of the Company's settlements in India, by the establishment of Governor, Council, &c. which, after many years experience and the most mature deliberation, was found absolutely necessary in order to render that island of real advantage to the company's possessions in the eastern part of India, and productive to their commerce and revenue. The Secretary read the report, stating the several official situa tions resolved to be appointed, and salaries thereto annexed. The Chairman then entered into a statement of the motives which induced the court to adopt this settlement. The island had been in their possession, he said, since the time of Sir John MacPherson's earnest recommendation of its importance, eighteen years; and had, in fact, been productive to the Company of considerable expence. The proposed establishment, however, was designed and calculated to render it of high importance both in a commercial and political point of view. The intention was to form it into a naval arsenal for the ships of war on that station; for it contained not only an extensive bason capable of holding the greatest number of ships that could possibly be collected in that part of the globe, but it abounded in ship timber, and was extremely couvenient to Pegu, which contained the most extensive forests of peak-wood in all Asia. It aflorded besides what the Company's trade extremely wanted in that quarter, namely a windward port for the protection of their trade, and defence of their settlements from invasion, to which from the want of such a port, they were often exposed for many months together, the ships for their de fence being obliged to go to a vast distance to refit. It was a situation extremely convenient for the Malay trade, It commanded the whole trade of the coast of Coromandel and Bay of Bengal, and was well adapted to form an emporium for the whole commerce of India on the eastern side. Its produce in pepper alous was from one to two hundred thousand tons a year; whilst from Bencoolen, which cost the Company such immense suma of money, the produce of this article never exceeded three cargoes in a year. With respect to the establishment pro posed, though, from the number of official situations which had been read over, it might appear that this was an official esta blishment totally new, yet Le could assure the court that there was scarcely one official situation added to the number which airçady existed in the island; that the salaries annexed, though appa rently high, were but moderately liberal, considering the expençes those officers must be unavoidably exposed to in the country, aud that they must be strictly excluded from all commerce, by which means only the settlement would become lucrative to the Company. He added that for any expencɩs incurred for the accommodation of government in that quarter, the Company would be reimbur sed by the government at home; but wever it would be the object of the Company cautiously to feel their way in the course of their progress, and not to launch in the first instance into an expeusive system, on mere experi ment ment, but let experience alone point out the occasion for progressive expenditure. The measure was deemed necessary on the fullest deliberation by the Court of Directors, who had given him instructions to form an arrangement on the subject, upon which he and his worthy deputy were actually employed, when they received an application from government on the subject. With great part of the papers which had passed on this subject much political discussion was blended, which he trusted the proprietors at large would not feel it wise to expose to the public eye. For the present he presumed it would not be desirable to go into any discussion on the subject, as gentlemen would be better prepared on a future day. He should, according to the ordinary usage move that the resolutions be now approved, subject to the consideration of the next court of proprietors. He had no objection now to hear the sentiments of any gentleman on the subject. The Deputy Chairman was of the same opinion with respect to the motion of approval pro for ma, and spoke at length in support of the Chairman's statement with respect to the importance and necessity of the proposed establishment. Mr. KEMBLE asked if pepper were the only valuable article of produce to be expected from the establishment? If so, pepper was already in plenty, and at so low a price that the Company lost by it. Mr. JOHNSON was against the formation of so expensive an establishment without some better and more explicit grounds were stated in support of it. He was also against any reliance on the promises of government, who, he said, had so often. broken faith with the Company. He supposed they wanted in the present instance to deprive the Compa Mr. JonNSON wished to know if this motion was meant to be an in-ny of their right of patronage ; troduction to any discussion on the to thrust their hands into the subject now, or was to be postponed Company's pocket, and induce till another day? He conceived them to incur expences which that from the short time the court they never would reimburse. If were in possession of what had he thought the measure was the been just read to them on a sub- pure suggestion of the Court of ject of so much importance, they Directors themselves, he should were not prepared to go into a be inclined to give it his confidiscussion. But in all events, he dence and support, from his opishould object to the word appro- nion of their integrity; but susved in respect to resolutions pecting it to be rather an instrucwhich had not been examined, tion from his majesty's ministers, nor any time whatever taken to he was, in the first instance, consider a subject of so much im- against its adoption. With resportance. pect, however to the boasted advantages of this settlement, he was at a loss what to say on the slight information already before the court. If this information was right, however, the island produ The Chairman said the motion for approval was merely pro forma, pending a future discussion, and bound no man to implicit concurrence on a future day. ced eed no large ship timber, and the tide rose but nine feet, which rendered it unfit for docks; and as to the necessity for making this situation a naval arsenal, he was astonished to find, after all that had been said of the importance and competency of Trincomale, it should now be passed over as of no importance whatever. The Chairman said, that with regard to the article of pepper it was a commodity with which this market must be supplied by the Company, or they would not deserve to hold their charter a week. Though low now, it would not always be so. It was an article which the Company's warehouses could not be without, and no man would be more clamorous under the want of a supply than the gentleman who made the objection. With respect to what had fallen from another gentleman, he could assure him the measure was not the result of an instruction from government; and that no instructions, even from that court, would induce him to adopt a measure he did not approve. With respect to the timber of the island, he could assure them it produced it in abundance large enough for ships of 800 tons. As to the subject of the nine feet tide, there was not an engineer on the River Thames who would not tell him that that could be no impediment to the formation of docks if they were necessary; a circumstance by no means resolved on in the present instance, as some of the first naval arsenals in Europe were without docks. Mr. SEALY said it was very indifferent to him who suggested the measure, provided it was a good one; and suppose it had come from his majesty's ministers, who were more competent to judge of its importance and necessity? After some farther desultory dispute, the motion of the Chairman passed, and the discussion was appointed for Friday the 4th of January. Another motion was made, and seconded by Mr. Johnson, for requesting that the papers deemed necessary by the Directors for the information of the court preparatory to the discussion be printed, which was rejected on a show of hands; and the court adjourn ed. CHARACTERS. An ABRIDGMENT of the MEMOIRS of the Life and Military Exploits of GEORGE THOMAS, a General in the Service of the Native Powers, in the North-west of India, lately published by Captain WILLIAM FRANCKLIN. In our fourth Volume, (Characters, p. 55,) we gave a summary account of this extraordinary adventurer; and considering his military exploits, and the influence which he thereby gained amongst the petty states in Western-Hindustan, highly curious and entertaining, we have much satisfaction in laying before our readers this more enlarged Narrative of his Life, from Captain William Francklin's work. To the merits of that work, as well as of the character of Mr. THOMAS, we shall call the attention of our Readers in our Account of Books." 66 MR. GEORGE THOMAS was a native of Tipperary, in Ireland. His arrival in India appears, from the best information, to have been in 1781-2. His situation in the fleet was humble, having served as a quarter-master, or, as is affirmed by some, in the capacity of foremast man on board a British man of war. Having landed in the vicinity of Madras, the natural activity and ardour of his mind determined him to leave his ship, and embrace a life of enterprize. His first service was among the Polygars, to the southward, with VOL. VI. whom he resided some years.— But, at length, setting out overland, he traversed the Peninsula, and about the year 1787, arrived at Delhi. Here he received a commission in the service of the Begum Sumroo; who, soon discovering his talents, raised him to a command in her army. From this period his military career commenced. In various and successive actions against the Seiks, and others, Mr. Thomas, by his courage and perseverance, extended the dominion, and increased the revenue of his mistress, with whom he soon became chief confidant and counsellor; but, unfortunately for both parties, after a residence of six or seven years, he had the mortification to find himself supplanted by intrigue, and his authority devolved on his successful rival. Indignant at the conduct of the Begum, Mr. Thomas resolved to embark his fortune on a different service. In pursuance of this plan he repaired, about the year 1792, to the frontier station of the British army, at the post of Anop sheer. Having waited some time in expectation of overtures from some of the native princes, he at length A accepted accepted very flattering proposals from Appakandarao, a Mahratta chief. Appakandarao, had formerly been successful in the service of Mahajee Scindeah, but having invaded Bundilcund in the year 1790, and being repulsed in his operations, he was dismissed from the service of that prince. Appakandarao, naturally haughty and impatient, could ill brook this humiliation, and from that moment resolved to shake off all dependence. It was at this period, that the fame of Thomas's former exploits held him up as a fit object to assist in the accomplishment of this bold and hazardous design. Overtures were consequently made to Mr. Thomas, who joined Appakandarao with a body of 250 cavalry, all chosen men, and of approved valour. This accession of force was particularly acceptable to the Mahratta chief-many of his districts having rebelled against his power, and withheld their accustomed tribute. Mr. Thomas was now directed to raise a battalion of 1000 infantry, and 100 cavalry, for the maintenance of which, Appakandarao assigned to him the purgannaks of Tajara, Topookara, and Feroozecpoor, situated in the Mewattce district, to the south west of Delhi. These districts, had for some years before, been in a state of rebellion, nor was Appakandarao sufficiently powerful to reduce them to subjection. When a large force was sent against them, it was customary with the inhabitants to take shelter in the mountains, but when opposed by inferior numbers, they united their forces, and usually became victorious. These excesses rendered the Mahratta chief anxious to transfer the districts to some person who would effectually exert himself to restore order among them. Mr. Thomas now prepared to march, and take possession of his new territory, but was prevented by the death of Scindcah; on which occasion, Appakandarao, attended by Mr. Thomas, repaired instantly to Delhi, to guard against any commotion that might arise in that capital. On their arrival at court, they, among other chiefs, were invested with khelauts. Similar presents were likewise prepared for Dowlat Rao Scindeah, heir to his deceased uncle. Mr. Thomas having remained some time at Delhi, recruited his force to 700 men.-With this reinforcement he proposed, a second time, to march, but was impeded by a new obstacle. Unable to pay his troops, they became mutinous, and plundered the adjacent country. This conduct occasioned much severe altercation between Appakandarao and himself, which at length ended in a compromise, that gave to the latter the sum of 14,000 rupees, and an assignment for the remainder of his claim. The assignment, however, was never fulfilled. In his march towards his districts, Mr. Thomas retaliated upon the Begum Sumroo, laying under contribution that part of her country which came within his route. Arriving at Ghoorath, a large and populous village, he imposed heavy contributions, and supplied his army with an ample store of bullocks and forage. Pursuing |