SCARCITY,

By a letter of July, from Ispahan, it appears that great distress prevailed amongst the inhabitants, from scarcity of provisions. -[Bom. Gaz. Sept. 7.

INTELLIGENCE FROM THE PERSIAN GULF.

The Tigris, swelled by the melting of the snow, has inundated the level country on the left bank of its stream. The Pacha of Bagdad had directed public prayers to be offered up in all the mosques, churches, and synagogues, for the purposes of averting the destruction which was threatened to the city from the inundation. He had even offered expiatory sacrifices, by the slaughter of two buffaloes, which were consigned to the swelling stream.

The French consulate general in the Pachalic of Bagdad had been abolished, and Monseigneur, the Bishop of Babylon, acted as chargé d'affaires.

The public discontent increased daily at Bagdad, and it was supposed, that had it not been for the inundation, a civil war

would have been the consequence. Provisions were very dear, which was attributed to the measures of the Pacha, who has few partizans.

St. Helena.

At a meeting held at this island on 13th October last, an address to the Government was voted, the purport of which was "That the proprietors of slaves on the island were willing to emancipate their slaves, provided an equivalent, to be named by the proprietors themselves, was given by the hon. East India Company."

The Court of Directors have issued instructions to the Government of St. Helena to abolish all port charges at that island, and to limit the demand upon private ships touching there, whether British or foreign, to such sum as may reimburse the expense actually incurred in supplying water, and with the use of boats.

Despatches have been received at Calcutta, from Sir A. Campbell, dated at Prome, 18th August, the substance of which has been published in the Govern ment Gazette, as follows:

It appears that Sir A. Campbell, having obtained accurate information of the enemy's advance, and actual arrival at Meeaday, about forty miles above Prome, Brigadier General Cotton was despatched on the 13th August, in the steam vessel, with fifty men of the royal regiment, as far as that place to reconnoitre. The Brigadier General found the enemy in considerable force, probably about 20,000 men, apparently well armed, and with a large proportion of artillery, busily entrenching his position, already tolerably strong by water. The following is the substance of the report made by that officer ::

The enemy were discovered on the morning of the 15th ultimo, at Mecaday, on the left bank of the river. A large Nulla runs into the Irawaddy, immediately below Meeaday, from the mouth of which the Burman force was ranged to the extent of a mile and a half up the bank of the great river. This bank has several Pagodas upon it, for the most part near

the Nulla, all of which the enemy were stockading and had entrenched; and they had thrown a ditch and breast-work between them and the river, to protect their boats, which were ranged underneath.

During the progress of the reconnoitring party along their line of defence, the Burmese opened a battery of sixteen guns, of different calibre, from four to six pounders, upon the steam vessel, but the width of the river being at least 1500 yards, their shot fell short.

The force displayed by the enemy was estimated, by Brigadier General Cotton, at between 16,000 to 20,000, who appeared to be all armed with muskets, and twenty golden chattas were counted. They had also a small force on the right bank, with Jinjals, opposite to the right of their line, as it faced the river. On the return of the party, the gun boats which the steam vessel had in tow were disengaged to cannonade the enemy's line, and made them develope their whole force, and it was then ascertained that they had an advanced party across the Nulla, already mentioned, thrown on the road leading to Prome, and occupying some pagodas which overlook it, and which they were stockading. This party were working

working also on a breastwork, on the side of the hill, which would also command the road. Three golden chattas were visible with the latter force.

About 400 boats were seen at Meeaday, but only one regular war boat.

The chief command of the force thus collected to oppose the advance of the British troops is said to be vested in a half brother of the king, named Meana Bo. The court of Ava was reported to be making other preparations of considerable magnitude for the approaching campaign.

The Gazette observes: "We have great satisfaction in adding, that the accounts of the situation of Brigadier-General Sir A. · Campbell's force, in regard both to health and supplies, are decidedly favorable. According to to the latest official return, the sick at present in hospital scarcely amounts to one-sixth of the whole army, and the proportion of Europeans sick does not exceed one-eighth of the number present. A large proportion of the cases also were of a mild nature."

More interesting intelligence has been received by the way of Madras. It appears that a negociation has at length been opened, and an armistice has been concluded between the British commander and the chief minister at the court of Ava, which was to continue in force until October 15, to give time for the completion of the negociation. At an interview between the minister and Col. Tidy (which took place on the 2d, at a village twenty-five miles above Prome), the former used much conciliatory language, and observed that "the English had run away with the hearts of the inhabitants, and that none would oppose them." A conference was arranged between Sir A. Campbell and the minis

ter; each party was to bring 1000 men, and to encamp within 1000 yards of each other: the conference to be held in the intervening space. The next arrivals from India will be important.

The sickness in Arracan does not appear to abate. The mortality is heavy; but the sepoys do their duty cheerfully, and without a murmur.

Extract of a Letter from Arracan, dated 26th August, 1825 :-" Sickness still continues, but not to such an extent as formerly. The mortality daily is very heavy, yet not a murmur is heard; the men do their duty cheerfully, and the general routine of business is conducted with the greatest regularity. The Chittagong and Ramoo Mugs do not escape the general malady. It appears that every body requires a seasoning before the climate agrees with the constitution. Notwithstanding all the sickness and complaints against the place, I am convinced that, should it remain in our possession, by clearing the little hills round the town, and the fortified heights from jungle, draining the streets properly, and dressing the banks of the nullah, Arracan might be made certainly one of the most beautiful, and I have no doubt, as healthy a station, as any of Bengal. You will be astonished when I tell you, that within the fortifications of this city we have a concatenation of low hills, covered with thick jungle and abounding with leopards, the prints of whose feet are often seen close to our houses. They keep quiet all day, but prowl during the night in search of prey."

In Assam and Cachar the troops have been generally healthy during the whole rainy season.

East-India House, Feb. 8.

A General Court of Proprietors of East-India Stock was this day held at the Company's house in Leadenhall Street, for the special purpose of taking into con. sideration the "Oude Papers,' " which had been lately laid before the court, in consequence of the vote of a former

court.

COMPANY'S SHIPPING.

The minutes of the last having been gone through, the Chairman, (C. Marjoribanks, Esq.) acquainted the court, that there has been laid before it an account of the Company's Shipping, up to the 21st of December last. This account included the number of ships in the Company's service of every description, the tonnage of each, the rate of tonnage, and the number of voyages for which they were engaged, the names of the owners, and the period for which they had been engaged, also a list of the Company's ships, purchased for India and China, since 1813, the number of voyages they had made and the expense of each voyage, the gross sum paid for them, and the amount of the expenses incurred for repairs.

Capt. Maxfield wished to know whether he could have access to those papers, and whether they were to be had in the Proprietors' room?

General Thornton suggested that the papers should be printed for the use of the proprietors.

Capt. Maxfield submitted a motion to that effect.

Dr. Gilchrist seconded this motion.

The Chairman begged to call to the recollection of the hon. proprietors, that this was a Special Court, and that a motion could not now be made, unless special notice of it had been given in the usual way.

Capt. Maxfield said he made the motion in order to save time, and that was the only reason why he pressed it. If it were not made now, it could not be till the next quarterly court, and this would be losing too much time.

The Chairman said all that might be as the hon. proprietor had stated it, but regularity in the forms of their proceedings was necessary to the despatch of business, and the course the hon. proprietor was now pursuing was quite irregular. If this subject had been properly noticed in the last court, it could now be moved.

General Thornton said it was the common practice of the House of Commons, that motions for printing documents were made at the time when those documents were presented.

Asiatic Journ. VOL. XXI. No. 123.

The Chairman said that might be the practice of the House of Commons, but the practice was different in this court.

Dr. Gilchrist could not see why the motion should be objected to. It was made with the view to save future trouble. There was no doubt that a special court could be called within a short time for the purpose of making this motion, but that trouble might be spared if the motion were now put.

The Chairman said he had no doubt whatever of the spirit in which the motion was made, but the course proposed would be irregular, and he could not sanction it.

Here the matter dropped.

OUDE PAPERS.

The Chairman said, "I have to acquaint the proprietors that this court is made special for the purpose of taking into consideration a proposition signed by nine proprietors duly qualified, which would be read."

The clerk then read the following requisition:

"To the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Honourable Court of Directors.

"We the undersigned Proprietors of East-India Stock, duly qualified, request that you will be pleased to call a General Court upon an early convenient day, for the purpose of taking into consideration the Oude Papers, published by the vote of the General Court of Proprietors. "DOUGLAS Kinnaird, "C. J. DOYLE,

"W. MAXFIEld,

"JOHN BORTHWICK GILCHRIST, "JOSEPH HUME,

"WILLIAM THORNTON,

"JAMES PATERson,

"J. DOYLE,

"J. ADDINELL."

Sir John Doyle then rose and said that, before he proceeded to the business of the day, he wished to relieve the minds of gentlemen from those apprehensions which might naturally arise from the feeling, that such an immense volume of papers being made the subject of a motion would of course tend to a very protracted debate. Seeing such a mass of papers before them, gentlemen would by a very natural association call to mind the voluminous collection of Hyderabad papers which had occupied the court so long in the last year, because they resembled the present collection in number and size. There was however this distinction between them: that, on the former occasion, there was a great difference of opinion 3 F

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in the court; whereas on the present, there could he believed be but one sentiment among the proprietors, and for that reason he would trespass on the attention of the court as shortly as possible.

On a former day, he hinted at the circumstances under which the present huge collection had made its appearance before the proprietors; but in order to the more full understanding of his motion, it would be necessary for him to recall those circumstances to their recollection.-When the Marquess of Hastings was on his return to England, after having resigned his high office in India, he thought the leisure time which the voyage placed at his disposal a good opportunity for throwing together the leading features of his administration, in order to render to his honourable employers an account of the manner in which he had discharged the important trust reposed in him. This he did while most of the circumstances were fresh in his recollection, but without having access to the original documents. This "Summary" was sent to the Court of Directors, but they (and he did not now intend to impute any blame to them on that account) not thinking it an official document, as the noble lord had ceased to be in the Company's employment, did not attach any official importance to it, or at all receive it as an official document. The noble marquis afterwards shewed it to some friends of his, who requested that he would allow it to be published: this the noble lord declined to do, but as he was then about to depart for a distant state, he gave it to those friends, leaving it to their discretion to publish it or not as they should see occasion. The individuals to whose care it was left were afterwards induced to publish it, by circumstances to which it was not necessary for him to allude. It happened after this that the hon. director (Col. Baillie) made a statement in giving his evidence before a committee of the House of Commons, on the subject of the Oude Loan, which was found to be so much at variance with part of that of the noble lord, that an hon. bart. over the way (Sir G. A. Robinson), who was a member of that committee, was induced to call for explanation, and afterwards moved for the production of some papers, with the kind view as it appeared to him of enabling the gallant colonel (Baillie) to establish a case in support of his statement: other hon. members had also called for the production of documents, and the result was, the immense mass of documents contained in the volume now before them. The question now is "whose book is this?" The hon. director (Col. Baillie) rejected it-in the last, or the preceding court, he disavowed the production. The Court of Directors as a body would not acknow

ledge it as theirs. It could not be said to belong to the Marquess of Hastings, as he was out of the country when it was called for and published. In fact he found no one willing to acknowledge it. The hon. bart. (Sir G. A. Robinson) had some share at least in its production; he would therefore now beg to ask him if it were his ?

Sir G. A. Robinson. "If the question of the hon. and gallant officer means to include the whole of the book, I answer -no: but I will admit that it was on my motion that a part of the documents were produced. My only object in moving for them was, to get an explanation of the statements made respecting the loans by the Nawaub Vizier. In the Summary of the noble lord (Hastings), I found it stated, that the first loan was a voluntary mark of the Nawaub's gratitude to the Governor-General, for having rescued him from the thraldom in which he had been kept. There was a statement from another quarter contradictory of this, and I wished for certain papers in order to have the matter cleared up; to those papers only did my motion refer: as to the other parts of the volume, they are not of my asking, nor would I have put the Company to the expense of printing them. have now answered the gallant officer's question, and do not think it necessary to say more at present, but I shall be ready in the course of this discussion, should occasion require, to state more fully the grounds on which I felt myself justified in calling for some of these papers.

I.

Sir John Doyle begged to assure the hon. deputy chairman (Sir G. A. Robinson) that he had already acquitted him in his own mind of having given his sanction to the printing of the whole of those papers. At the same time he must say, he was not sorry that they had been printed. The publication would have the effect of shewing in a more clear light the excellent system of government adopted by his noble friend the Marquess of Hastings. He would now come to the papers, and state to the court that, in order not to mix up matters not necessarily connected, he would divide the subject into two parts. The first would embrace the circumstances connected with the loans from the Nawaub of Oude, and the second would apply to the removal of Col. Baillie from his situation as resident at Luck

exposing to public view of certain documents given to him, not in his character of a private individual, but in his official capacity; such conduct was, to say the least of it, unusual in public men. The publication of some of these official documents by the gallant col., which in his opinion were calculated to excite unpleasant feelings in the minds of all who saw them, was he was sorry to find approved by one gentleman, and he the private friend and confidential secretary of the noble lord to whom they had reference. He (Sir J. Doyle) did not wish to say any thing against the gentleman to whom he alluded (the late Mr. J. Adam): he did not approve of his politics connected with Indian affairs, but in private life he had ever held his character in estimation, and he deeply regretted that he had to speak of him in the past tense; but however much he respected that gentleman, he must say that the letter to which he alluded, if written by him, was a drawback on his high character, nor was it much less so, if the letter had only been seen and approved by him. He must express his regret, that as the gallant col. (Baillie) had thought it necessary to publish certain papers, he had not published certain other documents equally in his power, by which some parts of the former might be explained. As to the whole book, he must repeat that, though he disapproved of its size and of the time of its publication when Mr. Ricketts and Capt. M'Leod had left the country, yet on the whole he was glad it had appeared, because he felt convinced, that the more the acts of the Marquess of Hastings' administration were made public and examined, the more satisfied would all parties become, that whether viewed as a statesman, a financier, or a soldier, no governor-general of India had ever stood so deservedly high as that noble

man.

However, he did not pretend to enter upon the consideration of those papers with any intention of defending the noble lord's system of government, or his character as a governor. That character needed no defence, but if it had, the defence was placed in much abler hands in those of the directors, who were his natural protectors. It was not, he repeated, on behalf or in support of the noble Marquess that he now stood forward; he came forward on behalf of the proprietors of whom he was one, and to uphold the decisions to which the Court of Directors had already come on the subject to which his motion would parti'cularly refer,-namely the loans from the Nawaub: to these he would now come. It was well known that when the Marquess of Hastings left the seat of government to prosecute the Nepaul war, he found the Company's finances in a most

J. Doyle) would appeal to many gentlemen then in his hearing, who were well acquainted with the Company's finances, and ask whether serious fears were not at that time entertained, that the drafts of the Company could not be satisfactorily met? Under this state of embarrassment a suggestion was made, that some assistance might be derived from the new Nawaub of Oude. The Marquess of Hastings approved of this suggestion, but thought the subject was one of considerable delicacy, as the Nawaub had but recently succeeded to the Musnud; however, he would be determined on the matter by what he should see on his arrival at Cawnpore. He did arrive at Cawnpore on the 8th of September (we think). On that and the next day visits of ceremony were exchanged between the Nawaub and the noble marquess, and of course no business was then introduced; but on the third day, the Nawaub in the presence of Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Swinton, and Mr. Adam, but not of Col. Baillie, made an offer to the Governor-General, for the use of the Company, of a crore of rupees. He added that he would most willingly give the money, and he hoped the Company would accept it as a free gift. He (Sir. J. Doyle) did not state this on the authority of either of the gentleman whose names he had mentioned, as having been present at the time the offer was made: he would rather give it on the authority of the hon. col. (Baillie) himself; and for this purpose he would beg to read as part of his speech, an extract from a letter addressed by col. Baillie to Mr. Ricketts, and dated at Lucknow the 10th of Jan. 1815.-By the way, before he read this letter, he must state, that the point at issue between the account of the noble marquess and the statement of the gallant col., on the subject of the first loan, was this: the noble marquess described it as a voluntary offering made to the Company by the Nawaub Vizier, while the gallant col. (Baillie) mentioned it as obtained with great difficulty, and that in fact it came from him like drops of blood. the one side it was described as the voluntary act of the Vizier; on the other it was set forth as exactly the reverse. He would now read the extract:-" I have had the pleasure of receiving your communication dated the 2d inst. and I shall take the first favourable opportunity of having it suggested to his excellency the Vizier, that another crore of rupees as a loan to the hon. Company would be an acceptable offering to Lord Moira, whose pleasure and convenience I am persuaded that his excellency is disposed to consult to the utmost extent of his power.

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