We must suppose the legislature will be as jealous of their resolutions, as the East-India company are of theirs. You cannot have forgot the proceedings of a late general court, upon the subject of dismissing the prosecutions brought against some of your servants abroad.--This business was brought on at that court, on account of the clamours raised without doors, and at the recommendation of a worthy member, to whom you owe the two acts of parliament, that you then so much desired to be made, and now so much wish to break through. It was proposed at that court, that the question for dismissing these prosecutions should be put to a ballot, to convince all the world, that the resolution of the 6th of May, for this dismission, which was confirmed on the 8th, was not a partial one, but agreeable to the sense of all the proprietors taken at large. I believe there was not a proprietor in the court who did not wish that such a ballot could be taken; but when it came to be considered, that the question then proposed to be submitted to a third decision, had been unanimously voted on the 6th of May, and as unanimously confirmed on the 8th, the great importance of giving weight, and stability, to their resolutions, determined the wisdom of that court, to put the propriety of such a measure to the test of a previous question, which was proposed, put, and carried, by a great and respectable majority, against a third consideration. You will after this, Gentlemen, assume with an ill grace, that the parliament are not to support these resolutions; however you may wish to have them reconsidered, or repealed. They certainly will support their resolutions, and I need not remind you that the breach of an act of parliament will be a forfeiture of your charter.--And though a gentle administration might treat your dividing upon such a notion of a mistake with great lenity, what are you not to expect, if the minister should say, you have made the dividend we meant to restrain; we restrained it, because you convinced us it would be improper and improvident; you have since changed your mind, and you would alter the law? Here even the lenity of the present ministry cannot avail you; your charter would be forfeited, and the world would not pity, but laugh at your presumption. But to suppose still, that the legislature are mistaken, may we not suppose too a change in the present administration, and that a future minister may embrace this, as a fair opportunity, to seize upon the charter, or at least to squeeze the company, and make them purchase a forgiveness at a very high price? If we plead that we injured nobody, it may be said, we have insulted the dignity of parliament, and a minister, who may be no friend to the company, will have a very plausible pretence to make you part with your millions for the public good.