use he
now presumes to take merit to himself. I will read this part of the act
to your Lordships.

[_Mr. Burke here read 24th Geo. III. cap. 25, sect. 34._]

"And whereas to pursue schemes of conquest and extension of
dominion in India are measures repugnant to the wish, the honor,
and policy of this nation, be it therefore further enacted by the
authority aforesaid, that it shall not be lawful for the
Governor-General and Council of Port William aforesaid, without the
express command and authority of the said Court of Directors, or of
the Secret Committee of the said Court of Directors, in any case,
(except where hostilities have actually been commenced, or
preparations actually made for the commencement of hostilities,
against the British nation in India, or against some of the princes
or states dependent thereon, or whose territories the said United
Company shall be at such time engaged by any subsisting treaty to
defend or guaranty,) either to declare war, or commence
hostilities, or enter into any treaty for making war, against any
of the country princes or states in India, or any treaty for
guarantying the possessions of any country princes or states; and
that in such case it shall not be lawful for the said
Governor-General and Council to declare war, or commence
hostilities, or enter into treaty for making war, against any other
prince or state than such as shall be actually committing
hostilities or making preparations as aforesaid, or to make such
treaty for guarantying the possessions of any prince or state, but
upon the consideration of such prince or state actually engaging to
assist the Company against such hostilities commenced or
preparations made as aforesaid; and in all cases where hostilities
shall be commenced or treaty made, the said Governor-General and
Council shall, by the most expeditious means they can devise,
communicate the same unto the said Court of Directors, together
with a full state of the information and intelligence upon which
they shall have commenced such hostilities or made such treaties,
and their motives and reasons for the same at large."

It is the first act of the kind that ever was made in this kingdom, the
first statute, I believe, that ever was made by the legislature of any
nation, upon the subject; and it was ma