The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-12-17 00:00:00

last,

man so high in their confidence as Mr. Hedleston
from sit pehlic aspersions, began to state the case
to the Proprietor,. In a work lately published—
the second volume of Colonel Wilkts History of the
South of India—there was a story to the following
effect :—Lt was stated that when Sir G. Staunton
(then Air. Staunton), Mr. Hudleston, and Mr. Sad-
tier were Coinotissioners for negotiating a peace
with Tippon Sulteun, which Wes finally concluded
near Batlalc/te, these Gentlemen were subject to
daily insults, and' exposed to continual danger from
the c...prices of the Despot with lehom they were ne-
gocistibg; that three gibbets' *he erected, one
against the tent of each of the Creeissionersl
pretty broad hints being given 'that • they should
be employed opon the Commissioners theut.
select ; that while In this state 'of ecitatiOn and
alarm, two of the Commissioners meditated i pre-
cipitate escape, of which they intended' only 'to
inform the third Commissioner at the moment
when they executed it, and leaving their retinue, sod
the detachment of troops which had ettompanied
them, in the hands of ihe mugged Sultan; •that the
two Commissioners who had concerted this plan, were
Mr. Iludleston end, Mr. Staunton. This story had
'been mentioned in a periodical work (rhe Quarterly
IReview), by the writer ere critique on Mr. Wilks's
'hook, end strongly ulegitivisd by him, on his know-
ledge of Sir G. Steelton, es far as that Gentleman
was concerned ;—it was stated at the same time that
Mr. Iludleston would no doubt f•-e 1 it neceasary to
clear his character from the imputation which had
been cast upon him, of thus basely preferring his per-
'tonal safety to his duty, or to retire from the Direc-
' Lion of the Company, felt a share in which such con-
duct, if he had been guilty of it„.naust have disqualifi.
ed him. On thit subject Mt. Iludleston had addressed
a letter to the Company ; end records had been laid
before them wl.ich enabled them to appreclete the
correctness or erronenosness of the statement of Col.
Wilks. Colonel Wiiks's statement watt founded, in
the first place, on a letter of General M•Lpoil, who
referred to a letter of Captain Scott, a Clptalo of a
ship stationed on the coast, and under the orders of the
Commissioners. In this letter Captain Scott stated,
that on a certain day he was directed by the Cum.
missioners to keep a look out towards the beach, and
W be saw a Gentleman on horseback, with a white
handkerchief, he woe to put a boat ns near.to the
shore as possible. On this General *fowl *dried a
gemark to the following effect :—." 111. adventure
Of the white handkerchief, was the -Titan of 411 in-
tended escape of the Commissioners from Tipprio,
heaving behind their baggage,. retittue, &c." It
was to he recollected that General M'Leod, *bee'
her Wrote this letter, was in a 'state of greate:trei.
dtlio. Yet Colonel Wilks, without that dlictimi-
station which usually characterized him, bad given
weight to hit assertion. Although, if he had reed the
few subsequent lines of Clain Scott's letter, it
I
would hay.. been seen that the, whole story was ne-
gatived. It was there said, .. t when the Gentle-
Vaal with the white handkere f was seen, Captain
f
Scott was to conclude that the negociatien was broken
off, and was to proceed witk his ship to Bombay,
1 while the Morning Star (another vessel' off the
coast), was to sail for Tellichery.—The-assee"
General M'ldeod, Colonel Wilk, sup . I
yen
leseModf of ffitnificer (Maw Skr Thereof'' •
Dallas, who commended the detachtben tali
escorted the Commissioners. The Commiasir
the cootie of the negotiation had been obliged,'
of any ntherr, interpreter, to employ a menial black ser-
'stet or Lieut. Dallas. This servent informed his master
that having laid down to sleep just without one of
the Commissioner's tents, he overheard a plan which
Mr. Staunton and Mr. Iludleston had contrived for
escaping on board ship, with which their surgeon
gloms was to be made acquainted. Mr. Sadlie, the
other Commissioner, was only to he let into the se-
cret at the moment when they wore about to embark.
L'eutenant Dallas hinted to the Commissioners that he
knew they had a plan for escaping, but was assured
by Mr. Staunton that there was no intention of doing.
so without informing him of it. Mr. J. then went over
proofs, which satisfactorily exculpated Mr. Iludleston
from any charge. In the first place, there was the
sequel to Captain Scott's letter, whichdisproied the
intention of the 'Commissioners to escape, since en
sight of the signal, the ships, the vete ehips In which
it was allegedi that they intended I *ape, wire to
sail away. In the Axe place, theist were the expla•
nations of Col. Wilke and Sir T. Nibs. Colonel
Wilks stated, that it would Ondoubtetfry Rare been
more advantageous 'for thtiteCommissiossers to treat i
in freedom on shipboard, then under the a ppearanco:
of constraint on shore ; and that their desire to to.
move was justifiable, and 'might account for his cols..'
duct. Gen. Dallas also hid sent an explanation to'
the Editor of the Asiatic Register, in which he said,
" I then thought, and I still think, that the re-
moval of the Commissioners would have been per.,
fectly justifiable if they thought that the public ser-
vice would have been for warded by their embarkation,
and I should have covered it by the loss of my last
man, if it had been necessary. But I felt their distrust
Of me to he unworthy, and the plan to be absurd, be.
cause impracticable." Now the question seemed to be,
whether it was most probable that a black servant
should tell an ingeniously contrived tale, yet false, or
that two Gentlemen selected for negotiators on account
of their talents, should contrive a plan for escape,
which might be pronounced on the face of it absurd
and impracticable. But Mr. Hudlestori was not con-
tent with this (paned acquittal, he had been able to
prove that the Commissioners had never contemplated
the escape or removal, with which they were charged.
He had shown from his journal that there has` no
reason for those apprehensions, from which atone the
idea of removal could have proceeded;—that instead
of employing threats and insults, the condor of
Tippoo at that time was personally polite; that at the
'time when the escape was said to have been meditated,
`he (Mr. H.) was employed In drawing up the Treaty
of Peace, which was afterwards actually signed ; and
that he had all the time a clause in his pocket, which
he knew, when produced, would pet an cud to the
negociation—Tippoo immediattykonsenting to sign
Ale Treaty. As to the story of •the gibbets, it was
en example of what fantetical stories might obtain
Credence from grave ifuthoritiee. If the Commis-
aioners had suffereP such an insult lb be put upon
them, its the ereciiian of gibdets beforetheli tents, they
would have deserved all Ott copal* welch had been
east upon them. #l,,be origliithlts Attu *as this :

shortly before the time tio•en Commt,ifsiser• arrive"
in Tippon's camp, that Prince had quelled a danger •
out writtlitly in hin camp, and had pet tti detith ebtod
of his officers. The gibbets were left itanding.on
kigh ground, perhaps to strike .ti;iior into the dis
'hilected in his army. What the Commissioners ar-;
'rhea', their o* it Quarter-Master dole the ~lace for
their encampment—not near these gibbets, .arid
during their statalftilSiiiiiets 4eikerect,4l, either 'tear
their tents or iarpti other part of Tiposoiti camp.
This aboard' sticy :or gibbets, it appears, was re-
lated, witbadditions, by Captain Scott to the Boat
berGOiternment, by the Ruaihay Govetsiment it was
tent to /Bengal, and the Bengal Goieviatent stn
Aiately'wrote an angry letter oil the Stiftject to. Oti
Madras Presidency. - This letter received from Lbrd
Macartney the refutation and the rebuke which ILO
well deserved. Mr: R. Jatkson concluded, by reed-
ing this dispatch of fiord klacar(ney, which, with Vie
rest of the evidence which he had adduced, catitid
' leave no doubt of the inhocence of Mr. Hudiestaika
the intention charged 'on Inlet. In the course of his
speech he bore testimony tat the general meritit'ur
Colette' Wilk, as au historlin. He then noted thii
Resolotion.
Mr. flume seconded the ResOletion, and cengra-
.telated the Court on the mintier I» which jestice hid
been done to Mr: Hutile4ron. This was the only
manner in which 'that Gentleman's character child
have been cleared to his own satisfaction, end that of
the • Oempany. Ile complained of the illitoittat
matinee in what% his remarks had been received
when bat had before mentioned the .ohject, which
eras ne less unwise than unjust ; • for nothing conk!
he• more absurd lima' to s•lntose, that auipiciops
tallith attached tan ptitalte malt enttltl be 311 r otherwise
aleettbyed th4n by falllintl e; ell enworr Hp com-
plained of the girner4l s)tttettt wnich retitited
the Directortvtif ettentpti:ll, to oiflo.~mI?y; snot
partitulitrly reniatked. that the were closed
against hint when he -made ettquitie4 on tobjects re-
specting which it was thebvight'ol esety Proprietor
to be informed. Ile w glad that Mr. liedle.ind
had Hot' chosen to fulldw theitlemple-of th? Court
of DitectorQ, .hot had chosen a avert. manly *Ott
course of proceeding, the tr.sult of which bad beecrsut
gretifying 111 him.'
The CtiAtitlitmir sufd, that Papers had been refused
to Mr. Hume, oh recount of the multiplicity of (1k
enquiries: Within n Aber weeks he had demanded
Papers on three subjects-41hr Appointn.eot Of its
Apothecary General—the State of the Joditial Esta.;
blishments its India, and the State of the Court., stalls
'respect to Attests of Cauars—and the Nlonthlyite-
ports of the College. These demands were thought
itiquitiitorial, and information had been refused bites
eacept on the first subject.
M. Helm was preceeding to state the tessoils el
those ettgeirier, *hen be was interrupted by a all
to order.
Mr. TWINING and Mr. Ilsemets spoke itt suppdrt
of the motion.
Colonel MacivrAT said, that he had been re-
leased from the dungeons of Tippoo in rotisequencta
of the Treats, of Bangalore. He had shortly affkil•
dined at the table of Sir T. Dallas, where the attempt
token of, but no mire-
ite.ton. lie was aotho-
into, in a second edition
withdraw the state-

please ort *two, sad
utr I)

After a few words from Mr. Dlllll4 and annthiet
Preprietor, the motion was carried nem. con. and tint
Court adjourned.

We ontlerstenti that Mies O'NEILL is 'bogged td
perform at Colchear.r. Itik week, in her three f..
tour it e clia rec. ors, f?eloid-ra.Julid,s nd Mrs. Haller.
The King Reficielly wears in a morning a blue
A'sbegle-chuotbre, hell round the body by a
Ilis MAjesty looks well, and walks with a firm, and
sometimes quick, step up and down tile five apart.
menus allotted to him.
The weather during the last two or three days has
been so seterey as to make us recollect that we are
far advanced in the wintry month of December. A
steong proof, however, of its previous mildness was
yesterday exhibited on %Vestniiiister-bridge, where a
countryman was swirling with a considerable quan-
tity of hawthorn in full bloom, and was offering slipt
of it at 6.1. a piece to the various passengers.
DUEL.—Saturday se'nolght, two Eolith Officers.
ieue of the military, and the other of.ihe naval ser-
vice, bad a meeting in the wood ornoulogne, near
Paris.' The military Officer was Wounded, bet not
dangerously. This duel" was the consequence of, a
sciMe which took place the evening before, in goiug
from the Opera, about a fiacre.
We learn that the Lord Nelson, and several other •
ships, left Petersborgh on the '22rl ult. and after cot.

ling their way through the ice :merit, four miles, the
greeter part of them got to sea. The ford Nelsott
has reachu'd England. The Paris, the Richard and
Ann, and the Harmony of Hull, it was expected.
would he obliged to winter in Russia.
The R.Rv. Mr. Sikes, of Newark, lately gathered
e peer in his garden, of the baking sort, which weigh.
ed the astonishing weight of twenty.sls ponces and a
quarter : in circumference, fourteen inches and a
half; and its length, one foot seven inches and• a
quarter, without the stalk, which was strictly threat
tricher.
DRmADFUL Pletell o'clock on Tue;dir.
rapt a must alarming conflagration happened on the
premixes of Messrs. Clone and Murphy, turpentine
manufacturers.—Marsh-gate-lane, Stratford, by the
bursting of one of the iron pens, containing a largo
quantity of hot varnish, which in a fe•v minutes cisai-
munionted to some hundreds of barrels of pitch end
•ar that lay in the yard ready for delivery. Thn
whole of the building was entirely consumed, and
alga the dye-house of Messrs. Callum; in fact, it
threatened destruction to the neighbourhood. The
immense iron receiters were melted by the excessive
heat.
The grovel walk toond the new enclosure in Sta
sere, and also those which serpentine

James's-vqu, •
through tbr ground plan, to the basin of water in the
centre, are to be shaded on each side by rows of La.
burnurn and Cassadia trees, planted atternarely.e—
The grass-plot, on which slaty. to he placed, ate
to be divided, and the hill4o:ftsfred Witlribretbi
-4
and ,wers of alatort every description.

,

ertion 9i : of the pontenissinnere nag tip,
d on tht ilitiote:roi east on Mr. tludi
'n I.aeoff • 1 Utuet'.cottenel Wil
bleh
in Alirlitypiiiii4; wool
io a erg in me iVitek'hiti istoiltot? 'tip
for went 1 correct the nerretive.—(lleas
• • ILA

v