and deserved the most severe ani- they could consistently with a promadversion. He should not enter per regard to the public interest. into any detail of the melancholy What steps would be taken, or transaction; but when the impor. what instructions sent out, it was tance of an investigation, both to not possible to state before thc offi. the interests of British subjects in cial accounts should arrive. But India, and to the stability of Bri- the hon. gent. could surely not tish power in that quarter, was con- think that the officers, now on the sidered, he was sure it would be point of setting out, ought to be felt that he was entitled to the detained till the accounts should information he called for. He arrive. On the contrary, it was wished, therefore, to ask the right desirable that they should proceed honourable gentleman whether any to their destination with all expeauthentic accounts of that transac- dition, in order to take such meation had been received by the board sures as their good sense, and exof control, or by the court of perience would point out, under all directors. There were vessels now the circumstances of the case. going out; and a new governorgeneral and commarder in chief Thursday, February 26, 1807. were on the point of setting out for India. He thought it, there- CARNATIC PAPERS. fore, material to know, for the Sir Thomas Turton rose and consolation of the friends of the spoke as follows :- Pursuant to a British subjects now going out, and notice I gave on a former day, I I already settled in India, what in- rise, Sir, to call the attention of formation had been received, and the house to the subject of the whether any instructions, as to the Carnatic. The papers which I measures to be adopted respecting think necessary for the elucidation this affair, had been sent out. He of that subject, and which will be was of opinion that it was neces- specified in the motion, which I sary to shew, that if mismanage- shall have the honor of making, ment or misconduct had been prac- and to which, I trust, there will tised in India, the circumstances be no objection, since they have would be investigated in England, already been laid upon the table of and decided in a manner consisten: this house, and remained for a conwith the interests of all parties. siderable time :--the papers alluded Mr. Tierney, was not at all sur- to, were called for by an hoo. prized at the anxiety felt by the gentleman, not now a member of honourable gentleman. For some this house, and they were movad time past rumours of the transac- for originally, on reasons which I tion had been in circulation ; but, hope will apply now. After a short unhappily, he was unable to give statement of the case, I am inany answer to the honourable gen- clined to believe there will be no tleman on this subject, as no au- objection to my motion, because thentic accounts had yet been the documents it calls for are necesreceived, either by the court of sary for the purpose of justice, as directors or the board of control. well towards the party accused, as But he would assure the honoura- to the accuser. When the motion ble gentleman that, as soon as the was formerly made on this subject, accounts should arrive, they would the facts were thon recent in the be laid before the house, so far as recollection recollection of the house, from the history of the transaction which was then given. Sir, it is in the recollection of almost every man, that intelligence arrived in this country, of the death of Omdut ul Omrah, commonly calied the nabob of the Carnatic, and of the circumstances of his lineal suc'cessor, as he would have been by the Mohammedan law, being dethroned, and another placed in his room. Many persons acquainted with Indian politics, perfectly well know the circumstances attending that deposition; but none could reconcile the act on any principle of justice; for every one knew, from the youth of the prince, as well as from his mode of conduct, that the act could not have arisen out of any proceedings of his own. He had not had an opportunity of doing any one act of government, before the Indian presidencies had adopted a line of policy, which deprived him of the Musnud. En quiries were accordingly made into the subject, and that young prince found a very able advocate in the right hon. gentleman opposite to me, (Mr. Sheridan,) and also in an hon. gent. not now a member of this house. Upon that occasion, the enquiry took up a considerable length of time, the number of papers moved for swelled to a considerable size, and the subject was interrupted by the dissolution of the late parliament. It is unnecessary for me to enter into any discussion on the propriety of renewing the consideration of this important subject, much less is it necessary for me to enquire into the motives which could induce the right honourable gentleman, who had once brought the subject before the house, to relinquish it, since it is not in my power to know the motives that might influence his conduct. I am well assured, from the general tenor, and habits of his political life, nothing could have induced him to decline bringing forward the subject, that is inconsistent with public duty; yet it is impossible not to perceive, that the right hon. gentleman's connections at present are persons who, if their wishes could operate upon his judgment, would induce him to decline the further investigation of this subject: and, that the right hon. gent. does decline it, we have his own declaration. It has, therefore, devolved to me, and I cannot but regret it has not fallen into abler hands. But it is a duty, as I feel it, to bring this question forward, for reasons which must be obvious to the house, and which I hinted at when I gave my notice. I said then, and I now repeat it, if any other member of the house should be inclined to take the subject out of my hands, I should most cheerfully deliver it up to such person, promising him most faithfully, that he shall have my cordial, active, and zealous support, to the utmost of my power. But if no other gentleman chuses to take that part, I feel I have a claim upon the justice of the house, in calling its attention to this subject. I will add, that not only do I conceive, that I have a claim upon the justice of the house, in soliciting its attention, but I have a claim also to the assisttance of the house in discussing it; for you know, Sir, that those who have any reason to complain upon this subject, can have no redress any where, except in this house, and, it is as essential to the interests of this nation, as it is to those of the noble marquis, to have the matter completely investigated, and to remove all suspicions, that can possibly possibly attach to any of the transactions, in which that noble marquis was concerned. I wish to say nothing farther of that nobleman at present, than that he is a man of great abilities, and comprehensive talents, of which he has given proof on many occasions. It has been rumoured, that the noble marquis is thought of, as a fit person to fill a high and responsible office in this country-a circumstance which can never happen, until his character shall be rescued from the situation in which it appears to be implicated, as relating to Carnatic transactions In urging the investigation of the Carnatic papers, I am consulting the only fair mode of establishing the character of that nobleman, for which he ought to be thankful. It appears to me, from the papers which I am about to call for, and which have been already upon the table of this house, a considerable portion of criminality attaches to the court of directors here, and to the conduct of their principle officers abroad, as well as to the board of control, by which I do not mean the present board. The papers which I shall call for, will shew what degree of blame, if any, is imputable to each of these descriptions of persons, and that is one of the great objects for which my motion is brought forward. With regard to the new papers, which I think it my duty to move for, it is necessary that I should call the attention of the house to the manner in which I first proposed to make a motion, when you, Sir, very properly prevented me from entering into any detail on that occasion, when I confined myself to the bare notice of a motion for printing those papers only which, in my judgment, had a direct bear ing upon the question to be discussed, not wishing to embarrass it with documents which I thought had no bearing upon the question. For the same reason I intend to exclude the second volume of papers laid on the table in the month of August, 1803; as they relate to state accounts from Lord Hobart, and Lord Macartney, which appear to me to have very little bearing upon the question which I am desirous to have discussed. But if any gentleman thinks they are necessary, I can have no objection to their production. It is now proper, that I should state the object for which I move the reprinting of the papers, and of the printing of such others, as appear to me to be requisite for the thorough understanding of the affair. It has been said, and the same sentiment seems to pervade the whole correspondence of the East India company, and the governor of Madras, that policy might have rendered it necessary, that we should assume the government of the Carnatic. My motion goes to lay before the house, those papers which shew there then existed any ground, or pretence for saying, that the conduct of the nabob had rendered that assumption necessary. It is observable, with reference to the conduct of Marquis Wellesley, immediately after the surrender of Seringa patam, that he refers to an intended account which was to be rendered of the motives, which induced the noble marquis to assume the government, alleging that he would send a review of those transactions to England; but it does not appear that he ever sent that proper statement. There are some letters of the court of directors, too, which require explanation, on which I give no opinion at present; by which it appears, that some difference existed between my Lord Clive, and the Marquis Wellesley, involving matters which are not, in any degree, explained. The third set of papers regard the Polygar war, in 1801. It appears, from the treaty of 1792, that the company's government had a right deputed to them, to collect the peishcush, or tribute, from the Polygars; and to enforce the payment, if necessary, on the requisition of the nabob. But every act to be performed, was to be done in the nabob's name, and by his authority. Now, this war, which was a very extraordinary one, both in its alleged cause and consequences, must, at first sight, appear to be sanctioned at least by the nabob. It will, therefore, be necessary to ascertain whether, in point of fact, it was so or not; in order to shew that the nabob's government was either the cause of the war, or to free it from the consequences, and the blame which might attach to that measure. But, Sir, before I submit this motion to the house, it may be asked of me, whether I do not think I owe some apology to the house, as to the time which will be taken up by bringing this subject forward; and I think it is perfectly correct to ask me that question. Sir, if this motion be agreed to, I take upon me to say, that within one month after the papers are printed, I shall be further prepared to move those resolutions on the papers, which I shall judge requisite. I am of opinion, it could be done in much less time, if necessary; but the subject is important, and demands a full enquiry. I hesitate not to say, that I bring this subject forward as an independent member of parliament, anxious to rescue the coun try from the imputation of misconduct; and I beg leave to observe, that I have no connection whatever with those who were first concerned in bringing this subject forward. With regard to Mr. Paull, I have no difficulty in stating that he deserves well of his country for the part he has taken in these transactions. I never saw him in my life. My reason for promoting this enquiry arises from an anxiety I feel, that this country should suffer in its character from imputations which it does not deserve. I shall conclude with moving, " That the papers which were presented to this house upon the 21st and 23d days of June, 1802, relative to the Carnatic, be re-printed for the members of the house." Mr. Sheridan thanked the hon. baronet for his liberality and candour, and acknowledged the pledge which he had given to proceed with the enquiry. He had stated the reasons which induced him to give it up, when the hon. baronet was not a member of the house. He would again state them at the proper time, and then the hon. baronet would be satisfied that he did him no more than justice, for giving him credit for the purity of his motives. The question, as he thought, was confined to the conduct of the Madras government, but from volumes of papers afterwards moved for, it appeared that the Bengal government, the directors, and the board of control were also implicated. This was, however, not the ground of his abandoning the case. He thought the hon. baronet ought to confine himself to the re-printing of the papers before produced. If he moved for new ones, and was retorted upon in the manner he had been, he would subject himself to be called over the coals, and the the business might be delayed lon- the hon. baronet before he gave his ger than he could at present have assent to the motion. any idea of. When he brought Mr. Grant said, though he did forward the charge, however, he not fatter himself much benefit would experience every support that would result from the discussion, he could give him. yet, as a friend to discussion in Sir John Anstrulher hoped that general, and considering the House the hon. baronet would declare what of Commons as the only protecwas his object, and against whom tion the inhabitants of British India his motion was to be directed. Did bad for protection and redress, and he mean to attack Lord Wellesley, the only place in which an investigaor Lord Powis, or the court of di- tion into the affairs of India could rectors, or the board of control, or be instituted, it was necessary that the late ministers? He wished to he should take notice of some asserknow what he was driving at, if he tions which had been made in the knew himself, for he seemed to course of the debate. It was asserted have some doubts about the matter. that they had recommended, if not In the meantime, he hoped that the ordered, the revolution which took • house would not allow the charac. place in India, by the assumption ters of the executive officers to be of the territories of the Carnatic ; complimented away by the praises to which it must first be answered, which the right hon. gent, and the that they disclaimed all interference hon. baronet had thought proper to in the nature of compulsion, and bestow on each other. He con- he read an extract from their mitended, that the conduct of the nutes, by which such an interfeexecutive officers had been approved rence was expressly disclaimed, and by the directors, and the board of then asked bow such a proceeding control, the cabinet, and this house. should be tortured into approbation, They bad only executed the orders much less an authority, for the they had received, and the respon- revolution which took place ? He sibility did not, therefore, rest with could state, that the court of directhem, though he did not admit that tors never did approve of that meathey bad, by any means, even lentsure; for the sake, therefore, of themselves as instruments to any having the conduct of the court of improper act. He then adverted to directors investigated, he the injustice done to persons ac- friendly to the present motion. He cused, by allowing the charge to was very glad that the friends of hang over. He also said, that from Lord Wellesley were so desirous of his own knowledge, he could affirm entering into this investigation. He that the revival of old charges was declined, however, to enter into the attended with great mischief to our merits of the revolution in 1801 ; Indian government. It shook the and he could speak with the greater confidence of the natives in its sta- freedom, as he had not, at that bility, and nourished a desire of period, any share in the direction. change, which prevailed in a parti- It was to be observed, however, cular degree in these people, and that the board of control took was generally the case in arbitrary that affair into their own hands, and governments. He wished to know, superseded altogether the court of specifically, what was the design of directors. And the hon. baronet, was |
