otherwise have been returned in the shape of sur.
plus profit to their treasury. The Hon. Proprietor concluded by
moving tour resolutions to the following purport:—
•' That it appeared by the papers which had been returned, that
the average of the tonnage of the ships engaged in January last.
was 731. 7s. per ton ; that the average of the tonnage of the ships
belonging to the company was 271., while that of vessels engaged
for only one voyage was 131.
" That engaging ships tor a number of voyages was wrong, and
that it would, therefore, be must prudent to engage tonnage only as
it was wanted.

" That a portion of the !rade hod been conducted by ships of a
smaller class, containing every requisite far commercial purposes ;
and that therefore the equipment of large vessels at a great expense
might be dispensed with.
** That it might be beneficial to the public if permission could
be obtained from Parliament for the Proprietors to divide a portion
of the surplus profit over 104 per cent.; and it would therefore be
advisable fur the Court to petition Parliament to that eth.:ct."
Air. ELLICE seconded the Resolutions.

The CHAIRMAN said that he regretted that the Hon. Proprietor
had not adopted the usual courtesy of acquainting him with the
Resolutions which he intended to submit, as in that case lie (the
Chairman) would have known better how to have proceeded. The
Resolutions applied to two distinct questions. First, whether the
Company should have a distinct fleet ? He could only say, that it
had always been considered necessary that they should do so.
They were better calculated to convey troops to India, this he said
from his own knowledge, than auy other vessels in the world. Be-
sides, should any circumstances occur in India which might occa-
sion the Government there to require an armed fleet, it would not
answer to be obliged upon such occasions to go into the market to
look for ships, perhaps unavailingly, fitted for their purpose. The
Government in India were also occasionally obliged to send ships
under secret orders, and how could that be done with ships engaged
for a single voyage ? Taking these circumstances into consider'.
tion, he could not consent to regard the question as one of nitre
money. With regard to tonnage, he could only say that the Com-
pany were compelled, by Act of Parliament, to accept the lowest
utter made by vessels suitable for the trade, and if the Hon. Pro-
prietor could build vessels foe the Company soy to save them 2S
per cent., he should be happy to accept his proposals the next time
the Company had occasion to advtrtise for ships.
Captain MAXWELL said, that in the early history of the Com-
pany it might have been requisite to have an armed naval force,
but in time of peace that was unnecessary. He admitted that there
could not be finer ships than those belonging to the Company ; but
a large ship could gad as well without as with guns, and by em-
ploying vessels differently equipped a saving might be effected to
the extent of SWAMI. upon every voyage.
A PROPRIETOR contended that there hail been • profit in the
measure adopted by the Company, of having ships of their own.
Their cargoes were also brought home in a better state than the
cargoes of such vessels as the lion. Proprietor wished to have ex-
elusively employed.
The Resolutions were then put, and negatived by a large ma.
jorit y.
The Court adjourned st three o'clock.

POST-OFFICE REGULATIONS.

MORNING DELIVERY.

POaT-01TICE, 1.117 ZilP001: MARCH 21, 1826.
In order to remove the inconvenience of sending twice to the
Post-office morning, and to prevent the pressure occasioned
by stopping the first delivery while the letters by the Northman are
assorted, all the Morning mails will, on and after Thursday the
2&t inst. be delivered in one delivery, at about a quarter past nine,
instead of the two deliveries as at present. The letters by the
London mail will continue to be delivered at night as usual.
By command of the Postmaster. General,
(Copy) BANNING, Postmaster.

INVESTIGAT !ONO the KING'. BENCH PRISON.

Yesterday a further investigation of the charge against Mr.
Latouche, a ruler in the King's Bench prison, of maliciously
firing a loaded pistol at a watchman named Barter, took plate at
that prison, before the Marshal and Bic. Chambers the magistrate,
when no evidence of malicious Intention appearing, it was recom.
mended by Mr. Chambers that he should be discharged ; but the
Marshal thinking it necessary to deter othdrs from similar conduct,
decided on his further detention within the walls.

Subsequent to the decision in the above case, three individuals
confined within the walls, named George Barrow, James Elver-
stone, and IVi'ham flurdman, were conducted into the room,
charged with having committed the following robbery. A Mr.
Edward Mooney, who stated himself to he a ltnen.draper, residing
in High-street, Birmingham, deposed that on the ISth instant he
had occasion to call at the prison, for the purpose of visiting a
friend, and while there was introduced to the three prisoners, and
went to Barrow's room, in which there were two females gnat a
man named White, besides the persons in custody. On entering
he gar* a sovereign to Barrow, to procure s bottle of wine.
After this was drank be sent for another, instead of which a bottle
of turn Was brought. Having only received 79. &t. out of his
sovereign in change, he made some objection to the deficiency.
However, he put the change into his pocket, and still grumbled,
when the prisoners desired him to pull out his money again and
count it. He then took out of his pocket 14 sovereigns, which he
laid on the table ; the table was Instantly upset by the three pri.
inners, and the person named White and himself knocked down by
Elverstone, and held down by him and some others with his face
downwards. whilst the money was picked up by them, which he
saw by the light from the fire, the candles having been blown out
before the upsetting of the table and the money. One sovereign,
which he saw on the ground, he attempted to take, but Hurdman
prevented him, and took it himself.
The complainant, in reply to questions by the men in custody,
admitted that he had been drinking before he went into the prison,
but denied that the quantity taken could have injured hint. lie
added, that after the above transaction, he proceeded to Elver.
stone's room, and accused him of robbery ; that person denied it,
and said that if he ever came there again he would kill him.
A man named Evans was called by the prisoners. He stated
that he was present at the commencement of the scuffle, when the
table was upset, but that he instantly left the room. He com-
pletely negatived the assertion of the prisoner with respect to the
complainant being drunk at the time.
Another person, who was present when Mr. Mooney first entered
the room, stated that he withdrew, imagining some foul play was
going to be exercised on the complainant.
The prisoners tall declared their innocence, and asserted that the
complainant was so drunk that he knew not what had happened.
It was here suggested that evidence would be brought forwent,
to prove that the money thus taken from Mr. Mooney, was after-
wards divided amongst them by the prisoners.
Mr. CHAIIIIER, after making some remarks on the cruelty of
such a robbery, postponed the further hearing until to-morrow.

Sir Humphrey Davy lately melted two piecee of ice by
their mutual friction, in a room cooled below the freezing
temperature.

Sot etne.—On Tuesday kat, about half-pant two o'elock,
a young men about. 211 years of age, named Holmes. a cabinet.
maker, residing at Mr. Smith's, No. 15, Ogle-mews, Alarylebone,
after eating a hearty dinner, apparently cheerful, committed self.
destruction with a pistol, the muzzle of which he had placed in his
mouth. His head was dreadfully shattered, and he presented
a shocking spectacle. It appears that the deceased had lately left
his friends, who are highly respectable, at Sidmouth in Devonshire,
intending to set up in business in the metropolis. He had pre-
viously paid his addresses to a young lady,. who at Hest eocostraged
them, but afterwards transferred her regards to another person ; and
this circumstance, it is conjectured, led to hie commission of the
rash act. The bud, lies for a coronet's Inquest.