The Sun.
London, England, 1833-07-05 00:00:00

EAST INDIA H OUSE.-(THIS DAY.)

A general Court of the Proprietors was held in Leadenhall-
street, for the purpose of receiving and considering the Bill
for the regulation of the affairs of India, which was recently
introduced into the House of Commons by the Government.
At 12 o'clock C. Marjoribanks, r.sq., took the chair, when
the minutes of the last Court were read and eonfirnied.

A copy of the direction letter of the 20th Vebruary, On the
subject of the pilgrim tax was laid on the table.
Some correspondence between Mr. Grant and the Directors
were then read, relative to the Bill and its provision, as to the
new Presidency to be appointed, the appointment of a Com-
mander-in-chief for the whole of the armies of India, and the
giving of supreme control to the Governor-General and Coun-
cil over the whole of the Presidencies; and the manner in
which European settlers are to be permitted to reside in India i
also conceding to the Company their wish that the Court of
Directors should not bereduced,
The Directors objected to the establishment of a new Presi-
dency, on the ground of being inexpedient, and would add to
the expense. Neither did they approve of the Governor.
General and Council having their powers increased, because
they were in 1828 obliged to be admonished as to the expenses
they had incurred, while the new plan was to be pro-
posed on the ground of giving them a power over
the expenditure of the other Residencies ; nor would they at
all approve of the taking away of the Councils from the
Governors of Madras and Bombay. They doubted whether
it was necessary to extend the Episcopal superintendence, and
thought there was no need for other two bishops in India.

The CHAIRMAN stated that the Bill was under the con-
sideration of the Court of Directors, and at present he
could say very little upon the matter. There was much
new matter in the Bill, which had never been discussed.
He should at present say but little on the subject, but
that It would receive the deepest and most serious atten-
tion of the Directors. There was much of it that he
doubted if ever he could make up his mind to recommend its
adoption to that court.

Sir C. FORBES trusted the court would not separate without
the Directors stating their opinions on the matter. He inferred
from what fell from the Chairman, that he did not think they
ought to close with it, and he hoped it would be the opinion
of a majority of that Court. He sincerely trusted that it
would be recollected, that the Company would put the Go-
vernment to defiance, and let them try their other plan which
they threatened the Company with. The Hon. Baronet went
fully into the question, and was called to order by
Mr. ASTELL, who said they were only met to consider the
Bill.

Sir CHARLES FORBES resumed—He trusted that while the
Proprietors had any power, they ought to be allowed to state,
their opinions. He never saw such a mass of absurdity issue
from any Government as the Bill in question ; it seemed as if
they had ministered to the pecuniary views of the Company,
in order that they (the Government) might do as they liked.
He had hoped that the Court of Proprietors would have had
extended powers ; but in place of that, by the thirty-
third clause, they were to be made mere puppets, and
all their power was to be taken from them. They
ought not to allow the Bill to pass a single stage.
He knew that there were some Honourable Men in both
houses who would strenuously oppose it, and he hoped yet to
see it sent to the right about.—(A laugh.) He hoped the Bill
would not pass the second reading, for then they would say,
you have agreed to the basis of the Bill, and therefore you must
let it pass. He hoped, however, that Court would express a
strong opinion against the Bill, and they at least would have
done their duty.
Mr. POYNDER thought the opposition of the Hon. Baronet
might be traced to his hatred of Reform, to his Majesty's Go-
vernment, and also to the Court of Directors. The objections
of the Hon. Baronet had found very great fault with the 33d
clause, but he was surprized at the objection, for the very same
was the law at present ; therefore the power of the proprietors
was not at all affected by it. He thought the conces-
sions made by the Government were very important ones, and
they showed the liberal spirit in which the Government acted
towards the Company. He was not prepared to say that the
Bill should be annihilated, because, though he was obliged for
wha- information he had received, still he wanted much, and
no doubt would soon get it from the Directors.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought the Bill was deficient, because it did not include
any part of the plan for the amelioration, civilization, and
education of India, which at a future time might be made a pre.
cedent. He thought the Directors had been in error, in objecting •
to the appointment of two suffragan bishops. It was impossi-
ble for one man to episcopally govern such a large country, as
had been proved by the death of four bishops within ten years,
from being overworked.—(No, no.) He trusted that that part
of the'Bill would be preserved.

Mr. ASTELL, having been personally alluded to, wished to
explain. He was one of the 19 Directors who signed the basis
of agreement which had been alluded to by the Honourable
Baronet, and he could with perfect consistency support
the pi inciple of the Bill, but as to the details of it, he was not
prepared at that moment to give his opinion, but would not
shrink from doing so when the proper time came. The Direc-
tors had not been inattentive to the question, but as they had
not yet made up their minds, he thought it would also be bet-
ter for the proprietors to take more time for the consideration
of the whole Bill, for things done in a hurry were seldom well
done.
Sir W. JONES BRIDGES rose and was left speaking.