ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

quis pursued a course different from that which he had adopted; had he, like some of his predecessors, Sir G. Barlow and Lord Minto, declined resisting the unjust conduct of the enemy, whereby they compromised the dignity and honour of the Company-he would have been ready to pass a vote of censure on him. But this circumstance ought not to be suffered to pass without notice. They ought to know the situation in which Lord Moira found affairs between Nepal, on his arrival in India in 1813. The public ought to know the necessity which justified the proceedings of the noble marquis. It ought to be kept in view that the Nepalese possessed a territory about twenty-five years ago, extending only about two hundred miles from east to west, and that by gradual encroachment they had extended to the banks of the river Indus, and in 1814 had an extent of country eight hundred miles under their rule. Their conduct had been so atrocious that in 1804, on 24th January, Lord Wellesley had declared the treaty then existing with Nepal to be at an end, and there is no doubt from his character that he would have had recourse to arms at that time, if he had not been so fully employed with the Maharatta war. From the time of Captain Kinloch's mission to Nepal in 1765 up to the time Lord Moira arrived in India, there had been differences between the governments owing to the encroachments of the Nepalese, and they had been borne by the governor-generals with a forbearance and consideration that the honour and dignity of the British name scarcely admitted of. There were regular reports made to the court of directors of these encroachments annually, as the dispatches shew; and the insults had reached that extent when Lord Moira arrived in India, that the only alternative for him to adopt, was active hostile measures to repel and punish the Nepalese, or to suffer the character of the government to be compromised by enduring the encroachments which might sooner or later end in ruin to the Company's establishments in India. These are circumstances which ought to be generally known as well by the public as by this court. It ought to be known, that the addresses from the Bengal government, since the year 1804; that even the court of directors themselves had stated, in a letter of the 18th February, 1814, their conviction that recourse must be had to arms, in order to repel the attempts of that government, whose power had been at length put down. In making these observations, he should be glad if they impressed the country with this feeling, that the Nepal war, trifling as it was in comparison with former contests, was carried on in defence of those principles, by which alone they could uphold

He

their territories in India. The moment any British governor in India allowed the character of England to be tarnished; the moment any thing like weakness appeared the surrounding chiefs would take advantage of the circumstance-each would, in his turn, insult the Companyattacks would multiply-and fearful dangers would threaten their Indian territories. He now had one or two observations to offer, on a point, in which, he conceived, the court had not done its duty with liberality and fairness. would advert to what it had done, and to what it had left undone. On the 20th of December last, the court thought proper to grant a pension to Sir David Ochterlony. On that occasion he protested, and he would still protest, against the course of proceeding that was adopted, because it was contrary to all precedent. No instance of a similar kind had, he believed, ever occurred before; for, since the period at which the vote was passed, he had, with his best industry, gone over as many propositions of thanks, both of that court and of the British government; and, on no occasion could he trace the existence of such a principle as that which was adopted on the 20th of December. The court, in that instance, eulogized and rewarded the conduct of an officer, not merely acting under the Governor General of India, but under the Commander-in-chief of the Company's forces. To that officer a handsome pension of £1000 a year was voted-but no notice whatever was taken of the Commander-inchief, under whose directions Sir D. Ochterlony had acted, and the war been carried on. He made this observation, because the court were now called upon to thank the noble Marquis for his merits in planning and directing the war. If it were the fact that his plans were ably conceived, that the measures which he recommended were founded in wisdom→→→ the court ought in justice and agreeable to an undeviating precedent to have noticed them, when Sir David Ochterlony received the meed to which his services entitled him. He regretted that the noble marquis was not thanked at that time. Whatever the feeling of the court of directors might have then been on account of temporary reverses, they ought to have acted towards the noble marquis, on that occasion in the way they were now about to do. The enemy having been defeated, and peace restored, they now proceeded to thank the noble marquis. This brought forward a principle before the public and the court, for their consideration, which, though forgotten in the instance he had alluded to, he hoped would never be neglected again: the principle to which he adverted was, that every officer and servant of the Company, whe

had acted for their benefit, to the best of their genius and ability, deserved their support. The court ought to step forward and thank them, not merely when success had attended their efforts, but for the zeal and talent they might have displayed in their plans, although, from unforeseen circumstances, some degree of failure might have been experienced. He made this remark, because the thanks of the court had been withheld from the Governor General, on account of the expedition against Nepal having been, in a certain measure, unsuccesful. What would persons now say, when, the contest being finished, the court tardily came forward with its rote of approbation? They would naturally observe" Though it is by the resolution admitted that the war was originally welt plannedthough the arrangements were wisely conceived-yet you withheld the praise which was justly due to him whose genius directed the whole proceeding, because the success, which his plans deserved, had not ensued; but now that the plans have succeeded, you agree to a vote of thanks, your praises are called forth by the success of the measures that have been adopted, and not by the wisdom or excellency which marked the original arrangements." He protested in behalf of all public servants against such an unfair and unjust principle. He conceived it was highly becoming the dignity of the court to return thanks to their servants, for the zeal displayed, and the ability manifested by them, in any undertaking they attemptedinstead of being guided in their proceedings, according to the termination of the efforts as it might, in the end, prove successful or disastrous. In the principle adopted by the court, in December last, they deviated from all precedent and departed from all rule; and he hoped that, from henceforth, no individual standing in the high situation of Governor-General, would have his feelings wounded in the same manner. It was evident, that a proceeding of so extraordinary a nature was calculated to wound the feelingsbecause, though no name was mentioned, a Governor-General must perceive, when a departure from all rule was sanctioned in a particular instance, that it was directed against him. He felt that the time of the court was extremely valuable-and he found, on considering the resolution, and seeing it confined merely to military affairs, he should scarcely be allowed to submit much of what he intended to offer, to the proprietors, and would now content himself with making a few observations, with respect to the wisdom and moderation exercised by Sir D. Ochterlony and the noble marquis. These words were very lavishly used in the course of bis dispatches he knew that there were

some persons who thought, that he (Earl Moira) shewed neither the one quality nor the other in the whole of these affairs; but before such an expression of opinion fell from any individuals, he hoped, if they had not read over the documents connected with the subject, that they would take the time necessary for perusing the dispatches relative to the conduct of the noble marquis's government, and the letters respecting the origin, progress and termination of the war. They would then see, that Sir David Ochterlony, in conjunction with the Governor-General, had shewn a very great degree of moderation; and that, in the situation in which the Goorkah power was placed, in consequence of the obstinate and unprincipled conduct of their government, more severe terms might consistent with justice and moderation, have been' insisted on. He said, the unprincipled conduct of the government-because, if a man promised to ratify a solemn treaty, and broke that promise, he must be looked upon as unprincipled. Now, in as much as the enemy had agreed to a particular treaty, but afterwards held off from ratifying it, in the hope of profiting by the season, and coming forward with the design of reaping a benefit from this mean act of duplicity, it appeared to him, that he had been treated with very great moderation. This was most decidedly shewn by one of the dispatches of Sir D.' Ochterlony-where, having stated his opinion to the Governor-General, he concluded in words that almost deserved to be inscribed in letters of gold. The dispatch was dated the 26th of February 1816; in which, after reasoning on the possible advantages that might be gained over the enemy, by continuing the war and exacting terms more severe than the treaty concluded in 1815, he writes,

"Protracted war can only produce enormous expenses, for which the most successful results cannot afford an indemnity; but may, as we have seen it in the western provinces, burden us with territories without revenue, and with troops without resources to maintain them." In answer to Sir D. Ochterlony, the Governor-General says, "Although I differ from you in many particulars, yet, whatever you may determine on shall have my concurrence. You may depend upon my supporting every resolution and engagement you may enter into." This shewed, that while he had troops in the field, healthy and able to proceed on any enterprize-when he might have marched to the capital of the enemy's provinces, he exercised a praise-worthy spirit of moderation and forbearance. He declined exacting new terms from an humbled enemy, but expressed his willingness to agree to the provisions of the treaty which had been proposed in the

preceding year. Here he shewed great wisdom and moderation, in coming to a decision most prudent and conciliatory. Earl Moira had also declared in his subsequent dispatches that he would not exact the full extent of the unpleasant articles of the treaty. Therefore, prior to any attack being made on the noble Marquis, these dispatches ought to be minutely referred to.

Without this

were done, they could not possibly arrive at a fair decision on the conduct of the Governor-General. In conclusion, the hon. proprietor observed, that he would most cordially support the resolutionand expressed a hope that the court. would, on a future occasion, see the necessity of going farther than they were at present called on to do.

The Chairman observed, that, with respect to the papers not having been produced by instalments, and their being brought in a mass under the consideration of the court, he had only to say, that it was the act of the proprietors, with which the executive body had nothing to do. The hon. gentleman had touched on the circumstance, of no notice having been taken of the Governor-General in the proceedings of the 20th of December last. He conceived the court was perfectly correct in abstaining from an expression of their opinion on that occasion. As the war was not then concluded, it was not the fit time to make any observations on the conduct of the Governor-General. It was not the custom of that court, to consider the proceedings of any Governor-General, during a period of war. They had always waited till the particular contest was at an end, before they signified their opinion. The case was quite different, with respect to Sir David Octherlony. He was entrusted with the execution of a specific service. He performed that service; and, having done so, the court unanimously voted, that he ought to be rewarded. This was perfectly distinct from the case of the Governor-General; because, no matter whether the war had terminated or not, the service had been achieved which General Ochterlony was called on to perform. With respect to the comparative statement of expenses between the Nepal war and that carried on in the Mysore, the court of directors, in their resolution, did not say any thing about it. They did not call on the court of proprietors to give any opinion on the subject. The comparison was to be found only in the dispatches-it was not a matter for the consideration of the court.

Mr. Horace Twiss said, he was sorry to be under the necessity of troubling the court; but the hou. proprietor, who had recently addressed them, having made a personal attack on his conduct, in consequence of what passed in

that place on a former day, he felt that he should be wanting in duty to himself, if he did not offer a few observations on what had fallen from him. He concurred with him in regretting the absence of the hon. and learned gentleman whose motion he had opposed. He was sure, if that learned gentleman were present, he would not have taken the same line of conduct the hon. gentleman had done-he would have abstained from a personal attack, especially with reference to a circumstance that took place so long ago. Fortunately, however, he had it in his power to repel any attack made, on him here or elsewhere, either by the hon. gentleman, or by any other individual whatsoever. The, hon. gentleman imputed presumption to him, in setting up his opinion against the experience of the hon. gentleman himself, and the knowledge of his learned friend. Now, if it had been a question relative to India, the decision of which called local details and minute observation, there might have been some sense in the attack -some shew of reason in the charge. But, as it was a question that required no local knowledge-as it was a question on which any man of common sense could decidehe thought proper to take the sense of the court on it, as he should always do, when he saw gentlemen anxious to call on the court of directors to produce documents which were not necessary at the time. The question merely was, whether the documents, under the particular circumstances of the case, ought to be produced. He thought they ought not, and therefore he opposed their production. The hon. gentleman was angry with him, not because this was his opinion, but because it was the opinion of the whole court. was irritated, not because he (Mr. Twiss) had made the motion, but because it was successful. The hon. gentleman said, he knew not on what authority, that, now the papers were produced, he (Mr. Twiss) had not read them-or, if he had read any one of them, he certainly had not perused the whole. This was a gratuitous observation-it was totally uncalled for→ it was perfectly unnecessary. He knew not what information the hon. gentleman might have received about the manner in which he passed his time-what watch and spy he might have on his conduct, he 'knew not. He was, however, ready to admit that he had not read the papers; and he asked him, in the same spirit of candour, whether he had himself perused them? If he had not, then the hon. gen tleman's aspersion of him (Mr. Twiss) was at an end-and, on the other side, if he had made himself master of the contents of the papers, he congratulated the court on having his support to the resolu tion. His support was always most desirable, but particularly so, when he

He

[graphic]

came prepared with extensive information on the subject submitted to them. The hon. gentleman had given the court a definition of the word unprincipled. It was properly applied, he observed, to an individual who neglected to perform his promise. Now the hon. gentleman himself frequently broke his promise, and yet he was convinced, no one could charge him with being unprincipled. He never rose in that court, without gravely stating that he would occupy the attention of the proprietors for a very short timebut this promise he never performed.(Laughter.)

[ocr errors]

The hon. gent. had stated that the resolution should receive his cordial support. But, of all the cordial supports he ever witnessed, in this or any other place, that of the hon. gent. seemed, on the present occasion, to be the most extraordinary. It appeared to him, so far from his support being cordial, that the hon. gent. wished to throw some discord into the proceedings of the court. Ile-where the amount of the forces comhad contrived to introduce every topic which could lower, in the estimation of the proprietors, the financial arrangements and military plans of the Marquis of Hastings. He observed, that the noble marquis had bestowed his praises on all alike. He (Mr. Twiss) however, contended, that, if the fact were so, it ought to be a matter of congratulation, not of dissatisfaction, to the court, that there was not an officer employed on this late arduous service, who was not considered as deserving the high meed of applause; and, having earned it, was it not most satisfactory to find the nobleman placed at the head of the Indian government, ready to liquidate the debt?-(Hear.) It was a matter of congratulation to have such officers-it was a matter of congratulation to possess a Governor-general who was prompt to appreciate and eager to reward their merits. (Hear.) The hon. gent. had said, that the praise bestowed by the Marquis of Hastings was not only indiscriminate, but bombastic. He was surprised that the hon. gent. could blame the noble marquis for following his own example-for he himself, when once he began, knew not when to leave off. (Laughter.) If the hon. gent. were to be excused, when, in the execution of an arduous and disagreeable duty, (and his duty in that court he must often find arduous and disagreeable,) he proceeded beyond the bounds which he originally intended not to pass. How much stronger was the claim of the noble marquis to forgiveness, if, in performing a duty, neither arduous nor disagreeable, he had suffered his generous feelings to carry him beyond a particular line?(Hear.) In the last place, (and he really meant it should be the last) he would offer a few

Preston-Pans-marched into Derbyshire, and struck terror into the heart of London? It was not by the number of men brought into the field that a judgment should be formed of the importance of a contest-a true estimate of the dangers and difficulties of a war could only be supplied by attending to circumstances of a more covert description. The learned gent. concluded by stating, that the motion had his most hearty assent.

Mr. Lowndes said, he viewed the granting of praise to individuals, in the same light as he did the complimenting them with honorary medals-some, of course, would deserve a more elegant tribute than others. In the present instance, they were about to give a gold medal to the Marquis of Hastings-but it was not surrounded with those brilliants which ornamented the medal presented to another noble lord, for his great achievements in 1804-5. The war of that time was very different from that which had been recently concluded. Battles were then fought with an enemy who employed a force of two hundred thousand men against the Company. It was the magnitude of such preparations that dazzled the imagination, and bewildered the mind. It was the employment of an overwhelming army that led the minds of many persons astray, with respect to the abilities of the ci-devant Emperor, in his warfare on the continent. It was the numerous forces he brought into the field that enabled him to win his battles, and caused him to be looked on as a great commander. Yet, when they examined those victories, and considered the manner in which they were gained, perhaps the achievements in Nepal put forth a greater claim for that praise which skill and bravery ought always to command, than those which had been obtained by himeffected as they were by pouring a force into the field, three times as numerous as that which he had to encounter. hon. friend (Mr. Hume) was an expert and able calculator-but, in estimating the difficulties of a contest, it was not so well, perhaps, to calculate by the rule of three. He had read the papers with the same feelings as those described by his hon. friend. It struck him that the language was in the eastern style-very figurative-very flowing-and abounding in well-rounded periods. Many of the sentences reminded him of the eggs, which boys placed on a string, and which exhibited a great variety of colours. No man, however, could entertain a higher opinion of the noble marquis than he did; and he said this, because he observed in those dispatches the most excellent and elevated principles of honour and justice -particularly in what he said relative to the rights of hereditary families in India.

His

-

His observations did him infinite creditfor, by adhering to the principles, and pursuing the dictates of honour and justice, could they alone hope to maintain their ascendency in India. If they parsued a different course, they would lay themselves open to those reproaches and accusations which had been justly heaped upon Napoleon Bonaparte. If they did not place the hereditary families in India in the high situations which they had been accustomed to fill, the same execration, and the same evils might descend upon them, as had visited Napoleon :Fas est ab hoste doceri. With one part of the conduct of the noble marquis he was dissatisfied. He alluded to his making use of a part of the forces that had previously belonged to the enemy. Now, they ought to recollect that this very circumstance contributed to the downfall of the French ruler. The noble marquis acknowledged that he employed two com→ panies of pioneers, which had previously belonged to the enemy. He knew another noble lord who fell into the same error. But, as long as they could make use of forces of their own, or of troops supplied by their allies, they had better employ them, and even drain them to the last man, rather than trust to the treacherous enemy. When they employed the forces of a hostile state-armed them-and taught them the military art-the first desire would be to regain their own country; and they would speedily knock down the persons who had foolishly confided in them, with the muskets which had been given to them for their defence. This was another fault, and a very great one, of Bonaparte. He taught the troops of his enemies, whom he engaged in his service, all he knew himself of the art of war, and they ultimately fought against him.

This was one of the chief causes of his downfall. Would, therefore, a wise man trust a treacherous enemy with arms in his hands, after witnessing so fatal an example of the bad consequences that flow from such a misplaced coufidence? It struck him that the employment of these two companies of pioneers was a very imprudent thing-though a similar act had been done by another noble lord. The liberality which was so prevalent in the conduct of the noble marquis, appeared in a very conspicuous light in those dispatches. In that house, he (Mr. Lowndes) had always given his humble meed of praise to the military forces of the Company. Both there, and every where else, he had expressed his opinion, that neither soldiers nor sailors were paid as they deserved. Theirs was a profession of honour; and they were remunerated by honour and not by money. He perceived, that a very liberal provision was made for two or three officers, and

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »