Sitting of 10 July 1806

MINUTES.
Mr. Johnsonfrom the office of the chief secretary for Ireland, was called in, and at the bar presented to the house, pursuant to their order, An account of the different sums of money that have been expended, or that are to be expended, on the port of Dublin, by the directors of inland navigation; stating the authority under which the said directors expended the said money;—together with a statement of the plans and reports that have been made, pursuant to their directions, for the improvement of the same. Ordered to lie upon the table, and to be printed for the members of the house.—Ordered, that the account of the manner in which the sum of 500,000 l., granted in the last session of the Irish parliament to the directors of inland navigation in Ireland, has been disposed of; commencing with the establishment of the board, 12th August, 1800, and ending 28th May, 1806; and also, copies of the agreements entered into by the directors of inland navigation in Ireland with the different canal companies, to whom they have granted any part of the sum of 500,000 l. granted in the last session of the Irish parliament to the said directors, to be printed for the members of the house.—Mr. Robert Mitford, from the commissioners of customs in Scotland, was called in, amd at the bar presented to the house, a Return to an Order of the house, dated 12th May, 1806, requiring "An account of all sums recovered in Scotland, either in the court of exchequer, or in the courts of justices of the peace, from any person or persons convicted in any of the
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said courts, of offences against the acts of parliament, or any of them, relative to the customs, excise, or stamp duties; as also, of the amount of all sums received by compounding with persons charged with such offences; together with the names and additions the persons from whom such sums have been recovered, with the date of recovering the same; arid also, An account shewing what part of these sums so recovered have been accounted for in the exchequer, as his majesty's share of fines, forfeitures, and penalties, with the dates at which they were so accounted for; also shewing what part of the sums so recovered have been accounted for to the informer in whose namethe said prosecutions proceeded, and what part of the said sums was applied in defraying the charges or expences of such prosecutions; from the year ending 5th July, 1782, to the present time;" with a duplicate.—Mr. Robert Mitford also presented to the house, pursuant to their orders, "An account of the average prices, ascertained quarterly, for regulating the importation of corn, grain, meal, and flour, into Scotland,for eleven years, to the 15th of February, 1805, and thence to the 15th of August, 1805; distinguishing each district, and whether any, and what, species was importable from Ireland, the American colonies, and foreign parts, respectively, during each quarter of a year, and under what duties respectively; and also, An account of the average prices, ascertained monthly, for regulating the exportation of corn, grain, meal, and flour, from Scotland, for eleven years, to the 15th of February, 1805, and thence to the 15th of August, 1805; distinguishing each district, and whether any and what species was exportable to Ireland, the American colonies, and foreign parts, respectively, during each month, and under what drawbacks or bounties respectively; with duplicates thereof." Ordered, that the said return and accounts do he upon the table, and be printed for the members of the house.—Sir C. M. Pole presented to the house, a bill to amend and extend the benefits of an act, made in the 35th year of his present majesty, to enable petty officers, seamen, and marines, serving in his majesty's navy, to allot part of their wages, or pay, for the maintenance of their wives and families; and the same was received, and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.

OUDE SUPPLEMENTARY CHARGE—RAJAH OF SASNEE, &C.
The following is a copy

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of the Oude Supplementary Charge against the marquis Wellesley presented by Mr. Paull on the 7th instant, see p. 938; at which page it was inadvertently omitted.
"Article of Charge of High Crimes and Misdemeannours committed by Richard Colley Marquis Wellesley, in his transactions with respect to the Rajahs and Zemindars in the Doab; and particularly in his transactions with respect to the Rajah Bugwunt Sing, Zemindar of Sasnee and Bidjeghur, and the Rajah Kakoor Addkeerin, Zemindar of Cutchoura.
"That Richard Colleymarquis Wellesley was constituted, appointed, and actually became a servant of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, in the month of October, in the year of our Lord 1797, and in the reign of his majesty the 37th: That the office which he was appointed to fill was that of governor-general of Bengal, and subsequently that of captain-general of all the king's and company's forces serving in the British territories in the East Indies: That he arrived, and took possession of the government committed to his charge, in May 1798; and that he continued to fill, and to exercise the powers of the said office and offices until August 1805, when he was therein superseded by Charles marquis Cornwallis.—That in the countries which the said marquis Wellesley had unlawfully, perfidiously, and tyrannically extorted from the Nabob Vizier of Oude, dwelt several tributary chieftains called Rajahs, greatly respected by the sovereigns, and highly revered by the people of Hindustan, being descended from the ancient Hindu rajahs, or princes, who had resided in that country before the mussulman conquest; having from time immemorial possessed strong forts and populous towns independent of government, and maintained, with undiminished influence and power, numerous vassals and adherents, whose personal bravery and attachment to their lord were unimpaired, and, though owing allegiance to the nabob vizier bf Oude, possessing princely rights, and honours, and estates, which had descended to them unquestioned through a long line of venerable ancestry, and which their sovereign could neither alienate nor destroy.—That, on taking possession of the countries which he had so iniquitously extorted from the said nabob vizier, the said marquis Wellesley did determine upon the humiliation of the said rajahs,the ruin of their families, the destruction of their forts, and the seizure of their towns; a measure unjust and unwise in itself, and dangerous to the tranquil
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lity of the country; a measure which, even in the proudest days of mussulman despotism, had never been attempted.—That, for a series of years, it had been the custom of the country for the said rajahs, in the quality of Zemindars, to rent of the nabob vizier himself, or of his great Aumils, the lands surrounding their hereditary estates, which were again let by them to the Ryots, or husbandmen, by whom they were cultivated; the rent required of the cultivator being always, according to the liberality of avarice of the zemindar, proportionate to that at which the lands were held of the aumil, or of the nabob viziers.—That, in furtherance of his determination respecting the said rajahs, the said marquis Wellesley, (he having also determined, contrary to every principle of equity and humanity which should have actuated a British governor, to impose new and heavy burthens upon the already overburthened people of the said extorted countries,) did, by the means of his brother, the hon. Henry Wellesley, whom he had illegally appointed lieutenant-governor of the said countries, and other unlawful agents, require of the said rajahs and zemindars an enormous increase of the rents which they had theretofore paid; an exaction calculated to produce great discontent among the said rajahs and zemindars, and, by the oppression which it would infallibly drive them to exercise towards the husbandmen, to reduce those useful and unfortunate men to the extreme of poverty, wretchedness, and want.—That, taking advantage of the reluctance which the said rajahs and zemindars naturally felt to accede to the said oppressive and tyrannical requisitions, and making their reluctance a pretext for the execution of his long-meditated views respecting the said rajahs and zemindars, the said marquis Wellesley did declare all those who did not submit to the said requisitions, to be in a state of disaffection or rebellion to the government; a government which was notoriously an usurpation, and to which the said rajahs and zemindars had never acknowledged any allegiance, and to which they owed no obedience.—That, true to the character of an usurper and a despot, disdaining to conciliate acquiescence where he had the power to compel submission, the said marquis Wellesley did, to the disgrace of the British arms, call in British troops to enforce his said unlawful, unjust, severe, and arbitrary demands upon the said rajahs and zemindars.—That the greater part of the said rajahs and zemindars, some intimidated by threats, and others overawed by the presence of the military; some

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yielding to numerous bodies of troops which surrounded their fields, and prepared to assail their mansions, and others actually attacked, conquered, and subdued; some conscious of the hopelessness of resistance; and some terrified by the awful example of others; were finally compelled to submit, in the most humiliating and abject manner, to all the said unlawful, unjust, severe, and arbitrary demands of the said marquis Wellesley.—That those of the said rajahs and zemindars Who had the hardihood to resist the oppression of the said marquis Wellesley, were treated as rebels and enemies, expelled from their homes and driven from their country, their towns being plundered or burnt, their fortresses demolished or held by their enemies, and their estates confiscated for the use of their conquerors.—That thus, in violation of all law and justice and humanity, and to the disgrace of the British name in India, were the said rajahs and zemindars, the descendants of the most ancient, the most princely, and the most venerable families in Hindustan, degraded, oppressed, ruined, or destroyed by the said marquis Wellesley and his illegal agents.—That, among those of the said rajahs and zemindars who had the misfortune to incur the displeasure and the vengeance of the said marquis Wellesley was the rajah Bugwunt Sing, zemindar of Sasnee and Bidjeghur, a Hindu prince residing in the extremity of the Doab, on the north-western frontier of Oude, the head of a powerful tribe, surrounded by a numerous and warlike body of vassals and adherents, whom the personal bravery and private worth of their chief had strongly attached to his fortunes; beloved by the whole country, on account of the equity and the liberality of his character; possessing an extensive district, several considerable towns, and two strong forts, from which he took his title; and able to bring 20,000 men to the field.—That the said rajah Bugwunt Sing had for a long time farmed the jumma (or land revenue) and the sayer (or duties) of the surrounding districts, under Almas Ali Khan, one of the great aumils of the nabob vizier, for regular terms of 3 years, conformably with the practice which prevailed throughout that part of the said nabob vizier's territories.—That the said marquis Wellesley, in pursuance of his before-mentioned unjust determination respecting the said rajahs and zemindars, and in pursuance of his before-mentioned unjust determination to increase the burthens of the people of the said extorted countries, did, by means of his before-mentioned unlawful agents, require of the said rajah Bugwunt
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Sing an enormous increase of the rents which he had before paid, did positively insist upon the separation of the jumma and the sayer, and did declare that he would grant no engagement to the said rajah, either for the jumma or the sayer, for more than one year.—That the said rajah Bugwunt Sing, naturally averse to a measure so injurious to his own interests, did, in the most respectful and conciliating manner, state his objections to the 2 last-mentioned conditions of the said proposals.—That the collector of the district, who was employed as the agent of communication between rajah Bugwunt Sing and the before-mentioned hon. H. Wellesley, whom his brother, the said marquis Wellesley, had illegally appointed lieutenant-governor of the said extorted countries, did at the same time write to the said hon. Henry Wellesley, telling him, that, "after the difficulty he had experienced in endeavouring to carry his orders into execution (generally), that he did not expect to be able to induce the zemindar of Sasnee and Bidjeghur to engage for the sayer separately for one year, without having recourse to very serious measures against him; but that he hoped that he would be induced to engage for it, were the period extended to 3 years."—That the said hon. H. Wellesley, without making any attempt to gain the acquiescence of the said rajah, either by negociation, conciliation, or persuasion, without attending to the suggestions of the said collector for effecting an amicable settlement, and without any further correspondence or communication with the said rajah or the said collector, did immediately request the commander-in-chief of the army, who was then stationed in the said extorted countries, to send, without any delay, a sufficient force to punish the "contumacy" of the said rajah.—That the said commander-in-chief did accordingly dispatch a large body of troops under the command of a lieut.—colonel, which, on the 12th of Dec. 1802, took a position before the fort of Sasnee, where the said rajah then was, and made formidable preparations for attacking and reducing it: And thus commenced an unjust and crud war against the said rajah.—That the attack was continued with various success until Jan. 7, 1803; when a detachment of the assailants, after setting fire to the town, and thus wantonly extending their vengeance to the quiet and harmless villagers, fell upon a party of the said rajah's troops, and slew great numbers of them; and thus began the lawless and barbarous slaughter of the said rajah's brave and faithful adherents.—That the warfare was thus carried on until Jan. 15, when

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an unsuccessful attempt was made to carry the fort by assault; and this failure having been attended with some loss, and having brought great discredit on the British arms, the commander-in-chief, on 31st Jan., appeared in person before Sasnee, at the head of a powerful reinforcement.—That more vigorous preparations were accordingly made, the most effectual means taken to prevent the escape of the said rajah, and the admission of succours; and, on 8th Feb., another attack was made upon the town, and another dreadful slaughter of the said rajah's brave and faithful followers ensued.—That, on the night of Feb. 12, the said rajah, discouraged by the loss of so many of his troops, alarmed by the magnitude and extent of the preparations which were making for his destruction, unable to oppose any further effectual resistance without exposing himself and his people to the risk of being wholly destroyed, and justly averse to falling into the hands of his avaricious, tyrannical, rapacious,and blood-thirsty enemies, taking advantage of the uncommon darkness of the night, and followed by many of his adherents, fled from the fort of Sasnee, and, thus banished from the country of his forefathers, took refuge in the country of the Mahrattas.—That others of his adherents, haying attempted to take shelter in his fort of Bidjegliur, were, to a man, most barbarously cut to pieces by the British troops who surrounded it.—That, on 13th Feb., the said commander-in-chief, not satisfied with the devastation and carnage which had already been made, posted the army under his command before Bidjeghur, stationed them in such a manner as to prevent the garrison from escaping and from receiving any succours, and, after having Summoned the Killedar, rajah Ham Chobbie, to deliver up the fort, upon the promise of sparing the lives of the garrison, and, after having refused to grant the said Killedar a few days to obtain the consent of his master, the said rajah Bugwunt Sing made preparations for storming the fort.—That, on the night of Feb. 27, the said Killedar, incapable of holding out against the attacks of the assailants, and unwilling to give up those who had been entrusted to his care to the merciless enemies of his chief, availing himself of the uncommon darkness of the night, and of a heavy rain, led the garrison out of the fort, and, after being attacked and having many of his followers killed, and great numbers taken prisoners, with much difficulty succeeded in making his escape with the rest.—That, the expulsion of the said rajah Bugwunt Sing and his adherents being
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accomplished, his forts were taken possession of by those who had accomplished it, and all his estates and property of every kind were confiscated for the use of the aforesaid usurped government.—That thus was the said rajah Bugwunt Sing, zemindar of Sasnee and Bidjeghur, a Hindu prince of great worth and courage, the descendant of one of the oldest and mast respected families in Hindustan, solely from an unwillingness to consent to the oppressive and unjust demands of those who had extorted the territories, and usurped the government of his sovereign, treated as a rebel and an outlaw, attacked in his own mansions by a powerful military force, driven in exile, as a criminal and fugitive, from the countries where his forefathers had from time immemorial lived in greatness and splendour; his brave and faithful ad lie rents driven from their families and their homes, dispersed among strangers and enemies, or most wantonly and most barbarously slaughtered; his towns laid waste, his forts seized, and all his possessions for ever wrested from him, and confiscated for the benefit of his avaricious, his unprincipled, and relentless destroyers.—That another of the unfortunate victims to the rapacity, cruelty, and tyranny of the said marquis Wellesley, and his unlawful agents, was the rajah Kakoor Addkeerin, zemindar of Cutchoura, a Hindu prince of venerable ancestry, of great bravery, of large possessions, the chief of a powerful and numerous body of vassals and adherents, and, for many years, a renter of very considerable districts in the Doab, under Almas Ali Khan, the great aumil of the nabob vizier of Oude.—That, conformably with the before-mentioned determination which the said marquis Wellesley had long formed respecting the humiliation of the rajahs and zemindars, and in pursuance of the before-mentioned determination which he had also formed of imposing new burthens upon the people of the extorted countries, an enormous increase of rent was imposed upon the said rajah, and very degrading concessions were exacted from him; which, after some respectful hesitation on his part, and some imperious menace on the part of the agents of the said marquis, were agreed to: the said rajah, intimidated by these threats, "having consented to acquiesce in any terms which might be proposed."—That an arrangement was accordingly made, and a settlement agreed to; and the said rajah was about to give up his guns and ammunition, and evacuate his fort of Cutchoura, conformably to the humiliating and oppressive terms which he had been compelled to accept, when, some

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misunderstanding taking place in Consequence of the insolence and indignity which were offered to the said rajah, by the person who came to enforce the fulfilment of the said stipulations, and in consequence of a gross outrage committed on some of the said rajah's people by some of the Company stroopers, the soldiers of the said rajah, justly indignant at such conduct, were unwilling to give up the fort under such disgrace, and prepared to resist.—That the commander-in-chief, with the army under his command, fresh from the slaughter of the hundreds who had fallen by their hands at Sasnee and Bidjeghur, immediately took up a position before Cutchoura, a strong and well-garrisoned fort, where the said rajah and all his family were, and made preparations for an assault—That the said rajah, anxious to soften the displeasure and avert the enmity of his assailants, and solicitous to prove his adherence to his agreements, and his submission to their will, on the 7th of March wrote the following respectful letter to the said commander-in-chief: "In consequence of a message received from Mr. Russell, I waited upon him at Mecitchy, and accompanied him thence to Aksooly, and accepted the terms of settlement which were proposed to me for the districts of Dihooliser and Cutchoura; and obtained leave to proceed to Cutchoura, for the purpose of sending out the guns and ammunition. I admitted the company of Sepoys, which came along with me into the fort, intending early in the morning to go to Mr. Russel with all the guns, &c. Mr. Russell came to the fort very early in the morning, and, in terms of anger and reproach, ordered me to evacuate and deliver up the fort, desiring me to go immediately, and take my people with me, and treated me with great disrespect. Perceiving this, my soldiers conceived it improper to quit the fort under such circumstances of disgrace, and prepared to resist. Just then the Sepous went away. Soon afterwards the Dewan Sooka Loll and the Mulavi arrived from Aksooly, and having restored peace to my mind, they departed. a short time had elapsed, when 4 or 5 troopers galloped after 2 or 3 of my people, whom they wounded with their swords; and thus began hostilities. My people seeing no alternative, fired 2 or 3 matchlocks. My evil destiny has created this misunderstanding. I never meant to wage war, nor do I now. You are master and ruler of the country; if, out of your great bounty, you will cast a favour
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able eye on me, and allow me to reside in this place, it will be an act of mercy and great kindness. I am ready to pay the stipulated revenue, to be perfectly obedient, and never to shelter myself behind any excuse; and whatever you shall order respecting me, shall be fulfilled."—That to this letter, explaining so minutely and so faithfull the cause of the misunderstanding that had taken place, and testifying so fully the great regret which that circumstance had produced expressing, in such mild and submissive terms, the willingness of the said rajah to do whatever might be required of him by those whose displeasure he so sincerely deprecated, and whose favour he so earnestly courted, and, from its unaffected and ingenuous simplicity, so well calculated to excite, not merely the clemency, but the compassion, and the good-will of the humane the generous, and the just, the said commander-in-chief, on the same day, returned the following harsh, severe, and haughty answer: "After having so wantonly broken your faith in refusing to evacuate and deliver up the fort of Cutchoura, agreeably to the terms of your agreement with Mr. Russell,and treated the troops who went with you to receive possession of the place with harshness and contempt, turning them out of the fort, and thereby proclaiming war; the only terms which can now be granted are, that you shall deliver up the fort, the garrison, your children, and yourself, to the commander-in-chief, to be disposed of as he shall judge proper. No promise of future favour to you or your people is to be understood to be granted. If these terms, are accepted, they must be fulfilled by sun-rise to-morrow morning, and the garrison are to leave their arms in the fort, and march out unarmed.—That these terms, so degrading, so insulting, and so barbarous, so unworthy of a British general to demand, and of a Hindu prince to receive, not being complied with, the said commander-in-chief, on the following day, proceeded to attack the said rajah's fort.—That the said rajah, having withstood these attacks for several days, and being at last convinced of the hopelessness of resistance, awed by the terrible example of the rajah Bugwunt Sing, seeing no safety but in flight, justly averse to the ignominious surrender of himself, his children, and his people, to his cruel, rapacious, and implacable enemies, and driven to despair by the unrelenting severity of his assailants, did, on the night of March 12, with his whole family

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and several thousands of his faithful followers, (as it is thus described in a letter from the said commander-in-chief to the said marquis Wellesley,) "rush out of the fort, with an intention of forcing their way through the chain of posts by which they were surrounded; when they were immediately attacked by the advanced parties, and pursued for 4 miles with great slaughter: Hunserage Sing, the second son of the rajah, the rajah's Dewan, and 4 of his principal commanders, being among the killed; and the number of private men who fell being very great.—That the family and followers of the said rajah being thus inhumanely massacred, and himself driven from his home and his country with the rest, his forts were taken possession of by the conquerors, and all his estates and property of every kind confiscated.—That thus was the said rajah Kakoor Addkeerin, zemindar of Cutchoura, a descendant of the ancient princes of Hindustan, after being insulted with the most humiliating and barbarous proposals, attacked by a powerful army in his own fortress, driven from the country where his ancestors had for many generations lived in princely grandeur, to wander as an outcast among strangers; his son, his dewan, his commanders, and great numbers of his vassals, most wantonly and most inhumanely massacred, and the rest dispersed or taken captive; his villages laid waste, his fields ravaged, his forts seized, and all his possessions for ever wrested from him, and confiscated for the use of his avaricious, his unprincipled, and his relentless destroyers.—That all these acts and proceedings, so disgraceful to the British name, so openly in violation of all law, so repugnant to justice, and so shocking to humanity, were committed towards persons over whom the said marquis Wellesley had no just or legal controul, from whom he had no right to exact allegiance, and who owed no obedience to his commands, but who were, in law and in fact, the subjects of the nabob vizier of Oude; the said marquis having most iniquitously extorted the countries in which these deeds were acted, from that unfortunate and despoiled prince, and exercising in it, in the name of the East-India Company, an unlawful, despotic, and usurped authority.—That, the said acts and proceedings having been committed either by the said marquis Wellesley himself, or by persons whom he had illegally appointed, and for whose conduct he was responsible, or by persons who acted under his orders, and for whose actions he was accountable; and the
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said marquis having been regularly and duly informed of the said acts and proceedings while they were in the course of commission, and not only having never discountenanced, prohibited, or censured them, but, on the contrary, having formally approved them, and publicly thanked those by whom they were committed; the said marquis is justly chargeable with all the said acts and proceedings.—That, in all and singular of the above recited acts and proceedings, the said Richard Colley marquis Wellesley has been wholly unmindful of the solemn engagements of duty to the East-India Company, to his sovereign, and to his country, by him entered into; has daringly contemned the parliament, the king and the laws, and dishonoured the British nation and name; and has therein been guilty of high offences, crimes, and misdemeanours."

MILITIA OFFICERS' BILL.
Mr. Secretary Windhamsaid, that the estimates, relating to the pay of Militia Officers, went to extend the same additional allowance to subalterns in the militia, as to those in the regulars. But it was not proposed to extend this allowance to the field-officers of the militia: the reason of which was, that, from the constitution of the militia service, they were necessarily men of considerable property, besides what arose from their pay. He then moved for leave to bring in a bill, to amend the acts of the 42d of the king, as far as related to the pay of militia officers.
Sir W. Elfordexpressed his astonishment, that so great a state-question, as whether the captains in the militia should be on a different footing from those of the regulars, should be brought forward at such a late period of the session, when most of the militia officers had retired from the house to their military avocations. It was a measure founded on this most unwarrantable principle, that, because men filling official situations had private property, they should therefore forego their official salary. But he had not heard that it was ever proposed, that the duke of Bedford, for instance, should relinquish his official salary as lord lieutenant of Ireland, because he possessed a large private fortune. Many of the field-officers of the militia were possessed of very moderate fortunes. He had belonged to that body for 20 years, and he had found his pay fully exhausted by his contribution to the mess, and by his house-rent alone when on service: an extension

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of the additional pay to those would, therefore, prove acceptable. Every private gentleman who entered the militia as an officer, gave up his time to the service, and was, in a great degree, incapacitated from attending to his private affairs. He therefore deprecated the measure as unconstitutional, and not founded on any analogy with what took place as to individuals in other official situations.
Colonel Woodobserved, that field-officers in the militia must possess a certain degree of property in the country, and therefore there was not the same reason for making an addition to their pay, as for increasing that of field-officers in the regulars, who were in general very differently situated.
Mr. Percevalcontended, that the principle of the measure went to spew, that officers of the militia should have no pay at all.—Leave was then given to bring in the bill, which was accordingly brought up by the secretary at war, who moved that it be read a first time.
Sir W. Elfordprotested against the principle of the bill, which would give a deathblow to the militia.
The Secretary at War said, that the notice which he had given was, that an increase of pay should be given only to officers of a particular rank, and in certain cases, as it was expressed in the bill. This was not exactly a measure for a general increase of pay, therefore the hon. baronet might as well complain that it was not extended to colonels.
Mr. Percevalsaid, that, from what he now understood the bill to be, it gave much greater powers to ministers than what were necessary for the object which they had in view. The law at present was, that the militia, as to pay, should be exactly on the same footing with the infantry in the regulars. But now it appeared that, in certain cases, an increase was to be allowed to the one and not to the other. But the particular object was to give the increase of pay to the militia subalterns, and to withhold it from the other officers. There was no such particular distinction, however, in the bill. Besides, the principle would certainly go this length, that no pay should be allowed to the superior militia officers at all, and the measure could not be defended on any other ground. This might be a good principle, but it certainly was one which deserved some consideration before it was established; and therefore to
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propose it at this late period of the session, was not very fitting.
Mr. Windhamstated, that this Would not affect the officers now serving in the militia, as they were not put upon a worse footing than when they entered, and this went only so far as to say, that they had no claim to a participation in the proposed increase.—But the learned gentleman objected to the principle. The principle, however, was not what he had stated it to be. It was not that the militia officers ought to have no pay at all, but upon the plain and obvious one, that different kinds of service ought to be differently rewarded. The pay, it was true, had been the same hitherto: but was that a reason why it should not be varied if there should appear good cause for it? A certain proportion had been established between the pay of officers of different ranks: but that, too, might be varied, if there was reason for it. As to the militia officers above a certain rank, they must have private fortunes: and could it be contended, that, because you gave an increase of pay to officers in the army, whose services must be acknowledged to be of a superior nature, who might have no private fortune, and might be obliged to depend solely on their pay for the establishment of their future lives, you ought, therefore, to allow the same increase to persons in circumstances altogether different? The thing was preposterous on the face of it. He then adverted to the additional expence which an allowance of additional pay to the superior militia officers, would occasion, and contended that this ought to be avoided, since there was no necessity for it.
Lord Castlereaghsaid, that a badge of inferiority would thus be fixed upon the militia officers, much more hurtful to their feelings than the want of the pay, and they would consider this as a precursor of some future measure still further to degrade them. The right hon. secretary himself had recognised the principle of an equal pay, by giving it to the subalterns. The militia captains might be equally in want of the pay, because the qualification required was only 200 l. a year. The saving altogether would not be more than 17,000 l. But, suppose the increase of pay should be allowed to the captains, the savings then would be quite trifling. The sum for the increase of pay to the regular field-officers was only 16,000 l. The militia were in numbers about one-third of the regulars, and the saving would only be the third of

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16,000 l. He called upon the noble lord opposite (Temple) to support the cause of the militia on the present occasion, as he had done at former periods.
Mr. Alexanderstated the influence which their situation gave to militia colonels, who possessed advantages which could not be possessed by the regular colonels.
Lord Castlereaghobserved, that if the hon. gent. had looked at the estimate, he would have found that the additional pay did not extend to the colonels in either case.
Lord Templepressed his wish that his hon. friend would reconsider his measure. Upon the principle which he had stated, different parts of the army itself might have different claims. As to the colonels of militia, they had no claim whatever. The field-officers had not much; but as to the captains, he must really insist upon the pay being extended to them, because if officers could not be found with the proper qualifications, power had lately been given to accept of them without, and many had been therefore admitted without the qualification.
Lord De Blaquierehoped that there could be no difference of opinion as to the necessity of extending the additional allowance to the captains of militia. But he thought the distinction extremely invidious, even as applied to the field-officers. He was surprised that this period of the session should be chosen for the introduction of such a measure, when the militia officers had left their duty in this house, to go discharge more pressing duties, and he hoped, therefore, that it would be reconsidered.
Colonel Craufurdcould not see why the measure should be objected to, except it was with a view to render his right hon. friend unpopular with the militia and volunteers; a purpose in which the hon. gent. on the other side had laboured with great perseverance, but he believed with little success. The cavalry were excluded from this increase of pay, and so were the guards, upon the principle that they could go on very well without any addition, while, in the cases where it was allowed, there was a necessity for it. It was to prevent meritorious officers from being put in prison, or being forced to quit the service, from the absolute inability of existing upon their pay. If there was no complaint on account of the cavalry and the guards, where was the ground for complaint in the case of the militia?
General Tarletonknew, froth his own observation, that the militia were brought to a very high state of discipline, and this was owing to the officers. They were fit to combat with any regular troops against any enemy whatever; and when there was so much merit on the part of the officers, it was hard to make this invidious distinction.—The bill was then ordered to be read a second time the next day.—Sir C. Pole, pursuant to notice, moved for leave to bring in a bill to extend the advantages of the 35th of the king to the petty officers, seamen, and marines, in the navy, by enabling them to allot part of their wages to the support of their wives and families. Leave given. The bill was then brought up, read a first, and ordered to be read a second time the next day.—The nabob of Arcot's Debts bill was reported, and ordered to be read a third time the next day.

VOLUNTEER OFFICERS' RANK BILL.
On the motion of Mr. Windham, the house resolved itself into a committee on the Volunteer Officers' Rank bill.
Mr. Alderman Combefollowing up the principle, for which he had formerly contended, that rank should not be taken from those who already enjoyed it, moved that the words "shall have been" should be left out, for the purpose of inserting the words "shall hereafter be." The effect of this would be, that the provisions of the bill would extend only to those who might hereafter become colonels of volunteer corps.
Mr. H. Addingtonsaid, that he had no unpleasant feelings whatever at the idea of being commanded, in case of his corps being called out for service, by any regular field-officer. On the contrary, he was glad that he was relieved from the responsibility that might attach to him, in case it should have been his fortune to have commanded a field-officer of the regulars. This was the feeling of every volunteer colonel with whom he had conversed on the subject.
Mr. S. Bournesaid, that it was a very, different thing to consider whether this rank ought to have been given originally, and to take it away when given. This was not a new thing. It existed when the right hon. gentleman was secretary at war. The highest rank at present was lieutenant-colonel; but then there were full colonels of volunteers, with the rank of regular colonels in the army. But suppose there should be a regular major in a volunteer corps, it might turn out, that, in case of actual

1041
service, the major might command his own colonel. Old officers in the volunteers might, also, be commanded by in ferior officers in the army.
Lord Temple explained, that there was no danger of a major commanding his own colonel, as his rank was like brevet rank in the army, and not in the particular regiment.
General Tarletoncontended, that no evil whatever could result, from allowing the volunteer officers to retain their rank. The guards enjoyed a different rank from the other parts of the army; yet, though they had served in America, in Flanders, and in other places, no inconvenience had been felt—they had been brigaded by themselves. The militia, the volunteers, and the army, might go on in the same manner without jealousy. He would mix them all without any apprehension. He would have no apprehension that the volunteers would turn their backs, but they might be too rash. How was this to be corrected? By discipline. The country would have to regret the retarding of the discipline of the volunteers by the measures of the right hon. gent. If they had been permitted to have gone on, they would have been fit for any duty.
Sir C. Pricesaid, that, in every step taken with regard to the volunteers, something was done to degrade them. He adverted to the manner in which the volunteers had at first come forward, and thought that they deserved to be complimented instead of being degraded.
Lord De Blaquiereapproved of the bill, and thought that serious mischief would arise in the moment of services unless its provisions were adopted. It would then be proper that the volunteers should be commanded by those who had never seen service. An hon. general had talked of the guards, but they had commanded up to their rank in the army, and no inconvenience arose from this circumstance.
Mr. Secretary Windhamcould not imagine it to be seriously meant, that officers ranking as colonels of Volunteers could take any offence at being, in case of actual service, obliged to act under the command of officers in the line of inferior rank. Field-officers of volunteers might be very respectable men, and very worthy characters, but then they were not military men in the technical sense of the word; and, of course, could not be competent to take a superior command of troops in actual
1042
service, over the heads of men, who had devoted their. whole lives to the military profession, and-were radically and experimentally instructed in the profession of arms. Would any gentleman, who happened to be on board a man of war, or who held an employment of high rank in the civil department of the navy, take offence because he was not thought competent to take the command of a ship or squadron, in preference to a sailor regularly bred to the profession? Would any gentleman of the highest academic attainments, and political experience, take offence at being thought incompetent to assume the post of a law officer of the crown? In a word, could any man, not bred to a particular profession, feel himself offended at being thought less competent to take a lead in that profession, than a man who had been regularly bred to it? And yet this was the kind of circumstance, at which, in every other case, it would be absurd and ridiculous to conceive offence, which was now termed an insult to the officers of volunteers, without considering that such an arrangement as that contended for, in case of actual danger, might be attended with the very worst consequences, even under the command of the most valiant field-officer of volunteers, that that branch of the service could possibly afford. Courage and zeal formed only one part of the qualification for command; experience and technical knowledge were, to the full, as necessary. The worthy alderman was ready to admit it was very right that the principle should be adopted with volunteer field-officers to be hereafter appointed; but .that the alteration might not take place in respect to those already appointed. Why then, if it was right it should never be done hereafter surely it would have been equally right if the thing had never been done. In admitting the former principle, gentlemen acknowledged the latter; and, therefore, it was better, even late, to correct an error, which was admitted to be one, before any mischief accrued from it. An hon. and learned gent. (Mr. Perceval) had assumed a good deal of merriment upon a former occasion, on the circumstance of his (Mr. Windham's) having procured himself a colonel's command of volunteers in a corps without any other officers; but this, like many other of that gentleman's merry or serious arguments, was founded in gross misconception. It was true, he had been appointed to the

1043
office of a volunteer colonel in some corps in his neighbourhood, but it was an appointment not of his choice or seeking; besides, he never knew that the corps alluded to, the Felbrig volunteers, had not the same proportion of subaltern officers, as other corps of the like description.
Mr. Percevalhad only argued from the fact, as it appeared by the papers on the table; and if there was a mistake, it was owing to his friends in office. The corps, however, was as good a corps as one without officers could be expected to be. He believed it had not even a constable, but it appeared that at the time the right hon. gent. Knew so little about his own corps, that it was not till now he was enabled to correct the mistake. But the right hon. gent. did not adopt his own principle to its full extent, otherwise it would apply to the militia. He ought rather to have recalled the commissions of the volunteer colonels. He was now reducing them to the very thing which he bad described them to be. They were now really "the painted cherries." Nothing could lower the officers more, in the eyes of the country, than allowing them the title of colonels, without the effective rank.
Mr. Longsaid, that if the right hon. gent. favoured the volunteers, they were very ungrateful, for they did not give him credit for it. He asked, whether there were any regulations for doing away the allowances of pay and clothing, as it was understood to be the intention to suffer the volunteers to moulder away?
General Torletonthought that if the volunteer officers had eagerly put themselves forward, there might be some ground for the measure; but a lieutenant Bayley, who had served at the Havannah with great applause, and who now commanded a corps of 4000 volunteers, had modestly stood aside when they were inspected. Of this corps, captain Gore, whose services in America would be well remembered, was the major; and yet these men were to be degraded.
Mr. C. Wynneadmitted that these were officers of experience, but they were particular exceptions. It would be unpleasant in time of service for inexperienced volunteer officers to command regular field-officers, and this feeling had been expressed by the colonel of the light-horse volunteers, in whose favour an exception might be made, if in any case.
Mr. Ryder wished, that the right hon. gent. had condescended to answer his hon.
1044
friend's question as to the pay and clothing, as it might be necessary to have a clear understanding on this point, with a view to the subject which was to come on the next day.
Mr. Windhamsaid, that there was no occasion for his answering what he had stated over and over again, especially as the question was asked with a view to the motion of the next day, the nature of which had not been communicated to him, nor to the house. This might be a stratagem of war against his majesty's ministers, but it was not very candid to the house.
Mr. Longconsidered it hard that he should suffer for the fault of another.
Mr. Windhamsaid, that he certainly had no inclination to answer, merely on account of the motion for the next day; but he had before distinctly stated, that the pay and clothing was not to be allowed such volunteers as should enter in future.—The amendment was then negatived.

INDIA BUDGET.
On the motion of lord Morpeth, it was ordered, that the several Accounts and Papers, which have been presented to the house in this session of parliament, relating to the Revenues of the East-India Company, be referred to the consideration of a committee of the whole house. The house having accordingly resolved itself into the said committee, Mr. Hobhouse in the chair,
Lord Morpethrose, in consequence of the notice he had given, to submit to the consideration of the house, a statement of the financial affairs of the East-India company, a subject at all times of high importance to this country, but never more so at any period than at the present moment. In all the wide-extended affairs of government, there was not one which more peculiarly called for the vigilant superintendance and scrutiny of parliament, than the system of finance, upon which so materially depended the permanent prosperity of any government; and, though the statement he should this day have the honour to submit to the committee, would not be of a nature so very flattering as had been made of late years, by some of his predecessors in the department he had the honour to fill; yet having devoted the short period, since he had filled his present situation, in endeavouring, with the utmost assiduity, to make himself acquainted with the real state of the company's affairs, both at home and in India, with respect to their debts, their revenues, and commerce, as well as the various charges upon their government

1045
and trade in all its departments, he should lay before the committee the most clear and candid statement he Was enabled to make; leaving it for the committee to decide upon the tenour of that statement, and the motions he should have the honour of founding thereon. He felt it unnecessary to trespass longer upon the attention of the committee, and should now proceed to his proposed detail, referring to the documents on the table, in support of the Several points of his statement. The noble lord then proceeded to a detail of the several items to which he alluded; of which items the following is a comprehensive and accurate view:

BENGAL.

£

REVENUES, No. 1.—Excluding the Revenues of the Ceded Provinces in Oude on account of their intermixture with the Arrears of Subsidy in some of the years, and the variation in the mode of statement in the last year, and, taking the Company's fried ancient Revenues alone, the average in the three years in this statement amounts to

6,166,581

Which exceeds the, average on the three years one year back

337,692

No. 3. Estimated for 1803–4

8,064,981

Actual Amount

8,060,993

Less than Estimate

3,988

CHARGES, No. 3.—Estimated for 1803-4

5,066,940

Actual Amount

5,434,291

More than Estimate

367,351

Add deficiency of Revenue to excess of Charge, the Net Revenue is less than estimated, by

371,339

And the Net Revenue for 1803-4 is

2,626,702

ESTIMATES for 1804–5.

REVENUES, No. 1

8,167,792

CHARGES, No. 2

5,956,208

Net Revenue

2,211,584

REVENUES estimated more than actual, 1803–4

106,799

CHARGES estimated more than ditto

521,917

Net Revenue, estimated for 1864-5,less than preceding year

415,118

MADRAS.

REVENUES—Excluding the Revenues of Arcot and of the Provinces ceded by the Nizam on account of the early years, being in part Subsidy and in part Revenue Collections, the average receipts on the years 1801-2 to 1803-4,as by No. 4, is

2,965,199

Being less than the average of the three years 1800-1 to 1802-3, in the sum of

49,102

REVENUES, No. 6—Estimated for 1803-4

4,888,895

Actual amount

4,653,401

Less than Estimate

235,494

CHARGES, No. 6—Estimated for 1803-4

5,018,157

Actual amount

6,136,845

More than Estimated

1,118,688

1046

£

Add deficiency of Revrenue to excess of Charge, the Net Charge is more than estimated, by

7,354,182

And the Net Charge for 1803-4 is

1,483,444

ESTIMATES, 1804–5.

REVENUES, No. 4.

4,659,326

CHARGES, No. 5.

5,420,029

Net Charge

760,703

REVENUES estimated more than actual of 1803–4

5,925

CHARGES estimated less than ditto

716,816

Net Charge estimated for 1804-5 less than preceding year

722,741

BOMBAY.

REVENUES, No. 7.—An adjustment of these Revenues, as of those of the other Presidencies, should have been made on account of the addition to the two last years, by Treaty and Conquest. As the amount in not specified, the average must be stated on the gross receipts on the years 1801-2 to 1803-4, it amounted to

408,062

Which exceeds the average 1800-1 to 1802-3, excluding a small receipt from the Orded Countries

99,020

REVENUES, No.9.—Estimated for 1803-4

518,575

Actual Amount

558,650

More than Estimate

40,075

CHARGES, No. 9.—Estimated for 1803-4

1,478,881

Actual Amount

1,642,978

More than Estimate

164,097

Deduct Excess of Revenue from Excess of Charge, the Net Charge is more than estimated, by

124,022

And the Net Charge of the Year 1803–4

1,084,328

ESTIMATES. 1804–5.

REVENUES, No. 7

731,391

CHARGES, No. 8

1,873,933

Net Charge

1,142,542

Revenues estimated more than actual, 1803-4

172,741

Charges estimated more than ditto

230,955

Net Charge estimated for 1804-5, more than preceding year

58,214

BENCOOLEN and other SETTLEMENTS.

No. 10, A.—Revenues of Fort Marlbro' in the year 1802–3

13,985

Charges of ditto

122,132

Net Charge

108,147

SUPPLIES from BENGAL to FORT MARLERRO' PENANG, &c. estimated for 1803–4

212,628

No. 18.—Actual Amount

304,056

More than estimated

91,428

NO.11.—Supplies estimated for 1804-5

287,680

GENERAL VIEW.

Result of the Year 1803-4 collectively. REVENUES—Bengal by No. 3

8,060,993

Madras 6

4,653,401

Bombay 9

558,650

Total Revenues

13,273,044

1047

£

CHARGES—Bengal, by No. 3

5,434,294

Madras, 6

6,136,845

Bombay, 9

1,642,978

Total Charges

13,214,114

Net Revenue of the three Presidencies

58,930

Deducted from Supplies to Bencoolen, &c. by No. 18

304,056

Leaves a Net Charge of

245,126

Add Interest, &c. paid on the Debts at Bengal, by No. 18

957,727

Madras, 19

334,179

Bombay, 20

*242,852

Total Interest

1,534,758

The Total amounting to is the Sum in which the Charges and Interest exceeded the Produce of the Territorial Revenues.

1,779,884

From which deduct the Amount of the Sales of Imports, by No.15

655,481

The Remainder

1,124,403

Shews the Amount in which, in the year 1803-4, the Resources from Revenue and Sales of Imports were in sufficient to defray the Charges, and the Interest on the Debts.

Amount advanced for the purchase of Investments, Payment of Commercial Charges and in aid of China—

At Bengal, by No. 18

1,380,855

Madras, 19

706,771

Bombay, 20

193,844

Fort Marlbro' 22

39,014

Total Advances for Investments

2,320,484

Cargoes consigned to Europe, in 1803-4, with Charges by No. 22

1,674,645

GENERAL VIEW

Result of the ESTIMATES for the Year 1804–5, collectively.

REVENUES—Bengal, by No. 1

8,167,792

Madras, 4

4,659,326

Bombay, 7

731,391

Total Revenues

13,558,509

CHARGES—Bengal, by No. 2

5,956,208

Madras, 5

5,420,029

Bombay, 8

1,873,933

Total Charges

13,250,170

Net Revenue of the three Presidencies

308,339

Deduct Supplies to Bencoolen, &c., by No. 11

287,680

Reminder

20,659

Deducted from Interest on Debts, by No. 16

†1,754,843

The Sum then remaining is the Amount in which the Charges and Interest are estimated to exceed the Revenues.

1,734,184

Deduct Amount estimated to be received on the Sales of Imports, by No. 15

602,993

The Remainder is the Amount in which the Charges

1,131,191

*This Sum includes 140,436 l. paid the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund for Interest on the Securities in their Hands.
†Includes 166,454 l. payable to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.
1048

£

of Government and Interest on the Debts are estimated to exceed the Resources expected to be derived from the territorial Revenues, and from the Sales of Imports, in the year 1804-5.

DEBTS IN INDIA.

Amount stated, to April 1803 21,881,571 Deduct in the hands of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund

2,012,348

Net Amount of Dehts, on the 30th April, 1803

19,869,223

Amount on 30th April, 1804, by No. 16. of present Account

25,336,263

Deduct Sinking Fund, as above

2,800,056

Net Amount of Debts on 30th April, 1804

22,536,207

Increase

2,666,984

DEBTS BEARING INTEREST.

Amount in April 1803

18,712,933

Deduct in the hands of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund

1,686,917

Net Amount of Debts bearing Interest on 30th April, 1803

17,026,016

Amount on 30th April, 1804, by No. 16

21,276,466

Deduct Sinking Fund, as above

2,244,532

Net Amount of Debts, bearing Interest on 30th April 1804

19,031,934

Increase of Debt bearing Interest

2,005,918

Amount of Interest payable on Debt owing in April 1803

1,574,011

Deduct Interest on Securities in the hands of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund

126,360

Net Amount of Interest payable on Debt owing 30th April, 1803

1,447,651

Amount payable on Debt, in April 1804, by No. 16

1,754,843

Deduct Sinking Fund, as above

166,454

Net Amount of Interest payable on Debt, owing 30th April, 1804

1,588,389

Increase of Interest payable

140,738

ASSETS IN INDIA.

Consisting of Cash, Goods, Stores, &c. in April 1803

14,630,971

Deduct Balance and Securities in hands of Commissioners of the Sinking Fund

2,012,348

Net Amount of Assets on the 30th April, 1803

12,618,623

1049

Consisting as above, on 30th April 1804, by No 21

17,252,399

Deduct Sinking Fund, as above

2,800,056

Net Amount of Assets, on 30th April, 1804

14,452,343

Increase of Assets

1,833,720

Deducting Increase of Assets from Increase of Debts, the State of the Company's Affairs, in this view, is worse in April 1804, than in April 1803, in the Suns of

833,264

HOME ACCOUNTS.

No. 25—Aggregate Amount of Sale in 1804-5

8,044,392

Less than the Year preceding

380,876

The Sales of the Company's Goods were less by

609,991

The sales of Private-Trade Goods were more by

229,115

Making the Net difference, as above

380,876

The Sales of the Company's Goods were estimated at

6,868,700

The actual Amount was

5,267,578

Being less than estimated

1,601,122

The Receipts on the Sales of the Company's Goods were estimated at

6,598,496

They actually amounted to

5,730,153

Being less than estimated

5,730,133

Being less than estimated

868,363

The Charges and Profit on Private Trade were estimated to amount to

1,50,000

The actual Amount was

90,536

Being less than estimated

59,464

GENERAL RESULT.

From the disappointment in the Produce of the Sales, with a large Payment in Bonds by the Purchasers, and from a greater Expenditure on Account of India and China than first intended, the Deficit would have appeared in the Cash Balance of this Year to a considerable Amount; but the Sum borrowed from Government, a Loan from the Bank, and an Issue of Company's Bonds, have so operated, that the Balance of Cash estimated to remain in favour of the Company on the 1st of March, 1805, to the Amount of

157,634

was found, by the actual Accounts of the Year to be

12,020

which was less than estimated, by the Sum of

145,614

HOME ACCOUNTS.

ESTIMATE, 1805—6.

No. 23—Sale of the Company's Goods estimated to amount to

6,301,414

GENERAL RESULT.

Notwithstanding the Receipts from the Sales are estimated much higher than the Actual of the last Year, and the Expectation is stated of a Payment by Government of a Million, the various Demands upon the Treasury are so great for Freight and Demorage,

1050

the Repayment to Government of 500,000 l. borrowed in the last Year, and on other Accounts, that the Balance on the 1st March,1806, is estimated to be against the Company in the Sum of

62,836

DEBTS AT HOME.

On the 1st March, 1804

4,788,865

No. 23, on the 1st March, 1805

6,012,196

Increase

1,223,331

ASSETS AT HOME.

On the 1st March, 1804

19,168,736

No. 23, on the 1st March, 1805

20,412,659

Increase

1,273,923

Deducting the Increase of Debt from the Increase of Assets, the Home Concern exhibits, in this view, an Improvement in the Year amounting to

50,592

CHINA and ST. HELENA.

Balance at China, on 31st January, 1803, against

260,000

Balance at China, on 29th January, 1804, in favour, No. 24

182,390

Increase at China

443,290

Balance at St. Helena on 30th Sept. 1802, in favour

105,194

Balance at St. Helena on 30th Sept. 1803, in favour, No. 24

105,382

Increas at St. Helena.

188

Total Increase at China and St. Helena

443,473

GENERAL COMPARISON of DEBTS and ASSETS.

Increase of Debts in India

2,666,984

Increase of Debts at Home

1,223,331

Total Increase of Debts

3,890,315

Increase of Assets in India

1,833,720

Increase of Assets at Home

1,273,923

3,107,643

Add—Net Increase of Balance at China and St. Helena

443,478

Total Increase of Assets

3,551,121

Deducted from the Increase of Debt, will shew a Deterioration to have taken place on the whole Concern in this view, during the Years 1803-4 Abroad, and 1804-5 at Home, to the Amount of

339,194

Add—Amount received in India, and included in the Quick Stock there, dated April 30, 1804, which formed part of the Cargoes afloat Outwards, in the Assets at Home

583,299

Goods in the Export Warehouses in India on the 30th April, 1804, arrived in England, and included in Assets at Home

43,619

626,918

1051

The Amount of the Deterioration will then be

966,112

The Assets at Home exhibited an Increase in. Value during the Year, in the Sum of 442,192 l. from the Insertion of the Amount of the Claims of the Company on the Public, it having been calculated before it was under the Consideration of Parliament. As this Branch of the Concern is under Examination, upon Principles recommended by a Committee of the House of Commons, which will lessen its Amount, a further considerable Adjustment will hereafter be requisite.

ABSTRACT of ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS.—BUDGET, 1805.—General View of Estimates, 1805-6.

Revenues of Bengal

3,763,220

Madras

4,774,296

Bombay

742,017

Total Revenues

14,279,538

Charges of Bengal

7,415,370

Madras

5,650,182

Bombay

1,580,292

Total Charges

14,645,844

Net Charge of the three Presidencies

366,311

Add Supplies to Bencoolen, Prince of Wales' Island, &c.

266,800

Total Surplus Charge

633,111

Add further—Interest on the Debts

1,823,040

Interest payable to Commissioners of Sinking Fund, on Securities redeemed

195,788

Total Interest

2,018,828

Total Excess of Charge beyond the Produce of the Revenues, as estimated for the Year 1805–6

2,651,939

exclusive- of Commercial Charges not added to the Invoices, amounting to 199,806 l.

DEBTS IN INDIA.

Amount of Debt, 30th April, 1804, by No. 16

25,336,263

Amount, in the hands of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund

2,800,056

Net Amount of Debts, on 30th April, 1804

22,536,207

Amount as to Bengal, January 1805, and Madras, and Bombay, 30th April, 1805

23,197,499

Deduct, Sinking Fund, as above

3,151,065

Net Amount of Debts in 1805

25,046,436

Increase

2,510,227

DEBTS BEARING INTEREST.

Amount in April 1804 by No. 16

21,276,466

1052

Deduct, in the hands of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund

2,245,532

Net Amount of Debts bearing Interest on 30th April, 1804

19,051,934

Amount on 30th April, 1805, generally

24,221,706

Deduct Sinking Fund, as above

2,616,739

Net Amount of Debts bearing Interest on 30th April, 1805

21,604,967

Increase

2,573,033

Amount of Interest payable on the Debt owing on 30th April, 1804, by No. 16

1,754,843

Deduct Interest on Securities in the hands of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund

166,454

Net Amount of Interest payable on Debt owing on 30th April, 1804

1,588,389

Amount payable on Debt in April 1805

2,017,358

Deduct Sinking Fund, as above

195,788

Net Amount of interest payable on Debt owing on 30th April, 1805

1,821,576

Increase of Interest payable

233,181

His lordship, on the whole, did not think he went too far, when he said, that, in his opinion, the deficiency or excess of charge could not be taken at less than 3 millions. The debts, bearing interest in India, he was aware, there might be danger of having called in, though the directors had the power of protracting the payment for sometime. should this be the case, some extraordinary means might be necessary to be resorted to; but of this there was no immediate appearance. It might be expected that he should be able to give some account of the measures proposed to be adopted for reducing the expenditure in India. It was well known, that government had lately been pretty much employed in devising measures of reform in the public expenditure, but it was deemed more expedient to wait till it was seen how far any schemes of the kind were practicable, before they should be gone into as to India. It would be the duty of the commissioners, for Indian affairs, to call the attention of parliament to this subject, at as early a period as possible. It was not his intention to trouble the committee on the subject of the treaties with Scindea or Hlkar, nor did he think himself even call

1053
ed on to give any opinion on that subject. He knew it was the opinion of others, that these treaties were honourable to the British character, and calculated to preserve pacific dispositions in India. On the whole, though he admitted that the financial department in India did not wear the most cheerful aspect, and although he would be the last person in the world to raise sanguine hopes, which were not likely to be realised, still he thought it would be wrong to give any sanction to unmanly despondency. Our resources in the East were great, and, by proper management and economy, might still be brought to answer our highest expectations. He did not speak of that economy which would teach us to withhold a reward from merit, or to retrench in the becoming grandeur of the executive government—economy which only tended to defeat the objects which it had in view—but that economy, which would teach us to act on principles of moderation, justice, and equity. His lordship concluded by moving his first resolution, shewing the revenues of, the provinces in Oude in 1803-4. On the question being put,
Mr. Johnstoneexpressed the high satisfaction which he felt at the fair and candid manner, in which the noble lord had made his statement. He heartily concurred with the noble lord in the importance of the subject, of which, notwithstanding the house had uniformly treated it with so much indifference, the attendance that night furnished an additional proof. He could not, however, help thinking that the noble lord was himself somewhat to blame, in having so long delayed bringing forward the subject, the papers necessary to make the statements having been in this country for nearly twelve month's; and it having been promised, in the month of February last, that the attention of the house should be speedily called to them. In looking at the accounts, which were as full and distinct as could well be expected, he could not help remarking, that though the period to which they applied was a period of war, a great part of the increase was for civil charges. He thought, without withholding any due reward from meritorious services to the company, the expences in the civil establishment might be greatly reduced. He hoped, with the noble lord, that we should always observe moderation and good faith in our conduct with the neighbouring states; but what concern that could have in diminishing our expences, he could not conceive. The noble lord had guarded
1054
the house against any apprehension they might otherwise have entertained, that the splendour of the executive government in India should be diminished. What did this mean? He could understand such an observation, if applied to the monarchies of Europe; but he contended that all our acquirements, all our wealth, and all our character in India, were obtained, without the least idea of maintaining any of the splendour alluded to by the noble lord. He considered, and he believed that it was generally considered, that the conduct of sir George Barlow, in the conclusion of the treaties, and in the economical regulations which he had instituted, was highly meritorious; and it surely would have been becoming in his majesty's ministers to have allowed him to carry into effect the arrangements which he had commenced. He detailed the circumstances attending the original appointment of sir G. Barlow to the governor generalship of India, with his subsequent recall; and contended, that the act on Which his majesty's ministers had proceeded, was intended to apply only to extreme cases, of which this was not one. For 22 years, it had never been deemed adviseable to exercise the prerogative which the act established. The first appointment of sir G. Barlow, on the part of his majesty's ministers, was a deliberate action. Refusing him whom the first minister of the crown (Mr. Fox) had formerly described as the man best calculated to be entrusted with the government of India, (Mr Francis,) they appointed sir G. Barlow. Notwithstanding that his measures even anticipated the hopes and expectations of his employers, he was, in twelve days afterwards, superseded without the shadow of a cause. He had heard it stated, that this removal took place because sir G. Barlow was a servant of the company. However he might feel the propriety of placing a man of rank and consequence at the head of the government in India, in preference to one who might be better acquainted with the details of business; yet he thought that this principle might be pushed too far. If ever there was a case in which it ought to have s been departed from, it was that on which he was speaking. He had also been told, that sir G. Barlow was recalled, because he did not possess the personal confidence of a ministers. Two noble lords, however, under whose administration the British interests in India had flourished, in the highest degree; he meant, lord Macartney, and lord Cornwallis; did not, he believed,

1055
enjoy much of the personal confidence of the administrations, which existed in England during the period of their government. Another whimsical reason for this recall, which, when he coupled it with some other extraordinary statements on different subjects, almost made him conclude, that the brain of the right hon. gent., who had used it, was full of paradoxes: Sir G. Barlow was a most zealous supporter of the government in India, which that right hon. gent. approved; but he thought fit to remove him, lest the court of directors, who disapproved of that government, might, on that account, hereafter dislike sir G. Barlow, although they had hitherto approved of all his acts. The statement of the accounts, by the noble lord, presented a gloomy picture: he hoped, that by care and attention, on the part of our government, it might yet assume a more lively aspect.
Lord Henry Pettyreplied to the observations of the hon. gent., who had not, he presumed to say, read the act of 1784 with attention, or he would have seen that the interpretation which he and others attempted to put upon it was unfounded. For, in the same clause in which the power of recalling a governor was vested in the directors, it was also vested in his majesty and council; but this seemed to have been overlooked by the hon. member, who condemned the exercise of a power which was necessary to maintain the pre-eminence of the present state. That hon. member would have a dependent state governed without being subject to controul, and yet his brain was unwilling to admit paradoxes. It was asserted by the hon. member, that this power of recall was quite new and extraordinary; and that it never had been exercised before, since 1784; but it seemed to be forgotten, that the same power had been before exercised by the directors. Yet it excited no complaint. But when his majesty ventured to use his undoubted prerogative, some gentlemen appeared to be anxious to raise a clamour against it, and, ministers thought proper to appoint a man of their own choice. But was any thing more natural than that the administration of the sovereign's government should choose a governor for any of the dependencies in whom they could confide? Were they not, by the statute of 1784, armed with that power? and did not their duty call upon them for the exercise of it? They were as responsible for the government of India, as for that of Ireland; and it would
1056
be as just to interfere with their appointment of a viceroy for the one as with that of a governor for the other. The governor, whose appointment had just taken place for India, would, he was persuaded, afford general satisfaction; and this persuasion rested upon the belief that that noble lord would carry out with him to India, those principles of moderation, economy, and a strict adherence to treaties, which the house had heard so distinctly laid down by his noble friend who opened the debate, and which formed the firmest basis of every good government. Under the administration of such principles, the noble lord, no doubt, however lamentable the deficiency at present might be; however much the hopes of the country, excited by the promises of the noble lord on the opposite bench (Castlereagh), had been disappointed; might still be able to restore the resources of India, and place its affairs on a regular, solid, and durable footing.
Lord Castlereaghmaintained, that the tendency of the revenues of India was to augment in the manner and proportion which he had described to the house, and that his predictions were falsified by events upon which it was impossible for any man to calculate, namely, by wars which he had not in his contemplation when he made the statement, to which the noble lord on the treasury bench referred. The noble lord vindicated the grounds upon which the late war in India was commenced, the manner in which it was conducted by marquis Wellesley, and also the terms upon which it was concluded by sir G. Barlow. The removal of this deserving individual from the government of India, the noble lord condemned in the most unqualified terms. That sir G, Barlow's character was the subject of universal praise, was quite notorious, but he could adduce a testimony to his merits, of the very highest order; for he could state that it was the express wish of lord Cornwallis, before he went to India, that when he should have completed the object of his mission; sir G. Barlow should be appointed to succeed him in the government. What could be the object of ministers in discharging sir G. Barlow, so soon after his appointment, he felt it impossible, upon any rational ground, to estimate. As to the debt of the India company in India, his wish was, that it should travel home, and he was sure that their circumstances and credit here would be quite sufficient soon to discharge it.
Mr. Francisafter paying some compliments to the noble lord (Morpeth), for the fairness and perspicuity with which he had stated the result of the several accounts now before the house, addressed himself to the chairman, to the following effect:—That he had intended to confine himself to a few observations on the accounts, to which the noble lord had referred; but that, many extraneous topics having been introduced into the debate, particularly by the noble lord who spoke last (lord Castlereagh), he found himself obliged to take notice of some of those topics. A great deal has been said,without any direct relation to the India budget, on the impropriety of the revocation of sir G. Barlow. In the measure itself I have no concern, and, as I do not know the reasons on which it was adopted, I shall neither censure nor defend it. But I am sure that the arguments which I have heard this night against it, are not all conclusive. Nothing can be more clear and explicit than the power vested in his majesty by the act of 1793, to revoke any appointment of a governor-general made by the court of directors. The act was proposed and introduced by lord Melville. The power gives the right, and the exercise of the right is trusted to the discretion of the king's ministers. Undoubtedly, it is not to be exercised capriciously, or upon ordinary occasions. It is reserved for particular cases and circumstances, on the exigency of which the crown, by the advice of a responsible council, is to judge. Does the noble lord mean to contend that parliament has given a power, which it was intended should never be exercised? But against whom or what can it be resorted to at any time? The answer is, against an act of the court of directors. It can apply to nothing else. At the same time, I am ready to admit, that a wanton or interested application of the power, though according to law, would be just as abusive and criminal as an assumption of it against law. When you admit the trust, you must prove the abuse of it. The services of sir G. Barlow are extolled, and the confidence which the court of directors repose in his attachment to the true interests of the India company, is particularly insisted on. They consider him as a servant of their own in contradistinction to persons recommended by government. This is a new language, sir, considering the quarter it comes from. I have heard him spoken of in very different terms, by persons very
1058
high in the direction of the company's affairs; and even with expressions of indignation, at the uniform support he gave to every measure of lord Wellesley, without exception; and particularly for never attempting to check him in the exercise of independent authority, not warranted by law. Look at their own dispatches on this subject, published by themselves. Sir G. Barlow is not mentioned by name, but he is charged by direct implication. They say, "he is certainly guilty of a dereliction of his duty, and must inevitably incur the displeasure of the court of directors." In another dispatch, they say that, "by suffering measures not regularly and legally instituted, to be carried into execution, he became partner in the illegality." They say that the council (that is, sir G. Barlow) "had no right to abandon their part of the government." On the justice of these censures I offer no opinion. The court of directors were his judges, and they have pronounced upon his conduct. But it seems, the readiness with which he adopted the pacific system of lord Cornwallis, and the expedition with which he has concluded a pacification with Holkar and Scindia, is a great merit, and intitles him to be continued in the government.— Holkar, very lately, was considered as a mere robber, and to be treated accordingly. He is now reinstated in his former territories, and Scindia has obtained possession of the country of our ally the rajah of Gohud, and of the royal fortress of Gwalior; without any right that I know of, to either of them. He might perhaps have claimed Gwalior under sir Arthur Wellesley's treaty of December 1803. But, if his claim was good then, why was he kept out of the Fort till now? I would have preserved the peace with these people; but, having twice made the war, I should have thought it the best policy not to have brought the Mahrattas back into Indostan, much less to have given them such a strong hold as Gwalior, in the centre of that country. A concession of that kind gives you no security for the continuance of peace; especially if it was made hastily and without sufficient deliberation. I do not mean to say that the terms of these treaties may not be justified by necessity; that is, by the state of the finances of the Bengal government.—If so, it is to be lamented that sir G. Barlow's situation did not allow him time and means to measure his steps with less precipitation. The Mah

1059
ratta chiefs have very good intelligence, and know as well as we do, whether our concessions to them are voluntary or not. As to confidence in our justice or good faith, it is in vain to talk of it. My noble friend, who is now appointed to the government of Bengal, will, I am sure, do every thing that can be done, consistently with prudence and safety, to satisfy the princes of India, and to establish the peace of that country on a solid foundation. I confide in his principles, and I think that every thing may be trusted to his sound discretion.—I come now, sir, to the accounts on the table, which properly belong to, and constitute the business of the day. The first thing to be observed, is that the statements from India come no lower than to the 30th of April, 1804; consequently leave us very much in the dark about the actual state of the finances there. We might, and ought to have had them to April 1805, at least. The Indian debt, as it stood above two years ago, was 25 millions sterling; and I think it may fairly be reckoned at 30 millions, more or less, at the present moment. The noble lord on the other side (lord Castlereagh) says he shall be happy to hear that this debt, or the greater part of it, is on its travels to England. In that hope, I believe, his lordship is very likely to he gratified. Above 17 millions and a half are payable in England, at the option of the holders of the securities.—How this demand, when it arrives, is to be received and provided for, is a question, which I am not able to resolve, and therefore I shall leave it to his lordship to settle it, as well as he can, with the court of directors. The company's situation offers no probability of their being able to meet such a demand, otherwise than by loans in England, or by extending their capital to an equal amount. Now, by an estimate of profit and loss on their sales here, for the year ending in March 1805, I see that their payments exceed their receipts by the sum of 418,540 l. Here, then, is a deficiency to be made good, upon their actual domestic charges, and it be an annual deficiency. Eularging their capital, without a proportionate extension of trade, is only running into a debt, which does not furnish the means even of paying its own interest. I have so often objected in vain to the form and construction of the account of their stock per computation, that I shall not trouble the house with any then farther remarks on that subject. In my
1060
mind, they only deceive themselves, when they make out an apparent balance in their favour, by totally omitting their capital on one side, and by taking credit on the other for unproductive articles, which, I could easily shew, amount to some millions.—The evidence on the table, though it falls short by two years of the actual state of the company's affairs, is sufficient to shew whether I have been right or wrong in the opinions which I have maintained on this subject, for many years past. The last Indian injustice that can be done me now, would be to confound the prediction with the cause, and to charge me with the event, because I foretold it. On this night, my noble friend has stated the whole case fairly. He has told us the truth, and I have done nothing but tread in his steps, and follow his example.
Sir Arthur Wellesleyrose and said—Before I proceed, sir, to consider the financial state of India, which is more properly the subject for discussion this night, I shall advert to the political subjects which have been referred to by other gentlemen. The hon. gent. opposite (Mr. Francis) has asked, what right Scindeah had to the fortress of Gwalior, and the territory of Gohud, which have been ceded to him by the late treaty concluded by sir G. Barlow? The hon. gent. must recollect that, subsequently to the treaty of peace concluded by Mr. Hastings with Mandajee Scindeah (the predecessor of Dowlut Rao Scindeah), that chieftain attacked the Rajah of Gohud, and deprived him of all his territories. The family of Scindeah had remained in possession of those territories, and of the fortress of Gwalior, from that time, until the war which commenced in 1803; when the fort of Gwalior was taken, and the country of Gohud fell into the possession of one of the detachments under the orders of the commander-in-chief, lord Lake.—Under the 9th article of the treaty of peace which I was the instrument of concluding with Doulut Rao Scindeah, at the end of the year 1803, the territory of Gohud and the fortress of Gwalior, were to remain in the possession, and at the disposal of the British government. This will be obvious to any man who reads that article, or the conferences in the negociations of the treaty, which are published; and indeed the operation of the 9th article upon this territory was acknowledged by Scindeah's ministers. The governor-general, lord Wellesley, however, having adverted to the situation in

1061
which Scindeah was placed by the treaty of peace in relation to other powers in India, and particularly in relation to his rival Holkar, had deemed it proper to take into consideration the expediency of restoring to Scindeah the territory of Gohud and the fort of Gwalior. I was of opinion, that Gohud and Gwalior ought to be restored to that chief; and I believe that the instructions to the resident with Scindeah upon this subject have been laid before this house. The reason for which the cession was not made until the conclusion of the late treaty by sir G. Barlow, is referable to the state of Scindeah's councils from the middle of the year 1804, until a late period in 1805. The cession was a matter of favour from the British government to Scindeah, and was to be so considered. The committee will observe, that it is so considered by sir G. Barlow. But Scindeah's councils were so badly composed, and their conduct was so suspicious, from the period before mentioned, that no concession could be made to Scindeah, without incurring the risk of having it attributed to motives, which never ought to influence the conduct of the British government in India. For this reason the cession was not made by lord Wellesley. The hon. gent. seems to think the fortress of Gwalior important, as a defence of the company's territories in that quarter. The fortress of Gwalior would defend and cover nothing, excepting itself: the company's territories are not to be defeaded by fortresses, but by armies in the field. Fortresses are useful as points of support, and as magazines to these armies; and in this point of view Gwalior would be useful, if the object of the company was, or was likely to be, the invasion of Scindeah's territories in Malwah. But it is of no use with a view to the defence of the company's territories, unless garrisoned by a large body of troops, which body of troops would be more profitably employed in the field.—Upon the whole, the committee will observe, that I consider sir G. Barlow's treaty with Scindeah to have been consistent with the spirit of that which I was the instrument of concluding at the close of the year 1803; and that the late gov.-gen. lord Wellesley, intended to have carried into execution that part of its stipulation which refers to Gwalior and Gohud.—Upon a former night I explained to the house, that I did not consider it to be a treaty of peace, as, in point of fact, we had never been at war with Scindeah since
1062
1803. It is a treaty to amend and explain some articles of the former treaty of peace; and I conceive, that every article of it deserves approbation.—In respect to the treaty with Holkar, I do not conceive that there can be any objection to it. The hon. gent. (Mr. Francis) has asked, whether sir G. Barlow was not obliged to conclude that treaty by the financial distresses of the government. Approving, generally, of the treaty, and not knowing the instructions from home under which sir C. Barlow acted, I do not conceive it necessary to look for the cause of his concluding that treaty, in any necessity arising from the state of the finances. The hon. gent. knows well, that when war has been carried on for 3 years in India, it is not very easy to procure money on loan; and I certainly do not mean to extenuate the financial difficulties and distresses which existed in the year 1805, as represented by the noble lord (Morpeth), and by the papers on the table. These difficulties certainly existed; but in possession of such a revenue as is enjoyed by the British government in India, at the present moment, and in command of such large resources, I do not conceive that any temporary embarrassment, or difficulties of a pecuniary nature, could exist to such a degree, as to induce sir G. Barlow to conclude a treaty of which lie himself did not approve, and of which he should not think that his superiors in England would approve.—I have already said, that I was not disposed to dispute the financial statements made by the noble lord (Morpeth), as exhibited in the papers upon the table; but it must be recollected, that these statements refer to a period of most extensive warfare, which was carried on in all parts of India at the same time, and for which the preparations and exertions made were on a scale superior to any ever made upon any former occasion. There was not an officer in command of any detachment, who could prove, to the satisfaction of government, that any addition to the means already in his power would increase his capability of performing service, who did not immediately receive orders to make the increase which he required: and it will be found, that the service performed was proportionate to the expense incurred. With this recollection in our minds, it will not appear that a surplus charge, amounting, upon an average, to about two millions sterling, is very large for such a period, and for

1063
such exertions.—The subjects which require explanation in the state of the Finances of India, are—the Deficiency of the Revenues, in comparison with the Charges (including the Interest of the Debts)—and the great magnitude of the debts. My wish is, to shew 1st the real situation in which the Finances of India will be in time of peace; 2d, the real state of the Indian Debt in April 1805, (at the close of lord Wellesley's government,) and in April 1806; and, 3dly, to compare the debt with the assets, and shew in what manner it has been incurred.—It appears by the account No. 2, presented on the 3d of June, 1806, page 94, that the revenues of India, for the year 1805-6, were estimated at 14,279,533 l.; the charges at 14,645,844 l.; the interest of the debt at 1,823,040 l.; the commercial charges, not added to the invoices, at 199.806 l.; the supplies to Prince of Wales's Island, Bencoolen, and St. Helena, 266,800 l.; making a total of charge int 169,354,900 l.; and leaving a deficiency to be provided for by loan, of 2,655,957 l. It must be observed, however, of this estimate; 1st, that the revenues are not stated to be so high as they really are; and 2dly, that the charges are for a period of war, in which it must be acknowledged, that they would be higher than in a period of peace. If this be the fact, it cannot be ,supposed to be a very unsatisfactory state of affairs, that the charges of a great empire, such as the British empire in India undoubtedly is, should exceed the revenues and resources by 2,700,000 l. sterling in one year, in a period of very extensive warfare. This will be observed more forcibly, if the financial state of Great Britain, or of any other country in Europe, is adverted to.—But the duration of war ought not to be calculated upon; intelligence of peace has already been received, and the finances in

Estimate of the late Acquisitions in India, from Conquest and Subsidy, taking the Revenues at the lowest possible scale.

REVENUE.

Gross Revenue.

Net Revenue

In Sonat Rupees.

IN THE DOAB

—

—

—

Etawa

13,91,818

Furruckabad

6,30,084

Seharunpore

3,42,351

Ditto under Moradahad

2,99,015

Ditto under the resident at Delhi

5,50,273

35,13,541

Deduct Tasseeldary, and other allowances, .pensions, mofussil charges,—and balances irrecoverable, estimated altogether at 20 per cent.

7,02,708

28,10,833

Sumroo Begum's Jagheer

10,00,000

1064
India must be viewed in reference to the state of affairs which must exist in consequence of the restoration of tranquillity.—In endeavouring to form an opinion of the financial state of India, in a period of peace, it is necessary to ascertain what will be the revenues in peace, and what the charges. In the year 1802–3, the company were in possession of all the territories which they possess at present, excepting the territories acquired by the treaties with the Guickwar, and by the treaties of Bassein, and of peace concluded with the Mahrattas, in Dec. 1803. The produce of that year will form the fairest datum from which an estimate may be formed of the probable future resource. An average of any number of years cannot be taken; because, in 1801, the provinces in Oude were not in the company's possession: because, in 1803-4, there existed a drought in all parts of India, which affected particularly the produce and revenues of the ceded provinces in Oude, and in some degree those of the provinces ceded by the Nizam on the Toombudra and Kistna rivers, and those in the Carnatic;—and because, in 1804-5, the revenues of the ceded provinces in Oude must have been affected by the incursion of Holkar's armies.—The amount of the revenues in 1802-3 will afford an estimate of what they will be in future in time of peace; although there is reason to believe, that they will considerably exceed that amount.—The Revenues in India in the year 1802–3, as appears by the accounts before parliament, were 13,464,537 l. To this sum, in forming an estimate of the future probable resource of the government in India, must be added the new subsidies, and the revenues of the British territories gained by the company since the year 1802-3, of which I will read an estimate:

1065

WEST OF THE JUMMA

Agra, exclusive of the Pergunnahs, Dholepore, &c. at first reserved to Scindeah, and now ceded to the company

10,64,255

Districts settled by the resident at Delhi

4,25,594

Syer of Delhi, &c.

1,83,689

Districts unsettled, suppose

4,25,000

20,98,538

Deduct 20 per cent. as above

4,19,707

16,78,831

In Hindustan rupees of sorts

54,89,664

52,70,076

CUTTACK

13,51,405

Deduct 20 per cent. as above

2,70,281

Arcot rupees

10,80,124

10,37,879

BROACH

10,00,000

Deduct 20 per cent. as above

2,00000

Estimated equal to Sonat rupees

8,00,000

8,00,000

Total of Revenue of rupees of sorts

73,70,788

Ditto in Sonat rupees

71,07,955

Sicca rupees

66,81,478

Or, pounds sterling

835,184

SUBSIDIES.

Gross Revnue.

Net Revenue.

In Sonat Rupees.

FROM THE GUICKWAR.

—

—

—

Free gift

2,00,300

Subsidy

6,97,275

Syer Revenue in the Attaweesy

60,000

—in Guzerat

66,000

1,26,009

FROM THE PEISHWAR.

Bundlecund Gross Revenue

15,72,974

Deduct 20 per cent. as above

3,14,595

Stipend to Shumsheer Bahadur

4,00,000

7,14,595

In rupees of sorts

8,58,379

In Sonat rupees

8,24,047

Subsidy in the Attaveesy

6,50,300

Ditto in Guzerat

1,72,300

Syer Revenue in the Attaveesy

1,10,000

Ditto Guzerat

8,000

In rupees supposed equal to Sonats

9,40,000

17,64,047

ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY.

—

From the Rajah of Travencore

3,48,000

Total Subsidies Sonat rupees

31,35,322

Or Sicca Rupees

29,47,203

Or, Pounds Sterling

368,400

Total Revenues Pounds Sterling

1,203,584

ABSTRACT.

ACQUISITION

Sonat Rupees.

Sicca Rupees.

Pounds Sterling.

Total £. Sterl.

In Revenue

71,07,955

66,81,478

835,184

In Subsidies

31,35,322

29,47,293

368,400

1,203 584

This will make the future revenue of British India amount to 14,668,119 l.—In the commencement of the year 1802-3, a revision was made of all the establishments under the governments of India, with reference to a state of peace. It does not appear, however, that the establishments of European troops in particular, were reduced to a lower scale than that on which
1066
they ought to be left at all times, and on which they exist at present. Neither does it appear to be necessary to increase the number of European troops, beyond the number which were in India in the year 1802-3, in consequence of the additional territory acquired since that year. The native military establishments were fixed upon a scale, in the year 1802–3, cal

1067
culated for the existence of peace in India; and the continuance of the war in Europe, under the circumstances in which the enemy stands in respect to his marine, does not appear to render necessary any addition to these establishments. The actual charges of the year 1802-3, were higher than the amount at which they were estimated and fixed, with a view to peace.—In Oct. 1802, Holkar gained the victory at Poonah over the troops of the Peishwah and Seindeah, in consequence of which the government of Fort St. George immediately thought it necessary to assemble the troops acting under that presidency, which afterwards marched to Poonah early in 1803.—The army at Bombay was likewise placed on the war establishment; part of it in the field; and both armies were considerably augmented.—My noble friend (lord Castlereagh) has calculated the extraordinary expenses, in the last six months of 1802-3, at 500,000 l. above the charges of the peace establishment; and in forming an estimate of the future charges of India, in a period of peace, upon the actual charges of the year 1802-3, it is proper to strike off 500,000 l. of that amount. With this sum subtracted from them, the actual charges of the year 1802-3, together with those rendered necessary on account of the treaties of peace and subsidy, and by the acquisitions gained since that period, may be deemed fair data on which an estimate may be formed of the probable future charges of British India in time of peace.

The actual Civil Charges in 1802–3 were

£4,599,372

The actual Military Charges were

6,360,614

From which subtract

500,000

Remains

5,860,614

supplies for Bencoolen, &c.

*196,848

Making a total of charge in 1802–3

£10,656,834

To this must be added the additional civil charges to be incurred in consequence of the late acquisitions, of which I shall also read an estimate.

Estimate of the Annual Increased Civil and Military Charges incurred in India since the Year 1802–3.

PENSIONS AND JAGHEERS.

Rups. of Sorts. Son. Rups.

Scindeah and his family

8,00,000

Royal family at Delhi, including the expence of irregular corps

17,00,000

*These charges are greater by 19,662 l. than those stated by lord Castlereagh, in his speech of the 19th of July, 1804; (see vol. 2. 1151)
1068

Rups of Sorts.

Son. Rups.

Begum Sumroo

10,00,000

Total in Rupees of Sorts

34,00,000

or 32,64,000

CIVIL ESTABLISHMENTS.

Salary and establishments of seven judges and magistrates

3,92,000

Ditto of six collectors

2,23,200

Residency at Delhi

1,44,000

Civil charges at Bombay

40,800

—

8,00,000

Total of civil charges, &c. in St Rs.

40,64,000

Ditto in Sicca Rupees

38,20,160

Total of Ditto in Pounds Sterling

£477,520

MILITARY CHARGES.

IN BENGAL.

Two regiments of native cavalry, at 20,000 rupees per month

40,000

Seven ditto of native infantry, at 30,000 each per month

210,000

Horse artillery

2,000

Extra cattle to the increase

10,000

Off-reckonings

17,000

Wear and tear of two regiments of cavalry

5000

Military stores,contingencies, buildings, &c. not fixed in the amount

25,000

Per month

3,09,000

Per month

37,08,000

FORT ST. GEORGE.

One regiment of native cavalry, including off-reckonings

22,100

Four regiments of native infantry, at 29,000 each.

116,000

Off-reckonings

6,400

Military stores, and other charges

15,000

Wear and tear of horses for one regiment

2,500

Per month

1,62,000

Per ann.

19,44,000

BOMBAY.

One regiment of infantry

29,000

Off-reckonings, &c.

1,600

Per month

30,600

Per ann.

3,67,200

Total increase of the military charges in Sonata Rupees

60,19,200

Ditto in Sicca Rupees

56,40,000

Ditto in Pounds Sterling

£705,000

ABSTRACT.

Civil Charges, Pensions, &c.

Sonant Rupees.

Sicca Rupees.

Pounds Sterl.

Total £ Sterl.

40,64,000

38,20,160

477,520

Military Ditto.

1,182,520

60,19,200

56,40,000

705,000

1069
The increase of the military establishments required in India, and which I have now estimated beyond those of 1802-3, are two regiments of native cavalry, and seven regiments of native infantry, in Bengal; one regiment of native cavalry, and four regiments of native infantry on the establishment of fort St. George; and one regiment of native infantry on thr establishment of Bombay.—In the general distribution of the armies in India, which was made subsequently to the treaties of peace, concluded at the end of the year 1803, it was settled, that the army of Bengal supply the troops required for the subsidiary force to serve with Scindeah (being six battalions), and the subsidiary force to serve with the ranah of Gohuo, (being three battalions), as well as troops for the company's territories under the presidency of Bengal, including the acquisitions in Bundlecund, those made from Scindeah in the Doab and in Hindustan, and the province of Cuttack.—By the same distribution the government of fort St. George was to supply, as it had formerly done, the troops to serve with the Nizam; and all those required for the southern parts of the Peninsula, including the garrisons and provinces on the coast of Malabar (with the exception of Goa), and one regiment of cavalry for the Peishwah;—and the government of Bombay was to supply six battalions for the subsidiary force to serve with the Peishwah, three battalions to serve with the Guickwar, a garrison for Bombay, a garrison for Goa, and troops to occupy the territories ceded by the Peishwah and the Guickwar in Guzerat, and in the neighbourhood of Surat.—The establishments in the year 1802-3 having been formed on the lowest scale, compatible with the tranquillity and security, and with a view to external peace, it stands to reason, that they could not supply the additional troops required from them, without some additions. The establishment of Bengal required an addition of six battalions to serve with Scindeah, and three to serve with the ranah of Gohud.—The smallest number that could be required for the protection to be given to the cities of Delhi and Agra, to the person of the king, and to the territories in the Doab, in Hindustan, and in Cuttack, is two regiments of native cavalry, and five battalions of native infantry; which numbers complete the augmentation (viz. fourteen battalions) made to the Bengal array since 1802-3.—By the late arrangements made
1070
in India with Scindeah, it appears that the subsidiary troops for that chieftain, and for the ranah of Gohud, will not be required for those services; and if it had been intended to make a more favourable statement of the finances in India, than their situation warrants, it would have been possible to strike off from the estimate of increased military charges, (amounting, as I have already shown, to upwards of 60 lacks of Rupees,) the expence of four regiments of native infantry, at least: but it is apprehended, that the service of a portion of these troops will be required in. Bundlecund for some time; and, at all events, that the number of two regiment of native cavalry, and five battalions of native infantry, is scarcely sufficient to perform the additional services which will be required from the Bengal army, in consequence of the additions made to the territories under the Bengal government, by the treaties of peace concluded at the end of the year 1803.—In consequence of the distribution made in the year 1804, the duties of the provinces, on the coast of Malabar, which, in 1802-3, had been performed by the army of Bombay, tell to the lot of the army of Fort St. George. These duties had always required eight battalions; and, when, in consequence of the distribution which I have noticed, it had become necessary to remove the Bombay troops from those provinces to the northward, an augmentation of the army of the Fort St. George, to the amount of four regiments, became necessary. The regiment of cavalry to be supplied to the peishwah, also required that a regiment should be added to the establishment of Fort St. George. The duties which fell upon the Bombay army by the distribution of 1804, required for the subsidiary force with the peishwah six battalions, for the subsidiary force with the guickwar three battalions, and garrisons for Bombay, Goa, Broach, Surat, and troops to occupy the territories of Guzerat and in the neighbourhood of Surat, ceded by the peishwah, and the guickwar, and conquered from Scindeah; the detailed number for each of which services, it is not necessary to mention. It will be observed from this statement, that the additional services required from the armies of Fort St. George and Bombay, in the year 1804, and at the present moment, beyond those required in the year 1802-3, exclusive of the garrison for Goa, are one regiment of cavalry, and six battalions for the peishwah, three bat

1071
talions for the gwickwar, and troops for the conquered and ceded territories in Guzerat. Accordingly, the addition made to the military establishments, the expences of which are included in the estimate of 60 lacks, are one regiment of cavalry and four regiments of native infantry for Fort St. George, and one regiment for Bombay; making, in the whole, ten battalions. No reductions of these establishments can, in my judgment, be made with safety. The total of charges, therefore, for a future peace establishment, including the charges of 1802-3, and adding the civil and military charges occasioned by treaties of subsidy, and by the consequences of the Mahratta war, will stand thus:

Charges of 1802–3

£10,656,834

Additional civil charges, rendered necessary by treaties of subsidy, peace, &c.

477,520

Additional military charges

705,000

Total future charges

11,839,054

The revenues, as before stated, will be

14,668,119

Leaving a surplus revenue of

£2,328,765

From this sum must be deducted the interest of the debt, as stated in the account, No. 2, page 93, 1,823,040 l.; to which sum must be added the interest on the sum to be borrowed to supply the deficiency in the year 1805-6, viz. 2,655,957 l., being at ten per cent. 265,595 l.; making the total interest of the debt, in 1806, 2,088,635 l.; and the actual surplus, alter providing for every demand, will be 740,150 l. In calculating this surplus, no credit is taken for any augmentation of revenue beyond 1802-3; although it is certain, that some branches, such as salt and opium, must be, and have been already augmented; the revenues of the provinces gained by the peace, will also produce more than they have been estimated at. The actual Debt in India, in April 1805, was, according to account, No. 1. p. 90, 28,197,498 l., including arrears of establishments, debts not bearing interest, and demands upon the company of every description. To this debt must be added the deficiency of resource, as stated in page 93, for the year 1805-6, being 2,655,957 l.; and the total gross debt, on the 30th of April, 1806, will be 30,873,455 l. From this sum ought to be subtracted 3,151,064 l., (being the amount in possession of the commissioners for the redemption of the debt, on the 30th of April, 1805,) and the balance will give 27,722,391 l., for the net debt of India, on the 30th of April, 1806; of which sum, the
1072
amount bearing interest, appears to be 24,250,824 l.—When this debt, however large, is compared with the assets in India, and with the value of the forts, houses, warehouses, &c. in India, (valued in No. 23, p. 78, at 9,994,208 l., all necessary for carrying on government, which have cost money, and would cost money to the company's successors, whoever they might be, supposing the transfer of the territory ever to take place,) and when to these sums are added the amount of the company's claims upon government for money expended in India, on account of the public, it may fairly be stated, that the actual value of the property of the East-Indite company in India, exceeds the amount of their debts.—I am aware of an error in this statement, as in this view of the debts and assets, the amount in the possession of the commissioners of the sinking fund ought to be subtracted from the amount of the quick stock, on the 30th of April, 1804. But there is an error also in the assets. The quick stock is estimated only to April 1804, and is stated, in p.72, to amount to 17,252,399 l. But in the calculation of these assets, there is an omission of 12,48,600 pagodas in the cash at Fort St. George. It appears by the paper, No. 19, p. 63, that the balance remaining in the different departments at Fort St. George, on the 30th of April, 1804, was 57,19,605 pagodas; whereas credit is given in the account of the assets to the same period, for only 44,71,005 pagodas. The difference between these sums ought to be credited to the assets in April 1804, viz. 12,4.8,600, or 500,000 l.—The additional sum in the hands of the commissioners of the sinking fund, on the 30th April, 1805, ought likewise to be added to the assets calculated to that period. The sum stated, in p.48, to be in the hands of the commissioners for the reduction of the debt on the

30th of April, 1804, is

Ct. Rs. 2,80,00,563.

On the 30th of April, 1805, it is

Ct. Rs. 3,15,10,648

Difference to be added to the assets calculated up to April 1805

35,10,085

In estimating the assets to April 1806, it is proper to add to them the sum which will be in the hands of the commissioners of the sinking fund in April 1806, viz.

Interest upon the sum of 3,15,10648 current rupees, for one year, from April 1805, to April 1806, at 8 per cent., is about

25,00.000

1073

To the assets then, as they stood in April 1804. viz,

£17,252,399

Must be added the sum at Madras omitted

500,000

The additional sum stated to be in the hands of the commissioners of the sinking fund, in April 1805

351,008

The interest upon 31,510,648, Rs. or £3,151,064, for one year to April 1806

250,000

And the total of the assets, in April 1806, will be

£18,353,407

This view of the Debt and assets of different descriptions, however, is taken only as a general one, and not by any means to be relied upon. Measures undoubtedly ought to be taken to reduce the amount of the debt; but if, from circumstances, those means should be impracticable, this general statement will serve to shew, that in case of the transfer of the territory, upon the conclusion of the charter, there is value in India to the amount of the debt. But it may be contended, that this statement is no justification of the amount of the debt, which, from 1793, when it was 7,362,190 l., has increased to be, in April 1806, 27,722,391 l.; of which sum, 16,669,745 l. have been incurred since 1798, under the administration of the late gov.-gen. marquis Wellesley. In order to understand the mode in which this debt has been incurred, it is necessary to advert to the state of the company's affairs, in the year 1798.

The revenues at that time were

£8,059,580

The charges, including supplies to Bencoolen, &c.

765,654

The interest of the Debt was

603,926

Leaving a deficiency of resource or a surplus net charge, of

194,700

The Debt in 1798 was

11,032,645

The assets in India were

9,922,903

This state of the resources in India had been occasioned by a laudable desire to increase the investment as much as was possible, which will be seen by a review of what had passed between the years 1793 and 1798.

In April 1793, the revenues of India were

£8,294,399

The charges, including Bencoolen, &c. were

6,155,968

The interest of the Debt was

526,205

The Debt was

7,362,190

The assets were

8,834,538

The surplus revenue, after providing for all charges, exclusive of receipts for sales, &c. was

1,612,226

In the course of the five years between 1793 and 1798, the following events occurred to increase the charges in India: there was war in Europe; an expedition
1074
was fitted out against Mauritius; and another against Manilla; Pondicherry and Cochin were taken; and maritime expeditions were sent against Ceylon, Malacca, and the eastern islands. It was necessary to keep up large establishments in the conquests made; and salaries were paid to the civil and military servants of our enemies who became our prisoners. During the same period of time, the company's military establishments in India were new-modelled, and this occasioned an increase of expense. The civil and judicial establishments in Bengal were fixed on the just scale on which they exist at this day; which at that time occasioned an increase of annual expense to a very considerable amount. Accordingly it appears, that the actual charges of the civil and military establishments in 1798, exceeded the actual charges of the civil and military establishment in the year 1793, in the amount of 1,372,209 l., and the supplies to Bencoolen, &c. of 1798, exceeded those of 1793 in the amount of 102,477 l. But the efficient cause of the state in which the finances were found, in the year 1798, was the continuance to send borne investment at the high rate at which it had been fixed in the year 1793, notwithstanding that the charges of India had necessarily increased, and the revenues had decreased to the amount of 234,519 l. By reference to the accounts, it will be found, that in the five years between 1793 and 1798, the cost and charges of investments sent home to

Europe, was

£9,898,794

Supplies to China

339,444

Amount advanced in India to the king's and company's ships during the same period, was

551,952

Making a total disbursed on account of London, of

10,784,190

The amount of supplies received from Europe,in the same period, for bills drawn, stores, merchandise, export sales, and bullion, was

3,744,425

Leaving a balance of

7,039,765

against London.

It appears, by what is above stated, that the charges in India, between 1793 and 1798, had increased considerably; but there was, upon the 5 years, a surplus of receipt of revenue, beyond the charges, amounting to 4,181,559 l.; which, being deducted from the balance, before stated against London, leaves the sum of 2,858,206 l., which must have been borrowed in India, at high interest, for the purchase of investment.—It will be found, that the debt incurred in the 5

1075

years, from 1793 to 1798, was

£3,665,455

The increase of the assets in those 5 years was

1,088,365

Those in 1793 being

8,834,538

Those in 1798 being

9,922,903

And the actual increase of the debt, in comparison with the assets, was

£2,557,090

In a minute which lord Wellesley recorded in June 1798, he reviewed the state of the Finances in India; and pointed out the real cause of the increase of Debt in the following words: "From that paper it appears, that, allowing for a supply in the course of the year 1798-9, to Fort St. George, of 75,00,000 sicca rupees, or 937,500 l., and to Bombay, of 25,00,000, or 312,500 l., the deficiency for which provision must be made, in order to meet the expected demands at the three presidencies respectively, will be, in Bengal, 1,28,68,360; Madras, 43,45,351; Bombay, 41,67,611. The total deficiency, therefore, at the three presidencies, together, will amount to sicca rupees, 2,13,81,321, Or 2,672,655 l. The immediate causes of the estimated deficiency, will appear obvious from the annexed accounts. By account No. 27, the sums appropriated, in India, to the purposes of investments and commercial charges, in the years 1796-7 and 1797-8, amounted to 4,96,15,165 current rupees; having been, in 1796-7, 2,30,70,125, and, in 1797-8, 2,65,45,040; and exceeding the amount of bills drawn upon the Court of Directors from India, within the same Period, by the sum of 3,83,39,263 current rupees; the bills drawn on the Court of Directors having been, in 1796-7, 79,88,699, and, in 1797-8, 32,87,203; and by account No. 3, it appears, that the proposed investment, for 1798, from all our India possessions, including the supply promised to Canton, amounts to 2,40,88,000 current rupees.—But the accounts Nos. 4, 5, and 6, shew, that the total sum applicable to the purchase of investment from the revenues in India, and produce of sales of imports from Europe, was, in 1796-7, 81,43,858; in 1797-8, 96,44,550, and is estimated to be, in 1798-9, 78,20,133. This annual demand, for the purpose of investment, upon a scale so far exceeding the annual means of the three presidencies, is the principal cause of the present deficiency.— The comparative view which I have taken of our expences and receipts, in examining the causes of our actual distress, sufficiently proves, that many of
1076
those causes are of an absolute permanent nature, and that most of them must be expected to continue for a considerable time; that the investment, at once the most powerful cause of our temporary distress, the main spring of the industry and opulence of the people committed to our charge, and the active principle of the commercial interests of the Company, is more likely to be increased than to be diminished in any future year; and, consequently, that the embarrassments of our finances must be progressive, if some means be not devised for aiding the resources of this presidency, which must now be considered as the general treasury and bank of our Indian empire, furnishing supplies for the services of all our other possessions in India, as well as a large and increasing proportion of the capital employed in the trade to Europe and to China.—The mode of supplying this assistance, which I would recommend, has already been suggested by the accountant-general, and seems to unite several advantages with relation to the interests both of India and Great Britain: it is comprised in the following propositions.—That it be respectfully recommended to the hon. the Court of Directors, to take the earliest occasion of sending out supplies to India to the amount of 85 lacs of rupees, or 1,062,500 l. in addition to their usual consignments, by an increase of their annual export of British manufactures and produce to Bengal and Bombay, to the full extent of the indents from Bengal and Bombay respectively; and by an annual supply of silver bullion to Bengal, to the amount of 50 lacs, or 625,000 l. The supply of bullion to be provided in part, by a proportinate reduction in their usual consignment to China.—The increase of the export of British manufacture and produce to Bengal and Bombay will, probably, afford considerable relief to the finances of this government; as, by reference to the account of sales of imports from England, it appears, that the averrage profit upon the imports from England sold in Bengal, in ,1796-7, has been above twenty per cent., and at Bombay thirty-five per cent., and that the demand is increasing. This measure would, at the same time, obviously become highly beneficial to the interests of Great Britain.—The export of silver to Bengal would be more advantageous to the Company than

1077
the payment of bills, at the present high rate of exchange; a rate which will probably continue for a considerable period of time. Such a stock of silver would be a relief both to public and private credit, and would invigorate all the financial operations of this government. From this resource, supplies might easily be furnished to Canton, through the medium of the trade in opium.—If the sale of British manufactures in Bengal, and at Bombay, should equal the general expectation, an additional supply of near a crose of rupees, 1,250,000 l., would accrue to this presidency, from the combined result of the two proposed measures. This supply would be nearly equal to the probable amount of the permanent deficiency of our resources.—Nothing would be more just, than to appropriate a proportion of the profits arising from the sale amount of the investment in Europe, to the augmentation of the Funds necessary for the purchase of investment in India. Unless some such plan be adopted, or some other means devised of furnishing aid to the resources of Bengal from England, it is evident, that a reduction, in the amount of the Indian investment, will soon become inevitable; for it cannot be denied, that a very large proportion of the capital, which has passed into Europe, through the medium of Indian commerce, for these last two years, and is about to pass in the present year, has been, and must be, created by loans of money raised in India under every circumstance of disadvantage. The increase of the investment, therefore, during the period described, must be viewed as representing, not the surplus revenue, but the increased debt of India. The circulating capital of India, which is known to be very inconsiderable, in proportion to the productive and commercial powers of the country, cannot supply so large a drain for any long period of time, even in the event of peace; but if the war in Europe should continue, the difficulty of raising money for the public service, by loans to be negotiated in India, must become nearly insurmountable.—At that early period of time, the governor-general earnestly urged the company to provide for the provision of investment, by increasing the amount of the supplies sent from Europe. They were still continued, however, upon a scale much too low for the amount of the investment,
1078
notwithstanding the efforts which were undoubtedly made by the noble lord who, at that time, presided at the board of controul, and by my noble friend lord Castlereagh), and by the Court of Directors, to send out larger sums.—By a reference to the papers before this house, it will be found, that the total amount of the sums laid out in investment, from

April 1798, to April 1804, was

£9,619,348

Supplies to China

1,761,263

Of advances to the King's and to the Company's chartered ships, in the same period

448,931

Making a total advanced in India, up to 1804

11,829,542

In making up the account of the sums advanced in India, on account of the home concern, the following must be added:—Advances for Ceylon

1,182,472

Making a total advanced, for the home concern, up to April 1804

£13,012,014

The total actual amount of the supplies received in India by the sale of goods, in bullion and stores, and for bills drawn on the directors, in the same period, appears to be 9,864,086 l. The balance is 3,147,725 l. for which London is indebted to India. It may be said, that the Company had a right to expect aid from the territorial resources of India; that the revenues have increased since April 1798; and that the financial distresses which existed at that period, were very soon removed.—The events which have occurred since April 1798, must be recollected. The first of these, in point of time, was the war against Tippoo Sultaun; at the same time that a large army was put into the field on the frontiers of Oude, to oppose Zemaun Shah. The army of Fort St. George did not return to its quarters till the month of Dec. 1799; and, in the month of May 1800, the army of Fort St. George was assembled again, and put down the rebellion of Doondeah Waug. Before this service was completed, an expedition was fitted out against Egypt; and, in a very few months after the troops had returned from Egypt, the armies of Fort St. George and Bombay were assembled and increased, in consequence of the disturbance in the Mahratta empire.—Besides all this, the pay of the king's and company's troops, serving under Fort St. George, was increased; and the civil and judicial establishments, under that government, were placed on a more just scale than they had been before.—During these great and extensive military operations, a variety of others were necessarily carried on in different parts of the peninsula, each

1079
of which had a tendency to increase the military charges.—According to this statement, it appears, that a very considerable proportion of the debt in India had been incurred at different times, by the purchase of investment. If the account between the revenues of India and the Company had been kept in the form of a merchant's account, or in the manner in which the East-India Company keep their account against the public, the interest upon each sum borrowed for the commerce of the company, would have been carried to account against them from the moment at which such sum was borrowed.—In this view of the case,the interest, at 10 per cent., upon 2,858,206 l., being the amount laid out in India beyond supplies from England, and surplus revenue previous to 1798,

would be, annually

£285,820

And, for eight years, to 1806

2,126,560

The interest upon the sums borrowed, since 1798, each for their respective number of years, to 1806

633,005

Making a total of

£2,759,565

It is evident that all these sums have been charges upon the revenues, and of course have contributed to swell the amount of the existing debt.—There is also in the amount of the debts incurred during lord Wellesley's government, as before stated, a sum of 1,200,000 l. on the revenues of the Carnatic, with interest; which debt was incurred in a former period, previously to lord Wellesley's arrival. The mode in which this debt was incurred is as follows:—The registered creditors, under the act of 1784, had a right to certain portions of the annual payments made to the company by the nabob, under the treaty concluded with that prince by sir A. Campbell.—In the year 1791, lord Cornwallis assumed the nabob's countries, and applied all the revenues to defray the civil and military charges of the company. The creditors applied for payment to the company, and the decision was not passed upon the subject till after the year 1798, when the principal which had been due in 1791, with interest calculated to that period, was added to the company's bonded debt of Fort St. George.—But there is another view which may be taken of the debt of 27,722,391 l., which is supposed to be due in India, on the 30th April, 1806; 16,669,745 l. of which have been incurred since the 30th of April, 1798.

The assets in India, in April, 1798,were

£9,922,903

In April 1806, supposing them the same as in April 1804, they were

17,952,299

1080

Increase of assets in that period is

7,229,493

Subtract the increase of assets, from the amount of the increased Debt since 1798, and the remainder will be

9,440,252

Which is the net increase of Debt. Set-off against the net increase of Debt the sum of

3,147,725

being the sum applied to investment, to supplies to China, and to his majesty's and to the company's chartered ships, beyond the amount of the exports and supplies from Europe, and the result will be, that the debt incurred in India, on account of civil and military establishments and services of all descriptions, including the Egyptian expedition, is 6,292,527 l. in eight years, from April 1798, to April 1806.—This view is liable to the same exception as the former, on account of the errors in the accounts of the assets; but the error is not of very great magnitude. In this account of debt, supposed to have been incurred on account of political expenses, is included the amount of supplies to Bencoolen and St. Helena, which, in the six years from 1798 to 1804 only, amount to 1,096,736 l. Upon a review of the accounts which have been laid before parliament, at different times, it appears, that large sums have been expended in India, for services chargeable to his majesty's government; the Egyptian expedition was carried on at the expense of the company; and expenses have been incurred in India on account of expeditions against the Danish settlements, and of their capture; for all of which expenses, the company have a claim upon the public.—But as these expenses have been incurred in India, and have been a charge upon its revenues, the amount allowed for them, and paid, or to be paid to the company, ought fairly to be set off against the amount of the debt, as well as the sums advanced to his majesty's ships, and for the government of Ceylon already noticed. There are other sums also which now constitute a Part of the debt in India, the value of which the company have received in England. The total charge of the Molucca islands, during the time they were in the possession of the British government, ought to be carried against the home concern in the analysis of the debt in India; as nearly the whole of the produce of the Moluccas was sent home, and sold for the benefit of the East-India Co.—After this view of the Debt, it is to be hoped that its amount, considering all the circumstances which have con-

1081
tributed to raise it, will not prove, that the company's affairs have been managed in an improvident manner; and that the public will see, in the general situation of the company's finances, ample means of reducing this debt to any amount that may be deemed advisable.—If the mode proposed of drawing a proportion of the debt to England be adopted, and the saving of interest, which will be the result of this operation, be added to the annual interest calculated to amount to 250,000 l., upon the principal now in the hands of the commissioners for the redemption of the debt, this revenue alone will make an impression upon the debt, which must soon reduce it to the level to which every body wishes to see it reduced. Notwithstanding the large amount of the Debt, and the embarrassments occasioned in India, at different times, by the great demands for the various services which were in progress, the company's credit was improving from the moment of lord Wellesley's arrival in India, to the moment of his departure. On the first of June, 1798, the 12 per cent. paper in Bengal bore a discount of ¾ to ¼ per cent.; on the 29th of July 1805, the 12 per cents. were all paid off, and the 10 per cent. paper bore a premium of 4 per cent. In June 1798, the 8 per cent. paper was at a discount of front 12½ to 13¼ per cent.; in the beginning of 1805, the 8 per cent. were at par, and would have continued so, if it bad been possible to send out specie from England at an early period in the season. In July 1805, they were at a discount of from 3¼ to 3¾ per cent.; in June 1798, the 6 per cent. paper was at 21 per cent. discount; in 1805, the 6 per cents. bore a discount of only 8¼ per cent. —This improving state of the credit is to be attributed to the public confidence gained by the regularity and publicity of all the financial operations of the government, by the measure of establishing funds at Fort St. George and in Bengal for the redemption of debt; and by the judicious measures adopted for the improvement of the revenue.—The amount in possession of the commissioners for the redemption of the Debt, on the 30th of April, 1805, as appears in p. 90 of the printed accounts, is 3,151,064 l., which sum, at 8 per cent. interest, will give nearly 250,000 l. per annum for the reduction of the Debt.—The improvements effected in the revenue during. lord Wellesley's government also deserve notice. Exclusive of the increase of
1082
revenue, by territorial acquisitions, and by subsidies, it appears, that every branch of the revenue of 1798, under the Bengal government, which, in the five preceding years had decreased to the amount of 234,519 l., was improved, under lord Wellesley's government, as follows:

1798

1803-4

Increase.

S. Rupees.

S. Rupees.

S. Rupees.

Mint. duties

64540

68042

3502

Post Office

140398

248127

147729

Stamp duties

92416

547137

454721

Licenses for sale of spirituous liquors

47531

138209

90678

Fees and Fines

6606

96049

89443

Provincial police

427928

456217

29289

Land revenue

29825983

31805421

1979438

Salt

10302783

15374223

5071440

Opium

2084184

3989200

1905016

Customs

1251469

3228865

2023396

Increase of the old revenues of Bengal during lord Wel lesley's government

Sicca Rs. 10794652£ Sterl. 1,349,331

The total increase of revenues during lord Wellesley's administration, in different parts of India, is 6,608,239 l.; the revenues having been, in 1798, 8,059,880 l.; and those estimated by me for the future, 14,668,119 l. The general commerce of the country is improved equally with the revenue. It appears, by the public documents before this house, that the commerce of India is now able to supply the China market so effectually, as nearly to preclude the necessity of sending bullion to China; and large stuns in specie are now imported into India from that country.—After the view which I have taken of the general situation of the affairs of the East-India Co. in India, I hope that it will be found, that their debt, although large, and certainly pressing in a very great degree upon their prosperity, and upon the attention of those who have the management of their affairs, is not of a magnitude to create any danger; that it appears, that there are means of reducing it, at no very great distance of time, to a moderate amount, and that, under the auspices of the noble lord (Morpeth), by a just attention to the system of economy which he has recommended, and by reverting to the system and scale of establishments fixed in 1802-3, with such augmentations as the change of affairs has rendered necessary, and as I have already described, the revenues of that great empire will be found to afford ample means. of restoring the finances.
Mr. Whitshed Keenesaid, he greatly pre-

1083
ferred the situation of India at present, to what it was in 1798, and had such confidence in the benefit that would result from the territorial acquisitions made by marquis Wellesley, inasmuch as they had left no footing for Bonaparte, that he would invest all his property, had he ten times what he possessed, in India stock.
Mr. C. Granthad a statement in his hand which he had reason to believe to be correct; the only mode of ascertaining where the error lay, was by comparison; it was impossible then to enter into the detail; it might be done upon the report.
Mr. Prinseprose, and declared, that he could not allow the committee to rise without first delivering his opinion, at great length, on the alarming aspect of the company's affairs, whom he declared to be in a state of absolute insolvency. Rather than again forego his privilege, of which he had been more than once deprived in the way now attempted, he would count the house. He was ready at that late hour to enter into this investigation, or to adjourn the debate.
Mr. Hobhousethe chairman of the committee, stated that the hon. member might perhaps have an opportunity of the comparison previous to the bringing up of the report; it would then be equally competent to him to urge his objections as it was at the present moment.
Mr. Paullwas confident, that, upon the resolutions being taken into further consideration, he would be able to disprove every part of the hon. general's statement.
Sir A. Wellesleydeclared, that he was extremely willing to shew his statement to the hon. director, or any other member who might be desirous of making a comparison with any statement of his own.
Mr. G. Smithdenied that the company was in a state of insolvency, and observed, that such an assertion as that which the hon. alderman had made, required some further explanation.
Mr. Prinsepwas proceeding to account for the opinion which he had advanced, when
Lord Castlereaghobserved, that, from the hon. member's course of reasoning, it was evident that his explanation would occupy more time than was desirable at the then late hour. On the suggestion of lord Morpeth, the chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again of Tuesday next.

MINUTES.
The Irish Roads bill, the Irish Peerage bill, the Irish Revenue bill, the Land Tax Commissioners' Mistake bill, and the Postage bill, were read a 2d time, and committed for the next day.—The duke of New castle took the oaths and his seat.—On the 2d reading of a bill for allowing the conveyance of a certain quantity of Coals to London by the Paddington canal, the earl of Suffolk said a few words in favour of this mode of supplying the metropolis with coals, which, he thought, did not go far enough. If an unlimited supply by the Paddington canal were allowed, it would tend materially to decrease the price of coals in the London market. Lord Eldon observed, that there being no duty on the coals by the Paddington canal, and a very heavy duty on the Newcastle coals, if the former were allowed to be brought here without limitation, they would drive the latter out of the market, and thereby destroy the nursery of those seamen to whom we were indebted for so many victories. The bill was then read a 2d time, and committed for the next day.—In the case of "Lucina v. Crawford," lord Eldon, lord Ellenborough, and the lord chancellor, concurred in the opinion, that a venire facias de novo ought to issue, in order that the cause might be again tried in the Court of King's Bench. The further consideration of the cause was postponed till the next day.—On the 2d reading of the Slave Ship Restriction bill, Mr. Plumer and Mr. Scarlet were heard in behalf of the island of Jamaica, and also of certain

1025
merchants and planters, who had petitioned against the bill. They objected to it, on the ground of its being an attempt to abolish the slave-trade by a side wind. They also urged several objections against the clauses of the bill; and submitted that, if it was determined to pass the bill, it would be more expedient, that it should continue for one than for two years. Mr. Plumer expressed a wish, to be a allowed to call evidence in support of the allegations of the petitions. This was objected to by lord Grenville and the bishop of St. Asaph, and supported by the earl of Westmoreland. It was over-ruled by the house. Counsel having finally withdrawn, lord Grenville moved the second reading of the bill, which was accordingly done.