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102*] ANNUAL REGISTER For the YEAR 1772. [*103

in the hands of the parliament during the recess. However this might be, it is more than probable, that no part of this plan was understood, by the gentlemen who were the immediate actors in bring the affairs of the company under consideration, and that they were actuated by very different motives.
March 30th. The first notice that was taken of this business, was in consequence of a motion made by the deputy chairman of the East India company, for leave to bring in a bill, for the better regulation of the company's servants and concerns in India. This bill had no smaller objects in view, than the restraining of the governor and council from all manner of trade, and the making of a total alteration in the court of judicature, and in the mode of administering justice in Bengal; besides greatly enlarging the company's powers with respect to its servants, and the laying of many other new restrictions upon them.
The reasons urged in support of the motion were, that the bad state of our affairs in India was owing to the little power the court of directors had to punish their servants, either for disobedience to their orders, or for malpractices in their several departments; that nothing could contribute more to those enormities, than that solecism in reason and policy, of allowing the governors of distant countries to become traders and merchants; and that the judicature at Bengal was established when we had only a small territory, and was totally unequal to the administration of justice, in so vast a dominion as we now possess in that part of the world. 
It was said on the otherside. that it was unparliamentary to bring in a bill to redress a grievance, without some prior proof that the grievance existed; that the house ought first to enter into an enquiry concerning our present situation in India, and the causes that led to it; that it was to be feared the enquiry would shew, that the evils lay too deep to be remedied by the proposed bill; that it would be almost impossible to prevent the company's servants from trading, directly or indirectly; that the sending out a few persons learned in the laws of England, as judges, was very inadequate to the purpose of executing the laws in so vast a tract of country; and that the measure would be premature, as we had not yet determined by what laws the inhabitants should be governed. The motion was however carried, and a bill was some time after brought in accordingly.
As this bill was totally laid by after the second reading, we only take notice of it, to shew in what manner it led to the enquiry that was immediately begun into the affairs of the company, and probably in some measure to the great revolution which has since taken place in them. It could scarcely indeed be expected, that a bill of such importance, brought in so late in the season, could have passed, as the train of investigation which must necessarily arise from it, would have been sufficient to have taken up much of the time, if not the whole, of a long session.
In the debates upon this occasion, much altercation arose, and many long charges and defences were made, between some gentlemen who were leaders of parties, 
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or had considerable influence in the India courts, and some others, that had acquired vast fortunes in the company's service abroad. These matters would have been of little consequence to the public, if through the heat that attended them, and perhaps, the animosity from whence they proceeded, the conduct and affairs of the company, and the transactions of her servants, had not been laid open in such a manner, as evidently shewed, that they merited a strict enquiry, and wanted much regulation. It also afforded an handle to its enemies, which was not neglected, of attempting to shew the insufficiency of the company for the government of such great dominions, and the necessity that government should take the whole under its immediate jurisdiction.
Apr.13th.
On the day of bringing in the bill, a motion was accordingly made for a select committee of 31 members, to enquire into the nature and state of the East India company, and of the affairs in the East Indies. The necessity of such an enquiry was strongly urged from a variety of considerations, among which were the following; the present precarious situation of affairs in India; the late distresses of the natives, and the depopulation of the country; the oppressive and arbitrary conduct of the company's servants; the great decrease of the nett revenues in Bengal, from various mismanagements, as well as enormous and unnecessary expences; the immense consequence to this nation of preserving and well governing those countries; and that this could only be done, by making a full enquiry into their nature and state, and then establishing a regular and permanent form of justice and government.
Though the necessity of some enquiry and regulation was evident, many objected to the beginning of such an enquiry so late in the session; summer was already appearing, and its magnitude was such, and the difficulties attending it were so great, that it was evident the twentieth part of it could not be gone through during the sitting of parliament. Many objected to the mode of enquiry by a select committee; and though the gentleman who made the motion was unconnected with administration, it was known that the minister would have the virtual nomination of the members who composed the committee. It was besides urged, that the select committee was not accountable for its conduct; that an enquiry therefore, by the board of trade or privy council would be preferable, as they are amenable to justice; and that as the proceedings of such committees often are secret, and never entirely published, they are in no fear of public censure, and are thereby free from that control, to which the whole house is liable, all its transactions being quickly known to the world. Besides it was urged, that no plan had been mentioned; so that the house which was about to vote this very delicate enquiry, could not judge to what objects it was directed, or what ends it proposed to compass. 
Notwithstanding these objections, the motion for a select committee was carried without a division, and 31 members were accordingly chosen by ballot. The subject of their inquisition was so various, and of so great an extent, that they were

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