The Sun.
London, England, 1822-09-26 00:00:00

EAST INDIA-HOUSE.

A Quarterly. General Court of Proprietors of
East India Stock was held yesterday, pursuant to
the terms of the Charter, at the Company's House
in. Leadenhall-street.

APPOINTMENT of a NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL.
Sundry papers presented to Parliament since the last General
Court having been laid on the table,
The CHAIItMA* (T. Pattison, Esq.) was proceeding to put
the question of adjournment, there being no other business be-
fore the Court, when
Mr. R. JACKSON rose, and inquired whether the Chairman
or the Court of Directors was in possession of any intimation as
to the probable departure of the Marquis of Hastings from
Calcutta ?

The CHAIR3IAN answered, that no official information had
been received on that subject.
Mr. R. JACKSON said, the matter appeared to stand thus:—
Application had been made to the Marquis of Hastings to re-
main in India until his successor arrived. This had been stated
to the Court ; and he did not know, as a month had elapsed
since a successor Lad been . formally appointed, but that some
gentleman might be in possession of the probable period at
which the Marquis of Hastings would take his departure from
India. Speaking within the probability of human events, as
it was understood that the Marquis of Hastings would remain
in India till a successor was appointed, perhaps that limit
was Sufficiently. extensive to . allow of such an application
as would induce him under the peculiar circumstances of the
case to continue at the head of the Indian Government for a
longer period than he had intended. He believed he spoke the
sense of the Court when he said that scarcely any event could
take place more propitious to the general interests of the Com-
pany, or to those of India, than that to which he had alluded.
He meant not to say whether the chance of such an event was
within the reach of hope, but he thought it was one the accom-
plishment.of which was worthy of their serious attention. If
it were too late to make an arrangement of .this kind, the op-
portunity, and a proud one it was, again reverted to the Court
of Directors, to appoint a Governor-General of India. Ile
had no reason from the late nomination, but to suppose that in
the next instance the executive body would make a virtuous
choice. He spoke most conscientiously, when he said that he
believed if the Rights Hon. Gentleman who had been just ap-
pointed to this arduous office had proceeded to India, though
,the man lived not who, in his (Mr. Jackson's) opinion, could
approach the excellence of the Noble Marquis, yet that the
Company would have found in that Right Hon. Gentleman a
good Governor-General.—(Heal.)--He participated in the
hope that that Right Honourable Gentleman would still be
of great service to his country, as a British, if not as an
Indian, Minister.—(Hear, hear.)---It would not become him
to repeat, in that place, the sentiments which had been de-
livered on former occasions, and which were prompted by the
fond and earnest hope that, in appointing a Governor-Gene-
ral of India, the Court of. Directors would listen to no sug-
gestion, except those which were founded on the honour and
abilities of the persons who aspired to the office. But he had
a right to say, on the part of his brother Proprietors, that
it was not within the scope of humanity to feel more deeply
than they would feel—than the country would feel, and the
millions who were fated to be governed by the Company would
feel, if. the Court' of Directors would, on this occasion, exert
that magnanimity and resolution which hadmore than once
distinguished them, and set their face against every applicant
whose claim was not founded on known talent,, tried.integrity,
and as far as possible a competent knowledge of the affairs of
India.—(Hear, hear !)--There was no period in which this ap-
pointment had not been a matter of great importance ; but in
the present period of their history it was wore important OMR
ever. He was speaking, he believed, in the absence of some
gentlemen who had recently given to the Court their collected
knowledge and experience on the subject of our Eastern empire.;
and it was only sufficient to attend to their observations,to knew
how mighty an empire they would shortly be called on to ma-
nage. lie fervently prayed that that Providence which had,
more than once, directed the Executive Body in the selection
of a' Governor-General, might now assist them in forming a
proper choice ; for on that choice rested the happiness of Mil-
lions upon millions. He for one would feel most grateful, and
he was sure lie spoke the common sentiment of all the Pro-
prietors, if; at a future time, it should be his lot to say that
their Directors had maintained that high character which
they had upheld on more than one occasion. Happy would
'he be, if it were at length determined and understood, that
the overnment of India was not of a nature to bend to
the political intrigues of the day, but that the appoint-.
'Ment of a Governor-General must be determined stibstan-'
tially, on the qualifications that ought to be attached:to him
who aspired after so important a situation.-.-(Hear, hear !)
Ile was sure the Court of Directors would excuse an old con-
stituent for having said so much ; brit he was 'well assured
of their kindness and candour, or lie would not have taken the,
liberty.
Mr. LOWNDEs congratulated the Court on-the intended Go-
' vernor-General not baying gone out to India. As there was a
. very great change in the Government at home, it was a fortun-
ate circumstance' that that gentleman had not gone abroad. Un-
doubtedly, hadbe proceeded on his voyage,-a vessel' might have
.heen sent afterhiro ; but this would have furnished so much mat-
ter for ridicule amongst different persons, who never thought of
the difficulty of forming an efficient government, that he was ex..-
tremely happy there had been no necessity for pursuing such a
course. No man was morelikely to fill with effect the department,
of a late unfortunate Nobleman, whose death he regretted, '
be-
cause he was an honour to his country. The individual now
appointed to the office was the man of all others most peculiarly,
adapted, by his political principle's and the form of his mind,
to do honour to that situation. He was now the Palinurns'
of the helm. of Europe, 'and lie would have a difficult task in
steering the vessel clear: of the. prejudices and passions of bad
men. Sorry he was to say that there were some people who re-
joiced at the.death of his predecessor. Was it not horrible for
any man thus to rejoice in the death of another ?
,Though he
himself detested Buonaparte,in his: lifetime, yet it would have
been horrid if his resentment carried him further. He honed
the English character would never again be stained with so
much infamy as arose from the transaction to which he had re-
ferred. The Hon. Proprietor then proceeded to complain, that
at the last election for a Director, when he was confidentthat
lie 'possessed- two votes, he was only allowed to give one. Bad
it been a contested election he would have enforced his right to'
a second vote, and, if unjustly refused, what would have been
the consequence? Why, the whole election must have taken
place over again. He made these observations without any ina-'
lice to the Directors, but he wished them to inquire whether he
had really two votes Or not- ,
The CHAIRMAN suggested that it would be better to make
this subject a matter of private communication.
Mr. LOWNDES said lie bad no objection to that course.; and
to prove that lie had no ill will in this proceeding, he would
bring forward a candidate for the favour and special protection
of the Court of Directors in the person of a haunch of venison,
which was in excellent order, and which he had received. from
his friend, Mr. Lowndes, of Buckinghamshire.—(Here the
lion. Proprietor exhibited, with the utmost gravity, but amidst
the general laughter of the Court, the basket containing the
before-mentioned haunch: The effect produced by this ex-
hibition was infinitely ar.ore theatrical than that which was wit,.
nested in 'the House Of Commons when Mr. Burke displayed
" the drawn dagger,". or when' Sir Francis Burdett flung the
prison loaf with indignation on the floor.) When the laughter
had subsided, the lion. Proprietor said, the haunch of venison
was at the service of the Court of Directors ; and all he asked
was, in the first place, to invite himself. to have.a peck at it
(laughter), and next to be allowed. to propose that Sir James
Shaw and Mr. R. Jackson should be of the party.-„-(Laughter.)
He was afraid; however, as Sir James was a member of the
Corporation, that aakingbim to a venison dinner was something .
similar to sending coals to Newcastle,—(Laughter ).—Of this
he was sure, that the CoUrt would admit the present to be the
best motion he had ever made,

The CHAIRMAN thanked the Hon. Proprietor for the man-
ner in which he had been so kind, as to make this present to
him and. his colleagues. It was, however, rather an informal
way, and looked more like a bribe than an ordinary present.—
(Laughter.)
Mr. Lowxtts said, knowing the reports which might be
spread, if he presented. a haunch of venison privately to the
Directors (from whom, it might be supposed,' he meant to ask
some favour); he . determined to introduce • the: tatter in this
public Way. Each, of those gentlemen might now exclaim—
" Non timeo Danaos, et dona ferentes."
The Ciutritxt,ix.—l invite the Honourable Proprietor most
distinctly.to dinner, to eat a part of his own venison.
111 t. LowNtots.—J- take it to be an honour to dine with the
Court of Directors ; but if I thought they would suffer them-

i3iii.c.
T.6-i',..is'-ii,ic"

. .
. . ..
selves to be the dupes or tools even of the first men in the
'kingOom, by U-d, I would think it no honour at all.—
(Laughter.) , - . !

,
The CHAIRMAN.—The HonOurable Proprietor lead better
be done with the subject until six o'clO4, and then we shall
endeavour to make the best'Of it. •

COIU OF TH.E COMPANY'S SHIPS.
Mr. CUALMERS said that- he-had a considerable time agO
matte some observations relative to, the Company's naval ser-
Vic a, which he thotight of irriportabee. He was at that, period
interrupted by the Honourable Chairman, and also- by the
Learned Gentleman below him R. Jackson); and-he.
de:stood from them that his observations were then irregular;
as the Court had been specially convened for other business.-_
Up to the present day, he had; when he attended the Cburt„
found it occupied on more important matters, and therefore he
had not agitated the subject. But, having been Ithriself an old,
sailor, both in the King's and in the Company's'iervie.e, he
could not help feeling and describing the hardships to which
many commanders of Company's ships had been subjected, in
the hope that something would be done'to protect, in future;
persons who were similarly situated. The individuals to *born
he had alluded had suffered, because,- in the exercise aft FOLIO
discretion and the discharge of a public duty, they resorted, to;
proper means for the purpose of preserving due subordination
onboard their ships. Actions had been-brought against them
by those whose i.nisconduct they had checked. ThoSe actions
they had defended; and when it was ghown by the verdict or
a Jury, that that they had acted correctly, when they • had
obtained a procesS to recover the amount of costs from tlit.per-'
• sons who had falsely complained, they found . themselves sub-
ject to great expense, because the plaintiffs, who were generally
mere " Men in buckram," absconded: ThiS was the hardship
of which he complained. When A commander had manfully
repelled a Marge, and
.proved that punishment inflicted by him
was justifiable, that it was resorted to for the ptirpose of pres;:re.;
ing ship and cargo, it was a great hardship that he should • be
fixed with costs. He knew that a recent case of this kindhad
been brought before the Directors, and the claim was rejected
by them : Ent that circumstance did not 'deter him. from
noticing the subject. He did not wish the Couit of Directors to
be unnecessarily appealed to by commanders. He kn,ew: the
latter, being sued in Courts of law, must there defend them.:
selves. But cases occurred in which commanders were sued
because they had opposed mutiny and sedition ; and in such
cases, where the commanders could not recover their costs, in
consequence of the absconding of the plaintiffs, he thought the
Court of Directors would not refuse granting a sum equivalent
to the costs, instead of suffering those who had only done their
duty to be out of pocket. Redid net wish the Captain to come
to the Director, and say, " You must authorize the Company's
solicitor to defend me;" but, in a case of mutiny, as in that of
Captain YoUngliusband (for whom lie did not speak, his ob-.
ject being the benefit of the service at large)f where the party
sued obtained a verdict, and could not procure his costs front
the rrson who instituted the action, he thought fhe Directors-
might, with great propriety, pay the costs out of that fund
which they could appropriate according to their own di: cr.fon.
The Hon. proprietor concluded by observing, that Unless he
received an assurance that the Directors would take the subject
into their consideration, he would give notice of •a motion
lative to it at the next General Court.
Mr. R. JacxsoN said, that cases of the nature alluded 'to
must always be the subject. of individual consideration.; they
must depend on the bearing of particular facts and circume
stances. Supposing Captain Younghusband, or any other ogi-:
cer, to have been placed in the situation describeil—supposin
him to have exerted himself to save his ship and cargo from all
the dreadful consequences of mutiny—he did not- think the
Court of Directors would allow any such fair claim of sub.:
stantial merit to go unavisted by them, but he doubted the
possibility of laying down such a general principle' AA would
atithorizesan officer who had been sued, and who was out of
pocket to the amount of his costs, to proceed to the Conipany'X
treasury, and demand the payment of those Costr
31r.. CHALMERS said Captain Younghushanu had :made a
humble representation to the Court of .Directors, which was,
'rejeCted, as he Understood, on the ground that a coMplianCe
with his•prayer 'Would form a:tiangetous precedent. •
The CHAIRMAN knew not in what way the Court orDirec-;
tors could regularly take up subjects of this kind except upcii
Official information. He believed it' worild be acknowledged
by the Hon. Proprietor, it was by..all mankind, that the
Company were not slow in rendering assistance where it war
really due. With respect to the gentlefinin Whoge case:had al-
ready been decided o'n,, if lie thought proper to'-make another
application, due attention should be paid to it ; but it would be
very inconvenient if matters of that nature were made the sub-'
jeer of discussion in the General Court: _ .

MT. CHALMERS expressed himself .satisfied with the obser.:
vation of the Chairman. tle adverted to Captain Younghus-'
band's case, against whom, he stated, it was proved in the
Court of Common Pleati that a conspiracy bad been-set on foot.
He, however, had procured a verdict ; but he was 1601. out of
pocket, his costs having amounted to that mini. 'He Would state
to tbat gentleman the necessity of making another application
to the Court of Directors, and of setting forth his case in the
most forcible manner.

The CHAIRMAN said he did not pledge himself to'any result
from another application. All he could say was, that the claim
should be calmly and soberly considered.
After a few words from Mr. CHALME and' Mr. LowHnti,
the conversation ended. •
APPOINTMENT of a NEW GOVEIINOR-GENERAL.
The CHAIR 11IX)i wished before the Ccurt broke up to state,-
in answer to the most important matter Which had fallen from
the Learned Gentleman (Mr. R. Jackson), that the Proprietors
might remain persuaded, that the Court of Directors were fully
impresSed with the important duty which was imposed on them
in the selection of a Governor-General of India.
Mr. TRAM v.—The Learned Gentleman had stated that it was
the general wish of the proprietors that the Marquis of Hast-
ings should be requested to remain in India:: Ile -(Mr. TrantY
begged for himself to state that he desired no such thing. Ile
was sure that the Marquis of Hastings, would not have call
fol. the appointment of a successor unless he 'felt an ardet,t
wish to be relieved from the fatigues of office. His ill health
had induced him to..take that step ;s and therefore he (Mr.
Trant) did not wish him to remain in India. -
The CHAIRmAN said, that from all the private informatien
the Directors had received,. it appeared that the M arquici..of
Hastings wished to come to this country from family cens:-.
derations. The Court knew that-an appointment had been.
made in his room, which from peculiar circumstances bad
failed. It was therefore the duty of the Court of Directors to,
look out for a proper successor. He hoped nothing,'more
Would be said relative to the Marquis of Hastings,' ineatise
only one feeling was entertained with respect to him-very
great benefit had been derived from his administration, and the
Company sustained a very great, loss by his departure. The
Court then adjourned.

ExEcuTroN.—Too late Arrival of a ftepriev'e..-L;.,
This day, James Corbett and Petrick lioarke, who were tried
and convicted at the last Assizes for a highWay-robberY on the
person of a gentleman, on the 'Wellington-road, leading front
this city to the Barracks, were executed, Pursuant to theii sen-
tence. We state, with those feelings which arc necessarily
created by the circumstance, that in a very short time after the
execution, a King's messenger arrived in town with fcreprieVe
for the two nnfortUnate men. The troop of cavalry who formed
the guard around them to the gallows, and the bearer of the
respite, in a chaise with four horses, met near the Office of this
Paper, as•the former were returning from the execution, so that
an idea may be formed of hoW little more expedition than was
used would have been.neeessary to give effect to the element in-
terpositions of Government. With respect to the legal officers,
Whose authority directs on such occasions, it is right to mention,
and, we do so with a full knowledge of the fact, that there never
was an occasion when there was less room to expect' that a
respite would arrive, as only a few days have elapsed since an
answer was received to a memorial forwarded on belialf'of the.
condemned, which4ated that the law.must take its course. It
is also proper to mention, that, the reprieve was not founded on
any; the,most remote doubt of the guilt of the men, but was
merely an exercise of theprerogattve of mercy, the failure of
which, in its aim, is not so.much to be lamented as if the guilt
of its objects had been equivocal. S4ll, however, they were
selected as proper objects of pardon, and their exlxutiofi, under
the circumstance, is little less than horrifying..—rSoutherit
Reporter.