Commons Sitting of 28 February 1806

MINUTES.
A message from the lords requested the attendance of the house at their lordships' bar, where the royal assent was given by commission to the exchequer bills act, lady Nelson's and sir R. Strachan's annuity act —Lord Temple brought in a
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bill for enabling the vessels employed in the Greenland whale fishery to complete their crews; which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday.—The secretary at war brought in a bill to enable his majesty to employ a greater number of foreign troops. Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday.—A petition of the president and members of the board of agriculture was presented to the house, and read; setting forth, "that his majesty having been pleased, in consequence of an address from this house, to constitute, by letters patent under the great seal, a Board of Agriculture, for promoting the internal improvement of the country, the petitioners have the satisfaction to acquaint the house, that the important purposes intended by that institution are carrying on, and are likely to be attended with beneficial effects to the public; and therefore praying, that they may be supported by a grant for the present year to such an amount as to the house shall seem meet." Ordered to lie on the table.—A petition of the committee of the company of merchants trading to Africa, was presented to the house; setting forth, "that in consideration of the various increased expenses of the establishments in Africa, and the cost of the articles required for the payment of the same, parliament was pleased to grant the sum of 18,000 l. for the support of the said establishments last year, which sum has been invested for that purpose; and therefore praying the house to grant the petitioners the like sum, for the support of the said establishments" Ordered to lie upon the table.—Lord Temple rose, to observe, that an omission, that might be attended with much inconvenience; had taken place in the Corn Regulation act of last session. No clause, allowing the export of corn to our garrisons abroad, had been introduced into it. To remedy this omission, he gave notice of his intention to move for leave to bring in a distinct bill, permitting such exportation, on Monday next.—Lord Temple also moved, that the house should then resolve itself into a committee, to consider the exportation of wool and woollen articles from the British colonies to the united kingdoms.—Sir P. Stevens brought up the marine mutiny, bill, which was ordered to a committee on Tuesday next.—Mr. Alexander brought up the report on lord St. Vincent's annuity bill, The resolution, that the annuity

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should be extended to the two next heirs of the peerage, was read, and a bill ordered to be brought in accordingly.—Mr. Johnstone stated, that several important papers relative to the affairs of India had been laid before the general court of proprietors by the court of directors, which it was material to have before the house; and therefore gave notice, that he should on Monday next move, that these papers be laid on the table.—On the motion of
Mr.Vansittart, the former orders of the house for the production of certain accounts relative to the augmentation or diminution of salaries, &c. in the public offices in Great Britain and Ireland, were discharged. He then moved, that there be laid before the house, an account of the increase or diminution that may have taken place in the number and amount of the salaries, emoluments, and expences of the different public offices in Great Britain, to the 5th Jan. 1806, specifying the dates of such increase or diminution, and the authorities for the same. Ordered. A similar order was then made for Ireland.

AFFAIRS OF INDIA.
Mr. Alderman Prinsep rose,to make the motion of which he had given notice yesterday. The object he had in view was to ascertain the proportion our commerce with India bore to that with China, and the relative amount of the capital borrowed in India, for the prosecution of each trade. He had another object in view, which was to ascertain whether the amount of stores was or was not included in the account of territorial revenue applied to commercial purposes. He conceived it very material to have these objects elucidated, and he thought they would be explained by these papers. He moved, therefore, "that there be laid before the house an account showing the annual amount of stores and merchandise respectively exported by and for the service of the East-India company to India, from the year ending the 1st of March 1793, to the 1st of March 1804; together with the expenditure and sales thereof at each presidency, and the respective balances in store and afloat, on 30th April 1793, and 30th April 1803, as far as the same can be made out. Also, an account, shewing the annual amount of bullion, stores, and merchandise, respectively exported by and for the service of the East-India company to China, from the year ending the 1st of March 1793, to the 1st
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of March 1804; together with the sales thereof at Canton, and the respective balances in store and afloat on 30th April 1793, and 30th April 1803, as far as the same can be made out."
Mr. Francisseconded the motion. He was determined to second and support every motion, the object of which was to obtain information of the commercial and financial affairs of the company, unmixed with political matter, and thus to promote the great point he had so long looked to, to save the company from ruin, and with the company the country, which would have to bear the burden of the ruin, if the company should fall. He complained, that the directors never gave an answer, even when papers of the slightest moment were moved for. The board of controul always came forward, or one was always referred to that board. The constitution of the company required, that the directors should act in the first instance; and that the board of controul should interfere only when it was necessary to check them. He did not like that the court of directors and the board of controul should act together as they had done for some time. This had not so much the appearance of a laudable harmony, as of a secret understanding.
Mr.Hiley Addingtonthanked the worthy alderman for having given notice of this motion, a consideration which he hoped the house would think due to a new board, yet unacquainted what papers ought or ought not to be produced. He saw no objections to these papers; only, as an account of the bullion exported to India. had been already ordered, it would be advisable to omit it here. These papers, however, could not be produced very soon, as the clerks were employed in preparing the accounts for the India budget. The board of controul did not wish to interfere with the court of directors; but, as a great responsibility rested upon the board of controul, it wished to discharge its duty; this, however, without interfering with the proper objects of the company's care, and without resisting the production of any necessary information.
Sir T. Metcalfesaid, that however much the hon. gent. who seconded the motion might vaunt himself the company's friend, he never could consider him as such. As to the reserve shewn by the court of directors on motions for papers, it was sufficient to state, that all the papers were in

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the office of the board of controul, and that no director could, without a violation of his oath, produce any one paper without the consent of that board. The East-India company was not an insulated company, but a company whose interests were blended with those of the country. He would avail himself of this opportunity to explain the capture of the letters in the Hope Packet, dwelt on in such a criminatory manner by the hon. gent. on a former night. The Hope was a country ship, taken up by the government of Bengal to bring home the dispatches. On her passage she fell in with Linois, in the Marengo, accompanied by the Pelle Poule, by whom he was taken. The boxes containing the dispatches were prepared to be sunk, with sand bags tied to them. The captain did not arrive here till July, 1805, when he underwent a short examination, as every captain in the company's service did, however fortunate his Voyage might have been. Captain Dunbar, of the Hope, stated, that a chain-shot had cut the ends that fastened the sand bags to some of the packages containing the letters: and thus these packages floated when thrown over. board, and were picked up.
Mr. Franciswarmly replied, that the dispatches, even if shot away, could not have floated, if loaded with chain-shot, as was the custom in his time: but, if the house were satisfied with the strange explanation now given of it, he had done with the business; though primâ facie, a communication of intelligence to the enemy was a high crime and misdemeanour; and, if done designedly, which he did not think to be the case in this instance, would amount to high treason. But, whatever he might think of that transaction, he believed it to be true, that the court of directors was under the guidance of his majesty's ministers. The hon. baronet seemed to insinuate, oil other occasions, as well as the present, that he was the enemy of the East-India company. Whoever thought so, should bring it forward boldly, in the way of accusation; and, if defiance and challenge could do any thing with the hon. baronet, he would defy and challenge him, or any man, to bring forward and substantiate such a charge against him.
The Speakerhere reminded him that he was out of order.
Mr. Francisthen said, he must submit to authority; but would beg leave to state, in explanation, that he still continued to
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think and assert, that in all motions for
papers, the court of directors was absolutely nothing.
Sir T. Metcalfein explanation, said, that as the hon. gent. often vaunted himself to be the true friend of the East-India company, he considered it no attack on him to say, that he never thought him so —After this, the motions were agreed to.