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it off as long as I could, till the neceffity of it might prefs fo hard upon us as to make it unavoidable.-1 beg that what I have faid may have the weight with this Hon. Committee that it has with me. I thought of nothing but temporary fyftems, formed to the day and to the minute: I would not trust my own abilities and judgement fo far as to decide upon what was right or wrong: I knew fomething was to be done, but how to do it I really did not know. When that letter I have read was wrote, the Nabob's fon was then alive: his extraordinary death made a great change in the fituation of our afFairs in that country. Mr Vanfittart's arrival, and the confidence I had in his abilities and judgement, made me, without reluctance, adopt his plan; I knew his motives: they were honeft and difinterested as to himself, honourable and advantageous to his employers; and the neceflity of the times, our particular fituation at Bengal, and the general ftate of the Company's affairs, throughout India, have ever in my opinion vindicated the measure that was pursued.

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2. Whether twenty lacks or any other fum was ftipulated for bringing about that revolution?

A. The night that Coffim Ally Khan figned the articles for accepting the management of the affairs of Bengal under Jaffier Ally Khan, (in the prefence I believe of Mr Vanfittart, Mr. Sumner, Mr Holwell, and myfelf,) Coffim Ally Khan, after expreffing many obligations he had to us for our intended good offices in his favour, tendered a paper to Mr Vanfittart, which, as Mr Vanfittart interpreted to us, contained a note for twenty lacks of rupees payable to the gentlemen then prefent. I don't recollect a géntleman prefent there that did not concur with me in defiring Mr Vanfittart to return that paper to Coffin Ally Khan, telling him, that he miftook our motives for his advancement. He preffed on Mr Vanfittart again the acceptance of the paper; telling him,

that if we continued to refufe that favour, he should fear that the gentlemen prefent were not well pleafed with the appointment. Mr Vanfittart, who knew his own motives as well as mine, and, I make no doubt, of the reft of the gentlemen of the committee, told Coffim Ally Khan, returning him the paper, "When you have paid off all the arrears due to the Company, to your own troops, that the peace of this country is fettled, and that your own treasury is full, if then you think proper to make us any acknowledgement for the fervices now done you, we fhall not then be unwilling to ac cept fuch marks as you will be pleased to give us of your friendship." There ended that affair; and I declare folemnly upon my honour, there were no ftipulations made, no partitiontreaty, or any thing of the kind, mentioned, then or after, to my knowledge, of that tranfaction.

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I am now ready and willing to declare what I received upon that occafion, when I received, and how I received it. I own I little expected, after thirteen years fervice in that country, and nine of them in the field,that the lit tle fortune made fhould become the object of fo public an enquiry; but I am happy to meet this inquiry more than half-way; and the more fo in this particular point, as perhaps it may give an opportunity of doing juftice to the memory of the man from whom I received it (Mr Vanfittart,) who did it in his ufual generous and handsome way, fo that I knew not but to this minute the fum I received may be charged to this account. After Coffim Ally Khan was placed in the government, I went up to the army at Patna. came down again, imbarked for the Coaft in January 1761, remained there a year and a half, and came back to Calcutta, called there upon extraordinary bufinefs. In October 1762, Mr Vanfittart, then going up to Mungeer, told me, "If I am happy enough to fettle with the Nabob the unfortunate differences

differences that have fubfifted between him and my council, and that I can with propriety remind him of the fervices you jointly did him, I shall certainly endeavour to ferve you." Mr Vanfittart went up to Mungeer, and I imbarked aboard fhip for Europe. In the year 1763 I received an accountcurrent from Mr Vafittart, in which I found credit for two lacks of rupees, unfolicited, as I have mentioned before, and much beyond my expectations; and this upon my honour, is the whole of what I received directly or indirectly upon that occafion. So little was money my object or thought, that I never inquired or knew of what others might have got upon the fame occafion. If money had been my object, I should have been more curious in my inquiries. It is not ftated in the account from Mr Vanfittart from whom the two lacks came, but I fuppofe they came from Coffim.

2. Who took poffeffion of the house and effects of Meer Jaffier? A. Coffim Ally Khan, after Jaffier had taken out every thing that he wanted, 2. When was the refolution taken of making Coffim Ally Khan Nabob in the room of Meer Jaffier?

A. In the accounts you have heard read

of the tranfaction it appears, that Meer Jaffier, rather than confent to the terms we propofed, fent for Meer Coffim, and gave up the government to him immediately.

2. Whether Mr Holwell made any report to the Select Committee, that Coffim Ally Khan had proposed to take off the Nabob?- A. I never heard of fuch propofal. Mr Holwell never reported to us that fuch a proposal had been made to him.

Adjourned till to-morrow.
Mercurii, 6 dei Maii, 1772.

Bengal proceedings relative to Col. Caillaud read.

Opinion of Court of Directors relative to Col. Caillaud read.

A member of the Houfe being prefent, defired to acquaint the Committee, that he was chairman of the EastIndia Company at that time, and was the principal caufe of Col. Caillaud's coming home, in order to do juftice to a character he entertained an high opinion of; that the Court of Directors entered into a minute inquiry, when he was unanimously acquitted, and returned to India with higher honours. Adjourned till to-morrow. (To be Continued.)

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Mr. Dempfter.

The proceedings of the fecret committee are the moft extraordinary I ever heard of. The very idea of a secret committee is unconftitutional, and only allowable in cafes of a criminal nature. The Honourable Alderman Speaks of the diftrefs of the Eaft India Company. It is true, Sir, there is a deficiency of cafh at prefent; but I affirm, that the affairs of that company are neither in a ruinous nor deplorable fituation. The honourable gentleman complains of the extraordinary expences attending the commiflion. That expence is not yet afcertained; and, Sir, fince Parliament have undertaken to enquire into their affairs, they refolved to wait the determination of the houfe, before they proceeded any farther in the business of the fupervifors.

The abuses committed in India, particularly in Bengal, made it neceffary a fet of gentlemen fhould be appointed in whom we could confide for regulating and mangaging our affairs in India. The choice fell upon fix gentlemen, and notwithstanding the great expence, which the honourable Alderman has calculated to be 100,000l. yet I affirm that millions may be faved in confequence of that expence. The report, as it lyes on the table, ftrikes at the very charter and conftitution of the Company. It is the moft unprecedented and unparliamentary proceeding I ever knew. I am far from denying the power of Parliament, and their right to fuperintend the company; but before they yenture to difpoffefs the company of its privileges, they fhould be first affured of thofe privileges being abused. Nothing else can juftify fuch a measure and as that has not yet appeared, I hope the house will proceed to the previous queftion.

Lord North. It is the wifh of parliament, and particularly of adminiftration, to make the Eaft India Company tle it upon a permanent foundation. a great and glorious Company, and fetThey are going into an expenfive commiffion, at a time when they are confiderably in arrears to government at an expence, Sir, of 100,000l. Surely, Sir, it is the duty of parliament to preferve them from ruin. I am fure no hoftile intentions are conceived against that Company; but the committee appointed by yourfelves, have judged it expedient a reftraint fhould be laid,and as no restraint can poffibly be laid but by an act of Parliament, a bill is to be brought in for that purpose.

Gov. Johnftone. The prefent diftrefs of the Eaft India company arifes from their mifmanagement of the money; a wanton extravagance accompanies all their tranfactions. With refpect to the prefent commiffion, it is illegal; the one before was both illegal and abfurd. Some business obliging me to go to the navy-office foon after the Aurora

was

was fuppofed to be loft. I found that his Majefty's money was difpofed of in an œconomical manner; that the navyoffice had very justly allowed her 8 weeks from her departure from the Cape of Good Hope to be loft, and paid to that time. What did the India company do? Why, generously allowed a twelvemonth's pay. They have now appointed fix fupervifors, though before there were but three, and thofe are fuppofed to have 10,000l. and all expences, with a table, paid; and it is computed they will be abfent three years. I would ask any gentleman if it is poffible for the India company to fend out a more respectable character than an admiral, commander in chief? What is he allowed? What is the governor of Jamaica allowed? Why, 6,000l. per ann. But it is faid that much parade is neceffary; but I answer, on the authority of the late Mr Vanfittart, that no pageantry is neceffary, and that it is a foolish and weak expence, unneceffarily incurred. Upon the whole, therefore the propofitions now before us appears unneceffary, as there is not the leaft reason to fufpect the company have any intention of violating the refpect which is due to the legiflature, and fuppofing they had, the grounds upon which this bill to restrain the exercife of their legal rights is now ufhered into the house, are fuch that no man who has studied the great barriers of a free government, can confent to the queftion upon fuch principles.

Mr Burke. I rife up to thank the noble Lord in office for his extreme bounty in affuring us, that no hoftile intentions are defigned against the Eaft India Company, and that he wishes to make it a GREAT and GLORIOUS Company (for those are his pompous expreffions) and put it upon a permanent footing. Three Kings have entered an unfortunate kingdom with fire and fword, in order, I prefume, to make it also a GREAT and GLORIOUS kingdom, and fecure to it its liberties and

laws. They have published a manifefto to that purpose, which the noble Lord has perhaps juft received; and he gives it to you to day left it might be stale to-morrow. But let us examine into this extraordinary matter? Here is a committee, which have produced nothing. This was the lawful wife publicly avowed; but finding her barren, they have taken a near, little fnug one, which they call a Secret Committee,and this is her first-born. Indeed, from the fingular expedition of this extraordinary delivery, I am apt to think he was pregnant before wedlock: yet, after all, what is this report but a direct invasion of the Company's charter? it is, Sir, a bill to fufpend a law of the land; it is,' neither more nor lefs; and we are, after diftreffing the Company, about to rob them of their charter, and overthrow their conftitution. In the year 1767 administration plundered the company of 400,000l. and this I affert to have occafioned their prefent diftrefs. If we fuffer this bill to pass, we shalf, in fact,become the Eaft India company; and you, Sir, will be feated in that chair with a little hammer, by an inch of candle. The treafury Bench will be the buyers, and on this fide we shall be the fellers. The fenate will become an auction-room, and the speaker an auctioneer! shame upon fuch proceedings! Here is an end to confidence and public faith: public faith! alas! that has long been given up; that has not been attended to for fome years. However, I hope the houfe will let this report lie upon the table until the fecret committee have furnished us with more fubftantial reafons than have yet appeared for invading the charter of that company.

The house was cleared at half past fix; and upon a divifion the question was carried by 104 against 45.

On the 11th inft. Mr Tho. Townfend addreffed the house to the following purport:-There can be very little occafion to remind this houfe of what I am certain is at prefent fo fresh in

their memories; I mean the fubject of the propriety of fending out an armed force to St. Vincent's, in order to make war on the wretched natives, nor of the noble Lord's promise, at the fame time that we should have every satis factory information on this head that could be poffibly defired. In the motion I am about to make, I would avoid every appearance of any thing particular or perfonal, having nothing in my intentions but that the queftion, with out any relation to party fpirit, may be fairly and openly difcuffed; it is for that reafon, therefore, that I fhall ftate it in general terms, to which, in my opinion, there can be no objection. It is true, indeed, that in treating with foreign ftates when any requcft of this nature is made, there may be many plaufible reafons affigned for the difficulties attending fuch a compliance, both in point of delicacy and delay, but in the prefent inftance nothing of that nature can be pleaded.

. We are not afraid that fuch an enquiry as the prefent will be the means of difclofing the fecrets of the cabinet to the unfortunate Caribbs, or that they are likely to know any thing at all of the matter. I know the miniftry defpife the reft of Europe; I fhould be therefore extremely glad to difcover what it is that is fo dangerous in the appearance of those banditti as to claim the attention of adminiftration in fo fingular a manner, and who, by the whole tenor of their conduct, have fhewn an inattention to every thing befides.

Lord North. I rife to inform the gentleman who spoke laft, that I am extremely ready to comply with what he now defires. I should have already thanked him, and give him credit for his profeffions of moderation and impartiality, if he had not unhappily, in the midst of thofe profeffions (by way of parenthesis) put the miniftry in mind of an improper attention on the point under confideration, and an inattention to every other part of our duty. Such VOL. II.

a prejudging of the caufe, by no means gives me a favourable opinion of the impartiality of a perfon who is to be a judge; however, every neceffary paper fhall be laid before this houfe, and, I make no doubt, but then, on a candid perufal, every objection hitherto itarted will fall to the ground. The motion was accordingly agreed to; and being delivered by Mr Townsend to the fpeaker, was read, and is to the following effect: That his Majefty be addreffed by this houfe to lay before them a copy of the feveral papers relative to the fending an armed force to St. Vincent's, and the orders iffued by the fecretaries of ftate for that purpofe.

Mr Dowdefwell made a motion, that leave be given to bring in a bill for the relief of poor perfons in certain circumftances, and under certain reftrictions. He was feconded by Sir George Savile. The motion was agreed to nem. con. and a bill ordered to be prepared and brought in by Mr Dowdefwell, Sir George Savile, Mr Cornwall, Mr Burke, &c. The intention of this bill is to make a provifion at a certain age, for the indigent, laborious, and induftrious. It is intended that parifhes fhall have power to grant annuities from five to twenty pounds per annum; that certain fums hall be paid by the perfons, to be fo entitled, according to the received rules of computation; that these fums fhall be from time to time vefted in the public funds; that no perfon receive any benefit from this fund till he is fifty years old, nor then if he be not indigent.

Mr Pultney, in a committee of the houfe, explained the motives of the bill to fecure to foreigners the fums of money lent on eftates in the Weft-Indies, and obviated the many objections that were made to it last year. He then moved, that fome witneffes might be called in and examined, at the bar, touching feveral facts he had stated. Accordingly, Mr Fairholme, fpeaker of the affembly at Tobago, and Mr Hhh

Harris,

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