:ty 
 
 -jllherative Judp 
 People of
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 AN 
 
 APPEAL 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 HASTY 
 
 DELIBERATIVE JUDGMENT?/ 
 
 >TT 
 
 O F T H E / J 
 
 PEOPLE OF ENGLAND; 
 
 CONTAINI NO 
 
 A Statement of the manifold Services rendered by our Fel- 
 low-countrymen in India, and the undeniable Claim they 
 poflefs to the Applaufe of their Country, to their good 
 Fellowftiip and Efteem. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 Vindicating the Charafters of the M A N Y from the Imputations 
 thrown on them by the Conduft of a FEW. 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 Some important Hints to Minifters, and to the Nation in 
 General ; but more immediately valuable to the Shipping 
 Interefts of this Kingdom ; and humbly recommended to 
 the Perufal of the Members of an auguft AfTembly, dur- 
 ing the Difcuffion of the Bengal Petition now before them. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. DEBRETT, oppofite Burlington -Houfe, 
 in Piccadilly. 
 
 M DCC LXXXVII,
 
 To THE PUBLIC 
 
 INDIA DELINQUENCY having become 
 fo much a general topic, and fo much is it 
 the rage, indifcriminately to include in the oblo- 
 quy every fubjeft of this kingdom employed in 
 o India, that natural juftice to fo large and refpeft- f 
 ~ able a body of my countrymen, who labour 
 o under the unprovoked injury of fo univerfal and 
 unfounded a prejudice, has induced me to offer 
 the following thoughts to the Public, on a fub- 
 je<5b, which, though not perfonally concerned in, V 
 I have confidered with that cool and impartial 
 deliberation, which, the paffions of prejudiced 
 people, foured by the conduft of a guilty FEW, 
 have rendered them incapable of excrcifmg for 
 innocent MANY. My intention is not to 
 fcreen the guilty, but to refcue the innocent from, 
 A % illiberal 
 
 354704
 
 illiberal opprobrium. The juftice and candour 
 of my countrymen is fuch, that in this I can 
 have little more to do than to place before them, 
 in a confpicuous and concife point of view, the 
 relative fituation which our countrymen in India 
 bear to us, and which the hurry of refentments 
 only can have occafioned fo liberal minded a 
 People to lofe fight of, 
 
 TRUTH. 
 
 AN
 
 A N 
 
 A P P E A 
 
 V, 
 
 IT is not, at any time, either an eafy or a plea- 
 fant tafk to contend againft prejudices , but 
 becomes a ftill more difficult and difcouraging 
 labour, when thofe prejudices, however ill-found- 
 ed originally, have taken root with time, and 
 been fuffered to grow into conftru&ive fafts and 
 admitted data, for want of fimple contradiction. 
 Such is the frailty or degeneracy of human na- 
 ture, that the mind of man is infinitely more 
 prone to cenfure and condemn, even unarraigned 
 and unheard, than to admit merit where due, 
 or, where merit cannot be deniect to beftow en- 
 comium
 
 comium however deferved, however confpiciu 
 oufly juft; and this it's depraved appetite is ever 
 voracioufly ready to feize any object, any pre- 
 tence, or even rumour, however fictitious or 
 problematical, that can countenance or gratify 
 it's rage, or juftify it's unprovoked rancour. We 
 cannot but reflect with aftonifhment, and our 
 fenfes muft revolt at the idea, that, amongft 
 men of the moft enlightened underflanding, 
 whofe minds have been cultivated and embelliih- 
 ed by every liberal adornment within the fpheres 
 of the firft feminaries of education and learn- 
 ing in the Joiown world, fuch difpofitions, fo 
 diametrically oppofite, fo difgraceful, fo libellous 
 to that wonderful work of nature, Man, Ihould 
 exift j but, painful as the idea is, the fact is in- 
 controvertible, and the hiftory of the prefent, as 
 well as .paft time, comprifes but too true and 
 ftriking a likenefs of this portrait of deformity. 
 If we turn our thoughts and reflections, to, the- 
 Weftern World, and contemplate at all the fcen& 
 which, for a feries of time, there employed the 
 ableft and wifeft counfels of the People of Eng- 
 land, and the dreadful iflue and confequences of 
 jt 4 we fhall find, that it originated in prejudice^ 
 
 was.
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 was cwdufted in ignorance, and has concluded in 
 rivet ted obftinacy, anger, and compulfivefeverance : 
 that we loft thirteen rich and beautiful provin- 
 ces, and as many millions of good, faithful, brave, 
 and loyal fubj eels, and all, becaufe we were 
 moft unnaturally prejudiced againft our fellow- 
 fubjects, whofe coats we unfeelingly endeavoured 
 to tear from their backs : becaufe we were ig- 
 norant of their ftrength, miftruftful of their fide- 
 lity, difdainful of their judgment; and, fcornfully 
 rejecting that quantum of aid which their better 
 reafon and fuperior knowledge taught them it 
 was more to our intereft and welfare they fhould 
 only 'voluntarily proffer under wife limitations , we 
 vainly and madly attempted to exact one infi- 
 nitely more hurtful and prejudicial for us to re- 
 ceive, than difficult, improper, or unjuft for them 
 to pay. And the Commutation Act fhall teftify 
 to the lateft pofterity,- and till time fhall be no 
 more, what the lofs of America has forrowfully 
 taught us, that we were drivea wild by preju- 
 dice and ignorance, and that it was unjuft, un- 
 wife, impolitic, and unprofitable, to pay fo high 
 a price for the dried herbs even of China ; or, in 
 other words, to be mulct fo large a fine for mif- 
 
 taking
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 taking and deviating fo grofsly from the duties 
 of good financiers, prudent and difpaffionate 
 ftatefmen, as to raife the rate of teas, when our 
 interefts fhould have taught, and actually required 
 us, to lower it. But this was the effect of unna- 
 tural prejudice, fupported by it's infeparable 
 companions, ignorance and obftinacy. 
 
 Turn our thoughts to the Eaftern World, and 
 we fhall find a parallel lofmg game there alfo. 
 Herei as with America, we again find two 
 parties, which I may clearly diftinguifh by the 
 opfreffbrs and the opprejfed. On one fide, we 
 fee good and loyal fubjecls, faithful fervants, and 
 unexceptionably good men,who, at an early period 
 of life having torn themfelves from their parents, 
 their kindred, and connexions, are devoting their 
 time, labours, healths, conftitutions, and lives, 
 in climates proverbial for their inclemency, to 
 the fervice of the Mother Country. I fpeak of 
 the collective body the community of Englifh 
 fubjects ferving in India, at large. On the 
 other fide, prejudiced and ignorant politicians 
 converting themfelves into judges of their con- 
 duel:, which they take on prefumption ; unpro- 
 tefling mafters, or employers, who filently fuffer 
 
 their
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 their fervants to be cenfured and ftampt with 
 every frantic and opprobrious epithet, tho' wildly 
 foreign to truth , and obftinate, unfeeling fellow- 
 fubjedts, whofe brains are filled with envy, hatred* 
 malice, and all uncharitablenefs j and whofe 
 brows exhibit avarice, extortion, difappointment, 
 difcontent, and ftrife, and their foul bantling pre- 
 judice, which they have nurtured and cherifhed like 
 a ferpent in their bofoms ; and I boldly warn them 
 as the genuine dictate and belief of my foul, that 
 it deferves and will require their utmoft prudence 
 to avert it's pernicious and poifonous influence 
 from proving as calamitous and dreadful in it's 
 effects and confequences in the Eaftern, as it has 
 been in the Weftern dependencies of this deluded 
 kingdom. 
 
 In all cafes, it is our duty to hear reafon, and 
 to enquire and inform ourfelves before we venture 
 to decide ; how much more, then, is it incumbent 
 on us to do fo, before we proceed to condemn : 
 and, in all cafes, there exifts fome certain and in- 
 difpenfable criterion, fome ftandard, by which the 
 human judgment ought to be regulated and go- 
 verned. On the fubject we are to difcufs, let us 
 confider what that ftandard ought to be. It is 
 B fuch
 
 fuch as, I will venture to aflert, the moft virulent 
 prejudices, the 'moft partial, rancorous and en- 
 venomed mind will not tiare openly to deny, 
 however he may fecretly wifh to fupprefs. 
 
 Firft, we are infenfibly led to enquire, who the 
 clafs of Britifh fubjects in India are, againft whom 
 we are fo unnaturally prejudiced, and what their 
 connexion or affinity with us ? 
 
 Secondly, the nature of their fervices ; whether 
 ufeful to us as a People, and ferviceable to the 
 State ; whether they are dutiful and loyal ; whe- 
 ther they fhare with us the common labours and 
 toils of life, it's duties and fervices in aid and main- 
 tenance of the Parent State, as their fubmiffion 
 and allegiance require ? 
 
 Thirdly, whether they are entitled to our com- 
 mendation, or our cenfure ; our protection, and 
 the juft and liberal reward of their country for 
 their fervices ; or its refentive condemnation and 
 punifhment ? 
 
 Fourthly, of whom confift the 'party, what ?,re 
 their merits, or what the fervices they have ren- 
 dered their country, who have thus afllimed or 
 arrogated to themfdves a right of jurifdiction 
 
 over
 
 ( II ) 
 
 over their fellow-fubjects, kindred, and country- 
 men, ferving in India ? 
 
 This laft-mentioned object, it may be adverted, 
 is going beyond the boundary of a line purely de- 
 fenfive, in as much as a comparifon of conduct, 
 and principles of action, in favour of the gentle T 
 men of India, here ftated to be the party vfpre/- 
 ed) may poflibly tend to throw much blame on the 
 people of England, and efpecially by proving 
 them but too juftly ftyled the oppreffbrs. The 
 defence qf the former may fo unavoidably involve 
 the latter, that this may, in fome meafure, be- 
 come an inevitable confequence; and will, of 
 courfe, be found highly warrantable ; for, if the 
 people of England have afTumed to themfelves a 
 right of jurifdiction over their fellow-fubjects in 
 India, Which their relative fituation neither can 
 Authorize, or which can at all be compatible with 
 their connexion, cur countrymen in India cer- 
 tainly are not more unnatural in following only 
 fuch example ; nor can they have lefs reafon and 
 juftirlcation for peremptorily infifting on replacing 
 a.nd maintaining themfelves inthatjufl degree of 
 equality which God and Nature gave them > and 
 qf which, fo long as they demean thernfelves as 
 B % good
 
 ( I* ) 
 
 good and loyal fubjects, God and Nature only can 
 have power to deprive them, however erroneoufly 
 or invidioufly their fellow-fubjects may attempt 
 it. 
 
 It afiiiredly is not my meaning, or at all to my 
 purpofe, ftudioufly to condemn my brethren of 
 England ; fo far otherwife, I could wifh to find 
 them as Ipotlefs in imputation, as they are gene- 
 rous in conduct ; and as juft, as they are brave ! 
 My fole purfuit is to refcue from the moft igno- 
 rant calumny, (for nothing lefs than ignorance 
 could give birth to fo grofs a fpecies of it,) and 
 to defend the abfent few, who, from the moft 
 laudable and loyal motives, are ferving their 
 country in India; alfo not to fufFer the hearts of 
 their fellow-fubjects to be detached, and their 
 affections alienated, while it' is poffible that a fim- 
 ple Appeal to felf-evident facts may conduce to 
 awaken them from unnatural delufion to the ex- 
 ercife of that fenfe and good underftanding with 
 which Nature has endov/ed them for the moft 
 benign purpofes, and prevent their fubmitting 
 themfelves to be impofed on by the ready-made 
 opinions of men of weak judgment and illiberal 
 minds, urged on by fpleen, envy, or jealoufy 
 
 men
 
 ( -3 ) 
 
 men mifled by every ill-founded and fhadowlefs. 
 prejudice, with factious purpofes in view, de- 
 figning to blow up a conflagration that may for 
 ever fow the feeds of diflention, revive the ani- 
 mofity, and rekindle the fury of contending par- 
 ties to fuch an unbridled degree, as may convulfe 
 the kingdom from one end to the other. I re- 
 peat, it is neither my meaning or purpofe to con- 
 demn : my only object and wifh is to defend a 
 very meritorious clafs of ourfelves from the unde- 
 ferved oppreflion of the reft; and, as from the 
 prefent public difcuflion of this fubject, and a late 
 popular decifion in a certain aflembly, which fully 
 involves and carries with it an exculpation of the 
 foul imputations generally and indifcriminately 
 thrown on the community of Britifh fubjects in 
 India, we clearly perceive liberality of thinking 
 and acting on it, to be gradually diffufing itfelf 
 over the opinions of mankind, fttrong induce- 
 ments, and fome encouragement, influence me 
 to treat freely of their actual relative fituation^ 
 firmly perfuaded, that if fentiments, founded on 
 the cleared reafoning, and the moft unqueftion- 
 able facts, that fhall meet the underftanding of 
 every man capable of reflection, fhall fail of in- 
 fluencing
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 fiuencing a converfion, and ftiaking ill-founded 
 prejudice from the minds of my countrymen ge- 
 nerally, they will, at leaft, obtain many advo- 
 cates amongft men of liberal fentiments and en- 
 lightened minds, who, I am perfectly confident, 
 only require mifmformation to be removed from 
 their breads, in order to correct and revoke opi- 
 nions founded thereon ; and who, it cannot one 
 moment be doubted, will feel themfelves fcanda- 
 lized in being thought to fufrer paffion or preju- 
 dice to influence their judgment one moment af- 
 ter the appearance of fact and truth. The judg- 
 ment of a^tribunal fo juftly difpofed, it muft be 
 the pride of every honeft man to obtain ; pof- 
 feffing and regarding which as an ineftimable trea- 
 fure, he affumes a fecond dignity, and fcornfully 
 and contemptuoufly defpifes any fcattered feeds 
 of envy andjealoufy remaining elfewhere, as the 
 feeble refort of weak men and weaker minds, in- 
 capable of further mifchief. Supported by the 
 voice of the ferious few, he no longer regards the, 
 clamour and noife of the thoughtlefs many. 
 
 Having thus candidly declared my object, and 
 the motives which have induced me to come 
 under the difcufiipn and criticifm of the public 
 
 eye,
 
 ( '5 ) 
 
 eye, where writers in general, however converfaht 
 with the world, however qualified to meet it, and 
 whatever their merits, experience but little juf- 
 tice and lefs mercy, I do not think it improper to 
 fubjoin, with a view of obtaining a clearer title to 
 an impartial and patient hearing, that I have not 
 any other : that I have not any party purpofe 
 to anfwer : that I have not the moft diftant con- 
 nexion with Minifters, and that formidable pha- 
 lanx fuppofed to be latently engaged in the pro- 
 tection of Eaftern delinquents j and, moil pro- 
 bably, never fliall -.that if I wifh one man to be 
 Minifter before another, my preference, infig- 
 nificant as it may be, is founded on and regulated 
 by that fimpleft of all rules, " that I think him 
 " the beft qualified to render fervice to his coun- 
 " try" : that, connected with very few of the 
 gentlemen from India with none who have ever 
 had the power to do mifchief, or to bring the 
 Englifh name into difrepute, it is a matter of in- 
 difference to me, what the public opinion of them 
 in general may be, otherwife than as I revere the 
 caufe of truth, in which I am not afhamed to be 
 an advocate, however obnoxious the man fuffering 
 under it's fuppreflion. 
 
 To
 
 C '6 ) 
 
 To revert, then, to what ought to be the firft 
 object of our enquiry Who the clafs of Britifli 
 fubjects in India are, againft whom we are Ib un- 
 naturally prejudiced, and what their affinity or con- 
 nexion with us ? 
 
 If it be poflible, that an axiom of notoriety ever 
 came within the compafs of the human under- 
 Handing, within the orthodox admiffion of the 
 whole world, this is one of fo long aneftablifhment 
 as almoft to forbid theenquiry whichl here propofe 
 to make as anufelefs, unnecerTary, and idle trouble : 
 it moft certainly ought to fall under that con- 
 ftruction ; but ftill, experience has fhewn on every 
 fubject of difcuflion, generally, and on this in 
 particular, that the human underftanding is natu- 
 rally given to roam and to traverfe wide and even 
 beyond the limits of the point under confideration, 
 abfolutely overlooking the vicinity within ocular 
 demonftration, affording that fureft and moft in- 
 dubitable evidence, which ought to have the firft, 
 the earlieft, and moft effectual operation and in- 
 fluence upon our judgments. It has fo manifeftly 
 been the cafe in the inftance before us, that I hold 
 it indilpenfably necelfary to recur to it, and endea- 
 vour to entice back my readers to the object 
 
 which
 
 which they have unpremeditatedly pafled, and 
 which it appears, has, confequently, wholly ef- 
 caped their attention, or their recollection. They 
 will forgive me, then, if, in the firft moment of 
 time, I remind them -of what requires no argu- 
 ment to prove that the Britifh fubjects, ferving 
 their country in India, againft whom they fuffer 
 fuch an unceafmg torrent of invective, oppro- 
 brium, and virulent condemnation, to rim wildly 
 loofe and madly frantic, do notftand in a kfs near 
 degree of conjanguinity than their own children, 
 whom they really are ! Gracious God ! our own 
 children /Yes, your own children, whom you 
 have nourifhed, fed, and reared with every pa- 
 rental anxiety, but whom, not unlike the unna- 
 tural object of Solomon's judgment, you have 
 almoft given up to feverance, without once deign- 
 ing to open your ears for information concerning 
 the caufe, or reafoningon which fuch unnatural vi- 
 rulence was founded for what mifconduct, or 
 what crime, they have been thus difgracefully con- 
 demned ! ' Nature and time teach us affection 
 and attachment j and inftinct mutually binds our 
 yet inarticulate offspring to us, and us to our ofF- 
 fpring. In what language, then, (hall we de- 
 C fcribc
 
 fcribe in what colours (hall we even reflect, or 
 fuffer our imaginations lightly to touch, without 
 horror, on the bafe defertion of thofe duties which 
 V/e receive, as it were, by infpiration ! Bafe de- 
 fertion ! I call it j and hold it an infinitely more 
 unpardonable tranlgreflion, in the fight of that 
 awful Judge," to whom all hearts lhall be opened, 
 and from whom no fecrets fhall be hid," than any 
 fpecies of criminality to be found delineated even 
 in the black catalogues of the crimes of a Jona- 
 than Wild, a Major Semple, Catharine Rudd, 
 or Warren Haftings ! 
 
 Not to dwell longer on a pofition fo undeni- 
 able, I fhall only add, that I appeal for the truth 
 of it to every individual who fhall either read or 
 hear it, and will implicitly abide by the decifion 
 of his own breaftj for it is next to a moral cer- 
 tainty, that it is fcarce pofiible for any fubjecl: of 
 this kingdom to fit in judgment amongft the peo- 
 ple, and not find, that he has either a fon, a bro-r 
 ther, a relation, or connexion, in the fervice of 
 his country in the Eaft. Even Mr. Haftings 
 (who, from the documents before me, notwith- 
 ftanding his long ftudied endeavours to inculcate 
 a very different belief, as a convenient cover for 
 
 his
 
 ( '9 ) 
 
 his own private purpofes, appears to have been 
 no lefs the opprefTor of my countrymen ferving 
 under him, than the natives of India fubjedt to 
 his power) has defcribed, in his public advices, 
 <c many of them to be the fons of the firft families 
 " in the kingdom of Great Britain." Mr. Haf- 
 tings is by no means the greateft of all bigots to 
 Truth; but in this felf-evident inftance, where 
 no veil was to be found, he has certainly facrificed 
 at her fhrine. 
 
 Having thus endeavoured to reftore you to 
 the loft fight of your children, your deareft 
 connexions, I lhall proceed to the fecond ob- 
 ject of our enquiry, by no means lefs interefting, 
 or inferior in it's confequences as affecting your 
 paffions, or lefs important as it fhall concern 
 your pride, viz. " The nature of the fervices of 
 thefe your children in India, -whether ufeful to 
 us as a people, or ferviceable to the State j whe- 
 ther they are dutiful and loyal j and whether they 
 (hare in common with us the labours and toils of 
 life, it's duties and fervices, in aid and mainte- 
 nance of the Parent State, as their fubmiflion 
 and allegiance require ?" 
 
 To minds liberally difpofed, and inclined to 
 C 2 reflection,
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 reflection, I fhould only trefpafs, by entering 
 largely into the wide expanfe which the above po- 
 fitions comprize , it would, virtually, be to detail 
 an hiftory of the Britifh governments in India for 
 a period of time little fhort of two complete cen- 
 turies ; a work that \vould as far exceed my in- 
 tentions, or what is at all necefiary to my prefent 
 purpofe, as I am confident it would your expec- 
 tations : neither have I the prefumption to con- 
 ceive myfelf qualified, by the occafional diftribu- 
 tion of any allurements within the fcope of my 
 pen, and the humble fcale of its defcription, to 
 induce you to afTume fuch an intolerable fund of 
 patience, as would be abfolutely neceflary to ac- 
 company me through it. Befides, while you can 
 turn to the fuperior, and, by this time, familiar 
 productions of Verelft and Orme, you cannot 
 poffibly defire me to call to your memories 
 more than their great leading features, if fo 
 much. I do not hefitate to conclude, you glad- 
 ly join jfluewith me in this large retrenchment. 
 
 Our territorial acquifitions in India have long 
 been the admiration and the envy of the whole 
 European world ; and, fmce the feverance of 
 America, our quondam fqends there have thrown 
 
 a lafci-
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 a lafcivious eye on them likewife. The peace was 
 barely concluded, before the Thirteen Stripes 
 were flying in the river Ganges, and a conteft 
 begun with the Cuftom-Mafter at Calcutta, 
 which was obliged to be amicably fettled, by the 
 Americans lowering their ftandard, and hoifting 
 (of all others !) the flag of France ! It feems 
 to be a queftion, on which time is wafted by the 
 fages of the prefent day, philofophers, politicians, 
 conftitutionalifts, and others equally well informed^ 
 whether the pofTeflion of our Oriental dependen- 
 cies be more a burthen or a benefit to this 
 nation ? I find it has likewife crept into the 
 fpeeches of fome of the national fenators, who 
 have even advanced a ftep further, and wifhed 
 the nation a perfect riddance of them. It is 
 the loofe language of ftate quacks, ifiued at 
 random, which deferves no attention ; the doc- 
 trine of men, infinitely more ufeful friends to 
 our enemies than to us, who have no other 
 means of obtruding themfelves into the know- 
 ledge of the Public. If our Eaftern fettlements 
 be the admiration and envy of nearly the whole 
 known World, which is a faft that will not be 
 CQntroverted, why ought they to be lefs valuable 
 
 to
 
 ( a* ) 
 
 to us ? Surely, if we did not before know the trea- 
 fures we pofiefied, the covetous thirft of our ene- 
 mies after them fhould of itfelf awaken our fenfes 
 to their importance. Poflibly, they might be of 
 lefs comparative eftimation whilft we held good 
 fellowlhip with America ; but, alas ! the fitua- 
 tion of things is fo widely changed fince then, that 
 we muft now endeavour to retrieve in the Eaft 
 the dreadful lofles we have fuflained in the Weft. 
 An annual contribution of a million and an half, 
 and that greatly improveable, is no defpicable 
 aid to a nation like England groaning under tax- 
 ation, and burthened with a heavy debt, the an- 
 nual intereft of which more than exhaufls the 
 whole of the national income ; and, for this aid, 
 (or whatever the obftinate caviller will allow it to 
 be,) to whom are you indebted ? Not to the 
 King's Minifters Not to the Eaft India Com- 
 pany, and their big-fwelling-pompous Directors, 
 for " they toil not, neither do they Jpin" , but, 
 to your abfent children, your own offspring, 
 who are ferving in the Eaft. It is to their merits 
 to their induftry to their activity to their 
 good fenfe and prudence to their difcreet ma- 
 nagementto their labours and toils, and to the 
 
 heat
 
 heat of their brows alone,that you are indebted for 
 the pofTeflion of one of the moft, extenfive, the - 
 moft populous, and, probably, the richeft and 
 fineft countries in the world, and for every re- 
 turn of property, acquifition and wealth, of what- 
 ever denomination, that you derive from the Eaft. 
 .It is to their active zeal you owe the prefent 
 exalted ftate of the Eaft India Company, whofe 
 precedence in the commercial world is fo much 
 the object of your boaft : it was their wile and * 
 enterpriziag conduct which raifed them from a 
 confined lading company, without territory be- 
 yond the "Iralls of a few fmall factories, barely on a 
 footing with the prefenthumble ftate of thofe of the 
 French, Danes, Portuguefe, or Dutch, to their now 
 exalted condition of mercantile preeminence and 
 territorial dominion, with a princely income of 
 five millions fterling, a revenue which few poten- 
 tates in Europe can boaft. It was their good and 
 fpirited conduct which refcuedthis lit tie body from 
 the humiliating condition of being obliged to 
 refort to and depend on the too often perfidious 
 aid of our natural European enemies, their neigh- 
 bours, for a combined protection againft the op- 
 prc-Sons of tyrant Mufiulmen, and of enabling 
 
 diem
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 them to prefcribe laws inftead of receiving them, 
 in one inftance, and to grant that protection, in 
 the other, for which themfelves were before the 
 iblicitors. It was thefe our brave and faithful 
 brethren, in all comparatively but an handful, 
 who overcame myriads before deemed invin- 
 cible, and obtained thofe lafting monuments of 
 your glory in Afia for their country's benefit : 
 and, it was they who fubfequently raifed, di- 
 fciplined, and attached armies to your fervice, 
 whom they have repeatedly led to battle and to 
 conqueft, thereby giving ftability and perma- 
 nence to fuch vaft acquifitions : In fhort, it is to 
 them you are indebted for the pofieffion oiafecond 
 world !!! It is the literal exchange the price 
 which you receive for their blood fhed in their 
 country's caufe, and their bones laid low in 
 Eaftern foil, of which the extenfive European bu- 
 rial places at every fettlement in Afia will bear 
 lafting teftimony*. Yet thefe are the children 
 
 whom 
 
 * To give my readers a competent idea of the ftate of 
 mortality amongft Europeans in that country, where the in- 
 dividuals do not happily poflefs the expenfive means of 
 counteracting the pernicious effe&s of it's climate, I need 
 
 only
 
 whom you fo haftily incline to abandon to 
 whom you envy the fmall participation of that 
 immenfe wealth which their facriftces have pro- 
 cured you, confining your obfervation with an 
 evil eye, to the fortunate very few who live to re- 
 turn and fhare with you their well-earned property 
 in their native country ! Small as, God knows, - 
 this their portion of wealth is, when put in com- 
 petition with the numbers of thofe who drop in 
 die purfuit, and, amongft whom, were the whole 
 to be divided, it would barely afford each half a 
 loaf! Shall we, then, thus unthinkingly fuffer 
 the imputation of envy to fmother our admired 
 character for generofity of fentiment, and bene- 
 volence of heart, and withhold the effulions of 
 gratitude where fo defervedly due ? Shall we, 
 becaufe not immediately under our eye, overlook 
 the abundant merits of this divifion of our . i 
 fellow-fubjects, who, fentfrom their native coun- 
 try at an age of infancy, become refponfible to 
 
 only inftance the ftate of the Britim foldiery, the eftablifhed 
 number of whom ought to be three tboujand ; to fupport 
 which the Company fend an annual fupply of from eighty tt 
 one hundred recrultt ly every Jhip, and yet are not able to 
 effefl it. See Bengal Military Returns, feldom exceeding 
 two thoufand. 
 
 D a Jiard-
 
 a hard-judging world for their conduct, not 
 only as men but as ftatefmen, at a period, when at 
 home they are not emancipated 'from the fchool- 
 mafler's difcipline ?~ -Shall we alfo overlook their 
 merit at fuch ah age of childhood in brav- 
 ing the rude ocean, and refilling the impetuous 
 force of corrupt example during a fix month's 
 voyage, where blafphemy uriceafmgly circulates 
 in all it's rnofl horrid colours ? Shall we like- 
 wife forget the fiery Ihocks which their yet tender 
 and unformed conftitutions experience in hoftile 
 climes to the influence of which the ftrongeft 
 frames muft bend ? Shall we lofe fight of the 
 dangers to which their young minds become ex- 
 pofed on their arrival by a communication with 
 the moft vicious and luxurious feel of people in- 
 habiting the world, who court them with every 
 artful adulation, as fo many rifing funs through 
 the influence of whofe rays they hope hereafter to 
 benefit, and who endeavour to become panders 
 to their paflions and their will, as a certain 
 means of enflaving them to their future pur- 
 pofes ? 
 
 Can we, I fay, forget that with all thefe difad- 
 vanfages of youth, inexperience, and temptation, 
 
 they
 
 they prove themfelves honourable members of 
 fociety, fulfilling every character thereof, both 
 public and private, with virtue and integrity ? 
 
 Can we avow ourselves fo uninformed, as to 
 deny to them thefe merits as a body, becaufe a ' 
 guilty few have, by their tyranny and opprefiion, 
 excited our juft indignation ? Can we really force 
 on ourfelves a belief, that there were none to be 
 found amongft them, whofe hearts were fanctu- 
 aries too holy for guefts fo vile ? Where is there / 
 an equal body of men, with equal trufts, and j 
 equal difadvantages, amongft whom fo few ex- / 
 ceptionable characters are difcoverable ? Muft I 
 we, becaufe vice holds itfelf confpicuous in fome 
 daring characters, fuffer it's dark rays to over- 
 fhadow the brilliant virtues of the many ; and 
 thus allow integrity and abilities to be pafiively 
 enveloped in the fleam of unrighteoufnefs ? 
 
 No, furely : our refentments at an end, we 
 fhall fenfibly feel the injuftice of fnch general 
 conclufions againft our fellow-fubjects in India ; 
 we fhall draw the juft line between merit and 
 mifconduct -between the innocent and the guil- 
 ty ; and while we denounce juft punifhment on 
 conviction of the latter, we fhall not fail to diftri- 
 D 2 bute
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 bute ample reward to the former. fcut thefe 
 merits cannot fo forcibly be exemplified, as by a 
 fhort furvey of the nature of their fer vices : to 
 effect which, I fhall endeavour to paint their fe- 
 veral and arduous- avocations, in colours as ]un. as 
 the informations and documents I have fb inde- 
 fatigably aimed at collecting, will permit. 
 
 The Britifh fubjects, employed in India, are 
 divifible into four defcriptions ; but, I fhall par- 
 ticularize Bengal, the feat of the Government 
 General j as it is from the valuable manufci ipts of 
 a gentleman from thence I have derived very 
 much affifcance. 
 
 The firft of thefe defcriptions confifts of the 
 Officers of the Civil Government, and Officers 
 having commiflions on the Military Eftablifh- 
 ment, ail, or the majority of whom, are gentle- 
 men, and the fons of gentlemen, holding equa- 
 lity amongft the firft ranks of men, who will 
 neither yield right of priority as fubjeas, or for 
 a moment acknowledge inferiority in loyalty and 
 fidelity to their King and country. Their friends 
 made an intereft for their election into the fervice 
 of the Company, as a provifion for life, in what 
 they were taught to believe and confider a pur- 
 
 fuit
 
 fuit of honour and profit ; and they have been 
 regularly admitted and enrolled, under ample 
 qualifications and credentials, and obtained fixed 
 rank and acquired rights on the public eftablifli- 
 ments. The number of civil fervants is about 
 two hundred and fifty, and the number of mi- 
 litary officers about fifteen hundred : the duties 
 of the former, much the fame as the duties of 
 office 'in England, from the Firft Minifler of 
 State in the Cabinet, to the youngeft clerk at his 
 defk, in every department of the Britilh Govern- 
 ment, and by no means lefs important , with a 
 variety of ftations, offices, and fervices, foreign 
 and domeftic, of much labour, difficulty, and 
 intricacy, unknown to the Civil Lift of Eng- 
 Jand, all requiring ftudy, judgment, manage- 
 ment, indefatigable application, and, what is 
 more than all, the difficult acquifition of Oriental 
 languages, and full infight into the characters, 
 religions, and prejudices of the natives. My 
 readers have an ample mode of detecting me, if 
 herein I err, by a reference to the annual Report 
 of the Eaft-India Company to the Honourable 
 Houfe of Commons, ftating the different offices 
 and employments of their fervants. But they 
 
 will
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 will readily admit, that the various duties of po- 
 pulous and extenfive kingdoms like Bengal and 
 Bahar, with all their branching foreign interefls 
 and connexions, which, involving all Hindoftan 
 and its vicinities, nearly communicate with the 
 Continent of Europe itfelf, are not to be conduct- 
 ed with the eafe and inactivity of a fpinning- wheel, 
 nor to be kept in regular routine by the approving 
 nod of a powerful Minifter, or the loud thunder 
 of an able Oppofitionift. As to military duties, 
 you can afk no explanation. Let readers, who 
 can judge of the general hardships of this fervice 
 of honour, reflect but a moment on the additional 
 toils of a brother foldier, labouring under the fe- 
 verities of a climate, where the thermometer in 
 the fun is feldom lefs than 100, and, in fituations 
 where their duty calls them, many degrees higher ; 
 where a familiar acquaintance with the languages, 
 manners, and religions of the men compofmg 
 our armies, and where a ftudy to invite and con- 
 ciliate the natives bigotted to their own rules and 
 prepofleffions, and, fubfequently, to gain and 
 preferve the attachment of armies fo compofed, 
 become a neceflary part of the fcience. And, 
 with refpeft to the general conduct of die army 
 
 of
 
 ( 3' ) 
 
 of Bengal, I am warranted to alTert, that it has 
 ever done them honour ; that they have exercifed 
 their profeflion with bravery, humanity, and mo- 
 deration ; and the inftance of the Rohilla con- 
 queft in 1774, exhibits the moft noble inftance 
 which hiftory affords us of refiftance to the moft 
 alluring temptations in the hour of plunder, when 
 they remained peaceable fpectators of oppofite 
 conduct in the troops of our ally. The fecond 
 defcription of Britilh fubjects comprizes the ve- 
 nerable Bench of Judicature, with all it's tribe of 
 officers, dependents, and followers, to.the num- 
 ber of about one hundred, confifting of Judges, 
 Barr ifters, and a multitude of low, petty fogging, 
 ignorant Attornies, who having exchanged <c brew- 
 ers aprons" for " Jacob's Law Dictionary" and 
 " Druggifts weights and Jc ales" for " Every Man 
 his own Lawyer," have been admitted to prac- 
 tife, Jecundum artem, as quack doctors retail 
 their noftrums, " no cure, no pay." This whole 
 corps, with a few exceptions of amiable and good 
 men, are virtually a flight of locufts, " feeking 
 whom to devour," and will prove an everlafting 
 ftain on the wifdom of the Legiflature, whofe ad 
 is their licence, fo long as one ftone of this in- 
 
 ftitution
 
 ftitution fhall remain on another. And, what is 
 
 their objeft ? Precifely, " to Jow diffention 
 
 <( amongft their fellow-citizens y and to get money /" 
 Lawyers are certainly the laft clafs of profefiional 
 beings who fhould be admitted into a country 
 where the form of Government is yet immature. 
 They profefs mifchief; they make mifchief, and 
 they unmake mifchief j they have mifchief in 
 their mouths, and they have mifchief at their 
 fingers ends ! And yet, they are called the 
 <c Independent Corps !" Their late leader in 
 Calcutta certainly placed little apparent value on 
 his claim to that diftinction, as he literally " part- 
 * f ed with his birth-right for a mefs of pottage ;" 
 but the Lawyers, not chufing to ape their bright 
 luminary in this his new orb,ftill maintained their's, 
 and when, during the late war, the Britifh fubjects 
 in Bengal were required to form themfelves into 
 a militia, the Lawyers pleaded their independence 
 of the Company's government, and the afiiftance 
 of a fearch warrant muft have been required to 
 have found any one of them on the parade on 
 field days. This certainly was one fpecies of 
 independence, and is a tolerable good fpecimen of 
 the acutenefs of their talents for perverfion. 
 
 Their
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 Their continuance abroad is not only very unne- 
 c'eflary, but very pernicious, as the execution of 
 Nuncomar, on an ex poft fatto law, and the hea- 
 vy lofies the Company have fuftained by their of- 
 ficious interference, have evinced. And, having 
 thus defcribed the fecond clafs of our country- 
 men in India, as I fhall have no occafion to re- 
 vert to them, or their purfuits, I fhall difmifs 
 them with a moft ferious recommendation to the 
 nation at large, to infift on their evacuating Ben- 
 gal without delay in fome fuch mode as Mr. 
 Haftings recalled the reprefentative of the Britifh 
 nation from the Court of Lucknow *. 
 
 The third clafs confifts of a few Clergymen, 
 upwards of an hundred Surgeons and Apothe- 
 caries in the civil and military employ of the 
 
 " Mr. Richard Johnfon. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " You are hereby peremptorily ordered and commanded, 
 ' within forty-eight hours of the receipt of this letter, to 
 ' quit Lucknow, and repair without delay to the Prefidency 
 ' of Fort William.- We have further to acquaint you, that 
 ' the Commanding Officer at Cawnpore [a military ftation] 
 ' has been directed to enforce thefe orders, in cafe of dif- 
 ' obedience on your part." See India Papers, vol. ii, 
 p. 25. 
 
 E Company,
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 Company, the exercife of \vhofe functions there 
 are the fame as in every other part of the world j 
 and about as many free merchants, a refpeftable 
 body of gentlemen, who, although not covenanted 
 fervants of the Company, have their fanftion to 
 refide, and engage themfelves in private com- 
 merce, and many of whom have rendered very 
 efTential fervices to the nation j but particularly 
 a gentleman, who lately gave evidence in an ho- 
 nourable AfTembly on the fubjedt of opium, and 
 whole fervices are on their records. See India 
 Papers, Vol. VI. p. 22. 
 
 The fourth and laft clafs includes a moft ule- 
 ful body of pilots, feamen, handicrafts, and me- 
 chanicks, whom fervice, neceffity, or chance, 
 have introduced, and who are there by fufferance, 
 and, probably, without any exprefs licence from 
 the Company ; and a corps of well-difciplined 
 troops, to the number of about two thoufand, 
 whole duty, as in other armies, fimply confifts in 
 obedience. 
 
 Let us now proceed to examine, how the 
 duties of the government are fulfilled. 
 
 The whole world bear teftimony of the great 
 and enviable advantages accruing from our pofTef- 
 
 fions
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 fions in India, advantages not derived from 
 chance or magical influence, which muft follow, 
 if our brethren in India poflefs no merit, but 
 entirely from the prudent management and able 
 conduct of thefe our brethren, to which only we 
 are beholden for every importation of wealth or 
 property from thence. In this kingdom we 
 juftly hold up as a prodigy a fingle inftance of 
 youth, becaufe, with the advantages of a finifhed 
 education, and the affiftance of wife and experi-r ' 
 enced counfellors, deemed capable of guiding 
 the helm of a ftate ; and great, it muft be ac- 
 knowledged, is his merit. But, fhall we at the 
 fame time deny what is due to our ftill younger 
 brethren in the Eaft, wrjofe abilities in the fame 
 various branches are equally called into action, 
 executed with equal judgment, integrity, and fuc- 
 cefs, although removed from their ftudies at a 
 period of life, when the moft brilliant part of their 
 education would only have commenced, and 
 whofe further improvement can alone be the 
 effedt of their own fole merit. Let us not fup- 
 pole the government of India to be a mere [ 
 fyftem of trade and plantation. 'The civil go- 
 vernment is divided into three diftincl: branches, 
 E comprifm^
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 comprifing the political, the revenue, and the 
 commercial departments ; into each of which the 
 civil fervants of the Company are ftationed as 
 their talents and capacities render eligible, and 
 they gradually rife in their refpective lines, 
 with few exceptions, circumftances fometimes 
 occurring to occafion a removal from the one 
 branch to the other : and this fhould account in 
 England to fuch as appear furprized at finding 
 gentlemen return from India not equally conver- 
 fant in each of thefe diftmct and extenfive depart- 
 ments j add to which the orders of the Company 
 prohibiting* their fervants from a free accefs to 
 
 the 
 
 * Extrall of a General Letter from the Honourable the Court of 
 Direflorst to the Honourable the Governor General and 
 Council, dated 2lJ} Sept. 1785. 
 
 Paragraph 50. We have long regretted an abufe which 
 is now become fo prevalent, and has gone to fuch an extent, 
 that we muft be peremptory in taking the moft effectual 
 meafures to pat an end to it. We allude to the practice of 
 our fervants having accefs to and tranfmitting home to their 
 private correfpondents, fuch part of our Records as they think 
 proper. Our orders, therefore, are, that no perfon but 
 the Members of the different Boards (hall have accefs to 
 their Records, except the Secretaries of fuch Boards, and 
 thofe entruiled by them ; and that no private copies mail be 
 given thereof, except to the Frefident of each Board, if he 
 
 lhall
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 the records of any other department than that 
 to which they immediately belong, although they 
 
 {hall defire it. To thefe perfons fo entrufted we (hall look 
 for refponfibility ; and if copies of any of our papers, cor- 
 refpondence, or Records, mall be difcovered in the poflef- 
 fion of any perfons not warranted by the Government either 
 at home or abroad, we (hall certainly take the moft effectual 
 meafures in our power to difcover by whofe means the com- 
 munication has been made, and will difmifs from our fer- 
 vice any perfbn who mall be found guilty of difobeying 
 thefe our orders. 
 
 5 1 . Another practice of a fimilar nature likewife calls for 
 our animadverfion. Many of our fervants pofleffing our 
 moft confidential fituations are accuftomed to indulge them- 
 felves, without referve, in correfponding, by their private 
 letters, upon the public affairs of the Company. This is 
 attended with many inconveniencies, is directly contrary to 
 our repeated orders, and we defire you will take the moft 
 effectual means to prevent it ; and if any of our fervants 
 prefume to continue in a practice fo contrary to our wifhes 
 and orders, we (hall certainly mark our difapprobation by 
 the fevereft tokens of our difpleafure. 
 
 52. It is incumbent upon us further to inform you, that 
 a practice has fometimes prevailed of late, of our fervants 
 abroad fending home public letters to the care of perfons 
 refident in this country, to be delivered by them or not, as 
 in their difcretion they (hall think proper : we prohibit any 
 fuch practice in future ; and direct that all letters to us from 
 our fervants abroad, be addrefled directly to the Court of 
 Directors, and fent by the ufual conveyance ; no other will 
 be received by us. 
 
 profefiedly 
 
 354704
 
 ( 38 ) 
 
 profefiedly expe<5t their fervants to be qualified 
 for all departments, In the political line the 
 number can be but few ; yet among thefe we find 
 finifhed ambafladprs, prudent negociators, and 
 able ftatefmen. The revenue branch is more 
 diffufe, and it's duties more complicated and ar-, 
 duousj yet executed with that fuperior degree of 
 judgment, punctuality, and ability, which only 
 requires to be known to excite both our admira^ 
 tion and aftonifhment. The bufmefs of this de- 
 partment is intricate, Iab9rious, and manifold, 
 inafmuch as it comprizes all the various duties of 
 a minifter ; of civil and criminal magiftracy j 
 of inveftigator of the refources of provinces j 
 of arTeffor and receiver of revenue j of 
 comptroller of taxes, duties, and cuftoms ; and 
 of treafurer, &c. &c. with all the mod difficult 
 management of finance ; add to which a com- 
 petent knowledge of the languages, manners, 
 fuperftitions, cuftoms, and corrupt practices of 
 the various feels of people refiding within their 
 extenfive jurifdiclions, whofe undermining in- 
 trigues, mceffantly at work, require the moft ac- 
 tive and vigilant ability, and which it is not poffi- 
 ble too warily to counteract. Here we find 
 
 youths
 
 ( 39 ) - 
 
 youths governing populous and extenfive provin- 
 ces, many of them nearly as large as Great 
 Britain itfelf youths prefiding in crowded courts 
 of juftice, hearing caufes and appeals from thou- 
 fands in their refpective languages, and deciding 
 with juftice,integrity, and univerfal fatisfaction, 
 How few of thefe provincial decifions have ever 
 been arraigned of error or injury, and how ftill 
 fewer it has ever been found proper to reverfe, 
 even Sir Elijah Impey, who prefided over the 
 Court of Appeals at the Prefidency of Fort Wil- 
 liam, and whofe bitter prejudices againft the 
 fervants of the Company are on record, cannor 
 fcruple to bear teftimony. 
 
 Nor is the commercial department, though 
 (landing in order the laft, of the leaft importance ta 
 this country, as it is to the judgment and good 
 conduct exercifed in this line, that this kingdom, 
 and, virtually, every part of the globe where the 
 products of the Eaft are in eftimation, are indebted 
 for the great improvement of their manufactures, 
 and for thofe well-chofen inveftments fent home 
 by the fervants of the Company, which annually 
 allure tlie whole European world to our ports and 
 markets. The magnitude and importance of 
 
 thefe
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 thefe advantages will not be difputed ; but, great 
 as they are, I find by enquiry, that, had the re- 
 commendations of die fervants abroad been duly- 
 attended to and fupported by Directors and Mi- 
 nifters at home,thofe advantages would have been 
 greatly multiplied. For the want of a grateful 
 communication of property between that country 
 and this kingdom, individuals have been help- 
 lefsly driven into the arms of other nations for die 
 remittance of their fortunes, and thereby have 
 enabled foreigners to carry on a trade, in a coun- 
 try, the commerce of which we profefs to claim the 
 exclufive* privilege of,nearly co-extenfive with our 
 own, almoft wholly on credit : whereas, had the 
 Company opened their treafuiy, as they ought to 
 have done, for remittances at a liberal rate of ex- 
 change, even decently within the terms of fo- 
 reign bills f, and augmented their inveflments ac- 
 cordingly, 
 
 * This "exclufive privilege", tooiir dlfgracc be itfpoken f 
 affefts only the fubjefts of Great Britain and Ireland, thofe 
 of all other nations having a free intercourfe with all the 
 Eaftern fettlements, whether thofe of England, or otherwife. 
 f Foreign bonds on refpondentia under a fpecific mort- 
 gage of the (hip and cargo, at an exchange of 2s. 3d. the 
 current rupee, and ten per cent, premium, while you may 
 enfure for fix, payable in London nine months after the ar- 
 rival
 
 cordingly, they would have multiplied the national 
 advantages : they would have multiplied their 
 own. Such meafures would have encreafed the 
 cuftoms ; would have encreafed the national 
 Jlrength by encreafing their flipping, which, fitted 
 out arme en flute, might have been converted into 
 fhips of war as occafion fhould require : would 
 have eftablifhed a certain and infallible nurfery for 
 feamen, that moft important object to England, 
 
 rival of the (hip at her deflined port. For the terms offered 
 by the Englilh Company, read their own words, when 
 they laft authorized bills to be drawn viz. in Sept. 1785. 
 ' All thefe bills, both for the bonded and the other debts, 
 are to be drawn at an exchange of one Hulling and eight 
 pence the Bengal current rupee, and at a proportionable 
 rate of exchange for the pagoda and Bombay rupee, to be 
 fettled by our Governor General and Council. They are 
 to be made payable 548 days after date, with an pption to 
 the Company to poftpone the full payment thereof, on pay- 
 ing intereft upon them half yearly, at the rate of 5 per cent, 
 per annum, from the date of their becoming due, and alfo 
 on paying inftalments of not lefs than 10 per cent, on the 
 principal in ever)' year, after the ift March 1790, unlefs it 
 fhall fuit our convenience to difcharge them by earlier or 
 larger payments ; and for the purpofe of rendering thofe 
 bills more convenient to the holders, they are to be iflued 
 to each creditor in bills of five hundred pounds each, and 
 one bill for the fractional part, if any fuch fliall be owingto 
 him." 
 
 F now
 
 ( 42 ) 
 
 now fo much wanted : -would have given em- 
 ployment to large bodies of people ; prevented 
 competition with the foreign world, and, by re- 
 ducing them to the neceffity of importing bullion 
 for the fupport of their remaining trade, as for- 
 merly, they would have aided our lettlements by 
 the introduction of fpecie, inftead of the difad- 
 yantages of it's drain, from the effects of which 
 they have for fome time paft been drooping. 
 This is a fubjecl: of fo much ferious moment to 
 this nation, that it is entitled to claim the parti- 
 cular attention of it's Minifters, and the whole 
 Shipping interefts ; nor can I omit this opportu- 
 nity .of teftifying to the People of England at large ^ 
 that if, from the afiumption of the Bengal Go- 
 vernment by Lord Clive in 1767 to the prefent 
 time, 1787, there be any one point of duty in 
 which their brethren ferving abroad have been 
 more uniform than another, it has been the re- 
 commendation of this fubject to the confideration 
 and adoption of their employers. 
 
 From the foregoing fhort premifes, I truft, 
 
 the generous reader will readily feel and ac- 
 
 . knowledge with me, that the fervices of thefe 
 
 our abfent brethren are highly meritorious and 
 
 *.? ufeful
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 Cf ufeful to the State ; that they are dutiful and 
 " loyal, and more than fhare in common with us 
 " the labours and toils of life, it's duties and 
 " callings, in aid and maintenance of the Parent 
 " State :" and, from hence will alfo conclude, 
 in the terms of the third queftion of our invefti- 
 gation, " That they are juftly entitled to our 
 <f moft grateful commendation, and not our cen- 
 u fure- to our warm protection, and the juft and 
 " liberal reward of their country, for their fer- 
 <c vices,' and not to it's refentive condemnation 
 fc or punilhment." 
 
 It now only remains to confider the fituation 
 and merits of thofe moft eager to become the ge- 
 neral and illiberal cenfurers of fo large and re- 
 Ipeftable a part of ourfelves, who, without being 
 at the trouble of reflection or enquiry, have, from 
 the alledged mifconduct of a few, arrogated to 
 themfelves the right of paffing fentence on the 
 whole. 
 
 Among thefe I can only difcover perfons pof- 
 fefling the negative merit of inheriting rank or 
 independence from the virtue or toils of their 
 anceftors ; whofe moft fatiguing expedition has been 
 a " fummer trip to the Continent, in fearch of an 
 F 2 Opera
 
 (. 44 ) 
 
 " Opera dancer," and whofe mofl glorious exploit 
 has confifled in a " fuccefsful elopement, where 
 " no refcue was attempted ;" or others, moving 
 in the more humble fphere of aping their betters 
 in the repetition of common-place opinions, as 
 the rnoft promifing mode of lecuring their future 
 favour. Surely, thefe ought not to prove leaders 
 of fufficient weight to bias the judgment of the 
 people of England, whofe juftice, on reflection, 
 will ever teach them to queftion their own right 
 of pafling fentence, as well as the grounds on 
 which they proceed ; and until they forfeit the 
 character of Britons, they will be as cautious in 
 afTuming a competency of judgment improperly, 
 as tenacious in it's maintenance when admitted. 
 Yet, for want of fuch reflection, I am forry to 
 fay, the jurifdiftion has not only been aflumed, 
 but they have actually proceeded to judgment 
 haftily, I will admit j but neverthelefs carrying 
 wirh it all the poignancy of condemnation and 
 coniequent prejudice, with ftrong indications of 
 which the prefs at prefent teems j and the " de- 
 " linquency and peculations of our fervants 
 <c abroad," come as pat from the mouths of 
 e/ery porter at the India Houfe, as " the laft 
 
 Cf dying,
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 * c dying fpeech and confeffion of the malefactors 
 tc executed at Tyburn," from that of the but- 
 cher's parrot of St. Martin's Court i and though 
 with as little intellectual connexion, yet as eager- 
 ly liftened to by the wondering and credulous 
 multitude. 
 
 The terms (( delinquents" and fc peculators/' 
 appear to be received as fynonymous defcriptions 
 of gentlemen ferving abroad ; yet it is by no 
 means free from apprehenfion, that too ftridt an 
 enquiry would prove them infinitely more appli- 
 cable to thofe of correfponding ftations in Eng- 
 land. But, with what eye would the injuftice of 
 the gentlemen from India be regarded, were they 
 therefore to pronounce indifcriminate cenfure ? 
 However, admitting mifconduct among our bre- 
 thren of the Eaft, (for what but imperfedtion is 
 the lot of humanity !) it clearly can only be con- 
 fined to a few. Mifcondudl neceflarily implies a 
 pre-exifting power to incur it; common fenfe 
 teaches, that few there are in any Government, 
 who can pofiefs that power ; and that it can only 
 be among thofe few that we can look for refpon- 
 fibility : therefore, the accufer, be he who he 
 may, previous to condemnation, fhould difpafl 
 
 fionately
 
 lionately and deliberately queftion himfelf as to 
 the power of the party arraigned, and regulate 
 his opinions accordingly. The Britifh inhabi- 
 tants of the Eaft are no more all rulers indivi- 
 dually, than the whole people of England : it 
 would be prepofterous to fuppofe it ; but it would 
 not be niore prepofterous to condemn the whole 
 people of England on that ground of conftructive 
 abufe and oppreflion, than it is to involve, under 
 indifcriminate condemnation, the whole body of 
 Britifh fubjects in Afia. Much pains have been 
 taken to load with opprobrium a fervice, which, 
 in itfelf, is indifputably honourable ; but wherein 
 can the difference of fervice between England 
 and Afia confift, the purfuit being fo much the 
 fame, as to entitle the former to imply purity, 
 while the latter fhall only infer contamination ? 
 The moft rigid analyfis will prove to an axiom, 
 how ridiculous the doctrine; it will evince, to 
 mathematical demonftration, that the object of 
 both fervices is alike a mixture of honour and 
 profit ; that wealth is not lefs our purfuit at home- 
 than abroad. But here, I apprehend, the com- 
 parifon between our brethren of India and our- 
 felves, will not prove favourable to us, if we re- 
 vert
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 vert to the difficult, dear bought, and far fought 
 rewards of the one, and to the fatisfactory eafe of 
 the obtaining it at home in the bofom of their 
 native country, amidft their families and friends, 
 and without the facrifice of health, or any one 
 enjoyment that can attend life, by the other : - 
 thefe laft, moreover, poflefs not the plea of hav- 
 ing a competency to feek, which, as I have 
 before faid, they already have the negative merit 
 of deriving from their anceftors, but are actuated 
 by the inordinate thirft of accumulation ; where- 
 as, the former go profefledly in fearch of a well- 
 earned competency, which, when acquired, they 
 return to Jhare hofpitably amongft their coun- 
 trymen. And fhall v/e, my friends, think even 
 the meaneft of our ' fellow-fubjects in this king- 
 dom entitled to enjoy unmolefted the fruits of his 
 induftry, and deny the fame privilege to thofe 
 who have paid fo dearly for the acquifition of in- 
 dependence, in the accomplifhment of our ag- 
 grandizement abroad ? Or, can we fuppofe, that 
 the official advantages in that country, any more 
 than in this, are confined to nominal, inadequate 
 falaries ! We need only have recourfe to the Ka- 
 }enclar to fatisfy ourfelves on what an unreafonable 
 
 ground
 
 ground fuch an expectation would here be form- 
 ed j and wherefore affect furprize at the exiftence 
 of emolument in India, beyond the falaries an- 
 nexed, which, in that country, are not even 
 equal to the moft rigid frugality ; but, were 
 they even a decent maintenance, could we reafon- 
 ably expect gentlemen to quit their native coun- 
 try, their families, and friends, in purfuit of a 
 mere temporary fubfiilence, and thereby fubfcribe 
 to banifhment, like felons tranfported for life, 
 without hope of return ! If the fervice of the 
 Eaft be a fervice of emolument, as it undoubtr- 
 edly is, and certainly ought to be, the fervice 
 of England is not lefs foj and I venture to pro- 
 nounce, without the fear of contradiction, that 
 they are alike avowed, and fo equally well un- 
 derftood, as alike to have obtained fanction from 
 the neceflity of toleration. But, we need not 
 inftance either England or India; all fervices 
 whatever have their foundation in emolument, 
 which forms the cement of afibciation, and 
 creates the only title we can make to the afliftance. 
 of our fellow-creatures. 
 
 It may here be alledged, that India Delinquen- 
 cy ftands actually before the nation in moil glar- 
 ing
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 ing colours. But, let us for a moment examine 
 the fituadon of parties fo arraigned, and we fhall 
 find, that they are wholly confined to fuch in- w 
 dividuals, as in a former part of their lives, hav- 
 ing returned with moderate fortunes ahd reafon- 
 able views, were corrupted by the intrigues and 
 evil example of thofe at home, to anfwer diffe- 
 rent views, and taught fo well to feel the necef- 
 fity of abundant riches in this extortionate coun- 
 try, as to make them defperate in their refolves 
 on future acquifitions at any price. I am perfectly / 
 warranted to ufe this laft, though harfh expref- 
 fion ; for, who can deny, that the gentlemen from 
 India, immediately on their landing in England, 
 become objects of general prey to plunderers of 
 all denominations ? This, without the fting of 
 the prefent fafhionable vices, fo well underftood 
 within the precincts of St. James', has not a 
 little contributed to drive many of them back 
 again, while others, failing in this expedient, have 
 actually funk under the weight of it's oppref- 
 fion. 
 
 But, it may be faid, the general condemnation 
 ijjfore alluded to has even originated from the 
 authority of the head of their own community. 
 
 V 
 
 (See
 
 ( 50 ) 
 
 (See Mr. Hading' s Letters from Bengal, 5th 
 May 1781, and from Lucknow, 3oth April 
 1784, &c.) 
 
 How far the fentiments contained in thofe let- 
 ters were dictated by truth, or what oppofite im- 
 preffions they were calculated to effect, the Peo- 
 ple of England can by this time form a compe- 
 tent judgment. I am happy to fee that my coun- 
 trymen, thus injured, have found protection in 
 the lights thrown thereon by Mr. Burke's bright 
 and able exertions ; for, in a Government confti- 
 tuted like that of Bengal, where our fuperiority 
 is more ideal than real, the governing being fq 
 out of all proportion to the governed, the degra- 
 dation or depreflion of the Englilh name and 
 character is by no means the leaft exceptionable 
 part of a Governor's conduct. The before- 
 mentioned Letters would lead us to believe, that 
 all in India were corrupt, except the author \ but, 
 unlefs the fyftem of ethics be reverfed, it is mo- 
 rally impojfible for the body to be Jo umverfally 
 difeajedy and the head remain unpolluted. Who- 
 ever fhall be at die pains of perufing the Letters 
 in queftion, will readily admit the juft fentiments 
 contained in the late celebrated oration of an 
 
 honorable
 
 ( J' ) 
 
 honorable Member of the Houfe of Commons, 
 that " fuch imputations on the Englifh name 
 " were moft readily and joyfully countenanced 
 tc as a fcreen and flicker for his own (the au- 
 cc thor's) abandoned profligacy." For my own 
 part, I fhall only further obferve, that thofg 
 produftions are the Author's own libels on his 
 own adminiftration. 
 
 It may be obferved, that the object of this 
 condemnation is not the acquifition of wealth, 
 but the practices of cruelty whereby it is obtain- 
 ed. This is a worn-out charge, which never 
 could be verified. The Britifh inhabitants of 
 India have on more occafions than one loudly 
 applied to their country, (fee Comments on their 
 Petition to Parliament, in the year 1779,) cc to 
 " call forth from amongft them any individuals 
 <c whofe conduct was exceptionable, to conviction 
 " and punifhment," and even offered their fer- 
 \ vices cc to aflift in the profecution ;'* but, from 
 that hour to this, no cafe of guilt has ever been 
 presumed, except in the inftances of a certain 
 Baronet, and a late Governor General : the firft 
 is recent within the mind of' every man, as it re-< 
 g.ularly underwent a Parliamentary enquiry : the 
 G 2 fecond
 
 ( s* ) 
 
 fecond is now before them; and, if he be that 
 honeft man he announces himfelf, like an honeft 
 man he will defire to go to his trial, and, like an 
 honeft man, be acquitted. 
 
 But, my good friends, admitting for a mo- 
 ment what is mofl diametrically oppofite to the 
 truth, that cruelties have been pra&ifed. If a 
 zealous abhorrence of fuch ads be your motives, 
 you have a very extenfive field before you, for 
 the exercife of your clemency, in the long fanc- 
 tioned practices of the Weft Indies, where flavery 
 and cruelty are reduced to a fyftem, and human 
 nature is your traffic*. While you publicly 
 countenance fuch practices as thefe, to what fhort 
 of envy can be attributed your ftrictures on your 
 brethren in the Eaft ? It will be difficult to per- 
 fuade future ages, that your condemnation of 
 alledged conduct in one part of the world is the 
 
 * I have been well affured, that, in the Weft Indies, 
 flavery is reduced to fo complete a fyftem, that planters 
 there make regular calculations by which they are governed 
 in the treatment of their flaves, and from which they find it 
 more beneficial to work their flaves to death in the fhort 
 fpace of. three years, than to allow them the courfe of na- 
 ture's fpan in the performance of ordinary duty. 
 
 effect
 
 ( S3 ) 
 
 effect of humanity, while you publicly enjoy the 
 benefits arifing from the openjale of your fellow- 
 creatures in another ! ! 
 
 Having thus offered a vindication of the con- 
 duct of my countrymen againft private prejudice 
 and public reprefentation, let us advert a little to 
 fome public acts of this nation, whereby they 
 have juft reafon to confider themfelves injured. 
 
 In 1773, we pafled an act under the plea of 
 correcting prevalent abufes in the adminiftration 
 of the Company's affairs both at home and 
 abroad, which, by depriving them of their na- 
 tural right of trial by jury, the great palladium 
 of the freedom of England, became an arbitrary 
 and unjuft oppreflion j and this was farther ag- 
 gravated by the inftitution of a Court of Judi- 
 cature, vefting in the Judges, or at leaft leaving 
 them the power to afliime an undefined jurifdic- 
 tion, accompanied by a fpecies of difcretion in 
 the difpenfation of juftice, unknown to the fyf- 
 tem of jurifprudence and the practice of the 
 Courts in Great Britain, by which thefe Judges 
 virtually became Legiflators alfo. Meafures' of 
 fuch tendency require no comment to an Englilh 
 reader. But, injurious as they were to the birth- 
 rights
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 rights of Englifhmen, let us examine with what 
 temper they were received in India. The ope- 
 ration of this inftitution commenced in Bengal 
 in the year 1774. It is not to be fuppofed our 
 brethren there could be infenfible to fo grofs a 
 grievance, or that their minds could be otherwife 
 than filled with alarm, at thus becoming die 
 objects of meafures fo unconftitutional, and far 
 more calculated to multiply than to remedy the 
 evils which they were profefledly to remove. 
 They neverthelefs received the act with the de- 
 ference due to the authority from whence it 
 iffued, and unmurmuringly fubmitted to it's 
 practice and effects, for a period of near five 
 years, in order to give it a full and uninterrupted 
 trial j and, then only, on bitter experience of it's 
 baneful confequences, came forward in a modeft 
 and refpectful appeal to their country, figned by 
 fix hundred and forty-eight as good and loyal 
 fubjects as any in his Majefty's dominions, for 
 that redrefs to which they were fo well entitled. 
 But, I am forry to caft fo great a ilur on the 
 honor and juftice of my country, as to obferve 
 thefe grievances, crying as they are, ftill unre- 
 drefled: nay, we have, on the contrary, even 
 
 added
 
 ( 55 ) 
 
 added infult to injury, by the fubfequent act of 
 1784, not only by diverting them of other rights 
 and privileges derived from their fituation and 
 length of fervices, but, to the difgraceful encou- 
 ragement of bafe informers, who, in that country 
 in particular, are ever ready to facrifice their 
 matters, or protestors, to fordid purpofes. I 
 fhall not enlarge on that claufe of the ad which 
 was a monument of fo much glaring difgrace to 
 our nation, that it's framers found it wife to 
 repeal it. I muft, however, obferve, that the 
 infult it offered was complete in the enabling it, 
 as it fully and ftrongly expreflfed the ill-founded 
 angry bias which raged in the minds of their 
 countrymen againft them. The claufe in allufion 
 cannot fail to be in the recollection of my reader; 
 but, to bring to his mind the full influence of it's 
 injurious tendency, let him reflect with what tem- 
 per fuch a claufe would be received among the 
 people of England, and more particularly among 
 the Members of that very Houfe, who framed 
 and pafled the act for others. 
 
 Still unredreffed, the grievances of our fellow- 
 fubjects in India now form the fubftance of a fe- 
 cpnd petition to their country, which has, at 
 
 length.
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 length, found its way to the table of the Houfe 
 of Commons , but, under fo many difficulties 
 and difcouragements, as to damp the profpeft 
 of the redrefs reafonably looked for j at leaft, 
 fhould any weight be given to the extraordinary 
 opinion of an honorable minifterial Member on 
 the motion for it's introduction, who, if he did 
 not confider the petitioners as the inanimate pro- 
 ferty of the Eaft-India Company, clearly re- 
 duced them to the ftate of live flock ; for, " how," 
 fays he, tc can we receive a petition from thofe 
 " who are only die fervants of the Company, 
 " when the Company themfelves [or, in other 
 " words, thefe gentlemen's owners} have not peti- 
 " tioned !" As the difcuflion of India bufmefs, from 
 the confpicuous and exalted flation which this 
 honorable Member fills, muft completely abforb 
 his thoughts at prefent ; and as it is by no means 
 unufual with him to trample on all dijlinftions of 
 locality., fo, on this occafion, he muft certainly 
 have tranfported his mind's eye from Calcutta, 
 the refidence of gentlemen not in any rejpeft his in- 
 feriors^ to the wretched fcene of Englifh avarice 
 and defpotifm in Rohilcund, where our humane 
 ally the tyrant Sujah Dowlah, " -having [it is 
 
 " faid]
 
 faid] converted the Rohillahs into fubjecls, the 
 <c next thing he does is to deny them the rights 
 " of human creatures, and palpably confider them 
 * as inanimate property* which the owner may 
 " difpofe of as he thinks fit." Good Heavens ! 
 what a doctrine ! I congratulate my country, 
 however, that it did not proceed from the mouth 
 of an Englijhman , and that the rectitude of a 
 Britifh Houfe of Commons fcouted fuch fenti- 
 ments with the fcorn they deferve. We ought 
 not, however, to be affefted with furprize at the 
 ipeech in queflion, when we reflect, that the pe- 
 tition againft which it argued; was produced by 
 the oppreflive aft which this very Member is fup- 
 pofed to have had fo ample a lhare in framing, 
 and of which the riioft offenfive claufe (faid to 
 have been his favourite bantling) but too plainly 
 characterizes it's author, and his talents for def- 
 potifm. 
 
 We fhall not relinquifh the hope of feeing the 
 natural juftice of Parliament exerted in a due 
 attention to the reafonable prayer of the petition 
 of thefe our fellow-fubjects. An Englifh Houfe 
 of Commons has ever hitherto gloried in oppofmg 
 unconftitutional meafures and they would de- 
 H fcrt
 
 ( 58 ; 
 
 fert their duty if they did not : fuch inftances, 
 therefore, of encroachment, as now aggrieve our 
 fellow-fubjects in India, can only be attributed 
 to miniiterial faction ; and, confequently, it is to 
 be prefumed, cannot be of much longer duration. 
 Juftice will ever prove a fufficient fpur to Eng- 
 liihmen, without having recourfe to the addi- 
 tional motive of caution againft driving the op- 
 prefTed to fuch defperate afts as the ftrength 
 of a powerful army, confiiling of fifteen hun- 
 dred experienced officers, and fixty thoufand 
 brave and well-difciplined troops, attached to 
 them from affection and fervice, in pofTerTion of 
 a rich and extenfive country, yielding a moft 
 princely revenue, and fraught with every valuable 
 refource, might enable them to effect. But, 
 ihould Minifters perfift in turning a deaf ear to 
 thejuft claims of the petitioners, becaufe they 
 pofTefs the power fo to do, and determine to 
 with-hold rights, to the poffeffion and free exer- 
 cife of which, the loyalty, fidelity, and great at- 
 chievements of our brethren in India, in their 
 country's caufe, would of themfelves be deemed 
 an ample title under more reafonable men, I 
 fhall moft earneftly recommend it to fuch rulers, 
 
 to
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 to turn their reflections to the fatal and yet bleed- 
 ing effects experienced from fuch unfeeling and 
 injudicious conduct towards our late brethren in 
 America j whofe perfecution, as I before faid, 
 " originated in prejudice, was conducted in ig- 
 " norance, and has concluded in compulfive fc- 
 " verance." Our fellow-fubjects in the Eaft have 
 ftiewn, that they can bear diftrefs like men, and 
 feel like men , and while we fliall continue to 
 pofiefs our valuable acquifitions in that country, 
 which we at prefent hold on a tenure of perpe- 
 tuity as the tribute of their eminent fervices, and 
 which nothing can (hake, while we continue to 
 poflefs their affections and attachment unfhaken, 
 we certainly cannot require to be reminded, that 
 they can alfo aft like men. Let us, then, beware 
 how we drive them to extremities ; nor, when 
 they apply to us for bread, prefent them a ftone. 
 Our errors towards them are hitherto retriev- 
 able with honor i but, leaving the protection 
 of their petition to the more able and interefted 
 advocates acting under their immediate delega- 
 tion, I fhall not further trefpafs on the patience 
 of my readers. The object of this Appeal is of 
 a different nature > and I dare truftj, the candid 
 Has apd
 
 ( 60 ) 
 
 and generous minds of my countrymen, ever 
 open to conviction, particularly in the caufe of 
 TRUTH, will have fuffered my juft, though un- 
 adorned arguments, to remove the veil of pre-: 
 judice from their underftandings, nor longer al- 
 low " the dark rays of vice, confpicuous in a 
 " few daring characters, to overfhadow the bril- 
 " liant virtues of the Many, and thus fuffer in- 
 " tegrity and abilities to be paflively enveloped 
 " in the fleam of unrighteoufnefs -."---that they 
 will not confound particular error with general 
 pnerit and loyal fervice ; nor forget, that their 
 fzliow-Jiiljetts In India are a fart of tbemfehes, 
 , and have never yet been deficient in their country's 
 caufe. 
 
 An apology to the Public for an intrufion on 
 their time, generally precedes the fubjec~t ; and, 
 although I feel the necefiity of it greater in my 
 inftance than in any other, I flill flatter myfelf it 
 will not be lefs favorably received, as a conclu- 
 fion, than if I had, in the ufual way, made it in 
 a foimal exordium. I may fafely place great 
 reliance on the difmtereflednefs of my motive ; 
 but more pcv/erfyliy refc on the necefiity which 
 humanity laid ire under, of taking up a caufe, 
 
 which,
 
 which, in the opinion of unprejudiced people, 
 has been meft Jhamefully abandoned by gentlemen^ 
 ivhoje former ftations in India, and pi'efent fitua- 
 tions in an Honorable AJfembly, render it their 
 more immediate province, if not their duty, which 
 can no otherwife be accounted for, than as the 
 effect of the miftaken principle, of fuppofing it 
 neceffary to facrifice the whole community of 
 their India brethren to the defperate caufe of an 
 individual. And this abandonment is the more 
 ihameful, as the expectation of the nation is na- 
 turally directed to them in particular, for a jufti- 
 fication of their former fociety , and that their 
 filence, however indefenfible, may be conftrued 
 into condemnation : they fhould, however, reflect, 
 that this condemnation muft in a more material 
 degree affect themfelves, not only from their af- 
 finity of power and confequent relponfibility, with 
 the individual in queftion, but from the dread of 
 inveftigation, which this their filence might 
 imply. Should this hint tend to awaken them 
 from their unpardonable lethargy, it will prove a 
 great additional reward for any pains I may have 
 been at in collecting materials for the juftification 
 of my fellow-countrymen abroad, which, in my 
 
 opinion,
 
 opinion, requires nothing more than a fimple 
 Hate of facts amply and firmly to eftablifh. 
 I have done my duty, as a good citizen, in con- 
 tributing my mite towards it ; and thereon found 
 a claim to call on thefe gentlemen, either to fol- 
 low my example, or to avow the motives of 
 their defertion of what muft be no lefs their own, 
 than the caufe of our abfent countrymen. 
 
 FINIS.

 
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