Star.
London, England, 1810-01-13 00:00:00

...

AT a numerous MEETING of PROPRIETORS
of EAST-INDIA STOCK, held at the City of London
Tavern, on Friday, Jan. 12, 1810,
ROBERT WILLIAMS, Jug. Esq. M.P. in the Chair.
Resolved unanimously, That this Meeting having received from
numerous Proprietors, and from various quarters, the most un-
qualifit d approbation of the Resolutions entered into on the 2d
Inst. are more than ever impressed with the importance of main-
taining the just rights of the Proprietors and the freedom of Elec.,
Ono, in their opinion so unnecessarily attacked by the interference
of the Court of Directors, in recommending a Candidate to fill the
present Vacancy in the Direction.
Resolved unanimously, That this Meeting conceive, that the
maintenance of these just and incontrovertible principles cannot
with propriety be termed " an injurious attempt to interrupt a
good understanding and co-operation between the Proprietors and
Directors," such interruption being likely to be produced only by
an unusual assumption of pciwer in the Executive Body.
Resolved unanimously, That there does not appear any thing
particularly important at the present juncture in reference to a
renewal of the Charter, which may not he entrusted to the wis-
dom'and experience of the Gentlemen at present inthe Direction,
or which calls for an Invidious preference of either of the present
Candidates.
Resolved unanimously, therefore, That " as real friends and
well-wishers of the East-India Company," this meeting will con-
tinue to maintain by every fair and honourable endeavour, their
just rights, and earnestly and conscientiously exhort the Proprie-
tors in general, to unite with them in so important an object.
ROBERT WILLIAMS, Jun. Chairman.
Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this Meeting be
given to Rosner WILLIAMS, Jun. Esq. for his able conduct in
the Chair.

TO THE PROPRIETORS OF EAST INDIA STOCK.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
rrHE very flattering support which T continue to
receive on my canvas, impresses me with the deepest sense
of gratitude, and leaves no doubt In my mind of the result of the
contest in which I am engaged.
As, however, many Elections have been lost from too much
confidence, I trust that no relaxation in the exertions of my
friends will take place, and I most earnestly entreat that they
will do me the honour to attend the Ballot at the India House cm
Tuesday next, the 16th instant.
I have the honour to be, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your faithful humble Servant,
JOHN BLADEN TAYLOR,
No. 40, Devonshire-Place, Jan. 11a 1810.
Colonel Taylor's Committee meet daily at the City of London
Tavern, where he particularly requests the attendance of his
friends, as often as they can make it convenient.

E4S7' INDIES.

MEMORIAL

FROM THE OFFICERS COMMANDING NATIVE CORPS UPON

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FORT Sr. GEORGE,
TO THE

ileN. COURT OF DIRECTORS OF THE HON. EAST-INDIA

COMPANY, ETC.

Sheweth,
1. That we, the undersigned Memorialists, Officers
commanding Native Corps upon the Madras Esta-
blishment, have the honour, with all deference and
respect, to solicit the attention of your Honourable
Court to the subject of our Appeal, which we, with
the utmost duty and submission, offer to your consi-
deration.

2, Your Memorialists beg to state, that Captain
John Munro, of the European regiment on this Esta-
blishment, and QuarteriMaster General of the Army,
delivered, some months since, to the Commander in
Chief, at Madras, certain Proposals, bearing date
:50th June, 1808, recommending the abolition of the
Tent Contract, which, on the Ist of July last, was
taken from Officers commanding Native Corps in
your Army at Madras.
S. Whether the Tent Contract, as consistent with the
good of the public service, should or should not have
continued to exist, is a subject your Memorialists will
not presume to trouble your Honourable Court upon;
but certain articles which the Quarter Master Gene-
ral has inserted in his Proposals, as motives that pre-
vailed with him for recommending the abolition ofl
the Tent Contract, your Memorialists have to ob-
serve, no less excited their surprise, than they did the
feelings of poignant concern, in perceiving such dis-
honourable principles so unjustly attributed to them.
4. Your Memorialists will here furnish the Ex-1

tracts from the Quarter Master General's Proposals,l
on which they ground their complaint to your Ho-
nourable Court :
.4 Six years experience of the practical effects of the existing
system of the camp-equipage equipment of the Native Army, has
afforded means of forming a judgment relative to its advantages
and efficiency, which were not possessed by the persons who
proEosed its introduction ; and an attentive examination of its
operations, during that period of time, has suggested the follow-
ing observations regarding it :
" By granting the same allowance in peace and war for the
equipment of a Native Corps, while the expences incidental to
that charge are unavoidably much greater in war than in peace,
it places the interest and duty of Officer. Commanding Native
Corps in direct opposition to one another ; it makes it their inte-
rest that their corps should not be in a state of efficiency fit for'
field service, and therefore furnishes strong inducements to ne-
glect their most important duties.
" By charging Commanding Officers of Corps with extensive,
concerns, immediately affecting their private interest, it calcula
ted, particularly in the field, to divert their attention and their
pursuits from the discipline and management of their corps; ob-I
jects that should furnish them with sufficient employment for the
whole of their time. (Signed) " JOHN MUNRO,
" Quarter Master General of the Army."
5. Your Memorialists, with the justest sentiments
- -

of deference to your Honourable Court, beg to state,
that these articles unequivocally convey a most cruel
and wanton insult, as well as an injurious aspersion,
(we all feel it), to Officers who have faithfully serv-
ed their Country, many for nearly thirty years, some
more, in affirming, that, upon the experience and ob-
servation of six years, formed upon the judgment of
practical effect, it appears, Officers commanding na-
tive corps have strong inducements, from interest, to
neglect their most important duties, in order that
their corps should not be in a state of efficiency fit for
field service.
6. Your Memorialists conceive that these asser-
tions, in their application with regard to time, and
operation, with respect to effect, are no less than
accusing them of having sacrificed the interests and
security of the public service for a base purpose, and
of having violated that trust which your Honourable
Court, which Government, and which tha Comman-
der in Chief, in certain confidence, place in them.
—Your Memorialists perceive in them also an insi-
nuation of an utter dereliction of the pride of mili-
tary spirit, in their having a wish, from pecuniary
motives, not to be prepaied meet the enemies of
their country.
7. Impressed with those painful sensations, which'
such serious imputations cannot fail to create, your
Memorialists in several instances, without delay, and
with all possible respect, separately addressed them-
selves to his Excellency the Commander in Chief,
Lieutenant General Hay Macdcwall, upon the sub-
ject of the Qiiarter NlAster General's allegations.—
His Excellel.cy had the condescension to answer the

ply, observing in substance, that as he had not
consulted with regard to the abolition of the Tent
Contract, he did not feel himself at liberty to intir2
fere in any matter connected with the subject, upon
individual application.
8. Your Memorialists have to state to your Ho-
nourable Court. that; in consequence of this notifica-
tion, feeling the injury done them, bythe insinuations
in the Quarter=Master-General's minute, they adopted
the means of redress which appeared to them to be
most consistent with their ideas of justice, and
with the duty they owe to their superiors, submitted
to their immediate principal the Commander in Chief,
the substance of their complaints, in the form of a
military charge • but finding that this mode was con-
sidered by the Judge-Advocate-General to be irregu-
lar, or ineffectual towards the vindication of their
injured feelings, they respectfully abide by that opi-
nion for the present, and have solicited a suspension
of the direct charge against the individual, while they
appealed to the candour and justice of your Honour-
able Court, trusting it may please them to order an
investigation of the subject, as from an investiga-
tion alone can they hope for a removal of the dis-
gaceful impression which the insinuations in the
r QQuarter-Master-General's proposals are calculated
to produce, and which your Memorialists in confi-
dence beg to assure your Honourable Court are
equally unfounded in fact, as they are injurious to the
characters of the Officers of the Honourable Com-
pany's army.
9. Your Memorialists have further to state to your
Honourable Court, that had the Quarter-Master-Get
neral promulgated his injurious insinuations, serious
as they are, in his capacity of Captain in the European
Regiment, a conscious integrity might, from the re-
pugnance your Memorialists feel to complain, have
treated him probably with a dignified silence, or with
private dissuasiye admonition ; but, armed with the
autkority of the Quarter-Master-General of the Army,
your Memorialists are of opinion, that they obtain
a consequence and consideration, which it is appre-
hended by them, cannot fail to influence the public
mind, not only in India, but in Europe; and create
a belief, that a Quarter-Master-General could not
possibly circulate such serious assertions, against a
body of Officers of that Army of which he is
Quarter-Master-General, without an existing just
cause.

10. To remove such an impression, and to esta-
blish, upon incontrovertible testimony, that the Offi-
cers commanding Native Corps have faithfully ful-
filled those duties which the public service expects
and requires from them, are the primary objects
which gave birth to that solicitude on the part of
your Memorialists, for an investigation. A secon-
dary object is to stamp, with due effect, the nature of
that offence in promulgating, such serious and erro-
neous matter, so highly injurious to their characters
as Officers and Gentlemen, as well as to the respec-
tability of the Honourable Company's service in ge-
neral.

11. Your Memorialists anxiously hope, that when
the mag.nitude of the subject of which they complain
shall be taken into consideration by your Honourable
Court, it will fully appear to your judgment that they
are not actuated in their appeal by any frivolous or
unreasonably tenacious principles, on any object not
strictly connected with that perfect moderation and
temperate purguit of justice, which your Honourable
Court, in its wisdom and consideration, are ever dis-
posed to attend to, with those who, under the feelings
and firm persuasion of just complaint, claim your
protection and support.
12. Your Memorialists, through the medium of
their immediate superior, his Excellency the Com.'
mander in Chief, Lieutenant-General Hay Mac-1
dowall, transmit their memorial ;land in relying upon
that distinguished liberality and goodness which have
invariably marked his attentions to them, to give
their cause that support which in his judgment it may
deserde ; they will with every sentiment of profound
respect and deference submissively wait for, and obe-
diently conform to, such decision as your Honourable
Court shall, in the justness of your wisdom, deter-
mine upon their cause.
Madras, Signed by thirty-two Officers,
December, 1808. Conunanding Native Corps.
[This was rejected by Sir George Barlow,
and returned to General lidacdcnvall.]

To the ADJUTANT-GENERAL of the ARMY.
" Sut—We the under-mentioned Officers, commanding Na-
tive Corps upon this Establishment, have the honour to forward
the accompanying Memorial, which we request you will lay be-
fore his Excellency the Commander in Chief, Lieutenant-General
Hay Macdowall, and which we have to solicit his Excellency will
take such measures as to him may appear-most suitable for the
transmission of the same to the Honourable Court of Directors.
" The Commander in Chief being already so well acquainted
with the general and particular circumstances that gave rise to the
inunediate subject of appeal, it becomes wholly unnecessary on
our part to enter into any further explanation for his Excellency's
information.
" The long series of years which the Commander in Chief has
served with the Coast Army, and that benign goddness with which
he has invariably, both in his public and private tharacter,distin-
guisked many of those who now appeal through his authority,
under a period of painful concern, creates every confidence and
hope that his Excellency will, as our immediate superior, conde-
scend to honour our Memorial with such assistance and support,
as in his judgment the subject has claim to; and which, we are
fully persuaded, cannot fail to give it the most impartial introduc-
tion to the attention of the Honourable Court of Directors.
'4l Madras Establishment, Dec . 1803."
[Signed by 32 Officers commanding Native Corps.]