vuthentic bstracts of 
 
 tes in Joun- 
 
 of Bengal
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 AUTHENTIC 
 
 ABSTRACTS 
 
 O F 
 
 MINUTES 
 
 IN THE 
 
 SUPREME COUNCIL 
 
 O F 
 
 (BENGAL, 
 
 On the late Contracts for Draught and Carriage Bullocks, for 
 vi&ualling the European Troops, and for victualling FORT 
 WILLIAM j the Augmentation of General Sir EYRE COOTE'S 
 Appointment, and Continuation of Brigadier-General S TIB- 
 BERT'S Emoluments, though fuperfeded in the Chief Com- 
 mand; and a remarkable TREATY, offenfive and defenfive } 
 with the RANAH of GOHUD, a Marratta. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. ALMON oppoute Burlington-Houfe, Piccadilly, 
 
 MDCCtXXX,
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 AT a time that the Britifh empire is over- 
 whelmed with taxes and debt, that the 
 ^ravages of war are depopulating the realm, that 
 the colonies and fettlements abroad (which were 
 "the finews of its wealth and fuperiority) are dif- 
 membering from it, and that unnatural difcon- 
 tents and feuds at home, are fapping and dif- 
 uniting its internal refources and power; it be- 
 :comes the duty of individuals, by the expofure 
 >of authentic fadts, to exhibit before the Mini- 
 ^nifters of Government, and the Public, the fatal 
 ^errors which have led to fome of thofe unhappy 
 embarrafsments ; and to roufe them to a fenfe 
 of what they owe to their flations, and to them- 
 felves, as the means of faving a remnant, upon 
 which to raife a fuperflrudlure, fuperior even 
 to what it has been. 
 
 The abufes committed in the Supreme Coun- 
 cil of Befcgal-^are fo voluminous, that it would 
 a be
 
 iv PREFACE. 
 
 be almoft impoflible (however interefting the 
 fubjed:) to exhibit them to the public, fo as to 
 fecure due attention to them, in any other fhape, 
 than by pie'oe-meal. 
 
 The wntratfs which Mr. Haftings and Mr. 
 Barwell carried into execution, by Mr. Haf- 
 tings's cajling vote, as Governor- General, againft 
 the remonstrances and votes of Mr. Francis and 
 Mr. Wheler in the latter end of 1 779 j the ad- 
 vance, falaries, and emoluments voted to General 
 Sir Eyre Coote, as Commander in Chief; and 
 the continuation of a Commander in Chief's ap- 
 pointment te Brigadier- General Stibbert after he 
 \vas fuperfeded, have been topics of converfation 
 in Britain ; but the partial difplay of mifreprefen- 
 tation dtfignedly, hath impofed upon the credulity 
 of many. As thefe compofe a part of the evils 
 which threaten the fpeedy extinction of the E aft - 
 India Company, and fubverfion of the Britifh 
 commerce and pofleffions in India, they are made 
 the fubjecl: of the following meets, at a time 
 that Minifters are again obliged to bring the af- 
 fairs of the Company before Parliament. A 
 Treaty of a curious nature and complexion with 
 the diftrefled and reduced Ranah of Gohud is 
 annexed, as well to fhew the real principles of 
 
 adion,
 
 PREFACE. v 
 
 action, as the unaccountable infatuation which 
 have guided the political faculties of men, cried 
 up in this country, as prodigies for fuperior ta- 
 lents. Other facts are to follow forthwith, 
 amongft which the origin and hiftory of the pre- 
 fent Marratta war, the late war whereby the 
 Company's troops, as mercenaries, exterminated 
 the Robilla nation, and the prefent actual fixa- 
 tion and difpolition of the feveral ftates and 
 powers in Hindoftan, combined and ek>fely 
 leagued into a ftrict confederacy againft the En- 
 glifh, on principles of felf-prefervation. 
 
 In March 1777, there were above .1,500,000 
 
 Jlerling unappropriated in the treajuries of Bengal. 
 In Augujl 1778, Mr. Haftings and Mr. Barwell 
 fledged themfelves, that after making liberal allow- 
 ances for all extra contingencies y there 'would re- 
 main unappropriated in the fyeafury, on the 3 \jl 
 of March following^ .2,056,000 ; yet at the pre- 
 jixea 1 period, there was not .10,000 unappropri- 
 ated. And by a pcjitive refolution which originated 
 under Mr. 'Haftings s pen in the month of November 
 1778, the Company's invejtments were in future re- 
 duced
 
 VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 faced from 140 to 100 lacks of rupees. The loft 
 eftimale of probable refources and aftual dijburfe- 
 ments, from March 1780 to April 1781, unani- 
 tnoufly authenticated by every Member of the Council 
 Board^ and tranftmtted to the Court of Directors, 
 difcovered a real deficiency of near .300,000, after 
 accounting for, and appropriating the depojit of 
 .359,000, in Fort William. 'The 'Treafury of 
 Oude, which paid a fabfidy of about .950,000 a 
 year to the Company, 'was exhaufted, and the Com- 
 pany s troops in the provinces dependent upon the 
 Nabob, were in arrears, fome fix^ and none lef s 
 than three months. Native troops in India are like 
 the Swift troops in Europe ; the Jloppage of pay is 
 the Jlotpage of fervice -, mutiny and defer tion are the 
 certain confequence -, and the troops regularly trained 
 and dijciplined by the Company, will augment the 
 armies of their enemies. What the event <witl be, 
 needs no prophetic faculty, unlefs meafures, as ivell as 
 men, are changed. 
 
 MINUTE S
 
 MINUTES 
 
 I N T H E 
 
 SUPREME COUNCIL 
 
 O F 
 
 BENGAL 
 
 ON THE 
 
 BULLOCK CONTRACT. 
 
 w 
 
 1779- 
 
 Minute from Mr. Francis and Mr. Wheeler. 
 E have great reafon to complain of the uncom- 
 
 mon hurry and precipitation, with which the 
 propofed contra 61 for fupplying the army with draught 
 and carriage bullocks for five years, has been engro(fed 
 and brought before the board to be executed on Thurf- 
 day the 26th inftant. Considering the v rv txtuiordi- 
 nary charge which the Company is to incur by this con- 
 tract:, and the number of new and intricate claufes and 
 provifions of which it confifts, it was the fecretary's 
 duty to have prepared a draft of the contract, and to 
 have fubmitted it to the approbation of the board, be- 
 fore he gave directions to the attorney for having it en- 
 grofled. This neceflary form not having been obfevved, 
 B we
 
 ( 2 ; 
 
 we have not a furncient time allowed us to confider every 
 article ok the contract, with the attention it deferves ; 
 but this {hail not prevent our laying brfore the board 
 fuch remarks as immediately occur to us, in hopes that 
 they may ttiii be early enough to induce the other mem- 
 bers to weigh the fuL'ject more deliberately, and not to 
 put their names to an inftrument, in which, as we think, 
 the Company's intereft is entirely facrificed, and their 
 orders flatly difobeyed. If, neverthelefs, a majority of 
 the board fhould peififl in their intentions to execute 
 the contract, we iball have done as much as depends 
 upon us at prtfent, by Hating our objections to it, and x 
 (hewing the conleguences that mutt attend it, fuppofing 
 the contraft to take effect. 
 
 \Vexhave already referred to the Company's inflruc- 
 tions relative to contiafts in general , but as we find 
 that in the year 1770, the court of directors had entered 
 into a very minute enquiry, concerning the particular 
 contract for i urn filing draught and carriage bullocks, 
 we beg leave to annex a copy of thb order they gave at 
 that time, fro n which we (hall only quote the follow- 
 ing words in this place, that the members of the board 
 who have it in contemplation to give away the contract 
 for five year-, may know at the fame tim?, that they are 
 letting the Company's authority at defiance : 
 
 ;; It is our exprefs order, and we hereby pofitively 
 direcl, that you do not fail every year, to advertife for, 
 and receive luch propofals, as may be offered for fup- 
 plying the troops with provisions, and for furnifhing 
 draught and oniaire bullocks to be employed with our 
 army. And ii o in all'caTcs accept thole pro- 
 
 pofals, which may appear t,.e moil reuiunabie in point 
 of charge." 
 
 The annexed paper No. 2, contains a comparifon of 
 the expence of the prefeiat eftabiilhment of bullocks, 
 
 fuppofmg
 
 ( .3 ) 
 
 fuppofing it comp'eat according to the contract now 
 exifting, with that which is to be ere ted by the pro- 
 poLd contract. By this it appears that the former is 
 Sicca rupees 13.756: 3 anas per month, and the latter 
 Sicca rupees 58,6^9 making the enormous difference or 
 increafe of Sicca rupees 44,842 : 13 anas per month. Ou 
 this footing the bullock contracl; will coil the Company, 
 no lefs than current rupees 8,16,120 per annum, for five 
 years certain, or current rupees 40,80,600. (408.060]. 
 fterling) And this exceffive charge cannot, according lo 
 the terms of the contracl:, be reduced a fingle rupee dur- 
 ing the five years; at the fame time (hat openings are 
 designedly left to increafe it considerably. 
 
 We folemnly prof-eft againft every attempt to load 
 the Company with fuch an immoderate expence, and 
 particularly againll the intention, to fix it irrevocably 
 for any term of years. In the contracl now exifting, 
 and in all the former bullock contracts, a claufe has 
 been invariably inferred, by which the Company or the 
 Government here, or even the C olonels of the brigade, 
 had a power' refcrved to them of clifcbarging any num- 
 ber of fuperfluous, or unnecelfai y bullocks, giving one 
 month's notice to the contraclor; but no fuch claufe is 
 inferted in the intended contract, fo that the Company 
 muft at all events, keep up the entire number of 6700 
 bullocks for five years, or at leaft pay for them, under 
 every change of circumftances whatfoever, and even 
 though they fliould find it neceflary to reduce or new 
 model their army in the mean time. 
 
 In the propofed contracl no diflinclion is made, be- 
 tween draught and carriage bullocks, or whether v/ithi:i 
 or without the provinces. Every bullock is to be pa ; d 
 for at the rate of Sicca rupees, 8:12 anas, per mon:h, 
 
 R. A. P. 
 or Sonat rupees, 9. 2. 3 I. including the divers. 
 
 B 2 By
 
 By the preterit contra 61 without the provinces, a 
 draught bullock employed or unemployed R. A. P. 
 is Sonat rupees 5:0:0 
 
 Carriage ditto 3:10:0 
 
 Draught and Carriage unemployed within the 
 
 provinces 2 : p : 6 
 
 And for this he feeds them, and finds them in divers, 
 pads, ropes, &c. 
 
 The difference between the two rates is fo extraordi- 
 nary, that we imagine no member of the board, who 
 gives his attention to the fubje<5r, will ever confcnt to it. 
 
 In the third article of the propofals, it is ftated that 
 condemned bullocks lhall be thrown on the hands of the 
 contractor, but without any penalty, which we think 
 there ought to be, confidering how much the fervice 
 may fuffer ; and that he is allowed 1 2 Sicca rupees per 
 annum, for every bullock in the army, to make good 
 lofies that may happen by tlie enemy, death, rejection. &c. 
 befides a bounty of 10 Sicca rupees, for every extra bul- 
 lock found, upon notice given. 
 
 He is to incur a penalty of three times the actual Bazar 
 price of the gram, if the bullocks are not victualled a- 
 greeably to the terms of the contract. The latter parr, 
 the pommanding officer of the brigade, and command- 
 ing officer of the artillery may certify on the bills; but 
 as the commifTary- general is to be the check, how is he 
 to know the adual bazar price of gram at the feveral fla- 
 tions ? We think it would be much better to have the 
 penalty fixed at a certain rate. 
 
 By the fifth article the contractor is to be paid by 
 extra bills, for any increafe of food given to the bul- 
 locks, by orders of the commanding officer. This we 
 think highly unreafonable, as the terms of the concrac- 
 
 tor
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 tor are in themfelves already much too liberal, and It 
 is the intereft of the contractor, that his bullocks mould 
 be properly fed. 
 
 The expence of drivers, firdars-d rivers, bridles, picket 
 ropes, pads, &c. was never before charged to the Com- 
 pany. 
 
 Lofles by forced marches, or over loading, are to be 
 made good to the contractor. He is allowed a Sicca 
 rupee per month for each bullock, to make good loiTes 
 by the enemy, death, rejection, &c. Every bullock 
 that dies, will be drawn for, on either of thofe accounts. 
 It is difficult to afcertain the facl, but if the claufe is ad- 
 mitted, at what rate is the commifiary-general to allow, 
 within and without the provinces for draught, and for 
 carriage bullocks which have died, owing to thofe two 
 caufes ; and what proof or evidence is he to accept, that 
 the death of the bullock was owing to one or other of 
 the above caufes ? 
 
 Is it meant that the bullocks loaded with grain for 
 feeding the ether bullocks, are to be at the expence of 
 the Company ? If not there was no occafion for the 
 fourteenth article, as they always have been, and muft 
 te allowed to attend the army. 
 
 The bounty of ten Sicca rupees for ever)'- extra bul- 
 lock found in a certain time, as expreffed in the fifteenth 
 article, is unnecefrary, at leaft the fum propofed is a 
 great deal too much. By the prefent contract nothing 
 is allowed for the purchafe of bullocks, unlefs required 
 within a month's notice ; and if, on fuch emergency, the 
 ufual price of bullocks Ihould be thereby enhanced, he 
 is allowed for any extra price, that may have been ac- 
 
 R. A. 
 
 tually paid more than Sonat rupees, 12. 8. for each 
 
 draught
 
 draught bullock, and 8 Sona.t rupees for each carriage 
 feullock, but if he does not pay more than thofe prices, 
 he is to be allowed nothing. 
 
 In the bounty there is. no diflinclion made, betwixt 
 extra draught, and extra carriage bullocks. The former 
 ought lurch- to coil more than the latter, at lead there 
 has been always a 'di/verence, both in the price, and 
 charges of feeding, hi hcrto. Confidering the time al- 
 lowed in the f.f.ecnth a; tide, no bounty mould be given; 
 the oonLraclor is luiT.cientJy rewarded by the increafe, 
 without any other emolument. 
 
 Tf the bills are not prefented by the contractor's agent 
 to the officers, whofe duty it is to coun:erfign them, with- 
 in a -certain number ;he mutter, the con- 
 traitor fhould be liable to a deduction of 10 per cent. 
 Many irregula: ; ^m bills being drawn 
 Ibmetimcs tea and t - ;ns in arrears. After the 
 words, " that the bills ouicl not lay above eight days 
 in the commifiary-genernl's office," it ihould be added, 
 " unlefs he has occafion to inake reference to the officers 
 who have counterfigned the bills," as this will necefiarily 
 occafion feme delay. 
 
 Tn order to enable the contrafior to execute this mofl 
 lucrative contracl;. he is to nave the value of three-fourths 
 of his flock, advanced to him out of the treafuries when 
 he may require it: and by the following article, we are 
 to provide him \vuh a piece of ground for keeping his 
 catile. As we know not in what terms, to exprefs our 
 difapprobarion of thefe ex -ravagant conditions, we (hall 
 content ourfeives with Itatirg them for the Company's 
 obfervaiion. 
 
 The penal v of 50 Sicca rupees for every bullock, 
 hired from .oinccrs civil or military, ferns to us a nuga-
 
 tory claufe, thrown out for no other purpofe but to give 
 the contract an air of rigour, which by no means belongs 
 to it. Such a penalty can never be enforced. 
 
 To conclude, \ve fuggeft thefe curfory remarks to the 
 board, as fatal' to the propofed contract on its own prin- 
 ciples, and exciufive of the legality of granting a con- 
 tract on any conditions for the term in queilion. Many 
 other objections we doubt not would occur to perfons 
 better verfed in the fubjett than we are ; but what has 
 been faid we truft will be fufficient to juftify t'o the Com- 
 pany and to the public in general, the part we have 
 taken, or may hereafter take in refilling fo enormous and 
 unprecedented a wade of the Company's property. 
 
 (Signed) P. FRANCIS. 
 E. WHELER. 
 
 Xo. II. 
 
 COMPARISON between the expence of the prefent 
 and propofed BULLOCK CONTRACT. 
 
 Propofed Contract. 
 
 Bullocks at 5. 12. 38.525 
 
 4000 Draught 
 2700 Carriage 
 A diiver to every two bullocks is 3,350 at 5 
 
 A firdar driver to every fix pair of bullocks 
 is 559. firdar driver at 6. 
 
 Total monthly expences of the propofed con- 
 
 - 53.629 
 PRESENT
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 PRESENT CONTRACT TERMS and number of 
 bullocks with the army, fuppofing the fame number 
 with the temporary as with the ift brigade in the 
 field, agreeable to the eftablifhment. 
 
 640 draught bullocks with the ift brig, in the field. 
 
 640 ditto ditto, with the temporary brigade. 
 
 R. A. 
 
 1280 draught bullocks, at g rupees 6,400 : 
 
 1125 ditto with the two brigades at the 
 
 Prefidency and Burrampore 
 36 ditto with the light infantry 
 
 R. A. 
 
 1161 draught bullocks, at 3. 7. 3>99 " *5 
 
 306 carriage bullocks with the ift brigade. 
 306 ditto ditto with the temporary brigade. 
 
 R. A. 
 
 612 carriage bullocks, at 3. 10. 2,218 : 8 
 
 550 ditto with the two brigades at the 
 
 Prefidency and Burrampore. 
 14 ditto with the light infantry. 
 
 R. A. 
 
 564 -carriage bullocks, at 3. 3. i, 797 : I2 
 
 Total monthly expence of the bullocks 
 for the army, by the prefent contract, 
 fuppofing the eftablifhment complete. 
 
 Sonat Rupees. 14,407 : 3 
 
 Monthly expence of the bullocks for Sicca Rupees. 
 the army, by the propofed contract. 58,629 : 
 
 Monthly
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 Monthly expence of the bullocks for 
 the army, by the prefcnt contract. 
 Sonat Rupees 14,407. 3. or 13,786 : 3 
 
 Difference of expence betwixt the pre- Sicca Rupees. 
 fent and propofed contract, monthly. 44,842 : 13 
 
 Total expence of the propofed con- 
 tract per annum, according to the fixed 
 eftablifbment, and exclnfive of all addi- 
 tional allowances provided for in the faid 
 contract, 
 
 R. A. P. 
 Current rupees 8,16,115 : to : n 
 
 OR'- A. P. 
 Ditto for five years 40,80,578 : 6 : 7 
 
 BOARD OF INSPECTION. 
 
 gth September, 1779. 
 Mr. FRANCIS, 
 
 IN addition to the remarks contained in Mr. Wheler's 
 minute and mine of the 31(1 of Auguft on the pro- 
 pofed bullock contract, I beg leave to lay the annexed 
 papers before the board, and to requeft the attention 
 of the members to the calculations contained therein, 
 before any farther fleps are taken in this bufmefs. Cal- 
 culations of this nature ought to have accompanied the 
 plan in the firft inftance, that the board might know 
 what they were doing, and not be hurried blindly into 
 engagements, extent, confequences, and expence, of 
 which they could not poffibly have formed an idea. 
 
 C The
 
 The annexed papers, number i and 2, fhew the full 
 amount of all the draught and carriage bullocks necef- 
 lary for the compleac fervice of the three entire bri- 
 gades, fuppofing them all in the field ; by which it ap- 
 pears, that the number of bullocks, propofed to be kept 
 up for five years, exceeds what the whole army, on a 
 comjjleat war eltablifliment, would require, by 2769. 
 "Thele fuj ernumerary bullocks, therefore, if they are 
 maintained, will have nothing to do. There are not 
 guns or carnages for them to draw. There is literally 
 nothing for them to carry. But before this time, who 
 ever heard of keeping up a compleat war cft-iblifhment 
 of bullocks, without actual fervice in any part of the 
 provinces. What are the bullocks to do at the prcfidency ? 
 What are they to do at the different cantonments ? In 
 triuh I might with great reafon afk (with the exception 
 of a ve.y moderate number) what occafion have we for 
 an eftabhfhment of bullocks any where ? When they are 
 wanted, they may be hired, or prefs'd, as in fa ft they 
 have been hitherto, notwithftanding the contract ; but 
 admitting that fome eftablifhment ought to be main- 
 tained, it will be difficult to aflign a good reafon why it 
 ihould exceed the complement necefiary for the troops 
 in the fi-ld , fuppofing a third of the army to be main- 
 tained on a war ertablifhment, the number of draught 
 and carnage bullocks, taken together, ought not to ex- 
 ceed 1,310. 
 
 On this principle, which of itfclf would lead us into 
 an exorbitant expcnce, the propoied contract is to 
 maintain 5390 bullocks more than can be wanted, 
 \vhich, tor nvc ytars, at the new contract rates, will be 
 found to amount to the enormous fum of current rupees 
 32,82,510, ablolutcly given away out of the Com- 
 pany's trcafury, or fquandered without any neccility 
 or lervice whatsoever. 
 
 No,
 
 No. III. 
 
 Contains a calculation cf the difference of expence 
 between the propofed eftablifhmenr, and that which 
 would be neceffary for the whole army in the field, cal- 
 culated at the new contract rates. Even on this extra- 
 vagant principle, the expence would fall Ihort of the 
 propoltd contract by feventeen lacks of current rupees 
 in five years. 
 
 No. IV. 
 
 Shews what the expence of a compleat eftablimment 
 for the whole army would amount to, if calculated at 
 the prefent contract rates. The difference between this 
 and the propofed rates and numbers, amounts in five 
 years to no lefs than current rupees, 30,48,854, or 
 very near three hundred and five thoufand pounds iUr- 
 ling. 
 
 If a majority of the Board, with fuch glaring facls 
 before them, can entertain a thought of proceeding far- 
 ther in the propofed contracl, I cannot hope that they 
 will pay the lead regard to any obfervations I can make 
 upon it. To acquit myfelf, neverthelefs, of the duty 
 I owe to the Company on this important occasion, I 
 think it right to rtate the following general obferva- 
 tions. My prefent ill itate of health will not allow me 
 to go fo deep into the fubjecl:, as I fhould do at another 
 time. 
 
 Although no evil is more feverely felt, yet there is 
 not apparently any lefs attended to than the number of 
 followers of the army : they confift of a multitude of 
 predatory vagrants, and whatever tends to encreafe their 
 numbers, tends to embarrafs and impede the fervice. 
 C 2 Prcvifion?
 
 Previsions and forage are not only rendered conjiantly 
 dearer than they need be, but frequent fcarcities of both 
 are cccafioned by this rabble, which thereby bring inro 
 imminent danger the lafety and existence of the troops. 
 
 In this view the number of bullock drivers propoffd, 
 appears to be highly detrimental to the good of the 
 -lervice. It would not be credited in Europe, that iz 
 bullocks fhould require feven keepers. But this is not 
 the extent of the evil; fume, at lealr, cf thole feven, 
 will carry with them their families. Thoie have their 
 attendants with bullocks, or tattocs*, to carry their 
 provifions ; and thofe mud have drivers, who alib muft 
 have provifions. 1 hus the number of followers en- 
 creafes beyond calculation ; mcafurts tending to re- 
 duce their numbers would be ufeful indeed, and 
 dcierving of the higheft applaufc. But what mall 
 we fay of fchem?s which manifeftly tend to encreafe 
 them ? What effect can they have, but to encreafe the 
 confufion of our camps, to enhance the difficulty of 
 procuring forage and provifions, to extend and weaken 
 the line of march, and, in the end, to make our army 
 little better than a convoy for the baggage. 
 
 Having not had it in my power to enter into a par- 
 ticular confideration of the new victualling contract, I 
 take this opportunity of declaring, that I entirely con-' 
 cur in Mr. Whelcr's remarks upon it. I 6nd it is 
 farmed upon the fame exorbitant principles with the 
 bullock contract, and to be executed by the fame per- 
 ions ; that is, a variety of concealed imercfts are to be 
 provided tor, under die name of Air, Crofts. On this 
 j:art of the fubjcct I muit obfervc, that the two con- 
 tra6b ought not, on any account, to be in the fame 
 h.uids ; no one perion is cquJ L;J [he conduct' of two 
 i'uch extenfivc concerns. 
 
 In 
 * Tattoes -
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 In the fecond place, I muft declare, that the prefent 
 contractors, whoever they are, are the moft improper 
 perfons that could be chofen for the like truft in future. 
 The contrails were never fo ill executed, as by the pre- 
 fent contractors. Thfir bullocks have never been ready, 
 or fit for fervice, when called upon ; and the provifions 
 ilTued to the Europeans, particularly the beef, has been 
 fuch as muft have produced a mortality among them, 
 if they had eaten it. 
 
 The contractor has never given an ounce of mutton 
 to the Europ ans in Fort William fince February lad; 
 in confcquence of which, they have ufually taken cow- 
 ries in lieu of the carrion beef, with which he would 
 have fupplied them. 
 
 On the increafe of the rates in both contracts, there 
 is one general obfervation to be made, which, I think, 
 mult ftrike every mail coaverfant in public bufmefs. 
 
 In engaging for the fupply of any article whatfoever, 
 the contractor proportions his rate of price to the 
 quantity of the thing demanded. If he fupplies a little, 
 his rate, or price, muft be proportionably higher. If 
 he fupplies a great deal, he can afford to reduce his 
 terms, fihce the profit upon the whole compenfates for 
 the reduction on the race of each fptrcification. In the 
 propofed bullock contract, this univerfal principle is 
 manifeftly reverfed. The number of bullocks, on the 
 pay of which the contractors profi: is to arife, *s en- 
 created in nearly the proportion of feventeen to nine ; 
 and the period, during which the contract is to en- 
 dure, is enlarged from one year to five. One would 
 expect from this encreafe of the period, and the num- 
 ber, that the ratts would have been proportionally ci- 
 minimed. On the contrary, however, the Com 
 pany will find, that the rated pay of each indivi- 
 dual
 
 ( 14 ; 
 
 dual bullock, lumping the draught and carriage bul- 
 locks together, is double what it was. 
 
 Upon the whole, the terms, voluntarily contrived 
 and given by Government, are fuch, as I prefume, no 
 man living would have prefumed to have demanded, 
 if the contract had been advertifed in the manner pre- 
 fcribed by the Company's moft peremptory and re- 
 peated orders. 
 
 (Signed; P. FRANCIS. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 Proportion of Ordinance for one Brigade, confifting of 
 one Regiment of Europeans, eleven battalions of 
 Seapoys, and a detachment of the Corps of Artillery, 
 fhewing the number of draught bullocks neceflary 
 for dragging its train, and for that of the whole 
 army. 
 
 4 twelve pounder brafs guns, with carriage, ten bul- 
 locks to each 40 
 
 28 fix ditto, with ditto, eight ditto . 224 
 4 five and half inch howitzer, fix ditto 24 
 
 29 tumbrils ammunition loaded, ten ditto 290 
 
 1 ditto treafure, ten ditto 10 
 
 2 carts, artificers, ten ditto 20 
 i waggon for gin, fixteen ditto 16 
 
 Spare
 
 ( '5 ) 
 
 Spare Carriage and Tumbrils. 
 
 i for twelve pounders, eight bullocks 8 
 
 7 for fix ditto, fix ditto 42 
 
 i for five : and half-inch howitzer, 'fix ditto 6 
 
 7 for tumbrils, fix ditto 42 
 
 722 
 Allow one fpare to evefy fix bullocks 120 
 
 Complement of draught bullocks for one 1 842 
 brigade on fervice i j 
 
 Ditto for three brigades 2526 
 
 Independant Chittagong battalion 30 
 
 Battalion of light infantry 30 
 
 Total draught bullocks necefTary for the field 
 ordnance of the whole army, fuppofing it on 
 adual fervice 2586 
 
 According to the eftablifliment of 1777, the com- 
 plement of ordnance for a brigade on fervice was 26 
 pieces. Since that period, 2 twelve pounders, and 2 
 howitzers, have been added, which, with the 6 guns 
 of the three battalions of the temporary brigade that are 
 to be incorporated into each of the other brigades, 
 makes the prefent proportion 36 pieces. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Calculate of carriage bullocks necefiary for carrying the 
 mufquet ammunition and millitary ftores, attached 
 to a brigade on iervice, fuppofing it to be of the 
 
 ftrength
 
 ( 16 ) 
 
 ftrength fpecified in No. I . (hewing the number ne- 
 cefTary for the whole army, fuppofing it co be in 
 motion. 
 
 196 Carriage bullocks will carry 329 barrels of muf- 
 quet ball ammunition, each barrel containing 
 800 pounds, to 313,600 
 
 Suppofing a brigade to confilr. of 9580 
 men, and that 8500 of them are fit 
 for fervice, they will carry in their 
 pouches, at 24 pounds per man 1,70,000 
 
 Total mufquet cartridges for a brigade 
 
 on fervice 4.83,600 
 
 50 Carriage bullocks will carry 160 Ib. barrels of 
 powder, being the ufual proportion for fervice. 
 
 130 Carriage bullocks, and 20 haccaries, which are 
 not provided by the contractor, it is believed, are 
 fufficient for the carriage of the other (lores in the 
 magazine (No. 5.) exclufive of the above hacca- 
 ries, the captains of battalion and quarter-matters 
 are allowed 18, and the furgeon major 10 hat- 
 caries. 
 
 376 
 63 Spare bullocks in tne proportion of one to fix. 
 
 439 Total number of carriage bullocks neceflary to be 
 provided by the contractor for one brigade on 
 fervice. 
 
 878 Add for two other brigades on fervice. 
 
 1317
 
 ( '7 ) 
 
 1317 Total carriage bullocks for three brigades. 
 14 Allow for the Chittagong independent battalion.' 
 14 Allow for the battalion of light infanty. 
 
 1345 Grand total carriage of bullocks. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Calculate of the extra expence that would be incurred 
 by the number of bullocks and drivers, fuppofmg no 
 excefs in the rates propofed. 
 
 4000 Draught 1 Bullocks at 8. 12. or 923. rVr includ- 
 1345 Carriage ling drivers wages as propofed per month, 
 Sicca Rupees 58629. 
 
 6700 
 
 2586 Draught? Bullocks necefTary for the "| . 
 1345 Carriage^ train of the whole army, at { 
 
 the above rate per month, (34'4 ( 
 Sicca rupees J 
 
 Monthly difference Sic. Rup. 24227 : 12 
 
 Annual difference * 2 9733 : "* 
 
 Difference that would be occafioned in 
 five years by mere excefs of bullocks, 
 at the rates propofed, Sicca Rupees R. A. P. 
 14,53,665, or current rupees 16,86,251 : 6 : 5 
 
 No.
 
 ( is ) 
 
 No. 4. . 
 
 Comparifon between the expence of the propofed con- 
 tract, and the neceffary number of bullocks for the 
 whole army at the prclenc contract rates, fuppofing half 
 the troops to be without, and the other half within the 
 Provinces, and the whole on actual fervice. 
 
 Propofed contract eftabtifhment, as before dated, per 
 month Sicca rupees 58629 
 
 Necefiary Eftablifhment. 
 1 293 Draught bullocks ^ 
 
 without the pro C 6465 
 
 vinces, at 5 rup. 3 
 673 Carriage ditto, R. A. 
 
 ditto,- at 3 i-o 2439 IO 
 
 Caught &%$**? 
 672 Carriage. $ provillccs 
 
 at 3 3 2142 
 
 Sonatrupees 15491 5orSa. 14823 10 
 
 Monthly difference, Sicca rupees 43805 6 
 
 Annual difference 525664 8 
 
 Diff. in 5 yrs. Son. rups. 2628322 8 
 
 or current' rupees 30,48,854 i 7 
 
 Proof of the difference. 
 Annual expence of the propofed 
 _ contract, Sic. Rups. 7,03,548, 
 
 or Cur. Rups. 8,16,115 10 n 
 
 which for 5 yrs is curt, rups 40,80,578 6 7 
 
 Annual
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 Annual expence of the neceflary 
 eftablifhment, according to the. 
 prefent contract rates, Sicca Ru- 
 pee, 1,77,883 8, or Current 
 Rups. 2,06,344 13 9f. which 
 for five years is Current Rups. 10,31,724 5 
 Diff. as above, Current Rups. 30,48,554 i 7 
 
 Board of Infpedlon, September 1779. 
 
 Mr. WMer. In addition to Mr. Francis's accounts, 
 I beg leave to prefent the accompanying calculate, 
 No. 5. in order to demonftrate, that even upon the 
 extravagant fuppofitioa of the neceffity of keeping up 
 a conftant eftablifhment of 6700 bullocks, an excefs of 
 expence will arife in 5 years from the exorbitant increafe 
 of the conftant rates, of no lefs than Current Rupees 
 23,44,191 18:5. being above two hundred and 
 thirty four thoutand pounds fterhng; and having 
 eftablifhed this fact, which, with what Mr. Francis has 
 faid, fufficiently expofes the complexion of this tranf- 
 action, and cuts off every poffible plea of juftification. 
 I have at prefent only to add, that \ join Mr. Francis 
 in reprobating the projected contract, as a meafure 
 big with the moft ruinous confequences to the Com- 
 pany. 
 
 (-Signed) E. W. 
 
 Calculate of furplus expence that would arife from the 
 increafe of rates, fuppofing the whole number of 
 Draught and Carriage Bullocks fpccified in the pro- 
 fofed contract to be neceffary, and one half of that 
 number to be without,- and the other half within 
 the Provinces. 
 
 D 2 4000
 
 4000 Draught 7 Bullocks, being the Sic. Rups. 
 2700 Carriage f propofed contract 
 
 eftablifhment, as 
 
 fpecified in No, 3. 58629 : 
 
 2000 Draught Bullocks out 
 
 of the provinces, at 
 
 the prelenf contract 
 
 rate, 5 Sonat Rupees 
 
 . each, Sont. Rups. 1000 
 
 2000 Ditto within the pro- 
 vinces, at rhe pre- 
 fent contract rate, 
 
 R.. A. 
 at 3 : 7 each 6875 
 
 4000 Total draught bul- 
 locks propofed per 
 month, at the pre- 
 fent contract rates, 
 Sonat Rupees 16,875 
 
 1350 Carriage bullocks, 
 without the pro- 
 vinces, at the pre- 
 fent contract rate, at 
 
 R. A. R. A. : 
 
 3 : i o each, 4893: 12 
 
 1350 Ditto within the pro- 
 vinces, at the pre- 
 fent contract rate, at 
 R. A, 
 3 : 3 each, 4303 : 2 
 
 2700
 
 C 21 ) 
 
 2700 Total carriage bul- 
 locks, propofed 
 at the prefent 
 contrail rate, per 
 month 9196 : I 4- 
 
 To monthly expence 
 of the propofed 
 contract eftablim- 
 ment of draught & 
 carriage bullocks, 
 at the prefent con- 
 tract rates, Snt. R, 2 6,07 1 : 1 4, or 24,948 : i : 4 
 
 Monthly difference between the 
 propofed and prefent contract 
 rates - Sic. Rups. 33,680 : 14 : 7 T 
 
 Yearly difference Sic. Rups. 4,04,170 : 15 : 2 -^ 
 
 Total extraordinary expence that 
 would be occafioned in 5 years, 
 by the mere increafe of rates, 
 fuppofing no excefs in the num- 
 ber of bullocks propofed, Sicca 
 Rupees, 20,20,854 : 12 : 2, or 
 Current Rupees 23,44,191 : 8 : 5 
 
 Minutes on the Army Victualling Contract. 
 
 Read the following letter from the Executor of the 
 late Army Contractor, 
 
 In/pection
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 Infpeclion Board, igth Augufl, 1779. 
 Honoured Sir, and Sirs, 
 
 I HAVE been honoured through your fecretarv 
 with your -proffer of certain alterations in the army bullock 
 contraft ; I voluntarily accept them , and having, with a 
 view to the liquidation of my brother's ell ate, trans- 
 ferred its concern in this, as well as the victualling 
 contract:, to Mr. Charles Croftes, who was before a 
 parrner in them, I humbly requeft the new contracts 
 may both be made out in his name, and further hope, 
 that as thefe two contracts have always been kept in 
 the fame hands, that ihey will now be both granted 
 for the fame term. 
 
 Fort William, i6th I am, &c. 
 
 Auguft, 1779. (Signed) RICH. JOHNSON. 
 
 Agreed that the new contract for fupplying the 
 draught and carriage cattle, and victualling the troops 
 of this eftablimment, be drawn in the name of Mr. 
 Charles Croftes, and that the latter contract be ex- 
 tended for the fame term as the former. 
 
 Mr. Francis. I object to it, and proteft againft it. 
 
 
 
 Mf. V/heler. I have already given my opinion 
 againft the recital of either of theie contracts for a term 
 not exceeding one year, and mall not fign them ; ne- 
 verthelefs, fo far as relates to the inferting of one name 
 inftead of the other, I acquiefce, believing the party 
 to have had a (hare in the former contract. 
 
 The Secretary lays before the Board, the following 
 letter from the Executor to the late Army Con- 
 tractor. 
 
 Sir,
 
 Sir, 
 
 I HAVE received your letter of this date, and ac- 
 cept the terms it contains. 
 
 The contract allows 10 Sonat Rupees full batta, and 
 5 rupees for half batta, for beef per month, or 5 Anas, 
 4 Pice, each man per day, full batta, and 2 Anas 8 
 Pice, per each man per day half batta, for the period 
 that motion is required, 1 agree to deliver it for j 
 Ana's 6 Pice, each man per day half batta, for the 
 period that motion is required, I agree to deliver it for 
 7 Ana's 6 Pice, each man per day, full batta, and 3 
 Ans. 9 Pice, each man per day, half batta. 
 
 Fort William, the I am, &c. 
 
 i8th Aug. 1779. (Signed) R. JOHNSON. 
 
 The Board agree to allow the difference required for 
 the remainder of the contrail, but in the new contract 
 they will only allow the difference of one Ana and one 
 Pice, per man full batta, and proportionally for half 
 batta, as by the cuftom of the fervice, though not fpe- 
 cified on the prefent contract, beef and mutton ought 
 to be diftributed to the foldiers in equal quantities. 
 
 Mr. Francis. I cannot agree in this refolution, 
 becaufe I am no judge of the prices of provisions, 
 or whether the terms propofed are reafonable or 
 not ; the way to afcertain the cheapeft terms on which 
 government can be ferved, is by advertifing publickly 
 for propofals. 
 
 Mr. fleeter. I can form no judgment of the pro- 
 priety of the prefent requeft, for want of the proper 
 calculations, which mould accompany a propofal of 
 this fort from the contractor, and thofe from the re- 
 gular department of government neceffary to contract 
 
 with
 
 with them. I beg to be favoured with the amount 
 what one Ana one Pice. -per man, per day, intended 
 to be given in the new contract amounts to by the, 
 year. I likewise wifh to have it aicertaineJ, ut the 
 fame time,- what proportion mutton, for the fix months 
 mentioned in the contractor's letter, bears to beet in 
 the fix following months, and whether the quantity of 
 each is to be delivered out equally j that is, whether 
 during 'the fix months that mutton is delivered, the 
 garrifon is to receive the fame number of pounds weight 
 in mutton, as in beef the fix following months. 
 
 _ _ ; T , , . . . . 
 
 Governor General. I have no objection to the latter 
 part of the queftion remaining for confideration, but 
 tor the fhorc remainder of the prefent contract, I pro- 
 pofe that the difference he requires be allowed. 
 
 Letter from the late Army Contractor's executor, 
 to Mr. B.iugh. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I have received the honor of your letter of the loth 
 inftant. 
 
 Having' co^fidered the difference that will be ioc- 
 cafioned, "by fupplying mutton inflcau of beef, I find 
 it to be one Ana lix Pice, fonat, per man per day. For 
 the delivery of beef at 'the prdijlency, 1 now receive 
 five Anas- and four Pice. In lieu therefore of the al- 
 teration you propofe, upon my claim for the delivery 
 of nr.it ton, I beg leave to offer as a medium for the 
 whole term of the new contract, that the contractor 
 deliver at the prefidency, mutton for the fix hot months, 
 (April to September infclufiye) and during rhe remain- 
 ing fix months, mutton and beef every 'other day al- 
 ternately i for which he ihall be permitted to draw, fix 
 
 Anas
 
 Anas and 10 Pice, fonat per day, throughout the 
 whole year. . This propofal only to vary under the re- 
 gulation of full ard half Batta, which ever the trqops 
 ac the prefidency may be entitled to receive. 
 
 1 have, &c. 
 (Signed) R. JOHNSON, 
 
 Executor to the late Contractor. 
 
 Governor General The offer made by the contractor, 
 approaches very nearly to the refolution of the board, 
 the propofitions being fince considerably varied by my 
 fuggeftion to the contractor, as it appears to me ne- 
 ceffary that the allowance of beef and mutton to the 
 foldiers in the winter months, ought to be in equal 
 quantities. I underftand the price of mutton in Cal- 
 cutta to be juft double the price of beef, and the rate 
 now propofed will be found on examination, to make 
 up the exact difference between the provifion of beef 
 alone at the former rate, and of beef and mutton in 
 the proportion of three-fourths of the latter, and one- 
 fourth of the former at the common rate propofed. 
 
 I therefore agree to it. 
 (Signed) WARREN HASTINGS. 
 
 Mr. Whder. Almoft every argument ufed in Mr. 
 Francis and my minute of the jift of Auguft, on the 
 bullock contract, applies with equal force to the prefent 
 propofal for victualling the troops. The Court of Di- 
 rectors in the i34th paragraph of their general letter by 
 the Mansfield, dated the 23d of March 1770, fay, 
 
 " It is our exprefs order, and we hereby pofuivelf 
 direct, that you do not fail every year to advertife for, 
 and receeive fuch propofals as may be offered, for fup- 
 plying the troops with provifions ; and for furniihing 
 draught and carnage bullocks, to be employed with 
 E our
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 our army, and that you do in all cafes accept thofs 
 propofals, which may appear the moft reafonable in 
 point of charge ; and your are alib to take care in all 
 your advertisements, a fufficient time be allowed before 
 the expiration of the contract, which may then fubfift, 
 or the time which you may limit for receiving pro- 
 pofals for fuch contract." 
 
 Unlefs fuch advertifements are made, and a fair 
 competition allowed, I do not fee how the board can 
 judge whether the contractor's propofals are reafonable 
 or 'not. It cannot be expected, that the members of 
 this board can be competent judges of the comparative 
 prices, between beef and muiton in all parts of this 
 country, within and without the provinces, where 
 troops may ferve, or at what rates the contractor may 
 be able to procure them, allowing for the difference, 
 between wholdale and retail purchafers. 
 
 Such a queftion is more fit to be decided by pro- 
 feflicnai men, than by members of this council, if left 
 to make their offers, according to the orders of the 
 Court of Directors. Some of them would without 
 cloubt bring the moft reafonable propofals before the 
 board, of which the nature of the fervice was capable, 
 end it would then belong to the board to judge which 
 was moft advantageous. 
 
 I muft however obfervc, that the contractor ftates 
 the difference that will arife by fupplying mutton in- 
 fcead of beef, to be one ana fix pice Ion at per man per 
 day, and in confequence of engaging to deliver mutton 
 tor the fix hot months, and mution and beef alternately 
 for the remainder of the year; he, in oppofition to his 
 own principles, requires to be paid the difference be- 
 tween the two articles, throughout the whole year. 
 
 I do
 
 C 27 ) 
 
 I do not believe the price of mutton will exceed that 
 of beef, fuppofing the quality to be equal, and each 
 confumed in its proper feafon, but granting that the 
 former fhould exceed the latter, even to the extent 
 Hated by the contractor ; under what pretence does he 
 claim the addition of one ana and fix pice per man 
 per day, for the whole year, where he contracts only 
 to change or vary the diet for three quarters of a year. 
 
 In other refpects, I muft confider myfelf as left en- 
 tirely without the neceflary information on this fubject, 
 and can therefore only lay before the Council, for the 
 information of the Court of Directors, an eftimate, 
 fhewing the difference and excefs of expence, between 
 the la r .e contract and the prefent propofal, for victual- 
 ling the European foldiers Rationed at tbe Prefidency, 
 together with the further excefs, provided the contract 
 be extended to the fupply of the whole European efta- 
 blifhment, both within and without the provinces, 
 which will be confiderably increafed when the eftablifli- 
 ment is compleated, according to the propofals of the 
 Commander in Chief. 
 
 I have already objected to the term, and I now ob- 
 ject to the conditions of this contract. 
 
 Comparative view of the expence of victualling the 
 European foldiers, ftationed at the Prefidency, be- 
 twixt the prefent and the propofed contract. 
 
 Prefent Contract. St. R. A. P. 
 Each man for 12 months, at 5 rupees 60 o o 
 
 Propofed Contract. 
 
 Each man for 365 days at 3 annas 5 pices 
 per day 77 15 i 
 
 E 2 Difference
 
 C 28 ) 
 
 Difference being an yearly excefs on 
 the prefent contract for each man, 
 ftationed at the Prefidency 
 
 77 '5 
 
 I T 
 
 The medium number of Europeans returned at 
 the Prefidency for the laft three months, including 
 thofe attached to the third brigade, to the company 
 of Artillery brigade at the Prefidency, and at Budge- 
 Budge ; the Invalid body-guard, and the European 
 women and children, is 1645, which, at 17 rupees 
 15 anas i pice, makes the yearly excefs, on the pre- 
 fent contra<5l for victualling the Europeans attached 
 to the Prefidency, Sonat rupees 29515 12 i 
 
 753 Europeans returned upon the me- 
 dium of three months, with the fe- 
 cond brigade at Burrampore, (but 
 no women or children are included 
 as they are not returned) on half 
 batta. 
 
 8 1 Europeans at Chunar and Baxar on 
 ditto. 
 
 834 Men at 17 rupees 15 anas i pice, the 
 yearly excefs for victualling one man, 
 Sonat rupees J 49^4 3 6 
 
 197 Men returned on an average of three 
 months, with the temporary brigade 
 on full batta. 
 
 871 Men returned on an average of three 
 months, with the firft brigade on full 
 batta 
 
 1068 Men
 
 lo68 Men at 35 rupees 14 anas 2 pices, 
 the yearly exception on the prefent 
 contract for victualling one man, 
 when on full batta 38325 10 
 
 Total excefs on the prefent contrail for 
 victualling the Europeans of the army, if 
 the propofed contract be extended to the 
 whole European eftablifhment, Sonat ru- 
 pees, per annum 82805 9 7 
 
 Mr. Barwell and Sir Eyre Coote fubfcribc to the opi- 
 nion of the Governor General. 
 
 Refolved, That the propofals of the executor of the 
 late army contractor, viz, to lupply mutton inftead of 
 beef, for the provifion of the troops ferving at the 
 Preficlency, from April to September inclufive ; and 
 during the remaining fix months, mutton and beef 
 every other day, alternately, for which he fhall be al- 
 lowed fix anas ten pice fonat per man per day, through- 
 out the whole year, only to vary under the regulation 
 of full and half batta, which ever the troops at the 
 Prefidency may be entitled to receive be agreed to. 
 
 Minutes on the contract for victualling Fort William. 
 
 Extract proceedings Military Department th Auguft, 
 
 1779. 
 
 Extract minute by the Commander in Chief on the 
 general eftablimment and regulations of the army, 
 under the Prefidency of Fort William, dated 7th 
 
 1779.
 
 Sir E$re Coote. 
 
 I approve of the department of provisions and regu- 
 lations refpeding its being kept up. 
 
 Governor General. 
 
 Having received frequent remonftrances from the 
 agent for this depofit concerning the heavy lofTes and 
 inconveniences, to which he is fubjecled by the preient 
 indefinite term of his agency, which obliges him to 
 purchafe the different articles of the (lores at the current 
 prices of the markets, and in fuch quantities as are fpe- 
 cified in the prefcribed lifts, which, in times of fc.arcity, 
 can neither be procured of equal qualities, as in feafons 
 of plenty, nor without an increafe in the price, Ibme- 
 cimes even greatly exceeding the rates prefcribed in the 
 table formed by the board. The Governor General re- 
 commends that the agency be converted into a contraff, and 
 be fixed for the term of five years. The Governor Gene- 
 ral defircs his motion to be inferted in this place, but to 
 prevent any delay in paffing the reiblutions required, by 
 the fu ejects exprefsly fubmitted to the board by the 
 Commander in Chief, he defircs that the opinion of the 
 Board may be received upon it in circulation. 
 
 ijth Auguft. 
 Sir Eyre Cpote, 
 
 I entirely concur in the motion of the Governor- 
 General, as I am char that a contractor can ac~i cheaper, 
 and of courfe. perform the. fervice letter, by having his con- 
 tract for a ferics of years than for one. only, when his profit, 
 mujl be immenje even to bear him harmlejs and much more to 
 Jecure him a profit, and this is better known than I do, by 
 members of l/iis board, to be the general practice of Europe. 
 
 However, had I not thefe fundamental principles to induce 
 me, to /apport 'the. Governor General's motion, 1 fJiould flill 
 mofi heartily join in it from the long knowledge I have of 
 
 the
 
 ( 3* > 
 
 iht merits of Mr. Belli, ivhofe abilities, honour, and integrity 
 I know td be, equal to any charge that Government can confer 
 upon him, and which I am confident he will execute with 
 as much advantage to his employers, as credit to himfelf, 
 and thofe who place him in it. 
 
 (Signed) E. COOTE. 
 
 Mr. Wheler, . 
 
 As I have upon a very recent occafion affigned my 
 reafons for preferring annual contracts to engagements 
 of a longer period, and as I have likewife endeavoured 
 to prove that no other can be entered into without fub- 
 ]e6ting on the one hand, the contractor to an unreafon- 
 able degree of rifque, or the Company, on the other, 
 to an improvident bargain, it remains only for me to 
 add, that in my opinion, if pains were taken to felecl; 
 from among the variety of contracts that already have, 
 or probably very loon will, become the fubject of pub- 
 lic difcuflion, it might prove difficult to take from the 
 mafs, one where the fitneis of an annual contract in pre- 
 ference to a longer period was more linking, and where 
 the arguments in favour of a contrary opinion, can with 
 lefs effecT; or reafon be applied. 
 
 The advantage and utility of annual contracts, are fo 
 well known in England, that I do not recolle6l a fingle 
 inftance among the Company's engagements, whether 
 for military or naval (lores, for proviiions, or for any 
 article either for export or home confumption, where 
 the contracts or engagements have not expired within 
 the year ; and although I feem called upon by the Com- 
 mander in Chief to evince the contrary practice, I muft 
 here declare, that thofe which I had the honour to be 
 engaged in with government, were for no longer a period. 
 
 I may likewife further add. that the public received 
 no Snail ad vantage from the Qiort duration of thofe con- 
 
 trads,
 
 ( 32 ) 
 
 tracts, yet fufficient encouragement was given to the 
 contractors. 
 
 If then the fundamental principles of contracts are 
 as I have ftated them in favour of annual ones, or if 
 the precaution is necefiary, and generally adopted, in a 
 country where the value of each article can be afcer- 
 tained with fo much facility and eafe, and where either 
 a rife or fall of the markets rarely exceeds five per cent, 
 how* much more expedient mufl a fimilar regulation 
 prove in Bengal, where there is frequently a fluctuation 
 of thirty per cent. 
 
 To prove the utility of entering into engagements for 
 fo long a period as five years, it is neceifary, in my 
 opinion, to ftate very different arguments from thofe 
 made ufe of in the Governor General's minute, viz. It 
 ought ro be clearly afcertained that the articles to be con- 
 : meted for, are lubject to little or no .fluctuation,, and 
 that they will certainly be procured at or about the fame 
 price, which regulates the markets at the commencement 
 of the contract : without fome fuch rule the contract- 
 ing parties will become equally expoCed to the ill con- 
 Icquences of long engagements, which fhorter ones are 
 better calculated to relieve, if not entirely exempt them 
 from. 
 
 'n addition to the above arguments it may be ne- 
 ceilary to obferve that a depofic of provifions in Fort 
 William can only bz required in the cafe of a war, 
 or the apprehenfion of a war, and that many circum- 
 frances may happen which might render it quite un- 
 neccffary and Itave the contract if extended to the 
 time propoled, an ufeiels burden and expence on the 
 Company. 
 
 For
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 For thefe reafons I am againft entering into any con- 
 tract for a term exceeding one year. 
 
 (Signed) E. WHELER. 
 
 Mr. Francis. 
 
 EVERY objection urged againft difpofing of the 
 bullock contract for five years in the manner pro- 
 poled, in my opinion lies with greater force againft 
 the propofition. Both of them (land in direct contra- 
 diction to the 36th article of the Company's inftructions 
 to the board, in which it is ordered, " that all con- 
 tracts with the conditions, be publicly advertifed, and 
 fealed propofals received for the fame." 
 
 The btifinefs of fupplying the fort with (tores, has 
 hitherto been performed by agency, and this mode 
 was exprefsly choferi by the Governor General himfelf, 
 becaule ct an advertifement for a contraff for fuch jl ores 
 would be improper. It would be to tell the world what 
 provifion was made for the defence of the garrifsn" 
 
 The Governor General now reprefents, that " he has 
 receivedfrequent remonflranees from the agent of this depart" 
 merit, concerning the heavy lojjes and inconvsniencies to which 
 he is Jubjetted, by the prefent indefinite term of his agency ," 
 and on this ground recommends, " that it be converted 
 into a contract, and be fixed for the term of five yean." . 
 
 It is natural enough that the agent, after enjoying the 
 mod profitable employment, that I believe ever exifted 
 under this government, fmce January 1777, without 
 any public complaint of thofe heavy lofTes, and incon- 
 veniencies, againft which he now remonftrates, mould 
 wiQi to have it fecured to him for five years longer. 
 It is alfo very natural, that at the approaching expiration 
 F off
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 of the government, he fhould feel fome apprehenfion 
 for the fate of his agency under anew one, and that he 
 Ihould ufe hip intereft with a majo:ity of the board , if 
 poffible to put it out of their fucccffors po-.ver to reduce 
 his immoJc-rate profits, or to^make any new arrangement 
 for the public fervice, in this important department. 
 But when he affirms th-.U he has fuffered heavy lofles 
 and inconveniencies, by the indefinite term of his agency, 
 fo extraordinary a propolition ought to have been ac- 
 companied \vith fornething like a proof. Nothing iefs 
 than its being brought before us by the principal member 
 of the board, could induce me to give it a feiious confi- 
 deration. 
 
 In opposition to it, I fhall (late fome facls, which I 
 believe will let the matter in a clear light. 
 
 ill. The amount of the provifions fupplied by the 
 ngent fmce the commencement of his agency, is current 
 rupees 370,252 prime coft, as per account annexed. 
 This fum is advanced to him by government, as faft as 
 his iupplies are purchafed, consequently he has not 
 beenfubject to any diftrefs or difficulty toraife money. 
 
 He lofcs nothing on the, head of intereft, and if he is 
 not very curdefs. or unfkilful in his management, he 
 ought to have been a confiderable gainer on the original 
 purchafe of the feveral articles, independent of the pro- 
 lifs hejTi make, by the occafional converfion of th^ 
 ;ble opportunities. He has the fp.vour 
 and piotcciion oi "government, to fupport hirn i 
 pure}; . - in this country, is no firiall advan- 
 
 tage. He Lav:, great quantities at a time, at whatleafon 
 he pie. is paid at the average rate fixed; by the 
 
 bazar price oi imall quantities, that is, he buys in groii, 
 ;aid in effect fells in retail, and laftly, he trades with a 
 flock nnrcnr.ic.l for him, with the public money. 
 
 2d.
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 ?d. To fecure the agent, however, again ft all poiTible 
 loflfes, to enable him to keep a conltant ftuck, and to 
 reward him lor his trouble, it was originally ag eed to 
 take the opinion of th r ee of the molt repu'.able merchants 
 in Cak..tta, what might be a reafonable commiffion 
 on the value if the iupplies, to anfwer all the above 
 purpoles ; and MefT. Robinfon, Killican, and Croftes, 
 who were confulted on the occafion, reported, that 
 twenty per cent, per annum, would be a reafonable 
 commiffion. It was refoived neverthelefs by the Go- 
 vernor-general and Mr. Bar well, againft General Cla- 
 vering's opinion and mine, that thirty per cent, per an- 
 num, fhouldbe allowed. 
 
 3d. The commiffion already drawn by the agent, on 
 a fupply of current rupees, 370,252 amounts to current 
 rupees 229.912, that is fmce the loth of March 1777. 
 His annual commj/Iion on .the above fum, amounts to 
 cut rent rupees 1 1 1,075, >'* ^ e complains that he fuffers 
 heavy loffes and inconveniencies, by the indefinite term of 
 his agency. 
 
 Nothing more I imagine need be faid, to demon- 
 firate the unreaibnablenefs and inexpediency of any mea- 
 fure tending to continue the agency on its prefent foot- 
 ing. But independent of all other objections, 1 object 
 to the propofed contratt 3 as to an aft exceeding the limits 
 of our lawful authority. 
 
 If it be in the power of a majority of this board, at 
 the moment of their own duTolution, to bind their fuc- 
 ceffors by engagements for any term they think proper, 
 and to difable them from covredting any exiiting abufe, 
 k will be in vain for the Company or Parliament to 
 change the administration of the Company's affairs in the 
 country, and to veft it in other hands. That queftion 
 however, if I continue in the government, fhajl be tried 
 F 2 in
 
 C 
 
 in behalf of the Company; and if it be in my power, 
 the exorbitant profits of this agency, in whatever (hape 
 it may be continued, (hall be reduced. In th- mean 
 time, I proteft againft the proportion, and will not iign 
 the contract. 
 
 (Signedj P. FRANCIS. 
 
 Mr. Earwdl, 
 
 I have read with attention, the difient and proteft 
 of Mr. Francis to the meafure for continuing the fupply 
 of victualling ftores with Mr. Belli, the prefent agent, who 
 furnifhes ihefe flores. 
 
 The principles on which this difient is grounded, might 
 require examination, if the warmth with which it is made, 
 and the intimation given in the concluding words of it, 
 would allow any one who reads it, to doubt the influ- 
 ence under which it is written. 
 
 That fpecies of difpofuion, which is eftablifhed and 
 maintained by the operation of an unremitted dependence 
 on the will of rulers, is, of all oihers, moft pernicious to 
 a community, becaufe every member of a community io 
 circumilanced, muft, when it fyftematically prevails, either 
 preferve his ftation by fervile compliances, or rifle it by 
 venturing to ad on principles of freedom. In Ihort, un- 
 remitted dependence for pecuniary benefits, is a conftarit 
 bribe given to an individual, by the rules of every ftate, 
 who annex it as a condition to the benefit they confer. 
 I cannot therefore acquiefce in the reafoning I have heard 
 advanced by the members in'oppofition, nor fubfcribe 
 to their opinion, which would make the prefent agent, 
 who furmfhes and keeps uptbe depofit of provifioiis for 
 Fort William, hold hu> office during pleafute. 
 
 The objections which are made to the commiffion of 
 
 fifteen
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 fifteen per cent, for furniChing the (lores, and to the 
 fifteen per cent, allowed to indemnify the agent for re- 
 placing the decayed and damaged ftores, and for renew- 
 ing the whole depofit every year, are indeed ingenioufly 
 flated, and the inventive powers appear racked to the 
 utmoft to make this commiffion, and this allowance, 
 amounting in the whole to thirty per cent, ftrike the fu- 
 perficial reader as an exorbitant premium ; but I will ad- 
 venture to affirm on my own knowledge, of the perifhable 
 nature of the ftores iupplied and kept up, that it is not 
 poffible for the agent to derive much or any benefit, if he 
 does not fuffer a lofs, which I really think he rnutl from 
 this part of his engagement. Where is the garrifon in 
 which a depofit of provifions is kept at the public charge, 
 that does not condemn more than fifteen per cent, of 
 fuch iiores in the courfe of one year ; over and above the 
 heavy lofs arifing to the public, by the yearly renovation 
 of the depofit ? I believe the depot of the garrifon of 
 Gibraltar is not, nor can be maintained by the Englifti 
 government at fo fmall an expence, while the fupplies are 
 contracted for, and the lofs on condemned ftores borne 
 by the nation, as well as of thofe which, though not 
 condemned, are fold off at the end of every year as being 
 of a perishable^ nature, and though fit for immediate 
 ufe, are not in a ftate of prefervation, or capable of it,, 
 for the courfe of another feafon. And if this is the cafe, 
 and it certainly is the cafe, fifteen per cent, for ti;e reno- 
 vation of the depofit of provifions for Fort William, and 
 the lofs arifing from condemned ftores, is a very mode- 
 rate premium, .much more moderate, I affirm, than the 
 expence would be to our government, was a contract 
 entered into for an annual fupply, and the old ftores in 
 prefervation and thofe condemned, fold at the end of 
 every year for Govern'nent. Why it fhould be advanced 
 as an argument againft the mode propofed for keeping 
 up a depofit in high and perfecl: prelervation, that the 
 sgcnt poiTibly may do it without lofs to himfelf, I cannot 
 
 co-nprehcnd
 
 C 38 ) 
 
 comprehend, unlefs it means to affirm, by implication, 
 that Government can keep up fuch a depolit with equal 
 facility, and without lofs, or little lofs. If this is the 
 pofttion laboured to be eftablifhed, I deny it, and the 
 experience of every man muft contradict it. 
 
 In what office of our Government, or in any Govern- 
 ment, are ftores of a periihable nature kept up without 
 lofs, and a heavy lofs to Government. I am fure in no 
 office that has ever fallen under my obfervation, and I 
 call upon the other members for information if any office 
 has, under theirs. 
 
 In all the offices of fupply under our Government, ad- 
 vances are made on the application of our officers, and a 
 commifiion of fifteen per cent, allowed on the rates fixed 
 by Government on the articles to be fupplied. On many 
 articles this commiflion is reduced to nothing ; as their 
 real price far exceeds the rates while on others it is en- 
 hanced by being below the rates. I dare affirm the agent 
 for keeping up the depofit of provifion for Fort William, 
 would efteem himfelf very happy to draw his commiflion 
 dear for the fupplies, and difengage himfelf from the 
 further allowance of fifteen per cent, with the condition 
 annexed to it, of renewing and keeping up the depofit. 
 But as I am convinced it is not for the intereit or Go- 
 vernment to remit this condition, and contract at fifteen 
 per cent, fimply for an annual fupply. I can never ac- 
 quiefce to make his office a mere office of fupply, and 
 fubject the Company to the burthenfome lofs of renewing 
 yearly fuch periihable ftores; the perplexed and intri- 
 cate manner in which the account annexed to Mr. 
 Francis's minute is drawn, obliges me to oppofe to it a 
 more fimple and comprehenfive one, mewing the 
 periods ; the amount of the (upplies, and the commiilion, 
 to the id of May, 1779, from the id of May, 1777, 
 in which period the firft purchafe of 150,2311. 8a. 30. 
 
 mull:
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 muft have been renewed twice at the expence of the 
 agent, and the fubfequent ones to the thirtieth of April 
 once. 
 
 I will not propofe that the commiffion drawn of fifteen 
 per cent, in the courfe of the fame period fhould ftand 
 oppofed I am convinced none of the other offices of 
 fupply are fo low, or in which the fervices of the agents 
 have a meaner reward. 
 
 I agree to the propofition for keeping up a depofit of 
 provifions for the garrifon of Fort William, on the terms 
 of the exifting agency on a contract for five years. 
 
 The Governor General defines the following Minute 
 may be recorded on the proceedings in reply to Mr. 
 Francis's of the 17th of Anguft : 
 
 / o 
 
 Mr. Harwell has already fo fully anfwered every ob- 
 jection urged by Mr. Francis, againft the propriety of 
 continuing to Mr. Belli, the agency for fupplying the 
 garrifon of Fort William in provifions for five years, 
 that any further remarks from me appear to be un- 
 necefiary, but when I confider Mr. Belli's fituation in 
 my family, and the acrimony of ftile difplayed in Mr. 
 Francis's protefr, as well as the feveral insinuations 
 contained in it, I cannot help deeming the violent 
 oppofmon he has made to my motion, as perfonal ; 
 and viewing it in this light, I Ihall trouble the board 
 with a few remarks upon the fubjecl, after having 
 thankfully acknowledged how much I think myfelf 
 obliged to Mr. Bar well (wha fever were his motives} 
 both for the readinefs and abil/ty with which he has 
 refuted the arguments offered by Mr. Francis againft 
 this mcafure. 
 
 Mr.
 
 C 40 ) 
 
 Mr. Francis begins by obferving. thit this contract 
 is in direft oppofition to rhe Coajpan\ '^ ordris. and 
 that the bufmefs has hitherto bv.cn performed by- 
 agency, &c. 
 
 To furnifh a depofit of provifions for the garrifon 
 of Fort William, is not bulinefs for p: jia?mtion, nor 
 to be difpofed of to the loweit bidder, for the rr-ions 
 which I before ufed, and which Mr. Francis, I know 
 not why, has quoted again/l it. 
 
 An agency with a fixed rate, and a fixed commifTion, 
 is to all intents and purpofes a contraft. All that I 
 have now propofed is, to fix the term, and to bind the 
 contraft by penalties. 
 
 I can by no means agree with Mr. Francis, that the 
 agent victualler enjoys the mod profitable employment 
 that ever exifted in this government. 
 
 Mr. Lii-ius has an agency with 1 5 per cent, commffion 
 en articles rated by former charges of :^s } of 
 
 courfe greatly above the real coft. Mr. Livius is pro- 
 
 ffjfedly patronized by Mr. Francis, ivho paj/es bis bills. 
 Nine or ten lacks thus paid to bim, are yet unaccounted 
 
 for. 
 
 In an anfwer to Mr. Francis's infinuation, that it 
 5s natural enough for the agent to vvifh to fecure hiin- 
 fclf, before the expiration of the prefent govern- 
 ment, / avow the fall as to myfelf y as well as to the 
 agtnt. 
 
 When 1 fee a fyftematic oppofnion to every meafure 
 propofed by me for the icrvice of the public, by 
 which an individual may eventually benefit, I cannot 
 htfitate a moment to declare it to be my firm belief, 
 
 that
 
 that fliould the government of this country be placed 
 in the hands of the prefcnt minority, they would feek 
 the ruin of every man connected with me. // is 
 therefore only an att of common juftice in me* to wijh to 
 fecure them, as far as I legally can, from the appr eh en/ion, 
 of future opprej/ion. 
 
 Mr. Francis has grofsly mif-flated my minute, when 
 he fays, I affirm the contractor has fuftained heavy 
 lofTes, by the indefinite term of his agency. I am 
 forry to add this to the many inftances upon record, 
 during the courfe of our debates, of the inaccuracy of 
 Mr. Francis's quotations, and his fubfequent reafonings 
 in confequence. , 
 
 I faid he was " fubjefted to many "heavy lo/es, and 
 fame be has aftually fuftained in the purchafe of articles at 
 20 per cent, above the table of rates-" on the capital 
 article of grain, he has indeed been a gainer, his pur- 
 chafes having been luckily made at a time of plenty, 
 and his fales, with the public apprehenfion of a fcarcity. 
 His fuccefs in this inftance has alarmed him for the 
 future, and with reafon. 
 
 Suppofe the reverfe had happened, with his inde- 
 finite agency, which may expire to-morrow, he can 
 only venture to purchafe what is immediately wanted, 
 and that he is obliged to provide. He cannot venture 
 to invell a large capital in diftant commiffions. Of 
 courfe his purchafes, by being made at hand, are from 
 the deareft, as well as the neareft markets. He may 
 buy his rice at 20 feers for the rupee ; he may be un- 
 der the necefiity of felling it at 40, and this one article 
 proves his ruin. 
 
 With what propriety can the profits of this agency 
 be (tiled immoderate ? 
 
 G The
 
 ( 4* ) 
 
 The rates were fixed by accurate and actual rates of 
 the market, and the agent was allowed the cuftomary 
 commiflion of 15 per cent, on the purchafes, he was 
 obliged to change the (lores, and allowed for damages 
 (which in many would be the lofs of the whole, and in 
 all of fomething) 15 percent, on the prime coft, fo 
 fold. This Mr. Francis calls 30 per cent, and rates it 
 as a clear profit. Befides this drawback, the agent, as 
 will appear from an infpeclion of his books, if called 
 for, has frequently been obliged to purchafe ftores at a 
 price far exceeding the allowances made to him by 
 the Company. 
 
 In the purchafe of 
 
 Ghee, he loft 20 per cent. 
 
 Moong 25 ditto 
 
 Turmerick 171 ditto 
 
 Oil 52 ditto 
 
 Salt beef 33 ditto 
 
 He is likevvife liable to lofies in the tranfportation 
 of goods to Calcutta, and by an adventure from Pur- 
 nea lad leafon, fuftained a lofs of 10,000 rupees. 
 
 Mr. Francis, dating the fum of current rupees 
 2,29,912, as a clear gain to the agent, makes no de-. 
 duclion for the loffes I have fpecified, nor has he con- 
 fidered the decay, waftagc, fervants wages, cooley 
 hire, and other unavoidable expences, attending the 
 agency for near three years ; but in order to fwell this 
 fum as much as poffible, he has included in it, about 
 70,000 rupees, as received by the agent, though the 
 rifk for which it was paid to him will not expire 'till 
 May, 1780. 
 
 Mr. Francis once thought differently of my plan : 
 
 the
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 the words of his minute delivered on the 4th Novem- 
 ber, 1776, when it was firft read at the Board, were, 
 " If fibs fervice be nccejfary in any degree, if is" a fervite 
 of the firjl necejfity, and JJsould not be /tinted for the fake of 
 any inconfiderable faving^ which in the event perhaps might 
 only be apparent," 
 
 I am firmly of opinion, and am happy to be con- 
 firmed in it by the fentiments of the commander in 
 chief, that the fervice muit continue of the firft 
 neceflity, while we continue in poffeffion of Fore 
 William. 
 
 I alfo mod heartily concur with the commander in 
 chief in opinion, that the Board could not confer a 
 contract of this importance on a gentleman of more 
 honor and integrity than Mr. Belli, or who could 
 more confcientionfly difcharge the duties, of it. 
 
 In reply to Mr, Francis's obfervation, that Mr. Belli 
 enjoys the favor and protection of government, I do moft 
 folemnly declare that he has never applied jo me for 
 the moft trifling interference or fupport in his agency. 
 
 I have one remark to make on the fubject of this 
 agency fince Mr. Francis has thought proper to make 
 fo pointed an attack upon it. He muft remember how 
 flreF.uofly it was oppoled by rhe late General Claver- 
 ing in its feveral ilages. His prqteih and remarks 
 were tranfmitted to the Court of Directors, and were 
 received at a time when our proceedings were rigidly 
 fcrutinked, and when every meafure propofed by me 
 which could be deemed in the fmalleft degree objecti- 
 onable, underwent the feverelt comment.- 
 
 My plan for fupplying Fort William with prov.i- 
 
 fions, palled without a remark ; and this is to me a 
 
 G 2 convincing
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 convincing proof that the Directors efteemed it to be 
 highly beneficial to the company*. 
 
 (Signed) WARREN HASTINGS. 
 
 Houghly t id Oflober, 1779. 
 Mr. Francis, 
 
 I HAVE not feen Mr. Harwell's minute in which 
 the Governor General affirms, that every objection 
 urged by me againft the contract propoftd to be 
 given to Mr. Belli for five years, is fully anfwercd. I 
 did not know that'fuch a minute exifted ; and unlefs 
 facts can be altered, I cannot for my own part con- 
 ceive it poflible, that mine can be refuted. The Go- 
 vernor General's minute was tranirnitted to me this 
 morning. 
 
 If recrimination does not imply an admiffion of the 
 charge, it certainly is no defence againft it ; I cannot 
 allow that one abufe is juftified by another; nor am I 
 bound to anfwer any objections, whether valid or not, 
 to the agency for (lores held by Mr. Livius. The 
 Governor General and Mr. Harwell had juft as much 
 concern in giving it to him as I had. If it be liable 
 to abufe v wby is it not cornElcd ? if bis profits are too 
 great) ivby Lave they not been reduced ? Mr, Haftings 
 and Mr. Bar-well have had abfolute power in their hands 
 for above three years. 
 
 It is fa id " that Mr. Livius has an agency with fifteen 
 fer cent, commijjion on articles rated by former charges cf 
 commiffaries ; of courfe greatly above the real coft." If 
 
 the 
 
 Yet the Dire&ors have feverely cenfured it, in their letter by 
 the Gcnet-ai Barker ; but being flow in their proceedings, it en- 
 couraged Mr. Mailings to infer in his own favour, that they had 
 approred it.
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 the afiertion were true in terms, it remains to he ex- 
 plained, even on the principle of precedents, bc~jz the 
 giving fifteen per cent, to one agent \ juftifies giving 
 per cent, to another. MefT. Robinfon, Killican, and 
 Crofies reported that 20 per cent, per ann. would be 
 a reafonable commifiTion to Mr. Belli. Mr. Haft ings 
 and Mr. Bartvell, nevertheless gave him thirty. With 
 refpeft to the military (lore-keeper's book of rates, the 
 fad: is, that it was formed by the late Colonel Dciv, with 
 the approbation of the Board of Ordnance, not by the 
 former charge of the commiffaries^ but by an enquiry into 
 the aftual Bazar prices of that period; whether Mr. 
 Livius gains or lofes by thofe rates, is unknown to 
 me. I believe that occafionally he may do both. I 
 have no right to examine his mercantile books, nor 
 does it concern the fervice in qusftion. 
 
 It is faid that " Mr. Livius is profeffedly patronized by 
 me" I recommended him to the office of military 
 ftorefteeper. and I would maintain him in the jult 
 rights belonging to it, on the fame principle, on which 
 I would infift on his performing the duties of it j thus 
 far my patronage of Mr. Livius has extended. 
 
 But it is faid, " that I pafs his bills ," the aflertion, 
 as it ftands expreffed, may be fuppofed to be a mil- 
 take. The Governor well knows, that I refigned 
 the employment of comptroller of the offices from the 
 end of December, 1778; and that I have repeatedly 
 urged to him the necefiity of requefting fome other 
 member of the board to undertake it from that period. 
 Places cf influence and profit, are not feen fo eafily 
 relinquished. If the accounts of the public offices 
 have not fince been examined, the Governor General, 
 I prefume, will afTign his reafons for it to the com- 
 pany ; neither is it true, that I ever patted Mr Livius's 
 kill 'in the fenfe plainly implied by trie Governor: 
 
 they
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 they were conftantly examined by Mr. Baugh and his 
 affiilant, with the utmoft ftri&nefs, before they came 
 to mt for their final confirmation. My diary is before 
 the Court of Directors, it was not poflible therefore, 
 that I could favour Mr. Livius, or any body elfe, 
 unlefs Mr. Baugh and I acted in collufion, I defire 
 that he may be examined at the board upon his oath, 
 and in my abfence, concerning the manner in which I 
 executed my part of the examination ; and I mod ear- 
 neftly requeft of Mr. Wheler, to make a motion in my 
 behalf to this effect, at the next Board of Infpection: 
 I leave it to the Governor General and Mr..Barwell to 
 put fuch queftions to him as they think fit. It would 
 be much beneath me to make any other reply to the 
 conclufion evidently meant to be drawn from the fup- 
 pofed fact " of my faffing Mr. Livips's bills" but than 
 I receive it as it defer ves. 
 
 " Again it is aflerted, " that nine or ten lacks thus paid 
 to Mr. JLJvius, are yet unaccounted for." I do not 
 know what the amount of the military (lore-keeper's 
 difburfemcms may be fince December laft, having no 
 concern in the examination of his accounts. The 
 fecretary has the monthly accounts before him, and I 
 defire he will (late the amount in this place, (current 
 
 R's. A. P. 
 
 rupees 4,13,965 : 13 : 6) the military (lore-keeper's 
 accounts of his di(burfements being given unto him 
 every month, and a balance ftruck before he receives a 
 farther advance for the enfuing month, it cannot truly 
 be faid, that the (urns he has received fince December 
 laft, are unaccounted for. If his accounts are not ex- 
 amined, it is not his fault. 
 
 Any perfon unacquainted with the tranfaction of 
 buiinefs fn the military ilore-keeper's office, and who 
 fa.w only in what circumltances, and with what ap- 
 parent
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 parent view it is afierted, " that nine or ten lacks thus- 
 paid to Mr. Livius, fmce December loft, are yet unac~ 
 counted for" would naturally conclude that this money 
 was all on account of his agency for the provifion of 
 military ftores. For if it were not fo, the comparifon 
 between his fuppofed profits, and thole of Mr. Belli 
 (to fhelter which, Mr. JLivius's name and office are 
 manifeftly introduced) proves nothing, and falls to the 
 ground. Now the faft is, that the greateft part of the 
 monthly fums iffued to Mr. Livius, are advanced to 
 him as military ilore-keeper, not as agent. Out of 
 thefe he pays his own office charges by a fixed eftablilh- 
 ment ; the eftablifhment of the commiflary general's 
 office, with the price of all the articles furnifhed by 
 Lieutenant Colonel Green by contract ; the price of all 
 the powder furnifhed monthly by the powder con- 
 tractor ; and many other contingencies. In the ma- 
 nagement of all thefe difburfements, the military ftore- 
 keeper pays as fart as he receives, and has no profit 
 whatfoever, not even that of having a fum of public 
 money for a mort time in his hands. It is a fact, not 
 unworthy of notice in this place, that all the other 
 heads of officers, receive their monthly advances 
 twenty days before he does, owing to fome difficulty 
 ofadjuftment between him and the Commiflary, by 
 which in this refpect they both fuffcr. 
 
 The following ftatement which I have defired the 
 fecretary to fill up, will mew what proportion the fore- 
 going difburfements, bear to the total amount of 
 the military ftore-keeper's advances, fmce December 
 laft. 
 
 Firft, Total amount of advances, Current Rupees. 
 
 from January, 1779, inclufive 442105 : 7 : 6 
 
 Second
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 Second, Amount of office charges, 
 
 as per eftablifhment for ditto 6899 : S : o 
 
 Third, Amount paid to Lieutenant 
 
 Colontl Green, for ditto 16321 17:8 
 
 Fourth, Ditto to the powder con- 
 
 trar'-or 124^05:14:9 
 
 Five, Ditto of all other contingent 
 'exptnces 122116 2:10 
 
 Total Current Rupees 2,69,943 : i : 3 
 Difference 1,72.162 : 6 : 3 
 
 To that part of the Governor General's minute 
 which immediately follows, I (hall make no anfwef. 
 He fuppoies his facts, and draws his ccnclufion from 
 them. Perhaps we ought to deem it a proof of his 
 moderation, that he has not endeavoured to iecure his 
 friends in the pofTefTion of all the lucrative contracts, 
 as well as employments, for the next twenty years; and 
 that he has confined the intended operation of his in- 
 fluence to fo (hort a period as five years, "-after the ex- 
 piration of his adminiftration. He had full as good a 
 right to do one as the other. 
 
 I have quoted the Governor General's own words at 
 length ; yet he fays, " that I have grofslymis-Jlated his mi- 
 nute" At the worft, I could only have been guilty of 
 a mifconftruclion, of which every man, who reads my 
 minute, would be able to judge, having the Governor's 
 words literally quoted before him ; I did really conceive 
 that it was meant to be afferted. or underftood at leaft, 
 that Mr. Belli had fuffered heavy lofles and inconve- 
 
 niencies.
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 niencies. It did not occur to me, that he could have 
 made " frequent remcn/irances concerning ibt heavy loffis 
 and inconvcniencies to which he wasfuljefled by the prefint in- 
 definite term of his agency." Ir, in fact, and after an ex- 
 perience of near two years, he had fuffered no fuch 
 lofies and inconveniences, we are therefore to att;ibute 
 thefe frequent remonftrances of _the agent, not to any 
 loHes and inconveniences he has actually fuftained, but 
 merely to the quicknefs of his apprehenfion. He finds 
 himfelf fubjefted to loffes, of which hitherto he had no 
 experience, and nothing lefs than a contract for five 
 years can fecure him againft them. 
 
 Here ne would think we might be fure of our fals, 
 and that the argument might be concluded. The Go- 
 vernor General, however, is pleafed to take new ground ; 
 after charging me with having " grofslymifjlaledhis mi- 
 nutc" in the conftruction I gave to the words, " fub- 
 jcfted to many heavy lofles" he himfelf now averts, that 
 " Jome he has aclually fujlaincd." The word t: fame" I 
 prefume, mud refer to heavy lojjes ; and, if that be true, 
 my confl.ruclion of his original words is no other than 
 what he himfelf now gives them, and confirms ; if not, 
 he mud be underftood to have intended to weaken his 
 own argument, by faying, that the agent was only liable 
 to heavy lofles, when he might have laid, as he does 
 now, that he had actually (uttered them. 
 
 I have Hated the whole commiffion as a clear gain to 
 the agent, from a conviction, that it was, or might have 
 been fo, or within a mere trifle of it. In the fupply of 
 articles of provifion, the bazar market retail rates of Cal- 
 cutta are the higheft that could be taken. A contractor, 
 who purchafes in grofs quantities in the different parts 
 of the country in which the articles are produced, ought 
 to gain at leaft enough between the purchafe and the 
 Company's price, to defray all charges of mr;baudize 
 H and
 
 ( 50 ) 
 
 and other expences whatfoever, confidering always that 
 
 he trades with the public money, and not with his own. 
 
 r 
 
 The plan to which I originally gave my affent, was 
 propofed at a time when I thought that an invafion of 
 thele provinces was a probable event. That apprehen- 
 fion, whether well or ill-founded, was the ground of this 
 and feveral other opinions delivered by me, tending to 
 prove the expediency, if not neceffity,. of putting thefe 
 provinces in a pofture of defence. 1 he Governor Ge- 
 neral conftantly treated the idea of an invsHon as chime- 
 rical ; yet, in this inftance, as well as in many others, 
 in which our military and naval eftablimments have been, 
 on his principles, very unnecefiarily augmented, he 
 afted as if he thought the apprehenfion of an invafion 
 was not ill-founded ; his opinion has been juftified by 
 the event, but they both condemn his conduct. 
 
 I never would flint a neceflary fervice for the fake of 
 any inconfiderable faving. I thought this a neceflary 
 fervice at ihe time when it was propofed, and I would not 
 have Hinted it : not that I difregard little favings, but 
 bccaufe 1 know, by experience, that while they are at- 
 tended to, the great ones are neglected. But admitting 
 that the circumflances of public affairs were not changed, 
 as I affirm they are, is this really the fame plan to which 
 I originally gave my confent ? Did I ever confent to al- 
 low the agent a commiflion of thirty per cent, per annum 
 againft the opinion of the merchants to whom the reie- 
 reTice was made, and whofe opinion was to have decided 
 the quellion ? On the contrary, did I not remonftrate 
 againft it ? Was the binding the India Company by 
 contract to maintain a fpecific garrifon m Fort William, 
 and in one particular mode, anj whether they approved 
 of -it or not, and under every poflible change of the cir- 
 cuuiftarices of the government, ever fuggeited to me at 
 the time the agency was pr.'ipofed-r If thcie questions can- 
 not
 
 ( 5' ) 
 
 not be anfwered in the affirmative, it follows, that it is 
 not I who think differently of the plan, but the Gover- 
 nor General, who has changed his plan for a purpofe in 
 which the public fervice has no concern. 
 
 On the remainder of the Governor's minute I mall 
 make no remarks, though not for want of materials ; I 
 content myfelf with doing my own duty, and leave it to 
 others to anfwer for themfelves. 
 
 (Signed) P. FRANCIS. 
 
 On the .6th of Oflober, 1779. 
 SIR, 
 
 I defire you will fend the inclofed minute in circula- 
 tion, J remain, Sir, your's, 
 
 E. WHELER. 
 
 In confequence of the rnoft earned requeft of Mr. 
 Francis, I move, that Mr. Baugh may be examined at 
 the board upon oath, concerning the manner in which 
 Mr. Francis hath examined and pa (Ted the accounts of 
 Mr. George Livius. And I muft further defire, that 
 his (Mr. Baugh's) examination may be taken in Mr. 
 Francis's abfence. 
 
 . W. 
 
 Extracl; Confutation the i ft of November, 1779. 
 
 Mr. Baugh attending the board in confequenc of the 
 motion made by Mr. Wheeler, and entered in the laf); 
 confutation, is admitted. 
 
 H 2 Read
 
 Read - The motion of Mr. Wheeler. 
 
 Mr. Francis.- My intention was, to give the Gover- 
 nor General -an opportunity of iatisfying himfelf, and 
 doing m juftice, upon the points alluded to in the mo- 
 tion. I do not infift upon his oath, becaufe I am per- 
 fedtly fatisfted that his teflimony will be equally valid 
 without it. As I was Tick at Houghly at the time the 
 jnotion was made, I did imagine it would be refolved 
 upon in my abfence, but I have no difficulty about its 
 being determine^ now. 
 
 Governor General. I mall put no queftions to Mr. 
 Baugh in the mode prefcribed , I think it very irregu- 
 lar. I have not even given Mr. Francis's minute an in- 
 tire perufa-, although I have kept it by me for fome 
 time with the intention of examining it, and of replying 
 to it, if I had found it neceffary. Other bufmels of 
 more i i poitance, a ilrong averfion to perfonal debate, 
 and a convi&ion of its inutility for any purpoie, either 
 of dec fion here, or of reference at home, have hitherto 
 concurr d to make me poftpone it. Mr. Baugh is now 
 before the board at the requifLion of Mr. Francis. I 
 fhall leave it to Mr. Francis to put what queftions he 
 jhay think proper to him, either upon oath, or other- 
 wife. 
 
 Mr. Whttler. I am called upon by Mr. Francis to 
 take a part in this difagreeable bufmefs, tthich is exceed- 
 iogly irkfome to myfelf, and becomes ftill more fo by 
 the Governor General's declining to put any queftions 
 to Mr. Baugh. if time had permitted a fhort anfw:er to 
 Mr. Francis^ laft minute, it might have anfwered the 
 fan:e purppfe as the queftions which I jnuft now addrefs 
 fo Mr. Baugh, and I doubt not but the anfwers will give 
 the board every fatisfaclion they can require. 
 
 Mr.
 
 ( 53 ) 
 
 Mr.lFhecler delivers the following queftions to~"be 
 put to Mr. Baugh. 
 
 ill. Whether it is not your duty, as afliftant to the 
 comptroller of the offices, to examine the monthly ate* 
 counts of each office before they are feen by the comp- 
 troller, and to furnifh him with whatever remarks may- 
 have occurred to you thereon ? 
 
 Anftver. Preparatory to the comptroller's examining 
 the accounts of the offices, they have always been exa- 
 mined by my affiftant, fo far as reipecled their calcula- 
 tions and additions, after which they have been compared 
 by me, with the vouchers delivered with them. 1 have 
 then compared fuch charges as wereeftabliftied, with the 
 fixed eftablilhments ; alfo fuch charges for ftores pro- 
 vided by contraft, or by agency, with the terms of the 
 different engagements for thofe fupplies. And if upon, 
 this examination I have difcovered any deviation from 
 either, I have pointed them out to the Comptroller, who 
 has either immediately deducted the difference, or ap- 
 plied to the head of that department, whofe accounts 
 were under examination, for an explanation. 
 
 2nd. Whether you have not constantly done fo ? 
 . Yes, I have. 
 
 gd. Whether you have ever obferved, that Mr. 
 Francis, in examining the accounts of the military (lore 
 keeper, or of any other of the public offices, or in 
 palling their bills, or in any other inftance whatfoever, 
 has favoured the military ftore keeper, or any other 
 perfon, or has ever fuffered an error or overeharge m 
 his or their accounts, to pafs without correction and 
 cenfure ? 
 
 Governor
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 Governor General. I beg that Mr. Baugh may be 
 difpenfed from anfwering the third queftion, if there is 
 a neceflity for it ; it is highly improper on many ac- 
 counts, coniidering the wide diflance betweerrMr. Baugh 
 and Mr. Francis, trmt he fhouid be obliged to anfwer to 
 fuch a queftion. / do not rccoUcd what words of mine have 
 given eccofionfor it ; but if I have made lift of any, which 
 either directly lay fuck A charge to Mr. Francis's account, or 
 imply it. I rdratl them, without accounting at this time for 
 the manner in zvliich anyfach exprejfions may have efcaped me, 
 as they are now entirely out of my memory. 'The objetl of t/ie 
 queftion therefore is remmed. 
 
 Mr. Francis. I am (atisfied, and defire the queftion 
 may be waved. 
 
 4th. To what point of time have the military ftorc 
 keeper's accounts been examined and paffed by the 
 Comptroller ? 
 
 Anjw. To the end of December, 1778. 
 
 /;th. What is the amount of the monthly fums ifTuecl 
 to and from the treafury for the monthly difburfements 
 of his office, including his agency fmce December 1778, 
 to the end of September lalt ? 
 
 Anfw. The advances made to the military {lore 
 
 keeper from the treaiufy, between the ift of January 
 
 and goih of September, 1779, a m o unt to current rupees 
 
 4.24,000; but in this fum is not included his advance 
 
 on account of September, being 42,000 rupees, becaufe 
 
 it did riot'pafs the board in time to be iflued during that 
 
 i. 'i he order of the treafury was not figncd till 
 
 1 .iber ; and I pbferve, by the eftimate 
 
 < ? s difburfements for October,, that the 
 
 ed till the 6th of the lad-mentioned 
 
 month.
 
 ( 55 ; 
 
 month. In Mr. Francis's minute of the 2nd of Oc- 
 tober, the amount of the advances iffued to the military 
 flore keeper to the end of Augiift, is Hated by me at 
 current rupees 4.42,105 17:6; but it is proper to 
 remark, that in this ium is included the monthly pay- 
 ments made to him by Mr. Robert Stewart, on account 
 of the new powder works, and his receipts for ready 
 money fales. 
 
 6th.. Has the military ftore keeper deli verect'frftis 
 monthly accounts regularly to the Comptroller's office 
 fince December laft ? 
 
 Anjw. Yes, to the end of September. 
 
 Governor General. I defire to put the two following 
 queftions to Mr. Baugh. 
 
 ift. Have Mr. Livius's accounts ever appeared before 
 the board ? 
 
 2d. What is the amount of Mr. Livius's receipts and 
 difburfements, from the time he firft had charge of his 
 prefent office, to the date of my minure in September ? 
 If Mr. Baugh cannot anfwer the laft of thefe queflions 
 from his own official knowledge, I defire him to obta'.n 
 proper official information to compleat his anfwer ? 
 
 i ft Anfto. They never have appeared before the board. 
 It was not the intent of the regulations conftitutirig the 
 Comptroller's office, that they mould be laid before the 
 board. 
 
 2d Anjw. Not having the neceflary materials in my 
 poireffion for furnilhing the accounts required by the 
 Governor General, I applied for it to the military ftore 
 keeper, and beg leave to lay before the board the fol- 
 lowing
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 lowing abftrafts, which I have in confequence received 
 from him, of his recepts and difburfements from April 
 1775 to September, 17795 inclufive, the former amount- 
 ing to current rupees 23,16,074 : 13 : 3 ; the latter 
 to 23,1678 11:3, which conftituted a balance in fa- 
 vour of Mr. Livius, which he had actually advanced for 
 the Company, inftead of being nine or ten lacks in ar- 
 rear.. Mr. Livius was appointed to the office of military 
 (lore keeper on the 2oth of March, 1775, and the Go- 
 vernor's minute is dated in September, 1779. 
 
 I think it proper to acquaint the nnard, that my ap- 
 plication for this account would have been made to the 
 Accomptant General, and not to the military ftore 
 keeper, could the former have furnished it complete. 
 But the general books being balanced only to the 30th 
 of April, 1778, it could not have been prepared from 
 them to a period fabfequent to that time. I believe 
 alfo, that the entries in the general books^are a dj lifted 
 from the abftracts of the receipts and difburfements fup- 
 plied to the Accomptant General by the heads of the 
 different offices. 
 
 Minutes 
 
 -i 

 
 ( 57 ) 
 
 Minutes en the Advance Salary and Appointment to Sir Eyre. 
 Coots. Extratt Board of Infpettion the I2tk of April, 
 
 Read the following propofitions of Lieutenant General 
 Sir Eyre Coote. 
 
 That the five half mares of the revenue do devolve 
 upon Sir Eyre Coote, as Commander in Chief, from his 
 arrival in Fort William on the 2%d of March, and that 
 General Stibbert do only mare as oldeft Cobnel from 
 that time. 
 
 That the 3000 rupees per month, lately granted to 
 General Stibbert for contingent expences in the field, do 
 devolve on General Coote, from the 311! of March, as 
 Commander in Chief. 
 
 That the 16.000 rupees per annum, for fecret intel- 
 ligence, do devolve to General Sir Eyre Coote from the 
 3 lit of March. 
 
 Sir Eyre Coote delivers in the following minute. 
 
 The reference I made to the board on the fubjeft of 
 General Stibbert's allowances, which exceed mine by 
 82,750 rupees per annum, proceeded from an idea, 
 that they were granted to him as Commander in Chief, 
 under the preiidency ; and as, on my arrival at Fort 
 William, he could be no longer confidered in that ca- 
 pacity, whatever he drew under fuch a denomination 
 rnuft neceiTarily be difcontinued to him. 
 
 An examination of the minutes of Council has ren- 
 
 dered me mafter of the fsveral reafons affigned for 
 
 granting him tbofe allowances ; and my refearches on 
 
 I this
 
 ( 58 ) 
 
 this occafkn have led me alfo to a knowledge cf the fen 
 timents which have been exprefied by the members of 
 the board in- general, refpecting the infufficiency of the 
 falary allowed by the Court of Directors to their Com- 
 mander in Chief in India. 
 
 . 
 
 From a long experience of the fervice, I am thoroughly 
 convinced of the juftice of this opinion, and I am 
 equally certain, that the Court of Directors never meant 
 I Should fuffer in my private fortune by carrying on 
 the public fervice. 
 
 . 
 
 * You will pleafe therefore, Gentlemen, to adopt fuch 
 rreafures as may prevent any unnecefTary expence from 
 falling on the Company, and which will at the fame 
 time enable me to execute the duties incumbent upon 
 me, as their Commander in Chief, to vifit the feveral 
 Rations of the troops, or to take x the field, if neceflary, 
 without involving myfelf in expences, which I ihould 
 be unable to fupport. 
 
 (Signed) E. C O O T E. 
 
 Mr. Franci? : 
 
 . 
 
 1 have prepared my option on the Commander in. 
 Chief's proportions, and beg leave to lay it before the 
 board. 
 
 My opinion on the account of General Stibbert's al- 
 lowances is very fully dated in the confutation of the 
 14th of May, 1778. and I adhere to it in every parti- 
 cular. I think they mould new be reduced to the efta- 
 blifhment at which they ftood during General Clavering's 
 command. This eftablifhment was formerly referred 
 to the Company, and confirmed by them in their letter 
 of the 24th of December, 1776, paragraph 49. I 
 
 cannot
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 -cannot confer^ to any variation from the allowances 
 fixed by, and enjoyed by General Ck 
 the Company's orders. The very l.'ft which thev 
 given, and which Sir Eyre- Coote brought out with, 
 him, dirtft, that ' ieivenant General Sir Eyre Coote 
 do receive the fame pay as Commander in Chief of their 
 forces in India as was received by Lieutenant General 
 Sir John Clavering. If all the allowances dated in the 
 proportions are agreed to, the j. relent Commander in 
 Chief will receive eighty-two thoufand two hundred 
 current rupees per annum more than was received by 
 fris predecerTor. 
 
 (Signed') P. FRANCIS. 
 
 Mr. Bar well, 
 
 AS I expect irj a ihort time the orders of the Com- 
 pany on the additional allowances drawn by Brigadier 
 General Stibbert, there does not appear any urgent ne- 
 cefiity to proceed on the regulation of iuch allowances 
 until the arrival of the Company's in It ructions. The 
 Court of Directors, in fixing the eftabliflied falary for a 
 commander of all their forces in Jndia, have exprefled 
 it as a falary. They therefore certainly intend it to be 
 drawn free, and difburthened from all diiburlements to 
 be incurred in the immediate execution of their military 
 fervice ; they certainly did not intend to put the Com- 
 mander in Chief of all their military forces upon a 
 meaner eftablimment than the provincial Commander 
 in Chief at the other prefidencits, or General Stibberr, 
 whofe allowance by the 4gth paragraph of 'their letter of 
 the 24?h of December, 1776, is reckoned at 82,000 
 rupees. Thefe fads are lo very ftriking, that I cannot 
 doubt of our having full authority to regulate an efta- 
 blilhment for Sir Eyre Coote, while in the field, as may 
 be fuitable to his high rank, and b?ar fome proportion 
 
 I 2 tO
 
 C 60 ) 
 
 to the allowances made to the fubordinate field officers 
 of this government. I am for the queftion, that a field 
 efiabltfhment be formed for Lieutenant General Coote, 
 Commander in Chief of all the Company's forces while 
 in the. field. 
 
 i Governor General, 
 
 .. 
 
 THE allowance of five half mares of the com million 
 on the revenues was not an eftablimment annexed to 
 his ftation, but a bounty fpecially and perfonally 
 granted to General Stibbert, by the order of the Courc 
 of Directors in the 31(1 paragraph of their general 
 letter of the i6th of April, 1777. It cannot, there- 
 fore, be taken from him, but by the fame authority. 
 
 The allowance of 3000 rupees per month for con- 
 tingent expences in the field was granted to General 
 Stibbert by a feparate act of this board, though their 
 reiblutions upon this fubject have been various, yet the 
 opinions of the different members, refpecting the ne- 
 cetTity of fuch an allowance, have been generally the 
 fame, as may be feen by the proceedings of the board 
 of the 29th of February, 1776, when this fubjecl; was 
 nrft brought under the confideration of the board, and 
 for other reafons rejected. For the truth of this, I ap- 
 peal particularly to the opinions of General Clavering 
 and Colonel Monfon. 
 
 This was never meant as an allowance annexed to 
 the ftation of Commander in Chief, for when it was 
 firft propofed, General Stibbert was not confidered as 
 invefted with that character, but to defray the unavoid- 
 able expence attendant on the command in the field. 
 
 As the refolution of the board upon this fubject: has 
 been long fince referred to the Court of Directors, with 
 
 another;
 
 ( 61 ) 
 
 another relative circumftance, which muft force their 
 attention to it, and draw from them a clear decifion 
 upon it , and as that decifion may be expected with the 
 firft difpatches of the fealbn, I think it would be im- 
 proper and irregular to make any alteration in it at this 
 time. 
 
 I do not recollect any orders which authorifes Gene- 
 ral Stibbert to draw a fixed fum for lecret fervice. This 
 is an expence in its nature variable, and the Court of 
 Directors, in their letter of the 24th of December, 
 1776, have exprefsly directed that it ihall not be fixed, 
 but that Colonel Stibbert, (that is commander in the 
 field) Ihall be paid fuch expences as Ihall appear to us 
 to have been neceflarily incurred by him, from time to 
 time, on that account. 
 
 I apprehend, that this is a fervice which will pro- 
 perly and exclufively belong to the Commander in 
 Chief, whenever his fituation will enable him to aflame 
 the charge of it, and that General Stibbert fhould be 
 accordingly directed to conform to his orders refpecl> 
 ing it. 
 
 Refpecting the incidental charges of the Commander 
 in Chief, when he is in the field, or which in this point 
 will be equivalent, when he is ablent from the prefi- 
 dency, I fhall premife the following obfervations : 
 
 ift. The prefent allowances drawn by General Stib- 
 bert is as follows : 
 
 Fays
 
 f 62 ) 
 
 Pays Brigadier General, 750!. per arm; 7,500 
 Table expences in the field 60,000 
 Contingent expences in the field 36,000 
 Commiflion in the reverine, current ru- 
 pees, 21,368, or 19,250 
 
 Sonat Rupees 1,22,750 
 
 I do not reckon the allowance for fecret iervice, be- 
 caufe I regard it as a public charge, in which he has 
 no interefG or other concern, than faithfully to difburfe 
 what he draws. 
 
 Of :he above eftablifhment the following fums have 
 been allotted to General Siibbert, by the expire fs ap- 
 pointment of the Court of Directors : 
 
 Pay as- Brigadier General r 7,500 
 
 Table charges in the field 60,000 
 
 Comrniffion on the revenue at that time, 
 as I' find it computed in Mr. Francis's 
 minute of the 14?^ of May, 1778, cur- 
 rtnt rupees 245486, or 22,059 
 
 Sonat Rupees 89,559 
 
 The falary allowed to the Commander in Chief, by 
 the fundamental regulations of this government, is 
 6oool. psr annum, or rupees 60,000. 
 
 The fum is exprefied to be in lieu of all charges and 
 contingencies 'in the field ; but the Court of Directors 
 have fince granted to their firit Colonel on this efta- 
 bl'mment, as I have remarked above, an annual ftipend 
 of 80,559 rupees, a fum exceeding that of a Com- 
 ler in Chief by nearly 50 per cent. 
 
 But
 
 But it cannot be fuppofed, that the Court of Direc- 
 tors ever meant to invert the order of the fervice, and 
 that in fo great a degree, as to make a partial and un- 
 juil diftinction between an officer placed, not by ie- 
 leclion, but by cafual fucceffion, at the head of a fingle 
 eftablimment, and the Commander in Chief of all the 
 Britifh forces in India ; therefore, when they pafied 
 thefe grants to Colonel, now General, Stibbert, they 
 virtually eftablilhed a precedent for a proportionate aug- 
 mentation of the allowances of the Commander in Chief 
 of all the Britifii forces in India -, for it cannot be dif- 
 puted, that his unavoidable expences in the difcharge 
 of all the various duties annexed to his (tation mutt 
 greatly exceed thofe of General Stibbert in a limiEted 
 command ; and I will prefume, that had it been at 
 the fame time propofed to afcmain the allowances of 
 the Commander in Chief, they would have augmented 
 them proportionably. 
 
 On the premifed grounds, I move, 
 
 i ft. That the Commander in Chief be allowed to 
 draw for the expences of his table, when he is in the 
 field, 90,000 rupees per annum. 
 
 2. That the Commander in Chief be authorized to 
 draw for the following eftablifhment for himfdf 
 and his ftarT, when he is in the field, in lieu of travel- 
 ling, and all incidental charges whatever. 
 
 12 Budge-
 
 64 
 
 12 Budgerows 
 30 Bosts 
 10 Elephants 
 200 Coolies 
 3.8 Hircarahs 
 i Head ditto 
 i Naib 
 
 50 Lafcars- 
 
 1 Serang 
 
 2 Tindals 
 
 4 Hackeries 
 
 2 Gurry Men 
 
 3 Writers 
 Stationary 
 
 12 Ilorfes 
 
 150 
 
 40 
 
 75 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 15 
 
 30 . 
 7 
 
 iSoo 
 
 I2CO 
 
 ~ 75 
 
 1000 
 
 196 
 
 15 
 
 4991 
 
 400 
 
 20 
 
 30 
 12O 
 
 15 
 
 "~ 1 5 
 
 2OO 
 
 360 
 
 S. Rs. 6286 
 
 The fums which I have annexed to the eftablifhment 
 are added merely to ihew the computed amount of it, 
 but are not taken from any correct authority, nor meant 
 to be a part of the proportion. If this motion fhall be 
 agreed to, it will be the province of the CommirTary 
 General to affix the rates of expence to each article, 
 and 1 lhall propole that they be referred to him for 
 that purpofe. 
 
 Mr. Francis, 
 
 On the principles on which the opinion I have al- 
 ready given was founded, I have much more reafon to 
 object to the eitablilhment now propofed, than to the 
 Commander in Chief's firft proportions. All the al- 
 lowances granted to General Stibbert, as Commander 
 
 in
 
 ( 65 ) 
 
 in Chief, or otherwife, and which I have conftantly 
 objected to as exreiTive, are to be continued ro him ; 
 and, at the lame time, a total new dtabliftment 
 created, amounting to the monthly charge of current 
 
 R. A, P. R. A. 
 
 rupees, 15,302 : 7 : 5. or 1,83,629 : 8 per annum. 
 I am againft the motion *. 
 
 Mr. Barwell, 
 
 I cannot concur in opinion with Mr. Francis, (hat 
 the propofed cftabl'Ihment is a double one. I do not 
 underftand thefe allowances are to be drawn upon any 
 other occafion, than that for which it was txprefTed, for 
 the General's cxpences in the field. There is no im- 
 mediate call, that I know of, upon the Commander in 
 Chief to leave the prefi dency-f- ; and, before a month 
 is paftVd, we mall, in all probability, receive the osders 
 of the Court of Directors, whether Brigadier General 
 Stibbert is to draw the allowances which he is in- 
 titled to receive, or whether they are ro ceafe. In 
 either cafe, the neceflity of the eftablilhment now pro- 
 pofed for the Commander in Chief of a ; l the Com- 
 pany's forces is but a fingle eftabliihment ; nor is this 
 a monthly eftablifhment, or if it was, is it of the ex- 
 tent dated ? It is an eftabliihment only to be drawn 
 when the public fervice calls the Commander in Chief 
 from the prefidency. That it will be drawn, I ad*r>it -, 
 but it is not probable it will be drawn through the whols 
 year; bcfides, it is a charge limited to a ipecifte (urn, 
 but does not neceffarily include the expenditure of the 
 whole amount. I agree to the propoiition. 
 
 Governor General. I agree to the proportion. 
 
 * He left it, however, in a ihort time thereafter, and lias tal- en care 
 not to return in a hurry ; it was ongina.iy underitood tp be Jo. 
 
 f l-ie was afterwards allowed I zoo rupees per uioiuh in addition 
 to the above allowance, 
 
 Rtiblvcd,
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 Refolved, that the Commander in Chief of the Com- 
 pany's forces in India, be allowed to draw for the ex- 
 pences of his table, when he is in the field, the monthly 
 fum of feven thoufand five hundred Sonat rupees, or 
 ninety thoufand current rupees per annum. 
 
 Refolved, That the Commander in Chief of the 
 O mpany's forces in India, be allowed to draw for 
 the following monthly eftablimtnent for himfdf and 
 his ftaff when he is in the field, in lieu of travelling 
 and all incidental charges whatever, when in the field. 
 
 12 Budgerows 
 30 Boats 
 10 Elephants 
 200 Coolies 
 28 Hircarahs 
 i Head dnto 
 
 50 Lalcars 
 
 1 Serang 
 
 2 Tmdals 
 
 4 Hackeries 
 2 Gurry men 
 Stationary 
 12 Horfes. 
 
 Ordered, That this eftablifhment be referred to the 
 Commiflfary-General, with directions to affix the rates 
 of expence to each article, fpecified therein. 
 
 Mr. Wheeler having delivered the following minute, 
 on the foregoing proceedings being Ihewn him by the 
 fecretary, it is entered in this place for the fake of 
 .connection. 
 
 Mr. Wheeler The argument made ufe 'of by the 
 Governor-General, to evince the neceflky of an aug- 
 mentation of allowances to {he Commander in Chief 
 
 when
 
 when in the field, are by no means fufficient to 6b~ 
 obviate thofe objections, which from a perfecT: know- 
 ledge of the regulations alluded to, fuggeft themfelves to 
 my mind. 
 
 In the firft place, the allowances to the commander in 
 chief by the fundamental regulations of this government, 
 was not an aft of the court of directors, but of the pro- 
 prietary at large, convened together for that purpofe; 
 and by their orders, communicated to their fervants in 
 Bengal, by the executive part of their conftitution, the 
 court of directors. Thence it appears to me, neither 
 optional in the court of directors, to ericreafe or dimi- 
 niih an allowance voted to their commander in chief by 
 a general court of proprietors ; for if it was, with the 
 fame degree of propriety that the court of directors 
 could revoke the orders of their conftituents by augment- 
 ing an allowance fixed as above to their commander in 
 chief, they might revoke any and every acl; of the pro- 
 prietors at large. 
 
 It naturally follows, that the court of directors do not 
 in themfelves poftefs the power of altering the allowance 
 fixed, to the office of commander in chief; and it is 
 equally conclufive with me, that no luch power can pof- 
 fibly be vefted in our board. 
 
 But even admitting their power , it is plain from 
 the fth paragraph of their general letter, dated the yih 
 of May 1778, by the Stafford, that it was not their in- 
 tention to deviate from the eftablifhed allowance, granted 
 to their late commander. 
 
 . 
 
 Without entering therefore into the detail of this 
 bufinefs, or expreffing my difapprobation of the enor- 
 mity of each particular article of increafe, I (hall content 
 myfclf with objecting to any further allowances being 
 made to Lieutenant General Sir Eyre Coote, that the 
 K 2 court
 
 C 68 ; 
 
 Court of Dhetlois have in the 6oth paragraph of their 
 letter, dated the 2^th of March, 1774, directed to be 
 paid to Lieutenant-General Sir John Clavering ; an 
 extrat of which I ihall here iubjoin, 
 
 <; And that there fa paid to him the fum of fix thoufimd 
 pounds fterling per annum, in full for his jerques as com- 
 mander in chief, and in li'U of travelling charges, and of a'-l 
 other advantages and t.mo!umtnts whatever, except his fdary 
 of ten thou/and pounds fxr annum, eftabli/Iied by law, and 
 ordc-ed to be paid him as one of the. council at Fort William 
 in Bengal." 
 
 E. WHELER. 
 
 Minutes in council, on the treaty with the Rana of 
 . , Gohud. 
 
 Extract Secret Department Confukation. 
 . 
 
 November i2th, 1779. 
 
 
 The Governor General informs the board, that 
 during their late recels, he has had feveral conferences 
 with the Minifter deputed by the Rana of Gohud ; 
 and inveflrd with full powers on the fubjecl; of a treaty 
 of aHiaiice ofFenfive and defen.Uve, propofed by the 
 Kana, to be concluded between him and the Company. , 
 The Governor-Central lays before the board a draft of 
 conditions which he has formed on the balis of the 
 Rana's propofitions for fuch a treaty , and which, with 
 the Rana's letters and propositions, he defires may be 
 entered in this place, for the informations and opinions 
 of the board. 
 
 (Signed) WARREN HASTINGS. 
 
 Drafc of Treaty. 
 
 Article ift. A treaty of alliance, ofFenfive and de- 
 fen five
 
 fenfive, {hall be eftablifhed between the Englifti Com- 
 pany and Maha Raja Ranna Lohinder Bahadre. 
 
 2d. Whenever a war (hall a&ually take place be- 
 tween the contracting parties and the Marattas *, if 
 the Rana (hall require the affiftance of an En glim force 
 for the purpoles hereinafter defcribed, fitch a force, 
 proportioned to the exigency of the fervice /hall be im- 
 mediately fent, on his requifition made in writing to the 
 commanding officer at the near eft ftation of the Company's 
 troops ; JJoall remain with him as long as he [hall require it, 
 find return when he Jhalldifmifs it -f, the expence thereof 
 fhall be defrayed by the Rana at the fixed rate of twenty 
 thoufand Muchle dar rupees of the currency of Banares, 
 or any other fprcies of rupees of fame intrinfic amount, 
 for each battalion of the Seapoys, on their prefenc 
 eftablimment, wiih their proportion of artillery . 
 The payment to commence on the day when the faid 
 force fhall pafs the borders of the Company's do- 
 minions, or tne dominions of the Nabob of Oude : 
 and ceafe on the period ftipulaced for its return to 
 cither i four cofs being allowed for each day's march. 
 
 3d. The force mall be employed for the defence of 
 the Rana's dominions againft all foreign or domeftic 
 enemies, and for the enlargement of his dominions by 
 
 conqueft on the Marattas. 
 
 * 
 
 4th. Whatever acquifition in purfuance of this 
 treaty (hall .be made of countries being contiguous to 
 
 the 
 
 * The Marattas were then at war with the Rana of Gohud, and 
 his forts attacked. 
 
 f Thefe were the ftrange powers to Sujai Dowla, to exterminate 
 the Rohillas. 
 
 The Rana had not wherewith to pay his own troops.
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 the Rana's dominions, or formerly appertaining to 
 them, whether effected by his or the" Englifh troops,' 
 feparateiy or in conjunction, or obtained by treaty, 
 ihall be fhared in the following proportion?, viz. 'nine 
 anas to the Company, and kven anas to the Rana:' 
 the mean amount of the grofs revenue of the Com- 
 pany's (hare collected in time of peace in the ten y-: ars 
 preceding-, after deducting the charges of collection, 
 which (ball be ascertained by Aumeeris chofen by each 
 party, fhall be fixed and paid by the Kaha as a per-' 
 petual tribute to the Company, and the lands and forts 
 Ihall be ceded to the Rana. 
 
 5th. In cafe it fhall be judged advifeable to em- 
 ploy the combined forces of the Company and rhe 
 Rana in any diftant operations againft the common 
 enemy beyond the borders and neighbourhood of the 
 Rana's dominions, on requifition made in writing from 
 this government, he (hail furnifh ten thoufand horfo 
 for iuch fervice -, and each party fhall bear his own 
 feparate cxpence, 'which (hall continue feparate until 
 the return of the combined army to the borders of the 
 Rana's country, or until it fhall be employed in the 
 
 iervices mentioned in the third article of this treaty.' 
 
 * 
 
 6ih. Whenever the Englifli forces are employed 
 for the defence of the Rana's country, or for the ac- 
 quifition of territory, the fervice to be performed fhall 
 be prefcribed by himfelf; but the mode of executing it 
 fhall be left to the direction of the officer commanding 
 the Englifh troops. 
 
 7th. Whenever the combined troops of the Com- 
 pany and the Rana fhall be employed in any re- 
 mote operations, fuch as are delcribed in the 5th 
 article, the commanding officers of the Englifli forces 
 (hail -confult the Rana on the choice of the fervice 
 
 to
 
 ( 7' ) 
 
 to be performed, but the ultimate decifion, in cafe 
 of' a difference of opinion, and the mode of conducing 
 fuch fervice, fhall be left entirely to the commanding 
 officer of the Engliih troops, with a reiervation of 
 the Rana's complete authority over his own troops. 
 
 8th. Whenever peace fhall be concluded between 
 the Englifh Company and the Maratta flare, the Rana 
 jhdl be included as a party in the treaty which Jhall be made 
 for that purpofe ; a nd his prefent $offe]Jions, together with 
 fuch countries as be (hall have acquired during the courfc 
 cf the ivar, and which it Jhall be thenftipulated to leave 
 in his poffeffion, Jhall be guarantied to him by fuch treaty*. 
 
 9th. No Engliih factory fhall be eftablifhed in the 
 dominions of the Rana. No perfons of any denomi- 
 nation (hall be fent into his dominions, on the part 
 of the Engliih Company, or with the licence of the 
 Governor-General and* Council, without his previous 
 confent, nor any authority exercifed over them buc 
 his own -j-. 
 
 Ordered, That thefc papers lie for confideration. 
 Extract Secret Consultation; 
 
 2d December, 1779. 
 
 Confidered the Governor- General's minute, entered 
 in confiscation the 12th of November, with heads 
 
 propofed 
 
 * The Rana is a natural enemy, the Company but an occafional 
 one : yet this treaty of alliance, modeftly engages *he Company to 
 compel the ableft power in India, as the only condition of a peace 
 with them, to be reconciled to an irreconcileable enemy/ And that 
 that enemy's po/Tefiions, though incapable of preferring them, fhall 
 be warranted by the Company, at all events. 
 
 f Of what benefit will the treaty be to a commercial Coifipany 
 on thefe conditions ?
 
 ( 72 ) 
 
 propofed for a treaty to be concluded with the Rana 
 of Gohud. 
 
 Read the letter from the Rana, recorded in the 
 books of thePerfian correfponder.ee, received the yth 
 of June laft ; alfo another letter dated the 5th of Shau- 
 baun, and received the gd of September. 
 
 Read the propofed heads for a treaty with the 
 Rana of Gohud, entered in confutation the 1 2th of 
 November. 
 
 The Gov-r;ior General lays before the board the 
 following amended draft of a treaty propofed to be 
 executed \viih the Rana of Gohud, and defires that 
 it may be fubftituted for the former, and entered in 
 confuitation the 12th ult. As it contains fuch alter- 
 ations propofed by the Mivifter of the Rant, as the Go- 
 vernor-General deems reasonable. And to the treaty in 
 this form, the Minister, who is now preient, declares 
 his entire concurrence. 
 
 Draft of a treaty propofed between the Company and 
 Maha Raja Leukinda Bahadre. 
 
 Articles of agreement, made and concluded at Fort 
 William, in Bengal, between the honourable the 
 Governor-General and Council for the affairs of 
 the Honourable Englifh Eafl India Company on 
 the one part, and Maha Raja Leukinda Bahadre, 
 Rana of Gohud, for himfelf and his fucceflbrs on 
 the other part *. 
 
 Article ifh Perpetual friendfliip mall take place be- 
 tween the Englifh Company and Maha Raga Leukin- 
 
 dar 
 
 * The remarks made in the preceding articles are fufficient for 
 thefe ; with this only difference, that the alterations in this are 
 powerfully in favour of the Rana, and againft the Company.
 
 ( 73 ) 
 
 <!ar Bahadre and their fucceflbrs, and an alliance be 
 eftablilhed between them for the proiecution of the 
 objects hereein after mentioned, 
 
 sd. Whenever a war lhall actually take place be- 
 tween the contracting parties and the Marattas, if 
 Maha Raga Leukindar Bahadre (hall require the af- 
 fiftance of an Englifli force from the Company for the 
 defence of his countries or for the acquilition of ter- 
 ritory, fuch a force, proportioned to the exigency 
 of the fervice fhall be immediately lent, on his requi- 
 fition made in writing to the commanding officer of 
 the neareft itation of the Company's troops, and (hall 
 remain with him as long as he (hall require it, and re- 
 turn when he (hall difmifs it, the expences thereof 
 fhall be defrayed by the Maha Raja at the fixed 
 monthly race of twenty thoufand Muchle dar rupees of 
 the currency of Benares, or any other fpecies of rupees 
 of the fame intrinfic amount for each battalion of fea- 
 poys on its prefent eftablifliment, with its proportion 
 of artillery ; the payment to commence on the day 
 when the faid force fhall pafs the borders of the 
 Company's dominions, or the dominions of the Nabob 
 of Oude, and ceafe on the period ftipulated for the 
 return to either j four cofs being allowed for each day's 
 march. 
 
 3<3. This force mall be employed for the defence of 
 the Maha Raja's dominions againft all foreign or do- 
 ixieftic enemies, and for the enlargement; of his domi- 
 nions, by conqueil on the Marattas. 
 
 4th. Whatever countries (hall be acquired from the 
 Marattas in purfuance of this treaty by the troops of the 
 Company, or of the Maha Raja, fepararely or in con- 
 junction, whether by war or treaty, except the fifty- fix 
 mahls which conftimte the Maha Raja's jaghire, and 
 L which
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 which are not now in the pofieflion of the Marattas, ihall 
 be fhared in the following proportions, viz. n^ne annas 
 to the Company, and feven annas to the Maha Raja. 
 The mean amount of the grofs revenue of the whole ihall 
 be afcertained by ameens chofen by each party, on the 
 collections made in the ten preceding years, and the 
 amount of the Company's (hare, as determined by the 
 faid ameens after dedu6ting the charges of collection, 
 which are cuftomary in fuch countries, fhall be. fixed 
 and paid by the Maha Ra;a, as a perpetual tribute to the 
 company ; arid the lands and forts (hall be ceded to the 
 Maha Raja. 
 
 5th. In cafe it (hall be judged advifable to employ 
 the combined forces of the company and the Maha Raja 
 in any hoftile operations againft the Marattas, beyond the 
 borders of the Maha Raja's dominions, on requifition 
 made to him in writing from this government, he fhall 
 furnifh ten thoufand horfe for fuch fervice, and each fhall 
 bear his own feparate expence, and if upon the return of 
 the Englifh forces, towards their own borders, the Maha 
 Raja fhall have occafion for their fervices, and (hall make 
 a requifition to retain them, from the inftant of fuch re- 
 quifition he Ihall pay their charge in the fame manner as 
 ftipulated in the fecond article. But it mall not be re- 
 quired of ihe Maha Raja, nor be in the power of this go- 
 vernment, to detach or employ his troops beyond the 
 borders of Gegur and Indoor, without fpecial confent. 
 
 6th. When the Englifh forces are employed for the 
 defence of the Maha Raja's country, or for the acquifi- 
 tion of territory, the fervice to be performed fhall be 
 pre fcribed by himfelf, but .he mode of executing it fhall 
 be left to the decifion of the commanding officer of the 
 Englifh troops.
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 7th. Whenever the combined troops of the com- 
 pany and the Maha Raja, fhall be employed in any 
 remote operations, the commanding officer of the Englifh 
 forces, mall coniult the Raja upon all fervices to be per- 
 formed, but the ultimate decifion, in cafe of a differ- 
 ence of opinion, and the mode of conducting fuch fer- 
 vices, ihall be left entirely to the commanding officer of 
 the Englifh forces, with a refervation of the Maha Raja's 
 compleat authority over his troops. 
 
 8th. Whenever peace fhall be concluded between the 
 company and the Maratta ftate, the Maha Raja, (hall be 
 included as a party in the treaty which fhall be made for 
 that purpofe, and his prefent pofleffions, together with 
 the fort of Gowallier, which of old belonged to the 
 family of the Maha Raja, if it fhall be then in his pof- 
 feffiori, and fuch countries as he fhall have acquired in 
 the courfe of war, and which it fhall then be flipulated 
 to leave in his hands, fhall be guaranteed to him by fuch 
 treaty. 
 
 9th. No Englifh factory fhall be eftablifhed in the 
 dominions of the Maha Raja ; no perfon of any deno- 
 mination fhall be fent into his dominions on the part of 
 the Englifh company, or with the licence of the governor 
 general and council without his previous confem, neither 
 ihall his ryots be prefled for any military fervice, nor 
 any authority exercifed over them but his own. 
 
 Signed, fealed, and concluded at Fort William, 
 this day of in the year 
 
 of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred 
 and feventy-nine, or the day of 
 
 Mr. Wheler delivers in the following minute prepared 
 
 in confequence of the governor general's former pro- 
 
 L 2 pofitions.
 
 ( 76 } 
 
 petitions, which he thinks equally applicable to the 
 prefent. 
 
 Mr. IVhcler. I feel myfelf a great deal at a lofs in 
 giving my opinion on the fubject of the treaty propofed 
 by the governor general with the Rana of Gohud, as I 
 think a matter of fo much importance fliould not have 
 been introduced without being accompanied with necef- 
 fary information to enable the members of the board to 
 judge of its expediency. 
 
 The Rana of Gohud, is, I believe, almofl a new 
 name on our records. I am imirely unacquainted with 
 the liluation even of his capital, except by confulting 
 the map, the extent of his territory, his revenue, the 
 force he is able to bring into the field, and his perfonal 
 character, are points in which I am equally uninformed, 
 nor do 1 believe any Englishman, whole authority can 
 be depended upon, has ever been within the territories 
 of Gohud, to afcertain them ; yet thefe are points, on 
 which the board ought to have the moll accurate infor- 
 mation,, before they proceed to decide on the propofed 
 treaty ; otherwife they may engage in a war with the 
 Marattas, either to iupport, or make conqueft for a 
 man who has neiilier means or capacity to enable him 
 to bear "any proportion in the rifque or charges which 
 may attend fuch a v;ar. 
 
 Uninformed, therefore, as I am, I can only give my 
 opinion on the general principle of the propofed alliance; 
 which is, that having for its object, war, conqueft, and 
 increafe of territory. I conceive it to be contrary to the 
 true intcrt/l o/ the Company and Britifli nation, and to the 
 fundamental policy of the former, and, in faft, changes 
 the condition of the company here, from a commercial 
 to a military ftate, that it is likewife in direct oppofition 
 to all our inftructions, and peculiarly inexpedient at 
 this time, when cur treafury is eshaufted, thefe pro- 
 vinces
 
 ( 77 ) 
 
 vinces drained of their fpecie, when the nation is en- 
 gaged in a dangerous war in Europe, and the Company 
 is threatened with a general combination of the Indian 
 powers againft all their fettlements. 
 
 How, under fuch circumftances, the condition of the 
 company is to be mended by hiring out their troops, 
 and making conqueft for a petty Raja, fituated at fo 
 great a diftance from their frontier, does not in any wife 
 occur to me. I rather think that fuch alliance, and the 
 meafures propofed in confequence, are calculated to draw 
 the neighbouring Marattas upon us, to expofe our exten- 
 five and unguarded frontier to wafle and ravage, and 
 to involve the Company ftill more in danger and ex- 
 pence, without any adequate propofed advantage. 
 
 I am therefore againft the treaty. 
 
 Mr. Francis delivered in the following minute upon 
 this fubjecl:. 
 
 Mr. Francis, The Rana of Gohud is a prince with 
 whom the Company have hitherto had no connexion, 
 and whofe name, 1 believe, is unknown to them: I my- 
 felf, I conftfs, have no other information concerning 
 him, than what I have been able to collc6t within thefe 
 few days. I fee, by Major Rennell's map, that his 
 capital is fituated in latitude 26 deg. 20 min. long, weft 
 of Calcutta, 9 deg. 20 min. Gwallicr, the place of 
 which he wants to get poffeffion, is a ftrong fortrefs in 
 the hills, about eighty miles dtftant from Etawa, on the 
 other fide of the Jumna. From fome officers who have 
 been in that part of the country, I underftand that the 
 Rana is very poor, that his country is wild, rocky, and 
 uncultivated ; and that his army is little better than 
 a rabble, ill armed and cloathed, and without regular 
 pay or difcipline. The governor-general's motion gives 
 IK no information on any of thele points ; -yet in the 
 
 con-
 
 confederation of a queClion of fuch importance, as an 
 immediate alliance, offenfive and defenfive, to be fol- 
 lowed by a /uiitre guarantee of future acquifitions, it feems 
 effential to us to know what are the ftrength and re- 
 iburces of the prince with whom we are going to engage ; 
 the fituation and extent of his country, together with 
 the circum fiances and difpofition of the powers who bor- 
 c"er upon it, and in whole differences with him, what- 
 ever there may be, we (hall probably become parties, in 
 confequence of our prefent engagements. Whether the 
 conqueft of Gwallier, is the Rana's fole and real 
 objefcfc, or whether anothor expedition into Bwialecund, may 
 not be in faft the confequence of our fending troops to 
 . act with him, is in my judgment very uncertain. Co- 
 lonel Leflie fet out under in ft ructions, firft to proceed 
 to Bombay, and afterwards to Berar. Inltead of doing 
 either, he marched into Bundlecund, took poffeffion of 
 the capital, and remained there very quietly till he died. 
 I think it not at all unlikely, that the officer who may 
 command this expedition now projected, will follow the 
 example of his immediate predeceifor. There is no- 
 thing to be gained in the country of Gohud, or its neigh- 
 bourhood, whereas the diamond country offers every 
 temptation. It is the high road to fortune, and there- 
 fore the moft likely to be purfued. Having no authen- 
 tic information before .me, on the ftate and condition of 
 the Rana of Gohud, 1 muft draw my conclufion from 
 the bell I have been able to obtain. Of courfe, they 
 cannot be in favour of an alliance with a perfon fo cir- 
 cumftanced as I believe the Rana of Gohud to be. At 
 the fame time I have no difficulty in declaring, that if 
 all the facts v;ere reverfed, it would not incline me to 
 aflent to the meafure. The event of thefe treaties in 
 which we have hitherto engaged, or attempted to en- 
 *gage, does not furnilh me with any encouragement to 
 enter into new ones, formed on the fame principles, or 
 to follow that line .of policy. I deem it unwife and dan- 
 gerous
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 gerous in every fenfe. It is inconfident with the welfare 
 of Bengal to employ our forces in diftant fchemes of con- 
 queft, whether for ourfelves cr others. It is inconfiftent 
 with the fafety of Bengal to fend our troops acrofs the 
 Jumna, and much more to bind ourfelves to let them 
 remain there at the direction of any of the country pow- 
 ers. The diftance is too great, and the ftrength of the 
 Rana of Gohud too inconiiderable, to fuffer me to fup- 
 pofe it poilibie, that the impreflions of any efforts of his, 
 or of ours in conjunction with him, can be felt on the 
 Malabar coaft, or create a diverfion that can be of the 
 {mailed fervice to Brigadier-General Goddard. 
 
 But this, in my judgment, is not the mod material 
 confideration : the extent of our prefent frontier, to 
 (peak moderately, and without the hazard of exaggera- 
 tion, is full as great as we are able to defend ; and if it 
 were not fo, a lyflem of invafion and conqued is equally 
 unnatural, to the condition of the Ead India company 
 as a mercantile body, and to that of the territory we pof- 
 fefs in India. 
 
 What fort of conclufions mud arife in the minds of 
 men at home, who are capable of judging of fuch quef- 
 tions, when they fee that with all our prefent immenfe 
 poffeffions, and with all the revenues which we ought 
 to derive from them, it is necefiary to their fecurity that 
 we fhould endeavour to enlarge them. On the fame 
 principle, and from the fame caufes on which fuch mea- 
 fures are deemed neceflary now, the future neceflity of 
 them mud increafe with every new acquisition. We 
 mud continue to conquer, as long as we continue to ac- 
 quire. 
 
 They who think fuch a fydem of policy effential to 
 the fafety of the Company's actual poireffions, mud ad- 
 mit, that our fituation in India is not only very preca- 
 rious,
 
 ( 8o ) 
 
 rious, but incapable of being fixed, once for all, upon 
 a limited and folid foundation : but I am far from ad- 
 mitting that our eftablifhment here is of that nature, 
 or that the meafures in queftion have any tendency 
 
 to ftrengthen or fecure it. Mr. Wheler's minute 
 
 to which 1 entirely fubfcribe, has anticipated a great 
 deal of what I intended to have faid. I ihall therefore 
 only add, that the fyftem of which this meafure makes 
 a part, counteracts the fundamental principles of the 
 Company's policy, and cannot be purfued without direct 
 difobedience to their pofitive and repeated orders and 
 inftruHons to this government, nor without overfetting 
 a principle laid down by the governor-general himfelf, 
 and in which I entirely concnr, that " Notwithftanding 
 " the fuperiority of the Britifh force in India, its general 
 *' line of aftion muft be purely defeniive." 
 
 " The terms of the propofed treaty are liable to many 
 difficulties and objections. I Ihall only mention one. 
 Guarantees between princes and flates are ufually, I be- 
 lieve, always reciprocal. There is a manifeft reafon, I 
 confefs, for not calling upon the Rana of Gohud to 
 guarrantee, as regularly as he ought to do, the poflef- 
 fion of future acquifitions to this government ; but it is 
 fuch a reafon as reduces the Rana very low, and ought 
 to deter us from entering into any alliance with him. It 
 may involve us into the conftaut fupport of his quarrels 
 with his neighbours ; but it offers us no compenfation or 
 affiftance in return, fuppofing the Company's poflef- 
 in any other part of India were invaded, nor is is it 
 jn his power to afford it. 
 
 "Whether this be a juft obfervation or not, 1 need 
 not infift upon it, becaufe my oppofition to the propofed 
 treaty, is founded on principles which do not oblige me 
 to canvafs the particular advantage, or diiadvantage of 
 every fpeciftc article contained in it. On that general 
 
 ground
 
 ground of argument, which Mr. Wheler has taken, and 
 to which I have only added a little, without improving 
 it. I entirely difapprove of the propofition, and proteft 
 againft it. 
 
 Mr. BarwelL The general object of the treaty ap- 
 pears to me pointed to the prefent circumftances of our 
 government, and that of the Marattas. It ftrikes me to 
 be well calcufated to give ftrength, to both the offenfive 
 means we hold within ourfelves, as to weaken thofe of 
 our immediate enemies the Marattas. In a Hate of war 
 with that power, every enemy that is raifed up to their 
 
 ftate, is an advantage to our own. Plans of conquefts, 
 
 acquisition of territory, and a defign to engage the forces 
 of the Company in diflant expeditions, to which the ob- 
 jections of Mr. Wheler and Mr. Francis particularly 
 point, are not meditated by the prefent treaty. It is the 
 defence of thefe provinces and the diftrefs of the com- 
 mon enemy, that appears to me to have led to this 
 treaty. If acquifition of territory, or any advantage 
 lhall arite from fuch a policy, the Company and the na- 
 tion will be benefited, without any of the rifqucs that 
 feem to be regarded with fo much apprehenfion in the 
 foregoing minutes. I agree to the propofed treaty. 
 
 Governor-General. I had no fufpicion that the mem- 
 bers of this government could be ignorant of the conie- 
 quence, much lefs of the exiftence of the Rana of Go- 
 hud ; it was therefore unneceflary for me to have in- 
 ftru&ed them on thefe points. Nor was I forward to in- 
 troduce a meafure of felf-af parent necejjity, with arguments 
 which I know would be contejied, and the meafure of courfe 
 oppofed. We were upon the eve of a war with the 
 Maratta ftate ; a war which is no lefs the effect 
 of the Company's decided orders, 'than of the 
 meafures of their fervants, to which this government 
 has given its fanftion, From General Goddard's ad- 
 M vices
 
 ( 82 ) 
 
 vices it- may be almoft pofitively concluded, that we are 
 actually in a ftate of war with them, and poffibly -with 
 other powers combined with them. Had this government 
 remained in total inaction, had no meafure of this kind 
 been adopted I mould expecl to te reproached with 
 
 ' fuffering the Company to be drawn into a war, with 
 perhaps the firft power in India, without any alliance to 
 
 ' fupport it, or to obviate the predatoiy incurfions of fuch 
 an enemy. I am now reproached with forming 1'uch an 
 alliance, and on grounds which will not apply to a (late 
 of perfect peace and domeflic fecurity. Were the ac- 
 quiiition of territory, or theincreafe of revenue the object, 
 the operations of the treaty would not be limited to the 
 feafons of war. If war has taken place, or {hall take 
 
 'place with the Maratta fhte, the treaty fecuresthe fup- 
 
 "port and afliftance of a powerful Prince, whofe do- 
 minions adjoin to our own frontier, and lie in one of 
 
 'the principal roads through which the Marattas muft 
 pafs to invade us, and the objeSs propofed by the 
 alliance, are fuch as are mod likely to weaken the Ma- 
 ratta ftate, by depriving it of its refources, and divi- 
 ding its attention. At the fame time, the principal in 
 the treaty with iis, is a man whofe perfonal interefts 
 and enmity to the Maratta ftate, we may depend en for 
 his faithful adherence to it. He fucceeded co his pre- 
 fent pofieiTions by the death of his father, who loft his 
 
 "life, and the foriefs cf Gwalier at the fame time, in an 
 
 "engagement with the Marattas, with whom the fon has 
 ever fmce been in a ftate of warfare. It is notorious, 
 
 'and' will be probably known to many well-informed 
 perfons at home, that the Marattas have made various 
 
 -attempts to reduce the prefent Rana with numerous ar- 
 mies conducted by their moft eminent leaders, and 
 once by Raganaut Row in perfon ; and have been a* 
 often repulfed with difcredit to their government, and 
 
 honour to the Rana. That he-acts the protestor cf trvo cf 
 the mofi important and ctmc,\>ous characters in HinZo/itm- 
 
 Gauzi t
 
 C 83 ) 
 
 Gauzi, Oiien C-rton, and Coffim All Cawn, are fafts fo 
 notorious, that I cannot yet fuppofe any member of 
 this board to be ignorant of them; and there are not 
 only prefump ive. but very ftrong proofs of the ower 
 of the man, whofe ftate could rove an afyJum to fuch 
 fugitives. His perlor.al abilities are" equally known. 
 They are univerfally acknowledged, and proved by his 
 actions. 
 
 I have faid that the object of the treaty, and the 
 Operations dependent on it, are reftrifted to a ftate of 
 ivar .with the iVjarattas. A war, in which with refpect 
 to the immediate commencement of it, independent of 
 former caufes, they muft be the aggrejfirs, ly rejecting the 
 offers of peace which zue have made to them. If after all, 
 my fuppofition fhould not be realized by the event, but 
 a peace enfue, the treaty becomes in itfelf null, being 
 recuced to the fimple tie of frlendmip, which alters 
 nothing of the relative ftate in which we are at prefent 
 with the Rana ; and all the confequences which Mr. 
 Francis concludes that it will entail upon us, which 
 fuppofe a war with the Marattas, are certainly more 
 likely to happen from fuch a war, if we have no fup- 
 poru, than with a provifion to avert them. I have had 
 fuch frequent occafion to complain of the unfair man- 
 ner in which Mr. Francis quotes my words and opinions, 
 that I mall make no other reply to his affertion of 
 the contradiction of the prcfenn meafure to my own 
 principles, than that the exprefilon which he has quoted 
 appertains to a different occafion, and a different ob- 
 jecl, and bears no more relation to the prefent fubj eft, 
 than the difpatch of treaiure to Bombay or Surat. 
 
 Mr. Francis. Neither Mr. Wheeler nor \, have 
 profeffed to be ignorant of the exiftence of the Rana of 
 but when a treaty offenfive and defenfive is 
 M 2 propofed
 
 ( 84 ) 
 
 propofed to be concluded with him, I prefumeit is not 
 enough to know that he exiils. I, for my own part, 
 fhould have held myfelf indebted to the Governor- 
 General, as I always am, for any information he might 
 have thought proper to give me of the circumftances 
 and fituation of this 1 Rajah. It is probable that I might 
 have endeavoured to obtain it myfelf from other quarters, 
 if at any period fince my arrival in Bengal, I had 
 thought it poffible that an intimate connection of in- 
 terells between the Company and him fhould ever have 
 been propofed. When a fimilar treaty was in agitation 
 with a much greater Prince, I mean Modajee Boofla, 
 the Governor-General introduced the proportion with a 
 very particular report .of his fituation, views, family, 
 connections, refources, and interefts. The lights which 
 the Governor-General's lad minute have furnifhed me, 
 do not tend to eftabhfh a favourable opinion either of 
 the Rana's character or ftrength. 1 do not wifh to be 
 connected with a man who is only known by the pro- 
 tection he afforded to ptrfons fo obnoxious to this go- 
 vernment, and to India in general, as Coflim Alt 
 Cawn, and Gauzi Odien Cawn , and as to the ftrength 
 \vhich enabled him to give them that protection, I be- 
 lieve it to be purely defenfive. He is a hill Rajah. I 
 conclude he has ftrong holds in the mountains, and 
 th^it it is not eafy to come at him. Admitting it to be 
 true, that at this time, and to fuppo'rt a war, which it 
 is faid is the effect of the decided orders of the Com- 
 pany, alliances with fome of the country powers might 
 be ufeful and neceffary. It does not follow that all and 
 every alliance dcf.rves that character. It is not at all 
 unlikely, that we may find ourfelves encumbered and 
 embarraffed with the burthen of a ufelefs ally. I mean 
 If) ufe the words applied by the Governor-General not 
 Jong ago, to our connection with Ragoba, and I am 
 fur* I exprefs the fenfe of them ; an offenfive union 
 with Hyder Ally, or the Nizam, or even with the Raja 
 
 of
 
 oFBerar, if He could be feparated from his countrymen, 
 might indeed on the principles of the prefent war be of 
 importance to its luccefb. The Rana of Gohud is too 
 inconfiderabie to be of weight in either fcale , but if his 
 ftrength were greater than it is, it would not neceflariiy 
 follow that we fhould gain any thing by uniting it to 
 ours. Before fuch a junction can be effected, we mufl 
 crofs the Jumna, and relinquish all the fecurity and other 
 advantages \vhich the intervention of that great barrier 
 affords to all our poffeffions, and to thofe of our ally. 
 By the faid a6t we divide our force, and make it difficult, 
 if not impracticable, for the different parts of it fo fe- 
 parated, to affift each other. Every operation we under- 
 take on either fide of the river, fo tar from adding to 
 our ftrength, or diftreffing the enemy, is only laying 
 ourfelves open to wounds in a quarter where, if we 
 itaid within our barrier, we might be invulnerable. 
 We relinquifh a (ituation of fuperior ftrength, to meet 
 an enemy, if we do meet him on equal terms. I (hall 
 trouble the board but with one word more. The Go 
 vernor-General, it is true, has often complained of un- 
 fair quotations ; and this complaint I am informed, 
 has been echoed in England, but I do not admit that 
 it has ever been made with reafon; let an in fiance of 
 any moment be pointed out, and I am ready to join 
 ilfue upon it. 
 
 Governor -General. . I have never made the co'r.plaint 
 againft Mr. Francis of an unfair quotation, but 1 have 
 poinred out the inftances and proved them to be un- 
 fair. The prefent inftance is before us. I do remem- 
 ber that when we were firft informed of a war between 
 Great-Britain and France, I faid that our part of the 
 war mult be purely defenfive, becaufe they had all to 
 gain, and we to lofe. I do not know that thefe were 
 the words, but I am lure that this was the fubftance 
 and fenfe of the maxim which is now quo:ed as a con- 
 tradiction
 
 ( 86 ) 
 
 tradition to the propofal which I make of withftanding 
 a predatory enemy, already in poficffion of a great part 
 of Hindoftan, by diftant and offenfive operations. For 
 the reft of Mr. Francis's minute, I do no: think it ne- 
 ceffary to reply to it, having, I think, in all our con- 
 tefts allowed him the lafi argument ; and I think the 
 fubjeft was fufficiently difcuffed in the preceding mi- 
 nutes. 
 
 Mr. Francis. I admit that the maxim which I have 
 attributed to the Governor-General, was introduced on 
 the occaiion he mentions ; I neverthelefs undei flood it 
 to be a general one, at leafl, it certainly could not be 
 confined to the cafe of a war * ith France, fmce at the 
 fame point of time we flrongly recommended, and by 
 our aififtance promoted the fiege of Pondicheny. 
 
 Governor- General. Let it be added, that I at the fame 
 time propofed a mfafure, which from its tendency led 
 to the poffibility at leaft of an offenfive war with the 
 Marattas. And this pronolition was made in the fame 
 minute in which the maxim now attributed to me was 
 introduced ; and I will venture to fay, will not be un- 
 derflood from thefe minutes ; neither from thofe of Mr, 
 Francis and my own. 
 
 Agreed to the amended draught of the treaty. 
 Ordered to be engrofled fair, and executed. 
 
 Extract Secret Department Confultations, 
 
 6th December, 1779. 
 
 The following minute from the Governor- General 
 was fent in on Saturday lad ; and agreeable tp 
 his direction was circulated to the members of the 
 the board. 
 
 Governor
 
 ( 87 ) 
 
 Governor-General. Having in confequence of the 
 treaty paffed the board for an 'alliance with the Rana 
 of Gohud, required his Vakeel to produce the powers 
 with which he \vas inverted for executing it on the part 
 of his matter, he delivered me a paper which I (hall 
 lay before the board at their next meeting, containing 
 fimply the Rajah's public fcal, and which with his 
 letters, declaring the Vakeel to be deputed for the 
 purpofe of concluding fuch a treaty, are deemed fuf- 
 ficient and ample authority according to the form and 
 ufage of Hindoftan ; but as the Rana has not fet his 
 name to the paper, and with us the fignatures of th 
 contracting parties are held injifpenfible to the validity 
 of all the public engagements, I informed the Vakeel 
 of this defect in his powers. He requefted that they 
 might, with the addition of his own feal and fignature, 
 be admitted for the prefent execution of the treaty, and 
 to remove all doubt, and authenticate it according 
 to our forms, he made me a propofal, which I now 
 lay before the board, under his hand and feal, for 
 fending a perfon on the pa r t of this government to 
 witnefs the Rana's final execution or' it, and exchange 
 the ratification ; and 1 recommend it for their ap- 
 probation. 
 
 (Signed) WARREN HASTINGS. 
 
 Arzee from Mazhar Ally, Vakeel of the Rana of 
 Gohud. 
 
 " As I underfland from what you faid, that the 
 cuftoms of your country require contracting parties 
 fhould fign their names to the treaty, to give it credit 
 and validity, I am therefore hopeful, and make it my 
 requeil, that fince the Rajah in his letters to you, has 
 affured you of the validity of my powers, you will for 
 the prefent accept of a furd with my fignature, and the 
 feal of the Maha Rajah ; and that a gentleman of trutt 
 
 may
 
 ( 88 ) 
 
 may be fent to the Maha Rajah, that all the points 
 which have been fettled here, may be finally concluded 
 there, in the prefence of fuch gentleman ; and that in 
 like manner as I have repreiented many things on the 
 part of the Maha Rajah, fuch gentleman may obtain 
 fatisfa&ioii in 'all matters, and fee the Maha Rajah 
 let his fignature to the treaty. This will be highly 
 pleafmg to the Maha Rajah, and gain me credit with 
 you." 
 
 The following opinions were returned to the above 
 minute and Arzee. 
 
 " I agree to the propofitions. 
 
 (Signed) R. HARWELL." 
 
 Mr. Francis. If the Vakeel be not inverted with 
 fufficient powers to execute the treaty on the part of his 
 conftituent. we ought not to have proceeded with him 
 lo far as \ve have done. The extent of his powers 
 ihould regularly have been afcertained in the firfl in- 
 flance. For my own part, I am perfectly fatisfied with 
 the Rajah's leal, and the contents of his letters. It is 
 not likely that he mould refufe to ratify a treaty by 
 which he is entitled to, and impowered to require the 
 afliftance of our forces, for the defence of his country, or for 
 the acquifition of territory, without any other limitation 
 or defcriptiou of the amount of fuch force to be fent, 
 immediaidy on his rcqiufition, except that it mall be pro- 
 portioned to the exigency of the fervice : of which the 
 Rana is to be the judge. The deputing a gentleman, 
 on purpofe to Gohud, to fee the treaty ratified, is, in 
 rny opinion, a very ufeleis, and I am fure it will be a 
 very expdniive meafure. I am therefore entirely againfr 
 it. I do not even know that the Rana's fignature is 
 
 wanted.
 
 wanted. The public feal on both fides is the true au- 
 thentication of their public afts refpeftively. 
 
 (Signed; P. FRANCIS. 
 
 (Agreed to the above,) E. WHEELER. 
 
 Refolved, That a perfon on the part of this govern- 
 ment be deputed to the Rana of Gohud, for the purpofc. 
 offering the treaty executed by the. Rana, and for the changing 
 the ratification. 
 
 The Governor-General now produces to the board 
 the power and treaty above recorded, under the feal 
 of the Rana of Gohud. 
 
 Vide, the Book of Perfian Correfpondence under 
 date. 
 
 The Governor-General thinks it incumbent on him 
 to lay before the board the following paper of intelli- 
 gence, which was inclofed in a letter to him from the 
 Commander in Chief. 
 
 Extratt of a letter from Futty-gur, 20th Nov. 1779* 
 
 " I have likewife juft now received from Gohud, 
 the difagreeable news of the Marattas having made 
 themfelves matters of the fort Arhaund, (which I had 
 the honour to inform you fome time ago was inverted") 
 and put the garrifon to the fword. The fame account 
 informs me, that they are preparing to attack another 
 fort, and that the Rajah is by no means in a condition 
 to oppofe them ; his troops being not only inferior in 
 point of number to the enemy, but alfo difpirited and 
 ready to mutiny, on account of the long arrears due to 
 them, which he is at prefent unable to pay. In this 
 fituation of his affairs, the fpeedy conqueft of his whole 
 N country
 
 C 9 ) 
 
 country muft be the confequence of the enemy's purfuing 
 their advantage with that brifknefs which the defence- 
 lefs ftate of it teems to invite." 
 
 Governor General. Having communicated this intel- 
 ligence to Meer Muzzur Ally, the Rajah's Minifter, 
 he informed me, that he had received no letter from 
 his matter fince his arrival, and therefore concluded 
 that the danger ftated as impending on his country 
 from the Maratta invafion, had been much exaggerat- 
 ed , but thought it probable that the port of Arhaund, 
 mentioned in the intelligence, had been taken by the 
 Marattas ; that it was fituated in the fouthern extremity 
 of his dominions, and not capable of much refiftance. 
 There can be no doubt that a Maratta force has entered 
 the territories of the Rana of Gphud, though of itfelf 
 not likely to be productive of any material confequence. 
 It appears to me to be part of a plan, which I was lately 
 iaformed by a channel which I have hitherto experienc- 
 ed to be of good authority, had been confulted by the 
 ruling adminiltrauon of Poona, for the general conduct 
 of the war againft the Company, namely, that Nana 
 Furneie and Hurry Punt Furkia were to conduct the 
 war againft General Goddard j and that Madagee Scin- 
 dia and Tuccajce Holkar were to unite their forces, and 
 proceed immediately againft the Rana of Gohud, to 
 reduce his country, and afterwards enter the Douab, 
 and the dominions of the Nabob of dude, or into^the 
 countrits dependent on Bengal; as the circumftances 
 of the times Should direct them probably to either. I 
 have fince heard that this plan has been changed, and 
 that all the chiefs above mentioned had united their 
 forces, and were preparing to march directly againft 
 General Goddard. It appears however, equally necef- 
 fary to guard againft any attempts which may have been 
 projected againft the Rana of Gohud, and to ftrengthen 
 
 his
 
 f 9' ) 
 
 his hands, to enable him the better to aft in concert 
 with us, if that defign, from whatever caufe, (hall have 
 been fufpended. I therefore move, that a copy of the 
 treaty which it has been agreed to conclude with the 
 Rana of Gohud, be immediately tranfmitted to the 
 Commander in Chief, with inftrufHons to comply with 
 any immediate requifition which the Rana may make 
 for a detachment of our force?, proportioned to the. 
 exigency of the fervice required by it, of which he will 
 of courfe be the judge.. 
 
 Mr. Wheeler. I am againft the motion. 
 
 Mr. Francis. If the Board were difpofed to make a 
 right ufe of the intelligence contained in the preceding 
 letter, I mould have thought it a fortunate circum- 
 flance, that we had received it before any thing had 
 been finally concluded with the Rana's Vakeel. The 
 Rana of Gohud's fituation appears, by this letter, to 
 be confiderably worfe than it was reprefented to me. 
 One of his forts was taken j the Marattas were prepar- 
 ing to take another, and the fpeedy conqueft of the 
 whole country was likely to be the confequence. If 
 this be the cafe, we are going to execute a treaty with 
 a Prince, who may have neither army nor any domi- 
 nions left. His army is difpirited, and ready to mutiny 
 for want of pay, which he is unable to give them. If 
 he cannot pay his own troops, how will it be poffible for 
 him to difcharge the fcbfidy which he engaged to p^y 
 for ours ? Inftead of enlarging his territories by con- 
 queft, which is the profefied object of the treaty, our 
 firft labour will be to recover for him, what he has 
 already loft j and this mud be attempted by marching 
 part of our army to a confiderable diftance on the other 
 fide of the. Jumna. I do not con fide r the prefent in- 
 yafton of his country by the Marattas, as belonging to, 
 N 2 or
 
 or the effect cf any particular plan of operations againft 
 the Company. He is at conftant enmity with the 
 Marattas, and I look upon this attack as nothing more 
 than the continuance of former hoftilities againft him. 
 At all events we (hall only diftrefs ourfelves, and aban- 
 don the protection of our frontier, by engaging in his 
 defence. I am, therefore, againft the motion. 
 
 Mr. BarwelL I agree to the motion. I cannot 
 adopt the opinion, that to allow the Marattas to con- 
 quer a country, fo near our frontier, and extend their 
 poflefllons quite up to it, will be attended with any of 
 thofe advantages which have been fuppofed as the pro- 
 bable refult of our not cppofing their progrefs. The 
 intelligence that has been lain before the Board, rather 
 determines me to engage our government in the fup- 
 port of the Rana of Gohud, than to leave the country 
 an eafy conquelt to the only enemy from whom we 
 have reafon to apprehend any mifchicf. 
 
 Agreed to the Governor-General's motion. And 
 ordered that a copy of the treaty with the Rana of 
 Gohud, be immediately tranfmitted to the Commander 
 in Chief. 
 
 Secret Department Confutation, Eec. 13, 1779. 
 
 The Governor-General propofes that Captain Palmer 
 be permitted to draw the fame allowances during his 
 deputation to Gohud, as were afllgned to Mr. Elliot, 
 on his deputation to Berar. And that Mr. Tho. Short 
 be appointed affiftant to Captain Palmer, with the lame 
 allowances as were granted to Mr. Farquhar, afilftant 
 to Mr. Elliot. 
 
 Mr. Wheeler. I have not yet confidered the bufmefs 
 
 which
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 which Captain Palmer is going to undertake, in die 
 light, or of the fame importance wiih that which was 
 entrufted to the charge of Mr. Elliot. At this diflance 
 of time, I do not properly recoiled:, whether the al- 
 lowances given to that gentlemen, were not objected to 
 by me. However, I do not mean to revert to a former 
 opinion, upon a fubject fo perfonal as the prefent; 
 though I would wifh the allowances had been fuch on 
 this occafion, as 1 mould have judged fafe to have ac- 
 ceded to, which, as they are now dated, I mufl beg 
 leave to decline. 
 
 Mr. Francis. Mr. Elliott's allowances amounted to 
 3318 cur. rup. per month, thofeof his afiiltants to 555, 
 in all 3873. I think they are much too high for the 
 prefent occafion ; and as Captain Palmer is only deputed 
 to lee the treaty with the Hana executed, he cannot 
 have any ufe or employment for an affiftant. 
 
 Mr, Barwell. I think the allowances for Mr. Elliot, 
 were regulated by thofe allotted to Colonel Upton, on 
 his embaffy to Poona; and however large they may 
 have appeared to the Court of Directors, I have reafon 
 to think that neither Colonel Upton nor Mr. Elliott 
 were enabled to make any confiderable faving from 
 their allowances. The circumftances in which Captain 
 Palmer is placed, is nearly the fame, and the appearance 
 he mud make, muft be regulated upon the fame prin- 
 ciple. The difference of rank between Colonel Upton 
 and Captain Palmer can be no rule to direct the judg- 
 ment, on this occafion. He is the fervant of Govern- 
 ment, in the fame line as Colonel Upton was, and he 
 muft fupport the fame character. 1 therefore aflent 
 to the motion. 
 
 Agreed. That Captain Palmer be permitted to draw 
 
 the
 
 ( 94 ) 
 
 the fame allowances as Mr. Elliott, viz. Lieutenant- 
 Colonel's pay, and double batta 1488 fonat rupees 
 per month, fixed falary 1000; and contingencies, in- 
 cluding mounchies, fervants, &c. 500. That Mr. 
 Shorr, as afliftant to Catain Palmer, be allowed the fame 
 21 Mr. Farquar, v iz. pay and batta of a Captain, 512 
 fonat rupees person th. 
 
 FINIS.
 
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