will, in the opinion of the profeffional Members of the Court, run fome rifk of tofing their paffage; thofe to Coaft and China, if they do not fail by the middle of February; and thofe bound to Bombay and China, that remain after the 10th of February, cannot have much chance of faving theirs; add to this, the expence of demurrage daily incurring;, and that all the fhips bound to China carry treafure for purchafing cargoes, which not returning in proper time may prove very diftreffing to the Company's affairs. On fimilar grounds the chairman was joined by Meffrs. Nath. Smith, John Hunter, Rob. Thornton, T. Pattle, jun. John Towofen, Paul Le Mefurier, and James Moffatt, DIRECTORS. And Wm. Devaynes, Efq. Deputy Chairman, delivered his diffent, as he was further of opinion, that the refolution of the 16th of January would rather tend to promote than put an end to the dif fentions which unfortunately fubfifted. At Court of Directors, 1 Feb. 1788. A letter from Ld. Sydney, dated 31 Jan. being read, fignifying, "That his Lop had laid before the King the memorial and petition already mentioned, and had received his Majesty's commands to acquaint the Court in anfwer thereto, that his Majefly does not judge pro per to change his refolution of fending tour regiments to India; that, in the formation of thofe corps, his Majesty attended to the fituation and pretenfions of the Company's officers in that Country; and that his Majesty has it under his royal confideration to make any farther regulation which may appear expedient for the good of the fervice;" Refolved, by ballot, that the refolution of the 17th of Oct. 1787, be refcinded. At a Court of Directors, 6 Feb. 1788. A paper was delivered in by the gentlemen who had figned the above refolution for reJeinding of which the following are the heads only. They affert, that a real majority of the Court (one member being incapacitated from attending his duty by fickness) have never given their fanétion to the acceptance of the regiments; that, on the other hand, by the resolutions of the 5th of Dec. 14 members have unequivocally expreffed their aifapprobation of the measure; they complain of the protefts of the two chairmen against a majority of the directors, a circumstance which the court can fcarcely recollect to have hap. pened before. By the act of the 21ft of his prefent Majefty, it was ftipulated, that the Company thould pay two lacks of rupees for every regiment cofing of 1000 men, fent to India at their R.quifition: contequently no trops could be tent to India at the expene of the Company, unless at their requifit on. They ftaté the folem and cordial agreement entered into between the Company and Government, ratined by the act of the 24th of his prefent Majefty, by which, as they apprehend, ample refervation of all the rights and privileges of the Company was made and fecured under the protection of mirifters who had food forth their zealous and fuccefsful advocates; tubject only to fuch limitations in point of control as were judged neceffary to preferve them from abufe, but no more. All differences thus amicably fettled, an eftablishment was then propofed by the Di rectors, but rejected by the Commiffioners, because it confifted of a greater European force in India than they thought neceflary for its defence; and, in confequence, another arrangement, which the Commiffioners thought would have been more than fufficient, was carried into effect, by which above 600thcers, who had ferved during the laft war, were in 1735 reduced. The full force of the 40th ard 4ift fections of the act alluded to was now finally to take place; and no new appointments, civil or military, could be made till returns were received from India of vacancies; and the officers, reduced as above, waited with propriety and patience for thofe vacancies which their paft fervices entitled them to fill. No establishment could have been formed more precifely, nor better means devifed to procure the intelligence on which it refts. The Court therefore heard with aftonishment, on the 17th of Oct. that the force in India was not adequate to its defence; and that they could not obtain recruits without taking regiments. A bare majority of the directors then prefent, after a debate of a few hours, confented to accept of his Majefty's gracious offer. The only argument of weight for the meafure was its meceffity. They admit that circumftances and reasons may have existed of which they are ignorant but, if they are to be guided by what they know, they are decidedly of opinion, that no fuch neceffity exists at prefent; and that the regiments propofed to be sent will not frengthen but weaken the military force in India, by being productive of the most dan gerous confequences. They add, that if the fecret reafons, of which they are ignorant, apply to the prefent political state of Europe, the public have received the ftrongest afforances from the higheft authority, that no ap prehenfions on that account have any ex• iftence, or likely to have for a long time to come; and that therefore their conftituents are entitled, in common with other fubjects, to be relieved from fuch an enormous expence. That the Governors in India have recommended the measure, will require wris ten documents to prove. The utmost to which Ld. Cornwallis's fentiments can be conftrued to extend, is to frengthen the European force there, which, they fay, they were preparing to do. Ов On the 21st of Aug. a memorial, on the part of the Company for leave to raise recruits, was tranfmitted to Ld. Sydney. But it was not till the 30th of Oct. that his Lordship's answer, with permiffion to raise 2500 men, was received. They mention this fact, to thew, that the Company were not inattentive to that part of their duty. In the mean time, the four regiments were offered and accepted. To combat the argument, that his Majefty's Recruiting fervice is fuperior to that of the Company, they fate the following fact, that by the returns, dated Jan. 1787, The Company's troops were deficient 2985 Deficient 1054 By the returns tranfmitted at the fame period, The King's troops (including Hans- 2644 1280 Deficient 1260 It is farther remarkable, they fay, that at the close of the war, 4 of his Majesty's regiments, which ought to have confifted of 5000 men, could mutter no more than 1686, though it is contended that the Company hould pay for the whole. They remark, as curious too, that, by the act of the 21ft of his prefent Majefty already referred to, regiments of 1000 privates are evidently implied, and thofe are certainly moft proper for India. The four regiments propofed now to be fent are to confift of 2843 in all. If real conemy and effective ftrength had been confulted; these might have been thrown into three regiments-the faving would have been confiderable. Gentlemen, they fay, may form what eftimates they pleafe; but the difference of expence between fending out four compleat regiments with officers, or the fending out 2840 men without officers, will coft the Company 86,0041. 10s. annually in time of war, and exceed very confiderably 100,000l. a year, contingencies included. Had the publick been put to any expence in confequence of the confent of ten Directors to accept the four regiments on the 17th of O&. laft (for no requifition was ever made by them), in ftriét juftice the Company should make it good; the Court have therefore offered to pay the whole, after refcinding the resolution of the 17th of Oct. in confequence of the legal opinions they have obtained in juftification of their refift. ance to the measure. They declare their readiness to concur with his Majefty's minifters in any mode that can be deviled to augment the number of recruits to be fent to India; and to receive the whole, or any part of the effectives, already raised, provided they are un accompanied with officers. They trust the expence of demurrage will not be charged to their account, when the many previous questions, queftions of adjournment moved by the chair, and other ftudied delays, are recollected; at all events, a few hundreds once paid is unworthy of notice, if no otherwife to be faved than by ac cepting the regiments. They conclude with reprobating the mea fure, as pregnant with the most fatal confequences to above 1800 officers, whose merits entitled them to reward and not to punishment, and whofe feelings on the occafion may prove the means of thaking the British Empire in India to its centre. Their reprefentation, of which the above are the contents, was figned by the following DIRECTORS: John Travers, W. Bensley, F. Bering, John Manship, John Roberts, J. Smith, Jacob Bofanquet, Stephen Luthington, Tho nas Fitzhugh, W. Elpaingtone, Tho. Cheap, and Hugh Inglis. Feb. 6, 1788. At a Court of Diretors, 13 Feb. Ld. Sydney's letter, flating that three of the regiments, deftined for India were in readiness, &c. (fee p. 168), being read; Refolved, in anfwer, that the Court of Directors have refcinded their refolution of the 17 h of Cết. lift, so far as bound the Company to the payment of the said regi ments; but that the Court are ready to ree ceive and accommodate the faid troops, pro❤ vided it be clearly understood that the Eaft India Company are not bound to pay any part of the expence thereof; and that fuch forces are not to be confidered as part of the permanent establishment in the East Indies. At a Court of Directors, 13 Feb. A letter from Ld. Sydney, inclosing a minute of a full board of Commilioners (dated Feb. 12), was read; ftating it, "as by no means neceflary for the Board to enter into difcuffion with respect to the Company's right of withdrawing their requifition for the faid troops, and liberating the Company from any obligation to pay the fums directed by the act of 1781, to be paid for the fame, no provifion having been made by that act for withdrawing fuch requi firian; neither do the Board conceive that the King's troops, either under fuch requifi tion or without, are to be contidered as forming any part of the Company's establishment in the East Indies; but the Board think it right to add, that they do not now foresee any circumftances that are likely to alter their prefent opinion. They certainly do not feel themselves enabled to decide at prefent what may be the number of King's troops which it may at any time hereafter be expe dient for his Majesty to ftation in the East Indies; but they will think it their duty to exercife the fuperintending powers, with which they are vetted, over the revenues of the British poffeffions in the East Indies, in fuch manner as may effectually provide that those thofe revenues fhall be applied to defray the expence of the force neceffary for the defence of thefe poffeffions; and they can hardly doubt, that the Court of Directors will think it expedient to bring upon their confituents a confiderable additional charge, by compelling his Majefty's fervants to have recourfe to any other mode of conveyance than what has hitherto been fual, as that charge mult in juftice be defrayed from the revenues in India." This minute read, the Court adjourned; and being again met, it was refolved, That this Court adhere to the refolution of the arth inftant, and that they will on Friday difpatch fuch fhips as are ready to proceed on their voyages to Bombay and China, left by the latenefs of the feafon they may be in danger of lofing their paflage; and this Court do think it incumbent upon them to de clare, that there will then remain 17 fhips, in which his Majefty's troops may be conveyed to India. It was then refolved, in anfwer to Ld. Sydney, to acquaint his Lordship, that as the Court of Directors humbly conceive that the refolutions of the Rt. Hon. the Commiffiorers for the affairs of India are contrary to the act of the 24th of his prefent Majefty, and adverfe to the rights of the Company, they have refolved, that a meeting of their con@ituents be called; and humbly request, that no farther meafures may be taken by his Majefty's minifters till the fentiments of fuch meeting fhall be known. At a Court of Directors, 15 Feb. Ld. Sydney's anfwer was read, fignifying the fatisfaction of the Board of Controul at the above refolutions; and, at the fame time, expreffing the opinion of the Board, that, to prevent all poffible lofs of time, measures hould be taken eventually to provide tranfports for carrying fuch of the regiments as may be ready to embaik, and repeating their determination to direct the expence to be defrayed from the revenues of the country. In pursuance of the above refolution, a General Court of Proprietors was called for the 19th of February, and held by adjourn ment on the 20th, when the proceedings, as in our laft, p. 168, took place, and the question referred to Wednesday the 27th, to be determined by ballot. In the mean time, a letter from the Board of Controul, figned by all the Commiffioners, and addreffed to the Court of Directors of the United Company of Merchants of England, trading to the Eaft Indies, dated Whitehall, Feb. 23, 1788, was laid before the Court on the 24 h, in which it is noticed, that in the statement of the queftion just referred to, the fituation of the Company's officers is reprefented in a manner which the board do not conceive to be warranted; that the commucations which the Court have received from the King's Government fufficiently fhew every difpofition on the part of his Majefty to take their fi uation into his gracious confideration; and that it is improper to affume it as a fact, in the statement of the question to be ballotted for, that the officers are to be placed in the fituation which thofe who propofed the question have thought proper to hold out to the Court of Proprietors; and as it farther appears that the Court have taken the opinion of Counfel upon certain points that have been in difcuffion, and are of too much magnitude to remain in doubt, it is intended on Monday to fubmit the following motion to the confideration of Parliament, viz. "That leave be given to bring in a Bill, for removing any doubts respecting the power of the Commiffioners for the affairs of India, to direct that the expence of ra:fing, transporting, and maintaining fech troops as may be judged neceffary for the fecurity of the British territories and poffeffions in the Eaft Indies, fhould be defrayed out of the revenues arising from the faid territories and poffeffions." In the mean time the ballot took place on Wednesday the 27th of February; when the numbers being equal (fee p. 168), the claufe in the act of Parliament was read, which states, that, in cafes where there is an equality of votes on any question, the fame thall be decided by a lot to be drawn by the Treafurer. A converfation of half an hour took place refpecting the propriety of this decifion, as well as its friet legality. It was however at length decided; the lot was prepared, the Treasurer took it out of the hat, and it was in the affirmative, for the question: by which the majority of the Court of Proprietors enjoyed a thort triumph dearly purchafed. Such were the beginning and ending of thefe momentous proceedings, fo far as the Court of Directors and the Board of Controul were fpecifically concerned. As to the ultimate decifion ef Parliament, that will be noticed in its proper place. But a transaction, that in all probability will one day make a confiderable figure in hiftory, muft not be fuffered to escape the notice of the Editors of the Gentleman's Magazine, while the facts are recent in every one's memory. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. AFTER the hoftilentek already been all quarters, fufficiently shew how rise fre much the Turks are in dread of the Imperial arms, and how cautious they were not to give or take offence. What they feared has however taken place: on the 18th of last month War War was declared in form at Vienna; and at the fame time a manifefto was delivered by Prince Kaunitz to the Foreign Minifters, of which the following is a translation: All Europe have been witnefs to the good faith with which the Court of his Imperial Majesty has for many years culti vated peace with the Ottoman Empire; the Encere difpofition it has manifefted on every ccafion to preferve good neighbourhood, and its read.nefs to interpofe to prevent any rupture between the Porte and the neighbouring Courts. Thefe pacific intentions were manifefted in the differences between the Porte and the Empress of all the Ruffias; when the Emperor, uniting his endeavours with thofe of his ally the King of France, omitted nothing which was likely to effect an amicable adjuament of their difputes. And as the demands of the Ruflian Court did not exceed what the had a right to expect for the juft execution of the exifting treaties, the favourable difpofition of her Imperial Majefty to accommodate matters, left his Imperial Majesty no room to doubt but that his endeavours, joined to thofe of the Court of Verfalles, would have fucceeded to prevent a rupture fo calamitous in its confequences to all parties. But the Porte foon fhewed the inefficacy of this attempt in the united Courts, by fighting their falutary advice and preffing exhortations, in peremptorily refufing the Ruffian Envoy the neceffary delay for a courier to return with freth instructions from Petersburg, and infifting on his immediately figning a deed of revocation, not only of the treaty of commerce lately concluded between the Porte and Ruffia, but also of every folemn ftipulation refpecting the Crimea. And in confequence of his refufing to accede to a propofition, which, independent of its impropriety, exceeded the powers of an Envoy, the Porte did not hesitate to co fine this Minifter, contrary to the most facred laws of nations, in the prifon of the Seven Towers, and to declare war against Ruffia at the fame time. By fo violent a proceeding, things were brought to the most critical extremity; yet the Emperor did not lofe hopes that hoftilities might fill be prevented. He flattered himself that the Porte, yielding to the reprefentations of all the foreign Ambaffadors refiding at Conftantinople, would be perfuaded to release the Envoy, and give her Imperial Majesty a fatisfaction proportionate to the violation of the law of nations, and thus a poflibility offer of renewing conciliatory negociations. But all these hopes were fruftrated, by the Porte commencing open acts of hoftility, and obliging Rutha to have recourfe to arms in her defence. The Porte were not unacquainted with the trict bands of amity and alliance which unite the Courts of Vienna and Peterburg. The Ottoman Court have therefore them- ftances, conceives himself authorised to rely The Emperor, by thefe facts and circumwith the utmoft confidence on the approbation felf that they will unite their wishes for the of all the Courts of Europe, and flatters himfuccefs of his arms against the common enemy of Christianity. At Vienna, Feb. 10, 1778. Though the LONDON GAZETTE has been filent with refpect to the above declaration of war, and manifefto, yet it has that of Tuesday the 11th inftant, there is not been wholly fo as to their effects. In the following article. inftant, from the Imperial army in Croatia, Vienna, Feb. 27. "Letters of the 19th of Dreffnick, the troops were ftationed on mention, that after having taken the Fort the Korona, near that fort, with their right wing extended to the feet of the mountains of Plitvicza, by which means the roads and paffes to Bihach were opened. detachment was fent to fummon the Turks That, during the attack of Dreffnick, a vited the coinmanding officer to approach potted at Sturlich to furrender. They inwithin 50 paces on parole, when they made fo brifk a fire on the detachment as to kill 50 men, which fo enraged the Imperialifts, that they put the whole Turkish garrison to death. That the Imperial troops had made an unfuccefsful attempt on Dubitza, in which they fuffered a lofs of 82 killed and 349 wounded. That emigrations of Turkish families into By advices from Sclavonia of the 18th of to the Turks have been either taken or funk It cannot have escaped notice, that the as as fingular, that the manifefto which accompanied it, does not contain the molt diftant complaint against the Ottoman Court on the Emperor's own account, but grounds a pretext for declaring war folely on the quarrel between the Porte and the Ruffians. Indeed, there appears too much reason to fufpect that his Imperial Majefty's real motive is the defire of conqueft, and that upon the efiett terms, as both Belgrade and Gradifka, two important frontier cities, were attempted by furprize, while yes the peace remained broken, as all the forts have been which have hitherto fubmitted to the Imperial arms. On the 6th inftant the Emperor fet out from Vienna for the army in Hungary, by the way of Gratz, Lambac, and Triefte; two days before Marthal Lcy took his departure from the fame place for the Imperial army; which is faid to have fuffered a real lofs by the fudden death of General Caramelli, who held under Marthal Haddick the fecond place in the war department. Marshal Lacy was fuddenly followed by Prince Charles Lichenftein, general of cavalry, and governor of Vienna, which is mentioned as an important circumstance; the command of the troops in Lower Auftria devolving by that movement on Lieut. Gen. Torzy. On the 12th of February, a treaty was concluded between their High Might ineffes the States General and the Duke of Brunfwick, for a corps of 3000 fubfidiary troops, with two pieces of cannon, and a train of artillery, who are foon to begin their march towards the Republic. Gen. Van Monftar, and Capt. Maafen, who had been charged with thefe negociations, have had private audiences of the Duke and Duchefs to take leave. Thefe officers are next to go to Caffel, to negociate a more confiderable corps of troops. On the 6th of this infant March, the French chargé des affairs at Bruffels re ceived orders from his Court to return to Verfailles the very inftant he could fettle bis private affairs; and he accordingly left town on the 8th. His fudden recall is attributed to his being too mach a favourite with the Patriots. We hear but little of the motions of the Ruffians, the feafon for action in the Northern regions not being yet fufficiently advanced; but if we may be allowed to judge of what is to follow from what has already palled, the operations, when they do commence, will be bloody. In Georgia an engagement is faid to have already taken place between the troops of Prince Heraclius (aided and abetted by the Turkish vaffal, Prince Abafka) and thote of Ruffia, to the advantage of the latter. It was only in 1785, that the Ambaffadors of Prince Heraclius did homage, in their maf ter's name, at Petersburg, and were re ceived with particular marks of attention g but the intrigues of the Turkith court to fe duce that Prince from his allegiance are among the articles of complaint alledged by the Emprefs to provoke the war. The Venetian Ambaffador at Conftantinople has delivered to the Reis Effendi an official declaration of the intentions of the Republic to obferve a strict neutrality during the war between the Porte and the Ruffians. It is reported, that the Emperor of Moracco, having determined to present two new frigates to the Grand Seignor, applied to the British Conful-General, for fome men of war to convoy them; to which the Conful, having firft lent home for inftructions, returned for anfwer, That the King his mafter, having determined to oblerve the fricteft neutrality during the present war, could not comply with his Majesty's requeft It is faid, that a like application being made to Spain, the court of Madrid had acceded to it. The Pacha of Bofnia, encouraged by the fuccefs of Mahmed of Scutari, is faid to have raifed a formidable rebellion against the Porte. The States of Holland and Weft Friefland have paffed a refolution to fupport and fecure the hereditary Stadholdership on the House of Orange, and the established conftitution in all other refpe&s. A general amnesty has been publifhed by thofe States, fimilar to that lately published by the Stadtholder, in which, however, those who drew up the Act of Confederacy, and the printers of feven newspapers, are excepted. The University of Louvain having obftinately perfifted in refifting the Imperial edicts, the Emperor, like Oliver Cromwell, judged the speediest way to make converts was at the point of the bayonet; accordingly his minister had orders to convoke the whole body, and while they were fitting to pro ceed with them in the fame manner as formerly with the States of Brabant. See p. 167. By the latest accounts from Lifbon, a truce is on the point of being concluded between the Court of Portugal and the Dey of Algiers, through the mediation of Spain. EAST INDIA INTELLIGENCE. The following account from Tranquebar, a Danish fettlement on the Coaft of Coromandel, is truly deplorable. It is dated June 13, 1787. Not Tranquebar only, but alt the Coromandel Coaft, particularly the Northern, feit, on the 20th of last month, a moft dreadful hurricane. On the 17th of May, the wind began to blow from the On the North Eaft with great violence. 18th it increased, and the sky was enveloped in very thick clouds. The 19th announced a perfect tempeft, with conftant hail, and a horizon entirely obícured. At length, on the zoth, the hurricane broke out in all its Violence. Scarcely is there a place on the coast, as well thole inhabited by the Danes and |