"have arisen against the rapid growth of our Indian "establishment; that its increase should have been "ascribed, not only by enemies or rivals, but by "sober reflexion and by impartial philosophy, to a "spirit of systematic encroachment and ambition.

"On the other hand, in a power so situated as ours, "a power planted in a foreign soil, and without natu"ral root in the habits or affections of the people;

compelled to struggle, first for its existence, and "then for its security, and, in process of time, for the "defence of allies, from whom it might have derived "encouragement and aid, against nations in the habit "of changing their masters on every turn of fortune, " and the greater part already reduced under govern"ments founded by successful invasion; in a power so situated, it can hardly be matter of surprise that "there should have been found an irrepressible tendency to expansion. It may be a mitigation, if not

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a justification, of such a tendency, that the inroads "which it has occasioned have grown out of circum"stances hard to be controlled; that the alternative "has been, in each successive instance, conquest or "extinction; and that, in consequence, we have pre"vailed for the most part over preceding conquerors, "and have usurped, if usurped, upon older usurpa

❝tions.

"I refer to the wise and sober enactments of the "British Parliament, not to dispute their authority or "to set aside their operation, but because I can with "confidence assert, that at no period of our Indian "history have the recorded acts and votes of Parlia"ment been made more faithfully the basis of instruc❝tions to the Government in India than at the period "when the Marquess of Hastings assumed the supreme authority.

"authority. It is but justice to the executive body of "the East-India Company to say, that the whole course "and tenour of their instructions has been uniformly "and steadily adverse to schemes of aggrandizement, "and to any war which could safely and honourably "be avoided. It is but justice to the memory of the "noble person whom I succeeded in the office, which "I have the honour to hold, to say, that he uniformly "inculcated the same forbearing policy, and laboured "to turn the attention of the Indian governments "from the extension of external acquisitions or con"nexions to the promotion of internal improvement. "And having said this, it may not be an unpardonable degree of presumption in me to add, that I have "continued to walk in the path of my predecessor; "that I have omitted no occasion of adding my exhor"tations to those which I found recorded in my office against enterprizes of ambition and wars of conquest. So strongly and so recently had the pacific

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system been recommended, that upon the eve of the "breaking out of the late hostilities, the hands of the "Supreme Government were absolutely tied up from any foreign undertakings, except in a case of the "most pressing exigency. Such an exigency alone produced, or could justify the war, the glorious re"sult of which the House is now called upon to mark by its vote."

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In the second report from the Committee of the Honourable House of Commons on the public income and expenditure of the United Kingdom laid before the House in June last :

The Committee, after stating that they have inquired into the salaries given to clerks in the India House, the Bank of England, two insurance offices, and one of

the principal banking-houses of London, observe, "there is a material difference in the scales of the "salaries of these establishments."

After adverting to the terms on which clerks are admitted, the Committee remark: "The chief clerks "receive salaries from £800 to £2,000 a-year, and "are taken from the body of the clerks; but the "India House is not of the character of a purely "commercial establishment, and is by no means an "example of economical arrangement." Had reference been made to the plan laid before Parliament in the year 1814, in pursuance of the act of 53d Geo. III, cap. 155, sec. 54, it would have at once been perceived, that half of the establishment of the India House is a political charge, the duties performed by such part being territorial and political, and separate and distinct from the commercial branch. It may likewise be confidently asserted, that very many of the duties performed, even in the commercial branch, differ most materially from any transacted by other establishments which are referred to.

Had the Committee of Finance been aware of the duties discharged at the India House under the direction and instruction of the Chairs and the Court of Directors, it would have been apparent that the comparison which has been drawn will by no means hold good. Let any body look at the various despatches to the several governments in India in the political, revenue, judicial, military, financial, and ecclesiastical departments, to which Mr. Canning (and perhaps a more competent judge could scarcely have been selected) alluded in the following terms in the debate on a motion by Mr. Creevy as to the Board of Control, on the 14th March 1822.

"He had seen a military despatch accompanied with

"199

"199 papers, containing altogether 13,511 pages; "another, a judicial despatch with an appendage of "1,937 pages; and a despatch on the revenue with no "fewer than 2,588 pages by its side.

"Much credit was due to the servants of the East"India Company. The papers received from them 66 were drawn up with a degree of accuracy and talent "that would do credit to any office in the state. "The Board could not, with all the talents and industry of the president, the commissioners, or

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even of his honourable friend, their tried secretary,* "have transacted the business devolved upon it, "without the talents and industry with which that "business was prepared for them at the India House."

Was it known to the honourable Committee, that all matters connected with the provision of the military investments for India; the superintendence of the recruiting for the Indian army, and embarkation of the military and recruits for India; the adjustment and regulation of matters connected with and arising out of the courts of judicature in India; the correspondence with the various public offices on the multifarious subjects which are of daily occurrence; the consideration and decision of the innumerable personal cases of servants in the civil, military, and other establishments when in this country; the discussion on and adoption of various measures which are ultimately submitted to Parliament, with the view of promoting the welfare and happiness of the native community; the direction and control of the vast commercial concerns of the Company, affording employment to nearly 4,000 men in their Warehouses only. In short, it is impossible to enumerate, and no person is capable of forming a correct judgment, who does not know the interior manage

D 2

*Now the Right Hon. T. P. Courtenay.

ment

ment of the whole vast machine, and of what the various, important, and incessant calls upon the executive body, and more especially upon the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, consist. These observations are not advanced for the mere purpose of magnifying in the eyes of the public the present system; they are capable of proof or of refutation, and upon the one or the other they must stand or fall.

In a work of this nature, and proceeding from the quarter which it does, any observations with reference to the Hon. Executive Body, however just in themselves, would be misplaced. It is fortunate for the East-India Company, no less than for the interests of India generally, that gentlemen, independent in fortune and character, and possessing deserved weight and influence in public, can be found to devote their time and attention to the maintenance of a system which, though not perhaps without its defects, has worked well, and promoted the benefit of all connected with it both in India and in Europe. The truth is, that the principles upon which it has been conducted are little known, whilst at the same time they are greatly misrepresented. It is much to be desired for the country that the illustrious nobleman, who is now at the head of his Majesty's government, and who is not unacquainted with the affairs of India, may fill that arduous and responsible post when the subject of the Company's charter may come under discussion. It will be no less advantageous to a due consideration of the question, that the office of President of the Board should at that time be occupied by a noble lord, who it may be said possesses almost an hereditary knowledge of Indian affairs.

THE extent of the subject and result of the present

system