Sir T. Turton ,in a speech of considerable length, which be prefaced by observing, that no change of administration could in any measure affect the question now before the house, inveighed strongly against the assumption of the government of the Carnatic, which he repeatedly termed one of the most gross and infamous stretches of tyranny that ever disgraced the annals of India. He dwelt much upon the subsequent treatment of the Polygars, who, he contended, were no more subjects of Britain than of Hesse Cassel He did not charge the lords Clive or Wellesley with the murder of the nabob of Arcot, but insisted that both had been the means of bringing about that murder. The hon. baronet concluded with moving, that there be laid before the house a copy of the instructions given to lord Mornington by the Board of Controul or the Secret Committee, previous to the Treaty respecting the Carnatic in 1792. The hon. baronet said, that beside. one now before the house, he had upon the same subject twelve other motions to submit to the house.
Mr. Tierney ,in answer to the hon. baronet's long speech, should briefly observe, that of the papers now called for, one part did not exist, and the other part was already printed.
Sir T. Turtonsaid, that not being in the office of the right hon. gent., he had not the same means of information, and therefore was not aware of what had been just mentioned. He thought the right hon. gent. answer a fair one, and was willing to withdraw his motion.
§ Lord A. Hamiltonthought it better that the proper officers be required to lay before the house a copy of all the instructions that had been issued.
Sir A. Wellesleycontended that ,all the instructions which had been transmitted, were already in possession of the house.
§ Col. Symes asserted that there would not be time in the present session to examine all the papers for which the hon. baronet had moved. Though he had given a long explanation of the object of these motions, yet the explanation was so imperfect, that he could not pretend to understand him. Yet there were one or two observations in his statement which he could not pass over without some notice—Sir T. Turton rose to order, affirming that the hon, gent. ought to confine himself to the particular question before the house.—After a few words from sir J. Anstruther, Mr. Tierney and col. Symes, the motion was agreed to.—The motion for a copy of the Review promised by marquis Wellesley to the Directors was then put and carried, it being understood that there was no such paper, but sir T. Turton wishing to have that fact formerly before the house.
Sir T. Turtonalso moved for copies of the official Letters, other than that of the 23d April 1800, respecting the papers discovered at Seringapatam, with the answers so far as not already printed.
Col. Symescontended that the greatest moderation had been practised in acting on these papers. He denied that the papers had been come by unfairly, or that any improper means had been used to shorten the life of the nabob, who was said not to have died a natural death. He died in consequence of the intemperate use of opium. The governor of Madras sent Dr. Anderson to him when ill, whose report was, that he found him labouring under an incurable dysentery.
Sir T. Turtonwould not now enter upon the merits, but he was at issue with the hon. gent. in the whole of his statements. Motion agreed to.—He next moved for a copy of the Paper containing the approbation given of the conduct of lord Clive in the transaction above alluded to, and in the subsequent arrangements with respect to the Prince. Agreed to.—The hon, baronet also moved for copies of the Letters of Omdut Ul Omrah, &c. complaining of grievances. Ordered. He next moved for a copy of a Letter from lord Hobart to Omdut Ul Omrah, complaining of the permission given by him to certain artizans, &c. servants of the company, to settle in his dominions.
Sir J. Anstruthersaid, there was no such paper, and that it was not respectful to the house to be moving for papers which it was known did not exist.
Colonel Symesobserved, that gentlemen 176 might exercise their imagination to the great inconvenience of the house, if these things were permitted.—The house then divided on this question, which was lost by a majority of 30 to 24. The other motions were agreed to.