this head: first, what description of peo- mind was strongly impressed with this idea, ple were the Mabrattas, and what were and with the consequences which should the principles of policy by which the Bri- follow. With respect to France, he did tish councils were to be guided? Looking not consider the connection of France with to the general character of the people, the Mahrattas at all done away; on the their customs, their wars, their dispositions, contrary, it was growing daily; and, from and habits, it was certainly much better to the complicated system of the Mahratta keep clear of them entirely. They were policy, it was impossible for any man to formerly composed of a great number of say how soon that system might be put in small states, which were frequently at va- practice. If the councils of the Mahrattas riance with each other. If they had kept had remained as formerly, and not put on their old system of warfare; if they had the councils and assistance of French officontinued in their ancient manners, with- cers, it might have been otherwise. The out taking in the aid of foreign councils. French general Perron had organised such In all sound policy it would have been our a power, that Scindia himself did not ven best way to have kept clear of them; but ture to oppose him, but gave up the con after the treaty of Bassein, a great number test. Thirty or 40,000 under the Nizam, of French officers were introduced into were in a state of perfect discipline. their army. The policy of the Mahratta Was it to be questioned, whether, after connection then stood upon new grounds. the peace, the French had sent emissaries Scindia and Holkar were at variance, into that country, and if they were allowed their armies became regular: suppose to establish a connection with the Mahratthen one power got the better of the other, ta people, it did not require much political both then united and became organised foresight to discover what might follow: under one head; his lordship asked, having stated thus much, his lordship would not this coalition be very formidable observed, that the whole change of the to the military power of Great Britain in complexion of the Mahratta empire had India? It was to this alteration in the made this a new subject. The moment military system, introduced and directed marquis Wellesley had found out the triby French officers, that we were to look ple connection formed by marquis Cornfor changing the policy of the British wallis, he enlarged the principles of his councils, respecting a connection with the actions, and endeavoured to promote the Mahrattas, The government of the My-interest of the British govt. with the Rajah; sore consisted of a considerable military he conceived the necessity of that alliance, force, which was also aided and directed and the impression upon his mind was, by French officers; the object, therefore, that if he should persuade the native of marquis Wellesley was to augment and princes, that it was safer to rely on the strengthen the Peshwa; and thus, by in- connection with the British empire, than vigorating him, resist the force, and drive join any other power, or war among themthe French from that territory. From the selves; by this means he might lead to fall of Tippoo, the policy of the British the exclusion of the French interest, and government became, quite different from the policy or connection of their situation what it had been before. The council, might induce them to embrace such a profroin that time, was to turn its mind to- posal. His lordship agreed with the hon. wards the extirpation of the French from gent. that a great question of expediency that quarter. We were then to consider arose out of those circumstances; but, what was the object, what was the conduct from the details then upon the table, it of the French at that period, and what was clearly was not a proposition which parlia to direct marquis Wellesley in his delibe- ment could then decide upon. The conrations. We all knew, that in the year duct of marquis Wellesley upon this mat1798 the French made a footing in Egypt; ter would hand down his name to posterity we were well aware, their main object was as one of the most wise and vigorous offito aim a deadly blow at our Eastern pos-cers that ever conducted the councils of sessions; their close alliance with Tippoo, a great nation. The governor general had and all the other concomitant circumstan- not shewn a bigoted adherence to the sysces, sufficiently explained their intentions, tem of establishing a connection with the and we were all satisfied India was not Mahrattas to extirpate the French, but he out of their mind when they undertook modified it; and his lordship contended, that expedition, Marquis Wellesley's that the general charge made against that

system in the Mahratta empire by the hon. I transmitted documents upon this subject, gent. did not cast any reflection upon the in order to see the grounds and origin of hoble Marquis's conduct. In the Mahratta the commencement of hostilities, but this empire there was a population of 36 mil- was easily accounted for from the short lions under one head; it was not neces- period which has since elapsed. In cousary therefore for the governor general to clusion, his lordship said, that the hon. wait to conclude a treaty of the same na- gent. had not made any case which could ture of that of Hydrabad, with the Peshwa induce parliament to come to any deciuntil a communication was had with the sion upon the subject. If he had stated govt. at home. In the instructions to the particular point on which he meant to marquis Wellesley, his lordship was di-rely; if he had brought forward his prorected not to pursue that policy to a war; positions before the house one by one, and and as the Peshwa was driven from his not in an accumulated mass of general country, that was the most likely moment matter and general censure, the house to conclude a general peace in India. The would then have been able to come to hon. gent. had mentioned the treaty of some certain decision upon the question: Bassein, as an act of aggression; but he but, he conceived the hon. gent. had disdid not shew on what grounds it was so. charged himself but ill in this business; The native princes, so far from remon- he considered it a mere personal motion, strating against it, fully acquiesced in the for the satisfaction of the hon. gent.'s own terms, and as far as general intentions mind, and could only be brought forward would go, marquis Wellesley took up the for the purpose of general censure. For principle not to force that treaty upon the these reasons he should think himself juspower of that prince; had marquis Wel-tified in moving" that the other orders of lesley acted in any other manner, he would the day be now read. have abandoned the interest of his em- Earl Temple admitted, that there had ployers: and, throughout the whole, there been a line of policy marked out for India was a sincere disposition upon his part by act of Parliament which ought to be to accomplish his purpose without war, and adhered to. If it had not been adhered he managed it in such a way as to give the to, he would certainly ageee with the mobenefit of the Mahratta connection to this tion of his hon. friend. But in his opinion country: this view he had taken of it in the principle had never been lost sight of. all his pacific negociations. The more ex- If his hon. friend had attacked the chatended question of arrangement therefore racter of the governor-general, he would was, whether we were involved in war have strongly objected to that part of his upon just and fair grounds? That the motion particularly, but he had disclaimed war was successful, more than even the any thing of that sort. His hon. friend councils of this country would allow, was had begun with our establishment in Incertain. His lordship trusted, that the dia, its origin, and had made use of a hon. gent. would not expect him to go singular phrase which he had taken down. more into the question: under the present He said that our commerce produced fac-. existing circumstances, his lordship thought tories, that factories produced armies, Ire should not be justifiable in doing so; that armies had produced conquests, that it, however, appeared clearly, that the conquests had produced extended domisubject matter in question could be traced nion, and that this brought us to our to the general policy of France, to shake present situation. His lordship observed, our power in India. His lordship observed, that it did not by any means follow, that that he had omitted to make one observa- all this originated in a thirst of power tion respecting the war with Holkar in its on our part.-There was another point proper place: the hon. gent, he said, had in his hon, friend's speech, which he must not justified his impeachment of that war, also notice, that was the idea of a knowit was not the materials furnished, but the ledge of European tactics, being dangerhostile intentions of Holkar which pro-ous to the natives of India; he, on the duced it; and there was nothing whatever contrary, was of opinion that a small censurable in the governor general's con- number of Frenchmen scattered over diffeduct; and there was reason to anticipate rent parts of the continent of India, would the supposition that the war was com-be more effectually serviceable to the namenced on just grounds. His lordship tives by instructing them, and more danadmitted the governor-general should have gerous to us than a much greater force

acting in a body as a military force against ruin the company. Formerly, there were us. As to the conduct of his noble friend a number of petty states between Bengal who was now most probably on his way and the Mahrattas, which it was our pohome, in concluding the Treaty at Poonah,licy to support. Now, we had swallowed he thought that it must be clear that it up, one after another, all those Mohamany blame can be attached to this tran-median powers. If the noble lord had chosen saction, it must attach to the court of to go into the justice of the wars in which Directors, who gave him authority so to we had so frequently engaged in that coundo. Upon the whole he felt himself bound try, he had no objection. The causes of to support the amendment of the noble lord. many of them were of a very doubtful coin. Dr. Laurence thought the statements of plexion. The nabob of Arcot was punishhis hon. friend were worthy of the strictested for the offences of his grandmother; attention, and most serious consideration Cossim Ali Cawn for cultivating his counthat the house could possibly give it, being try too well; and others were set aside on a question which involved no less a num-different pretences: the Nizam we had, ber than thirty-two millions of persons: however, left, under what was called our a number which was more than three protection. We made him our ally to get times the amount of the population of more territory from him, to maintain an England. It surprised him very much to army which we sent him, and which army hear the noble lord opposite him (Castle-was, in fact, to hold his country. Ile reagh) argue in the mauner he had done; should not have said so much on this point, it surprised him much to hear him state had not the noble lord spoken of the that his hon. friend had no right to look justice of our India wars in such a tone of back to points which were more remote, triumph. He saw nothing to stop this and took place at a more distant period of principle of aggrandisement; he saw no time, merely because, as the noble lord bounds but the wall of China, or the stated, he had not come forward at every Russian empire, to our daily acquisitions intermediate step, and moved for those of territory while this system continued. papers, and that information, which might We were on the Mahratta borders. If they then have existed. He denied that this are disturbed, we are distressed. If they was any argument against his coming for- settled their quarrels, we were afraid they ward now, with this very necesssary mo- would have too much power. What was tion; but, even supposing it was, his hon. the true meaning of that word connection friend had complied with it in every re- which the noble lord used? It was not spect, for, to his knowledge, no one in-connection, but dependence on our military stance had passed without his calling for power in India. The natural consequence papers, and doing every thing that could in would be, speedily to take the whole counany way be thought necessary. The hon. try. After the conquest of the Mysore, and learned gent. remarked, with some the Peishwa refused to sign the treaty severity, on the term "connection," as it of alliance we had proposed to him; but had been applied to the mode which we pur-we took advantage of his misfortunes and sued towards the Mahrattas, a nation con- flight, to force him to sign it, and he had taining 30,000,000 of people. The ques-not, after all, ever requested us to act tion, at the best, was on a point of very upon it. We had adopted a kind of geodubious policy. He praised the conduct graphical morality, and a sort of policy of of marquis Cornwallis when in India before, Latitude and longitude for our own purand trusted his return there would be at-poses in India, different from what we tended with similar advantages. The conceived of those things in Europe. Gennoble lord seemed to misunderstand every tlemen could hear of the most terrible cathing advanced by his hon. friend, from lamities in India without emotion, who, beginning to end. What harm could re-for a little finger ache at home, would sult from re-asserting those principles dissolve in sentimental sorrow. The hon. which were already to be found in the and learned gent. concluded, by saying, resolutions of the house, and in the sta- that he should vote for the original motutes? He condemned the modes prac- tion, because it was meant with a view to tised by the company for the acquirement the re-establishment of the principle of territory in India. It was once given sauctioned by parliament and the legisla as Mr. Hastings's opinion, that the posses-ture, and not with a view to the crimina sion of the whole of Bengal alone might tion of any individual.

VOL. IV.

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1

Mr. Grant observed, that the noble lord productive of great evils to this country. who moved the previous question, had stated Mr. Huddlestone said, he did not wish that the Marquis Wellesley's conduct in that this subject should be too much de India had been approved of by the govern-tailed in parliament, but as he had had ment of this country, and by the directors long experience in India, he thought it his of the East India company, as had been duty to put the house in possession of his transmitted to him by a committee in the sentiments upon this most important ques regular course of official communication, tion. His hon, friend who had just spoken, that was an incorrectness founded upon a had alluded to what past with reference to misunderstanding of one fact, namely, that the court of directors, and the dispatch the directors had approved of the conduct of the marquis of Wellesley of the 21st of the noble Marquis; the fact was, that Dec. on the subject of the treaty of Basthat question was never before the directors sein, by which it appeared that the noble at all: this observation he thought was marquis expressed himself as having recalled from him after what the noble lord ceived the approbation of his majesty's had said upon that subject to-night; that government and court of directors, but noble lord had bestowed great attention to the truth of the matter was, that the the affairs, and displayed much ability in terms of that treaty were never brought the conduct of the business of India in this before the court of directors, neither was country; but notwithstanding what that no-there among them any discussion com ble lord had said, he owned he was unable cerning it, desired or admitted; and with to view what had of late years passed in regard to the idea of departing from a sysIndia, in any other light than that of an tem of policy formerly laid down, or of infraction of the principle laid down at their having expressed approbation of the time when the resolution was passed, what was done in India, or that any ques by which we renounced conquest in India, tion was discussed by them on the subfor the purpose of an extension of territory,ject of war or peace in India, or of the He was led to adopt this opinion from ex- extent of the territories of the British perience of the effect of the former Mah-empire. The court of directors, alratta war, an event which had laid the though in the opinion of the public they foundation of all: the debt we had incurred were supposed to have a great deal of there. The diffusion of ourselves to so power, had in reality no more than any unlimited an extent, would be most in-member of that, house in these matters, jurious to us, for by it we should lose our- and here he was sure that the candour selves. With regard to the French power of the house would permit him to state in India, his opinion had always been that how the matter stood with regard to the it was much exaggerated by statements in directors. It had been said by those to this country, and that a few French officers whose assertions, from their weight in the there were not dangerous in the way they world, there was consequence, on the subject were supposed to influence the natives a of the merit of the noble marquis respectthousand miles from the coast. He thought ing our successes, which were stated to the principle laid, that we were not to have been great, and that the consequences pursue conquest for the sake of extension of them would have been still greater if of territory, was the true policy of this ome obstacles had not been thrown in his country; and that so much had been done way, and lest there might be any mistake to render it doubtful whether we had not upon that subject, to whom it was meant abandoned that principle, it became neces- to apply that observation, it was said, it sary now to give the world assurance, that did not come from any of his majesty's such is to be our guide, and this he wished ministers; it was therefore meant to apply to be distinctly avowed. He thought that to the directors, of whom it was said they we had now an extent of territory in In- were men of very good intentions, but not dia; that we should never be able to pre-of such enlargement of mind as to be able : serve its for the governments of India to understand the plan of the marquis of were so loose, that almost any adventurer Wellesley, or the great benefits they were would find followers when he wished to calculated to produce. Now whatever kindle the flames of war, and therefore consequence the directors might have, bothere was a necessity for recurring to the they had no share in the management of principle of our former resolution, since sending any thing to India on the subject the expences of the war had been already of the political system there, and there

fore that they could not send any thing to territorial revenue to us-in all this he saw India, which did not previously obtain the the seeds of a revolt the instant an opporsanction of the board of control, of which tuuity offered. We had once sided with several members of his majesty's cabinet Scindia against Holkar, and afterwards with are members, and that consequently nothing Holkar against Scindia, by which we had could be thrown in the way of the noble procured the hatred of both, and we had marquis, which had not previously obtained now territories so extensive in India, that the sanction of his majesty's ministers. the population of Europe would hardly There was a circumstance of great impor-equal the drain they would require to keep tance with regard to the Mahratta people; them in our power, according to the mili and another point upon which he should tary system now established. For several touch, of which, he believed, the next ge-years past, as the company have advanced neration, when it came to peruse the la- in revenues, they had equally done so in bour of the historian, would judge more expence, and it was morally impossible to correctly than the present; and they had bear the drain of men that would be nebeen described as having been decided by cessary to keep so many millions of the the court of directors, when, in truth, the human race in subjection to us. No man directors were so far from bearing any. better knew than he did, the benefits, al-, share in them, that they had never been almost beyond calculation, which this counlowed even to discuss them. He confessed try might derive from our possessions in he could not comprehend the plaus of the India, if affairs were managed with justice noble marquis. They appeared to him to and moderation. His majesty's governbe accompanied with present difficulties, to ment, he said, had shewn their anxiety teem with mischief, to set existence on the on that head, by their recent appointcast, to be unwise in policy, to be founded ment of the marquis Cornwallis as goon schemes and projects, wherein failure vernor-general of India. This nobleman would be destructive, and even success was as amiable in his character, as he ruinous; whereby nothing was to be gained was exalted in rank, and was known but the expence of blood and treasure, and by the native powers to combine withperhaps a permanent hatred inspired into the inhabitants. These were his sentiments, and were not less so last year, when the accounts had been received of the brilliant successes, than at present on receipt of the account of a disaster, which had opened the eyes of many, and would, he feared, open the eyes of many more, He admit ted the energy of the great mind of the noble marquis, and that he exerted his powers most successfully for this country, in the destruction of that infatuated tyrant Tippoo Sultan. That was a great service rendered to the East India company and to his country; but it was easy to see that this advantage would be followed by the reverse of it, unless followed by moderation, in that he thought the noble marquis The treaty of Bassein had been had failed; it appeared to him that the founded on consummate policy, and did very great success the noble marquis had great honour to the noble marquis, whose met with, which was certainly, in some re- principal object was to prevent the Mahspects, unexpected, had let him to depart rattas from being united under one head. from the system of his predecessor in The hon. bart. proceeded to review the the government. He appeared to have circumstances which led to that treaty. If made the whole of India dependent on the Scindeah and Holkar had not been divided British government. He had made them at Poonah, the consequence would have all receive British garrisons in their cities. been the consolidation of their several and to grant subsidies for that British pro-great powers, and we should have had tection, and afterwards to requite it with them both joined against us. The Mah

in himself all that was just and good. He had already convinced them that, while possessed of absolute power, he was actuated only by inviolable honour and the most conciliatory disposition towards them; and he thought that a declaration of parliament, such as the hon. mover has brought forward, made at this time, just as the noble marquis was about to sail for India, would be a token to the native powers that we wished, and intended an abrogation of the present system, and could not fail of being attended with the most beneficial effects. He would therefore vote for the original motion.

Sir Theophilus Metcalfe differed altogether from the two hon. gent. who had spoken last.