"the financial prosperity of the Com"pany."

Such was the motion which he had felt it his duty, under circumstances he believed unprecedented, to introduce to this Court. He was quite aware of his want of experience to frame a measure that would meet, in every way, every possible objection. But he begged of the Court to advert to the main points on which he had addressed them, and to say whether they did not bear out the resolution which he now submitted to their judgment. He had yet to learn from the Court of Directors on what ground that which was a mere corollary of the thanks of 1822 should not be agreed to? He would not now enter into details of a pecuniary nature, but he could state this positively and distinctly, that the Marquess of Hastings had been rewarded to about one-half the extent of the Marquess Wellesley. (Hear, hear!) He had been treated thus neglectfully after nine years' active and meritorious services. The East India Proprietors had been made rich by the exertions of the Marquess of Hastings; he had raised the value of their stock far above what it was in the time of the Marquess Wellesley; and they were now justly called on for a grant of money, as some reward for the advantages he had conferred on them. To use a phrase commonly introduced by a facetious friend of his (Mr. Lowndes), whom he did not see in his place, they ought to give him "some solid pudding, as well as empty praise." They had it in their power to contribute to the substantial comforts of this nobleman's life, during the short period which, in the natural course of things, they could hope would be allotted to him: they ought not to forego the opportunity. It was their duty to reward one who had enabled them individually to enrich their families, and who had added greatly to their pride and importance as a Company. would also say, without any feeling of hostility, that however he might praise their cautious conduct with respect to wars and conquests in India, still he thought they should have taken a much higher and more firm ground than they had done during the administration of the Marquess of Hastings. He admitted and approved of the cautious manner in which they had conducted themselves, lest they should, seeing that the power which the Legislature had over them was very great, have fallen under the censure of those bodies; but he must regret that they had not, during the administration of the Marquess of Hastings, pursued the open and sincere mode, that of challenging the revision, by the Legislature, of those sentiments which were recorded against them forty years ago. There never was an occasion on which they might with

He

greater justice and propriety have presented themselves to the eyes of enlightened Europe, and proved that they could stand on that which was called extension of territory, as the sole and only ground, not merely of their security and prosperity, but of the welfare of the Indian population.(Hear!) On what did their empire depend? on what did its welfare stand? Certainly on the feelings of the Indian people-who had learned, that it was better to be on good terms with us, and to receive our protection, than to be subjected to the predatory schemes and tyrannical sway, of other powers-(Hear, hear!) Fifty years ago, we could not go amongst the native states: but how different was the case at present! There was now, amongst the native powers, a correct understanding of our objects. They knew that we did not approach them for purposes of aggres sion; they saw that our benefits were commercial benefits-that their interests were our interests-that their prosperity was our prosperity.—(Hear, hear!) They perceived that we were anxious, not to extract an immense revenue from them, but to extend our trade, and enlarge the bounds of our commerce.-( Hear, hear!) With reference to the course which had been pursued by the Earl of Liverpool and Mr. Canning, in proposing thanks to the Marquess of Hastings, let not their unwillingness to record the wise and liberal policy of that Nobleman dishearten the Proprietors. He could not forget the influence exercised forty years ago, by the great talents of Mr. Burke, devoted as they were to misrepresent the purposes and objects of the Company. Let it never be forgotten, that the Court of Directors of that day, in compliance with popular prejudice, resolved, by a majority of one, to recall Mr. Warren Hastings from India; and never let it be forgotten, that the Court of Proprietors, by a majority of 450 to 75, determined that he should remain in his government. They, by their firmness, forced the Court of Directors to rescind their own vote. Now, that they had a strong case to support them, let the Court of Directors act with unanimity and vigour; let them exercise their common sense, in defiance of legislative prejudice. If they found themselves weak, let them appeal to the Proprietors to stand forward in support of their honour, and that appeal would be promptly answered.-(Hear!) He attributed nothing wrong to any party -he meant nothing improper-in saying this; but he might be permitted to observe, that he was not speaking out of rule, nor beside the question, when he made these remarks. One of the most important considerations connected with this subject was, the effect which their conduct was likely to have on future GovernorsGeneral. If they treated Governors - Gene

ral hereafter with the cold, guarded, halfwithheld approbation which had distinguished their proceedings towards the Marquess of Hastings-(after admitting the justice and necessity of the policy he followed)-the consequence would be, that, in the hour of peril, their efforts would be paralyzed. They would not find, in the common run of men, persons who had such confidence iu their powers as the Marquess of Hastings had-they would find few individuals who, like him, could rely boldly on their own abilities, and act from their own well-regulated judgment, in the absence of all instruction. He did not speak this in opposition to those whose timidity would not allow them to proceed beyond a certain point. But, in justice to the Marquess of Hastings, it was fitting that it should be stated. The history of that great man was not merely connected with the history of the Company's armies. It was also to be found in the submission of powers whom his policy had won over to our interests-in the establishment of friendships, where hostility had previously prevailed. Most difficult was the situation in which the Marquess of Hastings had been placed. He had to contend with the prejudices of those who supported the system which he found in India, when he went out there. He believed he was not wrong in stating, that, so far as men could put a clog on his proceedings, that clog was put upon his designs in India. (Hear!) Those who were in the Government with him, were clogging, instead of assisting him in the furtherance of his views. They perhaps acted conscientiously; but such, certainly, was the fact. He however, by his great energy, by his extraordinary foresight, by his brilliant talents, and his various and extensive knowledge, did bring to a successful issue every plan which he deemed it necessary to adopt. (Hear!) He had not the benefit of those opinions, which it cost the Court of Directors days and nights to form; it was a matter of record-they had it in proof-that he had no assistance from home-that he acted on his own peril-the dreadful peril of being considered wrong in the issue. Having been successful, it was the duty of the Court to come forward and reward his great daring merits. (Hear!) He appealed to the Court of Directors, in behalf of their own honour and justice, to grant to him that reward which had been too long delayed. Let them retrace their steps, and he would applaud them as great and highminded men. Let them say, "We have been in error-we acknowledge that our state was perilous-we acknowledge that the wisdom of the noble Marquess saved us when we were in danger; he was the giant who was foremost to extricate us, and to set us up in the face of the world."

He challenged the Legislature and the public to look at the situation of India now, and to deny that the Company had not solid and substantial grounds for saying, that all military operations were permanently at an end. They possessed the friendship of all the powers by whom they were surrounded; there was no possible reason for supposing that any war would arise in consequence of aggressions made on us. Might he not say, that the illustrious character who had effected all this, wielded the power of a magician? His comprehensive mind at once perceived the right course, which, under accumulating difficulties, it was prudent to takeand to that course he had stedfastly adhered (Hear!) He did not receive that support which he deserved; but, independent of that, he succeeded gloriously. (Hear!) Let him be put forward as the champion of your rights, and his ample shield will cover you from every slanderous and unjust attack. (Hear!) He (Mr. Kinnaird) was here to listen, without any reference to former squab. bles, to what might be urged against the positions he had advanced. He demanded whether India was or was not in a state of prosperity greater than had ever before been calculated on? He demanded whether that empire was or was not placed in a state of permanent and perfect tranquillity? Was it, he asked, or was it not true, that the financial resources of their Indian territories were greater than they were ever known to haye been at any former period? (Hear!) Let the Directors get up and state whether there was any man amongst them who, in his warmest and most sanguine dream, ever anticipated that the affairs of India would be placed on so prosperous a footing. "These be facts ;" and, pointing to them, he would ask the Proprietors whether they had no feeling of gratitude for the Marquess of Hastings, who had raised their stock to such a height-who had so enlarged, strengthened, secured, and consolidated their empire, that, when their Charter expired, they would have twice the claim on the Legislature and the country than they would have had but for his successful efforts? (Hear!) If his policy were continued up to that time-if no unforeseen events interfered with it-they would stand, at the expiration of the Charter, possessed of twice the claim which they could otherwise have advanced. (Hear!) Surely these were motives that ought to excite gratitude, liberality, and generosity.(Hear!) He should have thought that the East-India Company would have been too happy to have washed out in this same name of HASTINGS, the stain and blot which was recorded in their history for their unworthy conduct towards another HASTINGS, who also had served them nobly

as Governor-General. (Hear!) He should feel himself disgraced, if he suffered this resolution to be defeated by any test short of the ballot. He would say, on the other hand, "If there be any charge, of any description, against the Marquess of Hastings, in the name of all that is just let it be brought forward, I say to you, Proprie tors, to whom I appeal for the Marquess of Hastings' justification and reward, let us hear what the Directors have to state, if they have any thing to state against that great man. Let us learn from them what the charge is; let us understand from them why them have not brought it for ward; let us put them on their trial too, if, being in possession of an accusation against the Marquess of Hastings, they have not taken steps for bringing it to issue, and placing the character of the Noble Marquess fairly before the Proprietors and the Public!" (Hear, hear!) That should have been done, for the purpose of satisfying all sides and parties; and well he knew that the Noble Marquess could fully satisfy them of his high and unblemished honour. (Hear!) No course could so well content the public, no proceeding was so just and proper as that. He (Mr. D. Kinnaird) would not deny that there were floating rumours which attached some vague charge to the conduct of the Noble Marquess; but he treated such anonymous and calumnious attacks as he did the dung-cart that he met in the street, and from which he turned away his head. Every accusation from a respectable quarter the Marquess of Hastings' friends would fearlessly meet, and therefore called upon the Directors to state their charges, if they had any. But was a charge (supposing it could be done, which was impossible) to be met with silence? Yet such was the conduct of the Hon. Chairman on a former day. If silence were meant to injure, it was unjust; if it were adopted as a matter of form (and he was bound to believe it was), it was injudicious. As he supposed, the Hon. Chairman had acted from a sense of form. He again apologized to him for any hasty expression he might have used; he regretted that he was led into any warmth: but his feelings were excited, because it appeared to him that there was a culpable indifference towards the character of the Marquess of Hastings. His Hon. Friend near him (Mr. Hume) had just observed that he (Mr. Kinnaird) had forgotten to notice the fact, that the King of England had recorded his approbation of the conduct of the Noble Marquess, by rewarding him with a title. By doing so, the Monarch plainly said, "We give the honours, do you give the endowments ;" and such, he hoped, would be the case. (Hear, hear!) It ought not to be forgotten, either, that in 1815 a grant of £1000

a-year was conferred by this Court on Sir David Ochterlony, for his conduct as an agent in the Nepaul war. There was a precedent in full; and he hoped the Proprietors, proceeding qualis ab incepto, would still keep up that high character for liberality which was proverbial both in India and in this country, by duly appreciating and fairly rewarding merit, wherever they found it. (Hear!) He trusted they would tell the Court of Directors, that they would zealously support them whenever they came forward in defence of the Company's rights; and that they would, on this occasion, exercise their own judgment, and act in conformity with their own well-weighed and deliberate opinions. He sincerely wished that, for the future, the Executive Body would not be induced, from misapprehension, to with hold from the Company's Government abroad that just confidence which it ought to command. He thought it would not be much better for the Company if the Proprietors always expressed their sentiments, whether they supposed those to whom they confided the management of their affairs, to have acted right or wrong. That would, he conceived, be the wiser course; although he knew it would be very unpleasant for gentlemen to vote against those whom they met on business hourly and daily. Still, however, that Court was as perfectly capable of judging on those subjects as any other body of men. He could not sit down without expressing his feelings that the Court of Directors ought to have originated this motion, and he trusted that some one among them would condescend to explain to the Court of Proprietors why they had not done so. He now asked for a decision on this question. The matter could rest no longer where it was, and he now called for the solemn decision of that Court. (Hear, hear!) The Hon. Proprietor concluded by proposing his resolution.

Mr. R. Jackson seconded the motion.

Mr. J. Smith.-Different circumstances, and he might say, amongst other motives, that of curiosity, had induced him, contrary to his own judgment and his usual practice, to attend the Court on this occasion. He said, truly, that he was influenced by curiosity-because he was extremely curious indeed to know the grounds on which his Hon. Friend was prepared to contend, that the Court should, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, determine to vote a large pecuniary reward to the Marquess of Hastings. It might be a proper appeal to their gratitude-it might be that the Noble Marquess had achieved all those great successes, and possessed all those splendid qualities which had been so eloquently alluded to by his Hon. Friend; but still he (Mr. Smith),

as a Proprietor, was placed in a very difficult situation-he knew not how he could come to a decision on this subject and he believed many other gentlemen were in exactly the same predicament. He would not follow his Hon. Friend through the long detail of the various services of the Marquess of Hastings, which was contained in his speech. He was disposed to believe that those services had been performed, that they were of the highest importance to the interests of our Indian Empire-and that they merited the greatest approbation. But, in the course of his speech, his Hon. Friend had adverted to certain points which he (Mr. Smith) considered to be of the utmost importance, because they were connected with the character of the English nation, which he, as an Englishman, wished to be preserved in the most perfect purity.- (Hear!) His Hon. Friend had adverted to the success of those wars which were conducted by the Marquess of Hastings, and he had applauded, in very ardent language, the conduct of that Noble Person. It might be, and he meant not to dispute it, that those praises were well deserved by the Indian Government. But he, for one, confessed that, as there were duties which appeared to him to be paramount to their own interest in these transactions, he could not help looking, with a little jealousy, to the wars which were carried on in Indiahe could not avoid viewing with some degree of apprehension that system of conquest, which was to end he knew not where. When he heard of those victories, he could not help thinking a little of that extraordinary man from whose sway Europe had with much difficulty been liberated, and who justified his conquests on precisely the same principles which were advanced in support of the Company's territorial aggrandizement. At the same time that he made this observation, he admitted that those conquests might have been fit and right; and he also admitted, that the population who were thereby added to our dominions, were disciplined in those civilized feelings which, he believed, prevailed wherever the influence of the Company extended. But the great difficulty which he experienced at present was this: they had a number of gentlemen, high in character and talent, in whom they reposed their confidence, and by whom their affairs were managed; and it certainly was new to him that those gentlemen had done any act to forfeit that confidence.- (Hear, hear!) It was quite evident to him, from a variety of circumstances, that those individuals (the Court of Directors), who were, as he must imagine, unquestionably the best judges of the matter, did not participate in the feeling of his Hon. Friend; because they had taken this question into their consideration, and they had decided, that it was not either fit or expedient to

grant to this Noble Person £5,000 a year. He knew not, therefore, how he could, consistently with common sense or com mon prudence, vote for this motion. His Hon. Friend had said, he hoped some gentleman on the other side of the bar would state broadly and boldly why they had not agreed to the proposed motion; that certainly was one way of arriving at the truth, although assuredly it was not the most advisable mode. It was quite evident that those who managed their affairs did not join in those eulogiums which his Hon. Friend had bestowed on the career of the Marquess of Hastings: they had their own opinions on the subjectwhether good or bad he could not say. Now, the business being in this state, he thought, before money was moved for, that some person ought to move for papers, to enable them to trace the history of this Noble Person, and to select proper grounds on which they could form a just and correct idea of his merits.(Hear, hear!) This was so evident a conclusion, that he was surprised no one had, before this, moved for the production of such papers. The Court of Directors, through their correspondence with the Governments abroad, must have been possessed of every particular connected with the conduct of the late Governor-General; and they must, he would maintain, have formed some opinion. or other, not favourable to the claim now made on the part of the Marquess of Hastings by his friends. No doubt a variety of stories had been in circulation relative to the Marquess of Hastings; but he would say, for one, that he never had heard any story, or any report, that at all reflected on the personal honour of that noble individual. (Hear, hear!) He repeated, he never had heard one; he had certainly heard of remarkable transactions, which were said to have taken place in a particular part of India, and which, in his judgment, required elucidation. Before they proceeded a step farther, they ought, in his opinion, to require from the Directors some explanation on that head. (Hear!) Many of the points to which his Hon. Friend had alluded were of very great importance, and deserved serious consideration. He had adverted to the ingratitude of the Court of Directors to an individual (Mr. Warren Hastings), whose statue then stood before them. Now he did not exactly see how that gentleman's case bore on the question immediately under consideration. That extraordinary individual had, he admitted, saved India; but there were many things that might be alleged against him-there were many sets-off against his merits, great as they were ;-( Hear, hear!)-as perhaps there must necessarily be in the conduct of every Governor-General, be he whom he might. In fact, it was in the very nature of man-it was a vain task to

seek for perfection. He merely stated his view of the subject, and, if it were erroneous, he hoped some one would have the kindness to set him right. He should now, if he were permitted, say a word or two relative to his Hon. Friend himself. His Hon. Friend had referred to language used by him in the moment of irritation, and which he this day explained in the most handsome and gentlemanlike manner. (Hear, hear!) He had heard his declaration, with very great satisfaction; and if his Hon. Friend would allow him to make the remark, he would say to him, that he had surplus character enough, from which he could well afford to correct and cover any sudden and involuntary errors into which the warmth of his feelings might chance to betray him. (Hear, hear!) And he thought that, so far from degrading himself by stating what he had done this day, he had added greatly to his character. (Hear, hear!) The Court, he was convinced, would, in future, listen with additional attention to whatever remarks his Hon. Friend might feel it necessary to address to them. (Hear!) He was not disposed to make the motion to which he had alluded, but he hoped some other proprietor would undertake the task. He thought a motion should be made for "all such papers and documents as might enable the Court to form an opinion of the merits and services of the Marquess of Hastings." He thought they never could come to a satisfactory conclusion without those documents; therefore, without denying the services of the noble Marquess,-believing that he had achieved very important services in India -but, at the same time, desirous that certain transactions which had reached his ears should be cleared up,--he thought it was expedient that those documents should be laid before the Court. He was anxious that the Hydrabad affair, which was said to have been a very disgraceful one, should be explained. He had heard of it in a vague way; and he had also heard, from authority which he highly respected-the authority of one of the most liberal, wellinformed, and enlightened of his friendsthat the whole was erroneous-that it was a mere delusion-and that, when examined, it would appear that the reports which were in circulation were utterly without foundation. This might, and, he believed, was so; but, nevertheless, those reports ought to be met by an explicit contradiction. Under the circumstances in which the Court of Proprietors at present stood, the Directors would be wanting in respect to themselves, and to the Proprietors, in a most extraordinary degree, if they did not grant those papers; because, looking to their conduct for some time back, he did believe that the Executive Body differed in toto from the statesment and the feeling evinced by his

Hon. Friend. He hoped, therefore, that they would enable the Proprietors to decide, in some way or other, which of the two parties-the Court of Directors, or his Hon. Friend-was in the right? This end would be best attained by the production of papers-and if no one else would make a motion to that effect, he would. (Cries of move, move.) The Hon. Gentleman concluded by proposing-" That there be laid before this Court all such papers and documents as may enable this Court to decide on any farther claim which the Marquess of Hastings may possess on the liberality of this Company."

This resolution having been written by the Clerk, was handed to the Hon. Mover.

Mr. Smith again rose (a short pause having intorvened). In making a suggestion of this kind from his place in that Court, upon the present occasion, he had to appeal to the liberality and kindness of the Court of Proprietors, as being unprepared with any form of words. (Hear!) Upon looking at the written motion or amendment that had been just handed to him by the clerk, he hoped the Court would allow him to put it in rather a different form. (Hear, hear, and cries of move!)

The Chairman." I merely sent it to Mr. Smith as it was taken down, and in order that he might look at it, to see whether or no it was correct."

Mr. Smith said it had been just intimated to him, and he supposed the statement was perfectly true,-that the Court of Directors had, on various occasions, expressed and recorded their approbation of the conduct of the Marquess of Hastings. What he (Mr. Smith) wanted, however, as an individual proprietor, though he doubted not that such was equally the wish of the general body, was, to have some explanation of those transactions in India which had recently occasioned so many rumours, and which must, more or less, have met the eyes or ears of every person in the Court. If the Court of Proprietors thought it proper, he should introduce into the amendment the names of certain parties connected with those reports; and he therefore took the liberty to move, in this altered form," That there be laid before "this Court all such papers and docu

66

ments, respecting the loans made by "Palmer and Co. of Hyderabad, to his "Highness the Nizam, as may enable this "Court to decide on the merits of any "claim which the Marquess of Hastings "may have on the further liberality of the "Company." (Hear, hear!)

Mr. Poynder begged leave to second this amendment, under the impression that it would meet the object which he was sure so many Hon. Proprietors must entertain in common with himself; namely that they should be better informed upon a subject of such magnitude as that now before