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crime and mifdemeanor, highly derogatory to the honour of the "House, and contrary to the faith of Parliament.

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The motion was put and carried without a divifion.

Mr. Fox then, after a fhort preface, moved, "That it is the opi

"nion of the Committee, that there fhould be laid before them an "account of all fums of money expended for the use of the public "fervice, between the 19th of December, 1783, and the 12th of January, 1784, fpecifying each fum, and for what expended." Mr. Fox faid, the reafon for making fuch a motion might appear rather extraordinary, but as extraordinary measures had been taken by the prefent Miniftry to come into power, it required extraordinary motions to prevent them doing mischief now they were in power.

Mr. Pitt faid a few words on the fubject, but as the prior motion had been carried, he could not fee, he faid, any particular harm that could accrue from the prefent one paffing alfo.

The motion was then put and agreed to.

Mr. Fox then informed the Committee he had another motion to make, which was,

"That the Mutiny Bill be read a second time on the 23d of Fe"bruary 1784."

The reafon, he faid, for putting it off to fuch a period, was to give Minifters time to confider of it; and, at the fame time, to allow a fufficient fpace to pafs it in before the 25th of March, at which time it would be wanted.

Mr. Pitt faid, he could fee no end it could anfwer to tie down the Mutiny Bill to be read on a specific day, for the Mutiny Bill not being in the House, anfwered every end he fhould imagine that the Hon. Gentleman wifhed. After a fhort converfation, the motion was put and carried.

The Earl of Surrey then rofe, and ftated to the House, that the fituation of our affairs, both at home and abroad, were fuch as required men of abilities and integrity to fill high offices of state, and at the fame time they should be fuch perfons as poffeffed the confidence of that House and the public, he should therefore move,

"That it is the opinion of the Committee, that in the prefent "fituation of his Majefty's dominions, it is highly neceffary that fuch "an administration fhould be formed, as poffeffed both the confidence "of that House and the public."

Sir Peter Burrell, in a fhort but elegant fpeech, feconded the mo

tion.

Mr. Pitt said a few words, and was answered by Mr. Erskine; after which the motion was put and carried.

The Earl of Surrey then ftated to the House, that from what had happened in the other Houfe of Parliament, and what had been urged by an honourable General that day, of a Lord of the Bedchamber endeavouring to bias his vote, made it neceffary for him to move,

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"That it is the opinion of the Committee, that the late changes "were preceded by extraordinary rumours, dangerous to the Conftitution, inafmuch as the facred name of Majefty had been unconstitutionally used for the purpose of affecting the deliberations of Par"liament, and the appointments that followed were accompanied by circumstances new and extraordinary, and fuch as were evidently calculated not to conciliate the affections of that House." Sir P. Burrell feconded the motion.

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Mr. Dundas oppofed the motion; infifted upon it that it was by no means the fact, and that he would take the fenfe of the Committee upon it; for which purpose he moved, that the Chairman do leave the Chair, report a progrefs, and afk leave to fit again.

A fmart debate then enfued, in which Mr Pitt, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Dundas opposed the original motion; and Lord Surrey, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Sheridan as warmly supported it.

At SEVEN O'CLOCK in the morning the queftion was loudly called for, and the Committee divided on the motion that the Chairman do leave the Chair.

Noes
Ayes

Majority against the Ministry

196

142

54

January 15.] On this day Mr. Pitt propofed his new India Bill, when leave was given to bring in the fame.

January 16.] Mr. Pitt prefented his Bill, and the heads of it were read. He then moved, it fhould be read a fecond time on the Wednefday following, which was negatived without a divifion; it was then ordered for Friday the 23d. The Houfe having formed itself into a Committee on the state of the nation, the following motion was made by Lord C. Spencer, and feconded by Mr. Baker:

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Refolved,

"That it is the opinion of this Committee, it having been declared by this Houfe, that in the prefent fituation of his Majefty's dominions, an Adminiftration fhould be formed, which poffeffed the confidence of this House, and the public; and the prefent Administration being formed under circumstances new and "extraordinary, fuch as were not calculated to conciliate the affec"tions, or engage the confidence of this Houfe; and his Majefty's "prefent Minifters ftill holding high and refponfible offices, after "fuch a declaration, is contrary to true conftitutional principles, and ❝ injurious to his Majefty and his people."

After a very warm debate, the queftion was put, and the Committee divided.

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Majority against the Minister

21

January 23.] Mr. Pitt moved that the India bill be read a fecond "time," and it was agreed to. On the question being put, that the bill be committed, the Houfe divided as follows:

Noes
Ayes

222

214

Majority for throwing out the Minister's bill 8

The following is a Copy of Mr. Pitt's India Reform Bill.

A BILL for the better Government and Management of the Affairs of the EAST INDIA COMPANY.

For the better government and fecurity of the Territorial Poffeffions of this kingdom in the Eaft Indies, be it enacted by the King's Moft Excellent Majefty, by and with the advice and confent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this prefent Parliament affembled, and by the authority of the fame, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the King's Majefty, his heirs, and fucceffors, by any commiffion to be iffued under the Great Seal of Great Britain, to nominate and appoint fuch perfons as his Majefty fhall think fit, being of his Majefty's Moft Honourable Privy Council, of whom the Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department for the time being, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the time being, fhall be two, to be, and who fhall accordingly be, Commiffioners for the affairs of India.

And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That any number, not lefs than of the faid Commiffioners, fhall form a Board for executing the feveral powers which, by this or any other act, fhall be vested in the Commiffioners aforefaid. And be it further enacted, That the faid Secretary of State, and, in his abfence, the

faid Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in the abfence of both of them, the fenior of the faid other Commitioners, according to his rank in feniority of appointment, as one of his Majefty's Moft Honourable Privy Council, fhall prefide at and be Prefident of the faid Board; and that the faid Commiffioners, or any

of them, fhall

have, and they are hereby invefted with, the fuperintendance and controul over all the British territorial poffeffions in the Eaft Indies, and over the affairs of the United Company of Merchants trading thereto, in manner herein after directed.

And be it further enacted, That in cafe the members prefent at the faid Board fhall at any time be equally divided in opinion, in refpect to any matter depending before them, then, and in every fuch cafe, the then Prefident of the faid Board fhall have two voices, or the cafting vote.

And be it further enacted, That it fhall and may be lawful for the King's Majefty, his heirs and fucceffors, from time to time, at his and their will and pleafure, to revoke and determine the commiffion aforefaid, and from time to time to caufe any new commiffion or commiffions to be fealed as aforefaid, for appointing any other person or perfons, being of his Majefty's Moft Honourable Privy Council, of whom the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the time being, fhall always be two, to be Commiffioners and Members of the faid Board, when and fo often as his Majefty, his heirs or fucceffors, fhall think fit, fo that the number of Commiffioners therein to be named fhall in no wife exceed the aforefaid number of

Provided always, and be it further enacted, That the office or place of a Commiffioner or Member of the faid Board, hereby erected, fhall not be deemed or taken to be a new office or place, within the intent and purview of an act of the fixth year of the reign of Queen Anne, intituled, " An act for the fecurity of her Majesty's perfon and government, and of the fucceffion of the crown of Great Britain in the Proteftant "line.".

And be it further enacted, That the faid Board fhall be fully authorized and impowered, from time to time, to check, fuperintend, and controul, all acts, operations, and concerns, which in any wife relate to the civil or military government or revenues of the territories and poffeffions of the faid United Company in the Eaft Indies.

And be it further enacted, That the faid Secretary of State for the time being, fhall nominate and appoint a Secretary to attend upon the faid Board, who shall be subject to difmiffion, at the pleasure of the faid Board; and that the faid Secretary fhall enter, or caufe to be entered, in books, all proceedings whatfoever to be had by or before the faid Board; and shall be paid fuch falary as his Majefty fhall, by warrant under his fign manual, direct.

Provided always, and be it further enacted, That the members of the faid Board, before they fhall proceed to act in the execution of any of the powers or authorities to them given by this act (fave only the power of adminiftering the oath after mentioned) fhall feverally take and fubfcribe the following oath: (that is to fay)

"I. A. B. do faithfully promife and fwear, that as a Commiffioner or Member "of the Board for the Affairs of India, I will give my beft advice and affist"ance for the good government of the British poffeffions in the Eaft-Indies; "and will execute the feveral powers and trufts repofed in me, according to "the best of my skill and judgment, without favour or affection, prejudice or "malice, to any perfon whatfoever."

Which faid oath any of the Members of the faid Board fhall and are hereby impowered to adminifter; and the faid oath fhall be entered by the faid Secretary amongst the accounts of the faid Board, and be duly fubfcribed and attefted by the Members thereof,

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thereof, at the time of their taking and adminiftering the fame to each other refpectively.

And, to the intent that the faid Board may be duly informed of all tranfactions of the faid Company, in refpect to the management of their concerns in the Eaft-Indies, be it further enacted, That all the Members of the faid Board fhall, at all convenient and reasonable times, have acceís to all papers and muniments of the faid United Company, and fhall be furnished with fuch extracts or copies thereof as they fhall from time to time require; and that the Court of Directors of the faid United Company fhall, and they are hereby required and directed, to deliver to the faid Board copies of all minutes, orders, refolutions, and other proceedings, of all general and fpecial Courts of Proprietors of the faid Company, and of the faid Court of Directors, within days after the holding of fuch refpective Courts; and alfo copies of all dispatches which the faid Directors fhall receive from any of their fervants in the East Indies, immediately after the arrival thereof; and alfo copies of all letters, orders, and inftructions whatfoever, relating to the civil or military government or revenues of the British territorial poffeffions in the Eaft-Indies, propofed to be fent or difpatched, by the faid Court of Directors, to any of the fervants of the faid Company in the East-Indies, days at the leaft before the time propofed for fending or difpatching the fame refpectively; and that the faid Court of Directors of the faid United Company fhall, and they are hereby required to pay due obedience to, and fhall be governed and bound by, fuch orders and directions as they fhall from time to time receive from the faid Board, touching the civil or military government and revenues of the territories and poffeffions of the faid United Company in the Eaft-Indies.

And be it further enacted, That, within

days after the receipt of fuch copies laft mentioned, the faid Board fhall return the fame to the faid Court of Directors, with their approbation thereof, fubfcribed by of the Members of the faid Board, or their reafons at large for difapproving the fame; together with inftructions from the faid Board to the faid Court of Directors in refpect thereto; and that the faid Court of Directors fhall thereupon difpatch and fend the letters, orders, and inftructions, fo approved or amended, to their fervants in India, without further delay; and no letters, orders, or inftructions, until after fuch previous communication thereof to the faid Board, fhall at any time be fent or difpatched by the faid Court of Directors, to the East Indies, on any account or pretence whatever.

And be it further enacted, That in cafe the faid Board fhall fend any orders or inftructions, which, in the opinion of the faid Court of Directors, fhall relate to points not connected with the civil or military government and revenues of the faid territories and poffeffions in India, then, and in any fuch cafe, it fhall be lawful for the faid Court of Directors to apply, by petition, to his Majefty in Council, touching fuch orders and inftructions; and his Majefty in Council fhall decide whether the fame be, or be not, connected with the civil or military government and revenues of the faid territories and poffeffions in India; which decifion fhall be final and conclufive.

And be it further enacted, That as soon as the office of any one of the Counsellors of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal fhall become vacant, by death, by removal, or refignation, the vacancy fo happening fhall not be fupplied by the faid Court of Directors, but the faid Supreme Government fhall from thenceforward confift of a Governor-General and Supreme Counsellors only; and that the Commander in Chief of the Prefidency of Fort William in Bengal for the time being, fhall have voice and precedence in Council next after the faid Governor-General, any thing in any former act of Parliament contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

And be it further enacted, That the government of the feveral Prefidencies and fettlements of Fort St. George and Bombay, fhall, after the commencement of this act,

confift

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