UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 A N 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 TO THE 
 
 C H A R G E S 
 
 EXHIBITED AGAINST 
 
 Sir THOMAS R U M B O L D, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 REPORTS OF THE SECRET COMMITTEE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF COMMONS, 
 
 AND IN THE 
 
 GENERAL LETTER 
 
 FROM T li E 
 
 COURT oi? DIRECTORS 
 
 Of the loth of J A N U A RY, 1781. 
 
 By HIMSELF. 
 
 7 7^5 ] ^
 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 >- 
 
 •c 
 a: 
 
 C3 
 
 T 
 
 H E Sevdrity, with which my Adminiftration of the Govern- 
 ment of Fort St. George has been arraigned by the Court of 
 S JL Diredors, and by the Secret Committee of the Houfe of 
 ° Commons, may appear to have demanded from me an earher Vindi- 
 ^ cation of my Condu6t. I am perfe6lly aware of the Prejudice, which 
 their Proceedings, fupported by a great deal of a£live tliough unavowed 
 Cahimny, mult have created in the Opinion of the PubUc againft me. 
 I am not infenfible of the Danger that may threaten my Fortune, and 
 I feel moft acutely the Wounds that have been given to my Reputa- 
 tion. 1 well know what Sort of Spirit has dictated thofe Proceed- 
 ings on one Part, and to what Objedt they are directed. Yet, in~ 
 
 the Face of fuch Attacks, as certainly called for Refutation, and 
 miglit have provoked Refentment, I have hitherto obferved a profound 
 Silence. With fome Men, this Forbearance may lead to a Prefump- 
 
 tion 
 
 'mr-
 
 IV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tion that I am carelefs of my Charader ; with others, that I have 
 nothing to urge in my Defence. The Time is now come, at which 
 a Defence ought to appear. The following State of Fa6ls will fhew 
 that it has not been improperly or unneceflarily deferred ; and that, 
 if my prefent Anfwer does not yet apply to all the Points, on which 
 I have been publickly arraigned, it ought not to be imputed to any 
 Refervc of mine, or to a Diftrufl in the Strength of any Part of my 
 Caufe. Let me only claim it of the Juftice of my Countiy, to liften 
 to my Defence with the fame Attention, which has been given to the 
 Accufations againft me. — The Queftion is too ferious to be decided 
 by Aflertions on either Side. I fhall not follow the Example of thofe 
 who have accufed me. I will neither infmuate without aflerting, nor 
 afiert without Proof. 
 
 The Court of Direftors were in PofTeflion of my Letter of Refig- 
 nation, and had Reafon to expert my immediate Arrival in England, 
 when they difmijjed me from a Service, which I had already relinquijhed. 
 No Purpofe of political Expediency or Ncceflity could be urged to 
 juflify this Proceeding. I no longer pOiTefled the Powers, which I was 
 faid to have abufed, and of which it might otherwife be neceffary to 
 difarm me by an inftant Difmiflion. If the Court of Dire6lors con- 
 fidered themfelves as my Judges, they ought to have obferved the 
 Forms that belong to every judicial Aft, which has Juftice for its 
 Objeft. They ought not to have proceeded to Condemnation and 
 Punifliment, (as far as Punifhmcnt was in their Reach) without 
 hearing the Party. In my Cafe, no Purpofe could be anfwered by 
 it, but that of fixing a Stigma on my Characler. The Refohition to 
 difmifs me palled on the 14th December 1780. On the 20th, the 
 
 Chairman
 
 INTRODUCTION. v 
 
 Chairman acquainted the Court of Proprieters that the Dire6lors had 
 appointed Lord Macartney to fucceed me, and the Appointment was 
 confirmed as a Succeflion to a Refignatlon. My Letter was before 
 the General Court, and two Courts were exprefsly held to confider 
 of a Succeflbr ; yet the Proprietors were not informed that I was 
 difmiffed from the Company's Service, or that there exiftcd any Caufe 
 of Complaint againft me. This cannot be deemed an accidental or 
 unintended Omiflion ; nor can it be accounted for but by fuppofmg 
 that the Court of Dire6lors knew that I had Friends among the 
 Proprietors, who would have infifted on canvaffing the Merits of the 
 Meafure, and who might have engaged a general Court to give it a 
 
 fair Confideration. 1 landed in Ireland on the 7th of January 
 
 1781, and wrote immediately to the Chairman to inform him of my 
 Arrival. He muft have received my Letter on the 20th. The Bill 
 in Chancery was filed againft me on the 29th, four Days before I 
 arrived in London. Before it was filed, I might have been called 
 upon to anfwer the Charges on which it was founded, or to explain 
 fuch Parts of my Condu6t as might be thought to require Expla- 
 nation. No Point, of any eflential Moment to the Company's In- 
 tereft, could have been gained by hurrying the Profecution in my 
 Abfence, or loft by deferring it. With fair and impartial Men, I 
 truft I ftiall not fufi:er from the Precipitation, if not Paflion, which 
 has marked every Kdi and Refolution of the Court of Directors 
 againft me, while they were the fole Judges of my Condu6l. They 
 are Parties now, and in that Character proceed with the fame Temper, 
 and aie governed by the fame Principles. On the loth of January 
 1781, they figned their Letter of Difmifllon, purfuant to their Refo- 
 lution of the 14th of December. On the Eleventh, they fent the 
 following Inftru(5lions to the Prcfidency of Fort St. George. 
 
 b Exti-adl
 
 VI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Extract of the Company's General Letter to fort St. George, i ith of 
 
 January 1781, Para. 35. 
 
 " We hereby dh-ed That you ftrl6tly enquire whether, in order 
 " to obtain their Leafes, or Agreements, any Gratuity or Prefent 
 " hath been made, or given, diredlly or indirectly, by any Ren^ 
 " ter. Rajah, Zemindar, or other Perfon or Perfons, to any Per- 
 " fon wliatever in the Service of the Company, and more efpecially 
 '' to any Member, or Members of our Council at Fort St. George, 
 " and that you caufe thefe our Orders to be notified to all and 
 " every fuch Perfon or Perfons affuring them at the fame Time, 
 " tliat upon giving Information thereof, and eftablifliing the Fa6ls by 
 " fufhcicnt Proofs to enable us to recover the Money from our 
 " delinquent Servants, thefaid Informants, in fettling their Accounts 
 " with the Company, pall be alloioed the- Amount of every fuch Gift, 
 " Prefent, Gratuity, or Payment, or fo much thereof, for which 
 " they fliall not have reaped proportionable Advantage; and we 
 " hereby authorize and dirc<5l you to make fuch Allowances to thera 
 " accordingly." 
 
 A higher Judgment than mine mufl determine how far the Spirit 
 and Tendency of thefe Orders approach to Subornation. I fliall 
 only fay that, with fuch powerful Encouragement and Protedlion 
 to future Witneffes, it will not be extremely difficult for the Go- 
 verning Power in the Carnatic to prove whatever the Court of 
 Direftors think proper. 
 
 The
 
 INTRODUCTION. vii 
 
 The Bill in Chancery was fucceeded by a Parliamentary Inquiry 
 into my Condu<5t. A Man mnft be criminal indeed, whom it is 
 not deemed unjuft to profecute in two Courts for the fame Offences^ 
 at tlie fame Inftant. In other Cafes, it may have happened, that 
 the Difcoveries, made in one Court, might lead to and juftify 
 more general or ftrifler Proceedings in another. In mine, a gene- 
 ral Certainty of Guilt feems previoufly to be taken for granted, 
 and engages the two higheft Jurifdiftions of the State, at the 
 fame Moment, to look for the Proofs of it, wherever they 
 can be found. 
 
 The moft innocent Man that lives might be perplexed to acquit 
 himlelf againft two fuch Attacks at once ; efpecially if he knew 
 that his Accufers had the Management and Difpofition of the great- 
 eft Part of the Evidence in one Quarter where he had never been 
 heard ; and that he could not defend himfelf againft the Charges 
 founded on that Evidence, without the Irregularity of anticipating 
 the Defence demanded of him in another Court, nor without 
 difrefpeft to the Magiftrate, wlio prefides in it. 
 
 Such has been my Situation. The Secret Committee, when they 
 undertook their prefent Office, profeffed thcmfelves to be ignorant 
 of India Affairs. The Knowledge they now poffefs, has been ob- 
 tained by Inquiries, directed to a particular Point. The Records 
 of the India Houfe, that relate to the Subjed of thofe Inquiries, are 
 Yoluimifous to Excefs. The Secret Committee I am fatisfied, in- 
 
 tended
 
 VIU 
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 tended to confult them fairly. But through this Labyrinth of Papers, 
 they have had no Clue to conduft them, except the Candour of the 
 Court of DireBo?-s whofe quality of Parties fliould have been deemed 
 a valid Reafon for not trufting them exclufively with the Sele6lion 
 of the Evidence. Had I been calkd upon to anfwer for myfelf, or 
 to explain any Part of my Conduct, as I naturally expe6led to be 
 before a Report of it was made to the Houfe of Commons, I could 
 have pointed out other Papers and Documents, which the Com- 
 mittee have not feen or confulted, though very material to many 
 Queftions, on which they have pronounced. 
 
 The Subftance of the Reports, which have been yet publifhed, 
 (as far as they affeft or relate to tliat Part of my Conduft, of which 
 I now offer a Vindication to the Public) is little more than a Repe- 
 tition of the Letter from the Court of Directors, in which the 
 Charges againft me are enumerated. The Commentaries upon it 
 are taken from the fame Source. 
 
 The Notice given by the Chainnan of the Secret Committee that 
 he propofes, at an early Day, to move certain Refolutions in the 
 Houfe, which muft of Neceflity be founded on the Reports already 
 brought up, and therefore cannot but involve Queftions, in which I 
 muft be eflentially concerned, obliges me to break through the Forms 
 which have hitherto withheld me from coming forward in my Defence. 
 
 I am ftill fenfible that there is fome Imprudence in fumifliing my 
 Profecutors in a Court of Equity with a Knowledge of any Part of 
 
 my
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 IX 
 
 my Defence, until it comes regularly before that Court. But my 
 
 Situation obliges me to give them that Advantage. The Ob- 
 
 fervations, however, which are contained in the following Papers 
 reach only to that Part of the Charge which has been complcatcd by 
 the Secret Committee. As they proceed in their Inquiries, and as faft 
 as their Reports are perfeSied, my Anfwers fliall attend them. 
 
 The Houfe of Commons and the Nation will grant me that 
 Audience, which has been denied me by the Court of Diredlors, and 
 which I have not yet been able to obtain from the Secret Committee.
 
 The Whole of my Defence will be comprifed under 
 the following Heads. 
 
 Chap. I. Of the not employing a Committee of Circuit, but calling 
 up the Northern Zemindars to Madras, and there fettling with 
 them for their Tribute. 
 
 Chap. II. Of the Renting the Jaghire Lands to the Nabob for the 
 Space of three Years. 
 
 Chap. III. Of the Treaty with Bazalet Jung, and renting the Gun- 
 toor Circar to the Nabob. 
 
 Chap. IV". Of the Application to the Subah Nizam Ally Cawn for 
 a RemifTion or Abatement of the Tribute paid by the Company for 
 the Northern Circars. 
 
 Chap. V. Of the Profpe6l of an Invafion from Hyder Ally, with 
 the State of the Troops, Fortifications, Finances, Stores, ficc.
 
 CHAPTER THE FIRST, 
 
 of the not employing a Committee of Circuit ; but calling 
 lip the Northern Zemindars to Madras, and there fettling 
 with them for their Tribute, 
 
 TH E firft Meafure of my Adminiftratlon, that attracts the 
 Attention of the Committee of Secrecy, is, what they term 
 the Abolition of the Committee of Circuit. " On the eighth 
 ■*' of February 1778," fays the Report, " Sir Thomas Rumbold 
 *' arrived at Madras, and took upon him the Government; and in 
 *' about fix Weeks after, he began the Abolition of this Committee. («)'* 
 
 ft vi^lll foon appear that the Meafure, referred to in tliis Outfet of 
 the Report, is ftated with an Inaccuracy that may excite Surprife ; 
 but the Manner in which the fame Meafure is treated by the Court 
 cf Directors, muft give rife to Sentiments of a very diiferent Nature. 
 
 In tlie long Edi<51: of Interdi6Hon and Difmiflion difpatched from 
 the India Houfe on the loth of January 178 1 (^), the Abolition of the 
 
 B Committee 
 
 [vj) Sfc 2d Report, Page -. {b) See Appendix, 2d Report, No. 153.
 
 [ 2 ] 
 
 Committee of Cireuit is attributed to the moft corrupt Motives, and 
 is alledged to be the chief Ground of the heavy Condemnation 
 inflifted, by that Sentence, upon the Council of Madras. It takes 
 the Lead of all other Offences, and is reprefented to have given Birth 
 to them. It is at once the Apology of the honorable Directors for 
 their own Ignorance of the eilential Interefts of the Company, and 
 the Engine of theirVengeance againfl a Man, who, to fpeak tempe- 
 rately, was better informed. They treat it as a Violation of their 
 moft pofitive and uneqvuvocal Commands : — Commands that could 
 not be miftaken, and that gave no Latitude for the Exercife of Dif- 
 eretion (r). The Crime was wilful Difobedience, and called for the 
 fevereft Marks of their Refentment. Accordingly, they difmiffed 
 Me from the Service, without Referve ; and involved two other 
 Members of the Council in the fame Sentence. Even Mr. Smitii 
 and Mr. Johnfon, in Spite of the avowed Merit of having oppofed 
 ieveral Meafures of my Adminiftration, were excluded from their 
 Seats in Council for having concuiTed in this obnoxious Point, "the 
 " Abolition of the Committee of Circuit, which had been exprefsly 
 " appointed by the Company {d)." The Laurels of Sir He6lor Munro. 
 could hardly afford him a Shelter from the general Profcription [e). 
 
 I fhall hope to be forgiven if I draw afide the Reader's Attention, 
 for a. Moment, from the fubjecl Matter of fo much Indignation, 
 and fubmit to his Contemplation a fmiple Circumftance, the Com- 
 mentary to wliich will appear in the Pr.ogrefs of the enfuing Sheets. 
 
 The frincipal Fticfs, on which the foregoing Anathemas were 
 founded, had long been in, the Poffeffion of the honourable Court, 
 
 before 
 
 (f) *• The CourtMnftruftions were pofitive " very prejudicial to our Intereft, we can no 
 
 " and unequivocal ; they could not be mif- " longer deem MefTrs. Smith and Johnfon to 
 
 " taken;, no difcretionary Power was given "be fit Perfons to be of our Council, nor have. 
 
 " you to depart therefrom." See App. zd " any Share in the imm?diate Adminiftration 
 
 Rep. No. 153. Pap. 74v " of our Government at Fort St. George.'" 
 
 (./) " Thic Conduct v( Mefl'rs. Smith and Ibid. Par. 161. Such was the Sentence of the 
 
 " Johnfon, li is, on- feme- Occafions,. been Court of Dircftors. on the loth-of January, 
 
 " commendable. — But as thofe Gentlemen 1781. In the Courfe of the/aw:' Month, thefe 
 
 " concurred in an. Abolition of a Committee fame Gentlemen were refcored to t!ic Council J' 
 
 " of Circuit, which had been e,\-prefily ap- Board, by the /l;//;!? Honourable Court, having 
 
 "■ pointed by the Company, as tliat Aft of the /awf Fafts before them. 
 " Difobedience of pofuive Orders has been fo (f) Ibid. Par. the laft. ,
 
 [ 3 ] 
 
 before they ventured even to form an Opinion concerning their 
 Propriety {Pj. The ivhole Proceedifigs relative to this obnoxious Mea^ 
 fure reached them, at lateft (we have their own Words for it) in 
 January 1780 {g). The Letter of Difmiflion is dated in January 1781. 
 By their own Account, their Refentments were fmothered for a 
 twelvemonth. In fa6t, the Interval of Forbearance was far more 
 confiderable, and was marked by the thanks of the Company, and 
 by a more honorable Diftincflion mod gracioufly conferred upon me 
 by my Sovereign (/j). The Thunder, however, gathered and broke in 
 an Inflant. Let them apologize for the Storm to thofe upon whom 
 it; fell ; or excufe themfelves to their Conftituents for the Calm that 
 preceded : or let them fubfcribe to what I Ihall hereafter offer as the 
 Solution of both(/). I haften to unfold to the Public the Heinouf- 
 nefs of thegreat Offence, that is laid to my Charge. 
 
 The Provinces kiiown by the Name of the five Northern Circars 
 (undoubtedly one of the moft important Acquifitions that had ever 
 been poffeffed by an European Power in Indoflan) had been ten Years 
 
 ceded 
 
 (./) " You were acquainted by our Letter, 
 " (/ateJ \6th June, 1779, that the Propriety 
 " of calling the Zemindar: to the Prefidency, 
 " would be taken into Confideration To foon 
 " as your Proceedings were before us." Ibid. 
 Par. the firft. It is needlefs to cbfcive, that 
 the calling the Zemindars to the Prefidency, 
 implies the Abolition of the Committee of 
 Circuit. Both Circumftances were announced 
 in the fame Diipatches. 
 
 {g) " Your Revenue Confultations from the 
 " 14th March, to 17th Odober, 1778, /cr 
 " Valentine, were not received till the 24th 
 " April lall." (1780) " The Duplicates /fr 
 '• Mount Stuart, arrived in January preccd- 
 " ing ; and wc are forry to be obliged to ac- 
 *' quaint you, that your Proceedings in that 
 " Department, have not our Approbation." 
 (1781) Ibid. Par. 2d. 
 
 {h) It will be fufficient to obferve here, that 
 when thefe Honors were conferred, and when 
 my Condiiil Was declared by the Court of Di- 
 rciSlors, " to ha-zie been •very }nerito'rious," the 
 Mcafures which are nozv (b violently att.ick.d, 
 were well known at the India Houfe. For the 
 Proof of thisj and for the particulars of the 
 
 Thanks and Diflinftions conferred. See my 
 App. No. I. 
 
 (/) As long ago as the End of the Year 1778, 
 the Particulars of thefe crying, and felf-evident 
 Offences, were known at the India Houfe — 
 where they remained uncenfured until the 
 Arrival of the Sv,-allow Sloop, towards the 
 Clofe of the Ye.ar 17S0. In that Ship the 
 Governor General had fent over a form;il Re- 
 monftrance, which I had tranfmitted to Bengal, 
 on the Conduft and Principles of the Maratta 
 War. Sonu after, Difpatchcs were received 
 from myfelf, which made it (till more apparent, 
 that my Concurrence was not to be cxpefted in 
 the Meafures purfuing at Bengal, and tending 
 as I dcmonftratcd, and as the Event has fatal- 
 ly proved, to the Difgrace and Ruin of the 
 Company's Affairs. From that Moment the 
 purfuit of my Deftruftion, was confidtred as 
 a Meafure of fair Policv, bv the Partlzans of 
 the Governor General. From that Moment, 
 the very Meafures of my Government, "which 
 had b:cn approved both at Home, and at 
 Bengal, were held out to the Public as in- 
 e.xpiable, and felf-ei'ident Crimes ! See my 
 App. No. I, and App. id Rep. No. 150, 
 131, 132, and 111 Rep. Page 41.
 
 t 4 ] 
 
 ceded to the Company, and overlooked by the Court of Du'e£i:ors, 
 when it occurred to thofe faithful Adminiflrators, to appoint a 
 Committee of the Council at Foft St. George, to make a Pro^refs 
 through the Countjy, in order to explore its Situation, and to afcer- 
 taiii its Refources. ' I fliall not here enter into the Merits of this 
 favorite Inftitution. Let it be allowed to have been wife, politic, 
 neceilary :~It was fuddenly abolijioed; not by me\ but by the Court 
 of Directors. 
 
 The Orders for the Appointment of the Committee were carried 
 out by Lord Pigot(/^). They demand particular Attention, as they 
 are the only Orders that have ever ilTued from the Dire6tion, with 
 rcfpeft to' this important Bufmefs. They are, confequently, thofe 
 exprefs, pofitive Orders, which could not be miftaken; which 
 admitted of no difcretionary Interpretation; a Violation of wliich 
 was to call forth all the Refentment of the honorable Court. The 
 Orders, indeed, were not eafily to be miftaken. " We dii-eft that a 
 •" Committee of o?/r Council, confifting oi five Members, be appointed 
 " to nmkc the Circuit of the Northern Circars (/)." It fliould be 
 obferved that the Council under Lord Pigot had confifted of nineteen 
 Members (;;/). 
 
 'Lzt me now call the Attention of the Reader to the Form of the 
 new Eftabliihment, in which I had the Honor to prefide. T antici- 
 pate his Aftonidrment ! It was appointed to confift only oifix Menv 
 bers (including the Governor and the Commander in Chief) under 
 ftrict Injunftions " to remain at, and not be employed out of the Pre- 
 " fiJencv (n) /" I will not infult the Underftanding oi- the Feelings of 
 the Public, liy fuggefting a fmgle Inference, or Refleflion on this 
 Occafion. But I cannot help remarking, that this Change in the 
 Form of the Council is utterly unnoticed in the Report of the 
 
 Secret 
 
 (^) In April l;/^. and which probably they have withheld from 
 
 (/) See App. 2d Rep. No. ;. Par. 24. the Secret Committee, fince the Report af- 
 
 {m) Ibid. No. 7. 'fert3, " That this Commiflion was not ac- 
 
 (h) The Truth of this laft Afl'ertion will be " companied with any collateral Inftrudlions." 
 
 brought to light, whenever the Court of Di- For the Number of the Members of Govern* 
 
 reftors (hall be compelled to produce Docu- ment, under the new Comniifiion, > Sec App. 
 
 ments, to which they have refufed me Accefs, 2d Rep. No. i.
 
 [ 5 ] 
 
 Secret Committee, and that the Injunftion to remain at the Prefidency, 
 is not to be difcovercd even in the Appendix. 
 
 Having thus acquitted myfelf of the Crime of aboJiP:iJ2g a Comx- 
 mittee which could not polfible exift ; of difobeying Orders, which 
 the fame honorable Court, from whence they ifllicd, had forbidden, 
 nay had render-ed it impoflible, to comply with: — Lcavuig to my 
 honorable Employers the political Merit of having reduced the Con- 
 dition of their SeiTants to a State of motionlefs Equipoifc ; eftablHh- 
 ing by one Regulation, counteratllng by a fecond, — but without 
 annulling the firil, in order to referve to themfelves, in any Event, 
 an Opportunity of Vengeance and mercllefs Perfecution : Let us turn 
 our Eyes to what has really been done, in the Midil of thefe Con- 
 tradictions, by others, as well as myfelf. 
 
 The Troubles, that diftraCled the Government of Lcrd Pigot, 
 prevented, under his Admlniftration, the complete Execution of the 
 Orders, which his Lordfliip had carried out. Under the Government 
 which followed, a Committee of Circuit took place, but with a 
 manlfeft Deviation, and in the moil elTcntlal Point, from thofe poh- 
 tive Orders, from v.'hlch it afterwards became fo criminal to depart. 
 This Important Truft was committed to two Members of the Coun- 
 cil, CivA three Jiaitcr Servants [o). Under the Government, which im- 
 mediately preceded mine, a Committee of Circuit was, indeed, ap- 
 pointed ; but, in dlrecl Contradiflion both to the Letter and the Spirit 
 of the Orders carried out by Lord Pigot, it ^:,'as entirely compofed of 
 junior Servants {p). Yet the Secret Committee remark, " That the 
 " two Governments which preceded that of Sir Thomas Rumbold, 
 " fciiv this Meafiire in the fame Light -xith the Court of DireBors." I 
 believe that one of the Governments, here alluded to, little expe6led 
 to be held out by the Secret Committee, as a Standard of Political 
 Perfection, or the other, to be recommended as a Pattern of fcrupulous 
 Obedience. 
 
 C It 
 
 (<-) " We are under the Necellity of dcviat-- whole Number is curious, and deferves parti- 
 
 " ing from the Orders of our Honourable cular Auention. 
 "■ Mailers, with Refpeti to the Comniittfc of (/) See App. zJ Rep. N&, \i. 
 "Circuit." See App. 2d Rep. No. 7. The
 
 [ 6 ] 
 
 It may perhaps be faid that thefe new Regulations were confidered 
 as ConJlruhio7is of the original Orders, Be it fo. I fliall not conde- 
 icend to defend myfelf againft the CJiarge of having refufed to cojijlrue 
 a Negative into an Affirmative. Nor will the Court of Direftors, I 
 fhould think, be very ready to admit this Idea of Conftruftions, after 
 all the Advantages they have derived from the oppofite Do6lrine of 
 rigid Conformity, of ftrift and literal Obedience. Something, it is 
 true, they have hinted in the gzA Article of the Verbofa et grandis 
 Epiftola, about Conflrudlion : But the Idea is dropped, after having, 
 fuynifhed them an Opportunity of introducing a Contradi6lion in 
 Terms } Theytallc of a ConflriiUion of exprefs Orders ! They are evi- 
 dently embarrafied, and inftantly renounce the Subje<5l, to return to 
 their favorite and fruitful Topic of pojitive Orders, that were to be 
 obeyed without Modification or Difcuffion.. 
 
 In my peculiar Situation, and in the midft of the Diftrefles that 
 furrounded the Company's Affairs, when I afiiamed the Government, 
 I was indeed compelled to have recourfe to a C<j;;/?r«^/o;/ of the Orders 
 of the Honourable Court. The Spirit and Intention of the original 
 Orders, by which the Committee of Circuit was appointed, was evi- 
 dently, to introduce a dires5t Intercourfe between the diftant Depen-- 
 dencies, and the Prefidency ; to deftroy too clofe and intimate a Con- 
 nexion between the Tributaries and Renters of the Company, and 
 their jimior Servants ; to reform the Abufes, that had long dif- 
 graced the Subordinacies, and to reflore its Dignity and Controul to 
 the Council at Fort St. George. But in what Manner was this great" 
 Objeft to be effefled ? The abfiird and contradictory Regulations of the 
 honourable Court, had rendered it impofllble for the Council to move' 
 towards the Zemindars :— What then remained but to bring up the 
 Zemindars to the Council ? In the Dilemma, to which the honourable 
 Court had reduced their Servants, it was the only prafticable Meafure 
 that prefented itfelf. And in the Conjun6lure, in which it was 
 adopted, it was perhaps the only politic Meafure that could have beert- 
 devifed. It had the double Recommendation of being fummary in its 
 Effefl, at the fame Time that it refpe6led the ancient Habits and Pre- 
 judices of the Country in the Mode. Under the Mogul Domination, 
 the dependent Princes were bound to pay Homage, as well as Ti"ibute,. 
 once in every Year, at the Court of the Soubah. Thus, both the Dignity 
 
 and
 
 [ 7 ] 
 
 and the Interells of the Company were confulted, in calling up the 
 Zemindars to the Prefidency. 
 
 That the firft Suggeftion of fuch a Meafure fhould fpread an inflant 
 Alarm, and excite a general Confpiracy among the fubordinate Chiefs 
 and Councils, was perhaps, tlie fureft Teft of its Utility. It ftruck 
 direclly at their Confequence, not to fay their Craft. It was to reduce 
 them from a State, little inferior to that of Sovereign Power, to their 
 proper Condition of Colle6lors for the Prefidency. During twelve 
 Years, they had governed the Affairs of the Circars by their abfolute 
 Authority : — With what Advantage to the Company, is demonllratcd, 
 by the Amount of hopelefs Balances, and by the general Ruin of the 
 Zemindaries ; with what Satisfa(5tion to themfelves, may be inferred 
 from the univerfal Apprehenfion fo clamoroufly cxprefledof the Intcr- 
 fjrenceof the Council. 
 
 That the Zemindars fliould be univerfally difmclined to concur iiu 
 any Inveftigation that could tend to enhance their Tribute, or to ex- 
 pedite the L-cjuidation of Accounts which had, perhaps, been pur^ 
 pofely embroiled, was not unnatural.. They were influenced by a 
 Spirit of inherent and irreconcilable Oppofition (not dependent on 
 any Regulations of the Council at Fort St. George, but founded in 
 the eternal Nature of Things) between the Interells of thofe who 
 pay, and thofe who receive. 
 
 That there Ihould exift a ffriking Confonnity in the Opinions, a 
 fi-iendly Sympathy in the Sentiments of the Company's Collectors 
 and their Tributaries, may alfo, for ought I know, be fufficiently- 
 natural : — But I appeal to- the Candour of the Secret Committee 
 themfelves, whether in common Cafes, they would not regard llich 
 an Uniformity of Wilhes between tlie Stewards and the Farmers of a • 
 diftant and unproduftive Property, as a fufpicious Circumllance, and 
 by no means favourable to the Principals. 
 
 The Truth is, the Natives and the Councils of the Subordinates, 
 had one common Intereft, and one common Objeft, the SupprcHion 
 of all Enquiry. Their Sentiments, however, with Refped to the 
 different Modes of Enquiry, were widely different : And in tlic pre- 
 
 fcnt
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 ftnt Occuirencc, the former were in a great Meafurc fthiiulated *«- 
 to their Oppolition by the Intrigues of the Latter (5'). The Former- 
 v/ould naturally complain of every Regulation calculated to improve 
 the Revenue in the Circars, as an Hardfliip ruinous to their Affairs. 
 The jealoufy of the Latler was Iblely confined to the examining Eye 
 of their Superiors. The inftitution of the Committee of Circuit 
 had occafioned thetn but little Anxiety ; partly, becaufe the Opera- 
 tions of fijch a Board v/ere necellarily flovv(r) ; partly becaufe it was 
 eafy to create perpetual Obftr actions to its Progrefs ; but principally, 
 becaufe by an additional ConftruEiion of the Company's Orders, 
 they were deemed capable of occupying a Place at that Board j and 
 by that Means, with the Gratification of a new Appointment, they 
 became Controllers of tlieir own Defaults. 
 
 But let the Reader attend to the Conllernation which overwhelmed 
 the Zemindar i upon the Appointment of this Committee ; — This 
 favourite Committee, the very Corruption of which was to be treated 
 as facred, — thofe very Zemindars, whole Favour was to be conciliated 
 at whatever Expence, v/hom it was the moft inexpiable of Crimes to 
 iri'ltate or difgutl ! The Pidure alks no colouring from my Hand } 
 it is given in all its Strength by the Board of Circuit itfelf. 
 
 " The Appointment of the Committee of Circuit may natuially 
 " be fuppofed to have created very great Alarms among the Zemindars 
 *' in general, — thofe who may have found Means to inform them- 
 " felvcs of the Company's Intentions, will endeavour to engage the 
 " other Zemindars in a Combination to oppufe their being carried into 
 '" Execution — no more Dependence can be placed on their Attach- 
 " ment to our Intereft, now the Alarm is given, than if Hojlilities 
 " hdd aciuaUy commenced agai lift them [s). 
 
 I may furely, without Offence, be allowed to contrafl this Scen*^ 
 of Terror and Diftruft with the " Rcluclance" y^/V to have been 
 fhev,'n by the Zemindars, to comply witli the Meafure, which I am 
 
 defending. 
 
 (y) Ibid. No. 30. to execute. See Anp. zJ Rep. No. 6. 
 
 (r) Lord Pigot maintained that the Bufincfs (/) Ibid. No. 18. 
 of ihc Commitree of Circuit, would take Yeari
 
 [ 9 ] 
 
 defending. What were the miglity Mifchiefs rcfuhing from it {r) f 
 Wliat the Grcimds of tliis iuppofed univcrfal Reki6tance ? Take them 
 as they ftand recorded in the Rejwrt. " One Zemindar was idle? 
 " one was poor ; one was bufy j a fourth was fat(«). 
 
 « 
 The Reader, I am perfuaded, is by this Time prepared to hear 
 without Surprize, that the Meafure I am defending was adopted by 
 the Council at Fort St. George, Jinanimoiijly : Although a Part of that 
 Council has by no Means been dillinguifhed by it's Difpofition to ac- 
 quiefce in Opinions, becaufe they were 7mne : And although a Majo- 
 rity of them, having antecedently concurred in the Appointment of a 
 fpurious Committee of Circuit, had Prejudices of their own to over- 
 come, before they could embrace the new Ideas I prefented to them. 
 They embraced them, however; but not (as is inhnuated by the Secret 
 Committee, and is with lefs Delicacy infifted on by the Court of Di- 
 rectors) without all the Knowledge of the Subjeft that could be ob- 
 tained from long Experience and careful Inveftigation. Their Con- 
 viction arofe from their perfeft PoflefTion of theBufinefs before them. 
 
 They felt the general Difti"efs of the Revenue, and were fenfible, 
 that the Stoppage of all Payment from the Circars in particular was 
 occafioned by Abufes, which had long fubfifted at the Subordinacies. 
 
 D They 
 
 [/) It was indeed pretended that this Mea- 
 fure would obftruft the Liquidation of Ac- 
 counts, and diftrefs the fubordinatc Treafuries. 
 But it is notorious, that the greater Part of the 
 Zemindars did not fet out for the Prefidency 
 until the End of May ; that all Balances ought 
 to have been paid by the End of March ; but 
 that no Payments whatfocver had been made, 
 or were likely to be made. The Diftredes of 
 the Subordinacies were relieved by the Prefi- 
 dency, but were not enhanced by the Meafure 
 in queftion. See my App. No. 2. 
 ^ («) " In this Letter feveral Petitions are in- 
 " clofed, prefented by the principal Zemin- 
 " dars, reprefenting their Inability to perform 
 " the Journey, for want of Money, and many 
 " other Reafons ; and among others, one of 
 " them mattes this Apology, That he is fo 
 ■' exceedingly fat, that he has been unable to 
 ••' walkout of his Houfe for many Years." 
 
 See 2d Rep. Page 10. — See the whole of that, 
 and the following Page, in which it is remark- 
 able, that no Authority is cited, but that of 
 the Subordinates. The Attendance of fuch 
 Zemind:irs, as gave plaufible Reafons, was 
 difpenfed with. There are Thirty-one Zemin- 
 dars in the Diftrift of Mafulipatam, of whom 
 Se-ventcen only came to the Prefidency. The 
 Zemindars, of the Ganjam Diftrift, were ex- 
 cufed witliout Exception ; and Vizieram Rauze 
 alone attended from the Dillrift of Vizagapa- 
 tam.— The Force, which feemed to be ufcd, 
 to bring this laft to the Prefidency, was in 
 reality addrefled to the Subordinate Council, 
 who had a clear Intereft in keeping him away, 
 and whofe Intrigues had prevented him from 
 coming at an earlier Period. Upon the re- 
 ceipt of my Letter, he fet out without the 
 fmalleft Hesitation. See my App. No. 5, anj 
 App. 2 Rep. No. 16, sS, 45.
 
 [ 10 ] 
 
 Tliey faw the abfolute Neceffity of controuling the Proceedings of 
 thofe inferior Councils ; and, with a View to that important Obje(5l, 
 fome of them had formerly thought themfelves juftifiable in confent- 
 ing to the Appointment of a Committee of Circuit, compofed of 
 Members whofe fubordinate Stations in the Service (by the exprefs 
 and pofitive Orders of the Company, as well as the Spirit of the 
 Inftitution) fliould have precluded them from belonging to that Board. 
 But the Face of Things was now changed. The Progrefs of a Com- 
 mittee of Circuit, at the befl, and in its beft Form, a hazardous Ex- 
 periment, would now have been fatal. Undoubted Intelligence had 
 been received of approaching Hoftilities with France. A formidable 
 Body of French under the Command of Monf, Lally, were actually 
 ftationed in the Guntoor Circar, ready to avail themfelves of the firft 
 Appearance of Difaffeflion in thofe Parts. The March of the De- 
 tachment from Bengal again ft the Marattas had fpread a general 
 Alarm. Hyder was in Motion. Monf. de Bellecombe, who was ar- 
 rived at Pondicherry with extraordinaiy Powers, had fcnt an EmbafTy 
 to that Chief, and had demanded a Conference with him. In theie 
 Circumftances, the Appearance of a Committee of Circuit would 
 have fhaken the Dependency of the Circars, On the other Hand, 
 had the Intrigues and the Influence of the Subordinates been fuffered 
 to continue, all Hope of a Revenue from thofe Countries, muft have 
 been given up for ever. The only Meafure which feemed calculated to 
 obviate the Mifchiefs that threatened us on all Sides, was to treat 
 with the Zemindars at the Prejidency (w). It remains to fliew. That 
 the Manner of treating with thofe Chiefs, and the Agreements con- 
 cluded with them, were as little liable to Obje6lion, as the Meafure 
 it/elf. 
 
 The firft Remark upon this Subje6l, prefers againft me a dlre(5l 
 Charge of having ufurped the Province of the whole Council, by 
 precluding all Inveftigation, and taking upon myfelf exclufively the 
 Settlement of the Leafes. 
 
 " The 
 
 (li) While the Zemindars remained at tlie Sides; nor did they return to their Dillriuts 
 
 Prefidency, they were in faft Iloilages for the until the Credit of our Arms was eftablifhed 
 
 Allegiance of the Circars to the Company, by the Reduction of Pondicherry. 
 imidfl the Dangers which threatened us on all
 
 [ " ] 
 
 " The dlfFerent Zemindars," fays tlie Report, " were never treated 
 " with, in regard to the Leafes of their Lands by the Board colledivelv, 
 " nor in Confequerice of any Inveftigation before them, but merely 
 " by the Governor in Perfon, whofe Report was in every Inftance 
 " held to be fufficient {x)." 
 
 It cannot be expe6led that the Secret Committee fhould In an 
 Inftant of Time, have been able to unravel fuch a Mafs of Confufion, 
 as the Rules of the Company's Service : Nor is it my Bufuiefs to enter 
 into a Defence of thofe Rules. To J^aie the Rule, in the prefent- 
 Cafe, will be more than fufficient for my Juftification, and will fully 
 counterafl the Effe6l of a Suggeflion, which recurs in every Branch 
 of the Enquiries, relative to this Subjeft. I repeat it, I difclaim all 
 
 ' Intention here, or in other Inflances, of arraigning the Candour of 
 the Secret Committee : But, what will the Reader think of the Equity 
 of the Court of Direeiors, in having fufFered the Committee to re- 
 main uninformed of a Circumftance which could be no Secret to the 
 loweft Clerk in the India-Houfe ? It was not merely the Cuftom of 
 the Service ; it was the exprefs Duty of my Office, to invefligate, to 
 treat, to report, and to fuggeft Propofals to the Board. In all Tranf- 
 a6lions, fimilar to thofe in Queftion, the Prefident is the immediate 
 afting Man. It is a peculiar Obligation, arifmg from the Nature of 
 his Commiffion. It is a Truft, which is, in an efpecial Manner, 
 committed to him ; and it would be a Breach of that Truft to fur- 
 render it into other Hands. I appeal, for the Truth of thefe Pofitions, 
 to the Evidence of every Man, who has ever been employed in the 
 Service of the Company. Let 'me now make my Appeal to the Juf- 
 - tice of the Public. I beg Leave to fubmit to them, a fimple Fad: 
 without a Comment. The Court of Dircftors, not contented with 
 withholding fo effential a Circumftance from the Knowledge of the 
 Secret Committee, have not fcrupled, themfelves, to found the Charge 
 
 ' of a black Ciime, upon this Exercife of a knovv'n and indifpenfible- 
 Duty. 
 
 Ihave faid that it was the peculiar Province of the Prefident, to. 
 enquire,' to report, and to offer Propofals to the Board. But I will . 
 
 notv 
 
 (*) See ;d Rep. Page II, 12*
 
 [ "^ ] 
 
 not do tlie Council the Injuftice to infmuate that the State of the Ze- 
 mindaries was invefligated bv me alone. The lame Sources of Infoi'^ 
 mation were open to every Member of the Board. The Zemmdars 
 were under no Reftraint, but had a free Communication with all, 
 who were defirous to confer with them ; and were perfonaily known 
 to all the Members of the Board. I fubmitted to Council the bell 
 Lights my Induflry could colleft ;' aiid if the Board acqiiiefced in the 
 Refults of my Enquiries, it was doubtlefs becaufe they were confirmed 
 by their own. 
 
 With Resfard to the fecond Obfen-ation of the Secret Committee, 
 under this Head, it will be fufficient to quote it, m the very Words 
 of the Report. " Your Committee find that the Chief and Council of 
 " Vizagapatam reprefented by a Letter of the 17th January, 177S, 
 " That the P?-a£lice had ever been to receive Rcpoj-ts of the Ability 
 " and Character of thofe inho prcpofed for Leafes,from the Cmef and Court- 
 " cil, and that they had been jnuch mortified by being overlooked in this 
 " Inftance (_)»)." The Reader may call to mind, that he has already 
 been apprized of the Effects of this FraSlice. He will be able to judge 
 too of the Weight which Ihould be allowed to Reprefcntations com- 
 ing from Peribns, not only confefTedly piqued and out of Humour, 
 but hurt perhaps in a far more fenfible Part than their Vanity. A 
 few bbfervations upon the following Paflage of a Letter from that 
 Board cited by the Secret Committee, will Ihew in what Temper of 
 Mind it was written. 
 
 " On the loth of April," fays the Report, " about a Month after 
 " Sir Thomas Rumbold's Arrival, the Gentlemen of Vizagapatam, 
 " acquainted the Prefidency, that Setteram Rauze's Manager would 
 " pay nothing till he had Orders from his Mailer at Madras ; and 
 " alfo acquainted them, that they had undeniable Proof that 131,000 
 " Rupees in Money and Grain, had been fent to Setteram Rauze, at 
 *' Madi-as, and that Bills were negociating to the Amount of 70,000 
 " more, which together is a Sum equal to one Year's Rent to the 
 •!* Company. They reprefented the Tenants as cruelly opprefl'ed to 
 
 " make 
 
 ^y ) Ibid. Page i z.
 
 " make up this Sum, an<]Jlafe the Rcafon of their making this Com- 
 " munication to be, that fome Part of his Arrears might be fecured {z). 
 
 Upon this whole PafTage I fliall beg Leave to obfen'e, That 'whatever 
 might have been the Rcafons of their making this Communication, every 
 Allegation contained in it, was flatly contradidlcd by Setteram Rauze; 
 That the Allegations were not fupported by any Shadow of Proof 
 from Vizaga{)atam ; That, even if the llajali had thought proper to 
 difpofe of the Produce of his Diilricl at the befl and ul'ual Mai-ket, 
 fuch an A61 of private Oeconomy could not well have been firained 
 into a public Crime ; Tliat, upon my Application to him, hi Con- 
 fequence of the Directions of the Board, he promifed to provide im- 
 mediately for the Paym.ent of his firft Inftallment; and. That this 
 Promife, made on the 24//^ cf April, teas fulfilled on the ift of May 
 imjncdiateh enjuivg (a). ThJs laft Circumftancc mufc have been over- 
 looked by'the Secret Committee; they would not otherwife have been: 
 led to affirm, a little lower, " That the fame kind of Promife was 
 " accepted by th.e Prehdent in July, which had been made, but not 
 " obfervcd, in April preceding ((^). 
 
 I muft here add, that this fecond Promife was obferved as pun6lually 
 ns the Firft, and that before the End of Oftober following, the Whole 
 of Setteram Rauze's Balances, due to the Company, did not exceed 
 the Amount of 57,000 Rupees (c). 
 
 Before I accompany the Committee into the next Field of their 
 Animadverfions, I muft take the Liberty to offer a Remark on the Li- 
 trodu6lory Sentence which leads to the new Objeft of Difcuflion. 
 " Setteram Rauze" fays the Pvcport, " havi?ig, as above ftatcd, obtained 
 " his Leafe of the Havilly Lands for 'Ten Tears, your Committee 
 " find, That, the Prefidcnt, on the 20th of July, entered largely 
 " into the Affairs of the Chicacole Di drift (<-/)." It is impoffible that 
 an ordinary Reader fhould not conceive the Prefident alluded to in the 
 fecond Claul'e of this Sentence, and who had immediately before been 
 the Subject of Difcourfe,. to be the very Perfon ivho had jufi granted- 
 
 E the. 
 
 {z) Ibid. {t) See 2d Rep. Page 12. 
 
 \ti) Setteram Rauze's Account Current with (c) Sec App. 2d Rep. No. 54. 
 
 the Company. Sec App. 2d Rep. No. 54 — {d) Sec 2d Rep. Page 12. 
 and the Prefldent's Report to the Board, No. 34.
 
 [ 14 1 
 
 the "Ten Tears Lcufe : A Tiaufadlion which is me'itioned here and in 
 other Places, with much Reprehenfion, but in a Manner that may 
 millead the Judgment, with Refpeft to the Perfon upon whom the 
 Cenlure is .intended to fall. I beg Leave therefore to obferve, once 
 for all. That this Tranfaclion was finally fettled before my Arrival 
 at the Prefidency. In Juftice, however, to others, I muft add, that 
 although the Leafe was granted for fomewhat too long a Period, (as 
 I obferved at the Board) {e) yet the Lands were undoubtedly lett for 
 more than their Value; and Setteram Rauze will pay dearly (/) for 
 having entered into an Engagement to which he was Simulated by a 
 Spirit of Jealoufy and Oppofition. The Propofal from Padnaub 
 Rauze, upon which fo much Strefs feems to be' laid, was not pre- 
 fented until the Leafe was known to be figned, and was a Manceuvre 
 of the Subordinate of Vizagapatam, lolely calculated to diflrefs 
 ■Government {g). 
 
 I fliall now attempt to reduce into a narrov/ Compafs, what is ftated 
 largely in the Report, relative to my Sentiments and Conduct with 
 Relpecl to the Vizianagrum Diflricl and Family. It is there faid, 
 " That my declared Objeft was an Increafe of Tribute from that 
 " Zemindary. That, profclling that Motive, I recommended it to 
 " the Board to appoint Setteram Rauze Duan or Minifler to his Elder 
 '• Brother the Rajah, and that he was accordingly lb appointed, 
 *' That the Board next proceeded to force a Reconciliation between the 
 " tv.o Brothers, That Vizieram Rauze's Obftinacy, in refufmg to be 
 " reconciled to his Brother, is reprefented to him, at the Board, to be 
 " the Reafon of Setteram Rauze's Nomination to the Office of Duan. 
 
 " That 
 
 Xe) See App. 2ci Rep. No. 44.. eluded ; for the 'Demonfiratlon rf thefe Points, 
 
 (/) Ibid. No 20. fee .'ipp. 2d Rep. No. 39, .).o. It mny not 
 
 (j-) The Amount of Setteram Rauze's Rent in be improper to obferve in this Place, that ai- 
 
 I'en Years, will be Twenty-four Lacks, 60, oco though the Arrears of S'.-tterani Rauze are 
 
 Rupees. The oiler of Padnaub P^auxe would itated by the Secret Committee to amount to 
 
 in the fame Time produce I'wenty-five Lacks 180,530 Rupcsu,^ at the Time that he became 
 
 oi Rupees. The Diftcrcnce is 40,020 Rupees Renter of the Havilly Lands, yet,- in Truth, 
 
 upon the whole Term, at:d not 40,000 Rupees he owed nothing to the Company at that Time. 
 
 aifear, amauntixg to Four hacks on the luholc He could not be in .'irrears on Account of the 
 
 yWvfl, as is pofnively aflcrted by the Secret Fai-ni before he held it ; and he held no other 
 
 Committee, in the 15th Page of tlie 2d Re- LanJs under the Company. The Balances 
 
 port. The Propofil of Padnaub Rau7.e was due from the Haviily Lands, and amounting 
 
 received at th?r PreTidency, a Month after the to 64,530 Rupe;s, were Debts of Vizieram 
 
 Bargain wit.h Setteram Rauze was finally con- Rau'ie. See App. id Rep. No. 54..
 
 [ 15 ] 
 
 " That ihe Court of Direflors exprefs great Surprize at this injurioirj 
 
 " Treatment of Vizieram Rauze, and at die arbitrary and unwarrant- 
 
 " able Manner in which Setteram Rauze was put in PofTefiion of tlic 
 
 " Revenues of his Elder Brother. That at a fubfequent Confultation, 
 
 " Vizieram Rauze is fpoken of unfavourably by the Pj-eiident, and that 
 
 " a Letter is wiitten to Vizagapatam, accufmg Jaggernaut Rauze of 
 
 *' various Sorts of Malverfation. That, nevcrthelefs, the Gentlc- 
 
 " men of Vizagapatam had acquainted the Prefidency that Jaggernaut 
 
 " had made the only Payment which had been received ; ack?ioiv-- 
 
 " led^ins:, hcivcver, that the remaining Balance amounted to Six Lacks 
 
 " and a Half. That on the i8th of Auguft, the Prefidency reported 
 
 " to the Select Committee, that a Reconciliation had aftualiy taken 
 
 " Place between the two Brothers, and ilated that late Advices fiom 
 
 " Vizagapatam flicwcd the good Effeds of the Meafures which had 
 
 " been taken (/-))•" 
 
 Toundcrfland as well as to confute, whatever Charges or Infmuations 
 may appear to be conveyed in thefe Remarks, it will be neceiiary to 
 take a fliort View of the Hiftory and Circumftances of the Rajahs of 
 \'iziana2:rum. 
 
 ■ i>' 
 
 Vizieram and Setteram Rauze were Nephews of Chunderamah 
 Widow of the late Vizieram Rauze, Rajah of Vizianagrum, for his 
 fuperior Qualities, furnnmed the Great. This Woman, by lier Abi- 
 lity and Intrigues, railed iicr Favourite Nephew, Vizieram Pvauze, to 
 the Rajahlhip. In thjs Appointment, the Right of Elderfliip, which 
 the Court of Directors aftetl: to treat as indefeafible, was utterly fct at 
 nought ; Setteram Rauze, notwithftanding the politive Aiicrtions of 
 that Court to the contrary, being the Elder by feveral Years : and he 
 feems to have entertained the fame Sen fc of a Title founded on that 
 Claim, as is in the prefent Inftance, unadvifedly fr-nfcjj'ed by the 
 honourable Court. Setteram ailerted his Pretenfions, and aftei' vari- 
 ous Struggles to defeat the Succeifion of his \ounger Brother Vi'zierarn 
 Rauze, was at laft prevailed upon, by the Addrefs of the Aunt, to 
 give up the Contell:, and to content himfelf with being invefted with 
 the Power of the Governm.ent, leavins; to his wz/yt-r,- Broikr the 
 
 Rank 
 
 .(A) See III Rep. P.'g<\- i;, i',, 14-
 
 [ i6 ] 
 
 Rank and State attendant on the Rajahfliip (/). After the Death of 
 this Woman, the Diftnft was again thrown into Convulfions by the 
 ambitious Views of |aggcrnaut Rauze, a Servant of the Family, but 
 a Man of Intrigue, who, having \M-ought upon the wealc Rajah to 
 quarrel with his Brother (^), and being powerfully fui)ported by the 
 Subordinate of Vizagapatam, ufurped the Duanfhip. 
 
 To form an adequate Idea of the Confufion which reigned in the 
 Vizianagruni Dilfrift at this Period, it will be necefiary to have Re- 
 courfe to Documents, which the Court of Directors have hitherto 
 thought proper to withhold from the Public ; and, apparently, from 
 the Secret Committee itfelf : I mean the whole of the Proceedings 
 of the Vizagapatam Factory during the Chleffliip of Mr. Johnfon. 
 The Scene of Cabal, not to fay worfe, which is there exhibited, v\'i!l 
 afford the beft Juftification of the Meafures I am defending; and will 
 fliew hov/ lightly fo unreferved a Credit has been given, to the partial 
 and interefted Rcprefentations of the Subordinates. 
 
 In the mean Time, it will be fufficient for my immediate Purpofe, 
 to obfcrve, that the flouriiliing Condition of the Vizianagruni Diihift, 
 under the Adminiftration of Setteram Rauze, is a Point uncontro- 
 verted even by the Court of Dire61:ors, when it ferves their turn ; and 
 that the fatal Elfeds produced in the Country by the Diffenfions be- 
 tween the Brothers, conftitute an efiential Part of the Evidence de- 
 livered at the Revenue Board at Fort St. George, by the Dubafh of 
 the Company (/). 
 
 I {hall now flatter myfelf, that I fland acquitted in the Judgment 
 of every impartial Reader, of the Charge of having invaded the jufl 
 Rights of Vizieram Rauze, by refloring his Elder Brother to a Sta- 
 tion, which flridly fpeaking, was the ftipulated Price of his Birth- 
 right : and I am confident, that the having produced a Reconciliation 
 between the Brothers, is a Meafure that muft meet with the Appro- 
 bation of evci7 Man acquainted with the native Chara6ler of the In- 
 dians, 
 
 (;') See my App. No. 4. AlTeftion for his Brother. See my App. No. 5, 
 
 {i) The Rajah had naturally the greateft (/J See App. zd Rep. No. 45.
 
 [ '7 ] 
 
 dians, among whom an Interruption of the Revenue, is tlie inevitable 
 Refult of internal Commotion. 
 
 I have only to add, that the Payment for which fo much Merit is 
 attributed to Jaggernaut Rauze, amounted to no more than 5000 
 Rupees ; barely the thirtieth Part of his Debt {m). 
 
 From this Opening of the Tranfaftions with the Vizianagrum Fa- 
 mily, the Report makes a Tranlition to the Diftri6ls of Mazulipatam. 
 For the fake of Method however, I Ihall beg Leave, for the prefent, 
 to pafs over the 2d, 3d, and 4th Paragraphs of Page i4tli, fecond Re- 
 port, and proceed to the 5th Paragraph, where the Bufmefsof Chi- 
 cacole is refumed. Pafling over too, the lirft Articles of that Pa- 
 ragraph, which are more fully difcuffed farther on, I fhall immedi- 
 ately enter upon the Subje^l of the Letter from Vizieram Rauze, 
 Jaid{n) to have been produced at the Revenue Board by tlie Prefident. 
 
 " It appears to your Committee, That a Letter from Vizieram 
 ■*' Rauze, was produced by the Prefident at this Confultation, delir- 
 " ing to be reftored to his Fort ; and to have the Diftri6l of Anca- 
 " pilly in Farm ; in which Letter he changed his Language as to 
 " Jaggernaut Rauze, reprefenting him at the Time of making his 
 " Requeft, in a different Light from what he had formerly done." 
 
 It will be fufficient to obferve curforily, that the Rajah's Change of 
 Language as to faggernaut Rauze, the very Man who had fomented 
 the Quarrel in his Family, can hardly be deemed extraordinary, after 
 the ReconciUation had taken place. At any Rate, I cannot be held 
 accountable for what is advaiiced by Vizieram Rauze upon that Sub- 
 je£f , althougli I might fafeiy undertake to maintain the Truth of it. 
 But I haften to the more important Charge, of having reftored the 
 Rajah to the Palace of his Anceftors, — now magnified by the Court 
 of Directors, for obvious Purpofcs, into a Fort of dangerous 
 Confequence, 
 
 F Tliis 
 
 (ct) Ibid. No. 47, 54. duced by me. See App. «d Rep. No. 51. 
 
 (w) This Letter, or Petition, was not pro-
 
 [ i8 
 
 1 
 J 
 
 This Forf is defciibed with equal Truth and Simplicity by the in- 
 fulted Rajah himielf. " My Fort is fmall," fays he_, "myHoufe. 
 " my Family, ray Women are in it j they know this; it is not an 
 " oftenfiveFortj it is a common Eaftern Defence round the Palace (o)." 
 
 The A^dme of a Forf was all that remained to the degraded Rajah 
 of an Independency, which his Country had maintained from im- 
 memorial Time, through all the Succeffions of Tyranny which have 
 overwhelmed the Provinces of Hindollan. The Subordinate of Vi- 
 zagapatam, more fatal to this unhappy Diftri6l, than all the Scourges 
 which had heretofore vifited the Eaif , did not fcruple to obtain the 
 Expulfion of this illuftrious Chief from his Manfmi, the poor Re- 
 mains of his Dignity, his laft Afylum from revolting Dependants, and 
 the deareft Objeft of his Superll:ition(/'). Ollentatious and fond of 
 State, like all the Princes of the Eaft, he groaned under the In- 
 dignity : fenhble of the Influence of Opinion, he trembled for the 
 Fate of his Authority with the Inhabitants of the Country, and for 
 the Security of his Revenue {q) ; oppreffed with a Senfe of the Profana- 
 tion that had been committed upon what he held moil facred and in- 
 violable, he abandoned himfelf to the deepeft Affliftion and Defpair. 
 He encamped near the Pagoda of Sumachillum ; and it was given out 
 that he would not quit that Seat of Devotion, but continually employ 
 himfelf in Supplication to his Deity, until he fliould be reftored to 
 his Fort. — Even the Board of Vizagapatam, although they treated 
 his Piety with Scorn, and were probably little touched with his Dif- 
 trefs, yet could not remain infenfible to the Policy of complying 
 with his Intreaties (r). The Committee of Circuit had declared in 
 Auguil 1777, That " the PoilefTion of the Foit could not put it 
 " in his Power to do Mifchief (j)." Subfequent to that Period, the 
 Walls and Baftions had been almoft demoliihed, and all the Military 
 Stores and Ammunition removed (/). Lieutenant Eagle, an Officer 
 of diftinguiflied Merit in the Company's Service, who had been ap- 
 pointed, 
 
 (e) See my App. No. 5. and fee App. aJ (s) Yet the Court of Direftors are pleafedlo 
 
 Rep. No. 20. remark emphalically, that the Prefidency or- 
 
 \p) Ibid. No. 5. dered the Fort to be given up on the following 
 
 (y) See App. 2d Rep. No. 51. extraordinary Condition: Namely, That the 
 
 (c) Ibid. No. 20, 23. — my App. No. 6. B ap ions end Walls Jhall rtmain in their prtj'ent 
 
 \s) See App. 2d Rep, No. 18. Par. 21. Siiuatiai ' See App. 2d Rep. No- 153.
 
 [ '9 ] 
 
 pointed, with the Rajah's Confent, to the Command of his Sib- 
 bendy, and to whom I apphed for particular Information in this 
 Occurrence, declared exprefsly, " That the Place was fo deflitute of 
 " the Means of Defence, that it could only be confidered as a Place 
 " of Safety to the Perfon of the Rajah, againft the Hill Polygars, 
 " who frequently come down in great Numbers, and commit every 
 " Sort of Depredation (u)." 
 
 In thefe Circumftances, if it was a Crime to reftore the Rajah to 
 the crumbling Walls of his Palace, it was a Crime of which I mufc 
 abide the Confequences ; for I am proud to avow the Part I took 
 in the Tranfa6lion. The Council in this, as in moft other Points,. 
 were mianimoua. 
 
 It will remain an eternal Reproach to the Company's Government 
 in India, that it feems to have been a Principle of their Policy to 
 drive every Native of Confequence out of their Territories. Let any 
 Man, who has traced the Change from the happier Days of Bengal, 
 and the Ciixars, to their prefent defolate and deferred State, come for- 
 ward, and explain to the Nation, whofe Name and Honour are deeply 
 concerned in the Queftion, what is become of that Train of Princes, 
 Chiefs, and opulent Landholders, which once covered the Face of 
 thofe Countries ? It will appear, that they have either fled from, 
 or funk under the Oppreflion of the Company's Government. 1 
 thank God, that I have left no fuch Stain upon my Adminiftration. 
 But it is Time to return to the Report. 
 
 With regard to the fecond Petition, contained in the Letter from 
 Vizieram Rauze, the Committee remark, " The Prehdent proceeded 
 " to obferve, that fmce delivering in the former Petition, he hact 
 " obtained a verbal Agreement from Vizieram Rauze to pay 90,000 
 " Rupees for Ancapilly, which was immediately accepted by the 
 " Board (u-)." 
 
 Antecedent to my Adminiflration, the Zemindary in Queftion had 
 been accepted in Mortgage by the Rajah, againft his Inclination, as 
 a Security for a confiderable Advance made by him to the late Pof- 
 
 feflbrsj 
 
 («) See my App. No. 6. (w) See 2d Rep. Page 14.
 
 [ =0 ] 
 
 fefTors, for the Intereft of the Company, under the Sanftion of the 
 Prefidency, and at the prefling Inflance of the Company's Servants. 
 The Mortgagers having died without IfTue, and the Amount of the 
 Debt being about lo Lacks of Rupees, the Rajah, in his Letter, 
 had given the Alternative to the Prefidency, ieither to pay off the 
 Mortgage, which they had guaranteed, and to take Pofleffion of the 
 Diftri6l, or to give up the Country to him, as a Part of his Zemin- 
 •dary. In the latter Cafe he had propofed to increafe the old Jemma- 
 bundy from 65,000 to 80,000 Rupees a Year, and to pay an Annuity 
 of 10,000 Rupees to the Relations of the late Zemindar. He after- 
 wards agreed with me, verbally, to increafe the Tribute to 90,000 
 Rupees a Year(x). This laft Agreement was verbal, as is emphati- 
 cally remarked in the Report ; but it was ratified in the Cowle (_y), 
 which was wifely and unanimoufly granted to him by the Council. 
 
 The Committee proceed to ftate, " That the Adoption of Sette- 
 " ram's Son by Vizieram, (which he had notified at the fime Time 
 " that he fent the Petition above-mentioned^ was confirmed by the 
 " Board, and Setteram was accepted as Security for the Company's 
 " Tribute (s)." 
 
 The Pra61:ice of Adoption is not lefs frequent among the great 
 Proprietors in Hindoftan, than it was among the Romans, in the beft 
 and worft Periods of their Government ; and is in Part founded on 
 the fame Principle. The Right is eftabliflied in India, and until this 
 Moment had been recognized by the Company. The Adoption in 
 "Queflion had taken Place before my Departure from England. No 
 Attempt had been made to defeat its Effeft, even during the Dif- 
 putes between the Brothers. All A6ls of Government had been 
 carried on (by the Confefiion of Jaggernaut himfelf) in the Name of 
 the adopted Nephew. It only remained for the Board to proceed 
 with Circumfpeflion, and without Prejudice to any lawful Claimant. 
 The Adoption was accordingly admitted with all pofiible Precaution, 
 and " fo far as was confiftent with the Rights, Privileges, and Cuf- 
 " toms of the Country." With this Provifion, it was refolved, 
 
 " That 
 
 (.v) See App. 2d Rep. No. 51. (2) See 2d Rep, Page 14. 
 
 {j) See the Records in the India Houfe.
 
 C " ] 
 
 « That all Cowles be made out in future in tlic Name of Guzzi- 
 " petty Rauzc." This Meafure might eventually be beneficial, and 
 could in no Cafe prove detrimental to the Company's Interefts. But 
 as it was exprefsly ftipulated, that the Management of the Zemindary 
 fhould continue in the Hands of Vizieram Rauzc, it was tliought 
 prudent to make both him and his Brother anfwerable for the Tri- 
 bute (ri;). In general, Security is only given for the Farms; it is 
 never exacted from the Zemindars for their Jemmabundy. The Rea- 
 fon of this Difference is obvious ; the Farms are the Property of the 
 Company, while the Zemindars are the fole Proprietors of their Here- 
 ditary Lands. But all Diftin6lion between thofe two Sources of Re- 
 venue, is every where confounded by tlie Court of Diredlors. 
 
 I come now to confider the Reprefentation given in the Report, 
 of the Agreement made under my Government for the Tribute of the 
 Vizianagrum Diftri£l. I fhall ftate it, in all its Force, and fhall then 
 hope to draw the Reader's Attention to the real Circumflances and 
 Grounds of the Agreement. 
 
 The Secret Committee in the Courfe of their Obfervations alledge, 
 " That the Prefident declared the Jemmabundy of thefe Diftricls to 
 " be very inadequate ; that he obferved, that the Company would 
 " expeft a Sum equal to the miUtary Expences of which the Zemin- 
 " dar was now eaied ; that he flated that thi-ee Lacks, 5000 Rupees 
 " only, were paid to the Company, although feven Times that Sum 
 " was collected {b) ; That, however, he obferved, at a fubfequent 
 " Confultation, that he had found it difficult to bring the two 
 " Brothers to increafe their Rent of three Lacks 5000 Rupees to 
 " four Lacks 5000 Rupees ; that on another Occafion the Board 
 " agreed, that the Prefident fhould once more endeavour to prevail 
 " on Vizieram to raife his Tribute. That on the 8th of Oftober, 
 " the Prefident reported his having endeavoured to prevail in this 
 *♦ Point, but that Vizieram was inflexible ; and that on the Prefi- 
 " dent's Reprefentation, a Leafe for five Years was ordered, at four, 
 
 G " Lacks 
 
 (a) See App. 2d Rep. No. 44., 45. The Son's of Succeflion, evidently tended to fecure their 
 
 and the Family's Profperity, was thus made Fidelity to the Company, 
 dependent on the good Management of the (^) See 2d Rep, i' ages 12, 13. 
 
 Brcthers; and this Confirmation of the Lina
 
 [ 22 ] 
 
 *' Lacks 5000 Rupees, That the Enquiries which the Coiirt of 
 " Diredlors enjoined before any Leafes fhould be made, were in no 
 " Degree attended to ; and that the Regulations on Behalf of the 
 " Under Tenants, which they had prefcribed were equally difre- 
 " garded : — That the Committee of Circuit eftimatcd the total Value 
 *= of the Produce of the Vizianagrum Zemindary at 20 Lacks : that 
 " this Account was more than confirmed by Setteiam Rauze's De- 
 " claration to the Board; but that this very Witnefs to the increafed 
 " Value of thefe Lands, was himfelf made the Miniiler over them, at 
 " the Ren^ of four Lacks 5000 Rupees {c)." 
 
 I fhall not lofe a Moment to obferve, that the Word Renf is not to 
 be found in my Minutes upon this Occafion. From the Language 
 which the Court of Direftors have lately adopted, the Public mull 
 be led to infer, that the Com.pany have not barely fucceeded to certain 
 Rights of Sovereignty in this Country, but that they are become 
 exciufive Proprietors of the Soil ! And that thefe noble Zemindars, 
 the real and the fole Owners of the Lands, which they inherit from a 
 Line of Anceflry that would appear fabulous in Europe, had on a 
 fudden been converted into Farmers, or rather, Peafants ancl La- 
 bourers in the Company's Fields. The 'Tribute, not Rent, paid by 
 thefe Chiefs to the Mogul Invaders (who were never able entirely to 
 fubjugate their Country) was a Sort of Ranfom of their ancient 
 Independence. It v^'as the Price of a quiet Polleliion of their Property, 
 Priviledges, Cuftoms, and Habits. It was always alleifed with Mo- 
 deration ; and with a juft Regard to the immenfe Eflablifliments, 
 which tlie Opinion of the Country renders it neceffary for Perfons of 
 their Confequence and Diftinction to keep on foot. The Soubah 
 fettled with the Zemindars, without ever attempting to interfere 
 with the Colle61:ion. It would have been happy for all Parties, if the 
 fame wife Maxims had continued to be refpecled after the Ceflion of 
 the Circars to the Company. The Country would then have 
 flouriflred, and the Company would have profpered in the Profperity 
 of their Tributaries. To found this Profperity on the Bafis of reci- 
 procal Confidence and Security, and to fix the Proportion t)f the 
 Tribute on Principles of Policy and Juflice, were the ends of my 
 
 (f) Ibid. Page 15. 
 
 Inqui-
 
 [ n ] 
 
 Inquiries, and the Objcc'^s of my Reprefentations to the Board, on 
 this Subject.,. That the ruined Condition of the Zemindarics would 
 not permit the Tribute to be advanced in the Proportions that I had 
 expefted and propoled, was to me a Source of inexpreftible Mortifi- 
 cation. But I was compelled to yield to Circumilances. The 
 Dillrefs of tlie Zemindars was great, and the Conjun<!n:ure critical. If 
 the Prefidency had reje6led the ultimate Propofal of the Rajahs, con- 
 fenting to an Increafe of one Lack upon their Tribute, there would 
 have remained no other Alternative, than to complete the Ruin begun 
 by the Subordinates, and to fend Colle6lors into the Country [d). The 
 general Difcontent and Confufion, which fuch a Meafure mufl una- 
 voidably have occafioned, might have given a fatal Turn to the im- 
 portant Operations at that Time carrying on to the Southward. The 
 whole Force of the Carnatic, at that Period, was employed againfl 
 Pondicherry. The.Refillance of the Garrifon was obftinate, and the 
 Succsfsof the Siege began to be doubtful. The Treafiiry was empty. 
 The Difputes between the Brothers, and the Mifconduft of the Sub- 
 ordinates, had nearly deprived us of all Revenue from, the Chicacole 
 Circar(t'). The Draught of Troops from thole Parts, occafioned by 
 the Neceflities of the War, had left us but ill provided for rifquing 
 the dangerous Meafure of feizing upon the Collections of the Country. 
 In fuch Circumftaiices, I prefeired a moderate but certain Increafe of 
 the Revenue, to more brilliant but treacherous Hopes that led to 
 hazardous Experiments. I fecured a Revenue. I did more ; I fe- 
 cured the Country. I knew that Conciliation was of as m.uch Con- 
 fequence as Tribute, and I confulted both, by extending the Term 
 of the Agreement with the Zemindars. While a Manager of a 
 Country labours under tlie conrtant Apppehenfion of encreahng Ex- 
 aftions, the Cultivator is in an equal State of Uncertainty and Alarm. 
 The Under-tenants, for whom the Court of Direftors exprefs fo 
 much affedlionate Concern, will never engage with Spirit in the Bufi- 
 
 nefs 
 
 {J) The Court of Diredors, indeed, fccm to " moll abfolute and unlimited Controul !" 
 
 advife this IVleafure ; for they make it a Re- See App. 2d Rep. No. 153. Par. 55. I have 
 
 proach to the Pre.'idency, that they did not been informed that in Bengal, the Court of 
 
 extort their own Terms, " from a Perfon Direftors fpeak out, and fairly llile the Ze- 
 
 " entirely ii-'ithin their Power, and o-ver ivhcft mindars the Company's Colleilon. 
 " Properly they had (as the Court faljlj al- («) See Statement of Balances. App. 2d 
 
 ledge, but with an evident Approbation of Rep. No. 54.. The Revenue was ablolutely 
 
 Xhe Principle) " alTumed and e.xercifcd the at a Stand.
 
 C ^4. ] 
 
 neis of Cultivation, until they know whether any Part of their Crop 
 is to remain to them. Pvlen do not work for the Satisfaclion of 
 working. Security and Stability alone give Springs to Induftry. 
 The Agreement I entered into for the fixed Term of five Years,_ 7nay 
 perhaps enable the Country to recover from its languiihing Condition. 
 Such a Meafure was at leaft calculated to reftore fome Degree of 
 Credit to the Company's Government. In Fad, it has quieted the 
 Minds of Men, who, having much Reafon to murmur, may be fup- 
 pofed to have had fome Diipofition to revolt. The Meafuresof niy 
 Adminiflration had more Connexion with the late Tranfaftions in 
 the Carnatic, than m.y Friends have been willing to admit ; a Con- 
 nection, of a Nature equally honorable to me, and beneficial to 
 the Service. I eiiabliflied Tranquillity in the Circars ; v/here, at the 
 prefent Period, more than at any other, it is efTential to the Preferva- 
 tion of oar Influence or Dominion over them, that no jufc Caufe of 
 Difcontent, or Pretence for Complaint fliould be furnilhed by Go- 
 vernment. Hyder's Plan and Principles of Government ftand high 
 in the Eftimation of the Inhabitants of thofe Countries. If they had 
 been irritated at that Crijis, by lb olTenfive an Innovation as the 
 Progrcfs of a Committee of Ci-rcuit, whether fpurious or legitimate ; 
 or if the Uncertainty of their Tenure, or the Vexations of Govern- 
 ment had driven them to change; they would have found a Pro- 
 tector in Hyder Ally, who by making an efFe6lual Ufe of the nu- 
 merous Advantages he would have derived from the Acquifition 
 of the Circars, might, at this Time, have been Mafter of the whole 
 Coaft of Coromandel, and might have accelerated the ruin of the Eng-- 
 lifli Affairs in Hindonftan. 
 
 But to return to the fpecific Points of the Charges I am at prefent- 
 confidering. 1 was indeed little prepared to find the Zemindaries, 
 and the Zemindars fo totally ruined as an accurate and diligent Invef- . 
 ligation afterwards fhewed them to be. My Calculation, however, 
 of their Wealth, had never been fo extravagant as that v/hich is 
 attributed to me in the Report; nor does it appear from any of the 
 References of the fecond Repoit, that I ever made the Declaration 
 there afcribed to me, " That the Sum collefted in the Vizianagrum 
 " Diflri6l was feven Times more than the Sum paid to the Com- 
 ** pany." . A Declaration of a fimilar Nature is with more Truth/ 
 
 attributed
 
 [ 25 ] 
 
 attributed to Setteram Pvauze. Wis Evidence in this Inftance was, 
 I llippoie, exaggerated ; or perhaps it was mifunderftood, and he 
 meant to fpeak of the grofs Amount of the Revenue, without allow- 
 ing for Deduaions on Account of Colleflion, Sibbendy, and all the 
 immenfe Expences of the Rajah's Eftablifhment. At any Rate I 
 can have no Intereft in difputing the moft exaggerated Statement of 
 the Profperity of tlie Country during his Miniftry. If by wife Ma- 
 nagement he in truth raifed the annual Revenue of the Diftna at 
 a former Period, from feven Lacks to twenty-two, he was the fitteft 
 Perfon to fuperfede Jaggernaut, who, with the Support of the Fac- 
 toiy at Vizagapatam, and by every Species of Malverfation, had de- 
 feated the good Effefts of Setteram's firft Adminiftration, and brought 
 the Country to the Brink of Deftru6lion ( /'). 
 
 It remains to fpeak of the Sibbendy, from the fuppofed SupprefTion. 
 of which, I had flattered myfelf with fo promifmg an Expeftation 
 of an immenfe Acceflion to the Revenue. Unfortunately that Sup- 
 preffionwzs only fuppofed. I had been drawn into this mortifying 
 Miftake, by the very Authority, which has fo often led the Secret 
 Committee into Error, and which has furniflied fuch ample Mate- 
 rials for Mifreprefentation to others, who were not forry to be mifled. 
 The Reader will eafily conceive, that the Authority I allude to is 
 that of the Gentlemen of Vizagapatam. That Board was the only- 
 Channel of Communication between the Circars and Fort St. George ; 
 an Abufe, the fatal EiTcdis of which will long be felt in thofe de- 
 voted Countries ; although a partial Reformation was attempted un- 
 der my Adminiftration, by eftabliflVing Fackceh {g) at the Prefidency. 
 From the Reprefentations of the Chief and Council of that Fa^ory, 
 the fame Error prevailed univeriliUy at Madras, which has (ince been 
 greedily devoured by the Court of Dircflors, and which has found 
 its Way into the fecond Report of the Secret Committee. It was 
 generally underftood tliat the X'izianagrum Troops had .been dilband- 
 ed, and that the Defence of the Zemiudary had devolved upon the 
 Company's Forces. Upon a more accurate Enquiry it was too foon 
 difcovered, not only that the Reprefentation was falfe, but that the 
 fuppofed Reduftion was impraaicable. The Troops, wliich hati 
 
 ^ ^ H really 
 
 if) See App. 2d Rep. No. zo, 22, 45. (f) Sf? jd Rep. Pr.ge 15.
 
 I =6 ] 
 
 really bet-n dlftanded, were the few in Garrifon at the Fort. 
 The Saving?, arifing from that Reduftion, could not be confiderable, 
 and were probably more than balanced by the Inconveniences which 
 flowed in upon the Rajah, in Coafequence of his Admiflion of the 
 Company's Troops. The great Body of his Sibbendy were ftill on 
 foot, and were either employed for the Security of the Revenue, or 
 ■fixed in Stations where the Company's Seapoys could not eafily have 
 been prevailed on to remain (/'). Nor, indeed, at the Time of finally 
 -fettling the Tribute, could any Forces be fpared from the Service 
 for fuch Purpofes. On the Contrary, it had beconie neceflary to 
 call the grcatelt Fart of the Troops from the Northward ; and there 
 remained no other Means of Defence for the Zemindary, than a 
 numerous Sibbendy. Thus it appears, that the Foundation of thofe 
 flattering Hopes was vifionary; and the glittering Profpefts, fo 
 feelingly defcribed by the Court of Dire6lors, have vanidied, I fear, 
 for ever. 
 
 I might here reft the Defence of my Condufl: relative to the 
 Vizianagrum Diftrifls and Family, if the Public alone were con- 
 cerned. But the Court of Dire6lors are fertile in Sophillries, and as 
 one is refuted, another, or the old one in a new Shape, is fure to 
 prefent itfelf. 
 
 The Report goes on, " Your Committee find, that the great Ob- 
 " jeft of the Board, in putting the Power into Setteram's Hands^ 
 was laid to be the fpeedy Recovery of Balances ; and it has appeared 
 that he was nominated in July 1778, and yet in January 1779, 
 his, and his Brother's Balances were no lefs than 557,999 Rupees, 
 befides the Expence of an Expedition undertaken on his Account, 
 by Colonel Braithwaite, and 103,030 Rupees, for which Jagger- 
 naut was direded to account with Setteram (/)." 
 
 Although the principal Facls, referred to in the foregoing Remarks, 
 may be, literally, true ; yet the Court of Diredlors cannot Jioiv be 
 ignorant that the Injinuatiom intended to be conveyed in them, are falfe. 
 
 I 
 
 (^) See App. 2d Rep. No. 51. Many In- moved toward.s the Hill Countries, 
 fiances may be produced, to fticw how greatly (/) See 3d Rep. P.ige 16. 
 our Troops have fuffered, whenever they have
 
 [ =7 ] 
 
 I defy the honourable Court to controvert the Authenticity of the 
 following Letter, or to pretend Ignorance of the Fads contained in 
 it. To have fuffered the Secret Committee to remain in an Error, 
 which they only had the diredt Meana of correcting, is the fame 
 Thing as wilfully to have milled them. 
 
 Extracl: of a Letter fiom Mr. Jolui Davidfon, to Sir Thomas Rum- 
 bold, Bart, dated Vizagapatam 5th March 1780. 
 
 " I fhould do the Rajah Injuftice if I did not inform 3'ou, tliat he 
 has exerted biffjjl'lf exceedingly, fince his Return from Madras to the 
 Diftri(5l, he having paid upwards of one Year's Revenue, with the 
 laft Addition of Jemmabundy, viz. 
 
 1779 April 29th, Rupees - - - 118,333 
 
 June 30th, - - - - . - 25,000 
 
 July r.sth, 88,869 
 
 November 21 ft, - - - -287,303 
 
 17S0 February 15th, ~ - > . 252,084 
 
 Rupees 771,589 
 
 It is true, that Setteram Rauze was nominated to the Duanfhip in 
 July 1778, but it is alio true, that the Brothers did not return to 
 their Diftridls until December following. It is not therefore won- 
 derful, that no great Progrefs flioukl have been made in this trouble- 
 fome Bufmefs fo early as in January 1779, barely the Space of a 
 Month after their Arrival. It Ihould not however be forgotten, that 
 large Payments of Revenue were promiled and tnade by Setteram, 
 while he remained at the Prefidency. 
 
 The Circumftances which gave Rife to the Article of 103,030- 
 Rupees, for which Jaggernaut was dire6lcd to account with Setteram, 
 are briefly, as follows. Jaggernaut, the favourite Miniller of the 
 Court of Direcloi-s, had continued in the Management of the 
 Havelly Lands for fome little Time, even after the Date of Setteram;'s 
 Leafe. He had collected to the Amount of the Sum in Queftiop, 
 
 ~ and
 
 [ 28 ] 
 
 and had, as ufual, dlffipated the Money. Settcram was compelled 
 to make good the Deficiency, and was left to recover from Jaggeniaut 
 as he could. 
 
 The Secret Committee proceed to obferve, " That at the Time 
 " when Setteram was appointed Duan, the Rent had not been fet- 
 " tied, but was referred to his future Confideration and Adjull- 
 " ment(/^)." It fhould be remembered, that Setteram had long been 
 difpoflefled of his Government; That he was not ignorant of the 
 Demands for Arrears and Debts, by which the Rajah was aflailed on 
 all Sides : — that he was no Stranger to the Manner in which the 
 Country had been difmembered, and to Jaggernaut's ill Management 
 in all Points. It was furely not imnatural to take Time to examine 
 the Rajah's remaining Relburces before he agreed for the future 
 Tribute. The proper Officers were ordered to attend him in this 
 Inveftigation (/). 
 
 The Secret Committee conclude their Remarks on my Tranfa6lions 
 with the Vizianagrum Family, by taking Notice of " The Difappro- 
 " bation ftrongly expreffed by the Court of Direcftors of the Refto- 
 " ration of Setteram Rauze, to a Degree of Power, ivhich he had been 
 " found to abufe and convo-t to the Company's Detriment ; and by citing 
 " a Paflage from a Letter from Mr. Cafamajor, in order to throw a 
 " Light on the comparative Attachment of the two Brothers to the Com- 
 " pany's Interefls (;«)." 
 
 I know not from what Information the honourable Court have 
 learned that Setteram had ever abufed his Power to the Company's 
 Detriment. It is true, that in the Reports of the Board of Vizaga- 
 patam, he is fometimes reprefented as a Prodigy of Iniquity : but it 
 is equally true, that the fame Board, when it ferves their Purpofe, 
 fpeak of him in th^moft favourable Terms, and impute all the Mif- 
 chiefs, which had happened, to the interefted Defigns and dangerous 
 Intrigues of Jaggernaut {n). 
 
 With 
 
 (i) Ibid. («) See the Company's Records relative to 
 
 (/) See App. 2d Rep. No. 45. Vizag.-;pat:im. 
 
 {m) See zd Rep. Pages 16, 17.
 
 [■ 29 ] 
 
 Wlt]\ tlie Aid of all the Light which Mi-. Cafatnajor's Letter af- 
 fords, Lcannot diicover any Proof of the Charges preferred againft 
 Setteram Rauze. The Infinuation " of his keeping away during 
 " tlie Revolt of the Company's Sepoys, in a Manner that had the 
 " Appearance of premeditated Delay (o), was merely conjc6laral, and 
 *' proved to be groundlefs (/<)." If any Letters were " written to the 
 
 (o) Sec 2d Rep. Pages 16, 17. 
 
 (/) For the Rci-utarion of tliefc Charges a- 
 gainlV Setteram Rauz.', and for the belt anJ 
 moft fatisfjilory Jullification of my Meafures, 
 the Evidence of Fafls, and Experience in their 
 Favor, the Reader is referred to the foliowing 
 Letter, lately re^;eived by me from the very 
 Mr. Cafamajor, whofe Opinion is in this Place 
 ci ed againft me: — Extract of a Letter from 
 J. H. Cafamajor, Efq; to Sir Thomas Rum- 
 bold, dated Vizagapatam, 20th Dec. 1780. 
 " As I have taken up this Ground, I beg 
 " Leave to e.xcrcife your Patience a little 
 " longer, by informing you of the Situation 
 " of public Matters in this Circar; and I am 
 " the more inclined to do fo, becaufe I con- 
 " ceive you will derive Satisfaftion from the 
 •' Relation, being connected with the Subjeft, 
 " as one of the principal Tranfaftions of your 
 *• Government. On my Arrival here, I found 
 " the Province loaded with an Arrear to the 
 " Company, amounting altogether to Four- 
 " teen Lacks of Rupees, of which upwards of 
 " Twelve Lacks were due from the Vi7,iana- 
 " grum Family, for jemmabundy, andHavil- 
 "' ly Rents, &c. -Setteram Rau-.;e, on whom 
 "• all depended, did not return from Madras 
 " until the 8th of Oftobcr, when he arrived 
 " at the Capital. His Managers, in his Ab- 
 " fence, always wanted to refer Matters to 
 " their Mafter, to gain Time ; thus circum- 
 " ftanced, and the Rcfponhbility with which 
 " I confidered myfelf inveilcd from my Sta- 
 " tion, induced me to adopt, witlioutRefcrve, 
 " the Refolution of interfering- by a certain 
 " Day in the Colledions on the Part of the 
 " Company, but before the fi)icd Period ar- 
 " rived, I found an Alteration produced, 
 '• which rendered futh a Step unneceiTary — 
 " Money was paid in faft into the Treafury.— 
 " On Setteram Rauze's Arrival, I gave him 
 " to underft.indj what 1 conceived to be the 
 
 " Line he ought to adopt, with Regard to his 
 " Duties connefted v.ith his (iovernnient, and 
 " tliat I did not tell it as a Matter of Opinion 
 " only, but that it inuft b; aitended to wirh- 
 '• out Referve or Evafion. — He i'nw the 
 " Neceffity of foUov^'ing my Advice ; and tji* 
 " Conduft has enabled me to Difcharge my 
 " public Trull, w'th fome Degree of Satis- 
 " faction, and it has met with the Approba- 
 " tion of the Prefidency. I have been able 
 " to remit from the Colleflions, to the Trea- 
 " fury of the Prcfidency, 120,000 Rupees. 
 " I have in Readinefs, to fend by the very firft 
 " Opportunity, 200,000 Rupees more. I 
 " h.ive already advanced for the Inveilnent 
 " 160,000 Rupees, and the Ifi'ues made for 
 " general Dilhurfements, from my Arrival to 
 " this Period, amounts to Rupees 200,000. 
 " So except about Si.\-ty Thoufand Rupees, 
 " which I found in the Cheft on my Ar- 
 " rival, the Remainder, amounting to Rupees 
 " 620,000, has been collccled from t!ie lime 
 " I took Charge of this Office ; and I have the 
 " beft Hope from the Arrangements made, to 
 " be able to lend a further Supply of 250,000 
 *' Rupees at leaft to the Prelidcncy by May, 
 " exClufive of tiie Two Lacks ready for that 
 " Purpofe, and the 120,000 Rupees aftually 
 " forwarded ; and by the 20th April next, 
 " there will arife Exptnces at this Place, 
 " which will amount to about 200,000 Rupees,- 
 " for general Dilburl'ements, Proviiions for 
 " Madras, and fome Advances to keep the 
 " Weavers trom Itarving ; all which I fliaJl be' 
 " able to difcharge from the CoUeflions ; and 
 " this exills not in Idea only, the greater Part 
 *' you will fee has been accomplillied, and I 
 " have almoft a moral Certainty of fulfilling 
 " the Reil, if this Diftrict continues in Peace ; 
 " and then I ihall have the Satiofadtion to re- 
 " fleil, that from the Tranfadlions of my firfl 
 " Years Refidence here, you will have no 
 
 I 
 
 Reafo
 
 t 30 ] 
 
 " little Zemindars to flop the revolted Sepoys (q), it is obvious that, 
 although they were written in the Name of the Rajali, they mull 
 have been dictated by his MiniAer. 
 
 My Refpe£l: for the Secret Committee, obHges me, before I con- 
 clude this Head, to take fome Notice of the Examination of Colonel 
 Mathews ; an Officer, of whofe military Qualifications, I long ago 
 expreffed my Opinion, by appointing him with the Brevet of Major, 
 to an important Command in the Circars ; but to whofe Knowledge of 
 Revenue, or Judgment with Refpe6l to the civil Adminiftration of the 
 Company's Affairs, I confefs as Governor of the Settlement, I fhould, 
 in no Caie have thought it proper to refer. The Truth is, this 
 Officer either had acquired no Experience in thefe Points, or ought to 
 have acquired none. The Orders of the Company are exprefs on 
 this Subjeft, and abfolutely forbid the Interference of their mihtary 
 Servants, in Matters dependent on the civil DepartmxCnt. Colonel 
 Mathews has in his own Perfon had fome Experience of the Incon- 
 veniences which may arife from an Interference of this Kind. His 
 voluminous Controverfy with the Chief and Council of Mazulipa- 
 tarn, if it proves nothing elfe, may ferve to fhew the Impropriety of 
 departing from a profefTional Line. In the prefent Inftance, he can- 
 didly confefl'es, that his Information was collefted, ci long ago as the 
 Tear 1775, not by himfelf, but by namelefs Servants, whom he fent 
 into the Villages for that Purpofe (r). 
 
 The 
 
 " Reafon to reproach yourftif, for having (y) See 2d Rep. Page 17. 
 
 " done me the Tavour to intereft yuiirielf in (r) One Inftance may ferve to fhew, that the 
 
 " my Appointment. 1 have btfidcs, fincc my Information obtained by Colonel Mathews was 
 
 *' Arrival, difpatched 500 Bales, worth about as inaccurate as might be expefted from the 
 
 *• 120,000 Rupees, and by the End of next Channel through v/hich he received it.— He 
 
 *' Month coo more will be fent to the Prefi- ftates the Value of the Country lately taken 
 
 " dency, being moftly the Produce of the from Severam Rauze, Rajah of Curripaum, at a 
 
 " Money advanced in my Time. And it may Lack of Rupees. See hii Evidence, App. 
 
 " not be improper to Remark, by Way of 2d Rep. No. 17. — Juggah Row, the Com- 
 
 " Conclufion, tnat for many Years part this pany's Dubalh, who has been employed many 
 
 " Subordinate never made Remittances of Years in the Bufinefs of the Revenue in the 
 
 •' Cafh, on the Contrary, it received Supplies Vizagapatam Diflrift, and who could not be 
 
 " for it's Inveftment. — Settaram Rauze is on niillakcn, makes the Value amount to only 
 
 " a good Footing with his Brother, but as he half the Sum. See his Evidence, App. zd 
 
 " finds he has many Enemies, he intends to Rep. No. 45. 
 " live at V izagapatam with his F.imily during 
 " thelc Times ot public Dilltefs."
 
 [ 3' ] 
 
 The Reader muH: have obferved, that hi this Reply to a great Mul- 
 tipUcity of Remarks upon my Tranfadlions with the Vizianagrum 
 Family, which lie fcattered in various Parts of the Report, I have 
 taken the Liberty to clafs the Objedlions and Anfwers in a continued 
 and uninterrupted Series; in order to preferve that Perfpicuity, 
 Method, and Connection, without which it will be in vain to look 
 for diftinft Ideas, fair Argument, or jufl Conclufions. I fliall purfue 
 the faqie Order in Ipeaking of the Diftri61: of Mafulipatam. 
 
 My Firft Objecl, in treating with the Zemindars, was to obtain a 
 full, accurate, and circumftantial Account of their Condition, of 
 their Incumbrances, and Refources, and of the bed pofllble Means 
 of removing the one, and of improving the other. It was well 
 known that the Balances due to the Company were enormous (s). A 
 further Statement of Debts to Soucars and others, amounting to near 
 fix Lacks of Pagodas, had been tranfmitted by Mr. Sadlier, Chief of 
 Mazulipatam ; their own Accounts reprefented the Demands upon 
 them to be ftili more confiderable (/). Cultivation was ncglefted, be- 
 caufe their Tenure was precarious. The Mif-rule of the Subordi- 
 nates had attained it's lall Excefs. The Exigency of the Situation 
 called for fome decifive Remedy ; Delay was Ruin ;. and the (low 
 Inquiry, recommended by the Court of Direclors; equally ufelefs 
 and impradlicable. The Circumilances of the Cafe v/ere clear and 
 indifputable. The fmgle Expedient, which Policy could fuggeft, 
 or the Crifis of Affairs would admit, was adopted by the Prefidency. 
 A fixed Tribute, for a fixed Period, was the only Means of reftoring 
 Indullry, of removing from the Minds of Men, the Terror of en- 
 creafmg Exaftions, of giving Subflance aiid Stability to the Rights of 
 the Company. The Practice of granting yearly Lcafes, was un- 
 doubtedly more favourable to the Views of intereftcd Individuals, 
 but would foon have proved equally dellru6live to the Tribute 
 
 and 
 
 (j) For a Statement of Balances due. Seemy " Prcfident's Remark," fay they, " That the 
 
 App. No. 7. The Court of Direii^ors, in one " Mode which you intended to adopt, had 
 
 Place, acknowledge that the gre.-it Objeift, the " not impeded the Payment of former Ba- 
 
 Payment of Balances, had not been impeded " lances, was very proper; and the Chief 
 
 b) the Mcafure in queftion ; r,.-.d, with llri>5t '• and Council w -re highly blameable for fuf- 
 
 Jufticc, fix the Blame of the Accumulation of " fcring the Zemindars to fall fo grc.ntly in 
 
 Arrears, upon their favourite bubordiiiates, " Arrears." See App. 2d Rep. No. 153. 
 
 the fole Witnefles and Authorities, againil the Par. 64. — See alfo App. 2d Rep. No. 30. 
 Wifdoui oj Pfcpricty of the Meafurc, " Ycur (/) See my App. No. 7.
 
 [ 32 ] 
 
 and the Tributaries. On the other Hand, a certain Agreement 
 for five Years, has given Confidence to the Proprietor, and 
 Spirit to the Cultivator, and iecured an Increafe of Tw^elve and a 
 Half per Cent, to the Revenue (?c). It is remarked by the Secret Com- 
 mittee, on more than one Occafion, and witli fome Appearance of 
 Diflatisfaftion, " That this Addition was on the oMMoorilh Rental {w) " 
 It will therefore be neceffary to obferve, that in all Additions to the 
 Revenue, it has been the general, if not the conftant Pra6lice to fix the 
 Proportion of the Increafe upon the yljfaul Jwnma, or the old Bargain 
 with the Moguls. In a Country where Ufages, as fuch, become facred, 
 it is furely Policy to conform to them. I did fo in the prefent Inftance, 
 But it muft not from hence be inferred, that this Increafe of Twelve 
 and a Half /'fr Cent, upon the old Rental, is the only Increafe v/hich 
 has taken Place fince the Government of the Moguls. The unhappy 
 Natives have been no Gainers by this Deference to their ancient Forms. 
 The Sum Total of the Additions made to the Revenue, at different 
 Times, fince the Acceffion of the Company to the Circars, amounts 
 to above 5o/d'rC7;/. (x) upon the old Eftablifnment. An enormous 
 Exaftion ! And far more oppreffive to the Zemindars, than an equal 
 Augmentation would have pi'oved, under their Mahomedan Mailers ; 
 inafmuch as the Perquifites of the Mogul Officers are comprifed "in 
 the Eflimate which is improperly called the MooriJJj Rental; wiiere- 
 as, under the later Agreements, as exifling when I came to the Go- 
 vernment, thofe Perquifites were not taken into the Account, nor 
 were the Extortions of the Company's Servants fubjeft to any better 
 Controul than their own Difcretion. 
 
 The Report proceeds to obferve, " That the exhaufied State of 
 " the Company's Treafury, and unavoidable Increafe of public Ex- 
 *' pence were urged by the Governor as Reafons for taking low 
 *' Rents, [y )" They were indeed urged as Realbns for taking a real: 
 
 and 
 
 («) See App. 2d Rep. No. 49. — See my And to all the other Zemindars, excepting 
 
 App. No. 7. one, whofc Territory would not admit of it, 
 
 (w) See 2d Rep. Pages 14, 17. the Increafe was in the fame, or in a greatcj! 
 
 (a) For Inilance, the Rajah Jaggyputty Proportion. See App. 2d Rep. No. 40. 
 Rauze Zemindar of Peddapore, paid under the {y) " The cxliaufted State of the Company'* 
 MogulGovernment,Pagodas93,49vUnderthe " Treafure, and unavoidable Increafe of pub- 
 Government of the Company, as fettled during " lie Expence, were urged by the Governor 
 my Adminillrauon, Pagodas 139,656:31 :.jo. " as Rea&ns lor taking lew Rents." See 2d 
 
 Rep.
 
 [ 33 ] 
 
 and permanent Revenue, inftead of nominal Increafes, which fid 
 ludulLiy could enable the Zemindars to make good ? they were urged 
 as Reafons for refcuing them, in that Moment of their own and the 
 Company's Diftrefs, from the yearly Rapacity of fubordinate Exac^ 
 tors. They were urged as Reafons for avoiding, at that Crifis of 
 public Danger, all fpeculative Projeds, wliich might retard Balances, 
 flop the Revenue, and dlfturb the Tranquillity of the Countiy. It 
 is admitted that I alfo urged, " "That d/ie Care Jhould be taken to 7V- 
 " co'ocr cntfianding Balances (2;) ;" It might have been added, had fucli 
 a Confefiion been confittent with the Views of the Court of Direc- 
 tors, " T^hat tlooje Balances •were aSlually in a Courfe of Li qui da' 
 " }ion (a)." 
 
 The Report proceeds, " Upon thefe Terms It appears to your 
 *' Committee, that many Leafes were lett without any more accurate 
 " Enquiry into Circumftances, which could point out where the 
 " Juftice of the Caufe lay, between the Renter knd under Tenants 
 " on the one Hand, and the Company on the other. Of this alfo, 
 " your Committee find, that the Court of Dire6lors in their Letter 
 *' of the loth January 17H1, exprefs themfelves in Terms of the 
 " ftrongeft Difapprobation {d}," 
 
 I muft again obfeiTc, that the Zemindars cannot with Propriety 
 be confidered as Renters. They are hereditary PolTcilbrs of the Lands, 
 liable only to a Tribute, which has been raifed above 50 per Cent, 
 fmce they have become fubjeft to the Dominion of the Company. 
 The Cowles provide for the Security of the under Tenants, and it 
 is the proper Office of the Chiefs of the Subordinates, to fee that the 
 Conditions of the Cowles are complied with (c). 
 
 -K ^ Ifhall 
 
 Rep. Page 17. The Reader will be furprifed " prodttftive of a larger Ti-ibote ; and which 
 
 to learn, that the Opinion here referred to, is " probably might be attempted, with greater 
 
 exprefled by me in 'the following Terms :i*. " Profpeft of Succefs, when we have a cer-, 
 
 " If any certain Mode can be adopted, that " tainty of Tranquillity in the Country, and 
 
 " may do Judice to the Rajahs, and at the " nothing to apprehend from the Views of the 
 
 " fame Time add to'the Revenue of the Com- " French." See App. 2d Rep. N». 50. 
 
 ■*' pany, I ftiall be happy to join in promoting (z) See 2d Rep. Page 17, 
 
 " it; but in our prefent Situation of an (3) See Company's P^ecords.— Sec my App. 
 
 ■*' aflual War, and exhaufted Treafury, I am No. 8. 
 
 ♦' clearly of Opinion, (hat a certain ejlailified {b) Ste 2d Rep. Page 17. 
 
 " Revenue is preferable to any jpeculati've (r) See the Records of the Company. 
 
 " Schemes, even if they fliould in the End be
 
 [ 34 ] 
 
 I fhall not here enter anew into the Confideratlon of the Merits 
 
 of a Committee of Circuit. Let the Records of the Company be 
 
 fairly brought forward, and it will be manifeft beyond all Poflibility 
 
 of Difpute, that I was diligent in the Purfuit of the Information 
 
 that was neceflary to guide the Determinations of the Board ; apd 
 
 that I was as fuccefsful in my Enquiries, as the Situation of Affairs 
 
 w^ould admit. The real Blame to which the Proceedings of the 
 
 Board on this Occafion are expofed, confifts in their having exa6led 
 
 a7iy Increafe of Tribute from the Zemindars, at that Period of their 
 
 Diftrefsj a DiHrefs that cannot fvirely be* unknown to tliofe who 
 
 have fo feelingly reprefented the extreme Difficulty with which moft 
 
 of thofe Chiefs, " provided for the Expence of a Journey of 300 
 
 *' Miles," and with which fome of them, both in this and in other 
 
 Diftri6ts " were enabled to maintain their FamiUes with common 
 
 " Decency at Home [d)" The Balances already due, were in Truth, 
 
 too heavy to admit of an additional Load. But, " Tribute" is 
 
 the conftant Cry of the Court of Diredlors, nor can any Meafure 
 
 engage their Support, that does not come recommended by fome 
 
 new Impofition upon the Tributary. It became prudent to confent 
 
 to a little Harm, in the Hope of infuring a greater Good j in the 
 
 Hope of obtaining the San6lion of the honourable Court to an 
 
 Arrangement, which has been demonftrated to be equally beneficial-: 
 
 to the Zemindar and the Company. If that Arrangement be fuffered 
 
 to fubfift, if the Peace of the Circars be maintained, and if at length 
 
 the Subordinates do their Duty (f), eveiy frefh Difpatch from India- 
 
 inuft bring additional Confirmation of all that I have advanced. And • 
 
 the honourable Court will act a more candid Part, if, inftead of per- 
 
 fifting in the " impofilble" Attempt, " to afcertain the Amount of • 
 
 " Dao^age to be fuftained by the Company, in confequence of my 
 
 " Engagements , 
 
 {d) See 2d Rep. Pago lO^ " port, the njohoh of nvhaf is due ZX thiS'P^riod, 
 
 " (f) '< VVc fee the Neceflity upon this Occa- " not only from thefe lail mentioned 2emin 
 
 ** Con, of a vigorous Exertion of the Powers " dars, but from all the Tributaries of this 
 
 " you ha've lodged luith us, in the ftrongell " Diftrift, will be obtained from them." — 
 
 " Point of View, being fully perfuaded that Thefe PalTages being extraifled from a Letter 
 
 •* if we fliould fail at this Time, in the Exe- of the Chief and Council ,of Mazulipatam, 
 
 *• cution of j'c&v OjVir/, the bell Opportunity will hardly be fufjiciled of Partiality in my 
 
 *' of accomplifhing them will certainly be Favour, nor can the Court of Direiiors de- 
 
 " loil." — " If the Meafures we mean to cently difpute their Authority. See ray .App 
 
 *' purfuc, receive your Approbation and Sup- No. 8-
 
 [ 35 ] 
 
 " Engagements {/)," they will avail themfelves of the ample Means 
 they are probably pofleffed of already, to ajcertain the Advantages 
 fecured to the Company, and the Mifchiefs averted, by the Meafures 
 eflablifhfd in the Courfe of my Adminiflration. . 
 
 Before I enter upon a Defence of the Agreements made for the Ha- 
 villy Lands, and the Farms dependent on Mazulipatam, it will be ne- 
 ceflary to revert to two Paflages in the i ith Page of the fecond Re- 
 port. " Your Committee have flated above that the Board at Mazu- 
 " lipatam, had, by Letter of the 23d May,, apprifed the Prefidency 
 " that certain Zemindars had fet out ; and they find that this Letter 
 *' was received at Madras on the 12th June, and that on the 15th, 
 " which was three Days afterwards, the Prefidency directed the Gen- 
 " tlemen at Mazulipatam to advertife for Propofals to rent the feveral; 
 " Farms under their Management for five, eight, or ten Years, but 
 *' that on the 3d July, they were informed from Mazulipatam, that 
 " no Propofals whatever had been received." 
 
 " It appears to your Committee, that the Court of Dire^lors, in 
 *' their general Letter to Madras, dated loth January, 178 ly ani- 
 " madvert upon this, and acquaint that Prefidency, that it does not 
 " appear to them, that any Propofals could be expe6ledj as almoft 
 " all thofe whofe Situation enabled them to bid, were at that Time: 
 " called down to the Prefidency." 
 
 Admitting the Truth of moft of the Fa6ls referred to in thefe Ex- 
 trafts, I deny the Inference which the Court of Dirc(51ors affefl to draw 
 from them ; and I believe I fliall be able to demonftrate, that the 
 honourable Court mnjl know perfeSlly well,- that there was no Manner 
 of Ground, for the Animadverjion they have hazarded on this Occa- 
 fion. For firft, the honourable Court muft know perfectly well, 
 that the Farms of Mafulipatam iiad no Manner of Relation with the . 
 Zemindars who were then called to the Prefidency. On the one 
 Hand, the Dignity of thek Station will not permit them to hold 
 Farms; and on the other, Hand, the Prefidency would hardly have 
 trufted them . to People already in Arrears fo confiderably, for their 
 
 tributary; 
 
 (/) See 2d Rep. Page 17.-.
 
 [ 36 ] 
 
 ; tributary Lands. Advertifements, however, for letting the P'amis, 
 were put up in the mofl publick Manner, as the honourable Court 
 muft know, at the Prefidency as well as at the Subordinates. So that 
 thofe who came to Madras, thofe who flaid behind, and every In- 
 dividual under the Company's Government, had an equal Opportu- 
 nity of bidding for the Farms (g). In the next Place, the honourable 
 Court know pcrfedlly well, that although the firft Orders for adver- 
 tifmg the Farms were ifllied three Days after Notice had been received 
 at the Prefidency, that the Zemindars were on their Way to Madras, 
 yet the Farms were not Jet until eight Months after the Notification 
 of their Return to their feveral DLfl:ri6ls. The Farms were firft or- 
 dered to be advertifed on the 15th July, 1778. The Zemindars 
 were known to be returned to their Difiri6ls in December of the 
 fame Year. The Farms were let the loth Auguft, 1779 {h). 
 
 The Secret Committee have not thought proper to enter minutely 
 into the Detail of the Tranfaftions relative to the letting the Farms 
 and Havelly Lands belonging to this Diftridl. It will therefore be 
 fufficient to give a general View of the Circumftances and Principles 
 on which thofe Bargains were founded. Thefe Points feem to have 
 been wilfully mifi eprefented by the Court of Direftors, who, in this, 
 as in moft other Inftances, have mifled the Secret Committee. A 
 Variety of Bidders, differing in Character, AbiUty, and Security, 
 had prefented themfelves for different Parcels of the Farms. But it 
 appeared, that the Sum total of all the higheft Offers of the various 
 Competitors for particular Portions, exceeded only in the Sum of 
 1000 Pagodas, the fmgle Offer of Lechma Narfmivaloo for the 
 Whole (/■). The Charafter, Property, and Security of this Man, 
 were clear and unexceptionable. One foUd Renter has an evident 
 Advantage over a Number, although of equal Solidity; becaufe, 
 when all the Farms are in a fmgle Hand, the Produce of one Farm 
 may compenfate for the Failure of another. But in the prefent In- 
 ftance, there was no Room for Hefitation, as feveral of the higheft 
 Bidders were deftitute of Reputation, and had no other Means of 
 procuring any Sort of Security, than by mortgaging the very Farm 
 they were defirous to Rent {k). It is true, that Venkata Pontaloo 
 
 had 
 
 {g) See App. 2d Rep. No. 36, («') Ibid. No. 55.— and Company's Recordj 
 
 {h) Ibid. No. SS' W Ibid. No. 55.
 
 ^ C 37 J 
 
 had out-bid Narfimv^aloo, in a Sum that called my Attention to his 
 Offer (/). But he was difappointed of the Security he propofed, 
 which, moreover, was not equal to the Objeft. Pontaloo was there- 
 fore rejefted, and Narfimvaloo became the Renter of the Farms he 
 bad for, at an Advance of 5000 Pagodas (;«) ; and Loll Dofs, the moft 
 refponfible of all the Soucars, is his Security. The Salt Farms were 
 granted to Swammy Pilla (;z), upon the fame Ground of folid Secu- 
 rity, In a Word, the Certainty of a Revenue, was the great Obje<5l 
 I kept conlhmtly in View. To have delivered up the Farms to Ad- 
 venturers merely becaufe they offered largely, niuft have been Folly 
 or Breach of Trufl. In Confirmation of what is here fet forth, I 
 beg Leave to refer the Reader to a Letter of Mr. Cotsford, a Gen- 
 tleman fent from Europe, to take upon him the Chieffhip of Mazu- 
 lipatam, and fmce appointed by the Company to fucceed to the- 
 Government (0). 
 
 Extra6l of a Letter from Mr. Cotsford, to Sir Thomas Rumbold,, 
 dated Mazulipatam, 19th Auguft 1779. 
 
 " I am glad the Bufmefs of the Farms is decided, and am per— 
 " fe<5lly fatisfied with the Mamter in which it is done. The Syftem of 
 " Management, fo far as our prefent Experience can enable us to. 
 " judge of it, appears to me to have been a lofing one. And irL 
 *' Speculation, appears to have been the worfl that could have been. 
 " adopted. I v/as fome Days ago, on the Point of v/riting to you, 
 " to apprize you of the Inconveniences that were to be appre- 
 " bended, from any further. Delay in this Matter of the Farms ; but 
 " hearing that it was purely the Confequence of your ill State of Health, 
 " and tliat we mjght expedl to hear of the Difpofal of the Farms, at 
 "■ leaft in a few Days, I laid afide tlie Intention as unnecelTary." 
 
 I fhall now attend the Secret Committee in their Remarks upon t\\c 
 Tranfadlions of the Prefidency relative to the Diitridts dependent upon 
 
 L Ganjam : 
 
 (/) See 2(1 Rep. Page 17. Stiitement of regular Annual Diminutions in 
 
 (ri) See App. 2d Rep. No. 55. the Rents of thefe Farms ^nd at tht'ianie Time- 
 
 (k) Ibid. of regulrirly growing Arrears. See App. a^i 
 
 (0) In Juftification of thefe Sentiments of Rep, No. 49. 
 Mr. Cotsford, and of my own Meafuies, fee the
 
 [ 38 ] 
 
 Ganjam : I fay the Secret Committee, for I fhall not think myfelf 
 obliged to purine the Obfervations of fhe Court of DireBors through 
 forty Articles which they have befhowed upon this Subje6l, and in 
 which, without producing a fmgle Proof, they have allowed them- 
 felves to make Ufe of Expreflions of Bitternels and Inveftive, which 
 the Decorum of public Bodies ufually excludes from their Pro- 
 ceedings (/<). 
 
 " Your Committee found," fays the Report, " that the Ganjam 
 " Zemindars had been ordered down to Madras ; and, among others, 
 *' a Man named Ball Killnah, the Company's Dubafli and Interpreter, 
 " as he is Ifiled in tlie Order, fome of the Zemindars having been 
 " themfelves difpenfed with on fending Reprefentatives ; but, as ta 
 " Ball Kiftnah, the Order was lepeated on the 28th of July 1778, with 
 " a good deal of Warmth, threatening him with the Danger ofincur- 
 *' ring their higheft Difpleafure, and two Companies of Sepoys {q)." 
 
 In all the Circars fimilar Caufes operated to a fimilar Deflruftion 
 of the Revenue. They operated, however, with increafmg Eifedf, 
 in Propoition as the Sphere of their Aftivity was removed from the 
 Center of Account and Controul. Accordingly, Ganjam^ the moft 
 diftant of the Company's Eftablifhments in the Circars, was equally 
 diftinguifhed by the Enormity of its Balances, and the Delinquency 
 of its Subordinate. In Confideration of the impoverifhed State of 
 tlie Zemindars in this ruined Diftri6l, and their great Diftance from 
 Madras, their perfonal Attendance at the Prefidency was difpenfed 
 with. But Ball Kiftnah (who was not a Zemindar, as the Report 
 feems to imply) had not the fligiiteft Excufe to plead : He was a 
 Servant of the Company, fubjcfl to the Orders of Council, and liable 
 
 to 
 
 (/) See A pp. 2d Rep. No. 153. Par. u6, " ring oiii- ^/;g-,5<:y?DifpIe;ifiire." On the 28 th 
 
 and eliewhere. of February, in the fo',lo-wing Year, after Ball 
 
 (y) See 2d Rep. Page 18. I muft here ob- Kiftnah had lingered feveral Months on the 
 
 ferve, that in the Authorities referred to in the Road, it was indeed determined, if he fhould 
 
 Report, there is no Mention to be found of perlift in his Difobediciice, to haxe him fent 
 
 tivo Companies ol Sepoys. In the Orders firft up under a Guai\-i oi Sepoys; but the Idea of 
 
 iflued on this Subjeft, dated 15th April, ;778, employing ti\io Companies on that Service, was 
 
 and repeated 'M.vV/'Cft/ /jny ^(irai/^ the 21ft July never in Contemplation at the Prefidency. 
 
 following, there is no Mention ic/iiT/tz/sr made See App. 2d Rep. No. 26, 37, c6. 
 cf " Sepoys," or " of the Danger of incur-
 
 [ 39 ] 
 
 to be called before them, whenever, and in what Manner foever their 
 Difcretion Ihould prefcribe. 
 
 The Report proceeds, " It appeared to your Committee, That 
 " the Gentlemen of Ganjatn had reprefented to the Prefidency, that 
 " this very Man had, under Cover of another Name, been the real 
 " Renter of the Ganjam Havelly Lands, which vv-ere in Arrear 
 " 182,666 Rupees; and that for Vizianagur, he was in Arrear 60,350 
 " Rupees, which he had engaged to pay ; and this appears to your 
 " Committee, to be achioivledged by the Board, in a Letter to 
 " Ganjam, 21ft May 1779 ('')." 
 
 I muft take the Liberty to declare, that no fucli Acknowledgment 
 was ever made by the Board. The Point was neither admitted nor 
 denied, but was exprefsly referred " to a thorough Inveltigation 
 " upon the Spot, after the Return of the Party {s)." But the Qucllion 
 is in itfelf of the utmoft Indifference. For, whether Ball Kiftnah or 
 another had been the ancient Renter, the former gave Security, in 
 the actual Occurrence, for the gradual Payment of the Balances. 
 In one Caie, the Company were clear Gainers ; in the other, an un- 
 certain Debt was put into a regular Courfe of Liquidation. 
 
 The Committee proceed to obferve, that this Man made two Pro- 
 pofals for renting the entire Revenue of the Diftridt j and they take 
 Notice, that in the firft Propofal, which was rejedled, the Sea and 
 hand Cujloms were included; but they have not thought proper to 
 remark, that in the fecond Propofal, upon which the Agreement 
 was formed, thofe Cuftoms tvere exprefsly excepted, and of Courfe, 
 remain to be carried to the Account of the a6tual Revenue {t). 
 
 It Is next alledged, " That Mr. Perring, exprefiing his Opinion 
 " that Call Kiftnah was the fitteft Perfon to be tire Renter, yet ac- 
 
 " knowledges 
 
 (r) See 2 J Rep. Page i8. " if it proves he Is the real Renter, you will 
 
 {s) The f"( llowing ;ire the exprefs Words uTed " be cj.reful that he makes good liis B.ilanccs 
 
 bj' the Board on this Occafion :— " As Bdl " tp the Company." Ssc App. zd Rep. 
 
 " Killnah is To ibon to return to Ganjam, it No. 57. 
 
 " will then be proper tiiat you enter upon a (/■) Sec App, zd Rep, No. 5S, 60. 
 
 " thorough Invertigaticn of this Matter, and
 
 [ 40 ] 
 
 " knowledges that he offers lefs than the Chief and Council had been 
 " able themfelves to colleft (u)" 
 
 Mr. Perring, when the Merits of the Jirji Propofal were under 
 Dehberation, aflerted the Offer to be " Icfs than what was collefted, 
 " by the Chief and Council, for fome Tears before the late Troubles 
 «' in the Goomfoor Counti-y(w)," which laft Words are omitted in 
 the Report. It will be needlefs to remark, how effentially thofe 
 Words affect the Senfe of Mr. Perring's Minute ; or how utterly 
 they overthrow the general Idea, which the Quotation as it ftands in 
 the Report is calculated to convey (*•)- 
 
 The Report proceeds, " Mr. Johnfon fliewed from Experience^ 
 " it had beenr found difadvantageous to let the whole to any one 
 " Renter (;»)" 
 
 The Reader will naturally conceive, that Mr. Johnfon has efta- 
 bliflied this Opinion by a Chain of Reafoning, fupported by a Deduc- 
 tion of Fa6ls. Let us recur to his Minute. " The infuperable- 
 " ObjeSiiofis, fays he, to a Renter for this whole Diftri6V, and the 
 *' numerous- Examples I have feen of their Infuff.ciency, coiivinces m^, 
 " that the moft eligible Plan is what I have fuggefted (2)." This, it 
 muft be allowed, is a compendious Method oi Jheivmg from Experience I 
 If the Reader wilhes to defcend into Particulars, if he calls for one 
 only of thefe infuperable Objedlions, if he afks for ojie only of the 
 numerous Examples which Mr. Johnfon \\?Afeen ; upon thefe Details, 
 the Minute will not afford him the llightefb Satisfa<fl:ion. He will 
 be the lefs furprized, however, at this modeft Silence, when he is 
 informed, That the Example in ^cejiion is the only Example cf 
 letting the Zemindaries in Farm {a) which has occurred in the Annals 
 
 of 
 
 (k) See 2d Rep. Page 18. Terms were raifeJ, and for other Reafons fug- 
 
 (iu) See App. 2d Rep. No. 59. gefted in the Papers I produced to the Board.. 
 
 (.v) Indeed it is not eafy to diftover for what See App. 2d Rep. No. 60, 61. 
 
 Purpofe this Objeftion of Mr. Pcrring is quoted ( y) See 2d Rep. Page 1 8. 
 
 at all — It being an Objeftion to a Nullity, (s) See App. 2d Rep. No. 59. 
 
 to a Meafure which did not take Place. A [a) The Reafons for adopting this Meafure 
 
 carelefs Reader might be led to conlider it as in the prefcnt Inftance, are fully fet forth in my 
 
 an Argument againll the Meafure which was Minutes. See App. 2d Rep. No. 60, 61.— 
 
 really agreed to, and to which Mr. Perring See My App. No. 9. 
 
 gave his hearty Concurrence j both becaufc the
 
 [ 41 ] 
 
 of the Company's Government in the Ch-cars ! Such are the Grounds 
 on which the Court of Direftors prefumc they Ihall (land juftified in 
 the Face of the World, for the Attacks tliey have levelled againft the 
 Fortune and Ilonour of an Individual, v/hofe Views for the public 
 Service have alone rendered him obnoxious to their Perfecution ! I 
 throw myfelf upon the Juftice of my Country. I appeal to a Tri- 
 bunal, where Infmuation will not be received as Fa6l, or Afleition as 
 Evidence; and, where vague and rafli Declamation, will not be fuf- 
 fered to pafs under the Defcription oi J]jcivi?igfrom Experiaicc 
 
 Mr. Johnfon avows in this Minute, " That he entertains great 
 " Doubts of the prudent Condu6f of the Rajah of Goomfoor {b)." And 
 he gives it as his Opinion, " That the Havelly Lands ought to re- 
 " main in Mr. Manfell's the Colletlor's Hands, who had done his 
 "_ Duty in every Refpect (r)." It will foon appear, that this laft Opi- 
 nion is not better founded than many others, which tlie Court of Di- 
 re6tors have adopted upon the Authority of this Gentleman. 
 
 The^ next Allegation in the Report is, " That the Gentlemen of 
 " Ganjam had ftated their Receipts for the laft five Years at five 
 " Lacks and upwards {d)" The Statement here referred to, does not 
 appear in the Appendix ; nor is it worth looking for, as it is flatly 
 contradided by the Balances ; which had increafed to an enormous 
 Amount, notwithllanding the Mode of military Execution to which 
 thofe Gentlemen had frequently Recourfe in forcing Colle6lions ; 
 and notwithftanding the happy Talent they pofiTelied, as will prefently 
 be feen, of accounting for Balances. 
 
 , " Ball Kiftnah" fays the Report, (fpeaking of his fecondPropofal) 
 " offered a regular annual Payment, amounting in ten Tears to 
 " 415,000 Rupees, and a regular Difcharge of Balances to the 
 " Amount of 40,000 Pagodas per Annum i^e)." 
 
 M There 
 
 {h) See App. 2d Rep. No. ^9. " muft be obferved as a general Rule, that no 
 
 (<-) Ibid. This Opinion of Mr. Johnfon ftands " European is to interfere in the Colledioos 
 
 in direft Contrndiflion with the cvprefs Orders " of the Revenue." 
 
 of the Company; who in their Letter of the (rt') See 2d Rep. Page 18 
 
 2.6th March, 1768, direft as follows:— "Should \e) ibid.. 
 
 " the Cjrcars continue in our PofTeflion, it
 
 I 42 ] 
 
 There is in tliis Reprefentation a Complication of Errors, which 
 -cannot eafily be accounted for. The Fa6l referred to is fimply as 
 follows. Upon Condition of receiving a Leafe for ten Years, Ball 
 Kiftnah offered a regular annual F ayment of 415,000 Rupees, and a 
 regular Difcharge of Balances to the annual Amount of 40,000 
 Rupees. 
 
 " This laft Article," continues the Report, (alluding to the erro- 
 neous Statement above-mentioned, of an annual Payment of 40,000 
 Pagodas for Balances) " the Directors in their Letter loth January, 
 " 1 78 1, flate to have been, in Truth, a Favour to himfelf, as he had 
 " been in Fa(St the Renter from whom thofe Balances were really due, 
 *' and were then payable to their full Amount (/ )." 
 
 Here again there occurs a Miftake in the Report, which is inexpli- 
 cable. Ball Kiftnah had been reprefented (but the Fa6t was by no 
 Means proved) to be the real Renter of the Havelly Lands, from 
 whence confiderable Balances were due, which the Board tied him 
 down to difchai-ge by annual Payments of 20,000 Rupees. Admitting 
 the Suppofition of his having been the real Renter, this Arrangement 
 might in fome Senfe be confidered as a Favour to him. But the Sum 
 of 40,000 Rupees (not Pagodas) which he had propofed to pay an- 
 nually, was in Difcharge of Balances due, not from himfelf, but 
 from the Zemindars ; it was the Confideration paid by him for a ten 
 Yeai-s Leafe of the whole Diftrift, then firft rented. It was an origi- 
 nal Condition in a new Bargain, and by no Means an Arrangement 
 intended \.o favour him, in the Payment of what he might already 
 owe. In ten Years, he expefted by good Management, to be enabled 
 to difcharge the old Debts of the Zemindars, as well as the accruing 
 Tribute ; and without fuch a Settlement, all Hopes both of one and 
 the other, would, I believe, have been worfe than precarious {g). 
 
 " Ball Kiftnah affirmed," fays the Report, " That five Lacks was 
 " unreafonable (b)." In common Juftice it ftiould have been added, that 
 what Ball Kiftnah affirmed, Mr. Smith has demonftrated. In the 
 very Minute which is cited by the Report, in order to ftiew that Gen- 
 
 tlemaa's 
 
 C/0 Ibid. .{i) See 2d Rep. Page 18. 
 
 Ig) Sec App. 2d Rep. No. 60.
 
 [ 43 ] 
 
 tleman's Opinion, refpecTting the large Amount of the Revenue, he 
 has himfelf accdunted for the Growth of the Arrears, and afferts 
 pofitively, " That the Tribute cxa6tcd from. many of the Zemindars, 
 " was higher than their Countries would bear (/)". The Eflimate, 
 therefore of the nominal Tribute, and the State of the efFed:ive Col- 
 ledlion, muffc for ever be at Variance : The inevitahle Refult of which, 
 is Deception to the Company, and Vexation and Ruin to the Tri- 
 butary. 
 
 So far, then, arc Mr. Smith's Calculations from remaining 
 " uncontradidted," that they are contradifted by himfelf (i4). I may 
 boldly fay, that, in my Minutes, his whole Reafoning upon this 
 Subjedl had been confuted before it was prefented to the Board. I 
 will yidd, that if thofe Minutes had appeared dcferving of more At- 
 tention, it would not have been Hated in the Report, " That the 
 " Prefidency did not appear to take Pains to get proper Data to 
 " proceed upon (/)." 
 
 How far the Honour of tlie Prefidency may be concerned to re- 
 move the other Imputation, thrown upon them in this Part of the 
 Report, of having generally " difregarded the Information afforded 
 " by the fubordinate Fadtories (?«)," the Public is in a Situation to 
 determine. The general Views, Condudt, and Interefls of thofe in- 
 ferior Councils, have been laid fairly before them. 
 
 In what Degree the Prefidency may have merited the particular 
 Reprehenfion inflidted on tliem, in the prefent Inftance, by the Secret 
 Committee, for negleding " the flrong Reprefentations made by the 
 " Gentlemen of Ganjam, againft the Agreement with Ball Kiflnah («)," 
 will appear from the following State of Fads. 
 
 In the Year 1778, (the Year immediately following the boafted 
 Reftoration of the Revenue, during the Chieffhip of Mr. Smith) 
 the whole Colle6lions, including a Variety of old Balances, as well 
 as what could be obtained of tlie current Tribute, fell fliort of tlie 
 
 Amount 
 
 .(».) See App. jd Rep. No. 6i. {m) Ibid. Page 19. 
 
 (i) Sec my App. No. 9. , (n) Ibid. 
 
 (I) See 2d Rep. Page 18. ' *
 
 [ 44 ] 
 
 Amount of the fimple yearly Revenue, as flatcd in the Report, by a 
 Sum confiderably exceeding One-third. In the following Year (1779) 
 the whole Mafs of thefe mixed Colleclions did not amount to one 
 Half of the expefted fimple Revenue of the Year. So rapid a Decline 
 of the Revenue did not fail to excite in my Mind a ferious Alarm, 
 not unmixed v/ith Sufpicion. It is true, the Collections of the cur- 
 rent Year had only been continued to the End of February (0). But 
 the Year's Account finitlies in April ; and the Colleftions of the two 
 remaining Months could not pofiibly be confiderable. In the mean 
 Time, the Expences of the Ellabliihment were abforbing the whole 
 Produce of the Colleftions {p). I determined to attempt an immediate 
 Reform. But, — upon the firft Rumour of this Intention, — to the in- 
 exprefiible Ailoniftiment of every Member of the Council, without 
 Exception, — the Gentlemen of Ganjam remitted an Account to the 
 Prefidency of a pretended Colle£Vion, during the two unproductive 
 Months, equal to all the preceeding Produce of the Year. A daring 
 Impofition ! deftitute even of the Degree of Plaufibility which is re- 
 quired in Fi6lion ! So grofs an Artifice could not deceive for an In- 
 ftant. But the Prefidency proceeded with Caution ; and it was not 
 until a direft Confeflion of the whole Impofture was received from 
 the Chief himfelf, that the Gentlemen of Ganjam were removed from 
 their Stations {q). 
 
 This is by no Means the only Inftance of Prevarication (r), of which 
 the Gentlemen of Ganjam Hand convifted. Yet, it is ranked among 
 
 the. 
 
 (0) See the Ganjam Cafh Accounts on the Colleftions muft further be deJufted the Sum 
 
 Company's Records. See alfo my Minute, fallacioufly brought to Account by the Gentle- 
 
 App. 2d Rep. No. 60. men of Ganjam. 
 
 (/) See my Minutes, App. 2d Rep. No. 60, (y) See Ganjam Accounts on the Records 
 
 61. — Where it is clearly fliewn, that the Col- of the Company for that Period, 
 
 lefti ns from the Time the Company took (r) The Gentlemen of Ganjam declared fo- 
 
 PoflelTion of the Ganjam Diftridl, to the 30th lemnly, that they did not encounage Ball Kift- 
 
 April, 1779. amounted to one Million, nah direftly or indireftlv in his Difobedience, 
 
 298,404 : 13 : 27 Pagodas ; the Civil and Mili- to the Orders of Council, fummoning him to 
 
 tary Charges during that Period, and Expence Madras; yet in a Letter to Ball Kiftnah, in my 
 
 of Fortifications, amounted to 976,161 : 10:40 Poffeffion, in the Hand V/riting of one of the 
 
 Pagodas, exclufive of the Afllftance received Council at Ganjam, heisiiot only lirongly ad- 
 
 froln the Bengal Troops fent into that Dif- vifed to remain in the Country, but the Excufes 
 
 tri£l, and alfo exclufive of the Military Stores offered by the Zemin.i.irs, for abfcntlng them- 
 
 fent from the Prefidency of Fort St. George, felves, are fuggefted to them in the very Words 
 
 Thcfe Calculations are formed from the Com- they afterwards adopted. See my App. No. lo. 
 
 pany 
 
 's Records. — from the Anxjunt of the
 
 [ 45 
 
 the foremoft of iny Offences, That I did not confer.t to be governed 
 by " the Reprejcnfations of thofe Gentlemen !" — Yet, the Court ol 
 Du"e6tors have received Mr. Smith aiid Mr. Johnfon into their Favor; 
 for no adigned Reafon, but becaule they were influenced by thofe 
 Reprefentations {s) ! Yet, the Evidence of thofe convicted Gentle- 
 men, anil of the Gentlemen of the other Subordinates, and of Mr. 
 Smith and Mr. Johnfon, who had themfelves been Chiefs of Subor- 
 dinates, — all actuated by the fame PafTions, — all, though in different 
 Degrees, urged by the fame Spirit of Ilcfentment, and biafled by the 
 fame Senfe of an immediate jierfonal Intereff, in fixing a general 
 Odium upon mv Conduiit, and in difcrediting the greater Part of the 
 Meafures of my Adminiffration, — Yet, I fay, the Evidence, fuch 
 as I have ftated it — The Evidence of V/itneffes, who might fairly be 
 challenged on the Trial of a common Ifllie in Weftminfter-Hall [t) — 
 Tbh Evidence is.theyjA' Fciuuiation not only of all the Calumny, 
 which has been fo bufily einployed to jMejudice my Charader in the 
 World, but (what is more ferious and affecfting) of all the Charges 
 and Imputations which feem to have received the Sandion of the 
 Secret Committee. 
 
 Such are the Grounds upon which " it lias been thought proj^er 
 " to advert to my private Tranfiidions {u) ;" to .explore, and to pub- 
 lifii to the World, the minuteft Circumffances of my Affairs j and to 
 
 N call 
 
 (j) This is the cnly Reafon afligned by the 
 Court of Direcftors fur their Commendation of 
 Mr. Smith and Mr. Johnfon, and for the Le- 
 nity of the Sentence pafFed upon them. See 
 App. 2d Rep. No. 153. Tar. 161. It is there- 
 fore to be fuppofcd tiiat the fame Reafon ope- 
 rated to rcftore them to their Seats in Council. 
 • ■(/) It is by no Means, my Intention to im- 
 pcich generally the Charaders of Gentlemen 
 who have ferved in llie Subordinate Councils. 
 I only aflert, that intcreftcd Parties would not 
 be admitted as Witnefles in a Court of Juftice. 
 («) The Report in cnumeratinj; the various 
 Circumftances, which led to this J^ifcuflion of 
 my prix'atc 'I'ranfidlions, recapitulates fcveral 
 Points, into which I have entered fully in the 
 Courfc of this Chapter, and, I hope, to the 
 Satisfafkion of the Secret Committee, and the 
 Pjiblic. It may be necefFary, however, to 
 make an additional Remark upon one Subjeft. 
 ■" No BcJancei wore paid, lays the Report, 
 
 " but Tccps (or Draughts) granted for Pagodas 
 " 130,000." The Revenue is never paid, 
 but by Soucars (or Bankers) Bills, called 
 Teeps. I could not alter the cilablifiied Mode, 
 but I objetted to It. See my Minute, App. 
 2d Rep. No. 49. The Amount of the Ba- 
 lances thus paid aX Madras, was a fourth of 
 the Balances due from the Zemindars when 
 they came to the Prcfidency. As to " the 
 " Terms on which the other Countii:s were 
 " let," it will be fufficient to obftrie here, 
 that the Revenue was rc.i/cd, under my Admi- 
 nilhation, in two of the great Divifions of the 
 Circars; and raifcd as high as the Zemindars 
 could b?ar. In the third Dillrirt, which was 
 abfolutely ruined, rcgardlcfs of a nominal 
 Revenue, 1 laid the Foundation of a real Pro- 
 duction. See my App. No. n. — After all, 
 Succefs muft depend folely upon the Fidelity 
 of the Subordinates.
 
 [ 46 ] 
 
 call upon my confidential Agents and Friends, to reveal the Secrets 
 of their Truft. Let us fee whether the Importance of the Dlfcove- 
 ries, which have refulted from this Inquiry, will either julHfy the 
 Novelty • of the Proceeding, or ftrengthen the Sufpicion which gave 
 Rife to it. The Teftimony of the firfl Witnefs at leaft, although of 
 confiderable Length, does not appear to carry with it the Degree of 
 Wei sfht which the Occalion demanded. I fliall follow it at larM. 
 
 'is* 
 
 The Secret Committee obferve, " That Captain Foxall informed 
 " them, that he had carried fome Treafure to China on Sir Thomas 
 " Rumbold's Account, and that this Treafure was not entered in the 
 " Book kept by the Officer on Board, called the Boatfwain's Book :" 
 They add further, " That upon examining all the Boatfwain's Books 
 " of the different Ships which had carried Sir Thomas Rumbold's 
 " Treafure from Madras to China, it appeared, that no Entry or 
 " DeUvery of it had been made in any one of them, although the 
 " public Treafure fliipped by the Company was entered and delivered 
 " with all neceflary Particularity (w)." 
 
 I fhall beg Leave to add, that Captain Foxall alfo informed the 
 Committee, " That fuch Omiffions areyo very frequent, that he did 
 *' not even enquire ivby this Treafure was not entered in the Book [x)." 
 It is remarkable, that this is the only material Part of the Captain's 
 Evidence, which is not cited in the Report. 
 
 The Company s Treafure is always carefully entered In the Ship's 
 Book; becaufe, an Omifiion there could not efcape Detection and 
 Cenfure. An equal Attention ought undoubtedly to be paid to the 
 Property of Individuals. Let the Captains excufe, if they can, their 
 own Neglefts. It furely does not belong to me, to Account for an. 
 Omlffion, of which I hav^e Reafon to complain. If the Report means 
 to convey an Idea, that this Omlffion has an Appearance of Myftery 
 on my Part ; if it is fuppofed to be the Effedt of any Contrivance of 
 mine, in order to conceal my Property, I fliall defire tliat the Officers 
 belonging to all the Ships in Queftlon, may be examined as to this 
 Point. In the mean Time, I beg Leave to fubmit myfelf to the com- 
 mon Senfe of the Public. What Sort of Secret Is this ? which in the 
 
 firft. 
 
 (ty) See 2d Rep. Page I Q.. (*) See App. 2d Rep, No. 63,
 
 [ 47 ] 
 
 firfl Inftancc, is intrufted to my own Servants ; tlien to the Captain, 
 from whom I received a Bill of Lading ; then to the Purfer, who 
 weighed the Money ; then to the Mate, who received it into the Ship ; 
 then to tiie Board in China ; then to the Confignee ; and lajily, to the 
 Court ofjiijiice, in which I inftitute a Suit for the Recovery of a Part 
 of the Property which difappeared {y). 
 
 I return to the Report : " Sir Thomas Rumbold's Solicitor, it ap- 
 " peared, had demanded Reparation from him (Captain Foxall) 
 " for his Lofs, in April or May 1781, He (Foxall) told your Com- 
 " mittce, that he had twice called on Sir Thomas Rumbold, fmce 
 " his Return from Spain, (ift January 1781) where he (Foxall) had 
 " been aPrilbner; but had not feen him at either of thofe Times. 
 " That Sir Thomas Rumbold had returned his Vifit, and faw him 3 
 '* but that no Converfation on this Subjeft tlien paffed." 
 
 Thefe Circumftances, however minute, and indeed trivial in Ap- 
 pearance, muft doubtlefs be connected with fome Conclufions of 
 grave and important Confequence ; otherwife they would hardly have 
 been referred to in a Part of the Report, which, aiming without 
 Refei"ve, a direft Blov/ againft my Honour and Fortune, feemed to 
 promife more than ordinary Weight in the Matter, and more than 
 common Serioufncfs in tlie Mode of the Attack, I am therefore 
 infinitely diftrefled, that my Memory fhould not ferve me to recall 
 either the Ceremonial or the Number of the Vifits in Quefirion. It is 
 mod certain, that I did not dim Captain Foxall. Having once put 
 the Bufinefs into the Hands of my Solicitor, I conceive myfelf as 
 little liable to the Imputation of Guilt, as of Indelicacy, if, in my In- 
 terview with that Gentleman, I avoided touching upon the obnoxious ' 
 Subject. 
 
 '* Since that Time however," fays the Report, " about a Fortnight 
 " before his (Foxall's) Examination, he had of his own Accord 
 " waited on Sir Thomas, and reprefented to him, that he was un- 
 " able to repay the Lofs, having loft 3000I. by his late Capture. To 
 " which Sir Thomas anfwered, that he was forry, but that the 
 
 ."Money. 
 
 (j) See App. zd Rept No. 63.
 
 [ 48 ] 
 
 " Money belonged in Part to Sir He6lor Monro, without faying how 
 " much {z)." 
 
 Without being able to recollect precifely every Particular of this 
 Converfation, and without any Knowledge of fome of the Fads here 
 alluded to, I at prefent fee no Reafon for difputing the Truth of thefe 
 AfTertions, 
 
 'The Remainder of Captain Foxali's Evidence confifcs of a Decla- 
 ration, " That the whole Treafure on Board his Ship, amounted to 
 " 12 or 13,0001. and that the Half had been fcolen. That feveral 
 " other Ships befides his own, had failed about the fame Time from 
 " Madras to China. That Captain Prince of the Latham, had told 
 " him of his having a little Treafure on Board for Sir Thomas 
 " Rumbold. That he had made a Miftake as to the Number of 
 " Chefts, for that one of them belonged to a Mr. Fergufon. And 
 " that Mr. Pigou, was Confignee of the Treafure ihipped with 
 " him (a)." 
 
 The State of the Configrmients made to Mr. Pigou, on my Account, 
 fliall be confidered piefently. With Refj^e^t to an Obfervation cited 
 from this Gentleman, " That above a MiUion of Money was lying 
 " in the Hands of Chinefe Merchants, belonging to Britifli Sub- 
 " je6ls (/>)," I fliall only fay, that a fimilar Obfervation might, with 
 equal Truth perhaps, certainly v/ith equal Relation to the Condition 
 of my Fortune, have been extended to the Bank of Venice. 
 
 The Report at lengtli proceeds to an Obfervation of ferious Im- 
 portance. " Your Committee has already ftated, that Sir Thomas 
 " Rumbold, by his third Covenant, had bound himfelf to deliver 
 " in to the Board upon Oath, a Particular of all Loa^is formerly 
 " made, and of all jSderchandife on Hand, before he fhould proceed 
 " to recover the one, or dilpofe of the other. Upon an accurate 
 " Examination of the Proceedings of the Board, during the whole 
 " of Sir Thomas Rumbold's Government, no Proceeding to that EffeB, 
 " IV as to be found (<■')." 
 
 The 
 
 (k) See 2d Rep. Page ig. (/■) Ibid. Pa^ 20. 
 
 («) Ibid. Pages ig, 20, (<) Ibid.
 
 [ 49 ] ' 
 
 The Reader will remark that the ObUgatioiis of the Covenant 
 are here reprelentcd by the Secret Committee to be two-fold, and tq 
 extend, Firll:, to all Loans fh-mcrly made; Secondly, to all Mer- 
 chandife on Hand. — But when he is informed that no fuch Article, 
 as the Firfty does in Reality exift in the Covenant j and that no fuch 
 Merchandife as is referred to in the Second, remained to be difpofed of; 
 — he will, 1 hope, ceafe to be furprifed that " no Proceedings to 
 " the EfFeil," expe6lcd by the Secret Committee, "fhould appear 
 ** on the Records of the Prefidency." 
 
 In the Covenant in Queilion, there are two Accounts required to 
 be delivered in by me, as Prcfident of Fort St. George, within thirty 
 Days after my Arrival at Madras, Firft, a Lift of Debts then owing 
 to me, in the Coui'fe of Trade and Commerce, and of the Goods, 
 
 Wares, Merchandife and Stock in Trade then remaining to mc. 
 
 Secondly — An Account of all fuch Loan or Loans (if any) as I Jlood 
 concerned in, with any of the Country Powers in India, or ivith any Fcr- 
 fons holdijig Commijfons under them {d). 
 
 It is needlefs to point out the Difference between this State of the 
 Obligations in the Covenant, and that vv"hich the Report has held 
 out to the Public, in the laft cited Pafliige ; — in which, the Limi- 
 tation of my Engagements, the Defcription of the particular Kind of 
 Loans for which alone I was bound to account, is totally and inex- 
 plicably omitted. 
 
 It is of more Confequence to afTure the Public, upon the Evidence 
 of my Books [e], delivered in to the Secret Committee, that as long ago 
 as the Year 1772, my Accounts in Trade were finally cloied, except 
 fome Trifling Articles, which were adjufted in the fubfequent Years. 
 — That my whole Property in India, at the Date of the Covenant in 
 Qucftion, confifted in Bonds and Notes due to me from the Company, 
 and from European Individuals fettled at Bengal. And that I had no 
 Concern with the Country Powers, or their Agents. 
 
 {</) See the Covenant App. 2d Rep. No. «. {e) See App, 2d Rep. No. 66. 
 
 ■ O The
 
 [ 50 ] 
 
 The Report proceeds, " Your Committee has alfo ftated, That hi 
 " the fame Covenant, he had bound himfelf to receive no Emolu- 
 " ment v/hatever, except the Salary and Perquifites fpecified therein, 
 " which have been ftatcd to amount to 18 or perhaps ;^. 20,000 per 
 " Annum: Yet the Committee find, that between the 8th February 
 " (the Day of his Arrival) and the Beginning of Aiigtift, Sir Thomas 
 " Rumbold had (hipped the following Sums from Madras to China. 
 
 " By the Latham 
 " By the Hillfborough 
 " By the Royal George 
 (Part of Sir H. Munro's) 
 
 By the Seahor 
 
 "le 
 
 Pagodas 
 
 c 
 
 50,000 
 
 20,000 
 
 50,000 
 
 20,000 
 
 39,000 
 
 13,000 
 
 Dollars 
 
 
 20,000 
 
 5,000 
 
 (/) £>• 
 
 58,000 
 
 In fpeaking to this Account; I muft begin with linking out the 
 laft Article ; in doing v/hich, 1 fhall be fupported by an Autliority, 
 that will hardly be contefled by the Secret Committee. In the 'ocry 
 fame Page, of the Second Report, in which is exhibited the above 
 recited Statement of my Remittances to China, in the Tear one 
 Thoifand Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight, we read the following 
 Words. " Mr. Pigou being examined as to the Confignmeivts from 
 " Madras in One 'Thoufand Seven Hundred and Seventy Nine, faid, 
 " that by the Seahorfe, 20,000 Dollars were remitted for Su* Thomas 
 " Rumbold {g) I" 
 
 ■ By this Article, the Committee have relievc-d me from the Necelfity 
 of proving that in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Eight, 
 the Seahorfe was employed under Sir Edward Vernon at the Siege of 
 Pondicherry, and did not go to China, until September Seventeen Hun- 
 jdred and Seventy Nine. 
 
 Thus my Remittances to China, betv/een the Months of February 
 and Auguft in the Year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Eight,: are 
 reduced to 53,000!. From this Sum again, 12,000 1. muft be de- 
 duced 
 
 {J) See 2d Rep. Page 20. {g) Ibid..
 
 [ 5' ] 
 
 du^ed on account of Sir Heftor Munro, who was interefted to that 
 Amount in the Remittance. 
 
 Now to account for my having been able, in the fliort Space of 
 Six Months, to make a Remittance to the Amount of this reduced 
 Sum of 41,000!, without having Recoufe to the Suppofition of illicit 
 Pra61ices, and Breach of Covenant, I muft beg Leave to ftate (and 
 for the Truth of this I refer to the Company's Records) that at the 
 Time of making thefe Remittances, there had accrued on account of 
 the CommifTion on Coral, and on account of my Salary, (which took 
 Place from the Day of my leaving England) a Sum amounting nearly 
 to nineteen thoufand Pounds 
 
 Thus the Part of the Remittances remaining to be accounted 
 for, is reduced to a Sum, which is more than balanced (as appears 
 in a Statement in the Appendix to the fecond Report No. 66) by the 
 Sums of 14,000 Pagodas, Vt^hich I borrowed of Mrs. Calamajor, 
 and of 30,000 Pagodas borrowed from Chickapoore Chitty, and 
 other black Merchants ; by other Articles of inferior Moment, ftated 
 in the lame Numl">er of the Appendix : and by Bills drawn by me 
 upon Bengal, and Remittances received from thence, to the Amount 
 of upwards of 14,0001. Sterling. 
 
 I voluntaj'ily fubmitted to the Infpe6tion of the Secret Committee, 
 all the Accounts that were faved from the General Barker, and con- 
 fented to their Publication. Thefe Accounts, which ferve as Ex- 
 j)lanations of my Remittances, exhibit the State of my Fortune in 
 Bengal, in the Year 1772. The Remittances however, it fliould be 
 remarked, are brought forward to the public Eye, in the Body of 
 the Report ; while the Pieces which account for, and juftify their 
 Amount, are to be fought in the Appendix. It appears that my 
 Kllate in India at the Period referred to (1772) amounted to near 
 ten Lacks of Rupees ; excliifive of Interefl on many Accounts jwt ad- 
 jt/fted, — which laft Circumftance is omitted in the Report. — I am- 
 therefore at a Lofs to difcover upon what Ground either of Reaibn 
 or Candour, it can be held out as a Subjefl of public Admiration 
 or Concern, tliat in the Years 1778 and 1779, my Remittances m 
 my ciun Account^ fhould amount to about 1-30,0001. (/') Sterling ; fmce 
 
 it 
 
 (^) Tho whole pf my Remittances amount- Z'- 38,091 j'3 was remitted on Account of other 
 c<l to £. 167,019 19 4. — Eiit of tills Sum Tcoplc,
 
 [ s^ ] 
 
 it is apparent that my Means of making thofe Remittances, aiifmg ' 
 from a Fortune acquired long before, were more than proportioned 
 to the Sum remitted ; and fince it is well knovvn, that one of my 
 principal Objefts in foiiciting the Appointment to the Government 
 of Fort St. George, was the being placed in a Situation which 
 might afford me Opportunities of remitting my Property to my 
 native Country. 
 
 But the Court of Dire6Vors, it feems, are of a different Opinion. 
 A Fortune of One hundred thoufand Pounds, vefled at Intereft for 
 feveral Years, in their own Securities, and thofe of their European 
 Servants in Bengal, hardly attracts their Attention. Their Logic is 
 of a Piece with their Equity ; and it was worthy of both, to turn 
 their Eyes from the fubilantia! Funds, of which I was avowedly pof- 
 feffed, in order to trace feme By-Channel of Refource, in a Scrap of 
 the Will of a difcarded Secretary, or in a Warrant of Arrefl ifiuing 
 from their Mayor's Court at Madras. 
 
 " Another Circumftance of zfwgular Nature," fays the PvCport, 
 '' was found on the Proceedings of the Mayor's Court at Madras. 
 ** TPhe late Mr. Redhead had been Secretary to Sir Thomas Rumbold, 
 " and died at Madras. His Executors after his Death, obtained a 
 " Warrant of Arreft againfl Setteram Rauze, for the Balance of 
 " 70,000 Rupees, promifed to Mr. Redhead ; but no Step appears 
 " to have been taken by the Members of Government to prevent 
 " this, nor are the Dire<5lors made acquainted with it by them (z). 
 
 The fecret Committee, I am perfuaded, are by this Time better 
 informed of the State of Abufes in India : Nor, can I conceive that 
 if the fecond Report were now to be compiled, they would confider 
 the Tranfaftion, the Exiftence of which is inferred from the Cir- 
 cumflance here ftated, as htxw^ fingular in its Nature. I:i one great 
 Inffance, I ffruck at the Root of thofe Abufes. The Return I have 
 met with, at the Hands of the Court of Dirct^oi's, v/ill hardly en- 
 courage others to adventure in the fame Line. To fay the Truth, a 
 thorough Reform in this Branch, how effential foever to the Welfare 
 ■of India, to the Profperity of the Company, to the Dignity and Re- 
 
 fources 
 
 (>) See 2d Rep, Page zo.
 
 [ S3 1 
 
 fources of tlie Nation, is not likely to be fcrioufly attempted, as long 
 
 as the Direction at Home fhall remain in its piefent State. Such a 
 
 Reform, by reducing the Value of Patronage, would too fenfibly 
 afFedt the Importance and the Interefts of the Patrons. 
 
 With refpeft to Mr. Redhead, I lliall touch with Delicacy upon 
 the Memory of a Perfon, who cannot now be heard in his De- 
 fence. He was not in the Service of the Company. He was my 
 private Secretary ; but he had ceafed to be in my Confidence, for 
 fome Time before the Arrival of the Zemindars, and was finally dif- 
 mifled from his Employment, long before the Conclufion of the 
 Agreement with them. The Letter of Difmiflion was dated the i ith 
 of Auguft 1778, and can be produced by his Executors. He died 
 in September or Odlober following. 
 
 With refpeA to the Warrant of Arreft, ifTued by the Mayor's 
 Court, againft Setteram Rauze, at the Suit of Mr. Redhead's Exe- 
 cutors ; what Steps would the Secret Committee have recommended 
 to the Prefidency, in order to prevent it ? They cannot be ignorant 
 of the general Cenfure which the Bengal Government incurred long 
 ago, by the Sufpicion of fuch an Interference with the regular 
 Courfe of Juftice ; nor can they be uninformed of the Meafures pur- 
 fued by the Legillature upon that Subjedl. A Tranfadlion of the 
 Mayor's Court, could not come legally before the Prefidency. The 
 Truth is, the Tranfaftion in Queftion was loft amidft the Multipli- 
 city of Affairs continually agitating in that Court, and did not come 
 under the View of the Prefidency in any Senfe, until an Appeal 
 was preferred before them, from one of the Decifions of the Mayor's 
 Court in this Bufinefs, when the Decifion was reverfed. The Pro- 
 ceedings of the Court of Appeals are regularly tranfmitted to the 
 Court of Directors. 
 
 P O B S E R-
 
 C 55 I 
 
 OBSERVATIONS 
 
 G N THE 
 
 SUPPLEMENT 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SECOND REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SECRET COMMITTEE. 
 
 THE Supplement to the Second Report opens witli a Cor- 
 refpondence, and with the Opinions of Mr. Sadher, when 
 Chief of Mazuhpatam, on the Meafure of CalUng up the Zemindars to 
 the Prefidency. It is of Importance to remark, that when Mr. 
 Sadher offered his Opinions upon that Subjea, he was too young in 
 his Office to have formed them on the Bafis of Experience and Ob- 
 fei-vation. Neither (hould it be overlooked, that the Tendency of 
 
 Mx.
 
 [ 5« ] 
 
 Mr. Sadlier's Advice feems to have been rather prudential than 
 political. Aware of the defperate Condition of the Finances, and 
 forefeeing that Mifchiefs, long before accomplifhed, would be irn- 
 puted to the Change of Syfteni I was introducing, he exprefles 
 much Apprehenfion for the Credit of my Government. " May not 
 " tlie Effects of former improper Management," fays he, " be afcribed 
 " to tlie prefent Plan ? If the Settlement is on the Decline, would it 
 " not be pnidc'it to leave tl>e Government hitherto charged with Re- 
 " fponfibility, to juJJify its Meafures, — and bear the Cenfure it 
 " defcrves {a) ?" 
 
 In yielding to theFe Sugge'ftions, I fliould, doubtlefs, have confulted 
 
 my perfonal Eafe, and have efcaped the Perfecutions to which I 
 
 have fince been expofed. But I fliould have betrayed my Trufl:, — and 
 
 jujliy have incurred the Cenfure of having paid no Attention 
 
 "to a Communication of a moji confidential Nature, contained in a 
 
 prii'ate Letter from Mr. Sadlier of the fame Date. This Letter pro- 
 
 fcHedly written, " in Proof of Confidence," I have never thought 
 
 myfelf at Liberty to divulge. I much doubt whether Mr. Sadleir will 
 
 ftand juftified in the Opinions of Men of Feeling, for having pub* 
 
 liflied (/^) fo confdenti al zhtXXtv, although written by himfelf ; efpecially 
 
 as he has not thought proper to give it entire and unmutilated. The 
 
 Letter, and the Papers it enclofed, are ftill in my PofTelTion ; and as 
 
 Mr. Sadlier has now releafed me from every Obligation to Secrecy, I 
 
 fjiall here fubmit the fuppreffed Paflage to the Secret Committee, and 
 
 to the Public. The Contents of this Paflage will not, I beheve, be 
 
 thought 
 
 \a) See Supplement to 2d Rep. Page 11. " faid, viz. That Mr. Sadlier i<jould fupprefs 
 
 (A) The GroaWi on which Mr. Sadlier's pub- " the Information, if he nuere reinftated 'with 
 
 lie Virtue is founded, will appear in an ex- " the Participation of General Coote, whether 
 
 tr.iordinary Point of View, when the Intelli- " fuch MefTage were delivered by Mr. Sad- 
 
 gence contained in the following Extraft of a " lier's Authority ? Mr. Rofs faid. No: But 
 
 Letter, addreffed to me by a Member of the " he knew it to be Mr. Sadlier's Intention. 
 
 Council of Madras, fliall have been properly " Mr. Smith defired Mr. Rofs to go back to 
 
 wsighed. " Mr. Sadlier, to know from him his Inten- 
 
 " tion. Mr. Rofs returned, (this was the 
 Extraa of a Letter from iCladras, dated 15th " '.'th Inftant) and told Mr. Smith, Mr. Sad- 
 Ian uary 1781. ' ^' lier faid. That if he ivere reinftated, he ga'ue 
 
 " his ff^ord of Honour , the Informations Jhould 
 
 " Mr. Smith (the Governor) aflced Mr. " be fuppreffed, and never appear at any future 
 
 *' William Rofs, in confequencc of what he " Period."
 
 [ 57 ] 
 
 thought to come under the Deicriptlon of " Official Intelligence {c)." 
 — The Paflage is as follows. " It was ufual before Whitchill's Time 
 " for the Governor to fliare t- Whitehill fucceeding after Wyncli, 
 " whofe Actions had left no Tye but Honour, which with fome has 
 " no Force, for Compliance withCullom, — \Vhitehill faved fuch Tax 
 " — Craufurd, I believe, enjoyed all. — Floyer Chief, Mr. Stratton 
 " Governor, Brothers in Iniquity, fit to deal with each other, induced 
 " Floyer to keep all. — This Conduct in Chiefs brought on Oppofition 
 " to their Meafurcs in Council at Madras, which in Effe61: weakened 
 " Government here by reverfmg it's A6ls, and has introduced Dijim/i in 
 " the Zemindars." The Reader will hardly be furprifcd at the Effecf, 
 faid to have been produced upon the Minds of the Zemindars by fuch 
 Proceedings. Nor can I think it necefiary to add another Word in 
 Defence of the new Syftem I introduced, as far as it's Operations ex- 
 tended to th€ Abridgment of the Powers of the Subordinate Councils. 
 
 But the Report proceeds, " Your Committee do not find, that the 
 " official Intelligence, communicated by Mr. Sadlier, was made the 
 " Ground of any Inquiry or Reformation during the Government of 
 *' Sir Thomas Rumbold (rf')." 
 
 It will no longer, I prcfume, be urged that the Intelligence 1 received 
 on this Occafion, was official. It was not however neglected. Sup- 
 ported by fuch Authority, I ventured, with greater Determination, 
 upon the hazardous Tafk of reforming Abufcs ; without thinking my- 
 felf either authorized in Honour, or juftified in Prudence to diredt 
 my Attack to Perfons {e). I did not even ackno\^leds"e the Receipt of 
 
 Q_ " Mr. 
 
 (f) Ibid. P.ige 17. extraordinary Marks of the Approba- 
 (</) Ibid. Page 17. tion of the Court of Direftors. Mr. 
 {e) It is not pretended that any of Floyer had left Madras, before the 
 the Circumftances referred to, in this Receipt of Mr. Sadlier's Intelligence. 
 ■private, not " official. Intelligence," Mr. Craufurd had been only tempo- 
 happened during my ^Government, rary Chief. The honourable Court 
 Mr.Whitchill, after having been Chief will permit me to obferve, that, the 
 of Mazulipatam, had returned to Eu- two Gentlemen lad mentioned, had 
 tope j and was fenc back to India, with been leading Members of their Fa- 
 
 •■^ VORITE
 
 [ 58 ] 
 
 Mr. Sadlier's private Letter, as is alledged, by Miftake in the Report (/). 
 But I flated the Nature and Confequences of the Abufes fairly and 
 diftinftly to the Court of Direftors, whofe immediate Duty it was to 
 inftitute an Inquiry (g) . The honourable Court, however, have 
 never exprelled the flighteft Curiofity with refpect to the Ferfons by 
 whom tlie Abufes were committed. 
 
 I have no where reprefented the Meafure of calling the Zemindars 
 to the Prefidency, as being free from Objedlion, or unattended with 
 •Difficulties. But amidft a Choice of Difficulties, I thought it the 
 leaft liable to Exception. It has certainly not been produftive of the 
 Mifchiefs that are afcribedto it : — For, long before any Steps had been 
 taken in this Bufmefs, all Payment either of Tribute or Balances ap- 
 peared to be hopelefs. And, if the Zemindars had the Means of 
 fulfilhng their Engagements with the Company, the Subordinates mufl 
 have wanted the Wi/I, for they had the Power, to enforce the Per- 
 formance. 
 
 But the Secret Committee give the Preference " to the Mea- 
 " fure which was ordered by the Comt of Directors ; namely, 
 " that a Committee from the Prefidency fhould enquire upon the 
 " Spot, into every Circumftance which affedled the refpedlive Interefts 
 " of the Peafants, the Zemindars, and the Company (/')" 
 
 I {hall not here repeat what I have already urged on this Subjed:. 
 But I beg Leave to obferve, that, the Proceedings of the Committee of 
 Circuit inflituted in Bengal in 1773, which have probably been con- 
 cealed from the Secret Committee, ought not to have imprefled the 
 Court of Dirediors with fo favorable an Opinion, as they feem now 
 to entertain of fuch Inftitutions. The Committee of Circuit in 
 Bengal put up the Dewanny Lands to Auftion, and let them, as they 
 faid, to the beft Bidders, for five Years, at a Rent, which was to in- 
 
 creafc 
 
 VORITE Committee of ClRCUrr, in- declared on Oath, that he received no Anfwrr 
 
 ftituted exprefsly, to coniroul the Sui- '° *^^' ^'''""Ct ^^^ **'' Depofuion, Suppli- 
 
 J.. J J • -n. n J- J- ^ mental App. No. 3. 
 
 crdinaies, and adminurer ReUef to > „ , \t 
 
 ,, -sj . -' (if) See my App. No. i. 
 
 the Natives. ;f' ^ c n 
 
 (/) See Supp. Page 16. Mr. Sadlier has ^''^ ^" ^"^f" ^^^^ 10.
 
 [ 59 ] 
 
 cveafc annually. At the End of tlie five Years, however, it ajjpeared 
 that the RemifTions and Balances on their Settlement amounted to 
 the enormous Sum of tvi^o Millions and a Half Sterling. 
 
 I beg Leave here to introduce two Paragraphs from different Letters 
 of the Court of Direftors to the Governor General and Council, 
 which fliew plainly what Sort of Fadls muft have come before them, 
 refpeding the Condud of the Committee of Circuit, in that Part of 
 India ; and what Conclufion they ought to have drawn from thofc 
 Fads, refpeding the real Principles and probable EfFeds of iuch Ap- 
 pointments. 
 
 Exfra^ of the General Letter to the Governor General and Council at 
 Fort William in Bengal, dated 2%th November, ^777 • 
 
 Paragraph 30. " We find that the Farm of Sylhet was granted by 
 " the Committee of Circuit ; that the Company's Advance to the 
 " Farmers of Sylhet of 33,000 Rupees for Elephants, was received 
 " by one of the Members of that Committee. It has however fmce ap- 
 " peared, that the oftenfible Farmers, or Perfons named in the Com- 
 *' mittee's Settlement, 7iever exijled, and that the Company's Refident 
 *' at Sylhet, was the real Y7irm.tv, under fidlitious Names." 
 
 ExtraSl of the General Letter to the Governor General and Council, at 
 Fort William in Bengal^ dated ^th March, 177^. 
 
 Paragraph 77. " In our Letter of the 5th of February, 1777, you 
 " were informed, that although it was rather our Willi to prevent 
 " future Evils, than to enter into a fevere Retrofpedion of paft 
 " Abufes, yet as in fome of the Cafes then before us, 'we conceived 
 " there had been fagrant Corruption, and in others great Opprefficms 
 " committed on the Native Inhabitants, we thought it unjufl to fuffer 
 " the Delinquents to pafs wholly unpuniflied, and tliercfore autho- 
 " rized you to take fuch Steps as you might think proper to be pur- 
 " fued on the Occafion, acquainting you, at the fame time, that we 
 ", fliould, ifnccelfary, return you the original, Covenants of thofe of 
 
 " owr
 
 [ 60 ] 
 
 " our Servants, who had been concerned in the undue Receipt of 
 "• Money, in order to enable you to recover the fame for the Ufe of 
 " the Company, and having reconfidered the Subjed:, loe hereby dircB, 
 " that you forthwith commence a Projeciition in the Supreme Court of 
 " Judicature, againjl the Perfons ivho co??ipofed the Committee of 
 ^'- Circuit." 
 
 But to return to Mr. Sadher. Another of his Letters is cited in 
 the Report, giving an Account of a Conference that took place be- 
 tween that Gentleman, and Sir Heftor Munro, Mr. Whitehill, and 
 myfelf, on the Eve of my Departure from Madras. I cannot difcover 
 any Inference to my Difadvantage that can be drawn from what paffed 
 at this Conference, even as ftated by Mr. Sadlier himfelf. Ungentle- 
 raan-like Language will not, I am fure, be received as Argument by 
 the Secret Committee. Mr. Sadlier is fubje<ft to Extremes. At one 
 Moment his Gratitude towards me, the next, his Anger, are alike 
 exceffive. It was a principal Objeft of my Inftrudlions, to reftore 
 Harmony in the Settlement, which had been divided into Fadlions by 
 the unfortunate Revolution of 1776. It was partly with a View to 
 this Objeft, that I had recommended Mr. Sadher, in Contradidion to 
 the Sentiments of fome Members of the Council, to fucceed to the 
 Chieffliipof Mafulipatam (/). I had the good Fortune to eftablifh 
 Peace and Regularity in the Settlement, and to preferve it during the 
 Whole of my Refidence at Madras. But there were not wanting the 
 Seeds of future Animofities. And I was fo convinced that the Har- 
 mony I had with much Difficulty reflored, would be interrupted foon 
 after my Departure, that nothing but the pofitive Declaration of my 
 Phyfician, who pronounced it to be impoffible for me to outlive the 
 Month of May in India, Ihould have induced me to abandon my Go- 
 vernment, 
 
 (;') Mr. SaJI'er had been fufpcnded the Ser- of Mazulipatam. The Grounds of his Suf- 
 
 vice. His Conduft was fubmittcd to the Court penfion are explained, in the Company's Re- 
 
 of Dii eflors ; but before their Opinion could cords, in the following Terms. 
 
 be received, he was reftored by the Intereft of " Mr. Sadlier, in the Management of the 
 
 the Governor, Mr. Stratton. Although re- " Company's Affairs at Ingeram, has afled 
 
 *Wed, however, he wr.s net permitted to hold " prejudicially to the Company, cruelly and 
 
 ihe Offices which his Station in the Service " opprclTively to the Natives, and inJL'rioully 
 
 entitled him to. I thought it more advifeable " to the French and Dutch, who claim the 
 
 to employ him, and accordingly propnled, " fame Privilege wilh ourf;l.es to make In-> 
 
 that he (hould be appointed to the Chieflhip •' vellraents."
 
 [ 61 ] 
 
 rernment, and my Meafures, at that important Juncture. Rumo.irs 
 of projedlcd Factions had reached me from various Quarters. A Re- 
 monftrance, formally delivered to me by tlie Gentleman who was to 
 fucceed me in the Government, commanded my Attention (/■). I did 
 not however depart from the ufual Mildnefs of my Adminillration. 
 I opened my Sentiments to Mi". Sadhcr, with Temper and Civility ; 
 but I declared to him, without Difguife, that, if 1 could conceive it 
 to be the View of any Man, to avail himfelf of a Seat at the Board, to 
 introduce FaBious and Dljlurbances into the Settlement, I woidd not 
 hefitate to exert the Powers with which the Company had armed 
 me (/), and that I would refufe to call fuch a Man to his Seat in 
 Council. — Things however were fuffered to take their Courfe, and the 
 Conference broke up, upon the pofitive Afllirance of Mr. Sadlier, that 
 whatever Difference of Opinion might arife, he would in all Occur-' 
 rences condud; himfelf with Moderation and Candour. — I fhall now 
 take Leave of Mr. Sadlier without Anger, and without Appre- 
 henfion. 
 
 In the nth and 12th Pages of the Supplement to the 2d' Report, 
 the Secret Committee ftate the Opinions of Mr. Petrie refpefting the 
 Abolition of the Committee of Circuit, and calling the Zemindars to 
 the Prefidency, But, on thefe Points, the Opinions of that Gentle- 
 man, however refpe6lable in himfelf, will not be fuffered to operate 
 to my Difadvantage, when it is confidered that they can only be 
 founded on Hearfay, and probably on the Prejudices of People, whofe 
 own Views had been difappointed by the Meafures in Queftion. 
 Mr. Petrie has had no Means of acquiring any Knowledge of the 
 Circars, havxjig always been employed on a different Service. 
 
 The Evidence of Mr. Cotsford, which is next flated, has a Claim 
 to greater Attention, as that Gentleman has been much employed to 
 the Northward. It is obfervable that his Opinion does ?ict coincide 
 with that of the Court of Diredors, on the Subject of a Committee 
 of Circuit. If, in another Inflance, he differs as much from me, it 
 fhould be confidered that he has been Chief of a Subordinate^ and can- 
 not be fuppofed to be entirely uninfluenced by the Prejudices of Sitii- 
 
 R ation,- 
 
 '^li) See my App. No. 12. 
 (/) See Company's Difpatches to Fort St, George, d;uc<.\ ictli April 177S.
 
 [ 62 ] 
 
 atlon. It is not to be expecled that the Meafure of callhig the Ze- 
 mindars to the Prelidency, iliould meet with the Approbation of a 
 I'ubordinate Council. 
 
 After what I have faid in the preceding Defence on the Subje6b of 
 Remittances, I do not apprehend that it will be neceflary to enter 
 here into an Examination of the additional Evidence on that Subjedl, 
 produced in the Supplement to the fecond Report. I fliall only offer 
 a Remark on one Pafiage, which feems to convey an Idea that I had 
 deceived the Committee with refpeft to Sir Heftor Munro's Share of 
 thofe Remittances. 
 
 The Committee fay, that " Matthew Raper, Efq; another Super- 
 " cargo, confirmed Captain Foxall and Mr. Pigbu's Account refpe(5t- 
 " ing the Sum fbated in the 2d Report (Page 20) to have been paid 
 " in to him and his Partner, on Sir Thomas Rutnbold's Account — and 
 *' proved, that the Portion belonging to Sir He6lor Munro, was of 
 " the Value of ^(^466 : 10 : 3 (w)." There needs only a Reference to 
 the fupplemental Appendix to the 2d Report, No. 2, to clear up this 
 Miflake of the Committee. 
 
 Mr. Raper's Evidence is as follows : — " The only Tranfa<?i:ion for 
 " Sir Thomas Rumbold was relating to 25,000 Pagodas — the Produce 
 *' of \^■hich I remitted myfelf: it was ordered to be paid to me 
 " and Mr. Cromlin by Bradfliaw and Pigou, on Sir Thomas's Ac- 
 " count ; this was the latter End of 1778. Mr. Cromlin being ab- 
 " fent at the Time the Money was remitted, I fent it in my own 
 " Name by a Bill on the Company in January 1779, payable to 
 " Robert Mackrith, John Stables, and Thomas Raikes, Efquires, 
 " amounting to yT 10,769 : 12 : i i(?z)." I mufl obferve that the half of 
 this Sum was on Account of Sir Hector Munro (0), and has been 
 regularly paid to his Attornies in England, Mr. Duncan Davidfon 
 and others ; as well as a further Sum of the China Remittance, the 
 Receipts for which Sum on his Account ai'e in my Pofl'effion. The 
 other Part of Mr. Raper's EvidencCj is as follows. 
 
 ♦' I had 
 
 {m) See Supp. Page 13. (</) See my App. No. 13. 
 
 {n) Ibid. Page 2.
 
 [ 63 ] 
 
 " I had a Confignmcnt from Madras to China, belonging to 
 " Sh' Heftor Munro, of Dollars amountmg to £^66: 10:3 (/>)," 
 This is a feparate Sum of which I have not the leaft Knowledge, 
 and yet it is faid by the Committee of Secrecy, to be proved to be 
 the Portion belonging to Sir He6lor Munro, of the Sum, ftated in 
 Mr. Pigou's Evidence, to have been paid to Mr. Matthew Raper, 
 and his Partner Mr. Cromlin. 
 
 With refpe^l to " the further Light afforded to the. Committee, 
 *' by the Teftimony of Mr. Petrie, refpeiling the Prefent of a Lack 
 *' of Rupees, ftated in the 2d Report (page 20) to have been fe- 
 " cured to Mr. Redhead, by Setteram Rauze (y) ;" I can add nothing 
 to what I have already offered on that Subjefl. It may not, how- 
 ever, be improper to remark that whatever Agreement Mr. Redhead 
 might prefume to enter into with Setteram Rauze, it does not ap- 
 pear that he is even fuppofed to have fulfilled in any Degree his 
 Part of the Agreement, fmce the latter contefts the Payment of 
 the Money. 
 
 {Ji) See Supp. No. 2. (?) Ibid. Page 13.
 
 [ 6s ] 
 
 OBSERVATIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 FOURTH REPORT. 
 
 I Precede to the FotTRTii Report", which contains fome Particulars 
 refpefting the Revenues of the Company on the Coaft, that arc 
 connected with my Adminiftration. 
 
 The Committee in the 5th Page of the 4th Report, flate " The 
 " Balances of the Madras Treafury at different Periods, for the four 
 *' laft Years, ending the 25th March 1780, 
 
 *' 30th June 1777, Pagodas 429,552, £ jyi,Sio 
 
 *' 31ft January 1778, S57'794. HS.i'Z 
 
 " 28th January 1779, 236,916, 94,766 
 
 '' 25th March 1780, 288,238, 115,295" 
 
 The Committee then obfervc, " That from the Diffei^encc in the 
 " Periods, no very great Comparifon can be made of the State of,the 
 " Treafury, in thefe refpe<5live Years, but fo far your Committee 
 " think themfelves warranted to obferve, from this Account, that, 
 " on the 25th March 1780, the State of the Treafury was not fuch 
 " as upon Comparifon with its Situation at other Periods, implied 
 " any particular Attention to that Objccl." Let the Corrcfpondencc 
 between tlic Prefidency of Fort St. George, and tlie Court of Directors, 
 
 S as
 
 [ 66 ] 
 
 as well as that between the fame Prefidency and the Governor-General 
 and Council be brought forward, and they will prove that continual 
 Reprefentations have been made at all Periods, relpe£ling the Lownefs 
 of the Madras Treafury, and the Impoflibility of replenifliing it from 
 the Refources on the Coafb, which could barely fupport a Peace 
 Eftablilhmcnt. Tiiey viill prove alfo, that notwithftanding the heavy 
 Expences incuiTed by the Siege and Redu6lion of Pondicheriy, by the 
 Rcdu6lion of Mahe, by the Maintenance of French Prifoners, by the 
 tranfporting them from the Coaft, by compleating the Fortifications 
 of Fort St. George {a), by the Expedition, fent rduBantly from 
 Madras, in Support of the fatal Maratta War (an Accumulation of 
 Difficulties, which no other Governor has had to contend with) only 
 twenty Lacks of Rupees were received from Bengal during my Ad- 
 miniftration, to relieve our NecefTities ; and that^ in Confequence of 
 frequent Applications and Remonftrances. Thefe Remittances were 
 fent in Gold to be coined in the Madras Mint ; whicla occafioned a 
 confiderable Lofs upon the Remittance. Let it be obfcrved further, 
 that, during the Courfe of thefe Difficulties, the Inveflments of the 
 Company fufxered no Interruption ib). When the Court of Directors 
 fliall be compelled to produce the Records of the India Houfe, fully 
 and fairly, the Praife of Activity, Zeal, and Integrity, will no longer 
 be refufed to my Adminiftration. 
 
 At no Period during the Courfe of eight Years, was the Nabob's 
 Debt to the Company fo much reduced, as at the Clofe of my Govern- 
 ment. The Nabob's Debt the 15th March, 1780, 
 
 isHa'edtobe Pagodas (f) 5,92,447 34 21 
 
 From wliich muft be deducted, received 3 ifl March, 
 
 Pagodas 85,800 
 Received 2d April - - 3,200 89,000 
 
 I quitted the Government the 6th April 1780, when 
 
 the Nabob's Debt was reduced to (r/) 5,03,447 ^^4 21 
 
 His 
 
 (a) See Letter from the chief Engineer, in zagapatnin, was amply fupplicd, fee I.etfer 
 
 my App. No. 14. from the Chief and Council, App. 2d Rep. 
 
 {b) The moft confiderable and valuable No. 54. 
 
 Part of the Company's Invcftrr.ent, is provided (f) See 4th Rep. Page 73. 
 
 from the Dillrifts, under the Faiflory of Vi- \d^ See the Company's Treafury Accouats 
 
 zagapatam . The Tnvcflmcnt from the Mazu- to the 6th cf Jfril l~'io, the Date of mj Re- 
 
 lipat. m Diftri^, is but trifling in Compari- fignaticn. 
 fon. For Proof ihat the Invellment under Vi-
 
 [ 67 ] 
 
 His Debt for the feven preceding Years, amounted, one Year with 
 another, to Pagodas 700,000 (e). The Nabob, at the Time I quitted the 
 Government^ was not at all, or but little indebted to the Company 
 for " any Lands leafed to Him (y )." 
 
 The Rajali of Tanjour had nearly paid up the Arrears of his Sub- 
 fidy(^). I beg Leave here to offer an Obfervation relative to the 
 Rajah of Tanjour. The Committee of Secrecy obferve " That Go- 
 " vernor Ivumbold, In a Letter to the Rajah, dated Auguft 6th 1779, 
 " charges him with being very backward in his Payments, and writes, 
 " that one Lack of Pagodas was due for the June preceding. The 
 " Rajah in his Anfwcr, dated 3d September, 1779, vindicates 
 " himfelf from the Charge, and by a Statement of Accounts fliews, 
 " that he had paid in ftdl for the three Years for which his Agree- 
 *' ment with the Company had fubfillcd, and, that lie was 56,000 
 " Pagodas in Advance (//)." 
 
 I am concerned, that Copies of my Letter to the Rajah and his 
 Ani'wer, have not been given in the Appendix to the Re})ort. The 
 Committee of Secrecy have not taken Notice, in any Part of their 
 Reports, that, independent of his Subfidy, the Rajah had agreed, 
 before my Government, to depofit four Lacks of Pagodas in the Com- 
 pany's Treafury, to remain tlicre until certain Claims of the Nabob, 
 and all Diiputes between them, Ihould be fettled. Of this Depofit, 
 he only paid one Lack of Pagodas ; and never could be prevailed on 
 to pay any more. He afterwards was defirous, that tiiis one Lack of 
 Pagodas ihould be carried to the Credit of his Subfidy ; which I did 
 not think myfelf authorifcd to allow. Here then will be found- the 
 Explanation of the Difference between the Rajah's Account and 
 
 mme. 
 
 It 
 
 (t) ?ce 4.th Rop. Page 73. Prefidoncy. — In the mean Time, fee irv App. 
 
 (/) It will be proved fully, when we come No. 15. 
 to confidcr the liiif-nefs of the Jaghcer, not {-) see the Crmpa-iy's Tr:-afiiry .Accour,ts 
 
 only thiit the Nabob incurred no "new Debt to the yixtJ) of April i-8c — And tny App. 
 
 during my Gi(V-'rnmer,t, for " any I.nnds No. 15. 
 
 " Iciicd to him ;" but that he even acquitted (/.-) See 4th Rep. P.ge 74. 
 
 Arrears which were due when I arrived at t!.e
 
 [ 6S ] 
 
 It will be neceflary for me to enter a little more minutely into the 
 Account of the Progrefs of encreafing Balances from the Northern 
 Circars (as ftated in Page 44, of the 4th Report) — The Committee of 
 Secrecy fay, " Your Committee, in the Courfe of their Enquires into 
 *' the Receipt of the Revenues under the Prefidency of Madras, could 
 *' not but obferve the very lai'ge Arrears due by the Renters, and 
 *' other Pofleflbrs of Lands, and which appear to have rapidly increafed 
 " of late, particularly in the Northern Circars : and your Committee, 
 " being defirous of alcertaining the Progrefs of thefe Balances, called 
 " for a particular State of them, <^s they flood at the refpe5iive Termi- 
 " nations of the Governments of Lord Pigot, Mr. Stratton, Mr. 
 " Whitehill, and Sir Thomas Rumbold, and at the Date of the lajl 
 *' Advices; in Obedience to which, the following Account was pro- 
 " duced," 
 
 " At the End of Lord Pigot's Government, 24th Auguft, 1776. 
 
 Pagodas. 
 
 ** Mafulipatam - Northern Circars - - 2,79,604 
 
 " Vizagapatam - Northern Circars - - 72,203 
 
 " Ganjam - Northern Circars - - 2,71,672 
 
 6,23,79 
 
 " At the End of Mr. Stratton's Goverment, 31ft Auguft, 1777. 
 
 Mafulipatam - Northern Circars - - 2,50,942 
 
 Vizagapatam - Northern Circars - - 2,52,858 
 
 Ganjam - Northern Circars - - 3,21,909 
 
 8,25,709 
 
 At the End of Mr. V/hitehill's Ciovernment, 7th Februaiy, 1778. 
 
 Mafulipatam - Nortlicm Circars - - 3,84,283 
 
 Vizagapatam - Northern Circars - - 1,93,891 
 
 Ganjam - Northern Circars . - - 3,77,021
 
 [ 69 1 
 
 " Sir Thomas Rumbold refigned the Goveniment of Madras the 4th 
 " of April, 1780, the lalt Accounts received of the Balances due 
 " from the Circars, are dated the 29th of February, 1780 j at 
 '^ which Time they ftood as follows : 
 
 " Mafulipatam - Northern Circars -< - 9,92,926 
 
 " Vizagapatam - Northern Circars — - 3,24,156 
 
 *' Ganjam - Northern Circars - rr 4,02,482 
 
 17,19,600" 
 
 No juft Idea can be formed of the Progrefs of the Balances, with- 
 out clearly underftanding the Principle on which the Accounts 
 ought to be made out. It is a Rule at the Prefidcncy of Madras to 
 Debit the Subordinates for the Amount Revenue as it appears to be- 
 come due by the Agreements with the Zemindars ; and Credit is not 
 given to the Subordinates, until the Accounts of the CoUeClions, and 
 Difburfements, have been received. Thefe Accounts are fometimes 
 not tranfmitted to the Prefidency for one, two, or three Months ; 
 confequently the Zemindars or Subordinates, ftand Debited, in the 
 Statements fent to Europe, and Balances appear againft them, 
 which do not exift. For the Statement of Balances can only be 
 adjufted with accuracy in the General Books, clofed always the 30th 
 April, in each Year. I Ihall therefore take the Liberty to brnig 
 the feveral Accounts to their proper Periods, ftill adopting the State- 
 ment of Payments, given by the Secret Committee, in Pages 18 
 and 19 of the fourth Report. 
 
 I ft. From the 30th April 1776 to the 30th April 1777, the 
 Balance due at the latter Period. 
 
 Northern Circars, Land Revenues Pagodas 575,053. 
 
 2d. From the 30th April 1777 to the 30th April 1778, the 
 Balance due at the latter Period. 
 
 Northern Circars, Land Revenues Pagodas 1,190,213. 
 
 T It
 
 C 70 ] 
 
 It was this laft alarming State of Balances, added to a Sufpenfion 
 of all Payment, and the Critical Situation of Affairs, that induced 
 me to propofe the Meafure of calling the Zemindars to the Prefi- 
 dency. But it muft be obferved, that the Orders for the Ze- 
 mindars coming to Madras, were not ifTued until the i^th April 
 1778; that none of them left their Diftrifts until the latter end of 
 May : that their Accounts ought to have been fettled ; and the 
 Books clofed the 30th April: and confequently that the Meafure 
 in queftion could not be the Caufe of this laft cited ftate of Arrears 
 which had accrued before I interfered in the Adminiftration of 
 the Circars. 
 
 3d. From the 30th April 1778, to the 30th April 1779, the 
 Balance due at the latter Period (z), 
 
 Northern Circar, Land Revenues - Pagodas 1,350,996. 
 
 No Books are yet received ftating the Revenue from the 3ot]i 
 April 1779, to the 30th April 1780, the greater Part of which Pe- 
 riod was in my Government. The Committee indeed ftate the 
 Balances on the 29th February 1780 (Page 41 of 4th Report) to 
 amount to Pagodas 17,17,600, this muft betaken from the laft Ac- 
 counts received at the Prefidency from the Subordinates. The Amount 
 colle6led from the Date of that Account to the 30th April, remains 
 to be deducted ; which will make a confiderable Change in the State 
 of Balances, as the Colledion in the Mafulipatam Diftri6t: (very 
 different from that of Ganjam) is chiefly made in the Months of 
 March and April. The Amount of Teeps muft alfo be dedu6led, 
 as being no longer a Balance on the Country. It muft be obferved 
 alfo, that the Zemindars of Mafulipatam had been allowed four 
 Tears to liquidate their Balances, at the Recommendation of the 
 Chief and Council of that Factory. And it muft be further obferved 
 that there was an Increafe on the Tribute from September 1778. viz. 
 
 Masulipatam, Lands and Farms, about Pagodas 40,000. 
 
 VizAGAPATAM, Lands 131,000 Rupees, or 37=4°° 
 
 Annual Licreafe, - r- * Pagodas 77,400 
 
 This 
 
 (/) Lord Pigot took Charge of the Govern- from it the 24th AuguH 1776, when Mr. 
 laentj the 9th December 1775; was removed Stratton fucceeded. Mr.
 
 [ 71 ] 
 
 This Increafe of the flipiilated Tribute, from tlie Neglc(51s of the 
 Subordinates, or the real Diflrcfies of the -Country, inftead of adding 
 to the Revenue, has only fcrvxd to fwell the Balances in an inci-cafed 
 Proportion. Had the Tribute remained at the Rate of former 
 AfTeflrnents, the Balances would have been proportion ably lefs. Mr. 
 Cotsford, in his Evidence before the Committee, treats this Increafe 
 of the Tribute in the Mafulipatam Diflri^l:, as " an injudicious 
 " Meafure." But I have been cenfared by the Court of Directors, 
 and have been very feverely dealt with, on a Suppofition that I had- 
 fufFered the Tribute to be under-rated. What would they have faid 
 or done, if I had redticed the Tribute, which perhaps \\'ould liave 
 been the moil' advifable Step ? I fliail not enter into an Enquiry, 
 why a larger Amount has not been collefled, fmce the Settlement 
 made under my Government. It is certain thattheChief and Coun- 
 cil of Mafulipatam in their Letter to the Prefidcncy in March 1780, 
 Ipeak with Confidence of their Profpe6l of receiving the whole 
 Amount due from all the Tributaries [k) : And the Prcfident and 
 Council in their Letters, from the Civil and Revenue Department 
 to the Court of Directors, of the 9th January 1780, condemn 
 the Chief and Council of Mazulipatam, for not having exerted them- 
 felves, as much as they might and ought to have done (/). The Com- 
 mittee of Secrecy obferve, (Page 45, fourth Report) That the Ba- 
 lances due from the Zemindars and Renters, under Mafulipatam 
 alone, are iliid to amount, includiiig Teeps due, to no lefs than Madras 
 Pagodas 1,528,597,17. The amount Teeps mufl however be dedu6led. 
 The Remainder only can be confidered as a Balance on the Country. 
 
 With Relpeft to the Chicacole Circar, the Letter from the Prefi- 
 dency of Madras, of the 7th of January, 1781 (w), and a Letter re- 
 ceived by me from Mr. Cafamajor, the Chief of Vizagapatam (;/), 
 fhew, that the Whole of the Balances from that Diflridt, which is 
 ftatcd (Page 44, fourth Report) to amount to Pagodas 324,156, 
 wowldfoon be colle(5l:ed {0). In all the Diftiicts every Thing depends 
 
 on 
 
 Mr. Stratton held the Government till Sep- (/) See Supp. App. to 2d Rep. No. 7, 8. 
 tembcr 1777 ; Mr. Whitehill, from that Pe- («) Ibid. No. 8. 
 riod, to the Sth February 1778, wlicn I fuc- (n) See my App. No. 6. 
 cccd<;d, and left it in April 1780. (0) Briefly thus. When I entered upon my 
 
 {i) See my App. No. i. Government, (1778) the Balances amounted 
 
 to
 
 [ 72 ] 
 
 on the Conduft of the Subordinates. I never fuppofed the Balances 
 eoiild be collefted in the MazuUpatam Diftrift, but by allowing Time, 
 and affording the Zemindars every proper Indulgence ; for they cer- 
 tainly are diftreffedin their Circumftances, as I have in feveral Parts of, 
 the Company's Records, and this Work, fully demonftrated. 
 
 I fhall only obferve further, that while the Zemindars were at 
 Madras, feveral Difputes were adjufted amongft them., and. they were 
 relieved from what they conceived to be highly injurious and oppreffive 
 to them, certain Taxes and Impofitions charged by the Company's 
 Dubafli Vincaty Royaloo. The whole Proceedings are on the Com- 
 pany's Records, but are not cited by the Secret Committee. When 
 the Zemindars left Madras, they wrote, me a Letter of Acknowledg- 
 ment on the Subjedl (/>). 
 
 to twelve Lacks of Pagodas, within, a Trifle. I am convinced it will appear, that the Ba- 
 The Secret Committee ftate, that, on the 29th lances did not at all increafe during my Go- 
 February 1780, the Amount of the Balances vernment. — Nay, when it is confidered, that 
 was fomething more than fevcnteen Lacks ; of thefe feventeen Lacks, upnuards of three 
 v/hlch implies an Increafe of about five Lacks were due from the Chicacole Circar ; which 
 during my Government. But — dedufting from the Prefidenf and Council, as well as Mr. 
 this Sum, what was afterwards brought to the Cafamajor, admit to be fecure ; it will furely 
 Company's Credit, upon clofing the Books, be allowed, that proper Meafures were taken, 
 in April of the fame Year ; as alfo the Amount during my Adminillration, -yir the Redudion. 
 of the /sc/W/f upon the Tribute which I had of Balances. 
 ftipulated, but which was not collefted by the [p) S."e my App. No. 16. 
 Subordinate-, and the Amount of Tteps due.j
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 T O 
 
 Sir THOMAS RUMBOLD's 
 
 DEFENCE. 
 
 LONDON, 1782.
 
 n y. 
 
 r »■ 
 
 V. .1 , 
 
 / r^ TT ' 
 
 (r 
 
 M* K-rt.^ .—CXJ^t vJ> «*k ^ -
 
 A P P E N D I X. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 Extradt of a Letter from Sir Thomas Rumbold, to the CJiairman o£ 
 the Honourable United Eafl-India Company. 
 
 Dated Fort St. George, 20th May, 1778, 
 
 I HAVE been under fome Difficulty with refpedl to your Circars, 
 the fhameful Scene of Abufe, which has been uniformly com- 
 mitted in your Northern Chieffliips, called for our particular At- 
 tention. The Advantages you hoped from the Committee of Cir- 
 " cuit have not been much felt, I have refleded much on this Sub- 
 jedt as being very important to you, and can conceive no Mode fo 
 likely to place your Circars upon a firm and proper Footing, as to 
 call the dependant Zemindars to the Prefidency, and there fettle 
 *' with them for the different Countries ; this Meafure evidently 
 breaks through thofe Chains of little Politics, which have fo long 
 fubfifled in your Northern Governments, which conftantly kept 
 your Troops in the Field upon fome pretended Occafion or other, 
 it teaches them to place their Dependance on your Government 
 alone ; opens to them the proper Channel for Redrefs, and fixes a 
 Communication between your Prefidency and your mofl diftant 
 Dependants. I intend letting the Lands for a Term of five Years, 
 ♦* and the Event .will, I flatter myfelf, prove to the Advantage of the 
 ** Meafure." 
 
 B No. L 
 
 
 <( 
 *( 
 
 *t 
 (( 
 << 
 << 
 <( 
 «( 
 c<
 
 No. I. 
 
 Extract of' a Letter from Sir Thomas Rumbold, to the Chairman oft" 
 the Heaourabl'e Eall-Iftdia Company. 
 
 Dated Fort St. George, November 15th,. 1778^. 
 
 "'Tp HE heavy Balances that were due and accumulating from the 
 " ■*• Northern Zemindars, I have no Doubt will now be recovered,. 
 "' and that your Revenue there will be on a. more fecure Footing than 
 " ever. The uncontrouled Power of the Chiefs of the Northern- 
 ** Settlem.ents, and. the mutual Interefls that fubfifted between them i 
 ** and this Government, I am perfuaded was very oppretliVe to the 
 " Zemindars, and detrimental both to your Revenue and Commerce., 
 ** The Alteration that has taken Place by fixing their Jemmabundy 
 *' here, will be produdlive of the beft Confequences to the Company; 
 " tho' it will require Time for the Zemindars to recover from the 
 ^^ Load of Debt with which they are burthened, and the utmoft At- 
 ** tention and Indulgence muft be given to promote the Cultivation. 
 '* of their Lands. The Determination of calling the Zemindars to 
 ** the Prefidency has ftruck. at the Root, of thofe Evils which they 
 " complained of, and it is the Subordinate Chiefs alone that will 
 " probably wi(h the Meafures. we have . taken had . been / difpenied, 
 " with." 
 
 No. L 
 
 Copy of a Letter from Lord .Weymouth, one of his Majefty's Secre- 
 taries, of State. 
 
 Dated. St. James's, 2,3d March 1779.' 
 
 '* S I R', 
 
 *• T Have received yaur Letter of the 23d Odlober lafl:, and have. 
 " ■*• laid it before the King. 
 
 •' I have in Command from his Majefly to exprefs to you his- 
 '♦ Satisfadtion at the Condudl of your Prefidency in the Execution- 
 " of the Orders fent from hence for the Redudion of Pondicherry^ 
 ** The confiderable Share you have had. Sir, in forwarding this Mea- 
 " fure, meets with his Majefty's Ajpprobation, who has been graci-. 
 
 " oufly
 
 " oufly pleafed on this Occafion to confer on you the Dignity of a 
 " Baronet of Great-Britain. 
 
 " I have received liis Majcfty's Commands with particular Satis- 
 " faftion, and beg Leave to offer you my Congratulations on this 
 " diftinguifhed Mark of his Majefty's Favour. I am with great 
 " Truth and Regard, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your moft obedient 
 humble Servant, 
 
 Weymouth/*" 
 
 No. i: 
 
 Extraa from the Eaft India Company's general Letter, with tlie' 
 " Thanks of the Court of Proprietors, to Sir Thomas Rumbold, 
 
 Dated London 14th April 1779. 
 Our Prefident and Council at Fort St. George. 
 
 YOUR Letters by the Cormorant, advifmg of the Reduftion of 
 Pondicherry, were delivered to us by Lieutenant Rumbold, 
 " the 1 6th Ult. your Conduft has been very meritorious, that great 
 "Event is exceedingly important in Point of Time, and of the 
 " ereateft Confequence to this Counti-y. The Honours conferred^ 
 " by his Maiefty on Sir Thomas Rumbold and Sn- Hec^ior Munro, 
 " are the moft undoubted Proofs of Royal Approbation, and it is 
 «' with the greateft Pleafure we hereby tranfmit the unammous 
 " Thanks of a very numerous Court of Proprietors, to oui- Gover- 
 " nor to the Commander in Chief of our Troops, and to the Ad- 
 " miral and Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships in India, 
 •« for the very fignal Services rendered to their Countiy, and to the 
 " Eaft India Company, on the late OccauOn." 
 
 At:a General Court of the United Company of Merchants of'Eng-- 
 knd trading to the Eaft-Indies, held on VVednefday, the 7th Aprd 
 
 ^77,9' Refolved
 
 Relolved unanlmoufly, '^ That the Thanks of this Court be given to 
 
 " Sir Thomas Rumbold, Bart. Prefident of the Council of 
 
 *' Fort St. George, for the very important Service he has ren- 
 
 " dered to the Nation and tliis Country, by the Zeal and At- 
 
 " tention he has manifefted in carrying the Orders of the Secret 
 
 " Committee, for commencing Hoftilities into immediate Exe- 
 
 •" cution." 
 
 No. IL 
 
 STATE of the BALANCES at Mafulipatam, April 1778. 
 
 The Payment in Kifts, 
 from I ft Dec. 1777, 
 to 1 ft May, 1778,10 
 be received from the 
 Zemindars by Bills 
 on the Soucars, 
 ufually afllgned in 
 March and April. 
 
 Pagodas. 
 
 ,140. 17 1 
 
 16 
 
 4^ 
 
 Outftanding Balances 
 to be recovered of 
 1776, which ought 
 to have been paid 
 by the 25 th of Sep- 
 tember, 1777. 
 
 204,842 20 
 
 Total due to the Com- 
 pany, to be col- 
 leded, and which 
 ought to be received 
 in the Courfe of 
 March, April, and 
 May, 1778. 
 
 ;45.,zi4 
 
 60 
 
 .BALANCE due from the prefent and former Renters of Mafuli- 
 patam, and the Havellys, to 13th April, 1778. 
 
 Prelent Renters. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Rupees 
 
 16,750 
 
 — 
 
 and Ps. 
 
 46,029 
 
 30 
 
 Former Renters 
 Rupees 
 
 36,007 
 
 52^757 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 1 
 
 andPs. 
 
 orPs. 
 
 1 
 
 38.750 
 
 30 
 60 
 
 84,779 
 15,000 
 
 Brought dow 
 
 99'119 
 n 545,2H 
 
 Total Balances due fror 
 
 1 the Diftrift of Mafulipata 
 
 Tl 644,993 
 
 60 
 
 No. IL
 
 No. II. 
 
 Extra6l of a Letter from Anthony Sadlier to Sir Thomas Runibold. 
 
 Dated MafuHpatam, 5th May, 1778. 
 
 " npHE Rapacity and Peculation of Men, has nearly ruined this 
 " Country. — The Misfortunes it is now involved in originates 
 
 " from fuch Principles, and its Effe6ls may have brought on Diftrefles 
 '* poffibly not to be reformed." 
 
 Extra(5ts of a Letter from Anthony Sadlier to Sir Thomas Rumbold. 
 
 Dated Mafulipatam, 5th May, 1778. 
 
 I. " '"pHE Zemindars have now confented to proceed to Madras, in 
 " "*■ Confequence of the Order fent them, enforced by us, with 
 every Mark of Submillion and Obedience becoming our Station, 
 after giving the Subjeft, referred to you, its due Confideration, and 
 fatisfying yourfcif how the Calls on us for Money here are to be 
 fupplicd, I humbly think no Time fliould be loft in compelling the 
 Zemindars Attendance at the Prefidency, that you (hould even fix 
 a Day for their Departure, and empower us here to enforce it with 
 Sepoys. The apparent V^iolence of fuch a Meafure ought not to 
 deter you, as it commonly requires fuch an Exertion to get them 
 from their refpedlive Countries here, and when here frequently in 
 Ufe, to attain the Ends of Government in fulfilhng their Engage- 
 ments." 
 
 n. " It becomes an Objeft of your moft ferious Attention, in cafe 
 the Zemindars proceed as at prefent intended, to find Means by 
 which our Treafury may be fupplied. The moft valuable Part of 
 the Company's Inveftmcnt depends on it ; and the Zemindars 
 withholding as they do, Alhftance of any Kind, leaves little Hopes 
 of Refources in ourfelves. — For whatever nvny appear due, fuch is 
 the State of Credit, and fuch the Uncertainty of Payment, I do 
 not at this Hour know where I can apply with certainty for tlie 
 
 C fmalkft
 
 " fmalleft Sums. And all I expect to be able to do will barely furnilli 
 
 " the Demands of the prefent Month." 
 
 III. " If too, by improper Management heretofore, Deficiency in 
 
 " Payment of the Kills now due, and the Revenue of this Country, 
 
 " according to its prefent Settlement fliould happen, — ^may not the 
 
 " Caufe by its Effeft of giving the firft Shock to common and long, 
 
 " praftifcd Credit in the Mode, of Security in thefe Countries, be 
 
 " alfo afcribed to the prefent Plan ? In fliort, if it happens that the 
 
 " Settlement, by bad Seafons and Caufes alledged by the Zemindars 
 
 " is on the Decline; — would it not be prudent to leave the Govern- 
 
 " ment charged hitherto with full Refponfibility to juftify its- 
 
 " Meafures, to work out its own. Misfortunes, and bear the Cenfure. 
 
 *' it deferves ?— Are Queftions with Deference I fubmit to your better. 
 
 " Judgment." 
 
 No. III. 
 
 Tranflation of a Letter from Mirzah Rajah Vizeram Rauze, Bahan- 
 def Mouna Sultan, of his own Hand- writing, to tlie Prefident and 
 Governor and Council of Fort St. George. 
 
 Dated 4th Auguft, 1777. 
 
 " A LT HOUGH we have fmce the Time of our Anceftors very 
 " -'^ much gained the Company's Favour, and behaved well to- 
 " wards them, Mr. Johnfon, on Account of fome Difguft againft us, 
 " has ufed feveral Means, and wrote to the Company in order to 
 " bring us under a blame, and you believed the fame to be true, 
 " therefore we determined ourfelves to come there, and declare our 
 " Truth, but we found Mr. Johnfon will never let us go there, on 
 " Account of which, I have now lent my Brother to you ; what- 
 " ever he fpeaks to you, you will hear, and take in the fame Manner 
 " as if I likewife was prefent ; and at the fame Time you will be 
 
 " plcafed
 
 ** pleafed to fend an Order to the Chief and Council at Vizagapa- 
 ** tam, for me to come to you : plcafc to look upon this as if it 
 ** was an hundred Letters." 
 
 No. iir. 
 
 Tranflation of a Letter from Vizeram Rauze to Samuel Johnfon, 
 Efq; (fee Appendix No. 16, 2d Report.) 
 
 Dated 23d Augufl 1777. 
 
 " "VrOU fent a Letter from the Governor to me by the Hands 
 ** •*• of your Chubdir at Eiglit o'CIock this Niglit. I muft ac- 
 " knowledge the Receipt thereof. The Purport of that Letter is, 
 " that immediately on Receipt of it, to fuffer the Company's Troops 
 " to take Poft in the Fort Vizianagrum, and for me to proceed to 
 " the Prefidency, to apply to the Chief and Council for Sepoys to 
 *' efcort me thither, and that they will comply with my Requeft, 
 *' fhould I delay obeying the Orders, I may probably incur their 
 ** Cenfure, thereof I requelt you will on Receipt hereof give the 
 ** necelTary Orders for the Troops to be flationed at Vizianagrum, 
 " and likewife to let me have a Company of Sepoys, to accompany 
 '* me in my Journey to Madras, and to grant me Permillion this 
 " very Day to leave this- Place : upon Receipt of which both I, and 
 " my Brother, will fet out for Madras. To delay my Requeft, will 
 " be the Means of drawing upon, me their fevere Difpleafure; there- 
 " fore I repeat my Requeft, that you will be pleafed to comply 
 " therewith this very Day. This Letter is meant by me to the Chief 
 '* and Council. I have replied to the Governor's Letter, and inclofed 
 " a Copy hereof.. The above I write for your Information." 
 
 N6. IV.
 
 No. IV. 
 
 Extradl of a Letter from Edward Cotsford to the Honourable the 
 Court of Direftors of the United Eaft-India Company. 
 
 Dated New-Bond-Street, January 13, 1777. 
 
 *' A NUNDAH Rauze died in 1759, and leaving no Children, 
 " ■* *■ Chundrama (Widow of Vizeram Rauze, who was killed at 
 ** Bobily) having a great Authority in the Country, and at the Sou- 
 ** bah's Court(^), caufed the Son of one Rambardrah Rauze who wa$ 
 *' defcended from a collateral Branch of the Family to fucceed Anun- 
 " dah Rauze. He was named Vencattyputty, but flie, in Memory 
 '** of her Hufband, caufed him to be called Vizeram Rauze. This 
 " Man((^) is now Zemindar of Vizianagur, Sitteram Rauze in whom 
 " all the Power is lodged, is his half Brother (having the fame 
 " Father) and alfo older (r), and judging he had the bell Claim to the 
 *' Country, he caufed a great deal of Trouble for the Space of a 
 '• Year, when the Matter was compromifed ; he giving up the Title 
 '* to Vizeram Rauze, provided the Management of the Country 
 ** might be left with him as his Deputy." 
 
 No. IV. 
 
 Account of the Vlzanagrum Family, as obtained by the Enquiries 
 
 of Sir Thomas Rumbold. 
 
 /^HUNDERAMAH, was the Widow of Vizeram Rauze, from 
 ^-^ his fuperior Abilities, fliled, The Great, and was the Rajah of 
 Vizianagrum J he had no Children, but appointed his Coufin An- 
 nunde Guzzapetty Rauze to fucceed to his Zemindary; and Chun- 
 deramah had fufficient Intereft with her Hufband to perfuade him to 
 take her favourite Nephew the prefent Vizeram Rauze into her Houfe, 
 to educate him, ar,d to adopt him to fucceed to the Rajahfhip, in 
 Cafe of the Death of Annunde Guzzapetty Rauze. The latter died 
 
 of 
 
 («) Hydrabad. {b) He is about 29 Years of Age. (r) He is about 36 Years of Ag«.
 
 of the Small-Pox at Rajahmundry ; and Chunderamali, after the de- 
 ceafe of her Hufband, being a Woman of great Abilities, and general 
 good Character, drew the Refpcfl and Attention of all Degrees of 
 People in the Diftri6ls, and had fufficient Interefh to get the prefent 
 Vizeram Rauze appointed, agreeable to the Adoption of her late 
 Hulband, and to fatisfy the elder Brother Sitteram Rauze, who at- 
 tempted to fruflrate her Views, the Management of the Counti y v\'as 
 given to him, whilft: Vizeram Rauze was only to retain the Rank and 
 State attendant on the Rajahfliip. The Brothers were the Nephews 
 of Chunderamah. Sitteram Rauze is the Elder by a lawful Marriage, 
 and had Hereditary Succeffion taken Place would have been intitled to 
 the Zemindary in Preference to his Bjother, who was by a fecond 
 
 Marriage. 
 
 No. V. 
 
 Heads of the Conference of Rajah Vizeram Rauze, in the Prefence 
 of Lieutenant Fowke and Swammy Dubafli, to Colonel Braith- 
 waite and one of the Rajah's own People 
 
 '"T^ HE Rajah comes to Colonel Braithwaite in the deepeft Con - 
 ••■ cern, he fears that Mr. Johnfon and the Council are angry : 
 he underftands they meant to confine Setteram Rauze, his Brothei", 
 within the Fort, this has been publickly talked of, and prevents 
 his Brother paying that ^'iflt which he acknowledges he ought to 
 do. He confelTes to have written to the Council againft his Bro- 
 ther : he is fenfible of the ready AfTiflance given in the Manner of 
 bringing down his Brother. He is fenfible of the Chief and 
 Council's Goodnefs in forgiving all Things and becoming 
 Friends ; he thanks Colonel Braithwaite for being the Maliator ; 
 he entreats he v/iil again undertake that OfHce ; he is ready and 
 willing to comply v/ith all their Defires ; he will I'ubmit to all 
 Things ; his Fort is fmall, his Floufe, his Family, his Women 
 are in it, they know this ; it is not an offenfive Fort ; it is a com- 
 mon Eallern Defence round the Palace. Neverthclefs, in regard 
 
 D '' ttt
 
 " totliat,- he will obey the Company's Orders, it they are pofitlvely 
 *' determined to garrilon it, he trufts the Chief and Couacil v/ill 
 " reprelent this favourably at Madras, and wait Orders froii^i thence ; 
 " he knows their Goocinefs, he has bnt one Favouf^to aik, and he 
 " will aik it in any Manner they think proper ; that they will not 
 ." bring eternal Diigrace upon him by making his Brother a Pri- 
 " foner. !t never vvas nor could be his Intentions that fuch a Dif- 
 ^' grace (hould fall upon his Family ; he applied for his Brother to 
 *'' (ettle Accoimts ; he Ihall fettle them, he Ihall pay every Farthing j 
 " the Gentlemen fliall be fatisfied that he does ; he believes his Bro- 
 ." ther's Heart is humbled by this late Quarrel with the Company; 
 ;" whether it is, or is not, he will never lillen to his Advice. If 
 " the Gentlemen have written to Madras about his Brother, he will 
 *' be anfwerable for his Brother ; the Gentlemen may mount a 
 *' Guard upon his Brother in the Tope, or they may lend him to 
 ** Madras under an Efcort ; but to confine him here in his Prefence 
 *' on his Account, he cannot live to fee it, his God will not permit it j 
 " he entreats this fevere Difgrace may not be thought on ; he re- 
 " quells that his Brother's Son and Daughter, Wife, and his Mo- 
 " ther-in-Law, may be allowed to retire to Vizianagrum ; he will 
 " be anfwerable to pay all Demands ; he concludes with Tears in 
 " his Eyes, with a folemn Declaration, that he and all his People 
 " are determined to die, if this harfli Meafure in Regard to his Bro- 
 " ther muft have Way ; he will not oppofe the Company, he will 
 " not die fighting ; he will not draw innocent People into a Scrape 3 
 *' they will die quietly by their own Weapons." 
 
 The Original of the Above is in Sir Thomas Rumbold's Pofieflion, 
 attefted and figned by Lieutenant Fowke, the Perfian Interpreter to 
 Colonel Braithwaite. 
 
 No. V. 
 
 Colonel Braithwaite's Letter refpeQing Settcram Rauze. 
 
 •* /^OLONEL Braithwaite never was an Advocate for Setteram 
 « v-< Rauze, he arrived a Stranger in this Diilri6l ; the only Peifons 
 " from whom he could receive any Accounts or Information, were 
 " from a Man averfe to Setteram, all he heard of him was bad, from 
 
 " Juggernaut
 
 Jaggernaut Rauze, as alfo from Mr. Johafbn, in private ConVef- 
 liition, he undcrPcood thit Setterani Rauze was going to inake his 
 Efcape, witli ail his Brother's Trealure, and Jewels, this was alfo 
 confirmed by an Hircarrah, but this Hircarrah was alfo in the In- 
 terell of Jaggernaut Rauze. Mr. Johnfon wanted Setteram to be 
 feized at any Rate ; it could not be done without an Order from 
 the Board, and Jaggernaut Rauze prevailed on the Rajah to write 
 into the Board a Complaint againll Setteram. A Detachment was 
 fent to bring him ; after it was gone, the Colonel called to Mind, 
 that the Prefidency had pofitively forbid the Commencement of 
 any Hoftilities, till their further Orders; he conceived this either 
 was in itfelf, or would produce fome A6t of Hoftility. He called 
 Mr. Johnfon up in the Night, and recommended that he might 
 fend another Officer, with a Letter and fair Words to Setteram 
 R,iuze, advifing him, for his own Good, to come down, on the 
 Colonel's Parole, to Vizagapatam, and to deliver the Gate of An- 
 capilly, in which it was fuppofed all the Treafure he had ftolen 
 was lodged ; this he chearfully fubmitted to ; Lieutenant Colonel 
 Nelfon took Poffelhon of the Gate, and placed Centinels all around, 
 fo that nothing could efcape from the Place, and Setteram came to 
 Vizagapatam upon the Colonel's Parole, authorifed by the Chief 
 and Council of Vizagapatam. The Rajah wrote to contradidl every 
 Thing about his Brother, and repeatedly declared to the Colonel 
 • that all Accounts were clear ; that he had no Charge againlt his 
 Brother ; that he had hctn wrought upon to do what he had done ; 
 of this Lieutenant Fowke, who was Interpreter, isWitnefs. Mr. 
 Johnfon wanted to have Setteram a Prifoner in the Fort ; the Rajah 
 oppofed this, declaring that he would die, and all his People by 
 their own Hands, if that was done. The Colonel oppofed it, on 
 Account of the Parole given ; the Rajah's Declaration was given 
 in Form to Mr. Johnfon; the Point was given up, and Setteram 
 remained with his Brother, and fo far from giving him bad Ad- 
 vice, it fliould appear he gave him good, for the Rajah in every 
 Thing conformed to the Orders of the Prefidency. Setteram Rauze 
 (altho' tainted with a very bad Charader) in every Thing which 
 the Colonel had to do with him, gave not the fmallefl: Offence to 
 the Company, and rather deferves Praife than Blame, from the 
 JEra. the Colonel fpeaks of; as to former Tranfa6lions the Colonel 
 knows nothing of them pofitively ; the Reports he heard were 
 againft Setteram ; as a Servant of the Company he had no one 
 
 " Fault
 
 Fault to lay to his Charge. The Devil ought to have his Due, and 
 the Colonel has intended no further. As his Letters on Records 
 to the Chief and Council of Vizagapatam, and their Anfwers will 
 fhew, — which cannot, he prefumes, be defli-oyed, and he thinks 
 ought to be now before the Prefideacy." 
 
 No. VI. 
 
 ExtfaCl" of a Letter from the Chief and Council of Vizagapatam to 
 the Governor and Council at Fort St. George. 
 
 Dated 24th Dec, 1777. 
 
 Appendix, No. 23, 2d Report. 
 
 I S (Vizeram Rauze) great Debt to Individuals, which he is in- 
 capable of paying off, or any Part thereof, from his Lofs of 
 Credit with the Soucars, who have in general entertained a Notion 
 that the Honourable Board will never reflore him to his antient Refi- 
 dence, and of Courfe are appreheniive his Affairs are in fuch a Predica- 
 ment as will involve him in Difficulties that he cannot extricate him- 
 felf from. He is full of Fears and Apprehenfions, that during his 
 Abfence all the Hill People will deffroy his Country, which he at 
 prefent keeps in fome Order, by Negociation with fome of their 
 Head Men, or Chiefs. He is v/Iierewithal fo fuperftitious, which is 
 the Charafterirtick of the Gentoos, that he is led to think it will be 
 impoffible to recover his ancient Family Habitation, without he is 
 continually employed in Supplication to his Deity, for the Companv's 
 Favour and Protecftion ; for which Purpofe he is encamped near the 
 Pagoda, on the Hill of Sumachilum, and means not, as it is reported, 
 to quit it before your Honour, &c. reltore to him his Fort of Vizi- 
 anagrum; which Circumllance, altho' founded in Ignorance and Su- 
 perftition, we hope will merit fome Degree of Attention from the 
 Honourable Board. 
 
 No-
 
 No. VI. 
 
 Copy of a Letter from Archibald Eagle, Lieutenant Commander of 
 the five Companies of Rajah's Sibbendy, to Sir Thomas Rumbold, 
 Baronet, Prelident and Governor of Fort St. George. 
 
 Dated Fort St. George, 30th March, 1780. 
 SIR, 
 
 T Have the Honour to receive your Commands to lay before you a 
 ■■• State of the Fort of Vizianagrum. 
 
 I left that Country on Account of bad Health about the Middle 
 of laft September, and fhall defcribe the Fort and its particular Situ- 
 ation at that Time. It is diftant about thirty Miles from Vizao-a- 
 patam, (running nine in Land) and fomewhat farther from Chicacole, 
 but nearly centrical between both. The Fort is of an oblong Form, 
 about half a Mile in Circumference, furrounded by a Wall and dry 
 Ditch. The Houfe and Garden of the Rajah poffefs the principal 
 Part, the remaining Space is occupied by his Family and Domeftics. 
 The Country People live in the Pittah, which comes clofe to the 
 Brink of the Ditch, The Fort is overlooked by an Eminence within 
 Gun-fhot, which commands it in every Part : And parallel to one 
 Face runs a very thick Bank of a Tunk about half the Height of 
 the Walls, and within an hundred Yards. It has not the Advantage 
 of a Glacis, or ;^ny kind of Outwork, and is fo deftitute of the Meiuis 
 of Defence, that it can only be confidered as a Place of Safety to the 
 Perfon of the Rajah againft the Hill Polygars, who frequently come 
 down in great Numbers, and commit every Sort of Depredation. 
 The Walls are of unhewn Stone laid in Mud, and fo fir from being 
 able to refift the Shock of battering Cannon, I am confident that 
 the Fire of Field Pieces would make a pradlicable Breach in a few 
 Hours : One Face is cafcd with Brick and Chunam, but in a very 
 decayed State, and on another is a Breach capable of admitting a 
 Company of Sepoys a-breaft. There are Cracks in fo many Places, 
 that a Row of half-fized Gabions filled with Earth has been placed 
 along the Top to prevent the ImpreiTions of the \V''eathcr ; and were 
 
 E it
 
 it not for this Precaution, it is my Opinion the Walls of Viziana- 
 grum could not withftand the Rains of a fevere Monfoon. 
 
 Upon the whole, I am humbly of Opinion, that under the Cir- 
 cumilances already fet forth, the circumfcribed Dimenfions— totally 
 unfurnilhed with Bomb Proofs, and having only one fmall Maga- 
 zine, the Fort of Vizianagrum would not be a fafe Lodgment for 
 Troops and Military Stores, iliould a refpedtable Enemy appear, in 
 that Part of the Country. 
 
 I have the Honour to fubfcribe myfelf with much Refpedl, 
 
 Sir, 
 Fort St. George, Your moft obedient, 
 
 30th March 1780. humble Servant, 
 
 Arch. Eagle, 
 Commander of the five Companies of Rajah's Sibbendy. 
 
 No. VI. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from the Committee of Circuit to the Prefident 
 and Governor, &c. Council of Fort St. George. 
 
 Dated 27th Auguft, 1777. 
 
 " "\yl/'ITH Refpedl to the Forts, we are of Opinion that it may be 
 tt V V proper to bring the Rajah to deliver up that of Vizianagrum ; 
 ** not that we fuppofe he depends upon it as a Place of Defence, but 
 " we believe he is greatly attached to it on Account of the Length of 
 •• Time his Family has refided there; that he will probably be afraid, 
 ** on Account of his Women, of continuing there when it is gar- 
 ** rifoned by our Troops, and will dread the Mortification and 
 " Difgrace of being obliged to remove. It is a fmall Fort about 
 '* 200 Yards fquare, with a dry unfiniflied Ditch, and has four round 
 *' Baftions at the Angles ; the Body of the Fort is at prefent in pretty 
 *' good Repair, and is partly of Brick and partly of Stone, cemented 
 " on the Outfide with Chunam. By the Conftrudlion of it, which 
 " is wholly in the Country Stile of fortifying, without any Out- 
 *' works, we conceive that it cannot be deemed ilrong. There are 
 
 " but
 
 . but few Buildings in it, con A fting of the Rajah s Dwelling- Houfe 
 « with the OuthoSfes, a fmall Bomb Proot, and fome bheds for the 
 ' Rajah's People. We do not imagine it to be a Place of ^"Y Con- 
 ' fequence, confidered as a Fortification ; but the leaving it in the 
 ' Rajahs Hands, might make other Zemindars expeft the fame In- 
 ' du fences. We ihould think it more advifeable to allow the 
 ' r1 ah an Addition to his Guard than the PolTefTion of his Fort; 
 ' ^d rather the Poffeffion of his Fort, than that the infifting on this 
 
 - Article alone fhould be the Occafion of a total Breach witli him.— 
 
 - His holding the Fort cannot put it in his Power ever hereafter to 
 '' do us Miichief:-And in ord'er to effedt quietly a great change 
 
 - all immaterial or unimportant Matters fliould, we think, be 
 " facrificed." 
 
 Extras of a Letter from James Henry Cafamajor Chief of Viza- 
 gapatam, to Sir Thomas Rumbold. 
 
 Dated Vizagapatam, 2oth December, 17S0. 
 
 " A S I have taken up this Ground, I beg Leave to exercile your 
 ^^ A Patience a little longer, by informing you ot the Situation 
 
 - of public Matters in this Circar, and I am the more inclined to do 
 
 - ?o ^becaufe I conceive you will derive Satisfaftion from the Re- 
 
 - hJion being connedted with the Subjed as one of the principal 
 Tru faaions of your Government.-On my Arrival here, I found 
 le £?rce tided with an Arrear to the Company, amounting 
 altogether to Fourteen Lacks of Rupees, ot which upwards of 
 Twdve Lacks were due from the Vi.ianagrum Family for Jem- 
 mabundy, and Havelly Rents, ^c. better.. Rauze -^ 
 depended, did not return from ^I^\'ln^% until the ^th of Odtober 
 ^Vhen he arrived at the Capital his Meffengers, in h^^ Ablence. 
 always wanted to refer Matters to their Mafter to gain T me. 
 Thus circumftanced. and the Refponlibility w.th whi h I con- 
 fidered myfelf inverted from my Station inducea me to adopt, 
 without Referve, the Refolution of interfering by a certain Day 
 ^ the CoUeaions, on the Part of the Company -, but before the 
 kxed Period arrived, I found an Alteration P-d"«.d' -^-^/^^f; 
 dered fuch a Step unnecefiary ;— Money was paid fafl into the 
 
 ■ Treafui"-^On sftteram Rau/e's Arrival, I gave him to^under- 
 
 (( 
 
 <( 
 << 
 
 <c 
 << 
 <( 
 <( 
 << 
 <c
 
 ftand, what I conceived to be the Line he ought to adopt with Re- 
 gard to his Duties connefted with this Government ; and that I 
 did not tell it as a Matter of Opinion only, but that it mufl: be 
 attended to without Referve or Evafion. — He iaw the Neceffity of 
 following my Advice ; and this Conduct has enabled me to dif- 
 charge my public Truft with fome Degree of Satisfaction , and it 
 has met with the Approbation of the Prelidency. I have been 
 able to remit from the Collections to the Treafury of the Preli- 
 dency 120,000 Rupepsj I have in Readinefs to fend by the very 
 firil: Opportunity 200,000 Rupees. — I have already advanced for 
 the Inveltment 160,000, and the Illues made for general Difburfe- 
 ments from my Arrival to this Period amounts to 200,000 
 Rupees ; £0 except about 60,000 Rupees which I found in the 
 Cheil: on my Arrival, the Remainder amounting to 620,000 Ru- 
 pees, has been collected from the Time I took Charge of this 
 Office ; and I have the beft Hope from the Arrangements made, 
 to be able to fend a further Supply of 250,000 Rupees at leaft to 
 the Prefidency by May, exclufive of the Two Lacks ready for that 
 Purpofe, and the 120,000 Rupees actually forwarded; and by the 
 20th of April next, there will arife Expences at this Place, which 
 will amount to about 200,000 Rupees for general Difburfements, 
 Provilions for Madras, and fome Advances to keep the Weavers 
 from ftarving ; all which I ihall be able to difcharge from the 
 Colledtions. And this exifts not in Idea only, the greater Part 
 you will lee has been accompliibed ; and I have almoil a m.oral 
 Certainty of fulfilling the reft, if this Diftricft continues in Peace.. 
 And then I Ihall have the Satisfaction to refleCt, that from the 
 TranfaCtions of my firft Year's Refidence here, you will have no 
 Reafon to reproach yourfelf for having done me the Favour to 
 intereft yourfelf in my Appointment. I have^ belides, fmce my 
 Arrival, difpatched 500 Bales, worth about 120,000 Rupees: 
 And by the End of next Month 500 Bales more will be fent to 
 the Prelidency, being moftly the Produce of the Money advanced in 
 my Time : And it may not be improper to remark, by Way of 
 Conclufion, that for many Years paft, this Subordinate never 
 made Remittances of Cafli ; on the contrary, it received Supplies 
 for its Inveftment. — Sitteram Rauze is on a good Footing with his 
 Brother, but as he finds he has many Enemies, he intends to live 
 at Vlzaganatam with his Familv, during thefe Times of public 
 Diilreb."' 
 
 No. VIL
 
 No. VII. 
 
 Debts due from the following Zemindars to Individuals, as given in 
 
 by themfelves. 
 
 Rajah Jaggaputty Rauze, till 26th September 1778. 
 
 GOVURDAN Dofs and Virjey Dofs - - - 
 
 Verjey Dofs -. - 
 
 Chuckra Huvdanlah Lutcheme Nurfmva Cheanloo 
 Mr. Pringle ---_-. 
 
 Dodtor Singular - - • « _ 
 
 Mr. Davidlon - ---_«_ 
 
 Ragava Rauze - - - - - 
 
 Mondaloo Puddue « .. 
 
 55'328 
 51,828 
 1 1,400 
 10,000 
 7,300 
 
 45° 
 13,000 
 
 6,000 
 
 Ms. Pagodas 155,306 
 
 Culdindu Tupputty Rauze, till 26th September 1778. 
 
 Govurdan Dofs - _ - . 
 
 Verjey Dofs - - _ _ 
 
 Chuckra Huvdanla Lutcheme Nurfinva Cheanloo 
 Suncaramunjey Vofsdeva Charloo 
 Mr. James Hodges _ _ _ 
 
 Mr. Alexander Jamefon _ - - 
 
 Do6tor Singular _ _ _ - 
 
 In fmall Sums to different Perfons 
 
 200,000 
 
 8,000 
 
 30,000 
 
 12,000 
 
 25,000 
 
 3,000 
 
 2,250 
 
 10,000 
 
 Ms, Pagodas 290,250 
 
 Reddv
 
 Reddy Lutcheme Narraln Doo, till 25th September 1778. 
 
 Govurdan Dofs and Verjey Dofs 
 
 #■ 
 
 2,150 
 
 Verjey Dofs - - - ^^ 
 
 1^ 
 
 7,400 
 
 Dauzeny lijapah - ~ - - 
 
 M 
 
 1,800 
 
 Mondatoo Gopunnah _ - - 
 
 ■i 
 
 1,40a 
 
 Chuckra Huvdanla Lutcheme Nurfinva Cheanuloo 
 
 tn 
 
 2,540. 
 
 Cunjemurty Vincatachellam 
 
 Pagodas 
 
 82a 
 
 Ms. 
 
 16,1 10 
 
 Gonatty Nurfihvaloo-, till 24 September 1778. 
 
 Vincatafa Norjadoo - - ,. - 2,00a 
 
 Daufery Gruva Chilly -._-.». 2,842: 
 
 Yanuga Sunipudoo _.-_-.- j;28 
 
 Punta Sittaramudoo - » i« - - 630 
 
 Ms. Pagodas 6,000 
 
 Riddy Mungaputty Doo, till 25 September 1778. 
 
 Govurdana Dofs ----- 2,000- 
 
 Verjey Dofs ^ _ _ - - 6,500 
 
 Chuckra Huvdanla Nurfmva Cheanuloo - - 2,350 
 
 jondyconda Vincataroyaloo - - - - 1,800 
 
 Mondatoo Gopunnah - •. - - IjI50' 
 
 Ms. Pagodas 13,800 
 Monda-
 
 Mondapauty Trlpputty Rauze, till 24th September 1778. 
 
 Daumodara Dofs -»••»» 6,287 
 
 Lai Dofs and Verjey Dofs • « . 2,000 
 
 Dovva Nuttoojey Caufey Dofs - - « 1,000 
 
 Uzey Dofloo -.--.« 1,000 
 
 Daufery Gruva Chitty _ _ «, „ 2,000 
 
 Mondatoo Gopunnah - - « » 2,000 
 
 Mondrapacada Vencatramanah « ^ „ 1,000 
 
 Prayagah Bampanah >•...-.» roo 
 
 Bommagunder Joakey - - - . >. 600 
 
 Buyapafitty Royaloo - ^ • ^ - 600 
 
 Yetta Vencatachellam » » • - ^60 
 
 Ms. Pagodas i7>547 
 
 Mecca Opparow, till 26th September 1778. 
 
 Mr. Hodges - -, - • i., 3i>504 
 
 Mr. Pringle , ^ . _ • 28,307 
 
 Captain Lyfought - - _ • 3>7oo 
 
 Lieutenant Towns - - - - 8,183 
 
 Condraigula Vencatarow - - — • 19,000 
 
 Soucara at Mafulipatam. - • _ - 184,1164- 
 
 Madras Pagodas 274,810 i 
 
 Caucir--
 
 Caucirlamoody Vcncatoputty Rauzc, till 24^cptembcr 177S. 
 
 Lai Dofs _ _ - - 
 
 Govurdan Dofs ' - ^ - 
 
 Dovva Nuttoojey Caufey Dofs 
 
 Jaggaputty Rauze - _ . _ 
 
 Chuckra Huvdanla Lutcheme Nurfinva Cheanluloo 
 
 Rajah Ram Naig 
 
 Dontaloor Butchamah _ _ - 
 
 Mondaty Pu'ddue - 
 
 Gruva Lhitty - - 
 
 Cunjemurty Vencatachellam - - 
 
 Colloony Ramudoo - £ 
 
 Dontaloor Triputty Rauze "" - - . - 
 
 Jumpana Vizia Jagganada Rauze 
 
 Canucurty Chundrapah ^ _ - 
 
 Irevengadom _ » _ _ 
 
 Mr. Hodges _ - - - 
 
 Monf. Berry «. - _ - 
 
 Madras Pagodas 
 
 24,650 
 3,000 
 1,000 
 8,000 
 1,000 
 1,000 
 2,500 
 1,000 
 1,000 
 2,000 
 600 
 1,000 
 1,000 
 500 
 500 
 1,600 
 
 500 
 
 50,850 
 
 No. VII. 
 
 An Account of Money owing by the Zemindars in the Mafulipatam 
 Diftrift to Soucars and other Individuals, tranfmitted by Mr. Sad- 
 lier to Sir Thomas Rumbold. 
 
 Ragonaut Naik, Soucar, Gomaflah of Goverden Dofs of 
 Hydrabaud, his Account with Culdindee Trippctte- 
 rauze, now owing _ _ _ _ 183,900 
 
 Vaflereddy Raumaunah « - - - 40,100 
 
 Carried over Ps. 224,000 
 
 Macca
 
 Brought over 224,000 
 
 Macca Narfinva Opporow _ > _ _ 6,300 
 
 Sooranany Narfinvarow and Vecataramrow - - 1,800 
 
 Mundapatty Tripitterauze - - - _ 282 
 
 Vachavoy Juggapetterauze _ _ _ . 5,000 
 
 Jogue Rauze - - - - _ 1,1^0 
 
 Cacarlamoody Ramachandre Rauze _ _ _ 2,500 
 
 Perec Charla Rajanah - _ _ _ 4»50o 
 
 Latchmee Nairamdoo and Munga Puddoo --• - 6,500 
 
 Veeraflia Lingum - - -• _ _ 1,600 
 Cotar Letchimy Dofs Soucar, his Account with Macca 
 
 Narfinva Opparow - - _ _■ 3,000 
 
 Collavacollue Timmanarow - - - - 3,000 
 
 CollavacoUue Timmanarow and Chinna Rov/ - 15,400 
 
 Varugonda Rammanah - _ _ _ .15,000 
 
 Veil unky Gopaul Row, and Vencaty Row -- - roo 
 
 Vellunky Mullarow - - - - 4,000 
 
 Sooranany Narfinvarow and Vencataramrow - - 23,500 
 
 Sooranany Vencatarow _ _ _ _ 5,000 
 Verjce Dofs Soucar, his Account with Macca Narfinva 
 
 Opparow - - - - » 163,400 
 
 Row Mahepellerow - - _ _ 17,000 
 
 VofTareddy Ramanah - - _ _ 7,700 
 
 Sooranany Narfinvarow - - - _ I>I00 
 
 Jewpallee Narfinvarow - - - _ 10,400 
 
 Cacarlamoody Ramachandre rauze _ _ _ 8,000 - 
 
 Cacarlamoody Vencatapellerauze of Cotta - - 30,000 
 
 Mundapatty Trippctterauze - -- - -- 5,200 
 
 Kifiarah Sooranah Defmook _ _ _ _ i,coo 
 
 Collavacollue Timmanarow - - - -• 600 
 
 Godant Ram - - - - _- 30,500 
 
 Total Amount, Pagodas 600:331 
 
 No..
 
 No. VIII. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from Mr. Cotsford, Chief and Council, to Sir 
 Thomas Rumbold, Baronet, Prefident and Governor, &c. Fort St . 
 George. 
 
 'Dated Mafulipatam, 23d March, 1780. 
 
 *' f"T AVING replied to the feveral Paragraphs of your above Lct- 
 t« xl tej.^ y^TQ proceed to notice what has palled on the Subjed; of 
 " Revenue, fmce the Date of our laft. We have the Satisfadlion to 
 " acquaint your Honour, &c. that the following Zemindars have 
 " given in Teeps for the three Kifts due in September, viz. Jagga- 
 " putty Rauze, of Peddapore, to the Amount of Madras Pagodas 
 " 42,657 : 9. — Trippetty Rauze, of Muggletore, for his own Ze- 
 " mindary, and Security, Country Pagodas 85,636 : 15 : 60. Ram- 
 " chunderauze, to the Amount of 3,913 : 6 : 60. Codant Ram of 
 " Sallapillu, has paid in fix Kifts, on Account of Phazelly 1189, 
 *' or 1780, fo that no further Payments are due from him until the 
 " Month of September ; v/e conceive it our Duty to Notice to your 
 " Honour, &c. the pundlual Payment of this Zemindar, which at 
 ^ a Time when mofl: of the other Tributaries continue fo miKh in 
 " Arrears, appears to us particularly commendable. 
 
 " Vaflreddy Ramana of Nandigamah has paid fix Kifts in full for 
 Phazelly 1.188 or 1779. 
 
 " All the Zemindars and other Tributaries of thefe Diftridts, as 
 " well thofe above-mentioned, as others, whom we have not had 
 *' Occafion to notice in this Letter, are either arrived, or will fhortly 
 *' be here, to adjuft the Bufinefs of their further Payments. And 
 " we beg Leave to affure your Honour, &c. that our utmoft Endea- 
 *' vours fhall be exerted towards accomplifliing the Objeft of your 
 *' late repeated Orders, viz. the obtaining from them not only Pay- 
 " ment of their annual Tribute, but fuch Part of their Arrears as 
 " may be due at this Period. We fee the Neceffity upon this Occa- 
 *' fion» for the vigorous Exertion of the Powers you have lodged 
 
 " with
 
 with us. In the ftrcngen; Point of View; being fully peiTuadca, 
 tliat if wa flioiild fliil at this Time, in the Execution of your 
 Orders, the bell Opportunity for accomplilliing them will therebv 
 certainly be loft ; and the Recovery of a conliderublc Part, if not 
 the Whole of the Arrears become hereafter very dubious. The 
 Zemindars Trepetty Rauze, and J-igg-^petty Rauzc, have been re- 
 markably flow in their Payments, during the Courfe of the lall 
 Year ; nor could we procure thefe Payments at all without a De- 
 gree of Compulfion : This Refraftorinels of Condudl, when thev 
 had but a fmall Sum to make good, compared to the Demand now 
 upon them, appears to us a reafonablc Ground of Sufpicion, thev 
 will try every Art and Method to delay their Payments at this 
 Time ; we have therefore come to tlie Refolution of recommendini^ 
 to the Chief, that after having difcuffed the Bufmefs for which 
 they are now called down, and allured them of every Indulgence 
 your Orders will permit us to (hew them, if he finds that it has not 
 the proper Effecfl, he proceed to acquaint them, that your Orders 
 are lb politi\'e for procuring the Payments, they will not be fuffered 
 to fllr from this Place until they have complied with them. We 
 have indeed little Expedlation of fucceeding with thefe Zemindars, 
 unlefs they are previoufly convinced that they will be proceeded 
 againft to Extremity, in Cafe of Non-compliance ; but at tlie fame 
 Time, we are not lefs of Opinion, that if the Meafures we mean 
 to purfue, receive your Approbation and Support, the Whole of 
 what is due at this Period, not only from thefe lafl Zemindars, 
 but from <?// the Tributaries of this Diflrid will be obtained from 
 them." 
 
 No. VIII. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from Mr. Cotsford, Chief of Mafulipatam, to Sic 
 Thomas Rumbold, Governor of Fort St. George. 
 
 Dated 19th Auguft 1779, 
 
 •' T Am glad the Bufinefs of the Farms is decided, and perfedly 
 *' "*• fatisfied with the Manner in which it is done. The Syftem of 
 *' Management fo far as our prefent Experience can enable us to 
 
 " judge
 
 '* judge of It, apper^rs to me to have been a lofing one, and In" 
 
 •' Speculation it leems to have been the worfl that could have been 
 
 *' adopted. I was fome Days ago on the Point of writing to you, 
 
 " to apprize you of the Inconveniences that were to be apprehended 
 
 " from any further Delay in this Matter of the Farms j but hearing 
 
 " that it was purelv the Confequence of your ill State of Health, 
 
 " and that we might expedl to hear of the Difpofal of the Farms, at 
 
 " leafh in. a few Days, I laid afide the Intention as unneceflary.'" 
 
 U. I have been waiting for fome Days paft for the Acconnt wItH 
 our Soucars, that I might funiilh you with a Statement of what we 
 had received, and what remains due from them of the lix Kifts given 
 in by the different, Zemindars. I. have at length got it from them j 
 the Amount of all the Kifts paid in Madras Pagodas -^66,736 : 30 : 20. 
 That of the Sums received upon all of them is Madras Pagodas 
 T:.65,,oi4: I J : 20, and confequently what remains due (of which wc 
 may exped: Payment within a iliort Time) Madras Pagodas 201,722 : 9. 
 This is all we have to depend upon until the Time arrives for fet- 
 tling with them next Year. 
 
 III. The greater Part of the Zemindars' have given in Petitions 
 for an Indulgence of four Years to difcharge their Balances, which 
 we think is as little Time as can be allowed them.- There are two 
 of them however, concerning whom I have in a Minute relating to 
 thefe Matters exprefled an Opinion that their Circumliances-'" might 
 " perhaps enable them to pay off what they owe in a fliorter Time, 
 " Codant Ram, of Sallapillee, and Mundapatty Triputte Rau-ze, -of 
 " Corecundah. The former has the Reputation of being very clear 
 "* and unincumbered in his Affairs bv good Management of them ; 
 " the latter is faid to be rated very low in Proportion to his Rents. 
 *• in the Jemmabundy Lift. Rut I have, introduced it merely as a 
 •' Conjedlure ; and very probably with refped: to the former, you 
 " may think it better Policy as tending to recommend and encou- 
 *•' rage Oeconomy and good Hufbandry, to favour Codant Ram in- 
 " the fan:e Manner with the reft, than to appear in the laft to 
 " check it by partial Rigidnefs." 
 
 IV. " Juggaputty Rauze gave his Teepfor fix Kifts on the 3'ift of 
 •' July, and we are now proceeding in the Bufmefs of recovering 
 " the Debt due to him by Mahaputty- Row.'.' 
 
 No. IX.
 
 No. IX. 
 
 The following Note was furniflied mc by a Gentlema-ft peffedly So- 
 quainted with the Bulincfs in the Ganjam Dillrid:. 
 
 '"pHE CoIlei5lions for the laft four or five Years preceding the 
 •*- Commencement of Ball Kiftnah's Term, viz. from September 
 1774 to September 1779, do not Amount one Year with another to 
 what Ball Killnah has agreed to give by many thoufand Rupees. This 
 is a Truth that the Company's Books now in the India-Houfe will 
 put beyond a Doubt; the fame Books will alfo fhew that the making 
 the Colledions for the five Years above-mentioned was attended with 
 very heavy Expences, and that the Military and Civil Charges ot 
 Ganjam, the Military and Civil Stores fent there from Madras an- 
 nually, and the Affiftance of Troops from Vizagapatam fwallowed 
 up the greatefl Part of the Colledions. It is true fome Money has 
 been fent from Ganjam to Madras, and to Vizaffapatam at diiferent 
 Times, but when the Charges of Troops from the latter, and the 
 Amount of Civil Stores for Ule and Sale, and Military Stores an- 
 nually fent from the former, and other Charges at Madras, Account 
 Ganjam are placed againft the Money received from that Place, the 
 clear annual Profit to the Company from the Ganjam Diftridt will be 
 found to have been very trifling. Whereas, as that Country is now 
 fettled under Ball Kiltnah, there is not a Doubt but a very great an- 
 nual Profit will accrue to the Company from it. 
 
 Ball Kiflnah is to pay the Company, per Annxtm, Rs. 455,000 
 The Sea and River Cuftoms not let to him '- 12,000 
 
 Brings the Ganjam Revenue to Rs. - ^ 467,000 
 
 Which is many thoufand Rupees a Year more than the Company 
 received for the lafl five Years, and this Revenue is not fubjedl to 
 Diminution by Charges of Collection, as Ball Killnah has agreed to 
 pay thefe Charges, but 467,000 Rupees is to come into the Com- 
 pany's Caih clear of all Charges, except when any Zemindar refufes 
 to pay his jufl Jammabundy, and then the Company are to be at the 
 Exptnce of compelling him. 
 
 H Ball
 
 Ball Kiftna has been upwards of lo Years the Company's principal 
 native Servant at Ganjam, is perfonally known to all the Zemindars 
 and People of all Degrees in the Ganjam Diftridl, underftands their 
 Language, and knows the Charadters, Difpofitions, Countries, and 
 Refources of every one of them, is reckoned a fenfible Man, and the 
 Zemindars have all great Deference for his Judgment, and from his 
 long Experience is very converfant in Revenue Bulinefs, his own In- 
 tereft; that powerful incentive will lead him moft heartily to En- 
 deavour to keep the Zemindars and Renters pundlual in their Pay- 
 ments, and fteady in the Obfervance of a proper Conduit, fo as to 
 prevent the Neceffity of Military Expeditions againft the Zemindars, 
 which have been the Deftruftion of the Ganjam Revenue for many 
 Years, and which Expeditions muft terminate as much to his (the 
 Renter's) as to the Company's Detriment. Hence there may be pre- 
 fumed a much greater Probability of that Country being free of Dif- 
 turbances from Ball Kiftnah's coUeftlng the Revenues, refponfible as 
 he is for them, than if they are colledted by a Chief and Council, 
 without any fuch intermediate refponfible Officer. Ganjam is a hilly 
 woody Country, in which there are many flrong Holds, favourable 
 for Reliftancc to the Company's Authority. Eleven Years Experience 
 has fhewn the Company that this Country is very difficult to manage 
 to Advantage. The Chief and Council, from their Ignorance of the 
 Country Langiiige, muft rely on information from native Servants, 
 where Inclination and Intereft may fometime be to magnify and mif- 
 reprefent the Condudl of Zemindars, and thereby put the Company 
 to Military Expences, that perhaps were unneceffary, and might have 
 been avoided if the Chiefs and Council underflood the Language of 
 the Country. Every Chief has generally a private Servant, in whom 
 be often puts more Confidence than in the Company's public Plead' 
 native Servant, and from Cuftom of the Service, all Correfpondencc 
 and Converfations with the Zemindars being moftly carried on by the 
 Chief. His is the only public Channel of Information to the Coun- 
 cil ; hence if the native Servants have the Chief's Ear, and a Mind to- 
 tnifrcprefcnt Things to him, it is difficult for the Council to find out 
 the true Situation of Matters j the many Dtfadvantages Gentlenien 
 labour under, particularly in the Ganjam Diftrift, horn a Want of 
 Knowledge in the Country Lang-nftge, are fuch, that I am clearly of 
 Opinion, they cannot manage the Revenue fo well by native Servants, 
 a| they can do it through one, who is refponfible foi the Revenue, 
 
 and
 
 and whofe Interefl: it is to keep the Country In Peace, and who is 
 capable of doing it if any one is. 
 
 The Poverty of the Ganjam Zemindars, and their Incapacity to 
 pay their former Jemmabundy, has been written from Ganjam to 
 Madras ; and thefe Letters, many of them, ligned by Mr. Smith. 
 The Prefident, in one of his Minutes, reprefented that there was a 
 Neceflity for eftablifhing a new Jemmabundy through the Ganjam 
 Diftrid:, whether the Country was rented or managed by the Chief 
 and Council ; it was in confequence brought on the Carpet. Mr. 
 Smith, in his Minute N' 6i, in the Appendix 2d Report (fpeaking of 
 the fix Mahindra Mulles Zemindarics) fays, that though their Jem- 
 mabundy was 55,000 Rupees per Annum, the Medium Collections 
 for nine Years were only i g, 000 Kwp^ts per Annum. The Ganjam 
 Gentlemen fay (vide N° 33 in the Appendix, 2d Report) that five 
 of the moft capital Zemindars are fcarcely able to maintain their 
 Families with common Decency ; and that the heavy Balances of 
 the Moherry Zemindary arofe from an over-rated Jemmabundy. 
 
 Ball Kiftnah confented to and propofed that the Jemmabundy 
 fliould be leflened 78,000 Rupees a Year, knowing that Sum had 
 never been and never could be colledled. 
 
 Ball Killnah, by his Agreement with the Company, is authorized 
 to colledl from the feveral Zemindars a Jemmabundy of 308,70a 
 Rupees : Their Jemmabundy before was called 386,000 Rupees, as 
 will appear by the Appendix N' 62, 2d Report, fo that his Collec- 
 tions will be lefs than the former nominal Jemmabundy by 78,000- 
 Rupees per Annum. 
 
 The former Jemmabundy for the Zemindary's Havelly Lands, 
 Sea Cuftoms, 6cc. was called _ _ _ Rupees 555,000 
 
 Dedudl fo much as it is reduced _ _ _ _ 78,000 
 
 And there remains - - - Rupees 477,000 
 
 There muft alfo be dedudted the Sea Cuftoms, which are 
 
 not let to Ball Kiftnah _ _ _ _ 12,000 
 
 Rupees 465,000 
 Tbi-^
 
 ' This Sum of 465,000 Rupees is all that Ball Kiftnah is allowed 
 to colled; from the Ginjam Diftrid, out of which he is to pay to 
 the Company, clear of all Charges, the Sum of 415,000 Rupees 
 annually ; -io that 50,000 Rupees are allowed him lor his Trouble 
 and the Charges of collecting his Revenues ; a Revenue that has not 
 been colleded for the Company thefe five Years, under more than 
 double that Expence. Ball Kiltnah alfo engages to pay the Com- 
 pany 40,000 Rupees a Year during his Leafe, on Account of old 
 balances due from the Zemindars to the Company. 
 
 He alfo further engages to pay the Company 20,000 Rupees per 
 ■Annum, until a Lack of Rupees be paid off, that is faid to be due to 
 the Company from Jaggabundy Chowdree's Account of the Ganjam 
 Havelly Lands. Jaggabundy Chowdree had allerted that this Sum 
 was due from Ball Kiftnah, but Ball Kiftnah contradided it by the 
 lail Letter from Ganjam : The Gentlemen there could not prove it, 
 though no Endeavour was wanting to do it : Their own Words are 
 " much as Ball Kirtnah may be fcreened by an artful Condud:, 
 " and impoflible as it may be to eftablifli the Fa61: on pofitive Proof j" 
 and they acknowledge that Jaggabundy Chowdree had in his Poirelfion 
 ihe Accounts of Colledlions and Payments for 1776. 
 
 Jaggabundy Chowdree had ever been looked upon as the Renter of 
 the Havelly Lands, recommended to the Board of Madras for his 
 good Condudt, and could not prove that he was not the Renter, from 
 all Circumllances put together it appears that the Sum above-men- 
 tioned was due from Jaggabundy Chowdree, and not from Ball Kiftnah; 
 his Agreement to pay the Amount was an additional Benefit to the 
 Company, who did not appear to ftand much chance to get it, if 
 Ball Kiftnah had not engaged to pay it. It may not be amifs to infert 
 the following Extrads relative to this Tranfadtion. 
 
 The Governor and Council of Madras in the Year 1776, wrote to 
 the Committee of Circuit, that Jaggabundy Chowdree, the Renter of 
 the Havelly Lands, had been recommended to them by the Chief and 
 Council of Ganjam, as a Man deferving of their Favour, on Ac- 
 count of his general good Condud: and Pundluality in performing his 
 Engagements. (Vide Letter from Ganjam 14th January 1779.) 
 
 The
 
 The Ganjair), Chief, and Council, fay, *' Jacgahundy Chovvdree, 
 " has alierted to us, (tQ our Jljionijhnicnt) tliat he h.id nothing to do 
 " with the Ganjam Havelly Lands. — That Ball Kiilndi was the 
 " Renter: that it could be proved by all the People nukin*- tlic 
 " Colleftioiis." 
 
 Ball Killnah was accordingly called on by the Governor and Council 
 
 of feveral Settlements of Accounts between hijii and Jaggabundy 
 Chowdree, fhev/ing the i\Ioney was due from the latter, and that 
 Jaggabundy Chowdree had declared himfelf to the Chief the real 
 Renter. 
 
 Mr. Smith, in his Minute (vide Appendix No. 6j,) fays, — There 
 was collected while he was Chief of Ganjam, from February 1774, to 
 Oftober i-j-jj, 469,000 Rupees :pcr Annum. — In the Year ending 
 April 1778, there was colledled only Rupees 342,000. — In the Year 
 ending April 1779, there was faid to be colleded 500,000 Rupees: 
 but it was only faid to be, for though this laft Sum was entered on 
 the Company's Books, no fuch Sum was received; Information had 
 been fent to Madras that the Gentlemen at Ganjam, in order to 
 enable them to write to Madras, that their Collections for the Yeai- 
 ending April 1779, 500,000 Rupees, had put down in the Ganjam 
 Accounts near 200,000 Rupees more than had been received. 
 
 This Information, and an Account of the Particulars, was fent to 
 Ganjam, by the Governor and Council of Madras, and the Chief of 
 that Settlement. The Ca{h-keeper acknowledged in Anfwer, that 
 the Information was right. This great Receipt of 500,000 Rupees 
 was only on Paper j no fuch Sum had been received to the -^oth of 
 April 1779 : — from that Period to the End of September 1779, near 
 Half a Year, no Revenue worth mentioning was brought to the 
 Credit of the Company ; but all that was received in that Time, 
 which was near two Lacks or 200,000 Rupees, was carried to realize 
 the 500,000 Rupees which was faid to be colledled and brought to 
 account in the Year ending April 1779. 
 
 -I The
 
 The Madras Confultations will fliew the Papers of Information- 
 lent to Ganjam, and the Acknowledgment received from thence of 
 the Truth. Suppofe for Argument Sake, that the Colledlions for the 
 Year ending 30th April 1779, were made as partially ftated from 
 Ganjam, the Revenue of the two Years after Mr. Smith left that 
 Chieffhip, amounted one Year with another to 422,000 Rupees a 
 Year, during his four Years Chieffhip. He fays in his Minute, the 
 Colledtions amounted to 469,000 Rupees per Aiviwn ; fo, for fix 
 Years preceding the Agreement made with Ball Kiftnah, the Ganjam 
 Colled;ions never amounted one Year with another, to more than 
 455,000 Rupees per Annum. In order to be at a Certainty of the 
 Benefit of the Colleftions to the Company, it was necefiary to fee 
 what the Expences of making thefe Colledlions were, thereby to 
 fliew how much clear Gain the Company derived from them. The 
 Company's Booka will fhew that, during thefe fix Years, the Expences 
 of Field and other military Charges of Stores, &c. the civil Charges 
 and civil Stores for Sale, 6cc. fent from Madras annually, and the 
 Afliftance of Troops from' other Settlements, amounted to withia. 
 30,000 Pagodas a Year, as much as all the Revenue collecfted. 
 
 With regard to tlie Peace of the Ganjam Diftridt being fully efta- 
 blifhed, at the Time it was rented to Ball Kiftnah, as the Chief and 
 Council, and Mr. Smith reprefented. The Madras Records will 
 fhew, that thefe AlTertions were not to be depended on, that fuch 
 Aflertions had been made over and over again. And that the Govern- 
 ment of Madras had been given to exped: every Expedition would 
 be the laft ; and yet, . Expedition after Expedition ftill went on, and . 
 fwallowed up the greateft Part of the Revenue, . 
 
 No. IX. 
 
 Copy of a Letter from Edward Cotsford, Efq; Chief of Mafulipatam, . 
 to the Honourable Thomas Rumbold, Governor of Fort St. . 
 George. . 
 
 Dated, 6th March, 1779. 
 Dear Sir,, 
 
 '* T Send you thefe few Lines by Ball Kiftnah, the Ganjam Dubafh', 
 
 ■^ *' to ferve him for an Introdudlion. He folicited this Favour 
 
 ** with fo much Earneftnefs, ihat I could not refufe it, to the 
 
 ** Memory
 
 *■* Memory of his pafl: Services. He is thoroughly acquainted with 
 *" the Affairs of the Ganjam Country, and during my Refidence 
 ** there ferved the Company, as I have every Reafon to think, with 
 ** Fidelity and Ability. I underftand the Revenue of that Diflricfl 
 ** is conliderably reduced from what it was at the Time I left it, 
 ** this may be owing to various Caufes, many or fome at leart: 
 •* ariiing from the Differences in the Manner of conducing Things. 
 " This, I confefs, wears the Appearance of a Compliment paid to 
 *' myfelf, but I rather chufe to wave on this Occafion ; the con- 
 *' fulting a Point of Delicacy, or a ftridl Adherence to the Rules of 
 " Propriety, than deny doing the Juftice which I owe to this Man's 
 " Merit : — And I hope I fliall Hand ex'cufed, therefore, for fuggeft- 
 "■ ing that the Ganjam Collci5lions may have fuffered more from the 
 " Change of Government, and, perhaps, new Methods of condudt- 
 *' ing Buhnefs, than from any Mifcondudt or Inattention of the 
 " Bearer, whofe good Behaviour under me furniflies a flrong Pre- 
 *' fumption in his Favour. I hope you will excufe my Freedom in 
 " obferving upon this particular, having done it with no other 
 *' View than to obviate what I apprehended might become the 
 *' Foundation of a Prejudice againfl a Perfon I have undertaken to 
 ** make known to you. If upon further Enquiry it fliould appear 
 " that his Conduft has not been faulty, I could wiih to flrengthen 
 " his Claim on the Score of Merit and Services, by warmly rccom- 
 " mending him to your Protecflion, to which I may add, that I 
 " think you will find no Perfon more capable of giving you fatis- 
 " fadlory Information, either refpeding the Refources, or the fut^ire 
 " Management of that Diftridl, or more capable of ferving the 
 " Company there. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your very faithful 
 
 And obedient Servant, 
 
 Edward Cotsford. 
 
 No..X.
 
 No. X. 
 
 Extrad of a'Letter from the Chief and Council of Ganjam, to th? 
 Prefident and Council of Fort St. George. 
 
 Dated 17th September, 1778. 
 
 *' TIZE moft folemnly declare that we have not, dire<ftly or indi- 
 *' ^^ redly, encourf.ged Ball Kiftnah to diiVegard your Orders, 
 " but on the contrary, that we have ufed every Argument to induce 
 *' him to comply with them^ by fetting off Vv-ithout Lofs of Time. 
 
 (Signed) Morgan Williams, 
 R. S, Maunfell, 
 T. Oakes. 
 
 No. X. 
 Letter from Mr. T. Oakes, of the Council at Ganjam, to Ball Killnah. 
 
 Dated Madras, 15th May 1778. 
 
 KiSTNAH, 
 
 "TXT" HEN the Rajahs and the Company's Head Dubafli were or- 
 ^^ dered up to Madras, I wrote a Letter to Mr. Maunfell, giving 
 him my Opinion, and I wonder you have not written me a Line on 
 the Subjedt. 
 
 The Diflance from the Ganjam Diftridt Is fo great that I fhould 
 not be furprized if the Rajahs would fay, their Country would go 
 to Ruin in their Abfence (as would in fome Meafure be the Cafe) 
 and that they had not Money to undertake fo expeniive a Journey, 
 which I believe alfo is very true; and fhould this be the Cafe, I 
 imagine there would be no Occafioa for you to come to Madras, 
 becaufe your Prefence here could only be of Ufe in Cafe the Rajahs 
 were to come down ; and if they will not, or cannot come, there 
 Avill be but fmall Colledions if you leave Ganjam : Therefore, Kifl- 
 nah, I would recommend it to you if the Rajahs do not leave the 
 Diftri(ft to flay where you are for thePrefent, until further Orders. 
 
 At
 
 At all Events I recommend it to you, to fhew your Attention to 
 Mr. Smith's Bufinefs, and pay to Mr. Maunfell immediately on his 
 
 Account the 5000 you were to receive from Hautmaram, 
 
 as alfo the Copper Money ; likewife, as much of the Balance due to 
 him as poffible. Mr. Smith expedls you will do all this ; he wifhes 
 to be your Friend, but he mull fee you attend to his Affiiirs j he is 
 in much Intereft, and will be able to affift your Bufinefs in every 
 Thing. 
 
 I am a little angry that you have not written me one Line about 
 other Matters. I fhall foon return to Ganjam, where you will 
 always, I hope, find me your Friend. 
 
 T. Oakes. 
 
 No. XL 
 
 STATEMENT of R E V E N U E S in the following Diftrids , 
 
 I ft. Masulipatam. 
 Tribute from the Zemindars before my taking Charge 
 
 of the Government, Ps. 529,568 : 21 annually, or £. 211,827 : 8 
 
 Amount of Tribute fettled with the Zemindars, 
 after my taking Charge of the Government, 
 Ps. 564,249 : 11 : 20, or - - - _ 225,699 : 14 
 
 Annual Increafe - - £. 13,872: 6 
 
 Farms under Mafalipatam, lett for Ps. 5000 more 
 thi:n ever they before were rated for, or annual 
 Increafe _______ 2,000 : o 
 
 2d. ViZAGAPATAM. 
 
 Amount of Tribute from the Zemindars,, 
 
 before my Arrival, - Rupees 470,000 
 
 Tribute fettled 'u\ my Govermnent 601,000 
 
 Annual Increafe - Rs. 131,000 or ^. 14,737: 10 
 
 Additional. Re ven\ie/>t'r Annton on the above Diftri£ls £. 30,609 : 1 6 
 
 K No. 12,
 
 No. 12. 
 Confiderations iubinitted to Sir Thomas Rumbold by Mr. V/hitehill. 
 
 u- 
 
 NDER the various Confiderations herein referred to, Mr. 
 Whiteloiil lubmits to Sir Thomas Rumbold, whether to an Ad- 
 miniftration coflducSted v/ith that Firmnefs and Regularity, which 
 have fo dill:inguilhed his Government from that of nioft of his Pre- 
 deceflbrs ; it may not be a proper and necelTary Appendix, to eflablifli 
 the Succeffion to the expefted Vacancies, upon fuch fecure Grounds, 
 as may afford a Profpeft of undifturbed Tranquillity during that 
 Period, which mull be fuppofcd to elapfe before the Company's 
 Orders, in Confequence of Sir Thomas Rumbold's Departure, can 
 he received in Europe. — A Period of fo much the more Importance 
 from the prefent alarming State of Aftairs in the Weilern Quarter of 
 the Globe, where the Intercfts of the Nation are in continual Hazard ; 
 and from the uncertain IlTue of the Ncgociutions now fubfiiling be- 
 tween the Supreme Council of Fort-William and the moll powerful 
 of all the Indian States. 
 
 Let it therefore occur, though it were but for a Moment, to the 
 candid Refledlion of Sir Thoinas Rumbold, whether in Times like 
 thefe, our Councils, our judicial Proceedings, in fine, our moll 
 fecret and important Deliberations, ought to be left expofcd to the 
 poifonous and dellrudive Influence of a Man, whofe Temper end 
 Difpofition have been marked, throughout the various Courfe of every 
 lucceeding Government, to be of the m.ofl turbulent and mifguided 
 Nature. — Ever ready to watch for, and feek Opportunities of weak- 
 ening the very Sinews of Government, by ftirring up Divifions 
 amongll its Members ; v/ithout any Objedt fo connected with the 
 Company's Welfare, as toauthorife, or even extenuate in the fmalleft 
 Degree, a Conduct fo pregnant with Mifchief to their Aff\irs. — 
 A Man, who almoft from his firll Acceffion to a Scat in Council, 
 gave unqueflionable Signs of this malignant Turn ; and who foon 
 alter indulged it to fuch an Extent, as occafioned him to be for a 
 >A'hile fufpended, by a Vote of Government, though Lenity in- 
 duced
 
 (kiced the Pfchdeiit and Council of th.tt Time to revoke his Siifwn-. 
 lion imn:iediately after, he having delivered in a jicnftenti-al R.ecant;i- 
 tion of his contumacious Proceeding. — The Sequel of his Btha\ iour 
 as a Member of the Board, the Records fufficiently (hew to have been 
 in no Shape inconfiftent with this Specimen of his natural Propcnfity 
 to Litigation ; and to do Jaflice to his Ingenuity, he docs not appear 
 (as far as I can difcern) to have let flip any Occafion of exercifuu; this 
 his favourite Principle. — Our own Experieiicc; I mean, fmce th^ 
 Arrival of Sir Thomas Rumbold, is ftrongly corroborative of the 
 Sentiments herein conveyed refpeding Mr. Johnfon; and tiiough 
 many Circumilances of Difcordance, created by Oppofition on his 
 Part to Sir Thomas Rumbold's Adminiltration, have, from the moit 
 Benevolent of Motives, been paflcd over in Silence, wc arc not the 
 lefs confcious of the Exigence of a Source from whence they hav-s 
 arifen, and- from whence, in a lefs tranquil Seafon, the moft danger- 
 ous Confequence may, not unjuftly, be apprehended. — I would beg 
 Leave, in Duty to the Company, to recommend the Meafure ; and 
 which I am perfuaded, for the Reafons herein-before fet forth, will 
 meet with your firm Concurrence and Support. 
 
 No. XIII. 
 
 Copy of a Letter from Sir Thomas Rumbold, Governor of Fort Saint 
 (rcorge, to Mcfl'. Matthew Raper and Charles Cronilin ; Canton. 
 
 Dated Fort St George, Sth Augull, 1778. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 Y the Royal George I fent you a Bill on MeiT. Eradniaw and 
 Pigou for 25,000 Pagodas, on Account of General Munro and 
 myfelf, requelling you would remit the fimc to Europe. — I have 
 only now to mention, that fliould it fo happen, that no Remittance 
 through the publick Companies, the Englilh, Dutcii or Swedes, is 
 procurable, that you will plcafe to ledge our Money in the Company's 
 
 Calh,
 
 Culh, even without Intereft, till a favourable Opportunity offers, 
 fooner than lend it, on any Conditioxis, at Intereft in China. 
 
 I am. Gentlemen, 
 
 Your moft obedient 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 (Signed) Thomas Rumbold,. 
 
 No. xriL 
 
 Letter from Sir Thomas Rumbold to Matthew Raper, jun. anci 
 Charles Cromlin, Efquires, Canton. 
 
 Dated Fort Saint George, 30th July, i yy<)'. 
 
 Gentlemen,, 
 
 Was duly favoured' with your Letter of the 14th December,, ad- 
 viiing me of the Receipt of 25,000 Pagodas from MelF. Bradfhaw 
 and Pigou, and the Sale of them at lyo Spanifli Dollars per 100 Pa- 
 godas, which is entirely fitisfaftory to Sir Hedtor Munro and myfelf, 
 who are equally concerned in the Rerhittance. We have not yet re- 
 ceived the Accounts you promifed us,, but have no Doubfi the Money- 
 was fent home in the Company's Ca(h, agreeably to your Expedtationsj,, 
 
 I am. Gentlemen, 
 
 Your moft obedient 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 (Signed) Thomas Rumbold, 
 
 No. XW,
 
 No. XIV. 
 
 Copy of a Letter from Major George Maul, Chief Engineer of Fort 
 Saint George, to Sir Thomas Rumbold, Governor. 
 
 Dated 6th April, 1780. 
 
 MY Ignorance of your Intention to embark fo early this Morning^, 
 alone prevented my waiting upon you at the Beach. 
 
 As I am fure it will be equally fatisfadlory to yourfelf to receive 
 Afl'urances from me, as to convey fuch to the Court of Directors, 
 that the Fort will certainly in the Courfe of three or four Months be 
 entirely compleated ; and that the Ditch thereof, is at this Time 
 in all its Parts cleaned out, and furnifhed with its intended Depth of 
 Water. I take the Liberty of giving you this Trouble, which I the 
 rather flatter myfelf you will excufe, as the Hurry of your Departure 
 did not afford me the Honour of a Converfation with you on tliis 
 Subjc(5l. 
 
 With every Wifh for your perfeft Recovery, and Enjoyment of 
 all Health and Happiaefs, I am, dear Sir, with Refped, 
 
 Your much obliged 
 
 Devoted humble Servant, 
 
 (Signed) George Maule.. 
 
 1^ No.
 
 No. XV. 
 
 Extra<fl of a Minute of Sir Thomas Rumbold, Prefident and Governor 
 of Fort St. George, on refigning the Government. 
 
 AS the heavy Work of the Fortifications is now finiflied, and what 
 remains of the Brick-work, we are affured by the Engineer and 
 Contradlors, will be compleated in a very fhort Time, this Prefidency 
 will be eafed from a very great and heavy Expence ; and it will de- 
 pend on the Seled Committee to prevent any new Works from being 
 undertaken, without firft receiving the Company's exprefs Orders. 
 It is with Pleafure I obferve, the Nabob has pundlually paid up the 
 Engagements he entered into for the laft Year, there remaining but a 
 trifling Balance from him on Account of his February Kiil. 
 
 The Rajah of Tanjore has alfo nearly paid up his Kift for Februaiy, 
 on Account of his Subfidy, though no further Part of the depofit 
 Money has been received ; and in his feveral Letters, he has con- 
 ftantly pleaded his Inability to make it good. So much depends on 
 the Pundluality of the Nabob and the Rajah of Tanjore, in the Pay- 
 ment of the Sums that become due from them, that I cannot too 
 ftrongly recommend to my SuccefTor, to give his utmoft Attention 
 to this particular Point ; and as the Northei-n Revenues will now be 
 coming in more regularly than they have for fome Time pall:, (as our 
 Letters from the Northern Settlement give us Reafon to expe(ft) I am 
 in Hopes the Government will not be fo much diflreffed with refpeit 
 to the Finances, as it has been ; efpecially if there are no Troubles 
 in the Country, and our Troops are not obliged to take the Field. 
 The military Operations we have been engaged in, have bore hard 
 upon the Refources of this Prefidency ; which on a Peace Eftablifli- 
 ment, will do no more than anfwer the current Charges, and furnifli 
 the Invefi:ments. 
 
 The Maintenance of the Frena^ Prifoners, and the fending them 
 lo Europe and the Iflands, has alio been a great Charge, from which 
 the Government will now be relieved, as moft of them will embark 
 in the Ships under Dilpatch. 
 
 The
 
 The Jaghire having been rented to the Nabob for three Years, of 
 which, rather more than a Year and a half is yet unexpired, and the 
 Nabob having wrote to me, defiring it may be granted him in a future 
 Leafe for twenty Years, which Letter has been laid before the Board, 
 and mentioned to the Company j it is probable, the Board will not 
 think it necelTary to take any further Steps, relative to the Jaghire, 
 until their Pleafure is known. I have therefore only to mention, 
 that the Nabob has fully paid into the Treafury, the Amount of the 
 laft Kill due from him. 
 
 No. XVI. 
 
 Tranflation of a Letter, figned and fealed by the under-mentioned 
 Munfubdars, Jagheerders, Zemindars, 6cc. to the Honourable 
 •^•r Thomas Rumbold, ■Baro ne t7 Preiident and Governor of Fort 
 Saint George. 
 
 Dated 5th. Dec. 1778. 
 
 IN Confequence of the Orders we received from your Honour, to 
 repair to Madras, in order to fettle our Tribute with the Company; 
 and that the feveral Difputes that had happened amongft us might be 
 enquired into; we now, in Confequence of your Permiffion, return 
 to our own Country ; and before we take our Leave and quit Madras, 
 we return you our fincere Thanks, for your having adjulled our Dif- 
 putes according to Juftice, which has afforded us great Satisfiftion 
 and Joy ; and we, with all our Families, are always wifliing for an 
 Increafe of your Honour's Health and Profperity. 
 
 Mirza Rajah Vizeram Rauze Bahauder Munna Sultan. 
 
 Mirza Rajah Seeteram Rauze Bahaudar Munna Sultan. 
 
 Rajah Opparow Bahaudar. 
 
 Rajah Jaganatha. 
 
 Rajah Triputy Rauze Bahaudar, Dufhmook of the Ciri 
 cars of Ellore. 
 
 Rajah Caukerlapoondy Comera. 
 
 Atchuteram Rauze, Zemindar of Cotah.
 
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