§ Mr. Paull ,seeing a noble lord in his place (lord Morpeth), wished to know why the papers he had moved for respecting Bhurtpore, were so long delayed. He had first moved for. their production on the 11th of March, and finding the order of that day was not complied with, he moved, upon 216 the 13th of April, for a peremptory order. As the papers were by no means voluminous, and there had been such abundant time for their production, he should now make a further motion, unless he received a satisfactory reason for their delay.
§ Mr. Creeveysaid, that the board of controul had done all that was incumbent on them to do, when they served the India board with notice of the order that had been made by that house. He thought, however, that it must appear most unfair in that hon. gent. to charge the board of controul with wishing to keep back any information, when it was recollected, that they had not resisted one of the 98 motions for papers which the hon. gent. had made in the course of the last 4 months. He, however, in consequence of the conversation in that hope upon the subject, had sent to Mr. Ramsden, the secretary of the India board, to know the reason why those papers were not produced. He was informed by the answer, that there was at present a chasm in the consultations of Bengal, which probably the next ships would supply. Since that time, the hon. gent. had made 39 motions for papers, which went so far as to require a detailed account of the most minute expenses of the marquis Wellesley in his entertainments. At the same time, they were getting ready the papers relative to Surat, which were no less than 2000 close folio pages. While all these accounts were making out at the same time, it would not be wonderful if there should be some delay; this delay could not, however, be imputed, in any degree, to the board of controul, who were really willing to give him as many papers as he asked for. If these papers were not necessary, they had a mischievous effect, as they interfered with the making up of the official documents. There were two India budgets in arrear, and now in preparation, the papers connected with Which would afford a much better knowledge of the affairs of India,, than all the minute details moved for by the hon. gent.
§ Mr. Paullreplied, that he was entitled to these papers to enable him to substantiate against the marquis Wellesley, as important charges as ever were brought for ward in that house. He thought there was great delay in the production of all these papers.
§ Mr. Creeveydenied, that there was any delay that was not unavoidable.
§ Mr. Francisthought, that when a member moved for any papers, he was himself the best judge of their effect, and therefore was not obliged to take the advice of those who might be adverse to his views. He had seen a paper signed by twenty-three directors, who, amongst other things, complained that the marquis Wellesley did not register his papers regularly in the consultation. The chasm could however be no reason for not making a return. If no record could be found, the answer would be easier.
§ Sir Hugh Inglissaid, the principal reasons which occasioned the delay of those papers were, first, the voluminous nature of the papers which were ordered with respect to Surat; in the second place, there had no vessel left Bengal since the Medusa, which sailed in November. He had reason, however, to think that the first ship which arrived would supply the chasm that was complained of. He assured the hon. gent. that there was no wish to delay, and that the papers should be laid upon the table as soon as, in the circumstances of the case, they could be got ready.—Upon this explanation, and after a few words from Lord Morpeth, Mr. Paull consented to withdraw his motion. Mr. Paull then gave notice, that he should move, the next day, to rescind an order that had been made in the month of April, for the production of a protest of Mr. Bosanquet, relative to this transaction.