lous; considering that he was very sick and did not attend, and that his answer, or, as he calls it, his observations on the subject of the debate, is dated the next morning.

I shall reserve his political opinions concerning the late transactions in India for a future discussion; observing only that, if it be true, as he affirms and laments, that "the principles, which have regulated the "conduct of the British Indian Government "for the last seven years, are formally impeached," such impeachment must be founded on the declared sense of the Legis lature. The question is, whether schemes of conquest and extension of dominion be or be not repugnant to the wish, the honour, and the policy of this nation. The Legisla ture affirms. David Scott denies. The authorities are balanced. The parties are at issue. As to the allegation or admission stated in a pamphlet, attributed to Mr. Francis, "that the whole peninsula of India "is now, in effect, laid under contribution

to the power of Great Britain," &c. the inference drawn from the fact is fair and obvions, to wit, that in a country, where an enemy in arms is not to be found (for no man ever thought of Holkar as a formidable power) the plea of unexpected wars could no longer be set up for absorbing the immense revenues, which ought now to be at our disposal. But as to the justice, or even the sound policy of those measures, by which we have possessed ourselves of he whole peninsula, or the means, by which that possession is to be maintained, the bare allegation of the fact proves nothing; much less does it prove that applause is due to the counsels and conduct of those, to whom such events are to be attributed. All we yet know of the effects of these measures is the. devastation of India, a perpetual drain on England both of men and money, and the utter ruin of the East-India Company on one side, with the jealousy and hatred of all Europe on the other. On the financial part of the subject, the next India Budget will help to explain those ominous words of Lord Castlereagh, the heavy pressure of the Mahratta war, which, he says, was felt long be fore the war began. We shall then see what proportion the revenue bears not only to the debt, but, what is much more material, to the expenses. An estate, that bearly pays its charges, will never pay its debts; or, if, after providing for charges and debts, it does not leave a surplus of profit to the proprietor, what is the advantage of holding such a possession? and much inore, if the proprietor is perpetually called upon for supplies to that estate, from his other funds. or revenues. The last observation L shall

make on Mr. David Scott, is, that he does not state the Company's debt correctly. He says, that in 1793, it amounted to 9,084,550).- -The act of 1793, states it to be 7,000,000l. precisely. By this stratagem he makes the accumulation of debt, in the ensuing ten years, less by 2,000,0001. than it actually was. He then says that, in 1804, it amounted to 19,869,2231. but that was the amount at which it stood on the first of April, 1803. What it amounted to in April 1804, neither he nor I know; but here the confusion of dates is palpable, and, whether intended or not, must have the effect of misleading the public.--But, I do not know why we should trouble ourselves about Mr. David Scott or Lord Castlereagh or the East-India Company. Nothing that we can say, or do, will retard, by the space of one hour, that explosion which awaits the whole of the East-India concern. Every part of the vast scheme of Messrs. Pitt and Dundas seems to have attained the point of its duration. Whichever way you look, you behold symptoms of approaching ruin. The whole seems to have been calculated to last twenty years, and no longer: as if they had said to one another, that, if they could but bear it out for that length of time, they would jump the life to come.

--As connected with the administration of Indian affairs, upon which score so much blame is imputed to Lord Melville, it is but fair to notice whatever is said in his favour. Amongst the various testimonials, which have been presented to the House of Commons in behalf of his lordship, there is one, of which he does not seem to be quite so proud as he ought to be; or, at least, his friends have hitherto made no use of it. In point of competence, the evidence I allude to is unexceptionable. It comes from a person united to the noble lord by many sympathies; and certainly, from a perfect judge of the genuine merits of his character. It would be a pity that such a document should be lost in the mass of papers, perpetually printed for the use of the House of Commons, and never read by any body; and it seems to devolve on me, to rescue from oblivion the panegyric written by such a man as Sir Home Popham, on such a man as Lord Melville. This officer in defending his character as to charges for repairs of his ships produces, in favour of it, many authorities. Among the rest, he lays before the House of Commons a voluminous correspondence between himself and Lord Wellesley, of forty folio pages in small print, giving an account, very much in point, of his embassy to the Red Sea, and of his negotiations there, which to mortal in. England ever heard of

before. From these letters a great deal of diplomatic knowledge may be collected, a well as other useful information; particularly how he was fleeced by the Arabians, whom he naturally considered as friends, but who appear to be such determined robbers, that they do not even spare one another. In page 278 of this valuable collection, we find the following instructive passage: MR. DUNDAS, who has so ably and successfully presided over the administration "of the Company's affairs for many years, "and who has wrought conviction on every individual mind, not only in England but " in Europe," (mark the discovery !) “how "rich and important the object (India) is "to Great Britain, has particularly recom"mended, that every accessible avenue to "it should be watched with a most jealous "eye; and I conceive it obvious, from the "circumstances which gave rise to so

pointed a recommendation, that the view "of this inimitable statesman was directed "to the Red Sea !"In some senses, the ambassador appears to be full as inimitable as the satesman. Very few people are blest with such a faculty as they are, of expansion of words and compression of meaning; but, in other respects, their conduct, if not quite inimitable, is not, it will soon be perceived, a great way beyond the reach of imitation.

PROCEEDINGS AGAINST LORD MELVILLE. -The report of the Select Committee has not yet been made to the House of Commons, and, therefore, it is impossible to say what may be the further measures which parliament will take with regard to the facts brought to light by the Tenth Report of the Naval Commissioners. There is, indeed, a story afloat respecting a proposition intended to be made by a friend of Lord Melville; but, the argument, by which such an act must be defended, if defended at all, would be so much like that, by which one of the personages in a celebrated drama endeavours to reconcile his daughter to his proceedings against the life of her husband; there would be something so intolerably base and loathsome in such an attempt to ward off the charge of being an accomplice, that the thing is not to be believed, till seen: till we have the proof before us, we have no right to suppose any human being capable of such an act.- -Some of my readers appear to have understood, that Lord Henry Petty, in consequence of the death of his father, has postponed, till the next session of parliament, his motion relative to the places and grants to Lord Melville. It will be remembered, that that person is still in the enjoyment of great emoluments under the crown, that is to say, from the purse of the nation,

When Mr. Pitt announced to the House of Commons that his Majesty was about to strike Lord Melville from the list of his Privy Councillors, it was asked, whether Lord Melville did not still hold some places under the crown; to which Mr. Pitt. answered; "none but for life;" that is to say, none that could be taken from him. This assertion is denied; and, by a reference to p. 702 and 719, I think, the reader will find wherewith to make him hesitate, before he refuses to concur in such denial. To me, it clearly appears, that, for the reasons there stated, Lord Melville's place of Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland cannot have been legally granted for life; if not legally granted, it cannot be legally held; if not legally held for life, it may, of course, be taken away; and, that, if it can be legally taken away, it ought to be taken away, few persons will, I imagine, attempt to deny In order to throw further light upon this subject, which I cannot help considering as a very important one, I shall here give a brief history of these Scotch Offices, whence it will appear, that Lord Melville, the generous Lord Melville, the man so careless of wealth, having obtained a reversion of his office to his son, resigned that office to take another, and having taken possession of that other, then obtained, by a new grant, the reversion to himself of the office which he had resigned to his son!- -But, let us proceed chronologically.- -At the UNION, the

Office of Chancellor, in Scotland, was abolished, and a Lord Keeper of the Great Seal was appointed with a salary of 30001. per annum, to execute the duties of the office. These offices have invariably been held during the pleasure of the Crown. The present Lord Keeper is the Duke of Gordon. The date of his commission 11th July, 1794.The Office of LORD PRIVY SEAL of Scot◄ land was instituted by James I. of Scotland, 1494; and has been constantly granted during the pleasure of the Crown. In 1763 the Honourable Stuart Mackenzie, was ap pointed Lord Privy Seal. He was turned out in 1765, by the Rockingham adminis tration, but was reinstated by the Duke of Grafton, 28th Aug., 1766; and ten years afterwards, on the 5th May, 1776, he had a grant of this office for life. This was the first time such a grant had been made; and, so doubtful was Mr. Mackenzie of the le gality of the grant, that he got a writ of Privy Seal for 30001. per annum, in case he should ever be turned out of the office. Lord Melville was appointed for life, 27th May, 1800, of which we shall see more byand-by. and-by.The office of SECRETARY (P STATE for Scotland, was instituted in the

year 1380; and was abolished in 1746. The duties of this office, which could not be performed in the English departments, was committed to the charge of a new officer ,called KEEPER OF HIS MAJESTY'S SIGNET. Both these offices have invariably been conferred during the pleasure of the Crown only.On the 3d May, 1777, a joint commission was made to Lord Melville and Andrew Stuart, et hoc solum modo "durante bene placito nostro." By this commission the appointment of sheriff's clerks was not attached to this office. On the 23d June, 1779, a commission was granted to Lord Melville solely in the same terms as to the duration of the office, but including the nominations of sheriff's clerks, of the present manner of disposing of whose offices the parliament will, doubtless, soon be duly informed. On the 31st July, 1782, a commission was granted to Mr. Dundas for life.

-On the 21st August, 1792, a right of reversion was granted to R. Dundas Saunders, son of Henry Dundas, to take place upon the death, resignation or forfeiture of his father.On the 26th May, 1800, Lord Melville resigned the office of Keeper of the Signet, and was the next day appointed LORD PRIVY SEAL. These two offices were instituted to be a check upon each other (for the safety and protection of the subject) as to those deeds which must pass both seals. They have, therefore, always been held by different persons, and the necessity of this is fully established by Lord Melville's openly Tesigning the Signet the day before he got the Privy Seal. But, notwithstanding this, contemplating the possible chance of his son's death happening before his own, he, on the 12th of June, 1800, procured a new grant of the reversion of the office of Keeper of his Majesty's Signet, in case his son should die before him. So that, not only are those two offices (which from their institution, down to the present time, have never been granted but during pleasure) given away during the life of two persons; but those two offices, which were established, for the security of the subject, to be a check on each other, may possibly, be joined in one person, and that person Lord Viscount Melville, a man censured by the Commons and disgraced by the King for being guilty of a gross violation of the laws and a high breach of duty!--Yet, even here we come not at a full view of this scene of profligacy on the one part and rapacity on the other; for, on the 30th of July, 1803 (having previously been created a peer) Lord Melville obtained for his wife, for 19 years certain, or, for her life, a lease of certain public revenues. These revenues are, at

present, worth about 4001. a year; after the death of one Crawford, they will, (as appears by the account now before parliament) be worth to her upwards of 1,0001. a year; and, the yearly rent which she is to pay to the public, is, less than six pounds! Besides which, the lease gave her the arrears of the said revenue, which she immediately pocketed to the amount of 3,5831, without paying the public, on that account, a single farthing. This excellent bargain was made for us, while Mr. Henry Addington (now also a peer) was our national steward. The lease was signed by him, by Lord G. Thynne, and by Mr. N. Bond, as Lords of the Treasury; and it is by no means unamusing to observe, that the transaction was nearly co-eval with the prosecution of the Tinman!-The next year Mr. Fitt and Lord Melville again became ministers. They took possession of their offices in the month of May last. On the 31st of July, a warrant was obtained. from the King, granting to Lord Melville an addition of 1,5001. a year to his salary as Lord Privy Seal of Scotland, which salary was already 3,000l. a year!.... But, why do I exclaim? One ought to laugh at seeing them scourge a people, from whose baseness alone they derive the power of scourging.

The documents, relating to these transactions, ought to be in every one's hands; therefore 1 insert them here at full length, beginning with the Lease to Lady Melville.

GEORGE R.

-Our Sovereign Lord, with the special advice and consent of the Lord Chief Bron and other Barons of His Majesty's Court of Exchequer in that part of Great Britain called Scotland, ordains a Letter of Tack to be made and passed under the seal of the said Court of Exchequer setting, and in tack and assedation letting, like as His Majesty by these presents, with advice and consent foresaid sets, and in tack and assedation lets to John Hope, Esquire, major general in our army, Charles Hop. and Alex. ander Hope, Esquire, colonels in our arniv, and Robert Dundas, of Melvill, Esquires, and the survivor of them or his assigns, in trsut nevertheless for Jane Viscountess of Melville, and her heirs and assigns, all and sundry the rent, feumails, farms, profits, and duties due and payable to us furth of the lands. and lordships of Fite and Strathern, and all lands, baronies, and others abereunto belonging, and that' for the space of nineteen full and complete years and crops from and after the term of Whitsunday 1503, and thereafter during all the days of the fe of the said Jane Viscountess Melville, to be breucked enjoyed, and possessed by them during the said space, with full power to the said John Hope, Charles Hope, Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and the survivor of them, and their or his foresaids as trustees or trustee foresaid, or factors, or chamberlains in their name, at the term of Whitsunday yearly, to ask, crave, uplift, receive and intromit with the said rents, feumaills, farms, proti s, and duties due and payable out of the said lands and lord hips of Fife and Seathern, and all lands, baronies, and others thereunto belonging, from all and

sundry the heritors, conjunct fiars, life renters, tacksmen, tenants, and other possessors liable in payment of the same, and for that effect to use all legal execution by poinding of the ground or otherwise, as accords conform to the law and practice of Scotland, and to grant acquittances, receipts, and discharges thereof, which shall be sufficient to the receivers : And his Majesty by these presents do also give, grant, and assign to the said John Hope, Charles Hope, Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and the survivor of them, and their or his foresaids as trustees or trustee foresaid, the arrears of the said rents, feumaills, farms, profits and duties due and accounted for by the said heritors, conjunct fiars, life renters, tacksmen, tenants, and other possessors, or by his Majesty's Chamberlain of the said lands and fordships of Fife and Strathern, and all lands, baronies, and others thereunto belonging, at and preceding the said term of Whitsunday 1803: And his Majesty wills and requires the Barons of his Majesty's said Court of Exchequer in Scotland, now and for the time being, to grant, direct, and issue forth all precepts, warrants, and executorials, from tine to time at the instance of the said. John Hope, Charles Hope, Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and the survivor of them, and their or his foresaids, against the heritors, conjunct fiars, life renters, tacksmen, tenants, and other possessors of the said lands and lordships liable in payment of the rents, feumaills, farms, profits, and duties aforesaid, to make payment of the same accordingly; for the which tack and assedation the said John Hope, Charles Hope, Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and the survivor of them, as trustee or trustees foresaid, shall be holden and obliged to make payment to his Majesty and his royal successors, in name of tack duty, the sum of five pounds thirteen shillings and four pence sterling yearly during the continuance of the said tack,beginning the first year's payment thereof at the term of Whitsunday 1804, for the crop and year immediately preceding, and so forth, to continue thereafter at the said term yearly, ay and until the issue and expiry of the said tack: And His Majesty, considering the good and faithful services of John Crawfurd, Esquire, his Majesty's chamberlain for the said lands and lordships of Fife and Strathern, and of all lands, baronies, and others thereunto belonging, is graciously pleased, as a mark of his royal grace and favour, to continue the yearly salary or pension of six hundred pounds formerly enjoyed by him as chamberlain aforesaid, during his life: therefore His Majesty do by these presents direct and require the said John Hope, Charles Hope, Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and the survivor of then, and their or his foresaids, to pay to the said John Crawfurd, or to his assigns, the said yearly sum of six hundred pounds out of the first and cadiest of the said rents, feufarm, profits, and duties aforesaid, hereby set in lease, and to report the receipt and discharges in our Remembrancer's Office in the said Court of Exchequer on or before the first day of July in each year during the currency of this tack, if the said John Crawfurd shall so long live, of the payment of the sum or sums that may have fallen due of the said salary or pension of six hundred pounds directed to be paid to him as aforesaid, for the year ending at the term of Whitsunday preceding the said fitst day of July, under which condition this tack is granted, and no otherwise: and the said John Hope, Charles Hope, and Alexander Hope, and Robert Dundas, and

the Survivor of them, and their or his foresaids, being always obliged to give security to the good liking of the said barons for the regular payment of the said tack duty: and his Majesty ordains that the said tack to be further extended, with all clausés needful; and for só doing this shall be a sufficient warrant. Given at our Court at Saint James's this 30th day of July, 1803, in the 43d year of our reign. -By his Majesty's command, (Signed) HENRY ADDINGTON, G. THYNNE, N. BOND.

GEORGE R -Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. Whereas we are graciously pleased, for divers good causes and considerations us hereunto moving, to grant and allow unto our right trusty and well-beloved councillor Henry Lord Viscount Melville, Keeper of Our Privy Seal of Scotland, one annuity of yearly salary of one thousand five hundred pounds, over and above the yearly fee or salary of three thousand pounds made payable to him by virtue of our letters of Privy Seal of date the 10th of July 1800, referring to the letters patent by which he is constituted Keeper of the said Seal: and our pleasure is, that the said annuity or yearly sum of one thousand five hundred pounds so granted and allowed by us as aforesaid, shall commence and be accounted payable to the said Henry Lord Viscount Melville from the 5th day of July instant, and shall be paid to the said Henry Lord Melville, of to his assigns, during his continuance in the said Office of Keeper of Our said Privy Seal, quarterly, at the four most usual days of payment in the year, by even and equal portions; but onr royal intention is, that the said additional salary should be payable only as long as the said Vsscount Melville shall continue to hold the Office of Keeper of Our Prity Seal, and not be continued to his successor in that office; our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby direct, authorize, and command you to issue your warrants to the Receiver General of our land rents and casualties, authorizing and requiring him to pay unto the said Henry Viscount Melville, or to his assigns, the said sum of one thousand five hundred pounds a year, to commence from the 5th July 1804, and to be payable and paid to him, or to his assigns, during his continuance in the said Office of Keeper of Our sald Privy Seal, quarterly, at the four most usual days of payment in the year atcordingly; but our further will and pleasure is, that the said additional salary of one thousand five hundred pounds a year shall be payable only as long as the said Henry Viscount Melville shall continue to hold the said Office of Keeper of Our Privy Seal in Scotland, and not to be continued to his successor in that office and we do hereby charge and command you to cause the said additional annuity or yearly sum of one thousand five hundred pounds, and all payments thereupon, as they shall from time to time become due and payable, to be inserted on the quarterly establishments or lists of payments of our civil affairs there, so as the sums to be inserted therein may be allowed and paid trom time to time in like manner as other the salaries or allowances on the same lists shall from time to time be paid; and for so doing this shall be not only to you, but to all others herein-concerned, sufficient warrant. Given, &c. the 31st day of July 1804, in the 44th year of our reign.By His Majesty's command, (Signed) W. PITT, C. LONG, LOVAINE. To the Barons of the Exchequer in Scotland.