Star.
London, England, 1820-12-21 00:00:00

EAST INDIA 110U$ E.

Yesterday, a- Quarterly Court of Proprietors was
held for the dispatch of publiebusinets. The Minutes
of the proceedings of the last Court baying been read
over, on the motion
G. A. Resit:sore, Esq. (the Chairman), the Court
agreed to the recommendation of the-Court of Di-
rectors, that a dividend of SIA per cent. shoul be
declined on the Company's capital Stock, for the
half year commencing' on the sth of July last, and
ending on the sth of January next.
The CHAIRMAN next stated the contents of a Rest.
lotion agreed to at a former Court, of a grant of i,
Pension of £l,OOO a-year to Mr. R. M. /3ARNARD,
late Assistant Coast and Surat iVarebousezkeeper.—
He now moved that this Resolution be confirmed.
Mr. Hume objected to the indiscrintinate grants of,
full pensions. He noticed the case of one individual
whose salary amounted to £950, and .who received
a-pension of £1,000; whilst another individual, who
bad been in the service of the Company for thirteen
years longer than the former, and whose salary
amounted to £1,500 a-year, was put off with a pen-
sion of £6OO per annum. It had formerly been the
practice, that those who had been in the service for
a great number of years, had retired on pensions
much less than the full salary. The Hodourable
Gentleman said, he would take that opportunity of
stating to the Court a case of an obscure individual,
which could not but attract their notice. He was a
labourer, who had been for many years in the ser-
vire oldie Company, and who had, whilst in their
service, met with a severe accident ; several bones in
his head were broken, and he was otherwise much
injured. In consequence of that misfortune it be-
came necessary for him to leave the service, and on
that occasion he received a grant of a small-pension.
When the individual in question returned to this
country, he set up a small tea shop in•the Borough.'
A regulation had been made by the Compiny, pro-
hibiting persons who had pensions
.granted to them
from dealing in tea. That regulation, with respect
to the individual, had an ex pod facto operation ;
the very moment he was made acquainted with it,
he signified his intention of giving up his business,
but his pension was, notwithstanding, withdrawn.—
Mr. Hume, in conclusion, said, that he would bring
the case of this man before the Court on a future day.
The CHAIRMAN said, that all grants of pensions
were made by the Court of Directors with reference
to the character, the abilities, and the assiduity of
the persons applying. With respect to the two cases
stated -by Mr. Hume, one was the case of a servant
who had lefethe service of the Company; the other
was the case of a person who had been dismissed in
consequence of a reduction of the Establishment.
Mr. RANDAL JACKSON said, that there were but
two qualifications required in persons applying. for
pensions—age and infirmity ; and although there
was an Act of Parliament authorizing grants of pen-
sions, he yet could not help thinking that it would
be a great hardship to the Company if pensions were
to be grantectat discretion. The trade of the Com-
pany had, of late years, considerably fallen off, and
it became their duty to confine their expenses as mach
ispossible to the profits arising from their trade. He
lisped that the natives of India would receive equal
encouragement. with the natives of Great Britain,
with respect to manufactures. As the parties who
claimed pensions stood at present, he agreed that
they ought not to be. sent adrift without receiving
some remuneration; bat he submitted, that instead
of having pensions settled, on them, they ought to be
appointed to other situations in the Company's ser-
vice. The. Company bad already suffered greatly
by opening the -trade to other persons, which, in his
Mind, was an additional- reason why the Company
should practice strict economy.
After a few words from Mr. CHALMIRS and Mr.
LAWMEN, the Resolution was agreed to.
The Ceratexao next proposed the confirmation
of a Resolution of the last Court, for granting a pen-
sion of £5OO per annum to -Mr. G. Mordaunt, jun.
late a second Clerk in the Coast andSuratDepartment.
Mr. Hosts said, that much caution- ought to bi
observed-in the grants of pensions. Certainly young
men who might think fit to retire from their situa-
tions were not the objects on whom large pensions
ought to be settled at any time, particularly at a
period when the trade of the Company was falling
off. He would not, however, oppose the Resolution.
The Resolution was then put and agreed to.
The temmnetmt then stated, • that the Court was
made Special, for the purpose of laying before pie
Proprietors, for their .approbation, a Resolution of
the Court of Directors of the -Bth instant, proposin.
the establishment of a new office, with a salary
£9OO per annum, at the Company's Military Semi-
nary, at Addiscombe, for the instruction of the Ci-
ders at that Institution in the science of Military Sur-
veying. The Honourable Chairman moved, with-
out observation-44 That the Court approve of the
said Resolution.".-
T. Rain, Esq. the Deputy Chairnsan)- *tousled the
motion; whith, after a few words from Mr. Hulas,
who expressed biatestf perfectly satisfied with the
---,Nst. was curried unanimously.

Yeiterday, a Court of Directors was held at the
East India House, when the under-mentioued Com-
manders wok leave of_the Court previoui to depart:
ing for their-respective-destinations, viz.
Captain T. ban* (Write WltliqUit Camden; 'Captain C. S.
Toms, of dm Boyid•Slostge; Copt.` W. Csumessuare, of the
Fartobstaust;. and Captain 11 Bonuatiams, Of the Inglis.; for
Bombay and Chins. Captain I Pawns% Oslo -Repulse, for
St. Helena, Bencoolen, and China.
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the following character of this Work full ustifies its
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former, while his skill in disposing and arranging
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