Actions on the Present 
 nte of our -last-India Affairs
 
 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 RE FL E C T I ONS 
 
 ON THE 
 PRESENT STATE 
 
 O F O U R 
 
 EAST-INDIA Affairs, 
 
 [ Price i s. 6 d. ]
 
 REFLECT I ONS 
 
 O N THE 
 
 PRESENT STATE 
 
 Of OUR 
 
 EAST INDIA Affairs. 
 
 With many INTERESTING ANECDOTES, 
 Never before made public. 
 
 By Gentleman long refident in INDIA 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for T. LOWNDS, mFleet-ftreet. 1764.
 
 17 C,^ 
 
 THE 
 
 PRESENT STATE 
 
 OF OUR 
 
 EAST INDIA Affairs, 
 
 " /" B A ^ ^ ^ ove ^ our country (lands 
 
 foremoft in the rank of human 
 
 B virtues; it is of fuch high efteem 
 
 that every man afpires at being 
 
 ._ thought poffeffed of it. Its value to fo- 
 
 ciety being ineftimable, no wonder it is fo 
 
 ilrongly inculcated on individuals. We are 
 
 taught to ward off the danger of our country 
 
 at the rifque of our own fafety and lives. 
 
 a Can any one then who fees this danger with 
 
 large flrides approaching her, {land aloof, and 
 
 j not even give her the alarm ? I do not pre- 
 
 J tend to be the only fagacious perfon in thefe 
 
 ^kingdoms ; but if others who do perceive 
 
 it fliould, through felfi&nefs or indolence, 
 
 B hold, 
 
 R5482I
 
 hold their peace, I, who have an equal inte- 
 reft with every other perfon in the general 
 weal, mall make ufe of the privilege which 
 that gives me, to fpeak. I have reafon to think 
 that the generality of people do not con- 
 ceive the common good and fafety to be fo 
 highly interefted in our commerce to the 
 Raft Indies as they really are ; but being 
 convinced that this trade is of the laft and 
 greateft import to England, and alfo appre- 
 hending it to be in imminent danger, I 
 hope that it will not be judged impertinent 
 in me to communicate my fears j which, 
 though they (hould at prefent prove vain, 
 yet will they anfwer one excellent end, viz. 
 that routing the attention of the publick 
 to this grand, though neglected object, it 
 may be induced to keep a watchful eye 
 over the conduct of that company, which 
 is by the nation entrusted with the charge 
 of what is termed by a judicious and well- 
 informed writer, a grand ivbeel of com- 
 merce, fitting all the others in motion, My 
 intention however is not to ftrike invi- 
 dioufly at the being of the company ; fo 
 far from it, I mall in the fequel endeavour 
 to remove the popular prejudices which 
 have been raifed againft it, being fatisfied 
 that inftead of bzmv prejudicial, it is abfo- 
 lutely neceffary to the exigence of this trade, 
 which in any other way could not fubfift 
 
 at
 
 (3) 
 
 at all : But my defign is to prevent its 
 hiding from the eye of the public, by 
 fkinning it over, a wound which it hath 
 neither the fkill nor power to cure, while 
 the corruption proceeds inwards, till it feifes 
 and taints the vital parts. 
 
 As little has been written of late on the 
 fubject of our company's affairs, previoufly 
 to entering on the prefent fituation of them, 
 I (hall give a fhort and general view of 
 the importance of this trade to England, 
 and of the intereft the nation has in the 
 conduit and well-being of the company. 
 And though this may feem fuperfluous and 
 unneceffary to fuch as have already {ludied 
 it, yet to fuch as have not had leifure to 
 look into thefe matters, it will ferve to elu- 
 cidate what I am going to fay on the fub- 
 jecl, as well as by interefting them, engage 
 their attention. I (hall next take upon me 
 to give a (hort account of the nature of this 
 great company, as alfo of the manner 
 how, and by whom, their affairs are con- 
 dueled "in Europe } and {hall afterwards pro- 
 ceed to a detail of the nature and fituation 
 of their affairs in India. 
 
 Having before declared my reafons for 
 communicating my fentiments on this fub- 
 jedt to the public,! need not mention that 
 prejudice and envy can hold no place here ; 
 and I further hope that this integrity and 
 B 2 up-
 
 . . 
 
 uprightnefs of the in ention will throw a 
 covering over the nakednefs and imperfec- 
 tions of the execution. 
 
 I am fen fible that the value of our Eaft-In- 
 dia trade has been greatly depreciated in the 
 eyes of my countrymen, by arguments ufed 
 as well againft the general utility of this 
 trade to Europe, as againft the particular 
 benefit arifing from it to England. Thefe 
 two, in this cafe, very difHn6t interefts, 
 have been on this occafion blended toge- 
 ther, and the force of both united, in or- 
 der to fink it in the eftimation of the pub- 
 lic; whereas to form a proper judgment 
 of its worth, thefe two interefts ought to be 
 moft carefully feparated. In forming the 
 calculation betwixt Europe and India, it 
 hath been advanced that bullion being the 
 true fign of trade, and the .balance in that 
 article being greatly againft the former, it 
 inuft of confequence be a very lofing trade 
 to Europe. It is not at all material to my 
 purpofe to decide this point, which is dif- 
 puted, and which to England is almoft en- 
 tirely fpeculative ; her bulinefs is to examine 
 whether it be or be not a lofing trade to her. 
 If (he gains while other European nations 
 lofe, it is naturally more the buiinefs of 
 thofe lofers than of England to obviate this 
 evil ; it would be weak and abfurd in her 
 to facrifice an evident intercfl to the general 
 
 good
 
 ( 5) 
 
 good of Europe, whilft (he has neighbours 
 who would very induflrioufly take up what 
 {he for fuch end laid down. But granting 
 bullion to be the true criterion of trade, 
 and that half of what our company fends 
 to purchafe her cargo in the Indies confifls 
 of that article, and never returns from 
 thence ; yet if the company doth replace 
 from other countries a fum equal to that 
 which fhe exports to India, and this by 
 her charter me is obliged to do, -that trade 
 cannot even by this flandard be deemed a 
 lofing one to England. The odium an- 
 nexed to the idea of monopoly and exclufive 
 trade has alfo fuggefled arguments aimed ei- 
 ther obliquely through the fides of the com- 
 pany, or directly again ft the trade itfelf. It 
 is faid that the nation has but a diftant con- 
 cern in the intereft of the company, who 
 dividing the benefit and profits arifing from 
 their trade amongft the proprietors of their 
 ftock, the exiflence of it is of little more 
 confequence to the nation, than that of 
 fome great trading houfes in London, which 
 if they fail, their place will be fupplied by 
 others. But let people be cautious in di- 
 flinguiming betwixt a trade itfelf, and any 
 particularity in the manner of carrying on 
 that trade : It will appear that every perfon 
 in England, although he be no proprietor 
 in the company's flock, is interfiled in the 
 
 fuccefs
 
 ( 6) 
 
 fuccefs of this trade, even as every landed 
 gentleman is concerned in the fafety of the 
 national credit, although he may hold no 
 fhare in the funds. Whether the being of 
 this company is or is not neceffary to the 
 nation, will more properly fall under con- 
 fideration in another place; the queftion at 
 prefent is not whether this trade (hall or 
 ihall not be carried on exclufively, but whe- 
 ther England fhall or fhallnothold a fharein 
 it at all. The direct arguments ufed againft 
 this trade are, that the wearing of India 
 piece- goods prejudices our own woollen and 
 filk manufactures ; and that the exportation 
 of India goods is difadvantageous, becaufe 
 it is conjectured to leflen the confumption 
 of our own manufactures, in thofe coun- 
 tries to which the produce of India is ex- 
 ported. To give place here to the anfwers 
 which have fufficiently refuted thefe ill- 
 grounded cavils, would cccafion too great 
 a digreffion from my main point; but by 
 prefenting a view of the trade of our Eafl- 
 India company, which I do not however 
 take upon me to give as a juft, but as a 
 much undervalued calculation, every man 
 will be able to judge for himfelf, of what 
 import it is to the nation. Suppofing then the 
 company doth export every year to the Eaft- 
 Indies to the amount of only 1,500,000!. 
 fterling, one half of this in bullion, the other 
 
 half
 
 (7) 
 
 in manufactures, metals, &c. this fum in- 
 verted there in India piece-goods, drugs, 
 &c. with China manufactures and teas, 
 produces at the company's fales in En- 
 gland a fum greatly yfoovzdouble the amount 
 of the tirft export j that is to fay, above 
 3,000,000 /. The buyers at thefe fales 
 vend we may fuppofe about one half in 
 London, for the confumption of the 
 three kingdoms ; the other half, amount- 
 ing to 1,500,0007. or the whole of the 
 company's firft coft, is exported to other 
 countries j which, after paying freight to 
 thefe countries, with other charges, and a 
 proper premium to the adventurer, muft be 
 imagined to be returned to England, in- 
 creafed to at lead 2,000,000 /. Now the 
 bullion part of thefe returns does much 
 more than replace the whole amount of the 
 company's original export in that article; 
 and the balance is made up in commodities, 
 for which Britain mull otherwife, at leaft 
 for the greateft part of them, pay bullion. 
 Thus by this trade England gets rid every 
 year of a quantity of her manufactures, to 
 the amount of 750,000 /. fterling, to coun- 
 tries which, but for it, would not take off 
 one pound's worth. Her trade in thefe 
 Indian commodities to other countries is 
 exceedingly great and beneficial j and thefe 
 two branches of this trade employing a 
 number of her fubjeds, doth greatly extend 
 
 her
 
 (8) 
 
 her commerce. And let us not overlook 
 the firft half, faid to be confumed in the 
 three kingdoms, which I am aware fome 
 will fay can be of no benefit to the nation, 
 as being in itfelf fuperfluous, unnecefTary, 
 and what we could very well do without. 
 I mail reply, that fuch an argument is a 
 very odd one in the mouths of a people, 
 who draw fuch immenfe fums from other 
 nations, for the felf-fame and other fuper- 
 fluities. It is true, we might do without 
 thefe articles ; Europe fubfifted long with- 
 out an intercourfe with India, but now it is 
 opened, we find that all our neighbour na- 
 tions, even fuch as are excluded from a 
 direct commerce with it, do make a great 
 ufe of its commodities j and can any one 
 imagine that England, fuppofing (he were 
 alfo to be excluded from this direct com- 
 merce, could be brought, on fuch account, 
 to deny herfelf the ufe of what me has 
 been now fo long accuftomed to, while me 
 could be fupplied by her neighbours the 
 French and Dutch ? No furely, thefe neigh- 
 bours would draw from her every year in 
 fpecie, for her own confumption, a fum 
 equal to the whole of what our company 
 at prefent exports, poffibly much more, as 
 an unrivalled monopoly would no doubt in- 
 duce them to raife their prices on us. Such 
 an cxclufion to England muft alfo throw 
 
 into
 
 (9) 
 
 into the hands of thefe rivals, that grand 
 branch of Englim commerce in thefe com- 
 modities, to other parts of Europe, to Africa, 
 and to America ; for we are not to fuppofe 
 that thole whom we at prefent fupply would 
 leave off the ufe of them, for this fole rea- 
 fon, that England could no longer furnifh 
 them. As an occafional enhancement of 
 the value of this Eaft-India trade, I might 
 mention the fums annually remitted from 
 thofe countries to England by her adven- 
 turous fons j the fortunes acquired there by 
 all fuch as go out, and they feldom carry 
 much with them, do, whether they die 
 there, or live to come home, contribute a 
 mite to the acceffion of her wealth. Nor 
 will this feem altogether fo contemptible, 
 when I affert that the fums remitted by fuch 
 from one particular fettlement alone, a- 
 mounted in one year to near two millions 
 flerling, befides the immenfe fums received 
 there that fame year by the company, in 
 the way of donations j and although thefe 
 did not arrive here in fpecie, yet every one 
 knows how to transfer fuch fums paid into 
 the company's cam in India, to the account 
 of their export of bullion in Europe. By 
 this time it may be unneceffary to call in 
 for the fupport of my argument the exam- 
 ple of other European nations, who have 
 txnrcifcd their fenfe of the value of this 
 C com-
 
 commerce by the moft ftrenuous endeavours 
 to come at a {hare of it. Nations which 
 never were traders before have commenced 
 fuch, to have a part in this trade, and thofe 
 who have once tafted the fweets of it, have 
 always ufed their utmoft efforts to preferve 
 and extend it. We have feen Europe in a 
 blaze through the ftruggles made to obtain 
 a {hare in this commerce, by thofe who 
 through tardinefs had been excluded, and 
 the determined refolution of the others to 
 preferve what they had acquired. 
 
 But though, as I before obferved, this 
 mighty branch of BritiJJj commerce hath 
 been reprefented by me greatly below its 
 real and true value j yet, if it is but equal, 
 what a dreadful amputation muft the lofs 
 of it be ? Such a diminution too of our 
 trade and wealth, becoming an addition to 
 that of an already dreaded neighbour, muft 
 appear not only dangerous to, but deftruc- 
 tive of the power, fafety, and independence 
 of this kingdom. If thefe interefting points 
 therefore are thus liable to be affedted by 
 the conduct of this company, how watch- 
 ful ought we to be over it, how careful 
 that it does not abufe the truft repofed in it 
 by the nation ? And indeed, when we come 
 to coniider the nature and conftitution of 
 this company, and how it is compofed ; if 
 we alfo enquire into the number and qua- 
 lity
 
 ( II ) 
 
 lity of the perfons to whom it deputcth its 
 authority, together with the characters, ca- 
 pacities, and acquired light of thofe who 
 have been intruded with the charge of 
 their weighty affairs in India, it will ap- 
 pear to be almoft time to look about us, and 
 fee whether we may reft lecure on their 
 good management. 
 
 The proprietors of this company's ftock 
 are numerous, confining of men, women, 
 and children, foreigners as well as natives. 
 This ftock being alfo transferable like other 
 public funds, is frequently fluffing in the 
 hands of fuch as know no more of the 
 company's affairs, than any of the tempo- 
 rary ftockholders know of the tranfactions 
 at the Cockpit : The whole fecret refts in 
 the breafts of a few, a very few individu- 
 als, who have an intereft in concealing it ; 
 therefore thofe who imagine that the na- 
 tion is fecured againft any mifconducl: of 
 the company, by the interpofition of the 
 numerous proprietors, will find themfelves 
 woefully miftaken. As an inftance of the ' 
 ignorance in which this fluctuating body is 
 kept by its managers, I (hall only mention, 
 that fome years ago a general court having 
 been demanded by a few of the proprie- 
 tors, it was then required by thefe, that in 
 order to fatisfy them of the real ftate of 
 their affairs, the books of the company 
 C 2 fliould
 
 ( 12) 
 
 fliould be produced and {hewn ; but they 
 were given to underfland by the directors, 
 that it was not for the intereft of the com- 
 pany that their books mould be expofed to 
 public view ; for that it would make certain 
 people too wife. The majority of the court 
 not infilling on it, the thing was dropped, 
 and they remained in the dark. As the 
 flock is faleable, no man needs retain it 
 longer than he pleafes ; if he is diffatisfied 
 with the conduct of the company, he has 
 his redrefs by felling out his {hare : Thus 
 he is interefled in their welfare only from 
 day to day. Five hundred pounds in flock 
 give the owner a title to vote in a general 
 court; 2000 1. qualifies him to be cbofen a 
 director. The charge of their affairs is 
 entrufled to 24 directors, including the chair- 
 man and deputy chairman. Of the pro- 
 prietors, few are qualified by flock for the 
 place of director. Of thofe who are qua- 
 lified, few choofe to confine themfelves to 
 the neceflary attendance: Therefore, till 
 lad year, difputes for this place were but 
 rare. Amongft the candidates there is ge- 
 nerally one, who, by dint of drudgery and 
 application to the bufinefs of the India 
 houfe, the principal quality hitherto pof- 
 feffed by or requisite to any of them, has 
 rendered himfelr necefTary in the direction. 
 This perfon takes upon him to form a lift 
 
 of 

 
 ( J3) 
 
 of fuch directors for the enfuing year as are 
 agreeable to him, copies of which lift are 
 ufually delivered out beforehand to his own, 
 friends, but to others they are difiributed at ^ ' 
 the door of the houfe when the proprietors 
 affemble to vote. If the proprietor receiving 
 this lift diflikes any one or more names, he 
 fcratches fuch out, and inferring others, deli- 
 vers it in as his lift. If, as laft year, there 
 be feveral lifts, he takes that of his friend. 
 When all are delivered in, the different lifts 
 are fcrutinized, and the majority declared. 
 Thus there is always in the lift a leader ; 
 and though there may be fome fcratches, 
 yet has it been feldom, if ever known, that 
 he failed of even one member of his lift; 
 and, as a noble candidate expreffed himfelf 
 at the laft year's election, this leader will 
 always, if not very hard pulhed, take care 
 not to introduce any with him that fliall 
 difpute his authority ; at the worft, he will 
 be fure to bring in fuch as will, upon any 
 occafion, form a majority for him. Hence 
 it appears that the power of the company, 
 though veiled in 24. names, doth notwith- 
 ftanding reft in one perfon, who, when 
 he is placed in his chair, is fuppofed to be 
 the mouth of this company. Sitting at the 
 helm, he directs their affairs with unlimited 
 authority ; he raifeth up, and he putteth 
 down. In this manner are their affairs con- 
 
 duded
 
 ( 1+) 
 
 clu&ed in Europe. As to their fervants in 
 India, who are the executors of their or- 
 ders, and more immediately upon the fcene 
 of action, they are, except a very few in- 
 flances, compofed of young gentlemen, 
 taken immediately from fchool to be fent 
 there j for as thefe fervants there have ge- 
 nerally till of late rifen in rotation and fland- 
 ing, the parents or friends of fuch gentle- 
 men don't choofe they mould lofe any time. 
 Going abroad therefore thus young, before 
 their education and underftanding are well 
 formed, into a country where jollity and 
 good fellowship reign in a very high de- 
 gree, it is but feldom that they improve by 
 ftudy what they acquired at fchool : It is 
 even much if they preferve it. Thus we 
 cannot expect to find among them many 
 men of deep or improved underftanding; 
 it is true indeed we have feen among them 
 a CLIVE, but he was a rara avis ; Nature 
 had done wonders in him. It may perhaps 
 be replied here, that the government of the 
 company's affairs is on the fame footing as 
 it always has been, and that the gentle- 
 men at prefent in that trufl are equal in abi- 
 lities and fkill to thofe who have conducted 
 their bufinefs with acknowledged addrefs 
 and fuccefs from the commencement of 
 the company till this prefent time; and 
 that, if matters have hitherto gone well, 
 
 what
 
 ( 15) 
 
 what reafon have we to alarm ourfelves 
 with unnecefTary fears for the future ? To 
 this I anfwer, that if the affairs of the com- 
 pany were on the fame footing at prefent as 
 they had remained from fuch commence- 
 ment till a few years ago, the gentlemen 
 now in truft might be, no doubt, quite 
 equal to fuch charge. While the bufmefs 
 of directors in Europe was only to anfwer 
 letters of commerce, to load mips with their 
 indented cargoes, and to vend the returns, an 
 ordinary genius, with a little application, 
 might very well difcharge the tafk. Nor 
 were extraordinary talents requifite to their 
 fervants in India, as living like merchants 
 under the protection of the prince in whofe 
 dominions they refided, to barter a little 
 broad cloth, filver, lead, iron, fteel, &r. for 
 piece-goods of certain fabricks, or for other 
 commodities wanted in Europe : While this 
 remained the fole bufmefs of the company 
 in India, matters went very well, Fair 
 trade being in thefe times the only path to 
 riches, their fervants there were induced to 
 apply to and ftudy it ; and as fortunes are 
 by means of it but flowly and gradually ac- 
 quired, the rife to truft in that employ was 
 in confequence but flow and gradual. Rarely 
 did any man in thofe days reach the dig- 
 nity of counfellor, till after a faithful fer- 
 vice of the company for twenty years ; and 
 
 in
 
 ( '6 ) 
 
 in that flation he generally, barring death, 
 continued fatisfied for ten or twelve years 
 longer. Thus were they till of late ferved 
 in thefe countries by afet of gentlemen ma- 
 ture in yearSj and mafters of their bufinefs, 
 who were aided in the execution of their 
 orders from Europe by inferiors, whom ex- 
 
 /perience had rendered fit for it. Of late 
 years new lights have been ftruck out, new 
 roads to wealth 5 the old flow, though 
 fure tract of trade, hath fallen into uni- 
 verfal contempt ; mighty fortunes have been 
 acquired by one ftroke, and as foon as ac- 
 quired, the field of India appearing too con- 
 fined for the difplay of fuch opulence, the 
 poffeflbrs have changed it for the more ele- 
 gant fcene of Europe. Thus hath there 
 / been, by fuch a change of meafures, a 
 quick rife, and confequently a quick fhift 
 of fervants in India. And whether fuch an 
 alteration in the nature of their fervice may 
 prove for the intereft of their affairs there, 
 will appear to fuch as, are acquainted with 
 trade. But this is but a very fmall part of 
 the evil ; for if the want of years and ex- 
 perience in their preient Servants may be fup- 
 'pofcd to render them lefs fit to difcharge 
 even the trull of the oldeft, how can we 
 imagine them equal to the new, additional, 
 weighty charge of governing kingdoms and 
 nations ? Trade, which formerly was the 
 
 fole,
 
 ( '7 ) 
 
 fole, is now become but afccondary concern 
 of little moment. Commerce is greatly 
 below the dignity and notice of fovereigns, 
 and fuch are now the company's governors 
 in India. Admiral Bofcawen, who was 
 difpatched by the nation in the former war 
 with a force to attack Pondicherry, on his 
 arrival in India in 1748, found that the 
 fervants of the company had fo little inte- 
 refted themlelves in matters out of their 
 fphere, that they were entirely ignorant of 
 what was done fix or feven miles without 
 the walls of their factory ; for at that di- 
 flance he found his march Aopt by a French, 
 fort, of which none of them had ever 
 heard before. The national war was foon 
 after this extinguished there, but the evil 
 effecT: of fuch extenfion of it to India did 
 and does flill remain. Happy had it been 
 for this company, happy for the nation, 
 that the neutrality offered by the French 
 for that part of the world had been ac- 
 cepted by us ! In fuch cafe commerce had 
 flill been at this day the fole bufincfs of 
 Englishmen in India. But here let me do 
 juftice to the company, and obviate the 
 odium which a ftep fo imprudent in mer- 
 chants may otherwife throw upon it. On 
 thatoccafion the directors were not allowed 
 the choice, a pofitive order from higher 
 powers obliged them, though moft reluc- 
 D tantly,
 
 tantly, not only to reject, but to appear 
 themfelves the rejectors of the proffered neu- 
 trality. What the fuperncial and temporary 
 views of this noble ftatefman, who hath 
 now warned off all his fpots and blemifhes 
 by one plunge in the all-cleaniing pool of 
 patriotifm, might have been, I cannot tell ; 
 the confequences, big with innumerable 
 miichiefs have lliewn that they could not 
 be folidly good, and that he hath " opened 
 " a gate which mortal powers cannot fhut 
 " again." I mutt beg pardon for this di- 
 gremqn, which yet being of fuch import- 
 ance to my fubject, poffibly may not appear 
 altogether improper. Immediately after the 
 conclufion of this war, thefe gentlemen, 
 whom I mentioned to have till then fo little 
 interefted themfelves in affairs without, now 
 began to extend their views. The governors 
 for the French and Englifh Raft-India com- 
 panies on the coaft of Command el, finding 
 a body of European troops at their com- 
 mand and difpofal, perceived that this put 
 it in their power to acquire an influence 
 among the un warlike natives. With this 
 view they began to interfere in the political 
 government of thofe countries, in which 
 they had till then peaceably traded. They 
 ftirred up competitors to form pretentious, 
 and each fuppqrted his claimant with the 
 whole force of his conftituen-ts. All the 
 
 while
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 while that the mother nations were at peace 
 in Europe, thefe rival governors were car- 
 rying on a very active war againft one 
 another in India, to the deflrucYion of trade, 
 and the mifery and ruin of the wretched 
 natives; nor did this war end, till the de- 
 molition of the French capital left the En- 
 glim, lords paramount of that whole coun- 
 try, the princes of which depend on them 
 for their power, and fometimes even for 
 their fubfiftance. 
 
 Again, in Bengal the Nabob Sou Rajah 
 Dowlat having in 1756, whether with or 
 without reafon is unneceiTary here to men- 
 tion, attacked the Englim, and driven them 
 from the more, they returned, and by force 
 of arms deprived him of his government 
 and life, fubftituting in his ftead the man 
 who had been chiefly inftrumental in their 
 fuccefs. He in return for their favours did, 
 befides diftributing amongft them all the 
 treafure of his predeceffbr, and mortgaging 
 and making over to them two of his richefl 
 provinces for the payment of a farther fum, 
 increafe the company's territory there, by 
 the accefllon of large trails of land. But 
 he himfe!f, wi:h his whole country, was 
 under their power and protection. This 
 Nabob was fupported with honour by his 
 maker, fo long as he continued in India j 
 but on his leaving it, the fucceflbrs of this 
 D 2 great
 
 (20 ) 
 
 great man finding that his Nabob was guilty 
 of either the real or pretended crime of be- 
 ing poor, or in other words, that he either 
 could not, or would not bleed any more, 
 they changed him for one that was willing 
 to pay them for his promotion ; and to pro- 
 cure the company's approbation of their 
 conduct, got from their Nabob a (lam a- 
 fraid only temporary) grant of an addi- 
 tional diftrid; fo that their landed reve- 
 nue in this country is now eftimated at 
 700,000 1. fterling per annum. Let me 
 obferve that though this be the proper 
 place for enlarging and being more particular 
 in the account of thefetranfactions, yet as fuch 
 an account might poffibly appear invidious, 
 and calculated to ra.ife, by fhewing mifcon- 
 ducts, a prejudice againft this company, I 
 fhall confine myfelf both now and in the 
 fequel, to a bare recital of fuch facts as are 
 absolutely necefTary to give a light into the 
 prefent ftate of their affairs j my intention 
 being not to ftarch for and difcover paft 
 faults, but by reprefenting things as they 
 really are, to endeavour to remedy prefentj 
 and to prevent future evils, which by con- 
 cealing may become incurable. What I 
 have faid therefore, is only meant to (hew 
 the means by which this company has been 
 changed, contrary to the intention of its 
 institution, from a commercial, into a mi- 
 litary corporation ; from a body of mer- 
 
 c.hants
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 chants peaceably trading in the dominions, 
 and under the protection of princes, into 
 fovereigns of thofe very princes, whom, with 
 their great and opulent countries, they hold 
 in more abfolute vaflalage, than ever did 
 monarch of France the meaneft of his feu- 
 datories. It is alfo itfelf become proprietor 
 of large trads of lands, populous and rich, 
 from which it draws kingly revenues ; it 
 maintains its power by great and expenfive 
 armies ; it has alfo grand and noble for- 
 tifies, ftrong and capable of great defence. 
 But we may form a general idea of the 
 power and greatnefs of this mighty com- 
 pany, by confidering, that beiides its re- 
 venue in India, arifing from lands, duties, 
 contributions of princes, &c. to the amount 
 of above one million and a half flerling per 
 annum, the expence of its government there, 
 demands almoft the whole profits of its 
 trade, or beyond one million more 5 for 
 notwithflanding this vail: acceflion of wealth, 
 thiey divide but as formerly 6 per cent, on 
 the flock. And here let the reader advert, 
 that the direction of this widely extended 
 government, the appropriation of thefe 
 mighty finances, equal to near half the 
 revenue of Great Britain, is confided to 
 only one not extraordinary great man, with 
 fuch aids as have been already partlcularifed. 
 This power and dominion of a trading 
 company founds extremely grand, and it 
 
 muil
 
 muft no doubt excite pleafure in every En- 
 gli(h bread, to think that not only the 
 name, but the puiflance of his country, has 
 been in this glorious degree extended to the 
 fartheft corners of the earth, by its mer- 
 chants. But let not this glaring fhow of 
 grandeur dazzle the eye of their under- 
 Handing, latet anguis in herba. Let not 
 fhadovv engage them to forego the fub- 
 ftance -, when they come to reflect on what 
 they pay for all this pageantry, they will 
 furely think it too dearly bought. By re- 
 moving the object from this falfe and de- 
 ceitful, to its true and real light, we {hall 
 find, that as this company acts only in truft 
 for the nation, every unneceflary increafe 
 of her expence is a certain diminution of 
 the wealth of the kingdom : It will alfo 
 appear that this enormous extenfion of her 
 political power and connections in India is 
 dangerous to, and in time, if not prevented 
 by the nation, will prove deftructive of the 
 very being and exigence of that trade, the 
 importance of which was the fubject of 
 my introduction, and to the root of which 
 the ax feems to be already laid. To illuftrate 
 and demonflrate the firfi part of this after- 
 tion, I fhall make ufe of a double theorem. 
 / In the firft, rejecting and fetting afide thefe 
 new, accidental, temporary, and uncertain 
 revenues in India, and fuppofing that the 
 
 whole
 
 whole expence of their government is de- 
 frayed by the profits arifing from their 
 trade, it muft follow, that the higher their 
 expences rife, the higher muft they raife 
 the price of their commodities in Europe ; 
 and that the higher fuch price is, the larger 
 will be the fum paid by the nation to the 
 company for that part which (he confumes 
 at home, and the fmaller will be the gain, 
 on that part which fhe exports to other 
 countries; feeing that the merchant export- 
 ing muft put up with a fmaller profit on 
 his goods, than if he bought them cheaper ; 
 for it muft be obferved, that although this 
 company are the fole venders of thefe com- 
 modities in England, yet the Engliih are 
 not the fole merchants of them in Europe, 
 in Africa, nor even in America. It muft 
 be then granted that the price of Eaft-India 
 goods will always be regulated by the ex- 
 pence of that company, and that the cheaper 
 fuch goods are fold in England, the greater 
 benefit arifes to the nation from this trade, 
 and fo viceverfa. On this principle it would 
 be evidently more for the intereft of this 
 kingdom, if they could carry on their trade 
 in India by pedlars living in huts and ho- 
 vels, on the cheapeft fare, than by mighty 
 governors, dwelling in palaces, and at the 
 head of numerous armies ; becaufe fo much 
 expence as they fave in India, fo much doth 
 
 the
 
 the nation fave in her expence for Eaft- 
 Indian commodities, and fo much more clear 
 gain doth Ihe receive from thofe countries to 
 which fhe trades in thofe goods. In this 
 , cafe, and almoft in this alone, I may fay 
 that the intereft of the company, or rather 
 of its managers, appears to be diftinct from, 
 not to fay oppofite to that of the nation ; 
 and this feems to be the greateft, and almoft 
 the only grievance arifing from the being 
 of fuch a company, inafmuch as by virtue 
 of the exclusive charter, the directors are 
 put into the power of obliging the nation 
 to reimburfe them whatever expence they 
 may chufe by any fchemes to run themfelves 
 into; and alfo to extort from her, without 
 her choice, a concurrence in all their mea- 
 fures, whether right or wrong. The fenfe 
 of the nation being thus liable to be arbi- 
 trarily taxed by one man, much under the 
 degree of a firfl: lord of the Treafury, or 
 of a fecretary of ftate, cannot mifs of raifing 
 difdain in the minds of a people ever fond 
 of liberty. By the fecond part of my pro- 
 pofition I (hall mew that every unnecefTary 
 expence of even the company's revenues in 
 India is alfo a diminution of the wealth of 
 this kingdom. This will no doubt appear 
 fomething extraordinary to the company, 
 who do not look upon themfelves as at all 
 accountable for the manner of difpofing of 
 
 that,
 
 (25 ) 
 
 that, which they will fay is their own pro- 
 perty, acquired at their own expence, and 
 by the fuccefs of their arms. 
 
 I (hall only en paffant take notice, that 
 thefe acquifitions were not made at their 
 expence alone, but alfo at that of the na- 
 tion, without whofe interpolation with 
 her fleets and armies, even in their broils 
 with the country powers, they would, in- 
 ftead of their prefent puiflance and wealth, 
 not have poflefled a (ingle fpot of ground in 
 thefe countries. But waving this anecdote 
 as not needed, I fay that as all deficiencies 
 of this revenue towards the expence of 
 their government muft be fupplied from 
 their trade, or, in confequence of what I 
 proved in my former theorem, muft be le- 
 vied on, and fupplied by the nation ; there- 
 fore whatever unneceflary expence of their 
 revenue may be made by the company, or 
 its managers, the burthen of fuch expence 
 muft in the end fall upon the good people 
 of England. Farther, fuppofmg that thefe 
 revenues could with good management do 
 more than fupport the whole necefiary ex- 
 pence of their government, and that there 
 might be a faving ; it is evident that fuch 
 faving muft, altho' through the channel of 
 this company, become an acceffion to the 
 wealth of the nation. 1 have on this oc- 
 cafion confined myfelf as much as the fub- 
 E jeft
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 je<5t would permit me, but hope that I have 
 made good what I propofed, and that it 
 now appears that the company can have no 
 property diftindt from the nation, and alfo 
 that they are refpcnfible to her for the dif- 
 pofal of what they call their own finances. 
 
 I have likewife advanced, that the enor- 
 mous extenfion of the company's political 
 power and connection in India, was danger- 
 ous to and in time will prove deftructive 
 of that trade. If we argue from general, 
 though juft maxims, it may be faid, that the 
 ruin of all empires and governments hath 
 arifen from an enlargement of the fuper- 
 ftrudture beyond what the bafis could bear. 
 And that the company can afTume or acquire 
 no power but by depriving fome one of that 
 power, who it may be prefumed, however 
 awed at prefent into filence, will not part 
 with his pofleffion without reluctance, and 
 who when freed from the impending awe, 
 will not mifs any opportunity of recovering 
 his own, as well as of avenging the injury on 
 the head of the ufurper. Such ufurpation 
 of other peoples right, muft likewife ftir up 
 the envy of our neighbours, who were for- 
 merly upon a good footing with us ; our ex- 
 ample will induce them to make ufe of the 
 fame means to difpoil us, which we made 
 ufe of to difpoil others. Thefe rules will 
 ferve and ftand good in all cafes. In this 
 4 now
 
 ( 27 ) 
 
 now before us let us examine into the parti- 
 cular danger, to which we may be expofed 
 in our feveral fettlements in India; and firft 
 in Bengal, which defervedly claims the pre- 
 ference, as being infinitely more valuable than 
 all the others, of which it may be called the 
 parent; and of which if ever we happen to 
 be deprived, we have little more bufinefs in 
 India : And here there are three different 
 quarters, from which we have reafon to ap- 
 prehend danger, firft from the natives them- 
 ielves, next from our European brethren, 
 and laftly, which is the moft dangerous, from 
 both united. As to the natives themfelves, 
 we are taught to entertain the moft contemp- 
 tible opinion of them, as of a weak, effemi- 
 nate, daftardly people ; the great fuccefs of 
 colonel now lord Clive, who with a mere 
 handful of men defeated the whole power 
 of that country, and almoft changed the face 
 of their government, hath conveyed to us 
 the meaneft ideas of the military force of 
 that part of the world. But it is dangerous 
 to form our judgment of even fmall matters, 
 upon one or two particular incidents, with- 
 out informing ourfelves of circumftances. 
 To enforce this I (hall produce an example 
 from our own hiftory, in the reign of king 
 John ; fuppofing that it had been reported to 
 a people equally unacquainted with the real 
 E 2 ftrength
 
 ftrength of England, as the generality of my 
 countrymen are with that of Bengal, that 
 Lewis dauphin of France landing in this ifland 
 tvith a very fmall body of troops, had ren- 
 dered himfelf mafter of the metropolis, and 
 almoft of the whole kingdom, obliging the 
 monarch to feek for fecurity on the even then 
 contemned protection of the fee of Rome, 
 to which he furrendered his crown. I fay, 
 this reported without other circumftances to 
 a people uninformed, would naturally im- 
 prefs on them as contemptible tho' as falfe a 
 notion of the power of England, as the ex- 
 ploits of colonel Clive do give us of that of 
 Bengal; that we may not therefore be mifled 
 in this cafe, let us examine into it with all its 
 circumftances. When colonel Clive attacked 
 and defeated the Sou Rajah Dowlat, the na- 
 tives had never before even feen a European 
 force in the field ; their large armies, main- 
 tained for parade, had never ferved but to 
 repel the light incurfions of their equally un- 
 warlike neighbours. The then prince was 
 hated and dreaded by all his fubjects, more 
 particularly by fuch as were neareft his per- 
 fon, they being continually fubjefted to the 
 groiTeft infults, and even in apprehenfion of 
 their lives, to fecure which they were ready to 
 join the firft enemy that mould appear. Now 
 what could be more opportune for fuch a 
 
 pur-
 
 (29) 
 
 purpofe, than this body of Englifh, a people 
 they had ever looked upon as peaceable mer- 
 chants, and who they imagined had returned 
 only to refettle that commerce, from which 
 they had been expelled by their tyrant? Thus 
 colonel Clive might find it no difficult mat- 
 ter to form a party againft this prince in his 
 own court and army ; this he did, and with 
 a moft confummate addrefs reaped all the 
 advantages "from it that fuch a favourable 
 circumftance could afford. The detefted 
 Nabob being devoted to deftrucliion by thofe 
 he trufled, fell an eafy conqueft, when by 
 the counfel of his fecretly revolted minifters 
 he came to an engagement j unluckily for 
 him, his only faithful general was killed by 
 a cannon ball in the very beginning of the 
 action, and one half of his army either filed 
 off towards the enemy, or mewed that they 
 had no intention to fight for him ; while the 
 other half, intimidated and fufpecling one 
 another, difperfed almoft of themfelves.Thus 
 the Nabob finding himfelf betrayed by thofe 
 in whom he repofed the greateft confidence, 
 fled, but being overtaken, was flain by the 
 fon of him who was defigned to fill his 
 place. That the English did not only pre- 
 ferve but even extend their influence under 
 the new Nabob, can be accounted for with- 
 out afcribing it either to their own irrefiftr- 
 
 ble
 
 ble force, or to the pusillanimity of the na- 
 tives. This Nabob railed by them to a go- 
 vernment quite unfettled, had great occafion 
 for the continuation of their aid, not only 
 to confirm his power amongft his own fub- 
 jects, but to repel the invafions wjiich were 
 foon made on his dominions from without. 
 We ought not therefore to be furprized that 
 the Englim intereft, thus cheriflied by the 
 prince of the country, did fiourifh under the 
 conduct of colonel Ch've, a perfon of quick 
 penetration, profound judgment, and great 
 refolution, whofe genius feemed to be more 
 particularly calculated for the meridian of 
 thofe countries, where he was adored as a 
 fuperior being, and where his very name was 
 equal to numerous armies. Whilft this aid 
 was thus neceffary to the Nabob, no wonder 
 he careffed his uteful fupporters ; but when 
 it became lefs fo, even, he himfelf began to 
 {he w that he regreited the lofs of what he had 
 lavimed away in the firft tranfports of his gra- 
 titude, and that he would have been glad to re- 
 affume at lead his independence. He was 
 not unacquainted with the defigns of the 
 Dutch, and it is well known that he would 
 not have been forry to have Teen an Euro- 
 pean force introduced into his dominions, 
 which might prove a check on the power 
 of thofe who he faw were likely to become 
 
 his
 
 (30 
 
 his matters inftead of his allies. However, 
 the deep refpecT: and awe he had of Col. 
 CLIVE prevented his acting openly on this 
 occafion. The fuperiority of this extraor- 
 dinary genius predominated fo far over that 
 of the Nabob, that when he quitted India, 
 he left this prince in fuch a ftate of depen- 
 dence, and the affairs of the English in fuch 
 an exalted and powerful fituation, that even 
 the Kites and Owls that followed had it in 
 their power to gorge themfelves with that 
 prey, which being beat down, was at the 
 mercy of, though fpared by, this generous 
 Eagle. They were enabled to fubvert the 
 constitution of that government, to the fup- 
 port of which in the perfon of Meyer Jaf- 
 feir Alii Cawn, the faith of this nation, 
 and of the Eaft-India company, had been 
 plighted by Admiral Watfon, Lord Clive, 
 and the other gentlemen in higheft truft. 
 Having thus, by afcribing to their proper 
 and true caufes, accounted for the great 
 conquefts of Lord Clive, with the mighty 
 influence which the Englilh gained there un- 
 der his aufpices, I mall next give a more 
 juft idea of the real ftrength of this coun- 
 try, and what we we have to apprehend 
 from it. As to what is called the finews of 
 war, Money, we are well fatisi'icd, that not- 
 withftanding the alienations made to the 
 
 Englifh,
 
 ( 3* ) 
 
 Englim, there is no want of that, the reve- 
 nues of this Nabob's government alone be- 
 ing calculated at three millions and a half. 
 He is alfo lord of all the property of this 
 rich kingdom. Where money is, and alfo 
 properly applied, men, and brave men (even 
 if the country itfelf does not afford them) 
 will never be wanting. The Pitans, a race 
 of bold and hardy mountaineers to the 
 northward of his dominions, do, Swifs like, 
 hire out their valiant fons to war. Of thefe 
 the Nabobs generally entertain a number 
 in their pay, and it is not at all extraordinary 
 for them to bring into the field 80,000 men. 
 But why mould we entertain fuch a mean 
 opinion of his own troops ? The English 
 themfelves have and do now employ the na- 
 tives of his countries in their fervice j and 
 they have experienced that they are far from 
 being void of courage. We have befides 
 feen there inftances in individuals of as high 
 refolution as others can boaft of. The truth 
 is, that this difperfed valour has not hitherto 
 been collected by difcipline and military 
 {kill. That difcipline which renders afmall 
 party equal to the whole force of numerous 
 nations, was never yet acquired by any 
 people at once, or in the fliort fpacc of one 
 year. 
 
 But
 
 (33) 
 
 But this ufeful knowledge we have been 
 communicating to them for eight years 
 paft, at the firft undefignedly ; the armies 
 of the Nabob marching for four or five 
 years in conjunction with ours, couid not 
 mifs of receiving fome impreffions. Thofe 
 natives alfo, who, by being in our fervice, 
 have been inftru&ed, trained, and exercifed 
 with the fame art and care as our own 
 troops, and who have likewife fought brave- 
 ly cm feveral occafions, in our caufe, and 
 uiider our infpe&ion, are fubjects of this 
 feme Nabob. And I find, that within thefe 
 three years or more, we have been particu- 
 larly induftrious and attentive to marfhailing 
 the army of our favourite Nabob, I mean, 
 Caffin Alii Can, and that he hath been fup- 
 plied with Englifh officers proper for that 
 purpofe. I am further informed, that the 
 feapoys in our fervice have been more than 
 ufually frequent in demanding their dif- 
 charges, which without hefitation has been 
 granted them ; and I fcarcely think that 
 they will leave their fkill with their Englifh 
 mufltets, or that when entered into the fer- 
 vice of their prince, they will immediately 
 return to their primitive rawnefs. The ufe 
 of artillery, a fcience in high perfection a- 
 mongft the Europeans, and fo material in 
 deciding battles, was alfo next to unknown 
 by thefe natives, when colonel Clive came 
 F amongft;
 
 (34) 
 
 amongft them. Although they were not i ra- 
 tify ignorant of a fort of conftruclion of 
 guns, yet were they furprizingly rude and 
 awkard in the ufe of them : but this alfo is 
 to be learnt and acquired from proper 
 teachers, and even if they have not gunners 
 of their own, the Europeans fettled amongft 
 them will be always able to fupply them. 
 Therefore we muft expect to behold thefe 
 natives, foon, if not already, a very different 
 people from what Col. Clive found them. 
 
 And now let us fee in what predicament 
 we ftand with thefe natives, the ftrength and 
 force of whom I have thus reprefented. - 
 Ever fince the Englilh re-entered Bengal 
 by force, the peace of that country has been 
 continually and moft thoroughly embroiled. 
 Their bloody disputes with Sou Raja 
 Dovvla, their attack of the French, their 
 broils with the Dutch, the unaccountable 
 protracted war with Sha Zadah, together 
 with the more than ufually violent incur- 
 lions of the Morattoes, have rendered that 
 kingdom a continued fcene of war, where 
 ever, till then (excepting at times, a light 
 incurfion of thefe Morattoes made by them, 
 in order to quicken the payment of their 
 Choult) peace had reigned without inter- 
 ruption. And now they are engaged in 
 troubles of a ftill more bloody nature, and 
 big with greatly more fatal confluences ; 
 
 the
 
 (35) 
 
 the feeds of a civil war fown by our 
 hands alone, will produce a moft plentiful 
 harveft of blood, Daughter, famine and de- 
 ftruction to thefe countries. Where the ma- 
 nufacturer, where the labourer ufed to rife 
 undifturbed and unknowing of fear, there 
 at prefent is heard nought but the found of 
 the trumpet, and the dreadful alarms of 
 war. That country, late fo famous for com- 
 merce, whofe rich manufactures brought to 
 it immenfe wealth from every quarter of the 
 tributary world, and whofe fertile plains fup- 
 plied millions of its neighbours with grain, 
 is unable now to yield itfelf the bare necef- 
 faries of life. The loom is unemployed, 
 neglected lies the plough ; trade is at a ftand, 
 for there are no manufacturers to carry it on. 
 The Englifh capital, which muft be fuppofed 
 the la ft that would be affected by it, now 
 feels the mifery of dearth, numbers perifh- 
 ing there for want of food : What then 
 muft the wretched natives in other parts fuf- 
 fer ? This account is not exaggerated, but 
 founded on a letter, written by fuch of the 
 company's fervants in India, as diflented from 
 the proceedings of their colleagues, to the di- 
 rectors in Europe. But even this, tho' heavy, 
 is but a part of the mifery, that this harm- 
 lefs oppreffed people have and do fufFcr more 
 immediately from the Englim. They have 
 F 2 fecn
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 feen their fundamental laws and cuftoms 
 fubverted, the perfons of their princes moft 
 groffly infulted, the whole frame of their go- 
 vernment proftituted to the lawlefs infolent 
 luft of rapacious foreigners. The wanton- 
 nefs of power, vefted in even young raw 
 boys, hath trampled on the dignity of their 
 inoft refpectable perfonages. In a govern- 
 ment thus unhinged, thus harrafled, what 
 muft the unhappy fubjects feel ; without 
 protection, without order, nothing prevail- 
 ing but anarchy, confufion and defpair? 
 Can we fuppofe thefe fufferers men, can 
 we look upon them as rational beings, and 
 at the fame time believe that they entertain 
 no refentment againft the authors of this 
 accumulated war and mifery ; againft the 
 changers of their quiet and tranquil ftate, 
 into the prefent wretched and truly deplora- 
 ble condition ? And can a nation bled them- 
 feives. and truly fenfible of the happinefs of 
 a regular and well eftablifhed government, 
 remain infenfible to the inexpreflible anguifh 
 of their fellbw-creatures ? But in what 
 light muft their prefent and future princes 
 regard us ? Meer Jaffeir Alii Cawn, the firft 
 Nabob made by us, could not help looking 
 on us with an evil eye. Having, as I had 
 cccafion to mention before, been vefted by 
 us in a government to which he otherwife 
 had no preteniion, -he had improvidently 
 
 given
 
 (37) 
 
 given away, what, when cool, he could 
 not help regretting the lofs of : belides his 
 grants of money and lands, he had parted 
 with the fplendour and independence of his 
 predeceffors -, and notwithstanding his Maker 
 did fupport him in thefe points as much as 
 circumftances would permit, yet could not 
 he prevent this poor prince from being obli- 
 ged to fwallow many a bitter pill. After 
 the departure of Colonel Clive, the delicacy 
 that he had ufed towards him was entirely 
 thrown afide. His fucceflbr in the govern- 
 ment, who had been particularly inftrumen- 
 tal in bringing down Sou Rajah Dowla, and 
 confequently in occafioning the firfl revolu- 
 tion in Bengal, had arrived at his new dig- 
 nity contrary to the intention of his confti- 
 tuents, and entirely through the accident of 
 a number of his leniors going home at this 
 time in difguft. Being bleft with a genius 
 uncommonly fertile in expedients for railing 
 money, and further unclogged by thofe filly 
 notions- of punctilio, which often fland in 
 the way betwixt fome people and fortune, 
 he had projected and put in practice ieveral 
 inferior manoeuvres 5 but this Chef d'Oeuvre, 
 this mafter fcheme, though formed almoft as 
 foon as he came to power, time did not al- 
 low him to have the honour of executing. 
 Being formed however, we may imagine, 
 that under fuch a governor, daily mortifica- 
 tions, 
 
 354821
 
 (38) 
 
 tlons, and in various fhapes, were not want-; 
 ing to this ill-ftarred Nabob. The prince 
 who depends on the will of a fuperior, un- 
 generous and incapable of humane or deli- 
 cate fentiments, is in a more mean and 
 wretched ftate, than he who depends on a 
 common proftitute for his daily food. Our 
 Nabob quickly found himfelf reduced to lefs 
 than the name of prince, infulted by the 
 moft contemptuous flights of thofe whom he 
 called his allies, and who, to pave the way 
 to the projected change, embroiled his af- 
 fairs, and ufed all other means in their pow- 
 er to render him odious j defpifed, reviled, 
 and curfed even to his face by his own fub- 
 jects, who laid to his charge all the miferies 
 they fuffered by war, all the hard mips and 
 injuries to which they had been fubjected by 
 foreigners, into whofe hands he had refigned 
 the fubftance, on condition he might enjoy 
 the (hadow of government; his very do- 
 mefticks treated him with contempt and 
 neglect. His fon, who had acted as his ge- 
 neral, was fuddenly taken from him, This 
 active young prince in the midft of his own, 
 and the Englim camp, was moft iingularly 
 ftruck by lightening. About four months 
 - 1 after the departure of colonel Clive, a gen-> 
 tleman from Madrafs arrived at Calcutta, to 
 take upon him, by order of the directors, 
 the government of their affairs in Bengal. It 
 
 muft
 
 (39) 
 
 muft here again be acknowledged, that the 
 gentlemen in the direction, mowed they had 
 fo little intention, that the accidental gover- 
 nor mould have ever come to that trufl, that 
 they now removed him to be the feventh in 
 council. Being endued however in a very 
 high degree with what in fome is call- 
 ed addrefs, enforced by a great (hare of plau- 
 fibility in argument, he found thefe talents 
 of fingular ufe to him on this occafion. His 
 grand plan being now almoft ripe for exe- 
 cution, could not be concealed from his fuc- 
 cefTor. He wavered fome days about conti- 
 nuing in the fervice of his matters in that 
 degraded rank. During this fpace it may be 
 imagined, that he was employed in ufing 
 his influence to prevail on the new governor, 
 who was a ftranger there, to adopt his views. 
 At laft this perfon, who had been hitherto 
 but flightly efteemed by his fucceflbr, was by 
 him taken into the moft intimate favour and 
 confidence, and admitted into the fecret 
 committee, which is compofed of a few fe- 
 lecl: members of the council there. This 
 was but a bad omen for the unfortunate 
 Nabob, as from this very fymptom we may 
 conclude, that the fcheme and meafures of 
 the former, were now embraced by the pre- 
 fent governor. But it does not redound 
 much to the honour of this degraded gover- 
 nor, nor plead greatly in favour of the dif- 
 
 intereftednefs
 
 ( 4) 
 
 Intereftednefs of his views, that after fuch a 
 ftigma, fuch a mark put upon him by his 
 fuperiors, he could, (though during his 
 ihort government he had acquired a hand* 
 fome fortune) fubmit to ferve them in the 
 feventh place, after having been in the firft. 
 However, he had the fpirit to remain in it 
 no longer, than till he had fairly packed off 
 the then governor on the execution of his 
 plan, and on that very day he refigned. I 
 fhould not have dwelt fo particularly on 
 thefe feemingly trifling incidents, nor mould 
 I have defcended fo low, as to touch indi- 
 viduals, had not I found it abfolutely necef- 
 fary towards drawing one material inference, 
 which is, that this fcheme of Nabob chang- 
 ing, borrows no luftre from the character of 
 its original projector. We may thence ima- 
 gine, that this much injured prince remain- 
 ed in little better circumftances than thofe 
 we mentioned, from the time of the arrival 
 of the new governor, till that of the cataf- 
 trophe of the piece, his depoliticn, the cir- 
 cumftances of which, though extremely af- 
 fecting, are yet too tedious and unnecefTary 
 to my purpofe to be repeated here, fuffice it 
 then to fay, that the action itfelf was exe- 
 cuted in a " clandeftine and treacherous'* 
 manner. The perfons concerned in this tran- 
 faction have taken upon them to give fome 
 feafons for their conduct, but befides that 
 
 mod
 
 ( 41 ) 
 
 Siioft of thefe are faid to be falfe, there is not 
 one of them can carry any weight vwth an 
 unprejudiced and tolerably informed exami- 
 ner. For not to enter into particulars, this 
 prince was independent of the Englim, hav- 
 ing been acknowledged as fuch in the mod 
 formal manner by thofe very Englim, who 
 had alfo in their treaties with him folemnly 
 engaged to fupport him with their whole 
 power againft all his enemies. How could 
 they then who had thus fworn, and who 
 had not the fmalleft pretext of authority, 
 faving that of prefent force, to call him to 
 any account for his actions, prefume, in 
 violation of thefe oaths, to deprive him of 
 his dignity, and to beftow it on another? 
 The only fhadow of excufe given is, that it 
 was for the intereft of their mailers, and 
 whether it was really fo or not, time will 
 /how ; but whatever weight this argument 
 may have with the company, it can have 
 but little with the reft of mankind, who 
 will fcarcely admit, that a prefent view of 
 advantage, can abfolve from the bond of 
 oaths and treaties. And it will be found 
 very difficult to perfuade any man of com- 
 mon difcernment, that even this wretched 
 excufe of the company's intereft was their 
 motive to that mameful ftep. By the let- 
 ter which I have before- mentioned, thefe 
 depofers acknowledge the promife of twenty 
 
 G
 
 lacks of rupees (240,000!. fterling) as a 
 gratuity for their trouble in this arduous af- 
 fair. But this is not the only honourable 
 feat that we have performed on this occa- 
 fion ; we have delivered up to this well- 
 paying Nabob, all fuch of the natives as had 
 adhered to the Englifh intereft, and had 
 been fo remarkably ferviceable to Col. Clive. 
 Thefe, one would imagine, merited our pro- 
 tection j but inftead of it they were all, and 
 among them the Nabob of Patna thrown 
 into the fcale, and immediately on being 
 delivered, were by this our faithful ally 
 put to the torture, that they might difcover 
 their treafure, and after that, for the crime 
 of attachment to the Englifh, put to a cruel 
 death. Thefe were the chief exploits of this 
 nature that we had the power of perform- 
 ing, and fuch bafenefs, muft, without doubt, 
 render the faith of the Englifh nation, as 
 refpeftable in thefe countries, as was the 
 funica fides amongft the Romans. What 
 truft, what confidence can thefe people, or 
 any of their future princes repofe, in fuch 
 as make fo light of honour and oaths. But 
 this our friend, this purchafer of his father-in- 
 law's right, hath mown at leaft his judgment 
 in his opinion of us, for foon after his pro- 
 motion, he quitted the capital of his country, 
 where his predeceffors had ever refided, re- 
 moving to the mofl northern part of his do- 
 
 minions a 

 
 (43 ) 
 
 minions, as being the moft diftant from his 
 dangerous friends, wifely concluding, that 
 whilft he remained within their reach, his 
 dignity was no longer fecure, than till a 
 proper perfon was found to bid for it. He 
 then iffued forth orders for all his fubjects 
 to quit the fouthern parts of the country, 
 and foon after began to interrupt and flop 
 our commerce. At lart, in a very proper 
 feafon of the year he commenced hoftilities, 
 by feifing our factories, and murdering even 
 the ambaffadors who had been fent to treat 
 with him ; whofe perfons have ever been 
 facred amongft the moil: barbarous nations. 
 But what faith is to be obferved with a peo- 
 ple, who are themfelves void of it ? And 
 now we are thoroughly engaged in a war 
 with him ; from which, at prefent, we have 
 this chance of extricating ourfelves ; that as 
 he was an ufurper, and unpleafing to many 
 of thofe whom we ourfelves obliged to be 
 his fubje&s, the depofed Nabob, whom we 
 have now again acknowledged, may pofllbly 
 be able to form a party in his favour. If 
 we act unanimoufly, if we are vigorous, and 
 aflemble all the force that can be collect- 
 ed, and ftrike a quick and fudden blow, 
 the war may be at once quamed for this 
 time. But if by disjointed counfels it be 
 protracted, till the other Europeans fettled 
 there, can draw together a force to join our 
 G 2 ufurping
 
 ( 44) 
 
 ufurping Nabob, it is moft probable, that 
 on this occaflon we mall receive our Coup de 
 Grace. -In the mean time, thefe countries 
 are ufeiefs to us, trade and agriculture being 
 entirely flopped, what revenues can we 
 draw from them, or what profit on com- 
 merce ? We mail this year have a few 
 goods : three mips difpatched from thence 
 laft year loft their paffage and put back, 
 their cargoes will arrive this year. But ex- 
 cepting thefe, and the few goods whicrf may 
 have been provided before the open rupture, 
 where are we to look for more, until mat- 
 ters are fettled, a probably very diftant 
 profpect ? But whatever iflue this prefent 
 war may have, we may fee what the force 
 of the country, united under an active 
 prince, with fober counfels, and a tolerable 
 administration of the finances is capable of, 
 even without the aid of any of the Euro- 
 peans fettled there. And when that once 
 becomes the cafe, we may alfo fee what we 
 have reafon to expect from them. 
 
 But the Dutch are fettled in thefe countries 
 as well as we ; they have beheld with an in- 
 vidious eye our mighty power, privileges and 
 pcflefTions there ; to which they think we 
 have no other right, than that of having 
 been the firfl who had the good fortune to 
 grafp at it, and which title they imagine 
 ought to ftand good no longer than till a 
 
 fuperior
 
 ( 45) 
 
 fuperior force can wreft it from us. They 
 lately made a moft vigorous and well-de- 
 figned effort to this end. The feafon feem- 
 ed alfo favourable ; when we were over- 
 matched on the coaft of Coromondel, our 
 capital there being then threatened, and foon 
 after inverted by the French: when the 
 greateft, and a chofen part of our troops had 
 been detached from Calcutta on a necefikry 
 expedition to the coaft of Golconda, while 
 there remained behind little more than two 
 hundred Europeans : at fuch a feafon arrived 
 in the river of Bengal feven Dutch fhips 
 with fix hundred Europeans, and a greater 
 number of Indian foldiers on board. So 
 far this plan feemed to be extremely well 
 timed ; but unluckily for them, the ma- 
 nagement of the Englifh affairs was then in 
 the hands of Colonel Clive, and whether it 
 was owing to the fuperior addrefs of our 
 governor in fruftrating this fcheme ; or whe- 
 ther it might be owing to the incapacity of 
 the Dutch themfelves, or perhaps to both 
 thefe caufes, this promifing and feemingly 
 eafy enterprize, was by them executed in a 
 moft bungling manner. Our penetrating 
 chief faw at once into the end of their views, 
 and alfo their pretence for bringing thefe 
 troops into the river ; he well knew the 
 coniequence of admitting them into the 
 heart of the country j and he as quickly 
 
 formed
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 formed his own plan of conduct. Though, 
 far from receiving affiftance or even counte- 
 nance from the Nabob, though inftead of 
 being aided by the advice, he was harrafled 
 by the fears and remonftrances of his coun- 
 fellors, yet he remained firm and fteady, 
 and fo ferene, that his courage at laft com- 
 municated itfelf to the dejected inhabitants. 
 By the awe of his name he kept the Nabob 
 from interpofing, or even declaring his in- 
 clinations, which he certainly would have 
 done under any other governor lefs refpected 
 by him. Fortunately alfo Colonel Ford, a 
 gallant officer, having quitted his command 
 at MafTulipatram, arrived at Calcutta to eafe 
 our governor of fome part of his burthen ; 
 he, at the earneft entreaty of Colonel Clive, 
 took upon him, though as a volunteer, the 
 command of the few foldiers. On the dif- 
 embarkation of the Dutch troops, he was 
 fent up the river to prevent a junction of 
 their garrifon with that corps ; he foon met 
 with and difperfed the garrifon, and next 
 day attacked the other body fatigued with a 
 long march j over which he gained a mod 
 complete victory, and by it the Dutch fac- 
 tory, as they at that time humbly acknow- 
 ledged, lay at his mercy. Thus was this at- 
 tempt fruftrated by the extraordinary vigo- 
 rous and prudent conduct of the then go- 
 vernor j I fay extraordinary, becaufe though 
 
 the
 
 (47) 
 
 the gentlemen in his council at that time, 
 were equal to any of thofe who have been, 
 either before or fince, or who are likely in 
 future to be employed by this company ; yet 
 I appeal to thofe very gentlemen, even now 
 when the danger is over, whether they or 
 any one of them would have prefumed, in 
 the fituation they were then in, to have even 
 attempted what this nobleman fo fortunate- 
 ly executed. Yet one of thefe, the mod 
 particularly clamorous at that time, hath 
 fince formed and carried into execution an 
 enterprize which Colonel Clive would have 
 fhuddered to think of. But although we 
 have reafon to rejoice that our enemies were 
 on this occalion difappointed, yet unlefs we 
 retain there fuch governors as he was, we 
 cannot from hence conclude, that we fhall 
 always be as fuccefsful. Our very neigh- 
 bours too will grow wifer by experience ; 
 their troops, on that occafion, were thinly 
 and badly officered ; but we find they are 
 refolved to truft no longer to the Heeren Van 
 Batavia, ragamuffin coblers and tailors. 
 They have now fent out hardy veterans, 
 fuch as have feen blood in the Pruffian and 
 Auftrian fervices. Other circumftances too 
 are greatly changed in their favour; the 
 Englifti are at prefent fully employed in a 
 war with at leaft one, and he the moft 
 powerful of the two princes , who being in 
 
 pofleffion
 
 pofleffion of the country, at the head of an 
 army of a different mould from thefe of the 
 former Nabobs, has like wife mown by the 
 freps he has taken, that he neither experts 
 nor defires peace with us. He will now re- 
 move all difficulties of introducing their 
 troops into thofe countries ; and what even 
 a fmall body of Europeans joined to his 
 army may do is needlefs to explain. As to 
 the French they are out of the queftion, as 
 being fuppofed to have no force there ; yet 
 in this we may be deceived. Some will 
 aver, that we ought to put confidence in the 
 generofity of our European brethren, who 
 certainly will not take the advantage of our 
 difrreffes, and that things may yet go well ; 
 I hope, however, we {hall never be reduced 
 to truft to that, as we have already experi- 
 enced the fincerity of their friendship in 
 thefe very countries. Yet hew can we, 
 fhould they even do all this, accufe them 
 of a&ing ungeneroufly ? In a country alto- 
 gether independent of either us or them, 
 two princes are in difpute about the fuccef- 
 fion, they each have an equal title, the grant 
 and inveftiture of the Englifh, if we are at 
 this prefent in the humour to think that our 
 firft choice gives a better right than our fe- 
 cond, they no doubt will imagine that they 
 are at liberty to chufe whether they mall 
 think as we do or not ; if they mould chance 
 
 to
 
 ( 49 ): 
 
 to differ from us, they will fay that they 
 ought in equity to be allowed to fupport 
 their opinion with the fame arguments as 
 we fupport ours. How the Dutch may aft 
 I cannot promife ; but the French and En- 
 glifli were accuftomed in fuch like difputes 
 to deal very genteely by each other. They 
 ufed each to choofe their fide, neither as 
 principals; they met in the field, under the 
 banners of their diftindt dependent ; there 
 they engaged, and flaughtered one another 
 as much as they could, but ftill in a friendly 
 manner, becauie there was peace betwixt 
 the mother countries in Europe. Nay on 
 this occafion thefe our brethren can ac- 
 count for fuch conduct, by arguments that 
 mutt appear equitable even to ourfelves ; 
 for if we do thus through wantonnefs of 
 power take upon us on every lucrative view 
 to change the prince, and by this embroil 
 the peace of the country where they are 
 fettled with the fame right as we to trade, 
 can we expect that for fuch reafon they are 
 to lofe their commerce, and be obliged to 
 put themfelves to the' charge of maintaining 
 expenfive factories, which through our 
 means mall become ufelefs ? No (will they 
 fay) let the common difturbers be ejected 
 as foes to mankind and to the peace of fo- 
 ciety : But as I obferved before, this prefent 
 war may by unanimity in counfel, by vi- 
 H gorous
 
 goro'us meafures, and a proper ufe of the 
 other circumftances in our favour, be quam- 
 ed and happily ended. However, if that 
 fhould happen to be the cafe this time, yet 
 while the caufes remain, the effects will 
 probably, nay inevitably be the fame. But 
 mould things take an adverfe turn, and we 
 in confequence be ejected from Bengal, let 
 us not flatter ourfeives with the hopes of 
 an eafy return there, for this reafon, that 
 we have feen the French who had been ex- 
 pelled, fo readily re -admitted into thefe 
 countries. Circumftances greatly alter the 
 cafe betwixt us and the French. They were 
 expelled from thence by the Englifli in their 
 proper character, during a national warj 
 therefore they had to obtain the confent of 
 the Englifh alone for their return. But 
 mould the English be ejected, it will be 
 not only with the concurrence, but in the 
 name of the prince of the country, whofe 
 confent we muft have to come back ; and 
 what difficulties may occur in procuring 
 that, contrary to~ the intereft of other, no 
 doubt then powerful and intriguing Eu- 
 ropeans, will too evidently appear. In the 
 cafe of the French, they had never acted 
 in thefe countries but as merchants, the na- 
 tives would therefore be far from forry to fee 
 fuch come again amongft them. But how 
 the Englifh have acted there has been de- 
 
 fcribed,
 
 ( 5' ) 
 
 fcribed, and let the lion's claws be pared 
 ever fo dole, there will flill be conftant ap- 
 prehenfions of their growing again. Then 
 that mighty fort, which with a proper gar- 
 rifon, with ammunition of war, provifions, 
 and tolerable condud, bids defiance to all 
 the powers of India, and to all the forces 
 that can be tranfported from Europe to 
 that part of the world, falling through a 
 defect in all thefe points, into the hands of 
 more provident enemies, will for ever for- 
 bid our return to thofe countries without 
 their leave, and on their own terms. As to 
 our other fettlements on the coaft of Coro- 
 mandel, &c. they are fcarce worth men- 
 tioning after the other. However, if the 
 French have an eye that way, there is the 
 old field open, a competition for the Car- 
 natic Nabobfhip. They have no fettle- 
 ments there ? Let them find but men, it is 
 an open coaft, there are many towns, their 
 partizan will grant them a title to fettle- 
 ments, which will be equally as valid with 
 them as our Nabob's can be with us ; the 
 longed: fword will decide the caufe. 
 
 Before I proceed farther, let me obviate 
 a prejudice which may be darted in the 
 minds of fome of my readers, by the warmth 
 I may have exprefied in handling two op- 
 polite characters in the preceding narration. 
 I mean the praife I have beftowed on virtue, 
 H 2 and
 
 ( 50 
 
 and the abhorrence of vice. Praife is at 
 prefent fo common, while at the fame time 
 merit is fo rare, that the juft fubject of praife 
 being next to loft, the meaning of that term 
 is likewife almoft become extinct, or at leaft 
 fynonymous with flattery. Yet where there 
 is real merit, praife furely is the fmalleft tri- 
 bute we can pay it. My fubjedt will ftand 
 the teft, a candid examination will not only 
 free me from the imputation of flattery, 
 but will even make it appear that I have ra- 
 ther bellowed my encomiums with a fcanty 
 hand. As to the contraft, who can blame 
 me for pulling off the cloak of virtue from 
 the foul and deformed body of vice ? I 
 have in the preceding part mewn the mighty 
 value of this trade to England ; as alfo the 
 dreadful confequences arifing to her, from 
 its becoming an addition to the commerce 
 of her neighbours. I have likewife given 
 the outlines of the nature of this company, 
 and the capacities of thofe who are entrufled 
 with this important charge ; and by a ge- 
 nuine and juft account of the fituation of 
 affairs in Bengal, I have expofed to view 
 the grounds we. may have to apprehend 
 either a prefent or future lofs of that which 
 is the only valuable fettlement ; and from 
 which when thrown out, we may be for 
 ever after moft eafily excluded. As to the 
 
 fun-
 
 (53) 
 
 fundamental principles and fadts* on which 
 I have argued, let who will difprove 
 them; if no one, and indeed no one can, 
 let my countrymen then ftand judges 
 of the juftice of my conclufions - y and if 
 they are allowed by them to be juft, I doubt 
 not but they will with me conclude, that a 
 fubject of fo much confequence to this na- 
 tion, being thus involved in difficulties, and 
 in fuch imminent danger of being wrefted 
 from our hands for ever, demands the care 
 and fkill of more and abler heads 'than of 
 thofe to whom they are entrufted, and who 
 are fo far from having the power and capa- 
 city of extricating themfelves from their 
 prefent embarrafment, that it is to be feared 
 they will, by irrefoiute and divided coun- 
 fels, entangle their affairs to that degree, as 
 to render it in time impoffible for even the 
 power and wifdom of this kingdom to clear 
 them. I fpeak not this with the view of 
 expofing to contempt the weaknefs or ina- 
 bility of the company in its accepted fenfe-, 
 no ! my defign is only to expofe what they 
 felfimly, and through a mean and falfe pride, 
 have hitherto concealed. Power is naturally 
 agreeable to all, we are all loth to declare 
 our defects and fellings ; we are moil: of 
 
 us 
 
 * As to the conduS of particulars mentioned here, they 
 awe detached from and independent of the main fubjeft.
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 us To prejudiced in favour of our own abili- 
 ties, that if we are capable of conducting 
 an enterprize in any fhape, we immediately 
 think no one could have conducted it bet- 
 ter. This accounts in fome meafure for 
 what would otherwife be inexcufeable in 
 thefe gentlemen, who in juflice to their 
 country ought to have declared fome time 
 ago, that the mighty extent of their con- 
 cerns, beyond what it was when they re- 
 ceived their lafl charter, had rendered their 
 powers as well as their flock greatly un- 
 equal to the charge. With refpect to their 
 own perfonal abilities, any mention of them 
 would have been too mortifying a declara- 
 tion to be expected from themfelves, yet 
 would that have occurred as a very natural 
 confequent of the other ; and one would be 
 almoft induced to fufpect that the fear of 
 difcovering that confequence has fo long 
 fmothered the former. It is evident that 
 in order to preferve the exiftence of any 
 Being> the means of its fupport ought to 
 be proportioned to its demands and natural 
 wants. This nation therefore ought to 
 be moft particularly watchful over the 
 growth of this company's concerns, and to 
 be moft minutely careful in proportioning 
 every increafe of fuch weight and influence, 
 to an increafe of power and of flock, as 
 alfo of the abilities and even Rank of fuch 
 
 as
 
 (55) 
 
 as are chofen to be intruded with the con- 
 dud: of this increafed charge ; without fuch 
 addition the thing muft droop, dwindle and 
 die. When I mention an increafe of power, 
 I ought not to be underftood as meaning an 
 increafe of the power of the 24 directors, 
 fuch as they are at prefent, and who are 
 commonly underftood to mean the com- 
 pany ; they . have already more than they 
 are capable of ufing properly. But let us 
 not be fufpicioufly cautious of augmenting 
 the power and privileges of this company, 
 provided it is returned to and kept, as nearly 
 as circumftances will permit, in the fpirit of 
 its original inftitution j which inftitution I 
 underftand to have have been as follows. 
 
 In the reign of queen Elizabeth, the mer- 
 chants of England firft trading to the Eaft~ 
 Indies, were by that wife princefs incorpo- 
 rated and formed into a company, for this 
 end and with this view, that the flocks, coun- 
 fels, and interefts of many being joined, that 
 trade might by this united force, be driven 
 to a greater extent, the lories be more eafiiy 
 fuftained and repaired, and the great confu- 
 lion and other numberlefs difadvantages ari- 
 fing from an oppofition and rivalfhip of many 
 diftincl: and feparate interefts be evaded and 
 (hunned. For the farther encouragement 
 and cherilhing this then infant trade and 
 company, {he likewife endowed it with 
 
 many
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 many privileges, and even with an exclufive 
 right, which while this trade remained thus 
 in its infancy and confined in point of flock, 
 might be deemed a monopoly - y but feeing 
 it is now fo immenfely increafed as to demand 
 fuch a large flock to carry it on, if the word 
 monopoly may be flill preferved, it ought 
 not in juftice to be applied to the company 
 in its true fenfe, feeing every man that pleafes 
 may be admitted into the flock : though at 
 the fame time, as we fhall hereafter mow, 
 it may in another fenfe, flill merit the title. 
 
 The princes who fucceeded that great 
 queen, together with the other branches of 
 the legiflature, fo low down as William the 
 third, were fo fenfible of the juflnefs of thefe 
 wife and well weighed reafons, which in- 
 duced her to eflablifh this trade on fuch a 
 footing, that ever fmce, on the application of 
 that company, they always moft readily re- 
 newed their charter, and alfo as there was 
 occafion increafed their privileges. In the 
 fenfe that I have here mentioned, the incor- 
 poration of this company may be termed a 
 collecting and affembling of feveral different 
 little fprings and rills into one bed or chan- 
 nel, the bounds and banks of which are its 
 exclufive charter. Thefe feveral fprings 
 then, which if allowed to diffufe anddifperfe 
 in their natural courfes, would have loft 
 themfelves alrnqft at their fources, being 
 7 [now
 
 (57) 
 
 now collected and confined in one bed, do 
 thus form a mighty river rolling along, and 
 with its torrent fweeping all before it, as 
 (corning the refinance of fmaller flops and 
 lets. Therefore if the nation either increafes 
 its force or enlarges and widens its banks, 
 Hie only ftrengthens thereby the work of her 
 own hands. This metaphor I think may 
 convey a pretty jufl idea of the light in which 
 this company and its charter have been 
 looked upon, by the princes and parliaments 
 of this nation, fo far down as the reign of 
 William the third. But in that reign, we 
 have reafon to imagine that the nature and 
 conftitution of the company was changed, 
 for we find that at this time, in order to the 
 obtaining a renewal of their charter, they 
 were obliged to make ufe of clandeiVine 
 means, and to bribe very high, as to the 
 fhame of many then in power, was difco- 
 vered by the great activity of the houfe of 
 commons; and ever fince, the renewal of 
 their charter, hath met with great oppof- 
 tion, fo as that at lad in the year 1698, a 
 charter was granted to a new company, on 
 their undertaking to lend the government a 
 larger fum of money than the old one could 
 pretend to do ; yet, through certain means, 
 the old one ftill retained its charter ; though 
 it was afterwards found neceflary to the good 
 and even the exigence of each, that both 
 I (ho'uld
 
 mould coalefce and unite, and from this 
 union they take the title of United, &c. It 
 may be expected and even be worth the pains, 
 that we fhould account for and explain the 
 manner of this alteration which we have 
 mentioned, of the original nature and confti- 
 tution of this company. Of this we fhall 
 give a curfory view, and no more than is ab- 
 folutelyneceflaryto the prefent purpofe. If it 
 fbouid be found from thefe hints, that a more 
 full account of thefe and other fuch matters 
 will be agreeable to any of my countrymen, 
 I (hall be ever ready to communicate any 
 little light that I may have acquired of this 
 interefting fubject. At the firfl inftitution 
 of this company it may be fuppofed, that 
 the members or proprietors were but few, 
 and thofe merchants ; who though they 
 might depute fome few of their own body, 
 to attend to the more immediate difpatch of 
 the bufinefs of the joint concern, yet as be- 
 ing but few, and alfo merchants, every pro- 
 prietor in fuch character, would no doubt at 
 a general meeting or court, avail himfelf of 
 his privilege, to enquire into and make him- 
 felf acquainted with the mofl private and fe- 
 cret tran factions of the trade. 
 
 But when this trade became fo extenfive, 
 and required fuch a fum of money to carry 
 it on, as obliged the nation to prefcribe li- 
 mits to their flock, then alfo the proprietors 
 
 be-
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 became very numerous, for none being re- 
 fufed, men, women, children, and foreign- 
 ers of all nations were admitted. It is well 
 known that in every branch of trade there 
 are fecrets, which are not proper to be com- 
 municated, feeing that iuch communication 
 would be of particular prejudice to the fkil- 
 fnl trader. In this mighty branch there are 
 no doubt fecrets, which, as many of the pro- 
 prietors are foreigners, might in confequence 
 of their being known by fuch, and their 
 withdrawing their property from our to the 
 Dutch or other Eaft-India (rocks, be by 
 them made ufe of to the irreparable iofs of our 
 company. For this reafon it became on fuch 
 occaiion neceflary, that the fecrets of the 
 company fhould be withdrawn from the 
 light of the whole, and be confided only to 
 a few who are their directors. Thus began 
 to arife that mighty difference and alteration, 
 from the original intent and conftitution of 
 this company. On the commencement of 
 flock-jobbing the company amongft others 
 alib, lent our government, at three different 
 times, to the amount of 4,200,000 /. fter- 
 ling, and by this means their ftock and con- 
 cerns have mightily increafed ; and befides 
 the other evil coniequences of this jobbing 
 fcheme, it has alfo fo thoroughly thrown the 
 affairs of the company into the hands of the 
 directors, that they are now become almoft 
 I 2 (even
 
 ( 60 ) 
 
 (even properly fpeaktng) themfelves the Eafl- 
 India company. This power an$ charge of 
 truft refls in a body of about 50 or 60 per- 
 fonages of no very extraordinary abilities, 
 \vho go in and out by rotation, or by a change 
 of interefts, for as I before obferved 24 of 
 thefe do for the time being form this direc- 
 tion. This will alfo account for what mud 
 otherwiie appear an abfurdity, I mean the 
 mighty ftruggles made, and the large fums 
 of late expended for the grant of a new char- 
 ter; for fuppofing the proprietors of the In- 
 dia flock to form the Eaft-India company, 
 what can be more abfurd than to think that 
 this company would part with 200,000 /. at 
 a time, for that which to them does not var 
 lue a rum ? this may alfo be cleared up by 
 the following obfervation, in which, how- 
 ever, if 1 am miftaken, I mall fubmit. When 
 I (and I imagine my cafe is the fame with 
 that of others) choofe to take 500 or icoo/, 
 in this company's flock, I go to market, I 
 give the current price for it, I have a tranf- 
 fer and thus become a proprietor; but this 
 flock I do not buy for this reafon, that it is 
 more beneficial than any other ftock, no ; 
 I have my 6 per Cent, for my 1 50 /. or 4 per 
 Cent, for my ico } at. leaft nearly in the fame 
 manner as the other funds; and for the mat- 
 ter of fecurity, this flock is fo much con- 
 nedled with, and dependent on the publick 
 
 funds,
 
 funds, that it is not only liable to all the 
 rifks of any of them, but is alfo fubjedt to 
 its own particular dangers. My reafons then 
 for making myfelf a proprietor arife not from 
 the views of fuperior benefit on my money, 
 but perhaps, becaufe I choofe to have a com- 
 pliment paid me once a year by the candidates 
 for the direction, and poflibly I may expect 
 in return fome fmall favour for a young rela- 
 tion, &c. nay even whim may induce me. 
 At any rate, in regard to my money, I look 
 for my dividend at the dated times, while 
 that's paid me I interfere not with fecrets, 
 which I can neither come at, nor do they at 
 all import me as a proprietor, feeing if I am 
 anyways apprehenfive, I can carry my con- 
 cern again to market. If this is, and I am 
 pretty clear it is nearly the cafe of all pro- 
 prietors, faving the number of thofe whom 
 I excepted, is it to be imagined that they 
 would part with a milling, for the continua- 
 tion of that from which they reap not one 
 farthing extraordinary benefit ? But taking 
 the company in its other fenfe, as compofed 
 of, or which is the fame, implicitly guided 
 by its directors j it may appear to be very well 
 worth the while of thefe lew gentlemen to pay 
 a very large fum for the continuation of their 
 power and influence, feeing that a very fmall 
 part of the fum comes out of their pockets ; 
 and that the fluctuating body of proprietors 
 
 reft
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 reft fupins, and while they receive their ex- 
 pefted dividend care for none of thofe things. 
 Byrefledting, and confideringwhat hath been 
 laid, we (hall alfo be able to difcover another 
 fecret, which is, the defpotick power ac- 
 quired, and the cruel tyranny exercifed by 
 this fmall company or directorial body, over 
 that large unweildy pithlefs one, the propri- 
 etors, who being thus indifferent, without 
 a head, divided, without concerted meafures, 
 counfel or rule, put it in the power of thofe 
 few to keep them in the moft Cimmerian 
 darknefs with refpedt to their own affairs. 
 For if at any time a few of thefe proprietors 
 fhould impertinently prefume to pry into the 
 abflrufe myfteriesof their own bufinefs, the 
 dictators are ever ready with the dreadful ful- 
 mination of throwing up their charge ; and 
 the fear of that anarchy which muft necef- 
 farily be the confequence of fuch a fudden 
 refignation, will ever ferve effectually to 
 charm into filence the majority of a general 
 court, who, provided they receive their divi- 
 dend, care not who has the payment of it. 
 Thus the proprietors have it but little in their 
 power, either to prevent or rectify any mif- 
 condudt of their directors. I have been forced, 
 for the fake of perfpicuity, greatly to exceed 
 my firft propofed limits, but clearnefs being 
 fo neceffary in all fubjedts, this prolixity 
 will I hope be excufed by my reader. And 
 
 if
 
 (6 3 ) 
 
 if in this account, there mould any thing 
 appear difagreeable to the company, let this 
 plead with them, that no fore can be cured 
 without probing and laying it open. Half 
 the bufmefs of a phyfician is to difcover the 
 nature of the malady 5 that being known, the 
 medicine may be prefcribed with greater 
 fafety, and greater view of fuccefs ; and if I 
 may be allowed to take upon me the character 
 of a prober, I (hall, feeing I am about it, go 
 a little deeper, and let out fome more of the 
 pus y formed from the confinement of the 
 power of this Eaft-India company to this 
 fmall number. In the firft place, this con- 
 fined company, when upon any occafion, 
 they are brought into diftrefs, and have 
 need of the amftance or interpolation of the 
 nation, do either, but particularly, if it arifes 
 from any evident mifconduct of their own, 
 or of their favourites employed by them, 
 carefully conceal or diminish it, or elfe when 
 obliged, in a cringing way apply to the mini- 
 fter, begging his mightinefs will be graciouily 
 pleafed to aflift the poordiilrefled 24 directors ; 
 and this he will do or not do as fuits his hu- 
 mour or convenience. 
 
 Whereas the true Englljh Eaft-India com- 
 pany y a body of merchants the moil re- 
 fpectable, grand and powerful of any in 
 this world, ought never to have any want, 
 7 ought
 
 (64) 
 
 ought never to ftand in need of any help, 
 but when they can avow it and account for 
 it ; and in fuch cafe they ought, as a fet of 
 men entrufted by the nation with one of 
 her higheft concerns, to apply with bold- 
 nefs, I do not mean licentioufnefs, to the 
 proper powers for their aid. I allow this 
 company may no doubt have fecrets which 
 cannot be properly communicated to foreign- 
 ers, to fools, or to knaves ; but they cannot, 
 at leaft they ought not, to have any that 
 may not be communicated to perfons deputed 
 either by the legiflature, or even the body 
 of proprietors, to infpect the ftate of their 
 affairs; for. there are no doubt men to be 
 found in this nation, as tender of the in- 
 terefts of their country, and confequently 
 of that of the company, as the 24 direct- 
 ors. Another difadvantage arifing from the 
 confinement of this great charge to this 
 fmall number of hands, is this, that the na- 
 tion is thereby often neceffitated to entrufl 
 die conduct of her moft important affairs 
 in the Eail-Indies to the management of 
 fuch as may have no other title or claim be- 
 fides that of affinity to, or the favour of, 
 a director, and who, had he only his own 
 talents or merit to raife and fupport him, 
 might in the fervice of his country never 
 have rifen higher than an Excife or Cuftom- 
 houfe officer, though his pod there fhall be 
 
 fueh
 
 (65) 
 
 Uch as a high prince or the firft peer iri this 
 realm might not difdain, either for the 
 grandeur of the charge, or the emolu- 
 ments of the place to accept ; (for 300,000 /. 
 "per annum is a royal falary, and to rule 
 kings and nations is not unworthy a prince) 
 yet mould any of thefe, either through 
 mifconduct or with defign, grievoufly injur J 
 the national intereft, or wound her honour, 
 they are accountable only to the 24 direct- 
 ors for their conduct. 
 
 I mould be ferry to appear an incendiary, 
 but cannot help obferving here, what may 
 prevent the like danger in future, that the 
 meannefsahdlownefs of our confined compa^ 
 ny procuring it fo little refpecl: from the na^ 
 tion, their concerns lie intirely at the dif- 
 icretion and mercy of the minifter ; for 
 although in both the national wars in which 
 the company was engaged, things have 
 through the goodnefs of God turned out 
 extremely fortunate, yet as wife men never 
 allow themfelves to be guided entirely by 
 events, without enquiring into the caufes 
 that produced them; an account of the caufes 
 of our fuccefs on thefe two and one other 
 occafion, placing the merit where it is due, 
 may prevent our being lulled into remiff- 
 nefs, by trufting to aids which we ought 
 not in human prudence abfolutely to con- 
 fide in, without alfo exerting ourfelves. In 
 K that
 
 ( 66) 
 
 that which was the firft national war in 
 which our Eaft-India company -was en- 
 gaged, this company had fo much negledted 
 their fettlements abroad, as never having 
 been before in a warlike ftate, and the then 
 minifter, who extended the war to thefe 
 countries, had been at fo little pains to inform 
 himfelf of the ftate of their affairs, and had 
 fo much neglefted to fend out a fufficient 
 force to fupport them, that M. De La Bour- 
 donnais arriving there with his fquadron, 
 found not the fmalleft refiftance from Ma- 
 drafs, their capital on the coaft of Coro- 
 mandel, which being the moft expofed, 
 may be fuppofed to be the ftrongeft they 
 had in India. The fpirit of envy and dif- 
 fention ftirred up betwixt their chiefs, and 
 a ftrong wind fent by the favour of the Al- 
 mighty to difperfe and fink part of their 
 fquadron, caufes in which we cannot affume 
 the leafl merit, were the only obftacles that 
 on this occafion prevented the lofs of all the 
 Eafl-India company's fettlements in India. 
 In the enfuing company's war on that coaft 
 during the national peace, wherein it was 
 difputed whether the French mould be fove- 
 reigns of all Indoftan, or the Englifh na- 
 tion retain their humble fettlements, it was 
 not owing to the fupport of the company, 
 hampered with the narrownefs of their 
 fleck, but to the extraordinary efforts and 
 
 luckily
 
 luckily fuperior courage and conduct of two 
 Englifh officers, that the French did not 
 then abfolutely carry their point. In the 
 laft national war likewife the French were 
 greatly beforehand with both the company 
 and nation. When Mr. Lally arrived on that 
 coaft with a force in all human probability 
 fufficient (to make ufe of his own expref- 
 fion) to fwallow up the three capital En- 
 glifti fettlements as the three meals of one 
 day, (and thefe indeed were but a fecondary 
 view) then again not ourfelves, but the 
 Lord of Hojls fought for us ; for he fent 
 amongft our enemies the fpirit of pride, of 
 difcord, and of infatuation, which wrought 
 wonders in our favour; and lo thus again 
 were we faved : juftly may we fing there- 
 fore Non nobis. But {hall we reft ourfelves 
 always fecure on this unmerited aid ? mall 
 we ever thus lie a dead weight on the hands 
 of the Lord ? if we do he may at laft drop 
 us, for we have reafon to expect that our 
 adverfaries, grown wifer by two unlucky 
 mifcarriages, will avoid the rocks on which 
 they before fplit. If what hath been faid 
 hath no weight, it will be needlefs to add 
 any more on this fubject, Befides this pro- 
 bing gives pain, and that I am averfe to: 
 Yet as example has often more weight than 
 precept or counfel, I fhall take the liberty 
 to place before our eyes one or two in* 
 K 2 fiances
 
 < 68) 
 
 ftances of this kind. The firft mall be, 
 that of the Dutch Weft-India company, 
 being in itfelf moft fimilar in its circum- 
 ftances to our own cafe : Avert the omen, 
 good Heaven ! I mean in all but the cata- 
 ftrophe. The Dutch nation, after having 
 ihaken off the yoke of Spain, and aflerted 
 their independence and freedom, became 
 extremely rich, by reafon of their moft exten- 
 five commerce. This was the moft glorious 
 aera of that people, or indeed of any tra- 
 ding nation, for theirs did at this time greatly 
 exceed that of all their neighbours. They 
 had towards the end of their war with Spain 
 attacked the Portugueze colonies in Brazil, 
 which they had a right to do, the fove- 
 reignty of Portugal being at that time vefted 
 in the perfon of Philip. They foon overran 
 and made themfelves mafters of three of the 
 four diftricts, they eftablimed themfelves 
 therej and that truly mercantile people became 
 quickly fenfible of the real value of their 
 acquifition. The nation eftablifhed a com- 
 pany to carry on and extend that trade, 
 which, under the name of the Dutch Weft- 
 India company, became in a little time of 
 fuch confequence, that Prince Maurice did 
 tiotdifdain, nor think it below him, to ferve 
 this company in quality of governor of their 
 fettlements. This prince was a perfon of great 
 penetration aod underftanding, and be- 
 ing
 
 (69) 
 
 ing alfo a prince, his views extended greatly 
 beyond the temporary fhort-fighted ones of 
 merchants : He began firft to fecure what 
 he had got, by building forts, and fending 
 over to the mother country for troops j the 
 natives there, who were moftiy of Portu- 
 gueze mixed breed, he treated with indul- 
 gence, fo far even as to advance them mo- 
 ney on the company's account, in order to 
 enable them to plant and improve the coun- 
 try. This inci eafe of expence diminiming 
 the profits, did not anfwer the expectations 
 of the company, who had been rendered 
 over fanguine by the great and unlooked-for 
 fuccefs of their rival the Eafl-India compa- 
 ny. They began therefore to find that a 
 prince was not a fit governor for merchants, 
 and after thanking him for his fervices, ci- 
 villy acquainted him, that their affairs being 
 now through his means in a flourishing fitu- 
 ation, they had no farther occafion for his af- 
 iiftance. They fent out four governors, men 
 according to their own hearts. The firft, if I 
 remember right, was a goldfmith, the fecond 
 a haberdafher, the third a broken merchant, 
 and the fourth might be a fuperannuated 
 fea-capta'm. Thefe four able rulers arriving 
 in their government, immediately entered 
 on bulinefs, confulting on fuch ways and 
 means as mould moft fully anfwer the ends 
 for which they had been fo diflinguifhedly 
 
 ap-
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 appointed by their conttituents. They im- 
 mediately perceived that the expence of 
 maintaining fuch a large force as the prince 
 had for parade introduced there, was ex- 
 ceffive, and altogether unneceffary, they 
 therefore difmifled the greateft part both of 
 the officers and men, who accordingly re- 
 turned to Europe along with prince Mau- 
 rice. They next discovered that the late 
 governor had entered into a foolifh extrava- 
 gant fcheme of building forts, magazines, 
 &i Thefe appearing unneceffary, they 
 immediately discontinued what was not fi- 
 nifhed. Soon after, on infpecting their 
 books, they found that their predeceffbr had 
 lavifhed great fums of their honourable 
 matters money on the natives there. Thefe 
 fums therefore they fet about collecting and 
 calling in, and in this they proceeded with 
 fo much rigour, that they greatly harafled 
 and difgufted the debtors. They likewife 
 contrived methods to oblige all hands to 
 work how and when they pleafed in the 
 plantations. Thus thefe gentlemen, if we 
 may call them fuch, gave great fatisfaclion 
 to their matters ; for in the firft year of their 
 government the company found that by the 
 reduction of expences, the collecting in the 
 debts, and an extraoidinary remittance of 
 goods, their profits were vaftly greater than 
 they had been for the three preceding years, 
 
 taken 

 
 taken all together. During the two following 
 years thefe money -making governors con- 
 ducted their affairs with trie like fuccefs and 
 applaufe. But then alas ! (Now cannot 
 I help thinking of the old woman and her 
 gold-laying hen) the contemned, and indeed 
 truly contemptible but opprefled natives, 
 began to refent their cruel ufage, and reta- 
 liate on the Dutch, at firfl in fmall parties. 
 The governors, who came out there only to 
 make money for their mailers and them- 
 felves, knew as little of the art of fighting as 
 they did of governing ; and this their foible 
 was quickly difcovered by their adverfaries, 
 who were thereby greatly encouraged ; and 
 receiving underhand aid in arms and counfel 
 from the governor of the diftrict yet remain- 
 ing to the Portugueze, they declared open 
 waragainft the Dutch, who having but few 
 foldiers, and thofe badly conducted, were 
 obliged to take refuge in fuch forts as prince 
 Maurice had finimed. 
 
 The governors foon acquainted their con- 
 ftituents in Europe with this change in their 
 affairs, who fent them out a fcanty reins 
 forcement. At laft the matter beginning to 
 grow a little more ferious, the Dutch na- 
 tion took the alarm, and fent out a force, 
 which, though it defeated the Spanim fqua- 
 dron at fea, yet proved greatly infuflicient to 
 recover their influence in thefe countries : 
 In fhort, notwithftanding the Dutch, who 
 
 were
 
 (70 
 
 at that time exceffively powerful 
 at fea, did employ that whole power in no 
 lefs than three different efforts, in one of 
 which they fent out 35 mips of the line, 
 yet were they in the end obliged to defift 5 
 not in juflice to the Portugueze, who had 
 before the termination of this difpute re- 
 claimed their fovereignty, but were ib much 
 afraid of the Hogen Mogen Heers y that they 
 durft fcarcely avow their fupporting the na- 
 tives, but entirely in confequence of their 
 being fairly baffled. Thus this at that time 
 mighty trading nation, which is as tena- 
 cious of its interefts as 'any, was, through 
 the narrow fpiritednefs of its Weft-India 
 company, and its governors 5 without the 
 interpolation of any foreign powers, de- 
 prived for ever of one of the richeft and 
 nobleft fettlements known. As I have not 
 the account now by me, I may not perhaps 
 be quite exact in every circumftance, but 
 yet will it be found in the main juft enough. 
 We have alfo feen thefe Portugueze, who 
 firft difcovered the pafTage to the Eaft-ln- 
 dies, and by that prior advantage had ren- 
 dered themfelves very powerful in thofe 
 countries, reduced to be the moft contemp- 
 tible of any of the European nations trading 
 thither, and this entirely occasioned by ex- 
 tending their influence beyond what they 
 could maintain and fupport, and alfo by the 
 
 difguft 

 
 (73 ) 
 
 difguft of the opprefied natives. We have 
 feen likewife in our own days the French, a 
 moft enterprifing nation, reduced to her 
 primitive ftate in thofe countries, without 
 force, without fettlements, altogether ow- 
 ing to their grafping at too much. If ex- 
 amples ought to have any weight, let us 
 learn at the cod of others, that we may not 
 be put ourfelves to the expence of dear- 
 bought experience. But though I have 
 taken upon me to act as a furgeon or a 
 prober, yet will I not, as not having been re- 
 gularly graduated, prefume to practife in the 
 higher character of phyfician ; that is the 
 province of more ikilful heads and hands. 
 If I dare not however prefcribe or order what 
 ought to be done, yet will I venture to tell 
 fuch as may know lefs than myfelf, and 
 thofe may be but few, what we ought not 
 to do. And mould what I have faid have 
 any weight with fuch, I would advife them 
 in this cafe not to defire or expect corro- 
 lives, or too harm remedies, which may 
 only ferve to irritate, inflame, and render 
 incurable that fore which may be more ea- 
 fily removed by lenitives. I know that it 
 hath often on lefs occafions been moved, 
 that the charter of this company ought to 
 be taken away, and the trade laid open ; and 
 great advantages have been promifed to the 
 nation from fuch a ilep : left any fuch de- 
 L larc
 
 (74) 
 
 fire may be now again revived, I mall at 
 the fame time I have been difclofing the 
 defects of the company, endeavour to ob- 
 viate any prejudices that may ariie againfl 
 its exiftence ; and though I neither can nor 
 need fay but little that has not been already 
 written by others on this head, yet as it 
 may be more convenient for my readers to 
 find here the arguments of Poftlethwaite 
 and others, than to be obliged to have re- 
 courfe for them to large volumes, I mall 
 take the liberty to fubjoin them, in anfwer to 
 the objections ftarted by the oppofite fide. 
 
 " It is frequently faid that our Eaft-India 
 " company does not trade and exert them- 
 * felves to the full extent of their charter; 
 < but that if private traders had the unre- 
 fi ftrained liberty to drive this trade to the 
 " full latitude it would admit of, they would 
 *< leave no part of India untraded to, efpe- 
 <c cially all that are within the limits and 
 fc iurifdiclion of the Britim rights. In an- 
 fi i\ver to this it is faid, that the company's 
 cs not proiecuting this commerce to the ex- 
 <c tent as is pretended which it will admit 
 " of, cannot proceed from a deficiency of 
 <: capital or credit; and what reafon have 
 <; we to believe that they mould be back- 
 " ward in augmenting their gains to the 
 " utmofl degree in their power? A com- 
 tc pany ; it is laid, cannot trade at fo fmall 
 4 " 

 
 (75) 
 
 ' an expence, and therefore cannot afford 
 ( to trade for fo fmall a profit, as private 
 traders can. This is allowed to be true 
 in the general j but before this matter 
 e comes to be confidered, the previous que- 
 ftion is, whether we fliould enjoy any 
 c (hare at all in this trade, if not by virtue 
 of the company's forts and fettlements ? 
 " The extenlive correfpondence, and high 
 credit of this company in the Indies will 
 certainly capacitate them to traffick in 
 every corner of that part of the world 
 within their right and privilege where they 
 can be gainers, and to do fo where they 
 muft be loofers, would mew little regard 
 to the intereft of the proprietors. But 
 the point, if we are rightly informed, lies 
 here: Such branches of trade which the 
 company either cannot gain at all by, or 
 are not fo gainful as others they prefer to 
 engage in, are actually carried on by pri- 
 vate Britifh merchants, under the com- 
 pany's licence and authority; nor is the 
 company fcrupulous in granting fuch li- 
 cences to perfons of reputation. But as a 
 general and unanfwerable reply to all ob- 
 jections, we may advance the univerfal 
 conduct of all the European nations trad- 
 ing to India, who whenever they adven- 
 tured to interfere in this trade, have con- 
 llantly put it under the management of a 
 L 2 " com-
 
 (76 ) 
 
 tf company; and what is to be dreaded k, 
 *< that if we fliould be induced to lay fo 
 <c diftant a trade open, while our formida- 
 < ble rivals therein carry the fame on by 
 <l joint-flock companies, with great publick 
 <c encouragement, privileges, and immuni- 
 (t ties, we ihould lofe all (hare therein what- 
 t( foever. However, when other European 
 <c nations do fo, we may venture to follow 
 f their example without hazard, but let us 
 < not be the firft to make the experiment. 
 f< Whoever mall confider how things are to 
 Ct be diftributed and conducted in the In- 
 <c dies, and what a connection and depen- 
 <l dency there is between the commerce of 
 <c the feveral countries included within the 
 <l Eaft-India company's charter, will eafily 
 t( difcern that if the whole trade, was 
 (i in the hands of a disjointed number of 
 e< feparate traders, and not under the ma- 
 c< nagernent and direction of a body of men 
 c ' converiant and thoroughly experienced 
 (i therein, and not only capable of giving 
 <l judicious directions, but duly impoweredto 
 Ct fee thefe directions carried into execution, 
 f ' would be impoffible that this commerce 
 Cf mould continue profperous, or even that 
 < it (liould at all fublift. Experience has 
 '' effectually mewn the mifchiefs that flowed^ 
 <c from the fubfiflence, of at the fame time 
 <4 only two Eaft-India companies, the new 
 
 <{ and
 
 (77) 
 
 C and old ; fo great they were, that both 
 < the companies foon became fenfible that 
 < nothing but the union of their Finterefls 
 <c could poffibly afford a proper remedy. 
 < Yet we conceive that the laying this trade 
 <c open, which is what hath been often con- 
 < tended for, would be a fcheme big with 
 " {till greater evils and inconveniences, be- 
 < caufe it would be at the bottom, a multi- 
 " tiplication of companies, all acting upon 
 " feparate interefts, which would certainly 
 <f be perpetually claming and interpofing 
 <c with each other, and give the powerful 
 C and united interefts of other nations op- 
 " portunities todeftroy them all, and for ever 
 <c exclude Britons from the whole Afiatic 
 <e trade. It may in like manner be conceived, 
 tc that if the poffeffion of the forts and fet- 
 c * tlements were in the crown, and the ma- 
 <c nagement of the trade only in the hands 
 <c of the company, it could not but be at- 
 <c tended with numberlefs inconveniences, 
 <c as, indeed experience mewed in the reign 
 " of king Charles the fecond, when Bom- 
 " bay came to the crown, by his marriage 
 <f with the infanta of Portugal; and there- 
 tc fore both that ifland and the ifland of St. 
 < Helena, have been granted to the Eaft- 
 c India company, for the fake of publick 
 :: conveniency. We may like wife difcovcr 
 < from the diforder of the company's affairs 
 
 " in
 
 <c in that reign, and in the reign of king 
 '' James, that it is highly detrimental 
 " to this commerce, and to the benefits re- 
 " fulting from thence to the nation, that the 
 " company fhould be immediately under the 
 " power of the crown, fo as toftand indebted 
 " for all encouragement, and tohavenoother 
 <c refource in cafe of grievances than what 
 Cc they can draw from royal power; for this 
 " on the one hand renders trade precarious, 
 " and on the other interefts a great body 
 * c of people in the fupport of the preroga- 
 * c tive, which might be attended with con- 
 *' fequences injurious to the conftitution. 
 
 " But notwithftanding it is for the inte- 
 cc reft of the public, as well as of the pro- 
 ct prietors of the company, that a watchful 
 " eye fhould be had over this company, 
 " left thofe privileges and immunities mould 
 " be abufed, and the commerce fhould not 
 " be conducted as well for the interefts of 
 cc the nation, as that of the conftituents of 
 c{ the corporation. And if any reafonable 
 <c meafures can be fuggefted for the advance- 
 cc ment of thefe reciprocal interefts, they 
 " mould be laid before the legiflature," &c, 
 So farMr.Poftlewhaite. He argued inacalm; 
 Tempora mutantur. Yet his arguments for 
 carrying on this trade byacompanyfeem quite 
 reafonable; and nowfeems to be the time he 
 maens for keepings watchful eye, &c.I have 
 
 as
 
 (79) 
 
 as much as I think necefTary, and that with- 
 out felfim view,or defign to inflame the minds 
 of men. And if what I have advanced does 
 roufe the proprietors from that lethargy, that 
 indifference to their interefting concerns, 
 it will in fome meafure anfvver my purpofe; 
 or if it only engages thefe ftock-holders, to 
 look a little more into their concerns, and 
 examine the abilities of thofe whom they 
 {hall be content to choofe for their directors. 
 Abfurd is the prefent practice of choofing 
 men, who are to be charged with fuch a 
 high truft, by the lump in a printed lift, 
 which pofiibly of the 24 names in that lift 
 the proprietor knows only two or three, and 
 nominates the others, becaufe they happen 
 to be friends to his friend ; and where tjie 
 xvhole 24 may be known by the proprietor 
 receiving this lift, there may of that number 
 not be more than 4 to whole {kill in bulinefs 
 he would truft ioo/. of his own private for- 
 tune. Ought not therefore every proprietor 
 to make it his care to enquire inro the cha- 
 racters, abilities, and underftanding, of all 
 fuch as are willing to ferve the company in 
 capacity of directors, and of them make out 
 a lift of his own choofing? Let the propri- 
 etors confider that they are fuppofed to ftand 
 in the gap between this country and danger; 
 and that on their choice greatly depends the 
 well or ill conducting of the greateft com- 
 mercial concerns of this nation. 
 
 F I N I S.

 
 27 3 5
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 
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