an Address to his Excellency the Most Noble Marquis Wellesley. Sir, 163. I have the honour to forward the enclosed letter from the British inhabitants of Behar. The extent of the province has been the cause of a delay, unavoidable, but yet irksome; for we are desirous to hasten any proof we could give of our respect and attachment for the person of his excellency the governor-general. Certainly there never could be a stronger call for the aoknowledgment, both of public and private gratitude, than the occasion which gave rise to the address and resolution of the meeting held in Calcutta. 5. The under-signed have the honour to subscribe themselves, with much respect, Sir, Your most obedient and humble. servants, (Signed) SHEARMAN BIRD. J. HAYS, Lieut. Col. I have the honour to be, Your most obedient Servant, To Peter Speke, Esq. President of the Committee of the British Inhabitants of Calcutta, for presenting an Address to his Excellency the Most Noble Marquis Wellesley. Sir, the province of Behar, impressed We, the British inhabitants of regret, that, on account of our great distance from the presidency, we have been excluded from the benefit of subscribing the address presented by your committee to our illustrious governor-general, on the late happy termination of hostilities in India; the sentiments of that address corresponding in the fullest fallest with dur' feelings on this momentous occasion. Thus unfortunately precluded from the advantage of adding our signatures to your address, we entreat, Sir, that you will do us the favour to assure his excellency of the high sense of veneration which we entertain of the splendoor and value of his distinguished talents and transcendant, virtues, and of our hearty concurrence' in your congratulations on the glorious issue of a war of such magnitude and importance; a war, which being commenced through necessity, was conducted with that degree of wisdom, promptitude and valour, which has never been surpassed and from whence his excellency and our gallant armies have acquired immortal honour for themselves; at the same time, that the most solid advantages have accrued to the British nation and its allies, by the annihilation of French influence throughout India; and from an equitable distribution of power, which has secured, on a firm basis, the invaluable blessings of peace to the whole Peninsula. We further beg leave to request, that you will have the goodness to express to his excellency, our most 'cordial concurrence in the resolution of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, which are connected with the subject of the address. We have the honour to be, With the greatest respect, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servants, (Signed) Fras. Gladwin, C. Keating, H. Douglas, D. Burges, J. R. Elphinstone, W. M. Fleming, Charles Kégan, G. C. Master, W. Frazer, Samuel Denton, Alex. Campbell, Oswald Charters, W. Browne, H. Hastings, Matt. Moran, Jas. Feetenby, Edw. Colebrooke, Jas. Nicol, senior, Richard Grueber, Thomas Harriott, Thos. Phillipps, Henry Gibson, Thos: Long, Robert Spottiswood, Thos. Judson, Wm. Chas. Alston, T. Hawkins, Walter Hawkes, W. E. Rees, J. H. Stacey, A. Cockburn, J. P. Larkins, G. P. Ricketts, H. Batson, J. Stewart, Jas Mac Nabb, Ed. Barnett, C. Pattoon, T. S. Warham, D. Vaughan Kerin, J. Fullarton, Chas. Boddam, Jno. Miller, R. Martin, Rob. Limond, W. Ranken, W. Innes, A. Tufton, Fras. Gillanders, W. M. Baker, Thos. Holt, Wm. Midwinter, Chr. Gale, R. H. Cuntiffe, Greg. Hickman, Saml. Nesbitt, Jno. Cheese, lieut. John Gabb, lieut. Frederick Hanham, H. B. Palmer, G. Aveline, B. Roberts, W. H. Cooper, Saml. Chill, Joseph Bevick, John Mac Donald, Henry Hill, John Goodall, J. Hayell, Wm. Cowell, Thos. Twining, R. J. Pow ell, Edw. Watson, R. Grindall, George C. Julius, James Gibbon, James Nicol, John Patch, A. M. Willock, C. Tower, Hu. Stafford, col.comg. Jas. Maxwell, captain, Win. Dick, captain, Geo. Muat, indigo planter, H. J. Boutflower, assist. surg. Sir A. Setton, J. Rattary, H. Wilkinson, W. Paton, G. Neville Wyatt, J. Gibb, E. Wyatt, Wm. Bond, H. Parks, Richardson Purves, Jolin Purves, R. Phaire, Saml. Johnson, J. W. Mc Creight, P. Kernan, Thos. Gentil. Patna, March 12, 1804, * b 2 To S. Bird, Esq. &c. &c. &c. excellency the most noble the governor-general's commands, on the subject of the letter with which I was favoured by yourself and the British inhabitants of the province of Dacca, I presume that I cannot possibly obey them better than by transmitting them to you in his excellency's own words. You will perceive, from the enclosed copy of his excellency's letter, the manner in which I executed the trust with which the gentlemen of Dacca were pleased to honour me. 1 I have the honour to be, with the greatest consideration, Sir, I request you to communicate, with every expression of gratitude and respect to the gentlemen who have addressed me on this occasion, my sincere and cordial thanks for the public testimony which they have been pleased to afford of their concurrence in the sentiments of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, on the subject of the late war and peace in India. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect and esteem, Sir, Your faithful servant, (Signed) WELLESLEY. Fort William, July 7 The public reception of the ad Your most obedient, and most humble servant, (Signed) P. SPEKE. dresses from Madras and Bomby took place at the government-house this day. Calcutta, July 7, 1804. To C. Keating, Esq. in the same terms. Peter Speke, Esq. Sc. Sc. c. Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 11th April, 1804. A letter from Shearman Bird, Esq. senior judge of the provincial court of appeal, and from the British inhabitants of the city of Dacca and its environs. 2d. A letter from Christopher Keating, Esq. senior judge of the provincial court of appeal, and from the British inhabitants of the province of Behar. 3d. A letter from Christopher Keating, Esq. On this occasion the governorgeneral's honorary guard was reinforced by a captain's guard with a colour. A detachment of the governor-general's body guard also paraded to the northward of the government house. At nine o'clock in the morning, one of the governor-general's car riages, with captain B. Sydenham, (Aide-de-Camp) proceeded to the fort, to conduct major-general Dowdeswell to the government house. At the same hour, another carriage of the governor-general's, with capt. Bristow, (Aide-de-camp, proceeded to the house occupied by lieutenant-colonel Woodington, to conduct that officer to the govern ment house. On their arrival at the government house, major-gen. Dowdeswell and lieutenant-colonel Woodington were received by captain Armstrong, military secretary, and by captain Ritso, Aide-de-Camp to the governor-general, and were The state of my health for some. time past, and the severe pressure of public business, have prevented me from returning a more seasonable acknowledgment of the honour conveyed to me by these highly satisfactory documents. immediately conducted to the council chamber. The guards received major-general Dowdeswell and lieutenant-colonel Woodington, with military honours, as they passed with the addresses. The honorable the chief justice, the members of council, the judges of the supreme court, major-gen. Cameron, and the staff of Fort William, and the principal inhabitants of Calcutta, were present on this occasion. Major-general Dowdeswell and lieutenant-col. Woodington being severally introduced by capt. Armstrong, to the governor-general, presented the addresses from the settlements of Madras and Bombay respectively, and received the written answers of the governor-general, which they were desired by his excellency, (with suitable expressions of satisfaction, at the reception of the addresses, through such respectable hands) to transmit to the right. hon. lord William Bentinck, and to the hon. Jonathan Duncan, esq. The levee then commenced, and continued for an hour, when the governor-general retired, and the company were conducted to a cold collation, prepared in the southwest wing. After the presentation of the addresses, the bands of the governor-general, and of his majesty's 22d regiment, played martial airs. In the evening a grand dinner was given at the government house to major-general Dowdeswell, and lieutenant-colonel Woodington, at which were present the honorable the chief justice, the members of the council, the judges of the supreme court, the principal civil and military officers stationed at the presidency, and Solyman Aga, the envoy of Bagdad. Documents connected with the Address from the settlement of Madras. 1st-Letter from the right. hon. lord W. Bentinck to the governorgeneral. To his excellency the most noble the marquis Wellesley, K. P. &c. MY LORD, I have the honour of transmitting to your excellency, by majorgeneral Dowdeswell, the address of the inhabitants of this settlement, upon the splendid termination of the Mahratta war. I feel it to be almost superfluous to express my entire concurrence in the sentiments of that meeting. As an Englishman, I must admire, and be grateful to the men, who have raised my country to so high a pitch of prosperity and glory. Extending, however, the view beyond the immediate prospect of our own national advantages, it is most pleasing to reflect, that the result of this war affords a hope of equal benefit to the great mass of the people, whose rulers have been conquered. If the annals of Indian history are retraced, and more particularly the events of later years, it will be found that this vast peninsula has presented one continued scene of anarchy and misery. Constant revolutions, without even a professed legitimate object, have succeeded each other. Wars of great and petty chieftains, unwarranted in their origin, and unprincipled in their conduct, for the søle object of robbery and plunder, have depopulated and laid waste the general face of this unhappy country. Justice, order, consideration of public and private rights, no *b3 where where appear in relief of this, melancholy picture. Happily, a period has arrived to these barbarous excesses. For the first time, the blessings of universal tranquillity may be expected. That system of India, which could comprehend in one bond of mutual defence, and reciprocal forbearance, the predatory chiefs of this great empire, deserves the admiration of all the civilized world. That system, one of the noblest efforts of the wisdom and patriotism of a subject, which has founded British greatness upon Indian happiness, demands, in a particular manner, the thanks and applause of his country. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient, And faithful servant, (Signed) W. BENTINCK. Fort St. George, May 2, 1804. 2d.-Address from the settlement of Madras. To his excellency the most nolle Richard, marquis Wellesley, K. P. governor-general, and captaingeneral, &c. May it please your Excellency, We, the undersigned British ininhabitants of the settlement of, Madras, impressed with a just, sense of the signal benefits which, have resulted from the brilliant success of the late war, against the confederated powers of the Mahratta empire, Dowlut Rao Scindeah. and the rajah of Berar; and from the glorious termination of that, contest, have the honour to approach your excellency with our unfeigned congratulations,on events, which have raised the splendor and, renown of the British arms and achievements to a pitch of unrivalled pre-eminence and grandeur. At an early period of your excellency's adininistration over the affairs of India, the inhabitants of this settlement were called upon, by the sense which was impressed upon the minds of all, by the wisdom, energy, and success manifested in the measures which led to the subjugation of the French faction in the Deccan, and to the memorable conquest of the Mysore, to convey the tribute of their congratulations on the distinguished events which marked the commencement of your excellency's government. When your excellency assumed the supreme authority of India, we saw the territories of the British nation surrounded and menaced by formidable enemies, and her interests supported by precarious and. doubtful alliances. But in the contrast of the present posture of affairs with the past, the contemplation of the change must fill; every British heart with sentiments: of elevation and thankfulness. In the course of six eventful years, we have seen the conquest of Mysore achieved; our powerful and inveterate enemy, the sultan of Mysore, who staked the fate of his empire in seeking the destruction of the British power, vanquished; and the legitimate prince, now our nearest ally, raised to the throne of the usurper. We have seen the power of the ancient house of Nizam Ally, which tottered to its fall, restored in security, under the influence of your excellency's mea, sures, and the son succeed in peace to his father's possessions; we have seen the lawful representative of the Mahratta states, compelled by the feudatories of the empire to fly for safety under the protection of the British government, obtain the protection |