The Sun.
London, England, 1833-04-25 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE-(THIS DAY.)

The Court of Proprietors met to-day by adjournment
for the sixth time, in order to consider of the papers and
correspondence relative to the charter. The minutes of the
former Court having been read,
Dr. GILCHRIST asked the Chairman whether, as the
Chairman of the Court of Directors, he had a right to sit
also as Chairman of the Court of Proprietors, or whether
he dial so merely by courtesy.
The CHAIRMAN said be believed he sat there by
courtesy, but as the Learned Counsel was present he would
give his sentiments upon the subject.
_ _

Mr. Sergeant SPANLIE said that as Chairman of the
Court of Directors he was Chairman of the East India
Company, and had a right, or rather was in duty bound
to preside at all meetings of that Company.
Dr. Brace then resumed the adjourned debate. He said
he preferred the resolutions of the Gallant General (Sir J.
Malcolm) to those of the Hon. Member (Mr. Hume) be-
cause be was afraid that if the Court did not give in in a
gre it measure to the Ministry they would go before Parlia-
ment with a proposition to govern India through themselves,
which he considered would be eminently dangerous both
for England and India. Not even the enemies of the
Company dared to deny that the people of India had been
well governed by that Court, and that the people of that
country had been raised to a state of great happiness while
under their rule. The system of colonisation proposed,
in his opinion, would give a deadly blow to the interests
of India; and he considered that a system of economy
might he carried too far, for the servants of the Company
who suffered severe privation, ought to be well paid, in
order that in the evening of life they might be able to
retire in comfort into the bosom of their families. The
day had not yet arrived when the people of India were
ready for or deserved a Free Press. He should be most
happy that it should arrive soon, but at present he thought
it would prove the destruction of the rule of England in
that country. At the present moment, under the license
of the Company, great liberty of discussion prevailed;
and he remembered, at one time, when an insurrection
broke ont in one of the Presidencies, where the military
were called upon to suppress ir,—tbe papers then said that
the insurrection was altogether caused by the oppression
of the Government, and hoped that if the soldiers ever
again were called upon to put down such another assem-
blage, they would follow the example of their fellow-
soldiers of France, and say, "'Why should we fire on our
fellow-subjects?" Such liberty he thought was too ex-
tensive to be permitted at present.
Mr. CLAY thought the Government were bound to
give the Company a reasonable time before putting an end
to the China trade, and destroying the usefulness of up-
wards of 40 sail of the best ships that ever sailed, or that
tie Company should carry on the trade to China in com-
petition with other merchants.
Mr. DEANS said that he had attended most attentively
to all the arguments put forth upon the present debate,
and he was firmly of opinion that the Court ought at once
to agree to the general principles of the Government plan.
Such measures, he thought, were rendered necessary far
the public good—at all events, they had been loudly de-
manded by the public voice; and he was afraid, if
Proprietors did not consent to them, the bands of Govern-
ment would be much strengthened, and in a short time
they would be enabled to take the Government of India
into their own hands, to the great detriment of the Pro-
prietors and the people of India. With regard to the fears
entertained of the ►toppage of the trade by the Cbinese
when the trade was opened, he could state from actual ex-
perience, that the trade was more important to them than
to those who gave it them, and they were unable to do
without it.

Mr. FIELDER. said it seemed to be considered, both by
Whigs and Tories—ins and outs—that the Company!was
almost in a state of insolvency: but that he begged to
deny ; for they bad their commerciil assets.—(Cheers.)
Though that wris said by boll parties, yet be could prove
that both had admitted the solvency of the Coup
pany, for the present Ministry had offered to secure the
(We shall give the conclusion in our Second Edition.)