University of California Southern Regional Library Facility UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES ^AUTHENTIC PAPERS CONCERNING i N lyr A AFFAIRS-, WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDER THE INSPECTION O F A GREAT ASSEMBLY. I LONDON: Printed for RICHARDSON and URQUHART, under the Royal Exchange. MDCCLXXI. TO THE READER TH E following publications are of tranfcripts, faithfully made from authentic copies of ori- | ginal letters ; free, it is hoped, of all ^ but fuch trivial errors as are incident to tranfcriptions, or unavoidable from the prefs. 2 They contain representations of 2 weighty matters, made by rival parties, - while contending for power in India ; gand, therefore, may respectively be con- fidered, abftra&edly from all the direcl: information which they furniih, as ufeful comments on each other : fo that they will ferve, in no inconfidera- ble degree, to afcertain the compara- tive talents, principles, practices and aews of violent antagonifts, in their difcharge of fuch public trufts as were a 2 highly 35464)7 C '" ] highly interefting to all men, while they demonftrate the nature of our territorial connections with Hindoftan, which are now of fuch infinite import- ance to the Company and the State : and they, moreover, inform us of the regulations that were made for the prefervation of thofe pofiefiions. Time, the only true teft of all hu- man policy, has now enabled us, with fome certainty, to decide on the wif- dom and rectitude of rneafures that were then planned and purfued, from the effects they have produced ; which perhaps may be beft ascertained, by ex^ amining and 'eftimating the prefent ftate of the Company's affairs and finances, both in England and India ; the condition of the native Afiatics, and- likewife of the generality of Britiili fubjects in Bengal ; as alfo the extra- ordinary effects of much-boafted refor- mations ; how far confident prophe- fies have really been fulfilled, of ap- proaching high profperity to the Com- pany, V ] _ . pany, and of proportionable welfare to all in their employ ; with obferving who have fooneft and moft enriched themfelves by tranfactions in the Eaft. Thefe letters will betides furniili us with fome, though but a very faint idea of what, for feveral years paft, the ftate of juftice has been in India : and like wife difcover in how arbitrary and unconftitutional a manner mere power has been made to operate in thofe rq~ gions, efpecially with regard to the natives, who are defenceless, and not unfrequently, through them, even on the fubjects of this kingdom. Thofe related in thefe letters were, however, but leading tran&clions of outrage to infinitely worfe, that very fpeedily fol- lowed, from the moft wanton indul- gences in rapine and defpotifin ; of which the public may expect to acquire knowledge from farther publications. But to prevent the ruinous effects in future of power fo exercifed, it fhould be hoped legislative government will very very ftrpngly interpofe; as well for tlie due encouragement of merit, by afford- ing it protection, as for the honour or our national juftice, the advancement of the general intereft, and for the effectual prefervation of extenfive, po- pulous and wealthy provinces, which can be no other than the property of the State. Let it not, however, be miftakenly apprehended, that there is any inten- tion whatever, by making this publica- tion, to favour any party or individual, or to extenuate any kind of real guilt or mifconduct. The fole end in view being, by exhibited facts and proofs, to mew what the nature of our India connexions really is ; to demonftrate what policy and practice have been with regard to them; to fliew what kinds of power and juftice are preva- lent in thofe countries, and to fet wife men upon considering what effects they have already produced, what farther they naturally may be expected to pro- duce, duce, or what a yet more weak or evil conduft may unhappily effe6t ; to the prejudice of the fubjedted na- tives, of individual Europeans, the Eaft- India Company, and this nation in general. CONTENTS, C O N T E N T S. i. COPY of a LETTER from the Right Hon. Lord CLIVE, to the COURT of DIRECTORS of the EAST-INDIA COMPANY Page I II. COPY of a LETTER from the Right Hon. Lord CLIVE, and the reft of the SELECT COMMITTEE, at Fort William in BENGAL, to the COURT of DIREC- TORS of the EAST-INDIA COMPANY 55 III. COPY of a LETTER from Me/. RALPH LEYCESTER and GEORGE GRAY, Members of the Council at FORT WILLIAM ; addreffed to the COURT */ DI- RECTORS of the EAST-INDIA COMPANY 107 COPY COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE RIGHT HON. LORD CLIVE, T O T H E COURT OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST-INDIA-COMPANY. CALCVTTA, 3Oth September $765. GENTLEMEN, ift.TT"^ Y the letter from the Select 8 %L Committee, and copy of their _ proceedings, which are tran mitted to you by this convey- ance, yoti will be enabled to form a ge- neral idea of the ftate of this fettlement on the arrival of the (hip Kent ; together with the meafnres we thought neceffary jto purfiie, in order to fettle the Com- A pany's patty's affairs in thefe provinces upon an advantageous and permanent foundation. Yon will permit me, however, to lay be- fore you my own fentiments in particu- lar concerning thole meafures, and to communicate alfo, by this earliefl oppor- tunity, fuch others as I \vifli mould be adopted before I quit the government : and which I hope will be not only ap- proved of, but likewife fo fully confirm- ed and eftablifhed by the Court of Direc- tors, that the abufes which may otherwife be revived by the ambition and avarice of fome future Governors, or Councils, may be effectually prevented. . 2d. Upon my arrival, I amforry to fay, I found your affairs in a condition fa nearly defperate, as would have alarmed any let of men, whofe fenfe of honour and duty to their employers had not been eftranged by the too eager purfuit of their own immediate advantages. The fudden, and, among many, the unwar- rantable acquifkion of riches had intro- duced luxury in every fliape, and in its mpft pernicious excels. Thefe two enor^ mous evils went hand in hand together through the whole prefidency, infecling almoft [ 3 ] almoft every member of each department: every inferior feemecl to have grafped at wealth, that he might be enabled to af- fume that fpirit of profufion which was now the only diftindtion between him and his fuperior. Thus all diftinction ceafed, and every rank became in a manner upon an equality: nor was this the end of the mifchief ; for a conteft of fuch a nature, among your fervants, necefTarily deftroy- ed all proportion between their wants and jthe honeft means of fatisfying them. /In a country where money is plenty, where fear is the principle of government, where your arms are ever victorious ; in fuch a country, I fay, it is no wonder that cor- ruption fliould find its way to a fpot fo well prepared to receive it : it is no wonder, that the luft of riches fliould readily embrace the proffered means of its gratification, or that the inftruments of your power fliould avail themfelves of their authority, and proceed even to extor- tion inthofe cafes where limple corruption could not keep pace with their rapacity Examples of this fort, fee by fuperiors, .could not fail of being followed in a pro- portionable degree by inferiors. The A 2. evil t 4 1 evil was contagious, and fpread among both civil and military, down to the writer, the enfign and the free mer- chant. 3d, The large fums of money acquired by donation, befides the means I have already mentioned, were fo publicly known and vindicated, that every one thought he had a right to enrich himfelf at all events, with as much expedition as poffible. The monopoly of fait, bee- tel, tobacco, &c. was another fund of immenfe profits to the Company's fer- vants, and llkewife to fuch others as they permitted to enjoy a fliare ; while not a rupee of advantage accrued to the Government, and very little to the Com- pany from that trade. Before I had dif- covered thefe various fources of wealth, I was under great ailonimment to find individuals fo fuddenly enriched, that there was fcarce a gentleman in the fettlement who had not fixed upon a very fliort period for his return to Eng- land with affluence. From hence arofe that froward fpirit of independency which in a manner fet all your orders at defiance, and dictated a total con- tempt t 5 j tempt of them, as often as obedience was found incompatible with private intereft. At the time of my arrival, I {aw nothing that bore the form, or appearance of government. The autho- rity and pre-eminence of the Governor were levelled with thofe of the Council- lors ; every Councillor was as much a Go- vernor, as he who bore the name ; and diftincYion of rank, as I have already ob- lerved, was no longer to be found in the whole fettiement. Notwithstanding a Ipecial order from the Court of Direc- tors, founded on very wile and very evident reafons, that all correfpondence with the country powers fhould be car- ried on folely in the Governor's name, I found that our whole correfpondence with the Great Mogul, the Subahs, Na- bobs and Rajas had been of late carried on by, and in the name of the whole Board ; and that every iervant and free merchant correfpondecl with whom they pleafed. 4th. Your orders for the execution of the covenants were pofitive, and exprefiy mentioned to be the reiblution of a Ge- neral Court of Proprietors. Your iervants at at Bengal, however, abfolutely determined to reject them : and had not the Select Committee refolved, that the example fhould be firft fet by the Council, or a fufpenfion from your fervice take place, it is certain they would have remained unexecuted to this hour. You will not, I imagine, be much fbrprized at this breach of duty, if you look over the ge- neral letter ; where you cannot avoid feeing how many are annually commit- ted, and how fait every thing was tend- ing to a contempt of your authority. From a fliort furvey of the late tran fac- tions I was convinced, that no other re- medy was left than an immediate and vigorous exertion of the powers with which the Committee weie inverted. Happy, in my opinion, was it for the Company, that fuch powers were grant- ed, for that the iettlement, fo conducted, could have fubfifled another twelvemonth appears to me an impoilibility. A great part of the revenues of the country, amounting to near four millions fterling per annum, would have been divided among your fervants : and the acquifition of fortunes being fo iudclen, a few months muft [ 7 ] mnft have brought writers into council : feniority mud have been admitted as a juft claim to a feat at the Board, without the qualification of age or experience, bccauie the rapidity of fucceffion denied the attainment of either. 5th. Nor were thefe excefles confined to your civil fervants alone : dieimlitary department alfo had caught tKe infection, and ricTTes, the bane of difcipline, were daily promoting the ruin of your army. The too little inequality of rank rendered the advantages of Captains, Lieutenants and Enfigris fo nearly upon a par, and fo large, that an independent fortune .was no diftant profpect even to a fubaltern. If a too quick fucccllion among thofe from whom you expect the ftudy of com- merce and polity is detrimental to your/ civil concerns, how effectually defrructive that evil mufb prove to your military operations. The moft experienced Eu- ropean officer, when he has entered into the Eaft India fervice, although he may be able in many points to fugged im- provements to others, will neverthelefs find that fomething new remains for himfelf to learn peculiar to this fervice,' which [ 8 } which cannot be attained in a day,; Judge then how the cafe rmift ftand with youths, who are either juft ferit out from the academy, or, which more frequently happens, who have had no education at all ; for to fuch have we often been re- duced to the neceflity of granting com- miffions. How much muft the expecta- tion of your army be raifed when they are fuffered, without controul, to take pofTemoii for themfelves of the whole booty* donation-money and plunder, oil the capture of a city ? This I can allure you happened at Benares ; and what is more furprizing, the then Governor and Council, fo far from laying in a claim to the moiety, which ought to have been referved for the Company, agreeable to thofe pofitive orders from the Court of Directors a few years ago, when they were pleafed to put their forces upon the fame footing as thofe of his Majefly, gave up the whole to the captorsj You have hear'd of the general mutiny that happened among your Seapoys a little before my arrival. What \vouid have been your confternation, had you alfo hear'd of an unanimous defertion of your European C 9 1 European foldiery ? Thefe were very le- rious events indeed : and%ad it not been for one well-timed, vigorous acl: of Major Munro, and the unwearied zeal and mi- litary abilities of General Carnac, who totally fupprefled the fpirit of mutiny among the foldiers, your pofTeflions in. India might at this time have been defti- ttite of a man to fnpport them,' and even the privilege of commerce irrecovera- bly crumed.] Common juftice to the principles and conduct of General Car- nac obliges me farther to add, that I found him the only officer of rank who had refifted the temptations, to which by his llation he was conflantly fubjecl, of acquiring an immenfe fortune : and I queftion much whether he is not the only rnan who has of late years been honoured with the command of your forces, with- out acquiring a very large independency. The letter from the Great Mogul to the Governor and Council, requeftiug their permiflion for him to accept a prefent of two laak, which his Majefty is defirous of bellowing on him, as a reward for his dHlnterefted fervices, will corroborate *yhat I have faid in his favour i and as B this [ IP ] this affair, agreeable to the tenor of the covenants, is referred to the Court of I)i-? rectors, I make no doubt they will rea-r dily embrace the opportunity of {hewing their regard to fuch diftinguifhed merit, by confenting to his acceptance of his Majefty's bounty. 6th. Jf the picture I have drawn be a faithful likenefs of this prefidency ; and I call upon the moft guilty, for guilty there are, to fhcw that I have aggravated a feature ; to what a deplorable condition muft your affairs have foon been reduced ? JCvery ftate (and fuch now is your go- vernment in India) muft be near its pe- riod, when the rage of luxury and cor- ruption has feized upon its leaders and inhabitants. Can trade be encouraged for public benefit, where the management unfortunately devolves upon thole who make private intereft the;r rule of ac^ tion ? And farther, has fudden affluence ever failed, from the infancy of difcipline to the prefent perfection of it, to corrupt the principle and deftroy the fpirit of an army? Independency of fortune is al- ways averfe to thofe duties of fubordi- nation which are infeparable from the life t i life of a {bldier : and in this coiintryj if the acquisition be fudclen, a relaxation of difcipline is more immediately the con- fequence. I would not be thought, by thefe obervations, to exclude riches from the military. Honour alone is fcarcely a fufficierit reward for the toiHbme fervice of the field; But the acquifition of wealth ought to be fo gradual as to admit not a profpedl of compleating it, till fucceflion by merit to the rank of a field officer fhould have laid a good foundation for the claim. Such is the idea I entertain- ed of this matter when I delivered my fentiments to the Court of Directors, in my letter of the zjt\\ April 1764 ; and I have acled in conformity thereto by re- gimentirig the troops in the manner I then propofed* I need not repeat the obfervations I troubled you with in that letter : it is fufficient to remark here, that the good effecls of the plan are al- ready vifible ; that fubordination is re- ft ored, abufes corrected, and your ex- pences, of courfe, already greatly di- miniflied. 7th. The war which, to my gre^t co- cern, I found extended above 700 miles B 2 from from the prefidency, is now happily cori- cluded ; and a peace eftabliflied upon terms which promife lading tranquillity to thefe provinces. This event has, I find, difappointed the expe Nations of many, who thought of nothing but a march with the King to Delhi. My refolution however was, and my V hope will always be, to confine our al- ./ fiftance, our conquefts, and our poflef- ^fions to Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa. To ^/go farther is, in my opinion, a fcheme fo ?* ^extravagantly ambitious and abfurd, that y^^no Governor and Council, in their fenfes, can ever adopt it, unlefs the whole fyflem of the Company's intereft be firft intirely new modelled. 8th. I forbear troubling you with a detail of the negociations of General Car- nac 4 and me with the country powers, and the particulars of the treaty of peace with the Vifier of the empire, as they will be fpoken of at large in the letter from the Select Committee, and appear like- ivife upon the face of our proceedings* I will, however, juft remark, that GUI' reftoring to Shuga Dowla the whole of his dominions, proceeds more from the policy [ '3 ] policy of not extending the Company's territorial pofleffions than the generous principle of attaching him for ever to our intereft by gratitude, though this has been the apparent, and is by many thought to be the real motive. Had we ambi- tioufly attempted to retain the conquered country, experience would foon have proved the abfurdity and impracticability of fuch a plan. The eftablifliment of your army muft have been largely increafed, a confiderable number of civil fervants muft have been added to your lift, and more chiefships appointed. The acts of oppreffion and innumerable abufes which would have been committed, and which could neither have been prevented nor remedied at fo great a diftance from the prefidency, muft infallibly have laid the foundation of another war, deftruclive and unfuccefsful : our old privileges and pofleflions would have been endangered by every fupply we might have been tempted to afford in fupport of the new, and the natives muft have finally triumph- ed in our inability to fuftain the weight of our own ambition. E H ] t;th. To return to the point from which this digreifion has led me, I muft carry you back to the defcription, above given, of the fituation in which I found your affairs on my arrival. Two paths were evidently open to me : the one fmooth, and ftrewcd with abundance of rich ad- vantages that might eaflly be picked up ; the other untrodden, and every ftep op- pofed with obftacles. I might have taken charge of the government upon the fame footing on which I found it ; that is, I might have enjoyed the name of Gover- nor, and have fiiffered the honour, import- ance, and dignity of the poft to continue in their (late of annihilation. I might have contented myfelf, as others had be- fore me, with being a cypher, or what is little better, the firft among fixteen equals ; and I might have been allowed this padive conduct to be attended with the ufnal douceur of (liaring largely with the reft of the gentlemen in all donations, perquisites, 6cc. arifing from the abfo- lute government and diipofal of all places in the revenues of this opulent kingdom; by which means I might iboii have ac- quired an immenfe addition to my for- tune, [ 15 ] tune, notwithftanding the obligations in the new covenants ; for the man who can fo eafily get over the bar of confcience* as to receive prefents after the execution pf them, will not fcruple to make ufe of any evafions that may protect him from jthe confequences. The fettlement in ge- neral would thus have been my friends, and only the natives of the country my .enemies. Jf you can conceive a Gover- nor in fuch a Situation, it is impoflible to form a wrong judgment of the inferior fervants, or of the Company's affairs at fuch a prefidency. An honourable al- ternative, however, lay before me. I had the power, within my own breafl, to full- fill the duty of my flation, by remaining incorruptible in the miclft of numberlets temptations artfully thrown in my way, by expofing my character to every attack which malice or refentment are fo apt to invent againfl any man who attempts re- formation, and by encountering, of courfe, the odium of the fettlement. I hefitated not a moment which choice to make. I took upon my flioulders a burden which required refolution, pcrfeverance, and conftitution to fupport. Having chofen my [ 16 ] my part I was determined to exert my- felf in the attempt ; happy in the reflec- tion, that the honour of the nation and the very being of the company would be maintained by the fuccefs ; and confcious that, if I failed, my integrity and good intentions at leaft muft remain unim- peached. The other members of the com- mittee joined with me in opinion, that in order to proceed upon buiinefs it was abfolutely necefTary for us to afiumethe powers wherewith we were inverted.' We law plainly, that moft of the gentlemen in council had been too deeply concern- ed themfelves, in the mearures which re- quired amendment, for us to expecl: any afliftance from themfc. on the contrary, we were certain of nnding oppofition to every plan of innovation, and an unani- mous attempt to defeat the intentions of the proprietors, who folicited my ac- ceptance of the government. The Com- mittee, therefore, immediately met, and I had the happinefs to find myfelf fup^ ported by gentlemen whom no tempta- tions could feduce, no inconveniencies, or threats of malice deter. Our proceed- ings will convince you, that we have dared, [ '7 ] ttared to act. with firmnefs and integrity imd will at the fame time demonftrate, that temper, unanimity, and difpatch mud ever mark the proceedings of men unbiased by private interefh roth. The gentlemen in council of late years at Bengal feem to have been actuated, in every confultation, by a very obftinate and mifchievous fpirit. The office of Governor has been in a manner hunted down, dripped of its dignity, and then divided into fixteen (hares. Whe- ther ambition, obftinacy, pride, or felf- intereft is uibaily the motive to fuch a purfnit, I will not take upon me to deter- mine; but am lure it can never arife from a jufl idea of government, or a true fenfe of the Company's intereft. In my opinion, it is the duty of the Council to make the power of the president appear as extenfive as poffible in the eyes of the people, that all correfpondence with the country princes mould be carried on through him alone, fome particular cafes excepted ; that the Council ftiould upon all occafions be unanimous in iupport- ing, not in extenuating the dignity of his iiation ; and that he ought to be con- C ijdered f. is ] fidered among the natives as the fole ma- nager and conductor of political affairs* This, fhould be the outward appearance of adminiftration : though in reality, the Council muft be allowed a freedom of judgment ; and when they perceive in the Governor a tendency to abfolute, or unjuftiHable meafures, it then becomes their ditty to check him. If they at any time have reafon to diftruft the rectitude of his principles, they fhould not allow him to execute clefigns, even of the fmall- cft moment, without previoufly laying them before the Board, atid obtaining their approbation. In fliort, the bed Go vernor fliould not, except in cafes of ne- cefllty, be fiuTered to conclude any points of importance without the fanction of the Board. But the expedient of a Select Committee equally prevents any ill con- duct in the Governor, and is befides at- tended with advantages which can rarely be expected from the whole body of Councillors. Five gentlemen well verfed in the Company's true intereft, of abili- ties to plan, and refolution to execute ; gentlemen whofe fortunes are honour- ably approaching to affluence, and vvhofe integrity [ i? 3 integrity has never fuffered them to ex- ceed the bounds of moderation : a Select Committee compofed of fuch men will tranfaft more buflneis in a week than the Council can in a month. The opinions and judgment of five men are as fecurely to be relied on, even in affairs of the ut- moft confequence, as fixteen ; they are Jefs liable to difTenfion, and it may be faid, beyond a contradiction, that their jadminifiration is more diftant from de- mocratic anarchy. The Council woulcj not be, however, an ufelefs body: for whilft the attention of the Committee was chiefly engaged in watching and repair- ing the main fprings of government, the Council would as materially ferve the Company in attending to the many other movements of the grand machine, which are as eflentially neceflary to the public advantage and fecurity: and that the Committee fhould not be able to carry their powers to any dangerous length, they might be ordered annually, before the difpatch of the Europe mips, to fub- mit their proceedings to the review of the gentlemen in council, who might tran- mjit their opinions thereupon to the Court C * of of Directors. Your prefent Selecl Com* mittee have, from time to time, laid moft of their proceedings before Council; and we intend to continue the fame iyftem of candor, except in any political cafes of fecrecy, when prudence may require that our refolutions fliould be confined to the knowledge of a few. 1 1 th. Thus freely I have given you my opinion upon the fort of government I could \vifh to fee eftablifhed in this fettle- nient ; nor (hall I think my duty done till "J have pointed out every meafure that feems to me befl calculated to preferve your affairs from deilrucYion, At Ben- gal, the rule of fuccemon among your iervants is pernicioufly ex aft : there are ' frequent occafions where it ought to be fet afide : where experience, underftand- ing, integrity, moderation ought to take place of accidental feniority. The de-^ merits of moft of your fuperior iervants have been fo great, as you learn from the Committee proceedings, that one can hardly imagine their future behaviour will entitle them to farther favours than you have hitherto beftowed on them. I do pot pretencl to furmiie what fentence you, may .may pronounce upon the gentlemen whq came under the cenfure of the Commit- tee, but whether it be moderate as ours, or fevere as it deferves, it will not much concern them, fince all of them are now in very affluent circnmftances, and will probably return to Europe by this or the next year's (hipping. Perufe then the lift of your covenanted fervants upon this -eftablifliment. You will find that many of thofe next in fucceflion are not only very young in the fervice, and confe- fequently unfit for fucli exalted ftations, but are alfo ftrongly tainted with the principles of their fuperiors. If your opinion fliould correfpond with mine, fome remedy will be judged neceflary to be applied ; and I confefs I fee but one. The unlxappj^ change^which within thefe few years has arifen in the manners and conduct of your fervants at Bengal, is alone fufficient to remove the objections I once had to appointments from another fettlement : and the difficulty which now too plainly appears of filling up vacancies in Council with the requifite attention to the Company's honour and welfare, in- cjines me to wifli fuch appointments more frequent. [ 3* ] frequent. In the prefent ftate of this prefidency, no meafure can, I think, prove more falutary than to appoint five or fix gentlemen from the Coaft to the ^Bengal eftablifhment, and there to poft them agreeable to tjieir rank and ftand- ing in the fervice. MefT. Ruflell; Floyer, Alderfey, and Kelfall are among thofe who would be very well worthy your at- tention, if this plan fhould be adopted, I cannot help farther recommending to your confideration, whether, if every other method fhould be found ineffectual, the tranfplanting a few of the young Bengal fervants to Madrafs would not be of fig- nal fervice, both to themfelves and the Company. You will likewife confider whether the fettjement of Bombay is car pable of furnifliing us with a few meri- torious fervants. With regard to Ma- drafs, the conduct of the gentlemen upon that eflablifhment is in general fo uriexr ceptionable, that to prefent Bengal with fuch examples of regularity, discretion, and moderation would, I think, be a means of reftoring it to good order and government. It is paft a doubt, that every attempt of reformation muft fail, unlefs [ 13 1 uulefs the fiiperior fervants be exemplary in their principles and conducl. If we fee nothing but rapacity among Council- lors, in vain (hall we look for modera- tion among writers. 1 2th. Thefources of tyranny and oppref- flon which have been opened by Euro- pean Agents, acting under the authority of the Company's Servants, and the num- berlefs black Agents and Sub-agents aft- ing alfo under them, will, I fear, be a lafting reproach to the Englifli name in this country. It is impoffible to enume- rate the complaints that have been laid before me by the unfortunate inhabitants, who had not forgot that I was an enemy to oppreflionj The neceffity of fee u ring the confidence of the natives is an idea I have ever maintained, and was in hopes would be invariably adopted by others : but ambition, fuccefs, and luxury have, I find, introduced a new fyflem of poli- tics, at the fevere expence of Englifli honour, of the Company's faith, and even of common juftice and humanity. The orders fo frequently iflued, that no vvri^ ter mall have the privilege of duftucks, I have (Iriclly obeyed : but I am lorry to to inform you that all the wifhed-for con- iequences are not to be expected. > The ^officers of the Government are fo fenfible of our influence and authority, that they clare not prefume to fearch or flop a boat protected by the name of a Company's jervant ; and you may be aflured, that frauds of that kind, fo eafy to be prac- tifed and fo difficult to be detected, are but too frequent.i I have at lafl, how- ever, the happiiiefs to fee the completion of an event which in this refpect, as well as in many others, imift be productive of advantages hitherto unknown ; and at the fame time prevent abufes that have hitherto had no remedy. I mean the Bewannee, which is the fnperintendancy of all the lands and the collection of all the revenues of the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa. The aftiflance which the Great Mogul had received from our arms and treafury, made him readily be- flow this grant upon the Company : and it is done in the mod effectual manner you can deiire. The allowance for the iupport of the Nabob's dignity and power, and the tribute to his Majefly, muft be regularly paid ; the remainder belongs to L I 25 ] ' to the Company. Revolutions are no longer to be apprehended ; the means ^ of affecting them will in future be want-. ing to ambitious MmTul men : nor will your fervants, civil or military, tempted to foment difturbances, from whence can arife no benefit to themfelves. Reftitution, donation-money, &c, &c. will be perfectly aboliflied, as the -reve- nues from whence they ufed to iflue will be pofTetfed by ourielves. The power of fupervifing the provinces, though lodged in us, mould not however, in my opi- nion, be exerted. Three times the pre- fent number of civil fervants would be infufficient for the purpofe : whereas, if we leave the management to the old officers of the government, the Company need not be at the expence of one addi- tional fervant ; and though we may fuffer in the collection, yet we (hall al- ways be able to detect and punifh any great offenders, and fliall have fome fatisfaction in knowing that the cor- ruption is not among ourielves. By this means alfo the abufes inevitably fpring- ing from the exercife of territorial au- thority will be effectually obviated : there D will t a.<5 1 will (till be a Nabob, with an allowance fbitable to his dignity ; and the territo- rial jurifdiction will flill be in the chiefs of the country, acting under him and the presidency in conjunction, though the revenues will belong to the Company, Befides, were the Company's officers to be the collectors, foreign nations would immediately take umbrage ; and com- plaints preferred to the Britifh Court might be attended with very einbarrafl- ing confequences. Nor can it be fup- pofed that either the French, Dutch, or Danes will acknowledge the Englifh Company Nabob of Bengal, and pay into the hands of their fervants the duties upon trade, or the quit -rents of thofe diftricts which they have for many years pofTefTed, by virtue of the Royal Phirmaund, or by grants from former Nabobs, i sth.YYour revenues, by means of this new acquifition, will, as near as I can Judge, not fall fhort, for the enfuing year, of 250 laaks of Sicca rupees, includ- ing your former pofleffions of Burdwan, &c. Hereafter they will at leaft amount to 20 or 30 laaks more. Your civil and military expences in time of peace can can never exceed 60 laaks of rupees. The Nabobs allowances are already re- duced to 42 laaks, and the tribute to the King is fixed at 26. So that there will be remaining a clear gain to~the Company of 122 laaks of Sicca rupees, or 1,650,900!. flerling : which will defray all the expences of the invefbments, fur- iiifli the whole of the China treafure, an- fwer the demands of all your other fet- tlements in India, and leave a confidera- ble balance in your treafury befides. In, . time of war, when the country may be iubject to the incurfions of bodies of ca- valry, we fliall, notwithstanding, be able to collect a fuilicient fum for our civil and military exigencies, and likewife for our inveftments ; becaufe a very rich part of the Bengal and Bahar. dominions are fituated to the eaflward of the Ganges, where we can never be invaded. What T 1 ! 1 1 have given you is a real, not an ima- ginary date of your revenues ; and you may be affiired they will not fall iliort of my computation. 1 4th. Permit me here to have the honour of laying before you one ftriking circumflance, which has occurred to me D 2 in in confldering the fubjecl of the Dew- annee, and the confequences of your large increafe of revenues. I have al- ready obferved, that/bur acquifition will give no umbrage to foreign nations, with refpecl to our territorial jurifdiclion, fo long as the prefent appearance of the Nabob's power is preferve^; but I am convinced they will e'er long entertain jealoufies of our commercial fuperiority. Public complaints have indeed been al- ready made from both French and Dutch factories, that the dread of the Englifh V name, added to the encouragement of your fervants at the different Aurungs, has deterred the weavers from complying; with their ufual and neceflary demands/; and I am perfuadecl that, fooner or later, national remonflrances will be made on that fubjecl:. Perhaps one half of the trade being referved to the Englifii Com- pany, and the other divided between the French, Dutch and Danes, in fuch pro- portions as may be fettled between their refpeclive CommiiTaries, might adjnft thefe difputes to the mutual fatisfaclion of all parties. Befldes, as every nation which trades to the Eait-Indies conftantly brings brings out filver, for the purchafe of merchandize in return, and as our reve- nues will for the future enable us to fur- nifh all our inveftmcnts without any re- mittance from England, it feems necef- fary that we mould, in fome degree, jjn- courage the trade of others, in order that tHIs country may be fupplied by them with Bullion, to replace the quantity we fliall annually fend to China, or to any other part of the world. It is impoffible for me to be a fufficient judge of the practicabi- lity, or propriety of admitting other na- tions to fuch a proportion of trade with us in thcfe parts, nor will you fufpeft that I entertain a thought of taking any ftep without inflruc'lions from you in an affair of fuch national importance. I do not even preliime to argue upon the fub- jecl; : I only mention it as a point which has occurred to me, and which I think well merits your moft ferious conlldera- tion. i jth. Considering the excefles we have of late years manifefted in our con- duel, the princes of Indoilan will not readily imagine us capable of moderation; nor can we expect they will ever be at- tached r 3 ] tached to us by any other motive than fear. Meer Jaffier Coilim Ally, the pre- fent Nabob, and even Mahomed Ally, the Nabob of Arcot (the beft MiifTul- rrtan I ever knew) have afforded in- ftances fufficient of their inclinations to throw off the Englifli fuperiority. No opportunity will ever be neglected that ieems to favor an attempt to extirpate us, though the confequences, while we keep our army complete, muft in the end be ' more fatal to themfelves. This impa- tience under the fubjeftion, as I may call it to Europeans is natural : but fb great is^the infatuation of the natives of this country, that they look no farther than the -preient moment, and will put their v all to the hazard of a ilngle battle. Even ouiV young Nabob, who is the hTue of a proftitute, who has little abilities, and lefs education to fupply the want of them; mean, weak, and ignorant as this man is, he would, if left to himfelf and a few of his artful flatterers, purfue the very paths of his predeceflbrs. It is impoflible, therefore, to truft him with power and be fafe. If you mean to main- tain your prefent poilellions and advan- tages, I 31 ] tages, .the .command of the army and re- ceipt of the revenues muft he kept in your own hands. Every wifli he may exprefs to obtain either, be allured, is an indication of his defi.re to reduce you to your original Hate of dependency, to which you can never now return without .ceafing to exift. If you allow the Nabob to have forces, he will foori raife money : if you allow him a full treafury, without forces, he will certainly make ufe of it to invite the IVIarattas, or other powers, to invade the country, upon a fuppo- fhion that we mall not fufpecl the part he takes, and that fuccefs will reftore him to the full extent of his fovereignty ; for fo ignorant is he even of the nature of his own countrymen, that he would never imagine the very men he had paid to refcue the dominions from us, would only conquer to teize the fpoil for thern- felves. Such is he whom we now call Nabob ; and fuch are the faithlefs politics of Incloflan. We have adopted, how- ever, a plan, which, if ftrictly adhered to, muft effectually prevent his involving the Company, or himfelf, in any difficul- ties. Mahomed Reza Cawn, .Roy Dul^ lub [ 32 ] lub and Juggut Seat, men of the mofl approved credit and moderation, are ap- pointed jointly to the management of all his affairs, nor is either of them to aft fingly in any meafure of government. The Royal Treafury is under three dif- ferent locks and keys, and each of thefe minifters of ftate has a key ; fo that no money can be uTued for any fervice what- ever without the joint knowledge and confent of them all. Our Refident at the Durbar is to infpect the treafury ac- counts, from time to time, as he or the Governor and Council may think proper: but we are never to interfere in the ap- pointment or complaints of any officer under the government, nor in any par- ticulars relative to the above-mentioned departments, unlefs fome extraordinary conduct of the Miniftry fhould render al- terations requifite. This form of go- vernment I thought proper to recom- mend, in order to purge the Court of a fet of knaves and parafites, by whom the Nabob was furrounded, and who were always undermining our influence, that they might the more firmly eftablifh their own. So far, you will obferve, we have [ 33 ] have exerted onrfelves in the arrangement of the Nabob's affairs : but it is a mcafurc of the utmofl confequence, flnce it lays the foundation of that tranquillity, mode- ration, and regularity which will fupport the government againft any future at- tempts to a revolution, and we are deter- mined to interefl ourfelves at the city in no other reipecl. I need only add, that Mr. Sykes, for whom we intend the re- fldentfhip, is a gentleman from whofe Inflexible integrity and long experience in the country politics we have reafbn to expect the moft exacl performance of every duty in fuch an important flat ion. 1 6th. The regulation of the Nabob's Miniftry, the acquifition of the Dewannee, and the honourable terms on which we have concluded a peace with the Vizier of the empire, have placed the dignity and advantages of the Englifh Eaft-India Company on a bafls more firm than our moft fanguine wifhes could a few months ago have lliggefted. Thefe however alone will not enfure your (lability : thefe are but the outworks which guard you from j^our natural enemies, the natives of the country i all is not fafe : danger ftill E fubfifla [ 34 1 fubflfts from more formidable enemies within : luxury, corruption, avarice, ra-> pacity, thefe have poiTelfiqn of your prin- cipal pofts, and are ready to betray your citadel. Thefe, therefore, mqft be extir- pated, or they will infallibly deftroy us ; for we cannot expert the fame caufes which have ruined the greateft kingdoms fhouldhave different effects on fuch a flate .as ours. That fudden growth of riches, from whence thofe evils principally arife, demands our moil ferious attention. The affairs of Bengal, however glorious and flourifhing the profpecl may now be, can-* not be fuccefsfully managed by men whole views extend not above a year or two, and who will fet all orders from the Court of Directors at defiance ; well knowing they mufl have acquired an affluent fortune, or at lead a comfortable independency, before refentment can reach them. A competency ought to be allowed to all your fervants, from the time of their arrival in India ; and ad- vantages (hould gradually increafe to each, in proportion to his ftation : but I would have few of them entertain hopes of returning to their native country till they c 35 r they (hall have attained the rank of Coun- cillor ; then the profpect fliould open to them, and they fliould be certain of being enabled to return in a few years with independent fortunes* This cer- tainly would arife from the freight of (hips, from the privileges of trade (the advantages of which you are not unac- quainted with) and alfo from the profits upon fait, beetel, and tobacco, agreeable tb the new regulation which we have made, in order to rectify the abufes that have been fo long committed in thofe branches of trade ; to the great- detri- ment of the country government, with- out view of benefit to the Company. i ^th. The regulation now ertabliflied for the fait trade will, I hope, be entirely to your fatisfaction. I at firfl intended tb propofe, that the Company and their iervants fhould be jointly and equally concerned in the trade itfelf: but, upon better conilderation, I judged that plan to be rather unbecoming the dignity of the Company, and concluded it would be better, that they fliould give the trade entirely to their fervants, and fix a duty upon it for themfelves equivalent to half E 2 the the profit?. This duty we have com- puted at the rate of 35 per cent, for the prefent ; but I imagine it will be able next year to bear an in create. The ar- ticles ofbeetel and tobacco, being of lefs confequence and yielding much Jefs ad- vantage, the duties upon them, of courfe, muft be lets. For farther particulars of thefe regulations I beg leave to refer you to the Committee letter and proceedings, I would not here trouble you with the repetition of a matter which is there fa fully laid before you. . 1 8th. The advantages propofed for the Governor and Council would un- doubtedly appear extremely large to thofe who are unacquainted with the riches of Bengal, and the numberlefs opportuni- ties which the Company's fervants have of acquiring money. But you, who are now perfectly informed of the revenues of thefe kingdoms, and the prodigious emoluments within the reach of gentle- men high in the fervice, will, I am per- fuaded, agree with me, that if fbme plan of the nature propofed be not adopted, the Governor and Council will not fail to acquire much larger fortunes, by other means [ 37 ] means, in a much fhorter time ; which mud always be productive of that quick fucceflion, not only fo detrimental to your commercial intereft, but fo totally incompatible with the acquifition of poli- tical knowledge, which ought now to be confidered as a very material qualifica- tion in all your civil as well as military iervants. To obviate an objection which may arife, that they may poffibly proceed in the old way of procuring money, not- withftanding they accept of thefe allow- ances, I would have an oath tendered to them, of as ftrong and folemn a nature as can be penned. I have drawn out the form of one, agreeable to my idea of the expedient, and have the honour to in- clofe it for your consideration. To this may be annexed a penalty-bond of 150,000!. to be executed by tire Go- vernor, and of 50,000 1. to be executed by each of the Council. Thus the con- fciences of fome will be awakened by the legal confequences of perjury, and pecu- niary puniQiment will be a fure guard over the ho.nefty of others. Could the hearts of men be known by their general character in fociety, or could their con- dud t s 1 dul in a ftate of temptation be afcertain* ed from their moderate attention to wealth whilft the fudden acquifltion of it waS impoffible, the propofal I make would be an affront to religion and morality: but fince that is not the cafe in any part of the world, and leaft of all fo in the Eaft , we muft, for our own fecurity, impofe fuch reftraints as fliall make it impoflible even for hypocrify to introduce corrupt tion. r 9th, Having thus fully fubmitted to you my fentiments on the civil depart- ment, permit me to trouble you with a few obfervations on the military, which deferves a no lefs ferious attention. In the former part of this letter I have men- tioned, that luxury and an abhorrence of fubordination had overfpread your army, but that the good effects of ap- pointing field officers had already become vifible. The Committee letter will in- clofe a general return of their number, and enlarge upon the neceffity of keep* ing each regiment complete to the efta- blifliment : I therefore avoid faying any thing here upon thofe fubjefts* That letter will- alfo fpecify the proportion of emolu- [ 39 ] emoluments propofed for the field offi- cers, from the new acquired advantages upon fait. The fame objection may per- haps be made to this, which I fuppofed was likely to occur with refpeft to the plan for the benefit of the civil fervants. If fo, I beg leave to refer you to my pro- pofal and remarks upon that fubjecl, which are equally proper and applicable to this. Thefe points then I conclude are lufficiently before you, and I proceed to recommend to your confi deration, that the regimenting of the troops has intro- duced a much larger number of officers of rank than has hitherto been admitted upon your eftablifliment ; and that this regulation, beneficial and necefTary as it is, will notwithftanding be productive of one dangerous evil, if not conftantly guarded againfl by the authority of the Governor and Council, fupported and enforced by the higher powers at home. The evil I mean to apprize you of, is, dje^ encroachment of the military upon the civil jurifdiction, and an attempt to be ir jmthority. A fpirit of this kind has always been vifible : our utmon; vigilance, therefore, is requifite [ 4 1 to fnpprefs it ; or at leaft to take care that it (hall not actually prevail. I have been at fbme pains to inculcate a total fubjec- tion of the army to the government, and I doubt not but you will ever maintain that principle. In the field, in time of actual fervice, I could wifli to fee the Commander of your forces implicitly re- lied on for his plan of operations. Or- ders from the prefldency may frequent- ly embarrafs him, and prejudice the fer- vice. At luch a time he is certainly the bed judge of what meafnres fliould be purfued, and ought, therefore, to be trufted with difcretionary powers. But he Should by no means be permitted to vary from the fixed general plan of a campaign, nor, from his own idea of the Company's intereft, to proiecute opera- tions of importance, when they are not alib of real utility and emergency. I dwell not, however, entirely upon the conduct of a Commander of the forces, as fuch, in the field. He is to underlland, that upon all occailons, a gentleman in coun- cil is his fuperior, unlefs he alfo has a feat at the Board, and then he will, of coude, rank as he ftands in that appoint- ment. t 4< ) meat. The whole army mould, in like manner, be fubordinate to the civil power ; and it is the indifpenfable duty of the Governor and Council to keep them fo If at any time they fliould ftrnggle for fuperiority, the Governor and Council mud llrenuoufly exert themfelves, ever mindful that they are truftees for the Company in this fettlement, and the guar^ dians of public property under a civil in- ftitution. 2oth. It would give me pain to fee a regulation ib falutary as that of the ap- pointment of field officers attended with any inconveniencies,and therefore I would earneftly recommend the following very eafy and effectual mode of prevention* Let the equality in civil and military rank be immediately fettled by the Court of Directors. Were difputes to happen about precedence the only points to be acljuft- ed, they would not be worth a moment's reflection : but we are to confider, that opportunities will fometimes happen when military gentlemen may aflume power and authority from the rank they hold among the civil fervants, and perhaps, pay no attention to orders iffued from F thek [ 4* 3 their fuppofed inferiors. Such content tions may have difagreeable confequences; and to prevent them, I propofe, that all the Colonels (the Commander of the troops excepted, who is entitled to the rank of third in council) (hall be equal in rank to the Councillors, but always the youngeft of that rank. The Lieutenant- colonels {liould rank with fenior mer- chants, the Majors with junior merchants; Captains with factors, and Lieutenants and Enfigns with writers. The rank of all officers below Colonels, and of civil iervants below Councillors, may be con- lidered according to the dates of their commiifions and appointments refpeclive- ly. When luch a regulation has taken place, I think the appointment of field officers cannot be charged with a fingle, inconvenience. 2 1 ft. Before I quit the fubjecl of the army, I mufl repeat what, if I miftake not, I mentioned to Mr. Rons before I left England, the propriety of appointing Sir Robert Barker to the command of a regiment, in cafe of a vacancy. On the death of Colonel Knox I helitated not to Appoint Sir Robert to the third regiment ; but t 43 1 Ibut it met with oppofition, not only fro Hi fome of the gentlemen in council, but afterwards from Sir Robert Fletcher, wh6 thought himfelf aggrieved, though at a time when Barker was a-Captain he \vas bnly a volunteer in your fervice : and befides Sir Robert Barker muftj on all oc- cafionSj as the elder officer, have com- manded in the field, in the abfence of Ge- neral Carnac and Colonel Smith, even if this appointment had not taken place. If I could imagine that his feniority in the fervice did not fufficiently intitle him to this preferment, I would urge his expe- rience, which is greater than that of the other gentleman, and his difiritereftednefs, which made him accept what is naoft in- finitely inferior, in point of emoluments, 4^ the command of the artillery. Lieu- tenant-colonel Peach has, in like manner, been objected to by the Majors appointed by the Governor and Council : but as it has always been cuftbmary to prefer of- ficers of your own appointment to thofe of the fame rank nominated by the Go- rior and Council, I need not point out the propriety of your confirming this gentle- man's commiflion. The introducing Lieu- F 2, tenant- E 44 1 tenant-colonel Chapman alfo to that rani! has met with the fame objections. With regard to him* permit me to acquaint you, that he is a very old Major in the King's fervice, that he was ftrongly {clicked at Madrafs to continue there, and on very advantageous terms, when- his regiment was ordered home ; but that I found him at the Cape, in his way to- Europe, and it was with the utmoft dif- ficulty that MefT. Surnner, Sykes and my-* felf could prevail upon him to return to India, next in rank to Lieutenant-colonel .Peach. His merits on the Coaft have been very great, and I conflder him as a very valuable acquisition to your fervice. I .therefore moft earneftly requeft you will be pleafed to confirm his appointment as Lieutenant-colonel on this eftablifhment. Neither of thefe three gentlemen I have here; fpoken of can be cenfured for that ipirit of licentioufnefs and independency which I have pointed out, as the great evils we ought to guard again ft : and the variety, as well as length of their fervices, .will certainly be of confiderable advan- tage to corps like ours. I muft at the fame time confefs, that I cannot be re- fponflble [ 45 j iponfibie for that difcipline and reform** tion we mean lliall take place, unlefs the field officers are men I can depend upon. Moft of the Captains now in your (ervice have had fo little experience, and are, I fear, fo liahle to the general objection, that I could wifli to have five or fix Cap- tains lent out who have feen fervice, who underftand difcipline, and who are well recommended by their Colonels. If you. ihould think proper to extend this plan to Majors, it will be fo much the better ; but there is no occafion to go higher* Among the appointments you may be pleafed to make in England, I could wall to find a majority upon this eftablifh- ment for Major Pemble, agreeable to the date of the Brevet given him upon his arrival at this place. That gentleman, has feen much fervice, both on the coaft of Choromandel, at Manitta, and at Ben- gal j but being on the Bombay eftablifh- ment, where the rife is fo very (low, he .has had the mortification to fee himfelf conflantly fuperfeded by the Coaft and Bengal officers. You may be allured I would not trouble you with this recom- mendation, if I did not know him to be worthy of your notice. J J [ 4 3 2 id. The enquiries I have found myfetf tinder the neceffity of promoting, the regulations which I judged proper fhould take place without delay ^ together with thofe I have here the honour to propofe for your mature deliberation, will, I doubt not, meet with that candid difcuP ilon which the importance of the fubjecl requires. You will 'be pleafed, upon the whole* to obferve, that the great object of my labour has been (and it muft alfo be yours) to ftem that torrent of luxury j corruption^ and licentioufnefs which have nearly overwhelmed the intereft, and I might add the exiftence of the Company in thefe parts ; to reduce your civil fer- vants to a fenfe of duty to their employers* and moderation in purfuit of their own advantages ; to introduce difcipline, fuh- ordination, and ceconomy into your army, and to prevent, in general, that fudden acquifition of riches which is evi- dently the root of almoft every other evil, both in the civil and military de- partments. f 23d. Is there a man anxious for the \ fpeedy return of his ion, his brother, or 'his friend, and felicitous to fee that re- turn [ 47 1 turn accompanied by affluence of for- tune, indifferent to the means by which it may have been obtained ? Is there who, void of all but felfifli feelings, can with-|x/~/. hold his approbation of any plan that/ > ^ promifes not fudden riches to thofe of his|oC cleared connections, who can look with contempt upon meafures of moderation y \ s*^ and who can cherifli all upftart greatnels, f^Z though ftigmatized with the ipoils of the Company ? If there is fuch a man, to him all arguments would be vain ; to him I fpeak not. My addrefs is to thole who can judge coolly of the advantages to be defired for their relations and friends, nor think the body corporate wholly unentitled to their attention. If thefe fliould be of opinion, that an in- dependent fortune honourably acquired, in a faithful fervice of 1 2 or 15 years, is more compatible with the interefts of the Company than the late rapidity of acqui- jitions, and at the fame time iatisfaftory to the expectations of reafon, I will ven- ture to afTert, that the regulations already made, together with thole propofed, will, when enforced by the authority of the Court of Directors, enfure to the Com- pany [ 48 ] pany their commercial and political ad- Yantages, and be productive of certain independency to every fervant who en- deavours to deferve it. 24th. The general terms in which I have mentioned the depravity of this fet- tlement, oblige me to point out to your attention, the in fiances, the very few in- fiances of diflingui(lied merits among the fuperior fervants. To find a man who, in the midfl of luxury and licentioufnefs, had retained the true idea of commercial ceconomy ; who, inferior in fortune to mofl of you civil fervants in the rank of Councillors, was yet fuperior to all in moderation and integrity ; whofe regard for the welfare of the public, and for the reputation of individuals, had made him warn others from falling into the tempta- tions of corruption, which he faw were approaching, and who could aclually re-, fid thofe temptations himfelf, when a {hare was allotted him of money he thought unwarrantably obtained ; to find ilieh a man in fuch a fettlement would appear incredible to thofe who are unac- quainted with Mr. Verelfl. I have re^ prefented this gentleman to you, ! as I would t 49 1 would every one, in his real character : and (hall only add, that if you wifli to fee the meafures we are now purfuing fupported with integrity, abilities and resolution, you will endeavour to prevail ,on him to continue in your iervice, by appointing him to fucceed Mr. Sumner in the government. To omit mentioning Mr. Carder would be injuftice, as he alib flands high in my opinion. His cliaracler is clear ; and his attachment to your fer- vice what it ought to be, unbiafled by any mean attention to his own advantages. I wifh. fincerely your lift of fuperior fer- vants would enable me to detain you longer on fubjecls of commendation ; but I have finiflied the picture, and can- not add another figure that defervcs to be diftinguifhed from the groupe. 25th. Having filled ib many pages up- ion the fubjecl of public affairs, you will indulge me with a few lines upon a cir- cumftance which concerns myfelf. Mr. Johnftone, in his laft miuutp in council, has thought proper to throw out fome ob- Jervations upon the validity of my title o the jaghire, infinuating that the clefec"t which he pretends to have difcovered was G not [ 50 ] riot known at the time of my litigation with the Company. As I would not wifh that a point in \vhich my honour is con- cerned fhould pafs unnoticed, I muft ob- ierve, that the King's funnud, which Mr. Johnftone affirmed was requifite to be at- tained within 6 months from the granting of the jaghire for the conformation of it, is a matter of form only, and not under* flood to be efTential, As a proof of this, Iin> clofe tranflations of various jaghire grants, properly attefted by Mr. Vanfittart, the Perfian tranflator; as alfo an atteftation of the fame gentleman, that the grant to me was as complete as other grants of that nature generally are : but to put this matter out of difpute, the paper of agree-* ment which Mr. Johnftone alludes to, is of 110 more confequence than a piece of blank paper, fince it was never executed by me, or by any agent, or vaquiel on my account ; nor was any agent ever named, or thought of by me, jnclofed, I trarifi mityou a tranflation of the very paper, at^ tefted alfo by Mr. Vanfittart, 26th. Permit me now to remind you that I have a large family who fland in fteex} of a father's protecUop ; that I (acrir fke rily health and hazard my fortune, with my life, by continuing in this cli- mate. The firil great purpofes of my ap-> pointment are perfectly anfwered : peace is reftored, and my engagement to pro^ cure for the Company the reveriion of my jaghire is completed in the fulleft man* ner, fince it is not only confirmed by the prefent Nabob, but by the Greac Mogul* I no\V only wait to be informed whether my conduct thus far be approved of, and whether the whole, or any part of the regulations I have had the honour to lay before you are conformable to your ideas of the reformation neceffary to be eftabliflied. If they meet with your appro- bation, I doubt not you will immediately empower me, in conjunction with the Select Committee, to finifli the bufinefs fo fucceisfully begun; which may eafily be effected before the end of the eniulng year, when I atn determined to return to ,Eu rope, and hope to acquaint you in per- ibn with the accomplifhment of every wifh you can form for the profperity of your affairs in Bengal. 27th. I (hall conclude this tedious letter by obferving, that my anxiety to G 2 r: ** i know whetheryou approve of my conduct, or not, can proceed from no other motive than my concern for the public : fined I continue invariable in the refolution I formed and exprefled in a General Court, long before the covenants were propofed, of acquiring no addition to my fortune by my acceptance of the government/: and I beg leave alfo to allure you, that in order to obviate all fufpicion of a col- luflon in this delicate point, I have not permitted either of the gentlemen of my family to hold an employment in your fervice, nor to receive prefents, although they are not bound by covenants to the contrary. The fmall congratulatory nazurs, elephants, hories, &c. which I have been under a neceffity of receiving, do not, I imagine, amount to any con- fid erabk fum ; but whatever it may be, not a farthing (hall go into my ovvti pocket. I have hitherto been too much engaged in matters of public importance to attend to a particular valuation ; but I have caufecl an exacl: account to be kept of every, even the mod trifling .prefent, which at my return (hall be Submitted to your infpedion : and in the [ 53 ] the mean time, the amount of the whole fliall go towards defraying my extraordi- nary expences, as Governor. The only favour I have to folicit for myfelf is, that although your treafury here will for the future be fo full as to render it difficult for individuals to obtain bills upon the Company, payable at home, you will be pleafed to indulge me with the ufual channel of remittance of my jaghire, un- till it reverts to the Company. I have the honour to be, with the ut- moft refpect, GENTLEMEN, Your moil obedient and mofl humble fervant, * (Signed) CLIVE. To the Honourable the COVRT of DIRECTORS. 28th. I cannot help requefting your attention to Mr. William Wynne, a young gentleman whom I brought out to India with me, and whom I was in ^opes of feeing [ 54 1 feeing appointed a writer ori the lift of that year. I have eaufed him to tran- fcribe this letter, that you may fee he is qualified in point of penmanfhip ; and as he has lived constantly with me, and afted as afliftant to my fecretary, I can take upon me to be refponfible for his condud: and abilities in every refpecl. It is, therefore, my particular requeft, that you confer on him the flation of a writer, to take rank from the time of his leaving England. 29th. I beg leave alfo to recommend to your protection Mr. Maddifon,agentleman of a liberal education, and who promifes to be a very valuable iervant to the Com- pany, from an uncommon facility in ac- quiring the Perfian language. As he is 27 years of age, you will not think me un- reafonable in foliciting for him the ap- pointment of a faclor. (Signed) CLIVE. COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE RIGHT HON. LORD CLIVE, And the Reft of the SELECT COMMITEE, at FORT WILLIAM, in BENGAL, T o T H E COURT OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY. I Dated the 30th September 1765. J ^ vut ^c GENTLEMEN, f ft. r T^HE accompanying proceedings X of the Select Committee will ex- plain our motives for purchaflng the Ad- miral Stevens to convey to your hands thefe difpaches, which we hope will be deemed of fufficient importance to merit any extraordinary expence thereby in- curred ; an expenee which we flatter our- felves [ 56 ] felves will be fully defrayed by the valu- able cargo which (he carries home at this early feafon. 2d. By the general letter of this date you will be informed, by the Prefldent and Council, of every material concern that has been tranfacled before the Board. At the fame time, we beg leave to refer to the letters difpatched by the Vaniittart and J3ute (whereof duplicates are now in- clofed) for a detail of the military opera- tions, political occurrences, and efpe- cially the very important tranfaclions pre- vious to our arrival, and fubfequent to the death of Meer Jaffier. An event that furnimed the moil glorious opportunity of efta'blifhing your influence and power on fo folid a bafis, as muft foon have renr dered the Englifh Eaft-India Company the mod potent commercial body that ever flourimed at any period of time,. 3d. It is from a due lenfe of the regard we owe and profefs to your intereft, antl to our own honour, that we think it in- difpenfably neceflary to lay open to your view a feries of traiifaclions too iiotori- oufly known to be fupprefTed, and too affecting to your intereft, to the national character. [ 57 1 character, and to the exigence of the Com- pany in Bengal, to eCcape unnoticed and uncenfured : tranfaclions which feem to demonstrate, that every fpring of 'this go- vernment was fmeared with corruption; that principles of rapacity and oppreilion univerfally prevailed, and that every fpark of fentiment and public fpirit was loft and extinguiflied in the unbounded luft of unmerited wealth. 4th. To illuftrate thefe pofitions, we muft exhibit to your view a mod un- pleafing variety of complaints, inquiries, evidences, accufations and vindications, the particulars of which are entered in our proceedings and the appendix ; aP- furing you, that we undertake this tafk with peculiar reluclance, from the per- fonal regard we entertain for fome of the gentlemen whofe characters will appear to be deeply affected. 5th. At Fort St. George, we received the firft advices of the demife of Meer Jaf- fier,ancl of Shujah Dowlah's defeat. It was there firmly imagined, that no definitive meafures would be taken, either in re- fpeft to a peace, or filling the vacancy in the Nizamut, before our arrival, as the H Lapwing [.' 5? 3 Lapwing arrived 'in the month of January with your general letter, and the ap- pointment of a Committee, with ..exprels powers to that purpofe, for the fucceisful exertion of which the happieft occafion now offered. However a contrary refo- lution prevailed in the Council. The op- portunity of acquiring immenfe fortunes was too inviting to be neglected, and the temptation too powerful to be rellfted. A treaty was haftily drawn up by the Board, or rather tranfcribed, with a few unimportant additions, from that conclud- ed, with Meer Jaffier; and a deputation, confiftiog of Meilieurs Johnftone, Senior, Middleton and Leycefter, appointed to raile the natural fon of the deceafecl Na- bob to the Subahdarry, in prejudice of the claim of the grandfon ; and for this meaiiir.e inch reafons are affigned as ought to have dictated a diametrically opposite refolution. Miran's fon was a minor: which -circumftance alone would have na- turally brought the whole adminiflratioii into our hands, at a juncture when it became indifpeniably necefTary we mould realize that fhaclow of power .and in- fluence which, having no folid founda- : tion 3 [ 59 ] tlon, was expofed to the clanger of being annihilated by the firfl ftroke of aclverie fortune. But this inconiifleiicy was not regarded, nor was it material to the views for precipitating the treaty which was prefled on the young Nabob, at the firft 'view, in io earned and indelicate a man- ner as highly diigufted him and cha- grined his miniflers ; while not a fingle rupee was ftipulated for the Company, whofe intereils were facrificed, that their fervants -might revel in the fpoils of a treafury before impoveriflied, but- now totally exhauiiecl. 6th. This fcene of corruption was firft difclofed at a viiit the Nabob paid to Lord Clive and the gentlemen of the Commit- tee, a few days after our arrival. He there delivered to his Lordfliip a letter, filled with bitter complaints of the infults and indignities he had been expofed to, and the embezzlement of near twenty laaks of rupees, iffaed from his 'treafury, for purpofes unknown, during the late negotiations. So public a complaint could not be difregarded : and it fooii pro^ duced an enquiry. We referred the let- ter to the Board, in expectation of ob- H 2 taining [ 60 ] taining a fatisfactory account of the ap- plication of this money; and were an- fvvered only by a warm remonftrance, entered by Mr. Leycefter, againft that v.ery Nabob in whole elevation he boafts of having been a principal agent. yth, Mahomed Reza Cawn, the Naib Subah, was then called upon to account for this large dilburfement from the trea- fury : and he foon delivered to the Com- rnittee the very extraordinary narrative entered in our proceedings of the 6th Tune, wherein he fpecifies the feveral names, the fums by whom paid, and to whom, whether in bills, cam, or obliga- tions. So precife, fo accurate an account as this, of money iffued for fecret and venal iervices, was never, we believe, before this period exhibited to the ho- nourable Court of Directors ; at leaft ne~ ver vouched by fuch undeniable tefti^ mony, and authentic documents; by Jug- gut Seat, who himfelf was obliged to contribute largely to the fums demanded by Mootyram, who was employed by Mr. Johnflone in all theie pecuniary tranfac- tions ; by the Nabob, and Mahomed Reza Cawn, who were the heaviefl fufferers, and, and, laftly, by the confeflion of the gentle- men themfelves, whofe names are fpeci- fted in the diftribution lift. 8th. Juggut Seat exprefly declares, in his narrative, that the fum which he a- greed to pay the deputation, amounting to 125,000 rupees, was extorted by me-" naces ; and iince the clofe of our enquiry, and the opinions we delivered in the pro- ceedings of the 2 1 ft June, it fully ap- pears, that the prefents from the Nabob and Mahomed Reza Cawn, exceeding the *be immenfe fum of feventeen laaks, were not the voluntary offerings of gratitude, but contributions levied on the weaknefs of the government, and violently exai> ed from the dependent ftate and timid difpofition of the minifter. The charge indeed is denied on the one hand, as well as affirmed on the other. Your honour- able Board muft, therefore, determine how far the circumftance of extortion may aggravate the crime of difobedience to your pofitive orders, the expofing the government in a manner to fale, and re- ceiving the infamous wages of corruption from oppofite parties and contending in- terefts. We fpeak with boldnefs, becaufe we we fpeak from conviction founded upon indubitable facts, that befldes the above {urns, fpecined in the diftributioii account to the amount of 228,125!. fterling,-there >vas Jikewife to the value of feveral laaks of rupees procured from Nundcomar and Roydullub, each of whom afpirecl at, and obtained a promife of that very employ- ment that was predetermined to be be- flowed on Mahomed Reza Cawn. The particulars of this extraordinary bargain came too late to our hands to be inserted in the proceedings ; nor do we think. j^ material, iince to infifl on farther proofs than are already fully and clearly exliH bitecl, in order to convince you that our enquiry was neceffary and our decifion moderate, would, we apprehend, ferve rather to exhauft your patience than con- firm your belief. oth. Thefe particulars being flibmitted to your confideration, it may be neceP fary to offer a few remarks on the argu- ments urged by thefe gentlemen in their feveral minutes, either in their own jufti- fication, or with a view that our proceed- ings mould appear arbitrary and oppref- live. MefT. Johnftone, Senior, Leycefter, Burdett r of this folemn aflevera- tion amounts only to an evafion in re-* J 2 fpeft I 68 ] fpeft to time and circumftances, which no way affect the nature of the act itfelf. 1 3th. Having now explained the ori- gin and progrefs of this difagreeable en- quiry, we beg leave to touch upon a few circumfiances in juftification of the lenity of our opinions delivered, and refolu- tions entered in the Committee proceed- ings of the 2ift of June. And here we muft obferve, that notwithflanding we believed a reformation of abufes to be actually our duty, yet we could not think the fame duty neceflarily extended to the punifliment of tranfgreifions. We owed a regard to the perfons and characters of fome of the gentlemen concerned, who mutt differ extremely by a fufpenflon, or difmiifion. The great objects of our wifhes were, that your fervice might in future be conducted with integrity, dili- gence and ceconomy, without a retrofpeci to the palt, where it could be avoided. The fubject indeed of the prefent enquiry was fo recent, it was of ie> interefting a nature to the public, and came recom- mended to us, or rather was forced upon us, with fuch peculiar circumftances as rendered our proceeding to a fcrutiny neceflary neceflary to our reputation ; but the feverity of judgment, and a decillon. \vhich would have left fo great a void ill your Council, was not equally neceflary either to your intereft or to our honour. Such an event might have imprefTed the minds of the natives with ftrange ideas of the fluctuating fituation of our Coun- cils : and it would unvoidably have ad- mitted a number of your junior fervants to the fupreme direction of this vaft ma- chine of government, at an age little exceeding that periocj fixed by the laws of their country for entrufling them witk the management of their own private fortunes. We muft farther obferve, that many of the moft aggravating clrcum- ftances had not then reached our know- ledge ; at the fame time we were under the neceflity of coming to fome determi- nation. Shujah Dowlah impatiently ex~ peeled Lord Clive in camp, to conclude the propofed treaty and the regulations of the government lately eftablulied ; and other matters, then tranfafting, abfb- lately required Mr. Sykes's attendance at the Durbar. Some of the extraordinary above related were obtained linc,e their [ 7 ] their departure ; and had they come iboner, they would have ferved only to perplex and embarrafs us the more. In a word, to obviate future evils we confl- dered as our immediate duty, the punim- nieiit of paft mifconduft we chofe to refer to your honourable Board, that malice itfelf fhould have no foundation for af- ferting, that we had afTumed and exerted a power not fully and exprefly authorized by the Court of Directors. We think it necefTary to declare, in juftice to Mr. Carder, that his character (lands irre- proachable in the lift of your fervants ; that he never knew of, or contented to the receiving any the fmalleft prefent, either from the Nabob, or from Maho- med Reza Cawn. 1 4th. Although we will not take upon us to declare, that we entirely approve of the covenants, in the form in which they have been tranfmitted, yet we are perfuaded, from the inftances juft related, that fome reflraint is neceflary to prevent the abufe of the cuflomary indulgence to receive prefents: this indulgence has cer- tainly been extended to the moft mame- ful oppreffion and flagrant corruption, and i 71 i and is otherwife attendee! with manifold inconvenienciesto the fervice. We, there- fore, determined immediately to enforce your inftructions, relative to thole ob- ligations ; and to bind down by laws all fuch as are not to be checked by a fenfe of honour and juftice: you will accordingly obferve, that carrying thofe orders into ftricl: execution, throughout every depart- ment, civil and military, was among the earliefl tranfaclions of your Select Com- mittee. 1 5th. We alfo took an early opportu- nity of confidering the tendency of -your repeated inftructions for recalling free merchants and other Europeans, who without trie lead claim to your protection from indentures, were neverthelels per- mitted to refide up the country, and in all the different parts of the Nabob's dominions. Sorry we are to obferve, that this indulgence has frequently given birth to grievous acts of infult and oppreflion at places remote from the prefldency and fubordinate factories, and that carrying your orders Jnto execution becomes daily more necefTary. By this meafure, however, the bufinefs of your fervants will fuffer [ 72 1 conficlerably, from their being now obliged to employ black Gomaftahs on many affairs that demand the vigour and activity of Europeans. Hence like wife will many per- fons of real merit be deprived of the means of fubfiltence : yet, in conflderation that private intereft muft give way to public benefit, and that it is our duty to obey where your immediate interelts do not abfolutely require a deviation from your orders, we determined to recall all the Europeans redding up the country un- der protection of the Englifli name, by the 2ift day of October next, and have for that purpofe circulated advertifements and orders to the different fubordinates. 1 6th. Regulating the country govern- ment was the next object of your atten- tion. We found the Nabob highly diilatif- n*ed with the plenary powers vefted in Mahomed Reza Cawn, who, by virtue of the treaty, afted in quality of prime Minuter, and enjoyed uncontrouled au- thority. This unlimited fway, lodged in the hands of a tingle perfon, appeared dangerous to the prefent eitablhliment ; which we thought it becoming the Com- pany's honour to maintain, as having been [ 73 ] . been folemnly ratified by the Governor and Council. To amend the very obvi- ous defeats in the treaty, without over- fetting the principles on which it was founded, was conflflent with equity, jvvhile it met with the Nabob's own ap- probation. And the mofl effectual means of doing this feemed, to us, to confift in an equal partition of minifterial influence. As Mahomed Reza Cawn's fhort adminii- tration was irreproachable, we deter- mined to continue him in a mare of the authority, at the fame time that we aflb- ciated with him men of weight and cha- racter ; fo that each became a check on the conduct of the others. Accordingly we fixed on Juggut Seat and Roydullub, for the reafons afligned in the proceed- ings, and we now have the pleafure to acquaint you, that the bufinefs of the government goes on with unanimity, vigour and difpatch. I yth. By the laft difpatches you were advifed, that Shujah Dowlah was nyaking frefli and formidable preparations to-pc-fc netrate a fecond time into the Nabob's Dominions. He had found means to engage Mulhar, a considerable Marattali K Chief, [ 74 1 Chief, in his alliance ; and if the judicious and vigorous meafures puriued by Gene- ral Carnac had not prevented a junction of the numerous forces deftined for this invafion, a ruinous war nmft have been lupported through the courfe of another campaign. The enemy's iltuation ren- dered their defign for fome time uncer- tain, and obliged the General to great circumfpecHon in his movements, left he iliould leave the frontiers expofed. Hav- ing, however, at length received un- doubted advice they had taken the Korah Road, he fufpefted their intention was to fall upon Sir Robert Fletcher, who com- manded a feparate corps in that diftricl, Accordingly he made fome forced marches to effect a junction, which he happily ac- complifhed, and then the united army moved in pnrfuit of the enemy. On the 3d day of May .the General came up with,, attacked and entirely defeated them : in eonfequence of which Shuj ah Dowlah fepa- rated from his allies, while the Marat- tahs retired with precipitation towards the Jumna. : In fact, this blow appears to have been decifive ; for Shuj ah Dowlah never again attempted to join the Marat-* tahs, [ 75 ] tahs, who obferving the General dropt the puriuit, in order to watch the Vizier, made a fecond effort to re-enter Korah, in which they were difappointed. Per- fuaded that, to flop their incurfions, i^ would be necefTaiy to drive them beyond the Jumna, the General eroded the river the 22d, diflodged them from their poft on the oppolite fide, and obliged them to retire to the hills. Here he quitted his purfuit, and returned to his ftation atjafimall, to receive Shujah Dowlah, who had intimated a defire of fubmkting to whatever conditions we flionld think fit to prescribe. His letter to the General expreiles his feelings : and the reception, he met with in our camp was fuch as po- licy dictated fliould be given to a van- quifhed enemy of Shujah Dowlah's rank and character. r 8th. A peace with the Vizier became the next immediate object of our delibera- tions: in adjufting which we endeavour- ed to extend our views beyond the prefcnt advantages that might polfibly be obtained. We regarded Shujah Dowlah's perfonaj, character, and high reputation over the whole empire ; the fituatioii of his counr K 2 (try, [ 76 ] try, which we had conquered, nnd the great rifle and expence of maintaining this conquefl if we clofed in with the plan adopted by the late Governor and Coun- cil, of giving it up to Nadjuff Cawn ; who had neither weight of reputation, nor of force fufficient to keep pofTeffion, nor to form a fecure barrier to the Nabob's dominions. The words of our inflruclions to Lord Clive, when he left the prefidency to adjufl the conditions of a peace, ex- prefs the fentiments which we flill enter- tain on this fubjeft. " Experience hav- ." ing fhewn, that an influence obtained " by force of arms is deftruclive of that " commercial fpirit which we ought to " promote, ruinous to the Company and " opprelfive to the country, we earneflly " recommend to your Lordfhip, that you " will exert your ntnioft endeavours to *.' to conciliate the affections of the coun- " try powers, to remove any jealoufy they " may entertain of our unbounded am- ** bition, and to convince them we aim " not at conquefl and dominion, but " fecurity in canying on a free trade, " equally beneficial to them and to us. " With [ 77 3 " With this view, policy requires that our demands be moderate and equita- ble, and that we avoid every appear- ance of an inclination to enlarge, our territorial pofTeffions. The facrifice of conquefts which we muft hold on a very precarious tenure, and at an expence more than equivalent to their revenues, is of little confequence to us ; yet will fuch reftitution imprefs them with an high opinion of our generolity and juflice. " For thefe reafons, we think Shuj-ah Dowlah mould be reinftated in the full pofTeflion of all his dominions,, with inch limitations only as he muft fee are evidently calculated for our mutual benefit. We would decline infifting upon any terms that muft prove irk- ibme to his high fpirit, and imply a iufpicion of his flncerity. Retaining pofleflion of any of his high holds may poilibly be deemed a necefTary pledge of his fidelity : for our parts, we would rather confider it as the fource of fu- ture contention, and an unneceflary burthen to the Company, unlefs it be one clay propofed to refume the thoughts " of [ 78 1 * of extending their dominions, a mea- tf fure very oppofite to the fentiments in ** which we left the Court of Directors." 1 9th. Agreeable to thele inftructions, his Lordihip and General Carnac con- cluded a treaty of peace with Shujah Dowlah, that will, if any thing can, fe- cure his friendlhip and fidelity, and ren- der the .public tranquillity permanent. They found him extremely averfe to the eftablifhmentof factories in his dominions, which he confidered as laying the foun^ elation of a future rupture, and the only thing that could poffibly diftufb our ami- ty. He very juftly obferved, that our encroachments in Bengal, the great abufes of the Company's fervants, and extraor- dinary extenfion of the privileges origi- nally granted to the Englifli, had been' productive of much confufion and blood- Ilie4 in Bengal, and he feared might pro-' dupe fimilar confequences in his country.' Accordingly Lord Clive and General Car^ nac judged it advifeable to omit the word Factories in the treaty, but without re- linquilhing the right, fhould it be found expedient after mature deliberation to icnforce it. To fpeak our fentiments free- t 79 1 ly, we can forefee no benefit that can arife to the Company from maintaining fettlements at fo vaft a diftance from the prelldency, whatever advantages may a- rife to their fervants ; at leafl the profpecl: is fo remote, while the expences are fo certain, the rifk fo evident, and the dif- putes it will occafion fo probable, that -we are at prefent of opinion, that the factory lately eflabliflied at Benaris ought immediately to be withdrawn, we mean as foon as the agreement between the Company and Bulwantfmg is expired. The limits of the Nabob's dominions are fufficient to anfwer all your purpofes. Thefe, we think, ought to conflitute the boundaries, not only of all your terri- torial pofTeflions and influence in thefe parts, but of your commerce alfo ; fince by grafping at more you endanger the fafety of thofe immenfe revenues, and that well-founded power which you now enjoy, without the hope of obtaining an adequate advantage. 20th. With refpeft to the other articles of the treaty, you will obierve, that a fuf- ficient proviflon is fecured for the fupport of the King's honour and dignity, with- out out danger of his becoming a future in- eumbrance ; and that twenty-fix laaks yearly are granted to him on the reve- nues of Bengal, a revenue far more con- fiderable than he ever before enjoyed. Jn gratitude for this inftance of our at- tention to his intereft, his Majefty has been pleafed to beftow on the Company the moft important grants ever yet ob- tained by any European ftate from the Mogul Court. Befides confirming to the Company all their former pofTeflions, and fecuring to tjiem the revcrfion in perpe- tuity of Lord dive's Jaghire, he has con- ferred on them the Dewannee of Bengal, Bahar and Orixa, and ratified, in the ilrongeft terms, an agreement we pro- pofed concluding with the Nabob, if the King's confent could be procured ; fub- jefts which it will be necefTary to explain in a feparate paragraph. Another article ftipulates, that Shujah Dowlah mall pay the Company fifty laaks of rupees, by way of indemnification for the charges in- curred by the war. This indemnification -we know inadequate : but his circum- fiances would not afford more, without oppreffing the country, and thereby lay- ing lug the foundation of future contention and trouble ; and accordingly yoa will perceive that no money is granted for any other consideration whatever. A to furrendering CoiFim Ally, Sombre and the deferters,, complying with fiich a de- mand is now utterly out of his power. The former we hear has fought flicker in -the Rqhillah country, and the latter re- iide under the protection of the Jams, Screened both from Shujah Dowlah and Irom us ; fo that making this an eflential preliminary wguJd be highly unreafpn- able and abfurd. However It is Stipu- late^, that they fhall never *neet with encouragement or affiftance from Shujah Dowlah, or be ever again admitted into his country. Upon the whole, we have paid fuch regard to Shujah Dow lah's cha- racter and intexeft, and Jto what juftice as well ag po.ligy requires, without any the frnalleft fgcrifice of ygur honour or intereft^ that w^ entertadn the moft flat- tering hope this treaty of peace will be lafliqg, and our frontiers on that quarter perfectly fecure againft future invalions. ^ift. The time now approaches when, syj? may be able to determine, with fome L degree [ 82 ] degree of certainty, whether our remaining as merchants, fubjecled to the jurifdi&ion, encroachments and infults of the country government, or the fupporting your pri- vileges and pofleflibns by the fword, are likely to prove moft beneficial to the Com- pany. Whatever may be the confequence, certain it is, that after having orice be- gun and proceeded to fuch lengths as we have been forced to go, from (tep to ftep, until your whole pofleiTions were put to the riik by every revolution effected, and every battle fought, to apply a remedy to thefe evils, by giving {lability 'and per- tnariency to your government, is now and has been the conftant object of the the ferious attention of your SdlecT Com- mittee. 22d. The perpetual ftruggles for fu- periority between the Nabob's and your agents, together with the recent proofs before us of notorious and avowed cor- ruption, have rendered us unanimoufly of opinion, after the moft mature deli- beration, that no other method could be fuggefted of laying the axe to the root of all thefe evils, than that of obtaining the Dewannee of Bengal, Bahar and Orixa for thq the Company. By eftablifhing the power of the Great Mogul, we have like wife eftablifhed his rights: and his Majefty, from principles of gratitude, equity and policy, has thought proper to beftow this important employment on the Company ; the nature of which is, the collecting of all the revenues, and after defraying the expences of the army, and allowing a fufftcient fund for the fupport of the Ni- zamut, to remit the remainder to Delhi, or wherever the King fliall reflde, or di- rect. But as the King has been gracioufly pleafed to beftow on the Company for ever, fuch furplus as fliall arife from the revenues, upon certain ftipulations and .agreements exprefTed in the Simnud, we have fettled with the Nabob, with his own free will and content, that the fum of fifty-three laaks {hall be annually paid to him for the fupport of his dignity, and all contingent expences, exclufive of the charge of maintaining an army, which is to be defrayed out of the revenues ceded to the Company by this royal grant of the Dewannee ; and indeed the Nabob has abundant reafoii to be well fatisfied with the conditions of his agreement, L 2 whereby C 84 I whereby a fund is fecured to him, with- out trouble or danger, adequate to all the purpoies of ftich grandeur and happinefs as a man of his fentiments has any con- ception of enjoying. More would ferve only to difturb his quiet,, endanger his government and fap the foundation of that folid flruclure of power and wealth which, at length, is happily reared and eompleated. by the Company, after a vaft expence of blood and treafure. 230!. By this acquifltion of the De- wannee,your pofTeffions and influence are rendered permanent and fectire ;. finceno* future Nabob will either have power or riches fufficient to attempt your over- throw by means either of force or Corrup- tion. All revolutions muft hence for- ward be at an end, as there will be no fund for fecret fervices, for donations, or for reftitutions. The Nabob cannot an- Iwer the expectations of the venal- and mercenary, nor will the Company com- ply with demands injurious to thernfelves, ut of their own revenues* I'he expe- rience of years has convinced u's, that a- divifion of power is impoflible, without generating difconient,. and hazarding the whole^ 1 85 } whole* All rrmft belong either to tlie Company or to the Nabob : and we leave you to judge which alternative is the nioft defirable,, and the moft expedient in the prefent circumftanees of affairs. As to ourfelves, we know of no fyftem we could adopt, that would lefs aflecl: the Nabob's dignity y and at the fame time fecure the Company againfl the fatal ef- fects of future revolutions, than this of the Dewannee. The power is now lodged where it can only be lodged with fafety to us ^ fo that we may pronounce, with fbme degree of confidence,, that the word lhat will happen in future to the Com- pany will proceed from temporary ra- vages only; which caln never become fo- general as to prevent your revenues from yielding a fufficient ftmd to* defray your civil and military charges, and furni(h your inveftments. I4th But to fecure thefe valuable jpof- feflions,. a conftant regard muft be paid to your military eftabliQiment. T3y the regimental returns which we inclofe in the packet, and which are very exac\ you will fee at one view the deplorable condition of our infantry; to complete 86 ] Which, agreeable to your directions ancj ito the propofal made by Lord Clive, not lefs than nine hundred men will fuffice. We therefore moft earneftly requeft, that you will next year fend out twelve or fourteen hundred men for this eftablifh- ment ; giving fuch peremptory orders as muft be obeyed, that none of this num- ber be detained upon any confideration on the coaft of Choromandel. Our num- bers once completed, we {hall require, for the fecurity of your immerife pofle iions in this country, riot riiore than fix hundred recruits to be fent but annually in the following manner, viz. five hun- dred infantry, iixty artillery, twenty cavalry, and twenty ferjeants for the Sea^- poys. To this number muft be added thirty volunteers and officers; and it would be of the utmofl benefit to our plan, that you fend out every year iix or feven gentlemen from the Academy at Woolwich, for artillery officers ; this be- ing a fervice that fufFers extremely for want of perfons properly inftrucled to conduct it, fince no officer who knows the benefit of die infantry fervice here wilLchufe to quit it for any advantage the artillery will afford. E 7 1 25th Already we feel the good effects of regimenting your troops. Difcipline, fubordinatioii and ceconomy begin to to take place. Had General Carnac's merit been much greater, if poffible, than it is, he could not effect this of himfelf, unaP fifted as he was by field officers, and thwarted as he always has been by the late Governors and Councils. We have already hTued our orders for ftriking off half the double Batta, and (hall in a very few days put your forces entirely upon a footing with the troops on the coaft of Choromandel ; which will be reducing your military expences as low as they can well bear, confidently with your in- tereft and the good of the fervice. 26th. Before we quit this fubjec~t, we muft requeft in the ftrongeft manner, you will fupply us, for the firfl year, with 10,000 flands of fmall arms, and afterwards with 4000 annually ; which will in future anfwer all our demands, if proper care be taken in the pur- chafe. Of late years, the bad quality of your fmall arms in general has expofed your pofTellions to the greateft rifk and danger. The locks are ill finifhed, and the metal fo b^clly tempered, as not to {land the heat of the fun in this climate, We are, therefore, perfuaded it would prove in the end much to your advantage, If you purchafed all your (wall arms of the fame perfons who furnifli the govern- ment, apd pay at the rate of twenty- feven, inftead of eighteen (hillings per relock ; lince experience demonftrates they will continue ferviceable for double the time, without being liable to the in- conveniencies above reprefented. The iron-founder, whom you fent out in the Kent, died on his paflage to this place ; but as thecafting of (hot and (hells in this country is an object of great importance, we (Irongly recommend that you will .fupply the lofs as foon as poffible, by fending three or four perfons well verfed in that bulinefs, that our whole defign may not be fruftrated by fuch an accident in future. It alfo merits your ferious con- iideradon to provide, by every poffible means, againft the illicit importation of fmall arms to your fettlenients in India, and particularly Bengal. Of late years this was become a profitable branch of trade with the Europe Captains, as well as I 89 ] as that of furnifliing the natives with ammunition ; and they elude the fearches of your officers by lending round fmall velTels to meet them, at fea, in certain latitudes, or to Teneriff and St. Jago, or elfevvhere, out of the reach of your en- quiries. However, as their continuing fuch practices any longer may prove fa- tal in their confequences to all your pof- feffions in this country, we earneftly ex- hort, that you will immediately apply the moft effectual remedy you can lugged, either by way of prevention, or by the rigorous and exemplary punimment of the offenders. At the fame time, you may depend we will take every ftep in our power to detecl the leaft breach of your orders on this head, and obitrucl: the fale of all kinds of fire-arms. 27th. Having obferved the reluctance that appeared in bidding for your farm?? at the laft fale of your lands in Burdwaii province, the great annual deficiency in the collections, and the numberlefs com- plaints made of grievous exactions and opprelfions ; we determined, upon Mr, johnftone's refigning your iervice, to ap- point Mr. Verelft in quality of fupervifoz' M of of thofe revenues ; in order to form the befl judgment poflible of the caufe of this yearly deficiency of the real value of the lands, the beft method of improving and letting them, and alfo to procure the necefTary materials for a plan to conduct the collections, in future, in fuch manner as (hall appear moil conducive to your intereft, and likely to promote the happi- iiefs of the people. It is with pleaiure we acquaint you, that we have the greateft reafon to be fatisfied with Mr. VereKl's attention to the feveral objects recommend- ed, and the diligence he has exerted dur- . ing his fliort refidence in that country; of which you may form fome judgment from his memorial t> the Committee, an^- nexed to our proceedings of the I4th of September. .28th. It was in confequence. of this memorial that we formed our refolution, of that date, to withdraw the factory ; .and alfo to recal the Member of the Board refident at Midnapoor, the collections and budneis of which may as conveniently be tranfacted by a junior fervant, at a much lefs expence. Many are the inconveni- encies, befides the extraordinary charge incurred, [ 9* 1 incurred, that rcfult from fuch appoint- ments ; which we conflder as neceffary only at thofe fiibordinates where your principle inveftments are made* We are convinced, by very late experience, that the moft flagrant oppreffions may be wantonly committed in thofe employ- ments, by Members of the Board, which would not be tolerated in junior fervants: and that the dread and awe annexed to their ftation, as Councillors, has too fre- quently fcreened them from complaints, which would be lodged without fear or fcruple againft junior fervants. 29th. But there are other manifold in- conveniences, of ftill more pernicious effecl to the fervice, that refult from thole appointments* Hence it was found ne- ceflary to enlarge the Council from twelve to fixteen Members, that there might be a fufficient number to conduct the bufi- nefs of the prefidency, and alfo to manage your affairs at the out fettlemeiits, either in quality of Chiefs, or Refidents. What is the confequence, but fuch perpetual changes and revolutions at the Board as render it inipoflible for any of the Mem- bers to acquire a competent knowledge M2 of E r~ 1 of your interefts, and of the particular duty of their own ftation ? This increafe in the number of the Board is alfo pro- ductive of a further inconvenience, of the deeped: concern to your intered in the prefent fituation of your affairs. To keep up to the letter of your inftruclions, we muft fill the vacancies in Council from the next in fucceinon r without regard to the qualifications they poflefs for the dif- charge of fo important a truft ; and thus commit into the hands of rafli, inexpe- rienced and ignorant young men the conduct of a fyftem of government which demands the difcretion,. judgment and ileadinefs of more advanced years, and longer fervices. Circumftances are now widely different from what they were a few years iince, when you confined your whole attention to commerce, and were happy in being able to 'complete your in- .veftments, without infult or exaction from the country governments. Ton arc now become the Sovereigns of a rich and potent kingdom. Your fuccefs is beheld with Jealoufy by the other European nations . who maintain fettlements in India : and your interefts are fo extended, fo compli- cated,, [ 93 1 catecl, and fo connected with thofe of the feveral {unrounding powers, as to f6rm a nice and difficult fyftem of poli- ticks. . 3oth. Thefe weighty confiderations> determined us to avoid filling the vacan- cies lately occailoned in Council, by the death of Mr. Billers and refignation of Meflrs. Johnftone and Burdett. We care- fully examined your orders refpecting the appointment of a Board. We compared the different paragraphs of your letter, the more clearly to ascertain the fpirit of your inftruclions : and are unanimous in our opinion, that your reafons for increafing the number of the Board were founded on a fuppofition, that this meafure would conduce to the benefit of the Company. Experience convinces us of the contrary : and we mould be wanting in duty to our .condiments, if, from a fervile regard to the letter, we neglecTed the evident fenie and meaning of your inftruclions, by admitting to the government of your affairs a number of perfons who have cer- tainly no other claim to this cliflinction than that of (landing next in fucceflion. ID is with the utmofl regret we think it incum- [ 94 ] incumbent on us to declare, that in the whole lift of your junior merchants there are not more than three or four gentlemen whom we could poffibly recommend to higher ftations at prefent. In this num- ber juftice requires we mould mention Mr. Campbell, Secretary to this Com- mittee, whofe abilities and indefatigable diligence, of which we had the moft con- vincing proofs in the courie of our pro*- ceedings, entitle him to this inftance of our regard, and to your particular notice: and as the fame qualifications will diftin- guifh him in any ftation of your fervice, it is our joint requeft, that you will pleafe to remove the reftricYion on his rifing as a covenant fervant, and fuffer him to take rank according to the date of his ap- pointment. At all times it has been found expedient to deviate occafionally from this general rule of preferring fenio- rity. It now becomes your indifpenfable duty to admit no claim but that of merit, if"you would preferve the valuable poffef- fions you enjoy, and realize the very near profpecl: you have of eftabliftiing your affairs, on fo firm and folid a bails as nothing but mifconduft can overfet. So t 95 ]. So much refts with the Board, that in, your judicious, impartial (election of the Members, it depends whether you hold a foot of land, and enjoy a privilege in Bengal ; or whether you continue in pofleiiion of the moft ample revenues and extenfive influence ever eiiablifhed by any European mercantile body. We, there- fore, nioft earnestly exhort you, that no confideration of favor, or prejudice be differed to biafs you in the important buflnefs of compoflng your Council ; and that no other diftinclion be admitted, ex- cept what is due to ability, to integrity, and to faithful, eflential ierviees. Were we to fpeak our own ientiments further, we would confefs it to be our firm opinion, founded on the experience now before us, that the bu/inefs of this government can never fo effectually be conducted as by a felecl, unanimous Committee. By dividing the power into many hands you weaken authority, promote difTenfion, and deprive your meafures of that tecrecy, fteadinefs, vigour and difpatch neceflary to their fuccefs. The fame means by which you obtained the great advantages you now enjoy, inuft be continued and con- conftantly exerted to fecure and perpe- tuate them. And indeed we can think of no other form of government fo well adapted, fo perfectly confiftent to your peculiar prefent circumftances in Bengal. 3 1 ft. It will not be necefTary, we ap- prehend, to dwell upon a. refutation of the flimfy, but fpecious arguments ad- vanced by Mr. Leycefter, for immediate- ly filling up the vacancies at the Board, and purfuing the literal fenfe of your in- ftruclions, where you enlarge the Board to fixteen. We have already fhewn, and Mr. Leycefter does not deny it, that the bufineis of Burdwan and Midnapoor may be conducted to greater advantage by junior fervants than by members of the Council. We have alfo (hewn, that enlarging the Council beyond the num- ber required for the bufinefs of the pre- ildeiicy and rubordinates has proved inju- rious to the Company. He knows it is our determination, that feven or eight Members mould conftantly refide at the prefidency, while all proper attentions fliall be given to your inveftments and collections ; and this we certainly judge to be the fpirit of your orders. But if that [' 97 1 that gentleman means, that no act Can be valid that is executed by a lefs num- ber of Agents than you have exprefly ap- pointed, he renders void every deed, covenant, contract and obligation entered into by the Council fince the firft eftabliftV ment of this fettle men t. He even renders null and of no effect, the treaty with the prefent Nabob, in which he hitnfelf had a principal lliare, and which, we believe* is not figned by more than half the Com- pany's Agents. In a word, we forefee fo many inconveniences confequent on a literal compliance with your inftru&ions, that our duty obliges us to fufpencl, and we think our powers authorize us in fu- pending at leaft, if not revoking thole or- ders until your further pleafure be known. 32cL By confulting our proceedings of the loth of Augufl and 1 8th Septem- ber, you will be able to judge of the progrefs we have made in carrying your orders into execution relative to the trade in fait, beetel-nut and tobacco. This fub- jecl we confidered with all the attention poflible, in regard to your intereft and the good of the fervice. We found, that to re- move the inconveniences of a free trade, N [ 98 I prevent the oppreffions daily committed, lave this valuable article of commerce from ruin, and diffufe the benefits refult- ing indifcriminately among all your fer- vants entitled to duflicks, it was necefla- ry to vefl the whole in an exclufive Com- pany ; compofed of the three firft clafFes of your covenanted fervants, the field officers, chaplains and head furgeons. In admitting the field officers, and dating the proportions allotted to each clafs, we had particular regard to the prefent fltua- tion of your Council and field officers, who are now excluded many emoluments they before enjoyed. It is our opinion, that gentlemen who have rifen to their ftations with credit and reputation are certainly entitled to fomething more than a fubfiftence. They even have a right to expect fuch advantages in your fervice as may enable them to return in a few years, with independence, to their native country. With refpect to the Company, we are unanimoufly of opinion, it is more for their intereft to be confidered as fu- periors than proprietors : and as the Royal Grant of the Dewannee renders the i rth article unn'ecelTary, we are there-. by [ 99 J by enabled to iubjed: the trade to a duty, which will produce a clear annual revenue of 120,000 pounds fterling. Whatever furplus of their revenues the Company mayfindthemfelves pofTefled of, after difcharging all the demands on this presidency, we imagine may be employed much more to their benefit, in fupporting and extending the China trade, and aflifl- ing the- wants of the other prefidencies. However, mould it either appear, that we have miitaken the Company's real in- tereft, or that the profits of the trade will admit of increafed duties, it is our refolu- tion to give all poilible fatisfaclion on theie points to our honourable Matters, and to lay before (hall, we hope, be firmly continued and vigorously \igoroufly exerted until we have accom- pliflied every end propofed at our ap- pointment ; until we have ftemmed the torrent of luxury and corruption, and eftablifhed a fpirit of incluftry, oeconomy and integrity throughout every clafs of your fervants. 35th. We beg leave to conclude with aflbring you, that it is the higheft ambi- tion of this Committee to merit the con- fidence repofed in them, by promoting, with their utmoft diligence and abilities, the honour and intereft of the Eaft-Indta Company, which have ever been the ob- jecls qf their moft fervent wifhes. We have the honour to be, with re- fpecl, Honourable Sirs, Your moft faithful, humble fervants, ( CLIVE, )WM. B. SUMNER, T /-> JOHN C (Signed) ^JoHN CARNAC, H. VERELST, SYKES. Fort William, the 30th September 1765. [ 102 ] SUPPLEMENT. 3 6th. In juftice to the memory of the late Nabob, Meer Jaffier, we think it in- cumbent on us to acquaint you, that the horrible maffiicres wherewith he is charg- ed by Mr. Hoi well, in his addrefs to " The Proprietors of Eaft-India Stock," p. 46. are cruel afperfions on the character of that prince, which have not the lead foundation in truth. The feveral perfons there affirmed, and who have been gene- rally thought to have been murdered by his order, are all now living, except two, who were put to death by Meeran, without the Nabob's confent or knowledge ; and it is with additional fatisfaclion we can af- ftire you, that they were lately releafed from confinement by the preferit Subah ; which fully evinces the entire confidence he repofes in the Company's protection againll all attacks on his government. 37th. We are further to acquaint you, that, not fatisfied with paying all due at- tention to the confirmation and fecurity of your pofTeflions in Bengal, Lord Clive has alib obtained, from the King, Sunnuds for the five northern provinces ; and the ftrongeft [ 1*3 J ftrongeft ratification, under his Majefly's hand and leal, of all your former grants in the Carnatic. 38th. Mr. Sykes has exerted his utmofl diligence in procuring an exa JOHN CARNAC, H. VERELST, FRA S SYKES. Fort William, the ill Oftober 1767. o COPY OF A LETTER FROM Meflrs. RALPH LEYCESTER and GEORGE GRAV, MEMBERS of the COUNCIL atFoi^T WILLIAM j ADDRESSED TO THE COURT OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY. Dated the 2pth September 1765^ With a Poftfcript, of the 1 4th of January 1766, GENTLEMEN, THE plan on which your affairs at this Prefidency have been conducted, lince the arrival of Lord Clive and the other Gentlemen of the Select Committee in Bengal, hath been fuch as to induce us to make our application to you in a a feparate addrefs from the ufual channel of correipondence : and we are here to lay before you our fentiments on the con- O 2 duct duct of that Committee, from the time they took the fupreme and almoit en- tire management of your concerns here into their hands. Our opinion hath dif- fered very widely from theirs in many material points; and no opportunity is allowed us to come to any explanation, far lefs agreement with them, whilft they perfevere in the fame tenor of conduct. It is, therefore, become necefTary for us to fet forth the caufes of our difference to you, who alone are the proper judges of the extraordinary powers they have taken into their hands. Your orders, appointing a Select Com- mittee, are contained in the 671)1 para- graph of your general letter, of the ifl June 1764, exprelfed in- the following words. The General Court of Proprietors, hav- ing an account of the critical iituation of the Company's affairs in Bengal, requefted Lord Clive to take upon him the itation of Prefident, and the command of the Com- pany's military forces there. HisLordfliip has been appointed Prefident and Governor accordingly, as mentioned in the pre- ceding part of this letter. The intention of t 109 ] of the General Court in defiring Lord Clivc to go to Bengal was, that by his Lordfhip's character and influence peace and tran- quillity might be eafierreftored and eftab- lifhed in that Subafliip. In order, there- fore, to anfwer thele purpofes in a man- ner that we apprehend may prove mod effectual, we have thought proper to ap- point a Committee on this occaiion ; con- fiding of his Lordfiiip, Mr. William Bright- well Sumner, Brigadier General Carnac, alfo MefTrs. Harry Verelft and Francis Sykes : to whom we do hereby give full powers to purfue whatever means they ihall judge mod proper to attain thofe defireable ends. But, however, in all cafes where it can be done conveniently, the Council at large is to be confulted by the faid Committee, tho' the power of de- termining is to be in that Committee alone. We further direct, that as foon as peace and tranquillity are redored andedablifli- ed in the Subafliip of Bengal, then the faid extraordinary powers are immediately to ceafe, and the faid Committee be dif- folved.'' From the general tenor of your letter, as well as from this particular paragraph, we we think it evident, that the following was the true purport of your orders. The honourable Company, from the laft advices they had received from Bengal, confidered that their affairs at this fettle- ment were in a precarious, or even del- perate fituation. *That Lord Clive having already acquir- ed a great military reputation in India, they eiteemed his Lordfhip a proper per- fbn to prefide over their Council in that critical juncture, as his character and influence with the country people would give weight to his proceedings. Thatasthefyftem of military operations requires the utm oft vigor, expedition and fecrecy , thefe ends would be better obtained by the management of a Select Committee, than of the whole Council, whofe number might occafion a greater difference of opi- nion, and create more delay in their re- folves. That they inverted this Committee with powers to take what fleps they thought neceflary for carrying on the war in Ben- gal, or for putting an end to it; confult- ing, however, with the Board on all oc- cafions where it can be done confiftently with [ III ] with the vigor, fecrecy and expedition required for the well conducting fuch tranfaclions. That the powers of this Committee mould immediately ceafe whenever a peace was concluded, and tranquillity reitored. And that all the other branches of the Company's affairs fliould be carried on by the Council, conformable to the truft re- poled in them, on the abolifhment of the former Seledl Committee in your com- mands of the 9th May 1764; and by the powers of government delegated, by commillion, to Lord Clive and fifteen others of the Council. Such is our idea of the powers you were pleafed to confer on the Selecl: Com- mittee ; calculated entirely for the danger- ous fituation of your polleilions inBengal : and we have no reaibn to doubt that they . would have produced the defired effect, had affairs remained in the fame precari- ous (late untill Lord Clive and the Com- mittee's arrival, and an occafion had offered -that called tor an exertion of thole qualifications, your opinion of which had induced you to beftow fo large a '(hare of the adminiftration on thofe gentlemen. But t "2 ] But very happily for the honourable Com- pany, their affairs had fome time before taken a very different turn : and the means with which you had before fupplied us, liad enabled us, ourfelves, to extricate this fettlement from the dangers and difficulties with which it had been furrounded : for a particular account of which, we mufl refer you to our advices by the (hips of the laft feafon. When Lord Clive, therefore, and the other gentlemen of the Committee arrived, they found us on the eve of peace. After a fuccefsful war againft Shujah Dowlah, they found our army in actual pofFeffion of all his country : and although, foon after their arrival, the enemy did make one lad ftruggle for the recovery of their dominions, yet the faintnefs of their at- tempt, and the great eafe with which they were repelled, (hewed it was but like the weak efforts of an expiring blaze. They found the country government of Bengal eflablifliecl on terms highly advan- tageous for the Company, as well from the great influence they had in the adminif- tration, as from the considerable addition of their revenues : and the fettlement itfelf in I i'3 ] in as flourifliing a flate as it had kriowri ' for years pad. Little then to appearance remained, but to difpofe of our conquefts, and carry into execution the different regulations, civil as well as military, which the honourable Company had pointed out to the Board : and in thefe we expected no difficulty, as we flattered ourfelves* that the cordiality and harmony which fubfifted betwixt the Members of the Board, and which we doubted not to meet in thofe gentlemen* would procure art unanimity in our Coun- cils, and a hearty and uniform co-operation in every meafure tending to the intereffc of our employers. \Ve are lorry to be undeceived in our hopes* and convinced of the inefficacy of bur good intentions : one of the firft re- folutions formed in their Committee was, that by the Company's orders, in the. 6jth paragraph of the letter of the firfl June* already quoted* they were appointed the eftablifliers and guardians of peace> or- der and tranquillity in thefe provinces. "We mud here animadvert, that the word order is an interpolation, which wrefts the meaning of that paragraph into a P different different cofi{truclion from what appears to have been intended. To the mili- tary powers you gave, It tended to join the civil jurifdiction : and as if your or- ders in that paragraph were not a fuf- ficient balls on which the extent of the Committee's power could be eftabliflied, the defect could only be made up by this expedient. When the members of the Board, at council, defired the gentlemen of the Com- mittee to explain the meaning and ex- tent of their powers, the Prefident abfo- lutely refilled to come to any explanation on the fubjecl: with the Board. This jea- loufy to have the authority of the Com- mittee canvaffed, we could not but think carried in itfelf a doubt of its validity ; nor could we coniider the terms of the anfwers, but as an earned of the little deference or confideration the Board had to expect from his Lordfhip and the Com- mittee. InfteacI of the fatisfaction we had rea- fon to expect the Committee would have exprelTed, that the provinces of Bengal were in a ftate of the moft perfect tran- quillity, and fettled on terms that not only only left the Company fole arbiters of the whole country, with a large proportion of its revenues, by the treaty with the Nabob, Najum o' Dowlah, but alfo fo efta- blilhed as to preclude the danger of fur- ther revolutions, Lord Clive appeared chagrined and difTatisfied, that we fhould have taken upon us a flep of fo much con- fequence, before the arrival of the Com- mittee, who were particularly charged with thofe important points ; and took frequent opportunities to publifh his difpleafure at our having prevailed with the Nabob to confirm his agreement with the honour* able Company concerning his Jaghirc. We hope the benefits you reap from the treaty with Najum o' Dowlah are too apparent to require an illuflration here : but we mall fo far obviate his Lordfliip's reflection as to obferve, that we thought the death of the old Nabob, and accel- iion of the new, the properefl time to fe- cure the Company's interefls : and that as we deemed it more eafy to obtain any grants or favours at the beginning of a government, than when pofTeilion for a fpace of time had fixed his title, fo it was more eligible than to perplex, or difguft P ^ the the Nabob, by reiterated applications aft terwards. Inverted with the adminiftra-? tion of tlie Company's affairs, we were authorized to take every meafure pro- ductive of their good or advantage ; and had we neglected that opportunity, to wait for fo precarious and uncertain an event as his Lorclfliip*s arrival, we fliould have rendered ourfelves defervedly liable to the cenfure of great inattention to your concerns, or of a confcious incapacity to conduct them. As to the confirmation of the Jaghire, we think his Lordfliip makes it a matter of too much confequence. The Com- pany's order to the Board for co-operat- ing with him, proceeded from a fuppo- 'fit ion he would arrive as foon the order itfelf. But that not happening to be the cafe, we fecureditfor the honourable Com- pany and his Lordfliip without him ; and the acquifition was fo very eaiy, that it was quite immaterial who had the final! (hare of credit which the obtainment of it would acquire. His Lordfliip needed . not to enhance the difficulty, by con- ftruing the confirmation into an attempt only ; as it muft be obvious that the in- fluence t >? ] fhience which could prevail for a grant of ilxty laaks of rupees -per annum, could eafily obtain the comparatively trifling addition of a reverfion of two laaks more. We have thought it neceflary to fet forth thefe circumftances to you, in order to illuftrate the fpirit and temper of the Committee : and whilft thus determined to aflert an authority which, by the tenor of your orders, we could not conceive delegated to them, there could fcarce be any profpecl; of harmony or agreement betwixt them and the Board ; whom, ac- cordingly, they treated ever after with flight, and want of confideration, as is very evident from the courfe of their pro ceedings. They called Mr. Verelft from his chief- fliip at Chittagong, without previoufly in- forming the Board, although all appoint- ments had been ufually ordered through this channel. This was a needlefs irre- gularity, as the Board would never have : hefitated to defire that gentleman to leave f his factory, in conformity to the honour- able Company's commands. The prefident having been told, that there was a great balance due from the Burdvvan [ "8 ] Burdwan Rajah ; and giving implicit cre- dit to this information, without once Jay- ing the matter before the Board, or en- quiring into the truth of it, or the caufe of fuch deficiency, though it was a branch of the Company's civil affairs, entirely dependent on the public department, ai 1 fumed the fupreme direction, power and management in this matter. A demand was made in confequence on the Rajah, for 790,000 rupees, to be paid in feven. days, as the juft balance of his revenues, conceived in very abfolute terms. His reprefenting the ftate of the balances, and of the collections and rents outftanding from the farmers, appealing to the public papers for the receipt and application of all the money collected, availed nothing. A peremptory order was fent him to re- pair to Calcutta, though under the juri- diction of a Chief and Council, then in- veiled with the whole management, under the immediate orders of the Board, who on this occafion ought certainly to have been confulted^ It was fcarce poffible that the Prefident, or the Committee in fo fliort a time could have been perfectly acquainted with the ftate of that province, had they even t "9 3 even previoufly examined into its ac- counts, which we believe was not the cafe. The opinion fuch a public flight rnuft have raifed of the former authority of the Board, and to the prejudice of the Chief of any fubordinate in like circum- ftances, is too apparent to need any com- ment. The Rajah's conduct (hewed the fenfe he had of it ; for after his arrival in Calcutta, and having been kept in fufpenfe for near a fortnight before he was permitted to wait on the Prefident, he durfl not pay his compliments to any of the Board, till that very day he was permitted to return to Burclwan. In fo large a collection as that of Burd- wan, it is fcarce poflible but that balances mud arife from many cafual accidents, which there, as in all other diflricls, pre- vent tenants and farmers from paying ..their rents in full. The Rajah's balance to the Company, notwithftanding the bad- nefs of the feafons, and the troubles in the country, was very inconfiderable ; and the chief part of it was the balance of the years 1761, and 1762; which might have been cleared off in another year, as the arrears due to the Rajah's difmifTed f 120 3 ciiffinifled troops was all paid, to a trifle* and a ftill further reduction might have been made in thole kept up. How- ever, after his arrival in Calcutta, he found himfelf under the neceffity of com- plying, in part, with the demand made upon him : and, not having money in hand, was obliged to borrow from thole whom the very high intereft of 24 per cent, would induce to lend him. A pay- ment thus obtained, is no better than & transfer of the debt from the Company to private merchants, with the additional incumbraiice of an intereft, amounting to near a quarter of the original demand : and which, if ever paid, muft come put of the Burdwan t'reafury* The rigorous exertion of fuch an authority over even debtors to the Company, when the fame end can be obtained by more moderate meaiures, can ierve, we think, no good purpofe. The Governor of this prefi- dency, receiving the approbation of the Council, may, we allow, at any time examine into the management of every branch of your affairs : but we cannot admit of his holding any powers of this kind independent of them. We do not mean* t ** ] Tnean, or wi(h to derogate from the au- thority of the Governor ; but to afTert, that, conliltent with the terms of your commiifion, he can have no right to the authority he exercifecl, but in conjunction with his Council : nor, in the prefent cafe, could there be the fmalleft plea for not afking their concurrence ; for the in- tereft and credit of the Council muft ever be concerned to fupport the Governor in the exercife of all due authority. To the fame effecl was Mr. Verelft appointment to Burdwan : who, though the Company's interefl in that province vA < had been managed for years pad to ther, * entire fatisfaction of the Board as well of the Court of Directors, being a mem- \ N ^ berofthe Selecl: Committee, is ed Snpervifor from the Committee : liaving received his appointment thofe gentlemen, is in a manner inde- V^y pendent of, and fuperior to the orders of < Council: which appears to us to be a total breach of the rules by which your .fervice has been conducted, and feemsto caft an odium on the former Preiidents and their Councils, or to reflect on their t integrity, ability, or attention to direct thofe affairs. The young Nabob, Najum o' Dowlah, had, on his acceffion to the Subahdarry, Followed the cuftom of his predecelTors, : in beftowing prefents on the gentlemen in ftation ; who, having established the Company's interefts on' the moft bene- ficial terms, thought tiieinlelves at liberty, without incurring cenfure, to accept what had been given by former Nabobs in a far greater proportion. The Nabob hap- pened, at the fame time, to have a per- fonal diflike to Mahomed RezaCawn, who was appointed Naib Subah by the Board contrary to his inclination. When tjie Nabob came to Calcutta, to vifit his Lord- fliip, he complained againfl Mahomed Reza Cawn : and as an argument to in- duce his Lordfhip to difplace Mahomed Reza Cawn from a (hare of the govern- ment, he fet forth, that the treaty was not according to his inclination, but forced upon him ; and that Mahomed Reza Cawn had embezzled twenty laaks of rupees, in diftributions amongft the gentlemen, without his confent. It is evident, in this complaint, the Nabob v was was a-fhiated by no other motive but His defire of difmifling Mahomed Reza Cawn from the appointment the Council had conferred upon him: and he imagined, that the extraordinary favours his deceaf* ed father had heaped on Lord Clive had confirmed him a (teady friend to his fa- mily ; and, therefore, that, on the - firft complaint againft Mahomed Rcza Cawn, his Lordmlp would not hefitate at his re- moval. In this vain notion he was en- couraged by feveral who difKked Maho- med Reza Cawn's promotion, but par- ticularly by Nundcomar, who, though at profefTed variance with the principal gentlemen of the deputation, was in facl; the perfon who chiefly advifed the Na- bob to make prefents, and was greatly interested in Mahomed Reza Cawn's re- moval. It was, therefore, the diflike to Maho- med Reza Cawn which occafioned the complaint. But Lord Clive, fetting en- tirely aflde the Nabob's inclination, made that the principal object of his enquiry, which was only defigned as an inducive, although unjuft argument. The prefents were immediately canvafled : Mahomed 2 Reza [ '24 ] Reza Cawn came down from the city, waa called upon, and (in his narrative to the Committee of the 6th June) cleared him- felf of the charge of having dilpofed of the Nabob's money without his confent, by producing orders under the Nabob's own hand and feal for its payment. We muft take notice, that Mahomed Reza Cawn was for fonie time kept in great fuf- penfe by the Committee, whether he was to be continued in his appointment of Naib Subah, or not ; and fuch apparent encouragement was given to die perfon who might be deemed his rival, that it is not to be wondered he (liould puriue the rneafures .which appeared to him mofl fuitab'le to fecure his promotion with Lord Clive, who was become the arbiter of his title to it ; and, with this view, he related what appears in his narratives to the Committee. We would not infer, that the Committee kept Mahomed Reza Cawn in this fupenfe with any fuch view : yet it is our opinion he could not but be in- fluenced, by fuch his (ituation, to afperfe a fet of gentlemen to whom he was under the highcft obligations. From the pains taken before to intimate through the whole [ 125 ]' whole country, that the buflnefs of im- portance was taken by the Company out of the hands of the gentlemen of the for* mer Council, and lodged in thofe of the Selecl Committee alone, the officers of the government would doubtlels look on its Members as the objects of their conrt- ihip ; and from particular intimations, as we undeHFand, "^iyen Mahomed Reza Cawn, Roydullub and others, on their arrival in Calcutta, not to viiit, or have any intercourfe with the gentlemen of Council, the light in which thefe were in future to be considered was very obvi- oufly pointed out. Every one, whom a long refidence 111 India hath made converfant with the man- ners and principles of its inhabitants, muft know, from frequent experience, how much they are influenced in their conduct by their hopes, or their fears, when they themfelves are interefled. Truth hath not with them its force, but is always rendered fubfervient to their private in^ terefts. A temporary accommodation to their circumftances is the fole view in their afTertions, profeffions, declarations. They cannot, from their own notions, dii~ tinguifli tinguifh betwixt a defire of obtaining real information, and that of encouraging the moft injurious criminations. Strangers to the candor of our laws, and folely guided by the maxims of their own arbi- trary government, they conildcr a ftridl enquiry as a fixed defign to ruin. |Betwixt the hopes of obtaining a government then, and the apprehenfions of lofing it, we think it will not appear extraordinary, that Mahomed Reza Cawn mould give whatever informations he thought might prove injurious to the gentlemen of the former administration, whom he had the greatefl: reafon, as well from the pre- valent reports as from the nature of the enquiries, to believe were held on ill terms by thofe now in power.' But what more particularly invalidates the evidence of Mahomed Reza'Cawn, the acculer was never once confronted with the accufcd, that the latter might have an opportunity to confute him perfonally : nor was it ever known that he was ex- amined till the Committee were pleafed to inform the Board of it, for the enquiry \vns made with the greatefl fecrecy ; fo that we have nothing of our own know- ledge [ 127 ] ledge to depend on. It is however evi- dent, that Mahomed Reza Cavvn was re- quired to lodge all the information he could : for befides clearing himfelf from the Nabob's charge, which was all that was neceflary for him, and was done by producing orders under the Nabob's hand for all he had expended, in his fecond de- claration, of the 6th June, hedifcovers his private offers; not, only to the deputa- tion, but alfo his prefents to the former Prefident, months before the old Nabob's death, though only an uflial compliment on his acceflion to the chair : a moft invi- dious and unbecoming tafk. Had Maho- med Reza Cawn informed the Committee of what he offered, and was not accepted, as well as what was, they would have known, that he tendered Mr. Gray a con~ fiderable prefent. which he chofe to refufe : and that gentleman declares his opinion, that as Mahomed Reza Cawn was fo for- ward in offering his fervices to him with- out folicitation, there is no reafon to think but that the prefents to the other gentlemen came alfo unsolicited; As things are fituatetl, no dependence can be placed on the teftimony of fuch ^ t 128 ] biafTed witness. And we think it worthy of remark, that though Lord Clive, when he firft came, feemecl to difapprove of fuch an officer as a Naib Subah, and al- though Mahomed Reza Cavvn had been fo very inftru mental in the practices fo highly arraigned, yet Lord Clive has thought fit to continue the government in his hands. Juggut Seat's narrative was evidently, according to his own declaration, de- manded from him. But what we are going to relate of the evidence brought lo fupport his charge muft, we think, fhock the ear of every man who claims the liberty derived from our conflitution. v jMooteram, formerly a fervant of Mr. Johnftone, was feized in his houie, by .guards : and after being clofely confined, by Lord Clive, under all the horrors of an armed force, is carried before the Com- mittee, there, with the terrors a man muft feel under fuch circumftances, to anfwer whatever interrogatories they thought proper to put to him. Various queftions were propofed to the trembling prifoner, to his own and his mafter's prejudice. This was tranfacled in the Committee : and [ "9 1 and their comments were fixed to what he (aid ; though we muft do the civil Members of the Committee the juftice to remark, that it does not appear, from their proceedings, that the military guards were placed over Mooteram by any authority of theirs, but by Lord Clive's, fingly^J We could not fail to be alarmed at fuch an extraordinary proceeding ; fince, under fuch circumftances, neither the character nor properties of your fei> vants, who may be thought at variance with Lord Clive, are fecure : for what man will dare to bear testimony in our favor, when he is either overawed by the dread of fuch violence and refentment, or thinks it his intereft to with-hokl the evidence that would acquit us ? On the illegality of thefe proceedings being pointed out at the Board, Lord Clive propofed to have at leaft one exami- nation conducted at the Board: and Mooteram, with his guards, being called before them, the fame queftions which had been afkecl him in the Committee, with his anfwer, to which he had been bound down by oath, were read and in- terpreted to him: and he was afked, if R they [ 130 ] they were true, or not. As Mooteram had before been fworn at the Committee, he could not, without being guilty of perjury, have denied his former evidence. It was, therefore, quite unneceflary to have him re-examined. We are to remark, that: though Mooteram complained of the hardfhip he fuffered, from being un- der a guard, it was not till after repeat- ed intreaties, and after all his depofl- tions were finiQied, that Lord Give fet him at liberty. We muft obferve, that we do not in- tend to exculpate Mr. Johnflone's conducl, that gentleman has to anfwer for himfelf: v/e only mean to illuftrate the meafures purfued in the courfe of their enquiries. The proceedings of the Committee have been fometimes, on the fubjecl of their fcrutiny, read to the Board: but Lord Cl'ive did not think proper to permit their being entered in our consultation, W 7 hy they fhould be kept fo myfterious a fecret we know not, fince matters of inch mo*- nient as charges againft Members of the Board, ought to be examined and record^ ed in the mod public manner. But the Committee have on this occafion formed them- themfeives into a Court of Enquiry, and, with the MiniKes of Council laid before them, have pafled their judgments on our conduct, as if they were fuperior to the Council: a fuppofition we deem as incon- gruous as, that a part can be greater than the whole : for the powers of the Coun- cil are delegated unto them by a formal commiffion, authorizing the Prefident and fifteen other Members to conduct the whole of the Company's affairs within the jurifdiction of this fettlement* Whereas thofe of the Committee are no more than particular inftruclions, tranfrnitted in the general letters through the channel of the Board : and are only relative, as we have before obferved, to the military branch of government, and fuch trani- adlions as require lecrecy. With this opinion of theft own fuperior authority, the Select Committee were pleafedto adjudge the Members of Council guilty of a breach of your orders, in their omiflion to execute the covenants fent out per Lapwing ; thinking themfeives ex- tremely moderate, in being fatisfied with only parting this cenfure on us. But as we have hitherto made a (trice attention R 2 to to your interefts, and obedience to youf orders, the rules of our conduct, we can> not divefl ourfelves of the hope, that you. will not conlider us as deficient in duty to you on this occaiion. Your orders touching the covenants feemed to us not fo peremptory, as to exclude us from expoftulating with you on the occafioii : our execution of them was of no particular moment to the Company, but was a hardfliip on their lervants, by aying us unde'r a reftraiiit unknown to ^Xour predccefTors in your (ervice. We are well apprized the refolntion of binding clown your fervants by fuch an obligation was the refult of contexts at home, and v-^ feemed particularly derived from the dif- ^^ pute concerning Lord Clive's jaghire ; and you yourfelves inform us it was the '/ determination of a General Court of Pro- prietors, by ballot. We have feen in- ilances of orders enforced in flronger terms than thofe concerning the cove- nants repealed on a proper reprefenta- tion : and we were not without the hopes .of prevailing with you on the prelent oc- cafion to reverie them ; nay, perhaps a fubfequent Court of Proprietors might of them- [ '33 ] themfelves alter them. It was for this reaion "that the covenants were not imme- diately executed when they were received, but deferred till Lord Clive's arrival,^to come under consideration with the other regulations directed in your letter of the ift June 1764, when we expected to be better informed of your final refolves ; and in the mean time it had been deter- mined to addrefs you on the fubjeft by the latter (hip: but on the Bute's difpatch, the attention of the Board having been engaged in considerations more material to your interefts on the late Nabob's death, the covenants, we confefs, efcaping the Board's recollection, were entirely overlooked ; elfe how eafy would it have been for us to have reprelented, by that conveyance, the arguments we have let forth to the Board Since, and now lay before you. When the covenants arrived, we had no immediate profpecl of benefiting by a delay in their execution ; for the old Nabob was living, and what happened after could never have been pre-imagined : and had the Board but taken the precau- tion then of refolving, on the face of their con- [ 134 ] consultation, to refer that part of your commands back to the honourable Com- pany, and to wait for their further orders^ the Committee would not have been fur- 1 milled with any pretence now to call them toaccount. This was a very obvious ftep^ and the orniffion fliewed We entertained no other intention than that of only ing till the arrival of the expected bers of the Board from Europe. This we hope will fuffice to convince you we in- tended no breach of your orders by the delay. Your commands for laying open the inland trade, by granting duflucks to the free merchants, which tended to the clifadvantage of your fervants, were more peremptory ; but the fufpeniion of thac order, when the arguments of the Board were heard, was approved of, and the order itfelf reverfed. The covenants do not feemfo much to forbid our receiving prefents, as they oblige us to acquaint the Company of what are made us, and to ftand to their ^ determination as to their clifpofal. What we accepted, therefore, would have been lit) breach of the covenants, even had we executed them before the acceptance, and we [ 135 ] we fhould not have fcrupled to have fub- mitted the prefents to the conditions of the covenant, had not the Committee made that violent attack upon us, and by the feverity of their meafures totally de- ftroyed the merit of fuch a voluntary fub- miffion. Some gentlemen of the Council, in their anfwers to the charge againft them, objecl- ed to the authority of the Select Com- mittee in a refearch of this nature: and to thefe Lord Clive and the Members of the Committee replied in minutes, on the faceoftheconililtationsonthe2othofjune. His Lordfhip's minute, although more particularly relative to Mr. Johnflone, yet afFedts the reft of the Council who hap- pened to concur in opinion with him con- cerning the Committee's ftretch of power. His Lordfhip obferves, it is not incumbent on him to vindicate the powers with which the Committee is inverted : we never demanded any vindication of them, for we never arraigned the powers grant- ed by the Company to the Committee. We think they are fully pointed out in the general letter, quoted in the former part of this addrefs ; and, as commands from [ 136 ] from our fuperiors, we pay the utmoft obedience to them ; but it is the extend- ing of thefe powers beyond the meaning of your orders which requires to be vindi- cated. The honourable Company have deemed the authority of the Board of fuch mo- ment, that they have been pleafedto grant a Special Commillion, empowering a Prefi- JWent and fifteen other Members of Coun- Vpil to tranfaft all their affairs. Had they appointed the Select Committee fuperior totheCouncil, it is moft probable that they would have delegated fuch extraordinary powers in the ampleft form, as they ab- folutely did, in a feparate letter of the 8th February 1763, to Mr. Vanflttart, or in his abfence, to his fucceflbr and a Select Committee ; which by marking out their extent, would at once have put them out of doubt : but hitherto we have feen no fuch powers, nor do we believe they exift. We, therefore, cannot but efteem the only commiifion of aclminiftratioii to be the fupreme one, and confkler every infringement of that as a violation of the authority which conferred it : and we fliould be unworthy of the trull re- pofed [ 137 ] Jx>fed in us; by our fuperiors, if we fuf- fered any fiich to pafs unnoticed, or un- oppofed. But in defect of any deed of fpecial powers from the Company to the Com- mittee, his Lordfhip has been pleafed to give the Board a narrative of his motives and inducements for coming to India, as an explanation of the Company's orders of the i ft June. His Lordmip will ex- i cuie us if we cannot admit a private re- prefentation to have, in any reipect, the weight of an order from the Company, or if we mould not be biafled to admit of conltructions contrary to their evident ienfe and meaning. We are very willing to afcribe to his Lordiliip all the merit due to his cliftin- guiihed character ; and we do, without icruple, fuppoie his views in taking charge of this government were perfectly difinterefted, as to advantages of for- tune ; out we do not grant that the af- fairs of this Preildency were in fuch a deiperate iituation as to require his aid to fave the fettlement from inevitable ruin. Some irregularities and abufes there might have been in both the civil S and E 13(8 } arid military branches of the fervice, fuel* as will require the conftant attention of the Board to correct and regulate ; nor can his Lordlhip lay, that when he quitted the government of Bengal,, in the year 1760, he left it in fuch a ftate as not to be liable to the fame imputation , and to require an equal fhare of improve- ment. The conftant ftate of warfare we have been engaged in for years paft en- grofTed much of the Board's attention, nor were the circumftances of our affairs, or temper of our army, well adapted to reformation. The Board considered the regulations, contained in your letter of the ift June, as directed more particu- larly to Lord Clive and the other Mem- bers of the Board in conjunction with him, and therefore deferred thofe changes till his Lordfliip's- arrival. However, confidering that the greater the danger and difficulties fe'em to be, the more honour would be acquired in the extrica- tion, we are not furprized that Lord Clive fhould take pains to fet forth to the world a notion of the fettlement's impend- ing ruin< We [ 139 3 We cannot help taking notice of his Lordfhip's want of civility to the Coun- cil, when he tells them, they were offici- ous in procuring the confirmation of the terms he had agreed on with the Company refpecYmg his jaghire. Such an unbe- coming cenfure might have been fpared the Board, as well as the invidious mo- tives he afcribes for that ftep. We de- clare the Board had no other view but that, as they were forming a treaty with the Nabob, a provifionary claufe fliould be referved for that agreement. The minute delivered in by the other Members of the Selecl: Committee teems to infinuate, that they had met with an opposition from the Board to meafures that were for the Company's interefts and advantage ; as if the other Members of the Board were not devoted to the Company, and had their welfare at heart equally with themfelves. We are truly concerned to fee an allegation made ufe of that feems calculated to acquire the Committee a cre- dit with the Company at the expence of gentlemen who by no means dcferved ilich a reflection . We defy the Committee to point out a fingle falutary regulation to S 2 which which we have ever objeclecl, or to any regulations whatever at the time that minute was delivered in. Indeed they have put our opinions of any meafures; they had to proppfe out of the queftion, for they have ailumed from the Board what the Company exprefsly entrufted to the management of Council ; a.nd it is to this {Iretch of power and authority alone that any objections have ever been made. Complaints againft the Hidden growth of wealth is, we think, a very extraor- dinary argument out of the mouth of the Committee : for in the inidft of immenfe fortunes fuddently acquired, Lord Clive's {lands the moil conspicuous. However, as the honourable Company have not hir timatecl any fuch feverity to their fervants, as the defire . of depriving them of a competency honeltly procured, fo if the Company are difpleafed with the affluence of their fervants, it jmiftbe when unjuflly got, or \yhen it is employed to their pre- judice, or difad vantage, When Lord Clive had finifhec! his eager enquiries touching the prefents, they ap- plied them lei ves to regulate the offices of |]ie Nabob's government ; out without confulting confulting the Board, or even informing them of a flngle determination they had come to, or any plan they had fettled ; and to this time we are kept in igno- rance of the particulars of that tranfaction, except in what we have heard by common report : which leaves us room to remark, that while moft of the iettlement are ac- quainted with the refolutions of the Com- mittee on this fnbjeft, the Council are to this clay uninformed of them. After thefe points were adjufled, the Nabob left Calcutta ; but without receiv- ing the ufual ceremony of a vifit of leave from the Board at his departure, which had never before been omitted. As to Mahomed Reza Cawn and Doolubram, they ftriclly adhered to what they con- ceived to be the intent of the Committee, that they mould keep up no intercourie with the Members of Council during their ilay in Calcutta. Vifits are fo ufual and necefTary a mark of civility in Hindoftan, that their omhlion Js reckoned thegreateft dilrepecl: : and without an intimation, it is impoffible that thofe very men, who had before been on a footing of great in- timacy and correfpondence with us, would would have dared to be guilty of the neglect ; confcious themfelves of the in^ civility, fome of thefe officers made a private apology for their behaviour, de^ claring their inclination to cultivate terms pf friendfhip with us, but that they clurfl not, through fear of incurring his Lord? {hip's difpleafure. When the Minifters of the Nabob's government are fo clofely connected with ours, they muft be anxioufly concerned in every change which happens amongfl us. Such an eftrangement from the Council can have no other tendency than to point out they are, in future, to efteem. both Lord Clive and themfelves, as it were, at variance with us ; and under* this notion they have been allowed to be wanting in the refpecl due to our rank and flation in your fervice, as if Lord Clive's authority in the points committed to his charge could not be fufficiently difplayed if the leaft fliadpw remained to the Board. How injurious it is to the Council, and how detrimental to your affairs, thus to have the influence of the Board degraded in the eyes of a country |Q be managed under their direction, we leave [ 143 j leave it to you to judge ; but fureiy, whatever moderation the Council may preferve from motives prudential for your interefts, they cannot but be extremely difgufted under fuch circumftances. Thefe points being fettled, Lord Clive now prepares to proceed towards Ilihabad, to negotiate with the King and Sujah ul Dowla. As the Committee had extended their authority, and infringed on the pro- vince of the Council in other cafes, which the Company, in our opinion, entrufted to the adminiftration of the Board, it was not to have been expected, that in their own particular fphere they would yield fuch a conceflion to the Board, as to communicate their fentiments or intentions on the fubject of his Lordfhip's Commif- fion, although the Company direct, that the Board fhould be coniulted where they conveniently can ; yet this being left to the Committee's difcretion, they may be iuppofed the bed judges of the conveni- ence : we, therefore, did not deem our- felves abfolutely entitled to be confultecl, nor exprefTed any duTatisfadiion that fuch a compliment was not paid to the Board ; nor did we ever attempt to make this, nor any i 144 ] any matter which, by your commands^ comes under the department of the Select Committee, a fubjecl of debate. Without any intimation then of their fentiments re- lative to this point, his Lordfhlp took his leavd of the Board, informing them he was going up the country on affairs of impor- tance; Soon after his Lordfhip's departure, the Committee informed the Board, that there was fome particular bufinefs to be tranf- acled at the Durbar, which required the prefence of Mr. Sykes, and that he was about to proceed to the city. As Mn Middleton was Refident already at the Durbar, and it was his province to tranf- acl all the bufinefs there, the Board were lurprized at iuch a motion,- confldering it was an unjuft reflection on a gentle- man who had all along conducted him- ielf to their entire fatisfacHon ; and they propofecl/ that the prefent bufinefs fliould be entrufled to Mr- Middleton, as all thefe matters had been heretofore. This the Committee refufed : alledging it re- quired great fecrecy, and ought not to be communicated but to one of their own members. They afliired the Board, how- ever, [ H5 ] ever, that the appointment of Mr. Sykes fhould not injure Mr. Middleton's autho- rity, who was to be, independent of him, and to remain reprefentative on the part of the Council. As in Lord Clivers former government in Bengal, and for a long time afterwards, the refidence to the Durbar had been given to fervants below the rank of Coun- cil, yet 110 fcruple was ever made to en- truft them with the moft material and ie- cret tranfaclion relative to the govern- ment ; and as the Committee are obliged to employ a fecretary and adiftants in the courfe of their bufinefs, we could fee no reafon why Mr. Middleton, bound by an oath of fecrecy, was not fully as worthy of confidence and truft as thefe gentle- men, had it been even a matter of the ftricleft fecrecy. But as the Committee had before acquainted the Board, that Mahomed Re2a Cawn's timidity in the ad- miniftration had given Roydullub too much fway, which muft be checked, and that to effect this was the bufinefs which required Mr. Sykes to proceed to Moor- (hedabad ; after fuch intimation given to the Board, where was the neceffityof keep- T ing t 146 ] ing it concealed from Mr. Middleton, one of its members, who could fully as well accompli fli this end as Mr. Sykes? Or what occafion was there to keep two of. the Council at the Durbar, when one only was fuiHcient for all the bufinefs, and the other would remain an initance, to the whole country, how cheaply the Council were rated by the Committee ? whilft, at the fame time, afeparate and divided in- tereft between them was thus publicly, pointed -out. But we learn by a letter from Mr. Middleton to the Board, that the appoint- ment to the Durbar was intended Mr. Sykes all along, and before he left Cal- cutta : cliigufted, therefore, with his iitu- ation, he religned this appointment, and claimed the vacant Chieffltip of-Patna; which having been designedly left open, by defire of the Committee, to provide for fome iuch occaiion, was allotted him. When Mr. Sykes was at the city, Lord . Cl'ive being on his way to Illihabad, Ge- neral Carnac at the head of the army, and. Mr. Verelfl at Burdwan, of the whole Committee, only Mr. Su inner remained at Calcutta, a fingle member. He not of himfelf E '47 ] himfelf forming a Committee, there was a total fufpenfion of the regular admin i- ftration of the Company's' affairs. The Committee efteeming themfelves the fli- preme power, had appointed their own members to different flations : who being clifperfed, and not acknowledging the au- thority of the Council, each acled in his own ftation, independent of the orders of the Board, and abfolutely without con- troul: and as none but the Committee have the power to aiTemble its members together, ib the date of their feparate in^ dependent authority retted with them- felves entirely. We need here only re- mark, that this is a form of government altogether new, and unknown in this Settlement before. During this ilate of interregnum, it had been propoled in Council to fill up two feats rendered vacant, by the death of Mr. Billers and Mr. Johnftone's refigna- tion, that the number which the Com- pany had directed to the management of their affairs, by their Commiflion of go- vernment and in their letter of the ifl June, might be complete. To this propofal j.t was objected, on the part of the Coni- T 2 mittee, [ 148 I mittee, and the Board were informed, that they were about to make regulations for reducing the number of Council: it was, therefore, dciired that we would defer coming to a resolution on the pre- fent motion for nominating new mem- bers. We muft own we were no lefs alarmed than furprized to hear a meafure propofed which, in our opinion, was not only an open violation of the Company's immediate and mod pofitive order, but alfo an invafion of their authority and prerogative. Our employers had iflued a Commiflion, under the great feal of the the Company, appointing a Preilclent and fifteen other 1 - members to the management of all their concerns in Bengal ; and in their accompanying letter had, in as full and ample terms as poflible, ordered, that whenever any vacancies fliould happen in that number, fuch vacancies fliould be filled up by the next of their fervants in feniority, provided no objections were made to their character. This commiiiion doth as abfolutely empower and authorize the lowed member of the ilxteen, nomi- nally appointed by the Company, or of their fucceilbrs, to be agent for the Com- pany, [ H9 1 pany, as it doth the Prefident himfelf: and to difpute or invalidate this autho- rity, or right of agency in the youngefl of the fixteen members, is, in our opinion, to difpute or invalidate the commillion itfelf. Such an infringement of the conv miflion is abfoiutely fuperfeding its au- thority: and after the validity of the com- miffion is thus fet afide, the power of government exercifed is not what the Company delegated, but an afTumed and nfurped one. To act from any other au- thority but that which the Company have conferred is admitting, that another body hath a right to direct and nrefcribe in fiich cafe equal with, or fuperior to the Company ; which fuppofition we confider as a direct breach of their orders, and an. infringement of their authority and pre- rogative, in a point that mod nearly af- fects their very conftitution. It is not for us to prefcribe what form of government we imagine to be the beft : the Company have the undoubted right to dictate to us the fyflem mofl agreeable to them, and it is our duty implicitly to be guided by their orders in fo nice a point. While we hold our power ac- cording L 150 ] cording to the laws prefcribed us, fliould any carnal inconveniences or mifcarriages arife, they muft fall upon our employers : but if once, throwing afide the form eltabliflied by the Company, we erect fyftems of our own, from that moment we become accountable and refponfible for every bad confequence that may im- mediately, or in future, accrue. If we Jiave any alterations in the fyftems of go- vernment to propofe, which we may deem improvements, and for the benefit of our employers, it would be confident with onr duty to fet them forth to the Com- pany, arid to wait their approbation be- fore fuch alterations are carried into exe-r cution. It alfo occurred to us, that the two next gentlemen in the fucceffion were by the Company's appointment abfolutely entitled to a mare of the adminiftration : to exclude them, therefore, was an act of injuftice, and privation of their right. It .would be juft as abfurd to fuppofe, that the fecond in Council could be fet afide from his fucceffion to the govern- ment in cafe of vacancy, if there mould be a majority difpoied to deprive him of this 1 this appointment, as thofe gentlemen From their feats at the Board. Influenced by thefe conficlerations and fentiments, we could not content to a meafure we thought inconfiftent with our duty to you, and our own judgments j and upon a divifion of voices, the majo* rity were of opinion, that the number of Council mould be completed. Mr. Charl- ton and Mr. French, the two gentlemen next to Council, were thereupon appoint- ed to fill up the vacancies, and directed to repair to the Presidency, and take their feats at the Board, as ibon as con- venient. Your directions concerning the inland trade, in the articles of fait, beetel-nut and tobacco, feemed to be a matter mere- ly commercial, and particularly addrefled to the management of the Council : yet Lord Clive.and the Committee have taken upon themielves to form fuch regulations as they have thought proper, without the concurrence, or even afldng the opinion of the Board. Although we had reafbn to be dillatisfied, that no attention was paid to our opinion, though we confi- dered ourfelves entitled to be confulted, yet, yet, knowing, the Committee were deter- mined to carry their fyftem into execu- tion, we contented ourfelves with only entering a clifTent : but at the fame time cheerfully contributed our fervices, when, by the direction of the Board* we were appointed members of a committee of trade, for executing the plan formed by the Select Committee. Relative to this trade, the recallment of European agents is another inflance where the Committee have taken upon themfelves to conduct what belonged to the province of the Board ; which was fo much the more unnecefiary, as the Pre- fident and Council had before teftified their readinefs to comply with the Com- pany's inftructions on this head, by iffuing orders to the fame effect* Lord Clive, having returned to the pre- fldency, laid before the Board the ar- ticles of a treaty he had concluded with the King and Shujah Doxvlah together, with the Sunnuds obtained, from the King, for the Dewannee and perpetual Jaghire of the royal revenues of Bengal, Bahar and Orixa: with Sunnuds of con- firmation for the counties of Burdwan, Midnapoor [ 153 ] ; Miclnapoor and Chittagong, before held by the Company-. With relpect to the treaty with Shujah Dowlah, the former Board had, at differ- ent times, endeavoured to effect a peace with that prince, on fuch conditions as were deemed proper and honourable : but whilft he had any forces to oppofe us, he rejected all our offers ; and rather than confent to our terms, he preferred an attempt to form a confederacy with all the powers he could itir up againfl us ; partly by the pretext of a holy war, where- in he invited the different princes of the Mahomedan faith to oppofe our ambi- tious views of conqueft, and partly by offers of money. Finding our propofals fruitlefs, and the King coming over to Us, after the important victory of Buxar, to which alone we are indebted for the prefent tranquillity and happy ftate of the Company's affairs, the Board entered into negotiations with his Majefty. We engaged to put the King in pop- feflion of Shujah Dowlah's dominions : and he, in return, made over to the Com- pany, by his Sunnuds, the perpetuity of the province of Gauzepore, with all Bul- U wantfing's wantfhig's Zemmdarry, as an indemnifi- cation for their lolles ; and promifed far- ther, to defray the expences of the war from the time our troops were employed in his fervice- We had alfo engaged, with the King's concurrence,, our promifc of the Subahdarry of Illihahad to Najeef Khan ; a bfave and acUve prince, who had heartily joined our interests, antl 011 whom, as well on account of a family quarrel with Shujah Dowlah as for other reafons, we could perfectly depend : we had actually put him in pofleffion of it ; and had further intended to have procur- ed from the King his appointment to the Subahdarry of Oud. It was our defire of adhering to thefe our engagements^ which latterly preclud- ed all terms of peace with Shujah Dowlah ; who, though haughty and ftubborn whilft he could raife a fingle Rohilla or Maratta to fnpport his caufc, yet being deprived of every in eh of territory, his treafure ex- haufted, deferted by almofl all his people, reduced to the itate of as mere an exile and wanderer as Mhir Collim himfelf, and forced to take flicker with Ahmud Khan Bengulh, t '55 ] Bengufli, who afforded him nothing more than the protection of hofpitality, he was at lad forced to make humble fuit to his vigors, and was lure to rejoice in any terms, when not a fiiigle grant was in his hands to cede to us. But the Board con- fidered, that to reftore Shujah Dowlah to his dominions, would have been an in- fringement of their treaty with the King; which was now fo much the lefs iiecefTary -for the tranquillity of the country, as the Xing was in aclual pofleffion of them. The Board confidered themfelves as no longer acling in any other capacity but as allies to the King : and thinking the war in a manner at * an end, ordered the Commander in Chief to acquaint the King, now that we had put him in pof 1 feifion of the provinces ofOucl and llliha- bad, we confidered our part of the en- gagements towards him as fulfilled, and that it was riot our intention to carry on fo expensive a war, at fuch a diflance from our own diftri&s, any longer ; but that he muft take his meafures to fupport himfelf in the pofleffions we had acquired for him, by acling with his mm oft vigour. Our view herein was to flimulate the U-2, . King; [ 156 ] King and Najeef Khan to exert f elves in their own caufe, as well as to convince ourfelves how far the King eoulcl actually efFedl what he had before confidently allured us of, the maintaining himfelf with his own ftrength, whenever a con qu eft was made of Shnjah Dowlah's country- For he had given us the flrongeft affurances, that whenever we ihould put him in poffeHion of the pro- vinces of Oud and Illihabad, many coun- try powers, devoted to him in their hearts, would flock to his flandard, and that he would then be enabled to recover Delhi, the feat of his empire. The fureft way to come to a certainty how far he could maintain himfelf on the fupport of his own ftrength, was to convince him of the neceffity of his exertion ; for as long as he had a profpect of our army fighting his battles, folely relying on his affiftance* he would take no ftep whatever in fup- port of his own caufe ; nor would he even take the necefTary care and concern of his government. The treaty now entered upon- has created a total change in the King's af- fairs : fo near as he was to power and in- dependence^ [ 157 1 dependence, he had never felt himfelf before matter of Shun ah Dowlah. He is J reflored to his former dominions, and to the Vizarut : and has ftipulated to pay the Company fifty laaks in thirteen months, us well by way of indemnification for damages fuftained in the war, as for the liirrender of your territories of Gauze* pore, &.c. of which the revenues for the next year are afligned over for payment of twenty laaks, in part of the above fli- pulated fum. As to the Royal Sunnuds for the lands of Burclwan, Midnapore and Chittagong, the King having in facl no real power in Bengal, we were extremely cautious in admitting his authority over the difpofal of its lands or revenues. HisMajefiy had beflowed feveral Sunnuds for jaghires in the Bengal provinces on his adherents and favourites, to a very confiderable yearly amount; one particularly to Major Munro, for a large yearly income, which that gentleman honourably gave up into the hands of the late Nabob. Did we openly acknowledge the King's preroga- tive to grant Sunnuds by an application for thole, we could not with decency have [ '58 ] have denied che "validity of thefe : and a large revenue would have been drained from, the provinces for the life of feveral officers of the King's Court, which we did not think prudent to allow of. The Board had it certainly in their power to obtain the above-mentioned Sunnuds from the King, as well as thofe for the Dewannee, and perpetual jaghirat of Bengal, Bahar and Orixa, had they thought it for your intereft and advan- tage : for the King, hitherto fupportecl by our treafure and arms, and in a itate of abfolute dependence on our government, had it fcarce in his power to refufe com- plying with any requefts we (liould make : and fuch a grant, far from being at his own expence or privation, would rather prove beneficial to him, by fecur- ing us as guarantees for a certain revenue from Bengal, from which we believe for ibme years paft he has drawn very little advantage .It is not to be doubted then, but that the King would have beftowed upon us a grant for the poflefiion of a country where he had not the lealt power, .but through our influence, as eaiily be- fore, as he had done n.ow ; but motives,, which t which we deemed the mod weighty arid material, forbad our making an applica- tion for inch a grant. The Board had considered the benefits received by the Company from Mhir Jaffier, and the nature of the connections which fubfifted with him, as liifficicnt reafons to enter into engagements with his elded O O ion, Najum o* Dowlah, with whom ac- cordingly a treaty was ratified, as fblemn as the pledge of our public faith and pro- mile could make it, and on terms which ieemed to us beneficial: and we refer it to our employers, whether they were fo or not. We thought we could not, with- out a violation of this treaty and of our public faith, as well as of the ties of grati- tude, accept of favours, or demand powers from the King that were ib incompatible with our engagements with the Nabob, and detrimental to a family from whom fach ample benefits had been derived. Be- fides, although the Dewannee was, we know, an acquisition equal to a Sove- reignty in point of power, and that it would yield forrie ificreafe of revenue; yet,, as the honourable Company inform- ed us they were fatisfted with their pre- fent fent pofTeilions, and by no means defir- ous of extending them, we apprehended, that to appropriate to themfelves the re- venues and command of a kingdom was greatly exceeding their defires and inten- tions, and though bringing them a prefent temporary advantage, yet, in the end* might be attended with confequences in the highefl degree prejudicial to their true interefts : and we did not doubt but they had the prudential confideration in view^ when they fet the limits they did to our acquifitions ; and that they will be fully fatisfied with the large additional in* come flipulated for them, by our treaty withNajum o* Dowlah, before Lord dive arrived. Such were the motives of the former admininration, and fnch our objections to purfuing the meafures which have been lately adopted. However, ilnce the gentlemen of the Committee have been able to fur mount the fcruples we enter* tained, it might, in a political view, be efteemed a happy circumflance that gives the finiming hand to a peace after we had brought the war fo near a conclufion, did it, at the fame time, put an end to fuch diflant t- '61 1 diftant connections as thofe with his Ma- jefty. But we muft obferve, that as we are guarantees in the treaty made by Lord Clive, we mull fupport the King in poflef- iion of the fmall diftricl: allotted him: and being in offenfive and defenfive alliance with Shujah Dowlah, we are under the heceflity of affifling him whenever he mall be attacked by the different powers of Hincloftan. Under fuch circumftances, our prefent fituation may poflibly not be found better than had the Board's agree- ment with the King been adhered to : and in the latter cafe, the Englifli would have avoided the imputation of violating their engagements, and of adopting new and contrary iyftems on every change of their own government ; which we think muft tend to deftroy the confidence hereto- fore placed in their promifes, treaties and alliances. But to admit, for a moment, the expediency and propriety of Iris Lordfhip's fyftem of putting an end to the war, ftill we think the fettlement for the King very injudicioufly made : he is feated in as remote a country as he well could be, at the utmoft extent of Shujah Dowlah's dominions, and in that territory X we [ 162 ] xv e have engaged to maintain him. Should then the King happen to be attacked* a body of our troops are to march an ini- menfe way from our own provinces, be- fore they arrive to yield the King alliftance. We know the King is like to have no fup- port but in us ; all the territory, therefore, affigned him may be loft before oar troops could join him : and as Shujah Dowlah, whoie fidelity and engagements are very doubtful, will be between our own- diftricls and thofe we are to protect, the division of our forces, unavoidable in cafe the King jfhould be attacked, will afford him the fineft opportunity to vindicate his injured reputation and gratify his refentment to the Englifli, and to recover the diuricl: allotted to the King. All thefe evils might have been avoided, we think, by placing the King in the Zemindarry of Bul- tvantfing; who would with morepleafure have paid his revenues to the King than he now does to Shujah Dowlah. Bui- wantfmg's Zemindarry being immediately on our own borders, we could with lefs difficulty and danger have guaranteed ' the King in pofTeffion of it. Bulwant- fing would have been benefited by fuch a fettlement. I 163 ] lettlement, and happy in the fecurity and protection his Zemindarry muft have re- ceived from us. In cafe of a future war with Shujah Dowlah, he would have af- forded us fbme affiftance ; and by his ad- mitting us togarrifon the two fortrefles of Juanpore and Chinar-Gurr, we fliould have pofTefTed the ftrongeft and mod na- tural barriers and bulwarks to our own provinces, and the direct inroad to Shujah Dowlah's dominions, which might have kept him awe. How a Settlement fo ob- vioufly calculated to fecure ourfelves from future attacks from that quarter* and to infure a revenue to the King, hap- pened to efcape his Lordfhip, we are at a lofs to account for: we deem it evident he has been greatly mi/taken in his poli- ticks. As the Committee have alfo reconciled to the Company's interefts the addition of an income which may arife by the De- wannee, we freely afcribe to thofe gentle- men the whole merit refulting from thefe negotiations and treaties. The advan- tage and profperity of our employers, we declare to have been our folc object at heart. We are equally happy whoever be X 2 the [ i*4 *j the agents in promoting them ; and fm- cerely and cordially wifli they may be eila- bliihed on the moil permanent footing", and that the benefits derived to the Com- pany may continue to the lateft period. The Select Committee having openly difplayed their fenfe of authority over the Board, in taking before them the pro- ceedings of Council, and canvafling the refolution relative to filling up the late vacancies, as we find, by an extract of their proceedings laid before the Council on the 1 6th September, they have been pleafed to agree unanimoufly, " That * ; the conduct of the members who com- ** pofed the majority of the Board was " highly improper and unbecoming, dit- " refpectful to the Committee, and to the *' powers veiled in them by the honour- " able Court of Directors." They fur- ther agreed, " That the behaviour of thefe " gentlemen was dictated by a fpirit of " oppofition to the Committee, fince nei- " ther public nor private injury or be- '* nefit could arife from poilponing the '* refolution ; they are forry to obferve ** the flight effecls produced by the le- ** nity and moderation of their late pro- [ l &5 ] (t ceedings, and to fee gentlemen in the *' highefl ftations in the fervice reduced " to inconfiilency in conduct and ar- <( gument for the fake of contradiction " only. If implicit obedience was by " thofe gentlemen thought due to the " letter of the Company's inftruclions, " how came they to neglect both the let- *' ter and fpirit of the Company's exprefs *' orders for figning the covenants, and " at a juncture eipecially when obe- " dience became neceflary to the fecu- " rity of their own reputations?" The Committee then proceed to ailign their reafons why the number of Council mould not be enlarged, for which we refer you to their proceedings. And, laftly, as an occafional majority was intentionally taken advantage of in that refolution, they pro- pofe to the Board now to reconfider, whe- ther the former refolutions fliould ftand good or be reverfed ? Since the Committee claim the power of conficlering the acts of the Board, and of throwing ib fevere a cenfure on the conduct of its majority, why did they not, of themfelves, reverfe the refolution in queftion, without referring it to the Board I [ '66 ] Board ? In this they acknowledge their want of authority : but as the power of cenfuring, and of repealing are lodged in the fame body, they have either exceed- ed the limits of their commiffion in the one, or have deviated from confiflency in their meafure in the other, by an un- common remiulon of their privileges, in all other inftances fo ftrictly fupported. In their cenfure they have afcribed rea- fons for our conduct which never had exiftence, and which it is impoflible they could ever be acquainted with ; and for no other apparent caufe, but becaufe the Board differed with them in opinion. If a majority meets with fuch treatment for offering' their fentirnents, when they do not happen to coincide with the voices of the Committee, what may every indivi- dual member of the Board expecl, when he is fo unfortunate as to entertain a dif- ferent opinion from them ? Or what free- dom of thought can take place at a Board* where our ilations afford us no protection from the fevered reflections, cloathecl with the utmoft acrimony of expreflion, and from the violence of fentiments manifefled by fuch reflections ? We have in fome preceding paragraph informed you of our true reafons for vot^ ing, that the vacancies fliould be filled up. In anfwer to the Committee, we (hall further add, that it was impomble to ac- quiefce in the delay propofed without contradiction to our fentiments, in ac- knowledging, that the Committee had power to transfer the Company's concerns to the management of only fuch a num- ber as they thought proper, or to make any alterations in the commiffion of go- vernment which, in order to give it the more validity, you were pleafed to grant in fuch a formal manner. The Committee obferve, that no pub- lic or private injury, or benefit could arife from the poftponement. There was then the lefs reafon to invalidate the Com- pany's commiffion, and infringe their or- ders, fince no advantage would arife to the public from flich a deviation, and there was the greater probability of our being impartial in what we were per- fbnally to reap no benefit from. But how far, in our opinion, it related to the public we have already mentioned ; and the exclufion of the two next to Council from [ '68 j from their flations allotted by the Com* pany, was alfo a privation of the honour and benefits you intended, which furely cannot but be deemed a private injury. Jf the Committee, by the lenity and moderation of their late proceedings, mean, as it fliould leem, the tendernefs with which they carried on their late enquiries concerning the prefents, the only occafion they ever had to manifeft how far they were actuated by lenity and moderation, we beg leave to refer to the honourable Company the degree of obli- gation the members of the former Board lie under to the gentlemen of the Com- mittee, 011 that fcore, in the courfe of thofe enquiries, as well as in the general tenor of their behaviour. The Committee quote our delay in flgn- ing the covenants, as an argument which ought to have induced us to delay our refolutions of compleating the number of the Board. We prefume they confider the former as a breach of orders ; and they furely could not imagine, that be- caufe we had erred once, that we fliould perfift invariably in the error : rather ought we, convinced of our former mif- take, take, carefully to avoid falling into others in future. We may with equal juftice apply their own way of reafoning to them- felves. If they think the Company's or- ders admit of a deviation, how came they to condemn the former Prefldent and Council for the fame opinion ? or, if they thought deviation wrong, how came they now to fupport its propriety, and to cen- iure the Board becaufe they could not acquiefce in their fentiments on this oq- caflon ? Certain we are, the cafes were very different. The inftruclions concern- ing the covenants were of very little con- cernment to the honourable Company : their nomination of a Council of the high- eft importance to the government of the iettlement, to their prerogative, and to their conftitution itfelf. We cannot help remarking here, the ungenerous advan- tage the Committee propofe to themfelves in reviewing what has been enquired into and determined ; and what, therefore, ought not again to have been mentioned. As to our reputations, hitherto they have flood the teft, and we doubt not but they ever will. And notwithftanding their ungenteel reflection, we believe the Y world I 170 J "world will judge the late Prefldent and his Council were as capable of knowing what belonged to the fecurity of their 'characters, and will find they will {up-- port them with as much integrity as the gentlemen of the Seleft Committee. As reafons for keeping the number of Council reduced, the Committee advifed the recallment of the Chiefs of Midnapore and Benaras, and, at Mr. Verelft's re- commendation, propofed to withdraw the Chief and Council at Burdwan ; alledging it uneceflary, and a needlefs expence, to have a Member of Council refiding there, fince a junior fervant can equally "well conduct the bufinefs, under the m- fpection and orders of a fupravifor. We do not think the two former very material: >but deem the collection of a revenue, 'amounting to above four hundred thou- ; fand pounds fterling a year, a very fit ob- ject for the employment of a Member of the Board; and we think he ought con- ftantly to refide there, that his mind be- ing unengaged with any other bufinefs, he may be better qualified and more at leifure to attend to the collections, to the diftribtttion of juflice, and to the im- provements t 171 J provements which fo large a diflriclmuffc admit of. As to the expence of main- taining a Chief and Council there, if the allowances from the Rajah are deemed improper, fnppofe them placed upon the fame footing with the other fubordinates : the Company could never grudge a charge fo trifling as would be incurred, beyond the pay and falary which the gentlemen who are Jrom the Council mull receive, wherever they be ftationed : but argument is needlefs : Mr. Verelft is to be the fo;e fupravifor, or in other words, chief, with a privilege unufual to the other fubordi- nates, that of acting, at the fame time, as a Member of the Board as well as of the Committee. The increafe of the recalled Members will keep up the number of Council at the Presidency to eight, as directed by the honourable Company: but as that number is the leaft ordered to remain on the fpot, we think two others would have been very eligible, and not more than is necei- iary to clifcharge the different offices ufaally filled by Members of Council; be- iides, if ten refide in Calcutta, from the c/ircumftances of ill health or other avoca- Y 2 tions, tions, not more than eight will be found conftantly to attend the Board. This be- ing conildered, the infringement of the commiflion of government appears fo mnch the more improper, as the altera- tion would be attended with no advan- tage. The charge of our having made ufe of a caiual majority to fill np the vacancies, we totally difavow : every Member has a right to propofe what he thinks proper, and to give his opinion. When this mo- tion was made, we could not, without facrificing our fentiments, give our con- fent to thepropofal of the Committee, and our voices happened to coincide with the majority : but this allegation is equally .ap- plicable upon every divifion in Council ; and we may with the fame propriety ad- vance, that the gentlemen of the Select Committee now take the advantage of their majority at the Board to reverfe a former refolution. Upon the whole, our fentiments have been fo oppoiite to thofe of the Com- mittee on the fubjecl of filling up the vacancies in Council, that if you approve of the one, you muft condemn the other. Which [ 173 ] Which of ns have thought and acted mod conformably to your meaning and intent, or have iupportecl their opinions with moil jufticc, you muft he judges. We fliall only add, that the unmerited cenfuresancl reflections which the gentle- men of the Committee have loaded us with in their proceedings, andthefevere terms in which they are exprefled, as they do not lefTen the force of our argu- ments, fo neither do they add weight to theirs ; and with this remark we leave it to your determination. To the many jnitances we have related of the proceedings of the Selecl: Com- mittee, we mall trouble you with but one more, at once expreiiive of their dilpofi- tion towards the Council, and confirm- ing the motives we alcribed to their con- duct, as well as our idea of their inten- tions. Believing that all the differences which had hitherto ariien betwixt the Council and the Committee took their rife from the different conftrucYions placed upon the Company's orders, Mr. Ley- cefter gave in a minute to the Board, the 2jth September, propoflng an expe- dient to put an end to all further alterca^ tions : t 174 J tions : he fet forth, " That the honoura- <( ble Company having exprefsly directed, " that the powers of the Select Committee " fhouldceafe when peace and tranquilli- * ' ty were reftored, teemed evidently to re- ." (Iricl their authority to the due manage^ " ment of whatever matters were condu- " cive or relative to that important point ; " that therefore it did not appear their " intention, that the Committee mould " exift after the war was brought to an " end : and as, by the late peace with 44 Shujah Dowlah, the views of the Com- " pany in this appointment were accom- 4< plimed, he propofed, that the Com- " mittee fliould be diflblved ; however, " if this did not prove agreeable to the " Committee, he defired Lord Clive and " the gentlemen who came with him " from Europe, to explain to the Board " their idea of the powers the Committee " ,are inverted with, the term intended for .'* their duration, and the particular bufi- '* nefs that belonged to their department. " That it fliould then be put to the vote, " whether theCommittee fliould continue ,*' on fuch a footing, or not. The Mem*- ,* l hers of the Committee themfelves, being " the [ 175 1 * c the majority of Council then prefent, told us, that they themfelves, and not the. Board, were the judges when the powers of the Committee ought to ceafe ; and that they would anfwer to the Court of Directors, not to us, on the fubjecl of Mr. Leycefter's minute. We cannot, without fmcere concern, reflect on the iituation we are reduced to. We have before us your inftruclions, the fenfe of which feems very obvious to us ; and it is our duty to enforce and fupport thefe, as far as our abilities can reach. We fee the Select Committee purfuing meafures which appear to us contrary to thofe inftruclions ; and when we repre- fent our opinion, and requeft an explana- tion, the Committee perlift in denying us any accefs to information. We have frequently received from thofe gentlemen verbal accounts of the powers they tell us the Company determined they (hould be invefled with. Why do they decline to authenticate thefe on the face of the confultations, when thus called upon ? fince it would put an end to our debates. Do they not give us room to imagine, that they do not chufe publicly to avow an extent of power fb far beyond the t 177 ] -the limit of your orders, by an explana^ tion which cannot he fupported by the tenor of your inflructions ? In this clifa- agreeable dilemma, what path is left for us to tread ? If, in ftrict conformity to our feritiments, we aflert the authority of the Company's orders, we are accnfed of acting from the fpirit of oppoiition and contradiction. If we acquiefce in the proceedings of the Committee, we trefpais againlt our own conviction, and our fenfe of the duty we owe to our em- ployers. Which (hall we prefeiy.the faith- ful difcharge of the trufl repofed in us, \vhilft fubjecled to injury, or the purchafe of our peace and quiet, at the expence of our opinions and characters ? Would the world, or could we ourfelves applaud fuch infincerity? We cannot regard the inftances we have given you of the Committee's exer- cife of the power fet forth, but as highly improper, whether we conlider the im- mediate effects or example they yield. A fet of gentlemen, whom you appoint- ed to carry on the war you underftood this fettlement to be engaged in, and to effect a peace, when that-war could be Z brought t 178 1 brought to a concluflon, infteacl of re- ftricYmg themfelves to the points com- mitted to their care, aililme the power to regulate every branch of your concerns, independently of your Council. Setting afide entirely the term you prefcribe to their authority, they allow themfelves only to be the judges when it (hould end. The whole power is in their hands, and they may employ it to what purpofes, and as long as they pleafe, nor can your Coun- cil reftrain them. We mean not to fay, that the gentlemen who now compofe the Select Committee will ufe their power for any bad deflgn, but we think they afford a dangerous precedent, by the fuccefs of an authority not founded on your orders, which may, one time or other, prove very detrimental to your affairs. We cannot avoid complaining of our fituation, prevented as we are from do- ing our duty, in the management of af- fairs you were pleafed to commit to our charge ; expofed to cenfures and reflec- tions for difference in opinion ; the for- mer adminiftration condemned and dif- paraged, in order to raife the credit of the prefent. Agroundlels alarm, there- fore, [ 179 ] fore, is raifed, of the extreme danger the fettlement is threatened with, from im- pending ruin. No other refutation to this aflertion is required, than to look back on the fuccefs with which we main- tained a war againft one of the mod for- midable Princes in Hindoftan ; a ftronger teft of the firmnefs of our government than was ever before experienced : and we made provifion for one of the mod ample inveftments the honourable Com- pany have received from Bengal for a con- fiderable time. And, as if by way of comparifon, his Lordfliip fets forth in ftrong colours, the great difintereftednefs of the gentlemen afTociated with him in the Select Com- mittee. We do not want to derogate . from the merits of thofe gentlemen ; but in order to obviate the oblique reflection caft upon the former Prefident and his; Council by his LordQiip's declaration, we muft remark, that Mr. Verelft is appoint- ed to the Chiefship of Burdwaii and to the office of export warehoufe-keeper, two of the moft advantageous employs in your (ervice, and which were always before held feparate; and we underftand that Z 2 the the Chiefsfhip of Coflimbuzar, and r-efi^ dence at the Durbar are to be united in the perfoii of Mr. Sykes, Although to the behaviour of the Com- mittee, as we have related, we could not,, confidently either with our duty to you or to the juffcice.we owe our own cha- racters, acquiefce or fubmit ; yet we have invariably made it a maxim to conduct ourfelves with the greateft moderation whenever, to our concern, we were un- der a necedity of expreiTing our dhTent from their proceedings ; and where we have difapproved of their political mea- fures, we have induftnoufly avoided a public diiTent at the Board, in order to prevent the ill confequences which have oft heretofore arifen from the difcovery of a contrariety, or difference of fenti- ments in the Council on thefe fubjects ; whence room has frequently been given to clifcontentecl people to look for altera- tions from every change in our govern- ment, and to our enemies, to make their xitmoft advantage of fuch contending par- ties. And referving for our own honour and vindication this declaration now made to you, we would neither wifli, nor at- tempt tempt any innovation in the plan fixed on by the Committee, for the fame rea- fons as we objected to the infringement of former engagements, conficlering al- moft every change as attended with bad confequences, . We beg you will not confider this re- nionflrance as flowing from a deiire to keep up the divifions which have fub- fifted among us, or from any fpirit of re- fentment, or recrimination. We mod heartily clefpife fuch mean motives, and fliall never permit them to influence our conduct. Our only view herein is to give you particular information concern- ing the debates which have arifen on the intent and meaning of your orders, and that you may fee the neceffity of being as full and explicit as poflible in your in- ftrucPcions on this, and on flmilar occa- iions : and we cleflre you will be perfecl:- ly allured, that though the Committee, inftead of endeavouring to conciliate their fubverfion of our meafures, have given us much unneceiTary cliigufl, yet having thus referred ourfelves to yon, we (hall, pn our part, bury in oblivion all that is pall, fliall be ready to concur with heart and [ 1 8* 1 and hand to make the Committee's regula- tions anfwer themoft falutary ends, and to ftudy at the revival of that harmony and good underflanding fo eflential for the reputation of our government, and the fuccefs of your affairs. And now, honourable Sirs, having giv- en you a ftatement of matters, conform- ably to the drifted truth, we think it ne- cefTary to inform you, we are no lefs con- cerned to be under the neceffity of mak- ing our application to you in this unufal manner, than for the occafion which has obliged us to take fuch an uneuftomary ftep. But we refolved, as already men- tioned, to avoid as much as poflible the appearance of difputes and difTenfions at the Council Board, and fenfible that the many altercations with which the proceed- ings of Council have heretofore been fill- ed, muft prove as difagreeable to you as they are to the parties concerned, we deter- mined not to wafle that time and attention in fruitlefs debates at the Board, which ought to be devoted to the management of your bufmefs; and we deem it the moft eligible, as the more moderate, ta to referve for the firft conveyance to Europe t '83 1 Europe our intention of communicating to you the fubjeft of our difagreements ; and, confcious that all our meafu res have bee'n regulated by a flncere and warm attachment to your advantages and inte- refts, we moft cheerfully refer our proceed- ings to the decilionofyour candour and ju- ftice, and appeal to you, whether we have acted with propriety, or not ? At the fame time, we dare to aflure you, that what- ever advantages or fuperiority of intereft, power, or ftation may afford others over us, in rendering you fervices, there are none whofe hearts are filled with a more fervent zeal for your profperity than our- felves. We have the honour to be, with the utmoft refpecl, Honourable Sirs, Your moft faithful, mod devoted, and moft obedient, humble fervants, , . 1A CRALPH LEYCESTER, (S,gned,) } GEORGE GRAYt Calcutta, the apth September, 1765. t 184 ] POSTSCRIPT* TH E above addrefs was wrote before the difpatch of the Admiral Stevens, and intended to have been forwarded to .you by that fliip ; but refolving to pro- ceed with the utmoft caution, left fbme circumftances overlooked by us,- or a pof- fible miftake in regard to your orders, might give Lord Clive a pretext to gra- tify a refentment againfl us which we had reafon to think already formed, we delayed tranfmitting our addr6fs by that conveyance : and as either a confirma- tion or reverfion of your orders might fo fbon be expeclecl, in anfwer to the in- terefling advices conveyed you by the fliips of the feafon, 1763-4, we deter- mined to wait for an intelligence which could not fail to inform us of your in- tentions, beyond the poffibility of a doubt. Your commands accordingly, of the Ijth February, per Grenville, fully con- firmed firmed us in our fentiments, that Lord Clive had aiRimed an authority which was by no means your intention, and depriv- ed your Council of that fhare of the ad- miniuration which you had allotted them, by transferring the reins of government into the hands of a Selecl: Committee. Had you ever intended or feen it necefTary, that this body fhould have continued the extenfive authority which they now exer- cife, we think it will not bear a doubt, but that you would have addrefTed them fepa- rately, and invefted them with full pow- ers at a juncture fo critical as the mutiny of our army and the invafion of Shu j ah Dowlah, the advice of which events then lay before you, and conveyed an alarming profpecl:. Whereas your com- mands are directed, as ufual, to the whole Council, whom you order to fee them executed : and, in the 47th para- graph, you exprefs your approbation of the method of conducting your affairs by the channels of a public and private department, under the direction of the Prefident and Council* Had you meant to inveft the Committee with the autho- rity they have afTumed, this would not, A a we we conceive, have been the mode of your orders. They would certainly have been delegated in that ample and accu- rate form which was obferved with refpec~t to Mr. Vanfittart, in the year 1763: and from their not being fo, we are the more confirmed in the belief, that you will approve of our fentiments regarding the proceedings of Lord Clive, and the powers exercifed by the Select Committee. The peace with Shujah Dowlah was certainly the proper and natural period to the authority of the Selecl: Committee, had it been exercifed within the bounds pre- fcribed by your appointment. But Lord Clive, fetting alkie thefe orders, has thought proper to continue it ; for what reafon we cannot conceive, unlefs upon the principle, that his own power becomes the greater from it than if the admini- ilration was in the hands of the whole Council. From the fame reafon it would appear, that thofe branches of the Company's bu- iinefs which ought not only to be made known, but in which your fervants ought actually to be inftructed, are become mat- ters of the, utmoft fecrecy, Inftead of col- lecting lecYmg the fentimcnts of the Council on a branch fo highly important as the revenues are now rendered, and which, in confor- mity to your exprefs commands, has here- tofore been managed by a Committee of the Board, the Members of the Council are kept in ignorance of the manner in which the provinces are fettled, or the income the Company ought to receive from them, fo far at leaft as the Committee are able to conceal from them any knowledge in thefe affairs. We cannot here avoid remark- ing, that though in September the Board were unanimoufly of opinion, that the prefence of a Member of the Board was unnecefTary at Midnapore, yet the Com- mittee have fince taken the matter under their confideration, and fent Mr. Verelfl to fupervife the fettlement of the collec- tions, though they were committed to Mr. Graham, a gentleman of approved integrity and abilities, as will appear as well from your own fentiments as from, the opinion of the Board, on Mr. Graham's conduct while he had charge of Burdwan, and acted in the employ of fecretary to the Council. It appears to us highly improper thus to conceal from the Members of the A a 2 Board t 188 ] Board the fyflem of the collections which muft one day come under their infpeftion, as the Company are thereby deprived of any benefit they might reap from the knowledge of their other fervants ; and they (the fervants) are denied an oppor- tunity of that experience, or improvement which they might acquire, and which muft, fooner or later, be dedicated to the Company 's fervice. You will obferve by the foregoing letter, which was wrote before the Ad- miral Stevens failed, our fixed determina- tion to avoid all manner of difputes, and to aim at the revival of that harmony fo much to be wiflied amongft thole who have the adminiflration of your affairs abroad. It was on the point of the Admiral Stevens difpatch, that Lord Clive gave us reafon to doubt the efficacy of our befl intentions. He appeared determined to protrude all poflibility of a reconciliation : and incenf- ed with the freedom and independence of fentiment we had dared to aflert, in op- pofition to his opinion, it feemed, to all appearance, that he was refolved either to difguft into resignation, or to drive from the fervice thole who were acting upon [ i8 9 ] upon principles and maxims different from his own. We forefaw the fame iyftem of violence which had been e3i- ercifed in regard to Mooteram, Mr.John- ftone's fervant, was about to be ufed upon Ramanaut, Mr. Gray's, who was feized with military guards on the September, and is {till detained a pri- foner, expofecl to a power which every member of a free community muft abhor. The various minutes which have palTed between Lord Clive and Mr. Gray on this fubjecl, fland entered on the face of the confultations, and we beg leave to refer you to theie for particular information. We (hall only trouble you here with ibme few remarks, in order to fet the dilpute in a clear and impartial point of view. That Lord Clive was feverely exafperated againft the gentlemen of the Board, who had disagreed with him in feveral points, may, we think, be feen in the tenor of a minute of his fent to the Board during his flay at Illihabad, and entered in con- fultation of 22d July, as well as in the extract of the proceedings of the Select Committee, laid before the Board the 1 6th September. He had, in fearch we fuppofe [ I 9 o fuppofe for charges againft the members of the prior adminiftration, given ear to complaints againft Mr. Gray, which were .given out to be of a moft extraordinary na- ture, and propagated in fuch manner as if he hoped they might ferve as a check upon that gentleman's opinion. He doubt- lefs took for granted, or wiflied to be- lieve, that what he heard was true ; for he infinnated them to others, perhaps with a view that Mr. Gray himfelf mould hear, that fuch complaints had been made ; but without ever giving Mr. Gray the leaft hint, or information on the fub- jecl. At laft, Mr. Gray, determining to remain no longer under fuch injurious imputations, thought it highly neceflary that he fliould call upon Lord Clive to produce his complaints before the Board. His Lordfliip pretended, that he was in actual pofleifion of charges againft Mr. Gray at that time ; but inftead of pro- ducing fuch at the next Council, the firft ilep he took was to confine Ramanaut, one of Mr. Gray's fervants, under a mili- tary guard: where, as his fervants let forth to Mr. Gray, he was infulted, ter- rified with the idea of the fevereft punifh- ments, t ments, forced to give money to the guards over him, denied all accefs but from people belonging to Lord Clive, who tak- ing advantage of his unfortunate fltua^- tion, again and again fuggefled to him, that if he would prefent informations to his lordftiip he would be releafed and eafed of his troubles. At the fame time we heard meafures were taken, at Moor- fhadabad and in different parts of the country, to obtain complaints from many who had had connections with Mr. Gray, as indeed appears by letters that gentle- man received from fome of thofe people, who had an opportunity of writing to him. This tenor of conduit can never fail to appear to the world in its real light, when it is remarked, that his Lordfhip (deviating from the requeft made by Mr. Gray, that he would inform the Board of the complaints he actually had heard) ap- peared to feek refource in a fyilem the moft injurious ; to encourage frefli com-' plaints, to declare at the Board his deter- mination in the courfe of their fcrutiny to lay bis humanity afide, and in con- formity to fo extraordinary a fentiment, to invite men, as we apprehend, to give information [ 102 J Information which they themfelves feem never to have thought of; glofling over the procedure with the fpecious pretence, that he is ready and willing to hearken to and redrefs all complaints that are laid before him. We need only mention the inflance of Bulakidafs, to illuflrate what we here remark. This man had received a Perwanah from Lord Clive himfelf to refide at Calcutta, yet did his Lorclfhip, when he returned from Illihabad, for pur- pofes unknown to us, privately fend a meffenger to turn Bulakidafs out of the fettlement, when he apprehended his life to be in the mofl imminent danger by fuch expulfion. Mr. Gray, from the motives fet forth in his minute of the 4th Novem- ber, gave him fhelter in one of the Per- gumahs near Calcutta ; but in his retreat being difcovered, after Mr. Gray's call on Lord Clive, he was fent for by his Lordfliip, and admitted to an audience: with what view we cannot devife, unleis to procure from him matter of informa- tion againft Mr. Gray. Bnlakidafs was accordingly foon after produced as Mr. Gray's accufer, on certain tranfadions : but when he came before the Board, it mult E '93 ] mufl appear, from the teftimony he made on oath, notwithstanding Lord Clive's fa- vour might be in competition, that he confidered Mr. Gray as the faver of his life and honour : and can it be imagined, that under the fenfe of fuch an obliga- tion, recently received, Bulakidafs would voluntarily have offered a complaint a- gainft Mr. Gray? As to Ramanaut, he was charged with malpractices ; and, without a hearing, puniftied with a mili- tary imprifonment for above two months ; then brought with guards before the Coun- cil, and under thefe circumftances al- lowed to declare himfelf guilty of per- jury, in an oath he had taken before a juftice of the peace in matters relative to Mr. Gray : and though he was the per- ibn accufed, yet, fetting afide charges againfl him, he is brought as an evidence againft Mr. Gray, and his menial fervants and relations are produced to corroborate his information. Mr. Gray, on the 4th October, pro- pofed fundry queftions to the Board, touching the governor's prerogative and right of uflng military guards over men n.ot fubject to martial law ? Inftead of a b candid [ '94 J candid difquifition, and unbiafFed fenti- ments on a point of fuch infinite import- ance to our civil liberty, General Carnac and Mr. Verelft were of opinion, that the qneflions themfelves \vere highly unbe- coming, and infolent to the Preiident ; and, upon a reference to the Board, as a bench of the King's juftices, on the i3ih October, it was the opinion of the majo- rity, that the depofitions then made with regard to Mr. Gray's iervant, whole houfe was befet with a body of men in arms, and whofe property had been taken away, that depoiitions of fuch a nature (made by two gentlemen who had been eye-wit- neiFes of this breach of the peace') were not fufficient grounds on which to found a warrant. It really gives us pain to re- fer to the proceedings of a bench of juf- tices, whofe de-termination mv-it feem to authorize the life of military guards in a manner that we all along, hitherto, conii- dered as the higheft infuk upon a free government. Mr. Gray had placed fuch firm belief in obtaining reclrefs from the King's juilices, that it was extreme mor- tification to him to find the inquiry he had to complain of, in a manner, fancli- flccl [195 1 ficd by the opinion of thofe gentlemen on whom he placed his chief dependence, from confidering them as guardians of the peace, and protectors of our laws. In the courfe of the debates on the quef- tions propofed by Mr. Gray, on the 14th, Lord Clive and General Carnac aflerted this to be a military as well as civil govern- ment. Such declarations, in defence of a, conducl fo unprecedented and oppreC- five, from the two military Members of the Board, who, from the authority aflum- ed by the Selecl: Committee, were become arbiters of the fettlement, raifed the live- lieft apprchenfion, that theie gentlemen were adopting maxims in juftification of the ufe of military guards over civil fub- jecls that were totally incompatible with our laws, and inconfiftcnt with our charter of juftice. Mr. Leycefter, having been more particularly injured by Come extraor- dinary declarations of General Carnac, thought it incumbent on him, in the follow- ing Council, to remind the Board of what had patted, and to call on Lord Clive and General Carnac for an explanation of the aflertions they had made the preceding day, touching military authority. The B b 2 immediate t 196 ] immediate clifavowal of any ill intent in fuch afTertions was what Mr. Leycefler might reafonably have expelled from Lord Clive. In this however he was difappoint- ed : and his Lordfhip's fllence on a point of fuch infinite importance naturally con- firmed the appreheniion already entertain- ed of his intentions. Let his Lordfhip y s filence proceed from whatever caufe, he treated Mr. Leycefter's minute with great indiiference ; and, provoked with feeing his declaration fo warmly oppofed by that gentleman, he feemed refolved to terminate the debate in a manner that fliould mod injure the gentleman who had expofed his Lordfhip's inclifcretion, in be- traying his fentiments on fuch a fubjecl:. After allowing Mr. Leycefter's minute to lay unnoticed for ten days, fo that the fiib- jecl: of the debate became fully known in town, and exaggerated with all the embel- Miments which frequent repetition, and mens natural anxieties on a point of fuch general concernment were fure to raife, Lord Clive, General Carnac and Mr. Verelft feem to have come agreed in a determination to fufpend Mr. Leycefter the fervice, as evidently appeared from the [ 197 1 the courfe of that day's proceedings. They brought their feveral minutes ready prepared, and numbered as they were to be entered. The fentence of fufpenfion was wrote before the Council met ; and, in a nioft unprecedented manner, a paragraph wasalfo brought ready wrote for a general letter, to be tent two or three months afterwards, with their fentiments and detail for your information, anticipating in their private refoJutions the determina- tion of the Board. Stronger proofs cannot be given of his Lordfhip's intent to take advantage of his occafional majority: though it is a meafure he himfelf hereto- fore condemned in others, as may be col- lected from the fevere, though unjufl cenfure he threw upon the gentlemen who voted for compleating the number of the Members of Council* We beg leave to refer to the proceedings of the 28th Octo- ber, 4th November, and to Mr. Leycefter's letter, in confequence of his iufpenfion, for a full explanation of all this proceed- ing, entered in confutation of the 5th December ; and fliall only further add, that Mr. Leycefter was condemned un- heard ; that a minute he ieveral times offered [ 198 ] offered to be read in courfe of debate, Was rejected by the Prefident, till the minutes of himfelf and friends were read, and the fentiments of the Board collected, and that the gentlemen who had been ac- cufed, fet in judgment on their accufer, and formed the majority who fufpendecl him. To a meafure fo arbitrary and unjuft, thofe members of the Board who were un- biafled by party mowed their difappro- bation by their difTents. Mr. Gray, now the only remaining member of thofe whom Lord Clive feemed to confider as obnoxi- ous to him, conceived, from the trea- ment Mr. Leycefter had met with, that he might foon expect the fame fate, from the plan of the party formed in fupport of Lord Clive. He faw, with concern, that Board, which ought to deliberate on the meafures proper for your interefts, gratifying their own refentments, throw- ing obloquy on men who had ferved you with honour and fidelity, in order to en- hance their own merits and qualifications ; though perhaps it may appear to you, they promote their own power, rather than confult the Company's advantage. He [ '99 1 He faw himfelf and the independent mem- bers of the Board deprived of that (hare in the management of your affairs which, from the tenor of your orders, he confi- clered as his right ; and which feem now, as if intended only to be conferred on thofe who pay a mod implicit fubmif 1 fion to the fentiments and dictates of the Prefident* Heartily diiguiled, therefore, with the maxims adopted, he preferred a refignation to an abjecl: compliance with meaiures his heart could not approve of. He accordingly took his leave of the Board in a minute, delivered in the 4th Novem- ber, to which we beg leave particularly to refer you. However, that no ill conftruc- tion mould be put on Mr. Gray's abdi- cation at that time, he defired the en- quiries into his conduct, begun by Lord Clive, mould be continued. What has been fince done in thefe enquiries Mr. Gray has but a day or two been informed of, and therefore has not yet been able to make any reply. The independent members of the Board being out of the fervice, Lord Clive teems now to have an eftabliihed majority link- (d to him by the ftrongefl ties. General Carnac [ 200 ] Carnac is avowedly attached toLordClive; as mnft appear in the ftrongeft as well as moft extraordinary light, when that Hid- den and extreme change in his opinion of things, produced immediately on his Lordlhip's arrival, be confidered, We need only defire you will compare Gene- ral Carnac's minutes during the time of Mr. Vanfittart's government, and his fen^ tiinents before Lord Clive's arrival, with his prefent acquiefcence in his Lordfhip's meafures ; particularly thofe relative to the country government, to convince you of the truth of this. General Carnac, on a former occafion, was of opinion, that to give the officers of the Nabob's government an authority over European agents, and even over Black Gomaftahs, was dimonourable to our nation, and fubmitting to an opprefc /ion. Mr. Verelft was, but a few months ago, of opinion, that European agents were far more eligible than Black Goma- ftahs, and that they ought by no means to be recalled. Yet now we find both thefe gentlemen concurring in opinion, that European agents are a fource of op- preffion, and an occafion of alarm to the natives : [ 201 ] natives; and have refolved, that thofe Europeans who go up on the fervice of the Society of Trade, and of courfe will at all times be under the orders of the members of the Board, (hall in every di- pute appeal to the arbitrary decifion of the officers of the country government. It may be alledged, that the change of thefyftem of government may occafionan alteration of circumftances : but we do not allow any fuch change has taken place as to alter the manners and difpo- fitions of the people, who can be no fur- ther fenfible of change than, that Maho- med Reza Cawn is the head, inflead of Najum o' Dowlah. When the members of our own government exprefs fenti- ments of fuch contempt for their own, countrymen, we cannot expect, that the natives will entertain any regard or re- fpec~t for them : but, on the contrary, catching the idea from fuch declarations, will confider them as caufes of debate, and objects of their hatred ; and will take every opportunity to injure and infult them. The ample provifion made for Mr. Verelft and Mr. Sykes, evinces how much Lord Clive has it in his power to indulge C c thole [ 202 ] thofe who, coinciding with him in fend* ment, are fo happy as to gain his Lord- Ihip's approbation and favour, He teems, therefore, to have eftablifhed a power that, as we conceive, gives him too great a f\vay, not only over meafures, but the dechration. of opinions ; for to many it will appear inconvenient, if not danger- ous to deliver fentiments different from his Lordfhip's, as they may apprehend it n means of incurring his difpleafure, at the expence of their future profpecls. A iyilem that may reduce your fen' ants to a ftate of dependence on your Governors* tends only to render your Councils ufe- lefs and unneceffary; unlefs to give a fancHon to meafures, by implicitly ap^ proving whatever they are pleafed to .pror pofe. Whether the obje pany's affairs'. ^ We have the honour to be, with the utmoft refpecb, Honourable Sirs, Your moft faithful, moft devoted, and moft obedient, humble fervants, (Signed,) P ALPH \ GEORGE GRAY. Fort William, i4th January 1766. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. I-HCNCV " JAN 1 5 2 DUE 2 WKS FROM DA" 102 E RECEIVED -t575 Form L-9 BOm-l,' 42(8519) 3(973 JC SOUTHERN REGION A 000000102 4