Lord Morpethrose and moved to postpone, till Friday, the further consideration of the India Budget.
Mr. Robsonfelt it his duty to call the attention of the house to this most important subject; and to express his astonishment, that affairs of such vital importance to this country, as those of India, were to be discussed in such thin houses as this business had hitherto been. Whether the India Company were to be continued by a renewal of their charter, or not, their affairs ought not to be treated with so much levity, with so thin an attendance of members, and, more especially, without the attendance of his majesty's ministers. Their affairs, as he was taught to understand, were in a most embarrassed and deplorable situation, almost, indeed, upon the brink of ruin. It was declared in that house, that a loan, to an inconceivable amount, would be requisite to support them; but, whether this was to be a loan of 7 millions, or 17 millions, or what not, he thought the subject was one of too much importance to be discussed in that house, without a full attend- 1188 ance of members; and, by the blessing of God, as he never would leave it in the power of his majesty's ministers to say he did not attend, he would make a point of taking some measure to stop the proceedings in every stage, unless there was a fuller attendance, and, more especially, of his majesty's ministers.
Lord Morpethwished to know, upon what authority the hon. gent. stated, that a loan would be wanted for the India Company? He certainly had made no such statement, in bringing forward the Company's affairs: nor did he hear any such thing mentioned by any of his majesty's ministers in that house.
Mr. Grantalso disclaimed, on the part of the Company, the representation of their affairs made by the hon. gent., and which he could not suffer to pass uncontradicted. He knew nothing of any loan proposed or desired by the Company: they stood not in need of such assistance; nor did he hear any thing of any such proposition, with which their authority or wishes were connected: a noble lord, indeed, near him (Castlereagh), in his speech, the preceding night, had thrown out a suggestion, that a loan of 5 millions might be desirable for the accommodation of the Company; but this was a mere suggestion in the course of a speech, wholly unauthorised by the Company.
§ Mr. Paulldefended the conduct, and approved the determination, expressed by his hon. friend (Mr. Robson); and hoped, he would persist in his endeavours to obtain a full attendance of members upon every discussion on India affairs: for, notwithstanding the declaration just made by the hon. ex-director, it certainly had gone forth, that the Company's affairs were in a desperate situation. It had been said, not by himself, but by a worthy alderman opposite to him (Prinsep), that they were in a state of bankruptcy; and, although the noble lord's suggestion of a loan, in his speech, the preceding night, might not be admitted by the hon. ex-director, as an official authority upon the point, yet his hon. friend had a right to consider such a declaration, coming from the noble lord, as good authority upon a subject, namely, the situation of the Company's affairs, in which the noble lord's own character and safety were so deeply interested: for it was no secret, that the noble lord's conduct in those affairs was likely to become the ground of very serious charges from an 1189 honourable member of that house, who now filled an extensive space in the public eye.—The question being put, was agreed to, and the house adjourned.