The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-08 00:00:00

Rouse that,was less like a job than the present. From the first
he had hien of opinion that die rreasurership of the Navy
ougbt to be held as a separate office. Although he should be
shortly before his constituents, he should not be ashamed of
having given a vote in favour of this measure, for he was sure
the country did not wish the services of the Right Hon. Oen.
deman to go unrewarded.
The Committee then divided—
For the Amendment • . 3/I
Against it 71
Majority . . —3B
The original motion was then carried without a division.
The House then resumed, and the Report was ordered to be
received on Monday.
EAST INDIA WRITERS' BUJ,.
Mr. WYNN moved the second reading of this Bill, and,
in answer to a variety of questisns, stated that the object of the
Bill was, to repeal that part of the 53ti of his late Majesty,
which required Cadets to stand four terms at the East India
College at Hayleybury. The Bill was to be of temporary
operation, and to meet a pressing exigency.
After some observations from Messrs. Moses, boextra
anti II u 31E,
Mr, DENMAN said, a more mischievous measure could
not be conceived than any which tended to cast an imputation
on Hayleybury College. Ile objected to the obscure manner in;
which the Bill had been hurried forward.
Mr. WYNN disclaimed, as he had before done, all inten.
tion of throwintr itniititation on Hayleybury College.
Mr. IRAN r supported the Bill.
Mr. DENMAN explained.
Dr. PH 11,LIMORE said, it was extraordinary Hon. Mem-
bers should appear ignorant of a question which had received
sa full a discussion as this.
The Bill was then;reall a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted on Monday Kett. • • :
The Bank Charter Amendment Bill was postponed to Mon.
,

The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at TEN O'CLIX/C.

EAST INDIA lIOUSE.

Yesterday, a .Speeial General Court of the
Proprietors of East India Stock was held agreeably to the Re.
9uisnion ofseveral of the Proprietors, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the propriety of granting 5,0004 to Me-
BUCKINGHAM, as a compensation for the pecuniary losses he
had sustained by the proceedings of the Bengal Government,
since his departure from India. • • ,
The CHAIRMAN (C. MATIJORIRANGS, ,Esio. shortly stated
the nature of the meeting.
Mr. DOUGLAS KINNAIRI) said, in submitting the motion
to the consideration of the Court, he was relieved from the
necessity of entering fully into the question, the subject having
already undergone so touch discussion on former occasions, and
the facts being so. welt known by the parties before whom the
measure proposed now came. Ile disclaimed, for one, an in-
tention of mingling the question with political feelings, and he
was persuaded that it never was the intention of the Govern-
ment in India, that Mr. Buckingham should be pursued after
he left that country with any thing like persecution. This
was an application which cast no reflection upon any body,
it was purely one for the purpose of remunerating a gen-
tleman of unblemished character, who bad found himself
deprived of resources, arising out of previous circumstances, by
which he found himself involved in ruin, being brought into
debt, and being quite incapable of extricathl himself. The
property which this gentleman possessed in Indus, was rendered
of comparatively little value, as be was not permitted to dis-
pose of what was called the good-will of his line of business
through the ineaseree acted upon in India. It was declared
that so long as Mr. Buckingham held any property in the pub.
!legion, which had been the means of his being sent out of that
country, it should not be carried on. It was in the power of
the Court of Proprietors, without casting any reflection upon a
single individual, to affbrd relief to a gentleman who had suf-
fered most severely in his exertions in the cause of liberty. .He
M r. 1). Kinnaird) then read the It esolution which he proposed,
and which was in substance to the effect that the aunt of 5,000!.
should he recommended by the Proprietors to the Directors, to
be granted to Mr. Buckingham, being about one-eighth the
property he actually lost euletequently to his departure front
India, as a remuneration for those losses over which lie had no
controul.
Mr. HUME, in seconding the resolution, said that he did
so In ithe ,full confidence that its bring a question submitted
to the immunity and justice of the Proprietors, it would
readily find a cheerful reception in the breasts of all to
whom it was addressed. He did not recollect a single
occasion in which so strong a case had been made out de-
serving compensation as that which was offered in behalf
of Mr. Buckingham. The offence of which that gentle.
man wax deemed to have been guilty. was fully expiated,
he conceived, by his removal from India, even in the esti.
illation of the Government by whom that measure was
effected. Mr. Buckingham was perfectly correct hi at.
tempting to accumulate a fortune in India, if lie thought
he could do so by proper and fair means. However, it was
not his (Mr. Hume's) intention to enter into that question
now ; the only question which he should address himself' to,
was, the claim which that Gentleman bad to compensation.
The body of Proprietors consisted of wealthy and mode-
. pendent men, they were liheral in all their transactions,
and he trusted that they would take into their serious con,
sideration the claima of die individual whose • interests
were now sought to be advanced. By the supOreesion of
his public work, being the proprietor, and-. formerly the
Editor of the (Melilla Journal, he had been involved in ruin.
The sentiments of the Editor of a Provincial Journal, he
(Mr. H.) would beg to state to the Meeting, in reference
to the proceedings which had been taken by the Indian
Government towards Mr. Buckingham. It was the opi-
nion of that writer, and in that opinion lie perfectly coin-
cided, that it was the first effort recorded in the pages of
English history, in which an English newspaper was put
down by force. He trusted that the question now before
the Court would not be viewed as a party question—( hear,
hear, hear !) but that it would be considered as r an effort to
remunerate a gentleman for his pecuniary losses; which
be had sustained in consequence or his removal front the
scene on which lie had given some offence; but which conse.
quence was never intended to have followed, even by the
Government that had caused his removal. In the belief
that individuals to wealthy as those whom he was now ad.
dressing would never shrink from extending their support
to a party having a jest claim oft their resources, he felt fully
persuaded, and he anticipated that the resolution would be
adopted. It was never his practice, neither here nor elsewhere,
to give his assent for voting away the public money—(a laugh)
—but he really felt bound to countenance die proposition now
brought forward on behalf of is gentleman who had suffered so
deeply.
Ali. Pus's:De:li objected to. the Resolution altogether. He
then went through, ut great length, all the various charges
brought forward by the Indian Government against Mr.
Buckingliam,by reading from a number of papers which he held
in his hand, and contended that the individual, who had occa-
sioned such a mode of proceeding by a Government was un-
worthy the pecuniary support now endeavoured to he raised in
his favour. The conduct of Mr. Buckingham, when in India, he
described as being influenced by a restless opposition to the
views and transactions of the Government there. True it was,
that such a happy system of things did not prevail In that large
territory as existed m England ; neither could it—for the habits
and dispositions of the people were not the saute. • There must,
of necessity, be- a form of Government there partaking
somewhat of it despotic character.—( Ilene !)—lt was a perfect
anomaly to suppose that a free press could exist in -India to the-
extent that it did in England. Having admitted this, lie did
not wish it fur a moment to be supposed that he was not an ad-
vocate for freedom of discuseion. He confessed that he loved
a free press; but there was is wide distinction between free-
dom and licentiousness. Was it to be tolerated in Mr.
Buckingham to be continually telling the people that they were
ill-governed ; that the Army was improperly conducted ; that
the Church was defective ; that the Bishops and Clergymen
were inattentive to the wefare of their flocks—in short, that
abuses existed in every department of the State ? Was such a
course of proceeding on his part to be endured, and this course
to he dignified by the name of the liberty of the press ? Mr.
Buckingham did not err through a want ofjudgment. He had
knowledge enough—caution enough ; there were legal pro-
asses enough, to enable him to have avoided the ill conse.
quences which had befallen him ; and It was his men deter-
mined conduct which had brought upon him all the evils mt.
!dinned of. It was it slavish preference to his own individual
interests which urged him to act as he had done, until he was
finally compelled to quit that country. lie would have been sa-
tisfied could he have risen even on the ruins of India, so long as
he could have set up an empire of his own.—(ll car !)—I fever the
strong gni of Government were required to check the career of
man, and this no man would deny, this was a case in which it
was properly exercised. The Government had to protect die
public good ; they. had an importaot duty to perform, and they
very proverly
performed their ditty. They pointed out to Mr.
13uelcitg uttn what would result if he pursued the line of con-
duet with whidi he set out, and they repeatedly called his at-
tention to the consequences. He 1 ad the choice given him,
tidier to desist from that course, orhlie would be sent away.
He selected that which led to the latter part of the alternative.
Then it. was too much to say that he was an injured man.
,Veienti et volenti non fit ixjnr err, Ile ran a-inuck with all
who were opposed to him—to use the language of that
great man, Mr.. Burke, " no place, nor age was sacred, not
even the sanctuary of the tomb was sacred" with him. As

to his claim upon the Proprietors, had an been shewn ?
No man ought to take a benefit of his own wrong. Some-
thing had been said about the distressed condition to which he
was now reduced, and that in merCy he should meet with;
kindness. It was remarked once by Chief Justice Hale, in an
appeal to him on behalf of a criminal, that he liitd to recollect
the mercy he had to show to his country. NqFAit,was not to
be forgotten, that there were many to be consialed, before the
claim made on behalf of Mr. Buckingham was decided. He
(Mr. Poynder) always conceived, that before a party could
make out a case calling for remuneration, he ought to conic
into Court with clean hands ! And this had not been done
by Mr. Buckingham ; and if such a claim were idiom ed,
there would be numbers making a similaretppeul. They were
now called upon to lower the top-sail of Justice, and set
up the mizen-mast of charity. It was said by one of his
advocates, that it would be only an act of justice rendered to
Mr. Buckingham to grant him the sum of money in question,
whilst another Gentleman urged it to be an equitable arrange-
ment. If an equal proportion of the ingredients were taken,
he (Mr. P.) did not admire the compound, and it should not
be forced down his throat. In conclusion, he declared that,
iu his opinion, no case had been made out to entitle Mr. Buck-
ingham to the remuneration.
Mr. JOHN SMITH said, that although the speech which had
been ,just made were a long and an able one, it haul not changed
his views on the subject. It was not the intention of his Friend,
who had first addressed the Court, as far as he understood him,
to vindicate the conduct of 'Mr. B. in every particular ; but all
that had been insisted was, that the 'punishment had been more
than commensurate with the offence. It neverwas the intention of
the Government in India to plunge him into hopeless ruin. In-
stances might be shown in which individuals had shamefully
abandoned their duty in former times, mat had been sent home
to Europe to enjoy the fruits of their plunder and rapine, and
not, like this gentleman, sent home in ruin. If libels had been
written by Mr. Buckingham, that was no reason for sending
him into abject poverty. It was well known that Judges, in im-
posing fines upon persona guilty of such offences, did not pass
upon them a sentence so heavy, that they were to he doomed to
perpetual imprisonment. If it were calmly inquired whether
Mr. Buckingham's conduct was so bad as it had been repre-
sented by those who were opposed to him, it would be disco-
vered that he was entitled to some indulgence. It was tinder-
stood that all his property was confiscated. Was this a
proper course to pursue ? It might have been, some of it, the
property of his wife, or his children, or belonging to some one
else not connected by family ties with him ; and surely, before
such a step as that alluded to had been taken, an inquiry into
whose property it really was, should have been instituted.—
(Hear !)—He (Mr. Smith) felt strongly persuaded that the pro-
prietors of East India Stock would, upon the present occasion,
display those generous sentiments and feelings which had been
so long considered the oflipring of British character.
sir JOHN SEWE 1, denied that the property of Mr. Bucking-
ham had been confiscated. He was in debt when he went to In-
dia, and, after about four or five years, lie realised a property of
13,0001. a year, and his object in taking in co-proprietors was to
protect him against the (Government. lie was not so much a
novice in the world that he would voluntarily abandon his in-
terest, by allowing others to partake of his profits. No fine was
inflicted upon him ; the types only were not permitted to he em-
ployed for the purposes ofa newspapers in which Mr. Bucking-
ham was a proprietor. They might have been used for the pur-
poses of other printing. The Government of India had deter-
mined that so !Ong as he had a property in them they should
not be used. It wits the fault of the agents of Buck-
inghain to keep up the expences, when they could be made
available to the purpose for which the printing establishment
was formed. It was said that he was in poverty. There was
no proof of it. Ile wax the proprietor of' shares—not such as
those which had lately been the subject of inquiry before the
Lord Mayor—of good valuable property; and he now lived in
apparently affluent circumstances. He went out to India, as
had been said, to realise a fortune, if that were even to be ob-
tained at the expence of the Indian Government. It was too
much to call upon the Court to furnish him with remuneration
for the misconduct of his own agents, and his own pertinacity
in continuing a course of conduct which lie knew was ob-
jectionable.
Mr. 0 All MOAN said that the question was, not whether Mr.
Buckingham was a delinquent, and had incurred the penalties
or the law, but whether he had not, by incurring the displea-
sure of the Government of India, subsequently suffered to an'
extent which it never was the intention of that Government to
countenance, and much more than the justice of the case, sup-
' posing him to have acted wrong, required. It had been urged
that lie was anxious to raise -himself, even it' it had been to
the ruin of Indie. But no such thing had been proved. He
(Mr. G.) kneW -ant whether Mr. Buckingham were rich or
poor, but he certainly felt inclined to believe the latter. flow-
ever, if he were in the possession of property, it was a subject
Of congratulation; and, amid the wreck of his fortune, it was
a pleasure, to think that he had, by means of a plank, secured
a sate passage to the shore.
Sir C. !Fosses could bear his testimnny that Mr. Bucking-
ham had suffered very heaVy losses in his fortune, and that he
was by 110 means in those affluent circumstances that had been
insinuated. It' he had sixpence in the world it was a matter of
surprise to him (Sir C. Forbes) after what he had heard. He
was in debt at the present moment. He had no shares in
flouriel'ing companies, that• he was acquainted with ; and his
friends lied Advanced the stock which enabled him to hive a
seat in that Court. it had been asserted that he had assisted:
Mr. Buchingitem with loans of money. This was not the
fact, for that gentleman did not owe him one farthing, neither
had he ever asked for any. But that he was assisted there
could be no doubt ;.: ino4od, be (Sir C. F.) knew well to whom
that gentleman was indebted, And had it not been for such
lind assistance, Mr. Buckingham and his family must have
been turned into the streets. If the Court knew in what a
humble manner this unfortunate gentleman and his family
multsieted, it would be a matter of surprise. hie had been in-
duced to take a dwelling suitable to his condition, which he
hoped to he .able to live in by his property, but this hope had
vanished like a shadowy dream. He now sat down daily to
the most frugal meal, without u glass of wine, or without even
a glass of .malt liquor, having nothing but drink, from the
crystal stream to take with his food. The appeal to the Court
on behalf of Mr. Buckingham would not be made in vain.
The remuneration sought was only a very small proportion of
the property which he had berm deprived of. There were few
Ptoprietors, he (Sir Charles Forbes) believed, who did not feel
disposed to grunt a compensation, and a very large proportion
of those who came to the ballot would be found to sanceithe due
Resolution.

Mr. WE Ems was of opinion that there was not a particle of
justice in- the proposition for remunerating Mr. Buckingham,
and that if it were cotintenaneed it would have the erect of con-
demning the measitriiidf Government.
Dr. Giecitittif..r, in • rimin to favour the Resolution, said-
that persecution of every kind'he deapised, and that he would
oppose it in every shape. There was no old proverb which maid,
of this he highly approved. Now,
Ablis ajels7ylW4enrd were appear on the floor of that Court
igfivheis tl
sitie devilttal
and be oppoaed, by all, be would become his bottle-holder—
(latighter)--ao much did, he abominate persecution. It Was
said by the poet, that—
" Music has charms to soothe the savage beast;"
there was also something noble in charity, for it expanded the
human heart. He hoped the • family of Mr. Buckingham.
would feel the effects of this noble feeling.
After a few observations from Mr. Kr s* previous to
the question being put he said that he should Press for. a ballot;
when
The CHAtitaraer said that he had not alteretd his mind on
the tittbjedt, and there possibly might be opposition by the
Board of Controulif the measure should now be countenanced.
Mr. Hi; ME lamented that such an opinion should have been
now given ; but'he trusted that the Chairman, and others who
thought with hint, would. not turn a. deaf ear to what had been
advanced.. lie had frequently witnessed opportunities of Gentle-
Men altering their minds, without being called inconsistent.
but he should object
The CHAIRMAN said that the. question h4d been tried in a
the one fixad for the
variety Of manners, and. now it was asked for a ballot. For his
own
objectiontnhpealriatillflte'll:tingnotakeli
election of Directors.
Air. I'l tianight it would have been niece expedient
the
auraetit day ballot,us
had not the Chairman expressed an opinion now as to what
might -possibly be the conduct of the lidera of Controul.—
(Hear Ile cell yd upon the Proprtetera to support the nes°.
Jutiena,.and let the Board of Controul keep their places. If
the-proposition should be ultimately rejected by them, let all
the indignity—all the contempt—which such a proceeding
would undoubtedly insure, fall upon their shoniders.
Dr. GILCHRIST again rose, but sat down amid cries of
"Spoke, spoke."
Air. Asepsis., one of the Directors,. said, before the question
was put he would °frau few remarks. The subject (1551 not
now come hefote them for the first time, but it watt a tale more
than twice told. It had been insisted that it was a case of jus-
tice against humanity, and that it was one of oppression.- Air.
Bueltingham had only to thank himself for the situation in
whicli he was placed. •.
Colonel lettcfeaT En STAN HOPE warmly defended the cun-
duct of Mr. Buckingham.
MT. 0. KINNAIRD replied. He said that no efforts what-
ever had been madato rouse the feelingS in favour of the victim.
Mr. Buckingham's ease was too strong to require such aid. It
had been .said (by
Sire. Forbes) that some one had relieved Mr.
Buckingham, and he (Air. Kinnaird) was alluded to as that in-
thviduttl- should not have named Such a circumstance but
for the introduction of it by another, and now it was mentioned,
he must acknowledge having afforded some slight relief ; glad
should he be if any one would follow the example. If it could he
shown that a reflection would be passed upon the Government
by adopting the resolution, let it be proved. At present no ar-