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fame day, under the fuperintendence of Captain Ball of the Superbe, landed without the smallest lofs or damage.

The garrifon amounted to about 8,000 men of all forts, and far exceeded the besiegers in point of number. It was compofed of above 500 Europeans, 700 Malays, 4,500 Sepoys, and 2,300 of Hyder's troops; of the latter, a thoufand were cavalry. The whole force of the beliegers, including feamen and marines, did not much exceed 4,000 men capable of effective fervice. The fick were pretty numerous; and the troops fuffered great incommodities from bad weather, and the dampness of the fituation; moft of the wounded died; and feveral of the feamen and marines were carried off fuddenly by violent cramps and fpafms, occafioned by wet and fatigue.

On the night of the 29th of October, the ftrong lines, flanked by redoubts, which the ene my had thrown up to cover and defend the approaches to the town, were attacked and carried by ftorm. In this very brisk action, the feamen and marines left but little to be done by the land forces; falling on with their ufual intrepidity, nothing could withstand the violence of their attack for a moment. It was remarkable, that Hyder's cavalry were fo terrified at the fury which they experienced in this rough encounter, that they run entirely away into the open country, and never after joined the garrifon.

On the 3d of November, the general opened ground against the north face of the fort, and the approaches were carried on with unusual rapidity; to which the alacrity of the leamen and marines contributed greatly. On the 7th a battery of 10 eighteen pounders, being ready to open within 300 paces of the walls, the admiral and general fent a joint letter of fummons to the Dutch governor, which he anfwered with great respect, but no lefs firmness.

The garriton made two defperate fallies with almoft their whole force, but were beat back into the town with much lofs in both. A battery being opened with great effect on the face of a baftion which was, intended to be breached, the enemy demanded a parley, and commiffioners were fent out to fettle the terms of Nov. 12th. capitulation with the admiral and general. By thefe, the town and citadel, and every thing they contained, belonging to the government or company, were furrendered; private property was fecured, and the inhabitants to be protected in their houses and eftates, upon taking the oath of allegiance; the garrifon were allowed military honours, and then became prifoners of war; and the governor, council, and civil officers, were retained on parole.

Hyder's infantry, with most of the other Sepoys, abandoned their arms, and had made their escape out of the town, during the truce, on the night preceding the furrender. The whole lofs of the beliegers, Europeans and natives, in killed, wounded, and miffing, during a fervice of fo much action and difficulty, amounted to no more than 133 men. A numerous artillery, with large quantities of fhot, fhells, military and artillery flores, were found in the place.

The taking of Negapatam produced the imme

diate happy effect, of Hyder's troops evacuating all the forts apd ftrong pofts, which they held in the Tanjore country and its borders. It likewife operated fo ftrongly upon the Poligars of the Marawa and Tinnivelly countries, who renouncing their forced obedience to the Nabob of Arcot, had early joined Hyder, that they endeavoured to make their peace with the former upon the best terms which they could obtain.

The monfoon now fet in with its utmost fury, and nothing could exceed the dreadful boisteroutnefs of weather which the fleet endured, from the furrender of the place to near the end of the following month. This violence was fo conftant, that it was with the greatest difficulty, and no fmall danger, that the admiral, in the courfe of about three weeks, was able to recal to their respective fhips, thofe feamen and marines who had affifted with fo much honour and effect in the fiege, and to tranfmit to Madras only a part of the military prifoners.

The weather becoming moderate towards the clofe of the year, Sir Edward Hughes proceeded to carry into execution the defign which he had formed against the Dutch fettlement of Trincamale, in the island of Ceylon. That ifland, celebrated from the earliest ages for its produce, of the Cinnamon tree, has been long that up from the reft of the world, through the avidity of the Dutch to engross and retain the whole commerce and diftribution of that precious fpice entirely to themselves. For this purpofe they feized and fortified the fea coafts, and having driven the King of Candy and his fubjects into the interior parts of the inland, where he is allowed to retain fuch a degree of authority as is neceffary to their own purposes, they are effectually fecluded from all communication with the reft of mankind. the island with relpect to commercial situation, as well as to products, is capable of being one of the most valuable in the world. Trincamale lies on the north east quarter of the island; its harbour is reckoned the beft and finest in India; and is compofed of feveral bays, where the most numerous fleets might anchor in the greatest fecurity; but its being fo closely fhut up from the winds, may, in that climate, be well fuppofed to render it unhealthy.

Sir Edward Hughes was fupplied by the general on this expedition, with a detachment of about 500 volunteer fepoys, and an officer with 30 artillery-men, in order to garrifon the place in cafe of fuccefs. The fleet being arrived in Trincomale bay, the marines, with two fixpounders, a detachment of artillery Jan. 5th, and two companies of fepoys, to act as pioneers, were landed at about three 1782.

miles diftance from the fort. These were immediately followed by the battallion' of feamen, confitting of the fame number of men and of ficers as had ferved at the attack of Negapatam ; the fepoys clofed the debarkation, and the whole party commanded by capt. Gell of the Monarca, who was well affifted by Captain Montague, of the Sea Horfe, and Capt. Reynolds, of the Combuftion fire-thip. The feamen and marines, with the guns and pioneers, immediately formed, and pushed forward, though it was nearly dark,

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Trincamale fort; and the company of the marine grenadiers, with the guas, coming up to the gateway, without any attention to regular forms, most refolutely forced their way through, and in an inftant became masters of the place. The garrison confifted only of three officers and forty foldiers; but the fort was of confequence to their farther operations, as it commanded the only place where the provifions and ftores could be Janded from the fhips.

Intelligence was received from the prifoners, that the enemy's remaining force was collected in fort Oftenburgh, fituated on a high hill that cominanded the harbour, and holding an open communication with their fhips, which lay under its protection. The next day was employed in landing the necessary stores, provisions and bag gages for the troops, at Trincamale fort. On the following day, the commanding officers, with Major Geils, the engineer, were employed in reconnoitring, and in discovering the best road for their approach to the heights; and every thing being fettled in that refpect, the troops marched early on the morning of the eighth towards a high hill which commanded the Often burgh fort, and on the top of which, the enemy had a poft defended by an officer's guard. The hill was attacked in the night, and the poft, which was within 200 yards of the fort, carried and maintained by a detachment of seamen and

marines.

In thefe circumftances of advantage and fuperiority, the adiniral, very early in the morn ing, tranfmitted, through Capt. Gell, a letter of fummons to Mr. Homad, the governor, the governor, ftating his total inability of making any effectual reinstance, and urging him in the ftrongeft manner, to prevent, by a timely capitulation, the fatal confequences of carrying things to the utmost extremity, when the great Superiority of difcipline, as well as torce, toge ther with the known and tried courage which be had to oppofe, would render every exertion of defence ridiculous. The governor, however, after stating the truft reposed in him, and ties of fidelity by which he was bound, declared his refolution of defending, at all events the place to the last.

Sir Edward Hughes was ftill exceedingly unwilling to proceed to extremities. Independently of the effect produced by national attachment, and by a fenfe of the long friendship and alliance which had fubfifted between both countries, he was befides perfonally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Homed, and the principals of thofe along with him; for the goodnets of the harbour having rendered Trincamaie a place of common rendezvouz, it is probable, that there was fcarcely an officer in the fleet, who had not, in the happier feafon of peace, experienced, in a greater or left degree, fome portion of then friendship, hofpitality, or kindness. He accordingly wrote a fecond letter to the Dutch governor, expoftulating with him in kinder and more familiar terms on the danger he was running, and ributing his own folicitation to its true caufe, 10 former attachment to himself and his family, well as to his other acquaintances in this place. It would feem, from the fuperfcription of the governor's anfwers that he was not a little at

fected by this recal of paft kindness and friendfhip, for it runs in the following form"His Excellency, the generous, brave, and illuftrious Sir Edward Hughes," &c. &c. He did not juftify, nor avow a difpofition to refiftance in his anfwer, but placed it to the strictness of his orders, which were to defend the place to the last; fo that he could not answer for his conduct to his fuperiors, if he were to give it up in

any manner.

Major Geils, the engineer, who was undoubtedly appointed to be the bearer of the letters of fummons, for the benefit of the obfervations which he might make, informed the admiral, that he was strongly of opinion, that the lower fort, at least, might be carried by affault; fome of the higher works he had his doubts about; but of the former, he spoke with confidence, and the others muft fall of courfe. This affutance, coming from an officer of fuch experience and diftinguished ability, afforded the highest fatisfaction to Sir Edward Hughes, who was well aware of the labour, difficulty, and delay, which the dragging of heavy cannon up the heights, and the formal opperations of a siege, would neceffarily occafion.

The neceffary difpofitions being made, the ftorming party, confifting of 450 leamen and marines, under their proper officers, covered on each flank by a company of pioneers, with 20 feamen armed with cuclaffes, who carried the fcaling ladders, and fupported by three companies of feamen, as many marines, with two field piece, who formed the referve, advanced at day break, on the eleventh of January, to the affault. A fmail advanced, party under a feijeant, who might be considered as the forlora hope, having made their way through the em brafures without difcovery, were inltancy jollowed by the whole ftorming party, who foor driving the enemy from their works, poffeffed themfelves of the fort, and procured the immediate affiftance of the hips and veifels in the hars bour.

The humanity of the victors equalled, and was ftill more praifeworthy, than even their gallantry. Notwithstanding the tall of a brave and favourite officer with 20 of their fellows, befides two officers, and double that number wounded; and notwithstanding the heat and fury of a fury of a form, when difcipline, refpe&t and command are at an end, yet, under thefe circumitances the feamen and marines difdained to ftain their words in the blood of a Aying and proftrate enemy.-Through this unexampled magnanimity and clemency, very few of the ganifon loft their lives.

A numerous artillery, a confiderable number of fmall arms, a valuable stock of gun-powder, with a great quantity of fhot, and of various ordnance and military ftores, were found in the place. In the harbour two fhips richly laden, with a number of smaller vefle, were taken. The number of European military prifoners, amounted to forgething near four hundred; a few Malay officers were likewife taken, but we do not hear of any native troops they commanded.

(To be continued)

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Journal of the Proceedings of the Third Seffion of the fifteenth Parliament of Great Britain.

(Continued from page 156.)

HOUSE OF COMMON S. Monday, December 1.

TH

HE order of the day for going into the committee on the bill for vetting the affairs of the East India Company in the hands of commiffioners being read,

Mr. Powys rofe. He faid, the queftion before the house was this, whether the affairs of the Eaft India Company were reduced to fuch a ftate of defperation, as would justify the adoption of a system, which eminently threatens the liberties of this country? He was clearly against the question. If the fervants of the Company are the cause of all the anarchy complained of, recall them. He called on the right hen. Secretary to defend the principles of his bill, on thofe which had fo eminently diftinguifhed his parliamentary conduct, and had fo peculiarly drawn along with it the love, the admiration, and gratitude of his countrymen. And he would here state the difference as it operated on his own mind, between the champion of influence, and the man of the people. He imputed the prominent features of the bill, not to him, but to his noble colleague; and he lamented to fee thofe great and fplendid talents perverted, which were wont to be exerted in the caufe of Jiberty. The fyftem, which the right hon. Secretary had reprobated from the beginning, was the fyftem now to be adopted. His voice was indeed the voice of Jacob, but his hands were thofe of Efau. He contefted the competency of the bill, declared it had no other principle whatever, but that of patronage; but fubmitted it to the houfe, whether it were not better to grant the coalition a leafe of their places, than give the fanction of parliament to a measure, that ultimately would terminate in the fame thing? He said, the bill, for a very problematical good, was pregnant with the greatest evil. That hardly a veilige of the company remained. They were diftreffed, and they came in their trouble for relief; they asked for their bond, but they did not, like Shylock, afk for a pound of your flesh. He concluded with fupplicating the Speaker to keep his feat; for, by leaving the chair, he configned the conftitution, the liberties, the glory, and the dignity of the British empire, to ultimate and certain ruin.

Pay-mafter-general [Mr. Burke] urged the moft preffing and indifpenfable neceffity in fupport of the measure. Things were now in their jaft stage. Gentlemen were not aware of the vaft object to which the attention of the houfe was directed. This bill went to regulate the internal government of an extent of country equal to that of the whole German empire, and to refcue from the moft grievous tyranny, no lefs than thirty millions of people. The bill, therefore, whether coming from miniftry or op pofition, from friend or foe, from Jacob, or Efau, was entitled to the fupport of all who withed well to the happiness of mankind. He preffed the neceffity of the measure, from the oppreffion of the natives; from the horrid injustice of tuf Gent. Mag. April, 1785.

fering the most flagrant abufes to be continued, not under the fanction of parliament indeed, but in direct oppofition to its authority. Much had been faid of the violence done to the chartered rights of the Company. What were the chartered rights of the company, but a grievous mopopoly, which could never take place without encroaching on the chartered rights of every other British fubject! He wished to fee all fuch chartered rights abolished. Here he entered into a detail of the uses the company had made of their chartered rights, and fhewed in the most striking colours, that they had actually fold every perfon that confided in their fidelity; that they had never made a treaty which they were not the first to violate; and that every nation of people, who entered into their alliance or connection, were eventually ruined and undone by their treachery. How unbefeeming, then, to cry out against violence and arbitrary measures, while they perfifted in those which could bear no other epithet!

He protefted, that the Court of Directors were as corrupt as their fervants, and that corruption was provided for in the ftamina of their conftitution; and concluded with a panegyric on the author of the bill; who, by the part he had taken, had convinced the world, that his exertions were not calculated to court the popularity, but effectually, uniformly, and unequivocally, directed to the falvation of his coun try.

Mr. Duncombe was forry to differ from the right honourable gentleman, who, he faid, had loft that confidence of the people, without which, no member in this country can be fuc cefsful. The people, whofe rights he fo ably defended, were forry to be convinced of that dereliction of principle, and profeffions fo fair and honourable, that not to have believed in would have been criminal. He would not, he faid, enter into the various and specific exceptions that were notoriously obvious against every part of this defpotic bufinefs, which nothing but a relinquifhment of principle could incline any man to juftify. He reprobated the bill in the feverest terms, and protefted against diffolving the bond of property in this kingdom, under the weak pretence of reforming the abufes that have been fuffered to grow up in the government of India.

Mr. Martin afcribed this defperate measure to the ruinous effects of the late coalition. He withed there was fpeaking ftarling parched upon the Speaker's chair, to hollow in the ears of the houfe "the curfed coalition."

Sir Grey Cooper, obferved, that the language of the house on the first day of meeting was, that fomething decifive must be done. No pal liative, no half-meatures! But no fooner was there fomething brought forth, even before its features were hardly feen, than it is reprobated in the grofs, as inadequate, implacable, and abor

tive.

He was, however, fo ftrongly urged by the importance of the cafe, and the prefiure of adopting it immediately; that though neceffity was the plea of tyrants, though it was the creed of flaves; its operations, in the matter under confideration, were not to be refifted. He asked the advocates of the company, if the most fanguine of them could say they had then proD d

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perty to answer their immediate demands? He addreffed himself to the feelings of the Houfe, lamented the diftreffes of the many millions that were now fuffering under the tyranny of the company's fervants; and preffed difpatch to free thefe unhappy people from the flavery of an abandoned set of men.

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Gov. Orde oppofed the bill, chiefly on account of the vaft accumulation of patronage which it embraced. He faid it was fraught with ignominy and ruin, not only to the company, which was its more immediate victim; but alfo, and certainly, however remotely, to the liberties of the community at large.

Mr. Gregory gave a very fuccinct narrative of the company's tranfactions, from the time he entered into the direction, to the day that he left it. He faid he had long foreseen, and foretold the prefent perplexed fituation of their affairs, and that if fome specific measure was not fpeedily adopted, the ruin of the company must enfue. The measure that is now attempted fully met his idea, because it seemed to poffefs all thofe requifites which were calculated to render it effectual and compleat.

Mr. Beaufoy did not like the whole bill, but approved of feveral parts. He ftated the parts he approved, and propofed a scheme for fettling the company's affairs, without infringing its chartered rights.

Mr. S. Smith rofe to defend the Court of Directors, from the charge brought by Mr. Fox, of endeavouring to impofe upon the House, by a falfe ftatement of their affairs. He infifted upon it, that the eftimate they had delivered was fufficiently correct.

Mr. Dundas (late Lord Advocate) in a fpeech of more than two hours, took infinite pains to expofe the bad effects that would follow from the principles of the bill, which, in every light in which it could be viewed, was inimical to the conflitution. He denied the existence of that neceflity, on which the bill was founded. Said the abuses were not lefs flagrant when the charter were granted than now; and, that by the prefent meature, the right hon. Secretary out-Heroded Herod. He objected to the bill, on the ground of fetting up one empire within another empire; a minifterial within a roy al empire. An influence independent of the Crown, and which would in the end even follow the prefent minifter into private life. He explained the bill which he intended to have brought in, and defended it.

Solicitor General (Mansfield) fupported the principle of the bill, against the arguments of the learned gentleman who had juft spoke before him. He ridiculed the notion of an im

perium in imperio. And asked if the corporation of London was an imperium in imperio ? he defended the change of fyftem in the Eaft India Company, as strictly conftitutional; and contended, that no invafion of property was either made, or intended to be made, by the provifion in the bill; on the contrary, property was made more fecure, and the bufinets of the directors better regulated.

Mr. T. Pitt declared the bill to be fo big with alarm, that if to morrow were to be his laft day, he should die in more peace for the

opportunity he enjoyed that night, of expreffing his determined oppofition to it. It was one of the meatures that might be expected from a coalition, who had entered into office by feizing the reins of government by force, and who Ineant to conclude their career by giving the death-ftroke to their country.

Mr. W. Pitt went over the whole ground of the debate. He combated the necefity on which the bill was founded; endeavoured to fhew, that the Company's wants were all of a temporary nature; that a little prefent aid from parliament would enable them to recover their affairs. The statement introduced by Mr. Fox, he proved in feveral inftances to be fallacious; paid that gentleman many compliments; that he was the man of all others the most to be admired, and the moft to be dreaded; that the measure he had now brought forward was fo bold, fo violent, and fo mifchievous, that he could confider it in no other light, than as the laft stake of a desperate adventurer; who, to fave himself had risked the whole poffeflions of India. He exhorted the House to throw out the bill, as tending, in its principle, not only to diminifh, but to increafe the influence of the crown. It at prefent ferved only to establish the power of minifters; but in the end, might carry defpotifin to the throne.

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left

Mr. Fox, endeavoured to defend his bill against the feveral objections that had been made to it in the courfe of a long and fpirited debate. To the charge of its being a violation of chartered rights, and chartered property, he faid, he could, eafily comprehend the right of property in an eftate, the rents, the profits, and the produce enfuing from it; but he knew of no fuch thing as property in dominion. was the prefent cafe, the bill was not to violate, but to fecure, chartered property, and to rescue, thereby, millions of innocent people from tyranny and oppreffion. To the acceffion of influence, which gentlemen feemed fo apprehenfive of, he oppofed the inconfiftencies of the different fpeakers, one dreaded the increase of influence that the bill, fhould it pafs into a law, would throw into the fcale of the Crown; while others expreffed their concern that influence fhould be made to operate against its juft prerogatives. These different fentiments, he contended, flowed from the fame principle, a fruitless endeavour to raife jealoufies where confidence was moft to be defired. He adverted to the perfonalities which had been levelled against him. He gloried, he faid, in his prefent connections. The great and honourable families whofe confidence he poffeffed bore honourable teftimony to the uprightness of his meafures, and no temptation fhould ever prevail upon him to relinquish their caufe. He treated with contempt the feeble attempts that were made to awaken enmities in bofoms that were reconciled; and was happy, that in one thing he differed from his opponents, if, unlike them, he had forgotten his eamities, he had not, like them, abandoned his friendships. To the charge of Mr. T. Pitt, that they bad feized on the reins of government by force, he faid, they attained the places they held by a vote of that house. They had donethe fame

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Ld. Duncannon moved for the arrival of the Committee to whom the complaints of the embezzlements of flores in his Majefty's yard at Portsmouth had been referred during the last feffion of parliament. Agreed to.

Mr. Fowney obferved, that the ftate of the gaols throughout the kingdom required the ferious confideration of the Houfe. He moved for an account of all the convicts in the feveral gaols, their crimes and fentences, to be laid before the houfe. Agreed to.

The order of the day was then called for, and the committee went into the further confideration of Mr. Fox's Eat India Bill, when that gentleman proceeded to name the Commiffioners and Directors who were to be entrusted with the feveral powers and claufes of the bill, to carry the fame into execution. Thele he introduced with encomiums fuited to the refpective merits of each nominee, all whofe characters were allowed to be unexceptionable. The Right Hon. Earl Fitzwilliam was the first named; the rest in the order as follows; Right Hon. Frederick Montagu. Rigit Hon. Vifcount Lewisham, Hon. Col. North.

Sir Gilbert Elliot, Bart.

Sir Henry Fletcher, Bart. And
Robert Gregory, Efq.

Thele, the Committee agreed, should be inferted in the bill, to conftitate the board of Seven Commiffioners, which term, however, Mr. Fox moved to have changed, throughout the bill, into that of Directors, as better accomdated to the usual form of correspondence with the Company's fervants abroad.

Something was faid about the falaries to be allowed the Commiffioners; but Mr. Fox faid, he had authority from every gentleman he had named, to declare they would accept of none. He then proceeded to name the following gentlemen, to be inferted in the bill as Affiftant Directers who were to have a falary of 500l. a year each, viz. John Harrison, Efq. Richard Hall, Efq. S. Luthington, Eig. John Smith, Efq.

Geo. Comyns, Efq. John Mihie, Efq. Geo. Keating, Eiq. Tho. Cheap, Efq. And Jacob Wilkinson, Efq. But, as a difqualifying claufe was afterwards inferted in the bill, to exclude the Affiftant Di. rectors from fitting in parliament, this laft gentleman declined the office, declaring, at the fame time, that no pecuniary emolument should ever tempt him to part with that franchise. A fhort converfation then took place, relative to the time the Directors should hold their places,

which was ultimately agreed to be four years. The Committee having gone through the bill, the chairman left the chair; and

Mr. Fox moved, That the report be then received, which was agreed to, and the Houfe adjourned.

4] Mr. Attorney General rofe, he said, officially, to make a motion of a dilagreeable nature in its confequences to a member of that Houfe, and painful to himfelf. He then moved, That the record of Mr. Atkinson's conviction might be read, and obferved, that the Houfe, having before them the record of conviction of one of its members for the commiffion of a crime fo fcandalous and infamous as perjury, he prefumed they would hold it a dishonour to fuffer him to fit any longer among them. He moved, therefore, That Chriftopher Atkinson, Efq. be expelled the Houfe.'

Sir Tho. Davenport (Solicitor General) feconded the motion. He faid, that if he could formerly have entertained any doubts of the propriety of coming to a vote of expulfion with refpect to Mr. Atkinfon, a late circumstance had occurred, which would completely have re moved them. He had understood that Mr. Atkinfon's friends had preferred a bill of indictment against Mr. Bennet for perjury, whofe evidence had been the principal ground of the verdict, and who was a gentleman of fuch known integrity, that, the moment the bill came before a jury, it was inftantly thrown out, with the moft unequivocal marks of deteftation. Another ftriking mark of guilt was, that while the terror of the profecution was hanging over his head, he had caufed all his papers, relative to the matter of the profecution, to be burnt. He therefore contended, that nothing could be urged in extenuation of the crime; and he left it to the houfe to determine on the notion.

Mr. Galcoyne, fen, did not rife, he faid, as the friend of Mr. Atkinson, to oppofe the mo tion, but merely as a member of parliament, who wished only not to precipitate a measure which the Houfe might, in time, have reafon to difclaim. It were a degree of unjustifiable feverity haftily to proceed to record upon the Journals of the Houte a fentence of expulfion, to be read hereafter by the children, when the innocence of the father may be found acknowledged and recorded in the Court of Law. At this moment, he underflood that Mr. Atkinson was at liberty to fue out a writ of error, by which he might be able to fet afide the verdict, or arreft the judgement. He would fay nothing against the reputation of Mr. Bennet; but, in a tranfaction where Mr. Atkinson appeared to have feived the government in two different capacities, one as merchant, the other as factor, it was not impoffible that Mr. Bennet might mistake a particular circumftance which might be perfectly justifiable in one capacity as merchant, and which would be criminal in the other as actor; he though every humane man would feel for the fufferings of a diftreffed family, and the delay of only a single month, could not well be refufed, especially as he had authority, from two bankers of the greatelt eminence in London, to enter into fe

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