The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-03-11 00:00:00

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eledion came, they refusid to go and vote. unless
their erpences were paid, and a reasonable mm al-
lowed them also for the loss of their time. This
custom had created an enormous exposes to
candidates, and was fraught with great in-
justice. The preamble of the As set forth, that
all elections should be free and equal, and that no
man, entitled to a vote, should give it in consider-
ation of any viauals or drink taken at the expense
of the candidate. This language was plain and
clear ; and surely the Legislature could never mean
to confine it to places only where the voters are re-
sident, because that would be giving one S2C of
voters an advantage which another set had not ; and
this too to those who least deserved to have that
advantage. The principal argument in favour of
paying. non-residents their eapeuces, had been the
great inconvenience that would arise from putting
too stri.l a construaion on this a.l, as thereby many
hnndreds of men, who lived at a great distance
from the place where they were entitled to vote,
could not afford to go thither at their own exposes:,
and would be disfranchised, and lose their vote. if
the expense were not allowed to be paid by the can-
' . didate. Mr. Tierney insisted, that it would be
1 better, and more impartial, as well as more reason-
able, that voters so situated should be disfranchised,
l. than that candidates should be compelled to pay
such enormous expences. A voter. he said, would
have no one hardship to complain of, if he were
.ampelled to vote at his own expender, or not at all.
votes for his own pleasure, and his own advan-
..., and, as such, be ought to pay the espence of
doing so. if a man go from Durham to Taunton,
which is almost from one extremity of the kingdom
to the other, by going to Taunton be gains another
vote. and then obliges the candidate to pay an enor-
mous expense of taking him to Durham to vote
44Ahere ; whereas, by making the voter pay the ex-
L.•perices himself, there would be no hardship put on
him, but what be bad incurred by his own ad and
dczi, and for his own benefit. He thought there
. could be no difficulty in the minds of men on
that particular point. Is county eledrons, he said,
. where vote's resided in the county, sod in Large
counties, at a very great distance from the place
. ... of elution, there was certainly a considerable
difference, and it would be objefted, perhaps,
.14t1ser it would be depriving. forty-alines& free-
bidden of the power of vein their rods. By
ace, Aft of Henry VI. county elections were first
limited to forty-shillinp freeholders, hs order to
- avoid the riots and disturbance; which Masi from
•,...v all persons claiming a right to vote. By the do
.. ..„, 'premium of money since that time. 40s. was m
' - that p-riod equal to 301. now; and he thought it
. . an alkiwanee for that
regulate coesty Steaks.
' Henry VI.; for by the
number of mill forty-
very greatly increased.
1 incos,venienee which
of forty-shillings free-
taken in two, or time, or
-a estessive coanties. on the
freeholders go to that which
nearest to them. - With
F travelling to the place
the present high sates
being now paid by the
obliged to go to such a
be would travel much
that of another person ;
or bait at half the num.
owe ease, as be mould in that of
• had asked 301.-to defray his
to Durham ; this was a
4 When be went int
he might eau zlii
mid very likely
By taking the peg is
dime plasm; dieth of die
les the hewer orders of
) of, 416111 it would be the
importeat altaaties is
, sdking diem. what they
eareprerthms or a Immo of
. essfaita. He bait is his owe
yeressetch deeds( proof of the good sifts of
sown ddigod to give dear votes at their own
arras% appealed le the Hesse, whether, is
tedam the voters all reddest. my r aided
rims reeeaded to the Nona, does brosiablish. •
al the premaleat of isiescieg the Afk. um;
years ago f Wb lee Ant weed for lila
.the whole of the adios was a sestiesed Now 1
drsabestwes. via. and asiodois t be had take bees
sleeted Benue, and A wee sobriety sad regmberity,l
and the Om
er made their aresehes to sad
in their ember amen, instead of a mob of &nab.
ands. Is the year 1774. a Co"namioe was isp;
pointed to tabs ism coneidemtioa the laws relative'
to Eleaines, sad it was then resolved to be « the
opinion of that Committee, that the Aet passed in
else 7th of Kiss William meght tit he strialy ad-
hered to." What he was them contending for, was,
therefore, by no means new. Bet whether his rea-
soning. were right or wrong, be was certain the
House would allow that the question ought to be
settled, and those doubts put an end tn. Would any
one say, a Voter has a right to make the Candidate
pay for giving his vote ? He thought it would be
much better to say at once, that the Candidate shall
be liable to no expence whatever ; tor, at present,
iii those cities and considerable boroughs,where there
are a number of non-resident Voters, Candidates
are obliged to furnish themselves with from 10 to
30 or 40,0001. to pay the expences of an eleCtion, as
the matter is now regulated. He wished not to
make any considerable alteration in this particular;
but he would willingly leave the law in such a way
as not to be mistaken. By adopting
.the provisions
which lie hoped would be introduced into his Bill, if
he had the leave of the House to bring it in, all the
mischiefs which now proceed from popular Elec-
tions, would cease and be done away, and a new
description of persons would thereby find their way
into that House. There were in this country a very
large body of men, of moderate, but independent
• fortunes, who are new excluded front becoming Can-
didates, solely from the immoderate expences at-
tendnio, the same, who would prove a very valuable
acianisitinn to tae House. while the only men who
were sufferers, would be those who are not known
for talent, hut who valve themselves only on their
rn iney. An I the. meat's it g.s es teem of excluding
those alio would be inure desirable members of

such an assembly. finch an order of things would
also restore peace and haeinony throe Deft the
co use by making eledions what they ought to 114,.
ils#illth
e good and honest eledors to use men
fat their representatives. who are agreeable to them.
These, he said, were the objefts he had in view, and
his wish for the completion of which had inAusnced
him to bring forward the present Bill. Whatever
differences may arise in, or whatever difficulties *My
occur to the minds of any Hon. Member, he hoped
no objection would be made to his bringing it in. He
dintld move afterwards to have it printed, which
would give Gentlemen an opportuoity of consider-
lag it at his leisure, and it would be competent to
I ewer; Hots. Gent. to suggest such alterations and
1 MlllMaMents' as the nature of the case might seem
Whim to require. He moved 0, that the Treating
AL preforms. should be entered u read." and then,
te That leave be given to bring in a Bill to explain
and render more effeaual the said Ad."
On the question being pet,
Mr. Secretary FOX rose, and said, he perfettly
agreed with the Right Hon. Gentleman, that it was
much to be wished the doubts which at present ex-
isted, with respell to the All in question, were re-
moved, and the law fairly and fully settled upon
the subjed, which every one must allow, was highly
important. It was not, therefore, his intention to
ebjeb to bringing in the Bill, nor to throw in its
way the slightest obstacle. liemnst say, however.
he could not think so lightly of the difficulties as the
Hon. Gentleman seemed to do. In the case of the
rights of 40s. freeholders, be was free to confess, he
differed most widely from the Hon. Gentleman ;
he thought the counterbalance of these lower orders
of freeholders, against the aristocratical claims of
the higher and more opulent ones. was one of the
most striking branches of the popular part of our
excellent Constitution, and it would require great
care how it was attempted to be altered. If, accord-
ing to eio doftrine of the Hon. Gentleman. as to
the depreciation of money, the Bill were to take
away the 40s. freeholders, and substitute those of
301. in their some, he was one of those who would
=
'
it. And, for the same reason, he saw great
ty in another point alluded to by the Hon.
Osederms.4 viz. in regard to the poll in large coon.
timbal% taken is different places—he should here
also be very cautions, fin he was always unwilling.
to take sway the right of voting from the low free-
holders, to transfer it to the larger ones. He
looked on it as an infringement on the Constitution.
which might be attended with many mischievous
consequences. Then, as to depriving those of their
votes, who are non-residents, and could not par •
- their own expenees to any place at a great distance,
this would frequently take in a my large descrip.
Coon, and a most important one too, of His Majesty's
sited, ; would he wish to exclude every man who
hie soldier, from giving his vote, if he should
eintice to be at a distance fmm the plaee where he
bad a right to tender it? but more particularly,
would he wish to deprive the Militia of this tight I
Is there no difficilty in this House taking up*
them to say to men who are compelled to be at e
distance horn their own homes. in the service of
their King and country, you shall be deprived of
• your franchise, and of that franchise, which an
Englishman values most highly, the right of
voting for a representative in Parliament, unless
you do what it is well known there is no pas-
sibity of doing—pay your own espesoes t—He
'bed aowdosed these two cases to thew the diffi-
ovaltisa to he not only numerous, but highly intr.
!ea*. lid Portant ; and he did so, in order thit
. the Stomudik Gentleman himself might turn
them in his mild, and to prepare other Hon. Mem-
bus else to weigh well circumstances of such mo-
mime, that they willight he hear prepared to obviate
sods objedienit ea Sight Irma/tar be offered on
these and smog oiler points, in which it would be
orsecoesery to easos with the impost caution.
....& se what had hides ham the Hon. Gen-,
dem respelling the qoalibadeas of eatieree,osiori
te SOW a year for comities, mid 3001.
be differed with him also es that head. -lb
sew 100 years since they were Bud, and
the depradatios of away was sot so great
die sells of hese sad the puss time, as
reign a Heart VI. to the resist time ; yet It 1101,
sodi ss se Induce him usher to wish those quaMIWI
doss of the candidates shook be lowered, than that,
the freeholders should be raised, if it were thoeght
seceesery to pat thew more on an equality. That
the added should remain in doubt, he thought
would be irresg, but it would require care and
intim; in the proceeding. Let things be settled as
dearly as may be, but without disfranchising, as far
0 it is possible to avoid it, and the Bill should have
his coccurrence.
Mr. TIERNEY said, the Bill was meant to apply
generally; and that ao Committee should hence-
teeth have reason to doubt. All he was desirous of
was, not to entangle the present Bill, but to leave it
clear and plain, and that the voter should vote at
his ern exence.
Mr. LEE agreed with the Right Hon. Secretary
as to the difficulties being by no means light. If
you make it impossible for a man to give his vote,
it is the same as disfranchising him ; and men act-
ing in the army and militia, would be clearly is
this predicament. it would be necessary to guard
against that. As to the plan of the poll being taken
in several parts of the county, he approvzd it ;
and if the Bill was guarded against too great in-
fringements, it should have his support.
Sir H. BUXTON said, there was one argument
of the Honourable Gentleman, who made the Mo.
tion, which he could not agree to. He said, the
right of voting was given to a man for his own be-
nefit ; and that lie used it for his own benefit ; he
had always understood the right to be given to
him to be used for the benefit of the public as well
as for his own.
The Question was then put, and leave given to
bring in the Bill.
AFFAIRS OF INDIA.
Mr. JOHNSTONE disclaimed any wish to in-
crease the number of Papers already before the
House, on the subject of Indian affairs, but he
thought he could not discharge his duty to the pub-
lic, it he did not call for two letters from the Mar-
quis Cornwallis to the Court of Diredors, ants one
from Sir G. Barlow, relative to the subjedt of the
late Mahratta war. Before he entered on the sub-
jed, he was desirous to observe, that he had no con-
reaion whatever with the Marquis Wellesley ;

. •
" • • .'
Wei tsii 'lire hr kern which,
and 'weer saw s . 4.ll.lllP-
penal:pa two pollee azikeinni, He admitted, that he
• &et aFigaiided the nasesuret of that Noble Lords
admtnlstration, . but said, that he bad changed his
opiniee, calm* he saw him koldiog the Princes of
India in chaint, under the pretext of residents at
their Courts. pd putting them into the same skim-
' tioa in which Bararii and Wirtemberg were now
r placid in by the Emperor of the French ; and when
he saw some of these Princes, and amongst them
the Nabob of the Carnatic, deposed and 1' the pre•
text of a treason said to have been toltunitted al-
-1 most in the presence of Lord Welleslei. Be Isitheil
it, however, to be understood, that he was no party
to the design df making that Noble Lord a delin-
quent, and bringing him to a: trial; for, he con-
sidered him to have been ebieliyi influenced, not by
criminal motives, but by amMtion, and an ardour
for the service of his employeri, and the extension
of the power of the Compahy., He said, his views
were by no means personal, but to measures distinet
from the merits or demerits of that Nobleman. The
chief difference of opinion preiailing in that House,
appearedsto him to arise, not so mush from the real,
as the vespeftive state of India. When a Noble
Lord (Castlereagh) last gave a flattering representa-
tion of the situation of the Company
affairs, be
did it on the suppositios of a peace both in India and
Is gorope ; but it to happened, that, at that very
mown, there was a war going on in that count
try, and, in a month after, the war recommenced
also in Europe. The conseqaeiice of that was, that,'
instead of the diminution of the debt, which was pro-
mised. the Government of India was five months in
arrears ; and Lord Cornwallis, after being obliged.
to appropriate for its service the treasure which was
destined for the China investment, found himself
still unable to discharge the arrears of a body of
subsidiary cavalry, which, he said, he would rather
have seen in the service of the enemy, than in our's.
He again repeated, that his motion had no reference
toddle Marquis of Wellesley himself,but to the system
that was then pursued, and which was said to have
had the approbation of the secret committee of the
Directors. The splendid fabric of Indian prosperity
was built upon eight treaties which that Noble Lord
concluded with the native Princes ; to shew the bad
raft of which, he should first move fat' a copy of
the letter sent from the Marquis Cornwallis to Lord
Lake, upon that subjed. One of these treaties
was with the Rajah of Bhurtpore. the &eft of
which was, an almost immediase war, and an at.
tack upon his principal fortress, in which the Eng-
lish army lost upwards of 5000 men. The neat
treaty was that made with Sciudia, on the 30th of
December, 1805 ,by which the latter made a con-
siderable surrender of territory ; and, it was stipu-
lated. on our part. that the Princes in our alliance,
should be exempted from his power, but that
this exemption should not be extended to those
Princes, the revenues of whose territories were
colleted by the agents of Scindia. A war, how-
ever, soon broke out; and after General Lake had
defeated Seindia, he entered the territory of the
Rajah of Goad, and made a treaty, by which the
Company was to protect him against Scindia, al-
though the revenues of Goad were collated by
Scindia's agents and although this transaction was
only thirty slays after we had signed our treaty with
the latter Prince. This it was that gave rise to the
present war ; for Scindia justly contended, that his
offioers collected the revenues of Goad, and he was
in possession of the forts of that country. He even
remonstrated with Colooel Malcolm respelling the
treaty, at the time, and received assurances, that it
should -not affect Was. The Marquis Cornwallik
on his arrival in India, gave op this treaty with the
vib Of Onlid ; on the ground, that he was an tat
Ertss base a treaty with, and that the treaty
• seas eve to the interests of the Com-
PI • was even ready to make the. Rajah of
urtpdre, as well as the rest, pecuniary compen-
sation, in order to get rid of all these injurious trea-
ties. The treaty with Bhurtpore vas produatiee of
the slaughon of our troops; mid that with Scindia
was no sooner made than broken. It was, there-
fore, in his opinion, a national objet to adopt some
decided declaration of the determination of the
House to adopt the ancient policy of not extending
our domieiions in India. As Sir George Barlow
had been, by the present Ministers, appointed suc-
cessor to the Marquis Cornwallis, and as he ex-
pres.-ed a resolution to follow the measures adopt-
ed by the Noble Marquis, he hoped His Majesty's
Ministers would give the public an assurance of
their determination to persevere in that system ; and
also give every information that may be thought ne-
cessary. He then moved," that there be laid before
the House copies of three letters from the Marquis
Cornwallis to the Court of Direftors, dated the Ist
of August, 1805."
Mr. FOX said, he saw little or no objeilion to
the produdion of the papers, although he could not
help observing, that the Hon. Gentleman had not
made out any sufficient reason, either for the ne-
cessity or even the pecipeivey e 4 doing se.. Deere
the Hon. Gentleman laid a ground for any sus-
picion of His Majesty's present Ministers, he might,
in fairness. have waited to see whether they still ad-
hered to the former resolutions of the House. Fur
his part, he did most steadily adhere to them. He
himself either moved, or seconded these resolutions,
when brought forward 28 years ago; and though he
took shame to himself, for net since attending to the
concerns of India, as much as other Gentlemen, yet
every thing which he since heard, or knew upon that
subjeft, only tended to confirm his former opinions.
The extension of dominion was certainly against
the letter and spirit of the resolutions alluded to ;
but this was not the time for the discussion of that
question. He hoped and trusted, that there was
no ground to think, that the ancient system was
not that of the Court of Diredors now ; and he
was convinced it was the system of the present
Board of Controul. This subjet had, in his mind,
bees better reserved till the India Budget, which
was connefted with it, should be brought forward ;
and though he did not mean to objcft to the mo-
tion, he must confess that he did not see any ne-
cesssity for it at this moment, nor any ground for
this over anxiety and suspicion. If there ever were
a time the public may have a confident expeftation,
and even a certainty of the ancient system being
pursued, it was undoubtedly at present. when the
Board of Controul and the Board of Diretiors
united in a determination to persevere in the mea-
sures adopted by the Board of Dire tors, and to

tt;• . ' "
hbfOree the Parliamentary Resolutions.
. Mr. ADDINGTON said, he should follow f'-,•
example of the . Right Hon. Gent. who preces.l
him, and not objett to the motion, though he vela;
not discover that any Parliamentary .ground was
made one for it. All the letters demanded, with the
exception of the,insundions to Lord Lake, had al-
ready been read to the Court a Proprietors, and they
may, perhaps, as well be laid before the public ; but
the Hon. Gent. (Mr. Johnstone) seemed to forget
that there was already a notice given by another
Member (Mr. Paul) of a motion to-morrow, relat-
ing to the treaty with the Rajah of Bhui tPote, and
the whole of that transadtion. But though he agreed
to grant the Papers demanded, he must deny the in.
fumes made by Mr. Johnstone ; for the failure of
the treaty with the Rajah of Bhartpore was not ti
he attributed to the Marquis of Wellesley, hut to
the wanton and cistrageous treachery f the Rajah
himself. He, as a member of the Beard of Con.
trout, begged leave to wine the House, that there
wen no disposition ,In them to refuse any Papers
demanded µpea lair Parliamentary round.
Mr. C. ()RANT observed, that, though the sys.
tern purtued by the Marquis Wellesley wits pro.
(Wive of /eery splendid inilhary achievement,. it
did not produce any benefit to the Company. I'he
very best systerf was Bon which the. lew, m tor
years since, prescribed for tranqtaillisin4 Ito f..
The Diredtors long wished for it ; and it was on
that put pose, that they urged the return r f 1.. rt
• Canwellis to that country, which now ~o de... io
mourned the loss of him. He was in favour or la':
Motion, as the Papers contained the details of Late
Cornwallis's system of pacification.
Mr. HUDDLISTONE said, that he was der-
rout of having every Paper produced. the elf •Q of
which would he to shew whether the Executive De-
partment of India were in fault or nott As the ie.
tercepted correspondence take!. by ri.• enemy less
published, he wished the more for a Parl,arneetre
declaration of a change of system, were it only to lo
the enemy know that we did not persevere in the old
system on ,which his hopes were founded. He called
upon an Han. Gen;leman (Mr. Francis). t, brO,g
forward now t'ae Resolution which he proposed last
year, but which the transcendant eloquence of a
great man, now no more (Mr. Pitt) pros ii!i '.l upra
die House at that time to rtjeCt, as he thought the
best effedts would follow the revival of that docent-
ed principle.
Mr. PAUL wished only just to state his con.
vidlion, that the result Of an inquiry would thee
the Rajah of Bburtpore not to be the sort of niece
he was represerted to be. On the 9th of Moho,
1803. the Erglislt Government of Indio sigeed a
defe:.sive IWeaty with him, its virtue 4114' wl.:ch, he
sent twelve squadrons of cavalry as a reinio:eerael
to our army. By subsequent events, he was coo.
pelted to a resistance ; the consequence of which
was, that in the attac Is of h:s fort, we lost 4000 men,
amongst whom were 106 officers.
Mr. FOX said, he forgot to take notice of what
was said, that the appointment of Sir G. Barlow
was a proof of the Ministers' determination to pur-
sue the plans of Lord Cornwallis. He wished Le
House to understand, that His Majesty's present
Ministers did not appoint that Gentleman witi s
particular view to any system, but lest there 'host&
be any interreg,nagm in the office of Goiternor. •
1 re al, after the death of the Marquis Cot nwallis.'
Lord TSMPLE declared, that he would i.ot hi
said a word about the transaaton of Bliettpo
were it not for an extra& having been seed from
commendatory letter, written by Lord ‘Vei.es
at the time that he entertained a tavousable opie:
of the Rajah ; but, in a very short time after,
&netted a correspondence of his %soh Holka.,
the purpose of foinattig a projea to drive the Fo
fish out of 1 t,dia. kit pledged himself to pro,
when the discussion came on. dire& treachery on ,•
part of that Prince ; and that the ruin of Hoi'
was only prevented by his lending hint the cam
of the fort of Rhtutpore. at the time that he
himself its alliance with the t °moans'. He beg,
of the House to suspend, till the docussion cam!
their opinion of the con.iu& of the Noble Meg
which was approved of by the Secret Committee
the Court of Direeors, whose coders he was be
to obey. .
Mr. GRANT' said a few words in eevlanaties,
Mr. FRANCIS observed, that th• D refloo o.
now very uuwilling to admit of any aporohafias
the condudt of Lord Wellesley, and he a, Mitt ..:
,
the Court of Direetors was a distindt hos ) how
Secret Committee, for whose poweedings it we
answerable. ile assured the House, that this '
the last time he should trounle them on the gen,
subje& of the puluics of India. lie was now co
upon to renew his Motion of last year, which
must decline ; for, though he thought it neon`
then. he did not think the same now, as t-iic:,
je.ty's Ministers were, he hoped, able, as soilwilling, to preserve.the peace of India.
he made the Motion last year, he slid not
by it any Parliamentary censure or eau
of Lord Weilesley. He defied aoy sit or
nutty to discover any motive he cruld
for any animosity against that Noblenan , .
a man. without either wit or ingenuity.
perceive many reasons he might have, to
ciliate, and even to prote& him. Mr. Dundee
his successor, Lord Castlereagh, always, ho.
they might have acted, professed publicdyr!
Indian affairs ; and lie confessed, that he caw
no necessity far an East India secret, or 111 s;''
that could arise from the disclosure of tiai.
stances that took place eight months bettor
remote a quarter of the world. The only et
to this would be, the mischief of disclosing ill
of the army, it it were weak ; but if it wetect.
the publication of it would rather have a goo4l
as it would shew the enemy the little chance be
disturbing us in that quarter. With resp lo
Barlow, be said he knew little about him. 351'4
even heardof him till of late years; but, 35 he .
ed the measures of the Mat qui% Well, sley,
same zeal that iie seemed now to prof:ssfrt:
the Marquis Cornwallis, he MIA own that •
man in whom he was not disposed to place .‘‘l
degree of confidence ; as to his own conneßt
India,be would shortly remind the 1100 e,t1.4:1,1
sent there by the Legislature ; and, in • •c'l,,e'l
of his condo& in the Council, suffered •
,;,4
both in that country and in this. He tht:..;
home, after a todious passage of ten 'oli
for twenty years suce, supported, thcolP

would be well to nuke an
depreciation. and to muli
as they did by the aft of Het
depreciatioo of money, the m
shillings voters had been err
I'o remedy, however, the
might emus to nunit.ters
holden, the poll might be tak
more plates, in Large and en
shoe day, and those freehol
• was most convenient or nes
Ilifa:to the exp-mtes of
the poll is to be held,
Win Isairely ',shag to these
Caldiatta. If a MOO Wee 1
siseit in his own besisse,
"sipir. duo if Is great 'a e
be eel* ate want to oil a
Us of is his owa mos
a Con. A sea bad
exposers iltess Tomos to
son ebeesad
from Iblasse to Ulnae's,
be side fel is dee seebil,i
k Ist lab sieve don Sas
eineselee. ia WO if lb
of die meson e
w eal be tabs
deems aft swain as 1
coon delleisei sad see a
seer see. okbar-s dose as
doe wrs Alt sad essiad
aims a asibise sr