cause of the unhappy disturbances, and of suggesting, if possible, some lenient remedy. He had already three or four times in the course of this session endeavoured to call the attention of the House, and of his Maje ty's ministers in particular, to the subject of Ireland. He had endeavoured to impress upon them the importance, at all times, but more especially at the present, of attaching to this country and its govern

ment the confidence and affections of that people. He had endeavoured to impress upon them, that there they would find a tower of strength, with the aid of which they might defy the enmity of the world. He would now put it again to his Majesty's ministers; and if he could not obtain from them a promise that they would before the prorogation, bring forward for inquiry the subject of Irish affairs, with a view to some remedy, he pledged himself that he would at an early day bring forward the subject, feeble as his efforts might be. --[Mr. Hutchinson was proceeding, but was called to order three successive times by Mr. Alexander, who said it was not from any opposition to the hon. gents'. proposal he did so, but to remind him, that his notice would come more regularly as a distinct proceeding, as it was not orderly in the Committee.]-Mr. Corry's motion was agreed to, and the chairman ordered to report the next day.

[MILITIA.]-Mr. Sheridan rose to explain something that had fallen from him on a former evening, which had been misconceived, and he was sure unintentionally mistated. It was in relation to the imper fect state of the militia regiments in Kent and Surry, which circumstance he was stated to have charged upon the negligence of the magistrates of these counties. But he did not impute the circumstance to their negligence, or to the noble lords at the head of the lieutenancy in those counties; and he had indeed the authority of one noble lord (Lord Grantley) to declare, that the deficiency arose from a defect of law to enable the lieutenants to enforce the returns from the deputy officers. He trusted, however, the next returns from those counties would prove the militia in a much less defective state; and he wished to know from the right hon. Sec. at War, whether it was intended to adopt any measure to render the law more efficient; as, if it was not, he should move for a return of the whole militia of the county, in order that the House might see where the deficiencies existed, and who were really to blame, ,ཨ

The Sec. at War said, that certainly he had himself remarked on a former night, that several regiments of militia were grossly defective in their numbers, and particularly those in the counties round London; but he did not attach blame to any parti cular persons, but merely stated the blame must lay somewhere. However, by the last returns from those counties, he was glad to find the deficiency considerably obviated, under the bill for raising the Supplementary Miiitia; and he trusted that by the time that returns should be made up to the first of August, the regiments would be still more complete. If the hon. member was disposed to move for the returns of any particular regiment, there would be no objection to produce it; but a general motion for the return of all, he should oppose as unnecessary.

[EAST INDIA BUDGET.]-Lord Castlereagh (after the House had resolved into a Committee on the East India affairs) open ed at considerable length the general statement of the East India Company's affairs in the year beginning from March, 1801, and ending in the same month 1802; he also presented an estimated statement for the year of 1802-3. In the budget which he had presented at the beginning of the session, he had given a detailed statement of the affairs of the Company in 1800-1, and only an estimated statement of 1801-2. He now, having received the accounts, was able to present the actual statement of the last year, and an estimated statement of the current year. He was happy to inform the Committee, that the actual revenue for the last year considerably exceeded the estimated revenue, and that the revenues of every presidency were in a state of improvement. He was conscious that he was going to call the attention of the Committee to a detail of accounts which were not so materially interesting as a budget which more immediately affected the country; but when it was recollected that he was going to speak of an empire possessing an annual revenue of 13 millions, and which was so intimately connected with the prosperity and commerce of this country, to which it contributed so largely, he trusted he should be heard with attention. His lordship then gave a very detailed statement of the situation of the E. I. Comp. both as to its revenues and its charges. The revenues he divided into the foreign revenue and the home revenue: it will be found stated with accuracy, clearness, and precision in the following schedule.

Which may be attributed to the additional receipts on the sales of goeds on private-trade, and on the issue of bonds, combined with the payments below the estimate on account of India and China, and on several other accounts, also the protraction of the liquidation of 700,000l. of the debt to the Bank.

ESTIMATE, 1803-4 Receipt for sale of Company's goods General Result:-Although the balance of cash on the 1st March, 1803, was large, and although the smaller receipt on the sale of goods is more than made up by an expected payment from Government, the great disbursement required for India and China for purchase of investment and liquidation of debt, and the payment of the loan from the Bank are likely so to operate, that the balance of cash, in favour of the Company, on the 1st March, 1804, is estimated to amount to the sum only of DEETS AT HOME.

6,085,500

89,393 4,822,683 4,773,886

48,797 16,802,760 17,440,593

Having gone through all the statements, he observed, that nothing could be more gratifying than the view thus exhibited, of the actual prosperity and future prospects of our East India settlements, which were now infinitely superior to what they had ever been before, or to what belongs to any other country on the face of the globe. Whether we looked to its revenue, its commerce, the value of lands, its population, or its peaceful government, it must present an object of envy to every other nation in the world. The noble marquis, at the head of that government, had an opportunity of carrying into effect the system of judicature adopted by the Marquis Cornwallis, and from the reports of the different governors, given in as a statistical view of the whole country, a plan was now effected which had been much improved by the exertions of Sir G. Barlow. The judicature of the courts was now equal to those of the other settlements, and the same system was extended to most of the Jaghires and Circars. Means were taken to ascertain the value of the other more remote English possessions, and the same system pervaded them all, who had their courts and judges in the same regulari637,833 ty as those of Bengal. The Polygars were a very warlike and interesting people. They lived under a kind of feudal system, which rendered them at the same time both martial and idle. This was increased by their treaty to keep 23,000 men for the service of the company. But this of late had been very advantageously remitted for the sum of 71,000l. per annum in money. The most material point was the situation of the Carnatic, which had undergone a considerable change; but as this was not a time to enter into the merits of the treaty which annexed a part of the nabob's possessions to ours, be would confine himself to that part of the subject, which bore more immediately upon the question, in the financial operations of the measure. By the arrangement made, the net revenue derived by the company this year, after the payment for the collection and other expenses, was 1,094,000l. of which, however, one-fifth was paid to the nabob; which, with the payments to his creditors, would amount to 628,000l. leaving to the company a clear profit of 228,000. By this the nabob possessed much more than he could realize by his own imperfect system of revenue; for of the immense sumas wrenched from the inhabitants, by continued and successive extortions descending from the prince to the meanest soldier, only a very small portion came into the public coffers. By the late treaty, the nabob, in

686,630

2,291,207

48,797

2,242,410

969,530

1,272,880

stead of paying a subsidy to the company for undertaking his defence, and that of his territories, which relieved him from keeping a standing army that was a terror to his subjects and himself, ceded a part of his territory as an indemnification to the company. This cession consisted of about half his territory, the revenues of which, by the meritorious exertions of Mr. Wellesley, had been improved from 1,500,000, to 2,770,000l. The nabob, at the same time, was the richest sovereign in India, having a clear reveLue of upwards of a million sterling solely applicable to his own use, and to the comforts of his family. Speaking of the Mahratta empire, he said it must be always of the greatest importance to us, as its superficial extent was equal to that of the possessions of the company. It had lately undergone a very great revolution, as Halkar had defeated the army of the Pashwa, who was himself obliged to fly from his capital and take refuge under the protection of the company near Bombay, where he still remained. The current connexion between him and the company made it expedient to afford him the protection he sought for, and on that communication being made to Halkar, he appeared satisfied to submit the dispute to the English government. As this, however, could not be entirely relied upon, he had further to mention, that an army to support the interference of the company was assembled and prepared upon the coast, but would not, in all probability, be driven to any military operations, and at all events would be attended with little expense, and would not affect the general results of the peace establishment. He then concluded with moving resolutions in conformity with his calculations.

Mr. Francis. The attendance this day is a new proof of the truth of an observation made by the noble lord (Lord Castlereagh) at the beginning of his speech, that no subject is so irksome to the House as matters of account, and particularly those of the East India company. Undoubtedly, Sir, it is an unfortunate circumstance, and likely to be productive of the most serious ill consequences, that so great a national concern as the British dominion in India, and the affairs of the India company, should be so little regarded as they are by the House of Commons or by the public, and that a subject so important should not have attraction enough to engage any considerable number of gentlemen even to listen to the few, who still have the resolution to examine these accounts, and to take part in the questions connected with them. The importance of

the subject grows with your neglect of it; but the disposition of the House was not to be corrected On my own account, Sir, I confess that I do not regret that there is not now a more numerous attendance. Some advantage may be derived from it. The observations, which I mean to submit to the Committee, require an attentive audience. From the very few who are present I may hope for silence and attention. Greater numbers would not only not listen, but probably dis turb others, who might be disposed to favour me with their attention. I should address myself most earnestly to his Majesty's ministers, if any of them had thought fit to at tend, and to such of the present Directors as have seats in Parliament. Of those gentle. men I see but one in his place. I am sure of the noble lord's attention, and some way or other I hope that the substance of what I shall say this night may find its way to the body of the East India company, I mean the proprietors of India stock, and to the knowledge and observation of the public. I shall not attempt to follow the noble lord through the particulars of these accounts; for though I readily admit that he has performed his part, as he always does, with perfect regu larity and great perspicuity, I do not think it possible for any human memory, without the assistance which the noble lord has in his hands, to recollect and pursue, in a similar order, the various heads, totals, balances, estimates, and calculations, exhibited in these papers. Mine, at least, is not equal to the task. Nor would it answer any serviceable purpose, certainly not that which I have in view, of establishing such plain conclusions of fact, such a practical result and evidence of the real situation of things, as may be easily comprehended, and leave a deep and distinct impression. National prospe rity is not proved by figures. You must see it in its operation; you must feel it in its effects. Not that I mean to neglect all the accounts before us, or all the noble lord's calculations. On some of the most considerable of both, I shall offer some observations, which I think will be sufficient to warrant a presumption that, if all of them were examined in a way which I shall hereafter recommend, even these accounts would furnish a different view of the subject from that, which the noble lord has endeavoured to establish. At the same time I request of the noble lord to receive what I have to say with candour, and with a favourable construction, and by no means to consider me as an adverse party in this discussion. If I cannot contribute directly to the public service, I believe at least I shall make it ap