09U5

 
 j:.ETTERS, 
 
 Political^ Military, and Commercial, 
 
 ON THE 
 
 PRESENT STATE and GOVERNMENT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Province of Oude 
 
 AND Its 
 
 DEPENDENCIES. 
 
 ADDRESSED TO 
 
 Sir JOHN SHORE, Baronet, 
 ©obcmor (Sencral 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN INDIA, 
 
 Ubi pro labore defidia, pro continentia et jcqxiitate libido atque. fuperbia invasere, fortuiia 
 (iniul cum moribus immutatur. Ita imperiuin femper ad optimum quemque u miaUs 
 'bono transfertur. bALLusr.
 
 >- 
 
 CD 
 
 C3 
 
 
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 I 
 
 03 l^ 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 -I HE following letters, written by a Lieutenant in the Bengal 
 Cavalry, have commanded the applaufe of every man in India, and 
 the approbation of the Right Hon» the Prefident of the Board of 
 Controul, who hefitated not, with the manly liberality that fo 
 jftrongly marks his charadler, to bear a willing teftimony to the me- 
 rits even of an obfcure a«d anonymous writer. 
 
 It cannot be doubted but that the approbation of Mr. Dundas will 
 be a ready paffport of the following fheets, to the candid confidera- 
 tion of every man who is interefted in the profperity of our Indian 
 poffeffions, and feels for the oppreffion and mifery of fome millions 
 of his fellow creatures. 
 
 ^ B LETTERS, 
 
 '\S\j> 
 
 736g
 
 LETTERS, &c. 
 
 To Sir John Shore, Bart. 
 
 Oude, June 1793. 
 Sir, 
 
 THE importance of the following refledlions, which are the refult of long 
 experience, and a minute knowledge of the Nawab Vizier's country, 
 will, it is hoped, be an apology for this intrufion, from a perfon who has no 
 other means of conveying his fentiments to you. They were thrown haftily 
 together on the departure of his Excellency's minifters for Calcutta, with the 
 declared intention of effefting fome change in the exifting engagements with 
 the Company, and are addrefled, I triift, with peculiar propriety to you, to 
 whom I fhall take the further liberty of addrefling fuch elucidations, as the 
 fubjeft may feem to require. Should this effort, in any manner, contribute 
 to bring relief to the wretched inhabitants of this diftraded country, it will be 
 a heartfelt gratification to me, and all the reward I exped or hope. . 
 
 Confidering the immenfe advantages which the Honourable Company derive 
 from their conneflion with the Nawab Vizier, and the minute attention they pay 
 to whatever may promote their own profperity, and fupport their intereft in the 
 Eaft, it is a matter of furprifc and aftonifliment, that they have never taken 
 any meafures for the improvernent of his country; nor even ufed the commoa 
 precautions which prudence didates, or good fenfe direfts, for its defence and 
 permanent fecurity. A too literal adherence to their engagements, and a 
 ftudious, perhaps a culpable compliance with the prejudices of an interefted 
 party in England, may have hitherto prevented any interference in the interior 
 management of his country. But to a cool and difpaffionate mind, not biaffed 
 by prejudice, nor warped by intereft, their condufV to him, ever fince he has 
 been placed on the Mufnud, would appear, rather that of an infidious enemy, 
 fyftematically devifing means for his deftrudion, than as friends and protedors 
 united in the fame views, and the fame interefts. 
 
 The enormous fums in fpecie which they have drawn from him ; the duties 
 
 which they levy on the few articles which his country produces for exporta- 
 
 3 tion :
 
 ,e 
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 tion ; and above all, the continued annual drain of near one-third of a fubfidy, 
 paid exprefsly for the defence of his donninions, have a tendency obvioufly 
 pernicious, and, added to the fundamental defeds in the government, have, 
 fince the demife of Sujah Dowlah, reduced his revenue * upwards of a crore 
 of rupees, (1,000,000/. ftcrling) per annum. It is obvious that fuch a fyftem, 
 if continued, muft terminate in the entire ruin of the country ; the evils, 
 which it has already produced, are of an alarming magnitude :f emigrations 
 are frequent: cultivation has been on the decline for many years ; and, at the 
 prefcnt time, the Company's troops ftationed in his country, are fubfifted by 
 the fupplies which they draw from the iVlirzapore and Benares diflrifts. Pro- 
 perty is infecure. Murders and robberies are daily committed, and pafs unpu- 
 nifhed, and even unnoticed. Ultimately, there is neither police nor efficient 
 government in his country. Thefe fads are undeniable, and prove the necef- 
 fity of the Company extending, without delay, their paternal care to the fjb- 
 jefts of a friend and ally, whofe profperity is fo intimately blended with our 
 own. - 
 
 "When the difpofition of the Vizier, the character of his minifters, and the 
 nature of his government, are confidcred, it will not be difficult to difcover the 
 caufes, which, joined with his hitherto pernicious connccflion widi the Com- 
 pany, have reduced his country to the wretched ftate in which we now con- 
 template it. ■ 
 
 Bred up iff habits of indolence and pleafure, and with an unconquerable 
 averfion to bufinefs, the Vizier allows the adminiftration of his government to 
 fall into fuch hands, as, he thinks, will contribute moft largely to the gratifica- 
 tions of his favourite purfuits. The J oftenfible minifter is weak, ignorant, 
 and voluptuous. The § acfting one has litde to recommend him, befide a 
 knowledge of the common forms of office ; he has neither firmnefs of mind nor 
 talents for a fration above that of head mutfuddee, (a writer or clerk in an of- 
 fice) from which he has been lately railed. Both have a paffion for money, 
 and lofc no means by which it may be procured : the one to difplay an often- 
 tatious magnificence; the other to hoaid, as is the praftice of all his caft. 
 In no court are the vices of venality and corruption carried to greater lengths 
 than in that of Lucknow. The government of a large diftrift is often fold to 
 
 * Rohilcund (exclufive of Fuzulla Khan's Jageer) produced under the government of the 
 Rohillas in 1772-3 ninety-fix lacks of rupees. After the coiiqueft, ni 1774, it was let for eighty - 
 four lacks of rupees. In the year 1782 for fifty-five lacks. In the year 1790 fcH- torty-five 
 lacks; and this year, 1793, little above tnirty lacks have been realized. 
 
 In the above period there was a fucceffion of above ten aumils. Than this faft nothing 
 can place in a ftronger point of view the miferable ilate of the Vizier's government. The de- 
 creafe in the revenues of Goruckpore, Banfy, and Baraitch, has been ftiil greater than in Ro- 
 hilcund. 
 
 f Goruckpore and the diftrifts in the vicinity of the Bahar Province are alniofi: entirely de- 
 populated. And fince the ten years fettlement made by Jonathan Duncan, Efq. ir. the zemin- 
 dary of Benares in 1787-8, the province of Illahabad has loft one-fourtji of its. inhabitants. 
 
 J Huflan Reza Khan. 
 
 § Rajah Tekkut Ray. 
 
 the
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 the highefl: bidder, and not unfrequently the reward of actions di/gracefuJ to 
 our nature, and at which humanity revolts.* No attention is paid to charac- 
 ter in the choice of Aumils, (governors and colleftors of diftrifts) alchough in- 
 verted with boundlefs power, having life and death in their hands. Such men, 
 fubje<5t to no check or controul, and confcious of being daily liable to be 
 difplaced by a greater favourite, or one who can bribe higher, cannot be fup- 
 pofed to be interefted in the improvement of the country. Their lole objedl is 
 to amafs and plunder, and the wretched huftandman, unable to procure re- 
 drefs, is compelled to fubmit to what he confiders his deftiny, or by a painful 
 conquefl: over his prejudices, fly to the more happy dillrifts under the 
 government of the Company. . 
 
 The immenfe body of troops maintained by the Aumils under the denomi- 
 hation of Mutayenna, and the enormous dedudlions which are made on that 
 account from the revenues, may alfo be mentioned as principal caufcs of the 
 rapid decline of the country. Thefe troops, which are kept up for the avowed 
 purpofe of enforcing the colledlions, confift of about forty eight thouland in- 
 fantry, and thirteen thoufand cavalry, and with their guns and ammunition, coft 
 the Vizier annually above feventy-five lacks of rupees. Befides being a heavy 
 burthen to the flate, this rabble, without difcipline or fubordination, keeps 
 the country in perpetual warfare and diforder, from the continual afts of op- 
 prcflion which they are in the habit of committing on the induftrious farmer 
 and mechanic. (See Abjlra5l Statement, &c. at the end of the letter.) 
 
 No profpe(ft remains that the Nawab, or his minifters, will voluntarily fet 
 about reftifying abufes, or think of eftabliihing a regular fyftem for the col- 
 leftion of the revenue, or the adminiftration ofjuftice, founded on the principles 
 of reafon and equity. The excellent fyftem in force in the Company's pro- 
 vinces would afford them an admirable example, had they the good of the fub- 
 je£t or the profperity of the country at heart j but thefe are ideas that have 
 never entered the mind of either, nor ever v, ill, unlefs impteiTed by a decided 
 interference of the Company. The propriety, and even the necefHty of fuch 
 an interference is no longer a queftion j for luieiy the profperity of one of the 
 fined countries in Hindollan, and the happinefs of fome millions of fubjefts, 
 are not to be facrificed to a miftaken and reprehenfible delicacy, or put in com- 
 petition with the wifhes of a few, who have been their plunderers and tyrants. 
 
 But until the fubjeft fhall engage the attention of Parliament, eiTedual re- 
 Jief cannot be expeded. It may, however, be hoped that the fame humanity 
 which diftated the Mukurreree fyftem, now eftabliihed in the Company's pro- 
 vinces, will recommend a fimilar one for the Vizier's dominions. The go- 
 vernment in India ought in the meantime to ufe every means in their power to 
 
 * A bearer (chairman), a dog-keeper, orderlies, and many others of the loweft cads, and 
 moft deteftable char.fters, have been raifed to places of the highefl trurt and refj;on{ibiiity, re- 
 commended folelv by vices at whicli human nature (hudderi, 
 
 C retard
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 retard the progrefs of the alarming evils, until they (hall receive authority for 
 eradicating them entirely. By ftriking off the duties on the manufadures and 
 produftions of his country, they might give encouragement to the trade, which 
 the enterprizing fpirit of a few individuals of the Britilh nation has introduced. 
 By putting a ftop to the drain of fpecie, they would give new life and vigour 
 to induftry and cultivation. They might recommend to the Vizier to abolifli 
 the ruinous eftablifhment of the Mutayenna troops, and in the event of agree- 
 ing to increafe the fubfidy to eighty-five lacks (which he might eafily do from 
 the faving this meafure would induce) they might engage to furnidi him 
 with troops that would not only better promote the end for which the Mu- 
 tayenna are kept up, but be a check on the oppreffions and enormities of the 
 Aumils. An augmentation of our Native battalions, and the eftablifhment 
 of a refpedable body of cavalry, would thus be obtained ; objefts not more 
 cfTential to the defence and fecurity of the Vizier's dominions, than to the- 
 prefervation of the peace of Hindoftan. - 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 "With all due refpefl. 
 
 Your moft obedient. 
 
 Humble fervant, 
 
 C I V I S.. 
 
 ABSTRACT
 
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 ( 8 ) 
 
 7o Sir John Shore, Bart. 
 
 StR, Oude, July 18, 1793. 
 
 ON the departure of the Nabob "Vizier's minifters for the prefidency, I took 
 the liberty of addrefTing fome reflexions to you on the (late of the 
 country, in the hope that I fliould draw your humane attention to the con- 
 fideration of the miferable fituation of its inhabitants. The obvious 
 caufes of the ruin which is impending over it were therein dcpifted with 
 moderation and truth, and, I tiuft, amply prove the necefTity of the Bengal go- 
 vernment extending, without delay, their paternal care to avert the evil. I 
 Jhall occafionally continue to add fuch refledions and facts as appear neceflfary 
 to the further elucidation of this important fubjed. 
 
 It is a truth univerfally admitted, that the fubjefts under all arbitrary govern- 
 ments are happy or miferable in proportion to the wifdom or depravity of their 
 rulers ; and perhaps it has never been more forcibly evinced than in the example 
 afforded by a comparifon of the Company's government with that of the Nabob 
 Vizier's. The Company, with the grant or conqueft of their provinces, natu- 
 rally acquired the power of ruling their fubjedts by the fame arbitrary maxims 
 by which they had hitherto been governed, but have wifely relinquifhed that 
 right in a very great meafure, and eftablifhed a fyftem more liberal and juft; 
 their fubjefts confequently enjoy a degree of happinefs and of increafing profpe- 
 rity, unknown in any other part of Hindoftan. The ftriking traits in the 
 Nabob Vizier's government ftrongly refemble thofe of his * charadler and dif- 
 pofition, which have been already given, and are fufficiently well known to make 
 any repetition of them here unneceflary. No fixed fy Hem, no police, no courts 
 of juftice; the unhappy fubjedts in his dominions are left expofed to rapacity 
 and oppreffion,- and in the anarchy and confufion which is the inevitable confe- 
 quence, cultivation is negleded, and trade and manufaftures fuffcred to decay. 
 Having mentioned in a former communication the advantages which the Com- 
 pany derive from this country, and alfo that, the heavy drain of fpecie which they 
 have made from it, was one of the caufes of its decline, the following ftate- 
 ment is given in proof of thefe affertions ; it will fhew the total amount which 
 they have received from hence in the laft twenty years, and in the proportion 
 
 * " ExtraH of a letter from the Governor-general in Council, to the Court of Dire^ors, dated ^th 
 
 " February, :775. 
 Paragraph 4th. " Juft before the Vizier's death (6th February) he wrote a letter to the go- 
 " vernor-geneial, which was afterwards tranfmitted to its addrefs by Mahomed Elich Khan, his 
 " minifter and iavourite fervant, accompanied by one fi-om himfelf ; by thefe letters it appears 
 " that Mirza Amanny, otherwife called Afopt m\ Dowlah, had his father's pofitive nomination to 
 »' the fnccellion, and though by all accounts he poliefles neither the qualities of the heart nor head 
 " equal to the ftation to which he is thus called, we have not as yet any reafon to think that liis right 
 ' " will be difputed." 
 
 a of
 
 C 9 ) 
 
 of that amount which they have drawn out of it. The ftatement for the firft 
 thirteen years is taken froin an account dated at the India Houie the 24th of 
 April, 17S7, and that for the laft feven years, though not fronn fo authentic a 
 fource, will be found corred. 
 
 Fyzabad Rupees. 
 
 The t"ital amount which the Bengal government have received 
 from the Nabob V;zier of Oudt, from the ift of September, 
 1773, to it September, 1786, is - - - 9,22,78,731 
 
 And from ihe ifl September, 1786, to i ft September next, the 
 
 amount received will be - ' - - - 3,50,00,000 
 
 Total amount in twenty years, Fyzabad rupees - - 12,72,78,731 
 
 Of the firft fam in the period above fpecified, there was remitted 
 
 to troops on foreign fcrvice, Fyzabad rupees - 41,74,48a 
 
 To Calcutta _ . _ . 2,56,36,386 
 
 To Bombay and Surat - _ « . 15,75,000 
 
 Amount remitted from ift September, 1773, to ift Septem- 
 ber, 1786 - - . . 3,13,85,848 
 
 Of the fecond fum there has been remitted to Calcutta and 
 
 Bombay , - - - - 1,15,00000 
 
 Total amount drawn from the Vizier's dominions by the Com- 
 pany, from ift September, 1773, to ift September, 1793, 
 in Fyzabad, or Sic. rupees - _ _ 4,28,85,848 
 
 By this ftatement it appears that the total amount received by the Company 
 in the twenty years, ending the ift September next, will be twelve crore, fe- 
 venty-two lacks, feventy-eight thoufand feven hundred and thirty-one Fyzabad 
 rupees ; and that of this fum they have drawn from the Nabob Vizier's country, 
 on the public account, upwards of one third of that fum, or four crores, twenty- 
 eight larks, eighty-five thoufand eight hundred and forty-eight rupees, exclu- 
 five of the fums which individuals in their fervice have remitted on their own 
 private account, and the whole may be fairly eftimated at five millions fter- 
 ling. That the treafure of the country muft be exhaufted, this proves beyond 
 the pofTibility of a doubt, and that there muft have been immenfe fums depo- 
 fited therein, is evident, or it would never have borne fo heavy a drain of fpecie 
 from the circulation, for its trade i the only other fource from whence any fupply 
 could be obtained, has been hitherto but trifling, as the following extraT: from 
 Governor Haftings's letter to the Court of Dire6lors, dated at Lucknow, the 
 30th April, 1784 will manifeft: 
 
 " This country has no inlets of trade by which it can fupply the ifTues that 
 " are made from it ; for excepting the fad^ory at Taunda, which fubfifts by a 
 
 D " contrad
 
 ( 10 ) 
 
 " contraft making part of your inveflment, and the produce of opium and falt- 
 " petre, which is not confiderable, 1 do not knov/ any other articles of com- 
 " merce fi om which it could derive any returns, therefore every rupee which is 
 «' drawn from its circulation into your treafury, muft accelerate the period at 
 "■ which its ability mud ccafe even to pay the ftipulated fubfidy. By continu. 
 " ance of this fund, you maintain an acceffion of more than one half to the mi- 
 •' litarv eftablilhment, required for the defence of your own dominions, with- 
 «' out any charge on your own income, and yoii oppofe a wide and powerful 
 ♦' frontier to your eventual enemies. 
 
 " That force will continue to be an efFeflual fafeguard to the country, which 
 " will fuffer nothing by its maintenance, becaufe the fpecie thus applied will 
 *' of courfe flow hack into its circulation, and it is a tribute which it ought 
 " gladly to pay, for its whole wealth would not in any other way yield an ade- 
 <' quate mode of protedion." 
 
 It may be proper to obferve, that fince the date of the above letter, the a6livc 
 induftry of a few enterprizing Europeans hath, in defiance of the various ob- 
 ftacles which oppofe them, increaled the trade in cloths manufaftured at 
 Taunda and Khirabad confiderably, and that owing to the commotions in 
 Europe and the Weft Indies, two branches of commerce (indigo and fugar) 
 almoft entirely ne>v, have arifen in this country. When the exhaufted ftate of 
 the money in circulation is confidcrcd, we fhall be inclined to attribute to thefe 
 fortunate circumftances, in a great meafure, that the period predifted by Go- 
 vernor Hadings in the above letter, has not long fince arrived ; but though they 
 may have protrad ed it, ftill they are not of magnitude fufficient to avert it en- 
 tirely, under the reftriftions and difadvantages through which trade is at prefent 
 carried on; indeed, if report is to be credited, the minirters are authorized to 
 declare the Vizier's inability to continue the fubfidy, anddemand^a remiflion, or 
 a very confiderabie redu6tion of it, and propofe the withdrawing fome part of 
 the troops. The impolicy and imbecility of thefe propofitions correfpond fo 
 exaftly with other a4s of the Lucknovv miniftry, as to intitle them to fome 
 degree of credit, and prove the near approach of the portended ruin. 
 
 The o-reat deficiencies in the revenues next claim confideration. It will not 
 be difficult, by a clofe inveftigation into what this country has produced at dif- 
 ferent periods, and by an examination of the fertility of its foil, and the great 
 extenfion its trade is capable of, to make appear that they may with great eafe 
 be increafed even to double of what they are at prefent, if the fame lyftem of 
 oovernment was extended to this country which now exifts in the Company's 
 provinces. 
 
 Thebeft informed natives declare, that the late Nabob Suja Dowla realized 
 annually three crore of rupees, and upwards, and that had he lived a few years 
 longer, until the newly conquered pollcffions had acquired a permanent degree 
 of profperity, his revenues would have amounted to very near four crore of ru- 
 pees. Every perfon who was acquainted with the late Vizier, and the vigour 
 z of
 
 ( M ) 
 
 of his government, and knows this country, will readily give credit to then, 
 aflertions ; they aifo declare, that under the management of the Company, it 
 is ftill capable of being railed to this fum, and do not hefitate to exprefs their 
 hope, that the day is not diftant when that defirable event will take place, 
 an event that would fecure to them their lives, their property, and the fruits of 
 their induftry. 
 
 The unfettled (late of the Nabob Vizier's country and government in 1784, 
 and the reafons which induced the Governor General to vifit Lucknow, are 
 too well known to need relation herej it will fuffice to ftate, that he found 
 only 1,79,75,504 rupees had been realized that year, and that the following 
 fettlement was made by his advice and at his recommendation for five years, 
 wich men recommended by the minifler as the moft refpeftable and truft-wor- 
 thy. (See Account, &c. at the end of the letter.) Viz. For 
 
 Rupees. 
 1784-5, or Fuffullee year, iigt - - - 2,20,65,630 
 1785-6, or ditto, - 1 1 93 - - - 2,44,50,404 
 
 1786-7, or ditto, - 1 194 - - - 2,66,05,326 
 
 1787-8, or ditto, - 1195 - - - 2,87,11,326 
 
 1788-9, or ditto, - 1 1 96 - - - 3306,93,036 
 
 He* was, however, extremely deceived in the opinion he formed of the 
 the Vizier and his minifter, if he was fo fanguine as to hope that they would 
 carry through the plan of fettlement which he had formed with fo much care : 
 few of the engagements lafted more than two years, and many of them only one ; 
 all reverted to the old fyftem of rapacity and oppreffion, and the colledtions of 
 the prefent year will fall fhort even of thofe of 1784, when they were at the 
 loweft ebb of deprefTion. 
 
 Much yet remains to be faid regarding the trade, the foil, and cultivation ; 
 but it Ihall be referved for a future occafion, having already trefpaflcd too long 
 on your time and patience. 
 
 1 am. Sir, 
 
 With due refpefl, 
 
 Your devoted Servant, 
 
 CI V I S. 
 
 * This fettlement proves that the Governor General was of opinion that the country would 
 with eafe produce upwards of three crores of loipees per annum ; and from his own extenfive 
 local knowledge, and the fervices and information he could command, it is fair to conclude 
 that his opinion was juft and well-founded. 
 
 ACCOUNT
 
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 : ( 13 ) 
 
 To Sir John Shore, Bart. 
 
 Oude, iSlb July, 1793. 
 
 SiRi 
 
 IN puifuance of my promife I proceed to make fome obfervations on 
 the trade and cultivation of the Nabob Vizier's dominions, and fhail do it 
 with the freedom and candour which truth demands, tiufling that 1 fhall obtain 
 credit when I declare that I am aduated folely by humane motives, and nei- 
 ther dread reprehenfion nor hope for reward, other than the fatisfa^ion of one 
 who endeavours well. 
 
 In Great Britain and other countries, where trade has attained a degree of 
 perfedlion, and the principles on which it is conduced are better defined and 
 underftood than they are in this quarter of the globe, the taxes and duties on 
 each article, the exports and imports of each ftate, are eafily afceitained; but 
 in a country lilce this, (Oude) where trade may be termed in its infancy, the 
 only pofTible mode of afcertaining the duties levied on each article, or of judg- 
 ing of the extent of its imports from, or exports to, the Company's dominions, 
 is either from an infpeftion of the Cuftom-houfe books, or from the commu- 
 nications of merchants concerned in the different branches of the trade carried 
 on in the country, who mud neceflarily have obtained a confiderable degree of 
 knowledge in the refpedtive articles to which their attention has been dircfted. 
 The firft mode not being pra£licable, and many difficulties lying in the way 
 of obtaining a general knowledge by the latter, I fhall not be able to enter fo 
 minutely into the fubject as I could wifli, though I hope fufficiently fo to an- 
 fwer the purpofe in view. 
 
 The condufb obferved with refpefl: to the trade between the two countries! 
 firft prefents itfelf to confideration. This is regulated by what is called a Com- 
 mercial Treaty ; the term is, I fuppofe, given for form's fake : but as it may 
 tend to miflead people, and make them imagine that as treaties are generally 
 well difcufied, and pretty evenly arranged with refpeft to the interefts of the 
 refpeftive countries between which they are contracted before they are ratified, 
 fo of courfe the treaty with his Excellency the Vizier was fully approved of 
 before agreed to. It is necefiary to obferve, that the treaty was prefented to the 
 Nabob with merely a conge d'elire, or rather not fo much, as he durft not re- 
 fufe to agree to a propofal coming from the Governor General ; and inftead of 
 the pompous opening with which it at prefent commences, it would have been 
 much more agreeable to truth to begin, like other official informations—" By 
 " order of the Governor General." 
 
 E This
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 This treaty, after mentioning a number of articles and the amount of duties 
 to be paid upon them, contains a ciaufe mofl: fingular, viz. " That either of 
 " the contrafting parties may impofc what duties they think proper on articles 
 *' coming through or being the produce of their refpeflive countries, except 
 *' on cotton coming from the Decan." — From this it feems to be in the power 
 of either party to put a flop to any particular branch of trade, but it really 
 throws the whole power into the hands of the Governor General, as he has 
 only occafion to requefl; the Nabob to lay a heavy tax upon any article he widits 
 to prevent being imfxirted into the Company's dominions. Such has been the 
 cafe with indigo, which, although an article that not only employs a great num- 
 ber of people in the cultivation and manufafture of it, but alfo tends confide- 
 rably to increafe cultivation, and ofcourfe the revenues of the country have re- 
 ceived lb great a check by the heavy duties levied upon it, amounting to fcven 
 rupees twelve annas per maund, that it muft gradually fill off. Sugar, an ar- 
 ticle now in great demand, and that might become equally beneficial to cul- 
 tivation and the revenues of the country, is Jliackled with a duty of ten per 
 cent. Opium, fait petre, cloths, and in fliort every article which the country 
 produces for exportation (and they confift of a great variety) is burthened 
 with a heavy and vexatious tax : but an article ftill more fingular, excludes 
 Rohilcund entirely fism the treaty, or any benefit that could be derived from 
 it : what is to be inferred from this exclufion ? Either that the Nabob's title to 
 this country is doubtful, or that the parties agree to fct it apart for wanton rapa- 
 city, and from the conduft obferved towards it, one would be inclined to be- 
 lieve the latter ; a duty of near thirty per cent is laid on inJigo, fugar, and other 
 articles produced in it for exportation, which being equivalent to a prohibition, 
 will totally flop the cultivation of thcfe aiticles. Broad cloths, and the pro- 
 ductions of Bengal, for \\hich there is an extenfivc demand in Rohilcund and 
 the adjoining countries, are excluded by enormous and arbitrary duties. 
 
 Yet even the C(;mplimentary form of the order being iffued in the Nabob's 
 name, has not alwa,s been attended to, but an article com.ing thnnigh his coun- 
 try, and affording a large revenue, which ftill promifed to incrrale, viz. fait, 
 has been peremptorily ordeied to be confifclted, if imported into the Com- 
 pany's dominions, as the order ftates that it is found to be deftruftive of the 
 profits the Company have long enjoyed from the monopoly of that article. 
 
 In the treaty it is agreed upon that all articles not mentioned (under which 
 head comes fait) fliall pay an import duty of five pe^r cent. Surely this implies 
 a toleration of fuch articles : could this aft be defended in a cuurt of juftice 
 after fuch an agreement ? Would not damages be given on fuch a confifcation ? 
 
 But let us pafs over a fubjeft fo litde worthy attention as the dignity of the 
 Nabob is : let us confider the effeft this prohibition has on the poor induftrious 
 inhabitants of the Company's provinces, who bear without repining an enor- 
 mous profit extorted from them on an article, one of the principal neceflaries 
 of life j who facrifice life itfelf in the producing that article, and for what pur- 
 
 pofe ?
 
 ( 15 ) 
 
 pofe ? Is it to enrich the country ? To open canals ? To make roads ? To en- 
 dow hofpicals for the relief of the fick ? To afford fuflenance for the poor ? 
 No! it is to enrich a body of people who unhappily prefer the nairow chica- / 
 
 nery of a counting-houfe, to the noble and benignant principles of legiflation. ^ 
 Such was the imtnenfe fu[)criority of the fait alluded to, that in a year remark- 
 able for the quantity manufaftured in the Company's dominions, after the ex- 
 penfes of land carriage for 200 cofiej-f- after its charges, amounting to upwards 
 of 300 per cent, on the prime cofl, being defrayed, yet was it preferred both in 
 price and quality to that provided by the Company. O wretched people! ' 
 •where your rulers are monopolizers, and let you perifh or give up your pro- 
 perty rather than abate their inhuman profits. 
 
 And yet does this inhuman meafure deprive them of a greater profit than' 
 they gain. A learned writer (Dr. Adam Smith) obferves, that a tax upon the 
 neceflarirs of li'c acts in the fame manner as a tax on the wages of labour, and 
 muft ultimately in the fame manner fall upon the confumer. In the Company's 
 dominions, therefore, as they are the principal and aimofl only conlumers of 
 the labour of the inhabitants, this tax muft revert upon them. This fait has 
 principally been confumed in Bahar : will not being obliged to pay higher for 
 it than ufual affeft the price of opiuiTi, and thus injuie the profits from another 
 monopoly and every other commercial produdion ? 
 
 With refpeft to indigo, nothing can be more extraordinary than the man- 
 ner in vvhxlT it is man tgcd. Thr Company recommend every encouragement 
 being given to its cultivation, yet wul not fuffer an European to hold a farm 
 in their dominions. If he goes to the Nabob's, there is a duty of thirteen per 
 cent. i.Tipofid, although ;t is well known it muft come through the Company's 
 dominion^. In each ot thefe cales the Nabob's revenue iuffers j on the fait he 
 gets a duty of four annas per n aund, and, as has been obfc-rved, the indigo trade 
 hao been a mo!^ beneficial one to his country, and would be (till more fo were 
 it not for the fieavy dutiei. How much more noble would it be, inftead of 
 enriching one country at the expenfe of another, to endeavour to enrich both, 
 abolifli taxes at once on all merchandife, throw the trade completely open be- 
 tween the two countries, and allow induftry a free exertion of her powers. 
 The benefits which the Vizier's dominions would derive fiom it arc too evident 
 to need being infifted on. The increafe of the revenue cuifed by the increafe 
 of the trade would make up tenfold for the lofs fuilaincd by the abolition of 
 the duties.* The advant.iges to the Company are many, and fulid, and with 
 the increalc of trade and cultivation in the Vizier's country, the confumption of 
 European articles, and articles produced in Bengal, would increafe. 
 
 * The grofs amount of the duties is commonly about two lacks of rupees per annum j the neat 
 fum paid into the treafury rarely amounts to one-half lack of rupees. A trifling fum com- 
 pared to the advantages of a free trade, and not more than the N abob has been known to give 
 ibr a monkey or a toy ! ! ! 
 
 I About 3.50 Britifti miles. 
 
 a The
 
 ( f6 ) 
 
 The broad doth, the copper, brnfs, lead, tin, fire-arms, cutlery, alum, &c. 
 of Great Britain ; the muilins, the wrought and unwrought filks, the beetle- 
 nut, &:c. of the Company's provinces; bef'des fpices and various other ar- 
 ticles, would find ample marts in the Vizier's dominions j and, paffing with 
 facility, would foon open new channels of trade with the nations to the weft of 
 them, and inake their way to the banks of the Indus, and even to Cabul and 
 Candahar. With refped to the foil of this country, and huw far it is capable 
 by its fertility to increafe the various articles of commerce which it produces, 
 the ftrongeft proof that can be given of its excellence in this point, is, that un- 
 der the burthenfome taxes and various impediments thrown in the way of trade, 
 iliJl has there been exported from it confiderable quantities of indigo, Ibgar, 
 falt-petre, and other articles of late years. 
 
 The fertility of Rohilcund and the countries on both banks of the Gogra 
 are proverbial; the Doab and other parts of the Vizier's doiViinions a^e little 
 inferior to them in foil or produce. In the Doab the indigo is found wild in 
 many places, which gives reafon to fuppofe that the foil muft be more conge- 
 nial to the produdion of that plant, than any other country we know.* i he 
 fugar cane thrives remarkably in every part of the country, but in Rohiicund 
 is peculiarly luxuriant and produdive. Grain of every denomination ib pro- 
 duced in great abundance in every part with little labour. In Ihort, no country 
 appears to have been more liberally gifted by nature than this is, or better 
 adopted for commerce and cultivation. The Ganges, the Goomty, and the 
 Gogra, keeping nearly parallel couifes, fertilize the foil, and afford an eafv and 
 ready communication by water, befide various other fmailer rivers, which iffue 
 from the hills and fall into the Gogra and Ganges, and facilitate the internal 
 intercourfe. 
 
 To conclude, there is only a free trade and a juft government required to 
 make this as profperous and happy a country as any on earth ; and that it may 
 foon enjoy thefe bleffings, is the ardent wiili of. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your devoted Servant, 
 
 CI V I s. 
 
 * The wild indigo plant of the Doab produces more indigo, and of a fuperior qualit}', than 
 that which is cultivated. f ^ j> 
 
 To
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 To Sir John Shore, Bart. 
 
 Oude, Augujl I, 1793. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 IN mv lad letter I ventured to foggeft fome meafures which would alleviate 
 the miferies and evils with which this country is afBifted, and which I con- 
 ceive could be efFeaed by the government of Bengal, of us own authority, with- 
 out rilk or much difficulty. Having fince given the fubjeft a more general 
 decree of confideration, it may be expefted before quit it, that I lliould give 
 fome idea of a more radicil cure for the diforders which have been expofed to 
 view; however unqualified I may be for the tafk, the expeftation ftall not be 
 difappointed, and I Ihall deliver my fcntiments on a total reform of the fyftem 
 of eovernment in this country, with the fame freedom and candour I have hi- 
 therto done The diforders that require to be lemedied, originating in funda- 
 mental defecT:s in the principles of government, to remove them we mutt begin 
 at the foundation of the edifice, and re-build it a-new, making ufe only of fuch 
 materials as are found, rejeding the rotteri and defedive parts, at the fame time 
 Drefervincr as far as circumftances will admit, the outward appearance of the 
 ancient ftrufture. I Ihall make fome preliminary obfervations and reflec- 
 tions on the nature of the Nabob's, and his predeceffor's, connexions with the 
 Company, and conclude with a Iketch of the plan and the advantages anfing 
 out of it. 
 
 The motives for reftoringOude and its dependencies toSujah Dowlah, upon 
 their becoming by conqueft the property of the Company, were, it is to be 
 fuppofed, an apprehenfion of the territorial acquifitions being too extenfive or 
 the means either of external defence or internal arrangement. The newly- 
 aiTum.ed government of Bengal would alfo, it might be thought, require the 
 united exertions of both the civil and military fervants, and the proper arrange- 
 ment and defence of that country alone afford them fufficient employment. By 
 fo aenerous an aft, it might alfo be fuppofed that Sujah Dowlah's friendiliip 
 would be fecured to the Company, and a trade opened with the country, then 
 in a flourilbing (late, and promifing by his abilities to become of ftill greater 
 importance ; while by the claufe limiting his means of defence, it mult at all 
 times remain at their mercy. 
 
 On the demife of Sujah Dowlah, a majority of the Supreme Board were of 
 opinion " that the fpecific conditions of our former alliance expired with him; 
 «' and that although we owe friendlhip to the prefent Nabob, as heir to his 
 «' father, we are not bound to any fpecial fervices to him." Conformable to 
 the principles of the Muffulman government, this opinion is anftly juft and 
 well-founded, and the Company were as decidedly intitled to the Subadary of 
 . 'S Oude,
 
 f' 
 
 < i8 ) 
 
 Oude, as thev were on a former occafion to the Dewinee of Benpal, &c. and 
 might have eftab ifhcd this right w'.rh the concarren.ce o' ihc Mogul, at as 
 cheap a rate as the Nabob obtained the title and appointiuenr of Vizi'T, (viz. 
 ten- lacks of rupees, and fix b.iitalions of fepoys, ftationed wich the Hnzoor,* 
 under the command of Letafut Ally Khan.) in fo doing, they would hive 
 aiflcd with more juftice, and certainly with more humanity, ihan they have done 
 in -the line of condiid finte puriued. They would have faved the remains of the 
 iUuftrious houfe of Timor fiom the ruin and mifcnes which have fince fallen on 
 it, and extended peace and profperity to fome millions of the human race. 
 The above opinion, however, was oppoled by a party of the Supreme 
 Board, who foon fuccecding to power by the demile of fome of their oppo- 
 nents, and the opinion which tney had adopted being approved of by the 
 Company, the line of conducl; oblcrved towards Sujah Dowlah, was obftinately 
 perfevered in with the fon, without ever examining his claims, or rcfleding 
 how dilTimiiar his character and his father's were. He inheriting neither the 
 underftanding nor abilities of hib prcdecclfor, and being addicted from his 
 youth to fome of the moft deteftable vices, which have left him without pro- 
 geny, was held in fo great difeftecm, that he could not have maintained pof- 
 lefllon of the country a day without the aid and proteiftion of the Company ; as 
 the aflaffination of his prime miniller, Mukhtiar Uddowlah, and of Khojah 
 /) Buffent, with the convulfions that took place on his accelTion, clearly evince. 
 
 ,4 "' His imbecility, and thelc afts uf violence, furnilhed the Company with a pre- 
 
 tence for obtaining thofe advantages which they might have taken in their own 
 r'ghf' By "^he fubfidy they receive for the payment of troops to defend his do- 
 minions, they are enabled to keep up a very refpedable force, and have a 
 faving to defray the expenfes of their foreign wars. By this force they com- 
 mand the country, while furrounding nations admire their forbearance ; and to 
 continue the farce, they form various alliances with him, as it fuits their conve- 
 nience, oras their intereft may requiic. By the lafi: of thefe, which is termed a 
 commercial treaty, he is made nearly to dcftroy the cultivation of fome of 
 the moft produdive articles of the country, by the heavinefs of the taxes 
 impofed. 
 
 Why do we not openly and boldly take that country to which fo juft a claim 
 can be made? (the having conquered it and being obliged to provide for its 
 defence.) Why delay to apply thefe fums to the ufe of the country, and their 
 own defence, which are now fquandered on ufelcfs pageantry ? Is it in compaf- 
 fion to a n-an equally noted for the vilenefs of his private chara£ler, and the 
 inability of his public, they remain deaf to the cries of unfortunate millions, 
 condemned to lutlcrfrom the rapacity of avaricious villains, whole only anxiety 
 is to enrich themfelves ? The plea of character effablifhed among the neigh- 
 bouring nations of gcnerofity, is merely ideal. In the politics of nations, 
 folid wifdom attracts admiration, and the keeping up a name, while the 
 power remains in their hands, is too flimfy a veil not to be feen through. 
 
 * The prefence, i. e. with the Vizier. 
 
 Giving
 
 ( '9 ) 
 
 Giving the country to Sujah Dowlah, under wliofe wife adminiftration the 
 nacives profpeif d and were happy, was a noble aift, but continuing to let his 
 fucciffor hold ir, without ever confidering his abilities for fuch an office, is a 
 dilgrace to wildom, adifgrace to huinanity ; it is forging the fetters with which 
 he oppieiT;-s that portion of mankind cornmitted to his care. Let us view arrain 
 the'ftate of this country. The Nabob immerfed in luxury, given up to the moft 
 defpicible vices, and dcteflcd by his fubjefts — the revenue gradually falling 
 off — the country farmed out to eunuchs and to flaves — population rapidly dimi- 
 nifhing — the juft reward of induflry torn away b/ rapacious Aumils, who are 
 alike ftrangers to juftice and that noble paffion a love to their country — property 
 and life itleif depending on the nod of a capricious tyrant and his minions.* 
 Yet this vile charafter and this vile fyftem is fupported by the Company, 
 From their armies he derives his ftrength, he enjoys this country; from their 
 afllflance he collefts his revenues^ which he could not do by his difordcrly 
 troops, were it not for the fear of his orders being enforced by our's. By takinw 
 the country from luch a dilgrace to mankind, they would reftore happinels to 
 millions. Trade, cultivation, arts, every thing that is defirable to a nation 
 would increafe, induftry would exert itfelf, being fure to enjoy the fruits of its 
 labours. The revenue, inllead of being fquandered on pernicious extrava- 
 gance, would fcrve to protedl the country from outward enemies, and the fubjefts 
 from private plunderers. Tiade would furnifli a new refource of treafurc 
 to our country, and juftice would exult in healing the wounds inflidted by 
 defpotifm. 
 
 And who would be the fufFcrer ? The Nabob. I deny it ; enough would be 
 left to fupply him in all his reafonablc defires ; enough even to live in "reat 
 luxury, and give ample penfions to all his relations and dependents ; indeed, it 
 can eafily be demonftrated that his receipts would be infinitely greater, and more 
 regular than they are at prefent. It is true, that his power of doing wron^ 
 would be circumfcribed, but his power of doing good would be enlarged. In 
 the plan I am going to propofe, he is treated with more delicacy, perhaps, than 
 Iiis charader dcferves j but having been raifed to the fituation in which he is 
 placed by the Company, fome confideration is due to the ftation. He in faft 
 only changes a fet of ignorant, incapable fervants, for men who are well in- 
 formed and able, and who are adtuated by the true principles of juftice: and 
 to make the reform ftill more palatable and unobjedtionable to him, the feat of 
 the new government might be fixed at fome central fpot on the banks of the 
 
 * <■• ExtraH of a Letter from John Brlfo-oj, E/q. Rcfuknt at the Court of the Vt^ter, to the Go- 
 " vernor- general in Council, dated Eta-Ma, z\th April, 1776. 
 
 " Jhfre are no Adawlets in thi. country, but the execution of juftice refts with the Aumil 
 
 and Cutvval. ^ There is generally a Cutwal in each town, or any village of confequence ; he is 
 
 ^ totally luborQuiate to the Auniil, and I am forry to fay, in the execution of juflice diere is hardly 
 
 any decifion maae but what is biafl'cd by money." ■' 
 
 ,0 ^Z rl'h ;y^°'= °f;h,'^ '^"^''^ ^n'l "'any interefting papers relative to Oude in 2d part of Appendix 
 JO the 5th Report of the Committee of Secrecy o.i Lidia aft'airs. 
 
 * Ganges,
 
 ( io ) 
 
 Ganges,, fiich asMindlcG.uir, or Kanoge, leaving Lucknow for the iindifturbcd 
 refidence of his family and dependants. 
 
 In this and the aforegoing papers, I triifl: I have made evident to every 
 difpafiionate mind the nece/IUy and propriety of the Company's adopting fome 
 plan fimilar to what follows : 
 
 Outlines of a Plan for ejlahliJJnng Courts of Jujllce in the Dominions of Oude. — • 
 For regulating the Colleclions of the Revenue, and introducing the Mukurreree 
 Syjlem.—For opening the Trade with Bengal, and aboUJhing Impofls and Duties. 
 ---And for dijhanding all irregular Troops, and railing regular Corps of Horfe and 
 Foot for the Defence of the Country, and, if necej'ary, to enforce the Collection of 
 the Revenue. 
 
 id. — That a member of the Supreme Board, or any fenior civil fervant, be 
 nominated refident at Lucknow, to aft as firft minifter to the Vizier^ but 
 amenable to the Supreme Board, &c. 
 
 2d. — That four fenior civil fervants be appointed to Lucknow, to form a 
 board of revenue and trade, at which the refident fhall prefide. 
 
 3d. — That the country be divided into diftridls, as in Bahar and Bengal, 
 and Company's civil fervants appointed to each, to collefb or receive the re- 
 venue under the fame rules and regulations as in the Company's provinces, 
 &c. Sec. 
 
 4th. — That Adawlets, or courts of juftice, be eftablilhed in each city and 
 diftrid, with a judge and regifler, who (hall be Company's fervants, under 
 the fame rules and regulations as they are in the Company's provinces, &c. 
 
 5th. — That the neceflary offices under Company's fervants be eftablifhed, 
 fuch as treafurer, paymafter, &cc. 
 
 6th.— That all impofts and duties be entirely abolifhed ; and that all goods;, 
 the produce of Great Britain, or the Company's provinces, be imported into 
 the dominions of Oude, &c. and carried into any part of them, (or the 
 countries weft of them) and fold duty irtc without let or moleftation : and 
 that, on the other hand, all articles, the produce of the Vizier's dominions, be 
 imported into the Company's provinces duty free, &c. 
 
 7th.— That the whole of the Nabob's troops be difbanded, and that twa 
 brigades of cavalry, (each fix regiments of 500 ftrong) and two brigades of 
 infantry, (of the prefent ftrength) be raifed, to defend and protedl the country; 
 thefe to be on the fame footing, in all refpefts, as the Company's other troops 
 now in his dominions, 
 
 8th,
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 8th.-— Th.1t the fuiplus of the revenue, after paying the above civil and 
 tniiitary cftablifhirc.us, and the other cxpenfes of the government, al) of 
 which (hall be regulated on firift principles of ceconomy, be paid to the Nabob 
 for his exptnfes, and to defray fuch penfions as he may chufc to conkr on his 
 relations and dependents. 
 
 Various other explanatory articles might be added, but this is fufficient to 
 give the idea of a plan which would completely remove the diforders of this 
 government. 
 
 The revenue of the country may be eftimated at about two crore of rupees 
 per annum, though this year they will, probably, fall confiderably Ihort of 
 that fum ; but under a government fuch as has been defcribed, no doubt can 
 be entertained but that they may, in the courfe of ten years, or lefs, be gra- 
 dually increafed to three crore and upward. At the expiration of ten years 
 the Mukurreree fyftem might be eftabliflied, as by that time an equitable af- 
 felTment could be afcertained. The increafe of regular infantry, and the 
 corps of cavalry, (the want of which has been fo feverely felt) would make 
 the Company's forces fo truly refpedable, as to infure them the arbitration of 
 Hindoltan, and be the beft fecurity of a continuance of peace. The faving 
 which would be made by the difmiffion of the Mutayenna and other irregular 
 troops, when added to the fubfidy, would be amply fufficient to pay this force 
 and defray the expenfes of the civil government, the Nabob would confe- 
 quently be in receipt of as large a fum as at prefenr, with every probability of 
 a confiderable annual increafe to it until the Mukurreree fyftem was eftablilhed, 
 by which time it would be nearly doubled. 
 
 From what has been faid, the advantages to the Company, to the Nabob, 
 and to fome millions of induftrious inhabitants, muft appear fo evident, as to 
 make it unneceffary to expatiate upon the fubjeft farther ; I Jhall therefore 
 conclude, having difcharged what I thought due to humanity, in bringing to- 
 public view the hardfhips and oppreffions under which a harmlefs and induf- 
 trious people groan, and in the hope that my feeble efforts may not prove en- 
 tirely abortive^ 
 
 I remain with due refped,. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your devoted fervant, 
 
 CIV IS,. 
 
 G f«
 
 ( i2 ) 
 
 To Sir John Shore, Bari. 
 
 Oude, Sept. 9, 1795. 
 Sir, 
 
 HAVING treated of the civil government of Oude, I fha]l now confider 
 the Vizier's dominions in a military point of view, and a% the barrier to 
 the Company's provinces, which they have very juftly been denominated. 
 
 It is a faft not more extraordinary than trin', that -the dominions of the 
 Company and the Vizier are (o fuiiated, that the fj.Ce requinte for their defence 
 when united, would, were they feparated, be barely adequate lo the defence of 
 either; for were a nation hoftile to the Company in poikfllon of tiie Vizier's 
 dominions, the Company would find their prcient fo ce iniufficicnt (without 
 a body of cavalry) to defend their weftcrn frontier ; while, on tlie orher hand, 
 fuch nation having an exteofive frontier to the fouth and weft, as well as to the 
 eaft, would find it ncceifa y alfj to keep up a ve.y funu.dable army of f )oc and 
 horfe, but particularly the latter, to oppofe the fud''ei incurfions of the fou- 
 thern and wcftern neighbours, whofe forces principally confill of cavalry. 
 
 That thefe matters have not pafTed without the knowledge of th.^ Companv, 
 a reference to their corrcfpondence regarding the country (Oude) will flirw, 
 and particularly the utility and neceffity of cavalry. The Court of D reft )rs, 
 in their letter to the Governor General and Council, of the 15th ot Decem- 
 ber, 1775, 
 
 Say — Par. 20th. " And as a good body of horf.- would not only be of 
 " great ufc in time of aftion, but alio of fmgular 
 • " fervice in preventing the incurfions ot Indian ene- 
 
 " mies, who frequently ravage the country with ca- 
 " valry, and retire before infantry can come up 
 " with them, we lliould deem it an eOential fervice 
 *•' rendered the Co:rpany, if you would prevail on 
 " the Nabob of Oude to keep up a body of horfe to 
 " be difciplined and officered by Europeans u.ider 
 " our command," 
 
 With ideas (b very juft on the fubieift as the Company pofTefTed at fuch an 
 early period, it mufi appear extraordinary that fo great a fpace of time fhould 
 have been fuffered to elapfe without fome efFeflual effort to eftablifh a corps of 
 cavalry on a permanent bafis, and it can only be accounted for by die general 
 attention of the Company and the nation at large, being entirely engrofled 
 
 by
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 by the troubles and dangers in the Di-kan, which at one time feem to threaten 
 the lofs of the pofleffions in that quarter ; but theic dangers being now happily 
 diffipated, may we not hope that thofe to which their pollcffions arq expofed on 
 this fide of India will obtain a due degree of confideration. 
 
 To form a iuft idea of them, it wil! b? neccfiary to confider, ift. the ex- 
 tent of frontier, the natural barriers which it prelVnts to eventual enemies, and 
 the number and nature of the troops piovided for its defence ; and next the 
 policy and difpofitions of the nt-ighbouring nations, their troops, and the pro- 
 grcfs they have made in the military art. 
 
 The Vizier's dominions having the Company's provinces to the eaft, and the 
 Tibet mountains to the north, (which form an impenetrable barrier) are only 
 expofed to invafion from the fouth and weft: this boundary extends from Illa- 
 habad toHuidowar, a fpace of abour 500 miles ; from lUahabad to Etyah, 240 
 miles, the Jumna forms a feeble bairier, for being in many places fordable 
 dii.ing ihe dry leafon, and in all parts narrow, cavalry wou'd find little diffi- 
 culty in crofiir.g it, plundering the country, dcftroying the harveft, and re- 
 crolting, without infantry having it in their power to mok-fl them: but the 
 Jumna, from Eryah upward, being in all parts fordable for the gieateft part of 
 the year, if cavalry that had eroded lower down found themfelves pielfcd by 
 infantry, they could always make their way upward, crofs the Jumna, and be 
 in peded fecurity. From the Jumna, near Etyah, to the Ganges at Ram- 
 gaut, 1 40 miles, the boundary takes an oblique direftion acrofs the Dooab ; ' 
 this ipace is entirely open and defencclefs. From Ramgaut to Hurdowar, 140 
 iiiiies, the Ganges fonns the boundaiy; (except the diftrift of Anoopflieher, 
 which lies to the weft of the river) but being in all parts fordable for cavalry, 
 from November to Julv, it muft be confidered more an ideal than a real bar- 
 rier. For ihi" defence of this weak and extended line, two brigades of infan- 
 try arc ftationed on the banks of the Ganges, eighty miles diftant from each 
 other, and fixty miles from the nearcft part of the frontier ; from one of thcfe 
 brigades a detachment of two or three battalions is annually made to Anoop- 
 fheher duiing the dry feafon, to protect Rohilcund from the incurfions of the 
 Seicks. A few wretched cavalry, v.hich the Vizier maintains in Rohilcund, 
 are not dcferving of notice as dcicnfive troops, and the nurnber of the Com • 
 pany's is fo very trifling, that in the event of an invafion they could never aft 
 out of fight of their infantry. From this view of the frontier, it mult appear 
 -evident even to the moft curfory obferver, that the prefent means of defence 
 are totally inadequate; but it will appear in a ftill ftionger point of view when 
 the policy of our fouthern and weftern neighbours is confidered, the ftate of 
 their troops, and the progrefs which they have made in the art of war. 
 
 All the countries on the Vizier's fouthern and weftern frontiers are no\y in 
 
 the poficfTion of the Mahrattahs, a warlike and relllcfs pecple, who have for 
 
 centuries dillurbed the peace of Hindoftan. Hiftory informs us that conqucft 
 
 I has
 
 ( ^^4 ) 
 
 h.is bc-en invrariably their r.bjt£t ; thdt they fcdiilouflj' watch every opportunity 
 of extending their dominion, is notorious to this day ; and were it not for the 
 troops of Europe, they would in all probability, ere this, have fubdued every 
 country on this fule the Indus. That they have dormant claims on the Vizier's 
 country, and on the Company's provinces, whicli they revive as occafions offer, 
 the demands made tlirough Major Brown (when ambaflador at the court of the 
 unfortunate Shah Allu.ii) proves to conviftion. 
 
 Since the peace of 1782, the exrenfion of their empire on this fide of India 
 is truly alarming. Mahajee Scindia has conquered the country of Golam Kader 
 Khan, (Ton to Zabeta Khan) polTcfled himfelf of all the countries dependent 
 on Delhy and Agra, and fubjeded the Rajepoot Rajahs of Gein Ghur Joud- 
 pore, &c. Ally Bahauder, another Mahrattah chief, has fubjugated the 
 countries of Bundel Cund and Bughil Cund : thefe acquifitions have given the 
 Mahrattah empire complete poffeffion of every country from Mirzapore to the 
 Commow hills at Hurdowar. The former of thefe chiefs is a deep, defigning 
 politician, whofe views are not eafily penetrated : the latter is lefs referved, ha- 
 ving been frequently heard to declare, that with ten thoufand horfe he could 
 with eafe plunder the Dooab. The efforts our infantry could make to preven^ 
 it he ridicules. Fortunately for this country thefe chiefs have been at variance ; 
 to that circumilance it is, perhaps, more indebted for the peace which it en- 
 joys, than to any dread the Mahrattahs have of our power. The former and 
 the late war have difclofed to them the fecret wherein their advantage lies over 
 us. They have feen our unwieldy armies of infantry and artillery (uncon- 
 querable but by famine) unable to move without the afllftance of cavalry j and 
 they well know, that though they cannot face us in the field, they can, by cut- 
 ting off" our convoys and intercepting our fupplies, compel us at all times to 
 retire : but though the Mahrattah forces have hitherto confifled of cavalry, 
 and that they are perfeiflly fenfible of the advantages they derive therefrom over 
 our infantry, yet have they not been inattentive to the additional advantages of 
 difciplined artillery and infantry, as many of the chiefs* have (hewn, by taking 
 into their fervice Europeans for the purpofe of forming and difciplining regular 
 corps ; among tiiefe Mahajee Scindia ftands firft as having made the greatefl 
 progrefs. The army which he has formed under the direftion of M. de Boigne, 
 to whom he has given the rank of general, confifts of regular infantry divided 
 into brigades and battalions under the command of j- French officers of expe- 
 rience and abilities. A corps of regular artillery, at the head of which is a 
 German officer of abilities, formerly in the Company's fervice on the coalt. 
 A corps of regular cavalry (which as yet only amounts to about 1000 men) 
 commanded by a French officer; and the whole" is in all refpetls appointed, 
 clothed, and difciplined like European troops : — neither attention nor expenie 
 
 * The Bow, Hurry- Punt, Mahajee Scindia, Tulcoo Jee Hulkar, and Ally Behauder, among 
 others. 
 
 f Brigadier Fremont, formerly commandant of the French Tioops at Chandernagore ; Briga- 
 dier Perron, &c. &:c. &c. ^ 
 
 ha«
 
 ( =5 ) 
 
 has been fpared by Scindia in tlie formation of thele corps; every European 
 who has a pretenfion to the rank, of gentleman, is admitted into his fervice as 
 an officer, and promoted according to his merit and abihties. This encourage- 
 ment has drawn to his fervice numerous adventurers from Great Britain, the 
 continent of Europe, and America, whereby he has been able to give a tole- 
 rable proportion of European officers to each corps — he encournges mechanics 
 from the Vizier's dominions, and even affifts perfonally in cafting cannon and 
 making fire arms ; fince he has been in the Dekan, he has purchafed at Goa 
 and different places on the Malabar coaft, brafs ordnance and muflcetry, and 
 keeps agents there folely for that purpofe ; thefe arms he fends as occafion offers 
 to his regular troops : he has likewife entertained Europeans, fufficient with 
 what he had before, to form a corps of about three hundred ftrong. Five years 
 are now elapfed fince he commenced the formation of his regular troops, and 
 in that time they have been paid with the utmoft punctuality. He well knows, 
 that to a fimilar conduit the Company are indebted in a great meafure for the 
 attachment and fidelity of their fepoys, and fo well convinced is he of the ne- 
 cefiity of the meafure, that he has, fince being detained in the Dckan, given 
 M. de Boigne affignments on the revenues of all the countries eaft of the 
 Jumna, and fome diftridts between Mutra and Delhi, for their payment ; thefe 
 countries being in the mod fettled ftate, and the revenue mofl produdive. 
 
 The regular corps form but an inconfiderable part of his army, as will ap- 
 pear by the annexed ftatement, as it ftood the ift of January, 1793; fince that 
 period the regulars have been increafing gradually; and, with the increafe and 
 improvement of the European officers, bid fair to arrive foon at a confiderable 
 degree of perfeftion in their difcipline. Supported by fo confiderable a body 
 of irregular cavalry, they are already truly formidable, and how much more 
 fo they may become it is not difficult to forefee, nor can thofe who have the 
 profperity of the Company's pofleflions at heart refleft on it with indifference; 
 it muft create in every reflefting mind a degree of folicitude and concern, par- 
 ticularly when the defencelefs ftate of the Vizier's frontier is confidcrcd, and 
 the apathy and fupinenefs, with which not only the Vizier, but the Bengal Go- 
 vernment, view the progrefs their neighbours are making in difcipline, and war- 
 like preparations. 
 
 The Seicks, though not immediately bordering on the Vizier's country, 
 muft be confidered in the general view as eventual enemies, having almoft annu- 
 ally attempted depredations on Rohilcund. The diligence with which they feized 
 the opportunity offered by the withdrawing the Futtyghur detachment, in 1785, 
 of entering Rohilcund, and plundering Chundowfey and leveral trading towns 
 of note, as well as the attempts they made in December 1790, when they 
 underftood a confiderable number of our troops had been withdrawn from 
 the Vizier's country, on account of the vvar in the Dekan, cieariy dcinonltratc 
 their diipofjtion, and the cagernefs with which they watcli opportunities to 
 enrich xhemfelves hy plunder. Thefe tribes, inhabiting a mure m.rtli. rn 
 
 H climate.
 
 { 26 ) 
 
 rliinare, are- more robtifl and better, able to bear hardfhips than the foutherri^ 
 inhabiranf^ cf Hindoftan j their countiy alfo produces a better race of horfes,. 
 Co that, as irrcgubr cavalry, they arc more formidable : they have as yet made 
 no improvements in d:f.ip!ine, but the natural advantages they pofTefs, in 
 fome degree,, coinpenfate for the wnnt of ir, and with the avidity they have 
 fop depredat'on, make them very dangerous neighbours, in the event -of a 
 war with ihc Mahia'.tas. The defire of plunder brings down innumerable hordes- 
 on Rohilcund and the upper parts of Dooab,, ^yhich our prefent forces are not 
 calculated to repel. 
 
 From what Has been faid it is evident, that infantry, unfupported by a re- 
 fpeftable body of cavalry, is totally inadequate to the defence of fo extended 
 a frontier as the Nabob Vizier's dominions prefent to the Mahrattas and 
 Seicks. It mud iikcwife be obvious, that the means of defence, in found 
 policy, ought to keep pace with ihe improvements in difcipline, and the war- 
 like preparations of our neighbours, and that the prefent improved (late of 
 their troops points out,, in the molt forcible manner, the urgent necefilty for 
 not only a large and: formidable body of cavalry, but for a very confiderable 
 increafe of infantry. 
 
 The experience of every, war we have had in India, but particularly the two- 
 laft:, has Ihewn, that our exiftence as a power in this country, in a great mea- 
 fure, depends on them; every one knows how ineffeftual the gallant efforts of 
 Sir Eyre Goote and his army were rendered, by the want of cavalry, during, 
 the former war, and that the detachment under Colonel Camac was haraffed 
 and compelled to retreat, though viftorious,. by the Mahratta Pindarees.* In 
 every fituation, when our troops have a6led without cavalry, the fame confe- 
 quences have invariably enfued j. had there not been a body of cavalry in the 
 late war, the movements of the army mull have been as much cramped as it. 
 was under Sir Eyre Coote, and the war might have terminated as inglorioufly.. 
 The eminent fervices which they rendered, (though a fmall body) are on record, 
 from the firil authority ; the iame high authority records the inefficient fer- 
 vices of thofe of the Mahrattas and Nizam in our pay, and fhews the de- 
 pendence which is to be placed on fuch as we can hire from Native powers; 
 in their own caufe they are forward and adtive, in our's, they will ever be 
 found backward and fluggifli ; could the money which was paid for their af— 
 filtance have been employed in eftablifhing a body of cavalry, either in the 
 Vizier's or the Company's dominions,, at a proper feafon, a fufficient reinforce- 
 ment might have joined the army, on the coafb, at an early period of the war,, 
 and by bringing it to a fpecdy termination, perhaps, have faved fome millions, 
 to the ftate, and the lives of many valuabk fubjefls. 
 
 * A banditti that attend all Indian armies merely for the fake of plunder at their own expenfe 
 and rilk, picking up all ftragglers, and often cutting off fmall convoys of proviiions. On 
 the coaft oi Coromandel they are commonly called Looties, that is, plunderers. 
 
 2 The
 
 ( ^7 ) 
 
 Tlie feaion for cftiiblidiing a corps of cavalry is again arrived, and if again 
 nvglcfted, may not only involve the fafety of the Vizier's dominirms, but en- 
 danger the Company's poffcffions in India. That fuch cPublifliment may be 
 permanent, it iTuift be formed on the ftrifteft principles of oeconomy ; to form 
 it on fuch piinciples, the firft and moft material ftep neceflary to be taken, is 
 to introduce a breed of horfes into your own provinces fufficient to maintain 
 the number of cavalry required ; and the period of profound peace is furely the 
 moft proper feafon for the adoption of fuch a meafure. 
 
 In the event of a war with the Mahrattas, and the union of their power on 
 this fide of India under one chief, (which is certainly not impoffible) the 
 moft ferious confequences might be apprehended, poflefied (as I have fliewn 
 they are) of all the frontier countries from Mirzapore to the Commow Hills, 
 and their territories extending from Sirhind (north lat. 31") to the Gulph of 
 Cambay, they have it in their power to prevent a fingle horfe from coming 
 into the Vizier's dominions, and, as hitherto thefe countries and the northern 
 horfe-merchants have fupplied what were wanted, either for cavalry or private 
 purpofes, it would be found imprafticable, if this fource was flopped, either 
 to hire or raife a corps : this circumftance alone fhews the obvious necelTity of 
 not only forming a corps of cavalry, but of an immediate attempt to intro- 
 djLice the breeding of horfes generally throughout the Vizier's country, and the 
 Company's provinces. That it is prafticable, every man of information on 
 the fubjedl, and that is acquainted with the climate and foil, will vouch ; and 
 that it will be of great advantage to the country, by retaining confiderable fums 
 of money which are annually fent abroad for the purchafe of horfes, is per- 
 fedly manifcft. 
 
 The policy and expediency of thefe meafures have, T truft, been made Co 
 evident, as to require the aid of no farther argument j and I now proceed to 
 demonftrate, that the carrying into immediate effeft the feventh article of the 
 plan, (in my lad letter) for the regulation of the government of Oude, would, 
 inftead of being any additional expenfe, be a faving to the Vizier of near forty 
 lacks of rupees per annum ; be of infinite benefit to the country, by retaining 
 in circulation near eighteen lacks of rupees,, the balance of the fubfidy which 
 is annually drawn ■ from it, and place the Company's army on a footing of re- 
 fpedability that muft infure perm.anence to the peace of Hindoftan. 
 
 The annual expenfe (as has been Ihewn) of the Nabob Vizier's LucknowRup«s. 
 
 Mutayenna troops is . - - - 75,00,000 
 
 The fubfidy paid to the Company for their troops is - 50,00,000 
 
 Total, one crore and twenty-five lacks - - 1,25,00,000 
 
 The total expenfe of all the Company's troops now in the 
 Vizier's dominions, including cavalry, artillery, European 
 and Native infant; y, ftafF, ftores, cattle, buildings, &c. &c. 
 amount annually to about - Carried over 32,00,000 
 
 The-
 
 < 28 ) 
 
 Brought over 32,00,000 
 
 The expenfe of a fepoy brigade in the field is, per month, 
 about 70,000 rupees, including the ftaff, &c. fo that the two 
 additional fepoy brigades recommended to be raifed may be 
 eflimated at feventeen lacks per annum - - 17,00,000 
 
 The expenfe of a regiment of cavalry of 500 men, on the 
 prefent fyftem, will be, per month, under 20,000 rupees, 
 (including feeding and all contingencies) ; fix regiments, 
 ■or one brigade, including ftaff, may be eftimaied at one 
 lack and 30,000 rupees per month ; and two brigades of 
 ■cavalry, recommended to be raifed, may be eftimated at 
 per annum - - - _ 31,00,000 
 
 Sicca rupees 80,00,000 
 
 To this increafe of cavalry and infantry it will be necefiary to 
 add fome artillery, fuppofe what is at prefent in the field 
 jncrealed to a complete battalion, (in room of which a 
 fourth might be formed in Bengal) an allowance of five 
 lacks per annum may be made for the increafe of expenfe 
 and all contingencies in this department - - 5,00,000 
 
 Sicca rupees 85,00,000 
 
 Total expenfe of twelve regiments of cavalry, one battalion of 
 artillery, one regiment of European infantry, twenty-four 
 battalions of fepoys, ftaff, &c. in the field, eighty-five lacks 
 of Lucknow rupees per annum. 
 There will remain a faving of forty lacks - - 40,000,000 
 
 Sicca rupees 1,25,00,000 
 
 On the above ftatement it is only neceflary to obferve, that the eftimate will 
 be found to exceed the adlual expenfe, (as can be afcertained with exadtnefs 
 by applying to the proper offices) and that the heavy expenfe of raifing a body 
 of 6000 cavalry may be obviated by proceeding in it gradually, adding three 
 or four regiments annually as horfes can be procured : the demand will increafe 
 the influx from the north-weft, and facilitate the acquifition of blood mares 
 proper for eftablifliing ftuds in the provinces of the Company and the Vizier. 
 The expenfe of thefe ftuds might be defrayed from the balance, which I am 
 confident will accrue from the eftimated fum of eighty- five lacks per annum, 
 for the complete eftabliftiment of cavalry, artillery, and infantry, in the interim 
 the balance will be confiderable, viz. 
 
 The
 
 ( 29 ) 
 
 The eftabliflied annual expenfe of two complete bri- Rupees. 
 
 gades of cavalry is - - - 31,00,000 
 
 ift year. — Deduft for the purchafe of 1,600 horfes to 
 
 complete the prefent cavalry to four regimentSj at 
 
 400 rupees per horfe _ _ - 6,40,000 
 
 Pay, &c. for four regiments, as eftimated, foppofing 
 
 them complete . - _ 10,30,000 
 
 — ■ . .- ' ■- 16,70,000 
 
 Remains rupees 14,30,000 
 
 2d year. — The eftimated annual expenfes of two com- 
 plete brigades of cavalry is _ _ - 31,00,000 
 
 For the expenfes of the fecond year, forty -five lacks, 
 
 and thirty thoufand rupees - - _ 45,30,000 
 
 Dedu(5l for the purchafe of 2,000 horfes, at 400 
 
 rupees - - - - 8,00,000 
 
 Pay, &c. for eight regiments, as per eftimate - 20,60,000 
 
 ■ 28,60,000 
 
 Remains rupees 16,70,000 
 
 3d year. — The eftimated annual expenfe of twc? bri- 
 gades of cavalry _ _ - 31,00,000 
 
 For the expenfes of the third year, forty-feven lacks 
 
 and feventy thoufand rupees - - 47,70,000 
 
 Deduct for the purchafe of 2,000 horfes - 8,00,000 
 
 Pay, &c. for twelve regiments - - 31 ,00,000 
 
 — — — 39,00,000 
 
 Sicca rupees 8,70,000 
 
 There remains eight lacks and feventy thoufand rupees for purchafing ftuds 
 ■of mares, exclufive of fuch other further favings as may arife from the eighty- 
 five lacks of rupees. 
 
 How far the meafures which have been recommended may be for the good 
 •of the ftate, or whether they are fupported by found policy and wifdom. Is left 
 to your decifion. 
 
 In expofing the evils of the internal government, and the dangers with 
 which the ftate is threatened from without, I conceive I have difcharged the 
 duty of a good citizen. 
 
 And am, with due refpeft. 
 
 Your devoted Servant, 
 
 C I V I s. 
 I An
 
 ( 30 ) 
 
 M JhJraB of the Mahratta Army Jlationed In Hindojian.^ 
 
 Cavalry of different denominations _ . _ 88,2£<p- 
 
 Forty-five battalions, regular and irregular, fronn 5 to 750 ftrong, 
 
 average 600 _ _ _ - 27iooo 
 
 European infantry - - - - , 190 
 
 Several fmall irregular bodies of horfe, in all - - 10,500 
 
 Total 125,940 
 
 Guns of different calibers in the field - - - 362 
 
 Of ilie above army General de Boigne has under his command, 
 12 Battalions Sepoys, clothed and armed like the Company's, 
 4 Battalions Native artillery (regular) with clafhees attached, &c. 
 4 Battalions of Nigibs, with matchlocks, 
 2 Battalions of Dummuckdars, large matchlocks, 
 1000 Regular cavalry, 
 90 Europeans, 
 120 Pieces of brafs cannon. 
 
 * All the countries north of the province of Mahva they term Hindoftan, and all to the 
 fouth Dekan. 
 
 TV
 
 Sir, 
 
 ( 3t ) 
 
 To Civis» 
 
 Fulljgbur, July 15, 1793. 
 
 I HAVE perufed with attention your letter to Sir John Shore, Bart, on the 
 declining ftate of the dominions of the Nabob Vizier efOude, and as I 
 have had in the courfe of fervice in that country, many opportunities of ac- 
 quiring a pretty general knowledge of it, T muft declare that I think the ac- 
 count you give is faithful and juft, as far as you go ; but at the fame time I 
 deem myfelf bound by truth and juftice to aflert, that you have touched fome 
 evils too lightly, and paffed others truly interefting, without notice ; how far 
 it comes within the defign of your letters to enter into a minute defcription of 
 the hardlhips which the poorer clafs of people of Oude groan under, I cannot 
 take upon me to fay, but it is a melancholy fubjed, deferving of your early 
 and mod ferious confideration. 
 
 The farmers or ryots are, in every country except this, confidered as the 
 moft ufcful clafs of inhabitants, and have the firft claims to proteflion and en- 
 couragement ; but in the Vizier's dominions they feem as if deftined, and pe- 
 culiarly marked out for oppreffion. The farmer at the commencement of the 
 feafon engages in this, as in other countries of India, to cultivate a certain por- 
 tion of L^nd at a fixed rate, as may be agreed on with the Aumil; if from 
 drought, or any other caufe, the crop fails, thefumhe has agreed for is extorted 
 from him with the utmoft inhumanity : his cattle, the implements of huf- 
 bandry, and even his children, are feized and fold to make it up. Should the 
 feafon turn out well, and the crop abundant, the ryot is not fuffered to enjoy 
 the kind bleflings of Heaven, the myrmidons of the Aumil feize it, on fome 
 pretence, and leave the unprotefted farmer but a fcanty pittance for his fup- 
 port, without paying the lead: regard to the agreement that has been madej {q 
 as the flinty-hearted Aumil procures money to ftop the mouth of fome greedy 
 Cerberus at court, in order to fecure an intereft to avert his being plundered on 
 his removal, as is the cuftom, he cares little by what means it is acquired, or 
 what injury it may do the country, being never fure of remaining more than one 
 feafon, and adtuated folely by the fpirit of rapacity and oppreiTion, in which he 
 has been bred up from his infancy. 
 
 In the march to and from Anoopfhcher, the defolate ftate of Rohilcund 
 excited the aftonifhment of every officer of the detachment, but particulaily 
 thofe who had fecn it before, and compared it with what it had been ; the 
 places which I faw populous and floiiriniing when in this country with ths 
 army formerly, are now delerted and in ruin.^. This extraordinary change na- 
 turally excited my curiofuy, and I was particular in inquiring of the few inha- 
 bitants
 
 ( 3^ ) 
 
 bitants that remained in the different towns and villages we paffed, whence it 
 arofe; they were by no means backwaid in giving the information I defired, 
 and the above caules they invariably alTigned, " who will think of cultivating 
 " the ground under fuch opprelTion," faid a venerable old man, " we merely 
 " plough a fpot that will produce fufBcient to keep us alive ; if we do more, it is 
 " ii^ized and taken from us by force, by violence, by cruelty ; why do not the 
 " Englifh come and take pofleffion of the country for themfelves ? If we were 
 " cherifhed as the Bengallies are, this would foon be a fine country; it would 
 " produce upwards of a crore of rupees yearly, whereas fcarce thirty lacks are now 
 " colleifted. The country. Sir, is yours; the Englifh ought to be its 
 " mafters — you have conquered it ; were it not for you, we would foon have 
 ^' a good government, as we had before — we would not fuffer that" — Here he 
 poured out a torrent of invecSlives in the fevereft terms of language on the 
 Nabob Vizier, much too violent to repeat. — " Though you do not opprefs us 
 " yourfelves, it is done under your authority, and you are anfwerable to God 
 " by the laws of the prophets for delivering us over to cruelty and pillage, as 
 " much as if you did it yourfelves. The * Sahib lo.ig of Calcutta are juft, and 
 " if they knew our condition, we are fure they would alter the country and re- 
 " lieve us. We hope you will reprefent it to them ; you fee what a fine 
 " country it is, if it was cukivated as formerly ; you know the foil produces 
 " wheat, barley, and all kinds of grain in greater abundance than any other 
 ■" country in Hindoflan ; the rice near the hills is fo fine that you fend it down 
 " as prefents to Bengal ; but above all, reprefent that the great number of 
 " rivers which interfeds our country, fupplies fuch a plenty of water as to 
 " enable us to cultivate indigo, opium, and fugar, to fend to your Willaiet, 
 " (meaning Europe) cheaper than they can get it at any place elfe : we 
 •" would engage, in four or five years after the Company had the regulation 
 •" of the country, to make ten thoufand maunds of indigo every year, and give 
 " it to them at fifty rupees the maund ; a lack of maunds of fugar, or as much 
 •*' more as they like, at four rupees the maund ; and a large quantity of 
 " opium, at a very low price. Guzzeenas, and other cloths^ we can make in 
 " plenty, and very cheap." Thus have I heard not one alone fay, but many 
 in fubftance, and if you will liflen to them, they will go on enumerating the 
 produce of the country, and the advantage it would be to our government to 
 take it into {heir own hands. The truth of thefe fads, and the juftnefs of their 
 obfervations and conclufions, are clear. All that I have commonly faid was, 
 that I would mention the fubjedl among all my friends, when our brigade went 
 to Calcutta j that they muft be patient, that fomething would doubtlefs be 
 done to relieve them. There is no man in India better acquainted with the 
 Hate of the country dian our commanding -f" oiBcer, and as ic was the conftant 
 xheme of converlation, I have fometimes ventured to hint the propriety of his 
 jeprcfenting it to Government, but he confidered it not in the precife line of his 
 
 * Meaning the Eiembers of government, and the Englifh gentlemen in geiieral refidiiig 
 there. 
 
 f We apprehend our intelligent correfpondent means Lieutenant-colonel Erftine. 
 
 2 du jr
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 duty to do it voluntarily, and that nothing but a requifition fro'Ti the Council 
 would juflify him in doing it ; there is much propriety in the objcdion, though 
 I have often lamented that it fliould obtain, in a cafe of fuch importance, as a 
 reprefentation coming from a man of his information and knowledge would 
 command due confideration. But to return to my fubjedli by the caufes above 
 afTignid, three-fourths of the inhabitants have been drove out of the country ; 
 the army under M. de Boigne, in the lervice of Mahah Jee Scindia, is almoft 
 entirely compofed of Rohillas, and his corps are continually recruiting from 
 Rohilcund. Of the inhabitants who ftill reinain in the country, many have 
 entirely given up all idea of cultivation, and fubfift by robbery alone, and the 
 roads are therefore fo much infefled by them, that there is no travelling without a 
 ftrong guard. On our march we were obliged to be as circumfpeft as if in an 
 enemy's country. The day we left Ragcpore Ghaut, a party of unfortunate 
 people, whom oppreffion has thus driven to defperation, attacked fome camp-, 
 followers on our flank, and killed and wounded nine men ; an unfortunate grafs- 
 cutter, who had not to the value of eight annas about him, cloaths and all^ was 
 cut almoft in two by the blow of a Tulwar*. This fliews how favage and def- 
 perate, hunger, and want of protection, will make men ; but in this refpe6t 
 Rohilcund is not Angular, murders and robberies are frequent in every corner 
 of the Vizier's dominions -, even in the vicinity of our camps they are daily 
 committed. 
 
 Having fliewn you part of what I have fcen and know of the flate of the 
 country, which 1 but juft paffed through, as far as it has come within my 
 knowledge and view; I think you are convinced that many parts of it are in a 
 much worfe and more wretched condition than you have reprefented. For the 
 truth of what I fay, I appeal to the officers of the detachment, and I truft the 
 hint will induce you to do juftice to the fubjeft in the future letters you have 
 propofed to write. I will conclude by fubmitting to your confideration two 
 propofitions : Firfl, whether it would not be of great advantage to the Com- 
 pany, and the Nabob Vizier, that the latter fhould cede to the former the 
 country of Rohilcund, as he did Benares, in lieu of the fubfidy for maintaining 
 the troops ? as the Nabob hardly realizes thirty lacks of rupees per annum from 
 it, he would be a confiderable gainer thereby, and the Company would not be 
 lefs fo; for under their management the revenue would double or treble in a 
 few years, befides producing large quantities of indigo, opium, fugar, fakpetre, 
 and cloths for their inveftments, and happinefs to a brave tribe of men, in at- 
 taching them to their country by proteding agriculture. 
 
 Second, whether it would not be of mutual advantage to the Company and 
 the Nabob Vizier, that the latter fhould give up the entire management of his 
 country (if ic can properly be called his, when it ought to revert to the Mogul 
 at his demife) to the former, and receive from them in lieu, or as rent, one crore 
 of rupees per annum for himfclf, his houfhold, and family? this would be a 
 million of pounds fterling, as much as the King of Great Britain receives, and 
 
 * Scymetar. 
 
 K is
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 is nearly double what the Nabob receives at prefent from his minlfters. It 
 ought not to diflatisfy him to have his allowance doubled, and be put on a 
 footing with the richeft, and one of the greateft monarchs on earth. The 
 Company would be great gainers alfo ; they might by good management in- 
 creafe the revenues to upwards of three crore of rupees per annum; fet one apart 
 for the Nabob, one for the civil government and army, and one would remain 
 to inveft in the produce of the country, viz. cloths of various kinds, indigo, 
 opium, fugar, &c. &c. &c. In my apprehenfion this laft would be a noble 
 plan, and worthy the wifdom of our government to adopt ; I leave it entirely to 
 you to urge it in whatever mode you think moft eligible. 
 
 That fuccefs may attend your generous endeavours is the fincere wifh, as T 
 truft I have ftewn in this, and will in future efforts, of 
 
 (Signed) MILES. 
 
 P. S. Since writing the above, a very intelligent man who refides atBarrelly, 
 and with whom I had much converfation on the fubjeft of the trade of the 
 country, fent for my information, and to convince me of the arbitrary, de- 
 teftable, and pernicious conduft'of the Aumils, an authentic copy of an order 
 under the leal of Huffun Ally Khan, Naib or Deputy to the Aumil of Rohil- 
 cund, Mindee Ally Khan, addreffed to Mahtab Chowderee, and Sew Loll, 
 colledors of the duties, to this effeft, " That hearing that feveral Europeans 
 ** had fent their agents into the country to eftablifh * cotees, and purchafe 
 " fugar, he, in the name of the Aumil, moft pofitively prohibited it, without 
 " their firlt having obtained his permiffion ; that Rohilcund being ex- 
 " eluded from the commercial treaty with the Governor-general of Calcutta, 
 " they had no right to trade there, and the duties to be levied were optional 
 *' with him ; that fuch as he permitted to purchafe fugar in the country were 
 " to pay the fame duties as the f beparees and retailers in the different bazars, 
 " &c." This duty, he obferves, is from two to three rupees per bag, or about 
 twenty per cen^. which amounts nearly to a prohibition, and will put a ftop 
 . entirely to the cultivation of fugar there. He further adduced as an argument 
 to prove how much the Vizier hated Rohilcund, and ftudied its ruin, its being 
 excluded from the benefits of the commercial treaty, and left at the mercy of a 
 hard-hearted Aumil ! Is it poffible that Rohilcund was meant to be excluded from 
 the benefits of the commercial treaty ? and if it is, I am at a lofs to difcover 
 upon what principle, J Mr. Ives perhaps can tell; indeed, I have always heard 
 that the treaty itfclf was the reverfe of advantageous to the trade either of the 
 Vizier's dominions or the Company's provinces ; but certainly the treaty has 
 this advantage, that a fixed rate of" duties, however high and inexpedient, is 
 better than an arbitrary one. 
 
 * Houfes of trade. 
 
 •)• Itinerant merchants, who fupply towns and camps w ith proviiions, &c. 
 
 } The Englifli refident at Lwcknow, 
 
 To
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 To the Printer. 
 
 Oude, July 20, 1793. 
 SrR, 
 
 IN your paper of Saturday, Junej, I perufed with much fatisfaftion a let- 
 ter addreiTed to Sir John Shore, Bart. As the author difplays confiderable 
 knowledge of his fubjcdt, 1 am wilhng to fuppofe him competent to complete 
 the taflc he hasadigned to himrdf, yet I fear he has too long deferred ftepping 
 forth to feek a remedy for the innumerable evils under which the people of 
 thefe provinces already fuffer, or to prevent others with which the wretched po- 
 licy of the Court of Oude is pregnant. To detail as much of thefe as fall within 
 my own knowledge, would carry me far beyond the limits of a newfpaper ; 
 and if Civis proceeds, it would be prefumption in me to anticipate him on a 
 fubjeft which he has brought forward with fo much candor and ability. I truff, 
 however, he will excufe me, when I venture to afllire him, that deplorable as 
 is the ftate of Goruckpore, and the diftritls in the vicinity of Bahar, they are 
 yet, compared with Rohilcund, rich in culture and population. 
 
 In the year 1774 I aded with the army in Rohilcund, and was, in common 
 with my brother officers, equally pleafed and furprifed at the rich and flourifhing 
 ftate of the country, and the contented fituation of its numerous inhabitants : 
 every march afforded us ample teftimony of the government's attention to the 
 welfare of the fubjeft : on all the public roads, which were in high repair, were 
 fpacious ftone walls, at the diftance of about three miles from each other, with 
 feats of accommodation to afford reft and refreffiment to the weary traveller i 
 and over many of the innumerable rivers and water courfes, that pour down 
 from the hills, we found ftone bridges, generally confifting of from feven to 
 eleven arches ; in fhort, fo different was the afpeft of this country from every 
 other we had feen in India, that while we were exerting ourutmoft endeavours 
 to fupprefs the dangerous and afpiring power of the Rohillas, we were com- 
 pelled to admire the policy, the wifdom, and the liberality of their govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Shortly after the treaty of Lolldong I returned into the Company's provinces, 
 and until very lately had not an opportunity of re-vifiting Rohilcund. Much 
 has been faid by a Member of the Houfe of Commons of its ruinous and de- 
 populated ftate ; but being in my own mind fully perfuaded that no meafures, 
 however impolitic at the time, or deftrudtive they might be in their tendency, 
 could in the lapfe of fo few years, effeftually ruin a country fo rich and flou- 
 rifhing as was Rohilcund, I ever confidered the affertions of that Gentleman, 
 
 partly
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 partly the ofi'spring of his prolific fancy, and partly as originating in interefled 
 views and mifreprcfentacions. 
 
 Fraught with thefe ideas, I lately accompanied a party to re-vifit the field in 
 which I made my firfl; efiay in arms, and thence to retrace our former footlleps 
 to that difaftrous (pot where fo many brave foldiers fell inglorious, the vidlims 
 of an inhofpitable clime. Vv hat were my feelings after I had penetrated lome 
 diftance in Rohilcund ? I have not language to exprefs, nor can imaginatioa 
 conceive, a more deplorable contraft than the whole face of the country exhi- 
 bited : moft of the wells are fallen in, and of thofe that remain, many are ob- 
 fcured by the thick jungle^* which now overfpread the ample high roads of the 
 Rohillas, leaving little more than a foot-path, fcarcely marked by the trace of 
 a paflenger : fome of the bridges are yet paflable, while by far the greater 
 number- exhibit only a few mouldering piers, the melancholy monumeots of 
 departed Iplendour; long rank grafs, and reed-, now wave over the extenfive 
 plains, which then difpiayed the golden ear in luxurious profnfion. Many of 
 the populous villages that we palTed on our match in 1774, are now wholly de- 
 ferted, and become the retreats of wild beaffs, deftruftive to mankind. The 
 fplendid palaces of the Rohillas are fallen to decay. Their cities, fo lately the 
 fcenes of opulence and happinefs, arc humbled to the dull, and their fcattered 
 inhabitants immerfed in penury and wocf Such> Sir, is the unexaggerated 
 pi(5lure of that once rich and flourifhing, but now ruiferable, couatry. 
 
 Being naturally of an inquifitive difpofition, whenever I am on a march I 
 feek fociety among the natives, interefl myfelf in their concerns, inquire about 
 the produce of their crops, and into the charadler of their Aumil or Collector; 
 in this excurfion, following up my old habits, 1 converled with many who had 
 feen better days ; who had been nourifhed under the foftering government of 
 the Rohillas ; in tones of voice ftrongly exprelTive of forrow and difmay, and 
 actually with tears in their eyes, they I'poke of pafl comfort, and deprecated the 
 ills they yet foreboded : many with anxious folicitude inquired,, when would the 
 Company take the management of the country into their own hands ? an event 
 which they are firmly perluaded will fome time come to pafs, and they appear 
 to anticipate it with uncommon fatisfaftion. They are not ignorant of the 
 
 * Thickets. 
 
 ■f The following circiimftance will convey fome idea of the wretched ftate of the poh'ce tn 
 their cities : — Previous to our fetting out for this tour, I thought it prudent to procure a hoondy 
 (bill of exchange) for a few hundred rupees, on a banker in one of the principal cities in Ro- 
 hilcund ; this, when prefented, was accepted ; but the banker requeued of nie to wait until 
 dark for the ca(h, that it might be conveyed to my tent without the circumfiance being known 
 to the inhabitants of the city ; to this requefl I readily aflented ; but as it appeared to me ex- 
 tremely finguiar, I "nquired of the man what were his motives for it ? he without hefitation re- 
 plied, that the few bankers who refide in that city, are obliged to keep their treafm-e in a fe- 
 cret depofit, and to take advantage of the night to draw forth fiich fums as circumllances require : 
 he added, that a party of Engliih gentlemen, who pafled the fame road a few months before, 
 whofe demands upon the bankers far exceeded mine, had for the fame reafcn been detained two 
 days : — between the hours of nine and ten at night the cafli was delivered with all poffible fe- 
 crecy. 
 
 4. many
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 many comforts enjoyed by the Ryots* in the Company's provinces, and the 
 hope t'.ac under the influence of the fame lenient laws and regulations, they 
 fiiall Toon be in a ftate as enviable, is their only confolacion under their prelenc 
 oppreffive burthen of accunaulated ills. 
 
 In juftice to Mirza Mindy Alli,f the Aumil of Rohilcund, I deem it ne- 
 cefTary to fay, that the inhabitants of that country ipoke of him as no worfe 
 than his predeceflbr, and' while the fame fyftcm of venality and corruption 
 fliall be purfued at the Court of Oude, they can have little hope of amend- 
 ment by a change j yet it is but too true, that whenever I mentioned his name, 
 it appeared to ftrike my hearers with as much horror, as would the found of a 
 whirlwind in its approach to fwecp before it their few and fcanty crops; or as. 
 the apprehenfion of a peftilential difeafe that would exterminate their whole race. 
 
 Signed, PHILO CIVIS.. 
 
 * Huibandmen. 
 
 t One day in the midft of a converfation I had with an old gentleman in Bereilly, on the 
 affairs of Rohilcund, " I iinew," faid he, « Mirza Mindy Alii, when he had not means fuffi- 
 " cient to procure even a tattoo pony, ajid I gave him a horfe ; tliough few years have rolled 
 " down the tide of time fince that period, I have been plundered of my all, and am reduced 
 " to poverty ; while he, furrounded by five thoufand attendants, rides in a filver houda car- 
 " riage faftened on the back of the elephant, too elevated to look into the valley of part favours, 
 ** and I fuffer in common with the reft of my unfortunate countrynnen : fuch is the difference 
 " of our defliny,! but God is Great." 
 
 ^ 3o 
 
 -m2
 
 ^0 Civis. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 YOUR valuable letters to Sir Jolin Shore, Bart, on the (tate of the Vizier's 
 country, which have lately appeared in the World, have excited, in an 
 uncommon degree, the attention of rhe officers, and indeed all the European 
 gentlemen now in his dominions. The x;oniinuation of the fubjedl is looked 
 for with an eagernefs and anxiety, fo highly flattering to you, that I trufl: you 
 will not abandon it, but foon again refume the pen v*hic'h you have wielded 
 with fo much judgment and difcretion. The minds of ail have been turned 
 to inquire into the fadts you have ftated, and they are not lefs aftonifhed at the 
 moderation and accuracy vvith which you have treated thesn, than that they 
 fnould lb long have palRd unredbifieu by the government of Bengal. 
 
 To the avidity for information on the fubjcifl which you have caufed, the 
 public are indebted for the republication of the following letter j in it the 
 leading features in the Lucknow government are jullly delineated, and an act 
 portrayed, which, for injuftice and cool-blooded cruelty, (lands unerjualled in 
 the annals of llindoftan ; every Briton who reads it mull feel his blood chilled 
 with horror ; he muft feel mortified in the extreme to think, that this afl of 
 barbarous butchery was perpetrated under the eye of the reprefentative of our 
 government, and apparently with his concurrence j for his refufing to interfere 
 in behalf of the unfortunate vidlims muft be fo conltrued. I will not make 
 farther comments. J leave to the juftice and humanity of my countrymen to 
 decide, how far the author of this favage aft of cruelty and injuftice is worthy 
 of the fupport and friendfliip of our isation, and how far it is implicated in 
 ,the guilt, by conferring and maintaining the power by which fuch deeds are 
 committed. None can be furprifed, after hearing of this aft, to find that 
 anarchy and devaftation fhould mark the progrefs of his governaient ; but let 
 us hope that it is near amendment, and that the generous and humane exertions 
 of Civis will remove the veil from the eyes of the Bengal government, and 
 jmprefs on their minds the neceflity of a reform, fuch as will aveit the im- 
 pending ruin which threatens this devoted country and its afflifted inhabitants; 
 .every man who is aftuated by the tender feelings of humanity, and whofe 
 heart yearns for the miferies of his fellow creatures, muft pray for fuch an 
 event, and none more fervently than 
 
 .Cawn^ore, Ju^. 2C, I jg 2. (Signed) A BRITON. 
 
 To
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 To the Hon. Warren Hastings, Efq. Governor -General, i£c. &c. &t. 
 
 Camp near E/arva, February 25, 1776. 
 Hox. Sir and Sirs, 
 
 I AM forry to mention a difagiceable event which happened yefterday. 
 
 The Nabob has difmiflcd Meer Afziil's corps, which had been ftaticned »n 
 ^he other fide t!ie Ju-nnna, for Ibme time paft, with the GofTaincs. There were 
 .five months arrears of pay due to them, which his Excellency engaged tliey 
 fhould have in fifteen davs ; the men confidcred this delay an artifice 10 deprive 
 them of their right, rcfufed to admit of it, and 4000 of them marched from 
 their (lation to within fix cofs of our camp. The day after their arrival the 
 Nabob went in perfon among them, and thought he had fettled the whole af- 
 fair, for only a part of the pay, on the receipt of which they were to give up 
 their cannon and arms, and to difpcrfe. The perfon employed by his Excel- 
 Jency in conduding the negociation had carried faife meflages, and when the 
 Nabob found the next day, that the matchlock, men would not give up their 
 arms, he refolved on cutting them all to pieces : 1 heard this by chance at ten 
 o'clock at night, and immediately waited on him to dilluade him from it, as it 
 was an ad that could not do him any credit. He urged their difobedisnce of 
 orders in leaving the-ir fiations contrary to his iniundion, and that if after he 
 had fettled the matter once, and they refufed to abide by what tlicy had agreed 
 to, and he fuffercd their condud to pafs unnoticed, his army would be con- 
 ftanfly in adual mutiny; I anfwered, he muft cxped it unlefs he paid them j 
 and reprefented, in the ftrongeft terms I could, that his cutting them to pieces 
 would difaffed his troops in general, and that I thought it probable they 
 would not fight in fuch a caufe, as they might naturally fay, the fame would 
 be their ilruation another time : I obferved, on thcfe occafions there were a 
 few who fpirited the reft ; and recommended to his Excellency to pick out thofe 
 men and punifh them, but to pay and difmils all thofe who had no other hand 
 in the mutiny, than being led into it by perfuafion and ignorance of the con- 
 fequences. I fat with his Excellency till one o'clock in the morning without 
 being able to difiiiade him from his rcfolution ; he therefore ordered his minilttr 
 to march againft them early the next morning with about 15,000 men, with 
 diredions, that if they gave up their arms, and accepted of about 20,000 ru- 
 pees, he would luffer them to go away unmolefted ; otherwife, there Ihould 
 not be a man of them left aJive. The matchlock-men would gladJy have 
 compounded for part of their pay, when about two lacks were due to them, 
 but they even dojbted their obtaining the fmall Ihm that was offered after 
 
 2 they
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 they had once grounded their arms ; they were therefore rendered defperate,.. 
 all treating was at an end., and they refolved on meeting their fate; out 
 of 4000, 1500 refufed to fight, and left the camp, fo that the engagement 
 was fupportcd by •2500, vvho did every thing that men in their deplorable ftate 
 could ; they had been for fome days pait reduced to the greateft dillrefs for the 
 neceflaries of life, were weak and terrified by the numbers they had to oppofe. 
 
 Notwichilanding all the difadvantages they laboured under, the Nabob got 
 the vidlory by a chance ; he was repeatedly repulfed, fome guns were even 
 taken from him, his army put to the route, v^hen a tumbril blew up, and 
 threw the macchlock^mcn into confufion, upon which his Excellency's troops 
 broke in upon them, and carried. the day. 
 
 The Nabob, had- about 300 men killed ; of the matchlock-men there were 
 600, many wounded, 800 taken prifoners, and rcleafed to-day ; the reft 
 efcaped, as his Excellency's troops, fought with ill-will, -.iid fuffered them to 
 o-et away, otherwife a man could not have been faved. 
 
 The eleven old battalion?, that is, thofe under Jaoo, Loll,, and BufTant, 
 who are formed intatwo brigades, were not in the engagement, but drew out 
 when the news of the Nabob's troops having given way reached them. The 
 men. in general declared, it was not to attack the matchlock-men, they only 
 meant to defend the camp. Upon the whole, this ad, as might be expefted, 
 has given great difcontent among the troops, and it is the general cry, that 
 they are never to expeft their pay, but when they can exad it. It is well 
 known I advifed the Nabob againft the meafu re ; and I flatter myfelf, the 
 credit of the Britifh nation was never at a higher pitch in. this country than 
 now. The Nabob's behaviour at IMindighaut is a ftriking contraft to that on 
 jhe prefent occafibn. 
 
 On my return from the Nabob, the night before the afiair, a deputation of 
 five of the matchlock-men prefented me a petition, juft as I entered my tent; 
 which I refufed to receive : I underftood from them, that it contained a requeft 
 for me to oet them their pay. After what had palled I could not interfere 
 further. 1 told them they were th-e Nabob's fervants, . and that the.Comp.any> 
 had nothing to do with them, 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 (Signed) J. B. 
 
 Prefident at the Court of 
 the Nabob of Oude. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 R E MARK S, 
 
 C, C<^C,
 
 REMARKS 
 
 ON A PAMPHLET ENTITLED 
 
 "LETTERS, Political^ Military, and Commercial, on the 
 " Present State and Government of Oude and its 
 " Dependencies." 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A COPY AND EXPLANATION 
 
 TREATY OF COMMERCE 
 
 BETWEEN 
 
 The Eaji-India Company and the Nawaub Vizier ; 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 A SKETCH OF THE MEASURES TAKEN 
 During the Marquis CORNWALLIS's Government, 
 
 IN REGARD TO THE VIZIER. 
 
 By EDWARD OTTO IVES, 
 late resident at the nawaub vizier's court. 
 
 3lonbou : 
 
 Printed by Cooper and Graham, 
 For J. DEBRETT, oppofite Burlington Houfe, Piccadilly. 
 
 1796,
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 THE Author of the following Remarks having conceived that, in 
 produ£lions of this nature, It is only required to write plain truth with 
 perfpicuity, and in intelligible language, he flatters himfelf that all de- 
 feds of ftile, not incompatible with that idea, may meet with indul- 
 
 gence.
 
 REMARKS, 
 
 OOME letters on the affairs of Oude whicli were printed in the Calcutta newf- 
 papers, under the fignatures of Civis, Miles, and Philo Civis, a fliort time 
 before I left India, having made their appearance in England in the form of a 
 pamphlet, after receiving, as it is faid in the advertifement prefixed, the appro- 
 bation of the Right Honourable the Prefident of the Board of Controul, I think 
 myfelf called upon to ftate to the public my objedlions to feveral parts of them, 
 that relate to Lord Cornwallis's Government. During the whole of that period, 
 except the firft twelve months, 1 filled the office of Refident at the Vizier's 
 Court; and of what paflTed previous to my appointment, I had official in- 
 formation. 
 
 In regard to the ftate of the Vizier's dominions, at the time the letters were 
 firft publifhcd (for I know nothing of what changes may have fince taken place) 
 the frequent emigrations — the decline of cultivation — the deficiences in the 
 revenues — the infecurity of property — the frequency and impunity of robberies 
 and murders— and the total want of police, and efficient Government, as well 
 as in regard to the little profped: there then was that " either the Nawaub, or 
 *' his Minifters, would voluntarily fet about reftifying abufes, or eftablilhing a 
 " regular fyftem for the coUeiflion of the revenue, or the adminiftration of 
 "juftice, founded on the principles of reafon and equity," my fentiments en- 
 tirely coincide with thofe of Civis. 
 
 The queftion, which next occurs, is whether, from the peculiar circumftances 
 of the cafe, it be the duty of the Bengal Government to interfere in the internal 
 management of the Vizier's territories, in fuch an effedlual manner, as to fecure a 
 reform. Civis has urged fome ftrong reafons on the affirmative fide ; and perhaps,
 
 [ 4 ] 
 
 others of equal ftrength might be found : but there are, likewife, arguments on 
 the negative fide. It would be fuperfluous to dwell on the very obvious one, to 
 which he himfelf alludes ; I mean the imputation of injuftice, and breach of 
 faith, which, either juflly or unjuftly, m.ighr, by fuch an interference, be brou^-ht 
 on the Company, and the Britifli nation. Another ftrong objedion might be 
 urged from the uncertainty of fuccefs in a work which muO: be entrufled to an 
 agent or agents, placed at the diftance of eight hundred, or a thoufand miles 
 from the Prefidency, under the controul of which he is to aft. 
 
 But, however, it may be decided in regard to the future, I have no fcruple in 
 declaring with refpeft to thepafl, my full convidlion that thefyftem obfervcd by 
 Lord Cornwallis (notwithftanding it may have failed of the beneficial efFecls, 
 which were hoped for from it) was wife and politic : and that a contrary condudt 
 would have been extremely unjuft, and derogatory to our charader ; as I Ihall 
 endeavour to Ilievv. 
 
 The late Nawaub Sujah ud Dowlah was to the day of his death univerfally 
 confidered as an independent Prince. By what fleps, we were gradually led to 
 concern ourfelves with the internal Government of the dominions of his fon and 
 fucceflbr, the prefent Vizier, it would be fuperfluous to recapitulate. It is 
 fufiicient to obferve that, ever fince his accefl"ion to the Mufnud, we had inter- 
 fered in a confiderable degree : that, at laCl, when his debt to the Company 
 became fo enormous, as to require and juftify the ftrongeft meafures for its 
 liquidation, we were looked upon as the real rulers of the country ; though the 
 appearances, which the peculiarity of our fituation obliged us to maintain, gave 
 an opening for continual contefts between the Vizier's Minifler and the Company's 
 Refident: and that during this kind of interference, his Excellency's affairs 
 ran into that diforder, which is the ufual efFcft of a divided Government^ the 
 revenues decreafed, commerce languifiied, and, in a word, the country was 
 depopulated ; nor did there exift the fhadovv of police, or adminiftration of 
 juftice. Without imputing blame to individuals, it was not unreafonable to at- 
 tribute this deplorable fituation of affairs to 'inzjyftem. So, at leaft, It feems to 
 have appeared to Mr. Haftings, Who, in his laft journey to Lucnow, 
 made a total alteration, by intrufting the whole management to his Excellency's 
 Minifter, Hyder Beg Khawn, and by relying folely on him for the realization of 
 the Company's demands on his mafter. This change having been eftablifhed, 
 Mr. Haftings left India ; and matters were profeffedly continued on the fame 
 footing, till Lord Cornwallis's arrival. I fay profejfedly, becaufe it has been
 
 [ 5 J 
 
 thought that there was fome fecret influence, which left the Minifter lefs free, 
 than Mr. Haftings intended he fhould be. For Lord Cornwall is to have over- 
 turned this fyftem on his arrival, muft have been confidered as radi and unjufti- 
 fiable : nor could it have been done by halves. The refponfibility muft either 
 have reftcd with the Minifter, whofe authority, that it might be competent to 
 the execution of the duty which was expedted from him, it would have been 
 neceflary to eftablifli in the moft complete manner : or the Company muft 
 have avowedly ftood forth, and have taken the entire management into their 
 own hands ; fubjecling themfelves to the imputation of unjuftly depriving the 
 Nawaub of his dominions. Lord Cornwallis chofe to preferve, and to ftrengthen 
 the fyftem, which he found eftabliftied on the faith of Government : and in order 
 to enable the Minifter to exert himfelf effeftually for the reftoration of the coun- 
 try, and to render him juftly rcfponfible for negleft of duty, his Lordlhip 
 determined to put a real ftop to all kind of interference, on the part of the 
 Company's agents, in the internal management; fuggefting only to the Vizier 
 and the Minifter, fuch outlines of good government, as appeared to him necef- 
 fary for accomplifliing the great work : and happy had it been for the country, 
 had thefe hints been attended to. At the fame time, his Lordftiip eafed the 
 Vizier of a load of debt, which had been accumulating for years ; ftipulating 
 that he ftiould pay only the arrears aftually due at that time to the civil and 
 military eftabliOiments in his dominions ; and fixing the future annual fubfidy 
 (including the ftipend to the Nawaub Saudut Ally Khawn, the penfions to the 
 Rohillahs, and the expences of the Refidency) at the moderate fum of fifty lacs 
 of Lucnow Sicca rupees, the eftimated amount of the real expences incurred by 
 the Company in confequence of their connexion with his Excellency. 
 
 Civis feems to infinuate that the fubfidy is much greater, than is fuffi- 
 cient to indemnify the Company for their fervices to the Vizier; " the 
 " total expence," he fays, " of all the Company's troops now in the Vizier's 
 " dominions, including cavalry, artillery, European and native infantry, Itaff; 
 " ftores, cattle, buildings, &c., &c., amount annually to about 32 lacs:" and 
 in another place " by the fubfidy, they receive for the payment of the troops to 
 " defend his dominions, they are enabled to keep up a very refpedtable force, 
 " and have afaving to defray the expences of their foreign wars" But, though 
 I am not in pofl"eflion of the neceflary materials to prove it to the fatisfadion of 
 others, yet, as I very well recolkft Lord Cornwallis's mentioning to me that the 
 fubfidy was fo calculated, as to leave, after defraying the eftabliftied and ordinary 
 charges, but a very fmall furplus for the purpofe of anfwering unforefcen con- 
 
 c
 
 [ 6 ] 
 
 tingencies ; I have not a doubr, but, on confulting the proper offices, it would 
 be found, that the Company receive from the Vizier no more, or at lead, but 
 a mere trifle more, than they expend on his account. Here it muft be ob- 
 ferved, that a very confiderable proportion of the expenditures for the fervice of 
 the troops in queftion, muft be incurred for European ftores, and other articles, 
 provided from the Company's provinces. The proportion of the fubfidy, there- 
 fore, which is required for fuch articles, is wanted in Calcutta; and this accounts 
 for the Vizier's paying eleven, out of the 50 lacs of rupees, by bills of exchange 
 on Calcutta bankers ; which, by the way, are drawn on terms fo favourable to 
 his Escellency, that the Minifters greatly preferred that mode of paying it. Other 
 remittances by bills of exchange are occafionally made by the Refident, when 
 there happens to be any furplus in the treafury. Specie was never fent out of 
 the Vizier's dominions, on the public account, during my Refidency. I mean 
 not, however, to infinuate that remittances by bills of exchange may not have 
 the fame eifedt in exhaufting a (late, as the adtual exportation of money: but 
 how far an annual drain, to the extent I have mentioned, may be produdive of 
 the evils fet forth by Civis, I leave toothers, more verfed in fuch kind offpeculations 
 than I am, to determine. Were commerce encouraged, in the manner that both 
 Civis and I vvifh, it would not, I may fafely fay, be materially felt : and even 
 under all exifting circumftances, I think it probable that, by channels, with which 
 neither of us may be acquainted, fpecie may preferve its proper level between the 
 two countries. But to return tothe fubjed: of Lord Cornwallis's conduct towards 
 the Vizier. 
 
 By the new agreement already alluded to, his Excellency was relieved from a 
 burthen of debt, which he could not have fuftained, without the continuance of 
 thofe embarraffments, to which the ruin of his territories was in a great meafure 
 imputed : he was to fet off anew, on the eafy condition of paying what was really 
 neceffary for his future protedion ; and the Minifter was left at full liberty to ex- 
 ercife thofe abilities, which he was known to poflefs, for the reftoration of the 
 country, the ruin of which had been induftrioufly imputed to the interference of 
 the Englifh. For the execution of this great work, Hyder Beg Khawn was emi- 
 nently qualified: confidered, for a number of years, as the fole efficient Governor 
 of his Excellency's dominions, without any refuaint but vvhat originated in the 
 interference of the Company's agents, he had acquired with the Nawaub, a 
 weight and confequence, which were indeed due to his fuavity of manners, his re- 
 fpectable addrefs, his abilities, and his knowledge of bufinefs. Thefe qualifications, 
 joined to the fupport cf the Englifh Government, rendered him fully equal to the
 
 [ 7 ] 
 
 performance of the duty expedted from him ; and there were many motives, 
 that one would have fuppofed, reafoning a priori, fliould have incited him to 
 the moft zealous exertions. The principal of thcfe (and it was apparently a mod 
 interefting one to him) was the removal of all pretence for the renewal of that 
 interference on the part of the Englifli, of which he had been fo long complain- 
 ing, and from which he had been fo anxious to get himfelf relieved. 
 
 It is not however any thing, which the writer of the letters in qucftion has faid 
 on the foregoing fubjefts, however differently I may think from him in feme of 
 the points of view, in which he has confidered them, that woald have induced 
 me to take up my pen. It is the light, in which he has placed the Commercial 
 Treaty, between the Company and the Nawaub Vizier, and the condudl of the 
 late Governor General refpeding it, that leads me to intrude my obfervations on 
 the public. 
 
 That I may illucidate the fubjed in the cleared manner, of which I am capa- 
 ble, I (hall reduce the inferences, which I conceive may be drawn from the letters 
 in quellion, into diftindl heads ; as follows : 
 
 Firjl, that the Commercial Treaty v^^i forced on the Vizier, without his having 
 the option of refufing it. 
 
 Secondly, that the Commercial Treaty is far from being calculated for the mutual 
 benefit of the contrading parties; but may be confidered as an inftrument, by 
 which the Governor General may ruin the commerce of the Vizier's country for 
 the benefit of the Company's provinces, and by which his Excellency " is made 
 " nearly to deflroy the cultivation of fome of the moft produdive articles of the 
 " country by the heavinefs of the taxes impofcd." 
 
 'Thirdly, that the exclufion of Rohilcund entirely from the Treaty, implies 
 either that the Vizier's title to that country is doubtful ; or that the parties agree 
 to fet it apart to wanton rapacity. 
 
 Fourthly, that the Treaty, bad as it is, has been infringed, to the Vizier's 
 prejudice, by the Bengal Government's preventing the importation of fait into 
 the Company's provinces. 
 
 I Ihall endeavour to (hew that thefe fuppofitions are totally unfounded, by firft
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 explaining, to the bed: of my abilities, the nature of the Treaty in queftion; and 
 then by ftating the origin and progrefs of the negociation by which it was adjufted. 
 
 The Commercial Treaty between the Eaft-India Company, and the Nawaub 
 Vizier, is founded on a fimilar bafis, to that of, I believe, all other Treaties of 
 Commerce. Its objeft is, on the one hand, to encourage the produftions and 
 manufaiftures of the Csnipany's territories, and the articles of their importation from 
 Europe, or foreign countries, by preventing the Vizier and his fubjetts from bur- 
 thening them with heavy or arbitrary duties,- or illegal exaftions, after their being 
 imported into his dominions; and, on the other hand, to encourage the produc- 
 tions and manufaftures of the Fizier's territories, and the articles of his importation 
 from foreign countries, by preventing the Company, and their fervants from bur- 
 thening them with heavy, or arbitrary duties, or illegal exadtions, after their 
 being imported into their diflrifts. The Export duties, to be levied by either of 
 the contracting parties, on the produftions and manufadlures of its own domi- 
 nions, as well as on foreign goods pafling through their refpeftive territories, 
 were of courfe left to the party, from or through whofe country the merchan- 
 dize might be carried, and whofe interefl it was, not to overburthen the Articles 
 of its own exportation. In the fingle Article of cotton, pafTing from theDecan, 
 through the Vizier's dominions, to thofe of the Company, the duty, which His 
 Excellency might levy, was limited to Five per Cent. The encouragement 
 which this limitation gives the merchant to bring the commodity in qucftion, 
 might probably be confidered as affording an adequate compenfation for the lofs 
 of any thing which the Vizier could have gained by exafting a higher duty; 
 and if that were not the cafe, he received a full equivalent by facrifices (feme 
 of which are not mentioned in the Treaty) made by the Company. 
 
 Having offered thefe preliminary obfervations, I fhall proceed to a more 
 minute difcuffion of the Treaty in queftion : that it may be feen whether it be 
 really founded on the bafis of mutual benefit ; or whether all the advantages be, 
 as Civis fuppofes, on the fide of the Company. I ihall begin by giving the 
 Treaty at full length ; and then examine its feveral articles.
 
 C 9 ] 
 
 A TREATY of COMMERCE between CHARLES EARL CORN- 
 WALLIS, Knight of the Mojl Noble Order of the Garter ; one of His 
 Britannic Majefiys Honourable Privy Council-, Lieutenant Gefieral of 
 His Majefys Forces ; Governor General and Comtnander in Chief of all 
 the PoJeJJions and Forces of His Britannic Majejly, and of the Honourable 
 the United Company of Merchants of England in the Eaf Indies, &c,, 
 &c., C^c, on the part of the f aid Honourable United Company., and 
 
 His Excellency the VIZIER UL MOMALIK HINDOSTAN, ASSUF 
 JAH, NAWAB ASSUF UD DOWLAH, YEHEHA KHAN BE- 
 HADUR, HUZZUBBER JUNG. 
 
 The right honourable charles earl cornwallis, 
 
 K. G. Governor General, &c., &c., and His Excellency the NAWAB VIZIER, 
 Behadur, &c., &c., having received various reprefentations from the Merchants 
 trading between the Company's dominions, and the dominions of His Excellency 
 the Vizier, fetting forth the loffes and inconveniences which they fuffer, as well 
 from the heavy duties colledled on their merchandife, as from the mode of levy- 
 ing the fame, His Lordfhip, on the part of the Honourable the United Company of 
 Merchants of England trading to the Eaft Indies, and His Excellency the Nawab 
 Vizier &c., with a view to remove the evils complained of, and to promote the 
 welfare of their refpeftive ftates, have agreed upon the following Articles, which 
 {hall be binding on themfelves, their heirs, and fucceflbrs. 
 
 Article i. The contracting parties (hall not claim any exemption from 
 duties either for themfelves, their fubjedls, or dependants, or any other pcrfon 
 or perfons, of whatever country or nation. 
 
 Art. II. His Excellency the Nawab Vizier, &c. agrees to grant Rowan- 
 nahs, or Cuftom-houfe Pafles, under the Seals and Signatures of his officers, for 
 all goods exported, from his dominions, to the dominions of the Company, fpe- 
 cifying the quantity of the goods, and the valuation on which his own export 
 
 D
 
 [ lO 1 
 
 duties (hall have been levied. The Right Honourable Earl Cornwallis, in like 
 manner, engages that fimiiar Rowannahs, or Cuftom-houfe Paffes, fhall be granted 
 for all goods exported from the Company's dominions (comprehending the pro- 
 vinces of Bengal, Behar, Oriffa, and the diftrid: of Benares), to the dominions 
 of His Excellency the Vizier, fpecifying the quantity of the goods, and the 
 valuation, on which the duties (hall have been levied, in the dominions of the 
 Company. 
 
 Art. III. His Excellency the Vizier, &c. agrees to levy the duties on all 
 goods, imported into his territories, from the Company's dominions, upon the 
 valuation fpecified in the Company's Rovvannah. The Right Honourable Earl 
 Cornwallis, &c. agrees to levy the duties on all goods, imported from His Ex- 
 cellency's dominions, into the diftrift of Benares or the Company's provinces, on 
 the valuation fpecified in the Rowannah of His Excellency the Nawab Vizier. 
 
 Art. IV. Goods exported from the Company's dominions, to the dominions 
 of His Excellency the Vizier, if by the river Ganges, (hall pay the duties at 
 Lutchagyr, or at Foolpore ; if by the river Goomty, at Gura Mobarikpore ; if 
 by the river Gogra, at Doohry Gaut ; if by land, at Keeway, Maidnee Gunge, 
 Chaundahpertaubpore, Mow, or Mahraj Gunge ; and if by the way of Sircar 
 Gooruckpore, at the Gaut of the river Gunduck, or at Gooruckpore, Mujholce, 
 or ChoUooparah. The merchant or perfon, in charge of the goods, upon pay- 
 ing the duties, herein after mentioned, at either of the above ftations, (liall receive 
 a Rowannah from the collector of the duties under his public feal, which fhall 
 exempt the goods from all further demands or moleftation whatever, in their 
 progrefs through the dominions of His Excellency. 
 
 The duties on goods exported from the dominions of His Excellency the 
 Vizier, to tiie dominions of the Company, whether by land or water, fliall be 
 levied at the eftablifhed ftations in the diftridt of Benares, and the province of 
 Behar, and Rowannahs granted as above fpecified. 
 
 The contraifling parties referve to themfelves the power of changing the fitua- 
 tion of the ftations for levying theduties, as they may deem expedient, upon giving 
 public notification to each other of the new ftation fixed upon. 
 
 Art. V, Broad cloth, iron, copper, lead, manufaftures of iron, copper, 
 lead, gold or filver, raw filk, (ilk piece goods, cotton piece goods, and piece
 
 [ " ] 
 
 goods made partly of fillc and partly of cotton, exported from the dominions of 
 the Company to the dominions of the Vizier, fliall pay an import duty of Two 
 and a Half per Cent, to His Excellency, on the price fpecified in the Rowannah 
 taken out in the Company's dominions. 
 
 Art. VI. Salt exported from the Company's dominions to the dominions of 
 the Nawab Vizier, fhall pay an import duty of Five per Cent, to His Excel- 
 lency, on the valuation, fpecified in the Rowannah granted at any of the ftations 
 in the Company's dominions. 
 
 Art. VII. Cotton coming from Jahlone, Hydernuggur, Omraowty, Naug- 
 pore, or any of the countries of the Decan, and paffing through the dominions 
 of the Nawab Vizier, to the dominions of the Company, fliall pay a duty of 
 Five per Cent, to His Excellency, on the fixed valuation of Six Rupees per 
 Maund of Ninety-fix Sicca Weight to the Seer ; Rowannahs for covering the 
 fame through His Excellency's dominions, {hall be granted at the Itation, where 
 the duties are levied. The fame cotton, when it arrives in the province of Be- 
 nares, fhall pay a duty of Two and a Half per Cent, and Two and a Half per 
 Cent, more on entering the Soubah of Behar, upon the valuation above fpeci- 
 fied ; or, fliould it not pafs through the jurifdidion of Benares, it Ihall pay Five 
 per Cent, upon being imported into the Company's provinces. 
 
 Art. VIII. Silk piece goods, cotton piece goods, and piece goods made 
 partly of Silk and partly of cotton, exported from the dominions of the Nawab 
 Vizier, to the Company's dominions, fliall pay a duty of no more than Two and 
 a Half per cent, on the price fpecified in His Excellency's Rowannah. The faid 
 duty fliall be coUeded at the eftabliflied ftations in Benares, Ihould the goods 
 pafs through that diftrift ; and upon their arrival in the Company's provinces, 
 the collectors of the cuftoms fliall grant a Rowannah duty free to cover fuch 
 goods to any part of Bengal, Behar, or Orifla. Should the faid goods enter the 
 Company's provinces, without paffing throughthedillridt of Benares, the above 
 duty of Two and a Half per Cent. Ihall be levied at the firft ftation in the 
 Company's provinces. 
 
 Art. IX. All goods, not fpecified in the foregoing Articles, exported from 
 the refpeftive dominions of the contracting parties, fliall be fubjedl to a duty of 
 Five per Cent, on the valuation, inferted in the Rowannah of the country, from 
 whence they were originally exported. If the goods fliall have been exported
 
 [ 12 J 
 
 from the Company's dominions, to the dominions of the Nawab Vizier, His Ex- 
 cellency will colled; the duty aforefaid, at one of the ftations mentioned in the 
 third Article; if from the territories of His Excellency, to the dominions of 
 the Company, Two and a Half per Cent, fliall be levied at the firft-eftabli(hed 
 ftation in the diftriift of Benares, and Two and a Half per Cent, at the firft autho- 
 rifed ftation in the province of Behar ; or (hould the faid goods enter the Com- 
 pany's provinces, without paffing through the jurifdiftion of Benares, the whole 
 duty of Five per Cent. Ihall be coUefted at the firft authorifed ftation in the pro- 
 vince of Behar. 
 
 Art. X. Goods exported from the provinces of Bengal, Behar, or Oriffa, 
 or from the diftridt of Benares, to the dominions of the Nawab Vizier, after 
 having paid the import duties to His Excellency, according to the rates, and in 
 the mode, prefcribed in the foregoing Articles, if fold in the dominions of the 
 Nawab Vizier, fhall be fubjedt to the eftabliflied local duties of the Market or 
 Gunge, in which they are difpofed of. Provided, neverthelefs, that if the faid 
 goods fhall be fold for the purpofe of being exported beyond the confines of His 
 Excellency's dominions, and not for the confumption of the fame, no local Gunge 
 or Market duty, or any other duty whatfoever, fhall be levied on account of fuch 
 faleor purchafe ; but the import Rowannah of the feller Qiall be indorfed by the 
 Colledor, or head ofHcer in charge of fuch Gunge, and delivered over to the 
 purchafer, who fliall tranfport the goods through the dominions of the Nawab 
 Vizier, without further moleftation; if fuch purchafer, however, (hould after- 
 wards difpofe of the faid goods, for confumption, in any Market or Gunge in 
 His Excellency's territories, they fhall be fubjedt to the eftabliflied duties of the 
 fame. In like manner, goods exported from the dominions of His Excellency, 
 to the dominions of the Company, after having paid the import duty in the latter, 
 according to the rates, and in the mode, prefcribed in the foregoing Articles . 
 if fold in any Gunge or Market, fhall be fubjed to the local Gunge or Market 
 duties under the preceding limitations. 
 
 The Gunge duties to be thus levied, are not to exceed the ancient eftablifhed 
 rates, to which no addition fhall be made without the mutual confent of the 
 contrafting parties. 
 
 Art. XI. If any Renter, Zemindar, CoUedor of the Revenues, Jaghiredar, 
 or holder of rent free lands, fhall levy any duties, or exailions, on goods pafEng 
 through the dominions of the contrading parties, and on which the regular duties
 
 [ 13 ] 
 
 fhall have been paid, and Rowannahs taken out, as prefcribed in the foregoing 
 Articles, for the firft offence, he fliall be fined Twenty Rupees for every Rupee 
 fo exafted ; for the fecond offence, Forty Rupees ; and for the third offence, if 
 a renter or CollecTior of the Revenues, he fhall be fined One Hundred Rupees 
 for every rupee fo exaded, and be difmiffed from his farm or employment ; if a 
 Zemindar, Jaghiredar, or Rent free Land Holder, he fliall forfeit his lands. 
 Any Officer of the Cuftoms exacfting more than he is authorifed, fliall for the 
 firft offence be fined ten times the amount fo exafted, and be difmiffed from his 
 employment. The party injured fhall be indemnified, out of the fines, for the 
 fum fo exadted; and it fhall be left to the difcretion of the contradling powers to 
 grant fuch further portion of the faid fines, as they may deem adequate to the 
 trouble and lofs of the party fo injured. 
 
 Art. XII. In order to difcourage every attempt to evade the payment of the 
 import duties, Merchants endeavouring to pafs the ftation, at which they are to 
 pay the fame, without having previoufly taken out aRowannah, fliall be fubjedt 
 to double duties; and the contra6ling parties agree toiffue orders in their refpec- 
 tive territories, requiring all perfons to pay the duties, and take out Rowannahs 
 for their goods, as direfted in the foregoing Articles, before they approach aa 
 authorifed flation. 
 
 This article not to extend to the local duties in the Markets or Gunges, which, 
 are to be collefled in the mode, and under the limitations, prefcribed in the tenth 
 Article, upon the goods entering the fame. 
 
 Art. XIII. The contrafting parties referve to themfelves the right of levy- 
 ing whatever duties they may think proper, on all goods produced and con- 
 fumed within their refpetlive dominions, and alfo on their own exports, and on 
 all imports from other countries not under the dominion of the Company, or the 
 Nawab Vizier; the article of Decan, &c., cotton going to the Company's do- 
 minions excepted, on which His Excellency is to levy the duties as fpecified in 
 the feventh Aiticle. 
 
 Art. XIV. If any difputes fliall arife between the Merchants of the refpec- 
 tive ftates, it fhall be decided by the laws of that flate, in which the defendant 
 may refide ; if the defendant be a refident in the Company's dominions, the 
 plaintiff fliall be allowed the privilege of ftating his cafe through the Vakeel, 
 or Agent of the Vizier, to the Right Honourable the Governor General in.
 
 [ 14 ] 
 
 Council, who may refer it for decifion to the Provincial Court of Juftlce 
 within the jurifdidlion of which, the caufe of aflion may have arifen, or the de- 
 fendant may refide ; in like manner, if the defendant be a refident in the 
 Vizier's dominions, the plaintiff fliall be entitled to reprefent his cafe through 
 the Englifh Minifter, to His Excellency the Vizier, who may refer it for decifion 
 to fuch of his officers, as he may think proper : it is further agreed, that Ihould 
 the Colledtors of the Cufloms, Zemindars, or other fubjefts of either ftate, adt 
 in any refpedt, towards the Merchants and Traders, contrary to the true intent 
 and meaning of this Treaty, the party injured fliall be entitled to feek redrefs 
 in the mode above prefcribed. 
 
 Art. XV. This Treaty not to extend to the province of Rohilcund or 
 Kuttair, in which His Excellency referves to himfelf the right of colledting the 
 duties according to the ancient eftablifhed rates, or of encreafing, ordiminifhing 
 ■the fame, as he may deem expedient. 
 
 Art. XVI. His Excellency the Vizier having obtained the confent of the 
 Nawab of Furruckabad to include his territories in this Treaty, and agreed to 
 make him a compenfation for any lofTes, he may fuftain in his revenues, in con- 
 fequence of having relinquiflied his claim to the coUedlion of feparate duties on 
 the Decan, &c. Cotton, paffing through his territories, to the dominions of the 
 Company, and on the exports from the Company's dominions, the territories of 
 the faid Nawab, are included accordingly, and as far as concerns the operation 
 of this Treaty, are to be confidered, in every refpeft, upon the fame footing, as a 
 province of the dominions of His Excellency the Vizier. 
 
 Art. XVII. This Treaty to be in force from the firfl of September next, 
 correfponding with the twenty-ninth of Zehige, one thoufand two hundred and 
 two higeree, orfooner, if it can be ratified and exchanged before that period. 
 
 Ratified at Fort William, 2^th July, ijSS. 
 
 (Signed) CORNWALLIS. 
 A true copy. 
 (Signed) E. HAY, Secretary to the Government,
 
 -C 15 ] 
 
 The /;y? article, which flipulates that the contraifling parties fliall not claim 
 exemption of duties, either for themfelves, their fubjcds, dependents, or others, 
 is in flifc wholly in favour of the Vizier ; who, though he had never made 
 fuch a claim on the Company, had allowed of their invcflmcnts, and of much 
 private trade belonging to their dependents, to pafs duty free. 
 
 The Jecond, thirds and fourth articles, which regulate the eftablifliment of 
 cuftom-houfes, the ilTuing of cuftom-houfe paffes, the levying of import duties 
 on fuch valuation, as may be fpecified on fuch paffes to have been that, on which 
 the other party fhall have levied the export duty ; and which prohibit the col- 
 ledling of any thing on the imports, but the import duties fixed by the Treaty, 
 &c. &c. refer equally to both. 
 
 Tht fifth fpecifies fome favoured articles of importation from the Company's 
 territories, on which his Excellency is only ta levy an import duty of 2|- per 
 cent. And the eighth does the fame in regard to fome of the imports from the 
 Vizier's territories ; fixing the fame rate for the import duties payable to the 
 Company on entering their diftrifts. 
 
 Thtjlxth and ninth articles enaft, that fait, exported from the Company's 
 provinces, into the Vizier's, and all other goods, not aljready fpecified, export- 
 ed from the refpedive dominions of the contrafting parties, fhall be fubjecfl to 
 an import duty of 5 per cent only. So far all is equal ; but there follows a 
 fmgular diftindion in favour of the produdions and manufadlures of his Ex- 
 cellency's country, viz. that fuch goods, as may be imported from the Com- 
 pany's territories, into his, are to pay the whole duty on entering them ; whereas 
 thofe, that go from his, to the Company's diftridts, are to pay only half on en- 
 tering the diftrift of Benares, and the other half on entering the province of 
 Behar ; fo that if they fhould be difpofed of in the diftritt of Benares, they 
 pay only z\ per cent. This difference alfo muft be remarked as a farther 
 counterbalance for any lofs, that the Vizier may be fuppofed to fuffer, from the 
 limitation of his duties on Decan cotton paffing through his territories. 
 
 The fubjedl of the Decan cotton, mentioned in the feventh article, has been 
 already difcuffed. 
 
 The tenth article for regulating the Gunge (or market) duties is perfedly 
 equal ; and the fame may be faid of the eleventh, which ftipulatcs the punifii-
 
 [ r6 ] 
 
 ment for breach of the Treaty; of the tzvelfth, for difcouraging attempts to 
 evade the payment of the import duties; and of the thirteenth, which re- 
 ferves to the contracling parties, the right of levying duties, at pleafure, on all 
 goods produced and confumed within their refpedlive dominions, on their own 
 exports, and on their own imports from other countries, not under the domi. 
 nion of either of the parties ; with exception to the Decan cotton, as above. 
 
 I muil add, however, a few words more on the fubjed of the thirteenth 
 article, on which the author of the letters, after calUng it a Angular one, 
 makes the following remark : " From this, it feems to be in the power of 
 *' either party to put a flop to any particular branch of trade ; bur it really 
 *' throws the whole power into the hands of the Governor General, as he has 
 " only occafion to requeft the Nawaub to lay a heavy tax upon any article he 
 " wifhes to prevent being imported into the Company's dominions." To me, 
 it appears, that the Author might, with as much propriety, have ftated, that 
 when the Governor General wilhes to make a revolution in Oude, he has only 
 to requeft his Excellency to depofe himfelf. With the ftrong military force, 
 which the Company have in the Vizier's dominions, it is certainly in their power 
 to wreft the Government from him whenever they pleafe ; and the terror of 
 their arms might, if they were difpofed to exert it to that end, force his Ex- 
 cellency to adt contrary to his own real interefts. But fo long as they maintain 
 his independency, they cannot, without a dereliction of all principle, impofe 
 fuch a meafure ; and to reprefent them as capable of it, is to militate againft 
 all the arguments urged by Civis, for the propriety of our refcuing the country 
 out of the griping hands, in which it is now faid to be : for what improvement 
 could be expefted from a change of matters, if the new rulers be fo little at- 
 tached to the intereft of the country, as to take the ftep which Civis has fup- 
 pofed ? 
 
 Granting, however, for argument fake, that the Bengal Government have 
 the difpofition to make ufe of the dread of their power, as an inftrument to 
 oblige the Nawaub to lay a heavy export duty on any commodity, which 
 they do not wifh Ihould be brought from his country into the Company's 
 provinces, it is manifeft that they cannot derive any pretext forfoufing it, 
 from the article in queftion ; an article, by which the power of the Vizier to 
 levy what export duty he pleafe, is exprefsly acknowledged ; an article, there- 
 fore, which would aggravate the intrinfic injuftice of fuch a tranladion, by the 
 additional guilt of breach of Treaty.
 
 [ ^7 ] 
 But let us confider the matter in another point of view. Civis, it appears, 
 would have had the export duties, which the Vizier {hould levy on the com- 
 modities, carried from his country to that of the Company, to be fpecified in 
 the Treaty. Might it not, therefore, be reafonably afked of him, zvhich of 
 the contrafting parties he fuppofes (liould have propofed fuch a ftipulation ? 
 If he anfwer, the Company; I reply, that it would have been interfering in a matter 
 which did not concern them, as it is the produftions and manufadurcs of the 
 Vizier's dominions, not of tbeir\ which muft be affeded by the export duties 
 levied on them; and it would moreover have given his Excellency a right to 
 interfere in like manner, with refpeCt to their export duties, of the effcA of 
 which, on their own manufadures and interefts, they alone are the proper 
 judges. If Civis anfwer, that the Vizier Ihould have propofed fuch a ftipula- 
 tion ; I reply, that in him, it would have been nothing lefs than making a 
 propofal to tie his own hands! But, I fhall enlarge more fully on lubjeds 
 conneded with this point of view, when 1 fpeak of the article for exceptmg 
 Rohilcund. 
 
 If, then, the Vizier's Minifters have, as Civis fuppofes, had the folly to 
 lay a heavier export duty on indigo and fugar, carried from his Excellency's 
 dominions, into the Company's provinces, than they can well bear, it merely 
 correfponds with the reft of their adminiftration, as defcribed by Civis ; and 
 no refledion can fall on the framers of the commercial Treaty, unlefs it be 
 proved that a Treaty of commerce ought to give to the ftrongeft of the 
 contrading powers, the internal management of the other's territories. 
 
 It is true, however, that the encouragement of the cultivation of Indigo for 
 the European market, fo as to eftablilh it as zjlaple commodity of the Com- 
 pany's own provinces, may be an objed of great importance to their interefts. 
 I am, therefore, far from afferting that our Government may not have view- 
 ed, with more than ordinary complacency, the heavy duty of 13 per cent, 
 which the Vizier's Minifters thought proper to lay on the exportation of that 
 commodity from his Excellency's country ; or that, bound as they are by Treaty 
 to allow his Excellency the power of fixing the rates of his export duties, on 
 every artideof the produdions and manufadurcs of his own country, they may 
 not have refufed, with more than common warmth, to interfere for the purpofe 
 of encouraging the importation of the very commodity, which it is the Com- 
 pany's intereft ftiould not be imported.
 
 [ i8 ] 
 
 The fourteenth article of the Treaty, which points out the mode of redrefs 
 for breaches of it, and of profecution for debt, &c. between the merchants of 
 the refpedtive ftates, appears alfo to be equal : but in practice, there is unfor- 
 tunately a wide difference : the merchants ofOude, who may have caufe for 
 complaint in the Company's provinces, being fure of redrefs in fome one of 
 their numerous courts of juftice ; whereas, the obtaining of any from his Ex- 
 cellency's officers was found to be very precarious indeed. 
 
 The fixteenth article merely fpecifies that Furruckabad is included ; and the 
 Jeventeenth and lafl, only fettles the date, from which the Treaty was to be in 
 force. 
 
 The fifteenth article flill remains to be noticed. This, Civis calls the mofl 
 fingular of all, as excluding Rohilcund from the Treaty, or any benefit that could 
 be derived from it. The laft words " any benefit that could be derived from it" 
 are Civis's own : and unfortunately they (unintentionally I have no doubt) mif- 
 reprefent the fadt, Rohilcund is not excluded from any benefit, which the Treaty 
 profefles to give to the reft of the Nawaub Vizier's dominions. The benefit 
 intended by the Treaty, to accrue to the Vizier's fubjefts, confills in the limita- 
 tion of the Company % right to colledt import duties on the produdions and manu- 
 fadtures of his Excellency's dominions, when carried into the Company's ter- 
 ritories; but the exclufion of Rohilcund from the Treaty does not make any dif- 
 ference in regard to thefe import duties receivable by the Company, upon mer- 
 chandize produced or manufaftured in that diftrift, when it is brought into 
 their provinces *. The difference really occafioned by the exclufion of Rohilcund 
 
 * Perhaps, it might bear an argument whether, ftriflly {peaking, the Company would not be 
 juftified in levying higher import duties on the pioduftions and manufaflures of Rohilcund, than the 
 rates fpecified in the Treaty. Since the article in queftion fays, that the " Treaty is not to extend 
 to Rohilcund," it might be urged, that commodities exported /«« that diftrift into the Company's 
 provinces, are not entitled to the benefit arifingfrom the limitation of the Company's right of levy- 
 ing import duties, any more than the commodities imported into that diftrift, from the Company's 
 provinces, are entitled to benefit by the limitation of the Vizier's power in the fame refpeft. To 
 this, however, it might be anfwered, that the remaining part of the article explains the meaning of 
 the expreffion above quoted, viz. " in which" (fpeaking of Rohilcund) " his Excellency referves to him- 
 «' felf the right of collefling duties, according to the ancient efl:abliihed rates, or of incveafing or di- 
 " minithing the fame, as he may deem expedient," But, however it may be determined, on a criti- 
 cal enquiry into the literal meaning of the claufe, the conftruftion which I have put upon it, is con- 
 fonant both to the fpiiit of the Treaty, and to praftice : no difference between the productions and 
 manufafiures of Rohilcund, and thofe of any other part of the Vizier's dominions, having ever been
 
 [ 19 ] 
 
 from the Treaty is this : It continues, in regard to fuch of the produdtions and 
 manufadures of the Company^ provinces, as may be carried into Rohilcund, the 
 difcouragement arifing from the Vizier's power of colledling exorbitant and ar- 
 bitrary import duties. The lofs, therefore, falls on the Company and their fubjefts. 
 Accidentally, indeed, it may be produdive of injury to the inhabitants of Ro- 
 hilcund ; but it is an injury of that nature, which it is q^\\.q foreign to the objeft 
 of the Commercial Treaty to corredl. Were the profefled intention of the Treaty 
 to prevent oppreffions in the coUedlion of all kinds of duties, whether export, 
 import, or internal, in the Vizier's territories, the animadverfions of Civis, and 
 Miles, v/ould be well founded. But fuch a Treaty of Commerce would have 
 been unique in its kind; and no lefs Angular, than if in negociating the Com- 
 mercial Treaty between England and France, our Miniftry had taken on them- 
 felves to ftipulate in favour of the fubjeds of the latter, for the abolition, or 
 abatement of the heavy duties on fait, which their old Government exafted ; a 
 meafure, which, though it might have been truly philanthropic, would have 
 been rejeded by France with fcorn and derifion, as a prefumptuous attempt to 
 interfere with the internal Government of a foreign country. I repeat, that the 
 benefits intended to be derived from limiting the Vizier's power of colleding du- 
 ties, relate (Decan cotton Ncxcepted) to import dudes alone, and are to accrue 
 only to the Company, and itsfubjeBs, (any advantage, which the inhabitants of 
 the Vizier's dominions may derive from it, being merely accidental, and foreign 
 to the objed of the Treaty) ; and, on the other hand, that the benefits, to which 
 the Vizier and his fubjetis are entitled by the Treaty, are confined to the en- 
 couragement given to the produdions and manufadures of his Excellency's do- 
 minions, by the limitation and regulation of the Company s right to colle£l import 
 duties, whenever they are carried from his Excellency's diflrids into their's. 
 
 I have fo frequently found the objed of the Treaty mifunderftood, that I am 
 more than commonly anxious to imprefs a juft idea of it : and this anxiety has 
 
 thought of, in levying the import duties at the Company's cuftom houfes : and, indeed, the delays and 
 vexations, which muft be the confequence of a contrary opinion, (confidering that Rohilcund is the 
 very fartheft part of the Vizier's country) would be fo great, as to render fuch a diftinftion imprafti- 
 cable, and of courfe to (hew that fuch an interpretation could not be the true one. Suppofmg, how- 
 ever, that the produftions and manufaftures of Rohilcund were not entitled, when carried into the 
 Company's provinces, to benefit, by the limitation of the Company's right to levy import duties, this 
 is not the benefit, which Civis and Miles have in view, when they make fuch ftrong objcflions to this 
 article of the Treaty, The benefit, of which, it is manifeft, thiy fuppofe Rohilcund to be deprived by 
 the exclufion, is that of proteflion from the rapacity of the I'izirrf, officers, and from the exaftion of 
 heavy fjrport dulics, with neither of which, the Treaty has any thing to do.
 
 [ 20 ] 
 
 led me into prolixity, and perhaps, needlefs repetition, for which I follcit the 
 reader's indulgence. 
 
 The motive of the Vizier's Minifters for wishing to except Rohilcund from 
 the Commercial Treaty, is not fo very difficult to conjecture, as the author of" 
 the letters feems to think. Had he kept in view the real ohjeSi of the Treaty, 
 he would, probably, have adverted to the obvious reafon of their wifhing to get 
 as much money "as they could" on the importations from the Company's terri- 
 tories. To this, muft be added the profeffed, though more exceptionable 
 motive, arifing from the pride of conqueft (not from a doubt of his Excellency's 
 title,) which made them defirous of keeping the duties of Etawah, as well as 
 of Rohilcund, fcparate and diftinft, as they had always been, from thofe col- 
 lefled in the Nawaub's hereditary dominions. What induced the Members of 
 our Government to aflent to the Treaty, while it retained the exception in regard 
 to one, though they negotiated with fuccefs againft the propofal for excluding 
 the other, was the confideration that the firft (Rohilcund) was not, hke Etawah, 
 in the high road to Agrah, Delhi, and the other great weftern markets. 
 
 Thus, 1 have, I flatter myfelf, proved that Lord Cornwallis's aim, in nego- 
 tiating the Commercial Treaty, was the good of the Vizier's dominions, as 
 much as that of the Company's. Nor was this all : he lamented, from the 
 beginning, the oppreflive mode, in which the Vizier levies his duties on his own 
 trade: for (as his Lordfhip very juftly and forcibly obferved, in one of his 
 letters to me) " to trade with an impoveviflaed nation is of little advantage; and 
 " unlefs the merchants of Oude be proteftcd in their own country, the com- 
 " merce they will carry on with Bengal, will be very inconfiderable." Nor 
 was he wanting to recommend a reform on thefe points to his Excellency's ■> 
 Minifters, in as ftrong terms as were confiftent with their mafter's independency. 
 The fame anxious defire to promote the profperity of the Vizier's country \vas 
 his Lordfliip's inducement, voluntarily to relinquifh the pradtice, which had been 
 exercifed for feveral preceding years, of providing part of the Company's cloth 
 inveftment in Oude ; becaufe it was found that it could not be carried on, with- 
 out giving the agent, or contraftor, an influence, which, by fecuring him the 
 right of pre-emption, and thereby virtually efhablifliing a monopoly, muft effedt 
 the exclufion of the native merchants, and be highly unfavourable to the manu- 
 fafturers. " The induftry of the Nawab's manufafturers," as it is exprefled 
 in the report, on which his Lordfliip founded his refolution, " is never properly 
 " direded, but when for the benefit of the merchants of his own dominions."
 
 [ 21 ] 
 
 On fimllar principles, it was, that his Lordlhip adopted the regulations for the 
 management and fupply of the military markets, which were fo well calculated 
 to do away all the inconveniences and loffes, that had been complained of by the 
 Vizier and his fubjedts. 
 
 I am now to fliew that the Commercial Treaty, whether good or bad, was not 
 forced on the Vizier : and this I (ball endeavour to do, by dating the origin 
 and progrefs of the negotiation, by which it was brought about. 
 
 A fevv months after Lord Cornwallis's coming to the Government, it was re- 
 folved to fend up Mr. Barlow, a civil fervant of the Company, well qualified 
 for fuch a fituation, " to inquire into the ftate of trade in the Province of Oade, 
 " and to afcertain the moll advantageous mode of providing the Company's in- 
 « veftment in the Vizier's dominions." Colonel Harper, who was then the 
 Governor General's agent at Lucnow, was direfted to " give him all neceflary 
 " Information and affiftance;" and, at the fame time, to " alTure the Vizier 
 « that the objea of the inquiry was in no refpeft meant to interfere in the trade 
 «c of his Excellency's dominions ; but only to acquire that informaiion, which 
 « might enable our Government to provide fuch goods, as were wanted for the 
 « Company's inveftment, on the bed terms for them, and in a manner leaft 
 " oppreffive to his fubjedls." The refult of Mr. Barlow's inquiries was that the 
 provifion of any part of the inveftment In Oude, could not be of fufficient im- 
 portance to the Company, to counterbalance the evils, which, for caufes I have 
 already alluded to, a continuance of the pradice would bring on the Vizier's 
 own fubjefts and country : and for thefc reafons, the defign was relinquinied. 
 
 Mr. Barlow, however, was led by the fatne anxiety for promoting the welfare 
 of the two countries, to fuggeft the idea of a Commercial Treaty, between the 
 Company and the Vizier, founded on principles of mutual benefit. The idea 
 v/as approved of; and he entered on the negotiation with Hyder Beg Khawn, 
 who feemed, in feveral converfations which took place between them, to be con- 
 vinced by Mr. Barlow's arguments, of the benefits which would refult to both 
 parties from fuch a Treaty, as well as of the pernicious tendency of the impolitic 
 and oppreffive mode, in which the Vizier's duties on the trade of his own terri- 
 tories were levied. Whether Hyder Beg Khawn's confent to the Treaty pro- 
 ceeded from his convlftion of the folidity of Mr. Barlow's arguments ; or whe- 
 ther, though convinced, perhaps, of their truth, he was too indifferent about 
 the real profperity of the country, to be influenced by them, and merely alTented, 
 
 G
 
 [ 22 ] 
 
 in the hope of ingratiating himftif, for the time, with the new Governor General, 
 may admit of a doubt : his fubfcquent condudr, which feemed to me to manifeft 
 an indifference to the fuccefs of all meafures for the encouragement of trade, or 
 the general good of the country, made, I acknowledge, a ftrong impreffion of the 
 latter fuppofition on my mind. But however this may be, both Lord Cornwallis 
 and Mr. Barlow were perfuaded, and had reafon at the time to be fo, that his 
 eyes were opened, and his profefEons (incere: and certainly, whatever were his 
 motives, force was entirely out of the queftion ; as I fhall make ftill farther 
 evident. 
 
 By the latter end of September 1787, when Lord Cornwallis, who was on his 
 way up the country to yifit the military ftations, arrived at Lucnow, Mr. Barlow 
 had fettled moft of the articles of the intended Treaty ; though fome points, and 
 thofe of no inconfiderable moment, remained to be adjufted. The principal of 
 thefe were the abolition of theRohilcund, theEtawah, and the Furruckabad im- 
 port duties, and the allowing to merchants, travelling from the Company's domi- 
 nions, to Oude, the privilege of applying for a redrefs of their complaints through 
 the Company's Refidenr. Lord Cornwallls's Hay at Lucnow was too (hort, to allow 
 of his concluding the negotiation in perfon ; and as Mr. Barlow returned to the 
 prefidency with him, it was entrufted to me, who was left behind astheRefident: 
 and here, I may aflc whether the commencement of the bufinefs by Mr. Barlow, 
 the difcontinuance of all progrefs in it, while Lord Cornwallis was on the fpot, 
 and the entrufting of the final adjuftment to the new Refident, be not wholly incon- 
 fitlent with the fuppofition, which is made by the writer of the letters, that " the 
 " Treaty was prefented to the Vizier with merely a conge delire, or rather not 
 " fo much; and that it would have been much more agreeable to truth, if the 
 " opening of the Treaty had began, like other official informations, with by 
 " order of the Governor General" But farther— in Lord Cornwallis's inftrudtions 
 to me, for continuing the negotiation, which are dated the 30th of November 
 1787, the arguments (drawn from policy, and reciprocity of facrifices), which 
 I fhould make ufe of to overcome the objeftions ftarted by the Minifterto the 
 points in queftion, were laid down for my guidance; and I was particularly en- 
 joined to be " careful to adopt, in my conferences, the language of negotiation:" 
 " for," added his Lordfhip, " I do not widi that my influence fhould be made 
 •' ufe of in obtaining his confent to thefe arrangements ; or that he (hould imagine 
 " they had any other objed in view, but that of diffufing profperity, and afflu- 
 " ence, throughout our refpedlive ftates."
 
 [ 23 ] 
 
 By what fteps the negotiation proceeded, it is ncedlefs to detail. Suffice it to 
 fay that it was condufted in the manner prefcribed to me ; that the Mmiftcr gave 
 up his objcftions to the mode propofed of preferring complaints through the Re- 
 fident; and that though he was perfuaded to indude Furruckabad, and Etawah 
 in the Treaty, yet he perfiftcd in his determination to except Rohilcund. The 
 negotiation was, by the difcuffion of thefe points, fpun out to a confidcrable length; 
 fo that the Treaty was not figned till July 1788, between feven or eight months 
 after I received the orders to take up the bufinefs where Mr. Barlow had left it ; 
 fo little had it of that eafe and difpatch, with which, an inftrument iflued by the 
 fole authority of the Governor General, would have been expedited. 
 
 One miftake, into which I conceive the author of the letters to have fallen, 
 fliU remains to be noticed. I mean the fiippofed infringement of the Treaty, to 
 the prejudice of the Vizier, by the Bengal Government's preventing the impor- 
 tation of fait into the Company's provinces. " In the Treaty" he fays, " it is 
 " agreed upon that all articles not mentioned (under which head, comes fait) 
 " ihould pay an import duty of five per cent." " Surely," continues he, « this 
 «' implies a toleration of fuch articles." However plaufible this reafoning may 
 be on a curfory view, yet on a more attentive confideration of the fubjeft, itmuft, 
 I think, appear that the claufe, which he has quoted, cannot authorize the importa- 
 tion of an article, as fait is, that was before prohibited, and known to be prohibited 
 To have legalized the importation of this article, the preamble of the Treaty, 
 inftead of imputing the lofles and inconveniences, which the merchants trading be- 
 tween the dominions of the contrafting parties, had experienced, to the Wjj 
 duties collefted on their merchandize, and to the mde of levying the fame, (hould 
 have fet forth theloffes and inconveniences to have arifen, in part at leaft, from 
 prohibitiom; and there fhould have been a claufe in the body of the Treaty, for 
 authorizing the importation of merchandize of all kinds. This fingle obfervation 
 is, I truft. fufficient to exonerate the Bengal Government from any charge of a 
 breach of Treaty. 
 
 I (hall not attempt to follow Civis in his arguments refpeding the Company's 
 monopoly of fdt, and its efrefts on the inhabitants of their own provinces. 
 Befides its being foreign to my purpofe, which is confined to the affairs of Oude. 
 it is a fubjedl, of which 1 confefs myfelf to be by no means a mafter ; though I 
 know that it has been frequently and amply difcuffed by the mod able pens and 
 tongues, from the time of Lord Clive ; and though I recoiled that, on a perufal
 
 [ ^4 ] 
 
 of the arguments on both fides of the queftion, I was formerly of opinion, that 
 notvvithftanding it certainly is a monopoly in the firft inftance, yet it is fo modi- 
 fied, as to be free from thofe bad effeds on the inhabitants of the Company's pro- 
 vinces, which generally attend monopolies. But as far as the Vizier h concerned, 
 it will, I prefume, admit of no difpute, that it would be highly unreafonable in 
 him, to expedt that a fyftem, which produces the Company an immenfe revenue, 
 fhould be relinquiflied for the fake of giving him the comparatively paltry profit, 
 arifing from the coUeftion of a duty on fuch fait (for his own country produces 
 none) as may pafs from the weftward, through his dominions, towards the Com- 
 pany's territories. 
 
 That the abolition of all duties whatever would be a mofl definable objedt, 
 did not the neceflities of nations compell them to have rccourfe to their impofi- 
 tion, is too obvious to fl:and in need of argument. But conftituted as the world 
 now is, the moft enlightened governments mult be content with moderating the 
 export duties, which they levy on the productions and manufactures of their own 
 country, and with negotiating with foreign ftates for moderating the import 
 duties, which fuch ftates have a right to coUefl: on the merchandife, upon its 
 entering their territories. 
 
 Between the dominions of the Vizier and the Company, all that appears ne- 
 ceflary to be done in regard to the import duties, is provided for by the commer- 
 cial Treaty : and in refpeft to the export duties, the Company's reprefentatives 
 have had the wifdom to fix them at fuch rates, as not to overburthen their fub- 
 jefts. The Vizier's Miniflers have not as yet (at leaft, they had not, when I 
 left India) fufficiently overcome the prejudices of their country, which but too 
 often lead to the deltrudion of the hen that lays the golden eggs, to follow the 
 Company's example : but that they may do fo, is as fincerely my wifli, as it is 
 that of Civis, with whom alfo I perfectly agree in the leading idea of the con- 
 cluding fentence of his third letter, viz. that a free trade (by which I merely 
 mean a trade free from unreafonable, arbitrary, and illegal exaftions and obftruc- 
 tions) and a juft government, are all that is required to make the Vizier's do- 
 minions a very profperous and happy country. 
 
 Litchfield, Hants, 
 Nov. 30, 1796.
 
 [ 25 ] 
 
 P. S. Ci vis's cftiinates, ftatements, and plans for effefting a reform in the 
 civil, military, and commercial affairs of Oude, I do not conceive myfelf, in 
 the private fituation to which I have retired, called upon to appreciate; and 
 therefore as I may not, pe.haps, be in pofleffion of all the materials neccflary to 
 do the fubjeft juftice, and as the examining and digefling of fuch as I have, 
 would take up more time than 1 can well fpare, I refrain from touching on thofe 
 points. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 11
 
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