The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-03 00:00:00

PRICE SEVENPENCE.

peachable, but we will not suffer our conduct to be impugned::
This was the gist of the amendinent, It said—we (10 not cat- ,!
sure the Marquis of IliStings, we do not strike out of our re-'; .
cords the vote 'of thanks to thatNoblernan,' but we will not let
a motion 1w pasSed that 'shall be a direct impugn cent of our
own conduct This being his impression, he should certainly
vote for the amt.:k-dent.

General Trronx TON said, that the conduct of the Marquis
of 11a:stings was certainly open to a charge of favouritism, but
not the House of Palmer and Co but to Sir Charles Metcalfe.
The Gallant General' then referred to various documents in
support of this opinion. lie had always thought highly of the
Marquis of Hastings, and since thiS discussion had taken pla'ee,
he thought more highly of him-than ever. He contended that
the provisions of the Act Of 37 Geo. 111. had been strictly com-
plied with. That recourse had been had to the lehal authori-
ties in India, -and their opinions acted upo.. The parties wire -
not directed by the Act to apply to authorities in England
,at •
all. The 13th Geo. 111. restricted persons in the Britich settle-
ments from making more than 'l2 per cent. But if 12 per cent.
was allowed within-our settlements, it was not enough out of
them, where nrguarantee could be had ' • but if 12 per cent. •
were consider( to he enough out of the India territories, then -•,-•
it would be obviously ton much within those limits. Ile be-
lieved the Learned Gentlemen at home, whose opinions had
been taken oh theta:int, had been surprised at the-rate of in-
terest hut
**pit:ions were to the Act of Parliament. For fifteen, yearst after
that Act had passed there was but one construction upon it.
Butwhat takes place after that period ? Why, the opinions of
Learned Gentlemen in England had "been' taken, • who declared
that the law applied equally out of the- settlements 'Of India as
well as in them. An opportunity had been taken of tifese opi-
nions of oppressing and mining the house of Palmer and- Go.
And all this cruelty was founded upon the ropresentation of Sir
Charles Metcalfe, none of which he (General Thornton) would
assert were to be depended upon.—(Hear, hear!)—The con-
duct observed towards that house' appeared to him to be most
extraordinary. They were ptohihited from having any com-
munication with the Nizam, although he was their creditor,
and the Governor-General, Lord Amherst, directed Sir Charles
IlletcLife to inform that house that no interest, either respec-
tively or prospectively, should be.made through the resident
from the Nizam to their house. The Gallant General then ad-
verted to the attack made on the character of the Marquis of
Hastings, by the reports of Sir Charles Metcalfe, and observed,
that it was the fortune of great men to have calumniators. It - •
was the case with Mr. Hastings, and was now that of the Noble
Marquis. He concluded by declaring his conviction of the
purity of character of that Nobleman, and of his intention to
support the original motion.
Mr. PATTISON rose and said, that he thought it might be
allowed to offer an opinion upon the subject, which he con- -
ceived to be of the very first importance, both to the interests
• of that Court and to the Noble Marquis, whose name was con-
'sleeted with it. It was not his intention to detain them long,
pertuaded as he was, that most of the Proprietors had devoted •
some part of their time in. reading over the documents which
had been laid before them. -Ile particularly wished to be heard
because he desired to put the "case, as it appeared to him, on a , '
right foiaing,—(Hear, hear !)—Before, however, he proceeded
to novice the faCts immediately connected with the motion before ,
the Court, he wished to say a feW words in defence of himself. .
He had been accused of inconsistency of conduct in more places
.
than one. •He was not at liberty, perhaps, to make a stronger
allusion to what transpired at another place. But the gentleman •
who opened the debate (Mr. Poynder) had charged him with
being inconsistent in having signed the letter from the Court of
Directors in 1821,• and then having brought forward a motion to •
give the Marquis of Hastings an annuity of •LUOui. The Hon.
• Proprietor concluded a long speech by appealing to the Chair-
man to
.withdraw the amendment, which, if passed, would in-
volve them all in very serious consequences, as the proceedings
must all inevitably go to a higher tribunal, where-perhaps aft
inquiry for years might take place. Be reminded the Court 'of
the ten years persecution against Warren IlasingS and the re- '
stilt, and conjured them not to•ineur the SUM' consequences.
Mr. STEPHEN spoke in favour of the original motion,
The motion for adjournment was then put, and the Court ad-
journed till to-morrow (Tuesday last) at twelve o'clock. •