The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-06-23 00:00:00

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'read at length ew not. The Diredort neither
aimed at, or intended, any concealment. They
would be governed entirely by the will of the Court ;
but the only mode of ascertaining what their will
\vas, would be to move a question, that the paper
• he read at length, and let the majority decide it.
. Mr. IMPLY said, be differed from tha lion..
Chairman both as to the principle and the general
pra.ffice of the proceeding, which he had stated.
Every Honourable Proprietotr had- an undoubted
tight to have the particulars ,of any, paper read,
*which they required, and it was, he believed, never
Ilefore heard of in anti' assembly, either legislative or
• "tismvigh, that the Chairman or President refused it
44b be read, or endeavoured to throw difficulties in

the way of its being read.
, Mr. CHARLES GRAFT (a Direltor) rose to explain
Vie nature of the proceeding, as he conceived it to
be; and thought that the only proper way of deciding
ueon it was, by taking the sense of the Court,
whether the paper should be read at length or not ?
A Proprietor said, if it was true, as hat been
contended for, that every Proprietor could call for
any voluminous paper to be read at length that lie
pleated, it would be in the power of any individual
Proprietor, as often as he thought proper, to harrass
die General Cour , and keep it sitting whole days,
listening to the re dine of papers that no•other
Member of the Ci urt desire I to hear read. The
good sense of the matter he thought lay in die mode
ear proceeding suggested by the lionoura'nle Chair-
. tneu, which would be to settle the matter in a short
Way at once.
Mr. JOHNSTONE said, the question was a question
between the l)ireetors behind the bar and the
Proprietors, whether the paper should be read or
not ? As to any Proprietor starting a vexatious
proceeding, and trying to harress and mispend the
. time of the Court, lay calling fur long papers
• uselessly to be read, he had no idea that such a
praCtice was likelrto be adopted, as the General
Court were always masters of their own proceedings,
and had it in their power to prevent ally proceeding
of which they did not approve; but it certainly was
unusual to refuse any Proprietor the satiataition of
hearing any material paper read. -
Mr, Roe it said, he did not mean to give un-
necessary tioulde ; he would be satisfied with the
Chairman's declaring what the sum total of the debt
was.
Mr. Roasters (a Direetor) said, dint the Hondur-
•sible Gentleman (Mr. Henchman) was mistaken, as
to any idea thet the affairs of the Compnny were less
prosperous than the former accounts stated them to
be. From all that he knew, and from the dispatches
and papers which had been received from India
since the former accounts were presented, he was
confirmed in believing that those accounts were
correa.
Mr. Twinitin said, that it was impossible for any,
Gentleman to co It et from a single paper what was
the real amount, either of the Indian Debt, or any
other matter connefted with India. It must depend
upon an examination of -nil du relative papers, that
a correct opinion could be formed; and therefore he
thought the Hon. Proprietor below him could.neither
satisfy his own object, or procure any useful infor-
mation, if the single paper he had called for,
were read. Mr. Twining said more time was lost
in disputing about the order of the proceeding, than
would he occupied in reading the longest paper in
thewbole collection.
• The CHAIRMAN said, the General Court had
better hear the opinion of the Learned Gentleman
their Learned Adviser, Mr. Adam.
• Mr. ADAM said, that the usual mode of taking
the advice of Gentlemen of his profession was, to
state a case and desire his advice. In t'c present
case be had no difficulty in stating wha: Ole mode.
of preeeeding in the Legislative Asserr.baes was
and be could not better illustrate it thane referring to
the present instance. Papers, under the direetiert of
ar. repress Act of Parliament, were direCted to be
laid before the General Court. Their titles were
read in manifestation of the Aft of Parliament
hav-
ieg Seen complied with ; and, as a proef of their re-
cetp:, that was the sole vbjeft of their being read
sheet : bat those pipers might be fully discussed in
a meeting constituted for that purpose. He con-
, ceived that the General Court then sitting, was not
constituted for the purpose of discussing the items
sC the papers, but merely for the receipt- of them,
and the-efore the reading them short, answered the
only end to be considered as the business of the
day, viz. the proof that they' were laid before the
Court.
Mr. Tepee said, be lied the highest• respell for
the Learned Gentleman, 'and tle 'rule of Law and
Order, that he had laid down ; but he must con-
tend, that this General Court, was a Court consti-
tuted for the purpose-of discussing the state of the
Company'si affairs, and k was most monstrous and
absurd to say, that if the papers were to be laid
before them, it was fit to canvass and discuss their
contents. To refuse it, was, he said, to oppose the
undoubted right of the Proprietors, and to make
them wholly dependent on the will and caprice of
the leireekors.
The CHAIRMAN said, it had been stated by an
Hon. Proprietor, that it was a question between the
Directors and the General Court, whether the paper
should be read or not ? lie begged leave to say, it
"Ott no such thing. It lee whoity with the Prom ie-
• tors to determine whether the paper should be mad
or not ? It was perfectly indifferent to him, which
eler way the Court decided ; but he would read two
fi° the Bye-Laws, which, to his conviction, clearly
proved, that the object of the Quarterly General
Meeting in March, and that of the present Quarterly
Meeting, were distinct and different. The Chairman
reed the two Bye-Laws, and it appeared that there
were a few a words, which followed the Bye-Laws,
applied to the Quarterly Meeting in March, and
which were nor to be found in that, relative to the
Quarterly Meeting in June, and which might bear
the construction, that the one was to be a Court of
deliSeration upon the subject of meeting, and the
latter not necessarily so.
Captain Stet v said, if hetvas to have the honour
of sitting in the Chair, he should put a' short issue
to the ..Ltruour to have the' paper read, and say No.
More vitiversation took place.
Mr. ROE K said, he wanted merely to know the
• weal melee& of the Indian Debt, and would not
trouble the Court with asking to have the paper read
at lerigrh,
Mr. H I melt at AN said, he conceived that the mo-
tion we; waved. He rose, therefore, to assure the
lien. Chaisitteit. that he had no keention to imp=
to l.iiri, or 'any of dr. 1)Ire.101N a design to misre.
present cheats:meet of the Company's iffeirs; but
h. ro.o.ulleueol that he bad made *rowel eireerratishni
Amami/ eniseiee .
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en Nett In Hon: Vroprietor eras eteittacitie that he had done
en the papers produced in the G
March last, which he then'thuught erroiltotts. in Mr. Tavern an Injury, and took this Mean. of inak-
having then expressed himself to that purpose, any ing him. a reparation, like the surgeon in c eap
more than now, did he moan to impute tiny blame , who was reported.
,It Lit h
to are broken the heads the
to the Diredots ? The very name 'of the papers passengers by his tesidence, merely for the satisfac-
was a sufficient apology for any inaccuracy which tion of giving totems
plaistet. Sir Theophilus
observations, and
mielit be afterwards discovered. They `were called. added other }Achy and pertinent
o • said he should make no motion, but having express-
estimates, and every body knew that an estimate
was not to be regarded as an accurate statement, ed his sentiments,.
leave i• to the Court to dispose of
because it did found itself on data, capable of proof. the motion as the Court should think proper.
In those estimates, in particular, the debt, if he re- A Profnietor said, he should certainly oppose the
collected rightly, was there stated at about seven- motion, On the principles stated by the Hon. Barn-
teen millions, or seventeen and a half. Whereas, in. net who had just sat down, were it not, that it had
the Papers laid before Parliament, it was stated at been declared by the Hon. Proprietor, who made
upwards of twenty millions. He wished, therefore, the motion, that the private fortune of Mr. Tatem
to put a question to the Honourable Chairman, and was imeeted to the furnishinc him with those corn-
that was, if by the advices received from India since • forts which he had been in the habits of enjoying,
larch last, any information was received, which and which a man of his advanced years ought to
induced him or the Diredors to think, that the state enjoy. He begged it to be understood, that on that
of the affairs of the Company were in worse sitter- ground, and that alone, he should support the
Lion now, than they appeared to them, from the ad- motion.
vices received in March last ? Mr. IMPLY said, he must oppose the motion
The CHAIRMAN said, most certainly he could not upon principle.. 'fire Hone Gentleman had said,
eolith any thing from the advices received from In- that 'he had taken painse that if the motion
die since March last, that induced him to imagine were agreed' to, it should form no precedent ;
that the Company's affairs in India were in a less but it was not in the. power of the lion. Pro.
prosperous condition than they appeared to be by aieter nor of the whole Court to prevent its este-
the advices received up to the Quarterly General blishing a precedent. He bad himself, Mr. Inipey
Court in Mardi last. _ said, voted for two pensions, but they were for
The Court then proceeded to the next object of
rent, antient, and acknowledged services. One to
their attention, the proceeding on the Letter of navenavetvi r. Hastings for having' rendered the Company the
Proprietors, stating, that theylrneent to propose very important service of breaking one of the most
A PENSION OF THREE HUNDRED A YEAR TO powerful confederacies of native and European
(FORGE TATEM, ESQ. powers, that even was known to be in hostility
The letter was read, and then against the Company's interests. The other pension
Mr. TWINING rose and said, he should have oc- was to Lord Wellesley, for having destroyed the
casiun to take up but little of the time of the Court, 1 bitterest, and most implacable foe that ever the Corn-
and he should divide what he had to, say into two i parry were opposed by in India. These were
parts ; the one to apologize for having taken upon undeniably, •in both instances, great and important
himself to call upon the generosity of the Court, on ' service.; abut:what was the case here ? The Hon.
this. occasion ; and the other to urge some Arita- , Proprietor has not even stated the particulars of Mr.
menus in justification of the motion with which he •Pittem's private fortuile, and he says, he forbears to
should conclude. For his men part, he had felt ie .do that, because he would not wound the Hon. Es-
to be his duty, before he would consent to put his ' Dirt:aces private feelings. Are the feelings of
name to the paper, which had been just read, to Mr. Tatem more delicate dein those of Mr. Hastings.
make himself' perfealy master of the fad, whether In his case the. whole of his fortune and his affairs
Mr. 'Paten was deserving of the pension he meant were exposed to examination and comment I He
to propose, and most of all, whether the granting • could not consistent with his duty, agree to establish a
of that pension would fortis a precedent for future 'precedent, which teaches every Direetor, who lost his
call upon the liberality, and thence lead to_ a lavish ,ei , ,
ection, to come -cryino• to the Proprietors for a
expenditure of tire Company's property. In the . pension. It would also ;died the freedom of election,
first place, he begged leave to state, that he had because Proptietors would say, " 1-must take care
not the honour of a personal acquaintance with Mr. I
-how I oppose such a- Diredor, for if he loses his
Tatem, but after a full enquiry he learns, that .he vlectien, he -will come to the Company for a
was a perfectly honorable and honest plan, and pensien." As to the-sum of three hundred pounds
had
,been - for many years. a very • diugent and qt. year, .
compared with the wealth of the East India
faithful servant of the Company in his official :Companee, iowas a mere drop of watee in a bucket ;
situation of one of their Direaors. Having but it was the .
dangerous
precedent which he should
satisfied himself in these particulate, he. had feel himself bound to oppose.
consented to bring the motion forward, and lie
was the more inclined to do so, because he was •
Mi-• Hcecitsren said, he must oppose the motion,
fully satisfied, that if the pension were granted, it because ne specification had been given what the na-
could not be construed as a precedent. It now only tide of Me. latent's distress was. He had himself
remained for him to say, thet Mr. Tatem eiaving endeavoured to remove Mr. Tatem, not from mo-
been for a great number of years in the Direction, tives of ill-will, but because he thought he was unfit
having in April last lost his eleetion, found hie pri- for the situation, and that a enan of greater abilities
vete fortune insufficient to afford him those comforts should hive been in the Direction. Had he enjoyed
which he had seen in the habit of enjoying all his •.bater health, he should have been able to exert him-
life, and that he actually stood in need-of the 'assist- self' still -more than he had done for that purpose.
ante, which the pension in question would adminis- Mr. Henchman said, he wished to know from what
ter. Mr. 'I willing said, in order to, avoid distress- fund pensions to Dire fors were paid. They never
ell; the feelings of the Hon. Ex-Direetor's ft lends, appeared in the accounts. •He recollected two pen-
es well as wouuding those of the Hon. gentlemen sions that had been granted to Diredors some years
himself, he would refrain from going more into ago ; one to Sir George Colebrook, and another to
detail upon that delicate pan of the subjud._ a relation of the Hon. Chairnian. He - knew not
He thought the meritorious and faithful sew. from what fund those pensions were paid. He be-
vices of Mr. Tatem, as a gentleman, who had lieved from what was called the Poplar fund (It
been many years in their service as a Director, ems laid from Wad the har .‘ only half of thrm,") a
taken into consideration, together with the insuffi• fund to which he understood every Director gave his
ciency of his income and his greatly advanced first year's income as a Director.
years, would serve as an adequate apology for the Sir Teteopeieus •Mete•erz. rose to explain—
motion he was about to make. ',eying in his iformerly it was usual for every*Direetor to give his -
claim, thereftire, to speak again, if any thing should 'first year's salary to the Poplar fund, but that had
fall item other Proprietors, which might render not fur some some years been generally followed.
any explanation from him necessary, he would Neither was the contributions to that fund ever
move, " that as annuity el 3001. be granted during meant as a fund to provide pensions for Directors.
life, to George Tatem, Esq. to commence from the Mr. HENCHMAN resumed his speech. He repro.
sth of April last." bated the pradice of the Dii eaors every year to re-
A Proprietor rose and seconded the motion, de- elect themselves, by recommending the six Ex-Di-
daring, that he knew Mr. Tatem well ;he knew rectors to the Proprietors, who had gone out the pre-
him to be deserving the liberality of the General ceding year. They had recommended Mr. Tatem,
Court, and could answer for the accuracy and truth though the Proprietors, it was clear from the event of
of every syllable, which Mr. Twining had uttered. the election, differed in opinion from them. So epi-
Mr. E. Kemal. x ruse also to state, that he was un- deistic and catching was the Directors influence, that
trilling to give any countenance to such a motion, he saw a Gentleman facing him (Mr. Adair Jack-
till be was fully assured that Mr. Tatem was every son) who had professed the most independent prin-
via v .deserving the generosity of the Company. ciples while a Proprietor, who had not been in the
Sir Toeopuit.us NI ETC AI. F (late a Director) rose Direction three days before his name appeared
and said, that he felt himself obliged to oppose the with his brother Directors, at the bottom of the ad-
motioe, not from any doubt of Mr. Tatem being an vertisement, recommending Mr. Tatem as a fit
honourable and holiest man ;he had lived in into- man to be a Director. (This raised a general' laugh -1
macy with him for upwards of fourteen years, and in the court.) Mr. Henchman made a variety of
knew him to be a most honourable and honest man ; other strong observations in support of his opposi-
but private feelings, however painful the effort, tion to the motion, but rested his principal objection I
must give way to a sense of duty. Were the on their not having brought forward any specifica- i
subject to be confined to the narrowed view, tion of what Mr. Tatem's private fortune. was ; a
tin which the worthy and respeetable Propric- thing unprecedented in that Court when a pension
tor who made the motion, had placed it, viz. the was applied for.
consideration of the number of Years,Mr. Tatem had Mr. TWINING rose to reply, but confined him-
been in the Diredion, and the insufficiency of his self chiefly to what had fallen from Sir Theophilus.
privatefortnne to procure him those comforts, which Metcalfe. That lion. Ex-Director, he observed,
a man so far advanced in years ought to enjoy— had said, he had been principally instrumental in
no man living could object to it ; but the application excluding Mr. Tatem from the Diredion. He was
must be considered in a more extensive li;lit ;it must not ashamed of the part he had taken, of seating a
be recollected, that it would form a dangerous pre- Gentleman of great integrity and abilities in Mr.
cedent—that it would affect the freedom of the Elec. Tatem's place. He had done so on principles of
tin of the Direr ors, and naturally rouse the je..- public duty, but he could not allow it to be said,
lousy of the public, by giving them to think, that that he had made the present motion as a reparation
the Directors were ready enough to consent to give for the injury he had done Mr. Tatem. If he had
pensions to those who had been of their own body- done any man a personal injury, he was willing and
Honourable poverty ter tainly was a disgrace to no able to atonelOr it, and -he begged the Court to un-
man ; and every individual, however aeltient at one es
eerstand, that he was too proud to call upon them
time of his life, Was liable to experience 'the reverses to cure any injury which he might have inflided on
of fortune ; but it did not become a great Company, an individual. As to the motion, if it was agreed j
like the East-India Company, prodigelly to lavish to, forming a precedent, he denied e but if a case pre-
their
wealth on such applicattops as the present. It cisely the same with Mr. Tatem's, who was upwards
was to be hoped, that their Diroislors were indepentle of SU years of age, were to occur, his opinion was
eat men, because, from independence atone, could that the Court ought to 2a, as he now called upon
independent principles be expeded. The Dire or ' them to ad respecting Mr. Tatem.
who was not independent, might be unable to resist • The Ow RM AK said, before he put the question,
the tett temptations that presented themselves. He he wished to explain a matter to which the Hon.
ne, ran', with the Apothecary in Romeo and :Juliet, Gentleman, who spoke last but one had referred,
4, Iv v pove
ray, and not my will, contents and it
~tr
viz. with regard to the pensions that had been grant-
would-have a very awkWard apesearatiee, in the public ed to gir George C,olebrooke, and a relation of his,
eye, if it appeared that a precedent was established, Mr. Richard Bosauquet. Those pensions were
that every Direetor, who lost his eleetion, was to granted long before be had any connexion with the
expel a pension-adequate to the sum he received East India Company. One half them was paid
ft.r his services, 'while in the Diroitinn: He Won- out of the Poplar fund, and considering that for
dered not at the lion. Proprietor making such a nearly forty years, it bad been• the custom for every
motion. Report said, that he had been chierly in- • Ditedor to contribute his first year's inconre as a
stsumental in seating another Gt.:Om:lb la the Di- Direaiir to that fund, he thought there was no
Teak*, in, the place of Adr...Tatgat. .I'oll4l 4110 -ground for complaint. . . • . , • .
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3<

On the question being ptit, It was cirtled by a
great maprity.
A short conversacion took place respening a Bill
on thi tuhjea of the Docks, in which the East In-
dia nit-Mors appeared to be concerned. Mr. H.
thought the Bill ought to be laid before the Court;
The CHAIRMAN said, the Direetors were only
concerned in it as individuals and not as DireEtors.
Adjourned at near Three o'clock.

Last Night of the C,oinpany's Performing this Season.
THEATRE-ROTAL, COVENT-GARDEN.
Tills EVENING will be prevented (the Forty-eighth Time)
a New Comely, in Five ACris, called
JOHN BULL;
Or, an ENGLISIINIAN'i VIRE-SIDE.
With New Dresses, &c.
The Principal Characieri by
Mr. Lewis, Mr. Sidilons, Mr. Fawcett, Mr Johnstone, Mr.
11. Johnston, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Emery Mr. Waddy, Mr.
Beverly, Mr. Tlionspe,mi Mr. Klanert. Waddy, Mrs.
Davenport, and M. IL:Johnston. •

- With a Lyrk-ai Epilog**, by Mr. Johmtone.
Teo which will be added, the Far-e of
THE LYING VALET.

- - -
Sharp, Mr. MuidLn; (;.iyless, Mr Claremont ; Justice
Guttiu, Mr. Waddy.

THEZFR.R,Rorza, H.ArmARKET.
THIS EVENING will be presented a Comedy in Throe Ads,
THE GUILD OF NATURE.
Duke Murcia, Mr. Whaitou • Marquis Aluanza, Mr,
Archer • Count ‘'alantia, Mr. Dc damp. Marchioness Merida,
Mrs. GOodall ; Amanthis, Miss Grimaiii, (from the Theatre-
Royal, Bath, being her First Appearance on this Stage.)
After which, the Musical Entertaintailit of
THE FLITCH OF BACON.
Major Benbow, Mr. Hatton ; Justice Benbow, Mr. Chap.
man. Eliza, Mrs. Atkins.
To which will 'he added, the I.ast New Farce of
THE SIXTY-THIRD LETTER.
Sir Wilful Positive, Mr. Wharton ; Sidney, Mr. De
Camp. Miss Metaphor, Mrs. Ward ; Lydia, Mrs. Atkins.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LON DON,
THURSDAY, JUNE 23.

The menace of invasion has been hitherto treated
too lightly. We arc happy to find that the public
at length consider it an object of serious considera-
tion. Confidence is an unfortunate quality, and dan-
ger is never so formidable as when it is despised.
An invasion would no doubt produce a very great
shock ; bUt admitting every disadvantage short of
its complete success, we shall not regret the attempt
uhenever.it comes, We speak thus confidently be-
cause we believe that Government have long ex-
peeled it, and have prepared accordingly. The
Troops now stationed in the county of Kent
amount to 26,060 men ; arid yet these only include
Regiments of the Line and Militia. The Yea
manry of the county, as reviewed last year by his
MAJESTY, amounted to 5,000, of whom only 1,60cr
are now embodied. The residue, however, are
still in existence ; an efficient disciplined force in

- - case
of necessity. The army now in Kent may, there-
fore, be estimated at 30,000 men. The county of
Essex, being considered a more likely point of at-
tack, is still more effedually provided for.

..,.

Yesterday, about 12 o'clock, her MAJESTY and
the PRINCESSES arrived at the Queen's House from
NVindsor.,. where they met His Royal Highness the
DUKE of GLOUCESTER, who had been waiting the
arrival of her MAJC6TY. His Royal. Highness re..
mained some time with her MAJESTY.

About three o'clock her MAJEcTY and the Pim-
crs.ms left the Queen's,.Hotte for Kew.
Lord IlcrcitiNsoN is appointed irceqd in com-
mand to Sir JAM es Pc LTEXEY. The attempt upoa
Fermi takes precedence of the conquest of Egypt.
The three Regiments-Of Foot Guards will be re-
viewed by the Field Marshal His Rola' Highness
the Duke of YORK, this day in,Hyde Park.
The remaining part of Lord Wrivrwoirr a's suite
at Paris, being fourteen in number, of his domestics,
all arrived yesterday morning, with a great part of
his baggage, at Dorset-house, Whitehall.
The report of the safe return to Brest and Roche-
fort of five sail of the line of the French West India

fleet deserves little credit. Such an escape would be
one of the most splendid triumphs of the French
fleet, and the Pa: is papers of the 18th take no notice
of it.
An attack is apprehended upon the Islands of
Guernsey and Jersey, or at least upon the latter, in
consequence of which five frigates sailed on Tues-
day from Portsmouth for that station, and several
more ships of war are under orders. It was re-
ported yesterday, that an 'attack had been adually
made ; but the rumour was generally considered
destitute of foundation.
A French national brig, of .20 guns, from Marti..
nique, has been sent into Plymouth, by his Majesty's
ships Dragon and Endymion.
Lord Kevin, Admirals RowLsy and THORN
BOROUGH, now at Sheerness, by their tonciliating
conduct, strong exertions and example, are calling
forth the adive energies of all descriptions of per-
sons, and in the most happy and effedual manner
are rousing them to a due sense of the danger with
..which the country is threatened.
The following Proprietors were yesterday appoint-
, ed at the East India House, a Committee to inspect
the Bye Laws.—.l. J. ANGERSTEIN, WM. DREIII,
HALFORD, ROBERT HUNTER, GEORGE WIL•••
SON, GEORGE SAMUEL WEOG, Esqrs. and Sir Ittli.•
RY STRACHEV, Bart.
. It appears that the amount of the Poor Rates for
the Parish of St James's is 21,000). per annum ; and
yet the number of paupers is only between boo and
700, at a weekly allowance for each of 3s. tid.
The. Gentlemen intending to contras for the Lot.
tery waited on the Minister yesterday morning pup-.
suant to appointment. The Lottery Office Keepers,:
the Stock Exchange, and the Bankers had all agreed
to bid the same pnce,Atirre pee n& and eiyhtisence per
ticket, which was Accepted. They said, that in the
present state of affairs, the risk was considered too
great to admit of its being taken by a part of their,
Interests, and that on that account they had • deter.
minted to take it'betwcen them. Mr. Appse/on
professed himself perfectly satisfied with the offer.

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