East India-House.
The Times, 1824-03-25T00:00:00

IYetterday a Quarterly Genteral Court was held at the Eut Iudia. iste, wlen the CIIAIRtMAN laid before the Court several papers relating to the allowances, compensations, and superanruations, granted under the by-laws. he C-UAIRMA then put the qucstion of adjournment, when ee DOUGLAs KINNATIRD rose, and asked what progress had elln made by the Court of Directors, in the selection of the papers crdeted by the Courtof Proprietors, respecting the Mtarquis of Hast- 11s's administration of India. He was aware that some time was necessary to select such voluminous papers, and that it was advis- ab?e they should riot be distributed until the whole were printed in a Ollected form: but he thought that it would be very desirable, pend- bIsg the progress of selection. that some general information should e comunicated respecting their tenour, as it might be deemed ne- cessary to call for other rapers than those which were deemed suffi- cient by the Court of Directors. He of course supposed that the selection would comprise a general view of the mibtary, political, ZA fnanciaI adminiatration of the noble marquia. He begged also to ask if it were intended to print,among the others, an cxpose drawn up bytLord Hastings himself upon this subject. There were like- Wise some otherjpapers which had, he understood, been transmitted to the Court of Directors, and he was anxious to know whether they would be induded among the papers intended tobe printedl. The CRAIRMAN, in answer to the questions which had beenput, Said, that progress had been made in the selection of the papers al- l]ded to, and arrangements enteredl into for having them printed; but it was not intended to deliver any part until the whole were com- pleted. The paper or expose of the AMarquis of Hastinlgs would most undoubtedly be printed with the rest, as well as the other papers alluded to, if he understood the hon. proprietor to refer to certain papers sent in to the Court of Directors by an hon. baronet. The papers respecting Messrs. Palmer's house would be also fosthcoming-of course those relating to the Nepaul, Alahratta, and Pindarree wars, with political documents connected with those events, would be included among the others. The mili- tary part of the selection was nearly completed, and no doubt every facilitv would be affbrdedI to the hon.mover and his friends, to consi- der wheth.r any other papers besides those selected by the Court of Directors were necessary for his view of the subject. Mr. DOUGLAS KINNAIRD asked whether any idea could be formed of the time when the papers would be ready for delivery ? The CHAIRMAN was sorry to say that he could not define the time, for the political selection had not been yet determined upon; for some of the papers were in the possession of the secret commit- tee, and an application had been made to the Board of Control for permission to produce them. Until the answer was known, he could not say when these papers would be ready; but he could assure the hon. proprietor that tbe Court of Directors would lose no time in ompleting the necessarv selection. sMr. DOUGLA5 KINNAIRD said that it was very daesirable to know, as soon as possible, how far the Board of Control meant to complv with the rcquisition transmitted resDecting the secret docu- mnents; for if they were not forthcoming, the Court of Proprietors might be placed in an embarrassing situation when they came to dis- cuss the general q,iestion. The CHAIRMAN wished it to be distinctly understood, that he did riot say these papers woulI be withheld; but he could give no posi- tive answer until the opinion applied for was given. Mr. TRANrT said, that as financial papers were alluded to, he thought it would be desirable that a statement should be made, showing the revenues of the seded territories under the Bengal Ad- nnistration. at the time when the iMlarquis Wellesley was at the wad of the Indian Government, andl when the Marquis of Hast- ikgs was there. These papers might become material, althouglh at first view their connextion was not so apparent. The CrIAIJRIMAN replied, that every paper would be produced which was calculated to elucidate the Marquis of Hastings's Admi- nistration in India. On the question of adjournment being again put, (-eneral TieoRNTSON rose to submit a motion to the Court- The CHAIRMAN informed him that lie might put a question, but that no motion could supersede the one for adjournment, according to the practice of the court. General TiioRNToN. persisted in pressing upon the considera- tion of the Cuurt the following resolution ; his object being, he said. to have it put on record, to stand as a suggestion to the Court of Directors:- " RsolveA. That it be recommended to the Court of Directors to take into immediate consideration the propriety of giving the ne- cessary notice for the purpose of a reduction of the present annual interest of 3A percent. paid no India Bonds-a measure which, it ap- pears to this Court, would not only be beneficial to the proprietors, hut likewise advantageous to the public; the present premium per centum paid for India Bonds being about 80s., rendering ii manifest that the existing interest is unnecessarily high, and therefore Inju- TiouS to the pronrietors. whilst the public is deprived of that accom- modation whiclh India Bonds, at a moderate premium, are so well calculated to afford." A long conversation then took place between the CHAIRMAN, Dcputv CIAIRMiAN, Mllr. D. KINNAIRD, and General I'sHoRN- TON, upon the point of order, when at length the hon. General permitted his motion to stand as a notice for the next Court. ItAr,.EYBURY COLLEGE. Mr. D. KINNAIRD said, that as he hoped to have a large majo- rity upon the ballot respecting Haileyburv College (a laugh), he was anxious to know what ulterior steps the Court of Directors meant, in that event, to pursue. The CHcAIsRMAN said. that if that majorityshould unfortunately occur. it would be the dity of the Court of Directors to frame a peti- tion to Parliament. to give effect to the decision of the Court of Proprietors.-The Court then adjourned. LAST INDIA .HOUSE.