A. D. 1783. 29 



cd. In the courfe of this year the fcveral powers of Europe, who had 

 not hitherto entered into treaties with the United flates, nor acknow- 

 leged their independence, concluded commercial treaties with them as 

 a Ibvereign nation. It is not unworthy of notice, that Spain, after en- 

 tering into a war, the objeft of which was to effedl the independence of 

 America, was, notwithftanding, unwilling to acknowlege that independ- 

 ence, after it was finally confirmed and recognized by the power, from 

 whom it was extorted. 



November 1 8"' — Soon after the commencement of the feflion of par- 

 hament Mr. Fox, then one of the fecretaries of ilate, brought fonvard 

 his two bills for regulating the affairs of the Eaft-India company, both 

 at home and in their territorial pofiTeffions in India. As they engaged, 

 perhaps, more of the public attention, than ever was beftowed upon any 

 bills, which did not pafs into laws, it may be proper here to give a brief 

 abftrad of them. 



The hill for vefling the affairs of the Lafl-India company in the hands of 

 certain commiffioners,for the benefit of the proprietors and the public, 

 began with obferving, that great diforders prevailed in the management 

 of the territorial pofleflions, revenues, and commerce, of this kingdom 

 in India, and propofed, that the government of the directors and pro- 

 prietors (hould be fufpended, and their powers fiiould be vefted in feven 

 noblemen and gentlemen named in the bill as commiflioners or princip- 

 al diredtors, who fhould immediately take pofleflion of all lands, tene- 

 ments, books, records, veffels, goods, money, and fecurities, in trufl for 

 the company ; and that there fliould alfo be nine affiflant directors, con- 

 fifting of proprietors of /^2,ooo in the company's flock, alfo named in 

 the bill, to be entirely fubordinate to, and removeable by, the principal 

 diredors. The vacancies in the principal board were to be filled up by 

 the king, and thofe in the board of afliftants by the votes of the quali- 

 fied proprietors of Eaft-India ftock, given openly, and not by ballot. 

 The directors were alfo to give their votes openly, and, in cafe of differ- 

 ence of opinion to enter their reafons upon their journals. All perfons 

 concerned in mercantile tranfadions with the company, and perfons 

 charged with corruption or peculation in India, and not acquitted, were 

 to be excluded from being diredors or afliftant diredlors, as was alfo 

 every perfon returned from the company's fervice in India till two years 

 after his return. The diredors were every fix months to lay their ac- 

 counts before a general court of proprietors, and alfo fubmit them to 

 the infpedion of the treafury and parliament within twenty days after 

 the commencement of every feflion. They were vefted with full power 

 to remove, or fufpend, from any ftation, civil or military, in the com- 

 pany's fervice : and they were enjoined to attend to every charge of pe- 

 culation, ufury, receipt of prefents, oppreffion, or breach of orders .; 

 and; fhould they fee reafon to acquit the perfons fo charged, to enter 



