East-India House, March 22.

A quarterly General Court of Proprietors of East-India Stock was this day held at the Company's House in Leadenhall

street.

The minutes of the last Court having been read,

Mr. Ellis said, before they proceeded to the regular business of the day, he rose to make a complaint to the Chairman of some of the officers of that house, whose conduct had occasioned considerable inconvenience to himself and several other proprietors. When he came down at eleven o'clock, the hour for which the court was summoned, he wished to go into the proprietors' room, to look into some papers, relative to the shipping of the Company, which had been moved for at a preceding court, and which required the most serious consideration. When he arrived at the house, with this view, he found the door of the proprietors' room locked, and he waited more than half an hour, and had to send three different messages, requiring access to the room, before he could get in. When he did at length obtain admittance, he found that none of the papers were there; and not before a quarter of an hour had elapsed, were those documents laid on the table. He mentioned this to prevent the recurrence of similar conduct.

The Chairman (C. Marjoribanks, Esq.) said, he was very sorry for the circumstance. He had been at the India House since a quarter before nine o'clock, and, if the hon. proprietor had let him know that he could not get into the room, steps would have been taken to remove the inconvenience, which he trusted would not occur again.

Mr. Ellis." I did not think of troubling you, sir, on such an occasion."

The Chairman." I think it no trouble to perform my duty."

Dr. Gilchrist said, he was one of the sufferers on this occasion. He had been kept standing at the door, but certainly it never entered his head to call on the Chairman to have the door unlocked. He always wished to take time by the forelock, and therefore he hoped, when gentlemen arrived at eleven o'clock, they would not be kept waiting for a moment.

Here the conversation ended.

THE COMPANY'S MILITARY EQUIP

MENTS.

Dr. Gilchrist trusted, that, though his name was out of the Company's red book, it was not in the black one; and that, when he asked a civil question, although on a Asiatic Journ. Vol. XXI. No. 124.

military subject, he would receive a civil answer. He wished to know whether the muskets, cannons, and the other weapons of offence and defence used by the Company's army in India, were proved before they left this country.

The Chairman.-" They are."

Dr. Gilchrist said, as they were regu larly tried, he supposed, at the Ordnance, he should be glad to know who was at the expense of the trial.

Mr. S. Dixon rose to order.

Dr. Gilchrist.- "I wish not to be interrupted. I ask, who pays for the trial?"

The Chairman. "The Company, of course. I believe it is pretty well known that we get little gratuitously."

Dr. Gilchrist.-"Are the blunderbusses, muskets, pistols, &c. proved?"

The Chairman.- "I answer, yes." Dr. Gilchrist.-"Is it at the Company's expense ?"

The Chairman." I have not the books to refer to, but I imagine the Company bears the expense. I am under that impression."

Dr. Gilchrist." Are these arms of offence and defence again tried in India, before they are used there or not? There are some military gentlemen behind the bar, who can inform me."

The Chairman." The hon. proprietor interrogation than he has a right to do, is travelling farther with his system of (Hear, hear!) and I must protest against being questioned in this way." (Hear!)

Dr. Gilchrist.-"This is a simple question put by a proprietor; and every proprietor has a right to know what is going on with respect to affairs in which he is interested."

The Chairman." I have given the hon. proprietor the only answer in my power."

Dr. Gilchrist." I am, perhaps, thinking more on these subjects than you are. (Order.) I am an ignorant man, and want information on these points."

The Deputy Chairman." I am not at all surprised that the Chairman is not prepared to answer such a number of desultory questions upon a military subject; and, perhaps, I might say, that I myself am scarcely prepared to do so, though long a member of one of the military boards. This, however, I can say, that no musket was ever put into the hands of any soldier in our service, in India, whether Europeans or sepoys, that had not a proof-mark stamped upon it. (Hear, hear!) This answer, hope, will be considered satisfactory." (Hear, hear!)

Dr. Gilchrist. "How does it happen, 3 Z that

that the orders of the Court of Directors, sent out to India, on military matters, have not been obeyed? It has been declared, that, when an officer arrives at the rank of captain, he shall not act as adjutant or interpreter; yet, at the present moment, six captains are acting as interpreters. I think-"

Mr. S. Dixon rose to order. The hon. proprietor certainly had no right to ask a question, and to proceed to argue upon it,

Dr. Gilchrist." Then I will confine myself to the simple question. Is what I have stated so or not?"

The Chairman." I wish to say a very few words on this subject. I am, at all times, disposed to give every information in my power to any hon, proprietor; but I think that the end in view would be much better accomplished, if gentlemen did not come to the court with a long string of questions, without giving any previous intimation that they intended to ask them. (Hear!) If the hon. proprietor had had the courtesy to apprize me of his intention to put the questions he has submitted, he may be assured that I would have come to the court prepared to answer them fully. (Hear!) But, if he supposes that I can, on the moment, answer every question, I can only say, that it is not in my power, nor, I believe, in that of any other person. (Hear!) Having said this, I hope the court will now proceed to the regular business of the day. If the hon. proprietor chooses to propose a motion on the subjects to which he has referred, the court will deal with it as they think proper; but the course which he has adopted is both unusual and inconvenient; and, therefore, I must decline receiving any farther questions." (Hear!)

Dr. Gilchrist said, he never understood that the proprietors of East-India Stock were to be deterred in this way from seeking that information which their interests required. Surely he, and all other proprietors, had a right to ask questions with respect to the Company's affairs. If he had been aware that he was at all out of order in asking questions, he certainly would not have taken up the time of the court. When a simple question was asked, it was certainly easy to answer it,-aye or If the hon. Chairman was uninformed on the subject, it was very easy for him to say so.

no.

The Deputy Chairman." I rise to protest against this sort of catechism, which appears to me not at all calculated to forward the business of the court, or to serve, in any respect, the interests of the Company. The last question which has been put by the hon. proprietor, I think I can satisfactorily answer. I believe the hon. proprietor will find, that, in every instance where a captain holds the post

of adjutant or interpreter, the duties of which situations, according to the rules of the service, ought not to be performed by any officer of higher rank than that of lieutenant; the individual thus situated is only captain by brevet, and not by commission." (Hear!)

Dr. Gilchrist said, he thanked the hon. Deputy Chairman for the answer which he had given. It was his (Dr. Gilchrist's) ignorance which induced him to ask the question. He would not, however, be put down when he wished to obtain information; and he must observe, that in assemblies of a much higher description than this, questions were asked by individuals, and were promptly answered. If they were not allowed to ask questions in that court, he saw no use for calling them together.

The Chairman.-" Permit me to say, as the hon. proprietor has alluded to another assembly, that when it is intended to put an interrogatory to the minister, and the only way in which a proper answer can be elicited, is by giving the person of whom the question is to be asked, a previous knowledge and understanding of the nature of that question. When this course is taken, I shall be always ready either to answer a question, or to assign my reasons for declining to do so. (Hear.) But I cannot be expected to answer a series of questions propounded to me on the moment.

General Thornton hoped no gentleman would ask a question, relative to the propriety of answering which any doubt could be entertained. Since the hon. gentleman filled the situation of chairman, there was no cause of complaint on the subject of granting information. On every occasion he appeared perfectly ready to answer any question put to him. There were questions of such a nature, that it was proper to give an intimation of them before-hand, because those who wished to ask them might not know to what an extent they were likely to lead. But any other questions he thought the hon, chairman was bound to answer; and he thought the proprietors in general ought not to throw any difficulties in the way of their being answered.

The Chairman laid before the court, in conformity with the resolution of the 25th of January last,

-

"An account of the annual amount paid to each professor and assistant professor in each of the colleges or seminaries of education in England and in India, stating the amount of regular or fixed salary, and of allowances, whether for house-rent or otherwise; also whether a house or quarters are provided for them, for the past year, as far as the same can be made out."

Also, "a return of all sums, exclusive of fixed salaries and allowances, paid to teachers

teachers or professors of Oriental languages, in India and in England, for extraordinary services of any kind connected with the Oriental languages, stating the names of such teachers or professors, the dates on which paid, and the amount of each grant."

SIR JAMES EDWARD COLEBROOKE, BART. The Chairman." I have to acquaint the court, that the Court of Directors, on the 7th instant, came to a resolution, to recommend to the General Court of Proprietors, "That Sir James Edward Colebrooke, Bart., late of the Bengal Civil Establishment, be permitted to return to the service under the provisions of the act of 33d George III. cap. 52, sec. 70, with the rank which he held when he quitted Bengal, agreeably to the act of the 53d George III. cap. 155, sec. 85." That resolution would now be read to the court.

and I therefore propose the 6th of April next, for the decision of the question by that process."

Mr. S. Dixon wished to know, whether the gratuity or allowance connected with the return of an officer to the service commenced on his arrival in India, or at the time when permission was granted to him

to return.

The Deputy Chairman." The allowance commences on his arrival in India,'

Dr. Gilchrist said, he rose, not to offer any opposition to the motion, but merely to ask, whether the case of the hon. bart. was similar to other cases, where applications were made to allow officers to return to India, and were rejected by the Court of Directors.

The Chairman.-"I believe this to be a much stronger case than any of those to which the hon. proprietor has alluded; because the Court of Directors are very much opposed to a departure from the

"At a Court of Directors, held on "Tuesday, the 7th of March, 1826 :"Resolved unanimously, That although "the court are decidedly averse upon "principle from resorting to the mode of "restoration, prescribed by the act of 33d "George III. cap. 52, sec. 70, of civil "servants who have been absent more "than five years from India, except in “ very special cases; they are of opinion, "that the application from Sir James "Edward Colebrooke, Bart, to be re"commended to the General Court of "Proprietors, for permission to return to "his rank in the civil service on the Ben"gal establishment, is justly entitled, from "his high character, and long faithful "and meritorious services, to the most "favourable consideration, and that the "circumstances attending it constitute a "special case.

"That accordingly, whilst the court "lament the necessity which Sir Edward "Colebrooke has stated for his proceeding "again to India, it be recommended to "the General Court of Proprietors, to per"mit him to return to the service, under "the provisions of the act of 33d George "III. cap. 52, sec. 70, with the rank "which he held when he quitted Bengal, "agreeably to the act of 53d George III. 66 cap. 155, sec. 85."

The Chairman then moved, "That the Court of Proprietors agree to the resolu tion of the Court of Directors, for permitting Sir J. E. Colebrooke to return to the service, agreeably to the provision of the 33d and 53d of Geo. III."

The Deputy Chairman seconded the motion.

The Chairman." By the 33d of Geo. III. cap. 52, sec. 70, it is necessary that this motion should be decided by the ballot;

vented from returning to India, after an absence of more than five years, except under very peculiar circumstances: such circumstances do exist in this case. Sir Edward Colebrooke has been employed in the most difficult situations, and has performed his duties with distinguished ability. I believe I may safely say, that no servant of the Company possesses higher merits or greater talents and acquirements than Sir Edward Colebrooke. (Hear!) Besides, he has only exceeded by a very short period the time prescribed by the act of Parliament-so short, indeed, is the period, that the delay appears to have arisen from a mistake on his part, in conceiving that the act applied to five years' residence in England, instead of that period of absence from India."

Dr. Gilchrist." I am satisfied. I have nothing to say against Sir E. Colebrooke; but I wished to see whether this was a measure of common justice or of favour."

Mr. Trant said, this appeared to be a peculiar case, from the statement contained in the record which had just been read. But, as he had served in India, both under and with Sir E. Colebrooke, and as he was particularly acquainted with his merits, he wished to say one or two words on this occasion. (Hear!) It was to him a subject of very great pleasure, (hear!) and he heartily congratulated the court on having restored to active service one of the most useful, intelligent, and excellent men, that had ever been employed by the Company. (Hear!) In ordinary cases, he should doubt whether an individual, who had arrived at the age of Sir Edward Colebrooke, could make any very efficient exertions. After forty years of arduous service, he should doubt whether there was any great deal of service left in him. (A laugh.) But he was sure,

3 Z 2

that

that he (Mr. Trant) had not half the youth of Sir E. Colebrooke; and he believed, that, for a number of years to come, no man could serve the Company more ably or efficiently than Sir E. Colebrooke. (Hear.)

The ballot was then fixed for the 6th of April.

EAST-INDIA WRITERS' BILL.

The Chairman." I have now to acquaint the court, that it is made special, for the purpose of laying before the proprietors a draft of a bill now before Parliament, entitled, A Bll to suspend the provisions of an act of his late Majesty respecting the appointment of writers in the service of the East-India Company, and to authorize the payment of the allowances of the civil and military officers of the said Company dying while absent from India.' The bill shall now be read." The bill was then read by the clerk. After reciting the provision in the 53d of Geo. III, which rendered it imperative on persons proceeding to India as writers to have resided at Haileybury College for four terms; the bill sets forth, that "there is not a sufficient number of persons qualified, according to the said provision, to be appointed writers to fill the vacancies which exist, and which are likely to occur in the civil establishments in India;" and it then proceeds to enact, "That at any time within three years from the passing of this act, it shall be lawful for the Court of Directors to nominate and send to the presidencies of Fort William, Fort Saint George or Bombay, in the capacity of a writer, any person who shall produce such testimonials of his character and conduct, and pass such an examination as, by rules and regulations to be framed and established as hereinafter is mentioned, shall be required ;" and "that the said Court of Directors shall, with all convenient speed, by and with the approbation of the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, frame and establish proper rules and regulations respecting the necessary qualifications of writers; and that it shall be lawful for the said Court of Directors, with the approbation of the said Board of Commissioners, to alter and vary such rules and regulations from time to time as circumstances may appear to require; and that the rules and regulations so altered and varied shall be of the same force and effect as the original rules and regulations." It then recites the clause of the 33d of Geo. III., which provided, "That if any governor-general, or any other officer whatever in the service of the Company, should quit or leave the presidency or settlement to which he should belong, other than in the actual service of the said Company, the salary, &c. appertaining to his office should not be paid

during his absence to any agent or other person for his use; and in the event of his not returning back to his station at such presidency or settlement, or of his coming to Europe, his salary, &c. should be deemed to have ceased from the day of his quitting such presidency or settlement;" and proceeds to declare," that it has happened, that officers, as well civil as military, in the service of the Company, who have quitted the presidencies or settlements to which they respectively belonged, in consequence of ill health, with the intention of returning to their stations at such presidencies or settlements without proceeding to Europe, have died during such temporary absence, within the limits of the said Company's charter, or at the Cape of Good Hope; and that it is just and reasonable that the representatives of such officers should be entitled to the salaries, &c. of such officers from the time of quitting their stations: it therefore enacts, that it shall and may be lawful for the said Company to cause payment to be made to the representatives of officers in their service, civil or military, who, having quitted or left their stations, and not having proceeded, or intended to proceed to Europe, but intending to return to their stations, have died, or may hereafter happen to die, during their temporary absence, within the limits of the Company's charter, or at the Cape of Good Hope, of such salaries, &c., or such portion of salaries, &c., as the officers so dying would have been entitled to if they had returned to their stations. And as certain payments had heretofore been made under such circumstances, it farther enacts, "That all such payments shall be deemed to have been legally made; any thing in the said recited act of Parliament to the contrary notwithstanding; provided that nothing herein contained shall extend to authorize the said Company to make any such payment to the representatives of any such officer who shall have quitted or left his station prior to the 9th day of May 1821."

The Chairman."I have now to move "That this court concur in the provisions of the bill now submitted to the proprie

tors.

Mr. Poynder wished to ask whether this bill, the draft of which had just been read, was introduced in consequence of any previous agitation of this question in-or rather any decision come to by-the Court of Directors. His reason for putting this question he would briefly explain. He was not, at present, going to enter into arguments for or against the measure, or to offer any motion on the subject. All he could know of the matter was, that a majority of 280 (he believed such was the number) of this Court of Proprie tors had decided, that the College, as it now stood, was a proper and beneficial institution,

institution, and that it should be continued; and the next information they received was, that a bill was pending in Parliament, the provisions of which went to upset that vote: whether the vote was a proper one or not, he would not now stop to inquire; (hear!) but the fact was exactly as he had stated it. The Court of Directors followed up this proceeding by calling on the proprietors to agree to this bill; and what appeared to him most extraordinary, without a single reason being assigned in the bill itself for the change that was about to be made. (Hear!) He therefore wished for some explanation.

The Chairman." On the 19th of August last, the Court of Directors found it necessary to state to the President of the India Board, that the College, as at present constituted, did not meet the demand which existed for civil servants, and that therefore, to insure the necessary supply, some alteration was called for. On this ground it was that a letter was written to the President of the Board, explaining the reasons which induced the Court of Directors to wish that some change should be made. That letter contains the only explanation I have to offer, and therefore it had better be read."

The clerk then read the letter.

The Chairman." Such was the communication made to the Board of Control."

Mr. Poynder." I return my thanks to the chair for this explanation; and will not, at the present moment, make any farther observations on the subject."

Mr. Gahagan-In consequence of a few words which had fallen from the hon. proprietor, he requested leave to make one or two remarks. He sincerely hoped that this court would unanimously concur in the present motion: if any reason were wanting to fortify his mind as to the propriety of this measure, that reason was to be found in the letter addressed to the president of the Board of Control; and if any thing, more than another, could convince him that the large majority which had been alluded to had come to an erroneous decision, it was that letter; (hear!) nothing could possibly shew the inefficiency of the institution at Haileybury more plainly. (Hear!) He did not mean to say that the system of education there was bad; but that the casualties of the Company's service called for such supplies as this celebrated and much-boasted institution was not able to furnish; and, consequently, it did not answer the purpose for which it was formed. At length the directors were obliged to say, 66 we must look for education elsewhere, to enable us to have a proper supply of young men on whom we may confer our patronage. Could there

be adduced a more striking proof that an alteration in the system was long since requisite? He hoped the hon. proprietor would go home with a change of opinion; and that, instead of offering any motion on this subject, he would concur in the proposition before the court. This measure would enable the directors to make the best use of their patronage: they might confer it as they pleased; provided that, after due examination, the persons seeking it were found fit to proceed to India. (Hear!) There was one point which he had never heard, so far as his recollection went, adverted to in that court, when this subject was under consideration; namely, that, as the system was at present constituted, much injustice was done to the descendants of some of the ablest individuals that had ever adorned their service. The means of realizing a fortune in India were not now the same as formerly: restrictions had very justly been placed on the cupidity of men, and money was not acquired so rapidly as heretofore. The consequence was, that men who had large families, and who had served the Company faithfully, without having amassed wealth, were not able to send their children to any of the great public seminaries-to Eton or Harrow, or the college at Haileybury, to fit them for the higher employments of life. Now, however, the place of education mattered not; and, if they found individuals who had served them faithfully seeking provision for their children, it must afford those who had the disposal of patronage the most heartfelt satisfaction, to select and send out those children, when they proved themselves worthy of such a provision, by the goodness of their moral character, and the propriety of their education. (Hear!)

Mr. Hume said he was happy, on the present occasion, to concur entirely in the measure now before the court; and he only regretted that years ago, when the attention of the court was directed to this subject for several days, the efforts then made were not successful: he was glad, however, at any time, to take any thing which was conducive to the public service.

motto

was,

His

"better late than never." (Hear!) He hoped, however, that the removal of the existing restriction would not not be confined to so short a period as that which was proposed. As a system of competition was now to be tried, a fair opportunity ought to be allowed for ascertaining the effect produced by the alteration: he therefore submitted that the court should take into its consideration, whether it would not be better to extend the time to four or five, instead of limiting it to three years. He thought it more likely that, at the end of the longer period, the court would be able to come to a more sound conclusion as to the merits of the

two