Prefidency is monopolized by a few individuals, to the exclufion of the reft, and that thefe perfons have committed several arbitrary and unlawful acts; by which, not only ftrangers, but British fubjects, have been obliged to quit the fettlement without being allowed to difpofe of their merchandize, except on conditions difadvantageous to themfelves. "Some of these acts have been open, but others have been committed by fecret influence, terror, and other means, contrary to the British laws, and injurious to the dignity of the East India Com pany. "The Commiffioner for the af fairs of Bencoolen wishes to avoid a retrofpect; but he cautions all perfons to be on their guard in future, as, after this declaration, offenders will not only call forth the power of the law, but fubject themfelves to fuch punishment as the Rt. Hon. the Governor General in Council fhall think proper to inflict. "The Commiffioner is informed, that fome perfons have an idea that his regulations will only continue in force while he remains in the Refidency, and that on his departure the ancient fyftem will be reverted to, and under this impreffion are afraid to affert their rights; he takes this opportunity of affuring all fuch perfons, that his regulations once approved of by the Governor General in Council will have all the force of law. "The Commiffioner invites all perfons, of whatfoever nation or caft they may be, to trade at Fort Marlbro' in every fpecies of merchandize which does not interfere with the regulations or exclufive trade of the Company, and engages to afford them all the protection of Government," Extract of Proceedings of the Com miffioner at Fort Marlbro', dated 8th February 1800. be published in the different lánThe following proclamation to guages: from the weft coaft of Sumatra with Batavia, and other places in the inland of Java, in the poffeffion of under the protection of the British the Dutch, by perfons refiding fuch commerce is contrary to law, flag: This is to give notice, that Whereas a trade is carried on and that all the veffels employed, liable to confifcation, and the owners together with their cargoes, are thereof fubject to fevere punish. ment." To Mr. Murray. "SIR, "You have already received inftructions about the fhip which is arrived at Poole Bay. On Satur. day laft a prow, fuppofed to be from Batavia, appeared off the Bay; a fervant of Mr. Coles's, mounted on a horfe of his, was on the beach, and had fome converfation with an European ftationed there by Col. Clayton. In the mean time a boat went off to the veffel, on which fhe food to fea and difappeared. You will endeavour to find out who fent this boat, what meflage the carried, and of what nation was the prow the fpoke with; whether there was any European on board, and whether there was a carriage; whether any letter was fent on fhore, and to whom addreffed: you will make fuch other inquiries as fhall occur to you when on the fpot. Two or three prows are expected from Batavia, faid to be configned to, or belonging to Mr. Coles: you must therefore, on the arrival of a strange vellel, prevent all boats from going off to give any intelligenc intelligence; you will alfo obferve the proclamation and put it in force. You will be exempted from the duties on provifions for your own ufe, in the fame manner as Mr. Milne. Lieut. Beaghan will provide a tent for you. (Signed) "W. EWER." The 20th March. Mr. Milne, from Poole Bay, was examined before the commiffioners and commandant, concerning fome opium faid to be landed at Poole Bay in a clandeftine manner, and a veffel feen off that place on Sunday the 16th inft. Mr. Milne knew nothing about the opium, except that a boat, which was cleared out at Malbro',' put fome opium on board an eaftern veffel. With refpect to the veffel feen off Poole Bay on Sunday 16th inft. he fays that on Monday the 17th, a man in the fervice of Mr. Coles told him, that being at work making chunam off Buffaloe Point on Sunday, he had seen a veffel at fea, which appeared to have a number of Europeans on board; a two mafted pinnace went after, but did not reach her. A man whom he believes to be a fervant of Mr. Coles, and whom he supposes to be the fame who conftantly rides behind Mr. Coles's carriage, was on the beach with a grey horfe: he faid to another man, "I suppose that is a veffel of my mafter's from Batavia." The veffel ftood to fed, and the pinnace was no more heard of. Extra of a letter from Walter Eaver, Efq. to the Right Hon. the Earl of Mornington, dated Fort Malbro', 12th April 1800. "A trade has been conftantly carried on with Batavia under a Chinese name; it is fo marked that I cannot get at the truth at prefent: I have not a doubt but the boat feized by Captain Craig, which has made fo much noife, belonged to British fubjects :-That no one hereafter may plead ignorant of the law, I have published the proclamation which your Lordfhip will find in my proceedings. 66 Mr. Terhoof, the late Dutch chief of Padang, obtained leave from this government to go to Batavia on his private affairs; why they granted this, I cannot gaefs, unless it was in order to trade: he is expected here foon with a cargo; I am watching his arrival in order to feize it. "The following copy of a bill for glafs will fhew how liable the Company are to be impofed upon,. by fuffering the members of govern ment to trade; they cannot pretend that they were in diftress for glafs, for the chefts were not opened when they were delivered over to me by the fuperintendant. As I am preparing for the departure of the hips, I fhall let the bufinefs ftand over. No notice is taken of this purchase in the confultations. The Hon. Company: To glass panes, 21 chefts, containing panes 3488 £.223 2 6 50 per cent. paid to Capt. Drummond Added 25 per cent. Exchange, 4 dollars for 1 L. P. 1729. o. 86 122 14 4 345 16 10 86 9 2 432 6 o Fort Marlbro', Dec. 1799. E. E. (Signed) E. COLES. (Signed) T. WATERS, 21 chefts reed. (Signed) P. BRAHAM, S. D. Gou. PROCEED. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT, RELATIVE TO THE AFFAIRS OF INDIA, DURING THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE EIGHTEENTH PARLIA, MENT OF GREAT BRITAIN, 1800, TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1800. THE order of the day for the Houfe to refolve itfelf into a Committee of the whole Houfe, to confider of the Accounts of the India Company, being read, Mr. Secretary DUNDAS rofe, and fpoke in fubftance as follows: WHEN the Finances of the Eaft-India Company were lat fubmitted to the confideration of Parliament, it was ftated, that from a disappointment in the receipt of the documents from India, the direc tions of the act of the 33d could not poffibly be complied with, and that the accounts then before the Houfe were moved for in order that regularity might be preferved. The profpect was at the fame time held forth, that the accounts of the fubfequent year would be brought forward at the preferibed period. The occafion of the delay which again unfortu nately occurred, having been explained by the Court of Directors, it only remains for me to expre's my regret that the established order of investigation of this truly important branch of the British interefts should have fuffered interruption; although I am fully aware that, during a period of warfare, the contingencies to which the difpatch or arrival of fhipping muft neceffarily be expofed, will ever render it difficult, if not impoffible, to calculate with any degree of certainty on the receipt of the books of accounts from India. It is, notwithstanding the difap pointments now noticed, very fatisfactory to remark, that the attention of the governments abroad to the directions fent out on the fubject of finance has been very confpicuous; and the particular orders iffued by them to every department in this branch of the fervice, warrant the that precifion and accuracy which I have, expectation of a continuation, not only of upon different occafions, found reafon to commend, but alfo of every poffible exertion to infure the receipt, in due time, of the materials to enable the Court of Di rectors to furnifh the annual statements required of them. From what has been obferved, the Committee are prepared for the informa tion, that the statements now before them are thofe which should have been prefented in May laft. It might be urged, as I took occafion to remark when I laft addreffed the Committee, in circumstances nearly fimilar, that a profpect exifts that the accounts of the next year will, at a period not very diftant, be brought for ward, when thofe of the two years might be confidered at the fame time: but the difappointments which have happened give additional weight'to the reafon then adduced for moving for the accounts This reafon has already been stated; and as it now applies with equal, if not fupe rior force, the neceflity of bringing be fore Parliament the accounts in the prefent inftance appeared indifpenfable.They exhibit the fituation of the finances of the Eaft India Company abroad for the year 1797-8, and at home for the year 1798-9; and being drawn up in the accuftomed form, I have only to add, that in order to place them in the moft connected and distinct point of view, I fhall > proceed The three first columns of No. 1, con tain the revenues in the years 1795-6, 1796-7, and 1797-8, the average of which amounts to 5,726,9471. and is lefs than the average 1794-5 to 1796-7 by 51,730l. The difference is chiefly owing to the revenues of the year 1794-5 (the firft period of the average drawn laft year) having been uncommonly productive; the collections of the land revenues, in confequence of the recovery of arrears, having confiderably exceeded those of any fubfequent year; and the receipt from the fale of opium being at the amount it yielded before the trade experienced the reverfe, as formerly stated to the Com proceed to digeft and arrange them in the year. During the detail of the examination of the accounts, explanations will be given, that the Committee may receive every poffible information of the caufes of the feveral variations; and fuch further remarks will be offered as appear to fuggefted from the view of the concern taken generally. The obfervations upon the fituation of the Company at the prefent truly memorable period, and upon the future profpects, whether of a commercial, financial, or political nature, will be rather in abftract; as it is intended, when the accounts next in order of date are laid before Parliament, to take up the whole fubject in a more comprehenfive manner. BENGAL. to It has not been ufual to fhew an aver age of charges, for reafons repeatedly explained. As thofe reafons are found ftill to apply, the account No. 3, being the actual amount of the revenues and charges of the year 1797-8, compared with the eftimate, will next come under confideration. The revenues eftimated to amount to 5,743,8471. actually amounted 5,782,7411. being more than estimated by 38,8941. This is the net excels on the whole of the revenues. On reference to the account it will be difcovered, that notwithstanding the actual receipts have on the whole exceeded the estimated, variations appear in every item; and that the general excess was 167,7971. and the deficiency 128,9031. The revenues and charges of the feveral Prefidencies in India having been mentioned as the first object of inveftiga tion, the accounts of the Prefidency of Bengal, numbered 1, 2, and 3, will, in courie, primarily claim the attention of the Committee. The particular heads under which the eftimate has been exceeded to an amount requiring notice, are as follow, viz. Mint Duties, 3,4261. from an increased coinage on account of individuals, and from a profit on the coinage of copper at the Prefidency. Oude Subfidy, 88,3231. As the late Vizier (whofe death in 1797 was mentioned in the last addrefs to the Ecnmittee) had made an addition to his fubfidy in the March preceding, the estimate was cal culated on the expectation of its being paid, and that the balance which had accrued on his former engagement would be likewife liquidated. The Committee are prepared, by documents already before the Houfe, for the information of the further changes in the Government of Oude, which took place in January 1798; but as this will be more particularly explained hereafter, it is only requifite now to ftate, that the excefs arifes entirely from an extra donation by the prefent Vizier, otherwise the fum reckoned upon in the estimate would not have been realized; the deficiency, however, in that cafe, would have been little more than three lacks: and it is fatisfactory to remark, remark, that every profpect exifts of the arrear being fully discharged. c. Judicial Department, Fees, Fines, 8,5221. Thefe articles muft ever be liable to fluctuation, depending, for the moft part, on the number of fuits in the Courts. The major part of the prefent excefs has arifen from the arrears of police taxes, and the rent of refumed Tannadaree lands, not included in the estimate. Sale of Opium, 64,0431. The profpect of the revival of this article was held out when the accounts of the last year were under confideration. Notwithstanding the prefent excefs, the opium trade is far from having reached its former amount. The Government have directed their particular attention to its recovery, and have adopted every measure likely to accomplifh it; but no very fanguine hopes of fuccefs may be entertained, till the caufes which produced the ftagnation are removed. The deficiency in the expected receipts has appeared under the following heads: Benares Redenue, 14,5161. Notwithftanding the apparent deficiency, the pro-. fperity of this diftrict has continued without abatement: the expectation from the lands has been fully realized. The produce from the customs, indeed, has not been fo great as estimated: it might probably have been over-rated, from too fanguine a calculation of the advantages hoped from a recent change in the management; but the great portion of the difference is proved to have arisen from an error in eftimating the demand, without deducting the cftablished remiffions. rupees. Land Revenues, 61,6311. A deficiency in the collection of the land revenues appeared in the statements laft prefented, to the amount of upwards of eight lacks of In tle estimate of the prefent year, the receipt was calculated at an amount exceeding the actual of the preceding in only the fum of four lacks. As ample allowance was left for any probable defalcation, there was every reafon to expect that at least it would have been realized. The amount reckoned upon as balances has been exceeded, and upwards of three lacks received from a variety of contingent articles, never included either in the jumma or the eitimate. The difference on Syer and Abkarree, or tax on fpirituous liquors, though naturally uncer tain in their produce, was trivial. The difappointment is chiefly on the proper deniand of the year; and this would hardly require notice, from the impoffibility of an extensive rental being received exactly within the official year, if provifion had not been made for that cir cumftance in the estimate. The greatest want of punctuality has been experienced in fome of the largest zemindaries. Mezfures are, however, in contemplation, to give more full effect to the regulations for the recovery of rents; and it appears by fubfequent accounts, that a large amount of the balances of this year was received before the end of the July following. Sale of Salt, 5,475 The deficiency is fmall when the total fale is confidered; but as the fales of falt have, for fo many years, uniformly exceeded the estimate, and as the eftimate, in the prefent cafe, was at the fame amount as formerly, an explanation feems requifite. The defalcation was in part produced by impediments to the manufacture in Bengal, in confequence of moft unfavourable weather, and in part by the non-fulfilment of the contract for coaft falt. Stamp Duties, 47,280l. The Commit. tee were informed laft year, that this is entirely a new article of revenue, and that it was fubftituted in lieu of the police tax, which, though an incréafing refource, was abolished, as the collection was not only attended with difficulty, but found oppreflive. The eftimate was framed on a calculation of the probable produce, fuppofed to be accurate; but as more time was confumed in preparing the preffes, and making the numerous arrangements, than expected, the documents on which the flamps were princi pally to be used, as the bills, deeds, &c. in the judicial courts, were filed before they poffibly could be ready. The expectation appears neverthelefs to have been over-rated; but as a revifion of the plan has taken place, the profpect may be indulged, that in procefs of time the original intention will be anfwered. The revenues actually received in the year 1797-8, have been ftated to exceed the eftimate in near four lacks of rupees. It is alfo to be remarked, that they excecded the receipts, in either of the preceding years, in upwards of eight lacks. On the other hand, the charges will be found to exhibit a very different view. They were effimated to amount to 3,893,9911.; the actual amount for the year was 4,031,660l., being more than eftimated by 137,669). When the cftinate for this Prefidency was brought before the Committee laft year, doubts were stated as to the realization of the net revenue. The foundation of thofe doubts was not fo much from an apprchenfion of the failure of the refources, as of an increase of the outgo ings, in confequence of the peculiar fitua tion of affairs in India. The refult has cftablished |