Thoughts on t- .Irs 
 of 
 
 By 
 chi bald Keir, ^sq.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 THOUGHTS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 AFFAIRS of BENGAL.
 
 OJ^T /?7$
 
 THOUGHTS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 AFFAIRS of BENGAL. 
 
 By ARCHIBALD KEIR, Efq. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 friyted in the^ Year >7;a.
 
 4-1*3 
 
 THOUGHTS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 1 AFFAIRS of BENGAL. 
 
 TH E affairs of India in general, and 
 of Bengal in particular, have fo 
 much ingroffed the attention of 
 the public for fome time paft, and are 
 now become of fuch confequence to the 
 nation, that every individual who either 
 thinks he can throw new light on the fub- 
 jec~l, or that he can give any ufeful hints 
 for the better ordering and regulating 
 thofe important matters, needs make no 
 apology for fo laudable an attempt, what- 
 ever may be the effect or fuccefs of his 
 endeavours. Seeing many feniible, and 
 B inge- 
 
 354655
 
 ingenious men too, who have of late taken 
 much pains, to point out to the public 
 the bad management in the government 
 of thofe rich and fruitful countries; while 
 few, very few I think, have but attempt- 
 ed to lay down any rational, complete, 
 and confident plan, by which it might be 
 rendered better; it will be the more ex- 
 cufeable in me, I hope, who, though I 
 have made thofe things my ftudy, and 
 long refided in 'thofe diftant parts, find 
 ' myfelf no ways capable of giving my 
 ideas in that elegance of drefs and pro- 
 priety, either in words, or in order, as I 
 could wifhj and as is due to fo critical and 
 difcerning a judge. Yet, as I find that 
 the productions which have the moft of 
 plain truth and common fenfe in them, 
 though in the fimpleft apparel, are often 
 more pleafing to mankind in general, 
 than thofe which are far more elegant ; 
 and being perhaps fomewhat flattered by 
 my own conceit, or rather induced, as I 
 imagine, by the perfuafion and favour- 
 able opinion of fome fenfible friends, who 
 have approved of my way of thinking, I 
 
 mall
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 fliall therefore venture, in the few follow- 
 ing pages, to explain, what, in my hum- 
 ble opinion, would be the moft rational 
 and bed method of reared! ng the griev- 
 ances complained of, and of fixing on a 
 juft and iolid foundation the manage- 
 ment and right government of Bengal. 
 
 And though it may be thought, that in 
 a difquifition of this nature, it would be 
 moft proper to begin at the fountain head, 
 and confider whether or not our home 
 eftabliihment of a Company and Court of 
 Directors, or what other form of govern- 
 ment would be beft ; yet when I confi- 
 der, that this is a fubject which has al- 
 ready often been difcufled by many abler 
 pens ; and that it is a fubjeft too, which 
 would carry me beyond the bounds of my 
 prefent purpofe, while it lies within the 
 reach of every one who wUl give himfelf 
 but the trouble to read and reflect ; I mall 
 fay nothing more, than to declare, in a 
 very few words, what is my opinion of 
 this ; and that in the moft candid and im- 
 partial manner that I poiTibly can. 
 
 B 2 The
 
 ( 4 ) , 
 
 The general fentiments then of this, 
 and of all the trading nations in Europe, 
 after repeated trials, and much argument, 
 both for and againft, feem now almoft to 
 be fixed and agreed, that the trade to 
 thofe diftant countries, could, in no re- 
 fpect, be carried on to fo much advantage 
 as by exclufive companies. Though the 
 French are again indeed making another 
 trial of this ; with what fuccefs, time will 
 difcover. But the trade there, to this na- 
 tion, is now not the only object. For 
 there has of late been acquired a very ex- 
 tenfive territorial dominion : and peo- 
 ple are to be ruled on principles very dif- 
 ferent from thofe necefTary to be employ- 
 ed in the conducting of mere mercantile 
 concerns. It has been alleged therefore, 
 that merchants mould not be fovereigns ; 
 and it has been concluded from thence, 
 that the Eaft India Company are improper 
 to govern and protect the countries they 
 have either fubdued by their arms, or 
 which have voluntarily fubmitted to their 
 authority. The premifes may be eafily 
 admitted, perhaps -, but that the propofi- 
 
 tion,
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 tion, in its full extent, fhould be fo, tho* 
 it feems fomewhat to carry the appear- 
 ance of reafon, is what I am perfuaded 
 can never be agreed to, by any who have 
 the fenfe to diftinguim the meaning of 
 words. The conclufion therefore, which, 
 in my opinion, is abfolutely falfe and er- 
 roneous,- muft fall to the ground of itfelf. 
 For, not to inftance the Dutch, or many 
 of the moft powerful ftates in Europe, is 
 not our own legislature compofed princi- 
 pally of merchants, and of mercantile 
 men ? And are not the mercantile con- 
 cerns of this, and of moft countries now- 
 a-days, fo intimately conneed with 
 their profperity and well-being, that the 
 great concern of governments is to put 
 them on a right and refpeclable foot- 
 ing ? 
 
 But the affairs of India, and of Bengal, 
 are the affairs of the nation, and of con- 
 fequence therefore to the nation that they 
 be managed well. The queftion is only 
 this then, Who are the people of the na- 
 tion, the moft likely to manage them the 
 righteft and beft ? Whether the king's 
 
 mini-
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 minifters, who can fcarce, I think, be fup- 
 pofed to be fo well acquainted with 
 them, and who have numberlefs other af- 
 fairs upon their, hands ; hands, which it 
 would be not fo eafy a matter to tye up 
 by laws. Qr if they ihould be managed 
 by a fet of men, who, if chofen right, 
 would give their principal care and atten- 
 tion to them alone ; men, who if chofen 
 right, might be fuppofed at lead to know 
 fomething of them ; and men too, who 
 would certainly be more within the reach 
 of laws, wifely made, and well calcu- 
 lated for their right government. That 
 it mould rather be the latter, therefore^ 
 will, I believe, fcarce bear an argument. 
 As to what has been propofed by fome, 
 with regard to dividing the management, 
 in leaving the Company to carry on the 
 trade, and letting the Miniflry, or the 
 Government, as it is called, have the 
 charge of the revenue, and protection of 
 the country, by officers named and ap- 
 pointed by the king ; it is a fcheme big j 
 with fo many inconveniences and objec- 
 tions, that it furprifes me to fee fo fenfi- 
 
 blQ
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 ble a writer, as the author of the Obfer* 
 vations on the prefent State of the Eaft 
 India Company's Affairs, adopt fuch a 
 plan. The great objection to managing 
 by a Court of Directors, is, that many 
 of them are mere merchants, unacquaint- 
 ed with the ftate of India, confined in 
 their notions, and confequently unfit 
 either to be flatefmen or fovereigns. It 
 is faid alfo, and with fome degree of 
 truth, perhaps, that their attention, 
 which is fo much taken up in fecuring 
 their elections, and their uncertainty of 
 continuing in office, is acaufe, and a very 
 principal caufe, of that neglect and remifT- 
 nefs which has been of late fo much com- 
 plained of; with, or without reafon, I 
 {hall not pretend to fay. But as thefe are' 
 evils, which in part either may be reme- 
 died, or which with equal validity may 
 be objected to the Britifh legiflature, or to 
 every order and fociety of men, till the 
 contrary be made appear, and that it be 
 proved, that the management would be 
 better to be entrufled in the hands of the 
 Government, or with any other fet of 
 
 men,
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 men, I can fee no kind of juft reafon for 
 changing the mode at prefent eftablifhed, 
 of managing by a Court of Directors* 
 More efpecially if it be confidered, that 
 ^hile things are in this channel, the Mi- 
 niftry will always be a kind of check up- 
 on them , and not very backward poffi- 
 bly, in paffing any popular laws, which 
 might help to keep them within proper 
 bounds, or in hindering any unpopular 
 laws to be patted, which the Court of Di- 
 rectors, from miftaken principles, might 
 be defirous of getting enacted. Inftances 
 of which having actually happened, will 
 readily occur to every one, who is at all 
 acquainted with India affairs. 
 
 Wholefome and juft laws are the ve- 
 ry eflence ami fundamentals of all good 
 governments. For as no civil fociety can 
 well fubfift, where neither property is 
 fecured, or crimes are punifhed, as has 
 been but too much the cafe, perhaps, for 
 fome time paft in thofe rich and fruitful 
 countries ; fo it is clear, I believe, even 
 without a demonftration, that fettled and 
 eftablifhed rules, to prot&ft the helplefs, 
 
 and
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 and punim crimes, to fecure both the 
 perfons and properties of individuals, 
 againft the lufts and rapacity of others, 
 ought to be the firft and grand object, 
 with thofe who want to avail themfelves 
 of the advantages to be drawn from any 
 kingdom, country, or fociety of men. 
 
 To point out a proper method, by 
 which this is the moft likely to be effec- 
 tuated, is the difficulty ; and a difficulty 
 not eafy to be furmounted. To attempt 
 this, and to endeavour to mew the means 
 by which we are the moft likely to ob- 
 tain fo definable an end, is the purport of 
 the prefent difquifition. How far I may 
 fucceed in the attempt, muft be judged 
 of by the impartial and difmterefted world. 
 For though others have attempted this al- 
 ready, and that many fenfible and judici- 
 ous remarks have been made, yet ftill there 
 is much wanting, I believe, while every 
 one who has candour and difcernment, or 
 in proportion, at leaft, as he has any mare 
 of thofe, and is acquainted with the fub- 
 jedl:, will add light, and be of fervice to 
 the public in fo important a concern. 
 
 C In
 
 ( 1 ) 
 
 In all ages and nations of the world, it 
 has ever been efteemed the moft arduous 
 and difficult tafk, to form adequate and 
 right laws for the government of fociety. 
 While the moft complete fyftem that ever 
 yet has been made, may in numberlefs in- 
 ilances be found inconfiftent with the ge- 
 neral good, and contradictory even of 
 the very intention for which they were in- 4 
 ftituted* Nay, in our own country, we 
 daily fee that particular laws, framed with 
 all the care and attention of the moil: in- 
 telligent amongft us, tried, and rectified 
 upon trial j and rectified, fometimes, a fe- 
 cond and a third time ; yet can fcarce be 
 made to anfwer the intention after all. 
 
 Such is the temper of men, and frailty 
 of human wifdom ! As we are not there- 
 fore to look for any thing perfect here, 
 the utmofb we can reafonably expect to 
 obtain, in a matter of this nature, is only 
 a certain degree of perfection, which will 
 be more cr lefs fo, according to the fober, 
 fenfible, and right judgment that we {hall 
 have made ufe of, in obtaining the de- 
 fired end. 
 
 In
 
 'In framing a fyftem of laws, for any 
 people, or fociety of men, it would be of 
 confequence, furely, to fet out on fome 
 fixed uad ileady principles and plan. It 
 would be well, alio, I think ; tirft, careful- 
 ly, to take a furvey, and, in general, make 
 ourfelves acquainted fome what, if pofii- 
 ble, with the temper and difpofitic n of - 
 the human mind, fo as to know how, and 
 in what manner, it is varioufly affected. 
 And if we reflect upon this with that cool- 
 nefs, benignity, and chanty, which we 
 ought, we (hall find, I believe, that man- 
 kind, in general, pretty much follow, or 
 endeavour at lead to follow, their own, or 
 what they take to be their own intereft, 
 and that as nearly as is poflible. The dif- 
 ference between virtue and vice being 
 nothing more, than as the difference be- 
 tween good-fenfe and folly. But. man- 
 kind are far from being altogether wife. 
 Even the wifeft amongft us is not always 
 fo, either for himfelf or for others. Good 
 and wholefome laws then, mould be no- 
 thing more than the leffons of wifdom, 
 adapted to the meaneft capacity, in pre- 
 C 2 vent-
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 venting men from hurting themfelves, or 
 hurting one another, whether by their art, 
 or by their flrength. What indeed alone, 
 and fimply concerns themfelves, or in all 
 that is within their own breafts, no hu- 
 man laws can, with any juftice, or ought 
 in any degree to intermeddle. 
 
 Thefe are principles, which are fo felf- 
 evident, I think, that they will fcarce be 
 controverted by the fenfible and difcern- 
 ing part of mankind : and they are fo ve- 
 ry general too, that they will apply to all 
 ranks and focieties of men. - 
 
 Nations, however, as well as indivi- 
 duals, have very different notions of right 
 and of wrong ; of what is ufeful, and of 
 what is hurtful; and, therefore, of civil 
 liberty alfo. So that in framing laws and 
 rules for the right government of any na- 
 tion or people, if we are defirous of ren- 
 dering them in any degree happy and con- 
 tent j their notions of right and wrong, 
 of what is ufeful and hurtful, or of civil 
 liberty in general, muft be attended to; 
 and that not in a fuperficial and flight 
 manner, but with the minuteft care and 
 
 exact-
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 exactnefs. In fhort, their difpofitions 
 and humours muft be known ; their reli- 
 gion, prejudices, and fancies; alfo the 
 virtues and vices they are moft prone 
 to, before any thing can be done with 
 propriety in a matter of fuch delicacy and 
 nicenefs. But the notions and difpofi- 
 tions, as well as the religion, prejudices, 
 virtues, and vices, are fo very different 
 with the people of Bengal, from what 
 they are with the people here, that to 
 think the Britifti laws, or Britim fyftem 
 of government, though the very beft in 
 the world perhaps, could make them im- 
 mediately peaceable and happy, is abfurd 
 and contradictory to the clearest and moft 
 evident principles of human nature. And 
 if it be afked, how then is a fyftem of 
 laws to be formed for. them ? or are they 
 to be left, as they now are, to the difcre- 
 tion, and at the mercy of their mafters, 
 which fome would call their tyrants r 
 Their condition, to be fure, at prefent, 
 is deplorable, having in a great meafure 
 lofl the advantages, while they preferve 
 all the difadvantages of a defpotic and ab- 
 
 iblute
 
 folute government. For while their cuf- 
 toms, which were in the nature of laws 
 to them, are fet at nought; and that thofe 
 who were their rulers formerly, are now 
 deprefled, fwarms of little tyrants muft 
 of courfe ftart up every where, under ve- 
 ry little controul; which, of all tyrants, 
 are the mofl cruel and oppreffive. As to 
 the Englifh law, which has been intro- 
 duced into fome of our principal fettle- 
 ments, it is my firm opinion, that the na- 
 tives there would have been greatly bet- 
 ter without it. 
 
 It is, however, inconfiftent with the 
 wifdom and equity, it is greatly inconli- 
 ilent with the real intereft of the Britim 
 nation, to leave them in the condition 
 they now are. And it remains then only 
 to be determined, how, by whom, and 
 in what manner things are moft likely to 
 be redined, fo that a regular government 
 {hall be fixed and eftablifhed, on a fettled 
 and folid foundation. 
 
 That the Britim legiflature cannot fo 
 very properly be the immediate agents 
 in this, will appear pretty evident, I ima- 
 gine
 
 ( '5 ) 
 
 glne, from the principles here already 
 laid down. For notwithftanding all the 
 numerous accounts and informations they 
 have had, of the nature, difpofitions, 
 &c. of thofe diftant people; yet, I am 
 clearly of opinion, they are far, very far, 
 from having fuch jufl and diftinct no- 
 tions of thofe affairs, as might enable 
 them to form a true and right judgment 
 in a matter of fo much importance. The 
 fame objection will equally hold good 
 ag'inft the Eaft India Company, or their 
 Court of Directors, being intruded with 
 fuch a bufmefs; over and above what 
 might be faid, in their having, onfeveral 
 occafions, (hewn fo ilrong an inclination 
 to heap pqwer upon their fervants abroad, 
 without, perhaps, fufficiently confider- 
 ing, as is alledged, the confequences to 
 themfelves, or to the countries which 
 were under their dominion. The Britifh 
 legiflature, however, mould, without all 
 manner of doubt, I think, be the ulti- 
 mate judges and eflabliQiers of whatever 
 fyftem mould be adopted j as it would 
 be both the moft for the honour of the 
 
 nation,
 
 ( 16 ) 
 
 nation, and for the advantage of all con- 
 cerned. And as to the ground, on which 
 I would propofe that they fliould fix their 
 opinion, it mould be this : 
 
 There {hould be two, .or more perfons, 
 if thought neceffary, fent to India, on this 
 very account alone : there, that is in Ben- 
 gal, to remain during the fpace of twoyears, 
 at leafl ; to infpect every thing which 
 might in any ways tend to make them 
 perfect mafters of what they were fent up- 
 on. And in the courfe of that time, they 
 ihould not only apply themfelves diligent- 
 ly to their getting all kind of ufeful infor- 
 mation, but they mould go on likewife, 
 in forming a fyftem of regulations and 
 rules, for the correcting of abufe, and 
 right government of the country -, which, 
 when completed, at the expiration of the 
 time ftipulated, mould be brought home, 
 and laid before the legiflature and pub- 
 lic, to be approved or rejected, either in 
 part or in whole, agreeable to the good- 
 fenfe and equity, that (hould appear in 
 all, and in every part of it. And to en- 
 able the Britim legiflature and public the 
 
 better
 
 ( '7 ) 
 
 better to judge of the performance, and 
 of the propriety, or impropriety of the fy- 
 item in general, and of each law in parti- 
 cular; the perfons who were fent, along 
 with their laws and fyftem, fhould give 
 their reafons in the moll: full and diftindt 
 manner, both on the general plan, and on. 
 each particular regulation, which people 
 here otherwife might not. fo readily 
 comprehend. 
 
 But there being many things, with re- 
 fpecl: to the revenue, and with regard to 
 trade, of which hereafter, that might im- 
 mediately be rectified; they ought to have 
 full power and authority to rectify thofe 
 upon the fpot, by their orders and direc* 
 tions to the governor and council, which 
 thefe fhould be inftructed to obey. What 
 was to be performed by them in this man- 
 ner, however, ought to be pointed out to 
 them as clearly and diftinclly as poffi- 
 ble, or as the nature of the thing would 
 allow ; that more might not be left to 
 their difcretion, than what was abfolutely 
 fleceffary for the good of the Company, 
 D and
 
 and of the people whom they were fent 
 to relieve. 
 
 Thofe to be fent, on fuch an occaflon, 
 ought to be perfons of the moft approved 
 integrity, induftrious, and difcerning. To 
 be acquainted with the country, and with 
 the affairs of the Company there, are 
 requifites llkewife, which, I imagine, will 
 appear abfolutely neceffary. It may be 
 faid, that they ought to be lawyers alfo, 
 bred and pra&ifed in the courts here. 
 But although their being men of letters, 
 acquainted with civil law, with the laws 
 of Britain, and the practice of the courts 
 here, would moft certainly be of great uti- 
 lity to them in the execution of fuch a 
 work j yet the knowledge of the law 
 alone, fuch as is ufually learned in Weft- 
 minfter-hall, could fcarcely, I think, ! 
 render them entirely fit for fuch an under- 
 taking. Were there three going out 
 therefore, I would propofe, that one of 
 them mould be an intelligent lawyer, 
 who had been ufed to practice ; provided 
 alfo, he was of good character, as to pro- 
 bity and integrity : qualities, which are 
 
 of
 
 ( '9 ) 
 
 of rnuch greater confcquence, both in this* 
 and in moft affairs of life, than the ut- 
 moft knowledge, either in law, or in any 
 thing elfe indeed. 
 
 It would, no doubt, be right, that they 
 fhould be put upon the moft refpeftable 
 footing, to enable them to difcharge effec- 
 tually and properly, the duty that they were 
 fent upon. I would therefore propofe, that 
 they fhould be named by the Company, 
 as their fupervifors, whofe expence 
 fhould be bore, and who fhould have 
 fuitable falaries, affigned them, they not 
 being allowed to trade in any refpeft. 
 It fhould farther, I think, be fignified to 
 them, that, as a reward for their merit 
 and induftry, if, upon their return home, 
 it fhould be found they had executed 
 their commiflion with probity, difcretion, 
 and judgment, they mould have penfions 
 allowed them for life, with fome honour- 
 ary mark of the Company's approbation 
 and regard. 
 
 From fuch an arrangement, and if the 
 
 inftru&ions were clear and diftindt, the 
 
 people who were fent would have no kind 
 
 of temptation, and would even have it al- 
 
 D 2 moft
 
 niofl out of their power to do mifchief i 
 Whereas, were they men of fenfe and dif- 
 cretion, they would have it greatly in 
 their power to do good j and to acquire 
 both profit and high renown to them- 
 felves, the ftrongeft incitements in the 
 human mind to induftry and the mod 
 noble aclions. Alfo the people whom 
 they went to relieve, would be happy in 
 the thoughts of the advantages they were 
 foon likely to obtain j and that there was 
 fo near a profpedl of their eafe and relief* 
 They would be doubly fo, were they to 
 find that men of fenfe, and of prudence, 
 who could enter fomewhat, and have a 
 proper fympathy for their prejudices, with 
 regard to their religion and cuftoms, were 
 to have the primary moving and conduct- 
 ing fo laudable an intention. And the 
 rnen of fenfe amongft them again, would, 
 of courfe, naturally open their minds up- 
 on fuch an occafion ; which would refiecT: 
 light, and be of infinite ufe in promoting 
 the general good. 
 
 The great objection to the fending fu- 
 pervifors, on the plan formerly adopted, 
 
 was
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 Was the exorbitant power given them, 
 and the too little care that was taken to 
 point out to them, what either they were 
 to have done, or what they were not to 
 have done ; fo that they were left with a 
 dictatorial and abfolute authority, without 
 control, both to make and to execute 
 laws. For although it be alledged, that 
 they were juft and good men who were 
 pitched upon on that occafion ; yet it be- 
 ing univerfally known, that the very bed 
 men who ever have been, and who ever 
 will be perhaps, have their paffions and 
 foibles j and that there is not a readier 
 way in the world to fpoil a real good man* 
 than by giving him exceffive power; fo 
 there is no wonder, therefore, that fuch 
 a fcheme of fupcrviforfhip hould have 
 been totally difapproved of by many fen- 
 fible and judicious people. With the al- 
 terations, however, and on the plan that 
 is here propofed, it is perhaps the only 
 good method, that can ever be made ef- 
 feftual to anfwer fo defirable an end. 
 
 As to the plan lately propofed, offending 
 judges, it appears to me, and to many 
 
 others,
 
 others, I believe, to be much woffe thail 
 the former, with all the objections to it 
 on its firft eftablifliment. For in fending 
 people of great knowledge in the law 
 from this, they muft either have been in- 
 firucted to have judged by the laws of this 
 country, or elfe they inuft have been per- 
 mitted to have formed a fet of laws for 
 themfelvesj and that in a country they 
 were unacquainted with ; where, at pre- 
 fent, there is either no law, or no written 
 law at leaft. But if the former of thofe 
 methods had been adopted, it would have 
 been entirely incompatible with the reli- 
 gion, cuftoms, and difpofitions of the peo- 
 ple. Over and above, that many new re- 
 gulations muft have taken place, to alter 
 the whole fyftem of the country, before 
 that any fuch thing could have taken ef- 
 fect. If the latter had been preferred, 
 which I believe was intended, they muft 
 have been fent both with legiflative and 
 judicial authority; which would have 
 been entirely repugnant to all the princi- 
 ples of civil liberty, or to any hopes we 
 could ever poffibly entertain of doing juf- 
 
 tice
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 tice to the wretched inhabitants ; which 
 every body in this country feems now to 
 have fo much at heart. So, to me, it ap- 
 pears evident, that the judges who are 
 there already, mould we even fuppofe 
 them as bad as they have been by Tome re- 
 prefented to be, which I am far from 
 thinking is the cafe; yet, being bred, and 
 having lived fo many years in the country, 
 they might ftill be looked upon as greatly 
 more fit to be intruded with fuch a power, 
 than people fent immediately from hence, 
 unacquainted with the cuiloms of Bengal, 
 and defirous, therefore, very probably, 
 to reduce every thing to their ideas of Bri- 
 tifh liberty, which I am certain could 
 have no good effect. 
 
 It may be here afked, perhaps, why 
 may not thofe gentlemen, who are there 
 already, many of whom, the prefent go- 
 vernor efpecially, are well known, and, 
 I know myfelf, to be men of great worth 
 and integrity, do all that is requifite in 
 the propoled plan ? And how comes it 
 about, that things in fo mort a time, un- 
 der their, or their predeceffors govern- 
 ments,
 
 ments, mould have actually grown, and 
 feem daily to be growing fo much worfe ? 
 
 As to the former of thefe queftions, 
 that they mould not be,fo fit as could be 
 wimed, will appear from the principles 
 which I have above laid down j befides, 
 that they have many other avocations, 
 which muft fully employ their attention, 
 if executed to purpofe. It muft be obferv- 
 ed, likewife, that they have been bred 
 up in the fervice, and are now the fer- 
 vants of the Company, whom the propof- 
 ed regulations would principally affect. 
 Many of them too, perhaps, have been 
 long accuftomed to think, that power, 
 without control, was of the greateft be- 
 nefit both to them and the community. 
 It being but too much the te mper of man- 
 kind, to defire power to themfelves, and 
 thofe of their own feel, although they 
 might be anxious enough, and very clear- 
 ly fee, the propriety of reftraining it in eve- 
 ry body elfe. 
 
 How that things mould have grown fo 
 much worfe, and mould feem daily to be 
 tending the fame way, is a matter that 
 
 re-
 
 Requires a longer difcuffion, and is riot 
 quite fb eafy to be made evident. As it 
 is a matter, however, of th'e greatefi im- 
 portance to know j and as it would throw 
 new light on what I am afraid is at prefent 
 hot quite fo clear, nbtwithftanding what 
 Has been fo fenfibly faid on the fubject by 
 others; I mall endeavour, in as few words 
 as poffible, and in the beft manner I can, 
 to point out what appears to me the prin- 
 cipal and efficient caufes ; and, I hope, 
 the true flate of the matter alfo. Were 
 the difeafe once rightly known and un- 
 derftood indeed, the remedy, rio doubt, 
 might more eaiily be inveftigated. Where- 
 as, the attempting a cure, without firft 
 thoroughly being acquainted with the 
 difeafe, is acting but as ign6rant quacks, 
 who apply their noftrums to all patients 
 alike, without diftiridtiori either of con- 
 ftitution or difeafe. 
 
 The univerfal cry, and what has gene- 
 rally been afligned as the caufe of all the 
 evils complained of, is the bad manage- 
 ment of the Rulers in Bengal, and the bad 
 management of the Rulers in Leaden- 
 E hall-
 
 hall-ftreet. That effects muft flow from 
 caufes, and that bad management will 
 produce evils, is clear and evident to eve- 
 ry body. But, effects being feen and felt, 
 when caufes are hid j and it being much 
 eafier to point out where there is bad 
 management, than to lay down a rational 
 and juft plan of doing better > fo all men, 
 almoft from the higheft to the loweft, 
 looking upon themfelves as wife enough 
 to direct others, and having, in their 
 ewn minds, medicines, as it were, for the 
 cure of all difeafes, which they arequick- 
 fighted enough in difcovering; when 
 things do not exactly go to their fancies, 
 they immediately fee mifrnanagement; to 
 which their firft and univerfal remedy is,, 
 that the phyfickns {hould be changed. 
 What they would probably next propofe r 
 if they du-rft, without berng laughed at, 
 is, that they themfelves {hould be put in 
 their pkce. For my own part, however* 
 on the moft drift and impartial confidera- 
 tion of the matter, I am far from think- 
 ing, that either the gentlemen ofLeaden- 
 or that thofe who have had 
 
 the
 
 ( 27 ) 
 
 the more immediate management of Ben- 
 gal of late, are fuch bafe and cruel ty- 
 rants, as by fome they have been endea- 
 voured to be reprefented. As to the for- 
 mer, indeed, except a very few, they are 
 but little known to me. As to the latter, 
 I am perfonally acquainted with every 
 one of them, and can declare, that fo far 
 as I am able to judge, they are in general 
 men of as good principles, and of as libe- 
 ral ways of thinking, as any fet of men 
 whatfoever. That both the one and the 
 other, have not a<5ted impoliticly and harfli- 
 ly towards individuals, at times, is what 
 I will not pretend to fay ; as I know it to 
 beotherwile; having myfelf felt, andfe- 
 verely felt, the effedls of their rigour, 
 and, as I thought, very ill-judged policy. 
 Which I complained of, and loudly com- 
 plained of, to themfelves ; but to very lit- 
 tle purpofe, and without any kind of re- 
 drefs. 
 
 i do not admit, however, that the evils 
 complained of, have been altogether, or * 
 even in greateft part, owing to the mif- 
 :, and many enormous vices as is 
 E 2 alleged
 
 alleged of the rulers and directors. But 
 they have arofe from fortuitous caufes in 
 a great meafure; and from people who 
 had different views and ideas of things, 
 Succeeding quickly one another j apply- 
 ing partial and ineffectual remedies ; and 
 fometimes remedies, indeed, which pro- 
 duced effects, the very oppofite of what 
 were expected and intended. A very re- 
 markable inftance of which occurs, in the 
 altering the nature of the coin ; which, 
 though principally pr.opofed, and effectu- 
 ated by one, who I both take to be an. 
 honeft, a.ntf a fenfible man ; yet it has 
 been productive of more evils, than any 
 one thing whatsoever; and evils too, 
 which I am perfuaded will be felt for 
 years yet. Notwithstanding, even of th,e 
 very fenfible and judicious plan, which, I 
 am glad to find, is now about to be adopt- 
 ed, in order to rectify and eftablim, on a 
 juft and fojid bafis, a matter of fuch ef- 
 fential importance. Another caufe like- 
 y/ife, which cannot furely be called acci- 
 dental; has been, what in my humble opi- 
 nion, was the bad policy on the one hand, 
 
 9f
 
 pf fending the money out^and, on tho 
 pther, of hindering the money to come in-? 
 to Bengal. The former having been done 
 avowedly, and by orders from home too, 
 to a very coniiderable extent, over and 
 above what was exported by foreign na- 
 tions ; while the other was effectuated by 
 means of the large fums of money given 
 to ftrangers, which hindered their bringing 
 in what they muft otherwife have been 
 neceffitated to do. For though it may be 
 alledged, that it was at a time when the 
 Company were greatly in debt, and could' 
 not, therefore, otherwife have raifed the 
 money for their China inveftments, for 
 the fupply of their other fettlements, and 
 for the large draughts that muft elfe have 
 been made upoq them, had they opened 
 their cam fpr remittances. Yet it being 
 here my intention, only to point out the 
 cauies of the diftrefs in Bengal, I mall but 
 briefly remark, that this furely has been 
 none of the fmalleft. 
 
 But a real accidental evil, which created 
 the crueleft mifery and diftrefs that ever 
 \vas felt perhaps in any country, was the 
 
 two
 
 { 3 ) 
 
 two years fevere famine, owing to the fail- 
 ure of the crops. And yet this too, tho* 
 mofl evidently and confpicuoufly the work 
 of Providence alofte, has been in a great 
 meafure laid to the account of the unfor- 
 tunate rulers ; for it has been confidently 
 averred, that they contributed, at leaft, 
 greatly to encreafe it, by hoarding up the 
 rice in their granaries, and obliging the 
 people, dying with hunger, to pay an ex- 
 travagant price for it. But, unluckily for 
 thofe who aflert this, while they {hew 
 more of malice than of judgment and 
 charity j like moft others actuated by fo 
 unworthy a paffion, they make ufe of an 
 argument, which, though admitted in its 
 fulled extent, muft only ferve to prove the 
 very reverfe of what they intended to 
 prove. For although the fat were even 
 true, which may greatly, I think, be 
 doubted of; or, if they did buy up rice, 
 and keep it till it became dear, was this 
 either more or lefs, than obliging the 
 thoughtlefs multitude, to become fooner 
 and greater ceconomifts than they otherr 
 \yife would have t>een ; the means, of 
 
 courfe,
 
 ( 3' J 
 
 Couffe, of making their fcanty allowance 
 hold out the longer, and of faving thereby 
 the lives of many thoufands. 
 
 Another accidental caufe, and a great 
 one too, of the late diftreffes in Bengal, 
 has been owing, as 1 hinted above, from 
 the change of the police that has imper- 
 ceptibly arofe from the change of govern- 
 ment ; for formerly a nabob, who had 
 abfolute power, could upon any complaint, 
 and would have been feldom very back- 
 ward mod probably, to call zemindars or 
 others before him, ftrip them of their ill- 
 acquired wealth, or otherwife to punifh 
 them, according to the nature of their 
 offence. Zemindars, and other infe- 
 rior officers again, had alike power over 
 thofe who were under them. Now, how- 
 ever, things are quite different -, for where 
 an Englilhman refides, a zemindar, or 
 even a nabob, has fcarcealmoft the (hadow 
 of power left. The Englim and the Eng- 
 }i(h banians, now a days, are the people in 
 Bengal, who keep the nabob, the zemin- 
 dars, and every bodyelfe in the country in 
 awe. What kind of people therefore, 
 thofe banians are, what their office and 
 
 8 Pro
 
 t 30 
 
 profcfliori is, it will be necefTary, I be- 
 lieve, to give fome little account of. 
 
 Banians, then, in general, are a nume- 
 rous fet of people, who are bred up, and 
 apply themfelves from their infancy to the 
 knowledge of accounts; to the art of buy- 
 ing and felling, and of trade. They begin 
 their profetlion ufually in fmall matters, 
 ferving as runners or under-clerks to Ba- 
 nians of greater confequence. Being the 
 clerks over the whole country ^ where there 
 are no Englimmen;- their progrefs is never 
 fo rapid. But in our fettlcmerrts; as no 
 man aimed, who has the fmalleft matter 
 to lay out is without his banian,- fo their 
 fir ft exhibition there is commonly in-a dou- 
 ble capacity, both, to wit, in that of ferv- 
 ing fome other banian, and in ferving Eu- 
 ropeans when they firft arrive, when their 
 layings-out are not very great. Their 
 profits, it may thus be imagined, can, at 
 firft, be but fmall then. The knowledge 
 they in this way acquire, however, of the 
 tempers and difpofitions of our country- 
 men, as well as of our language, is ever after 
 of the greateft confequence to them ; 
 
 for,'
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 tor, if by affiduity and attention, or by any 
 more unworthy means, they can but re- 
 commend themfelves to one in the Com- 
 pany's fervice, or, to any one who can re- 
 commend them to a young gentleman in 
 the fervice as he arrives, their fortunes are, 
 as it were, made. For their mafters, if they 
 do but live, and are not very bad indeed, 
 muft infallibly rife to power $ when their 
 banians, of courfe, cannot fail to become 
 rich and great men. Even in the fervice 
 of other banians, they often have the art 
 and addrefs to tranfplant their mafters, get 
 them turned off, and place themfelves in 
 their ftead. It is no uncommon thing, 
 therefore, to fee one of thofe, who was 
 but the other day a dirty fellow, at a few 
 rupees a month, and with fcarce a whole 
 gown to his back, become fuddenly, and 
 all at once as it were, a man of power, au- 
 thority, and riches, giving law perhaps to 
 half a province, and attended too with a 
 furprifing retinue of fervants, and others 
 of his own caft, whofe principles and edu- 
 cation are like his own ; fo that they are 
 ever ready to obey his nod ; and to do, or 
 F even
 
 r w ) s 
 
 even to fwear what he pleafes. Ancf if ft* 
 fhould fo happen, that the mafter mould? 
 rile to be a governor or a great man, like 
 a Sykes, the banian, of courfe, becomes a 
 man of far greater confequenee than the 
 poor nabob ; nay, perhaps, of much more 
 confequenee and authority alfo, that is,, 
 with the natives, than even the matter 
 himfelf. But to have people of fuch prin- 
 ciples, as thofe muft be imagined to be 
 from their education and office, in the 
 higheft departments of an abfolute go- 
 vernment, it may, I think, be conceived,, 
 that the confequences will be of the very 
 worft ki-nd> many cruel inftances of which,' 
 might here be fet fopth; but that is fo- 
 reign to my purpofc.- 
 
 Another evil, which may be called ac- 
 cidental, arifes alfo from the change in the 
 government, by which things are become 
 greatly worfe for the people, than what 
 they were under their own native fove- 
 reigns ; and this I apprehend to proceed 
 from that cf their prefent rulers being- 
 merchants, and merchants too under no 1 
 check- or control, whofe bufinefs and 
 
 trade.
 
 < S5 ) 
 
 trade is carried on under the care and 
 management of their worthy and upright 
 banians ; people whom I have known not 
 fcruple to make ufe of the troops of the 
 Company, for the purpofes of buying and 
 felling to advantage for themfelves and 
 their matters -, and that without ever 
 troubling, or, perhaps, even afking the 
 permimon of their indulgent lords onfo 
 flight an occafion, who, it may be well 
 imagined, would, in return, be not over 
 anxious to be troubled with Jrivolous com- 
 plaints againft fuch faithful and induftrious 
 fervants. 
 
 Another, and a very principal caufe of 
 the grievances complained of, which can- 
 not altogether be called an accidental 
 caufe, though, in fome refpects, it really is 
 fo, arifes, as I take it, from the unjufl 
 and impolitic ufe of duftucs, perwanas* 
 and chowkeys. But, the better to make 
 the Englifh reader comprehend this, it 
 will be firft neceflary to explain fomewhat 
 of the nature and ufe of thofe, and that 
 ymh refpeft to the former and prefent 
 ftate of the government ; from whick 
 F 2 alone,
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 alone, the effects they muft now naturally 
 produce will appear pretty evident. 
 
 To begin with the laft of them j chow- 
 keys are little cuftom-houfes all over the 
 country, under each zemindar, where du- 
 ties formerly were, and now are collected 
 in an arbitrary and oppreflive manner. 
 The duties collected belong to the zemin- 
 dar who rents the diftrict, as part of the 
 emoluments of the land, while, in his ac- 
 founts with the government, an allow- 
 ance is made to him, to fupport the ex- 
 pence of the chowkey or chowkeys which 
 he either does, or is fuppofed to keep up. 
 This charge is certainly a heavy article 
 upon government ; and that it is a great 
 hurt to trade is moft manifeft, which is 
 taken notice of by Mr. Sykes, in his letter 
 of the 3ift of October, 1765, as quoted 
 by Mr. Bolts. He writes there, indeed, 
 of regulating this affair; but whether 
 there has been any thing effectual done 
 in it as yet, is what I very much doubt of. 
 Perwanas, again, though in general 
 fignifying orders, and as fuch compre- 
 hending duftucs alfo ; yet are here meant
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 in a more confined fenfe, and as orders 
 of protection and affiftance, formerly 
 granted by the nabobs to banians, dalals, 
 and merchants. They were directed to 
 zemindars, or other officers, command^ 
 pg them to be aiding and affifting to the 
 bearer, whether in buying or felling of 
 goods. Perwanas arc now granted for 
 like purpofes, by the governor of Calcutta, 
 and by the Englifh chiefs, or fubordinate 
 governors, within their cwn diftricts and 
 jurifdictions. Thefe, however, have more 
 pr lefs effect, according to the power anct 
 authority of {he perfon, by whom, and 
 pn whofe account, they are granted. 
 
 Duftucs, are pafTports, or orders for 
 paffing the goods or merchandife therein 
 fpecified, duty free, without let or molef- 
 tation from all chowkeys. This power 
 was formerly exercifed by the nabobs a- 
 lone; and tha{ probably very fparingly, till 
 about the year 1716, that the Company 
 got their Grand Firmaun, as it is called, 
 from the emperor ; fmce which, their 
 duftucs in Bengal, have, in general, had 
 {he effect of paffing both their own 
 
 goods, 
 
 354655
 
 ( 38 ) 
 
 goods, and thofe of their fervants, duty- 
 free. They have been obliged, indeed, 
 to make confiderable prefents,- from time 
 to time, to the nabobs on this account, 
 over and above the annual payment to the 
 emperor, as ftipulated in their Firmaun. 
 
 That duftucs and perwanas then, in 
 former times, mould have been of the 
 greateft confequence to the Company, and 
 well worth the fums that were expended 
 to obtain the power of granting them, 
 will appear on the flighted reflection. 
 And that the indulgence then given to 
 their fervants, was but juft and reafonable, 
 can no ways be doubted. They were 
 then only traders, and their fervants were 
 the fame. Even their trade too was con- 
 fined within narrow limits, and that of 
 their fervants was but very inconfiderable. 
 To get their goods, therefore, fold, and 
 to be allowed to buy others, without be*- 
 ing fubject to the avarice and caprice of 
 every petty officer, was certainly of the 
 greateft confequence, both to them, and 
 to their fervants. Now, however, that 
 they are become the fovereigns of the 
 
 country.
 
 country, and that their fervants are their 
 deputies and merchants too, whofe paf- 
 fion for riches* and ambition does not ap- 
 pear to be lefs than that of the reft of 
 mankind ; to allow them fuch a privilege, 
 to the hurt of themfelves, and ruin of 
 their other fubjefts, is, no doubt, impoli- 
 tic, and ruinous in the higheft degree. It 
 is the policy of every wife government, 
 indeed, to treat all their peaceable fubjects 
 as nearly alike as poffible; and to render 
 the intercourfe between the people of the 
 fame country, as eafy and commodious as 
 can- be. But alas ! the prefent policy in 
 Bengal is the very reverie of this > in fo- 
 much, that goods, the very neceffaries of 
 life, even rice itfelf, is often fold a hun- 
 dred per cent, dearer at one place than an- 
 other, though at not above a day's journey 
 diftance. Yet this, fure, can be imput- 
 ed to nothing elfe, than to the impolitic 
 and oppreffive ufe of chowkeys, duftucs, 
 and perwanas. It may be faid, perhaps, 
 that were thefe taken away, and it has 
 been fo faid, I know, that it would then 
 not be worth the while of gentlemen to 
 
 * be
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 t>e in the fervice of the Company in Ben- 
 gal. This, however, I deny j though this, 
 I am fenfible, is the only grand impedi- 
 ment, which ever can at all, and which 
 actually, I believe, ftands now in the way 
 of an alteration and improvement. But 
 if ever it will bear to be debated, whether 
 the intereft of the Company, or that of 
 the fervants of the Company, ought mod 
 to be attended to -, or whether the very 
 being and profperity of a rich and popu- 
 lous country, ought to be put in competi- 
 tion with that of a few individuals, I may 
 drop the argument ; it being an argu- 
 ment, I am perfuaded, which can be no- 
 where maintained, but in the meridian of 
 Calcutta ; where, it is true, I have often 
 heard it done. Here, therefore, I think* 
 that fupervifors might be ufefully employ- 
 ed, and greatly fo too ; and in a bufinefs 
 which I am of opinion can never be well 
 performed without them. Nay, were 
 they but to be fent on this alone, and that 
 they mould execute it with propriety and 
 judgment, the Company would be great 
 gainers, were they even to pay them dou- 
 * ble
 
 ( 4' ) 
 
 ble of what was intended for their former 
 fupervifors ; for it appears to me evident, 
 that unlefs regular cuilom-houfes are efta- 
 bliflied, in place of the numberlefs and 
 oppretTive chowkeys; ami that duftucs 
 and perwanas, in trade, (hall be abfolutely 
 taken away ; and that by people upon the 
 fpot, who (hall have an authority fupe- 
 riour to that of the governour and coun- 
 cil fo to do y they are abufes, that are 
 Jikely ever to remain, till the country be 
 either ruined or taken from us. Being 
 thoroughly convinced, that fo fure as 
 this is a meafure repugnant to the imme- 
 diate intereft of the gentlemen in the fer- 
 vice there, fo fure alfo will it ever be 
 oppoied -, as it partly already has been, I 
 believe, in fpite of the moil poiitive or- 
 ders of their did. nt fuperiors to the 
 contrary. Or, were they ever even to 
 pretend to execute it, it would be done 
 only in fuch a manner, I am afraid, as to 
 have the appearance of obedience, while 
 the evils complained of, would, in effecl, 
 be left unredrefled. 
 
 G Were
 
 ( 4' ) 
 
 Were the regulations propofed,refpe'Hng 
 chowkeys, duftucs, and perwanas, to take 
 places it may be thought, perhaps, that 
 befides many other advantages, it would 
 be a means alfo of altering the late adopt- 
 ed policy of the Court of Directors, in 
 that of fo much hindering people out of 
 their fervice, from going to fettle to trade 
 in Bengal. This, however, to me, does 
 not appear quite fo evident. Nay, I am 
 rather inclined to think, on the mo ft ma- 
 ture and impartial consideration of the 
 matter, that, except at Calcutta, none but 
 thofe, either mediately or immediately in 
 the fervice of the Company, ought to be 
 permitted to refide in Bengal. 
 
 Europeans, and natives of Bengal, are 
 of a complexion different in mind, no lefs 
 than in bodyj timid and fubmiffive thefe; 
 violent and impetuous the others. That 
 no-laws could, with any propriety, put 
 them upon an equality, is abfolutely 
 clear therefore ; while it is no lefs evi- 
 dent, that, were it even poffible to enact 
 fuch, they would both be impolitic and 
 highly detrimental to our intereft there. 
 
 Bat
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 But fubje&s of the fame ftate, and under 
 the fame fovereigns, ought, no doubt, to 
 be treated as much as poffible with the 
 fame lenity and companion too. The pe- 
 nal laws, therefore, of all countries, I be- 
 lieve, arTecl every body alike almoft ; re- 
 gard only being had to their feveral fta- 
 tions and dependencies. Yet, to put pri- 
 vate Britim fubjedls and merchants on a 
 footing, as to penal laws, with the na- 
 tives of Bengal, even the higheft amongft 
 them, could never furely be ; without 
 either making the penal laws nugatory and 
 ineffectual, with reipeft to them, or elie 
 treating Britifh fubje&s in a manner, 
 which, I hope, no Briton mall ever be 
 made liable, or expofed to. To think, 
 however, if they could even be put on fuch 
 a footing, as to penal laws, that they 
 would be fo in reality, as merchants and 
 fubjecls, is what no man, I apprehend, 
 will imagine, who knows any thing of the 
 nature of Bengal, and of the temper of 
 the people there. For it is well known, 
 to thole who have been in that country, 
 that all Europeans, and more efpecially 
 G 2 Englifh-
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 Englishmen, are looked upon by the na- 
 tives like people of a higher order and 
 rankof men. A way of thinking, which 
 it will ever be happy -for us, and the 
 greatefl good policy, to preferve and in- 
 culcate. But they, who are looked upon 
 by others in fuch a light j were they even 
 more modeft and prudent, than what we 
 can well ever fuppofe them to be, or, 
 than what the generality of thofe who 
 have been there already, have ever (hewn 
 themfelves to be ; full, however, they 
 would carry an awe and fuperiority with 
 them, incontlftent with equals, and which 
 none but fuperiours and matters mould 
 be endowed with. Were there nume- 
 rous independent Europeans, therefore, 
 in the interiour parts of the country, they 
 could fcarce ever be prevented from com- 
 mitting ads of tyranny and oppreffion ; 
 which could not fail to give uneafinefs, 
 baffle, and contravene all the beft laid 
 ichemes of reformation and good policy 
 that pofiibly could be thought of. 
 
 Few very great conveniencies can ever 
 be obtained, without ibme inconv-enien- 
 
 cies.
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 cies. So, although the v^elfare of indivU 
 duals, is, no doubt,- of the greateft confe- 
 quence to the nation ; yet, it being an 
 univerfally approved maxim, that the 
 prosperity and well-being of a few, ought 
 ever to give way to the good of the 
 whole j I am therefore confident, if it 
 fnould appear from what has been here 
 laid, or from j after rea Tons, that the let- 
 ting a few private peribns go to Bengal to 
 make fortunes, will be a hurt and detri- 
 ment to the nation ; it will, furely, both 
 Le thought prudent, and politic, to debar 
 them of this advantage, that multitudes 
 may pro/per and be happy. Whereas, if 
 the contrary can be made appear, it will 
 certainly give me, and every one who 
 wifhes well to his country, and is a friend 
 to mankind, the greateft pleafure and fa- 
 tisfation. 
 
 If it mould be afked, however, that, as 
 there mud be penal laws, and Britiih laws, 
 for thole in the fervice of the Company, 
 why may not the fame be extended with 
 equal propriety and fitnefs to every other 
 uatural born fubjcct of his uiajeiVw who 
 
 might
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 might chufe to rcfide in any part of Ben- 
 gal ? My anfwer to it is, that though 
 there is no doubt, but what there mutt be 
 fuch laws, yet I would propofe, that 
 they fhould be executed at Calcutta only, 
 as is now practifed; where private Euro- 
 pean merchants, as I have faid, might be 
 allowed to refide ; which would no ways 
 interfere with the laws and policy of the 
 country government ; and could, there- 
 fore, no ways be productive of the fup- 
 pofed inconveniencies. That private peo- 
 ple, on application to the governor, on 
 account of their health, or otherwife, 
 fhould have leave to go to any fubordinate 
 fettlement, where there was an English 
 chief, to whofe orders, with refpect to 
 removing, they fhould agree, and promife 
 to conform to, is but juft and reasonable, 
 and could never fure be denied them. 
 Yet, after all, it may greatly be doubted, 
 I think, notwithstanding what has been 
 confidently aiTerted by many, whether or 
 not the permiffion, fo much contended 
 for, would be of that advantage to En- 
 gJifli free-merchants, in the way of fair- 
 traders,
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 traders, as is alleged and "pretended. To 
 me it appears otherwife, provided it 
 fhould ever fo happen, as I hope it foon 
 will, that the trade (hall every where be 
 laid open, and be made free to the natives ; 
 without their being either harraficd and 
 plundered by chovvkeys, or their requir- 
 ing perwanas and dullucs, for the free 
 purchafe and tranfport of their goods. 
 For in this cafe I am perfuaded, that goods 
 of all kinds, the produce of Bengal -, as 
 alio thofe which come in upon the fron- 
 tiers, would then be fold much cheaper in 
 Calcutta, than were Europeans to go 
 themfelves to purchafe them ; it being 
 well known in that country, that no Eu- 
 ropeans of any fort could travel, at any 
 thing near fo fmall a charge and expence 
 as the natives. As to felling goods in the 
 interiour parts, the fame argument muft 
 hold good. So that, in reality, I believe, 
 the only profitable trade for Englim free- 
 merchants, cou-d only be at Calcutta, in. 
 exports and imports to and from other 
 parts of India. A trade, which properly 
 conducted, would be advantageous to 
 
 them-
 
 themfelves, to the Company, and to Ben- 
 gal in general ; and which therefore 
 ought, by all means, to be encouraged. 
 
 The next and latr, cafe of the griev- 
 ances, fo much complained of, which I 
 fhall here take notice of, is with regard 
 to the revenue, and the oppreffive man- 
 ner of collecting it. Yet, the collection, 
 as I underftand it, is made nearly in the 
 fame manner as what it was formerly : 
 which, though liable, to many (olid and 
 fubiiantial objections, has now that addi- 
 tional clog upon it, of being too much 
 under the influence of EngHm banians. 
 But the mailers of thefe confcientious 
 gentlemen, being daily {Lifting, while 
 the putting out and putting in of zemin- 
 dars, or land renters, is the moit lucra- 
 tive employment that can be had; and it 
 being well known alfo, that few of them 
 are very punctual in their payments; ex- 
 cufe is never wanted, therefore, either to 
 ton out the old, and put others in their 
 places; or even to keep them in, when 
 the money they mould have paid their rent 
 with, is, very probably, bellowed on their 
 
 worthy
 
 
 ( w ) 
 
 worthy friends, the banians. That the 
 rents mould gradually fall fhort then from 
 this caufe alone, which fcarce can be 
 called accidental ; and that the people 
 moil: now be made to fuffer more than 
 ufual oppreflion, will appear pretty evi- 
 dent, without much conjuration, I be- 
 lieve. 
 
 But were once a complete furvey of the 
 lands made, and that the country were 
 properly divided, it would be no very dif- 
 ficult matter, I apprehend, to afTefs each 
 diftricl, and each village indeed, in fuch 
 a manner as that they mould, in fome re- 
 fpedl, have the proportioning of every 
 man's quota amongft themfelves, to be 
 paid into the hands of collectors, who 
 fliould receive a certain falary for their 
 trouble ; and were this once but rightly 
 eftablimed, it would, I am fully perfuaded, 
 be a means of relieving the country great- 
 ly. It would afford handfome falaries to 
 the collectors alfo, yet bring a greater and 
 more certain revenue to the government 
 than what has ever been done before. 
 The people would thus likevvife know 
 H what
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 what they had to pay ; and if too high 
 affefled, on a proper rcprefentation to the 
 board of revenue, could have their griev- 
 ances relieved and redreffed. And it 
 would lead, as 1 imagine, to another mat- 
 ter that would be ofnofmall importance, 
 and that is with regard to the inveflments 
 of the Company ; for, as the manufac- 
 turers are in general the cultivators of 
 the land, the rent of the land, where it 
 could be done, might be taken in goods ; 
 in which cafe foreign nations could not fo 
 well complain either, were the tenants to 
 be hindred from felling goods to any body, 
 till that the rent of their ground had been 
 paid; after which there ought to be open 
 markets, under proper regulations, where 
 every body mould have free liberty, whe- 
 ther to fell or to buy. All which, if once 
 rightly eftahlimed, would be of great be- 
 nefit to the government and eafe to the peo- 
 ple, more efpecially in thefe times, when 
 currency is fo fcarce. That fupervifors, 
 fenfible and difcreet men, would be moil 
 proper to be employed in fuch an affair, 
 will fcarce bear a doubt; many circum- 
 
 ftances
 
 ( 5' ) 
 
 ftances being to be attended to there, 
 which no human prudence and forefight 
 could here ever make us matters of. 
 
 As to the very fenfible and judicious 
 plan propofed by Mr. Dow, which has 
 been enlarged and adopted by Mr. Pattullo, 
 of mak-ing lands property in Bengal, I can 
 fee no kind of rational objection to it ; tho' 
 this no doubt can only be done properly 
 and effe&ually by an immediate aft of 
 the British legiflature. The Company 
 and the nation, I am perfuaded, would 
 find an infinite advantage from it, and it 
 would make the provinces of Bengal flou- 
 rifh above every ether country in Afia. 
 The execution of it too, to me, under the 
 fanction of a Britifh act of parliament ap- 
 pears both practicable and eafy ; fo that I 
 can fee no reafon to urge why the fuper- 
 vifors mould not either carry with them 
 fuch an act, or that it mould at leaft be 
 fent after them fo foon as ever it can be 
 got properly digefted and patted. 
 
 I have thus endeavoured, in as concife 
 
 nnd diftinct a manner as pofiible, to point 
 
 out what appears to me to have been the 
 
 H 2 caufes,
 
 ( 5' ) 
 
 eauies, or principal caufes, at leaft, of 
 the evils and grievances of late fo much 
 complained of, with refpect to Bengal j 
 with the methods by which they are 
 moil likely to be redreffed, in part or 
 in whole. Yet, after 'all, though thofe 
 have been many and -great perhaps, {till 
 I am not altogether of opinion, that 
 they are as yet fo very defperate and in- 
 curable, as by fome they would be made 
 to be believed. For, while I admit that the 
 people there have of late been rather worfe 
 off than they were formerly under their 
 own native fovereigns, I can at the fame 
 time very clearly perceive, that with a lit- 
 tle juft policy and good management, 
 they may not only foon be relieved, but 
 be put even in a much better fituation 
 than whatever they enjoyed before: it be* 
 ing always meant and underftood, that per- 
 fection, or even a very high degree of per- 
 fection, is what I have never yet profeffed 
 or pretended to. Numerous laws, indeed, 
 would not anfwer the purpofe, fo well as 
 a few clear and diftincl: laws wifely framed 
 and rightly adapted to the meridian of the 
 
 coua-
 
 ( 53 1 
 
 'country. At firft efpecially, it would be 
 of confequence not to vex and perplex 
 them with a wire-drawn ideal fyitem, and 
 multitude of conceits, which could never 
 fail to difguft the generality of a people 
 who are naturally indolent, and whofe 
 minds are not much enlarged ; while it 
 would give an opportunity to the artful 
 and defigning, to practife with advantage 
 the reigning vices of the country, to wit, 
 cheating and deceit. 
 
 What ought firft, and moft necelTarilv 
 to be done, 1 imagine, with regard to laws, 
 would be to finifli thefurvey of the coun- 
 try, if not already completed, and to get 
 as exact an account as poffible of the 
 number of inhabitants, their occupations 
 and profeffions. Pretty juft.computations 
 irright be made of the produce of the 
 ground alfo, if proper methods were taken 
 with that intention. When this were 
 finimed, and that thefe were obtained, 
 it would be no difficult matter to divide 
 and fubdivide the country into proper dif- 
 tricts and diviiions, in which to eftablifli 
 .courts, inferior and fuperior, at proper
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 diftances, terminating at laft in a general 
 provincial court, and in an appeal to Eng- 
 land ; though that only in matters of pro- 
 perty of a certain amount. For thefe 
 courts a written law muft be made, in 
 which will lie all the difficulty, and 
 which, according to my notions of things, 
 could never be done properly and com- 
 pletely unlefs it be begun upon the fpot 
 by people of knowledge and difcretion ; 
 who, for no (hort fpace either, mould give 
 their time and application to an affair of 
 fuch importance, in the way as has been 
 already faid. It will require to be as plain 
 and fimple, but as clear and difiinct as 
 poffible. Much, therefore, will need to 
 be left to the difcretion of the judges, 
 who, for this reafon, ought, no doubt, to 
 be made amenable to fuperior judges, and 
 fo forth to the higher provincial court ; 
 the judges of which may be made anfvver- 
 able for their conduct, not while in office, 
 but before they (ho.uld depart the country. 
 On which account, I think, that both 
 they, and all Europeans in power and fta- 
 tion, (bould not be permitted to leave the 
 
 coun-
 
 ( 55 ) 
 
 country till a certain time after their hav- 
 ing quitted their employments, and their 
 returning to the condition of private per- 
 fons ; fo that none might be afraid to 
 fue, and that either juftice might ob- 
 tained upon them there, or that proofs 
 might be led in a regular manner, fo as 
 to appear againil them elfewhere with 
 
 The people being not naturally fangui- 
 nary in their difpofition, but rather fear- 
 ful and tractable, they eafily and without 
 reluctance fubmit to the will of their 
 matters and rulers, unlefs when puhed 
 too hard ; their ufual remedy for which is 
 to run away to the neareft neighbourhood, 
 where they can have any hopes of being 
 better. Capital punifhments, therefore, 
 mould rarely, very rarely, be inflicted 
 upon them, and that only for a very few 
 crimes ; for, although according to our 
 way of reafoning, they may, perhaps, be 
 juft and right ; yet no reafoning, I am 
 convinced, could ever induce them to 
 think, that fo many capital punimments 
 as are in our laws were at all confident 
 
 with
 
 juftice and humanity. . Where the ufe of 
 juries could be introduced amongft them, 
 it would be of excellent fervice. And with 
 refpecl to property, there is a cuilom of 
 their own, which has long fubfifted with 
 them, which, with great propriety and 
 advantage, might be converted into a law ; 
 and that is with regard' to deciding their 
 differences by way of arbitration. To 
 eftablim this under proper regulations, 
 therefore, fo as not to interfere with their 
 cafts and religions, would both be highly 
 beneficial, and the more grateful, as it 
 would be a law which they had been 
 always, in a manner, accultomed to 
 before. 
 
 As to the trade of fait, beetle-nut, and 
 tobacco, the impolitic management of 
 which, as is alledged, having fo much 
 been the topic of converfation, it may 
 be expected, that in a difquifition of 
 this nature, I mould fay fomething upon 
 it; the rather too as I have not imputed 
 the grievances of Bengal to this caufe, 
 though, I believe, it is here generally un- 
 derftood to have been one, and the very 
 
 prin-
 
 ( 57 ) 
 
 principal one alfo. This too, it may be 
 thought, I have the greater call to do, as 
 I refided long in the country, had dealt 
 very largely myfelf in fair, and that the 
 monopoly fo much complained of put an 
 entire ftop to my trading in that article. 
 
 After all, however, on the moft cool 
 and impartial reflection, I do not think, 
 that the monopoly, as inftituted by lord 
 Clive and the Select Committee, was fo 
 detrimental and ruinous to the country as 
 has been afTerted j nay, I am rather of a 
 contrary opinion ; for thofe articles were 
 not only not fold dearer, but, indeed, at a 
 lower rate, during the monopoly, at mod 
 places at leaft, than, at a medium, had been 
 done for many years before j while theie 
 was a fixed price upon them, which, no 
 doubt, would have been of advantage to 
 the people, had it been continued, parti- 
 cularly with regard to fait. As to the 
 propriety or impropriety of the Compa- 
 ny's allowing fuch a monopoly, and fo 
 great a revenue to their fervants, it is fo- 
 reign to my purpofe to enquire into it 
 here. 
 
 I It
 
 ( 58 ) 
 
 It is my opinion, however, that beetle- 
 nut and tobacco being the produce of the 
 ground, and in that country, in a manner, 
 as the necelTaries of life, fuch as can be 
 cultivated and raifed in many places where 
 they are not now, the monopoly of them 
 at all is unjuft and impolitic, a bar to in- 
 duftry, and hurt to the people. The trade 
 in thefe articles ought to be left as free 
 as poffible therefore - y more efpecially if 
 it be confidered that they are no in- 
 ' confiderable articles of export to the 
 neighbouring and foreign nations. 
 
 As to fait, it is other wife ; for it is 
 made but in particular diftri&s, while 
 every perfon almort ufes it in fmall, but 
 nearly in equal quantities. It has been the 
 policy of all wife governments, therefore, 
 to draw a revenue, and a very confider- 
 able revenue from it. In fome populous 
 countries it is immenfe, without hurt to 
 the people, or their fcarce feeling it in- 
 deed. Why then, that the fovereigns of 
 Bengal mould not do the fame, without 
 injuring the people in any refpect, I can. 
 fee no juft reafon. The inequality of the 
 
 price,
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 price, in an article that is conftantly and 
 univerfalJy ufed in fmall quantities, is the 
 hardfhip, not an equal and uniform price, 
 were it even greater than what it ever has 
 been for fome years paft. It is the change, 
 not the charge, in fuch an article, that is 
 attended to, and which creates murmurs 
 and difcontent. For, if it only be confi- 
 dered, that few, if any, eat above an ounce 
 of fait in a day, or fo much perhaps ; let 
 it be fuppofed then, that the price of fait 
 fhould be even at four rupees the maund ; 
 but the maund, by which fait is generally 
 fold, is of eighty-two pounds; fo that if 
 we reckon the rupee even at half a crown, 
 which it is not intriniically worth, here 
 will be nearly twelve ounces of fait for a 
 penny, or what would ferve an ordinary 
 man for at leaft fo many days. It is very 
 evident, therefore, I think, that, in fuch 
 an article, it mud be the variablenefs, not 
 the price, unlefs very extravagant in- 
 deed, that can at all caufe uneafmefs and 
 difcontent ; an inconvenience which the 
 prefent mode of carrying on the trade will 
 always be fubject to. 
 
 I 2 I am
 
 ( 60 ) 
 
 I am, on the whole, clearly of opinion 
 then, that fait mould, in fome refpeft, 
 both be under an excife and aflize, which, 
 if instituted right, and under proper regu- 
 lations, fuitable to the country and trade, 
 would not only be an advantage to the peo- 
 ple, but bring a confiderable additional 
 revenue to the treafury of the government. 
 To execute this properly, however, re- 
 quires a certain knowledge, and a minute 
 local knowledge indeed, both of the coun- 
 try, of the people, and of the prefent me- 
 thod of conducting the trade of fait there; 
 and that from the making of it, till it ar- 
 rives on the frontiers of Bengal and pro- 
 vinces under the dominion of the Compa- 
 ny, from whence it is wont to be export- 
 ed, and in no inconfiderable quantities, to 
 the other neighbouring nations. The 
 quantity of fait made in the territories of 
 the Company is immenfe, and might pof- 
 fibly be greatly increafed. The manner of 
 making it is very different from any thing 
 pradifed in Europe, in the way of mak- 
 ing fait ; and the tranfport of it, when 
 made, is over an entenfive and populous
 
 country, and that at a great rifk and 
 .charge. There is a fmall quantity alfo 
 brought from Perfia and the Coail of Co- 
 rornandel - y but this is very inconfiderable 
 with regard to the other, and of a quality 
 fomewhat different likewife, the former 
 efpecially, which is moftly ufed as a medi- 
 cine only. 
 
 To form any juft eftimate of the quan- 
 tity of fait that is annually made in, and 
 imported to Bengal, is here what is not 
 in my power ; to give but a tolerable 
 guefs at it, is even what I am fcarce 
 able. All I can inform the reader of 
 it is, that in one feafon, for it is made 
 only at one particular feafon of the year, I 
 made on my own account about twelve 
 thoufand tons, in which I employed about 
 thirteen thoufand people ; and then I 
 looked upon it, that I had in that feafon 
 near about a tenth part of the whole 
 trade of falt-making in Bengal in my 
 own hands. As to the imports from the 
 Coaft and Perfia, I do not think, that, one 
 year with another, they can amount to 
 
 above
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 above three or four thoufand tons, if fo 
 much. 
 
 Though I have already faid, it is my 
 humble opinion that this trade could, in 
 no refpecl, be carried on to fo much advan- 
 tage, either to the Company or Coun- 
 try, as under a well -regulated affize and 
 excife, or what would bfe fomething in the 
 nature of thofe at leaft ; yet I am fufficient- 
 ly aware of the difficulties that muft at- 
 tend the forming of a right and regular 
 plan for this purpofe; and in fuch a man- 
 ner as that both public and private mould 
 draw the greateft real benefit and advan- 
 tage from the execution of it. To make 
 this the more evident, and to throw light 
 on what I have advanced, I (hall here in- 
 form the reader of the whole trade of fait 
 and falt-making, as it is at prefent carried 
 en in Bengal, fo far, at leaft, as I am ac- 
 quainted with it, or that I can now recoiled: 
 of the matter. Theprocefs itfelf being cu- 
 rious, will, I hope, be entertaining, and an 
 apology to the reader for my troubling 
 him with fo long a digrelTion, It is dif- 
 ferent
 
 ferent entirely from any of the methods 
 that are practifed in Europe, or from any- 
 thing we have any account of as yet, fo 
 far as I know. It will thence appear evi- 
 dent, I imagine, that my aiTertions are 
 founded upon truth -, and I mall thence 
 alfo be enabled, I hope, to give fome ufe- 
 ful hints at lead, in words that will then 
 be underftood, for forming a plan, and a 
 rational confident plan, eafy to be exe- 
 cuted, which would both be advantageous 
 to the country, and bring a very confider- 
 able additional revenue to the treafury 
 of the Company, and that at no great ex- 
 pence. 
 
 The places where the fait is now made 
 in Bengal, are called the jungles or woods. 
 Thefe cover a large tract of country, mod 
 of which was formerly cultivated, and 
 paid a very great revenue to the govern- 
 ment, and that not two hundred years 
 ago. They are now, however, from the 
 ravages of pirates, and ill conduct of 
 rulers perhaps, become the habitations 
 folely of tigers and wild beads, except 
 only at the feafon when the falt-makers
 
 ( 64 ) 
 
 gd there to cut wood and boil their fait ; 
 or that either people come to deal with 
 them, or pafs through in boats, in going 
 and coming from the eaftern to the weft- 
 em parts of the province ; there being no 
 travelling there, at any rate, but in boats. 
 
 The falt-makers, called molunghys, cul- 
 tivate and inhabit the adjacent countries ; 
 countries, which are much of the fame na- 
 ture with the j ungles, only that the grounds 
 in thofe are cleared, and that the fait water 
 is kept out from them by means of banks 
 of earth, which are every year repaired ; 
 they being broke down again in certain 
 places when the rains come on, to let out 
 the water from their rice-grounds, where 
 it would other wile rife too high. 
 
 Some time before the rice is cut down, 
 or about the end of the month of Octo- 
 ber, the merchants who are to hire them, 
 or their own head-men, called holdars, 
 engage the men who are to work at each 
 calary, or falt-work, by giving them a 
 fmall advance. This, by the merchant, 
 is given moftly in money to the holdars ; 
 and that at the cutchery or public office 
 
 of
 
 ( 65 ) 
 
 Of the diftrict; where a regifter either isy 
 or ought to be kept of every calary, and 
 the number of people who are 1 to work it.' 
 The holdar again, at this time, gives, or 
 is- fuppofed to give, a fmall proportion to 
 each of his workmen, according- to their 
 occupation or expertnefs, in- fire-working, 
 wood-cutting, building, and fa forth. 
 This, however, is more commonly paid 
 by degrees, in rice, oil, tobacco, and other 
 neceflaries, than in money j where the 
 arts of fraud and impofition are no ways 
 neglected. 
 
 The next advance is commonly made 
 them in December, when the rice-feafon 
 is moftly over. And they ought then by 
 rights to proceed to cut their fewel, and 
 to make the other neceflary preparations 
 for building their houfes and calaries, 
 which is an annual fcafk. There are feme 
 calaries, indeed, of a fmaller kind; and 
 near their habitations, in certain diftricts, 
 which have all ready, and begin to boil 
 in December ; but thefe having fewer 
 pots, make lefs fait than the others, 
 which are worked farther in the woods. 
 K In
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 In January, or February, when they 
 get their next advance, every thing mould 
 be prepared, and their pots too ought to- 
 be ready to take along with them, Thefe 
 &re made of burnt earth, fomewhat in the 
 (hape of a cucurbit, and contain each 
 about three pints, or two quarts at moft. 
 The calaries are formed of them, which 
 contain from one hundred to twelve hun- 
 dred pots each. They are built up with 
 elay, in a circular and pyramidal form,, 
 the under circles containing the greateft 
 numbers, and the others gradually dimi- 
 niming, till they terminate in a hole, left 
 at the top to. let out the fmoke. The pots 
 thus, with their clay cement, form a kind 
 of vaulted furnace for the fewel, which 
 is put in a't an opening below, made for 
 that purpofe; tiles being ufed as regula- 
 tors, both for this and the opening a-top. 
 Such is the general form of the calaries; 
 though fome, indeed, are made in an ob- 
 long and pyramidal form, but upon the 
 fame principle entirely; with nothing 
 more than fome little variation in the iizel 
 or in the number of the pots, 
 
 While
 
 While the calary, the houfe they are to 
 live in, and the falt-gola, or place for 
 keeping the fait, are a- making, they pre- 
 pare the earth, from which they make the 
 lye, to be boiled into fait, in the follow- 
 ing manner, to wit : They firft level a 
 piece of ground, and make a falt-pond, as 
 it may be called, from fifty to a hundred 
 yards fquare; more or lefs, according to 
 the fize of their calary ; the bottom of 
 which is of beat mud, or clay, fuch as 
 they find by the river fide. Over this 
 they lay loofe earth ; to which, at fpring- 
 tides, they let in the water, which is fait, 
 to the depth of a few inches. The water, 
 when exhaled, leaves their earth impreg- 
 nated with fait, which they carefully ga- 
 ther up. Having then prepared a fmall 
 mound of earth, of about four feet high, 
 and fix or eight feet over ; on the top of 
 which there is made a hollow, of about a 
 foot deep, inclining a little to one fide, 
 where there is a perforation and reed, that 
 conveys to a receiver below. On the hol- 
 low of this mound, they lay fmall twigs 
 of trees and draw, to icrve as a filter; and 
 K ?. upon
 
 { 68 ) 
 
 upon thefe the prepared and impregnated 
 Dearth; on which they pour water to dif- 
 folve the fait, which pafles thence through 
 the reed to the receiver, in a ftrorg and 
 pure lye. The lye they carry to the pots 
 in the calary, to be boiled into fait 5 gra- 
 dually filling them up, and removing the 
 fait as it is made, till the whole is con*- 
 fumed j which is called one boiling 
 
 A calary of five hundred pot*, proper- 
 ly managed, if I remember right, will 
 make, at one boiling, full fifty maunds of 
 fait, of eighty.-two pounds each. In fix 
 boilings then, which takes up three 
 months, and fix fpring tides, each calary 
 of five hundred pots, that is but tolerably 
 managed, will eafily make three hundred 
 maunds, or about eleven ton weight The 
 Calaries, of one hundred pots, do not 
 make fo much in proportion; while thofe 
 of a thoufand, and twelve hundred pots, 
 exceed them greatly; which is entirely 
 owing to the number of people employed 
 in the difpatch of the buiinefs. For a 
 fmall caiary, which mould have four, fel- 
 fjom has more than two hands $ and one
 
 of five hundred pots, which ought to have 
 eight men, has not often more than five 
 pr fix ; while the largeft calaries of all are 
 always well manned, having feldom fewer 
 than a dozen ; by which means, the fewel 
 is cut, the ground is prepared, and the 
 whole bufmefs goes on with much greater 
 expedition. 
 
 The falt-boiling bufmefs is moftly put 
 a flop to, when the ram,* fet in, which is 
 generally about the middle, or towards 
 the end pf June ; though, if they have 
 prepared earth in time, and are careful, 
 they may continue boiling ftill a few 
 weeks longer, which is the utmoft that 
 they can do. 
 
 The ground where the fait is in general 
 made, and lodged at firfb, during the 
 rains, is liable to be overflc .via ; while 
 their golas, or warehoufes there, are not 
 furBciently fecured from inundation. The 
 iboner, therefore, they can get it convey- 
 ed away to a place of fafety, it is fo much 
 the better. And the people, who are in- 
 ci'.iftrious, take care to do this in time, 
 
 when
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 when many, who are negligent, often 
 lofe all, or the greateft part of what they 
 had prepared. For each calary, in the 
 woods, having a boat belonging to it, one 
 or two perfons fhould be conftantly em- 
 ployed, to tranfport the fait to the mer- 
 chant who has engaged it, or to a place of 
 fafety, fo foon as it is made. 
 
 In the year ^763, I hired of the Com- 
 pany, eleven hundred twenty-fix calaries 
 and a half of the large kind, which ought, 
 or were fuppofed to have had eight men 
 each. I hired, at the fame time, of fmali 
 calaries, above nine hundred, which 
 ought, or were fuppofed to have had 
 four men each. I employed to look af- 
 ter them, and for other necefTary pur- 
 pofes, betides a few Europeans, a very 
 great multitude of boat-men, peons, 
 banians, &c. The people of the large 
 calaries were fo much difperfed in the 
 woods, which are cut by innumerable 
 natural canals, or nullas, as they are there 
 called, that it took my principal overfeer 
 full fourteen days to go round them. The 
 
 fmall
 
 ( 7' ) 
 
 fmall calaries, being nearer together, could 
 be all vifitcd in the courfe of a few days 
 only. From fome of the large calaries, I 
 had five hundred maunds of fait delivered 
 me. Many of them, however, though 
 they mould all have given, at leaft, two 
 hundred maunds, for which I had paid 
 them in advance, gave me fcarce one 
 hundred altogether. While fome, which 
 had had a like advance, and ought not, or 
 had not, perhaps, lefs than five hundred 
 pots, gave me not one grain at all. So 
 that though I put all the watches and 
 checks upon them that I poffibly could 
 think of, yet, I received only, upon a 
 medium, about two hundred and fifty 
 maunds, of eighty- two pounds weight, 
 from each. From the fmall calaries, ma- 
 ny of which had above two hundred pots, 
 though I am perfuaded they made more 
 than what they gave to me, I had only,, 
 on an average, about fifty maunds from, 
 each. Such are the falt-makers, or mo- 
 lurighys, and fuch the methods of carry- 
 ing on their bufinefs in Bengal. 
 
 From
 
 ( 7* ) 
 
 From what I have related of the nature 
 df ialt-making, it will appear pretty evi* 
 dent, I imagine, how difficult it would 
 be in that country, to put an excife upon 
 it, on the principles of any excife laws 
 that are ertablifhd in Europe, which 
 would at all anfwer ihe intention; fo as 
 not to be either oppreffivc to the people, 
 or more expenfive to the government, 
 than what it would be worth; or both, 
 To me it is clearly fo ; more efpecially 
 when I confider the temper and difpofi-^ 
 tion of the Bengals ; where an army of 
 excife-men would be neither more or lefs 
 than an army of idle thieves and harpies j 
 who would opprefs-, diftrefs, and fell their 
 vigilance to thofe who would be ever 
 ready to buy, without caring much for 
 the government, or any thing elfe, indeed,, 
 but that of getting what they could for 
 themfelves. And were the excife to b& 
 managed by farmers, the revenue would 
 be rather better perhaps, but not fo the 
 people ^ for the farmers, no doubt, would- 
 give more attention to every minute ar- 
 ticle. Yet this could never be done to>
 
 ( 73 ) 
 
 any purpofe, however, without an im- 
 menfe multitude of fervants, who would 
 never fure be more tender of the molun- 
 ghys, or more honeft themfelves, than 
 what the fervants of the government 
 might be fuppofed would be. But far- 
 ther, if we mould even imagine, that art 
 cxcife could be eftablimed without theffc 
 incoriveniencies, there is flill another dif- 
 ficulty that would remain, which it would 
 be no eafy matter to overcome, and that is 
 what would arife from the poverty of the 
 falt-makers, and their inherent difpofitioh 
 to artifice and deceit ; for, as it would be 
 impoffible for them to pay the excife all 
 at once in money, at the calaries where it 
 is made ; while the keeping of it there, 
 as has been faid, would expofe it to be de*- 
 ftroyed ; bonds could therefore only be 
 taken for the payment of it. The reco- 
 very of which would be difficult, vexa- 
 tious, and even often impoffible. A faft, 
 which every one any ways acquainted 
 with the bonds and fecurity of Bengal- 
 men will readily admit. Yet, if the ex- 
 cife-office mould ever once be allowed to 
 L run
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 run in arrear, it would be almoft impoffi- 
 ble to hinder it from increafing yearly; 
 which would both be a hurt to the go- 
 vernment, and give a handle to the offi- 
 cers of the revenue, to harrafs, opprefs, 
 and commit a thoufand abufes on the peo- 
 pie. 
 
 The plan then, that I would propofc, 
 for eviting all thofe inconveniencies, 
 fhould be this : I would be for having 
 the calaries let out, in the diftridh where 
 the molunghys refide, to the head-men 
 amongft them, either holdars or mer- 
 chants, and to none but thofe who refided 
 there j and that not above a certain num- 
 ber, as for example, ten, at moft, to any 
 one fingle perfon. Thefe might be either 
 let at auction, or for the firft year or two, 
 and till that the people could the better 
 comprehend the benefit and advantage 
 that was to refult to them, they might be 
 let on the moft moderate terms; and on 
 fuch, as that they themfelves (hould ap- 
 prove of; and that on a rent to be paid in 
 fait to the Company, deliverable at cer- 
 tain places and times. The quantity of 
 
 fait,
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 fait, that a calary of any determinate fize 
 can make in a feafon, is well known to 
 the people there, as well as the expence. 
 From the larger kind which I employed, 
 I have faid, that I received only at a me- 
 dium, about two hundred and fifty 
 maunds; though I am convinced, ancj 
 was certainly informed, that there was a 
 great deal more made. The price from 
 me to the holdars, or head-molunghys 
 for this, was twenty-five or thirty rupees, 
 the hundred maunds ; which, however, 
 I cannot quite with certainty recollect, 
 having not here my books with me j tho', 
 I think, it was rather the former. Sup- 
 pofing, therefore, that fuch a quantity 
 may be made, in thofe of five hundred 
 pots, for example, I would propofe to let 
 them as above, for two hundred maunds 
 of clean fait, to be paid to the Company: 
 the remainder being to remain with the 
 purchafer of the- calary, with leave to fell 
 it, at any price, not exceeding two rupees 
 the maund, which mould be the Company's 
 felling price. The more too, to encour- 
 age them, and to prevent their being 
 L 2 tempted
 
 tempted to cheat, I would propofc, that 
 what farther good and clean fait they had 
 made above the two. hundred maunds, 
 and were defirous immediately to difpdfe 
 of, it fhould be taken off their hands by 
 the Company, at one rupee twelve anas, or 
 one rupee three fourths, the maund. 
 
 As to the affize to be put on it, having 
 already mentioned the price at the Com- 
 pany's warehoufes, I (hall next proceed 
 to confider that to be fixed on it at diffe- 
 rent places -, which rnuft; no doubt, be in 
 proportion to the diftance, charge, and 
 rifkof tranfporting it :; fo that a fuitable 
 reward may be left to indiiftry, without 
 burdening the people. And here I fhall 
 only take for example two places, to wit, 
 Patna and Calcutta, the charges and fiffc 
 of tranfporting to which I am fufficiently 
 acquainted with. The charges then of 
 parrying it to the former of thcfe, I look 
 upon it to be about fix anas the maund. 
 It may be done for lefs, perhaps ; but I 
 have paid myfelf fometimes twelve ; tho' 
 oftener, indeed, eight than any other rate, 
 when I contrafted for the tranfport of it; 
 
 where
 
 ( 77 ) 
 
 where the contradtofs muft always havd 
 had a profit. Eight anas, or half a rupee, 
 therefore, I (hall fuppofe to be for the 
 freight. The rilk and lofs is next to be 
 determined ; the former of which I look 
 upon to be ten per cent, and the latter is 
 allowed to be the fame by cuftom. For 
 where the boats are not loft or damaged, 
 which is often the cafe, and that the bur- 
 dars, or thofe who have the charge of 
 them and the cargo, deliver within ten 
 per cent, of what they received, it is pre- 
 fumed that they have a&ed honeftly. Tho' 
 it is well known, that where boats are good, 
 arid the people really honeft, there will 
 not be a lofs of two per cent, in the whole 
 tranfport of it to Patna, from the places 
 where I fuppofe the Company's ware- 
 houfes to be. Here would be forty-five 
 per cent, on the firft coft then ; to which 
 may be added, for the ufe of money and 
 ehcouragement of induftry, thirty per 
 cent, more; fo that the aflize at Patna, 
 according to my plan, mould be three ru- 
 pees and a half the maund, a price which, 
 
 I am
 
 I am certain, can no ways be complained 
 of. 
 
 In eftimating the affize to be fixed at 
 Calcutta, I would proceed on the fame 
 principle i and, from what I know of the 
 matter, I fhould reckon the rifk and 
 charge of tranfport at four anas on the 
 maund ; to which there may be added 
 four, or, at moft, fix anas more for the ufe 
 of money and encouragement of indu n ry. 
 The affize at Calcutta, therefore, ought to 
 be, at this rate, two rupees and a half, or 
 two rupees ten anas at moft. The fame 
 manner of calculating would hold good as 
 to other places ; it being always under- 
 flood, that both with refpect to thefe al- 
 ready mentioned, and to all others, no- 
 thing of this kind could ever be fettled 
 with fo much precifion and exaclnefs 
 here, as there upon the fpot. 
 
 It may be thought, however, that in 
 leaving fo great a latitude for charges, in- 
 duftry, and the ufe of money, there could 
 be no kind of occafion for an affize at all; 
 as with fuch allowances it could never rife 
 
 fo
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 fo high, but would probably always be 
 confiderably under fuch prices. Yet to 
 thofe who are acquainted with Bengal, 
 it will appear otherwife, and in the fame 
 light as it does to me, I imagine ; for, in 
 a country where power has fuch influence, 
 and that combinations are fo common, it 
 would be no difficult matter, in many 
 places, were there no fixed affize, to get 
 the trade into the hands of a few, and 
 prevent the poorer people from meddling 
 in it till that it were raifed to an exorbi- 
 tant price. Whereas an affize, as is pro- 
 pofed, would not only effectually hinder 
 this, but rather throw the trade into the 
 hands of the poorer fort; feeing it would 
 thus fcarce be worth the while of the rich 
 and powerful to be concerned in it on fo 
 bad a footing ; more efpecially as they 
 could never carry it on to fo much ad- 
 vantage by agents, whom they muft em- 
 ploy, as the others, who would both fetch 
 it and fell it upon their own account. 
 
 The advantages that would refult from 
 fuch regulations and fuch an arrangement, 
 with regard to the trade of fait, are many 
 
 and
 
 and evident; for firft, it could be eafily 
 executed, and at no great expence, a moft 
 material confederation in the taxation laws 
 of any country; though more fo, perhaps, 
 in a conquered country, where the fove- 
 reigns are foreigners and Grangers. Next, 
 I think, none would have any reafon to 
 complain, but rather otherwife; for thofe 
 at a diftance from where the fait was 
 made would pay no more, and fcarce evert 
 fo much for it, than what they had done 
 formerly; while the poor and induftrious 
 amongft them might do what they could 
 never do before, make good bread of it, in 
 an eafy manner, by only bringing and felk 
 ing it. Whereas the molunghys, or falt- 
 makers again, and thofe near the places 
 .where it was made, would reap an imme^ 
 diate advantage from it, and have a rid 
 fmallfpur to induftry. For, having already 
 mentioned that a calary of five hundred 
 pots, tolerably managed, can with eafe 
 make two hundred and fifty maunds of 
 fait, fifty maunds of which being allowed 
 for the making, at twp rupees the maundy 
 
 here would be two hundred rpces for two 
 
 . (j .-.-- .* * - * 
 
 huii-
 
 hundred and fifty maunds, a price much 
 greater than to them was ever given be- 
 fore, befides the large field that would be 
 left for the induftry of a fet of people, who 
 are of more confequence to the govern- 
 ment than is perhaps thought of, or ima- 
 gined ; it being very certain, that if ever 
 the uncultivated lands, now called jungles^ 
 fhould come to be meliorated and improved^ 
 it muft done by the encreafe and encou- 
 ragement of the people in the neighbour- 
 hood of them, who are principally the mo- 
 lunghys or people in queftion. For their 
 greater benefit and fupport therefore, a 
 few ufeful laws and regulations might be 
 made, touching the wages of the poorer 
 amongft them, which, I am perfuaded, 
 would be of great advantage to them. 
 
 If we next take a view of the profit and 
 benefit that would immediately arife to 
 the Company from the propoied plan ex- 
 ecuted with judgment and prudence, the 
 intelligent reader will eafily fee the pro- 
 priety of fpeedily adopting it ; for, as the 
 quantity of fait made in Bengal is very 
 great, and that there would thus four 
 tyl fifths,
 
 fifths, or what I (hall call only two thirds, 
 of it come to the Company without any 
 riik at all, and with no great charge, to 
 be fold out again at two rupees the 
 xnaund ; fo, if the guefs I have ventured 
 at fhould be in any degree near the truth, 
 it muft follow, that there would be about 
 eighty thoufand tons paid to the Compa- 
 ny, which, only at fix pounds the ton, 
 would amount to four hundred and eighty 
 thoufand pounds, and which, all charges 
 defrayed, would Hill certainly exceed four 
 hundred thoufand pounds, or the fura 
 that is now paid to the government. The 
 Company would hence too come in a few 
 years to know pretty .nearly both the 
 quantity confumed and the quantity 
 made -, the latter of which they could al- 
 ways proportion to the former, by in- 
 creating or diminishing the number of ca- 
 larys, or rather, according to my way of 
 thinking, by increaling or diminifhing 
 the number of pots in each calary j fo 
 that the molunghys, or falt-makers, 
 might all conftantly be employed. The 
 Company, from this alfo, would have it 
 
 in
 
 ( 83 ) 
 
 in their power, and, no doubt, ought to 
 keep always in their warehoufes a certain 
 quantity more than what was needed, in 
 cafe of a year of fcarcity, which will hap- 
 pen, in fome degree, at any time when the 
 rains come on much fooner than they are 
 uiually expedled. 
 
 In the execution of all new eftablim- 
 ments, thofe efpecially in which fuch 
 numbers are concerned, many difficulties, 
 and unforefeen difficulties, will almoft al- 
 ways arife ; but thefe will ever be fewer, 
 and more eafy to be overcome, in propor- 
 tion to the knowledge and dilcernmcntof 
 thofe by whom they are eftablimed, and to 
 the fteadinefs and abilities of thofe whofc 
 conduct the executive part may be intrud- 
 ed to. That I am thoroughly acquainted 
 with what I have here wrote with regard 
 to fait, is, I flatter myfelf, what will fcarce 
 be denied me. That the plan propofed is 
 therefore juft and rational in all its parts, 
 or that I may have explained myfelf in 
 terms fufficiently clear and dilUndt, is whit 
 will be judged of by others ; and though 
 it is a plan, which, 1 have the vanity to 
 
 think,
 
 ( ..* ) 
 
 think, I could, with proper 
 execute completely and effectually to the 
 utmoft of what I have affertedcan be done j 
 yet that too muft be judged of by thofe, 
 who may fee things in very different 
 lights, and that, perhaps, too in lights, 
 both ftronger and better than any thing I 
 am now capable of difcerning. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 MAR 14 
 
 969 
 
 Ql 
 
 JUN 
 
 Form L9-32m-8,'58(5876s4)444 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 AT
 
 3206 
 
 A 000017685