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any mode into a pecuniary benefit on "this account." The Direction being changed in April; on the 14th of August 1799, a new Committee to investigate the truth of the sale of Patronage, &c. was appointed. 17 Jan. 1800: The draft of a Letter proposed to be addressed to the parents, &c. of persons appointed Writers since 1793, requesting them to declare whether the appointments were given without any pecuniary or other consideration, was considered by the committee; when a discussion arose, whether it should be on oath; when it was adjourned till the 21st of Jan. and it being then suggested whether it would be proper for the Committee to proceed in their inquiry, it was decided in the affirmative.

The Committee then proceeded to consider the drafts of the letter to the parents, &c. a draft of a Report to the Court stating their reasons for recommending this mode of investigation, as also the form of a declaration for the persons who have received such appointments. The consideration was adjourned to the 24th of Jan.; when a discussion ensuing thereon, and on the necessity and expediency of the mode of public investigation therein proposed; it was agreed to postpone the said Report, and to proceed to act agreeably to the authority and instructions already received from the Court. The Committee resolved, that in their opinion the parties to whom each Director had given nominations, should be called upon to state on what grounds they have received the same, in every case that the Committee may deem it expedient so to do.

The Committee then examined, viva voce, its different members, as a preliminary to the proposed measure; each member declared upon his honour that what he had stated in regard to his appointments was strictly true, and expressed his readiness to confirm the same by his oath. ---28th Jan. 1800: The Committee met to consider a draft of a Report to the Court, communicating their proceedings, and proposing further measures for the Court's adoption, as also a draft of a letter referred to in the said Report.-31st Jan.: The Report of this day's date, with the letters to the parents, &c. and the declaration to be made by them, was approved. -5th Feb.: The Court, after considerable discussion of the above, confirm the same; but resolve that the consideration of what is further to be done on the said Report be adjourned to the 11th of Feb.: when it is resolved, that the Committee of

Patronage be instructed to proceed in the examination of the other members of the Court, as they did with themselves. It was then moved, that the declaration proposed in the Report be upon oath: on this, the motion of adjournment was carried. 25th Feb.: A Report signed by 15 Directors, approves the Declaration, and recommends that the several persons to whom the same is sent be requested to confirm such declaration upon oath.Another Report on the same day, signed by 12 Directors, recommends that no further proceedings be had in this business till the 1st of May. Both the above Reports are approved by the Court.—26th Feb. 1800. The right hon. Henry Dundas addressed the Court, acknowledging the receipt of their minute; and stating, that he feels it a duty that he owes both to himself and the Court, to omit no means in his power for ascertaining whether any person whom he has obliged through the favour of the Court, has presumed to abuse his kindness in so sordid and unwarrantable a manner.

Sir Francis Baring dissents from the Resolutions to call for the declaration on oath.

The Committee of Patronage ceasing with the Direction in April; on 18th June 1800, the Court took into consideration the propriety of re-appointing the said Committee.-It being moved, "That a Cómmittee of Patronage be re-appoint

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ed;" an amendment was moved, to leave out all the words after the word "that," and to insert in their room the following, "it does not appear to this "Court, that any circumstance has been "stated to the Court, by which the Com"mittee lately appointed for an inquiry "into the disposal of Patronage, that can "induce or would justify the Court in "adopting the illegal and novel adminis"stration of extra-judicial oaths to a va"riety of persons, not directly connected "with the East India Company or the management of its affairs, and which,

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though it would tend to throw a suspi"cion upon the Court at large, which no "circumstances that have hitherto come "to the knowledge of the Court can in"duce them to suppose the members "thereof merit, would not, they conceive, "be an effectual mode of bringing to "light any such practices, even if such in any partial instance should have ex"isted."

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On the question for the Amendment being put, the votes for, and against, were

equal; when the lot decided for the Amendment.

held under the East India Company; but they see no reason to recommend any 25th June: The Chairman, Deputy special or separate provisions as applicaChairman and eight other Directors dis-ble to their case, judging that the East India

sent from the Resolution not to re-appoint the Committee of Patronage. 24th Sept. A motion was made in the Court of Proprietors, that the above Proceedings be read; they were read accordingly, and notice given by the mover, of his intention of bringing the subject forward at a future Court.-20th Jan.: 1801, It was "moved, That it is the opinion of this Court, "that the Inquiry into the alleged abuse of Patronage, ought to be continued."

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It was moved to amend the said motion, by adding thereto the following words, "to investigate any charge that may be "made of corrupt practices against any "one or more of the Court of Directors." The above Amendment passed in the negative;-When a ballot was demanded on the original question; it was, 3d Feb. : 1801, lost by a majority of 139; 411 voting for the question, against it 550.

The following opinion of Counsel was given to the Court of Directors, previous to the ballot being taken; viz.

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Company has within its own power the most effectual means for accomplishing that end. It can never be advisable, without absolute necessity, to add new offences to the long catalogue already enumerated in the penal statutes; nor is it wise to diminish the sanctity of oaths by resorting to them upon all occasions. Where solemn declarations have been habitually disregarded, little reliance can be placed upon the sanction of any other species of asseveration. Instances occur but too frequently, where an oath comes to be considered merely as part of the official form by which an appointment is conferred; and the human mind, fertile in self-deception, accommodates itself with wonderful facility to overcoming all scruples, or applies a perverse ingenuity to evading all restrictions which stand in the way of present interest. Little fear of detection is entertained, when transactions are in their nature private and confidential; and the appellation of honour, most "Case for the East India Company: improperly applied to negotiations of "Whether the Court of Directors, or this clandestine kind, attaches, by a sinany Committee of the said Court, whether gular perverseness, a stronger degree of considered as a Committee of that Court, obligation to the performance of such enor as a Committee of Proprietors, be legal-gagements, upon the very ground that ly authorized to call for the examination they are illegal. of such persons upon oath, as recommended by the Court of Directors in their Resolution of the 25th Feb. 1800; or whether in their opinion any magistrate would be justified in administering the oath so recommended; and generally to advise concerning the legality and effect of such proceedings.-We are of opinion, that neither the Court of Directors, nor any Committee of the said Court, or Committee of Proprietors, have any legal authority to require or receive examinations of persons upon oath, as recommended by the Resolution of the Court of Directors of the 25th Feb.: 1800; and that no magistrate will be justified in administering such oaths.-"We therefore think the proposed proceedings would be contrary to law."(Signed) J. Mitford, W. Grant, J. Mansfield, T. Erskine, George Rous."

If this house should in its wisdom adopt any legislative measures for the purpose of preventing all traffic in the disposal of offices under government, it will, in the opinion of your Committee, be proper to extend the same protection to Patronage

With a view to prevent all dealings in Patronage, the obvious and natural mode will be to take away all inducement to traffic in it; and this can only be attained by making the hazard of such speculations greater than the temptation. The regula tions of the Company are founded upon this true and efficacious principle. But examples have hitherto been wanting to demonstrate the determination of the Court of Directors to enforce their orders; no instance of purchasing or procuring by undue means an appointment in the civil or military service of the East India Company, after such appointment had actually taken place, and since the Court's Resolution of 28th Feb. 1799, having been so far established, as to enable the Court to dismiss the party appointed. The immediate consequence of the information contained in this Report, must be, that a certain number of persons in the service of the Company will be instantly deprived of their employments, recalled from India, and declared incapable of again receiving any appointment under the Company. The money improperly given for procur

Your Committee may perhaps be exceeding the limits of their province, in the further considerations to which this subject leads; but as they decline recommending any special legislative enactment, their view of the proper remedy for these abuses may be incomplete, unless they proceed to suggest some other observations-The unpleasant duty of increased vigilance is not likely to be performed without some incitement of benefit or disadvantage, attendant upon the exercise, or neglect of it; and it is equally conformable to ex

ing these situations, will be absolutely lost, without any possibility of recovery; and those who have either imprudently or corruptly been concerned in obtaining what they conceived to be benefits for their relatives or friends, will find that they have done the greatest injury to those whom they desired to serve, by inducing them to dedicate some of the best years of their lives to an employment, which the original defects, and corrupt practices through which it was obtained, must disqualify them from prosecuting.-Hard as some of these cases must be, and innocent and ig-perience to presume, that patronage will norant as many of the young men nominated under these circumstances probably are, of the undue means by which their Appointments were acquired, your Committee are of opinion, that nothing but a strict adherence to the rule laid down by the Court of Directors, can put a stop to the continuance of these abuses, and prevent the chance of their recurring.In 1779, when, in the course of the investigation already mentioned, indemnity was offered to all those who would make a fair and candid disclosure of all the circumstances through which their situations had been procured, though information was gained with regard to facts, no example could be made, in consequence of such disclosure, of those who were found offending; and it may be doubted whether such practices have been less prevalent since that inquiry, than before. The deficiency of their power to compel persons to answer, precluded the Court of Directors from discovering, if they punished, or from punishing if they discovered, the traffic which was the subject of complaint.

The oath taken by the Directors seems as effectual as any thing which can be devised for the purpose of guarding against corruption, so far as the Directors themselves are "immediately concerned; and your Committee have already remarked, that no one case of corruption or abuse, which has been before them, affects any member of that Court. It is, in the passing through several hands, which happens frequently with regard to the more numerous and less valuable Appointments of Cadets, that opportunities for this sort of negotiation are presented, which, without a greater degree of vigilance and strictness on the part of each Director, at the time of making such nomination, it will be impracticable to prevent in future.

continue to be abused, so long as no in, convenience is felt by the person priarily giving, or by the person ultimately receiving it.-Where strict examination is a duty, any species of negligence cannot be wholly blameless; and it appears not unreasonable to curtail in some degree, the patronage of those, who have either not been sufficiently watchful in the disposal of it, or whose diligence has been unsuccessful in preventing the abuses which are complained of. As an additional check against those who are inclined to purchase such appointments, it may be expedient that a bond should be given by the parent, guardian, or friend of every person receiving a nomination, containing a penalty to be paid to the East India Company, upon proof being made at any subsequent period, that any vainable consideration was given for such appointment; that species of proof being deemed sufficient to levy-the penalty, upon which the Court of Directors may think themselves authorized to vacate the appoint

ment.

The practices which are developed in the present Report, and other transactions which this house has recently had under its cognizance, are sufficient to demonstrate, that patronage of various descriptions has, in several instances, become an article of traffic; that an opinion of the generality of such practices has been prevalent to a still greater extent; and that fraudulent agents have availed themselves of this belief, to the injury of the credulous and unwary, and to the discredit of those in whose hands the disposition of offices is lodged. It will depend upon the steps which may be taken in consequence of these Inquiries, whether such abuses shall receive a permanent check, or a virtual encouragement.

LONDON: Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough Court, Fleet Street; Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent-Garden: Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Mall.

VOL. XV. No. 18.]

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1809.

[Price 18,

ENGLISHMEN, bear in everlasting remembrance, the Cases of HAMLIN, the Tinman, and of LORD CASTLEREAGH, the Privy Counsellor, Secretary of State, and Member of Parliament; and, unless you clearly show to the world, that you feel as you ought, as to the decision upon those cases, a curse ought to stick to you and to your children, from generation to generation.

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ΤΟ

THE INDEPENDENT PEOPLE OF HAMPSHIRE.

LETTER I.

Lord Castlereagh and Philip Hamlin. GENTLEMEN,

When, at our last County-Meeting, an objection was made to our introducing into our Resolution the affair of Lord Clancarty and Lord Castlereagh, you had the good sense to over-rule that objection, though made by sir Henry Mildmay, whom you were ready to thank for having done his duty, but, by whom you were not to be induced to resign the exercise of your rights and the use of your reason. Nor, can I refrain from observing here, that we, who have no party or selfish purpose to serve, must, if we mean to profit from the victory we have obtained, be very cautious how we give way to any thing like thickand-thin support of any body. Sir Henry Mildmay did well in voting for Mr. Wardle amongst the 125; but, that is only one act; it is merely a single act; and is by no means sufficient to induce us to continue our praise of that gentleman, unless we find him steady in his endeavours to serve the country, and especially in his endeavours to rescue the nation from the degraded state in which it has long been. I do not wish to excite any suspicions with respect to this gentleman; but merely to settle this point: namely, that, for the good he has done we have given him our thanks, in terms the most handsome; but, that, we are not, for this reason, at all bound to praise him in future, and are perfectly free to express our real sentiments, be they what they may, as to his future conduct, and, of course, to act upon those sentiments. No, Gentlemen, let us keep ourselves free from all thick-and-thin engagements and attachments; let each of us exercise his own judgment; let each of us for himself make due inquiry, and act upon the decision of his own mind; let us not be persuaded or coaxed to do that which our own reason tells us is not right; let us form and preserve an attachment to

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principles and not to men; above all, let us despise the watch-words of party; let us thus act, and you will soon see, that this, county, in spite of all the dreadful influence of the Dockyards, the Barracks, and the Custom-House, will not only recover its independence, but will set an example to other counties. The reason why your voice has heretofore not been heard, is this; that you had no inclination to attend at county-meetings. The few who did ate tend saw that the object was merely a party one; that no good purpose was ang swered by an attendance; that a set of Re solutions, ready cut and dry, were passed without opposition; that the audience con sisted, upon one occasion, of the slaves of men in power, and, upon the next occasion, of the slaves of men who wanted to geş into power; that, in fact, you were only. to give your voice for what one party of the other party sent down from London to be passed, and to be sent back again as bes ing the decision of the county of Hants, when it was no more the decision of the real people of the county, than it was the decis sion of the inhabitants of the moon. No wonder that such meetings had fallen into contempt. The tradesmen and yeomen of the county despised the imposture; and it did not occur to them to take the trouble of exposing it. Recent events, quite suff cient for the purpose, indeed, have roused us. They have brought us together from all parts of the county; made us acquainted with one another; produced an interchange of friendship; and do very fairly promise to make us formidable to any man, or set of men, who shall dare attempt again to consider us as men of straw, Far be it from me to inculcate feelings of disrespect towards rank, family, or learned professions; but, one cannot shut one's eyes to glaring truths, and, it was impossible for any one not to perceive, on the 25th of April last, that the "great men" of the county did not appear to be much better able than we were to conduct the business which had called us together; and, to say the plain

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experience has convinced you, that they have always some selfish object in view; that they wish you to give them your support, in order that they, by the use they make of the power you put in their hands, may get something for themselves or their families. This you know well; whereas, you are all convinced, that I have no such views; that I do not want, and will not have, any thing from the public; and, therefore, you expect, and meet with, from me, plain dealing; that which is for the good of us all, without respect to persons or party. But, at any rate, our abusers are in a very pinching dilemma with respect to me and you; for, they must agree to one of two things; namely, either that I am a person of very great consequence in the county; or, that the Resolution which I proposed and you adopted contained the genuine expression of your minds. I know that the latter is the truth; but, let those who would fain vilify me and my principles, hitch themselves upon whichever horn of the dilemma they may feel to be the least galling.

truth, not quite so able. To myself I take no merit on account of that day's proceedings; for, though I have been much more accustomed to writing than most of you have, and though I necessarily possess more knowledge, upon political subjects, than the greater part of you can have had leisure to acquire, still I am of opinion, that, out of the two thousand of you, who were present, there were at least one hundred full as able to state your rights to the meeting as I was. You, all of you, possess sufficient knowledge; and you want only the confidence to do it. This was the third county-meeting that I had ever been at, and it was the sixth time that I ever attempted to speak to a public assembly. No one could do it with greater reluctance; but, it being the duty of some one to assert our rights, and I, seeing no other person disposed to get the better of that reluctance which was common to us all, resolved to do it myself, and, in this respect, to set you an example. I knew that the county had sense and spirit, and I was determined to give them a fair chance of displaying themselves; and, to your I shall now address you, though it need honour, display themselves they did. not be at much length, upon the subject Some of the hireling writers, in London, of Lord CASTLEREAGH's conduct, which frantic at the result of our meeting, have subject made part of the Resolution, passabused me without measure, and have ex- ed at the meeting.— -Sir Henry Mildpressed their utter astonishment, that the may requested us to stop, 'till that matter "noblemen and gentlemen" of the county had received the decision of the House of Comshould suffer you to be led by a person like mons. But, as we had before us, a Copy me. Now, in the first place, you were not of the whole of the Evidence in the case, led by me. You assembled without my printed by order of the House of Comasking a soul of you to attend. Forty-mons itself, we thought it not at all nenine out of every fifty of you were perfect cessary to wait for that decision, supposstrangers to me; and, I am sincerely con- ing ourselves to be full as able as that vinced, that not a man of you would have House to decide upon a plain matter of voted for the Resolution that I proposed, fact; especially as we simply declared if you had not approved of it in your own what was contained in the evidence itself, mind. And, in the next place, "the noand contrasted the conduct of this Lord blemen and gentlemen" of the county have with the principles of the constitution, as no such power over you as these hireling contained in the BILL OF RIGHTS, which is London-writers seem to suppose they one of our great constitutional laws.have. You stand in no need of their sup- the same day, that we passed our Resoluport or assistance, or good-offices, in any tion, the House of Commons discussed, way whatever. They come, indeed, at and decided upon, the conduct of Lord every canvassing season, and give you a Castlereagh; and I beg leave to state to hypocritical smile, and a squeeze of the you what was done by the House upon hand; but this they do to the vilest knave that occasion. - The business was in the county, who has a freehold of forty brought forward by LORD ARCHIBALD HAMshillings a year, and whose family, per- ILTON, who concluded his speech with haps, you have to maintain out of the moving the following Resolutions:poor-rates, while he maintains himself in idleness and drink by depredations upon your property of various descriptions. Besides, there is this wide difference between me and those "noblemen and gentlemen," of whom these writers speak: longing a Privy Counsellor and Secretary of

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I. That it appears to the House, from the "evidence on the table, that Lord Viscount Castlereagh, in the year 1805, shortly "after he had quitted the situation of Pre"sident of the Board of Controul, and be

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