>f a Proposed Speech 
 by a Proprietor, Upon the Pol 
 
 < ng the 
 -.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 HEADS 
 
 or A 
 
 PROPOSED SPEECH, 
 
 BY A PROPRIETOR, 
 
 UPON THE POLICY OF RENEWING THE 
 
 COMPANY'S MONOPOLY, &c, 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRIXTIO JN
 
 
 HEADS, &c. 
 
 WE are now met to difcufs the moft 
 important points, and ought to paufe 
 long upon them. What momentous, what 
 inconceivable revolutions have lately been ef- 
 fected within a fhort period ! America is now 
 a feparate empire, and the effects of her in- 
 dependance are only now beginning to influ- 
 ence our commerce and carrying trade. Aiia 
 is our great object, and we fliould be cautious 
 how we manage our extenfive poffeflions 
 there as Sovereigns. Let us rife fuperior to 
 the narrow views of merchants, and adopt 
 an enlarged policy. Hitherto the obferva- 
 n of Adam Smith has been too much veri- 
 fied, where he fays, that " a company of 
 " merchants is, it feems, incapable of con- 
 A 2 fidering 
 
 3548O5
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 " fidering themfelves as Sovereigns, even 
 " after they have became fuch ; - trade, or 
 " buying in order to fell again, they ftill con - 
 " fider as the principal bufinefs, and, by a 
 " ft range abfurdity, regard the character of 
 " the Sovereign as but an appendix to that 
 " of the merchant, as fomething which 
 " ought to. be made fubfervient to it, or by 
 " means of which they may be enabled to 
 " fell cheaper in India, and thereby to fell . 
 " with a better profit in Europe; they en- 
 " deavour for this purpofe to keep, out as 
 " much as porBble all competitors from the 
 " market of the countries which are fubject 
 " to their government, and confequently to 
 " reduce, at leaft, fome part of the furplus 
 " produce of thofe countries to what is bare- 
 " ly .fufficient for fupplying their own de- 
 " mand, or to what they can expecT: to fell 
 " in Europe, with fuch a profit as they may 
 " think reafonable ; their mercantile habits 
 <f draw them in this manner almoft necefTa- 
 " rily, though perhaps infenfibly, to prefer 
 *' upon all ordinary occafions the Tittle and . 
 " tranjitory profit of the monopolifl to the , 
 " great and permanent revenue of the Sove- 
 (s reign."
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 Have we not made ourfelves obnoxious to 
 the above remark, even in our anfwers to 
 Mr. Dundas, wherein we object in the cha- 
 racter of monopolies to the permiffion for 
 individuals to import* as it would reduce 
 the price of our inveftments, and therefore 
 perferred granting Bills upon Leadenhall- 
 ftreet. When attacked by propofitions for 
 monopoly, we afliime the character of Sove- 
 reigns, and obferve upon the immodeft and 
 ungenerous rcqueft of the cotton manufactu- 
 rers, to exclude the muflins, &c. of our fub- 
 jedts in India from ufe in Great Britain; 
 " that it is an expedient which the kgiflature 
 " of this country never can adopt from motives 
 " of humanity and juftice." Would not the 
 commerical fervants complain of inability to 
 fupply inveftments ? Would not the collector 
 reprefent that the fpecie does not come to his 
 diftrict as heretofore for cloths, and that he 
 cannot realize his revenue ? would not the 
 weavers famifliing cry aloud for fupport ? 
 would net the landholder exclaim ? would not 
 all Afia execrate the deed ? 
 
 Providence has beflowed upon us an ex- 
 teniive territory, under a benign climate, with 
 great fertility, with variety of productions, 
 
 and
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 and millions of inhabitants. When we firil 
 acquired thefe invaluable poflefHons, we found 
 the throne of Delhi tottering to its founda- 
 tion, and the nobles divided amongft them- 
 felves.: our unanimity and difcipline foon 
 triumphed over their difcord and confufion ; 
 thoufands and tens of thoufands fled before 
 our hundreds. After this they annually farmed 
 from us the deftrudive privilege of preying 
 upon each other. The manufactures of In- 
 , dia which before went to Europe in exchange 
 for goods and fpecie, were now tranfmitted to 
 Europe as a tribute : nay, the Dutch, Danes, 
 and French, provided inveftments, with the 
 fortunes of the company's civil and military 
 fervants. The confequences of thefe mea- 
 fures were foon feen in Afia, in the decline of 
 agriculture and manufactures, but Great Bri- 
 tain was greatly fupported during the war, by 
 this influx of real wealth, by the tribute of the 
 United Eaft Company, and by the fortunes of 
 individuals through foreign companies -, both 
 being equal gain to the nation. The govern- 
 ment, however, noticed, upon this occafion, 
 one obvious evil, namely, that the foreign com- 
 panies did not fend fpecie to Alia, and became 
 the carriers of the companies fervants, to the 
 increafe of their fhipping, and to their advan- 
 8 tage,
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 tage, whilft they did not purchafe fo much 
 or fo dear in Leadenhall-ftreet. To prevent 
 this, the company was compelled to open a 
 channel of remittance by granting bills from 
 India on England, and a law was enacted to 
 make the trade illegal. What has been the 
 effect of thefe regulations ? A great influx of 
 paper, without a proportional increafe of in- 
 veftments; foreigners for a time were em- 
 barraffed, but they are fending fpecie and 
 goods to buy the commodities of the Eaft. 
 Spaniards, Americans, and Britifh illicit trad- 
 ers (as they are termed) now refort to the 
 Eaft, in addition to the eftablimed foreign 
 companies ; already their exports exceed thofe 
 of the United Eaft Company, and they will 
 annually increafe. We behold only the point 
 of the wedge, which is now forcing itfelf to 
 ferious attention : feme recommend coercive 
 laws to prevent Britifh merchants in India 
 from acting for foreigners. Let us examine 
 what will be the probable confequence. The 
 Britifh American and native merchants will 
 take up their refidence in foreign factories : 
 Calcutta will only be the depot of the com- 
 panies merchandize, whilft Serampore, Chan- 
 dernagore, and Chinfura, will be full of goods, 
 
 and
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 and crowded with feamen, agents, merchants, 
 &c. Coniider how this will increafe the 
 foreign companies, towns, and fifcal revenues, 
 and what a dangerous naval force it will give 
 to them. I hear every one arguing as if 
 Europeans muft fend fpecie or goods to pur- 
 chafe, fince the companies ferv-ants no longer 
 have great fortunes to remit -, but we do not 
 perceive, that as the fortunes of the fervants 
 have diminifhed in the proportion of one, 
 thofe of the natives have increafed in the pro- 
 portion of four. The native merchants have 
 goods of all kinds ready at Calcutta, and if 
 they cannot vend them to European mer- 
 chants, they will foon fhip them to be fold 
 in Europe, on their account, and rely 
 upon European agents to remit back the 
 amount of the fales. The company ought 
 to allow private mips to go under their paif- 
 port, to become the carriers of Afia's fuper- 
 abundance, the owners of thofe mips binding 
 themfelves under a penalty to bring back the 
 produce of Afia to fome port of Great Britain 
 or Ireland. If the company are delirous of 
 enjoying the carrying trade, let them obtain 
 it by fuperior terms, but not by monopoly 5 
 for I mufl agree in this with the Glafgow 
 
 mer-
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 merchants, " that the plan propofed of indivi- 
 " duals or private companies exporting and im- 
 " porting merchandize in the companies fhips, 
 te will be entirely nugatory. For a trade Jo 
 " Jh'ackfed by means of flips, factors, 'ware-' 
 " houfes, &c. at home and abroad belonging to 
 " the company, ivbofe inter eft may not perhaps 
 " always be in confonance wit A thofe of private 
 " adventurers, would be a fource of eternal 
 " heart-burning and complaint, fometimes pro- 
 " ceedingfrom real caufes, and fome times from 
 (e unfounded jealoujy or inevitable dif appoint- 
 " meat" 
 
 Individuals will not have it in their power 
 fo much to interfere in the interior of India, 
 if Britiflo merchants, as if foreign, becaufe the 
 former muft be more attached and refponfible 
 to the company's adminiftration ; rules more- 
 over might be added if requifite to reftricT: 
 them to certain fpots. Laws make men. 
 Moral caufes operate much more than phy- 
 fical, and the natives now no longer fly from 
 a European, or helitate to become his com- 
 petitor in traffic -, in fome ports indeed of 
 native powers, the private trader might find 
 admifiion where the company would be ex-f 
 B eluded.
 
 r 
 
 eluded. The name of company and con- 
 queror is fynonimous ; under the plea of trade 
 the company were received in Bengal,, and on 
 the Coromandel Cpaft, and they now have 
 their forts, armies, and territories : Et timeo 
 Danaos etiam dona ferentes, is the maxim of 
 the native powers. The letters of Mr. Malet 
 and Kennaway introduced in the report of the 
 ieled: committee as arguments in favor of 
 the company, ftrongly illuilrate my argument ; 
 Mr. Malet apprehends " awakening the jea- 
 " loiify and fufpidon" of the Mahrattas, and 
 Mr. Kennaway obferves, that the company's, 
 commercial views " would be conftrued into- 
 " fomejinijler intention by the Nizam" The 
 company mould, I think, bring home their 
 tributary investments. as they mail pleafe, and 
 that the private trade of Afia, as it is called, 
 v ihould be free, if the traders bound them- 
 felves not to acl in any manner to create dif- 
 turbances which is not now eafy to be done.. 
 
 It will be urged that foreigners will have, 
 the advantage of us flill, as the duties at 
 home are fo heavy, and as thole in Afia are 
 done away. I acknowledge it : but duties 
 may foon be re-eftabliihed in Afia, and en- 
 courage-
 
 couragcments afforded here to make Great 
 Britain the emporium. The committee of 
 warehouses,, in their riiaflerly report upon v/ 
 fugars, wifely commence with obferving, 
 
 " Tkat the only true and effectual way in 
 " which Great Britain can be benefited by the^ ., 
 *' territorial acquifitions in India , is through 
 ft the jnedium of an extenjive commerce." 
 
 The Company pay cuftoms, charges, 
 freight and merchandize one million an- 
 nually ; every Shilling fpent in Great Britain 
 comes, fooner or later, into the public Exche- 
 quer; what a lofs mufl be fuffered if the 
 private trade is thrown into a foreign chan- 
 nel ! Fortunes ought to come home in goods 
 and not in paper : the former is intrinfic 
 wealth, enriching the ftate, the other is 
 nominal wealth, depreciating the funds, and 
 creating a plethoric diforder. I am of opi- A 
 nion, moreover, that a funded debt in Ana 
 would be beneficial, as it would eftablim. a 
 monied intereft to counteract the landed one, 
 and as it would benefit the country ; for, as 
 Mr. Hamilton, Secretary of the Treafury to 
 the United States of America, juflly remarks, 
 B 2 " Public
 
 " Public funds anfwer the purpofe of capi- 
 " tal, from the eftimation in which they are 
 *' ufually held by monied mer^ and confe- 
 " quently from the cafe and difpatch with 
 " which they can be turned into money. 
 ' This capacity of prompt convertibility into 
 " money, caufes a transfer of flock to be in 
 " a great number of cafes equivalent to a 
 " payment in coin. And where it does not 
 " happen to fuit the party who is to receive, 
 " to accept a transfer of flock, the party 
 " who is to pay, is never at a lofs to find 
 " elfewhere a purchafer of his flock, who 
 " will furnifh him, in lieu of it, with the 
 " coin of which he flands in need. 
 
 " Hence in a found and fettled flate of 
 " the public funds, a man poiTefled of a fum in 
 ** them can embrace any fcheme of bufinefs, 
 " which offers, with as much confidence, as 
 ** if he were pofTeffed of an equal fum in coin. 
 " This operation of public funds, as capital, 
 " is too obvious to be denied." 
 
 The motives for granting a transfer of the 
 debt from India to Great Britain were, Jirjt, 
 to give remittances to individuals through the 
 
 Com-
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 Company, to the exclufion of foreigners -, and, 
 fecondly, the faving of intereft between that 
 and eight per cent, Now if the trade with 
 Afia is open to Britifh merchants, multifari- 
 ous channels for private remittances will be 
 open, and the firft motive done away ; and if 
 bullion is imported into Bengal, the quantity 
 of fpecie will foon lower the intereft, and 
 the fecond motive, viz. difference of intereft, 
 will no longer exift. An accumulating na- 
 tional debt, on account of the colonies, feems 
 almoft inadmiflable at any period, but during 
 our prefent circumftances totally fo. 
 
 The Company ought to lofe fight of their 
 paltry monopolizing gains, and confider them- 
 felves as the Sovereigns of one country and as 
 the fubje&s of the other. The great duties 
 of the firft character are to render their peo- 
 ple happy and profperous, and the firft ob- 
 ject of the latter character mould be to ren- 
 der Afia a benefit to Great Britain. Is not 
 the Britilh merchant in India the only one 
 reftricted by a prohibition ? Is not the foreign 
 merchant encouraged ? Does not this alienate 
 the attachment of your countrymen ? Are 
 they worfe than foreigners ? Lord Cornwallis 
 
 muft
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 muft have regretted that the prefent injurious 
 reftridions exiit. He approved of the fo- 
 reign trade becaufe it fuppHed refources. 
 The Company annually drain the country of 
 a million and upwards, and how can it fup- 
 port this, without a beneficial commerce ?' 
 The induftry of a ftate conftitutes its wealth -, 
 the induftry of the ftate is the caufe of its 
 quiet. Adam Smith recommends commerce 
 as ." // introduces order and good government, 
 " and with them the* liberty and fecurity of 
 ** mdividufihy among the -Inhabitants of a conn- 
 " try, iv jo before lived in a continual ft ate of 
 f< 'war with their neighbours ', and of fervile 
 ** dependancy upen their fuperiors" 
 
 Although the Honourable Court, in their 
 general letter, has defcribed the late change 
 in the financial and political fyftem of Ben- 
 gal " as of high importance, invoking the moft 
 " momentous inter efts of the Company and' of 
 " extenfive kingdoms for the prefent and all 
 " future time," yet is it not adverted to in 
 any fpeech or publication fince that of the 
 Sugar Committee. 
 
 The j landholders no Idnger attend the le- 
 vees of collectors, and hope pofTefllon from 
 
 his
 
 his fmile ; or fear expulfion from his frown. 
 They no longer endeavour to fubvert each 
 other by his influence. The native traders 
 no longer afiemble round the collectors court 
 to obtain redrefs of impolitions by Zemin- 
 dars. The landholder is fixed for ever, and 
 eftabliflies himfclf upon his eftate ; he feels 
 his indcpendance*. and enjoys .die patronage 
 flowing fro;n- under renting, renewing of 
 leafes, &c. and they ^ have lived with little 
 ob/ervation. of life, who do not know that 
 patronage and -power are fynonimous. If in 
 Ireland the Proteflant afcendancy could only 
 be preferved by the fmailer party, who were 
 about one third, holding almoft all the lands 
 as well as the offices of ftate, confider how 
 the influence of the natives holding all the 
 lands, muft fooner or later preponderate in 
 India, where the Europeans are not more 
 than one to a thoufand, unlefs an interme- 
 diate clafs of merchants and manufacturers is 
 encouraged. Population is increaiing, agri- 
 culture advancing, and wealth flowing in,- 
 and the natives will foon become rich. I 
 muft of courfe approve of the new revenue, 
 iyflem, for under Lord Cornwallis's aufpices 
 I greatly promoted^ the . perpetual land-tax, 
 
 and 
 5
 
 ( 16 ) 
 
 and the abolition of all feodal tolls, duties, 
 and impediments ; and previous to this, the 
 natives had gradually been impoverished. 
 The millions whom Providence has entrusted 
 to us muft be benefited by it, and let us avail 
 ourfelves of an enriched country, till that day 
 comes when we lhall be obliged to relinquifh 
 it; even then, I hope, the natives will in 
 gratitude for this humane meafure, continue 
 the trade to us, and we mall enjoy the fatis- 
 faclion of having improved their underitand- 
 ing and their fitua.tion. May that day be far 
 diilant ! but, as an old fervant, and as a pro- 
 prietor and a Britim fubjeft, I muft freely 
 warn you, that any commercial reilrictions 
 threaten to accelerate the fubverfion of your 
 Sovereignty in the Bail. 
 
 Permit me here to mention, that your civil 
 fervants are appointed to principalities, and 
 allowed falaries indequate to their trufls ; you 
 adhere to mercantile views, and overlook 
 thofe of the ruler. Lord Cornwallis has re- 
 commended, that the revenue board mould 
 have allowances equal to the commercial ; Sir 
 John Shore has advifed it, and fhortly after 
 my arrival, I prefumed to remind the honor- 
 able
 
 able court ; yet the difproportion exifts. The 
 number of your collectors and judges mould 
 be augmented, and their falaries raifed, that 
 they may have a zeal in your fervice, and a 
 hope of revifiting their native country; your 
 army is deplorably ftinted in their pay, and 
 foreign fervice, defpondence or difaffection 
 muft imprefs their minds ; they are not allow- 
 ed even to come home on half-pay to fee 
 their friends. Can a civil or military fervant 
 acquire any thing in India advantageous to 
 him for this country but wealth ? his merits 
 and demerits are rarely known, or if known, 
 more rarely noticed; a general odium has 
 been thrown upon all who return from Afia ; 
 to avoid perfecution rather than to gain honor 
 muft be their object. We are daily exulting 
 in our profperity, we are continually ftating 
 the revenues of Oud and Benares, of opium, 
 fait, &c. and yet fix years of profecution have 
 been bringing the grey hairs of long fervice 
 with forrow to the grave. 
 
 Your commercial fervants and free mer- 
 chants all murmur at reftrictions, and the 
 natives of India will join in complaint; I 
 warn you againft monopoly, for it will be the 
 C torch
 
 ( is ) 
 
 torch to fet the whole country in a flame. 
 When one man gave his evidence in the- 
 Houfe of Commons predicting the lofs of 
 America, it created difbelicf. May my opi- 
 nion not meet with the fame reception or the 
 
 v" fame verification. I have read Mr. Dundas's 
 letter of the 24-th inft. and hefitatfe not to 
 acknowledge, that it has afforded me inex- 
 preffible fatisfadion. The claims of all are 
 now heard, the rights of all are now difcufT-r 
 ing, and the interefts of all are now recon- 
 ciling. I wim that Lord Cornwallis was now 
 arrived, that able, thatjuft man, that fupe- 
 rior being, namque erit tile mihi Jemper 
 deus -, .he would, I am aln-cf} confident, be an 
 advocate forlekslizmg the prefent illicit com- 
 merce. America has excluded us from her 
 carrying trade, {hall we for twenty-one years 
 exclude our own merchants, and encourage 
 
 s^ hers ? She puts prohibitory duties upon our 
 imports into America., we withdraw the du- 
 ties that exifled upon our exports from Alia, in 
 a few years not 10,000 tons of private fhip- 
 ping, but 100,000 tons will- proceed from 
 
 ~ "j&fia. The fortunes of companies fervants, 
 of Britlfh 'merchants all conic home; they 
 fhbuld be cbnfidered by the legiflature in an 
 
 im-
 
 Impartkl light with the company -, in (lead of 
 their interefls being deemed feparate, they 
 mould be viewed as the fame, for all enrich 
 their native country: the connection, the 
 attachment of all mould be excited. The 
 tribute of Afia is a net profit, equally fo is 
 every fortune of the civil and military fer- 
 vants, and of every Britim merchant from Afia 
 remitted in goods to Great Britain ; is a mil- 
 lion only to be looked to, and that liable to 
 diminution, from difappointment, fror ; ->. \var, 
 and from famine. Adam Smith juftly ob- 
 ferves, " that the Eaji Indies offer a market 
 " bath for the manufacturers of Europe, and 
 " for the gold and fi her and other productions 
 " of America, greater and more- extenfi^e than 
 " both Europe and America together " Con- 
 iider that you have twenty-five million 
 Bengal, and perhaps fifteen mjHions in your 
 other territories of induftripus people : con- 
 fider that labor does not exceed two-pen&ce 
 or three-pence per diem : conficier that the 
 foil requires little cultivation, not any manure, 
 and produces almoil fpontaneouily -, eveiy 
 year your inhabitants are multiplying, .ai^d 
 Vaft tracls of wafte land bringing into culti- 
 vation ; aquedudts are cutting in every direc- 
 C 2 tion,
 
 tion ; in mort, what will not be done by men 
 who are fecured in their poffeffions ? In the 
 report of the committee of warehoufes, an 
 extract from the confutations of Fort Wil- 
 liam, dated 1776, ftates, that fugar ufed ta 
 be exported to Bombay, 6cc. and that in 
 twenty years this article brought in to Bengal 
 fixty lacs of rupees - 3 this advantageons trade 
 was totally loft by our own bad management 
 of the country in the revenue line as fove- 
 reigns. I am happy to inform the court, that 
 my letters from India, and the oral evidence 
 of a fenfible gentleman juft arrived, communi- 
 cate the renewal of this export to its former 
 extent. 
 
 Not long ago, the honorable court of di- 
 rectors wrote to the committee of fugar con- 
 fumers, of which I had the honor to be a 
 member, " that they 'were fatisfied that the 
 " export of fugar s (if any) was trifling, and 
 *' that fugar -candy was imported into all parts 
 " of India from other countries, and that our 
 " fanguine ideas 'were unfounded. Now I 
 underfland that the company will receive 
 next year four or five thoufand ton. I men- 
 tion this only as an inftance in -point of the 
 . i rifing
 
 rifing refources of India ; indeed, the report 
 abovementioned has truly obferved, that " the 
 '' time is arrived, ivben both the cultivation 
 * and commerce of the country are about to 
 <( ajjume a more pleajlng appearance. 
 
 The natives are not converting corn fields 
 to fugar cane, and diminifhing the produce 
 of corn, as fome perfons imagine, but they 
 are burning extenfive grafs plains and plough- 
 ing them to the increafe of cotton, of mul- 
 berries for filk-worms, of indigo, of wheat, 
 barley and rice ; and here let me remark, that 
 rice carried from Bengal to Oilend proves a 
 faving cargo to thofe mips which are not full 
 freighted. Coffee is planted, and flourifhes 
 in our territories, and we have hundreds of 
 cinnamon trees reared by Colonel Kyd from 
 a tree or two which Mr. Haftings introduced 
 from Ceylon. ( The Dutch Chief of Chin- 
 fura flarted at the light, when walking in 
 the botanical garden. Dean Swift applauds 
 the man who increafes a blade of grafs : the 
 benefits of theie invaluable trees will be an- 
 nually acknowledged, when the voice of ca- 
 lumny is no more. I have dwelt long on, 
 the future profperity of Afia, that you might 
 
 be
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 ie aware of the confequences of any fyfterii 
 for twenty-one years. If the charter (hall 
 be renewed on the prefent terms, fcarce any 
 Minifter will venture to infringe it, after a 
 late example. Suppofe any misfortune in the 
 Weft India iflands,our refort to Afia will com- 
 penfate. When a war occurs in Afia, the 
 revenues are appropriated to armaments, and 
 the inveflments are diminished, nay the fo- 
 reign commerce increafes, as the Company's 
 declines. In my letters to Mr. Wiflbt I have 
 entered at large into the policy of the inter- 
 nal commercial management and regulations-, 
 and beg leave to refer thereto. 
 
 To conclude. I propofe firft, that a duty 
 on exports, if not on imports, mould be efta- 
 blifhed in India. 
 
 Secondly, That every encouragement mould 
 be given for the import of Afiatic produce in- 
 to Great Britain for home confumption and 
 exportation. 
 
 Thirdly, That the debt in Afia mould be 
 funded there, and not transferred to Leaden- 
 hall-ftreet. / 
 
 Fourth,
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 Fourth, That the Company mould being 
 home their inveftments upon the prefent 
 fhipping, or as they pleafe, but that the Bri- 
 tifli merchant mould adopt any mode he may 
 prefer of trading to and from Afia, being 
 amenable to the laws. 
 
 Fifth, That external and internal com- 
 merce and manufactures mould be encouraged, 
 becaufe it will enrich us as Sovereigns, and 
 becaufe it will, as Adam Smith obferves, 
 " introduce order and good government ', . and 
 ee 'with them the ftcurity of individuals ," and 
 becaufe it will counteract the influence of 
 landholders, by promoting transfers and fub- 
 diviiions of eftates, and by inducing them 
 to expend their money upon luxuries, inflead 
 of fupporting a number of fervile dependants. 
 In the General Letter of 1784, it is remark- 
 ed, that fome internal commotion annually 
 appeared on their records ; thefe are attri- 
 butable to the old feddal fyilem, now done 
 away. 
 
 Sixth,
 
 Sixth, That your civil and military officers 
 fiiould have greater encouragement. 
 
 I have now fulfilled my duty, and fubmit 
 jpy fentiments to the fuperior judgment of 
 tjie court. 
 
 THE
 
 T H E Honorable Court of Directors have 
 quoted a Letter from a moft able, liberal, 
 commercial Servant, ftating, " tbat the 
 " Company's inveftment feems the only 
 " counterbalance to the debafement of 
 " cloths, which is attributed to the igno- 
 *' ranee and eagernefs of numerous adven- 
 " turers." The following Letters from a 
 Collector exprefs different fentiments ; the 
 truth is, that the Britifh and foreign Com- 
 panies and private Europeans, all exercifed 
 too much authority for their own ends 
 upon the firft acquifition of power, but 
 Lord Cornwallis has prevented prejudicial 
 coercive meafurcs. The fineft manufactures 
 were in India, during the Mogul govern- 
 ment, and not introduced by us. If pri- 
 vate traders purchafe injudicioufly, they 
 will foon correct: their error, but if the So- 
 vereign mall exclude all competition, the 
 weaver muft be at his mercy. If the 
 King of Great Britain, wifhing to mono- 
 polize the trade in hard- ware, fhould de- 
 pute an agent to Birmingham, and require 
 that the manufacturers fhould work for 
 D him
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 him on his own terms, and exclude pri- 
 vate traders becaufe they purchafed inju- 
 diciouily, how long would that town and 
 its induilrious inhabitants profper ? 
 
 To JOHN STABLES, Efq; 
 
 PRESIDENT, &c. MEMBERS OF THE 
 BOARD OF REVENUE. 
 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 I AM honored with your letter under date 
 the 5th of September, incloling " Regulations 
 for the Honorable Company's Weavers." 
 
 As a Collector intrufted with a large reve- 
 nue, as a Judge prefiding over a numerous 
 fociety, as a Servant of a liberal Government, 
 I fhould betray my duty, if I fuppreffed my 
 fentiments upon this interefting fubjeft. 
 But' thefe Regulations being iilued with the 
 
 formality
 
 'formality of printing, I feel peculiar em- 
 barrafTment. 
 
 Deference to my Superiors, prompts me to 
 an anxious delicary of expreflion, whilft rea- 
 fon dictates the language of perfpicuity. 
 
 Arguments feebly urged, may fail to pro- 
 duce a reviilon of fo decided a meafure, and 
 I may betray juftice, if I permit my feelings 
 to fupercede my judgment. 
 
 Confcious of the neceffity which occafiqns 
 this intrufion, and relying' upon your ex- 
 perienced candor, I truft that fincerity of 
 remark will never bear the conflruction of 
 difrefpecl:. 
 
 The following is an abftracT; of the mate- 
 ski articles. 
 
 " The 2d prohibits any judicial procefs 
 '* for debt or revenue againft any manufac- 
 " turer or. commercial dependant; but the 
 " 3d article requires the creditor or collec- 
 *' tor to apply to the commercial Refidents 4 
 " and if unredreffcd, the judicial Courts may 
 D 2 " UTuc
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 " iiTue fummons, through the commercial 
 " Refident, but further no provifion is 
 " made. 
 
 " The 4th orders the above procefs, in 
 " cafes of breach of peace, or other mifde- 
 " meanor. 
 
 " The 6th authorifes the commercial Re- 
 " fident or Affiftant to fummons any perfon 
 *' under the denomination of a manufac- 
 " turer from any diftance. 
 
 " The yth denounces punimment and pe- 
 " nalties againft any obftruftion to the ad- 
 " miffion of the commercial department. 
 
 " The 8th prohibits manufaffiurers from 
 " engaging with other traders, lohilft the com- 
 " mercial fervants choofe to retain them. 
 
 " The 1 4th ordeis a lift of manufacturers 
 " to be weekly publimed by the commercial 
 " agent. 
 
 " The i yth defines the mode of redrefs 
 " againfl the commercial agents and fervants, 
 
 " who 
 4
 
 ( 29 > 
 
 '* who may have forced engagements or pay 
 " at a lefs price, viz. Complaint to be made 
 " to the commercial Refidents, and if un- 
 " redrafted, the party may apply to the Col- 
 " lector, who may write to the commercial 
 " Refident, and after receiving his anfwer,- 
 " on the one hand difmifs the fuit ; but on 
 c< the other, tranfmit his correfpondence to 
 " the Prefidency, and if the weavers are dif- 
 '* fatisfied they may delegate ten to the Pre- 
 " fidency." 
 
 Avoiding the prefumption of a particular 
 comment upon each article, the general ef- 
 fects appear to my mind felf-evident. The 
 zemindars and farmers will fhun all engage- 
 ments with manufacturers, being debarred 
 recovery of revenue, but by application to a 
 party concerned-, and the manufacturers will 
 rejetf the advances of the company's agents 
 from whom they are denied emancipation. 
 
 I have ever found the natives actuated by 
 the fame motives which influence mankind. 
 Diftruft damped exertion, whilft confidence 
 excited induftry. 
 
 The
 
 ( 30 ) 
 
 The company in the double capacity of 
 Sovereign and merchant, have diftinct objects. 
 In the former- they fhould render every de- 
 fcription of fubjedts amenable to eftablimed 
 laws; in the latter, they Jhould pur chafe fairly, 
 without any other influence thaa fuperior 
 credit. 
 
 In the foregoing regulations, article 18, ft 
 is ordered, that " free weavers mould apply 
 " againft free traders for redrefs, in the de- 
 " wanny adawlut," and this appears to be the 
 iimple and only mode which mould be pre- 
 fcribed to all. If the manufacturer fails in 
 his engagements, the adawlut will decree 
 cofts, and a few examples will deter ; but 
 whilft thefe indefinite irregular adminiftra- 
 tions exift, the whole attention of the board 
 will be required to perufe controverfial cor- 
 refpondences, and multifarious references from 
 collectors. 
 
 The investment is at prefent provided by 
 \ contrail : the name of the company is there- 
 fore improperly introduced ; the minutia of 
 
 pur-.
 
 ( 3' ) 
 
 purchafing from weavers, &c~ belong to the 
 contractors, who calculating upon the market 
 price, and probable rife and fall, give in their 
 propofals accordingly, and forfeit a penalty 
 upon failure. ' 
 
 If manufacturers were protetted by an ejla- 
 tlifoed court , they would avail themfehes of the 
 rights of humanity , and fell to the beji bidder ; 
 their numbers would increafe, and fubfe- 
 quently the price f goods would lower, as 
 the proportion of fellers multiplied upon that 
 of the purchafers,. 
 
 A fenfible author on the wealth of nations 
 has demon ftrated, that the riches of a nation 
 are its quantum of labor ; every rupee paid 
 for manufacturers is ultimately expended for 
 grain, and from the ryot through the farmer 
 reverts to the treafury. 
 
 If thefe fuggeftions operate equally upon, 
 your minds, I hope that they may be fiab- 
 mitted to the perufal of tlie honorable governor 
 
 general
 
 ( 3' ) 
 
 general and council, with the introductory 
 fupport of your recommendation* 
 
 I am, with refpedfc, 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 Your moft obedient humble fervant, 
 
 (Signed^ THOMAS LAW, 
 Collector. 
 
 TO JOHN STABLES, Efq; 
 
 PRESIDENT, AND MEMBERS OF THE 
 REVENUE BOARD. 
 
 Fort William, 
 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 I HAD the honor to addrefs you under date 
 the 4th of October, immediately upon receipt 
 of the printed regulations for weavers, 
 
 Lafl year I was obnoxious to the reprefen- 
 tations of the then contractor, Mr. Perney, 
 and with pain I forefee the inevitable refult 
 of the prefent publication, if I remain a tacit 
 
 fpsttator
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 fpetfator of the confequences, my revenues 'will 
 fail; if I interfere, I am expofed to complaints 
 for objlrufling the bujinefs of the honorable com- 
 pany. I will not prefume to ftate which con- 
 duct will moft effentially promote their in- 
 terefts, or again intrude with a needlefs re- 
 petition of my fentiments. Happy mould I 
 deem myfelf, did not my duty neceflitate me 
 to claim your attention to the enclofed letter 
 from Mr. Sumner, and to requeft your direc- 
 tions whether or not to publifh the advertife- 
 ment tranfmitted by that gentleman. Every 
 material fubjec~l had been canvaffed and ad- 
 jufted; all was quietly progrefiive; but now 
 with uneafmefs I prepare for multitudinous 
 references and certain relapfe. ImprefTed with 
 a full fenfe of the flattering teftimonies of ap- 
 probation I have lately received, I mould be 
 forry, (by whatever means effected) to ftate 
 my diftricl: in arrears. 
 I remain, 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 With great refpect, 
 Your moft obedient humble fervant, 
 
 (Signed) THOMAS LAW, 
 G^, 1)^.7,1786. Collector. 
 
 E
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 To T H O M A S LAW, Efq; 
 COLLECTOR OF ROTASS, &c. 
 
 S IR, 
 
 LOLLA JUTMUL is Gomaftah appointed 
 for making purchafes at the Cortey of Ichun- 
 abad on the honorable company's account : 
 and I am moft earneftly to requeft you will 
 give him that countenance recommended by 
 the right honorable governor general and 
 council in their printed regulations of September 
 lajl. And as the weavers have been accuf- 
 tomed to receive pervannas from collectors 
 of the revenue to a/jure them of fuch counte- 
 nance, I hope you will itfue one of the form 
 inclofed, or to its purport : for the weavers 
 have abfolutely refufed tofurnifo cloths without 
 fomefuch orders. 
 
 I am, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your very obedient humble fervant, 
 
 (Signed) JOHN SUMNER, 
 Patna, Aiw. 6, 1786. Commercial Chief. 
 
 Be
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 Be it known to the Aumils, Lezawuls, Ze- 
 mindars, Chowdries, and Canangoes of the 
 Pergunnahs, Tekarry, Chynpore and SafTu- 
 rum - t the Aurungs of Ichanabad, Darodnagur, 
 &c. of Sarcar, Behar and Rotafs, are opened 
 for the purchafe of cloths for the Company, 
 agreeable to the orders of the Honorable Go- 
 vernor General and Supreme Council, and 
 that Gomaftahs are deputed to each Aurung 
 and Pergunnah, they will buy cloths ; you 
 therefore muft injoin your officers that the 
 weavers, aflamys, head manufacturers and 
 delols, tranfa&ors, &c. attending upon the 
 Gomaftahs, deliver to them cloths by monthly 
 inftalments, according to former cujtom, agree- 
 able to the Company's mujiers, and receive the 
 proper price from the Gomajiahs that the Com- 
 pany's investment may be timely provided.. 
 
 A true tranflate. 
 
 (Signed) THOMAS LAW. 
 
 E 2 To
 
 To JOHN S U M N E R, Efq ; 
 
 COMMERICAL ClIIEF. 
 
 Patna. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I AM honored with your letter of the 
 2 6th ult. complaining that the weavers refufe 
 to furnifh cloths without an order from me. 
 
 Information had previoufly reached me of 
 your advertifement, which had created a ge- 
 neral alarm among the weavers. The publi- 
 cation you now delire from me requires the 
 provifion of cloths according to former cuftom. 
 
 I fubmit to your perufal copy and tranflate 
 of Adawleet proceedings, wherein the Gomaf- 
 tah acknowledges hlmfelf the appraijer of his 
 own purchafes -, wherein it is depofed that he 
 exacts Tullabanch (or mulct under the name 
 of Peons wages,} and takes the cloths at a price 
 much lefs than that of the market. 
 
 With
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 With thefe circumftances repeatedly proved to 
 me, I am convinced, that your opinion will 
 juftify my declining the ufe of indefinite terms, 
 which would bear a construction tantamount 
 to an authority for a renewal of the foregoing 
 grievances. I am fully aflured of your liberal 
 intentions, which the weavers themfelves ac- 
 knowledge, but when numerous delegates are 
 armed with power to pur chafe, unamenable to 
 Adawluts, and with the confirmation of my 
 Perwannah, it is not natural to expect that 
 they will foriake former habits. 
 
 Not a complaint has been received by me 
 againji private merchants, though the weavers 
 are conftantly employed either forfa/e of pub- 
 lic markets, or for native pur chafers, and unlefs 
 they received an inferior price, or fuffered 
 hard/hips from the Gomaftahs, I am at a lofs 
 to account for their reluctance to manufacture 
 for them; fludious, however, to avoid the 
 leafl deviation from the regulations of the 
 Honorable Board, I mail immediately requeft 
 directions upon this fubject ; in the interim 
 I have the honor to enclofe copy of my cor- 
 refpondence with Mr. Perney, and if the 
 Perwannas then circulated to my Aumils be 
 354805 agrce- 
 
 4
 
 agreeable, upon being favored with the name 
 of the prefent Contractor, 1 will immediately 
 iflue fimilar ones. 
 
 In refpect to the demand of Tullubanch, 
 permit me to recommend its abolition. / 
 prohibited the cuftom when Judge of the Patna 
 Adawlutt and received the fandtion of the 
 Honorable Board; my reafons for the mea- 
 fure are fubfcribed in this extract from my 
 letter. " Should the Mohuffils abufe their 
 " authority over the helplefs Ryot, and ex- 
 " act more than diet-money, he is almoft 
 " excluded from redrefs. The difficulty of 
 " proof, the apparent infignificance of the 
 " fum, the natural partiality of the mailer of 
 ft the fervant, the obnoxious fituation of the 
 *' defaulter in confinement, the meannefs of 
 " his figure, the obfcurity of his language 
 " and complaint, with every other caufe that 
 " mould plead loudly in his behalf, are 
 " rather motives of repugnancy." 
 I remain, 
 
 S I R, 
 Your moft obedient humble fervant, 
 
 (Signed) THOMAS LAW, 
 
 Cja, 6th Dtc. 1786. Collector.
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 To the COLLECTOR of ROTAS. 
 
 S 1 R, 
 
 W E have received your letters of the 4th 
 October and yth inftant, upon the fubject of 
 the regulations lately published for the Com- 
 pany's weavers. 
 
 As it does not appear to us, that the tenor 
 of thefe regulations rendered it obligatory 
 upon you to iflue the Perwanna folicited by 
 the commercial Chief at Patna, we approve 
 of the motives by which your conduct has 
 been guided in declining to comply with his 
 application. 
 
 We have addrefled the Right Honorable 
 the Governor General and Council upon the 
 fubjed: of the regulations in queftion ; whofe 
 directions (hall be communicated to you, when 
 received. 
 
 We are, &c. 
 
 l&th Dec. 1786. 
 
 Lord Cornwallis annulled thefe regula- 
 tions.
 
 87 99 "
 
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