The Statesman.
London, England, 1813-03-23 00:00:00

.E.Af INDIA CHARTER.

The House haring, resolved itself into a Commit-
tee, to-crinside; (lit various Petitions on this 41T bj
Lord CASTLEREAGH rose, and be gal by ••tet-
ing, thaeafter the time kaki arrived when the P: k:
ter of the East India Company was on the point 0.:
expiring, ltsliatd now fallen to the lot of Perlimarot
to take intObeir consideration, the providing • for
i the future date of government in that extensivetm-
! pire whicis had hitherto been committed to their ad-
mioistration. In approaching a subject of such
magnitude, importance, and, he would also add, of
such perplexity, he must observe the extreme sin-
: kularity of the situation in which Parliament was
now placed. They had to provide for the future
i government of an Empire which, in extent and
population, far excelled the parent State. He was
sure "that the House' would deeply feel that it
was a great moral trust which the British Empire
had now to discharge, itt laying *down a system
Of government most• conducive to the happiness
and prosperity of so great a portion of the human
race as our Asiatic empire contained. It contained
a population three-fold more numerous than that of
the parent State. It neither was his opinion, nor that
of those with wboni he acted, that the Resolutions
which he intended to propose, would go iu any de-
gree to shake, .that great fabric of the Government
in India which had so long. administered the affairs
of ,thakcosititry, in a way not less advantageous to
the empire at large, than to•the individuals eosi:m,.
lag the East India Company. He would certainly
.pause, before he would think of shaking or pulling
,down a system .which had tompletely'aniwired all
the great purposes of Government in India ; but he
should beg 'mete say; that the propositions which
he intended to submit to the Committee, were not
subversive of the general policy by which India had
been hitherto governed,' but that they only tended to
tuakethat policymore applicable tpoo;extstiug cir-
eeistaneesvoenhe Mies in which we live. He was
Satisfied that ho Class Weald be more benefited by
his propositions than the East India Company them.
*elves, as a commercial body.- lie was not actuated
by a blind respect for the East India Company, in
not wishing to dissblietheni. He was •
convinced,
, that their exertion's hall not only raised this mighty
L empire, but that their manner of adminlitering it was
eminently sucttessful for the-will-gOverning of their
eetendedterritortes. They had adopted principles
of Government so wise and practical, that he believ-
ed that the- history of the world could chew no in-
•
Ounce of so great' an 'empire governed by so few
hands. The population was, as he believed, not
less than fifty millions,, and yet the number of
elill servants of the Company did not exceed ono
thousand six hundred. • Asia had certainly never.
seen, and he believed that few European' nations
could boast a milder syinno of government, or one
which better Seethed the order, tranquillity, and
happiness of the people committed to their charge.
In no country were the merits of the Governors-
more conspicuous, or* did fewer flagrant evils•exist.
The servants of the COmpany were entitled to the
highest praise.' From the liberality of their establish--
, tents, and the care taken in the education of their
servants, they had, in their youth, acqUired the ha-
bits of oflidial life. He believed there were no records
of. official efficiency equal to those which were ex-
hibited by the servants of the Company 'in India ;
and he must add, in justice to the Co'mpany and. to
his own feelings, their servants at home. His official
deities, when le held the office which was now held
by his Noble- Friend (Lord Buckinghamshire), had