and justice. "I have contended against it by every means in my power, but without effect,"* alluding to the removal of his own agent, and the substitution of Mr. Bristow under the views of the Court and the majority of the Council. * Letter, December 1783. 1783. BENGAL. CHAPTER XII. 1783. Proceedings in Mr. Fox's India WHILE the Company were contending with Parliament and such fearful adversaries abroad, they were doomed to experience the assaults of still more powerful enemies at home, whose formidable attack, had it succeeded, would have effected their annihilation. The rapid succession of changes that had taken place in the Ministry, precluded any permanent agreement with the Company. Lord North retired from his Majesty's Councils in March 1782, being succeeded by the Marquis of Rockingham, as premier, whose lamented death, occasioned by influenza, the then prevailing disease, occurred in the following July. Earl Shelburne, contrary to the expectation of Mr. Fox, became prime minister, and Mr. Pitt chancellor of the exchequer. Mr. Fox entered the lists of decided opposition, until another ministry was formed in the spring of 1783, by his coalition with Lord North, on which occasion Mr. Burke resumed the office of paymaster of the forces, which he had filled under Lord Rockingham's administration. All 1783. Parliament. All parties were agreed that some change was called for. Mr. Dundas, whose laborious Proceedings in researches connected with the enquiry into the causes of the war in the Carnatic had enabled him to acquire such extensive information on subjects relating to India, and who had prepared the reports which exhibited so much talent, obtained leave to bring in a bill for the better government of that country. It was submitted to the House in April, 1783. It proposed to give a controlling power to the Governor-general over the other presidencies, with authority to act in opposition to his council, upon his sole responsibility. The rights of the zemindars and ryots were to be enquired into, it being strongly suspected that those of the latter had been greatly infringed. The debts of the Rajah of Tanjore and of the Nabob of the Carnatic were to be investigated. Mr. Hastings was to be recalled, and Earl Cornwallis, upon whose character and qualifications Mr. Dundas passed a high and deserved eulogium, was proposed as Governorgeneral. The bill was rejected, as it was thought proper so important a measure should emanate from the Minister, with whom the responsibility of the plan would then necessarily rest. The King's speech from the throne at the opening of Parliament contained the following passage: The situation of the East-India Company will require the Parliament. 1783. the utmost exertions of your wisdom, to maintain and Proceedings in improve the valuable advantages derived from our Indian possessions, and to promote and secure the happiness of the native inhabitants of those provinces. The pressure of business did not admit of the Minister taking the question up until the termination of the session. The recess was, however, occupied in concocting the celebrated India Bill. It appears to have been the joint production of Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke; the latter being the only member of the government, who knew much of the matter, before it came publicly forward: it was submitted to his revision, but the great and leading principles were considered, beyond all doubt, to have been those of Mr. Fox, who, it is represented, was so much taken up with its preparation, that he could attend to nothing else. The bill is alleged to have been the real secret of the unpopularity of the Coalition Ministry. On the 18th of November Mr. Fox submitted his bill. He readily admitted the interest which the Company had in the decision, in a financial point of view; but he contended the country had a much larger interest. The dividends on the capital stock were £250,000 a year; but the duties derivable to the state, from its connexion with India, amounted to £1,300,000 per annum, and the interests of Great Britain would be involved in the administration of the Government abroad; abroad; mismanagement would be to the last degree dangerous to Great Britain. He ascribed all the difficulty and distress that had occurred in India to disobedience of the orders of the Court of Directors. He referred to the vote for the recall of Mr. Hastings, as confirming the necessity of some alteration in the constitution of the Company. The whole continent of India was acquainted with that resolution, whilst the resolution of the Proprietors which secured him in the Government was kept back, so that he was in a place of eminence without authority, and of power without energy. Thus the Governor-general, although deriving his appointment under an Act of Parliament, could dispute the power of the Courts of Directors and Proprietors, of Parliament, and of the King. The bills which he proposed had no retrospect; but he frankly declared, that it depended upon the readiness of the House to receive them, whether they should be retrospective or not: an intimation somewhat arbitrary, and inconsistent with an avowed desire to maintain the full liberty of the subject, yet coercing or tying up tying up the mouths of their representatives.* At present, he observed, there was no connexion between the bills and Mr. Hastings. If influence should manifest itself on this occasion, the consequences might be alarming; no future governor would ever go to India without Parliamentary Debates, 1783. 1783. Proceedings in Parliament. |