command of Colonel Wellesley have endured this feries of fatiguing fervice, the fpirit of zeal which has diftinguished the operations of the army, and, above all, the matchlefs bravery and difcipline with which the detachment of cavalry attacked, defeated, and destroyed the collected force of the enemy on the 10th of September. 5. The Right Hon. the Governor in Council, therefore, directs the officer commanding in the army in chief, to convey to Colonel Welkelley, and to the officers and troops under his command, the public thanks of the Governor in Council, for the important fervices which they have rendered to the British empire in India. "In compliance with the above, it is requested that the British inhabitants of Calcutta do meet at the theatre on Wednesday next, the 8th inftant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose abovementioned. (Signed) J. BRICE, Sheriff. "Fort William, 3d O&t. 1800." In purfuance of the above notifi cation, a numerous and refpectable By order of the Right Hon, the meeting of the British inhabitants Governor in Council. of Calcutta was held at the theatre. on Wednesday the 8th of October J. WEBB, Sec. to Gov, CALCUTTA, ADDRESS TO HIS MAJESTY. "To J. Brice, Efq. Sheriff of Calcutta. "SIR, "We requeft you will be pleafed to convene a meeting of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, for the parpofe of confidering the propriety of expreffing, by an humble addrefs to his Majefty, the congratulations of his faithful fubjects in this fettlement, on his providential efcape from the late atrocious and treafonable attempt on his Majefty's facred perfon. "We have the honour to be, Sir, "Your most obedient T. Pattle, 1800, The Sheriff, on taking the chaff, opened the fubject to the meeting, in a fhort and fuitable addrefs; and after expreffing his gratification that the affembly had proved fo full and refpectable, and his perfect confidence that their fentiments would be unanimous on the occafion, requefted that a chairman might be appointed to prefide at the meeting. Several gentlemen expreffed their defire that the Sheriff, fhould fill continue in the chair; and this ap pearing to be the general with of the meeting, the Sheriff, though but recently recovered from a fevere indifpofition, obligingly complied. Mr. GRAHAM then rofe and addreffed the meeting to the following effect: "I am fatisfied I fhould do in. juftice to the feelings of every perfon prefent at this very refpectable meeting, could I for a moment harbour the most diftant idea of its being at all neceffary to urge the propriety of expreffing, in a humble + K4 and and dutiful addrefs to our beloved Sovereign, the horror and indignation with which we were impreffed, on recently being apprized of the atrocious and treasonable attempt made against his invaluable life, in the month of May last; and our heartfelt congratulations at his hav. ing, by the interpofition of Divine Providence, efcaped without injury. "The British inhabitants of this fettlement have, at all times, been zealous in manifefting their attachment to his Majefty and our excellent conftitution; and I have no doubt they will cheerfully and with one mind embrace the prefent occafion, for renewing their affurances of loyalty to a moft gracious Sovereign, under whofe juft and mild government they, in common with the reft of his people, have derived the most important benefits; and that they will cordially unite in making it their prayer to Almighty God, that he may long continue to watch over and preferve a life fo juftly dear to every British fubject. In the fulleft conviction that all prefent are impreffed with fimilar fentiments, I fhall not further intrude on the time of the meeting, but proceed to move the following refolutions : 1. "Refolved, that a moft humble and dutiful addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, to affure his Majefty of the horror and indignation which we felt on recently hearing of the atrocious and treasonable attempt made againft his facred perfon; and alfo to exprefs our fincere and heartfelt gratitude, for the gracious interpofition of Divine Providence, which, by preferving his Majefty to his grateful and affectionate people, on that moft alarm. ing occafion, fecured to them a continuance of thofe bleffings which have fo eminently distinguished his Majefty's reign, and are fo amply diffufed through all claffes of his Majefty's fubjects, in every part of the British dominions. 2d. "Refolved, that a Committee be now appointed for the purpofe of preparing a draft of an addrefs ta our moft gracious Sovereign, in canformity to the foregoing refolution; and alfo for the purpose of preparing a draft of an addrefs, to be prefented to the most noble the Marquis Wellefley, the Governor General, requesting that his Lordfhip will be pleafed to receive and forward to Great Britain, in fuch a manner as to his Lordship thall appear moft proper, the addrefs to the King voted at this meeting, to be prefented to his Majefty." After thefe refolutions had been read from the chair, Mr. C.F. MARTIN faid, "When the Calcutta Gazette announced to the public, that a treasonable attempt had been made on the life of the King, but which had providen tially failed of effect, and that dutiful and loyal addreffes had been prefented on that occafion to his Majefty from all parts of the British empire in Europe; I formed, Sir, the wellgrounded hope that the British empire in India, (at leaft from what I knew of the loyalty of the inhabitants of this place in particular,) would with equal promptitude and alacrity come forward, and exprefs their genuine fentiments of affection, attachment, and veneration for the beft of Sovereigns, "It gratifies me to fee this meeting fo numerously and refpectably attended. The bufinefs which has called us together is one that touches us all moft fenfibly. It comes home to the bofom of every man who hears me. It is impoffible to read of the affecting fcene that took place at the theatre without being agitated at the relation; and when we have have to addrefs a public audience it is very dificult indeed to exprefs ourfelves without fome emotion. "Were I gifted with the powers of fpeech, this would be the caufe, this the occafion, wherein I fhould be proud to exert them, The fignal deliverance which the King has met with, has rendered him very dear unto all his faithful fubjects. His Majefty has long reigned in the hearts of a generous, enlightened, and free people. He is at once an example of public fpirit and domef tic virtue. Nothing has been a more powerful barrier against the level. ing principles which have made fuch gigantic ftrides in thefe times, than the worth of our Monarch, and the love which his fubjects have borne unto it. As Englishmen, we have ever been jealous of the honour due to his political office and to his per. fonal goodness; and we cannot but be affected and highly incenfed at every attempt that is made to deprive us of a Sovereign whom we all revere, and the uniform tenor of whofe conduct has fhewn that he has never had any intereft but that of his people, no views but for their happiness, no object but for their general fafety. that I am here treading upon tender ground, and therefore it is my wifh to be mot clearly and unequivocally understood. From my foul, I do believe, that the fond hopes which the nation entertains will be realized, and that we shall not fee "vernal promifes ending in autum. nal difappointments." It is however a matter of the highest concern to us all, during the prefent awful conjuncture of affairs, that a demife of the crown fhould not take place; no matter whether that demife be brought about by the course of nature, or is occafioned by an acciden tal circumftance. In Europe the tempeft ftill rages, and though the wings of defolation have been in part clipped, yet fhe is ready to expand them for another flight. How has it happened that England, that little fea-girt ifle, the common centre of all our affections, the land of manly and rational freedom, the country which combines the feattered excellencies of every other, the polar ftar that, notwithstanding the distance at which we are here removed from it, we never lofe fight of, and even the very thought of which cheers and animates us in our different walks of life-how happens it that that ifle has not only withstood the rude fhocks that have convulfed other kingdoms, has not only been able to preferve her own internal tranquillity, but has extended her powerful aid abroad in fupport of fuffering humanity; and, in defpite of every difficulty and danger, ftands, at this day, a proud monument of British grandeur and prosperity? "It is difficult to divine the motive that could have lifted the hand to perpetrate that atrocious act. He must have been a fiend, that could deliberately plot the deftruction of a King, who, in the language of our great Dramatic Bard, "Had borne his faculties fo meekly, had been "So clear in his great office, that his virtues “Would plead, like Angels trumpet tongu'd, "Against the deep damnation of his tak ing off." Had his Majefty been deprived of his life, who can pretend to calculate what might have been the confequences? It may be conceived A mind accustomed to ponder thefe events, cannot reflect upon the ineftimable bleffings we enjoy, without attributing them to the fpecial favour and protection of that Being who giveth and taketh away; before whom the nations of the earth earth tremble, and in whofe hand is the difpofal of empires. Next to this primary caufe, I attribute our fuccefs and profperity to the wifdom and magnanimity of the Sovereign who governs us, whofe anxious folicitude it hath been to keep things in their antient courfe, and to hold the balance with an even hand. 1 attribute our profperity to the fober virtue of the bulk of the people, who, whatever may be faid to the contrary, have more fterling good fenfe than the commonality of any other part of the world, and who have never yet been found wanting to themselves and to their country. I attribute our profperity to the difciplined valour of our fleets and armies, whofe exertions and enthufiafin in the general caufe have rifen fuperior to all the difficulties they have had to encounter; and laftly, I attribute our tranquillity, our happinefs, and fecurity, to the firm. nefs, the intripidity, and perfever. ance of that great State Pilot, to whom the King has entrusted the direction of the public meafures; who, during an eighteen years ad. miniftration, has fully justified the choice of his Sovereign, and whofe conduct throughout his arduous con. reft has entitled him to the confi. dence and to the grateful applaufe of a large majority of the nation. "Thefe reflections make me un willing to give up prefent good for fpeculative benefit. Bleffings are apt to brighten as they take their flight, We had nearly futained a great lofs, and this ought to teach us how to appreciate our prefent advantages, This idea has been expreffed in fuch a neat and happy impromptu from the pen of the firk critic and genius of the age, that I cannot make a better conclufion. I cannot fing, or you all would join your voices in chorus with me; but I am per 1 fuaded our hearts will beat with "O'er him thine arm extend, dreffed the meeting in a very eloMr. E. STRETTELL then ad quent and impreffive fpeech, which was received with great applaufe. having been unanimouily agreed to, The two foregoing refolutions Mr. GRAHAM moved, that, for the purpofes mentioned in the fecond refolution, a Committee be appointed, confifting of the following gentlemen: General Popham, Col. Cameron, G. Udny, J. Palmer, Col. Cliffe, W. Fairlie, C. F. Martyn, W. A. Brooke, J Buller, S. Davis, J. H. Harrington, J. Fleming, Mr. PATTLE moved, that Mr. Graham be alfo one of the Committee; and the meeting having unanimoufly agreed that the Committee do confift of Mr. Graham and the gentlemen whom he had propofed, the Committee, after retiring for fonte time, returned with the following addreffes, which, havbeen read and propofed to the meeting by Mr. Burroughs, were unani. mously adopted: TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, "The bumble and dutiful Address of the British Inhabitants of Calcutta, voted unanimony at a Public Meeting convened by + the Sheriff, on the 8th day of Oc7. 1800. "Moft gracious Sovereign, "We your Majefty's dutiful and loyal fubjects, the British inha bitants bitants of Calcutta, humbly offer to your Majefty the unfeigned expreffion of the unanimous fentiments excited in our hearts, by the atrocious and treafonable attempt made against your Majefty's facred perfon, and by the providential prefer. vation of a life fo justly dear and valuable to all your fubjects. "We affure your Majefty, that the diftance of our fituation from our native country, has in no degree impaired our veneration for its laws and government, nor abated the zeal of our loyal and affectionate attachment to thofe royal virtues, which have preferved, against every affault, the bleflings of our happy conftitution, and have diffufed its mild and benignant fpirit over every region of the globe, which has fubmitted to the wisdom of your Majefty's councils, and to the glorious fuccefs of your triumphant arms. "Animated by thefe fentiments, the defperate att, which endangered the public welfare, has not raifed in our breasts emotions of abhorrence and deteftation more powerful, than the lively fenfe of joy, admiration, and devout gratitude, with which we contemplate, from this distance, the fortitude and magnanimity of your Majesty's princely fpirit, in the hour of imminent danger, and of general confternation; the loyalty of an united people, rifing with the peril of their beloved Sovereign; and the manifeft interpofition of Divine Providence, protecting your Majefty's facred perfon from injury, and fecuring to your faithful fubjects the continuance of your Majey's paternal care, and the ineftimable benefits of your illustrious example. "That the guardian hand of Almighty God may continually extend over your Majefty's fafety the fame merciful protection and provident defence, is our fervent and unceasing prayer; and must be the "To the Moft Noble RICHARD MARQUIS "We his Majesty's dutiful and loyal fubjects the British inhabi tants of Calcutta, beg leave to communicate to your Lordship a moft humble addrefs to his Majefty, which we unanimously agreed to at a public meeting convened by the Sheriff; and which we humbly hope your Lordfhip will receive with approbation, and forward to Great Britain in fuch manner as to your Lordship may appear moft proper." The meeting then refolved, that General Popham, as chairman of the committee, be requested to caufe the addrefs of his Majefty to be engroffed in duplicate on parchment ; and that both parts, when fo engroffed, be left for fome days at the theatre, for the purpofe of receiving the fignatures of the British inhabi tants of the fettlement. The meeting alfo refolved, that the Sheriff and the Gentlemen of the Committee do fubfcribe their names, on behalf of themfelves and of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, to the addrefs voted at this meeting, to be prefented to the Moft Noble the Governor General; and that the Gentlemen of the Committee, and fach other Gentlemen present at the meeting as may be defirous of attending them, do prefent the addreffes to the Governor General, at fueh time as his Lordship may be pleased to appoint for the purpose of receiv ing them. Mr. |