§ Mr. George Smithrose to move for a Select Committee, to inquire whether any and what Corrupt Practices had obtained in the Sale or Disposal of Cadetships, Writerships, or other Appointments, under the East India Company, or any negotiations respecting the same. He had the satisfaction to state to the house, that he brought forward this motion with the special approbation of the Court of Directors, with whom such a measure had been for some time in contemplation, in consequence of the rumours prevalent that such a traffic for the disposal of such places had been carried on, and which, by no possibility, could have their sanction. What had passed in evidence before a Committee of the house last night, rendered it necessary no longer to defer this motion, in order as well to vindicate the Court of Directors from every idea of countenancing such transactions, as to trace them, if possible, to detection. He concluded by moving: "That a Select Committee be appointed, to enquire into the existence of any corrupt practices in regard to the Appointment and Nomination of Writers or Cadets, in the service of the East India Company, or any agreement, negotiation, or bargain, direct or indirect, for the sale thereof; and to report the same, as it shall appear to them, 505 to the house; together with their observations thereupon."
§ Mr. Charles Grantseconded the motion, and expressed his regret, that he was not present last night, when something was stated upon the subject, by one of the witnesses before the Committee. He assured the house, that nothing could be more satisfactory to the Court of Directors than the institution of the inquiry proposed; for, as public men, they felt it a painful duty to meet imputations, the sources of which they found it impossible to discover notwithstanding their most vigilant exertions. About eight or nine years since, the directors, upon a report of this kind having reached them, instituted an immediate and minute inquiry, to ascertain whether such abuses did exist, as the advertisements every day inserted in the public papers for the purchase of such appointments seemed to imply; as the directors, if they found that any such transaction had the aid or countenance of any of their own body, were determined to make that person a public example; and it was in consequence reported to the Court that the patronage of a member of that body had been bestowed in favour of a clerk in the India house, who had received a cadetship, which appointment the party had sold; but as soon as the fact was discovered, he was dismissed from his employment.
The motion passed in the affirmative; and Mr. Smith being called on to name such members as he thought most eligible, expressed his wish that the house would interfere, and take up the inquiry upon general grounds, and that no person belonging to the Court of Directors, or Board of Controul, should be a member of the Committee. He wished rather that it should be chosen from the house at large; and he therefore named fifteen members unconnected with India affairs, and who were ordered to sit to-morrow.