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416 Proceedings in Parliament, 1773. mies. ‘Tis true, said Colonel B-rre, my good friend behind [Mr. Burke] has often given us a basting for that negotiation; but I am conscious we deserve it not. The Colonel took occasion to mention the late Mr. Beckford, who had been alluded to by Mr. Burke; he was said the Colonel, a man who always meant well, tho' he sometimes took wrong methods to obtain his end. With respect to what Mr. Burke had let fall concerning a great Lawyer's having asserted, that the Crown should seize upon the territorial professions of the East-India Company, " per fas aut nefas," I declare, said Colonel B-rre, I do well remember the opinion Lord Chief Justice De Grey gave, and I am certain, that such an expression never dropped from his lips. Tis true, indeed, continued the Colonel, that the various and contradictory opinions given by various Lawyers upon the subject, have confounded me; I profefs[[?]] I never could understand them; though I dare say they meant it not, yet so far from convincing, they have always puzzled and misled me, which has occasioned me frequently to declare, that we were outflanked by the law. The Colonel then shewed the vastness of the object before the house; and, from its consequential nature, he argued for the necessity of going to the bottom of the inquiry; of punishing, if punishment was necessary; and of applauding, where merit claimed such applause. The Colonel next said, that the movement of administration had been too slow; but, added the Colonel, " better late than never;" for had the minister longer delayed an inquiry into the East-India Company's affairs, he would have deserved impeachment. I love you not, (said the Colonel, addressing himself to the ministry, with the honest bluntness of a Bellisarius), I love you not; but in this business, while you conduct yourselves with propriety, I will go with you hand in hand; but seek not power in your researches; aim not power in your researches; aim not at a distribution of offices; you have already enough at your disposal; permit me to say that you have too much to answer any good purpose; by which means you carry all before you. We only, continued the Colonel, come here to know the hour when you order your carriages to be ready. Opposition is dead, [here the Colonel folded his arms, and reclined his head] opposition is dead, and I am left chief mourner o'er her bier; but let not this, I constrain you, be a motive for your grasping at more power; have no servile dependents, to quarter upon the Company. The Colonel then concluded, by recommending perseverance; and said, he hoped now nothing would draw aside the attention of Administration. The affairs of the Company ought, he said, to be finished this session, even if the House sat until August: before another session was, some other calamity might engage the attention of the House, and if that should be the cafe, the time would be too nearly approached when the private interest of each member would preponderate. I advise you, therefore, concluded the Colonel, for the sake of your credit with the King, (for, God knows, you have none with the people); but, for the sake of your credit with the King, I advise you to acquit yourselves like men in this undertaking; it is an arduous one, and therefore the greater glory will redound to you: the East-India Company, if you prove true to its interest, will prove an ornamental chain, or, on the contrary, a mill-stone, about your necks, that will plunge you into a abyss of infamy and disgrace, notwithstanding every support a King can give, and every effort Majesty may make to save you from destruction. Lord N-rtb arose, and seemed to acquiesce in the wholesomeness of the advice; but his Lordship said, that, after the next report was made, he hoped they should be enabled to proceed with greater rapidity. Mr. C-nway spoke next, but directed his address chiefly to Mr. Burke, whom he said he should censure for preferring the French to the English government, did not the adage hold good, "that there was no disputing about taste[[?]]." Governor [[?]] still pressed the postponing of the business, and intimated, that, if the noble Lord's resolutions should pass, he was afraid the Company might be tempted to petition the House for leave to withdraw their proposals. Mr. D mpst-r[[?]] again arose; but the House being clamorous for the question, he sat down, saying, that since he could not be heard, it was a comfort to him that he had a leaft endeavored to do his duty. The question then being called for, it was put, and carried without a division. Epitome of Captain Wallis's Voyage round the World. 417 EPITOME of Capt. Wallis's Voyage round the World. THE Dolphin, soon after her arrival in the Downs, was ordered to be fitted out as before, and the command given to Captain Wallis. The Swallow sloop, mounting 14 guns, was commissioned to attend her, and the command given to Captain Carteret. Among the stores taken on board by Captain Wallis for this new voyage, were a bale of cork jackets (an article that was found of infinite use in the former voyage), and 3000lb. of portable soup: the surgeon, also, purchased an extraordinary quantity of medicinal drugs, and the ships were crowded with provisions for the crews, and goods of various kinds for presents to the Indians. On the 22d of August, 1766, they sailed from Plymouth Sound, accompanied by the Prince Frederic storeship, but soon found that the Swallow was a very indifferent sailor. On the 7th of September they anchored in Madeira road; and, having taken in what wine and fresh provisions and water were thought necessary, they sailed again on the 12th, and continued their voyage. On the 16th, as they were sailing at a great rate, with the wind at East, it suddenly died away, and left the ships for some time without motion. They were then off Palma, in latitude 28° 40'N. In the night between the 21st and 22d the Swallow was missing, and it was the 24th before she again joined company. They now sailed together till they reached Port Praya, where they anchored, as the Dolphin had done before when commanded by Commodore Byron. It happened to be the sickly season; and, besides the ordinary epidemics, the small pox raged to a violent degree, and was very fatal. They obtained leave, however, to take in water, and they purchased some fresh provisions, and laid in a stock of purslain[[?]], which served them for greens a whole week. They also caught fish in abundance. And on the 28th they weighed, and pursued their voyage. Nothing remarkable happened till the 20th of October, when, all the butter and cheese being expended, the Captain ordered the crews to be served with oil, and once a fortnight to have mustard and vinegar given them during the reminder of the voyage, by which precaution the fatal effects of the scurvy were in a great measure prevented. On the 27th Prince Frederic made signals of distress. She had sprung a leak under the larboard cheek. The men were worn down with fatigue in pumping; their provisions were bad; they had nothing on board but water to drink; and they were, besides, sickly, and unable to proceed without assistance. The Captain sent a carpenter on board, and six stout men. With the help of these the Prince Frederic continued to keep company till the 11th of November, when she again made signals of distress; and, it being moderate weather, the Dolphin and Swallow eased her of part of her stores, relieved the men who had been sent on board before, and endeavoured, but in vain, to stop the leak. On the 29th of October, in the night, they observed a globe of fire to the north-east, which few off in a direct line to the south-west, and in its passage illuminated the decks as if it had been noon-day. From this time till the 16th of December they continued their course when, entering the Sreight's mouth they all came to an anchor in a bay a little to the southward of Cape Virgin Mary, where they were immediately accosted by a whole troop of Patagonians, who made signs for them to come on shore. The Captain, having made previous dispositions for the security of his men in case of an attack, manned all the boats belonging to the three ships, and with a party of marines landed on the beach where those giants had assembled. The commanders of the three ships and most of their officers, were of this party. On their leaping a shore, the Indians seemed to welcome them; and, being by signs desired to retreat, they all fell back, and made room for the marines to form. When they were drawn up, Capt. Wallis advanced, and by signs directed the Indians to seat themselves in semicircle, which they readily understood and obeyed. He then distributed among them knives, scissors, buttons, breads, combs, and particularly ribbands, with which he complimented the women, who received them with a mixture of pleasure an respect. He then gave them to understand, that he had still more valuable articles to bestow, and shewed them axes and bill-hooks; but, at the same time, pointed to some guanicoes and GENT.MAC. Sept. 1773. 2
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