papers pray that a censor may be appointed. | sess the freedom of the press more than any They would be happy if a censor were set over other European nation (though not to the extent them (this we may say from personal knowledge), we wish), in the daily exercise of this invaluable as then they could rest satisfied that what they privilege; feeling all this, and seeing Mr. Fox inserted would not incur displeasure. But no: come fresh from France to attack the press, we no censor will be appointed; and even the most should deserve to be put down as "paltry libelabject flatterer of Buonaparté, is afraid that by lers," and "contemptible calumniators;' -we an act of flattery he may offend, or by an article should no longer deserve to enjoy the liberty of of news which the editor may think harmless. the press in any degree, if we did not stand up By any of those accidents, against which the in our own defence, even against such heavy greatest prudence cannot guard, the editor may charges, urged as they are by so great an autho draw down Consular vengeance; seals may then rity and such powerful abilities, to assert that be put upon his presses, his paper be stopped, liberty even in the face of Mr. Fox, and shew and his family ruined. He may even think him- the world by our sense of its value that we deself happy if a troop of soldiers does not convey serve to possess it. him to prison; and for a crime, too, the nature Some of Mr. Fox's friends are no better of which he may never be informed. Such is friends to the liberty of the press, we fear, than the state of the press in France. In England, Mr. Fox himself. Because we have presumed to the law of what is or what is not a libel stands answer the charges of Mr. Fox, because we precisely as Mr. Fox placed it by his Libel Bill, make a defence, we are accused of abusing him, and as it has stood for centuries. It is true, that and threatened with the loss of his friends' cus printing presses are registered, proptietors of tom. This is their liberty of the press! Mr. newspapers are registered, printers must affix Fox makes a charge on hearsay evidence, he contheir names to the works they print, and certain fesses he has not read the newspapers; he is libels on the King or his government may, on manifestly misinformed, and on this misinforma❤ a second conviction, be made transportable of- tion he attacks the newspapers in the most un fences. These are all restrictions to which we qualified language. The Morning Post takes are not friendly, and we were the less friendly the liberty of defending itself, and of endeavourto them at the time they were passed into law, ing to shew that Mr. Fox, misled, has commitas they seemed to originate in a spirit of hostility ted an act of injustice. What is the result? Mr. against the press altogether. But with all these Fox's friends say they will discontinue the paper, restrictions, the question of what is or what is because it abuses him. Are we then to sit down not a libel is precisely as it was placed by Mr. mute under Mr. Fox's njust, not to say illibeFox's Declaratory Bill; and yet Mr. Fox insinu- ral rebuke? We must be condemned unheard, ates that the liberty of the press is nearly as however conscious we may be of the rectitude of much restricted as in France. To prove the our conduct, or Mr. Fox's friends will leave off freedom of the press does not exist in this coun- the paper! Here is freedom of discussion, and try so much as formerly, Mr. Fox asks, if a man the liberty of the press!--This is true Consular writes bold truths against the government, whe-liberty-the liberty of writing and railing all on ther he can get any person to publish them, as he formerly could have done? By "bold truths" Mr. Fox must mean "libels." If they be not libels, the publisher knows that a jury will protect him against the vengeance of governnient. If they be libels, would Mr. Fox have them pass with impunity? Does Mr. Fox think that juries are too ready to convict? Can it be denied that a number of wicked and inflammatory libels were circulated in cheap publications, with the design of stirring up an ignorant populace? Were these the "bold truths" to which Mr. Fox alludes? Do not the newspapers speak "bold truths" against the government? The public will acknowledge they do, whatever may be Mr. Fox's opinion. The pages of The Morning Chronicle, The Morning Post, and other publications, will answer the question. And yet against these very newspapers, which are the most ready channels through which to convey "bold truths," in the very moment when their appearance may prevent bad measures; against these very channels, Mr. Fox indulges in the severest censure, because they have spoken "bold truths" of Buonaparté! The moment the journalists speak 'bold truths" of the Chief Consul, they become "contemptible libellers," "base calumniators," &c. Feeling that we pos

one side. The moment we dare to question the assertion of Mr. Fox, from that moment we are no friends of liberty. We may speak "bold truths" of the English Government as much as we please, but if we doubt Mr. Fox's infallibility, or defend ourselves when attacked by him, then our paper is not fit to be read, and Mr. Fox's friends turn it out.

Such being their notions of the liberty of the press, when his opinions are called in question, we are not surprised to hear that we are accused of abusing Mr. Fox. Those who shink it impossible for Mr. Fox to err, call any inquiry into the truth of his opinions abuse. You must either believe or be d-d, this is the doctrine of these gentlemen. But if ever they should be seized with a fit of candour, we should be obliged to them to peruse again the articles in The Morn ing Post, and to point out any one passage which can be truly described as abuse. Have we said any thing so harsh of Mr. Fox as he has said of The Morning Post? Have we charged him with "contriving something in his speeches only to excite curiosity, from paltry considerations." Have we represented him as a calumniator of the people of England, waging a contemptible warfare? Have we called him a libeller? He has said all these things of the newspapers, and par

ticularly of The Morning Post; but we have not, in the slightest degree, retorted upon him, unless reasoning to shew that his charges were unjust can be called such a retort. In the course of this discussion, we have introduced nothing for the purpose of attacking Mr. Fox, or that was not necessary to our own defence against his attacks: neither have we spoken of him in disrespectful terms, or with invective.-Mr. Fox's best friends are not those who fawn upon his foibles; and whether it displease Mr. Fox, or his friends, we shall not cease to esteem a man who has so essentially served his country, or to speak out with freedom whenever we see reason to lament his conduct. Under these circumstances we hope Mr. Fox's friends will again patronise The Morning Post, and that they will shew they can endure the liberty of the press as well as applaud its adulation.

thereby radically re-established and restored to its primitive institution, the city has completely satisfied the guarantee to which she is at all times engaged, whilst, on the other hand, there has been the said city, as on that of the commissaries of taken, both on the part of the administration of the bank, the necessary measures and precautions to render in future impossible all attack upon that interested the most assured pledge of the inviola primitive institution, and to give to all persons bility of that depôt, and of the unalterable will of the administration, that it shall be sheltered from all infraction. That the administration of the said city, endeavouring to operate this precious establishment in the most easy and advantageous manner to the person interested, and in order to fayour, as much as possible, the circulation of the bank-money, have determined from the 19th of last July, to cause to cease at the opening of the bank, which took place on the 30th of the said month, the imposition of a demi-sol for each hundred florins, stipulated by the resolution of the council of commune, of the 31st March, 1796, upon payments in bank, and to fix it on the antient footing of three sols for each party written in bank: the superintendants having besides been charged by the said resolution of the 19th of July last, to revise (in concert with the commissaries,) the reglulation and ordinances of the bank, to make in them the alterations required by the present circumstances, and to offer them afterwards to the sanction of the administration. That all the regulations, and above-mentioned ordinances being essentially to remain in all their force and vigour until the necessary changes shall

Mr. Fox's Definition of a Despot. The Minister was offended at the expression of German despots; but his honourable friend, who had made use of the expression, had styled these momarchs properly; for they had manifested to the world that their uniform intention was to make the increase of their power the rule of their conduct. Debrett's Parliamentary Debates, vol. xl. p. 405. Extract from Mr. Fox's Speech at the Whig Club. A malignant influence unfortunately prevails over the conduct of the national defence; but the interence is not, that we hould be slack or remiss, or inactive in resisting the enemy ;-the true in-have been made in them upon the proposition of ference is, that the Friends of Liberty should, with the spirit and zeal that belong to their manly character, exert themselves in averting a foreign yoke; never forgetting that in happier and more favourable times, it will be EQUALLY their duty to se EVERY EFFORT to shake off the YOKE OF OUR ENGLISH TYRANTS.-Morning Post, May 2, 1798.A few days after the delivery of this speech, His MAJESTY thought proper to mark his disapprobation of Mr. Fox's conduct, by causing his name to be erased from the

Council Book.

AMSTERDAM BANK.

The following paper, relative to the bank of Amsterdam, is certainly of considerable importance to the commercial world.-The intermediate administration of the commune of Amsterdam having nothing more at heart than to establish upon solid bases, the well-being of this city, and particularly the prosperity of its commerce, has the satisfaction to make known to whomever it concerns, that the commissioners of the bank of this city have declared to them, by their report of the 19th of July last, that the deficit which was found in the bank, has been entirely filled by the payments made by and on the part of the treasury; and that it appears by the account they have drawn up, and of which they have sent a copy, both the said treasury and the superintendants of the bank, that all the pretensions of the bank, at the charge of the city, have been fully acquitted and replaced by specie; so that at present there is no bank money in circulation which does not rest upon effective and metallic value, in specie, ingots, and monies deposited in the above-mentioned bank: that the bank being

the said commission, and being to that effect, and necessarily expressly confirmed and renewed here, the intermediate administration have judged it in all respects suitable and useful in changing what has been ordered and decreed by anterior laws upon the payments in bank to resolve by the pre

sent :

Art, I. That the value of every bill of exchange which shall be drawn or negotiated in this city, after the 30th of the month of October, approaching upon places situated out of the republic, and the amount of which shall be 300 florins and upwards, shall be acquitted in the bank of this city. -II. That all bills of exchange upon, or payable in this city, of the value of 300 florins and upwards, drawn from places situated in the French repub. Gt. Britain, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, shall also be paid in bank after the 31st Jan. 1803.—IIL That every bill of exchange which, conformably to the Art. I. and II. is to be acquitted in bank, and shall be proved to have been done in any other manner, shall be held to be all paid, and each of the two contravening persons shall pay a fine of 5 per cent. upon the total sum of these payments made out of the bank.-IV. That, as payments of bills of exchange will not be considered good, but conformably to the 1st and ad Art. the usage introduced for some time of writing in bank to oneself for another, as well as that of regulating the payment of it in current money, shall cease at the periods mentioned in the said articles; the resolution of the council of commune of the 6th Oct. 1796, being in that respect revoked by the present. A. Teyler Van Hall. Decreed and published the 24th Sept. 1802. By order of the intermediate commission of the commune of Amsterdam. F. J. Pelletier.

highness the nabob's palace. It being the intention of the rt hon. the governor in council, that every degree of attention and conciliation should be shewn to the personal wishes of the nabob, his ldp is desirous that you should be studious to meet his highness's wishes in every point, not involving the security of the great object entrusted to your care.

obtained for the passage from the palace. I am, sir,
your obedient servant,
J. WEBBE, Chief Sec. to Govt.
Fort St. George, 6th July, 1801.

No. 2. Copy of Instructions to Lieut. Col. Bowser,
dated 11th July 1801.

Sir, The rt hon. the governor in council having In addition to the general instructions contained judged it expedient to assemble a small force, conin my letter of yesterday, I am directed to desire sisting of 5 companies of the 2d batt. 17th regt of that the greatest degree of caution may be used in native infantry, 5 troops of the 2d regt. native cayour communication with the nabob, or with his valry, and 2 six-pounders with a proportion of are highness's family and ministers, to avoid the ap-tillery, I am directed to inform you, that the rt. pearance of any concurrence on the part of the hon. the governor in council has selected you to British govt in the arrangements which his high-command it; you will accordingly proceed to ness may be desirous of making with respect either to his immediate property, or to the general affairs of the Carnatic; for the same reason you will abstain from giving countenance to any party which may be formed in the palace in favour of any part of the nabob's family, or of his highness's

ministers.

join the detachment which is now encamped in the bed of the Long Tank, and take whatever measures may be necessary for keeping it ready to move at a short notice. I am, &c.

J. WEBBE, Chief Sec. to Govt. Fort St. George, 11th July, 1801.

It is understood that the principal part of the No. 3. Copy of Instruc. to Messrs. Webbe and Cler, nabob's treasure is deposited in the apartments of dated 15th July, 1801; when they proceeded to the his highness's sister, the Boody Beegum; and I Palace of the late Nabob Omdut ul Omrak. am directed to communicate this intelligence to To Josiah Webbe, Esq. and Lieut, Col. Close.—Genyou, in order that your attention may be particu- tlemen, In consequence of the death of his highlarly directed to those apartments, in carrying into ness the nabob Omdut ul Omrah, it is my earnest execution his Idp's orders for preventing the re-desire, founded on the instructions of his excel. moval of the treasure from Chepauk. I am, &c. J. WEBBE, Chief Sec. of Govt.

Fort St. George, 5th July, 1801.
To J. Webbe, Esq. Chief Sec.-Sir, I have the ho-
nour of your letter of this date, and I beg leave to
assure the rt hon. the governor in council, that
every part of his log's orders shall be duly ob-

served and executed.

lency the gov. general, that a complete adjust

ment of the affairs of the Carnatic should be made with the least practicable delay.

The nature of the evidence which has been ob

tained of the violation of the alliance by the nabobs Mahomed Ali and Omdut ul Omrah, and the course of reasoning upon the condition in which the family of their highnesses has, by that discovery, been placed in relation to the British govi, are subjects so familiar to you, that any particular instructions from me with regard to the principles, or to the detailed considerations of the question,

I have taken such precautions as I think will render it altogether impossible for treasure (unless in very small sums, or in covered doolies) to be carried out of any part of the palace. May I request the honour of his Idp's permission to apprize appear to be superfluous. It will be sufficient the naboh that conveyances of that description are for me therefore to state, that the death of the na not expected to be sent from the palace-I have bob has produced no change in the principles by the honour to be, &c. D. MAC NEIL, Lt. Col.which it will be proper to regulate the conduct of Chepauk, 5th July, 1801.

To Lieut. Col. Mac Neil, commanding a detachment at Chepauk-Sir, In reply to your letter of last night I am directed to acquaint you, that until his highness the nabob shall expire, the rt hon. the governor in council does not consider it expedient to impose any restraint on the egress of covered palankeens from the palace of Chepauk; but after that event shall have happened, you will prevent the issue of covered palankeens from the palace, until you shall have received further orders from the governor in council,

In issuing these instructions, the governor in council confines the operation of them to the period of time during which order shall prevail in the interior of the palace; but if any commotion should arise previously to the death of the nabob, you will take effectual measures for restraining the issue of treasure, by any mode of conveyance whatever, until you shall have received the further directions of the governor in council.

If, previously to the death of the nabob, you shall have reason to suspect an attempt to carry treasure from the palace, without his highness's consent, you will also in that event restrain the issue of it, until the nabob's consent shall be

the British govt towards the family of his highness: but in the application of those principles to the actual state of affairs, I judge it to be of the greatest importance to the national character, as well as to the critical state of our affairs, that the arrangement of the affairs of the Carnatic should be ad

justed by an amicable negociation. I accordingly authorize and empower you to exercise your own depute you to conduct this negociation, and hereby discretion for the purpose of carrying into effect my intentions, and the instructions of his excel lency the gov. general. The officer command.ng the forces at Chepauk will obey such orders as he CLIVE may receive from you. I am, &c.

Fort St. George, 15th July, 1801.

No. 4. Report of Messrs, Webbe and Close, explanatory of their Proceedings at the Palace of his late Higlass the Nabob, in their Interviews or Negociations with the Regents and Taje ul Omrah.-[N. B. In this document are contained the propositions from Taje u Omrah, and from Najeeb Khan and Juke Ali Khan, required by the 4th and 5th orders of the honourable house.

July 15th, 1801.In conformity to your lép's

instructions, we proceeded to the palace of Che- The will having been opened and read by Kadir pauk, having previously caused a message inti- Nawas Khan, was found to be an authentic inmating our approach to be communicated, through strument, expressing in clear, distinct, and exthe channel of licut. col. Mac Neil, to the princi- plicit terms, the will of the nabob Omdut ul Ompal officers of the late nabob Omdut ul Omrah. On rah, that his reputed son (Ally Hussain) should qur arrival at Chepauk, we were received by succeed him in the possession of all his rights, Nejeeb Khan, Tuckia Ally Khan, Kadar Nawas possessions, property, and in the sovereignty of Khan, and Mr. Thos Barrett, who introduced them- the Carnatic. The will also appointed Mahomed selves as the principal officers of the govt of his Nejeeb Khan, Salar Jung, and Tuckia Ally Khan, highness Omdut ul Omrah, Nejeeb Khan ap- to assist the reputed son of Omdut ul Omrah in the peared to hold no distinct office, but to have been administration of his affairs. The will having a companion of the family since the time of An- been read, we excused ourselves to Ally Hussain war ud deen Khan, and to have been consulted for an intrusion, which, although unseasonable, generally on all occasions of interest to the nabob was indispensably necessary; and he immediately of the Carnatic. Tuckia Ally Khan was entrust-retired, returning expressions of civility. On the with the military affairs of the late nabob. Kidir departure of Ally Hussain, we requested a private Nawas Khan superintended the general and inter-conference with the two Khans only, who had pal department of his highness's govt: but the been appointed by the will of Omdut ul Omrah to most important department of his highness's govt, assist the counsels of his son. After some prepathe administration of the revenues of the Carnatic,ratory observations on the importance of the subhad been entrusted to the charge of Mr. Barrett.ject, which we were desirous of discussing, and As that branch of the nabob's govt affected more on the consequent necessity of superseding the particularly than any other the rights and interests ordinary forms observed in private families on of the company, we judge it to be proper to ex- similar occasions of misfortune, we proceeded, plain to your ldp, that Mr. Barrett is of the lowest with the concurrence of the Khans, to state the tribe of Portugueze, equally destitute of edu-nature of the written documents discovered at cation, manners, and knowledge. We enquired Seringapatam. Nejeeb Khan expressed the greatwhether any particular arrangement had been est degree of surprize at this communication, promade by the nabob for the administration of the fessed his entire ignorance of the subject, and proaffairs of his govt, in the event which had recent tested that it was impossible for the nabob Omdut ly occurred; and having been informed that an ul Omrah to cherish the intentions imputed to his authentic will, under his seal and signature, had highness. Some of the principal documents havbeen left by Omdut ul Omrah, we desired that it ing been produced, Nejeeb Khan asserted, that might be produced. Nejeeb Khan, who directed they contained none but expressions of civility and the conversation, made the usual objections, compliment; that the marq. Cornwallis had refounded on the recency of the nabob's death, on peatedly enjoined the nabobs Mahomed Ally and the necessity of allowing a sufficient interval of Omdut ul Omrah, to cultivate a friendly inter time for the ceremonies of the occasion, and on course with Tippoo Sultaun; that the whole ten. the decorum of postponing to open the will until dency of the correspondence produced was di the heir appointed should be at liberty, in con- rected to that object in conformity to the injuncformity to the usual practice, to attend to the trans- tions of Id Cornwallis, and that the nabob Omdut action of public business. We replied, that theul Omrah had recently addressed himself to ld Brit. govt was aware of the prevailing usages observed by the professors of the Mahomedan religion on all ordinary occasions of this nature; that › your ldp could have no wish that those usages should be unnecessarily transgressed; but that the affairs of a great govt, on which our request was founded, could not be regulated by the ordinary practice of individual families. Having in consequence been informed that the nabob had appointed his reputed son (Fadjul Omrah, commonly called Ally Hussain) to be his sole heir, we again urged the necessity of producing the will, and requested that the young man should be introduced to us. The Khans having retired to consider this demand, we learnt, during a desultory conversation with Mr. Barrett, that the nabob Omdut ul Omrah had become acquainted with the intention of Hussam ul Mulk to employ an armed force at the palace of Chepauk for the accomplishment of his views, at the expected termination of his highness's life; that the measure of stationing a body of the company's troops for the protection of the family, had in consequence been entirely acceptable to his highness, and (to use his own figurative expression) that the security, derived from that arrangement, had been the means of prolonging his highness's life. The Khans having been joined by Mr. Barrett, returned, assenting to our request; and, after a short delay, the young man was introduced with the will in his hand,

Cornwallis on the subject of these communications; the particular warmth of the expressions used by Omdut ul Omrah, in his letter addressed to Cholam Ally Khan on the 14th Mohurrum 1209, having been pointed out to Nejeeb Khan, he observed that it was nothing more than an expression of civility which might have been used on any ordinary occasion. The copy of the cypher having been produced, Nejeeb Khan took the opportunity of saying that the moonshy of the nabob was present, and could be examined with respect to the authenticity of the hand-writing; that although the cypher appeared, as was stated by us, to be a paper of a very secret nature, calculated to provide for the transaction of affairs of great importance, it might have been conveyed into the archives of Tippoo Sultaun by the enemies of Omdut ul Omrah; that, upon being furnished with the proofs of the supposed treacherous intercourse between Tippoo Sultaun and the family of the nabob Mohamed Ally, such explanations should be afforded, and such answers given, as the different cases might require, and that, the proofs being compared, the company might form a complete judg ment, This discourse being apparently intended to confound the object of our deputation, we stated to the two Khans that in cases of disputed points between independent powers, neither party could erect itself into a judge of the conduct of the other party; that on those questions an appeal could he