BEHOL

play on the breeze,

While cattle calm feed on the vale: The church fpire tapering, points thro'

the trees,

As lord of the hill and the dale.

The playful colts fkip after dams to the brook,

The brook flow and filently glides; The furface fo fmooth, and fo clear, if you look

It reflects the gay green on its fides.

When merit above them they view; But Genius difdains to turn out of his

The MINUTES of the Select Committee, appointed by the HOUSE of COMMONS, to enquire into EASTINDIA Affairs.

(Continued from pape 422. Vol. II.)

Jovis, 7 die Maii, 1772.

Mr Sumner's examination. Mr Sumner to ftate his reafons for affenting, as a Select-Committeeman, to the measure of depoting Meer Jaffer, and placing Coffim Ally Khan on the Mufnud, as follows.

The military operations General

Caillaud has given a clear detail of, and every other argument of the intended reformation and fubfequent change has been fo fully ftated on the public records, which have been read to the Committee, that very little remains for me to fay on the fubject, only to affign my reafons for affenting to this meafure. I fhall not at present infift on the public breach of treaty on the part of Meer Jaffier, in the inftance of the Dutch invafion, nor on the many other doubtful parts of his conduct. I fhall not enter into the particulars and irregularities

Ç 2

gularities of his private life, nor of the cruelties with which he has been charged, but let my caufe or conduct reft on the neceffity of the reformation. From the extreme difficulties and imminent dangers the affairs of the Company, as well as thofe of the State, were reduced to, by the jealoufies, indolence, and inactivity on the part of the Nabob Jaffer on the one hand, and on the othe the mal-administration and corruption of his minifters, in the collection and diffipation of the revenue, and to those I may add the inteftine troubles through the whole country; I was then of opinion, and continue still firm in the fame, that we could not poffibly have fupported the fyftem of government then eftablished two months longer; and, imbarked as we were with Meer Jaffier, we must inevitably have fhared in his ruin: our difficulties and diftreffes,and the opinions formed thereon, whilft thefe were ftrong in our views, and immediate conclufions were neceffary, all thefe are fairly ftated on our public records, and fully evince the neceffity of the measure purfued. I wish much to have it understood, that when the Committee firft entered into negotiations with Meer Jaffier, their only idea was reformation in the minitry, not a revolution in the government; and that it was the unexpected obftinacy of Meer Jaffier alone, not an original defign in the Committee, that placed Meer Coffim on the Mufnud. It was a circumftance, I believe, as little thought of by Mr Vanfittart as by myself, when he left Calcutta on his vifit to the Nabob for the purpose of making those reformations. The neceffity of the fubfequent change made by Mr Vanfittart, is pointed out by him in his narrative: every part of which, from my intimate knowledge of the man, I readily admitted. I then was, and am at this time of opinion, that the distraction of Meer Jaffer's government made the intended refor mation neceffary, and that after we had gone fuch lengths, there was no room

left for receding. On the whole, I flatter myself that when all these matters are duly weighed, my conduct, in whatever character confidered, whe ther as a fubject of this realm, or as an immediate fervant of the Company, will ftand juftified in the opinion of every candid and impartial man.

2. Whether the invitation which it is fuppofed Meer Jaffier gave to the Dutch, was ever more than fufpicion? --A. It was fo far proved by a letter or letters found in his cabinet, after he left Muxadavad, wrote by the Dutch Governor to him on the fubject of that invafion. I cannot recollect the purport of them precifely, but they were full conviction to me. They are not entered upon the public proceedings.

2. Whether the Committee at any time prefented any remonftrance or memorial to Meer Jaffier upon the fubject of their fufpicions with refpect to the Dutch? A. Not to my recollection.

2. Did Meer Jaffier ever acknowledge any fuch tranfaction? A. Not to my knowledge.

Mr Sumner read from a printed book the tranflation of a letter from Mr Bifdom, Director of Chinsura, to the Nabob Jaffier Ally Khan, which he recollected to be one of thofe mentioned above, and which tranflation is as follows.

"Our fettlement was established here long before the English and other nations entered this kingdom, of which we were eye-witneffes. Our power was then greater as well as our trade; but now we perceive that both our power, intereft, and wealth, arę loft, whilft thofe of other nations daily increafe.

In this cafe what refource have we left? Our dishonour and fhame are almoft inevitable. For this reafon, and for the fecurity of our poffeffions, as well as for the fervice of your Excellency, I have fent for troops into this country. You are our master and fovereign, and therefore I hope for

your

your protection, and wait your orders to bring our troops to this place. God grant that your riches may daily increafe."

2. Were there any other letters? A. There were feveral that were shown to me by Mr Vanfittart.

2. Whether Meer Jaffier ever acknowledged thefe letters? 4. Never to my knowledge; nor do I believe they were ever fhewn him.

The witnefs likewife read from the printed book before-mentioned, a tranflation of the following letters from Mr Bifdom of Jaffier Ally Khan.

LETTER II." As our nation has always been encouraged by the favour of your Excellancy, and more particularly from that time, when having a favourable regard to our Company's bufinefs, you repeatedly affured our Chief of Coflimbuzar of your attachment; confidering thefe circumftances, I was extremely furprised that your Excellency, during your, refidence at Calcutta, entered into an agreement, that you would itrengthen the fort of Muka Tanna, in order to prevent the Dutch troops from coming this way, and alfo gave a note to the English, directing them to oppofe the coming up of our army. All these things confidered, it feems plain to us, that your Excellency did not enter into the agreement, or give this order, from any ill opinion of us; but it is all to be imputed to the overbearing fpirit of the English. But if any one enters into an agreement through force of diftrefs, and afterwards does not abide by it, he will ftand juftified by the laws of God and man; particularly the Governor of a kingdom, who wishes for nothing elfe but the good of his country, and the profperity of his people, I am there fore in hopes, through your juftice and favour, that you will recede from your agreement and order, and that we shall obtain an order from your Excellency for the bringing up of our army, and alfo that a pofitive order may be given to the English, on no account to moleft

them; for we fent for the faid army to this country, in confequence of your directions. The King's revenues are greatly detrimented, and the country ruined; and of this you can only look upon the English as the fole caufe. Our nation formerly brought confiderable fums of money into this kingdom, and did not carry out any; and now the English are fo powerful, that no trade can be carried on by us; for which reafon no money now arrives, and the English yearly remit confiderable sums. By this means the revenues of the country are greatly decreased; and therefore how will you, without great difficulty, be able to maintain your forces? And when your enemies come upon you, you will not then be capable of oppofing them. This time, if you will favour the Company, they will ever be at your command, and your prefent anxiety and uneafinefs may be removed. Your Excellency cannot take a better ftep; and I hope you will take this into your favourable and ferious confideration, and return me a proper anfwer."

LETTER III." The wrathful letter you have wrote to me I have received, and it has given me inexpreffible uneafinefs. The troops were not called here at my own defire, nor did I imagine they would ever have come to action, and fully intended to have returned them by the hips when they failed for Europe: they were brought here for the fecurity of the fhips; this I acquainted your Excellency of feveral times. During their ftay in camp, they molefted no man, nor had any difturbances with the country-people. This alfo you are well affured of. It was never my intention they should fight; but the English hoifted Moorish colours, and immediately came down upon them, and a battle enfued. Your Excellency is the magistrate of juftice; and therefore I defire you will interfere. I was defirous that fome advantage fhould arife to the Riots from the fale of the goods, when they were

brought

brought up, and intended to have laden on board the fhips the faltpetre, and other goods that were brought, and with the people that came here, difpatched them to Europe; but the English would not permit the boats to pafs, I am willing to act up to our agreement, and I hope your Excellency will

adhere to it alfo. In this we entirely depend on your favour. The Company have for a long time carried on trade here, and therefore earnestly defire you will continue to them your favour and protection, as we are not able of ourselves to root out our enemies."

DECEMBER 25.

From the LONDON PAPER Ś, Dec. 19.

POLAND. Warfaw, Dec. 2. It is believed that the abfent fenators who had partaken in the troubles of this kingdom, will renounce their engagements and return here to expedite the work of peace, and to fatisfy the pretenfions of the neighbouring powers: in the mean time Baron de Stackelberg,the minifter from Ruffia, hath formaly declared to the King, that in fuch cafe they fhall all enjoy, withont exception, entire fecurity.

Frontiers of Poland, Dec. 2. By fome authentic letters we are affured, that a certain power hath caused a declaration to be made to the court of Warfaw, that if the republic of Poland do not immediately determine to acknowledge the claims of thofe of Vienna, Berlin, and Petersburgh, on the provinces of this kingdom of which they have taken poffeffion, fome fur

ther claims on Poland will foon be declared.

Leopold, Nov. 24. Count de Pergen hath received an order from his court, to endeavour to introduce here the cuftoms of Germany; in confequence of which he hath declared, that all perfons who may have occafion to speak to him will do him pleasure, by coming to his houfe without whiskers, and habited in the German fashion.

to JANUARY 1.

GERMANY.

Vienna, Nov. 29. Accounts have been received here, that the congrefs will be opened at Bucharest on the 9th inftant.

Berlin, Dec. 5. On Saturday Jaf, the 28th of November, the infant of which her Royal Highness Princeis Ferdinand was lately delivered, was baptized at the country palace of Frederichsfeldt. The fponfors were, his Pruffian Majefty,the Prince of Orange and the Margrave of Schwedt. The infant was named Frederick William. His Pruffian Majefty ftood in perfon, and after dining that day at Freder ichsfeldt, returned to Sans Souci.

FRANC E.

Conde and the Duke of Bourbon havVerfailles, Dec. 9. The Prince of ing written to the King, to affure him of their fubmiffion to his pleasure, and his Majefty having given permission that they should be admitted to his prefence the 7th inft. they had the honour to pay their respects to him, and alfo to the reft of the Royal family.

ENGLAND. LONDON, December 19. Yesterday, at three o'clock,came on, in the houfe of Commons, the third

reading

reading of the Eaft-India bill, when Mr Impey and Mr Adair, as counsel for the company, were called to the bar. Thefe gentlemen opened the matter in a very mafterly manner; after which feveral witneffes were examined, which lafted till near eight o'clock. The debate then began upon the bill. Mr Burke fpoke for a long time againft it; faid it would be the utter ruin of the company if this bill, fhould pafs; that he had done all in his power, both in and out of the houfe, that gentlemen might not be led into temptation; that the Eaft India company had an undoubted right, by their charter, to fend fupervisors, which right the house was now going to take away, and along with it every right they enjoyed.

Sir Wm. Meredith fpoke next; he condemned the Eaft-India Company greatly; obferved that even by their counfel at the bar the house had heard of great abuses committed by their fervants, and ought therefore to take the matter up and redress them; "Befides, faid he, the company has no right to take upon it the fending of fupervifors and for that reafon I certainly fhall be for this bill."

Lord George Germaine got up and faid, that he should always be confiftent in his conduct; that he had been a gainst the bill at firft, but when he faw fuch abuses had been tranfacted by the fervants of the company as he had heard of by the counfel, that day, and the company had not thought proper to punish them,he could not now but think that parliament ought to interfere, and take this fupervifion into their own hands, and therefore faid he fhould be for the bill.

Mr Dempfter got up to anfwer the noble Lord; faid that no lefs than ten profecutions had already been commenced against the fervants of the company for Malverfation; that the company had a right to fend out fupervifors and therefore he hoped that this bill would not pafs.

General Carnac fpoke next; obferv

ed that he knew more of the Eaft Indies than many gentlemen prefent, that it had been faid that the company's fervants had behaved very ill; but he was very certain that whenever the fervants came to be examined, very few would be found to have behaved very ill, and would acquit themselves with honour; and the company (faid he) being in a bad ftate, that I think is owing to government inforcing the company to pay them 400,000l. which they could not afford, with a dividend of twelve and a half per cent; but when the company can divide only fix per cent. government\ ought to receive nothing.

Lord North got up next and faid, he fhould not have troubled the house at that late time of night, finding the greater part of them already agreed that fomething ought to be done for the fervice of the company, but begged leave to remark, that when the treafury was applied to by the company for the loan of fo much money, when he found them in fuch distress,he thought it was the duty of parliament to look to them, in order to re-fettle their affairs, which they were going to do; as to the dividend they had made, and which they complained of, as not being able to afford it, he faid it was their own fault, government did not defire they should make greater than they were able.

Lord Clive fpoke next and faid,that` he was certainly greatly beholden to the company for many favours he had received from it, but he was very forry to fee this petition prefented to the houfe; he was in hopes to have feen the company meet parliament half way, but now that they had done one impru dent thing, he hoped it would be the laft, therefore that he fhould be for the bill. The queftion being then called for, whether the bill fhould pafs, the houfe divided 153 for it, and 28 against it. The bill then was filed and ordered up to the Lords, when the house. broke up a little before twelve,and adjourned to Monday.

This day a deputation of members

cair.ed