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ed to fuperintend, controul, and correct, the conduct of these very servants, and to whom they had intrusted the execution of public measures of the greateft importance. This conduct was rendered still more alarming, though not more atrocious, by the late extraordinary and dangerous interference of the military in the civil government. It feemed as if their troops had laid the conduct of the pretorian bands before them as a model, and intended to create or destroy governors or commanders, as the others had done emperors. Perhaps, faid they, their next exploit may be, the fetting up of the prefidency of Madrafs to the higheft bidder. Indeed it could afford no extraordinary degree of furprise now, if it fhould be discovered, that all the fettlements on that coaft were put up to fale. They faid, that the company had no danger to apprehend on the coaft of Coromandel, but what arose from the overgrown power and wealth of the Nabob, and from the afcendency which, by unfair and unworthy means, he had obtain ed over the conduct of their fervants. The caufes and effects on both fides played into each other. He had obtained undue power and wealth through the fault of their fervants, and that power and wealth enabled him to confirm and enlarge the fyftem of corruption which he had already too fuccessfully established. They infifted, that it was the true intereft of the company, to afford every poffible protection and encouragement, to the honeft, harmless, and induftrious race of Gentoos, and to support, at every risk and expence, their mild and in offenfive governments, against the tyransy, rapacity, and cruelty, of the lazy, infolent, and treacherous Mahometans. It was to the unremitting industry of the former that we owed all the advantages which we derived from India. The Moguls were, in reality, only to be confidered as lawless bands of plundering Tartars, who had for feveral ages ravaged the finest countries, and rioted in the fpoils of the most induftrious people, upon the face of the earth.

The King of Tanjour, they faid, was an useful and faithful ally. His prefervation was entwined with our own fecurity, as he was the only check which the country afforded upon the rifing power and daring ambition of the Nabob. Our fidelity, juftice, and kindnefs to him, would have gained the confidence and VOL. XLI.

affections of all the natural princes of the country; and we fhould thereby have established on the spot, and independent of any exertion on our fide, a counterpoife to the reftiefs ambition and infatiate rapacity of the Moguls. But by the injuftice, of not only betraying our ally into the hands of his enemy, but becoming principal actors in his destruction, and fharers in his fpoil, we have totally changed the profpect; and instead of friendship, a general confederacy of the Marattoes and other warlike Gentoo tribes against us, is what we have every reafon to expect; nor would it be a matter of wonder, if, forgetting for the time all other refentments, they should one day even join the Nabob, to punish our injuftice and perfidy. In these circumftances, they said, the only right and wife policy for the company to purfue, was to act juftly; to fhew the world that her faith and integrity were inviolate; and to convince the Eaftern nations, by her conduct to the King of Tanjour, that however venality and corruption might have laid hold on fome of her fervants, fhe was in herfelf pure, and incapable of receiving any taint of that nature.

Thefe tranfactions having been laid before the proprietors at their quarterly general court, March 26. 1777, a refolution was agreed upon, and afterwards confirmed on a ballot, by a majority of 382, to 140 proprietors, recommending to the court of directors, to take the most effectual measures for reftoring Lord Pigot to the full exercise of the powers vested in him by the company, as Governor and Prefident of the fettlement of Madrass; and for enquiring into the conduct of the principal actors in his imprisonment, and in difpoffeffing him of the exercise of the legal powers wherewith he was invefted.

In confequence of this refolution, feveral others were foon after [April 11.] paffed in the court of directors, by which Lord Pigot was restored to the full exercife of the office and powers from which he had been degraded; his four friends who had been ejected from the council were reinstated; a refolution was paffed, that seven members of the council, including the commander in chief of the forces, had violently fubverted the government by a military force; thefe feven members were accordingly fufpended from the company's fervice, and cut off from any other means of restoration tham C

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the immediate act of the directors. A new council was appointed, in which Mr Rumbold, who was to fucceed Lord Pigot, was to hold the fecond place, during the remainder of his administration, and a new commander of the forces the third place. The four ejected and reftored members of the former council were admitted to feats in the prefent [39. 266.]. The court of directors alfo paffed a vote of cenfure upon Lord Pigot's condu&t, which they declared appeared in feveral inftances to be reprehenfible.

Notwithstanding the cenfure upon Lord Pigot in thefe refolutions, and that they were only carried by a cafting vote in the court of directors, the friends of that nobleman, as well as the oppugners in general of the prefiding party, and late proceedings in Madrafs, were now fatiffied, that they had gained a decifive, if not complete victory. The vast majority of proprietors which had appeared on their fide in the late ballot, notwithstand ing the apparent efforts of administration, in conjunction with the parties who were immediately concerned against them, feemed not only to afford a moral cer tainty that the prefent refolutions would be carried into effect, but a reasonable degree of probability that the bufinefs would no longer be controverted.

They, however, found themselves miftaken. All poffible impediments were thrown in the way, to retard, clog, or embarrass the business in the court of directors. The inftructions which were in tended to accompany the refolutions to India, were fo operofe, perplexed, and voluminous, and afforded fo much room for altercation and difcuffion, that the main fubject feemed in fome degree to be loft or forgotten during the toil and vexation of clearing the rubbish in which it was involved. Nor were the oppofite parties idle. The friends of the Nabob, as well as thofe of the ruling party at Madrafs, made profelytes to their opinion; and were preparing to fhew, that they had not yet exhaufted all their refources. In this course of things, a gentleman who profeffed to tread only upon amicable ground with the laudable intention of pleafing all parties, and reconciling all differences, moved three refolutions, which he feemed to think would fully anfwer thefe defirable purposes. By the first of these, after reprobating the treatment which Lord Pigot had met with, and affording him the mockery of a tem

pory restoration to his government with out any power of acting it, he was or dered immediately home for an inquiry into his conduct; by the fecond his friends in the council were ordered home and by the third the whole body of his enemies were likewife recalled.

Although thefe propofitions were at first laughed at, and treated as too incongruous and abfurd to merit ferious argument or refutation, it was foon found that they were powerfully supported, and intended seriously to difarm, or render nugatory, the former refolutions. Some change had taken place in the direction, and a new prefident was placed at its head, in confequence of the late election at the India-house. All the queftions preparatory to the main propofitions were carried in different courts by confiderable majorities. At length, adminiftration having, as it is faid, exerted all its weight and influence in bringing up the fervants and dependents of government from every part of the kingdom, to fupport the grand queftion in favour of the three refolutions, it was carried, May 9. upon a ballot, by a majority of 97, the numbers being 414 to 317, who oppofed the recall of Lord Pigot [39. 267.]. The lookers on ftood aftonished at this ftrange revolution in the opinions and order of the company.

This decifion in the India-house induced a gentleman, whọ has long been diftinguifhed for his great knowledge of the affairs of the company, and the very active, though generally unsuccessful part, which he has for feveral years taken in its public tranfactions, to bring the business before a higher tribunal. Gov. Johnstone moved in the Houfe of Commons, May 22. for several refolutions, upon which, if carried, he intended to found a bill for the better fecuring our fettlements in the Eaft Indies. The refolutions went to a strong approbation of Lord Pigot's conduct as governor; to a confirmation of thofe late acts of the company, which had been either paffed in his favour, or in condemnation of the conduct of the faction at Madrafs; and to annul the refolution for his recall.

The bufinefs was warmly fupported by the oppofition, and as warmly opposed by the miniftry. The queftion being at length put at one o'clock in the morning, the motion for the refolutions was rejected upon a clofer divifion than ufual, the majority being only 90 to 67. PAR

PARLIAMENT. [40. 672.]

THE address in answer to the King's speech was moved for, Nov. 26. in the House of Commons [40.622.] by the Hon. Mr Greville, and the motion was feconded by Mr J. Campbell. The Rt Hon. T. Townshend moved for an amendment, “To affure his Majefty, that with the trueft zeal for the honour of the crown, and the warmest affection for his Majefty's perfon and family, we are ready to give the most ample fupport to fach measures as may be thought neceffary for the defence of these kingdoms, or for fruftrating the defigns of that reftlefs power which has fo often disturbed the peace of Europe; but that we think it one of our most important duties, in the prefent melancholy pofture of affairs, to inquire by what fatal counfels, or unhappy fyftems of policy, this country has been reduced from that fplendid fituation, which in the early part of his Majefty's reign made her the envy of all Europe, to fuch a dangerous ftate, as that which has of late called forth our utmoft exertions without any adequate benefit."

Mr Fox feconded the motion for the amendment. His speech was long, and be was fevere on the miniftry. Having occafion to mention the Saratoga bufinefs, he faid, "The fate of that army is a melancholy fight, languishing under the power of a fet of men who have violated every idea of public faith. I must take this opportunity to fay, that I think the conduct of the Congrefs is blameable in the highest degree, and that they have departed from every principle that ought to bind men, in the cafe of that army." [40.605.]

Lord George Gordon. I am forry to rife fo foon after the meeting of parliament, in oppofition to the measures propofed by administration; and I am more especially concerned that it should be againft a complimentary addrefs to our prefent fovereign, moved by the Hon. member on the other fide of the Houfe, one of his Majefty's Lords of Trade [Hon. Charles Greville], and feconded by that very refpectable highland chieftain, the Thane of Cawdor [Mr Campbell]. But, Sir, many compliments can not in reason be expected from the friends of liberty on this fide of the Houfe to that king under whole government the court of C. Britain Las been rendered

contemptible in the eyes of France, and the friendship, commerce, and affistance of America cut off, perhaps for ever, from his subjects.

The diftreffes of the people at home, and the neglect of their poffeffions abroad, are becoming every day more apparent and intolerable, which render it impoffible for me, as one of their reprefentatives, either to compliment his Majefty, or approve of his conduct, in fuch circumftances. Indeed, Mr Speaker, to compliment his Majefty in his prefent fituation, would tend much more, in my opinion, to illuftrate the fervility of the Houfe of Commons, than to exemplify to the world any bleffings of his government.

Would his Commons congratulate him on his drawn-battle at fea? Would they congratulate him on his retreat by land? Will they compliment him on the third year of the independence of the United States? Will they thank him for the honours and emoluments he has heaped upon his favourites during the course of the fummer? particularly on the Noble Lord with the blue riband [North] the oftenfible minifter at the difmemberment of the empire? Will gentlemen rejoice and be glad at this fresh proof his Majefty has given us in his fpeech of his gracious intention to carry on the war in America? Will they declare their readiness to impofe more taxes on their conftituents? And will they answer to his Majelty for the people paying them without a revolt at home?

I mention the poffibility of a revolt at home, because our conftituents have borne much already; they have been patient and long-fuffering. They have felt a gradual impofition of taxes, till they have become an intolerable oppreffion; they have feen the revenues of the kingdom lavifhed in penfions, to the most exceptionable characters; they have seen their trade with America cut off; and they have had a fuccefsful example of their fellow-fubjects revolting from the expenfive government of England, to the protection of a wife and virtuous congrefs.

All these heavy calamities, with many more, which it would be tedious to enumerate, have been brought upon this country fince the acceffion of the prefent king; which make me of opinion, that it is not just now a proper time to applaud his wifdem, or tupport his coun fellors.

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Much has been faid of his Majefty's counsellors. I have oppofed them in parliament with great conftancy and firmnefs, and entertain as bad an opinion of their public capacity as any gentleman on this fide of the Houfe does. But they are his Majefty's chofen fervants, whom he has been collecting from the different parties ever fince his acceffionmen, I prefume, after his own heart.

They proceeded in the war with our colonies according to his wifhes, and America is now nearly loft to G. Britain. Their unhappy misconduct has rendered them contemptible to many of their fellow-fubjects, and they have now little to depend on but his Majesty's favour and firmnefs. Yet, Sir, I fee no profpect of a real change; for I don't believe his Majefty will be guilty of the ingratitude to abandon (at this crifis) his obedient fervants in their diftrefs; and I do not hear, or know, that the people are about to chufe a congrefs, or proclaim a pro

tector.

The times, in my humble opinion, call aloud for a ftrong remonftrance to the King, fetting forth our unparallelled grievances under his Majefty's government, When the people fhew an inclination to demand redrefs, I will accompany them with the greatest pleasure; but I will not be feen complimenting when we fhould be calling to account.

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Mr Wilkes. It is afked by feveral gentlemen, How is peace now to be obtained? can any man point out a mode of restoring to us that bleffing? I will hazard, Sir, an opinion, of which my own mind is fully convinced. The meafure appears to me the only poffible way of falvation to this country in the prefent dreadful dilemma; a dilemma into which we have been precipitated by minifters, whofe conduct calls for the ftrict. eft inquiry, and the forfeit of whofe heads, if the guilt lies at their door, can be but a poor amends to a ruined nation. The propofition is indeed moft humiliating, but, if founded in neceffity, the confequent national disgrace is folely to be attributed to thofe who created that neceffity. I believe the acknowledgement of the independency of the revolted colonies is the only meafure which can re-eftablish the public tranquillity. fincerely think it would, both with America and France, and probably prevent a future Spanish war. It would at this moment perhaps fhut the temple of Ja

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nus. From the tyranny and mad con duct of an incapable and wicked adminiftration, it is become the measure of fatal neceffity, if we are in carneft to preferve in any degree of profperity what remains, if we would fave our country from the brink of ruin, if we feek to a void abfolute beggary and bankruptcy.

After the fword and bayonet of hos nourable warfare had been lifted up, after the fcalping-knife and tomahawk of our affaffin-allies had been sharpened a gainst our fellow-fubjects, peace at laft was preached by our minifters, and a commiffion for reftoring the ha: mony and union between the two countries was de termined upon. To add weight and dig nity to the measure, the two Houfes of Parliament were to give up to this important fervice, three of their own members, as heralds of peace, that the fanc tion of a part of the legislative body might create an additional awe and reverence. To grace the commiffion, to captivate the rude members of the congrefs, and civilize the wild inhabitants of an unpolifhed country, a Noble Peer [Earl of Carlifle] was very properly appointed chief of the honourable embafly to the Congrefs. His Lordship, to the surprise and admiration of that part of the new world, carried with him a green riband, the gentle manners, winning behaviour, and foft infinuating addrefs of a modern man of quality, and a profeffed courtier. The Mufes and Graces, with a group of little laughing loves were in his train, and for the first time crossed the Atlantic. The next in the commiffion was only dif tinguifhed by a fet of principles wonderfully adapted to the fpirit of coercion and cruelty hitherto prevailing, the principles of penal law. I have only heard of one other principle belonging to this gentleman, the principle, as well as practice, of paffive obedience in the northern department. But, Sir, this gentleman carried with him the real fecret of the negotiation, and perhaps more extenfive powers than were given to his colleagues. He knew of the order to evacuate Philadelphia, an order fo difgraceful to our arms, fo contrary to found policy, long before it was fufpected by either of the

The principles of penal law, a large octavo, was written by William Eden, Efq; Member for Woodstock, a lord of trade, one of the under-fecretaries of ftate for the northern department, and auditor and one of the directors of Greenwich hospital.

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other commiffioners, but he would not truft them. The other [Gov. Johnstone] commiffioner, who went from among us, poffeffed a fuperior understanding, an happy temper, and thorough know. ledge of bufinefs. If fuccefs had been attainable, I am perfuaded to his wisdom, prudence, and temperate conduct, England had been indebted for the reftoration of the bleffing of peace. But alas! Sir, all the fplendid and unauthorised offers of the commiffioners were, with out befitation, rejected. The happy moment was paffed. The Hon. Gentleman knows the real friendship I bear him, and the efteem I have of his rare and amiable qualities. In public life I have always found him manly, firm, and confiftent; in private, engaging, focial, and friendly. Through the whole of this befinefs he has followed the ftrait path of duty, and held one uniform language to us and to the Americans. I have been so used to see him in the minority here, that he will excufe me if I figure to myself that in America likewise he continued in a minority with the commifioners, and that many things were tranacted which he difapproved, but to which he was obliged to fubmit. He might think himself precluded, as we are here by many ftrange acts of the prefent majority of this House. On that fuppofition I fhall not fcruple to treat the proceedings of the commiflioners with freedom, and hold myself secure of his indulgence.

I mentioned, Sir, the unauthorised of fers made to Congrefs. The commifBoners went exceedingly beyond the powers given them by the act of parliament, the only fource of their power. Did they, Sir, dare to accept fecret powers from the crown more ample than thofe granted by the legislature? Their conduct is very fufpicious. I well remember, fix propofitions were held out to Congrefs by the commiffioners letter of the 9th of June [40. 428.]. The three fit, to confent to a cellation of hoftilities by fea and land, to reftore free intercourfe as well as to revive mutual aflection, and to extend every freedom to trade that our refpective interefts can require, were founded in the authority of the act of parliament which created the commiffion. The three laft were a direct ufurpation on the rights of the le

gillative body.

An offer was made by the commifkoners to concur in meafures calculated

to discharge the debts of America, and to raise the credit and value of the paper-circulation. It was artfully worded, but perfectly understood, Sir, both in America and at home, that we were to take on our fhoulders, already bowed down to the earth, the burthen of the American debts, of the mighty fums raifed by Congrefs to fight their battles against us. The debts of the two countries were to be consolidated into one enormous mafs, and provided for by a complaifant parliament, in the fame manner. So extravagant an idea muft fill every man with furprise and indignation. I give the country-gentlemen joy on this occafion. They never flinch from their mafter, however unrelenting he may prove to them, to their country. They will now furely acknowledge with gratitude, the fairness, the fincerity, the great tenderness and kindness, of their favourite minifter. At the first rumour of an American war, the Noble Lord with the blue riband exprefsly held out to them a solid and substantial revenue by the taxation of America, in aid of their landtax, and other heavy burthens. Now, fo far from attempting to lighten their load, he offers America to throw on the shoulders of England the additional weight of all her accumulated taxes. The most short-fighted of all animals is undoubtedly our country-gentleman of the true Tory breed. He has scarcely the fagacity of his pointer. Formerly he was very stubborn, and reftiff, and could not be driven forward. Now he is perfectly tame, fawns on his feeder, and is easily managed. Mr Pitt first seized him, and after fome little ftruggling, plunged him over head and ears in the German war. The Noble Lord has gone farther, and tranfported him, weary and exhaufted, beyond the Atlantic, where he is likely to continue much longer than he was in Germany.

The commiftioners likewife agreed, that no military force fhould be kept up in the different ftates of North America, without the confent of the general congrefs, or particular affemblies. This was in effect making them a fovereign, independent ftate, if no military force is to compel the refractory, or quell the rebellious. This conceffion is certainly not warranted by any claufe in the act appointing commiffioners, and was a manifeft, unneceffary ufurpation of the power of this pliant parliament.

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