The Edinburgh Review Volume . 15 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1810 Excerpt: ...have increafed to the enormous sum of thirty-two millions; and no one of the purpofes, contemplated by the act 1793, has yet been effected. In this part of his subject, many of our author's remarks have been anticipated by the Court of Directors, who were far from acquiefcing, at any time, in the sanguine views of the Prefident of the Board of Controul. The statements of Lord Melville, indeed, were all founded on the suppofition of a continuance cf 1 peace; peace; but, certainly, the recent defpatches from India, previoufly to his celebrated letter of June 1S01, did not warrant any such assumpnon. How far the brilliant profpects which it exhibits would have been realized, even if this had been the cafe, it is now impoffible to afcertain, and uselefs to inquire, When the Marquis of Wellefley assumed the government of India, the debts of the Company at home and abroad amounted to fixteen millions, and their territorial revenues to eight millions. At prefent, the former has risen to thirty-two millions, and the latter to fifteen. The accumulation of debt, and the additional revenue, may both be fairly conffidered as the refult of that nobleman's meafures. Now, it cannot be denied, we conceive, that thofe meafures have been completely succefssul. Just or unjust politic or impolitic, all the objects which his Lordship had in view have at any rate been sully attained. Neither do we see any reafon to imagine that Lord Wellefley miscalculated the expenditure resulting from the system hi pursued; or that he at any time imagined that his objects were attainable, without producing most o the confequences which have enfued. Now, upon this suppofition, the following dilemma is inevitable: --either Lord Wellefley'a measures were expedient, or they were inexpedient. ...