from our publick intereft and our national reputation. Our attempts to banish this importunate duty, will only make it return upon us again and again, and every time in a fhape more unpleasant than the former. A government has been fabricated for that great province; the right honourable gentleman fays, that therefore you ought not to examine into its conduct. Heavens! what an argument is this! We are not to examine into the conduct of the direction, because it is an old government: we are not to examine into this board of control, because it is a new one. Then we are only to examine into the conduct of those who have no conduct to account for. Unfortunately the basis of this new government has been laid on old condemned delinquents, and its fuperftructure is raised out of profecutors turned into protectors. The event has been fuch as might be expected. But if it had been otherwife conftituted; had it been conftituted even as I wifhed, and as the mover of this question had planned, the better part of the propofed establishment was in the publicity of its proceedings; in its perpetual refponfibility to parliament. Without this check, what is our government at home, even awed, as every European go. vernment is, by an audience formed of the other ftates of Europe, by the applause or condemnation of the difcerning and critical company before which it acts? But if the scene on the other fide of VOL. IV.

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the globe, which tempts, invites, almoft compels to tyranny and rapine, be not infpected with the eye of a fevere and unremitting vigilance, fhame and deftruction must ensue. For one, the worst event of this day, though it may deject, shall not break or fubdue me. The call upon us is authoritative. Let who will fhrink back, I fhall be found at my poft. Baffled, difcountenanced, fubdued, difcredited, as the cause of justice and humanity is, it will be only the dearer to me. Whoever there

fore shall at any time bring before you any thing towards the relief of our diftreffed fellow-citizens in India, and towards a fubverfion of the present most corrupt and oppreffive fyftem for its government, in me fhall find, a weak, I am afraid, but a fteady, earnest, and faithful affiftant.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

No. I.

CLAUSES OF MR. PITT'S BILL.

Referred to from p. 202.

Appointing Commiffioners to inquire into the fees, gratuities, perquifites, emoluments, which are, or have been lately, received in the several publick offices therein mentioned; to examine into any abuses which may exist in the fame, &c.

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ND be it further enacted, that it shall and

may be lawful to and for the faid commiffioners, or any two of them, and they are hereby impowered, authorized, and required, to examine upon oath (which oath they, or any two of them, are hereby authorized to adminifter) the feveral perfons, of all descriptions, belonging to any of the offices or departments before mentioned, and all other perfons whom the faid commiffioners, or any two of them, fhall think fit to examine, touching the bufinefs of each office or department,

and the fees, gratuities, perquifites, and emoluments taken therein, and touching all other matters and things neceffary for the execution of the powers vefted in the faid commiffioners by this act; all which perfons are hereby required and directed punctually to attend the faid commiffioners, at fuch time and place as they, or any two of them, shall appoint, and also to obferve and execute fuch orders and directions as the faid commiffioners, or any two of them, shall make or give for the purposes before mentioned.

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And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, that the faid commiffioners, or any two of them, shall be, and are hereby impowered to examine into any corrupt and fraudulent practices, or other mifconduct, committed by any perfon or perfons concerned in the management of any of the offices or departments hereinbefore mentioned: and, for the better execution of this present act, the faid commiffioners, or any two of them, are hereby authorized to meet and fit, from time to time, in Such place or places as they shall find most convenient, with or without adjournment, and to fend their precept or precepts, under their hands and feals, for any perfon or perfons whatsoever, and for fuch books, papers, writings, or records, as they fhall judge necessary for their information, relating to any of the offices or departments hereinbefore mentioned; and all bailiffs, conftable, fheriffs, and other his majesty's officers, are

bereby

hereby required to obey and execute fuch orders and precepts aforesaid, as shall be sent to them or any of them by the faid commiffioners, or any two of them, touching the premises.

MR. GEORGE SMITH being asked, Whether the debts of the nabob of Arcot have increased fince he knew Madras? he faid, Yes, they have. He diftinguishes his debts into two forts; those contracted before the year 1766, and those contracted from that year to the year in which he left Madras.-Being asked, What he thinks is the original amount of the old debts? he faid, Between twenty-three and twenty-four lacks of pagodas, as well as he can recollect.-Being asked, What was the amount of that debt when he left Madras? he faid, Between four and five lacks of pagodas, as he understood.Being asked, What was the amount of the new debt when he left Madras? he said, In November, 1777, that debt amounted, according to the nabob's own account, and published

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