DISPUTES IN THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.

resentment through the whole Irish nation. The com-
mittee who prepared the bill, instead of inserting the
usual compliments in the preamble, mentioned nothing
but a recital of facts, and sent it over in a very plain
dress, quite destitute of all embroidery. The ministry,
intent upon vindicating the prerogative from such an
unmannerly attack, filled up the omissions of the com
mittee, and sent it back with this alteration: "And
your majesty, ever attentive to the ease and happiness
of your faithful subjects, has been graciously pleased to
signify that you would consent, and to recommend it to
us, that so much of the money remaining in your ma-
jesty's treasury as should be necessary to be applied to
the discharge of the national debt, or such part thereof
as should be thought expedient by parliament." This
then being the crisis which was to determine a consti-
tutional point of such importance, namely, whether the
people in parliament assembled have a right to delib-
erate upon, and vote the application of any part of the
unappropriated revenue, without the previous consent
of the crown; those who were the most zealously at-
tached to the liberties of their country, resolved to exert
themselves in opposing what they conceived to be a
violation of those liberties; and the bill, with its alter-
ations, was rejected by a majority of five voices. The
success of their endeavours was celebrated with the
most extravagant rejoicing, as a triumph of patriotism
over the arts of ministerial corruption; and, on the other
hand, all the servants of the crown, who had joined the
popular cry on this occasion, were in a little time dis-
missed from their employments. The rejection of the
bill was a great disappointment to the creditors of the
public, and the circulation of cash was almost stagnated.
These calamities were imputed to arbitrary designs in
the government; and the people began to be inflamed
with an enthusiastic spirit of independency, which might
have produced mischievous effects, had not artful steps
been taken to bring over the demagogues, and thus
divert the stream of popular clamour from the ministry
to those very individuals who had been the idols of pop-
ular veneration. The speaker of the house of commons
was promoted to the dignity of an earl; and some other l
patriots were gratified with lucrative employments. His
majesty's letter arrived for paying off seventy-five thou
sand five hundred pounds of the national debt. The
circulation was thus animated, and the resentment of
the populace subsiding, the kingdom retrieved its for-
mer tranquillity.

In the beginning of this year violent disputes arose between the government and the house of commons in Ireland, on the almost forgotten subjects of privilege and prerogative. The commons conceived they had an undoubted right to apply the surplus of their revenue towards national purposes, without the consent of their sovereign; and accordingly, in the year one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine, prepared a bill with this preamble, "Whereas, on the twenty-fifth day of March last, a considerable balance remained in the hands of the vice-treasurer or receivers-general of the kingdom, or their deputy or deputies, unapplied; and it will be for your majesty's service, and for the case of your faithful subjects in this kingdom, that so much thereof as can be conveniently spared should be paid, agreeably to your majesty's most gracious intentions, in discharge of part of the national debt." This appropriation gave great offence to the advocates for prerogatives in England, who affirmed that the commons had no right to apply any part of the unappropriated revenue, nor even to take any such affair into consideration, without the previous consent of the crown, expressed in the most explicit terms. It was in consequence of this doctrine, that the duke of Dorset, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, told them in the next session of parliament, held in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty-one, he was commanded by the king to aquaint them, that his majesty, ever attentive to the ease and happiness of his subjects, would graciously consent and recommend it to them, that such a part of the money then remaining in the treasury, as should be thought consistent with the public service, be applied towards the further reduction of the national debt. This declaration alarmed the commons, zealous as they were for the preservation of their privileges; and in their address of thanks, which, like that of the parliament of Great Britain, used always to echo back the words of the speech, they made no mention of his majesty's consent; but only acknowledged his gracious attention to their ease and happiness, in recommending to them the application of the surplus. They accordingly resolved to apply one hundred and twenty thousand pounds of that overplus towards the discharge of the national debt; and, in the preamble of the bill, framed for this purpose, made no mention of his majesty's consent, though before they had acknowledged his goodness in recommending this application. The ministry in England were highly offended at this purposed omission, which they construed into a wilful encroachment on the prerogative; and the bill was sent back with an alteration in the preamble, signifying his ma- The ambition and intrigues of the French court, by jesty's consent as well as recommendation. The Irish which the British interest was invaded and disturbed on house of commons being at that time deeply engaged in the continent of America, had also extended itself to a minute inquiry into the conduct of a gentleman, a the East Indies, where they endeavoured to embroil the servant of the crown, and a member of their own house, English company with divers nabobs or princes, who goaccused of having misapplied a large sum of money, verned different parts of the peninsula intrà Gangem. with which he had been intrusted for rebuilding or re- That the reader may have a clear and distinct idea of pairing the barracks, were now unwilling to embroil these transactions, we shall exhibit a short sketch of || themselves farther with the government, until this af- the English forts and settlements in that remote counfair should be discussed. They therefore passed the try. The first of these we shall mention is Surat, [See bill with the alteration, and proceeded with their in-note 2 U, at the end of this Vol.] in the province so called, quiry. The person was convicted of having misapplied the public money, and ordered to make the barracks fit for the reception and accommodation of the troops at his own expense. They did not, however, neglect to assert what they thought their rights and privileges, when the next opportunity occurred. The duke of Dorset, when he opened the session of this year, repeated the expression of his majesty's gracious consent, in mentioning the surplus of the public money. They again omitted that word in their address; and resolved, in their bill of application, not only to sink this odious term, but likewise to abate in their complaisance to the crown, by leaving out that expression of grateful acknowledgment, which had met with such a cold reception above. By this time the contest had kindled up two violent fuctions, and diffused a general spirit of

TRANSACTIONS IN THE EAST INDIES.

situated between the twenty-first and twenty-second degrees of north latitude; from hence the peninsula stretches into the Indian ocean as far as the latitude of eight north, ending in a point at Cape Comorin, which is the southern extremity. To the northward this peninsula joins to Indostan, and at its greatest breadth extends seven hundred miles. Upon the west, east, and south, it is washed by the sea. It comprehends the kingdoms of Malabar, Decan, Golconda, and Bisnagar, with the principalities of Gingi, Tanjaour, and Madura. The western side is distinguished by the name of the Malabar coast: the eastern takes the denomination of Coromandel; and in different parts of this long sweep, from Surat round Cape Comorin to the bottom of the bay of Bengal, the English and other European powers have, with the consent of the mogul, established forte

sea, that in bad weather the walls are endangered by the mighty surges rolled in from the ocean. As the soil is barren, the climate is so intensely hot that it would be altogether uninhabitable, were not the heat mitigated by the sea breezes. On the land side it is defended by a salt water river, which, while it contributes to the security of the place, robs the inhabitants of one great comfort, by obstructing the springs of fresh water. The fort is a regular square, the town sur

and trading settlements All these kingdoms, properly speaking, belong to the mogul; but his power was so weakened by the last invasion of Kouli Khan, that he has not been able to assert his empire over this remote country; the tributary princes of which, and even the nabobs, who were originally governors appointed under their authority, have rendered themselves independent, and exert an absolute dominion over their respective territories, without acknowledging his superiority either by tribute or homage. These princes, when they quar-rounded with walls well mounted with artillery, and the rel among themselves, naturally have recourse to the place, including the Black Town, is very populous. assistance of such European powers as are settled in or Madras, with several villages in the neighbourhood, near their dominions; and in the same manner the East was purchased of the king of Golconda, before the moIndian companies of the European powers which hap-gul became sovereign of this country. The governor pen to be at war with each other, never fail to interest the nabobs in the dispute.

ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENTS.

of this place is not only president of Fort St. George, but also of all the other settlements on the coasts of Malabar and Coromandel, as far as the island of Sumatra.

He lives in great pomp, having inferior judges, who pass sentence of death occasionally on malefactors The next English settlement to Surat, on the coast of any nation, except the subjects of Great Britain. All of the peninsula, is Bombay, in the kingdom of Decan, the company's affairs are directed by him and his couna small island, with a very convenient harbour, above cil, who are invested with the power of inflicting corfive-and-forty leagues to the south of Surat. The town poral punishment, short of life and member, upon such is very populous; but the soil is barren, and the climate Europeans as are in the service, and dispose of all places unhealthy; and the commerce was rendered very pre- of trust and profit. By virtue of an act passed in the carious by the neighbourhood of the famous corsair course of this very session, the military officers belongAngria, until his port of Geria was taken, and his forti-ing to the company were permitted to hold courts-marfications demolished. The English company likewise tial, and punish their soldiers according to the degree of carry on some traffic at Dabul, about forty leagues fur- their delinquency. In a word, Madras is of the utmost ther to the south, in the province of Cuncan. In the importance to the company for its strength, wealth, and same southerly progression, towards the point of the the great returns it makes in calicoes and muslins. peninsula, we arrive at Carwar, in the latitude of fifteen Towards the latter end of the last century, the English degrees, where there is a small fort and factory belong-company had a flourishing factory at Masulipatam, ing to the company, standing on the south side of a standing on the north side of the river Nagundi, which bay, with a river capable of receiving ships of pretty separates the provinces of Golconda and Bisnagar, in large burden. The climate here is remarkably salu- the latitude of sixteen degrees and thirty minutes; but brious; the country abounds with provisions of all sorts, now there is no European settlement here, except a and the best pepper of India grows in this neighbour- Dutch factory, maintained for carrying on the chintz hood. The next English settlement we find at Tilli-commerce. At Visgapatam, situated still farther to the cherry, where the company has erected a fort, to defend their commerce of pepper and cardamomoms from the insults of the rajah, who governs this part of Malabar. Hither the English trade was removed from Calicut, a large town that stands fifteen leagues to the southward of Tillicherry, and was as well frequented as any port on the coast of the Indian peninsula. The most southerly settlement which the English possess on the Malabar coast, is that of Anjengo, between the eighth and ninth degrees of latitude. It is defended by a regular fort, situated on a broad river, which falls into the sea, and would be very commodious for trade, were not the water on the bar too shallow to admit ships of considerable burden. Then turning the Cape, and passing through the strait of Chilao, formed by the island of Ceylon, we arrive on the coast of Coromandel, which forms the eastern side of the isthmus. Prosecuting our course in a northern direction, the first English factory we reach is that of Fort St. David's, formerly called Tegapatan, situated in the latitude of eleven degrees forty minutes north, within the kingdom of Gingi. It was, about six and-twenty years ago, sold by a Mahratta prince to the East India company, and, next to Bombay, is the most considerable settlement we have yet mentioned.* Its territory extends about eight miles along the coast, and half that space up to the country, which is delightfully watered by a variety of rivers; the soil is fertile, and the climate healthy. The fort is regular, well provided with cannon, ammunition, and a numerous garrison, which is the more necessary, on account of the neighbourhood of the French settlement at Pondicherry. But the chief settlement belonging to the company on this coast is that of Madras, or Fort St. George, standing farther to the northward, between the thirteenth and fourteenth degrees of latitude, and not a great way from the diamond mines of Golconda. It is seated on a flat, barren, scorching sand, so near the The trade consists of long cloths of different colours, sallampres, murees, dimities, ginghams, and succations.

northward, the English possess a factory regularly fortified on the side of the river, which, however, a dangerous bar has rendered unfit for navigation. The adjacent country affords cotton cloths, and the best stripped muslins of India. It is chiefly for the use of this settlement that the company maintains a factory at Ganjam, the most eastern town in the province or kingdom of Golconda, situated in a country abounding with rice and sugar-canes. Still farther to the north coast, in the latitude of twenty-two degrees, the company maintains a factory at Balasore, which was formerly very considerable; but hath been of very little consequence since the navigation of the river Huguely was improved. At this place every European ship bound for Bengal and the Ganges takes in a pilot. The climate is not counted very salubrious; but the adjacent country is fruitful to admiration, and here are considerable manufacture of cotton and silk. Without skilful pilots, the English would find it very difficult to navigate the different channels through which the river Ganges discharges itself into the sea at the bottom of the bay of Bengal. On the southern branch is a town called Pepely, where there was formerly an English factory, but this was removed to Huguely, one hundred and sixty miles farther up the river; a place which, together with the company's settlement at Calcutta, were the emporiums of their commerce for the whole kingdom of Bengal. Indeed Huguely is now abandoned by the English, and their whole trade centers at Calcutta or Fort William, which is a regular fortification, containing lodgings for the factors and writers, store-houses for the company's merchandise, and magazines for their ammunition. As for the governor's house, which likewise stands within the fort, it is one of the most regular structures in all India. Besides these settlements along the sea-coast of the peninsula, and on the banks of the Ganges, the English East India company possess certain inland fac tories and posts for the convenience and defence of their commerce, either purchased of the nabobs and rajahs, or

conquered in the course of the war. As the operations mogul, who placed Anaverdy Khan in his room, he we propose to record were confined to the coasts of Mal-resolved to recover his government by force, and had abar and Coromandel, or the interior countries which recourse to the French general at Pondicherry, who rein form the peninsula intrà Gangem, it will be unnecessary to describe the factory at Bencoolen, on the island of Sumatra, or any settlement which the English possess in other parts of the East Indies.

DISPUTE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT OF
ARCOT.

forced him with two thousand sepoys, or soldiers of the country, sixty caffrees, and four hundred and twenty French troops, on condition that, if he proved successful in his enterprise, he should cede to the French the town of Velur, in the neighbourhood of Pondicherry, with its dependencies, consisting of forty-five villages. Thus reinforced, he defeated his rival Anaverdy Khan, who lost his life in the engagement, reassumed the gov ernment of Arcot, and punctually performed the conditions which had been stipulated by his French allies.

MAHOMMED ALI KHAN SUPPORTED BY
THE ENGLISH.

Mahommed Ali Khan, at the death of his father, had fled to Tiruchirapalli,* and solicited the assistance of the English, who favoured him with a reinforcement of money, men, and ammunition, under the conduct of major Laurence, a brave and experienced officer. By dint of this supply, he gained some advantages over the enemy, who were obliged to retreat; but no decisive blow was given. Mahommed afterwards repaired in

In order to understand the military transactions of the
English company in India, the reader will take notice,
that immediately after the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle,
mons. Dupleix, who commanded for the French in that
country, began by his intrigues to sow the seeds of dis-
sension among the nabobs, that he might be the better
able to fish in troubled waters. Nizam Almuluck, the
mogul's viceroy of Decan, having the right of nominat-
ing a governor of the Carnatic, now more generally
known by the name of the nabob of Arcot, appointed
Anaverdy Khan to that office, in the year one thousand
seven hundred and forty-five. The viceroy dying, was
succeeded in his viceroyalty, or subaship, by his second
son Nazirzing, whom the mogul confirmed. He was
opposed in his pretensions by his own cousin Muzaph-person to fort St. David's, to demand more powerful
erzing, who had recourse to the assistance of M. Dupleix,
and obtained from him a reinforcement of Europeans
and artillery, in consideration of many presents and
promises, which he fulfilled in the sequel. Thus rein-
forced, and joined by one Chunda Saib, an active Indian
chief, he took the field against his kinsman Nazirzing,
who was supported by a body of English troops under
colonel Laurence. The French, dreading an engage-
ment, retired in the night; and Muzapherzing, seeing
himself abandoned by all his own troops, appealed to
the clemency of his cousin, who spared his life, but de-
tained him as a state prisoner. In this situation, he
formed a conspiracy against his kinsman's life, with
Nazirzing's prime minister, and the nabobs of Cadu-
pab and Condaneor, then in his camp; and the conspira-
tors were encouraged in their scheme by Dupleix and
Chunda Saib, who had retired to Pondicherry. Thus
stimulated, they murdered Nazirzing in his camp, and
proclaimed Muzapherzing viceroy of Decan. In the
tents of the murdered viceroy they found an immense
treasure, of which a great share fell to M. Dupleix,
whom Muzapherzing the usurper at this time associated
in the government. By virtue of this association, the
Frenchman assumed the state and formalities of an
eastern prince; and he and his colleague Muzapherzing
appointed Chunda Saib nabob of Arcot; Anaverdy Khan,
the late nabob, had been, in the year one thousand seven
hundred and forty-nine, defeated and slain by Muzaph-
erzing and Chunda Saib, with the assistance of their
French auxiliaries; and his son Mahommed Ali Khan
had put himself under the protection of the English at
Madras, and was confirmed by Nazirzing, as his father's
successor in the nabobship, or government of Arcot. This
government, therefore, was disputed between Mahom-
med Ali Khan, appointed by the legal viceroy Nazir-
zing, supported by the English company, and Chunda
Saib, nominated by the usurper Muzapherzing, and
protected by Dupleix, who commanded at Pondicherry.
Muzapherzing did not long survive his usurpation. In
the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty-one, the
same nabobs who had promoted him to his kinsman's
place, thinking themselves ill rewarded for their services,
fell upon him suddenly, routed his troops, and put him
to death: and next day the chiefs of the army proclaimed
Sallabatzing, brother to Nazirzing, viceroy of Decan; on
the other hand, the mogul appointed Gauzedy Khan, who
was the elder brother of Sallabatzing: and this prince
confirmed Mahommed Ali Khan in the government of
Arcot: but the affairs of the mogul's court were then
in such confusion, that he could not spare an army to
support the nomination he had made. Chunder Saib,
nabob of Arcot, having been deposed by the great

succours, alleging that his fate was connected with the
interest of the English company, which in time would
be obliged to abandon the whole coast, should they
allow the enemy to proceed in their conquests. In con-
sequence of these representations, he received another
strong reinforcement, under the command of captain
Cope; but nothing of importance was attempted, and
the English auxiliaries retired. Then Mahommed was
attacked by the enemy, who obtained a complete vic
tory over him. Finding it impossible to maintain bis
footing by his own strength, he entered into a close
alliance with the English, and ceded to them some com-
mercial points which had been long in dispute. Then |
they detached captain Cope to put Tiruchirapalli in a
posture of defence; while captain de Gingins, a Swiss
officer, marched at the head of four hundred Europeans
to the nabob's assistance. The two armies being pretty
equal in strength, lay encamped in sight of each other
a whole month; during which nothing happened but a
few skirmishes, which generally terminated to the ad-
vantage of the English auxiliaries. In order to make
a diversion, and divide the French forces, the company
resolved to send a detachment into the province of Ar-
cot; and this was one of the first occasions upon which
the extraordinary talents of Mr. Clive were displayed.
He had entered into the service of the East India com-
pany as a writer, and was considered as a person very
indifferently qualified for succeeding in any civil station
of life. He now offered his service in a military capa
city, and actually began his march to Arcot, at the
head of two hundred and ten Europeans, with five hun-
dred sepoys.t

MR. CLIVE TAKES ARCOT.

Such was the resolution, secrecy, and despatch, with which he conducted this enterprise, that the enemy knew nothing of his motions until he was in possession of the capital, which he took without opposition. The inhabitants, expecting to be plundered, offered him a large sum to spare their city; but they derived their security from the generosity and discretion of the conqueror. He refused the proffered ransom, and issued a proclamation, intimating, that those who were willing to remain in their houses should be protected from insult and injury, and the rest have leave to retire with all their effects, except provisions, for which he promised

Tiruchirapalli, commonly called Trichinoply, situated near the river Cauveri, about two hundred miles to the southward of Medras is the capital of a small kingdom belonging to the government of Arcot, and bounded on the east by the kingdom of Tanjore.

The sepoys are the mercenaries of the country, who are hired as soldiers occasionally by all parties.