V I E W

OF THE

RISE, PROGRESS,

AND

PRESENT STATE

OF THE

ENGLISH GOVERNMENT

I N

BENGAL:

INCLUDINGA

REPLY to the MISREPRESENTATIONS of Mr. BOLTS,

and other WRITERS.

By H A R R Y V E R E L S T, Efq.

Late Governor of BENGAL.

Difficilius eft provincias obtinere, quam facerc.
Viribus parantur, jure retinentur.

Flori, Lib. IV. C. 12.

f?45 14

LONDON,

Printed for J. Nourse, Bookfeller to HIS MAJESTY, in the Strand j

Brotherton and Sewell, in Comhill ; G.Robinson, in Pater-nofter Row j

and T. Evans, in King-ftreet, Covent-garden.

MDCCLXXII.

3 '^ <? y5*

GLOSSARY.

/]Bt) ALLA Shah, king of tlie Durannies. — Abdalla, in Arabic, fignifics the flave

"^ of God, from Abd, a flave, and Alia, the name or attribute of God ; and Shah
implies king.

Afghans are thofe tribes of Mahommedans who inhabit the northern parts of India,
called foiTietimes Pattans, and efteemed the bell foldiers in the country.

Anna, the fixteenth part of a rupee.

AJfdmmies, dependents, or any perfons on whom a claim is made.

Attach, the name of a river that feparates the province of Lahore from Peifhor, the
flream of which is moftly fo very rapid, that there is but one place where an army
can conveniently pafs it.

Aumeen, a Supra-vilbr, or officer employed by the government to examine and re-
gulate the ftate of the revenues of any diftrid:.

>a ' Aumlldar, 5 meendar.

\\ . Aurungs, places where goods are manufaftured for fale.

J Aumll, 1 An officer of the revenues, inferior to both an Aumeen, and Ze-

Banyan, a Gentoo fervant, employed in the management of commercial affairs.
Barjdut, an opprcffive cuftom of forcing the natives to buy goods beyond the market

price.
Bdtta, exchange, alfo diet money, allowed to the troops in the field.
Bazar, or market, where all articles of life and luxury are daily fold.
Begum, a princefs, a title given to every lady of rank.
Begah, a mcafure of land ; — fee note at the bottom of page 22i of the Appendix, for

a particular explanation of this meafuremcnt.
Beetle-leaf, the name of an aromatic leaf, growing like a vine, which the natives of
joii India of all ranks conftanrly chew, with the nut called beetle-nut, and other in-

^ gredients, between their meals.

Beetle- nut, the nut of a tall flender tree, eat with the beetle-leaf.

Bercunddjs, a match-lock man.

Board, in this publication always implies the governor and council at Fort William

in Bengal.
Btixy, or rather Btikfhy, a pav-mafter.

* A 2 C.

358044

GLOSSARY.

C. '

Cal/drry, a fait work.

Cano'iigoes, regifters of the Subah or province appointed by the fovereign.

Cntvi:, properly Khan, a lord, a title given to every man of rank.

Chokies, vvatch-houfes ; alfo places appointed in different parts of the country for col-

lefting the public cuftoms and duties upon all branches of foreign and inland

trade, paffing through thofe diftrifts, not included in duftuck privileges.
Cbckeyddr, the officer of a guard.

Cbcut, a fourth part. Commonly ufed for the tribute of the fourth part of the re-
venues which the Maharattas have endeavoured to imnofe on the Subah of

Bengal.
Chouidrry, a Bengal corruption of Chout.
Choivdrahs, land-holders, in the next rank to Zcmeen-dars.
Chuklah, the jurifdidion of a Fouzdar, who receives the rents from the Zemeen-dars,

and accounts for t.,em with the government.
Chundr-gur, a very ftrong fortrefs belonging to the Nabob Sujah al Dowlah, in the

jirovince of Oud, within about 7 cofs of Benares.
Chundm, lime.

Comdj- lands, leaving no native tenants, are lands cultivated by contradl.
Cofs lands, are lands under the immediate fuperintendence of government, for want

of farmers.
Cofs or Cofe, a meafure they commonly compute diftances by in India, and is about

two geometrical miles, or 4000 yards.
Ccoley, a day-labourer.
Cowries, fhells that pafs for money in Bengal, 80 cowries are called a pun, and froiir-

50 to 60 puns are commonly the value of a rupee.
Cuj}ore, an allowance upon the exchange of rupees, in contradiftinftion to Batta. <

Cuuherry, a court of juftice; alfo the office into which the rents are delivered.
Culivdll, an inferior officer of the police, whofe bufinefs is to try and decide petty

mifdemeanors.

Dddney, money advanced for goods.

Ddndee, a waterman or rower.

Duivks, flacioned letter-carriers, at ftages of about 10 miles diflance, for the convc-
ing of letters exprefs.

Dekll or Dalldl, a broker. — See Pykar.

Dsudn, — for a defcri[)tion of both the original and prefent idea of this office, fee Ap-
pendix, pag. 136, paragraphs 13 and 14.

Detvdn-conna, the Dewan's court or office.

Deivdnny, fee Aj^pendix, pag. 41.

Dcrcoldji Purgunnahs, v/hole or entire purgtmnahs, which depend entirely on a fingle
Zeineen-dar.

Dhee, the ancient limits of any village or parifli; thus Dhee Calcutta means only that
part which was originally inhabited.

Do,^a, or Daroga, an overfeer or fuperintendcnt.

Dufter-con.ia^ the office for keeping the government's accounts. — In common ufage, any
office or compring-houfc.

Lu'bdr, the court of any great man.

Dujldie,

GLOSSARY.

Btiftore, a cuftom or fee.

Dtijluck, a pallport, or permit: ; but ufually implies the jiafl'port given by the governor
of Fort William, or the chiefs of the Engliih faftories, for the goods of the com-
pany or their fcrvanrs, which exempts them from the payment of duties. — Sec
Chokies.

Firmdun, litterally fignifics an order, biu is ufed for a patent or grant from the empe-
ror ; — and, among the Engliih, always means the charter which the company
obtained from the king Furrukhfeer, by which they hold their privileges.

Ferd Huckeekiit, a manifelt or memorial.

F^rd Sawcil, a petition.

Fowzddr, the chief magiftrate of a large diftridt, called a Chuklah. — See Chuklah.

Odut, a landing-place where cuftoms are ufuallv colledfcd.

Gaut-barry, or Kat-barra, a tax levied upon boats at the Gauts, or Chokies.

Ghazi al din KhanS\gx\\'nQS the illuftrious champion of religion. — This great but wicked

prince was the vizier who murdered the father of the prefent emperor of Hindoo-

Itan, in 1760.
Ghee, clarified butter.
Colah, a warehoufe, ufually conftrudted with mat or mud walls, and covered with

thatch, for keeping grain, fait, &c.
Ccmaftah, a Wack agent or fadfor. — See Pykars.
Gunge, a market principally for grain.
Ciinmes, coarfe canvafs, for bags, wrappers, &c.
Guzerbdun, an officer who collcfts the cuftoms at the ferries.

Hattt, a market on ftated days.

Hazdrry, a commander of gun-men, literally a commander of a thoufand.

Higtra, or Hijr^, the flight of Mahommed from Mecca to Medina, from which the
Mahommedan sra commences, happened on the i6th July, A. D. 622.

Hircdrra, a fpy.

Hindoftdn, India is known in the Eaft by the name of Hindoo-ftau, which fignifies
the country of the Hindoos or fwarthy people ; Hindoo being Iwarthv or black,
and Stan a country. The capital whereof is Dehly, which, fince Shah Jehan re-
moved the feat of empire thither from Agra, in the year 1647, is ufually known
in the Eaft by the name of Shah Jehan-abad, or Shah Jehan's habitation ; as
Agra is often called Akbar-abad, or Shah Akbar's habitation; and is about 44
meafured Cofs from Dehly.

Hujb-id-hook'm, a patent or order, under the feal of the Vizier, with thcfe initial words
fignifying " according to the command."

Huck A'wazeeriit, the fees of the \'izier.

Hujlaboods, rent-rolls, of either a grand divifion or lefter diftrldfs of land.

Hyder-aldd, the capital of J>Jizam Ally, Soubah of the Deccan ; it was formerly
called Bhagnagur, and is about 371 miles diftant from Dehly. There is a caftle

GLOSS A R Y,

in this province called Golcondit, by which name the whole province is ufually
known in Europe. Hyder-abad fignifics the habitation or refidence of Hydcr,.
the Arabic appellative for a lion, a title often given to men of rank in the Eaft.

JJlam, which literally fignifics fafety, ufually means the true faith, according to Ma-

hommcdans.
Jagbeer, an allignment of any part of the revenues of the flate for military fervice.
Jungles., or rather Junguls, thickets of wood, high grafs, or reeds.
Jiimnia, valuation.
Ji'imma bund_\\ a rent-roll.
Jcmmdut-dar, or Jamadar, a military commander ; alfo the head op fuperintcndcnt of

the peons in the Sevvuury, or train of any great man.

Kdtlarra, fee Gaut-barry.

Kazzee, or Kclzy, the chief magiftrate appointed to adminifter juftice in all caufcs t*"

the Mahommedans, according to their written law ; he being generally a perfoti

of the greateft repute and learning, a copy of any writing attefted by him is

authentic.
Kelliiy a fort, or citadel.
Kelladar, the governor of a fort.
Kerria, a pariih or village.
Khdlfa Shereefa, whatever accounts belong immediately to the em[)eror are called

Khalfa ; the word Shereefa added to it, implies noble or magnificent.
Kijfmitt, a divifion ; — Kerria Kijfmut, part of a parifli, being fuch a proportion as is

included in the Sunnud.
Kijl, the amount of a flated payment.
Kijlbund-je, an agreement for the ll;ated payments of a fum of money, to be difcharged

at different times.
Krcre, a hundred lacks, or ten millions.

Lack of Rupees, or one hundred thoufand : a rupee Is a filvcr coin, firuck in the
Moghul mints, with^an infcription of his name and titles, the year of his reign,
and the j^lace ic was coined at. There arc various fpecies of rupees annually
coined in India, diflbring a little in both weight and quality. The befl are the
Siccas of the current year, worth about 2^. bd. fterling. Sec Sun.

M^hdf, any land, or a public fund, yielding a revenue to the government.
Mahal Stri'ii, the women's apartments.

Mahomm'd, whicii (\gn\?[e% praifed, is prefixed (or undcrftood to be fo) to almofl: every
Mull' Inian's name. It is a Tetragrammaton, or word of four letters ; namely,
M'tn, Hha, Mint, Dal, which, with the T'f/Z'J/i/ over the latter M/w to fliew it
• lufi be doubled, properly make five charafters.
;Vry, vlic land-revenue.

:ja, fignifics the great prince ; Maha being great or mighty in the Sanfkerrect
. . IJramin's language, znd. Rajah, prince.

Manjee^

Q h o a S A R V.

Manjec, the helmfman of a boat.

Mamhan, ox Mangon, a tax or impofuion levied by the officers of the Chokeys and

• Gautj, as a perquifite for thcinfelves and Zenieciulars.
Maundy a variable weight. In Bengal from 72 to 80 lb.
Mohiir, a fealj alfo a gold rupee of variable value, worth from 12 to 16 filvcr'

rupees.
Mohooree, any writer, or under clerk, among the natives in Bengal.
Molmghee, a worker of fait.

Moiiza, a parifh or village ; but properly fignifies a place.

Milkkaudum, a fuperiour officer of the revenues in a village, the fame as Chcwdry.
Miln/hy, a fecretary for the Perfian language.
Mmfub, a dignity, or title.
Mutchilkah, a written obligation;
Milfnud, an elevated place of diftindtion in the Durbar, covered with a cloth, or

carpet, for the prince to fit on ; alfo a throne.
Muda/eddee, a general name for all officers employed in taking the accounts of the

government, or of any pcrfon of confequence.

Nabob, (proTperly Navdb, being the plural of Naib) a title given to every perfon of

noble rank. By pre-eminence it is generally ufcd to fignify the Nazlm.
Naib, a deput}'.
Muncdr, or rather Nancdr, an allowance in an affignment upon the revenues, or the

lands themfelves, given as charity for the relief of the poor.
Nazim, the firfl officer of a province, in whofe hands the executive power is lodged ;

by way of diftindtion he is flylcd the Subah-dar, or Nabob.
Naic, a fubaltern officer of the Sepoys,, of the rank of a corporal.
Neabut, a deputyfliip.
Niizzer, a prefent to a fuperior.
Niizzer-dnna^ a fum paid to the government, as an acknowledgment for a grant of

lands, or any public office.
NizamiUy the office, or poll of a Nazim.

Omrab, plural of the Arabic Ameer, which fignifies prince, is a title given to all the
nobility of the firll; rank in the Mogul empire.

PeoH, a footman, or attendant, armed with fword and target.

Purgunnah, or Fergana, the largefl divifion of land in a Zcmecn-darrv.

Pcrwdnnah, a grant, or letter under a great feal, from any man of power to a de-
pendent.

Pejhatjh, a tribute paid to the crown, as an acknowledgment for any tenure.

Poddr, a money-changer, or teller, under a Shroff.

Pulwar, a light boat ufed for difpatches.

Pyke, a watchman employed as a guard at night.

Poonah, the time for adjufting the eflimate of the revenues to be coUedied the cn-
fuing year. — See Appendix, page 136, paragraph 14.

PoltahSy

GLOSSARY.

Pottahs, leafes containing the quantity of land pofrcflcd by each farmer, and the

amount of rent with v/hich it is charged.
Pykdrs, (Del/oh, and Gomdjiahs) are a chain of agents through whofe hands the.ar-

•ticles of merchandize pafs from the loom of the manufadrurer, or the ftore-

houfe of the cultivator, to the public merchant, or exporter.
Panjdb, or Paajdab, the ancient name of the province of Lahore ; it fignifies the

five waters or rivers, fo many running through that province, and falling into

the river Scind, known in Europe by the name of Indus.

Rdjah, a title g;lven to every Gentoo of rank, —in the Indian language fignifying

prince : — originally it was appropriated only to the principal Zemeen-dars.
Rdnnee, princefs.

Rowdna, a paflport or certificate from the collcflor of the cuftoms.
Roy royan, the principal officer under the Dewan, who has the immediate change of

the crown lands.
R:J[d'a, an independent corps of horfe,
Rijfdldar, the commander of fuch a corjis.

Rupee, a filver coin worth about is. td. — See Lack of Rupees. See alfj Sun.
Ryot, or Reiat, a tenant or farmer.
Refident at the Durbar; for a defcrijnion of the nature and duties of this office, fee

Appendix, page 137, paragraphs 15 and 16.
Ryolty lands, or lands farmed out, tenanted and cultivated by the natives on the

fpot.

S.
Seer, the fortieth part of a Maund.
Sepoy, a foldier. — This word is generally ufcd for the Indian infantry, difciplined after

the European manner.
Sirdi, a baiting place for travellers.

Se-ui-dury, the train of attendants who accompany any principal perfon on the road.
Sezaivdul, the fame as Tahfildar. — An officer employed at a monthly falary to collcdt

the revenues.
Sbab, king, or emperor.
Shab Aalum, or jlllum, (the title of the prcfent emperor of liindoftan,) fignifies king

of the world.
Stab zada, the king's Ion, or more properly royally born; becaufc it is a title equally

applied to both the fons and daughters of kings.
Sberhf, noble, magnificent.

Shroff, pro])erly Seraf, a banker, or money-changer.
Sicca, any new coin; k me^ins Jlampt or fea led; but is particularly ufcd lor the ftand-

ard filver rupee of the Bengal mints.
Sicddr, the collcdlor of the rents of a village.
Sircdr, the ftate or government. — In coinmon ufage in Bengal, the under Banyans

of I'Airopcan gentlemen arc .called Sircars.
Sirddr, or Surddr, a chief, leader, or commander.
Subdh, a province; improperly ufcd for the Subahdar ; and is the fame as Suhahjljip,

Subahddrry, or hHzamut,
Subahdar, the governor of a province, or literally a holder of a Stibab ; the fame as

Nabob, or Nazim. — Alio the black commander of a company of Sfcpo)s.

Suiabdarry,

GLOSSARY.

^uhahddrry, or Sul/ah/in'p, the office of a Suhahdar.

Sun, the year : thus Siccas of the ift, 2cl, or 3d Sun, are the flandard filvcr rupees

of the I ft, 2d, or 3d year of a prince's reign; which is marked on the coin.

Sec Lack of Rupees.
Siinnudy a grant-
Sundty properly Sumvaut, rupees of old dates, on which a difcount is allowed.

Talook, a fmall Zemeen-darry.

Talook-ddr, the Zemecn-dar of a fmall diftridt.

Tahfildar, or Seza-ivaiil, an officer employed for a monthly falary to collcft the reve-
nues.

Tankfdll, a mint.

Tdnna, a fmall fort.

Tanna-dar, a commander of a fmall fort.

Tcep, a note of hand.

Tdinga, a Sepoy ; fo called from a country of that name, from whence the firft Se-
poys were probably enliftcd.

Tcffndl, a collection of Callarrys, or fait pans.

Tomtom, a name vulgarly given to the Indian drums ufed In proclamations, and re-
joycings.

Tuncdw, an affignment.

Ujumgdu, properly AUtim-ghnti, an allowance paid from the revenues to religious, or
learned men.

Vakeel, an attorney, or agent.
Vizariity the poft, or office of ^'izicr.

JVadaddr, an officer of the collesftions.

Tejfawdul, a ftate mclTcngcr.

Zemeen, land.

Zemeen-ddr, literally a land-holder, accountable to government for the revenue.
Zemeen ddrry, the office of a Zemeen-dar, or the lands held by him.
Zenana, belonging to women, the woman's apartment, the Seraglio.

The compiler of this Gloffiary has not hefitated to avail himfelf of the gloflaries
of Mr. Vanfittart, Mr. Bolts, and other writers on India afiairs ; as they have been
found, in general, fufficiently explanatory of the articles is queftion.

€' O- N T E N T S,

k-.»

INTRODUCTION.

Containing a Refutation of fuch Parts of " Confiderations on India Af-
fairs," as are not referred to any general Diviiion of this Woric, — Page i

CHAP. I.

A general View of tlie Affairs of Bengal from the Capture of Calcutta,
in 1757, to the Grant of the Dewanny to the Englifli Company in

i765> 43

CHAP. II.

Diforders in the Colleftion of the Revenues of Bengal before they belong-
ed to the Englifli Eaft India Company, and the Caufes which impeded
a: Reformation, — — 64.

CHAP. III.
Tiie Money and Coinage of Bengal, — — ► 84

CHAP. W.

The Society eftablifhed in the year 1 yS^, for conducing the Trade In

Salt, Beetle-nutj and Tobacco, — — — — 10.3

C H A F. V,

The impoflibllity of introducing Englifli Laws into Bengal, with fome
Obfervations on the Nature of thofe Regulations which the Manners and.
Habits of the Natives may admit, — — ■ — '39'

CONTENTS OF the APPENDIX.

No. I. toXXlI. inclufive. Page

Comprehending a complete detail of the Sclcdl Committee's correfpcnd-
ence with the Court of Directors, during Lord Clive's and Mr. ■\^erellV5
governments in Bengal ; except a Letter dated September 13th, 1768,
omitted from the want of a cjrrcd: copy, — — — I — 97

No. XXIIL to XXVIIL inclufive.
Extrafts of Letters from Mr. Verelfl to the Court of Dirccftors, during his
■D-overnment in Bengal, relative to the commercial and political intcrefts
of the country, — — — — — 98 — 1:5

No. XXIX. to XXXIV. inclufive.
Extracts of Letters from the Court of Diretftors to the Council and Seleft
Committee, &c. at Fort William in Bengal ; — from June 1764, to May
iy56; — on relative fubjedts, — — — 127 — 135

No. XXXVII. to LX. inclufive.
Copies of Treaties and Grants from the Countr\- Towers to the Eaft India
Companv, refpedting their Prcfidency at Fort William in Bengal, from
the Year 1756 to 1766, — — — 14c — 1 74

No. 61. to 62. inclufive.
Petitions to the Mayor's Court of Calcutta, refpedting the Suit of Coja

Parfcek Arratoon — Armenian, againft Tom Lewis, and others, 174 — 175

No. 6.3.
Petition of the Native Inhabitants of Calcutta, to the Governor and Coun-
cil of Fort William, not to be tried by Engliih Laws, dated March
1765. __ — — — — 177

No. 64. to 93. inclufi\^.
Extrafls of public and private Letters, Confultations, Seled Committee

Proceedings, &c. rcfpcding Gomaftahsor Agents, — 179 — 191

No. 94. to i 30. inclufive.
Extracts of public and private Letters, Confultations, Seledt Committee

Proceedings, Sec. refpecling Mr. Bolts, — — 19 1 — 212

No. 131. to 134. inclufive.
Copies and Extracts of Letters, Selcdt Committee Proceedings, &c.

ref^icCting the Revenues of Bengal, — — — 212 — 224

No. 135. to 141. inclufive.
Copies and Extrafts of Letters, Confultations, he. refpeifting the Gold

Coinages, eftabiiflied in Bcngalin 1766 and 1769, — — 239 — 245

No. 142. to 145. inclufive.
Extracts of Letters, Confultations, &c. refpcdting the Society for carrying

on the Salt, &c. trade, 248—231

INTRODUCTION,

CONTAINING

A Refutation of fuch Parts of " Confiderations on India
Affairs" as are not referred to any general Divifion of
this Work.

THE power and dominion acquired within a few years by the
Englifh Eaft India company, the great importance of their pof-
feflions to the wealth and profperity of Great Britain, the im-
menfe revenue derived to the flate from their commerce, have at length
awakened the public attention. An univerfal defire feems now to pre-
vail of obtaining information upon this important fubjedt. The mate-
rials of knowledge, however, are fcarce. Few publications appear which
are not didated by private paffion, or interefled views. An envy more-
over, attending the large fortunes acquired by forae individuals, has given
an eafy credit to the moft extravagant aflertions of malice, or difap-
pointed ambition. To remove in fome degree an impreffion fo injurious
to individuals, fo ruinous to the public intereft, is the objeft of the fol-
lowing flieets ; and without pretending to greater virtue than other wri-
ters, I fliall add, that neither the time nor occafion will admit a wilful
mifreprefentation, which muft foon be expofed to detedion.

*B The

2 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

The confufion in which " Confiderations on India Affairs," pub-
lifhed by Mr. Boks, are ftitdioufly involved, affords abundant opportuni-
ties to pervert the truth ; and is in itfelf therefore but an indifferent ar-
gument in favour of the author's candor. At the fame time this la-
boured diforder effedlually precludes me, who wifh to inform, from fol-
lowing that writer through all his undigefted mafs of multifarious and
libellous mifreprefentation. Should I content myfelf with giving order
and arrangement to the little work, which is now fubmitted to the pub-
lic eye, an intelligent reader would find therein a fufficient refutation of
what Mr. Bolts has thought fit to advance. The hiftorical dedudion,
for inftance, in the firfi: chapter, mufl: demolifli his reprefentation of po-
litical tranfadlions, by proving thofe a<fls of the feled: committee to have
flowed from a fenfe of duty, and knowledge of the public intereft, which
that gentleman has attributed to malignant paffions, or to yet meaner
motives.

The fame obfervation will apply to every part of his book; and even
the laft chapter of the prefent work, which has no appearance of being a
direcl anfwer, may yet ferve to prove, that many favourite pofitions, drawn
from the laws and manners of Great Britain, are mere words, when
applied to a very different fituation of thinge in Bengal. But as many
readers will not give themfelves, the trouble td confider tlie fubje£l in this
\'iew, it will be neceffary, before I enter upon the execution of my own
plan, to examine that chaos of invedlive, which is fo written by Mr. Bolts
as to admit little order in the comment.

To mifreprefent the plained fubjedls is no very difficult tafk. " It is a
" falfe way of reafoning againft religion," lays the prefident Montef-
quieu, " to colled a long detail of all the evils it has produced." Hif-
tory will, undoubtedly, acquaint us with innumerable mifchicfs, which
fecm to have flowed from this fource. Yet religion, or a knowledge of
thofe relations, which tlie Creator has cftabliflicd, is the fource of all mo-
ral obligation ; and the fear of his dilpleafure, the beff fandion of thofe
laws, which the finger of the Deity has thus prcfcribed to man. In ri-
dicule

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 3

dlcule of fuch attempts, an efTay was compofed fome few years fmcc hy a
very ingenious writer, who produced a long catalogue of mifchicls
ariling from civil eftablifliments ; and afFedted, with great gravity, ^^
evince, that the abolition of all government would be produiSive of pri-
vate happinefs. He fo far fucceeded, that a learned bifliop employed
much time in refuting this formidable antagonift, without once recolle£t-
ing, that the experience of mankind had already decided the queftion,
by eRnhViQimg /ome government in every corner of the earth. To come
nearer home, the wits of this ifland have found fo large a field for the
exercife of their talents in the praftice of Weftminfter Hall, that there
are not wanting perfons, who think juflice fhould be adminiflered with us,
as it is in Turkey, forgetting that a government iry law has alone raifed
Great Britain to preeminence among the kingdoms of Europe, and
made her profperity the admiration and en\^ of furrounding nations. If
fubjefts the mofl: interefling to mankind, on which they have added ex-
perience to theory, are neverthelefs fo open to mifreprefentation, what
mull be the condition in this refpcd: of a nafcent, unfettled ftate, where
all dom.inion, after the confufion of fuccefhve revolutions, is transferred
to a few ftrangers, and where the conquerors, living under their own
laws of freedom amidfl a nation of flaves, exhibit a fituation without
parallel in hiftory ?

It muft be evident that fo great a change would extort many adls
from the governor and council in Bengal, which were not ftridly within
the intention of the legiflature, when powers were granted to the com-
pany with a view to occafions, very different from thofe which have
fmce arifen. Thus, to counteradl the eftabiifhment of an Oftend com-
pany, the three nations * poffcffed of the Eaft India commerce forbad
their refpedlive fubjed;s to engage in a foreign fervice. The exclufive
trade of our company had before been fecured by penalties to be reco-
vered in England ; but upon this occafion the legiflature authorized the
company to f feize any Britifh fubjed who fhall Jail, go, or repair to

* Great Britain, France, and Holland.
t 5 Geo. 1. ch. 21.

B 2 the

4 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

the Eaft Indies contrary to la-".y. Within four years, two more * ads
palled, by which, among other provifions, it is enadted, that all fuch
perfons who go to the Eafl Indies, fhall be deemed traders, and, confe-
quently fubjedt to the feveral penalties inflided upon perfons under that
defcription. The company are moreover authorized to feize, and bring
to England, all unlicenfed perfons who fliall go to or be found i?i India.
Thefe provifions, derived plainly from a commercial jealoufy, the com-
,pany have fmce made the means of impolmg fuch conditions upon the
free merchant and others in Bengal, as were found from experience to be
neceffary for the fafety of the country, and protedion of its inhabitants.

When, for inftance, the power of the Englifh nation gave efFed to
ufurpations of the private trader, who decided his own claims, oppreffing
the natives, and threatening the officers of government, if they pre-
fumed to interfere, fueceffive governors of different parties agreed in the
neceffity of confining the free merchant to the company's \ prefidency.
This regulation, which all approved, and which reiterated orders of the
diredors confirmed, was made a condition of reiidence under the com-
pany's protedion.

Thus alfo, when frequent complaints were made by Sujah al Dow-
lah, nabob of Oude, of numberlefs oppreffions committed by Englifh
agents, who, contrary to treaty ip, traded in his dominions, the go-
vernor and council iffued general prohibitions ; yet Mr. Bolts reprefents
all thcfe regulations, founded on the mpft evident neceffity, as expedients Xo
opprefs particular individuals; and afTuming afterwards hia own affertion as

* 7 Geo. I. cl). 21. 9 Geo- I. ch. 26.

Thcfc laws were temporary, and have been prolonged from time to time. It is remarkable
that all offences againfl; thefc are excepted out of the general pardon fo late as 20 Geo. II.

t Company's fervants were, of courfe, confined to their feveral ftations.

X When peace was concluded, it was intended to have Eiiglifli fa(ftories in the dominions
of Oude, but .Sujah al Dowlah reprefentcd, that a private trade in his dominions muft neceil'a-
rily be productive of difputcs with the Englifli, and would probably end in his deflrudtion, as
it had before ruined Mecr Coffim. A chuife, flipulatlng a free commerce for the company
was infertcd in the treaty, but Sujah al Dowlah was giicn to imderftand, that this right fliouKl
not be cxcrcifcd without pofitive orders from Englnnd ; and that no Englifh private traders
Ihould, on any account, be permitted in his dominions.

a truth,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 5

a truth, he makes this curious refleftion *", " It is true, that fuch reflric-
" tions have never been laid but upon particular perfons whom the com-
" pany defigned to opprefs and crufh. But how miferable and defpicable
*' muft that ftatc of the government of the company's aflairs be, wherein
«' the general fyftem of juflice is flopped or perverted for the fake of op-
" prefling an individual." Without denying the inference, it is impoffible
to admit the fadl. " It is irue,'" that one trader, and only one, who
had committed many enormities, for which the fevereft punifliment
was juftly due ; who had been reprimanded by the directors ; whofe con-
dudt had been equally obnoxious to fucceffive unconneded governors;
who had threatened the officers of the country government for attempting
to difcharge their duty; who had traded contrary to public treaties in the
dominions of Sujah al Dowlah; who by repeated promifes to withdraw this
trade, had obtained letters from the governor to the fubah of Oude, re-
quefting that every affiftance might be given in colledling his efFeds ; who,
difregarding his own voluntary repeated promifes, had perfevered in this
commerce, and by his intrigues endangered the peace of India: // is true
that fuch a man, after a delay of nearly two years, was feized, and fent to
Europe. But it will not neceflarily follow from the admiffion of fuch a fadt
that " the general fyftem of juftice is flopped or perverted for the fike of
oppreffing an individual." It is true, Kkewife, that feveral officers who had
endeavoured to difljand the whole army in Bengal, by a general combination
to refign their commiffions in one day, were deemed dangerous in India ;
and refufing voluntarily to depart, were therefore fent by force to Europe.
Mr. Bolts labours through more than twenty pages to prove this power of
feizing perfons illegal. But even the doubts, which have always attended
the exercife of this power, prove it not to have been the wanton inftrument
of oppreffion. The very few inftances to be found regard fuch f perfons
as could not interfere with any private interefts of the governor and coun-
cil ; and it is utterly incredible, that thefe gentlemen would rifque their
own fortunes by an adl which muft come before an Englifti jury, unlefs
the duty of their ftations exaded fuch condud at their hands. Then in-
deed they might juftly exped protedion from the purfe of the company.

* Confiderations, p. 73. f Moflly military men.-

Could

6 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Gould we even believe thefe gentlemen to have been aduated by impro-
per motives towards men, of whom they feldom have any perfonal know-
ledge, what can we fiiv of the diredors ? Yet Mr. Bolts informs us, in a
note at the bottom of page 147, that the " diredtors in their general
" letters fince 1764 have been ufed very injudicioufly to authorize their
" governor and council at Bengal, at their own difcretion, to with-
" draw their protection from, or feize and fend to Europe any perfon or
" perfons, who might be guilty of the fmalleft contravention of their
" orders."

The reader fhould be informed, that the year 176413 the period when
it was hrit known in England, that the violence of private traders had
overturned the country government, and involved us in a war with A'leer
Coflim ; that the confequent orders of the diredors, necellary to the
peace of the country and fafety of the natives, had been repeatedly con-
temned ; and that all now confefs the juftice and propriety of the re-
flraints then impofed, although men from interefted motives were at that
time tempted to difobey.

It was forefeen by Mr. Bolts, that fuch reafoning would not be conclu-
five unlefs interfperfed with flaming paragraphs, round alTertions, and
fome few fads, which, to a carelefs eye, or mind unacquainted with the
fubic£l, may wear the face of proofs. He concludes, therefore, his chap-
ter on " Tranfportatmi" in this manner *. " It is principally owing to
" this exorbitant power, the exercife of which has been greatly encouraged
«' by the diredors in their letters to Bengal, that we muft attribute the
" immenfe fortunes which have been of late fo x2i^\^V} fqueezedfrom the
" natives in thofe parts, and which will continue to bring thofe provinces
" nearer and nearer to dcftrudion, if efFedual meafures be not fpeedily
" taken to prevent y«c/2 violences^ to enable the injured more eafily to ob-
" tain relief, and to Inflid exemplary punifhment on fuch opprcffors. If
" this be not fpeedily done, neither the company, nor the nation, can

* Confidcrations, p. 147.

" have

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 7

" have a right knowledge of their own true interefls in Indian matters,

" and pollerity will juflly remark of this period of the eighteenth cen-

" tury, that it was then luppofed the law of the land for Britons in India

" to be imprifoned, baniilied, and tranfported, by the Englifh Eaft-India

" company, unaccufed, and unheard in their defence."

Well calculated as this paflage may be to work upon the honeft preju-
dices of an Englilh reader, it is difficult to conceive why ive are to attri-
hute fortunes rapidly fqueezed out of the nathes., to the practice of fend-
ing a dangerous European to England ; or how the prevention oifuch vio-
lences, or punifliments oi fuch opprejjors will fave the provinces from that
approaching ruin which Mr. Bolts denounces. Was Mr. Bolts (whofe
whole continuance in Bengal was one fcene of complaints, replies, repri-
mands, and contentions,) tranfported unaccufed or unheard in his defence ?

The mode of reafoning in conftant ufe with Mr. Bolts, is by declaim-
ing ftrongly on pofjible effedis to inflame the mind, to mention a particu-
lar fad, which proves nothing, and then very liberally to deal forth gene-
ral inveftives, leaving the reader to fuppofe pradlices thus alluded to
have frequently prevailed. Who v/ould not, from the following paf-
fage, be lead to imagine, that the pradice of fending to Europe had
been fo common as to deftroy all private credit ? The reader will, per-
haps, be furprifed to learn, that Mr. Bolts is the fmgle inftance of a
trader being fo tranfported* during many years. Yet he gravely tells us,
in p. J 40, " The efFedls in India of hidden tranfportation, with refpecl
" to deflroying of credit and all private fecurity, muft appear evident, and
" indeed, have been feverely felt by the generality of Britifli fubjeds,
" fmce thofe tyrannies have been pradifed in Bengal, for it is well known,
*' that any young writer in the company's fervice will now find it more
" difficult to borrow fve hundred rupees of a black merchant, than fix
" years ago he would \viN^five thoufand."

This happened twenty months after he had publicly declnred to the governor and council
that he had relinquifhed all trade. He himfelf faid, in his examination before the committee
of the houfc of commons, that he knew of none befides himfelf, except military men, that had
been fent to Europe.

This

8 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

This laft mentioned fad:, which is fuppofed to be a conclufive proof of
all thefe dreadful confequences, may be true, but has no application to the
fubjed. Six years ago will nearly carry us back to the treaty concluded
with Nudjum al Dowlah. The reader muft here be informed, that a trade,
free from duties, had been claimed by the company's fervants, fupported
by their forces, and eftabliflied by the laft treaty with Meer Jaffier ; and
that this article, although condemned by the directors, was afterwards
tranfcribed into the treaty with his fon Nudjum al Dowlah. The conten-
tion during two years with Meer Coflim, in fupport of this trade, greatly
weakened the country government, which his fubfequent overthrow quite
annihilated. At this time, many " ^/ack merchants''' found it expedient to
purchafe the name of " any young writer in the compajiy's fervice" by loans
of money, and under this fanftion, harrafled and opprefled, or (as Mr.
Bolts elegantly exprefles it) '■'■ fqueezed the natives.^' So plentiful a fupply
was derived from this fource, that before lord Clive's arrival, many " young
" writers" were enabled to fpend 15001. and 2000 1. per annum, were
cloathed in fine linen, and fared fumptuoufly every day. This credit cer-
tainly declined, when the orders of the diredtors were enforced by the
fele£t committee. Had thefe gentlemen thought fit to fupport yj^r/z a cre-
dit^ they would, to ufe the exprefllon of lord Clive in his letter to the
direftors, have found " the fettlement in general their friends, and only
the natives of the country their enemies."

Having mentioned the treaty with Nudjum al Dowlah, it is worth re-
marking, that Mr. Bolts does not hefitate to mifquote paflages from
public letters, v/henever, by fo doing, he can aid his other arts of mifre-
prefentation. Where every, the minuteft, tranfadion is committed to
paper, and canvafled in a corrcfpondence between the diredors in England,
and the company's fervants in Bengal, it is obvious what advantage may be
hence derived, if a man can ftoop to the meannefs of idlfiil mifquotation.
To follow our author through every inftance of this fpecies of deceit,
would not only require a careful perufal of all the public corrcfpondence,
but would, in itfelf, be ufelefs, fince one inftance will fufficc to deftroy the
credit of Mr. Bolts. The diredors, enraged with the abovementioned con-
tempt

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. <j

tempt of their orders, dired the council in their letter of February 1766,
to tranfmit a renimciation of that part of the treaty in form to the nabob.
A change of circumltances had been made by their fervants the plea for
an interefted difobedience. They therefore add, " whatever government
" may be eftabliihed, or whatever unforefeen occurrences may arlfe, it is
" our refolution to prohibit, and we do abfolutely forbid this trade in
" fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco, * " meaning the inland trade carried on
by individuals under a forced conflrudlion of the firmaun, recognized
by thcfe treaties. Yet Mr. Bolts, fully poflefled of the truth, applies this
prohibition to the fociety eftabliihed f in confequence of pofitive injunftions
from the proprietors " to regulate the inland trade" which regulations
were not then known in England, and confequently could not be con-
demned. It is impoffible to regard the miireprefentation of this fub-
je£l by Mr. Bolts as derived from error on his part, becaufe the letter
by him mentioned recites the article of the treaty afterwards referred to;
becaufe it fpeaks of the trade of individuals thereby ftipulated, feverely
condemning the condud of governor Spencer and his council in this bu-
fmefs; and laftly, becaufe Mr. Bolts in his book, page 180, ufes the
very phrafe of the letter, " tranfmit fuch renunciation inform to the nabob
'• in the Perfian language" dropping in the midft of the fentence thefe
■words " of this part of the treaty."

In the fame page with his acute obfervations on private credit, conti-
nuing the invedive againft fudden tra?7fportat!on, Mr. Bolts exhibits a
very alarming pldure of pojjible abufes. He fuppofes the abfent and in-
nocent to be equally involved, the widow and orphan to flill in one un-
diftinguilhed ruin with thefe miferable exiles. Having warmed his ima-
gination, he proceeds to defcribe the governor as a rich tyrant, but with-
out fubjeds. The governor has baniflicd all the former inhabitants of
the fettlement, leaving to himfelf nothing but the houfes. Conceiving
that a man fent away fuddenly, muft fell all his effeds cheap, Mr. Bolts,
being a good merchant, makes tranfportation the means employed by a
purchafer. « In any or all of thefe cafes the governor himfelf, or he and
" fome of his chief counfellors, might become purchafers of all the

• Confiderations, p. 180. ^ f In Augufl 1765.

G <■<• lioufes.

lo A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

«* houfes, fliips, goods or merchandize in the fettlement ; which would
«' be no fmall Jlroke in trade, and of a piece with many fuch Jirokes as
*' have been often known to be Jlruck successfully under arbitrary
♦' or defpotic governments*". In the firft part of the fentence, they might
become purchafers; but forgetting that the whole was a fidion, Mr.
Bolts, in the latter part, flrongly infinuates, by the lielp of Italics and
large Letters, that fuch pradices not uncommonly prevail.

This is not the only imputation thus conveyed. If Italics mean any
thing, thofe nabobs who " dutdfiiddeftly,''^ had their departure haftcned
by management. Left the Italics fhould efcape the reader's attention,
or as he might not know againft whom the infmuation was directed,
Lord Clive and Mr. Svkes in large charadlers catch the eye on the
preceding line, p. 47, employed in regulating this fame nabob's income.
A few lines lower another youth, who died of the fmall-pox after an
illnefs of eleven days, " dies fuddenly," and " the allowance of the
" nabob is again reduced f." Left all this honeft induftry fhould be loft,
Mr. Bolts conjcdlures the fate of the prefcnt nabob, Ihrewdly obfcrving
that " confidering the late fatality among nabobs, it is reafonable to ima-
" ginc the race of them in Bengal is nearly at an end." In a note to
page 44, the reader is informed that " upon all thcie revolutions, large
" Turns of money were obtained by the perfons who condudled them from
" every ncio made nabob." Then follow fome extradls from a letter
publilhed by lord Clive and from another by Mr. Johnftone, rcfpeifling
prefents. This note is fubjoined as an illuftratlon of a text, which de-
fcribes the nabob wholly dependent on the Englifli governor and council.
Had fome little order been given to the fads here mentioned, it would
have appeared, that the prefents made to lord Clive and others, in the
year 175:7, were rewards of the moft honourable fervices, at a time when
the Englifh company had few forces in Bengal, the nabob Mecr Jafficr
polfeffing a large army and the full dominion of his country. That the
prefents received by Mr. Johnftone and others In the year 1765, were in
confequcnce of no fervices, the nabob Nudjumal Dowlah being dlfarmed by
treaty, and all power transferred to the Englifti council ; given, in ftiort,

* Confiilerations, p 140.

I TIk- n-.ibob's allowance wns not retluccd en the death of Seyf al Dowlah, as here averted
by Mr. Bolts.

under

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. n

under I'uch circumftanccs, that Mr. Verelfl: did not think it confiftent with
his honour to accept any part. Laflly, it would have appeared that be-
fore the fuddcn deaths mentioned by Mr. Bolts, the luurce of thefe pre-
fents had been removed by a grant of the revenue to the Englifh Eaft
India company ; and tliat therefore it was impoflible, confiflently wath
truth, to fuggefl a motive for the perpetration of lb horrid a crime. The
fubjedt is here mentioned only to fhew the manner in which Mr. Bolts
treats the characters of men, who have laboured at leaft to render fome
fervice to their country. Perhaps it may not be improper to point out
the dilemma, in which this gentleman has involved himfelf. By conceal-
ing \\\?, fiifpicion * during his refidence in Bengal fubfequent to 1766, he
incurs the guilt of an accomplice, whether the fadH; be true ovfalfe. If he
entertained no fufpicion-, let the reader give a name to his prefent at-
tempt f .

No fubje<£l is fafe in the hands of Mr. Bolts. He will not fuffer the
afhes of king William to reft in peace ; nay, the two houfes of parlia-
ment become the authors of fraud. The confines of legiflative and ex-
ecutive power are often fo nicely blended, that we muft not be fur-
prifed if they have fometlmes been miftaken. In the reigns of the Tu-
dors, this dlftlnftion was little underftood, and lefs regarded. In the reigns
of the Stuarts, the poflibility of completely feparating thefe powers, with-
out overturning all kingly government, was, with equal warmth, affirmed
and denied by contending parties. After the Revolution, a charter was
obtained from the crown, erefting a company who were to trade to India.

* A man who had intimated a fufpicion nf this kind, would only have made himfelf ri-
diculous ill Bengal, where the truth was notorious ; but thefe bafe infmuatioiis may never-
thclcfs have fome ctfeft in inflaming the uninformed mind of an Englifli reader.

t Mr. Dow has tliis paflage, p. 89. vol. ili. " The princes whom we raifed in Bengal, va-
" nilfied imperceptibly from their thrones, l^iglu and unfubllantial as the fliew of power, with
" which, as in derifion, we inverted them, they difappeared, like Romulus, but without a Itorm.
" The benefits derived from former revolutions, created a love of change; and the angel of death,
" if not our friend, was very opportune in his frequent vifits to the Mufnud. In the couife
" of five yeats, three nabobs expired ; and the unfit dged fovereign, who acceded to the nominal
" government of Bengal, on the March of 1770, has already enjoyed, confidering ihe times,
<' a long reign. Nabobs, to own the truth, are ufelefs ; and they are dlfmifled to their fathers
" without either ceremony or noife." A man who hopes to obtain credit flioiild exhibit fome-
thing like a proof in fupport of fo extraordinary a cliargc.

* C 2 This

12 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

This charter, copied from fome of a more anciem date, contained a claufe
granting an excliifive trade. Such a claufe, being reftridive of the rights of
other perfons, Avas manifeftly a legiilative ad ; and therefore illegal, with-
out the concurrence of parliament. No fooner was the error difcovered,
than the crown rclinquiihed its claim : but the meafure being deemed po-
lidcally right, an exclufive privilege of trade was immediately granted by
parliament, and the two companies were afterwards united in the fixth
year of queen Anne. Yet Mr. Bolts reprefents the firft charter as con-
firmed by parliament^ to introduce this obfervation, that it " was almoft
" immediately fet at nought by a felf-ered:ed, unchartered company of
" adventurers, who traded diredly to India in defiance of the king, mi-
" niflry*, and parliament." He then gives a long hiflory of fuppofed
evafions under the terms m, into, to, and/rcwf, for the purpofe of fug-
gefting his own ingenious doubt, whether the parliament of Great Britain
can reftrain the trade of a Britip fuhjeSf, or authorize other fubjedls to.
feize his perfon, whenever he contravenes fuch commands ?

The cafes of perfons feized and fent to Europe, printed by Mr. Bolts in his
Appendix, relate to officers, all of whom were engaged in the mutiny, while
fome fuperadded the guilt of fupporting rival interefls to the attempt of de-
ftroying the Britifh power in Bengal. Thefe relations are drawn by no
friend of the meafure ; yet, when ftripped of their pompous phrafe and un-
meaning inved:ive, the whole will amount to this, that men, not perfon-
ally known to the gentlemen in council, of a profeffion whofe interefts
could not clafh, were fent to Europe, becaufe their refidence in Bengal
v/as efteemcd dangerous to the company. Doubts refpeding the legal extent
of their power, made the governor and council cautious in the mode of
fecuring the perfons of thefe ofKcers, and enabled them to hold their houfe
?.s a garrifon for fome few days. It appears, moreover, that one of them,
as foon as he promifed to proceed for Europe, was permitted to quit the
fhip on which he firfl embarked. From this fa£l we may judge, how fl>r
their own obflinacy, in refifting the order of council, contributed to any
hardfliips they might fufFcr. The meflages which palled between the pri^
foners and jufticcs of peace are fet forth by Mr. Bolts at large i. The jufticesv

• Tagc 141. 1 T'lge 142. J Appendix to Confidcratiops, p. 93, 94, 95.

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 13

no great ]aw}'ers, were of opinion, that the complaint was not within their
jurilcliaion. Common fenfe mull difcover, that a power of feizing Britifh
fubjeds for the purpofe of fending them to EngUvnd muft fall to the
ground, if magiftrates, having a merely local authority, fliould prefume
to releafe them. If the crown, in time of danger, arc empowered to
'confine fufpeded perfons, would our fages of the law dlfcharge the pri-
foners? Yet in this country the courfe of juftice is tolerably free.

Among the arts ufed by Mr. Bolts to inflame, he never forgets to men-
tion the military as perfons employed upon all occafions. The reader
therefore fhould here be informed, that throughout all the nations of In-
dia, the orders even of courts of juftice are executed by military men.
The colour of a man's coat, or the uniform he wears, does not prove
him a more noxious creature, than if, an emblem of innocence, he were
arrayed in white. The nature of the Englifh conftitution makes us jea-
lous of the executive magiftrate. A frequent ufe of the military, who
are immediately under his command, in domejlic govermnetit might be
dangerous to public liberty ; and hence arifes that honeft prejudice of
our countrymen, which the author of Confiderations perpetually abufes to
moft unworthy purpofes.

. In page 144, Mr. Bolts, ftill declaiming againft tranfportation, has
this paflage : " But there is a diredl, unconftitutional ufe to be made
" of fuch power, which is, as we have feen^ that of employing it
" to punlfh men for doing their duty, even in courts of juftice.
" They m.ay difobllge men in power by refufmg to be pliant judges, if
" in the mayor's court ; or pliant jurors^ if impannelled as jurymen at
" feflions ; and may be therefore puniflied with ruin in revenge for their
" honeft dlfcharge of the firft fecial duty." Have fuch cafes ever ex-
ifted ? Has fuch an unconftitutional ufe been ever made of this power ?
There never has, nor ever can, while law or juftice has its refidence in
Great Britain. Suppofing the power to be legal, thofe exercifing the au-
thority are anfwerable for its abufe. To prefer a criminal charge to the
proper judges, is the legal rights nay the dutyy of each individual citizen.
But Ihould this power be wantonly abufed, the experience of every day
eyinces, that an innocent and injured man would obtain ample compen-

fatioa

14 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

fation from an Englilh jury. What more could be done to prevent op-
preffion, if parliament lliould annul this power heretofore given to the
company? In this country all public rights, whether in the handa of the
magiftrate or of private perfons, are a facred truft. To abufe thefe in
the execution, is criminal according to our laws ; and a finifter motive
will contaminate an a£l, which could not otherwife be queftioned. Go-
vernors who fhould condud themfelves by the principles fuggefted by
Mr. Bolts, would not only be compelled to make full reftitution to
the injured individual, but would, by their punil"hment, become fevere
examples to prevent the commiflion of like crimes in future.

The reafoning of our author is perpetually in extreme. Here he wifhes
the abolition of a power becaufe the imagination may fiiggcft pojjible
abufes, which abufes are effetflually correfted as the law now ftands.
Two pages further he would deftroy the fame power as imnecejfary, be-
caufe it is the intereft of all men to be honeft *. " No inhabitants of
" their fettlements can commit any crime to endanger the fecurity of the
" company but what mull equally endanger the fafety of each individual
" member of the community, they being infeparably connecled together."
Is not this equally true of every other ftate and its fubjects .'' Wherefore
then is high treafon puniflied ? Why are murderers profcribed in every
country ? Why have we regarded great legiflators as benefadors to man-
kind ? Such is the moral harmony eflabliflied by the Creator, that public
duty will ever continue to be the fame with j-wivate intereft well under-
ftood. But do men never err? Shall we proceed upon fuch a foundation
to abolifli all laws and all magillrates ? I know not which niofl to admire,
the head or heart of our author.

Mr. Bolts himfelf obferves upon another occafion, p. 144, " not dif-
" puting here what the conllitutional rights of Englijhmen formerly were,
*' or now aie, within or without the immediate fettlements of the com-
*' pany, that there is always fuppofed to be a mutual convenience or ad-
" vantage in all fuch engagements, and that honour iliould regulate either
•" party in their conduct." Let honour be the criterion. Let each Ln his
fcveral ftation abide by its judgments. Should any private man, taking ad-

• Page 147, Confideralions.

van-

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 15

vantage of an imfcttled government, opprcfs and harrafs the harmlefs na-
tives of Bengal, and endeavour to fhelter himfelf under the letter of laws,
calculated for a very different ftate of fociety ; let the mifcreant be pu-
nifhed as his crimes deferve, by a removal from the fcene of his ravages,
by the contempt and deteftation of every honeft mind. Should, on the
contrary, power be wantonly abufed, to ferve the purpofes of malignant
paflion, or governors, forgetful of Mr. Bolts's precepts, ncgled their pub-
lic duty for ajl/ppo/ed private intereft, an Englifli jury v^ill eagerly re-
drefs their fellow-citizen, and vindicate the rights of human kind.

It were endlefs to purfue Mr. Bolts through all his chaos of inveftive. To
do juftice to his performance, would be to comment on every line. Some,
paflages, however, may be feledcd, without fwelling this Introdu£rion to
an unreafonable fize, fufficlent, perhaps, to convince the reader, that the
Book called " Confiderations on India Affairs," will convey as much real
information refpedling the affairs of China, as thofe of Bengal.

The author is as well verfed in the law of nations as qualified for the
domeftic government of a particular ffate. What concern has Great Bri-
tain in the claims of a Mogul ? Englifhmen fhould adhere to engagements
taken on the part of their own nation ; but it is ridiculous to fuppofe they
mud enter into the difputcs betv/cen prince Ally Gohar, and the fubah-
dar of Bengal, or between them aga?n and their refpedive fubjedts. Yet
the mifreprefentations of two chapters are chiefly founded on this abfurd
opinion ; and the high founding titles of eaflern grandeur are introduced
to give the whole a greater air of burlefque.

What contraditflion is there in refilling prince Ally Gohar, when in-
vading the dominions of our ally ; and ilipporting the fame man with our
arms, when new treaties had been formed with him ? Mr. Bolts, p. 25,
quotes two paffages from Mr. Scrafton to prove that, upon the invafion of
Bengal by our prefent Mogul, colonel Clive, at the requeft of Meer Jafficr,
marched to punilh thoie rajahs "who had dared to join hlm'^" It appears

■ from thefe extracts, that the colonel ftridly adhered to his engagements^

* ^Ir. Bolts has mlf-cuoted this pad'age from Mr. Scrnfton, wliofe words are, in p. 117.

■ " All our affairs being fo happily circumftaiiccu, colonel Ciivc, at the fiibah's requeft, niarched
" to puulfli thofa rajahs W;a hadjnnsdthe Sk^hzada,'"

eom—

i6 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

communicating the letters received to the nabob's fon and miniflers, who
judged that " it would be dangerous to have a prince of the blood in
*' any of the provinces." Mr. Bolts feems better pleafcd with the con-
duit of Mr. * Holwell, who, in the fiune war, correfponded with the
enemy, concealing the letters (" offering acarte blanche to the company")
from our ally Meer Jaffier. It feems that thefe engagements with the
fubahdar were not, in our author's opinion, to be regarded ; for he af-
firms, that Sujah Cav/n was the laftf lawful nabob of Bengal.

. Mr. Bolts then relates the revolutions preceding the capture of Cal-
cutta by Surajah al Dowlah, to retake which place colonel Clive was fent
from the coaft of Coromandel in the year 1756. But in doing this he
conveys a very unjufl imputation. He tells us that the treaty withSerajah
al Dowlah was " folemnly j; ratified in the flrongeft manner, the nabob
" fwearing on the Koran by God and Mahomed, and the colonel pledging
" the names of God and our Saviour, faithfully to obferve the fame.
" Neceffity, which, in politics, ufually fuperfedes all oaths, treaties, or
" forms whatfocA'er, induced the Englilh Eaft India company's repre-
" fentatives, about three months after the execution of the former treaty, to
" determine, " by the blejjing of Go^" upon difpoflefling the nabob Serajah
" al Dowlah of his Nizamut, and giving it to another." In the next
paragraph, to throw a greater odium upon the meafure, Mr. Bolts fpeaks
of " the traffick in nabobfliips," — " the bold and traiterous difpofition of
" Meer JafBer," — " and of another rebel candidate." Who would imagine,
from this relation, that the conduit of the Englilh was perfedtly con-
iillcnt with the law of nations ? Yet fucli it will manifeftly appear.

Mr. Bolts forgot to mention, that after the conclufion of the firft treaty,
Serajah al Dowlah not only evaded fulfilling his engagements §, but me-

* Tliis gentleman was governor after the departure of colonel Clivc, in February 1 768. Sec
Hillory, in firlt chapter.

I Confitlerations, p. 38. wlierc Mr. Vanfittart's Narrative is referred to, Vol. I. p. 5.
as if that gentleman had faid, " that Sujah Cavvn was the lafl lawful nabob of Bengal,"
whereas Mr Vanfittart exprcflcs no fuch opinion.

X Confidcrations, fol. 39.

§ To reftorc the Englifh effeiTls, and give pofTcfnon of the twenty-four pergunnahs, or
villages, whieh by the treaty he had ceded. Immediately after the treaty witli iJerajah al Dow-
lah

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. i'j

ditated our deftrudion. He negotiated with * Monfieur Buffey, to intro-
duce into Bengal a body of French troops, (the two nations being then at
war) for the exprefsf purpofe of afling againft theEngUfh. A jufl fclf-de-
fence, therefore, required, that fome meafures (hould be taken on our part,
before the fhips and forces left the river. Reinforced from the fleet, our
army, amounting to I coo Europeans, and 2000 fepoys, ftood oppofed
to 20,000 horfe, and 50,000 foot. In this fituation, it was judged expe-
dient to fecure fome of thofe chiefs in our intereft, whom the nabob's
violence had difgufted j and Meer Jaffier, being the mofl powerful, was
tihofen as a proper ally.

The malice of Mr. Bolts does not reft here. He reprefents this revo-
lution as an enterprize of no difficulty. Speaking of the battle of Plafley :}:,
he fays, " Happy it Was for the company that this numerous army
*' madefo little refiftance, that, according to Mr. Scrafton, there were only
*' feventy men killed and iconnded.'''' The nabob not only had a numerous
army, but likewife the afliftance of French officers, and one hundred Eu-
ropean foldiers. The advice, received from Meer Jaffier, contained no-
thing but excufes for not ading, and to the laft hour we obtained no
fupport from this leader, who commanded ten thoufand men. At the
fame time Intelligence was received through another channel " that the
" whole affair had been difcovered by the nabob, and that he and Meer
«' Jaffier were one." This embarraffing fituation gave rife to a council
of war, at which a large majority declared againft an immediate attack.

lah in Feb. 1757, Mr. Verein; was appointed to take charge of the company's fa£lory at
Luckypore, and receive from the officers of the government the eftefts that had been taken from
that place.' On his paflage from Calcutta to Luckypore with Mr. Middleton (a gentleman now
in the council at Bengal) in the month of April 1757 ; they were attacked and taken prifoners
by a body of the nabob's troops. The commandiiig officer produced the nabob's orders not
to fuffer, on any account whatever, any Europeans to pafs and rcpafs In the country, particu-
larly the Engllih. He alfo produced letters, pointing out the gentlemen, nominated to take
charge of the fielories, to be particularly within fuch orders. He moreover declared, that the
■treaty would not be regarded on the part of the nabob, and that we fliould foon again experience
the ftrength of his arm. The battle of Plafley happened on the 20th of June following.

* Commander of the French army in the Deccan.

\ This appeared not only from unquedionablc information received at the time., but was fur-
ther confirmed by the nabob's papers.

X Confidcrntions, fol. 40,

* D After

i8 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

After, a deliberation of twenty-four hours, colonel Clive refolved to per-
fevere, and the army, contrary to the determhiation of the council of war,
was ordered to march. The event Hiewed his judgment to have been well
founded. Our negotiations in the nabob's camp had already decided the
conteft. AVe learn from Mr. Scrafton, that on the day of the battle
" a body of about fifty French advanced in front of the reft, their of-
" ficer calling out in vain for fome of the Subahdar's troops to follow
" him ; for fuch was their miftrufl of each other, that no commander
" dared to venture on fingly, for fear fome other commander, fufpefted
" of attachment to us, Ihould fall on him." Among many other for-
tunate accidents, Meer Modun, the beft and moft faithful of the Su-
bahdar's officers, was killed in the beginning of the adlion, and his death
greatly contributed to the eafy vidory gained by the Englilh army.

The fubfequent events are fufficiently explained in the firfl: chapter of
this work. During Meer Jaffier's government, prince Ally Gohar (the
prefent Mogul) invading the provinces of Bengal, was repulfed by the
Englifh under colonel Clive, adling as allies to the Subahdar. At this
time were written the letters, mentioned by Mr. Bolts, to thofe rebellious
rajahs " ivho had dared to join him *," the open enemy of Meer Jaffier.
The fuppofcd contradiiflion is, that when lord Clive, upon his laft ar-
rival in India, found other engagements taken refpedling other countries,
he concurred with the feleft committee in adhering likewife to thefe new
engagements. The Mogul did not indeed obtain the whole dominions of
Oude, which a former council had f agreed to give him before they had
conquered the country. But he did obtain the countries of Korah and
lUahabad, his pofleffion being % guarantied by the Englifh. To thefe like-
wife was added an annual payment of twenty-fix la:ks from Bengal.
The expediency of reftoring to Sujah al Dowlah the other territories of
Oude, will be evinced in the hiftorical part of this book. Mr. Bolts,
fpcaking of this reftoration, fays, p. 30. " againft the wealth of this na-
" bob, as Mr. Dow very juftly obferves, the virtue of fome of our re-

• Confiderations, fol. 15. Mr. Bolts has made a falfc quotation from Mr. Scrafton.
•f Appendix, p. 163. No. 51. li, % Appendix, p. 171. No. 58-

" volutionifts

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 19

" volutionifts was by no means proof." Within tlirce pages he repre-
fents the fame men upon the fame occafion^ as taking bribes from this
Mogul, whofc interells they are fuppofed to havefacrificed to Sujah at
Dowlah. " Amidft all his misfortunes, this prince has given feveral in-
" fiances of great generofity, particularly to the members of the fecret
" committee, for their diftinguilhed merit and difinterefted fcrvices. One
'•'■ inrtance may be feen in lord Clive's letter to the courrof direftbrs, of
'■'■ the 30th of September 1765, where it appears his imperial majell^y
" had prefented general Carnac with two lacks of rupees." This lafl
mentioned fa£t, which is fuppofed to be conclufive evidence of corruption,
candidly told, will afford an oppofite inference. General Carnac, who had
commanded the company's forces with great reputatioh, -and Withftood
many temptations of pecuniary emolument, had an offer of two lacks
from the Mogul. The Mogul wrote to the council upon the fubjed, and
lord Clive mentioned his letter, with its occafion, to the court of direc-
tors for their judgment. When a m?an wantonly ftabs the charadlers of
thofe whofe adions engage the public attention, it will require more
underftanding than Mr. Bolts polTeircs, to make-falfe affertions wear the
face of probability*.

* " AnotVicr inflance of the generofity of Vhe Mogul, Mr. Bolts fxj's, was given in the year
« 1767, when his majefty likewife prefL-nted colonel Richaixl Smitii with two lacks more; as
<« appears from the following minute of the council at Calcutta.

«' At a confiiltation held the 14th of September 1767, prefcnt, Harry Verelfl:, cfq. prefident,
" John Carticr, Rivhard liecher, James Alexander, Witlianv Alderfey, Charles-Fiioyef, and
" Alexander Campbell, efqrs. ' ^

" Received a letter from Col. Richard Smith at Illah-abad, dated the 2cth of July, 'ontlTe'^*
«< fubjed of the two lacks of rupees, he requefted their, permitlon to receive as a gratuity from !
" the king; otTering feveral arguments to our confideration, and acquainting us with his ma.-!
" jcfty-s abfolute refufal to take back the teep % he had granted ; therefore enclofing it for us to
" dlfpofe of as might feem mofl' equitable."

Mr. Bolts has fupprefled the refolution of the prcfiilent and council, which i'mmediately fol-
lows his quotation. " Agreed, we acknowledge the receipt of the colonel's letter, with the teep
'« inclofed, informing him that, as his majefty has fo abfolutcly refufed to take back the note for'
" the two lacks, we fliall keep it in our hands till the pleafure of the court of diredors can be'
" known." At the fame time obferviiig, " that our fentiments on tbe occafion are flill the fame
" as mentioned in our former letter to him on the fubjcft." Thefc fentiments ccndemning
all prefents " as manifeftly contrary to the will of their employers," w'ere exprefled in the above-
mentioned letter to colonel Smith, but more fully in o:ie to the king ; «' That we," (»he pre-

t A promiffory note, li^re an order of p.iynient for money.

D 2 Is

go A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Is it neceflaiy here to enter on the fubje£l of the Dewanny, " a hard
" name, weH * calculated for a bluid to amufe the Britilh legiilature V*
Mr. Bolts does not chufe " to inveftigate in this place all the private
" reafons which occafioned this Dewanny being aflumed by lord Give
" and his feled: committee f ." Why not ? If Mr. Bolts knows any pri-
vate reafons, fhculd this virtuous zealot fupprels them ? If he knows
none, how bafe the imputation ! A plain :]; narrative will fuggeft the pub-
lic reafons for this meafure, and fliew the neceffity of uniting to the mi-
litary .power the means of fupporting it. Indeed the frequent diftrefles
of our army, from thtj irregular payment of the monthly funis ftipulated
for its fubfiflence, muft have opened the eyes of the blind; but a former
council thought it more expedient to leave two millions of annual re-
venue in the hands of a difarmed and defencelefs nabob. The idea of
Mr. Bolts, that the hard w^ord Dewanny was intended to amufe the Bri-
tifli legiflature, is too ridiculous to deferve a refutation; but it may be
worth remarking, that the fyflem called in derifion the Double Go-
vernment, had been eflablilhcd by the fame council in their treaty of
February, 1765 §. This,, in truth, was neceffarily derived from that train
of events which led an aflbciated dependent body of Britiih fubjeds to
the acquifition of empire. And Bengal being, through this medium,
united with England, the legiflature of this country can alone eltablilli a.
government different from that which at prefent exifts.

It is impoflible to difmifs the prefent fubjedl without fome obfervations
on. the comparative advantages of the two treaties, as ilated by Mr. Bolts,
p. 52. He firfl aifumes, as a permanent revenue, the five lacks per
month from the nabob, which, by the terras of the treaty, were to be

fidcnt and council) " earneflly wifhed our attachment might appear to the world more connedled
" h^ hoicur, than hy Vin^j interfjied tye ; i\\M it was mofl glorious for him, and nioft reputable
" for ourfelves, to have a friendfhip founded on futh a balls ; that \vc could not confent to the
«' colonel's acceptance of his prefent without the approbation of the court of direflors ; and
•' that we muft requeft, that he would not, in future, confer fuch donations on any of the Eng-
" lifli chiefs.'' Such was the fubiiance of this letter, as it appears in the public records of 20th
July, 1767. The court of d^reftors refufed their perm iffion, and the tecp was referred to the king.
His majeftj's receipt was immediately dcpofitcd among the records at Bengal.

• Confiderations, p. 33. f Confiderations, p. 35.

X See our firft Chapter, § Appendix, p. 164, No. 52.

only

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 21

only paid during the war with Sujah al Dowlah "*. He eftimates likewife the
zemindary of Bulwant Sing at forty-five lacks, from which the company
received, while in poireffion, only twenty lacks, as the nabob of Oude
had done before them. If tliis revenue was ib extremely iuiprov cable,
why did not Mr. Bolts, a company's fervant refident upon the fpot, one
intrufted with the management, intimate his opinion to the council ?

The eftimate of Mr. Bolts is mentioned merely for the purpofe of fnew-
ing his difpofition to millead. The fituation of the zemindary of Bul-
want Sing would have made it a binthen, and not an advantage, to the
company, as the reader will fully underftand in his further progrcft;.

It would fatigue the moft patient attention to follow Mr. Bolts through
all his mifreprefentations, very liberally fcattered in every page of his
book. From the few inftances here given of his candor, the reader will
judge of the credit due to his " Confiderations on India Affairs." It will
neverthelefs be proper to take notice of thofe parts, in which he blends
fome particular charges with much general invedtive. After this, the
reader would fcarcely pardon the omiffion, were I not to Introduce this
fturdy champion to his more intimate acquaintance.

Mr. Bolts begins his ninth chapter with a fwelling panegyric upon the
upright admlniftration of juftice, with the confequent encreafe of induftry,
population, and commerce. He then very ploufly proceeds to blacken
the charadlers of all concerned in the government, police, and admlniftra-
tion of juftice in Bengal. According to his reprefentation, the ""overnor
and council are cruel tyrants, the courts of juftice are become eno-Ines of
oppreflion, and the judges, fervilely complalfant to the ruling power, are
no longer the guardians of public or of private rights.

Should a dlfcontented man collect fadls for the purpofe of mlfrepre-
fentation ? Should many circumftances be fupprefled to give a falfe colour-
ing to others ? Should a work of this kind be given to the world, when
* Appendix, p. 162, No. 50,

many

22 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

many perfons concerned in thefe tranfiidlons, are at the diftance of half
-the globe ; and when many now in England, not confcious of mifcon-
jdu>5t, had neglected to preferve authentic vouchers, refpeiting ordinary
occurrences, amidft an infinite multiplicity of affairs ; it will not be ex-
pedled that I ihould follow fuch a writer through all his filth, induftrioufly
coUeded. Should it however appear, that not the flighteft imputation
can arife, unlefs to Mr. Bolts himfclf, from thofe relations of " real fads"
which make the moft formidable appearance in his book, no one will
think the requefl: very unreafonable, if he be defired to iiifpend at leall
his belief in thofe particulars, where fufficient documents cannot be im-
mediately procured.

The cafe of Parfeek Arratoon, an Armenian merchant*, has been fe-
le£ted for the purpofe of proving the entire and fubmiffive dependence of
the mayor's court ; how ready the judges were to obey the nod of a go-
vernor. Had the whole truth appeared, the reader muft have drawn an
inference diredly contrary to the conclufion of Mr. Bolts. To give a co-
lour to his charge, he reprefents Mr. Verelft and his partners as defirous
of engroffing all the fait in tliat part of the country. The contrary is
notorioufly true. Hundreds of others dealt in fait, and this very parcel
was foon refold at a profit of two thoufand pounds. Yet thefe gentle-
men, by an intemperate decifion of the mayor's court, hearing only the
evidence of one party, are compelled to pay 7000 1. more than they them-
felvcs had received.

Mr. Verelft, upon entering into the more immediate charge of public
affairs as governor, found it neceifary to remit the care of his private
affairs to others, and this, in particular, was entirely under the manage-
ment of Mr. Lewis, who had an equal intcreft f therein. The agents of
Mr. Lewis bought a quantity of fait at Nattoor of fome black merchants,
whofe property it appeared to be. A dlfputc arofc refpeding the de-
livery, in which poITibly fome violence was ufed by both parties. The

• Confiderations, ?■ 91.
|- As joint paitncr with iMr. Sv'kcs and Mr. Vcrclft.

affair,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 23

affair, however, came before the cutcherry, where, " according to the
" general pradice of the court, when not unduly interrupted, to have every
" caufe determined by arbitrators, or umpires, cholen by the * parties,"
this matter was referred to five principal merchants, v.'ho gave their award
in favour ofthepurchafer, declaring the contract "a fair and legal bargain."
Mr. Bolts afferts, that " the Armenian, fenfiblc that tlic price of fait
" would rife, ordered his gomaftah to faften up the warehoufe, and not
" to fell f." The Armenian was fo far from this difpofition, that his go-
mailah had before been with Mr. Sykes, offering the fait to fale. He
engaged to deliver- it within a fortnight, and accepted part of the price
in the prefence of witneffes. A few days after, he applied to Mr. Sykes,
and, by intreaties, prevailed upon him to relinquifh the bargain. The
fame fait was then fold to the agents of Mr. Lewis for a larger fum. It
is demonftrable that the full market price was here given, becaufe many
parcels of fait were bought of European gentlemen, particularly of '\. Mr.
Marriott, then in council, about the lame time, at a greater diftance from
the place of manufadlure, and at a price fomewhat lower. Thus the
tranliiftion Hands above all poffible imputation, becaufe no injuftice could
have been committed againil European gentlemen, and the Armenian
merchant had a yet better bargain. But the value of the commodity flill
rifmg in the market, the gomaftah of Parfeek Arratoon again defired to
evade the delivery, upon which the reference above-mentioned took place,
and an award was made in favour of the purchafer.

The award being made, Coja Parfeek Arratoon then appeared, and
claiming a property in the fait, which he alledged to have been forcibly
taken from his gomaftahs, hied his bill in the mayor's court at Calcutta,
to which Mr. Lewis § gave a full anfwer upon oath, denying every part
of the charge. But before the witneffes could come from Nattoor, the
plaintiff had brought the caufe to a hearing upon ex parte depofitions.
Mr. Verelft, thinking his charader as well as property affeded by this

• Confiderations, p. 8o. f Ibid, p. 185.

X This gemlemau is now iu England. J This Gentleman is likewili; in England'.''

pro-

24 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

proceeding, wrote a note *" to the mayor, praying to be indulged with a
proper time to produce his evidence ; at the fame time acquainting him,
that the court would probably be no more troubled with the fuit, as Pe-
trufe Arratoon (who afterwards became executor to Parfeek Arratoon, and
at this time tranfaded his bufinefs) had propofed to refer their difpute to
arbitration. So little was Mr. Verelft inclined to take any advantage,
that although one award had been already made, Petrufe Arratoon did
fiimjelf, at the requeft of Mr. Verelft, choofe the arbitrators, and named
Thomais Cooke and Jofeph Price for a fecond reference. In the mean
time, bonds were drawn and executed by fome of the parties ; but Pe-
trus Arratoon, diftrufting probably the juftice of his caufe, wanted to in-
fert as a condition that his ivitnejfes only fhould be heard. To comply
with his demand was impofllble. It was difficult to conceive the fource of
fuch a requeft, until his fubfequent con4udt explained the myftery.
Thinking he had obtained an advantage by fome irregularity in the ex-
aminer of the court, who had taken the depofitions on the part of the
defendant, he relinquiflied his former engagement, and urged the caufe to
a declilon. A petition was prefented on the part of Mr. Verelft and his
partners, praying that the error might be corrected, and the witnefles
again brought to Calcutta at their expence f. Yet the mayor and alder-
men refufed to comply with this very reafonable requeft, and proceeded
to a decree upon the evidence folely of the plaintiff". Thus thefe gen-
tlemen are now compelled to pay 7000 1. more than the fum for which
they themfelves refold the fait. Here, moft certainly, no favour was
fhewn; perhaps the reader may think that the rules of the court were
ftrained even to the verge of injuftice.

The author of Confiderations, not contented with this happy Inftance
«>f domineering pov/er, produces another extraordinary cafe of Mr,
Alexander Jephfon \^ where the governor and council refufed to interfere

* At the fame time Mr. Vcrelcft's attorney at law (Mr. Wliittal) prepared a petition to the
eoiirt. Appendix, p. 174. No. 61.

t Appendix, p. J 75. No. 62. % Appendix to Confideraticns, p. 43. No. 26,

^•Ith

GOVERNMENT IN BflNGAL. 25

with the courts of juftice. Mr. Bolts has given us full proof, viz, the
memorial of an angry man to the court of diredlors. The greater part
of this ftory is fuch, that I, whh. Mr. De Grey *, " know not how to hc-
*' Ueve the parties, concerned in tranfadting it, would admit it to be
*' true." The attorney-general v/as certainly right, in thinking that
" feveral of the decrees as Jlated are erroneous, and might be appealed
" from f;" but it remained for Mr. \ Sayer to difcover, that a letter to
the governor and council, complaining of an illegal arreft, without
ftating the proceedings or decree of the court, was on aeiu-al appeal \ or
that it could be criminal for the governor and council to - acquaint Mr.
Jephfon, in reply to his letter, that nothing but decrees regularly ap-
pealed, are cognizable by them. Perhaps, in this inftance, they were
better lawyers than Mr. Sayer. Be this as it may, the cafe is here men-
tioned only for the purpofe of fliewing that the governor and council are
not forward to interfere irregularly, or arrogate a fuperiority over the
mayor's court at Calcutta. If Mr. Jephfon, inftead of appealing, chofe
to refifl or fly from the officers of juftice, the governor and council a(Sted
with equal propriety in directing the commanders of the company's fhips
not to countenance fuch an attempt, or receive Mr. Jephfon on board.

Mr. Bolts, in his Confideratlons, page 95, fays, a tradefman and in-
habitant of Calcutta, named Gocul Sonar, "preferred his complaint"
againft one Nobekiflen, " at the court of the general quarter feffions
" held at Calcutta on the 4th of March 1767, in a petition to the grand
" jury, but without any fuccefs; for it was remarkable that the chief juf-
■*' tice, Harry Verelft, efq. then on the bench, getting the petition
" into his own hands from another juftice, to whom the former had de-
" livered it, he immediately and fuddenly called and difmiffed the ju-
«' ries."

On the 4th of March, Gocul Sonar did prefent his petition to the
grand jury. When the petition was delivered into court, it became the
viuty of the jullices to decide whether they had authority to hear the caufe.

* See his opinion, Appendix to Confiderntions, p, 54. f See the fame opinion,

t See Mjr. Sayer's opinion. Appendix to Confiderations, p. 53,

* E Upon

26 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Upon deliberation they were all imanlmoufly of opinion, that a criminal'
charge between the natives only, did not belong to the jurifdidion of the
feffions ; and accordingly referred the complaint to the court of zemindar^
before whom it was aftei-wards heard and determined.

Without examining whether it was originally the intention of his-
majefty to fubjedl the natives, refiding within our diftridts, to the cri-
minal laws of Great Britain, it will be fufficient for the prefent occafion-
to fhew, that the charter of juftice will bear the conftrud:ion here giveii-
to it, and that the juftices were led by confideratioiis of duty and hu-
manity to adopt this interpretation.

In civil matters, the charter contains an exception of fuits between na-
tives only, unlefs both parties fhall fubmit the fame to the determination
of the mayor's court. And although this charter, granted the 26th of
George IL at a time when we were wholly dependent upon the country
government, is filent refpetSling criminal matters, it was difficult for the
gentlemen to believe that the lives of the natives fhould be lefs regarded
than their property, or that juftice could authorize a trial by laws which.
the criminal could not poflibly underftand.

In the year 1762, a native detected one of his women in an a£l of in-
fidelity. Throughout the Eaft, women are wholly fubje£t to the will of
their mafters, and every hufband is the avenger of his own wrongs.
The man therefore, fatisfied of her guilt, proceeded to punifhment, by
cutting off her nofe. He was arraigned at the Calcutta feffions. He con-
fcfled the fadl, but urged that he had done nothing to oftcnd the laws and
cuftoms in which he had been educated. That the woman was his pro-
perty ; and that, by fuch cuftoms, he had a right to fet a mark upon her
for her infamy. That he had never heard of the laws by which they tried
him, but defired to put one qucftion to the bench : Did they believe that if
he had known the punifl^ment to be death, he would ever have committed
what they now called a crime ? The man, notwithflanding this defence,
was condemned and hanged; for if the court poffi^fs jurifdidion, they
muft proceed according to the Englifh laws.

Thus

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 27

Thus an ad of parliament, which took its rife from an injury done to
anEnghfh *' gentleman, may violate the fecret recefTes of the haram, and a
man of the firft rank, character, and fortune, may fuffer a mofl igno-
minious t death, for an ad: which he is taught to believe undeferving cen-
fure. The charge may be fupported by the teflioiony of flaves, or even
of the guilty woman. By this rule of evidence, thofe ties of domeftic
fubjedion are broken, which a perfedion of civil polity (unknown in
Afia) can alone properly relax. Manners here fupply the defed of laws.
If the latter are not fufEciently perfed to become an objed of men's af-
fedions, they attach themfelves more ftrongly to the former; nor can
we imagine the cufloms relating to domeftic government, leaft facred in
their eyes, fmce thefe the continued habits of the individual, the laws and
religion of the nation equally conlpire to uphold.

This fubjed is more largely treated in the lafl part of the prefent work.
Let it therefore fufiice here to obferve, that the very few inllances of pu-
nifhment inflided by our courts, had fpread a general alarm, and pro-
duced in the year 1765, a petition to the governor and council, figned by
the native inhabitants of Calcutta, praying, that they might not be fub-
jeded to laws which to them were wholly unknown it.

Aduated therefore by honeft motives, the juftices unanlmoully referred
the complaint of Gocul Sonar to the court of zemindar, and the buiinefs
of the feffions being finifhed, the juries were called and difraifled. In
this cafe, it would have been peculiarly improper for the feffions to have
proceeded becaufc the accufation related to the exercife of judicuil autho-
rity in the call cutcherry by Nobekiffen, affifted by the miniflers of their
religion §.

* Sir John Coventry, in tlie time of Charles II.

t The ancient moguls and nabobs would not permit any of the profeflbrs of Iilam to be
hanged according to the Englifh ciiflom. efteemjng that too ignominious a death for a Maho-
medan to fuffer. Confiderations, p. 8r.

t See this petition, Appendix, p. ijj. No. 63.

§ All nations have their courts of ecclcfiafticaljurifdIiElion diftindl: from the adminiftration
of civil juflice, in fome with a more limited, in others with more extenfive authority. The
followers of Brama in Bengal have their caft cutcherries, or courts to take cognizance of all
matters relative to the feveral cafts, or tribes of the Hindoo religion. Their religious purity de-

* E 2 It

28 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

It will be now neceflary to follow Gocui Sonar, and his patron Mr.
Bolts, to the court of the zemindar; but firft it may be proper to acquaint
the reader who this Nobtifren was, and whence arofe the complaint
againft him.

NobekiiTen is a native Hindoo, who had been extremely zealous in ther
Englifh caufe during the troubles preceding Meer Jaffier's elevation to the
fubahdarry. When the war broke out with Meer Coffim, he attended
major Adams, and continued with that commander till the fubhadar was
driven out of the provinces. His addrefs, and attachment to the Englifh,
recommended him to lord Clive, who made him banyan to the committee,
in which office he continued the three years likewife of Mr. Verelft's go-
vernment *.

This man having charge of the call cutcherry, one Ram, a goldfmith,
complained, that his mother and brother-in-law forcibly with-held his wife
from him in their houle, and not only refufed him admittance to fee her,
but permitted another man to vifit her, which, if known, might endan-
ger the lofs of his caft. The perfons were fent for, and the affair com-
promifed to the apparent fatisfaftion of all parties. About twenty days
afterwards, this was made the fubjedt of an accufation againft Nobekiflen ;
and that the crime might be capital by the Englifli law, the witnefles
readily fwore f to a fadl, of which, if true, they could have no know-

pendsontheconftant obfervance of fuch numberlefs precepts, that the authority of thefe courts
enters into the concerns of common life, and is, confcquently, very extenfive. A degradation
from the cafl, by their fentcnce, is a fpecies of excommunication, attended wiih the mofl dread-
ful efFecls, rendering the offender an outcnftfrom fociety. But as the weight of the punifliment
depends merely upon the opinion of the people, it is unueceffary to fay that it cannot be inflitled
by the Englifli governor (as Mr. Bolts afferts, p. 83.) unlefs the mandate of a governor could
inftantly change the religious fcntiments of a nation. Neither can a man once degraded
be rellored, but by the general fuffrage of his own tribe, the fandion of the Bramins, (who
are the head tribe) and the fuperadded concurrence of the fupreme civil power. See the laft
feftlon of Mr. Verelll's Inftrudions to the fiipravifors, an article in the Appendix.

« Mr. Bolts is miftai<en when he afferts that Nobckiflln \va banyan to the governor. This
nomination only implied his being an agent for the committee in political tranfaflions with the
country pcv;crs.

t They fwore that their fifler was carried away and violated, although, according to their
own relation, they were abfunt when flie is fuppoted to have been taken away.

ledge.

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 29

ledge, the fubfequent rape of their fifter. The juftices in quarter-feffions
referred the complaint to the court of the zemindar. Mr. Bolts attend-
ing, a paper, which he declared himfclf to have tranllated, was pro-
duced, and delivered as the depolition of Gocul Sonar. Mr. Bolts was
defirous that Kifno Sonar, the brother, fhould fwear generally to the
truth of the written paper ; but this compendious method of giving tef-
timony, not meeting with the approbation of Mr. Ffloyer *' the zemin-
dar, the witnefs was compelled to fubmit to an examination, in which he
materially differed from his brother. Several witnefles were likewife ex-
amined on the part of the accufed, and proved the relation before given
of the affair, intirely to the fatisfadion of Mr. Fiioyer, " who reported,
as his opinion, " that it was an accufation malicioufly invented to de-
*' preciate the chara£ter of NobekifTen, there not being a fmgle circum-
*' fiance in the depofitions that can create a fufpicion of his having had
" the informant's fifler at his houfet-"

Mr. Bolts mufl excufe me if I cannot believe that the information,
which he has given the public in his Confiderations, page 96, dated
the 20th of May, 1767, v/as ever fubfcribed by Mr. Ffioyer ; be-
caufe Mr. Ffloyer mentioned his error the next day to Mr. Verelfl,
who was abfent from Calcutta fome v/eeks before the 20th of May, and
did not return till long after. Mr. Ffloyer, in his minute publifhed by
Mr. Bolts :{:, written fome months after the tranfa£lion, fays, " thefe were
'* depofitions taken before him, fitting as zemindar, in confequence of the
" reference from the quarter fefTions," and his report of that trial is dated
the 1 7th of March, thirteen days after the petition to the grand jury.
For the truth of his affertion he refers § to the records and officers of the
court, " who were the only perfons made ufe of by him during the
*« whole courfe of the enquiry." Had Mr. Ffloyer afferted a falfehood,
the means of detection were abundant. The miflake therefore mufl have

• A gentleman now in England.

t See his report, Appendix, p. 182. In which Mr. Ffloyer refers to the dqiofitions, in fup-
port of his opinion.

J Confiderations, p. 98. in a note at the bottom.

§ Mr. Ffioyer was moft probably, at this time> no longer zemindar, others fuccecding in-

been

JO A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

been made long before, and it will fcarce be thought probable the fame
fliould be repeated on the 20th of May. Mr. Bolts, in copying the mi-
nute, has not given us the month in which the error is faid to have been
committed, and would have the reader infer, that the minute relates to
his information of the 20th of May, though the contrary (the ftory being
fairly told) is apparent from every line.

This was not the fmgle attempt made agalnft the life of NobekifFen.
A bramin was prevailed upon, by promifes of money, to charge him with
violating his wife, " to add {as the parties exprefs themfelves) a link to
*' the chain." They proceeded even to threaten the life of the woman,
who, declaring fhe never would ruin an innocent perfon, revealed the
defign to Nobekiflen. The truth of this infamous tranfaftion was evinced
by the confeffions of the bramin, and one of the feducers, Ramfonar
Gofe, by the teftimony of the wife, and of two other witnefTes.

To underftand the affair of Ramnaut it will be neceflary to divei3: the
reader's attention to what pafled previous to this man's complaint, which
Mr. Bolts thinks "foreign to his purpofe to relate." The opprefTions
committed by thofe who took upon themfelves the character of Eiiglifli
ao-ents, are, in other parts of this work, fufEciently explained. The ti-
midity of the public officers, and incapacity of the country government to
reprefs this growing evil, had compelled the governor and council, on va-
rious occafions, to make the abufe of Englifh influence the fubjed of
their enquiries. The neccffity of their interference cannot be better
evinced, than by informing the reader that it was not uncommon for
many, particularly the Armenians, to call themfelves the gomaftahs or agents
of Englifli gentlemen, without any authority from their fuppofed principal ;
and fuch was the dread of our power, that even the neighbouring princes
would rarely venture to check the difordcrs hereby occafioncd, without
firfl making application to our government.

The reader who will carry in his mind the diftin(flion arlfing between

the Englifh agent and the native, from the want of a controuling power

over the former, will readily conceive the nature of that fair, open, and

iin-

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. "31

unrejlralned trade, in favour of which Mr. Bolts fo vehemently declaims ;
and. alfo of thofe numberlefs oppreffions, groaning under vfhich Mr.
Bolts accumulated, in the fpace of fix years, a larger fortune * than
many gentlemen who have refided twenty years in India, and filled the
highcft ftations in the company's fervice.

It was a great point of policy among all concerned in this unreftrained
trade, to deter the governor and council from animadverting upon the
condud: of their agents, particularly within the province of Bengal,
where the debility of the country government opened ftill fairer profpeds
of advantage. Mr. Bolts, upon thefe occafions, diftinguilhed himfelf as
the great leader of fedltion, and no fooner was Ramnaut proved to have
committed more than ordinary violence, than, he became this, gentleman's
f agent, confidant^ and friend.

In the year 1765, complaints were made by the inhabitants of Maulda,
and the adjacent country, of cruelties and oppreffions committed by this
man, of a nature fhocking to humanity. Not only depredations on pro-
perty, but various means of torture were ufed for the piirpofe of cffcd-
ing Tils Interefted defigns. Many particular crimes being proved by the
oaths of witnefles, as likewife by the confeffion of Ramnaut himfelf:}:,'
the council direded him to be imprifoned, until fatisfadion fliould be
made to the perfons injured. The fruitful brain of this man foon de-
vifed the means of his releafe. He pretended that he was only the agent
of an EnglUh gentlemiin ; that nothing had been done without the direc-
tion of his mafter, who had received the money ; and that he was utterly
unable to make fatisfadion, unlefs he firft recovered the money from that
gentleman. Undertaking to fatisfy thofe he had wronged, Ramnaut was dif-

• According to his own account 90,000 1. Prefcce to Confidcrations, p. 12. Mr. Et;Iis
arrived in Bengal in tlie fummcr of the year 176c, and refigned the company's fervice in No-
vember 1766 ; during which time he was only a junior fervant, and far below the rani; of coun-
cil in the prefidency.

t The great intimacy fubfifting between them appears from Confiderations, p., 99, to IC4.
Mr. Bolts is defired to fecure his effeds to become refponfible for payment of money, &c.

X The particulars appear upon the records of the company.

charged

32 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

charged from confinement * to profecute a fuit commenced in the Mayor's
court. After much time elapfed, it evidently appeared, that he never had any
ferious intention to proceed in his a<flion ; but while at liberty he had devifed
another trick, which he hoped would intereft the governor in the fafety of
his fortunes. He purchafed, in July 1766, aquantity of fait, which had been
confignedto Mr. Barwell, near Maulda, in November 1765, on the account
of Mr. Verellt, who was then difpofmg of his mercantile property in the coun-
try; and became afterwards farther indebted on the fale of fome boats.
The purchafe was made in the name of Bogwendafs, and it was not
before ZjthOdober, 1766, that Mr. Verelft was informed, in a letter from
Mr. Barwell, that Ramnaut had intereft therein f ; finding thefe evafions
infufiicient, in April 1767, he applied by letter to the governor, for
leave to " lay his cafe before the juries at the next feflions," now for the
firft time accufing Nobekiflen of extorting money from him during his
former confinement. He received afTurances that the ftridleft juftice
fhould be done him ; but as the aff^air of Gocul Sonar, and alfo the ftory
of the bramin's wife, juftlfied every precaution, he was confined by a
guard in his own houfe " to prevent his being tampered with, and in-
*' ftrudlcd in his evidence, until he could be examined by the committee :|:."
This palled on the 1 5th of April. When he VN-as examined on the 1 8th,
the falfehood of the whole charge became evident beyond a pofTibility of
doubt. The demand of money was made by a man, whom he had never
feen before or fince ; whofe name he had heard, but did not remember.
He gave Nobekiflen a ring, valued at 14,200 rupees, yet could not pro-
duce a fingle witnefs who had feen this ring in his poffeflion ; and the

• Where an European was concerned, the council thought it nece/IIiry to proceed with cau-
tion, and remit the aftair to the ordinary courts of juflice, Avho had not fufficient power to re-
prcfs the evil. Had this charge againfl Mr. day been true, the mayor's court could only have
obliged him to refund the money, and the penal jurifdiclion of the court of feflions extends
little beyond the limits of Calcutta.

t Ramnaut had applied to Mr. Verelft, in the month of Augull, for his intereft in procur-
ing leave for his return to Maulda, on account of a fliarc he had in the purchafes made of that
gentleman by Bogwandafs. This pretence Mr. Verelft then confidcred as a mere artifice to ob-
tain his rcleafe.

J See this letter in Confidcrations, p. 100, lOi. This was not a fubjea of enquiry before
that court, to which he wiflicd to fubmit it ; but had the complaint been foumlcd in truth, the
committee could have done hjm ample juftice, and punifticd the offending party.

man,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 33

man, of whom it was bought, equally unknown, was gone to Dchly.
The money was given in private. His fervant, who carried another fum
in gold Mohurs to NobekilTen, was gone to Maulda. He had related this
tale to his own fervants, and many others ; yet not one perfon could hci
name. He had been prefled for the payment of his debts, pleaded po-
verty ; yet never mentioned thefe extortions by which it \vas occafioned.
Afraid to complain at the time, he had ventured to do this at the diftance
of a year and half, although his enemy continued in his former employ-
ment. He had not even mentioned the fubje^l befofe the 5th of April
to his friend Mr. Bolts, who then drew his paper of complaint.

Nohekiffen was now called. The examination of Ramnaut being read
in the prefence of both, NobckifTen remarked the inconfiftencies of his ac-
cufer, and pointed out the means by which fuch * a tranfadlion might be
proved, if it had ever exifted. He then concludes his defence in thefe words,
" after he had (as he pretends) corrupted me with more than the fum
" he was ordered to refund, he was dill fubjed' to the demand ;
*' whereas, by a proper application of his money, he might have ferved
*' every purpofe without my affiftance. What probability, gentlemen,
*' is there in this ftory ? You are the judges." Ramnaut having heard
the defence, contented himfelf with declaring, that he could not prove
any circumftances, as the whole tranfadion was carried on with the
greateft privacy.

' Tired with his artifices, the committee, at length, ordered this man to
be delivered over to the country government, that he might be compelled
to make fatisfadion to the perfons he had injured ; and the governor gave
particular directions not to moleft him on account of his own debt,
which flill remains in part unpaid f. Yet, upon no better evidence than a
fuppofed letter from this Ramnaut, does Mr. Bolts derive a charge againlt

• Money tranfa6tions in this country are of a nature not to be concealed. AH payments are
in fpecie. A man of any confequence has a number of people about him, through ivhofe
■ hands it pafles, and by whom his accounts are kept. Thefe Nobekiflcn defiied to have called,
as no receipt, or payment, could be made unknown to them.
t Appendix, p. 200.

* F Mr.

34 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Mr. Verelft; but it is the perpetual misfortune of the two friends,
Mr. Bolts and Ramnaut, that no one can give credit to their accufations,
without fuppofmg a general combination againft them.

Another complaint is of violence done to " certain Armenian mer-
*' chants, of eftablifhed credit and reputation, who, like many hundreds
" of others, had been long eftablifhed in India, and were at this time
" peaceably engaged in carrying on their own mercantile bufinefs in the
" dominions of the nabob Sujah al Dowlah*." The truth is, that the per-
fons here fpoken of, were the t agents of Mr. Bolts, and acknowledged
by him as fuch in his letter to the feledl committee about this period ;
although Mr. Bolts having been indulged with time for near tw-o years
after his refignation of the fer\'ice, and affifted in colle£ling his effe£ts,
had repeatedly promifed, particularly the year J before, not to engage in
any farther concerns in the country. Inftances of the like inconliftency
are not unfrequent with the author of Confiderations. Mr. Bolts, in
Bengal, makes an extravagant ufe of the Engllfli influence, and endea-
vours, by every artifice of nditious rumours and deceitful correfpond-
ence, to increafe his own importance, together with that of his agents,
for the purpofe of private emolument, in a manner injurious to the
company, dangerous to our pofleffions, and deftruaive of the peace
of the country § : nay, in an information delivered at the quarter feifions
at Calcutta, upon oath, he there denominates himfelf " a loyal fiih-'
" jccl of Great Britain." Yet, when he is called upon by the Englifli
Eaft India Company to anfwer for an interference with their exclu-
five trade to India, their zealous and devoted fervant is not afhamed
to plead, that as an alien he is not the objcd of thofe laws made for
the protedtion and fecurity of that company in whofe fervice he went iirft

"* Confiderations, p. io6.

t Mr. Bolts, according to his own declaration, before the committee of the houfe of com-
monf, had one hundrecl and fifty ofthcfc agents; fuch were " the merchants of .y?aW//*^i/ credit
and rebutation."

X In his letter to tiie feleft committee, d;itcd February ii, 1767, entered on the proceedings
the third of March following, Mr. Bolts has the following wonls, " / ajjun you, genilemen, upon
" my honor f that I have not lately, andjhalhwt enter into einy new inland concerns; and that I /hall hold
**■ none, but fuch as I have already been /onetime engaged in." Appendix, p. 1 94. No. ICO.

$ Appendix, p. 204, &c. partitvilarly No. 115.

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 35

to India : A plea which the Court of Exchequer in England treated with
the contempt it deferved. In Bengal Mr. Bolts makes his black fervant
fign tlie new covenants with his name, hoping thereby to evade the
obligation. This being difcovercd, he applies with abjcdt meannefs to the
fiib-fecretary, Mr. Baber, clandePanely to deliver the covenants (o ex-
ecuted, out of the public office, for the exprefs purpofe, as he then de-
clared, of re-executing the fame*. The reafon given by Mr. Bolts for his
firft default, is curious. It feems he had taken an oath not to figu co-
venants. Being detected, he was neverthelefs eager to violate this facred,
though voluntary, obligation. Yet he now attempts to juftify his con-
duct, becaufe a lawyer has lately correded his former error, by inform-
ing him, that his fignature, being made with his confent, muft be cou-
fidered as his own ad.

In the fame fpirit Is conceived the account given of the Armenian
merchants. He reprefents the general orders to have been particularly
dired;ed agalnft certain individuals, " greatly interfering with the private
*' views of the governor and fome of the council f :" yet Mr. Bolts knew
thefe to have been only a repetition of the like orders, ineffedually
iffued, in confequence of reiterated commands from home J ; and that the
governor, in fad, was neither diredly nor indiredly engaged in trade,
from which he was reftraincd by a folemn oath, and by a bond with a
lirge penalty §. The author of Confiderations affirms, that all Armenians
were prohibited from trading or tranfporting merchandize out of the pro-
vinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orifla. He well knew that experience of
the turbulent, intriguing fpirit of thefe people f| during Meer Coffim's
government of Bengal, and the frequent complaints of Sujah al Dowlah,

* Mr. Baber's affidavit, Appendix, p. 209. No. 126. Vide alfo No. 152.

t Confiderations, p. io6.

t Vide Appendix from p. 179. If the dates of the feveral orders of the dire£tors and of the
refolutionsof the council and committees thereupon be attended to, it will appear that the fen-,
tiiiients of all parties both at home and abroad have been the fame upon this fubje(fV.

§ The purchafe of diamonds for the remittance of the governor's private fortune to Europe,
and for that purpofe only, is excepted in the oalh. This however has no relation to the trade
mentioned by Mr. Bolts.

II The Armenians refemble Europeans in aiflivity and vigour both of mind and body, for
tlis reafon, they were employed in the moft important ofiices, civil and military, by Mcef
Coffim.- For the fame reafons they were the propereft inftruments for our traders-

* F 2 • had

.6 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

had proved them fo capable of embroiling us with the neighbouring
powers, by ufurping the name of Englilh agents, and abufing the in-
fluence thereby obtained, that it became neceflary to confine the com-
merce out of the provinces, to fuch as, difclaiming the Englifh protec-
tion were contented to be wholly liibjecl to the laws of that country
wherein they refided. The condudt of fome Armenians would have juf-
tified a general prohibition ; but the truth is, that thofe who would
trafBck upon thefe terms, were never interrupted. The reader who will
recoiled the numerous evils produced by the private trade of the com-
pany's fervants, and abufe of the Englifh power during Meer CofTnn's
adminiftration, will not be furprifed to find Sujah al Dowlah expreffing
the moft extreme folicitude, that the like praftices might never prevail
in his dominions. At the fame time, he was cautious of ifluing any or-
ders, which might create the fmalleft fufpicion of a difagreement be-
tween him and us ; nor would he take any meafure which might poflibly
ofi:end the Englifh gentlemen, but in conjunction with our government*.
He was extremely defirous that whatever was done refpedting Englifh
agents, fhould be wholly the ad: of the governor and council ; but when
thefe gentlemen, apprehenfive of ill confequences to themfelves, where
they had no legal authority, declined a dired: interpofition, he yet in-
fifted that our people Ihould be the immediate inflruments in an aft
which otherwife might wear an hoftile appearance. Accordingly, thefe
Armenian gomaflahs were feized by our fepoys under the diredlion of
Sujah al Dowlah's officers.

Soon after the recovery of Calcutta, the fubfequent defeat of Serajah al
Dowlah, and the eflablifhment of Meer Jaffier, the power of the Englifh
traders in Bengal was feverely felt by the natives, and greatly contributed
to the diftreffcs of Meer Jaffier's government, which, in the year 1760,.
afforded a pretence for a new revolution in favour of Meer CofHm, This
evil continued rapidly to increafe, and in the year 1762, Mr. Haflings,
in a letter to the governor, exhibits a truly deplorable pifture of the
country- " I beg leave to lay before you a grievance, wdiich calls loudly
" for redrefs. I mean the oppreffions committed under the fandion of
'* the Englilh name, and through want of fpirit in the nabob's fubjeds

• Arpendix, p. 186. No. 82.

"to

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 37

**■ to oppofe them. This evil, I am well afliircd, is not confined to our

" dependents alone, but is pradifcd all over the country by people ai-

" fuming the habits of our fepoys, and calling themfelves our gomaftahs.

" As, on fuch occafions, the great power of the Englifli intimidates the

" people from refiftancc, fo, on the other hand, the indolence of the

" Bengalees, or the difficulty of gaining accefs to thofe who might do

" them juftice, prevents our having knowledge of tlie oppreflions, and

" encourages their continuance, to the great, though unmerited, fcandal

*' of our government.

" I have been furprifed to meet with feveral Englifh flags, flying in

" places which I have pafled, and on the river I do not believe that I

" pafled a boat without one. By whatever title they have been afliimed

" (for I could only trufl: to the information of my eyes, without flopping

" to aflc queftions) I am fure their frequency can bode no good to the

" nabob's revenues, the quiet of the country, or honour of our nation, but-

" evidently tends to leflfen each of them.

" A party of fepoys who were on the march before us, aff"orded fuf--
" ficient proofs of the rapacious and infolent fpirit of thofe people, when-
" left to their own difcretion. Many complaints againft them were made
" me on the road, and moft of the petty towns andferais weredeferted at
" our approach, and the ftiops fhut up, from apprehenflons of the fame
" treatment from us."

The fubahdar Meer Coflilm, about the fame time, complains that the Eng-
lifli agents plundered his people, injured and difgraced his fervants, and ex-
pofed his government to contempt. They had eftablifhed numerous fadtories,
and letting up the Englifli colours, oppreflTed the ryots, or hufljandmen, the
merchants, and people of the country. « Every Bengal gomaftah makes
« a difturbance at every fadory, and thinks himfelf not inferior to the
" company. In every purgunnah, every village, and every fadory, they
" buy and fell fait, beetle-nut, ghee, rice, ftraw, bamboos, fiih, gunnils, .
" ginger, fugar, tobacco, opium, and many other things more than I
" can write, and which I think it needlefs to mention.. They forcibly
" take away the goods and commodities of the ryots, merchants, &c,

« for:

353044

38 A VIEW OF THii ENGLISH

*' for a fourth part of their vahie, and, by ways of violence and op-

" preffions, they oblige the ryots, &c. to give five rupees for goods

" which are worth but one rupee ; and, for the fake of five rupees, they

" bind and difgrace an affammee, who pays one hundred rupees mal-

" guzarree '*, and they allow not any authority to my fervants ; the of-

" ficers of every diftriift have defifced from the exercife of their func-

" tions ; and every one of thefe gomaftahs has fuch power, that he im-

" prifons the collector, and deprives him of all authority whenever he

*' pleafes."

Such was the ftate of the country, which proved the immediate caufe
of our war with Meer Coflim; immediate, for as there could be no
choice, but of abfolute dominion, or intire fubjedlion, he had certainly
refolved, from his firll acceffion, to refift the power of the Englifh, and,
in lefs than three years, had well nigh obtained that independence, to
which all the meafures of his government were evidently diredled.

Mr. Bolts arrived in India in the year 1760, and we foon find him a
principal figure amidft the groupe of traders. The extent to which this
gentleman engaged, and the moderation with which he conduded him-
felf, will be beft known from his fortune, of ninety thoufand pounds,
gained within fix years, together with the extreme eagernefs with which
he endeavoured, upon all occafions, to degrade the authority of the go-
vernment, and prevent any elFedual protedion being given to the na-
tives f.

Among the private perfons who ufurped the office of their fupcriors,
Mr. Bolts was very early diftinguilhed, who wrote in his own name to
the fouzdar of Purnea :j:, threatening the nabob's officers with the efi"e6t
of the Englifli power. Mr. Vanfittart § obferves, " of courfe every merchant
" will take the fame authority;" and very juftly adds, " that this intire

* The rents, or land- tax.

+ Appendix, p 203. No. 114, and p. 208. No. 124, ?fc. Sec.

t In the year 1762. See Mr. Vanfittart's Narrative, Vol. II. p. zcg. Appendix, p. 191.

N. 94.

§ See Mr. Vanfittart's Minute, in his Narrative, p. 250. Vol. II.

" level-

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 39

" levelling and equality will not be for the good of the company's af-
" fairs *." ■■

To level all diflindions, to intimidate the governor and council, and,
by clamour, to confine them within the RnQ. letter of laws, calcu-
lated for a very different ftate of fociety, has ever been the conftant ob-
jed of thofe, who, from motives of; private intereft, wilhed to abufe
that influence which the name of Englifhman was-alone fufficientto confer.

Notwithftanding Mr. Bolts was reprimanded by order of ,the court of
directors in the general letter to Bengal, received in July i'/6j^'f] yet, in
the year 1765, we find him exercifing J fummary jurifdidtion in his
pw,n cay.fe, and confining a merchant for three days, whom, at length
he was compelled to releafe. He was foon after this, fufpended from his
appointment at Benires, but the trade of a country, yet unexhaufted,
was too lucrative to be eafily relinquilhed.

The November following, Mr. Bolts refigned his ftation^ri t^e fervice,
and was about this time eleded an alderman and judge of the mayor's court
■ in Calcutta. Here therefore commences his" furious zeal for reformation,
Tiaiid, in the beginning of the next year, he was adively engaged in the
complaint againft Nobekiflen, which ended with little honour to the au-
thors. The public concerns of Mr. Bolts never intruded upon his pri-
vate cares, and infinite arts were tried to prevent a difmilfion of his
agents from the dominions of Sujah al Dowlah. The great diftance
from Calcutta gave to falfehood the weight of truth. Various rumours
were therefore propagated, which Mr. Bolts endeavoured § to fupport
by his correfpondence. At one time, Mr. Bolts was returning to Benares
with the moft extenfive powers. At another time, thefe people were

* Mr. Bolts tells us (Confiderations p. 84.) that " the governor, by the eftabliflicd rule of
" the company's fervice, is the perfon to whom all coire poiicknce, by letter or o:hci\vife, with
*•■ the country powers is committed, and the only perfon in the fervice to whom fuch correfpon-
" dence of any fort is allowed." One of the many r Jons for Mr. Bolts being fentto Ergjand,
though very low in the fervice, was his arrogating to himfelf this ejiailijhed authority of a go-
vernor,

t See the extra£l of this letter, Appendix, p. \Q,^ No. 95.

t This appears from his own letters entered in the ion'"ttitations-of the council in February,
>766* § Appendix, p. 204. No, 115.

taken

40 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

taken into Mr. Rumbold's fervice, :»n^ a letter was on the road from
the council, that none ihould be licenfed as Englifli agents but them-
felves. While fuch arts were employed to influence the mind of the
nabob of Oude, the war ujx)n the Coaft had drained the treafury of Ben-
gal, and the moil alarming accounts were induftrioufly fpread of the
ihftability of the company's affairs. Allured by the tempting occafion,
Sujah al Dowlah began to liften to the voice of ambition. Coj a * Ra-
fael, for the fake of intel-ligence, was taken into his fervice, through the
influence of Meer Mufliallah (formerly phyfician to Meer Coflirn, and,
at' this timt, retained by the nabob of Oude) who likewife correfponded
with our patriot at Calcutta f . When the ftorm blew off, the dread of our
power revived. Sujah al Dowlah, again regarding the Englifli agents as
a fource of contention, applied to our commanding officer at Allah-abad,
for their removal ; and both parties, being now equally fincere, it was
foori effedled J.

That Mr. Bolts was a party to thefe praQiices cannot be doubted, when

the reader is informed of a confidential letter written by that gentleman

' to Monfieur Gei;itil, a Frenchman, high in Sujah al Dowlah's confidence,

' In which, he fays, " I have written. a letter to the nabob, to whom I beg

*' you will give my humble refpedts. There is arrived an Englifli Europe

"'^^^ flii p, and another French one. The affairs of our company are in

■" great agitation before the king and parliament of England ; and accord-

" ing to the letters I have received, there is a great probability that my

" partner Mr. Johnftone will come out governor on the part of the king I]."

Such was the conduit of Mr. Bolts and his agents, which produced at
length the removal of the latter from the territories of Oude ; and after,
every other expedient had been tried to reclaim a man', who appeared
determined to facrifice all public duties to his own interefted purfiiits, and
who had adlually prefented to the grand jury an information ngainft; the

• Mr. Boltb' agent, now in England.
■ + Appendix, p. 189. No. 88. p. 203. No. 113. and p. 204. No. 115.
X Appendix, p. 189. No. 82.
II Appendix, p. 203. No. 114.

go-

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 41

govcraor, council, and commander in chief, for endeavouring to rcRrain
his pernicious pradices, Mr.Bolts himfelf was fcnt to England. Inftcad
of punifhing Coja Gregory and Johannes Padre Rafael as they deferved,
fuch was the idle lenity of our government, that they immediately re-
ceived their liberty, and every affiftance was offered to colled their efi"e£ts,
an alfiftance probably unneccffliry, as they chofe to depart for Europe.

That the mcafures of our government were fufficiently vigorous and
decifive upon this, as upon other occafions, it might be difficult to prove;
but, when Mr. Bolts had been indulged with near two years, after his
refignation of the fervice, to collect his effedls ; when the public authority
had been employed, and letters written by the governor to Bulwant Sing,
and the nabob of Oude, requefting their affiftance for the fcttlement*of
his affairs ; it was furely no very ruinous oppreffion to fend away that
gentleman by force, whom the moft folemn promifes, repeatedly given,
could not engage voluntarily to depart for Europe. The governor and
council were indeed criminal. It was criminal, for a moment to fuffer
the refidence of a man, who. Independent of other demerits, had cor-
refponded with every rival, and every enemy of the company ; who had
engaged with Mr. Vernet, the Dutch governor, to monopolize the cloth-
trade of Dacca f; who had fcandaloufly evaded the execution of covenants,
which, as a fervant of the company, he was bound to fubfcribe J ; who
had attempted one, and actually fucceeded in feducing another, inferior
fervant, to betray his truft, in delivering papers out of the ofhce ; who
had, from his firfl arrival in India, carried on a trade deftrudlive to the
peace of the country ; who, in fupport of this trade, had threatened the
officers of the Nabob ||, and had iifued his proclamation in the ftile of a
foverelgn § ; whofe agents, by their intrigues in the dominions of Sujah al
Dowlah, and by falfe intelligence received from their mafter, had endan-
gered the peace of India ^. To fuffer fuch a man in Bengal, was furely

* See extra£ts of the prefident's letter, Appendix, p. 195. No. 103, 104.

t Appendix, p. 196. No. 108.

t Appendix, p. 209. No. 125, 126.

11 Appendix, p. loi. No. 94.

§ Appendix, p. 20H. No. 124.

f Appendix, p. 7, 186. No. 82, 88, 93, 113, 115.

'* G criminal.

42 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

criminal. But if fults are now commenced in our courts of law, if pc--
titions are prefented to the houfe of commons, and unwarrantable pre-
judices are induftrioufly fomented, what might we exped:, had ample
juftice been done to the company and to the nation?

Enough has been faid to fhew that the evils complained of in Bengal,
have arifen rather from the inability of the governor and council to
reftrain the daring and pernicious proje<fls of private intereft in others,
than from a rapacious fpirit in themfelves. Had the higher fervants of
the company, as the author of Conliderations would wifh us to believe,
been alone the oppi-eflbrs of Bengal, the evil could not have exr-
tended far. But when the rapacity of all who aflume the Englifh name,
is let loofe upon a harmlefs and inoffenfive race of men ; when every at-
tempt of the governor and council to rePcrain thefe lawlcfs traders, is re-
prefented as a violation of property, and infringement of thofe laws by
which only Europeans can be governed ; and when this fpirit, fupported
by intereiled men, proceeds fo far, that the governor, council, and com-
mander in chief, are prefented to the grand jury as confpirators againft
the life and fortune of an individual j we muft not be furprized if gen-
tlemen relax fomewhat in the exercife of new, unknown, and quef-
tionable powers, however neceflary to the welfare or fafety of the pro*
vince.

THE

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 43

CHAP. I.

A general View of the Affairs of Bengal from the Capture
of Calcutta, in 1757, to the Grant of the Devvanny to
the India Company, in 1765,

WHEN a portrait is prefented to our view, thofe acquainted with
the original readily pronounce upon the degree of fimilitude in
the copy. They eafily perceive the whole to be unlike, and can even dif-
cover where the fmaller traits of truth, in particular parts, are made fub-
fervient to the purpofes of falfhood ; yet would it be difficult to make a
by-ftander comprehend the manner In which each feature was perverted.
I have neverthelefs endeavoured to prove, in the introdudlory difcourfe
prefixed, that the pidure which Mr. Bolts has exhibited of Bengal man-
ners bears no reiemblance to the real ftate of affairs, or to" the condudl of
thofe concerned. After all, perhaps, the beft means of deteding mif-
reprefentation, is to contrail it with a faithful likenefs. To delineate juflly
the fubjedl, fhall therefore be my next attempt.

The reader muft not, however, expe£l a laborious detail. It is more
confiflent with the defign of this work, to give a general map of the
country, leaving to others the talk of tracing the more minute divifionsi
To afford a compendious view of the Britifh affairs in Bengal, the firft
chapter will contain a Ihort hiftorical dedudlion ; becaufe in this flux of
events, the reader will difcover thofe fituations to v/hich the condud of
men mull: refer, and by which alone their merits can juftly be tried.

The neceffity of an exclufive company, the expediency of uniting the
commerce, the political power, and the revenues in the fame hands, are
fo evident from confidering the diftance of the countries, the genius of

* G 2 the

44 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

the inhabitants, and the nature of the trade, and are fo fully evinced by the

experience of other European nations, that he who wants conviaion upon

thefe firft principles, may relinquiih all farther enquiry. To fuch men this.

work cannot be addreifcd. Yet even thefe may be informed, that the ex-^

chequer receives annually four fifths of the profits gained by th« company;

the proprietors of Eaft India ftock one fifth ; while the property of the latter

has been employed in fuftaining the power of Great Britain, and wrefting

all dominion from her enemies in Afia : that if the company has occafion-

ally obtained the protedlon due to every fubjed from the ftate, it has like-

wife glA'-en an affiftance which no other fubjeds could afford, has lavifhed

its own wealth, and rifked its own fecurity in * national contefts, ia

which the company's interefts were by no means involved.

The ambition of the French firft drew the Engllfh into the field. The
ftruggles maintained for many years upon the coaft of Coromandel, pre-
pared a force, in the condud of which colonel Cllve had been eminently
diftingulfhed f. Upon the capture of Calcutta, In the year 1757,, he was,
without regard to his rank, unanlmoufly chofen for the command of
that expedition, which, to reftore the company's aff"airs In Bengal, was
immediately undertaken. The tranfiidions of this period have been al-
ready related by J others. Let it fuffice here to obferve, that Calcutta was
retaken, and Serajah al Dowlah concluded a peace with the Englifli, which,
through the timid irrefolutlon of the Nabob, and the ability of our com-
manders. Admiral Watfon and colonel Clive, was happily Improved to the
deftruiftlon of the French fettlement at Chandernagore. Certain Intelligence
was afterwards received of Serajah alDowlah's defign to extirpate the Eng-
lifli, whenever our forces fliould return to the Coafl §. Hoflilitles therefore

• The war which enfueil when tlic piodercd' neutrality upon tlie coaft of Coromamlel wat
rejefted, the expedition to Manilla, &c.

t See Mr. Ornie's Hiftory. Before this perioit colonel Clive had received many honourable
teftimonies of his eminent ferviccs, particularly in 1754, the dirctflois voted that a fword fct
viih diamonds of the valve of five hundred pounds nionlil be prcfenicd to him.

X Mr. Scrafton's Kcfledlions on the Government of India, &c.

§ Sec IntroduiUon, p. 16, 17.

again

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 45

again commenced. The nature of the government, the character of the prince,
and theuniverfal diftrufl which from thefe caufes prevailed, afforded abundant
occafions of Intrigue; and enabled Mr. Watts and colonel Clive, to whom
the whole condudl of this bufmefs was committed, to cherifla a difaffcc-
tion, which prevented any effectual mcafures for defence on the part of
the Nabob. Our army advanced within thirty miles of the capital, un-
aflured of affiftance, but a want of confidence in the enemy's camp, with
the advantageous fituation of the Englifli, afforded an eafy victory to a
handful of troops ; and Meer Jaffier, in purfuance of a previous treaty,
was immediately proclaimed Subahdar of Bengal *.

Thus a train of events led us into a delicate fituation, replete with
the feeds of jealoufy. Meer Jaffier, educated in the habits of a Mooriffi
court, diftrufted a moderation to which he had never been accuftomed,
and which, probably, was little confonant to the didates of his own mind.
Various fchemes of independence w^ere occafionally adopted, all of very
difficult execution. To balance European powers againft each other was
a dangerous expedient; yet, by inviting the Dutch, he feems at one pe-
riod, to have embraced it. In the mean time the Englifli, contented with
llieir prefent- advantages, interfered not in the affairs of government ;
but the difficulties in which the nabob was involved, foon obliged him to
call for their afliftance.

Every thing in thefe countries depends on perfonal char-ader. Before
tliis is fully eff;abliflied, rebellions are frequent, in which the death of the
rebel can prove only a leffon of caution to fucceeding governors, who re-
gard him as the vidllm of an unfortunate ambition, rather than the pro-
per object of punifliment. Upon thefe occafions negociations commonly
enfued, but the Koran was pledged in vain. Colonel Clive therefore, at
the defire of the nabob, guaranteed his engagements with feveral power-
ful fubjefts. A ftrid obfervance of treaties amidft all the fedudions which
both parties could employ, eftabliftied our credit in the country; and

* Appendix, p. 143. No. 39.

taught

46 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

taught men to regard the Englifh faith as the beft fecurity of their lives,
their honours, and their fortunes. Subfequent events, in which Meer
Jaffier was fnatched, by the afliftance of colonel Clive, from the verge of
deftrudion, fully fecured his confidence; and, fenfible of our attachment,
he difmiffed part of that unwieldy * army, whofe mutinies were formid-
able to the prince, while they performed little fervice in the field. When
the Dutch arrived, the nabob refufed them permiflion to land, Perfift-
ing in their enterprife, they were afterwards defeated by our troops, aflift-
ed by fome Indian cavalry.

In this fituation of affairs colonel Clive returned to Europe, Mr. Hol-
well fucceeded him in the government, and very early complains of a want
of confidence, which his own intrigues f had occafioned, propofing a revo-
lution as the beft means to obtain a perfed reliance upon Englifli faith.
Mr. Vanfittart adopted the views of his predeceffor, and Meer Jaffier was
depofed within a twelvemonth after colonel Clive left the country. The
difputes on this fubje£t I ftiall forbear to revive.

By this revolution % the company obtained an acceffion of revenue. The
number of their troops gradually increafed. The influence of indi-
viduals grew with the national power, producing numberlefs diforders
throughout the provinces. A trade was carried on without payment of
duties, in the profecution of which infinite oppreflions were committed.
Englifh agents or Gomaftahs, not contented with injuring the people,
trampled on the authority of government, binding and punifhing the na-

• Amounting to eighty thoufand men.

t A packet from this gentleman to the Shaw Zr.ilah, who was then in arms ngainft IMcer
Jaffier, was intercepted by the latter, after Mr. Holwcll had entertained the projcdt of a revo-
lution. If we may judge of this from a former letter, in which the Shaw Zadah offered a " carte
" bl.iHche if we would withdraw our afl'iflance from this Joer cf evil,'' the fupport of Meer Jaflier's
government was not the fubjccl of this correfpondence. Vide Mr. Hohvell's letter to colonel
Caillaud, dated April 7th, 1760. That Mr. Hoi well entertained the proje£l of a revolution
from hisfirft acceffion to the government, has been evinced by Mr. Scrafton in his " Obferva-
" tions on Mr. Vanfittart's Narrative." The proofs adduced by Mr. Strafton are (xtrai^s from
the correfpondence of Mr. Holwcll, as pubHfhed by himfelf in his " Addrefs to the Proprietors
" of India Stock," publidied for Beckct. The letter here mentioned is contained in page 28,
29. of Mr. HolweH's Addrefs, which was printed in 1764,
i A. D. 1760.

bob's

GOVERNMENT IN BEN'GAL. 47

bob's officers, whenever they prefumedto interfere. This was the imme-
diate caufe of the enfuing war with Meer Comm, but the real fource of
this conteft for power remains yet to be explained. It was impoffible
that Meer CofTim fhould reft the foundation of his government upon our
fupport. Self-defence taught him to look for independence, and he fought
it in the blood of all who had enjoyed the Englifh protection. Ramna-
rain, the Naib of Patna, was among the number of thofe for whofe fafc-
ty our faith had been pledged, whofe deftrudion was therefore refolved
on. After bribes had been tried in vain, with the gentlemen who com-
manded at Patna, after every art of intrigue had been employed during
feveral months to no purpofe, the mifreprefentations of the nabob, fup-
ported by the influence of Mr. Vanfittart, at length prevailed in council,
and the Englifh fupport was withdrawn from this unfortunate man. Meer
Coffim's views now became evident ; for Ramnarain, having loft our pro--
tedion, was foon after put to death. From that hour, no perfon of rank
would venture to correfpond with the Englifh, and we no longer had a friend
in the country. Meer CofTim withdrew to Mongheer, where, by difcip-
lining his troops, he prepared for a ftrugglc, which he moft certainly me-
ditated from his firft acceffion ; while in his correfpondence with the go-
vernor, he conftantly ufed the language of a man whole exiftence de-
pended on the breath of the Englifh.

On the other hand, a majority of the council viewed with jealous eyes
every a£t of government. They confidered all refiftance to the privilege they
claimed, as a fettled determination to fubvert the power of the company ; and
paffion thus uniting with intereft, they urged a meafure of national policy
with the little peevifh petulance of a perfonal quarrel *. In truth it very
early became fuch. Meer Coffim, in the orders iffued to his officers, dif-
tinguifhed between the trade of his friends and of thofe who oppofed him,
treating individuals with indecent reproach. Whilft the leading members
of the council, regarding him as a public enemy, had refolved to annihi-

• The minutes of fome gentlemen in council, immediately preceding the rupture wiih TJeer
ColTim, abundantly juftify this obfervadon. Mr. Verelft himfclt", in the years 1762 and 1763
being abfent from Calcutta, can fpeak only from public papers.

late

48 A VirW OF THE ENGLISH

late Ills power. With fiich difpofitions on both fides war was inevitable?,
but the moderation of Mr, Amyatt and fome few others for a time fuf-
pended its commencement.

This gentleman, who amldft the violence of party rage was imiverfally
beloved, offered himfelf as a deputy on the part of the Englirn, to nego-
tiate what he thought a peace. Refpedted for his integrity by Meer
Coffim, whofe elevation he difapproved, and whofe independence he op-
pofed, it was hoped that his charafter might give weight to the embaffy,
and convince the Nabob of our fincere inclination to fettle amicably the fub-
jeds in difpute. Meer Coffim, able, vigilant, and enterprifing in the
cabinet, was a coward by nature. While the deputies were with him at
Mongheer, he might probably fludluate in his councils, and hefitate to
draw the fword ^. But the fituation to which he had deliberately advanced,
rendered a retreat at this time impoffible. During the courfe of nearly
two years, he had induftrioufly involved every officer of his government
in contefls with the Englllli, and laboured to make his own quarrel the
common caufeof his fubjedls. Such was the effedls of this policy in inflam-
ing the minds of the natives, that to the lail hour of the war, not a man
of any confequence deferted his ftandard.

Had the army marched three months fooner, Meer Coffim mufl have
implicitly fubmitted; but an unfortunate delay, when negotiation could
no longer be of ufe, occafioned the lofs of Patna, together with one third
of our troops f- The Nabob about this period put the two Sects to death
for their fuppofed attachment to the Englifh; and fuch was his implacable
fury, that an hundred and fifty Engliffi prifoners were inhumanly but-
chered by his exprcfs command J. After a more vigorous rcfiflance, than

• See various letters of the deputies in Mr. Vanfittart's Narrative, among other papers, from
p. 214 to 325. Vol. III.

t Three hunilred Europeans and five hundred Sepoys.

X Two brothers, rich hankers ; at the fame time lie dcllroyed every confidcrable man who had
the flighted communication with the tnglifli,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 49

we Tiad ever before experienced, he was at Icngili completely defeated,
and Meer Jaflier again poffelled the fubalidarry of the three provinces.

Meer Jaffier, however, did not obtain that plenitude of power which
his predeceffor enjoyed. Limited by treaty in the number of his troops,
•he was not permitted to remove his court without advifmg the council ;
and they at firft intended to make him a mere pageant in captivity, by
•ftipulating the conftant attendance of a body guard from the * Englifli
army. Ample provilion was made upon this occafion for the intcrcft of
private traders, and Alcer Cofiim's ed'iO:, abolifliing all imports upon
commerce, was refcinded, that our gentlemen might remain the cidy
merchants in Bengal. Thefe effential points being thus atchieved, the
much talked of regulations to reprefs the violence of Englilh agents were
in terms declared the fubjedl of future deliberation f.

If the country government had been opprefled before, it was now anni-

"hilated. Meer Jaffier was proclaimed in July, 1763. In January, 1764,

Mr. Gray, refident at Maulda, wrote to the prefident, " fince my arrival

" here, I have had an opportunity of feeing the villainous pradices ufed

•" .by the Calcutta gomaftahs in carrying on their bufmefs. The go-

«« vernment have certainly too much reafon to complain of their want of

" intiuence in thei-r country, which is torn to pieces by a fet of rafcaLs,

" who in Calcutta walk in rags, but when they are fent out on gomaftah-

*' fhips, lord it over the country, imprifoning the ryots and merchants,

*' and writing and talking in the moft infolent domineering manner to the

" fouzdars and officers." Nor was the mifchief confined to a particular

fpot; for Mr. Senior, chief at Coffimbazar, wrote the March following to

the. governor, " It would amaze you, the number of complaints that

" daily come before me of the extravagancies committed by our agents

" and gomaftahs, all over the country." Such were the eff'eds of this

trade. Yet the article in the treaty with Meer Jaffier, which eftabliflied

• This article was in tlie treaty firfl: prefented to Meer Jaffier, but changed at his defirc to
a (lipulatlon that the Englifti troops fhould attend him when wanted. Appendix 159. No. 48.
Art. 5. and the treaty concluded, p. i6c. No- 49. Art. 7.

t See Appendix, p. 160. No. 49.

* H the

50 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

the exemption from duties, although condemned by the diredlors, -was
afterwards tranfcribed into the treaty with Nudjum al Dowlah, in February,

When Meer Jaffier was dying, he declared h'.s fon, Nudjum al Dowlah,
his fuccelTor ; but fuch a declaration could have little efFed:, vuitil an
acknowledgment of him as Subahdar was procured from the Englifh. No
fooner was the death of the father known in Calcutta, than the acceffion
of the fon became a fubjedl of treaty. The uneafinefs expreffed by the
former determined the council to remove all poffibility of future contention.
To efFedluate this purpofe, after confirming all former treaties, Nudjum
al Dowlah by the fourth article is difarmed, ftipulating that he will rely upon
the company's forces, and maintain no troops but fuch as " are immediately
" neceflary for the dignity of his perfon and government, and the bufinefs
" of his colledlions through the provinces." Even thefe troops were not
continued under the diredion of the Nabob, who, by the fecond article,
♦' agrees to have a perfon fixed with him, by the advice of the governor and
" council, in the ftation of Naib Subah, who Ihall have immediately un-
" der him the chief management of all afi^airs." He farther engages
that Mahomed Reza Cawn, on whom this truft was conferred, fhall not
be difplaced " without the approbation of thefe gentlemen." By the
third article, under the terms of paying " a proper regard to reprefenta-
" tions, when improper people are intrufted," a general power of ap-
pointing or difplacing all officers at pleafure is vefted in the governor and
council. Having thus provided for the public fervice, the gentlemen of the
deputation were not inattentive to private intereft ; about two hundred and
thirty thoufand pounds being diftributed, under the * denomination of pre-
fents from the naliob, Mahomed Reza Cawn the minifter, and a rich
banker, Jugget Seet. Mr. Verelft, hearing a report in the country, which
led him to fufpeft that our declaration in fiivour of the Subahdar was delayed
by the negotiation of this laft mentioned bufinefs, wrote to one of the

f Appendix, p. 164. No. 52. Art. 5.

* M.ilnmed Reza Cawn affirms that tliefe funis were not voluntarily given. This the
F.nglifti gentlemen deny. Perhaps the reader, who confiders the encrcafed power of the Eng-
lifti, may regard this as a verbal difpute.

deputies,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 5*

deputies, difclaiming any fhare for himfelf, and reprefenting the difgracc
which fuch tranfadion muft neceflarily bring upon all concerned *.

Orders had before arrived for executing the new covenants to prevent a
receipt of prefents ; which orders the fervants were bound to obferve by
their firfl: engagements with the company. Governor Spencer and his
council thought thefe orders " not fo f peremptory as to exclude them
« from expoftulating with the court of diredors." This expoftulation»

* ExtraB of a Idler from Mr. Vereljl ta Mr. Middlelon, one of (he chputiei on the accejjxon of Nurljum
al Dowlah to the Subahdarry of Bengal., dated Iflam-alad, thefeventh of March, 1 765.
" Some rumours have fpread abroad that a preftnt is intended the council on the new ac-
«' cellion. I hope there is no truth in it. I fliould be lorry there was a thought, at fo criti-
«« cal a time, of any fuch thing ; for it muft entail, on every one concerned, the world's fc-
♦' verefl cenfure."

ExtraSi of a letter from Mr. Middle ton to Mr. VerelJ!, in anfwer to the above, dated Moradhaugf

the eighteenth of March, 1 7 65.
" I have been told that the nabob intends a prefent to all th: board, but am not quite cer-
<« tain of it. If fuch a thing be ofFered, I cannot, my friend, fee the leaft impropriety in ac-
« cepting of it ; cuftom, and the conduft of one of our worthieft men, juftifies it. When
" Mecr Jaffier was firftraifed to the fubahdarry, the board received a prefent from him, and
" were not cenfuted ; and, it is well known, that the old gentleman has fince confidered
" fome of iiis friends * ; and, it muft be allowed, that the prefent nabob receives his go-
" vernment from our hands, as his father did. If any thing of this kind was to be oiFered in
*' confideration of fervices to be done, or any kind of bargain made before hand, it would be
« highly improper to take it, but when it is given for what we think right, I do not, for my
«' own part, fee the leaflharm in it."

Extraa of a letter from Mr. Vereljl to Mr.Middleton, in reply, dated If am-ahad, the twenty -eighth

of April, 1765.

" The nabob has an undoubted right to reward fuch perfons as he may think have been fer-
" viceable to him, without reproach to him or them, provided it is not a contraft firft made for
•' fuch fervices, and the perfons no ways aftuated in their proceedings by the expeftations of it.
" The long delay made of our declaration in the nabob's behalf, and a rumor that a prefent
" wasexpefled to be made to the board, gave, in my opinion, too much reafon to the world
" to think that it was a preliminary article. If fo, I muft entirely difapprove it. As a mem-
«' ber of the board, and, as fuch, one intended to be confidered, 1 fhall only fny, I muft de-
" dine fuch a confideration ; as I am not fenfible of any fervices 1 have rendered the prefent
" nabob, to merit a pecuniary reward. Theold nabob (Meer Jaffier) 1 know has been fome-
«• times generous to his friends, nor do I think them wrong in accenting his favours; for, as
" many examples as I have heard, they were reaLy deferring of them. I might, if I had
" chofe, been confidered in ibis number; but I had many reafons that made me decline it."

t See a letter from MeiTrs. Leycefter and Gray to the court of direftors, dated the twenty-
ninth of September, 1765. Authentic papers concerning India affairs, p. 132.

• Alluding to the legacy of five lack of rupees left by Meer Jaffier to lord CI5ve, wbich was fettled by
his lordfhip as a fund for the fupport of difabled officers and foldiers in the company's fervice, and of the
widows of oAicer$ and foldiers.

* H 2 however.

^ A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

however, was totally forgotten, no notice being taken of the covenants,-
either in the council books or general letter. The execution of them was-
" deferred * till lord Clive's arrival, to come under confideration with
" the other regulations diredled in the letter of the firft of June,
" 1764, when they lioped to be better- informed of th'C final refolves of
" the direflors." Yet thefe gentlemen were abundantly alert in conclud-
ing treaties, produ(n;ive of fuch fruits; although lord Clive was everyday
expedted, and they were f already informed that he had been chofen by
the Vyfhole body of proprietors to undertake the charge of their affairs, full
powers being given, to him jointly with a feledl committee..

We have continued the relation of political tranfadions with the fuccef-
five Subahdars of Bengal, that the reader may fully comprehend the pro-
greillve increafe of the Englilh power to the final eftablilhment oi that go-
vernment \^ which has fince prevailed under the influence of our governor
and council. It will now be neceffary to look back to the meafures pur-
fued againfl foreign enemies, as thefe were produdive of that fituation,
to which the fubfequent treaties refer. Major Adams had driven Meer
Coffim out of the provinces, who retired into the neighbouring dominions
of Oude, when death deprived the company of this gallant and experienc-
ed officer. Upon tlie alarm of thefe commotions, Sujah al Do wl ah, the
Subahdar of Oude, advanced with an army to the borders,, where he
might probably have been contented with partaking the treafures of Meer.
Coffim, had not a mutiny among our troops, given birth to new hopes.
Elated with the profpeiTt of an eafy conquefl, and impreiTed perhaps with
an apprehenfion of ambitious defigns on our part, he refolved upon hofti-
lities, and took the ficldi The mutinous dilpofition of the Engliih army

• Tlie fame letter, p. 133.

■f This was by the letter of ilie firft of June, 1 764, in which the diredors c.vprefsly fay, that the
appointment of a feleft committee ihouki not prevent the council taking proper meafures for the
genenil execution of the tovennnts,

X It is very remarkable that this arrangement, which has been called in derifion the double
government, was cftabliftied by the very men who have fmce reproached lord Clive and the fe«
left committee with this meafure. In truth it grew out of the fituation ofaflairs, but fomc
pentlcmen fccm not to have adverted thereto, until they felt it as a rcflraiat upon their own pur-
fuits.

rendered

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 53

rendered It imprudent at this time to hazard a general adlion, but Sujah al
Dowlah was neverthelefs repulfed in all his attempts. The troops, by a
well timed feverity, begun by- general Carnac, and happily purl'ued by
his fucceflbr, being afterwards reduced to obedience, major Hed:or Mun-
ro, in the next campaign, obtained the important victory of Buxar.

This advantage was farther purfued, until the King*, finding the af-
fairs of his allies declining, deferted their caufe, and joined the only power
capable of fupporting his pretenfions to the throne of Dehly. A fcheme
was now adopted of obtaining for the company a grant of the zemindarry
ofBulwant bing. The other dominions of Oude were to be conquered
for the king, and his pofleflion to be fupported by the Englifh arms §. A
plan more abfurd can fcarcely be imagined ; but the fubfequent furrender
of Sujah al Dowlah to general Carnac f, enabled the feled: committee, on
whom the condudl of affairs devolved, to effedt a very different arrange-
ment.

The revenues of a country at the diftance of feven hundred J miles
from Calcutta, could afford little advantage to a trading company ; while
fuch a fituation withdrew their forces from the protection of that com^
merce, which could alone render poffeffions in India beneficial to Great
Britain. PoUtical conneilions without the provinces milled the attention
of our government from national obje(£ts, at the fame time that it opened
a field of private ambition, which might probably have marched an Englifh
army to Dehly. To relinquifli fuch profpeds was no facrifice of intereft. Yet
the reftoration of territories to a vanquillied enemy removed the apprehen-
fions entertained of our ambition, and convinced the princes of India
that we could have no defign to enlarge our poffeffions beyond the pro-

* So the Mogul has been ufually denominated.

§ Appendix, No. 51. A. B. C.

t Who now a fecond time commanded the army.

t Thefe revenues muft have been exhaufted by perpetual military operations, in which fuch
a fituation would have involved the company, or, what is worfe, proved a fund of peculation to
corrupt their fcrvants. The dillance would have rendered the military expences enormous, the
detection of frauds impoflible.

vinees

54 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

vinces of Bengal. This point being refolved, tlie means of accompllfli-
ing fa defireabk an obje(!^v without betraying the honour of the com-
pany, employed the attention of>the feledl committee. Their inftrudlions *
to lord Clive and general Carnac will fully explain their views. Plad
the territories of Oude not been reftored to Sujah al Dowlah, his great abi-
lities and high charader throughout the empire would have made him,
when driven to defpair, a troublefome, if not a dangerous, enemy. None
other could have maintained the pofleilion without our afTiftance, much lefs,
like him, have formed a fecure barrier againft the northern nations. The
greater part of his dominions were therefore reftored ; and as our former
engagements gendered a defertion of the King inconfiftent with the na-
tional honour, he was eftablillied in the country of Korah, with j>art of
the province of Illah-abad. The payment of twenty-fix lacks of rupees an-
nually from Bengal was alfo ftipulated by treaty. Would thfc King have beer»
contented to accept a territory nearer to us, this drain of fpecie might have
lefs affedted Bengal ; but his mind was fo intent upon an ^ expedition to
Dehly, which the poffefTion of Illah-abad feemed to favour, that an intima-
tion of other terms was received with difguft. Such was the plan adopted
by the feled committee, in purfuance of which a peace was at length con-
cluded f . The only article of a temporary nature regards fifty lacks of §
rupees, to be paid by Sujah al Dowlah, to the company, as an indemnifi-
cation of the expences incurred by the war.

In Bengal, Nudjum al Dowlah, after paying the fums ftipulated by the
treaty in February, 1765, nominally poflefled a revenue of two millions.
His authority in the country was infufticient even for the collection
of the revenues, without our afliftance. The adual adminiftration of govern-

• The fubftance ofthefe inftrudtions are given in a letter to the diredlors, Appendix, p. 6.

X After labouring in vain to engage the Englilh, he has at length undertaken this enterprizc
with an army of Maharattas.

t In thefummerof 1765. See Appendix, 176. No. 53. to No. 60.

§ This fum was greatly inadeijiute to our expences^ but it was impofiiUc to require
more without dilirefling the country.

ment

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. ^^

ment had therefore been given to a minifter named by the governor and
council, and the Nabob became dependent for his daily fubfiflence on the
bounty ot his mafters. In this fituation he reHnquiflicd an unafcertained
demand upon a treafury under the management of others, for a Hquidated
fum, and fifty-three lacks, eighty-fix thoufand one hundred and
thirty-one | Sicca rupees were fettled, as fully fufhcient for all the pur-
pofes of perfonal dignity, and the parade of grandeur. This agreement
was confirmed by the King, who, fubjed: to the feveral payments to Nud-
jum al Dowlah and himfelf, granted the dewanny of Bengal, Bahar, and
Oriffa, to the Englifh Eaft-India company.

If we review the hiftory of our tranfadions in Bengal, it cannot cfcape
the moft fuperficial obferver, that there was but one point, in the progref-
five aggrandizement of the company, at which it was poflible to have
flopped, before the force, revenues, and government of the country were
united in the hands of the Englifh. When Calcutta was taken, felf-de-
fence involved us in a war with the Subahdar. Our firft fucceffes proving
the fuperiority of European difcipline, made us the obje£l of his fears-
and nothing but an incapacity of effeding his purpofe could deter any fuc-
ceffive Subahdar from attempting our deftrudion. This incapacity was
happily effedled by engagements taken at the defire of Meer Jaffier, v/ith
Ramnarain, the Naib of Patna, and fome others. Had thefe engage-
ments been religioufly obferved, the Englifh would have flood, like the fe-
veral nations in Europe, fecure, not from their own ftrength alone, but
protected by the irreconcileable interefts of all around them. No fooncr
was this fyftem overthrown by facrificing our allies, and furrendering the
unreftrained dominion of the provinces into the hands of Meer CofTim,
than a decided fuperiority became the only means of fafety. The condudl
of individuals might accelerate or retard, but never could have prevented
the enfuing conteft for power. Impelled by neceflity, we proceeded to do-
minion, before the council at Calcutta feemed to have underftood the fitua-
tion to which they had advanced. In what other manner can we account

t This we may fofely aver was a larger fum than any Subahdar, in the full poffeffion o( his
revenues had ever been able to appropriate for his own expence.

for

56 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

for the rciiiiflniefs of thofe who, upon the death of Meer Jaflier, ncgleded
to eftahhlh the foundations of that fabrick which our victories had reared ;
who gave the revenues of a great country into tlie hands of a bov,
without the means of employing them; the revenues of a country prote£led
by our arms, the government of which, by their own treaty, was tranf-
ferred to themlelves *. Such a fituation might gratify individual avarice,
but could yield no real beneiit to the India company, or to the Britilh
nation.

Lord Clive and the fcle£t committee judged it neceflary to obtain a
grant of thefe revenues to the company, and they were accordingly fur-
rendered by treaty. " Ey this acquilition of the Dewanny," fay the fele(ft
committee in their letter to the court of direcflors, " your poflcflions and
" influence are rendered permanent and fecure, fince no future Nabob
" will cither have power or riches fufficient to attempt your overthrow,
*' by means either of force or corruption. All revolutions muft hence-
*' forward be at an end, es there will be no fund for fecrct fervices, for
«' donations, or for reftitutions. The Nabob cannot anfwer the expefta-
" tions of the venal and mercenary, nor will the company comply with
" demands injurious to .themfelves out of their own revenues f-"

The impolitic arrangement of affairs was among the leaft evils of the
company's fituation, antecedent to lord Clive's arrival. The diffolution
of government in Calcutta kept pace with that of the country. A ge-
neral contempt of fuperiors, a habit of equality among all orders of men
■had obliterated every idea of fubjedtion. To reclaim men from diflipation,
to revive a general fpirit ofindullry, to lead the minds of all from gaudy
dreams of fudden-acquired wealth to a patient expedlatlon of growing for-
tunes, were no lefs difficult in execution than neceffary to the exiftence of the
.company. Large fums of money, obtained by various means, had enabled
•many gentlemen to return to Europe. This caufe, fuperadded to the mafl'acre
of Patna, occafioneda very quick fucceflion in thefervice, which encouraged

• Appendix, No. 52.
t Appendix, p. 8.

a fro-

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 57

a froward fpirit of independency, and produced a total contempt of pub-
lic orders, whenever obedience was found incompatible with private in-
tereft. To check fuch impatient hopes, v/here youths afpired to the go-
vernment of countries at an age fcarcely adequate to the management of
private affairs, four gentlemen being called from Madrals, were admitted
into council. The univerfal difcontent among the civil fervants, which
had arifen from the late meafures, reflraining the power of individuals,
was hereby greatly encreafed ; and united with the mutinous fpirit of the
military officers, broke forth the following year into a flame, which
threatened deftrudion to the Englifh empire in Bengal.

This event, though among the tranfadions of a later period, may not

improperly be here explained. The military in Bengal had for feveral

years enjoyed an indulgence beyond thofe in the other fettlements of the

company, which firft arofe from the bounty of the Subahdar, when they

were employed in his fervice. By the advice of an officer, who had long

commanded the company's troops upon the coafh of Coromandel, with

great reputation to himfelf, and honour to the nation, reprcfcnting this

extraordinary allowance as deftrudive of difcipline, the diredors in their

public, letters had frequently ordered the double batta* to be withdrawn.

Such diredlions in a fettlement, where all idea of fubordination was loft,

and where the condudl of the fuperior fervants, refpeding their own in-

terefts, could ill be reconciled with a rigid exadion of obedience to the

company's commands in others, produced little effcd. One feeble effort

was made, but a remonftrance from the military induced a ready fubmif-

fion on the part of the governor and council. The feled committee very

iuftly conceiving, that a regard to private intereft would not juftify a dif-

obedience to the f pofitive injundion of their fuperiors, refolved to carry the

meafure into immediate execution. The redudion of batta, if right in itfclf,

* A repetition of this command was among the particular jnftruftions to lord Clive in
1764.

t Under the eflabliflimcnt of this double batta, a captain's commHTion produced little {hcrt
of one thoufand pounds per annum ; when reduced, it was worth fiom fix hundred and fifty
to feven hundred pounds, as appeared upon the atlion of captain Parker againft lord Clive.

* I was

58 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

was peculiarly proper at this time, an ample fund being juft provided by tbe
eftabliHiment of lord Clive, for the fupport of invalids, and the widows of of-
ficers who died in the fervice, at the fame time that the admittance of field-
officers to a fhare in the fait fociety opened a reafonable profpe£t of eafy
fortunes to thofe whofe rank intitled them to fuch an expedation. No
iboner were the orders iffued for effedling this reduction, than frequent
meetings were held among the officers, a regular correfpondence eftablifh-
ed between the three brigades, into which the whole army had been di-
vided ; and a combination formed to compel a fubmiffion to their demands
by a general refignation of all their commiffions. They bound themfelves
by the moft folemn oath to fecrecy, engaging under the fame fandtion to
preferve by force the life of any officer, whom the rigour of a court-mar-
tial might condemn to death. Each man entered into a bond to refign his
commiffion under the penalty of five hundred pounds ; and that every in-
ducement to a recantation of thefe engagements might be effedually re-
moved, a fum, faid to be eighteen thoufand pounds, was fubfcribed for the
unfortunates who ihould not be reflored, each officer contributing according
to his refpe£live rank. Defirous of uniting their caufe with that of all
who oppofed the prefent government, they correfponded with many on
the civil eftablifhment in Calcutta, and received large promifes of fupport
likewife from this quarter. Such inviolable fecrecy did the officers obferve,
that a letter from fir Robert Fletcher to lord Qive, dated a few days be-
fore the refignation, brought the firfl: intelligence of a confpiracy, which
had for its objett the diffolution of our army, and confequent annihilation
of the Englifh power in Bengal. A difcovery of this plot on the eve of
its execution, affording no time for delay, lord Clive and two other mem-
bers of the feled: committee, then at Muxadavad, haftily affembled. Judg-
ing it impoffible to concede the point in difpute, without furrendering the
government into the hands of mutineers, they inftantly determined tc
perfevere in fuch vigorous meafures as the fituation of affairs demanded.

At Monghcer, where the plan had been formed, the European foldiers
adlually took to their arms ; but by the affiftance of fome fuperior officers,
who, upon the firft intelligence, haftened to join the brigade, and by a-,

prudent

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 59

prudent difpofition of two companies of black troops, whofe fidelity had
been previoufly fccured, the mutiny was happily fupprelfed. By a diftri-
bution of honorary rewards to the non-commiffioned officers, by an artful
commendation of the black commandants, and a fmall advance of pay for
two months, the troops were brought to a proper fenfe of their duty ; and
the confederate officers, who encamped at a little diflance to await the
event, were compelled to depart for Calcutta. The attachment of this
brigade being confirmed, and a fmall fupply cf officers obtained among
fuch as would accept commiffions, lord Clive, with a few others, haftened
to give their affiftance in the two more diftant divifions of the army.

On the part of the mutineers defpondence and fubmiffi9n now fucceed-
ed to rage. All were ready to folicit what a little time before they had
contemptuoufly rejected ; and many of the leaft guilty, after a proper in-
terval, were re-admitted into the company's fervice. The moft adlive
ringleaders in fedition were put under arrcft, in order to take their trials
as foon as a relloration of order and difcipline would permit the comman-
der in chief to afiemble a proper number of officers, untainted with the
* general guilt.

An erroneous Interpretation of the aft of parliament for punifliing mu-
tiny and defertion in India, fuggefted a doubt, refpeding the jurifdidion
of a court-martial, which probably preferved many delinquents from a
fentence of death. The ad fubjeds thofe to martial law, who have con-
trailed to ferve the company, and it was conceived that the bare accep-
tance of a commiffion formed no contrast, but that this could only be
done by an exprefs engagemejit to ferve for a limited time, or an aBiial re-
ceipt of fay. Some punilhments of an ignominious nature were infiided ;

• Mr. Bolts afTerts that Mr. Parker failed in his aflion principally, becaufe it did net appear
that lord Clive knew of his ccnfinement. The contrary is notorioufly true, and was fully proved
upon the trial by written evidence, and by the teftimony of lord Clivc's fecretary. Buttheccun-
fel defpairing of fuccefs upon the avowed merits, laboured to affecl lord Clive with a wilful
unnccclTary delay of the trial, and prolongation cf captain Parker's confinement. This delay
was explained in the manner above meniioned. If Mr. Bolts will mifreprefent a trial in Ent^land,
at which many were prefent, what account may we expeft of affairs in a remote country like
India ?

* I a but

6o A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

but the court, dlftruftlng their own authority, would not venture to touch
the Hves of the offending parties. The fentences paffed upon individuals
were feverally confirmed. Yet the governor and council thought it unfafe
to permit the refidcnce of military men in India, who now became def-
perate by the failure of their enterprize. Such therefore as had not been
reftored to the fervice, were diredled to depart for Europe. Had thefe
gentlemen been willing to enter into a verbal engagement, no violence
would have been ufed ; but obftinately refufing to comply, a military
guard furrounded their habitations until they chofe to furrender ; when
they were condudted on board the company's fhips under failing orders
for England '*.

The reader may perhaps think that an evafive defence was a real ag-
gravation of guilt. Thefe gentlemen however chofe again to agitate the
queftion of jurifditlion ; and the fupport of a party fpirit gave every ad-
vantage to the caufe, which induftry, united with eloquence, could afford..
Two cafes were fele<^ed, vdiich from, peculiar circumftances of hardfhips
were deemed the moft proper fubje<3:s of declamation before a jury. Two
actions were commenced againft lord Clive in the court of king's bench.
In both the plaintiffs failed. It was here admitted, that the acceptance
of a commiffion formed an indefinite contradl with the company : but the
counfel argued that this might be determined at the will of either party,
and being determined by the refignation of the officers,, no jurifdidtion. re-
mained to the court martial. They forgot that even civil relations could
not be diffolved by one party without a reafonable notice, proportioned to
the nature of that fervice in which he was engaged. That the Britifh Ic-
giflaturchad adopted a diftindlion formed by the common fenfe of man-
kind, and had drawn yet. clofer the ties of military fubjedlion. They
overlooked that neceffity, which Induced the free citizen of Greece and:

* Thefe ^re the tranfaiflions which tlie narratives, puhllflied in A'lr. Bohs liis Appendix, re-
prcfeiit. 'J'hcfe n;irratives, when ftripped of their declamation and illiberal invcftlve, only prove
that feme of the officers were foohflinatc as to live feveral days iimidfl their own filth rather than
furrender ; that ten cf a.grand jury, as ahfiird as themfclvcs, were difpofed to indift the prefidcnt
and council ; and that after various expedients, had, been tried, they were obliged to purfuc
their voyage to England.

Rome

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 6i

Rome to forego his independence, and fubmit his hfe to the arbitrary will
of a man, to whom at home he was equal, whom perhaps he himfelf had
commanded in a former campaign. In ihort, they contended that infe-
rior officers might difband an army, whenever they individually thought
fit to retire.

The very idea of military fubordination is by a rigid difcipline to com-
bine the force of numbers, and create an habitual implicit fubmifllon of the
ftrength of many to the inftantaneous direction of one mind. This prin-
ciple, by which the real feverity and apparent cruelty of martial law can
alone be juftified, might perhaps have authorifed an opinion, that no of-^
ficer can ever refign without the exprefs permiffion of his commander;.
The four judges of the court of king's bench, unwilling to decide more
than the particular caufe required, eftabliflied by their unanimous judgment
this pofition: " That a military officer in the fervice of the Eaft India com-
"■ pany has not a right to refign his commiffion at all times, and under all
" circumflances whatfoever, whenever he pleafes." The application of this
maxim to the particular cafe, proved, that, if it was not lawful to refign
wider all circumjlancesy it could not be permitted under a combination with
others to diftrefs his employers, which Mr. Juftice Yeates declared to be
" highly criminal, and that a legal obligation could not be diffolvcd by
« an illegal ad."

The reader will, in the relation here given, difcover the rife, motives,
and temper of that party, who, forgetting their former opinion both of
men and things, have laboured to mifreprefent thecondud of thofe, whofe
greateft crime appears to have been a continual unremitting oppofition to
the interefted defigns of others. " Two paths," fiys lord Clive in his
letter to the dircftors, " were evidently open to me, the one fmooth and
" ftrewed with abundance of rich advantages, that might eafily be
" picked up, the other untrodden, and every ftep oppofed with obftacles."
A paffive condud, he fays, might have been " attended with the ufual
" douceur, of fharing largely with the reft of the gentlemen in all do-
" nations, perquifites, &c. arifing from the abfolute government and
" difpofal of all places in the revenues of this opulent kingdom." He

adds» ,

62 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

adds, " the fettlement in general would thus have been my friends, and
" only the nativfes of the country my enemies." His lordfhip and the
felect committee cTiofe the honourable part, to encounter the odium of a
whole fettlement in difcharge of what they deemed their public duty.
And we may fafely pronounce, that it muft have been at leaft their inten-
tion, expofed as their condudl was to the jealous eyes of difappointed men,
to tread warily in the path which they had chofen.

Let us now return to take a view of the nieafiires purfucd in fupporting
that weight of power and influence, which the company had at length ob-
tained. The reader will recoiled:, that by the treaty concluded before lord
dive's arrival, the government of the Nabob was completely fubjeded to
the Englifh council at Calcutta. To uphold our authority was become
the only means of liifety. Yet a farther advance to the actual immediate
exercife of dominion was little lefs impradiicable. The number of civil
fervants was fcarcely adequate to the neceffary aecumulation of the com-
pany's bufinefs, much lefs coitld they have filled the various departments
of the ftate. Unacquainted with the genius or manners of the inhabitants,
their laws, or the power of their magiftrates, the Englifli were little qua-
lified for the talk of government. How could we make the fordid in-
terefts of the trader confiftent with that unbiaiTcd integrity, that candid
humane exercife of power, which muft reconcile the natives to a new
dominion ? In whom refided the authority which could cffeftually con-
troul them ? or give a legal exiftence to fo abfurd a fyftem ? The dele-
gates of a company, pofl'cffing no right of legiflation, might indeed have
overturned the then fubfifting government, but never could have fubfti-
tuted any other in its room. This fubject will receive a farther difcuffion
when we proceed to confider the impolTibility of introducing Englilh laws,
and the nature of thofc regulations, which parliament may^ and parlia-
ment alone can eftablifli in Bengal. The feled committee found the whole
adminiftration vefted by treaty in one man, rem6\'eahle indeed upon the
reprcfentation, or rather command of the council. No perfonal objedion
could be made to Mahomed Reza Cawn, who by his ability and induftry
well defervcd his ftation. Yet by an imcontroulcd exercife of power he
became little lefs than a Subahdar : and had fear, jealoufy, or ambition

tempted

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 62

tempted him to tranfgrefs the bounds prefcribed, the fupport, controul, or
removal of fuch a minifter might have been a conftant fource of intrigue,
if not of corruption. The feledt committee therefore affociated * Roy
Dulub, and Jugget f Seet with Mahomed Reza Cawn. A refidcnt at the
court of the Subahdar was alfo appointed, one of the higher fervants of
the company, whofe duty confifted in fuperintending the condu^ft of the
minifters, and reporting their tranfa(ftions to the governor and council.

* This man was one of thofe, to whom the Englifli faith had been pledjjed for theprcferva-
tion of his life and honour. During the firfl; government of Meer JafTier, he was in a confide-
rable command, but being difpofferied by the jealoufy of his mafter, he claimed the Englifli
proteflion, under which he afterwards refided at Calcutta. He was the fingle man connefled
with the Englifh, who didnotperifh during Meer CofTun's fhort government,

t This Jugget Seet was the fon of one of the Seet?, two brothers who were deflroyed by
Coflim for their fuppofed attachment to the Englifli.

C H A. P.

6jl a view of the ENGLISH

CHAP. II.

Diforders in the Collection of the Revenues of Bengal before
they belonged to the English East India Company, and
the Caiifes which impeded a Reformation.

THE fubjecl of revenues in Bengal is from various caufes involved
in a confufion, which affords little hopes of giving the reader a
clear comprehenfive knowledge, or indeed of conveying much real infor-
mation. Different writers agree in nothing, but unmeaning declamation
in praife of governments, which they have never known, and general in-
vedlives againft men, with whofe motives and fituation they were as little
acquainted. It can however with certainty be affirmed, that the diforder
and difl:refs, under which the country yet labours, have their origin in
the frequent revolutions, which followed the diifolution of the Mogul
empire, the chaos in which all rights of magiftrates and people were
confequently loft, and in the unnatural prelTure of infatiable demands
from Europe; not in the mifcondu<3: of men entrufted with the company's
affairs.

The formal arrangement and apparent order of the Mogul empire,
beautiful in its fimplicity upon paper, is apt to charm the imagination,
and miflead the judgment of men, iniaccuftomed to contemplate their own
fpecies, or to trace the operations of the human mind under fyftems more
favourable to its growing improvement. Accordingly this golden age has
been painted in fuch glowing colours, as would almoft tempt one to place
the fuggcftions of fancy amidft the materials of hiftory. The authors
however fometimes forget their high tone of fpeculation, and condefcend
to relate fafts, which refute their own dcdudions. How happens it,
amidft the exceffive miklncfs of manners, which under Indian govern-
ments

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 65

ments * render laws unncceflary, that the merchant owed his fafety to a
mihtary force ? How exaft muft be the adminiftration of juftice where
treafon abounds, yet is puniflicd only f in the field ? Are men heft taught
to refpeiSl the rights of a citizen amidft the ardours of vid:ory? Or do the
emotions of refentment againft fuccefolefs rebellion qualify the prince to
punifh with moderation the demerits of an offending fubjed: ? In truth
the condition of a people under defpotic power muft perpetually vary with
the virtues or vices, the talents or debility of thofe, who fucceffively wield
the fceptre. If we look for governments which fubfift unaltered by the
perfonal charadler of the prince, fuch are only to be found, where each
individual poffefles an independent ftation in fociety, where the contention
of different orders has prefcribed the terms of national union, and where
vigorous minds, the genuine growth of freedom, uphold the authority
of laws. Without fuch advantages there were yet fome caufes derived
from the climate and extent of empire, which rendered defpotifm more
tolerable in India, efpecially under the Moguls, than it ever before ap-
peared in the hiftory of mankind. The fubmiffive temper of a timid race
arreils the Iword of conqueft ; and the people efcape a defolation, which
not unufually follows a more determined refiftance. Secure, without fe-
verity, in the indolent temper of his fubjedts, the vidtor fears not a revolt
from any national fpirit, while he views with jealoufy the ambition of his
fervants. Such a fituation demands the policy defcribed by Mr,. Dow,
and renders it unneceffary for the defpot to delegate his power entire to
the governors of every province.

While the Mogul empire fubfifted in its greateft fpiendor, fupported
by the extraordinary talents of fucceffive princes, a diftribution of autho-
rity might in fome fort prevent its abufe : but even here we may difcover
die feeds of our prefent difeafe.

The lands we -e the property of the crown, and were annually let to
zemindars, w^ •■ again parcelled them out to inferior dependents. The

• Mr. Hr- cal Events.

t Mr. D t^S. He is there fpeakiifg of the Mogul government.

* K ryotts,

66 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

rvotts, or immediate cultivators, might in fome degree efcape opprefTion,
where the demands of government bore a fmall proportion to the extent
of territory, and where each individual in progreffive order regarded his
fhare of the produce as a kind of proprium. This fituation of things did
not however long continue. The Subahdars, or provincial governors,
taking advantage of the indolence or debility of fucceeding emperors, and
unitiug every office in their own perfons, were afterwards enabled to
compromife with the court of Dehly for an annual tribute; which a far-
ther decay of power in their former rulers foon permitted them to with-
hold. In Bengal, during this progrefs to independence, burthens mul-
tiplied on the people ; and while a mode of taxation, fo replete with the
means of oppreffion, was preferved, the receipts of the Subahdar bore a
fmall proportion to the payments of the induftrious ryott. The violence
of Meer Colfim in accumulating treafure, and the relaxation of govern-
ment in the * hands of Pvleer Jaffier, equally contributed to confound all
order, and by removing every idea of right, fandified in fome fort the
depredations of hungry colledors. The feeble reftraint of fear produced
little effedl ; while the encreafing neccffities of a mafter afforded at leafl otl
pretence for an uncontrouled exercife of power throughout every department
in the ftate. Inferior officers employed in the collections were permitted
to eflablilh a thoufand modes of taxation. Fines were levied at pleafure, .
without regard to juflice ; and while each felt in his turn the iron rod of
oppreffion, he redoubled thefe extortions on all beneath him. The war
in which Meer Jaifier was engaged againfl: foreign enemies, the ftruggles
of Meer Coffim, which ended with his deftrudion, and the ufurpations of
private traders completed the fcene of univerfal confufion.

Such was the condition of Bengal when the politicians, who preceded;
the fclc(£t committee, laying proftrate the government of a rich province,
were employed in obtaining new territories at a diffance of fevcn hundred
miles from Calcutta; and with wonderful fclf-applaufe were preparing the
occalion of an unprofitable march to Dehly. The reader is already in part

* Mccr JalTicr, during the reign of Aliverdi Ciwn, was much beloved by his mafter zs a
brave commander j but he wanted ludullry in the iuhjiiniftration of civil governmeut.

acquainted

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 67

aequainted with the meafures piirfued by the felcdt committee We muft
now relume the fiibjedl, where they entered on this inextricable labyrinth
of confufion, arifing from the diftradlcd ftate of the country, without lights
or information from others; while their difficulties were augmented by an
interefted oppofition, and every regulation of the minifters impeded by a
coftiplication of concerns between European gomaflahs and the zemindars
or officers of government *.

Independent of the political confiderations, which weighed in preferv-
ing the Moorilh government, the e^tperience of five years afforded little
expediation of an improved adminiftration of revenues under the m.ore
•immediate infpedion of European gentlemen. Some of the diflridls ceded
by Meer Coffun had yet derived no benefit from a change of mailers. On
the contrary, if credit be due to the reprefentations of thofe employed by
Mr. Verelft, when a better fyftem was adopted, increafing milchicfs had
yielded a plentiful harvefl to avaricious men, but had rarely hitherto prov-
ed an exercife of humanity in thefe new guardians of the people. An ap-
prehenfion of exciting the jealoufy of European nations might be another
inducement to avoid as much as poffible all appearance of dominion. The
committee therefore refolved to appoint a refident at the Durbar, who,
without interfering in the aftual adminiftration himfelf, might yet con-
troul the minifters. When this gentleman arrived at Muxadavad, he
found two of the three miniftcrs bufied in colledhions w'ithout public au-
thority or account, under pretence of outftanding ballances due to them-
felves. The firft regulations eftablilhed were, that no colledlions fliould be
permitted but fuch as were contained in what is called the annual ftate-
ment; and that all monies received fhould be lodged in a public treafury
under three locks. Thefe provifions, however neceffary, offended Roy
Dulub and Juggut Seet, who declared their intention to retire. The lat-
ter particularly reprefented the cftabliffiment of a public treafury as an af-
front to his houfe, which had always been entrufted v\'ith the receipts and
difburfements of government. Mr. Bolts neverthelefs affirms him to have
been appointed the company's ffirofff; but for this affertion, like the

* The correfpondence abounds with complaints of this nature. Vide in particular the letter of
(Mahomed Reza Cawn, App. p. i8i. No. 74. and alfo No. 79. f Confiderations, p. 158.

* K. 2 greater

•68 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

greater part of his book, we are indebted to the invention of the au-
thor.

The prefling neceflities of the company in Bengal, and the great de-
mands from our other fettlements, rendered it imprudent to remit any part
of the revenues. To increafe the burthens of the ryott, or cultivator, was
at the fame time impoffible, without ruin to the country. The only fund
of improvement was a diminution of the expence in' coUefting. For this
purpofe fupernumerary officers were difmifled. An exaft regifter was
taken of thofe employed in each diftridl : and by leflening the profits of
intermediate agents the people were in fome degree relieved from oppref-
lion, while the receipts of the treafury increafed.

The uncertain impofls upon commerce had proved a plentiful fource of
abufe, chokcys, or cuftom-houfes, becoming daily more numerous in
every part of the provinces. Thefe were now reduced to a ftated number^
and proper officers appointed to enforce a regular and equal payment of
duties.

The fituation of the Englifh refident at the Durbar, furroundied by
people whofe intcreflled, them to deceive, was fuch as in fuperintending the
colledion of the revenues required extreme caution. Every interpofition
might produce the moft important confequences ; and the novelty of the fcene
afforded a large field for error. Much information, however, obtained by
tracing many frauds to the fource, aided by experience acquired in the ma-
nagement of the company's lands, where European gentlemen had the
immediate adminiftration of the revenues, might probably have given a,
better arrangement in the courfe of a few years : but orders now arrived;
from England, which precluded a rnore minute inveftigation.

It will be impoffible to do juflice cither to the gentlemen in Bengal, or
to the court of directors, without tracing thefe orders to their real fource, in.
the tranfadions of the company in England : but not to diftradl the reader's
attention with too great a variety of matter, I fliall firft explain how the
revenues chiefly arife, and the meafures purfucd by the feleft committee.

The

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL.^ 69

The revenues are chiefly derived from the lands, which are knovpn by
various denominations. Thofe called ryotty are poflefTed by tenants refi-
dent on the fpot, who by their grants ought to be continued as long as
they paid their rents. But as larger rents have been frequently exaded,
an encreafe beyond what a tenant can afford, together with other opprefr-
five demands from his fuperior landlord, or the officers of government, not
unfrequently compels him to fly from the eflate, on which perhaps his
family have fubilft.ed for many generations.

The comar lands have no refident tenants, but are cultivated by con-
tradl, which there are many perfons in all parts of the country ready to
undertake, if the zemindar, who rents the diftrid, will give proper en-
couragement. The zemindar ufually advances a-fumof money to the cul-
tivator, who would otherwife be unable to improve and' till the land. The
crops when gathered in are divided according to the terms of the contrad
between thetvro; but as the indigent cultivator has probably fubfifted by
means of an advance made by the zemindar, the latter, after fettling all
accounts, will fometimes obtain the lion's fharc.

When the ryott or farmer forfakes his habitation, and encouragement
is wanted to cultivate the comar lands, both fall occafionally under the
management of the officers of the government, and are then called cofs
lands. Thefe laft generally decline much in value in the hands of men,
whofe tyranny has driven away the former tenants. By a wretched po-
licy oppreffion becomes the intereft of thofe, who ffiould proteft the peo-
ple ; for as it is impoffible that the higher officers of government can
ever know what part is really cultivated, the cofs is a never- ceafing oc-
cafion of fraud in the accounts of inferior coUedors *.

The remainder of the lands, excepting fuch as are held by the imme-
diate officers of government, are divided into talooks, jaghires, and;

* Thefe particulars are more largely explained in the ixiftruaions drawn up by the prefident-
for the fupravifoxs. Vide App. p. 227.

charitable

70 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH-

charitable or rcHgious donations. The talooks. have been In general par-
tial grants to individuals; and many privileges are indulged to the owners,
'particularly- ih' their taxation, Jaghircs ^ are alio grants from- th*
princeV of lands during the life of the grantee, fomeiimes- to his del<:en*-
dants. A fmall tribute is ufually referved, the jaghiredars being free from
every other impofjtiom The- two laft divifions, namely charitable and
religious donations, hajre been, given for vai-ious. purpofes by. fucceiE-TE
princes, Ibme through zeal, but molt. tt^rough; vanity, ; and form no ia*-
confiderable part of many diftrifls. Thefe, by the terms of the grant, are
ufually exempt fronti all burthens.

Other, "j" lands are poifelTed by the zemindars or.officers, , for the imme-
dkte: fupport of themfelYes a^id familk^. Thii? ii^^^C-of payment affords
an ample field for the exercife of frauds and oppreffion. Perpetual en-
croachments are made, and lands, ftruck out of the government books as
wafte, are very commonly thus a.ppropriated. The poor ryott alfois here
forced to labour for his lordly jnafiter. without reward, while perhaps his
own farm at the fame time remains imcultivated.

In the provinces of Burdwan and Midnapore, of. which both the pro-
perty and jurifdi£lion were ceded to th-e company by Meer Coffim in the
year 1760, thofe evils, which necelfarily flowed from the bad policy of
the Moorilh government, had in no fort decreafed. On the contrary,
a plan was adopted in 1762, produ£tive of certain ruin to the pro-
vince. The lands were let by public auction for the flaort term of
three years. Men without fortune or chara£ler became bidders at
the fale ; and while fome of the former farmers, unwilling to re-
linquifh their habitations, exceeded perhaps the real value in their of-
fers, thofe who had nothing to lofe advanced yet farther, wifliing at
all events to obtain an immediate pofTi^fHon. Thus numberlefs harpies

* Jagliires are frequently grants of annual ftipends, ifluing from the revenues of a particular
diftria.

t TlK'fe grants much rcfcmble the t;ilooks, and arc in fome places claiTed under that de-
nomination.

were

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 71

were let loofc to phmdcr, rwlioin the fjpoil of a miferable people, enabled
.to ;complete their firil .year's -payment., -.Tt^e r renter under fo pre-
.carious a tenure could not venture to encourage inferior farmers by ad-
vancing •mone}'', which is feldom repaid withiu' three years,; and without
this advance, even the implements of hufbandry were wanting , to cultivate
the lands. Great part of the renters, incapable of fulfilling their engage-
ments, applied to be difcharged within the fecond year, defirous of aban-
doning their wl^ole property, if they might be permitted to relinquifla their
unprofitable farms. "A nominal increa'fe of revenue had by thefe means
been obtained ; but fo defective were th'e •a61:Uc'(r'irecdipts,'tl>rat 'an un-
precedented general tax upon the bazee zemeen or charity lands, was
now thought neceifary to complete the payments ftipulated to the
company.

TSiis untoward fituation irrducedThe fele"£l committee m the autumn of
1765, -to appoint Mr. V'erelli; fupravifor 5f Burdwan. It appeared that on
the fecond fale for three years;' bidders "^had been found for little more
than two fifths of the lands, the moft beneficial of which were held in dif-
ferent names by the officers' of government, and banyans of "European

- gentlemen. The remainder, under the "denomination of cofs, fell into

the hands of colledors, who oppvefled ihe people, bringing what they

.pieafedtto account. Thefe Icrfl with n franknefs infpired prob-ably by a

confidence of not being refufed, propofed to lay open all their frauds,

'. and- •.to , divide their profits in fnch proportions as the - refident and
his agents fhould approve. The firft objed v^-as to remove thefe
vermin by. finding tenants for the deferted lands; and, althouo-fi
the fealbn was far advanced, many fubftantial people readily engao-ed
.upon .an affur^ntrC ; of not being tlifpofleffed. A moderate rent was
paid the firft year, a larger the fecond, and on the third the higheft
which had -ever before been given ; the tenants neverthelefs con-
fenting to pay any general tax that -might afterwards be laid upon
the whole province. The officers of government were compelled
to relinquilh either their office or their farm. Tl>e burthens of the
province were diminilhed ; and, while each individual reaped the fruits

72 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

of his toil, the Linds were highly cultivated and improved. The va-
rious regulations eftablifhed would afford but an unpleafant detail * ;
let it fuffice therefore to obferve, that the revenue to the company in-
creafed, while Burdwan in a few years became the mofl flourifhing dif-
tri»St of Bengal.

Burdwan province, from the ift of May, 1760, to the end of April, 1770,
in account with the Eaft-India company's treafury, for nett revenues,
paid in, clear of all charges.

May to the end of April. Cur. Rupees

- - - - 607,482
- 3,841,987

3,949,167

- - - 3,986,101

3,629,789
3,567,854
4,288,171

- - - 4,149,471

4,158,387
3,948,037

The fame regulations were eftablifhed in the other proprietary lands of
the company, with nearly the fame fuccefs.

• Vide letter of Mr. Verelfl:, App. p. 212. No. 131.

t This year the company obtained poflefTion, but only a fmall part of the revenues was
brought into the treafury, after reducing the rajah.

X Mr. Verclft: was appointed to the fupraviforfliip of this province in the year 1765, and the
eficills of his arrangement will be feen in the receipts of the fucceeding years, although part of
the lands being let by au£lion, his regulations could only extend to the remainder. It muft alfo
be remarked, that the duties upon fait, made within the province, which in former years made
' pan of thefe revenues, were, after the eftablifliment of the fociety in the year 1765, paid into
•. ; f;afury of Calcutta.

lift was the year of the general famine.

Midnaporc

1760 -

1761

Cafh received '"

I76I -

1762

Ditto

1762 -

1763

Ditto

U^3 -

1764

Ditto

1764 -

^7^5

Ditto

^7^5 -

1766

Ditto X

1766 -

1767

Ditto

1767 -

1768

Ditto

1768 -

1769

Ditto

1769 -

1770

Ditto §

1760 -

1761

Cafh received

\j6i -

1762

Ditto

1762 -

1763

Ditto

1763 -

1764

Ditto

1764 -

^7^S

Ditto

1765 -

lydb

Ditto

1766 -

ijbj

Ditto*

1767 -

1768

Ditto

1768 -

1769

Ditto

1769 -

1770

Ditto

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 71

MIdnapore province, from May 1760 to April 1770.

May to the end of April. Cur. Rupees.

- - « - 116,925

857,983

74^.777

- - - 590*932

732,055

- - - 1,005,882

- - - 884,390

975,051

- - - 902,149

Calcutta towns, and twenty-four Purgunnahs, from May 1760 to April 1770*

May to the end of April. Cur. Rupees.

730,591

S97'355
486,352
740,473

■ - * - 979'349
-'-■-• 602,459
*• - " 801,571

1,116,395
- - 1,030,464

- '*■ -^ 1,022,845

* Mr. Verelft took charge of this province in the year 1766, and the increafe of revenue may
be feen in the accounts of the fiicceetling years. It miift be obferved, that during the three kft
years, extraordinary esipences were incurred to reduce fome rebellious Zemindars upon the bor-
ders of the province. Thefe expences »eing dcdudled, make the fum paid into the company's
treafury lefs than from 1766 to 1767 ; but thcaftual receipts never fell fhort of the increafed rents
eflablifhed during the four lafl years.

f The arrani^ement of Mr. Verelfi: was made in the latter end of the year 1766, and the in-
cVeafed receipts need no other comment than a reference to preceding years. The apparent va-
riation during former years was owing to the irregular payment of the Jaghire, the revenues them*
'Vlves having undergone no great alterations.

1760 ^

I76I

Cafh received

1761 -

1762

Ditto

1762 -

1763

Ditto

1763 -

1764

Ditto

1764 -

1765

Ditto

1765 -

1766

Ditto

1766 -

1767

Ditto

1767 -

1768

Ditto f

1768 -

1769

Ditto

1769 -

J 770

Ditto

•*

Chit-

^7^i

1764.

Ditto

1764

—

1765

Ditto

1765

—

1766

Ditto

1766

1767

Ditto

1767

—

1768

Ditto

1768

—

1769

Ditto

1769

—

1770

Ditto

74 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Chittagong province, from January 1761 to April 1770.

Cur. Rupeet,.

Jan. 17^1 to Apr. 1762 Cafli received * - _ 728,1:08

May 1762 to-Apr. ij6^ JDitto - - ^ _ 467,368.

4 2o,j.74
404,721
366,158
37^,830,
~ " - 422,766

- - - 432,540

- - " 39^^h5

When the dewanny was firft obtained by the company, a vrant of know-
ledge, or even the means of immediate information, rendered it impoffible
to correct the many abufes incident to the eftabli£hed mode of collefting
the revenues. Many caufes likewife concurred to make any dire£l inter-
pofition at this.time highly impolitic. All power had in efFe£t been tranf-
ferred from the Subahdar ofBeiigal to the Englilh Eall India company;-
but the lenient hand of time was neceffary to foften that difguft, and quiet
that alarm, which foreign nations, as well as the natives, might naturally
conceive upon fo. great a change. - The felcdl commrttee coniidered, that
fhould they attempt innovations upon the precarious foundation of opi~
nion, any failure of fucccfs might difarrange the affairs of their employers^,
difappoint their expectations, and afford a^ plaufvble ground of complaint
in England; wliere menf unacquainted with this very extenlive and com-
plicated fobjedt, -would judge wl»olly by- the event; and where various
plans fucceffivcly adopted by contending parties, might, if the projed.
were too haftily undertaken, remove all probability of future improve-
ment. Impreffcd with thefe fentiments, they very wifely determined to
alTume the flow but certain convidlion of c.':perience for their guide, giv-

• This year includes great part of the revenue due in the preceding year. Mr. Verclft wns
appointed to the chiefrtiip the beginning of 1761, aiftl quitted it in 1765. This province being
cxpofcd to frequent alarms, the revenues mufl fluituate more than thofe \n lecure fituations.
But it may dtfervc to be remarked that the Subahdats of Bengal fcUlom received more than two
hundred tUonfand rupees revenue.

»ng

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL 75

ing their firft attention to thofe provinces, the revenues of which had been
iubjed: to the adminiftration of Europeans from the firft ceffion of thefc
iands by Meer CofTim, in 1760. The event correfpondcd to their views.
In the year 1769, the condition of thefc hill: mentioned provinces formed
fo ftriking a contraft to the other parts of Bengal, where the oppreffion of
.the ancient government was univerfally fck, that foreigners as well as na-
.tives began earneftly to wifh for a more extenfivc reformation. The com-
mittee therefore taking advantage of an equivocal permiflion in a letter
from the court of dirediors, refolved to undertake this very arduous
tafk.

Although the neceflity was urgent, yet the difficulties wei-e great. In
a country fo fubjedl to revolution, infinite varieties prevailed in the govern-
ment of every feparate diftridb. In fome hereditary rajahs preferved the
appearance rather of tributary princes, than delegates of power ; but the
jealoufy of the Subahdars, and an increafed taxation had left them little
more than a nominal authority. In other parts again, a forfeiture, or ex-
tindlion of thefe families, had eftablilhed the more immediate jurifdidioh
of the Subahdar. Yet here perhaps the zemindars retained their heredi-
tary rights. The greater part of the country laboured under an unbounded
tlefpotifm, where the late diforders had increafed the evils incident to this
ruinous ftate. Zemindars and colleftors combined together to prevent a
detedion of their frauds, and, fenfible of their own precarious condition,
laboured by every oppreffion to accumulate that fpecies of wealth, which,
capable of concealment, feemed alone to deferve the name of property ;
while a long train likewife of dependents and intermediate agents fattened
on the fpoils of the induftrious ryott. The mildnefs of European manners,
introduced by our influence at the Durbar, perhaps aggravated the mifchief,
by removing in fome fort the reflraint of fear.

To attempt a reformation, and at the fame time to preferve the reve-
nues entire, required a minute local inveftigation, Supravifors were accord-
ingly appointed to colled the neceffary information in the feveral divifions
of the country. The nature of their office, the objed of the undertaking,

* L 2 and

^6 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

and the means of accomplifhing the bufinefs upon which they were fent,
are fo fully explained in the inftrudions drawn up by the prefident, that
a farther difcuffion of the fubje£t in this place would- unneceffarily fatigue*
the reader. It will here be liifficient to add, that Ihould the meafure be
tolerably executed, the board of revenues, which the directors have fmce
ellablifhed, will find no materials can be wanting to effedt a complete ar-
rangement, and difFufe that profperity which at prefent fo eminently dif-
tinguifhes the proprietary lands of the company..

To judge of the condud; of the feled committee, and their fucceflbrs, in
the management of our revenues and commerce in Bengal, it will be ne-
ceflary to take a view of the fituation of the diredors, which, without any
default in them, produced orders the moft ruinous to the company's
affairs.

When advice of the grant of the dewanny firft arrived in England, a
party were in poffeffion of the diredlion, whofe greateft error perhaps was
an impolitic profecution of certain gentlemen juft arrived from India f. Had
they abftained from this adt of national jufticc, their power would have cn^
abled them to refift the inter-efted madnels of others ; but it was Lmpoffible a,t
this time to forefee that the chancellor of the exchequer fliould confpire
with a fadion in Leadenhall-ftreet, to facrifice equally the intereft of the
company, and that of the ftate.

The diredors, aware of the difficulties to be encountered, endeavoured
to increafe their own authority by removing every fufpicion of private in-
terefl in the opinions which they found it neceflary to recommend ; and
very laudably abflained from all X engagements which might lelTen their
influence in the difcharge of their public duty. Every precaution was
vain. The torrent foon became irrefiftible, and men, ignorant of the

• See the Inflruftions in tlie Appciulix, p. 224, ct feqq*

■f For a brtarh of covenants in the receipt of prefents.

X Thcfe genilcmcn had the firfl intelligence, and by puicliaflpg flock, miglit cafily have
Blade immcnfc gains Their fcrupulous delicacy and rtrift felf denial appeared afterwards upon
aa examination at the bar of the houfe of commons.

fabjed:>

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. jj

fubjedt, prcfumcd to adl, until dear-bought experience evinced the impofTi-
bility of feparating the intereft of the flock-holder from that of tlie com-
pany.

At this time many needy adventurers hoped a golden harveft in ths
flock, and paying an immenfe intereft for money, were difpofed to facri-
fice every real advantage as proprietors, to the flattering profpe£l of pre-
fent gain. Thofe fervants of the company whofe fafety depended on the
overthrow of the directors, employed their wealth in creating votes; and
fome candidates for the direcSlion, to gratify their own ambition, readily
placed themfelves at the head of fo refpcdable a corps.

The faction thus formed, fteadily purfued their plan; and having by
infinite arts railed the public expedlations greatly beyond the fize of the
objed:, they fed the common defire of gain with promifes, which igno-
rance inflamed by paflion could fcarcely hope to accomplifli.

A claim to the revenues on the part of the crown produced a negotiation
with the minifter, v/hen a contefl;ed eledlion for dired:ors approaching,
this troublefome fadlion endeavoured to enlift as many as poflible by flat-
terkig the wilhes of all. They produced a plan of accommodation with
government, by which nine hvmdrcd thoufand pounds per annum were
promifed to the exchequer, and fourteen per cent, dividend to the proprie-
tors yir^/y^y^fijrj-; but fo little attention was paid to the means fuggefted
for carrying this plan into execution, that the revenue was feparated from
the trade ; and fuch a complication of accounts would have enfued, both
at home and abroad, as mvift have caufed endlefs difputes between govern-
ment and the company, equally injurious to the intereft of both. The
directors, on the contrary, endeavoured to unite thefe interefts, difcordant
only to uninformed minds ; and, by making the receipts of the treafur-y
depend on thofe of Leadenhall-ftreet, hoped to remove every ground of
future jealoufy. They propofed to give four hundred thoufand pounds,
or twelve and a half per cent.clividcnd to the proprietors, and apply one
half of the remainder to the payment of the company's debts, the other
moiety to be received by the exchequer. By fecuring a dividend to the

proprietors

yS A.l^EW OF THE ENGLISH

proprldors in the firft inftance, the price of ftocV would becDme Is fixt
and permaherit, as the nature of a trading company v/ould admit: wiiilc
by appropriating the furplus, all future increale of dividend would, be a
diftant object, and the refolutions of the court of proprietors be no longer
governed by the views of flock-jobbers, or intefeils of the Alley. By par-
ticipating all advantages with the exchequer a confidence might be^ eita*
blifhed, and minifters no longer receive every propofal of dire£lors with
the jealoufy of a rival. A fudden change of circumftances required many
alterations in revenue laws, many new political arrangements. Thefc
would be undertaken without the embarraffment of diftruft, and execut-
ed as foon as known to be right, without doubting the information re-
ceived. It is not difficult to prove that had this union been effefted, had
the neceffities of the company not been aggravated by the urgent demand of
government and proprietors, and had not the trade from this caufe been
managed with a view to a prefent fupply, an immenfe fum might already
have been gained to the company and the flate.

The diredtors had always "been avcrfe to an increafe of dividend, until
the debts of the company were reduced within thofe limits, which the legifla-
ture had prefcribed, and which their former neceffities had compelled
them to exceed *. They reprefented, that it was indifferent to the pro-
prietor, whether he borrowed to divide, or waited till the money was re-
ceived in the treafury. They gave it as their opinion that the payment of
thefe extra debts ihould be the hrfl: application of the returns from India,
as a voluntary continuance in this excefs might afford fome pretence to
thofe, who envied their prefent fituation. Thefe arguments were addreff-
ed to unwilling ears. A very numerous body of proprietors had little
concern beyond the prefent price of Hock. . To fuch, an immediate divi-
dend became neceffary ; and many others were not difpleafed to fee the
nominal value of their property fo greatly increafed. By a vote therefore
^f the general court an addition of four per cent, was made to the annual
dividend.

* The company are autliorlfed to borrow a certain fiim upon bond, and none in any other
manner. It may juflly be thought that ordinary credit in the courfe of bufincfs is an implied

exception. But the company, be'iiesd.-Iayini; all payments, had been o'olij^ed to borrow cij^ht
l:undred thoufund pounds more than the fum allowed, and paid an intercJl lor this money.

This

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 79

This fuccefs ferved only to quicken the appetite of hungry adventurers.
Frclh troops pouring in every day, encouraged their affociates by a new
accelHon of ftrcng'th. Heated by oppofition, with underftandings per-
verted by paflion, they indulged their imaginations in gaudy dreams of
wealth, and already began to talk of fifty per cent, dividend being inade-
quate to our prefent poffefllons. Impatient of delay in the negotiation
with government, they anticipated the twelve and a half per cent, which,
the directors had ilipulated in their propofal. Some fervants of the crown,
thinking this rcfolution too hafty, introduced into the houfe of commons,
a bill for refcinding their vote, and reftraining the proprietors during one
year. To remove fo fure an obftacle to the views of thefe adventurers, no
compliance was thought too great, and the whole party immediately ten-
dered their fervice to the minifter ; an offer which was readily accepted.

Mr. Charles Townfend, who, as chancellor of the exchequer, had the
ghief condud of the negotiation on the part of government, was fully
fenlible of the advantages which might refult to the nation and to the
company from the plan propofed by the diredors. Several meetings had
been held, in which the whole v/as explained, and every objedion an-
fvvered fo much to the fatisfadion of Mr. Townfend, that he repeatedly
declared, this was the fingle plan, . among the many propofed, which
could render Bengal truly beneficial to Great Britain. The diredlors were af-
terwards aftonilhcd to find a fadden change of fentiments; and that nothing
eould fatisfy the chancellor of the exchequer but four hundred thoufand
pounds to be paid yearly, and a total indemnification of one fhilling per pound'
duty on black teas, which amounted nearly to two hundred thoufand pounds
more. The directors refufing to comply with this unreafonable demand,
foon learnt, that others. were more tradable; and many perfonal argu-
ments were ufed, which might induce them to yield to a neceffity that
could not be refifled. The diredors neverthelefs continued firm in their duty.

Before this laft event the negociation was far advanced, and this fingle
difficulty remained, whether, after the dividend of four hundred thoufand
pounds to the proprietors, one half or two thirds of the remahider fliould

8o A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

be paid into the exchequer. Mr. Townfend negleded the ftrongeft rc-
monftrances of our direaore, met their: opponents at the St. Alban's ta-
vern, and bartered the bill depending in parliament for a vote of the pro-
prietors. So eager were this fadtion in purfuit of their objed:, that they
overlooked the means of obtaining it. After they had carried the minifter's
point byan unconditional vote of a general court, they found themfelves
deceived. A heavy burthen was entailed on the company, wdiile at the
£mie time the reftraining bill pafled the houfe, Mr. Townfend, the chan-
cellor of the exchequer, dividing in the minority.

^j Jhe diredlors being informed of the minifter's alliance-, produced an
uaanlnaous refolution of their court, condemninjj the intended motion
as dangerous to the company. Their oppofition was rain, and the mea-
furo Vv-ns carried in the court of proprietors by a fmall majority.

; The precedent being once eftabliflied, no rniniller, whatever might be
his own fentiments, could afterwards venture to accept, what might be
deemed by country gentlemen in pariiament worfe terms. The fame
agreement was therefore extended to feven years, after a long and well
Gontefted oppofition from the authors of the former plan. Thefe gentle-
men, deferted and betrayed, yet maintained the ftruggle, unfeducedby flat-
teryj unawed by threats. By fuch conduct they loft their own eleftion,
as happened once before, in the year 1763, but without the fame fuccefs
in the public caufe : for by the firft ftruggle they obtained an alteration
In the final articles of peace, which excluded the French from any mili-
tary eftablifliment in Bengal, and fecured our prefent dominions in the
Eaft to the Britllh nation *,

. The firfl. attack upon the company in parliament was led by a
gentleman, who talked of forfeiture of charter, and right of conqueft in
the crown. In ftiort he feemcd to think that no confidcration of law, juftice,
or policy, fhould deter men armed with power from confifcating fo rich
a prize. Had he fpoken merely his own fentiments, thefe would have
deferved little attention. But clofely conne<0:ed as this gentleman was with

* The French were by the preliminary articles rcftored to all their coiirjuefls.

the

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 8i

die leading perfon in the cabinet, fuch a language could not fail to occa-
fion very ferious alarms. Frivolous diflindions v^'ere alfo countenanced
in parliament to the difgrace of common fenfe, while the true ground of
argument was almofl negledled. Few ventured to contend that, indepen-
dent of that regard which is ever due to the facred rules of property,,
the pofleflion of thefe revenues by the crown might endanger our
happy form of internal government, but could never produce any real
benefit to the Britilh nation.

Imprefled with thefe terrors^ apprehenfive of complaints from foreign-
nations to the Britilh court, which a narrow policy might encourage,,
every application for powers to govern their fervants rejeded, the direc-
tors faw no fafety, but in upholding the Moorilh government in Bengal ;
and fent the moft pofitive orders to the committee to avoid any exercife
of dominion. A repetition of thefe commands was the neceflary confe-
quence of their increafing difficulties, while an oppofing party called for
new men and new meafures, vaunting the mofl magnificent promifes;
and when a fear of not fulfilling the * engagements of the company ren-
dered it impra£licable to rifk a dimunition of revenues, which were
now become their only remaining fund : for the profits of the China trade
had been almoft annihilated by the fame hafty vote that gave the four
hundred thoufand pounds to government.. From this fituation likewife
flowed a continual increafe of the company's inveftment "f, from three
hundred and fifty thoufand to eight hundred thoufand pounds per annum,
which could not be effeded without fome degree of violence. An annual
export of fpecie from Bengal w\as likewife necefiary, as from the ur-
gent demand of government and proprietors it became impoffible to fup-
ply the China market with filver from Europe. Thus in five years ncxt-
^.icceeding the grant of the Dewany, Bengal: was drained in
' Supplies of bullion to the ether fettlements - - - ^ 1,284,000
Goods, fiores, biila, &c. to ditto ----- 620,337

And cargoes on our European iiiips -_--__ 3,037,266

Toud- - _ _ - - - -. _ ^,94.1,61.5.

• Amounting to a million flerling per annum.

f Thii '.erm fii^nilics the gocdo guichafcJ for the European ir.arkcts.

6tifa-

8a A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

State of Bengal Revenues and Charges, (hewing the grofs and nett Receipts of the Cem-

Revenues.

May April
J765 to 1766.

Calcutta and Dhecs and twen-
ty-four Purgunnahs
Eurdwan
INIidnapore
Chittagong
Muxadavad diftricls
Bahar province

1766 — 1767

Calcutta and Dhees, &c.

Burdwan

IMidnapore

Chittagong

Mnxadavad

Bahar

Comminion paid
1767 — 1.768

Calcutta and Dhees, &c.
Burdwan
Midnapore
Chittagong
Muxadavad
Bahar

Commiffion paid
1768— 1769

Calcutta and Dhees, &c.
Burdwan
Midnapoie
Chittagong
Muxadavad
Bihar

Grofs
Receipts

Cur. Rupee*
10,61,079
40,78,306
7^58.25^

4.36'235

118,96,535

18,42,700

Charges, co lec-
tions, ftiper.ds,
and jaghire.

Cur. Rupees
4,58,620
5,10.452
26,203

70,077

35-59.993

5.01,764

200.73.133 1 51,27,109

11,60,378
51,01,961
10,61,149
4,83,562
181,54,424
78,68,020

3,58,807

8,13,790

55-267

1,04,732

79,36,919

19,28,628

Sett receipts

Cur. Rupees

6,02,459
35,67,854

7»32>055
3,66,158

83,36,502

13,40,936

8,OT,57r
42,88,171
10,0^,882

3,78,830

102,17,505

59,^9,392

338,29,494 I "'^98,143 |2^6>3i.35i

1,63,851

'5>63,953

50,22,579

9,50,093

5'>3.827
183,34,265

56,86,478

4,47'558
8,73,108

65.703

91,061

86,29,178

7:87,712

320,71,195 1108,94,320

11,16,395

4i)49'47i
8,84,390

4,22,766
97,05,087
48,98,766

15,11,649
5'. 26,635
10,32,478
5,12,224
191,98,583
62,82,503

[76^—1

Commjfiion paid

336.64,072

4,81,185
9,68,248

57.427
79,684

90-77'U5
7.43-988

211,76,875
2,07,938

10,30,464

41,58,3 7
9.75.051

4.32.540
[01,21,138

55.38,515

114,07,977

Calcutta and Dhees, &c.

Burdwan

Midnapore

Chittagong

Muxadavad

Bahar

ConnninTion paid

14,91,039

48,6r,i4^

9.59.321

4.72.518

170,26,778

48,96,666

297,06,4(36

4,68,194

9,12,107

57.172

73.683

84,69,179

8.41,169

108,21,504

222,56,095
9,03,290

10,22,845

39.48. 037
9,02,149

3.9«.835
85.57.599
40,55.497

Total
revenues

Gur. Rupees
149,46,024

i»8,84,9f'2

_M^,'M 185,7^.159
Cur. Rupces |qi;3.o7,42 5

224,67,500

209,68,937

213,52,805

Total in

pounds

fter.

Pounds
i;&8i,427

2.527.594

2>359.oo5

2,402,190,

2,089.368 1 1
11,059,584'

Lord Clive's fccond government commenced in Moy, 1765. lie rcfsgncd to Mr. Vcrclft in January,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 8-?

pany's Land Revenues and the Civil and Military Charges, from May 1765, to April 1770-

Charges.

Cur. Rupees
20,99,822

Eftimatcd
Cur. Rupees

Civil
Charges

Military charges

Bengal
charges

Exp- nee or ihc
Bengal detach-
ment a^ing on
ihe Co<ft.

Total

Buildings
and fortifica-
tions

Total

charges

Total in

pounds

fter.

27>i3'767

Cur. Rupee'
64.32»4«9

;r9,69,259

24,29,413 74,28,168

26,29,108

26,71,986

125,44,096

75'23'277

Cur. Rupees

10,70,052

12,28,518

75,90,169 9,13,118

369,43,362 I 32,ii,f588

Cur. Piupees
64,32,489

79.69,259

84,98,220

87.Si»795

85.03,2^7

Cur. Rupees
8,68 237

Cur. Rupees
94,00,548

10,40,144

19,78,081

24,07,765

17,48,229

117,23,170

129,05,714

137,88,668

129,23,50a

401,55,050 I {50,42,456 1007,41,602

Pounds
1,057,562

1,318,856

1,451,892

1,551,225

i.453>894

6,833,429.,"

1767, who continued in that office to the end of the year 1769.

8+ A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

CHAP. in.

The Money and Coinage of Bengal.

^' I ^ H E too e?gcr clefirc of parliament, and the proprietors of IndlA
jL flock, to derive immoderate advantage from the acquifitions of the
Company, gave birth to many evils, ^vhich a %vi?'er policy, and more
temperate condud: at home, might eafily have pre^'^ented. It has already
been remarked, that this caiife precluded all innovation in the manage-
ment of the revenues, perpetuating thofe abufes which, derived from a re-
mote antiquitVj had gro\NTi to an enormous fize vmdcr the government of
fuccefliVe fubahdars. Ruinous as thefe were to the induftry of the na-
tives, the impatient demand upon Bengal, as an inexhauftible mine of
Avcalth, fuperadded many other cauies of decline to thofe which already
opprelled the laborious inhabitants. Each year brought oi-ders from
Europe to enlarge the company's inveflmtnt, while co!nplaintS were at
the fanie time received of the increafmg price of manufactures, which a
competition between the French, Dutch, and Englifli, neceflarily occa-
fioned.

it had been the practice of thofe m.erchants, with whom the Com-
pany's fervants made their contracts, to advance money to the manu-
faifturer, without which he would frequently be unable to procure the
materials of his work. But as this mode of obtaining merchandize muft
fometimes prove defedive, through the accidiental inability of private men
to furnilh the neceffary fupplies to the workman, and many hands muft
confequently remain unemployed ; it was thought expedient by the go-
vernor and council, when the above-mentioned orders arrived, to make
the like advances to filch manufadurers as muft otherwife have lain idle.
Contracts thus in part executed oh one fide, afforded a temptation to
fraud on the other ; and the workman, unlcfs ftrittly watched, often re-
fold his goods for their full price to a ftranger.

The

OOVERNMENT IH BENGAL." 85

The gomaftahs, or ngents of the company, were ncccflarily tlicreforc
Cntrufted with powerr., which they frequently abufed to their own cmolu-
?nent ; and an authority given to enforce a juft performance of engage-
ments, became, notwithftanding the ulmofl vigilance of the higher fcr-
vants, a fource of new opprefTion. The influence of thefe agents proved
fo deftru^live of induftty, that, before any remedial meafures were dc-
vifcd at home, the council determined, at the hazard of not fulfilling
the orders of their conflituents, to refume the old method of forming the
inveftment, by contracting folely with merchants in different parts of the
country*

Within the fpace of foui* or five years, the exportation of iBengal ma-»
nufaftnres, by the fevcral European companies, had encreafed to more
than 700,000/. per annum, beyond the extent of their former invefl-^
merits*". That by our company alone amounted, in the year 1771, to
768,500/. flcrling, wholly purchafed with the revenue of the country>'
and without importing a fingle oun-ce of filver. Foreign companies like-
wife bought their goods with money received from private individuals^
who took bills for the amount upon the refpedlivc companies in Europe^
Thus an influx of bullion, whidh in former times exceeded a million flier-'
ling annually, was, by the great change in our fituation, cff"e»fl:ually ob-
ftrudtedj; while large fums were moreover exported from the circulating
fpecle of Bengal. In the five years next fucceeding the grant of the Dc-
"wanny, the fums exported in filver by the Englifli Company alone amount-
ed to 1,284,008/. flcrling. Indeed, the pradice of fending filver from
Bengal to China commenced as early as the year 1757, and continued
without remilhon to the year i77oi". Formerly the commerce of Bengal,
with difi'erent countries of the Eaft, had yielded a very confiderable bal-
lance, paid in bullion ; but this trade, which was greatly afl'edied by the
troubles in Perfia, and in the countries bordering on the Red Sea, was
How ruined by the over-grown influence of the Europeiin Companie3»

* It mud be remembcied, tliat in the year 1 765 the French Company made their firft in veft-
mcnt in Beng.il, fmcethe reduftion of Chancicrnagore in the year 1757.

t Much the greateft q.uantiiy was fcnt, fubfetjueiit to tlie grant of the Dewanny in the
year 1765.

who

86 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Tvho engroflcd all the manufafLiires of Bengal. Such was the rigour exer-
cifed to complete the quantity required by our diredlors, that tlie Na-
bob has found it difficult to procure the necefl'ary fupply for his hoiifliold,.
•without making application to the Englifh agents.

From the redudlioa of Chandernagore in \']^~y to the commencement ■
of a gold coinage in J 766, Bengal had loft, by deficiency ia the. ufual.
imports of bullion, and by exportation of filver, more than eight millions
fterling*. It muft here be. obferved, that money always retained its value
in Bengal. The commodities purchafed with bullion continued to yield
an equal profit to the merchant, which demonftrably proves, that the
money circulating iai fpecie never exceeded' the demands of induftry. Un-
der thefe circumftances, a rapid diminution of the current coin muft ne-
ceffarily impede the internal commerce of the country, and dlfcourage the
exertions of induftry in all, whofe labour could alone render Bengal a va-
luable poffefRon to the Britifh nation. Early and repeated reprefentations

* The foregoing eflimate commences at a period when tlie extraordinary fuccefs attending
our military operations in India produced fuch riches to the company, and to individuals, as
efFeflcd an entire revolution in the mercantile fvRem, hitherto obferved by all European nations
trading in Benr,'a]. France having loft her fettlements, loft alfo her trade in Bengal, from 1757
101765; whence the country was deprived of the fupply France was accu domed to fend ill
treafure, amounting, couimuijicti annii, to2CO,ooo/.

As thcEnplilh Company was liberally furniflied with money, either flipuLited for indemni-
fication, reftitution, ftc. or barroxed of private individuals on their bonds and bills, they dif-
contlnued fending bullion to Bengal, the annual amount of which ufually exceeded 250,000/.

The Dutch were the greateft importers of filver, not only for purchafing home inveftnients, .
but alfo procuring opium, an article ot great confequcnce to the trade of their Eaftern fettlements,
;uk1 alfo upon account of a conliderableproliLarifmg to their fervants from coining into ficca ru-
pees, in the nabob's mint, ingots fen t from Batavi a. They likewife difcontinued lending bul-
lion for more than four years, and thereby deprived Bengal of more than 300,000/. per annum.

Even tbeD.aies, finding they conld boirow money at a low intereft rjid advantageous ex-.
change, on refpondentia bonds and bills, with-keld their liule alliftance, which indeed fcldom
exceeded 30,000/. a year.

Of more confequence to Bengal was the declining trade with Perfia and the Red Sea, the-
ballance of which, in fpecie, had been reduced lince the troubles above alluded to, from 1 8 or 20 ,
lacks, about 1 80,000 /. fterling annually, to 3 or 4 lacks. If to thefe drawbacks, from the ufual
importation of filver, we add tlw funis actually exported from Bengal te Chin? and other fettle-
ments, fupplying the army ftaticncd out of the provinces, king'.s tribute remitted to lllah-abjxl,
and the fpecie can icd oft' by Coflim Ally Cawn, the whole lofs, in thecourfc of 12 years, will
appear to exceed 13 millions fterling; a fum fo immcnfe as will fcarce gain credit with thofc-
who have not b«cn a; the trouble of ci.-wTiining.thc particulars.

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 87

of this growing evil were made by the feledl committee, who exhorted
the directors to confider of fome expedient to obviate the alarming confe-
quences of a fcarcity of coinf. Unfortunately the dirc<5lors were fo pe-
culiarly fituated, that the remonRrances of their fervants produced no cf-
fedl. Influenced, perhaps, by an opinion of the great riches of Bengal,
they believed theie dangers lefs immediate than the difHculties they were
likely to encounter by an oppofition to the public expe^Stations ij;. Large
inveflments from China, and every part of India, became neceffary to
defray the great demands of the company. Hence the fatal policy of
exporting treafure was invariably purfued. To the fervants, however, in
Bengal, the confequences of this meafure were not long a fubjed of fpe-
culation. The feled committee law clearly that difficulties nuifl; foon
multiply from a fcarcity of coin, which might prove equally ruinous to
the company's commercial and political intereils ; and they did not hefi-
tate therefore to attempt what appeared to them the only poffible remedv.
But before this fubje«ft can be underftood, it will be neceflary to explain
the current money of Bengal,

A writer of reputation has here employed his pen, and added the errors
of his own fpeculations to thofe which mifmformation refpeding aflumcd
fa<as has neceifarily produced*. He fuppofes the current rupee, like the
pound ilerling in England, to be the general mon<;y of account in Ben-
gal. A flight attention to the term current^ evidently derived from the
Latin, would have fhewn it to be of European extradion ; and in fadl
the expreffion is wholly unknown to the natives, who make ufe of the
5/tTrt -rupee, that being the eftablllhed coin of the country. This error
would fcarcely have deferved notice, but that many fuppofed confe-
quences, which, were the fad true, would by no means fullov^^ have
been laborioufly deduced from this miflake.

However, " the coins of a country may be changed for convenience,"
this writer would always have " the denominations given to the nev/

t Letters from the Committee, 3Cth of January, 1766, 24th Marcli, 1766, 9th December,
1766, a«ti 6th October, 1767. ViJ Appendix.

X Court of Direftors to Select Committee, 2 ift NovemLer, 1766, par- lO. Viil. Appen.
• This gentleman has l.itely written fume Obfervaiions for the \Jiz of the Court of Directors.

" coins

B8 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

*' coins conflantly preferve an exad proportion o£ value to this ftandard'
" unit," or current rupee, " by which accounts are kept." If by
thefe expreffions be meant, that the unit fhould exprefs a certain quan-
tity of the precious metals, and that the denominations of all coins
fhould conform to that unit, according to their intriufic value, it is fuf-
ficient to fay, that the fame thing is effedted by giving a certain denomi-
nation to a certain quantity of fih'er, us in the Sicca rupee, which is the
fole coin legally current in Bengal. The author plainly intends fome-
thing more, becaufe the change here fpoken of is upon a fuppofed varia-
tion in the relative value of gold and hlver, in which cafe the fame deno-
mination of value can no longer exprefs the fame quantity of the re-
fpedtive metals as it did before. Let us fuppofe /ozif^^/ to exprefs a value
equivalent to one gold coin, or ten filver coins of the fame weight and
finenefs, the price of metals being as one to ten. If the relative value
of the metals varies, and becomes as one to fifteen, pound can no longer
exprefs the ten coins in filver, and one in gold of equal weight and fine-
nefs, without expreffing different values, when applied to gold, or when
applied to filver. In this fenfe of the unit, as reprefaiting a certain
quantity of each metal, it would be impoffible " to preferve an exaift
«' proportion of value to the ftandard unit." Therefore the unit, in the
language of our author, muft reprefent an Ideal fomething permanent in
its nature, with which the quantities of gold and filver, and the denomi-
nations refpedively given to each, may be compared as with a known
Handard. Indeed the term Jiandard, conjoined with u/iit, proves that
he ufes it in this fenfe. Elere a difficulty occurs. As all our ideas are
derived from the impreffion of material fubllance, he who ufes a term not
Gxpreffing fome fuch impreffion, difcourfes without an idea; and until:
this difficulty be rcfolved, it is a vain attempt to reafon"*"..

* It is plain we are not here fpealiing of ideas derived from the operations of oar own mind,
•which having no fimilarity, eannpt be compared with fubft.inccs oxiflinjr without us ; nor of
a generic term in language, which, omitting every circumftanc.; ot time, place, &c. peculiar
to the individual, exprefles a fpccies. Standard unit muft hen; be the n;inic of an individual
•axiiUace, or it means nothing.

farther,,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 89

Fai-LJier, it is impoffible that the unit, or money of account, fliould
be itlelf a ftandard, or have any other fignification than to exprefs a cer-
tain quantity of current coin. The unit, or denomination in account,
expreffes the extent of a debt. When this debt is paid in any current
coin, according to the legal denomination, tlie obHgation is difcharged.
The value of tlie unit (which expreffes only a demand of a certain quan-
tity of legal money) muft therefore be determined by the value of the
coin. Here it will be afkcd, v.'hat is the ufe of the unit, or jnoney of
account? Evidently this. It is merely a number aflumed, with rela-
tion to the method of account by tens, more eafily divifible upon paper
than any legal coin. It facilitates to the merchant the calculation of ex-
changes, being a convenient medium for refolving the legal denomina-
tion of money in one country into the money of another. Thus the
pound fterling Englifli reprefents in accounts twenty Ihillin'^s, or two
tens. The Sicca rupee varies in valu^, in the proportion of 1 1 6 to 1 i i .
The natives take the n6 as their unit or money of account, beino- the
Sicca rupee, during the firft year of circulation. The En"liih, to avoid
fradlional numbers, take the decimal 100, by relation to which they cal-
culate all debts and credits, and eftimate all other coins. This -tt parts
of the Sicca rupee conflitutes that money of account, to which the En«--
liih have given the name of current rupee.

In the farther progrefs of his reafoning, the author abovementioned con-
tradids himfelf. He proves what no man could want to fee proved, that
debafing the legal coin will leflen the value of the unit, or money of ac-
count. But how is this confiftent with his former notion of the unit be-
ing \\.{€iiapndard? Thus in admeafurement, if the foot he thejiandard
taking away one third part of the yard will make the latter to confift only
of two feet, but will not leffen the foot. Whereas, if the yard be the
fiandard, and the denomination foot expreffes a certain proportion of the
yard, then the foot will be leffened with the yard, and become fliorter by
one third part. In the fame manner if any alteration in the coin affeds
the unit, the com and not the unit muft be \^t Jlandard.-.i:ht error of our
author has probably arifen from confidering the manner in which fome

" ^ fovereigns

go A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

fovereigns have decreed, that they W// not pay their debts. Should, for
inftance, a law pafs in this country that ten fhillings in future fhall be
equal to a pound fterling ; this law might feem to raife the value of the
{hilling, and to make the pound the'ftandardof e'ftiraation : but no fuch
confequence would follow. 'TKe fliiljing would not purchafe a ■ greater
quantity of any one commodity. The law would indireftly carry this im-
port, that debtors ihould difcharge their engagements by paying half the
fum agreed. By changing the application of a name, it would in effed:
be faid to the public creditor, you advanced twenty fliillings, which we
then called a. poilnd : you fliall now, receiye only ten fliillings; but that
we may feem to obferve the terms of our contradl, the different fums fhall
obtain the fame ?2ame.

■ If the coif2 be the ftandard refpeftlng the iifi it, by what relation carf.
the value of the coin be itfelf afcertained ? The natural criterion
is the price of bullion in the market. Biit before we can explain
how the value of ''coin will be affeded by this jf^rice, we rauft enter more
deeply into the fubjeft.

All purchafe is exchange. Among rude nations, whofe wants are few^,
this exchange is made in the bulky articles of confumption. Others, more
refined, adopt a medium of commerce, the precious metals ; and as the
laft im.provement, a certain ftamp is added to certain quantities of the re-,
fpedlve metals, that the value of each piece may be known by infpeclion.
liere a curious quelHon occurs. Can a fovereign, by debafing the cur-
rent money, raife its adual operative A'alue above the intrinfic worth, de-
pending on the quantity of pure metal contained in the coin ? independent
of the effed of habit, which may make a people regard a name when the
thing itfelf is changed, it appears to me that he cannot *. The fovereign
may give to coin a nominal value beyond the price of bullion, but to in-
ereafe its adual value, would be to fix by law the price of every commo-
dity to be purchafed with coin. By varying the denomination of money,
the nominal value of bullion, as of every other commodity, might be lef-

* It will afterwards appear that this ought to be underftood with a certain limitation, which
cannot here be explained.

fcned

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 91

feaed or increafed ; but the a£tual value of coin or bullion to tlic poflcilbr
mud be eftimated by their effed in purchafiag the neceffaries of life. In
this view their value will depend on the quantities of the precious metals,
and of the mercliandi7.e with which they are compared, and the refpedlive
demand for each. Now, as the quaiitity of every fpecies of merchandize
will encreafe in proportion to the art and.induftry employed in the cultiva-
tion and manufadlure, while perhaps the deinand continues the fame, it
will ever be impoffible to fix the value of coin or bullion by any perma-
nent ftandard. In fad, the precious metals being univerfally received as
the medium of commerce, have an equal relation to every thing which is
fold ; and from thefe various relations combined, rcfults their actual value.
Here the detail is infinite, and eludes all invefl:igation. Neither is it pof-
fible to find a certain ftandard in any ideal point betvv^een the relative value
of the two metals gold and filver *. Compare the two metals to each
other at diftant periods of time, a variation is obferved in their relative va-
lue. How can we difcover whether the one has rifen or the other fallen
in value ? This can only be known by the invefligation above mentioned ;
•an inveftigation fo complex, that no underftanding can comprehend it, no
experience can furnifh the requifite materials. Now, as the value of the
unit (pound fterling, current rupee, &c.) is determined by its relation to
"the two metals, it will ever be impoflible to make this denomination re-
prefent a fixed and permanent valuef.

The precious metals have been received as the common medium of com-
merce, not becaufe they are abfolutely free from all fluduatlon in value,
but becaufe they are lefs fubjed to this inconvenience than any one mer-

« This is very imperfeaiy expreffed, but when we grafp nt the mere creature of another
-man's imagination, our exprelTion muft be inadequate. I'he author we allude to feems to con-
ceive it poiTible, by adding to the quantity of pure metzl in the coin, as gold or filver may hap-
pen to fink in price, to preferve feme intermediate denomination (as the pound fterling between
cur guinea and fliilling) at a certain fixed and permanent value.

t While certain coins are current by law, the value of the unit muft be determined by that
of the coin. But it is plain the author intends to fix the value of the unit independent of the
coin, and alfo of the price of bullion, from the propofal he makes of adding to the quantity of
pure metal contained in the coin, as the price of bullion decreafes. The propofal itfelf is an ad-
niillion that the value of the unit depends immediately on that of the coin.

■^^ 2 chandize,

§2 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

chandlze, and therefore form the beft reprefentative of all. They are di-
vifible In any proportions without lofs. They e.ifily take, and long retain
an impreffion. The quantity being fmall, a great value is contained in a
narrow compafs. Being removed from the ordinary purpofes of life, they
are little fubjetft to confumption : and being now received as the univerfal
reprefentative of all things fold, the demand can be little governed by ca-
price. Thefe qualities make them to anfwer tolerably well the purpofes
of coin ; and if the man who has money finds his property to flu£luate in
value, this is common to him with the poffeflbr of every other fpecies of
wealth, and in a lefs degree.

The author above mentioned obferves, *' That if no perfon can coin but
*' one, that one may put a value upon his coining, as any artift may put
" a value upon an art which he alone pofleifes, unrivalled by any other."
If by this phrafe be meant, that he may put an arbitrary value on the coin
to any extent, it is not true, unlefs he could alfo compel men to become
purchafers. The truth feems to be (for on a fubjecft fo obfcure, it were
prefumptlon to affirm any thing) that the precious metals being univerfally
adopted as the medium of commerce, and reprefentative of every thing
fold, acquire thence a value. Again, few perfons can judge of the qua?-
lity, or in other words of the pure metal contained in any mafs produced
to their view ; and even the few fufficiently {killed can arrive at this know-
ledge only by a long and expenfive procefs. In the ordinaiy dealings
therefore of men, the convenience of knowing by Infpeftlon the quality
of the metal, fuperadds a value to the coin beyond the price of bullion.
If denominations be given to the coin nearly correfponding with this
enhanced value, the people readily receive it upon this eftimatlon, and
the coin becomes current by general confent. For no pofitive law can
make coin current at a certain value, without fixing the price of every
thing which money can purchafe.

Ought a foverelgn in good policy to take advantage of this enhanced
value to defray the cxpence of coinage, &c. or ought he to make the de-

nomina^'

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 93

nomination of the coin to correfpond cxadly with the price of bullion, ac-
cording to the pure metal contained in the coin? An exa£t conformity is
recommended by the writer above mentioned ; neverthelefs it appears, that
the denomination of the coin ought to exceed in a certain degree the price
of bullion, or it will be impoflible to preferve the coin in circulation.
Suppofe the price of filver bullion to rife : no man will exchange his filver
coin for gold coin, becaufe by melting it,, the bullion fold in the market
will produce more gold coin than an exchange according to the legal de-
nominations'. Let gold bullion rife in price, the reverfe muft happen.
Every fludtuation in the price of bullion will deflroy one fpecies of coin.
But if the denomination of money be raifed in a moderate degree above the
price of bullion, any minute variation will not affed the coin. The ge-
neral convenience of having a common medium of commerce will uphofd
its value correfponding with the denomination given, and being long ufed
as the reprefentative of all things fold, it will from habit, acquire a value
in fome meafure independent of bullion.

I have thought it neceffary to enlarge more fully upon this fubjed, be-
caufe the learned author referred to, has, by fallacious arguments, found-
ed upon erroneous principles, deduced many important confequences
rcfpedling the company's revenue, and the meafures adopted by their
fcrvants.

In Bengalthe Sicca rupee has ever been the only legal coin ftruck and
authorifed by the prince. Its denomination, like that of money in moft
countries, exceeds the price of bullion ; but this excefs is moderated by an
annual difcount, the denomination finking gradually in three years in the
proportion of one hundred and fixteea to one hundred and eleven. Various
other rupees, differing from each other in weight, finenefs, and impref-
fion, are applied to the purpofes of commerce ; but before they can be re-
ceived, it is neceffary to efliinate the intrinfi.c value of each piece, and cal-
culate the price, of the whole mafs by relation to the Sicca rupee. To
adjull this variety of exchanges is become a fcience too intricate for the

attemioa

94- A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

attention of merchants who are obliged to retain in their fervice a fet of
men, called fliroffs, bred up in the profeffion of exchanging money, and
affaying metals by the touch. In progrefs of time, thefe fhroffs are grown
up to fo numerous and wealthy a body as to hold in their hands almoft the
whole fpecie of the country. This fituation of monied property has an
effect which muft now be explained to the reader.

No fooner does bullion, receiving a certain impreflion, become coin;

that is, pafs, upon infpedllon, according to its legal denomination, than a

profit may be gained by making and circulating fimilar coin of a lefs in-

trinfic value. To reprefs this evil in Europe, fevere laws are enaded

againft fuch offenders. The crime with us is accounted high treafon. The

care of profecuting it is committed to a particular *' officer ; and the

puniflament, on conviclion, never remitted. If, notwithftanding this

ri"-id exertion of authority, bafe coin is not uncommon in England, what

mip-ht be expedled in Bengal, where, from the nature of the country, the

manners of the inhabitants, and the varieties of government prevailing in

the feveral diftrlds, it is impoffible to eftablifli a regular police ? The

' foverei<^n, therefore, thought it neceffiiry to interefi: the body of the

fhroffs in the prefervatlon of the coin, and had, for that purpofe, eftab-

liflied an annual difcount or batta on the ficca rupee. At the expiration of

three years, when thefe ficca rupees, then called funats, pafs at 4-!4 parts

of the original denomination, they are carried to the mint chiefly by the

fliroffs, who receive them back recoined, and confequently raifed in value

to 1 1 6, the firfl and highefl denomination t> dcduding the expence and

duties of coinage, amounting to fomethlng more than 2 per cent.J By this

operation, the fhroffs gain nearly -rrr parts upon the value of the coin

every third year ; an advantage confined wholly to the ficca rupee. A

• Sollicltor of the mint.

•J- The author above mentioned is miftaken in fuppofing that 5 percent, is gained by a mere
ftroke of the hammer and frcdi iniprcmon. Sunat rupees are cut down, melted, and fubjefted
to the whole procefs and expence of coinage, in the fame manner with bullion, a difference
being made in the duties only. — Vide Confultations, January 24ih, 1763.

J 2 i per cent, nearly.

triennial

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 95

triennial recolnage is the confequencc of this regulation ; and fuch has
been its effed, that while all other coins are dcbafcd, the ficca rupee
ieldom lofes any thing of its original purity : for the flarofFs, who aflay
metals by the touch, gain tlie rf ^ parts upon the pitrejiher.

Such feems to have been the origin of this cuftoni. Some writers have
adopted ftrange notions refpe£ting the eftablilhed batta on the ficca rupee,
confidering it as an abufe introduced wholly " for the benefit of the fhrofFs
" and officers of the mint* and revenue ;" as if it were probable, that
fucceflive princes, for more than a century, fhould have uniformly con-
tinued the fame regulation without a motive. Whatever has been its
origin, the effedl is certain.

The debafement of other rupees has given rife to a mifchief which is
now become a great obflrudtion to commerce, and tends much to the dif-
couragement of induff ry. As the intrinfic value of fuch rupees is found
perpetually to vary, the fhrofFs place thereon an arbitrary batta, or, in
other words, receive them at a difcount fuch as they can fettle with the
poflefTor. The profit thus made, being repeated at every payment, is a
heavy charge on the circulating filver ; and, perhaps, no effedual remedy
will be found, unlefs the company fliould coin all thofe rupees into ficcas,
when received in payment of the revenues.f

Silver being the. only meafure of commerce in Bengal, the common
pradice of all European nations naturally fuggeffed a remedy for the
growing fcarcity of money. Although gold had hitherto been a mere

* Mr. Bolts, p. 157, fays, this cuftom was introduced by the elder Juggut Seat, in the
time of the nabob Jaffier Khawn ;. but, certain it is the cuftom prevailed long before the family
of the Sects obtained any confequence.

t The writer frequently mentioned has to many other miftakes added one refpeding the pro-
h:s of recomage, from which, he fuppofes, the company derives no advantage. In fad, be-
l.des I per cent on bullion, f percent, on recoinage, and mint ch.nrges, uhicb they muft other-
v^ile detray at their own expence, the converfion of 5/,««/ rupees, which arc paid in at their trea-
lury, into Siccai, produces a large fum every year.

article

96 A VIEW GF THE ENGLISH

article of mercliandize, yet it appeared highly probable, that large quan-
tities exifled in the country, which, under proper regulations, might be
Rpplied to the adlve demands of induftry. Lord -Clive, therefore, and
the felecl committee refolved, in the year 1766, to introduce a gold cur-
rency ; and as the firft ftep in profecuting this meafure, was to difcover
■the relative value of the two metals, gold ap.d filver, the minifters and
head fhroffs were confulted. According to the beft informations which
could be obtained, the price of gold feemed to correfpond nearly with the
-proportions eftabliflied by the mint indenture in England. If this eftima-
tion was erroneous, it had already been adopted in the gold currency of
Madrafs. The pagoda coined in the company's mint pafics, in their
accounts, at eight fhillings *. This pagoda, weighing 2 dwt. 6 grains,
ot the finenefs of 20 carats, contains 45 grains of pure gold, the Englilh
guinea 118 grains. If j 18 grs. : 21 ih. : : 45 grs.=8 fli. x4y parts of a
Ihilling.

At Madrafs filver is a mere merchandize, fludluating in price to the
extent of more than twenty per cent. It is impoffible, therefore, to fix
precifely the relative value of the two metals in that market. From fome
mifcellanies quoted by a writer we have frequently mentioned, the propor-
tion of filver to gold appears to have been as 15,49 to i, inAuguft, 1753.
Although when a confiderable quantity of gold moliurs were from time to
time imported by the company from Bengal, and filver was at the fame
time purchafed for the fupply of China, the price of filver rofe, in May,
1771, as 13,78 to I, and afterwards, in July following, to 13,09 to i;
yet, probably, the ordinary proportion of the metals at Madrals corre-
fpondcd with that eftablilhed by law in England, fince the pagoda lias
been ellimated at eight fliilhngs, by the company, during a long courfe of
years.

* In my experience, the pagoda has always been fouiul equal to 2 dwt. 6 grs. of ao carats
finenefs, which makes 45 grains pure gold, hi Mifcellanies lately colleiEled, it is eftimated in
one place at 42 '- grains, and in another at 45 i, pure gold, making a difference of about 6 i
per cent. Should the former of thefe accounts be allowed, it will prove the p:igoda is valued at
more than 4 per cent, higher thun the proportion aflumed in the mint indenture of England.

Gold

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. <)i

■Gold Imported from Madrafs into Bengal always yielded a profit. To
aflign the caufe would be difficult, fince it neither pailed in circulation,
nor was exchanged for the produ<flions''of any country within our kno^v-
ledge. The fadl, neverthelcfs, is certain, and refts upon the moft .un-
doubted teftimony *'. To attempt, therefore, a gold coinage on a lower
eftimation than that of Madrafs appeared improper. Many reafons in-
duced the committee to give it a higher valuation. To whatever purppfes
gold had hitherto been applied in Bengal, it was probable, that a'^new
demand for this metal as current money would enhance the price. It
was befides neceffary to obtain the fupport of the fhrofFs in this meafurc,
by making it their intereft to bring gold to the mint, as' the ftrong preju-
dices of the natives againft innovation would have made the cppofitioa of
this body of men extremely troublefome. To thefe arguments, arifmg from
the ftate of the country, may be added one drawn from the fituation of the
company. Had gold and filver been eftablifhed at the fame relative value
as in the European markets, the exportation of gold would have been
eafier than that of filver, which, on account of its bulk, does not admit
the fame clandeftine conveyance ; and the gold coin might have been ex-
ported to Europe, when other means of remitting the large fums acquired
by individuals began to fail. After maturely weighing all thefe reafon?,
the council refolved, that gold mohurs fliould be flruck, at a valuation of
eight per cent. % above their intrinfic purity, compared with the ficca ru-
pees, according to the proportion of the two metals eftablifhed by the
mint indenture in England f .

Upon

* Two reafoiis may, perhaps, be affigned for tlie high price which gold always maintained
in Bengal. Before the Subahdars became independent of the Mogul Empire, great part of
the annual tribute might probably be remitted in gold to Dehly. Since lh:n period, the fre-
<]uent invafions and inteiline wars, rendering property infecure, gave an incrcafed value to
gold, which is more eafily tranfported from place to place, or more cafily concealed than filver.
"When the Maharattas lad entered Bengal, gold bore fo high a valuCj that fome merchants fent it
from Madrafs to Bengal, at a profit of 15 per cent.

X Two per cent, are the expence and duties of coinage. The remaining fix per cent, was
defigned as sn encouragement to bring gold to the mint. This allowance may appear large to
gentlemen in England ; but it muft be obferved, that the company allow their fervants to lend
money at 12 per cent, as a reafonable intereft. Merchants, zemindars, and the natives in ge-
neral, can feldom borrow at (0 eafy a rate.

t That fuch Was the principle on which the regulation was eftablifiied appears evidently from
the following paragraph in the mint-mafter's letter to the board. " The difficulty lay in fixing

* O upon

98 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Upon this principle the following regulations were formed, vlz^

" That the new gold mohur fhould weigh 1 6 annas, or 7 dwts. i-^-
« grs. 65, that is about 179^ grains, of the finenefs of 20 carats.

" That this gold mohur fhould pafs current, and be received in all
"payments, whether of a public or private nature, in exchange for 14
" Sicca rupees, each rupee weighing 7 dwts.. 1 1 grs. 65 of the finenefs
*-' of iioz. 1 5 dwts. or 13 dwts. better than Englifh ftandard, &c."

The follov/ing calculations, which are rendered as eafy and familiar
as poffible, will demonftrate, that the plan is exaftly adjufled to the be-
fore mentioned relative values, and calculated on the quantities of pure
metal contained in the refpedtive gold and filver coins, each being com-
pared with the ftandard and coinage of England*..

A gui-

'« upon fuch a rate of exchange as fhould anfwer the intention of bringing golil to the treafury
«<- without reducing filver below that natural value which it bears in nioft kingdoms in Europe,
»' fince this circumftance might be produdtive of inconvenience at home. Gold being merely
'' a merchandize in Bent^al, and the quantity of it already contained in the country very un-
'♦ certain, it was thought proper to make the mean rate of exchange in Europe the principle
" upon which the following regulations for a gold currency are calculated. Vide Appendix."
M. Miner's letter, 3d June, 17&6— Yet merely upon the authority of an inaccurate expreffion
in Article 4. of this letter, is the plan fuppofcd to have been calculated on the proportion of
14, inftead of 15-iio i, which difference conflitutes the extraordinary advanced price, ftated
by the writer of the principles of money, not lefs than 9* per cent.

* Abllrafl: of the mint indenture in England.

♦' By this indenture the mint mafter contra£ls to make five fortsof gold monies, viz. quar-
" ter-guineas, half-guineas, guinea, two guinea, and five guinea pieces, to be in finenefs 22
«' carats pure gold, with two carats alloy, and after the rate of 44 -J- guineas to the Troy pound
«« Weight.

" This will be, in every fuch pound weight, either
" 178 quarter-guineas,
«' 89 haU' guineas,
" 44i guineas,

•» 22 two guineas, and one half-guinea,
" 9 five guineas, wanting the weight of half a guinea.

*« Now as money cannot be made in all things exaftly conformable to the ftandard, but may
«' differ from it in weight, in finenefs, or in both , fo it is agreed that one fixth of a carat,
♦' which is equal to 40 Troy grains, be allowed as remedy for the mafler on every pound weight
•' of gold monies, with an additional remedy of half a Troy Grain in every four quaiter-gui-
•• neas, bccaufc thcfe cannot be made fo exadl as larger pieces.

" The mint mafter alfo contrails to make eight forts of (ilver monies, viz.

« 12 crowns and two fliillincs,

•'24

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 99

A guinea, twenty-two carats fine, containing by (latute otve hundred
and eighteen grains of pure gold, is rated by adt of parliament ati,d mint
indenture at twenty-one fliillings. A gold mohur twenty carats fine,
and weighing ydwts. 1 1 grs. 65 contains one hundred and fifty grains
of pure gold, f

grs. Sh. grs.

Q^ If 1 1 8 : 2 1 : : 1 50 - - 26 8 I
And 8 per Cent, increafed price, 2 i i-

Sh. 28 gi

Such will be the produce of the gold mohur, according to the propor-
tions before eftabliflied by relation to the mint indenture. Let us now
fee what will be the produce, by the fame rule, of the filver allowed in
exchange.

The regulation by ftatute of filver in England is, that a pound, or
12 ounces Troy, of Englifh flandard, fhall contain 5328 grains of pure
filver, and that this pound fhall produce 62 fhillings of ftandard money.

The pound Troy of Sicca rupee filver 1 3 dwts. better than Englifli
iftandard, contains 5640 grains of pure filver.

grs. SIi. grs,

Q^ If 5328:62 : : 5640 6s y\

*• 24 half-crowns and two fliillings,
"" 62 (hillings.

" 124 half fliillings, or fix pences, &c. &c. to be in finenefs ii oz. 2 dwts. of fine filver, and
*' J 8 dwts. of alloy, and after the rate of three pounds and two fliillings (62 fliillings) to the
*' Troy pound weight.

" The remedy allowed for the mailer in filver coin is 2 dwts. or 48 grains Troy, on every
" pound weight, for the fame reafons as before mentioned. The remedy both on gold and
*' filver coins is to include the excefs or defe£l: both of weight and finenefs, and is only to be.

*' allowed where fuch fault happens from cafualty." The mailer is bound to make all gold

monies, agreeable in finenefs to the flandard trial-piece of the 4th of James the Second, and all
filver monies by the flandard trial-piece of the ifl of George the Second, part of which pieces
are lodged in his majefty's exchequer.

t We have purpofely omitted fradlional numbers, which would occafion perplexity, without
producing any material difTerence in the calculation.

* O 2 'A pound

100 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

A pound Troy is equal to 32 Sicca rupees in weight if and of Sicca,
rupee filver, produces 65 fh. 7id. according to the laft operation.

Sic. Riip. oz. flu d. Sic. Rup.
Qj_ If 32 = 12 : 65 7^ : : 14 being the value in exchange of a gold

-fiiohur ?

Anfw. 28 fh. 51 d.

The comparative values of a gold mohur, and 14 Sicca rupees, wIH:
therefore ftand in the following manner : .

Produce of the gold mohur,
Eight per Cent, added.

Sh.

a..

8i:

Sh.

Produce of 14 Sicca rupees,

Whence it appears that a ballance of four-pence and one half-penny
remains in favour of the gold mohur, which is to that amount better than
was propofed in the regulations publilhed by authority.

Thefe gold mohurs having continued in circulation i 8 months, with-
out murmur or complaint, to what caufes muft we afcribe the fubfe-
quent mifcarriage? Wherever the two metals are admitted into cur-
rency, the denomination of the coins muft be adapted to a fuppofed pro-
portion between gold and filver. If their relative value fliould be changed
by a decreafe in the quantity of either, a new proportion muft be a (Turned.
If, moreover, a competition among many purchafers lliould arife, this
competition, independent of the quantities of either metal in the country,

X 12 oz. Troy weigh cxaQly 32 S, wt. an. 10 pi. 29 decim, parts.

will

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. loi

TvIIl enhance the price of one *. Both caufes here confpired to produce
the fame eflFe«fl. Notwithftanding the ftrongefl remonflrances of lord
Glive and the feletSl committee, the necefllties of the company obliged
the direflors to order more than thirty lacks annually in fdver to China,
and their other fettlements. If, to this drain, be added an annual
tribute of 26 lacks to the king, the expences of a brigade Rationed
at Illahabad, and filver exported by the French to Pondicherry, the
lofs of filver coin during, two years muft be eftimated at a very large
fum.

Neither had gold been yet tried In procuring inveflments. It was
deemed by private merchants, and even by the company, too delicate an
experiment, to make advances for the provifion of the year in a coin to
which the manufadlurer had not been accuftomed. For the fame reafon
filver was alfo preferred by the foreign companies, in exchange for their
bills of remittance. Hence a competition enfued, individuals purchafing
rupees at an enhanced price, for the purpofes of bills and inveftments.
This competition raifmg the price of filver, will explain many fads which
have been invidioufly mentioned by others. In Calcutta, gold mohurs were
exchanged for rupees, at a lofs of 38 per cent§. In China, v/here all pay-
ments being made in filver, gold bears but a low price ; the lofs upon gold
mohurs, neverthelefs, did not exceed 10 per cent, or 2 per cent, more than
the additional value f , avowed by the regulations publiflicd when the coin
was firfl iifued. At Madrafs, where the importation of an inconfiderable

* Experience (hews the effefl: which a fcarcity of filver coin produces upon gold, even in
England, where the necefhties of the trader frequently oblige him to exchange a guinea forlefs
than its legal value. Yet here gold has long been equally with filver the price and meafure of all
merchandize and necelTaries of life ; whetcas, in Bengal, filver alone had heretofore been the
fo!e ftarjdard price and meaiiire of all things ibid, and gold was received in commerce only, at
a value proportioned to the filver rupees it would produce in exchange. When gold afierwards
became money, and the mohiu- had a fixt relation to the Sicca rupee by low, fuch was the effeft
of habit, that the people continued ilill to regard the gold mohur rather as bullion than coin,
comparing it with merchandize, through, the medium of the filver rupee. The confequence
was, that when the price of filver increafed, from the growing fcarcity of this metal, a more
fenfible check was given to the currency of the gold coin, than in countries where the people
hid been habituated to confider gold and filver equally as flandard price or current coin. Sec
App. Diary of the rife and fall of filver in tlie market, p. 245, and feq.

§ Mr. Bolts, p. 205.

t Above the proportions of the mint indenture.

quantity

102 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

quantity of gold afFeds the price, and the council were likewife purchafing
filver for the fupply of China, the gold mohurs were either exchanged for
filver, or coined into pagodas, at a lofs of 13 per cent, including alfo the
charges and lofs upon a recoinage into pagodas. Mr. Bolts was too good a
merchant not to perceive the increafing price of filver to be the real caul'e
of this lofs, and therefore cautioufly ufes a phrafe, which is literally true.
His words are thefe ; " that the lofs at Madrafs, in fuch remittances of
*' gold mohurs from Bengal, had been 13 per cent, as fiher rupees would
" to that degree have better anfwered.^^

The reader has feen the reafons which induced the council to give a
higher valuation to gold than in the mint indenture of England ; and
eight per cent, above this price was the proportion aflumed. A conti-
nued exportation of filver afterwards varied this proportion, while a com-
petition in the purchafe of the laft mentioned metal farther enhanced the
relative value of filver. Thefe caiifes, aided by the intrigues of the fhrofFs,
fo effedually obftruded the currency of gold mohurs in Calcutta, that
they were there exchanged for rupees, at a price which had no relation
to their intrinfic worth. Juggat Seet, the great banker and principal
ilirofF, when firft confulted, ftrongly urged the neceffity of allowing a
batta or annual difcount on the gold mohurs, in the fame manner as had
ever been ufual upon the Sicca rupee ; and perhaps a negled of this ad-
vice was the greateft error in the plan of 1766. Yet the diredors, hav-
ing frequently condemned the batta in their letters to Bengal, the council
could not adopt it in a new coinage, even to enfure fuccefs.

When the gold mohur was firft iffued, the faith of the company be-
came thereby engaged to the pofleflbr of the coin, for whatever value
might be added in denomination beyond the intrinfic *vorth. The coun-
cil therefore juftly thought themfelves obliged to receive the coin at the
original denomination, and thefe mohurs were accordingly recalled.

In compliance with the general defirc of the inhabitants of* Calcutta,
the governor and council afterwards determined to eftablifh another gold

• See petitions in Appendix.

coinage,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 103

coinage, avoiding tlie fuppofed error of the former plan, and making
juft allowance for a real variation in the proportion of the two me-
tals, arifing from a continued exportation of filver. In March, 1769,
it was refolved, that a gold mohur, weighing 7 dwts. 22 grs. 773 deci-
mal parts, of the finenefs of 23 cts. 3-igrs. or 190^ grains pure gold,
ihould be iflued at the denomination of 16 Sicca rupees. This ellima-
tlon of gold, 1 1 1 per cent, lower that of 1766, reduced its value more than^
three per cent, below the proportion of the mint indenture in England,
and likewife of the pagoda coined in the company's mint at Madrafs.
Yet has the learned writer before mentioned endeavoured to fliev/, that'
gold was here likewife too highly eftimated, by 5! per cent. That the
gold was not too highly eftimated in the fecond coinage of 1769 is far-
ther evinced, by the lateft advices from Bengal, which fay, that this mo-
hur has been readily received in exchange for filver rupees, according to
the eftabliflied denomination.

When the growing fcarcity of filver was explained in a former part of
this chapter, I had no intention even to infinuate that the price of
Bengal manufadures,. brought thence to Europe, fhould be paid in bul-
lion by the India company,. This can never be done without facrificing
our own interefts, and rendering the revenues of a diftant country ufe-
lefs to Great Britain. Bengal, like other fubjedled provinces, muft yield
its tribute; but experience will inculcate the neceffity of moderating
our demands, that the country may be enabled long to continue this
payment. If the court of Diredlors will, for the future, be contented
with an annual inveftment, not exceeding five or fix hundred thoufand
pounds, and difcontinue entirely the exportation of filver from Bengal,
the foreign trade of that country may again revive. Increafing induftry
will in time reftore its wealth ; and fhould fome expedient be required to
palliate the prefent defedl of current money, a gold coinage will af-
ford relief. Without dreaming of banks and paper credit, fuch a mea-
fure may be efteded ; but it will ever be found impoffible to preferve a
coin in currency, unlefs we aflume the ancient pradice of the natives for-

our.

104 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

our guide, and affimikte our new regulations to thofe of the Sicca ru*

pee*.

* The following is the number of gold mohurs, coined agreeable to the new regulations,
made Auguft. ift, 1766, to , rjCS, v-hea they were recalled by an order of

the council.

Mohurs.

In Calcutta, --..--- 177871

Moorflied-abad, .-.-.. 70000

Patna, . . - _ _ _ . 15274.

Total, 263045
Of the above fent to Midrafs, - . ■- - 1344 17

128628
Returned to the treafury of Calcutta, from circulation, 120161

Ballance not brought in, - - - - - 8467

CHAP.

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. loc

C H A P. IV.

The Society eRabliflied in the Year 1765, for conduding the
Trade in Salt, Beetle- nut, and Tobacco.

THE internal commerce of Bengal is now become fo important to the
interefts of Great Britain, that I could wifh to treat of this fubjedl at
large ; but the mifreprefentations which have been induftrioufly propa-
gated compel me to make the fociety eftablifhed in 1765, for conduding
the trade in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco, the principal objed of my prefent
inveftigation.

Phirmaunds from the emperor had long been poffeffed by the Eng-
lifli Eaft-India company, exempting from the payment of duties " what-
" ever goods and merchandize their agents may bring or carry, by land
" or by water, in the ports, quarters, and borders of the provinces."
This privilege, while the Englilh were wholly fubordinate to the country
government in Bengal, was confined to exports and imports, and under
this limitation, enjoyed rather from connivance than of right, by the pri-
vate traders in the company's fervice.

When Meer Jaffier was raifed to the mufnud by our arms, the trade of
the fervants encreafed with the authority of the company, and they now
engaged, at firft fparingly, in the inland traffic of fait. Some even
claimed an exemption from duties ; but as thefe pretenfions were difcoun-
tenanced by colonel Clive during his government, fuch claims were at
that time relinquiflied*

By the treaty with Meer Coffim, the company obtained a ceffion of lands,
yielding about 600,000 1. per annum. Their troops had continually in-
creafed, until the power of the company gave effed to private ufurpations.

*P The

io6 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

The inland trade in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco was univerfally carried on
by gentlemen in the fervice, without payment of duties ; and knowing the
Nabob to be preparing the means of refiftance, they treated every complaint
of his officers as a frefh indication of enmity to the Englilli. Thus the
fears of public policy, confpiring with private intereft, foon produced a
rupture, which, after rifking our exiftence upon the fate of a battle, ended
in the overthrow of Coflim and final eftablilhment of the Englifli power..

Before this laft event took place, intelligence was received at home of"
the confufion in which Bengal was involved, of the defeat at Patna of a
detachment amounting nearly to one third of our army, and of the crud
maflacre of many Englilh gentlemen. The reputation acquired by lord
Clive in India directed all eyes to him ; and he was called, by the concur-
rent voice of the nation and proprietors, to undertake once more the
labour of reftoring order to our affairs.

The caufe of thefe events naturally became the fubjedt of deliberation.
It appeared, that an exemption from duties had thrown the whole trade
of the country into the hands of the Englifli, This, however, was the
leafl evil. The country government was deflroyed by the violence of their
agents ; and individual tyranny fucceeded to national arrangement. In
the general confufion, all, who were difpofed to plunder, aflumed the
authority of our name, ufuped the feats of jufticc., and carried on what
they called a trade, by violence and oppreffion. The Nabob's officers
either fled before them, or, joining the invader, divided the fpoil. The.
barrier of the country government once broken down, it became impoffi-
ble to flop the inundation. Mahomedan, Portugucfe, and Armenian
alike, nay, every illiterate mariner who could efcape from a fhip, ercdcd
our flag, and a£led as lord of the diflrid around him.*

* Frequent orders of the council and of tlie felcifl coinmittec, for recalling free mertlirnts
and oiV.ers difpcrfed througliout tlic country are to be foiiiul on the company's records, during a.
courfe of fcvcral years, under differerR governors. Ofie of the firll rcfolutions of the feleft
committee, upon lord Clive's arrival, (thp fecond day of their, fitting) is founded on difobe-
dieuce to former orders. y«e Committee I'rotecdings, Mayii, 1765.

Cpoa

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 107

Upon lord Olive's acceptance of the prefidency and command of the
forces in Bengal, he wrote the letter mentioned by Mr. Bolts to the court
of directors, recommending an entire abolition of the inland trade in fair,
beetle-nut, and tobacco, which, in his opinion, " concurred," with other caufc's
mentioned in the letter, *' to haflen and bring on the late troubles." Pie adds,
that " as a means to alleviate, in fome meafure, the diflatisfadtion which
■*' fuch reJiriBions on the commercial advantages of your fervants may
" occafion in them, it is my full intention not to engage in any trade myfelf."

The intended reflridlons did not take effed ; for many adive proprie-
tors, when the affair was confidered in a general court, flrongly urged the
continuance of this indulgence, under fome limitations, to the fervants,
who w^ould otherwifebe deprived of a decent fubfiflence abroad; much lefs
could they ever hope to revifit their native country with fach independent
fortunes as reafon and juflice equally authorifed them to expert. Thefe
fcntiments being generally embraced, it was propofed, that the diredlors
fliould give inftruitions to the prefident and council to fettle fuch regula-
tions, " (IS JIj all prove moji advantageous to the company.,^'' which regula-
tions were to be tranfmitted home for the'* court ofdireSlors to determine on
fo important a fubjed:.

This motion, made on the \ i8th of May, did not coincide with the
fenfe of the majority, who very juflly thought that the Hate of Bengal
rendered it highly improper to interpofe a delay of near two years, but that
fome regulations ought to be immediately adopted. The above-mentioned
motion was therefore withdrawn, and it was resolved, " That it be
" recommended to the court of directors to reconfider the % orders fent to

* The motion was, verbatim, as follows : " Tliat it be recommended to the court of Ji-
" re£tors to give iuftnidions to the prefulency of Bengal to fettle fuch regulations in carrying
«• on the trade in fait, beetle -nut, and tobacco, as Jhall prove moj] advantageous to this company,
"* without prejudicing the juft rightsofthe nabob of the provinces ; and thai fit :h regulaticns he
" tranfmitted home to the court ofdireilo's by the iirft opportunity, with every information which
" can enable than to determine on fo important a fubje£t.

t Lord Clive's letter is dated the 27th of April preceding.

t The orders here fpoken of are contained in the letter to Bengal, dated 8th of February pre-
•ceding, a difobedience to which orders by governor Spencer and his council, the directors after-
wards reprehend in their letter, dated 24th of December, 1765. Vide p. 109.

* P 2 « Bengal,

io8 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

*' Bengal, relative to the trade of the company's servants in fait,

" beetle-nut, and tobacco ; and that they do give fuch diredions for regit-

*' lat'ing thefa?tiet agreeably to the intereft of the company and the fubah,

" as to them may appear moft prudent, either hj fettling here at home the

*' RESTRICTIONS Under which this trade ought to be carried on, or by refer-

" ring it to the governor and council of Fort William to regulate this im'

*' portant point in fuch a manner as may prevent all future difputes be-

*' tween the fubah and the company."

In purfuance of this recommendation from their conftituents, the
diredors finding it impoffible to fettle an equitable plan, " deftitute of
" the informations and lights neceflary in fo important an affair," ex-
prefsly order * the governor and council, after " confulting the Nabob, to
*' form a proper and equitable plan for carrying on the inland tradef."

Notwithftanding this exprefs and pofitive injundion, it has been aflerted,
that the fait fociety was formed in oppofition to orders received from home.
The mifcake feems to have arifen from too hafty a perufal of the general
letter to Bengal, dated the 26th of April, 1765. This letter, written in
anfwer to one from governor Vanfittart and the council, dated the 27th
of September, 1764, condemns the treaty ftipulating a trade in fait, beetle-
nut, and tobacco, on payment of a fmall X ^^ty ; and refers throughout
to the confultations previous to that period, when lord Clive was expeded
to arrive in India. The feparate letter to governor Spencer, dated the 24th
of December, 1765, is yet more § explicit, reciting part of a minute by

* This letter is dated the ifl: of June, 1764, and was fcnt by the fame (liip which carried
lord Clive and Mr. Sumner to India. A duplicate arrived before them in Bengal by .another

fliip.

\ This letter requires that thefe rc|;uIations fliould be tranfmitted home to the direflors; but
to imagine fuch rcquifition was intended to fufpend the execution of thefe regulations was im-
poflible with thofe in whofe mcm.ory the above-mentioned debates were frefli, and who muft
confider this letter of the 1 ft of June, as written in purfuance of the vote of a court of proprie-
tors, in which vote the dire£lors arc ordered to adopt one part of this alternative, " cither to
♦' give fuch directions for regulating the fame, as to themtnay feem meet, or to refer it to the
«< governor and council of Fort William to regulate this important point." That the letter of
the I ft of June was not at that time underftood even by the diredors, in the fenfc which fonic
people affefl now to give it, appears from their letter to governor Spencer, dated December 24th,
J 765, hereafter mentioned.

I Two and a half (cr cent.

§ Written in anfwer to their letter of the 26th of November, 1764.

Mr.

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 109

Mr. Johnflone, which the dlredors feverely condemn, and then add, " We
" fhall fay nothhig farther at prefent on the inland trade, till that impor-
" ta7it JiibjeB Jl.'all be taken up by lord CHvc and the getitlemen ofthefeleSi
*« committee, only to obferve that the regulation propofed in confullations
« of the 17th of Odober, 1764, is a manifefl difobcdience of our orders
" of the 8th of February*, then under deliberation, which pofitively forbid
*' all trade in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco."

Mr. Bolts adopts this mifreprefentatlon of the orders. Immediately after
he has laboured to irritate the reader againflthe falt-fociety eftabliflied by the
committee, he fays, " The court of Eaft India directors repeatedly, and in
" the ftrongeft terms, forbad this monopoly in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco ;
" particularly in their general letter per lord Camden, dated the 1 9th of
" February, 1766, wherein they pofitively diredied their governor and
" council to make 2i formal renunciation, by fome folemn ad to be entered
«' on their records, of all right to trade in thofe articles ; direding their
" prefident to tranfmit fuch renunciation in form to the Nabob in the
" Perfian language, with adding thefe exprefs words : ' Whatever o-o-

* vernment may be eflablifhed, or whatever unforefeen occurrences may

* arife, it is our refolution to prohibit, and we do abfolutely forbid this

* trade in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco.'

When the letter of the 19th of February, 1766, was written, the court
of diredors had not f received the plan which the feled: committee had
framed, in purfuance of the refolution taken by the court of proprietors.
This letter therefore rnuft be regarded as a continuation of the before-
mentioned prohibition to trade, till that important a fair had been taken up
by lord Clive and the JcleB committee. The reader will recoiled tliat the
trade to which thefe orders refer had been claimed by the fervants, dutv
free, under the phirmaun from the emperor ; had been made an article t

* This date is previous to the refolution of the general court. The regulation here referred
to was merely confining the trade to certain markets.
t Until the 19th of April, 1766.
t Paying 2 \ per cent.

in.

no A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

in the treaty upon Meer JafEer's rcftoration ; which article, althougli con"
demned by the directors, was tranfcribed into the treaty with his Ion Nud-
jum al Dowlah, by governor Spencer and his council. To this difobe-
dicnce of orders the animadverfions of the court apply, and throughout the
letter of the 19th of February they every where fpeak of the claim under
the phirmaun and this treaty. They then dired xht reniniciation men-
tioned by Mr. Bolts " of all right, inider the /aid treaty, ■or * otherwife,
" to trade in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco," " according to the fpirit of
" the phirmaun." " And that you tranfmit this renunciation of that
" pari of the treaty f in form to the Nabob."

Another extraift is given by Mr. Bolts, to prove that the orders were uni-
form to this point. He has candidly fuppreffed the date, wifhing proba-
bly the reader to imagine this likewife had been received before the {o~
ciety was eftablifhed for the fecond year. This is an extra<5l from a let-
ter, in which the court of diredlors declare they cannot confent to carry-
ing on that trade in any manner whatfoever. This letter was received
in December 1766, and in obedience to this order the plan was abo-
liflied. But the directors here add, tliat they do not condemn the conduct
of the fele<3: committee.

Admitting for a moment that the diredors had authority to annul the
orders of a general court, without attempting the execution, it will be im-
poffible to believe fuch could be their intention, when they had given par-
ticular inftrudions for fulfilling the expedlation of the proprietors ; when
the letter of the 1 9th of February was written to a different governor and
council, being tliroughout a comment on their conduSl ; and when prior
letters, containing the like general difapprobation of the trade, exprcftly
excepted the plan to be framed by lord Clive and the fcle(Sl: committee.

• This plainly refers to the claim under phirmaun, which is recognized by this article of the
treaty.

f The words, " of that part of the treaty,'' are omitted by Mr. Bolts, iii order to apply
REN unci ATioN to the plan of lord Clive and the fcledt committee, not then known in England.

A won-

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL'. m

A wonderful dlfcovery is now made of a deed, an unheard-of engage-
ment among the company's fervants, to fupport each other in a predeter-
mined difobedience of orders. If thofe who fo readily adopt this opinion,
had confulted the company's records for information, and not to ferve a
prefcnt purpofe, they would probably have read the whole relative to the
fubjcd, and might in fuch cafe have found every particular entered at large
among the proceedings of the council, 1 6th of September *, 1765, and
tranfmitted to the dircdlors in the general letter.

The plan being-formed, and fliares of the fociety diftributed among the
company's fervants, according to their refpedtive rank, the condudl of this
trade was entrufted to a committee, chofen for that purpofe, who pro-
ceeded to make many contrails for fait. But it was foon found impoffible,
without the concurrence of the council, " to f eflablifh the credit of the
" fociety, fo as to raife the neceffary fund for carrying on the trade." The
committee of trade therefore re(|ueft a deed in writing to fecure to them
this trade during the year, ending 31ft of Auguft, 1766, .

Had the dire'flors thought fit to fend retrofpective orders for the aboli-
tion of this fociety, eredcd with the previous affent of themfelves and their
conftituents, fuch orders could not arrive in Bengal ij: before the year was
expired. The council therefore unanlmoufly refolved to indemnify the
committee of trade, in an engagement undertaken upon the faith of the
company; and as the Admiral Stevens was not yet difpatched-, "It-is agreed
" tOfippIy to the company for permifTion to renew the fame for the fu'-
" ture concerns, if the plan meets with their approbation." By this deed
the committee of trade became perfonally refponfible for the duties to the
company, the council on the other hand engaging to continue the fo-
ciety during one year. , So little idea of guilt was entertained, that none
of the gentlemen concerned have, ever kept a copy; but the original deed

*■ Appendix, p. 249 No. 147.

t Letter of tlie committee of trade, etitereJ in Coufultations, i6th September, 1765.
X The Admtial Stevens, which carried the firil intelligence, was difpatched on tlie iSth of
ji)iiober, 1765, and the engagetnent expired in Auguft, 1766.

was ,

112 A VIEW CiF THE ENGLISH

was drawn by Mr. Whittal * , whom Mr. Bolts fuppofes to have been
cruelly opprefled, by the fame men who entrufled him with this very dan*
gerous confpiracy. Mr. Bolts knew the tranfadlion would not bear the
conftrudion he wiflied it to receive. He therefore makes another f deed,
the date of which is fupprefled, X.o precede this in his Appendix, becaufe it
would otherwife have proved, that a difobedience of orders had never been
in contemplation of the parties. This deed relating to a period^ within
which orders were expeded to arrive from home, plainly fuppofes fuch
orders would be obeyed, for it contains an exprefs ftipulation in a particular
private cotitraSl upon this event, " that 'any order or diredion fhall be
" iilued by the honourable court of directors of the EafI: India company
" in England, by which the /aid joi?it trade in falt^ beetle-nut, and tobacco,
*' (Jmll be Jlopped?'' It was not, therefore, t\\Q private intention of thefe
gentlemen to difobey, much lefs v/ould they have fet forth fuch intention
upon the public records of the company, if they had ever entertained the
thought.

Having thus removed the imputation of difobedience, we may now pro-
ceed to examine the plan propofed for carrying on the trade in a manner
a'^reeable to inftrudions received from home. It appears, from a review
of the evils which gave rife to the firft deliberations on this fubjed, as like-
wife from the w^hole courfe of correfpondence with the governor and coun-
cil, that the principal objed of the company was to reprefs the pradices of
private traders, fo ruinous to the peace of the country, the revenues and
government of the nabob. At the fame time, the trade, in the language
of the refolution of a general court, " ought to be carried on " for the be-
nefit of the " company's fervants,^'* under " fuch regulations as may pre-
" vent all future difputes between the fubah and the company ij;."

* Mr. Whittal, an attorney of the mayor's court, was dircfted to draw out the deed ; and
the letter of the committee of trade, and refolution thereupon, which appear in Confultations,
were tranfmitted to him as inRruclions for forming the fame. What this friend of Mr. Bolts
may have added, before or fince, it is impoffible for thofc to fay who have no copy of the deed.

t This deed was executed more than twelve months after the other.

X The refolution of the general court is entered at length in the firft part of this chapter.

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 113

It occurred, that a government beaten down by the violence of indivi-
duals, in the profecution of a claim afterwards enforced by our arms, and
cftablilhed by treaty, a government, which had long been trampled upon
by all who affumed the Englifli name, could not again rear itsjiead, while
the fame perfons were permitted to traverfe the country without controul.
The council, or the committee, had no legal authority to interfere much
lefs to punilh oppreflors ; and among a people formed by nature, and by
habit, to bear the yoke of conquerors, where the dread of our power in-
creafed with our vidlories, the fword of juftice mufl fall from the feeble
hands of a magiftrate, yet unaffured of fupport. NecefTity, not to fay hu-
Tnanity, required an immediate recall of all the Englifh agents or go-
maftahs, difperfed throughout the provinces, that the nabob's officers, in
difcharging their duty, might no longer fear a conteft with power. This
meaiure was enforced by the moft pofitive repeated orders of the diredlors,
who had very juftly determined not to permit a continuance of the trade on
its former footing. The new covenants had excluded the receipt of pre-
fents ; while the increafed inveftment of the company, (after the dewanny
was obtained) abforbed the trade of individuals, and removed all profped:
of advantage in a foreign commerce. No other fund remained for the re-
ward of fervices ; and without propofmg a reafonable profped of inde-
pendent fortunes, it was ridiculous to hope that common virtue could
w'ithftand the allurements of daily temptation, or that men armed with
power would abftain from the fpoils of a proftrate nation,

Thefe confiderations induced the committee to frame a plan for carrying
■on the inland trade in thefe articles, by which it was propofed, to recall all
private agents, to form one fociety, who fhould difpofe of their fait, &c.
at certain markets, diftributing the fliares in this fociety among the com-
pany's fervants, according to their refpedive rank.

Mr. Sumner, who was indefatigable in adjufling every part of the plan,

adually fearched about twenty years back; and the price was in confe-

^quence of this refearch fixed at the feveral markets, to which the fociety

tranfported fait, full fifteen per cent, lower than the price at which it

* Q^ ufually

114 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

ufually fold. From thefe. markets it was carried by the natives ; fo that
the confumer muft purchafe his fait for lefs than had been ordinarily given.
A duty, amounting to one hundred and twenty thoufand pounds, was eftab-
lifhed for the company, which was increafed the following year to one
hundred and fixty thoufand pounds.

Salt is made at a certain feafon of the year ; and perfons who advance
their money to the manufacturer, contracted to furnifh the fociety. As
the committee of trade, by the famous deed, became refponhble for the
duties, it may appear reafonable to all but Mr. Bolts, that they fhould
poffefs the means of performing their obligation. For this purpofe it was
neceifary that the trade fhould continue during one whole year ; and that
permiflion fhould be given to difpofe of their flock in hand, in cafe the
diredlors abolifhed the fociety at the expiration of that period.

A difficulty will here occur to the mind of the reader. How could
the fait be fold at the ufual price, when the company and proprietors re-
ceived each a profit ? A duty had been always coUedted upon this arti-
ticle at feveral chokeys, or cuftom-houfes. The extortions and vexa-
tious delays of the Nabob's officers at each pafs, were fo burthenfome to
the trade, that although the Subahdar received lefs than what was now
paid to the company, yet the merchant fuffered to a much greater amount.
Thefe duties were before colledted at many places higher up the river
than Calcutta ; but as Calcutta now contains a greater number of people
than Muxadavad in its moft flourifhing ftate, no reafon could be urged
for exempting the inhabitants from a burthen common to all the pro-
vince. This exemption moreover would have been fcarcely pradlicable,
as the whole duty upon fait to the Company was paid by the committee
of trade, who became refponfible in confequence of the deed above men-
tioned. Mr. Bolts, fully aware of this difference, eftimates his prices,
comparing them with former years, in the market of Calcutta. That the
price of fait was not enhanced at other places, will appear by the tefti-
mony of many gentlemen now in England.

Suppofing,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. ir5

Suppofing, for the fake of argument, that the price of fait was en-
hanced throughout the country ; this would only prove, tha-t men who
traded without payment of duties, could fell cheaper than thofe who con-
formed to the orders of their mafters. But as the price was really lower,
we may hence judge of the exorbitant profit made by the Englilh trader,
who paid no duty, and puniflied the officers of government if they pre-
fumed to interfere. Mr. Bolts very truly afferts, that feveral inferior fer-
vants would have preferred their former trade to a fharc in the fociety ;
yet the reader, perhaps, may not think, with Mr. Bolts, x}a.2X private in-
tereft is the teft of public regulations. Mr. Keir himfelf, who w-as fo
great a trader in fait, that he employed, in one feafon, thirteen thoufand
people in the manufacture, fays, " That the fociety for the trade in fait,
*' beetle-nut, and tobacco, inftituted by lord Clive and the feleft committee,
" was fo far from being detrimental to the country, that thofe articles
*' were not only not fold dearer, but indeed at a lower rate, during the
*' monopoly, at moft places at leaft, than, at a medium, had been done for
*' many years before, while there was a fixt price upon them, which,
" no doubt, would have been of advantage to the people, had it been
*« continued, particularly with regard to fait." This confeffion will
have the greater weight from Mr. 7v/Vr, as the eftablifhment of the fociety
in queftion " put an entire flop to his trading in that article *."

When the firft plan was framed, lord Clive was engaged in negoci-
ations at a great diftance from Calcutta. He did not, however, hefitate
to give his aflent to the eftablifhment of a fociety which promifed fo well to
anfwer the expectations of the company. The experience of a fcv<.' months-
fuggefted feveral amendments, and lord Clive, in a minute, dated 3d Sep-
tember, 1766, fays, " I find that the induftrious native i& ftill deprived
" of that fhare to which he has an undoubted and a more natural right ;
" nor is it yet upon that equitable footing which juftice and humanity
" would, I am fure, incline this committee to eftablifh," He therefore
propofes, that the fait fliall be fold at Calcutta, and the places where'
made, to the black merchants, who fhall have the fole right of vending
it throughout the country f. To prevent the rich from engroffing, the

• Vide Thoughts on the Affairs of Bengal, by Arch, Keir, Elq. p. 57.
t Vide Appendix, p, 251.

* 0^2 Calcutta

ii6 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Calcutta black merchants were not to purchafc more than a certain pro-
portion. As the price of fait was fixed at two hundred * rupees per hun-
dred

* As fuTt was tlie only confiderable article of tlils commerce we Tinve fpoken of the fociety,
as eftabliilied for that article alone. In truth, tobacco was never bought, and a very fmafl
quantity of beetle-nut.

It will be granted, I prefume, that the edablifhment of this fociety was advantageous to tlie
company. Let us now confider how the natives were afFe£led.

The price of fait in Bengal, has ever been fluftuating and precarious, not only at Calcutta,
where the fait is firft imported, or rather landed, but at Patna, which is our extreme boundary
of this trade.

At Calcutta, from the year 1760 to 1 765, fait has fold from i co Arcot rupees, to 1 70 Arcot
rupees, per 100 maunds.

At Patna, the lowefl: price has been 350 rupees, and it has been often known to rife to 500
rupees, 600 rupees, and even 700 rupees, before the eftabliOiment of the fociety in queflion.

For the purpofe of fixing the prices of fale at the twelve diiFerent markets, eftablifhed by the
committee of trade throughout the country, prices current, or rates of fale for many years paft,
were chained from each ; from feme places for 13 years, from others for upwards of 20 years.
The medium of which prices being taken, the committee eftabliflied their prices of fale from
J 2 to 15 percent, lower than fuch medium.

It has been above obfervcd, that the prices of fale at Calcutta have been at iCO to 1 70 Arcot
rupees per 100 maunds. At thefe rates it has been purchafed in Calcutta, and thence
tranfported to Patna, and the other interior parts of the country, fubjecV, however, firfl; to the
government's duty, and then to many illegal floppages, vexations, and taxes, which were at all-
times very confiderable. Under thefe circumilances, fait has always been fold at Patna from
350 rupees to 70O rupees per loO maunds.

By the fociecy's plan in 1765, a duty of 35 per cent ; and by the plan 1766, a duty of 50 per-
cent, was paid to the company as duans, and the fait was then permitted to pafs through the
whole country free from all farther duty, and free from vexations or floppagcs otany kind.

It was evidently for the benefit of all interior parts of the country, to receive their fait at a cer-
tain fixed rate, rather than be fubjeifl to a precarious rife or fall, cfpecially when this fixed rate
was efiabliflied from 12 to 15 per cent, lower than the medium price for many years pafl:.

It is true that the inhabitants in and about Calcutta fufiered an incrcafe ot price upon their
own immediate confumption. The reafon was, that formerly the duties were levied on the paf-
fage of fait to the different parts of the country, and now the duty was levied upon its importation
into Calcutta. Mr. Bolts feems to have formed all his eflimates upon the price which fait bore at
Calcutta, without making any allowance for the advantages which the interior parts of the coun-
try experienced. Mr. Sumner, who was at the head of the committee of trade, will tcfiify, that,
exclufive of the diflri^l of Calcutta, fait was fold by the fociety at moie moderate rates than it had
been in former years, communibus annis.

This incrcafe of price to the confumers of fait in the precinfls of Calcutta, fmall as it was,
fell on them only. By the fecond year's plan, when the fociety delivered fait to all the black
merchants who chofe to become purchafers in Calcutta, at the rate of 200 rupees per 100 niaunds»
in which price was included the company's duty of 50 per cent, and the purchafers had liberty
to tranfport it through the country free from every other charge whatever. It is evident that the
people then received it on terms infinitely more advantageous than ever they did in former times,

whea

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 117

dred maunds, and all taxes, delays, and difficulties, were rcn\oved, by
collcding the duty from the fociety, the committee were enabled to af-
certain the price at the feveral markets, which would efFedually fecure
the confumer from every impoiition.

Thofe who borrow their notions of commerce from countries where it is
highly cultivated, under the protedion of a perfeft police, may condemn
this laft attempt ; but to the minds of fuch readers, I wifli to recall thofe

when fait was not only fiibiccft to the government's duties, but to very confiderable additional
charges, which arofe from ftoppages, vexations, and illegal practices.

According to Mr. Sumner's eftimate, the lowed price of fait at (a) Patna, before the eftablifh-
ment of the fociety, was 350 Arcot rupees per joo maunds, or id. l^ per lb. Engliflj, and it has
been known to rife to 5C0 rupees, or i d. ^^ 600 rup. or 2 d. ^J and even to 700 rup. or 2 d.
It: per lb. Englilh. And after the eftablifhment of the fociety, the highefl price was 4C0 Arcot
rupees per 100 maunds, which is id. |f per lb. Englifh.

Butl have authority from original papers in the poircffion of Mr. Rumhold, to declare that all
the fociety's fait at Patna was fold at the rate of i d. ^, i. d. |-}, and i d. -^ j per lb. which is rather
lower than Mr. Sumner's eftimate.

I learn alfo from Mr. Rumbold's papers, that the common price of fait at Patna, before the
eflablifliment of the fociety, was at the rate of i d. ~^, 1 d. |4' ^"'l ^ '^- ii pc ^^- ^tI that after
the abolition of the fociety (in 1769 and 1770) the common price was id. ~, i d. ^, and id. ^
per lb. ITiefe circumftances are fubflantial proofs that the price of fait at Patna was nearly, if
not precifely, communibus annis, the fame, before the fociety took place, during the continu-
ance of the fociety, and after the abolition of it, and therefore the eftablilhment of the fociety,
even according to Mr. Rumbold's papers, cannot be faid to have been a grievance.

But there is a material difference between the price of fait at Patna, before the eflablifliment
of the fociety as ftated by Mr. Rumbold and as dated by Mr. Sumner. The reafon is obvioufly
this : Mr. Rumbold's prices are only eftimated for two years before the eflablifliment of the fo-
ciety, when they could not be very high, becaufs at that time the Englifh gentlemen in gene-
ral traded in faJt without paying any duties, but Mr. Sumner's prices are taken upon an average-
of thirteen and twenty years back, long before the Englifli had any concern in that trade, when
the duties of the country government were regularly paid.

At Gualparah the price of fait, after the eftablilhment of the fociety, was 400 Arcot rupees
per 1 00 (a) AfTam maunds, which is full i d. ^ per lb. In the Rungpore and Chilmary dif-
tri(2:s, the price was 250 Arcot rupees per ico (c) Chilmary maund?, which is od. ^^ per lb.
Thefc were alfo the average prices for many years before the eflablifhmcnt of the fociety; but
then they were the prices at which fait ufed to be engrolTed by the rich, who fold it again at a
confiderable profit by retail to the poor. Now after the eftablifhment of the fociety, the poor
bought their fait at the fame price at which the rich engroffers ufed to buy it, and confequendy
were gainers of the difference between the wholefale and retail prices. Thefe particulars! have
from Mr. Baillie, who was agent for the fociety in the diftrids of Gualparah, Piungpore, and
Chilmary.

la) Patna may be called the extreme boundary of the company's
(h) An Affam rrnund is 95 lb.
(() A Chilmary maund is 88 lb.

limits.

fcenes

ii8 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

fcenes of violence which had long diftradled Bengal; and at the fame time
beg leave to fuggefl, that encouragement of induftry * in the production,
by an enhanced price from afcarcity, was altogether unneceflary in an ar-
ticle which might eafily be increafed to any quantity, which the fociety
were always ready to fell for a certain fum; and when confequently fait
would be purchafed by the merchants as long as the commodity would pay
the expence of conveyance to the feveral markets.

The violence with which the inland trade of indivldals had been fup-
ported during Meer Coffim's government, the bloodfhed and confufion
which followed, together with the perfeverance of governor Spencer and
his council, to fupport their conftrudion of the phirmaund, or what was
equivalent thereto, an exemption from all other duties except two and a
half per cent, upon fait, had irritated the diredlors, and raifed fo ftrong a
prejudice againft the trade, that the court refolved to abolifh even the plan
eftablifhed by the feled committee. This they did in their letter dated
the I7th May 1760, not fufficiently confidering, that orders of diftant
mafters were but a feeble barrier againft the united intereft of every man
in the fettlement. They afterwards diftributed among the fervants a
commiffion of two and a half per cent, on the revenues, amounting to
63,000!. per annum; but when the general reflraint of inland trade was
no longer fupported by the private intereft and authority of the council,
Europeans largely engaged under the names of their black agents, and the
profits of this commerce were added to the public allowance.

The committee, better informed, forefaw the mifchiefs which might
probably enfue throughout the country, and the general relaxation of go-
vernment, which muft neceffarily follow, fhould the council fecretly en-
gage in a trade prohibited by their employers. The letter from the direc-
tors, above-mentioned, reached Calcutta in December 1766, at a time
lord Clive was confined by a very fevere illnefs, which had nearly deprived
him of life. As foon as his lordfliip could attend to bufinefs, the com-

• It is by counterading tliis principle that monopolies arc generally injuiious to a country;
but here the objedion was obviated.

mittee

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 117

mlttee aflembled, and on the 1 6th of January 1767, Resolved, "That
" the Society of Trade fliall be abolifhed, and the inland trade totally re-
*' linquiflied on the firft day of September next ; but that we fully exprefs
♦' our fentiments in our next advices to the company, refpedling the ad-
" vantages which would refult to the fervice and to the country from the
" continuance of this trade under the prefent reftri£tion." In confequence
of this refolution the fociety was adlually abolifhed on the j ft day of Sep-
tember 1767, nor did they engage in any new concern. But as the com-
mittee were perfonally liable for large duties to the company, certain ruin
muft have enfued had no time been allowed for the difpofal of their ftock
in hand. One year was therefore given for that purpofe.

On the 24th of January, 1767, the committee wrote as follows to the
court of directors.

" We now come to fpeak of your inftrudlions relative to the inland
" trade, which you very juflly confider as the foundation of all the blood-
" filed, maffacres, and confufion which have happened of late years in
" Bengal. Your ofders are pofitive, and therefore our obedience fliall be
" implicit. Accordingly you will obferve in our proceedings, that the fo-
" ciety for conducing this branch of trafBc Hands abfolutely abolifhed on
" the firft day of September next. The contracts for the prefent year be-
" ing formed, and large advances made, it was impofBble, without ruin
" to individuals, and confufion to the public, to fix an earlier date for the
*' execution of your orders.

" But although our duty obliges us to pay the ftridteft obedience to
" your peremptory orders for abolifhing a trade, to which you exprefs fo
" ftrong on averfion, the fame duty requires v/e fliould freely offer our
" fentiments upon a fubje<a:, in which we think your imm.ediate intereft>
" the good of the fervice, and the public welfare are deeply concerned.
" The honourable court of diredors, and, indeed, the whole body of pro-
" prietors, found it neceflary to reftrain by covenants their civil and mili-
" tary fervants from receiving thofe advantages to which they had for

" many

120 A VIEAV OP THE ENGLISH

" many years been accuftomed. It is likewife propofed, that you may
"enjoy the real fruits of your late acquifitions, to make fuch an encreafe
" of invellment, particularly in filk, as will effectually deprive your fer-
" vants of the ufual benefits arifing from private trade. Farther, that the
"revenues may not be injured in any degree, they are prohibited from
" lending money at a higher rate of intereft than twelve per cent, per an-
" num; and a trade by fea in the manufadtures of the country, being the
" only remaining channel for the exertion of induftry, that likewife is
" choaked up by thofe fhoals of free merchants annually imported, who
" being incumbered with no public bufinefs, nor confined to refidence in
*' Bengal, can carry on a free trade with every port in India to much
*' greater advantage than your fervants.

" Taking all thefe circmnflances into confideration, refleding alfo upon
" the great increafe of luxury of late years, in confequence of the fudden
" influx of wealth, and that it wdll not bepradicable for a time to reduce
*' the charges of living to the prefent means of fiipporting thofe charges,
" we adopted, in confequence of your permiffion, the plan of a regulated
" and reitriaed inland trade, as the befl; method of rewarding faithful
*' fervices, the furcft means to excite zeal, and the faireft mode of car-
" r)'ing on a beneficial trade, without rclinquilbing all the advantages we
*' have hitherto received, or fubjedling the natives to thofe encroachments
" on their natural rights, of which they have with too much reafon com-
*' plained.

•" Our letter by the Camden, and proceedings by the Cruttenden, will
*' explain to you the regulations in tlic original plan of the fociety, which
" took place in tlie month of September laft. Under thefe regulations
*' the trade can fcarce be confidcred in the odious light of a monopoly,
" fmce we are rather the agents for manufa£luring the fait, than the prti-
♦' prietors of the trade. It is fold in Calcutta to the natives only, and, to
*' the utter cxclufionof all Europeans, at an eaficr rate than it could be pro-
" cured when under the management of the government, before we were
■"iidmitted to any participation. The natives tranfport it to all the Jiffer-

" cnt

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 121

" ent parts of the country, under llich limitations, that it mud reach the
" hands of the confumer at a ftated and moderate price. Hereby the peo-
" pie fenfibly feel the jufticc and lenity of our government ; and your fer-
" vants, who have attained the higheft flations, after a courfe of many
" years Ipent in this unfavourable climate, reap the reward of their fervices,
" and enjoy the means of fecuring that independence to which they have
" fo equitable a claim.

" We are now dircffled totally to renounce all fhare and benefit arifing
" from this trade. It mufl: be made over to the natives. The govern-
" ment mufl: of courfe come into poflelfion ; nor can it be carried on
" otherwife than upon the ancient footing of farming it out to minlfters,
" officers, favourites, and dependents on the government, who will rear
" immenfe fortunes upon the oppreffion and ruin of the public, in defpite
" of our utmoft influence and endeavours. Thefe are at prefent our fuf-
*' picions, time alone can verify our conjedlures. You no doubt will
" maturely confider how far it is probable men will continue honeft againft
" all the feduftions of private intereft ; and whether it may not be ne-
" ceflary to ftrengthen the ties of that duty expeded from your fervants,
" by the lighter bonds of gratitude for the affluence which they enjoy
" during the time of their fervitude, and the independency they ought
" to fecure before the clofe of their labours."

Long before the lafl orders of the direitora arrived, the committee,
fenfible that abufcs might grow up, notwithilanding the late regulations,
unlefs the governors were wholly unconne£ted with every interelt in the
country, recommended to the council, in confequence of the following
minute, entered in confultations 19th of September 1766, that the pre-
fident fhould relinquilh his fliares in the ialt-fociety, and receive an equi-
valent * from the revenues.

* The directors afterwards adopted this expedient refpecling all their fervants ; but by abolilli-
Ing the reflriftions under which this trade was carried on, and oppofing ineffectual prohihitions
to tlie private intereil of all their fervants, they have let in upon tiie country all the iOrmcr evils,
and loft their revenues from this commerce,

* R Select

122 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Seled Committee Proceedings, 19th of September 1766.

" The right honourable the prefidcnt has urged the neceiTiiy of reflrid-
" ing the future governors of this prefidency, in points of trade and
*' private interefl, with arguments of fo much force and convidion, In
" the following minute, that we unanimoufly agree in recommending his
" lordfhip's propofal to the board, that it may be carried into execution
" w^ith all convenient difpatch.

" Lord Clive'j- Mhiute.

" Our attention as a fele£t committee inverted with extraordinary powers
*' by the court of diredlors, has been conftantly engaged in reforming the
" abufes which had crept into the feveral departments of this governmeat.
" The important work has been fteadily profecuted with zeal, diligence,
" and difmtereftednefs on our parts, and the fuccefs of our labours gives
*' us reafon to hope that our employers will be of opinion that we have
" eftabliflicd many ufeful and neceffary regulations. Many others how-
" ever are ftill wanting to complete our plan ; but I doubt not that the
*' fame principles which have hitherto guided our condu£l, v/ill continue
" to dired and juftify the meafures we have yet to purfue^

" To place the prehdent in fuch a fituation as will render his govern-
" ment honourable to himfelf, and advantageous to the company, appears
" to be an obje£t of as much confequence as any that has been taken into
" our confideration. Where fuch immenfe revenues are concerned, where
" power and authority are fo enlarged, and where the eye of juflice and
" equity fhould be ever watchful, a governor ought not to be cmbarrafled
" with private bufinefs. He ought to be free from every occupation in
" which his judgment can pofTibly be biafTed by his intercfl. The cxten-
" five commercial affairs, the ftudy of the finances, the politics of the
" country, the epiftolary correfpondcnce, the proceedings of council and
" committee, thcle are fufficicnt to employ every moment of his time ;
" and I am confident they cannot be conduced with the rcquifitive atten-
tion

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 123

« tlon to the company's intercft, if the mind of the governor be diverted
*' by complicated mercantile affairs of his own.

" If we look back upon thofc unhappy diflenfions, which have fre-
" quently brought the company's poffefTions in Bengal almoft to the point
" of deftruftion, we Ihall find that they have generally proceeded from
" the condudl of governors, who, too eager in the purfuit of private in-
" terefl, have involved themfelves in affairs which could not be rccon-
" ciled to the ftrid principles of integrity. To prevent fcrutinies and
" difcoveries, which might in any degree affedl their honour, they have
" frequently been reduced to the neceflity of conniving at abufes which
*' would otherwife have been brought to light and remedied. The wel-
*' fare of this great company ihould be the fole fludy of a governor;
" attached to that point alone, his meafures could never be thwarted by
" the malice of oppolition, becaufe they would all be propofed for the
" public good, and adtions will always be juftified or condemned from the
*' principles on which they arc founded.

" Such a flate of independency and honour m.ufl be highly eligible to
" a governor; and, in my opinion, it can only be acquired by cutting
" ofl" all pofTibility of his benefitting himfelf either by trade, or that
" influence which his power neceffluily gives him in thefe opulent pro-
" vinces.

" I therefore propofe that the governor fliall, in the moft public man-
" ner, in the preicnce ot all the company's fervants, the mayor and al-
" dermcn, and free merchants, affembled at the Mayor's Court, take the
" oath and execute the penalty-bond annexed.

" The confideration I have propofed is f per cent, upon the revenues.
" excepting tliofe arifing from the company's own lands at ("Calcutta,
*' Burdwan, Midnapore, and Chittagong.

" Although by thefe means a governor will not be able to ainafs' a for-
" tune of a million, or half a million, in the fpace of two or three years,

* R 2

12A

A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

yet he will acquire a very handfome independency, and be in that very
fituation, which a man of nice honour and true zeal for the fervice
would wifh to poffefs. Thus fituated, he may defy all oppofition in
council ; he will have nothing to afK, nothing to propofe, but what he
means for the advantage of his employers. He may defy the law, be-
caufe there can be no foundation for a bill of difcovery ; and he may
defy the obloquy of the world, becaufe there can be nothing cenfurable
in his conduit. It fhort, if liability can be infured to fuch a government
as this, where riches have been acquired in abundance, in a fmall fpace
of time, by all ways and means, and by men with or without ca-
pacities, it muft be efFefted by a governor thus reftrided ; and I fliall
think it an honour if my . propofal be approved, to fet the firft exr
ample."

The oath was. That the governor
Ihould not, diredlly or indiredly,
carry on any trade, but that he
fhould not be precluded from dif-
pofing of fuch goods or merchan-
dife as might be on his hands un-
fold at the time of his commencing
governor.

OBSERVATIONS.

The reader muft obferve that this oath was
drawn up notto be taken by lorJ C]ive only,
but by future governors, who, as merchants,
muft be fuppofcd to have feme merchandife
undifpofcd of at the time of their coming to
the chair. Lord Clive himfelf was not en-,
gaged in commerce.

A provifo was inferted, That he It may be proper to remark that there

rt 1 , 1 J r were only two (eliffible or perhaps ftri(5ily

fliould not be prevented from pur- , ,, j . ■ • /

'■ legal) modes or remitting private fortunes to

chafmg diamonds or other precious £„g,and, the one by bills on the company,

ftones, provided he did not difpofe the other by diamonds. Every man preferred

of the fame by way of barter or fale the former when he could obtain it, as the

in the Eaft Indies, or from remitting ^"^ hazardous,
his fortune to England by bills, or in
any other fhape.

That he would not lend money The company's fervants, even by permif-

at a higher rate of intereft than ten ^'°" °^ '^^ ^°"" "^ dircflors, had a right

to lend money at twelve per cent, and the

* ' * common pradlicc bad been to lend at two

and

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL.

125

That he would not receive any
prefent from any of the country
powers exceeding the amount fpe-
cified in his covenants with the
company.

and three per cent, per menfem. It would
have been very ridiculous if a governor, upon
not being able to procure the remittance of
all his fortune, fhould not have had the
power of lending at a moderate rate of intc-
reft, which ten per cent, moft certainly is in
that country. It is not more than equiva-
lent to five per cent, in England.

It was poflible that former covenants might
be evaded. This oath, and the penalty-bond
which followed it, made all evafion imprac-
ticable.

That he would not receive any
fee or gratuity for the difpolal of
any office or employment whatfo-
ever, the true intent and meaning
of the oath being, that in confider-
ation of -^ per cent, upon the
Dewannee colleSlions, his falary and
ftated allowances, commiffion up-
on the mint, coral, and freight
goods, and money lent at ten per
cent, intereft, no other emolument
or advantage whatfoever, either by
trade or otherwife, Ihould accrue to
him as governor of Bengal.

The commiffion upon the mint, coral,
and freight (hips is fixed, and belong to the
governor by long ufage, and by the appoint-
ment of the company. It amounts to a
very trifling fum.

This propofal being approved by the council, a deed between lord Clive
and the company, correfpondent with the oath, was executed and regifter-
ed in the Mayor's Court, by which the governor bound himfelf to the
faithful performance of every claufe in the penal fum of 150,0001. to be
forfeited in cafe he fhould adl contrary to that indenture, one third to the
informer, and two thirds to the company; recoverable upon proof given

126 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

in the court of chancery, exchequer, ilic mayor's court at Calcutta, before
the court of directors, or the council at Bengal.

Whether the trade of tlris foclety fo reftrained under the eye of a pre-
fident, who, without the bias of intereH, might derive honour to himfelf
by correQing the fiiuits of others, was lefs injurious to the natives than
the trade carried on at pfefent, the reader may determine. I will venture
to aflert, without fear of contradidion, that wlicn the increafed charge of
40,000 1. upon the revenues, is added to the lofs of duties, it v/ill be found,
that the company have fuficred more than 1 50,000!. per annum by over-
turning this plan.

To anfwer the arguments of every caviller, woidd be unworthy thofe
who wifli to give information. Fadts arc ilated, the motives explained,
and authentic papers referred to for proof of my afTcrtions. This may
be deemed fufficient by fonic, for fo far only the public intereft extends j
but I hope the candid reader VvlU not think it an improper intrufion on his
patience, if I proceed to refute an injurious afperfion thrown upon the
charadler of the noble lord, who was a principal adlor in the tranfailion
here explained.

Lord Clive declared, in his letter to the court ofdiredors, that his Intention
was to relinquifh his fliare of trade to the inferior fervants. This de-
claration was made upon a fuppofition that the inland trade would be
prohibited, and defigned " as a means to alleviate the diffatisfadion which
" fuch reftriclions may occafion." The company refolved to continue the
inland trade. No reafon therefore exifted which could induce a man
of honour to refufe that fliare in the fociety, which w^as cftablifhcd for
iill fucceffive governors, when a plan, framed in purfuance of orders from
directors and j^roprietors, was carried into execution.

Rut it is faid, lord Clive declared, in a general court, that he would
return to England not enriched a fliilling by his expedition. This en-
gagement he literally fiilfiiied. Mis fliarcs in the fociety of the firft year,
lor he had none in the fecond, together with his commiihon on the reve-
nues,

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 127

nues, appear upon tlie public records. Tlieie he diftributed among the
gentlemen who accompanied him to India; andjiis intention ib to do was
known in. England ;a3 early as the 24th of March, 1767-, for on that
day a ballot being taken oh a queftion concerning the jaghire, the follow-
ing declaration from a friend of his lordfhip was not only repeatedly
publilhed in every news-rpaper, but induftrioufly circulated among the pro-
prietors of India llock.

" Tlxal his Jordlhip has been adding to his fortune is moft untrue. His

" friends, defy the bittereft of his enemies to fupport the charge. A

" folemn alTeveration in that refpecl, from lord dive hirhfelf, was read

" in court by the friend to- whom lord Clive addrefled his letter; and

*' it is now fubmitted to print, in order to difcredit aflertions which

" are falfe, or elfe to remain in public teflimony againft his lord-

« lliip."

E>:ira£f of a letter from lord Clive, dated Calcutta^ ^Qth Sept. 1765.

" That you may aflert v/ith confidence the juftice of my caufe, I do
" declare by the God who made mc, it is my abfolute determination to
" refufe every prefent of confequence ; and that I will not return to Eng-
" land with one rupee more than arifes from my -jaghire. My profits
" from fait fliall be divided among thofe friends who have endangered
" their lives and conftitutions in attending me. The congratulatory na-
" zirs*, &c. fhall befet oppofite my extraordinary expences; and if ought
" remains, it fliall go to Poplar, orfome other liofpital."

The account laft m.entioned was delivered to the council of Calcutta
upon his departure for England; and the writer of thefe fheets can teftify
that nothing did remain. On the contrary, his lordfliip expended more
than five thoufand pounds from his private fortune.

* To refufe complimentnry prefents, or, as they called in the letter, congratulatory nazirs,.
would, in India, be deemed an affront. Prefcnts, toa cert.-;m value, are therefore excepted in
the covenants.

The:

,28 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

The reader fhould underftand whence this laft engagement, not to en-
rich himfelf, had arifen. The motion, in 176:;, to requeft lord Clive would
a"-ain embark for India, was received with univerfal applaufe, and imme-
diately pafled into a vote. Some gentlemen in the diredion, although
they could not objed: to the expedition, railed obftacles to its execution in
every ftage of the bufinefs. They condemned the powers to be given to
the feled committee, although they themfelves had three months before,
in a lefs alarming fituation of affairs, inveiled Mr. Vanfittart fmgly with
ablblute authority*, had given the fame powers to Mr. Vanfittart's un-
known lucceffor, jointly with a feledt committee ; nay, affigned as a reafon
for not giving thefe powers to him alone, that they knew not who that
fuccelTor might be. It was at length infmuated, that the expedition was
convenient to his lordihip, who had the fame objeB with every other man
in the company's fervice. Lord Clive thought proper to contradid thefe
calumnies ; at the fame time declaring that he would not enrich himfelf
by his voyage to India. It furely will appear a very forced conftrudion
of fuch an engagement, to contend that he ought not to apply the ac-
knowledged profits of his government to the reward of thofe whofe fer-
vices were necellary to him in the difchargc of his public duty.

Thefe gentlemen went to India with the knowledge of the dlredors, but
without any emoluments from the company. Unreftrained by covenants,
they might have been ealily enriched by trade or prefents. Numberlels
opportunities occurred ; but it was thought more honourable to confer
upon them the known acknowledged rewards which the governor might
juftly have appropriated to himfelf.

It has been afferted, that the jaghire was reftored to lord Clive upon hrs
entering into the engagements before mentioned. Nothing is lefs true.
It is notorious, that he declared himfelf ready to embark for India, and
leave his right to the decifiou of the law. When the proprietors requefled
him to accept the government and command of their forces, the jaghire
was depending in chancery. By the proceedings in the caufe, it appears

* See the gcner.il letter to Dengnl, in February, 1764.

that

GOVERNMENT LN BENGAL* 129

that a curious reafon had been given for withdrawing it, " becaufc all
" cordiality had ccafcd between the diredors and his lordlhip." This
reafon not being conclufive with the proprietors, a propofal of accommo-
dation was accepted, and the jaghire was fettled upon his lordfliip for
ten years, if he Ihould fo long live. The diredors, in the year 1767, fen-
fible of his dlfintcrefted fervices in Bengal, propofed to a general court a
prolongation of this term ; and, although fome oppofition was made while
the crown claimed a right to' the company's revenues, a farther term often
years was afterwards added, by an unanimous vote of the proprietors, Mr,..
Yanfittart himfelf fpeaking in fupport of the motion..

G H A P.

13© A VIEW O-F THE ENGLISH

C H A P. V.

The ImpoiTibility of introducing Englilli Laws into Bengal,
with fome Obfervations on the Nature of thofe Regulations
which the Manners and Habits of the Natives may admit.

N the foregoing chapters of this work, the principal ohjedts of govern-
ment are examined fo far as the power and influence of the Englifti
have produced a change. The reader, who is converfant with the hiftories
of more fettled Hates, will not be greatly furprifed if fome errors fhould
appear, and will judge with temper the condudl of men, who, compelled
by neceflity, have a£led in a new fcene, unaided by experience. If in
Great Britain, where the form of our government has grown up to maturity
in the courfe of feveral ages; where the power of each magillrate has un-
dergone frequent difcuffions from the united wifdom of fucceflive genera-
tions ; where all authority is committed to the hands of men formed by
education for their feveral ftations, and where the efFeds of its exertion
may be traced in our hiftory ; if, in a country like this, we are perpetually
alarmed with fuppofed invafions of our rights, and frightful pidlures of
encreafmg defpotifm are daily held forth to terrify the people, what a por-
trait might the dullefl: imagination exhibit of Bengal ? By minds open to
fuch impreffions, little regard will be had to the different manners and
hafcits of a people ; to the enterprifing Mahomedan or Armenian oppofed
to the o-cntle native of India ; to the co»dition of conquerors living amidll
a timid and fubmiflive race, like foldicrs unreflrained by difcipline; of men
clamoroufly demanding tlie protedion of laws ill underftood and worfe
applied, where intereft and paffion unite to confound all order, and where
lordly traders, impatient of controul, hope to gratify their own fordid ava-
rice in the general wreck. Such confiderations will have little weight
with many readers, who will eftimate our condud in tlie government of
Bengal by the rigid letter of thofe laws, which the more perfed polity of

Great

GOVKRNMENT IN BENGAL. i^i

Great Britain can alone admit. Without examining my own conduct
by rules which I do not iinderftand, and which were not formed
for the fcene in which I adted, it will fully fatisfy my ambition, if to the
candid and difpaffionate I fhall appear to have purfued the interefts of my
employers, to have refpedled the rights of others, and to have deferved
the charader of an honefl: man.

When lord Clive arrived in Bengal, in the year 1765, the Englifh had
gtadually advanced to that point, which rendered a continuance of their for-
mer fyftem impoflible. The principles upon which the fubfequent change
was conducted, the reader will examine by the motives which our fituation
at that time fuggefted ; and, if he wiflies to form a juft judgment, will
attend to the whole affairs of the company, both at home and abroad. I
have here given a plain and artlefs narration of our tranfadlions, and might
nowdifmifs the fubje£t, but that, after the experience of more than twenty
years, I feel myfelf inftigated to refift thofe wild opinions, which probably
have arifen from ignorance of the country. To demonflrate the impoffi-
bility of introducing Engliib laws, or, indeed, any new fyflem, will not be
difficult. To point out thofe alterations in government, by which it may
be pofTiblc to conned the welfare of Bengal with the interefl of Great
Britain, is a more arduous tafk. I fliall attempt the latter part with extreme
diffidence and diflrufl, fince our own experience is yet very imperfed:,,
and that of other nations can afford little affiflance.

Men well verfed in hiflory too often imbibe not the fpirit of nations.
They trace not the various means by which the minds of a people gradually
unfold to civilization, by which men are moulded for the reception of
laws. They regard not the flow growth of thofe opinions, which can
alone give effed to limitations of power in the magifttate, but would tranl-
plant in an inflant a fyftem of laws eflabliflied in this country by the pro-
greffive experience of ages, and impofe it on a diftant people whofe relir-
gion, whole cuftoms, whofe habits of thinking, and manner of life equalK-
pcohibit the attempt.

* S 2 Thefe

352 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Thefc are not errors of the vulgar. The philofopher here only miftalces.
Afk the pealant his right to a fielJ ; his father enjoTed it before him.
Let a clown be flightly beaten for a trefpafs, -vvhom an a£lion at law would
have ruined :. he underftands not the trial by jury, or the relation it bears
to our government; yet he complains of arbitrary violence, and his caufe
is efpoufed by his neighbours, as little informed as himfclf.

This fplrit, this opinion of right, v^^hich gives force and effedl to our
laws, is matured by age, and tranfmitted from father to fon,. like the
fubjcdls to which it relates. If the northern nations who broke in upon
the Roman empire could not relilh thofe beauties of art which are the im-
mediate objedls of fenfe, hov\" can a people receive even beneficial provi-
fions, which have no exiftence but in the mind, are known but by their
effecl:, and which experience alone can approve ? Intricate laws among a
rude people may, like refinements in reUgion, be ufeful to men entrufled
with the facred depofit. The more anxious the care of the legiflator, the
more complex the limitations of power, the more occafions ofabufewill
occur. Lawyers, like the priefls of old, will judge of the duties of men
by the interefts of their own order, and the oppreffed fubjedl will feel the
inftitution a burthen without reaping the fmalleft advantage. Even fup-
pofmg men of enlightened minds and tried integrity to prefide, their influ-
ence will fcarcely be felt. The dread of the Englifh name has proved a
plentiful fource of oppreflion in the hands of private men. Shall we add
a complicated fyftem of laws to impofe on a timid and indolent race?
Who will underftand his rights ? Who will apply to our courts for re-
drefs ? Thus to leffen the powers of government, muft we fly to anarchy,
and render every Englifh gomafl;ah the interpreter of his own claims ?
There arc fome notions of juflice not confined to time and place, derived
from the ncccfl"ary intercourfe of men, and common to every clime.
Thefe are the foundations of all government, and from fuch fimplc be-
ginnings muft our fabrick be reared. To render all rights plain and Am-
ple, to remove rather the occafion than means of opprcJlion, and to enforce
a prompt adminiftrationof jufliice, according to the primary laws of all na-
tions, can alone be fafely attempted.

This

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 133

This fiibje£l defervcs a fuller difcuflion. Let us therefore dcfccnd
fomcwhat into detail. Perfonal contrads form a confidcrable title in every
code; and here different nations approach nearell: to each other. Our
law of contrads is gretxtly borrowed from tlie civil law, which has been
adopted with fome little variation by all the other nations of Europe.
The commentaries upon the Koran, as far as they regard matters of con-
tradt, are, I am told, chiefly derived from the fame law, eftabliflied in
the Greek empire, and are received, fubjed to the arbitrary will of the
prince and his officers, wherever the Mahomedan religion prevails.

The truth is, that there can be little diverfity, where all men have the
fame intention, and exprefs it nearly in the fame manner. No fooner do
mutual neceffities beget an exchange of commodities, than the nature of
a fale is perfedly underflood. If I relinquifli my horfe, and accept the
price, in no quarter of the world can this fimple tranfadion be mif-
taken. So he that receives goods from a merchant without mention of
price, tacitly engages to pay their real value in the market. So likewife
he that employs a perfon to tranfad: bufmefs, or perform any work, un-
dertakes to pay him as much as his labour deserves. Yet even here fome
diverfities will occur in the laws of different Hates. Not to mention tho
various caufes or confiderations of contracting, every agreement has a re-
lation not to the parties only, but to all around them, to the government,
to the ftate of commerce, to the police of the country.

Public rights are every where more expofed than private. The ex-
tent of the former renders them lefs fubje£t to infpedion, and the olTicers
employed have little interefl in their defence. In the moft free countries
the magiflrate is therefore armed with extraordinary powers, and is per-
mitted to vindicate his claim, when a lapfe of time feems to have eflab-
iifhed the right in another. Where fhall this privilege end ? What iii-
perior remedies fhall the magiflrate pofiefs ? Into what hands fliall he
follow the property of his debtors ? or what tranfad:ions fhall he be per-
mitted to unravel ?

Again,

134 ' A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

Again, various degrees of credit prevail in the dealings of different na-
tions, but in none are all engagements immediately executed. Upcn vhat
mutual undertaking mull the contrad be founded, by what evidence fup-
ported, before the individual can call upon the magiftrate for afliftance ?
When fhall it be confidered as his duty to interfere ? What procefs againft
the perfon fhall the creditor demand ? What punifhment be infiifted to
enforce the payment of debts ? What unequal contracts fhall the creditor
be admitted to refcind ?

Thefe are queflions which no general reafoning can enable us to an-
fWer, but which the prudent legiflator muft determine, with a view to the
prefent fituation and commerce of his fubjecls.

The hungry and necefTitous will ever commit depredations on pro-
perty. This is an evil which the public are concerned to reprefs, and
encouragement mufl be given to the owner in purfuit, whether the in-
jury be an open and violent, or a fecret theft. To what cafes fliall this
right extend ? By what transfer of pofTefHon fhall the property be changed r
Shall the rule vary, as the thing taken can be more eafily conveyed or con-
cealed ? How fhall we decide between the intereft of a fair purchafer on
one hand, and the claim of a meritorious profecutor of crimes, himfelf
equally innocent, equally injured on the other? Thefe, and innumer-
able like points, mufl; finally depend on the flate and condition of a na-
tion ; and he, who is in the fmallefi: degree converfant with the hiflory
of laws in any country, mufl have obfervcd, that they perpetually vary
with the varying condition of a people. As well might we tranfplant the
full-grown oak to the banks of the Ganges, as dream that any part of a
code, matured by the patient labours of fuccelTive judges and Icgiflators
in this ifland, can pofFibly coalefce with the cuftorus of Bengal.

To purfue our chain of reafoning, it will be necefTary to invefligate the
domeftic relations of private life. Here the Intelligent reader will dif-
cover that different nations diverge, as it v/erc, ftill farther from the com-
mon centre, until climate, religion, and laws confpiring, have formed

creatures

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 135

creatures fo diflimilar to each other, as might tempt one to rank them
under different fpecies. As well might we exped that the Hindoo could
change his colour, as that feveral millions of people fliould renounce in
an inftant thofe cuftoms, in which they have lived, which hibit has con-
firmed, and religion has taught them to revere. If this were accom-
pliflied, more than half our work would yet remain. They muft not
only renounce old, but affumc new manners. The man muft be again
created; and this prodigy be effeded by unknown laws, repugnant to
every thing he had heard, feen, or felt.

It is common to uninformed man, in every quarter of the globe, to
judge rather from the perceptions of fenfe, than the cooler refinem.ents of
reafon. This habit of thinking pervades his whole conduct. The dif-
tant relation to the magiftrates is forgotten, v/hile the benefits derived
from the father or mafter make a lively impreffion on the mind. Remove
the impulfe of fear, and the former relation depends wholly on an opi-
nion of remote advantage, the growth of which no experience of pro-
tedion in defpotic ftates can greatly favour. A defed of government
naturally tends to draw clofer the ties of private life, and the individual
unprotected from without, fhrinks into the fmaller fociety, where all the
affe£lions of his heart concentre. A country without police provides no
afylum for diftrefs. The poor look up to the hand that feeds them, and
experience of a matter's indulgence produces a more ready fubmiflion to
his power, than to that of a judge, whofe condud: is equally unreftrained
by rule. This is not confined merely to domeftic fervants, but ex-
tends equally to manufadurers employed by the merchant. With-
out this authority the mafter would fear to advance his money, and the
workman be unable to procure either the means of fubfiftence, or the ma-
terials of his work.

When Coftim Ally Cawn claimed the full dominion of his country,
and bitterly inveighed againft the Englifh for encroaching upon the offi-
cers of his government, it was unlverfally underftood that he claimed no
power over the weavers, &c. in the Englifli pay. Throughout Mr. Van-

fittart's

136 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

fittart's Narrative this is every vsrhere fuppofed, and the Nabob, in anfwer
to the laft treaty propofed, declares, "Whenever the chiefs and gomaftahs
" of your fadories interrupt not my people, and the dependents on the
" government, my officers alfo will not interfere with the weavers, py-
" cars, and others iifiially dependent on your fadoriesJ'

That Mr. Vanfittart underftood this power not to be relinquifhed in his
treflty, though the right appeared too plain to be exprefsly inferted, is
evident from his minute in Confultations, the firft of February,. 1763^
This authority was afterwards abufed, when the company became grand"
monopolizers of the trade. But the intereft of common mailers abun--
dantly fecured the fervant from cppreffion, left he fhould feek for pro-
tection elfewhere.

Such being the prevailing habits among the natives of Bengal, it is
difficult to conceive a more ridiculous fcene, than a grave judge, arrayed
in his robes of dignity, difcourfing before the fimple Indian of implied
hirings for a year ; of ftatutes compelling labourers to work, and mafters
to employ; of apprenticefliips ; of indentures ; of the neceflary quali£-
cations for the exercife of trades, and the incapacities confequent on neg-
le£l; where relief may be given by one magiftrate, and where redrefs.
muft be fought from another. He might pronounce a very graceful pa-
negyric upon the noble policy of our Englifh law, upon the generous*
equality fubfifling in the inferior relations of life, and the elevated fentl-
ments it is fitted to infpire. All this may be juftj would the native ob-
ferve, but I know not the judge, and how can I believe him my friend ?
If my mafter forfakes me, to whom iliall I look for fupport ? or how>
can 1 expedt protection from thofe who dejjye. no advantage from myr
labour * ?

A plurality of wives is admitted throughout the Eaft. It is a law de--
rived from the climate. " Women in hot climates," fays the prefulent

• In Bengal the people are fo far from fuppofin!^ jiiflicc iliic from the mapiflrate, tluU one
quartet of ihe property in tlifpuie belongs to the judge, as a rewurkl for his trouble.

Montcfquieu,.

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 137

Montefqu'ieu, " are marriageable at eight, nine, or ten years ; they are
" old at twenty. It is therefore extremely natural, that in thefe places a
" man, when no law oppofes, Hiould leave one wife to take another, and
" that polygamy fhould be introduced." Our laws, formed in a temperate
climate, where the charms of women are better preferved, where they
arrive later at maturity, and their reafon accompanies their beauty, have
adopted the natural equality between the fexes, and allow but one wife.
The children of others are confidered as baftards, the relation of parent
and child is diffolved, and they are not permitted to inherit.

A dying father diftributes his efFedts. He gives the bulk of his for-
tune to the fon of his favourite, making a proper provifion for all. The
happy man enters on the poflefTion, and enjoys it for years, with the ap-
probation of all around him. Laws are now difcovered, by which the
marriage of his mother is void *, and the teftament of his father an-
nulled f. The poor wretch is dragged before our courts, and committed
to a dungeon, until he produces the money, which he has innocently
fpent. In vain would he implore their mercy, and deprecate a punifh-
ment he had never deferved. The judge might commiferate, but could
not redrefs, for the rules of private property no power can fufpend. Thus
fliould we teach the encircling fpedtators to admire our juflice, and blefs
the hands that had impofed the yoke. Could we even tear the feelings of
nature from their hearts, the gaping creatures would w^onder at the vi-
olence, without underftanding the object to be attained.

Marriage is a flate connedled with the former relation, and inftituted
for the better performance of a parent's duty. It varies, however, in dif-
ferent countries, not only as to forms and folemnities, the age of con-
trading, and the rights of property conveyed, but likewife as to the
power and dominion of a hufband. It is a happinefs to live in thofe cli-

* The common law of England never allowed polygamy.

t 29 Car. II. c. 3. regulates the forms of teftamentary difpofitions.

* T mates.

ijS A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

mates, which permit a free communication, where that fex, who .have
moft charms, embenifli without corrupting focicty.

This happlncfs, however, cannot be the lot of every nation. In cli-
mates where marriage Is contrafled at an early age, before reafon affumes
her empire, where the paflions are quickened by the near approach of the
fun, and morality ferves only to awaken remorfe, the confinement of wo-
men unlverfally prevails. " Thofe, fays the prefident Montefquieu, who
" confider the horrible crimes, the treachery, the black villainies, the
*' poifonings, the affaffinatlons, which the liberty of w^omen has produced at
'^ Goa, and In the Portuguefe fettlements In the Indies,where religion permits
" only one wife ; and who compares them with the innocence and purity of
" manners of the women of Turky, Perfia, Mpgulllan, China, and Ja-
" pan, will clearly fee, that it is frequently as neceflary to feparate them
" from the men, when they have but one, as when they have many."

If this account be juft, and it is fupported by the relation of travellers,
the confinement of women is a law that cannot be changed. Through-
out India the practice moft certainly prevails, and Isclofely conne£led with
the manners and religion of the people. The Hindoo, not lefs than the
Mahometan, dreads the expofal of his women as the worft diilionour.
Mr. Scrafton informs us, " that nothing hurt SufFraz Cawn (a former fu-
*' bahdar of Bengal) fo much, as the difgrace he put on his richeft fub-
" jed, Jaggut Seat. Hearing that his fon was married to a young lady of
" cxqulfite beauty, he infifted on a fight of her. All the father's remon-
" flrances were vain. He fiw her, and fent her back, pofTibly uninjured.
*♦ But the very feeing her in a country, where women are concealed, was
" an injury not to be forgiven." " Women," fays Mr. Dow, " are fo
" facred In India, that even the common foldiery leave them unmolcfted
" In the midft of llaughter and devaftatlon. The Haram is a fanduary,
« agalnft all the licentloufiiefs of vidlory ; and ruffians, covered Avith the
" blood of a hufband, fhrink back with confufion from the fecret apart-
'' ments of his wives.'*

Shall

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 139

Shall our writs of liberty unlock thcfe facred recefTcs ? fliall no reve-
rence be thought due to the honour of a hufhand ? or fhall we difregard
the condition of a wife, incapable of governing herfelf ? fliall our courts
of juflice become the authors of outrage, which the bloody ruffian would
fear to commit? Thus, in defpite of nature, fliall wc dinblvc the ties of
domeftic life, without fubftitutlng any government in their place, and
force the fervant, the child, and the wife, to renounce their dependence,
unable to afford them proteQion.

Our notions of man arc two frequently taken from the poliflied citizen
of Britain ; and we rudely imagine him to be the fame creature in every
llate. We forget that fociety has a progrefs, as well as the individual.
Man may exill, where the citizen is unknown. With growing laws
the latter gradually unfolds, until, afl'ured of protection, each individual
looks around with confidence for the objeds of his feparate purfuit, and
becomes unmolefted the artificer of his own fortunes. But as well might
we exped: the frivolous gallantry of a Frenchman in the wilds of America,
as hope that minds deprefled by defpotifm can embrace the idea of a com-
mon iutereft, or conceive the dominion of laws.

If the civil rights eflabliflied in Great Britain cannot be adopted by the
Inhabitafits of Bengal, to impofe our criminal code, will be found yet
more impradllcable. This head of laws has lefs relation to individuals,
than to the whole, to the government with its dependencies, to the efl:a-
bliflied religion, to the domeflic and foreign interefl:s of the flate. The
natural rights of men muft be protected in every country; but the means
■of aff^ording even this prot^dion muft relate to the habits of the mind; and
example would lofe its efied, unlels experience of benefit kept pace with
the punifliment of crimes. It is difficult to fpeak with temper of fubjed-
ing nations to laws, which they cannot underftand ; of infliding punilh-
ment, where there can be no intention to offend ; and of enforcing regu-
lations without an objed, becaufe the neceffities of a diftant people, diffi-
milar in foil, in climate, in fituation, in morals, manners, rellgioji, and

* T 2 habits

I40 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

habits of life, have extorted thefe provifions from their rulers. To ana-
lyze a fubje£l of fuch extent will be difficult. To contrail the laws, man-
ners, and cuftoms of two feparate nations, will require a knowledge I do
not poflefs, a labour which I care not to employ. Yet a part of the fub-
jedt may deferve our attention, and afford both profit and pleafure for
our toil.

In the firfl clafs of crimes are ufually ranked fuch aftions as direftly
ftrike at the very being of the ftate. High treafon is every where fevere-
Jy punilhed, but in a country jealous of its liberty, among a people de-
voted to their laws, where neverthelefs a fingle magiftrate poffefles an ex-
tenfive authority, this crime will be ftridlly defined. The ftatute of trea-
fons relates wholly to the immediate adminiftration of the king. Our
judges have very liberally expounded thefe provifions, and conflrued every
afticn fubverfive of government, to be either " imagining the king's
•' death" — " levying war againft him" — *' or giving comfort and aid to.
" his enemies."

Let Britifh laws be adopted in Bengal, the prefident of our fettlement
will poflefs neither power nor prerogative, but will fink to a level with
the meaneft. The name is unknown to our judges ; and violence to his-
perfon muflbe adjudged a private injury. It may even be doubted whe-
ther correfpondence with an enemy of the company, fupplying him with
military ftores, difcipllning his army, and affifting his councils, would
fubjedl an offender to the penalties of treafon. Should fuch doubts pre-
vail, every check interpofed might be deemed an injury : every punlfh-
ment inflidcd be an arbitrary violation of law. Not only the great bonds
of fociety will bs broken, but all public rights, relative either to domeftic
government or. external defence, be deffroyed, becaufe Englilh laws re-
late to the executive power of the ftate entrufted in very different hands..

Thus, would the whole fabric of government be diflblved, and every
power annihilated, where the dominion of a few ftrangers over a multir
tu^e of natives, will require a jealous, adivc, and vigorous adminiftra-
tion

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL, 141

tion for its fupport ; and where the fubjed accuftomed to defpotifm -will
regard as weaknefs in his rulers, even the ordinary delays of juflice.

Our laws would be equally deftrudlive of the people, as ruinous to the
government of Bengal. Not to mention the laws relative to religion anddo-
meftic policy, not to enumerate the long * train of felonies created by par-
liament, the rigid punifhment of a very few fpecies of crimes might deluge
the country with blood-
Women in the Eaft are transferred with little f ceremony, and whether
they be wives or concubines, the men feldom await their confent. Were
our laws of rape and rules of :]; evidence enforced, one half of the males
would incur the penalty of death. I mean not to juftify their pra<il:ice,
but beg leave to fuggeft that the fword of juftice, when too deeply ftained
with blood, may prove but an indifferent corre(5lor of the morals of a na-
tion. It has before been remarked that the neceffities of a people extort
many laws from their rulers, fome of a very fanguinary nature, which even
the favage defpot would condemn, when applied to a different ftate of fo-
ciety. The amazing extent of public and private credit in Great Britain,
has induced our legiflators to punilh forgery with death. Under this law
a native of Bengal was condemned in the year 1765. But fo extravagant
did the fentence appear, where experience had never fuggeftcd the prin-
ciple, fuch the difproportion in their eyes between the punifhment and
crime, that the principal inhabitants of Calcutta exprefTed their aflonifh'-
ment and alarm in a petition to the governor and council ; and upon a
proper reprefentation, Radachurd Metre received a pardon §..

Thefe, among many other inftances which might be given, will fuffice
to prove the violent effeds of introducing the Engiifli laws. In other par-
ticulars their defed will be as confpicuous as in thefe their excefs.

• Not lefs than one hundred and fixty capital felonies are created by ads of parliament.

t When colonel Clive defeated Surajah al Dowlah, Meer Jaffier fent to ofT.^r the colonel
tome hundreds of Surajah's women who were taken in the camp.

X Girls under ten years of age are incapable of confcnting by our law, and therefore the
knowledge of them without violence is punilhed withde.uh.

§ Vide Petition, App. p. 177, No. 63.

A Hindoo

142 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

;• A HiadoD had been bribed to procure fome papers belonging to a gen-
tleman wlio died in the company's fcrvice. The Ibu caught him in the
fa£t ; and, in revenge of his treachery, compelled him to fwallow a fpoon-
ful of broth. Ridipulous as thq puniiliment may feem, it was atten4ed
with very ferious- ccfnfequeuceSj „ No fooner was his pollution known, tha,u
he-was degraded ficoip. his ,caft» Iqft all the benefits of focietyi and v^as
avoided as a leper l^y^his trib^», When a man is: thus difgraced, he is
thenceforward obliged to herd with the Hallachoreg, who can " fcarcely *
" be called a tribe, being the refufe of all tribes. Thefe are a let of poor
^' unhappy wretches deftined to mifery from, their births " They p^rfprm
" all the vileil offices of life^ bury the dead, and ca^ry a]a:ay every thing
" that is polluted. They are held inrfuch abomination, that, oi;i the ?vla-f
" labar fide of India, if one of thefe chances to touch a mart of a fuperior
" tribe, he draws his fibre, and cuts him down on the, fpot, without any
" check from his own conicience, or from the lavv^s of the country.' V ^"^
this miferable fitaaftion w.a&-the Hindoo;, when lord Clive dqfired the Bra-
mins to afiemble and confider, if there could be no remiifion of an invQ-r
iuntajT deviation from their law. After many confultations, a fimilarcafe
was laid to have been difcovered in the- facred books; but although the
Bramins afFedled a compliance, the man was never reftored to his caft,.£,{

Their Mahomedan governors often take advantage of this principle,
when they want to extort money ; and fo highly do the Hindoos value
their religious purity, that after they have borne the feverell corporal pu-
nilhmcnt rather than difcover their wealth, a threat of defilement will ef-
fe£l what torture has attempted in vain. Should- this fpecies of qppref-
fion be now pradtifed in Bengal, what adequate punifliment could our law
inflid for fo atrocious an injury ? or how can we teach the natives to ac-
knowledge our juflice, when rights dearer to him than life are left wholly
unproteded ?

Happily for the inhabitants of Bengal, this abfurd and extravagant
fyftcm of tranfplanting Englifh laws, which have grown from the pecu-

• Mr. Scraf.on's Rcflefticns on the Government of huloflan.

liar

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 143

liar necefTities of a people in the courfe of feveral centuries, to a country
■where the occafions of enabling them never had an exiflence, is not more
ridiculous in fpeculation, than impolTible in pradlce. Independent of the
difficulty arifing from their abhorrence of oaths, and their ignorance of the
language in which our laws are conceived, how impofTible would it be to
promulgate them to many millioni'of people; or how could the magif-
trates obtain a knowledge of tranfgreflbrs, when the nation were unac-
quainted w'ithi tules to which the idea of offence muft relate ?

!',V It'O

He who will confiJer how fmall a portion of what we deem RiGirrs
in civil focicty, are derived from the firft imprcffions of nature, and that
all beyond are mere cf-eatures of law, fupported by habits of enjoyment
Oft one fide, of acquiefcence on the other, will readily conceive the vio-
lence with which a fudden change muft operate on the feelings of man-
kind. It is well known that the experiment has already been tried with
a nation lefs diffimilar than the Hindoos to our own, but without fuccefs.
The power of conquerors in Canada could give only a nominal exiftence
to our laws. They were eftablilhed indeed by the magiftrate, yet rejected
by the people ; and propetty is now diftributed according to their former
cuftoms, unllipported by public authority.

We come now to fpeak of thofe regulations which the ftate and condition
of the people may permit. Here it firft occurs, that Bengal muft be go-
verned by a fev/ ftrangers from this country, who will not renounce their
laws, or the liberty which in this ifland they enjoy. To enforce thefe
rights courts of jurtice muft be cftabliftied, and Europeans in our fettle-
ment be fubjeded to the civil and criminal laws of Great Britain. But, as
this inequality of condition might uphold the tyranny of individuals over
the natives, all Europeans (except gentlemen upon adual fervice) ftiould
be confined to the feVcraHettlements of the company*.

Why cannot the liberty thus fecured to Europeans be extended through-
out the province ? If the reader be not yet fatisfied, a momentary atten-

* Some exceptions may be admitted, witli permiffion of the governor and council.

tion

144 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

tion will convince him, that it is inconfiftent with the nature of that
government of which alone the people are capable, and repugnant to that
relation which they now bear to Great Britain.

All free governments have their foundation in the natural equality of
mankind. The forms of fuch governments, by diflributing political
power among the feveral orders of men, nurture this principle in the minds
of a nation; while the principle itfelf gives life, vigour, and efFedl to the.
laws. Thefe forms, thefe laws, and this principle, without which the
laws would be worfe than a dead letter, are, neverthelefs, the growth of
ages. Their gradual progrefs, and the aid which they mutually afford
to each other, cannot be better underftood than from the hiftory of our
own country, whofe government is a model of political perfedlion. But
the execution of our laws fuppofes a people educated under them ; and
were it poffible to infufe this fpirit into the natives of Bengal, we inftantly
emancipate them from fubjedion to ourfelves.

The forms of adminiftering juftice in different countries are regulated
by the fame caufe, and the fimplicity of laws will be greater or lefs under
different governments. *' If we examine," fays the prefident Montef-
quieu, " the fet forms of juftice, in refpe^: to the trouble the fubjedt
" undergoes in recovering his property, or in obtaining fatisfadtion for
" an injury or affront, we fhall find them, doubtlefs, too many ; but, if
« we confider them in the relation they have to the liberty and fecurity
" of the fubjea, we fhall often find them too few." The fame ingenious
author adds, " that when a perfon renders himfelf abfolute, he imme-
" diately thinks of fimplifying the laws." The reafon which he there
gives is common to the people with their rulers : " They are more affed-
" ed with particular inconveniencies than the liberty of the fubjed."
For this reafon no complex adminiftration of juftice can ever exift but in a
free government ; and the fimplicity of their ancient laws muft be conti-
nued to a people long accuftomed to defpotifm like the natives of India.

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 145

To preferve to a conquered nation their laws, cuftoms, and magiftrates,
humanity, juftice, and found poHcy will equally demand. Toconne(£l this
government, fo preferved, with that of Great Britain, may well deferve
the attention of parliament. How this can be effected wc now proceed
to examine.

Delegated power in Afia has ever been moderate in the exercife. The
reafon is obvious ; the intereft of the defpot has no relation to the paffions
and follies of his fervant, who is readily facrificed when he affords caufe
of complaint, or interrupts the * tranquillity of his mailer. On the con-
vtrary, when governors are entrufted by free ftates with abfolute power over
a conquered people, this authority has always been abufed. Witnefs the
defolation of the Roman provinces, where the laws againfi: peculation rather
Increafed the opprefTion. In free flates, it is impofhble to infiidt an ade-
quate punilhment upon a man whofe criminalty can be afcertained by no
j" fettled rules, but muft refult from the whole of his conduifl. The power
of the judge in a free country is limited by the flrid: letter of law-; and
the formalities of juftice increafe in proportion to the value which is fet on
on the honour, fortune, liberty, and life of the fubjedl.

The nature of the people, and the relation in which they ftand to us,
render impoflfible a free government in Bengal ; and our laws are inade-
quate to the controul of diftant governors armed with fuch extenfive au-
thority as muft ever be upheld in India. It becomes neceffary, therefore, to
interpofe fome check upon the fpot, and give the natives an adminiftration
of juftice not immediately dependent upon the will of their rulers. AlTum-
ing alfo the propofition, that we muft continue to the natives their laws
and cuftoms, both civil and religious, it follows, that the judges who ad-

Tliis IS the caufe why the mogul government was more tolerable in the provinces, than
that of the independent nabobs and I'ubahdars.

t On the other hand, the flrift letter of our laws may condemn afls not only innocent but
laudable, and even neceiTary. h will be abfurd to judge of //;.• condu^i of a governor by a refe-
rence to rules fitted for a very different fituation of men and thinc-s.

- U

man-

146 A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH

minifterjuftice muft be taken from among * themfelves. As this would
lead to independency, it is neeeflary, tliat the governor and council, being
the fupreme power in Bengal, fhould have authority to iffue edids from
time to time ; but as it is the nature of legiilation, that its proviflons
iliould be general^ and not direded to a particular objedt, thefe edi(fts
fliould have no effe£t until — months after they had been regiftered in.
the fupreme court of Englifli judicature.

Laws have no power, unlefs the obfervance be enforced by th*6 fandlion
of punilhment ; and as a conquered people are to be held in fubjedtion^
this power muft refide in the conquerors. Were this authority entrufted to
the legiflators, two powers, which ought ever to be diftinguifhed, being
united in the fame perfons would be liable to abufe.^

The fupreme judges of our Englifli court, who will have no other con-
cern with the ordinary adminiftration of juftice throughout the country,
fhould therefore punifli the native judges for nonobferA'^ance of the edifts,
refufal to hear and determine, or for grofs partiality and corruption.

Such a government would be too limited in its operations to reprefs
crimes which immediately affe<!l: its fafety. Infinite would be the means of
confpiring againft the ftate condemned by no previous law. While, there-
fore, the ordinary adminiftration of juftice continues in other hands, a po-
litical power of punifliment muft exift in the governor and council, like to
that aftumed by the prince in the abfolute monarchies of Europe. This-
power might extend to fending Europeans home, and to punifti in another
manner the native of India f.

* Whether the diftribution of juflice miglit not 1)C rendered more pure and uniform, by giv-
inp; an njiptlbte jurifdiftion to a court in which Englifli judges might prefide allifted, by natives,
may dcfcrve the attention of the legiflature ; but to invert Europeans with tlie original judica-
ture throughout the country would be produdlive of infinite opijrcffion.

+ In all countries, a power of this nature is exerted upon extraordinary occafions. With us, it
rcfides in parliament ; and their aifls for this purpofc are called aifls of attaiudcc.

Our

GOVERNMENT IN BENGAL. 147

Our government will yet partake the .grcatcfl impcrfedion incident to a
t^.el'potic flate. Its exillencc can alone be preserved by -a numerous army,
which experience has ever taught us to think formidable to abiblute rulers,
whofe interefts are not blended with thole of any order of men. In Ben-
gal, this army is moreover compofed of natives, while all dominion
throughout the country has been tranferred to a few flrangcrs. Indepen-
dent, therefore, of the encouragement due from every (late to the culti-
vator of the land, without infirting upon the confequent increafe of popu-
lation and commerce, a regard to our own fafety requires that we fliould
give the native a permanent intereft in the foil, and teach him to confidcr
the preferva'tion of his owai fortunes as involved wuth the fafety of his
mailers*.

Should this arrangement be attempted by granting fmall portions of
land at a moderate rent, flhould the right of the tenant be evidenced by
regillers of thefe pottahs or leafes, eflablifhed in every diflrid, perhaps the
fecurity of fuch a tenure might prove an invitation to other proprietors.
Thofe who poflefs lands by claims of a different nature might gladly re-
linquifli a part of the profits for a title which could never be queflioned.
While the peninfula of India fwarms with inhabitants, the w^afte lands of
Bengal could not long remain uncultivated. With an improving revenue,
the company might remit the imports upon commerce with their long
train of evils ; and thus, by fimplifying every right, and afcertaining
every claim, remove the occafions of opprefFion. To enforce a prompt
admlniflration of jullice would not then be difficult, where the proceedings
are public, and where the judge could rarely fhelter a fraud under the
■cloak of error. Each individual pofleffing a fure property in the produce
of his toil, induftry will diffufe its bleffings ; and Bengal may reach a
height of profperity, heretofore unknown in India. The wounds which
this country has fuftained are great, and the fevere checks which induflry
has here received, might, in a more northern climate, almoft ftarve a

* An additional fecurity might, perhaps, be attained by encouraging the fettlement of Eu-
ropean foldiers with women of the country. Regulations might eaf.ly be fuggeflcd, under
Tvhich their delcendants would become an ufeful colony to Great Britain.

people.

* U 2

hS a view of the ENGLISH GOVERNMENT, Sec.

people. But in Bengal, where the demands of nature are few, where
manufa<Sures from various caufes have been preferved amidft fucceffivc
revolutions, thefe lofles will be quickly retrieved. While by fuch means,
all orders of men being combined in one common interefl:, the enemies
of Great Britain will be for ever excluded from India, and London become
the great emporium of Europe, for the various produce of the Eaft.

The progrefs to this flate of improvement mufl neverthelefs be flow.
Sudden changes in property or government are always dangerous, and
the hand of power can produce nothing but confufion. Even in laying
the foundations of order we mufl follow the genius of a people, we muft
attend to their habits, and even refpedl the prejudices they have imbibed.
If, relinquifhing the airy fchemes of projedors, the wifdom of the Britifh
nation fhould be employed in devifmg a fimple form of government for
Bengal ; if happy in giving peace to millions, fome enlightened minds
fhould watch with parental care over a growing empire ; pofterity may
behold with admiration a noble monument of national humanity, and
the praife of arts, of fcience, and of arms, ferve rather to adorn thaix
conllitute the future character of the Britifh nation^

A'PPEN-

APPENDIX.

T O T H E

READER.

JT" may be 7tcceJJary to offer fome apology for the length of this Appendix,,
•which has fwollen to a fize greatly beyond the wijlj and intention of the
writer. 'The treaties, and other papers, in the latter part of the Appe^idix,
could not be omitted, imithoiit depriving the reader of thofe proofs which the
public have a right to cxpeSi. ObjeSlions did occur to a publication of the whole
SeleSi Committee's correfpondence with the Court of DireSlors ; yet fome parts
qf thefe letters were 7iecefary, to fhew that the reprefentation, here given of
Bengal tranfaBions, has not been fabricated to ferve the prefent occafon. An
unwillingnefs to revive the memory of private faults, rather than any appre-
henfon of injury, or even offence to the Company, had determined the writer to
give fuch extracts only as the Narrative required : but, upon perufal of thefe
extracts, they appeared fo disjoint id, and fo liable to mifconfrutlion, that, to
avoid all appearance of concealment , it was thought expedient to print the whole.

As to the arrangement of this Appendix, the author judged it better to adhere
to the conne5iion of thfe papers with each other, than to folloiv the order of the
text ', fnce references infer ted in the margin (when thefe papers are confdered as
proofs to fupport the Narrative) will abundantly fupply the want of conformity :
whereas, by the order here chofen, the Appendix will, in fome degree, form a
fecond Narrative.

The reader may remark a great f miliar ity between fome parts of this work on
thefuhjecl of revenues, and the accounts already publiped by Mr. Dow. That
gentleman borrowed largely from Mr. Verelji, as will appear upon a perifal of
the papers printed in this Appendix ; but he has added his own comment to the
text, which the conduB of individuals by no means defervedi.

«a. '\o ^T'

.nl^a ;.-

APPENDIX.

To the Honourable the Court of Dir colors for /Jffairs of the United Company
of Merchants of England trading to the Eaft Indies.

■ ' No. I.

Hon. Sirs, Fort William. Sept. 30. 1765.

I. A~ir^ H E accompanying proceedings of the Seleft Committee will expluin on?
Jl motives for purchafing the Admiral Stevens, to convey to your hands thefe
difpatches, which we hope will be deemed of fufficient importance to merit any ex-
traordinary expence thereby incurred; an expence which, we flatter ourfelves, will bs
fully defrayed by the valuable cargo llie carries home at this early feafon.

2. By the general letter of this date^ you will be informed by the Prefident and
Council of every material circumftance that has been tranfadred before the Board ; at
the fame time, we beg leave to refer to letters difpatched by the Vanfittart and
Bute, (whereof duplicates are now enclofed) for a detail of the military operations,
political occurrences, and cfpecially the very important tranfadtions previous to our
arrival, and fubfequent to the death of Meer Jaffier ; an event that furniflied the moll
glorious opportunity of eftablilliing your influence and power on fo folid a bafis, as
muftfoon have rendered the Englifli Eaft India Company the mofl: potent commercial
body that everflourillied at any period of time.

3. It is from a due fenfe of the regard we owe and profefs to your intcreft, and to
our own honour, that we think it indifpcnfibly neceflliry to lay open fo your view, a
feries of tranfaftions too notorioufly known to be fuppreffed, and too affcillng to your
interefts, to the national charafter, and to the exiflence of the Company in Bengal,
to efcape unnoticed and unccnfured : tranfadlions, which feem to demonftrate, that
every fpring of this government was fmeared with corruption, that principles of rapa-
city and oppreflion univerfally prevailed, and that every fpark of fentiment and pub-
lic Ipirit was loft and extinguiflied in the inordinate luft of unmerited wealth.

4. To illuftrate thcfe pofitions, we muft exhibit to your view, a moft unpleafing
variety of complaints, inquiries, evidences, accufations, and vindications, the particu-
lars of which are entered in our Proceedings and the Appendix; aflTuring you, that we
vmdertake this taik with peculiar rclud:ance, from the pcrfonal regard we entertain for
fome of the gentlemen whofe charaders will appear to be dee[)ly affedred.

5. At Fort St. George we received the firft advices of the demife of Meer Jaffier, and
of Sujah al Dowlah's defeat. It was there firmly imagined, that no definitive meafures
would be taken, either in refpedt to a peace, or filling the vacancy in the Nizamut,
as the Lapwing arrived in the month of January with your difpatches and the ap-
pointment of a Committee, with exprefs powers to that purpofe, for the fuccefsful ex-
ertion of which the happleft occafion now offered. However, a contrary refolution
prevailed in the Council. The opportunity of acc^uiring immenfe fortunes was too
inviting to be ncglefted, and the temptation too powerful to be refifted. A treaty
was haftily drawn up by the Board, or rather tranfcribed, with a few unimportant ad-
ditions, from that concluded with Meer Jaffier ; and a deputation, confifting of MeiTrs.
Johnftone, Senior, Middleton, and Leycefter, was appointed to raife the natural fon of the
deceafcd Nabob to the Subahdarry, in prejudice to the claim of his grar.dfon ; and,
for this meafure, futh reafons are afllgned, as ought to have diftated a diametric:dly

A oppofite

2 APPENDIX.

oppofite refolution. Meeran's fon was. a minor, which circumftance alone would nn-
turally have brought the whole adminiftration into our hands, at a jundture when it
became indilpenfibly neceirary we fhould realize that fliadow of power and influence,
wliich having no folid foundation, was expofed to the danger of being annihilated
by the firft ftroke of adverfe foituncv But this inconfiftence was not regarded, nor was
it material to the views for precipitating the treat}', which was prefled on the young
Nabob, at the firft interview, in fo earneft and indelicate a manner, as- highly dil-
gurted him, and chagrined his minilters ; while not a finglc rupee was ftipulated for
the Company, and their interefts were faicrificed, that their Icrvants might revel in the
fpoils of a treafury before-impoverifned, "but now totally exhaufted.

6. This fcene of corruption was firft. dlfclofed at a vifit the Nabob paid to Lord
Clive, and the Gentlemen of the Committee, a few days after our arrival. He then
delivered to his Lordlhip a letter, filled with bitter complaints of the infults and indig-
nities he had been expofed to, and of the embezzlernent of near || twenty lacks of
rupees, iflued from his treafury, for purpofes unknown, during the late negocia-
tions. So public a complaint could not be difregarded> and it foon produced an in-
quiry. We referred the letter to the Board, in expedfation of obtaining a fetisfaftory
account of the application of this money ; and were anfwered only by a warm re-
monftrance, entered by Mr. Leyceller, againll that very Nabob in whofe elevation he
boafts having been a principal agent.

7. Mahomed Reza Cawn, the Naib Subah, waa then called upon ro account for
this large difburiement from the treafury ; and he foon delivered to the Committecj
the very extraordinary narrative entered in our proceedings the fixth of June;
wherein he fpecifies the feveral nam.es,- the fums by whom paid, and to whom, whe-
ther in bills, cafh, or obligations. So precife, fo accurate an account as this, of money
iiFued for fecret and venal fervices was never, we believe, before this-period, exhibited
to the Honourable Court of Direftor^; at leaf!, never vouched by fuch unileniable
teftimony, and authentic documents : by Juggutlcat who himfelf was obliged to con-
tribute largely to the fums demanded; by Mooteram who was employed' bv Mrt.
Johnitone in all thofe pecunrary tranfadtions ;. by the Nabob ancF- Mahomed Reza
Cawn who were the heaviefl fufR-rcrs ; and, lalllx", by the confeilion of the gentle-
men themfelves whofe names are fpecified in the diltribution lill:.

8. Juggutfeat exprefsly declares in his narrative, tltat the fum- which he agreed'
to pay the deputation, amounting to -■^ 125,000 rupees, was extorted by menaces ;.
and fince the clofe of our enquiry, and the opinions he delivered in the Proceed-
ings of the twenfj'-firft of June, it fully appears, that the frefents from the;
Nabob and Mahomed Reza Cawn, exceeding the immenfe fum of -j- feventecn lacks,,
were not the voluntary offerings of gratitude, but conrvibuiions levied on the weak-
nefs of the government, and violently exadfcd from the depetu.lent- ftate and timid
difpofition of the minifter.

The charge, indeed, is denied on the one hand, as well a.s affirmar on the other..
Your honourable Board muft determine how far the circumftance of extortion may ag-
gravate the crime of difobedicncc to yocn- pofitive orders, of expofing the Govern-
ment in a manner to fale, and receiving the infamous wages of corruu'.ion from oppo-
fitc parties, and contending interefls. We fpeak witli bolihicfs, becaufe we fpcak from
convidion founded upon indubitable fadfs, tliat bcfides the above fums fpecified iir
The dillriburion account, to the amount of 27.8,125 1. flcrling, there was Jikewife to.
the value of feveral lacks of rupees procured from Nundcomar r.nd Roydullub, each

of
U 250,000/. • 15,625/.

•f :i2,i;oo/.

A T V i: TT T) I !5C. 3

■of whom afiMred at and obtained a promife of that very cmjiloymcrt 5t was ^v;e-dctcr-
mincd to bcftow on Mahomed Rc/.a Cawn. The particulars of this extraordmarv
bargain came too late to our hands to be inllrtcd in tiit Proceedings, nor do we tlinik
it material ; fntcc to infill on farther proofs than arc already fully and clearly exhibited,
in order to convince you thai our incjuiry v.as nccciVary, and our decifion moderate,
would, we apprehend, ferve rather to CAha\iil your patience than confirm your belief.

9. Thefe particulars being fubmittcd to your confideration, it may be neceilar\- to
ofler a few remarks on thofe arguments urged by the gentlemen in their ieveral mi-
nutes, either in their own jullilication, or with a view that our proceedings fhould
appear arbitrary and cpprciTive. Meffrs. Johnftone, Leyceflcr, Senior, Gray, and Bur-
dett, vindicate the receiving prefcnts by arguments which, in our opinion, render
their condud; flill more culpable.

They urge, that as the covenants were not then executed, they could not be obli-
"n-atory. In anfwcr, -we will beg leave to aik thole gentlemen, Whether the Compa-
ny's orders were not clearly and"perfc<?cly underftood? — Whether the Covenants them-
fe'lves were not tranfmitrcd' from England, ready to be filled up and executed?— Wlie-
•ther a fmgle motion for fulfdling the Company's Inftruftions appears on the face of
their Confultations ? M'hether it was not incumbent on them, as the fuperior power,
to have let this examj^le of refpeCt and deference to the orders of their Conftitucnts^^
And, whether they conceive the Company would have fuftained any detriment from this
ait of their obedience ? How then came the orders to be totally negledtcd, at a
jundturc efpcciallv when the letter and Ipirit of thofe obligations clearly manifeil that
particular regard Ihould be had to their execution ?

10. The fame gentlemen arraign the conduft, and deny the powers of the Scle<ft
Committee. Mr. Lcycefler in particular affirms, that candour and decency required
the truth of a charge brought againft any of the Members of the Board, fliould be
determined by the Board. You, gentlemen, will be able to judge of the force of
■this argument, and of the propriety of the mcafure propofed, when we ac(]uaint you
that of a Board then fitting at thePrefidency, confilling of the Prefident and eight Mem-
bers, five of thofe Members were themfelves the accufcd, who, by having a majority
'of voices would of confequenee become the judges of their own conduft. We will
not enter into a difcuffion of the precife powers entrufted to the Committee ; but wc
•may venture to affirm that, unlefs the fpirit of their Inftruftions be extended to the
corredion of abufes, the dctedion of corruption, and punifliment of difobedience,
the ends propofed of refioring peace and tranquility will be frulb-atcd, and their ap-
pointnient rendered ridiculous and abfurd.

1 1 . Mr. Johnifone is pleafed to alTert, that no proofs can be produced of menaces
hang ufed to obtain a fum of money from Juggutfeat. To this we reply by a re-
ference to the evidence of his own agent, Mooteram, where it is declared upon

-oath, that he delivered, b)' Mr. Johnftone's exprefs orders, the very melTages recited in
his examination ; meffages of fuch tendency, as certainly bear hard on Mr. Johnftone's
charadcr. As to what he further adds, of our obtaining this evidence by military
force and terror ; we are forry to fee a g-entleman reft his defence on the fubterfiige
of a pitiful evafion. Mr. Johnftone certainly knows, at leaft he ought to know, as
the Proceedings were immediately fent to him, that Mooteram was feizcd in the com-
miflion of a clandeftine illegal ad, of intcrefting confequenee to the public in general,
and to Mr. Johnftone and the gentlemen of the Deputation in particular. Mooteram
was adually deteded in an attempt to fupprefs bills to the amount of * 175,000 ruj-^ees
■ivhich had been unwarrantably obtained from Mahomed Reza Cawn, and fcreen irom
tlilcovery a circumftance which it highly imported the Committee to know, and whicli

A 2 Mr.

4 APPENDIX.

Mr. Johnflone iliould have made known, were he folicitous to fxculjiate hiinfelf from
a charge that deeply afFetted his reputation, and of fuch irreproachable conduct as he
would endeavour to perfuade the world. But that the leaft fhadow of a doubt might
not remain of the candour .ind cquitv of the meafures we purfued, we readily con-
fented that the fame Mooteram might be re-examined in prefence of the Council,
where he confirmed, without contradiction or evafion, every material circumftance
fct forth in his firft evidence. The remainder of Mr. Johnftone's minute, you will per-
ceive, dorh not afFett the Committee as a body ; it confills entirelv of perfonal invec-
tive, loofe and virulent declamation, the genuine effefts of enraged difappointment
and detection. 1l et fhould any thing further be required in anfwer, we beg to refer
you to the replies made by Lord Clive and the members of the Committee, which,
we flatter ourfelves, will appear full and explicit.

12. One circumlTiance more occurs in the courfe of rhefe gentlemen's minutes, that
merits our obfervation. It is declared by Mr. Leycefter upon oath, that he did not
receive the prefcnt intended him bv Mahomed Reza Cawn, and that his Letters will
demonftrate his intention was to have refufed it. This is a faft, of the truth of
which we entertain not the leaft doubt ; but it proves nothing more than, that Mr.
Leyccfter would not receive a fum of monev, after the Covenants had been enforced
b}- the Committee, and an enquiry fct on foot concerning the dittribution of that very
money, a part of which was now privately tendered back to Mahomed Reza Cawn.
He will not denv that he knew of the intended prefent when he was at Coffimbazar.
The letters of MefTrs. Senior and Middlcton prove that he did. He will not deny
that bills to the amount of * 50,000 rupees were made out in his name ; their being
now offered to Mahomed Reza Cawn, and Mooteram's being detected in the fadt,
evince it. The whole, therefore, of this folcmn afleveration, amounts only to an evafion
in refped: to time and circumflances, which no way afledts the nature of the adt itfelf.

1 3. Having now explained the origin and progrcfs of this difagrecable inquiry. We
beg leave to touch upon a few circumttanccs, in jultification of the lenity of our opi-
nions delivered and refolutions entered in the Committee Proceedings of the 2 ill June.

And here wc mud obferve, that notwith (landing we believe a reformation of abufes
to be adtuallv our duty, yet we could not think the fame duty ncceflarily extended to
the punifhment of tranfgreffions. We owed a regard to the perfons and charadters of
fome of the gentlemen concerned, v/ho mull lufFer extremely by fufpenfion or difmif-
fion. The great objects of our wiflies were, that your fervice might in future be con-
duced with integrity, diligence, and oeccnomy, without a retrofpedl to the pall,
where it could be avoided. The fubjedl, indeed, of the prefent inquiry v.as fo recent,
it was of fo intei-efling a nature to the public, and came recommended to us, or ra-
ther was forced upon us with fuch peculiar circum fiances, as rendered our jM-ocecd-
ing to a fcrutiny ncceflary to our own reputation ; but the feverity of Judgment, and
a decifion which would have left fo great a void in your Council, was not equally ne-
ceffiiry either to your interefl, or to our honour. Such an event might liave imprelled
the minds of the natives with flrange ideas of the fludtuating fituation of our coun-
cils; and it would unavoidably have admittetl a number of your Junior fervants to the
fujireme direction of this vafl machine of government, at an age little exceeding that
period fixed by the laws of their country for entrutling them with the management of
their own private fortunes. We mufl further obferve, that many of the moll aggra-
vating circumllances had not then reached our knowledge ; at the fame time we were
under the nectflity of coming to fome determination. Sujah .d Dowlah impatiently ex-
pedtcd Lord Clive in camp to conclude the propofed treaty, and the regulations of the
government lately ellabliflied, with other matters then tranfadting, abfolutel}' required

Mr.
• 6^50/.

APPENDIX. 5.

Mr. S'ykes's attendance at the Durbar. Some of the extraordinary fafts above related
were obtained fince their departure ; and had they come fooner, they would ferve only
to perplex and embarrafs us the more. In a word, to obviate luture evils, we confi-
dered as our immediate duty ; the punilhment of paft mifconduct we chofe to refer
tro your Honourable Board, that malice itfelf fhould have no foundation for allerring
we had al^umcd and exerted a power not fully and exprelly authorized by the
Court of Diredlors.

We think it necelFary to declare, in jufllce to Mr. Carrier, whofc chnrafttr {lands-
irreproachable in the lift of your fervants, that he never knew of, or confenred to the'
receiving, any the fmalleft prefent, either from the Nabob, or from Mahomed Reza Cawn.

14. Although we will not take upon us to declare that we enrirely approve of the
Covenants in the form in which they have been tranfmitted, yet are we perfuaded,'
from the inftances juft related, that fome reftraint is neceflary to prevent the abufe of
the ciHomary indulgence to receive prefcnts. This indulgence has certainly been ex-
tended to the moft fliameful oppreffion and flagrant corruption, and is otherwife at-
tended with manifold inconvenience to the fervice. We therefore determined imme-
diately to enforce your inftruftions relative to thofe obligations, and to bind down by
law all fuch as are not to be checked by a fenfe of honour and juftice. You will ac-
cordingly obferve, that carrying thofe orders into ftridl execution throughout every
department civil and military, was among the earlieft tranfadlions of your Select
Committee.

15. We al'fo took an early opportunity of confidering the tendency of your repeated
inllrudlions for recalling free merchants and other Europeans, who, without the lealt
claim to your protetlion from indentures, were neverthelefs permitted to refide up the
country, and in all the different jiarts of the Nabob's dominions. Sorry we are to ob-
ferve, that this indulgence has frequently given birth to grievous acfts of infult and
Oppreffion, at places remote from the Prefulency and fubordinate faftories, and that
carrying your orders into execution becomes daily more neceflary. Bv this meafure,
however, the bufinefs of your fervants will fuffer confiderably, from their being now
obliged to employ black Gomaftahs, on many affairs which demand the vigour and ac-
tivity of Europeans. Hence likewife will many perfcns of real merit be de])rived the
means of fubfiflence ; yet in confideration that private intcreft muft give way to the ■
public benefit ; and that it is our duty to obey, where your immediate interefts do not
abfolutely require a deviation from your orders, we determined to recall all the Eu-
ropeans refiding up the country, under proteftion of the Englifh name, by the
twenty-firft of Odober next, and have for that purpofe circulated advertifements and
orders to the different Subordinates.

16. Regulating the country government was the next object of our attention. We
found the Nabob highly diflatisfied with thofe plenarv poweis vefled in Mahomed Reza
Cawn, who by virtue of the treaty afted in quality of prime minifler, and enjoyed un-
controuled authority. This unlimited fvvay, lodged in the ban's of a fingle perlon,
appeared dangerous to the prefent eftablifhment, which we thought it becoming the
Company's honour to maintain, as having been folemnly ratified by the Governor and
Council. To amend the very obvious defefts in the treaty, without reverfing the
principles on which it was founded, was confiilent with equity, whillt it met with the
Nabob's own approbation ; and the moil effedtual means of doing this feemed to us
to confift in an equal jiartition of minifterial influence. As Mahomed Reza Cawn's flicrt
adminillration was irreproachable, we determined to continue him in a fliare of the au-
thority, at the fame time that we affociated with him men of weight and cbarafrer ;
fo that each became a check upon the conduft of the others. Accordingly we fixed
on Juggutfeat and RoyduUub, for the rcafons afl^igned in tlic Proceedings ; antl we

now

6 APPEND I X.

now have rhc pleafure to acquaint you, that the bufinel's of Government goes on
with unanimitv, vigour, and difpatch.

17. Bv the laft difpatches yoi: wcrcadvl-fed that Sujah al Dowlah was making fiefli
and tbrniiciablc preparations to penetrate a fecond time into tlic Nabob's dominions.
He had found means to engage Muihar, a confiderablc Maharatta chief, in his alii-
ance; and if the judicious and vigorous meafures purfued bv General Carnac had not
prevented a junction of the nuni.rous forces deftincd for this invafion, a ruinous war
muil hare been fupported through the courfe of another campaign. The enemies
fituatioTrTendered their defign for fome time uncertain, and obliged the General to gi ca:
circumfpeflion in his movements, left he fhould leave the frontiers expoled. Having,
however ai lc;igth received undoubted advice the\- had taken theKorah road, he fufpevfted
their intentioti was to fall upon Sir Robert F'lctcher, who commanded a fejiarate
corps in that diftrict. Accordingly he made forced marches to cfte^ft a jundlion,
which he happih- accompliilied, and then the united arm\' moved in [lurfuit of the
enemy. On the third of May the General came up with, attacked and entirely de-
feated i-hem ; in confcquence of which, Sujah al Dowlah feparated from his allies, while
the Maharattas retired with precipitation toward the Jumna. In fafir, this blov»- aj^pears to
have been decifive ; for Sujah al Dowlah never again attempted to join the Maharattas,
who obferving the General dropt the purfuit in order to watch the Vizier, made
a fecond effort to re-enter Korah, in which they were difappointed. Perfuadcd that to
Hop their incurfions, it would be neceffary to drive them beyond the Jumna, the Ge-
neral croffed the river the twenty-fecoiid, diflodged them from their poll on the oji-
pofite fide, and obliged them to retire to the hills. There he quitted his purfuit, and
returned to his ftation at Jajemaw, to receive Sujah al Dowlah, who had intimated a
dcfirc of fabmdtting to whatever conditions we fhould think fit to prefcribe. His
letter to the General cxprcfles his feelings ; and the reception he met with in camp
was fuch as policy dictated fliould be given to a vanquiflied enemy, of" Sujah al Dow-
lah's rank and charader.

18. A jieace with the Vizier became the next immediate objedt of our delibera-
tion, in adjufiing which we endeavoured to extend our views beyond the prefent ad-
vantages that might poflibly be obtained. We regarded Sujah al Dowlah's perfonal cha-
rafter, and high reputation over the whole empire, the fituation of his country which
V.C had confjucred, and the great rlfk and expence of maintaining the conepicii:, if we
clofcd in with the plan adopted by the late Governor and Council, of giving it up to
Nudjcef Cawn, who had neither weight of rejuitation nor force fufficient to keep
]ioficffion, or to form a fccure barrier to the Nabob's dominions. The words of
our inflruftions to Lord Clive, when he left the Prcfulcncv to adjuft the conditions of
a Jieace, exprcfs the fentiments which we ftill entertain on this fubjedV.

" F-xperience having fhewn that an influence maintained bv force of arms is de-
flruclive of that commercial fpirit which we ought to promote, ruinous to the
Company, and oi-ipreffive to the Country, Wc carneftly recommend to vour Lord-
fiiip, that )'ou will exert your utmofl endeavours to conciliate the affettions of the
country powers, to remove any jealoufy they may entertain of our unbounded
ambition, and to convince them that we aim not at conquelt and dominion, but
fecurit\- in carrying on a free trade, equally beneficial to them and to us.
" With this view, policy re(|uircs that our demands be moderate and equitable ;
and that we avoid every ajipearance of an inclination to enlarge our territorial
pod'elTions. The facrifice of conqucils, which we muft hold on a verv precarious
" tenure, and at an expence more than equivalent to their revenues, is of little con-
" fideration to us ; yet will fuch reftitution imprefs them with a high opinion of our
" generofity and juftice.

«' For

APPENDIX. 7

" For tliefc reafons, we tliink Sujah al Dowlah Ihould be rcinftated in tlie full
" poUtllioii of all his dominions, with fuch limitations only as he mull lee arc cvi-
" dcntly calculated for our mutual benefit. We would decline infuHng upon any
" terms that mull prove irkfome to his high fpirit, and imply a fufpie'.on of his
" fincerity. Retaining polVcflion of any of his Ilrong holds may poffibiy be deemed
" a necelTary pledge of his fidelity; for our part, we would rather confidcr it as _a
" fource of future contention and an unncceffary burthen to the Company, unlcfs it
" be one day propofed to refume the thoughts of extending their dominions ; a mealuie
" very oppofite to the fentiments in which we left the Court of Direcflors."

19. Agreeably to thefc inflrucftions his Lordfliip and General Carnac concluded a
treaty of peace with Sujah al Dowlah, that will, if any thing can, fecure his friend-
fliip and fidelity, and render the public tranquility permanent. They found him ex-
tremely averfe to the ellablifliment of faftories in his dominions, which he confidcred
as laying the foundation of a future rupture, and the only thing that could poffibiy
dillurb our amity. He very juflly obferved, that our encroachments in Bengal, the
great abufes committed by the Company's fervants, and extraordinary extenfion of
the privileges originally granted to the Englifli, had been productive of much contu-
fion and bloodfhed in Bengal, and he feared might produce fimilar confequences in his
country ; accordingly Lord Clive and General Carnac judged it advifeable to omit the
v,ord/(?<:'7cr/Vi in the treaty, but without rclinquillnng the right, fhould- it be found
expedient, after mature deliberation, to enforce it. To fpeak our own fentiments
frcelv, we forefee no benefit that can accrue to the Company, from maintaining fcttle-
ments at fo vaft a diflance from the Prefidency, whatever advantages may arife to
their fervants : at leafl the profpcdl is fo remote, while the expences are fo certain,
the rifque fo evident, and the difputes it will occafion fo probable, that we are at pre-
fent of opinion, the fadlory lately eftablifhed at Benares ought immediately to be with-
drawn ; we mean as foon as the agreement between the Compan)' and Bulwantfing is ■
expired. The limits of the Nabob's dominions are fufficient to anfwer all your jmr-
poies. Thefe, we think, ought to conflitute the boundaries, not only of all joitr
territorial polfeffions and inlluence in thefe parts, but of your commerce alfo ; finee
by grafping at more, you endanger the fafeiy of thofe immenfe revenues, and that
well-founded power, which you now enjoy, without the hopes of obtaining an ade-
quate advantage.

20. With refpeifl to the other articks of the treaty yott will obfcrve, that a fufTi-
cient provifion is fecured for the fupport of the King's honour and dignity, withoivr
danger of his becoming a future incumbrance; and that * twenty-fix lacks vcarly arc
granted to him on the revenues of Bengal : a revenue far more confiderable than he
ever before enjoyed. In gratitude for this inflance of our attention to his intcreil, his
Majefty has been pleafed to beftow cm the Company the luoft important grants ever
yet obtained by any European ilate from the Mogul Court. Befides confirming
to the Company all their former pofieffions, and fecuring to them thereverfion in per-
petuity of LordClive's Jaghcer, he has conferred on them the Dewanny of Bengal,
Bahar, and OriHa, and ratified, in the ftrongefl terms, an agreement we projiofed
concluding with the Nabob, if the King's confcnt could be procured ; fubjedls which
it will be neceffarv to explain in a feparate paragrajih.

Another article llipulates, that Sujah al Dowlah fhall pay the Company fiftv lacks
of rupees, by way of indemnification for the charges incurred by the war. This in-
demnification we know is inadequate ; but his circumftances would not afford more,
without oppreffing the country, and thereby laying the foundation of future conten-
tion and trouble ; and accordingly )'ou will perceive that no money is granted for
any o:her confideration whatever.

A?,
• 325,000/,

fc>

2 APPENDIX.

• As- to Rirrenclcring CoiTiin Ally, Sombre, and the deierters, compliance "wklrfuch a
..demand is now entirely out of his power. The former, we hear, has fought flieltcr in
-the Rohilla Counti-y, and the latter refide under protcftion of the Jauts, fkreened both
from Sujah al Dovvlah, and from us ; fo tiiat making this an effential preliminary, would
be highl) unrcafonable aixi abfurd : however it is ftipulated, that they fluiU never
.meet, w ith encouragement or affiftance from Sujah al Dowlah, or be again admitted into
his coun':rv.

, Upon the whole, we have paid fuch regard to Sujah al Dowlah's charadler and inte-
rcft, and to what juftice as well as policy requires, without any the fmalleft facrifice of
,your h-onour or inrerelf, that we entertain the moft flattering hope this treaty of peace
will be lafling, and our frontier on that quarter perfeftly fecure againft future
invafions.

2 I . The time now approaches when we mav be able to determine, with fome degree
-of certainty, whether our remaining as merchants, fubjedied to the jurifdid:ion, en-
croachments, and infults of the country government ; or fupporting your privi-
leges and pofleffions by the fword, are likely to prove moft advantageous to the Com-
pany. \\'hatever may be the confequence, certain it is, that after having once begun,
.and proceeded to fuch lengths, we have been forced to go on, ftep by ftep, until }'our
whole pofleffions were put to the rifque by every revolution effefted, and by every
battle fought. To apply a remedy to thofe evils, by giving ftability and permanency
to your Government, is now and has been the conftant objedt of the ferious attention
of your Seleft Committee.

22. The perpetual ftruggles for fuperiority between the Nabobs and )'our Agents,
together with the recent proofs before us of notorious and avowed corruption, have
jendered us unanimoufly of opinion, after the moft mature deliberation, that no other
method can be fuggefted of laying the axe to the root of all thofe evils, than that of
obtaining the Dewanny of Bengal, Bahar, and Orifla, for the Company. By eftablifli-
ing the power of the Great Mogul, we have likewife eftablifhed his rights ; and his
Majefty, from principles of gratitude, of equity, and of policy, has thought pro-
per to beftow this important employment on the Companv, the nature of which is,
the collefting all the revenues, and after defra\-ing the expences of the arm}', and al-
lowing a fufficient fund for the fupport of the Nizamut, to remit the remainder to
Dehly, or wherever the King fliall refide or direiff. But as the King has been gra-
cioufly pleafed to beftow on the Company, for ever, fuch fur])lus as fliall arife from
the revenues, upon certain ftipulations and agreements exprefled in the Sunnud, we
Jiave fettled with the Nabob, with his own free will and confent, that the fum of
.•" fifty-three lacks fliall be annually paid to him, for the fupport of his dignity and all
contingent expences, exclufive of the charge of maintaining an army, which is to be
.defrayed out of the revenues ceded to the Company, by this royal grant of the De-
wanny ; and indeed the Nabob has abundant rcafon to be well fatisiicd with the con-
ditions of this agreement, whereby a fund is fecurcd to him, without trouble or dan-
ger, adequate to all the purpofes of fuch grandeur and happinefs as a man of his
fentlments has any conception of enjoying; more would ferve only to difturb his quiet,
rndanger his government, ami faj-) the foundation of that folid ftrudure of power and
wealth, which, at length, is happily reared and completed by the Company, after a
i aft expence of blood and treafure.

23. By this acquifirion of the Dewannv, your poffeffions and influence are ren-
dered permanent and fecure, fince no future Nabob will either have power, or
riches fufficient to attempt your overthrow, by means either of force or corrujjtion.
All revolutions muft henceforward be at an end, as there will be no fund for fecret
ferviccs, for donations, or for rcftitutions. The Nabob cannot anfwer the expe^fa-

tions
* 664,500/.

APPENDIX. tf.

ti /lis of the venal and mercenary, nor will the Company comply with demands hiju-
rious to themlelvcs, out of their own revenues. The experience of years has convinced
us that a divifion of power is impofFible without generating difcontent and hazardin_v
the whole : all nnift belong cither to the Company or to the Nabob. We leave you
to judge Vvhich alternative is the molt defirable and the moll expedient in the prefent
circumllances of affairs. As to ourfelvcs, we know of no other fyllcm we could -adopt,
that would lefs aff.dt the Nabob's dignity, and at the fame time fecure the Company
;igainn: the fjtal cffcfts of future revolutions, than this of the Dewanny. The power
is now lodgjd where it can only be lodged with fiifcty to us, fo that we may pronounce
witli ibme degree of confidence, that the worft which will happen in future to the Com-
j>any will proceed from temporary ravages only, which can never become fo general
as to prevent your revenues from yielding a fufficient fund to defray your civil and
military charges, and furnifli your inveftments.

24> But to fecure thefe valuable pofreffions, a conftant regard mud be paid to your
military eftablifluucnt. By the rcc^imcntal returns, which we enclofe in the packet,
and which are very exafl:, you will fee, at one view, the deplorable condition of our
infantr)^ to complete which, agreeable to your direftions and to the propofals made
by Lord Clive, not lefs than yoo men will fufiicc. W'c therefore moil; earneftly
requeft, that you will next year fend us out 12 or 1400 men for this ellablilhment,
giving fuch peremptory orders as muft be obeyed, that none of this number be detained,
upon any confideration, on the coaft of Coromandel. Our numbers being once com-
pleted, we fhaH require for the fecurity of your immenfe poffeffions in this country, no
more than 600 recruits, to be fent out annually in the following manner, viz. 500 infan-
try, 60 artillery, 20 cavalry, and 20 fcrjeants for the fepoys : to this number mull be add-
ed 30 volunteers and officers ; and it would be of the utmoft benefit to our plan, that
you alfo fend out every year 6 or 7 gentlemen from the academy at Woolwich, for
artiller}' officers, this being a fervice that fuffers extremely for want of perfons properly
inrtrufted in the bufmcfs ; finee no officer, who knows the benefit of the infantry fervice
here, will chufe to quit it for any advantages the artillery affords.

25. Already we feci the good effedts of regimenting your troops ; difcipline, fub-
ordination, and ccconomy begin to take place. Had General Carnac's merit been
much greater, if poffible, than it is, he could not effed; this of himfelf, unaffilled as
he was by field-officers, and thwarted as he always has been in his military opera-
tions, bv the late Governors and Council.

We have already ililied our orders for flriking off half the double Batta, and ffiall,
in a very few days, put your forces intirely upon a footing with the troops on the coaft
of Coromandel, which will be reducing your military expences as low as they can well
bear, confiftently with your intercft and the good of the fervice.

26. Before we quit this fubjedl, we muft requeft, in the ftrongeft manner, that
vou will fujiply us for the firft year with 10,000 ftands of arms, and afterwards with
4,000 annually, which will in future anfwer all our demands, if proper care be taken
in the purchafe. Of late- years, the bad quality of your fmall arms in general have
expofed )-our poficffions to the greateft rilk and danger ; the locks are ill finiflied, and
the metal fo badlv tempered as not to ftand the heat of the fun in this climate. Wc
are therefore perfuaded, it would prove in the end much to your atlvantagc, if you
pnrchafed all your fmall arms of the fame perfons who furniffi tl-.e Government, and
])av at the rate of twenty-feven, inftead of eighteen fliillings per firelock, finee expe-
rience demonftratcs they will continue ferviceable for double the time, without being
liable to the inconvenience above reprefented.

The iron-foi:nder, whom )-ou fent out in the Kent, died on his paffageto this place;
but as die cafling of fliot and ftieils in this country is an object of importance, we

B ftrongly

E N D I X.

ftrongly recommend that you will fupply the lofs as foon as poflible, by fenduig three
or four perfons well verfed in that bufmefs, that our whole defign may not be frultrated
by fuch an accident in future.

It alfo merits your ferious confideration to provide, by every poflible means,.
ii.£^ainft the illicit importation of fmall arms to your fettlements in India, and parti-
cularly to Bengal. Of late years, this has become a profitable branch of trade with
the Europe captains, as well as that of furnilhing the natives with ammunition; and
they elude the fearch of your officers, by fending round fmall velfels to meet
them at fea in certain latitudes, or to Teneriff and St. Jago, or elfewhere, out of the
reach of your inquiries. However, as their continuing fuch pradtices any longer may
prove fatal in their confequcnces to all your poircflions in this country, we earneftly
exhort, that you will immediately apply the moil: efteftual remedies you can fuggelt,.
either by way of prevention, or by the rigorous and exemplary punifhmcnt of the
offenders. At the fame time, you may be aflured, we will take every rtep in our
power to detedt the leall breach of your orders on this head, and to obftrudl the fale of
all kinds of fire-arms.

27. Having obferved the relu<flance that appeared in bidding for your farms, at the
laft fale of 3"our lands in the Burdwan province, the great annual deficiency in the col-
lecl:ions, and the numberlefs complaints made of grievous exadtions and oppreffions,.
we determined, upon Mr. Johnflone's refigning your fervice, to appoint Mr. Verelft in
quality of Supervifor of thofe revenues, in order to form the beft judgment poflible of
the caufe of the yearly deficiency of the real value of the lands, the befl: method
of improving and letting them ; and alfo to procure the necelfary materials for a
plan to condutt the collections in future, in fuch manner as fliall appear mofl: con-
ducive to your intereft, and likely to promote the happinefs of the people. It is with
pleafure we acquaint you, that we have the greatefl: reafon to be fatisfied with Mr.
Vcrelft's attention to the fcveral objedts recommended, and the diligence he has
exerted during his fhort refidence in that country, of which you may form fome
judgment from his Memorial to the Committee, annexed to our Proceedings of the

i4th September.

28. It was in confequcnce of this Memorial, that we formed our Refolution of that
d^te to withdraw the Fadtory, and alfo to recall the Member of the Board refident at
Midnapore, the colledtions and bufinefs of which may as conveniently be tranfadfed by
a junior fervant, at a much lefs cxpence. Manv are the inconveniencies, befides the
extraordinary charge incurred, that refult from fuch appointments, which we confider
as neceflTary only at thofe Subordinates where your principal inveflrments are made.
We are convinced by veiv late experience, that the moll flagrant opprefl!ions mav be
wantonly committed in thofe employments by Members of the Board, which would
not be tolerated in junior fervants ; and that the dread and awe annexed to their ftatiori;
as Counfeliors have too fre(]ucni;ly fcrccned them from complaints, which would be
lodged without fear or fcruple againft inferior fervants.

2q. But there are other manifold inconveniencies, of fill! more pernicious effedl tCK
tlie fcrvicc, which refult from thofe appointments. Hence it was found nccelfarv to
enlarge the Council from twelve to fixtecn Menibcrs, that there might be a fufficient
number to condudt the bufinefs of the Prefidency, and alfo to manage your affairs at
the out-fettlcm'.-nts, either in quality of Chiefs or Refidcnts. What is the confequcnce
b\it fuch perpetual revolutions at the Boanl, as render it impoflible for any of the
Members to acquire a competent knowledge of your intercils, and of the particular
duty of their own ftation ?

This cncrcafe in the number of the Board is alfo produdlivc of a further inconve-
nience, of the dcepefl; concern to your intereft in the prcfent lituation of yoiu' affairs.

APPENDIX. U

To keep up to the letter of your Inflrudions, we muft fill the vacancies in Council
from the next in lucceffion, without regard to the qualifications they poflefs for the
difcharge of lb important a vrull, and thus commit into the hands of raOi unexpe-
rienced young men the conduit of a fyftem of government which tiemands the
difcretion, judgment, and fteadinefs of more advanced years an<i longer fcrvices.
Circumflances are now widely different from what tliey were a few 3-ears fince, when
you confined your whole attention to commerce, and were happy in being able to
complete your inveftments without infult or exaction from the Country Government.
You are now become the fovereigns of a rich and potent kingdom ,* your fuccefs is
beheld with jealoufy by the other European nations in India, and your intereils arc
fo extended, fo complicated, and fo connefted with thofe of the feveral furrounding
powers, as to form a nice and difficult fyftem of politics.

Thefe weighty confideratlons -determined us to avoid filling the vacancies lately
occafioned in Council by the death of Mr. Billers and refignation of Melirs. Johnftone
and Burdett. We carefully examined your orders refpeCting the appointment of a
Board ; we compared the different paragraphs of your Letter, the more clearly to
afcertain the fpirit of your Inftrudfions, and are unanimous in our opinion, your
reafons for encreafing the number of the Board were founded on a fuppofition, that
this meafure would conduce to the benefit of the Company. Experience convinces
us of the contrary ; and we ihould be wanting in duty to our conftituents, if, from a
fervile regard to the letter, we negledted the evident fenfe and meaning of your
Inftrudtions, by admitting to the government of your affairs a number of perfons
who have certainly no other claim to this diftinftion, than that of Handing next in
fuccefTion.

It is therefore with the utmofl regret we think it incumbent on us to declare, that
in the whole lift of your junior merchants there are not more than three or four gen-^
tlemen whom we could poffibly recommend to higher ftations at prefent.

In this number juftice requires we Ihould mention Mr. Campbell, Secretary to this
Committee, whofe abilities and indefatigable diligence, of which we have had the
jiioft convincing proofs in the courfe of our proceedings, entitle him to this inilance of
our regard, and to your particular notice ; and as the fame qualifications will diftin-
guifh him in any ftation in your fervice, it is our joint requefl, that you will
pleafe to remove the reftri<ftion on his rifing, as a covenant-fervant, and fuffer him to
take rank accordingly from the date of his appointment.

30. At all times it has been found expedient to deviate occafionally from this general
rule of preferring feniority. It now becomes your indifpenfible duty to admit no claim
but that of merit, if you would prcferve the valuable poileflions )"ou enj'iiy, and reali/,e
the very near profpedt you have of eftablifhing your affairs on fo firm and folid a bafis
as nothing but milconduft can overfet. So much reits with the Board, that on your
judicious impartial feledtion of the members it depends, whether you hold a foot of land,
and enjoy a privilege in Bengal ; or whether you continue in pofTefTion of the molt
ample revenues and eftablifhed extenfive influence ever eftablifhed by any European
mercantile body. We therefore moft earneftly exhort you, that no confideration of
f^ivour or prejudice be fuffered to biafs you in the important bufinefs of compofing )'0ur
Council ; and that no other diftiniftion be admitted, except what is due to ability, to
integrity, and to faithful elTential fervices.

Were we to fpeak our own fentiments further, we fhould confefs it to be out firm
opinion, founded on the experience now before us, that the bufinefs of this govern-
ment can never lb effedtually be conduded as by a fele<5t unanimous Committee. By
dividing the power into many hands you weaken the authority, promote dillention,
and deprive your meafures of that fecrefy, fteadinefs, vigour, and difpacch neceifary

B a to

12 APPENDIX.

to their fuccefs. The fame means b}' which you obtained the great advantages yon
now enioy, mr.ft be continued, and conftantlv exerted, to fecure and perpetuate them ;
and, indeed, we can think of no other form of government fo well adapted, fo per-
feftly congenial to your peculiar prefent circumftances in Bengal.

31. It will not be neceU'ary, we apprehend, to dwell upon a refutation of the fpe-
cious but flimfy arguments advanced by Mr. Leycefter for immediately filling up the
vacancies at the Board, and purfuing the literal fenfe of your Inllrudtions, when you
enlarge the Board to fixteen. We have already fiiewn, and Mr. Leycefter does not
deny it, that the bufinefs of Burdwan and ivlidnapore may be conducted to greater
advantage by junior fervants than by Members of the Council. We have alfo fliewn,
that enlarging the Council beyond the number recruited for the bufinefs of the Prefi-
dency and Subordinates has proved injurious to the Company. He knows it is our
determination, that feven or eight Members lliould conftantly refide at the Prefidency,
while all proper attention fhall be given to ^'our inveitment and coUedlions ; and this
we certainly iudgc to be the fpirit of your orders. But if that g^rntleman means, that
no aft can be valid which is executed by a lefs number of Agents than )'ou have expreily
appointed, he renders void every deed, covenant, contradt, treat}^, and obligationj
entered into by the Council fince the firft eftabliflament of this fettlement ; he even ren-
ders null and of no effed: the treaty with the prefent Nabob, in which he himfelf had a
principal fhare, and which, we believe, is not figned by more than half the Compa<-
ny's Agents.

In a word, we forcfee fo many inconveniences confequent on a literal compliance
with your inftruftions, that our duty obliges us to fufpend, and we think our powers
authorize us in fufpending at leaft, if not revoking thofe orders, until )-our further
pleafure be knoAn.

32. By confulting our Proceedings of the lOth of Augufl:, and 18th of Septem-
ber, you will be able to judge of the progrefs we have made in carrying your orders
into execution, relative to the trade in fak, beetle-nut, and tobacco. This fubjed' we
confidered with all the attention poffible, and regard to your intereft, and the good of
the fer\ice. We found that to remove the iaconveniencies of a free trade, pre-
vent the oppreflions daily committed, fave this valuable article of commerce troni
ruin, and diffufe the benefits refulting indifcriminately among all your fervants en-
titled to Duftucks,. it was neceflary to inveft the whole in an exclufive company, com-
pofcd of the three firfl clafles of your covenanted fervantSj the field officers, chap'^
lains, and head furgeons. In admitting the field officers, and ftating the proportions
allotted to each clafs, we had particular regard to the prefent fituation of )Our Coun-
cil, and field officers, w ho are now excluded many emoluments they before cnjoyedL
It is our opinion, that gentlemen who have rifcn to thofe ftations with credit and re-
putation, are certainly entitled to fomcthing more than a fubfiftencc : they even ha\ e
a right to expert fuch advantages in your fervice, as may enable them to return in a
few years with independence to their native country.

With refpedt to the Company, we are unanimoufly of opinion, it is more for their
intereft to be confidered as Superiors than Proprietors ; and, as the royal grant of the
Dewanny renders the iith article unneccffary, we are thereby enabled to fubjedl the
trade to a duty which will produce a clear annual revenue of 120,000!. fterling ,•
whatever ftirplus of their revenues the Company may find themfelves ])oft€fted ofj
after difcharging all the demands in this Prcfid'ency, we in-sagine may be employed'
much more to their benefit, in fupporring and extending the China trade, and affilling
the wants of the other Prefidencios. 1 lov\'ever, fiiould it either appear that we ha\e
miftakcn the Company's real intereft, or that the jKofits of the trade will admit of
encrcafcd duties, it is our relblution to give all poffible fatisfatlion cui thofe points to

our

APPENDIX.

dur Honourable Maftcrs ; and to lay before you a f\iir, full and candid reprefcntailon
of the amount of the colls, charges and fales of the firft year.

33. W^e think it incumbent on us to obfcrve, that the management of this impor-
tant bufinefs was committed to Mr. Sumner. If the plan, therefore, Ihould prove fo
fortunate as to meet your approbation, the merit is chiefly due to that gentleman, who
fpared no pains to acquire a thorough infight into the fubjed:, at the fame time that
he difcharged the duties of the Prelidency, during Lord Clive's abfence, much to our
fatisfaftion. Mr. Sumner would have chearfuUy accepted the poll of Refident at the
Durbar, now grown an employment of confequence, fmce the grant of the Dewanny ;
but we judged it to be more becoming his ftation, more agreeable to )-our intention,
and more for the benefit of the fervice, that he Ihould remain at the Prefidency to
take charge of the government in cafe of Lord Clive's abfence.

We therefore determined to appoint Mr. Sykes to the Durbar, as he-has already
fufficiently manifefted his capacity and diligence in that employment.

34. W^hen thefe difpatches are finllhed, we refolve to apply ourfelves heartily to a
reformation of the abufes which have crept into almofl; all your public offices, and
every department civil and military. The talk is arduous, bvit not Impradlicable, and
we arc aflured it becomes highly neceffary to the fervice. The fame unanimity
which hath enabled the Committee to difpatch fo great a variety of important affairs
fince their eilablifliment, flial!, weliope, be firmly continued and vigoroufly exerted,
until we have accomplifhed evciy end propofed at our appointment ; until we have
ftemmcd the torrent of luxury and corruption,! and eftablifhed a fplrit of induftry,
6Economy, and integrity, throughout every clafs of your fervants.

We beg leave to conclude with affuring you,, that it is the highcfl ambition of this
Committee to merit the confidence repofed in them, by promoting with their utmoft
diligence and abilities, the honour and intereft of the Eaft India Company, which,
have ever been the objcfts of their moft fervent wilhes.

"We have the Llonour to be, with refpeft,.

Honourable Sirs,

Your moft faithful humble Servants,

CLIVE, W. B. SUxMNER, JOHN CARNAC, H. VERELST, F. SYKES.

SUPPLEMENT.

Injuflice to the memory of the late Nabob Meer Jafher, we think it incumbent on
tis, to acquaint you,, that the horrible m.affacres wherewith he is charged by. Mr.
Holwell, In his Addrefs to the Proprietors of Eaft India Stock (page 46) are cruel
afperfions on the character of that Prince, which have not the leaft foundation In truth.
The feveral perfons there affirmed, and who were generally thought to hsve been
murdered by his order, are all now living except two, who were put to death by
Meeran, without the Nabob's confent or knowledge; and it is with additional fatis-
ta<Jtion we can afliire you, that they are lately releafed from confinement by the
j->rerent Subah, which fully evinces the entire confidence he repofes in the Company's
protection, againft all attacks on his government.

14 APPENDIX.

"We arc further to acquaint 5'ou, that not fatisfied with payuig all due attention to
the confirmation and fecurityof your polleffions in Bengal, Lord Clive has alfo ob-
tained from the King, Sunnuds for the five Northern Provinces, and the ftrongeft
ratification under his Majefty's hand and feal, of all )'our former polfeffions in the
Carnatic.

Mr. Sykes has exerted his utmoft diligence in procuring an exact eftimate of the
amount of the revenues of the Nabob's dominions, of which you are not only the
CoUeftors but the Proprietors ; and we are in hopes of tranfmitting an accurate ac-
count of the fame by the Admiral Stevens ; but the books of the Sircar are fo much
behind, fo many balances are outrtanding, and fuch negligence appears in the col-
leftion of the revenues for fome years pall, owing, in a great meafure, to the dif-
turbances in the country, which prevented any regular colleftions from being made,
that he has not been able yet to fucceed to his entire fatisfaftion ; we therefore
think it better to poflpone the fubjed: until our next difpatches, when we can write
with precifion and certaintv. At prefcnt, we can only affirm, that the acquifition of
the Dewanny, and the agreement with the Nabob, will neceffarily turn out a pro-
digious increafe of your revenues, at the fame time it mull conduce to the liability
of your power and influence.

You will obferve in our general letter from the public department, what has paffed
in Council on the fubjed; of the donation to the navy, which is indeed no more than
a tranfcript of our Confultations. We here think it neceflary to remark, that we can-
not, in the prefent circumftances of your affairs, and confidently with our Jate en-
gagements with the Nabob, either take upon us to pay fo large a demand out of your
revenues, or infifl upon the Nabob's paying it out of his limited llipend ; more ef-
pecially as it appears that the donation to the navy was never voluntary, but obtained
from Meer Jaffier by dint of folicitation, and otlaer means, which never met with his
intire approbation.

It is with fome regret we acquaint you, that we apprehend it will be neceflary to
refume our late enquiry into the condud: of the Deputation, having juft received informa-
tion from Nundcomar of further funis paid to them out of the Nabob's treafury, during
their refidence at Murfiied-abad. Mr.Johnilone makes a principal and confpicuous figure
in this account alfo, having obtained a very large fum befidcs what is fpecified in the
diftribution lift, or the narratives of Mahomed Reza Cawn and Juggutfeat, which
with the fums received by the other gentlemen, fully accounts for the Nabob's af-
fertions in his letter addreflcd to the Committee. The neceffity we are under of dif-
])atching the fiiip, in order to receive the earlieft notice of your fentiments on our
proceedings, and your further inftrudlions, prevents our entering immediately upon
the enquiry ; of which, however, you may be afliircd, wcfliall tranfmit a faithful and
particular account in our next advices.

CLIVE, W.B. SUMNER, JOHN CARNAC, H.VERELST, F. SYKES.

APPENDIX. rj

To the Honourable the Court of T>ire5lors, Gfr.

HONOURABLK S I R S, Fort William, Jan. 31. i7(;6,

1. We have now the honour to tranfmit the fcqucl of thofe Proceedings of the Sc-
left Committee, which were difpatched the 30th of September, by the Admiral Ste-
vens, and aUb a duplicate of our letter of that date.

2. The conjedlures we then formed, with refpcdt to the fyftem which the Com-
mittee found it neceflary to adopt, have, in the event, corrcfponded to our vvarmeft
expedtations ; and it is with extreme fatisfaftion we can affure you,, that a happy
profpedt is daily opening to our view, of fecurity and opulence to the Company. Mo-
ney flowing into your I'realury ; contentment exprefled by the Country Government ;
and Peace difFufing her bleffings throughout every diftridt of the Nabob's dominions,
are to us the moft pleafing teftimonies of the rcdlitude of the meafures we purfued,
when the late grants were obtained.

The more we refledt on the fituation of your affairs, the ftronger appear the reafons
for accepting the Dewanny of thefe provinces, by which alone we could eftablifli a
power fufhcient to perpetuate the poffcflions we hold, and the influence we enjoy.
While the Nabob adted in quality of Colledfor for the Mogul, the means of fupport-
ing our military eflablifliment depended upon his pleafure. In the moft critical fitu-
ations, while we flood ballancing on the extreme border of deftruftion, his ftipulated
payments were flow and deficient, his revenues with-held by dilaffefted Rajahs, and
turbulent Zemindars, who defpifed the weaknefs of his government ; or they were
fquandered in profufion, and diflipated in corruption, the never-failing fymptoms of a
declining conftitution and feeble adminiflration. Hence we were frequently difap-
pointed of thofe fupplies, upon the pundlual receipt of which depended the very ex-
iftence of the company in Bengal.

We cannot indeed look back without horror, upon that dcfperate ci'ifis to which
your aflairs were reduced, when a mutinous fpirit prevailed among your troops, when
diflentions diftradled your confultations, and a powerful army was invading the pro-
vinces, to fcize and defolate your pofleflions, and probably to extirpate your fervants.
To us it evidently appears there remained but the alternative to advance as we have
done, and grafp at the whole power, or to flirink back into our primitive condition of
fimple merchants, to abandon our pofleflions, difl^and our forces, and reft our future
hopes on the clemency of princes, who will not eafily forget or forgive the fuperiority
we have fo lono- maintained..

In a word, this laft meafure was in itfelf impradficable ; for we muft obferve, alrho''
with much regret, that the mifcondud: of individuals hath rendered the Englifli n.Tme
fb odious, that we are no longer fecure than whilft our hands are armed for the dcf^.ncc
of our lives and propert)'.

3. The feveral ftatements entered in the Committee Proceedings, fliew clearly the
amount of revenues to be collected this year i:.to theTreafurv, exclufive of thofe ifiliing
from the provinces of Burdwan, Midnapore, and Chittagong, the Calcutta lands,
and all your former pofleflions. At preftnt they ftand incumbered with a variety of lu-
perfiuous charges, which we hope to reduce, when we come to adjuft the coileftions
of the enfuing year ; but we thought it advifeable to avoid introducing innovations,
which might create difguit and difliitisfadtion at fo early a period of our government.
The next balance, amounting to 2 1 2 lacks of Sicca rupees, or 286,200/. flerlingj
will be the' more readily paid, that the minifters and officers of the government can
have nothing; to plead in excufe for deficiencies ; and we have reaibn to believe it will not

fall.

i6 A P P E N D I X.

fall greatly fliort of the flated amount. This ballancc is abundantly fufficient to fupply
your China trade, provide for our own im-eftment, and defray all the expences of your
civil and military eftL.bliihment : whatever furplus m^ay remain in the treafury after
the ftipends to the King aiid Niibob arc difchargcd, and all oiiher more iiiiincdiatc
demands are anfwered, this, togeiher with the revenues of Eurdwan, &c. fhall 'then
be appliej to relieve the wants of the other Prefidencies, to pay oft' your bonds, and La
fuch other prirpofes as may appear to us themoft conducive to your intereft.

4. ^Ir. Sykcs, who was fome time fince appointed refidcnt at the Durb..r, and Su-
pervifor of the colledtions, hath now taken charge of the faftory at Collimbazar, ujwh
Mr. Senior's application for leave to return to FAuope. The great diligence he has
exerted in fettling the revenues, and forming the ftatcments, as well as ihewn to the
other feveral objeAs of the adminiftration, afford us the utmoit reafon to be highly
fatisfied with his condudf. He is daily making remittances, the firft fruits of the
collections to the treafury, whereby we are already enabled to fet apart a lupply of
* twenty-four lacks for your China inveftmenc, -f twelve of which are now under dif-
]>atch for Canton ; the remainder will be fent in the month of February to Madrafs,
t\) be forwarded from thence to China, by the carliell: convevance.

When the colledlions of the year are clofed, we have diretled Mr. Sykes to enquire
Rrivftly into the ballances due to the government, and to ufe every poffible endeavour
to recover them, as we entertain the molT: flattering hope, that from thefe arrears wiil
arife a tund lufficient to difcharge all the public demands on the late Nabob, for which
your honour may fland any way engaged.

5. Notwithftanding thefe immenfe revenues, of which the Company is adlually
poffelfed, we mull earneftly requeft your ferious attention to the confequences of our
impoverifliing the country, by luch annual exports of treafure to China. We muft
alfo recommend, that you devife fome method of enabling your f.rvants, and the
inhabitants of the fettlement, to remit their own fortune, and the effedls of deceafed
perfons in their hands, by fome other channel than that of bills upon France and
Holland. You are now in a fituation which will never require yovir receiving pri-
vate effefts into the treafury, to be able to complete your own inveftmcnt. Your
collecflions are adequate to every purpofe and demand which we can forcfec. The
Governor and Council could not therefore, \sith anv propriety, fubjeft )'ou to the
inconvenience of anfwering bills to the amount of § forty or || fifty lacks, merely for
the benefit of your fervants, and fuffer vour own money to lie dead and unappro-
jiriated in the treafury. Indeed we were particularly cautious of tirawing largely
for this year, in order that you might be able to difcharge )'our more immediate and
jirefiing engagements at home. Yet, fliould the ncLcffity continue of remitting
private property by foreign funds, the French and Dutch will not only be enabled
thereby to jjrovide early and valuable inveftments, but the provinces will alfo be de-
prived of a very confidcrable addition to the current fpecie, which thofe nations will
otherwiie be obliged to import everv year in ready money.

To obviate as far as poffible anv immediate bad eftefts to tlie public from the
above caufes, the Prefident lias now under confideration a jnopofal to prevent the cx-
jiortation of treafure from occaiioning a fcarcity of money lor fome years at Icaft. Yet
as this proj-iofal rather tends to jialliate, than eftedtually to remedy the evil, it is from
your inflrudtions only that we are to exjicdl a radical cure.

6. The opi)ortunity which the rcllorarion of peace afibrds lor carrying into execu-
tion )'our orders relative to the Katta allowed to military olhcers, will contribute
greatly to the increafe of your furplus fund. Tlioi'e orders, although rcafonable and
r.cceflary, could nor, however, be conveniently enforced before the public tranqui-
lity,

* 300,000/. I 150, coo/. § 500,000/. II 625,000/.

APPENDIX. 17

Tity, and military difciplinc and fubordination, were firmly eflabllflied. It was alfo
ncccflary to devifc tlie means of their living cheaper, and of fupplying them with li-
quors, and other ftorcs, at a more moderate price thiin thofe articles had ulually been
furnifhed. Wc muft likcwife obfervc, that regimenting the troops has not only con-
duced to the reformation wc propofcd, but facilitated the redudion of expencc you
tnjoin ; a foldier, who knows and performs his duty,'will neither expcdt nor require the
fuperfluities and luxuries of life.

Accordingly we have ordained, that on the firll: day of the prefent month, the cuf-
tomary Batta fliall be ftruck off from the troops in general, excepting the brigade fta-
tioned in Sujah al Dowlah's dominions, who, on account of the high price of provi-
fion, and the difficulty of procuring ftorcs, will be allowed double Batta in the field,
and half double Batta in cantonments and in garrlfon, until they arc recalled to the
provinces.

For the fame reafons half Batta is continued to the troops quartered at Patna and
Monghcer ; but the reft of the army, we mean the detachments at fubordinates and
-other places, that are not engaged in aftual fervice, are reduced precifely on a footing
with the Company's forces on the coaft ; even thole ftationcd at Mongheer and Patna
receive the fame exadt Batta as your troops at Trichinopoly.

From fuch regulations, and alio from the check already given to the many fjiameful
abufes committed in muftcrs, returns, hofpital bills, boats, and other articles, we may
■affirm with confidence, that the charges of your whole eftablifhment, civil and military,
including your fortifications, will fall fhort of the amount expended during the courfe
■of the late war on your army alone ; and yet it is propofed, if you fupply us duly
with recruits, to maintain the complete eftablifhment projefted by Lord Clive, and the
mofl: formidable army that ever took the field in Bengal. From what caufes your mi-
litary expcnces fwelled to fuch immeafurable bounds, requires no explanation. Cer-
tain it is, they far exceeded the fupplies fo liberally voted by the Britifii parliament,
for an army of auxiliaries employed to oppofe the combined forces of the moft power-
ful princes in Chriftendom.

7. To thefe fchemes of oeconomy, permit us to add the late refolution of this
'Committee, regarding the new works eredting for the fecurity of your fcrvants and
property. Thofe works have, for feveral years paft, been a perpetual drain for trca-
fiires, which might have been more ufefuUy applied ; yet fliould we ever meet with
the misfortune of being driven off the field, and cooped up within the walls of this
fort, your affairs may then be confidered as dcfperate and irrecoverable. It is there-
fore the unanimous opinion of this Committee, confirmed by the fentiments of the
chief engineer, that we ought to regard the new works as a temporary fecurity only ;
Jbr which purpofe the ditch, ramparts, baftions, and ravelin already finLfhcd, are
fufficient to withftand the greateft force v.'hich the powers of this country are ever
likely to affemble.

Captain Martin farther delivers it as his opinion, that enlarging the fortifications
conformably to the plan of the intended outworks, would add nothing to the ftrengtli
of the place, unlefs we could at the fame time maintain a garrifon proportioned to
their extent ; we refolved therefore not to proceed on the plan beyond what is now
completed, but to ufe all poffible means to check the incroachments of the river,
which hath advanced within a few yards of the covert way, and threatens to fweep
av/ay one intire fide of the fort.

We fhall alfo make all the difpatch we are able in completing the barracks, fome
of which we have converted into very commodious apartments for the writers, lately
arrived ; and we are convinced it would be much for the benefit of the fervice, it all
the younger fervants, and the public offices, were collected within fo narrow a com-

C pafs.

j8 appendix.

pafs, as might fubject them to cloler inrpedtion than Is pofliblc hi their prefect
lituation.

8. Mahomed Reza Cawn, and the minifters we afTociated with him to condvift
the bufinefs of the country government, proceed with alacrity and unanimitv, under
direiflion of Mr. Sykes, the refident. They, as well as the people in general, ex-
prefs great fatisfaftion at the orders we lately iffued and enforced, for recalling to the
Preiidency all free merchants, and other Europeans, who are not in your covenanted
fervice, many ot whom had, by interfering with public affairs, by afts of opprcffion
and violence, and by affumnng and exerting a judicial authority, totally perverted the
ordinary courfe of juftice, and given great interruption to the bufinefs of the admini-
llration; yet we mufl lament that the jull and neceflarv pur iihmcnt infJcVed upon
thole who had committed abufes, Ihould unavoidably extend to others who always
acfted with integrity and honour.

9. The more effeftually to remove everv caufe of complaint, and render the mi-
nifters refponfible for the collettions of the llated revenue, we have direfted that none
befides thofe who are employed in certain public ftations, fhall In future correfpond
with officers of the government, hold lands, lend money to the Zemindars, or
take any other means of Improving their fortunes, or acquiring influence In the coun-
try, that may tend to difturb, dilirefs, or defraud either the adminillratlon or the
people; and this prohibition we have extended to all your fcrvants, civil and military,
and their dcjiendents. It was the earneft rcqueft of the minillcrs, that we fliould im-
pofe iuch rellriiftions ; and we thought compliance but reafonable, as we were well
allured that the revenue had fuffered from the exccfs to which thefe praftices were
carried.

In one inftance, however, we have taken the liberty of deviating from vour orders
for recalling the free merchants, &c. The plan for conducting the joint inland trade,
in the articles of fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco, is in itfelf fo cxtenfive, the capital re-
quired fo very confiderable, and the difficulty of procuring money at a moderate in-
tcreft fo great, that It becomes indlfpenfibly necelTarv the accounts of the foclety
Ihould be clofed, and their books ballanced with more dlfjiatch than can be expedted,
Ihould black Gomaftahs and agents be emplo}ed. For this rcafon, and becaufe we
are willing to promote to theutmoftof our power a fcheme which appears well calcu-
lated for your Intereft and the general benefit, we have permitted "the committee of
trade to appoint European agents for d fpofing of the foclety 's concerns at certain
ertabllilied marts. In diflerent parts of the country; and as for this purpofe the Com-
pany's fcrvants could not be fpared from the Prefidency and Subordinates, thofe agents
are therefore chofen from the lift of free merchants, with the utmoft attention to their
characters and former behaviour. Befides which we have ftrifth' confined them to
the bufinefs of tlie foclety by fuch fevere penalties and rcftriftions, as we think muft
crtedlually prevent their giving hindrance or moleftation. Should we find thefe li-
mitations infufficient to fecure the peace of the country, and remove all caufe of
complaint, we are then determined to recall them, and commit the bufinefs to black
agents.

II. Farther to affifl: this valuable branch of commerce, and jiromotc the credit of
the infant fociety, the Governor and Council have, at the requert of the Committee
of trade, figned and executed a deed for better fecuring to the fociety the free
and cxclufive purchafe and fale of the articles of fait, &c. from the ift of Se]itcm-
ber 1765, to the 30th of Augufl 1766, allowing a fuHicient time to difpofe of fuch
flock as may be jirovided for the fealbn, in order to prevent the great lofs that muft
arifc ro tlic proprietors, fhould an)- alteration take place by your order, after the con-
cerns for the year arc begun, and before the fame arc concluded. We therefore flat-
ter

N D I X.

ter ourfelvcs with your intire approbation of this mcafurCj-PjcfT-ivtial to- -tlib'^fie 'ex-
ecution of the phui formed by \our pciiuiflion, and with all pofTible regard to your-
ihtereft.

12. Our proceedings point out clearly the incrcafc of your rcnis, ifiliing from the
Calcutta lands; and the fevcral minutes entered upon that fubjeifl ex^Maln our fenti-'
ments on the profpedl we have of rating the Pergunnahs flill higher, without exadion
or opprcflion. It evidently appears to us, that 'con.fiderable frauds we:re formerly
committed in thefe colleftions ; with a view of corrcdting which, w-a have determined
that the leafes granted to the prefcnr farmers fhal! expire on the ift day of November
next. By that time we hope to find leifure to afcerrain their value more exadtly ; at
leaft we ihall then filence the clamour of the inhabitants againfl: what the}' deem a*
monopoly, by univerfally difl'ufing and extending the benefits arifing'from the pof^
feffion of lands among the moll; fubllantial and reputable B?n}'ans and black mer-
chants living under your proteftion.

13. Moft earneftly do we wifli that fuch fhameful em.bezzlcmcnt of the public mo-,
ney were confined to thofe lands fituated more immediately under the eyes of the
Governor and Council, fince nothing befides the greatefl: inattention 'aftd inifcondudl
could then prevent the deteftion of abufes ; but fhoifld a general depravitv of rnanncrs
prevail, and your fervants, afting in the highefi: llations, he rellrained neither by
motives of confcience, nor by principles of honour, the diicbverv of frauds a'lt places
femote from the Prefidency will then become difficult and mereh' accidental.

This evidently 'appears from the fiatc of thelvlidnapore revenues, which for three veaTs
pall have yielded * 250,060 rupees more than were ever placed, as they ought, to tlte
Company's credit. Our recalling the factory, and appointing Mr. Verelfc fu};ervifor, and
Mr. Graham prefident, brought this unwarrantable tranfadtion to light, which might
otherwife have lain in profound obfeurity, until chance had produced a refident, whofe
fcnfe of honour, and feelings of confcience, were flronger than the impulfes of private
interefi:.

Yet fortunate to the Company as this difcovery will certainly be coiffidered, we mud
confefs it occafions great embarraflrnent to our proceedings, unlefs we would deviate on
the one hand or the other from that duty which we owe to our Conftituents. It was firmlj
our intention to avoid farther retrofpedion of the condud: of an adminiftration fo no-
torioufly corrupt, and meanly venal, throughout every department, in hopes the
examples already made would fufficiently deter others, and work a reformation. It
was the corredlion of abufes, and not the punifhment of pall mifcondud:, that we
propofed, although we endeavoured to avoid expofing ourfelves, either to the cenfure
of partiality, or the heavier charge of unfaithfulnefs to our emplovers.

In this, as in many other inftances, we confidered that a fcrutiny into the particulars
of the embezzlement would be unprofitable to you, while it would at the fame time
occafion great obflrudtion to our confultations, and might end in the neceflity of di-
rainifhing the number of your Council, alreadv much reduced bv the death of one,
the fulpenfion of another, and the refignation of four members of that board.

We mufl faither beg leave to obferve, that we cannot help regarding the late re-
fident as far lefs culpable than any of his immediate predecefl~ors, who may be fa'd to
have chalked out the path, and guided his lleps by the falfe light that mifled him ;
certain it is, that fhould you difapprove our lenit)', the fame decree in law and equity
which will oblige Mr. Watts to refund, will alio oblige his predecefibrs to niake
reflitution.

From thefe confiderations, therefore, we refolve to leave it in the option of your
Honourable Board, to profecute or relinquifh your claim to fuch ballances as ought
tb have been ajiplied to your credit, contenting ourfelves with giving you the necefiary

C 2 information

20 APPENDIX.

information of fafts, and taking the mofl eiFc(flual means to preve it fuch praiftlces in
future.

14. For reafons of a fimilar nature, we decline refuming any farther confideration
of the condudt of the Board and deputation during the late negociations at Murfhed-
abad. Already our confukations have been too much interrupted with cavilling, debate
and faftion. We are heartily fick of the fruitlefs labour of raking in the jakes of
corruption ; and fhould we enter upon clofe inquiries, we muft again wholly fufpcnd
the courfe of current bufinefs. You have before you fufF.cient proofs, whether thofe
gentlemen diftinguifhed more zeal for your fervice, or attachment to their own intercfi:;
and fhould you be difpofed, for the fake of example, to attempt the recovering of
thole fums, obtained fo unwarrantably from the Nabob and his minifters, we appre-
hend the evidences tranfmitted are ftrong and explicit enough to ground an adlion
upon in any court of judicature.

15. It remains with us to offer a few remarks upon that letter which Mr., Johnftonc
fent into the Board, juft as the Admiral Stevens was under fail, as if he apprehended
left Ibme bold affertions he advanced might be refuted before he was out of reach of
the fharae confequent on detediiion. Many of thefe afTertions are fo mean, fo contrary
to truth, and to Mr. Johnftone's own knowledge, that we read them with equal fur-
prize and contempt ; fenfible that he muft be hard prefled indeed to fupport a finking
reputation, who has recourfe to falfliood to jiiftify mifcondudf.

J 6. This gentleman thinks it neceflary, after three months preparation, to apolo-
gize for a lame and unfeafonable defence, by affirming, that he was denied all accefs-
to the papers relative to himfelf, until a few days before his departure. Mr. John-
ftone forgot that he acknowledges the receipt of thofe very papers, in a note he wrote
to our Secretary, in the month of June, before we came to any determination, which
note is now in the Secretary's poficflion. He alfo forgot that the letters of Meftrs.
Senior and Middleton, inferred in our proceedings of the 21ft of June, prove that all
the evidences and proceedings upon that occafion, were regularly ti'anfmitted to thofe
gentlemen who vyere not prefent at the Board. He ought, therefore, tu avail him-
felf of the firft plea, and refufe rather to acknowledge the authority of the Committee,
than thus to fkulk behind a pitiful untruth.

From the deep fund of critical learning which Mr. Johnftone difplays in the coun-
try language, we might reafonably exped: a more perfett knowledge of the power and
idiom of his mother tongue ; for after torturing the phrafe Cooch bcoligani, to make
our proceedings appear unfair and partial, he is at length forced to conftrue it into a
fignification that implies a ftronger menace that can poffibly be conveyed in the
words of our tranflation. The leaft acquaintance with the Englilh language will enable
any man to determine whether, in the circumftances there reprefented, Mr. Johnftone's
expreiTion, " I will befilent," doth not imply a more emphatic menace than the words,
which we afcribe to him, " Your bufinefs will meet with no countenance ;" inafmuch
as the one declares all that is meant ; whereas the other intimates a harflicr meaning
than he would chufe to exprefs ?

Mr. Johnftone infinuates, by way of rellcftion on the management of the Com-
mittee, that we were under the neccflity of applying to the Seats for the loan of a lack
and a half of * rupees ; the fadl is true, but it retls with Mr. Johnftone and his aflb-
ciatcs at the Board to explain how the Companj's trcalliry came to be at fo low an ebb,
as to want fo i)oor a fupply. It alfo refls witlv them to explain how the Nabob (for
our firft application was to the Nabob) came to be fo impoverilhcxl by prcfcnts made
to the Deputation, that he could not furnifli even this finnll relief to the necefikies of
the Company ; and it rcfts particularly with Mr. Johnftone to aftign the reafon, why
a ballance of -]- fix lacks was due from Burdvvan to your cxhauftcd trcafiuy, whilft ho

\Yas
• 18,750 /. •} 75, coo /.

APPENDIX. 21

vras filling his own pockets at tlic Durbar, which ballance was afterwards coUcdted
by Mr. Verclft.

What he remarks on our opinion of Mr. Lcycefter, delivered in our Proceedings
of the 2ift of June, is alfo very true. That gentleman had jointly, wiih Mr. Johnftoue,
received bills from Mahomed Reza Cawn ; but as he declared upon oath, that he had
no intention of benefiting by them, it was furely incumbent on the Committee to ac-
quit him in a public opinion. We fliould have acquitted Mr. Johnfcone, llkewife, if
he had made the fame folcmn declaration ; but our private fentiments of that oath we
iliould have referved, as in Mr. Lcycefler's cafe, to our letter to the Court of Diredlors,
for an oath may filence an accufation of crimes, but it doth not neceflarily produce
conviftion of innocence.

Mr. Johnflione has tacked to this extraordinary defence, certain letters written to
him bv Mnhomed Rcza Cawn, and his own agent Mooteram, as vouchers for his
good behaviour during the negociation. With refpedt to thefe letters, we obferve, they
were obtained at a period when it may reafonably be fuppofed that fuch tefttmonles
<iurll not not be refufed, on account of the extraordinary authority which Mr. John-
flone had juft before afiumed at the Durbar. It may alfo be obferved, from Mahomed
Reza Cawn's letter, that great apprehenfions were conceived, left the Nabob fhould
come to Calcutta, to lay his complaints before the Committee ; and Mr. Johnftone knows
that intereft was made with the then Refident, to prevail on him to exert his utmoff.
influence in preventing a vifit, which it was thought would not bring much honour to
the Deputation. We leave it therefore to your Honourable Board, to determine, whether
thofe teftimonies, at the beft, will juftify Mr. Johnftone from the charge of extortion, and
weigh down againft the moft pofitive evidence that can be given upon any matter oi
fad:. Be this as it will, we think it neceiiary to corredt Mr. Johnftone's miftake,
when he affirms, that Mahomed Reza Cawn's firft dcpofition takes no notice of any
demand made in the name of the deputations. A reference to that depofition wlir'
fatisfy 3fou that Mr. Johnftone either reads without attention, or that he quotes without
candour.

It would be endlefs to purfue Mr. Johnftone through the tedious maze of error and
mifreprefentation, fo evident in every page of his letter; permit us, therefore, to refer
you for a more particular reply to the Proceedings themfelves, to Lord Clive's minute,
and thofe of the members of the Sele(fl Committee, entered ia the Appendix, already
tranfmitted by the Admiral Stevens.

As to Mr. Johnftone's management in the Burdwan iirovince, we could wiili he
had fuffered us to cover with the veil of filence tranfaiftions that will not bear exa-
mination. He hath now, by his ill-judged ftriftures on Mr. Verelft's memorial,
obliged that gentleman to mention what, our of tendernefs to Mr. Johnftone, he was
unwilling to reveal.

You will obferve, from the Confultations, that Mr. Leycefter ftands fufpended, and
that Mr. Gray refigned the fervice, while his ctndud:, during his refidence at Maulda,
was under confideration of the Board. You will alfo perceive the obftruttion given
to all public bufinefs, by cavilling, debate, and unfeafonable minutes, while thefe two
gentlemen remained at the Board. Thofe minutes are themfelves fufficient tefti-
mony of the fplrit which adluated fo extraordinary a behaviour ; they are indecenr,
violent, and fatlious, beyond any thing ever before tolerated in this government in
the moft licentious of times.

MelTrs. Leycefter and Gray no fooner perceive the lafti of corre<ff ion removed, than
they, unmindful of the lenity of the Committee, when we might with propriety, and in-
deed ought to have fufpended them the fervice, fet up a determined oppofition, and dared
to ridicule and infult the government upon all occafions ; yet we bore this ufage witlj

patience^

22 APPENDIX.

patience, out of regard to voiir fitiiation, and replied to their minutes with temper,
until Mr. Leycefler proceeded to luch lengths of licentioufnefs, as tended to involve
the fettlement in anarchy and civil diffention. He publiflicd an expreffion hadily
dropt at the Board by General Carnac, with fuch additional aggravating circumilances,
as were befl; calculated to raife a ferment in the minds of the people, and excite tlic
inhabitants to open fedition. The alarm that we were about to introduce a military
government became fo general, we thought it incumbent en us to trace the author of
luch dangerous calumny ; and, upon convicflion, that Mr. Leycefter had forged and
publillied it with a dcfign of weakening the hands of the adminiftration, we judged it
necelFary to fulpend him as unv.'orthy of his ftation in your fcrvice.

1 8. We need not take up your time in juitifying a meafure that became indifpen-
fibiy neceflar}', unlefs we meant to relinquiih all attempts to efteft that general re-
formation lb eflential to the ftability and permanency of your poirefEons. Mr. Ley-
cefter had ftrenuoufly oppofed every meafure which tended to the correftion of abufes ;
and, even v>-hilft he was afting in the capacitv of a magiftrate and judge, moil fhame-
fully endeavoured to fupprefs, pervert, and ftifle evidence relative to Mr. Gray's con-
tlutt. His own minute on the occafion that produced his fufpenfion, fo thoroughly
points out the violent dcfi-nis he entertained, that we could fit no longer at the fame
Board with any regard to our own characters, or profpedl of advantage to your fervice.
From the loud cry raifed by Mr. Gray and him againft military force and arbitrary
power, one would naturally conceive the Prefident had deprived half the Britilli fub-
iedts in the fettlement of their birth-right. The fatl, however, was nothing more than
that Lord Clive had ordered a guard of Sepoys over Ramnaut, a man of infamous
charadter, faid to be employed by Mr. Gray, in the moll iniquitous adts of extor-
tion, and a native of ^Laulda, who himfelf refufed to claim the proteftion of our
laws, becaufe he fhould thereby become fubjed: to the punifliment to which thofe laws
condemn his offences ; whereas, numberlefs inftances occur in former governments in
Bengal of native inhabitants of Calcutta being confined by military guards, upon
accufations of infinitely ]efs confequence to the public weal. In ihort, thofe two
gentlemen themfelves were fo diffatisfied, fo difcontented and indullrious in jirc-
pagating the feeds of their ill humour, that we are firmly convinced the fufpenfion of the
one was necelTarv, and that the refignation of the other is conducive to the benefit of
your fcrvice. Yet thcfe are the gentlemen who, we are told, flatter themfelves with
the hopes of juftifying their condudt to your fatisfaftion, and of returning again to
the management of j'Our concerns in Bengal : fliould this event ever happen, we have
only to wifli, and we fervently do willi, although contrary to all human probabilil)-,
that your affairs may profper.

19. The Board being now reduced far beneath the eftablillimcnt we propo'cd, and
to a numbr infuliicicnt to condud: the neccffary bufinefs of the government, filling
the vacant feats became an immediate objed: of confideration. By the Admiral
Stevens we freely delivered our fentiments of the unfitncfs for that llation of thofe
gentlemen who ftand next in fucccflion. We alfo recommcndctl with the greatell car-
nefinefs, that in compofing )'our Council, you would admit of no claim but that of
merit and ajiproved fervices. We mufi: now again beg leave to repeat, that from a lift
of fourteen junior merchants, we are not able to felcd: a number fuliicicnt to make up
the deficiency of members at the Board, unlefs we abandon all hopes of curbing li-
centioufnefs, reforming abufes, and fubduing that univerfal pafiion which prevails among
your fervants of accumulating riches in a manner inconfiftcnt with the good of the
countrvand with yoin-intereft. Thefadfiousfpirit which lately blaz.cdout fo violently in
Council, has reached the lower clafies ; fo that wc can entertain no reafonable hope
from their cordial fervices, until they have felt the weight of corredtion, and expe-
rienced

N D I X.

rienced the influence of example. Still, however, we fliould be forry to deprive thein
of all profpeft of rifing, by promoting their juniors on this cfcablilliment, fince limc
and the certain afllirance, that merit and not (landin;^ will entitle them to your fa-
vours, may produce the dcfircd clYcA upon their condutt.

20. For thefe reafons we applied to the Prefidency of Fort St. George, requefting
that Meflrs. RulFcl, Alderfey, Kellhl, and Floyer, might be jUTmitted toaflifl: us in the
jjrefent exigencv, until your pleafurc ihould be known ; being fully perfuaded that
this preference of the fervants of another Prefidency, will operate more effeftually than
if we had tecourfc to the more irkfome and mortifying indignity of fujierfeding them
from this cftabllfl'iment.

We are forry to find that our endeavours to ferve the Company in a manner the
leaft injurious to }'Our fervants here, fliould be mifconfcrued. As foon as this me. fure
became known, by reports from Madrafs, and previous to our laying any proceedings
bef.re the Board, the young gentlemen of the fettlement had let themfelves up for
judges of the propriety of our condudt, and the degree of their own merit : each
would think himfelf qualified to tranfaft your weighty alTairs in Council, at an age
when the laws of his countrv adjudge him unfit to manage his own concerns to the
extent of forty fliillings. They have not only fet their hands to the memorial of
complaint, but entered into alibciations unbecoming at their years, and deflruftive of
that fubordination v/ithout which no government can Hand — All vifits to the Prefi-
dent are forbidden — All invitations from him and the members of the Seled; Com-
mittee are to be flighted — The gentlemen called down by our authority from Ma-
drafs are to be treated with neglett and contempt — Every man who deviates from this
confederacy is to be ftigmatized and avoided — In a word, the members are totally
to fcparate themfelves from the head, decorum and union are to be fet at defiance,
and it becomes a fair flruggle whether we or the young gentlemen fliall in future
guide the helm of government. Look at their names, examine their Handing, inquire
into their ferviccs, and refledt upon the age of four-fifths of the fubfcribers to this
bill of grievances, who now iupport the aflbciation, and }ou will be equally furpriftd
witli us at the prefumptuous intemperance of youth, and convinced that a ftop of
three or four years in the courfe of promotion is indifpenfibly neceflhry, if you would
have 3'our Council compofed of men of experience and difcretion.

21. From this fketch of the behaviour of your fervants, vou will perceive the dan-
gerous pitch to which the independent and licentious fpirit of this fettlement hath
rifen ; you will then determine on the neceffity and propriety of the ftep we have
taken : in the mean time we are refolved to fupport it, or we muft fjbmJt to the
anarchy and confufion confequent on fuhiedfing the decrees of your Seledft Com-
mittee to the rcvifal and repeal of young gentlemen jufl: broke loofe from the hands-
of their fchoolmafters. Earneftly do we v\'ifh that every incmber of this Board had
ardently joined in the fame fentiments, fince difl'ents only ferve to break the force of
refolutions, to vrcaken authority, and give vigour and courage to fadtlon and dif-
obedience.

As to the point of indignlt\', of which your petitioners complain, nothing can be
more evident than that the Committee regarded the prefent fupcrceifion as Icfs inju-
rious than a felecfion would be from this eftablifhment, fince we even declined pro-
moting, upon this occafion, the very pcrfons Vvhom we particularly recrmmended to
the moll diilinguifhing marks of your favour. In this light it is confidered in every
other ferA'ice, and we doubt not but it would have been fo confi-dered in this fervice,
had fueh promotion been the choice of the Committee.

22. Our proceedings explain the motives of our condudt, and alio the meafurcs
we enforced to bring the fettlement to order and obedience. Mr. Majendie, the

Stcretary

N D I X.

Secretarv to the Council, is difmifTed from his office, and fufpendcd the fervice for
having eminently diflinjuiflied himfelf in forming a combination fo unwarrantable in
itfelf, fo dangerous in the prefent conjuncture, and fo peculiarly unbecoming to his
age, his ftation, and his employment. Should this example fuffice, we Ihall avoid
proceeding to the extremity of punifliing with the lofs of bread, young men who have
been artfully and unwarilv fpirited up to faction, to gratify the refentment, the fcl-
fifh views of fome, in whom )'ou have rcpofed unmerited and much abufcd con-
fidence.

You will be aftohifhed to obferve at the head of this lift divers members of vour
Council, who fubfcribe their names in teftimonv of their fenfe of the injuitice done
to the younger fervants. Poffib!y this tcftimony might have weight with your Ho-
nourable Board had thofe gentlemen firfl: cleared up their own condudt from certain im-
putations which intimate how little their intercit difpofes them to co-operate in a
reformation for the public benefit. At all events, whether the proceeding of the
■Committee be In itfelf right or wrong, it is moft certainly their duty to reprefs every
faftious combination, to temper the heat and vehemence of )'Outh, to maintain the
authority of the Board, and avoid giving countenance to a fedirious and rebellious
humour, which might have produced the fubverfion of government, and the moll
fatal confequenccs to the Compan}''s affairs, before your dccifion could arrive.

23. This incident occurring four days only before the di'.patch of the fhips, you
will not expcdt that our letter from the public department lliould enter fo minutely
'into the tranlacfions of the Board as we propofcd. The bufinefs is now fuddenly
taken up by Mr. Campbell, our Secretary, who we are alfured \\ill exert his utmoft
abilities ; but he requefts )ou will pleafe to make an allowance for the Ibortnefs of
time, and his total unacquaintancc with all that has been tranfadted in that
department.

2 4-. We have the fatisfadlion to acquaint you, that Sujah al Dowlah appears well
-difpofcd to cultivate our friendflilp, and adhere flri£tly to the conditions of the late
treaty.

Colonel Smith's brigade is now flatloned at Illahabad and Benares, to fecure the King
and Vizier againft the invafions of the Maharattas, until they have fully re-eftablifhcd
themfelves, and payment of the ftipulated indemnification to the Company is com-
pleted. His Majefty's vifionary projedts of feating himfelf with our alTiftance on the
throne of his anceftors, and proceeding to Dehly his capital, feem to have vanifhed
before the Committe's rcmonftrances. We hope he is at length convinced, that with-
out us the fcheme is impradtlcable, and we are certain it can ne-\"er be your intervrft to
extend the influence of your arms to fo great a diftance from your prefent poflefiions,
and the feat of your government.

25. Opening a communication between the Northern Sircar and Bengal muft
prove mutually advantageous to your prefidency at Fort Saint George, and to us. We
have therefore determined to embrace the favourable opportunity which the prefent
feeble condition of the Maharattas affords, to carry this mcafure into execution, and
have for that purpofe fct on foot a ncgociation with their chief, whereby we propofc
he fhall cede to us the northern parts of Oriffa, now in his poUcffion, upon our con-
fv-nting to pav a certain ffipulated annual revenue : whatever his determination may
Le, it is our rcfolu'ion not to attempt gaining this advantage byviolcnce or force of arms.
Peace is at lengrh happily rcllored to thefe provinces, and it will be thcfludy of this
Committee to prcferve and prolong thofe advantages which you already begin to
experience.

\'\'e have the Honour to remain, kc.

CLIVE, W. B. SUMNER, J. CARNAC, H. VERELST, F. SYKES.

APPENDIX. 3S

POSTSCRIPT.

Mr. Sumner conceiving that tlic following paragraph of the 21ft Article is pnTlicTi-
larly pointed againft himlclf, begs leave to enter his diifent to that and llich other parts
■of the letter and proceedings as he hath already obicaed to : " Heartily do we wifli
*' that every member of this Board had ardently joined in the fame lentiments, fincc
" dilfents ferve only to break the force of rcfolutions, to weaken authority, and give
<* vigour and courage to fadlion and difobedience."

W. B. SUMNER.

No. III.
7(7 the Honourable Court of DireSfors, &c. &c.

Honourable Sirs, Fort William, March 14. i?"-

A few incidents only which merit your attention have occurred at this Prefidency,
fince our laft advices, of the 31ft of January, by theGrenville and Kent.

The extraordinary behaviour of your junior fervants was then explained to you, as
a point in which your interell: is deeply concerned : they were at that time turbulent
and faftious ; but we have the pleafure to acquaint you, that the condudt of the
more ineonfiderate feems now to be difapproved by thofe arrived at greater difcretion,
who begin to fee the necefEty of our determined refolution to reduce your fervants in
general within the fphere pointed out by their years, ftanding, and abilities. We muft
however obferve, that 3'our fervice here has always been carried on rather from a
dread of punifhment than a fenfc of duty ; and that at prefent no branch of your affairs
is conducted with that alacrity and zeal neceflary and effential to your intereft, to
which, we fhould conceive, all your fervants would be naturally excited, by the
uncommon advantages they enjoy.

This decline of public fpirit we muft, in great meafure, afcribe to a practice
which hath prevailed at this fettlement more than at any other, of intrufting fome of
the moft weighty employments in your fervice to gentlemen fcarce arrived at years
of maturity. The bufinefs of the Secretary's department was committed to a 3"outh of
three years ftanding in your fervice; the employment of Accomptant is now difcharged
by a Writer ftill lower in the lift of your fervants ; the important trufts of Military
Storekeeper, Naval Storekeeper, and Storekeeper of the Works, were beftowed,
when lall vacant, upon Writers ; and a Writer held the poft of Payrnafter to the
Army, at a period when near * 20 lacks of rupees had been depofited for months
together in his hands.

We will not enquire how far thefe employments have been duly difcharged : youth
cannot argue difhoneft\'; but it certainly doth in general imply the want of fufficient dif-
cretion and experience. We will only obferve, that repofmg trufts of fo important
;md lucrative a nature in the hands of young m^en, hath rendered them too foon inde-
pendent, and given birth to that fpirit of diftipaticn and luxury, of which you w'ere
very juftly informed before the appointment of this Committee. From this fource
likewife flowed a grievance of the utmoft confequence to 3'our fervice, which,
demands an immediate remedy. The youngei fervants, being incapab'e themfelves
to difcharge the fund:ions of their feveral offices, were forced to have recourie to

D their

• 250,000/.

26 APPENDIX.

their Banians and black \^^itcrs ; and thus their employments fell into the hands
of their affillants ; Banians became principals in the fcvcral departments ; the afiairs
of the Company flowed through a new and unnatur<d channel; and your moft
fecret concerns were publicly known in the Bazar. Such trulls, repofed in thole Ba-
nians, encouraged them to advance large fums of rnonev to their mailers, which ferved
no other purpoie than to fupport their extravagance, and render them dependent on
their fervants, inftead of being obedient to the Governor and Council. It would be
iinnecefTary to lit forth the confequences to a fettlement circumftanced as this is, of
plac'ng too miuch confidence in the afliftance of the natives. The frequent and
imminent dangers which you have lately experienced are evident proofs, unlefs \'Our
more important affairs can be tranfafted by your own fervants, there never will be
that difpatch and fecrecy upon emergencies, which arc neceliarv to infure fuccefs.

For this reafon, we have relumed to the fenior lervants fomc of thole employments
which we think require the knowledge and fteadinefs of more advanced years ; and
alfo appointed a Committee to invelligate the management and infpedt the condudt
of the feveral offices, civil and military, with exprefs authority to eftabliflr fuch regu-
lations as may appear the moft conducive to the public fervice. By thefc means,
we hope to fee the principal branches of the Companv's bufinefs wholly tranfafted
by your own fervants, without the aid of men, who ought, as much as poilible, to
be excluded from all knowledge of 5 our private concerns.

In the letter, which we had the honour to addrefs to you by the Admiral Stevens,
we took notice, that too ftridt a regard to promoting feniority will ever prove injurious
to the fervice, notwithftanding the rule is convenient and equitable, under certain
exceptions and limitations. An inftance, in confirmation of our opinion, now occurs.
Upon examining your lift of covenanted fervants, it now appears, that not more
than four gentlemen above the ftation of Writers, and below the rank of Council,
have refided in Calcutta for feveral months, we may fay \cars paft, to carry on the
bufinefs of the Prefidency ; the reft have gone to Subordinates ; for the right of
fucceeding as firft, fecond, or third in Council, to vacancies at the out-fettle*
ments, hath ever been confidered as veiled in fcniotitv, whilft the bufinefs of the
Prefidency was neglected, and nothing remained with the Governor and Council
whereby to reward and encourage merit, without appearing to trefpafs upon jullice.

It will therefore be neccfl'ary to recall fome of the fenior fervants below the rank
of Council, to fill thofe offices which are at prefent held by their juniors, in order that
your affairs may proceed in a more regular train, and the younger fervants be ren-
dered more tractable and obedient, by confining them longer to a ftate of greater
dependence. Indeed, we could wilh, that fome methods of taming the fj->irit, without
ruining the fortunes of the more incorrigible, were thought of. Perhaps the moft
effedtual would be the depriving them of the advantages arifing from fait and
Duftucks for two years longer, after the term of their Writers covenants is expired.
This, and confining them to the Prefidency, would operate powerfully ; bur we chufe,
if pofllblc, to avoid proceeding to extremities.

You are already advifed, that your orders, rcfjiefting the rcdud'ion of Batta allowed
to the army, took place on the firft day of the prefent )'ear. This me;durc hath pro-
duced fome murmurings and complaints among the fubalterns, and even a mjemorial to-
the Council, from the officers of the firft brigade. Confcious, however, of the neceffity
of reducing your military expences, we are determined to fee the orders llrictly obeyed.
At the fame time, we muft confefs, that until the charges incurred on account of
fervants, horfes, and the nece/lary equipage of the field in ihis climate arc diininifiied,
by fomc i)ublic regulations, the allowance of a fubaltern will fjarcely maintain ifuu
in the ftation of a gentlcinaa.

Not-

APPENDIX. 27

■Novwichftamling our late cxpearations, that the King had, in confcqucnce of our
fcmonlbances, broke off his negociations with the Maharattas, and dropped his airy
fchemc of proceeding to his capital, we find by Colonel Smith's letters, that he is
Hill intriguing with thole frce-booters, and ftipulating for their affiftance by the grant
of territories'in the very heart of his em{)ire. This we confidcr as a proitd of fuch
dangerous tendency to the tranquility of Sujah al Dowlah's country, and even of
thefe provinces, that we have difpatchcd the moft peremptory orders to Colonel
Smith, to avoid giving his Mnjcily the leaft encouragement of affiliance from the
Company, without which, wc apprehend, he will fcarce venture to proceed ; and-
likcvvife to throw every obllacle he can in the way of his propofed treaty with the-
Maharattas.

The Prefident and General Carnac propofing to vifit the array, and the feveral
diftridis of the Bengal and Bahar provinces, with a view to enforce the regulations
in the army and revenues made by this Committee, v^'e have recommended to his
Lordfhip to form an alliance with the frontier powers, for the fccurity and protection
of Sujah al Dowlah's dominions. The Jauts and Rohilla chiefs appear well difpofed
to cultivate our fricnd{lii[) ; and their own fafety naturally leads them to oppofc
every encroachment of the Maharattas, whence we hope to maintain our engagements
with the Vizier, without incurring the rifk and expence of ftationing a brigade in hif
country.

We have alfo recommended to his Lordfliip the expendiency of eflablifliing a gold
currency, in order to obviate the bad confequences of impoverlfhing the country by
the large annual exports of treafure to China. This expedient, you are already
informed, vve only confider as a palliative; but, as it will moit undoubtedly, for the
jirefent, increafe the current fpeeic, and give encouragement to the importation of
gold bullion, without producing a fingle inconvenience which we c,an forefee, wc
have adopted it without fcruple, until fome more efledtual remedy be devifed. For
further reafons, and alfa the means propofed for carrying this meafure into execution,
■wc beg leave tg refer to our procedings.

The fame proceedings wiil alfo point out the feveral objeAs of his Lordfhip's
progrefs up the countrv, in the courfe of which he will find many opportunities of
afccrtaining more accurately the revenues of the feveral Zemindarics and diilricts
than can be done by orders from the Prefidencv, and likewife of urging payment of
the large out-ftanding ballances to the public treafuiy.

Perceiving that very confiderable frauds were daily committing on the revenues
"by means of forged Duftucks, we diredted a general Dufiuck-feal to been graved for the
ufe of the Prefidency and fubordinate fettlements, with an impreflion the moft
difficult to be counterfeited, and fubjedl to fuch regulations as cannot well be eluded.

The application of this fcal is alfo confined to the Prefident and the Chiefs of out-
fettlements.

Sir Robert Barker, who was lately dlfpatched from Patna to the Bettea country.
In the Bahar province, to demolish the forts, and reduce to obedience fome ot the
turbulent Zemindars, deeply in arrear to the revenues, hath fucceeded in the prin-
cipal objects of his expedition, without encountering anv confiderable refifliance.
We beg leave to tranfmit the following extradt of a letter from him, jufl; received
by the Prefident, rather as an article of curious intelligence, than a lure proipedt
of advantage to the Company, dated from the camp of Rampore, March 5th, 1766.

" Bettea will, I think, be of confiderable confequence to the Company. Its
*' firs will nflbrd mafts for all the fiiips in India, which muft produce a new and
*' confiderable trade with the other nations in India, as well as advantage to our

D 2 " own

28 APPENDIX.

*' own Hiipping. Gold and cinnamon are alfo here (the latter we gather in the
" Ji^ingles) ; tanbers as large as any I have fee n ; mufk and elephants teeth ; befides
" manv other commodities I have not yet got the knowledge of."

Should thefe advices meet with confirmation, you may be afllired we fhall endea-
vour to puHi the difcovcry to the utmofl: advantage. In the mean time Lord Clive
has diredted Sir Robert to fend down fpccimens of every article he thinks may tend ta
the extention of Aour commerce, and the exports of the country.

Before we clofe this letter, juftice to his peculiar merit requires we fhould recom-
mend this officer to your particular regard and dinflindtion. His prudence, modera-
tion, and military accomplifliments, as well as the general efteem of the army which
he hath acquired, render him highly deferving of any favour you can beftow, and of
the moft confidential trulls in your fervice.

It is with fatisfadion we alio acquaint you, that Mahom^ed Reza Cawn continues
to difcharge the duties of his appointment with great affiduity. Any diftinguilhing
mark of your favour will probably be a fpur to his endeavours ; but in ordering a
prefent for him, we would beg leave to recommend, that one of a fuperior value may
be fent to the Nabob, to prevent his regarding that ufeful minifter with an eye of
jealoufy.

We have the honour to remain, &c.

CT.IVE, JOHN CARNAC, HARRY VERELST.

No. IV.

To the Honourable the Court of DireSforsy &c.
Honourable Sirs, Fort William, Sept. 8, 17S6,

At the time our lafl advices, dated the 24 March, were difpatched, the attention
of this Committee was wholly diredled to the means of fecuring the benefits of your
prefent immenfe poffeffions. The Company's influence in the empire we confidered
as fulHciently extended, provided the power of maintaining that influence could be
confirmed. To conciliate the minds of the natives to our government, and difFufe
the bleffings of a mild adminiftration, wherever our authority extended, as colledtors
cf the revenues for the King, a;">peared to us the moft effediual method of acconi-
plifhing that defireable end.

2. We had laid the foundation of this plan in the treaty concluded with. Sujah al
Dowlah, the conditions of which fo far exceeded his expcftations, in point of advan-
tage to himfclf, that we arc well afllired the Company, in granting thofe terms, have
facrificed a mere fiiadow of power only, to the fubllantial benefit of fecurity. The
chcarfulnefs with which he met the Right Honourable Prcfidcnt, at a late congrefs^
held in the Bahar province, the ready compliance he fliewed in paying the re-
mainder of the indemnification to the Company, flipulatcd by treaty, even before
the time limited for payment was expired ; and the engagements which he has re-
newed for our mutual defence and fecurity, afford the fh-ongeft teilimoiiy of tY^
fincerity of his gratitude and friendfhip.

^. It was in the profecution of our plan, of giving permanency to your influence,,
that we obtained from the King a grant of the Dewanny ; and with the fame view
we entered into an agreement with the Nabob, the confecjucnces of which, are, that

APPENDIX. 29

tire revenues of the three provinces being now entirely under our own dircdron, we
no longer depend for the fupport of our military ellablifhment, on the bounty of the
Subah.

4. But to impart real ftability to the fyftcm we had adopted, it became ncceflary
we fliould look (IritHy into the internal conduft of this government, and exert our
iitmofl endeavours to rcfiore to a f)'ftcm of duty and integrit)', a fettlcment dcejily
immerfed in the molt profligate diffipation and avowed corruption. For this purpofe
we entered uj)on the odious talk of an enquiry into the condu<5V of divers members
of the Council, with the refult of which, and the oppofition we encountered, you
are already acquainted.

5. The feats vacated at the Board by this and other occurring circumftances,
proved unexpededly fortunate to our delign, as it opened to us a fair opportunity
of making fome advances towards that feleiflion of the members of the Council,
which we before recommended to your attention, by introducing to the Board four
gentlemen of unqueftionable merit and reputation, who having been tutored in no-
tions of rigid fubordinatjon and osconomv, were the moft likclv to co-operate in our
views, with all the weight of their example and authority. We would not remind
you of what the behaviour was, on that occafion, of the fervants of this eftablifliment,
it being itfelf the flrongeft evidence of the expediency of the meafure we purfued, and
of the jull fentiments which we entertained of their principles, had not the violence of
their condudl extended beyond what we then forefaw, or coukl even imagine.

6. Whether any endeavours were exerted by the civil fervants to propagate their
difcontent among the military officers, is what we cannot diredfly affirm ; but from
fcveral of their intercepted letters it appears, they were much elated at feeing th'i
army tainted with the malignity of their own infedtion. We had, agreeable to the
advices already tranfmitted home, reduced the double Batta allowed to the military
officers as early as the month of January, yet not a murmur or complaint tranfpircd,
further than was exprefled in a moderate reprefentation to the Board, from the cap-
tains and fubalterns of each of the three brigades. All was calm and ference in camp,
as if they refted fatisfied with the orders iffued by the Seledt Committe, until a proper
ftate of their circumftances covild be laid before the Court of Direftors,

7. In this deceitful tranquility, the fpace of four months elafpcd, when, during
the recefs of the Comm/ittec, and I-ord Clivc's refidence at Murfhed-abad, the alarm-
ing advices arrived, that almoft all the officers of the army had combined, under
articles of the moft folemn agreement, to refign their commiffions by a certain day,
unlefs their Batta was reftored, and the orders of the Company were abrogated. To
fecure their meafures, without incurring the penalties of delertion, they fixed on a
period when they had no pay in advance, and it was every moment expedted our
frontier would be invaded by a large body of Maharatta hcrfe ; flattering themfelv&s
that the neceffity for their fervices, at fo- critical a juncture, mult infallibly reduce
the Board to fubmiffion.

8. It was immediately recommended by Lord Cllve to. the Board, when he tranf-
mitted the advices, rather to put all to. the rifque, than fuffcr the authority of Coun-
cil to be infulted. The faving which arofe to the Companv, from the reduftion of
Batta, was now of trifling confideration, when compared with the danger of yielding
to the memices of fo unprecedented and m^utinous an aifociation. To prelerve the
authority of the Prefident and Council, and crufh an attempt that indicated the total
fubvcrfion of government, became now the objcift ; in v\ hich fentiments the whole
Board, with one voice, concurred with his Lordffiip. He proceeded, accompanied
by General Carnac, to Mongheer, where the firft brigade lay in. cantonments, arxi
happily arrived at the iuftant when the whole body of Europeans was ripe for a re-
voke

36 APPENDIX.

volt. Their ofRcers, the lieutenant-colonel and two or three fubakerns excepted, had
to a man, withdrawn themfelves j and the ibldiers, fiied with the contagious fpirit of
mutinv, were on the point of following the example of their luperiors, when his
Lordihip's prefence and authority awaked them to a fcnfe of their duty, and probitbly
faved thefe provinces from all the horrors of rapine, defolation, and militar\' anarchy;
The fz-ine violence of conduct jncvailed among the officers of the fecond and third
brigade ftationcd at Allahabad and Pa tna; inlbmucli that Colonel Smith, who was
pofted on the confines of Korah, remote from all affilbince, a;id in the vcrv face of a
formidable enemy, was totally deferred by his officers in thofe lines he had drawn to
oppofe the irruption of the Maharattas.

9. For the further particulars of this extraordinary and vcrv interefting event, wc
beg leave to refer you to the letter and Confultations of the public department,
?'ince the whole correlbndence palled through that channel, during the recefs of the
Committee. Here we touched on it with a view only to imorefs vou w ith more lively
ideas of the prcfent ilate of this fettlement, and to evince more ftronglv the neceffity
of what we have before repeatedly recommended ; a conftant attention to the good
fenfe, honour, and fteadinefs of thofe gentlemen whom you in future admit into
CounciL

ro. We have a particular fatisfaftion in obferving to you the fpirited zeal and
unanimity with which the Board affilled, in every meafure propofed bv the Preiident,
to break this dangerous combination, A juft fenfe of the indignity ollered to their
own authority, as well as of danger to the community, fcemed to unite them heart
and hand in punilhing, to the extreme extent of their power, an aCt of difobedience,
that includes in its effefts the being and fate of your invaluable poffelTions in Bengal.
But Hill it remains to determine how far the delinquents are fubjeft to the utmoft
rigour of the martial law, and whether fuch proofs can clearly be exhibited againft
them,' as, admitting the authority of the court, w^ill render the prifoners liable to the
punifliment of mutiny and defertion.

1 1. The prefent fituation of your affairs requiring lb numerous a militaiT eftablifli-
ment, at fuch a diftance from the fountain of juftice, as not to admit of elucidation
in difficult cafes, before it is too late for decifion ; it becomes an objed: of the moil
ferious attention, to bind down \'our officers and foldiers by the ftrongefl: ties of dutv,
of allegiance, and of martial difcipline. Of late years it has been cuftomary to grant
•commiffions without exadling thofe covenants, whereby the party agrees to ferve for
a certain period of time ; yet, upon the fuppofition that fuch contract actually exifts,
the King and Parliament have graciouHv been pleafed to extend the benefits of the
Mutiny Bill to the Honourable Eaft-India Company, To this negledt it is owing,
that any officer, or number of officers, has it in his option, without confulting the
Governor and Council, to throw up your fervice in times of the molT: imminent danger,
without incurring the penalty of any law, civil or military ; for by refufing vour pay,
he is no longer fubjcdl to your authority.

12. To guard therefore, in future, againft an event which mav poffibly terminate
in a manner lefs fortunate to the Company, wc beg leave earnelll) to recommend,
that no commiffions may be hereafter beftowed, or officers fent out, but under rc-
ftriftion of the above covenants, a power of difpcnling with the fame, bv granting
permiffion to rcfign, to be veiled iblely in the Governor and Covmcil. So many
inftances have occurred both here and upon the Coaft, of an independent and incroach-
ing fpirit in the military, that we imagine further arguments will be unncced'ary, to
convince you of the neceffity there is to fupport the civil authority with all the po\ver
that law admits, and neceffity urges.

13. Before

APPENDIX. 31

15. Before this mutiny broke out, Lord C live had for foinc lime affifieJ at tiic
Poonah, held at Murfiied-abad, for flating the revenues of Bengal for the prefent
year, 1766. We have now the pleafure to inform you, that the neat coUcdtions of
the year arifing from Bengal onl)' amount to one crore, fixty one lacks, feven hun-
dred and ei2,ht rupees ■■ (16,100,708) vvhieh is an increafe of eleven lacks, thirty
one thoufand nine hundred and feventv-cight rupees -j- (1,131,978) on the collcftions
of the i^reccding year, Uowing chief!)- from a redudlion of charges, without lev)'ing
any additional tax on the Zemindars.

14. The ftatemcnt of the revenues af Bahar is likewife juft come to our hands j
and we perceive with great fatisfadtion that they amount this year to fixty-one lacks,
eig;hty thoufand two hundred and fcvcnty-fix rupees jl (6,180,276), being an in-
creafe of neat revenue of five lacks, fixty-two thoufand two hundred and fixty-one
rupees §(562,261). This increafe we, in a great meafure, owe to the diligence and
abilities of Mahomed Reza Cawn, who is now cmplo3'ed on the fpot in regulating
the collections of that province ; whence we hope the revenues will be reduced to
more order, and raifed to a greater amount than have for fome years been known, on
account of the fcandalous embezzlement of the public money, and mifcondud: of the
colled:ors.-

1 5. It is bv means of oeconomy and frugality only, that we wilh to fee your reve-
nues increafcd ; fince they are always fufficiently great to anfwer every purpofe of the
Company ; for without the greateft care be taken to prevent Zemindars from carry-
ing on long balance?, and defrauding the government under various pretences, )'our
collections would foon dwindle to a fum infufficient to defray their own charges ;
the authority of the adminillration would be defpifed, and the feveral Rajahs and
Zemindars would alfume to themfelves an independent power, after they had fleeced
the people, and fattened upon the fpoils of the public.

16. During Lord Clive's refidence in the Bahar province, a congrefs was held at
Ghuprah, at which his lordiliip, General Carnac, Sujah al Dowlah, and the King's
miniller, , aflifted. Here was laid the foundation of a treaty between the Company,
the Vizier, and the Jaut and Rohilla chiefs, for their mutual defence and fecurity
againft all attempts of the Maharattas to invade their feveral dominions. But his
Lordlhip and General Carnac, from confideration of the little advantage the Com-
pany would deduce from fuch diflant allies in cafe of an invafion, chofe to leave this
matter unfinifhed, and to entruit Sujah al Dowlah with the luanagement of fuch
treaties as he migbt think convenient for his own and the Company's welfare ; but
he is not to conclude any thing, nor enter into any abfolute agreement, without
having previoufly acquainted the Prefident with every projxjfal, and obtained his
approbation.

17. AtChuprah likewife attended deputies from the Maharatta chiefs, from whom,
and alfo from the letters they brought, it evidently appears, the Maharatta forces are
afTembled at the King's requifition, and upon the pofitive affurances he gave that an
Englifl^ army would join them to efcort him to his capital. His Majefty has indeed
laboured hard by every artifice of perfuafion, intrigue, and negotiation, to fucceed in
his favourite fcheme, which we are convinced would terminate in accompllfliing his
own ruin, and dellroying the peace of the whole empire. In a word, his condudt
has been fuch, that we are at a iofs whether more to condemn bis policy, defpife his
und;rftanding, or abhor his principles.

iS'. With a view to watch the modon of the Maharattas upon our own frontier,
Lortl Clive has dirctted Colonel Smit'i's brigade to canton at Doudnagur, or Safle-
ram, where the Colonel will be advaatageouily polled to oppofe any holtile intentions,

and
• 2,012,588/. ■ I 772,534/.

t 141.497 /. § 70,2b2/.

gfl APPENDIX.

and to cover the Bahar province. This brigade is recalled in confequcnce of Sujah al
Dowlah's having fully difcharged all the engagements into which he entered by the
treaty; and for this rcalbn likewife we Ihall immediately recall the refident at Benares,
and every other European refiding in the Vizier's dominions, that no difputes may
arife from private commerce, to difturb the amitv now fubfifting.

ig. We have frequently mentioned to you the inconvenience of exporting money
and bullion from this country for the fupply of your China inveftment ; yet we would
not take upon ourfelves to with-hold this affil1;ance, until we received your inflruftions.
Accordingly the Council have iflued orders to the mint mafler to purchafe all the bul-
lion that may be imported this feafon, for the ufe of the China market ; to which we
propofe remitting to the amount of twenty-four lacks *.

CO. To obviate the immediate bad effetts to the commerce and revenues of this
country of fuch an annual drain oftreafure. Lord Clive carried into execution, dur-
ing his flay at Murihed-abad, the regulations of the Seleft Committee relative to a
gold coinage, which we hopefoon fully to eftablifh, notwithftanding the prejudices of
thefe people againll every innovation. Having already prefented you with a general
view of the above regulations, we muft now requefl; your excufe for not tranfmitting
the particulars by this conveyance, as our fecretary has not been able to get up the
proceedings, on account of the death and ficknefs of feveral of the affiftants in his
office.

21. Already we have gone through the enquiry you direft into the feveral fums
granted by the Nabob Meer Jaffier, for the purpofcs of reflitution to the merchants,
and donations to the army and nav)'. All the principal agents for thofe difburfements
have been feparately examined upon oath before the Committee, and their depofitions
taken viva voce, and recorded on the face of our Proceedings.

22. Sorry we are to obferve, that from thofe depofitions it will appear how little the
Nabob was himfelf inclined to impoverish his treafury by free gifts, and voluntary
donations. The prefent to the fquadron in particular feems to have been obtained
by very unjuftifiable adts and meafurcs, which we conceive will refledt very little ho-
nour upon a fervant of his Majefty's ad:ing in fo high a ilation. But we would
chufe to avoid making further remarks, fince the next difpatches will afford you an
opportunity of forming your own judgment of tranfadlions fo deeply interelting to
the national charadier. It appears, however, upon the molt pofitive teflimony, that
the donation to the army was a free and unfolicited prefent from the Nabob, be-
ftowed on Major Adams and the army, as a pledge of their faithful fervices at the molt
critical jundlure ; and a ranfom of the money and etfefts in fuch cities and towns as
might fall into their hands, and be fubjecl to the violence of the Ibldiers. It is not
therefore furprifing that this donation fhould have been voluntary, while the fum
granted for reftitution to the merchants, and a prefent to the navy, flowed with fo ill
a grace from his excellency, who could not poffibly exjied: any equivalent fervices.

23. When we have difpatched the Lord Camden we fliall proceed to enforce fuch
of your orders as we have not already anticipated ; and you mav reft afflircd that
Eeither prejudice nor favour to individuals fnall warp us from that duty which we owe
to you, our conftituents, and to our own honour.

24. We are forty to acquaint you, that on the 8th dav of May, his excellency the
Nabob Nudjum al Dowlah breathed his laft, after a fliort illncfs, incurred by fome
intemperance in eating, and increafed by a grofs habit, and unfound conftitution.
As he was a prince of mean cajincity, bred uj) in total ignorance of public affairs,
this event, which formerly might have priwluccd important confcquences in the pro-
vinces, can at prefent have no other effed: than that of exhibiting to the eyes of the

people
• 300,000/.

APPENDIX. 81

;pcnplc a mere cbai\^« of perforis in the Nizamirt. Nudjum al Dowlah dying
v/rhout ifllic, hisbrolher Sycf al Dowlah fvicceeded to his dignities; and promifcs,
troni the mildncfs and pliancy of his difpofition, to anfwcr all the piupofcs of a Na-
bob to the people and lo the Company. At prefenthe is a youth not exceeding the
age of fixteen, which more' immediately and naturally brings the adminiftration into
the hands of perfons in whom w« can repofe confidence.

25. Before this time you have probably determined the fate of the inland trade
in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco ; whether it may be continued under the regvilations we
•have ellabliflied, oris totally to be relinquiibed by your fervants. We fl-iall there-
fore only obferve on this occafion, that certain amendments are now propofed by the
Prefident, and adopted by the Seleft Committee, which we think will reiriove every
inconvenience obferved in the prefent eftablifliment of that trade, and fecure to the
Company the power of rewarding or pvinilliing their fervants, according to the de-
gree of their merit or mifconduCt.

26. We are further to inform you, that the Committee nominated by us to infpeft
into the condudt of the feveral departments at the Prefidency, have entered upon the
duty of their appointment. They have in confequence filmed divers regulations,
which we think well calculated to promote your intereft, as they are conducive to the
order and difpatch of buiinefs ; for which realbn we prbpofe carrying them into ex-
lecvition with all convenient expeditiont

• 27. From obferving the great increafe in the expences of living in Calcutta, the
Committee of Infpedfion have pullied their regulations to a refomiation of the police
of the fettlement. From the general inattention of late years to this objedl, the ar-
ticles of diet, wages, houfe-rent, 8cc. have rifcn lb exorbitantly, that your allowance
to" junior fervaints is very inadequate to their neceffary and unavoidable expences ;
Bnd this we confider as the reafon why they have hitherto been indulged with larger'
falaries than you approve, annexed to their feveral employments. In the prefent ilou-
riihing fituation of your affairs, we fhould apprehend their appointments ought to af-
ford them a decent and fufficient maintenance, enough to preferve them againft every
attempt to meannefs and dilhonell)', but too little to fupport them in profufion and
extravagance.

We have the honour to be, &c.

CLIVE, J. CARNAC, H. VERELST.

No. V.
Ti? the Honourable ih-e Court of DireBorSy &'c.

Honourable Sirs, Fort William, Dec. 9. 176S.

I. In the Letter which we had the honour to addrefs to you by the Lord Camden,
"we delcribcd every material occurrence that paffed at this Prefidency, from the de-
parture of the Ponfborne, to the date of the above difpatch. We now tranfmit in the
packet a duplicate of that Letter, and alfo the proceedings of the Seledt Committee,
to which wc beg leave to refer for a more particular detail of tads,

E a. Tlv?

3^ APPENDIX.

2. The depofitlons recorded on the face of our proceedings, refpedllng
so?!", Ig', reftitution to the merchants, and donations to the army and nav)', are them-
& 30- felves lb explicit and clear, as to render any further lights to guide your

judgm.ent almod; xmneceflary. The means exercifed to obtain thole large difburfements
from the Nabob's treal'ury are fully declared upon oath, by the principal agents on
either fide. A Committee exprefsly appointed for examining tlie feveral claims of the
fufterers, hath already paffed their accounts ; we fhould therefore apprehend, that the
queftion now to be determined is not, whether the lofl'cs of individuals have been fairly
ftated, but whether the Nabob, Meer Jaffier, could juflly be made accountable for
lofles confequent on a war, of which he was not the author ; and alfo whether you
ought to be confidered as bound in honour to difchargc fuch debts of his excellency,
as he could never be willingly brought to acknowledge.

• Thefe are points which we fubmit to your confideration, while we content ourlblves
with obfcrving, that whatever opinion we may entertain of the decrees of the Com-
mittee of Reftitution, it would, at this diftance of time, be impoffible to enter upon
a fatisfattor}' review of their proceedings, after fo many of the parties chiefly con-
cerned, are either gone home or dead.

Such a fcrutiny would, in the prefent circumftanccs, be attended with many diffi-
culties ; it would be productive of injufticc, and bear hard upon the fortunes of fuch
individuals as had adjufled their claims with a fcrupulous nicety, to the amount of
their loflies. At all events, it would furnilh a topic for clamour, and a handle for
mifconllruftion, to have tbofe accounts now difputed, which were pafled by your
Governor and Council, afting here as your reprefentatives, after three-fourths of the
whole had been actually difcharged.

g. \^'ith refpedt to his excellency's grant of a donation to Mr. Tinker, and the
fquadron under his command, it refts entirely with you to determine, from the evi-
dences fet forth, whether the fervices performed by his Majelly's fliips of war in
Bengal, merit a reward fo difproportionatc to the then exhauited condition of the
Nabob's treafury. A court of equity will afcertain the diftindtions to be made be-
twixt a free gift flowing from a fcnfc of obligations received, and a grant obtained by
the unwarrantable methods defcribed in the depofitions of the witnefl!es examined on
this occafion.

4. As loon as we had clofed the enquiry into reftitution and donations, the Com-
mittee took into confideration the feveral other orders iflued b\' your Honourable
Board, during the courfe of the laft feafon. Your remarks on the inland trade were
fo peculiarly ftriking, and fo perfed:ly agreeable to our own fentiments, refpefting
that perpetual fource of oppreflSon and complaint, that wt; determined immediately to
apply the moil efficacious remedies to a difeafc which muft in time have fubverted
the conftitution, and endangered the being of the Eaft India Company. By the
Admiral Stevens you were informed of the plan we had concerted for carrying on the
trade in fait, tobacco, and beetle-nut, for the benefit of the Company and their fervants,
without injury to the Nabob, and without molcftation or oppreffion of the natives.
It was the bcft and moft equitable f\ ftcm we could then devife, )ct experience hath
fhewn the ncceflity of laying the trade under further reftri»ftions, the reafons for which,
together with the particular mode of conducing this valuable branch of commerce in
future, arc fully explained in Lord Clive's minute^ , entered on our I'rocccdings. In thofe
emendations of the plan on which the focicty of trade was founded, all due regard
has been paid to the fovcreign j)rcrogative of the Company, adling as colleftors for
the King, and more cfpccially to the fcrupulous diftribution of natural right to the
native inhabitants; whence we flatter ourfclvcs, that the inland trade will hence-
forward prove to you a commodious fund for rewarding the different degrees of merit

amonp-ft

• September 3, 1766,

APPENDIX. 35

amongfl: your fervants, and a fruitful fourcc of encouragement to the indullry of the
country people, who are now, without dit1;ind:ion, admitted to a participation of its
benefits, upon the mod reafonable and moderate terms.

5. To the regulations formetl for cwndudling the bufinefs ot the fociety of trade,
we have added a total jirohibition of another fjiecies of inland traffick, in a variety of
articles, ufually tranfported from one diftrift of the interior country to another, whcrebr
an cxtenfive field was open for the abufe of power, and the molt notorious adfs of
fraud and injuilice. All Europeans in }'our fervicc, or under your protedtion, are now
indifcriminately confined to trade in certain ftatcd articles of import and export ;
the returns arc to be made from the places where the goods were fold, dircdtly to the
Prefidency, or the fubordinate faftory from whence they were difpatchcd ; and no^
circular traffick, by way of barter, or otherwife, is in future to be allowed from one
Aurung to another, on pain of confifcation of the goods, and lofs of your fervicc and
protedtion. -> . i:\

6. The complaints which we received of repeated loffes fuftained in'the' revenue,
and of violence offered to the country people by the Gomaftahs, or black, agents, em-
ployed by )Our fervants, and fkreened from jultice by their influence, afforded us an
opportunity of impofing further reftricftions upon the inland trade, by obliging thofe
Gomaftahs to regifter their licences at the head court of the diftrid: where they re-
fide; a monthly return of which is to be made to the Miniftcrs aud the Prcfident^
at the Durbar, and to be compared by them with the lift of licences fcnt from hence
by the cuftom-mafter. This, with other limitations fpecified in our proceedings,
will, we doubt not, conduce greatly to the peace and good order of the country.

7. We have alfo recalled from the Aurungs, all your fervants who were fent to
fupcrintend the inveftments in cloth, being well aiTured that thefe branches

of the Company's bufinefs, may as conveniently be carried on without their ^'' ' '°'
aftiftance ; and that the refidence of young gentlemen at places remote from the in-'
fpedtion of their fuperiors, hath furniflied the means of afluming to themfelves an au-
thority prejudicial to the people, detrimental to the revenue, and produ(ftive of dif-
putes with the other Europeans Companies, with whom it is our inclination to live in
the moft amicable manner.

8. Further to enforce the fpirit of your inftrudtions contained in para- Sept. 19.
graphs 10, 1 1 and 12, of your feparate letter, under date the 24th Decem-
ber 1765, we deliberated on the propereft meafures for reftraining that pernicious in-
fluence which enables a commercial Governor of this fettlement in a manner to enejrofs
in his own hands the whole trade of this country. The Prefident s minute, entered
in our proceedings the 19 September, very clearly and forcibly expreftcs the
many falutary effedl:s that muft arife to the Company and the public, from placing
the Governor in fo affluent and rcfpedtable a fituation, that his attention fhall no lon-
ger be diftradted with the perplexing care of an extcnfive trade, nor diverted from
the duty of his ftation by too dole an application to ways and means of promotuig
his own private intereft. He is now to renounce all concerns in every branch of
commerce, by a folemn oath and penal bond for i50.,oool. execut.xl in the prefence
of the Mayor's TJourt, the Company's fervants, and the other inhabitants of the Pre-
fidency. He is reltridtcd from every poffible method of accumulating wealth, and
even from the lending out money at more than the common rate of intereft, or
otherwile enlarging his fortune, except by the regular and Itated appoiiuincnts of his
office. We have not only bound him down by the ftrongelt ties of law, honour,
and confcience, but we have endeavoured fo remove every tem]-)tation to exceed the
limits prefcribed, by rendering the emoluments of his appointment fuirable to the
rank he holds in the fettlement, the dignity he muft nccefrarily maintain in the eye«r

E 2 of

35 APPENDIX.

of the natives, and the prpfpedt of independence which he ought to enjoy at the- clofc
of a long courie of faithful fervices. ' ,^^; ^;;^ V ,^ ,; .'_,y ' . ;

For thefe purpofes we have affigned to your Govefndr sJcommiffion of "14- per Centum,,
upon all the revenues, of which the Company arc colleftors for the King ; the confulage
on coral, the duties on coinage, and fuch other emoluments and perquifites as the
Court of Dire<!tors ufually have annexed to his ftatlon and office.-

As the Prefident's own words. are mofl expreffive of the meaning of the Committee,'
\ve beg leave to quote the following ].>aragraph of his Lordlhip's Minute, in which he
enumerates the happy cpnfequences that muft refult from diverting the Prefident of
all other cares than thofe of his ftation. ■ '

- ^ " Although by thefe ihieans a governor will not be able to amafs a million, or half
** a million, in the fpacg of two or three years, yet he will acquire a very handfcme
•< independency, and'be in that veiy fituation which a man of nice honour and true-
" zeal for the fervice would wifh to poffefs. Thus fituated, he may defy all oppontion.
" in Council ; he will have nothing to afk, nothing to propofe, but what he means for
*' the advantage of his employers ; he may defy the law, becaufe there can be no foun-
" dation for a bill of difcovery ; arid he may defy the obloquy of the world, becaufe-
*' there can be nothing cenfurable in his condudt. In fhort, if lability can beinfuredto-
" fuch a government as this,^ where riches have been acquired in abundance in a
*' fhort fpace of time, by all wa,ys and means, and by men with or without capa-
*' cities, itrauft be cffefted by a Governor thus reftrifted."

We are to obferve, that our Prefident, Lord CHve„ has himfelf fct the firfl
example of that moderation which ' he requires in future governors of this fettlement,
his Lbrdfliip having, oh the ift (Jay of Oftober, taken the reftridtive oatli, and
executed the penalty-bbiid, in the manner prefcribed.

9. As we have never prefunied to deviate from 3'our exprels orders, excepting when
* circumflances were fo altered as' would render <pur obedi^n'cc jCri'minal,^ we entered

with great rcluftance upon the execution- of your infti'inflions contained in, the general
letter of the 24th December, 1765, and 13th February, 1766.

Mr. Hugh Watts was, purfuant to thefe orders, called upon to refund the amount of
commiflion he had drawn/'at the rate of at per Centum,, upon the revenues of Mid-
napore ; but as thjs comm.iffion had firil been cflablilhcd by a Committee of Lands,,
and was afterward? confirmed by yoiir Prefident and Council, v/e accepted in .lifeu:
of moncy> of his bond, made payable in cafe you fiiould think proper to repeat your
injundt'.ons after we had reprefented the circumflances of the affair.

10. Li the fame manner we called upon Meflrs. Marriott, Lawrell, Goodwin, and
Graham, to refund the whole amount of the monthly allowance received from the
Rajah during their refidcncc inBurdwan ; yer, in favour of thefe gentlemen, it muft be
obfcrved, that the above allowance was conftantly inferted in the monthly cafh account
tranfmitted to the Prefidenc)-, whence it became an abfolutje aft of the Board, for

- which yourfervants are no longer refponfible. , '' .

We likewife imagine that the commiffion drawn upon the revenues of Midnapore,,
as well as the allowance granted by the Burdvvan Rajah, muft have been known by
the general books for more than twelve months before your orders for.rcfunding were
iflucd. Thefe emoluments were therefore, if not abfolutcly confirmed, yet tacitly
allowed by the Court of Direftors themfelves. The filencc of your Honourable
Board, and of the Governor and Council,, upon a point fo immediately ftrlking, may
very naturally be conftrued into a fuflicient faniflion for their conduft ; and the alter-
native, either to refund fums of money aftually expended in fupporting the unavoid-
able charges of their ftations, orof lofing the benefit of your fervice, muft therefore be
regarded .as a very particular hardfliijp upon thefe gentlemen.

For

APPENDIX. 37

. . For thefe rcafons we alio accepted bonds for reftitution of the Rajah's allowance, in
the fame terms as that from Mr. Watts ; and it is our requeft, that }'ou will pleafe to
Tcvoke thclc orders, which mud prove fo injurious to the fortunes of }OUr junior
fcrv.ints, adting under the immediate orders and infpeftion of the Board.
Tiic bonds are as follows :

Mr. Watts ----------- 11,000 o o-

Mr. Jtimes Lawrell - ------- 32,822 o o

Mr. Henry Goodwin -------- 24,000 o o

Mr. J. Graham r- -------- -7,400 o o.

Rupees 75,222 o o

12. Mr. Marriott, Intending to relign the fcr\'ice, has intimated, in reply

to our demands, that he is ready to anfwer every legal claim upon liis fortune °^' *' '^
in the courts of juftice in England.

13. Your orders for refunding the prefeqts received by the gentlemen who com-
pofed the Council and Deputation, at the acceffion of the Nabob Nudjumal Dowlah,
were duly conveyed to Meffis. Playdell and Middleton, the only remaining members
of the Board who afted upon that occafion. The former has applied to the Board
for permiffion to refign the fcrvice, and the latter has acquainted the Prcfidcnt of
his intention to return this fcafon to England ; fo that enforcing your inftrudtions any
further appears unnecefTary.

14. In confcquence of }'Our feveral remarks on the management, revenues, and
accounts of Burdwan province, in the General letter,, the 24th December, we
diredted Mr. Verelft, the Supervifor, to draw out an exadt ftatement of the revenues,
and an explicit anfwer to the difficulties you have pointed out in the former ftatements
tranfmltted to England. That gentleman has accordingly, with great pains and
attention drawn out a very full account of the receipts and difburfements of the pro-
vince for the laft year. He hath likewlfe deduced, from the belt authorities he could
procure, a minute detail, in the fame form, of all receipts and dilburfements of money,
from the period when that province was firft affigned over to the Compa-

ny ; and thefe accounts he has accompanied with a letter addrefled to the

Scledt Committee, which, we hope, will explain every Inconfiftency, account for

every deficiency, and folve every material difficulty reprefented by }-our Honourable

Board.

15. From the Refident at Midnapore's letter to the Supervifor, and the
accompanj'Ing accounts, you will perceive the great increafe of the revenues '' ' '"*'
of that province fmce Mr. VereliVs appointment ; you will alfo obferve from the refo-
Ititlon of the Committee when MLr. Graham's letter was under conllderatlon, the method
in which we propofe condudting the bufinefs of that province and Jellafore in future,
in order the Company may receive the full value Oi the lands, without oppreffing
the Zemindars or dlilreffing the landholders, whofe eafe and happlnefs muft ever be
infeparable from the true interefl: of their mafters.

16. The King's revenues, of which we are now the coHedtors, we have reafon
to believe, will fall very little ihort of the fums fpecified in our letter by the Lord
Camden. In the lift of packet we tranfmit general ftatements, for the prefent year^
of the revenues of Bengal and Bahar, the large increafe upon which muft in great
meafure be.afcribed to Mr. Sykes's affiduit)^, and to Mahomed Rcza Cawn's profound
knowledge In the finances. Without this diligence and fkill In the executive officers,
all the attention of the Committee to fupport the Indue nee of governm.ent, to
enforce X)bedience pf the Zemindars, and to prevent frauds, embezzlements, and de-
predations conumtted on the revenue, would fail to produce t'i.e required effedV.

17. The:

38 APPENDIX.

17. The large inveftments, which we are now enabled to fend home, by means
of the fupplies we remit to China, and the cargoes from hence, render the revenuci
of this countrv an objeft of the utmoft importance, not only to the Company, but to
the Britifh nation. As thcfe are the only means we can at prefent devife, whereby
you can enjoy the full fruits of his Majeft)'s royal grant of the Dewanny, we fhali
continue to exert our vitmoft endeavours to extend the inveltment every year ; and
we propofe continuing to fupply the China market with money, until your prohibition
to the contrary' ihall arrive, or advice from the Supercargoes, that they have a lupcrfluity
in their hands. Inconveniencies will undoubtedlv attend this annual exportation of
treafure ; but when we reflecl on the great addition already made to the current
fpecie of the country by the gold coinage, and likewiie that even fhould your fales
fall, yet will every increafe of vour inveltment prove fo much adlual money remitted
to your coffers, we are inclined to think this the moft eligible fyftem that can be
purfujd at prefent. We are further to confider, that while foreign nations arc pro-
viding their inveltments with money borrowed at a high premium, you are only
fending home in goods the furplus of an immenfe revenue, which may truly be
regarded as fo much clear gain to the Company and to the nation.

18. But this great and national objedt is not to be fecured and perpetuated without
your unremitting attention to our military eftabliiliment, and maintaining a force
proportioned to the riik incurred by the extenfion of your influence and pollcflions.
The difmiffion of the Nabob's ufclefs military rabble, and of thofe troops kept up by the
Rajahs and the Foi z lars, in their feveral dillrifts, for the purpofe of enforcing the
coliedtions, hath obliged us to raife eight battalions of independent Sepoys ; fo that
notwithftanding the great number of recruits fent out this year from England, not-
withftanding the liberal fupply of troops granted by your Prefidency at Fort St.
George, lb general was the mortality on board the tranfports, fo great the lofs from
the Falmouth's misfortune, and fo fatal the efledls of the late unhealthy feafon, that
we cannot avoid being alarmed at the extraordinary difproportion of numbers between
your European and black infantry. The very fignal inftance of fidelity and attach-
ment exhibited by the fepoys, during the late mutiny of the officers, might indeed
be fulTicicnt to quiet our apprchcnfions, and remove all fufpicion of their conduft, if
experience the preceding year, of their dangerous infolence and turbulent fpirit had
not evinced the neceffity of keeping the black troops in awe and fubjeftion.

19. We therefore moll: earnellly requeft that you will try, by every poffible means,
to complete the European infantry to the nuniber fpecified in our addrefs by the
Admiral Steven-, ; and that effedlual meafures may be taken to prevent crouded
fliips, to (Hfparch vour recruits at an early feafon, and to guard againll the infamous
pradtices of owners, hufbands, and officers of ibips, whereby the lives of hundreds
of men are facrificed, whofe ferviccs would be valuable to the nation, and altogether
invaluable to the Company.

20. In the letters from the juiblic department, your Council have frequently ex-
prelfcd their willies that you would comply with the military ftorc-kceper's indents
for hats and fhoes. We now make it tl:c rcqucft of this Committee, that the
brigades may in future be fully fupplied with articles fo eflential to a foldier's
cloathing, and which are not to be procured here In a fufficient quantity at any
price.

2 r. At tlic fame time we beg leave, once more, to repeat the necefiity of your pur-
fuing the moll vigorous Heps to iirevcnt the exi)orJ:itioii of fire-arms and ammunition
to any part of India. It is not fufficient that wc guard againft this illicit, and j)erhaps
f.ital trade, at your Prefidencies of Fort St. George, and Fort William, unlefs the
fame care be taken at Bojnbay, Bencoolca, and ) our fatlorios on the Malabar coaft ;

lince

APPENDIX. 39

fince the .arms Imported at thofe places are foon conveyed by country vcITels, and
other means, to the moft remote parts of Hindoftan.

22. The accompany hig duplicate of our letter by the Lord Camden, will advife
you of the profpctl we tlien enjoyed of uninterrupted peace and tranquility in
Bengal. Nor is this profpcdt more vifionary or remote at prefent, notwithflanding
the King has plied every engine of llate artifice and deceit to difturb the rcpofe of
the empire, by irrming fur the purpofes of his wild ambition, a power who, in a
fhort time, would fhake the foundation of his throne, and deprive him of that inde-
pendent and comfortable revenue which he now poffeffts for the fupport of his dig-
nity. Difappointed in the King's promifes of affiftance from us, the Maharattas ha\e
ever fince remained fecmingly irrcfolutc how they fhall aft, at fome dillancc from the
frontiers of the Korah province, which was ceded to his Majeliy laft year by treaty.
They have not yet attempted to moleft the King, our ally Sujah al Dowlah, or us;
yet for the greater fecurity we have directed the fecond and third brigades to march
towards the Caramnafla, to fupport Sujah al Dowlah, if he Ihould require our af-
fiftance, and to confirm that terror of our arms with which the Maharattas ftem al-
ready to be ftrongly imprefled. This motion we expeft will produce the full effedt,
without ftriking a blo\^'.

23. We learn with great fatisfaftion by the latcft advices from the coaft, that all
differences with Nizam Alice are likely to be removed. Should this defireable event
take place, we hope to concert a plan of operations with the PrefiJencies of Ma-
drafs and Bombay, which will effectually prevent our being molefted in future by
the Maharattas, by obliging them to confine their whole attention to the preferva-
tion of what they now poffefs. At prefent they are the only power who can excite
difturbances In Bengal ; nor have we any thing further than a mere temporary inter-
ruption to our coUeftions to apprehend even from the Maharattas ; fince with our
vvell-difclpllned and numerous army, we may bid defiance to the moft powerful coun-
try army that can be brought in the field.

24. Having maturely confidcred your orders, conveyed in paragraph 39 of your
general letter by the Lord Camden, we entirely agree in opinion that the govern-
ment hath undoubted right to oblige the inhabitants to contribute their proportion of
expcnces neceffary to the fecurity of the fettlement. But as not only the propriety
of fuch an affeflraent, but even our power of levying taxes hath been quellioned,
and this propofal already rejefted in the confultation of the Board in the year 1762,
we chufe to avoid renewing it at a junfture when the 'affluence of the Company
renders it lefs neceirar\ , and when fuch an exertion of authority might poflibly revive
difcontent, and re-klndle thofe fparks of fedition, which have been too recently fup-
preffcd to admit of a certainty that they are thoroughly extinguifhed. However, left it
Ihould hereafter be thought expedient to affels the inhabitants for the purpofe men-
tioned, or for any other meafure of government, we could v^Ifli to recommend
that you would pleafe to confult the learned in the law, how far the authority of your
Governor and Council, afting here as your reprefentatives, extends over the property
of the inhabitants living under their protection.

25. You will obferve from our proceedings, that Mr. Rumibold's ap- sep. 10, 15,
pointment to a feat at the Board, with the ftanding he held at your Pre- and 19.
fidency of Fort St. George, v/as confidcred by Mefii-s. Aklerfcv, Kelfall, and Flo-
yer, as an injury to themfelves, and a fuperceffion, which their condud: at the
iBoard no way juftined. At the fame time we confefs the merit of thefe gentlemen,
we^muft obferve, that the injury would have been ftill greater to Mr. Rumbold,
had he been denied that rank m Council, to which he was intitled by faithful fer-
vices. Our cbjcdtion was not to him, but to a feleftion from this eftablifhmcnt,-

which

^D APPENDIX.

which we conceived would ferve only to aggravate the general difcontent ; and
we therefore gave him aflurances at the time, that, his fiiperceffion would be tem-
porary.

With the Committee's declaration that fuch aflurances had been given, we are of
opinion the Madrafs gentlemen might have remained fatisfied, until the fcntiments
of the Court of Directors coukl be received j fince it Is evident we were reduced bv
neceffity only to this meafure, without intention of injuring, or in aiiy degree fuper-
feding Mr. Rumbold, whole fervices to the Company, both in a civil and military
capacity, defervedly entitle him to an .exemption from every indignity.

26. The public department will advife )ou of Mr. Sumner's refignation, and qf
his having taken his pall'age in this fliip ; we fhalt not proceed to fill up the vacancy
liis departure has occaiioned iir tlie Committee, until his Lordfliip is able to attend
the bufinefs.

"VVe have the honour to be, Jcc.

CLIVE, JOHN CARNAC, H. VERELST.

No. VI.
To the Honotirabk the Court of Directors, C^c.

HoKOURABLE SiRS,

1. At the time we were honoured with your commands by the Mercury packer,'
Lord Clive's fevere indif{K)fition obliged us to defer making any particular reply ;
we therefore contented ourfelves wich general expreffions of thanks for the approba-
tion you are pleafed to beftow on our condud, and the confidence you repofe in the
zeal and attachment of the Selett Committee

2. Having fince his Lordfhip's recovery more maturely confidered yotir letter, we
beg leave to repeat our acknowledgments with the livelieft fenfe of duty and grati-
tude ; and tq allure you, that finding ourfelves more completely armed with the
fandlion of your authority, w« Ihall proceed with boldnefs and vigour upon the fame
])rinciples that have hitherto guided our ftcps, and produced thofe events which you
do us the honour to confidcr as important and fortunate to the Company.

3. When firft wc embraced the political f}itcm now eftablifhed, it was with diffi-
dence ; when we entered upon the corrcftion of abufo, and the punifhmcnt of mif-
-condudt, it was with reluftance ; but fenfible that the one and the other were cflen-
tially neccfiary to the ftability of government, and even to your exiflcnce in this
country, we purfucd our meafures with that difinterefted zeal which we hoped would
■merit your applaufe ; and wc now receive in your approbation, the molt acceptable
reward of our labours.

4. It is with extreme fatisfadtion we perceive, that you agree with us in opinion,
refju'dling the expediency of the royal grant of the Dcwanny. The neceffity and
•utility of this grant become every day more evident. All caul'e of contention with the
government is now removed ; fecurity to the propert}', freedom to the trade, and
protedtion to the pcrfons of the native inhabitants arc infured. Funds for tlic pro-
vifion of your invcllments, for the maintenance of your troops, and for the neccfficics
of war, are eftablifhcd. Influence to command refpeft is acquired ; and we may, in
our prefcnt cirtunillanccs, be regarded as die fpring which, concealed under the fha-

dow

N D I X.

4»

tlow of the Nabob's name, fccretly gives motion to this vaft machine of government,
without offering violence to the original conilitution. The incrcafe of our own, and
diminution of his power, are cff'cdtcd without encroachment on his prerogative. The
Nabob holds in his hands, as he always did, the whole civil adminiftration, the dlOri-
bution of jullice, the difpofal of offices, and all thofc fovercign rights which co.ifti-
tute the eifence of his dignity, and form the mofl; convenient barrier between us and
the jealoufy of the other Euroj)ean fettlements.

5. As to the fundions of this ofhce of Dewanny, they have, fincc we came Into
pofleflion, been exercifed as you dired: by the rcfident at the Durbar who acffs as
coUedror of the King's revenue, under the infpcftion and controul of the Scledt Com-
mittee. In conjunftion with Mahomed Reza Cawn, he fuperintends the \\ hole collec-
tions, receives the monthly pa)'ments from the Zemindars, difburfes the Hated re-
venues appropriated to the King and the Nabob, enquires into the caufes of defi-
cicncrcs, redrefies injuries fulbiined or committed by the officers of the revenue and
tranfmits the accounts of his office, the invoices of treafure, and the montlily ac-
count of the treai^K}', with every other occurrence of importance to the Prefident and
Seledl Committee.

6. The colle<flions of the province of Bahar we have thought proper to place under
the immediate direftion of the Chief at Patna, who adts jointly with Shetabroy, and
fabordinate to the rcfident at the Durbar, to whom he makes his confignments of
treafure, and tranfmits monthly accounts of his office, which the rcfident forwards to
HS. The diary you re-commend would certainly conduce much to the regularity and
method of office ; but as we are afraid of difiradting his attention, by prefenting too
great a variety of different objedts to his mind, we muft at prefent leave the par-
ticular mode of carrying on bufinefs to the refident's own dlfcretion. His corre-
fpondence, however, with the natives, and copies of all letters he may fend or re-
ceive in his public ftation, we lliall diredt him to forward to us, with duplicates and
triplicates to be tranfmitted in our general packet.

7. For the greater precifion in the management of your affairs, we have confidered
th« whole bufinefs of the Dewanny as purely political ; it is therefore kept feparatc
and apart from that of your former polfeffions, the dirediion of which will, in future,-
be left to the Governor and Council, in the manner explained in the next para-
graph.

8. To avoid confufion and delay in tranfafting the multiplicity of affairs, now
dependent on this Prefidency, we have drawn a line, whereby their dilfindl and **^' *''
refpedtive provinces are marked out and affigned to the Council and Seledl Committee.
To the fonner we have allotted the difburfement of money, ordering, preparing,
and diredtiog your invefimcnts, managing your Calcutta lands, and Pergunnahs,
colledting your revenues of Burdwan, Midnapore, and Chittagong, together with
the current bufinefs of the Prefidency, fubordinate Fadfories, and Aurungs, with
whatever may any way relate to the trade and navigation of India. Thefe were the
proper objedts of the attention of your Prefident and Council, before the Company's
influence and power became fo enlarged, before the annies they maintained, the al-
liances they formed, and the revenues they poffefled, procured them a confideratlon
as a fovereign and politic, as well as a commercial body.

9. To the Seledt Committee is referved the power of making treaties, con-
dudting negotiations, and contradling alliances ; of ordering and diredling everv **^' *"
thing relative to the operations of war, the defence of the country, and to military af-'
fiairs ; of fettling the amount of the annual revenues, and colledting them in quality of
Dewan for the King; of ilTuing orders to the rcfident at the Durbar, and correfpondingwitk
the country powers J in a word, of carrying on whatever bufinefs may affcdt the govern-

mcat^

42 APPENDIX.

ment, or the political and military intereft, of our honourable employers, with this
farther relcrvaiion of the powers delegated to the Comiiiittee, of interfering upon fuch
occafions as they may judge neccflary to the good of the Company, and general wel-
fare of the country.

10. Such are the regulations under which we propofc to condud: the bufinefs of this
Prefidency in future, and which we hope will meet with your approbation. In mark-
ing the lionts afligned to each department, we have obferved all poffible regard to
the honour of the Board, and to the natural boundaries of what your pofleffions were,
and what they now are ; with this view efpecially, that if, upon any future emergency,
or reverfe of fortune, we fhould be forced to relinquifh our late acquifitions, and re-
turn to our former condition, we may do it with the leaft injury to your affairs.

11. In the liil of packet by the Cnittendcn, we fcnt you a general eftimate of revetuie
for the prefent year, to be colledled in the province of Bengal and Bahar, in the manner
fixed and adjufted at the laft Poonahs. For your farther fatisfadiion, we now tranfmit an
explicit account of the receipts and difburlements of the Dewanny treafury, from the
above period ; whence you will obferve, that the monthly payments have been ftridtly
kept up, and that the annual collections are likely to anfwer our molt fanguine ex-
pettations. Should any deficiency arife upon the prefent ftatement, it mufl proceed
from the regulations we have made for the increafe of your own invellment, which
neceflarily reltrain many articles of private trade, that always paid duties to the go-
vernment ; and alfo from the impoffibility of our enforcing the coUeftions in the re-
mote frontier provinces, where many independent Rajahs refide, with the fame degree
of authority exerted under the immediate eye of your refidcnt at the Durbar.

12. Senfible of the importance of thefe revenues to the Compan)^, and convinced
by experience that it requires the moft unremitting diligence to prevent the natives
from eluding payment of the ftated collcdions, your Seledt Committee will ever be
attentive to fupport, with all their influence, the authority of the refident at the Dur-
bar, and to fee their orders for reftraining the pernicious interpofition of your fervants in
the affairs of government rigoroufly enforced. As early as the month of November,
1 765, we flriftly prohibited all your fervants, civil and military, from lending money
ro the Zemindars, without firit obtaining the confent and approbation of the Minifters.

But obferving this order might be evaded, under various pretences, we have
^^' ^'' now, ao-reeable to your direftions, enjoined, on pain of immediate difmiffion from
your fervice,that no perfon whatever, living under protedtion of theCompany, fhall lend
money at a higher rate of intereff than 1 2 per Cent, per annum, except on Refpondentia
only. As the fuccefs of the Durbar refident's endeavours to complete the annual
colleftions depends in a great meafure upon the pundual obfervance of this highly
neceflary regulation, you inay reft ailured, that nothing incur power fhall be wanting
to exact implicit obedience ; and that we iball, without regard to perfons, punifh the
offenders with the utmoll: fevcrity.

I :;. When firft we received from his Majefty the grant of the Dewanny, and entered
upon the collection of the Royal revenue, we committed this important charge to
the management of Mahomeil Reza Cawn, under the immediate infpeCtion of the
refident at the Durbar. We could not conveniently, before we received your ap-
probation of the fteps we had taken, affign ftated falaries to the minifters, and we
were therefore obliged to connive at their receiving, for the maintenance and fup{X)rt
of their dignity, certain emoluments and pcrejuifites which have always, by the cuflom
of the country, been annexed to their ftation and offices.

14. Mahomed Reza Cawn has now of himfelf, with great delicacy of honour, re-
pretentcd to us the evil confecjucnces that mult enfue from the continuance of tliis
practice ; fince, by fuifering the principal olllcers of the government to depend, for

the

APPENDIX. 43

the fupport of their dignity, on the precarious fund of perciuilites, we in a manner
oblige them to purfuc oppreffivc and corrupt mcafures, ecpially injurious to tiie
country and to the Company. Wc arc likewife of opinion, that it is more becoming
the dignity of your government, more confillent with your true intcrefl:, and more
conformable to the plan wc have adopted of conciliating to us the minds ot the na-
tives, that a flop fliould, in future, be put to the necefiity of thofe exactions, which,
though cuitomary, muft nevertliekfs be grievous to the people ; and we have there-
fore, upon due confideration of the neeelfary expences confcquent on their rank,
llation, and offices, affigned twelve lacks of * rupees a year for the maintc-
nance and fupport of Mahommcd Reza Cawn, Roy DuHub, and Shctabroy,
who hold in their hands the mofl important employments of the government.

15. In eftablifliing this fund for the maintenance of the principal officers of
ftate, wc have had a particular regard to the amount of their perquifitcs, v^hich will
henceforward be annexed to the revenues, to their elevated llations, and to the expe-
diency of fupporting them in all the fhevv and parade requifite to keep up the autho-
rity and influence of their refpedtive offices. As they are all mit n of weight and confi-
deration in the country, who held places of great trull and profit under the former
government, we farther propofed, by this a&. of generofity, to engage their cordial
fervices, and confirm them fteady in our intereft, fince they cannot hope, from the
mofl: fuccefsful ambition, to rife to greater advantages by any change or revolutioqi
of affairs. At the fame time it was reafonable we fliould not lofc fight of Mahomed
Reza Cawn's part fervices ; he has purfued the Company's intcrefl with fteadinefs and
diligence ; his abilities qualify him to perform the mofl important fervices. The un-
avoidable charges of his particular fituation are great ; in dignity he flands fecond
to the Nabob only ; and as he engages to increafe the revenues, without injuftice or
opprefl^ion, to more than the amount of his falary, and to rclinquifli thofe advan-
tages to the amount of eight lacks of -f rupees per annum, which he heretofore enjoyed,
we thought it proper, in the diftribution of falaries, to confider Mahomed Reza Cawa
in a light fuperior to the other Minifters. This we have recommended to the Pre-
fident, who will adjuft, with their aj>probation, the feveral proportions to be drawn
from the above appointment. We have only to obferve farther upon this fubjed:,
that great and enormous as the fum muft appear which we have allotted for the fupport
of the minifters of the government, we will not hefitate to pronounce that it is
neceflary and reafonable, and will appear fo on confideration of the power which
men employed on thofe important fervices have either to obftrudt or promote the
public good, unlefs their integrity be confirmed by the ties of gratitude and m-
tereft.

16. Previous to the arrangement made of public bufinefs, whereby all your
former poflTeffions are delivered over in charge to the Governor and Council, we

had under confideration the letting the Calcutta lands to new tenants, upon frefli
leafes. Such was the refolution of the Committee, on the 2d of December, 1765,
to which purpofe, advertifements were then publifhed. A lift of farmers were fe-
lecfted from the great number of candidates who offered themfelves, in framing which
we had a particular regard to the charadler and fervices of thofe perfons admitted,
to the benefit of lands.

17. If you will pleafe to refer to the Prefident's Minutes at the time we
granted the former leafes, you will find that his Lordlhip then entertained "' *" '' **
fufpicions of fraud in the management of the Pergunnahs. In confequence, we had
fet on foot an inquiry, the effedts of which appeared, as we were on the point of
clofing our agreement with the new farmers ; and this determined us to poftpone the

F 2 intended

• I JO, 000/, f 100,000/.

44 APPENDIX.

' intended grants until the nth day of April next, that our refearches into this dark
sffair might not be obftru<fted by the coliufion and artifice of the new tenants. The
frefh leaies will then be made out by the Prefident and Council, we doubt not
with a very confiderable increafe of rent, arifing from an equal afleffment, according
to the real value of the lands ; for we would avoid every aft of violence and oppref-
fion, as well as of favour and partiality, to individuals.

1 8- Immediately upon receipt of your orders for commencing fuits againft your
fervants who had received prefents at the acceffion of the late Nabob, we formally
demanded, by a letter from our Secretary, full reftitution of Meflrs. Playdell and
Middleton, now in Bengal, and of the attorneys of thofe gentlemen who aie returned
to England. Mr. Playdell's anfwer we have not yet received ; Mr. Middleton's is annex-
ed to our proceedings, and we beg leave to recommend it to your confideration,.
' as we are well afllired that gentleman was entirely ignorant of your ordei^s for fign-
ing covenants at the time he accepted the prefents. The reputation of ftridl honour and
integrity which Mr. Middleton always maintained in your fervice, obliges us to
wifh that you would pleafe to diftinguifh him from thofe other fervants \vho have
incurred your difpleafure, by dropping a profecution that muft be attended with ruiri
to his fortune and family. For thefe realons, and as he has agreed to give us fecurity
that he will anfwer to you, or us, every legal demand upon his fortune, we have
thought proper to avoid filing the bill of difcovery, &c. which you dired;.

19. Agreeable to your orders, and to the direftions contained in the opinion of his
Majefly's Attorney and Sollicitor General, we are preparing to file bills againft the
other gentlemen, upon the refufal of their attorneys, to anfwer our demand without
authority from their conftituents. Upon inquiry, we find that none of their effedls
are in poffeflion of the Company ; and we apprehend that- fcrupks will arife in the
Ma^'or's Court as to the power of attaching fuch efFeiffs as may be depofited in the;
hands of their agents, or of. the natives., Wc' fh'all, however, literally follcfw your
inftruftioHs as far as circumftanccs will admit, and we can a6t confiftently with your
fecurity, in a place where the profeffion of the law is exercifed by men- who feem-
to derive all their knowledge by inheritance, or to poffcfs it from intuition, without
previous ftudy or- application-.

20. We come now to fpeak to your inftrudtions relative to the inland trade, which''
you very juftly confider as the foundation of all the bloodfiied, maflacres, and con-
fufion, which have happened of late years in Bengal. Your orders are pofitive, and-

therefore our obedience fhail be implicit. Accordinglyyou will obferve in our pro-
ceedings, that the focicty for Gondud-ing -this. branch oftraffick ftands abfolutely
aboliflied on the firft day of September next. The contracfts for the prefent year being-
formed, and large advances made, if was inipoffible, without ruin to individuals, and i
contufion to the public, to fix an earlier date for the execution of your orders.

21. But although our duty obliges us to pay the ftrifteft obedience to your pe-
remptory orders for abolilliing a trade to which you exprefs lb ftrong an averfion,
the fame duty requires v/e fhould freely- offer our fentimenrs upon a fubjeft iu-
which we think your immediate intercft, the good of the fervice, and the public -
welfare, are deeply concerned. The Honourable Court of Di^eftors, and indeed'
the whole body of Proprietors, found it necelFary to rcftrain bv covenants thei?-
sivil antl military fervants from receiving thofe advantages to which they had for
many years been accuftomed. It is likewife propofed,' in ord<?r that you may enjoy
the real fruits of your- late acquifirions, to make fueh an increafe of invcftmtnt, par-
ticularly ill filk, as will effe<;:tually deprive your fervants of the ufual benefit arifing-
from private trade. Farther, tL-it the revenues may. not be injured in any degree,-
they arc prohibited from lending money at a higher rate than 12 per Cent, per

annum ;.-

APPEND I X: 45

■annum ; and a trade by fea, in the manufaarures of the country, being the only re-
maining channel for the exertion of indiiflry, that likewife is choaked up by thofe
ihoals of free merchants annually imported, who being incumbered with no public
bufinefs, nor confined to refidence in Bengal, can carry on a free trade with every
port in India, to much greater advantage than your fervants.

2 2- Taking all thefe circumllances into confideration ; refledting alfo upon the
great increafe of luxury of late years, in confequence of the fudden influx of wealth,
and that it will not be prafticable for' a time to reduce the charges of living to the
prefent means of fupporting thofe charges, we adopted, in confequence of your per-
miflion, the plan of a regulated and reftrifted inland trade, as the bed method of
rewarding faithful fcrvices, the fureft means to excite zeal, and the faireft mode of
carrying on a beneficial trade, without reliiKjuilhing all the advantages we have hi-
therto received, or fubjedting thfe natives' to thofe encroachments on their natural
rights, of which they have with too much reafon complained.

23. Our letter by the Camden, and'procecdmgs by the Cruttenden, will explalri^i
to you the regulations of the original plan of the fociety, which took place in the
month of September laft. Under thefe regulations the trade can fcarce be con-
fidered in the odious light of a monopoly, fince we are rather the agents for manu-
fadluring the fait, than the proprietors of the trade. It is fold in Calcutta to the
natives only, and to the utter exclufion of all Europeans, at an eafier rate than it
ever could be procured when under the management of the government, before we
were admitted to any participation. The natives tranfport it to all the different parts
of the country, under fuch limitations that it mufl reach the hands of the^ confumer
at a ftated and moderate price. Hereby the people fenfibly feel the juftice and le^ -
nity of your government ; and your fervants, who have attained the higheft ftations,*
after a courfc of many years fpent in this unfavourable climate, reap the reward of
their fervices, and enjoy the means -of fecuring that independence to which . they^
have fo equitable a claim.

24. We are now directed totally to renounce all fhare and benefit -arifing from'
this trade; it muft be made over to the natives. The government muft of courfe
come into jxjflcflion ; nor can it be carried on otherwife than upon the ancient foot-
ing of farming it out to the minifters, officers, favourites, and d^jiendentson' the
government, who will rear immenfe fortunes upon the oppreflion and ruin ot the
public, irt defpite of our utmoft Influence and endeavcHirs; Thefe are at prefent our
fafjMcions ; time alone can verify our conjeftures. You, no doubt, will maturely
confider how far it is pr-obable men will continue honefl: againfl: all the feduftions of ■-
private intcrefl; ; and whether it may not be neceflary to flrengthen the ties of that
duty expefted from your fervants, by the lighter bonds of gratitude for the afflu-
ence which they enjoy during the time of their fervitude, and the independencythey
ought to fecure befm^ the clofe of' their labours-.

25. By the Admiral Stevens weearneftly recommended- that the Seledl Committee'
might be continued. You are plcafed to approve our fcntiments, which' experience-
has rather confirmed than altered. You have entrufted Ix)rd Clive with thC' powers-'
of abolilhing- it entirely, or of continuing- it' under fuch regulations as he (hall think
moft conducive to your fervice. His Lordfhip, who joins with us in opinion- that ;
this govtmmeut, upon ifs i>reient eftabliflimenr,- cannot properly be. conduced ex- -
Cfpt by a Seled: Committee, compofed of your fervants, of the greateft zeal, inte-
grity, and abilities, has delivered in, as the laft ad: of his adminiftration, a propofal tor
cpntinuing the Committee after his departure, in the manner exprefled in his letter, .
entered in our proceedings. The gentlemen propofed to fill up the vacancies, are- ^^^
ftfch a$ we could not but approve; and the plan laid down by his Lordfhip, for the

guidancsv

4(5 APPENDIX.

guidance Ind dire<ftioii of the Commkeee, fOr elearly chalks out the path which we
ought to purfue, and the only path which can lead to your honour and intereds,
that if we deviate from it, it mufl: proceed not from ignorance, but inclination ;
■and we become in all refpedts a<;countable for the confequence of fuch deviation,

26. It is with the deepeft concern we muft obferve to you, that, after due confi-
deratioH of the prefent Itate of your fervice in Bengal, and of the unfitnefs of
fome, and the youth of others, who iland next in fucceffion to Council, we thought

it eflentially neceflary to flop the courfe of promotion, and to pafs an
ad: of this Board, that no vacancies which might happen in Council,
faould be filled up, until your further pleafure could be known. The importance
of this Itation being now greatly raifed, by the increafe of your revenues and influ-
ence, it is of the lafl: conlequence that the management of fuch weighty concerns
fhould only pafs through the hands of men of the greateft experience and abiUdes
you can felect.

27. The Prefident and Council, we are forty to remark, have incurred youc cen-
fure, for purchaling the Admiral Stevens, at our recommendation. We confidered
her advices were of too much importance to the Company to be retarded, on ac-
count of a trifling difference of expence. Your acquifitions, of which you had then
the firft notice, could only be fecured by an early reinforcement of troops. To
alter the deftination of your China Ihip, would have proved injurious to your va-
luable invedment, as fhe carried a large fupply of treafure. The Kent we knew to
be a bad failer ; and the expedient we fell upon appeared to be the only refource.
We are further to obferve, that in the furvey made of the Admiral Stevens we were de-
ceived, as Ihe afterwards proved to be in a worfe condition than was reported by the
mafter-attendant and officers.

28. The Perfian tranflator having for fome time pafl been too much indifpofed ta
attend to bufinefs, we are under the necefTity to poflpone, till the difpatch of the latter
Ihips, the complete fct of country correfpondence which we propofed tranlinitting by
the Britannia.

We have the honour to be, &c.

Fwt William, Jan. 14, 1767.

CLIVE, H. VERELST, J, CARNAC, F. SYKES.

POSTSCRIPT.

We have juft received from the Council at Canton, a narrative of the lofs
of the Earl Temple, in the China feas. This account was taken from the declaration
of three of the crew, who arrived at Canton, one of whom the Supercargoes have fent
to Bengal, to alTifl: in navigating a veflcl we propofe fending, in hopes to fave the lives
of feveral of our countrymen, who are now confined, in a wretched condition, to the
fmall boundaries of a defolate ifland. We tranfmit the narrative a number in the
packet.

CLIVE, H. VERELST, JOHN CARNAC, F. SYKES.

T§

APPENDIX. 47

No. VII.
To the Honourable the Court of DireSion, &Cw

Hon. Sirs,. Fort William. February 13, 1 757".

1. After accomplifhing your earned wifhes for the rcftoration of peace and tranqui-
Ety in Bengal, your late Prefident, Lord Clive, embarked for England in the Bri-
Eannia, leaving the government in charge to Mr. Verclft.

2. A duplicate of our difpatches upon that occafion, containing a recital of the moft
confiderable occurrences fince the departure of the Cruttenden, we have the honour to
tranfmit a number in the packet ; together with the proceedings of that date of the
Seledt Committee.

3. We fhould be wanting in the juft praifes of fuperior merit, and in gratitude for
the eflential fervlces performed by Lord Clive, if we failed to acknowledge that, to
the prudence and vigour of his adminiftration you are chiefly to afcribe the prefent
flourifhing condition of your affairs. Firm and indefatigable in his puduits, he joined
to the weight of perfonal charadter, a zeal for your fervice, and a knowledge of your
klterefts, which could not but cnfure fuccefs.

4. It would be unneceffary to remind you of the deplorable fituation in which his
Lordlhip and the Committee found this fettlement. We beheld a Preiidency di-
vided, headftrong and licentious ; a government without nerves, a treafury without
money, and a fervice without fubordination, difcipline, or public fpirit. We may
add, that amidft a general ftagnation of ufeful induftry, and of licenfcd commerce,
individuals were accumulating immenfe riches, which they had ravlfhed from the
infulted Prince and his helplcfs people, who groaned under the united prefllire of
difcontent, poverty, and oppreffion.

5. Such was the condition of this Prefidency and of thefe provinces, at the time his
Lordfhlp and the Committee entered upon the arduous tafk of reformation. Your
prefent fituation need not be deferibed. The liberal fupplies to China, the ftare of
your treafury, of your inveftment, of the fervice, and of the whole country, declare it
to be the Itrongeil contraft to what it was, and the moft pleafing affemblage of for-
tunate circumftances, and of profperous events, that has occurred at any period.

6. As the meafurcs purfued are fo fortunate as to meet with your approbation, and
as they precifely eorrefpond with our own fentiments, you may be allured of our
conftant endeavovirs to preferve your affairs in the fame channel through which they
have flowed with fuch variety of fuccefs : we therefore beg leave to repeat to you,
what we have already declared to Lord Clive, that no motive, no confideration, fliall
ever induce us to depart from that fyftem of politics, which he has recommended to
us by preceju and exiunplc, unlcfs fome very extraordinary event and unforefeen
change fhould occur in the pofture of your affairs.

7. A few days after his Lordlhip's departure, the Seledl Committee affembled in
purfuance of your orders, and of the refokition taken the 16th ultimo, to fill up the
vacancies occafioned by the refignation of Lord Clive, Mr. Sumner, and General
Carnac. Senfible of the good efiefts which muft refult from our unanimity, it is
with pleafure we obferve, that all the members appearing to be aftuated by the fame
principles, we have before us the chearful profped: of proceeding with harmony and
mutual confidence.

8. It

IS A P TP li^ N" D I 3t;>.

8. It was with much regret we entered upon the exercife of thofe powers which you
have been plealcd to confer on the Committee, hy an aft of neceflary feverity towards
lieutenant Butler, whom we difmilied the fervice for infolent behaviour, and oblHnate
difobedience to the orders of the ad;ing Cliief at Coffimbazar.

g. With the fame view of aflerttng the Authority of your Council, and extirpating
every feed or Icdition trom the army, the Committee came to a refolution of difmif-
fhig Mr. Rider, one of your covenanted fervants, and all thofe officers who had fub-
fcribed to an addrefs prefentcd to Sir Robert Fletcher, after that gentleman had been
caihicred'by acourt martial of field officers,' and their fentence ratified by thewliole
Board. So avowed a Ipiritof oppofition to the fentiments of their fuperiors, exprelibd
fo immediately atter a general and dangerous combination, demanded the moll rigov
rous punifhment.

lo. We are happy in the opportunity of remarking the favourable change which
{q evidently appears in the condud: and difpofition of your civil fervants, who feem to
have profited by your wholefome and foafonable corrediion. At the fame time that
it may be neceflary to hold in your hand the rod of chaftifement, we cannot but offer
it as our opinion, that very falutary eliafts may alfo be expedted from the occafional
exercife of your lenity and indulgence. W^hen you have duly confidered the many
reftriftions now irnpofed on your junior fervants, when you refledl upon the exor-
bitant price to which almoft every article of living is rifen, we hope it will appear to
you, as it evidently does to us, that their allowance is no way proportioned to the un-
avoidable expences of the moft rigid osconomy.

1 r. They are now deprived the benefit of all trade ; they are rcflrained from re-
ceiving the falaries annexed to double employments, which were advantages that
ought to be appropriated in reward for diligence and ability. The greatefl number is
indeed reduced to your bare monthly allowance, which, it muil be owned, is too
fcanty a fund to fecure them againft the neceffity of incurring debts that have a bad
mfluence upon their morals, by entangling them in difficulties, from which every
means will naturally be tried to extricate themfelves.

12. For thefe reafons we exhort you, that a competent fubfiftcnce may be eflab-
lifhed for your junior fervants, and more efpecially the writers, who have no claim to
Duflucks ; that amidft the prcfent opulence of the Company, their fervants may not
be fuffered to live, for fome years at Icaft, in penury and want. As to the freedom
ef this reprefentation of fafts, we are affured it will meet with your excufe, fince it
proceeds from our duty, which obliges us to conceal nothing that fo immediately af-
fcdts your fervice and your intereft.

1 3. The ftate of the army is likewife an objetft worthy of yovir confideration. In
times of profound peace, when the troops lofe the advantages they enjoyed in the field,
and are reduced in cantonments to half Batta, and in garrifon to their mere pay ; it is
fcarce poffible that fubaltern officers can fubfill and maintain the ajipearance which
they ought, of gentlemen. We ffiall try every poffibie means to reduce their ex-
pcnccs, and to lower the wages and number of fervants ; but abufes have prevailed
fo long, and cftabliffied themfelves fo firmly, that to remove them will rcciuire time
and rigour. Colonel Smith has already made great progrcfs in the reformation of
your military cftabliffiment ; and we are perfuadcd that the fame affivity which has
been exerted in reducing the army to order and obedience, will be continued to in-
fluence the officers to prudence and occonomy.

14. In confequcnce of fome very juft and pathetic rcmonflranccs, offered to the
Governor, we have agreed to make a farther provifion than is allowed by charter-
party for thofe officers who are difmiflcd, as well as for thofe who, having rcfigned
your fervice, are thought unworthy of being rcftorcd, and arc therefore ordered homt;

A iP P E N ]D I X. 49

/bv t>.e Board. The circumftances of many of thofe unhappy pcrfon.s_ cannot but
cxcice companion. Without money, without cloathing, and without ti-lcnd3, rhcy
are, for the prefervation of order and police in the fettlement, ordered on board iliip
where they can only be received on the footing of the meaneft feameh or fokliers, attc.
coming abroad and fupporting in the fervice the charafter of officers and of gentle-
men. We have adted as we think becom.es the dignity of your lituation, and as
humanity diftates. An allowance of 30 1. for each palVcnger is made to the captain,
that being tiie fum which j^ou dircdl to be paid on account of ofiicers who come
abroad ; and we arc to obferve, that whether 3'ou flionki chufc or not to continue the
allowance, it could not be avoided on this particular occafion, without incurrmg
the cenlv.rc of barbarity, or fuffering the Prefidency to be over-run with idle and dif-
contented people.

15. In the Ihort fpacc of time v/hich intervenes fincc our hH difpatches, no change
has occurred in the politics of this country, excepting that the army of Abdalla
ftill continues advancing towards Dehly. We fliall take into our mofl: mature^ con-
fideration, what confequences may refjlt from the arrival of this northern invader at
the capital, rcfpedling the peace and tranquility of our allies, or of thefe provinces.
Sujah al Dowlah continues in the fame difpofitlon; and the Maharattas difcover no
intentions of difturbingour repofe. The third brigade, however, ftill remains ftatioft-
-cd in Sujah al Dowlah's country ; for which reafon we thought proper to decline his
Tcqueft to Sir Robert Barker, that we would intlrely evacuate Chunargur-; lince we
confider that fortrefs as a neccflary pledge of his fidclit}^, and a proper fecurlty to our
troops while they are adting at his own requilitlon In defence of nis dominions.

16. W'f now beg leave to tranfmit the complete fet of country correfpondence from
'the ifl: of January 1766, to the clofe of the year, which from a variety of accidents
could not be fooner prepared. The Prefident has laid before us his country corref-
pondence, from the time he entered upon the government, the broken fett of which
we {hall forward by the Nottingham ; and as thofe letters are confidered as the moft
•authentic records of the true ftate of the country, wc fhall take all poflible care to

have them regularly fent home for your information.

We have the honour to be. Sec.
H. VERELST, RICHARD SMITH, CLAUD RUSSEL, A. CAMPBELL,

No. VI It.
'To the Honourable the Court of DireSiorSy &c.

Hon. Sir S, fort VS'iUiara, April 10, 1767.

1. By the Nottlnghatn we had the honour of tranfmittina; to 3'ou the proceedings
r>f this Committee to the i oth of March, a duplicate of our addrefs by the Duke of Al-
bany the ic^th February, and the Prefident's country correfpondence to the date of
the difpatch.

2. The report of Abdalla's Intended invafion, was the only circuinflance which
occurred to engnge your particular attention during the ftiort fpace'^of time that in-
tervened between the difpatch of thofe two fhips. We could add nothing with cer-
tainty to (he Intelligence we received, and the plan of operations we adopted> both
which flood fully exprefled on the proceedings and correfpondence. It was, there-

G fore.

5© APPENDIX.

fore, tliought advifeable to avoid giving you the trouble to perufe fentiments that could'
only be founded upon conjedture.

3. At the time Lord Clive rcfigned the adminiHration of your affairs, fome diftant
rumors were heard of Abdalla's ambitious projedls ; and you will accordingly perceive
that his Lordlbip has touched upon this fubjeft, in the Jkctch of your fituation in
Bengal, which he delivered to the Committee before his departure. Circumftances
would not admit he fhould enter upon particulars ; and it would feem, indeed, as if
his I.ordfliip were of opinion the projcft of fo dillant an invafion was attended with,
too raanv ditiiculties to be purfued with fuccefs, or even ferioully propofed.

4. In thefe fentiments we alfo joined, from a perfuafion that Abdalla was too
politic to embark his kingdom, his honour, and life, upon the very doubtful iflue
of an expedition, from which he could not expcd: advantages proportioned to the
dangers, the fatigues he muil encounter, and the exp^nce of blood he mull: neceflarily
incur.

5. We confidered that he was divided from us by an immenfc tradt of country,
almol!: equally impervious during the heats of fummer and the rains of autiunn ;
that this country was inhabited by a variety of different and independent Princes and
nations, whole natural interefls would prompt them to oppofe the progrcfs of the
ufurper ; that he was acftually engaged in war, and had met with an obltinate refiLl-
ance from the Seiks, his ancient and irreconcilcable foes ; that the Maharattas, a
power equally formidable with himfelf, were afpiriug at the fame fuperiority, and
would therefore incline, from views of policy as well as motives of jealoufy and
former enmity, to fet themfelves in oppofition ; that the Jauts and Rohillas, potent
nations, who form a kind of barrier to the dominions of his Majefly and of Sujali al
Dowlah, and who hold their poffeffions now in perledt independency, would therefore
be averfe to changes which could not operate to their advantage ; that the Englilh
could not be equally the objedts of their jealoufy with Abdalla, fince, in ceding his
conquered country to Sujah al Dowlah, they had given fo recent and unexpected a
proof of their moderation; and laft'y, that if, lO the evident interelb and prejudices
of thofe feveral powers, we joined our firm and declared refolution of oppofing the
Shaw with ibrces who have acquired fo high a military reputation, the ufurper would
cither be deterred from the profccution of his arduous attempt, or fuch a confederacy
woifld be united, as might probably keep the danger remote from your poUeffions,
and fecure thofe of your allies.

6. Thefe were the conceptions we formed, upon the firfl: intelligence received that
Abdalla was advancing to Dehl}'. The advices foon became more certain of his
fuccefs againft the Seiks, and progrefs towards the capital. We had alfo farther
advices of his declared intentions againft Sujah al Dowlah and thefe provinces, to
which he was inftigated bv the intrigues of Coffim Allv Cawn. Under thefe circum-
flances it was thought expedient to concert a plan of defence, and reduce to a regular
fyftem the mcafurcs we thought necefTary for checking his progrefs, for animating our
allies, and raifing the country powers to a fcnfe of their own danger, fo that the out-
lines of our operations fhould be clearly marked out before Colonel Smith repairetl to-
the army.

7. Experience of the difpofition of tlie natives of this country has taught, that vi-
gorous meafures will ever produce powerful efVects on the minds of a cautious dilatory
people, who hefitate about forming refolutions until they are compelled by neceflit\-,
or flrongly influenceil by the ]5afTions of fear and hope. To remain inactive fi)e(ftators
of an invafion which threatened to overwhelm tlie ]iolitical fyllem of ;iJl India, would
have difpirited the King and Sujah al Dowlah, whofe dependence was on our lupport.
It would have given courage to the invaders, and it might induce the country powers,

froia

APPENDIX. 51

from motives of fear, to join his ftandard, aiul to a6t contrary to their interefts and
inclinations in a general confederacy, which a timely declaration of our refolutions would
probably prevent, or even convert to our own purpofes. In [iroof that thcfc fcniLnients
were not merely fpeculative, )ou are rcquefted to confult tie letters from the King
and Sujah al Dowlah, whereby it will appear how carneft they were for a compofition
with the Shaw. It is beyond doubt, the King was ftrongly adtuated by fear to make
unbecoming fubmiflions ; and that nothing but our influence with him could prevent
his fending Mcneer al Dowlah with acknowledgments, unworthy of his ro)'al dignity,
and highly impolitic, at a junfture when firmncfs and fpirit became cfl(jntiaHy ne-
celliiry.

8. With thcfe views, and with the farther intention of demonftrating to the powers
of India our religious obfervance of treaties and engagements, as well as that we
were under no apprehcnfions from Abdalla's boafted fuperiority of numbers, we de-
termined upon the plan entered upon our proceedings. Immediate advice of this
our refolution was difpatched to the King and Sujah al Dowlah ; the Rohillas were
informed of our intentions, by a letter from the Prcfident ; the fame intimations were
given to the Maharattas ; the report was fpread over the whole country, and pro-
bably it hath already reached Abdalla's camp, that the Engliih are making prepa-
rations to preferve the freedom and tranquility of the empire.

9. This conjecture is rendered the more probable, as we are juft advifed by Sir
Robert Barker, in a letter from Allahabad, that Abdalla is returning back to Lahore,
having compromifed, for the fum of * 25 lacks, his demands on the Indian powers. Whe-
ther we are really to afcribe this fudden motion to the ideas he may have conceived of
the difficulties he is likely to encounter ; or whether he means again to refume his
defigns, wc cannot affirm with certainty: moff likely it is, that he would have ad-
vanced to Dehly, and remained there during the rainy feafon, inflead of returning
back fo many da)'s march to Lahore, if he had not entirely relinquifhed the thoughts
of invading Hindoilan.

10. At all events, this retreat will greatly retard his projedf. It will encourage
the Seiks to raife up frelh obllrudtions to his progrefs, and it will afford us fufhcient
leifure fnr every necefTary preparation ; fince, for this feafon at leaf!, we have nothing
to apprehend. We are indeed of opinion, that all danger is in future removed from
that quarter, as we learn, from good authority, that the valour, the difcipline, and
the number of our troops, have been reported to Abdalla, with fuch exaggerations,
as feemed then to ftagger his refolution ; and there being jio other power from whom
we need conceive any great apprehcnfions, we flatter ourfelves that we may venture
to congratulate you on the profpedt there is of lafting tranquility in Bengal.

H. Policy, however, requires we fhould hold ourfelves in conftant readincfs to
oppofe every attempt to deftroy that equality and balance of power among the Princes
of the empire, in which confills our greateft fecurit)'. It is of little confequ jnce to
us who fliall be the fuperior; it is the gaining a fuperiority, and the aggrandizement
of any Prince or nation, which would prove dangerous to your poirefirons. We are
fenfibie, however, this maxim is to be reftrained within bounds; and that the Ho-
nourable Company's interefls require we fhould guard againft the dangerous ccnfe-
<]uences of extending our military operations, and enlarging our frontier beyond the
circle of the Nabob's dominions. Hence we confidered it the more nccellarv we
fhould be explicit In affignlng the reafons which induced us to refolve that our
troops fhould crofs the Cararnnafla to the fupport of our allies. The inftruetions of
this Committee to Colonel Smith, will further explain cair fentiments, and convince
you of our firif determination to adl defenfively only, and to proceed no farther than

G 2 good

•312,500/.

APPENDIX.

good faith required, and the prefent circumftances rendered expedient. For this
rcalbn it \v.is, that we made no propofition to the Jauts, Rohillas, or Maharattas^
left we fhould encumber ourfelves with fruitlefs and troublefome engagements. The
latter might probably have demanded the ceffion of countries, which, in time would
render them more formidable to us than the power of Abdalla ;. and it was im-
poffible to fuggefl to the former any expedient, whereby our alliance fliould become
ufeful to them, except that of advancing an army to their affillance, which would
neceffarily carry our military operations to a great diftance beyond our own frontier.

12. Upon the whole, the Committee joined in opinion, that vigorous meafurcs,;. altho*'
more confined, would fufficiently influence the feveral powers to declare againll: Ab--
dalla; and that if they failed of the propefcd effett, we ought not to proceed farther..
You mav, therefore, reft affured we Ihall fteadily purfue this condxift,. and never be
induced by any confiderations to form connections that may lead us to difbint ex--
peditions.

13. When, hoW'Cver, we confiuer the many uuforefeen dangers, and fudden irrup-^
tions, to which your pofTeflions in Bengal are perpetually expofed, our duty obliges
us to requeft, in the moft earneft manner,, that you will not fuffer your attention to.
be diverted from completing your military eftablifhment in the manner propofed by-
Lord Clive. We now tranfmlt a duplicate of the general return, which went a.
number in the Nottingham's packet,^ whence you will perceive, that owing to a va-
riety of accidents, the regiments arc now lefs complete in efFeilive men than when
we reprefcnted their condition by the Admiral Stevens..

14. We alfo beg leave to obfervc, that, with refpeft to fife-arms,, we fhould
find the troops very much diftrefl'ed were they under the immediate neccflity of
entering upon adfion. The Pergunnah battalions are fcarce half armed, riotwith-
ftanding we detained twenty-two chefts of arms dcftined for 3=our Prcfidency at
Bombay. It therefore becomes of the moft ferious confequcnce, that the Military.
Storekeepers indents be fully complied with, and that we Ihould in future receive,
the annual fupply of mufquetry required in the former letters from this Committee.

15. In order to remove the repeated complaints from the army of the deficiency
of draught-builocks, we have come, to a rcfolution of fupplyihg the artillery by a
method which, wc hope, will anfwcr better than by contraci. Colonel Smith has;:
propofed, that the government ftiall engage to provide twelve hundred large draught-
cattle in the Purnca province ; that thefe fliall be fed by coritrad: ;,and that th'e;
contract ftiall be given, in the ufual manner, to the lov;eft bidder. This propofal :
appearing to us well calculated to remove complaints, to obviate the evil confequcnccs.-
that may arife from a deficiency of draught-bullocks, and to eafc the natives from-
many unavoidable afts of opprcflion, without incurring an extraordinary charge, ■
we have accordingly recommended to the Prcfident to enter upon the neccfrai;y
fteps for providing the number of cattle propofed, at the expiration of our engage-
ments with the prefent contraftors. .

16. To complete the regiments, and to put our army upon the moft' rcfpedt able
footing, we applied to the Prcfidency at Madrafs for a fupply of four hundred;
Europeans rank and file, which they are rcqucfted to replace from the fir-rt of oiirr
recruits that iliall arrive on the coaft. They were alfo apprifed of the plan we haU
formed for op|iofing Abdalla, with the view that the tw.» Prefidencics afting in
jierfcft confonancc, may accommodate their operations to each "others ncccflities.
The fam.c advices were fcnt to Bombay.

1 7. You will obfervc in our proceedings a letter from Janajee, the chi^f of tlie
Cuttack Maharattas, with whom we propofed treating for the ceffion of that country,,.
iQ order to open an immediate comaiunication, and conne<^t Bengal with your,

pof^

APPENDIX. 53

pofleffions on the Coromandcl Coad. His Vackeel is foon expcdcd in Calcutta
so ncgociate this biifincls ; and nothing fhall be wanting on our parts to carry into
execution a mcafure which, we think, will conduce to the mutual convenience and
lecurity of the two eftablifhmcnts, if it can be effected without fuch conceffions as
will prove injurious tO' our reputation.

1 8. Wc have the plcafurc to acquaint you, that the bufmefs of the collo(ftions
of Bengal and Bahar is drawing towards a conclufion : and that we lliall very nearly
complete the revenue ftated in the general eftimate. The particulars are not yet
received; but we have the ftrongdl affuranccs from Mcffrs. Sykcs and Rumbold,
and alfo from Mahomed Rcza Cawn and Shetabroy, that the ballanccs will be very
iilconfiderable at the next Poonah.

1 9. You are already advifed, that the Committee have recommended to the
Prefident his making an annual tour of the provinces, at the time for adjufting the
collecftions of the enfuing year. Mr. Verclft v/ill accordingly begin his progrefs
before the clofe of this mohth, and as foon as the bufinefs of the Prefidency will
admit of his abfence, leaving the government in charge with Mr. Carrier.

20. The Seledl Committee met the 9th, when, at the inftance of Sujah al Dowlah,.
we countermanded the march of the fccond brigade, and the detachment ordered to-
take poft at Serajapore. As the Nabob was lately very urgent and felicitous for our
afiirtancc, it is evident, from his prcfent requeft, that he gives entire credit to the
intelligence of Abdalla's return, and is eafed of all apprehenfions for this feafon.
This proceeding we have not been able to get up, without detaining the difpatch,,
which we have done fo lone:; to inform vou of Abdalla's refdiutions.

We have the honour to be, &c..
I4.'VERELST, JOHN, CARTIER, CLAUD RUSSELL, A.CAMPBELL,

SUPPLE MEN T...

In reply to 3'-our enquiry regarding the farms held iiv Burdwan bV Meflrs. Jolin-
Aone, Hay, and Bolts, we are to obferve,, that in the account of Tales of thofe lands,
"it appears the; farms rented by -thofe gentlemen v>^re put up in lots confiderably larger
than 'any of the others. It has alfo been confiaently reported to Mr. Verclft, our
Prefident, by the Ir.te Mr. Afnburner, the officers- of the government, and others,
who were prefcut at the falcs, that fewor no-.bidders appeared, becaufc it was knov.-n
that Mr. Johnftone intended thofe farms for himfclf, and it was therefore apprehended
their offers might incur his difpleafure. We muiV leave you to judge, from this in-
ftanee, how neceffary it is becorDe to exclude from the renting your lands all Europeans
whatever, and more particularly gentlemen who acquire, weight and influence fiom
the ilaare they have in the adminiftrailon of your affairs^.

Wc have the honour to remain. Sec.

H...VERELST, JOHN CAP.TIER, CLAUDE RUSSELL, A. CAJ.IPBELL.

54 'APPENDIX.

No. IX.
To the Hoytoiirabk the Court of DireSlors, ^c.

H O N O U R A B L E S I R S, Fo't William, Sept. j6, 1 767.

I. By the Mcrcun' packet, under date the loth April, we ventured to offer, as
our oj)inion, that Achniet Shaw Abdalla had reliiKjuifhcd all thoughts of prol'ecuting
the ambitious defigns formed againft us and our allies, und.r colour of regulating
the affairs of the empire. Thefe our conjetfures, we have the pleafure to acquaint
30U, are now fully confirmed by the moft authentic advices. The Shaw has not only
evacuated his conquells in the country of the Sciks, but he has retreated towards
his own frontier with fo much precipitation as juftifies us in fuppofing his refolutions
were influenced by the report of the preparations we fet on foot to oppofe his intended
invafion. ■ Whatever might be the motives for fo fudden a change in his councils,
we will not hefitate to declare it as our firm perfuafion, that he will never again re-
fume a projed: which mull be attended with fo much difficulty and danger in the
•execution, and with fuch dubious advantage and fuccefs in the event.

2. \^'hcn we reflect upon the number and difcipline of our troops, the reputation
whicli the Englifli arms have acquired, as ^vell as the knowledge of late )ears obtained
of the frontier paflls and inlets, by which thcfe provinces may be guarded againfl
irruptions, it cannot be doubted, whilll: you maintain your military cflablifliment,
but we fhall be able to defend your pofleflions againft the moft confiderable powers of
this country. Such, however, is the extent of your territorial pofleftions, and the
amount of your revenues, that we muft not flatter ourfelvcs with the hopes of re-
taining your acquifitions without fome attempts from the jealoufy of thole who for-
merly bore the greateft fway in the affairs of the empire.

3. In this number we would reckon the Maharattas, a reftlefs and ambitious peo-
ple, who may be tempted, by the reputed opulence of Bengal, to renew their incur-
fions. They have already revived their claim to the ufual tribute paid to the Subahs
of thefe provinces, and the Prefident has received letters from Rige-naut Row and Ja-
najee, demanding the arrears of the annual Chout, in a more imperative ftyle than
we imagine they will prefume to juftify, when we come to an open explanation.

4. From the above letters, and other advices, we underftand, that at a conference
held on the banks of the Narbudda, all their differences have been adjufted between
Rigc-naut Row and Janejee, Chiefs who have been long at variance. This event, if
confirmed, would fee m to prefage a fruitlcfs iffue to the negotiations we have for
fome months carried on for the ccffion of Cuttack. It will even give colour for fuf-
picion tliat a plan has been concerted between the Subah of the Decan, the Maha-
rattas, and Hyder Naick, to ad: with united forces againft the Englifh ; a disjoirited
unnatural confederacy, which, fhould it really exift, can neither be permanent in itfclf,
nor forinidable to your poiltflions in Bengal. The utmoft we need apprehend will
proceed from a temporary interruption to your collections, from the fudtlen incurfions
of fmall parties ; and this inconvenience u e will endeavour to obviate by a jiroper
diftribution of j^our forces.

5. W'e have been inckiccd, by thefe confiderations, to co-operate with the views of
your Prcfidency at Fort St. George, purfuant to a plan laiti down by Lord Clive, and
now in j)art adojittd bv the gentlemen at Madrafs. At their rcquifition wc have em-
barked in the Hcdlor, Earl of Elgin, Northington, and Savage, a country ffiip, three

battalions

APPENDIX. 55

baftalions of Sepoys, to enable them, by a vigorous effort, to reduce the Subah to
terms of accommodation, or to cllablilh fuch a fyftem of policy in the Dcccau, jS
circumftances may render neccflhry. We have alfo engaged, Ihoulcl the fituarion of
their affairs require a further fupph^, to reinforce them with a complete brigade, when
the feafon will admit of tranfpoitin^ troo])s, and a luflicient amount of tonnage can
be provided.

6. Although we are fully of opiiiion the Honourable Company's intered demands
cur utmoft attention to avoid differences with the country powers, )'et the prefent cir-
cumftances of your affairs are fuch aS' abfolutely to require that your influence fhould be
maintained with vigour, and all encroachments repelled with fpirit. The harmony fub-
filling among the PrefidencicSj and the ready and mutual alfillancc they afford upon
all occafions of necefliry, will not fail to imprefs the mindfi of the natives with juft.
fentiments of our policy and ftrength. For this reafon chiefly we are rcfolvcd to enter
chearfully into the meafures adopted on the coaft, that our enemies may fee our
dependence is not alone on the forces maintained at either of the Prefidencics, buf
on the armies kept up in the different parts of India, which, though feparated at a
great diftance, can fo eafily and expeditioufly be- united. : Neither are we without
hopes, that the unufual fped:aclc of black troops, pouring into his country from Ben-
gal, may ftagger the Subah's courage, and induce him to grant thofe conditions be-
fore, which he cannot expert after the fword is- once unfhcathed.

7. The King and Sujah al Dowlah ajipcar every day more clofely united to us by
inclination and intereft. Senfible the fecurity of their pofleffions,. as well as the degree
of connderation .they hold in the empire, mu ft depend on our friendihip, they feem
defirous to govei-n their condud: by principles the moft likely to cement and promote
our amity. The third brigade being ftationed with them at their requeft, and a de-
tachment from the fecond brigade having croffed -the Caramnafla with views of fup-
povting the bafis of our alliance with his Majefty and the Nabob, they have readily
confented to defray all the extra charges' incurred, agreeably to the terms of the
treaty fubfifting J fo that the Comjpany are put to no extraordinar}^ expence by the
motion of the troops beyond the- limits of the provinces. It is,, neverthelefs, our
intention to recall all your forces, and punftually to obferve your direftions, when-
ever the advices we receive from Col. Smith fliall put it beyond a doubt that the
difturbances which now prcvai-1 among the neighbouring powers will not endanger
our own fafet)'.

8. By letters lately received from the Colonel you will obferve, that Juwhar Sing,
Chief of the Jauts, is at the head of an armv, endeavouring to recover thofe countries
of which he was laft year difpoffeffed by the Maharattas. In the progrefs of his
conquefts he has entered the Rohilla countr)', and advanced within a few miles of the
King's dominions ; nor is it yet certain how far he may have extended his views,
nor what are his ultimate defigns. We have therefore direftcd Colonel Smith to re-
main in his prefent ftation with the brigade, until it fhal! appear what farther defigns
the Jaut may entertain, or whether the meafures in which he is now engaged hava
not drawn upon him the refentment of the Maharattas,. and by inducing thofe free-
booters to return, kindled a dangerous war in our neighbourhood,, the flames of which
may extend to the King's, the Nabob's, and to our dominions.

9. At the repeated and preffing inftance of the Napaul Rajah, we determined to
hazard an expedition- to his country, the reafons for which ftand fully explained on
the fiice of our proceedings.. As fuch mrilitary enterprizes feem foreign to the fpirit
of that fvftem ot politics whereb/ we propofe regulating our conduft, it was ne-
ceffary the Committee ihould' weigh very maturely all the riik and advantage conr
fequent on the undertaking. Accordingl}', you will obferve, from our inftrudions to

ths-

56 A P , P E N D I X.

the Chief of Patna, that we have ufed every human precaution to guard againft ths
jjcffibiliry or" any dilafler or^difappointment. ,,-,;

.j lo. Vv'e need not inform you, that for many A^ears an advantageous trade has bcesi
carried on between tlie Province ot Bahar, and the rich countr}- of Napaul, by wliich
a coaliderabie quantity of gold, and many other valuable commodities, were piported.
The Rajah being now difpofleffed of his countrv, and fnut up in his capital by the
Rajah of Goerciillah, the ufual channel of commerce has- in confequence been yb-
ftruciedv .and. thefe provinces are deprived of the benefits arifing from a fcru:cr in^
tercourfe, at a period when the decline of trade, and fcarcit)f of fpecie, render it of
the greatefl; im.portance, that cveiy fpring of indultry lliould flow freely, and v.'ith-:
out inLerru[)tlon. The vicinitv of Napaul to the Eettca country, of which the Subah
is now in quiet poUeffion, will bring additional advantages to this traffick, by render-
ing it more eafy and fecure than in former times ; fo that we entertain very flattering
profpedts from die ifllie of an expedition, of which we hope to fend you an account
by thelaft difpatches of the feafon.

1 1. It is with the greatett pleoiufe we obfcrve, that your fcntimcnts corref])ond with
thofe of your Seled; Committee, rclpedling the utility of the Governor's annual tour
■of the:provinces. Agreeable to v/hat you were advifed by th-e Mercury Pacicct, Mr,
Vereltl; proceeded earl\" in the month of May to the city, with intention to continue
his journey to Patna, and even to vifit the King and Sujah al Dowla. In this, however,
"he was prevented by a variety of bufinefs with the miniflers, as well as by indifpofition,
and the very uncommon heat a-nd inclemency of the feafon, which proved fatal to
fuch numbers of your civil and military fervants.

?2. Soon after his arrival at Murflied-abad, the Poonah was held with the ufual
folemnities, the Nabob' being feated on the Mufnud, as Subahdar of Bengal, and the
Governor placed on his right hand, as reprefentative of the Honourable ■ Company,
in q\iality of King's Dewan. The eftimate then formed of revenues to be colletfled
for the prefent year we have the honout to tranfmit in our proceedings ; and we beg
leave to refer to a joint letter from the Prefident and Air. Sykes, for a particular ex-
planation of the manner in which the ftatement is drawn out.

13. On the collections of the lalf year, we mufl: obferve, that the ballances due arc
much leis confiderable than could reafonably be expefted, the adlual receipts amount-
ing to one crore, forty three lacks, fifteen thoufand three hundred and ten rupees*. Yet
from the diligent fcrutiny made in the courfe of our experience into the real value of
the lands, an encreafe is infured lor the prefent year, of near fixteen lacks of rujicesj-,
arifing from a more equal alfefliiient only. The new arrangement iiiade of the fcvcral
articles contained in the cftimate, we prefume will meet v\ ith your approbation, as it
points out in the c'eareft and moftconcife manner we can fuggcfl, the general amount
of the flatcments for the lail and prefent years, the a<^ual receipts of the preceding
year, the difburfcments and deficiencies of each feparate diflrift, the amount at which
fome diflridts have been over-rated, and the incrcafe made of the revenires charged
upon others.

14. This method of comprizing the whole eftimate into fo narrow a compafs as to
exhibit a general view of )'our revenues at a fingle glance of the c)"e, we humbly ap-
prehend will convey to you more diflintl ideas of whatever may defcrve notice, than if
u'c tranfmittcd a monthly account of the deficiency of each perfons Killbundce. Your
rcvcnircs fpring from fuch a variety of fludtuating circumflances, and are charged and
coUeftcd by v/a}s fo different from each other, that explaining the particular caufe,
period, and amount of each increafe or deficiency, would be to compofe a hiflory 0/
ininute events, which would employ a greater number of your fervants than are now

maintained
• 1,789,415 /. f 200,000/.

APPENDIX. 57

Waintair.c-d for the bufincfs of the whole eftabllflament. All pcrfoiis holduig lands
■C( tlic government, enter into an agreement for monrhly payments to a certain
amount. The agreement for each dillridl fj->ecific3, that tiic colledions fliall be made
at the expiration of ten, fifteen, or thirty days, accoruuig to the particular cuftoms
of the rel])c61;ive diftrifts. This Killbundee, as well as the coUcdtions themfelves, is
regulated by the crops, and a number of other contingent circumflanccs, which com-
pofe the value of lands ; and all thefe being in a ftate of continual change and alter-
ation, we imagine a particular account of each Killbundee would prove a fallacious
guide to your judgment refpefting future periods ; however, fliould you in future
infill upon it, your orders fhall be obeyed.

1 5. Scnfi,ble of the confufion which changing the names of the diftridls niuft
introduce into your accounts, as well as the frauds concealed under fuch praftices,
the Prefidcnt, when he attended the Poonah, ftrongly recommended to the mini-
ilers, that one particular name fliould always be uled to Ipecify the fame diftrid.
They have accordinglv given the flrongell allurances, that the names now inferted in
the eftimate, fhall, in future, remain unaltered; and we will ufe our utmoft endea-
vours to \mt a flop to fo pernicious a cuftom.

16. As to bringing on the ballances of former years to the rents of the prefent
eftimate, in the manner you propofe, we humbly conceive it would be produftive of
many inconvcnieneies. The frequent removals which the minifters find it necefTary
to make among the colledlors, either on account of inability or mifbehaviour, would
render outftanding balances lb heavy a load on the fhoulders of the prefent collcdior,-
that none would be foiind to accept the office under fuch conditions. Hitherto, the
prad:ice has been to keep apart from the coUedlions the account of ballances, and to
enter iijto a feparate agreement with the coUeftor, whereby he becomes refponfible
for fuch ballances as upon enquiry fiiall appear equitable, or may be pointed out to
him by the government, or by his predecellor in office. By thefe means the incon-
venience of mingling the accounts of different years is avoided, and a door is fliut
againft the fpecious pretext for haraffing and oppreffing the landholders for the reco-
very of outftanding debts.

17. In the eftimate now tranfmitted, you will perceive how the general cuftoms
upon trade are diftinguiflred from thofe fmaller duties, which are included in the
valuation of the lands. By general cuftoms we mean thofe duties levied at public
and eftabliftied Chokies, upon all the greater branches of foreign and inland trade,
not included in Duftuck privileges. Befides thefe are coUedled leller duties, upon the
articles of life and luxury, fold at the feveral markets and Bazars, which being com-
prehended in the rents, it would be unneceflary, and almoft impoflible to infert under
particular and feparate heads.

18. Our concern at the enormous charges attending the coUedlions of your reve-
nue, has been repeatedly exprefl'cd in our former letters. To this circumftance the
Prefidcnt gave fuch particular attention at the late Poonah, that we Hatter ourfelves
you will agree with vis in opinion, the expences cannot reafonably be reduced lower
than the rate they now ftand fpccified in the eftima'-e. Difmiffing the numerous
rabble of troops kept up by the Fouzdars, and other officers of the govcrnmenr,
hath not only proved a very extraordinary faving to the revenue, but a great fecurity
to the permanency of our authority ; therefore, to remove everv Ihadow of pretence
for retaining a cuftom lb inconfiftent with, and injurious to well regulated govern-
ment, we have beea induced to raife another battalion of Sepovs, for the fer\i-e of
the Bahar coUedlions, whereby we have increafed our military ftrength againft fuch
occafions of danger as fhall happen, without incurring any additional expence.

H IQ. Thii

58 APPENDIX.

19. The eftimate of revenues to be collefted this year in tlie Bahar province, will
be fettled next month, when the Poonah takes place. With refpeft to the collcttions
of laft year, we have the fatisfsdion to afliire you they have been very clofely kept
up, and that very inconfiderable ballances will remain outflanding, moft of which
aiife from lands, which had been overcharged in the former eflimate. When the
Bjhar ftatement fliall come to our hands, we projiofc drawing out, for yout inf})edion,
n general ftatement of all your receipts and dilburfements, on whatever accounL arlfing,
during the fpace of one complete jrear.

20. We are fcnfible of the inconveniencies which frequently attended the entruft-
ing favourites with too great a fliare of executive authority. The inaftivity and in-
judicious partiality of the fovcreigns to their dependents, have certainly given birth
to the molt dangerous convulfions in the ftate. But, on the prefent fyftem of your
political and military aflairs, we think it impoffible that danger can enfue from the
degree of confidence and truft repofed in any officer of the government. On the
the contrarv, whilft the fword and revenues are held by us, it will be found abfolutely
neceiTary to ftrengthen, with all our authority, the hands of thofe officers employed
in the coUedtions, to enable them to difcharge the duties of their office, and coun-
teraft the numberlefs frauds and contrivances to elude payment of the revenues. It
Was from a fenfe of this neceffity, of his attachment to us, and of his cxtenfive ac-
quaintance with the whole bufinefs of the finances, that we devolved on Mahomed
Reza Cawn, fo large a proportion of the weight of government, and particularly of
the coUedlions ; being convinced by experience of the truth of your remark, " That
" an Englifhman will ever be unfit to follow the fubtle native through all his arts,
" to conceal the real value of his country, to perplex and to elude the payments."

21. The cultivation of the mulberry-fiirub, and increafe of the article of filk,
being of the utmoft confequence to the extenfion of your inveftment, the Prefident,
when he attended the Poonah, recommended in the ftrongeft manner to the mi-
nifters, Zemindars, and landholders, thisobjedl of giving all poffible encouragement for
■clearing and cultivating fuch lands as will befl anfwer the intention. The fame
endeavours will be ufed by the Colleftor-General to induce your own farmers in
Burdwan and the Calcutta lands to purfue a branch of hufbandry that mufl tend
equally to their advantage and to yours.

22. Although found policy may require we fhould not be too folicitous to augment
your revenues abroad, which, fliould they be here unappropriated, would ferve only
to embarrafs your affairs ; yet the fame policy didfates the neceffity of refuming to
the government all lands and revenues alienated from it by fraud or force, or through
inattention in the adminiftration. Of this nature are Jagheer rents and lands, many of
which are held by individuals, upon no other tenure than pofTeffion acquired under
a weak prince, a corrupt miniftry, or the diftrafted fituation of public affairs. Where
fuch poffeffions appear of a recent date, where they are founded upon no public
grant, where the poffeffors are men neither of family, influence, nor chnrafter, in
fuch cafts our acquicfcence would tlenote a fupinenefs or weakncfs injurious to the
authority of government. We have therefore iffucd dircdfions to Mr. Rumbold, in
quality of colleftor of Bahar, to caufe all perfons holding Jagheers to rcgifter their Sun-
nuds in the head Cutcherry at Patna, giving, at the lame time, the ftrongeft affurances
of our intentions to continue to ancient and rcfpedtable families, and to thofe who
have juft claims, every reafonable indulgence, which may ferve to convince them of
thejufticc and moderation of our government.

23. We have frecjucntly exprefled to you our apprehenfions left the annual expor-
tation of treafurc to China would produce a fcarciry of money in the country. This
fubjcdt becomes every day more fcrious, as we already feel, in a very fcnfible manner,

the

APPENDIX. 59

the efFeds of the confiJerable drain made from the filver currency. Experience will
ever yield ftrongcr conviftion than the mod abftrad: and refined reafoning.

74. Whatever fums had forraeiiy been remitted to Dehly were amply reiinburfed
by the retnrns made to the immenfe commerce of Bengal, which might be conlidcred
as the central point to which all the riches of India were attradlcd. Irs manufactures
found their way to the remoteft part of Plindollan, and fpecie flowed in by a thoufand
channels that are at prefent loff and obftrufted. All the European companies formed
their inveftments with money brought into the country ; the(i) Gulphs poured in
their treafures into this river; and acrofs the continent, an inland trade was driven to
the weflward to the extremity of the kingdom of Guzzerat.

25. How widely different from thefe are the prefent circumflances of the Nabob's
dominions ! Immenfe treafures have lately been carried out of the provinces by
Cofiiim Ally Cawn, which may poilibly be referved as a fund to excite future troubles.
Each of the European companies, by means of money taken up in the country, have
greatly enlarged their annual invellments, without adding a rupee to the riches of the
province. On the contrary, the increafe of exports to Europe has proved fo great
a reftraint upon the induftry of private merchants, that we will venture to afHrm the
ballance from Europe, in favour of Bengal, amounts to a very trifling fum in fpecie.
We know of no foreign trade exifting at prefent, which produces a clear ballance in
money, except that carried on with the ports of Judda, Mocha, and Baflbra, from
whence not fifteen lacks * in bullion have been returned in thecourfe of four years.

This year the Dutch have imported nine lacks § ; the two preceding years, their
invellment, as well as that of the French company, was provided by money paid
into their treafury for affignments by bills on their conflituents in France and Holland ;
whereas, by an cftimate obtained from Chinfura, it appears that formerly the Dutch
imported annually from thirty-fix to forty lacks -f, taking the amount at a medium
for ten years. Your own exports in bullion from England did not, one year with
another, fall fhort of twelve or fourteen lack's |], while the country was at the fame ■
time gaining an increafe of money from the inveftments made by the Danes, Auftrians,
and Pruffians. Upon the whole, fpecie was then brought in to the amount of ninety or an
hundred lacks j; yearly ; it now goes out to the amount of twenty-fix lacks ** every
■year in public money, if we include our remittances to the other Prefidencies as well as
thofe to China, befides very confiderable fums carried on private account ; and this lofs is
ballanced by a trade with the Gulphs, which, at the highefl eftimation, cannot exceed
five or fix lacks f-f- a-year. In fail, were no money iffued upon account of your China
trade, the current fpecie muft annually decreafe, unlefs foreign trade fhall revive and
flourilh, fo as to produce a more confiderable ballance in treafure.

27. Such, jK-rmit us to aflure you, is the prefent ftate of the trade and currency of t'lefe
provinces. What the ifiue may be of fuch untoward fymptoms of decline we will not
prefume to determine. This only we will remark, that unlefs we had palliated the evil by
■introducing a gold currencv, and thereby incrcafed the circulating riches of the
country, every individual muft have been deeply affecVed with the fcarcity of money.
In proof of this aflertion, we need only appeal to the quantity of gold mohurs re-
ceived and given in payment by every merchant, who formerly tranfadled all bufinefs
in filver rupees ; nor does this proceed from choice or convenience, but from neceffity
and the adtual decreafe of filver money; neither can it proceed from the exportation of
filver for the purchafe of gold,fince the profits arifing from that exchange would barely
pay the intereft of money, a point which was thoroughly confidered when the par be-
tween filver and gold was calculated, on our adopting the prefent fchcme of gold coinage.

H 2 28. The

(i) The two Gulphs of Mocha and Perfia.

• 187,500 /. § I I 2,;oo/. t From 4^0,000/. to 500,000/. || i ;o,coo /. or 175,000/.

1 1,125,000/. or 1,250,000 /. •* 325,000.'. ifk2,^ooI. or:5,ooo/.

b'o APPEND! X.

28. The circumftances of your affairs require we fliould explain Durfelves with,
freedom, and point out wherein we conceive your own orders, have fervcd to encreafe
this growing difeafe, for which a fpeedy and effectual remedy is required. It is true,
you have been pleafed to indulge your fervants v/ith a larger remittance than you
allowed the preceding year; but by lowering the exchange, and cutting off intereft
for a complete year alter bills are prefented, yovi throw every advaptage on the fide
of foreign remittances, and in a manner oblige all who are not polieffed of very
opulent fortunes to have recourie to the French and Dutch. To free merchants, and
your fervants who have been more than a year out of your employment, the terms are
lb very difadvantageous, and the proportion they can be allowed fo fmall, that we much
fear left many will be tempted, and find means, in defpite of our utmoft endeavours,
to remit the whole or a part of their fortunes in fpecie, which would ftill prove more
injurious to the country than even remitting by foreign funds.-

29. All thefe particulars being fully weighed and confidered, wc imagine you will '
be ot opinion with us, that the balance, whatever it may b.-, of trade in fa^'our of
the country, will very inadequately compenfate for the lofs of thofe fums, which
have iffued at all quarters from this province. It is indeed difficult to afcertain ex-
actly what this ballance really is, fince it can neither be determined by the arbitra-
tion of exchange, where no exchange with foreign countries exifts; nor be com-
puted from the cuftoms, where the whole trade doth not pafs through one regular
channel. We can only judge by the bullion imported ; and that is much too in-
confiderable to eafe the apprehenfions we entertain of the moil alarming confe--
quences.

30. Thofe difputes, in which we find ourfelves unavoidably engaged with the
agents of the other European companies, become alfo a fubjed: of the moft ferious
attention. We have, by every reafonable indulgence and conceffion, endeavoured
to filence their clamours, but without effeft. While the manufadtures of the coun-
try are infufficient to anfwcr the demands of each company, there muft arife differ-
ences. The French and Dutch feem equally defirous with us to enlarge their inveft-
ments beyond the former amount ; infomuch, that were the natives utterly excluded
from thofe privileges to which they have a natural and unqueftionable right, it is
matter of doubt whether there would be a fufficiency for the companies. Your fer-
vants too, who are denied every other means of improving their fortunes, cannot
with any degree of jullice be Ihut out from all participation of a trade in which'
they have ever been indulged. Neither is it poffible, nor may it be thought reafon-
able, that free merchants permitted by you to refide and trade at the Prcfidency,
fhould be deprived the ufual advantages, whereby only they arc enabled to carry on
any commerce by fea.

31. Under thefe difficulties you muft expedt the complaints of natives and of fo-
reigners will grow louder every day, unkfs you fliould determine to facrifice that ef-
fential point to your intereft ; the remitting home by large inveftmcnts the benefits
of your ac(iuifitions. In the prefcnt ftate of things we fee no remedy except one,
which may be thought ideal, namely, the entering into an agreement with foreign
companies for providing their inveftmcnts to a certain annual amount. This we
mention rather as a hint, upon which you may poffibly improve, than as a mcnfure
wc ftiall prefume to adopt, until a certain plan ihall be adjufted between the com-
panies at home, and recommended to their agents abroad. Moft certain it is, that
Ibme conci]i:iting ftcps taken in Europe can alone prevent the jealoufies and differ-
ences fubfifting in this country, from terminating in an open rupture, as foon as the
French ftiall find themfeh es fufficiently eftabUftied on the * Coaft, and powerful at the
f Iflands, to enter upon fuch enterprizes.

32. By
• The Coaft of Coroinandcl. -f The Illand of Mauritius, Bourbon, &c.

APPENDIX. Cj

gai By advices lately received from the Coaft, they have already rcfumed their
former pradtices of fecretly exciting dillurbances, by a clandeftine underhand corrc-
fpondence with our enemies. A letter to us from the Secret Department at Fort St.
George, intimates fufpicions that the French on the ifiand of Mauritius are aftually
correlponding with Ilyder Naick ; and private letters of a later date affirm, that
feveral French officers are gone over to Hydcr Naick and the * Subah ; which, if
true, leaves not the leaft room for doubt of their being countenanced by their fu-
periors. The letter referred to from Madrafs being long, we have not been able to
get it tranfcribed in the book of letters, without detaining thedifpatches.

33. Upon Mr. Eecher's arrival he took his feat in Committee, agreeably to your
appointment. During the time Mr. Ruifel held his feat, we muft, in jultice to that
gentleman, acquaint you, that he purfued the bufuiefs of the Committee, and ) our
interefts, with great zeal and capacity.

34. As moft of the tranfaftions of this Board fland fully exprefled on the face of
our proceedings, we Ihall decline entering upon a review of particulars, and beg
leave to refer to the proceedings themfelves, which are now under difpatch. We
have the honour to forward the Prefident's country correfpondcnce ; a duplicate of '
our Letter by, the Mercury Packet was tranfmitting by the Hedtor, lately dif-
patched.

35. The Secretary requefts your excufe, that feveral of the public papers go home
written- in different hands, which could not be avoided, on account of the death and
iicknefs of fome of the gentlemen employed in the office.

We have the honour to be, &c.

H. VERELST, J. CARTIER, ,R. BECHER, A. CAMPBELL,

No. X.
To the Honourable the Court of Directors, &c. -
Honourable Sirs,: Fort William, oa. c, 1767.

The detention of the Lord Holland, owing to the ficknefs that prevails among
her people, . affords us an opportunity of acquainting you with fuch particulars of the
fituation of your affairs on the Coaft as are come to our knowledge fince clofing our
difpatches under date the 25th ultimo.

The Subah of the Deccan having joined his forces to thofe of Hj'der Ally, the
united army was moving towards thofe paffes which open into the Carnatic, in the
neighbourhood of Trinamalley and Changama, and to the weftward of Pondicherry
and Fort St. David's. In the letters from the Coaft the numbers of the enemy are
not fpecificd ; but from the beft accounis we have obtained, thofe of the Subah are
no way formidable, and the troops under Hyder Ally do not exceed ten or twelve
thoufand inen.

To this enemy the Prefidency have oppofed an army confifting of eight hundred
Europeans, five thoufand of the Company's fepoys, and- a train of lixteen field
pieces, under comtnand of Colonel Jofeph Smith. Colonel Wood has under him
another body of troops compofed of five hundred Europeans, and five thoufand of
•the Company's and Nabob's Sepoys, with ten or twelve pieces of cannon.

It
• The Subah of the Deccan.

62 A P P E N D I X.

It was intended to effeft a juncflion before they endeavoured to bring the confede-
rates to a decifive adlion. In the mean time Colonel Smith declined coming to an
engagement, that nothing might unneceliarily be put to the hazard ; but as the
Colonel had pofitive orders to fight, and could not be at a great diftance from Co-
lonel Wood's detachment, we are in daily expeftation to hear of a battle. Nor are
we vcr\' folicitous about the event, if the oflicers perform their duty ; fince a finer
army in numbers and difcipline was never at any time fent by the Honourable Com.-
panv into the field.

The detachment of three battalions of fepoys fent from hence for the defence of
the northern Sircars, muft by this time, we flatter ourfelves, have reached Vizagapa-
tam ; and probably the report of fo confiderable a reinforcement will operate pow-
erfully on the conduift of the Subah, who hath not for many years beheld fo great
a force tranfported from one Prefidency to another. With this detachment, joined
to the troops already in the Sircars, we hope the gentlemen at Madrafs will be able
to profecute the propofed expedition to the Subah's capital, which will not only
oblige him to draw off great part of his army from the Carnatlc, but cut off his
refources, and fpread general confternation over the face of his country.

Bengal being for the prefent in a ftate of perfedl tranquillity, we have deter-
mined to lend the moft vigorous fupport to the meafures they are purfuing on the
Coaft. For this purpofe we are, at their requifition, preparing with the utmoft ex-
pedition all the fliipping in the river, to tranfport to Mazulipatam, or Fort St.
George, the whole of the firft brigade, comnianded by Colonel Jofeph Peach ; but
as the feafon is far advanced, and it will require Ibme time to clear out the Europe
fliips and embark the troops, we have dircfted three of your Hoops to be got irj
immediate readinefs to convey to Madrafs two hundred Europeans for the fecurity of
the Prefidency.

It is in confequence of advices received that the garrifon is much weakened by
detachments fent off to Colonel Smith, that we entered upon the refolution of em-
barking this detachment in vefiels which, from their fize and conftruftlon, are likely
to make the quickeft paflages fo late in the feafon. Experience hath fliewn us,
that to fecure your inveftments and coUedtions, it is neceffary not only to keep off
aftual danger, but to guard againft all apprehenfions for the fafety of the Pre-
fidency.

From thefe vigorous meafures we doubt not but the Subah will have reafon to re-
■pent his temerity, and be reduced to fuch conceflHons as will leave the gentlemen
at Madrafs to profecute their fchemes for the extirpation of J-Iyder Ally, whofc
growing power, fooner or later, threatens danger to the Honourable Company's
pofleffions in the Carnatic.

We arc forry to acquaint you, that feveral parts of the country have been much
expofed to inundations from the overflowing of the river, whence Mr. Sykes is ap-
prehenfive left the inveftment and revenues may fufler. Yet as thofe accidents are
always the mod alarming on their firfi; appearance, we entertain great hopes the da-
mage will i^rove lefs confiderable than is imagined.

Mr. S)kes requefts you will accept his moft grateful acknowledgements for the
favourable opinion you are pleafed to entertain of his condiid, and his aflluances
that his utmoft diligence ihall be exerted to merit the continuance of your favour.

The dil'j)atcbes from the public dej)artmcnt, by the Lord Holland, were clofed
and ready to proceed down the river, on the 26 ult. when Caj)tain Nairno reported
to the Board the fickly condition of his fliiji, and that not three feamen were able to
Hand the deck. This unfortunate circumftance has occafioned a delay of feveral days,
during which we have ufed our utmoft endeavours to furnifh him with men, by

taking

APPENDIX. 63

taking np all vagrants and ftragglers from fliips, who are in thcrafelves a niiifance to tlie
fettlemcnt. As the people are now reeovering faft, and the prcfent appearance of the
monfoon is extremely favourable, wc flatter ourfclves the I.ord Holland will flill clear
the bay with cafe, and fuffer, in courfe of her paffage, no confidcrable lofs of time
from the paft delays.

Since doling our difpafchcs of the 25 ult. we received from Colonel Smith a re-
port of feme brafs cannon, which report was made a number in the jnibiic packet,
and we hope will engage your ferious confideration. As the beft tefl:imony of the
badhefs of the metal, and mifconduft of the founder, we fhall diredt the cannon to
be fent down, and will forward it to England by the firft conveyance. All the fmall
arms we have this year received, appear to be of fo good a quality, that although you
have paid an advanced price, yet from the fervice they will perform, it is to be pre-
fumcd the Company will in the end find themfelves gainers by changing their
contracts.

We have the honour to remain, &c.

H. VERELST, JOHN CARTIER, R. BECHER, A. CAMPBELL.

No. XI.
To the Honourable the Court of DireSfors, &c.

Honourable Sirs, Fort William, December 16, 1767.

Since our addrefs to you by the Lord Holland, a duplicate of which goes a number
in the packet, fcarce any material change of circumflances in Bengal has occurred.
Your affairs, civil, military, and political, continue to flow in the fame profperous
channel, and have at prefent the appearance of much fl:abilitv.

You will, however, obferve from our proceedings, that Colonel Smith's letters to
the feleft Committee, reprefent as extremely fuipicious the Nabob Sujah al Dow-
lah's inclination towards the Englifli Company. This judgment the Colonel founds
upon the diligence which the Nabob exerts in forming his army, and eilabliflilng
his influence, as well as upon general rumour that he is preparing for a rupture.

Without fuppoling Sujah al Dowlah entertains defigns, either contrary to the faith
of treaties, or inconfiftent with the moll obvious dicftates of common prudence and
policy, we are of opinion thefe appearances, from which Colonel Smith draws his
conjedlures, may be as naturally explained upon the general principles adopted by all
the powers of India. Like other Princes in his lituation, he wiflies to recover that
degree of influence he once held in the empire, and by uniting with us in regulating
the affairs of the Deccan, he propofcs to himfelf the furefl: method he could furgeft for
obtaining his purpofes. All Iris letters to the Prefident, fince the war broke out upon
the Coafl:, are filled with plans of operations, and fchemes of alliance, which tend to
his own aggrandizement, by means of cur fupport. The friendfliip" of the Englifli
he confiders as the foundation of fuccefs ; neither can we imagine, after the late ex-
perience he has had of our fuperiority, that he will venture upon a frefh trial of our
llrength, before he has fully recruited his army, replenifhed his treafures, eflahliflied
himfelf in his country, and cemented a friendfliip with powers able and willing to
fupport his views.

Yet

64 APPENDIX.

Yet although we are induced by thefe reafons to treat Sujah al Dowlah with treat
delicacy, aixl carefully to conceal every fuipicion of his fidelity, we think it requifite
to obferve his condu(ft with circumfpeilion, and check in the beginning thofe f/mp-
toms of ambition that may in time become dangerous. The Prefident has with this
view tendered our acknowledgments for his oifcrs of affiftance ; btitat the fame time
affured him, that the war on the Coafl was by no means an objett of our united llrength,
nor a fufficient caiife why he Ihould increafe his forces at a great expence, which
might ferve only to produce conjeftures to the prejudice of the friendlhip and har-
mony that fubfift between him and the Company.

As the Nabob has himfelf recommended our keeping a brigade in his country,
and continuing in pofleffion of Allahabad, we entertained no doubt but he would
readily comp!)' with the Prefident's requeft to ftop his levies and reduce his forces,
fmce we confidered a propoflrion lb incompatible with any views he might have to a
rupture, as an earncft of his fincerlty ; and we have now the pleafurc to acqiiaint you,
that he has already entered upon the meafures recommended.

In order, however, that not the leaft apprehenfion of danger fhould remain, we
diredted Colonel Smith to keep the moft watchful eye upon the Nabob's condud: ;
and have alfo determined that the firft brigade flaall remain in their prefent llation,
until we have the moft fatisfacftory affurnnces of fecurity to thefe provinces.

B-'fore this letter can reach your hands, you will probably receive by the He<flor
a detail, from the Prefidcncy of Fort St. George, of their operations againft the
Subah and Hyder Ally. Our advices from thence have not lately been explicit
enough to convey a diltinift idea of their prefent fituation and future profpefts. We
underftand the advantage obtained over the enemy has proved lefs decifive than was
at firft imagined ; and that Hyder Ally is now adling in the field, while the heavy
rains oblige the troops of the Prefidency to remain in cantonments. Such appearances
of vigour in a coinitry power are uncommon, and give reafon to apprehend the war
may be protrafted to a much greater length than will prove convenient to your affairs;
although, with refpeft to the illlie, we cannot entertain a doubt. The detachments
we have already lent, joined to the forces of the Prefidency are, with any tolerable
condudt, more than fufficient to beat all the Indian powers from Cape Comorin to
Dehlv. For this reafon we have fufpended the propofed embarkation of the re-
mainder of the firft brigade, that we may not unneceflarily incur an extraordinary ex-
pence, and expofe the troops to fatigue and dangers that may be avoided : but they
lliall be held in readinefs to proceed at a day's notice, whenever circuniftances may
require their fcrvicc.

Private advices from the coaft intimate, that matters will foon be accommodated
with the Subah ; and from the filence upon this fubjcdl obferved in the public letters,
we imagine that means are devifing to feparate him from his prefent alliance, in order
they may be the more dlfengaged to profecute the war againft H}'der Allw
Should thefe coniedturcs be well founded, we have only to wifii the Subah had been
rendered more fcnfible of the importance of our friendlhip before he had experienced
our generofitv. It was always our opinion, exprefled in the ftrongcft terms to the
gentlemen at Madrafs, that no peace in which mutual ftipulations were allowed, would
be permanent; that * Nizam Ally ftiould firft be reduced to abfolute dependence;
that meafures fhould be taken to confine the ambition of our neighbours at Pondi-
chcrry to the jirctife limits of the treaty; and that the moft exadt knowledge of the
Subah's charadter and connedVions fhould be obtained, before he was reftorcd to his
dignity. What degree of influence thefe fentiments may protlucc in the counfels of
your Prefidency at Fort St. George, we cnnnot at [irefent determine ; but as we have
hitlicrto adted in the moft perfedt harmony, it is probable our arguments will be al-
lowed
* The Subah of the Deccan.

A P P E N D I Xi 65

lowed their perfcft weight. The letters which have pafled between us, as they ftand
recorded on the face ■ of ovir proceedings, will explain our fentiments more par-
ticularly. .

In confequence of the demands upon us from the coaft, wc have been obliged to
refufe thofe reinforcements to Captain Kinloch, for profecuting the Napaul expedition,
which he thinks neceliary for fucceeding in the attempt; and as the enterprize mull
now be deferred to a more convenient opportunity, Mr. Rumbold has orders to recall
the detachment,, keeping pofTcflionj however, ^ -of certain lands bordering on the
Bettea country, 'which belonged ta'fh® GourcuMah Rajah, lb rich aiul fertile as
amply to indemnify the charges incurred. We have reafon to believe there has been
fome mifconduift in the officers employed, or forgery in the intelligence which gave
birth to this expedition, elfe Captain Kinloch, with the force he corhrnanded, mufl
have fueceeded in relieving the Rajah, and opening that communication with Bahar
from which we expedted very confiderable advantages-to the commerce of this coun-.
try. The ftrifteft enquiry ftiall be made into every circvimftance, and 3'ou will b©
made acquainted with the particulars, we hope, by one of the fliips of this feafon.

In our proceedings we have entered an account of the a(9:ual collediions of the re-
'venue in the piovinceof Bahar, during thecourfe ofthelalf 3^ear, and alfo an eftimate
•of revenues to be collected agreeably to the Kiftbundee of the prcfent year, \^"ithout
any remarks from us, thefe accounts are themfelves fufficient tellimony that the
■colleftions have been regularly kept up, and every way anfwerable to the expedfations
we gave in our letter by the I^ord Holland. ■ '

We fend numbers in the packet, the broken fetfe of our proceedings from the lafi
difjiatch to this date, to which we beg leave to refer for fuch points as demand your
liiore attentive confideration. ' '

Before we clofe this difpatch, it is proper 3-ou fliould be acquainted, that, at their
tequeft, we furniflied the Prcfideney of Fort St. George with three lacks * ; and
will in a few days fend them a farther fujiply of five lacks -f-. The fcarcitv of filver,
which already prevails, obliges us to make this remittance in gold, notwithftanding
we are fenfible that a very confiderable lofs will arife, Upon account of the high
valuation of the gold mohurs. We forefee the difficulties before us in making
provifion, agreeably to your orders, for fupplying China with filver bullion even for
this feafon ; and have therefore requcfied the gentlemen at Madrafs to purchafe for
that purpofc all the filver they can procure : fince, notwithftanding the Mocha fhips
are arrived, the filver imported into the river, during the whole courfe of the yejir,
fcarce exceeds a lack of rupees J. We have before repeatedly requefted your attention
to the confcquences of this exportation of bullion ; and we now beg leave to recom-
mend the fubjeft to your mo£t ferious confideration, afifuring you, that ffiould we
find it at all pratfticable to make the ufual remittances next year to China, the meafure
will prove fatal to your iaveftment, and ruinous to the commerce of Bengal, by
giving the entire command of the filver cvu-rency to foreign nations, who very po-
liticly refufe to receive gold into their treafuries for bills.

We have the honour to be, £:c.

H. VERELST, JOHN CARTIER, R. BECHER, A. CAMPBELL.

i s u p-

* J7»5<30 /. "t 62,500/. % 12,500/.

t6 APPENDIX.

SUPPLEMENT.

To the above advices we beg leave to fobjoin, that we have received authentic
information the French Council at Chandernagore have reduced their exchange on
bills granted on their conftituents, to twenty-fix pence for the current rupee, or one
pennv lo-.vtr than the exchange allowed to your fervants, ilipulating, at the fame time,
that only bills for half the amount paid in fliall be granted for this feafon, and inteielt
upon the remainder, at the rate of fix per Cent, per annum, until bills are given the
enfuing vear.

This policy in them we muft regard as a convincing proof of the truth of thofe
arguments urged in our letter by the Lord Holland, that lowering your exchange
would throw the entire command of money into the hands of foreigners, and enable
thtm to form large inveftments, by means of early advances, in dcfpite of all our
endeavours. They have now in their treafury, at a low interefl, a fufficient fum for
beginning the enfuing inveftment fome months fooner than otherwife they could
advance a rupee ; and this additional advantage accrues to them from reducing their
exchange, that where you gain one penny upon the exchange of the rupee, in the
limited fum allowed to be remitted from hence, they gain tv/o pence in the exchange
upon the much larger fums employed in making their inveftment. Every means in
our power Ihall be exerted to conve)^ to you the fruits of )'our late acquifitions; but
while all poflible advantages reft in the hands of our rivals in trade, we muft expeft
to encounter many difappointments and difficulties.

H. VERELST, JOHN CARTIER, RICHARD BECHER, A. CAMPBELL.

No. xn.

To the Honourable the Court of DircElors, &c.

Honourable Sirs, Fort wiiiiam, Jan. 5. 176s.

Our laft addrefs, under date the 16th ultimo, waited on you per Norfolk, and a
duplicate thereof we have the honour to tranfmit by this conveyance.

We have as yet no reafon to deviate from our opinion with regard to Sujah al Dow-
lah's conducff. Theexpreffions in his letters to the Prefident, of his attachment and
fidelity to the engagements lie has entered into with us arc as warm as ever; and he de-
clares, that the troops he lately levied were intended for tlie fole purpofe of acting in
eonjuncflion with your's in the Deccan, had his offers of fei-vice been accepted. We
expcdl, however, he will give us a more convincing jiroof of his aftertions, by
a fpccdy reduction of his forces, which, the Prefident has been informed, he has
begun.

In confeciuencc of advices received from the gentlemen at Madrafs, of Hyder Ally's
having again taken the field, we immediately determined on fending Colonel Jofeph
Peach to Mazulipatam, with a complete company of grenadiers belonging to his
regiment, fifty artillery-men, one twelve-pounder, two fix-pounders, on howitz, and
roval, with an ample fupply of ftores for immediate fervice. This detachment, with the
Euiopcan troops before font, and thofe of the Prefidency ftationcd in the Sircars, will
form a corps of more than five hundred Europeans rank and file, exclufive of the

artillery

A P P E N D I X 6;

artillery and Sepoys ; u force, we doubt Dot, very fufficient to reduce the whole province,
iffuch a i)lan fliould 1)C adopted. Colonel Peach accordingly embarked a few^ days
after with his detachment in thcfliip Egmont, the commander whereof had orders to
land tliem at Mazulipatam, and afterwards to proceed to Madrafs with gold to th-e
amount of five lacks of rupees •-, and other confignments he had on board tor that
PrcfKlcncy.

As the detachments we have lately fcnt from hence make'a confidcrablc redudion of
our force, it is poffiblc that fome of the country powers may venture to make
attempts on thefe provinces. This is a cicumllance that has'hot efcaped our mature
confideration ; for, regardful of the danger which may threaten us at home, and ccn-
fidcring the convenient fituation of our troops employed in the Deccan between the
two Prcfidencies, we have acquainted- the gentlenien at Madrafs, that we referve to
ourfelves the power ot' recalling the troops under this eftaldifhment whenever the molt
prefling exigency of our affairs may require it ; and the Prefident has, in his inflruc-
tions to Colonel Peach, diredted him to pay an implicit obedience, ftiould it be judged
expedient to fend him fueh an order.

By private letteis fince received from Fort St. George, und-ei; elate, the 2 3th of
'November, we learn, Hyder Ally, fo far from being intimidated by the victory lately
obtained over him by your troops, breathes nothing but vengeance, and is refolved
to truft his future hopes to the iffue of a fecond engagement ; that j'our arm)', con-
fining of one thoufand Europeans, fevcn battalions of Sepoys, and fixteen pieces of
cannon, has taken the field under the command of Colonel Jofeph Smith, and is
marched to the relief of Amboor, a ftrong fortrefs, againfl which the enemy had ereded
feven batteries ; that Colonel Wood had alfo marched from Trichinopoly with a de-
tachment of five hunch-ed Europeans, four battalions of Sepoys, and twelve field-
pieces, to form a junftion : and the fame advices, which are indubitable, intimate,
that the Prefident and Council there had accepted fome pronofals made to them by the
European officers of Hyder Ally's army, by which they engaged to revolt, with all
his European cavalry and Japafs regiments, or to turn his cannon againft him on the
day of aftion.

The remainder of the firft brigade, under the command of lieutenant-colonel
Pemble, is gone into cantonments at Ghyretty, where it is near at hand to reinforce
the detachments already fent to Mazulipatam, or even to proceed to Madrafs, fhould
the fituation of their affairs there require our further affiftance.

The Prefident has again received letters from Janoojee and Ragoo-naut Row, de-
manding payment of the Chout ; and we are informed that the latter of thofe chieis
has afiTembled an army at Berar, with which he purpofes to enter Hindoftan. Akho'
we are not under the leaft apprehenfions from that quarter, we communicated this in-
telligence to Colonel Smith, who ftill remains with the thiril brigade at Allahabad,
and have defired him to keep a watchful eye over the adlions of the Maharaitas.

We have alfo received advice, that Rajah Narraindoo has compelled Mr. Lowe, the
Refident at Ganiam, to retire to Tezagapatam, and put a fi:op to the intercourfe between
the two Prcfidencies through his country.

■ We mull requeft, that you will be pleafed to fupplyus with cannon for field-fervice
by every occafion, the number we have now in (tore being only ten, which is infufli-
cient to fupply the demand made on us by Colonel Smith for the fervice of the armv.
The utility of this article, and the fatal confequenc,e$ which may attend the want of it,
are, we perfuade ourfelves, too obvious to need our enlarging on the fubjedf.

A general llatement of our revenues, and account of the dilburfemcnts for the lafl:
year, commencing on the ift of January, 1767, fiiall be drawn out as foon as the
different abftradls can be coUedted, and, we hope, will be tranfmitted to vou by the

I 2 ' ' laft

•62,500/.

m APPENDIX.

laft fhi^oftHisfeafon. .This, we flatter ourfelves, will be fatisfadtory, as you may
.thereby perceive, at one point of view, the Hate of your receipts and iflues for the
.whole vcar. ^ ;

Mr. Campbell being neceffitafe'd to proceed to Europe in the fhip now under dif-

patch, has refigned his employ of Secretary to our Board. We muit here, in juftice

-to that gentleman^ afliire youof the high fenfe we entertain of the zeal, attention, and

abilities, v.'ith which he has purfued your interefts, during the courfe of his long ferviccs

.in this branch of your affairs.

We have thought proper to nominate Mr. Ffloyer to fuccced him, who has accord-
ingly received the charge of his office, and has a feat and voice at our Board in the
^bfence of any one member., \ ' -/

We have the pleafurc to' trahrmtt you by this packet a complete fet of books and.
papers for the year 1767, as per accompanying lift.

We have the honour to be, &c.

H. VERELST, JOHN CARTIER, RICH. BECHER, CHARLES FFLOYER*.

No. XIIL
To the Honourable the Court of DireBors, tic.

HoKOURABLE SiRS, ; Fort- William, Feb. 3, i;6g.

The fliort interval between the departure of the Europa, by which we had the-
honour to addrcfs you, and the prefent difpatch of the Earl of Elgin, affords us but
little matter to communicate by this conveyance, more particularly as we have been
explicit in our advices by the preceding fliips of this feafon..

After a long ftate of fufpence we had been in for the iffue of your military opera-
tions on the Coaft of Coromandel, we were this day agreeably relieved by the receipt-
of a letter from the Secret Department at Madrais, under date the 15th December,
advifing us that your army had, on the 7th of laft month, defeated that of Plydcr
Ally a fecond time, and had obliged him to retire with precipitation to Coyrcpatam.
A copy of the letter, w hich is the only one we have received from that Prefidency fr .ce
the 20th November laft, we have the honour to tranfmit a number in the packet,
for vour farther information.

The overtures lately made to the Prefidcnt of Fort St. George by Ruccum al Dowlah,
for an accommodation between the Company and the Subah, we are glad to perceive
were rcjedted with difdain. They cannot be too cautions in re-admitting to an alliance
with them a man whofe perfidious condudt is itill fo very recent. A perlbn fo unfteady
in his condudt, and ambitious in his nature, can never be the real vvell-wiflicr of a
])Owcr he has fo much injured.

We hope ere now the laft divifion of our reinforcement to the Dcccan, under the
command of Colonel Jofeph Peach, is fafely arrived and entered upon the fcene of
atflion. A force fo formidable in itfelf, and fo little expcdled from a diftant fettle^
mcnt, will, we doubt not, ftrike a terror in the Subah's brcafl-, and induce hiirt to
withdraw his forces from Hyder Ally, for the fccurity of his own territories.

By letters foine time fince received from the gentlemen at Madrafs, (which being
entered on the face of our proceedings tranfmittcd by the Europa, we beg leave to.

rcfct

APPENDIX. 69

refer 3'ou to) it appeared, that they laboured under great difijcultles ia the nomination
of a Subah to that province, in cafe Nizam Ally fliould, by an obilinate perfeverance
in his unjull meafures, oblige them to deprive him of his government; and they were
even pleafcd to requelt our opinion in a matter of fo great importance. \^"e expreffed
ourfelves with that unrcferved freedom which we wifh may mutually fubfilt between
the two Prclidencies ; and judging it expedient to fecure the King's Hrm-aun for the
nomination of fome other perfon, our Prefident was defircd to apply for the fame to
his Majefty, who has been pleafed to comply with his requeft, and, in a letter lately
received from him, he promifed to difpatch a blank Firmaun within five days of the
date thereof, to be filled up with the name of any perfon we may judge moft proper, .
for the fecurity and lafting tranquility of your pofleflions on the coall. This is a
power we fhould be loath to avail ourfelves of, excepting in a cafe of the utmolT: ne-
ceffity, and fuch we fear this will prove, if we can form our judgment from the pre- -
fent lituation of affairs.

When we behold one of the finefl' armies which had ever yet appeared in Hindoftan,
taking the field againft a body of undifciplined troops, we cannot entertain a doubt
but your arms will be attended with every defirable fuccefs. Hyder Ally has already
experienced the fuperiority of your forces, and now that defertion has taken place
in his army, cannot but be apprehenlive of the dangers with which he is threatened ;
and we flatter ourfelves, that you will foon be compenfated by an honourable and
lafting peace, for the war and devaftations which have too much of late troubled the
repofe of the Carnaric. We conclude you will be fully advifed, from the Prefident
and Council at Fort St. George, of all their proceedings lince the commencement of
hoftilities. .

We have very fully reprefented in our letters of this feafon, by the Lord Holland
and Norfolk, our apprehenfions of the fatal confequences which mufl unavoidably
attend the vafl exportation of filverout of this country : we now experienced them in a
very alarming degree, for it is. difficult to procure filver at the Prefidency, in ex-
change even for an hundred gold mohurs.- If you will be pleafed to examine 3'our
treafury accounts, )'ou will there find nearly to half the :i mount of your treafure in
gold; nor can we devile an effedtual method for preventing an event which mufl
/jirove ruinous to the commerce of this opulent kingdom. To have fent to China in
gold fpecie the whole amount of our remittance of •- 24 lacks, would have been incur-
ring a heavy lofs, and probably embarraffed 3^our Council at Canton, In the provi-
fion of your China inveftment. We were defirous of embracing every r^pportunltj''
to check this growing evil, without falling fhott of the annual fupply ; and the gen-
tlemen at Madrafs, in a letter to this committee, having recommended the fupplles
being fent in gold, provided Arcot rupees were not procurable, filver being then ■
cheap. The Board determined to fend only one half in filver, and the remainder
in gold. We have the pleafure to acquaint you, that -f fixteen lacks have been al-
ready forwarded to that Prefidency for the China inveftment;, and the remaining \\ eig-Jit
lacks will follow in a few days.

Our Prefident has lately received fome propofils from the French Governor at
Ghandernagore, for carrying on the inveftment of their Company in conjundtion with
j'our's, by receiving fuch a proportion as we may mutually judge equitable, and the
v/hole to be condutled by your Gomaftahs. Should this propoflil, on mature deli-
beration, be found eligible, by preventing the frequent difputes which will ever un-
avoidably arife while Gomaflahs are employed on the part of both nations ; and that ■
the provifion of your invrflment will in no fhape fuffer, we flrall, as a preliminary
article, infift upon their importing bullion for the providing of their inveftment,

which,

* 300,000 A f 200,000/. II 100,000/.

70 APPENDIX.

u-hich, without fuch a claufe, the}' may not do for fonie years to come ; for, notwith-
flanding every precaution on our part, whilft remittances ftand as they now do,
it will be out of our power to prevent their fully fupplying themfelves with whatever
Anns they may require for bills on Europe.

The country is at prefent in a perfed: ftate of tranquility ; but as this is the feafon
for the Alaharattas, and other country powers, to take the field, we cannot yet,
with the leaft degree of certainty, judge of the meafures they may purfue ; for which
reafon we conceive it is neceiTary to keep the third brigade ftill at Allahabad; but
fo foon as this neceffity ceafes, you may be affured it fhall be withdrawn.

By this conveyance we have tlie pleafure to tranfmit to you the broken fett of
our proceedings, and other books and papers, as per accompanying lift, and have
the honour to be, with great refpecf, &c.

H. VERELST, JOHN CARTIER, R. BECKER, CHARLES FFLOYER.

No. XIV.
To the Honourable Court of DireSJors, &c. &c.
Honourable Sirs, Fort-wiUiam, February 9, 176s.

We embrace the opportunity of the Northington's difpatch, to acquaint you with
fuch material occurrences as have happened iince our laft advices, under date the
3d inftant, duplicate whereof we have the honour to tranfmit a number in this
packet.

The town of Chandernagore having laft feafon proved unhealthy, from the great
quantity of water which fettled therein, the gentlemen thought it neceffary to have
a ditch made round it, with drains to carry oft' the water into the Ganges. This
gave rife to a report which was communicated to the officers of the government, as
the firft ftep towards eredting a fortification, and they accordingly complained of it
as fuch to the Prefident. Upon Mahomed Reza Cawn's arrival in Calcutta, ftiortly
after he, and Mr. Chevalier the French Dircftor, requefted that an engineer might
be fent from hence to furvey that work. Captain Martin was accordingly fent to
Chandernagore for that purpofe, who has given it as his opinion, that it could not,
in anv degree, be deemed a fortification, or anfwer any other purpofe than what Mr.
Chevalier aflured the Prefident it was intended for.

We fhall ever encourage the Nabob's vigilance, and affift his authority in putting
an early and tffecffual ftop to the innovations of our European neighbours ; and we
think it very neceffary to be circumljiedt over all their adrions ; confcious that the
ftability of your valuable pofiTeffions depends greatly on their inability to difturb the
happy ftate of tranquility they now enjoy.

By the complete fett of country corrcfi)ondencc, tranfmitted by the Eurojia, jou
will obfervc that Janoojee, one of the Maharatta chiefs, is very folicitous in his de-
mands for the Chout, which had regularly been paid during the latter part of Alliverdy
Cawn's government. Notvvithftantling the imjierious ft\ le of his letter, we could
plainly perceive, trom the knowledge we have accjuired of the cuftoms and manners
of the Maharattas, that he was defirous to treat with us for the ceftion of Cuttack,
and of which v.e have been lately aftlired bv his Vackcel, a perfon of charadler and
ftation, and who ftands high in the cfteem of his mafter.

The

APPENDIX. 71

The Prefident, fince Mahomed Reza Cawn's arrival iu Calcutta, has, in conjunc-
tion with that minillcr, had levcral conferences with the Vackcel on the fubjcft ;
who afllircd them tlrat his maflcr would not liftcn to any accommodation for the
ccfiion of Cuttack, and confuleration for the Chout, on any other terms than the
annual payment of fixteen lacks of rupees *, to be accounted for from the time tlie
Company took charge of the Dcwanuy of thefe provinces ; and the Sele(ft
Committee on their behalf to be guarantees for the Nabob's faithful performance of
the treaty. In fupport of the propriety of thefe demands he recited the promifc
made to his mafter by Mr. Vanfutart in the year 1763, of pa'/ing him all the arrears
of the Chout, on condition that he did not join his forces to the troops of Coffim Ally
Cawn, the then Nabob ; and laid much flrefs upon the afllirances given him by Lord
Clive, that whenever this treaty Ihould be concluded, the annual fuin llipulatcd for,
Ihould commence from the time the Company were invcftcd with the Dewanny of
thefe provinces. After many debates the Vackcel confented, with alllirances of his
mafter's concurrence alfo, that the rents which have been collefted in Oriffa during
the above period, ihould be fet againft the annual arrears whicli he demanded.

By fueh an agreement, and a proper examination of their accounts, the arrears
will be confiderably diminifhed ; and although we mull: expcft, from the diftracted
flate of the Maharatta government, that they have not colledted the whole amount
of the revenues of that province ; yet we have reafon to believe, that under your
government, and the immediate infped:ion of )'our fervants, they may in time amount
to, if not exceed, the annual tribute demanded.

As this was a matter which we deemed of the highefi: importance, fo it has en-
gaged our moll: fcrious attention. When we confidered the many benciits which
muft naturally refult from thus uniting the Company's territories on the Coaft with
)^our valuable poliellions in Bengal ; a ftcp which will complete the chain of your
influence and dominion from the banks of the Caramnafla to the farthefl extre-
mity of the coad of Coromandel ; a meafure that muft tend fo great y to the pre-
fervation of both fettlements, by the mutual fupport It will enable them at all times
to give each other; the removing at once every pretence of the Maharattas for
dillurbing the peace and tranquillity of thefe provinces, and the fiiock it will give to
their ftrength and power whenever it may be found neeeflary to fcparate fo principal
a member as Janoojee, who, during the whole courfe of his negociations, has ex-
prelled an carneli defire to enter into an offenfive and defenfive alliance with us : all
thefe confiderations having been attentively weiglicd and debated in Committee, vye
refolved to acquiefce in the propofals of the Vackeel, and to bring the treaty to as
fpeedy a conckifion as poffible. Our Prefident has according!)- fignificd our alilnt
in a letter to Janoojee, and has requefted of the Nabob to agree to it on his part.
Copies of the propofed agreements on the part of the Nabob and us being entered
after our proceedings, we beg leave to refer )ou to them ; and we flatter ourfelves
our condutl herein will meet with the honour of )-our fand:ion and approbation.

In our addrefs by the Norfolk you were made acquainted with our reafons for not
reinforcing the detachment under the command of Captain Kinloch, in order to ef-
feft the hril: intention of the expedition to Napaul. We attributed the failure of
that enterprize to a mifcondudt in the comnianding officer, and accordingly direfted
Mr. Rumbold, chief of Patna, to order Captain Kinloch to repair thither, that a
court of enquiry might fit on his conduflr. But Mr. Rumbold, in his reply to our
letter on that fubjeft, having fet forth the many unfurmountable and unavoidable
accidents which that officer met with in the courfe of his march, which occafioned
the failure of the expedition, we countermanded our orders for recalling him ; and

direcled
* 200,000/,

P E N D I

direcfted him to fccure the acquifition of lands in that country, which wc hope will
fully indemnlfv the Company for the charge incurred on that enterprize ; it being
our determined refolution not to make a fecond attempt, while there is any proba-
bility of a further reinforcement being wanted from hence for the affiftance of the
Madrafs I'refidency.

Mahomed Reza Cawn, who frequently complained to the Prefidenc}^ of the de-
clining ftate of his health, occafioned by a continual application to the bufinefs of
the government, has lately requeued our permiffion for the nomination of fome per-
fon to affift hlm_, as he may be frequently rendered incapable of attending himfelf to
■the bufinefs of the Cutcherry, or any other accident fjiould befal him ; and recom-
mended Fatty Ally Cawn, who had for fome time pail been affifting, and whom he
Ihould as fully as in his power inftrudt in the bufinefs. We deemed his requeft but
reafonable ; and Mr. S)-kcs informing us that the perfon recommended was of in-
tegrity, attention, and abilities, we readily confented to his appointment.

We mull, in jullice to Mahomed Reza Cawn, exprefs the high fenfe we entertain
of the abilities and indefatigable attention he has fliewn in the execution of the im-
portant truft repofed in him ; and we cannot but lament the profped: of lofing his
fervices from the prefent declining ftate of his health.

It is with pleafure we obferve, that lb fmall a fum only as rupees * 46,205 .14.3
was deemed irrecoverable, from the outftanding balance of the Bahar revenues for
the laft year, amounting to rupees f 541,327 . 1 1 . 6. Mr. Rumbold's condudt in
the coUeftions has met with our entire approbation ; and we do not doubt, but the
Tour he propofes to make through the different parts of that province v>'ill afford him
an opportunity of making a more minute adjuftment of the revenues. Mr. Sykes's
late journey to the Dinagepore and Purnea countries, affords us a profpedt of the
sood effecfts which are likely to enfue from a ftridt examination into the ftate of the
colleftions. The frauds, embezzlements, and a variety of atrocious crimes com-
mitted by the Zemindars and officers of the government inverted with the charge of
thofe colledlons appear in the moft glaring light, the timely deteftion whereof may
be produttive of a confiderable increafe of your revenues. We have the accounts
at prefent under examination ; and in the mean time have recommended it to the
minifters to make verv fevere examples of the offenders^ in order to deter others from
the like pradliccs in future.

We highly commend the zeal, attention, and affiduity with which Mr. Sykes has
exerted himfelf for )-our intcrefts on this and every other occafion, which has fallen
under his department.

Having reafon to believe that fome Europeans ftill continue in different parts of
the country, carrying on a trade there in defiance of the repeated orders of the Se-
left Committee, we have again laid pofitive injundtions on the chiefs of Subordi-
nates and commanders of the brigades, to apprehend and fend down immediately to
the Prefidency all fuch perfons who may be found without a proper licence from
the Scleft Committee, or the Governor. For thoroughly perfuaded as we are,
that fuch a pradice is fubvcrfive of the peace, tranquillity, and t^ood government
of this country, we are determined that our orders ftiall be ftritflly obeyed.

Mr. George Vanfittart has tranfmittcd to us feveral abftrads of the coUcftions in
the Midnapore and Jellafore proyinces, with fome other papers relative thereto,
written in the Bengal language. Wc have diredtcd him to fend down to Calcutta,
the perfons from whom thofc accounts were taken, that they may be fworn to, attcftcd,
and recorded in the Mayor's Court. In the mean lime the Bengal papers arc ordered

• About S.775/. t About 67,665/.

A !P 1» E N D I X. 7 J

to be tranflatecl, and wc hope to fend ihem to you properly authenticated, by the Ad-
miral I'ococke.

By private advices which the Prefident has lately received from Colonel Jofcph Peach,
commanding the troops in the Deccan, deftincd againft Hyder-abad, we learn, that
they had advanced within forty-four Cofs of that city, after having taken Cemamct,
a llrong fortrefs, and another fort called Wellengalt : that the Colonel was only
waiting for a fupply of mufquet ammunition to proceed on his journey ; and that the
enemy have little or no force to oppofe them.

By letters which the Prefident has alfo received from Madrafs, we are informed,
that Ruccun al Dowlah, the prime miniller of Nizam Ally, Subah of the Deccan, had
been for fome days negociating with Colonel Jofeph Smith, for an accommodation be-
tween the Subah and the Englifli ; and for this purpofe it was faid, that Ruccun al
Dowlah intended to proceed to Madrafs, finally to conclude with the gentlemen there
a treaty of peace, on the part of his mailer, who feem, by their laft advices, inclined
to encourage the advances made by the Subah for that purpofe.

We have, fince our laft difpatch, received feveral letters from Colonel Smith, con-
cerning his fentiments of the condudt of Sujah al Dowlah ; but as we have no
reafon to alter the opinion we have hitherto entertained of the Vizier, we have only
to refer you to the Colonel's letters, which appear upon our ]iroceedings.

We have the pleafure to tranfmit you by this packet, the broken fett of Committee
proceedings fince the laft difpatch, and other papers as by the accompanying lift.

We have the honour to be, &c.

H. VEREbST, J. CARTIER. R. BECHER, C. FFLOYER.

No. XV.
To the Honourable the Court of DireSlors, &c.
Honourable Sirs, Fort William, March 14, 1768.

The difpatch of the Admiral Pococke, the laft of your annual fhipping, affords us
an opportunity to advife you of the occurrences which have happened fince our laft
addrefs, under date the 29th ultimo, a duplicate whereof we have the honour to
cnclofe.

Munneer al Dowlah's condudt, fince his return to Allahabad from the Prefidency,
has caufed a difcontent in the mind of Sujah al Dowlah. The authorit)' which he has
afTumed over the royal houfe, and particularly of the Vizarut, which the Nabob
Sujah al Dowlah was inverted with at our requeft, gives us too much reafon to con-
clude he has filled the royal ear with ideas unfavourable to the Vizier, as well as the
folemn engagement we have entered into. When we confider the haughty difpo-
fition of a perfon, whofe reputation and influence are ver}' confiderable in the empire,
we cannot be furprifed if he takes offence at being deprived of thofe honours he is
entitled to, and which, with a lavifti hand, have been conferred upon another ; who,
in reality, is a fervant of the Vizier's, and placed by him near his majefty's perfon.
He has, on many occafions, reprefented to our Prefident, the uneafinefs fuch a con-
duft has given him ; reminded him of his appointment to that dignit\- when the
treaty was concluded, and fignified his earneft defirc, through our mediation, to be
invefted with the authority thus with-held from him by the jealoufy of the King,

K " and

74 APPENDIX.

and the artifices of a favourite fervant. He has repeated affurances that we will
religioufly adhere to the treaty fub filling between us : and Munnecr al Dowlah has
beeii told, that his late conduA has incurred our difj^leafure ; and that we exped:, if
he rc^zards our friendlhip, he will make proper concclTions to the Vizier, for the dif-
rcfpeftful behaviour he has obferved towards him.

Sujah al Dowlah, in his letters to his majelly, folicits to be admitted into the
royai prefence, and to a ihare in his councils and adminiftrations ; but his felicitations
have not yet had the defired eftedl:.

By a letter from Colonel Sk Robert Barker we perceive, with pleafure, the profpeft
of a reconciliation between the Vizier and Munneer al Dowlah. He therein ac--
quaints us, that the former is defirous of an interview at Faiz-abad, and we have di-
reifled him to prevail upon the latter to accompany him thither. We do not doubt
but a meeting will be eftedred, and that the fubjedt of the prefent difputes will be
terminated to the fatisfaiftion of the King and his Vizier.

We can hardly exped: that his majefty will confent to Sujah al Dowlah 's officiating
near his royal perfon, nor indeed is that a point infilled on ; but we think it but jull
and reafonable he fhould be confulted with, and informed of all material tranfadions
at court ; as the feal of the Vizarut is in his name, and adually made ufe of as a figiiet
to the ro\ al mandat.s.

Should the King pcrfifl in his refufal to admit Sujah al Dowlah again to his ho-
nours,, we fliall ferioufly remind him of the folemn engagements we have reciprocally
entered into, for the fecurity of his majefty's perfon, the defence of Sujah al Dowlah's
dominions, and the peace and tranquility of thcfe provinces. We fhall alio point
out to him, the ill confequences which may attend a rupture, which he thus endea-
vours to effed, with a man formidable as Sujah al Dowlah ; and' although it is our
determination to adhere inviolably to the treaty we have made with his majefty, we
mull not forget that we are equally bound in friendfliip to Sujah al Dowlah.

By letters from the fecret department at Madrafs, we have the pleafure to be in-
formed they have concluded a treaty with the ^ Subah, and that a deputation was fent
to him to fee it ratified. The Prefident having in private letters from thence re-
ceived a copy of the terms which have been mutually aUcntcd to, we conclude a
knowledge of them will afford you fatisfadion, and have the honour to tranfmit them
to you a number in this packet.

We beg leave to congratulate you on an event which promifes fo favourable a
profped of reducing Hyder Ally, and etfedually fccuring your pofleffions on the Coaft.
The rebel thus deferred by the Subah, difturbed by the Maharattas, and threatened
with the lofs of his pofleffions on the Malabar Coaft, by a confiderable detachment
of your forces, which the gentlemen of Bombay have deftined for that fervice, mull
foon fall a facrifice to his ambitious projeds ; and his ruin will, we hope, eftablilh
a lafting peace and tranquility in the Carnatic, and fix your pofleffions on a perma-
nent and Iblid bafis.

The demands made on us from the Prefidency of Madrafs, for the fupport of the
war, amount to * 20 lacks of rupees. We have determined to fupply them with f 12
lacks from your treafury, and have defired them to appropriate j" three lacks for that
ufe from the fums we have remitted thither, for the fervice of your China invcftment^
They will, by fuch means, be furnifhed with an immediate fupply of || 15 lacks of
rui)ees, to enable them to profecute the war againft Hyder Ally ; and we have pro-
mifed them a farther fumof § five lacks early in September, fhould they require it.

The great demands which have been made on this Prtfidency for fupplies of mo-
ney from every quarter, have reduced your treafury to a very low ftate, and alarm us

for
• 250,000/. t 150,000/. t j7jS'3o/. 11 187,500/. § 62,500/.

^I Nizam Ally, Subah ofiheDcccan.

A P P E N D I XI 75

for; the confcqucnccs ,which iiluft inevitably attend fnch a vaft exportation from tliis
country. We aje apjirehcnfive that the very great fcarcity of filver n-^ull affect your
^'nveftnient for the enfuing feafon, as it is with the utmoll difficulty wc now procure
fufticicat for the immediate neceli;u-y advances for rhat purpofe.

We have fo frequently reprefcntcd to you the fatal confequenccs with which we
are threatened, by the great exportation of filver from hence, that wc are perfuadcd
you will leave no meafures unefletted to relieve vis from our approaching diftrefsful
llate.

It is with great concern we Qbfer\"e fo groat a part of our proceedings filled with
difagreeable altercations between Colonel Smith and the Seledt Committee. We wifh
to prcferve that harmony and unanimity which has fo long fubfiftcd between fhe
members of this Board, as we are fenfible fuch a condud: alone can tend to the jirof-
perity of your affairs, and to preferve that degree of fubordination which is happily
eflabliflied among your fervants. In order, therefore, to remove every caufe for
fviture difconterit between us and the Colonel, we have very fully j^ointed out to him
the authority which we deem vefted by our honourable employers in us and in our
Prefident ; and we doubt not but fuch a ilep will be produftive of that harmony in
future, which we are defirous to cfledt.

A difference in opinion amongft us may eafily arife, and cannot be deemed a crime
in any perfon ; but we wilh to preferve it within proper limits, as v/e can never admit
any fingle member of our Board to adt independently, and even without previoufly
confulting us, in matters of the greateft importance. As we entertain the mod fa-
vourable fentiments of the merit and abilities of Colonel Smith, we cheerfully confent
to refer the fubjeds of our differences to your impartial determination.

We are forry it is not in our power to tranfmit you by this conveyance, tranflates
of the Bengal accounts of the Midnapore and Jcllafore coUctftions, which we before
advifed you had been fent us by Mr. George Vanfittart, as they are very voluminous,
and require firlt to be tranllated into the Perfian language, and from thence into En-
glifh, which our time will not admit of. The abftrafts, however, now wait on you
nutnbers in the packet, certified by our Secretary to be true copies of the original
papers, tranfinitted from Midnapore.

We have the pleafure to tranfmit you Mr. Sykes's correfpondence with the Ze-
mindars, and other officers of the government ; the broken fett of our proceedings
fi.nce the lait difpatch, and other papers as by the accompanying lift.

We ha\'e the honour to be, &c.

H. VERELST, J. CARTIER, R. BECHER, C. FFLOYER.

No. XVI.
To the Honourable the Court of DireSfors, &c.

Hon. Sirs, Fort Vi^jlliam, April io, 176S.

We had the honour to advlfe you in our addrefs by the Admiral Pococke, under
dste the 24th March laft, of all material occurrences in your affairs under our di-
redtion, and to tranfmit to ycu our proceedings down to tha^ period of time ; a
duplicate of thofc advices now waits on vou a number in this packet.

K 2 ^vc

7.d APPENDIX.

We have been favoured with your commands bearing dates the aoth November
1767, the 12th January, and i6th March 1768, by the feveral fhips of this feafoii,
to which you may be alfured all due obedience fhall be paid, unlefs a deviation from
any part of them may be deemed moft conducive to your intereft. Senfible of the
important truil repofed in the Select Committee, their warmeft endeavours have been
exerted to uphold the influence you have happily acquired ; and to fecure upon the
moft permanent foundation, your great and valuable pofleflions in thefe provinces.
We are happy to perceive the fuccefs with which their labours have been crowned,,
has rendered it unneceflary for you to continue to us thofe fuperintending powers
with which they have heretofore been vefted» The concluding of treaties, difburfe-
ments of money, and the fupreme power over your military, will therefore in future
be conduced by your Prefident and Council ; and we fhall continue in the manage--
ment of your political concerns, and the collection of the Dewaany revenues, within,
the limitation prefcribed by your late orders.

The Prefident and Council having referred to us the 55, g6, and 58 paragraphs of"
your letter to them, of the 20th November 1 767, we forwarded the fame to the re-
fident at the Durbar, with diredtions to tranfmit to us all his accounts of the revenues
adjufted to the 31ft July, in time, if poffible to be laid before that Board, and fent you:
by this opportunity.

The 23, 26, 30, 31, and 32 paragraphs of your commands to us, dated i5th
March, have likewile been fent to Mr. Sykes. We have directed him to reprefent
to the miiiifters the impropriety of their holding lands under the country government ;-
and that it is expefted they will difcontinue that pradtice in future.. We diredred'
him alfo to draw cut an account of the charges of colledtions in die Dacca province,
and an account of all difturfements whatfoever, which have caufed- dedudlions from
the annual amount of its revenues ; which, when tranfmitted to us, ihall be for-
warded for your particular information.

We have recommended to him to obtain information from the minifters, how far
the introdudtion of our laws of inheritance, which you have been pleafcd to- }X)int
out to us, may afFedl the claims o[' the country government over the natural' rights
of the native.

The Poonah was held at Murfhed-abad, with the ufual forms and folemnity, the
I4.th May laft; the Prefident being unable to affift thereat in perfon, by reafon of his
ill ftate of health, Mr. Cartier proceeded up to the city on that occ,ifion, and offi-
ciated in his ftead. The ellimate then formed of the revenues, to be colledVcd in,
the prefent year, is entered uppnthe face of our proceedings, which we have the-
honour to tranfmit by this conveyance ; and we beg leave to refer to the letters ad-
drelfed jointly from Meflrs. Cartier and S) kes, for a particular explanation of the-
manner in which the ftatement is formed.

Thofe gentlemen deferred the holding of the Poonah as long as it could prudently
be done, without endangering the ci;rrent col'edtions, in order to bring in as much,
as poffible of the outftanding ballances of laft year. They are as fmall as wecould
reafonably expeft ; and have arifcn from the remarkable inundation' of laft iealbn,
and other cafualties, unavoidable in the coUedtion of rc\enucs in a country of fuch
vaft extent. You will be plcafed to obferve, that among the ballances incurreil, is
one lack ■ of rupees, occnfioncd by a deficiency in the revenues of Dinagepore ; not-
withftanding Mr. Sykes allures us, he has paid the grcatcft attention to the collcdli6ns
of that province, from a fufpicion of many frudulent pradticcs having been com-
mitted there bv the Zemindars and other officers of the goverament, and the very
nppreffive mcafurcs they have purfued towards the farmers of thofe lands. Every
poffible endeavour has been ufcd in obtaining the ballance from the late coUedtor of

that
• 12,500 i.

A P P E N D I X. 77

that province. He at firft feemcd willing to pay that fum ; but at length abfolutelyr
rel'ufed, iiiilefs he was reinftated in the management of Rungpore and Dinagepore, and
permitted to take thofe countries on his own terms. So iniblent a refufal, and a pro-
pofal lb injurious to your intereit, induced the minifters to difmifs him from his
employment ; and we are exerting our utmofl: endeavours to recover the ballancc
due.

Mr. Rooke is, for the prefent, at Dinagepore, in order to convey fuch informa-
tions to the refident at the Durbar as he may obtain, of the mal-pradtices purfued by
the officers entrnfted with the management of the coUeftions in that province : but we-
have Ilriftly forbid that he interferes in any degree whatfocver with the country
government ; and we have directed that he remain nO longer than is abfolutely nc-
ceflary for that fervice.

The accounts of Meerza Coffim, the late Fouzdar of Houghly,. are ftill under
the examination of the miniliers. Frauds have already been difcovercd therein, to the
amount of * 120,000 rui>ees ; of which fum, f 100,000 rupees have beea recovered
into the treafury at Murihed-abad.

Mr. Svkes has reprefented to us the inconvenience he muft labour under in tranfaft-
ing the bufinefs of the Durbar, from the Council's having appi-opriated Midnapore
houfe to die ufc of the chief at Coffimbjzar; which place he has for fome time pafl!
mad- his principal reh lence, by reafon of the unhealthy fituation of Mooty-jcel. We
could nor, with the leail degree of delicacy to that Board, take this matter again
into confideration ; and he was therefore told it fhould be referred to the decifion
of you, our honou able employers.

The Bah-.ir collections have this year been ne-arly adequate to the preceding. Mr,
Rumbjld advifes us, that the revenues being almoft coUefted, he propofes making
a tour through that province, accomp mied by Rajah Seetabroy, and to fettle the
Buadabuit for the enfuing year, from which tour we flatter onrfelves that we fhall
acquire a more exadt knowledge of the ftate of that province.

' The Nabob, Sujah al Dowhh, having complained in his btrers to the Prefident of
the mixondud: of Goniaftahs trading in his domifiions under the fanftion of the
Eno;lifh name, we did not heiitate to give him an early proof of our regard to his-
reprefentations ; and accordiiigly came to a refolution of prohibiting all your fer-
vants, as well as other Europeans refiding u-'der \'our direction, from carrying any
trade, dired:ly of indiredrly, beyond the provinces, after a certain time limited tor the
a'diuftment of their outftanding concerns, under jrain of confifcation of his goods, and
difmiffion fra.-n your fervice,- if a covenanted fervant ; and if a free merchant, or
other European, the immediate lofs of your proteftion. Such orders have been Ifllicd,
and fuch precautions taken in the polling of olficeFs at the different itations on the
rivers, as have enforced this resiulation in the mort effetlual manner.

Having on all occafions mod: religioufly fulfilled the articles of our treaty with
the Vizier, we entertained hopes that our attachment to his interefls would difpel
every fufpieion which his jealoiifv of our fupcrior influence might probably have-
created in his breaft; but fo far from- having produced that happy effed:, we have
too much reafon to believe that his unbounded ambition will make him regard us
father as his rivals for power, than his fteady friends ; and that his attachment to us
proceeds from his inability to d.privc us of that reputation we have eftabliflied in an
empire, in which he and his family have borne the- moft exalted fta dons in the
royal houfe.

The Nabob continues to be extremely felicitous to be invefted with the full au-
thority of Vizier, and to enter upon the funftions of that office. The King is equally

averfe:
• i5.,ooo/. t 12,500/1*

7» . :a p p e n d I X.

averfe to the Nabob's requeft, and pofitive in refufiqg him any other power tV, an the.
nominal dignity. Qur mediation i^ds beeji folicited, ^y ^theip, both, and ovir reprci-
fentations have not been wanting ; but thp imperious condqdt of thq jNabol^ tp\Aardi
his royal niafter, and the aitjihy (ybfiiting befween thci}),, \yillj^ i^jp 3piJff;J^fti;d^ , proye

an infuperable bar to tl5<jii: rreeQBfiliatioRt ,:),•; -jjo /ri-' ■x') i/ifi "-JV' ^'^e \1(. (ft\ :'{<■::'•)

We cannot but with concern obferve, that our Tentlments with regar'd to SiijaK at
Powlah's condud: greatly difft-j from thofe we hacl the hoi)Our to tranfijut tOi you. by
the fliips of laft f^afon. Events finq^ ^th^t perjpd, vyiH, yye doubt :nf)t,.jvil\ify the,
change;, and make it a flyty incumbent on us,, as we regard the,\}'-elf^ve of the Comfi
jiany, to adopt every pripdcnt meafure for pvading the blow it if/not impqflible hcj
may be meditating againll ;their valuable poUcffioris i;v thefe jir^yinces. .When we.
confidcred the very rapid progrefs he has latelv made in his levies- of > troops; his ex-
traordinary vigilar.ce in the difcipline of his army ; the reports which we h?ve receiycd
of his inviting auxiliaries into his fcrvice, at a time when perfect tranquility feemq^
to reign throyghout the empicej^ the_ connexions he is .forfi^ing with different po>*'efS;jj
the eftablifhing a foundery, which has alreadv fupplied' him with a quantity of .caij^
non' tor field fervice ; and his amazing improvement, in the making of fmall arms,
which are by no means, inferior in quality to the very beft exported to India; ali
thefe were circumftances which naturally demai-(ded our moft ferious attention, and
compelled us to refolve upon lofing as little time as poffible in arriving to fome de^
grce of certainty with regard to his future defigr^s.

As previous fteps towards the fecurity of your brigade ftationed at Allahabad, we
immediately came to a refolution of eflablifhing a magazine of provifions in that
fort for their maintenance, and on fending up a fupply of * ten lacks of rupees for
their fubfiftence, as foon as the ftate of the Murfhed-abad or Patna treafury Ihould
enable us to appropriate i'o large a fum for that purpofe.

Senfiblc of the vaft imj)ortiince of the fort of Chunar to Sujah al Dowlah, in cafe
he fliould come to an open rupture with us, we have diredled Colonel Barker to re-
inforce the garrifon we have at prcfent therein, Ihould he have reafon to judge fuch a
ftep neceOary from the future operations of the Nabob. It is a matter that requires
the utmofl delicacy, and as fuch we have recommended it to the Colonel : who, we
are perfuaded, will rake every precaution in effetf ing it, fhould it become neceH'ary.

The next and mofi: imjiortant meafure adopted, was the appointment of a de-
putation to proceed to Allahabad, to reprtfent to SuJah al Dowlah, in perfon, the
fufpicions which his late condud: has created ; and to endeavour, by a candid invcfli-
gation of fad's and friendly argument, to convince him of the inviolable faith with,
which we have on our parts adhered to the treaty ; and require his reafons for fo con-
ftderable an augmentation of his force, at a time when even the moil; remote danger
to his polledions was not to be apprehended ; and that we have taken tliis method of
communicating to him our fentiments, which we hope will convince him of the fin-
cerity of our attachment, and our carnell defiye of continuing the friendlhip which
has fubfifted fince the treaty. But if, contrary to our mofl earnell wifhes, he fliould
be denf to every rcmonftrance of this nature, tjic deputation is then empowered to
r~'quc(l: his majefly will order the immediate fc,du,d:ion of his force, as a Itep elTentially
neceflary for his fafety and our own, and to acquaint the Vizier that we are deter-
mined to enforce an obedience to the orders of his royal malK-r ; fince wc hold it ab-
folutely and indifpenfibly neceflary to prevent any one neighbouring power acquiring
fuch degree of ftrength or power, as may enable him to diflurb the general tran-
quility of the empire. This meafurc will not, however, be purfued, until every per-
fuafiw argument i? bcconje of no c0cft.

The
• 125,000/.

APPENDIX. 79

The rriore effcdlually to fuccced in our ncgociations when the rainy feafon fhnll be
p.ift, we intend to diixdl: the fccond brigade to march to the Caramnaflk. Wc arc
of opinion that when the Nabob perceives our fixed deterniination to bring this
rtiatter to an ifllie, it will make him rcflcft ferioufly on the impropriety, not to lay
folly, of his conduft.

The Prefident moll readily tendered his fcr\'ices on this occafion, notwithflanding
his ill ftate of health for folrie time paft ; but the Seleft Committee not deeming it
neccffary to put him to the inconvenience of undertaking fo long a journey, ap-
pointed Mr. Carticr and Colonel Smith two members of the deputation, and ap-
plied to the Council for the nomination of Mr. Ruflcl as a third ; for there being only
three remaining members of the Scleft Committee (the number you have dircdtcd
conftantly to be on the fpor to tranfadt the bufinefs of this department) another
membi-r from our Board could not with propriety be fent. Thofe three gentlemen
will accordingly proceed up the country as foon as the Valentine's difpatches fhall be
clofed. The inftruttions with which they are furnilhed will plainly evince our car-
neft defire of preferving the peace inviolate, and to accommodate matters with the-
Vizier on the moft friendly terms ; and we are perfviaded that the gentlemen, to
whom we entruft this important negociation, will exert their zealous endeavours to
accomplifh the wiflies of your Selett Committee, and to fix the general tranquility
on a permanent bafis.

Be affured, gentlemen, it is with tlie utmoft reludfance that we find ourfclves re-
duced to the neceffity of making hofiile preparations againft any power of Hindo-
ftan ; but more particularly againft a prince, whofe attachment and fidelity to our
caufe we have attempted to engage by every friendly office in our power. The
fecurity of your territorial poffeffions call aloud for thefe meafures ; and we fhould be
wanting in duty and fidelity to the valuable tnift repofed in us, if we remained inat-
tentive, whilft fo refpeftable a power is daily increafing. Our refolutions upon this
important point have not been the work of an hour, they have refulted from
repeated and mature deliberations. To them, therefore, as they ftand recorded upon
the face of our proceedings, we beg leave to refer you ; and we hope the meafures
deemed neceflary to be purfued will have the honour of your approbation.

From the abovementioned circumftances you will no doubt perceive the imprafti-
cability of removing the third brigade from its ftation at Allahabad, which has cor-
tinued there at the particular requifition of the King and Sujah al Dowlah. We
muft, on this occafion, exprefs our great aftoniftiment at the pofirive orders you have
lately fent us, for withdrawing that brigade, under pain of being rendered refponfiblc
for all the confequences which may enlue from its continuance. Such an abfolute
reftricftion, without perniitting us upon the fpot to judge how far from time and cir-
cumftances fJLich a meafure may be purfued, muft, we apprehend, on fome future
occafion be productive of the utmoft evil confequence to your affairs. In the pre-
fent cafe for inftance, did we not regard your intcrefts above every other confidera-
tion, you might pofllbly, bv an immediate execution of your orders, be reduced, in
the fpace of a few weeks, from the moft ftouriftiing fituation ro the loweft diftrefs.
Sujah al Dowlah would then have the King at his mercy, and might obtain that
right to your pofleflions, by which you now hold them. He would then have no
curb on his ambition ; and being thus left at large to purfue his hoftile intentions,
might, with eafe, enter thefe provinces with a numerous body of cavalr}', harrafs
your troo;is, without putting it in their power to bring him to an action ; and de-
flroy thofe very coimtries from which vou receive fuch immenfe revenues ; but as
our army is now ftationed, the third brigade is a check on all our neighbours, and
more particularlv on tlie Vizier.

Wcv

in APPENDIX.

We are alfo concerneii to find that our refolution, on the approach of Abcla!-
la, to raife a bodv ot Mogul horle, does not meet with your approbation. We
came to this rcfolurioii in confequence of Colonel Smith's reprefentations of the ab-
folute neceflit)' of entertaining a corps of cavalry, Ihould there be a profpcct of real
fervice. We judged it indifpenfibly neceiiary to give the Colonel this power ; at:
the fame time we llrongly recommended to him not to make levies, unlefs the fitu-
ation of affairs fiiould abfolutcly require it. You will find that our recommendation
had -ill the efted: we could defirc ; fince on the rumour of Abdalla's return, the
fcrvice did not require that you fliould incur the leaft unneceflary expence, nor was
a finale horfeman entertained.

But we are obliged to enlarge on this fubjedt from the prefent fituation of your affairs.
It never will be our intention, in any cafe whatfoever, to raife a body of horfe fo nu-
merous as to oppofe the thoufands of cavalry that may be brought againft us ; but
we cannot conceive it would be warrantable to rifk not only the perfons of your
commanders in chief, and principal officers of your army, but |-erhaps fuch convoys
on the fate of which the fuccefs of our operations might folely depend, to the very
precarious fidelity of the troops of another power. You have only three hundred
horfe in your pay; a number by no means fufficient for the ordinary guards and pa-
troles of the cam]>. Without cavalry it would be impoffible for your officers to
condudt their operations ; fince they could not at any time reconnoitre the enemy's
fituation, without marching a large corps of infantry for a covering party ; and
making this a common pradiice, would harrafs your army beyond meafure. The fe-
curing of convoys is a point of too much importance to truft to any other troops than
thofe in your own pay. In ffiort, it feems the opinion of all the principal officers of
the army, that in time of fervice a fmall body of cavalry is indifpenfibly neceflary.
However, you may reft perfeftly affured, that on this, as well as all your other or-
ders, we ffiall never depart from the fyftem you have prefcribed, unlefs the fervice
Ihould abfolutely require it ; and then we {hall obferve the grcateft oeconomy.

Colonel Barker informs us that Abdalla is making preparations for marching
again towards Hindoftan. That he left Cabool in May laft, and joined his armv,
which had taken the field ; and that a part of it, reinforced by the neighbouring
powers, is marching towards Cafhmeer, Multan, and Lahore ; but we do not find
this intelligence confirmed by later advices.

Jcwhar Sing, the chief of the Jauts, was affaffinated on July laft, by an unknown
hand. We do not hear that his death has caufed any great commotions, his bro-
ther, Row Rutten Sing, having fucceeded him without oppofition ; and has wrote
to our Prefident, exprefling his hopes of the continuance of that friendfliip towards
him, as fubfiftcd with his predeceflbr. The Nabob Sujah al Dowlah is preparing to
march his army to the affiftance of Achmed Cawn Bungifti, one of the Rohilla
chiefs, as he intimates, at his particular requifition.

By letters from the fccret dei:»artment at Fort St. George, we obferve they arc pur-
fuing with vigour their operations againft Hydcr Ally. The main body of their
army, joined by a detachment of Colonel Campbell, are encamped within twenty-
five miles of Rengulou ; a ftrong fortrefs, on which the rebel places great depend-
ence, having fubdued the feveral forts laying between their army and their own gar-
rifons. Hvder Ally is alfo encamped near that place with his whole force, confifting
of eleven thoiifand cavalry and infantrv, and determined it feems to defend it tr the
laft extremity. The fiege we doubt not is e'er now commenced ; and as the cxf.rpa-
tion of Hydcr Ally will greatly depend on the fuccefs of vour arms in that entcrprizc,
We ffiall remain in a ftatc of anxiety, waiting for the illlie.

The

appendix:. Si

The great number of cannon and ftores they have acquainted us Is neceflaiy to
'enable them to carry on the fiegc, has induced us to refolve on lending them a ilip-
ply of ihot h)' the firll conveyance which offers for the Coaft ; and as they Hill con-
tinue to reprefenr to us their urgent occafions for money, we fliall a!fo embrace
the fame opportunity to fend them as ample a fupply as the flatc of our trcafury will
admit of.

The detachment under Colonel Peach in the Deccan has been lately emj>loyed
againfl Narraindoo, anil the other refraftory Zemindars of the Chicacole Sircar.
He has poflelled himfclf of a fort belonging to the former, which was evacuated on
his making a pradticable breach ; and he, with his fcattercd army, is retired to his
ftrong holds among the mountains. The Colonel is at prefent at Kimedy ; and the
gentlemen at Madrafs, upon a rumour of Nizam Ally's difaffcdllon to their caufe,
have thought it necedary to keep that detachment, either to remain as a check over •
the rel:)eliious conduft of the Zemindars, or for the prcfcrvation of the Sircars,
Ihould the Subah attempt any hoftile meafurcs againft them.

The Prcfident and Council at Bombay, at the requefl of the Madrafs Frcfidencv,
iitted out an armament, confifling of three fhips, many fmall veifels and boats, with
five hundred Europeans, and eight hundred Sepoys, againft Hyder Ally's poilcffions
CO the Malabar coafl, which they reduced on the firfl of March, together with the
greateft part of his fleet. The rapid fuccefies of this armament would have been
attended with the grcateft confequences, in fupport of the meafures purfued by your
army on the Coaft, hid they been permanent. But the return of Major Gowin and
Mr. Watfon to Bombay foon after, with a principal part of their marine force and
fome Europeans, on account of the approaching rainy fealbn, encouraged Hyder Ally
to march a great part of his forces to Mangalore in perfon, with which he threatened
the re-capture of this important fettlement. The major part of the garrilbn, tho*
confiderable in ftrength, ftruck with a panic at his approach, inftcad of making re-
fiftance as foldiers, moft fcandaloufly abandoned their poft, and retired to Tillicherry,
and the remainder fuiTered themfelves to be taken prifoners in the fort, with all
their ammunition and warlike ftores. Thus was the Myforean reftored on a hidden
to thofe valuable pofteffions, which the lofs of muft have greatly difconcerted him in
his military operations on the Coaft. An event highly favourable to his caufe, a3
the neighbouring powers may poffibly be imprefTed with an idea of his fuperior
ikill and courage, and will hardly now be prevailed upon to join our arms againft
him.

Their defeat, and the lofTes incurred by that expedition, have reduced the garrifon
at Bombay fo very confiderably, as to difable them from attempting a fecond entcr-
prize, unlefs reinforced from your other fettlements. They have reprefented this
matter very fully to the Prcfidency at Madrafs, and requefted of them to apply to us
for afliftance, fhould they be unable to afford them any from thence. On any fuch ap-
plication being made to us, we fhall readily grant them every afliftance that will be
compatible with our own fituation.

The Prefident and Council having determined on not returning the ftiip Admiial
Watfon to Europe, we thought it moft advifcable to fend her round to Bombay,
whither fhe will prove an additional force to their marine, fhould they attempt a fe-
cond enterprize againft Hyder Ally, and if not wanted for fuch fervice, flie might
either be difpofed of there to equal advantage as at this port, or fent round to Madrafs
wi h a cargo of cotton, to aftift that Prefidency in the remittances for their China in-
veftment. For this purpofe we recommended to the Council their ordering the necef-
fary repairs to be made to her, and flie is now under difpatch.

L The

Ei APPENDIX.

The French at Chandernagore having of late taken up large fums of money in filver
fpecie, and tranfmitted tlie fame to Pondicherry, we were apprehenfive that fuch a
proceedincr niuft he produdtive of dangerous confequences to this country, unlefs a
llop was put to it in future, and therefore recommended to the minifters of the go-
vernment to prohibit all exportation of filver from thefe provinces, and to impofe fuch
penalty on difobedicnce as they might think proper. And it being alfo neccflary to
reprefent to his majefty the many evils arifing from the very fmall quantity of filver
imported for fome time paft by the PVench, Dutch, and other European nations into
his dominions, we earneftly entreated him to fend fuch orders on this fubjedt, to the
Subahdar of thefe provinces, as he might judge molt expedient for the cafe and happi-
nefs of his fubjefts.

We have kept in remembrance the orders you were pleafed to fend to the Prefident
and Council, for tranfmitting to you fuch intelligence as they may be able to obtain
of the French nation at the iflands. We are fceking an intelligent perfon to fend
thither, under a pretence which may give the lead caufe for fufpicion of our defigns ;
and from thence to proceed to England, in order to communicate to )'ou the difco-
veries he may have made. Many difficulties occur to us in the profecution of fuch a
fcheme, but none greater than the fixing upon a proper perfon for the occafion ; if
we fucceed in that, you may be aflured of our readinefs to carry your orders into
execution.

When we confider the very large fums of money with which the French agents at
Chandernagore have already been fupplied from Calcutta, for bills granted on their
Company in France ; the draughts made this feafon on individuals at this fettlement,
to the amount of * thirty lacks of rupees, payable to the Council at Chandernagore,
and others on Madrafs for f ten lacks, payable to their agents at Pondicherry ; we
are very ftrongly induced to iiifpedl they are referving a fund in India for fome ftiture
occafion, it being well known, they are already amply fupplied for carrying on their
inveftments of this year.

We are alfo apprifed of ten fhips being deftined from France this feafon, feven of
which the French intimate are to be fold, and to remain in India. That they have
already about four thoufand of his moft Chrifiian majefiy's troops at the iflands ; and
it cannot admit a doubt but that many of thofe vefiTels are taken up for the tranfporta-
tion of a further number. So alarming a force, at a place from whence it is difficult
to procure the leaft information of their defigns, has induced us to have a vigilant eye
over our fortifications, which have been almofl; intirely put a ftoj) to, from the want
of artificers and materials ; we have recommended to the Council to prohibit all pri-
vate buildings and repairs being carried on in Calcutta, or its environs, after the firft of
November next, in order that no future impediments may be met with in putting the
new fort in a pofture of defence as expeditioufly as poffible.

It requires no great depth of judgment to forfee, that the afTcmbling fuch a num-
ber of forces at the French iflands, can bode no good to your fettlcmcnts in India.
Nor are we without our apprehenfions, that whenever the French are in a condition to
cope with our nation in Europe, they will make fome attempt in India ; antl even this
may hapjien, previous to a declaration of war. And as from the fituation of the iflands,,
they are fole mafters of their own time of operations ; it is more than jirobable, that
the firft intelligence of their intention will be the ajpearance of a French fleet in Bal-
laforc road.

As we judged i*- moft advantageous to have gnn carriages, as well as all wood and
iron work required for the fcrvicc of tie new fort, conrtrudcd by contradt ; we re-
ceived propofuls from three fubftantial pcrfons rcfiding in Calcutta, and deeming rca-

fonablc
• _57j,ooo/. t 125,000/.

APPENDIX. «3

fonable the terms they offered, we diredled tlic Committee of works to enter into
contrafts with them accordingly; and we Ihall be careful to have this work infj)C(ftcd,
that it may be executed in the ftrongeft and beft: manner. The cxpcnce of materials
will be thereby reduced to a decree of certainty, and we hope greatly diminifhcd.

It is with great concern we acquaint you, that differences of ojiinion have arifen
between the Prefident and Colonel Smith ; but as they are in general of fuch a nature
as fall more particularly under your cognizance, and (land fully recorded upon our
proceedings, we beg leave to refer them to your decifion.

The Colonel, upon his refuming his feat at our Board, exprefled his afloniHimcnt
at a minute delivered in by the Prefident, on the loth February lart, wherein he ftood
aceufed of having counteracfted the meafurcs purfued by the Prefident in the courfc
of his country corrcfpondencc, and perceived that the fame had been tranfmitted to
you without his previous knowledge. The afllirances he then gave us of his igno-
rance of the tranfadtion, which gave caufe for fuch an accufation, was fo entirely fa-
tisfadtory to us, that we not only condemn the falfe and ill-natured reprefentation of
Munncer al Dowlah to the Prefident on this occafion, but are under much concern
left our opinions thereupon, which v/ere tranfmitted to you by the Admiral Pococke,
fhould induce you to entertain fentiments unfavourable to the Colonel ; and it iswith
pleafure we embrace this early opportunity to affure you, that fo far from entertaining
fuch an idea to his prejudice, we can with the utmoft confidence afHrm, that he has
convinced us of his earneft defire to co-operate with us, in any tranfadtion that may
redound to your honour and intereft.

We hope, and have reafon to flatter ourfelves, that. In future, deliberations will
be conducted with that harmony fo defirable to ourfelves as individuals, and fo highly
eflential for the well governing of your affairs.

Colonel Smith having exprefled his ftrong defire of returning to Europe by one of
the early fhips of this fcafon, we reprefented to him, that his prefence was necefTary
until the ilfue of our negotiations with Sujah al Dowlah was known. On this repre-
fentation he chearfuUy aflented to proceed up the country as one of the members of
the deputation. But as he has requefted you fhould be informed of his intention to
refign his commiffion as foon as your affairs will permit, we deemed it necefliu^y to give
you this information, and at the fame time take the liberty of recommending, in the
ftrongefi; manner. Colonel Sir Robert Barker to your favour ; and we hope that fo
many years diftinguiflied fervlces, his general good charadtcr, his abilities as an of-
ficer, and his attachment to your fervice, will induce you to confirm him in the ap-
pointment of the command of your forces, after Colonel Smith's departure.

We have, as yet, received no more than feven hundred recruits this fc^fon from
Europe, of the number deftined for this fettlement, notwithftanding all )'our Coaft-
and-Bay fiiips are fafely imported. W'e muft fuppofe that the remainder are on the
Bombay fhips v.'hich you have ordered to touch at Madrafs, and have therefore re-
quefted of ihe gentlemen there to forward them to us by the firit opportuni'Its after
their arrival ; as, without them, it will be impoflible to form your military eftabliflimcnt
in the manner you have been pleafcd to diredf.

You v.'ill perceive, by the treafury account tranfmitted to you b)" this conveyance
from the Prefident and Council, that it is entirely out of our power to comply .with
your difcretional orders for fending five hundred thoufand pounds in fpecie to Eurojie
by the ftiips of this feafon. To the great fupplies we have furnifiied your Prefidencies
of Fort St. George and Bombay,your fupercargoes at Canton, and to the confiderable
.increafe of your inveftmcat here, muft be imputed the very low ftate of your tea-
fury. Experience confirms us in the fentiments we have repeatedly exprefild to you
concerning the exportation of bullion from thofe provinces, and it becomes a matter

L 2 of

84 APPENDIX.

of flill more important confideration, as foreign nations, who were accuftomed to im-
port fuch large quantities of bullion for the purchafe of their cargoes for Europe,
are no longer under that neceffit)' ; fince by bills from, and by draughts on Europe,
they obtain an ample fufficicncy for all their occafions. And here we cannot but re-
mark, that the very great redudtion you have been pleafed to make in the rate of ex-
change, will undoubtedly contribute to the prolongation of this evil.

We have the honour to tranlmit you a number in this packet, a tranflation of the
account colleftions in the province of Midnapore and JellaforCj in conformity to
your former diredions, attefted by the Mayor ; together with a return of the army ;
the country correfpondence ; and the broken fetts of our proceedings and letters, re-
ceived and fent fince the lail: difpatch, for your particular information ; and hav« ther
honour to fubfcribe ourfelves, with great refpedt. Sec.

H. VERELST, JOHN CARTIER, R..SMITH, R. BECHER. C. FFLOYEIU

p. S. Colonel Smith figns the foregoing letter
to the Honourable theCoutt of Direftors,
with this refervation, that he does not in-
tend thereby to contradict any opinion
that he has already entered on record.

No. XVII.
To the Honourable the Court of "DireSiors, &c,

Hon. Sirs, FortWilliam, November 11,17(5 Pk

No material occurrences have happened in your affairs here fince the difpatch oF
the Valentine, when we had the honour to addrefs you under date the i ^th Sept. laft ;
duplicate and triplicate thereof now wait on you by the fliips Verelft and Kent.

Meffrs. Carrier, Smith, and RuflTel, fet out for Allahabad, on the bufinefs of the
deputation, foon after the departure of the Valentine; and we hope are ere now ar--
rived, having left Patna the 7th inftant.

The important trufl: repofed in them has made them dcfirous of acquiring, during
the courfe of their journey, every pofTible information of the Hate of affairs above ;
and the fame motive has urged us to give them from time to time our unreferved
fcntiments on fuch further meafurcs as appeared to us neceflary for them to purfue ;
leaving to rhcm, however, upon the fpot, the power of carrying them into execu-
tion, or otherwife, as they may j iidge moft conducive to the good of your fervice.
When we confidered that the princijial difficulty they may probably encounter will
be in pcrfuading the Nabob Sujah al Do'.vlah to a redudlion of his force ; we re-
commended to thofe gentlemen to confent to the Nabob's retaining troops to the
numb(T of ten thoufand infantry, and ten or twelve thoufand cavidrv. From this
force we can have nothing to apprehend ; and we think it will be fullicient to enable
him to preicrve that rcfpcd: from the neighbouring powers, which he has hitherto
maintained. To a man of his ambitious and vain-glorious difpofiiion, there cannot
be a greater difgrace, than the jniblic knowledge of fuch a redudlion muft nccef-
farily occafion. We have therefore fignificd to the deputies that we think fo mor-
tifying a circumilance may be evaded, by their prevailing on him to make a tender

APPENDIX. 85

of the remainder of his troops as recruits to )'-our brigades. Such a meafure would
prevent the general odium he muft otherwife incur from the fevcral powers of Hin-
doftan, and, inftead of it, mult convince them of his fteady attachment to your
intcretls.

We flatter ourfelves, that matters will be amicably fettled with the Nabob, as ic
muft evidently tend to your interc-ft to j)referve an alliance with a perfon of his iiigh
Itation and power in the empire. Nothing has been omitted on our parts to induce
him to participate of your friendfliip ; but time alone will flicvv how far a confidence
may in future be placed in him.

We have, on many occafions, mofl: earneftly folicited you to fend abroad the befl
recruits you could procure for your military eftabliflimients, fo much dependino; there-
on, that it is the moft effential. point of fecurity to your pofleffions. We therefore
take the liberty of offering it as. our opinion, that your recruiting fcTvice can only be
properly condudi:cd by officers of integrity and experience appointed for that purpofe
in England ; who, fcnfible of the important fervices they may render to the Company-
by an attentive difdiai-ge of their duty, would chearfully embrace the opportunity of
recommending therafelves to your favour, by providing good, and able-bodied young
men, who would be of real fervice to your armies abroad ; . and the very heavy cxpences
annually incurred by you on this occafion, would no longer be ill befiowed. It is with
concern we inform you, that Colonel Smith hath reported your recruits of this feafon,
in general, to be very indifferent. Of thofe already arrived, there are barely fufficient
to form two of your regiments, agreeably to the regulations you have been pleafed to
prefcribe ; and they are appointed to complete, . as nearly as pofEble, the fecond and
third brigades.

A divifion of the firft brigade remains 'at Mongheer ; and another, under the com--
mand of Colonel Jofcph Peach, is ftill in the Deccan ; from whence the gentlemen at
^ladrafs have given us hopes they will be fpeedily returned to us.
i- It is with much concern we obferve, that the Secret department at Forf St,
George ftlU labour under great inconveniencies from the want of money to enable them
to purfue their operations with that vigour which they deem cffentially neceflary for
the reduiftion of Hyder Ally. They were even apprehenfive of being driven to the
nccefiity of appropriating to that ufe one hundred and eighty thoufand rupees * of the
fum then lying in tlieir treafury for the China inveflment.

As our treafury was at that time replenifhed by gold mohurs of the late currency, ,
which the Prefident and Council had thought proper to recall therein, we fliipped on
board the Admiral Watfon and the Plaffey fchconcr to the amount of eight lacks f of
rupees for that Prefidency. This, with three lacks j: we fent in the fnow Afia, which was
drove by ftrefs of weather into Pegu, we hope, will prove a feafonable fupply. • We
alfo fent them, by the Admiral Watfon, five thouCind eighteen, and three thoufand
twenty-four-pounder fliot, aiul fhould at the fame tim.e have fupplied them with the
article of gun-powder, which thcV have fince requefted, had we known they had
wanted it before that Ihip's departure. We then propofed to fend them two hundred
barrels in the Plaffey fchooner ; but on confulting with our Mailer-attendant, it was
judged that the feafon was too far advanced to adm.it of her being detained on that
account.

They have detained at Madrafs Mr. Lewis Smith, a cadet arrived there this feafon
in the Dutton, and deRined for Bengal, ashe was judged capable of rendering them
fervice in the engineering branch. The gentlemen inform us that it is their intention
to. requeft you will be pleafed to fix him upon that effablifhment ; and we take the

liberty

8(5 APPENDIX.

liberty of recommending him to you for that purpofe, as you have fo handfomely pro-
vided us with officers in that corps.

Such of the recruits deflined for Bengal as have been landed at Madrafs, are ftoppM
there for the immediate fervice of that Prcfidency. As thofe gentlem.en alone can
judge how far the exigency of their affairs required their taking a meafure fo contrary
to your intentions, we could do no more than reprefcnt to them, that the number we
received was infufficient for the purpofes you intended them; and torequeft they would
fend round to us the remainder as foon as they could be fparcd.

We cannot, in juftice to you, our honourable employers, and to every Individiral
rcfiding under }"our government in Bengal^ avoid reprefenting once more to you the
extreme diftrefs which this country is unhappily reduced to from a want of fiiverfpecie.
It is almoft beyond conception, and with difficulty will be credited but by thofe who
experience the ill effefts it daily produces. The day is at length arrived which we fo
early forefaw, and has brought with it that load of inconveniencies which we have
repeatedly apprized you of. This fettlement, for fome months paft, has, in faft, been
in a ftate of bankruptcy. Trade is totally put a flop to; and even the mofl reputable
of your fervants can with difficulty procure filver fufficient for the payment of their
fervant's wages. To thefe evils is added another, the more ferious, as it precludes
even the mofl: diftant profpeft of the rc-circulation of money ; we mean the very
confiderable draughts which have, this feafon, been made on individuals from Europe,
in favour of the French government at Chandcrnagore, and of which wc had the
honour to advife you in our laft addrefs. There is now in Calcutta a fcrvant of the
French Company, with thofe very bills which are nearly all become payable, receiving
on that account every rupee which can poiTibly be amaffed by individuals, and fending
it to that fettlement. He has orders from his fuperiors to accept of no Company's
bonds in part of payment, by which it is apparent, that their intention is to take every
advantage of our diftrefs.

Permit us alfo to refer you to the prefent ftate of your treafury. You will thereby
perceive a total inability to difcharge many fums, which you are indebted to indi-
viduals for dcpofits in vour cafh, as well as to iflue any part of the confiderable
advances required for the fervice of every public department. Wc need not then
obferve the apparent danger v/hich threatens your invcftment for the cnfuing feafon,
neither the favourable profpedfs of our rivals the French, who, by having fo early
a command of money, muft neceffarily be enabled to make the more early advances.

The Dutch, unwilling to truft to the precarious refourccs of an exhaufting country,
have, fince our laft advices, very judicioully imported fome bullion to Bengal; and
though the fum may not exceed three lacks * , yet it is of thegreateft utility to the for-
warding their inveftment.

You may be convinced, that the value of your territorial acquifitions Iia^^c not been
decreafing, fince the coUet^ions are now greater than they ever have been fince your
invcftiturcof theDewanny. But be afTured, that the benefit^! ariling from them muft
be of fhort duration, whilft a fcarcity of fpecie prevails as at prefenr, and is daily
exhaufting. You muft expcft, unlefs the evil is Ipecdily remov-ed, to coUedt your
revenues in the commodities produced in the country, w'fhout having a profpeft of
vending tb.em at any rate, as the merchants will be totally deprived of the means to
purchafe them.

This, gentlemen, is the prefent diftrcfsful and real fituation of the country; and,
we flatter ourfelvcs, that, by taking a comparative view of our diftant piofpcdts with
the politic advantages reaped by the foreign nations trading here, who grafpcd at all

private
• 37,500/.

APPENDIX. 8r

private monies from individuals, you will no longer deem us reprchenfible, if a de-
creafe in the amount of your future invcftments, and a debafement of their quality
lliould prove the confeciuencc, fince you muft be fcniible, that early advances alone
can in this counrr}' infure the one and the other. The heavy payments of your revenue
are not made till late in the fcalbn ; and, unlefs we have a year's advance in your trea-
fury, no advantage can be taken in its provifion.

Excufe us, therefore, if we think it a duty indifpenfible in us, to exhort you, in the
ftrongell manner, to purfue fuch meafures as may oblige foreign nations to import
bullion into this finking country.

We have been the more explicit on this fubjed-, in order to evince the impofTibility
of the Council's fending any filver this feafon for the ufe of the China invellment ; for,
what with the further demands we muft expedt will be made on us from the Secret
department at Fort St. George, thofe now upon us to a very great amount, the
providing of fo confiderable an inveflment, and the unavoidable cxpences of this Prc-
fidency, we are very apprehenfive that little or no money will remain in your treafury,
for fome time at leaft, to anfwer any emergency.

We have directed Mr. Sykes to fend us down a fupply from the City with all
poffible expedition, and he gives us hopes of receiving fix lacks of rupees * in a few
days. That gentleman having requefted our permiffion to refign his port at the
Durbar, by reafon of his ill ftate of health, and to return to his duty at the Prefidency,
we have referred his requeft to the Prefident and Council, for their nomination of a
fucccflbr.

We have the honour to tranfmit you the broken fet of our proceedings, and letters
received and fent, fince the laft difpatch, as per accompan)'ing lift of packet, and to
fubfcribe ourfelves, with the utmoft refpedt, he.

H. VERELST, RICHARD BECHER, CHARLES FFLOYER.

No. XVIII.
To the Honourable the Court of DheStors, &c.

Honourable Sirs, Fort William, January 6, 17S9.

We had the honour to addrefs you laft, under date the 21ft November, in two
copies by the ftiips Verelft and Kent, a duplicate whereof now waits on you by the
Queen.

It is with gi-cat pleafure we embrace the opportvinity whicli the prefeut conveyance
affords us, to inform you that our deputies to his majefty and the Nabob Sujah al
Dowlah have hitherto met with every defired fuccefs in the courfe of their ncgociaticns.
His excellency gave them the meeting at Benares, where many days pafTcd in confe-
rence, on the fubjeft of the late jealoufies fubfifting between us, which at length
happily terminated in the conclufion of a new treaty with him, on the 28th of No-
vember. The ftead" meafures adopted and purfued in thus bringing the Nabob to
an cx-planation, ha\e not a little contributed to his ready .cquielcence to the moft
eflcntial parts of our juft pretenfions ; and the tender regard which the gentlerr-r of
the deputation have ftiewii for his honour in the reduction of his forces, at tht fame

time
• 75,000/,

88 APPENDIX.

time that they have confuked the future fecurity of thefe provinces, we flatter our-
fdves, will meet with that approbation from 3^011 which we have teftified to them on
that occalion. By the ftipulated redudion of the Nabob's troops, he is ftUl permitted
to retain a number which will render him refpeftable among the powers of Hindoftan,
thougli in no degree fiifficiently formidable to trouble the repcfe of thefe provinces.
This, we may hope, will rather be produdlive of a confidential regard on our part,
than create in us future fufpicions of the Nabob's ambitious views, fince it admits not
a doubt, that he can now form no projeftions but uhat we Ihall have in our power to
controul.

The Prefident has been informed, that the Nabob accompanied the deputies to
Allahabad, and was received in the royal prefence in quality of Vizier, with every mark
of diftindion due to his ftation in the empire, and afterwards returned to his domi-
nions, with his majefty's permiffion to return to AUaliabad at the approaching fcllival
otthe Mohamedans. We hope this will tend to conciliate the long differences which
have fubfitted between them on the fubjeft of the Vizarut.

When we confidcred the veiy peremptory orders you were plcafed to fend us, for
confining folel)- our views within thefe provinces, though fenlible how impolitic an
immediate obedience to your commands, and how far they muft at prefent be from
anfweringthe falutary purpofeof a folid and permanent fecurity to )'our valuable po.lef-
fions ; yet we were defirous of embracing the opportunity of our deputies being fo near
the royal prffeiice, to make fuch an attempt towards the execution of your orders as
appeared to us moll likely to effedt your purpofe ; and we have theref ire recommended
to their confideration, how far his majefty's giving uj) Korah to Sujah al Dowlah,
m exchange for the Sircars of Ghazipore and Benares, and the Nabob's ceding to .
him the fortrefs of Chunar, may be fuitable to one and the other.

From the temper of mind and fituation of Sujah al Dowlah, we flatter ourfclves, he
will be inclinable to cultivate our friendfliip, and no longer prove refraftory or deaf
to our remonftrances, and his majefty not lefs attentive to our advice. The Situa-
tion of the prefent royal domains, lies too much within the country of Sujah al Dow-
lah ; infomuch, that fhould we even come to an open rupture with him, to fupport
his majefty as allies to the throne, we mull march through an enemy's country, and
thereby fubjecl our troops to many very apparent inconveniencies. The prefent an-
nual revenues of Korah, exceed thofe of Ghazipore and Benares, fix or feven lacks *
of rupees ; this may prove a temptation to Sujah al Dowlah, particularly if he con-
•fiders how very compaft his territories will from hence become.

The Nabob has frequently, fince he ceded the fort of Allahabad to his majeftv,
complained of the want of fome place for the fecurity of his family, and a capital for
himfelf. The King's reftoring that fortrefs, may be a ftrong inducement to the Na-
bob to embrace this propofal, and to give up Chunar in exchange, which will be a
ilrong barrier to us when in pofllffion of his majefty. The Pergunnah, at prefent
pofl'cHcd by the Bundel-cund Rajah, may be appropriated for his Majefty's ufe, to
make good the difference between his jnTfcnt pofteflions and thofe of Bulwant Sing,
])rovided they arc not thought to be at too great a diftancc for his jnirpofe ; if that
fliould be the cafe, Tarrar, or fome lands contiguous to Bulwant Sing's country,
may then be a/kcd for from Sujah al Dowlah, as a compenfation for the territories
ceded by his Majefty.

If fuch a fchrme can be cffefted, our troops may be withdrawn into thefe pro-
vinces ; the King may poffibiv follow them, and thereby wi 1 be faved, not only the
annual drain of trcrfure for the payment of the tribute, and the fubfiltencc of )Our
troops, which has, with other dema;:ds, nearly cxhauftcd the wealth of this country,
and reduced irs to the grcatcft diftrcfs j but the currency of filver fpecic will be in-

creafcd
• 75,000 /. or 87,500/.

A P P E N D I X. ,«9

TCreafcd, by an importation of the Turns col ledted from the revenvics of Ghazipore, kc.
•countries., as well as thofc arifins; from every emolument the throne may enjoy.
Should any future hoflile preparations he made ainiinft his majcdy's arms, we may
then the more eafily unite our forces againft our common eiiciuy, as the proximity of
his majefty's poffcffions would be a fecond barrier to our arms, and with double fecu-
rity for them, from all the inconveniencies of war.

It is probable from fuperftitious motives, that his Majcfly may be induced to think,
this a difgrace, as it carries with it the appearance of a retreat from his capital, his
long favourite objcdt. But to this we might reprefent his more immediate fccurity
by a junction with us; the imaginary profpeS: of our marching at fome future time,
with accumulated treafures and force in his fupport ; the ideas which fuch an union
mult create in the courts of Hindoltan, and the necefiity we arc under from the pofi-
tive injunftions we have received of recalling the third brigade from Allahabad.

Another objeftion ma)' be made to this plan by his majefly, fetting forth the im-
propriety or diflionour of exchanging his prefent royal pofleffions tor thofe of a
Zemindarry, guarantied by us, whofe rents cannot be incrcafed, and v>'here no
■ Jfigheers can be granted. To this may be reprefented the annexed Pcrgunnahs, at
prefent polVeired by the Hindaput Rajah, or fuch lands as may be farther granted
iiim ; which, protedted by us, will enable hini to beftow rewards on thofe whom he
may chufe to honour with a provifion ; and the more ready and immediate payment
of the rents from Buhvant Sing, will enable him more hono"urably to fupport his
army, than he now does by his prefent mode of payment. We have communicated
the foregoing obfervations to the deputies at Allahabad, and have defired they may
be regarded more as hints, than bearing a tendency to any digclted plans, and we hope
foon to receive their opinion on them ; for it mufc be from the lights we may obtain
from them, that we fhall form a judgment of the prasfticability of thofe meafures.

The prefent diftrcfsful ftite of this country, proceeding from the fcarcity of filyer,
■has induced us to diredt thofe gentlemen to ifl'ue their orders for receiving all fums
which may be procured in Sujah al Dowlah's dominions, for defraying the expences
of the third brigade ftationed there, and that the paymalter do grant bills for fuch
funis received on the military paymafter-general in Calcutta as ufual, at five days light.
And it has been alio recommended to them to prevail on his majefcy to accept gold
inohurs of the late currency, in part .payment of the tribute, at a reafonable ex-
change, for which purpofe we have lent them fome coined at the mints of Calcutta
and Murfhed-abad, in order that this matter might be more eafily adjufted.

In our letter under date the 29th February laft, we informed you, that we had
tranfmitted to Janoojee, one of the Maharatta chiefs, fome propofals for a treaty of
peace, and the ceffion of Orilfa. We have lately received his reply to them, and al-
though his demands appear too high for us to accede to, yet we are allured by his
Vaekeel, that he will ver)' cheerfully acquiefce in every reafonable demand we can
make, being defirous of putting an end to a negociation which has been lb long de-
pending. We have therefore taken the fubjedt a fecond time into our molt ferious
•coniideration, and have finally refolved on fuch propofals being made to that poten-
tate, as we deem molt confident with your honour, and the future fecurity of your
valuable pofleffions, as well in Bengal, as on the Coaft of Coromandel. Our deli-
berations were, in confcquence of vour late orders, fubmitted to the confuleration of
the Prefident and Council, and having been by them approved, articles of a treaty are
vow drawing out, in order to be executed on the part of the Nabob and ot the En-
glifli Company. For further particulars relative thereto, permit us to refer )ou to
our proceedings, which wait on you by this conveyance ; having only on this occa-
-fion to allure you, that we have paid a ftridt attention to thofe orders wherein you

M direct

'■90 APPEND! X.

'diredt that -no trer.rv "be entered into, but with the principal power; and that Janooiee
is the only perfon with whom v.e can with propriety enter into a treatv, cannot be
doubted, iince the treaty for the payment of the Chout was firll entered into by Allt-
Terdy Cawn with his father Ragoojee, and was on his death confirmed b}- Janoqjce
alone.

At the time we were deliberating on the terms propofed b)' Janoojce, we received
advices from the fecret dej>artment at Fort St. George, relative to the operations of
the war againft Hyder Ally, and cxprcffing their apprehenfions of Mahadavarow's
marching into the Carnatic to his affilVance ; which circumllance is corroborated by
■adnces lately tranfmitted to them from Mr. Broome, Relident at the Maharatta court
at Poonah. This fituation appears to us fo critical, that to enfure a lalling peace and
tranquility on the Coaft of Coromandel, we ^vere of opinion, the utmoil elTorts of
this Committee fhould be exerted, in fupport of the prefent war againll Hvdcr Ally,
and that -every means fliould be made ule of to prevent his increafe of power, bv a
junction v^-ith the Maharattas ; a jundlion which would not only render the event of
the war dubious, but would likewife deprive the Company of the revenues they now
colleft from the Carnatic, and oblige us to drain this exhaufted country of Hill greater
fapplies of treafure ; which muft in fuch cafe be confumed in the courfe of a long and
Tedious war, inflead of being applied to the purpoles of your feveral invcflmcnts in
India.

From the late conduft of Hyder Ally, we cannot fee a profped: of the gentlemen
at Madrafs being able to conclude a peace with him upon honourable terms, or which
can promife to be fecure and permanent. For, in the prefent fituation of affairs,
ihould the war be put an end to, Hyder would be left more formidable than he was
-at the commencement of it. His credit would be exalted in all the courts of Hin-
doflan, from his having fingly withftood the utmoil cfTorts of the Englifh arms on
the Coafl ; and the fame of our's would confequently be diminifhed by their receding
from the contefl, after fo long and obfllnate a ft ruggle ; and nothing lefs could be ex-
pected than a recommencement of troubles on the part of Hyder Ally, as foon as he
had recruited his forces, and brought the Maharattas and Nizam Ally to unite tlieir
forces to his. Such an event might be produdtive of the moft dangerous confequencfis
to your affliirs : for Hyder, politic of difcerning, would be cautious to avoid any
overfights or errors he may have committed in the cou.rfe of the prefent war ; he
-would, no doubt, be aftive in improving the difcipline of his troops ; and, aftuated
by a ipidt of revenge, and fenfible alfo that the fccuritv of his own poflefTions could
only be infured by our ruin, no efforts which policy or courage might fuggeft, or
which ambition or defpair might infpire, would be wanting on the part of that po-
tentate.

A Hill more cogent reafon bids us beware of his growing power. By advices from
Madrafs, under date the 31ft Auguft, it appears, that the gentlemen there entertained
■ftrong fufpicions that the French at Pondicherry, were carrying on intrigues at hJs
court, and that the}' had promifed him aflillance from Europe, or the ifland of Mau-
ritius ; and when we reflcdt on the grand preparations of that nation at the !attcr place,
the number of its forces there, and the increafe of its fhijiping in India, it Is moft
.probable that the French mav join Hvder Ally, fliould this opportunity of fubduing
him be loft. Such a circumftance, added to thofe already mentioned, might invol\TS
your affairs In India even bevond a pofTibility of retrieving them.

However defirous the gentlemen at Madrafs may be to put an end to fo deftriidive
and expcnfive a war, we apprehend they have not within themfelvcs thofc refourccs
rcquifite for cfTcftlng It, without hazarding your pofflffions at fome future time. We
-are therefore the more readily induced to come to an immediate conclufion, if pof-

fible.

A.i, P P E VIN :i D ; I X.A 91.

ftble, of a-treaty oftlniivc and defenfi\iewithJanoqiiec,'pbfri'ving, asailSHG-S, the ceCmn
of Orifla. His well known jcaloufy of and dlfltrenccs with. Miiihada'yavo\A!, (againtl,
whom he is endeavouring to fuppoit an indc})cn(.lency) muft ib:«}ft hiPini^Ai^ffijctu-
alty in your intereft. A treaty^thus concluded, willcaufe s^AmfvM of t,bf M^haWi*
power, a dimunition of their terrkorid pofllffions, and eonfe(i:uetjtly of their nfjniral
llrcn^th ; and the fricndlhip of Janoojce fccured by the annual pavniciu of a itipulat'.-d
fum,"his pofleffions will become a barri^r,.to,idjfilie. provinGe3>iagaisftft:,'the iycAJifioiis of
other internal weftern powers, without fubjccfting us to the neceffity qf Spplying for,
their forces as auxiliaries, and thereby expofiftg your:, poffeilion^g^a, prey- .t;if) their rapa-
city. And further, it cannot be doubtci! but fuvh a^ .treaty Avill fow.diiiei].fion? among-
the Maliaratta • chiefs, and may thereby occkflon. tlichj a raunial ;decifea,fe qf !thei.E
flrength, as may bring them to a level with, il'ii-Qli io fuiijedtion to, fon_i.e of the othqp
powe'rs of Plindoftan, which will leave your exftlen'fiv.e Xerritories-iaia i^^fe^ib .ftate of

repofe and fecurity. - v;..-: :i; .• ; ,.i '.-..i V> [>

The nominal authority of the King, thcMpDwer of Jhis Vizier, •aod-.tli at; j^ic^qfouir
forces now ftationed at AUahabad, jnav, if -ydiir affairs' on thc'Co^tfl fiiould require ity'
be effeclually interpofed ; as the bare.re[>orc of fuclLa juad:ioni, aided by the .feint of-
n march towards the territofiea of Mahadavarow, 'which lay open,i'and muft b.e ex-
pofed to us, fliould he march to Hyder's affiftance, may noti only ..dater.hiAi froiT\
accepting his offers, but may indue? him to Qonfult the immediate falety of his own
poffeffions through our friendihip*,- T^^P fqrce of JanqojvQ, who has lately folicited the
King's Sunnuds for fuch' lands' as he ' may conquer fro'm Mahadavarow, joined or
feconded by the detachment under the command of Colonel Peach, in the Deccan,
may be ufefully employed, fhould Mahadavarow take the part of Hyder Ally ; or
Ihould the Subah wantonly and weakly engage in new enterprizcs againd: the tran-
quility of the Carnatic : fo fornridablc and unexpcfted a junftion in this quarter, muft
foon compel Hyder to terms of accommodation, if not fubjedl his territories to certain

I""'"' .,•,-■ .-,... , , ■•

The flfongeff motives for our haying adopted thcfe fehtimehts, are the deprivation

of Hyder's hopes and our fears, of his effedfing a junftian with the' Fr-ench, Nizam
Ally, and Mahndavarow ; by which ftep the influence you at prefent poffefs in tho
cabinets of all the powers of Hindoftan, would moft probably revolt to our natural
European rival, and the confequences of fuch an evil are too apparent to require
elucidation. '.

• It is therefore our unanimous opinioUj founded upon the moft mature deliberation,
that a fortunate iffue to a treaty with Janbojee, wouldbe produftive of the advantages
we have herein pointed out, and moft probably of fpeedy conceffions from Hyder
Ally, upon fuch terms as the gentlemen at Madrafs may judge neceffary to- impofc,
for the future fafety and tranquility of your poffeffions, or thole of your allies, on the
Coart of Coromandel ; therefore, we have refolved, that no delays fhall be occasioned
on our part, to effeft a purpofe which tends fo evidently to the advantage of your af-
fairs, and which neceffity alone has compelled us to adopt.

Although we are defirous to affift the gentlemicn at Madrafs on every occafion,
"where your welfare is concerned, yet it is alone the urgent and very critical ftate of
your affairs there, that can poffiblv induce us to deviate from that fyftcm of policy
we have hitherto obferved, and would gladly continue, of confining our views to
your prefent poffeffions, and of avoiding all diftant and extenfive ' operations, which
muft, in fome degree, fubjedt your acquifitions to danger, bv a dtvifibn of vour force.
Such are the fentiments we communicated to your Prefidency at Fort St. George,
when we laid before them the meafures which appeared to us moft proper to be pur-

M 2 ftied

fi APPENDIX.

fued in the prefenl fituation of their affairs ; and we requefted their opinions thereon,,
before we finally determined on a matter of fuch importance.

As the molt minute tranfatftions of your Selett Committee fince the departure of the
Verelft and Kent are entered upon tlie proceedings which we hjve the honour to-
tranfmit to you by this conveyance, we beg leave to refer thereto for your further in-
formation.

The fnow Afia, on which wc informed you, in our. laft advices, the Prefident and
Council had embarked * three lacks of rupees, for the Prefidency at Fort St. George,.,
is returned hither. with her treafure. Your fltip Dutton has carried f fix lacks of
rupees, of the late gold currency^ to Madrafs, to anfwer their urgent occafions ;
which, with the remittances by the Admiral Watfon,, and PlafTey fdiooner, will we
hope prove a confiderable relief to their diftrefs.

Mr. Sykes has religned his feat at the Seledt Committee,, and purpofes, on-account
of his ill ftate of health, to take his paflage to Europe in the Queen. We mull:, in.
juftice to that gentleman, exprefs our entire fatisfacflion of hiscondud: during the time
he was employed in the flation of refident at the Durbar, and oui concern at the
neceflity which compels him to quit your fervice.

Mr. Becher, who was appointed by the Prefident and Council to the ppft of rc-
Sdent at the Durbar, has proceeded to this-ftation.

We have the honour to be, &c.
• H. VERELST^,F.,.SyKES, CHARLES FFLOYER,.

No. XIX.

Ta the Honourable the Court o£ DireBors, . &c.

Honourable Sirs, Fort William, Feb. 3, i;^^.

Nothing material having occurred fince our lad advices, vuider date the 6th ult.' a
duplicate of which we have the honour to tranfmit to you,- we flatter ourfelves will
fufficiently apologize for the concifenefs of this addrefs ; more particularly as wc have
eiviiited no opportunity, during the courfe of this fcafon, of making you fully ac-
quainted with every matter of importance which has come under our confidcration.

The refignation of Mr. Sykes having caufed a vacant feat in your Selcd: Committee,
Mr. Alexander was appointed to fill it ; and has accordingly taken his feat, aftcy
having taken the ufual oath of fecrecy adminirtered to him.

Mr. Carrier is returned to the Prefidency, and has laid before us the original treaty
lately entered into by the deputation with the Nabob Sujah al Dowlah ; together with a
feparate agreement written by the Nabob himl'clf, wherein he promifes to reduce his
forces to the number fpecified in the treaty within the fpace of three months. It is-
with plcafure we inform you, that his majefiy cxprelfcd great fiitisfadlion at the
treaty, and was gracioufly pleafed to ratify it with the royal fign ruanual.

We ftiould do injuftice to Meffrs. Gartier, Smith, and Rullcl, were we not to ex?
prcfs our entire approbation of their conduft during thiir hue deputation ; and we
doubt not, but you will be pleafed to regard it in the fame point of view.

By this conveyance we have the honour to tranfinit to you a complete fett of our
proceedings ; and of letters fent and received for the laft year.

Wc have the honour to be, &:c.

H. VERELST, JOHN CARTIER, J. ALEXANDER, C. FFLOYER.

• 37.$oo/. t7S>ooo/.

i^r APPENDIX. 93

No. XX.

To the Honourable the Court of Dire^lors, C^c.
Honourable Sirs^. Fort wnibm. Ma.-cb 4. i7«9.

This fcrves only to advife you that wc embrace the opjrortunity of the prcfcnt dif-
pat:ch totianfinit you a duplicate of our la!l addrefs by the fliip Salifbury, under date
the 3d ulr. together with the broken fetts of our proceedings of letters, fent and re-
ceived, from the commencement of the year to the date hereof.

By the Shrewfoury, the next and lait of your Ihip'S for difpatch this feafon, we.
propofe to addrefs you fully on the fubjedl of your affairs cntrufted to our manage-
ment,, till when we mull beg leave to refer you to our proceedings and letters, tranP
niittcd during the courfe of this feafon.

We have the honour to remain, &c.

H.-YERELST, JOHN CARTIER, J. ALEXANDER, C. FFLOYER.

No. XXL
To the Hojioiirabk the Court of DireStors, &c.
Honourable Sirs,. Fort William, April 6, 1,59,

We embrace the opportunity of the Shrewfbury's difpatch, which is your lafl fhip
for Europe of this feafon, to inform you of fuch occurrences as were not noticed in
our two laft addreffes, under dates the 3d February, and 4th ult. and alfo of luch
material circumftances as have happened lince the Talbot's difpatch.

When the deputies were appoin cd to proceed to Allahabad, we took into confide-
ration the great drains of filver annually made from thefe provinces for the payment
of your troops on that ftation ; which, v>'ith many other demands, had nearly ex-
haufted the wealth of this country. We confidercd alfo, that his majefty had fre-
quently neprcfented to the Prefident, through Munneer al Dowlah, the Naib Vizier,
that Rajah Hmdaput had long ufurred certain diftridls in the Bundel-cund country,
which formerly compofed a part of the Subah of Allahabad, and which hevvas ex-
tremely defirous of re-uniting to the royal domains. The opportunity which then
prefcnted itfelf was deemed favourable for invefligating this matter ; and we accord-
ingly recommended to the deputies, in o.ir letter of mftruftions, to propofe to his
majefty our afTifting him in the recovery of thofe dillrids, on condition that he would
appropriate a part of their revenues for defraying all expenc?s of your troops whilft
rhey remained without the provinces. To this propofition his majefly very chearfully
acquiefced.

But it appearing from. the fubfequcnt rcfearches of the deputation, that the royal
claim could not clearly be eftabliihed, we did not chufe to purfue a plan likely to
lead us into diftant enterprizes, which the Ifricteft juilice did not authorize us to
imdertake ; lell we fhould thereby run the hazard or involving your affairs at fonie
future time into thofe dilhculties we have ever made it our ftudy to avoid. Colonel
Smith has acquainted us with the refult of his own enquiries into this matter ; but

deeming

94 APPENDIX.

deeming that alfo Infufficient, we have fiifpeaded all thoughts of an expedition in that
-quarter.

We have not a doubt but his majefty will be very folicitous for the recovery of
the ufurped diftrifts, and will leave no meafures unattempted to effed: an object fo very
flattering to his hopes. His vifit to the Nabob Sujah al Dowlah, at the very time
he appeared mofl: earneftly intent on this projed:, gives us caufe to fufpecft, that in-
iiead ot mefe compliment, it tended principally to the concerting a plan of operations
for fome future attempt againft the Bundel-cund country. We apprehended that the
Vizier, when he found us determined not to grant our affillance to his roval mafter,
would not fail to urge him on the cnterprize, by a tender of his forces and afliftance;
or might perhaps endeavour to obtain his majeft)''s Sunnuds for fuch conquefts as he
himfclf might make in that country. " Certain it was, that the King had no force to
enable him to undertake fuch an enterprize himfelf ; and therefore we could not pre-
tend to fay how far his pride or ncceffir\' might lead him into errors. When we con-
lidered the open and avowed enmity which had fo long fubfifted between the King
and the Vizier, we could not think he would be fo regardlefs of his own perfonal
fafet}', as to arm a man of Sujah al Dowlah's difpofition and boundlefs ambition, with
fo great a power of the royal houfe as an extenlion of territory mull: neceflarily give
him. But Hill we thought it neceffary to guard againft fuch evils, though we did not
really apprehend them ; and accordingly direfted Colonel Smith to allure his ma-
jefty, in either of the before-mentioned cafes, tl at we Ihould immediately withdraw
all your troops within the provinces ; and, if the latter was likely to take place, the
Colonel was to acquaint Sujah al Dowlah, that on the march of anv part of his forces
into the Bundel-cund country, we fliould regard him as a violater of the general tran-
quility, and an invader of thofe countries the throne pretends a claim to.

Colonel Smith thought it expedient to attend his majefty in the vifit to Faiz-abad.
He was prefent at the conferences held between the King and his Vizier ; which pro-
'duced the ftrongeft aflurances of forgivenefs and oblivion of pafl injuries, on the one
part, and of the utmoft loyalty and fidelity on the other.

In our letters of the 6th January laft, we fully acquainted you with a plan, which
then appeared to us praclicable, for effcdling an exchange of the royal domains, for
the countries of Ghazipore and Benares; and in order to proceed on a matter of
fuch delicacy and importance with all poffible circumfpeftion, we communicated our
fentimcnts to the gentlem.en of the deputation, and defired them to give us every
information they could procure for our guidance. Their opinion flands recorded
upon the face of our proceedings ; and we readily concurred with them, that whilft
the troubles continued on the Coaft it would be improper to attempt the execution of
fuch a projcft.

Though we have reafon to think the Nabob-Vizier has not regarded, with the moft
ftridt and exaft pundluality, the performance of his engagements in the difmiffion of
thofe troops which exceed the number he has ftipulated to keep \ip, yet we do not
find he has raifed or added a man to his army fince the treaty at Benares ; fo that wc
have not the Icaft dolibr, what with cafuallics and natural deaths, but his army will
be reduced, in a fnort fpacc of tim?, to the ftate we wifh to fee it. The Vizier him-
felf lleadily aflcrts, that he has performed every thing he agreed to do, and claims
fome merit on the occafion. To charge him openly with dinimulation, when the
detctlion is fo difficult, would be imprudent, and ccpially impolitic, particularly fo
at a lime when he profcffes the warmcft friendfliip and attachment to us, and no
other part of his behaviour contradidfs fuch aflurances. Reft affurcd, honourable Sirs,
that although we may not rigidly demand the performance of articles as to a man, yet
we fhall watch the motions of this ambitious and volatile prince, I'o as to prevent

him

N D I X,

him in future from being dangerous to your poUeffions ; being more inclined that
he fliould place a confidence in us, by a franknefs of behaviour, when it can be
afiumcd without danger on our fide, than be deprived of it by a diffident and cap-
tious condu(ft.

The general rumour wiiich has. for fomc time, jirevailed of the approach of Sh:r,v
Abdalla to'.vards t!ie King's froiiricrs, has been one of the princij)al motives which
have compelled us to keep the t iid brigade at Allahabad, both as a check to his
operations, and as a fecurity to the territorial pofleflions of his majefly, and our ally
the Nabob vSujah al Dowlah. Colonel Smith, in his advices of the i8th of Fe-
bruary, informed us that the Shaw had advanced a part of his army near to Lahore,
and feemed determined to purfue his march to Dehh' ; but by the Colonel's letter to
the Governor, under date the 19th ult. which we have juft received, it is wiih the
utnioft pleafure we perceive that Shaw Abdalla is preparing to retreat, and poffibly
towards his own dominions. A circumftance fo ver)' favourable to our determined
refolution of embracing the firft fafe opportunity to recall die third brigade within
thefe provinces, that we now only await a confirmation of this intelligence to carry
into execution the pofitive orders \'ou have fent us on this fubjcd:.

It is with the utmoft confidence we can affure you, gentlemen, that thofe orders
fliould have inftantly been obeyed, could we have done it confiftently with the duty
we owe you, and with the folemn engagements entered into with your allies. To
conciliate the minds of his majefly and the Vizier, and to curb the ambitious pro-
jedts and hollile intentions of the latter, were the firfl motives for continuing the bri-
gade at Allahabad, after the receipt of your ortlers. To inforcc, if neceflitv re-
quired, the performance of the Vizier's late treaty with us, to be in readinefs to
fupport the Madrafs adminiflration, if the fecurity of \'oiu- poflellions on the coail
of Coromandcl fliould require our making a diverfion againfc the Maharatta power,
and to be a check on the ambitious projects of Shaw Abdalla, fliould he have de-
termined to attack the frontiers of your allies, were confider; tions which next urged
us to detain your troops in the only ftation where they could be of effential fervice
to 5'our aftairs.

Let us, therefore, flatter ourftlves, that the caufes affigntd for having hitherto
fufpended the execution of your orders, will evince that the mcafures adopted pro-
ceeded from abfokue neceffity, and will acquit us of any imputation of difrefped:,
or inattention to your commands.

Sorry we are to inform you that your affairs on the Coaft wear a mofl unfavour-
able appearance, and are even reduced, by the repeated fuccelfes of Hyder Ally, to
the loweft ebb of diflrefs. The Madrafs Prefidency, fenfible of the many dan-
gers which furround them, have given us a moft pathetic account of their fituation ;
nor can we expedl from the advices they have lately tranfmitted to us, a very fpeedv
iifue to the long, dangerous, and cxpenfive war in which they are engaged, until the
treafures of their Prefidency and our own fliall be nearly exhaulled. To give them
every poflible fupport from hence, we have deemed it indifpenfibly a duty wc owe
to you, our honourable employers ; for being fervants of the llime makers, and
being engaged in one general caufe, we have regarded the welfare of 3'our fctrlemcnt
of Fort St. George equally with our own. The fame principal Ifill aduates us ta
devife pofiible means, which ma)' conduce to their fecurity, and the welfare of your
poflcflions.

Little did we imagine, after the very large fupplies which have been fent them this
feafon for the fupport of the war, that their neceiHties would fo increafe as to com-
pel us to curtail the invelTimenr, which tlie Council have uiven vou die sircatcft rea-

96 APPENDIX.

fon to expeft from this Prefidency in the cnfulng year. But fuch is the only means
A^•hlch can be deviled for enabling us to grant them any effeftual affiftance.

We are advifcd that Hyder Ally has made propolals for a peace, but fo dilho-
nourable to the Nabob of Arcot, and inglorious to your arms, that they were deemed
inadmiffible. The gentlemen, however, defirous of accommodating matters, if pof-
fible, rather tlian continue fo hazardous and expenfive a war, have replied to his hard
cbnditions ; and, in their turn, propofed to him fiich terms as they thought moft con-
ducive to your interefts. As they expc6led the refult of thefe negociations would be
a continuance of the wai", which would confiderabl}' increafe their military expences,
they wflhed to be afcertained of the refources which they might expedt from hence,
-in order that they might form a plan accordingly for their future operations; and, at
the fame time, informed us of the ftate of their finances, which they concluded would
enable them to keep an army in the field for the term of three months. The funis
of money we have by feveral late conveyances remitted to Madrafs, of which they
had not been apprized at the time of their laft dhpatches, together with two lacks
cf napees *, which were fent them on the Experiment, a country flrip, immediately
on receipt of their laft advices, pretty nearly equalled the amount w hich tliey calcu-
lated for three months difburfements of then- army ; fo that we have every reafon to
"believe, that the fafe arrival of our feveral late remittances will enable them to kect»
the field againft Hyder Ally until the month of September next, independently of
■other refources, which may arife from the fale of their expefted imports, farther
•loans from individuals refiding under their government, and a poffibility of the Na-
•bob's making farther payments -on account of the revenues ot the Carnatic.

That they might be at fome decree of certainty in regard to future refources from
this quarter, we have given it as our opinion that they may depend on being fupplied
ivith an annual fum of twenty-four lacks of rupees t, to commence from the montli
•of Od:ober next, fo long as it is to tend to the actual fupport of the war they are at
prefent engaged in, provided we are not compelled to enter into warlike operations in
-tlefence of thefe provinces; and that,-niould their future neceffities increafe, it maybe
poffible, by putting a flop to our inveftment, to augment our fupplies to thirty lacks J.
At the fame time that we thus candidly offered our opinion on the affiftance they may
cxpcdt from us in cafe of need, we could not but inform them of the very diftrelfed
ilate to which this country muft inevitably be reduced, by fuch confiderable exporta-
tions of its fpecie.

You have before been informed that our principal objeft in bringing matters to a
■fpeedy conclufion with Janoojee, was to divert Mahadavarow from entering the Car-
natic to the affiftance of Hyder Ally. The advices latelv tranfmittcd to us from
Colonel Smith have for the prefent relieved us from apprehaifions in that quarter ;
iince v.e find he has dlreftcd his operations towards the province of Berar, and
feems fcrioully intent on crufhing the power and influence of Janoojee. We have
therefore thought it highly impolitic at this junifture to continue our negociations
with this chief, as his fate muft actually be decided, long ere any of our forces could
reach him, even fiiould we have deemed it neceflary, as a check on Mahadavarow 's
growing power, to march your troops to his affillance. If Mahadavarow fliould
•prove ui-.fucC'Jsful in his attempt, and fhould refumc his former intentions of enter-
jno- ri-p Ciirnane, it will then be time enough to think ferioufiy of a league with
Jfanoojee.

Mr. RumTjold having in his letter to us, fctting forth the prefent ftate of the Bahar
•province, rcprefented the neccffity of making fome deductions in the revenues of that

jirovinee,

• 25,000/. '+ 300,000/. J 37^,000/.

APPENDIX.

province, \vc embraced the opportunity of Mahomed Reza Cawn's being on a vifit
to Calcutta to confult his opinion on a matter of fuch importance. It was a meafure
he thought abfolutely necefliiry to be taken, and his reafons in general coincided
with thofc of Mr. Rumbold.

The experience that gentleman mufl have acquired during the time he has been
vcfted with the charge of the Bahar coUedfions, and the general knowledge of Ma-
homed Reza Cawn in all matters relating to the Devvanny revenues, induced us to
confent to fuch deductions being made from the general ftatement of that province
at the laft Poonah, as may be deemed irrecoverable, or fuch as may prove an imme-
diate relief and encouragement to the Ryots in the future cultivation of their lands.
We hope this adt of lenity will imprefs them with a favourable opinion of the go-
vernment, induce them to exert their induftrious labour to promote its welfare, and
enable them to pay their rents more regularly in future.

Mr. Kelfall has reprefented to us, that he labours under many inconveniences in
the provifion of your inveftment, from not being veiled with the charge of the Dacca
colletlion. We have replied to his reprefentation, by acc^uainting him, that as you
had been pleafed to approve the mode adopted by the Seledt Committee, for con-
ducing the bufinefs of the Dewannv revenues, we could not deviate therefrom
without your orders, and that we fhould refer his letter to your confideration and
decifion.

The Governor having informed us, that Mahomed Reza Cawn was particularly de-
firous of his j^refenee at the city, to enquire into fundry matters relative to the collec-
tions of the Bengal province, and of his readinefs to comply with the requell ; we ap-
proved of his intention, and he has accordingly proceeded on his journey.

We have the honour to tranfmit }'ou by this packet copies of Mr. S\kes's country
correfpondence, as refident at the Durbar, to the time of his delivering over the charge
of that Itation to Mr. Becher, together with a duplicate of our lalt letter, the broken
fett of our proceedings, and other papers fince the laft difpatch, as per inclofed lift of
the packet ; and to fubfcribe ourfelves, with the utmoft refpeft, &c.

JOHN CARTIER, JAMES ALEXANDER, CHARLES FFLOYER.

No. xxn.

To the Honourable the Court of DireSiors, &c.

Honourable Sirs, Fort wiuiam, April h, 1769.

Since the difpatch of the Shrewfbury, by which fhip we had the honour to addrefs
you, under date the 6th inftant, we have received advice from your Prefidency at Fort
St. George, that they had concluded a peace with Hyder Ally, on the 4th inftant ;
and that he, in confequence, was immediately to quit the Carnatic.

When we confider that the Thames will be the only fea conveyance of this feafon,
by which the gentlemen at Madrafs can tranfmit to you fuch important advices, and
the poffibility of her loiing her paliage to England, or of meeting with other accidents
which may attend her late difpatch, v»'e cannot hefitate to embrace the opportunity,

N which

c8 APPENDIX.

which now prefcnrs itfelf in thedifpatch of a French fliip from Chandernagore, of thus-
briefly informing you of a circumftance which fo nearly concerns the weUare of your
poflcffions on that coaft. To this we are the more Ib'ongly induced, from the entire
confidence werepofe in the prudence and fidelity of Mr. John Sumner, one of your late
covenanted fervants on this cftablifliment, who being compelled to return to his
native country for the recovery of his health, has obtained the Council's pcrmiflion to
embark in this fhip, it being the only remaining fea conveyance of this ieafon. But as.,
foreign fhips mull be ever diltruflfiil channels for the conveying of public and impor-
tant advices, we hope to ftand excufed for not tranfmitting you the part culars, which
we doubt not you will receive by land from your Prefidcncy at Bombay or Fort
Sc. George.

Mr. Sumner, to whom this addrefs is entrufted, has been direfted to deflroy it, if
he perceives any danger of its falling into foreign hands.

We have the honour to fubfcribe ourfelves with the utmoft refpedt, &c.

JOHN CARTIER, JAMES ALEXANDER, CHARLES FFLOYFR.

Extraftsof Letters from Mr. VERELST, to the COURT
of DIRECTORS, during his Government in BENGAL,
relative to the commercial and political interefts of that
country.

No. XXIIL
To the Honourable the Court of DircStors, &'c.

Gentlemen, Fort William, March 17, i/^;.

It is with pleafure I can inform you, that the prefent fituation of the country, and
of the Prcfidency, leaves me but little room to doubt that we Ihall, for fome time, at
leaft, enjov the mod pcrfedt tranquility abroad, and concord at home. The prepara-
tions to difturb the repofe of the empire, which are making by the Duranny * king^
appear to me too diftant to affeft us, or our allies, for this feafon ; and it is highly-
probable, that he will never venture to advance nearer to us than Dchly. The latefl
advices inform us, that he is flill diftant from Dchly about two hundred and fifty
miles : it is likcwifc reported, that he has difpatchcd his deputies to demand the rc-
veraics of the diflerent jirovinces of the empire ; and that an agent is now on his way
to Bengal with a commifilon to the above effedt. For my own part, when I confidcr
the prodigious length of the march, the numberlefs difficulties which mufl be en-
countered ; the oppofition of the Seiks ; the jealoufy that muft feize the many in-
dependent nations who feparate us from Abdalla ; the advanced feafon of the year ;
and efpecially the great reputation in arms which we have cftablifhed over all India,
1 have but little apprchcnfions that he will be able to create any difturbance this )car.

I am
• Shaw Abdalla.

APPENDIX. 99

I am more inclined to believe, that a prince who has the reputation of policy, v.ill
never Hake his fortune on the precarious ifTue of an attempt that muft be attended
with dangers and difiiculties, more than proportioned to the advantages he can cx-
pett from fuccefs. Prudence, however, requires, that we fhould not indulge in too
much fecurity ; nor be wanting in thofe meafurcs which are ncceflary to infpire with
confidence our ally Sujah al Dowlah, the King, and thofe other country powers whofc
interefl: leads them to oppofe Abdalla, and to form a barrier to the Nabob's dominions.

We have, for this purpofe, refolved upon a plan, the particulars of which appear
on the face of our proceedings the 23d of February, with a view, that all our mili-
tary operations might be maturely concerted before Colonel Smith repaired to the
army ; and that nothing might remain but the immediate execution, Ihould we find
the enemy are likely to advance to our frontier.

The motion of the five battalions of Sepoys to Scragepore, fufficlcntly indicates to
all the country powers, our determined rcfolution not only to ftand upon our own
defence, but to extend our proteftion to all thofe who are connefted with us in fricnd-
fhip, or engaged to us by treaties, fo far as may be confiflent with our own fecurity and
intereft. Yet we fhall avoid ifluing orders to the fecond brigade, and the remainder
of the third, to join the above detachment, until the circumftances of our intelligence
render it abfolutely neceflary, as this motion might alarm the minds of the people,
and, in fome degree, impede the colletf ions, and other public bufincfs.

As to the Maharattas, we have nothing to apprehend from them in this quarter ;
their chief, Ragoonaut Row, is in full march to the fouthward ; and, by our lail
advices, had reached Narva Gaut, but with what views we cannot yet determine.

Janoogee, the Maharatta chief of Naugpore, feems well difpofed to cultivate our
friendlhip, and promote the negociation refpedfing the ceffion (upon certain confide-
rations) of Cuttack to the Company. You have already been informed of the end
propofcd in this treaty ; to negociate which, I have at the Committee's recommenda-
tion, wrote for Janoogee's Vackeel to proceed to the Prefidency ; and }'ou may depend
on my utmoft attention to your honour and fecurity in every ftep I fliall take in fo
important a tranfadiion.

From the valuable cargoes already fliipped in the Cruttenden, Britannia, Anfon,
Albany, and Nottingham, as well as the goods provided for the Mercury, and thofe
that will be lying on hand in the warehoufe for want of tonnage, you will perceive
that our utmoft endeavours have been exerted to produce an encrcafe of your inveft-
ment : nothing, in my power, indeed, fhall be wanting to forward a meafure, by
means of which alone you can hope to receive the full advantages of your increafed
revenues ; but I am fenfible many obftacles will occur from the great flow of money
now in the hands of foreign nations, and from the uncommon fcarcity of weavers that
prevails at prefent at all the faftories and Aurungs ; whether this uncommon fcarcily of
weavers proceeds from the troubles in which the country was fo lately overwhelmed,
or whether it arifes from the general decline of trade at all the ports in India, it is
certain that a great number of the manufafturers in cloth have deferred their profef-
fion, to feek for fubfiftence from a lefs precarious calling : hence follow thofe un-
avoidable difputes which fo frequently happen with the French and Dutch, who leave
no means untried to feduce the weavers from our fcrvice.

The chief and council of Coffimbazar have been apprehenfive they ihould be under
a neceffity of raifing the wages of their workmen, or of renouncing all hopes of en-
creafing the inveftment. Such a ftep would prove prejudicial to your affiiirs, tinlefs
we could, at the fame time, come to fome equitable con:jn-omife with the other Euro-
pean eftabliHiments, to check an evil equally felt by themfelves.

N 2 ^^'^

loo APPENDIX.

We are now taking every poffible Hep towards fecuring a ftill farther increafe of
your inveftmcnt for the enluing fealbn. All the factories and Aiuiings are fully
fupplied with the neceffary advances, and there is at prefcnt the grcatelt prolpcd; that
the buiinefs will be condufted with zeal and alacritv.

The fame attention will be paid to the collections of the revenues ; to enforce,
regulate, and cftablilh which, both with refpevft to the ballanccs of the prefcnt year,
and the ftatements of the enfuing general Poonah, I propofe next month taking a tour
of the provinces, for as long a time as the affairs of the Prefidency will admit of my
abfence. I'his meafure was recommended by Lord Clive to the Committee ; and, I
flatter myfelf, it will be the means not only of increafing the revenues, but of conci-
liating the minds of the people to our government, as it will furnifh us with the means
of rcdreffing grievances, and corrediing abufes, which muit otherwife have efcaped my
knowledge.

H. V.
No. XXIV.

To the Honourable the Court of DireHors, C^c.
Gentlemen r°''' wiUiam, March is, 176$.

The feveral occurrences fince I had the honour to addrefs you by the Nottingham,
ftand fo fully recorded on the proceedings of your Council and Committee, that a fe-
cond addrefs from me would appear unneceffary, were there not fome fubjefts which I
could wifli to point out to your more particular attention ; and others, which, though
of confequence, do not fall under the cognizance either of the Council or Committee.

It is to their proceedings I would refer you for proofs of that harmony, with which
your affairs have been conducted during my government. Their example has been
imitated by the younger fervants in both civil and military departments ; who, dcfi-
rous of convincing their employers, that their pafl: faults have been occafioned by the
heat and extravagance of youth, aj)plv themfclves with diligence to the difcharge of
their feveral funftions. Nor can I with juiiice to thefe gentlemen omit remarking to
you, that in general where errors have arifen, they have proceeded more from their
extreme youth and inexperience, than from any inclination to do wrong ; as fuch, I
flatter myfelf they will be overlooked.

The only difference of opinion that has given rife to altercation, you will fee re-
corded in the proceedings of the Committee, in their correfpondence with Colonel
Smith commanding your forces. As his itleas of the condutT: of Sujah al Dowlah,
and of the political meafures which have been purfucd, have conftantly differed from
ours, I judge it incumbent upon me, for your information, and for the juftification of
our conduct, to lay before you a compendious ftatcment of the different powers of
Hindoftan, by whom our own, or the public tranquility can be effentially dillurbed ; a
llatement, which will fully evince the fccurity of the Honourable Company's poC-
fcffions here, and the ftability of the fyflem which has been fo happily adopted.

The fird and great caufe of our fecurity is, the general indigence of the Mogutl
empire ; the invaiion of Nadir Shaw gave the firft ftroke to its power and opulence,
but it fell not fo heavily as is commonly imagined. It gave a mortal wound, it is
true, to the overgrown wealth and arrogance of the Omras ; but, as the blow
was not purfucd, its cffed: was not immediately felt beyond the capital. The erup-
tion of the Maharattas enfued, their wide extended ravages laid defolate almoft every
thing on the fouth fide of the Ganges, from near the frontiers of Bahar, on the eaft,
to Sirhind on the north and well. Their undillinguifliing r.ipine plunged cities and

countries

A P P EN D r X. jor

countries in one common ruin, and the empire muft have funk under their oppref-
fion, or fallen a prey to their ambition, if the defeat at Paniput had not put a pe-
riod at once to their power and dcvaftations. The expeditions of the Shaw Abdalla
fuccceded, which, though neither lb extenfive, dcftruitive, or bloody, as thofe of
the Maharattas, ftill conduced greatly to cxhaud a declining (late; and, though his
f]>hcre of action was chiefly confined to the Panjab and confines of Dchly, yet the
vafl funis he levied mvill have been feverely felt throughout a country which pro-
duces no filver, and but very little gold. So large a dccreafe of fpccie naturally pro-
duced a decay of trade, and a diminution of cultivation ; and, though thefe evils,
have, in fome meafure, been palliated in our provinces by the annual imports of
bullion, yet in the moft flourifhing interior parts, fuch as Benares, Mirzapore, &c.
the fatt is notorious, and beyond difpute.

The natural confequence of thefe circumftances has been, that the difTerent powers
find their finances narrow, and their treafures unequal to the maintenance of a re-
fpedtable army, or the profecution of a war of any duration. Whenever, therefore,,
they are urged by ambition or neceflity to enter on any expedition, they afiemble
new levies for the purpofe with the moft unreflcding precipitancy ; they rifls. every
thing on one campaign, becaufe they have feldom refources for a fecond, and come
to an engagement at all events, becaufe the confequence of a defeat are lefs terrible
than thole which mull cnfue from the defertion, or fedition of an ill paid and dif-
affed:ed army. As their troops then are chiefly raw men and aliens, they are with-
out attachment to their general, or confidence in each other : a variety of independ-
ent commanders dcftroys all fubordination and authority ; and the certainty of beg-
gary and fiarving, from the common accidents of war, throws a damp on the mofl:
ardent bravery.

Thefe circumftances, I apprehend, gentlemen, have been very principal fources of
our repeated vidiories over thefe immenfe Afiatic armies, which have fled before a
handful of your troops ; and thefe will, I trull, either deter others in future, or
enfure fuccefs againft any who may be delperate enough to brave a force like ours,
fo flrengthened' by difciplisie, and rendered formidable by uninterrupted fuccelTes.

A fecond^ and no lefs powerful reafon for the fecurlty of our fituation, is the dif-
cordancy of the principles, views, and interefls of the neighbouring pov/ers ; and
which muft ever defeat any projedl of accomplifliing, by an aflbciarion, what the
wealth or power of a fingle one muft pro\e unequal to. The majorlt)- of the pre-
fent princes of Hindoilan have no natural right to the countries they poffefs. In
the general wreck of the monarchy, every man feized what fortune, threw into his
hands; and they are, therefore, more ftudious to lecure what they have already ob-
tained, than to grafpat ne^v acqulfitions. Plence, the principal diflurbances- which
have lately happened in Hindoftan, (Sujah al Dowlah's invafion of Bengal excepted)
have been accidental broils raifed by the Maharattas, Seiks, and the Shaw Abdalla,.
whofe views were rather extended to plunder than to territorial pofTeflions. Con-
fcious that the maintenance of their ufurped authority depends on their preventing
any of the members from being too much deprefied, or _ too much elevated, the)^
are become jealous and fiifpicious of each other, and ever ready to throw in thein
weight againft any one whom they fee rifing too high above the common, level. For
this reafon, they at firft looked on our fuccefles with an evil eye, 'till our generofit/
to Sujah al Dowlah ; our attention to our treaties and public faith ; and above all,
our moderation in not purfuing our viftories, begot a confidence in us they had not
in their countrymen, and made them rather an^ibitious of our fricndfhip than jealous
of our poweri.

Thus

102 A P P E ri D I X.

Thus circumftanced, it will always be eafy for a watchful and aiftive adminlftra-
tion on our fide, to hold the general ballance of Hindoftan, and crufh every combi-
nation in the bud, by fpiriting up fome neighbouring power, who may be either ill-
difpofed, or at lead not favourable to the confederates. A very little acquaintance
with the difpofition of the natives, will fhew their ardour for change, where they
have a profpeft of fupport ; and the fituation of Allahabad, and the ftation of a
brigade there, renders this plan ftill more prad:icable. Its fituation makes it, in
fome meafure, the key of the furrounding territories; and its vicinity to the feveral
countries of Sujah al Dowlah, the Rohillas, Jauts, and Maharattas, enables us to
penetrate their views with more certaintv, and in cafe of neceffitv, to enter any part
with our army in ten or fifteen days, where we can have either an ally to fupport, or
an enemy to punifli. It is for thefe realbns, we have been obliged to retain a brigade
out of the provinces. Our repeated refolutions in Committee, will, I doubt not,
evince our earnefl: dcfirc to fulfil 3'our orders on this head, and the neccflity itfelf ex-
cufes us for keeping it there as long as thefe reafons Ihall fubfift.

Such, gentlemen, feem to be the general caufcs of our prefent fecurity here ; but
they receive additional ftrength, from the particular characters and fituations of the
feveral potentates themfclves.

The King, Shaw Allum, acknowledged emperor of Hindollan, retains little of
the authority or dominions of his anceftors, but what he has derived from us. The
provinces of Korali and Allahabad yield him a revenue of about twenty-feven lacks*
per annum, at a rack rent ; this is almoft exhaufted, to fupport rather the name,
than the fubftancc of an army, whilll; the Bengal tribute defrays the expences of his
court and houfhold, and enables him to live in an affluence, if not with a fplendor,
he never before enjoyed. His abilities are rather below mediocrity, and his charac-
ter feems rather calculated for private life than a throne. He is religious, as a man ;
affectionate, as a father ; and humane, as a matter ; but, as a prince, he is weak,
indolent, irrefolute, and eafily fwaved by the counfels of fclf-intereftcd men : I can \
not, however, think we have any thing to apprehend from thefe difpofitions ; the
remembrance of what he experienced, when dependent on Sujah al Dowlah, has
created in him fuch a diffidence of Hindoflan connexions, as will effedlually prevent
him trufting himfelf to any of them again ; and, at the fame time, he probably en-
tertains a diflant hope, that the hand which has already raifed him to his prefent in-
dependence, may one day be extended to reftore him to his throne and right.

The Nabob, Sujah al Dowlah, is our next ally ; and, if gratitude can be any tie
on an Hindoflan heart, we have every reafon to confider him as conncdted with us
by the moft indiflbluble bonds. His dominions, except the Zemindarry of Bulwant
Sing, lie on the north of the Ganges, and extend to the hills ; and, though they are
more thinly peopled than is common in this country, have been fo much improved
by his late regulations in them, as to produce annually near one crore and twenty-
five lacks of -j- rupees. His increafc of ftrength has kept pace with his increafe of
revenue. He has near eleven battalions of Sepoys of all forts, a good bodyofhorfe,
and has made confiderable additions to his artillery and magazines ; but, as his whole
revenue can never fupport a force which can be really formidable to us, fo it will al-
ways be in our power to dircdt the force he has to fuch jnirpofes as may bcfl: con-
duce to the interell of the Honourable Company and the general peace. The Na-
bob's education, and perhaps dif])ofition, have led him to be vain, afpiring, and im-
patient. He is adtive, but defultorv ; his judgment rather acute than found ; and
his gencralfhip and policy more plaufiblc than folid. From pride, or jcaloufy, he is
afraid to employ men of abilities or rank, in the feveral departments of his govern-
ment ;
• 337>Soo'' t 1,562,500/.

APPENDIX. 103

ment; he plans, diredts, overfecs, and executes every thing himfelf ; (b that the
multiplicity of bufincfs, and his daily encreafing infirmities, oblige him to leave his
bed dcfigns imperted: and crude. His ambition, it is trui , is always inciting him
to form new projefts, but his volatility induces him to be continually abandoning
fomc, and his impctuofity often renders the remainder abortive. In a word, from
a moll careful review of his character and conduct, he Icems a much properer
inflrument to accomplifli the Company's main point, the maintaining themfelves the
umpires of Hindoftan, than an enemy, who, from his flrength or fituation, could
give them any material uneafinefs or trouble.

The Rohilla chiefs fucceed, as feveral of them are immediately contiguous to the
dominions of his maiefty, or of Sujah al Dowlah. The principal ones are Aehmed
Cawn Bungifh, HatFcz Rahmet Cawn, and Nijib al Dowlah, befides feveral of lefs
importance ; fuch as, Dunnedy Cawn, Sardar Cawn, &c. Though all thefe are, in
faft, independent of each other; yet, as being of one tribe, and deriving their
power from one ftock, (Ally Mahomed Cawn) it is generally luppofed they would
unite in their common defence ; although, from their difpoiitions and fituations, it
feems hardly poffible they could be brought to adl unanimoufly. Their joint force is
computed at about eighty thoufand effective horfe and foot ; but thefe, from their
native hardinefs, their dexterity with the fword, and fkill in the ufe of war rockets,
have generally been ranked in higher eflimation than the ordinary Hindoftan troops ;
and the people in general, from fome circumftances in their political conftitution, may
be confidered rather as a rifing pov/er, at Icaft: in national ftrcngth.

The territories of Aehmed Cawn Eungilh, immediately border on the Korah coun-
try to the weftward ; they lie chiefl}', if not entirely, between the Ganges and the
Jumna ; and his capital, Furruk-abad, is fituated on the Ganges, about fifty cofs be-
yond the territories of Korah ; his revenues, at the highcft cltimation, amount to *
thirty-five or forty lacks of rupees, but the receipts do not probably exceed -|- thirty,
and his ordinary force may be about eight thoufand horfe and foot : he is now pretty
far advanced in years, and unfit for adfive life, both from an incurable lamenefs, and
the various infirmities which a long courfe of every fpecies of debauchery has brought
on : yet, with all his vices, he is a man of ftrong parts, extenfive experience, and deep
policy. He makes feveral generous allowances to men of noble families and decayed
fortunes, and is a great encourager of trade, by ufing every endeavour to proted: the
merchant f^'om the natural turbulency of his fubjefts ; on thefe accounts, he is much
refpedted among his tiibe, and is generally confidered as their leader in cafe of an
attack on their community, though the other two principal chiefs exceed him both in
revenue and force. He has no children to fucceed him, but has, after the Rohilla
cuftom, adopted one of hisflaves, and given him the title of Daim Cawn.

The country poflijffed by Haffez Rahmet Cawn joins to the weftern limits of Su-
jah al Dowlah's dominions, and lies entirely on the north of the Ganges, except
Etwah, and fome other Itraggling Pergunnahs, which lie on the Jumna. The ex-
tent of it towards the north and the weft cannot be accurately determined, as our ac-
counts are but imperfedl and from report, but it produces a revenue of at leaft.* fifty
or fixty lacks of rupees, and enables him to maintain a ftanding army of about fifteen
or eighteen thoufand horfe and foot. His ch.^racler has little to diftinguilTi it, except
that low cunning, intrigue, and deceit, fo general in this country ; and his avarice
makes him particularly cautious of rifquing his treaiures bv engaging in difi>ures or'
war. With all his parfimony, he is not very rich, and his fon, Anaut Alnah Cawn,
a bold, giddy youth, without education or parts, draws all he can from him to fup-

ply
• 437,500/. 07500,000/. f 37^,000/. $.625,000/. or 75O5OO0/.

I04

P E N D I

ply his own extravagance : the father is between forty and fifty 5'ears of age, but
healthy and ftrong, and the fon about twenty-three or twentv-four at moft.

The poll'cflions of Nijib al Dowlah are bounded -by Sirhind on the weft, and, be-
ginning on the Jumna about feven Cofs eaft of Dehly, they take a fweep quite acrofs
the peninfula, and to the northward of the Ganges, fo as to join Haftez Rahmet's and
Dunnedy Cawn's weftern frontier. He has, alfo, fome diftricts in the confines of
Dehly to the fouth of the Jumna. The revenue of fuch an immenfe traft of country,
-in one of the moft fertile parts of the empire, would be prodigious ; but the greateft
part of it haying long been the feat of war, and of the depredations of the Maha-
Tattas, Seiks, and Abdalla, it is much impoverillied,' and does not yield above eighty
t3r ninety -f lacks per annum. Coniiderable, however, as this is, his treafury was
never very full. He has been obliged for mraiv vears to keep a ftrong army for the
-protection of his dominions and his family, againfl the continual incurfions of the
Seiks, &c. and the large contributions he was obliged laft year to pay the Shaw Ab-
dalla, has now probably drained it entirely. His troops are generally twenty thou-
fand, or more; and, as he has been almoft continually at war, are veteran and brave.
As a man, and a prince, he is perhaps the only example in Hindoftan of, at once,
a great and good charadter. He railed himfelf from the command of fifty horie to
his prefent grandeur, entirely by his fuperior valour, integrity, and ftrength of ge- .
nius ; and has maint.iined himfelf in it with univerfal applaufe, bv a fpirltcd and well
grounded f)"ftem of polic)'. Experience and abilities have fupplicd the want of letters
and education ; and the native noblenefs and goodnefs of his heart have amply made
amends for the defedl of his birth and family. He is a ftrldt lover of juftice, a moft
faithful fubjed; to his emperor, and has long been the fole defence and fupport of
the Roval Family at Dehly. His wifdom and condudt were no where more manifeft
than in his tranfaftions lafl year with the Shaw Abdalla. He found himfelf obliged
to join him, or expofe his country to an immediate invafion, and, therefore, com-
plied with the neceliity; but, at the fame time, fo protrafted their councils, and
threw fo many fecret obftacles in the way of their defigns, that after feveral months,
the Shaw finding his troops mutinous for want of pay or plunder, himfelf harrafTed
by the Seiks, the heats begun, and the rains approaching, was obliged to return
home with difgrace, and reft contented with a fum of money infinitely inferior to
what his expedition had promifed. Another man, in fuch a iituation, would pro-
bably have loft his life or liberty; but Nijib al Dowlah, by his prudence, at once
faved his dominions, and extricated himfelf. He is now about fixty years old,
-and his conftitution much worn down by fatigiie and (icknefs ; fo that it is probable
he will foon be fucceeded by his eldeft fon, Zabelah Cawn, aged near thirty-five,
who, to all his father's virtues, joins the improvements of a liberal education.

It would be unnecefl'ary to trouble you with a detail of Dunnedy Cawn, Sardar
Cawn, and the other inferior chiefs. They can have no political confequence ;
but as their dominions are furrounded by thofe of the more powerful Sirdars,
they muft, of necefTity, adopt whatever plan of ad'don the others may think expedient
to embrace.

The dominions of Jewhar Sing, or the Jaut country, extends in the peninfula from
Agra to within a few Cofs of Dehly on the weft, and near I'lwah on the eaft ; they
are poflTefTed likewife of a large traft to the fouth of the Jumna ; and, bciides a
number of inferior places of ftrength, have three forts whicli are deemed ahnoft im-
pregnable. The revenue of Jewhar Sing is, on a moderate computation, near two
crore of J rupees per annum, bcfidcs the aftonifhing fums his father Serage Mahl had
traalfed. But, though he is fo much fuperior to his neighbours in wealth, his ftrength

is
t 1, 000, coo/, or 1,125,000/. J 2,500,000/.

APPENDIX. 105

is not proportionable ; his people, from their caft and occupation, are unaddidtcd to
arms, and he has, therefore, on all occafions where he has been attacked himfclf, or
has attacked others, been obliged to call in foreign auxiliaries : thefe carry off' a large
proportion of his excefs of wealth, and muft, if he has any thought, render him
cautious of engaging much in war, left the fame arms he ufes for the deftrudion of
others, may be ultimately turned againft himfelf. His charaifler, like the majority ,
of the great in Hindoftan, is that of a man abforbed in pleafure and luxury ; weak,
vain-glorious, afpiring, without experience or abilities. He difcovered fome perfonal
bravery in his late engagement with the Raje-poots, but little prudence or condudt
in the commencement of the war, or method of carrying it on. His ftanding ariny
is computed at about twelve thoufand horfe, a large body of foot, v/ho garrifon his
forts ; and Somroo, with his rabble of Sepoys, is the geperal he feems moft to de-
pend upon.

The power with which he is now at war, is Maha Rajah Madhu Sing ; and his
ambition, which led him to the inv-afion, coft him, five months ago, fo fignal a de-
feat, that he has been obliged to call in the Seiks to his affiftance. His adverfary
has done the lame with the Maharattas ; and ilrould their divilions permit them to
anfwer the fummons, in all probability after the enfuing rains the difpute may be-
come obftinate and bloody: whatever may be the event, it can fcarcely affed; us ;
and the moft probable confequence feems to be, a confirmation of the general tran-
quility, as thefe four principal powers will be too much enfeebled, by their mutual ef-
forts againft each other, to be fpecdilv in a condition of giving the public any difturbance.

Maha Rajah Madhu Sing poflefles a large diftrid; to about the fouth-weft of Dehly,
and his revenue is eftimated at about a crore of * rupees. Few princes of Hindoftan
can compare with him for the antiquity of his family, or the fame of his anceftors.
His fubjeds are chiefly Raje-poots, born to war; they are the cultivators of his lands
in peace, and the undaunted defenders of thefe lands when invaded. Proud of their
ancient glorvj they difdain to fly, and rufh with intrepidity to certain death or vid6ry._
In the late engagement with Jewhar Sing, their horfe rode up through the fire of
above ninety pteces of cannon, and all the mufquetry of the Sepoys, till they came
to fwords ; and, though thrice repulfed, renewed the attack, which met with the
fuccefs their bravery deferved, and night alone faved the remains of the Jaut's broken
forces. What renders this noble fpirit ftill more laudable is, that it is chiefly exerted
in the defence of their families and mafter ; nor do I recoiled an inftance in the
annals of Hidoftan, where they were fubdued themfelves, or attempted the con-
queft of others.

The Maha Rajah is more remarkable for his family than talents ; and though nei-
ther weak nor deficient, yet his abilities can hardly entitle him to eminence or fame.
His ftanding army is but inconfiderable, becaufe, as I obferved before, all his fub-
jcds are his^ foldiers ; fo that, however amply he is provided for his own fecurity, his
fyftem is no ways calculated for foreign expeditions.

We have beeii fo long acquainted with the Maharattas in the Deccan, that it
would be fupcrfluous to make any obfervations on their fituations, to gentlemen fo
well informed of it from the prefidencies of Madrafs and. Bombay ; and I fliould not
have mentioned them at all, except as poflelibrs of fome diftrids which lie on the
fouth of the Jumna, and contiguous to the -f demefnes of our § royal ally. Their
neighbourhood, however, can never give us caufe of apprehenfion, as the fmallnefs
of their fierce there leaves them rather open to invafions themfeive-;, than puts it in
their power to molcft others : and the late advices from Bombay and Madrafs, wiU

• i.rjo.coo/. f Tlie province of Koi ah and Allahabad.

§ Shah AUum, the prefent emperor of HindoHan.

O clearly

io5 APPENDIX.

clearly point out how impradticable it muft be for the Maharattas, under their pre-
fent inteftine divifions and jealoufics, to fend any formidable reinforcements to fo re-
mote pofleffions with hoftilc views. I ihall clofe this head with one general remark,
that as the Maliarattas are notorioufly the foldiers for hire, their arms will proba-
bly be ever at our devotion, becaufe our revenues can beft enable us to come up to
their price.

As the country of the Seiks commences as far weft as Sirhind, their diftancc would
be a fufficient reafon for omitting them in this detail, did not their allonilhing rife
from the loweft ebb of national weaknefs, to a moft refpeftable pitch of power, make
it necefiary juft to touch on them. In the reign of Ferruk Seer, their tribe was not
computed at above one thoufand perfons ; but their admiffion of converts of all per-
fuafions into their religion, has, in fo fliort an inter\^al, fwelled their force to above
eighty thoufand men fit for arms ; and put them in polfeffion of all that fertile coun-
try between Sirhind and the river Atoch. In a political view, they feem rather a
barrier for Hindoftan againft Abdalla, or any other weftern power, than a people
aiming at conqueft ; and their military condud: on the § Shaw's late expedition, gave
full proof of their ability to repel, if not min an invader.

This, gentlemen, is the ftate of the Hindoftan powers, which I have taken the
liberty of fubmitting to your cognizance. I believe it will be found exacft, though
not minute, and be fufficient to demonftrate, that, as every advantage of revenue,
difcipline, force, and unanimity is on our fide, fo the oppofite difadvantagcs mull
prove fatal to any power who may attempt to be your enemy. I muft refer )-ou to
the country correfpondence for farther particulars, as well as for the confirmation of
what I have here advanced. You will there find pleafing proofs of the anxious defire
all the powers I have enumerated, exprefs for our alliance and friendlhip ; and )'ou
wiil clearly perceive from thence, how eafy it muft be for us to maintain our prefent
characfter as umpires of Hindoftan, by counterafting any hoftile defigns againft our-
felves or our allies, by our influence at a diftance, or by our force when near. This
has been the fyftem I have ever ftrenuoufly recommended to the Committee; the
maxim I have invariablv purfued myfelf ; and this, I truft, will continue in future to
be crowned with the dcfired fuccefs.

I could have wifhed the * gentlemen on the Coaft had been more deeply imprefled
with this idea, fo that the reinforcements lent from Bengal, inftead of being fcattered
and difmembered, might have ftruck the important blow we meditated againft the
+ Suhah. In this cafe, Hyder-abad, weak and defencelefs, muft have fallen an eafy
l>rey before the Nizam could have even received intelligence of the expedition ; and,
as the capture muft have more univerfally enforced a conviftion of our ])0wer, fo the
generous reftitution of it to a repenting enem}', muft have highly exalted our mo-
deration and difintercftedncfs.

You v;ill oblcrve, from the Committee proceedings, that a jealoufy has long fub-
fifted between the courts of his J majefty and Sujah al Dowlah. A fceming atten-
tion in us to one more than to the other, will ever awaken apprchenfi./ns ; and, how-
ever nice and delicate our condutl may be, imaginary caufe for uncaliiiefs will al-
ways be found. His majefty has lately, through our interpofition, liftened to an ac-
commodation with the II Nabob ; and, by a letter juft received, has confirmed his
reconciliation, by conferring a drefs on the || Vizier.

The very large and valuable cargoes laden on board the fcvcral fliips of this fea-
fon, will, I hope, be a convincing proof of the great attention that has been paid to fo

4 Sliaw Abdalla. t>ip Durnnny king.

* The i>ref: 'icy M das, in the coaft of Coromandel. + Nizam Ally, Subah o*" theDeccan.

J Shah Alluin, the prcftnt emperor of Hindoftan. ||Suj>h al Dowlah, the Vizier.

im-

APPENDIX. 107

important a part of }'onr affairs. The fcvcral invoices amount to no lefs tlian five mil-
lions eight hundred and ninety-fix ihoufand *' rupees, and a ballance of goods re-
mains in the warehoufes of four hundred and forty-nine thoufand -f rupees, whicli
makes the total of your invcftment this feafon fix millions three hundred and forty-
five thoufand J rupees. So confiderable an increafc, at a time when the other nations
were equally anxious with ourfelves to extend their trade, could not be effected with-
out many difagreeable complaints from both the French and Dutch fatftorics ; though
many of them, upon examination, proved frivolous, and others without foundation.
They mufl do us the juftice to acknowledge, that we have aftcd towards them with
moderation, and have often aflilled them by our influence with the country govern-
ment in points that were not detrimental to your intereft ; nor has this increafe been
unattended by complaints from your own fervants, though, I mull confefs, with
much more juftice : and my duty to my emp'oyers, no kfs than humanity to the
fufferers, calls upon me to lay before you a diftintl reprefentation of their cafe. The in-
curfions of the Maharattas in the time of the Nabob Alliverdy Cawn, the difputes
we were forced into with his fucceffor, Serajah al Dowlah, and the war we fuftained
againfl the bloody tyrant Meet Coffim, have kept thefe provinces in a continual ftate
of confufion, and introduced all the evils attendant upon war. Cultivation was neg-
letled, manufactures were deftro) ed, and numbers of weavers and winders were ob-
liged to procure fubfiftence from a lefs precarious employment. We have, indeed,
enjoyed a few years of reft, and the country every day feels more and more the be-
nefit arifing from it. Plenty has fucceeded to famine, and fecurity has induced the
natives to apply themfelves again to labour, and to commerce ; but the manufadtures
are fcarcely encreafed, the Aurungs are not lb well peopled as the}' were twenty years
before ; and yet your demands, and thofe of the other nations, are beyond what the
country is able to fupply, was every fpecies of cloth to be purchafed. The amount
of your orders is above a || crore and twenty lacks, the Dutch wifli to have § forty,
the French are endeavouring to procure "** twenty-two, and the Danes and Portu-
guefe -f -f- fifteen.

The French and Dutch Companies, by granting remittances only for fuch fums as
have been paid into their trcafurics in filvcr, have been amp!)' fuppllcd with money ;
and they have as amplv fLn-nifhed their agents at the Aurungs with the proper fpecies
of rupees, whilft we have been put to difficulties in that account. To obviate thefe
in fome meafure, and to comply with your orders to the utmoft of our power, wc
have been obliged to curtail the private trade of your fervants at every Aurung to a
degree almoft of annihilation.

Deprived of that principal branch of commerce by which alone the fhipping trade
can be fupported, inter lifted trading in fait, whilft we behold all the foreign nations,
as well as natives, enjoying the benefit of it, under feigned names and various pre-
tences, too intricate to be unfolded, and too deeply laid to be checked or brought
to public view, prohibited all other means of accumulating money, with fmall fa-
laries, and no emoluments, from whence is a fervant to raife a fortune in Bengal ? I
declare, I have as great an opinion of your prefent fet of fervants in general, as of
any one body of men : but wi^h fuch a profpeft before them, having the govern-
ment of a rich and populous kingdom, and the amount of niillions pafting through
their hands, they muft be more than men to ftand the fiery trial : were they t-^ refift
the temptation, I greatly fear that zeal and vigour fo necefi'ary for the profpcrous

•663,300/. tjo, ^12/. I 7 3,812/.

II 1,350,000/. — § (00,000/. — ** 275.-^00/ — i-f 187,500/ — ! otal, 2,312,50-"/ (terling ^f.

% Heie, rupees of the Englifh are eftimued at two (liilliiig< and three pence each, being current; thereof
foreiga nations, at two ihilliiigs and fix pence each, being lilver.

O 2 manage-

108 APPENDIX.

management of your affairs, would be wanting; but, fhould it be too powerful, I
tremble for the confequences.

This, I am fenfible, is not the ftate to which yoii would wifh to fee your fervice
reduced, but it really is the ftate at prcfent ; you have betn pleafed to promife your
■fer\-an's fome conlideration in lieu of the fait, and they wait with anxiety your re-
folutions.

I have thus, gentlemen, performed what my duty required at my hands ; if I have
any where cxpreffcd myfelf with too much warmth, the nature of the fubjedl v>ill, I
hope, fufficiently plead my excufe.

It was this heavy reftrldlion upon private trade, that induced fome of the gentle-
men clandellinely to extend their commerce into the territories of our ally Sujah ai
Dowlah, but the ill condudt of fome of the Gomaftahs having occafioned complaints
from the Nabob, I immediately ifflicd orders for their recall, and have taken efiedlual
meafurcs for preventing that trade in futin-e.

The increafing fcarcity of filver has been fo fully fet forth in the proceedings of the
Council and Committee, that nothing but the urgent neceffity of the fettlcmcnt could
tempt me to remind you of it in this letter. Gold is not current at the Aurungs, and
we fliall with difficulty be enabled to raife a fufficient quantity of filver for the provi-
fion of the enfuing year's inveftment. A farther remittance to China is entirely out
of our power to fupply.

The extent of vour territorial pofTeffions in Bengal requires a confiderable body both
of Europeans and Sepoys to be maintained for its defence. The latter corps is conftantly
kept completed, but the number of the former is far fliort of the fixed eftablifhment.
The recruits of the laft feafon were not even fufficient to fupplv cafualtics. As the
keeping the brigades and artillcrv complete is of the higheft importance to the fafetv of
thefe provinces, I muft entreat of you, gentlemen, to encreafe the number of the
annual rccniits for Bengal.

The indent for cannon and fmall arms, I likev\ife hope, will be fully complied
with ; of the former, many may prove ufelefs on the very firft trial, and the latter arc
liable to fo many accidents, from the dangerous navigation of the river in tranf]iorting
them to the army, from the ignorance, the careleffnefs, or the defcrtion of the Stpoys,
that an ample referve in our magazines is abfolutely neceffarv ; no lefs than one thou-
fand fix hundred of the laft fupply were loft in the river a few days fince, which, I fear,
we fhall never recover.

An agate quarry has been lately difcovered among the hills near Mongheer : as the
ftonc appeared to be of a proper qualitv for gunflints, I ordered a quantity to be made,
and have dired:ed five tlioufand to be fent to the fecond brigade, and the like quantity
to the remainder of the firft brigade, and the troops in garrifon ; if, upon trial, they
anfwer my expedlation, I ftiall recommend to the board the providing two millions of
them to be ke])t in ftorc for the fupply of any future cmergenc\- : they are cheaper
than the flints from Europe, the expencc being onlv four ■'■ rupees for a thoufand ; but,
left they fhould not prove ferviccable, or the vein be infufficient for a conftant fupply,
I v.-ould beg leave to recommend tliat the indent for this feafon be complied with. I
have fent by Captain Riddle one hundred, taken promifcuoufly out of the heap, for
your examination and opinion.

The Committee proceedings will inform you, that wc have been treating with the
Maharattas for their ceffion of the counrrv of Cuttack : this negociation has been great-
ly protradted, but I am in hojxs of feeing it very foon concluded. It is cuftomary
with thefe people to fpin out treaties to an immoderatclcngth : avaritiousin the higheft

• Ten (hillings'

degree

APPENDIX. 109

degree, they endeavour by every artifice to encreafe their exorbitant demands ; and,
faithlcfs themfelves, they arc fufpicious of the faith of others. The advantages of
fuch an acccflion of territory are too obvious to require being particular!)- pointed out.
The mutual affirtance the -f- prcfidcncies can yield each other, unfubjcAed to the prc-
carioufncfs of the feafons, and the accidents fo liable to fhipping, is riot one of the lead
we fliall derive from completing the chain of your poU'cflions from the banks of the
§ Caramnaffa to the extremities of the coall of Coromandel.

I ha^-e the honour to enclofe you a general flatemcnt of your receipts and difburfe-
ments of cafh during the year one thoufand feven hundred and fixty-feven. . It is cal-
culated more for fpeculation, than to be depended upon for its exaftnefs; though I am
certain you will find it deviating but Hlghtly from the truth, Should any error appear.

To confirm what I have before urged of the neceffiry of your enercafingthe number
of recruits deflined for this prefidency, I do myfelf the honour to enclofe a Hate of the
European forces, drawn up to the firft of this month, and compared with one made
the 30th of June laft ; from which you willobfervc that three hundred and ninety were
fick, and fix hundred and feventy were wanting to complete the eftablifliment, before
the arrival of the recruits of laft feafon ; and though none of them were loft either by
death or defertion during their ftay at Calcutta, we have at this time three hundred
and fixty-fix fick, and three hundred and five are ftill wanting to complete : an amazing
deficiency, when it is confidercd that the fickl\' feafon is not yet begun.

A number of gentlemen are employed in a furvcy of thcfe provinces. The boun-
daries are almofi finiflied, and they are now taking the fcclions -of the feveral countries.
In September next, I hope to have the pleafure of fending you a complete plan of aU
your pofleffions in this part of India. In tracing and examining fuch an immenfe tradt
of country, the greateft part of which affords not the leaft conveniency to an European,
the expence muft neceffarily be great, but the benefit of fuch an undertaking will be
an ample compenfation for the charges that are attendant upon it.

You will be pleafed to receive a general return of your forces, both European and
Sepoys. As I have not lately received any return of the detachment to the Coaft, I
have been obliged to omit it.

I flatter myfelf you have, ere now, made choice of a gentleman to fuccecd me in the
government : the weaknefs of my conftitution renders fuch a meafure abfolutely necef-
fary, if it is not already effected. My gratitude to the Company would not allow me
to hefitate a moment in complying vmh their orders, fliould they judge it expedient
for me to make a longer ftay in India ; but a feries of nineteen years dedicated to theu'
fei-v'ice has fo entirely deftroyed my conftitution, that another year''s refidence in Ben-
gal would, in all probability, prove fatal. Should my ill ftate of health oblige me to
vacate the chair before I am honoured with your anfwer, I ftiall quit it witji the lefs
rcluftance, as the gentleman next to me in the fervice, (Mr. Carrier,) bears fo worthy
and unexceptionable a charadter: and I take the liberty of recommending him to your
particular notice.

Allow me, gentlemen, to conclude with a private requeft for mvfelf, and I the lefs
fear a denial, when I refied:, that it is the firft I have ever taken the liberty to make ;
that you will indulge me with the remittance of fuch part of my fortune as may be
remaining in India at my departure, through your cafli.

H. \ .

t The two prefidencies of Fort St. George on the coaft of Coromandel, and of Fort William in
Bengal.

§ The river Caramnaffa is the north-weft boundary of the province of Bahar, and divides it from the
late Rajah Bulwant Sing's country.

lio A P P E N D I X.

No. XXV.

To the Honourable the Court of DireBors, &f.

Fort William, September i6, 176S,

I had the honour to addrefs you under date the 28th of March, by the fliip Admu-al
Pocock, and endeavoured then to give you as full a ftatcment of your political and com-
mercial concerns, as my health and a fliort refpite from public bufinefs would permit. I
will now proceed on the fame plan to hv plainly before you every matter which fcems
worthy of your knowledge or attention. I iiave always deemed this direft correfpondence
between the Prefident and the Court of Direftors of the moft ferious import to the Com-
pany ; becaufe, having theprimar\' fupcrlntendence of the feveral departments, he mulT:
be bed acquainted with the immediate fprings of every material event ; and becaufe, as
an individual, he can communicate his fentiments with that freedom and unreferve which
the delicac)' of public addrefles will not with jiropricty admit. It has ever been my
principle, and, I trull:, will be ever my pratlice, to give truth as I find it, even where
that truth might appear unfavourable to mvfelf, or difagreeable to you : I look on my-
felf as accountable for all my ]uiblic adls to you, to my king, and to mv countrv ;
and I will never difguife fadts to court approbation, or conceal them from an apprchcn-
fion of cenfure. For this reafon, I hope my prefcnt reprefentation will have that weight
in your opinions which I could have wifhed our public ones had been honoured with
on fome late confequential points. Your Governor and Council, I may fafcly affirm,
ever merited the preference which feems to have been given to private authorities ; and,
I am perfuaded, a fliort reflexion will eafily evince how injurious fuch a fufpicion is
to your fersants, how unworthy of )'our impartiality, and how dangerous to the Com-
pany's affairs in general. The intelligence of individuals can be derived only from
partial lights, and communicated mainly with private views. Your fcrvants, on the
contrary, are immediately prefent on the fcene of adlion ; they have free accefs to every
fource of information, and can neither aggrandife orvillifv advantages or lolfcs, without
certainty of deteftion and forfeiture of good name. Whatever benefits, therefore,
may be expcfted to accrue from a comparifon of public and private advices, they will
be found by experience to be no balljnce to their inconveniences : fuch a jealous atten-
tion to their aftions may, perhaps, jirove a curb to a corrupt adminilb-ation, but it
will certainly furnilli them with a plaufible excufe, while a manifeltation of dillruft will
inevitably fetter the adlivity and refolution of the moll upright government. As vour
fervants, we are accountable for every aill and meafurc; but it is furcly hard that our
condudt and integrity fliould be arraigned on the ill-founded teftimony of fanguinc or
difcontenicd men ! I am fenfible how much the delicacy of vour fuuation, and the
violence of oppofition muft have influenced you in this point; and I hope you will ex-
cufe my warmth on the occafion. A little time will cither juftify or condemn us ; and
I trull; the prefcnt * difpatch will dcmonftrate whofe reprefcntations have been mod au-
thentic and impartial.

The King Shaw Allum remains much in the fame fituation, both as to his affairs
and difpofirions. The mcmor)' of what is part continues to render him fearful of form-
ing Hindoltan connedVions. Formed, as I have obferved, rather for private life than a
throne, he infenfiblv begins to acquiefce in the enjoyment of competence and inde-
pendency: and his rooted jealoufy of Sujah al Dowlah, and of his cncrcafing power,

• By the fliip Valentine.

binds

A P - P E N D I X. HI

binds him to us more llrongly, as well from apprehcnfion as neceffity. He profcfles
on all occafions, and I believe fincercly, to be inllucnced only by the Englifh counfcls;
and though his rc-crtabliiliment at Dchly is cafually the fubjea of his convcrfaticm and
letters, yet a reference to Col. Barker's correfpondcnce will point out how far his refolu-
tions in this matter are from being immediate or determined.

In the fituarion of the other potentates of Hindollan, no great alteration has taken
place, except the deceafe of the Raje-poot and Jaut chiefs. Maha Rajah Madhu Sing
died a natural death, after concluding a fort of truce rather than peace, with Jewhar
Sing and the Selks ; and Jewhar Sing was aflaffinatcd in June by a Raje-poot, four of
whom had been commiffioned by their principal Sirdars for that purpofe, from an
apprehenfion of his views on their country, after the rains, on account of the youth
and weaknefs of their new ruler Perteet Sing. No commotions, however, have been
produced by this accident. His brother Ruttun Sing (a weak and indolent de-
bauchee) has peaceably fucceeded him, though it is not improbable that very weak-
nefs may prove a temptation to his neighbours, or the entcrprizing Maharatta or Seik,
to attack him at a proper opportunity. Divifions have alfo been manifelfcd among
the Rohillas. A formidable infurrcftion was railed in Achmed Cawn's country,
which obliged him to apply to his majefty and Siijah alDowlah for affiflance; though
tranquility has fince been reftored to his territories, by the defeat of the rebel Abed-
ullah Cawn, without any foreign interpofition. The powers farther to the wcflward
appear tranquil and fettled. There is no appearance of any new expedition from the
Shaw Abdalla. And the Seiks will, in all probability, not adopt adfive meafurcs
this feafon, as they have received money from Madhu Sing, Jewhar Sing, and Nijib
al Dowlah, to purchafe their friendfliip, or rather to bu)' off their ravages. The only
probability of their return muft be from the invitation of the Jauts or Raje-poots,
fhould theMaharattas make any attempt upon them. And their interfering in this
cafe, will rather add to our fecurity, than give us reafon for alarm : beciufe, by their
fupport of the weaker party, the conteft muft become more equal, and the only ene-
my we have to fear in India, be greatly weakened thereby, without the mediation
either of our arms or influence.

The ilate and order of your provinces, revenues, commerce, and fervice in gene-
ral, are matters next in confequence to your political fecurity ; and, as fuch, require
the moft: urgent reprefentations on my pait, and the moil difpaflionate attention on
yours. The anlmofity of public faction, the extravagant hopes of the partial and
fanguine, and the unjull: mifreprefentations of the defigning and difcontented, have
contributed to exaggerate the advantages of all above their real, or even poflible,
amount ; they have confpired to draw on us the public odium, and miflead the im-
partiality and propriety of your moft pofitive orders !

When the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and OriiTa came under j'our jurifdidlon,
they were much funk in opulence, population, and manufaiftures, from their ancient
importance. The almoft continual irruptions of the Maharattas, under the govern-
ment of Alliverdy Cawn, and the avarice of the miniftcrs under the fupinenefs of
Serajah al Dowlah, the i-teccffities of IVieer Jaffier, and the iron hand of the rapa-
cious and blood-thirfty Meer Coffim, ftruck equally at the property of the rich, and
induftry of the poor : and while it reduced the one to indigence, ccmpelled the
other to feek fafety in flight. If, to thefe, we add, firlf, the imnrenfe amount in
fpeeie and jewels to the value of between three and five crores of * rupees, lecreted
or carried off by Coffim, after his feveral defeats had obliged him to relinqulfli all
hopes of a reinftatement : 2dly, The royal tribute of twenty-fix f lacks, and the

ex^ encc
• Between 3,7^0,000/. and 6,250,00/. f 325,000^

,f2 'appendix.

cxpence of about twenty lacks for a brigade, both paid annually out of the pro-
vinces and conft-qtiently out of the fphere of our immediate circulation : 3dly, The
annual amount of our own, and the other nations inveftments, for which no value
is received into the country : 4thly, The large exports of bullion to China, and the
ditferent prcfidencies during the three laft }ears : And laftly, the unavoidable mif-
fortune and capital drain, the immenfe furns paid into the cafh of foreign nations, for
bills on their refpeclive Companies. I fay, the aggregate of thefe feveral exports
muft appear inevitably and immediately ruinous to the moft flourifhing ftate, much
lels be deemed tolerable to a declining and exhaulted country ! Yet it is in this fitu-
ation the Court of Dii'ed-ors, and the nation in general, have been induced to expeifl
prodigious remittances in fpecie, from a counti-y which produces little gold and no
^iilver; and where any considerable imports of both have, for a feries of j'ears, been
rendered unneceflarv to the trade of foreig i Companies, by the general demands for
draughts on Europe. It was therefore to be wiflied, and was more than once pro-
pofed, that when thefe lands came under our management, we had lowered, for a
time the ftated rents of moft diftrifts, as an incitement to cultivation and improve-
ment, rather than have made the fmalleft artempt to an increafe. Many, howevM",
and ix)wcrful reafons, confpired to influence the adminiftration in the meafures they
adopted : the neceffity of providing a certain fund for emergencies, in a country
fruitful in revolutions, the certainty of no fupplies from home, or the other prefi-
iiencies, and the probabilltyof large demands from both j all pleaded powerfully
for retaining things on the footing we found them, and for poftponing a relaxation
of revenue, till thefe great purpofes vv-ere fully aecomplillied. The event has jufti-
fied our pre-conceived opinions, though the ncceffities of the country remain unre-
lieved and unremedied. Diftreffed as we are, at prefent, for the means of the necef-
fary remittances to the Coaft and Bombay, for the provifion of future invcftmcnts,
and even the defraying of cutrent expences, what mull have been our Situation, had
our colleftions been lefs rigid and ample ? Excufe me, gentlemen, for fuggefting
here another rcafon, not lefs cogent, though, of a private nature: If, when your fer-
vants have exerted themfelves in every extenfion of your revenues and inveftmen^
confiftent with the immediate fafety of the country, all their efforts fall fo fliort of
the ideas )'ou have formed, and of the public expeftation, what could they have
hoDcd, had they framed their meafures for prefent retrenchments and diftant advan-
tages ? Might not vour whole adminiftration here, with juftice, have apprehended
their being facrificed to an irritated and mifmformed Court of Proprietors, who
might have regretted the injury, uhen the reparation was beyond their power ? Do
us \he juftice, gentlemen, to reflect how unreafonable fuch a rifk of our fortunes
and charadlers muft appear after a tedious fervice, and the manifold injuries of the
climate, more cfpecially where our own opinions and integrity are all the evidence
we have to produce in our fupport.

Permit me to give you my moft ferious opinion, founded on almoft nineteen years
experience in the various branches of your revenues, and in various dirtrids of your
pofTcdions, that it is totally beyond the power of )our adminiftration to make any
material addition to your rents, or remit a Angle rupee in fpecie home ; and that,
unlefs the moft efficacious and fpeedy meafures arc entered upon by you to ncceffitatc
the foreign nations to an importation of bullion, e(iual to the amount of their home-
ward cargoes, and efFedtually to divert the capital fums paid for their bills into the
channel of yovir own remittances, money will foon become fo fcarce as to oblige us
to colledt man)- of the rents in the produce of the lands inftcad of f])ccie, and our

utmoft

N D I X.

\itmofl; exertion of endeavours be deemed happy, if we can any ways gather toge-
ther a fufficicnt fupply of cafli for the provifion of your invcftment, and the current
•cxpenccs of this prefidency. A reference to the immcnfc drains I have mentioned,
and a ballance of trade aG;ain{l the country equal to tiic fum of our vaft inveftmcnts,
and thofe of all the other nations, will calily account for this diftrcfs, and juilify my
aflertions.

The extent of the Dutch and French credit exceeds all conception, and their bills
are even folicitcd as fiivours. The precife funis received by them for fomc )'ears I have
•endeavoured to afcertain, though hitherto without fuccefs ; but if we only form our
itlca fiom the bills drawn this year from Tuirope on individuals here and Madrafs
(exclufive of what has been received for bills on their Company) the amount will
appear prodigious and alarming. Advices of draughts and letters of credit have been
already received to the amount of twenty-eight * lacks of rupees on Bengal, and ten -f-
lacks on the gentlemen of Madrafs ; and I have the moll: certain information that
their treafuries at Pondicherry and Chandornagore are amply furnifhed with all pro>-
vifion for both their invcftments and expences for three )'ears to come. You have
often complained of the increafe and fuperiority of the French, &c. invcftments ; but
your orders and regulations have furnilhed them with the moft extenfive means of
both. It is in vain to threaten difmlffion from your fervice, or forfeiture of your pro-
teftion, for fending home money by foreign calh, while } ou open no door for re-
mittances yourfelves. Such menaces may render the pradtice more fecret and cautious;
but will never diminifli, much lefs remove the evil.

But it is not from their accumulation of money alone, both here and on the coall,
that I think the French defigns require a very ferious attention ; but becaufe their
preparations at the illands, and the number of fhips they fend out to remain in the
country, leave us little room to doubt they are meditating an important and early blow
in this quarter. How far the procuring a fquadron of men of war to be Rationed in
India, is in your power, or confiflent with your plan, I know not ; but allow me to
recommend it as a meafure highly conducive to your fecurity.

Though I had not, at that time, an adequate idea either of the opulency of the
French, or fo immediate a profped; of our own diftrcfs for fpccie ; yet, with a view to
reftrid: their fupplies for the enfuing year, I formed a plan in the beginning of May
laft, for receiving all monies tendered to our treafury, and giving bills on Europe,
payable in three annual proportions ; the whole to bear an intereft of fix per cent,
till fuch bills were granted ; and the ballance, after the firft year, to bear an intereft of
three per cent, till paid. The univerfal concurrence I knew the propofal would meet
with, induced me to prepare a minute on the fubject for the confideration of the Board,
a copy of which I have the honour to enclofe for your information, and proof of the
utility of fuch an arrangement. Before we had any opportunity of entering on fo
important a debate, from the abfence of Mefl". Carrier and Becher, the arrival of your
orders, by the Admiral Watfon, obliged me to quit my former intentions, however
thoroughly I remained convinced of their neccffity. Had the refolution depended
folely on myfelf, I would have rilked your fevereft difpleafure, from a confcioufnefs of
doing my duty, and promoting your true intereft ; but when your jM^ohibitions were fo
pofitive, when your j)rejudices appeared fo ftrong, and your confidence in us fo fmall,
could I have propofed to the Council drawing on you for 150,000 or 2CO,ooo pounds
ftcrling, Vvhen you expecffed a remittance to the amount of 500,000, without fub-
jedting every member of that Board to certain difgrace, and difmiffion from \-ou, had
jJiey acquiefced in my meafures ?

• 350,000/. t 12;, 000/.

P But

114

N D I X.

But though it has been impoffihle for us, in our prefent fituation, to follow your
direftions in the remittances of fo large a fum in fpecie ; as much, I think, as the
power of men could effedt has been done, and is ftill doing, to enable you to realize ia
Europe as much as poffible of your property here. The mode, indeed, has been
different from what }'Ou had prefcribed ; but, I flatter myfelf, it will be found, on
trial, moll beneficial to the Company's affairs, and the nation in general. If }'ou will
recur to the Hate of your inveftment four or five years ago, it will be found on an
average, not to exceed 34* lacks of rupees ; thelaft year we provided you the amount
of 64 f lacks ; and I am in hopes to be able to tranfmit you, by the flaips of this-
feafon, goods to the value of one complete million fterling. When it is confidered,
that this is an increafe of of near 5oo,ooo pounds ikrling, that your polfeffions will
be lefs impoverillicd by an export of their produce than fpecie, that the nation will be
benefited by the duties on fo large an import, and that the Company, inftead of a lofs
of 20 per cent, on bullion, will reap a confidcrable profit on the falcs of theie cargoes,
I doubt not our condudt and indulfry will meet your and the nation's moll fincere
approbation.

To enable you to form the molt perfedl idea of the military improvements of the
Nabob Sujah al Dowlah, I fend you, by Captain Purvis, a mufket, which was one
of his firft attempts ; and alio a lock, which is of his lall and bell manufadlure.

H.. V.

No. XXVI.
T(? t/ie Hoiiourahle the Court of DireBors, &c.

Fort William, April 5, 1769.

There has no material alteration taken place in the King's affairs, or in thofeof tJie
other powers of Hindollan, fince the date of my lall letter. His majelly is Hill at
Allah-abad, and has fhcwn fome difpofition towards a reconciliation with his Vizier,
and honourcxl him with a vifit of compliment at his capital Faiz-abad.

We have had fome alarms of an intended invafion of Hi: dollan, by the Shaw
Abdalla, at the invitation of the Rajc-poot chiefs, in order to revenge themfelves of
the Jauts, for their unwarrantable attack of their country lall year, under Jcwhar
Sing. Later advices, however, allure us, that he has been obliged to march back,
in order to reduce one of his principal chiefs, who had revolted ; and that the rifque
he runs of having his Candahar dominions attacked by J Kcrim Cawn, in his ab-
fence, will probably make him cautious how he ventures lb far from his own
frontiers.

Yet, though we have little reafon for fears from abroad, the internal flatc of our
provinces is a matter of real concern ; and, unlefs jirovidcd lor by fpecdy and ef-
fedlual meafures, they mull moulder into ruin of themfelves, without the interven-
tion of any enemy. A little attention to the nature of the riches of Bcngal> and a
comparifon of the various fources of wealth or dillrcfs in the former and prefent
fyllems of government, will evince this beyond dil"[)ute. Though our provinces af-
ford no gold, filver, or precious Hones, yet the vail variety and abundance of the
produce of the lands, and the excellence of the manufadlurcs of the inhabitants,
leave them no great occafion for imported commodities ; and, at the lame time, in-
vite foreign merchants to purchafc and export thefc goods and mauufadures, from

• 382,500/. t 720,000/. N. B. Thefe boing Current rupees, are eflimated at two (hillings and
tV.ree-pence each, I The prcfcnt emperor of Pcrfia.

their

APPENDIX. 115

tlieir fiiperior cheapnefs and quality. I have obfei-vcd, that the natives had occafion
for few foreign commodities, either for convenience or for luxury, and, conrc(iuenily,
a very fmall proportion of their trade could be carried on by barter, and the rell only
by giving fjiecie for goods. The extent alfo of this traffic was prodigious ; and
befidcs the large inveltmcnts of the different European nations, the Bengal raw filk,
cloths, Sec. to a vail amount, were difperfed to the Weft and North, inland ; as far
as Guzzerat, Lahore, and even Ifpahan. In proportion, therefore, to this diffufion
of commerce, the quantity of fpecie in the country neceffarily increafed, the far-
mer and workman were enabled to anfwer the demands of government with eafe, by
the readinefs of their lales ; and every extenfion of indultry at home, or trade abroad,
was a new opening to an advance of the general opulence.

From this view, then, of the ftate of trade heretofore in thefe provinces, and by
fetting the fum of the charges of merchandize, and other neceflary difburfements
againll the fum of the imports, it will clearly follow, that the whole amount of the
trade of the provinces was a clear gain to them, by an exchange of their produce
tor bullion.

How far the imports and expences ballance each other, you have ample means of
convidtion m your own hands, by a comparifon of your export goods and bullion
with your fadiorv difburfements, and homeward inveftment, till the revolution in
1757; ^iitl if" they fhould prove fo in your cxtenfive commerce, the circumftance
will hold much more flrongly in the inland trade of the Mogul and Guzzerat mer-
chants ; who had the duties of the government to pay, and whofe goods were tranf-
ported chiefly by expenfive land-carriage. If thefe fadls are admitted, we can be no
longer at a lofs for the fource of the prodigious ancient riches of Bengal, as there
flowed in every year an increafe of fpecie equal to the export trade of the country ;
and of the immenfitv of this, we muff conceive the mofl confequential idea, when
we find from the Pachoutrah or cullom-office books, at Murflied-abad, that fo late
as Alliverdy Cawn's time, and after fo many internal revolutions and foreign rava-
ges, nearly the value of feventy * lacks of raw filk were entered there, exclufive of
the European inveftments, which were not regitlered in them, as being either duty-
free, or paving at Houghly. Here then we trace the grand and true fountain of the
wealth of thefe Subahs, and the fplendour of their Nazims ; but, befides this, there
were alfo feveral collateral ftreams which fjrved, in their turn, to feed and fwcll the
principal one. The advantages accruing from fo beneficial a commerce, enabled, as
we have feen, the t'avmcr and manufacturer to difcharge their flipulated revenue to
their prince ; and thefe revenues again did not center, nor v.ere lunk in his coffers,
but returned through various channels into the general circulation. Large Jagheers
were granted to men of noble families, or particular favourites ; whole diflrifts were
allotted to the other branches of the reigning family, at' a rate vaftly below their real
value : large armies of horfe, &c. were maintained cither for Ihow or lecuriry, at
an enormous expence ; and even the luxury and pomp, ever culfomary among the
potentates of the Eafl, contiibuted in ibme degree, by encouraging a fpirit of ex-
pence, and dilhpating large lums among the people in general ; which, if they had
remained fhut up in the treafurv, would have been a lols to the currency, and no
prefent advantage to the proprietor. Bv thefe means, therefore, and the advantage
of trade already mentioned, an extenfive and briik circulation of fpecie was kept up
everywhere; the farmer was cafy, the artizan encouraged, the merchant enriched,
and the prince fatisfied.

* 875,000/.

V 2 It

Ii6 APPENDIX.

It would not be esCy, neither is it of any importance in the prcfont cnqulrv, to
afcertain the precife ara in which all thcfe began to decline ; but fo far is certain,
that the decline was neither fenfibly felt by the countrv, nor perceptible to us, 'till
after the * revolution in favour of Meer Jaffier. This threw fuch. confiderable fums
into the hands of the Company, as to render their importing bullion for their inveft-
ment unnecellary ; and the large fortunes obtained, in confequcncc, by individuals,
who were precluded the courfe of remittance through your caih, filled the trea-
fures of foreign nations, in exchange for bills on their refpeftive Companies ; fo-
that, ever fince the country came into our poueffion, they have been enabled to rival
us in trade, in our own territories, with our own money.

The former channels then of opulence to the country beginning to ftagnate, it was
left to be maintained by the old ll:ock of fpccie, which, for a feries of years paft,
had flowed into it ; and this, by a variety of unforefeen events, funk more rapidly
than, in the ordinary courfe of things, it might othcrwife have done. The eleva-
tion of Meer Jaffier was attended with ruin to many of the principal families, de-
pendent on the late reigning one ; and much confufion and interruption to the trade
of the country merchant, by advancing our intereft therein, in preference to his.
When a fecond -f revolution took place in favour of Coffim Ally Cawn, he foon
found the fatal tendency of this fuperior influence ; his endeavours to put the other
merchants on fomething of an equal footing with us, produced continual difputes
between his officers and our agents ; and the precarioufnefs of his fituation, with an
ambition of rendering hlmfelf fpeedily independent, by a rapid encrcafe of military
ftrength and finances, made him facrifice the mofl: opulent inhabitants to his avarice,
and drain the country by every feverity of exaction, to fecure a fund for his future
defigns and exigencies.

From the belf authorities I have been enabled to obtain here, and from the faireft
calculations, it feems probable that Coffim Ally was the caufe of a lofs of near five 'j^
crores of rupees in jewels and fpecie to the country, which he either expended in
drawing Sujah al Dowlah to his affiftance, or carried oft' and fecreted for his future
provifion.

If we confider that the treafures of the Nizamut were fo low, on his acceffion,
that Meer Jaffier had been neccffitated to cede large diftrifts to us, in lieu of fums
due, whilft his own troops were almoil mutinous for want of their pa\' and arrears ;
and if, to this, we add that Coffim remained in quiet pofleffion of his new dignity
no longer than three years, we muft at once fee that this immenfe fum was levied
immediately from the provinces in this fliort interval, over and above the heav}' cur-
rent expences, and be fenfible how large a proportion this valf drawback muft have
been to the country's capital of fpecie. The § reftoration of Meer Jalfier, and the
grant of the 1| Dewanny to the Compan)' by his majefty, rendered the frefti imports
of bullion, cither by us or foreign companies, lefs neccft'ary to the maintenance and
profecution of trade, from the fame original caufe which had exifted in 1757; and
the increafing reftridtions and difadvantages with which the free trade of the native,
Guzzerat, or Mogul, was daily fettered and loaded, fucceeding that confufion which
frequent revolutions had occafioned, either produced certain bankrtiptcies, or deterred
the more circumfiiecft from embarking at all in commerce to a certain lofs. Here,
then, the channel of trade, which had before poured the principal riches into Ben-
gal, began to turn a drain upon it ; the whole centered in the Europeans, whofd
commerce was, at all times, leaft to the advantage of the country, becaufe their ini^

• In the year 1757. + ^"^ ^^'^ /^^"^ l'j(iO, J 6,250,000/. § In the year 1763.

y In the year 1765.

ports

A P

N D- I X.-

i'7

porfs were largeft in proportion, and their duties lefs ; and who, now, added to thefe
a new lofs, that of making larger exj^orts than ever, at the country's fole cxpcnce. Of
the deftructivc extent of this "lofs, the following rough comparifon of the imports of
bullion by the European nations, and their exports of commodities and bullion, for
three years pall, will awaken themoft alarming idea.

IMPORTS.

Bullion Imported by the Dutch at the highell efli- 1
mate during that term, at la lacks per annum i
Ditto, by the French, — —

Ditto, by the Englifh, — — ►

Ditto, by the Guzeratties, Moguls, &c. —

Ditto, in gold from Baflbra, Mocha, &c. on private ac- r
count, at 6 lacks per annum — — J

Ditto, by the Danilh Comp. at 2 i-half lacks per ann.,

Rupees. /^. Sterling,

3,000,000 or 337,500

0,000,000
0,000,000
0,000,000

1,800,000 or 202,500

750,000 or 84,375

*• Rupees, 5,530,000 or 624,375^..

}

EXPORTS.

Engllfli Company, in 1766 and 1767, at the lowell

calculate, — —

Ditto, in 1768, — —

Ditto private property, at the rate of 5000 1. per fliip, 1

and 5 fhips per ann, for 3 years, at a medium, i

Dutch Company, 1766 and 1767, 3 fhips public and 1

private, amount at the lo'.veft 10 per fhip, - J

Ditto, 1768, 4 fliips, — — -

French, 1766 and 1^67, 5fliips, at 10 lacks each.
Ditto, 1768, 4 fhips, ditto, — —

Danes, 1766 and 1767, i Ibip, at 8 lacks each year.
Ditto, 1768, 2 fliips, at ditto, — —

•f Specie exported out of the provinces for payment of

the kirrg's tribute and a brigade at Allah-abad, at 50

lacks per annum, for 3 years — —
Private exports to China, at 2 lacks per annum.

10,700,000 or

7,000,000 or

600,000 or

1,203,750

787,500

67,500

6,000,000 or 675,000

4,000,000 or

5,000,000 or

4,000,000 or

j.,6oo,ooo or

1,600,000 or

15,000,000 or

6oo,coo or

450,000
562,500
450,000
1 So,ooo
180,000

1,687,500

67,500

From which deduct the imported bullion, agreeable
to the above eilimate — • —

And there remains a ballance againft the country of
rupees, -^ — —

56,100,000 or 6,311,250
} 5^550,000 or 624,375

} 50,550,000 or 5,686,875;^.

I do not, here, include the export trade In general of the private European mer-
chants, notvvlthllancHng It is very confidcrable,. becaufe, though they bring in little

• This (latemen-t is ii>Current rupees, which are eftimated at the exchange of two (hillings and three-
pence each.

f The brigade accounts for one year not having been completed when this flatement of their expence.
wa£ formed, this part of the annual drain of fpecie was thereby rather ovei-rated».

bullion.

118 APPENDIX.

bullion, yet, as they import commodities equal to what they carry out, the country is
neither much hurt iior much benefited by their traffic, till the merchant comes to
realize his gains, in order for his return to his native country, and then the amount of
I hem becomes an addition to the ballance againft the country, by being paid into
fonic European Company's cafli for bills ; and, bv this means, rendering it unneccfiary
for them to import bullion at a rifque for the provifion of their inveftment. Neither
do I include, in this account, the large funis lent by us to China, Madrafs, or other
prefidenclcs ; becaufc thcfe reduced the Company's treafurv rather than the country,
and becaufe they were equally loft to the country if they remained in the trealliry, and
did not enter into our difburfcments or inveftment, as if thev were exported. The
King's tribute, on the contrary, and the cxpence at Allah-abad, are really fo much
lofs to the circulation, becaufe, as they form a large proportion of our ncceffary dif-
burfcments, fo being now mad^ out of the provinces, they muft be a fimilar lofs to the
current fj^^cie. It will hardlv be aflerted that any country, however opulent, could
long maintain itfelf, much leis flourifli, when it received no material fupplies, and
when a ballance againft it, of above one-third of its whole vcarly vaiu&, was vearly
incurred. But befides this, there are other concomitant circumftances, which have
contributed to diminilTi the riches of the country, and muft, if not remedied, foon ex-
hauft them. I have obferved, that one great advantage the country formerly reaped
was, the diffulion of its revenues by large grants' to different families, and by the cx-
penfive luxury of its governors. But now the whole amount of the lands is Avallowed
up in one gulph — your treafury ; nor does any part of it return into the circulation,
except the fums ifTued for our inveftment and n^ccfljry exnenccs ; fo that there enllies
an annual lofs to the currency, equal to the difference between the aggregate of the
inveftment and diftiurfements, and the total of the revenues. This, if continued, muft
in time draw in all the fpecie ; and the only remedy for this evil is, either to encrcafc
your inveftment, until, v.ith your difburfcments, it equals your revenues, or to import
a quantity of fpecie equal to the difference. The firft of thefe, if pradlicable, would
leave you without a fund for emergencies, by advancing the revenues to the Aurungs
lis faft as they werecolledied.; the fecond, I am afraid, is raxher to be wilhed by us
than to be attempted bv you.

I have thus, gentlemen, attempted to lay open to 3-ou the true fources of the ancient
opulence of Bengal, and its prefent diftrefs. Perhaps, you have never been led to
confider them in this light ; but, I am perfuaded, an impartial examination will evince
the juftice of my arguments. Shoukl they ftand the tell, they cannot fail of being
particularly ufeful at this jundlure ; as they will enable you to apply a fuiiablc fupport
v/here the weaknefs is pointed out, and to anfwer the objeftions and clamour of your
enemies. From hence, alio, you will fee how much the advantages of your lave ac^
quifitions have been exaggerated beyond all bounds ; and how far from impoflible it
was for the Honourable Eaft India Company to be diftrcfled, though newly become
mafters of the revenues of a country whieli ftood rated at above three millions ftcrling
per annum. A fupcrficial, or weak obfcrver, may eftimate a ctnintry like an eftate,
.from its rent-roll ; but the man of experience and rcficdtion will eafily fee that its
annual income muft depend on the proportion of its produce, which can be realized
in fpecie ; and that the intrinffc value of it muft ftuftuate as the quantity of fpecie,
which is the meafure of it, multiplies or dccreafcs in the kingdom where it is i^laced.
In this point of view, and after what has been jilrcady faid, I need no arguments to
ikmonftratc the reality of our prefent difncultics, and the certain profpcft of our future
tliftrefs. I have already hinted my apprchenfions of your inability to increafe your
invcftmcnts of bullion, which are even now looked upon with a jealous eye by the
nation ; but it is ftill in 30ur power to oblige others to import ir^ or leave you folc

mafters

APPENDIX. irc?

maftcrs of the Bengal trade. Large fums, belonging to your former fervants, are ftill
lying unremitted ; and thefe mull yearly cncrcafe, by the fruits of the fuccefsful in-
duflry of your prefent ones. If you open your cafh upon equitable terms for re-
mittances for all fums tendered, both national and private confiderations will draw all
thefe into your channel, and cut off the grand refource and advantage of foreign na-
tions, the rivalling you in your trade with your own money. I fay equitable terms,
becaufe it can never be expedled that any one will remit the produce of many years
labour at fo great a difcount as one ninth part of his principal, below the par of ex-
change, at two fliillings and three-pence yicr Current rupee ; and, on the contrary,
had you even raifed the rate to two fliillings and four-pence tlie Current rupee, inftead
of finking it to two fliillings, I dare aver, the Company, as well as the nation, would
have been confiderable gainers by the advance. We fliould then have been able to
have lent vou home, by the next iealbn, an inveftment far fuperior to that of the pre-
fent 3'ear ; whereas, policy, or rather necLffity, muft now oblige us to curtail it to forty-
five * lacks. I need draw no comparifon between the lofs of one ninth per Cent, on
the remittance, and the gain to you of one hundred and fevcnty-five per cent, on fuch
an increafe of import ; neither need I fuggeft the difference it occafions to the nation,
Companv, and country, to throw fo large a fum into the hands of their natural ene-
mies, and lukewarm friends, by a miftaken and injudicious occonomy.

Do not, however, gentlemen, conceive that your fervants here are fo anxious for
remittances through yojr cafh, from any private or intercfted views. The remittances
of foreign nations mull always be more advantageous to them, becaufe they will al-
ways keep their terms a little higher than yours as an inducement ; and this muft
continue till yours are on fuch a footino:, as to render a farther advance of their rate

■• . * 1,11

equal, or fuperior, to che infurance and intereft on exports of bullion. Then we may
hope for fome fupplies from them to this declining country ; and, till then, our ftraights
and poverty muft Increafe.

We have fent you an inveftment this year, the produce of which will, we hope,.
anfwer every exigency ; but we propofe to lower the inveftment for the next fealbn to
forty or forty-five lacks, including the leven lacks, and upwards, now in your ware-
houfes ; and to appropriate the furplus for the eftablilliment of a fund for our ov, n
exigencies, and thole of the other prefidencies. The neceftity of this I need nut
enlarge u])on ; the arguments in a letter to us from the gentlemen of Madrafs, dated
March ift, 1769, and the fentiments of the Committee in the laft paragraph of thtir
anfu'cr t'hereto, will, I apprehend, be fufficient.

The fum ought to amount to a f crore of rupees for this prefidency, and fitty j;;
lacks for the fupply of the treafury at Fort St. George ; and 1 would recommend
that, after the above fund is fecured, the furplus of the revenues, or a confiderable
part thereof, ftiould be employed on private fecurity of the native in loans, for the
cultivation of the wafte lands ; by which, in time, your whole poflijfTions would be-
come of real value to you, the country better populated, the trade increafed by an
additional (juantity of manufadrories, and the means of realizing your property more
•certain, and lefs detrimental either to the country, or the native trader.

As a prefent relief to che neceffities of the fettlement, at their univcrfal requell,
and to fuppl}', as far as poffible, the deficiency of filver for the purpofes of tradt;
and revenue ; we have found it expedient to re-eftablilh the gold currency upon a
new plan and ftandard', as the only remedy left us ; and, I doubt not, but when
you feiioufiy weigh- the arguments fet forth in the refolutions of the board, you will
ajvprove the meafure, and acquit us from all imputation of precipitancy or contra-
diction in our councils.

* Of Cur.'ent r.i-ees, or _:o6j25o /. t 1,250,000/. J 625,100/.

I did

I20

■ APPENDIX.

I did intend to liave entered on the ftate of your rcvenues, both as to the mode
of collection, and the improvements of which it is capable ; but, as I am now pro-
ceeding towards the * city, and fhall have an opportunity of feeing every thing ad-
jufted for the Poonah, I hav£ thought it better to defer it till the firil: fnip of next
I'eafon, a\ hen I hope to deliver it in perlon.

Since 1 began this -letter, I have received intelligence of the retreat of the Shaw
Abdid Uu

H, V.

No. XXVII.
^0 yohn Car Tier, Efq. and the Gentlemen of the Council of Fort William.

Fort Williain, Dec. i6, 1769.

Before I put an -f- end to mv long ferviccs, it is a duty I confider incumbent on mc
to contribute what I can to the future welfare of this fettlement and country, our
Companv, and nation. The experience and obfervations of more than twenty years
may poffibly claim fome attention from the Court of Direclors. I iliall make no
other apology for what I now lay before you, than the warmth of my zeal for a fer-
vice, whofe intereft I fliall ever lupport with a grateful heart.

The fubjed: is important, exteniive, and delicate ; but as fo many and various re-
prefentations have been given of it, fome perverted by defign, others through ig-
norance, it becomes more immediately the duty of the fervants of the Company,
who have had experience, to communicate, and the part of the Court of Diredlors
to confide in them.

I fhall begin with a fummary reference to the moft interefting degrees and varieties
of fituation, through which we have pafled from the original conftitution of the
Comp.mv, to its prefent flourifliing condition ; in the courfe of which many reflec-
tions mufl: needs occur to warn us from errors, and to expofe imperfections : nor is
it furprifing that we fhould difcover many, where fuch a multitude of changes, con-
nections, engagements, and occupations has coincided with the fuddennefs of our
elevation, in diverting our thoughts from a more fettled contemplation of ourfelves,
and of our own eftablilhment.

The afccndencv of the Englifh in HIndoftan, is in the number of thofe events
which are diftinguilhed by a feries of fortunate and uniorefeen occurrences ; not the
xefult of any fixed or connefted plan of policy. A colony of merchants, governed
by laws, and influenced by principles merely commercial, have acquired a political
title and influence over a country, which for extent, populoufnefs, and annual re-
venue, may be compared to many the mofl confequential ftates of Europe ; that
■commerce which was once profecuted in fubjcdtion to a tyrannical government, ever
ready to take advantage of our weaknefs, and to confirue the flighted omiiTions into
encroachments, is now but a f.=condary confideration ; and the. native authority being
too weak to controul the power which our agents derive from our name, the rights of
the natives have been generally fuperfedcd. The fubilanilal have declined rifking
their property in trade under fuch difadvantages, and the poor and induitrious receive
but a faint ercouragemcnt to their labours ; we fee, we feel, the increafing jioverty of
the country, from the diminution of fpecic, as well as the flowncfs and partiality of

• The city of Murflied abad, the capital of Bengal.
. f Mr. Vcrelft refigned the government of Bengal, DeccmLer 24, 1769.

its

APPENDIX. 121

Its circulalion ; indeed, from the regulations we liave made, examples we have order-
ed, and the checks \vc have multiplied, I flatter myfelf that the equality of com-
merce will finally be rellored, and the fpiiit of monopoly hs dcflroycd ; but the body
of the people are in a manner formed to wear the yoke. They poflbfs nothing of the
inquifitivencfs of the liurojiean nations; and the mod flendcr arts arc fulTicicnt to
©bfcure their underftandings, and fit them for implicit fubtniffion. Thofe among
them, who attain to employments in our fervice, are generally men who have learnt
fo much of our manners as to corrupt their own, and joining an acute and verfatile
genius to abundance of low cunning, they fcarccly want the confequencc of the Eng-
iilli name to prompt them to every villainy.

WhiUt the native government retained its fuperiority, its tribunals were acccOiblc ;
»nd though venality prefided at them, \et fome llicw of jullicc was maintained, and,
at times, redrefs might be procured. The native government is now fallen in the
eyes of the inhai:)itants, yet fuch reftriftions have hitherto cramped our proceedings,
as to prevent us from taking that intimate part which our prefent charaftcr and dignity
recjivire. The dependents of this nominal government have been the only infl;rumcnts
which we could employ, cither to reprefs the enormities of our own agents, or to
obtain the good opinion of the country people. Their authority is, in general, over-
awed ; their principles too bad to anfvver the former purpofe ; and their efiablifhment
and condutft too temporary and too weak for the latter ; fo that the Englifh name
has been only all-powerful to do mifchicf ; and a mortifying fpeftacle of fraud and
oppreflion on the one hand, and imbecility on the other, has been exhibited to us,
\\ithout the power of interpofing.

'I'he confideration of thefe circumflances mufi: appear to the Court of Dired:ors, a
principal object of their attention. A prudent decifion thereon moil: nearly concerns
the fafety and profperity of thefe important poffeffions. I hope, therefore, that my
opinion in this place, will not be deemed unnecelfary or ill-timed ; there can be no
doubt but the caufe, which has thus fruftrated the beft inclinations, is interwoven
with oirr original confiitution, which muft be enlarged in proportion as our fphere of
adlion is extended, and our duty encreafed ; othervvife we can never hope to diredt
the a;iplication of our own power, and remove it from the necks of the poor and ufe-
ful to t::e chatVifement of the tyrannical and rapacious.

In tjie infancy of our fettlement, with all our care and prudence, we could ill de-
fend ourfelves from the forced accufations or open attacks of the government; we
looked no farther than the provlfion of the Company's inveftment ; v\e fought ad-
vantages to our trade with tiie ingenuity, I may add, felfiflinefs of merchants. All
■our laws were local and municipal, reaching no farther than our own exigencies
and conveniencies ; all our fcrvants and dependents v.ere trained and educated in
the fame notions ; the credit of a good bargain was tlie utmoft fccpe of their am-
bition.

No fooner did we bcpin to feel our own ftrena-th, than our fucceffes followed one
anothep with fuch rapidity, as to advance us from a ftate of obicurity or mediocrity,
to power, afliuence, and national reputation. At length we faw ourfelves, though
yet under the name of merchants, mailers and adminiilrators of a legillative autho-
rity : we began to plan, dired:, and infpirlt every mcafure of government, whether
with regard to foreign treaties or domefiic regulations. Wealth flowed in upon us
from every fide. Our invefimcnt was extended : we fupported the whole trade of
India; and, from our refources, gave fccurity to it in every quarter.. But this was
Tather a temporary than a folid fituation ; and we foon difcovered, that though ovrr
acquifitions had been made in fo fhort a fpace as fcarcely to be paralleled, confider-
iag their immenfitv, vet a well digefted fvtlcm was neceflary to introduce permanency

Q^ ^ ia

122 APPENDIX.

in our cftablilhmcnt. The defecfts and imperfections of which were too apparent to
efcape our obfervation. Our dependents, accuftomed to apply their talents to pre-
fent gain, and to extradt advantages from the fmalleft opening, adumed an impor-
tance proportionable to our fucceffes, grew immoderate, and difclaimed tlieir depen-
dency on the native government.

In this fituation wc could not retradl without expofing ourfelves to a fecond flage
of obfcurity, perhaps lower than the firft. Our circumltances impelled us forward,
and the grant of the Dewanny became as much an objeft of neceffity as it was of
advantage. Thus we inllnfibly broke down the barrier betwixt us and government,
and the native grew uncertain where his obedience was due. Such a divided and
complicated authority gave rife to oppreflions and intrigues unknown at any other
period ; the officers of government caught the infeftion, and being removed from any
immediate controul, proceeded with ftill greater audacity.

In the mean time we were repeatedly and peremptorily forbid to avow any pub-
lic authority over the officers of government in our own names, and enjoined to re-
tain our primitive charaders of merchants with the moft fcruputous delicacy.

The confequcnces are buc too evidentlv exemplified in the decline of commerce and
cultivation, the diminution of fpecie, and the general dillrefles of the poor ; a train
of evils which could only have fprung from the above caufes, fince every advantage
of a long and uninterrupted tranquility has been on our fide. Experience mull con-
vince the moll prejudiced, that to hold vaft pofllffions, and yet to adt on the level
of mere merchants, making immediate gain our firft principle ; to receive an immenfe
revenue, without polTeffing an adequate proteftive power over the people who pay it ;
to be really intereiled in the grand and generous objedt, the good of the whole, and
yet to purfue a narrow and partial end ; are paradoxes not to be reconciled, highly
injurious to our national charafter, dangerous to the bell defended ellablillimentj and
abfolutely bordering on inhumanity.

The people give us the labour of their hands, and in return we owe them our pro-
tection; common prudence, as well as the laws of fociety, require that thofe obliga-
tions fliould be reciprocal,' or the tie mud foon be dillblvcd ; for the firmcil Iccurity
of every government is the aiTcftions of the people ; and for obtaining them, there
never, perhaps, prefented a more favourable opportunity, or more noble field, than
what the Englilh poflcls in Bengal. The mildnefs of our government, properly dif-
fufed over thcfe provinces, will form fo confpicuous a contraft to Mahomedan dcf-
potifm, that it muft bind them to us and our caufe for ever.

I have hitherto confidcred our intercll in this country as built on a precarious
foundation, becaufe this cement was wanting to bind it; and, in this point of view,
I am particularly happy on the late refolutions which have been taken, to appoint
Englilh Supra-vifors, as an introdudlion to fo defirable an event. I could have wifli-
cd to have feen the execution of * the plan during my continuance in the government ;
but pcrmiffion was denied to me before, and a neceffary regard to my health makes
it impoffible now ; however, I have this fatisfaftion left, that if I may judge from
the unanimity with which you, gentlemen, have embraced the plan, neither pene-
tration to difccrn, nor fortitude to overcome, every difficulty will be wanting; on
the contrary, I flatter myfelf that, by a juit difpenfation of rewards to thofe who
merit them, and timely checks on thofe who require them, you will bring fo great
and good a work to its full maturity and perfedlion ; a circumftancc which will rc-
f! dl the higheft honour on every individual, who has either the diredlion or execu-
tion of it. At the fame time, I have the pleafurc to rciledl, that every ftcj) 3'ou take

* See this plan, a fubfcqucnt article in the Appendix.

APPENDIX. 123

in it will bring you fo much nearer to the great end of fecurity. For whilft the army
is maintained on its prcfent formidable footing, vvhilft you continue your attention to
the defence of the jilacc, and the minds of the people grow more and more conciliated
and attached, you can have nothing to fear.

But there is a rock, and a dangerous one, which requires the grcateft circumfpcfl ion
to avoid. We have ftepped forth beyond all former precedent or example. We
have the bed and moft laudable of all arguments to juftify our condudt. But it
fhould be remembered, that we have reached that fupreme line, which, to pafs,
would be an open avowal of fovereignty. It fliould be remembered, that we cannot
be more, without being greater than found policy allows ; the interefts of our em-
ployers at home, no lefs than our national conncd:ions abroad, forbid it. If we were,
before the change, cautious of interfering with the native government, and of awak-
ening the jealoufy of foreign nations, we ought now to redouble our i>rudencc. The
change itfelf, fuppofing the greateft forbearance on our parts, has an unavoidable
tendency to deftroy the name of the Nizamut ; by which means, what might have
been the happieft event for the Company and nation, may bccom.e the fource of
perplexities and jealoufies, if not the deprivation of the Company's privileges. There
is, however, a middle way, where moderation muft guide and continue us ; where
we may walk with fafety, advantage, and confiflence, without danger of too much
confinement, or too much liberty. Exteriors fhould be regarded as eiientials. Every
order fliould fcrupuloufly wear the fandtion of the native government. Our depen-
dence on its indulgencies, our obedience to his commands, our delicacy to its mi-
nifters, fliould appear moft confpicuous in all tranfatftions, either of bufincfs or
ceremony. I am not ignorant how difficult it is always to preferve and afFeft that
temperate rule of conduft which I mention, when the power and diredtion of all de-
partments fo entirely concentre in your board ; and may be ftill more difficult to
produce a proper conformity in the Supra-vifors : for thefe reafons I am thus carneft
in my reprefentations, and am of opinion, that the whole weight and vigilance of this
board fliould be exerted to check the moft trifling variation from the line, and to preferve
the idea of the native government, its dignity and fuperiority over all, as entire and
unimpaired as poflible.

Without departing from thefe maxims, we fliall have fufficient opportunities to an-
fwer all our views ; our power will not be lefs efficacious, in being excreifcd with
prudence. The Supra-vivoifhips will afford you a fet of fervants capable of fucceed-
ing, in their turn, to the firft offices ; that ftation will introduce them to a perfect
knowledge of the laws and cuftoms of the country; they will form a judgment upon
the fpot of the difpofitions of the people; they will fee with their own eyes the pre-
valent abufcs of office, the villainy of agents, and, in fliort, the true fpring of the
iiiifery or happinefs of the country. Thus much ma}' be advanced with confidence,
that if this meafurc meets with the ncceflary fiijiport and encouragement, there can-
not fail being a regular fucceffion of able and vigorous adminiftrators. The fcrvice,
at prcfent, affords m.any )'oung men of promifing parts and abilities. As the Supra-
viforfliips may be called a nurfery for them, in refpc(ft to the government of the
country, fo in like manner their experience in commercial matters, before they reach
Council, muft bring them acquainted with our commercial intereft ; and as thefe are
the grand foundation and fupport of our profperity, they muft be deemed the elfen-
tial part of their education.

But from what has been faid of the characflcrs of the people who are em.ployed
directly by us, or intermediately for us, evcrv thinking perfon muft be fenfible of
one capital defedt in our government : that the members of it derive their fole ad-
vantages from, commerce, carried on through black agents, who again employ a nu-

0^2" merou's

124 A P P E II D I X.

merous band of retainers ; It is notorious that, at times, the agents of the lovvefl; fer-
vants have domineered over the Ryot, and kept the officers of government in a
Ihite of av/e or fubjedlion ; and it cannot be fuppofed that more rcfped:able names
are not equally mllapplled. It would be as eafy to change the genius and manners
of the people, as to prevent the Banians, and followers of men in llation, from abuf-
ing their mailers' name. Chaftifement may deter the opprellbr for a moment ; but,
in fuch cafes, the fervility of the people muft be removed, before oppreffion can be
eradicated. Perwannahs have been recalled and fuppr^ffed ; excellent eflijcts will
doubtlefs flow from it, but the idea of name and authority wiil ftlll be held up by
rapacious agents for their own ends. The conclulion I draw from it is this, that
^vas It poffible to form an adminiflration totally free from commercial views and
connedtlons, reilriftive laws would and muft then have their courfe ; whereas Banians
and agents, by the fpirit with which they adt, and the force of their example, will
always obftrudt their good effedfs, and propagate a difrefpedl and delufion of them
in others.

To form fuch an adminiftration, I not only think poffible but eafy. I would pro-
pofe that, from the admiffion of a member into Council, he put an entire conclu-
fion to his trade ; and, in lieu of it, that he receive a certain allowance, chargeable
upon the country ; which allowance fhould be augmented in proportion to the im-
provements made, and its internal profperity : a method of reward the moll honour-
able that can be devifed for thofe that are to receive It, and the moft beneficial to
the community, being unincumbered with the confequences, anxieties, and relations
of private affairs. The members of adminiilration will have a more undi\idcd at-
tention to the public, and their orders be more thoroughly refpedted, and more vi-
goroufly obeyed.

I am come to an obfervation which feems to merit your particular attention. You
are no Grangers to a want of method which reigns in the affliirs of this government.
The whole weight of bufincfs is confined to two departments ; the Committt-e and
Council : our time Is confequently taken up with debating, preparing, and diclating
on the fubjedfs which come before us. Our decifions are retarded, and the fprings
of government relaxed. The attention and memory are unneceflarily burdened :
neither are thefe departments thoroughly defined or underftood, if we judge from
comparing different orders and paragr3i)hs of their general letters. The Court of
Direftors themfelves are at a lofs \\ here the precife line of each Is drawn ; fomerlmes
attributing to the Council what belongs to the Committee, and again transferring
from one to the other, without rule or dilflndfion. It Is well worth \^our confidera-
tion, gentlemen, to adopt fome better plan for the cafe of adminifiration, and for
the difpatch of bufinefs. This can only be done by dividing the burden, which now
rcfls upon a fingle body, amongft kparate departments, and bringing each objeft of
deliberation Into a compact compafs. Was the number of the board mcreafed to
fixteen, the bufinefs diftrlbuted to diftlndl Committees, and whatever Is prepared In
thefe Inferior departments, finally referred to the Prcfident and Council, it is ob-
vious how much utility and convenience would refult from it. The Governor, who-
is the head of all departments, and ought to fuperintcnd the whole, would be much
relieved from that intricate diverfity of objedfs, which, as tilings are at prcfent con-
duced, he is o!)liged to comprehend at one viev\', aiul that generally at a time vvhea
his conflltution has been previoufly impaired by long refidence in the climate. You,
gentlemen, would meet, not to debate or to fettle imiwrtant forms, but at once to
decide. Every member of adminiftrntion would have etjual and conflant opportu-
nities of feeing the whole progrefs of public affairs, and would accjulre a generai
"knowledge, which would qualify him indifcrimlnatcly for an)' llation.

H. V.

APPENDIX, 125

y No. XXVIII.

^0 Jolm Carfter, Efq. &c. Members of the SeleSi Committee.

December i6, 1769.

I have fo much enlarged on the internal flate of thefe provhiccs. In my letter to
the Council, that little remains for nic to communicate in this addrcfs.

Our political fecurity has been acquiring frelh flrength from every event which has
happened around us, nor do I fee any probability of its being fhakcn, whilll we
continue to join moderation to power. There is not a potentate in the empire but
has cither courted our alliance or embraced our meafures, and, this, without un-
fhcathing our fword.

The King has lately afTcdled great earneflnefs to undertake his favourite expedi-
tion to Dehly. But the lowneis of his finances threaten his project with a very fud-
den abortion. The weaknefs of his dif[)ofition is no lefs evident in the adminiftra-
tion of his domeftic affairs, than in the furmacion of his political fchemes. Perpe-
tual changes of his minifters und confidants have bred an uncertainty and diftruft in
the minds of all his adherents, which has checked public fpirit, and produced a ge-
neral turn to felfifli purfuits. \\ ith a treafury fo ill fupplied, and a court fo ill af-
fedted, it is more than probable, if he fliould advance, that he will be preyed on by
his own fervants ; and, being awakened from his delufion by a fcene of beggary and
contempt, will ultimately take proteft'.on in our provinces.

From thefe conclufions it was, I formed my opinion fome months ago, when I
acquiefced in his majefty's requiiition of two battalions ; and all circumftanccs fince
have ferved to corroborate that opinion. An occafion of demonftrating the hncerity
of our profeffions, without fubjesSting us to any apparent inconvenience, were too in-
viting advantages to be negleiffed, and may be derived from our connedlions with his
majefty.

As thcncccffity of retaining his majefty under our influence, or feparating our-
fclves entirely from him, is a maxim in our lyftem ; and as the iormer feems molt
probable, we fliould be careful how we allow ftrangers to aifume the management of
his councils. Our conduft towards him is plain. We muft either contrive to guide
him at a diltance, or fo to palliate, that, if unfuccefsful, he may confider us as his
protestors, our provinces as the place of his refuge.

All things, at prefent, feem tending to the latter, and it is an event moft to be
wiflied ; but I had rather his majeily fliould make the propofition, than that we
fliould give the invitation. Dilappointment may correft his impatience, and difficul-
ties may teach him prudence. The treachery of Hindoftan profeffions will prepare
him better for the frank, plain declarations of his Englifh allies ; and there is the
greateft rcafon to believe he will return to us with repentance.

The character of the * Nabob-Vizier was never thoroughly known till his con-
nedions with us. His entcrprifing genius, his hi';h fpirit, his plaufible policy, are
all fuUied, if not entirely obfcured, by oppolite blemiflies ; for, with thefe, he is in-
conltant, oftentatious, and impetuous. His military fpirit has received a fevere mor-
tification in the late defection of his beft battalions : no doubt, it has abated the ar-
dour of his expectations, and given birth to other ideas than thofe of foreif^^n aggran-
iljfement and conqueit. Experience has fhevvn us, that this prince poflefles no firm-

* Sujah al Dowlah.

ncfs

125 APPENDIX.

nefs nor folidity. However high his demands, trifling conceffions, provided they
fpeak to his paiTions, will mollify him. His expreffions may be boafting, but they
do not lead to attion. If, thereifore, we footh his vanity, and manage his foibles in
trifles, we may lead, or even dicftate, in eflentials.

There is Ibmething in the conftitution of the Rohillas which mufl ever make them
weak and inconfiderable as aggreuors. Their government Is divided into chieffliips ;
but no one chief has, flngly, troops or refources to enterprize a foreign war. HafFez
Rahmct is too parfimonious. Achmed Cawn is too wife to quarrel, where the ad-
vantage is not clearly on their fide ; but, when attacked, their national affedtion will
unite ; the common caufe will animate. A private conteft will not roufe them, nor
is it prafticable to engage their voice on any other motive than the general fafety.

Domeftic difputes have given full employment to the Jauts, and aflbrded them little
leifure to look abroad. They are divided into two parties ; the one headed by the
widow of Surage Mull, in favour of Rutten Sing's brother ; the other, headed by
fome principal chiefs, in favour of Surage Mull's grandfon. As the parties have, in
a manner, divided the flrength of the country bet^\'een them, hofliliries are yet fuf-
pendcd, in order, it is imagined, to gain time for foliciting and aUcmbling their re-
fpedfive auxiliaries. In the mean time, diftradtion and diforder reign amongfi: them,
with all the unhappy confequences of a rival fuccefiion.

The Nabob Nijib al Dowlah, is enjoying the fruits of his wife and provident mea-
fures, attending to the cultivation of his country, and fecuring the happinefs of his
people. According to prefent appearances, he has no defigns of interrupting the
public tranquility himfelf, or of encouraging others. A fuppofition, which I think
much favoured by the perfedt neutrality obferved by him in the affair of the Jauts.

The Seiks are the Maharattas of the North. Like them, their fole profeffion is
arms ; their fole purfuit is plunder : but, their conquells having been rapidly made
and exrenfively puflied, they are generally employed in quelling fudden infurreiftions
of the conquered, regulating what they have got, and therefore incapable of concerted
expeditions. That vaft tradt between Sirhind and Lahore, which they have over-run,
feems yet a wide field for them to range, and they will never venture beyond the limits
of it, at leaf! on this fide, whillT: Abdalla is conllantly impending over them on the
other. The well difciplincd and veteran army of Nijib al Dowlah has hitherto been
a fufficient barrier againft them, in the fame manner as they have proved an infur-
mountable obftacle to Abdalla.

That prince has more to fear from his neighbour and cov/ard enemy, Kerim Cawn,
than Hindoflan from him. His large dominions, his celebrated name, can avail him
little without money in his treafurv. The figure he made in his late expedition was
fo difgracefiil, and the dangers he encountered fo difpiriting, that it has moft likely
checked his fanguine views j and, befides his poverty, he has jealoufy and fadlion
amoRgll his own fervants to difturb his mind, and confine him to his own dominions.

The Maharattas have been long embroiled at home ; and though peace has been
concluded between Janoogee and Madhu-Row, there Hill lurks a fufpicion which will
chiefly dircft their attention to the mamcuvrcs of each other. I once flattered my-
felf, that the former would l.ave acceded to a treaty for the ccfiion of Orilfa, but his
evafive and artful behaviour h:is convinced me that the Maharattas v.ill never defcrt
their old and charadteriftic manners. After three years negociation, much trouble,
and fome cxpence, no progrefs has been made towards a conclufion ; on the contrary,
he has ftudioufly avoided any declaration of his fcntinients. I would, therefore, re-
commend, that his Vackeel, who is now in Calcutta, may be immediately difpatchcd
to him, to dciiiand a categorical anfwcr; to which purport, I have prepared and now
Jav before you a letter to Janoogee.

Thus,

APPENDIX. 127

Thus, gentlemen, I have dcfcribcd the fituation of thofe powers by which the ge-
neral tran(iuility can any way be endangered ; and you will fee, that perfonal weak-
nefs, civil dilfcnfions, and political precaution, all confpire to cftablilh our fecurity on
a broad and moft durable bafis. J. caving us, therefore, nothing to fear from Hin-
doflan powers, there cannot be a more fortunate coiijuncflure for the execution of our
plan, to make us profperous and flourifhing within ourfelves.

On this head, I have delivered my fentimcnts with fufficicnt explicitnefs to the
Council, but I muft here add a few words to you particularly.

You are fenfible that our name and authority are carried to the utmoft line, unlefs
we openly take the reins of the country government into our own hands. You are
equally fenfible, that to go beyond it will be to exceed the bounds of good policy, if
not afFedt the very privileges of the Company. This Committee holds an immediate
intercourfe with the country government, and is indeed the channel of all tranfaftions
between it and our adminiftration. To you, gentlemen, it confequently belongs to
inculcate the principles of a delicate conduft, to uphold a moft fcrupulous obfcrvancc
of every form, and to indicate apparent dependence on all occafions.

I now take my leave of you, earneflly praying that all your councils may be united,
your meafures fuccefsful, and fincercly thanking you for the affiftance and fupport
which I have received from you in the management of this great and laborious go-

vernment.

H. V.

No. XXIX.

"ExtraB of a Letter from the Court of Dire5tors to the Prejident and Council
at Fort William in Benignly dated 'June \Jl, iy6^.

Paragraph 54. For the reafons given in our letter of the 8th of February laft,
we were then induced to fend pofitive orders to put a final and eft'eftual end to the
inland trade in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco, and all other articles whatfoever, produced
and confumed in the country. To the remarks we made in that letter, we mull; add
one obfervation, which is, it appears very extraordinary that in a trade fo extremely
lucrative to iadividuals, the intereft of the Company fhould not at all have been at-
tended to or confidered.

55. Thofe orders were fent, it is true, before we received the new * treaty you en-
tered into with Jaffier Ally Cawn, upon his re-eftablifhmcnt in the Subahfliip, in
which it is agreed, that the Englifh fliall carry on their trade, by means of their own
Duftuck, free from all duties, taxes, and impofitions, in all parts of the country, ex-
cepting the article of fait, on which a duty of two and a half per Cent, is to be levied
on the Rowana or Houghly market-price ; wherein, it is further agreed, that the late
Perwannahs, iflual by Cofllm Ally Cawn, granting to all merchants the exemption of
all duties for the fpace of two years, fliall be reverfcd and called in, and the duties
collefted as before.

56. Thefe are terms which appear to be fo very injurious to the Nabob and to the
natives, that they cannot, in the very nature of them, tend to any thing but the pro-
ducing general heart-burnings and diffatisfacftions, and confequently there can be

• This treaty, dated in July 1763, is a fubfequent article in this Appendix,

little

izS APPENDIX.:

little reafon M e.tpctEl the tranquilitv of the country can be permanent ; the orders,
therefore, in ovir laid letter of the bth cf February, are to remain in force until u-
more equitable and fatisfaiftory plan can be formed and adopted, which, it is im-
poffible for us to frame here, deftitute as we are of the informations and lights ne-
celiary to guide us, in fettling fuch an important affair.

57. Yoii are therefore hereby ordered and directed, as foon after the receipt of
this as mav be convenient, to confult the Nabob as to the manner of carr\ ing on the'
inland trade in fait, bcetle-nut,~and tobacco, and the other articles, produced and con-
fumed in the country, which may be moft to his fatisfaftion and advantage, the
intereft of the Company, and likewife the Company's fervants.

58. You are therefore to form a proper and equitable plan for carrying on the find
trade, and tranfiiiit the fame to us, accompanied with fuch explanations, obfervations,
and remarks, as may enable us to give our fcntiments and directions thereupon, in a
full and explicit manner.

59. In doing this, as before obferved, you arc to have a particular regard to the
interefl: aiul entire fatisfadrion of the Nabob, both with refpeCt to his revenues, and
the proper fupport of his government ; in fliort, this .plan mufl be fettled with his
free will and confent, and in fuch a manner as not to afford any juft grounds for
complaint.

60. In the next place, the utmoft care and attention mull be bellowed in forming
the faid plan, that in fome proper mode or fhape, a jull and equitable confideration
be fecured for the Company. _ .

61. If anv inconveniencies be: iaJVprehended to arife to the Company's inveftments,
upon carrying on fuch an inland trade, you are to give us your full thoughts there-
upon, and in what manner they may be obviated.

62. You are to give us your impartial and unbiafled thoughts alfo, whether the
carr\ ing on this inland trade may affed: the juft rights and privileges of the French,
Dutch, or any other Europeans, and tend thereby to draw on any national altercations
and embroils, which are by all means to be avoided. In forming the faid plan, there-
fore, you are to be particularly careful to prevent thefc or any other evils of the like
jcind.

No. XXX.

Extras of a Letter from the Court of Directors to the Prejident and Council
at Fort IVilliajn in Bengal, dated April 26, 1765.

20. We are extremely anxious for the arrival of Lord Clivc, and the gentlemen
who acco:->-!panied * him ; as they have been fo lately in England, they arc the bed
judges of the opinion the Company and the nation entertain of the condud: of the
Englifli in Bengal, forthefe laft four years ; which, we are forty to fiy, is in general,
that they have been guilty of violating treaties, of great oppreffion, and a combina-
tion to enrich themfelves.

21. We do not here mean to enter into a difcuffion, refpcding the political condudt
of our late Governor f a'ul Council ; but mult fay, that an unbounded thiril after
riches fcems to have poUcHcd the whole body of our fei-vants to that degree, that

• Lord 'live, with MefTrs. Sumner, Sykes, and Colonel Smiih, failed from England in June 1764,
and did'not arrive at Fon William in Bengal, till May 3d, 1765.
i Governor Vanfuurt and his Council.

they

, A r P K N D I X. 129

tbey have loft all fight of juflice to the country government, and of their duly to
the Company.

2:. In reading the opinions of the fcveral members of the late Council refpefting
illegal trade, bv which they mean the articles of fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco, we arc
aftnnilhed to lind ihofe among them who pretend to found their rights on the Fir-
niauns.

2:?. .Treaties of commerce are underftood to be for the mutual benefit of the con-.
traCtin:;- parties. Is it then poffible to fuppofe that the court of Dchly, by conferring
the privilege of trading free of cuftoms, could mean an inland trade in the commo-
dities of their own ccuntrv, at that period unpraEfifed and unthought of by the En-
glifii, to the detriment of their revenues, and the ruin of their own merchants ? We
do not find fuch a conftrudtion ever was heard of until our own fervants firfl invented
it*, 'and afterwards fupportcd it by violence ; neither could it be claimed b}^ the fubfeV
quent treaties with f Meer Jafficr, or q; Coffim Ally,which were never underilood to give
one additional privilege of trade bevond what the Firmauns exprefled. In Ihort, the
fpecious arguraeuts ufcd by thofe who pretended to fet up a right to it, convince us
that they did not want judgment but virtue, to wiihfland the temptation ot fuddcnly
amafTiug a great fortune, although acquired by means incompatible with the peace of
the country, and their duty to the Company.

24. Equally blameable were . the\' who, acknowledging they had no * right to it)
and fenfible of the ill confcquenccs refulting from affuming it, have ncverthelefs car-
ried on this trade, and ufed the authority of the Company to obtain, by a || treaty ex-
afted by violence, a fiinftion for a trade to enrich themfelvcs, without the leaft re7
gard or advantage to the Company, whole forces they employed to protect them in it.

2 5. Kad this Ihort queftion been put, v.'hich their duty ought firft to have fuggefted,
Js it for the inter eft of our employers? they would not have hcfitated one moment
about it ; but this criterion feems never once to have occurred.

a6.All barriers being thus broken down between the Englifh and the country
government, and every thing out of its proper channel, we are at a lofs how to pre-
fcribe means to reftore order from confufion ; and being deprived of that confidence
which we hoped we might have placed in thofe fervants who appear to have been
the adtors in thefe ftrange fcenes, we can only fay, that we rely on the zeal and abilities
of Lord Clive, and the gentlemen of the Seleft Committee, to remedy thefe evils :
we hope they will reftore our reputation among the country powers, and convince
them of our abhorrence of oppreffion and rapacioufnefs.

^o. We have heard of fuch inftances of the want of fubordination among our fer-
vants, that we fhall never think you are ferloufty inclined to introduce good order
amongft them, until you have made fome examples of the moft violent and refractory
amongft them, by difmifling them our -fervice upon juft complaints, and fending thera
to Europe.

No. XXXI.

Extract of a "Letter from the Court of DircBors to Lord Clhc, dated April

26, 1765.

We hope the e.tpedlation of your Lordfliip's arrival will have had a happy influence
on our aftairs, by haftening the conc'ufion of that expenfive war, and leaving you at

* Vanfitlan's Narr;uive, paffim.

t The tw.0 treaties between the Nabob Meer Jaffierand the Company, the firft dated in June 175^*
•and the ftcond in July 1763, are fubfequent articles in t^his Appendix.

X The tieaty between the Nabob Meer Coffim Ally Cawn and the Company, dated in September
1760, is a fubfequent article in this Appendix.
. il Alluding to the feccnd treaty between Meer Jaffier and the Company.

R full

I30 APPENDIX.

full leifure to attend to tKe ellablifhment of a firm and lafling peace, to the regulation
of the trade in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco, and other articles ; that it may be ad-
jufted on fuch a plan to the fatisfaftion, and with the concurrence of the Nabob, as
may redound to the honour of the Company, and effectually prevent the confulion
and oppreffion that have fprung from the abufes pradrifed in it of late years, to the
redudion of our enormous military expences, to the eftablifhment of good order
among our civil fervants, difcipline in our army, and harmony in the fettlements.

No. XXXII.

Extraci of a Letter from the Court ofDireSiors to the Prefdent and Council at
Fort Willicwi in Bengal, dated December za^, ^l^S'

10. Your deliberations on the inland trade have laid open to us a fcene of the moft
cruel oppreffion, which is indeed exhibited at one view of the 13th article of the
Nabob's complaint, mentioned thus in your Confultation of the 17th of * Osftober,
\-/S\. " The poor of this country, who ufed alwavs to deal in fait, beetle-nut, and
*< tobacco, are now deprived of their daily bread, by the trade of the Europeans,
*' whereby no kind of advantage accrues to the Company, and the government's
*' revenues are greatly injured." We fhall, for the prefent, obfcrve to you, that
every one of our fei-vants concerned in this trade, has been guilty of a breach of his
covenants, and a difobedience to our orders. In your Confultation of the gd of * May,
we find, among the various extortionate pradliccs, that moft extraordinary one of
Barjaut, or forcing the natives to buy goods beyond the market-price, which you there
acknowledge to have been frequently praftifed.

11. In yoiir refolution to prevent this pradlice, 5'OU determine to -forbid it, but
with fuch care and difcretion, as not to aftcdt the Company's inveftment, as you do
not mean to invalidate the right derived to the Company from the Firmaun, which
they have always held over their weavers. As the Company are known to purchafe
their inveftment by ready money only, we require a full explanation how this can
affedl them, or how it could ever have been pradtifed in the purchafe of their in-
veftmcnt, which the latter part of Mr. Johnllone's minute, entered on Confultation the
2 ift of July 1764, inunuates ; for it would almofl juftify a fufpicion, that the goods
of our fei"vants have been put off to the weavers, in part payment of the Company's
inveftment : therefore, we dired: you to make a rigid fcrutiny into this affair, that we
may know if any of our fervants, or thofe cmplovcd under them, have been guilty of
fuch a breach of truft, that their names and all the circumflanccs may be known
to us.

12. We alfo order you to give us the particular inftances which have confirmed
you in your opinion, that the Barjaut has been praiftifcd, that we may know whofc
agents they were, and whether the agents who praftifed it were countenanced, and pro-
tected in it by their maftcrs.

13. Mr. Johnftonc's minute. In Confultation the 2ift of July 1764, cannot efcape
our notice, wherein he Hiys, "The fupport of thcfe and our other privileges in their
" full extent, againil the ufurparions of the late Nabo'i, engaged us in this unhappy
" war; and after fo many valuable liv's loft in the defence of them, I fliall ever be
« againft parting with them, or hazar(ilng the lofs of them, without greater or better

• During Mr. Vanfutart's government.

** caufc

APPENDIX. t3r

f* eaufe than has yet appeared, and till after wc have found by experience that other
*' remedies are in vain."

14. As the privileges here meant principally relate to the unwarranted inland trade,
in which our own Icrvants have been fo generally concerned, greatly to the prejudice
of the Company, by involving their affairs in diftrefs and difficulties, and manifeflly
injurious to the country government, to which every one of you cannot but be fully
fenfiblc, we fay we cannot avoid taking notice of the faid opinion, as by ^ it Mr.
Johnftone feems to pcrfcvere, at all events, to prefer the private intercft of individuals
to the general good, fo far as refpedis the faid inland trade. If Mr. Johnftone continues
in thefe fentiments, as from the general tenor of his condud: we have too much reafon
to apprehend, he cannot but be looked upon as a dangerous fervant ; therefore, it he,
or any other fervant, fhall perfifl; in carrying on a trade, which, as before obferved, has
been attended with fo many bad confequences, we would have him or them difmiffed
the Company's fervice.

15. We fhall fay nothing further at prefent on the inland trade, till that important
fubjedt Ihall have been taken up by Lord Clive and the gentlemen ot the Selett Com-
mittee ; only to obferve, that the regulation propofed in Confultation 17th. Odfobcr,
1764, of confining the trade of our fervants in the article of fait to the capital cities
of Patna, Dacca, and Murflied-abad, on paying the Nabob two and a half per cent.
is a manifeft dilbbedience of our orders of the 8th February, then under deliberation,
which pofitively forbid all trade in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco ; nor does it by any
means obviate the Nabob's objeftions arifing from the diflrefs of the poor, and the
injury to his revenues ; for if you pay only two and a half per cent, and the country
people twenty, or perhaps forty per cent, it is as much a monopoly as ever.

No. XXXIII.

ExtraSi of a Letter from the Court of Direblors to the Prefident and Council
at Fort TVilliatn in Bengal, dated Feb. 19, 1766.

21. No fuccefs in carrying on the war againft Sujah al Dowlah to give his country
to the King can julHfy the * meafure. Sujah al Dowlah's letter of the third ot Ja-
nuary, offering to withdraw his proteftion from Coflim Ally Cawn, to enter into
friendfhip with you, and join your army in purfuing him, was the opportunity that
■ought to have been embraced for putting an end to the war ; that paJed, your fatal
engagements with the King were left to operate with their utmoft force ; all fight of
the Company's interefl: was from that moment loft, and one error has plunged you
into many more. The reply you make to the above offer of Sujah al Dowlah, when
you demanded he fliall put -f them to death, we cannot fuppofe ferioufly meant ; for if
the law of hofpitality forbad his delivering them up, furely it forbad his murder-
ing them.

22. In Confultation of the 28th of January, mention is made of fome fubfequent
letters from Sujah al Dowlah to Major Fletcher, which are but flightly mentioned
therein, and appear no where entered on your correfpondence ; the only obfervation
made on them is, that you were too far engaged with the King to recede. In the
laft letter we, in general terms, condemned this treaty with the King, and flattered

• Alludiug to the " Propofals made by the king Shaw Alhim to Major Munro, and articles propofed
*• by Governor Spencer and his Council, to be executed by the King." The fitll d.ited Novemb t zzd,
1764, and the latter December 6th following ; both inferted fiibfeq[uent numbers in this Appendix.

t Coflim Ally Cawn and Somroo.

R 2 ourfelves

I3« A P P E N D I X.

ourfelves you woiiW have feen the foil}' thereof, or Mccr Jafficr's death or the auivnl
of Lord Clive would have prevented the execution of it ; but being difappointcd in-
our expeftations, we now fllal! give you our fentiments at large. The difpoTefling
Sujah al Dowlah of his country, is, we apprehend, breaking down the llrongeft
barrier we could have had againft the Afghan Maharattas, and all the invaders of
the empire, who were checked from penetrating into the eaftern provinces by a power
(o refpedlable as his was throughout Hindoftan. The raifing the King on his
niins renders this danger ftill more ftriking, becaufe all the northern powers are his
natural enem.ies, being attached to the Vizier Ghazi 6 din Cawn ; and you own
yourfeives, in the reply to Mr. Gray's minute in Confukation 20th of Feb. 1765,
that though the ritle to the crown is contefted, all parties feem to unite in oppofing
the claim of him you acknowledge King ; and it is to be feared they v\iil come
down upon him before his ftrength is confirmed ; and thus you may have drawn the
wars that have fo long diftrad:ed the northern countries to your own frontiers.

23. We have no opinion that the King can poffibly maintain himfelf without your
utmoft affiftance ; nor do we imagine Sujah al Dowlah is fo reduced as not to make
head again ; and the refuit will be, welhall have a war to maintain fix hundred miles
from our own fcttlements, from the fucccfs of which no poflible advantage can be de-
rived, and one defeat may be the total lofs of the provinces.

24. In your * engagement with the King we remark, the Itipulation for the charges
of the war was unfcttled ; and we have much realbn to apprehend the whole expence
will be left on the Beno;al government.

25. We now come to confider the meafures you -f took on the death of Jaffier Ally
Cawn. We could have wiflicd the fucceffion had been left undetermined until Lord
Clivc's arrival ; but if it was abfolutely ncceflary to come to a fudden determination,
and that fome one muft be immediately acknowledged Subah, it was confilfent vvitlv
the faith we owed the father to adopt the fucceffion he defigncd ; and the inexpe-
rience, of the young Subah confulered, you did right to appoint him a regent ; bttt
in the choice of, Alahomed Reza Cawn we think \ou paffed too flightly over the
charge urged againft him, of being fo very deficient in accounting for the revenues
of the province of which he had been governor.

26. The J appointing of independent Devvans appears hlgWy improper to us ; for it
is intruding on the power of the regent, weakening his government, and tending to
anarchy ; nor can we conceive that any Engliihman is mailer enough of the forms of
government to undertake the dividing their departments without introducing con-
tufion.

27. With rcfpedl to the j; treaty with Nudjum al Dowlah it is proper here to infeit
at length the 5th article, which was in thefc words : " I do ratity and coiifirm to
'• theEnglifh the privilege granted them by their Firmaun, and feveral Hufbulhookums,
" of carrying on their trade by means of their own Dufluck free from all duties, taxes,
" or imnofitions in all parts of the country, excepting in the article of fait, on which
" a duty of nvo and a half per Cent, is to be levied on the Rowans or Houghly
" market price." This fifth article is totally repugnant to our orders contained in
our general letter, by the Kent and Lapwing, dated the ift of June 1764, in which

• See " Articles propofcd by Governor Spencer and his Council, to be executed by the King;, dat*ii
" Dfccmbcr 6t)i, 1764 " Alfo copy of the " i-'irmaun cxcciitcj by the Kino, dajcd December 29th
" following." Both iiiferled rubfcquent articles in this Appctulix.

t- Governor Spencer and his Council. 7^he Nabob Mccr Jaflicr died in February 1765, and was fuQ-
cccded by bis natural fon Nudjum al Dowlah.

J See " Treaty between the Nabob Nudjum al Dowlah .ind the Company, entered into by Governor
•' Spencer and his Council, dated in February 1765," a fubfccjuenx article in this Api^endix.

•we

A P r E N D I :5f. 133

•wc no": only expreflcd our abhorrence of an article in the treaty with Meer Jafficr^
literally corrcfpondino; with the prefent fifth article, but in jxifitive terms diretl ed you,
in concert with the Nabob, to Ibrm an equitable plan for carrying on the inland
trade, and tranfmit the fame to us, accompanied by fuch explanations and remarks
as- might enable us to give our fcntlmcnts and diredtions thereupon. We mutl re-
mind you too, that in our faid general letter we exprefly dircvli-cd, that our orders in
our letter of the 8th of February preceding, which were to put a final and effedtual
end to the inland trade in lalt, beetle-nut, and tobacco, and in all other article>
produced and confu media the country, fbould remain in force until an equitable
and fatisfadlory plan could be formed and adopted ; as therefore there is not the leail
lantude given you for concluding any treaty whatfocver refpetting this inland trade,
we muft and do. confider what vou have done as an exprcfs breach and violation o£
our ord.'rs, and a determined refolution to- facrifice the intereft of the Company,.
and the peac." of the country, to lucn-rtlve and fclfilb views.

2S. This unaccountable behavirAir puts an etid to all confidence in thofe v^ho made
this * t\-eaty, and forces us to refolve on meafures for the fupport of our authority, and
the prefer vation of the Comi)any. We do, therefore, pronounce, that every fervan!
concerned in that trade ftands guilty of a breach of his covenants with us and of our
orders ; and in confequence of this refolution we politively direft, that if that treaty
is now fiibfifting, you make a formal renunciation, by lome folcmn adt to be entered
on your rtcord-s, of all right under the faid treaty, or otherwifc, to trade in fait,
beetle-nut, and tobacco, and that you tranfmit this renunciation of that part of the
treaty in form to the Nabob in the Perfian language. Whatever government may
be eftablillied, or whatever unforefcen circumftances may arife, it is our refolution ta
prohibit, and we do abfolutely forbid this trade of fidt, beetle-nut, and tobacco, and
of all articles that are not for export and import', according to the fpirit of the Fir-
maun, which does not in the leaft give any latitude whatfoever for carrying on fuch
an inland trade ; and moreover we (hall deem every European concerned therein, di-
reftly or iiKiircftly, guilty of a breach of his covenants, and direft that he be forth-
with fent to England, that we may proceed againft him accordingly ; and every na-
tive who ihail avail himfelf of cur protection to carry this trade on, without paying
all the duties due to the gover-nmcnt, ec[ual!y with the reft of the Nabob's fubie<£t.y,
lliall forfeit that proteftion, and be banifhed the fettlements ; and we dirett that thefe
refjlutions be fignified publicly throughout the fettlement.

29. With ixfped: to the nth article of the treaty, which fettles the reftitution for
private lofi'es, we gave you our fentiments on that fubjeft very iully, in our letter ot
the 24th December, in which we remain confirmed, and our orders relative thereto
ftand in full fierce. We alfo continue in the fame fentiments upon the donetion to
the navy, vv'hich we- fee is again takca up in the inftruftions to the refident at the
Durbar.

30. We repeat that w^ have loft all confidence in thofe fervants, v/hich nothing
can reftore but a ftridl obedience to our orders, and a more fcrupukus attention to the
Company's true intercft. In the mean time, and till their condudl Iball have re-
inftated them in our good opinion, we muft, and do rely folely, on our Prefident
Lord ClLve, and the Seledt Committee, whom we do hereby inveft with all rcquifite
powers for fecuring to the Company all fums paid on account of reftitution till our
orders are known. We further expedf that they Iball give us a clear- tnveftigation of
the motives that influenced the -f Governor and Cctincil to engage in- a treaty vrlth thfe-

* See ( ur Appendix, for copy of thJA treaty with Niidjum al Dowlah.

■J- Gaiernor Spenter and his Council. Sec our Appendix for copy of this treaty.

King,.

ij4 APPENDIX.

King, fo repugnant to our true intercft. That they fhall examine into the reafuiis
of the Burdwan lands being let fo low as thirty-two* lacks, when, by the accounts tranf-
mitted to us, the collections exceeded fifty f lacks. We alfo rely on the Committee
to put a flop to the fhameful demand made on the Nabob for the j; navy, and fup-
ported by the Council to their great difhonour. And if any further corrupt or op-
preffive praftices come to their knowledge, that they fufpend thofe who fliall appear
guilty of them, and give us the fullell: information thereof. And laftly, we cannot
avoid taking notice, that the late § Prefident and Council, neither acknowledged the
receipt of the covenants, relative to the receiving prefents from the country govern-
ment, nor have they taken the leaft notice of them ; we hope there is no further
meaning in this neglecft, than the deferring it till Lord Clive's arrival ; yet when we
confider the total difregard of our moll folemn orders on the moll important fubjedls,
we know not where their difobedience will flop.

31. We have received two letters from Mr. Spencer, the firfl dated the 5th Fe-
bruary, 1765, the lafl the 14th March, copies of which we enclofe for your infor-
mation ; as they both urge his own merit in fo ftrong a manner, we find ourfelves
obliged to give our fentiments on his condudl in Bengal.

32. He came down to that fettlement with the general good opinion of the world,
and with our approbation of his conduft during his fervice at Bombay, with this pe-
culiar advantage, that he was free from all the embarrafiinents and the party fpirit
that prevailed in Bengal, and had the plain part of the Company's interefl before
him. We fhall, therefore, recapitulate the cenlure we have pafTed on that part of
the adminiftration of our affairs in which he was concerned, and which we take for
granted he approved, as no diflent is entered by him.

33. The very fame letter that carried his (Mr. Spencer's) appointment to the go-
vernment, carried our moll pofirive orders to put a total and effldlual flop to the
trade in fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco, which we exprelTcd to be the fource of the
war, and incompatible with the peace of the country and the interefl of the Com-
pany; yet in Confultations 17th Odlober, wherein that order is taken into con-
fideration, he figns to a refolution to carry on the trade of fait and beetle-nut, paying
to the Nabob on fait 2 4- I'er Cent, in dircdl breach of our orders ; and in the treaty
with the new || Nabob, he llipulates for that right by an exprefs article of the treaty.

34. Although the ** treaty with Meer Jaffier Ally Cawn was entered into before
Mr. Spencer's arrival, yet he gave his fandlion to every part of it, particularly that
which ftipulated reflitution for lofles, which, we make no doubt, he knew to be
moflly fullained in an illicit trade, and preferring the interefl of the fervants to the
honour of the Companv, countenanced the aggravating circumllances which accom-
panied that fhameful proflitution of our authority, in rifing in the demand, till, by-
flinging in out-flanding debts, it was carried to the exorbitant fum of ff fifty-three
lacks ; and Mr. Spencer, though no way intcrefled therein, joined in the ungenerous
proceedings, by which Meer Jaffier's confent was extorted for the payment of thefe
demands, and in the treaty with the new Nabob, makes it an adl of his own, by care-
fully flipulating for it therein ; and, to our great aflonifliment, we fee his name to
confultation i5rh November, 1764, wherein he engages the authority of the Com-
pany to obtain the fum of twelve J:j; lacks and a half for the j; navy ; though, as far as

• 400,000/. f 625,000/.

I A demand was made on the Nabob Meer Jaffier firft by Governor Vanfittart, and afterwards by
Commodore Tinker, for a pre'^ciit to be given to a fmall fquadron of his Diajefty's lliips then in Bcngalj
under Mr. Tinker's command.

5 Gnvernor Sprncer and his Council. I| Nudjum al Dnwlah.

"• See copy of this treaty in our Appendix, dated in July 176J.

ft 662,500/. Jt 156,250/.

appears

APPENDIX. 1S5

appears to us, the demanding this fum was a private aft of his predcceflbr,
unknown to him, but lb (Irongly adopted, that, \vc fee, he never loics fight of
it, but makes the recovery of it part of the iaitrudions to the refident at the Duibar,
on the acceffion of the new Subah.

35. In the adminiftration of our revenues, he has fo overlooked the accounts of the
province of Burdwan, that though it appears in them the Rajah collets fitty-one
lacks of rupees J, yet he has approved the agreement with the Raj ih for thirty-two
lacks§, which is even lower than the preceding year; nor has he taken any notice of
the fum of eighty thoufand rupees ||, applied to thcufe of our fervants, under the head
of Charges Refidency.

36. In his letter the 14th March, he urges the general flourifhing ftate of the Com-
pany's affairs as a matter of merit to himflf, in which we totally differ from him, as
he will learn from our fentiments in our letter of the 24th December, and the prefent ;
of which you will tranfmit him coj)ies, as far as relates to the adminiflration of ouf
aifairs during his being of our Council in Bengal.

No. XXXIV.

ExtraSi of a Letter from the Court of DireBors to the SeleSi Committee in

Bengal, dated May ij, 1766.

7. Equally politic and prudent are the conceffions in favour of the King, whofe
intereft was beft confidcred by the refloring Sujah al Dovvlah to his country, the only
Subah in Hindoftan who is ever likely to fupport him in his prctenfions to the em-
pire. The revenue agreed to be paid him, mull be, in the eyes of the Indian powers,
a mark of our refpedt to the royal blood, and an acknowledgment of his right. We
approve alfo the being guarantee for Nudjeef Cawn, and finally we hope the mo-
deration and attention paid to all thofe who have efpoufed our intereft in this war,
will reftore our reputation in Hindoftan, and that the Indian powers will be convinced
no breach of treaty will ever have our fantftion. We hope alfo, the fifty lacks, *
ftipulated to be paid by Sujah al Dowlah, will be, before this reaches you, difcharged,
"and his dominions entirely evacuated by our troops ; and that none will remain under
pretence of protedlion to the King's pcrfon, for that may lead to pretenfions to fupport
Iiim in his claim to the empire, a meafure quite contrary to our views, being deter-
mined to make the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orifla, the utmoft bounds of
our political views or poffefiions.

8. The article in the treaty with Sujah al Dovvlah, flipulating a trade duty free,
through his dominions, we direft to be confined folely to the Company's trade, and
even in that fenfe of it ; we mean only if his dominions produce any goods fit for the
European markets, or if it can be made the means of extending our trade in the
woollen manufaiflures, or any other European goods.

9. We come now to confider the great and important affair of the Dewanny, on
which we (hall give you our fentiments, with every obieftion that occurs to us.

10. When we confider that the barrier of the country government was entirely
broke down, and every Engliffiman through ut the cou; try armed with an authority

J 637,500/. 5 400,000 A H 10,000 /, •625,000/,

that

a-jS APPENDIX,

diat owned no rupcrlor, and exeicifing his power to the oppreflion of t'a: hclpfefs na-
tive, who knew not whom to obey ; at fuch a criiis, we cannot heiitate to approve your
obtainini'; the Dcwanny foi' the Companj^

IF. When we look back to the lyftem which Lord Clive, and the gentlemen of
the Se'ed: Committee found eflabliflicd, it prefcnts to' us a Subah difarmeti, with a
revenue of ahr,oft two -millions fterling, (for ib much feems to have been left, exciu-
five of our demands on him) at the mercy of our fervants, who had adopted an un-
heard of ruinous principle of an intcrcll, diftinft from the Company. This principle
Viewed itfelf in laying their hands upon every thing they did not deem tlie Compan"'s
' property.

■12. In the province of Burdvvan, the refident and his Council took an annual
Itipend ot near * eighty thoufand rupees per annum from the Rajah, in addition to the
Company's- falary. This ftands on the Burdwan accounts, and we fear was not the
V.bok, for we apprehend it went further, and that they carried this pernicious prin-
cijjle even to the iharing with the Rajah of all he collefted, beyond the ftipulatcd
Malguzarry, or land revenue ; overlooking the point of duty to the Company, to
■whom properly everv thing belonged, that was not neccflary for the Rajah's liipport.
It has been the principle, too, on which our fervants have falfely endeavoured to glofs
over the crimes of their proceedings on the acceffion of the prefcnt Subah, and we
fear would have been foon extended to the grafping the greateft fnare of that part of
the Nabob's revenue which was not allotted to the Company. In fhort, this principle
v/as direftly undermining the whole fabrick, for whilft the Company were finking
under trie burthen of the war, our fervants were enriching themfelves, from thofe very
funds which ought to have fupported the war ; but to Lord Clive, and our Sele(ft
Committee, we owe, that the Company are at lail confidered as principles in the
advantage, as well as the dangers.

13. We muft now turn our attention to render our acquifitions as permanent as
human wifdom can make them ; this permanency, we apprehend, can be found only
in the fimplicity of tlie execution. We cbferve the account you give of the ofBce and
•power of the King's Dewan, which in former tin'ies was, " the collefting of all the
." revenues, and, after defraying the expenccs of the arm}", and allowing a fufficient
■" fund for the fupport of the Nizamaut, to remit the remainder to Dehl)." This
idefcription of it, is not the office we wilh to execute ; the experience we already have
had in the province of Burdwan convinces us, how unfit an Engliflmian is to conduct
the colleclion of the revenues, and follow the fubtle native through all his arts, to
.conceal the real value of his country, and to perplex and elude the pa}'mcnts. We
-therefore entirely approve of your preferving the ancient form of government, in the
upholding the dignity of the Subah.

14. We conceive the olfice of Dewan ftiould be exercifed only in fujierintending the
colleftions, and difpofal of the revenues ; which, though veficd in the Companv,
lliould officially be executed by our Refident at the Durbar, under the controulof the
■Governor and the Seleift Committee. The ordinary bounds of which controul,
ihould extend to noticing beyond the fuperintcnding the colledtion of the revenues,
-and the receivbg the money from the Nabob's treafury to that of the Dewanny, or
the Companv, and this wc conceive to be neither difficult or complicated : for at the
annual Poonah the government fettles with each Zemindar his monthly payments for
the enfuing year ; fo the monthly payments of the whole from the Nabob's Dewan,
is but the total of the monthly payment of each Zemindar ; which muft be ftridily
kept up, and if deficient, the Company nuifl trace what particular province. Rajah,

• ic,coo /.

■ • • ■ -or

APPENDIX. 137

or Zemindar, has fallen Ihort of his monthly payments ; or, if it is neceffary to extend
the power farther, let the annual Poonah, by which we moan the time when every
landholder makes his agreement for the enfuing year, be made with the conlent of
the Dewan or Company. This we conceive to be the whole office of the Dewanny.
The adminiftration of jufticc, the appointment of officers, Zemindarrics, in fhort,
whatever comes under the denomination of civil adminillration, we underftand is to
remain in the hands of the Nabob or his minifters.

15. The Refident at the Durbar being couftanrly on the fpor, cannot be long a
ftranger to any abufes in the government, and is always armed with power to remedy
them. It will be his duty to ftand between the adminiftration and the encroachments
alwa}"s to be apprehended from the agents of the Company's fervants, which mull
firlf be known to him, and we rely on his fidelity to the Company, to check all fuch
encroachments, and to prevent the oppreffion of the natives. We gave you our fen-
timents on the office of refident in our letter of the 24th December laft, which were
what we thought fuitable to the office as it then flood ; but now that is become of fo
much more importance, we fhall leave the regulating of it to you, and defire you
will be very explicit on the fubjed:, and Ihall only here fling out fome few thoughts
upon it.

16. We would have his correfpondence to be carried on with the Seledt Committee
through the channel of the Prefident. He fhould keep a diary of all his tranfaftions.
His correfpondence with the natives muft be publicly conduced. Copies of all
his letters lent and received be tranfmitted monthly to the Prefidency, with dupli-
plicates and triplicates to be tranfmitted home in our general packet by every
fhip.

17. In the 39th paragraph of our general letter of the 24th December laft, we
cxpreflcd our difapprobation of continuing a Chief and Council at Burdwan. \^''e
fee you have already adopted that fentiment in withdrawing that refidency. \^^e
have been very full in our late letters on the fubjed: of the Burdwan country, and
Mr. Verelft's letter of the 13th September gives ftill more iniight into the affairs of
that province ; and as it has been from the tranfadtions of that province, that we
have acquired the moll experience of the nature of the colledfions of the revenues, we
ihall give you fuch refledtions as occur to us on the fubjedl in general, and on this
province in particular. We obferve that when we firft took potfeffion of the grant
from Jaffier Ally Cawn, of the Calcutta lands, we immediately turned out all thofe
men who flood between the government and the cultivator, and put the farm of the
lands up to public fale, in which we make no doubt our fervants adted for our in-
tereft, according to the bell of their judgment ; but it appears to have been deemed
by the natives an act of oppreffion, and contrary to the cuftom of Hindollan. How-
ever it was then a partial evil, confined to a fmall traft of country; and the Company
had this to plead in their defence, that their whole territory, lying near Calcutta,
could eafily be kept under the general adminiftration of the Prefidency, and this
might be very jultifiable and very proper for fo limited an objeft ; but when large
provinces fall under our government, fuch as Burdwan, we do not think the fame
condudl ffiould have been obferved, but you Ihould have made the beft terms you
could with the Rajah for the Malguzarry, or land revenues : particular local cir-
cumftances might have required deviations from the general rule, fuch as the inca-
pacity of the Rajah, which might have been remedied by putting proper minillers
about him ; but our fervants (hould not have interfered in the colleftions or civil
adminiftrations ; and experience has convinced us, they have either erred in judg-
ment or their duty to the Company. For after all the various experiments of putting
the farms up to public fale, by which means many famlHes feem to have been

S utterly

iq8 A P P E N D I X.-

Utterly ruined of keeping lands in the hands of the Company, which you call Cofs,
and the various methods that have been tried ; we find the colledtions brought to the
Company's credit, for the year 1764, are five* lacks lefs than what were paid in Ali-
verd}- Cawn's time in 1752. Tnere is a paffiige in Mr, Vcrelft's letter very alarming,
and which requires a full explanation ; " 1 was greatly furprized to find, on my
" arrival there, that it had been again expofed to public fale ; however, purchafers
" had only been found lor about tv\'enty-two -f- lacks, fo great was the prejudice taken
" of the former fale, and the whole of that very confiderably under the Jumma-
" bundy of 1769, excepting the farms lately held by Mellrs. Johnttone, Hay, and
" Bolts, on which a greater advance was bid."

18. We have on a former occafion, in our letter of the 13th March, 1761, para-
graph 57, permitted our fervants to bid at the public fale of the Calcutta lands; but we
could not conceive fuch an indulgence could ever be conllrued to admit fervants,
employed in the collection of the revenues of a province, to feledt out the moll; pro-
fitable lands for themfclves, for fuch is the light in which this tranfattion appears
to us, and It is one more ftriking proof of the general corruption with which all
ranks were tainted, and of the ill ufe that has been made of every indulgence. We
diredt a rtridl fcrutiny into this affiiir ; and if it proves true, that you will make a
proper example of the oflFenders, by difmiffing them our fervice.

19. This tranfaftion convinces us of the neceffity of fhuttlng the door to abufes;
and wc therefore pofitively order, that no covenanted fervant, or Engllfhman, re-
fiding under our protedfion, fliall be fuffered to hold any land for his own account,
diredtly or indireftly, in his own name, or that of others, or to be concerned in any
farms or revenues whatfocver.

20. In the goth paragraph of our letter of the 19th February lall, we expreffed
our furprize that the covenants were not executed, nor any notice taken of them.
Judge then what we fee), in learning from Mr. Leycefler's minute on Confultation
the nth June 1765, that they never were intended to be executed; and we prefume
he fpeaks not only his o'.vn fentiments, but the lentiments of his colleagues, when he
fays, the covenants were rather the eflcd: of party than the cool fentiments of his
mafters, and that it was probable jiarties would unite in abolifliing covenants that
could only injure individuals and do the Company no fervice. If our fervants prefume
thus to call in queftion our moft dircd: and pofitive orders, enforced too by the ge-
neral voice of the whole body of proprietors, it is time for us to exert the authority
veiled in us, and to do juilicc to the injured natives, to our own honour, and to the
national characfter.

21. The proceedings of the Selctfl Committee have laid open to us a mofl com-
plicated fccne of corruption, in which we have the unhapjiiaefs to fee molt of our
principal fervants involved. Gentlemen who have ferved us in the higheft offices, in
whom we placed the greateit confidence, and to whom we had given the greateft
marks' of our favour ; yet neither the tics of honour or gratitude could controul that
unbounded thirft after riches that feenis to have prevailed almoit over the whole
fettlement, and threatened a total difiblution of all government. The principle on
which thcfc gentlemen juftify themfclves fecms to be, that donations or free gifts
arc lawful when no interelt of the Company is facrifieed to attain them.

21. Wc do not admit that donations are in any cafe lawful, without our co"fent
and approbation. Our Governor aud Councils abroad are cntrulted with the com-
mand of our troops and with all our influence and authority, to enijiloy them folely
for the lionour and advantage of the Company. If they pervert the power thus

• 6,250/. t 2jO,OO0/.

trultcd

A P P E N D IX.

»39

trufled with them for the jniblic good to their own private advantage, they arc lu:-
doubcedly guilty of a breach of that tivilt.

23. Neither can wc admit that the vafi: funis obtained on this occafion were by
any means free gifts. The dependent fituation of the Siibah is itfelf a refutation of
the plea, and his letter to Lord Clive and the Seledt Committee, with the concur-
rent teflimonies of the Seats, and Mahomed Reza Cawn, together with the dcpo-
fitions of the fcveral peoi)le examined on this matter, amount to the cicareft proofs,
that they were exailited from the feveral parties as the terms of the protedtion granted
them. And laltly, we fliall fay a word or two to what thofc gentlemen vainly ima-
gine makes ftrongly in their defence, that no intereft was facrificed to obtain them.

24. The Company were engaged in a war, which, as far as wc can judge, cofl
them from ten to twelve lacks * per month ; for which the Nabob had ftipulated to
pay no more than five lacks -f-,per month, and-even that fell in arrears. The Nabob
was at this time preffed for paVment of the remaining thirty lacks J for reftitutions,
befides other unlawful demands on him. It cannot furely be pleaded that under
thefe circumftances of the Subah and the Company, no intereft of the Company was
facrificed to obtain them. We think thefe gentlemen facrificed their own honour,
the intereft and honour of the Company, and of the nation.

25. We are forry fome of the gentlemen have thought fit to juftify their breach
of truft by. a breach of orders, in pleading the covenants were not executed, there-
fore not obligatory ; but fo totally do we differ from them, that ve think them not
only guiltv of a breach of thole particular covenants, but alfo of the general cove-
nants, which were entered into before thefe laft were found fo neceffary.

26. The cavils and oppofition of feveral members of the Council, to the powers
and conduct of you our Seleft Committee, appear moft evidently to have been cal-
culated to fcreen and obltruft the enquiries into and detedtion of their mifbehaviour ;
but we are fatisfied you have had the real intereft of the Company conftantly in your
view, in all your refearches into the general corruption and rajiacity of our fcrvants,
with the fpirit and difintereftednefs which do you honour, and merit our approba-
tion.

* From 125,000 /.

to I 50,000 /.

+ 6,250 I.
t 375,000/.

S 2 Copies

J4<*

Copies of TREATIES and GRANTS from the Country Powers
to the East-India Company, refpeding their Prefidency at
Fort William, in Bengal, from the year 1756 to 1766,
both years incluiive.

No. XXXVII.
^Treaty and Agree?nents ivith Serajah DoivlaJu

Munfur ul Malek

Serajah Dowla Shah

Kuly Khan Bahader

Hybutjung, Sen'ant of

Khig Aalum Geer the

Invincible.

Lift of Demands.

1. That the Company be not molefted upon account of fuch privileges as have been
granted them by the King's Firmaun and Hulbulhookums, and the Firmauns and
Hufbulhookums in full force.

That the villages which were given to the Company by the Firmaun, but detained
from them by the Subah, be likewife allowed them ; nor let any impediment or re-
ftridtion by put upon the Zemindars.

Agreed to, according to the tenor of the Firmaun.

2. That all goods belonging to the Englifh Company, and having their Duftuck,
do pafs freely by land or water in Bengal, Bahar, and Orilla, without paying any du-
ties or fees of any kind whatlbever ; and that the Zemindars, Chokeydars, Guzer-
bauns, &c. offer them no kind of moleftation upon this account.

It is agreed to.

3. That reftitution be made the Company of their fadtories and fettlements at Cal-
cutta, Coffimbazar, Dacca, &c. which have been taken from them. That all mo-
ney and efTefts taken from the Englifh Company, their fadtors and dependents, at their
feveral fettlements and Aurungs, be reftored in the fame condition. That an equivalent
in money be given for fuch goods as are damaged, plundered, or loft, which fliall be
left to the Nabob's juftice to determine.

Whatever has leenfeized by the Government it is agreed Jhall be reftored.

4. That the Company be allowed to fortify Calcutta in fuch manner as they fliall
cftccm proper for their defence, without any hindrance or obftrucftion.

// is ngreed to.

5. That Siccas be coined at Allenagur (Calcutta) in the fame manner as at Moorfliad-
abad, and that the money flruck in Calcutta be of equal weight and finenefs with that
of Moorfhad-abad. There fhall be no demand made for a deduction of Batta.

It is agreed, that bullion imported by the Company be coined to Siccas.

6. That thefe propofals be ratified in the flrongcft manner, in the prcfcnce of God
and his prophet, and figned and fealcd to by the Nabob and fome of his principal
people.

In theprefence of God and bis prophet, thefe articles are figned and fealcd.

7. And

N D

141

7. And Admiral Charles Watfon and Col, Clive, promife in behalf of the Eng-
lifli nation, and of the Englifh Company, that from henceforth all hoftilitics fliall ccafe
in Ecngal, and the Englifh will always remain in peace and fricndfhip with the Nabob,
as long as thefe articles are kept in force and remain unviolated.

On condition that an agreement uider the Company's feal^ and Jigned by the Company'' s
Council, and fworn to according to their religion^ be fent me, I agree to the articles
which I have counter/igned.

<»

..'S

. St

g§

Aez ul Malek

Morad ul Dowla

Nowarifli Ally Khan

BahaderZahooarJung,

a Servant of King

Aalum Geer the

Invincible.

'?^ 5X-

5" «

Meer Jaffier

Raja Doolubram

1=*

Khan Bahader

Bahader, a

a Servant of King

Servant of King

Aalum Geer the

Invincible.

Agreement of the Company, figned by the Governor and Committee, the gth February, 1 757.

We the Eaft India Company, in the prefence of his excellency the Nabob Mun-
fur ul Malek, Serajah Dowla, Shall Kuly Khan, Bahader Hybut Jung, Nazim of
Bengal, Bahar and Orifla, by the hands and feal of the Council, and by firm agree-
ment and folemn atteftation, do declare, that the bufinefs of the Company's fadlo-
ries within the jurifdidlion of the Nabob, Ihall go on in its former courfe : that we
will never opprefs or do violence to any perfons without caufe ; that we will never of-
fer protection to any perfons having accounts with the government, any of the King's
Taalookdars or Zemindars, nor murderers, nor robbers : that we will never adt con-
trary to the tenor of the articles agreed to by the Nabob : that we will carry en
our bufinefs as formerly ; and will never, in any refpeft, deviate from this agree-
ment.

j^greemeni of Colonel Clive with the Nabob, dated February 12, 1757.

I Colonel Clive, Sabut Jung Bahader, commander of the Englifh land forces in
Bengal, do folemnly declare, in the prefence of God and our Saviour, that there is
peace between the Nabob Serajah Dowla and the Englifh : They, the Englifn, will
inviolably adhere to the articles of the treaty made with the Nabob : that as long
as he fhall obferve his agreement, the Englifh will always look upon his enemies as
their enemies ; and whenever called upon, will grant him all the aflifbnce In their
power.

Psrvsannab

1^2 APPENDIX.

No. XXXVIII.
Pcrivannah for Dnjlucks from Scrajah Dowla, dated gth Rojeb Moon.

The Englilh Compan} 's goods having been carried backward and forward by land
and water, always through the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and OrilTa, by the Duf-
tuck. and feal of the fald Compan v, bv virtue of the King's Finnaun, which is alfo
now confirmed by me. Take care, on no pretence, to interrupt their carrying their
goods backwards and forwards through all the Choke\ s whatfoever, and not to de-
mand any Katbarra, Manjor, &:c. according to the King's Firmaun. Let them pafs and
rcpafs, without receiving a fingle cowrie fronr any of their people, and interfere not
with the Englifli Company's Gomaftahs on any account, but rather take care that
through all your diflridts their bufinefs be not obftruftcd in any way.

Fifteen Perwannahs of the fame tenor and date were ^ranted under the feal of

to'

the Nabob Serajah Dowla to the Rajahs and Zemindars.

Perwannah under the Seal of Nabob Munfur ul Malek, Serajah Dowla Bahader, Hybut
Junk., dated ^th of Rajeb (3ifl: March *) in the ^d year of the glorious reign, Muhunlol.

All goods belonging to the Englifli Company, which, by virtue of the royal man-
date, ufcd to pafs and repafs with the faid Compan)''s Duftucks, by land or water,
through the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orifla, I have at this time granted a
free currency to, in the fame manner and with the fame privileges as formerly : it is
ncccllary that \'our excellency write to the officers at Dacca, Chittagong, Jugdea,
Akbarnagur, Silhet, Rangamatty, Cheetmarree, Moorflrad-abad, and Purnea, that they
futfer the fame goods to pafs tip and down the rivers without any moleftation or im-
pofition of Katbarra (a tax laid upon boats) or any other articles forbidden by the
royal court ; nor cxaft the fmalleft fum from them, nor any ways opprefs the Go-
maftahs or dependants. Let them be jtunftual in this.

Dufluck under the feal of the Nabob Serajah Dowla, ^c. dnted "f 17 Jemmande Saum'y

the Q^d year of the King's glorious reign.

To all Foitzdars, Zemindars, Chokeydars, and Overferrs of the way cf the provinces of

Bengal, Bahar, and Onffa.

All goods belonging to the Englifh Company, which by virtue of the royal man-
date ufed to pafs and repafs through the foregoing provinces, by land and water,
with the Company's Duftucks, I have at this time granted a free currency to, in the
fame manner as formerly, and vv-ith the confirmation of their former privileges. Let
all goodsj having the Englilh Company's Dufltick, pafs as before, up and down the
river, without any molertation or impofition of Katbarra, or any other articles for-
bidden by the royal court ; nor exadt the fmalleft fum from them, nor opprefs the
Company's dependents. In this be punftual. and aCt conformable to this writing.

Perwannah of the Nabob Serajah Dowlah to the lion. Company, for ereSing a mint in

Calcutta.

From the date of the firft of the moon Shaban, the four fun Siccas are begun to be
ftampt, and through all the mint-houfes the new Siccas of the four fun arc coined.

Take
• 1757. t About the 9th of March, 1757.

APPENDIX. if3

Take care and croift a mint in Calcutta (called Allenagur,) and ftamp gold and
filvcr rupees our of the bullion and gold imported by your nation, of the weight of
rupees of gold and filver coined at Moorfliad-abad : under the name of AUenagur-
Calcutta fliall you coin your money, it fliall pafs for land revenues, &c. and no
body will aflc or fet any Batta upon them ; only take care not to coin the gold and
filvcr of other nations.

No. XXXIX.

Treaty with Jqfficr Ally Khan.

* I fwear hy Gody and the prophet of God, to abide by the terms of this treaty zvlilji I
have life.

Meer Mahomed
JalHcr Khan

Bahader, fervant

of king

Aalum Geer.

'Creaty made with the Admiral and Colonel Clive \_Sabut Jung Bahader"] Governor Drake,

and Mr. Watts.

1. \'\^hatevcr articles were agreed upon in the time of peace with the Nabob Se-
rajah Dowla, Munfur ul Malek, Shah Kuly Khan, Bahader, H)but Jung, I agree
to comply with.

2. The enemies of the Englifli are my enemies, whether they be Indians or Eu-
ropeans.

3. All the effeds and factories belonging to the French in the province of Bengal,
(the Paradife of nations,) and Bahar and Oriffa, fhall remain in the poflcffion of the
Englifli, nor will I ever allow them any more to fettle in the three provinces.

4. In confidcration of the lofles which the Englifli Company have fufl:ained by the
capture and plunder of Calcutta by the Nabob, and the charges occafioned by the
maintenance of the forces, I will give them one -f crore of rupees.

5. For the eftedls plundered from the Englifli inhabitants at Calcutta, I agree to
give fifty J lacks of rupees.

6. For the efTedts plundered from the Gentoos, MuPiulmcn, and other fubjecls of
Calcutta, twenty § lacks of rupees fliall be given.

7. For the cifcfts plundered from the Armenian inhabitants of Calcutta, I will
give the llim of fcven II lacks of rupees. The diftribution of the funis allotted die
natives, Englifli inhabitants," Gentoos, and Muflulmen, fliall be left to the Admiral
and ColonerClivc, (Sabut Jung Bahader,) and the refl; of the Council, to be difpofcd
of bv them, to whom they think proper.

8.' Within the ditch which furrounds the borders of Calcutta, are tradts of land be-
longing to fcveral Zemindars ; befides this, I will grant the Englifli Company fix
hundred yards without the ditch.

9. All the land laying to the fouth of Calcutta, as far as Culpee, fliall be under the
Zeniindarv of the Engliih Company, and all the officers of thcfc parts fliall be under
their jurifiliftion. The revenues to be paid by them (the Company) in the fame
manner with other Zemindars. ^ Whcn-

• Thefe words were wrote in his own hand. t 1,250,000/. J 62^,000 /. § 250,000/.

87,500/.

144 APPENDIX.

10. Whenever I demand the Englifh afliftance, I will be at the charge of the
maintenance of them. ^^

11. I will not erect any new fortifications below Houghly, near the river Ganges.

12. As loon as I am eftablifhed in the government of the three provinces, the
aforefaid fums fliall be faithfully paid. Dated 1 5th Ramzan, in the 4th year of the
reign.

Additional Article.

13. On condition that Meer Jaffier Khan Bahader fliall folemnly ratify, confirm
by oath, and execute all the above articles, which the underwritten on behalf of the
honourable Eaft India Company do, declaring on the holy gofpcls, and before God,
that we will affifl Meer Jaffier Khan Bahader, with all our force, to obtain the Su-
bahlhip of the province of Bengal, Bahar, and Oriffa ; and further, that we will
affiit him to the utmoft againft all his enemies whatever, as foon as he calls upon
us for that end ; provided that he, on his coming to be Nabob, fliall fulfill the afore-
faid articles.

No. XL.

General Eunnud under the Seal of Jajier Ally Khan.

To all Governors, Muttafeddees, prefent or future, all Naibsy Fouzdars, ZemindarSy Cbcw-
drabs, Canongocs, iyc. fervants of the government in the provinces of Bengal^ Bahar
and Orijfa.

Know, that by the royal Firmaun and Hufbulhookums the Englifli Company are
pardoned (Maaf) exempt from all duties ; therefore I write :

That whatever goods the Company's Gomaflahs may bring or carry, to or from
their faftories, the Aurungs, or other places, by land or by water, with a Dulluck from
any of the chiefs of their faftories, you Ihall neither afk nor receive any fum, how-
ever trifling, for the fame. Know they have full power to buy and fell, vou are by no
means to oppofe it ; )-ou are not to require from the Company's Gomaflahs the Settee,
Manghans, or any other of the Zemindars impofitions.

The Company's Gomaflahs fliall hux and fell the Company's goods without the
intervention of Delolls, unlefs the Gomaflahs are fatisficd to emplo\ them ; you arc to
aflifl them on all occafions, wherever they buy or fell. \\'hoevera(9:s contrary to thefe
orders, the Englifh have full power to punifli them. If any of the Company's goods
are flolen, you are to recover the very effcdts flolen, or make good their amount.
Any merchants or others, on whom the Company have any lawful demands, you are
to fee that the fame be paid to their Gomaflahs. Take care that no one wrong
or opprcfs the Company's Gomaflahs. You are not to require or flop their
boats on pretence of the Katbarra or other duties on boats, whether they be the Com-^
pan} 's own boats, or boats hired by their Gomaflahs ; you are to give credit to the
copies of all the Sunnuds to the Company under the Kazzi's feal, without requiring
the original. Any of the Company's debtors running from them, you are not to give
them proteftion or plead for them, but arc to deliver them up to the Company's Go-
maflahs. The Fouzdarry-Crutch, &c. impofitions of the Fouzdars, which are for-
bid by the King, you fliall not demand of the Englifli, their Gomaflahs or inhabi-
tants. Whenever the Englifli Company defire to fettle a new facftor)', befides thofe
they are already poflefl'ed of in the province of Bengal, Bahar and Orilfa, 3'ou are to
give them forty Begahs of the King's land. If any of the Englifli fliips arc driven by
bad weather, or wrecked in any of the ports or other places, you are to aflifl them ail

N D I X.

id your power, and fee that the goods are reftorcd to the Company, and you are not
to require the Choutarry, &c. which the King has forbid.

A mint is cflabliflied in Calcutta, ' coin Siccas and gold Moliurs of equal weighi:
and finenefs with the Siccas and gold Mohurs of Moorftiad-abad. They fhall pafs in
the King's treafury.

All that I have wrote mull be done ; do as I have wrote, nor afk a new Sunnud
every year. The 27th of the moon Show all, and 4th of the King's reign, being the
15th of the month of July, 1757.

No. XLI.

Perwannah from yqffler Ally Khan, for the Mint.

To the High and Mighty, the hold end valiant Commanders, the greatejl of Merchants^
the EnglijJj Company, on whom may the King's favour refl for ever.

A mint has been cftabliflied in Calcutta ; continue coining gold and filvcr into
Siccas and Mohurs, of the fame weight and llandard with thofe of Moorflrad-abad ; the
impreffion to be Calcutta ; they fliall pals current in the provinces of Bengal, Bahar
and Orifla, and be received into the Cadganna ; there fhall be no obflrucftion or diffi-
culty for Cuflbre. Under the feal of Fidvir Aalum Geer Badfha Gauze, Sujah ul Mu-
luck Hoflam o Dowla, Meer Mahomed Jefficr Khan Bahader Mahabut Jung, nth
Zeerlaida, 4th of the King's reign.

No. XLII.

Perivannah for the granted Lands.
Seal of the Nabob Jaffier Ally Khan.

1 170.

Aaulum Geer, Emperor,

fighting for the Faith, his

devoted Meet Mahomed Jaffic:

Ally Khan Bahader Shujah ul

Muluck Hoffam o Dowla

Mahabut Jung,

Anno 4.

Ye Zemindars, Chowdrahs, Taalookdars, Muckaudums, Recayahs, Marfawreans,
^lootawettawahs, of the Chuckla of Houghley and others, fituated in Bengal the
terreftial Paradife. Know, that the Zemindarry, Chowdrawy, and Taalookdarry of
the countries in the fubjoined lift, hath been given by treaty to the mofl illuftrieus and
niofl magnificent the Englifli Company, the glory and ornament of trade. The faid
Company will be careful to govern according to eflabliflied cuflom and ufage, without
any gradual deviation, and watch for the profperitv of the people. Yovn* duty is to
give no caufe of complaint to the Recayahs of the Compan}', who on their part are to
govern with fuch kindnefs, that hufl^andry may receive a daily incrcafe, that all diforders
may be fuppreffed, drunkcnnels and other illicit praftices prevented, and the imperial
tributes be lent in due time. Such part of the abovcfaid country as may be fituated to
the weft of Calcutta, on the other fide of the Ganges, does not appertain to the Company.

T Know

145 APPENDIX.

Know then, ye Zemindars, &c. that ye are dependents of the Company, and that yc
niufl: fubmit to fuch treatment as they give you, whether good or bad ; and this is my
exprefs injunftion.

Twenty-four Mahals.
The Purgannah of Mugra.

Ditto of - Khalfpoor.
Ditto of - Mudenmutt.
Ditto of - Ekktiarpoor.
Ditto of - Burjutty.
Ditto of - Azimabad.
Ditto of - Moodagotcha.
Ditto of - Putcha KoUu.
Part of the Purgannah of Shahpoor.
• Shah Nagur.

Part of the Purgunnah of Ghur.

The Purgunnah of Karee Jurree.
Ditto of - Deccan Saugeer.
Part of the Purgunnah of Calcutta.
Part of the Purgunnah of Paikan.
Part of the Purgunnah of Munpoor.
Part of the Purgunnah of Ameerabad.
Part of the Purgunnah of Mahomed Ameepoor.

Mellung Mahal.
The Purgunnah of Hattiagur.
Ditto - - Meida.
Part of the Purgunnah of Akbarpoor.
Part of the Purgannah of BelHa.
Part of the Purgunnah of Buffindarry.
Dated the * 5th of Rabbi ul Sauni, anno quarto.
(In the Nabob's own hand, ferving by way of fign manual.) It is written Finis.
(In Maha Rajah Doolabrum's own hand as Naib) Seen.

(In Rajah Raage Bullub's own hand, as Huifoor Nevife) the 5th of Rabbi ul Sauni,
anno quarto, regiftered in the imperial rcgifter.

(In Rajah Conghu Baharn e's own hand, as Dcwan of Bengal) the 5th of Rabbi ul
Sauni, anno quarto, regiftered in the Dewannce rcgifter.

No. XLIII.

Perwatznah from 'Jafficr Ally Caivn, for the Saltpetre of Bahar.

At this time, through the means of Colonel Clive, the filtpctre lands of the whole
province of Bahar have been granted to the Englilli Company from the beginning of
the Bengal year 1 1 6^, in the room of Coja Mahomed W'azced : you are therefore here-
by dircitcd to eftablilh the authority of their Gomaftahs in all the ialrpetrc lands of
the aforcfaid province, to give ftrift orders to he faltpctrc Picars not to fell an ounce
of faUpetre to any other pcrfon, and to receive from the Coaipany the ftipulatcd
Nczzaranna and money for the aforefaid lands.

On the id cf the month of Rajeb of the ^thyear of lis Maje!\yi reign, a ccpy zvas entered

into the Dewan's books.
On the Lift diy of the mo'>th ofjemmndy al-Sauni of the ^tb year of his Majefifs reign,
a cf-py loas entered in his Excellency's Locks,
yipproved.

• About the 2cth of December, 1757.

E N D I X. 147

No. XLIV.

Sunnud for the Zemhidarry of the Honourable Eajl India Company's lands,
given under the feal of the Nabob Allow 6 Dowla Meer Mahomed Saddoc
Khan Bahader yJJJ'ud Jung, Dewan of the Siihah of Bengal.

To the Muttafcddees for affairs for the time being and to come, and Chowdrecs and
Canongocs, and inhabitants, and hufbandmcn of the KifMUit Purgunnah of Calcutta,
&c. of the Sircar Sautgaum, &c. belonging to the Paratlife of Nations, the Subah
of Bengal : Be it known, that in confecjuence of the Ferd Sawal, figned by the glory
of the nobility and adminillration, Shujah ul Muluck HoUam o Dowla Mcer Muho-
med Jaffier Khan Bahader Mahabut Jung, Nizam of the Subah, and the Ferd
Huckeekut and Muchulca, figned conformably thereto ; the forms of which are
herein fully fct forth. The office of the Zcmindarr)' of the Purgunnahs above w rit-
ten, in confideration of the fum of twenty thoufand one hundred and one rupees
(20101) Pefhcufli, &c. to the Imperial Sircar, according to the indorfement fiom the
month Poofs (anno 1164) in the year eleven hundred and fixty-four of the Bengal
£era, is conferred upon the nobieft of merchants, the Engliih Company, to the end
that they attend to the rights and cuftoms thereof as is fitting, nor in the leaft circum-
ftance, negledt or with-hold the vigilance and care due thereto ; that they deliver into
the treafury at proper times, the due rents of the Sircar : that they behave in fuch
manner to the inhabitants and lower fort of people, that by their good managemenc
the faid Purgannahs may ilourifli and increafe : that they fufler no robbers nor houfe-
breakers to remain within their diftrifts, and take fuch care of the King's highwa\ s,
that the travellers and paflengcrs may pafs and repafs without the Icaft moleilation :
that (which God forbid) if the effefts of any perfon be plundered or ftolen, they
difcover and produce the plunderers and thieves, together with the goods, and deliver
the goods to the owners, and the criminals to condign punilliment ; or elfe, that they
themfelves be refponfible for the faid goods ; that they take efpecial care, that no one
be guilty of any crimes or drunkennefs within the limits of their Zemindarry ; that
after the expiration of the year they take a difcharge according to cuftom, and that
they deliver the accounts of their Zemindarry agreeable to the ftated forms every year
into the Dufter Cana of the Sircar ; and that they refrain from demanding the articles
forbidden by the Imperial Court, the ( Afylum of the World.)

It is their (the Muttafeddes, &c.) duty to look upon the faid Company as the
eftablifhed and lawful Zemindars of thofe places, and whatfoever appertains or is an-
nexed to that office as their right ; in this particular be they llrictly punctual.

Dated the firil of Rabbi ul Sauni in the * third fun of the reign.

Let the Indorfement be wrote.

Particulars of the Indorfement.
In confequence of the Ferd Sawal, figned by the glory of the nobilitv and admini-
llration, Shujah ul Muluck Hollam oDowla'Meer'Ma'homed Jaffier Khan Bahader
Tilahabut Jung, Nizam of the Subah, and the Ferd Huckeekut and Muchulca figned
conformably thereto, the forms of which are herein fully fet forth, the office of the
Zemindarry of the Kiflmut Purgunnah of Calcutta, &c. of the Sircar Sautgaum be-
longing to the Paradife of Nations, the Subah of Bengala, in confideration of the
fum of twenty thoufand one hundred and one rupees (20101) Pefhcuffi, &c. to the

• Should be the 5th fun.

T 2 Imperial

148 APPENDIX.

Imperial Sircar from the month Poofs (anno 1 164) in the year one thoufand one hun-
dred and fixty-four of the Bengal asra, is conferred upon the nobleft of mercliantSj the
Englilh Company.

27 Mahals .
Deroobufl Kiffmut

15 Mahals 12 Mahals.

The amount according to the account figned by the Canongoes of the Subah.

Form of the ftgn manual.

Be the Sunnud granted..

Torm of the Ferd Sawal. The Zemlndarry of tlie KifTmut Purgunnah of Calcutta,,
&c. of the Sircar Sautgaum, Sec. belonging to the Paradife of Nations, the Subah of
Bengala, having been conferred on the nobleft of merchants, the Engliih Company,
the aforefaid Company reprefent that the inhabitants will not be fatisfied without the
grant of a Sunnud, wherefore tliey defire that the Sunnud may be gi-acioufly allowed
them, for which they agree to pay the fum of twenty thoufand one hundred and one
rupees (20101) Pefliculh, &c. to the Imperial Sircar. In this particular what are your,
commands ?

27 Mahals.

Deroobuft. KifTmut.

15 Mahals. 12 Mahals.

The amount according to the account, figned by the Canongoes of the Subah..

Rupees 222,958 10 12 3
N.B. This is wrote by
the Royroyan.

KilTmut Purgannah of Calcutta, &c. of the
Sircar Sautgaum in the Diftrid:s of the
Chuck of Houghly

26 Mahals

Deroobuft. Kifllnuttea.

15 Mahals. 11 Mahals.

Amount 220,166 14. 10 1.

Killiiiut Purgannah of Calcutta, Sircar Saut-
gaum Divilion 16 Annas.

Mahal Kiffmuttea.

Amount 28,482 6 13.

Belonging to the Company 28,36! 8 10 i

Ditto to Ramcunt 120 13 2 3

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APPENDIX. 149

KilTmutt Purgannah of Mugra .--.-. Sircar Sautgaum.
Divifion i6 Annas.
Mahal Kiflmuttca.

Amount 24,504 13 i6 1

Purgunnah of KhafTpoor Sircar ditto.

Divifion i6 Annas.
Mahal Deroobufl.

Amount 3,337 3 2

Pergunnah of Mundemul Sircar ditto.

Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.

Amount 22,199 5 5

Purgunnah of Berry hatte - - Sircar ditto.

Divifion : 6 Annas..
Mahal Deroobuft.

Amount 6,149 4^3 3

Purgunnah of Ekktiarpooc - ' - - - - Sircar ditto.

Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.

Amount 7,923 i 8

Pergunnah of Deccan Saugur ----- Sircar ditto.
Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.

Amount 60 712 2

Purgunnah of Shahnagur ----._ Sircar ditto.
Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.
Amount 283 7 14

Purgunnah of Azimabad --.-.. Sircar ditto.
Divifion 1 6 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.
Amount 10,000

Purgunnah of Ghur - - - - - Sircar Saleemabad.
Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.
Amount 7,420 9 15

Pergunnah of Moodagotcha Sircar ditto.

Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Der. obuft.
Amount 3 1, "793 10

Purgun-

150

END

-f-S

tad "^^

^ ■>»

CJ)

Purgunnah of Peetcha Kollie
Divifion i6 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.
Amount 3,129 4 15

Sircar Saleemabad.

8856
■ 91

Pergunnah of Kareejuree
Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft
Amount 562 8

KifTmut Pergunnah* of Manpoor,
Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Kiflrnuttea.

Amount 8947 10 i 1

Belonging to the Company
Ditto Ramcunt

Kiflfmut Purgunnah of Paikan
Divifion 12 Annas.
Mahal Kiflinuttea.

Amount 6787 10 5 3

Kiffmut Pergunnah of Amerabad

Adjacent to Chitpoor
Divifion 3 Annas.
Mahal Kiffmuttea.

Amount 3650 10 9

KifTmut Pergunnah of Havelufhehr
The village of Seenderpoor
No divifion.
Mahal Kiffmuttea.
Amount 323 11 8

Kiffmut Purgunnah of Mahmud Ameepoor
The village,.
No divifion.
Mahal Kiffmuttea.
Amount 184 5 10

Sircar ditfo.

Sircar ditto.

I
18

Sircar ditto.

Kiffmut Purgunnah of Mob, fait and wax
No divifion.
Mahal Kiffmuttea.

Amount 16702 13 r

Sircar ditto.

Pergunnah of Hattiagur
Divifion I 6 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.
Amount 22,119 7

Sircar ditto.

19 3

Purgun-

APPENDIX. i^r

Purgunnah of Meida Sircar Saleemabad.

Divifion 1 6 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.

Amount ^,199 14 10

Purgunnah of Akbarpoor ------ Sircar ditto.

Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.

Amount 2,228 15 15

Purgunnah of Shahpoor --,... Sircar ditto.
Divifion 16 Annas.
Mahal Deroobuft.

Amount 3,470 12 2 2

Kiflinut Purgunnah of Aboab Fouzdarree, &c. - - Sircar ditto.
^No divifion.
2 Mahals KifTmuttea.

Amount 1204. 12 18 2

Kiflmut Purgunnah of Aboab Fouzdarree and Pelhcufh Congo
2 Mahals

Amount - - - - - - 1,17411163

Bherjy (transferred) . - - 30 i i 3

Sairs Hettiagur, Meida, and Mcidonmul, and Moodagotcha, belonging to Coot
Ekktiapoor.

Divifion 3 Annas 1 1 Gendas.
Mahal Kiffmuttea.
Amount 4,501

Kiffmut Purgunnah of Bellia Buireindarree Sircar Sallemabad, named Sahebnagur
in the diftridts of the Chuc'a of Burdwan, containing the Monza Bhilla, and all the
lands lying on the caft fide of the river Ganges.

Divifion I o Annas.
Mahal Killinuttea.

Amount 2,791 11 12 2

Form of the Jign manual.
After the receipt of the Muchulca and
Zaminec, according to cuftom.
Be the Sunnud granted.

Form of the Ferd Ihickeekut.

In confequence of the Ferd Sawal, figned by the Glory of the Nobility and Ad-
miniftration, Shujah ul Muluck Hofi'lun 6 Dowlah Meer Mahomed Jaffier Khan
Bahader Mahabut Jung, Nazim of the Subah, the form of which is herein fully fct
forth, the office of the Zcmindarry of the Kiftmut Purgunnah of Calcutta, &c. of
the Sircar Sautgaum, &c. belonging to the Paradife of Nations, the Subah of Bengala,
in confideration of the fum of twenty thoufand one hundred and one rupees (20,101)
Pefticufh, &c. to the imperial Sircar, is conferred on the noblcft of merchants, the
En^lifii Companv, who have delivered a Muchulca and Zaminee into the books,
and petition for the Sunnud. In this particular what arc }'ou pleafed to decree ?

27 Ma-

^^2 APPENDIX,

I? 51 27 Mahals.

„f li Deroobuft Kill

S ^^P'^ I 'J Mahals. 12 Mahals

Amount, according to the account figned by

■^ s «^ a K„ the Canongoes of the Subah,

-""p^Tg-S. rupees 222958 10 2 3

5 5" =s

Lrt -: *^

9 5 Co ha-

a O

N s;

Fcnn of thejlgn manual.
It has been viewed.

Form of the MuchuUa dated the

We the Englilh Company do declare, that whereas the office of the Zemindarry of
the Kiflinut Purgunnah of Calcutta, Sec. of the Sircar Sautgaum, &c. belonging to
the Paradife of Nations, the Subah of Bengala, in confideration of the fum of twenty
thoufand one hundred and one rupees (20,101) Peflicuih, 8cc. to the imperial Sircar,
from the month Poofs (anno 1 164) in the year eleven hundred and fixty-four of the
Bengal lera, has been conferred on us, to the end that we attend to the rights and
cufloms thereof as is fitting, nor in the leall circumllance negledt or with-hoJd the
vigilance and care due thereto ; that we deliver into the treafury in the proper times,
the due rents of the Sircar ; that we behave in fuch manner to the inhabitants and
lower fort of people, that by our good management the faid Purgunnahs may flourilh
and encreafe ; that we fufter no robbers nor houfebreakers to remain \\ithin our di-
ftrifts, and take fuch care of the King's highways, that the travellers and paflengers
may pafs and repafs without fear or molcllation ; that (which God forbid) if the ef-
fe6ts of an\- perfon be plundered or llolen, w-e difcover and produce tlie robbers or
thieves, together with the goods, and deliver tlic goods to the owners, and the cri-
minals to condign punifhment, or elfe that we ourielves be refponfible for the faid
goods. That we take efpecial care, that no one be guilty of any crime or drunken-
nefs Vv'ithin the limits of our Zemindarry. That after the expiration of the year we
take a difchargc according to cuftom, and that we deliver the accounts of our Ze-
mindarry agreeable to the llated forms every year, into the Dufter Cana of the Sir-
car ; and that we refrain from demanding the articles forbidden by the imperial court,
the afylum of the world.

For this rcafon we have given this writing as a Muchulca and agreement, that
upon any occafion rccourfe may be had thereto.

.^ 5 « 27 Mahals. ^•

C^"^ V Deroobuft. KifTmuttcn.

2 1"^ . 15 Mahals. 12 Mahals.

-S~5-| g Amount 222958 10 2 3

J- ir -- S

Form ofthefign manual.

f^ 1^ i -i It is accepted.

APPENDIX. 15J

Fovn of the Tomfook Hazir Zaminec, dated

I do declare, that whereas tlie officie of the Zemindarry of the

Kilimut Purgunnah of Calcutta, &c. of the Sircar Sautgavim, fee. belonging to the
Paradife of Nations, the Subah of Bcngala, has been conferred on the nobleil of
merchants, the Englifli Company ; I being appointed the pcrfonal fecurity for the
faid Company with the Sircar, do agree, and give this writing, that the aforcfaid
Company Ihall be prefent, and execute the fundlions of. their Zemindarry ; if they
ihall abfent themfclves, I will make them appear ; but if at any time I am not able
to make them appear, I will be refponfiblc for their compafts : for this reafon I have
given this writing as a Tomfook Hazir Zamlnee, that upon any occafion recourfe may-
be had thereto.

Form of thejtgn manual..
Signed.

Form of the agreement for the Pefhcup^ i^c. to the imperial Sircar,

r. <".;'
Account of the agreement for the Pellicufli, &c. made for' obtaining the grant of
the Sunnud, for the Zemir.darry of the Kiliiiuit Purgunnah of Calcutta, &c. of the
Sircar Santgaum, &c. in the name of us the Englifh Company, for tlie year 1165,,
of the Bengal aera.

20101 Pupees Peflicufh
Pefhcufli of the Imperial Sircar, izior
Nczeranna Subahdarree, 5000 rupees*
Vizier's Fees,

3000
Rupees 252.958 10 1 3

M:m. PTere follows, in the original, a deicription of the particulars of the feveraf
Purgiinnalis as before fpcciiied..

No. XLV..

Sunnud for the free t entire of the Town of Caleiitta,&c. to the Honourable Ea/l
India Company, given under the Seal of the Nabob Allah 6- Dow la Meer Ma-
homed Saddoc Khan Bahader yljl'ud fung. De-wan of the Subah of Bengal.

To the Muttafcddees for the affairs for the time being and to come,- and to the-
Zemindarsy and Chowdrahs, and Taalookdars, and Canongocs^ of the Mouza of Go-
vindpoor,, &c. in the dillricSs of the Purgunnah of Calcutta, belonging to the Para-
dife of Nations, the Subah of Bengala. Be it known, that, in confequence of the Fcrd
Sawal, figncd by the glorv of the nobili'v and admlnillrarion, Shujah ul Muluck
Hoffam Q. Dowl'a Meer Mahomed Jaffier Khan Bahader Mahabut Jung, Nazim of
the Subah, and the Ferd' Hlickeekut and Muchulca figned conform.able thereto, the
iuxms of which are herein fully fet forth, the rents of the aforefaid Mouzas, &:c. which^
adjoin to the fadtory of themoft noble of merchants, the Englifli Company, amount-
ing to eight thoufand eight hiindred and thirty-fix rupees, and fomething more,,
from the * i.ft of Rabbi ul Sauni 5th Sun, according to the endorfement,. are forgiven,
to the end that they provide for the defence of their faiftory, and thefafcguard of the-

• Beginning of December, 1758.

154 APPENDIX.

fea-ports herewith. Ic is their (the Muttafeddees, &c.) duty to defift from all claims
for the rents, nor in any way, nor by any means, opprefs or difturb them. In this
particular be they pundiual.

Dated as above.

■j- Let the endorfement be wrote.

Particulars of the Endorfement.

In confequence of the Ferd Sawal, figned by the glorv of the noTiility and admini-
ftration, Shujah ul Muluck Hoffam 6 Dowla Meer Mahomed Jaffier Khan Bahader
Mahabut Jung, Nazim of the Subah and the Ferd Huckeekut and Muchulcr, figned
conformably thereto, the forms of which are herein fully fct forth ; the rents of the
M-ouza of Govindpoor, &c. in the diftrifts of the Purgunnah of Calcutta, &c. be-
longing to the Paradife of Nations, the Subah of Bengala, and dependent on the
Khalfa Shereefa, and the Jaghire of the Sircar, which adjoin to the faftory of the
nobleft of merchants, the Englifh Company, amounting to eight thoufand eight hun-
dred and thirty-fix rupees and fomething more, from the J latter feafon of Oodacel,
in the year eleven hundred and fixty-four (1164) of the Bengal jern, are forgiven the
nobleit of merchants aforefaid.

Mouzas and Mahals 22 4-
Mouzas 204, Mahals (2 Markets) 2

The amount according to the Ferd figned by the Canongoes of the Subah.

Form ojthefign manual.
Be the Sunnud granted.
Form of the Ferd Sawal.

The nobleft of merchants, the Englifli Compan}', reprefent, that the fad:ory for
carrying on their.trade in the Purgunnah of Calcutta, lying near the fea, and being
liable to continual alarms and interruptions from the enemy, for their defence they
have made a tank of water round their tailor}-, and left an efplanade on all fides at
the diftance of a cannon-lhot, and that the Mouza of Govindpoor, &c. in the di-
ftridts of the Purgunnah of Calcutta, &c. of the Sircar of Sautgaum, belonging to the
Paradife of Nations, the Subah of Bengala, dependent on the Khalfa Shereefa and Jag-
hire of the Sircar, adjoin thereto ; they requeft that a Sunnud, exempting them from
the payment of the rents thereof, be granted them. In this particular what are jour
commands r

Mouzas 20 T- Mahals (2 Markets) 2

Amounting, according to the account figned by Canongoes of the Subah, to
8836 4 3 2 rupees.

Mouza of Govindpoor, &:c. belonging to the Purgunnah of Calcutta. Mouzas
with Kiflinuttcas. 12.

In all 6 -]. Mouzas. Amount 2542 14 2 3.

f This is wrote bv the Roy-royan. % In the original

J'el]et liruff.

Kerria

APPENDIX. 155

Kerria Kiflmutt of Govindpoor
Mouzaof 8 annas — Amount 338 ii i6 2 Jaghlre.

Kcrrla Kiflmutt of Mirzapoor
Mou/a of 8 annas — Amount 131 10 17 3.

Kerria Kiffinutt of Gunnifpoor, in the bounds of the
Molunga of the Khalfa
Mouza of 8 annas — Amount 171 13 19 2.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Chowrungeeofthe Jaghirc
Mouza of 8 annas — Amount 44 8 2 2.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Dhulland
Mouza of 8 annas. — Amount 227 11 12 2.

Kerria Kiffmutt of JeUa Cokinda
Mouza of 8 annas — Amount 266 2 13 o.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Dhela Danghee of the Jaghire
Mouza of 1 2 annas — Amount 582 15 6 3.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Anhattee of the Jaghire
Mouza of 6 annas — Amount 184 13 16 i.

Kerria Salduah of the Jaghire
One Mouza — Amount 355 13 ii o. •

Kerria Kiffmutt of Bharee Birjhee
Mouza of 6 annas — Amount 63 2 4 2.

Kerria Kifpoorperra of the Jaghire
One Mouza — Amount 191 o 5 o. \

Kerria Kiffmutt of Bharee Serampoor of the Jaghirc '

Mouza of 4 annas — Amount 34 5 17 i-

Kiffmutt Mouza of Dhellunt, 8cc. belonging to the
Purgunnah of Paikan
Twelve Mouzas, including Kiffmutteas, in all 6 :Jr Mouzas
of the Khalfa — Amount 185)4 420.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Dhellunt
Mouza of 8 annaS' — Amount 253 10 12 !•

Kerria Kiffmutt of Soota Lootee
Mouza of 6 annas — Amount 113 7 i i.

Kerria Kiffmutt Govindpoor
Mouza of 8 annas — Amount 1 61 3 13.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Chovvrungee
Mouza of 8 annas — Amount 97 7.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Mirzapoor
Mouza of § annas — Amount i Jo 8 8 I.

Kerria Hocul Koorea
One Mouza — Amount 178 12 i.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Deccan Paikparra ;
Mouza of 2 annas — Amount 15 9 15.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Dhela Danghee
Mouza of 4 annas — Amount 156 ij 6.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Anhattee
Mouza 10 annas — Amount 218 10 12

Kerria Kiffmurt of Jella Colunda
Mouza of 8 annas — Amount 147 2 16 r.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Bharee Birjhee
Mouza of 10 annas— Amount 227 a 2.

U 2 Kerri*

iS^ APPENDIX.

Kerria KilTmutt of Bharee Serampoor
Mouzaof 12 annas-T^Amount 123 12 7.
Mouza of Shimla, Sec. belonging to the Piirgunnali of

Manpoor
Three Mouzas entire of the Khaha — Amount 331 15 i r.
Kerria Shimia one Mouza — Amount 121 15 3 2.
Kerria Maukhund one Mouza — Amount i3o 4 13 2.
Kerria Audinghu one Mouza — Amount 2g 11 14.

Mouza of the town of Calcutta, &c. belonging to the
Furgunnah of Ameer-abad
Six and a half Mouzag and Mahals — Amount 4008 10 it..

Kerria of the * town of Calcutta
One Mouza — Amount 1376 13 7 2.

Kerria KilTmutt of Soota Lootee
Alouza of 10 annas — Amount 1392 9 14 2.

Kerria KifTmut of Deccan Paikparra
Mouza of 14 annas of tlic Jaghire — Amotmt 479 2 2.

Kerria of Birjhce
One Mouza of the Jaghire-^Arnount 114 7 2 2.

Kerria of Serampoor
One Mouza of the Jaghire — Amount 50 13 15 2.

Market of Soota Lootee
One Mahal of the Khalfa — Amour^t 272 2 2.

Market of Gavindpoor
One Mahal of the Khalla — Amount 322 12 ^ 2.

Kerria Kiffmutt of Aboab Fouzdaree of the town of
Calcutta, &c. — Amount 8 3 18 i.

Form of the fign manual.
The Muchulca being taken according to the form.

Be the Sunnud granted.

Mem. Here follows the Fcrd Huckeekut, and alfo the Muchulca of the Company,
\vhich are in the fiime form as thofe in the Sunnud foregoing for the Company's Ze-
mindarry.

No. XLVI.
A Treaty bctioeen the Naboh Meer Mahomed Cojjhn Khan, and the Company^

Company's
Seal.

Meer Mahomed

Coffim Khan

Bahadcr's Seal.

Two treaties have been written of the fame tenor and reciprocally exchanged, con-
taining the articles undermentioned, between Meer Mahomed Coffim Khan Bahader,
and the -j-Nabob Shums 6 Dowla Governor, and the rcll of the Council for the affairs
of the Englifh Company, and during the life of Meer Mahomed Coflim Khan ]5a-
liaidcr, and the duration of the fa<ftorics of the Englifh Company in this country, this

• In the original it is Dhee Calcutta. f Governor Vanfittart.

acrccment

APPENDIX. 157

agreement IKall remain in force. God Is witnefs between vis, that the following articles
iliall in no wile be infringed h)' either part}'.

1. The Nabob Mcer Mahomed Jaffier Khan Bahader lliall continue in ]:)of-
fcffion of his dignities, and all affairs be tranfa<fled in his name, and a fuitable income
fliall be allowed for hisexpenccs.

2. The Neabut of the Subahdarree of Bengal,* Azim-abad, and OriiTa, &c. fliall be
conferred by his excellency the Nabob on Meer Mahomed Coffim Khan Bahader ;
he fliall be vefled with the adrninillration of all affairs of the provinces, and, after, his
Excellencv Ihall fuccced to the s;overnment.

^. Betwixt us and Meer Mahomed Coffim Khan Bahader, a firm fricndflilp and
union is eftablifncd, his enemies are our enemies, and his friends are our friends.

4. The Europeans and Tclingas, of the Englifti army ihall be ready to aflill the
Nabob Meer Mahomed Coffini Khan Bahader, in the management of all affairs ; and in
all affairs dependent on him, they fhall exert thcmfelves to thcutmoft of their abilities.

5. For all charges of the Company and of the faid army and provifions for the field,
&c. the lands of Burdwan, Midnapore, and Chittagong, Ihall be affigned, and
Sunnuds for that purpofe fhall be written and granted. The Company is to ftand to
all loffes, and receive all the profits of thefe three countries, and we will demand no
more than the three affignments aforcfaid.

6. One half of the Chunam produced at Silhet for three }'ears, fliall be purchafed
by the Gomaflahs of the Company, from the people of the government, at the
cuftomary rate of that place. The tenants and inhabitants of thofe diffrifts lliall re-
ceive no injury.

7. The ballance of the former Tuncaw fhall be paid according to the Kiftbundec
agreed upon with the Roy-royan ; the jewels which have been pledged, fhall be re-
ceived back again.

8. We will not allow the tenants of the Sircar to fettle in the lands of the Englifh
Company, neither fhall the tenants of the Company be allowed to fettle in the lands of
the Sircar.

9. We will give no protection to the dependents of the Sircar in the lands or in the
factories of the Company, neither fhall any prote(fl:ion be given to the dependents of
the Company in the lands of the Sircar ; and whofoever fhall fly to either jiarty for re-
fuge, fhall be delivered up.

10. The mcafures for war or peace with the Shah-zada, and raifing fujtplics of
money, and the concluding both thefe points fliall be weighed in the fcale of rcafon,
and whatever is judged expedient fhall be put in execution ; and it fliall be fo con-
trived bv the joint counfels, that he be removed from this country, norfuffcred to get
ivny footing in it. Whether there be peace with the Shah-zada, or not, our agree*
ment witli Meer Mahomed Coffim Khan Bahader, we will (by the grace of God)
inviolably obferve as long as the Englllh Company's factories continue in this
countr)'.

Dated the 17th of the month Seffer in the 1174th year of the Hegira, or 27rh
September, 1760.

£ign manual of Mcer Mahomed Cojfim Khan.

This was fealed on the i8th of the month Seffer.
in the eleven hundred and leventy-fourth of the
Hegira, and the propolals are agreed to.

• Or Bahar.

No.

158 A P P E N D I X.

No. XLVII.

Siinnud under the fed of the Nabob Naffer in Miduck Imteaz Dowla Ncjfcrat
Jung^ Meer Mahomed Cofjim Khan Bahader.

To the Zemindars, Canongoes, Taalookdars, tenants, hufbandmen, and chiefs
of the villages of the Purgunnah of Burdwan, &c. the Zemindarry of the Rajah
Tilluckchund, in the diilricts of the Subah of Bengal. Be it known, that whereas
divers wicked people have traiteroufly ftretched forth their hands to plunder the fub-
jetts and wafte the ro)'al dominions ; for this reafon, the faid Purgunnah, &c. is
granted to the Englilh Company, in part of difburfement of their expences, and the
monthly maintenance of five hundred European horfe, two thoufand European foot,
and eight thoufand Sepoys, which are to be entertained for the jn-oteftlon of the royal
dominions; let the above officers quietly and contentedly attend and pay to the per-
fons appointed by the Englifh Company, the ftated revenues, and implicitly fubmit in
all things to their authority. And the office of the colleilitor of the Englifli Company
is as follows : They fhall continue the Zemindars and tenants in their places, regular-
ly coiled: the revenues of the lands, and deliver them in monthly for the payment of
the expences of the Company, and the pay of the above-mentioned forces, that they
may be always ready, chearfuily and vigoroully to promote the affairs of the king. Let
this be pundually obferved.

Dated the 4th of the moon Rabbi ul Awuul, ift fun, anfwering to the ifl of the
month Cartic, 11 76, Bengal ftyle.

N. B. The Sunnuds for the Chuckla of Midnapoor in the diflridts of the Subah
of Orilla, and for tlie Tannah of Iflamabad or Chittagong appertaining to the Subah of
Bengal, are worded as the above.

Sumiud under the fed cf the Nabob Naffer id Muluck, &c.

To the Droga of Chunam, to the Nalb of Silhet. Be it known, that whereas the
Englifh Company are conftrutting a tort in Calcutta, and meet with great obflacles in
finiihing that work, in the want of Hone Chunam ; for this reafon it is ordered, that of
whatever quantity of Chunam is produced at that place, one half (the price thereof be-
ing received agreeable to the rate of that place) be delivered to the Gomaftahs of-
the Englifh Company for the term of three years, that no delays mav be occafioned
in finiihing the fort aforcfald ; and the other half is to be fent for the Sircar. Let this
be punctually obferved.

Dated the 4th of the moon Rabbi ul Awuul, ift fun, anfwering to the ift of the
month Cartic, 1176, Bengal ftyle.

No. XLVIII.

Articles of an intended Treaty between the Governor and Council of Fort
V/ilUam, on the part of the EnglifJj Eafl India Company, ajid Meer Mahomed
fluffier Ally Khan Bahader, drawn up by a Committee oj the Council in Mr.
Vavfttart's government, and dated July 6, 1763.

ifi. To confirm to the Company the ccffion of tlve jirovinccs of Burdwan, Mid-
napoor and Chittagong, made by Meer Coflim, cither by Jagheeree, Sunnuds, or

fuch

APPENDIX. tsg

fuch ilceds as may fecurc the property of them, in the flrongeO; manner, to the Com-
pany lor ever.

2dly, To ratify and confirm to the Englifh, Phe privilege granted by their Fir-
maun, and feveral Hufbiilhookums, of carrying on their trade by means of their own
Duduck, free from all duties, taxes and impofitions, in all parts of the country,
excepting the article of fait, on which, according to a refokition already taken, we
agree to pay a duty of two and a half per Cent, on the Rowana or Hoogly market
price.

3dl)', That he do grant to the Company, the exclufive right of purchafing the
faltpetre of the province of Poornea ; that he do alfo grant to them, for the fpacc of
five years, the fole privilege of making Chunam, in the province of Silhett ; half
whereof Ihall be delivered to the Fouzdar there, for the Nabob's ufe, at the rate
which the prime coft and charges may amount to.

4rhly, That the troops of the Englifli army fliall always be ready to be employed
in the Service of the Nabob, for the fupport of his government, and the defence of
his country ; the Nabob on his part fhall agree, tha;t he will maintain In his pay, no
greater number of troops than 6000 horfe, and 1 2000 eficctivc foot, for the protec-
tion of his frontiers, and collection ot his revenues.

5thly, That wherever he fliall think proper^ to fix his court, he fhall agree to a
body of our forces being always cantoned near his perfon, for the fecurity thereof, and
protedlion of his government; and that a Company's fervant fliall refidc at his court,
to tranfa<ft any affairs between the Company and the government.

6thly, That the late Perwannahs ifllied out by Coffim Ally Khan, granting to] all
merchants the exemption of all duties for the fpace of two years, fliall be reverfed and
called in, as they are detrimental to the revenues of the government, and highly de-
ftruftive of the immunities enjoyed by the Company from their Firmaun.

ythly. That the Nabob fliall engage to caufe the rupees coined in Calcutta, to
pals in every refpeft throughout his government without any dedudion, equally the
fame with the rupees flruck in his own mint.

8thlv, That he fliall defray all the expences and lofs accruing to the Company from
the war, and ftoppage of their inveflment, and reimburfe to all private perfon^:, the
amount of the authenticated loffes, which they may fufl:aln in their trade in the
countr}'.

gth\y, That for the former purpofe, he fliall give thirty lacks of rupees ; for the
latter, ten lacks of rupees.

lOthly, That the moft authentic account of thefe lofll^s fliall be laid before a Com-
mittee of the Board ; and that all funis of money which niav exceed the lofl"es
fuftained by the Company and private perfons, fliall be faithfully reftored to the
Nabob.

1 1 thly, That whatever treafure or effcfts may be feized at Mongheer or elfewhere,
belonging to Coffim Ally Khan, the Nabob fliall be put in poireffion of, to enable
him to make good the ftipulations in the ninth article.

I2thlv, That if we fliauld not be fo fortunate as to feize Coffim Ally Khan's trea-
fure and eftedrs, the Nabob fliall affiign over the revenues of certain lands for making
good the funis ftipulated.

I3thly, That the treaty entered into between the Nabob and the Dutch, in the
3'ear 1760, to which we, by the defire of both parties, figned as guarantees, fhall,
after his refloration to the government, be renewed; and v>ith regard to the French,
he fhall engage, that when they come to re-efl:ablilli themfelves in Bengal, they fliall
not be permitted to build forts, or keep up any forces, or hold any territories what-
ever, exclufive of their trading; factories.

No.

i6o

I X.

No. XLIX.

Jtrticles of a Treaty and Agreetnent between the Governor and Council ofFcrt
William, on the fart of the Englifi Eaft India Company, and the Nabob-
Shujah nl Muliick Hojfam o Doivla Mecr Mahomed Jajier Khan Bahader
Mahabut fung.

Company's
Larse Seal.

The Seal of the Nabob Mecr

Mahomed Jaltier Khan Bahader

Mahabut Jung, See.

On t^e part of the Company.

We engage to reinftate the Nabob Meer Mahomed Jaffier Khan Bahader, in the-
Subahdanec of the provinces of Bengal, Bahar,and Orifla, by the depofal of Meer Maho-
med Coffim Khan ; and the effects, treafure, and jewels, &:c. belonging to Meer Maho-
med Coffim Khan, which fhall fall into our hands, fhall be delivered up to the Nabob,
aforenamed.

On the p.irt of (be Nabob

1. The treaty which I formerly concluded with the Company upon my acceffion to.
the Nizamvit, engaging to regard the honour and reputation of the Compan}-, their
Governor, and Council, as my own, granting Perwannahs for the currency of the
Company's bufinefs ; the fame treaty I now confirm and ratify.

2. I do grant and confirm to the Company, for defra\-ing the expences of their
troops, the Chuclahs of Burdwan, Midnapoor, and Chlttagong, which were before-
ceded for the fame purpofe.

3. I do ratif\- and confirm to the Engllfh the privilege granted them bv their
Firmaun and fcvcral Hufbulhookums, of carrying on their trade by means of their o\\ n
Duftuck, free from all duties, taxes, or impofitions, in all parts of the countr\-, ex-
cept the article of fait, on which a duty of 24: per Cent, is to be levied on the RowaniV
or Hoogl}' market price.

4. I give to the Company half the faltpetre which is produced in the countrv of
Poornca, which their Gomallahsfliall fend to Calcutta. The other half fhall be col-
Icdcd by my I'ouzdar, for the ufe of my offices ;, and I will fiifier no other perfon to
make purchafcs of this article in that country.

5. In the Chuclah of Silhet for the fpacc of five years, commencing with the Ben-
gal year 1 1 70, my Fouzdar and theCompany'sGomaftah, flialt jointlv ]irepare Chunam,
ot which each lliall defray half the expences ; and half the Chunam fo made Ihall be
given to the Company, and the other half Ihall be for my ufc.

6. I will maintain twelve thoufand horfc and twelve thoufand foot in the three pro-
vinces. If there fhould be occafion foranv more, the number fliall be increafed by don-
fent of the Governor and Council proportionably to the emergency. Befides thefe, the
forces of the Englifh Company fhall alwavs attend me when they are wanted.

7. Wherever I fhall fix mv court, either at Murilied-ab;ul, orelfewhere, I will ad-
vife the Governor and Council ; anil what number of JMigliih forces I may have occa-
fion for ill the management of my alFuirs, I will den\and them, and they fliall be allovv-

APPENDIX, i6i

e3 me; and an Englifh gentleman ihall refide with me to tranfiidt all affairs betu'ccn
me and the Company ; and a pcrfon fliall alfo refide on my part at Calcutta, to nego-
ciate wiih the Governor and Council.

8. The late Pervvannahs iiTued by Coflim Ally Khan, granting to all merchants the
exemption of all duties for the fpace of two years, fliall be rcvcrfcd and called in, and
the duties collefted as before.

9. I will caufc the rupees coined in Calcutta, to pafs in every refpedt equal to the
Siccas of Moorlhcd-abad, without any deduction of Bacta ; and whofoever fliall demand
Batta, fliall be puniflicd.

10. I will pive thirty lacks of rupees, to defray all the expcnces and lofs accru-
ing to the Company from the war and floppage of their inveftment; and I will re-
imburfe to all private perfons the amount of fuch lodes proved before the Gover-
nor and Council, as they may fuftain in their trade in the country ; if I fnould not
be abk to difcharge this in ready money, I will give aflignmcnts of land for the
amount.

X I. I will confirm and renew the treaty which I formerly made with the Dutch.

1 2. If the French come into the country, I will not allow them to eTe<ft any fortifi-
cations, maintain forces, hold lands, Zemindarries, &c. but they fliall pay tribute and
carry on their trade as in former times.

13. Some regulations fliall be hereafter fettled between us, for deciding all difputes
which may arifc between the Englifh agents and Gomaflahs in the different parts of the
country, and my officers.

In teflimony whereof, we the faid Governor and Council have fet our hands and af-
fixed the feal of the Company to one part hereof, and the Nabob aforenamed hath fet
his hand and feal to another part hereof; which were mutually done and interchanged,
at Fort William, the lOth day of July 1763.

Signed,

HENRY VANSITTART, JOHN CARNAC. WILLIAM BILLERS.
WARREN HASTINGS. RANDOLPH MARRIOTT. HUGH WATTS,

Demands made on the ■part of the TSahoh Meer Mahomed J-affier Khan, and agreed to hy the

Council., at the time cffigning the Treaty.

1. I formerly acquainted the Company with the particulars of my own affairs^ and
received from them repeated letters of encouragement and kindnefs, with prcfents : I
now make this requeft, that you will write in a proper manner to the Company, and alfo
to the King of England, the particulars of our friendfhip and union, and procure for
me writings and encouragement, that my mind may be afFured from that quarter, that
no breach may ever happen between me and the Englifh, and that every Governor,
Counfellor, and Chiefs of the Englifh, that are here or may hereafter come, may be
well difpofed and attached to me.

2. Since all the Englifh gentlemen afTured of iriy friendly difpofition to to the Com-
pany, confirm me in the Nizamut, I requefl that to whatever I may at any time write,
they will give their credit and alTent, nor regard the flories of defigning men to my
prejudice, that all my affairs may go on with fuccels, and no occaiion may arife for
jealoufy or ill-will between us.

X t' Let

i62 APPENDIX.

3. Let no protedion be given by any of the Engllfli gentlemen to any of my de-
pendents, who may fiy for flielter to Calcutta, or other of your diftridts ; but let
them be delivered up to me on demand. I fhall fttlftly enjoin all my Fouzdars and
Aumils on all accounts, to afford affiftance and countenance to fuch of the Gomaftahs
of the Comixany as attend to the lawful trade of their fadlories ; and if any of the faid
Gomaftahs fhall adt otherwife, let them be checked in fuch a manner as may be an ex-
ample to others.

4. From the neighbourhood of Calcutta to Hoogly, and many of their Purgun-
nahs bordering upon each other, it hapjiens that on complaints being made, people
go againlt the Taalookdars, Ryots, and tenants of my town, to the prejudice of the bu-
finefs of the Sircar ; wherefore let ftridl orders be given that no perfon be fent from
Calcutta on the complaints of any one upon my Taalookdars or tenants; but on fuch
occafions let application be made to me or the Naib of the Fouzdarry of Hoogly,
that the Company may be fubjeft to no lofs or devaflations. And if any of the traders
which belonged to the Buckfbunder and Azimgunge, and have fettled in Calcutta,
Ihould be defirous of returning to Hoogly, and carrying on their bufinefs there as
formerly, let no one molefl them. Chandernagore and the French faftory were pre-
fented to me by Colonel Clive, and given by me in charge to Ameer Beg Khan : for this
reafon, let fhritt orders be given that no Englifh gentleman exercife any authority there-
in, but that it remain as formerly under the jurifdidtion of my people.

5. Whenever I demand any forces from the Governor and Council for my aflillance,
let them be immediately fent me, and no demand made on me for their expences.

The demands of Nabob Shujah ul Muluck Hoffam 6 Dowlah, Mcer Mahomed
Jaffier Khan Bahader Mahabut Jung, written in five articles, we, the Prefidcnt and
Council of the Englifli Company, do agree, and fet our hands to, in Fort William,
the loth July, 1763.

Signed,

HENRY VANSITTART. WILLIAM BILLERS. JOHN CARTIER.
WARREN HASTINGS. RANDOLPH MARRIOTT. HUGH WATTS.

No. L.

Nabob Mecr Mahomed Jajficr Ally Khan s Note, for the payment of five lacks
of rupees per month, for the expences nf the Company s troops during the
ivar -ii'ith Shujah ul Doiclah. Dated September ihth, 1764.

Account of money fettled for the expences of the European and Sepoys, the ar-
tillery, and the raifing of the cavalry, which fhall be paid a month fooner or later,
accorciing to the particulars under-mentioned, from the beginning of the month.
Scffcr (31ft July, 1764, of the 5th year of the reign,) till the removal of the troubles
with the Vizier; viz.

In the province of Bengal, at Moorflicd-abad
In the province of Bahar, at Patna

— 300,000

— 200,C00

Total rupees 5O0,coj
Written

APPENDIX. 163

Written the 191I1 of Rabbi ul Awvul, the 5th year of the Jaloos, (i6th September
1764.)

N. B. I will include in the aforcfaid fum, whatever balance may be due from mc
on account of my former agrccmenc with the Company.

No. LI.

Propofals made by the King Shah Aaliim, and enclofed in a letter from Major
He£for Munro to the Frcfident and Council at Bengal, dated Jrom the camp
at Benares, the I2d of ISlov ember, J 764.

If this country is to be kept, put me in pofTcflion of it, and leave a fmall detach-
ment of the troops with me, to fliow that I am protected by the Englifh, and they
Ihall be at my expence, that if any enemy come at any time againft me, I will make
fuch connexions in the country that with my own troops, and the aforementioned
fmall detachment, will defend the country, without any farther affiilance from the
Englifli, and I will pay them of the revenues of the country what fum they (hall de-
mand yearly. If the Englilh will, contrary to their intereft, make peace with the Vizier,
I will go to Dchly, for I cannot think of returning again into the hands of a man
who has ufed me fo ill. I have no friends I dejiend on more than the Englifh ; their
former behaviour to me will make me ever refpedt and regard them; now is their
time to be in pofleffion of a country abounding with riches and treafure : I fhall be
fatisfied with whatever Ihare they pleafe of it. The Rohillas were always enemies to
the imperious Vizier, they are all my friends.

Articles to be executed by the King, inclofed in a letter from the Prefident and Council at
Bengal, to Major HeSlor Monro, commander in chief of the army ; fent the 6th De-
cember 1764.

In confideration of the affiftance and fidelity of the Englifh Company, which has
freed us from the inconveniencies we laboured under, and ftrengthcned the founda-
tions of the empire which God has given us, we have been gracioufly pleafed to grant
to the Englifh Company our royal favours according to the following articles, which
fhall remain firm both in prefent and in future.

As the Englifh Company have been put to a great expence, and their affairs cx-
pofed to danger, by the war which the Nabob Shujah ul Dowla, unjuflly and contrary
to our royal pleafure waged againft them ; we have therefore afTigncd to them the
country of Ghazepoor, and the reft of the Zemindarry of Buhvant Sing, belonging to
the Nizamut of the Nabob Shujah ul Dowla; and the regulation and government
thereof, we have given to their difpofal, in the fame manner as it was in the Nabob
Shujah ul Dowla's. The aforefaid Rajah having fettled terms with the chiefs of the
Englilh Company, is, according thereto, to pay the revenues to the Company; and the
amount fliall not belong to the books of the royal revenue, but fhall be expunged
from them. The army of the Englifh Company having joined our ftandanl, fliall
put us in pofTcflion of AUah-abad, and the reft of the countries belonging to the Niza-
mut of the Nabob Shujah ul Dowla; and the revenues, excepting thofe of Rajah Bul-
want Sing's Zemindarry, fhall be in our entire management and difpofal.

X2 As

IO+ A F P E >r D I X.

As the Englifh Company will be at a further expence in putting us in pofTeflTon of^"
Allaha-bad, and the reft of the Nizamut of the Nabob Shujah vil Dowla, we will?
therefore, as we get pofleffion, grant to them out of our treafury, fuch a proportion of
the revenues as the exigencies of our affairs will admit of ; and w hen we are put in
full poffeffion, we will reimburfe the whole expences of the Company in this bufinefs,
from the time of their joining our royal ftandard..

Firmaun, essculed hy the King. Dated December i^tb, i'/6i\.

As the Englifh Company have been put to great expence, and their affairs expofed'
to danger by the war which the Nabob Shujah ul Dowla unjuftly and contrary to our ■
royal pleafure waged againft them ; we have therefore affigned to them the country
of Ghazepoor, and the reft of the Zemindarry of Rajah Bulwant Sing, belonging to
the Nizamut of the Nabob Shujah ul Dowla ; and the regulation and government
thereof we have given to their difpofal, in the fame manner as it was in the Nabob.
Shujah ul Dowla's. The aforcfaid Rajah having fettled terms with the chiefs of the
Englifh Company,, is, according thereto, to pay the revenues to the Company.

The army of the Englifh Company having joined our ftandard, fhall put us in pof-
feflion of Allah-abad and the reft of the countries belonging to the Nizamut of the
Nabob Shujah ul Dowla ; and the revenues, excepting thofe of Rajah Bulwant Sing's .
Zemindarry, fhall be in our entire management and difpofal.

It becomes the Company to fhew their grateful fcnfe of our- royal favours, and to.
exert themfelvesto the utmoft in the proper management and regulation of the coun-
try, to encourage and befriend our fubjedts, to punifh the contentious, and expel the ■
rebellious from their territories. They muft ufe their beft endeavours to promote the
welfare of our people, the Ryots and other inhabitants,, to prohibit the ufe of things of
an intoxicating nature, and fuch as are forbidden by the law of God ; in driving out
enemies, in deciding caufes, and fettling matters agreeably to the rules of Mahomed :
and the law of the empire, fo that the inhabitants may apply themfelves, with peace of:
mind and fatisfadtion, to the cultivation of the country, and the excrcife of other their
profeflions, and that the weak may not labour under opprcflion and violence. . They
will confider thefe as our ftridt injundlions.
Written on the 4th day of Rejub, the 6th year of the reign, December 29th, 17540 .

No. LII.

Articles of a treaty and agreement concluded between the Governor and Coun--
I'il of Fort William, on the part of the Englip Eaf India Company, and the
Nabob Nudjum ul Daiala. Dated in February 1765.

On the Part of the- Company.

We the Governor and Council do engage to fecure to the Nabob Nudjum ul Dowla,
the Subahdarrec of the Provinces of Bengal, Rahar and Oriffa, and to fup])ort him
therein wiih the Company's forces againft all his enemies. We will alfo at all times
keep up fuch force as may be neceffary, cffcsftually to aifift and fupport him in the
defence of the provinces ; and as our troops will be moreta be depended on than any
the Nabob can have, and Icfs cxpcafive to him, he need therefore entertain uonc but

fuch

APPENDIX. i6s

ffich as are requifite for the fupport of the civil officers of his government, and the
budnels of his colledioiis through the cUfTerent diflricts.

Wcdo furtlicr promife,. that, in confideration the Nabob fhall coiTtiirue to affifl: in
defraying the extraordinary expences of the war now currying on againft Shujah ul
Do'vUi, with five lacks of rupees per month, which was agreed tol)y his * father, that
whatever funis may be hereafter received of the King, on account of our affiftance-
afforded him in the war, fliall be repaid to the Nabob.

On the Part of the Nabobs

In confideratlon of the affillance the Governor and Council have agreed to afford.
In fecuring to me the fucceflion in the Subahdarree of Bengal, Bahar, and Oriflii, here-
tofore held by my father, the late Nabob Meer Jaffier Ally Khan, and fupporting ine
in it againll all my enemies, I do agree and bind myfelf to the faithful performance of
the following articles.,

iff. The treaty which my father formerly concluded with the Company -f upon his
firft acceffion to the Nizamut, engaging to regard the honour and reputation of the
Company and of their Governor and Council as his own, and granting Purwannahs -
for the currency of the Company's trade, the fame treaty, as far as is confident with
the articles hereafter agreed to, I do hereby ratify and confirm.

2. Confidering the weighty charge of government, and how effentlal it is for
myfelf, for the welfare of the country,^ and for the Company's bufinefs, that I fhould
have a perfon who has had experience therein to advife and affifl me, I do agree to
have one fixed with me, with the advice of the Governor and Council, in the ftation
of Naib Subah, who fhall accordingly have, immediately under me, the chief ma-
nagement of all affairs : And as Mahomed Rcza Khan, the Naib of Dacca,, h^s in
every refpett my approbation, and that of the Governor and Council, I do further
agree, that this trult fhall be conferred on him ; and I will not difplace him without
the aequiefcence of thofe gentlemen : And in cafe any alteration in this appointment
fliould hereafter appear advifeable, that Mahomed Reza Khan, provided he has ac-
quitted himfelf with fidelity in his adminiflration, fhall, in fuch cafe,, be reinftated in
theNaiblhip of Dacca, with the fame authority as heretofore.

3. The bufinefs of the colleftions of the revenues fliall, under the Naib Subah,
be divided into two or more branches as may appear proper : And as I have the fulleft ■
dependence and confidence on the attachment of the Englifli, and their regard to my
intereft and dignitv, and am defirous of giving them every tcftimony thereof, I do
further confent, that the appointment and difmiflion of the Muitafeddees of thofe
branches, and the allotment of their feveral diftridls, fliall be with the approbation of.
the Governor and Council. And confidering how much men of my rank and fiation
are obliged to truft to the eyes and recommendations of the fervants about tlicm, and •
how liable to be deceived, it is my further will, that the Governor and Council fhall
be at liberty to objedt and point out to me when improper people are entrufted, or
where my officers and fubjedrs are oppreffed ; and I will pay a proper regard to fuch.'
reprefentations, that my affairs may be condudled with honour, my people every where. -
be happy, and their grievances be redreffed.

4. 1 do confirm to the Company, as a fixed refource for defraying the ordinary
expences of their troops, the Chucklahs of Burdwan, Midnapoor, and Chlttagong, in
as full a manner as heretofore ceded by my fatherj. The I'um of five lacks of Sicca
rupees per month for their m-iintcnance, was further ap;reed to be paid by my father ;
I agree to pay the fame out of ' mv treafury, whilfi: the exigency for keeping up fo
large an army continues. When the Company's occafions will admit a diminution of

the-
• Appendix, No. 50, f Appendix, No. 39 J Appendix, No. 49.

166 APPENDIX.

the expences they are put to, on account of thofe troops, the Governor and Council will
then relieve me from fuch a proportion of this affignmenr, as the increafcd expences in-
curred by keeping up the wli deforce ncceOary for the defence of the provinces will admit
of.j and as I erteem the Company's troops entirely equal thereto and as my own, I
will only maintain fuch as are immediately neceflarv for the dignity of my perfon and
government, and the bufmefs of my colledions throughout the provinces.

5. I do ratify and confirm to the Englilli the privilege granted them by their
Firmaun and feveral Huftulhookums of carrving on their trade by means of their
own Dulluck, free fiom all duties, taxes, or impofitions in all parts of the country,
excepting in the article of fait, on which a duty of 2 J- per Cent, is to be levied on
the Rowana or Hoogly market \mce.

6. I give to the Company the liberty of purchafmg half the faltpetre produced
in the country of Purnea, which their Gomallahs ihall fend to Calcutta : the other
halt ihall be cpllefted by mv Fouzdar for the ufe of my offices ; and I will fuffer no
other perfons to make purchafes of this article in that country.

7. In the Chucklah of Silhet for the fpace of five years, commencing with the
Bengal year 1171, mv Fouzdar, and a Gomailah on the part of the Company, fhall
jointly provide Chunam ; of which each fhall defray half the expence, and half the
Chunam fo made, fhall be given to the Company.

8. Although I fhould occafionallv rem.ove to other places in the provinces, I agree
that the books of the Sircar fhall be always kept, and the bufinefs condudted at
Moorfhed-abad, and that fhall as heretofore be the feat of mv government : And
wherever I am, 1 confent that an Engliih gentleman fhall refide with me to tranfadt
all affairs between me and the Company ; and that a ]icrfon of high rank Ihall alfo
refide on my part at Calcutta, to negotiate with the Governor and Council.

9. I will caufe the rupees coined in Calcutta to pafs in every refped; equal to the
Siccas of Moorfhed-abatl, w ithout any dedudfion of Batta ; and whofoever fhall de-
mand Batta, fhall be punifhed. The annual lofs on coinage by the fall of Batta, on
the ifluing of the new Siccas, is a very heavy grievance to the country ; and after
mature confideration, I will, in concert with the Governor and Council, purfue what-
ever may appear the beft method for remedying it.

10. I will allow no Europeans whatever to be entertained in my fervice ; and if
there already be any, they fhall be immediatelv difmiffcd.

11. The Kiltbundee for payment of the rcilitution to the fuffcrers in the late trou-
bles, as executed by my father, I will fee faithfully paid ; no delays flrall be made in
this bufinefs.

12. I confirm and will abide by the treaty which my father formerly made with
the Dutch.

13. If the French come into t'^e country, I will not allow them to eredl any forti-
fications, maintain forces, or hold lands, Zemindarries, &cc. but they fhall pay tribute^
and carry on their trade as in former times.

14. Some regulations fiiall be hereafter fettled between us, for deciding all difputcs
which may arife between the Englllh Gomaflaiis and my officers in the different parts
of the country.

In teftimony whereof, we the faid Governor and Cotmcil have fit our hands, and
affixed the fcal ol the Company to one part hereof, and the Nabob before named has
fet his hand and fcal to another part.

(A true copy.)

\V. MAJENDIE, Secretary.
Mem. This treaty was executcil bv tlie Prefident and Council of h'ort VVilliam, on
the 20th February i 765, and by the Nabob on the 25th of the fame month.

No,

N D I X, J67

No. LIII.

Flrmaun from the King Shah Aaluin, granting tht? Dewannee of Bengal,
Bahar and OriJJ'a, to the Company. Dated Augujl \2th, 1765.

At this happy time our royal Firmaun, indifpcnfiblv requiring obedience, is ifliied.
That whereas in confukration of the attachment and fervices of the high and n:iighiy,
the nobleft of exalted nobles, the chief of illuflrious warriors, our faithful fervanls
and fincere well-wifliers, worthy of our royal favours, the Englifh Company, we
have granted them the Dewannee of the provinces of Bengal, Baha'-, and Orifia,
from * the beginning of the FuiFul Rubby of the Bengal year 11 72, as a iVce gift,
and Ultumgau, without the aflbciation of any other pcrfon, and with an exemption
from the payment of the cuftoms of the Dewannee, which ufed to be paid to the
court ; it is requifite that the faid Company engage to be fecurity for the fum of
twenty-fix lacks of rupees a year, for our royal revenue, which liim has been ap-
pointed from the Nabob Nudjum ul Dowla Bahader, and regularly remit the fame
to the royal Sircar ; and in this cafe, as the faid Company arc obliged to keep up a
large army for the proted;ion of the provinces of Bengal, &c. wc have granted to
them whatfoever may remain out of the revenues of tie faid provinces, after remit-
ting the fum of twenty-fix lacks of rupees to the royal Sircar, and providing for the
expences of theNizamut: it is requifite that our royal defcendents the Viziers, the
beftowers of dignity, the Omrahs high in rank, the great officers, the Muttafeddees
of the Dewannee, the managers of the bufincfs of the Sultanut, the Jagheerdars and
Croories, as well the future as the preient, ufing their conftant endeavours for the
eftablifliment of this our royal command, leave the faid- office in pofleffion of the
faid Companv, from generation to generation, for ever and ever ; looking upon them
to be infured from difmiffion or removal, they mult on no account whatfoever give
them any interruption, and they mult regard them, as excufed and exempted from
tlie payment of all the cuftoms of the Dewannee, and royal demands. Knowing our
orders on the fubjedt to be moft ftridt and pofitive, let them not deviate therefrom.

Written the 24th of Sbphar of the 6th ye^r of the Jaloos.

(the 1 2th Aug. I 765.)

Contents of the- Zimmun.

Agreeably to the paper which has received our fign manual, our royal commands
are iifued. That in confideration of the attachment and fervices of the high and
mighty, the nobleft: of exalted nobles, the chief of illuftrious warriors, our faithful
fervants and fincere well-wifhers, worthy of our royal favours, thq Fnglifii Company,
we have granted them the Dewannee of the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orilla,
from the beginning of the Fuffi.1l Rubby of the Bengal year 1172, as a free gift
and Ultumgau, without the alfociation of anv other perfon, and with an exemption
from the cuftoms of the Dewannee, which ufed to be paid to the court, on condition
of their being fecurity for the fum of twenty-fix lacks of nipees a-ycar, for our royal
revenue; which fum has been appointed from the Nabob Nudjum ul Dowla Baha-
der; and after remitting the royal revenue, and piroviding for the expences of the
Nizamut, whatfoever may remain we have granted to the laid Compan)-.

The Dewannee of the Provhice of Bengal.
The Deivannee of the Province of Bahar.
Ibi Davanme of lbs Proviiiee of Criffa.

Fir-

j68 A P P E- N n I X,

No. LIV.

Firmaun from the -King Shah Alhwu for tJie'-Deivamiee of the Provhice of

Bengal.

At this happy time, our royal Firmaun indifpenfibly requiring obedience, is iffued,
That in confideration of the attachment of the high and mighty, the noblell of ex-
alted nobles, jhe chief of illuftrious Warriors, our' faithful fervants and fincere well-
wifhers, worthy, of our royal favours, the Englilh Company, we have granted them,
as a free gift and Ultumgau, agreeablj' to the Zihimun from the beginning of Rubby
Tuccacooy-ul of the Bengal year 1172, the ofReeof the -Dewannee of Khalfa She-
Teefi, of the province of Bengal (the Paradife of the Earth), with the conditional
Jagheer thereof, without the aifociation of any other perfon. It is requifite that our
royal defcendents the Viziers, the beftowers of dignity, the Omrahs high in rank,
the great officers, the Muttafeddees bf rhe Dewannee, the managers of the bufinefs
of the Sultanuf, the Jaghccrdars and Croories, as well the future as the prefent, ufing
their conftant endeavours for the cfiablilhment of this our royal commaml, leave the
faid office in polTeffion of the laid Company, from generation to generation, for ever
aiidever; looking upon them to be infured from difmiffion or removal, they mull:
on no account whatfoevcr give them any interruption, and they muft regard them as
excufed and exempted from the payment of all the cuftoms of the Dewannee, and
demands of the Sultamit. Knowing our ordcfs on this fubjed: to be moft ftrift and
pofitive, let them not deviate therefrom.

WVtteen the 24th of Sophar of the 6th year of the Jaloos,
(the I 2th of Aug. 1765.)

Contents of ' the Zinimun.

Agreeably to the paper which has received our fign-manual, we have granted the
•office of the Dewannee of the Khalfa Shereefa of the province of Bengal, (the Pa-
radife of the Earth) with the conditional Jagheer thereof, as a free gift and Ultum-
gau to the high and mighty, the nobleil of exalted nobles, the chief of illullrious
warriors, our faithful fervants and fincere well-vvifhers, worthy of our royal favours,
the Englifh Company, without the aflbciation of any other perfon, from the begin-
Bing of the Rubby Tuccacooy-ul of the Bengal j^ear, 11 72.

Fort William, 30th September 1 765.

(A true Copy)

ALEX. CAMPBELL. S. S. C.

Nt>. LV.

Vinnaiin from the King Shah Aalum, for the Dewanny of the province ^f

Bahar.

At this happy time, o\jr royal Firmaun, indifpcnfably requiring obedience, is if-
liied. That in confideration of the attachment of the high and mighty, the noblcft

APPENDIX. ,69

of exalred nobles, the chief of illudrious warriors, our faithful fcrvants and fmccre
well-wilhers, worthy of our royal favours, the Englifli Company, we have granted
them, as a free gift and Ultumgau, agreeably to the Zimmun, from the beginning of
the Rubby Tuccacoov-ul of the Bengal year 1172, the office of the Dewannce of the
Khalfa Shcrecfa of the province of Bahar, with the conditional Jagheer thereof,
ivithout the aflbciation of any other perfon. It is rcquiiite that our royal defcend-
cnts, the Viziers, the bcflowcrs of dignity, the Omrahs high in rank, the great
officers, the Muttafeddees of the Dcwannee, the managers of the bufincls of the
Sultanut, the Jagheerdars and Croories, as well the future as the prcfent, ufing their
conitant endeavours for the eftablifliment of this our royal command, leave the faid
office in poflelTion of the Aiid Company, from generation to generation, for ever and
ever. Looking upon them to be infured from difmiflion or removal, they muft on
no account whatfoever give them any interruption ; and they mull regard them as
excufed and exempted from the payment of all the cuftoms of the Dewannce, and
demands of the Sultanut. Knowing our orders on this fubjeft to be moft drift and
pofitive, let them not deviate therefrom.

Written the 24th of Sophar, of the 6th year of the Jaloos.
(the 12 th of Auguft, 1765.)

Contents of the Zimmun.

Agreeably to the paper which has received our fign-manual, we have granted the
office of Dcwannee of the Khalfa Shercefa of the province of Bahar, with the
conditional Jagheer thereof, as a free gift and Ultumgau, to the high and mighty,
the nobleft ot exalted nobles, the chief of illuftrious warriors, our faithful fervants
and flncere well-wifhers, worthy of our royal favours, the Engliih Company, without
the aflbciation of any other perfon, from the beginning of the Rubby Tuccacooy-ul,
of the Bengal year 1172.

Fort William, 30th September, 1765.

ALEX. CAMPBELL. S. S. C.

No. LVL

Firmaunfrom the King Shah Aahmi, for the Detvmnee of the Province of

Orifa.

At this happy time, our royal Firmaun, indifj>cnfibly requiring obedience, is if-
fued. That in confideralion of the attachment of the high and mightv, the nobleft
of exalted nobles, the chief of illuftrious warriors, our faithful fervants and fincere
vvell-wiftiers, worthy of our royal favours, the Englifti Coinpany, we have granted
them, as a free gift and Ultumgau, agreeably to the Zimmun, from the beginnino-
of Rubby Tuccacooy-ul, of the Bengal year 11 72, the office of the DeVannee
of the Khalfa Shereefa of the province of Orifla, with the conditional Jao-heer
thereof, without the ailbciation of any other perfon. It is requifite that our ro)al
defcendents, the Viziers, the beftowers of dignity, the Omrahs high in rank, the
great officers, the Muttafeddees of the Dewannce, the managers of\he bufincls of
'.he Sultanut, Jagheerdars and Croories, as well the future as the prefent, ufing their

Y con-

N D I X.

conftant endeavours for the eftablifhment of this our royal command, leave the falJ
office in pofleflion of the faid Company, from generation to generation, for ever
and ever. Looking upon them to be infured from difmiffion or removal, they muft
on no account whatfoever give them any interruption ; and they muft regard them as
excufed and exempted from the payment of all the cuftoms of the Dewannee, and
demands of the Sultanut. Knowing our orders on this fubjedt to be moft ftrid: and
pofitive; let them not deviate therefrom.

Written the 24th of Sophar, of the 6th year of the Jalbos.
(the 12th of Auguft, 1765.)

Contents of the Zimnnm.

Agreeably to the paper which has received our fign-manual, we have granted the
ofiite of the Dewannee of the Khalfa Shereefa of the province of Orilfa, with the^
conditional Jagheer thereof, as a free gift and Ultumgau, to the high and mighty,
the noblell of exalted nobles, the chief of illuftrious warriors, our faithful fervants
and fincere well-wifhers, worthy of our ro)'al favours, the Englilh Company, with-
out the affociation of any other perfon, from the beginning of the Rubby Tucca-
cooy-ul, of the Bengal year 1172.

Fort William, 30th September, 1765.

(A true Copy.)

ALEX. CAMPBELL. S. S. C.

No. Lvn.

Firmazin from the King Shah Aalum, conjtrming to the Company the Chuclahs
of Buf-dwan, Mulnapore, and Chittagong, and the fwcuty-four Piirgunnahs
of Calcutta, &c. before ceded to them hy the Nabobs Mecr Cofjim Ally Khaji^
and Meer Jqffier Ally Khan, dated Aiigujl \2th, 1765.

At this happy time, our rojal Firmaun, indlfpenfibly requiring obedience, is
iflTued, That the Chuclahs of Burdwan, Midnapore, and Chittagong, and alfo the
twenty-four Purgunnahs of Calcutta, 8cc. (the Zcmindarry of the high and mighty,
the noblelt of exalted nobles, the chief of illuftrious warriors, our faithful fervants
and fincere well-wifliers, worthy of our royal favours, the Englifh Company) which
were granted to the faid Company in the time of Mcer Mahomed Coflim and Meer
Mahomed Jaffier Khan, deccafed ; we, in confideration ot the attachment of the
faid Company, have been gracioufly plcafed to confirm to them, from the beginning
of the Fuflul Rubby of the Bengal year 1 172, as a free gift and Ultumgau, without
the aflbciation of any other perfon. It is requifite that our royal dcfccndents, the
Viziers, the beftowers of dignity, the Onirahs high in rank, the great officers, the
Muttafeddccs of the Dewannee, the managers of the bufinefs of the Saltanut, the
Jagheerdars and Croories, as well the future as the prefent, ufing their conftant en-
deavours for the cftabliftiment of this our royal command, leave the faid diftridts
and Purgunnahs in pofleffion of the fliid Comjiany, from generation to generation,
for ever and ever. Looking upon them to be infured from difmiftion or removal, tliey
muft on no account whatfoever give them any interruption, and they muft regard
them as cxcufed and exempted from the payment of all manner of cuftoms and de-
mands.

APPENDIX. 17J

mands. Knowing our orders on this fubjedt to be moft ftridt and pofitivc,- let them
not deviate therefrom.

Written the 24th of Sophar, of the 6th year of the Jaloos.
(the 12th Auguft, 1765.) ,.;

Contents of the Zitiimun. ' . 1

Agreeably to the paper which has received our fign-manual, our royal commands
are ililied, that the Chuclahs of Burdwan, Midnaporc, and Chittagong, and alfo
the twenty-four Purgunnahs of Calcutta, &c. (the Zeiiiindarry of the Engllfli Com-
pany) which were granted to the fald Company in the time of Meer Mahomed Coffim,
and Meer Mahomed Jaffier Khan, deceafed, be confirmed to the faid Company, as a
free gift and Ultumgau, without the aflbciation of any other pcrfon.

Chuclnh of Burdwan.
Cbuclab of Midnapore.
Chuclah cf Chittagong.

The twenty-four Purgunnahs of Calcutta, &c. (the Zemindairy of the Englifli
Company.)

Fort William, September 30th, 1765,

(A true Copy.)

ALEX. CAMPBELL, S. S. C.

No. LVIIL

Treaty between the Nabob Shujah ul Dowla, the Nabob Nudjum ul Dowla, and
the Rnglijh Company y executed at Illah-abad, Augujl i6th, 1765.

(Sealed and approved by the King.)

Whereas the right honorable Robert Lord Cllvc, Baron Clive of Flafley, Knight
companion of the moft honourable order of the Bath, major-general and comman-
der of the forces, Prefident of the Council, and Governor of Fort William, and
of all the fettlements belonging to the united Company of merchants of England
trading to the Eaft Ladies, in the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orill'a ; and John
Carnac, Efquire, brigadier-general, colonel In the fcrvlce of the fald Compap.y, and
commanding otFicer of their forces upon the Bengal eftablilliment, arc inverted with
full and ample powers, on the behalf of his excellency the Nabob Nudjum ul Dow-
la, Subahdar of Bengal, Bahar, and Orlffa, and likewlle on behalf of the united
Company of merchants of England trading to the Eaft Indies, to negoeiate, fettle, and
finally to conclude a firm and lafting peace with his highnefs the Nabob Shujah ul
Dowla, Vizier of the empire : Be It known to all thofe, to whom it may or ftiall in
any manner belong, that the above named plenipotentiaries have agreed upon the
following articles, with his highnefs.

I. A perpetual and vinivcrfal peace, fincere friendlhip, and firm union fliail be
eftablifhed between his highnefs Shujah ul Dowla and his heirs on the one part, and
his excellency Nudjum ul Dowla, and the Engllfli Eaft India Company on the
other, io that the fald contracting powers fiiall give the greateft attention to main-

Y 2 taia

i^i A P P E N D I X.

ta-ift bJet^weeh tliemftK-es, their dominions and tlieir fubjedls, this reci]>rocal friend-
ihip, without i^ermitting on either fide any kind of hollilitics to be comniitted from
henceforth, for any caiife, or under any pretence whatfocvcr ; and every thing Ihall
be carefully avoided,^ which mit;-ht hereafter prejudice the union now happily efta-
blilhed.

2. In cafe the dominions of his highnefs 'Slniiah ul Dowla fliall at any time here-
after be attacked, his excellency Nudjum ul Dgwla, and the Engliili Company,
{hall affift htm with a -part or the whole of their forces, according to the exigence of
his affairs, and fo far as mav be confrftent with their own fecurity ; and if the do-
minions of his excellency Nudjum ul Dowla, or the Englifli Company, fhall be at-
tacked, his highnefs fliall in like manner affifl them with a partj or the whole of his
forces: m the cafe of 'the Englifh Company's forces being employed in his
highnefs 's fervice, the extraordinary expence of the fame is to be defraved by
him. . , .

3. His highnefs folemnly engages never to entertain or receive Coffim Ally Khan,
the late Subahdar of Bengal, &c. Sombroo the aflaffin of the Englifh, nor any of
the European deferters within his dominions, nor to give the leait countenance, fup-
port, or protedfion to them : he likewife folemnly engages to deliver up to the Eng-
lifli whatever Europeans may in future defert from them into his country.

4. The King Shah Aalum fliall remain in full poffeffion of Korah, and fuch part
of the province of Illah-abad as he now poflcfTes, which are ceded to his Majefty as a
royal demefac for the fupport of his dignity and exptnces.

5. His highnefs Shujah ul Dowla engages in the moft folemn manner to conti-
nue Buh^'anc Sing in the Zemindarrees of Benares, Ghazepore, and all thofe dillrifts
"he pofleffed at the time he came over to the late Nabob Jaffier Ally Khan, and the
Englifh, on condition of his paying the fame revenue as heretofore.

6. In confideration of the great eXpence incurred by the Englifli Company, in
carrying on the late war, his highnefs agrees to pay them (fifty) 50 lacks of rupees
in the following manner, viz. (twelve) 12 lacks in money, and a depofit of jewels,
to the amounts of (eight) 8 lacks, upon the figning of this treaty ; (five) 5 lacks one
month after, and the remaining (twenty-five) 25 lacks by monthly pa\'ments, fo as
that the whole may be difcharged in (thirteen) 13 months from the date hereof.

7. It being firmly refolved to rcftore to his highnefs the country of Benares, and
the other diflridts now rented by Bulwant Sing, notwithflanding the grant of the
fame from the King to the Englifli Company ; it is therefore agreed, that thev fliali
be ceded to his highnefs in manner following, viz. They fliall remain in the hands
of the Englifh Company with their revenues, till the expiration of the agreement
between Bulwant Sing and the Company, being on the 27th November next;
after which his highnefs fliall enter into pofl>fl[ion, the fort of Chunar excepted,
which is not to be evacuated, until the 6th article of this treaty be fully complied
with.

8. His highnefs fliall allow the Englifli Company to carry on a trade, duty free,
throughout the whole of his dominions.

^ All the relations and fubjedrs of his highnefs, who in any manner affifted the
Englifli during the cotirfe of the late war, fliall be forgiven, and no ways molcfted
for the fame.

10. As foon as this treaty is executed, the Englifh forces fhall be withdrawn from
the dominions of his highnefs, excepting fuch as may be nccefliiry for the garrifon
of Chunar, or for the defence and protection of the King in the city of Illah-abad, if
his majefty Ihoiild require a force for that purpofc.

11. His

APPENDIX. 173

II. His highncfs the Nabob Slnijah iil Dowla, his excellency the Nabob Nud-
jnm 111 Dowla, and the Englifli Company promilc to oblcrve fincerely and ftrittly,
all the articles contained and fettled in the prcfent treaty ;. and they will not fuffer
the fame to be infringed, direftly or indireftly, by their refpedtive fubjedts ; and the
faid contradling powers generally and reciprocally guarantee to each other all the fti-
pulations of the prcknt treaty.

Signed, fealedy and folemnly fworn to, according to
their refpcSiive faiths^ hy the contr ailing -parties at CLIVE (L. S.)
Illah-abad, this i6th day of Auguft, in the year of our
Lord 1765, in the prefence of us, JOHN CARNAC. (L. S.)

EDMUND MASKELYNE, t,u.,..u 1

ARCHIBALD SWINTON, ^^-Jj^ (E. S.) p^

GEORGE VANSITTART

DOW LA's Seal

atificatiun.

Fort William, September 30th 1765. MIRZA COSSIM KHAN,

^ , RAJAH SEETABROY,

{A true Copy) MEER MUSSHALA.

ALEX. CAMPBELL, S. S.C.
No. LIX.

Articles of Agreement between the King Shah Aalum, and the Company, relating
to the tribute to be paid to him from the revenues of Bengal, Bahar, and
OriJJ'a, dated Augujl igth, 1765.

The Nabob Nudjum ul Dowlah agrees to pay to his majcfty out of the revenues of
Bengal, Bahar, and OriHii, the fum of 26 lacks of rupees a-year, without any deduc-
tion for Batta, on bills of exchange, by regular monthly payments, amounting to
rupees 2 16,666 10 9 per month; the firft payment to commence from the ift of Sep-
tember of the prefent year; and the Englifh Company, in confidcration ot his ma-
jefty's having been gracioufly pleafed to grant them the Dewannee of Bengal, &c. do
engage themfelves to be fecurity for the regular payment of the fame. It fhall be
paid month by month from the fadlory at Patna, to Rajah Seetabro}-, or whomfoever
his majefty may think proper to nominate, that it may be forwarded by him to the
court : but in cafe the territories of the aforefaid Nabob fhould be invaded by any fo-
reign enemy, a deduftion is then to be made out of the ftipulated revenues, propor-
tionable to the damage that maybe fullained.

In confideration of Nudjeef Khan's having joined the Englifli forces, and aited in
his majefty's fervice in the late war ; his majelty will be gracioufly pleafed to allow
him the fum of two lacks of rupees a-year,. to be paid by equal monthly payments ;
the firft payment to commence from the ift of September of the prefent year; and in
default thereof, the Englifli Company, who are guarantees for the fame, will make ic
good out of the revenue allotted to his majefty from the territories of Bengal. If the
territories of Bengal fhould at any time be invaded, and on that account a deduftion be
made out of the Royal revenue, in flich cafe a proportionable dcduftiou Jliall aUb be
made ovit of Nudjeef Khan's allowance.

Dated the 19th of Auguft, 1765.

Fort William, 30th September, 1765.
(A true Copy.)

ALEX. CAMPBELL, S.S.C

No. LX,

174 APPENDIX.

No. LX.

Agreement betivecn the Nabob Nudjum id Dcwla and the Company, relating to
the allo-di^ance to be paid him for the fiipport of the Nizamiit of Bengal, &c.
da ted September 30//;, 1765.

The King having been gracioufly pleafcd to grant to the Englifh Company the De-
wannee of Bengal, Eahar, and Orifla, with the revenues thereof, as a free gift, for
ever, on certain conditions, whereof one is, that there fliall be a fufficient allowance
out of the laid revenues for funportingthe expence of the Nizamut ; be it known to
all whom it may concern, that I do agree to accept of the annual fum of Sicca rupees
5,386,131 9, as an adequate allowance for the fupport of the Nizamut, which is to be
regularly paid as follows, viz. the fum of rupees, 1,778,854 i, for all my houfe-
hold expences, fervants, &c. and the remaining fum of rupees 3,607,277 8, for the
maintenance of fuch horfe. Sepoys, Peons, Bercundaffes, &c. as may be thought
neceirar\' for mv Sewaury, and the fupport of my dignit)' only, fhould fuch an expence
hereafter be found neceflary to be kept up, but on no account ever to exceed that
amount ; and having a perfedl reliance on Maeen ul Dowla, I defire he may have the
dilburfingof the above fum of rupees, 3,607,277 8, for the purpofcs before-mentioned.
This agreement by the bleffing of God, I hope will be inviolably obferved, as long
as the Englifh Company's fad:ories continue in Bengal.

Fort William, the 30th September, 1765.
{A true Copy. )

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, S. S. C.

No. 61.
To the Honourable the Mayor's Court, at Calcutta, at Fort William, in Bengal.

The intended Petition of the Honourable Hany Vereljl and Francis Sykes, of

Calcutta, Efqrs.

{■ Parfcek Arratoon, b\- his Attorney, - - Plaintiff,
againit
Tom Lewis and others, ----- Defendants,

Sheweth,

Li the caufc< againit

|_^ - .

That Tom Lewis, of Calcutta, merchant, fome time pafl was employed as agent by
your petitioners up the countrv in buving and felling of goods and merchandize, and,
in the courfe of trade, purchafed a quantity of fait of the plaintifT"'s agents, or Gomaf-
tahs, at Nattoor, on account of your petitioners; and fome time pall, a fuit was com-
menced in this Honourable Court by one Parfeek Arratoon, 'by his attorney Petrufc
Arratoon, of Calcutta, Armenian, againft the faid Tom Lewis antl Ramfunder, and
feveral others by name, and others Who fliould afterwards appear to be any ways
intercdcd or concerned regrirding the legality of the bargain made for the faid fait;
to which faid bill the faid Tom Lewis and Ramfunder were ferved with procefs to ap-
pear and anfwer, who accordingly appeared and put in their aniwers, to which the plain-

tiir

APPENDIX, 175

tHF replied and' the faid defendants, Lewis and Ramfunder, rejoined ; and the plaintiffs
proceeded to an examination of divers witncifcs, without any regard to the faitl other
defendants, who were on the fpot, and had never been ft-rved with proceis.

And your petitioners further fliew, that when the plaintiff was about examining his
witnefles, he applied to your petitioner, Harry Verelft, in order to have the matter
fettled by an amicable determination of fome gentlemen of this place, in order, as he
faid, to fave expence and trouble to this Honourable Court ; and, at the fame time,
gave your petitioner to underfland, that the faid fuit fliould be flayed until the faid
arbitration fliould be finally agreed upon. That your petitioner, Harry Verelfl:, has
fmce been indifpofed; and the arrival of the Europe fhips hath prevented him from
attending to the faid fuit, of which the plaintiff took, an unfair advantage, by getting
the faid caufe fet down to be heard, when, at the fame time, he was treating with
vour petitioner about an amicable determination ; and your petitioner had ordered the
witneUes proofs and vouchers to be fought for, in order to be examined into by the
arbitrators ; but your petitioner was greatly furprifed on hearing of the proceedings of
the plaintiff, and the means he ufed to bring on the caufe to a trial.

That your petitioner has fince had the perufal of the plaintiff's bill, and is advifcd,
that the allegations therein fet forth arc falfe and groundlefs, and that the witnefles by
him produced are of mean and low degree, and hath reafon to believe that the oaths
adminiflered unto them are not binding to their caft ; and, notwithilanding the plain-
tiff's having deceived you petitioner in manner before fet forth, yet, as this Honour-
able Court are the guardians of our laws and liberties in thefe parts, and will not hear
and determine matters of this moment without giving the concerned a hearing, when
proofs and evidences are readv to be brought, and which your petitioners are ready to
produce :

Therefore humbly pray, that they may be at liberty to lay the faid proofs before
this Honourable Court, and examine one or more witnefs or witnefles; that the
defendants and all concerned, as well as the plainlifi's may be heard, and the
truth of the matter brought to light for the fatisfadlion of all parties, and that
judgment of this Court may be had thereon.

. And your petitioners will ever pray &c,
(Signed) Whittall, Attorney.

Calcutta, Augull-, 1763/

No. 62.
To the Honourable the Mayor's Court, at Calcutta, at Fort William, in Bengalj .

Between Petrufe Arratoon, adminiftrator of Coja Parfeek Arratoon, '

Defendants,

1 r t i Compla

dccealed, i ^

And Ramnarrain, otherwifc Mozundar, Tom Lewis, Ramfunder"

Dewan, Sunker Seal, Rhadakiflna Chowdry, Radacanto

Mozundar, Dindoyal Roy Ranfliaw, Kittinarrain Bofe,

Mocheram Tagorc, and BoUeram Tagore, ^

T/ie humble Petition of the 'Defendant Tom Leivis, and alfo of Harry Verelfl

and Francis Sykes, Hjqrs.
Sheweth,
That the faid Coja Parfeek Arratoon did, on or about the fifteenth of September,
one thoufand fcven hundred and fixty-feven, prefer his bill of complaint in this

Honour-

n6 APPENDIX.

Honourable Courf, againfl your petitioner Tom Lewis and the other defendants above
named, for a pretended demand of Arcot rupees fixty thoufand four hundred and thirty-
two, on account of a purchafe of fait at Nattoor, or fome other place or places up the
country, which the complainant would infinuate was forced from his Gomaftahs there;
to which bill of complaint your petitioner Tom Lewis filed his aniwer, and other pro-
ceedings in the faid caufe were had in this Honourable Court, w herein the fame is ftill
depending.

And your petitioners iiumbly flicw, that they were each of them concerned one third
in the fait purchafed at Nattoor, or the other place or places up the country, as afore-
faid, and that the fame was fairl)' bought and purchafed at the then price at that
Aurung, of fome black merchants there, whofe property the fame appeared to be,
and no \va\ s connected with the faid Coja Parfeek Arratoon. That foon after the bar-
gain was made, a fudden rife of fait happening in the market, the proprietors were
defirous of being off their bargain, which occafioning a difference, the fame was fub-
mitted to arbitration at Nattoor, and given in favour of the purchafer. But the pro-
jn'ietors not fatiffied with the award (although they had figned bonds to abide by the
fame) fought proteftion under the faid Coja Parfeek Arratoon, who preferred the bill
of complaint herein before mentioned, in this Honourable Court, againfl; )-our peti-
tioner Tom Lewis and the other defendants above named, for a greater quantity of
fait than was delivered, and at a higher price than the market ever bore. That
on hearing that the fuit was about to be brought to a hearing, without your petitioner
Tom Lewis, or his attorne}', properly fupporting the fame by the teftimony of wit-
nelles who were acquainted wdth the juft tranfiicftion ; and your petitioners Harry Ve-
rclfl: and Francis Sykes, being each (as aforefaid) one third intercftcd therein, your
petitioner, Harry Verelfl;, requeued the hearing of the caufe might be poltponed until
proper encjuiries could be made into the true ftate of the cafe. That your petitioner,
Harry Verelfl: had feveral conferences on the occafion with the prcfent comjilainanr
Petrufe Arratoon, who faid he would readily confent to an amicable arbitration of the
matter, and repeatedly offered and requefted your petitioner, Harry Verelfl:, to decide
the fame himfelf, uhich he objeftcd to, being a party concerned, but told the faid
Petrufe Arratoon, that he would call down the witneffes from Nattoor, when he
flrould be glad to have the matter fettled b)' arbitration ; and the faid Petrufe Arratoon
qui'te approving thereof, the witneffes, namely Kiftna Sarran of Nattoor, Vakeel,
Ramfan of Nattoor, merchant, and Kittinarrain Bole of Chandcrnagore, were fent for
down to Calcutta, and their depofitions there taken by Mr. John Brycr, the late exa-
miner of this Honourable Court ; after which your petitioner, Harry Verelfl, requefted
the faid Petrufe Arratoon would himfelf nominate the arbitrators, and he did accordingly
noininate Thomas Cooke and Jofeph Price, of Calcutta aforefaid, merchants ; and ar-
bitration-bonds were thereupon prepared, and one of ihem executed by your petitioner
Harry Verelfl, and the attorney of your petitioner Francis Sykes; but, on their being
prefented to the faid Petrufe Arratoon, he refufed to execute his, unlcfs the matter
was to come before the Court upon the depofitions only which were in favovn- of the
complainant; upon pretence, that although the depofitions of the faid three witneffes
were taken by the examiner, yet that the interrogatories were not properly filed, or
mTivkcd fled, in this Honourable Court, or that they were taken without the com-
plainant's having an oj)portunitv of crofs-examining them; which circumflanccs (if
they were true) your petitioners were totally unacquainted with, and cannot conceive
from whence the fame could arife, but which, your petitioners humbly ajiprehend, can
by no means be attributed to them, who cannot be fuppofed to be acquainted with
the forms recjuircd or prc/crihed by a court of judicarmc, but who were defirous
that every fair flcp flroiild be taken for the benefit of all parties, and the proceedings

Ihould

APPENDIX. 177

llioulJ bo concluded with the grcatcll; regularity and upvightnefs. That, notwith-
ftandhig what has been alledged by the oppolite party, } our petitioners humbly aver,
that the complainant knew that the faid three witnclVes were prefent in Calcutta for a
confuierable time, and that therefore he mud have had every opportunity of crofs-exa-
ililning them ; but to obviate every objeftioi^. which the complainant can make, as far
as is in the power of your petitioners, )our petitioners arc ready and willing, at their
own ex])ence, to call the faid three witnefles down again to Calcutta, that the com-
plainant may have an opportunit)' of crofs-cxaminingthem, and in order to do the com-
plainant every juflice in their jiower, and to afcertain a true ftate of fa<fts.

^V"hereforc your pe itioners humbly pray, the dcpofitions of the faid three wit-
nefles, fo taken by Mr. John Br}cr, the late examiner of this Honourable
Court as aforefaid, may be deemed aiul taken as part of the proceedings had
in this caufe, and that your petitioners may have the benefit thereof at the day
of hearing; and that, if this Honourable Court fhall fo think proper, the faid
witnefles may be, at your petitioner's expcnce, again called down to Calcutta,
in order that the complainant may crofs-examine them, or avail himfelf of
every advantage he can of their pretence; and that your petitioners may have
all fuch further and other relief in the premifes as unto this Honourable Court,
after due conflderation had thereof, may think meet or agreeable to equity.

And your petitioners Ihall ever pray, &c.

Calcutta, tlie 4th May, 1770.
(Signed) Sealy, Attorney.
True Copy.

No. 63.

To the Honourable John Spencer, Efq; Preftdcnt and Governor, &c. Council

of Fort William,

The humble PETITION of the native inhabitants of Calcutta, together with the
Merchants, Banyans, and others, whofe eftates, inrerefls, or habitations, are in any
part of the kingdoni of Bengal, Bahar, or Orifla, within the jurifdid:ion of the
Englifli.

That whereas on, or about the 27th day of February laft pafl:, Radachurn Metre,
grandfon of Govindram Metre, heretofore of Calcutta, Jemmautdar, (whoie fteady
attachment and fervices to the Englifh are too eminent to be foon forgot) was con-
<iemned to death at the general quarter feflions of the town of Calcutta, there held on
the day and date aforefaid, being inditted for and convifted of a crime of which he
is intirely innocent ; but for want of being acquainted with the laws by w hicli he was
tried, as well as the manner of defending himfelf, and proving his innocence, is now
fallen a vi&im to the malice of his profecutors and his own ignorance.

Your petitioners, therefore, beg leave to fet forth the general conflernation, aflo-
nifnment, and even panic, with which the natives at all parts, under the denomination
of the luigiifli, are feized by this example of Radachurn Metre ; they find themfelves
fubjedl to the pains and penalties of laws to which they arc utter ftrangers, and arc
liable, through ignorance, unwillingly to incur them ; as they are no wa\s interefled
in thofe laws, they cannot tell when they tranfgrefs them, many things being, it feems,
capital by the Engliih laws, which are only fineable by the laws of vour petitioner's

Z ' ' fore-

17S APPENDIX.

forefather's, fubjed: to which they have hitherto been bred, lived, and lioen governedj
and that, till very lately, under the Englifh flug.

Your petitioners fliew, that from their extreme ignorance cf the laws to which they
are but fo lately fubjedled, they are in danger of i'uffering much, from not knowing how
to apply for thofe benefits and indulgencies which they are adviled are by law allowed,
and which they ought to have ; and that the laft proceedings againft the unhajipy
Radachurn Metre were, in many points, defesflive and premature, and the fentence
precipitate ; as there were many circumftances that required the niceft and moll: fcru-
pulous examination, and the moft attentive confideration, before condemnation
palled : And your petitioners arc farther advifed, that fuch fentence ought not to
have been palled till after the expiration of four days, a term allowed the prifoner by
law for arrefting judgment, and bringing his writ of error : and that it is, on that
account, when a prifoner is brought to the bar to receive fentence, the judge always
alks him — What he has to fay why judgment fhould not pafs ? A queftion that has.
more than mere matter of form in it ; for if he can fhew good and fufficient caufe, they
will, on his proper reprefentation, rehear the matter, of which benefit in law the un-
happy culprit was deprived, by the fentence immediately following the verdi(5t.

And farther your petitioners are advifed, that the faid Indiftment was very erroneous
and naught, and that the faid prifoner could not have been arraigned thereon, had he
beeir verfed in the laws to make his exceptions thereto. Lord Chief Juftice Hales
faving, " that there is great exaftnefs required in indidtments where life is at flake,"
and therefore very nice exceptions are allowed thereto ; and your petitioners farther
fliew, that the whole of the evidence tended to prove a negative, which in law is held
impoffible to be done. Farther your petitioners are advifed, that the prifoner was tried
for felony, though his crime, when proved to the full, is no more in law than a mif-
demeanor ; for the forgery of a deed of gift, of mere perfonal chatties, is no way
within the ftatute. " Again, he who writes a deed in another name, and feals it in
" his prcfcnce, is not guilty of forgery, becaufe the law looks on this as the other's
" own adl ;" and that, when the jury recommended the prifoner to the mercy of the
court, a due forbearance of the fentence would have enabled him to have fet thefc
and many other circumftances in their true light ; an advantage which he has loft
through his ignorance of the laws by which he was tried, and which muft ever be the
cafe in future, unlefs the greateft care and circumfpcftion be ufed by the judges, who
are faid in law to be a council for the prifoner.

Your jietioners, therefore, humbly pray this honourable Board to grant them a
rcverfal of the faid fen'ence, as it was pronounced out of tinre, and grant the prilbner a
rehearal ; or, if that cannot be obtained, that they will, at leaft, refpite the execu-
tion of the unhappy condemned creature, till report be made to his Majcfty of Great
Britain, and his moft gracious pleafure be known thereon ; and farther your petitioners
pray, that the laws to which they are to be fubjedt, may be tranflatcd into the Bengally
tongue, that they may be enabled to know what will make them obnoxious thereunto^

And your petitioners will ever pray.

Dated Calcutta, Signed bv Q"; of the principal native inhabitants

^--^>^y's. ofCalcutu. ^

ExtraSi

N D I X. 179

No. 64.

ExtraSi of a Letter from the Court of DircElors to the Prefident and Coun-
cil at Fort William i?i Bengal, dated February 8, 1764.

Par. 23. As no agents or Gomaftahs are to refide, on account of private trade, at
any of the inland parts of the country, all bufinefs, on account of licenfcd private trade,
is to be carried on by and through the means of the Company's covenanted fervants,
refidcnt at the feveral fubordinate faftories, as has been ufual.

24. We are under the ncccffity of giving the beforcgoing orders, in order to pre-
ferve the tranquility of the country, and harmony with the Nabob ; they are rather
outlines than complete dired:ions, which you are to add too and improve upon, agree-
able to the fpirit of, and our meaning in them, as may be neccHary to anfwer the
defired purpofes. And if any pcrfon or pcrfons are guilty of a contravention of
them, be they whomfoever they may, if our own fervants, they are to be difmiflcd
the fervice ; if others, the Company's protection is to be withdrawn, and you have
the liberty of fending them forthwith to England, if you judge the nature of the
offence requires it.

No. 65.

Extra5t of Fort William Confidtations, dated May T^d, 1764.

It is the opinion of the Board, and — Refolved, That all the Europeans, Portuguefe
natives, and Armenian agents, w^ho are now up the country, fhail have notice given
them to fettle their concerns, {o as to return to Calcutta by the 30th of November
next ; and that, after that time, no European fliall be permitted to go up the coun-
try, under any pretence whatfoever, or any other agents be employed in our trade
but Bengal natives.

No. (>6.
ExtraB of Fort William Sele£i Committee proceedings, dated May i \th, 1765.

The Sclcft Committee obferving with regret the contempt (hewn for the pofitive
and repeated orders of the Governor and Council, for recalling free merchants re-
dding up the country, —

Refolved, that the former orders on that head be now enforced, and letters difpatched
to the chiefs of the fcvcra! fubordinatcs, requiring of them, at the expiration of one
month after notice given, to convey in fafety to Calcutta ail who refufe to comply
with a meafure lb falutary to the Company, and neceflary to the peace and good or-
der of the country.

Being inlormcd alfo, that a great number of Europeans, ftrajglers from fhips,
and others, who have no claim from indentures to any Ihare of the Company's pro-
teclion, are varipully employed up the country, and difperfed all over the Nabob's
dominions, to the great prejudice of the Company and molellation of the natives ; —

Refolved, Thev be immediately fecured, and brought to Calcutta. The Committee,
finding lome difficulty in procuring an exadl account of the names of fuch Euro-

Z 2 peans.

iSo APPENDIX.

pcan?, — Agreed, that the chiefs of the fubordinate faftoiies be made acquahited with
the refolution of the Committee, and required to traiifmir, without delay, the moft
accurate lilb in their power of all Europeans not immediately in the Company's fer-
vice, wdio rcfide in or about their rcfpective dillrifts.

No. ^'j.
ExtraSl of Fort IVtU'iam Confu! tat ions, dated May 13///, 1765.

The Prefident lays before the Board an cxtradl of the proceedings of a Seledl Com-
mittee, held the iith inftant, containing their refolutions for enforcing the orders of
the Board for recalling to the Prelidency the free merchants and others, refiding up
the country.

No. Gi.

E\' tract of Ditto, dated the ^othfolloiving.

Agreed and ordered, in confequence of the proceedings of the Seleft Committee
laid before the Board lafl: council day. That public advertifcment be made, enforcing our
orders already given for the return of the Englilh, Portugucfe, and Armenian agents,
employed, in the different parts of the countr}', to the Prefidency ; and requiring all
whoever moft ftri(ftly to arrive by the firft of Auguft, and their conflituents to give
them due notice accordingly.

No. 69.

"Extract of Fort William SekB Committee -proceedings, dated June nth, 1765.

Received a letter from the chief and Council at Dacca, dated the 8th inftant, fet-
ting forth the prejudice that muft arife to the affairs of the gentlemen of that factory,
Ihould the order for recalling free merchants be immediately enforced.

Agreed, That four months beyond the time limited in thofe orders, be allowed to
their fcvcral agents, and that we write them to this effedl.

No. 70.

ExtraSi of Ditto, dated the 2\Jl foUoiving.

Meffrs. Vanfittart and Plowman fetting forth in a letter to the Committee, the lofs
that muft arife to ■■ Mr. Henry Vanfittart, fhould his agent, Mr. Plargrave, at Rung-
poor, be recalled at the time required by the late order of the Committee, and requcft-
ing that an indulgence of three or four months longer may be granted : —

Agrtxxl, that the fccrctary acquaint them that Mr.. Hargrave will be allowed four
months from this date, for collecting Mr. A'anfittart's affairs ; and that he likewife
iufurm all, who may a[)ply in future, that the Comniittce arc rcfolvcd to fee the Com-
pany's orders rigidly enforced at the expiration o{ tiiis period.

Mr. Skinner fends in a letter on the fame fubjed: ;. —

Ordered, his requeft be granted, and tliat the fccrctary acquaint him of the above-
mentioned refolution.

Received a letter from Mr. Scotney at Patna, rcprcfenting to us the prejudice it
would be to his own affairs, as well as thofe of his conftitucnts, fliould he be obliged
to return to Calcutta in the fj)ace of one month. Mr. Scotiie}'s reprcfcntation being
thought difrepedful and improper ; —

Ordered,
• late Governor Vanfittart,

APPENDIX. j8i

Ortlered, The fecretary write him in anfwer, that fiich applications, it is expe<fted,
iliould be made in terms more moderate and rcfpeftful ; but that, influenced by no
coofideration of the manner in which he chofe to alk for an allowance of time, we agree
to grant him four months longer from this date, for colleding his affairs; at the ex-
piration of which he is required to repair to Calcutta, witliout farther notice.

No. 71.

^tracl of Fort William SeleSl Committee proceedings, dated Augiijl xoth, 176^,

On the 26th ultimo, the fecretary was direcffed to write to all the chiefs of the fub-
ordlnates, enclofing an advcrtifement for recalling all free merchants, and other Euro-
peans, by the 2 lit Otlober next, and alfo to fix up the laid advcrtifement on the Court-
houfe, and other public places in Calcutta.

No. 72.

ExtraB of Ditto, dated October ^ih, 1765.

Obferving that our orders to the chiefs of the fubordinatcs, to fend lifts to tlic
Committee of all Europeans refiding within their fevcral diflridts who are not in the
Company's fervice have been ncglcfted ;

Refblved, That we now repeat the above orders, requiring them pofitivelv not only
to fend the moll accurate lifts in their power, but the perfbns themfelves to Calcutta,
by the 21ft inflant, at which time the Company's proteftlon will abfolutelv ceafe, and
they muft Hand to all the confequcnccs of being left entirely in the power of the coun-
try government.

No. 73.

E:<traSl of a Letter from the Court ofDireSlors, to the Prefide?2t and Council
at Fort William i?i Bengal, dated December 7.\th, 1765.

Par. 16. We think it neceffary to cftablifh, that all trade to be carried on within
provinces where fadtories are eftabllfhed, fliall be carried on by our fcrvants at fuch
faftories, and their agents only, who fliall tranfadl the bufincfs of our other fervants,
on receiving the eftabliflied commif!ion ; and on any rcfufal to accept fuch commif-
fion, or any tendency to monopolize, the fervants of Calcutta, or other parts, are at
liberty to fend their ovv'n black Gomaftahs ; who arc, neverthelefs, to be accountable
tor their conduft to the Company's fervants, within whofe jurifdiftion they refide.
All dillrifts not comprehended within the jurifdiftion of each fubordinate, fhall be
coufidercd as v/Ithln the jurifdifton of the Board of Calcutta.

No. 74.
ExtraB of Fort William SeleB Committee proceedings, dated February \^th,

1766.
Read the following letter from Mahomed Reza * Cawn, to the Right honourable
lord Clive, Prefident and Governor, &c. gentlemen of the Seledt Committee,

" MV LORD AND GENTLEMEN,

" The Zemindars of the Purgunnahs of Radfliy, and other diftridts of the Subah of
Bengal, complain that the facaories x)f Englifh gentlemen in the Purgunnahs are ma-

* Adling minifter to the Nabob of Bengal,

i82 APPENDIX.

ny, and their Gomaftahs are in all places, and in every village almoft throughout the
]^rovince of Bengal ; that they trade in linen, chunam, muftard-feed, tobacco, tur-
rperic, oil, rice, hemp, gunnies, wheat, &c. in fliort, in all forts of grain, linen, and
whatever other commodities are produced in the country. That, in order to purchafe
thefe articles, they force their money on the Ryots ; and having, by thefe oppreffivc
means, bought their goods at a low rate, they oblige the inhabitants and Ihopkeepers
to take them at a high price, exceeding what is paid in the market. That they do
not pay the cuftoms due to the Sircar, but arc guilty of all manner of feditious and
injurious afts ; for inftance, when, at any time, the Malguzarry is demanded of the
Taalookdars, R)ots, &c. fubjeds of the Sircar, the aforefaid Gomaftahs, under pre-
tence of debits due, or accounts to be fettled, do not let them go, or fuffer the revenue
to be taken from them ; and upon complaints, and at the inftance of lying informers,
and baie men, they place their Peons over the Ryots, and involve them in a variety of
troubles. That by preffing people into their fervice, and impofing many and divers
commands on the officers of government, the inhabitants, the tradefmen, and others,
they ruin every body, and reduce the villages and Gunges to a ftate of defolation.

" It is by thefe iniquitous pradtices that the people of the country have been ruined
and driven to flight, and that the revenues of the Sircar have been injured. There is
nothing of v\'orth left in the country. If juftice be not done in this cafe, how will it
bcpoflible, in future, to colledl the duties of the government or its revenues ?

" Ad the Zemindars make the fame complaint ; and what I have herein written, is
only an abridgment of the accounts given at large by them of violence and oppreffion.

" As it is requifite for the profperity of the country, and the well-being of the in-
habitants, alfo for the obtaining the full revenues and duties, that the poor, &c. have
juftice done them, and that difturbances be put an end to ; I have, therefore, repre-
fented thefe matters to you, gentlemen of the Committee, that whatever fhall appear
equitable, you will confider on and put in execution."

It aj)pearing from this reprefentation of fafts, fupportcd by a number of corro-
borating circumftances, that the bulinefs of government has fuftered great obftruc-
tion, and the public revenue been confiderablv injured, from the privileges afllimed
and exerted by Gomaftahs, emplo) ed in different parts of the country by the Com-
pany's covenanted fervants ; —

Agreed, therefore, that we recommend to the Board, to prohibit, under thefevcreft
penalties, all Company's fervants, whether refiding at the prefidency, the fubordinates,
or the Aurungs, from yielding countenance, ihclter, or protcdtion, to any of their
Gomnilahsjwho fliall interfere direftlv or indirectly with the affairs of government ; or,
upon any pretence whatever, give impeddment or obftruftion to the officers ot the
revenue, in levying the coUeftions of the feveral diftridls committed to their charge ;
and that in all matters of difpute or difference, whereby the revenues can poffibly be
afftcfed, their Gomadahs, or conftitucnts, ffiall apply to the government for rc(h-cfs ;
and, in cafe of refufal, to the refidcnt at the Durbar, or the chief of the neareft fub-
ordinate, who fliall apply through the regular channel, the Governor and Council,
or the Sdcdc Committee.

No. 75.

Extra^ of a Letter from the Court of Dire5Jors to lord Ch've, dated May

nth, 1766.
Par.q. We have had too much occafion to remarkthctyrannicandopprcffivcconduift
of all pAiropcan agents who liave got away from under the eye of the Prefidency ; and
^ewifli )our lordfhip would make it an objc(51: of your confidcration how to conhne

tiie

APPENDIX. 183

the faid Europeans as much as poflible to the Prefidency, and to thofe fubordinates
where the largenefs of the inveilmcnt may require it to be condufted by covenanted
fervants preferable to Gomaftahs.

No. 76.

ExtraSi of Fort William Conjultations, datedjime t^th, 1766.

Ordered, That notice be affixed at the ufual places of adveiiiftment, requiring all
perfons entitled to Duftucks to fend in to the Prelident lifts of their Gomallahs in the
different parts of the country, diiUnguifliing the place of their refidence, the fervice
they are employed on," with the time required for that fervice, that they may be fur-
nifhed with Purwannahs accordingly.

No. jy.

Extra£i of ditto, dated Augujl z^th, 1766.

Letter from the refident at Benares, dated the 12th inftant, read, acknowledging
the receipt of our letter of the 28th ultimo, enclofmg a letter from Mr. Bolts, m an-
fwer to our orders regarding him, acquainting us, that as he is not fenfible it is in his
power to comply with that part of our inftrud:ions which requires him to take care Mr.
Bolts does not exceed the time prefcribed, he fhall wait our farther commands before
he ventures to take any ftep in fo delicate an affair.

Letter from Mr. Bolts, inclofed in the above letter from Mr. Sage, read, fetting forthhis
reafons for having ftaid at Benares beyond the time we limited him to, and rec]uefting
us to indulge him with a longer ftay to fettle his own and the affairs of his conRitucnts,
which he reprefents to be extremely intricate.- —

Agreed, we write in anfwer to Mr. Sage, that we did not imagine him fo little ac-
quainted with the nature of our orders as to be in doubt how far it behoved him to put
them into execution ; that, notwithftanding what Mr. Bolts alledgcs^ in his letter,
we are well aflured, that, inftead of making it his bufinefs to fettle his affairs at Benares,
which was the Ible realbn for his being permitted to return thither, he entered into new
concerns ; that he is, therefore, to Inform Mr. Bolts, that we are determined our orders
ftiall not be trifled with, and that he is to confider himfelf as fulpended the Company's
fervice, from the 28th of this month, for not complying with our pofitive injunttions
for his return to Calcutta. However, in confideration of the plaulible reafons which
he now, for the firft time, affigns, he is farther to acquaint Mr. Bolts, that, provided
he arrives in Calcutta by the loth of October, his fufpenfion will bet.^ken off; and, if
for this purpofe, he does not leave Benares by the iff of Odober, he is to fend him
away by force..

No. 78.

ExtraEi of Fort William Select Committee proceedings, dated September lotli,

1766.

Daily complaints arriving of violence and infults offered to the fervants of the Go-
vernment, and the agents of private merchants, by the Company's fervants refiding at

the different Aurungs,

Refolved,.

i84

N D I X.

Rofolved, that we call down from the Aurungs all Company's fervants and other
Europeans, as the only ineans of fecuring the ncccflar\' authority to the governmcn'-,
and prote<flion to individuals ; and that we fuffer only the fervants employed at the fac-
tories of Patna, Dacca, Coffimbazar, and Chittagong, with the affillants to the Supva-
vifor of Burdwan and Alidnapore, torcmuin up the countr\-.

No. 79.

Extract of Fort William SeleB Cmnmittte proceedings, dated October 3 r/?,

1766.

Having, in our proceedings of the 19th of Febmary lafl, Refolved, That no
Gomaftahs employed by the Company's fervants, or other Europeans trading under
licences from the Company, fhould in futtire interfere direftly or indircftl)- with affairs
relating to the government ; and alfo that fuch Gomaflahs fhould, in all difputcs
with the country peoplfc, apjMy fbr^xedrefs ^nd _^iifticxJ to -the chief of the neareft fubor-
dinate, to the miniilers, to the refident at the Durbar, or to the Council, or Select
Committee. .' '

And it being now the intention of this Committee to fulfil, in the moll cffedlual
manner, the honourable Company's intlruCtions refpetling the inland trade, and to
remove all calrfe of dlilurbaiTce and opprcffion commkted in the interior country •under
landion of the Englilh name :-'

Refolved, That in future all Gomaftahs, whether employed on account of the Com-
pany or individuals, fhall ftridtly refrain from interfering in any matters that may
tend to interrupt the coUeftions, ordiilurb the bufineis of the government.

That they ihall fcrupuloully avoid taking cognizance of any difputes or differences
that the}' ma\' have with the country people, or affiuning to themfelves any degree of
judicial authority. . '

That in all fuch points of difference and difpute, whether with rcfpcifl to trade or
othervvife, they fhall appeal firft to the neareft officer of the government ; and, in
cafe of delav or refufal of redrefs from him, they fliall then lay their conijilaint before
Mahomed Reza Cawn, or the refident at the Durbar, or the Council, or the Selecl
Committee.

That whoever fhall be found deviating from the evident meaning and intent of this
RefolutLon, (a copy of which will be fent to Mahomed Rcza Cawn, and to the refident
at the Durbar) fhall immediately forfeit their employment and the Comp;ui\ 's pro-
•tetlion, and likewifc be fubjeft to fuch farther puniihment as the Council -or Com-
mittee may think pro])cr to inflict.

That, to prevent any intcrrujuion to trade, Mahomed Reza Cawn be defircd to
itfue orders to all officers of the government, to n ield cver\' poffiblc encouragement to
-licenfed trade, and to the bufmefs of thofe Gomallahs who fhall duly confine themfelves
to the above rellriclions.

Alfo that Mahomed Reza Cawn be defircd to diredt the officers of the government
to call upon all Gomaftahs to regifter their I'erwannahs, or licences of trade, and
■Duftucks, at the head Cutchcrree of the Aurung, or diftriff, where they rcfide; and
likewife to order the public officers of each Aurung, or diftridl:, to lend him a regular
monthly return of all Pci-wannahs or Duftucks fo rcgiftered.

Notice liaving already been given, p.irfuant to our rcfolution of tlie 19th of Febru-
ary lafl, that all Gomaftahs ffiould appl\ to the Prefulent for Perwannahs, and the
allowance of tinic for thatpurpofe being now deemed fully fufficicnr, —

Agreed,

APPENDIX. 185

Agreed, That Mahomed Rcza Ca'.vn be dcfircd 10 ifliie orders to the officers of the
government, to call upon the Gomaflahs in the different parts of the provinces ini-
nrcdiatcly for their Perwannahs ; and to fond all perfons, who cannot produce a pro-
per authority for their trade and rclidence, wiihout delay to Calcutta.

And, farther, .to prevent all frauds arifing frorn counterfeit and forged Diiftucks, —
Agreed, The cuftom-mallcr be dirertcd to make a monthly return to the rcfidcnt
at the Durbar, of all Duftucks and Perwannahs entered in his office; the fame to be
communicated to the minifters, whereby they may be able to dete<ff all impofition and
fraud, b)' comparing the monthly returns from the cullom-houfc with tliofc made from
the Aurungs, &c.

No. So.

ExtraB of a letter from the Court of D'lreclors to the Select Committee, at
Fort William, in Bengal, dated November 7.\Jl, 1766.

Par. 14. We are well pleafed to remark vour attention to our orders, in calling down
the free merchants. Their proper em[)loyment is in thefea-fervice, as Captains and Su-
j)ra-cargoes in the country trade, or fettled as merchants at Calcutta ; and if hereafter
we find any infringement of our orders in this rcfpedt, we ihall afluredly fend tor them
home, and teftify our difpleafure at thofe who have protected them, or permitted
them to go up the country. We are determined to have as few Europeans as poffible
about the country. You are to keep to the fpirit of thefe our refolutions as much as
poffible ; for we have the llrongeft fenfe of the injuries the natives have fuffered trom
having Englilhmen exercifing an authority over them.

No. 8r.

]S.xtraB of Fort JViUiam StleSl Co77imittee proceedings, dated February 11///,

1767.

Upon revifal of the proceedings of the 31(1 Oftober laft, relative to the regula-
tion of Gomoilah's, — 1

Agreed, We make the following addition to our former orders, viz. That the refi-
dent at the Durbar be dired:cd to recojiimend to the minifters their obliging all the
officers of the feveral diftridfs to fjTCcif)', in the returns they make to the government,
fuch Perwannahs as have expired, in order that the minilfers may be able to afcertain
the number of Perwannahs now in force, without which it will be difficult to prevent
frauds and impofitions.

Repeated orders having been iffiied for recalling to the Prefidency all Europeans
who are not employed by the honourable Company, or furniflied with a licence from
the Council or the Governor; and information being now received that divers vagrants
are difpcrfed over the country in contempt of the above orders, —

Refolved, That we write to the ful ordinate fettlements and the commanding office: s
of the brigades, to feize, and fend dow n under a guard, all Europeans who are not duly
authorifed by a written licence from the Board or the Governor, to rcfide out of the
Prefidency.

A a ExlraJ!

,86 APPENDIX.

No. 82.

ExfraSl of a letter frovi Colonel Smith to the SclcB Committee at Fort William^
dated Head-S^uarters, near Keir-abad, JiViiuiry yi, 1768.

" There is one circumrtance which it is neceflary I fliould now jufl: touch on, be-
caufe it requires a fpeedy remedy; I fhall enlarge upon it hereafter. The Nabob re-
prefented to me the great inconveniences which arife from the Gomaftahs and depen-
dents of Englifh gentlemen refiding in his dominions, particularly at Gurrackpore,
Alirzapore, and in the Zemindarry at Benares and Ghazepore ; that he was extremely
tender in exerting his authority over any of thofe who even aflumed the Englifh name,
notvvithftanding, that thefe people were guilty of many impofitions and extortions on his
fubjefts, as well as defrauding him of his duties. Now, as he had received repeated
aflurances from the Prefidenc)', that no private trade fhould be carried on in his domi-
nions, fo he requefted, that I would not only exert my power to free his country from
the Armenians and Bengals in the fervice of individuals, but that I would alfo repre-
fent the fame to you, fo that effcftual means might be taken for their expulfion. Sen-
iible of the iuftice of this reprefentation, I chd not hefitate to alfure him, that nothing
was farther from the defign or approbation of the Englifh Sirdars ; that I had heard
our Prefident made it a point neither to grant Duftucks nor Perwannahs into his ex-
cellency's dominions ; that no confKleration whatfoever could induce the Englilh
chiefs to fufFer the advantages oremokmients of individuals to be the means of giving
hiin the moft dlftant caufc of uneafinefs or concern. I alFured him of my ready con-
currence in every meafure to fupprefs this growing evil, and would reprefcnt it in the
Itrongcft manner to the Committee, that eftedlual meafures might be taken to remove
it ; and defired that he would apprehend all thofe who were guilty of any impofition in
our name, which, fo far from giving umbrage to the Englifh Sirdars, would be
crteemed a favour conferred on us. I farther added, that, to convince his excellency
jiow dcfirous I was to flrike at the root of this evil, on my return to Allah-abad, it
fliould be my care, that the Perwannah he himfelf had granted to lihmael Beg, (one of
his own fubjccfts) for the exclufive privilege of making faltpetre on account of the
Engliili gentlemen, and upon condition that he furnilhcd the Nabob with Vvhatevcr
r,uantity he wanted at prime coft, fhould be returned, that he might be convinced no
private advantage whatfoever could weigh with an Englifhman, which might, in the
Tomoten: degree, afied: the public. The Nabob laiti, in anfwer, " That he elteemed
♦' this as a treihinflance of attention and regard."

" As I have been informed_of thefe circumftances not only from the Nabob, but Rajah
Bulwnnt Sing has alio reprcfented to me the late frequency of Englifli Duitucks and
Enplifli Perwannahs, it is but too apparent, notwithftanding the refolutions of the
Prcfuiency, that there is an abufe in this matter. I do, therefore, moll; earneftly re-
commend to the Committee, that they will enter upon the moll vigorous n:eafures for
entirely aboliftiing a fyftem fo fraught with pernicious confequences, and which very
fvilcm had fo lately proved almoft fatal to the Company's welfare in Bengal."

Extras

N D I X. 187

No. 83.

ExtraSl of Fort William SekSl Conunittee proceedings ^ dated February ibth^

1768.

Notwithflanding the orders which have been ifTued to the chiefs and rcfidcnts of
fubordinatc faftories, and to the commanding officers of the brigades for apprehend-
ing and fending down to the prefidency every European they may find trading about
the country without pcrmiffion, the Committee with aftoniflimcnt obfcrvc that there
are fome perfons ftill purfuing this pradlice without moleftation ; It is, therefore, Re-
folved to ilfue pofitive orders to the fubordinates and brigades, and to enjoin them
to a ftri(ft obedience to our honourable maftcrs commands.

No. 84.

FxtraSl of Fort William Sele5i Committee proceedings, dated February 23^,

1768.

The Committee being determined to put an effedlual (lop to the granting of Duf-
tucks and Perwannahs for conveying of private merchandize into Sujah al Dowlah's
dominions under the fand:ion of the Englifli :

Agreed, we write to the chiefs of Coffimbazar and Patna, forbidding them to
grant either Duflucks or Perwannahs to any perfon whomfocver, and directing them
to recall all the Gomaftahs without delay, who may be trading therein with fuch
Duftucks or Perwannahs given them from thofe fadtories.

No. 85.

Copy of a letter from Mr. Verelji to the Nabob Sujah al Doivlah, dated
Fort William, February zjth, 1768.

I am much furprized to learn from Colonel Smith, that divers people, taking the
name of Englifh Gomaltahs, have been guilty of great villanics and extortions in
your excellency's country ; of this I was entirely unacquainted, or I would have en-
deavoured to have remedied it ; nor has any one any authority from me, nor will I
in future give any, either for trade or rcfidence in your excellency's countr)-. I muft,
therefore, make it my particular requeft that, fliould any one take the Englilh name
as a fcreen for his mal-pradtices, you will immediately caufe him to be apprehended
and fent hither, that his falfliood may meet its due puniflimcnt. You cannot oblige
me more than by detedting thefe impoftors. I write this fo pofitivel}- and itrongly,
that you may kc how very attentive I am to cut off all occafion of uneafinels to you.

No. 86.

Copy of c letter from Mr. Verelji to Rajah Bulivant Sing, dated Fort Wil-
liam, February zjth, lybS.

I cannot help being aflonlfhed to find, from Colonel Smith's letters, that DuUucks
and Perwannahs, under the Englifli name, are current in your diflridls, and that

A a 2 Go-

i88 APPENDIX.

Gomaftahs commit frequent extortions and oppreffions under thnt fandtion. After
the plain dired:ions which I gave your Vakeel at Murfhed-abad, I am very much
furprized that you fliould have neglefted to inform me of thefe pradlices. I novv^
therefore, poficively write to you, that I will neither grant myfelf, nor fuffer others
to grant, any Duftuck with the Engliih feal, for the conveyance of goods to any
part of Sujah al Dowlah's territories, only 'for fuch necelTarics as may be occafionally
going to the army : and I muft: farther direCl you to tranfmit nie a copy of all Dui-
rucks for neceflaries, the inftant they come to your hands, that no room for evafion
or pretext may remain. As I have frequent complaints from the Nabob Sujah al
Dowlah, that divers people affume the name of Englifh Gomailaiis ; I therefore de-
fire that you would iflue pofitive orders throughout your diflrifls, for all fuch offenders
to withdraw themfelves without delay ; and you will immediately caufe Coja Mel-
combe, and Coja Gregory, and a Bengally, named Ram Setcher, to be fent down
under confinement to Maha Rajah Sectabroy ; for none of thefe people have any title
to rcfidcnce within the territories of the Nabob Sujah al Dowlah.

No. 87.

"ExtraEl of a letter from Mr. Hare (then fecond of the EjigliJJ:) faSlory af
Patna, and f nee a member of the Council in Calcutta) to Mr. Veriljl, dated
Patna, Jantuiry \bth, 1768.

Long before thefe gentlemen (Meflrs. Alexandet and Jekyll) had any Gomaflah
In Buhvant Sing's country, the Rajah had farmed the faltpetre bufmels in the Sircar
of Ghazepoor to my Gomajiah, Coja Gregory.

ExtraSl of ditto to ditto., dated February id, 176S.

I did myfelf the honour of addrefling you, under date the i6th ultimo, fince which
Bulwant Sing has taken a Mutchuicah from Coja Gregory, viy Gannjlah at Ckoufay
net to bviy faltpetre.

Extrall of ditto to ditto, dated March iztb, 1768.

Till the receipt of your order, under date the 24th ultimo, I was utterly a flrnnger
to this trade's having been prohibited cither l)y the Company or the Select Committee,
to the regulations of both which I have, at all times, paid the ftridcft obedience;
and \vhat confirmed me in an opinion that it could not have been illicit, was the eager-
refs with which it was profccutcd by fevcral Company's fcrvants at the lame time, and
in the fame places. As to my having employed Armenian Gomaflahs in my fervice, I did
not imagine that the Company's orders relating to them were meant to extend beyond
the provinces, efpecially as thefe -very Gomaflahs v.'ere known to hi employed by Mr. Bolts.
In obedience to your commands, I have immediatsly ordered them down ; but as a
large fum of money is alrcadj' atlvanccd for different articles of trade in that country,

muft

A P P E N D I X. 1S9

muH- cnfreat your pcrmiflion to fend a Bengal Goinaftah to collcdl in my oiuflanding
debts, ami difpntch fuch goods as arc already purchafcd down to mc *.

No. 88.

ExrraSl of a letter from C apt am Harper to Mr. Verelft, dated Faiz-abad,

March \^th, 1768.

The Nabob has acquainted nie that fome people at Gurrackporc having taken upon
theai to fay they are Gomatlahs to Englilh gentlemen, arc guilty of many irregulari-
ties, to the prejudice of his fervants ; he ha«;, therefore, applied to me for a guard
of Scpovs to apprehend and bring them to Fai/.-abad, that their behaviour may bo
enquired into. I have complied with the Nabob's delire, by fupplying him with a Je-
madar and twenty Sepoys. It will not be imjiroper, here, to acquaint )'ou, that there
are feveral Armenians at Benares, and one or two at this place, who often make ufe
of the Englilli name for a fandtlon to the behaviour which they would not other-
wjfe dare to pradtife. The Nabob has often told me that he would expel them his
dominions, but I apprehend he will be tardy in doing this, as I learn that they are
very communicative in what they hear from Calcutta ; and which, with their own
embellillimcnts, is conveyed to the Nabob through Meer Mufhallah, who was for-
merly Coffim Ally Cavvn's, and now his excellency's ph}fician ; and that it is by his
influence the Nobob is diverted from putting his former defign of turning them out
of his territories into execution. It is well known how defigning and intriguing a
fet of people the Armenians are, and I do not think it improbable that if they are
permitted to refide in the Nabob's country, they may be the caufe of difputes with
him. If you aj)prove of writing to the Nabob on this fubjecfl:, I dare fay he will
expel them, as he has already e.xprcfled to me how glad he iliould be to have them
turned away.

No. 89.

Copy of a letter from the Nabob Stijah al Dowlah to Mr. Vere/Jl, re-
ceived April 3 (s', 1 7 6 8 .

I have received your friendly letter by the hands of Captain Harper, and was re-
joiced thereby. It is plain that my friendfliip with the Englifh Sirdars, and particu-
larly with your excellency, is firm ; neither does it need the common phrafes of the
world to fet it off. You alfo have fhewn yourfelf fo profufe of favours towards me,
that I cannot find any exprefhons equal to my fcnfe thereof. I can only wifh that
the Almightv may give our connexion daily ftrength, and our friendfliip hourly
warmth. Confidering what you write on the fubjett of the Armenians, as proceed-
ing from your perfcdl cordiality, I am delighted therewith. What can be more
fuitable to our interefts, .than that we fhould miutiialiy exert ourfelves in difarming all

• Thefe extraOs of Mr. Hare's letters are given to teftify the attention and ready obedience that gen-
tleman paid to the refolutions and public orders of the Seleft Committee of Fort William, for ihe recall
to the prefidency of all Armenians, Europeans, &c. employed ;:$ Englifh agents in the inland provinces;
in contradirtindlion to Mr. Bolts's behaviour on the like occafion. It is alfo worthy notice, that one of
Mr. Hare's agents at this time, in Bulwant Sing's country, was the very Armenian (Coja Gregory, or
Gregore) that Mr. Bolts alfo employed, and has fince inlHgated to come to England, to fupport, with
others, his own profecutions by a pretended accumulation of grievances : an Armenian who has endea-
voured to impofe a belief before the Committee of the houte of Commons, that he never aded as an
Biiglilh Goniaftah or agent in Bulwant Sirg's dominions. Such is the credit due to Armenian faith.

fuich

i$o APPENDIX,

fuch as may be the abettors or authors of evil ? In the affair of the fakpctre, which
was the firft, every incjuietude was removed, and every thorn extradted at once ; but
by a momentary adverfiou of your excellency's regard, and now that )-ou have written
regarding Rafael and Ellevan, that matter is done. As they have fome outftanding
debts incurred in the courfe of their bufinefs here, they petitioned earneftly for two or
three days rcfpite to fettle their accounts, after that they will no more prefume to re-
fide here. Rajah Bulwant Sing has acquainted me with your excellency's orders about
the Armenians in thofe diilritts, and I have inftrufted him to give imjilicit obedience
to whatever you fliall fignify on the occafion ; as whatever is agreeable to you, cannot
fail of being fatisfadory, I fay of being fatisfadory to me. For the reft, confidcr
nie as one felicitous after your welfare, and favour me with frequent accounts thereof.

No. 90.

Cof>y of a letter from Mr. Verelji to the Nabob Siijah al Doivlah, dated

Fort William, April zbth, lybS.

I am forry to inform your excellency that, in confequence of my letters to you,
concerning the Englifh Gomaftahs, and your orders thereupon, I find your officers
have exercifcd a feverity beyond what either of us intended ; they have feized and
fent away many, without aliowing them the fliorteft time to adjufl their affairs ; and
others, from this kind of treatment, find it impoffible even to receive the debts law-
fully due to them. As thefe loffes mull fall heavy on many individuals, I think it
but juft to requeft your excellency to indulge them with two months licence to with-
draw their effects, and fettle their affairs ; and, at the fame time, give fuch orders to
the officers of your dominions, that they may lend them all affiftance for the more
fpeedy difpatch of the matter.

No. 91.
ExtraB of Fort WilliamSeleB Committee proceedings, dated April zjth, 1768.

The Prefidcnt informs the Committee, that orders have been iffued to the officers
at the Chokeys, to fuffcr all merchandize belonging to the natives of this country to
pafs, on their paying the cuftomary duties.

The Board being fenfible of the great difadvantages rcfulting from an immediate
recall of all Gomaftahs of individuals, trading in the countries of the Nabob Sujah al
Dowlah and Rajah Bulwant Sing, under the fandion of the Englifli name ; it is
Refolved, to allow them to refidc there for the fpace of two months, for the adjull:-
ment of the affairs of their conftituents, and the collcdion of their outftanding bal-
lances : that they fliall, on no account whatfoevcr, be allowed to engage in anv new
concerns, and that they Ihall quit thole countries immediately al'ter the expiration of
the time limited for their rcfidence.

And, in order to facilitate the adjuftmcnt of their affairs, as well as to prevent the
frauds and other abufes to A-hieh fuch a reftridion might otherwife expofe them, it is
fl;rther Refolved and Agreed, that the Prefidcnt do inform Sujah al J^owlah and Bul-
want Sing, of tliefe injundions laid on all Gomaftahs in their countries, and to rcqucfl
rhcy will grant them every reafoiuble affiftance they may require, for the f])cedy re-
gulation of their concerns.

Agri.ed,

APPENDIX. 191

Agreed, that the foregoing rcfolution be laid before the Prefident and Council,
and that we do recommend to them, to ifl'ue their orders for efFedlually preventing any
trade being carried on beyond the provinces, by Gomaftahs afliiming the Englifh
name.

Ordered, That all the chiefs of fubordinates be apprized of the Committee's refo-
lutions, concerning the recall of private Gomaftahs from the countries of Sujah al
Dowlah and Bulwant Sing.

No. 92.

ExtraSi of Fort William Confultations, dated May i8//z, 1768.

*' The foregoing cxtradt of Committee Proceedings being laid before the Board, and
the Council unanimoufly concurring in the fame opinion, they direfted an advertife-
ment to be publiftied accordingly."

Note. In reply to the charge of inconfiftency and partiality in thefe orders of the Sdefl Committee,
adduced by Mr. Bolts, we mull obferve, that permiflion was given to that gentleman, at his own
requeft, to return to Benares in March 1766, and to refide there till the month of Oflober fol-
lowing, which was two months more than the time he firft folicited. That in March 1767, he
applied for letters to Sujah al Dowlah and Bulwant Sing, to aflift his Gomallahs in clofing his
mercantile concerns, which were readily granted by Mr. Verelft ; and that, notwiih'laiiding
thefe and other repeated indulgencies, his Armenian agents remained in the territories of Ghaze-
pore and Oud to March 1768, when they were at length feized, after the mod undoubted proofo had
been received, that Mr. Bolts was,contrary to his folemn promife, entering upon frefh engagements.
Proofs which have been fince farther confirmed by his own confeflion before a Committee of the
honourable houfe of Commons. Surely a juft diHinftion was made betwixt the agents of Mr.
Bolts, and thole of other gentlemen, who had not incurred any fufpicion of entertaining dan-
gerous projeiils-, and who had not infulted the Board, by a contempt of repeated orders.

No.

93-

ExtraB of a letter from the Nabob Sujah al Dowlah to Mr. Vereljl, received

.feu*.:. ^W-fi i/' 1768.

I cannot cxprefs my thanks for the favour you have done me in putting an end to
the Englifli trade in my territories. May the Almighty long prcfcrve }'0U, for I have
ftill greater expectations from your friendfhip.

No.

94.

Tranflation of a letter from Meffrs.fohnjlone. Hay, and Bolts , to Mcer Sheer
Ally Cawn, the Fouzdar of Purnea ; recorded on Fort William Confulta-
tions, December I'jtJi, 1762.

Our Gomaflah Ramchurn-Dofs, being gone into thofe parts, meets with obflruc-

tions from }-ou, in whatever bufinefs he undertake:^ ; moreover, vou have publilhed a

' prohibition to this effect, that whoever fhali have any dealing w-ith the Englifh, yon

will feize his houfe, and lay a fine upon 'lim. In this manner have you prohibited

the people under your jurifdidion. Wc were furprized at hearing of this affair, be--

caufe

r9« AT V E N D I X.

caufe that the royal Firmaun, which the Englifh nation is poflefTed of, is violated hv
rliis proceeding ; but the Englifh will by no means fufter, with patience, their Fir-
Jiiauntobe broke, through. We therefore expedl: that, upon -the receipt of this let-
ter, \ ou will take off the order you have given to the R\-ots ; and, in cafe of your
not doing it, we will certainly write to the Nabob, in the name of the Englifli, and
fend for fuch an. order from him, that you fhall reftore, fuUv and entirely, whatevei-
lofs the Englifn have fuftaincd, or iliall fuftiin, by this obftrudf ion ; and that voh
ihall repent having thus interrupted our bufinefs, in defpite of the royal P'irmaun.
After reading this letter, we are perfuaded you will defift from interrupting it, will
adt agreeably to the rules of fricndiliip, and lb that your aniit\' ma}- appear.,. and will
by no means ftop the Company's Diil^ucks. * " —

No. 95. ' ■ .

Extract of a letter from the Court of DircEiors to the Prefident and Councii
at Fort William in Bengal, dated, February 8//;, 1764.

Par. 7. The condu<5t and behaviour of Mr. William Bolts, a fadlor, falling next
under our confideration, they appear, lb tar as he was connedf ed with Mclfrs. John-
Hone and Hay, to be. very, improper; efpecially in joining with them in an audacious
and impertinent letter to the Fouzdar of Purnea, as it ftands on your Confultations
of the 27th December 1762, and for which the Prefident recommended it to the
Council to pals fome cenfure upon him. He appears, likewifc, to have been guilty
of irregular pradices, in refped; to carrying on his private trade ; let him be called
into Council, and reprimanded according to his deferts ; and inform him, if his con-
duft is not more fatisfad;ory for the future, we fliall difmifs him from the fervice.

No. 96,

Extras} of Fort William ConfultationSy dated February i^^th, 1766.

Mr. Bolts fends in a letter, requefting permiffion to return to Benares in his former
flation.

The Board do not think Mr. Bolts entitled to the indulgence he requefts, from his
late conduft at Benares, but that he may have permiffion to return thither in a private
capacity to fettle his affairs, till the ilt of July next.

Agreed, he be advifedin anfwer accordingly.

No. 97.

"BxtraSl of a letter from the Court of DireBors to the SeleB Committee at
Fort William iti Bengal, dated May ijth, 1766.

Par. 48, You will obferve by the general letter to the Prefident and Council ac-
compan)'ing this, tlie very ample powers we have entruiled you with, for prefcrving
peace, tranquility, difcii)linc, harmonv, good order, and fubordination in Bengal;
powers which, we doubt not, you will make ufc of in fuch a manner, as will, in all
circumftanccs, be moll for the Company's intcrcll, as well as reflcdt honour upou
yourfclvcs.

Extract

APPENDIX. 193

No. 98.

ExtraEi of Fort William Confuliations, dated "July i%th, 1766.

Mr. Bolts having exceeded the time limited in Confultation the 2^th February laft»
for his return to Calcutta from Benares ; —

Ordered, that Mr. Sage, the refident at that faftory, be diredled to hiform him,
that the Board arc difiileafcd with the neglcdt he has flievvn to their orders ; that he is,
therefore, to fend him down immediately ; and that, unlefs Mr. Bolts arrives in Cal-
■cutta by the 28th Auguft, he will ftand difmiflTcd the fervice.

No. 99.

ExtraB of Mr. Bolts' s letter to the Governor and ■ Council of Fort William,

dated November lotli, 1766.

I propofe going to Europe as foon as I can fettle my private concerns ; which
tiifinefs, together with the employment to which your lordfliip, &c. gentlemen have
been pleafed to appoint me, as alderman in the Mayor's Court, will engrofs the whole
of my time ; I therefore humbly requeft permiffion to refign the fervice of the honour-
able Compan}'.

No. ICO.
Fxtra5l of Fort William Confuliations, dated January 5///, 1767.

Mr. Bolts having had permifEon to refign the honourable Company's ferv'ce, in
confequence of his letter to the Board (of the 10th November laft) and entered on
the proceedings of the 24th following ; —

Ordered, That intimation be given to him by the fecretary, that as he cannot claim
any title to remain longer in India, he is pofitively required not to engage farther in
commercial concerns, and to prepare to embark for England in one of the Company's
returning fhips of this feafon.

No. lor.

Copy of a letter from Mr. Bolts to the Prefdent, &c. members of the Sele6i

Committee.
Honourable Sir and Sirs,
I have feveral very confiderable out-ftanding balances within the provinces now
under the management the honourable Companv, the recovery of which, without
the favourable interpofition of your authority over the country government being
altogether impoffible ; and the late regulations of the honourable Board, making my
prefent application neceffar)', I hereby rcquetl: to be favoured with your affiltance, and
that jrou will be pleafed to grant me Perwannahs upon the diiferent Zemindars, &c.
of the diftrifts where they lay, diredting them to fummons the AfTammys to their
Cutcherrys, to confront them with my Gomaftahs, and, after proof of the juflice
of the demands to enforce the payment. The fums, as per particular lifls, are, viz.
In the diflridls of Purnea — ' — Current Rupees 10,939 13 6

Goragaut Sheeb Gunge — — — 6,029 12 6
Rungpore — — — — — i???? 9 ^
Dinagepore — — — — — 2,320 10 6
Shav/pore, Purg Santofe, Krifndeeb, and Go- 7 g

vindibaus — — — — ^ S 3

■ t)

Current rupees 21,219 7 6
B b The

194 APPENDIX.

The following are balances due from the Zemindars themfelves of fundrv diftridts
much nearer at hand ; but being balances arifing upon accounts of mercantile tranf-
adlions, which may be liable to altercation, and being more immediately under the
infpedtion of your honourable Board, I flioukl be glad you would be pleafed to ap-
point in Calcutta fome perfon or peribns, either Europeans or black merchants, verfed
in the tranfa<3:ions of the country, to examine into the juflice of the demands, which are
as follows :

Due from the Zemindar of Jeffore, Nilcanto Roy, S. rupees 13,029 12 o
Ditto of Tumlook, to the i^th November pail, 2,501 10 6
Ditto of Sujah-mootah, ditto, — — 10,938 -j o

Fouzdarof Ragimaul — — A. rupees 636 4 o

Rupees 27,106 i 6

I Ihall very readily abide by the decifion of the perfons you may be pleafed to
appoint.

After the letter which the late honourable Prefident and Council were pleafed to
write me, relative to my commercial affairs, it may not, on this occafion, be improper
to fay fomething on the fubjed:, that you. Gentlemen, may be able to judge what
an arduous, nay, I may fay, an impoffible taik has been impofed upon me. I have,
by fea and land, of my own and other people's, about eight * lacks of rupees now out,
and aiftually employed in lawful trade, which no way interferes with any part of the
honourable Company's inveflmcnt. Amongft this, there is above one hundred and
fixty thoufand f rupees of woollens, he. goods which I bought at the Company's lail:
outcry, and which were only difpatched up the country about two months ago. In the
mean time, to comply as nearly as jioflible with what feems to me to be the intention
of the order of the honourable Board, / <}J/ure you. Gentlemen, upon my honour, that
I have not lately, andjhall not enter into any new inland concerns ; and that I fiall hold
ficne, lut fuch as I have been already fome time engaged in, and which I am obliged to
profecute to bring in outllanding balances. Farther, I will engage, under any pe-
nalty, that no part of my trade fliall, within the three Subahs, in any fhapo, interfere
with any part of the honourable Company's inveftment.

I farther beg leave to alfure you, Gentlemen, that I fhall never be guilt\' of an}- in-
fringement of the laws of Great Britain, or the bye-laws ot the honourable Company,
where their jurifdiftion extends ; and that, out of their jurifdidion, Illiall freely fub-
mit to the cuftoms and laws of the country. In this fituation, I hope, I fliall not fail
of giving fatisfatlion ; and I fliall chearfuUv fubmit to whatever you. Gentlemen, may
eftccm juil, and require only an equitable allowance of time, to be indulged with thofe
privileges which have ever been allowed, not only to gentlemen who have refigned,
1but thofe who have been difmiffed the fervicc.

I have the lionour to be, with great refpedt, See,

Fort W.lliam, the M'lLLIAM BOLTS,

aith Ftbiuaiy, 1767,

No. 102.

ExtraSl of Fort Wilham Sdccl Covitnittee proceedings, dated March ^dy

1767.

Mr. Bolts fends in a letter to the Committee, (dated i ith of February, 1767) re-
quefting our affiftance in colledting feveral balances due to him in different parts of the

provinces :—

• 100,000/. t 20,000/.

Agreed,

APPENDIX. I9S

Agreed, We recommend to the Prefident to grant Mr. Bolts Pcrwannahs upon the
Zemindars in the manner he defires ; alto, that the court of Cutcherry be direftcd to
examine into his claims on the Zemindars, as fpecificd in his letter; but that we
ftriftly enjoin him to enter into no t'rcfli concerns, as tlic Board will expcft implicit
obedience to the orders he has already received, although the)' difpcnfe with the im-
mediate execution, in confideration of the particular fituatiou of his affairs.

No. 193.

ExtraSi of a letter from Mr. Vereljl to the Nabob Siijah al Doivlah, dated

Fort WilUam, March gth, 1767.

Mr. Bolts having reprefented to me, that he has feveral out-ftanding ballances un-
fettled in your excellency's tertitories, on which account he employs a Gomallah, I
requeft he may be indulged with liberty to conclude his affairs. I muft, however,
hope, that as the fending of Gomaftahs into thofe parts may give occafion to many
altercations, your excellency will, in future, withdraw your protedlon from them.

No. 104.

Extract of a letter from Mr. Vereljl to Rajah Buliaant Sing, of the fame

date.

I am informed by Mr. Bolts, that fome Gomaftahs of his, whom he employed in
his concerns at Meerzaporc, have not yet colledted the out-ftanding ballances due to
that gentleman ; I therefore requeft, that no interruption may be given thefe Go-
maftahs.

No. 105.

ExtraB of a letter from the Nabob Sujah al Dowlah to Mr. Vereljl, received

April ijth, ij(>y.

In regard to Mr. Bolts's money, which you defire me to interpofe my affiftance in col-
lefting with all expedition; and that in future I Ihould forbid all others from refiding,
and on no account permit the Englifh gentlemen to carry on a commerce within my
.territories, in order to prevent all poffibility of a difpute ; by the blcffing of God, I
will, even with redoubled diligence, apply to the fpeedy colledfion of Mr. Bolts's con-
cerns, and, infifting on the juft demands from all parties, caufe pa) ment of the fame.
For the reft, my friendfhip for you is imprelTed on my heart, and the ftrong aft'urances
you write me of invariable regard, give me the greateft confidence that all affairs will
have a happy and fuccefsful conclusion.

No. ie6.

ExtraSi of Tort WilUam Confidtations, dated the i^lh Augujl, 1767.

Ordered, that the Secretary do Inform Mr. Bolts, that the Lord Holland will be
difpatched for England in the courfe of next month ; and that we pofitively infiil oa
his proceeding by that Ihip.

B b 2 ExtraSi

i^C APPENDIX.

No. 107.
Ex:ra£l of Fon William Co7ifultations, dated OEiober ijl, ly^J.

Mr. Bolts, in two 'letters, one to the Board, the other to the Secretary to the
Council, affigns the fituation of his private affairs to be fuch as renders his immediate
departure impoffible ; but affures the Board, that, as foon as they are adjufted, he Ihall
■with pleafure obey the order.

Ordered, The Secretary do acquaint Mt. Bolts, that, after the indulgence he has
already had, his private concerns are no inducement for us ro-recede from our orders ;
and we therefore expedt, that he will embark in the next fhip that fails for Europe.
Farther, that we hear he is carrying on an improper intercourfe with the Dutch, to the
prejudice of the honourable Company's affairs, and, on that account, pofitively forbid
his leaving Calcutta, without our exprefs permiffiori.' ' '^ x\'\ •

Ordered, alfo. That the Mayor's Court be acquainted herewith, that they may apply
for another alderman in his room.

No. io3.

]E,xtra5l of a letter from Mr. Kelfall, chief of the Englijli faBory at Dacca, t9
to the Prefdent, dated September iHth, 1767.

In a letter I had the honour to addrefs you in the month of May laft, I mentioned,,
though in a curfory manner, the footing on which the Dutch had then newly re-efta-
blilhed their fadlory at Dacca, not, as the event has Ihewn, to tranfad: bufmefs on
behalf of their Company, but, urider the fanftion of pubUc authority, to fulfil a private
compaft of Mcffrs. Vcrnctand Bolts.

The late Dutch refident, Mr. Lahkeet, difdained to accept a commiffion on fuch
terms, whereupon he was fuperfeded. His fucccllor, when he found, inftead of a
reprefentative of the Company, that he was fent up in the capacity of a mere Gomaftah,
to fulfil a private engagement, in like manner declined it. Both thefe gentle^len haye

' ever fince been violently perfecuted by Mr. Vernet.

Here is an Armenian, one Coja Mig-ucl Sarties, a man that has before done bufinefs
for Mr. Bolts, who, not fo fcrupulous as either of the Dutch gentlemen, has made no
difficuhy of accepting the commiTion. The bufinefs is now in his hands, and, to fulfil
it, he has had made over to him a fum to the amount of near * feien lacks of rnpea : fo
enormous a fum I fliould have thought even beyond the confcicnce even of an Armenian
to prefumc to invert, and ihould have doubted my information, if I had not received
it from the bcft authority, one cf the Butch gentlemen.

I have thought it my dutv to give you this intelligence, and tnjft, fir, you will take
meafures for dcfcating'thc intenti9ns of Meffrs. Vernet and Bolts, and of the Armenian
their ageht, which muft materially prejudice our Company's bufinefs and the trade in

-general, fillce, in order to get in their inveflment, they mull ncccllarily purchafc at an

-advilnccd prite.

• 87,5001.

Extraa

APPENDIX. iQj

No. 109.

ExtraSi of a letter from Colonel Smith to the SeleB Committee, dated Head^
garters at Allah- abad, OSlober 2T^d, 1767.

I' remember to have m.entioned in Committx;c, that Monf. Gentil was a very impro-
per perfon to be with Sujah al Dovvlah. I am fully convinced of this, and wiih feme
mode could be thought on to have him removed. The perfon who has>had the efta-
blifhment of Sujah al Dowlah's artillery is one of Monf. Gentil's comrades, and for-
merly was an officer in the French fervicc.

No. no.

MxtraSi of a letter from Mr. Maddifon to Mr. Verelji, dated Patna, Oclober"

23^', 1767.

A fleet of thirty boats arrived here yefterday laden with opium, faltpetre, &c.
which took my name, and a Peon came twice to Noon-golah, to apply for Pohvars,
faying, he was ordered to apply to Mr. Mudie for that purpofe. Upon enquiry, I find
they belong to Mr. Bolts, whofe time of a Duftuck being expired, may probably
have given his people this order, to have them pafs unmolefted. I thought it necelfary
to make you acquainted with this, left I might fall under any fufpicions of palling other
people's goods under my name.

No. III.

ExtraB of Fort William Confultations^ dated November ^th, 1767.

The Prefident lays before the Board the following letters from Mr. Bolts, on which
ht requefts their fentiments, after they have perufed his Minute, which he delivers in
upon the fubjeft, viz. an Addrefs from Mr. Bolts to the Court of Direftors, ditto to
this Board, ditto to the honourable the Mayor's Court, ditto to Meffrs. Bechcr and
Alexander.

To Harry Verelji^ Efq. Prefident^ (^c, gentlemen of Council at Fort TVilliam.

GENTLEMEN,

I requeft you will be pleafed to tranfmit the accompanying addrefs to the Court of
Directors by the next conveyance. It is partly in vindication of myfelf from the
groundlefs and reproachful accufations with which your Prefident has been pleafed
TO charge me, through the channel of the Seledl Committee, and partly on other affairs^
in which the intereft of the honourable Company is deeply concerned.

It is doubtlefs a hardy tafk for me, in the prefcnt fituation of affliirs, to make a
public attack on the Prefident, when the majority of his Secret Committee and Coun-
cil are alfo parties concerned, but a regard for my own character obliges me to it ;
and as I have on my fide truth and fatts, which are obftinate and fcorn to bend, I
dare, in this impolitic and uncuftomary manner, brave the envenomed fiiafts of future
opprefiion and injuflice, which cannot in malignancy exceed thofe I have already un-
concernedly fuftained.

As the majority of the members fitting at the Board are gentlemen who have been
but a fiiort time in this country, and are doubtlefs as unacquainted with the political
wiles and cuftoms of the Banyans, who have been the principal engines employed

throughouc

198 APPENDIX.

throughout tlie alT:iirs concerning me, as they are unacquauited v\'ith that more-cf-
pccially-requifite the country languages, they muit have been expofed to great im-
poluions ; and it is very probable they have been mifled in thefe affairs by the artifice
of a veteran, upon vvhofe integrity they placed am implicit reliance. It is, therefore,
but jult that I Ihould attribute the concurrence of fome of thofe gentlemen to their
having been deceived.

If any explanations or proofs be required upon any part of my addrefs to the ho-
nourable the Court of Direftors, upon intimation thereof from your honourable Board,
I will readily defcend to particulars, and hope to give every fatisfadiion that can be
required.

I am Gentlemen, &c.

Calcutta, Oclober iSth, 1767.

(Signed) WILLIAM BOLTS.

To Thomas U'ccdzi-ard, Efq. Alnyor, aiid the Gentlemen Aldermen of the honourable Mayor's

Court of Calcutta.
Sirs,

I am acquainted with the extraordinary ftep the Governor and Council have taken
towards effefting iny removal from my feat at your honourable Board, in open de-
fiance of his Majefty's moll gracious charter, and I congratulate myfclf, as well as the
community, upon the juft difregard with which you have been pleafed to treat this
glaring attempt to an infringement of the Britifli liberties ; an attempt which, had it
been given way to, would have been of the mofl; dangerous confequence, as a pre-
cedent for rendering \our Court dependent, and of courfe ufelefs to ibciety, for vvhofe
relief our moft gracious fovereign and parliament have been pleafed to eftablilh it,
wl.ereby Britifh fubjcdfs would have been as eafily deprived of their property and for-
tunes, as in the prefent defpotic reign they have been of their liberties and every
Britifli privilege. Though the letter to your honourable Court appears under the
fandtion of the Governor and Council, I confider it only as the aft of Governor Ve-
rellt alone, as I fhnll make it hereafter appear to the \yorld. Confider in this light
how deplorable would be our fituation if, at the bare defire of a Governor, or even
a Governor and his Council, the exprefs orders of the charter fhould be fet afide,
and -a free Britiflo (ubjecl expofed to be deprived of his honour and liberty. A mali-
cious man, high in rtation, who boarts that he is be\ond punifliment, and that juftice
cannot reach him, would have it always in his power to fpread ruin into every tamily
againft which he had any averfion ; but where law and liberty reign, where men
hold not their property or honour at the mercy of one or few, this fecurity begets
in them a difpofition which is inconfiftent with fervility and adulation.

I>et us not then fuffer our liberties to be invaded by fraud or will, or deftroyed by
force; if we do, a difmal confufion mull then quickly enfue, and villainous accufa-
tion, public and private rapine and plunder, illegal imjirifonments, confifcatlons and
profcriptions, diffuling univerfal mifery, will become the common law of the land.

I defy the Prefulcnt and Council legally to difcjualify me from holding my honour-
able feat at j'our Court ; and I am confident that )ou, gentlemen, will never fuffer
me othervvife to be difmifled ; permit me at the fame time to alfure you, Sirs, that
I would not mils a fuigle day's attendance at your Court, even when it is not my turn
of rotation, was I not ncceffitated to do it fometimes in confcciuencc of the op-
preffion with which I have been treated, as I hope in due time to evince to the fliame
of my oppreilors.

Yet as I fliouUl be glad to know upon what this extraordinary requeft has been
founded, and to have fo curious a document by me, I requeft }0u will be pleafeil to
order mc an authenticated co]iy of the letter from the I'refident and Council.

APPENDIX. 199

Permit me to offer my fincercfl: wifhcs for the profperity of the honourable Court,
and the fuccels of your endeavours to fecurc the happinefs of the connuunity, by an
impartial adminiitration of juilice.

Who am with great refpedV, &€.

Calcutta, Oilober 8th, 1767.

(Signed) WILLIAM BOLTS, Alderman.

To ALL who fliall fee thefc prcfcnts or hear them read. I Thomas Woodward, Efq.
Ma)or of the town of Calcutta at Fort William in Bengal, do hereby make known
and certify, that John Holme, who hath figned and attcftcd the certificate hereunto
annexed, is regifter of the honourable the Mayor's Court at Calcutta aforclaid, legally
fworn and admitted, dwelling in this town of Calcutta aforefaid ; and that to acls,
intfruments, procurations, and other writings by him figned and attclted, is full faitli
and credit given in Court and without.

In faith and testimony whereof, I the faid Mayor have caufcd
the fcal of the office of mayoralty of the faid town of Calcutta to
be hereunto put and affixed, and the cop)' of the letter mentioned
in the laid certificate hereunto alfo annexed. Dated in Calcutta
aforefaid, this 14th day of Odtober, in the year of our Lord one
thoufand feven hundred and fixty-feven.

(Signed) THO. WOODWARD, Mayor. (L. S.)

I John Holme, Regifter of the honourable the Mayor's Court at Calcutta at Fort
William in Bengal, do hereby certify and atteft, that the within written is a true cojiy
of a letter from Mr. William Bolts, one of the Aldermen of the faid Court, dircfted
to Thomas Woodward, Efq. Mayor, and the gentlemen Aldermen of the honourable the
Mayor's Couit at Calcutta, carefully collated by me with the original, at prefent in my
poffeflion, as Regifter of the faid Court.

Ix FAITH AND TESTIMONY whcteof I havc hcrcunto let my hand
at Calcutta aforefaid, the fourteenth day of Oftobcr, in the year
of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and fixty-feven.

(Signed) JOHN HOLME, Regificr.

'To Richard Becher and James Alexander, Efqrs.
Gentlemen,

I have this day fent in to the Board an addrefs to the honourable the Court of I)i-
reftors, in vindication of m)felf from the unjuft accufations laid to my charge in the
proceedings of the Select Committee; and as you, gentlemen, are the only members
at the Board who are not more or lefs parties concerned, I can pretty well forefee the
treatment I am like to meet with on the occafion.

As you, gentlemen, were not upon the fpor during the tranfaft ions of which I com-
plain, you muft of neceffity have formed \ our opinions from tlie partial proceedings
of the Committee, and from the more partial reprcfentations of thofe in whole com-
pany you daily are. In this fituation, I am not a ftrangcr to the malignant accounts
with which your c;irs mufl have been continually tingling, and which, like water con-
tinually dropping upon a ftone, muft no doubt have made fome imprcflion, and have
difpoled }ou to believe every thing you heard againft me, efpecially as you I'.card no-
thing on the other fide of the queftion from' me, who, depending on the rettitude of
my adions, havc hitherto been filent.

From

20O APPENDIX.

From my addrefs to the Court of Direftors you will be acquaintc 1 with every
thing in which I have been concerned, on which the unjuil: fentence of the Com-
mittee has been pronounced againft me unheard ; hear ail, then, and let juftice hold
the fcale. ,

Do not think, gentlemen, that the intent of this addrefs is to fije for favour ;
that I fcorn : I fpeak only to your conlciences as men of integrity, and to fet you
upon your guard againft the artifices of many combined againft me alone, without
any reafonable caule, or other foundation, than what is built upon their private in-
terefts, perlbnal connections, and piques.

All I wifh for is, from a principle of gratitude to the Company, that the partiality
with which I may be treated may not force me, in my own defence, to print and
publifli to the world at home, what may add to the national odium againft the
Company.

I have the honour to be, Sec.

Calcutta, Oct. i8, 1767,

(Signed) WILLIAM BOLTS»

*^he Prejidmt^s Mmute,

This addrefs to the honourable Court of Direttors, which is now before you, is,
in my opinion, the moft convincing proof that could be brought of the propriety
and necellity of the Committee's relblutions regarding Mr. Bolts. The mifreprefen-
tations and falflioods that fill this producflion, appear too obvious to require being
particularly pointed out. In regard to the invediives levelled againft me, I flatter
mjiclf that my principles, my charafter, and my conduct, are too well known to
the whole fettlement to give room for the leaft belief of the truth of one of them.

For my reafons for bringing the complaints againft Nobkiflen before the Seledt
Committee, I muft beg leave to refer you to my Minutes on that occafion, which
are entered on the face of their proceedings.

But as amongft the numerous falfities in Mr. Bolts's letter, there happen to be two
fafts, which he has artfully mifreprefented and obfcured, I muft intrude upon your
patience whilft I give a plain recital of them.

You may remember, gentlemen, that in confequence of the refolutions of the Se-
ledt Committee, Ramnaut was to be delivered up to the government, to be made ac-
countable for the numberlefs extortions and villanies he had been guilty of at Maulda,
and other places in the government's jurifdiftion.

Mr. Bolts inferts in his letter that Ramnaut, during his confinement, had no de-
mands made upon him, except for fome fait, and for a parcel of boats, which had
been fold him by me ujion very advantageous terms.

I allow that Ramnaut did purchafe thefc articles belonging to me ; but that the
•terms on my part were advantageous, or that a fingle demand was made upon him
■on m\' account during his confinement, I <lo moft folcmnly deny.

The cafe \\<is as follows :

Ramnaut, fome time fincc, employed a relation of his to purchafe, under a feigned
name, a quantity of fait, which I had configned to Mr. Barwell at Maulda ; by the
fame method, he bought of my Banian a parcel of boats, which I had before pur-
chafed of Mr. Burdett at a Icfs price than I had given for them, though they were
•in a much better condition when I fold them than when I bought them. When the
■money for thefe things was demanded, Ramnaut declared himfeif the purchafcr, but
pleaded poverty, and claimed my ])rotcftion, that he might be enabled to raill; the
money.

APPENDIX. 20I

By this villainoMs artifice he was in hopes to have fcreenecl bimfelf TroiTV-the
power of the government, and to have evaded reftiturion of the mon y lie had ex-
torted from the natives. But, on the contrary, it was my repeated reiiucft to the
minifters that they would make him accountable for every rupee of his ixtorcions
from the unhappy people at Maulda, who had been ruined by his villainy ; and I
pofitively forbid any demands being made upon my account, until full and ample rc-
ftitution had been obtained for the fufferers.

Of the truth of this relation I call upon the minifters, upon Mr. Sykes, and I
could name many others to bear teftimouy ; a teftimony which muft entirely overfet
Mr. Bolts's aflcrtion, that Ramnaut was confined at the city upon account of the
debt he owed me : nay I can go Itill farther; I can declare upon honour that I have
not yet received a fingle rupee, or rupee's worth, of the debt ; nor will I receive any,
untill all the unhappy fufferers by Ramnaut's extortion, whom I cannot too much
compaffionate, are tuUy indemnified.

In regard to the 4tieftion which Mr. Bolts has put for me to Ramnaut, about the
Denagepore Zemindars, he, as the author, can only anfwer it ; that I was not, I fo-
lemnly declare. I never had any concerns at Dinagepore, nor do I knov,' that Ram-
naut had any, except fome extortions he was guilty of; and I very likely might have
afked him, Whether he had made reftitution ?

Another aflertion of Mr. Bolts's I cannot but reply to. In vindication of my clia-
rader. He fays, that when Gocul Sonar preferred his complaints at the genetal
quarter feflions, in a petition to the grand jury, it is remarkable that I, the then
chief jufticc upon the bench, put the paper into my pocket ; and he afligns a rea-
fon, that I declare never occurred to me : on the jury fending the petition into the
court, it was as well my opinion as that of the other gentlemen upon the bench,
that it ought to be referred for trial to the court of Zemindarry, where all criminal
caufes betwixt native and native, when no Britifli life or property is concerned, have
ufually been tried. It was in confequence of this opinion referred to the Zemindar,
whofe proceedings thereupon have already been reported to }'ou, and where the in-
famy of the profecution, fo warmly efpoufed b)' Mr. Bolts, fo plainly appears.

My opinion in this method of juftice is not, as Mr. Bolts endeavours to infinuate,,
particular in this inftance ; my fentiments therein ftand recorded long fince upon
the face of the Confultations.

I now leave to you, gentlemen, to take fuch notice of this infult upon the perfon
aud character of your Prefident as you may deem neceffary for the fupport of his
government. I forbear giving my own opinion, as Mr. Bolts has already declared
that all the refolutions againil him have been formed entirely by tne.

Fort William, Nov. 5, 1767.

(Signed) HARRY VERELST,

The feveral letters from Mr. Bolts, and the Prefident's Minute, in reply to thofe
parts of the above letters, which relate to himfclf, being attentively confidered, —

Refolved, unanimoufly, that we exprefs in the ftrongell; terms to the Prefident our
entire approbation of his conduft in the whole courfe of the proceedings relative to-
Mr. Bolts, and the keenefi: refentment of this Board at the infolent and hbellous at-
tack on his character and flation, as well as the infult offered to our authority, and ta
this government, from the fadtious attempt of an incendiary to fow the feeds of jea-
loufy and difiruft in our Council, to difturb the harmony and confidence that fo hap-
pily fubfifted among the feveral members of the Board, and to deftroy thole bleffings

C c whicb

202 A P P E N D I X.

which the public confcfTcdly enjoy under- the mild and upright adminiftration of
our honourable Governor.

Refolved, That we fupport with all our weight and influence the jufl and necef-
fary exercife of the Governor's authority, and the authority of the Board, for the
prcfervation of jieace, order, and tranquility in this fettlement, and throughout the
honourable Company's poffeflions in * Bengal ; and that we punilh, to the utmofl ex-
tent of our power, the unparalleled endeavours of Mr. Bolts to fap the foundation
of all government, to fubvert, by the fadlious cry of liberty, the principles of fub-
ordination, and to loofen all thofe facred ties whereby men are united together.

Refolved, That our former orders to Mr. Bolts for proceeding to England fliall
be repeated ; and that in cafe of difobedience to, and contempt of our authority,
his perfon fliall be feized, and forcibly fent home a prifoner in one of the fliips of
this feafon. — And lafl:ly it is

Refolved, That the feveral letters written by Mr. Bolts fliall be entered after this
confultation, and tranfmitted to the honourable Court of IDireftors, as the ftrongefl:
proof that can be exhibited of the neceflity of the meafures we have purfued for the
fupport of government, and the moft abfolute convid:ion to our honourable matters,
that unlefs they will vindicate their own authority, as exercifed in unavoidable ad:s
by their reprefentatives in India, and aflert the privileges of their ro)al charter, their
fettlements and government muft infallibly be precipitated into anarchy and confufion.

It is farther agreed. That we fully exprefs our fentiments on this important fubjedt,
in cur next advices to the honourable the Court of Diredtors.

Mr. Ffloyer lays before the Board the following minute upon the above fubjedt :

As Mr. Bolts, in his letter to the Count of Direftors, has placed a part of my
condu(Sl in a falfe point of view, I think it a piece of juftice due to my own reputa-
tion, to lay before you, gentlemen, the matter on which he treats, in its real light ;
left mv honourable matters fliould deem me guilty of an impropriety of conduft,
when I only inadvertently committed a mittake.

In the month of March laft, when I was the afting juttice and Zemindar, the Pre-
fident delivered to me a complaint which had been preferred to the grand jury at the
quarter fcflions, by one Gocul Sonar againtt Nobkiflen, and defired me to enquire
into it as Zemindar. I did fo ; but, on attetting the depofitions which had been taken
by me, I figned them as juftice of the peace, inttead of Zemindar. I was not fenfible
of the mittake until the next morning, when I acquainted the Prefident with it ;
and, as a confirmation thereof, referred him to the officers of the Cutcherrv, who
were the only ])erfons made ufe of by me, during the whole courfe of the enquiry.
M)- report to the Prefiilent, v\ hich has been laid beiore this Board, and the records of
the court of Zemindarry, will, I hope, fufliciently evince, that I a(fted therein in the
judicial cppacitv of Zemindar only, and not as one of his majetty's juftices of the
peace. But when I confider the tenor of Mr. Bolts's conduft, I am not furprifed
to find hini willing to fupport himfclf byever3^ piece of artifice he can devife.

■ Every member of this Board, who has adted in thefe two offices, (which have ge-
nerally centered in one perfon) muft be fenfible that complaints are often made at
the fame time, fome of which reciuire the exertion of a Zemindar's authority, and
others are cognizable only by a juili^e of the peace. In fuch a fituation, can a mif-
takc be wondered at; and can any unprejudiced perfon, upon a review of thefe cir-
cumftanccs, conclude that I have been intentionally culpable ?

I lolemnly declare it was a miftake, occafioned in the manner herein related ; and,
I trulV, that the honourable the Court of Diredlors, u]wn a confideration of Mr. Bolts's
condufV, will be inclined to credit this declaration in preference to his infinuations.
• Ap{iendix, p. 192. No. 97.

(Signed) CHARLES FFLOYER.

N D I X. 203

No. 112.

ExtraSi of the Sele6i Committee s letter to Colonel Smith, dated Fort WilUamy

November ijth, 1767.

The Committee have recommended to the Prefident the taking cffeiftual ftcps
for removing Monfieur Gentil and his affociates from the court and councils of
Sujah al Dowlah, which we hope to effed: without laying a difagreeable reftraint on
the Nabob's inclinations. The meafure becomes neceflary, but we are dcfirous of
obferving on this, as upon all other occafions, the moft punctilious delicacy towards
his highnefs.

No. 1 13.

ExtraSi of General Smith's letter to the Sele6i Committee, dated December

I \th, 1767.

The nature of the intelligence tranfmittcd horn Calcutta, by Sujah al Dowlah's
Vakeel, is without limits; the Nabob is almoll: as fully acquainted with the parlia-
mentary proceedings, concerning the Company's affairs, as I am. How far the
importance and dignitv of the Company, and the weight and influence of atlmini-
ftration are kflened in his elleem by this communication, may be eafily conceived,
Whilfl: a Vakeel is fo eafy and fo fure a channel to communicate intelligence, few
men will be found fo hardy as to maintain a dirctt correfpondcnce with the Nabob;
but there is a man who has obliquely offered fo great an infult to our Prefident,
that, was I prefent at the Board, I would move for the exertion of our authority
to the utmoft extent, to free the fettlement from fo dangerous an inhabitant. I
mean Mr. Bolts : and the enelofed copy of a letter to Moufieur Gencil, (the original is
in my polTeflion) refiding in Sujah al Dowlah's court, wherein he alferts an abfolute
falfliood, which tends to leiTen that eflentlal dignity and neceflary influence of our
Prefident, is furely deferving of your fevereft refentment. Nor is this the only
letter he wrote ; for the Nabob acquainted a perlbn of undoubted honour, that Mr.
Bolts had wrote the fame to Meer Mufhallah, formerly phyfician and confidant of
Coflim Ally, from whom the Nabob heard it. Hereafter, I may lay before you
other proofs of the extent of the intelligence communicated through the Vakeel.

No. 114.

EtraSl of a letter from Mr. William Bolts to Mr. Gentil, dated Calcutta.,

fune \()th, 1767.

J'ai ecrit une lettre au Navab a qui jc vous prie de faire me tres humble ref-
pefts : nous avons eu un vaifleau d'Europe Anglois, et un autre Franfois : les
affaires de notrc Compagne font dans une grande agitation devant le Roi and le
parlement d'Angleterre ; et felon les lettres que j'ai refu il a grande apparance qui
mon JJfocie Monfieur Johnflone viendra Gouverneur de la part du Roi. Je fcrai
charme de recevoir de temps en temps de vos nouvelles qui fuis avec une parfaic
conflderation,

Mon cher Monfieur,

Votre tres humble Servireur,

GUILLAUME BOLTS."
C c 2. No,

ao+ APPENDIX.

No. 115.

ExtraB of a letter from Mr. Maddfon to Mr, Verelji, dated Allah-abady

November zbth, 1767.

As the fleet of boats, I mentioned in my laft, left Patna a day or two after I had
the honour of tranfmitfing you an account of them, your orders there will probably
arrive too late; but as there are more fleets to be difpatched, they will certainly be in
time for them.

During my ftay at Faiz-abad, I cafually got into nay hands a letter from Mr. Bolts
to Monfieur Gentil, in his own writing ; where, befides fome other circumftanccs,
(which arc not perhaps unexceptionable) he acquaints him, that " the affairs of the
*' Company were in great agitation before the King and parliament ; and that, ac-
" cording to the letters he had received, there was great appearance that his aflbciate,
" Mr. Johnftone, would come out governor on the part of the King." Finding from
the letter, &c. that he had wrote to the Nabob, I fet myfelf todifcover the contents of
that letter, but in vain. At laft I took occafion, one day, when the Nabob was en-
c|uiring what news from Europe, to tell him, that we had no news which could be
depended on ; and that the Intelligence Mr. Bolts had communicated to him, con-
cerning Mr. Johnftone's coming out governor on the part of the King, was certainly
erroneous. He anfwered me with precipitation, " No, no, he did not write it to me,
" he wrote it to Meer Mufiiallah, and I had it from him." I delivered the letter to
Colonel Smith, and fuppofehe has, ere this, acquainted you fully of this matter.

Permit me, however, to fuggeft to you another channel of intelligence to the Na-
bob, which Mr. Bolts has been inftrumental in forming, and which ftill remains open,
I mean his Armenian Gomaftahs. He had one at Faiz-abad, Coja Rafael ; another
at Benares, Coja Melcombe ; and a third near Ghazipore, Coja Gregory ; thefe
people have been perpetually filling the country and the Nabob's court with lying
rumours ; have reported that Mr. Bolts was returning to Benares with greater power
than before, that he was even fet out, and a variety of other falfhoods, in order to
miflcad the Nabob, and beft anfvver their own purpofes. Coja Melcombe, in par-
ticular, had a conftant correfpondence at Calcutta ; and I have intelligence, which I
believe may be depended on, that he has lately reported at the Nabob's court, " that
" he was going to enter into Mr. Rumbold's fervice, or had entered into it, and would
" bring a letter from the Council, that no Englilh Gomaftah fhould be licenfed ex-
" cept himfelf ;" every circumftance of which is utterly falfe, and the news is not
four da\s old. The Armenians, indeed, in general, fecm to have adopted a fyftem
of fixing thcmfelves in the Nabob's dominions, as they x^cxq formerly at Murflied-abad;
and though the Nabob has, on account of fqme of their mal-prad:ices, forbid them
his province, yet, as Englifh Gomaftahs, he is, perhaps, cautious of expelling them.
How far this circumftance may be worthy of your attention, you will be the moll
proper judge ; but, as a faft, I thought it neceflary to lay it before }'ou.

I learnt a circumftance at Benares, concerning Mr. Bolts's manner of pafling his
fleets, which may not be improper to communicate j he procured, laft year, a conli-
derable number of Duftucks from Mr. MIddleton, for faltpetrc, tincal, &c. and as
fome of thefe Duftucks have lately been fccn In Coja Mclcombe's hands, it is pro-
bable he avails himfelf of thefe.

No.

APPENDIX. 205

No. ti6.

Extra£l of a letter from the Prefident and Councft of Fort William, in Bengal,
to the Court of Dire^ors, dated December loth, 1767.

We arc now come to a fubjedt which calls for your mofl ferious confideration : it re-
lates to the condiidt of Mr. William Bolts, lately in your fervicc, and we think it
proper to introduce it here, as it requires a full exertion of the privileges granted in the
royal charter to you, and delegated to your reprefentatives in India, to rcprcfent, in a
proper manner, the infult given ro our government in the perfon of our Prefident, and
the daring attempt not only to lefl'en our influence in the country, whereby your intereil
would infallibly fuffer, but alfo to deftroy that harmony which now fo happily pre-
vails in your councils. Thefe purpoles, fo unnatural to a Britifli fubjedV, who had
acquired an opulent fortune in your fervice *, Mr. Bolts has attempted to effedl: by per-
fonal addreffes to our Board, and fecrct correfpondences carried on through the means
of Armenian agents, at the courts of Sujah al Dowlah, and of other princesf .

We acquainted you, in our laft letter, that, in confequence of a refolution taken by
the Seledt Committee regarding Mr. Bolts, we had fent him pofitivc orders to return
to Europe this feafon. Some time after, we received a long letter from Chinfura, at
which place he frequently refided for fome time pafl, informing us, with much free-
dom of ftylc, that, if we would take his concerns, and thofe of his conftituents, off his
hands, he would comply with our diredtions.

The infolence of his reply induced us not only to repeat our orders, but, on his return
to tov/n, to forbid him quitting the colony until the time of his embarkation arrived ;
in defiance of which he immediately withdrew from the I'rcfidency, and returned to
Chinfura, from whence he fent us a moll infulting letter, refledting upon the charadcr
of our Prefident, and of feveral of the members of our Board. This was accompanied
by a long addrefs to you, the abfurdity and malice of which is too evident to require
any ftridtures from us ; we fhall therefore forward it without remarks a number in the
packet. The meafures we had recourfe to on this occafion were thefe ; firft, unani-
moufly to afllire the Prefident, that we approved of the whole of his condudt, during
the courfe of his proceedings with regard to Mr. Bolts, and that we entertained the
warmeft refentment againft Mr. Bolts for prefuming upon fo libellous and uniull an
attack upon the charaftcr of our Governor J ; and next to determine on repeating our
peremptory orders to him to proceed to Europe without delay ; with which if he re-
fufes compliance, we fhall feize him by force, and fend him ]M'ifoner on one of the
fhips of this feafon. The expediency of fulfilling this refolution becomes more evident
from the intelligence which we have fince received of his informing Monfieur Gentil, a
Frenchman at the court of Sujah al Dowlah, by letter, that the Company's affairs in
Europe were in theutmoft eonfufion ; and that his aflbciate Mr. Johnftone, as he terms
him, would be appointed Governor here on the part of his majellv. An attefted copy
of this letter appears on our Confultations, and the original is now in the hands of Col.
Smith. Several other letters to different people in power at the Hindoftan courts have
been feen.

* Mr. Bolts was little more than fix years a fervant to the Company in Bengal, during which he ac-
quired a fortune of 90,0001. — Vide Confideraiiors, p. :z.
t Appendix, p. 204. No. ii^. &:c. &c, J Appendix, p. 201 and ;02,

No.

2o6 APPENDIX,

No. 117.

ExtraB of a letter from the SeleB Committee to Colonel Smith, dated Fort

IFilliam, December izd, 1767.

We very much approve of the information }'0u have fent us, regarding Mr. Bolts's
conduit in the carr) ing on a correfpondcnce with Monfieur Gentil at the court of
Sujah al Dovvlah, and have laid the fame before the Council ; whofe fentiments, as
well as ours, we with pleafure obfen^e, entirely concur with thofe you have ex-
preffed on that fubjedt. We requefl: you will ufe your endeavours with the Nabob,
to remove Mr. Bolts's Gomaftahs from his dominions.

No. iiS.

ExtraB of a letter from Getter al Stnith to Mr. Vereljl, dated Meer Abziils ,

March gth, 1768.

After the very ftrong reprefentations made bv Sujah al Dowlah to me, concerning
Armenians and other Gomaftahs, you will be furprifed when I tell you, that to one
of thofe very men whom, two months fmce, he intended to chafe from the country
by a guard of Englifh Sepovs, he has lately granted a penfion of three hundred *
rupees per month. I have heard that -f- Purfect Roy has fome communication with
J Coja Petrufe.

No. 119.

ExtraSl of a letter from Capt. Harper to Mr. Vereljl, dated Faiz-abad,

March 2Qth, 1768.

His excellency defired me to acquaint }-ou, that he efteems himfelf much obliged
for the care you are at to prevent any perfons taking on them the Englifh name to the
pirejudicc of his fervants. His excellency's reply to your letter I have jull: received,
and now inclofe. Coja Rafael, the § Armenian, was lately taken into the Nabob's
fervice, through the influence of the phyfician Meer Mufhallah,and allowed three hun-
dred * rupees per month. I fliall take particular care, to fee that his excellency's order
for fending the two Armenians away be properly enforced.

No. 120..

Extract of ditto, dated Faiz-abad, March 2qth, 176^?.

I had the honour to addrefs you on the 20th inftant, on the fubjedlofthc Arme--
nlans, and enclofing a flatement of the Nabob's military force. I am now to acquaint
you, that his excellency being informed that the two Armenians, Rafael and Eftcven,
intended, inftead of complying with his orders to go down, to remove from hence to
Ferruck-abad, applied to mc the day before yefterday for a guard to apprehend them.
1 immediately fent Sepoys, and the Armenians are now in cuftody. His excellency
has defired mc to let them remain ten days to fettle their bufinefs, and then fend them
prifoncrs to Patna, which I fhall accordingly do.

•37/. \os. t Sujah al Dowlah's Vakeel at Calcutta.

t A principal Armenian inhabitant of Calcutta, mentioned in the cafe of Parfcek Arratoon ; fee
Intr- duaion, p. 24. and brother to Coja Gregore, one of Mccr CoiTim's moft active generals, in his war
with the Englifh in th-; year 1763.

§ Qne of Mr, Bolts's agents, now in England.

No.

A P P E N D I X. 20?

No. 12 1.

Copy of a letter from Mr. Verelfl to Mr. William Bolts t dated Calcutta^ March

31/' 1768.
Sir
I have received 3'our letter of the 30th mflant, and am to acquaint you that I
know of no orders for impeding the biiiinefs of j-our Gomallahs in particular, in the
dominions of Sujah al Dowlah or Buhvant Sing. Repeated complaints have .bfien
received from thofe two princes of the oppreffive condudt of Gomaftahs taking the
Englifh name and carrying on trade in their countries. The honourable Comj)any
have been pleafed to exprefs their orders for the pofitive prohibition to their fervants p's
all trade whatever in thole provinces, and the Prclidcncy of Fort William have refolved .
to .put a ftop to it in future, by a recall of all fuch Gomaftahs. How far, or by what"
right, your Gomaftahs can be allowed to continue there after the time already allotted
you for the adjuftment of your concerns, muftbe determined by the government here.

I am your moft obedient fervant

(Signed) H. VERELST.
No. 122.

"Extract of a letter from Mr. Verelfl to Mr. William Bolts, dated Calcutta,

April gth, 1768.
Sir,
I have your letters of the 2d and 7th inftaht, and am again to repeat to you that the .
refolutions taken and the orders given for recalling the Englifti Gomaftahs in the domi-
nions of Sujah al Dowlah and Buhvant Sing, were, general, not particular ; but that as
the names of fuch perfons came to my knowledge, it became neceftary to point them
out.

No. 123.

ExtraB of Fort Willium Confultations, dated the \th May, 1768.

Colonel Smith delivers the following minute :

Colonel Smith having perufed the Proceedings of the Seletfl Committee, as well as
the Refolutions of Council, concerning Mr. Bolts, he now takes this firft opportunity of
expreffing in perfon to the Board, thofe fentiments he wrote to the Seledl Comniittee in
his letter of December i ith, 1767*. It appears from the Confultations of the 5th of
November, 1767 f, that you determined to repeat the former orders for Mr. Bolts to
proceed to England ; and, in cafe of difobedience to thofe orders and contempt of your
authority, that his perfon fhould be feized, and fent home prifoner in one ofthefhips
of laft feafon.

I have carefully examined your records, in order to difci^ver if the pofterior condudt
of Mr. Bolts had been fuch as to induce you to jioftpone your former rcfolution, but
find your refolution ftands unrevoked and unexecuted.

It appears alfo from the Proceedings of the Seleft Committee, that Mr. Bolts, ever
fince your refolution of the 5th November, has been correfponding with the country
powers; this correfpondence is wifely and exprefty prohibited to individuals by the
orders of our honourable maftersj. If you had not already entered into a refolution of
fending Mr. Bolts to Europe, moft undoubtedly I would have made fuch a motion ;
but when I read an unanimous decree of your Board lor taking fuch meafures on this

• Appendix, p. 203. No. 113. f Appendix, p. 201 and 202. t Introduction, p. 38.

occafion

208 APPENDIX.

occafion as appear abfolutely neceflary for the public fervice, I cannot but conjure
you, gentlemen, to enforce obedience to your refolutions, to fupport the dignity of
government ; for, fhould we fuffer Mr. Bolts with impunity to bid defiance to our au-
thority, the confequences are fo very obvious, that to mention them is unneceffary.
I do therefore move, That the refolution of the Board of the 5th November, 1767,
Ihall be carried into execution, and, in cafe of difobedience to your orders on the part
of Mr. Bolts, that he fliall pofitively be fent prifoner to Europe on the firft £hip which
fhali be difpatched from this Prefidency.

(Signal) RICHARD SMITH.

The Board ftlll adhere to their former refolution of fending Mr. Bolts to Eng-
land,

It is therefore Agreed and Refolved, That he fliall be fent to England by the firfl; fhlp
that is dirpatche4i-tb,i5jeafqn.

No. 124.

Copy of a letter from Mahomed Reza Ca'K>n fatiing fiiinijler to the N-ahob oj
Bengal) to Mr. Verelji ; inclofing Mr. Bolts s Proclamation, Recorded on
Fort William Co7ifultations, the i^th of Auguji, 1768-

Coja Rafael and Coja Eftevan, two Armenians, who. were under the cuftody of
Captain Harper, and fent by him to Colonel Barker, and by the Colonel delivered to
Maha Rajah Seetabroy, and by Seetabroy conducted hither to me, are now at Mur-
fhed-abad. Mr. Bolts ifuics a writing in the flyle of a public order, or proclamation,
to all ranks of people ; and affixes his feal upon the face thereof, in manner of a Fir-
maun, and fends it hither. The fenfe of it is, that whofoever fhall imprifon or mo-
lell the aforefaid Armenians, fhall be anfwerable for all his ballances and outftanding
concerns. A copy of the writing is inclofed for your perufal, and the original is de-
pofited with Mr. Sykes. I cannot comprehend what Mr. Bolts could propofe by fuch
a writing. The Armenians are both here ; confequently, what Mr. Bolts has written
is diredily levelled at the Nizam, (Nabob) and the executive officers of the govern-
ment adting under me ; and there never was an inftance yet of any one who wrote
in fuch a flyle fo the Nizam, and the officers of the government.

Copy of a Proclamation under Mr. Baltics Hand and Seal.

" Be it known and signifif.d — Whereas I have appointed Coja Rafael Ufannes
" Padry to colleft my ballances and outftanding debts, and to get together all my con-
" cerns in trade, which are now difperfcd abroad in divers places. The aforefaid per-
" fon will colledt in the ballances from the fevcral Affammies, according to juftice
" and equity, and will alfo get together and bring away all fuch concerns in trade
" as are there outflanding on my account. Whoever, therefore, fliall, without caufe
" or pretence, impede and hinder this bufinefs, or any way moleil: the aforefaid per-
" fon, he fhall become refponfible for my ballances and outitanding concerns, and I
" will take due account of my affairs from him. I have written this by way of de-
** claration."

(Signed) WILLIAM BOLTS. (L. S.)

No.

APPENDIX, 209

No. 125.
ExtraSi of Fort William Confidtatiom, dated Aiigiijl zStli, 1765.

The Prefidcnt acquainted the Board, as a iarthcr proof of the niifcondudt of Mr.
I'.ults, that Mr. Babcr, when fub-fecrctary, had rc]iorted to him that Mr. Bolts, in-
ilead of duly executing the covenants fent out bv the Company, ])rohibiting any of
their fervants receiving prefcnts, did elude their orders, and, inltead of executing
them himfelf, employed a writer to fign his name for him, who was alfo one of the
fubfcribing witnclles to the deed.

The Board calling upon Mr. Babcr to give his information in this point, he ac-
quainted them as follows : — When I was fub-fecretary, Mr. Bolts came to me at the
fccretary's office in the council houfe, and after telling me he had fomething of im-
portance to fay to me, he took me afide, and afked me, " if I could let him fee his
■*' covenants fent out by the Compan\', prohibiting their fervants accepting prefents ;
*' to which I replied I could." He then defired me to go into a room where there
were not any gentlemen writing ; I took him into the council room, and after fliew-
ing him his covenants, he requefted me, in the moit earneft manner, " to execute them
" afre/Jo;" alledging, as a reafon for making this requeft, " that the figning was not
*' his own but his writer's ; and this circumftance v,as known to Mr. Sage, who he
*' was apprehenfive would make it public." I told him, " it was not in my power
" to grant him fuch a requeft," and peremptorily refufed him ; after this denial he
then requefted, " / zccuid keep this matter a profound fecret ■" I told him, " as long
*' as I could do it confiftently with my duty to my emploj'crs I would ; but if it
*' Ihould ever be of confequence to difclofe this matter I muft look upon this pro-
*' mife to be void."

No. 126.

"ExtraB of Fort William Confidtations, dated September ^th, 176 s.

Mr. Baber delivered in his information upon oath as follows :

That in or about the month of September, which was in the }'car of our Lord
1766, he, the faid Edward Babcr, being then fub-fecretary to the laid United Com-
pany's Prefident and Council at Fort William, in Bengal aforefiid, William Bolts of
Calcutta, at Fort William in Bengal aforelaid, came to him the faid Edward Baber
at the fecretary's office in the Council-houfe at Calcutta aforefiiid, and then and there
told him the faid Edward Baber, that he the faid William Bolts had fomething of
mi[3ortance to fay to him the faid Edward Baber, and then the faid William Bolts
took the faid Edward Baber afide, and aiked, if he could let him, the faid William
Bolts, fee his covenants, meaning the deed of covenants made, or mentioned to be
made, between him the fiid William Bolts of the one part, and the faid United Com-
pany of merchants of England trading to the Eaft Indies, of the other part, and
bearing date on or about the 9th day of Mav, which was in the year of our Lord
1765, and which was fent out from England by the faid United Company, in order
to prohibit their fervants ft'om accepting of prefents from any of the Nabobs or other
princes in India, &c. to which the faid Edward Baber anfwered he could ; whereupon,
the faid William Bolts, defired him the faid Edward Baber, to go with him the faid
William Bolts, into a room where there v\'ere not any gentlemen writing, upon
which he, the faid Edward Baber, went with the faid William Bolts into the Council-
room, and then and there flicwed him the faid William Bolts, the faid deed of cove-
nants ; whereupon, the faid William Bolts reqtiefted him the faid Edward Eaber,

D d ia

no ,A P P E N D I X.

in the moft earneft manner, to permit him the faid William Bolts, to execute that
deed afrefli, or over again, and to allow him the faid William Bolts, to take the faid
deed home with him for that purpofe, meaning to his the faid William Bolts's own
houfe, wherein he then lived, at Calcutta aforcfaid, allcdging, the rcafon for making
that requefl:, that the Jtgriiug was not his own, but his writer^ s', meaning, that the name
of him the faid William Bolts, as it then appeared to be figned and wrote, or fet and
fubfcribed to the faid deed, zvas not of his the faid TFiUiam Bolls''s oivn proper hand
writing, but that the fame was figned and wrote, or fet and fubfcribed, by his the faid
William Bolts's writer -, end that the drcumfiance, cr faB, was knozvn by Mr. Sage,
meaning one Ifaac Sage, who was then in the fervicc of the faid United Company,
who the faid William Bolts faid he was apprehen/ive wcnlJ make it public, and turn it to
the prejudice of him the faid William Bolts, or expreffed himfclf in words to that or the
like purport or cfFedt ; whereupon, the faid Edward Babcr then told him the faid
William Bolts, that it was not in the power of him the faid Edward Baber, to grant
or comply with the beforementioned requeft of the faid William Bolts ; upon which,,
the faid William Bolts made ufe of feveral arguments, in order to induce and pre-
vail upon him the faid Edward Baber to grant or comply with the laid William
Bolts' beforementioned requeft, amongft other things infinuating, that it might be done
without ever co'iiiing to the /knowledge of the Prefident, or any of the Council at Fort Wil-
liam in Bengal aforefaid ; whereupon the faid Edward Baber, in order to free him-
felf from any farther importunities of him the faid William Bolts, then told the faid
William Bolts, that he the faid Edward Baber was of a different opinion, and alfo that
he thought it inconfiftcnt with his dutv ; but in cafe he the faid William Bolts had a
mind, they would go and confult Mr. Campbell upon it, meaning one Alexander
Campbell, then in Calcutta aforefaid, in the fervice of the faid United Company,
and who was a particular friend and acquaintance of him the faid William Bolts ; but
he the faid William Bolts then rejcfted that offer or propofal, and begged that the
faid Alexander Campbell might not be made acquainted with the before mentioned
affair or tranfaftion, whereupon the faid Edward Baber peremptorily refufed to per~
mit the faid William Bolts to execute the laid deed afrcfh, or over again, or to allow
him to carry the fame home with him to his the faid W^illiam Bolts' own houfe for
that purpofe ; and thereupon the faid William Bolts moll importunately folicited him
the faid Edward Baber to keep the before mentioned matter or tranfa5lion a profound fecret,
upon v/hich the faid Edward Baber then and there told the faid William Bolts, that
fo long as he could keep it a fecret coiififtently with his duty to his cmjiloyers, mean-
ing the faid United Company and their Prefident and Council at Fort William afore-
faid, he would, but if it fhould be of confcqucnce to difcover that matter or tranf-
adlion, the faid Edward Baber would look upon that promife to be void, and incon-
fiftent with his duty to his before mentioned employers.

No. 127.

Copy of a Paper affixed to the door of the Council houfe at Calcutta, between
the ^fh and the igth September, 1768.

To the Ptblic.

Mr. Bolts takes this method of informing the ptiblic, that the want of a printing
prcfs in this city being of great difadvantage in bufincfs, and making it extremely
UilFjcult to communicate fuch intelligence to the community as is of the utmolt im-
portance

APPENDIX. itt

portance to every Britlfh fubjcdl, he is ready to give the beft encouragement to an}-
perfon or perfons who are verled in the bulincfs of printing, and will undertake to
manage a prefs, the types and utenfils of which he can produce.

In the mean time he begs leave to inform the public that, having in manufcript
many things to communicate, which molt intimately concern every individual, any
perfon, who may be induced by curiofit)-, or other more laudable motives, will be
permitted, at Mr. Bolts' houfc, to read or take copies of the fame ; a perfon will give
due attendance at the houfe from ten to twelve every morning.

No. 128.

"ExtraSl of Fort 7ViHia??i Confultations, dated September iT^tli, 1768.

The Board came to the following refolution :

Mr. William Bolts having obftinately refuted complying with our frequent and
repeated orders to return to England ; having perfifted to infult our authority and
government, and to fubvert the principles of fubordination ; having aggravated every
circumftiuice of his conduft, which is ftrongiv pointed out and reprefented in our
Confultations of 5th November, 1767, and which then made us deem it neceflary,
for the fupport ot our authority, and for the prefervation of the peace, order, and
tranquility of this fettlement, and throughout the honourable Company's pofleffions
in Bengal, to refolve on feizing his perfon, and forcibly fending him home, it became
more particularly incumbent on the Board to enforce thefe orders ; —

And it is accordingly Agreed and Refolved, to fend Mr. Bolts home a prifoner on
board the Valentine, if he rcfufes to comply with our orders ; and Captain Purvis
having exprelfed to the Prefident fome doubts how far he may be made refponfiblc
for the execution of fuch a meafure, Mr. Bolts having already ferved Captain Purvis
with a proteft againft taking him on board the Valentine, the Board, in order to re-
move every apprehenfion which Captain Purvis feems to entertain of the confequence
of detaining him, do farther Agree, as the agents and reprefentatives of the Com-
pany, to give Captain Purvis an indemnification for his fatisfadlion, and from that
coniideration only, as they are well convinced of the legality of fuch a meafure, that
it will meet with the approbation of the honourable the Court of Direftors, as well
as thofe fimilar meafures which were taken in the }'ear 1766, with regard to the of-
ficers who rcligned and were fcnt home.

No. 129.

Captain Robert Coxe's Report to the Board, in rcfpeB to his taking charge of

Mr. Bolts.

Calcutta, Sept. 23d, 176S.

That finding the doors open he went up flairs, and found Mr. Bolts alone, and
Ihewing him the Board's order Mr. Bolts faid he would not leave his houfe unlcfs
Captain Coxe made him a prifoner and forced him ; the Captain telling him he
was glad to find him lb well prepared to leave the place, he laid he had expedted
he fhould be forced awa)', and had been very bufy in getting himfelf in readineis.
After this Captain Coxe thinking he made a very unnecelTary delay, and fearing
he intended to procure himfelf to be arrefted for debt, defired him to make dif-
patch, upon which he again faid he would not go unlefs Captain Coxe forced him.
Whereupon the Captain called two Sepoys, who put their hands on his fhoulder
by his own defire, faying, he would not go if they did not take hold of him ; he

D d 2 then

212 APPENDIX.

then came down flairs, defiring feme gentlemen prefent to take notice that he was
forced out of his houfc. Captain Coxe adds, that Mr. Bolts was, in every rcfped:
prepared for this order, having his books and papers in great form, which he de-
livered to his attornies, telling them, that every thing was fo plain they could not
miftake, obferving that plain diredtions were given as to fuch debts as they were

to get in.

No. 130.

ExtraB of an additional Letter from the Prejident and Council at Fort William,
in Bengal, to the Court of DireSlors, dated September i^tli, 1768, and fent
by the Valentine.

We beg leave to add a circumftance relative to Mr. Bolts, that has happened
fince doling our difpatches. We informed you in our letter, we had directed him
to be fent by force to England, if he refufed to comply with our orders; we ima-
gined he did refufe to comply with them, and Captain Robert Coxe was ordered to
feize him with a guard, and carry him on board the Cuddalorc fchooner, which
was prepared to receive him and his neceflaries, but was particularly cautioned
that, in performing this fervice, he fhould force no doors, locks, or windows, and
ufe as little violence as the nature of the cafe would admit. Mr. Bolts has been
accordingly condudled on board the Cuddalore fchooner, and is now proceeding to
be embarked on board the Valentine, in order to be fent to England ; and we muft
beg leave to obferve to you, gentlemen, that it appears, from the whole tenor
of his condudt, that his aim has been to reduce us to the neceffity of taking this
meafure ; he had prepared himfelf for the voyage ; and he had, we are informed,
all his papers and every thing neceffary readv, in order to embark, when he was
feized by Captain Coxe.

On the REVENUES.

No. 131.

To the Right Honourable Lord Clive, Prefcdent and Governor, &c. Gentlemen of

the SeleSi Committee.

My Lord and Gentlemen, Calcutta, Sept. 13H1, 1765.

In confequence of your appointment of me to the Supra-viforlhip of the Burdwan
nffairs, I immediately applied myfelf to the examination of the accounts of the reve-
nues of that country, as far a-s they had been tranfmittcd to the Board, from the Com-
pany's firfl taking poffeffion of that jMOvincc. The following is a fummary ftatcmcnt
thereof, fpeclfying each year's demands and payments.

Dr. Burdwan Revenues, 1761. Cr.

Rupees. Rupees.

To balance of 1760 - 51 1000 : o : o Total receipts ... 3304881 : 12 : 6
Malguzarry 1761 - 3250000 ; o : o Balance due - - - - 456118 : '^ ■■ 6

37<jiooo : o : o 3761000 ; o ;. o

Dr.

APPENDIX. 213

Dr» Burdwan Revenues, 1762. Cr.

Rupees. Rupcfs.

Malguzarry 1762 - 3400000 : o : o Total receipts - - - 3521635 : 8 : o
An overplus - - - 121635 : 8 : o

3521635 : 8 : o

Dr. Burdwan Revenues, 1763. , Cr.

Malguzarry 1763 - - 34.00000.: o : o Total receipts - - - 3344200 : o : ®

Ballance due - - - - 55800 : o : o

340C000 : o : o

Dr, Burdwan Revenues, 1764. Cr.

Malguzarry 1764 - - 32000QO : o : o Total receipts - - - 3149737 : 4 : 3

Ballance dvic - - - - 50262:11 : 9

320G000 : o : o
Dr. The Burdwan Rajah Account Ballances. Cr.

To amount ballance 1761 456118 : 3 : <5 An overplus 1762 - - 121635 : 8 : o

1763 55800 : o : o Ballance ----- 440545 17:3

1764 50262:11 : 9 ■

562180:15:3

Which will be accounted for as follows 440545 = 7 • 3

Dedud: Mudge-kiraut tor the year 1761, allowed to the Conguy's
and other officers, negledcd to be ftruck off the Malguzarry in the
above ftatement of that year - - - - — - - - - - - 51103:6:0

389442 : I : 3
Dedudl Poolbundy advanced for repairs of dykes,

roads, &c. to be paid by them - - - - - - 41000 : o : o

Difference of Batta on monies remitted, which the
Rajah accufes the Podars of the Calcutta treafury ot
not having brought to account, and which he engages
to prove, if not, he is to pay the fame - - - - 45426: 10:0

. 86426: 10 : o

303015 : 7 : 3
Dedu£tcafh paid into the treafury from June 30th to July 6th - - 162752 : o : o

Rupees, 140263 : 7 : 3

By the above ftatem.ent you will obferve, that, at the clofe of the fourth \-ear, there
was immediately due from the Rajah rupees 303015:7:3, which I demanded of him,
infifting on the full payment of it before we came to any fettlement for the prefent year.
He made many obje(3:ions to a compliance, particularly remarking, that, as he had

been

2H A P P E N D I X,

been divf fted of all power and influence in the coUedVions, he thought it unjuft to be ob-
liged to anfwer for any loffes and deficiencies in the revenues which have arofe from the
bad conduct of thofe who had the management. However, as I perfilled in his comph'ing
with the Malguzarry he had agreed for, he at length confented, and paid into the treafury
the fum of rupees 162,752 in part of his ballancc, and executed an obligation to pay the
remainder rupees 140,363 : 7 : 3 in two months, which I accepted, and dcfired him to
proceed to Burdwan, and that I fliould, in confequence of my appointment, imme-
tliately follow him. The fum of rupees 41,000, lent by the Company, under the head
of Poolbundy, to the tenants, for the neceffary repairs of dykes, roads, Sec. is ftill out-
ftanuing, and, when due, will be coUefted and brought to the Company's credit. In
the fettling the accounts there appears a deficiency of rupees 45,426: 10, which the Ra-
jah complains of as owing to the roguery of thofe people in Calcutta appointed to llirofl'
and receive themonej-, and which 1 cannot think him any ways anfwerable for, as it is
evident the whole was difpatched from Burdwan. The Rajah has lince paid part of the
bond he gave for rupees 140,263 -l -3, and I make no doubt but he will fhortly dif-
charge the whole.

, ' On my arrival at Burdwan, and infpefting the ftateof the revenues and collections
for the preceding as well as the prefent year, I was furprifed to find a large decreafe of
the revenues from the firil of our taking poll'effion. The rents of the province, accord-
ing to the Jummabundy, or rent-roll, of 1168, or 1761, amounted to rupees
3,724,174 : 10: 8, which by the * outcry of 1169, were encreafed rupees 529,034: 1:11,
alfo bv Chaukeran Balguzarry affairs (or lands allotted for fervants, refumed thisyear)
rupees 103,825, making in all rupees 4,357,354:0: 7, out of which rupees 3,785 : 4:4
were dedutled for the Rajah's Nuncar in one of the Purgunnahs, the fum therefore due
was rupees 4,353,548:12:3, of which were colled:ed from the farmers rupees
3,460,985:1:8. For the year 1170, or 1763, the fame Jummabundy and with fome
fmall articles of encreafe, came to rupees 4,48 1,03'): 10: i j, of which were collefted
rupees 3,71 9,464 : 9 : 4. The very great bjllances of thefe two years, amounting to 111-
pees 1,654,134: 12:6, made the honourable Board fenfible of the impoffibility of the
then farmers complying with their agreements, and that the lands could not be made to
])roduce any thing equal to the valuation in confequence of the * outcry in 1 1 69 ; they
therefore iflued an ortler, whereby thofe who chofe it might rclinquifli or keep their farms
on making good their ballances out of their private fortunes, and that fuch as were not
able fliould have their farms taken from them, and their goods fold to do it. Many
were glad to take advantage of the firfl order, altho' certain ruin attended it; and many
more were obliged to fubmit to the latter, by which lands to the amount of rupees
2,6 1 5,434 : 4 : 4 became Cofs. The difad vantages of collecting in that manner were fo
evident, that it was refolvcd to endeavour to farm them out again for the third year on the
belt terms that could be procured. The examples, however, of the two former years
were fuflicient to prevent men of fubftance and credit from offering themfelves ; fo
that only to the amount of rupees 580,429^: 4: o was taken at a confiderable difcount
from the former J'umma or valuation, although the moft profitable were feledtcd out
of the whole by the Muttafeddecs, who were well acquainted with what they would
produce. The reft, amounting to rupees 2,035,034:4:0, flill continued Cofs, and
Shcikdars, or collectors were appointed to them, people in every rcfpeft as unworthy
and infan^ous in their characters as the purcliafers of the year 1 169, who had been jufl
difmifled, hv which the expenccs in collecting were very confiderably encreafed.
The Jummabundy of 11 71, including an encreafe thisyear of rupees 3,013:9:16,
amounted to rupees 4,484,049:4: 1 1 outof whichis tobededuCted rupees 12,744:4: i3
for lofl'es fuftaincd by hail, &c. fo that rupees 4,471,304: 15: 13 remained due; of
this fum was only collected rupees 3>5i2,39:33:o, fo that there appears to be a ballance

for
• Public f?.Ie.

APPENDIX. 215

for the firft year of rupees 892,563 : 10 : 1 5; for the fecond, rupees 761,571 : i : 1 1 ; and
for the third, rupees 958,911 : 12: 13, makmg together, for the three years for which
the lands were fold at outcry, a deficiency in the eftimation made from the falcs of
1169 of rupees 2,613,046:8: 19. Out of the ballance of the third year, the fum of
rupees 554,124: 6: 14 arifes from the Cofs-lands onl\', a fum much larger than the
amount-advances bid at the outcry, not a rupee of which can ever be recovered, as the
revenues of thefe lands are collefted by fervants appointed for that purpofe, whofe duty
it was to pay into the treafury — only what they receive from the tenants, on fettling
whofe accounts no farther demand could be made upon them. P'rom the above ac-
count you will obfervc how very fliort of what was cftimated in 1 169 the real produce of
the province has been, and how little profpeft there was of its mending ; nor do I
think it can be otherwife whilft the fame plan of an outcry is purfucd. The being
put into immediate poireflion of lands, of which the purchafcr is to have the folc col-
leftion, independent of the Rajah and his officers, or the chief and Council, on his
agreeing to pay into the Cutehcrry a certain fum, is a fuflicicnt inducement for men of
defperate fortunes, fuch as have no method of livelihood, and who, by their mal-prac-
tices in other parts, were Incapable of getting employment, to come and offer them-
felves as purchafers, thereby fecuring an immediate fubfifi:ence, and hoping by their
oppreffion to get fome profit, even Ihould they buy in the lots too dear to obtain any
thing by them in a fair way ; and as the fale was public, no bidder could there be
confiftently objected to. With thefe views, they cared not what they bid ; and
while the old farmers, who had poircffion, perhaps, from father to fon for many
years paft, continued to rife in their offers, and probably exceeded the real value
of the lands, rather than be turned out of what they efleemed their elktes and
habitations, and infulted by new comers ; thefe lafl always thought they could
afford fomething more : thus the greatcft part of the province fell into the hands
of a fet of rapacious wretches, who revelled in the produce of the lands which
ought to have been paid into the Cutcherry ; the confequenee of which was, that, at
the clofe of the year i 170, a moft enormous ballance was Incurred, as has been above
remarked, and the Ryots, who had been opprefled by the head farmers, and many
ruined, were obliged to defert their lands which then became uncultivated. The fub-
ftantial farmers, who, rather than quit their habitations, had purchafed at the
outcry, at an exorbitant rate, were obliged to relinquilli their farms on making good
the ballances out of their private fortunes, by which many were ruined, whilft all the
fatisfadlion that could be obtained from the others, was to turn them out, without hopes
of ever recovering any thing from them.

It Is a circumftance that muft appear evident to every one who reflefts on the na-
ture of this fcheme, how prejudicial it will ultimately prove to the country. If the
leafes are granted for fo fliort a time, it only ferves as aii incitement to ill-dlf-
pofed people to take them ; having no concern In the future fuccefs and wel-
fare of the country, they pay no regard to any thing but the enriching them-
felves at the expence and to the detriment of the Induflrious Ryot, by which the
lands foon become neglcdled and uncultivated. It is a known cuftom here for
the farmers, who are defirous of encreafing the number of their tenants, and pro-
moting the good of their country, to affill: them from time to time with money to-
wards purchafing the necefTary implements for cultivation, as well as to fupport their
families till the produce of their lands enable them to fupport themfelves, and which
I have never known repaid in lefs than three years. It is nor, therefore, to be ex-
pected that people in the above clrcumftances fhould attempt Improvements at a cer-
tain lofs ; on the contrary, when the lands are difpoied of at a moderate rent, to fub-
ftantial and creditable people, to be held In perpetuity. It becomes their own interefl:;,
equally with that of the goverruaient, to eacourage the cultivation.

2i<5 APPENDIX.

After the heavy lofles and real detriment the firil outcry had proved of to the
whole province, I was greatly furprifed to find, on my arrival there, that it had been
again expofed to public lale ; however, purchafers had only been found for about
2 2 lacks of rupees, fo great was the prejudice taken at the former fale, and the whole
of that very confiderably under the Junima-bundy of 1169, excepting the farms
lately held by Meflrs. Johnftone, Hay, and Bolts, on which a great advance was bid * ;
the reft of the province, for which there were no bidders, became Cofs ; the flatement
of the re\xnues of thefe lands is as follows :

Chriftiaii JEra,

Bengal

JEn.

Rupees. Annns. Pice

1760,

or 1167

1,014,242 : I : 4-

I761,

- 1168

J, 166,910 : 3 : 10

1762,

- 1169

1,272,854 : : 15

1763'

1170

1,272,854 : : 15

1764,

- 1171

912,237 : I : 5

By which you will obfcrve the great difference in the jumma, or valviation of them,
between 1169, and 1 171, tlie firft and the lall years of the outcry, befides the almoft cer-
tainty, from the diftrefs the lands were left in, of their decreafing as much again in their
value, if continued to be colled:ed in this manner, and attended with a very confiderablc
addition of expence in fervants, -Sec. that mufl: be employed in that fervice. Such a
profpeft of inevitable ruin I thought required fome immediate ftep to be taken. Nothing
appearing fo effectual as what I mentioned above, I endeavoured to engage men of
fubftance and charafter to take the charge of them, with a promife, that if they
exerted themfelves in the improvement, they fhould never be difpoffefled, but meet
with all due encouragement and favour from the Company. In confequence of this
many offered, and confidering how far the feafon was advanced, I thought no time
fliould be loft in putting them into immediate poflcffion ; and notvvithllanding tiie
bell part of the time for cultivation is elapfed, they have agreed to pay, within very
little, what they yielded laft year; the next year they give an encreafe, the third a
laro-er, and the fourth they will fully pay what they produced in 1167 ; after which,
Ihould it be found ncccffary to lay any general encreafe or tax upon the province, thefc
people will fubjedt themfelves thereto equally with others.

I make no doubt but the Company will receive this year from thirty-two to thirtv-
three lacks, which is as much as they have hitherto got upon a medium. The Rajah
has already offered tliirty-two for his Malguzarry ; but as on a farther fcrutiny into
the feveral branches of the bufinefs, and diminilliing the feveral very heavy charges
at prcfent upon the province, I may fomewhat encreafe it, I have hitherto deferred
coming to any agreement with him ; lince, if I did, whatever fliould arife, would of
courfe go to him. I have already reprefented to liim the great and unneceilary charge
of his troops, the monthly pay of which is rupees 22,000; the more fo as the Com-
j^anv keep there a battalion of Sepoys for the fervice of the province. He has ft ruck off
7000 rupees ]x;r month, and I am in great hopes I fliall be able to lelfen this -charge
inn more.

The Bazce Zcmecn, or charity lands, are ftid to amount to between four and
five lacks of Bcgas, great part of thefe it has been thought (and I believe with
reafon) to be mifapplied ; the Board has repeatedly ordered a fcrutiny to be made into
the Sunnuds and claims, but I do not find it has ever yet been properly fettled, and
^ tax was to have been laid on fiich as, on examination, fhould be tound to be in
the poflcffion of people no ways entitled thereto; laft year the revenues fell fo very

• For the Court of Dircflors fentiments hereon, See extrail of their letter to the Seleft Committee
inJBcncal. — /ippendix, p. 137, jiarajraph 17.

fliorc

N D I X.

217

■fiion, and fonie expedient being thought neceflary to raife more money, if poffiblc,
TO complete the Company's Malguzany, Mr. Johnllone taxed the whole of this land
at 9 Annas, per Bega, without regard to what was really applied to the purpofes it was
intended for, except fome which Mr. Marriott had cleared during his ihort flay at
Burdwan : as thefe lands have ever been held facred and free from any impofition, I
mull: think fo general an order would not have met with the fandion of the Board,
had the cafe b-:cn properly ftated to them ; but there appears to me to have been an
abfolute neccfficy for fome extraordinary meafure, fince the revenues of the country
could not fuppl)' the Malguzarry, although at the fame time the Board agreed to re-
ceive two lacks Icfs than the Rajah had before fettled ; for the confequence of this has
been, that many of thefe lands have been left uncultivated, until very lately, on my
affurances that fuch as can prove their claims fhall have their lands given up for the
future ; as many of thefe lands have become the property of people whofe want of
merit and qualifications to entitle them to fuch an indulgence, fcrve but to make it a
nurfery of indolence; and as the right of reverfion is veiled in the Rajah, I repre-
fented it to him, and have obtained in behalf of the Company the reverfion of what
Ihall fall to him by death, until it amounts to one half of the whole, as a fund for
the ufe and fupport of fuch invalided Sepoys and others, as have or may fuffer in our
fervice : the better to fecure this, as foon as poffible, a regular regiiier of them is
making.

On examining into the circumflances of the principal farmers of the province, I
found that the mod confiderable part of the lands was farmed bv Muttafeddees, and
thofe the mod profitable feledted out by them ; it is through thefe people we are to
acquire a knowledge into the ftate of the country, the revenues and cuftoms in col-
ledling ; and while they, by being fuch extenfive farmers, have fo large an intereft,
they do their utmoft not only to keep us ignorant but alfo to deceive us in points of
the greatell confequence ; befides which, being themfelves capable, and no doubt
guilty of great frauds in their accounts, they are under the neceffity of conniving at
the fame in others, to prevent a detediion in themfelves. They are very fenfible how
thefe arguments may be ufed againll: them, and are the more cautious of letting it be
known what lands they have ; thev, therefore, have a cuftom of making feveral Go-
maftahs to take them, giving different people in their families for fecurities ; this is not
only the cuftom of the heads, but is followed by every petty Mohooree in each office ;
exclufive of which, the infamous praftices ufed by them to obtain the lands at the
outcry at an under rate, are moft notorious. I would therefore recommend, thct fuch
Muttafeddees as hold a large quantity of lands, ihould be obliged to quit them, or
their offices, and that nobody holding any pofl; be permitted to farm, except it be a
very fmall quantity for the conveniency of their houfe and family ; I would, however,
defer it till the beginning of next year, as the heavy colledlions are now coming on,
and their quitting their farms immediately might be verv prejudicial.

The obtaining a true knowledge of the revenues, and juft valuation of the country,
has ever been ftrenuoufly recommended by the Company, but we have been very far
from acquiring it. It was Mr. Johnftone's opinion, as lias been before remarked,
that the befl: method was to expofe the province to a public fale, and that the amount
that fhould be bid, would fix its utmoft value ; however, exclufive of the manv dif-
advantages of this plan juft explained, and which we have learnt from experience,
there remains another very material objecftion, and which is the caufe of the Mutta-
feddees recommending it, viz. that it leads to no difcovery of what they have hitherto
concealed, as (fuppofing the juftnefs of Mr. Johnftone's argument) it can only fix the
value of thofe lands we are at prefent acquainted with; whereas, I believe, nobody doubts
but by finding out the quantity of lands which really exift, the revenues coming into

E e the

2i8 APPENDIX.

the Sircar would be greatly encreafed, I mean exclufive of what might be diicovercd
in the Bazee Zemeen, which itfclf mult be very confiderablc. The great quantity of
lands in poireflion of the different Mutrafeddees, have been fclcdted out of the whole
province as the moll: profitable, containing more cultivated ground, and protlucing a
greater profit than is by molt people imagined ; thefe they ever kept amongit them-
felves, to prevent their real value being known. I would tlierefore recommend, that
an account fhould be made of every Purgunnah, and every village,, haut, he. in it,
its Jumma, and the exa^t meafurement of its lands, and as much of this lalt as pol-
fible to be executed by furveyors appointed bv vou ; the Muttafeddecs have ever op-
poled this, and reprefented it as Impratllcable, becaufe they are lenfible it mult tend
to their difgrace, and the diminiHiing their advantages ; but which, I am convinced^-
rnay be overcome, notwithllanding every obltacle from them is to be expedfed : it
will be the moreeafv too when luch as chufe to hold their offices are divelted of their
Lmds, and the reft only farmers without the influence of office. The above objections
which they have raiil-d make it the more dclirable, fincc it is known they have their
intereft in avoiding it.

On my arrival at Burdwan I found the Rajah, as he had before allured me, quite
vinacquninted with the tranfadiions and affairs of his countr\', and without the refpeil
due to his office: his incapacity, and the nccellitv of our fuperior influence and-
power, may be urged as a realbn for it; but I think it will be better policy to have
him fully acquainted with his affairs, and that a proper refpe<ft Ihould be paid him as
■Rajah ; nor v/ould I have him under fuch an influence, as not to be able to make his
complaints to Calcutta in any cafe where he may think himfelf aggrieved, as I am
'informed happened in Mr. Johnltone's time, when, after having miule his efcape pri-
vately out of the province, he was obliged to return witliout being allowed a hear-
■ ing ; and his officers, who were bringing the papers, which were proofs of his griev-
ances, were llizcd juft entering Calcutta, by fome of the factory Sepoys, and alfo
carried back. At the fame time I would not quit the leaft jot of our power in the
country. Nothing on his part can be done without our mutual confent ; and I find
him both willing and ready to concur in every thing I propofe. By fu])porting him
on this footing we may with greater propriety make him accountable for any defi-
ciency in the jia} ment of the revenues than we could before. Although I have
made him accountable for every rujiee of the ballances of former years, \-et I mufl:
fay his complaints in Calcutta, of the hardfliip done him in obliging him to pay
them, have been founded on too much realbn. He cannot now plead the fame ;
the Company will have a double fccurit}', the revenue itfelf, as the colledtions will
ftill contiiTue to pafs through our hands, and the Rajah, in cafe of deficiency fron>
the roguery of his peojile, emplo)'ed.

I have been taking an account of the ballances of former years' rents due to the
Rajah, which are very confidcrable. I Ihall colleft as much of them as I can v.ith-
out opprcfling the people, or any ways injuring the colkftions of this year, and re-
commend this as a fund for pacing off his dibts, which are very large. Many of
his creditors have the whole of their fortunes in his hands ; but amongll the firlt to
be confidered, I would recommend Juggut Sect, and one Gurdy Loll : the former, for
his attachment to the Engliffi, and the fufferings of his family on our account, I
think deferves our attention, and that we fliould take this opportunity of manifelting
our regard for them ; the latter, on our firlt taking poireflion, as I have been in-
formed, voluntarily lent the Rajah one lack of rupees -j-, which v/as paid into our
treafury at a tinic when, owing to the troubles in the country, the Rajah found
great difficulty in collecting in his revenues ; and although he was promilcd to be very
Ihortly refunded, he has to this day received nothing.

The
+ 12,500/.

APPENDIX'.' 2tc>

The raw filk of this province being of a belter quality than that of Cofllmbjy.arj
and the Company's demands for this article grtaier than before, I am giving every
■encouragement to encreafe the produce of it. By letting the mulberry plantations at
a lefs rent than in other countries, it will induce a number to employ their lands lor
ihis purpofe, and largely encreafe our revenues ; for a fpot of land with mulberry
trees, and another widi padd)', and the ground of both equal in goodnefs, the former
will yield a rent from eight to twenty rupees, wlien the latter will not )^leld _ two ru-
pees. The encreafe of^p.ianfity will I ho}:ie dccreafc the price, when this article
may be purchafed for the Company at a reafonable rate.

From the vicinity of the Burdwan province to the Prefidcnc}', I cannot think the
appointment of a faftoiy any ways neccflary. One perfon to refide on tlie fj)ot,
who will, in conjundlion with the Rajah and his officers, fign ;ill papers, and ilfue
all orders, which regard the colleftions, is fully fufficienr, and which is at prelcnt the
duty of the council in rotation. A fupra-vifor may, as he fees oecaficn, go there to
fettle and regulate any matters that may occur, or fend his directions from hence. If
it is urged that thefe gentlemen prelidc over the feveral courts of juftice, and thereby
relieve die poor, I muft remark, that in fo very large a dilb-icf as this province, it is im-
poflible to have the greateft part of the complaints brought to Bilrdwan. It is therefore
culfomary to ilfue dircdions to the Sheikdars, &c. in the Purgunnahs at the head of
the petition, ordering them to encjuire into it. Befides which, as the gentlemen are
obliged to inform themfelves through the fervants and Banyans appointed to each
office, I do not think it fo neceflary to have that number, as one might equally well
attend to caufes of any confecpience. I am the more inclined to recommend this
change, as it would be a means of lefi'cning very confiderably the expences of the
fadtory. Whatever lliall be recovered this way, inllead of reverting to the Rajah,
maybe added to the Company's Malguzarry. Should your lordfliip, 8;c. think it
ncceffary to purfue this mcafure, I beg leave to offer to 3'Our confideration the fixing
the neceflary appointments on this occafion, both to the fupra-vifor and the affiflant.

I have the honour to be, he.

H. VERELST.
No. 132.

Courts eftabliflied in the province of Burdwan for the admini-
ftration of juftice, and coUedion of the revenue.

'T/ie like dminijirat'ion prevmh nearly in all the prcvinces of Bengal.

■Sudder Cutcherry,

In this court are received all the land-rents and revenues of the province, all ac-
counts relative to them adjufted, all purchales and fales of lands and property con-
firmed, all difierenccs between landlord and tenant heard and determined, and from
hence all orders refpefting the rents and revenues are iffued.

Biixey Diiftore.

This court fuperintcnds the conduft of all the forces, guards, and other perfons
employed for the proteftion of the province in general, the prevention of thefts and
difturbances of the peace of the inhabitants; and all orders refpefting luch perfons
are iflued from this office : at the fame time it provides for their pay and fubfillence.

E e 3 ^oaz-

220 APPENDIX.

Fcuzdarry.

The jurifdlftion of this court is wholly confined to criminal matters, antl the
judgment of capital offences.

Burrah Adalat

Is a court of meuin and tuum for all demands above 50 rupees, and does not in--
terfere in any claims under the amount of that fum.

Amun Duftore

Is in a great meafure a court fubordinate to the Sudder Cutcherry, as all complaints
are firft made to the former, and referred from thence for trial to the latter. They
relate entirely to the bufmefs of the revenue, and the conduift of thofe employed iii:
the colleftions.

Chcotah Adelal

Takes cognizance of all fuits for debts not exceeding the fum of 50 rupees.

Bazee Zemeen Duftore.

Is a court for fettling all differences relative to charity lands, and other public
fupports. Each perfon's property in claims of this kind are afcertained, and from
hence all orders refpeding them are iffued.

Baz:e Jumma Duficre.

This court takes cognizance of adulteries, abortions, and other crimes, that more
Immediately concern the peace and happlnefs of private families, grants for lands,
and public works for the accommodation of travellers, fuch as Tanks, or ponds of
water. Serais, or refling places. Sec. are iflucd from this court.

Karidge Duftore.

The landholders accounts, when fettled, are fent to this court for payment j and in
fuch cafes where the debtor is incapable of paying the amount, a power Is lodged in-
this court to compromife the debt.

* * * *

ALL the proceedings of thefe COURTS, and evidence given (except in matters of
a trifling nature) are recorded ; and no orders of thefe courts In Burdwan can be
executed, until approved and iigned by the Rajah, or fupreme governor of the pro-
vince, and by the Engllfh refident on the part of the Company as Dcwan. This lalt
regulation was found neceflary to reprefs the extreme corruption which before pre-
vailed. It muft be confeflcd that this power is very great, although an improper uft
of it is in fome meafure prevented by the checks inrerpofed. That the prefent fyf-
tem of government is an improvement, may be feen from the flourifhing ftate of the
province, and from the condition of the Company's revenues.

An appeal agalnfl: the conduct of the refident may at all times be made to the go-
vernor and council.

No. 133.

the Prejident's Minute, rejpe£ling the Calcutta lands.

I now beg leave to lay before you the rcfult of my long and laborious refearchcs
into the Calcutta lands.

APPENDIX. 221

By the fevcral accounts taken at different times of the mcafurement of the twent)'-
four Purgunnahs, it appears, that the whole of the lands amount to 1,082,543 Be-
gas, and fifteen Cottas of ground*, which has been cultivated ; but on account of chari-
ties, lands pretended to be deferted, and others again fecrctcd, not above two thirds
of this meafurement have actually paid rents to the Company.

A refcarch into the caufe of this deficiency, (being well convinced that, inftead of
a decreafe, there has been a confiderable increafc of the inhabitants on the Company's
lands,) is what has particularly engaged my time and attention.

On an examination of the charity lands it appears, that when the Company re-
ceived charge of thefe Purgunnahs, the total of lands afligncd for this purpofe (an
account of which was delivered in by the Zemeendars themfelves) Begas. C. G.
amounted to --..._... 217,452 : 19 : 8
fince when there has been refumed ... 14,971 : 1:0

fo that the total of the charity lands fhould fland at - - 202,481 : 18 : 8
Inftead of which it has, by fome means, probably by the villainy of the black fer-
vants in oiKce, increafcd fince that time to no lefs than 263,702 Begas, 2 Cottas,
8 Gundas, by which the Company has been deprived of the annual rent of 6i,220'
Begas, 4 Cottas, 8 Gundas, moft, if not all, of which has moft probably been dif-
pofcd of amongft the black fervants in office, or their dependents.

In the account of thefe lands, it is faid that 25,679 Begas, 13 Cottas, have been
lying uncultivated for a confiderable time. As they were originally defigned for, and^
appropriated to the immediate maintenance and fupport of poor people, or to reli-
gious purpofcs, they could be of ufe only whilft they were cultivated ; and ought
immediately, as they became negledted by the people who had the charge of them,
to have been refumed, according to the ciiftom of the countt}', by the Company.
I judge a confiderable addition might be made to the revenues by obliging every per-
fon to produce the Sunnud by which he is entitled to hold thefe lands. The amount
of the lands allotted to the above charitable purpofes, after refuming the 61,220
Begas, 4 Cottas, 8 Gundas, I think is very confiderable ; for cftimating the 202,481
Begas, 18 Cottas, 8 Gundas, at the medium rent of the other lands, the annual reve-
nue will be no lefs than 314,638 rupees.

The amount of the Ryotty lands, or thofe which are farmed out, appears on the
Cutcherry books to be 591,172 Begas, 9 Cottas, producing an annual revenue of
1,012,305 rupees, 12 Annas. There have, moreover, flood under this head 29,363.
Begas, 3 Cottas, 12 Gundas, faid to be uncultivated ; but from the feveral exaanna-
tions made therein, I am of opinion that it is mofll)' cultivated, and ought to be.
brought to the immediate credit of the revenue. It aifo appears, that the lands held
by the fervants in office, and their dependents, have been eftimatcd at a lefs rent than
they fhould have been by 15,877 rupees, 5 Annas, 13 I'ice, which will likewife
be brought to account ; as I fee no necefiity for douceurs, where every man employed
by the Company receives his m.onthly allowance. Nor can I trace by what authority
they hold them at the low rate they have hitherto done.

Under the head of Commar, or lands cultivated by contraiff,. there appears to be
198,305 Begas, 19 Cottas, 12 Gundas. The amount of thefe lands muft ever be
uncertain, as the rents being paid in the produiSs of the land, their value depends
wholly on the fale of fuch produsfts. However, eftimating them on a medium by
what they have hitherto yielded, their rents will amount to 291,842 rupees^ 10.
Annas, 1 1 Pi-ce.
* The meafurement of land in Bengal is thus eftimated :
16 Gundas make 1 Coita,
20 Cottas = I Bega, or about 16,000 fcjuare feet.

From

222 A P P E N D I X,

From hence the preknt ellimntc of the kind will ftand as follows-:

Begas, Cottas, Gundas.

Charity,

61,220 4 o

Refvimcd what was introduced under this head of
which there is at prefent

Rupees, Annas, Pice.

cultivated 35,540 11 o to yield at a very low rent
Rvotty - 591,172 90- Rupees 1,012,305 12 o
Ditto, faid to"^

beuncultivat- [ 29,363 3 12 — - .

ed, brought to
account.

Commar, 198.305 19 12

Chanty lands"? ^
untenanted P5'^79 13°
Lands held by the fcrvants at an under rent
Tallook Darans, Rent fixt
Gaut Ektcar-pore, Ditto

43,720 6 19

rent.

Charity lands

paying no }■ 202,481 18 8 valued at

26,645 3 I

■ ■ ■ Ij"oOj95"

291,842

15,009

I5>S77
258

201

5
1 1

1,405,860
- 314,638

Begas - 1,082,543 15 o

This amount is what I think may be rcafonably expcdlcd for the 24 Purgun-
nahs, as you will be pleafed to obferve, that by the extreme low cllimation I have jiut on
all fuch lands as are now refumed, I allow a poffibilitv of fome not being immediately
cultivated ; but the anxious endeavours of the perfons who were the belt ac(}uaintcd
with thefe lands, to conceal from me all thev poffibly could, convinces me that they are
aftually cultivated, and th;it the Compan\- is unjuftly deprived of its rights ; for thefe
people could, othervvifc, have no intcrell in keeping from our knowletlge their real
ftatc. Indeed, from the belt information I can obtain, there are fcarccly any unculti-
vated, and if fo, their rents ought to be immediately raifed to the full rate of the
other lands, which in general is much more reafonable than in anv other part of the
country; as a proof of which I now lay before you the rents of two Purgunnahs in
the Burdwrn country.

In order to point out clearly where the lands lie, and to realize what I have above
efiimatcd, I have given a particular ftatement of each Purgunnah; alfo the
different rares at which the rents of the lands are collefted, ellimatcd from their fe-
vcral produces. Likewife a lifl of the rates at which the rents of the Burdwan lands
are col'eftcd, cflimated from their produdfs ; by comparing which it will a]ipear how
low the Calcutta rents are tothofe of Burdwan.

In the eftimate I have before formed, by which the value of the lands appears to
be 1,403,860 rupees, 7 Annas, 12 Pice. I made no addition on account of the
three Purgunnahs not \ct meafurcd, Medunmull, Hatteagur, and Borritch-Hautty.
Thefe, at the mod: reafonable eftimation, will \ ield an increafe of 50,000 rupees,
when their mcafurement is afcertained, which I would recommend to be done as foo»
as poffiblc.

The

APPENDIX. 223

TPie meafurcmcnt of the Purgunnahs, Calcutta, Balica, Maugo-ra, and Caufporc,
requires an examination ; as I am informed, tliat it has not been properly taken, and
that they will admit of a conriderable incrcafe in the rents.

Thefc, together with the Batta of rupees, Bazee Jumma, or colleftions made in
the Purgunnah Cutcherries, Salammies on weddings, and vifitations of the Dees,
called Didarry, farms of Tuffauls, fiilt and wax, duties collected in the markets ancl
Gauts, interert on monev advanced for cultivation, repairs of dykes and bridges, rents
of the CoUarries, the fifteen Dees, and of Calcutta town, are none of them included
in the eftimation I have laid before vou. They alfo require a particular fcrutiny, as
well as the expences attending the colletl:ions ; and I am perfeftly fenfible that many
lands are flill held at a low unequitable rent, thctugh the intricacies and delays attend-
ing thcfe matters have prevented m)' finding them out.

I likewife lay before you a ftatcment of the coUedtions from May 1763, to the
prefent time, by which 3'ou will fee that there is due to the Companv the fum of
1^141,602 rupees, 10 Annas, 9 Pice, a great part of which I judge may be re-
covered.-

The farmers who formerly rented the lands appear, on the adjullment of the fe-
veral accounts, to be indebted to the Companv, as per lift inelofed, 35,148 Sicca
rupees, 11 Annas, 5 I'ice. This fum fliould be demanded, and brought to the
Company's account ; or if any particular confiderations have been allowed them, the
fame flioukl appear in the Cutcherry books, and their accounts be finally clofed.

As it will be impoffible to fix the juft value of the lands until their meafiirement
and produdfs can be afccrtained, I would recommend that as man)' capable lurveyors
ns could be procured, fliould be employed on this bufincfs. The\' fhould be diredcd
to form a regifter of all the Ryots, the quantity of land each holds, and the ufual
produft ; when each Rvot might have inferred in his Pottah the meafurement of his
lands, and the annual or monthly rent he is to pav. This will prevent the impo-
fitlons of the black fervants, or, if you farm the lands, any oppreffion of the
farmers.

The more I have examined into the ftate of thefe Purgunnahs, the more I am con-
Tinced of the confiderable improvements that may be made therein. I have com-
municated the difcoveries I have made to feveral of the perfons who were appointed
by the Seledt Committee to farm the lands, fhould the Company let them out this
year ; and I believe they would v.'illingly take them at a great increafe above what
was paid laft year, but nothing adequate to the real value. I therefore think that
unlefs they come nearly to the eftimate I have made, the rents fhould be colledled
on the Company's account for anotlier feafon ; and I doubt not but by that time the
farmers will be fenfible that the eflimation I have put on them is far below their
real value.

Fort William, April sQtb, 1767.

I-I. VERELST.

No,

224

N D I X.

No. 154.

ExtraS of Fort William SekSi Committee proceedings, dated Augujl

ibth, 1769.

The Committee having maturely confidered the feveral important contents of the
Prefident's and Mr. Becher's joint letter, together with their leparate opinions of the
general ftate of thefe provinces — are of opinion, that the prefent ftate of the revenues,
public and private commerce, manufactures and agriculture, are fuch as give room for
the molt ferious apprehenlion ; and that the decline in each of thole grand concerns
has fpread itfclf fo as to have produced a crifis in our affairs, which, (unlefs fpeedily
and properly attended to, whilft there are meafures left in the country, of which there
can be no doubt but there are yet many,) mult, in a great meafure, difappoint our
future expectations from thefe polieffions.

The Commifte?, having endeavoured to trace and affign the true caufe of our de-
clining fituation, unanimouily agree, that the following imperfedtions in the formation
and condud: of the fyftem hitherto purfued, are the grand and original fources
thereof.

I. The want of fufficient checks in the inftruments of government, .who are gene-
rally adventurers from Perfia, educated in the manners and principles of a government
where tyranny, corruption, and anarchy are predominant ; who arc ftrangers to the
cuftoms, and indifferent to the welfare of this country ; and who cannot by any vigi-
lance be reftrained, or by any feverity be deterred from praftifing their native oppref-
lions, over a timid, fervile, and defencelefs people.

. 2. The delegation of a truft and authority to one, or to a few, which require the
abilities and adti\ity of manv to execute; an error which is notorioufly the caufe of
thofe departments being worfe adminiftered, but give rife to a complex corruption,
which is difficult, if not impoffible to be detefted. The avenues of juflice are by
thofe means obftrudted, and the injured are frequently at a lofs where to prefer their
complaints, and in whom the right of decilion is invelled.

3. The ignorance of the real produce and capacity of the country, in which we are
necefTarily kept by a fet of men, who firfi: deceive us from intereft, and afterwards con-
tinue the deception from fear of punifliment, and a ncccffary regard to their own
fafcty.

4. The numerous train of dependents and underlings, whom the colledlors enter-
tain ; whofe demands, as well ns the avarice of their principals, are to be fatisfied
from the fpoils of the induftrious Ryot; who thus lofes all confidence in the govern-
ment, and feeks protedion in other places, where he has better hopes to fee his in-
duflry rewarded.

5. The venality which forms part of the genius of the pcoi)le, and which is known
to be openly exercifed, or tacitly allowed by government, without drawing any Ihamc
or difcrcdit on the guilty ; or being thought any peculiar hardfliip on the injured.

6. The collufion of the collecftors with the Zemeendnrs ; whom the collctftor era-
ploys as a tool to ferve his mal-praftices, or admits an alibciatc in his fraudulent gains.

7. The

APPENDIX. 2?5

7. The oppreffions to which the Rj'ot is fubjedt from the multitude of Gomaftahs
and their dependents ; on which fubjedt the Prcfident has been fufficiently exphcit hv
his minute on the ftate of commerce.

8-. The Committee are convincetl that this degree of power without controul, of
knowledge without partiei]iation, and of influence without any effcd:ual counter-
aiflion, is too important and replete in the confequences to be vefted in any three
minillers, or rather one fingle man ; who, allowing him the clearefl preference for-
integrity, ahilit\-, and attachment among his countrymen, cannot be fuppofed fupc-
rior to temptation ; and» at leaft, ouglu not, in good policy, to be trulted ib exten-
fively and independently as has been ncccflarily the confequence of the prefent fyftem:
while the Company are, in reality, the principals in the revenues of this countrv,
and the moil interefled in. the ,g;ppd conduct of its government, every bar fliould be'
removed that tends to preclude them from a knowledge of its real ftate. In th©
above caufes, and others deducible- from them, the Committee difcerns, uith great
regret, the original fource and prefent inveteracy of many of thofe evils, under which
thefe provinces are at prefent oppreffed.

The frequent and peremptory reftridtions which the Court of Directors had thought
proper to impofc on us, and that line of condudt from which no deviation was al-
lowed, and the fmalleft furveyed with jealoufy, have hitherto left us without any-
choice of meafures, freedom of adtion, or power of reformation.

Their laft letter has now offered us the fandlion that was fo effentially neceffary for
the welfare and improvement of thefe provinces, as well as for our own vindication
in the purfuit of fuch plans as we may judge advifeable to adopt. By that letter, the
Diredlors feem to approve of the diftribution and allotment of the country into
farms, and of the appointment of European gentlemen to fupervife the different pro-
vinces, and to controul the condudl of the agents of the country government. From
this permiffion, we have a well-grounded expedlation of fuccefs to our defign of in-
troducing new regulations ; and the event will, we are flattered, be the flrongeft con-
firmation of the propriety of thofe regulations.

We have always adted as far as the nature of the oecafion would allow, with the
moft fcrupulous regard to the rules prefcribed to us by our employers ; and, on our
firft acceffion to the Dewanny, chofe rather to afliim.e the flow, but certain convidtion
of experience for our guide, than attempt innovations on the precarious foundation of
opinion. But now that whole pages of our records are filled with fo manv inconteft-
ible evidences, that great alterations are wanting to form a mode of colledtion, which
may be reitridtlve to the colledtor, and indulgent to the Ryot, we are happy in finding
the fentiments of our employers fo aptly correfpondent to our ojiinion, and the ne-
ceffity of the jundfure. Ever)' perfon of any fubftance or charadter in this country,
has been fucceffively tried in the department of the coUedtions. Fear, reward, feve-
ritv, and, indulgence, have all failed, and ended in a fliort political forbearance, or
additional adi:s of dlfhonefty and rapine.

On an alarm of infpedflon, or at the annual Poonah, they frame accounts to flnxe
the oecafion; or by Involving them in confufion and ambiguit)', wafte time till it
becomes too late to continue the procefs againll them, without hazarding new loffes
in the- revenue : and thus the culpable not only efcape punifliment, but often obtain
a prolongation of their appointments. Ivlany flagrant grievances reach our ears, bur,
in a country of fuch extent, there are, doubtlefs, many more concealed from us ;
and, what is equally true under our prefent difadvantages, they are, and muft remain
inexplorable ; we can neither redrefs grievances, nor effedl: improvements. \\'ith
regard to the former, our diftance and our too indiredt information through minifterial

F f " channels.

226 APPENDIX.

channels, let Ae offender be3'ond our reach> and the impoffibility of having time ahd
competent knowledge puts the latter out of our power.

Enough has been faid, and more might be produced, to prove that the fyftcm,
eftabliihed and now puri'uing'in this country, i3 deficient in every particular that is
requifite to defend and fupport the poor, from the Injultice and opprcffion of the ftrong.
and to incrcafe its value to its polfelibrs, by promoting the indultry of the Ryot and
manufacturer.

That although we have feen thefe evils growing and preying upon the vitals of the
countr)', we have been unable to Hop their progrefs, or afford effedlual proteftion to
the people.

Laftly, that we can never hope to emerge from that uncertainty and ignorance into
which this fyftem has thrown us, whilft we fit tamely and will admit of no variation
in it.

Let us now turn our eves and attention to a more pleafing fcene ; to Burdwan, and
the reft of die Company's proprietary lands, where we ourfelves have been the mana-
gers. Plenty, content, population, increafe of revenue, without increafe of burthen,
are now the effecfts ; and form fo forcible an argument in the comparative view, that
nothing can ftrengthen, nothing can render it plainer or more convincing.
-' And here the Committee cannot hefitate in drawing a decifive conclufion ;— -tbat the
{time or fimilar regulations be eftablifhed throughout the provinces in every diftinft
diftridl:. The fame beneficial confequences to the country and Company may be
expedled from them, and by an increafed fecurity of the property of individuals, as
alfo by an encouragement to cultivation and commerce, they may give a new flow to
the circulation of fpecie, which is become fo limited as to affeft every rank and pro-
feffion.

The Committee are fenfible that much application, integrity, good condudl and
time, will be neceffary to retrieve the defolations of the colJedtors ; to raife the fink-
ing heart of the Ryot from defpair to confidence and hope ; to re-people and fettle
the deferted and uncultivated tradts, and to take every advantage of the abundant
fertility of the lands.

The progrefs towards this defirable change muft be gradual. We have yet but
an imperfed; knowledge of the foil, the produdtions, the value, the capacity of the
various provinces, and fubdivifions of the country. This, however, is the fotindation
on which, and which onlv, we can build with fuccefs, and diredt our grand defign
with judgment ; and to acquire this knowledge fhould therefore be our firft care, by
means of the minuteft local inveftigation, for none other can give us an authentic
record to refer to on every occafion as an eftabliflied authority : nor can we judge of
the lenity, rigour, or propriety of any of our refolutions refpefting the countr}-,
without fuch a work completely and accurately executed.

The Committee, concurring in the neceffity of purfuing the above work in the
moft effecftual manner, that when pcrfedted they may proceed in the important bufi-
ncfs before them ; and being farther induced by the opinion of the Court of Dircftors,
exprcffcd in their laft letter of the nth November, 1768,-^agree unanimoufly to the
following refolutions ; —

That, in every province or diftridt, a gentleman in the fervice be appointed, with
or without affiftance, in proportion to the extent of the diOrift ; whofe office or de-
partment is to be fubordinate to the refident of the Durbar, and managed as is ex-
prefsly fet forth and defined in the following letter of inllrurtions, — which the Prefi-
dcnt has prepared and fiibmittcd to our confideration ; with fuch aildilions as may
occafionally be deemed neceffary by the refident at the ]3urbar.

Form

APPENDIX. ii-i

Form c/ Instructions to be ijfued by the Refident at the Durbar to the feveral Supra-

vifors.

To Mr.

Sir,

As the Board have judged it expedient to appoint fupra-vifors on bcl-felf of the
Con:ipany in each particular province, with a view to afcertain in a minute, clear, and
comprehenfive manner, a variety of circumftances which intimately concern the wel-
fare of the country ; the province of is hereby placed under your in-

fpedtion, and the following objedts are pointed out and diflinguilhed under refpedtive
heads, as a direction for your conduft, and an explanation of the fcrvice cxpcdtcd from,
you in your department.

I. A fummary Hijlcry of the Province,

You are to colle(fl, under this head, the form of the ancient conftitution of the
province, compared with the prefent ; an account of its pofleffors or rulers, the order
of their fucceffion, the revolutions in their families, and their conncftions ; the pe-
culiar cuftoms and privileges which they, or their people — have eflablifhed and
enjoyed ; and, in (hort, every tranfaftion which can ferve to trace their origin and pro-
grefs, or has produced any material changes in the affairs of the province,

2. The State, Produce, and Capacity of the Lands.

The firft meafure which fhould occur to your attention in an enquiry of this na-
ture, is to procure a complete Hullabood, or rent-roll, with the number of Begahs,
or meafures of land, contained in each diftridt, according to the original furvcys and
nieafurements, and the method in which they were laid out and appropriated. The
next is to fix the ancient boandaries and divifions. This being completed, you may
proceed to trace the alterations which chance, favour, art, or oppreffion, have gra-
dually produced in the face of the country until the prefent time. Many portions of
land have been added to, or feparated from the ancient divifions ; thefe fhould be
rigidly fcrutinized and carefully noted. The Zemindars have enjoved confider-
able traits rent free, on various pretences, and for various purpofes. The abufes in
the beftovval and fale of Talooks are notorious, being generally the reward of the crea-
tures of government, obtained by unwarrantable means, and held with extraordinary
immunities. The titles of the prefent poifeflbrs fliould therefore be examined, to-
gether with the valuation of fuch lands before they became Talooks, and before their
owners acquired that independent footing ; fo that fome judgment may be formed of
their real revenue, and in what degree the limitation of the grant is exceeded by the
quantity now held. Charitable and religious donations, which fuccefhve princes have
made, many through zeal, but mofl through vanity, — form no inconfiderable part of
fome diftrifts : and as it may reafonably be fuppofed, that in a courfe of years the
produce of fuch benefaftioos has been mifapplied and perverted, or that the parti-
cular perfons or focieties, in whofe fupport they were granted, have fallen or de-
cayed, — it is expedled that you diligently fearch into and report their true ftate. You
are alfo to particularize the extent, produftion and value of Jagheers ; the titles of the
prefent pofleffors, &c. as in the Talooks. Of the lands called Cols, which are under
- the immediate fuperintendence of government, for want of farmers. Ot the Comar,
which are lands cultivated by contradV. Of the Ryotty, which are tenanted and cul-
tivated by the natives on the l^^ot. And of the wafte lands, diftinguillilng fuch as are

F f 2 cleared

12? APPENDIX.-

clearedj and have been neglefted through a decreafe of population, from fuch as arc

covered with Jungk *. • -, ,■ -

Th' fe informations, provided they be deiived from, genuine authorities, and con-
fir .v.ed b}^ an accurate infpeftion of )'our own, \yill enable you to compute what the
pr.duftions of the country, deducting the'Tonfuniption of the inhabitants, will yield
fo.- the purpofes of commerce ; and how far the wealth and profpericy of it! may be
augmented' bv an encouragement' being given to the cul'ture of ;any I particular article,
either as a necelTary of life, or as a^material in,inanufactu£e.s..,j^

:i;;7 /I .

2- The amount of the Revenues, the Cejfes, or arlitary Taxes, and cf .all. demands what-
foever irhich are made on the Ryot, either by Government, Zemeendar, or ColieBor, with
the manner of colktling them ; and the gradual rife, of every nezu imfofi.

One capital grievance being the inequality of afleflinents arifing from the multitude
of Talooks and fequelvered' lands above-mentioned, you are to penetrate through the
chicanery of thofe employed, and acquire an exadt detail of every particular tax or eels;
noting in what particular part of the country the burthen falls, where partial exemp-
tions are allowed, and what is the equitable proportion to the whole. Another grie-
vance, which is equal to the former, is the variety of demands which the collector,'
fiom the Aumil and Zemeendar to the lowcft Pyke, impofe without any colour or licence
from the government ; fome of which have been fo long exacted and paid, that the
Rvots begin to imagine the oppreflion is fancftiiied by government, and is not the
mere fraud of the collectors. The multiplying of fupcriluous agents and inferior
colleftors may be alfo deemed a fource ot extortion ; and it is a very eflcntial part
of 3''Our duty to inform yourfelf in what refpeCl their numbers have been caufelefsly
increafed ; to enumerate their perquifitcs, and how much they may be fuppofed to
exceed them. As llkewife the expence and arrangement of Gauts and public markets,
with the duties collected ateach upon the inhabitants or traders, and the application
of fums to be levied.

Drogahs, Cutwalls, and Pvkes, maintained for the protedtion of the tenants, arc,
it is to'^ be feared, too often the initruments of their oppreffion ; at leall: fall very fliort
of anfwering the end propofed by them. Accounts fhould be taken of their number
and cx]icnce, how they are arranged, and how paid.

A third and equally important ol:ijeCt of your attention, under this head, is to fix
the amount of what the Zemeendar receives from the Ryot, as his income or emolu-
ment ; wherein they generally exceed the bounds of moderation, taking advantage of
the perfonal attachment of their people, and of the inefficacy of the prefent reflriCtions
tipon them ; fince the prefence of the Aumil more frequently produces a fcene of
collufion than a warinefs of conduCt. When the fum of the produce of the lands,
and of each demand on the tenant, is tluis afcertaincd with certainty, the proportion
of what remains to him for the fupport of Iiis famih', and encouragement ot his in-
duftry, will clearly appear, and lead us to the reality of his condition.

Amongfl the chief cfTcds which are hoped for from )Our refidence in that jirovince,
and which ought to employ and never wander from your attention, are to convince
the Ryot that you will ftand between him and the hand of opin-cflion ; that you
will be his refuge and the redreflcr of his wrongs ; that the calamities he has already
fuffered have f])rung from an intermediate caufe, and were neither known nor per-
'mitted by us : that honeft and direCt applications to you will never fail producing
fjjcedy and erpiitablc dccilions : that, after fupj^lying the legal due of government,

• Wood, high grafs, or reeds.

APPENDIX. 229

he may be fccure in the enjoyment: of the remainder ; and, finally, to teach him a
veneration and afiedtion tor the humane maxims of our government.

4. The Regulation of Commerce.

■ Equal intricacy and fimilar combinations will be found to oppofc your progrefs in
this work. The power, the artifice, the complicated connexions of public and pri-
vate agents, Pycars, and Dellols, will all unite in preferving their ufurpalions on the
m^nufadiurer and Rvot ; which they have hitherto done by precluding their accefs to
onr tribunals, and deflro) ing every kind of intercourle between them and us. That one
cti(]i:iry ma)'" precede another without confufion,or blending different caufes with differ-
ent effcdts, }'Ou fhould open your dilcoveries with an eftimatc of the j-rodudions of every
dillriel, both in quantity and kind ; the amount of manufadurcs and the number of ma-
nufafturers employed in each branch, with the annual duties cpllefted on them ; not
confining yourlelf to the prefent time, but recurring to pad: years; that, at one view,
you ma\- difcern their ftate of increafc and decreafe; and by remarking the prices and
qualities at dirtindt periods, you will in like manner become acquainted v;ith the im-
provement or decline in the quality.

Your next confidcration is to find the channels through which the feveral articles,
produced by the joint labour of the manufadurer and cultivator, have been diffufed.
The proportion which fell to the Ihares of the Englifh, French, Dutch, and other
foreigners, as well as to the native merchant ; likewifc what was retained for the con-
fumption of the diftridls themfelvcs; concluding this rcfearch with a comparative view
of the rife and fall in the demand, and dating the ballance of the trade as it occa-
fionallv varied in favour of one or the other merchant. After }-ou have advanced thus
far, the moil difficult and confcquential tafls. ilill remains for } ou to furmount ; which
is, to lay open and abolilh the feveral fpecies of impofition which are pradiifed by
Gomnftahs, Pycars, Dellols, and the whole chain of agents through whofe hands
the articles of merchandize pafsfrom the loom of the manufafturer, or the ftore-houfc
of the cultivator, to the public merchant or exporter ; fo that clandeftine agreements
and extraordinary demands may no longer exift, to the utter dcfpondcncy of the poor ;
but a way being opened for them to c!eal with the fair trader, their indufir)' may be
quickened by the certaint)- of their profits.

5. The Adminijtraticn of Jujlice.

It is difiieult to determine whether the original cuftoms or the degenerate manners
of the Muffulmen have moll contributed to confound the principles ot right and wrong
in thefe provinces. Certain it is, that almoU: every decifion of theirs is a corrupt
bargain with the highefl bidder. The numerous offences which are compromifcd by
fines have left a great latitude for unjuft determinations. Trifling offenders, and even
many condemned on fictitious accufations, are frequently loaded with heavy demands,
and capital criminals are as often abfolved by the venal judge. Your condudl in all
capital offences Ihould be to enforce jultice where the law demands it, checking every
compofition by fine or muldf ; and where anv difputes arife in mat'ers of propeitv,
you fliould recommend the method of atbitration to an\' other ; and inculcate ftrongl)-
in the minds of the people that we are not defirous to augment our revenue by fuch
impofitions, but to acquire their confidence by the etjuity and impartialit)' of our pro-
ceedings, and by our tendernefs for their happincfs. The arbitrators fhould be men
chofen by the parties themfelves, and of known integrity, and whofe circumfiances
may fupppofe them exempt from venality, and promife befl: to infure their rectitude.
In capital crimes, the fentence fliould, before execution, be referred to me, and by

230

P E N D I X.

me to the minifters, that they ma}'' ultimately approve or mitigate it, according to
the peculiarity of the cafe. You are farther to obferve, that the want of regular re-
gifters of all caufes and determinations has encouraged the natural propcnfity of the
judge to bribery and fraud, by making him eafy with refpedl to any future profecution
on a rehearing of the cafes which have been thus partially determined, ^\"hercas,
whilft a reference to records is always open, he mufl; live in perpetual fear of detec-
tion. One of thefe rcgifters fhould be lodged in the principal Cutcherry of the
province, and an authenticated copy tranfmitted to Murfhed-abad. As to fuits on
account of revenues, thefe will, we are flattered, be much obviated in future by the
happy confequences of our pofTeffing a real, local, and undifguifed knowledge of the
country ; which we promife ourfelves from the inveftigations above mentioned, and
from your diligence and exatlnefs in the performance of the feveral duties.

For the Ryot being eafed and fecured from all burthens and demands but what are
impofed by the legal authority of goverment itfelf, and future Pottahs * being granted
him, fpecifying that demand ; he fhould be taught that he is to regard the fame as a
facred and inviolable pledge to him, that he is liable to no demands beyond their
amount. There can, therefore, be no pretence for fuits on that account ; no room
for inventive rapacity to pradlife its ufual arts : all will be fair, open, regular. Every
man will know what he can call and defend as his own ; and the fpirit of lawlefs en-
croachment fubfiding, for want of a field for exercife, will be changed into a fpirit of
induftry ; and content and fecurity will take place of continual alarms and vexations.

I fliall now proceed to give you fuch initrudtions for cffedling the above points, as
experience has proved to be moll eligible ; and Ihall begin with obferving, on the firft
head, — or

Ths Hijtory of the Provinces.

I would not have you embarrafs yourfelf with records more remote than thofe of
the reign of Sujah Cawn ; as, at that «ra of good order and good government, no
alterations had taken place in the ancient divlfions of the country, and the confufion
which is now apparent has been poilerior to thofe times. From that date, you will
probably find records in the public Cutcherry, abounding with every material ; but
as fome may be deftroyed or mutilated, your refource, in fuch cafes, mufl; be to confult
with men of the beft underflanding and longeft experience in the diflrid:s, from whom
you will moft likely meet with fatisfadtory information ; and who, from many and
prevailing motives, which are deducible from their natural charadter, will gladly con-
tribute their ftore of knowledge to the account. In the courfe of this reference to
living authorities, you will doubtlefs meet with various characters and clafles of men,
whofe informations will be tindtured with the prejudices of education, habit, fupcrfli-
tion, and other failings ; but your own judgntent muft dircdt you in extradting the
truth, and diftinguifliing between the private biafs of indviduals and the real (late of
fadts.

Secondly, 'Ihe State, Produce, and Capacity of the Lands.

It will require your greatcft attention and ajiplication to enable you to form a
general and particular Huftabood, or rent-roll, of the diflridts. You may, perhaps,
find v/hat is called a Huftabood in the Sudder or principal Cutcherry : but this,
inftcad of fatisfying, muft ftimulate your curiofity ; for the contents of it are
merely adapted to the private intcrefts of the Zemeendars, filled with rcprefcntations
dcfignedly difguifed, to ftjuare with their offers and accounts with government, loofcly,
unfaithfully, and jiartially formed in every inftance. In fadt, they can fupply you
with little more than a progrefllive hiftory of the prefent difmcmbcrments, and only

fuggeft
• Leafes,

APPENDIX. 23t

ruggcll to 30U the degree of oppreffion which the multiplication of collcdtors and
charges has, on that account, from time to time, brought upon the Ryots.

After this, you are to proceed to a local invefligation of the quantity of lands and
their rents, which is to be performed by vifiting each divifion yourfelf, and calling
upon the Zemeendar or head-colledtor for the Hurtabood of the divifion under his ma-
nagement. But you arc not to content yourfelf with this : from hence you are to
defcend to the fubdivifions of the grand diftridt, and to the fmall Cutchcrries of each
colledtor, however inconfiderablc ; and this will procure you a lift; of the Pottahs
as diftributed to every Ryot, and fuppofed to contain the quantity of land pofleflcd
by each, and the amount of rent with which it is charged. Thus you will be enabled
to afcertain how far the Huflaboods given in by the colleftors of the grand
divifions differ from the Huftaboods of the lefler, from the principal down to
the fmalleft fubdivifion. And by taking the fum of any number of Pottahs in any
particular place, and comparing the amount of thofe Pottahs with the amount fpeci-
fied in the Huflaboods, you will arrive at a medium certainty of the cxccfs or defi-
ciency of the lands and rents as rated therein. And accordingly as the error or falla-
cioufnefs of the accounts fhall appear to require it, you are to caufe an cxadl meafure-
mentto betaken of portions of land in different places, in order to arrive at a judg-
ment of the whole from the proportional parts. And that no collufion between the Ze-
meendars and collectors may retard, elude, and counteract thefe important enquiries,
the fear of lofing their Zemeendarry or employment ihould be held up to them ; and if
you find the aflbciation againft you flrong and obftinate, upon a reprefentation and
ample proofs of his mifconduft produced to me, you may be allured that examples fliall
be immediately ordered, and every delinquent be made fenfible that there is no room
for lenity where collufive oppreffion is continued in defiance of all reftriCtion. The
Ryot too fhould be imprefled in the mofl forcible and convincing manner, that the
tendency of your meafures is to his eafe and relief; that every oppofition to them is
rivetting his own chains, and confirming his fcrvitude and dependence on his op-
prcfTors ; that our objeft is not increafe of rents, or the accumulation of demands, but
folely by fixing fuch as are legal, explaining and aboliibing fuch as are fraudulent and
unauthorifed, not only to redrefs his prefent grievances, but to fecure him from all far-
ther invafions of his property.

I muff here introduce a remark, which I recommend to your particular attention :
if it fhould happen, that fome very authentic and pofitive evidence is required to
eftablifh a particular fulpicion, or that you are inclined to diftruft an information ;
there is one, and indeed only one, fafe, and eafy method of proceeding. Sclcdt an
intermediate perfon> unfufpedted either by the officers of the government or your own
dependents, give him his orders yourfelf, and let him chufe another of the fame
occupation with the perfon from whom you would feek the information, who
may be fo entirely removed from }"ou, and fo peculiarly conneftcd as to create no
furmife of his commiffion ; and let him, with the confidence and familiarity ot an
equal and fellowfufFerer, pretend to confult the other on his grievances and the means
of redrefs. This will naturally produce the fame opennefs on the other fide, and he
will readily obtain a figlit or copies of any papers, agreements, &c. which may be
wanting ; and you will be in pofleflion of them before the alarm of an enquiry can
fpread among the guilty, and give them an opportunity of combining againft you.

On the contrary, were thofe precautions omitted, and a publiclv announced fcrutiny
attempted, you muft have a thoufand obfirudtions to contend with, which are all ob-
viated by the abo\'e m.ode of fecrecy, and the ufe of intermediate agents, whom you
may employ to any number, and contrive to check in fuch a manner as will deprive
them of the power of deceiving you. Small rewards may likewife have weight, and

ou^iht

231 APPENDIX.

■o

ought not to be neglccled ; and it is not to be doubted, but that by a proper and
prudent application of them, joined to the above-mentioned hints, vou will become
niafter of a perfect and extenfive intelligence of every circumilance, however miriute
andinvcloped. The evafions and artifices which ai'e familiar to the natives of this
country have often been fucccfsful in fcreening them from that open and manifeO:
detettion which can juftify punifliment. The good confequence of that pofitive evi-
dence above mentioned, in any cafes where the Zcmeendar or coUettor are concerned,
and rely on their cuflomarv defences, will put it in Aour power to call them to a public
exanrination, and render their crime and their punifiiment equally notorious, without
fubje«;'ling the authors of your information to the refentment of the Zemeendars, or the
obloquy of their neighbours.

Having thus obtained fufficient and authentic accounts of the rent-rolls of the diftridbs,
by fearching into the papers and records of the fmalleft as well as the largeft, comparing
their refpedftive Huftaboods, furveying and meafuring the lands which appear rated
above or below their real value and extent, you are to bring your inveftigation home
to the Zemeendar. For this purpofe, the records are to beconfulted, and the periods
moit applicable to the defign feeni to be thefe three ; the government of Sujah Cawn,
of Aliverdy Cavvn, and the prefent. By collating the HuHaboods given in by ths
Zemeendars with thofe you obtain from the fmaller dillridts, you will diflinguifh ths
quantity of land which they have ufurpcd from the government, and enjoy for their
own uie and advantage, free of rent. And again, by oppofmg the fum of the Pot-
tahs of any particular fpace in any fubdivifion to the fum ftated in its Huftabood, you
will alio lay open the Ihares which the pettv colleftors and their dependents have ac-
quired for themfelves, after the example of their principals ; for this fpecies of fraud
is carried on by general connivance, from the heads to the loweft denominations. All
lands which aie found to have been thus illegally difn:iembered, are to be immediately
re-annexed, and a refumption fet on foot by government.

Befidcs thefe advantages which the Zemeendar poflefTes by the fecret appropriation of
land, and has fecured to himfelf by partial Hurtaboods, he has an originally allowed
title to the freehold of fome lands, and to the enjoyment of Ibme perquifites ; but
abufcs have crept alike into them all. The meaning and intent of his being indulged
v/ith fuch exclufivc pofleffions was to fupply his family with the neceffaries and conr
veniencics of life. Under the name of Nejaut and Nankor, one fpot was to yield him
rice, another was allotted to him as pafture ; a particular tank ^^■as to afford him lifil
and water ; and, in like manner, diilinft fpots were given up to him for every dillinift
article of confumption. Though this indulgence was confined to this purpofe only,
there is juit caufe for fuppofing that he has extended his claims, and availed himfeif
of opportunities to lay his hands on the revenues of the government, and on the pror
perty of the Ryots, where he has no foundation of right, nor colour of pretence.

The Nuzzer-anna, which is called Sedee, and confifts both in piovifions and money,
is an inftancc of it ; and neither he nor his attendants move from one place to another,
without demanding and exadfing it from the inhabitants of his diftridf; acuftomwhich
ought to be permitted only under reftriftions, and in a manner that the Ryots may
not wantonly be defpoilcd, but the demand limited to a rcafonable contribution.

Another confiderable fource of profit to him is the levying of fines at will, which
is a power that, ought to be totally cxtingulflicd. He likcwife raifes large fums
from duties collefted in the markets, and alllimes an authority over the Ryots to re-
quire their labovir gratuitouflv, which fomctimes might be allowed, were not the poor
labourer too oft' n taken under this pretence from his own immediately nccellary di.ty,
to attend the mere arbitrary pleafure of his Zemeendar, who receives large prefents oiu:
ofthe various productions of the diftridj which, though intended originally for h'ls

owa

E N D I X.

22i

own private confiimption, is often fold by his dependents. Add to tlicfc, he frequently
claims a Batta on rupees at an arbitrary valuation, which is an illegal i)crquirite, and
ought to be difcontinued in future. The:"c, and all fuch exccfics in the Zcmcendar,
which need not be here mentioned, as they will open to you as you proceed, fliould be
retrenched ; and all his emoluments of every kind be reduced to the fulfilling the pur-
pofes for which they were granted, and there bounded.

The Talooks, Jaghcers, and charitable or religious donations coin • next under
confideration. You arc to call for a particular account of all lands which are held on
thefe tenures; and that every motive to concealment may be dcflroycd, it fliould
be particularly notified, that whatever proprietor delavs rejiorting his name, and the
ftate of his grants or purchafes, after a time prefixed, is to forfeit them to the go-
vernment. By taking care to fix the period for regiftcring their Sunnuds far beyond
what is necefl'ary, you will anticipate all pleas which may be prefented in behalf of
neglefts, and have no room to difpute the equity of the forfeiture.

I have before taken notice of the undue means of obtaining Talooks, which are
either bellowed on fome favourite or underling of the government, or junchafcd by
one individual of another; but as the title cannot fland clear or valid, without a confir-
mation of it from the Nabob, in both cafes where fuch cannot be made appear, the
title becomes void, and the Talook reverts to the government.

For thefe reafons you fiiould enter deeply and ftridtly into the merits of the Ta-
lookdars, with refped; to their families, their conncftions and pretenfions ; and par-
ticularly remark the flaws and exceptions which occur to you.

I'he increafe in the number of Talooks has been highly impolitic, and detrimental
to the general profperity, and to the diffufion of population in the country. The
tenants of a Talook are poffefled of fo many indulgencies, and taxed with fuch- evi-
dent partiality and tendernefs in proportion to the relt, that the Talooks generallv
fwarm with inhabitants whillt other parts are deferred ; and in addition to the natural
defire of changing from a worfe to a better fituation, inticements are frequently em-
ployed by the Talookdars to augment the concourfe to their lands. They have alfo,
at favourable feafons, when the government was bufied in other affairs, or weakened
by faftion, made confiderable encroachments, and mod probably polfcfs extenfive
tradls beyond the original grants. Now it ought to be remembered that the welfare
and good of the whole was never intended to be facrificed to the enriching of a few,
perhaps worthlefs. Individuals ; who can Ihew no pretence to thefe peculiar advantages,
but a proftitution of their integrity to their avarice. Your aim mull, therefore, be
to remove all diftindtions, to bring everv man upon a footing with his neighbour, to
lighten the burthen on the whole by making it equal and impartial, and to enforce the
the furrender of lands unlawfully poflcffed.

Jagheers are always, as Talooks are fometimes, rev/ards to particular perfons ; but
differ from them in being gifts of the crown, confirmed only by the Nizam. The
grants are cither hereditary or expirable with life ; the fame accounts arc to be taken
of them. Defed:ive titles in the Jagheerdars, and a tranfgrefllon of the order for
appearing and rcgiftering their Sunnuds, are to be attended v.ich the fame confe-
qucnces.

As to charitable or religious donations, the lands fo fcqueftered are to be eftimated

with regard to their extent, produdlions, and value; if the amount appears to exceed

the endowment of the inftitution, the overplus fhould be brought to credit ; if the in-

■ ititutions are decayed or perverted, they fliould be entirely aboiifhed, and the revenues

le-afTumcd by goveri'ment.

The Cofs lands, which are fuperintended by government for want of farmers, are
. fpccified in the accounts of the Sudder Cutcherrv. As it imports us to know whether

G p acci-

234

P P E N D I X.

accidental caufes, or the malverfatlons of the managers of fuch lands have been the
primary caufe of their deca\', you will make a full and circumftantial report thereof.
And as it may be apprehended that even fince their falling under the hands of govern-
ment, the time and attention of the public ofHccrs have been employed rather in
gleaning tlie fmall remains of fubftance from them, than in nourifhing and recovering
them from diftrefs, their condu(fl Ihould be examined. The trueft teft of it will be
your afcertaining the produce of the lands under the lad farmer before they became
Cofs, and what has been received from them fince ; which will point out the im-
provement or decreafe by their fuperintendence. And if it fliould be foun<l that the
lands have been falling inftcad of riling in value, there can be no doubt of the unfit-
nefs of fuch men, nor any hopes of feeing the Cofs lands peopled, cultivated, and
profpering under their hands. After a due confideration of their prefent ftate, public
notice fhould be given that we are ready to receive oiTcrs for farming them at a term
of two, three, four, or five years, at an annual increafing rent ; at the end of which
period they are to pay the fame as other lands, and to be fubjefted to all orders which
mav be occafionally iliiied by government for the regulation of the revenues, and
country in general.

The Comar lands, having no native tenants, are cultivated by contradt. The cuf-
tom and terms of contrad: are various in various dillrifts,. but, in general, there is one
fettled rule. An advance in money is made by the Zemeendar to the cultivator, by
the help of which he tills and improves the land. When the crops are cut and ga-
thered in, they are generally divided between the cultivator and the Zemeendar; from
one third to one half to the cultivator, and the remainder to the Zemeendar ; when the
former accounts with the latter for the amount of the advances, which are often taxed
by the Zemeendar with an heavy intereft, or fraudulently exceeded by an arbitrary va-
luation, far below the market price of the goods or produfts of the lands, in which
he is paid*. Your object is to inform yourielf what the cultivator really receives for
his labour, and in what he is injured ; and fecondly, what the Zemeendar embezzles
and fecretcs from government by an undervaluation of the pvoduftions of the foil
which he thus receives, finking the amount of the returns ; and by other means w^hich
ferve to deceive us, and obtlrudt the pro3;refs of cultivation in thefe lands. In all.
which, I apprehend, you will find no difficulty if you only afcertain the amount and
market price of thcfe produfts, and compare them with what the Zemeendar brings
publicly to the credit of government ; and comparing the accounts of the Zemeendar
with thofe of the cultivator, it will expofc the total of his undue acquifitions, enable
you to penetrate through the arts of concealment, and give you a thread by which to
unravel the whole gradation of coUufive fraud in this particular. As the unequal
diffufion of inhabitants has been the caufe of this fcarcity of cultivation in different
■Darts, every expedient ihould be ufed to encourage people to fettle on the Comar and
wafte lands, that they may be converted into R}otty. The great towns, wliofe po-
puloufncfs only ferves to pro.pagate poverty and idlenefs, might undoubtedly afford
numbers of ufeful hands, who in their prefent fituations are either a burthen or a pell
to the community. Thefe fhould be fought out, and taught to apply to culmrc, lett-
ing fuch profpeds and cxpedfafions in their view as will engage their confcnt. The
Talooks and Jagheers will likcwife be found to contain many idle, and thefe unfervice-
ab!c, hands ; who may, in like manner, be induced to tranfplant thcmfelvcs to thefe
liinds, and become farmers.

Laflly, I fhall fpeak of the Rvotty lands. The quantity in meafurement as well
as revenue, will appear from the feveral I'onahs granted, after the enquiry before re-
commended ; and the amount produft in kind you will ac(]uire bv afcertaining what is
really produced on fome portions of land of each different foil, which you may

fcled

APPENDIX. 23s

felc<ft for this purpofc, and fo draw a general mcdkini of the produdl of the wholo
Ryotty.

This you may farther check by a coniparifon of the amount total with that of the
Comar, which being received in kind by the cultivator and landlord, the aggregate
may be more truly and readily known. In the fame manner, the produce of jag-
heer lands, Talookdarries, and lands for religious purpofes, may be alfo obtained.

You will doubtlefs readily meet with an account of wafle or uncultivated lands, as
they Hand recorded in the Cutcherrics ; but here you will probably find a large field
of colluiion ; for whatever lands have been once wrote from the revenue under this
head, the' poflibly deferred but for a fliort time, little has feldom been brought on
again to the public credit. This will appear by your taking accounts of the wade
lands, as they {land recorded at different periods of time, and from them noting th.eir
gradual increafe or decreafe. Nothing can afcertain the prefent flate of thofe lands fo
well as a local invelligation. You will probably find them to be a fund to the Ze-
meendar, or collector, for their creatures or dependents, \\ ho enjoy many flourifiiing
and fertile trails thus denominated ; all which Ihould be immediately refumed.

Having thus clearly diilinguiflied the amount meafuremcnt of the fcvcral lands,
and their produds of kind, as alfo the land revenue ; the cefiTes, or arbitrary taxes,
mull engage your attention. On thefe fubjedls I have already fpoken in part, and
Hiall now confider what is yet to be done by you.

Tlic truth cannot be doubted that the poor and induftrious tenant is taxed by his
Zemeendar, or colleftor, for every extravagance that avarice, ambition, pride, vanity,
or intemperance may lead him into, over and above what is generally deemed the
eilabliftied rent of his lands. If he is to be married, a child born, honours conferred,
luxury indulged, and Nuzzer-annas, or fines, exafted, even fiir his own mifconduft,
all mull be paid by the Ryot. And, what heightens the diilrefsful fecne, the more
opulent, who can better obtain redrefs for impofition, efcape ; while the weaker are
obliged to fubmit.

To obtain an account of thefe cefies, or impofls, there cannot be a more certain
method than what I have before recommended, of getting from the Ryot h'mfelf a
fiateraent of what he adlually pays over and above his efLabliflied rents, and from this
you are to draw a medium amount of the celTes levied upon the whole. This fiiould
be fet againfl the amount of the eftablifhed rents of lands fo ceiled. You are then to
obtain the amount revenue of all Jagheers, Talooks, charitable and religious dona-
tions; and inform yourfelf whether they bear any part, and v,- hat proportion, of this
burthen ; in order that a comparative view may be drawn of the partiality of thefe
cefies, and what proportion they bear to the lands and revenues of the whole pro-
vince.

The number, difl:ributIon, and pay of Drogahs, Cutwalls, and Pykes are -next.
Their mairitainance arifes from lands fet apart for their vSe, but they are known fre-
quently to exaft articles of provifion and other things from the Rjots, and poflels too
great a latitude over the property and perfons of the poor.

You mull call upon the Zemeendar for a lifl: of thefe Pykes and their ftations, and
enquire how far they anfwer the purpofes of their infi:ituC!on, or have been multiplied
without caufe. You ihould endeavour to point out another and better method of
providing for and refl:nd:ing them in their duty ; an eflablilhcd allowance, or fome-
thing which may be determinate, and rot tend to the exercife of any power beyond
that of their duty, would be mod fuitable ; and, on this plan, I recommeiid it to
you to reform them.

A lift of all Gauts and public markets h a'fo to be p'-ocurf'd from tPe Zen eevdpr,
together with a lift of the cftablifJicd du'ies ordered to be coUecied at each. This

G g 2 being

236 ■ A P P E N D I X,

being, -obtained, you are to enquire how far tlic Drogahs and Cutwalls have been
guilty of levying undue ar.d illegal duties on the trader or inhabitants. A minute
enquiry into their conduift, and accounts on tlie fpot, is nccefl'ary to eftcd: this.
Perfons fnouid be applied to, uho can produce the exadt amount of goods thev have
themfelves pafied at the Gaut or mai^ket, and the duties they have paid, as a check
to the accounts given in by the Drogahs and others. At the markets and Gauts
iituated on the borders of the province, fliould be kept an accurate account of all
exports and imports, fpecifying the amount, fortment, and quality of each article, with
the duties upon each ; that the proportion which the exports bear to the imports may
be eftimated, and a jull opinion formed what affillance the pro\ince may need from,
and in what degree it can contribute to, the fupply of its neighbours, and the purpofes
of commerce.

Having, by thefe means, obtained an account of all public and private coUeiflions
and impofitions on the Ryot and trader, you will have a Jet of materials in your hands
from which you may venture to form a real Huftabood ; to contain the quantity,
produdtions, and rent of all cultivated lands under government ; and likewile the
quantity, produdtions, and valine of all Jagheers, Talooks, charitable and religious
donations ; which you will draw up according to the form accompanying, and
tranfmit to me, with fuch annexed remarks, obfervations, and propolals of your own,
as you may judge important and conducive to the improvement of the lands, the con-,
tent of the Ryol, the extenfion and relief of trade, the increafe and encouragement
of any ufeful manufafture or produdtion of the foil, and to the general benefit and
happinefs of the j^rovince in everv confideration and point of view.

One thing more remains for me to add, which is, that, at the expiration of every
year, the accounts of the province are to be clofed, and that a feparate and early flate
of balances be made up, noting the caufes of their being incurred, and tranfmit the
fame to Murihed-abad ; and you are not to fuftcr the accounts of one year in any
point to interfere or be blended with thofe of another.

the Regiihlion of Commerce.

I fhall now deliver my opinion on the means of perfedfing fuch of thofe points
under this head as are likely to give you moft trouble. The enquiry which I have
recommentlcd to be fet on foot into the amount of tlie manufadlures, and the num-
l>er of manufadturers employed in each branch, fhould be opened by requiring from
the collcdtor, or head man of each dillridt, a lift of thofe who refule therein, with
their refpedtive employments. That the eftimate ot the flock of labour may be as
clear and pcrfedt as poffible, vou may employ the following checks and collatera-l
arguments : it is only the finer fort of cloth, ufcd in the general run of commerce,
that cofts twelve days in the loom ; the aftbrtments which come to about five rupees
per piece, rccjuire only eight days ; yet as I allow an extra time for the manufadfurer
fo go to market and purchafe new thread and implements, before he can renew his
work, I therefore, for the greater precilion, fet down the whole expence of time at
twelve days.

Suppofing, then, a manufadturcr can fumifh one piece of cloth, of the fize of
twenty-four cubits by two, and of the value of five rupees, in the fpace of tv/elve
days ; you may proceed to calculate what any number of hands, in any given fpacc
of time, ought to perform bv the fame rule.

A fecond check on this eftimate will bo the account of exports, after making a
reafonable allowance for home confumprion ; and as to thecolledlor or Zemeendar's
report of the number and employments of the manufadturers in his diftridt, it will be

fulficient

APPENDIX.

fviflkicnt to apply to the Dellols, Pycars, or brokers, without whom fcarce say
manufacturers deal, for their number, v.'hich will ferve as a farther and collateral
check to tiie former. In your piogrefs towards an abolition of fecret emoluments and.
abufes in trade, you arc to confider that an open and public enquiry would in iiiany
cafes, as in the revenues, multiply difficulties, if not totally defeat the end of your
labours. To proceed with any hopes of arriving at the truth, you mufl: employ a
perfon who may be quite a flranger to the agents and their trade, to engage a fccond,
and he a third, to purchafe at the eilabliihed markets, as for his own ufe, famples of
different articles of trade.

Others fhoukl be employed in the fame manner, and with the fame caution, to
obtain a light or copies of fuch adjuftments of accounts as have palled between the
firft manufatlurer and the purchafer, whether I'ycar, Dellol, or merchant. Thefe.
accounts, if authentic, will difclofc the firft coft, and the private purchafcs above re-
commended will fhew the market price ; which, let againll the agents accounts, will
clearly denominate whether the fair and juft value has been paid for the goods, and
and what are the exprefs advantages accruing to the agent and his accomplices.
Nuzzer-annas, brokerage, difcount on rupees, interefton advances, fines for non-com-
pliance with terms of contract, are the chief; and all are deducted after an apparent
and nominal rate of market price has been previoufly fixed to the goods. When
thefe gains, acquired by the Pycars, Dellols, and agents, from the multiplicity of taxes
on the manufafturer, which have been laid on by coUufion, and removed from our
eyes by dillance and eftrangement, induftrioufly brought about between us and him,
are, in the above manner, feverally detefted and abolilhed ; you are to adopt thelo
meafures for the introdudlion of fair dealing, and the diliblution of clandeftine com-
padts of particular fets of men, formed to rob the manufadlurer of his due, and to
accumulate to themfclves and their dependents, what ought to be free and beneficial
to all. Ufe every means, and hold up every inducement to the manufadlurcr, to
bring his goods to public market, and to male; his bargain openly and diredtly him-
felf. Order daily regifters of the amount, quality, and price of goods fold, and of
the prices of goods for which advances have been made ;. and allow no goods to be
taken away from the market until they have been regiftered, under a j)enalty of a
double duty, or fomething of that kind. Let it be your conftant emplojment to
make thefe principles and maxims univerfally underftood and adopted by all colleftors,
Zemeendars, and every public agent ; that commerce and agriculture mutually affill
each other, and thrive from the fame caufes. That as the freedom of the one be-
comes better eftablilhed and the diffufions more general, the advantages of the other
will be ])roportionable.

The Ryot will, confequently, find the demand for his labour more extenfive, and
his fituation made eafier and happier by the additional flow of money into the pro-
■"Aince.

^he Admiiufiration cf Jiijiice,

The inflance where venal, ignorant, and rapacious judges avail themfelves of a
crude and mercenary f) flem of lav/s, of the prevalence of liccntioufiiefs, and the
force of reigning habits and cuftoms,,have been already mentioned. I can only re-
peat, that it is your part to endeavour to reform all thefe corruptions which have en-
croached on the primitive rights of both the Mahomedans and Hindoos ; particularly
by abolifhing the arbitrary impofition of fines, and recommending all in your power
the more equitable method of arbitration.

The officers of jufticc and Kazzies, who are cftablifhcd by the Mahomedan law,
as alfo the Eramlns, who ai.kniniilcr jufiicc among the Hindoos, in every village-, ,

tOWDg,

238 APPENDIX.

town, and quarter, fliould all be fummoned to appear, produce their Sunnuds, or
authority for afting, and regifcef them. Records, of whatever cafes are heard and
determined, are to be fent to and dcpofited in the Sudder Cutcheny of the province,
and a monthly return thereof forwarded to Murfhed-abad.

The regiftei- of Sunnuds is intended to deter any from excrcifmg a judicial, be-
caufe lucrative funftion, who may iX)t be legally appointed by government, if a
Mahomedan, or fairly eledted by his caft, if a Hindoo. And the depofiting of all
cafes and detenninations, added to the other regulation, will figure to the feveral
officers a vigorous and obfervant power, watching all their adlions, and, in cafe of
abufes, direft you'at once to the'culpable.

The peculiar punilhment of forfeiting cafts, to which the Hindoos are liable, is
Ciften inflicted from private pique and pcrfonal refcntment amongft themfelves; and
requires to be reftrained to thofe occalions onlv where there may be a regular procefs,-
and clear prbotVof thfe'offertcei before the Bramins, who are their natural judges^
But when any man h-as naturally forfeited his caft, you are to obfcrve that he cannot
be reftored to it, without the fartftioiv of government; which was a political fupre-
macy referved to themfelves by th-e Mahomedahs, and which, as it publicly alferts
the fUbordinartion of Hindbos, Who are {o confiderable a majority of fubjedls, ought
not to be laid down ; though eVfery ii'ldulgence and privilege df call: iliould be other-
wife allowed them. .:-/-.

Having nov>' fpoken to all points which at prefent occur, and are looked for from
your appointment, I ftiall here fubjoin fome remarks on the importance of the objedf,
iand vour owrt condudl: in the purfuit of it.

Your commiffion entrufts you with the fuperintendance and charge of a province,
v.hcfe rife and fall muft confiderably affedL the public welfare of the whole. The ex-
ploring and eradicating numberlefs oppreffions which are as grievous to the poor as
they are injurious to the government ; the difplaying of thofe national principles of
honour, faith, rectitude, and humanitv, which fhould ever charadterife the name of
an Englilhman ; the impreffing the lowell individual with tliefe ideas, and raifing-the
heart of the Ryot from oppreffion and defpondenc}' to fecurity and joy, are the va-
luable benefits which muft refult to our nation from a prudent and wife behaviour on
your part. Vcrfed as you are in the language, depend on none, where you yburfelf
can poffibly hear and determine. Let accefs to you be eafy, and be careful of th^
condu(ft of your dependen's. Aim at no undue influence vourfelf, and check it in
all others. Great fnare of integrity, difinrereftednefs, aiTiduity, and watchfulncfs i%
neccfl'arv, not only for your own guidance, but as an example to all others ; for
your adlivity and advice will be in vain, unlcl's confirmed by example. Carefully
avoid all intcrcfted views by commerce, or otherwife, in the province, whilft on this
fervice ; for, though ever fo fair and honeft, it will awaken the attention of the de-
figning, double the labour of developing ftratagems, and of removing burthens and
difcouragemcnts with which the commerce of the countrv in general has been loaded.
You have before you a large field to cftablifia both a national and private chanufter ;
lofe not the opportunity, which is to be temporary only, for your whole proceedings
will be quickly revifed ; a teft which the board confider due to themfelves, as a con-
firmation of tlie propriety of their choice ; to you, as an aft of jufticc to yotn- con-
dud ; and to the public, for the fecurity of its inrercfts. As the extent and import-
ance of your truft are great, fo in proportion will be the approbation or cenfur^,
arifing from 3'our good or ill condudi in it, be attended with unufual diftindlion or
particular feverity. Sentiments which I convey to you, to fliew the degree of confi-
dence the Board repofc in your integrity and abilities ; but by which I mean not the
reniotcft fufpicioii, either in them or myfelf, of your difappointing their cxpciftations.

You

APPENDIX. 239

You are to be careful to acquaint me, or the refidcnt at the Durbar for the time
.being, with every material circumilance worthy of remark; your correfpondence
mufl, conlequcntly, be regularly and clofcly kept up ; and you are to follow ail fucb
farther orders as I may judge neceflary to fend you.

L wilh you fuccefs in this undertaking, and am.

Sir, Your moft obedient humble fervant,

SehSi Committee's rcfolutlms thereon.

Fort William, Auguft 16, 1769.
■ It is unanimously agreed to lay the foregoing obfervations, and fentimcnts of the
Committee, before the Prefident and Council, in order for their being carried into
execution with all convenient expedition.

The letter of inlbuctions, which the Prefident -iias framed and laid before us, for

the guidance of the future fupra-vifors, being drawn up with fo much clearnefs and

precifion, and with an equal knowledge of the fubjedt, that the Committee cannot

.fuffer it to be recorded, without recording, alfo, their unanimous approbation of it.

On the GOLD COINAGE.

No. 135.
ExtraSl of Fort William Conjultations, dated 'June id, 1766.

Mr. Campbell, the alTay-mafler, being called before the Board, reads the regula-
tions propofed by the Committee for eftablifhing a gold coinage. Whereupon they
obferve it is propofed, that the par of exchange betv.'cen the new gold mohur and the
filver ficca rupee fhall for the prefent be eftimatcd at the rate of fifteen to one, which
they think too confiderable a profit for the merchants and proprietors for bringing their
gold to the mint, and are of opinion, that the proportion of fourteen to one, which will
yield a premium above the par of filver about eight per cent, will be a fufficient encou-
ragement to them for that purpofe. The aflay-mafter being thereupon diredted to
make the faid alteration, digefts the whole into the form of a letter, which is ordered
to be entered hereafter. The other part of the regulations pointed out by the Com-
mittee being entirely approved, —

Ordered, that the faid regulations be communicated to the refident at the Durbar,
with directions to put them into execution as foon as pofliblc,and that public notice be
alio given at this Prefidency for that purpofe.

To IFi'liam Brightwell Sumner, Efq. ^c. Council of Fort William.
Gentlemen,
In obedience to your commands, I have now the honour to lay before you the plan
adopted by the Seleft Committee, and approved b / the minifters, for eikblifhing a
gold currency to-obviate the fcarcity of nioney which fo large an annual exportation of
bullion to China muft neceflarily produce. ' The fchenie hath already been intimated to
the honourable Court of Direftors, not as an effeftual remed}^, but as a palliative,
which wi'l obfirudl the progreis of the evil, until a more radical cure be diftovered.

To givefuch encouragement to the importation of foreign gold, and advantages to
the natives who hoard up and fecrete this metal, as might 'induce them to apj^ly their
iifclefs treapres to the public benefit, w.erc the great objeas of the Committee. The dif-
ficulty lay infixing upon fuch a rate of exchange as Ihould anfwer the intention of bring-
ing

24<5

N D I

ing goiy to the trcafur}', without reducing filver below that natural value which it bears
in rnolt kingdoms in Europe, fince this circumftance might be produ(3:ive of inconve-
niences at home. Gold being merely a merchandize in Bengal, and the quantity of it
already contained in the country very uncertain, it was thought proper to make the
mean rate of exchange in Europe the principle upon w^ch the following regulations
for a gold currency are calculated.

1. That the gold mohurs ihall be ftruck bearing the fame impreffion with the pre-
fent Murlhed-abad ficca, and that this mahur fhall alfo be iffued in the fubdivifions of
halves, quarters, and eighths.

2. That the new coin Ihall be of the finenefs of twenty carats, or it fhall contain
one-fixth part of an alloy, which reduces it to Rs. 16:9:4 per Cent, below
the value of pure gold, to 14 : 7:7 below the mean finenefs of the Sicca and
Dehly mohurs, and to 8 : 2 : 2 one-third beneath the ftandard of the prefent
Arcot gold mohurs. The rcafons for fixing upon this ftandard are, that it is
deemed the moil convenient for allowing the propofcd encouragement to the mer-
chants and the proprietors of gold, and likewife for avoiding the great delay and ex-
pence of refining in a country where the procefs is not underftood, and the materials for
conducting it are obtained with difficulty.

3. That the gold mohur fliall be encreafed from fifteen annas, the prefent adtual
weight, to fixteen annas, the better to avoid the Inconvenience of fractional numbers
in the fubdivifional parts and the exchange.

4. That the par of exchange between the gold mohurs and the filver Sicca rupee
fhall for the prefent be eltimated at the rate of fourteen to one, reckoning upon the
intrwfiC * value of either. Thus, a gold mohur weighing fixteen annas fliall be deemed
equivalent to fourteen ficca rupees.

You will perceive, gentlemen, that a difcount of one in fifteen, or 6 : 10 : 8 per
Cent, is now made on the exchange propofed by tlie Committee, in order to obviate
the very reafonable objection which the Board made to the exorbitant profits afligned
to the mercliants and proprietors.

5. That the filver Sicca rupee fhall not bp lefs than the ftandard of 1 1 oz. 15 dwt.
or 1 3 dwt. better than Englifh ftandard^ whence will arife

A profit to tlie merchant of gold - 3 per Cent.

A batta on the gold mohur - - - 3 ditto.

A charge of coinage and duties - - 2 ditto.

8 per Cent,
-.vhlch increafed value is calculated from the generally-received exchange of gold and
filver, and not upon the market-price of gold, which fiudtuates daily.

6. That all payments, whether of a public or a private nature, fhall be made at the
f^ftablifhed batta, and every attempt to create an ariilicial batta, or exchange, fhall be
flgoroufly punifhcd.

7. That n tender of pavmcnt, cither public or private, fliall in future be equally
■•valid in gold and filver, and that a rcfufal of the eflabliflicd gold currency fhall incur

fuch puniihmcnt as this Board may think proper to infllift.

8. Tr- : public notice fhall be given to all Zemeendars, collectors of the revenue, and
other';, u.; ■. the collections may be made indifcriminatcly in gold and in filver, the

• Thi's word inlrinfic has been fubftitiued in the pl.ice of numfrary ; but as intrinjic appears in the copy
at the India houf«, Unvc not ventured to correft the error. That the fenfe requires num^rary is exi-
dc lit from the preceding .•'•^uiations Hated in the lette.-, by which it appears that the gold Mohur con-
. tains mnse pwt gdd, th ir, tiie Sicca rupee contains /)uifyr/r.»r ; yet are they tiumernaUy exchanged as one
to fourteen. The lecond pangraph of the letter, moreover, has thefe words : " It was thought proper
" to mn'ce-the meitt rat' of exchange in Europe the principle, upon which the /cl/cwmg rtgulatiom for a
" ^olti currcijcy an r.aUulattci,"

form«

A P P E N t) I X. 241

former to be received at the mint and treafury, at the r?.tepropofcd inthe 2d article;
that is the Sicca and Dehly mohurs to be reciconed with an ?!loy of 14 : 7 : 7 per
Cent, and the Arcot mohur, with an alloy of 8 : 2 : 2 4, which_ will produce, agree-
ably to the principle of exchange laid down, the advantage propofcd in article the 5th.

Thefe, gentlemen, are the regulations propofed by the right honourable the Prc-
fident, and the members of the Scled: Committee ; upon which I fliall beg your per-
miffion to ofTcr the following remarks.

The ertablifliing a gold currency in the country appears to me the only pracflica-
ble method of abolifliing that pernicious fyftem of reducing the Batta on Sicca ru-
pees annually. There being now a fixed llandard of value for filver, that metal mufl:
in time necefTarily fettle at the precife point which determines the proportion it bears
to gold. Neither will the fcarcity of any fpecies of rupees affed; the Batta, fince
the gold currency will always afford the means of payment without lofs by the ex-
change. The Batta of the Mohur being invariable, wid foon render that of the filver
invariable alfo ; or elfe the principle of exchange will be deftroyed, and of confe-
quence the profit to the merchant will become precarious. This effedt I think muft
neceflarily flow from the full eftablifiiment of a gold currency ; and were there no
other advantage attending it than reducing to a fixed determinate value the great
variety of coins with which bufinefs is diflrad:ed in this country, that alone y/ould be
well worth the experiment.

It will be abfolutely neceftary that the utmoft care be taken to prevent any debafc-
ment of the fixed ftandard of the gold Mohur, which is already rated fo high in the
exchange. I fliould myfelf apprehend that a fraud of fuch dangerous tendency to
the public credit fhould be puniflied with death ; and as the Engllfh laws will not
authorize fo rigorous a punifhment, except for the adulteration of the current coin of
Great Britain, that the laws of the country fhould take place. Your refolution on
this head fiiould be publifhed in the mint at Murflied-abad ; and as a farther check
on the coiners, the refident might be required occafionally to fend down fpccimens
of the money to be aflayed in Calcutta.

I iliould likewlfe imagine that fevere penalties fhould be annexed to the fecreting,
defacing, clipping, or melting down the new coinage ; and that the fame, together
with the punifhment to be infildted on every attempt to vary the Batta, or obllrucl:
the currency, fhould be promulgated in every diftritt of the Nabob's dominions.

Fort Williara, Junes, 1766,

I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) ALEX. CAMPBELU

No. 135.

ExtraB of Port William Confultations, dated the zoth March, 1769.

Read the following letter from the European merchants and principal inhabitants
of Calcutta ; alfo, a petition from the Armenian merchants, and a letter from the
Mayor's Court ; letting forth the great difficulties and dilb-efies to which themfelves,
and the inhabitants in general, are reduced, from the increafing fcarcity of fpecie,
and earneftly requefting the afliftance of the Board for a relief from the ruinous evil.

H h No.

24:

X..

To the Honcumlk Harry Fereljl, ^c. &?r.
enxTi.EMr.K,

I'he imiverial diltrcfs of the fcttlemcnt 2t prefent for fpecle, will, we hope, escufe
onr troubling yon with this addrcls, rcquefting in our names, and thofe of the inha-
bitants of Calcutta in general, the affiltance of j'our govcrament and authority to
remedy this evil, which grows every day more feverely felt by every merchant in Bengal.

We are highly fenfible of your care and attention to the welfare of the inhabit-
ants, from your late orders regarding the gold Mohurs ; and flatter ourfelves that
this application, as it equally merits, v.-ill equally meet with your regard.

Before the gold Mohurs were called in, the ShrofFs had fo far taken the advantage
of tire necefficy of individuals, that thev had made the changing of money, from a
bare livelihood, to a mofl advantageous trade to thcmfelvcs, and a diftrcfsful tax upon
every man ^\■ho wanted money beyond the bounds of Calcutta ; yet, at that very
time, any fum might have been had in filver, by paying a higli premium to thofe
people who had it in their poffeflion. From this we are led to believe, that there is
IHll fpecie fufficient for the trade of Bengal, though perhaps not enough to anfvver
the currency of this extenfive town; and tliat if any method could be fallen upon to
keep the Shroffs to their propher fphere, and prevent their taking advantage of the
neceffities of thofe who carry on trade to the Aurungs, a gold coin might flill be
made a convenient and ufeful currency for this fettlemcnt, though not for the trade
of Bengal in general ; whereas at prefent the diftrefs is fo great, that every merchant
in Calcutta is in danger of becoming bankrupt, or running a rifl<. of ruin by at-
tr.chmcnts on his goods, which would not fell for half their value, it being impoflible
to raife a large fum at any premium on bond.

As many of us have feverely felt the late inconveniences, we have often reflecfled
on the various methods by which it appeared to us iioffible to remedy them, and we
hope yon will excufe our fubjoining one for your iupcrior judgment, which appears
to us moll reafonablc ; that is, to coin Mohurs, half Aiohurs, and quarter Mohurs,
equal in value and ftandard to thofe commonly called Dehly ;. forbidding, by your
authority, any Shroff, under pain of fevere fine and imj^rifonmcnt, to exad: more
than one per Cent, for exchanging them into filvcr, for the jnirpofes of merchants
trading out of Calcutta; with which allowance ws are perfuaded they will become
fatisfied in the courfe of a few months ; fince, before there was an\' gold coin iuff.-
cient in Calcutta, they fubfilkil by exchanging Sicca rupees into Arcotts, SunnautSj
^&c. for the Aurung trade ; and we do not remember the exchange ever exceeded two
per Cent, and was in general only from 4 to 4- P^r Cent. Pra\ ing \ our pardon for
this long trcfpafs on your patience, we beg leave to fubfcribc ourlelves with the ut-
moft refpeft.

Gentlemen, Your mofl obedient and mofl huiublc fervants,

CQRN. GOODWIN, K. STEPHENSON, SnM. MIDDLETON,

JOHN BATHOE, KIER, REED, CATOR, JAMES I'LLIS,

and Co.

R. SAUNDERSON,

WILEIAM MAGEE,

Russia, SfCLWNCR,

JOHN ROBINSON,

IPvANCIS DOUGLAS,

H. cottrt:el,

\V. IIARWOOD,
DAN, CAMPBELL,

HUGH ING LIS,
R. HUNTr:;^,
J. ATCHINSON,
TAMES FRAZER,
JOSEPH JEKYLL,
HUGH BAIL LIE,
W. BARTON,
. HOi'.T. DOl'TNSON,
ALEX. MURRAY,

HI'.NRY GRANT,
lOHN PETRIF,
"lAMES LISTl'.R,
NA'i'fL Mil )D). ETON,
lOSI'J'H PRICI'.,
i)ANlEL HOISSARD^
PAGE KEBLE.

APPENDIX. 243

ITo the Honoiiralk Harry Verelft, Efq- fcV. (3c.

The hmnble Peticion of the Armenian Merchants fettled in Calcutta,

SnEWETir,

That tiie fcarcity of coin now felt in this cnpitnl, amongn: the many intolerable
evils arlfing from it, affedls every individual to that degree, that the beft houfes, with
magazines full of goods, are diflreflcd for daily provifions, and that not only a ge-
neral bankruptcy is to be feared, likely to involve every foul in the fettlement, but a
real faiviine in the midll of wealth and plent)\ That to prevent thofe evils from
coming to a dcOmftive crifis, your petitioners, prompted by that zeal incumbent
upon them as ancient Britilb fubjefts-, and by their own heart-fek dillrcffes, humbly
beg leave to fubmit to your wifdom how far an immediate coinage of Mohm-s, with
all their divifions and fubdivifions to one Anna, fixteen Siccas value of jmre gold, to
be lawfully tendered in payment univerfally all over thefe Britifii dominions, and ad-
mitted at the treafury of both capitals, might be an adequate means toward off the
impending ruin ; fmce any coin what.'ver is better than no coin at all ; a meafurc
brought on by the artificial fcarcity of filvcr coin, flrongly pointed out by the com-
binations evidently entered upon by the bankers, and warranted by the large quan-
tity of gold lately imported into this place : a meafure for the reditude of which
your petitioners can account to their own confciences, and in the fupport whereof
they hereby beg leave to pledge their good faith and honour. Your petitioners
Inimbly hope, honourable Sir and Sirs, that your goodnefs will take the prcmifcs
into coniidcration, or give them whatever relief your wifdom fliall tiiink fit.

And your petitioners, bound in gratitude arid duty, fliall ever pray, &c.

To the Honourable Harry Verelfl, Ef^. Prefident, i^c. C-juncil al Fort V/illiam.

Honourable Sir and Sirs,

The honourable the Mayor's court of the town of Calcutta, beg leave to repre-
sent, that in the pradlice of their court they have for fomc time pall obferved the
growth of an evil, which has daily increafed, infomuch that the fufferings of many
will thereby become intolerable, unlcfs a fpeedy relief be afforded them. The evil
of which they fpeak, is the very great decreafe of fpecie, fo that there remains not
Sufficient for the occafions and intercourfe of commerce, and fcarceh' for the private
ceconfimv of the inhabitants of Calcutta. It is felt bv all ranks of people in the
lofs of credit and confitlence ; the fair and honeft dealer is everv day profccuted to
judgment in their court without remedv, from the impoffibilitv of obtaining payment
from his debtors, to latisfv the claim of his creditors, but by- a courfe of law. He
is thus urged b)' his neceffity to involve himfelf in expenfive fuits ; he is forced to
defend, in order to gain time, though fcnfible of the juftnefs, and' defirous to j;ay
the demand ; and he is drove to a hafly profecution, in hopes to recover, before
judgment paffeth againft himfelf, though fully convinced of his debtor^s willingnefs
to pay as foon as he is able ; his fubftance is in this manner wafted, and the diilrefs
which follows too obvious and moving to need defcription.

They arc unable to exprefs what they feel in the difcharge of their duty; but the
daily inftanccs of the melanchoUy confequences of this calam.ity, call upon them to
lay this fiithful reprcfentation before )ou, in full confidence, from the experienced
Icnderncfs and zeal for the public ]:>rolj)eritv and welfare, wljich has fo particularly

H h 2 diliin-

242

N D I X.

diftingulfhed your adminiftration, of fuch effedlual remedy as in your wifdom ycai
fhall judge moft meet.

By order of the honourable, the Mayor's Court,

Town Hall, Calcutta, March 14, 1769.

JOHN HOLME, Regiflcr.

The Board being fv.Ily fenfible, from dally obfervation and experience, of the truth
of the fadts alledged in thefe letters and petition, and convinced of the fatal confe- ■
quences, which muft fpeeJily and unavoidably accrue from them to the Company's

affairs both at home and in India,

Refolvcd, We immediately take this aifair into confideration, and endeavour, as
far as poffible, to find out fome fafe, or at leaft temporary remedy,, for this growing
evil, till the orders of the honourable the Court of Diredtors Ihall enable us to re-
move it entirely.. Upon a ftridl and impartial enquiry, we find that diis fcarcity of
fpecie, fo feverely felt by the merchants here, is. not an accidental or fidtitious one,
nor confined to Calcutta alone, but that the fame indigence is fpread over the whole
country, fo that the minifters have made no fecret of their apprehenfions, that cither
tiie revenues muft fall fhort, or be coUefted in kind, from a want of a fujhcient cur-
rency for fales and purchafes. We can expedt no relief in this., from any fums
brought into the country, for the purpofe of trade inland, becaufe all the commerce
fprmerly to the north-weft and wettward by Guzzerat, Cafhmeree, ?iIogul mer-
chants, &c. is now precluded by the vaft increafe of our own and foreign im'eftmcnts,
whofe advance we fee with concern, but where the ftriftnefs of the Company's, orders
will not permit us to interfere, though ever fo indiredtly. We can expcdl no fifver
from home, and a mere trifle from the foreign companies. The French treafury has
been amply fupplied this year by bills for above twenty lacks on this fcttlementjrom
England, befides vaft fums paid into their cafti by individuals. The Dutch imports .
of bullion have, for feveral years paft, not exceeded eight or ten lacks- per annum, .
and the Danes bring not in above two lacks more. The country's diftrefs muft alfo
yearly encreafe. Its whole revenues are diverted into our treafury, and only the fums
neceffary for the inveftment, and our cvirrent expences, return again into the channel
of circulation. The difference, therefore, between the amount of the revenues, and
the fum of the inveftment and diftjurfements, is an annual lofs to the currency, and
muft, in the end, fwallow up the whole, unlefs a proportional import of fpecie is
made, or till the aggregate of the inveftment and dilburfements ftiail become equal
Co the whole revenues. This will explain the unavoidable increafe of poverty in the
country; and as, the treafury is a continual drain upon that, fo the immenfe exports
to China, Madrafs, Bombay, with the King's tribute, and the expence of a brigade
out of our provinces, will but too well account for the low ebb to which it has, in its
turn, been reduced. If we confider the ftate of the provinces in this point of view,
and rcfledf,. at the tame time, that they produce no filver or gold, lb that imports
of both have been, for a ferics of years, very Inconfiderable ; that a large propor-
tion of their treafures were carried off by a fugitive tyrant, and that, for fevcra^l
years, few returns have been made to exports in general, and trade rendered a kind
of monopoly in the hands of a few, we fhall rather be fnrprized how the country
has fupportcd ivfclf fo long under fuch exhaulling circumftances, than at tlie rapiJ
progrcfs of general penury

The

APPENDIX. 243

The Board having duly and maturely weighed this matter, and having confuitcd
the principal merchants, Banyans, bankers, and the niinillcrs of the Nizaniut, do
refolve to recommend to the Nizamut, the eftablifliing a new gold currency, on and
according to the following rules and rcftriftions.

The Mohur to be of the ancient Dchly ftandard, to weigh feventccn annas Sicca
weight, and to be iffued and received in all public and private difburfemcnts and
receipts whatever, at i6 Sicca rupees each Mohur. The Mohur to be fubdivided
into halves, quarters, eighths, and fixteenths ; fo that each fixtcenth fhall be the va-
lue of one Sicca rupee. That all gold delivered into the mint for coinage, be coined
in the following proportions : fuppofing lOO Mohurs,

A number not exceeding

to be

coined into

25 pieces.

Halves - - -

ditto.

36 ditto.

Quarters - - - -

ditto.

72 ditto.

Eighths . - -

ditto.

144 ditto.

Sixteenths

ditto.

^2^6 ditto.

Mdiurs 100 ditto. - - 613 ditto.

That for the prevention of frauds and abufes, perfons fl-^ould be appointed to fupcr-
intend on the part of the Company, (as Dewans of the Subah, and therefore princi-
pally concerned in the currency of the coin in thefe provinces, having the colledtions
of their, revennes) the aflays of all gold in the mints of Murf!ied-abad, Patna, and Dac-
ca, with the governments aflay-nialler,, and no. coinage be iffued from cither mint, but
what has been thus jointly affayed. That no duties, either on behalf of the govern-
ment, Company, Governor, or mint-mailer, be received, nor any charge, farther
than a per Centage, equivalent to the adlual expence of coinage.

That no mint or aflay-mafter fhall refufe to receive any gold whatever for coinage
or aflay, and that every affay-mafter ihall, when applied to by any merchant or othcy,
affay any gold brought to him for allay, and every quantity brought fhall have the
feal of the aflay-mafler fixetl orr fuch parcel, and a certificate given him under the
aflay-mafter's hand, fpecifying the affay, that the proprietor of fuch gold may know
at all times its real value.

The advantages expefted to be derived from this arrangement are,

1. An increafe of currency by a fpecles of coin upon a ftandard as near as poffibT'e
to the eftabrifhed one of filver, and Whofe numerous fub-divifions will enable it to
fupply the place of filver in all fmaller difburfemcnts and receipts.

2. That as, on a moderate computation, near twenty lacks in gold are now lying
ufelefs in Calcutta, from the want of a fixed gold currency, and other confiderable fums
may be expefted in return for the Bafforah Judda, and other cargoes, from whence
alone we can hope fupplies of fpccie ; the whole amount of thefe will run into the
general circulation of the currency, inilead of remaining as a mere matter of mer-
chandize.

5. That as a proportion of -J-, of feventeen annas of Sicca gold to one Sicca rupee,
is, as near as poilible, to the refpedlive value of the old ftandard, gold and filver,
throughout the empire, its currency may fairly and julllv be every where enforced,
nor can any combination or artifice of the bankers and Shroffs, ever make fuch a
difference in the exchange, as in any degree to affedt the profits and welfare of trade
in general ; or fhould prudence or policy hereafter prefcribe the recall of fuch a coiii-.
age^ the Company will fuftain little lofs or detriment.

Laftly,-

244 A P P E N D I X.

Laftly, It will eficdually rcmler abortive the rchemes of the French, of dillren^nT
this fctticment ami country by the large fums in filvcr they have drawn into their
treafurv, in payinent for their Europe bills, by introducing a currency nearly as
convenient, and on as fair a ftandard, as the very fiiver they have fo earneftly laboured
to engroft.

Agreed, That the Prcfident be requefted to communicate this fcheme to the mi-
nifters of the government, to defire their fentiments thereon ; and if it meets thcii'
concurrence, that they will enforce the propofed eltabiiihment of a gold currency.

No. 137.
■Extrati of a letter from Mahomed Reza Caxc'fi faSling minijler to the Kahob
of Bengal) to the Prefident and Council at Fort WilUam j recorded on Con-
Jidtations, March iZth, 1769.

If orders were ilfued for a coinage of gold of the Dehly finenefs in the feveral
mints, and that it flvall be received in the pa\ ment of the revenue, and become cur-
rent in the feveral fa«ftor-ies, and in all mercantile tranfadions whatever, and care was
taken to enforce thofe orders throughout the provinces ; both private and public bu-
finefs would be carried on without any of thofe delays and interruptions which, at
prefent, arlfe from the general fcarcity of fiiver.

No. 138.

Extra^ of a letter from Mr. Becher, refdent at the Durbar, to the Sele^

Committee, dated May f^th, 1769,

Some Mohurs of the new gold coinage were received veftcrdav, in part of the Poo-
nah Kilts, and the minillcrs will immediately ilTue Itritt orders for receiving, in all
the diftritls, gold when offered in payment of the revenues, and hope the currency
ivill be eltabliiiied without difficulty.

No. 139.

ExtraSl of Fort William Confidtations, dated May T^oth, 1769,

Received a letter from (Mr. Rumbold) the chief of Patna, dated the 2ifi: inflant,
■acquainting us that ])articular diredlions have been received from the Nabob by
Seetabroy for eftablifhing a gold coinage at Patna ; and as it is mentioned among the
regulations that a perfon fliould be ftationed there on the part of the Company, to
■prevent any frauds in the coinage, to requefl our orders concerning it.

No. 140.

ExtraSl of Fort William C onf ul tat ions ^ dated fune {jth, 1769.

Received a letter from the governor and Mr. Becher (at the citv of Murlhcd-abad)
"cbted the 9th of June, advifing, that they enclofe us an account of the difference be-
tween the three known flandards of gold in Hindoftan, that the minilters recom-
mend, and that they have acquiefced in the propriety of their remarks. That the
ftandard of Mahomed Shah, approaching neareft to the proportional value of gold and
fiiver, is therefore better adapted for the purpofe of exchange, and a general currency
in commerce ; and that it derives an additional advantage from the refpe(ft and repu-
tation in which that coin is held, and from the univerfal fatisfacffion with which it
has always been received ; and that, for -thcfe confidcrations, vvc are induced to ap-
prove

APPENDIX. 245

pi-ove of Mahomed Shah's ftandard, in preference to the Venetian, for the prefcnt
airrericy. . And having received advice that Mohurs of this ftandard hal'e been ftruck
in the mints of Patna and Dacca, in confcqucncc of famplcs tranfinitted from thence,
and that they met w ith a ready circulation, wliich is a farther inducement to them in
their prcfent r6commendatIon thereof.

I'he Board being fully faiisfied, as well from the recommendation of the minifters,
as from the report laid before them by the aflay-mafter, that the ftandard of Mahomed
Shah ajjproacb.es the neareft to the proportional value between gold and fih'er, do agree
and rcfolve, that the refolutions of the 20th of March, ftiall immediately take j^hicc,
and that the fubordinates be advifed thereof j that the chiefs be directed to appoint
fome pcrfon on the part of the Company, to fuperintcnd the bufinefs of the mint,
and fee that the regulations be properly attended to ; and that the fecretar)- ifTue pub-
lic advercifements of this our reiblution, for the information of the inhabitants of the
town.

No. 141.-

The following diary of the price of filver in Calcutta, exhibits undeniable proof
of the advantages derived by the Shroffs, from the prevailing fcarcity of filver
rupees, and obftruft ion to the currency of gold Mohurs. It farther explains how ne-
ceftTary it became for the Bsard to adopt fome expedient for repreffing the jirefent evil,
relieving the inhabitants, and ifluing a gold coin which fliould be univerfallv received
for the purpofes of trade ; it was for this reafon they made choice of the ftandard of
ISIahomed Shah, which had always been held in the greateft eftcem amongft the na-
tives of Bengal, and was particularly defired at this' time, by the united voice of the
]>eoplc. To underftand this diary, it rauft be obferved, the eftablifhed Battas are as
follow :

viz. 9 Sun Siccas, being the coin ftruck fhat year, arc 16 per Cent.

8 Suns, the coin of the preceding year, are 1 ^ per Cent.

Sunats, being the third year in circulation, are 1 1 per Cent.

Arcots, are 8 per Cent.

The deviation from thefe numbers cxprefs tht; rife or fall of Batta, which excefs ought
to be deduced from the extraordinary difcount on the gold Mohuis of 1756.

9 Sun Siccas S Sun Sicca Rs. Sont. Rs. Arcot Rupees.

15 8

17 4

»7 4

17 4

'7 4

17 2

17 6
ly 6

J 7 12

1 3

18 8

p Sun

1768, June I

14 per

Cent.

J I

-5

24<5

P P

D I X.

9 Sun S

iccas

8 Sun Sicca

Rs.

Sont. Rs.

Arcot

Rupees.

175s, June 14

9 C

23 12

22 8

9 Sun S

)icCES

8 Sun Sicca Rs,

Sont. Rs.

Arcot Rupees.

July r

•17

-4

»9

22
22

12
4

»5

»9

9 Sun

APPENDIX. 247

Sun Siccas

8 Sun Sicca Rs. Son^

Rs. Arcat Rupees.

1768, July 24

9 Sun S

liccas

8 Sun Sicca Rs. Sont.

Rs. Arcot Rupees.

Auguft I

»9

i«

»9

«9

3»

No.

248

APPENDIX.

No. 141.

Accoimt of the. number of gold Mohurs coined in Bengal, in ccnjeqiience of regit" ■

lations eflablijhed in the year ijtb.

In the mint of Calcutta - - - i;??^;!
Patna _ _ . 15,274

Murflied-abad - - 70,000

Total Mohurs 263^145

Of the abovefenttoMadrafs - . - 134,417
Balance remaining in Bengal in March 1769 - 128,72*^

263,145;

PAPERS relating to the SOCIETY for carrying on the-

SALT, &c.. Trade.

No. 142.

ExtraSi of a- Letter from the Court of DireB^ors to the SeleSf Committee at
Fort William, dated Nov.. 2 ijl, J766.

Par. 19. We find in the Burdwan accounts, the committee of lands, and the
Prefident and Council who pafled them, never, required, as it was their duty to have
done, an explanation of the enormous fum paffed under the head of charges refidency ;
fo that fuccefEve Governors and Councils winked at this abufe. And, in the prefent
cafe, manv members of the Board had paflcd through the office of chief of Midna-
pore, each treading in the corrupt fteps of his prcdecelibr. And by Mr. Watts's letter,
entered on your proceedings of the 20th of January laft, it appears, thi^fe things
were no fecret to.the Governor and Council, nor even to the public.

21. At thiC fame time that we aifure Mr. Verellt of the high fcnfe we entertain of
his upright condudt in the bringing to light thefe fraudulent practices in the pi-ovincc
of Midnapore, and adding fo greatly to our-reveniie, we wouid alfo have you afllire
Mr. Graham, that he fuifers no imputation on this account, and that we regard him as
a valuable llrvant.

22. Our letters of thefe two years pafl, fuflicient'v tcftify how entirel)"- we agree
with you ill your opinion of the corruption and licentioufnefsof ourfcrvants, the hor-
rible abufes committed in the can-)ing on the inland trade, the vail fums extorted
for relHtution and for donations, the contempt and violation of'our moll pofitive or-
ders, and lalll' , the glaring frauds known and- connived at in th« coiieftion uf the rc-
V. nues at Burdw.an and Midnapore, amply juftify your opinion, that all ranks are
tainted with it, and we readily conceive the ilfflicutty you were under how to fill up
the Council. Peace and tranquility could not l)c laid to be fairly cftabliflied, while
fofaflious and licentious a fpirit prevailed, ami ycHi therefore did well to -extend the
conftru-ftion of thofe words to an ad, fo cflentially necelfary as the calling down the
four gLntlcmcD from Madrafs..

30. \Vc

A P P E N D I X. 249

20. We recommend it to you to put the mofl; cxtenfivc condrucVion on the powers
\vc have vefled in you to corrcd: all abules. It is impoiTihl? for us to point out re-
medies for malverfations that have been hitherto unheard of ; the covenants guanl
againft donations ; the 19th jiaragraph to you of the i7!h May laft, forbids the hold-
ing of farms ; the i8th paragraph of the general letter of that date, forbids the lend-
ing irioney to the natives at more than 12 j)er Cent, interefl: ; and we now make it a
{landing order, that no fervant of the Company, or Englifhman refiding under their
protedlion, fliall hold any poif, ollicc, or employment, under any country power,
whatfoever.

36. We have the pleafure to affure \'0U v/e highly approve your conducl in general,
and we mofl earneftly entreat you to perfcvere in the lame zealous attention to our
interefl:.

No. 143.

ExtraSi of Fort William Cotifiiltations, dated September \6th, 1765.

The Committee for managing the plan of trade in the feveral articles of fait,
beetle-nut, and tobacco, fend in the following letter, follciting a deed to fecure the
proprietors in right to the fame, during the continuance of their prefent engagements,
to be renewed every feafon as long as it may be agreeable to the honourable Company
that this plan Ihould fubfifl:.

?o the Right Honourable Lord Clive., Preftdmt and Governor, &c. Council of Fort William.

MY LORD AND GENTLEMEN,

In confequence of the plan which you have been pleafcd to entrufl; to our manage-
ment, we have, for fome time paft, been taking mcafurcs for re>i;ulating the trade in
fait, beetle-nut, and tobacco, and have already concluded coniiderable contradts for
tKe purchafe of the firft article.

Having thus engaged in the trade, and made advances for the fociety's propertj',
with a view of being able to carry it on agreeable to }our fold plan, it becomes*la
neceffary confideration with us, on behalf of the body for whom we aft, to have
them fecured againft any innovations, during the continuance of their prefent engage-
ments. The terms of the purchafe contrails will run for the cnfuing 3'ear's produce
of the feveral articles, and the vend will be concluded as foon after as poffible. We .
therefore requcft that your lordfliip, &c. Council, will furnifh u-3 with fuch a deed in
writing as you fliall think fuiiicient to fecure to the focietv the free and fole purchafe' of
the articles of fair., beetle-nut, and tobacco, produced in the provinces of Bengal,
Bahar, and Oiifla, from the firll September 1765, to the 3ifl: Auguft 1766, allowing
futhclent time to difpofe of fuch purchafe for the feafon ; to be renewed every feafon
as long as fliall be agreeable to the honourable Company, that this plan fliould fub-
fill; and, as a very great lofs would a'rife to the proprietors, fliouId any alteration
happen after the concern of the year is begun, and before it is finifhed, tliat ample
.provifion be made for the continuance and conclufion of fuch concern.

We are the more earnefl: to be iluisficd in this point, as until we obtain your com-
pliance, we find we fliall not be able to eflabilfh the credit of the fociety amongfl the
merchants, fo as to raife the neceffary fund for carrying the trade on.

We are with refpeifl, &c.

W. B. SUMNER, H. VERELST, R. LEYCESTER, G. GRAY.

Fort William, Sept. iitb, 1765.

I i 2 The

2 so

N D I X.

The fame having been perufed and confidercd, we are unanimous in opinion re-
fpefting the proprlcrv of pafling the deed requefted by the fociety, and fuch a one is
accordingly ordered to be prepared by Mr. Whittal *, for the fecurity of the prefent
proprietors.

It is agreed to apply to the Company for pcrmiffion to renew the fame for the fu-
ture concerns, if the plan meets with their approbation ; and the Committee is ad-
vlfed in anfvver accordinglv, with further information, that when the prefent deed is
prepared and executed, it lliall be tranlmittcd to them.

No. 1 44.

ExtraB of a Letter from Lord Clive to the Court of DireSlors, dated Fort

William, September 2.gtli, 1765.

Par. 17. The regulation now eflabliflied for the fait trade will, I hope, be entirely
to your fatisfa^tion. I at firil intended to propofc, that the Company and their fcr-
vants fhould be jointly and equally concerned in the trade itfelf : but, upon better
confidcration, I judged that plan to be rather unbecoming the dignity of the Company,
and concluded it would be better, that t'ney fliould give the trade entirely to their
ferv'ants, and fix a duty upon it for themfelves, equivalent to half the profits. This
duty we have computed at the rate of 35 per Cent, for the prefent ; but, I imagine,
it will be able next year to bear an increafe. The articles of beetle and tobacco being
of lefs confequence, and yielding much lefs advantage, the duties upon them, of
courfe, muit be lefs. For farther particulars of thefe regulations, I beg leave to refer
you to the Committee letter and proceedings, as I would not here trouble you with
the repetition of a matter which is there fo fully laid before you.

18. The advantages propofed for the Governor and Council would undoubtedly
appear extremely large to thofe who are unacquainted with the riches of Beng;'.l,
and the numberlefs opportunities which the Company's fervants have of acquiring
iHoncy. But you, who are now perfeftly informed of the revenues of thefe king-
doms, and the ]irodigious emoluments within the reach of gentlemen hig'h in the
fervice, will, I am perfuaded, agree with me, that if fome plan of the nature propofed
be not adopted, the Governor and Council will not fail to acquire much larger for-
tunes, by other means, in a much fliorter time ; which muft always be produdtive of
that quick fucceffion, not only fo detrimental to \'our commercial interefl, but fo to-
tally incompatible with the acquifition of political knowledge, which ought now to
be confidcred as a very material qualification in all your civil as well as military fer-
vants. Ta obviate an objedion which may aiifc, that they mav poffiblv proceed in
the old wavief procuring money, notwithrtanding they accept of thefe allowances, I
would have an oath tendered to them, of as ftrong and folemn a nature as can be
penned. I have drawn out the form of one, agreeable to my idea of the expedient,
and have the honour to enclofe it for your confidcration. To this may be annexed, a
penalty bond of 1 50,000 1. to be executed by the Governor, and 50,000 I. to be
executed by each of the Council.

• See chapter IV. p. 11 2, note (*) at the boctofln.

No.

APPENDIX. »5»

No. 145.

Copy of Lord CHves Mi)iute in Selecf Conunittee, dated Fort JVjllia/n, Sep-
tember 2d, 17(>S'

GENTLEMEN,

Sometime before my departure from England, the Court of Dircftors debated
upon the jiropricty of fuffcrhig their fervants in Bengal to trade in tlic articles of fair,
beetle, and tobacco ; and it could not be expefted they would continue to than tlie
enjoyment of thofe profitable branches, unlefs means were devifed, by which the na-
tives could no longer be oppreffed, and by which the Nabob and the Company would
largely partake of the advantages. Upon a firm perfuafion that fuch means v.ould
be devifed, they were pleafed to defer their final determinations of this matter, till
the fentiments of the Seleft Committee fhould he tranfmitted to them. By all their
letters of laft year, and by feveral of this, they ftill feemed inclined to wait for our
reprefentations ; but by their letter of the 15th of February, by the Lord Camden,
they pofitivcly forbid their fervants to have any concern whatever in this trade. At
that time, indeed, they could not have had the leail idea of the favourable changes
in the affairs of thefe provinces, whereby the intereft of the Nabob, with regard to
fait, is no longer immediately concerned.

When we firfl took this important matter into confideration, I joined in opinion
with the reft of the Committee that, if the trade could be put on fuch a footing,
that if the Nabob fhould receive more than had been received by any of his prede-
ceflbrs, the Company be amply confidered, and the natives become purchafers upon
terms full as rcafonable as in former times, the fervants might be indulged in the
privilege under fuch certain rules and reftridlions as would make the trade carry with
it ai little as poffible the odious form of a monopoly. Thcfe points having been
fettled, I confentcd to the plan laid down laft year. My abfence from the Prcfi-
dency, and the multiplicity of afflrirs then in agitation, wherein the peace and tran-
quility of the provinces, the intereft of the Company, and the honour of t-he na-
tion, were more immediately concerned, prevented my paying that attention I could
have wifhed to this important objcft, although by the acquifition of the Dewanny the
whole of the duties belong to the Company; and by the diligence and zeal of the
members of the Committee of trade many ufeful reformations had taken place ; yet
from my obfervation when I was laft up the country, and from, the heavy complaints
againft Europeans of the monopoly of trade in general, I fi:id that the induftrious
native is ftill deprived of that Ihare to which he had an undoubted, and a mcn-e na-
tural right ; nor is it yet upon that equitable footing, which juftice and humanity
would I am fure incline the Committee to eftablifh.

A few weeks more muft bring us the final rcfolutions of the Court of Direftors
in anfwer to our difpatches by the Admiral Stevens; and if, notwithftanding the pve-
fent fituation of their aifairs, they fhould think proper to repeat their orders by the
Lord Camden, it will be our duty to obey them, and I am pcrfuaded they will be
obeyed by this Committee. But if, on the contrarv, upon the receipt of our repre-
fentations, they fliould change their fentiments, and approve of the regulations al-
ready made, no time fhould be loft on our part in eftabliihing the mode for carrying
on the trade in future. The coniidence which the Court of Dircftors have been
])lealed to exprefs in mv endeavours to fettle upon an equitable plan that trade which
has been the fource of fo many evils, cannot but promote my zeal for the caufe, and
make me anxioullv wifh to fee every regulation, that you may jo'n with mt in think-
ing neceffary, take place.

The

2.-2

A .P -P E N D

The Coippany's d'.nios I beg leave to propofe fhall be encreafed, the fcrvaiits
lliil receive a realbnable fliare of emolunienc, and the terms upon which the natives
are finally to be concerned, advantageoufly lixed. I propofe —

1. That all falC provided by the "ibciety of tratie fliall be fold at Calcutta, and at
the other places where it is made, and no^vvhcre elfe.

2. That the price of fait fliall not exceed 2 rupees per maund, or 200 rupees per
100 maunds. ., .

3. That the lalt {hall be fold to tiie natives .only, who are to tranfport it to every
part of Bengal, Bahar, and Qriffa, and to have the whole profits aiifing from the
fale thereof, and that no Company's fervant, free merchant, or European, flrall be
concerned in that article directly or indire(3:ly, after the fale of it at the above places.

4. That the Calcutta black merchants fnall be limited to a certain proportion of
purchafe, but that no Ban3an, or fervant \\hatevcr belonging to any European, Ihall
be included, or have any concern therein.

5. That every endeavour be made \no of to encourage the fubftantial merchants
of the country, cither to come down in perfon to the place where the fait is pro-
V4dcd, or to fend their agent,, in order to"purchafe and tranfport the fait to the dif-
ferent places of fale.

6. That a certain price be fixed for the fale of every maund of fait, at every town,
market, or village, where it is fold, according to the tliftance and former cuftom.

7. That if fait be fold at any of die Bazars, or markets, for one Cowrie above the
flipulated price, the vender fhall not only forfeit all the fait then found in his pof-
fclhon, but be, liable. to a forfeit of rooo rupees for every hundred maunds of fait I'o
fold, and the lalt and money fo forfeited fliall go one half to the informer, and one
half to the government.

■8. That the minifters at Jklurflied-abad and Patna have copies lent them of thcfc
new regtilations, and that they be defired to apply to the Nabob to make the fame
known throughout the three provinces ; and that every Fouzdar, Sec. fee they be put
in execution, upon pain of being difmiired from his employments.

9. This bufinefs being entirely commercial, I propofe that in the inftrument of
agreement for the next year, it Ihall be provided, that the fociety of trade be an-
f^verable to the Board for their condudf, that the Board may either make new regu-
lations, or amend thofe made by the fociety of trade, as they fee fit; and that in cafe
of neceffity the Sclecft Committe Ihall have power to controul the conduct of tlie
whole.

10. Tliat a duty of fifty per Cent, be paid to the Company upon all the fait pro-
vided in their own lands, and fifty per Cent, to the government upon all the fiilt pro-
vided in the lands of the government, and fifteen per Cent, upon beetle ; which du-
ties, in fad:, will be brought to the Company's credit, which, according to the prc-
fent flate of the fait trade, will produce the Company from 12 to 13 lacks, or from
150,000/. to 162,500/. per annum.

Tiie prohibition of a free inland trade, however difagreeable to individuals, muft
now take place, and be confined to imports and exports, and to their immediate
returns, which returns Ihall be made only to the Prcfidenc}-, or to one or other of the
cfl;abii!hcd fadories. The Company are fovcreigns in India, and they have declared
that the trade carried on for rhefe four years paft is an ufurpation not only of their
prerogative, but of the privileges of the natives, and repugnant to the axprefs and
repeated orders of the Court of Diredtors. The indulgence, however, in the trade
of fait, upon the footing, I hope, It wIU now be eftablilhcd, fliould, in my opinion,
obviate all complaints ; fincc it fcems to be the moil equitable modus between the
Company and their fervants, and at the fame time a diftributlGn of natural right to

the

A P P E N D I X. 253

the people of the country. Confidciing that the late great advantages of unlimited
inland trade are cut off; I cannot imagine that the Court of Dirccflors will deny their
fcrvants this fhare of benefit, as a rcconipence for their attention and affillance in the
management of the imjionant concerns of thefc provinces. On the other hand, I
would have the fcrvants look on thefc emoluments as a gift from the hand of their
employers, offered to them annually in reward of their fidelity, and which will cer-
tainly be with-held from them, if ever their authority fliould be refilled, and difcon-
tent and rapacity take place of gratitude and moderation.

(Signed) CLIVE..

Extras of Sele£i Committee proceedings thereorr, of the fame date.

His Lordfhip's Minute having been read and maturely confidered, the regulations
therein fjiecified are unanimoufly approved of.

Agreed, therefore, that the Preiident's regulations for the inland trade be laid be-
fore the Council with all convenient difpatch, for their approbation, in order that the
neceffary inllruftions for profecuting the joii,it concern for the enfuing feafon, may
be immediately iffued to the Committee of trade.

Refolved, that the above concern ffiall confifl; of fixty fhares, and that the pro-
prietors fhall ftand enrolled with the feveral proportions affixed to their, names, im
the manner afcertained in the following flatement :

Class P. Counfellors, and Colonels Smith and Sir Robert Barker, 32 fhare?^

Class 11. Clcrgvmen, fcnior and junior merchants, and lieutenant \ ^ ,.

Colonels,, 1 14 t ditto.

Glass HI. Faftors, majors, and furgeons,, 9 ditto^

55 T
Sec N. B. below. 4 ^

It appearing from the abo\e divifion of capital flock that 4 ,' ffiares remain unap-
propriated ; Agreed, that the fame be accounted for at a proper time.

N. B. Thefe fhares were afterwards appropriated to Mr. Bolts, and Qthers.

N. L Si,

ERRATA in ths A P P E N D I X.

P:!ge Line
a z8 for Juggutfeflt, r^n,^ Juggut-Sec^.

33 Jor ditto, rrfl^ ditto.
3 38 for ditto, read ditto.

5 lajifor ditto, wai ditto.

6 8 /or enemies, rcai enemy's.
S I yir Sombre, read Somioo.

1 1 41 dele efcabliihed, (frfl refeateJ)
'+ 3} y*"" Juggntieat, reist/ Juggut-Seet.

1 5 iiij'ert N" II. oierthe top oj the letter, noixj unnuinhered.

3 Jrom the boltam, ftr 286,000 1. read 1,630,000 1.

16 Z-; for iorXxme, rcaJ fortunes.
J 8 15 yiirpreCdent, 7rfl</relKient.

JO 8 /ro/zi r^c bottom, for Seats, r<'a</ Seels,
SI 16 lieU not.

27 _/or deputations, fi-a^ deputation.^

17 36 /or been graved, read be engraved,
41 19 for Slietabroy, read Seetabroy.

41 14 /or Poonalis, r^-rt^/ Poonali.
43 10 ybr Slietabroy, rcni Seetabroy.

49 4 yhsm bottom, for your, cfaJ our.

50 II 7or afpiriug, rt-aiafpiring.

51 8 for ^ieneer, read Munnecr.

55 3 }ro/»i(j//o?n, yiir Janajee, r^«</ Janoojee.

53 -10 far Siretabroy, read Seetabroy.
19 for Serajapore, read Serajepore.

54 j/orAchmet, r^^Achined.
24 for paid to, r^aipaid by.

J 5 yir Kige naut Kow, r<:«./ Ragoo-naut Row,

Page

Line

• 30

«7

lOJ

lit

123

ii6

' +

,36

.38

■39

140

141

»o

175

/or Rige-iiaut Row) read Ragoo-naut Row.

for Janegee, rfa^/ Jar«5ojee.
_/»r Uecan, read Dtcc^n.
/:r Goercullah, reflrfGourcullah.
for of revenues, read of the revenue*.
for tranfmittint;, r^ao" trar.rmitted.
for 25th ultimo, readi6lh ultimo.
liaefrom bottom, for on howitz, readKm howitSi
for expeijenced, tfc</experieiice. .
/orFebruary 9th, ?-^a(/ February 29th.
for call, read cMi.
for Rutten, read Ruttiin.
line from the hoUom, for pounder, rtadfOMai,
for warehoufe, r^a,/ warehoules,
for Hidollan, read Hindoftan.
_/ormiflead, rtj:/niiflead.
for Cliandornagore, rtar/Chandernagore.
for Nazims, read Nizams.
for his commands, read its commands.
for Rutten, read Ruttun.
/or Nizamaut, r<'«</Nizamut.
Note at bottom, for 6,250 1. readCx, ^00 I.
Note at bottom, for 150,000 1. read 275,000!,
yir Seats, rfa^afSeets.
Note at bottom, for 6,250!. read 62,500!,
dele both years inclufive.
for Cheetmarry , read Cheelmajry.
for you, read your.

f 745 14

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