Refolutions of the British Inhabitants at Calcutta, relative to Mr. Pitt's Eaft India Bill. A Ta meeting of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, held at the Theatre on Monday the 25th of July, in purfuance of a public fummons by the high fheriff, at the request of the grand jury, on the 15th of June lait, for the purpofe of taking into confideration the propriety and neceffity of a petition on certain parts of an act of the 24th of his prefent majesty, intituled, "An act for the better re"gulation of the affairs of the Eaft "India Company, and of the British poffeffions in India, and for eftablishing a Court of Judicature "for the more speedy and effectual "trial of perfons accufed of offences committed in the Eaft In"dies," the following relolutions were propofed, and unanimoufly agreed to: 66 1. Refolved, That his majefty's fubjects in the Eaft Indies are entitled to the protection and fupport of the laws of England, in common with the other subjects of the realm. II. Refolved, that so much of the act of the 24th of his prefent majefty, cap. xxv. intituled, "An act for the better regulation and ma"nagement of the affairs of the " East India Company, and of the "British poffeffions in India, and " for establishing a Court of Judi"cature for the more fpeedy and "effectual trial of perfons accufed "of offences committed in the Eaft "Indies," as compels the fervants of the Eaft India company, upon their return to Great Britain, to deliver in upon oath an inventory of their whole property, under penal. VOL. XXVIII. ties of exceffive feverity, is grievous and oppreffive to the fervants of the faid company, and repugnant to the conflitution of our country. III. Refolved, That the erection of a new tribunal by the faid act, for the fpecial purpofe of trying offences, charged to have been committed in the Eaft Indies; a tribunal unreftrained by the fettledules of law, and fubject to no appeal, and the depriving them of their undoubted birthright, the trial by jury, are violations of the great charter of our liberties, and infringements of the moft facred principles of the British conftitution. IV. Refolved, That the faid ac, by expofing his majesty's fubjects refiding under this prefidency, to be fent forcibly to England, and there to be tried for offences committed, or charged to be committed by them within thefe provinces, is highly dangerous to the fecurity of their perfons and fortunes. V. Refolved, That it is injurious to the fervants of the United Company to be fubject, by the faid act of parliament, to be difmiffed from their employments in the Eaft Indies, or to be recalled at the pleafure of the crown, which is, in other words, at the will of the minifter. VI. Refolved, That the provifion of the faid act of parliament, which enacts, That all writings, which fhall have been tranfmitted from the East Indies to the court of directors, by their officers or fervants refident in the Eaft Indies, in the ufual courfe of their correfpondence with the faid court of directors, may be admitted by the commiffioners to be offered in evidence, and fhall not be deemed inadmiffi. ble, or incompetent, is fubverfive of the eftablished rules of evidence, [2] and and manifeftly dangerous to his majefty's fubjects returning from this country to Great Britain. VII. Refolved, That it is therefore becoming, and highly expedient for his majesty's fubjects in thefe provinces to endeavour by all legal and conftitutional means to obtain a repeal of fuch claufes in the faid act of parliament, as impofe thofe and other hardships upon them. And that for the purpofe of obtaining fuch repeal, petitions, humbly laying our grievances before his majefty and the two houses of parliament, are advifeable, neceffary, and proper. VIII. Refolved, That a committee of fifteen gentlemen, felected for the inhabitants of Calcutta, be appointed to prepare petitions to his majesty and the two houses of parliament, and to correfpond with the inland ftations fubordinate to this government, and with the other prefidencies in India: and that it be recommended to them to take all fuch measures as they fhall judge neceffary for tranfmitting the faid petitions to Europe, and for promoting and obtaining an effectual redrefs to his majesty's fubjects in India. And that the faid committee be empowered to fill up vacancies, as they may happen in the course of time. IX. Refolved, That as confiderable expence must be unavoidably incurred by our endeavours to obtain redrefs of our grievances, a fubfcription fhall be opened by the committee who shall be elected by this affembly; and that as foon as the petition fhall be ready for fignature, a book fhall be produced for the faid fubfcription, to the end that every man may have the opportunity of promoting, by a vo luntary facrifice of a fmall fhare of his property, that fecurity of the whole, which is the grand object of our petitions. X. Refolved, That all fubfcriptions be received, whether in fpecie, or in paper, and that the amount fubfcribed fhall be paid by each fubfcriber to fuch person or perfons as the faid committee, when elected, fhail appoint to receive the fame. XI. Refolved, That this affembly do authorize the faid committee to difpofe of and expend the whole, or any part of the fums of money fo paid, in fuch manner as fhall appear to them beft calculated for the general benefit of the caufe for which they were fubfcribed. XII. Refolved, That Mr. Charles Purling be a member of the committee, and that he be requested to propofe fourteen other gentlemen to the meeting for their approval. XIII. Refolved, That the following gentlemen are elected for the purpofes mentioned in the foregoing refolutions, viz. Colonel Patrick Duff, Philip Yonge, Efqrs. XIV. Refolved, That the affembly of the British inhabitants of Calcutta, having the most perfect confidence confidence and truft in the uprightnefs, integrity, and abilities, of the committee chofen for the conduct and management of their intereft, and for the protection and defence of their rights, as fubjects of Great Britain, do, in order to give vigour and efficacy to their acts, and to free them from future trouble, embarraffment, and obftruction, delegate to them full authority; and do exprefs a plenary reliance on them for the exercife of it, and do pledge to them the concurrence and fupport of the faid assembly, in the fulleft manner poffible, to all meafures they fhall legally adopt, for obtaining a repeal of the oppreffive parts of the aforefaid act of parlia ment. XV. Refolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the grand jury, for having convened a legal and conftitutional meeting of the British fubjects in this fettlement, for the purpose of petitioning his majesty, and the two houses of parliament, for redress of those heavy grievances impofed on them by the before-mentioned act of the legislature. XVI. Refolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Philip Yonge, Efq. the high fheriff, for his patriotic conduct in calling the affembly at the request of the grand jury. XVII. Refolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Charles Purling, Efq. for the great preci fion, candour, and regularity, with which he has conducted the business of the day. XVIII. Refolved, That the above refolutions be printed and made public. The following authentic Extracts from the Corn-Register, are taken from Accounts collected from the Custom-House Books, and delivered to Mr. John James Catherwood, by Authority of Parliament. An Account of the Quantities of all Corn and Grain exported from, and imported into England and Scotland, with the Bounties and Drawbacks paid, and the Duties received thereon, for one Year ended 5th January, 1787. |