Star.
London, England, 1802-05-13 00:00:00

INDIA.

Dr. LAWltillell fO6, purfuant to notice, to
move for certain papers reWing the claims of
the French and Dutch in the Commerce of the
F.all Indies. The Learned Gentleman took an
extended view of the origin and progrefs of our
dominion and trade in India; of the importance
of that trade and dominion, and how far the late
Treaty of Peace was likely to encourage the French
and Dutch to reaffert pretenfions which had been
heretofore fo often urged, and as often fuccefsfully
refilled ; becanfe they were about to interfere with
our interefts and to endanger our fovereignty.—
He withed the fad to be fully afccrtained as to the
inference to be drawn from that treaty upon that
fubjed, and hoped the Gentlemen known to be
bell acquainted with our Indian territories and
rights would give the Houle every neceffary in-
formation as to the extent of the claims of the
French and Dutch. By the Treaty of 1763, it was
Ripulated that the French fhould not build any fort
or keep any troops on the coaß of Coromandel or
in the fubah of Bengal. This ftipulation was made
to reit a pretenfion the French had advanced
from the year 1789. to an equal right with us to
the poffeffions in India, while it would be recoiled.
ed that the grants under which we claimed the fo.
vereigmty were from the Mogul himfelf. Some
!bort time after the Treaty of 1763, the French
again Ratted new pretenfions, the injurious confe-
quence of acceding to which were fully Rated by
Lin! Clive, in his correfpondence with the Court
of Directors ;but our rival, who generally fcorned
logical weapons, and who feldom attended to jar-
tice when it interfered with its ambition, perfilted
in thefe pretenfions up to the American war; and
in the peace of 1783, another ftipulation was to
be found, in confirmation of the article of that of '
1763, fo jealous were the ftatefmen who drew up
that Treaty, of the aria oblervance of the article
prohibiting the French from erecting any fortifica-
tions in India, that they remonfirated with the
French Government on the conftrudion of a ditch,
which was merely intended to carry off water from
a factory, and the French Government allured
our then Miniflers that filch alone was the purpofe.
Notwithßanding thefe precife treaties, the French
Rill endeavoured to urge their pretenfions with
fuchipertinacity, that in the year 1785 it became
a queftion of force, and our Government in India
was actually obliged to fink a French !hip. In
confequence of this vexatious conduct, the Gover-
nor General wrote home, requefting Miniftcrs to
try and fettle thefe difputes. A negotiation was
accordingly fet on foot, and the Convention of
t 787 was the refult. Thofe feveral Treaties and
Conventions being abrogated by the late Peace, he
would a& the Houfe what fecurity had we that
claims formerly contended for whit fo much perfe-
verance and zeal would not again be revived, and
would not become the fource of a new war ? The
next point to which he referred was the claims of
the Dutch. By the Treaty of 1784 with their
Government, ourrigbt to the free and independent
navigation of the Eallern Seas, and the fuperiori-
ty of our flag was recognized and guaranteed.—
That Treaty alfo was renounced, and the Dutch,
now the dole allies, if not the abfolute followers of
France, were releafed from all obligation to this
country. The Dutch, who were fo jealous of our
commerce with China, that they were long known
to hold poffeffion of the peninfula of Malacca with
a view to obtain the controul of the navigation of
'the Streights; and fhould they be able to exclude
our !hipping from the Streights, we Mould then
have only the Streights of Sunda to pafs through
in our intercourfe with China, and thole Straights
were not navigable during particular monfoons.
The inference he meant to draw from thefe aate-
ments was, that the non-revival of Treaties in the
late Peace placed us in a very dangerous fituation
with refpeft to our Indian poffeffions. It was a
danger fo obvious, that though Miniflers might
have thought it wife to difcontinue general politi.
cal or commercial Treaties, he was furprized they
had not made fome arrangement for the continu-
ance of the Itipulations regarding this particular.
He hoped they would this day account for the
reafons which influenced their conduct ; .but he
much feared they would not be able to fati..fy the
Houk, or at leaft the Country, that a Treaty in
which the intereas and *why of the empire had'
been fo little attended to, ought to be accepted.—
He would with to look forward to fome meafures
to cure, or to avert the evils which this peace was
calculated to produce, but he confeffed to him the
profpcd was very gloomy, particularly as the al-
moll total ilearuftion of the balance of power in
Europe, guaranteed by this peace, left us little
chance of fuccefs, fhould France feel difpofed to
contend for her old pretenfions in India ; for it
would be recollected that it mull be at home, and
not in India, we mull refill any Inch pretenfions,
therefore it was abfurd to talk of our fovereignty,
or to rely on the extent of our power in India.—
The !oft of the fovereignty of the Portuguefe in
India Coon followed the decline of their rank among
the European powers. It was his defire that our
rights fhould be fully undedlood, and our refolu-
tion to fupport them generally made known ; this
he expected from the diktats!' of this night. The
Learned Member concluded with defcribing the
papers he intended to move for, namely, Copies
of all the Treaties referring to our Indian pad-
fions ; alto of all communications made by the
different Governor Generals in India, refpeding
certain claims of the French and Dutch.
The Ertl motion being put, for Copies of V
Correfporaftence between the Governor General of
Bengal and the Court of Directors of the India
Company, relative to certain French claims in In
dia, from the years 1749 to 1763,
Mr. DUNDAS (aid, that whether our fituation
was to be decided by negotiation or by the fword.
in India or elfewhere, as the Learned Gentleman
had flated, he would dare Cay, that there was no
difference of opinion between them upon this point,
namely, that it was elfential to the intereas of this
country, wherever on; claims were to be &ppm

.
ell; and where our rights were clear and indifput-
able, not to do any thing ourfelves to bring thefe
rights into doubt. He Rated it, as a general
maxim, on which he apprehenged there was no
difference of opinion in that Houfe, or elfewhere ;
and yet, notwithilanding no dokdst was entertained
of the truth of this general maxim, he was afraid
that if motions like thefe were perfevered in, much
difference of opinion would wife upon the applica-
tion of that principle ; his propofition was inch as
he held to be clear as the fun at noon-day, namely,
that no doubt could be entertained on the relative
lituation of this country and of France in India.
No doubt had been expreffed upon that fubjeet till
lately in that Houfe, nor would any doubt be en-
tertained elfewherc, only by bringing forward fpe-
culations of our own in that Houfe, and making
that doubtful in debate. which was long acknow-
}edged to be clear in principle. He then entered
into an hillorical detail of the rife and progrefs of
the Beitifh power in India, the contefts which had
taken place from the codicil periods, and the !hare
' taken therein by the French, in order to oppofe
our progrefs in India, down to the period in which
Lord Clive had to diftinguit bed himfelf, to whom,
for his valour as a foldier, and wifdom as a Stater-
man, he paid the higheß compliments • the refult
of whofe meafures he Rated to have confummated
' the Britith power in India, and fettled our Sove-
reignty there by right of conqueß, which right he
reconciled to the inhabitants brthe wife refpea he
paid to their prejudices. Having gone through a
complete hiftory of thefe events, and having given
a compendious account of the progrefs of the Mo-
gul Empire, and of its revolutions for eight cen-
turies, he proceeded to Rate the tonclufion, which
he drew from all thefe premifes ; which conclufion
was this, 14 that though we may feel it lila and ex-
pedient to make fuch allowances to the prejudices
of the inhabitants, and to make fuch regulations
in our territories as we may pleafe, or think ad-'
viable, yet with regard to European Powers, to
them we fay freely and diffinaly, we have gained
this country by our arms, and by our arms we will
keep it." For upon all the grounds which he had
already Rated, it was manifell, that the provinces'
of Bengal, Bahar, Orilra, &c. had come to Great
Britain by conqueß, as mach as any country ever
came into the hands of another ; and from tae pe-
riod when it became fo under the government of
my Lord Clive to the ?ref= day, the French
never had directly or indirealy, from the Treaty
of 1763, any right whatever to interfere with the
provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Oriffa, &c. ; but,'
that they were by right of conqueß fubjea to the
Sovereignty of the King of Great Britain to all in-
tents and purpofes, which Sovereignty was to be
exercifed through the medium of &e °lndia Com-
pany, and through the different organs eftabliffied
for the prefervation of our provinces, as much as
any other part ofhis Majeity's dominions. He need
not dwell upon thefe points, the faits were clear
and well authenticated in the hiftory of thofe do-
minions ; and therefore, he laid it down as a clear
and indifputable propofition, that what we had
gained thus by conqueß, was to be confidered with
reference to any other European Power, as totally
fubjea to our Sovereignty, without any interfe-
rence of theirs ; that we were actually the Sove-
reigns of India, and no European Power had any
right whatever to difpute our title to this power,
which we pail's, de fade. Such was the Rate of
the Britith power in India ; the fituation of France
was extremely different, without one inch of terri-
tory except what they may claim under the Defi-
nitive Treaty under confideration. He would alk
the Houfe to paufe for a moment, and then a&
itfelf this queition ; was there a man within hear-
ing of his voice who had any doubt whatever as to
thefe fads at this moment ? Certainly none.—Was
there any one man within the hearing of his voice
who thought that if thefe fans, and the right arif!
ing out of them, were to be called in quethon, this
country would not go the length of diking its laft
Rake to fupport thofe rights, and refute giving up
one iota of them ? He had no reafon to be fatisfied
in any point of curiofity, by afking why it was ex-
pedient in the prefent moment to avoid references
to antient Treaties in the prefent Definitive Treaty
of Peace? It was a fubjea upon which he did not
think it neceffary to dwell at prefent, it was fuffi-
cient for him to fay, that there was no diminution
thereby in our power in India, no foundation what-
ever for any other to difpute our fovereignty there,
nor any thing which entitled others to conteft with
us the rights upon which that fovereignty was
founded ; nor was that all, he would go further,
and fay, he millook greatly if any doubt was now
entertained, that with regard to Great Britain, her
fovereignty in India flood at that moment upon a
hater footing than if the former Treaties had been
renewed by it. By the Treaty of 1783, which was
unqueltionably the very worn Treaty this country
ever entered into on the fubjea of Indian affairs, it
was the bufinefs of his Majefty's Government, and
a very laborious one it was, in the Convention of
1787 to do away the evil created by the Treaty of
1783. By that of £783, our fovereignty in India
was tendered difputahle ; by the Convention of
1787 our fovereignty was re-eflablifhed. Having
expatiated at confiderable length upon the merits
of the Convention of 1787, and the demerits of the
Treaty of 1783, he proceeded to. fay, that had the
Treaty now upon the table renewed any former
Treaty, it would have been impoffible to refer to
the Convention of t 787, with Out alfo renewing the
contefts which were brought forward in 1783. It
would have been impoffible to have introduced the
one, without alfo calling for an explanation of the
other, and therefore the affairs of that country were
much better, confidering all the circumilances
of the relative &nation of this country and of
France. To fuffer at Treaties whatever to be pair-
ed over in filence, we might, perhaps, by renew-
ing Tome of the declarations and admiffions ofour
fovereignty in India as fettled by the Convention
of 1787, have employed tome antidote againft the
evil of which we had too much reafon to complain,
but it was manifeft to him we could not have filch
antidote without having alto a certain portion of
the poifon by the renewal of any difcuffion whate-
ver upon the fubjea of treaties, and therefore he
had no difficult y whatever in laying, that upon a
review of the whole coaditios of our affairs, con.

fidered with relation to thofe of France, we were
infinitely better in palling the fubjeit over in filence,
than we should have been in endeavouring to re-
new any of them. He confeffed, he raid, that
when the rumour reached him that the provifions
of the Convention of 1787 were left out of the pre-
fent treaty, he fhrunk under an appreheufion that
our power in India would be deftroyed, and he
was the more alarmed when he heard it Paid, that
this was brought about in confequence of the views
of France to undermine, and finally to overturn
our Sovereignty in India. This led him to turn
the flibjea very ferioufly in his mind, and to look
at all the ancient documents, to confider the whole
matter deliberately; and the rcfult was, that it
was infinitely better for us to have no reference
whatever to any treaty, as he bad already Rated.
But the Learned Gentleman anted, if the Houfe
could really think that we could be fecure in India
againft the ambitious claims of France, as they
had appeared in 1783, and which were done away
in 1737 ? Did we really think we were fafc now,
without having renewed, by the prefent treaty, the
provifions of the Convention of 1787? This he
would anfwer, by putting to the Learned Gentle.
man this queftioq—Did he really think, that if the
French fhould be difpoCed to renew the pretenfions
of 1783, or any other period, that they would be
prevented from fo doing by a few (craps of papers
being laid on the table of that Houle, a fpecies cf
artillery that would not be equal to the operation
of a fingle field-piece for half a minute ? But the
Learned Gentleman would fay, that the treaty of
1783 would eftablifh the dirpofition of the French
at that time to difpute our Sovereignty in India.
It would indeed eltabliffi that which there was no
need of eftablifhing, becaufe the thing was well
known ; the French did on that occafion, as they
would do on every occafion, provided they
thought they could fucceed in the attempt pf it,
namely, endeavour *to diminifh the greatnefs of
this country, and enlarge its own; but in propor-
don as they were difpoted to be hoftile to our in•
tereft, or querulous while we enjoyed our advan-
tages, he had no difficulty in faying, it was the
wildom of this country, in the fame proportion, to
wait until theft claims were made which Gentlemen
(poke of with fo much apprehenfion, and in the
mean time to Rand upon our right—our para.
mount right of Sovereignty. What courfe the
French would take to enlarge their commercial
intereft in India was not for us to anticipate. It
was enough for us, that if they endeavoured to do
fo by the exertions of individuals, or otherwfe,
they could never do fo without being liable to be
interrupted by this country. If they were to try
to ereft commercial faitories, or to do any thing
that interfered with our Sovereignty in India, we
Ihould be fully warranted, and what was better,
we were in poffeffion of means to refill fuch an at-
tempt. But thofe means would not be increafed
by a few papers being Laid before the Houfe, fitch
documents would not help us to any arguments
which we had not already, for the propriety of re-
filling fuch attempts; thank GOD we had never
wanted arguments to refill the encroachments of
the French on our Sovereign power in India, nor
had we wanted Rrength for that pnrpofe. From
all this it was perfectly clear, that before the French
could exercife any trade in India, they mull come
to us in the charaiter of fuppliains • for nothing
they had yet obtained would enable ;hem to carry
on trade in India without our leave. He had
Rated the difference between the treat e f ,3
and the convention of 1787 already. He had to
obferve, that we were not now in a &nation fimi.
lar to that in which we Rood in 1787. There was
now no treaty in exiftence between us and France,
nor any regulation on the fubjelt of India, except
the fingle claufe in the Convention now upon the
table of the Houfe. And with regard to the trade
of France in India, if any they were to have, they
could have it only through the indulgence of the
Britith power in India; and, therefore, he Paid
again, we were better off as the cafe flood upon
the prefent treaty of peace, than if we had renewed
any of the former treaties. Whatever matter of
complaint was to be urged, or, rather, of lamenta-
tion, upon this fubjed, at could only be, that his
Majefty's Government did not fettle the whole of
the provifions of all former treaties, by taking no-
tice of them all, and finally adjußing them all.—
This, however in the Aare& it might appear
clearable, ought not to have been attempted in
the prefent cafe, becaufe it would have been im-
poffible to accompliffi it, without protraiting the
negociation to a length that would have been in-
confiftent with the interefts of the States ofEurope.
[ The articles in all there treaties mull have been all
gone over, if any of them were noticed; in the
I wade of which a thoufand explanations would
become neceffary, and which might have made
the negociation in many refpeits appear to tome
idle and ridiculous. But there were other con&
desations which, he hoped, would operate on the
conduit of thofe who may have the future conduit
of the affairs of India; and they related to other
Powers as well as to the French and ourfelves in
India—we were not to confider merely our own
concerns and thofe of France in India. He limed
it as a folid ground of confederation for the EaR
India Company, to regulate, not only the trade
of the French, but to look to the regulation of
other fubjets, to have an eye upon other com-
mercial connexions. But it might be Paid, Why not
flipulate thefe things in negociation, and finally de-
termine them by treaty? To which he would an-
fwer, It is much better as it is, for at prefent c
have the Sovereignty of India; and he would alk,
if it appeared to any Member of that Houfe, to
be a wife courfe to exclude the Government of
this country from all difcretionary power to repo
late the trade of India ? If the French, or any
other Power, fhould claim the right of carrying
their goods up the Ganges, or to do any other ads
was it not futficient that we had the power to pre-
vent them ? The French Trade in India, the Dutch
tTrade in India, and the Trade of other Powers
in India, might go hand in hand, fo that it was
not detrimental to us; but if detrimental to us, we
had the power to flop it, and that was enough for
our present purpofe at lean. He wanted this fulo
jee to be confidered upon a large and comprehen-
five fcale, tuul not confined merely to ourfelves

and Trance. He did not mean taisretend, or to
in innate, that he was in poffeffion of the rufous
which aduated his Majefty's Servants upon this
occation, when they came to the conclufion which
was now before the Public; but he felt himfelf en-
titied to Rate, that if had done that which
folle Gentlemen blamed them for not doing, they
w mild have put it out of their own power to do
t ieir Country mu^h fervice, which they will now
b • enabled to render by eonfulting thole who are
b h qualified to advife them, and that more efpe-
c. ills- on the affairs of India. But, when he heard
i• fi;J, that France was hoftile in its difpofition
t avards the Trade of this Country, and was en-
deavouring to prevail on Holland, Spajn, and
ether Countries, to do all they can to difcourage
our trade, and to prohibit tome of it in their &-
minions, he wonlai afk are they fo ? And if they
be, is this the precife period in which you would
snake them a voluntary gift of commerce to In-
dia, when you are doubtful in what relation they
chute to Rand with you with regard to other com-
mercial connexions ? " I own, Paid he, " this is
a fubjei on which I feel deeply ; I have it much
at heart, and when I fay that I am Pure there is
not one man in this Houfe who would feel more
forrow than I fhould, if I conceived it poffible for
-co to furrender any one of the rights of which I
have been fpeaking ' • at the fame time I feel thefe
reafnns I have been Rating, I deAre not to be mif-
tcprefented; I am one of the laft men in the world, ;
my conduit, I think, proves it, who would with
to plead for the fyftem of this Country narrowing '
the Trade of Foreigners in India ; ever fince I
thought I underflood any thing of the affairs of
India, my maxim has been to enlarge that trade,
and that we might as well attempt to prohibit any
Foreigners from buying our manufadures of York-
:hire or of Birmingham, or any other manufacture
of this Country, as prohibit Foreigners from trad-
ing with our Territories in India. But I fhould
guard againft mifconception of this opinion of.
mine. When I fay we fhould not prevent the '
French, or any other Nation, from trading with'
our territorial provinces in India, I mean to fay,
that I am not afraid of them as Merchants—l am
not unwilling to give them a boon as Merchants,
with a chance of reciprocity, and I afk no more ;
but I think I am not going too far when I
define this Country to guard againfl that which
I know the French have endeavoured to make,
and will endeavour to make, if they fee any
probability of its fuccefs, I mean an incroach.
cent on your frivereignty in India. This they
have done, and if an opportunity offers, this they
will do, under the pretence of purfuing Trade.—
They will afk you civilly, for in no other way can
they afk it,to allow them to do a number of things
for the purpofe of carrying on Trade, when their
objet will be to incroach upon your Sovereignty.
It was in this way they formerly endeavoured to
incroach upon your Sovereignty in 1787, when
they told us they could not recover their debts
without certain enlargement of power in India ;
we refitted that diredly ; and I hope this will be
the conduit of this Country in future. The very
firfl article infifted upon by Lord Auckland, in
1787, was, that nothing. in the molt diftant de
gree touching our Sovereignty in India would, on
any terms or conditions whatever, be affented to
on the part of this Country. I hope it is not pre-
fumptuous in me to fay, I trull his Majefty's Go.
vernment will adopt the fame principles, and Rand
upon the fame ground as we did then, and if we
do fo, I will venture to fay there will be no dan-
ger ; depart from that principle, and your Sore-
-I:ignty will be firß undermined, then attacked,
and perhaps finally overthrown. As to what may
be nit...fumed by France, even with all your caml
tion, I cannot fay you will have no difficulty, for
I am lira going to he guarantee for the modera-
tion of the French ; but what I contend for is,
Coat you have now better means than you would
have had by the renewal of any Treaty, better
means than you ever had, of preventing incroach-
talent upon your Sovereignty in India. But we
have not before us any proof, nor is it infinuated,
'hat the French Nation themfelves are bringing
forward any filch claim as we hear Rated on their
behalf : will it not be time enough, when they do
bring forward thole claims, for Government to
red them ?—But, furely, when we agree, that
their claims are dangerous and cannot be admit-
ted, it is angular to purfue this as a fubjed of de-
clamation in the Honks of Parliament. I fay,
this ought not to be done; for we all know, that
what paffes in this Motile, or in the other Houfe
of Parliament, tranfpires to the people of this
country ; and I cannot concur with thofe, who
with to make the people of this country think the
Peace a bad one. I am certainly one of thofe,
who cannot give an approbation of all the Articles
of Peace ; but is it doing good to this Country to
keep this queßion up, and to endeavour to make
the people diflike it ? Gentlemen complain of the
pride and arrogance of France : Is this the way
to make her lets proud or arrogant ? Certainly
not—and, therefore, I cannot fee the wifdom of
thofe claims, which we all know and feel
can..,.: be admitted, and which nobody alerts to
ha% e been made." He then refuted the obferva-
ta as of Dr. Lawrence, on the Cubic& of the dan-
gcr to us in the Eaftern Seas, and on the appre-
aifion he exprellid concerning the claims of the
Dutch, and then concluded—" I have Rated what
appeared to me to be the true fubflantial rights
and interells of this Country on the fubjelt of In-
•nan affairs, upon there rights and principles I de-
::re to Rand, and I have Rated what courfe I
think this Country ought to purfue to preferve
thofe rights entire. I am aware that by fo Rating
them, and by fo recommending the courfe to be
?arfued, that I impofe on the (boulders of his Ma-!
:Ity's Government an awful and tremendous re-
ipontibllity for if you depart an iota from your
amereignty in India, and allow others to incroach
an you, or any way to diminilh the force of thas
ptrarnount Sovereignty, you will lay the founda.
t.'.n of the overthrow of your power in India. If,
being poffeffed of that mighty Empire, and of the
ratans to alert and vindicate your right, you a11(..v
1(..v others to_injare it by any at of executive go-
vernment, I &all not receive any apology for the
Railtrt who man (offer that to be done, unier

any pretence that the French bad claimed thefe
things before, or under any other pretence whatfo.
ever, becaufe you are now niore than ever poireffed
of means to present it. I apprehend the Learned
Gentleman who brought this fubjed forward is of
the fame opinion, and I hope he will concur with
me in faying, Minifters, if they allow our Sove-1
reignty in India to be touched will be without an
apology, and that, therefore, he will now be fo
good as put his motions in his pocket. It is my
folemn conviaion, that if we were now to give
way to thefe hypothetical cafes which are Elated,l
and entertain thefe Motions, inftead of ftrength-
ening, we ffiould weaken the Rights of the Brat&
Empire.
Mr. Guam:A' in reply to what feU from Mr.
Dundas, ?kid, that the French had always difputed
with us thofe rights of fovereignty which we had
afferted in the Eaff Indies; and there was noground
for fuppofing that they would not bedifputed again.
Was Government then to abandon the Cape and
Cochin, before it was known whether France would
renew her ancient claims, which had been hitherto'
incompatible with the fecurity of this country ?—I
Would it not be neceffary to alit the late enemy,
whether they agreed with us in what we thought
to be our rights; and whether they had a clear
underilanding as to what Great Britain thought of
her fovereignty in India? Would it not be better
at once to come to an underitanding on this fub-
jed, and avoid the rill; of holiilities—to know
whether France acceded to the defcription which
we gave of our right offovereignty—and whether
the intended to renew her former claims t It was
not his with to make querulous obfervations on the
Peace. His only object was to relieve the country
from a probable and great danger.
Lord HAWKESBURY maintained that the Right
Hon. Gentleman had mittaken the fpeech of his
Hon. Friend, and the whole drift of the queftion.
There was not the flighteft reafon to believe that
France harboured any fuch pretenfions, or that
any fuch difputes would arife. Claims had been
advanced in former times, but thefe were always
founded on the Treaty of 1783, or their/van: ob-
tained from the Mogul Princes. But thefefternant,
as well as the Treaty of 1783, no longer ezifted.
Our fovereignty had been exprefsly recognifed by
all the European nations trading to India, and by
France among the refs. It might be faid that we
were fubjed to the engagements of our predecef-
fors ' • but the bell opinion was, that thefeirmaru
conferred nothing but commercial immunities ;
and at any rate they could not be more binding
than Treaties we ourfelves had concluded ; they
were therefore no longer binding. The claims of
France might formerly have been very well found-
ed ; but their foundation is gone, while our fove-
reignty remains. The Convention of 1787 leaves
many important points unfetded, fo that had we
renewed at, together with the Treaty of 1783, we
should have opened a door to the molt unwar-
rantable pretenfions. France is now exaaly on
the fame footing with other European nations,
(and their number is very confiderable,) who have
fadories in India. It was impoftble to fay what
claims might be advanced, but if in any one quar-
ter left than another France had no inclination to
interfere with our juft rights, he believed it was in
India. He fpoke not only from our eftablifhed
fuperiority in that country, but from what he ob.
ferved during the negotiations for peace. He mull
be very blind who with fuch opportunities does
not fee in what quarter difficulties and difputes are
likely to arife. To Come of thefe papers he had
no great oblation, although others certainly could
under no circumftances be produced. But after
the manner in which the fubject had been [farted,'
he thought it much better to fay there was no
ground for inquiry, and to negative the motions
indifcriminately.
Mr. Joins faid, he fuppofed thofe Gentlemen
who were attacking all points of the Definitive
Treaty, would next move for papers relativeto the
Republic of the Seven Hands. He vilified to know
how it was poffible for Minifters to have entered
into the confideration of renewing Treaties after
the greater part of Europe had been diforganized,
after the total alteration that had taken place in
the relative fituations of States? To renew, or
rather to amend former treaties, would have oc-
cupied a period perhaps of eighteen months, dur-
ing which time the public mutt be kept in fuf-
pence, with regard to the fate of that Treaty of
Peace to which he hoped the Houfc would, on the
following day, give its approbation. He could
not avoia expreffing the fatisfadion he felt at hear-
ing the obfervations of the Right Hon. Gentleman
who lately prefided over the affairs of India.—
They gave him confolation, and relieved his mind
from all anxiety on the intik.% of the peace.
Lord Tamrt.s fupported the motion, which was
negatived without a divifion.
Dr. LAWRINCE then moved for

An account tithe Revenues and Weans of Bengal, of the
Revantetarifing from Salt In Bengal;
An account of the amount of Saltpetre annually delivered by
the Company's Agent b Bengal, together with the quantity of
ogdunt.

Alfo copies of all Oficial Paragraphs or Notes communicated
to Go►ernment from Bengal on the fubjed of the claims of the
French Government; and

An amount of all claims trade by the Dutch to darnel
the navigation of the Beat (hips in the Eattern Seas.

Mr.NicHint. oppofed thefe motions, and con-
tended that Minifters had aaed wifely in not re-
newing the Treaty of 1787.
The motions were then put and negatived.
Doaor LAWILINCI next moved for a copy of
the Treaty of Alliance entered into between France
and the Batavian Republic in 1795.
Lord thwitssauttv raid the Learned Gentle-
' man mull know that fuch a Treaty could not have
been officially communicated to his Majefty's Go-
vernment.—The motion was negatived.
The CHANCLLLOR of the Excu sops& expreffed
a with that a motion, which focal for to-mor-
row, refpeaing the Importation of Negroes into
the Ifland of Trinidad, fhould be poftponed till a
future day.
Mr. Pity, in the abfence of his Right Hon.
Friend (Mr. CANNING, contented to pottpone the
motion till Friday fe'nnight.
The other Orders of the Day were then difpored
of, alai the Hoult: adjourned.

LONDON.

THURSDAY, MAY 13.

PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONP O'CLOCK :
3 per Ccnt. Conf. for money, 73f for sco•
4 Prr Ccnt. 8; 7,—New s per Ceut. toef--Old ditto sc)2l—
24 11.
ToICE OF atuces YI:STFRDAY :
Bank Stock ty..i Short Ann. 5
3 pr Ct. Rea. 73 “rut India Stock 221
3 per Ct. Conf 741att Imp. 3 per Cent. 7$
4 per Cent. 89;i Imp. Ann.
pet C. A. 102 i Elebeq. Bills as. to se. prem.
5 Per C.A. 1797 1014 too Onuilum s tit prem.
Long Ann. 20 t5-a6} Conf. for May ace. 754 •

Difpatches of Tome importance have been re-
ceived by Government from Jamaica, brought
over by his Majefty's (hip ROSARIO, of i 8 guns,
Captain Bytom, arrived at Plymouth, after a paf-
fage of two months.
The difpatches brought by Captain BYROM re-
late to the (late of affairs in St. Domingo, which
are reported to be more favourable than former
accounts. The French army has got poffefflon of
feveral important pons.
A mail arrived from Hamhurgh this morning,
but the contents are not of fuffieient importance, to
warrant a compreffion of die important Debates
on India affairs to make room for them. They
fhall, hos+. cver, be given on a future day.
Every thing tends to thew that the French Go.
vernment is refolved to enter into no commercial
tranfa'hons with this country : of this we have
had Tome evidence from the orders iiTued by it
againft the importation or fate of Englifh com-
modities in France. It was thought, however, by
many, that goods once admitted would neverthe-
lefs be fold without interruption, and that
the aim of the Confulate was merely to en-
courage tome particular French manufactures
by excluding rival commodities. The fyllem ap-
pears, however, to be of a general and (weeping
nature. Our Readers will fee by our Falmouth
letter (in the next Page), that a cargo of Englifh
coals, which had been landed at Bourdeaux, has
been re-fhipped, though even a cargo of wine was
obliged to be re-landed to make room for them.
The French journals of the 9th, received this
morning, have brought us the following articles:—
Peals, MAY 11.—The Confiftory of the Reform-
ed Church at Paris, was this day introduced to
an audience of the Flirt. Comm., on which occa-
lion the pallor made the following fpeech
Flair Com s or. —The form of worship which
gave to France a SULLY and a Twits:Ns, is wor-
thy of offering you its homage. The Confiffory
of the Reformed Church of Paris expreffes to you,
through me as its organ, how much it participates
in the public joy and gratitude—a participation
in which it is, no doubt, emulated by all the other
Eceleliallical Adminiftrations of the fame kind.—
You have ieffored Peace to the. State and to the
Church—the Hero has conquered it for the former;
the Sage for the latter. Enjoy the fruits of your
labours; the admiration of Europe • the bene-
diaicns'of your fellow citizens ; and that internal
fuffrage which mull unite itfelf to the general ac-
clamation, but which, when alone, is filfficient to
indemnify us for ingratitude and injuftice. Behold
Concord and Fraternity univerfally prevail! Civil
and Religious difTentions are followed by a train
of too many calamities and offences.
By you, and by thole who fo honourably parti-
cipate with you in the cares of a paternal Govern-
ment, the happinefs of the Republic (it is from you
yourfelf, Citizen CoNsuc, that I borrow the ex-
prefflon) will be as fecure as its glory, and pofteri-
ty, which does not hatter, will call the nineteenth
century of the Chriftian era the age of BONAPIII7.
The FIRST CONSUL, in his anfwer, Paid, 4, That
he faw with pleafiire the Members of the confiffory
of the reformed church of Paris, that Government
• was fenfible of their attachment, and knew that
• the morality preached in their temple was pure,
• and as favourable to good order as to good man-
- ners."

The Moniker contains alfo addreffes to the CON-
SUL! from the confiftory of the reformed church
of Montauban.; the confiftory of the confeffion of
Angiburgh ; the Proteftant confiftory of the town
of Mulbanfen, and various other Protellant
churches, all in the high& (train of panegyric.
Tien Conforsdi 57 1. to c.
HAGUE Aran. z 4 a Decree of the Le-
giflative Body, the herring as well as the cod
Mal is to be encouraged. The proprietor of
each boat fitted out for the herring &fiery is to
receive a premium of boo florins.
The troops defined for the Weft Indies are toil
confift of about +OOO men, boo of whom ate ar-
tillery. The garrifon of Surinam will confift of
:150 infantry, and 150 artillery. Baron HACN.
saRD, Charge d'Affaires of his Majefty the Em-
peror of Ruflia to our Republic, has arrived at
Amfterdam : he precedes Count STAK2LEIRG,
appointed Minifter Plenipotentiary of the Court of
Peterfburgh to refide in the Batavian Republic.
The Municipality of Amfterdam have refolved
that orders (hall be given to remove the tree of
liberty placed before the Town-houfe, as foon as
official intelligence (hall arrive of the exchange of
the Ratifications of the Definitive Treaty by the
different powers concerned.
The Jews of Amfterdam, who form a confider-
able part of that Commune, have obtained per-
miffion from Government to eftablifh a Lottery ;
the profits of which will be applied to the purpofe
of maintaining their poor, who daily increare by
the great number of individuals whom the war,
and its confequences, have obliged to quit the
Banks of the Rhine, and a part of Germany, to
reek an afylum in this country.
IDifferent letters, received here this morning,
agree in afferting, in the aloft pofitive manner,
that all the Imperial cities, Hamburgh, Lubec,
IBremen and Franckfort excepted, will be affc6ed
by the Indemnities.