no difficult matter to prove that they were egregiously duped, and misled in their opinions and conclusions. If the House would consent to enter into an inquiry, he would pledge himself to prove, that no comfort or convenience could be procured without a bribe to the gaoler; that even the infirmary was shut to the sick who had not money to purchase their admittance into it. To the eternal disgrace of the justice of this country, this man, Aris, after all these acts of criminality, continued in the exercise of his office.-The learned gentleman had said, that the prisoners might apply to the King's-bench. How was it possible, even had they the means of such an application, that prisoners could convey their complaints against a man who was their head gaoler, and who had three of his sons for his turnkeys? The very attempt might draw upon them worse treatment than they had experienced before. Mr. Sheridan next adverted to the case of Cheneau, and read a letter from James Williams, describing the melancholy case of that unfortunate man, as well as the severe treatment to which he himself was exposed. Would not the House interfere in a case of this black nature, or if they refused, must they not seem not only to neglect their duty, but to make a common cause with Aris? If these things were so, it was the duty of the House to interfere. Ministers must have the feelings of other men; they must be shocked; and though the House were to do nothing, he did not doubt that some good would result from this discussion. But no remedy could be effectual without repealing the law which gave such power of inflicting misery, and without making new regulations as to solitary confinement. Mr. W. Dundas, as chairman of the committee of the House of Commons who made a visitation to the prison in Cold-bath fields, recapitulated the proceedings of that committee, and argued, that from every appearance in the prison at that time, it seemed a place well conducted, and in every respect healthy and convenient. It might be true, that very improper treatment had taken place in the case of Mary Rich; and the report of the committee of magistrates respecting that case could not be too severely reprobated. But admitting those two propositions, it did not follow that they were such as to render a parliamentary inquiry necessary in the first instance. As to the complaints now brought forward, they were of a nature which certainly required that some effectual steps should be taken to prevent their recurrence. Mr. Martin said, that the person who devised these solitary cells, the late Mr. Howard, was certainly one of the worthiest men that had ever existed; but if he had been one of the worst, he could not have suggested a punishment of a more cruel and mischievous description. He would not pretend to judge what was the stateof other men's nerves; but with respect to himself, he was convinced that solitary confinement in such a cell for one month only, would reduce him to a state in which he would be fit for no other place than a cell during the remainder of his life. This kind of punishment was inconsistent with the constitution of the country, and he hoped to live to see it completely abolished. There was reason to conclude, from the impression which the facts now before the House seemed to make on the gentlemen over the way, that some modification would take place which would alleviate the horrors of such a situation. Mr. Tierney said, that all that appeared of the proceedings of parliament upon this subject was the report of the committee; but after the facts which had come out, with respect to the conduct of the magistrates, the House could not wish that report to remain without some contradiction. Gentlemen seemed disposed to resist the proposed inquiry, on account of the lateness of the session; he would therefore propose, as a medium, that the present motion should be withdrawn, and an humble address voted to his majesty, praying that he would be pleased to order an inquiry into the state of the prison in Cold-bath fields. Mr. Pitt was ready to admit that ground had been laid to justify such an address. He would therefore concur in a motion for an address, if the hon. baronet would withdraw his motion. With the leave of the House, sir Francis Burdett withdrew his motion, and substituted in the room of it, "That an humble Address be presented to his majesty, praying that his majesty would be pleased to give directions to cause an inquiry to be made into the state and management of the prison in Cold-bath fields." The motion was put and carried. Debate in the Commons on the East India Budget.] July 23. The house having resolved itself into a committee of the whole house, to which the East India Company's Revenue Accounts were referred, Mr. Dundas rose and said:-The subject for the consideration of the committee is the state of the finances of the East India Company, during the official years 1798-9 abroad, and 1799-1800 at home, with the estimates, in both instances, for the following years. When the statements for the two years immediately preceding were brought forward, it was, upon each occasion, particularly explained, that from accident the investigation of this important concern, in due course, had been interrupted. The material consequence attaching to the preservation of the official periods, in a regular and connected succession, was likewise pointed out; and the prospect afforded, that by the receipt of the documents expected from India, this branch of the business would be soon again placed in its accustomed channel. A literal obedience to the directions of parliament, in this regard, is at all times desirable; but the production of the accounts now before the committee is of singular moment, from the anxiety which must naturally arise, to obtain some discovery of the expenses incurred, and the advantages to be expected, from the brilliant events within the periods to which they relate: I have, therefore, the greater satisfaction in being enabled to remark, that by the opportune arrival of advices from India, the order of investigation prescribed by the act is again established, with the exception only of the lapse of a few weeks, which may not be considered material, as the accounts are presented within the session, according to the dates required. It is, however, necessary to premise, that as at the periods to which the actual accounts abroad are made up, it was impossible to obtain exact statements of the military disbursements, in consequence of the extended stations of the many detachments from the army in the field, some variations may be hereafter expected. As an explanation of the nature of the accounts does not appear requisite, I shall only here state, that I have, according to my constant practice, entered upon a minute examination of their extensive detail; and that it is my intention, as on former occasions, to arrange the whole in the point of view, that it may be rendered as clear and intelligible as possible. It was fully my intention, as stated to the committee in my last address upon this subject, to have now entered compre hensively into the consideration of this great concern in its every relation; but the lateness of the arrival of the accounts from India, and the incomplete state of them, as to the object particularly in view, oblige me to defer it till the next session. I shall, nevertheless, upor. the present occasion, endeavour to afford every requisite explanation of the numerous variations which appear in the several accounts, and likewise offer a few observations, arising from the general view of the company's affairs, in order to lead to correct inferences on their actual situation. Mr. Dundas then went into a detailed statement of the revenues and charges of the several presidencies in India, of which the following is the In consequence of large payments on account of India and China, and of the intention of liquidating the whole of the debts due to the Bank, reckoning only on the produce of the sales, on a receipt from government in part of claims, and on the sale of the loyalty loan. [476 425,243 202,450 627,695 is the amount in which the general state 1,273,540 of the company's concerns is worse than by the statement of the last year. ASSETS AT HOME AND AFLOAT. On the 1st of March, 1799 ...... Decrease Deducting the increase of assets from the decrease of the debts the state of the affairs at home, is better to the amount of .... 17,119,628 CHINA AND ST. HELENA. 1,073,607 Ditto by present ac counts ditto 220,022 339,862 853,585 Having accomplished the investigation of the numerous accounts, and, I trust, arranged the whole subject to which they 933,678 relate, in as clear and intelligible a point of view as its extensive nature would admit; the completion of the plan originally proposed for the consideration of it will only require a few further observations, in the way of recapitulation, in order to lead the attention of the committee to correct inferences on the general view of this great concern. In so doing, the foreign concern and the home will be placed in two distinct branches; the propriety of which will probably seem obvious, from their different aspect in a financial view. On this principle, the affairs of India will be first attended to. When this subject was last before the House, the distance of the period from the dates of the actual accounts, and the knowledge of events which had occurred since the formation of the estimates for 7,987 the year 1798-9, enabled me to draw tolerable accurate conjectures, that the 861,572 charges would much exceed the sum estimated; and my suspicions to that effect were accordingly stated. The result has been as expected; and it appears that the expenses have not only considerably exceeded the estimate, but have likewise been far beyond the ability. 689,341 of the ordinary resources, notwithstanding they were great, and productive beyond all former precedent. The distinct explanation of every additional charge will have afforded an idea of the cause of the increase; and the remarks on the military charges, particularly where it has mostly fallen, will have shown, that the enormous expenses have been occasioned by the critical situation in which the governments were placed, which led to the necessity of having recourse to hostilities. The increase of the military expenses., 264,098 for several past years, has often been remarked to the committee, and the causes have been explained, whether permanent or otherwise. The many important advantages derived from the successful operations of the British arms were likewise detailed. A reasonable hope was entertained, from the expulsion of European rivals, that the company's power was established upon a basis not soon likely to be disturbed; especially as no means were left untried to convince the native powers of our fixed determination faithfully to adhere to the stipulations of treaties, and to act upon principles directed by moderation and justice. But as it is not my intention at this time to enter at large upon the political relations of the company, I shall only observe, that the great drain upon the resources of the year in question has been occasioned by the war with the late Nabob, Tippoo Sultaun. As the House have already received most ample information with regard to the origin, progress, and conclusion of this war, and have also signified their unanimous approbation of the conduct of those concerned in the direction of it, any further explanation of its grounds is needless; and it will suffice for me to confine my remarks to the past and future effects upon the finances. The indispensable necessity of every measure to insure success is completely obvious. Although a lavish expenditure, in any event, is always to be guarded against, parsimony, or an ill-judged economy, on an occasion in which it has fully appeared that the British interests in the East were at stake, would have been impolitic in the extreme. Every practicable addition to the effective force was essentially requisite, as well as the most extensive supplies in every department. That the means were proportioned to the end, has been fully proved in the issue. The effect upon the Indian treasuries was such as might naturally be expected. The resources, including the assistance from Europe, were not equal to the demands; and no other mode presented itself to supply the deficiency in this regard, or provide funds, that the trade might not be totally relinquished, but that of loans to a large amount. Having formerly illustrated the prudence and propriety of continuing the investments, under circumstances of such extreme difficulty in raising funds, I shall only now refer to those observations, and to the decided opinion I gave a short time back as to the expediency of pursuing the same system at all times; but this part of the subject will more properly remain to be considered in connection with the affairs at home. From the remarks hitherto made, the conclusions, in so far as the finances are concerned, appear truly inauspicious, exhibiting only exhausted treasuries and accumulated debts. I have no small satisfaction in being enabled to observe, that a much more favourable side of the question remains to be stated. The circumstance of the administration of the whole of the revenues experiencing little further interruption than might have been expected in the time of the most profound peace, and their realization, with but small exception, might, in the first place, be mentioned; likewise the punctual discharge of the several subsidies by the princes in alliance with the company, as affording, particularly in the former instance, a proof of the permanence and stability of the resources; but having more immediately in view the signal benefits obtained from the late events, I shall direct my observations to them. The governments in India are relieved from the anxieties to which they were perpetually exposed from a powerful and enterprising enemy, whose principles of ambition and inveteracy led him even during times of apparent peace, and under the most specious declarations of adherence to treaties, to every perfidious attempt to undermine the interests of the company with their allies, to seduce their own immediate dependants from their allegiance, and to raise formidable combinations for their destruction. The expenses incurred from the necessity of being always prepared to resist the attempts of this dangerous neighbour, have been immense. Those incurred by the demolition of his power, and conquest of his dominions, cannot be regretted; especially when, in addition to the security derived from the removal of a most formidable enemy, other extensive advantages are adverted to. The alarms which have been entertained for the safety of the possessions on the peninsula of India for many years, from this power, in direct and avowed connection with our natural enemies, being removed, and the turbulence of our own immediate tributaries being thereby effectually checked, it is to be expected that the military expenses may be much reduced; from which, with the additional |