Star.
London, England, 1820-01-13 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

Yesterday, a Meeting of the Proprietors of this
Establishment was held, " for the purpose of consi-
dering a proposition to be made, agreeably to the
notice tabled at the General Court, on the 22d of
September last to place in their Court-room a Statue
of the late Right Honourable Warren Hastings, as a
last testimony of approbation of the long, zealots,
and successful services rendered, to the East Iniia
I Company by that distinguished characters and also
for the purpose of taking into consideration, an unani-
mous Resolution of the Court of Directors, of this
day's date, recommending the Court of Proprietors
to authorise the Court of Directors, to offer to his
Majesty, to raise and maintain, at the expense of the
Company, a Corps of Volunteer Infantry, from
amongst the persons in the Company's employ ; and
if his Majesty shall accept such offer, then to autho-
rise the Court of Directors to defray the expense of
the Corps so to be raised, out of the Funds of the
Company ; and if necessary, to apply for an Act of
Parliament to sanction the approbation of a sufficient
part thereof for that purpose.'
At twelve o'clock the Chairman (C. MARJORI.
BANKS, Esq.) took the Chair.
The Minutes of the last Court having been read,
The CHAIRMAN acquainted the Court, that the
grant of 75,000 rupees to Mr. Wilkinson, with inte-
rest thereon, at the rate of six per cent. from 1816,
up to the period of payment, had been confirmed.--
He also acquainted the Court, that they were called
together, pursuant to adjournment, for the 'purpose
of considering a prryosttion of the Court of Direc-
tors, to place in their Court-room the Statue of the
Right Honourable Warren Hastings, as a last testi-
mony of approbation of the long, faithful, and zea-
lous services of that Gentleman.
Mr. Hums asked, whether the Law Officers of the
Company had been consulted as to the legality of the
vote of a grant to Sir G. Barlow ?
The CHAIRMAN replied, that the Court of Direc-
. tors did not feel it necessary to take any such opi-
nion. If any of the Proprietors thought such an
opinion necessary, they ought to have signified a
4
wisn to that effect.

The motion relative to the Statue of Warren Hast-
ings having been read, .
The CHAIRMAN hoped, that In proposing this mo-
tion to the Court, be would be indulged in makPng
a few observations. The question now before them
involved the character and conduct of an eminent
and faithful servant of the East India Company. It
was not for him to eulogise the conduct of that great
man, while he fulfilled the arduous chides which had
devolved upon him. The notoriety of the conduct
of Warren Hastings, in England, in India, end par-
ticularly the knowledge which the Proprietors of
India Stock had of his talents, and his zealous and
successful efforts to promote their interests, left him
little to say. On these points, therefore, he would
leave every thing to the opinion of the Court itself,
Ronfident that they would duly estimate those efforts&
But he wished to call the attention of the Court to
Mr. Hastings's very great length of service. It *as
now 70 years since Mr. Hastings first entered into
the service of the East India Company. He entered
it at an early age, and had, solely by his own exer-
tions, travelled from the most humble to the highest
offices in that service. But whatever situation he
filled, he was always found exerting his undivided
efforts, in support of the best interests of the Esta-
blishment. During a considerable portion of Mr&
Hastings's Administration, he bad many difficulties
to contend with. Factions, both abroad and at home,
were opposed to him. Added to this, he bad Euro-
pean Armies, European Settlements, and 'Enropean
Fleets to contend with. On his return to England,
however, after having successfully exerted himself
to preserve our Indian Posses.lions, after having se-
cured the esteem and confidence of the Compiiny—
.
what was his reception? He was met by an Im-
peachment, containing 22 Articles! It was not his
(the Chairman's) wish to question the wisdom of Par-
liament, but he would take leave to say, that its pro-
ceedings were on that occasion, contrary to the sfsieit
and wisdom of English law, and opposed to the prac-
tice of the Constitution. Mr. Hastings, howeier;
triumphantly vindicated himself against the charges
urged against him. Not long since that great NMI,
when a renewal of the Company's Charter was about
to take place, and when a different Code of Laws for
India was contemplated, was examined at the Bar of
both Houses of Parliament, as to the actual state of
India. On that occasion, though advanced in years;
,he acquitted himself so ably, that, on leaving the
l Bar, he was greeted by the cheers of the House.—
' On the services of Mr. Hastings he would rest his
case; and he hoped most sincerely, that their vote
upon that occasion would be unanimous. If he could
call upon the departed, if he could bring forward
the heroes and statesmen whose statues adorned their
Court, he doubted not but their unanimous voice
, would be ill. favour of the motion ; and he felt confi-
dent that no one would be more forward on the oc-
casion than the great man whose statue was. on his •
left (the Marquis Cornwallis)—(Applause).
Mr. Ilaamson (the Deputy Chairman) seconded
the motion. He did not theta it necessary to add to
the able address which they hadjgst heard. When
be entered the Court that morning; be did not think'