Lc.rc 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 REAL SITUATION 
 
 O F THE 
 
 EAST-INDIA COMPANY.
 
 KEAL SITUATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EAST-INDIA COMPANY 
 
 CONSIDERED, WITH RESPECT TO 
 
 THEIR RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, 
 
 IJnder the Operation of the late A^s of Parliaments 
 
 ESTABLISHING 
 
 A BOARD OF CONtROUL 
 
 AND 
 
 4 COMMITTEE OF SECRECr, 
 
 TO WHICH II ADDED 
 
 AN APPENDIX. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 ORIGINAL PAPERS, 
 
 Relative to the Proceedings of the Court of Director^ 
 
 and the R I c H T Ho k . Commissioners for 
 
 the a I- f a I r s ok India, 
 
 -n<nics;:;:gSBB9S;^9Biv> -~-- 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION, 
 
 By GEORGE T I E R N E Y, E i q. 
 
 L N D N: 
 
 Primed for J. D E B R E T T, Piccadilly, j;?-.
 
 IDS 
 
 THE '"H"//^ 
 
 REAL SITUATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EAST INDIA COMPANY. 
 
 CO 
 
 00 
 
 >- 
 
 February i?, 1785. 
 
 E TN the courfe oF the debate which took place at 
 
 "* j[ the India Houfe on Wednefday lall, 1 was 
 
 once or twice on the point of intruding on the 
 
 attention of the Court. I heard myfelf accufed 
 
 of having petulantly joined the oppofition , I was 
 
 arraigned for an apparent defertion of former 
 
 p^ principles ; I Vv^as defcribed as having aflifted in 
 
 " the call of a General Court, from a wifli to en- 
 
 ^ cumber the wheels of Government, and perplex 
 
 ^- the affairs of the Company ; in a word, every 
 
 o taunt was thrown out, which could be fuppofed to 
 
 irritate me into hafty recrimination, or betray me 
 
 into an unguarded warmth of reply which might 
 
 have afforded an advantage to my enemies. It is 
 
 v.'ith real (atisfai^tion that on my return home I 
 
 recolle6l mylelf to have withflood all thefe provo- 
 
 J cations, and that I can now, without any fear of 
 
 '^^ partial mifreprefentation, or apprehcnfion of be- 
 
 1 ing mtcMUptcd by prejudice, difpadiODately take 
 
 iJij^up my pen to flate to the world at large, the true 
 
 jTvounds on which my conducl: wiih regard to the 
 
 tJompany has been founded, 
 
 K In 

 
 [ 2 ] 
 
 In the fiifl place, as to the charge of adling fiom 
 fa^iou-. motives, and having changed my princi- 
 ])les from pique or unlleadineis, I beg leave to 
 fay that I throw back th'^ infinuation with con- 
 tempt. I maintain my fentiments on the fubjt'6t 
 of the different India Bills to have been invariably 
 the lame. I oppofu'd with every faculty I pof- 
 fclfed, what I conceived to be an unwarrantable 
 and violent encroachinenr on the part of Mr. Fox. 
 I Hood Ibrward againd his Bill, bccaufe 1 thought: 
 it an Mn;u{lifiable infringement on a Charter which 
 v>as not proved to be forfeited, and becaufe I 
 thought ic mivxht be the means of ^ivincr to one 
 Iv.anch of the Legiflature a weight of influence 
 dangerous to the aulhoiity of the other two. I 
 Uiil avow the terms, and arn proud of the part I 
 took againll that meafure ; but I fhouid little de- 
 erve the appiobation which thofe feniiments at 
 the time procured me, could I have hefifated to 
 rcfift the fame violence, becaufe it was offered in 
 a different thape by different men. Within a few 
 days after the Portland Adminiflration was dif- 
 milfecl, I attended die Commiitee of Proprietors 
 appointed to watch over the rights of the Com- 
 pany, and heard with fiirprilc the conceffions 
 which were about to be mac'c to the new Govern- 
 ment ; but it was not wiih filcnt lurpiize. 1 
 
 inilantly opprfcd luch language. Mr. JohnQonc 
 was in the L'hair, and, if his prefent flate of health 
 'AOuld happilv admit of fuch an appeal, I would 
 call up()n hinj to vouch for the truth of what I % 
 have here aficrted. The memory of my friends < 
 v.ill, ho\vcver, voluntarily tio jullice to the con- | 
 iiflenc\' ol my IcntitriCMts on the orcdion, and the 
 iecolit:6ion of my enemies will pcihaps be 
 quickened, whc:; I rcaiind ih'::\: lUa: ic was oiy 
 
 r
 
 [ 3 3 
 
 that very fubjefl I had the bad fortune to attract 
 the cenfuie of the late Mr. Atkinfon, and to fmart 
 under the correlion of his fupcrior abilities. 
 Again I muft repeat, that my oppofition has uni- 
 formly been levelled at the meafure and not the 
 men. 
 
 But I (hall be aflced, why. it is that my attack 
 on the prefent Bill has been fo long delayed ? I 
 will meet the queftion fairly. 
 
 At the period of the great Revolution in Poli- 
 tics 1783-4, Gentlemen were accultomed by 
 fome fira.nge fatality never to cenfure Mr. Fox 
 wiihour praifing Mr. Pitt. It feemed to be with 
 them a ncceilary confequence, that to inUance the 
 temerity of the one, was to demonftrate the mo- 
 deration of the other, and that to prove Mr. Fox 
 unfit to be entnilled with the management of the 
 -Eafl; India Company, was to eftabhih his rival as 
 the moll proper perfon to overlook all their affairs. 
 Hence, though they certainly never could have 
 expcdcd to fee the prefent Bill, while ihey re- 
 membered Mr. Pitt's languag-e with re2:ard to the 
 one which was rejected, there were many rea- 
 fons why their feelings could not be openly de- 
 clared. After the praifes they had fo wantonly 
 laviflied on the new iMinifler, it was almofl im- 
 polTible for them, though they fav/ the danger, to 
 retreat perhaps too ic may be faid that their 
 retreat was cut ofli, there being no third party to 
 receive them. They might be Itunned by the blow 
 vhich was fo unexpeiiedly given, and by lo {iid- 
 dcw and unlooked-lor an a'Jault rendered inca- 
 pable of refill ance, or, even when they recovered 
 thcmlclves, faile (hame miglu operate, and thole 
 wl.o had bcL'ti fo very eager to (hew how warily 
 ihey had dctccled the dcfigns of their avowed 
 B 2 ene.nVj
 
 I A. ] 
 
 enemy, might he unwilling to acknowledge how 
 much they found themfelves deceived in the pro- 
 fefhons of their fuppofed friend?-. Be this as it may, 
 certain it is that all the circumfpeftion, vigilance, 
 and nice fenfe of right, which had fo laudably dii- 
 tinguilhed both the Diredors and Proprietors, on 
 a fudden dwindled into nothing. It was boldly 
 alTerted that what was done, was done with the 
 confent of the Company, no contradi6lion was 
 given, and the Hill paffed. 
 
 At fuch a feafon, and with the minds of men fo 
 difpofed, would it not have been the height of 
 abfurdity to have come forward in oppo- 
 lition to the meafure ? Should I not have been 
 told, that narrow notions of cxcluhve privilege 
 were to be laid alide , that both parties had ^ecn 
 the neceflity of abandoning the ftri(5t queftion of 
 Tight ; that the occafion lor a Parliamentary Con- 
 troul of feme kind was admitted on all hands ; 
 that the purity of Mr. Pttt's charatlerga^e fuch a 
 fanfction to any Board of which he was a member, 
 that fufpicion was not allowable ; that candour 
 required the Bill fhould at leall have a trial ; and 
 that it would be unfair to prefume without proofs, 
 that jealouhes would arile between the Court of 
 Direttors and the new Commiffioners, or that the 
 latter had any idea of deviating from what the 
 India Lonpany conceived to be the fpiiit of the 
 acl, and were themfelves willing to receive as fuch. 
 
 Will any impartial man fay, that the oppcfition 
 
 of a few Proprietors would not, when thefe ar- 
 guments prevailed, have been an idle and unpro- 
 fitable attempt ? It would indeed at that time have 
 been a ridiculous one But the cafe at this day 
 is different. We are now able to decide upon caufe 
 and effe^"l together. The unguarded confidence 
 
 which
 
 [ 5 1 
 
 which was repofed on the fan6lion of Mr, Pitt's 
 name, cannot obliterate certain papers figni.d 
 *' Henry Dundas." It is no longer a quefiion what 
 a daring Board of Controui 7nighL do^ we (ee what 
 even the prefent unafi'uniing CominifTioners have 
 done. W'hat formeily would have been termed 
 arguments of malicious theory, are now infe.'ences 
 of recorded praftice ; and as, by dear bought ex- 
 perience, we are at length freed from the blind 
 devotion which was paid to the meafure at its out- 
 let, I trufl we are capable of examiiiing difpaf- 
 fjonately the coufequences which have accompanied 
 its progrefs. 
 
 One word more and I proceed to the bufinefs. 
 In what I have hereafter to fay I mull be allowed 
 to lay in my claim to credit with the candid part 
 of the world. Throughout the whole of my con- 
 du<5l relative to this lubject 1 will he bold to 
 affert, that I have a61ed, however impoliticly, as 
 an honeil and independent man, and that the Pro- 
 prietors of India S.ock vvtrc the lall fet of peifoiis 
 in the world from whom 1 had reafon to have ex- 
 pe6ted unkind infnuations. It is rather an un- 
 grateful return to one who has been a volnniecr 
 in their caufe, and who is not confcious how the 
 part he has acled can be attributed to any uj;- 
 worthy motives. But this is a point I i.eed not 
 argue. Let my views be conjectured from i\\c means 
 I take to gratify them. 1 oppolcd Mr. Fox m the 
 plenitude of his power ; I attack the preilnt Coi-;-;- 
 milfioners with the fceptie intlicirhand. W'iiciicr 
 or no, in fo doing. I eitiier havefervcuoi m.iylcrvc 
 the India Company, I will not ver;ture to pro. 
 nounce, but I am luic, if in}- objcd is of a icifiih 
 nature, my method o( ol'L<iir.i. g my uifhcs has 
 nothing but its novelty to rcccmmend it, 
 
 I now
 
 [ 6 ] 
 
 I now proceed to examine into the real fitua- 
 
 tion of the India Company, under the operation 
 
 V and cfll'd of the afts of the 24th and 26tli of 
 
 Geo. ill. as far as they relate to the Board of 
 
 Controul and the Court of Directors. 
 
 The principles of the firft of thefe bills as 
 ftated in die Houfe of Commons were thefe 
 to vefl in a Board of Commiffioners a right 
 to fuperintend and controul the proceedings of 
 the Court of Dire6lors on all fzlitical qiiefiicns ; 
 but to leave the enjoyment of the patronage^ ?in<X 
 the management of the commcrcey exclufrcely 
 in the former fojj'ejfcrs. Thefe I maintain to 
 have biren tlic out-lincs on which the bill was 
 p'ofejfed to be drawn ; fo that the four-and- 
 twenty Directors were ftill to hold their ollenfiblc 
 authority, aftual influence and commercial pri- 
 vileges, with this limitation, that their difpatclx-s 
 relative to the civil or militiiry government or 
 r- -venues of tlie territorial jwfieffions v/ere to be 
 fubmintcd to the Board of Controul, v/hofe con- 
 iVitution and powers are thus defined. 
 
 *' His Majeily is to appoint Hx ]*rivy Coiinu']- 
 *' lors, of wiuvm one of the Sev?rcturies ot Statf", 
 " and the Chanc;]i'V|- of tJie K;;eii<^quer lor xh.- 
 " ti'p.e bcinn; fh.d] h' 'v.o^ to be CuiTiiriinioncij 
 *' for the Aitaijs-of liidia. 
 
 '' Any thrive of them. IhaJl f )rm a Board, ar.-! 
 *' in the abrrr>ec of the Secretary oi State, and 
 *' the Cha^(^'.l])^ of the Kxch.'i]uer, tlie fenjw'" 
 " of the CoiT-iiiiHioners, accorvlir'; to hi; rank 
 ^^ in a|)pr)inrMKnrj fliril be r]\ !'<!( i;r. 
 
 " lii cafe tlie iail lk;ard lludl at any tiiv,/ 
 " becfMiailv liiviiicv!, tiic I'len i'lvildent J]iaji 
 '' ]vw ( the f:;.!li;i2' vu;'_ c. 
 
 '^ u
 
 [ 7 ] 
 
 " His Majefty may revoke the commiflion 
 " at pleafure, and appoint new commiffioners. 
 
 " The Board are empowered to fiiperintend, 
 *' direft . and controul all acts, operations, and 
 " concerns which in anywife relate to the civil 
 '^ or military government or revenues of the 
 " Britiih territorial poffefllons in India. The; 
 *' Directors are to deliver to the Board copies 
 " of all difpatches which they receive from 
 " India immediately on their arrival ; alfo copies 
 " of all letters, orders, and inftriictions whatfo- 
 ** ever, relating to the civil or military govern- 
 " ment or revenues of the territorial poffeffions, 
 " propofed to be difpatched to India, and the 
 " faid Dire(5lors fhall obey all orders from the 
 *^ Board relative thereto. 
 
 " The Court of Diredors flialJ, without 
 " delay, forward their difpatches as they are ap- 
 " proved or amended by the Board of Con- 
 '' troul, unlefs, on any reprefentation of the faid 
 "^ Directors, the Commiffioners may think pro- 
 " per to order an alteration to be m.adc. 
 
 " The Court of Direftors, on receiving orders 
 *' from the Board which relate to points, i?! 
 *' thei?' opinion, 7Wl connel:fed 'uuiib the ci-jil or ml- 
 ^' litary go'-jeryiment or rc-'jeuiics, may apply by pe- 
 " tition to the King in CounciL, -iv ho (hall decide 
 '' ivhcther thejame he, or be not connetled ivith the 
 '' ci-nil or niilitary government or revenues ^ "-jehich 
 '* decijivn pall be cvntlujive. 
 
 *' 'I'he Dirciftors are to choofe, from amonirft 
 *' t]-iemlclvcs^ a Secret Committee, of not more 
 "' flian three. 
 
 If the Board of Cchtrcid JJjall he of opinion 
 at thejubjetl niattcr of their deliberations^ ccrt- 
 
 cerning the r-:aking loar or peace, or negctiafin^ 
 
 :.;/;. a:^v o^'the native P' '>u:j or Stales in India, 
 
 '' f:aU 
 
 ii.n
 
 7 
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 " Jhall require fentcyy they may Jendjecrct orders 
 ** to the Secret Commit tee ^ who, without dijclojing 
 * them, Jhall traiifmit their orders in the ujual 
 " foryn^ according to the inJlru5lions of the Board 
 " to the rejpe^ive governments and prefidenciesy 
 " and the /aid governments and -preftdencies jhall 
 ** fay obedience tojuch difpatches., and Jhall return 
 "^ their anJwerSy fealedy to the Jaid Secret Com- 
 " mittee. 
 
 " The fever al governments and prcfidenciei are 
 '* required to pay the fame obedience to all orders 
 " figned by the faid Secret Committee^ as iffucb 
 '* ordt'rs had been ifjued by the Court of DireElors, 
 
 " Nothing in the Ad fliall extend to give to 
 " the Board of Controul the power of nomi- 
 " natirg or appointing any of the fervants of 
 " the laid United Company. 
 
 Such are the powers of the Board of Con- 
 tro'ijj and fo arc they defined in the Act of Par- 
 lianient. 
 
 The firfr obfervation wiiich mud occur to 
 every man who reads the different claufes^ is the 
 ver\' Ihallow fecurity given for the Board not 
 interfering^ v/ith the commierce. For my own 
 part, indt:d, I do not exactly comprehend iiow, 
 in the na:n:e of thinirs, it ever can be prac- 
 ticable, toiai'y to feparate the comynercial from 
 the civil and revenue dcvariment. That the trade 
 of the Company mu'iy be ably carried on by 
 tv.cnty-four gcnrlen^cn, acting- in concert with, 
 and under the direction of <i ft-perior Board, I can 
 readily conceive ; bi:t to fuppofc it can continue 
 to thrive i;ndcr t!v m.-ruigemenl of a fet of men 
 v;ho have no auth^vi^v, a6rin>^ in oppofition to a 
 Board v.'ho have the entire i\ip'-iir.cend:ince of all 
 our territories in Indi.i, who have the riglit of 
 iraking v/ar and peace, tlie ^ri-iugeinent of all 
 
 I natters
 
 [ 9 3 
 
 matters of revenue, and the office of negotiating 
 with every power in the country from whence 
 this trade is to flow, is a pofition which I fhould 
 Jbeg leave to queftion. It is to be confidcred, 
 that our conne<flion with India (lands upon a 
 very different footing from what it originally did. 
 Commerce and territory are now fo intimately 
 blended, tliat their refpeftive confequt^nce mull, 
 perhaps, entirely depend on their united exer- 
 tions. " The conqueft of Bengal," fays the 
 Abbe Raynal, " without making any elfential 
 '^ alteration in the external form of the Englifh 
 '^ Company, has produced a material change in 
 " the objecft of it. They are no longer a com- 
 " mercial Jociety^ they are a territorial pozuer 
 " who mikc the moft of their revenues by the 
 *' afTiftance of a traffic that formerly was their 
 '^ fole exillence, and which, notwithftanding the 
 " extenfion it has received, is no more than an 
 '^ acceffiiry in the various combinations of their 
 '^ prefent real grandeur." And again, the fame 
 author, fpeaking of the Supreme Council efta- 
 blilhed by the A61 of 1773, after ftating to what 
 its authoritv extends, adds, " though the ope- 
 " rations of commerce be not immediately 
 " under the infpeftion of this Council, yet ic 
 '^'' has in reality the decifion of them ; becaufe 
 *' having the fole difpofal of the public revenues, 
 "^ it can grant or refufe advances at pleafure." 
 I mention tluis much rather as a matter of 
 iimufing fpeculation than as a p.oint wliich it is 
 ;ir prcfcnt neceflary to argue, fc^r I contend that 
 the queftion is, not whether it be pcjj'.hle to fejxaratc 
 the commerce from tlic civil government 
 and reveniK", but whfthcr furh a diliiivfiion i:- 
 fccurcd by the in-efent A(5t of ParHanu'nr. 
 
 C V\'I;.^ncver
 
 [ .0 ] 
 
 Whenever die intentions of nnen are fair and 
 open they will exprefs themfclves in terms plain, 
 and iincquivocaL If I mean that certain things 
 flioiild be performed according to my profcfTions, 
 my orders for the performance will naturally run 
 almoft in the language of my promife. An cva- 
 five execution is worfe than a denial of the con- 
 tra6lj bccaufe it avoids the tcfl: of diredl enquiry, 
 trcachcroufly withholds what it dares not openly 
 refufe, haraflcs one party and difgraces the 
 other. 
 
 When this bill was introduced, in order to at- 
 tra6l the praifes that are beftowed on moderation, 
 and to gain the confidence of the people by an 
 affcfted difplay of difintcrelted motives, it was 
 faid, " we do not mean to go the violent length 
 *' of our predeceflfors ; God forbid that li'S 
 " Ihould touch the trade of the Company j thai 
 " we intend fhould ftill remain exclufively their 
 ** own." Let it be fo enacted then No ! when 
 we come to reduce thefe profcflions to writing, 
 they run thus : " In cafe we fhould ever think 
 " proper, in our dif[)atches, to give diredlions" 
 *' which relate to trade as well as government, 
 " it fliall not be lawful for yoa to fay at once, 
 ^' that wc have exceeded our powers, and inter- 
 ** fered with your commerce, but you Ihall ap- 
 ' peal to the Kins; in Council, to knoiv ivhethcr 
 " ix:ehave crnol V Here is the whole fecurity 
 the Company have, and even this claufe I 
 fliink I flrjU, in the fequ.-l, be able to })rove is 
 \ irtually done away. An appeal ! from fix Priv)'' 
 Counfellors, tVvO of v/hom are in the Cabinet, 
 to the King inCoundl ! The decifion that would 
 be given is about as difficult to be gucHed ar, as 
 the refult of a Dean irA Cb.aDtcr's deliberations 
 
 when
 
 [ " ] 
 
 wlien they afTemble to clefl a Bifhop. An ap- 
 peal ! to beg his Maiefty will explain to four- 
 and-tiventy merchants what things are to be un- 
 derftood as relating to trade ! It is as ridiculpus 
 as if the Privy Council were to apply to the In- 
 dia Houfc for a definition of prerogative. To 
 argue this claiife ferioufly would be to give it a 
 degree of confequence to which it is not entitled. 
 It needs but to be read to be proved an infult 
 to our underftanding, and to make us feel that 
 the real regard of Mr. Pitt for the rights of the 
 Company, when reduced to praftice, can only 
 be equalled by that difinterefied zeal with which 
 Mr. Dundas has the goodnefs to accept the very 
 troublelbme office of fuperintending the affairs 
 f India, without falary or projp eel of reward ! 
 
 Having recapitulated the powers of the Board 
 of Controul, as defined by the a6l of parliament, 
 and Ihewn the happy method by which that a6b 
 giv[es lecurity to one of the leading principles on 
 which it avowedly was recommended to the Le- 
 giflature for adoption, I next proceed to point 
 out in what manner the audiority of the Com- 
 minioners has been exerted on the other principle 
 of the bill, that of fuperintending the political 
 concerns of the Company ; and on this head I 
 affcrt, that the very firft exercife of their office 
 was a direcl contradiclicn and defiance of the words 
 cf the af, as well as a palpable negleif of the in- 
 tcr."Jl cf the Company. To prove my firft alTertion 
 I cite the claufe in queftion, to prove my fecond 
 I refer to the declaration of the Court of Direc- 
 tors, and I then appeal, for a fair dccifion, to the 
 commiOn fenfe of every man who perufes what 
 I am about to write. 
 
 C 2 Tk'Te
 
 [ '2 3 
 
 There were certain enormous Turns of money 
 claimed by fomc BritiHi fubjcCls at Madrafs, as 
 bcinor due from the Nabob of Arcot. Thefc 
 debts are clafTcd in three divifions; one called 
 the Loan of 1767, the other the Cavalry Loan, 
 and the third the Confolidated Debt of 1777, 
 amounting in the whole to 70 lacks of pagodas, 
 or 2,8oo,oool, Of this fum the debt of 
 1777 conftituted the greater part; that is to fay, 
 in 178 1, it ftood at 50 lacks of pagodas, or 
 2,ooo,oooi, bearing an intereft at 1 2 per cent. 
 The reflexions that had at different times been 
 caft on the nature and fecret hiftory of thefe 
 tranfactions did not redound much to the credit 
 of the claims ; m.ofl of them were much in- 
 volved in an ambiguous obfcurity, but the loan 
 of 1777 was wrapped in total darkncfs. The 
 Directors fay, " Although we have re])eatedly 
 *' written to die Nabob, and to our lervants, 
 '' rcfpecting tlie debt, yet we have never been 
 *' ahh to trace the origin thercef^ or to obtain 
 ^^ a::y JcitisfaulGry information upon thejubjcol." 
 
 Wlien it is under ftood that the public debt 
 from the Nabob to the Company (tor the ar- 
 rears of his current payments, and the expenccs 
 incurred in defending the Carnatic) is computed 
 by the Directors as being nothing fhort of three 
 millions fterling ; and when it is dated, that, 
 taken in the moft favourable point of view, the 
 net revenues of the Nabob do not exceed 30 
 lacks, or i.dooxool, the reader v/ill eafily per- 
 ceive the embarrafTment that muft proceed from 
 outfhanding private claims being prefied upon 
 him to fo great an air.ount as above related, and 
 how neceffary it was, in order to an equit- 
 able arrangement, finally to afcertain their 
 
 validity
 
 t '3 ] 
 
 validity and extent. Where the greater part o? 
 the fortunes of fo many Britilh fubjects was con- 
 cerned, it certainly woiilJ have been unfair, on 
 the bare fufpicion of coilufion and fraud, to dif- 
 allow the v/hole claims of the private creditors ; 
 but, on the otlier hand, juftice to the Company 
 equally required, that the Directors fhouid not 
 futFcr the payment of their public debt, bearing 
 no intereft, to be protracted, by admitting to a- 
 participation of the * fund to be eftablifhed by 
 the Nabob for thedifcharge of his incumbrances, 
 claims to an enormous amount carrying an in- 
 terefi of \2per cent, of which neidier the origin 
 nor legality could be traced. The Nabob's own 
 admiflion of their validity weighed but little, 
 for the very ground of objection to them was, 
 that they were a ccllujive Jhuffle hetivecn the 
 debtor and the creditor : So that it became an 
 information neceffarily to be required, -zv.bat 
 Jums had been autually and bona fide advanced^ in 
 order that they might be diftinguilhed from 
 others which flirunk from infpection, and had 
 continually avoided every tell of open examiaa- 
 tion t. 
 
 * '"I'he Nabob is to affign twehe lacks annually, from his 
 revenues, towards the liquidation of his debt. 
 
 t In Ibiting this abltraCt of the hlllory of the debt.-), my 
 only view has been to comprixe, in a fmall compafs, fufii- 
 cient to enable the reader to comprehend the objctfl of the 
 clauie ill the ad. Thofe who have taken the trouble to 
 examine intothcfe tranfaftions, know, that to enter upon tl:c 
 merits at large would, in itfelf, occupy a volume. 1 have 
 endeavoured faithfully to give the brief outlines of the bufi- 
 nefs, and fhall only further obferve, that in mentioning tlie 
 imputations wiiich have been cafe on the nature and origin 
 of the debts, I have contented niyfclf with adopting much 
 milder language tl-.aa either the Direftors, tiie Prciidencv 
 of Fort Si. (ieorge, or even Mr. Dundas. Vi.L^ tl;e 4ta 
 Report Oi tlic Secret Committee, and the A;ipcndix to it. 
 
 SucK
 
 [ '4 ] 
 
 Such being the flatc of the queftion, let us pro- 
 ceed to examine the condudt of the Legiflature 
 theieon. 
 
 By the 57th claufe of the al, (fee the Appendix, 
 No. I. I.) the Court of DireQors arc inflrucled 
 to take the origin and juRice of thefe demands into 
 their confideration, as far as the materials ihey are 
 in poiicfTion of will enable them to do, and to 
 diic6l their Prelidtncy abroad to complete the in- 
 ttf/H^triicn^ and then, in conceit vviih the Nabob, to 
 ellabhlh a fund for the difchar^e of thofc debts 
 rvhicbjhall he jujily due, in luch a manner as may 
 be confiilcnt with the rights of the Company, 
 -the fecunty of the creditors, and the honor and 
 dignity of the Nabob. 
 
 I afk any unprejudiced man whetlier, having 
 read the fa6ls which gave rife to the introduction 
 of the claufe, and the terms that are adopted in 
 it, he would not nai'jip.lly conceive the meaning 
 of the Legiflature to have been th.is : " W'c lefer 
 *' the arrangement of thefe diiputcd claims rv- 
 *' /'^^'i/y to tiie Couri of Dveclors, and we mark 
 *' out \he. pyaijc manmr in which they are to dif- 
 *' charge this commiirion. 'J'htir hiil great object 
 *' musl be thoroughly to invejii'^a'e the oritiin and 
 *' f-'j^'-^s of the debt.*., and having afccrtcined fucli 
 *' of tbcm as {i:iall hQ jiifJy Juc^ proceed to felile 
 '' wi;h the Nabob fome mode for putting them in 
 *' a regular train of payment, but in adjuUing 
 *' this train of payment, the Direiiors mult take 
 ' caje, tiift, that it does not interfere with the rights 
 * and cLiiins of the Company ; next, that the 
 " creditors be fccurcd accciding tothe fair priority 
 " of thtir dtmands ; and laftly, not iuirer their 
 " atteiiiU'n to either the ri^Iits (,>f ifie Company 
 " or the clai'ns of the Biitiilj kibjccts, to nnhntc
 
 [ '5 ] 
 
 *' agalnll the proper honour and dignity which the 
 ** Nabob ought always to prcferve." 
 
 A6ling apparently under thefe ideas, the Court 
 of Directors prep-sred a dilpatch which, previous 
 to its being lent to India, was fubmitted to the 
 Board of Controul, It dales (fee Appendix 
 No. I. 2.) that they had taken the demands into 
 confideration as far as they had materials, which 
 materials they quote and comment upon. They 
 then fay, That " being in a Hate of uncertainty as 
 *' to the origin of the demands both of the old and 
 *' new creditors, (^particularly llie latter, zobich pre- 
 *' dudes them from judging cj tht jvfi ice thereof .y 
 they dire6l their Prehdent and Council at Fort 
 *St. George, to enter into " a full examination of 
 * the origin a.nd jii/I ice of them ; whether the fums 
 * were really and bona fide advanced, and alfo the 
 *' name of each individual creditor who (hall 
 " prove his debt to the fatisfaClion of the Hiid 
 *' Piefident and Council." This done, the next 
 orders are, to tranlmir the whole of the proceedings 
 to the Governor Get!c?ral and Council, who, hav- 
 ing taken the fame mio their confideration, are 
 diiedled to make the Bnal diltribution ami award 
 according to the provifions of the Act of I'arlia- 
 'ment. 
 
 Thefe orders the Hoard of Controul toi:ih ex- \J 
 piinge, and fubftitute others in their place in dtrell 
 contradiction both to tlie xcord: and the fpirit of the 
 claule reierred to. It was the will of the Lxi-^iila- 
 turc, that the dcbus fiiould be firil proved and thea 
 fecured It was liic pica fa re of the great Co;7imi(- 
 iioner th<^t t!icy fnould bo hrll (ociired, and then 
 Hand admitted till ti:fiv were dilprovcd. Fortu- 
 nntely for Mr. IVarfkLl and his friends, the fiat 
 f the latter cairied jno'l authority. 
 
 The A^
 
 [ ,6 J 
 
 The Paragraphs as altered by the Board of 
 Controul run thus: (fee the Appendix, No. I. 3.) 
 'J he Loan of 1767, and the Cavahy Loan are at 
 once pro/iounced clear and indif^utabk. They then 
 come to the debt of 1777, amounting to 
 2.oco,ocol. and after fhewinij, that " it was not 
 *' in any refpccfl whatever conduced under the 
 ** ;mfpices or profe6lion of the Prefidency at 
 * Madras ;'' that it has " no ran6lion nor autho- 
 *"- vity," even in the cflimation of Mr. Dundas 
 himicif; that the means taken to procure the dif- 
 charge of this unauthorized demand were fuch as 
 clifablcd the Nabob from performincr his duty to 
 the Coirpany, and that:, under all thele circum- 
 ft^inces, they fliould '* be warranted to refufe 
 *' their aid or proteclion in the recovery of this 
 *' loan;" after thus criminatin.^ the whole tranf- 
 alion, they p'oceed to give it their fupport and 
 (iffif:ance. When thi-y conhder '* hryw inexpedient it 
 iS to keep the fuhjeB longer ajloat ;" how much the 
 f:r,al conclufioii of the buhncls will tend to pro- 
 / ir.(-<tp '' drcidiiUon ofproptrfy;" when thev confider 
 
 ^ too. " that the debtor concurs -aith the creditor in eRa- 
 blilhing the juUice of thefe debts, and how little 
 ground there iS to expcCl any iubflantiai good to 
 
 rti'ult from an unlin;!lcd i):v jl\ration" 
 
 ;hev refolded to rc:r/;n:zc tl.e vdjlicr of them, and to 
 extend to them tluit proteclion, which upon more 
 io;ciL>le giounds thev law cau(c to allow to the 
 
 / "o'licr twf> cla;r<s. The l^elidency are, however, 
 divcccd to recei\c aii)' complaints ag:iiM(l the debts 
 (it 1777, tithcr from tlie Nabob, other creditors 
 iniurcd bv ii^ir bcii-p, fo admitted, or bv other 
 y.tiior.s liavin'T a pvop'.^v intevell, ov itatiiii; a rca- 
 lonable <:round of ol^jcclioiu 1 he Hoard then 
 deeiarc the letitcaLe of airangemeiU as to p;ic,*-iiy 
 
 in
 
 r 1/ ] 
 
 in point of payment, and having done this, the 
 Right Honourable CommifTioners triumphantly 
 pronounce their decree to be '' founded in juf- 
 tice," and magiilcrially command, that v/hoever 
 lliall dare to dilturb it fhall " be difmifTed the 
 " fervice, and Tent home to England." 
 
 In the Appendix (No. I. 4.) the reader will 
 find the reprelentation of the Court of Dire<5lors 
 againll this extraordinary excrcife of power, in 
 wiiicli they mofc truly obfcrvc, that thofe de- 
 mands, the jitjlice of wnich the act required them 
 to in\;cjfigate, were, by the amended paragraphs, 
 ai c}:te Jiihjlantiated 'ijjilhoui c::a:n:,icilon. But 
 they acid, " to thefe your appropriations of the 
 '' ilindj our duty requires that we Jhoidd fiate cur 
 " firongejl d[[fent. Our right to be paid tlie ar- 
 " rears of diofe txpcnces, (by which almoft the 
 "^ cou.nrry and all the property connecled widi it 
 '"^ v/eie prefervcd from falling a prey to a foreign 
 *' conqueror) furely ftands paramount to all 
 *' clairiis for former debts up.)n rlie revenues of 
 '' a country fo preferv^ed, even if the Legiflatiu'i; 
 '* had nv)t exprefsly Ihriii^d the ofdfic^.nce to le 
 " given to the frivaie creditors to he Juch as 
 *' jhoidd he CG}ij%1eut with our own rights. They 
 then go at large into a detiiil of calcuLirions 
 (wiiich ke in the Appendix) ap,d conclude 
 v/ith the following forcible iuicrcnce : "^ thus 
 " the public debt, cjirying no intercil, will be 
 '" protracted to aiTord a pn.ierenee to privat-? 
 '" d'/btSj coiiOuiiig of dhferenr dvicnptions, on a 
 '' j)art of whi;Ji cLiioiS /A7i? Do.ird have dcc!^ree(, 
 ''" they \:rre coitrchlcd coiUrnry to the pubiic 
 '' order: if the Co:rju:iy, rud ti.refire cc:dd hsi^-e 
 ' Jio h.rJi-i ;/ aiiity ri'y j'rii.i, ;,': d: 
 
 D 
 
 r
 
 [ .8 ] 
 
 The Appendix (No I. 5.) contains the rcjoin- 
 cl'^r of the Board of Controul to this reprcfenta- 
 tion, in which, after only giving way in one 
 point, (viz. that the debt fliall be made up to 
 the year 1784 with fimple indead of compound 
 intcreft,) they attempt to deal out fomc comfort 
 by affuring the Directors that tiiey have the 
 * Jlrongcjl grounds to believe that the private 
 debts will be confiderably lels than they are now 
 computed, and confequently the Company's pro- 
 portion of the twche lacks will be larger than 
 in the eflimate is fappoled. They then tell 
 ihcm, that being of opinion there is not any 
 room for obje6lin^ to the arrangement, they have 
 made " no alteration in the general out-lines of 
 *' it/' and defire that it may be forthwith tranf- 
 niittcd to India, and fo ends the difpofal of 
 upwards of _^. 200,000 of fccret claims, by the 
 penetration of the Honourable Commiffioners 
 dilcoveiiiig, that " no fubitantial good could re- 
 " lult from an invcfii^^alion into thole debts," of 
 which, by the Aci of Farliamait, the Court of 
 Diieftois arc expre'sly enjoined to cnqiurt the 
 cri^in and ji'ftice. 
 
 * JFlcncc did tlic Right Hon, CommiJioncr obtain thcfe 
 Jlrong g-rou-tds of hAicf? Arj there (brae p.i.crs at the Indi:i- 
 Houie which th^ Court of D:rcil,;r^ haw; never k'c.i : I- 
 I.orJ Ivl.iciirincy's ilatenient lu be cor.fiJercd -Xz faracioi:? .' 
 Or, docs licderi'. c his inibruKuion tVoni ib:n'j mrire c^nv'.iic;'!;^ 
 authority t'iian any //<7/.''f ducu.noat, w.ii.h authority he doe.^ 
 not thiuic proper to brin^ forth? If, in iii'> volunteer re - 
 Ibarchcs for the gcoJ ot the Conipanv, he has direovercd 
 Any fortunate clue by w'nich. ne -.'.. UJ:: i^ t'n-o.vn on theie dark 
 ti-anra(fHons, furely con'.r.u n ju:l.'.ee re.j',ir:d that he lliouhi 
 have let the Di;i\.lor. i ..o the ll^rer. 
 
 ] Lid
 
 ( '9 ) 
 
 I faid I would prove the condu6l of the Board 
 -of Controul to be in this inflance contrary to 
 the letter and fpirit of the law, as well as injuri- 
 ous to the Company, and I truft I iliall be 
 allowed to have fulfilled my promife, at leafl 
 until a ha^y adinijjion of a debt can be conftrued 
 as a complete invejligaticn of it, and until the 
 fubilantial calculations of the Court of Diredors 
 fliall be oppofed by fomething more convincing 
 than ftrong grounds cf belief. I muft now take 
 the liberty to offer a few obkrvations on the fub- 
 ject, which, in order to draw the reader's attention 
 as little as pofTible from the coJifld^. radon of the 
 facts, I have hitherto refrained from. 
 
 In the firil place then, two claffes out of thefe 
 debts '" appear clear and indifputable," but the 
 //^/r(^ has neither " fanction nor authority" from 
 the Board of Controul, the Court of Directors, 
 w the Prefidency of Madrafs, for which reafons, 
 ('this beiiiQ- 'f an arran2;ement founded in luf- 
 '* tice,") the fame frotecl'iGn is to be extended 
 to it ivhich has been alloived to the other t-'jjo ! 
 The vulgar way of comiing at the reality of a con- 
 t'.'iled debt is to make the creditor ^r^/i-^ it, but 
 liie new method ado{)ted here fcorns this old 
 fafnioned practice, and admits the juftice of the 
 demand till fomcbody fiiall think prop'/r to fiate 
 a reaionable ground oi objection. Either wav 
 this part of tlie arrangement is culpable : if the 
 creditor is once able fairly to llibfbantiate his claim, 
 it Is cruvl to fub]ect liim to after objections ; if 
 ]i:s debt cannot be fatisradorily proved, it is un- 
 jLill to adopt a general prefuuiption in his favour. 
 ijut I ber::\'e the objections to t'lis arrangement 
 uili in India be but few ; fhallou' indeed nudl (lie 
 D 2. policy
 
 [ .o ] 
 
 p >licy of the creditors be, if lliey Co not fcciire 
 th<^ happy turn in their favor, and fortify^ be- 
 yond the reach of future attacks, the ground 
 the Rijiht Honourable CoinmifTioners have given 
 them. A feu' fliag^hng malccontents, too in- 
 fjgnificant to be enliRed in the grand combination, 
 may perhaps mutter a threat or two, but there it 
 will end. Without giving them the trouble to tell 
 all they know, tlieir grievances may be redrefTed, 
 and at the lame lime two of the great objetls 
 which the Board of Lontroul profefs to have in 
 view in this decifion will be obtained *" Tran- 
 " cuillity" will be prefervcd by " the circula- 
 *' tion of property." 
 
 Let me x\o\\' fum up the refult of the bufi- 
 nefs, and I v. ill quit this part of my fubje6f. 
 I have proved the interference of the Board 
 of Controul to have been exerted in a mnnner 
 cop.irary io the pofiihe inJiniclLGns 0/ the Acl of Par- 
 liament, and i-:jip'w!^s to ike iiiiei c/h of the Coinpany. 
 Tiie ComniiIi;oners ha\e r.o!: exeicilcd a power 
 of revihng and amcndin'T ilie difoatchcs of the 
 T;irclors. but thtv i ave iO'al!^ expunged tl:eir 
 vvhole orders, aiid (ubfiita;td (Jthrrs m tl.'tir 
 room fourided on principhs dic.inetricaily dif- 
 ferent. 'I lie)' h,ave not ciji^fi. ed thenilches to 
 I'm (uperirittnding a [)ijh.ifal negotiation to 
 winth the DiiCv^tors n.iglit be held incompe- 
 tci.r, but thiv h;uc 0]:;j-'.';Ld ai'd couiitci"ac'.ed 
 tiiLin in tile (.lilchaigc of an ofhce ciclc-gatet! to 
 \\x\\\ hy tlic i.( ;;:i!,iiure, famiii.ir to their capa- 
 cities [:oiu iheir habits of Hf.-, fiiicilv within their 
 ckpartn^.cnL as a pcctiriiary trar.iauiion, audpio- 
 ])(;!.d to be txccutccl in a manner to w'jich no 
 ob.criujn couiv! he ni.idc, becaulc it was niarktd 
 < al ;i;.d [t;:ici]o.icd oy tiic haiid oi' i'a;]ian:c:.t 
 
 idU:.
 
 [ 21 ] 
 
 itHtlf. After fucb an encroachment, what ma)'' 
 not be dreaded ? If the Beard (<> daringly exert 
 their authority in contradiction to the exprefs pro- 
 vifions of the aft, what w !1 thev not attempt on 
 points whereon the ;^,e: iflature has been filent ? ' 
 If, where the powers of the Court of Directors are 
 afcertained, the CommifTioners can annihilate them 
 with impunity, what (liall become of thofe pri- 
 vileges which are only obliquely recognized in am- 
 biguous terms? In vain may the Kight Plonour- 
 able arbitrators attempt to fhelter this meafure 
 under the pleas of *' expediency/' and the neceflity 
 of comin<T to " a final concluhon ;" I fay the in- 
 ftance before us eiUbliflies a precedent by which 
 the whole property of the Eafl: India Company 
 fallj under the controal of thefe new fovereigns : 
 I alTert that the co.iduCt ot the Board breathes 
 defiance to the words of the Atl (jf Pailiament; 
 and as to the fjpirit of it, let me only afk if it can 
 be fuppoled tiiat the Houfe of Cotnmons, when 
 
 thev orJered the Dire61ors to invcllit^ate the origin 
 
 . . ... '" '-' 
 
 and juftice of fufpicious claims to the amount of 
 
 millions, could have defigned that xVIr. Dundas 
 
 an] his colleagues 'hould extend a iuddcn pro- 
 
 tcuiioii to them without examination or enquiry? 
 
 The powers of tr.e Court of Direi'ilors having 
 been thu. in pecuaiary matters demolilhcJ, the 
 next pf/iiu to which 1 requcll the attention of the 
 Kcader i elates to another ]:)rivi]cgc of the Com- 
 pany that ot eniorcing dilcipiinc in India, and 
 prclciving obedience and iubordinarion amongit 
 li;e lervants abroul. 
 
 By the i/th feciion of the aQ it was declared, 
 that iIk; .Hoard of Contrc^ul Ihall not have thiC 
 iipn. Eminent ot any oiliccs, and when, added 
 
 to
 
 [ " ] 
 
 to this, iliere wns a right vedcd in the Direc- 
 tors to difjiiils from their fcrvice vvhomfocver 
 ihcy chole, it w.!S imagined that the Bill a6led 
 up to the profefTions of its frameis, and that the 
 Company were effectually fecurcd in the pof- 
 ielhon of their former patronage. Ingenuity 
 contrived however to difcovcr a method by 
 which, without daimmL^ any power to nomi- 
 nate, the Board ol Controul aflumed to them- 
 f( Ives the means of rcndeut^g the appointments 
 an honour or a di(;^race, and teaching the fervants 
 in India, that though the Direflors gave them 
 fh.c'ir odkcs, they were to be accountable for tb.eir 
 conduct in the difcharge of them to a fupcrior 
 crtihcrity. The right i.f * difmffmg the Board 
 already Ihared with the DireCiois, but from the 
 light of appomLricrd they had the mortification to 
 feel thcmfcives clearly excluded. The dncerning 
 Cornmitfioner (aw that if this power v^^is fuffeicd 
 to remain pure and unfettered with the Company, 
 th.cy wouki poffefs a degree of rcfpcitaitiity, a:,.l 
 iiiamtain an iiidepcndi-nt ra!;k in tl c t-}cs of 
 tiieir fervants, hi;;hiy prejudicial to too M.!jc::v 
 of the Board of C^iritiojl. I]v i^ir/c n:c;;i,> or 
 ether therefore furii a piivilege was to be con- 
 tracted and enfccLL'd. :\vA if t!";is remaining; ie ' el 
 in the Court of Di!'ccl:cirs couIJ not t".e pur- 
 loined, it wa'^ at any rare neceifn-v t'n it il.^ \j':i'j 
 ir.ould be dcnicciated and its luilic < bf. i:;cd. 
 ^\n onporiiuiitv v, as i:ot lo:'!?! w.'.atii-L' to can v' 
 thii. \>\mi into execution. 
 
 * Appc-dix, No. 1.3. '< An.! s-t f.i^t'.rr .:":-:>, th.,' if 
 *' anv crcd;tor Ihall Ijj :.junu re r:.^Vi,;',', cr lU .-iS^- . i 
 " Jii'larb the arranrri'niCit \vc havj luj _;?/;. -J, /. 
 
 "'""" ^' ' ;";il^rccn':::'^^i'Vj;L;:'3A:^, c^.c/'
 
 [ ^3 ] 
 
 A Colonel Rofs, by a rcfolution of the Court y 
 of Directors, was permitted " to return to In- 
 ' dia as Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Engineer 
 *' at Madras, but not allowed to rank in ihe irfanlry 
 " 'corpi on that (jlail:Jhment." This exception /^.. 
 thwarting his object, which was to obtaiu the 
 advanced rank of Colonel in the arviy hy hrcvet, he 
 petitioned the Directors, who refufed to comply 
 with his requeft, and twice put a negative upon 
 the appHcation. Upon his arrival at Madras, how- "-^ 
 ever, the Colonel renewed his folicitations to the 
 Prefidentand Council, and endeavoured to obtain 
 iVom (hem vv-hat he had been fo pohtively refufed 
 here. The Pvcfic'c-jcy, in thtir letter to the 
 Company, make mcn-ioii oTthi.; new application, 
 to which the Direftors, awcr Hating: the circum- 
 (Li]Kcs as above, conclude their annver in thcfe 
 words-: " his (Colonel Rofs's) urgiiif^ ycu, to a 
 '* comr.-liance with a rcnuell vvliich zoc had pre- 
 *' viouP.y decid-rd on, was highly difrefpcdrul 
 '* to us, and v/c dircv-l that you acquaint Licu- 
 " tenant CoK'nel I^oTs ol our dir!]>orob;ition of 
 " his confla^Jt on this occauua." (Sec Appcn- 
 di>c, Xo. II. I.) 
 
 The Board ol Controul h.aving thought proper 
 to crpu^i^c the wlicle of ihis pnngiaph, becaa!e \ 
 " thcv cannot concur in tNe dilapprob.Tiion of 
 * Coioncl Rvfs^' (^'c.c A|;-;;cndix, No. II. 2.) 
 tiic Court C't Dirc^T'Ks, as i;n ir.^hjrrn;!- occafion, 
 prcfcntcd a rcrnurahaiiCc on Inch con.iuilt (Ap- 
 jicndix, Xo. II, ;.) but it r.-:!uckily li-ippcned 
 t;it!t, in their zed to ur:en.l thfir pvi\'i!t'nc';;, they 
 ;i'.ruo(l foiujht ihe l;;'j.!e of tJxir enemies, by 
 airv^rdiiip; thvMn the Vv.-vy onportusiitv t'ie\' \>-iihctl, 
 to p:C;C'.ii!n o:'iC!;;!ly to ::.c fervjcts ia India that 
 
 the
 
 V 
 
 [ 24 ] 
 
 the nutlioilty of the Company v:ds iran->Jcrrcct 
 io cnothtr quarter. 
 
 1 he reinond ranee of the Dirc>'^or.s Rates, th.it 
 the mode adopted by Colonel Rofs, of " appeal- 
 ** ing fn^m the funciior to ths inferior authority 
 *' is Io uclhuclive of all government, that they 
 " Ihould think they abdicated their trnfl- if fuch a 
 (ondticl was pcirnitted to pafs vvirliout ccn- 
 " fare;" and " that a deliberate contempt cf their 
 *' authority not on'y i.ot difnpproi-ed, but in- 
 " dircclly applr/'ikd, by the Kigiit Hon. lioard 
 " ^'(/^S-^'J p:rvn:jji:n ci:cn io repreic.d, muil 
 *' lead [Ik 1 1 fei\'ants to in-.aginc, that it is no 
 *' hn<;^rr thfir dutv io chcy i:.o;j --^vbo poJc/:> the 
 *' prCjCid aiUliurih in Gifat Lrili.in, hut tliat 
 *' thiy 'nicy jcifc'.y jy^allcltc C7i the protaLk iud;^ine}it 
 ' ivhich ;;:::y te heyc-fie.r foyyiicd (..', the propriety 
 
 cj tie c-V:i::d cr lers: 
 
 WcA the evi! Gtn'.us of (l^e India Company 
 hiuift'ir guided the i-'cn, hv^ could not have vvvi:tca 
 a lan^^u;::'.; more (.;v:rc''}' to i^e turned a.:;^iniL 
 tlieni tlKin i\->z p:iChg;^b 1 have auovc quL'ted ; a;.d. 
 to tlo j li^cc io l!-^ Ilvinouvable (~0:n:iii'non.) s, 
 icAiS h:n c not o'tilookcd the ad\' ;:ita;;c that was 
 \':-> h'Z !];;i'nc '.- \\'hcl';c; C.;l:):;cl Rols was repre- 
 liei.'^cd uv ror. (jiznihcd uut ji.t'c; iiie ctaiid point 
 wa^. io p;-'//;- V^,'/-:. ^:.'- ^;: i^l\ ih^ l.n rd 
 "iridit icr,-:-.cr ail. and th's i:ab been n)"(t Cifec- 
 t!ja h' d':'0. Tht; r;'<unritr C'si.s a iiinj hi 
 tyrxy wrnJ. (S>o r\ \:.z\^&^y.^ l\o. il 5.) Idr 
 ' ic::ic}:: c' ;7 ,, ',,;;; ti.-i cy.,-:: I 1 rr / :!:z:igiI ::::i 
 ' have nU.c.c t-o ls, yci.\\w:'c cur Cir^:di i'dacc \o 
 * I;?,.: c; r (!.;.; i;; k-mv; h i!S cM^ iu.ili) lran;cd. 
 * \\V ^!u'l, ho^vvw;;-, lii^L ly .;:'.< :. jiyfc::,^ 
 ' /; -::;;.'-' ;.;/ 1:: :::: :';;;>.'. I'.it lyj .,";:..; .: rrcor- 
 " )-'-^ d-:- ':-.:, .'' ' .:- /.;;; .'^ / .'.... T ,7-: f/"
 
 [^5 1 
 
 n/ 
 
 " anv feroant, chil or militarv, KXCLUSIFE OF 
 " THE CONTROUL OF ^ THIS BOARD I^ 
 The obvious inference to be drawn from this in ' 
 India mufl be, that, as the Right Hon. Board 
 have declared their right of *' refufingr permiffion 
 '* even to reprehend," the opinion of the Direftors 
 themfelves iuftifies the fervants in being '^ lead to 
 *' imagine, that it is no longer their duty to obey 
 '' tbofc who potTefs the prefent authority in 'Sreat: 
 *' Britain, but that they m u' (.-ilLly foecuhuc on 
 " the probable judgment which may be hereafter 
 * formed on the propriety of tije original orders." 
 Here then at once, degraded Company, is 3. 
 blow fi.rack at your patronage wliich lea-i'es it ia 
 a litLiation but liitle to be envied, ^ppoi^u your 
 r)wn favou:itc, and tl'ic ft owns of ri', ^jmrnif- 
 fioners may clou J a'l his t.iir pro'p'^as, and by 
 one pointed eenfure tor ever crn'h -lis iiop^s of 
 prctr^rmcnt ; ;>p:oiat tlie fivounte or the Ji;> -'d, 
 and he may infult your authoiitv, and fi,il.^verc 
 your dilcipline without \'OKr being pcr'iiiiteJ :-''ei?. 
 to repiehcnd him. The odiarn and the excr-nal 
 fo) ms (jf patronage you iiave, but li)e iwetts and 
 the tlicniial authoiiry of it hciong to another. 
 'I'he fiattoiniT aoprcbation that m-iti^es (Idciitv, 
 and tlie dr- aded veprii-rmd tn it ri\'cs > igour to 
 difciphne, are no lo!ip( r : fMiiii . tMcv fiovv* fiorri 
 anotiicr quavier, in (.'p.^ohti'Mi to ^vncfc >'l.%-':cej, 
 not e\Tn die Kii'cr can i:n]jart er.co'.n- (. incrif: or 
 rebuke to the rnihtar)- in India. In ihat branch of 
 the empire all tiiat either \(.'ur power, or bjs Pre- 
 rogative Cin in future be cntilled to, is tl,e 
 a:;g;y ja^K^u.'v of u:^ll^c'!^lul c.uiJid itt's, whic.li 
 will (jvci- attcijj on ih-j. \'i^\ht to aprioiiit. .md tlte 
 rujtcd ifh-iitrnen's wh:;:;> --viil ntceiia: tl}' follow ilic 
 
 c;;eiciic o{ l.hc only ot!:cr orivilegc vou h.ivt:. ini- 
 ' ... ^ ^ 
 
 li. tondiUonahly
 
 [ a6 ] 
 
 conditionally to difmirs. To diflribute tlie laurel 
 of military achievement, to confer approbation 
 on judicial integrity, and reward the faithful dili- 
 gence of civil exertiiOn, are ingratiating offices 
 v which appertain to Mr. Dundas. True it is, 
 the foldier, the judge, and the governor owe 
 their appointments to you, but they feel that their 
 characters and eflimation with the world depend 
 on higher opinions, and doubtlefs they will pay 
 their court accordingly. 
 
 We have now traced the Board of Controul 
 refolutely obtaining the difpofal of millions, and 
 holding themfelves up as the fountain of public 
 condemnation or favour to all the Britifli Settle- 
 ments in India-, what will be faid, when I go on 
 to demonftrate that even thefe flrides werel^not 
 long enough for the ambition of fome men, but 
 that, fetting all oppofuion at defiance, they perfifl 
 in their career, and, more fecurely to carry it 
 on, enable themfelves to acl under the fafeguard 
 of a fwornfccrecy. 
 
 In the recital of the powers of the Board of 
 Controul as defined by the firll Act of Parliament 
 on the fub]e6l, the Reader will (ind that the Di- 
 , re6lors were ordered to chufe three from amongrt 
 ^ themfelves who were to conftitute a Secret Com- 
 mittee, and, having reminded him of this. I njud 
 beg leave to flate the claufe which directs the pur- 
 pofes to which the faid Committee are to be ap- 
 plied, verbatim, in order that I may not fland fuf- 
 pefted of any mifreprcfentation, By the 15th fec- 
 tion, it is enacted that, " If ihc Board /Jta'l leaf 
 *' opimon, that the rubjc6l matJer of any of their dc- 
 *' liberations, coi'Ccrning the Icvving of war or 
 ** making oi pcdcc, or trta':):^ or nc:'):i::'ii-T ~v;tb 
 " any 0/ ir.e mi'iic I'/iuCii ir tli.^i iii Indui Ihall rc-
 
 C 27 ] 
 
 ^ qwre fccrecy^ it ihall and may be lawful for the 
 ** laid Board to fendfecret orders and inflruBions to 
 " the faid Secret Committee for the time being, 
 " who fhaii thereupon, without difclofing the fame^ 
 * tranfmit their orders and difpatches in the ufual 
 *' form, according to the tenor of the faid orders 
 *' and indruftions of the faid Board, to the re- 
 ** fpe6live Government and Prefidencies in India ; 
 *' and that the faid Governments and Preiidencies 
 *' {hall pay a faith fd obedience to fiich orders 
 ** and difpatches^ and (hall return tJicir anfwcrs 
 '* lealed, (under cover) with their refpeClive feals 
 " to the faid Secret Committee who fhaii forth- 
 " with communicate fuch anfwers to the faid 
 " Board.'* I refrained from takincr notice of this 
 claufe before, becaufe I wiftied without interrup- 
 tion to bring the narrative dovvn to the period 
 when the oath of fecrccy was added to it, in order 
 -that I might confider it in its ftate of perfection. 
 
 Whether it was ovv-ingto any dillruft the Board 
 might have in the Gentlemen appointed to com- 
 pofe the Secret Committee, as not thmkingthem all 
 tried men, or that the great Commiflioner found 
 when the Court of Directors got any item of what 
 uas going forward they were apt to comment too 
 freely upon it, or that he was angry with the 
 Com.mittee for fome hints they had let out, or 
 tliat he had (ome mailer Ilroke in contemplation 
 which for the good ol the C ompany it was pro- 
 per they (hould know nothing of, or which might 
 not be quite calculated lor public in(pclion, 
 how t])is might be I cannot preiume to 
 lay, but early in the kill ^elhon a claufe was 
 introduced into the new ad; of parliament v.hich 
 comj)cllc'd every meniber of the Secret Committee 
 CO tJ:c a folemn oath, ' not to difclole or make 
 ii 2 " knowa
 
 [ 2S ] 
 
 '^ knov/n any of the ffcret orders or inflruclions 
 " which iTiight b',' connmiinicatcd to him by the 
 " ComniifriOiKTbtor the AlTairs of India, concern- 
 "^ ing the levying of war, or making ot peace, 
 *' or treatih'g or ne^^c elating with any of the 
 " native Princes or Siatcs or India, imlefs he be 
 " authorized by the faid CommiMioncrs to difclofe 
 '' and make known the fame." 
 
 Thus did the Rip;ht Hon. Gentleman pru- 
 dently prepare the w?.y for any new fchcmes he- 
 might have in agira'.ion, and prevent all imper- 
 tinent obfervation on hii conducl by fwcaring 
 his agents to fecrecy. 
 
 Never, fo help you nercy ! 
 
 Hovvftran?-e or odd To e'er I bear myrelfj 
 
 As I perciiance hereafter lliall think meet 
 
 To put a:i anuck difpofition on, 
 
 That you nt iuch times racing me, never fliall, 
 
 (Witharnij encumbered thuj or t!iis iiead fnake. 
 
 Or by pronouncing or lo'.iic doubtlul nhrai'e. 
 
 As, f:dU '~'^cll, ^j:c k/:o--ii.- or --.vs ivouUt, if --Me couui \ 
 
 Or, :f =vjc l:ji to f^cak ; or i,X'/V be, aii if -v^c might ^ 
 
 Or fuch ambiguoub givings cut) denote 
 
 That you ):nc/.v aught of me : This do ye fwear 
 
 So grace and mercy at your molt nscd help you. 
 
 Here was the fivd blow oivcn to cveiT pri- 
 vihgeof the ccm;-.:;!V; and fU-p by ft*.']-) we have 
 at Life {u:^A lIu r^al f'-uat'-on to wiijeh, by Mr. 
 Pit::'s b:Ii, it wa:, meanc to r.diice rhc Court of 
 Dirtd'ors, 7\fte;- tlv lan<?u::ge which, had been 
 '\:x'i\. to Tvlr. l'\)\'.s ?r!cci"cd 'tieaiure, 
 hi..- z.\v::: ;!;y !o take l!ie Cliarter at 
 r-.dL-;\uy ,;nd ui.deriruul it has moil 
 b.;a t''jnei and really the j^reetis 
 
 ii 
 
 \:f 
 
 ed w 
 
 Ith 
 
 re 
 
 ir 
 
 was 
 
 I'lTT 
 
 '- 
 
 cr 
 
 ;ce, 1 
 
 ',\\'\ 
 
 
 cf 
 
 ^ I, ^i\i 
 
 ;;di^ 
 
 r
 
 [ ^9 3 
 
 is ingenious. Firft, the King is to appoint fix 
 CommiiTioners, who are to fiiperintend and con- 
 troiil the dilpatches Oi the twenty-four Direftors ; 
 then thefe twenty-four Directors are to chufe 
 three of thjir njmbcr who are to form a Secret 
 Comn-^ittee. This Coirimittee are kept back as A 
 a corps or' ref.rve, for ibine unforefcen emer- 
 gen :y no immediate ufe appears to have been 
 made of them for a confiderable time after their 
 appc:ntment, becaiife to have fhewn too early 
 the pnrpofes to which they v/ere to be applied, 
 might have giv.n the alarm before the Right Ho- 
 nourable G \ntlem.a:i was firm in his feat. The firfl: 
 battles were therei'orc to be tought witii tiie whole 
 Direction to*: tii-r, and having; vanquil'hed them 
 in one ensza^-cmv-nt, and contrived, though quit- 
 ting the field, to carry oit their colours in the 
 other, the great Commiffioner grows weary of 
 thcfc troublefome encounters, feels Irimfelffe- 
 cure in his power, and refoiving to manage India 
 more at his eafe, at length brings his Secret Co ;i- 
 miree to the charge, and giv^ts notice, that in 
 future he micans to aft through them. Within 
 a lev/ days alter tlic Committee were fv/orn, 
 tlie curtain v/as dropped, and rhe Direclors 
 elFeftually fnut out irom all infpCv?don in:o their 
 affairs. 
 
 A difpatch was prepared to be fent to Madras % 
 relative to certain arrangements wich tlic Nabob 
 oi Arcot of a pecuniary nature, wr.ich, accord - 
 ing to the orders of the Court of Direftors, dated 
 tlic 9:11 December, 1784, the Prefidency of Fort 
 St. Ctorge had }>revi(;u(ly made fome pro^refs 
 in, and were preparing to t-Ilabiiiliup'on a pem:a- 
 fi.nt footii>g. On this difpatch being fubmitted ta 
 
 the 
 
 sT
 
 [ 30 ] 
 
 ^ the Board of Controul for their approbation, 
 they exy^ungc ahnod the whole of it, and then 
 deliver this laconic nx'fTage : " y/s -zv-j think it 
 *' more proper that Juch injlrurtions-, as it is noiv 
 " r.ecejfary to tranfmit upcn the Jidje^l, potdd 
 " go thrciigb the channel of your iyecret Corn- 
 " mitidt\ ijjc pall fend a draft to them for that 
 " p'jrprfc" And, that dierc may be no mil- 
 iindculundiiig as to who is Lord paramoiint of 
 the Board o! Controul, Mr. Dundas figns firft, 
 and then foUoivs " William Pitt. i" ego et Rex 
 mens fir ft "" Henry Dundas," next, his Ma- 
 jelly's Prime Miniftcr !* 
 
 On tlie receipt of this letter, the Court of 
 Directors took the alarm, and conceiving a ;;;.-;i? 
 fecuniary trahfacliouy relative neither to peace nor 
 i:\?r, could nu.r be an object which the legifiature. 
 ever wifhed to keep the light irom, fimply be-- 
 c;iure it v/as a tranfaction with a native Prince of 
 India, in addition to the opinion of their ovvii 
 counftl, cbtain^'d thofe of the Aitcrney and So- 
 licitor General Vv'hich fee in the Appendix No. 
 
 As I really thought this niufc have been a miilakc ia 
 copying the letter^, I took the trouble to enquire into the fact, 
 and V. ill now afTcrt, that in the t/v^Z/v.'i/ tlie iignaturcs lland 
 a.i ] have described. It ic almctt impohlblc that Mr. Pitt 
 cculd have affilled at the Beard vvlicn thib famous mefTage was 
 o.a'.va up, not'.vithftaading he has figmd it ; bccaufe, h;;d he 
 been prefer.'., he muii, by the Acl af Parliament, ha", e lieca 
 J'fjilljnt, and ri iv.c'^u necefl'arily fignei/"/y/. I ha\e liearJ 
 V h w^.'.', t;.r;t tlie v.av ia w]:i:h bufmcfb is tranfac'tcd at the 
 i;r::-.l ;;f Control;! is this Mr. I), cidat.s and lign^ the dif- 
 T.a;..'".j , v,;ii ;, iiavir.g once obtidnci the lai'.ciion of hi:^ 
 1 :.'.:\:, ?.;l- j.. ricd ri and to the other C<!i-nnfl!oncr>, v-.hoaad 
 t ' ." frrnaMir.: :.., i. riuiiicr cf ccunc. Tiie vv-urltl wili d;':ef- 
 r iiC .V .:;!,..,- ^r :ij v.ht't i hare above !iatea ^i". es a coLur 
 II; tn_ re;u:i. 
 
 VI,
 
 [ 3' ] 
 
 IV. The three opinions however imiformly ^' 
 agree, that, by the letter of the A6t, the Board 
 were authorifed to proceed in the manner they 
 did. Mr. Smith, one of the Direftors, threw V 
 up his office and refigned a ftation in which he 
 found himfclf deprived of all information on 
 thofe fubie6ls which his duty feemed to require 
 him to inlpcet. (Appendix, No. V. i.) The u^.. 
 General Court came to a ftrong refolution, that ^' 
 the powers excrcifcd by the Board were fubver- 
 five of their " chartered rights, and tended to 
 *' eftablifii a fecret fydem of governm.ent, highly 
 " dangerous to the interefcs of the piiblic and 
 '' Company." (Appendix, V. No. 3.) The ,\ 
 Court of Direftors deputed the two Chairmen to 
 wait upon Mr. Pi't!:, to lay the above refoiutioa 
 before him, and afiv his afll Trance in Parliament to 
 explain the pov/ers of tlie Board of Controul 
 with regard to fecret correfpondcnce. To this 
 requef:, Mr. Pitt, having taken a week to con- 
 fider of, and moll probably to confult v/ith la? 
 friend on the uibjccl, rcturr:cd for anf\vcr, tliac 
 *' he did not fee any gi'ounds for an appiicntioii 
 " to Pariia^iicnt." (Ap'pcndix, V. No. 4, 5, 6.) 
 From Li^.at day to tlii^, the Board of Coiitroui 
 have been arbitrary rriOr.arcjis. 
 
 I have, in the Appendix, inf^^rtcd the v/hole of 
 the propofcd difpacch, and marked out the par- 
 ncular pnfi'i'.ges i xpiingL-;! by tiie Commilfioners, 
 tor the farisfaciion of the curious reader, ii.nd 
 that I ma) not be accuUd of keeping any uhjng 
 back; but I do not litre m.ean to ta!;c up time 
 by eiiter.ng i;;ro the detail of the bufn-^fs. 
 Isly arg'aneius r^Jl not upon vhc propriety of ex- 
 punging th;i ev :k.;t ;^ arricular pai.-gri^ !i ; it is 
 
 the
 
 [ 3^ ] 
 
 the principle on which the Board acfls that I op- 
 pofe, becaufe a precedent is now eJiahli/Jjedj by 
 which it will in future only be requifite to con- 
 ne(ft t!;'j ruhjc6t matter with tlie name of any 
 native Prince, or State in India, and tlic key is 
 to be turned on the Court of Diredori.. Let 
 the mod fangiiine admirers of Adiniriliration 
 peruf:; the manly opinion of Mr. Roufe, and 
 the exctllent and fpirited Ltter of Mr. Smirh, 
 anJ if they Hiall fl'Il continue frreniious in fup- 
 port of the Bojrd of Controul, and think that 
 the Court of Dirctlors are not cap.iblc of 
 coiiduv:!ing a n:ere pecuniary tranfa 'ion, 
 I will only beg leave to fay, the fDoner 
 they are difoand.d the better; their falaries 
 are but a burthen to the Company, and 
 their oSc-- of little credit to them.il-ives. 
 
 To thoJe vvlio aie open to convi:Hcn, m.ay I 
 be allo'.ved to t':ro".v out a f^v/ ideas on the fub- 
 ject of this rriVKerious fccrccy. 
 
 W!,.?.t iviuil bcc;;".:^e of die ar.tliority of the 
 Compaiiy o\ , r their f. rvcnts abroad under fuch 
 a iyitem ? I: cannot fiT. iy be cxoectid that 
 ]:'uch obedience v/iil be paid to the Directors, 
 \.'.' n it i:- lenown, that tli. ir powers are li eitcd 
 to 'd:e m,ere :. urine of office, and th.et ail the 
 iV'W. nii^:j":.i! c'ilpALf'hes are tranln':;tted \vithout 
 rie-ij' liw-j'^l-^-::-. Oiee (hew tliat tliey are bs- 
 c;) ,^e J-. n ij.i. ,r^, and, d flroving the idea 
 cfrh "r c' -if qu-'i^ee and di'j;nity, you ellcctually 
 Gv f-'.'^^-' ^ : - \^:r'; iwuniurioii or T'.jpect aiid 
 c^.i'.- ) :n e .. . th v ! ik)w flu it'.d, th- ir rank iii 
 '/'- u if j.'dii is ac tlv^ rr. rcy of 
 :. ^,ii.i:.:I-^.i-r-.. 'iae lame fl;i;p n:.:y carry 
 
 out
 
 [ 33 ] 
 
 out proofs of the omnipotence of the Board of 
 Controul, and the infignificance of the Court 
 of Dire(9tors, and while the inftructionsof the one 
 are inculcating the leffons of peace, the orders 
 of the other may found the declaration of war. 
 In fact, intelligence of confcquence will be 
 known to the fervants before the mafters are 
 acquainted with it, becaufe the difpatches of the 
 Secret Committee may be made public in India 
 when they are not even gueifed at here. So cir - , 
 cumftanced, the authority of the Company will J 
 foon become ridiculous and an object of con- 
 tempt. For protection and encouragement men 
 will naturally look up to the fuperior, in pre- 
 ference to the controuled power, and what has been 
 feelingly predicted by the Directors themfelves 
 will quickly come to pafs ^'^ the fervants will 
 *"^ learn to fpeculate on the probable judgment 
 " which may be after formed on the propriety of 
 *^ the original orders," and the public difpatch 
 will be but little regarded till its concurrence 
 with they^ifr^/ inftruftions is made known. 
 
 It may be remembered that I ftated how feeble 
 a fecurity was given for the Commiffioners not 
 interfering with the commerce -, I muft now argue 
 more ftrongly, and add, that even the ambiguous 
 protection afforded by the words of the ad:, is, by 
 the operation of it, dire6tly overthrown. Put \/ 
 the cafe that: the Board of Controul fend a dif- 
 patch to the Secret Committee to be forwarded 
 to India, which, through the medium of Ibme na- 
 tive Prince, materially affe6ls the trade of the 
 Company. By their oath the Secret Committee are 
 retrained from giving any information of the 
 danger, and, as difpatches received in fecrecy are 
 to be fec;-etly arf-doered., it is obvious that the 
 
 F Court '\
 
 C 34 ] 
 
 Court of Direftors can never know of the en- 
 croachment till they feel it in its mifchief.- 
 What now becomes of the boaftfd appeal ? It is 
 to all intents and purpofes annihilated. No man 
 can Ihew me a prafticable method by which the 
 Company can avail themfelvc s of that claufe in 
 the aft which fays, " his Majcfty in council 
 ** fhall decide whether any propofed difpatch of 
 " the Board is, or is not, connected with points on 
 *' which they have no authority." The King 
 cannoty without the voluntary information of the 
 CommiJftonerSy come at the bare jiatement of 
 the fa^ly much lefs give a decifion. The feel- 
 ings of the India Company may, perhaps, with- 
 out hazard be infulted, but decency fhould have 
 forbid the name of Majefty from being fported 
 with. How muft it appear in the eyes of Eu - 
 rope, that an A6b or Parliament which direds 
 an appeal to the King, reduces him to the necef- 
 fity of himfelf petitioning a fubjcft to grant 
 him the means of diftributing Juflice upon it! 
 
 While I am on this part of my fubjed: let me 
 take the opportunity to obferve, that the Prero^ 
 ^ative Qf making feace and war no longer ex- 
 clufively flows in its ufual channel ; it may be ex- 
 erted in India, by the fecret powers of the Board 
 of Controul, without any participation or know- 
 ledge of the Crown. A dafh of the Right Ho- 
 nourable Commiffion?r's pen can fct the whole, 
 country in a blaze, and none but himfelf and col- 
 leagues can quench the conflagration. You In- 
 dian Princes v/ho wilh to enjoy the bleflings of 
 peace, profit by die hint ! Come with offerings 
 and pour your tribute into the lap of him who 
 is the new Sovereign Difpofer of fertility or 
 dcfolation. In proponion as your allegiance to 
 
 him
 
 [ 3S ] 
 
 Him Is proved, (6 may your Territories be pro- 
 te<5ted or endangered, and, as your homage is ne- 
 glefted or paid, the Temple of the modern Janur 
 may be open or fhut. 
 
 Strange ! that the loyalty of the people Ihould 
 be at the fame time fo vigilant and yet fo blind I 
 that they Ihould fee the danger of giving excef- 
 five power to one fet of men who were to exert 
 it openly i and yet transfer a prerogative to another 
 who are to exercife it in fecnt ! That a public 
 aflumption of the difpofal of offices without the 
 King's participation, fhould create almoft an in- 
 furrefbion, and yet that the fate of an empire 
 fhould, without jealoufy, be fubjefted to a few 
 individuals as a private triiji I That they fhould 
 defend their Sovereign againft a diflant florm of 
 which he could gradually perceive, and prepare 
 ag^nft the approaches, and yet airifl to lay a 
 mine of which the difcovery and the mifchiefs may 
 be felt at the fame unguarded moment ! Let the 
 Right Honourable Commiflioner fit upon his 
 fecret throne for a few years longer, and who 
 fhall dare to counteraft him I Dreaded by one 
 half of the princes of India, and gratefully adored 
 by the other j with the fervants of the Company 
 looking up to him with reverence, and the Di- 
 re<5tors regarding him with awe; having exten- 
 fively fcattered his connexions abroad, and con- 
 ferred obligations on hundreds at home ; with 
 the wealthy Plunderer his friend from fear, and 
 honeft Poverty clinging to him for advancement ; 
 in a word, with the whole Eaftern empire in his 
 grafp what power is there in this countr)^ that can 
 withftand his influence ? If the crown does not/con 
 exercife its right to revoke the Ccmmifficit.the jeafcn 
 9f kingly authority may be pafi, I throw out this as 
 F a comfort
 
 [ 3 1 
 
 comfort to thofc, who fear the prefent Bill will 
 cncreafc the patronage of St. James's, and as a 
 hint to fuch whofe bufincfs it may be to watch 
 over the rights of Prerogative. Let me now> 
 after afking pr.rdon for this digreflion, return to 
 the Secret Committee. 
 
 * The three gentlemen who conftitute it are 
 forced into the mod cruel fituation that can well be 
 conceived. As Di"c5fcrs they take an oath, " ac- 
 " cording to the bed of their underftandings, to give 
 " their advice, counfel, and afTiHance for the fup- 
 " port of the Company;" as Secret Covimitteemen 
 they fwear, *' not to dilciofe or make known any 
 *' of the fecret orders which Ihall be communi- 
 " cated to them by the Board of Controul con- 
 *' cerning the levying oi war or making of peace, 
 " ox treating or ncgotiaUvg w'lih any native Prince 
 " of India." A multimde of cafes might be put 
 in which thefe two oaths would mofl. materially 
 c.laQi, but I v/iil beg leave to flate onCj the grounds 
 of which are fre(h in the Reader's memory. Sup- 
 pofc the difpatch relative to the payment of the 
 Nabob's debts, as altered by the Board of Con- 
 troul, bad been fent to the Secret Committee to 
 be forwarded to India (and tlie opinion of Coun- 
 fel authorizes rr,e to fay that it miglit) ; what would 
 have been their fituation ? Either they muft have 
 
 * Let iTie not !icrc be thought to mean any the mod dif- 
 tant rcticdior! oa t!ie prLlent Mcmbjis of the Secret Com- 
 mittee ; indctdl need not do more than fiiy that Mr. Man- 
 ihip is one, to prove that no dilrcfpectful mfmuation can be 
 ihtendcd. I; I oiiit of fad too, the mifchiel's complained of 
 did not fiicw ch'.;u;''.-ci. till afcer the three gentlemen, wha 
 no\v hold t!i."t.ai'- were f.vorn. lam convinced that the 
 nature of the Lr;:c was net, when it was undertaken, fufii- 
 cicntly confidcrcl, and my on!y objcti: is to open the eyes of 
 thpfe '.v]io may be ap^^vL-tcd m \^nl ne^l. 
 
 deviated
 
 [ 37 1 
 
 deviated from the obligations of fancy to which 
 they vfQVQ /worn, or they muft fikntly have ac* 
 quiefced in a meafure, ** which," to ufe their 
 own expreflion, *' their duty required they fhould 
 " Jlate their Jlrongtjl dijjent to.*' Indeed I look , 
 upon the Secret Committee, in the very nature >J 
 of it, to be fubverfive of every principle on 
 which bufinefs ought to be tranfadcd. It is a 
 conftitution of three Gentlemen appointed to 
 receive the pay of one defcription of men, for 
 executing the commiffions of another, and li- 
 able to be driven into that ftrange predica- 
 ment, that they betray their truft when they 
 difcharge their duty. They may be forced to 
 Cgn as their own opinion, that which their ienti- 
 ments revolt at, and incur rcfentraent and difgrace 
 when they are entitled to compaffion and favour. 
 Though (laves they may be hated as tyrants, and, 
 while they only difcharge an infigniiicant agency, 
 attral on themfeives ail the odium that attends 
 on ufurpation. With the molt upright intentions 
 towards the Company, they may be compelled 
 to fign the death warrant of its rights, without 
 being able to forewarn the vi6lim of its danger, 
 and in a word, become to the Board of Con- 
 troul, what his Maki are to the Turkifh BaChaw, 
 the fecrec inftruments of arbitrary power. 
 The chaiaclers of thofe who now are Cora- 
 milTione'.o .ox the aiTairs of India give us fecurity 
 again'l tacic mifchiefs at prefent, but I maintain 
 that ui.dci- the operation of the A6lsof Parliament 
 luch tilings might happen. 
 
 L.ct mc now addrcis myfelf to t' c Court of Di- 
 rcdors as the Kcprefentacives of the Ealt-India' 
 Company. 
 
 In
 
 [ 38 ] 
 
 In return for all thefe infults, and encroach- 
 mcnts, what aWantage can you prove the Com- 
 pany to have received. What franchife has been 
 confirmed to them, or what privilege explained' 
 in their favor ? You will anfwer, your patronage 
 is preferred ; let us fee how that ftands. You 
 arc not allowed to fend out one fervant to India, 
 under the degree of Counfellors, until thofe al- 
 ready on the fpot are provided for, and 1 believe" 
 I am not far from the truth when I fay, that be- 
 fore that happens, your charter will expire. I 
 admit you have the appointment of Counfellors 
 at die different Prefidencies, but let me afk, 
 without hinting at the weight which it is pretty 
 "Well underftood the recommendation of the Board 
 of Controul, privately fignified, would have, let 
 me afk whether you would think it prudent to 
 appoint any man, how extenfive foever his merits, 
 who had the misfortune to be obnoxious to the 
 Right Honourable Commiflioner ? 1 fee you 
 redden at the infinuation, and prepare to vindi- 
 cate your independence. Well then, perfift in 
 your own nomination. Your favorite fhall 
 take his feat with triumph He is a Conn- 
 fellor. But let him now beware how he 
 a<5ts -Let his obedience atone for your ob- 
 ftinacy, and remember that Prote^ion muft 
 come from another quarter ; let him bow and 
 fubmit to the politicks of the reigning Powers, 
 for if unfortunately he fhould be pronounced 
 " refracfory^'" he Jhall be difmijfed the jervice and 
 Jcnt heme to England I 
 
 All that relates to Governrricnt or Revenue, is 
 avowedly und^:r the Board of Controu), from 
 
 whence
 
 [ 39 ] 
 
 whence itdemonftratively follows, that to encreafe 
 the power ofthe Governor General, is to encreafe 
 the power of the Right Honourable Com- 
 miflioners. By the late regulations of Parliament 
 the number of the Council is reduced, and the 
 Governor General enabled to afb independently, 
 of them, hence the right of (^ifmiffion becon^^s 
 more valuable to the Board, and three out of four 
 of your appoititments are rendered infignificant. 
 Let it be conlid^red too, that the choice of Coun- 
 fellors muft be made from amongft thofe who 
 have been twelve years refident in India, and the 
 privilege of recalling will appear ftill more im- 
 portant. 
 
 As to the Governor General, I fancy it wiU 
 hardly be cont< nded bat that your conduct in 
 the nomination of him is regularly founded upon 
 a fort ofCoTjge d'Elire\^io this, however, you will 
 anfwer, that you have the power of difmllTing hirri 
 at your pleafure. True, but to what end ? Of 
 men qualified for fo very arduous an office, there 
 are but few to chufe from, and Ihould you perfift 
 in the exercife of this ripht, you would foon be 
 -driven either to appoint him who is inadequate to 
 his taflc, or fupport him who may infult you with 
 impunity. May the Noble Earl who at this day 
 prefides over your affairs abroad, long fuperin- 
 tind them ! but do not forget that not even the 
 virtues of Lord Ccrnwallis may be able to 
 exempt him from the common lot to which hig 
 ftation, by the fyftem row elVabliihed, is liable. 
 Whenever fufficient ufe fhall have been made of 
 his reputation as a folcier, and his fame for in- 
 tegrity as a man, it may afford but little fecurity 
 to him, that his conduct has been exemplary and 
 his feryices eminent. Abfolute difmifllon would 
 
 indeed
 
 [ 40 J 
 
 iindeed create an alarm, but the feelings of a 
 vetsran are nice, and a refignation might be 
 ^afily provoked. Thwarted and privately teized 
 on every meafiire, he might be driven to retire 
 in difguft, and leave the Government of India 
 to be managed by a fucceflbr better read in 
 fecret inftruftions. If everfuchan event fhould 
 take place, the bleflings of the Secret Committee, 
 tiie power of the Board of Controul, and the value 
 of your nominal right to appoint, will all, moil 
 probably, appear in their true colours. 
 
 As you are at length from pracftice, able to 
 look upon encroachment without that violent in- 
 dignation which formerly agitated you, may I be 
 allowed to bring to your reco]lc6tion the bill in- 
 ti'oduced by Mr. Fox in 17B3, and prefume to 
 compare what you then fo furioully refifted, with 
 what you now fo patiently fubmit to. 
 ^ By the hill of Mr. Fox, the management of 
 
 the India Company was vefted in feven Com- 
 miflioncrs, of whom Earl Fitzwiiliam was Pre- 
 fident. Thejr office v/as to continue for four 
 years, and their condu6l was liable to the con- 
 flant infpeftion of Parliament. By the bill of 
 Mr. Pitt, your affairs arc governed by fix Corn- 
 mi fTioners, of whom, in every paper but one 
 wliich has been produced, Mr. Dundas appears 
 to take the lead. Their powers gain additional 
 flrcngth every day, and no fcafon is marked out 
 to perfect their growth, neither, unlefs xh^y chufe 
 it, are tlicir proceedings to be examined by any 
 human creature except fiich as are fworn not to 
 difclofe them. What was thrre here to entitle 
 the latter me^ifure to the prefeitr.c e r is the 
 chai'accer of Mr. Dundas more reipe6lable than 
 that of Lord Fitzwiiliam, or is a Secret Govern- 
 mcht, in the hands of the on;-, lefs liable to 
 
 fuipicion.
 
 [ 41 3 
 
 fufpicion, than an open exercife of authority un* 
 tier the diredion of the other ? 
 
 Mr. Fox took the commerce, and lodged the 
 fuperintendence of it in nine gentlemen, ex- 
 prefsly nominated for that fole purpofe. Mr* 
 Pitt neither takes it, or lets it alone, but, by 
 a new fpecies of ambiguous policy, leaves it to 
 the King to decide on feme future day to whole 
 trull it ought to be committed. What is there 
 of fuperior advantage to the Company in this ? Or 
 even if the words could be fuppofed to hold out 
 any benefit, have I not Ihewn that the o'peration 
 of the A(5t would effeftually deflroy it ? 
 
 Lailly, by the hill of Mr. Fox, the fervants 
 were to be refponfible to thofe who appointed 
 them, but, by the conftruftion of Mr. Pitt's Af, 
 the right of appointment excludes the idea of au- 
 thority. I will not offend your understandings 
 by an attempt to Ihew the abfurdity of fuch a 
 propofition. 
 
 I beg it may be underflood, that I avoid all 
 argument upon the effefts which either of the 
 bills may have on the conftitution : Such a dif- 
 cuflion would lead much beyond the liniiLs 
 v/hich I have prefcribcd to myfelf, and therefore 
 I will refrain from any opinion on the fubjcctj 
 but, as far as relates to the Ccmpanyy I maintain V 
 rhe bill of Mr. Fox dcfcrvcd live preference. 
 Its actions were open and avowed, thofe of the 
 other fecret and in die dark : Both dealt dcflruc- 
 tion to your chartered privileges^ but the m.ea- 
 furc you refifted was as much fuptricr to the 
 interference under v.'hicli you at prefent groan, 
 as war is to a iTafTi nation. In avoiding the 
 Charge you fell into the Ambufn, and I knov/ of 
 no other diftind'on than tliis, tiia: inlle^id cf 
 G dyJn^i;
 
 [ 4^ 1 
 
 <\')h^g honourably in the field, you arr now rr- 
 fcrved to perilh in ignominious captivity. 
 
 I fay to pcrif^, bccaufe I hold it impofTiblc 
 vou can furvive the year 1790 when your char- 
 ter expires, for every Proprietor mud feel 
 that your prelcnt conilitution never v;ill be 
 renewed J nor is it to be wiflied it fiiould. 
 So ftrangc a mixture of nominal authority 
 and aftual impotence is contrary to every 
 prirxiple on which a Government can hope 
 r.o be profpcroufly conducted, and your total 
 annihilation v/ould be infinitely better than your 
 prefi-nt doubtful cxiflence. Let the Board of 
 Cciirroiil fLand forward and openly take <^//, 
 the ::;;'; /j j.o\::y and the I'jh'jU rej^OKJlhuityy 
 and v;e know v.hat we have to trull to ; 
 but a J'ecrct, u-iid:jiucd lyftci;!, be it exfrcikd 
 bv v.iiom it m;vv, will ever beget /^//jj/t/i-;;, and 
 ti^cn follow jtalouf c'.s, bick' iiiigs, and want of 
 confidence, evils v.ifich are dangerous to the 
 V. I'll bcin^; of evc.lv fjcietv, but which, to a 
 co;"::v^crci.d one, n;i;il Uil:;t;;::::1v biin:i: deitruc- 
 
 "r was f-;'.H'>kd that the rroprictors 
 he a \X.-:sA m dLiirrcc of their i^rivikgcs, 
 '.:\\ ihc iiilhce of ParlianK-nc i^r rcdi\i'!~, 
 c icrmc hojjes t!;at your coraVc'i.iv nco 
 ':fn be rcitorod, and il:a; )(;u ;;:ij:ht 
 \\;\v: r.'.iik an.oiv, [u die co-yoiuru/iis u\ 
 lk.it d:e lot: is v.-w d;\ w;-, tiie only 
 :! . r C';u]d k-.Ui 10 c;j; ie;ii;n',; vci; iinm 
 : >! c.Atij i.i'ir.';! o , 1.,^, \\\\-\ c (.i.C;[i\'e 
 I'l'i \\ ;' ^'.\ if, an. I V.v UiLMi !;; iein o: t:i;* 
 [) ihe B; :<:..! 0. Coi'irruul 1.,:.^ bv-:eii 
 
 \^'lk:e 
 
 wci;:.! w:.^ 
 
 ^u'^ petu; 
 
 tl'Cre ve; 
 
 i-'f.'i:t a;j 
 
 V- t wi n t (; 
 Kn-hP'k 
 
 *nx,-: ^. 
 
 duM;-:- 
 
 neii^-k-e 
 
 Co!-iu:r, 
 
 V'MU.dk'
 
 [ 43 ] 
 
 Your fituation therefore is now without remedy, 
 and the pi6lure of your pafl and prefent condition, 
 when painted by the hand of truth, moll mor- 
 tifying. I will exhibit it faithfully^ and then 
 take my leave of the fubjeft. 
 
 It is but three years ago that you attr?.6led 
 the notice of all Europe. You complained of 
 an attack on your charter, and every man, from 
 the King to the plowman, took the alarm. Such 
 was your confequence at that period, that within 
 a few days you carried all before you. You faw 
 a whole Adminiflration routed, a Ivliniiler fup- 
 ported in oppofltion to the Houfe of Commons, 
 a Parliament fuddcnly difiblved, and the name 
 of the India Company fuflicient in almoft every 
 borough in England, to over throw all confidera- 
 tions of property, connexions, or Rank. 
 
 Mark the fequel ! Tou raijed a poiver to 
 cYujh yourfelvesy and in the very moment of the 
 mod complete vidlory, you were obliged to fub- 
 m^it to the conditions of the mioft difgraceful 
 defeat ; a defeat, compared to which, the over- 
 throw you efcaped from your original enemy 
 would have been glorious. The attack of Mr. 
 Fox certainly would have taken every privilege 
 and franchife from you, but you would have 
 loft thtm honourably, and the Company have 
 expired with the reputation of martyrdom. 
 Better would it have been fo to have died, than 
 to be allowed to live on fuch terms as the pre- J 
 fent. The conqueft obtained by the Board of 
 Controul adds infult to injury, and having taken 
 pofleflion of your citadel and made you pri- 
 foners, compels you to walk in the Conqueror's 
 train, drefied out in the pomp of vour for- 
 mer dignity, like captives in a Roman triumph ! 
 
 G2
 
 t 44 ] 
 
 All the parade of your loft oonfcquence "remains 
 while you are not able to call a fingle privi- 
 
 V lege your own. Without knowing what your 
 
 duty is, you are rcfponfible to your conftituents 
 
 for the difcharge of it, and though oflenfible 
 
 rulers of India, you cannot carry one meafurc 
 
 .A^ into execution. With all the mockery of nomi- 
 
 "^ nal power, you are deflitute of vigour or efficacy, 
 and you fit with paper Crowns upon your heads, 
 to copy difpatches, and lament your fate 1 
 
 P O S T S C R I r 1'.
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 A REPORT having been induftiioufly circu- 
 lated, that the Board of Controul had made fuch 
 conceffions of power as to have fatisfied the Com- 
 pany, I have thought it proper to add a few 
 words on that fubjed. 
 
 At the General Court held the 7th inflant, a 
 inotion was brought forward, " That a Com- 
 *^ mittee be appointed to confider of the means 
 " proper to be adopted, for afcertaining and more 
 " efieftually preferving the rights of the Court of 
 *^ Dircdorsand Proprietors." 
 
 In order to prove that there was no necefllty for 
 a meafurc of the kind, a paper was read, coming 
 from the Board of Controul, which, on a curfory 
 perufal, ftruck Mr. Roufe to be fuch a renun- 
 ciation of the Secret Powers as the Company migb.t 
 be fatisfied with. The motion on this was about 
 to be withdrawn, but fbme little converfation hap- 
 pening to arile, a fecond Paper by accident fell into 
 Mr. Roule's hands, which fo clearly proved the 
 duplicity of that which had been held up as a con- 
 ceQion on the part of the Board of Controul, and 
 the litde fccurity the Company had for the future 
 prevention of the encroachments they complained 
 of, that the learned Counfel defired to rctraH his 
 firj} opinion^ and let the motion take its courfe. 
 I'he c inlcquence was, that it was fent to a ballot, 
 andtheie decidedly negatived! 
 
 That I may not appear to keep any thing back, 
 I have infer ted the firjt Paper alluded to, in the Ap- 
 pendix
 
 [ 46 ] 
 
 pcndix No. VI. and the Reader will there alfo 
 
 fee that it is not ray fault he is not gratified with 
 
 a fight of thefecond. 
 
 \j As the cafe at prefent flands I can give no fur- 
 
 X- ther information on the fubjeft than, that the 
 
 '.v|t|> f" <^:Paper which feemed to be advantageous to the 
 
 Rights of the Company, was officioufly produced 
 
 and pompoufly read, while that, which took 
 
 away from them even the app.annTc of fecurity, 
 
 was dire6ted to the Secret Commktee, and only came 
 
 to light by the mijlake of a Clerk, Let the world 
 
 make its own comments.
 
 t ] 
 
 ^1 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 Vi^mands of Brilljh SubjeBs on the Nabob, 
 24. Geo. III. cap. 25, 
 
 XXXVII. A ND whereas very large Turns of 
 J^\^ money are claimed to be due to 
 Britiili fubjcrdts by the Nabob of Arcot, in the re- 
 covery whereof, it is expedient that fuch affift- 
 ance (liould be given them as is expedient with 
 the rights of the laid United Company, the fecu- 
 rity of the creditors, and the honour and dignity 
 of the laid Nabob ; Be it enadled. That the 
 Court of Directors of the faid Company fiiall, as 
 foon as maybe, take into confidcration the origin 
 and jufticc of the faid demands, as far as the 
 materials they are in polTcfTion of will enable them 
 to do, and that they lliall give fuch orders to their 
 prefidencits and fervants abroad, for completing 
 the irrjcJiigatioH tlier^jof, as the nature of the 
 cafe fliall require, ind eriablifhingin concert with 
 the faid Nabob, fuch fund for the difcharge of 
 thefe debts which /ball be jufily due according to 
 their refpeftive cliim.s and priority, as fliall be 
 confluent v/ith the lights of the faid United Com- 
 pany, the fecurity of the creditor^:, and the honour 
 and digniiy of ihc faid Nabob. 
 
 B No.
 
 APPENDIX No. I. 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 Difpntchi as crigiually drawn by the DireScrSy re- 
 lative to the Mcde of Liquidation of Public Debts, 
 and Debts to Eur op can Creditors. 
 
 65. Purfuant to the diredtions in the late a6t 
 of parliament, we have taken into our confider- 
 ation the origin and juftice of the demands of 
 Britifh fubjefts upon the Nabob of Arcot, fo far 
 as the materials in our poflelllon have enabled us 
 to do. 
 
 66. Thefe demands are diflinguiflied under 
 die following heads, viz. 
 
 The old debt, 
 The new debt, and 
 
 The debt to Melfrs. Tavlor, M.ijendie, and 
 Call. 
 
 67. The Nabob himfclf, in liis letter to Go- 
 vernor Palk, of the 1 2th December, 1776, ha*i 
 given die bcil account of the orio-in of the old 
 debt that is to be m.et with upon our records, a 
 copy whereof is inclolcd, in wliich his right, after 
 enumerating the caulL's v.hich, from time to time, 
 obliged him to procure pecuniary aids, declares, 
 '' that the futnb- lent him were truly and juftly 
 '^ lent him." The account of tliis debt in ja- 
 nuarv, 1767, appears to be about 22 lacks oi 
 pagodas, at which tniie the intercll tiicreon was 
 reduced to 10 fcr cent, in conf/quence of oux* 
 orders of tlie 17th of M:iy, 1766. Not more 
 than a fourth p.;rt ol this cle'ot, we uiidcriland, 
 remains to be diich.arged, tiie Company jiavin^; 
 frequently recom.n.nded the cafe of th'.Me old 
 creditors to the N.^bcb's i.;voi;rable sxiuw'-.ow. 
 
 L6. ]r
 
 APPENDIX No. I. 3 
 
 68. It was not imtil the year 1776, that the 
 Court of Directors were informed, that the Nabob 
 had contracted a new debt, exclufive of the cavalry 
 loan, to a much greater amount than the former. 
 It is Hated in 1777, at which time it was confoli- 
 dated at thirty-five lacks of pagodas, bearing an 
 intereft of 1 2 per cent. 
 
 66. Although we have repeatedly written to the 
 
 Nabobs and to our Jervants^ rejpe^ing the debt^ yet 
 
 we have never been able to trace the origin thereof y 
 
 cr to obtain any Jatisfalory information upon the 
 
 JubjeSl. 
 
 70. It is true, the Nabob has afTured us in 
 his letter of the 12th of Auguft, 1783, " That 
 " the claims of his diftrefTed creditors are the 
 '' claims of juftice, and whofe demands he is 
 " bound by honour and every moral obligation, 
 *' to difcharge ; that it is not, therefore, without 
 *' great concern, he has heard infinuations tend- 
 *^ ing to queftion the legality of their right to the 
 " payment of thofe jull debts, which proceeded 
 " from advances miade openly and honourably for 
 '^ the fupport of his own and the public affairs." 
 ' 71. But notwithftanding the Nabob has thus 
 admitted the fairnefs of thefe debts, yet, from the 
 anfwer in his paper ofrequefts, it maybe inferred, 
 that the Governor General and Council enter- 
 tained a different opinion concerning them, when 
 they thought it reafonable to require, that there 
 fhould be an abatement of 25/. per cent, from fuch 
 of the debts as may have been transferred, and 
 that the whole fliould be difcharged without inte- 
 reft. Befides, fufpicion refpeSfing the nature of 
 thefe latter debts^ not vtry favourable to thofe con- 
 cerned in them, have been dropped from high autho- 
 rity upon the fpot. 
 
 B 2 72. We
 
 A. APPENDIX No. I. 
 
 72. Wc do not mean to qiicflion the Nabob's 
 right to ifiue his bond to whom he pleafes, but 
 when thoje pecuniary tranja^ions have relatio7i to 
 cur 0W7iJervants, who are bound to the Company for 
 the performance of various conditions under certain 
 penalties ; in all fuch cafes ^ it is our indifpenfahle 
 duty to call upon the Nabob for every information 
 upon thefubjely and we make no doubt his High- 
 nefs will lee the propriety thereof, and afford us 
 compleat fatisfatfi ion herein. We are in an efpe- 
 cial manner impelled to procure fuch fatisfaftion, 
 when wc confider, that, tor the difcharge of thefe 
 bonds, the revenues of certain difiriEis have been 
 fiffgned to our fervanls^ from a country ^ the defence 
 of which refis entirely with the Company., who are 
 therefore particularly interejled in every thing that 
 concents its refources. 
 
 73. For thefe reafons, we fliould have thought 
 it our duty to enquire very minutely into ihofe 
 debts, even if the A61 of Parliament had been 
 
 ^ filent upon the fubjedl, before we concurred in 
 any mcafurcs for their payment. But with pofitive 
 injun^ions of the aEl hefore us., to examine into 
 their nature and origin, we are indifp enfably bound 
 to direct fuch an enquiry to he inftituted \ and we 
 therefore confidently hope and truft, that you 
 will obtain from the Nabob and the creditors, the 
 mofl: fatisfaftory account thereof, before you lend 
 the authority of the Company to any plan for 
 tlicir Lqr.idation. 
 
 74. With refpedt to the 3d article we find that 
 in April, 1777, the Nabob conrra6ted a debt v.-ith 
 Mefirs. Taylor, Majendie and Call, of four lacks 
 of pagodas, faid to be advanced him, to pay the 
 ;'.rrears due to his troops, for the rcprjymcnt of: 
 v/hich, the Madras Government engaged to be the 
 kciirlty : But the Court of Dirc'fcrs difavozved the 
 
 iranfu^iior:.
 
 APPENDIX No. L 5 
 
 tranja^fion. The accounts of the Nabob's officers 
 will Ihew the feveral advances which were ac- 
 tually made in confequence of this loan, and 
 whether the fame were appropriated to the pur- 
 pofes intended. 
 
 75. It appears to us eflVntially neceflary to 
 call for thefe explanations, as the Nabob has 
 aflerted in his letter of the 22d of March, 1779, 
 that tlie two years were nearly expired. Mell'rs. 
 Taylor, &c. had not entirely difchargcd the 
 arrears of thofe troops. 
 
 76. In the inftrudlions given by the Nabob's 
 creditors to Mr. Richard Jofeph Sullivan, the 
 21 ft of February, 178 1, on his proceeding to 
 Bengal, we find the follov/ing ftatcment : 
 
 Pagodas. 
 The principal of the new confolidated 
 
 debt is 35,oOjOO 
 
 The arrears of intereft at that time 10,32,500 
 
 45,32,500 
 
 The annual intcrcfl of this Rim is ftated at 
 pagodas 5,43,900. 
 
 77. I'he letter from Madras of the i3thM:ircb, 
 1779, ^'^y-''' ^^^^ bcfidcs the confolidated debt of 
 35 lacks, it is probable the Nabob may owe to 
 individuals about lo or 12 lacks more, including 
 the money due to MeHrs. I'ayjor, Majcndie and 
 Call, which additional fiim takes in tlic wiiole of 
 the Nabob's debt. 
 
 78. Tlie following then is the mofi: accurate 
 ftatcment of the Nabob's debts to his iiuropean 
 creditors, taking the coiripound inrerclt into the 
 calculation, that we are able iVem die materiais 
 before us to procure. 
 
 Pa'^odas
 
 APPENDIX No. I. 
 
 Pagodas 45,32,500 as above. 
 
 16,31,700 intercft thereon to Fe- 
 bruary 1784. 
 12,00,000 as above. 
 
 Pagodas 73,64,200 
 
 79. We are av/are that the amount put down 
 here, docs not exacaly agree with the Nabob's 
 own llatement of what iic owes to liis t.uropean 
 creditors, as n.cntioned in his paper of requefts 
 to th-^ Bengal Government, which produced the 
 Treaty of April 178 1. " Befides," fays he, "the 
 " expences of the Company, ihe pay of my 
 " troops, the native bankers, mv creditors, the 
 " I'lindoo 2nd Midlehncn feciiritics, I am in- 
 ** indcDted about fcve.nty lacks of pagodas to 
 '' f.i:ronean crcdirors, both old and new, and 
 ** people being under the protection of the Corn- 
 " pany, 
 
 h(i. In this flare of unc-rri-inty, as to the ori- 
 gii-, of tlie demand of the ol-J. and new crediton., 
 particularly the latter, (-n-hh-b precludes us frcrc 
 j::::'g:::g cf ihe jujUce therccf) and their aclual 
 a-roi'-nr, the knon-ied'/^e of isjhrchy zi'c CGtudi-e^ can 
 (lii'-y i)e chtalncd np^n tkc Jpcl, we hereby direct 
 our Prefident and Couneii of Fort St. George, 
 i'.rmediately upon the receipt hereof, to enter in- 
 to a full examination as to the poir.::. mentioned 
 in rh<- act, vi/. The origin and jufrice of thefe 
 d.rv.and? ; alio 'die txaet: amount thereof, 'jshethcr 
 the I'ums ''Jje>'c ':'L::i.y and b(/na fide advanced, an*.! 
 nrie'U v/hat particular occalion, aifo the names of 
 eael.' i'-dveidual crcdiicr wiio fu.all prove his del', 
 tv ihe Jctisfc5ii:n cftbeJaidPrc/idci.t and Council . 
 
 81. Having-
 
 APPENDIX No. I. 7 
 
 8 1 . Having compleated this enquiry, in which, 
 as before- mentioned, the Nabob rni'.ll be requeil- 
 ed in our name to furnifli every pofTible informa- 
 tion, the whole of tiie proceedings mufl be tranf- 
 mitted to the Governor General and Council, who 
 are hereby directed to take the fame into tlieir 
 confideration to determine thereupon, and to eila- 
 blilli in concert with the Nabob, through the me- 
 dium of the Prefidcnt and Council of Fort Saint 
 George, " Such a fund for the difcharge of thole* 
 *' debts which fliall appear to be juftly due, ac- 
 " cording to their refpedive claims of priority, 
 *' as fliall be confident with the rights of the 
 '^ Company; the fecurity of the creditors, and 
 " the honour and dignity of the Nabob." 
 
 82. We think it nccellary to acquaint you, 
 that as many of the creditors, now refidino; in F.n'z- 
 land, as fliall prove to our fatistaftion the origin 
 and nature of their feveral claims on the Nabob, 
 agreeably to the intention of the Legiflature, their 
 debts fiiall be confidered as iuft and legal ; anJ, 
 lb foon as the fame fnall have been fablhmtiated, 
 a particular account thereof fiTall be tranfiiiitted to 
 you, in or.ier that they may be included in tiie 
 liiturc plan to be rornied lor the iiqi:idatioii k>\ 
 the wiiole. 
 
 From tlie c^reat en-.h.irr.ifTiV.cr.t, borh to the 
 Nabo!)'.s ar.d to rite Co!r.p;u"!y's aifairs, v,'!iich t'le 
 enormous amou;.: or t!v:'!e private claims have 
 occafiori'-d, wc: are luippy t(j iind tlic Nabob 
 wilUnfZ to en.i'.ii'-e, net to incur any nev; d..bt 
 with iudividiii^ls ; aiid we th;;:k hrrle d,Ki^ uky 
 will be fou;ul \\\ pt.riUaai;Kr i.;^ 1 li^^iincis to ent. r 
 into a jjoiitive engageiuci^t lor ri:i.t jMii'pufl*. 
 And thoM;":'-! tiiv i /'j'lllutL:.".' ha^ liius hLiinantly 
 inr';r;^'i''.d i;i l)eh'k ^ ! iL:.:.i .i.;k\ ivki.us, .1. niii;!;:
 
 8 APPENDIX No. I. 
 
 otherwife have been drove to great diftrefs ; yet 
 we hereby pofitively prohibit any of our fervants, 
 or other Britifh fubjccls under the protection of 
 the Company, from making any farther loans of 
 money to the Nabob, or any of his family, upon 
 any account or pretence whatfoever, declaring, 
 that we will not hereafter interpofe our authority 
 to procure fatisfadtion for engagements fo entered 
 into, contrary to thefe exprefs directions, and the 
 intcrcfc of the Company. 
 
 84. Since writing the above, the original re- 
 gifter of the Mayor's Court at Madras, dated 
 the 1 6th October, 1780, has been laid before us, 
 fpecifying to whom, and at what time, the pay- 
 ments were made on account of the cavalry loan, 
 amounting to pagodas, 4, 23, 436, 13, 26, alfo 
 co'jy of a letter from Meffrs. Call and Taylor, 
 dated 25th March, 1779, ^^ ^-^'-' Refident and 
 Council, we fend )'ou a co})y of thcfe papers for 
 your infonriation, and to guide your judgment in 
 the decifion which you are to give refpccling the 
 juitice of the cLiiir.s of Meffrs. Call, Majendie, 
 and Taylor. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 DUto Difpatch as altered by the Board cf Com-rAJ- 
 fi oners. 
 
 We ntrxt proceed to give you o'jr fcntiments 
 ref])ecting the private debts of tlie Nabob ; and 
 v/e cannot btit acknowledge, tliat the origin and 
 niitice borh of the loan of 1767, and the loan of 
 
 1-77-7, conimoidv c-illed the cival; v' loan, appjjr 
 / i^s cL-r.r ciy:d iudup'^tchl:, a'^r^'d^d^y to the true 
 fcnfe (I'ld f?h-it of ih: la:.: .ih: c-' p-dlnmcKt.
 
 APPENDIX No. I. 9 
 
 Infpeaking of the loan of 1767, we are to be 
 underftood as fpeaking of the debt as conftituted 
 by the original bonds of that year, bearing in- 
 tereft at per cent, and therefore, if any of 
 
 the Nabob's creditors, under a pretence, that 
 their debts made part of the confolidated debt of 
 1767, aidiough fecured by bonds of a fubfequent 
 date, carrying an intereit exceeding ten per cent, 
 (hall claim the benefit of the following orders, we 
 direct:, that you pay no regard to fuch claims with - 
 out our further efpecial inftru6lion for that pur- 
 pofe. 
 
 With refpeft to the confolidated debt of 1777, 
 it certainly ftands upon a lefs favourable footing. 
 So early as the 27th March, 1769, it was ordered 
 by the Prefident and Council of Fort St. George, 
 that for the preventing of all perfons living under 
 the Company's protcdlion, from having any deal- 
 ings with any of the co>:ntry powers or their mi- 
 nifters, without the knowledge or confent of the 
 board, an advertifement fhould be publiflied, by 
 fixing it up at the Sea Gate, and fending round a 
 copy to the Company's fervants and inhabitants, 
 and to the different iubordinates, and our garri- 
 Ibns, and giving it out in general orders, dating 
 therein, that the Prefident and Council did con- 
 fider the irr ever/able order of the Court of Direc ' 
 torSy of tht year 1 7 1 4, (whereby their people wen 
 exprefsly prohibited from having any dealing with 
 the country governments in 'money ^natters) to be in 
 full force and vigour y and thereby exprelsly for- 
 bidaing all fervants of the Company, and other 
 Europeans under their jurifdi^lion, to make loans ^ 
 or hiive any money tra-nf anions with any of the 
 princes or fates in hidia^ witho:it efpecial licence 
 and perm ij/ion of the Prefident and Council fcr the 
 C tir^;s
 
 10 APPENDIX No. I. 
 
 tmc beings except only in the particular c^fes 
 there mentioned; and cleclarin(T, that any vvilful 
 deviation therefrom fhtnild hz dQ.K:mci\ a breach of 
 oicLrs, and treated as fiich^ And on the 4th of 
 March, 1778, it u-as relolved by our PreG'ent 
 and Council ok Foit St George, that the conjo- 
 h dated debt of 1777-. -zoas not in any refpeB what- 
 ever conduced under the a-ifpiccs or protcclion of that 
 government; and, on thccircamflances ot the con- 
 lolidation of the faid debt being made known to 
 u^, we did on the 23d December, 177S, write 
 to you in the lollou'inLj; terms: " Your account 
 of the Nabob's private debts are very alarm- 
 *' in^^ , but from wharever cauk or caules thofe 
 *' debts have been contratted, or encreafed, we 
 " hereby repeat our orders, that the fanftion of 
 " the Company, be on no account given to any 
 *' kind of fcfuril^ for the pajnient, or liquida- 
 ** tion of any part thereof, t-xrept by the exprels 
 " authority oi the Court ci" Directors, on any 
 *' account or any pretence Vi-hatcver." 
 
 1 he loan of 1777, there: ore, has r^o f unci ton 
 cr aiilLcru': /roiii ;/>; .;!;d, in ccnhieiing tiie fitua- 
 lion and circumUan:cs ol this inan, wc cannot 
 omit to oblervc, thaf. ihe crcd:tc/rs ccnld not be 
 ignorant; I'o:v ";cat-v the afF.:!-s (;f tlie Nabob 
 
 were at tliat t!;;ic rk 1 
 
 1. '.',! \. y '.!;.' 
 
 ! liiat his debt to 
 
 the C\)n)nanv v/a;; l;:c; 
 
 a \'cry i.<n:'. 
 
 J'. rab!e. the pay- 
 
 Tvicnf r>f wLi, i:, t;:e r 
 
 :>vfi:-o t'j^: ^ 
 
 he n.(-ll clledual 
 
 \\',;y \r, v,.-,;ip: i-", hv- 
 
 prorn:';: ^ , 
 
 a"< ai'Ij-j^nmcnt of 
 
 hica S;:(:';inc :v"cn;;-s 
 
 Ijr ').'. c. 
 
 -.'rh v.%i; oi their 
 
 own (;(:b^s. as ;;! ;ne c. 
 
 ..t:i-ii..;v.::^ 
 
 ...l^iijj ihc Nabob 
 
 to di(( Iiar:-;c lh;)!c (-i t 
 
 iu'v\.n;n.:- 
 
 V. 
 
 U:rTjr cil 1. '/:. cii : 
 
 
 / f.ryJd he zih-^r- 
 
 r:niUd to rc/::^c our c 
 
 
 , :i ,';-; '/:' 1 cr every 
 
 LJ l..:J l:^.i. ; I...L V, i 
 
 . ; 1 . ' . . 
 
 : 6.'^\ ihc 'tiiCKfC- 
 
 auu.y
 
 APPENDIX No. L 1 1 
 
 dkncy of keeping the fuhjcH of the Nabob's debts 
 bngc afloat than is abflutely necefjary ; zohen we 
 confider how much the final conclufion of this hufinefs 
 will tend to promote tranquility, credit^ and the cir- 
 culation of properly in the Carnatic ; and, when we 
 confider that the debtor concurs with the cre- 
 ditor in eftablifhing the jultice of thefe debts, 
 confohdated in 1777, into grofs {urns, for which 
 bonds vvere given, Habic to be transferred to per- 
 fons different from the original creditors, and 
 having no fhare or knowledge of the tranfattions 
 in which the debts originated ; and of courfe, 
 hoiv little ground there is to eypcci any fuhflantial 
 geod to refult from (in unlimited inz-elUgation into 
 them, we have refolved fo far to recocjnize the 
 juilice of thofe debts, as to extend to them that 
 pro'cclon wbich, iipcvi more forcible grounds, zvs. 
 have fecn caufe to allozv to the other two clajfcs 
 cj debts. But although wc fo far adopt tiie 
 general prefumption in their favcui, as to ad- 
 mit them to a participation in the niarmer 'jcre- 
 aftcr diredcd, we do not mean to debar you 
 from rcceivinff anv com-o'.aint aTainll thofe debts 
 of 1777, at the inflance eithe.-' ofl-he Nabob him- 
 felf, or of other creditors injured by their being 
 fo adiriitted, or by other perfon'; having a pro- 
 per intercifc. or Haling reafonabla grounds of ob- 
 jection ; and if any complaints are oIFered, we 
 order that the grounds of all faC;i be attentivel/ 
 examined by you, and be tranfmitred to us, to- 
 gctiicr u'ith the evidence adduced in fupport of 
 them, for our final d(;ciht)Ti; and as we have be- 
 fo\e directed, that tlie fum of 12 Iac!;s of pagodis 
 to be received annually from the Nabob, (houlJ 
 be paid into our trealury, it is our order, tn.:' ihs 
 lame be diilnbutcd to the following wrrang'^ment : 
 C 2 Th.t
 
 tn A P P E N D I X No. L 
 
 That the debt be made up in the following 
 anner, viz. 
 
 The debt confolidated 1767, to be made up to 
 the end of the year 1784, with the current intereft 
 at 10 per cent. 
 
 The cavalry loan to be made up to 'the fame 
 period, with the current intereft at \i per cent. 
 
 The debt confolidated 1777, to be made up to 
 the fame period, witii the current intereft at 12 
 per cent, to Nov. 1781 -, and from thence with the 
 current intereft at tix per cent. 
 
 The 1 2 lacks annually to be received, are then 
 to be applied ; 
 
 ijl. 1 o the growing intereft on the cavalry 
 loan at 12 per cent. 
 
 idly. To the growing intereft on the debt 
 1777, at Cix per cent. 
 
 The remainder to be equally divided ; one half 
 to be applied to the cxtinttion of the Company's 
 debt ; the other half to be applied to the pay- 
 ment of the growing intereft at lo per cent, and 
 towards the difciiarge of the principal of the debt 
 of 1767. 
 
 This arrangement to continue until the prin-i 
 cipal of the debt of 1767, is difcharged. 
 
 The application of the 12 lacks, is then to be, 
 
 i/L To the intereft of 1777 as above, the re- 
 mainder to be equally divided-, one half towards 
 the dilcharge of the current intereft, and principal 
 of the cavalry loan ; and the other half towards 
 the difcharge of the Company's debt. 
 
 When the cavalry loan ihall be thus difcharged, 
 tiiere (hail then be paid towards the difcharge of 
 the Company's debt, feven lacks. 
 
 To the growing intereft and capital of the 1777 
 loan, five lacks. 
 
 When
 
 A P P E N D I X No. I. ij 
 
 When the Company's debt ihall be diTchnrged, 
 then the whole is to be applied in difcharge of the 
 debt of 1777. 
 
 If the Nabob fhall be prevailed upon to apply 
 the arrears, and growing pjvmci ts ot the Tan]ore 
 Peifhcufh, in farther dif'-harge of his debts over 
 and above the > 2 lacks of pagodas, we direft, 
 that the whole of that pa\'meni when made, ihall 
 be applied towards the dedutflion of the Com- 
 pany's debt. 
 
 We have laid down the general lules of dif- 
 tributions, as appearing to us founded in 'juflice^ 
 and the relative circumflances of the ditlerent 
 debts ; and therefore, we give our authority and 
 proteciiAi to them, only on the fuppofition, that 
 thofe who alk our protection, acquiefce in the 
 condition upon whici:i it is given ; and therefore, 
 we exprelsly order, that it any creditor of the Na- 
 bob, a fervant ol the Company, or b ing under 
 our protection, fliall rcfufe to exprefs his ac- 
 quiefence in thcfe arrangments, he fliall not only 
 be excluded from receiving any fhare of the fund 
 under your dillnbution, but fxiall be prohibited 
 from taking any feparate n)eafures to recover his 
 debt from the Nabob, it being one great induce- 
 ment to our adoptu-g this arrangment, that the 
 Nabob fhail be relieved fiom all further difquic- 
 tude, by the importunities of his individual credi- 
 tors, and be left at libeity to puifue thoie mea- 
 furcs for the profperih' of his country, which em- 
 barraffments of his fuu.ttion have liiLherto deprived 
 him of the means ot exerting. And, we farther 
 direcl;, that if cny creditor fliail he fcund refrcclory^ 
 or difpofed to didiirb the arr(.nf[^erhcnt 'ice hcve fuf;'- 
 gejied, he fhall be dijmijfed Ihcjcrvicc, rr.id fait hoiiiQ 
 (0 England, 
 
 The
 
 14 APPENDIX Ko. IL 
 
 The direQions wc have given on])'- apply to the 
 three ciaifcs ol debts which have come under our 
 oblervation. It has been fuimifod, that the Na- 
 bob has of late contradkd farther debts ; if any of 
 tJiele are due to Biitifh rubjc<5ts, wc forbid any 
 countenance or protdlioii whatever to be given to 
 them, until the debt is fully invefli^ated, the 
 r.a'cure of it reported home, and our efpccial in- 
 ih]u61ions upon it received. 
 (Signed) 
 
 HEXRY DUXDAS, 
 MULGRAVE, 
 VVALSIKGHAM, 
 W. W. GRENVILLE. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 RepreftntutiQii of the Court of Directors. 
 
 pihly, Concerning the private Debts of the Na- 
 bob of Arcot, an 1 the .Vpphc^ition of the 
 Fund of 12 Lacks of Pjc^oda^ 'ncv Annii.n, 
 
 UnJer this head you are plcafcJ l:\ li.'u of our 
 p;^ragraphs, i'y ju:!i}i^ntiule d' c:itc ihe ivf.ce of ail 
 ihofe demands, zokrcli l/u' Uil rcq.nrcs us to invcj- 
 tif^ate. Sal'jcct f;n;y to a ligiit, reiervcd to the 
 ] ijbob, or ary Oii:cr pai ty coi;C'v.ni;eJ, loqutflioa 
 u:q jiiiiice ot any debt lu.iing within tiie lali of 
 the three clailcs. AV'c fLibn.:L ihat at Icait the 
 or;poriu;;ity ofqucnioniDa;, uiiiiin .; hinted lime, 
 thejufi-ce vA any ol' the ccbls ought to i:ave bc:en 
 iuliy prcicrvc:! : A;:d Iup.)oh;;g iAZ {v:[l nnd Ic- 
 conii clai'Ies to (iaral iiee iiO'n jinyuiaiion (as we 
 'inchnc to ihjnk liity do) no ;i);u'y can leluk to 
 
 iu.lividuais
 
 A P P E N D I X No. I. i^ 
 
 individuals from fuch difcuffion : And we farther 
 fubmit to your confideration, how far the exprefi 
 direction of the aH to examine the nature and origin 
 oj the debts has been, by the amended paragraphs, 
 complied with, and whether at lead the rate of 
 inteveft, according to which the debts a rifing from 
 the Soucar affignrncnt of the land revenues to 
 the fervants of the Company, afting in the ca- 
 pacity of Native Bankers, have been accumu- 
 lated, ought not to be enquired into ; as well as 
 tix reafcnablenefs of the dcduclion of ic, per cenL 
 which the Bencjal Government dirccled to be 
 made from a great part of the debt on certain 
 conditions. But to your appropriations of the 
 fund oar duty requires that ive ftjciild ftate cur 
 firongcjl dijfent : cur right to be paid the arrears of 
 thofe expenceSy by ivhich (ahucft the country and all 
 the -property conneoled -nith it "ivere prcferved from 
 falling a prey to a foreign conqueror) furely fiands 
 paramount to all claims fcr fcrnier debts upon the 
 revenues of a country fo prferved, e-'cen If the legif- 
 lature had not exprefsly limited the ajiftance to be 
 given to the private creditors, to be fuch as fjould 
 he confijlent vslth our civn rights : The Nabob had 
 long before paffing the act. by Treaty with our 
 Bengal Ciovrrnmcr.t, a.^vood to n;\v ii.s fjvcn lacks 
 of pagodas (part of the 12 J;;c"-:j.) in l;'qa:da:ioti 
 of th;;!c arrears c/ ick::ii ji--):n Lcks, iLz an ai'g''- 
 Tdcnt you liave l^rn plcaf i^ /;' d ic'r, vjj-dJ, 
 
 take arvy /rem us va 
 
 rc ihvi i'ehcj. a:id j/:r It 
 
 to pr:v:Ac cralt'.rs. oi 
 
 \-ho'.2 de!i-!-:!-;ds there ai'e 
 
 oiil)' about a iiMth ;j: 
 
 ;(", '."v 'iiv:!i di.) not riarul in a 
 
 predicament that yo". 
 
 t^ccl^rc \\'oi;iid ;;j: inll:'e 
 
 tiicni to any p":'r[l:c: 
 
 jvxn v. Ire tU rc.cv-ry 
 
 tle)ef\ wne it rot 
 
 \y:n qrfK'ud (J e :ncl'-:r(.\\ 
 
 a:, \vill nioie p.irli^u'- 
 
 -V a-::'^.w b; .. -i-i^vxcl 
 
 
 . A;n:;!t'- \
 
 i6 APPENDIX No. I. 
 
 cflimate; until our debt fliall be dlfcharged, we 
 can by no means confent to give up any part of 
 the (even lacks to the private creditors, and we 
 
 humhiy apprehend that, in this declaration, tue do not 
 exceed the limits of tht authority and rights vejled 
 in us 
 
 Carnatic Revenues ^^ Debts. 
 
 Lach. 
 30. The Nabob's nett revenues iland efti- 
 
 inated at .l.200.oo( 
 
 As the utmof!: amount to be realized in 
 
 times of peace, including all the dif- 
 
 trids under his Gov^rninant, which lay 
 
 to the Soutiivvardof Trichinjpoly. 
 
 tS. Ill 1776, the nett revenues came to r.040.000 
 
 22. In 1777* the net: revenues came to no 
 
 more than 880.009 
 
 Aitir the ravages and depopulation 
 which the Carnatic has undergone 
 from the number of the hufDanhnen 
 dellroyed or carried off, there is little 
 room to expeft that its nett revenue! 
 can amount to the fum realized in 
 1777 ; but let it be fuppofed that the 
 revenues to be realized on the return 
 of peace lliall be nearly to that of 
 
 1777' 8oo,oo 
 
 There will then be to deducl from that 
 lum the coft of the ten bauaiions, and 
 of the uuiai garrifon liores, amount- 
 ing, together, to about /".^oo-coo ; 
 ailo the twelve lacks of pagoda /i-r 
 a-^Kum, towards the diicharge of the 
 jNabob's debts, public and private, or 
 4^0,000 68o.300, conlequently the 
 funi of j^. I 20.00c will be all that can 
 remain for the Nabob's Civil Gov'ern' 
 ment, and Iv.s ov/n privii.e uio, a fum 
 by no mcaus fuinciect i^r "CaC.^ jur- 
 pyfes. 
 
 0.1
 
 A P P E N D I X No. I. 17 
 
 On the other hand, if the revenues fhall * 
 be fhort of the above - mentioned 
 amount, and which will probably be 
 the cafe, the propofed fum of twelve 
 lacks cannot be realized to near that 
 amount the year for tae difcharge of 
 the public and private debts, and 
 leave fufHcient for the current de- 
 mands. 
 
 The new debts confolidated, 25 th Nov. 
 1777 (exclufive of the remaining part 
 of the eld debt of 1767, and the Ca- 
 valry Loan) amounted, according to 
 the inllruftions from the creditors to 
 Mr. Sullivan, in Feb. 1781, to 
 
 Nov. 1780, to Nov. 1781, 12 per cent. 
 one year, ' 
 
 Nov. 1781, to Dec. 1782, fix per cent. 
 13 months, 
 
 1783, Hx per cent, one year. 
 
 1784, ditto 
 
 45.32.500 
 5.43.9C0 
 
 50.76.400 
 
 3.29.966 
 
 54.06.366 
 3.24.382 
 
 37.30.743 
 3.43.844 
 
 Pagodas 60.74.592 
 The Nabob, as appears by a letter from the 
 Scleft Committee at Fort St. George to the 
 Court of Direftors, 13 March 1779, owed 
 about 12 lacks more than the amount of 
 thefe debts, and in which of courfc is includ- 
 ed the remainder of 1767, and the Cavalry 
 Loan. Nov. 1781, the Cavalry Loan is 
 ibted by the Nabob to be Pagodas 5-03.370 
 
 12 per cent, to Nov. l-j^2, 60.404 
 
 1 2 per cent, to Nov. 1 783, 
 22 per cent, to Nov. 1784, 
 
 D 
 
 5 
 
 63 
 67 
 
 774 
 6 Si 
 
 6 
 
 31 
 
 75 
 
 427 
 
 77^ 
 
 7.o".iq8 
 ' The
 
 i8 A P P E N D I X Na. L 
 
 The debt of 1767 was originally twenty-two 
 lacks, the principal of this debt is Hated to 
 be paid oft" within a quarter part, or about 
 five lacks, which remained due at tlic end 
 of 1777. ^^^^ intcreft unpaid in this debt 
 cannot be traced, but it ckarly appears 
 to be largely in arrears, tnercforc fup- 
 pofing the principal and intereft down to 
 the end of 1784, not to exceed 12 lacks, 
 the whole of the do'ots to that period, in- 
 cluding the three fcvcral dcfcriptions, will 
 
 be 79-8I.75* 
 
 New, 60.74.592 
 
 Cav; Iry, 7.07.198 
 
 Old, 1 2. 00. #00 
 
 Pagodas 79-81.790 
 
 Since the amount of the debts admitted by the 
 iioard of CJontroul cannot be lefs than 79 
 lacks, probably more, when they fhall all be 
 made up to the 3 1 ft of December, 1 784. 
 
 New, admitting the old debts of 1767, with 
 compound interell, after the rate of 10 />t-r 
 cc!t. to the end of December, 178.1, to be 
 only Pagoias I2.c0.00c 
 
 The annual intere:l of lo/cr cent, will amount to i ,2o,occ 
 
 i'.itercli: to be piiJ -nnuuily on the Caval/v 
 Loan, at iz ^cr cent, principal Paged;'.,-, 
 7.07. i^S, comes to ' 84.000 
 
 Tiic rtmai-uer, being the rew ccnfolidated 
 d.'brs, and amounting to Padodas 60 Jacks, 
 the intercit at {\x vcr cent. 3. 60. ceo 
 
 I.n;rcil to be paid annually in the fril in- 
 
 fUincc, " 4. .1.4.000 
 
 The ap.naal amount to be required of the Na- 
 bob lor difeharging the JebLi due to his 
 priva.;e creCi.ors, aiid to the Conipanv, is 
 ilared a. 12 lacks of TogoJas, v.v /..^SOjOpc 
 
 'i'he aiiiiual i:Ucre!i: of the new cc^^loIiJ.ued 
 Loan, S'^d ihi.t cf tlie Cualry, wif;ch i. ;o 
 be paid prior t^^. a^^y u.iv.and ot the Cojr.pr.nv, 
 as now ;(.t;'ea b\ the L't:ard of Controui, lI;'.- 
 inteiCil ci thele p-r/;.t-- d-.^ s anio.jnu to aL.,>ut i80jC;x> 
 
 The debts pi o.ivl .. ui-, ihe i er.i..i,-Ji.-r a;/.uu.it- 
 
 i:ig to ^_^ ^ ^ /hj^o.co* 
 
 i- t'j be difpoiedof a.. ihiirvVj :
 
 APPENDIX No. I. uj 
 
 The one-half, or . 1 50,000, is fo be appro- 
 priated to the reduQnon of the Company's debt, 
 due from the Nabob, and the other half to the 
 payment of the interefl and principal of- the old 
 confolidated debt of 1767. I'he debt extin- 
 guifi^.ed, the fame procefs is to take place for the 
 exertion of the cavalry debt, thefe two debts 
 making together jCy 60,000. with their growing 
 interelt to the amount of ;^.8o,coo a year, will 
 take to the end of 1789, or 179 s to difcharge 
 them, admitting the Nabob fiiall make his pay- 
 ment of the firft 12 lacks by the end of 1783, 
 (which can never be expefted) and continue the 
 fame annual advance, without reduftion, down 
 to the end of 1789, or 1790; bccnue any re- 
 du6lion of the 12 lacks mult tend to protraft the 
 difcharge of thefe two debts beyond the above 
 period. But admitting that 12 lacks be regu- 
 larly paid, in cafe the old debt of 1769, with its 
 accumulated interelt, fhnll exeeed the amount 
 herein Hated, and which is not at prefent afcer- 
 tained, the extindion of thefe two debts would 
 be equally prolonged bevond the end of 1789, 
 or 1790, therefore ibe Company, upon this plaji, 
 can have no projpetl of being reimburjed In the 
 enJuingfiK or Jcven years more than 2^. 900,000, 
 cr 1, 000,000, of the money due from the Nabobs 
 for the arrears of his current payments, and the 
 ixpences incurred for the defence of the CarnatiCy 
 zi'bich, according to the ftatements already at home, 
 f.nd the charges to be brought to his account on 
 the 'li'inding up the war, can be nothing port of 
 three rdillions fterling, without any inter eft charged 
 upon it ; wliilfl the debt due io the private cre~ 
 iiitors, made up to the end of 1784, with com- 
 pound interefl, and amounting to ihe fum of 
 D 2 3,500;C09
 
 20 A P P E N D I X No. I. 
 
 ^.3,500,000, will, in fix or Jeven years ^ have 
 received an intereji and principal upwards of 
 2,000,000, or of two-thirds of their amount y with 
 compound intereji ^ down to the end of 1784. In 
 Ihort, under this regulation, the Company will be 
 to receive /. 150,000, and the private creditors 
 j^. 3 30,000 a year. And thus the public debt, 
 carrying no intereji ^ will be -protradled to afford a 
 preference to private debts, confijiing of different 
 defcriptions, on the validity of a part of which 
 claims the Board have declared, they were con- 
 trailed contrary to the public orders of the Com- 
 pany, and therefore could have no fan^iion or 
 authority from the Court of Dire6lors. 
 
 It is alfo to be obferved, that if the Nabob 
 fhall, for three or four years to come, find him- 
 felf unable to afford, from the current expences 
 of Government, more than four or five out of 12 
 lacks towards the annual reduftion of his debts 
 and arrears, the Company and the creditors for 
 the remainder of the old confolidated debt of 
 1767, the bell efl:abli[hed of the private debts, 
 would receive nothing, as the growing interefl 
 on the new confolidated debt and the cavalry 
 loan will take 4 | lacks for its annual difcharge ; 
 and nothing can more plainly fhew the deficien- 
 cies in colie6lions, than by obferving, that the 
 revenues, even under the management of Lord 
 Macartney, have not been able to diminifh the 
 current arrears ; but, on the contrary, they were^ 
 by the laft advices, encreafed as follows : 
 Arrears due in civil and military 
 departments on the 31 ft of Oc- 
 tober, 1783, /. 929 000 
 
 On the 21th of January, 1784, 1,273,000 
 
 t^jtcliifive of what may be dfic to the Southcrri 
 
 troops
 
 A P P E N D I X No. I. 21 
 
 troops (the accounts of which had not been re- 
 ceived) and the expences of the Bengal detacb- 
 jnent ferving on that coaft. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 Rejsinder of the Board ofCommiJJiontn* 
 
 Sixth Article. Arrangement of the 
 
 Nabob's Debts to Individuals, and to 
 the Company. 
 
 We think it proper, confidering the particular 
 nature of the fubjeft, to ftate to you the following 
 remarks on that part of your reprefentation which 
 relates to the plan for the difcharge of the Na-^ 
 bob's debts. 
 
 ill. You compute the revenues which the 
 Carnatic may be expe(5ted to produce only at 20 
 lacks of Pagodas, if we concurred with you in 
 this opinion, we fhould certainly feel our hopes 
 of advantage to all parties from this arrangement 
 confiderably diminilhed ; but we truftthat we are 
 not too fanguine on this head, where we place 
 our greatell reliance on the eftimate tranfmitted 
 to you by your Prefident of Fort St. George, 
 having then the befl means of information upon 
 the fa6f, and ftating it with a particular view to 
 the fubjed: matter of theie paragraphs, fome 
 allowance, we are fenhble, muft be made for the 
 difference of colle6tion in the Nabob's hands, but, 
 we truft, not fuch as to reduce the receipt nearly 
 to wiiat you luppofe. 
 
 2diy. For making up the amount of the pri- 
 vate debts, you take m compound intcreft at the 
 
 dilForent
 
 22 A P P E N D I X No. L 
 
 different rates fpecilied in our paragraph ; this it 
 was not our intention to allow : And leil any mif- 
 conccption fliouKl a rife on the fpot, wc have ad- 
 ded an exprefs direction, that the debts be made 
 up with fimpie inierefl only, from the time of 
 their rcfpedlivc confolidntion claufe. 
 
 :;dly. We h.wr alfo the Jh'ongejl grounds to 
 Idiroe, that the debts will be, in other refpefts, 
 confid^rably lefs than they are now reputed by 
 you, and confequently the Company's annual 
 proportion of the 12 lacks will be larger than it 
 appears in your eflimate. Rut even in your own 
 llatement of it, if we add to the .i^o,OQO^ or 
 375,000 Pagodas (vvhir.h you take as the annual 
 proportion to be received by the Company for 
 five years to the end of 1789} the annual amount 
 of the Tanjour pelhcufh for the fame peiiod. and 
 the arrears on the pefhcufh (propofed by Lord 
 Macartney to be received in tlnee vears) the 
 whoie wiil make a llin] not falling vtiy fhort of 
 3^,00 coo P'.gcdris. the amount of ^.v,. r- o f-'a- 
 godc^s^- ./ ;.'. lor the fanii^ period. A:;^ if tvc 
 canv our Cciicul.ilioiu^ iaiuici, 11 '.vill appj^ir that; 
 both by the ) Ian propofed bv the Nabob, and 
 ador^^d in your paragraphs, a!}d by 'hat wjjich 
 v.e tr.infirirted to you, the debt from the Nabob, 
 it taktn at Oj-o-jOCO, will be difchargtd nearly 
 at the fatrc ; eriod, viz. in the couvfc ot the i itli 
 lear. Vs e cannot tliciei-'c be ot opiiiic!i, th/.L 
 thcH' is the Jmallcji gyoiiVui fcr (5/>yV:7/;/^- /: ii:: 
 ary ^ i-^y-cnt as iiiiniious to the intrrrlt <.! \\\z 
 I' on)p n . . and if tite inea'aics v.-cre t) be con- 
 fiderrd upon the mere ground of expediency, aiid 
 wi b a view only to the wifdorn > t n- 'il.'.blil] in; 
 C; It and ciiCLilatinn in a c.^-uHncixiai iJLtlcT.cnt, 
 WK1..V.UL any ccnhdciation o: thofe moiivcs cf at- 
 
 tcntio/i
 
 A P P E N D I X No. I. 23 
 
 tention to the feelings and honour of the Nabob, 
 of humanity to individuals, and of juHice to per- 
 fons in your fervice, and living under your pro- 
 te6lion, which have aduated the Legiflature, and 
 which afford not only juflifiable, but commend- 
 able grounds for your condud;. 
 
 Impreffed with this conviftion ive have not 
 made any alteration in the general outlines of the 
 arrangemerd which we had before tranfmitted to 
 you : But as the amount of the Nabob's revenue 
 IS matter of uncertain conieftiire, and as it does 
 not appear jufl to us that cmy dt ficiency Ihould 
 fall u'holly on one clafs ol thefe debts, we have 
 added a direclion (o your Governor of Fort Sr. 
 George, that if, notwithftanding the provifions 
 contained in our former paragraphs, any defici- 
 ency Ihould aiife, the payments of what fhali be 
 iecured Ihall be made iii the fame pioportion, 
 which would have beea obtained in the diviuoii 
 of the whole 12 lacks, h,id ;.hey b(X'n \')M\. 
 
 As we Iiave now tranliriittc-l (;> you oar f-,nA 
 directions on the whoi ; i..';jt. ,t ;ri siie;- in this dif- 
 patch, r.nd a^ on many <.r 'he mil wchons which 
 are th.cr.in ;^i\--jn io yoiir Icrv rn's i;i IiKiia, lela'^e 
 to points ol: the i^i.^i^ciL i;npO' t;i:;v'e. aivj ai wlnc'i 
 ariv unr.eceliar;' ciclay i; i.zh.: he v.\ (he greateft 
 
 dc;^l\e pri ]Uvh. i .! LO X'DI.T h'l v/irc, V.C {\^'{\XQ til'lt 
 
 yjii zvu! furihi^iib ir^.yy..:t ll.m :o yo:,r d If rait 
 
 W'c li.u'c tliC hon'^-'iv rn De, c:r. 
 
 i he, 
 \liY I'LXOAS, 
 
 
 i)IX
 
 [ M ] 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 Paragraph pfopofed by the Court of Dl- 
 redors, to be fent to their Preficlency of* 
 Fort St. George. 
 
 Sent to the Board of Commijfioners, i6ik June, 17S5. 
 
 IN reply to the two hundred and eighty-third 
 paragraph of your feledl letter, dated the 5th 
 September, 1782, relative to the requeft of your 
 Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Colonel Rofs, we 
 cannot help expreflTing our very great furprize 
 that, after we had twice put a negative upon his 
 application for advanced rank, previous to his 
 departure from England, he Ihould have been in- 
 duced foon after his arrival at Madras, to renew 
 his aplication to you. In his letter to your 
 Board of the ill of July, 1782, he ftates, that wc 
 had permitted him " to return to his rank in the 
 *' fervice, which is next before Colonel James ;" 
 but Colonel Rofs muft have known that we per- 
 mitted him, in the very words of our refolution, 
 *' 7\) return to his rank of Licutmant-Colonel and 
 '' Chir/ Engincfr at Madras, but that he be not 
 " allowed to rank in the infantry corps on that 
 " cftablifnrnent ;" and that upon his fubl'equent 
 )ec}ue^l to rank as Colonel in the army by bcevet, 
 wc relolved not to comply therewith. His urging 
 you, therefore, to compliarxe with a requeft 
 which he had previoufly decided on, was highly 
 dilrefpe6lful to us, and v/c dire6l that you acquaint 
 IJecenant-Coionel Rofs, of our difapprobation of 
 });.- coiic'iuct on this occalion. 
 
 Extrac
 
 APPENDIX No. II. 25 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Extracl of a Letter from the Right Ho- 
 nourable the Commlflioners for the Af- 
 fairs of India to the Court of Dired:ors, 
 dated June 27th, 1785. 
 W E have expunged the feventeenth paragraph 
 of the draft No. 60, becaufe loe cannot concur in 
 your dijcpp'obation of Lieutenant -Colonel Rofs's 
 condutJ^ in renewing an apphcation which we 
 conceive to be founded on the conftanc ufige of 
 the King's military fervice. There are many tef- 
 timonies on your records of Colonel Rofs's long 
 and faithful fervices, v.'hich entitle liim to your 
 favour ; and we conceive his requcfl: goes no far- 
 ther than to be put on a footing, in point of rank, 
 v^ith other officers of his ftanding at your Pre- 
 fidency, and not as a rank to be attached in future 
 to the eftabliihment of the Engineer Corps, or at- 
 tended even in this inilancc with any new cx- 
 j)ence to tiie Comnany. 
 
 (Si^med) ' HENRY DUNDAS. 
 
 WAESIXGHAM. 
 MULGRAVE. 
 \V. W. GRENVILLE. 
 
 No. 2- 
 
 Extracl of a ly^tter from the Court of Di- 
 rectors to the Ri:^;it lionouraide the 
 Cop.iinifiiciiers lor the Aiiairs of India, 
 dated tlie ^oth June, 170^. 
 
 '\V E v/eie ec u.;):y fi.'rrrir'ed and con cerncJ^, 
 
 rh:it your Rigiit; 1 loiiouruhie Bo.ud Hioiild Juive 
 
 eypiinijed 0':r p.iriv:;: ;'ph concerninz; t!;e con- 
 
 dii'-t ol Lieu:.niiU-Co:cj:iel Refs, in htwina: 
 
 E cau>.avourcd
 
 26 A P P E N D I X No. IL 
 
 endeavoured to prevail upon our fervants at Ma- 
 drafs, to comply with a requcfl, which, previous 
 to his departure from England, we, the Court of 
 Dire6tors, had twice refufcd upon his repeated 
 applications. 'This mode of appealing from the 
 Jiipcrior to the inferior authority, is fu dftru^iive of 
 all government J that -we fuould think -u.-c abdicated 
 Qiir triijiy if Jiich c cor duel ivas permitted to pafs 
 ivifhout cenfure. Sure we are that a moment's 
 refiedion will convince your Right Honourable 
 Board, \h2X.fuch a deliberate contempt of cur autho- 
 rity^ not only not difapprcved^ but indire5lly ap- 
 plauded^, by your Right Hcncurable Board refufing 
 us pcrr.iiffion even to reprehend, r,mft lead our fer- 
 vants to i'nagirie, that it is no longer their duty to 
 chcy thofc ivho pcifefs the prcfcnt authority in Great- 
 Britain, but that they may fafely fpeculate on th'i 
 probable judgment which may be hereafter formed 
 on the propriety of the original orders. We fhail 
 not now difcuis tlie propriety of our fcrmiCr refo- 
 hitions, bccaufe v/e think the feafon for fuch a 
 dilcuilion is lon':^ fince pafTtd, but v/e beg leave 
 to afTure your Riglit Honourable Board, that we 
 Vv-crc not inattentive to the merits of Colonel 
 Rofs, when we formed the paragraph in queftion. 
 Wc tliink we have acted ^vich great moderation, 
 vet this moderation mull not induce us to forget 
 i\\Q trufb that is committed to our hands, confij'- 
 tcntly with wliich tiiill, it Vv'ill be impofTible for 
 1^3 to retain in our fervice any man, whofe con- 
 temp tuous ncgletJ of our authority w: are not per- 
 mitted to reprehend. 
 
 To
 
 APPENDIX No. II. 27 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Board of 
 
 Commiilioners for the i\fFairs of India, 
 
 My Lords and Gentlemen^ 
 
 W E are extremely concerned to be engaged 
 in any altercation with your Right Honourable 
 Board, and much more that v/e fhould be im- 
 pelled by a fenfe of duty to refill an authority 
 which you have thought lit to exercife \ but the 
 prefent occafion appears to us Jo momentous.^ and 
 a Juhmijfvon mi our 'part Jo defiru5l'vve of all 
 order and Juhordination in India^ that we mull 
 take the liberty to inform your Right Honour- 
 able Board, that no difpatch can be fent to India, 
 which does not contain our final dccifion on the 
 conduft of Lieutenant-Colonel Rofs. 
 
 We have the honour to be, with great refpect. 
 My Lords and Gentlemen, 
 
 Your mofl: obedient, and 
 mofc humble fervaurs. 
 Signed by order of the 
 Court of Diredlors, 
 THOMAS MORTON, Sec. 
 
 EaJi'India Ilotjej the 2d July ^ 1785. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 Extrad of a Letter from the Right 
 Honourable the Commiilioners for the 
 Atfairs of India to the Court of Direc- 
 tors, dated the 7th July, 1785. 
 
 WF, have given due attention to your letters, 
 
 dated the 30th ultimo, and the 2d inftant, and 
 
 Tiiull, in the hrft inftance, alTure you^, that we 
 
 E 2 neither
 
 23 A P P E N D I X No. II. 
 
 neither arc, nor mean to be engaged in any 
 altercation with the Court of Diredors,. and for 
 that reafon we avoid all obfcrvation ii^jon the flyle 
 of the letters you have been pleafed to addrefs to 
 us. Wc fhall endeavour faithfully, and confci- 
 entioufly to difchargc the duties of our fituation, 
 as chalked out to us by the authority of the Le- 
 giOature, under which we a6l, without wifliing to 
 go beyond the limits which it lias thought proper 
 to pre'fcribc *. 
 
 Upon the fubjeft of Lieutenant-Colonel Rofs, 
 we agree with you, that his anxiety to obtain what 
 he conceived to be juftice, has lead him into an 
 aft of irregularity in ftating his prctenfions to the 
 Governor and Council of Fort St. Georce, inllead 
 of relpectiully conveying his rcqucft to you, I) is 
 employers, through the channel of their dif- 
 patches. In this reipect we think him culpable, 
 and when v>'e form^erly gave you our fentiments 
 upon this fubjecl, it was merely to bring under 
 your view the ideas we entertained of the juftice 
 ijL his cl-iim. being perreftly aware that you are 
 not bound to adopt thefe ideas, unlef, your own 
 opinion fhould coincide with them. For reafons 
 ariPxnn- from the earncll reprefentation you have 
 mi^de to us, vou have our acijuiefcence to fend out 
 the par^spraph as oriG;inaliv franied. Wc uuft, 
 however, that by this arquicfctncr, it will not be 
 underflood, 'FFIAT WE MEAN TO RF- 
 COGNIZK ANY POWER IN YOU TO 
 TRANSMIT TO INDIA FmiER CEN- 
 SVVxK OR APPROBATION OF THE 
 CONDUCT OF ANY SERVANT, CIVIL 
 
 * As R fp^cim n, U"j the conduil of the Board on tlie 
 duties pr;'K;-ibc-d by tin- Ic^iiLiturc, in :i;c 3-tli kciiou of tlio 
 RCl rcLiavc VJ iic cl;'.iins ol" Jjrltilli labjcc:.^. 
 
 OR
 
 APPENDIX No. ir. 
 
 29 
 
 OR MILITARY, EXCLUSIVE OF THE 
 CONTROUL OF THIS BOARD. You 
 
 very truly intimate to lis, that it is in your power, 
 witiiout our pcrmidion, to difmifs Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Rofs rroin your fervice. The power you 
 undoubtedly p(;i]els ot appointing and difmifiing 
 your fervants is a public truil, vefbed in you for 
 the eir ^itial interefls of th-i Company, and we aro 
 convinced, that the propriety of that truft will 
 be fully juftified by your prudent and confcien- 
 tious difchirre of a duty fo delicate in itfelf, and 
 fo important i;oth to the profperity of the Com- 
 pany, and 10 the fortunes and characters of indi- 
 viduals thus placed under the proteclion of your 
 juftice. 
 
 (Signed) HENRY DUNDAS. 
 
 WALSINGHAM. 
 
 MULGRA\'E. 
 
 V/. \V. GRENVILLE. 
 
 No. 6. 
 
 At a Court of Diredrors, held on Friday 
 the Stli July, 1785. 
 
 ON A MOTION, 
 
 RESOLVED,~That the Right Honourable 
 the Board of Comm.iliioners for the Aifairs of 
 India, in their Letter dated the ytii initant, liav- 
 in^ oiven their acquiefcence to fenclin^i tf.e 
 Court's paragraph refpecling Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Rof., undrr a declaration, " I'hat they triifl, 
 " that by fucli acc|uie!cence, it will not be un- 
 "^ derltood, that tlie Board mean to recognize 
 "^ any power in t'le Court, 10 tranhnit to India, 
 " eiilier ctnfure or a]->[)robation of tlie conduct 
 
 '' of
 
 30 APPENDIX No. II. 
 
 " of any f:rvant, civil or military, exclufivc of 
 ^' thj conrroul of the faid Boai-d," this Court 
 think it incmnbcnt upon them to declare, that 
 tiic'v have not the moii dil^ant wifn to refill the 
 conr.-Quiing powers, del^rrat^d to the faid Right 
 Honourable Board of Commiflioners by the 
 Le^fjOature ; bur, on the contrar)', it is their 
 tarn-.^H: dtfire to pay the mod ready and chearful 
 cbcdiencre thereto, in as full a manner as fuch 
 powers were meant to be given by the Legifla- 
 tire : But at the fame time, this Court further 
 think it rifrht to declare, that as the appointment 
 of all officers, civil and military, u v/hoUy in 
 the Company, tof?;ether with a power of difmif- 
 Con, the right oi rcprehcnfion for mifochaviour, 
 and more dpeciilly for every contempt of the 
 autharity of this Court, from whom all appoint- 
 meiits How, ir.uil: neceffariiy follow ; and if this 
 Co\)r: ihoi)ld be controulcd in the reafonable 
 cx.^'^il^ in die more mild power of reprelienfion, 
 taey p.ray be forced to adopt that of difmiflion, 
 for ti-e verv in^portant purpofe of guarding 
 their.ielves from iniult, an-.l pref.Tving a due 
 fuhordination to the exccuiiye governing pov^-e? 
 of the Cornpiwiy.
 
 k 3^ J 
 APPENDIX III. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 Draft Paragraphs propofcd by the Court of 
 Directors, to be fciit to their PrefidGiicy 
 at Fort St. Gconre. 
 
 o 
 
 W E have attentivel}^ confidcred your late dif- 
 "patches, relative to the furreiidcr of the afTign- 
 mcnt to the Nabob of Arcot, in obedience to 
 your orders of the 9th December, 1784, and the 
 manner in v/hich thofe orders liave been carried 
 into execudon, by the agreement of t'lc 2 '3th 
 June laft, and with your knowledfj;e of the utter 
 incompjrr'r.cy ot tJie Souc::r ifciirity, [:roport<l 
 in our hcfnrt-mcnuoned difpatciiis to be taken 
 for the 12 lacks, you -iSrcA ver;/ properly in fti- 
 j^ularing, by the -i.th aiiiclc ot that agreement, 
 for the ia!r:e kind oh feciihry :-S yon were direvfled 
 to demand tor the Nabob'::; prcporLion of the 
 
 current 
 
 CiK 
 
 rpe 
 
 ;) . 
 
 (( 
 
 ^ \\ e 
 
 tei! 
 
 i.iv, 
 
 i:o"vvever, 
 
 L 
 
 it the 
 
 
 amoii 
 
 int 
 
 Of" 
 
 ^1 
 
 I:: 
 
 jS 
 
 ie'-'Lii' 
 
 '-.'3 
 
 v.i 
 
 llK il is 'v 
 
 ; 1 1 ii 
 
 r.ated 
 
 
 onlv 
 
 at 
 
 <'- , 1 
 
 . , t 
 
 .-: , ( 
 
 )f ? 
 
 ]'J0. 
 
 -las 
 
 ,';::; //-e ;/;;. 
 
 ', is 
 
 verv 
 
 
 inad.j 
 
 -1 1 
 
 ate 
 
 ['jV 
 
 t!i 
 
 ^ l-\ 
 
 :i\li. 
 
 nt oh the I 
 
 1 
 lac 
 
 hs of 
 
 
 Pae^o 
 
 
 ; , '. \ 
 
 y : 
 
 :hh 
 
 ilv ^^' 
 
 I- il 
 
 vee 
 
 evJiiaikr, 
 
 th. 
 
 t t'lC 
 
 
 diilrh 
 
 r J 5 
 
 chl! 
 
 IS 
 
 a'"' i 
 
 .,:ned 
 
 !,.- 
 
 -' 
 
 :et'i arh 
 
 cle 
 
 \v, ; i: 
 
 
 a pa; 
 
 i-r ( 
 
 /ti 
 
 U)': 
 
 
 - ' ',/-]- 
 
 J 1 
 
 kl 1 
 
 hiiereci m 
 
 
 tr-Ku 
 
 
 th}r. 
 
 Vv';., 
 
 \'-;i s 
 
 cA 
 
 rh. 
 
 ^: Cuk 
 
 'ire, 
 
 * I '.. 
 
 :r;!;;i; ihe 1 
 
 .1 te 
 
 %7,-ir, 
 
 
 V. :\ i < 
 
 / 
 
 com 
 
 >ih 
 
 vvi: 
 
 \ he 
 
 e 1 . 
 
 1 . 
 
 a!. proJucciv 
 
 e h'r 
 
 
 loir.e 
 
 ti 
 
 ;v,e 
 
 to 
 
 
 ; i ! e . 
 
 .\ 
 
 her 
 
 vet; had 
 
 Ihil 
 
 .-d in 
 
 
 your 
 
 cri 
 
 
 v'o; 
 
 irs 
 
 to I 
 
 ; e V 
 
 1 
 
 ao 
 
 on fhe : 
 
 ;eb 
 
 ob to 
 
 
 * '3 .: 
 
 ):,: 
 
 -.,- 
 
 
 i;rh 
 
 e-d 'A 
 
 Si I 
 
 -::.'. 
 
 ,:..;.., 
 
 '.e. 
 
 re ,'x'- 
 
 yi: 
 
 .::. i.'u u 
 
 V :.: 
 
 ;.' ijj 
 
 ara 
 
 i-i' 
 
 Cj:.'.; 
 
 u;.!. 
 
 
 
 

 
 32 APPENDIX No. III. 
 
 " name fuch dift; i6ls as were in a ore flourlfli- 
 " in<^ flatC) you adtcd very prudcntiy iii obtaining 
 " a (r.pi.ilation, that if the deficiency exceeded 
 *' w'la; the afTigned diftridls could make good, 
 " <)^\a diflricls fliould be fp.cified in addition 
 *' (i ere to." 
 
 We have liki^vife r-)nri.l-red the arran2;ement 
 Oi the kiiis in which ;'.c 16 lacks are to be paid 
 into the Co,npan\'"i. 'ireafury : You manifeiled 
 a conimcndc^ble a'lvniKji to the Company's in- 
 terefts, bv Mrjviding tiiat the amount of the Na- 
 bob's flia.! r of the current charges fhould be 
 exclufivt! paid with the firft kift, and as niuch 
 of the ' jond kill as may be neceflary to make 
 up the our lacks oc Pagodas. But, as v/e con- 
 fider ti ,s agreement as merely preparatory to the 
 final avangement, \vh:ch by our before- men- 
 tione ' orders of the 9:11 December you v/ere di- 
 r.-Cte.i ro negoci.i'ie V/uh tlie Nabob of Arcot, and 
 the R<rah of Tarfiore, v/e fl^all lorbear to enter at 
 lar^e into a full dif::u!Tion of tliis fubjeci:, uiitii the 
 receipt of the Definitive Treaty. 
 
 '' It is however proper to rem.ind you, tliat by 
 *' the firfl article of the Preliniinaries, tiie Na- 
 '^ bob's current chargfi are iettled for tlie pre- 
 *' (en: <:t tour lacks or Pagodas tcr a}:iuinj ; we 
 *' canoe '- help obierving, that riie Nabob has 
 *^ ufuaxo. . '"d, ujyjn tire accoon.: of h.is current 
 *' char:e>. ;v:(;i!S to his ioakin;>: over tlie af- 
 " fignm.ent .. his coeMicries to Ui:, n(;: lef:, tioo'i 
 " five lacks 0. '^a2od:.3 1\--r anUiini^ arej we are 
 '' not aware o'- ir r'/alons (or depioting fi'oni 
 " that rule in t. .-^relent moance ; bii: ..s \o\\ 
 *' are Hiorrly :,:> K'oe an ergagen^^nr v.er;i his 
 ** Highnefsj upon airew and permaiier;' 'o-otine, 
 
 " and
 
 APPENDIX No. III. 
 
 33 
 
 " and as we do not wifli to be too rigid, in 
 *' exafting from the Nabob for fo fliort a time, 
 *^ any fiim beyond what has appeared reafonable 
 " to his Highnefs and to yoiirfelves, we forbear 
 '' to m.ake any obfervations upon it, further tlian 
 ** to fay, that we are perfuaded that you had 
 " good and fufficient reafons, which you will no 
 " doubt have communicated to us, for having 
 " altered the fum at which yoM have propofed 
 " to fettle his Highnefs's current charges by 
 *' the Preliminaries whicli you have already tranf- 
 " mitted. 
 
 " There is alfo another part of the prelimi- 
 " naries to which we are perfjaded you will ad - 
 *' vert, when you come to fettle tlie treaty itfelf, 
 " as it may be of confcquence in a permanent 
 *' agreem.ent, tho' perhaps it may not in one 
 " v/iiich is merely temporary, viz. the pcvv'er the 
 " Nabob has referved to hlmfelf in the ^tl\ ar- 
 ^' tide, of keeping a full, eMcl'ifive, and uiti- 
 '' nvdzc autliority over his Aun^ildars in nil ca!es 
 "^ v^h:i:f.)^v:v. You Vvill certain'v recolie;^-, than 
 ' k was the conftant opinion of your Go.'cri;- 
 '' nunt during Lord Maearrney's adirinifha- 
 * tion, t'lat as long as the Nabob had th ,t jn>'.vcr 
 * veiled in him, it was in va:n for the Cvjmpanv 
 ''^ to expctl any brricn: fn)ji the idlljnmL-nr of 
 ' the cj-vinrrv b.dng n^ade ov^'r in ev^.-rv oth.r 
 r;:fj)ea; to them, aiiho' we l;l.ii':cr oerich'cs that 
 '" ]):s J i;^i;iin;'is and hi:j hiccclf trs will ahv'i}'s b : 
 ' i;;)0!i t'ic beiC ti'rins wifh the Company, aj'.d 
 ' v,A\ confide;- their n^wit intrref s as iiiiVparab':^ 
 ^ fi>:M vliat oi tlie Cumj.^anv in w.sr, as wdl as 
 ' in p' a^-e, y:^t to a n itiMn lo.d.aiig m iiinire (h''t 
 ' vve iioijc v.ry diifuit) ev'enri, it is a eondde- 
 '' r'.ri'.:! whieli w: tnilt will by no nvL'ari: h.avt; 
 ' cfeap'-d your atleiidond'
 
 34 APPENDIX No. III. 
 
 Extrn6l of a Letter from the Board ofCom- 
 miffioiiers, dated 26th April, 1786, 
 
 No 1. 
 
 W E have expunged from your draft, No, 191, 
 a coiifiderable part of what you have propofjd to 
 write to your Prefidency of Fort St. George, oti 
 the fubjod: of carrying into execution your ordeis 
 of the 9th of December, 1784, with regard to the 
 iurrender of the affignment to the Nabob of the 
 Carnatic, and their proceedings thereupon*. A'i 
 7UC think it more proper thai fucli inJIruHlons as it is 
 now ncccfjary to tnvifmit upon that fuhjecl jhould go 
 ihrcu'pji the channel of your Secret Com7mUee, tee Jhall 
 fend a draft to thcr.:for ihatpurpofe. 
 
 (Signed.) PILINRY DUNDAS. 
 
 W=^. PiTT. 
 
 W. W. GRi::NVILLE. 
 
 * The paffages fo expunged, are thofc marked witli i.i 
 I'crted coiMSis in No. 1. 
 
 APPI.NDIX
 
 [ 3S 3 
 
 APPENDIX IV. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 Cqfefcr the Opinion of Ccunjel. 
 
 " WE have expunged from your draft, No. 
 " 191, a confiderable part of what you have pro- 
 " pofcd to write to your Prefidency at Fort St, 
 " George, on the fubj eft of carrying into execu- 
 " tion your orders of the 9th of December, 1784, 
 " with regard to the furrender of the affignmcnt 
 " to the Nabob of the Carnatic, and their pro- 
 *' ceedings thereupon. As zve think it jnore pro- 
 " per that Juch injiruclions as it is no'uo neceffary 
 '^ to tranjmit upon that Jubjett, jjjould go through 
 " the channel of your Secret Committee^ we f}:all 
 ' ' Jend a draft to them for that purpofe." 
 
 Pleafe to fee the aft of 24 Geo. 3. cap. 25. 
 feft. 15. refpefting fending fecret orders concern- 
 ing the levying of war or making peace, or treat- 
 ing, or negotiating with any of the native Princes, 
 or States, in India. 
 
 Alfo feci, 37. of the fame ad by which the 
 
 Court of Direftors to take into confideration the 
 
 origin, and juflice of the demands of Britifli fub- 
 
 ie6ts on the Nabob of Arcot, and to give orders 
 
 ' . . . '^ 
 
 for the fecurity and dilcharge thereof, confident 
 
 3vith the rights of the Company, the fecurity of 
 
 the creditors, and the honour and dignity of the 
 
 Nabob. 
 
 2 The
 
 2,6 APPENDIX No. IV, 
 
 The Court of Dire<fcors conceive that the para- 
 graph expunged by the Board of C, ommiirioners, 
 and propofed to be treated of by them in fecret 
 orders, are niruters which are eprifUy referred to 
 the Court of Direclors b; the faid <,'/'hfrlion^ and 
 that even independent of luch fcd-on, it was b)' no 
 means agreeable to the fphil of the aft, whatever 
 may be the letter of it, that any negotiations {hould 
 he fecret y except ivbnt related to peace or li'ar. 
 
 \quv opinion is defired, whether the Board 
 of Conimiffiuners for the affairs of India, 
 are authorized either by the fpirit or the 
 words of the faid A61 of 24. Geo. 3. to 
 corrcfpnnd with and give directions to 
 thcPrefi lencv of Fort St. Georae, through 
 the Secret Committee, direfted to be ap- 
 pointed by that aft, upon the fubjeCts 
 treated of in the faid paragraphs. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Attorney GeurraVs Opinion. 
 
 There feems to me no doubt that the paragraphs 
 expunged fall within the 15th fedion, as relating 
 to r.cgotJations and treaties with a native Prince of 
 India; and confequently, if the Board of Coniroul 
 judge tiiat the latiie requne fecrecy, they are 
 authorized to direct them to be tranfmitted through 
 the Secret Committee. The 37th fcdiou has not in 
 my opinion, abridged in the picftnt caie the power 
 given to the Board of Controul by the 15th 
 led ion. 
 
 R. P. A R D E N. 
 June J 3, ij^e.
 
 APPENDIX No. IV, ^i'] 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Solicitor GeneraVs OpiKion. 
 
 I do not fee any jufl ground in ihe aSl oF 
 24 Oeo, 3. chap. 2 v. for making the ful^jcfils 
 treated of in the paragraphs llaterl in ihc cafe, an 
 exception to the general rule laid down in feiSiion 
 15, which extends to all treaties or n'^gotiadons 
 wiih any of the native I^rinces or .States in India, 
 which may in the judgment oi' J he Board of Com- 
 niifhoners irquire feciccy. The 37th Icclion re- 
 quires, that the Diredlors flioui 1 as foon as may 
 be, advert to the fulietl of Biiddi claims, and take 
 meafures for their ad]unment and dilcharge, but if 
 that is done by 1 reaiy witi. llie native Princes, and 
 the Board of Commiluoncrs deem any part of that 
 Treaty a proper matter of lecrecy, I conceive that 
 the direfciions of the 15th fedlion mufl be complied 
 with. 
 
 AR. M ACDON ALD. 
 Lincoln s- Inn, June i^^ ij'oo, 
 
 N. 4. 
 
 Opiino'/! of the Company'? Cowtijcl. 
 
 By the 15th fcdion the Board of Commiffioners 
 are conllituted the judges oF what matters require 
 lccie<:"y, rehuive to negotiations with any of the 
 native Princes, and the Nabob of Arcot is unquef- 
 tionablv recognized in that chara6ler, as well l)y 
 the public treaties of the country, as by the ads of 
 
 the
 
 38 A r P E N D I X No. IV. 
 
 the Eafl. India Company. I think therefore, as the 
 acl now n.m Is, the ComniirTioners ^re authorized 
 (^ tratihnit their o'ders through the Secret Co-^n- 
 TTUifee, if fuch (hall be their plcafure It Teems, 
 ];Ovv'e\er, not to have hcen a caTe within the con- 
 templation tjt" the 1 .egidciture at the ])i fling the 
 p.6i ; for the rlaulc is inanifertly d'.refled to mea- 
 fures of hoOility or negotiation with foreign 
 Towers, uhich n'ly require fecrecy ; whereas the 
 N.'bohof Arcot. (whiUever he inny be in form) is 
 in eirefl the Adminiflrator of the Civil Govern- 
 ment of the countries conquered and defended by 
 the I'ritifh arms, holding ihefe countries upon the 
 imr/lied condition nndei flood and uniformly aded 
 upon, of furuiiliing f.'om the revenues the means 
 of defence. 77'(^ a>ran<^c;ncnls taken uiili him^ 
 p::-.ht tlrr(forc ij he vinde vpon principles as Jixcd^ 
 arid (erldia, and as oycn to iijcvfjion as lie in- 
 Uyiiol Gvwc:^i:}:c:-t cf the Provi^icr (f Bcr.gal. The 
 whnle eircJTt; of the late Regulating Ijill in con- 
 lirutir.!:; the two i'oards of Hiiedors and of 
 C(:. vi'ihijners, ii:e 0!;e propoHng meafures, and 
 ihe -incraficr rcnreicnlation i'naljv deciding, uili 
 I'O K)1L ;;>; f'.r as ccreerns t.l;e Government of 
 Mar^.;s, if the mfncouiie w uh the Nabob fliall 
 he e(;:;iir:ed lo ti:e ^fccret Department, becaufc 
 ihrs ivdti :rcixk invdvn <iirra!y iJx crrangcmrati re- 
 Ji.::^'^^7 t!:e Vij'itayy Ji'tcc, and indinaJy ivery intn ejl: 
 r-^ ilud Idlithjc^ii. I he Directors cannot but re- 
 '(i:\hCi that the corn:prion of their Servants from 
 t!'. it. cur.i;:;r, liaving aheady Once ovcumned the 
 Government of Madras, and being one caufe of 
 th '.t war, which hazarded the lof'; of India, this 
 jn:ercou:(e will ever d> lervc their nn)[i vigilant 
 ^iiCV.l'i'ou, II tliC iubjccl (hould appear equallv 
 
 imooi tant
 
 APPENDIX No. IV. 39 
 
 important to the Court of Dirc61ors as it does to 
 mc, I fhould rather advife an applicaiion to Par- 
 liament to explain this claufe ia the al, and con- 
 fine it to its true ob;etl, negociatioris relative to 
 war and peace, than filcntly to rJ'mquifh all m- 
 jpctiion into fo important a part of the iukre/ls of the 
 ComlJany. 
 
 CEO. R o a s. 
 
 May 2, ijSd. 
 
 ^ p p r: >; D I X
 
 ( 40 ) 
 APPENDIX V. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 At a Court of Dire il or s^ held cn'Tuefday the 13//& 
 Jiiney lybOy 
 
 Samuel Smitli, Efq. delivered in the follow- 
 in':^ letter, viz. 
 
 Honourable Sirs, 
 
 I AM lorry to iv' under the necefllty of en- 
 tering any iufliiication ol my conduct on the re- 
 cords of the Co!np:iny ; but difapproving the ac- 
 qiriefcence \Miir]i has been given to the power 
 now afllimcd b;- tlie Board ot CommifTioners, in 
 taking i;po;i tb.emiclve-^ ti\e fiiiil arrangement 
 refpeclJng the alignment 01' the Nabob's coun 
 try, as a m.atcer of J.-crccj, by a forced conflruc- 
 tkn, and, as your Council lias Ibt^ d in his opi- 
 nion, an di'ife of the claifc by zvbich the poivers 
 are dcfned rej'pei^iiig the b'ccrcl Coynr.ilttee, as the 
 f:bi'-:-6t ^lc::.:er i,:-vol\:es the covjidcraikn of ivar^ 
 0'- -f^eac:^ or negoclctlor^ or treaty^ haviKg a 
 refererce tkrcC, I ittuI tiierelbre protell againil 
 the excrcifc of rir.it nc/veer, ur.dr Jueh cireum- 
 ftances, in a'. ^:e;ch as /; tends ti efaldhh afecret 
 fyftern of ^oeer, v;^;;;/, a:::igerGi'.s in its pri-ucipUsy 
 end fiibieyl-^e cj ttee 7:7nts or the ConiVicniy. 
 
 Ir'arra- ':^il":t^^> are ro iv ipad^' \\\\.\\ ihc Na- 
 b' b's Pri-ccs c^r frates, w:i;ch i\o not involve 
 tn.. .onndLi-.:Lioi: ot j^eace, or var, or any Jirutif 
 rorn C'ed there^^;l!^ !oi^ I3' by the j}(.>:ii\l, as 
 ]- rs . qu'ring f crerv, bec>.;i!e> by a lbrc.;d 
 
 co;.f i^'^ion Of the clavile, tlK-y iiiay he ti/nri'd 
 ne -ociations N\i:h native l^'incjs or S:.U'.'s the
 
 A P P E N D I X No. V. 41 
 
 tohole political correfpondence is taken from the 
 Court, and given to the Board exclujively as a Je- 
 cret correfprndenccy which the Secret Committee of 
 T>ire5lors are bound to tranfmit to India, but can- 
 not give any opinion thereon, and which the Go- 
 vernors are directed to obey : Thus almofl the 
 whole tranf actions of India may he concealed from 
 the knowledge of the Court of Directors -, nor can 
 Parliament obtain any information upon the fub- 
 jefy if Minijlers wijh to with-hold it, without 
 abjolving perfons from their oaths. 
 
 The intention of the Legiflature mift have 
 been, that the CoiTmniflTioners fhould make only 
 iiich things matters of fecrecy, v/hich, by being- 
 known, might be liable to be counteracted, fuch 
 as orders for the levying of war, cr the making 
 of peace, or fuch negociations, and treaties 
 which have a reference to either of the above, 
 and which are univerfally admitted as necefTary 
 to the well being of the ftate, that they fhould 
 for a time be with-held from public infpedlion ; 
 but it never can furely be contended, that the 
 liquidating a debt, or the fettlement of a matter of 
 account, or the receiving the fecurity, or the affign- 
 ments for the arrears of the revenue can (becaufe 
 they might give rife to difagreements, which 
 might eventually, though not probably, produce 
 rcfidance) fall ivllhin the conftru^lon of that 
 claufe. If fuch is the m.eaning of that claufe, 
 there is no tranfanion of any kind -rwhat-rjer, or 
 concern in any department of the Covernrnefit if 
 India, which may not he ofjcrted to have remotely 
 fome relation to native Prinres or States, and tliat 
 may not be forced into the mnrimrlion of that 
 claufr, and by that rncnns the ivlo'e po/.'/ieal 
 ^cvernnient cf I-uiia be nihde a )-,c::t:r of fecrecy. 
 it ] aai
 
 42 APPENDIX No. V. 
 
 I am fenfible the objel of Mr. Pitt's Bill was 
 to fuperintend and controul, with a view to pre- 
 vent the abufcs in India, and not to wrefl from 
 the Company the polilical management of its affairs ; 
 Kor wajr It tlitn urged, the proper Government for 
 India was a Government of fecrccy. The benefit 
 likely lo relult from that meafure was the mutual 
 check that rubfifled between the Board and the 
 Direfiors. hy the extenfion given to the power 
 of the Board, by thf, /or ccd conJlruBion of that 
 clauJCi that check is entirely removed, and the 
 luhole pcivrr lodged i/i ibe bands of the Co'inmiJfionerSy 
 / lo he exercijed at their dijcretioHy without being 
 Liable to any iufpettion. 
 
 It Vv'ill be in vain to contend, that the patronage 
 is iecu;ed to the Company by the At\ of Par- 
 liament ; if the GGVcrvjneni nfecret^ it will beabfurd 
 to fuppofc, that the patronage wil! be open, or that 
 thole who have no voice in the meafure will have 
 much concern > if any, m the appointments ; if 
 they have not, to what evils, fo often foreboded as 
 dangerous to this Conltitution, will not this myfle- 
 rious Government of India expofeus ? And if this 
 is to be contended as a necellary mode of manag- 
 ing and controuling the affairs of India, it will, in 
 my opinion, give rile Lo a quelfion, whether, under 
 fuch ciicumllanccs ol: danger to the Conflitution, 
 our Indian pollcflions are worth retaining ? 
 
 In thus objecling to t;ie power claimed by the 
 Board of Connnifiioncrs, I do not mean to dif- 
 pute their puwcr of controul, but contend, that 
 exceDt in the c.iies lo Vv-hich 1 allude, it ought to 
 hz cl'C/i and liahU lj injpcilion. 
 
 1 am ailo ;;;;p!chcnrivc that the trade, in order 
 to make good the engagements now lubfilling, 
 
 nu?lt
 
 APPENDIX No. V. 
 
 43 
 
 tnuft be forced to fuch an extent, as together with 
 the export of bullion to China, funlefs' means 
 can be found to fupply that fettle ment from 
 India) and the encreafed import of nianufacliired 
 goods, will involve many confiderations rcfpecl- 
 ing the effential interefls of this country, as may 
 render in its decifion, the fituation of a Diretlor, 
 and of a Member of the Houfe of Commons, in- 
 compatible with each other. A public fituation 
 reduced to the mere mechanifm of official obedinue can 
 afford but little credit, even by the mod' rigid dif- 
 charge of its functions. Circumfcribed as the 
 power of the Court now ij;, and by the interpre- 
 tation given to the claufe to which I allude, m- 
 capah'e of aHing either with energy or effedi, it 
 mufl e 'er long yield an eafy l:irrcr,der of its remain- 
 ing rights, to the cncroachneiiis and vigilance of a 
 more udive controul. Thus circumftanccd, the 
 office of a Dircdor may be the fubje6l of obloquy, 
 and, though liable to a ferious lefponfibility in the 
 cafe of mifcondu6t in others, is too iubordi- 
 nate to continue the pofl; either of independence 
 or honour. 
 
 It is, therefore, my intention to refign my 
 truil to the Proprietors, confcious that whilil I 
 held it, I endeavoured to difcharge it to the befl 
 of my abilities, and with an integrity unim- 
 peached. 
 
 I am, with great refpcfl, 
 Honourable Sirs, 
 India-Hcufe, June Your mod obedient and 
 
 I'^th, 1786. devoted Servant, 
 
 SAMUEL SMITH, Jan. 
 Xb the HGnourahlc the Court cf DircBors, (3c. 
 
 G 2 M
 
 44 A P P E N D J X No. V. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 At a Court of DireBors, held Thiirfda)\ ifh June, 
 1786. 
 
 The Court now, according to order, proceed- 
 ing to take into confideration a motion entered on 
 
 O 
 
 ycllerday's minutes, refpefting the powers of the 
 Right Honourable the Board of Commiffioners 
 for the affairs of India, 
 
 And the faid motion having been amended, 
 and ftanding as follows, viz. 
 
 *' 1 hat it is the opinion of this Court, that the 
 ** Board of Commiffioners for the affairs of India, 
 * by drawing the pecuniary arrangements, with 
 " the Nabob of Arcot into the fecret department, 
 ** have extended the power given them by the 
 *' 35th fedion of the al of the 24th of his pre- 
 *' fent Majefty, (entitled, *' An aft for the better 
 '* Regulation and Management of the Affairs of 
 *' the Eall- India Company, and of the Britifh 
 " Poffeffions in India, and for eflrablifhing a 
 " Court of Judicature for the more fpeedy and 
 ** elfeftual 1 rial of Perfons accufed of Offences 
 " committed in the Haft- Indies,'*; beyond the 
 *' original intention of the legiflature, and, that it 
 " is expedient to apply to the legiflature for a fur- 
 " ther explanation and more corretl limitation pf 
 " the fuid } ower." 
 
 It was moved, that the above motion be taken 
 into confideration this day month. 
 
 And the queihon thcieon being put hy the 
 ballot, the lame paifed in the affirmative. 
 
 No. 3.
 
 A P P E N D I X No. V. 45 
 
 No, 3. 
 
 /it a General Court, held on Friday ^ the ^oib Jfime, 
 1786. 
 
 RESOLVED, That the condruaion of the 
 
 a6l of the 24th of his prefent Majefty, under 
 which the Right Honourable Board of CommiC- 
 Coners for the affairs of India, have claimed to 
 exercife the powers in inftances before the Court, 
 
 is fubverfive of the author liy of the Court of Direc- 
 tors, and the chartered rights of this Company, re- 
 cognized and confirmed by the faid aft, and 
 tends to eftahli/h afecret [yd em of Government hig/ily 
 dangerous to inter efls of the the public and the Company, 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 /it a Court of Directors held Wednefday, the 2gih of 
 November, 1786. 
 
 THE Court now proceeding according to order 
 of the I ft inftant, to take into conlidcration the 
 motion made on the 15th June lad, refpcfting the 
 powers of the Board of Controul, 
 
 The faid Motion was read; alfo 
 
 The Refolution of the General Court, of the 
 30th June laft. 
 
 It was then moved, and on the queftion, Re- 
 folved unanimoufly, That the Chairman, and 
 Deputy Chairman, be defired to wait upon the 
 Right Honourable the Chancellor of the Exche- 
 quer, to lay before him the refolution of the Ge- 
 neral Court of the 30th June lalt, and propofc tlie 
 following queftion, viz. 
 
 " If
 
 46 APPENDIX No. V. 
 
 *' If the Court of Direftors with the authority 
 '' of the General Court of Proprietors, Ihall think 
 *' proper to apply to Parliament, to explain the 
 ** powers of the Board ofControul with regard 
 *' to Secret Correfpondence. relative to the Coun- 
 *' try Powers of India, will you afllfl; them in their 
 *' application?" 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 Wednefdaf, the 6ih (f December^ 1786. 
 
 THE Chairman acquainted the Court, that he 
 had waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
 and communicated to him the Refolution of the laft 
 Court, refpeding an application to Parliament, as 
 to the powers of the Kight Honourable the Com- 
 miflioners for the Affairs of India, and that Mr. 
 Pitt figtiititd his intention of giving an anfwer to 
 the lame in writing, in the courfe ot the week. 
 
 No. 6. 
 
 Wedricflr,y, the i^th cf December, 17 86. 
 
 THE Chairman and Deputy Chairman rc- 
 poitedj that in obedience to the orders of the 
 Court of the 29^1 ultimo, they had been this 
 liioining with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
 who fuid " he cannot a;jree to the leiitimcnLs ex- 
 *' preffed in the refolution, concerning the con- 
 '* duct of the Right Honourable the Hoard of 
 " CommifTioncrs for the Affairs ot Lidia, and 
 " docs not Itre any ground for an application to 
 " Parliament on the fubjed." 
 
 APPENDIX
 
 C 47 ) 
 
 APPENDIX VI. 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 To the Court ofDireBors of the United Company of 
 Merchants of England ^ trading to the Eafi^ 
 Indies, 
 
 Gentlemen., 
 
 OBSERVING of late that there has been 
 confiderable inaccuracy In the correfpondence from 
 India, which we in a great meafure attribute to 
 fo much of your burinels, although no ways of a 
 fecret nature, coming from the fecret department, 
 we have inferted a paragraph in your draft, No. 
 294, for the purpofe of remedying that inaccuracy. 
 We have the honour to be. 
 Gentlemen, 
 Whitehall, Your moft obedient, 
 
 ^ih Feb. 1787. humble Servants, 
 
 (Signed) WILLIAM PITF, 
 
 IIENilY DUxNDAS. 
 MULCRAVE. 
 
 JNO. 
 
 Copy 0/ the Para^Tip'! referred to ui ihe ahove 
 Letter. 
 
 In the condu(^ or your bu fine's wo ob'^rvc, th it 
 a rood dci-il oi //"'.(iC.'i/'tJy and C-'iji'Ji':':i :'.:i!cs b}-. fo 
 
 much
 
 4^ A t> P N "D I X No. VL 
 
 much of your correfpondence being addreflfed to 
 us from your Secret Department. By this means 
 an ambiguity is created as to the proper fubjefts to 
 be direded to the whole Court of Direftors, or the 
 Secret Committee. To put an end to all ambiguity 
 for the future, we direft, that whatever \% of a fe- 
 cret and conjidmtial nature^ and, falls -within the views 
 and direcliom of the aEl of parliament, ejiahlijhtng a 
 Secret Committee from among our number, {hould be 
 dire6i^ed to our Secret Committee, but let all other 
 iubjeds which do not fall within that defcription, 
 ceafe to be addrefifed to us from your Secret De- 
 partment, but let them come to us from your 
 Public Revenue, Commercial or Military Depart- 
 ments, according to the nature of the fubjedl with 
 which it is conne6led, and by attending accurately 
 to the arrangement of your correfpondeuce under 
 thofe heads, all ambiguity will henceforward be 
 removed. 
 
 Whitehall, Approved by the Bo-^rd. 
 ^th February, 17 S7. 
 
 (Signed) Wm. PITT. 
 
 HENRY DUNDAS. 
 MUl-GRAVE.
 
 [ 49 3 
 
 APPENDIX VIL 
 
 No. I. 
 
 Extra ^ from the Proceedings at a General Court -^ 
 held on Friday the 2<^th of May y 1767. 
 
 I T being obferved, that it might be proper, 
 that any Member of the General Court, might, 
 for his more certain information, have copies of 
 any part of the tranfadions of the General Court 
 as he flioiild defire, and the fame having beea 
 deb ited, it v/as, on the queftion, 
 
 Refolved, "That it is the opinion of this Court, 
 *^ tliat any propiiriot' cf 500!. iiociij may have a 
 '^ copy of i\\L' n-.ini:tes of a-iy General Court, 
 ^^ p-iyiiig lor the expcnces of Kieh copy." 
 
 No 2. 
 
 To the JhnciiraUe Court of Dirsjlors. 
 
 Uonoy.ralU Sirs, 
 
 I have to rcquell a copy of the difparcli v.hiv-h 
 v.i-; produecd ac the General Court, on WcJ.ncl- 
 (':;y theyrli i;-;'l.:iu, and on w'lich Mr. Kcuic, the 
 C'winjMny'o Coiinitl, foiind-d his piib:ie opinion, 
 ii-.i: no liibihinrial kcuMiv uas o-/ri\ bv Cue 
 Jk.). rd ot Cojiiro^d M>r ihr fbrure :;r.vcn:ion ot 
 iLoK* in.;cctua;;ics in the frcret dcpaiLii.ent, which 
 ilir iioai'd j. rcf^fild iu diiap^^rovc oL 
 
 ; I ' Oa
 
 5^ 
 
 APPENDIX No. VII. 
 
 On an application to your Secretary's Ofnce, 
 I was informed, that the above paper could not 
 be infpcfted by me, becaufe it had not been read 
 at the General Court ; but, though a commend- 
 able caution in your ofFiceis, may on their part 
 have juftified this refufalofmy requeft, I amper- 
 fuadcd the Honourable Direflors will by no 
 means with-hold any ncceffary information from a 
 Proprietor, by adopting fo very nice a diftinc- 
 tion on io very intcrefting a point, but that, 
 adfcing up to the fpirit of the rcfolution of 1767, 
 they will admit, that a paper, produced at a Gene- 
 ral Courts and there argued iipcn by the Company's 
 Counjel., becomes to ail intents and purpofcs a 
 -paper which conjlitutes a part cf the public pro^ 
 eedings of the Proprietary at large. 
 I have the honour to be. 
 Honourable Sirs, 
 
 Your mofl obedient humble fervant, 
 (Signed) GEORGE TIERNEY. 
 
 Ci'ojvenor -Street y Feb' dJ/y ()ih^ 1787. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Mr. Morton prefents his compliments to Mr. 
 Ticrney, and acquaints him, his requeft for a 
 copy of tht.' paper therein menuoncd, was laid 
 before the Court of Diredlors, who have dire6l_^d 
 hi;n to inform Mr. Tierney, they cannot coviply 
 with his vcqHefi. 
 i'.afi-lndia'liGufe^ the ^tb February y I'j'i'].
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below 
 
 mi f 
 
 Lb. 
 
 Ut'^ 
 
 % 
 
 Form L-0 
 aom-l, 41(1122)
 
 DS 
 
 469 
 
 T44r 
 
 Tierney - 
 The real 
 
 1787 
 
 situation of 
 the East- 
 
 India 
 
 company . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 DS 
 
 469 
 
 T44r 
 
 1787 
 
 000107 030 9
 
 i^