rupt honour and integrity. It is a fact known to all India, that he quitted the government with as clean hands as he took possession of it. Hard, very hard, is it upon such à character, after having for six or seven years executed the arduous duties of the most consequential office a subject can be placed in, to the best of his judgment, with no other object in view than what he conceived would eventually turn out to the benefit of his employers, to the advantage of his country, and finally lead to the permanent peace and tranquillity of India; to find himself assailed on his arrival with such charges as have this day been dwelt on by the honourable member. Let not the House conclude, from what they have heard, that no enquiry has been made into the conduct of the late governor-general. The board of commissioners, and the court of directors, have not been neglectful of this part of their duty. Every transaction of the government-general has been minutely scrutinized and investigated. If the noble lord who was lately at the head of the board, was in his place, I should with confidence appeal to him, whether in the,course of the voluminous dispatches sent to India, there appeared any favour, partiality, or affection? The executive body of the India Company, where the law has placed the power and right to censure or approve, have with firmness expressed their sentiments on every measure that did not meet their approbation: now, Sir, under these circumstances, I cannot bring myself to believe, that if there were any grounds for further inquiry, either with a view to a civil suit, or criminal prosecution, the King's ministers, or the court of directors, would have left so important a business to the honourable gentleman who has undertaken the task. But, supposing the late administration had felt a desire to screen Lord Wellesley, is it likely that the new administration will follow their example, if, when they have time to look over the records, they see cause for further proceedings ? And in that case, an enquiry will come forward with that weight of character which belongs to them, and under the influence of official situation: and in such an event there will not be a dissenting voice to any investigation they may think proper to propose to parliament. With respect to the production of the papers moved for, I shall only say, that they ought to be carefully examined before they are produced to the public eye. 3 G 2 Mr. Mr. Addington, Dr. Lawrence, and Lord Temple, each said a few words. Mr. Fox thought himself called on to notice in a few words what had fallen from the honourable baronet. If the honourable baronet meant that he had come into office without any improper desire to serve either one or the other party, he was correct. If he were called on to state, taking the system pursued by the two noble marquises, Wellesley and Cornwallis, as general principles, which of the two he liked best, he should say the latter, as being most agreeable to the principles laid down by this House, and most to the credit of the India company. If again he were asked as to his opinion of the delinquency of Marquis Wellesley, he should say he had none. He had not yet formed it, and if he had, this was not the time to declare it. As to an idea thrown out by an honourable member, that such charges were better carried on by ministers, that, for one, he disclaimed. He thought such questions. were best discussed, when no weight was lent to the accusation, except what it derived from the individual who preferred it, and from the cause of truth. Mr. Huddleston did not assent to every thing that had fallen from Sir Theophilus Metcalfe. Mr. R. Thornton deprecated the panegyrics which that worthy baronet had heaped on the noble marquis. He knew well that he had stood almost single in the court of directors on this subject. The noble Marquis had been recalled by the court of directors, and he thought no more complete specimen of their disapprobation of the system pursued by him could be demanded. That very recal produced a jealousy against him, which was of itself an argument in favour of the present investigation. Mr. Paull replied, and having alluded to a charge, which he intended also to bring forward against the noble marquis, for dilapidating the public money contrary to act of parliament, Mr. C. Pole asked, if it was his intention to charge the noble marquis with having applied the public money to his own use? Mr. Paull answered, to his own convenience and splendour, contrary to act of parliament. Mr. Pole repeated-did he charge him with pecula tion ? Mr. for Mr. Paull. Not with peculation, but with a wasteful, profuse expenditure of a large sum of the public money his own convenience and splendour, contrary to act of parliament. Mr. Pole. That is to say, in public objects, contrary to law; as in the palace at Calcutta, body-guard, &c. Mr. Paull, however, declined giving any more explicit statement of what his charge should amount to. The several papers then originally moved for were granted, so far as may be consistent with the security of the public service. The other orders of the day were gone through. HOUSE OF LORDS. TUESDAY, MARCH 18. Lord Collingwood's annuity bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. Alexander, and several other members of the House of Commons, brought up the American treaty bill, the wool exportation bill, the English and Irish militia bills, the militia subalterns' bill, the militia-adjutants' bill, and a private bill, which were severally read a first time. DECLARATORY BILL. On the third reading of the declaratory bill, Earl Stanhope moved to leave out the proviso which had been added to the bill by Lord Eldon. Lard Ellenborough said, he had framed a clause which he intended to propose as a substitute for the proviso, and which he thought would answer every purpose intended to be provided for by the noble and learned lord (Eldon), whilst at the same time it would obviate the objections made to the proviso by other noble lords. Instead of referring generally to the practice of courts of equity, which had been objected to as not being consonant with the practice of courts of common law, he proposed to state specifically the exceptions to the general rule laid down in the bill. In the clause he had drawn up he proposed to enact, that no mortgagee, or bona fide purchaser or possessor of an estate, should be compelled to answer any question, the answering which might probably tend to defeat his title, or incur a forfeiture of his estate. He meant, of course, a civil for 3 feiture; feiture; as in the case of a widow, who in marrying again forfeited property, she should not be compelled to answer a question as to the fact of her marriage. On a question from Lord Holland, Lord Ellenborough replied, that he proposed to substitute his clause for the whole proviso which had been added to the bill, on the motion of the noble and learned lord (Eldon). The Lord Chancellor expressed his approbation of the clause, which he thought would answer every purpose intended by the proviso. The further consideration of the bill was then postponed till the next day, to give time for the engrossment of the clause. The English and Irish sugar drawback bills passed through committees and were reported. Adjourned. t HOUSE OF COMMONS. TUESDAY, MARCH 18. Mr. Steadman, from the stamp-office, presented an account of the arrears and balances in the hands of the distributors on the 10th of October, 1805, and also on the 5th of January, 1806. Mr. Brookes gave notice of his intention to move on Monday next for an account of the contracts entered into by the victualling board for the supply of the navy with spirits. IRISH PAVING-BOARD. Mr. C. W. Wynne brought in a bill to continue and amend the act of last session, for authorising the Lord Lieutenant to make certain arrangements, relative to the paving, &c. the streets of Dublin. Upon the motion for the first reading, Mr. Alexander took occasion to animadvert upon the conduct of Lord Hardwicke towards the late paving-board of Dublin, which was composed of respectable persons; but whose character had suffered much in public estimation in consequence of the measures taken by Lord Hardwicke for the suspension of their powers. From this suspension an idea had gone abroad that they had been guilty of some malversation. Mr. C. W. Wynne said that Lord Hardwicke had thought it his duty to institute an inquiry upon the subject referred referred to by the honourable member. The proceedings of the commission of inquiry would be speedily printed, and when laid before Parliament would speak for itself. Lord Hardwicke had, pursuant to the act, granted the sum allowed to other commissioners, while the paving-corporation was subject to inquiry, in order that the streets of Dublin should be kept in proper repair. Mr. Long did not conceive the case of the paving-corporation at all prejudged or prejudiced by the course which Lord Hardwicke had taken, that course struck him to be extremely proper. Lord De Blaquiere vindicated the conduct and character of the paving-corporation, of which he described himself to be a member, and desired that any charge which could be alleged against them might be immediately brought forward. Mr. Ormsby thought a slur was cast upon the character of the paving-board, by the conduct of Lord Hardwicke. After some further remarks from Mr. Alexander, Mr. Wynne, and Lord De Blaquiere, the bill was read a first time. Ordered to be read a second time on Thursday, and to be printed. INCOME TAX. Mr. Shaw Lefevre presented a petition from the governors of St. Luke's hospital, complaining of a surcharge which had been imposed upon them for servants who were indispensably necessary to the purposes of the hospital; and also, that the commissioners to whom they appealed had confirmed the said surcharge. The petitioners therefore prayed for the interposition of Parliament. When the Petition was read, Mr. Shaw Lefevre stated, that if the business were not taken up by government, he would take occasion to propose that all hospitals, and other charitable institutions, should be exempted from the operation of the income tax. The propriety of such an exemption was, he thought, forcibly suggested by the case stated in this petition. The petition was ordered to lie on the table. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. Upon the motion of Mr. Windham, who stated that the bill it was his intention to propose on this subject was precisely the same as that which applied to the trade of the Cape |