To introduce these chapters on Asian and Chinese news, I have provided a personal view on a topic that is well-known but I believe little understood. It is Rudyard Kipling’s ‘East is East and West is West and ne’er the twain shall meet.’ In the East, the politician was the inheritor of an ancient system that was known to induce to social happiness by maintaining popular satisfaction in unchanging tranquillity. The ‘jack-in-the-box’ of Asian social organisation was luck. Changes in luck were often presaged by drought or flood causing famine and plague, exodus and re-establishment. The political organisation of Asia was always based on honourable conduct. It is expressed in the old Indian sagas – the Mahabharat, the Ramayana and in the later statements of Confucius, Mahavira and the Buddha. The accumulation of power by anyone is refined and restrained by concurrent insight into the Celestial priorities as revealed by national advantage and adversity. Comets, meteor showers, the appearance of a new star, an earthquake or volcanic eruption were all auspicious and meaningful but ultimately the means to secure Celestial protection in the settled agrarian states of Asia was always for the government to act honourably. The Chinese had an expression for it, adopted I believe in the Han at the time of Christ – ‘the King rules justly, the people obey; the King rules unjustly, the people rebel.’
Power without the knowledge to use it was opposed to everything the East knew of reality - whether it was the warlord or the merchant. Without restraint either one could work endless mischief. China learned this lesson in the period of warring states and has kept it before its people by recital of a splendid story – the Romance of the Three Kingdoms – in which ‘might over right’ is considered and repudiated. It is a great story with a fund of original thought on how to deal with recalcitrant and violent neighbours.
Those who can evidence their understanding of the Heavenly principles by examination will become politicians or administrators. Those who cannot will be governed and there is nothing to chose between any one of them - they all obey the same law and receive the same result. That law is the moral law derived from an insistence on social harmony. Every act should at least maintain if not elevate society. An individual might complain his neighbour over a lack of respect of this law, but his own position in the family and society depended on others (necessarily according with his luck) and ultimately it was the numbers that identified the correct response. If an individual’s opinion was disputed by others, it must be wrong – a genuine example of democracy. To request for some personal advantage was effectively a rebellion against the fundamental law of Heaven which distributed the advantages and disadvantages in accordance with one’s luck. Personal advantage was something that might be granted by agreement but always solely as an indulgence or concession and never as a right - that would give rise to an expectation on the part of others and tranquillity would be endangered. This turned the Eastern analysis of reality, as propounded by the Buddha, Lao Tse, Mahavira, etc., into a workable political system. Luck was identified as the basic process out of which cause and effect appeared to manifest.
This simplistic review of different philosophical values is too brief. I believe the important thing to hold in mind is that, for the Westerners, there was no insight into their own motivations, none of that self-questioning that is so intensely Asian in character. Every thought-chain started from the system that conditioned their thinking. Whatever underlay that, evidenced by those occasional twinges of conscience, was analysed and rationalised. The Western worldview starts with birth and ends with death. A body has its five senses that accumulate perceptions and store them as memories providing the database on which all actions are predicated. It goes no further.
One might say as a statement of existence and a statement of the different viewpoints, that spiritually one knows that God exists whilst intellectually one knows He does not. This is a paradox that continues to perplex an inquisitive species like ours. In the first of the above two states of consciousness we are intensely social and co-operative; in the latter we look after ourselves and, when successful, throw a bone to those who cannot.
In the east the natural productivity of the soil and the seas and the long history of husbandry made survival skills useful only when a natural disaster occurred. There was time to watch the grass grow and reflect on the significance of existence. It seems it was the Indians who first evolved the techniques of stilling thought. At any rate the main body of present-day understanding of this subject comes from them. It transpired that those ‘explorers of the mind’ discovered the end of thought was not the end of life - one did not become a mindless entity, like a log - instead there was a new world of deep satisfaction to be had that expressed itself in a feeling of comfortable independence from the usual concerns of mundane living - a release from mortality, and a turning around of the mind to focus and promote the interests of the entire species in so far as it was still caught in the web of objectivity.
While the West sought to conquer the physical universe of time and space; the East left those endeavours to Heaven and focused its attention on the inner world, the self-concept, and by disciplined insight into the root of perception, to remove the objective field from the subjective observer, and, as it were, push him off the heap of logic on which his position was founded into the sea of objectively unknowable but essentially real existence. This act of closing-down thought to release the grip of the Ego and permit reality to emerge, is the feature of humanity that religion has attempted to monopolise and direct. At an earlier day it was recognised and expressed in the west by the Knight’s vigil, the monk’s retreat, the 40 days in the wilderness and it remains precisely that - an endeavour for the few, not a systemic foundation for the many. Western people do not spend months in a monastery as a majority of Thai adults chose to do at some time in their lives. I believe this is the crucial difference between East and West.
The first few articles in this chapter relate to the prosecution of Warren Hastings by the British Parliament for maladministration of British India during his Governor-Generalship. The prosecution of Hastings was procured by Burke, Sheridan and the other liberal Whigs primarily as a means of attacking the King’s patronage and diminishing the monarchy vis-à-vis parliamentary democracy. Burke sent his brother to India to collect the evidence. It was intended, in the case of a guilty verdict by the Lords, to impugn the imperial system as operated by the India Company and bring Asia within the ambit of Britain’s other colonies governed from London. This would have denied the King his Indian revenue and Indian patronage which would have been transferred to parliament to distribute.
Sir Thomas Erskine delivered an opinion on the Company’s Asian Empire during his successful Defence of the publisher John Stockport at King’s Bench in 1790, against a charge of libel. Stockport had published a pamphlet defending Sir Warren Hastings. I have included four paragraphs of that successful Defence as an introduction to the newspaper articles concerning Hastings’ trial.
“… It is mad and preposterous to bring to the standard of justice and humanity, the exercise of a dominion founded upon violence and terror.
It may and must be true that Mr Hastings has repeatedly offended against the rights and privileges of Asiatic government, if he was the faithful deputy of a power which could not maintain itself for an hour, without trampling on both:
“He may and must have offended against the laws of God and nature, if he was the faithful Viceroy of an Empire wrested in blood from the people to whom God and nature had given it:
“He may and must have preserved that unjust dominion over a timorous and abject nation, by a terrifying, overbearing, insulting superiority, if he was the faithful administrator of your government, which having no root in consent or affection, no foundation in similarity of interests, nor support from any one principle which cements men together in society, could only be upheld by alternate stratagem and force.
“The unhappy people of India, feeble and effeminate as they are from the softness of their climate, and subdued and broken as they have been by the knavery and strength of civilisation, still occasionally start up in all the vigour and intelligence of insulted nature. To be governed at all, they must be governed with a rod of iron; and our Empire in the East would over and over again have been lost to Great Britain if civil skill and military prowess had not united their efforts to support an authority which Heaven never gave, by means which It can never sanction.”
“I have not been considering this subject through the cold medium of books, but have been speaking of man and his nature, and of human dominion, from what I have seen of them myself amongst reluctant nations submitting to our authority. I know what they feel, and how such feelings can alone be repressed. I have heard them in my youth from a naked savage, in the indignant character of a Prince surrounded by his subjects, addressing the Governor of a British colony, holding a bundle of sticks in his hand, as the notes of his unlettered eloquence. “Who is it,” said the jealous ruler over the desert encroached upon by the restless foot of English adventure – “who is it that causes this river to rise in the high mountains and to empty itself in the ocean? Who is it that causes to blow the loud winds of winter and that calms them again in the summer? Who is it that rears up the shade of these lofty forests, and blasts them with quick lightning at his pleasure? The same being who gave to you a country on the other side of the waters, and gave ours to us; and by this title we will defend it,” said the warrior throwing down his tomahawk upon the ground and raising the war-sound of his nation. These are the feelings of subjugated men all round the globe; and depend upon it, nothing but fear will control where it is in vain to look for affection.”
“These reflections are the only antidotes to those anathemas of superhuman eloquence which have lately shook these walls that surround us; but which it unaccountably falls to my province, whether I will or no, a little to stem the torrent of; by reminding you that you have a mighty sway in Asia, which cannot be maintained by the finer sympathies of life, or the practice of its charities and affections: What will they do for you when surrounded by two hundred thousand men with artillery, cavalry and elephants, calling upon you for their dominions which you have robbed them of? Justice may, no doubt, in such a case forbid the levying of a fine to pay the revolting soldiery: a treaty may stand in the way of increasing a tribute to keep up the very existence of the government; and delicacy for women may forbid all entrance into a zenana for money, what ever may be the necessity for taking it – all these things must ever be occurring. But under the pressure of such constant difficulties, so dangerous to national honour, it might be better perhaps to think of effectually securing it altogether, by recalling our troops and merchants and abandoning our Oriental empire. Until this is done, neither religion nor philosophy can be pressed very far into the aid of reformation and punishment.”
“If England, from a lust of ambition and dominion, will insist on maintaining despotic rule over distant and hostile nations, beyond all comparison more numerous and extensive than herself, and gives commissions to her Viceroys to govern them with no other instructions than to preserve them and to secure permanently their revenues; with what colour of consistency or reason can she place herself in the moral chair, and affect to be shocked at the execution of her own orders; adverting to the exact measure of wickedness and injustice necessary for their execution, and complaining only of the excess as the immorality, considering her authority as a dispensation for breaking the commands of God and the breach of them as only punishable when contrary to the ordinances of man.”
The charges were ultimately dismissed by a large majority of the Law Lords but the transcript, so far as it was reported in the newspapers, provides useful background to the India Company’s early development of its role as sovereign, first in Bengal and eventually throughout the sub-continent.
Sat 5th Sept 1795
Warren Hastings was called to the House of Lords on 23rd April. The committee that reviewed the hearing recommended the Lords vote ‘not guilty’ on the 1st seven charges:
The 1st charge was that on pretence of war in Europe in July 1778 (of which he had no formal confirmation and his Treasury was already abnormally full), Hastings harassed Cheyt Singh with a requirement for three battalions of sepoys and 500,000 rupees to pay them.
The 2nd charge was that in 1779 he demanded another 500,000 rupees from the same man.
The 3rd charge was that on 22nd June 1780 he demanded another 500,000 rupees although he had been bribed in 200,000 rupees to desist in the demand.
The 4th charge was that he harassed the Rajah of Oudh for money.
The 5th that he took a force of troops to the Upper Provinces to arrest the Rajah of Oudh and, in the following unjust war, dispossessed him of his lands.
He then (6th charge) attacked the Rajah’s mother in her land of Bidjegur and plundered her.
He then (7th charge) appointed Markham to Benares with instructions to force Cheyt Singh’s successor to accept £400,000 to surrender the opium monopoly to the Company.
The 2nd group of three charges related to the Begums:
On 21st May 1781 he conspired with the Nabob of Chunar in a treaty that purported to resume the jaghires of the nabob’s relatives but in fact impoverished them.
That he accepted £100,000 from the Nabob as a sweetener at that time, and
That he sent Middleton to Fyzbad (where the Nabob’s relatives lived) to occupy the town and extort their wealth.
The 11th – 16th charges concerned bribes he was said to have received:
That on 30th Sept 1773 he received £40,000 from Nuncomar for putting that man’s nominee in charge of the Bengal Treasury. That Nobkissen paid him a £34,000 bribe. That he took £40,000 from Kelleram as fee to farm the rents of Bihar. That he took another £5,000 from Nundoolal, 1,000,000 rupees from the Vizier and £40,000 from the Zemindar of Radhanny for other inappropriate reasons.
The 4th group of charges related to contracts:
Hastings gave the opium monopoly he had just bought to Stephen Sulivan, son of Company’s then Chairman Lawrence Sulivan, for a term of four years. Young Sulivan sold this contract to John Benn for 350,000 rupees annually. Benn sold the contract to Young for £14,900 annually and thus the Company’s government received a reduced income from a valuable commodity.
Secondly the contracts for provision of oxen to the Company’s army was sold to Mr Crofts for £50,000.
Illegal payments to General Eyre Coote of £18,000 annually.
Approving a 15% surcharge on all the Company’s shipping and freight charges ex India when it was fixed by the Directors at 5%.
Approving a surcharge of 30% to John Belli in 1776 on all the stores and provisions he bought for Bengal Presidency.
The charges were read individually to each Lord and each voted. Within an hour the opinion of the House was obtained and provided by Cooper to the Lord Chancellor. There were only 27 Lords who voted.
The Lord Chancellor and Earl of Carnarvon voted guilty on all charges; Norfolk, Suffolk and Mansfield voted for conviction on one or two charges each. The result was 21/6 for acquittal. The Lord Chancellor then pronounced the decision of the House – not guilty, absolved by a majority and acquitted.
Upon hearing this news the Company awarded Hastings a pension of £4,000 pa.
During the session, the Stadtholder and his family were in the Queen’s box with Prince William; the visiting Turkish ambassador and his staff were in the Foreign Ministers’ box.
Saturday 12th Jan 1793
Hasting’s impeachment - Dallas’ summing-up for the defence:
The main charges were allegations Warren Hastings made unjustifiable demands on Cheyt Sing three years in a row for money for the public service and for the arrest and expulsion of Cheyt Sing after the massacre of British troops.
Hastings is being prosecuted by the House of Commons. The Judges are the House of Lords. Ellenborough (Edward Law) defends Hastings.
Editor’s comment – “At least he has Law on his side”
Cheyt Sing is not now described as a vagabond or wanderer. Actually, he enjoys the protection of Madajee Sindhia, the great Mahratta King, and sits in his Court.
Law says “Hastings is of an advanced age at which his character can be accurately determined by his former acts. No man in the decline in life becomes malicious for the first time. Malice is lodged in the heart and tinges every act throughout life. Many character witnesses have come forward to attest to the fine feelings of this ‘oppressor of suffering nations.’”
NB – the Company operates an Indiaman called ‘Warren Hastings’ and continues to do so throughout the long trial.
Sat 31st August 1793
The trial of Warren Hastings in London is finally coming to an end. We wish Cornwallis would be allowed to take his seat in the House of Lords and be a judge of the case – he knows how his predecessor was instructed. In the normal case of imperial expansion ‘approbation follows success’. In Hastings’ case it is the reverse.
Sat 31st August 1793
The 102nd day of the trial of Warren Hastings was involved in the examination of Colonel Williams for the defence. A letter in Persian was produced which, it was said, proved the intrigues of Subbah Singh and his brother against the English. Mr Hallet produced a translation but as the letter was unsigned, the prosecution objected to its presentation. The matter was deadlocked until Hastings himself stood and said:
“The hearing is about to be adjourned to allow the court to go on circuit. I had hoped to close my case before that happened. I beg you at least to sit from day to day to permit completion.
“It is six years since I was accused in this court. Prior to that there was a two year investigation by the Commons. In 1790, when my case was suspended on the dissolution of parliament, I had expected it to be concluded the following year. Now many of my witnesses have died and yesterday I learned of the death of another - John Scott - an important defence witness. Others have been attending here day after day, year after year, and I fear they might also die before being heard. Colonel Duff has come from India to give evidence and he cannot remain here in perpetuity. He may have to leave before he is examined. I ask that the present session of parliament be continued until my case has been presented.”
Mr Burke commenced a reply but their Lordships noted it was 5.30 pm and Lord Sydney made the motion for adjournment.
The following day William Law (Ellenborough), counsel for the defence, continued his presentation. He established the right of Assusul Dowlah in Mohamedan law to inherit the estate of Suraj al Dowlah. The mortgage that the Nabob of Oudh made to Suraj’s widow was under a guarantee of the Company which contained the stipulation that, should the money lent be employed prejudicially to the Company’s interest, the right of Assusul to inherit would revive and, as part of his property, it would be available to creditors with claims upon him. So long as she adhered to the conditions of the guarantee she was protected from the demands of her son.
Law argued that Francis forgot this stipulation and proposed to take 1 million Rupees from the Begum. Hastings recalled the stipulation and declined to do so. Later on another difference arose between the Begum and her son which Mr Bristow resolved by negotiating an agreement between the parties whereby the Begum paid 8.3 million Rupees to Assusul purportedly to pay his troops and quell a mutiny. Hastings thought Bristow had exceeded his instructions but a majority of the Council approved his act.
Law then moved to 1781. In that year our forces under Colonels Baillie and Fletcher were cut to pieces. Hyder Ali and Tippoo Sultan raised Mysore against us; the Mahrattas and the Nizam were threatening to destroy us in central India, and Cheyt Singh with 30,000 cavalry was on the Bengal frontier.1
It was a time when the Council should have been unanimous. It was at this time that Hastings resolved to make his trip to Lucknow to gauge the disposition of the Nabob of Oudh and investigate the conduct of the Begums. The only Council member present was Wheeler and he approved. Hastings is accused of ambition for this but similar powers were granted to both Clive and Cornwallis.
Arriving at Lucknow, Hastings found the Begums in open revolt. Colonel Gordon and a detachment of sepoys was unable to enter the Begums’ lands because they had erected a battery at the river crossing. While Gordon pondered, the Begums’ agents bribed his force and all but 20 of his men deserted. Gordon and his small group were saved by a British merchant who resided at that place. A similar fate was met by Colonel MacDonald and his detachment. Then rewards were offered in three tiers for the heads of British officers, British troops and the Company’s Indian troops.
Hastings resolved to resume the Jaghire that had been granted by Assusul to the Begums under the Company’s guarantee and to appropriate the funds arising from that land to meet the costs of the war he proposed to fight against them. Recall that Hastings was earlier condemned for not demanding the debt due from Suraj when the contractual condition was broken; now he is again condemned for demanding it.
The prosecution complains that the eunuchs of the Begums were treated with relentless barbarity by Hastings. Contrarily they were lightly confined and allowed every luxury. The Begums were then probably the richest people in the world. The court has been told the ladies were plundered and impoverished by Hastings yet they were now disposed to befriend him!
Law concluded that Hastings had displayed the appropriate balance between severity and leniency in these transactions.
Sat 23rd Nov 1793
Before 1773 it was permitted for Company employees to receive presents. At that time, there was only Clive’s Oath to comply with. That Oath was introduced to ensure presents were received for the benefit of the Company and not individual employees. According to General Claverling and Colonel Monson, the presents which the Begum gave to Hastings were for entertainment. It is customary. High ranking Company officers are allowed 2,000 rupees a day whilst they reside at the Nabob’s court. There is no bribery in this matter of the Begum’s presents.
At the time of the matters in the charges against Hastings, a confederacy had been formed against the Company by different powers in India and Hastings purpose was to dismantle it by detaching some of the powers from it. He was opposed in all his plans by Francis and Wheeler. He sent Major Carnac to Sindhia’s capital but the Council opposed him because of the expense. Hastings then applied 200,000 rupees he had received from Cheyt Sing to the venture. He had to advance this money as his own property because Francis and Wheeler, had he called it ‘presents received for the Company’, would have used Clive’s Oath to prevent his using it. Hastings explained what he had done to the Directors in London by the first ship of the season. He was not hiding anything.
Sat 28th June 1794
The trial of Warren Hastings will continue in the current session of parliament (Jan 1794) and should include Marquis Cornwallis’ evidence which is expected to be favourable to the defence. There is a mutual esteem between great men that arises from a knowledge of their abilities. Cornwallis will have been able to judge Hastings from his own subsequent tenure as Governor-General.
Sat 6th Sept 1794
The Marquis Cornwallis has at last been examined in the Warren Hastings case. He says Hastings was esteemed by the Bengal natives. The Prosecutor asked which zemindars had provided that estimation. Cornwallis said he received all information through his English staff and believed it was correct but he did not speak any Indian languages himself.
He had heard the allegation that Hastings had taken money from Rajah Kelleram of Patna through a third party Ounga Govind Singh but he did not examine into the past, preferring to look forward.
Burke produced a letter of Cornwallis dated 2nd Aug 1789 which said ‘agriculture and domestic commerce has been declining for many years. All except the Shroffs and Banyans are becoming poorer’. Cornwallis forgot writing it but supposed it was correct at the time. Did he remember going on to say in the same letter ‘even the Zemindars in the Company’s lands are impoverished, partly due to their indolence and partly to our former defective administration.’2 He did. Another letter dated 18th Sept 1789 said ‘one third of the Company’s lands is now jungle. Will a ten year lease induce a Proprietor to clear the jungle and encourage ryots to cultivate, when at the end of the decade he again faces a new assessment’?
Another of 3rd Nov 1788 says ‘from frequent changes of system, amongst other reasons, the zemindars and other leaseholders have been impoverished. This country however has fertile soil and industrious farmers. Moderate taxation and good justice should produce great riches to England and the Company. Speculators have talked-up the possibility of immediately increasing revenue whereas a gradual program of increased production will be more enlightened. Desperate adventurers will pay any price for land in the expectation of profiting from the farmers’ production on it. We have often experienced their activities. This is an inhumane policy that distresses the farmers and disappoints the revenue and might result in the depopulation of Company lands’. Cornwallis remembered writing both letters.
Grey then asked Cornwallis if he recalled receiving a letter from Captain Kirkpatrick, the Resident at Hyderabad, ‘our former character and policy have caused all the Indian rulers to see us as insincere’. He thought he remembered that but did not necessarily agree with Kirkpatrick. Did he think Kirkpatrick’s representation was unfounded? I have given every answer I can, he said.3
Sat 13th Sept 1794
Warren Hastings trial 29th April:
Prosecutor Burke MP said he was going to introduce a new line of evidence to convict Hastings of fraud, robbery and forgery in this ‘everlasting’ trial, because Larkins had palliated the charges as due to negligence and forgetfulness. Edward Law, for the Defence, was unable to prevent Burke’s initiative.
Readers will recall the trial started 8 sessions ago in parliament with the law lords sitting in judgement. The original charge was that Hastings had diminished the welfare of the Indian people, reduced the revenue of the Company and brought Britain into international disrepute. Burke made little progress in evidencing these complaints. Then he called Larkins, whom it was said, would show Hastings in his true colours. Larkins’ evidence did not progress the prosecution case as expected.
Then Burke produced Nobkissen, a Jewish banker, who had loaned Hastings 300,000 rupees which Hastings paid into the Company’s treasury. When Nobkissen discovered the money had not gone to Hastings but to the Company, he asked for repayment and then issued a Writ and claim. Hastings declined to answer Nobkissen’s complaint while the hearing of his action was pending in the Company’s own commercial courts. Burke said that refusal was tantamount to an admission of guilt. Fox and Angelo Taylor both contended for the admission of Nobkissen’s evidence in the instant case. Burke said the law of parliament is different from the law of the land and had its own precedents for admissibility. Law, Plummer and Dallas for the defence all argued for its exclusion saying Nobkissen had been induced to make his claim four years after Hastings’ trial commenced in order to provide the prosecution with new grounds of complaint. The Law Lords ruled the evidence inadmissible.
The trial has already cost £100,000 (Editor - equivalent to the annual expense of the American Federal government) and there is still no end in sight. It is hoped to be concluded in this session.
Sat 6th Dec 1794
The trial of Warren Hastings, 28th May:
On this 140th day of trial (its being heard at a rate of about 20 days a year), Burke for the prosecution told their Lordships that the honour of the Commons required a conviction:
This prosecution was not commenced flippantly. Neither was it forced upon parliament by the will of the people. It resulted from laborious enquiry and debate. We spent years investigating. An acquittal of Hastings would be a conviction of the entire House of Commons and we managers of his prosecution will retire from the Bar in shame.
In 1782 several resolutions were proposed to MPs by Dundas, the then Lord Advocate of Scotland (now a principal Secretary of State). Those resolutions were agreed by the House and referred to a committee of enquiry which confirmed the determination of the Commons in its report.
In order to relieve their Lordships of great detail, a considerable amount of evidence was excluded and we proceeded on only four charges – the first two are the Benares and Begum charges which were to show Hastings’ violence and tyranny; the last two were to show his greed.
The defendant has been insolent throughout the proceedings, Burke continued. He is impeached before the highest court in the land and all he says is the MPs are misguided and have used violent language against him. He says, he has done nothing wrong and he brings character witnesses. That’s the entire Defence.
At an early part of the hearing, Hastings petitioned the Lords to say he had spent £30,000 on his defence and the corresponding expenses of the Commons in prosecuting him, which are enormous, were obviously and alarmingly over-stated. Well, one item in that £30,000 is £6,000 for copying clerks, however, the Company’s Directors have told the prosecution that they permitted Hastings to have copies of whatever he wanted gratis. So this £6,000 is a lie.
Hastings has told you that in India ‘the power of the sovereign is everything, the rights of the people are nothing’. He says the Indian people have no sense of honour, no notion of equity or justice, and that they live in slavery without property. Burke contrarily noted that Indians are amongst the most honourable of people. That there are cases of Indian women being accused and acquitted with honour who then killed themselves because of the stain of the prosecution on their characters. He noted cases of Indian sepoys condemned by the Company to be blown apart at the mouth of a cannon, who still maintained their honour in the face of this dire punishment. As regards equity and justice, I refer to Halbed’s recent book on Indian law which shows it is as good as ours (and incidentally shows that the people have property). There are many other facts that reveal all Hastings’ comments on India and the Indians are nonsense.
Sat 10th Jan 1795
Chamberlain John Wilkes (of North Briton fame) has given the freedom of the City of London to the Marquis Cornwallis on 5th April 1794. In his eulogy Wilkes said:
“The City thanks you for your services in the East. You have extended the empire and added an annual income of £500,000 (the estimated land revenue from Tippoo’s cessions) to the Company. You are also honoured for your care of the troops and mild administration of the natives.
“You have effected the plan of Warren Hastings and adhered to it with liberality. Hastings rose above great difficulties to preserve our empire - you have extended it.”
Sat 7th Feb 1795
House of Commons: Pitt moved that the managers of Hasting’s impeachment be thanked. Dundas seconded the motion. Sumner, one of the Company’s MPs, said it prejudiced Hastings to call for a vote of thanks before judgment. The Speaker of the House noted that in the earlier cases of Lord Macclesfield and Dr Sacheverall, thanks had been voted before the judicial decision was made.
Sumner reprobated the terms used by the prosecution managers (actually Burke) to describe the Company’s officers – ‘thieves, robbers, swindlers’ - that degraded every man who had served in India. He particularly resented the prosecutors’ demand of the Lords that Hastings must be convicted to uphold the dignity of the Commons. Wigley agreed. Windham defended the prosecution language and said it had to be understood in context. Fox also defended Burke. A vote on Sumner’s motion for reprobation failed 21/50.
A vote to give parliamentary thanks to the Prosecutors then passed 50/21. The Speaker thanked the managers of Hastings’ prosecution - “You have acquitted yourselves well and maintained the honour of this House. You have established a valuable precedent – that impeachment is not interrupted by a dissolution of parliament. The command of this House is to give you its thanks.”
Editor – Burke then announced his retirement from politics. We have searched the London newspapers but, whilst they report the thanks of parliament to the prosecutors, there is still no report of the judgement. As parliament is now prorogued, we suppose judgement is reserved until the next session.
Sat 25th July 1795
The House of Lords was cleared of strangers on 2nd March prior to the Lords giving their judgment on the prosecution of Warren Hastings. The reasoning of the judgment is not recorded but Hastings was acquitted on all counts.
Sat 17th Oct 1795
The British residents of Calcutta have been organised by Colonel Morgan to present their congratulations to Warren Hastings on escaping the violence of the House of Commons. A Committee of ten drafted the address:
“When you left here we told you of our great appreciation. Now we congratulate you on your acquittal. We admire your patience and fortitude. The justice of your cause is established. Your acquittal is a triumph for you and for our system of justice. This long trial has prevented your attending to your own interests. We hope your remaining years will compensate for that loss.”
The Address has been left in Lefevre’s Tavern (ex Le Gallais tavern) for the signature of anyone who wishes to join-in our happiness.
(The Governor-General and CiC repudiate this initiative in the 7th Nov edition – not recited in this text)
Sat 31st Oct 1795
The Company’s shareholders met at India House to consider paying for Warren Hastings’ defence. Sir Stephen Lushington was in the Chair. W Lushington moved the proposal – the charges against Hastings concerned those of his public acts that produced great wealth for the Company. He did not personally make anything out of them. He has now been acquitted of impropriety and we wish to reimburse his expenses.
Hastings became 2nd in Council in 1762 and assumed control in 1772. We had a serious cashflow problem then. He squeezed an extra £800,000 a year out of the salt monopoly. He adopted other revenue-improvement measures which all together increased our Bengal income by £2 millions a year. This enhanced revenue augmented the dividend.
Hastings receives a pension of £1,000 per year and his wife has an income of about twice that. On that income he cannot maintain his family in the way we would wish. The cost of his defence was £70,000 which he is responsible to pay. Lushington wished to obtain shareholder approval for payment of the costs as a first step. His second proposal was for Hastings to provide a statement of legal costs which the Company would meet. The third was for a grant to Hastings of £5,000 per year from 1783 for twenty years.
Lord Kinnaird and M/s Knox and Adair spoke warmly of Hastings’ virtues. Haywood thought the proposals were ultra vires. Randle Jackson agreed that the proposals would better come from the Directors after taking legal advice. He thought Hastings should first apply to the House of Commons for his costs – it was Burke and a few other MPs who put him to the expense. Major Scott recalled that Hastings had already explored the recovery of his costs but Pitt declined to recommend it to the King. Pitt thought, as the Company was the beneficiary of Hastings initiatives, it should pick up the tab. The first two proposals were then approved. The third proposal of a grant of £5,000 was also approved but is to commence last 1st Jan and continue until Charter renewal in 1813.
The matter was debated in the Commons the next day on a motion of one of the Company’s MPs. Dundas said territorial revenue was controlled by the Board of Control and could not be applied as suggested by the shareholders. The other source of company income was from commerce - the sale of Eastern goods in England. He thought the payments might come within this latter head if they appeared as expenses, charges or other outgoings associated with commerce. He concluded that the Company’s structure since Clive’s shareholder rebellion had denied any power to the owners – they could vote nothing. The Directors might issue the money but would retain a personal liability for the legality of their acts.
Sat 14th May 1796
A Directors’ meeting was held at India House on 15th Oct 1795:
David Scott was in the Chair. Lushington said Warren Hastings’ merits needed no review. He proposed a motion “this Court regrets that its resolutions of 2nd and 3rd June approving payment of Hasting’s legal bills had not been acted upon.” Hastings increased the Company’s Bengal revenues by £1.5 millions per year. Lushington recalled the Court approved a payment of £10,000 to Verelst after he was criticised.
Tolfrey recalled the Company had paid the legal expenses of the Patna Council at the time they were prosecuted at the passage of the last India Bill. The successful defence by Hastings had pre-empted the need for the Company to repay the money he took – it was worth a reward. Hastings was the first person to survive a parliamentary impeachment on the merits of his case.
Twining was for paying the legal costs but not an annuity. Hastings was already old and any annuity would soon devolve on some unworthy relative, he thought. The Deputy Chairman, Sir Francis Baring and Mr Inglis both spoke in praise of Hastings. It was agreed that another Court would be called to decide the matter of reward for Hastings.
Sat 1st Oct 1796
London – the Board of Control has permitted the Directors to pay Warren Hastings a 28-year annuity of £4,000 per year, backdated to June 1785 to ensure it expires before next Charter renewal.
Thurs 18th Aug 1814 Extraordinary
Warren Hastings was made a Privy Councillor in May 1814. (the selection of Privy Councillors is made by the Monarch.)
That is what I have recorded from the newspapers respecting the Hastings’ trial. The document now resumes with general Asian news:
Sat 29th Aug 1795
Mercier’s Parisian press reports the disorder at the National Convention is not entirely settled. A group calling themselves Cretans tried to disrupt the meeting on 3rd Feb. Leonard Bourdon seems to be a member - he was one of the minority calling ‘down with the moderates’. Fayan is another and made some radical statements. Order was quickly restored and Mercier is publishing the spat to alert Parisians to what the Cretans had attempted in the chamber.
Mercier also reports a 21st Feb sitting at which the Deputies elected representatives for the Colonies in the East. Legendre became incensed with a colonial deputy named Garaud and threatened to ‘box his ears’. All the Jacobin opposition shouted for justice. Legendre defended himself – in attacking their chiefs it is unsurprising I should be attacked by their chiefs’ supporters, and he identified Thuriot as the Deputy who sought to unite the colonial representatives under his own agenda. Thuriot denied. Legendre reiterated and added that Thuriot only combated Robespierre (his claim to protection now) because he wanted the supreme power himself. Every Deputy was alerted and the subsequent vote selected only non-Jacobin representatives for Mauritius – Barras, Letourneur de la Manche and Harmansi de la Meuse.
Canton Register Vol 7 No 32 – Tues 12th August 1834
From Montgomery Martin’s History of the British Colonies :
Kashmir – the greatest market for cashmere wool is Gilgit, a dependency of Ladakh, 20 days distant from the northern boundary of Kashmir. There are two types of cashmere. One is white and readily takes a dye. The other is ash-coloured and cannot easily be dyed. 2 lbs of wool can be obtained from a goat each year. The down is separated from the coarse hair by hand and then washed repeatedly in water infused with rice starch. At Gilgit the best raw wool costs 1 rupee a pound. After separation and washing, the raw weight is halved. After it has been spun, three Rupees weight of wool becomes 1 Rupee of thread. Shawls are made of various types for various markets. The ones sent to Turkey are the finest and most delicate. The coarser cashmere is used to make carpets.4
Saturday 12th Jan 1793
Calcutta Gazette - The amount of Company debt paper in circulation in October 1792 was 29,947,012 Rupees and in November 31,614,019 Rupees. The amount available for the discharge of debt this month is 3,902,238 Rupees.5
19th/20th January 1793
John Shore has been appointed Governor-General of India in Bengal.
The Scotsman Murdoch Brown, Imperial (Austrian) consul general to Portuguese Asian possessions, has arrived at Goa on the Henrietta.6
19th/20th January 1793
The Court of Directors write that the quality of Indian indigo has been improved beyond the American and French competition and will soon rival the Spanish. M/s Charters, Gilchrist, Wm Orby Hunter, Perreau, Gervais Robinson and Stephens are all to be congratulated on the quality of their produce. Public congratulations will inspire other planters to emulate them.
Calcutta News – The Company has chartered the Pitt to carry 7,000 bags of saltpetre from Diamond Harbour (within Diamond Point) to London.
The American ship Aurora (Meek) has arrived Bombay from Mauritius
19th/20th January 1793
Notice – the lands ceded by Tippoo Sultan to the Company are being surveyed and inspected. The residents are permitted to trade in all articles except pepper until further orders. 20th December 17927
19th/20th January 1793
Notice – all bonds, certificates and promissory notes issued by this government will be received at the Treasury in subscription to the Company’s annual remittance to London at the exchange rate of 2/4d per Bombay Rupee.
19th/20th January 1793
The Malwan pirate fleet on the west coast attacked the coasting merchantmen Ceres and Hunter but was beaten off.
Sat 2nd Feb 1793
A subscription Ball and supper will be held at the Bombay Tavern on 6th February 1793 to commemorate the victory of Cornwallis over Tippoo Sultan on 6th Feb 1792 at Seringapatam which signified the British conquest of Mysore.
(NB - a similar celebration was held at the Calcutta Theatre on the same day, reported in Bombay Courier of 23rd Feb. The battle was between Cornwallis’ army of 30,000 troops and Tippoo’s garrison of 21,000 within the fort, equipped with 268 cannon)
Sat 2nd Feb 1793
The Ceres has arrived Bombay. She left Batavia 12th Nov when Macartney et al were daily expected. 17 Dutch Indiamen had just left that port for Europe, each half-loaded with coffee. The annual Portuguese ship from Timor had just arrived at Batavia and reported Capt Bligh had arrived at Timor from Otaheite on 2nd October 1792 with 1,800 breadfruit plants and some other exotic vegetables.8
Sat 2nd Feb 1793
Calcutta reports that all the debt paper issued up until 3rd October 1789 (when the Company’s cashflow started improving) will be discharged at the general Treasury on or after 21st December 1792.
Thereafter salaries, commissions, stipends and pensions will revert to cash payment (formerly they had been half cash, half paper). December salaries for the troops will be paid after 7th January and the civil staff after 10th January.
Sat 2nd Feb 1793
M. Richemont has brought decrees of the National Assembly via Mauritius to Chandernagore for the French residents there. Two deputies, M/s Dumourier and Escalier, will shortly arrive from Paris with testimonials of goodwill from the British Secretary of State. M Richemont proposed his colonials put aside all past differences with the British. M Gotier is expected to arrive from Mauritius soon and assume the Presidency of Chandernagore. The administration presently remains in the hands of the mayor and seven councillors.
Sat 2nd Feb 1793
Abuses in the Mofussel courts of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa have precipitated a demand for their abolition and the substitution of British courts and judges. The new arrangements are expected to occur contemporarily with the revision of the Collectorships. It is also proposed to appoint supervisors over the Collectors.
Editor - This is all rumour but it is expected the Governor-General will confirm the fact before he leaves.
Vol 7 No 28 – Tues 15th July 1834
In the 1612/13 season Captain John Saris opened British trade in Japan and the India Company opened a factory at Firando9 until 1623 when they abandoned it. Communications were via Bantam and occasionally direct from England. In 1621 Captain Pring in the James Royal, 1,000 tons, sailed to Firando and interviewed the Emperor. During the next year the suppression of the Jesuits and their followers commenced. Mr Wm Cocks, the captain of the factory and a Cape merchant, then returned to England.
Capt Saris on his arrival in 1611 delivered a letter from James I to the Japanese Emperor. He presented ten articles to form the basis of a commercial treaty. He edited them down from 14 articles as the Japanese value brevity. The Emperor said he would answer soon and invited Saris to visit his sons at Yeddo (Tokyo). He was given men and horses and promised a reply on his return. Saris made the visit and on his return the Emperor approved all except one of the King’s requests. Adams, the factory secretary, had proposed that “as the Chinese refuse to trade with us, if we take their ships by force, may we bring the cargoes to Japan for sale.” At first the Emperor agreed but the Chinese representative at his Court protested and he changed his mind. He stamped the amended agreement with his seal (not a wax seal but embossed and painted with red dye like a stamp). This treaty allowed the English Company to enter any Japanese port without hindrance and abide there for as long as they liked, selling their goods and buying others with no interference in the prices. No further approval from the Emperor was required. The English were allowed to build houses anywhere and sell them. Their persons and goods were to be subject to English law. Japan agreed to assist in cases of shipwreck and restore recovered cargo to the English owner.
An attempt to reopen commerce was made in 1673. At Nagasaki the Japanese governor and his secretary boarded one of the English ships and were presented with a copy of the original treaty. He asked for the original but it had been returned to the Imperial Council when the previous trading factory was broken-up. Thus we could not produce the version with the Emperor’s seal on it. The copy was not recognised. Since then Charles II had married Catherine of Braganza and part of the wedding agreement stipulated that England would not trade with Japan.10
The last attempt was in 1813 when a British contingent joined a Dutchman in an embassy from Batavia during the brief British occupation of Java. There is no record of this outside the India Company archives but Sir Stamford Raffles, in his History of Java, appends an account of its expenses and sales. It showed a profit of £42,126.
The failure of our efforts and our exclusion from the country was due to the deep dislike that the Japanese felt for Christianity. The Japanese attitude is caught in the following extract from Golowin’s “Recollections of Japan”:
“Japanese distrust of Europeans is entirely the fault of the Europeans. The people are happy to trade with us but not the government. The government says the people are blind and know nothing; they need guidance - they ignore the bad consequences of relations with foreigners and consider only their personal advantage from trade.
“Before the Christian religion was introduced, Japanese ships travelled to China and India for trade. But the missionaries inspired such a fear of God that the government proscribed the religion and its practitioners. The death penalty was introduced for any who travelled overseas and foreigners were only permitted to visit in small numbers and under extreme precautions.
“Now Japanese ships are only permitted to trade with Korea and Loo Choo where the inhabitants are considered as Japanese as they pay tribute to Yeddo. Ships from those countries can also trade in Japan. Of the Europeans, only the Dutch have preserved trading rights but under onerous terms. They are more like prisoners than merchants. China supplies Japan with rice, porcelain, ivory and all sorts of food and spices. The Japanese return copper, varnish and dried salt fish. The Dutch trade sugar, metals, spices and medicines and some European goods – watches, mirrors and mathematical instruments. The Japanese return copper, varnish and some manufactures. The Dutch can sell Japanese goods easily in Malaya and the Moluccas.”
Only Nagasaki is open to the Chinese and the Dutch. The Chinese are permitted twice the number of ships that the Dutch have. They did better previously but in 1773 their trading privileges were severely curtailed after Christian books printed in China (by the Jesuits) found their way into Japan. There was also the matter of the earlier expulsion of Japanese ships from Chinese ports (the authority for these propositions is Thunberg).
All foreign trade is a monopoly of the Emperor. The foreign ship arrives and lands its goods; the Emperor’s servants then fix their values. The foreigner can either accede to the Japanese valuation or recover his goods and leave. No bargaining is allowed. The Emperor then resells the goods to Japanese wholesalers. The high retail price of Dutch goods in Japan suggests someone is profiteering in between.
The Japanese and the Chinese adopt the same policy to Europeans. It is founded on contempt and dread. It is rare to see scorn and fear associated as causes of government policy. If we could find the letter the Emperor sent to James I via Capt Saris it might open the way to improved relations.
Sat 9th Feb 1793
The Calcutta Insurance Office has appointed Boehm and Co as its London agents, authorised to issue policies, adjust losses and pay claims.
Sat 9th Feb 1793
A French ship is in Cochin Roads buying slaves for Mauritius. A French brig under Captain Bourgoyne also took some Muslim slaves from Orissa for Mauritius. He put in to Pedier11 for water, where objection was taken to the cargo and all the European officers were killed by the natives.
Sat 9th Feb 1793
The Dundee (Hunter) has just arrived at Bombay, having been taken by pirates off Gheriah, on the South West (Malabar) coast of peninsula India (a pirate base for decades). She had been en route to Surat with a cargo of silk. The pirate fleet was comprised of one ketch and six gallivats.
Hunter had bought a pass (issued by the Bombay Government in July 1792 pursuant to a treaty which the Company made with the pirates) and showed it to their chief who said it had expired. Capt Hunter was then killed, the 2nd mate seriously injured, the Chief Mate escaped.
The survivors say the theft of the cargo continued for five hours.
Sat 9th Feb 1793
Our new settlement on the Andamans is sited near the mouth of an excellent harbour and we have called it Port Cornwallis. A few years ago we avoided these islands supposing they were occupied by cannibals. We have since found the natives friendly. They are short people, almost naked. They seem to be monogamous. They are experts with the bow and arrow which they invariably carry.
The islands have fertile soil and all the tropical fruits and vegetables are readily available. The seas teem with fish. The Company previously had a factory at the other port12 but has removed to the new location. There is a waterfall nearby for vessels to water. The factory itself is supplied from a tank. Capt Blair, who commands the settlement for the Company, is constructing houses at the new location.
Sat 9th Feb 1793
The Eton Club dines with Lord Cornwallis today. There are now 16 Etonians in Calcutta and 8 graduates of Westminster School, the two prime academies in England. In 1759 there were not 35 liberally educated men in all Bengal. The consequences for India are obvious.
Sat 17th Feb 1793
Notice – the Bombay government is raising money on transferable Promissory Notes at 8% p a and will pay the interest annually until the funds are no longer required. The Notes are issued at an exchange rate of 2/4d per Bombay rupee. Repayments of principal will not commence until all other debt of this Presidency has been discharged.
Sat 2nd Mar 1793
The Company’s ships Rockingham, Thetis, Hornby and Middlesex sailed from Canton on 1st Jan 1793 on their return to India and England. So did the country ship Gungaver (Robertson) for Surat.
Sat 2nd Mar 1793
A drummer from Colonel Bayly’s corps has escaped from Seringapatam and says 30+ English prisoners remain in the citadel. Their names have been given to General Abercromby who may be expected to secure their release.
Sat 2nd Mar 1793
The Rajah of Colapore is the chief of the Malwans.
Sat 2nd Mar 1793
General Abercromby has concluded a contract with the Rajah of Travancore for the provision of an annual quantity of 1st class pepper at advantageous rates to the Company.
Sat 2nd Mar 1793
Madras 5th Feb – Colonel Braithwaite, commander in chief, held a review of the troops at Poonamalee. The 36th and 52nd regiments paraded with arms. These were the men who forced the lines at Seringapatam at the point of the bayonet. The perfect symmetry of their manoeuvres belied the fact this was the first occasion they had exercised in the new Prussian discipline that has been adopted for the Company’s infantry.
Sat 9th Mar 1793
The Surat fleet arrived Bombay last Monday under convoy.13 Several fires are reported at Surat including a large one near the Durbar that consumed 200 houses.
Sat 9th Mar 1793
The Sandwich Islanders (Hawaiians) have resolved to have nothing further to do with white men in consequence to some outrages committed recently by the crews of two American ships.
The Phoenix (Moore) touched at the Sandwich Islands on return from the N W Coast of America where two war-sloops from England, the HMS Discovery (Vancouver) and another, are protecting British trade with the natives on that coast from interlopers (fur-traders from New England).
Sat 9th Mar 1793
For sale - A few cases of Hyson Skin tea just imported by Capt Philips on the Jehangir. Contact him at his home near the Portuguese church or at the Lyceum.14
Sat 9th Mar 1793
A Charter for the Company has been drawn up by the new Board of Control for submission to parliament. It is said to be beneficial to the shareholders.
Sat 30th March 1793
Notice - Thomas Herring has been appointed Paymaster General to the Company’s Army. He has accordingly relinquished his partnership in our company, Rivett Wilkinson & Co, on 22nd Mar 1793.
Sat 30th March 1793
Notice - The officers and men who procured the victory over Tippoo Sultan at Seringapatam will receive six month’s batta in addition to the gratuity promised by Lord Cornwallis to them out of the money taken from Tippoo.15
Sat 6th April 1793
A list of holders of the Company’s debt under its Promissory Notes (to be paid off on 8th March) is published – many Parsee and English names, a handful of Portuguese, Muslim Indians and Arabs.
Sat 6th April 1793
Notice - M/s John Forbes & Co will auction Madras and Bengal piecegoods on 8th March at their godown next to Mr Galley’s house in Bombay.
Tues 9th Apr 1793 – extraordinary
Long description of the siege of Seringapatam by Cornwallis. Tippoo paid one crore Rupees (c. £1.2 million) as indemnity and surrendered many valuable lands.16
Sat 13th April 1793
The list of bondholders is concluded in this edition. One is John Barretto of the premier Portuguese mercantile family; another is Pestonjee Bomanjee of the leading Parsee family.
Sat 13th April 1793
Sir John Shore landed at Fort William on 16th March 1793. He went to Government House and met Cornwallis. On Tues 18th March he breakfasted with Cornwallis but did not attend the subsequent levee.
Sat 13th April 1793
London news : The Mayor of London has given the freedom of the city to Cornwallis and General Meadows for their defeat of Tippoo.
Sat 13th April 1793
The frigate HMS Blanche sailed from England on 28th October 1792 on a secret assignment. She has provisions and stores on board for a long voyage and is believed to be intending a cruise in Far Eastern waters. She was spoken off Madeira but did not reveal her destination.
Sat 20th April 1793
The following appointments have been made for the Company’s government of the newly ceded territories in Malabar (Tippoo’s lands):
Wm Gamal Farmer, Supervisor and Chief Magistrate of Malabar; Augustus Wm Handley, James Law and Hay Clephane, assistant Magistrates.
James Stephens, Superintendent of the Southern district, assisted by George Waddell and John Strachey;
Edward Galley, Superintendent of the Northern district, assisted by John Wm Lankheet and Richard Ramsden.
Sat 20th April 1793
Courts of Appeal have been established at Patna, Calcutta, Dacca and Moorshedabad and staffed. City courts have been created at Dacca, Patna and Moorshedabad. 23 subsidiary courts have been established in other towns. The inferior Judges at Sylhet and Ramghur are also the district Collectors.
Sat 4th May 1793
The Bombay Presidency has issued 118 promissory notes for Rupees 1,293,032 between 29th March and 30th April 1793. During the same month it has issued 81 Certificates of Discharge on Bengal Presidency for Rupees 800,476 leaving additional promissory notes of Rupees 492,556 in circulation.17
Sat 4th May 1793
There is a shipping report in each edition of the Bombay Courier. Most of the local Bombay shipping trades with Surat bringing back Maratha cotton; some French vessels come in from/to Mauritius. There is also a small amount of trade down the coast to the south, which increases with the Company’s new Malabar possessions; to Calcutta; to the Persian Gulf for frankincense and infrequently to Mocha at the mouth of the Red Sea for coffee. The only ships so far this year that are published as going to China are Company’s ships.
Sat 18th May 1793
Notice to the owners of pepper vines in Malabar (excluding Cochin):
I propose to relinquish the monopoly on pepper except for a claim as sovereign to one half of your production. This notice is issued before the rains to permit all those interested in cultivating pepper to make preparations timely.
Issued by the President in Council, Bombay Castle, 15th Apr 1793.
Sat 18th May 1793
Lowjee Family (Elmore) has arrived at Bombay from China18
Sat 11th May 1793
Colonel Hartley’s detachment of troops, who are entitled to a share in the property seized at Chow Ghaut, may receive their share at Bruce, Fawcett & Co on or after 15th May 1793
Sat 11th May 1793
The second dividend of the Cannanore Prize money will be paid at Mr Adamson’s office on 27th May (Cannanore is a major port in Tippoo’s lands in Malabar - it became the headquarters of British forces after the occupation)
Sat 11th May 1793
The President in Council has resolved that the escort provided to the Company’s Resident at Poona (to the Court of the Nizam), will be considered an independent corps in the same manner as the escorts to the Residents at Hyderabad and with Madajie Sindhia. The escort will comprise two companies of 82 men each. Capt Heirne and Lt Ward will continue on the strength of the corps but will return on demand to Poona.19
Sat 11th May 1793
Calcutta news – The brig Venus has arrived from Macau. This ship, together with Halcyon (Capt Barkley), was fitted-out by Lambert Ross & Co for the N W coast of America.20 M/s Lambert & Ross have opened many new areas to trade. The Venus sailed on 1st Jan 1791 and parted company in the Eastern islands from whence the Halcyon sailed to Kamchatka and thence to American west coast.
The Venus sailed up the American west coast starting in June and met the Spanish warship Princessa. At Nootka Sound she met the Spanish frigate St. Estradez. The Spanish commodore Don Guadro is living ashore there. The Spanish force is at Nootka to settle the dispute with Britain in terms of the recent convention.
Venus left the American coast in November and arrived at Hawaii in the Sandwich Islands in December. She reports that the islanders remain friendly to Europeans and she received a good supply of meat and vegetables and water. The rumoured hostility arose from the activities of the Daedalus storeship at Oahu. The crew became impatient with the islanders, who deliver water in calabashes, and tried to send their own watering party with casks. The islanders understood this as an attempt to take water for free and attacked the boat’s crew, killing the victualler, the ship’s astronomer and one of the crew. No-one else attempted to land and the traditional slow watering method was then resumed.
The Venus arrived in China in February.
Sat 11th May 1793
Calcutta news – a ship has arrived from Pegu21 and reports peace between the Thais and the King of Ava. The Pegu people have captured Tavoy. The ships detained by the King of Ava for his service are being returned to their owners and they have been licensed to export a stated amount of Burmese rice and timber as compensation to the owners.
The Sarah from Ostend touched at Aceh where the Sultan is in conflict with his neighbours. The Captain was pressed to assist but declined. Gunpowder is in great demand at any price.
An action in Banka Straits has occurred between an armed Dutch cutter and pirates. The action was long and bloody and eventually the Dutch were forced to retreat with the Malays pursuing.
Sat 25th May 1793
Notice to ships trading to Malabar – Calicut has been made capital city of the new territories in Malabar and British officers are transferred from Cannanore to work there. Augustus William Handley is in charge. Rates for use of the port have been published. A boat will meet every ship entering and provide a tariff of fees. The original tariff is posted in Handley’s office and is approved.
Carpenters for ship-repairs and coopers for water casks are available.22
Sat 25th May 1793
Local news – Capt Burgess has brought out some London goods on the Earl of Chesterfield which he now offers for sale:
Millinery, watches, jewellery, shoes, stockings, new sheet music, a barrel organ, ladies’ side saddle, cloth, hats and sundries.
Visit the house lately occupied by Commodore Robinson for inspection.
NB – there are two other advertisements for London goods ex Brunswick (wine, beer, salt fish and meat) and Bombay Castle.23
Sat 25th May 1793
Lt Thomas has brought off the remaining Madrassi settlers from the Cocos Island. They were taken there by a European trader to express coconut oil. He built a windmill for the purpose but the venture was not commercially workable and he left. The greater part of the people he brought to Cocos also left recently on a raft for Pegu and are feared lost at sea.
Sat 25th May 1793
The first ship of this season, the Royal Charlotte, left the Downs at end December for St Helena, the Indian coast and China.
Sat 25th May 1793
Dundas raised the subject of renewal of the Company’s Charter in the House of Commons. 12 month’s Notice had been given to the Company of the expiry of the Charter and a proposal for its renewal was expected but, if not forthcoming, he would make a statement to the House of the India Company’s concerns.
The Board of Trade had last summer obtained statements of the Company’s export trade and revenues. Dundas intended to publish all details so MPs were fully aware of the Company’s business and could form an opinion on renewal.
His examination showed the Company was well advanced in repayment of its debts to England and he expected it would soon be aiding this country rather than seeking for aid from us. He moved that commercial reports of the Select Committee of the Directors be tabled in the House.
Sat 1st June 1793
Current Account statement for May 1793 - Promissory Notes issued by the Bombay Presidency in exchange for Bills on Calcutta. Total 1,518,476 Rupees.
Sat 1st June 1793
M/s White and Nash have bought part of Capt Cooper’s cargo of privileged tonnage ex Brunswick and offer it for sale – wine, food and soap.
Sat 1st June 1793
The Surat Castle, Benefit, Taxbux and King George sailed from Bombay 27th and 28th May for China.
Sat 1st June 1793
The American from New York has arrived 30th May with a cargo of spars, planks, tar, coal, salt beef and salt fish.
Sat 1st June 1793
Calcutta news – for the entire month of April, no ship has been able to leave the river due to strong contrary winds.
The business of the Khalsa24 in opium and other branches of revenue will today be transferred to the Company’s Board of Trade.
Sat 8th June 1793
The following creditors of the Company’s bonded debt will be paid-off on 10th June – John Barretto et al
Sat 8th June 1793
HM has made Sir Robert Abercromby a Knight Commander of the Bath.
Sat 8th June 1793
Calcutta news:
Sales of government salt are averaging 263 Sicca Rupees per hundred maunds (the Maund was a little over 82 lbs or 37 kgs).
The late rains have encouraged the farmers to commenced planting. Indigo growers have some expectations for this year although many native farmers say the long dry weather could produce a famine.
Sufficient space has been cleared at New Harbour on the Andamans for a village or for planting. Scurvy has disabled many of our Bengal settlers but we expect to have vegetable crops harvested soon. We exist on animal and salted foods. Disease is common but as we clear away the fallen trees and vegetation and expose the area to the sea breezes, it should reduce. Lt Wales is proceeding in the Cornwallis to the Pedier coast to contact the Datoos and procure grain. We expect to be able to make reciprocal trade soon.
Sat 15th June 1793
The Company’s factory at Basra has moved from the city to the island of Carrack.25
Sat 15th June 1793
Calcutta – The drought in Bengal has ended.
Tax on the lands of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa has been assessed under the Regulations for the Decennial Settlement of the Revenue and is now fixed in perpetuity – land occupiers are to have ten year leases.
Sat 15th June 1793
Shipping at Bombay – 17th June Washington (Thomas Randall) arrived from New York.
The Company’s ship Warley has arrived. She left England on 19th Jan. She brings as passengers the writers L G K Murray and R Parry, two free mariners G Stewart and R Burn and some Company cadets.
No shipping departures will be published for the time being in view of hostilities in Europe.
Sat 29th June 1793
Notice 19th June 1793 - The Governor-General has reduced the interest payable on Bengal Promissory Notes from 8% to 6%. He wishes to establish a uniform rate of interest applicable to the Company’s notes throughout India and establish a single issuing authority at Calcutta. The Bombay Presidency is co-operating.
6% notes of Bombay will be exchanged for 6% notes of Bengal. They will qualify for subscription to the Company’s annual remittance to England at the exchange rate of 2/4d per Bombay rupee.
Bengal 8% notes will be exchangeable for all Bombay Promissory Notes currently issued. For all future transfers only 6% Bengal notes will be available.
Sat 29th June 1793
The Tobacco monopoly for Bombay will be sold in the Hall of Government House on 10th July. It will be valid from 1st August 1793 – 30th April 1795.
Sat 29th June 1793
Repayments of the Company’s bonded debt will be made to the following people on 1st July - 74 English and 55 mostly Parsee names appended.
Sat 29th June 1793
The Mahratta chiefs Sindhia and Holkar are still in dispute and the former is winning. A truce held for a while but was broken by Holkar’s men. A military engagement ensued which Sindhia won. Holkar’s infantry was seriously diminished. Boyd and another Englishman and Horneyman, a Dane, were marching some troops to Holkar’s aid when they were captured by Sindhia.
Sat 29th June 1793
At Batavia, opium has been in short supply and retailing at $1,200 per chest but no buyers for whole chests could be found. Two Bengal ships – the Indus and the Stag – have been unable to sell their cargoes owing to political uncertainty in the Dutch homeland. Both ships have continued to the east seeking for native buyers to buy their goods. Mr Titsing, who was formerly head at of the Dutch factory at Chinsura, is now at Batavia and is particularly attentive of English visitors.
Sat 29th June 1793
The Governor-General has abolished handling fees on the Company’s Bills of Exchange and on the Certificates issued to officers of the Company’s fleet. New Bills are available for purchase in sets of £500.
Sat 6th July 1793
Loan Certificates on Bengal exchanged for Promissory Notes of Bombay in June totalled 56,898 Rupees. Balance of notes in circulation - 1,993,678 Rupees.
Sat 6th July 1793
Terms are published for the payment of 6 months batta to officers and troops who served in the late war with Tippoo.
Sat 6th July 1793
Notice 5th July – all persons may make bricks and chunam for their own use or for sale. Sgd for President-in-Council, Bombay.
Sat 6th July 1793
Notice 5th July - Bombay government has paid 737,000 Rupees for the discharge of loan certificates held by the following people - 13 names mostly English, one Parsee.
Sat 13th July 1793
Notice 17th July 1793 – The Company’s factory at Basra has moved to Graine and not to Carrack as previously reported.
Sat 13th July 1793
Letter from Tellicherry, 1st June 1793:
The 2nd Battalion has been sent against some Moplas in the south. They were cornered in a fortified house where Capt Burchall used a gun but effected only a small breach. He then surrounded the house intending to storm it in the morning. At midnight the Moplas cut their way out, killing 5 sepoys and Lt Gibbons and wounding others. Three were caught and debriefed. They say they are vackeels of Tippoo. During the attack some Moplas came down from the hills and fired on the British party under cover of the jungle.
Sat 13th July 1793
The sloop Cornwallis has arrived at Bombay. It left Muscat 17th June. It is owned by Major MacDonald who collected a packet of European letters at Muscat containing intelligence from England to end February and from the continent to mid March. We learned that we are at war with France. Within a few hours of receipt of this intelligence, numerous applications for letters of marque were made by captains of country ships.26 All applicants were told their requests would be complied with.
Sat 20th July 1793
Mr Greenway (the Proprietor of the Calcutta Courier) has announced his acquisition of a copperplate press at his office.
Sat 20th July 1793
A detachment under Major Campbell marched into Chandernagore on Tuesday 10th June and took possession of the town. A Sepoy guarding one of the gates for the French refused admission to the English, wounded an Englishman in the hand with his bayonet and was instantly run-through and killed.
Sat 20th July 1793
The following French ships have been arrested in Indian harbours under British control: the ex British sloops-of-war Bien Amis, Bien Safant and the schooner Chandernagore. It is expected the sloops will be fitted-out as warships under Capt Blair’s command (i.e. for use in the Andamans)
Sat 20th July 1793
Notice Fort William, 11th June – all French nationals residing in Calcutta are required to register their names, addresses and occupations with the Police. They should advise their countrymen in all Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and those living in the Zemindary of Benares to do likewise before the local magistrate.
Sat 17th July 1793
Bombay news - Last Thursday was a proud day for Bombay. 13 well-manned and armed ships sailed at noon with the Carron leading. Commodore Montgomery saluted the fort and the fleet got completely out before sunset. A grand and pleasing appearance. We wish them safety and success.
The troops destined for the siege of Pondicherry are now en route. We expect to soon hear that this sole support of France in India will be in our power.
Sat 17th July 1793
Madras news - Capt Hammond with a party of sepoys and a field piece entered Karical on 10th July and received the French surrender from M Jobard. The town was taken to prevent its supplying Pondicherry with grain.
Another detachment of Company troops under Lt Riddell took possession of the French village of Yanam near Ingeram, north of Madras.
Some French tried to take an English brig in port at Coringa but we caught their ringleaders.
A party sent from Negapatam has occupied Karical. There were few French soldiers remaining in the town as the garrison had removed to Pondicherry to reinforce French defences there.
Some small French ships at Ganjam, Masulipatam and Vizagapatam have been captured by the Company’s governments at those ports.
Colonel Floyd is moving on Pondicherry from Wallajabad with cavalry, infantry and guns. He arrived Chingleput on 28th June. (two weeks before notice of the state of war was published in the Courier)
Sat 17th July 1793
The Royal Charlotte (Stephenson) arrived St Helena on 28th Feb with General Goddard, Capt Wakefield and his force. The Governor then embargoed all shipping, English and foreign, at that port. The Royal Charlotte and Goddard’s force departed on 5th March and arrived Madras earlier this month. On 4th April the Governor of St Helena allowed the foreign ships to depart.
Sat 17th July 1793
The ship Christianus Septimus arrived here from Tranquebar (a Danish enclave) and Pondicherry (French) on 29th June. It is suspected to contain French goods and treasure and has been arrested. All cargo is ordered to be off-loaded for examination.
Sat 17th July 1793
Cuddalore 24th June – HMS Minerva (Admiral Cornwallis) took the ship Le Citoyen as prize off here today.
Sat 3rd August 1793
In July a further 83,000 Rupees of the 6% promissory notes were issued in exchange for Certificates on Bengal. The value of Bombay Promissory Notes still in circulation is 2,064,094 Rupees.
Sat 3rd August 1793
Public Notice – All owners and commanders of ships who wish to fight France should apply for letters of marque from the Secretary of the Bombay Presidency. They are required to provide a short description of the ship and names of the owners and officers.
Security will be required for performance - 25,000 Rupees for ships manned by less than 150 men; 30,000 Rupees for larger ships. Security is required in the names of the owner(s), master and officers and from two disinterested parties.
Sat 3rd August 1793
Notice – 500,000 Rupees will be applied to the discharge of the Bond Debt of Bombay Presidency this month. The following creditors will be paid-off and receive no further interest. List of ten English and four Parsee names appended.
Late Notice – A further 8 English and 3 Parsee holders of the Company’s bonded debt will also be paid off at the same time.
Sat 3rd August 1793
Arrivals – The Hussar (Bruce) has arrived from Mocha with passengers James Hodgson and Richard Church. They have been conducting Company business at Mocha for several months.27
Sat 3rd August 1793
A plan is in agitation to permit British merchants to conduct trade in India through the Company on fixed terms. On 22nd February 1793 a General Court of Shareholders was held at India House concerning the renewal of the Charter. A letter to the Directors from Dundas (President of the Board of Control) outlined the terms agreed:
The Company should conform its commerce with modern principles and the exclusive trade to and from India should be regulated so as to encourage British exports.
In return, the Company might pay a dividend on their stock of 10% per annum instead of 8%.
The company should pay £500,000 per annum in reduction of its debts in India and £500,000 in reduction of its debts to the public.
The Company should issue and sell additional shares sufficient to discharge its bond debts in England.
The shareholders agreed a Directors’ proposal they furnish four ships for each of Madras and Calcutta and two for Bombay every year, all ships of 800 tons (i.e. 8,000 tons), in order to transport the cargoes of the private English merchants at £10 per ton freight. It reserved an exclusive right to send recruits to India in the extra ships in war time.
The Court agreed to instruct its Presidencies to issue Bills on the Company in London at the following exchange rates:- 2/- per rupee in Bengal, 2/3d per rupee in Bombay and 8/- per gold pagoda in Madras.28 If British exporters wished to buy and ship Indian produce to England, they might use as much space as their imports to India occupy, at a freight of 12% per ton. The Company requires all goods from and to England to pass through its own warehouses in England and be subject to its own handling charges.
The opening of free trade to China is resisted but if Macartney gets any trade concession from the Emperor, the Company would be agreeable in principle to extending the offered Indian arrangements to China, however the British merchant must pay his profit in bullion to the Company at Canton in exchange for Bills at the prevailing exchange rate.
The Directors were authorised by the shareholders to negotiate the above terms with the Board of Control under the fundamental imperative that any innovation must preserve the Company’s trade at its present extent without impairment to its ability to send money to London (the Home Charges) each year.29
Sat 3rd August 1793
The siege army being sent against Pondicherry will be commanded by Colonel Braithwaite. It comprises 12 regiments of native infantry (c. 6,000 men), two regiments of native cavalry (200 men), 6 regiments of English infantry (2,400 men), Floyd’s Dragoons (300 men), artillery (est. 200 men) and 54 battering guns.
Sat 3rd August 1793
A French ship took an English ketch off Coringa. The French ship was carrying marine stores to Pegu where three ships are being built by the French. Then HMS Chichester (Capt Blake) appeared and the French ship both relinquished its prize and beached itself to escape. The French prize crew on the ketch were captured.
Sat 3rd August 1793
From Madras we hear that the French have devastated the country around Pondicherry for forty miles and collected all cattle and grain inside the city.30 They already have good supplies from the islands. It appears they intend to stay.
Sat 3rd August 1793
The Company’s Board of Trade has entered the market for Indian indigo. It will buy minimum quantities of 5 factory maunds (400 lbs) per supplier.
Sat 3rd August 1793
Madras Courier, 12th July – The Company’s armed ships Royal Charlotte, Warley and Triton sailed from here on 6th July to join Admiral Cornwallis in an action against the French. They join HMS Minerva which captured the French armed Brig Concorde earlier the same day (6th July). The Concorde mounted 6 swivels and had 18 Europeans on board. She sailed from Pondicherry on 17th June but had done no damage. The Concorde will be refitted, re-armed and crewed for English use under Lt Manning, 1st officer of the Minerva’s prize crew.
Sat 3rd August 1793
The Hercules has arrived at Bombay from Batavia. She spoke Admiral Cornwallis off Pondicherry and took-off the French prize crew of Concorde who are now imprisoned here.
Sat 3rd August 1793
The American ship Canton (Mackie) has arrived from Philadelphia via the Cape and reports that two Dutch frigates have arrived there and more are expected.
Sat 10th August 1793
On 7th Aug General Abercromby embarked on Swallow for Madras en route to Bengal where he will assume command of HM’s and the Company’s troops in India in the room of Marquis Cornwallis. The Company’s cruiser Scorpion sailed in company.
Sat 10th August 1793
The prize brig Nestor arrived at Calcutta 3rd July. She was captured from the French off Vizagapatam. She is consigned to George Tyler for the benefit of the captors.31
Sat 10th August 1793
Tippoo Sultan has made a formal offer of bullocks and cavalry to our army, to help us fight the French! It has been received under advisement.
Sat 10th August 1793
Admiral Cornwallis is blockading Pondicherry by sea and has taken several rice ships. A Frenchman from Pondicherry named Anselmede Chaternet has sought our protection. He says distress in the city is terrible.
There is no bread, milk or ghee and the government has little money. The French troops have declared they will execute their General de Chermont and any other officer who does not subscribe to the principle of equality.
Sat 17th Aug 1793
The Directors are so pleased with Cornwallis’ victory over Tippoo Sultan that they have decided to erect a statue of him in their Court.
Sat 17th Aug 1793
John Tasker and Hormusjee Bomanjee will launch their newly built teak ship Upton Castle on 21st Aug. She got in her masts last Thursday in the harbour and was then docked for coppering.
Sat 17th Aug 1793
On 10th April, the Company elected six new Directors by rotation – Simon Frazer, Charles Mills, Thomas Parry, Abraham Robarts, David Scott and George Tatem. They were unopposed.
Sat 17th Aug 1793
Madras news - The Commander in Chief (Colonel Braithwaite) has set out from Choultry Plain to join the army investing Pondicherry. The government has exempted all food articles from its usual tax and Braithwaite anticipates an ample supply of provisions on the road.
Admiral Cornwallis has continued to intercept the small boats bringing provisions to Pondicherry. Four French frigates are said to be convoying a fleet of merchantmen from Mauritius bringing relief to Pondicherry.
Sat 24th Aug 1793
Notice – Promissory Notes issued by the Bombay Government will not in future be exchangeable for Bills on London to discharge the Bond Debt (as subscriptions to the Company’s remittances to London). They will only be exchangeable for Promissory Notes of the Bengal Government at 116 Sicca Rupees per 100 Bombay Rupees. Sgd 11th August 1793
Sat 24th Aug 1793
Sale – The Hulk Goodwill and two luggage boats are to be sold by public outcry on the marine hard on 10th September. Any successful purchaser who intends to break-up a vessel must do so at Mazagon.
Sat 24th Aug 1793
Notice - Abraham Samuels has died at Cochin on 29th June 1793. Anyone interested in his Estate should send their accounts to M/s Meyer, Rahaby or Solomon Norden at Cochin.32
Sat 24th Aug 1793
At the Quarter Sessions last Monday several prosecutions were thrown out, some were deferred and eight natives were found guilty of various (unmentioned) offences. They will be whipped, pilloried, fined or imprisoned as awarded.
Sat 24th Aug 1793
From recently received English papers, we see the Captains of the Indiamen London and Barwill have taken their leave at India House but may not sail for some weeks yet as they have to await convoy. Delay should be expected and interested parties need not feel anxious.
Sat 24th Aug 1793
India House – The Company’s shareholders met on Thursday to consider Dundas’ letter. The Directors asked for time to review the Board of Control’s proposals. Hinchman said he did not oppose an adjournment but wondered if the separate fund was secured to the old Shareholders. The Chairman said he did not know. He says the Directors rely on HM Ministers to secure the shareholders in their full enjoyment of the separate fund. Lushington said it did not signify as the new shareholders would contribute in proportion. They would all get the same advantage.
Randall Jackson thought the Directors should have itemised Dundas’ main points for the attention of shareholders. As they had not, he would list the points:
First is the prohibition of muslins. If muslins became unfashionable in England they would be unfashionable all over Europe. This would hurt both the Indian manufacturers and the Company. He thought justice required the exporters of muslins be protected.
Second, Jackson thought the shareholders should participate in the accumulated surplus before the public got any part of it.
Lord Kinnaird reproved Dundas. His first paragraph says there is no hurry; the next says the Charter will expire in March 1794. He suspected that Dundas wanted to let matters slip so there would be no time for considered responses and he might do as he please on renewal. We know Dundas, said Kinnaird. He is won over by whoever spoke to him last – first the Directors had counselled him, then British manufacturers infected his view. Now the Directors clearly had to restore their advice again.
Browne said he had been buying muslins for 30 years and if Dundas got his way he would ruin the trade. The manufacturers’ best interests were to continue trading through the Company. The manufacturers had been misled by reports that the import of cotton would be £1.2 millions yearly whereas it was only £300,000, which would only produce for each manufacturer about £1,000 per year. If muslins are prohibited, other countries would engross the trade, factories would appear at Ostend and British muslins would be excluded. He offered to sit on a committee to met delegates of the producers and refine their position.
Lushington said by restricting the import if Indian muslins to 5,000 pieces per year, the Board was merely indicating that muslin was used in India and was enticing British manufacturers to send muslin there.
Jackson defended Dundas. He said throughout the negotiations Dundas had been candid and, far from limiting the Company’s interests, he had done everything he could to increase them. He cited several instances in support.
Jackson then adverted to the claims from various manufacturing districts for participation in Indian trade. He said the Glasgow manufacturers asserted Jacobin principles.
The Chairman thanked the Shareholders for the hint thrown out. A copy of Dundas’ letter and the resultant Company Resolutions was then read:
My resolutions are attached. They address the two problems which the British government and the India Company must solve – increase British exports to India and decrease clandestine trade from Europe to India.
Peel and the Manchester manufacturers want the use of muslin in this country prohibited. I think this is too narrow a view and is probably negotiable.
Sgd Henry Dundas 16th March 1793
The Company’s Resolutions, drafted by shareholder Francis Baring:
The lands and revenue of India remain the Company’s together with exclusive trade thereto. We only agree to some appropriation of our territorial revenue and trade profits as may be authorised by parliament.
A Board of Commissioners be appointed to control the civil and military government of India, same as was done at the last renewal. The expenses of the Board will be paid by the Company.
The King retains the power to recall any Company officer.
The trade monopoly to continue for 20 years until March 1814 and to be determinable then on 3 years notice having been given.
The Company to provide 3,000 tons of freight between 31st Oct – 31st Jan every year for the private traders of England to India. British exports in peacetime will be freighted at no more than £5 per ton. The return freight will not exceed £15 per ton. The Company’s profit from private trade with England will be applied to defray firstly military costs in India; secondly paying-off the interest on the Company’s debts; thirdly in defraying the costs of the civil and commercial establishments in the various settlements; fourthly 10 million Rupees will be applied to the Company’s annual investment to London; fifthly as the debts are paid-off, the funds ear-marked for (but saved by) repayment will be provided to the commercial boards for their investments abroad or to the liquidation of debts in India or anything else. Finally, that up to 500,000 Rupees in the Company’s debt be remitted to London by Bills issued by the various Company presidencies at equitable rates of exchange.
While the monopoly continues, the Company’s profit from sale of goods in London, both their own and the private and privileged trades, shall be applied to – first, payment of the dividend at £10 per cent per annum on the Capital stock of the Company, commencing mid-summer 1793; second, payment of up to £500,000 per annum to discharge Bills of Exchange until the Company’s debt in India is reduced to rupees 30 millions (c. £3 millions), and third, £500,000 per annum to the King’s exchequer.
When the Indian debt is reduced to £3 millions and the bond debt in London to £1.5 millions, and after paying all the charges listed above, one sixth of the remaining surplus will be for the Company to distribute in augmented dividends and the rest will go to the King’s exchequer.
…. Remainder illegible
Sat 24th Aug 1793
Charter renewal – Committee of Correspondence report at 1st Apr 1793:
We got Dundas to agree that our exclusive trade may continue, as it results in revenue being remitted to England. The way he put it was ‘to ensure that British manufacturers had a way of meeting the full demand in India for their products, and that raw materials sourced in East Indies may be brought to England at the most reasonable rate.”
We then negotiated with Pitt and Dundas and have detailed below the progress of each resolution which are numbered the same as in the government proposals.
Res 1 – The amount of revenue and profit appropriated should be inflexible but always have our prior agreement.
Res 2 – Gives the Board of Control power to appropriate revenue without our consent.
Res 3 – Raises the Governor-General’s position. We prefer to operate under the existing system.
Res 4 – the Court of Directors must have the same power to recall servants as they presently enjoy.
Res 5 – We need a 20 year term of exclusive trade with 3 years notice from parliament thereafter if it is to be ended. We need repayment of the debt due to the Company by the King/government.
Res 6 – opens trade in all Indian goods to this country, not just those raw materials that are needed by British manufacturers. Ministers failed to properly confront the factory owners. We do not require manufacturers to become import merchants but we offer them Bills of Exchange for their money. The promotion of manufacturing in England should not extend to general Indian merchandise which involves the national revenue and forms part of the Company’s remittance. This will impede the Company and assist foreigners to participate in Indian trade. At all events piecegoods should be excluded – they can only damage British manufacturers. Competition on Indian piecegoods will raise prices and lower quality. Only a slight increase in the amount imported will reduce the value obtainable on sale.
Res 7 – We insist on £15 per ton for the return freight rate on private trade.
Res 8 – The private trade must pay demurrage if it causes delay to the Company’s ships.
Res 9 (and 11 & 12) – The Company is only obliged to provide adequate tonnage not to provide dedicated ships for private trade.
Res 10 and 15 – Are Agents in India to get commissions from foreigners to facilitate a foreign trade in Indian goods? To address this, we will require the free traders in India to make new restrictive covenants with the Company as a term of their residence in India. We also wish to exclude military officers from direct involvement in trade.
Res 20 – your committee commended that the debt in India should be reduced to £200,000. Dundas had no objection.
Res 21 – the new Company stock to be sold publicly will produce funds to reduce the bond debt to below £1.5 millions. Any excess will be applied to other Company debts in England. Any remainder required will come from normal income and the Company’s cash balances. This Clause does not recognise the Company’s Indian debt or the new arrangement of £500,000 that will replace the existing loan of that amount. Reserving £500,000 of our profit to the public every year is onerous. We understand that after the above debt payments are met, the public is to be paid from surplus cash up to £500,000. Paying this fixed sum may ruin the Company, particularly as the public claim on the Company’s profits is increased from three quarters to five sixths. The Director calculate a surplus of £1.2 millions. Dundas supposes it is more. Deducting £500,000 for debt repayment leaves £700,000 which would pay a larger dividend (on the old ¾ - ¼ distribution). The shareholders have not agreed. They get 2% additional dividend while the public gets £500,000. If the Company’s trade does not withstand the free trade, the shareholders should get more. Dundas should recall that after the Company’s Indian and English debts have been reduced as he requires, he agreed that the shareholders might have an additional dividend after which the guarantee fund was to commence and be accumulated until it totalled £5 millions. That fund is to be the security underwriting the Company’s stock in case of disaster. It ensures payment of the increased dividend at 10%. If all the Company’s profits are earmarked in this way we will have nothing for day-to-day operating costs and will have to borrow. In this circumstance, we are required to not increase the bond debt.
Res 23 – 25 – These clauses will ruin the company and those piecegood buyers who attend the Company’s sales. It tends to throw the whole business into the hands of foreigners and it will not benefit English manufacturers. Either muslins will be smuggled into England or the cloth will become unfashionable and a great branch of trade terminated.
Res 27 – after paying the bonds, the balance should be applied to discharge other debts.
Res 28 – The Company may require to borrow money temporarily and the limit of £1.5 million must be allowed to be exceeded from time to time.
Conclusion – If ministers do not renew our exclusive trade, the change will have ramifications throughout our business which are difficult to foresee. There is no time for an investigation. The Charter expires in March 1794.
The government is not concerned at our patronage and power or the great extent of our wealth. It is concerned for the safety of India and an end to our indebtedness in England. We rely on the continuing candour of ministers to meet our objections and provide us with reasonable expectations for the future.
Sat 31st August 1793
Madras news - Colonel Hartley took the French settlement of Mahé on 16th July.
The Nabob of Arcot’s galley Success was pursued by two French ships off Aden whilst en voyage from Mocha. She has arrived safely. The ship is used by the Nabob to convey pilgrims to Mecca each year.
From Madras we hear Braithwaite has arrived at Pondicherry on 28th July. He is expected to give an ultimatum to the occupants in a few days, before the siege commences.
French cruisers are reported in Eastern Seas but the National Convention is in such dire straits it seems unlikely. Mauritius is exposed to attack and the governor should be deploying his forces defensively. We cannot believe private French interests are speculating in privateers in these circumstances.
The native and European merchants of Madras propose subscribing to a fund to build a proper privateer to be given to the Admiral.
Sat 31st August 1793
Calcutta news - HMS Triton is cruising the Bay of Bengal to protect shipping.
Admiral Cornwallis has unsuccessfully chased the French frigate Sybil (44). She is loitering off Pondicherry. The only neutral port on the whole coast is the Danish base at Tranquebar. The Sybil stopped there for information then sailed north but we expect she will return.
The Hampshire captured a French snow Active off Aceh. It was en route from Aceh to Pegu with a cargo of red beetle (cochineal) colouring.
Private British and Irish merchants are pressing their claims on the Company for access to Indian trade. If an agreement cannot be reached, they will have to petition parliament to oppose the extension of the Charter.
Sat 7th Sept 1793
Contract terms for clothing the Bombay Presidency’s army are published:
20% payment on execution of the contract; 15% on 1st July; 15% on 1st Oct.; Balance on completion. Two acceptable securities must bind themselves jointly and severally with the contractor for the value of 50% of the advances. They will each be responsible to pay 25% of such part of the contract as is not performed according to terms.
Sat 7th Sept 1793
Bombay Promissory Notes, account at August 1793 – 50,000 Rupees in Promissory Notes have been exchanged for Bengal Bills on London this month. The balance of notes in circulation is reduced to 2,044,024 Rupees.
Sat 7th Sept 1793
Notice – the amount of bonded debt to be discharged in Bombay Presidency in Sept 1793 is 388,000 Bombay Rupees. This will discharge the balances due to W G Farmer, Solomon Solomons and Lewis Cochrane.
Sat 7th Sept 1793
Editorial - Any prizes we take in Eastern Seas will provide business to the courts at Bombay and at Madras as the Admiralty Jurisdiction at Calcutta is limited to the river up to the mouths of the Ganges.
Sat 7th Sept 1793
Pondicherry – The French garrison intend resistance. They have fired several hundred pieces of cannon without effect. Braithwaite has 2,000 men of whom 1,200 are Europeans. He has 110 cannon. The French have carefully repaired the damage done in our last siege. It is intended to open our attack on ‘the glorious 10th August’. An enfilading battery has been constructed quite close to the fort’s walls. Our men could hear the French sentries challenging but the breeze is off the sea and they could not hear us.
On 12th Aug there was incessant firing from the fort all night. 2 men of the 72nd and a sepoy were killed. A French cavalry officer was captured on the night of 11th Aug when riding too close to our outpost. He is to be sent to Madras. He says the garrison is riotous and disorderly.
The cruiser Drake has joined the Admiral’s force off the coast.
Sat 7th Sept 1793
Bengal news – It is supposed in Calcutta that we will send a naval expedition to occupy Mauritius. The people of Mauritius were unaware of the war between France and England until 4th June.
Penang reports three Indiamen - Surat Castle and King George, both en route to China, and the York, en route to Manila, passed that island on 21st June.
The Parsee merchants at Calcutta say the Lowjee Family was captured between Ceylon and Madras. It sailed under convoy from here on 25th July for China.
7th August Lord Cornwallis will leave for Pondicherry at the end of this week on the Company’s ship Woodcote. The prize Bien Ami has been refitted and will sail with the Woodcote. The Woodcote is to carry three companies of artillery. The Lascar gunners of these companies will embark on other ships.
Sat 7th Sept 1793
Madras news – The Company ships Princess Amelia, Britannia, Francis, Rodney and Berrington have arrived from Spithead. They were convoyed by HMS Powerful and Boyne as far as the Cape.
Sat 7th Sept 1793
Company trade news – the tin shipments that the Company has made to China during the last 2-3 years have been profitable and the Directors are resolved to ship more on every ship in the coming season. The Company has contracted for 15% of the entire production of the Cornwall Stannaries at £70 per ton.
The value of cargo from Bengal to England this year will exceed all previous records. Hitherto an investment of 8 – 9 million Rupees was considered large. This year (1793/94 season) the cargo will be worth 12 million Rupees.
Sat 7th Sept 1793
The House of Commons is debating the Company’s accounts:
Dundas said the practice of requiring annual accounts from the Company had caused better accuracy of accounting and a more vigilant supervision over the expenses of the civil, military and commercial establishments. Hitherto the Company had reported income and expenditure from each territory from which the amount available for commerce and repayment of debt could be calculated. Now he had required accounts to show not just income and expenditure but assets and debts both in India and England and a combined statement of surplus revenue and commercial profit.
The revenue of the three main presidencies from 1787/88 to 1789/90 (3 years) averaged £6,897,730 pa and the expenses were £5,283,717 pa. Dundas had formerly thought the accounts of the Directors were unreliable but that was when they took everything at the lowest conceivable value. This was because the Directors feared the government would want a share if they reported the real profit. Dundas had made his own calculations and his figure for revenue was actually £65,895 pa less than the Directors’.
The annual surplus of £1,621,050 is applicable to payment of interest or reduction of debt or for use in China trade.
The amount of the Company’s debt in India at Jan 1792 was £9,084,550. Of this total debt only £6,933,943 was interest-paying at an annual cost of £592,209. Money urgently borrowed for the war with Tippoo at 12% was soon repaid with money borrowed at 8%. The war ended in Feb 1792.
The indemnity taken from Tippoo was the equivalent of £1.2 millions of which the army claimed £½ million in prize and the Company got the balance.
Reducing the Company’s territorial profit of £1,621,050 by the interest of £592,209 on debts still left just over £1 million in annual territorial profit.
Turning to commerce, the sale of British goods to India had produce a profit of £350,000 on the company’s own under-stated figures. Exports to India in 1784 had been £400,000 but were now £1 million and increasing. This head of profit should increase.
The Directors propose to send £250,000 (c. $1 million) to China for the annual tea purchases and send £1,127,000 home to pay the dividend etc. Sending revenue to China is effective as the tea and silk sales in London had produced an average £351,831 nett profit after tax for the six years 1787 – 1793. Indeed on the last three years the sales of China goods had produced an average excess over prime cost, freight and charges of £916,497. To this is to be added the tax on private trade which produced £83,393 on average.
Cornwallis is famous for his military victory over Tippoo but his regulations for the Company’s commerce have been equally successful in reducing fraud and increasing profit. The Directors are at last receiving assistance from many of their overseas employees. They particularly note Charles Grant.
On this capital the Directors have to pay the annual 8% dividend of £1,239,241 (valuing the issued capital of the Company at c. £15 million).
Dundas was unconcerned for moneys provided to the Company interest-free. He addressed the balance of Company debt in India of about £7 millions and the debt in England of £14,247,019. He said the accounts valued the Company’s assets (goods and money) in England at £8,815,489 and in India (goods and money) at £4,980,405. Deducting the Company’s issued capital produced £12,913,904 in assets.33
It is better for the Company to accumulate its debt in England because they retain the advantage of the trading profit on their money (they can send a small value of India goods to China and convert it to a large sum on sale of bartered China goods in London)
Dundas thought it important for the Company to facilitate the transfer of private fortunes from India to England so as to deter employees using their money in competition with the Company (remitting the proceeds in foreign bottoms or Bills to evade detection). He suggested £500,000 of India debt should be transferred annually to England. Interest rates in India were now 8% but were falling with the conclusion of the Mysore War and should soon be 6% (the level at outbreak of war). Eight years of repayment would reduce Indian debt to £3 millions and that would be a supportable level as the Indians like to invest in the Company’s funds and aligning the interests of Indian Shroffs with the Company enhances political stability.
Dundas thought the home debt could be dealt with in two ways – increasing the Company’s capital or paying-off debt by instalments. He preferred a capital increase as it should elicit an increase of trade.
He wondered if the whole surplus from India should be brought to England and concluded that it should and if the proprietors felt that indicated they should get a bigger dividend, perhaps they should – say to 10%.
He also felt the public (i.e. government) should share in the fortunes of the Empire but he did not himself know how to go about it.
Proposals for ending the Company’s trade monopoly have been aired publicly but Dundas assessed it would damage British manufacturers.
He concluded that after all expenses £100,000 profit is being made now. It should be set aside annually in a public fund to guarantee the dividend. He calculated this would increase in 14 years to £12 millions (as the debt is paid-off, the profit will increase plus the interest on it). This would secure their capital in these prosperous days and minimise fluctuations in the stock value.
Dundas was so confident of his opinions that he would print them in a paper of hints to the parliamentary Select Committee that would investigate the Company accounts.
Sat 14th September 1793
The capture of Pondicherry:
The siege only lasted 9-10 days from first breaking ground on 12th August. The 14-gun battery of 24 pounders north of the town opened at 7.00 am on 22nd August. The enemy was soon obliged to mask every embrasure. At noon the mortar battery opened effectively and flags of truce were seen by 3 pm. At 5.00 pm the Lt Colonel in charge and the town Major came out with a letter from Governor Charmont.
They were conducted to our headquarters where they requested a ceasefire for 24 hours. Braithewaite agreed to suspend hostilities until 8 am next morning at which time another mortar battery was expected to be completed within 250 yards of the walls. The unconditional surrender then took place.
Colonels Floyd and Maxwell took possession of the town. The French officers were put on parole and permitted swords but the troops were not permitted to march out with honours of war. All private property is to be spared and the citizens permitted to remain provided they take an Oath of Allegiance to Britain.
Lt Colonel Bycliffe with a subaltern and 30 men of the 19th dragoons and some others will receive the French prisoners at the Villenove Gate. They will be escorted to Ariancopang and housed in the church until they can be sent to France.
Sat 14th September 1793
Sheera Singh v Bullechey Singh is an action in the Supreme Court at Calcutta, sitting in its Equitable Jurisdiction, to ascertain title to the Estate of Omichand Baboo, an important figure during the government of Lord Clive. Four letters written by Omichand in Nagree characters were presented by Sheera Singh and appear to constitute a Will. The defendant says another Will was made.
The Plaintiff says the four papers bequeath 100,000 rupees to Rajah Dialchund and his mother. The remainder of Omichand’s vast Estate was given to Huzreemull to expend on religion. Huzreemull was cauzanshier to the Company and there came a time when he had to leave Calcutta. Then he proposed to leave his son and Dialchand in possession of the Estate but Dialchand objected and he was consequently made sole manager of it. An agreement was drawn-up between Huzreemull and Dialchand which inter alia allowed the former to draw 1,000 Sicca rupees per month from the income of the Estate. Dialchand then ran the Estate into debt and when Huzreemull returned, a dispute commenced. Huzreemull took back the management of the Estate. Before his death he made a Will but did not immediately sign it as he required a particular witness who was not then available. This unsigned Will gave the management of the Estate to Mr Levitt, an alderman and member of the Mayor’s court, assisted by Mohan Dutt and was to continue until the present lessor, the Plaintiff, should come of age when ownership would be transferred to him. The Plaintiff is the adopted son of Roy Mulichand, who is the natural son of Huzreemull, who acknowledged the adoption.
For the Defence, Dialchand satisfied the Court that he was the paula betta or adopted son of Omichand and the rightful heir. He produced a Deed in Bengali signed by Huzreemull and Dialchand agreeing when Dialchand came of age, he would inherit the Estate, and he called on Huzreemull to deliver. Huzreemull prevaricated but eventually delivered up the bulk of the Estate and the first two deeds were executed in Bengali, a language that Dialchand says he does not understand. He had it translated and was displeased to find it differed materially from what had been discussed. He called in Kirperaum Ghose, an old servant of Omichand’s, to mediate and the first two deeds were then cancelled and a third one substituted containing the terms settled by Ghose.
Judgment for the Defendant.
Sat 21st Sept 1793
Notice – the ships Barwill and London will be dispatched to London at the beginning of November. They will carry the Company’s accounts to London. All Company offices are required to deliver their accounting records in duplicate before 20th October.
Sat 21st Sept 1793
The Company’s fleet left Portsmouth on 22nd May convoyed by Lord Hood’s squadron. The Indiamen are Ceres, Thurlow, Prince Wm Henry, Osterly, Houghton, Oxford, Lansdown, Glatton, Fort William, Abervagenny, Wm Pitt and Pigott. The squadron escorted the fleet to Gibraltar where HMS Ardent took over to Madeira. The fleet captured a French ship laden with indigo off the Cape and sent her to England under a prize crew. The London and Barwell have now arrived here in Bombay. They bring news from Europe to 20th May.
Sat 21st Sept 1793
Calcutta news – two French prizes captured by the Company were sold at the Bankshall - the snow Nestor for 2,700 Rupees and the hulk Chandranagore for 1,730 Sicca Rupees. The Brutus, a prize of the cruiser Drake, was also sold (without her cargo) for 14,500 Sicca Rupees.
Sat 21st Sept 1793
Admiral Cornwallis on board HMS Minerva will likely be overlooked in the honours for the successful siege of Pondicherry but his blockade by sea was the means whereby the town was denied all prospect of relief.
Sat 21st Sept 1793
M de Chermont, the late commander of Pondicherry, has explained why he did not surrender the town earlier in the face of the Company’s overwhelming army. He says the French troops were not amenable to discipline or subordination and loudly proclaimed their determination to retain possession of the town. No amount of counselling could penetrate their ignorance of what was about to befall. It was felt impossible, in the current democratic state of French administration, to propose any different course of conduct.
It was only after the batteries opened fire that a disposition to reason was manifested in the troops. Once it was established that a truce was the wish of a majority of them, the white flag was shown. Thereafter a majority of the revolutionaries plunged into intoxication and at length spoke of resuming the fight. At that time Colonels Floyd and Maxwell assumed control of the two gates to the town and their appearance imposed some better order on the rabble although the terms of capitulation were not strictly observed by the French troops.
On 27th August de Chermont attended church (a Catholic mass) in Pondicherry with a majority of the British officers. The French officers had placed the white (Bourbon) cockade in their hats. Several displayed Royal medals. Some Christian merchants of Pondicherry offered respect to the memory of Louis XVI. At the conclusion of the ceremony de Chermont called ‘vive le Roi’ which was echoed repeatedly by his officers. Outside the church the French officers came individually to Colonel Floyd and thanked him ‘for the honour he had done them’. They appeared joyful in spite of the result of the siege.
640 French democrats are now boarded and lodged at Ariancopang. They behave in an orderly way and appear to have reformed.
Pondicherry was found to be well supplied with military stores. A stocktaking is being done by the prize agent .
Once British occupation of the town was effected, Admiral Cornwallis sailed for the north where he is to meet his brother the Marquis (Governor-General).
Sat 21st Sept 1793
Henry Dundas’ propositions to House of Commons on 23rd April for Charter renewal are to be incorporated in a Bill to be presented to parliament in May 1794. The proposals are:
All the Company’s additional land holdings and the revenue therefrom will continue in the Company’s possession for their further term of exclusive trade but subject to such appropriations of land revenue and trade profit as is specified below.
The King will appoint a Board of Commissioners to control the civil and military government of the Company.
All costs of the Board will be paid quarterly by the Company.
The governments of Bengal, Bombay and Fort St George (Madras) will be by a Governor and three counsellors, empowered as invested.
HM retains the power to recall any Company officer in India and the Court of Directors likewise have this power.
The trade monopoly will continue for another 20 years from 1st March 1794 and is liable to termination if notice is given by government at least 3 years prior to 1st March 1814.
Any British citizen or citizen of HM in Europe (Corsicans after 1794, Gibraltans and Hanoverians) may export goods from London on the Company’s ships to any of the East Indian ports regularly visited by the Company’s ships, except military stores, ammunition, masts, spars, cordage, anchors, pitch, tar or copper.
Any European subject of HM in the Company’s civil service or resident in India under the Company’s licence as a free merchant, may consign on the Company’s ships bound for Europe, any goods to London within the limit of tonnage that the Company offers to provide.
The Company shall restrict to London discharge, Indian exports of calicoes, dimities, muslins and all piecegoods made of silk or cotton to its own benefit and the benefit of those private merchants it so licences. If the Board considers the Company’s exports are insufficient for the usual consumption in England, it may permit such British individuals as it selects to supplement the import.
The Company is obligated to provide 3,000 tons of shipping between November to January to carry the goods of private merchants to India and to bring back the returns of those merchants. The freight rate will be reasonable.
The freight rate in peacetime will not exceed £5 per ton outbound and £15 per ton inbound and in no case will the two together exceed £20 per ton. These rates may be increased in wartime in proportion to the Company’s own increased cost of freight.
British exporters will apply to the Company Secretary before the end of August each year for space on the ships of the following season. They will specify the port of destination, the tonnage required and the approx dates of shipment. Before 15th September they will deposit in the Company’s Treasury the freight and dues required by the Company, which the Company at its sole discretion may substitute for security in lieu of cash. They will deliver to the Company a list of the goods intended to be exported before end October, failing which the freight prepayment will be forfeited.
Sat 28th September 1793
Advertisement – For sale under the residence of Mr Wales the following books:
The Annual Register, Life of Charles V by Robertson, Political Justice by Godwin, Nicholson’s Dictionary and 11 assorted books on medicine and tropical diseases.
Sat 28th September 1793
The Courier has advertisements for lotteries every week, mostly the official numbers-game lotteries operated by each Presidency but occasionally something different, like the following:
Two dwelling houses, a service of silver plate and two excellent palanquins are offered for sale by lottery as 26 prizes. 148 tickets will be issued at Rupees 50 each. If you win but do not want the prize, you can have its declared cash value instead, less 15% admin charge. Further details are shown on the handbills posted at the Lyceum.
Sat 28th September 1793
The violent storm experienced last Thursday is called the Elephanta by the natives and, they say, signals the end of the summer monsoon. We have seldom been in expectation of such a plentiful harvest as this year.
Sat 28th September 1793
John Smith Burgess, late Chairman of the Company, was made a baronet by King George III on 4th May.
Sat 28th September 1793
Eight regiments of fencibles are being raised in Scotland individually by some local aristocrats and businessmen.
Sat 5th October 1793
Notice – The annual sale of the Company’s imports to Bombay will occur on 25th November. The following goods will be offered for sale on the usual conditions:
|
Broadcloth Long Ells Lead (1 cwt = 112 lbs) Copper plate Copper, fine Japan copper |
538 bales 36 bales 6,700 cwt 900 cwt 2,087 cwt 1,556 cwt |
Sat 5th October 1793
The sum available for the discharge of the Bond Debt of this Presidency during October is 363,000 Bombay Rupees. This is sufficient to liquidate the holdings of M/s Solomon Salomons, Wm Freeman and Bunsaloe Manockchand Roopchand.
Sat 5th October 1793
Discharge of Promissory Notes issued by Bombay Presidency for Sept 1793 is 20,464 Rupees leaving 2,089,276 Rupees still in circulation.
Sat 5th October 1793
Notice – all volunteers in the Company’s Bombay Marine are required to return to their stations by 1st June 1794 or be struck off the register.
Sat 5th October 1793
The Chief Officer of the Barwell is selling his imports next door to Dr Alvares house (opposite the Portuguese church) - hats, gloves, hosiery, mirrors, perfumes, glassware, jewellery, chandlery, paints, boots, pickled meat and claret.
Sat 12th Oct 1793
Lord Cornwallis has visited Pondicherry on the Swallow whilst en route back to England. He has no time to visit Bombay. This is the ship on which Lord Macartney returned to England after his Governorship of Madras.
Sat 12th Oct 1793
The price of cotton is declining. It generally keeps pace with the price of grain and is an important indicator of the value of money and labour throughout India. It reflects the restriction on money supply due to reduction in volume of the Company’s debt paper.
Sat 12th Oct 1793
Mr Nathaniel Smith, MP and a Director (long-term Chairman) of the Company, has queried the advice and information provided to the House by Dundas concerning the Company’s finances.
David Scott replied on behalf of Dundas – Dundas’ figures were based on the accounts provided by the Company itself. The company’s affairs have been profitable for several years. Both the revenue and the trade profit increased in each of those recent years. The only changes since the accounts has been a reduction of trade- and an increase of territorial-revenue.
The Directors admit they have been cautious in their estimates - the revenue was probably £200,000 understated, and they showed recent trade as loss-making to the extent of £50,000 per annum when it was actually profitable by that amount. They have not included the expected profit from the full proposed investment of £1.5 millions but only about £1 million of it. The combined effects of all these understatements reduced profit by about £700,000 per annum.
Scott was so confident of his knowledge of the Company’s business that he offered to buy the understatement for £500,000 of his own money. He said the men who produce the Company’s accounts are as able and upright as can be found in the country. If it were not so, their work could never have been presented to this House. He apologised to the House for wasting time and keeping Members up late. He said he would not have done so had it not been for Director Smith’s comments which were as surprising as they were regrettable.
A concise extract of the Company’s financial affairs was published from information provided to the Board of Control by the Directors:
|
Nett annual income (rent and profits) Less: Interest on the 4% bond (of £3.2 millions) 8¾% Interest on the loans in India (£6,669,082) 8% Dividend on the issued capital (£5 millions) Surplus for the year |
- - £128,000 £561,923 £400,000 |
£2,329,164 - - - £1,089,923 £1,239,241 |
Government is still considering how much of the surplus will go to the Exchequer and how much in additional dividend to shareholders. The intention to pay-off the Indian debt and the economies on freight, etc., will make the future surplus larger. A Sinking Fund for India debt will form part of the surplus in six years time, unless that debt be increased. It is accordingly foreseeable that the dividend should increase in future. Even this year, there is an unappropriated estimated sum of £107,241 which should go to the owners.
Sat 12th Oct 1793
Editorial - Since the loss of America, it is India that provides a preponderant part of the resources of the British empire. A book has been published ‘Historical View of Plans for the Government of British India, and Regulation of Trade to the East Indies’ which explains our Indian affairs authoritatively. Parliament is now planning the future employment of this resource.
Land and industry in India should be assessed on principles that both strengthen the attachment of the Indians to us and maximise the commercial value of our possessions. If monopoly trade is to end, the Company has to be compensated in a reasonable way. If the Company’s privileges are to be renewed under Charter, the public may expect a reasonable consideration for the grant.
We think it necessary for parliament to renew the Charter - British territory in East Indies, and the revenue derived from it, should remain with the Company.
People familiar with the methods of the Company will find this book boring. For those who take only a general view of the Company, the minute particulars in the book will be important. Government suitable for the Hindu arises from his history and culture. Perfect systems of administration appear only on paper and, unless they accord with the wishes of a majority, threaten the government of the people who attempt them. In every historical age we find examples of a recurring theme – that opinion always defeats force, custom defeats innovation. Wise Legislators adapt government to the common usages of the people they administer rather than attempt to force their unilateral ideas on a reluctant and resentful populace. Even when those ideas seem capable of improving the lot of the people they must be introduced gradually and incrementally.
Sat 12th Oct 1793
Our Assessors continue to examine Tippoo’s confiscated lands. The likely revenues will be substantial but not onerous on the farmers. The commissioners have had important help from the Scotsman Murdoch Brown of Mahé in Kerala, whose local knowledge is extensive. He has been appointed Deputy Chief of Police at Mahé.
Sat 12th Oct 1793
The Zamorin’s Head Minister has been assassinated at Calicut and the Rajah’s 7th son is suspected. A large reward is offered for information.
Sat 12th Oct 1793
Homnabad has become a regional commercial city. Goods from Poona, Hyderabad, Buchampur, Surat, Nagpur, Chundkairy and Aurangabad collect here for forwarding to Tippoo’s territories via Kurpa or Bellary. Horses and camels can travel these routes. The city revenues belong to Shumse-al-Omrah’s group but (with Tippoo out of the way) the Nizam’s minister wishes to get control of them. He is refurbishing Mohamedabad Bider (which stands on part of the site of the ancient city of Bider) to attract the commerce of Homnabad. The Nizam resides there. The surrounding area for many miles is characterised by stone rich in iron ore which forms a pavement. The water tastes foul but is potable. The wells are 150 ft deep.
Sat 2nd Nov 1793
Promissory Notes, Bombay October Account:
6% Promissory notes exchanged for Bills on London in Oct = 82,789 rupees
New
6% notes issued Oct = 118,991 rupees.
Balance of Promissory Notes in circulation = 2,118,477 rupees.
Sat 2nd Nov 1793
Letter from the Directors to the Governor-General, dated 25th Feb 1793:
Negotiations for Charter renewal continue but we expect to be obliged to liquidate our debts in India. We revoke our previous permissions to draw on us in discharge of those debts. We will shortly advise you of the amount of debt that is required to be liquidated annually under the new Charter.
Sat 2nd Nov 1793
Capt Grant of the London is selling part of his investment for this voyage at the house next door to Mrs James – wines, salt meat, cloth, wall lights and toiletries.
Sat 2nd Nov 1793
Lord Cornwallis left on 9th Oct. General Abercromby becomes 2i/c at Calcutta and George Dick’s acting governorship here becomes permanent. Before the Governor-General left, Tippoo completed the payments due to the Company and his sons, whom we have held as hostages against payment, were returned to him. The defences of Pondicherry have been reduced to deter its future military use by France.
Sat 2nd Nov 1793
The VOC34 governor of Colombo van der Graff is appointed Governor-General at Batavia from next March. Mr V Anglebeck, the governor of Cochin, will succeed him in Ceylon.
Sat 2nd Nov 1793
Charter renewal – Beaufoy introduced the subject in the House of Commons and Fox renewed his objections to the first two clauses, saying no satisfactory answer had yet been made available to the MPs. He thought the public had a right to know how the House had formed its opinion.
The country is at war and strict economy is requisite. This Bill created two new posts with big salaries. It was particularly inappropriate coming from Dundas who has combined the jobs (but not the salaries) of Home Secretary with President of the Board of Control for so many years.
The Chancellor said when a public servant did not draw his salary it was paid into the Civil List.
Dundas replied that under Fox’s India Bill nine new London posts were created and they would have had the patronage of 400 Indian jobs worth £1 million annually whereas Pitt’s Bill left the patronage with the Company and required promotion of Company servants by seniority.
He said it was impossible to regulate India without delegating great powers to the government in Calcutta. The influence of the King was reduced as low as general safety would permit. His proposals would encourage young men, just entering the public service, to pay greater attention to Indian affairs.
The House approved the clauses 115:42 and the Bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time next Wednesday.
Sat 9th Nov 1793
Notice – Bombay wheat is now 2.9 seers per candy.35 Bakers may sell bread at the following prices. There follows a list of weights and prices. If bakers sell at less weight they will be fined.
Sat 9th Nov 1793
For sale, 18th Oct 1793 – an elegant Bengal Meana36 with hair mattress, together with household furniture, coach, two phaetons and a pair of mules.
Sat 9th Nov 1793
Captain Braithwaite, son of the CiC, is taking the French colours from Pondicherry back to London.
Sat 9th Nov 1793
Those merchants who since 25th June 1793 have sold indigo to the Company in Bengal in return for Bills on London, will continue to enjoy the exchange rate of 2/5d per Current Rupee but the Company will revert to 2/4d if peace breaks out.
Sat 9th Nov 1793
A Directors’ meeting has been held at India House. Chairman Devaynes ordered the two Acts relative to Charter renewal be read. The Annuity Bill was agreed unanimously. The Renewal Act contained blanks and voting was postponed until the Select Committee of the Commons had filled them in.
Henchman requested Director’s pay be doubled to £300 pa while Chairmen’s pay be doubled to £500 pa, both backdated to 1st April. The shareholding qualification for Directors should be increased from £2,000 to £3,000. A new Oath requiring honesty etc was desirable.
The Chairman said he did not want to go to parliament on the subject of Directors’ pay or qualifications at this time.
Lushington said liberality should go with responsibility. Salaries are inadequate. If Directors are paid more they are better protected from the temptations which HM ministers hold out to them. He thought parliament might not need to know as the numbers of Directors might be decreased and the overall cost will remain unaffected.
Sir Francis Baring agreed generally but feared the increased shareholding qualification might exclude many talented people. He wanted a new Oath.
Montgomery Campbell supported higher pay.
Mr Sergeant Watson thought an increase in the qualifying shareholding could only be achieved by Act of Parliament but the salaries could be increased by the revision of a Bye Law.
Mr Thornton liked a new Oath.
Mr David Scott wanted the new Oath introduced immediately. He thought the salary increase required more consideration and the change in shareholding qualification was unnecessary.
Mr Pattle liked the Oath. He noted the Act allowed the Court to increase salaries only to £200 pa.
Authority to draft a new Oath was then voted and passed unanimously.
Mr Randall Jackson wished to amend the Oath taken at ballots by adding “I am not directly or indirectly interested in this question and my concern is solely as a shareholder of India stock.”
Mr Lushington noticed that if shareholders were excluded from voting on general commercial matters, they might sell out and India stock reduce in value.
Mr Elphinstone opposed Jackson’s amendment.
Mr Randall Jackson denied he was mounting an attack on the old shareholders. He was not raising resg the matter of the shipping interest which had already been settled. He was concerned solely with commercial matters. He withdrew his motion for the time being but might raise it later.
Sat 16th Nov 1793
Trial by Ordeal in Indian traditional jurisprudence:
The accused is called early, whilst his clothes are still moist from bathing and before he breaks his fast. For claims less than 1,000 pieces of silver the accused may not be tried by the red hot ball, poison or the scales unless his offence is against his Rajah.
Trial by balance is required for all people, whether lame, blind, sick or Brahmin. For Sudra trial is by fire or water or 7 barley corns of poison.
For trial by balance, the accused sits on one side of the scales and an equal weight is placed on the other. The beam contains a groove with water in it and the level must be marked. The accused then appeals for justice. If he goes up (or if the scales break) he is acquitted; if he goes down he is convicted.
For trial by fire both hands of the accused are thoroughly rubbed with husked rice. 7 leaves of ficus religiosa (a rather small-leafed tree) are placed in his hands and bound in position with thread. The accused appeals for justice. Then the red hot iron ball is placed in his hands. He steps successively in seven small circles and casts away the ball. His hands are again rubbed and if found unharmed, he is innocent.
For trial by water, the accused is immersed in the river and an arrow shot at the same time. A runner retrieves the arrow. When the arrow is returned the accused is raised from the water. If he still lives, he is innocent.
For trial by poison, the accused recites the mantra ‘Oh poison, child of Brahma steadfast in justice and in truth, clear me from this charge and become nectar to me.’ He then swallows the saranga and if he does not become inflamed, he is innocent.37
For small claims, the priest bathes the statue of the deity and gives the accused three handfuls of the water to drink. If he remains well after 14 days, he is innocent.
Sat 16th Nov 1793
An American brig has been chartered by the Governor of Madras to go to Mauritius as a cartel ship and bring back the passengers of the Winterton.
Sat 23rd Nov 1793
Notice - All goods produced in the Company’s lands in India may be shipped to Malabar (the new province taken from Tippoo) free of transit duties and Customs wef 1st Jan 1794. Merchants must buy an export certificate at the port of departure and produce it at every Malabari port they discharge at.
Sat 23rd Nov 1793
Calcutta news:
The insurance Agencies of Calcutta have combined to decline insurance to any ship sailing East until a frigate arrives to convoy the shipping.
20th Nov - A platoon of Europeans is being sent to the Company’s base on the Andaman Islands. A Sergeant and 12 artillery men will join them. Capt Blair will take them in the Union. They will serve under Capt Robert Hamilton who now commands the island.
Sat 23rd Nov 1793
Mr Dundas’ new India Bill is intended to replace all the old law in India with a systematic legal system.
Sat 23rd Nov 1793
Oudh is a few miles from Allahabad and close to the Company’s territorial frontier. It has collapsed into anarchy. The distress of the poor and the weak is terrible.
Sat 30th Nov 1793
Notice: For rent - the Government arrack farm for Bombay from 1st Jan 1794 – 30th Apr 1797. Intending bidders should attend the Hall of Government House on 20th December 1793.
Sat 30th Nov 1793
Investments by the Company’s ships’ officers this season are much reduced. Although an increased number of ships are consigned to Bengal this year, most Europe goods are still selling at high prices in the Calcutta market. The war is preventing the usual trade in English goods that the neutrals used to bring. Fortunately, the Vizier’s minister has made some large purchases of Europe goods which has supported prices. Madeira and brandy are particularly expensive as we fear there will be limited future supplies. Madeira has risen 40% in the last 4 months.
Sat 30th Nov 1793
Resolution of the Bombay merchants 23rd Nov 1793:
The commercial situation of Bombay is as follows – Our trade has stagnated due to the war in Europe; our shipping is unprotected due to the absence of warships for convoy; the Company has discharged so much of its bonded debt that it is overflowing with money; the only investment in town is the Company’s paper which now pays only 6% per annum and can no longer be realised when wanted (it has become non-transferrable).
To those investors who have deposited funds with our Agencies at ¾% per month (9% pa) we regret to advise that effective 1st August 1793 (three months ago) we will only pay ½% per month.
Sgd – Forbes Smith & Co, Bruce Fawcett & Co, Alexander Adamson, James Tate, Rivett Wilkinson & Co, Robert Henshaw, John Tasker, Patrick Hadow, Joseph Harding and Miguel de Lima e Souza.
Sat 30th Nov 1793
Extract from the recent publication Plans of India, the difficulty of engrafting a free Constitution on distant provinces:
Rome, the most free nation in antiquity, made her proconsuls absolute in the provinces but responsible to the Senate and people of Rome. Britain has emulated Rome and made her Governor-General of India absolute to the natives but responsible to the Board of Directors and Board of Control, both of which are responsible to parliament.38 The Governor-General is like one of the ancient Subadars under the Persian system of government in India. Our government in India and our trade to the East must accord with the usages of the Indian people but we must take care in exercising our power not to upset the British legislature by neglecting the spirit of the English Constitution.
Sat 30th Nov 1793
Capt Reynolds of the Bombay army who is presently in Calcutta has been sent to explore the northern frontier of Hindustan. He evolved the idea at Seringapatam after the war with Tippoo.39
Capt Barclay several months ago sailed to Oregon for furs which he profitably sold in Macau. He bought an Imperial-flag (Austrian registry) ship there with the proceeds and loaded a valuable cargo for Ostend but, being ignorant of the outbreak of war, put into Mauritius en voyage where he with his wife and children and the ship and cargo were all seized.
Sat 30th Nov 1793
Madras – an American ship just arrived from Mauritius reports that a French frigate arrived there recently from Europe with instructions from the National Convention. The frigate stayed only a few days for reprovisioning and sailed in company with three lesser ships to an undisclosed destination. The Mauritians are busily preparing their island against attack.
It is rumoured the French propose an attack on Cowper’s Island near Batavia where the Dutch accumulate the spices of the Eastern Islands prior to shipment to Europe. Cowper’s Island has been assessed as incapable of defence and we suppose the Dutch will have removed their valuables to a less exposed place.
Sat 30th Nov 1793
England – Wilberforce has asked the Commons to send Anglican clergymen to India at the Company’s expense to proselytise the Hindus and Moslems.
Dundas replied that the natives of India should be permitted to follow the religion of their fathers. The Court of Directors and the shareholders are also using their influence to frustrate adoption of Wilberforce’s idea, which they conceive will have explosive results if adopted.
The final compromise was for the Company to provide a chaplain to every ship over 700 tons. This motion passed and Wilberforce agreed to postpone his own radical motion until after the new Charter terms have been settled.
Sat 7th Dec 1793
Notice – Old 8% Promissory Notes discharged November 127,635 rupees. New 6% notes issued 383,202 rupees. Notes in circulation 2,374,043 rupees.
500,000 rupees of bond debt will be discharged this month. This will buy up the balances of holdings of John Hunter, Wm Ashburner and John Griffith.
Sat 7th Dec 1793
England - The India Bill has passed both Houses, received the Royal Assent and become law. It is a huge piece of legislation.
In summary, the Governor-General’s powers, and those of Presidential governors, are increased; the Admiralty Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is extended, and Justices of the Peace are appointed throughout India. The new Act takes effect on 1st February 1794 until 1811 with a determination clause requiring three years notice.
On 5th June there was an interesting speech in the Lords by Guildford, objecting to the two new Commissioners appointed by the Act to the Board of Control. He saw it as increasing the King’s patronage whilst the trend for many years had been to diminish it. He suspected that increased power of the Crown was a ministerial response to French principles and an artful management of the ruling class’ fears associated with the notion of ‘equality’.
He noted the former Board of Revenue was comprised of the Treasurer of the Navy and the Teller of the Exchequer in Ireland who both dealt with Indian revenue on their existing salaries. Now the function was assumed by new Commissioners to be paid by the Company.
FitzWilliam agreed. He had formerly approved seven Commissioners because the affairs of the country and the Company were intermingled. Now he felt the thrust of this and earlier initiatives should place India under one man – a Secretary of State for India Affairs, fixed with responsibility to parliament. The appointment of more Commissioners would dissipate responsibility, he feared.
Hawkesbury replied for the government. Since 1689 the influence of the King has diminished as the influence of property and commerce increased. The amount of business was now too great for the Privy Council to handle. Young men must be trained-up to manage foreign commerce and the Board of Trade was commenced for that purpose.
Lauderdale ridiculed the idea of a political school for the training of statesmen – this is already done in the Houses of Parliament. He also thought persons in public office should be paid out of the revenues of the department they control.
Grenville said Acts of Parliament have to change with the times. He agreed that a Secretary of State for India was a good idea, and Dundas would be the ideal man, but the laborious investigation of affairs was too much for one man. He hoped that no further objections would be made.40
Our war fleet is fully occupied in home waters and no vessels will be sent East.
The recent hiccup in commercial credit in London has been overcome and prosperity in England is increasing. This makes government policy popular and diminishes the influence of the liberal opposition.
Sat 14th Dec 1793
India news - The Company has introduced a postage charge on private letters sent in its packets from each Presidency. Under 2 ozs free; over 2 ozs 4 Sicca rupees, over 3 ozs 9 Sicca rupees, etc. The appropriate cost is calculated by squaring the weight to produce the postage in rupees.
The last payment due from Tippoo in war indemnity has been received. It was bullion and arrived in 36 tumbrels.
Director’s letter of 25th June 1793 – A new general instruction dated 8th April has been received, applicable to people permitted to go to England - ‘no civil or military officer may remain in England more than 2 years from the date of their arrival’
Sat 21st December 1793
The British Resident at the Nizam’s Court in Poona has complained British subjects entering the Mahratta States without passports, ….’An English ship lately entered the Pen River and came up to Mopant where several men landed and walked as far as the village of Shabaz…..’
From Goa we hear that a dispute has commenced between Purseram Bhow and the Rajah of Malwa and may become violent.
Sat 21st December 1793
East India House news:
The new Charter will require substantial amendment of the Company’s Bye Laws. The Committee of Bye Laws is a sinecure and existing members are either dead or too old for useful work. The Chairman said Cherry is a member and still has his wits. We should ask all of them what they think. Baber said the committee was elected annually and a fresh election should not disturb anyone. He proposed Wm Frazier, Serjeant Watson MP, Randle Jackson, T Henchman, Wm Lushington, Capt Twining and Cherry. They were unanimously elected.
The proposed annuity to Lord Cornwallis ‘for services rendered’ was approved at £5,000 p a for 20 years for two lives (if the Marquis or his son Lord Brome should live so long). It will be funded from territorial revenue.
Lushington drew attention to officers on the Bengal establishment who had been on the service for 20 years and were still subalterns. Wars used to make the Company’s service preferable to European armies. Now the reverse was the case. He mentioned the case of Capt Floyer who had been wounded in the last war. The doctors in India could do nothing and sent him back. He spent two years in England before returning and got £100 compensation for his trouble when he would have had £600 had he stayed in India. Living in England costs more than India and income is less. Are we trying to create the circumstances under which Englishmen will emigrate to India as colonists? The Company should be generous to its servants.
Sat 21st December 1793
Mr Hobart of the Irish parliament avers that Ireland has a right to trade east of the Cape and the country had made an enormous concession in agreeing the new terms of the Charter. He wants to put the Irish on the same footing as the English. He proposed that a 800 ton Indiaman visit Cork annually to load Irish manufactures for the East. He thought the same 5% value as freight rate at London should apply to Cork. He noted the immense fortunes being made in India and repatriated to Ireland by individuals and thought Irish manufacturers should get their share too. He noted that the VOC was at a standstill and only the English Company traded in the East. The only thing England has that China wants is silver but some Irish products might also find a market. He requested leave to bring in a Bill to regulate Irish trade to/from the East. Leave granted.
Sat 21st December 1793
Calcutta, 21st November - Sr Thomas de Souza married the daughter of Sr Louis Barretto last Saturday. (Nicholas de Lima e Souza is married to Anna Barretto)
Sat 28th Dec 1793
Notice 26th Dec 1793 – Bonds and Promissory Notes of the Bombay Government will be received at the Treasury in exchange for 5% Bills on the Directors in London at an exchange rate of 2/2d per Bombay rupee payable at 548 days Sight.
If the payments that the Company has to make, as a result of the new terms of Charter requiring liquidation of the Indian Debt, preclude settlement in 548 days, interest will continue to be paid until we can afford to redeem the Bills.
Sat 28th Dec 1793
India news – a novel case has come before the Supreme Court at Calcutta. A Muslim has sued his elder relative for abandoning the faith and becoming a Christian. Under its existing rules, the Court is obliged to apply Muslim law in respect of litigants who profess that faith.
The Plaintiff says his family has been disgraced and, according to the Koran, the apostate’s property should be seized and passed to his heir (the Plaintiff). The Company’s Judiciary is accordingly required to apply law that is unconstitutional in England.
Editor - If Wilberforce and Grant had succeeded in their plan to send out Anglican clergymen to proselytise the Indians this sort of action might have become more common. As they were defeated, it is likely a one-off.
Sat 4th Jan 1794
Bombay Promissory Notes Account, December 1793:
85,645 rupees of old debt has been exchanged for 6% certificates on Bengal.
346,391 rupees of the new 6% debt has been issued.
The amount of promissory notes in circulation is now 2,634,789 rupees.41
Sat 4th Jan 1794
Company news:
The Directors have received many complaints of abuses by passengers clearing their personal effects from the Company’s warehouses in London. George Patterson, James C Hyde and Henry Hedges are appointed as the Directors’ Agents to construe the tax regulations properly.
The Company’s island of St Helena has been distressed by war. It is intentionally not self-sufficient in anything and requires all provisions to be shipped in,
Henry Chichley Plowden has arrived at Calcutta on the Warren Hastings.
Mr Haydn, son of the composer, is engaged in Madras to play subscription concerts.
Sat 11th Jan 1794
Batavia, 20th Sept – the pirates here are troublesome. They come from the Celebes and Borneo in large proas with many men. As there are no warships here, they come right into the roads. The government has fitted-out and armed a large Indiaman to stand-by off Edam Island.
Sat 18th Jan 1794
18th Jan 1794 - The Governor-in-Council has appointed the following officials to the Bombay Presidency:
John Hector Cherry to be Senior Merchant
James Rivett, Supernumerary Senior Merchant
Charles Watkins & John Donelan, Senior merchants
John Agnew & James Stevens, Junior merchants
Richard Torin, junior merchant
George Brown, assistant to the Secretary in the Public Dept.
Sat 25th Jan 1794
The Bombay government invites sealed tenders for the provision of 2,000 bales of Mocha coffee, showing price and the freight rate from Mocha.
Sat 25th Jan 1794
All types of grain are rising in price here due to non-delivery of the usual supplies from the north via Surat.
Sat 8th Feb 1794
Bombay Promissory Notes account, January 1794:
Notes exchanged for Bills on London 70,533 rupees.
New 6% notes issued 166,683 rupees.
Balance in circulation 2,722,055 rupees
Sat 15th Feb 1794
Notice – underwriters of the ship Nerbudda are requested to meet at the Bombay Tavern on 17th Feb at 11 am.
Sat 15th Feb 1794
Prince of Wales Island (Penang) is soundly financed. The import duty on arrack and opium, together with the tax on houses of entertainment, produces $30,000 per year. Expenditure is $21,000.
(in the next edition the Editor makes a correction - $21,000 is only sufficient to defray the port charges and general administration. The costs of troops and cruisers is not included and is much more)
Sat 15th Feb 1794
Madras news - 27 Dutch Indiamen are reported to be lying in Batavia roads but only 105 seamen are available to man them due to a fever epidemic. The captains have been ordered to run their ships ashore on the appearance of the enemy.
Sat 15th Feb 1794
Prize money of 104,298 gold Pagodas will be paid out to the Company’s Madras Army troops who were involved in the war with Tippoo.
Sat 15th Feb 1794
Mauritius and Reunion are part of the French Empire. They are planted with a superior species of cotton (Sea Island cotton) and with coffee and indigo. It is all for export.
This commercial slave-owning economy requires the residents to import most of their foodstuff. Now the war is causing hardship to the poor through the interruption of trade. Inadequate supplies of grain are being received. The inhabitants have not yet commenced planting grain.
They all seem unconcerned and prefer collecting money from prize-taking than food from the soil. Some of the crew of the Princess Royal have chosen to join the crews of privateers as the lack of provisions on the island disturbed them.
Sat 22nd Feb 1794
Notice – subscriptions to the Company’s remittance to London (i.e. purchasers of Bills on the Directors in London) must be made to the Secretary of the Presidency in which you reside. That officer will forward all complete subscriptions to Calcutta. The Governor-General will no longer issue Bills to anyone individually; only to subscribers sending via the local Government Secretary.
Sat 22nd Feb 1794
Reward – 50 rupees for the return of a Malay slave about 15-16 years old. He stole a purse containing 45 Venetians and some silver buttons. His features are prominent and sulky. He walks like a pigeon, taking long steps.
If you see him, take him into custody and alert the owner Douglas Richardson.
Sat 22nd Feb 1794
The Mayor’s Court has heard an action for Criminal Conversion of the wife of the Plaintiff Mr J K (i.e. adultery) by the Defendant Mr L.
Judgment for the Plaintiff in 10,000 rupees.
Sat 22nd Feb 1794
The death of Rajah Madajee Sindhia has been announced. It will effect the political balance at Poona. He has added considerable territory to his domains in his lifetime.
The present fighting in Angria is said to relate to a feared usurpation by the late Rajah’s illegitimate son in preference to his lawful children who are infants.
Sat 22nd Feb 1794
The disappearance of the Company’s cruisers Antelope and Princess Royal has been accounted for. They were sent to Basra with dispatches for Baghdad and the date of their return is unknown.
Editor - not to be confused with the Company’s Indiaman Princess Royal (Horncastle) which was taken as a prize of the French on 10th October.
Sat 22nd Feb 1794
The price of French produce at Mauritius has risen. Claret was $3 per bottle in November and brandy had risen from 28 Livres per bottle at the start of the war to 85 Livres now. It is expected to increase further.
Salt beef and pork is 350 – 400 Livres the cask. McCarthy, the American Consul at Mauritius, made 1 million Livres profit on a shipment of salt meat recently.
Sat 1st Mar 1794
The late Herjee Jevanjee was a Parsee merchant whose wealth and mercantile influence placed him at the head of his group. His brother, the well-known ‘Ready Money Muncher’ and he were amongst the first Parsees to abandon the Parsee cultural distaste for venturing on the seas. His initiative produced a fortune estimated at 2 million rupees. His remains are deposited in the family tomb with those of his brother and will not be exposed as is usually the Parsee custom.
Sat 1st Mar 1794
A list of Justices of the Peace has been published at Calcutta. It is not solely comprised of Company employees.
Editor - the office pays handsome allowances.
Sat 1st Mar 1794
The Company’s new Colony on the Andamans at Port Cornwallis is flourishing. The Surveyor General from Madras, Major Kidd, has resigned his employment to act as Governor of the new settlement. He just awaits orders from Fort William before departing in HMS Seahorse.
The government has been persuaded to send Indian convicts to the Andaman Colony – it gives prisoners more choice as to how they serve their sentences, their labour will help develop the Colony and they will be trained in diligence and industry. It is hoped that many of them will be reclaimed from their vicious propensities. 200 convicts have opted for transportation to the Andamans and have embarked on the Daphne which will sail soon.
Sat 1st Mar 1794
The new Charter has abolished the police at Calcutta. No new Commissioners will be appointed. The role of Police Commissioner is assumed by Justices of the Peace, appointed by the Government.
The first JPs are Sir John Richardson and M/s Joseph B Smith, Charles Fuller Martin, Levi Ball, Thomas Harding and Jessop.
The assessment of the Agency firms for liability to pay import/export duty, formerly a lucrative job of the Police Commissioner, now passes to the Collector of Customs.
Sat 1st Mar 1794
The Bengal Hircarrah in its 4th Feb edition intimates that Wm Windham is being considered for Governor of the Presidency of Bombay. Mr Windham is one of the managers of the prosecution of that great and good man whose virtues are deeply felt in India (Hastings). The Bengal Hircarrah Editor is accordingly ashamed of his information and has hidden it in a dark corner of his paper where it will be largely overlooked.
Windham is the 2nd greatest landowner in Norfolk (after Coke) and we suppose his absence from England would be detrimental to his own affairs. He is not ambitious for it is well-known he was offered a peerage (to end the persecution of Hastings) and refused it. We hope his brilliant abilities will be found absolutely necessary in England.
Sat 8th Mar 1794
Bombay Promissory Note account for February:
Old Promissory Notes exchanged for Bills on London 13,128 rupees;
new 6% Notes issued 37,750 rupees.
Notes in circulation 2,746,678 rupees.
Sat 8th Mar 1794
Business forms for sale at the Courier’s printing office – insurance policies on goods and on Block; Respondentia Bonds, bottomry bonds, interest bonds, Bills of Lading, Articles of Agreement between ship owners/commanders and Serangs (heads of Lascar crews).
Sat 8th Mar 1794
Bombay government Notice - On the death of William Paddock, William Bowler is raised to the rank of Senior Merchant and Christopher Piele becomes a Junior Merchant.
Sat 8th Mar 1794
Tippoo has completed the indemnity payments to the Mahrattas that were required by our peace terms.
It is now likely that Tippoo’s sons will be released by the Company and returned to their family as his failure to complete payment was the reason we continued to detain them after he completed payments to the Company.
Capt Kirkpatrick has succeeded Sir John Kennaway as British resident at the Nizam’s court and has arrived at Hyderabad.
Sat 8th Mar 1794
Editorial - Pirates are infesting the inshore waters of Bombay at night and harassing boats that take goods and passengers out to the shipping. The pirates’ practise is to board suddenly at different places and their great number precludes any chance of resistance. On the last occasion that piracy was a problem in 1787, we lost five gentlemen.
Do not suppose that they will not attack Europeans. We should emulate Dr K who in 1778 saved himself by constantly shooting the pirate steersman and ignoring the rowers. In this way, having disabled three steersmen, the pirates abandoned their pursuit of the doctor.
Sat 15th March 1794
The Company’s ships Belvedere and Earl William are on this coast and private letters for England will be accepted by them. The box packets are open until 19th March.
Sat 15th March 1794
The Bombay Tavern warehouse has a large stock of pickles, tea, coffee, salt meats, butter, cheese and mustard at listed prices. Also dry groceries.
Sat 15th March 1794
Count Sulkowski, a Polish nobleman now at Aleppo, has said that when he was in Paris in June 1793 asking ineffectively for the help of the Republican government to restore independence to his country, he learned that the French had no plan for relieving their Eastern possessions and were convinced that they had all fallen into British hands.
Sat 15th March 1794
A report from Cawnpore (Kanpur) says Zemaun Khan has taken a large army into the Punjab where he has been joined by Sikh cavalry. The whole force under Zemaun is now advancing on Delhi from the west. Zemaun is accompanied by Shah Allum and it is supposed some political purpose underlies the move.
Sat 15th March 1794
The American ship John (Folger) has arrived at Madras from London. She left the Downs on 25th Sept 1793 and brings news to that date. The internal state of England is tranquil. The King is fit and popular. Pitt retains his political influence although no end to the war seems in sight.
It is rumoured that Lord Hobart, currently Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, may be recommended by Dundas for one of the Indian Presidencies.
Sat 22nd March 1794
Promissory Notes issued before 11th Aug 1793 will not be accepted at 2/4d per rupee in exchange for the Company’s remittance this year.
(The Company relies on private funds to make-up the annual remittance. It is exchanging the old 8+% Promissory Notes for 6% Notes and declines to pay 2/4d per Rupee to holders of the old Notes to whom it is paying high interest)
Sat 22nd March 1794
Piracy - On 11th March five boats carrying cotton from Broach to Surat for M/s Rivett & Wilkinson, under convoy of the armed boat Hope, were attacked by a fleet of Kuli boats and taken to New Bunder. The Rajah of that place sent the Hope back with her surviving crew and set her adrift off Surat where Company boats picked her up.
It appears the Kulis and the Malwans are continuing their practise of last year of predating on our trade. The country merchant Robinson, coming here from Tellicherry in a pattamar was chased on 6th March by three Malwan gallivats. The pirates first hailed Robinson, discovered his boat contained British property, and requested to see its pass (the Company issues annual passes to British traders identifying them; if a pirate plunders them, he risks retaliation from the Company’s armed ships). Disregarding the pass, the boat was taken into Natary and plundered. Once the Malwans had completed their theft and departed, another group of Mahrattas came aboard and searched the vessel again, finding some money that the Malwans had missed. They kindly returned 30 rupees of their loot to Robinson to allow him to buy necessary supplies. The pattamar continued her voyage and on 9th March put ashore in Tippoo’s country for water where the watering party was detained. The tindal went ashore to investigate and he was seized and the others released. The inhabitants of Malabar now show hostility and only a single pot of water was permitted to the pattamar. On 11th March they reached Goa and obtained water and provisions from the Hornby.
Sat 22nd March 1794
The snow Bridget (Butler) of Bengal sailed from Penang to the Pedier coast on 3rd May 1793 with a cargo of opium, guns and stores. Later the same day they discovered a fire in the hold. They adjourned to the long boat and returned to Penang Island. The Governor sent a ship to recover whatever was left.
The coppered hull was brought into port. Some $3,000 in silver had melted together. The remains of the cargo was recovered to a total value of $6,000.
Sat 22nd March 1794
Madras news – the Princes of Mysore (Tippoo’s sons) are en route to Seringapatam. They are accompanied by HRH Omdat ul Omrah, the Nabob of the Carnatic. On the release of the children, the Nabob gave handsome presents to the Company worth 50,000 gold pagodas and including 40 Abyssinian slaves.
Sat 22nd March 1794
Some 10,000 Burmese have entered Chittagong in the last couple of weeks and camped on Company lands. They have made trenches and other defensive preparations. They have presented a list of 2,000 names of men wanted by them, whom they say are being sheltered by the Company. They say they will not leave without the men.
One European battalion, two battalions of sepoys and a detachment of artillery under Lt Colonel Erskine has been sent to Chittagong. The sepoys from Barrackpore will travel overland (they decline to board ships) whilst the Europeans and cannon will ship through the Sunderbunds.
The 25th battalion of native infantry at Dacca has been placed on stand-by to reinforce Capt Rayne’s battalion which garrisons Chittagong. The Burmese are equipped with some European arms and firelocks and are accompanied by French advisors who are said to direct their operations.
Sat 22nd March 1794
The Madras papers report the arrival of the Boddam from Bengal with news that many vessels have been laid-up, freight rates have risen to ¾ rupee per bag of cargo and insurance agents are declining almost every risk.
It seems that all the adversity of this war is falling on the merchants in Eastern seas. At Madras no-one is delivering cargo.
Sat 22nd March 1794
The Indiamen now under dispatch from Bengal, starting with those carrying sugar cargoes, have been given increased crew and mount 26 guns each. The Phoenix (Moore) has sailed from Bengal for N W Coast of America. This is her third voyage on this run.
Sat 29th March 1794
Notice – Annual interest due on Bombay Government Promissory Notes Nos. 7 – 117 will be paid during April 1794.
Sat 29th March 1794
Minutes of Council in the Bombay Military Dept., 21st March 1794 – Lt McLean is reportedly dead. He was recently appointed translator to the new province of Malabar (ceded by Tippoo). Lt Joseph d’Acre Watson is qualified to be translator. He will succeed McLean on the same allowances. For this purpose Watson is posted to the 9th battalion of native infantry.
Sat 29th March 1794
The recent return of the hostage Princes to Tippoo’s capital completes our performance of the treaty terms with him. We hope the good treatment the boys have received from us (they have been wined, dined and danced at all the social occasions of Calcutta) will cause him to be more friendly towards us.
Sat 29th March 1794
The Bengal Hircarrah 11th March – an American ship lately arrived from London has news to 15th Oct 1793:
Lord Hobart, son of the Earl of Buckinghamshire, will assume the government of Madras. The frigates Diomede (44) and Orpheus (32) will escort him out.
Sat 5th April 1794
Bombay Promissory Note account, March 1794:
Promissory Notes withdrawn 18,958 rupees;
6% Notes issued 50,638 rupees;
in circulation 2,793,378 rupees.
Sat 5th April 1794
Political news - The war in Angria’s country continues and reinforcements have arrived at the Mahratta camp.
An Afghan army is approaching Oudh. It is led by Timur Shah, a relation of Shah Allam, the Mughal Emperor at Delhi. It intends to restore the Emperor to the rights and territories he held before we dispossessed him. The Company’s CiC Major General Sir Robert Abercromby is going to the scene to check.
Madajee Sindhia died at Poona on 12th February 1794.
Sat 5th April 1794
Calcutta news, 25th Feb:
The effect of French privateers is manageable but a stagnation of maritime trade has arisen here due to lack of credit. There is little money in circulation. The shipping is laid-up in port. It may take months to recover.
The Calcutta Government has sold 600,000 maunds (c. 82 lbs per maund) of salt at its recent monopoly sales for an average 281 rupees per 100 maunds (1.69 million Rupees in gross sales).
Bombay Government will pay off 100,000 rupees this month on account of the Register Debt.
The Judge in many of the Company’s domains is also the Land Tax Collector or Salt agent or some such revenue job e.g. Official Appointments 5th March 1794 – Charles Chapmen to be salt agent, judge and magistrate at Hidglee.
Madras appointments 14th March - S Skinner to be asst Collector at Nozeed.42
Sat 12th April 1794
Calcutta news, 14th March – Reports from Rangoon say cargo movements in the port are about to be stopped and everyone is in a hurry to load and depart. There is much low quality timber at Pegu but scarce worth buying.
Sat 12th April 1794
Madras newspapers, 9th March:
The Governor-in-Council has declared a further dividend to the private creditors of the Nabob of Arcot. It totals 100,000 gold pagodas.
A rapacious local capitalist has cornered the market in cowrie shells (which poor Madrassis use for ornamentation). His purchases exceed 300,000 rupees and the sale price is now double his purchase price.
Last Sunday Colonel Braithwaite, CiC of the Madras army, gave a dinner for his fellow prisoners in the late war with Hyder Ali to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their release. Colonel Smith and Capt the Honourable Lindsay attended, totally 13 people.
Assistant Surgeon Trussin died at Pondicherry after cutting a cheese during which his knife slipped and cut between his middle and fore finger. He died the next morning.
A ‘prices current’ just received from London shows that Bengal indigo was selling there at between 7/6d – 9/6d per bale.
Sat 19th April 1794
Calcutta news, 1st April – No reports of French privateers have been received recently and no news from Europe. The Government of Bombay has dispatched a ship to Suez and it is hoped she will return with late European news via that expeditious channel. The mail route through Suez was shut to the English until recently and, now it is reopened to us (and should be closed to the French due to their depredations on Arab merchants in the Gulf), it should be cultivated.
The frigate Bombay (32) is cruising off Ceylon. It was built in Bombay docks and fitted out by public subscription. She is a testament to Indian carpentry skill.
The Fort William, Henry and Daphne have been chartered by the Calcutta Government to cruise against privateers.
Sat 26th April 1794
Notice – the Bombay Government want 200,000 lbs of fine gunpowder to be delivered between August 1794 – May 1795. The tender specifies Company saltpetre (part of the Salt monopoly) and charcoal made from the Milk bush. The powder to be contained in 2,000 casks of 100 lbs each. Barrels and hoops will be supplied to the chosen contractor. All other expenses for his account. Proposals before 1st May to Bombay Castle.
Sat 26th April 1794
We have received no new information in Bombay this week and will reproduce information from the latest Madras Courier which entirely concerns Mauritius:
The American ship Hector (Delano) arrived Madras from Mauritius with the following news. The craze for privateering has reduced with the availability of profit. The numbers of ships taken has continued high but the ability to remit proceeds of sale has become uncertain. The ships Canton and Pearl, which were laden with the immense plunder obtained by the privateer Dumourier are both said to have ‘foundered’ en route to Mauritius. Investors in privateering operations are said to be persuaded to require their ships officers to ransom their seizures in future.
The Colonial Assembly of Mauritius exhibits the same inconsistency as the National Convention in Paris. Delano says the passengers of the Winterton were fortunate to return to British India as, shortly after their departure, the Assembly reversed itself and sent a warship after them to try and bring them back.
Delano also reports a French intention to take Batavia. It must be a Gasconade – the fort is almost impregnable.
He was himself humane and generous to the British prisoners on Mauritius.
He mentions the Mauritians are doubtful of supplies and are turning some of their land over to grain production.
He heard from another American (Folger, captain of the John, who had just then arrived from the Cape) that a British fleet (apparently 2 ships-of-the-line and three frigates) was there en route to India and that a battle with a French fleet near Madeira had been fought by Hood.
Two American captains and a supercargo are imprisoned on Mauritius for selling their English cargo after it had been condemned.
The merchants of Mauritius have started an anti-Jacobin Club to contest with the Jacobin Club which is dominated by the lowest sorts of sans culottes.
The Mauritian council is unaware of the Portuguese Declaration of War and has released two Portuguese ships that had been taken by privateers earlier. A third Portuguese ship, richly laden with English property, remains under arrest.
Sat 26th April 1794
Accounts from Bengal relate frequent sorties against the Muggs and the other Burmese who repeatedly enter Company lands. Our excellent troops are well able to deal with them and are getting a good understanding of the geography of the neighbouring countries and tactics of the enemy.
Sat 26th April 1794
The armed ship Bombay (Robertson) has met with a Malwan fleet of three grabs and six gallivats on the coast 15 leagues south of Goa on 9th April. They approached in line and asked Robertson to lower his sails. He told them if they came any nearer he would shoot. They did so and he fired several shots to deter them. At noon a strong breeze arose and he was able to enter Goa harbour. The pirates remained at the harbour mouth throughout the following day. The Portuguese Viceroy kindly made a 32-gun frigate available to the Bombay as escort and this warship convoyed her to Madras.
Sat 3rd May 1794
Account of Promissory Notes issued in Bombay in April:
Certificates exchanged for new 6% promissory notes in April 4,194 rupees;
other new 6% promissory notes issued 45,981 rupees,
Total in circulation 2,839,359 rupees.
Sat 3rd May 1794
Chittagong – The Mugg army is about to retreat from Company lands. Their invasion was caused by a Mugg subject who stole a boat from the King of Ava and fled in it downriver into the Chittagong area. The King ordered his vassal, the Rajah of Hamree, to assemble a force, pursue the thief and recover both him and the boat. Colonel Erskine for the Company declined to comply with the Rajah’s request. It was agreed that the Mugg army would pull down its stockades and retire from Chittagong within six days.
Sat 10th May 1794
Bombay Government Notice, 9th May – Government has appropriated a piece of land on Culaba for the merchants to store their ship-building materials. They should in future land all such cargo at that place.
Anyone storing masts, spars, etc on the Apollo Ground or the Esplanade should move it to Culaba within two months or risk its confiscation.
Sat 10th May 1794
A letter from Madras dated 23rd April 1794 informs that John Pringle has been appointed British Resident at the Cape. We also hear that part of Admiral Gardner’s squadron is there – Centurion (50), Orpheus (32) and Resistance (32). These ships are expected to patrol the Straits of Malacca and Sunda.
Sat 17th May 1794
Notice – the Governor-in-Council has appointed this Presidency’s Building Agent, Collector and Chief Engineer to form a committee of three and ascertain the real value of the structures and lands in Bombay, for a distance of two miles in all directions from Government House. The committee will require a return of rents received or produce grown. This will enable an assessment for rates to be made for the purpose of collecting a fund to meet the costs of cleaning, watching and repairing the streets. Proprietors of all buildings and land are requested to co-operate with the committee.
Sat 17th May 1794
The death of old Sindhia caused his vassal, the Rajah of Duttiah, to rebel and young Daolat Rao, Sindhia’s appointed successor, necessarily had to punish him. Gopal Rao Bhow was sent off with a brigade of troops under the command of Captain F (a Company man in Sindhia’s service).
On entering the jungle surrounding Duttiah’s capital, the brigade was attacked by 12,000 Rajputs, Panwas and Baudlees. Captain F was able to bring his cannon to bear and considerable slaughter followed with the enemy falling back towards the capital. The battle became one of sword and bayonet and the Rajah lost some 600 men (of whom two were of the Rajah’s family) while Sindhia’s brigade lost 300. Sindhia’s men remained entrenched near Duttiah’s capital, harassing its communications and trade, until the Rajah came out and submitted to the conditions prescribed for him.
Daolat Rao has been acknowledged as Sindhia’s successor by both the Peshwa at Poona and the Grand Mughal at Delhi with the same titles and prerogatives of his predecessor. Elsewhere in Mahratta lands, the country is quiet.
Sat 17th May 1794
Public credit is somewhat reduced in Bombay. The 6% Promissory Notes are selling at 4% discount to face value; the old 8% certificates sell at par.
Sat 17th May 1794
Calcutta news April 1794 – Mr Thomas Baring, assistant to the magistrate of the Zillah Court at Dinagepore, is appointed assistant to the examiner of the Diwani Adaulat.
Sat 24th May 1794
Notice, 14th April – the Governor-General–in-Council approves Bombay discontinuing to exchange subscriptions for the Home Remittance at 2/4d per Bombay rupee. In future all bonds and Promissory Notes will be exchanged at 2/2d without distinction as to the date of their issuance.
Sat 24th May 1794
India news:
General Sir W Meadows will command the expedition against Mauritius and Reunion. Colonel Stuart is 2iC. The troops are assembling at Madras. We hear several regiments from England will join the expedition. An advertisement in the Madras Courier asks for tenders to supply transport tonnage. It is estimated that 20,000 tons will be needed to carry our army. This should invigorate our shipping interest.
Sallah Chilabi, the wealthy merchant of Surat, has died.43
The military detachments in Chittagong are unable to return to Bengal as the Burmese infiltrators are still increasing in numbers. Captain Welsh has taken the capital city of Assam but the enemy army has not diminished. They watch our movements, harass us on opportunity, but do not engage.
Sat 7th June 1794
Bombay Promissory Notes account for May:
Governor-General’s certificates discharged in May 27,693 rupees;
6% Promissory Notes issued May 47,107 rupees;
balance in circulation 2,881,934 rupees.
Sat 7th June 1794
For sale – a few copies of that celebrated work Plans for the Government and Trade of Great Britain in the East Indies by Henry Dundas.
Sat 7th June 1794
A French commissioner has arrived at Calcutta on the corvette Minerva with proposals to the Company’s government respecting Mauritius.
The Mauritian ports are blockaded by our warships and cannot receive troops or provisions from France.
Sat 7th June 1794
The Ville de l’Orient sailed from Calcutta last year before we knew of the outbreak of war. She discovered the fact on her homeward voyage to France and diverted to New York. We see in the New York Daily Advertiser that her valuable cargo was advertised for sale there at end February.
Sat 7th June 1794
The annual (registered) ship from Lisbon, the Conceicao, has arrived at Goa on 17th May. She sailed last September. The home government has ordered the Viceroy Francisco de Cunha Eminesas to hand over his seals to his military commander, Lt General Francisco Antonio de Veiga Cabral, who assumed the government of Portuguese India on 22nd May.
Three senior judges have come out on the Conceicao – Francisco Jose de S. Joaquim becomes Inquisitor-General in place of the man who died a couple of years ago. Sr Frebent is 2nd Inquisitor and The Rev Padre Pedro Figuerhedo, 3rd.
Sat 7th June 1794
Assam 18th April – We brought our boats to within 20 miles of Rungpore, the capital of Assam, where we landed and commenced to clear a camp. We were attacked by the Mahmariahs, the people of the usurping Rajah, and chased them back to within 7 miles of Rungpore where we were reinforced and then took the town and the fort without opposition.
Rungpore is a fine town with wide straight raised streets and tolerably well-constructed housing. The fort is at the town centre with a 15 foot wall but no ramparts although they have cannon and many gingals. The number of gold, silver and ivory items is huge and the town appears to have been rich.
The Rajah we have been supporting, Surjey Deo, has returned all the plunder the people took from us. We have collected plate and silver worth about 25,000 rupees. Provisions are cheap and everything is available in abundance. The countryside surrounding the town is like a garden with well-ordered fields. Every hut has its own enclosure. It appears we will be able to promote a vibrant trade with the Assamese. For payment, they have gold, copper and ivory in abundance.
The difficulty in developing trade relates to the unsettled state of society. Assam is a frontier province and has been the scene of civil war for years. Many farmers and artisans have emigrated elsewhere. The usurper who has been causing these difficulties is called Bhurraut and he is widely detested. He rules by force and tolerates no criticism. He is neither a Hindu nor a Muslim. His followers, the Mahmariahs, are feared by all the farmers.
Sat 7th June 1794
From the Mauritian newspapers we read that on 30th Jan the Sans Culottes party petitioned the Colonial Assembly at Port Louis that all shipping be prevented from leaving port; that all provisions be taxed; that the salaries of the departing Commissioners of the National Convention (Lescallier, Dumourier, Rirriol and Boucher) be suspended and their power ended effective 4th Feb, and that the slave trade be ended. The Assembly agreed the first request but exempted French shipping trading to Reunion. The other requests were rejected.
On 12th Feb the Assembly ordered that every resident be rationed to a maximum of 6 ounces of bread per day and that the supply of wheat flour to the bakery be limited accordingly. On 19th Feb Citizen Enouf, on behalf of the colonial Committee of Public Safety, told the Assembly that there was a 30-day supply of wheat left and about 90 days of rice (60,000 lbs).
Sat 28th June 1794
The Company’s 2nd battalion of European troops was reviewed at Bombay last Wednesday.
Madras Presidency notice – all sirangs, tindals and lascars (Indian naval crews) employed on the intended expedition against Mauritius will receive the same extra allowances as native troops.
Editorial – there have been no arrivals and only one departure for a week. Our trade has stagnated and with it our receipt of news.
Sat 28th June 1794
Notice - In future the Bombay Presidency will pay interest on its bonded debt and on it Promissory Notes in precedence to all other calls on the revenue. Interest on the bonds will be paid 1st May each year; on the Promissory Notes on the expiration of 12 months from their dates of issue.
The Treasury is open for the purchase of 6% Promissory Notes at a discount of 2% from face value. Subscriptions to the Company’s home remittance will be received at an exchange of 2/2d per Bombay rupee. The exchange rate is 116 Current rupees per 100 Bombay rupees.
Sat 5th July 1794
The recent Act of Parliament renewing the Company’s charter includes provision for private merchants to ship goods to India on the Company’s or their own ships. The Bombay government has issued the following notice on 2nd July:
Clause 81 (of the Act) says ‘Any British subject in Europe (Hanover, Gibraltar, Corsica) may export any British goods to the Malabar and Coromandel coasts, Bay of Bengal ports and Sumatra. Company employees and licensed country merchants in India may export any goods to London on Company or other ships.’
Clause 87 says ‘The company will provide 3,000 tons of shipping each year for the purpose. The Company may vary the amount of tonnage dependent on the need and subject to the directions of the Board of Control.’
Clause 89 says ‘the Company’s freight rate in peacetime is £5 per ton London to the East and £15 per ton India to London. The war rate will be higher.’
Clause 93 says ‘Any person wishing to ship goods from India to London will give the Company reasonable notice of same and deposit the complete freight payment at the same time or provide acceptable security for payment at destination. If goods are not delivered as specified, the freight prepayment will be seized.’
Clause 94 says if the 3,000 tons is not fully utilised, the Company can take up the balance. If the allowance is over-subscribed, private traders will get their pro-rata share.’
Clause 103 says ‘private traders will give the marks and numbers of their goods to the Company and obtain a Company licence for the export. Any unlicensed goods will be confiscated and the shipper prosecuted for ‘carrying on an unlicensed trade’’
In consequence of the present war with France the Directors have announced the freight rate India to London is currently £22.10.0 per ton.44
Sat 5th July 1794
Notice 4th July – Dady Nasservanjee regrets to inform his customers that the reduction of interest rates on the Company’s Promissory Notes prohibits him from paying 9% to investors any longer.
He will pay off all balances he holds on or before 31st July 1794. Effective 1st August he will pay 6% interest per annum on deposits. All repayments will be by 30 day Sight Drafts.
Sat 19th July 1794
The approach of the Company’s China fleet has caused all prices to rise at Madras except the cheapest types of rice (in prospect of the ships requiring provisions). It happens every year.
Sat 26th July 1794
The tonnage chartered by the Company for the Mauritian expedition is comprised of Jane, Futty Islam and Ramsay. They will be surveyed before the contract is confirmed. (On cancellation of the expedition in August the ships are redeployed carrying Company troops around India)
Sat 26th July 1794
India Company news:
Director David Scott was permitted to send an 800 ton ship to India for some private trade but on reconsideration it was thought approval for the voyage should be given in the General Court of Directors. The vote was 10:10 and the Company Treasurer used his casting vote to disallow Scott’s voyage.
In response, Capt Twining has requested that shareholders’ approval be sought for Directors to trade with India on their own accounts.
Sat 2nd Aug 1794
Bombay Presidency Promissory Note Account for July:
Governor-General’s old certificates exchanged for Bills on London 3,665 rupees;
new 6% promissory notes sold 35,663 rupees;
balance of promissory notes in circulation at Bombay 2,915,894 rupees.
Sat 2nd Aug 1794
Capt Reid of Madras has been honoured by his friends at that place. They have bought the prize Duguay Trouen, ex Princess Royal, and given him command.
Sat 2nd Aug 1794
Company forces under Colonel Prendergast have done battle with 18,000 men under Vizeram Rao at Bimlipatam near Vizagapatam and defeated them. They first tried to negotiate but failed. They then marched on the Rajah’s positions. When Rao’s men opened fire, Prendergast responded with grape shot and slaughtered a great many of them, including the Vizeram. Our loss is 50 – 60 sepoys.
The Rajah’s baggage, camp equipment and a large amount of plunder was left by the fleeing enemy in a nearby village and captured by our men.
Sat 9th Aug 1794
All Company bonds and Promissory Notes received for purchase of Bills on London for the Home remittance this year will be exchanged at 2/2½d per Bombay rupee.
Sat 9th Aug 1794
News from the East:
The Royal Charlotte (Douglas) says the Dutch at Batavia have bought the French prizes Resolve and Vengeur as cartel ships to transfer French prisoners to Mauritius. They are due to sail in July.
The American ship Canton (Mackie) was unloaded at Batavia to thoroughly check her cargo. At first the judges were persuaded to condemn her for the English cargo on board. Later they were reminded of the Dutch treaty of 1782 with the United States and settled for 10% as salvor’s rights. Mackie plans to sail to China as soon as possible.
The Count de la Peyrouse was commissioned by the late French King on a voyage of discovery in the ships Le Bonsolle and l’Astrolabe. Nothing was heard after 1788 and it was supposed they had sunk. He recently appeared off Java and learned of the Revolution. Some of his crew mutinied but he prevailed over them and sent them ashore. He then sought the assistance of the Dutch government which sent two armed Indiamen and impounded the French ships at Surabaya.
From Rhio (Riau Islands) we hear that Malay pirates are in force off Singapore and have taken 8 large Chinese junks. They are ransoming the crews at $3 per head. The residents of Bintan have also been repeatedly attacked by the pirates. They have since abandoned Bintan, embarked in all their 50 proas and sailed for Penang where they propose to settle.
Trade on the Pedier coast is very slow as the Bugis have not arrived. They normally buy a great quantity of opium, but have been deterred from coming this year by the pirates south of the Malacca Straits.
Commodore Mitchell stopped two rich American ships from Manila. They had no American papers and lacked full shipping documents for the cargo. They were both sent into Batavia with prize crews and are expected to be condemned.
Sat 10th Aug 1794
Letter from Malabar (Tippoo’s lands), 14th July – Capt MacDonald’s battalion is pursuing the Moplas. He has caught many. Their leader, Moota Musa, has been driven to the fortified houses on Pandalor Hill that are cleverly built on perpendicular rocky outcrops. MacDonald has destroyed or burnt 23 fortified houses and expects to capture Musa soon.
Sat 10th Aug 1794
Government Orders, 22nd July - The invasion of Mauritius is postponed (a private arrangement has been reached informally with the French administrators). The units assembled at Madras will break-up. The charter parties for transports have been signed and will have to be compromised.
The Kawdry, an Arab ship, has arrived from Mocha with coffee and silver. Some Europeans came on her as passengers.
Sat 23rd Aug 1794
The Calcutta Insurance Company has retained M/s Edward Boehm & Co, as its claims settling Agent in London. The exchange rate for claims settled in London is 2/- per Current rupee.
Sat 23rd Aug 1794
Jamsetjee Rustomjee is auctioning some Bombay property:
Lot 1 - 340 ft x 258 ft containing a house, a mango grove of 200 trees and two sweet wells.
Lot 2 – 210 ft x 192 ft hilltop land with an old bungalow and a date plantation.
Lot 3 – 168 ft x 130 ft plot below Lot 2 with a small house and well with assorted fruit trees
Lot 4 – House at Bycullah with outhouses, stables, a good well and fruit trees.
Sat 23rd Aug 1794
Titsing, late Governor of Chinsura and Batavia, is returning to Netherlands.
Sat 23rd Aug 1794
Editorial - The abundance of rice in Bengal this year has been a curse. Coolies can now earn enough in five days to buy a month’s supply of food. These people only work to obtain sustenance. They are disinclined to save because the Mughal system never protected property.45
This is disastrous because the indigo crop is ready for harvest but no-one will do the work at commercially workable rates. It is one of the most abundant crops ever and may now rot in the ground. We should fix the coolies’ wages in proportion to the price of rice so they cannot earn too much.
Sat 30th August 1794
Bombay Presidency General Orders, 23rd Aug:
Two provincial battalions are to be raised from the Nairs and Mopillas of Malabar. One captain and four lieutenants will be appointed to recruit each corps. Non-commissioned officers will be loaned from the regular native infantry. Each recruit will receive the same bounty as the native infantry recruits.
Sat 30th August 1794
The cartel ship La Minerve (Doussere) has arrived with 8 prisoners for exchange. Seven are officers of the Pigot, the 8th is Lt Robert Best of the Bencoolen artillery. Another cartel ship Phoenix is going to Madras from Mauritius.
Sat 30th August 1794
Mauritius is preparing to resist the Company’s supposed invasion. The planters have all donated slaves totalling 6,000 men. They are improving the defences and sowing grain crops. All the French privateers except Revanche (32) and Isle de France (18) are back in port. We suppose those two to have been taken. A corvette from France arrived in March with orders to rename Port Louis as Port de la Montagne while Bourbon becomes the Isle de la Reunion.
Governor Malartic has been criticised by the Assembly. He boldly defied the Assembly and made his papers publicly available, from which no evidence of wrong-doing could be traced. The Assembly has apologised.
The Mauritian Assembly has also criticised Governor du Placy of Reunion. La Minerve was sent to bring him before his critics. They found Admiral St Felix there as well. Both have been brought back. Provisional Governor Rubeau is managing Reunion in the interim. A discordant note to the democratic proceedings at Mauritius has been provided by the slaves. They sought to address the Assembly to assert their claims to equality, which they consider to be a proportionate share of everything. This caused the hanging of their most zealous spokesmen (the locally constructed guillotine has been tested on a goat and should be operational soon).
La Minerve will leave with 4 French prisoners and has permission to call at the old French factory at Mahé for others. She will drop her Portuguese prisoners at Goa en route. (NB – In the 25th Oct edition, the paper reports that La Minerve arrived Mahé but only Dubruice, the late French King’s Procurator, with his family and a ship’s officer, Fournier, accepted the offer of repatriation. The ship sailed from Mahé on 12th Sept leaving behind L’Archer and the other French employees of the factory, who preferred to remain at Mahé)
A Dutch prisoner of Hyder Ali has escaped from Seringapatam and reached Cannanore. He says Tippoo is constructing defensive works on European lines around Seringapatam and has dismissed and banished all Portuguese and English people from his Service. He has promoted Buddur al Zemaun Cawn to a high position in his military.
Sat 30th August 1794
Bengal news – the Calcutta ship Surprise (Green) with a valuable cargo of opium for China is said to have been captured by Malay pirates in Malacca Straits.
Sat 30th August 1794
London news - The election of the 24 Company Directors in April 1794 resulted in the following obtaining places on the board:
Sir Francis Baring, Wm Bentley, Sir J S Burges, W Devaynes (Chairman), W Elphinstone, Walter Finer, Brian Frith, Thomas Fitzhugh, J Hunter (Dep Chairman), Hugh Inglis, Sir S Lushington, John Manship, P le Mesurier, T Metcalfe, Charles Mills, W Money, Thomas Parry, Thomas Pattle, Abraham Robarts, David Scott, Nathaniel Smith, George Tatem, John Travers and Steven Williams.
Jacob Bosanquet, Thomas Cheap, Lionel Darrell, John Roberts, Robert Thornton and John Townson retire by rotation.
Sat 6th Sept 1794
Bombay Promissory Note Account, August:
Certificates exchanged for Bills on London 18,487 rupees;
6% promissory notes issued 256,191 rupees,
amount in circulation 3,053,598 rupees.
Sat 6th Sept 1794
Madras papers report a numerous clan of Muslims have arrived having been expelled from Tippoo’s lands around Mysore for practising the Shia version of Islam.46
Sat 6th Sept 1794
The Company’s fleet to the east this year departed Portsmouth in May. It comprises forty ships of which ten are for China direct, four for Madras and China, nineteen for Calcutta, six for Bombay, one for St Helena and Bencoolen and the Surprise for Botany Bay which last is carrying the Scottish sedition convicts Muir, Palmer et al to commence their sentences of banishment (a mutiny was reported on board en route by dissenting crew-members which was suppressed and the ringleaders put in irons).
Sat 13th Sept 1794
Letter from the Directors to the Bombay Presidency:
Our appointed officer in charge of Tellicherry may not buy salt meat for the Company and charge us a commission on the transaction.
The officer responded to us that charging the Company a commission on goods bought for its account by employees is usual practise. He says the agent providing the goods received only a fair market price but voluntarily offered the commission from part of his profit. We disapprove.
You will require the officer to refund the commission. Please make it public that employees accepting commissions on our purchases will in future be dismissed.
Sat 13th Sept 1794
The Bombay merchants have complained that Clearance Certificates for their ships departing Bombay are too expensive. The Directors note that the amount of traffic at Bombay is greater than the other Presidencies. They authorise a reduction of the fee from 1 rupee to 2 annas per ton for all ships.
Sat 13th Sept 1794
M/s Bird Savage and Bird of Jeffries Square, London agents for the debt paper of the Bank of the United States, offer American funded, 6%, 3% and deferred stocks and shares to the gentlemen of India. Interest has always been paid punctually. The present prices make these investments very attractive. They are selling well in England.
The Federal revenue that secures interest payments on these debts has exceeded estimates by a large surplus. The growing wealth and population of America, the punctual payment of taxes by her people, the pacific policies of her government, their economical administration and the large sums accruing to government from land sales (which are pledged as a sinking fund for the security of public debt) render it certain that American prosperity will continue to increase. Remittance will be faithfully invested at the price of the day upon receipt. Further information from John Morris, Secretary to the Bombay Presidency or M/s Rivett Wilkinson & Co, Bombay.
Sat 13th Sept 1794
Advertisements:
Mr James Amos, late of Madras, has opened an office in Camomile Street, Bishopsgate, London to conduct money agency business in general. Government and Company bonds, shares of trading companies, canals, etc., bought and sold on commission. Loans on mortgage security negotiated.
Mr Monteith, surgeon of the Bridgewater, will sell at Mr Harding’s house on Sat 13th Sept, part of his investment comprising hats, watches, stockings, shoes, buttons, saddles, guns and books. (a similar advertisement of Capt Wm Wells is also published)
The late F W Pemberton’s house Breach Candy and surrounding estate and his house Cliff Dale on the Malabar Hills with attached estate will be sold by public outcry this afternoon. Jamsetjee Rustomjee’s four property lots (see above) will be sold at the same time.
Sat 13th Sept 1794
Bombay General Orders, 6th Sept – The Directors await Cornwallis’ report on the military establishments of India. Any alterations may require legislative sanction. We wish to reassure officers that it will continue to be our policy to fill vacancies immediately they arise by promotions in India (if the rank involved has no supernumerary officers on the spot).
All officers returning to India after the new arrangements take effect will assume supernumerary rank until a vacancy arises. A similar notice is being published in London so all officers have a chance of returning to duty in time to assure they receive an immediate benefit under the new system once promulgated in India.
Sat 20th Sept 1794
Notice 12th Sept - Tenders are invited for a long list of stores for the Bombay Marine.
Notice 18th Sept – sundry old marine stores will be auctioned on 2nd Oct.
Notice, London 19th Feb – The Directors require that last season’s shipments and all future shipments of indigo to London be described by measurement not weight.
Sat 20th Sept 1794
Notice - The late Callastan Sattoor, an Armenian merchant of Bombay, bequeathed 8,000 rupees to be invested and the interest used to maintain the Armenian Chapel in this town.
We, the majority of Armenians in Bombay, dissent from the bequest and warn the executors against payment.
Sgd Jacob Petrus, Simon Marcar, Pagos Shatoor, Coostan Terpetroos and Johannes Marterius. Undated
Sat 20th Sept 1794
A number of flat-bottomed boats have been shipped out from London on the Madras indiaman. It is supposed they are to land troops for an invasion.
Editor - if the war in Europe continues for another season, the Company may resurrect its planned invasion of Mauritius.
Sat 27th Sept 1794
The Bombay tobacco monopoly will be relet for the period 1st Nov 1794 – 30th April 1797 (2½ years). Tenderers should attend at Government House on 14th October.
Sat 27th Sept 1794
7th September a fleet of five Kuli pirate boats attacked a native cargo ship off Denace near Damaun whilst en route north to Surat. The Kulis took 10,000 rupees in treasure and 25,000 rupees of goods. One hundred passengers, men, women and children, were also taken as hostages. The Company has arranged an early expedition by land and sea against the Kulis.
Editor – we hope the subsequent object of vengeance will be the Malwans.
Sat 27th Sept 1794
Mr van der Graaf, late Governor of Ceylon, is appointed Governor-General at Batavia. On 5th Sept he was in Madras en route to his new appointment.
Sat 4th Oct 1794
Bombay Promissory Note account for Sept:
Certificates exchanged for Bills on London 273,617 rupees;
6% promissory notes issued 99,398 rupees;
balance of promissory notes in circulation 2,879,379 rupees.
Sat 4th Oct 1794
Letter from the Directors to the Governor-General of 19th Feb:
The problem in the ceded territories (Tippoo’s lands) is we have few speakers of Malabari. If we do not know the language, how will we discover the value of the productions in Malabar, how will the Company quantify its share?
We do not want to become prey to a group of intermediary interpreters as occurred in the Circars in Bengal or on the Coromandel coast. It is essential to the proper running of the Company that staff study and understand all the languages of India. Please encourage your junior officers to take up this study and restrict all appointments in Malabar to those who make the attempt.
Sat 4th Oct 1794
Letter from the Directors, 23rd April - Under the new Charter, all staff, other than council members, who spend more than 5 years absent from India will lose all their rank and office. This applies to both military and civil branches. Please ensure we are informed of the dates of departure from India of all your staff.
Sat 4th Oct 1794
Kuli pirates – The Company’s cruisers Princess Augusta, Queen and Princess Royal have sailed for Surat with the grenadier companies of the 2nd Bombay Regiment and of the 5th, 9th and 11th battalions together with the flank companies of the 8th battalion. Two 6-pounder field pieces will be operated by half a company of artillerymen plus 30 Lascars. Captain Little will command the combined force.
Sat 4th Oct 1794
House of Commons 15th April 1794 - The Bill empowering the Company to continue its bond debt was read for a 3rd time. This allows the Company to borrow money or increase its share capital by £2 millions.
Francis said the Company told him issuing bonds was not the same as raising loans. He knew the Shareholders had just increased their annual dividends, had agreed to pay £500,000 to government every year and had granted new pensions to various individuals. He thought they should pay off their debts before they spent all their money.
20 years ago, when they last tried this, we characterised their demand as fraudulent and brought in a Bill to stop them. Now parliament is actually helping them. The only thing the Company should use to meet its obligations is its profit. Year after year, the Company comes ‘cap in hand’ to parliament to borrow money and we enquire for what purpose. Now they just get what they want.
Lord Mornington said Francis has confused the total amount of the Company’s bond debt for the amount it now seeks to raise. The new Charter requires the Company to reduce its bond debt to £1.5 millions. They have done so by an increase in wealth of £500,000 (the amount of bond debt paid off). They now seek to be allowed to resume £2 millions of bond debt and to add £1 million more if necessary. The consequent increase could not be more than £1.5 million. But this year the Company has paid £500,000 that they did not have to pay previously. The Company has provided evidence of bills shortly due for payment of £1.5 millions and has trade debtors of £500,000. Mornington concluded that the Company was less indebted now than previously.
Francis complained the Bill still did not indicate how the money was to be applied. Nevertheless, the Bill was read and passed and Dundas carried it to the Lords.
Sat 18th Oct 1794
Indian news - The Kulis have captured another Surat ship off Henery. She belonged to the Parsee merchant Cursetjee and carried 36 bales of cotton, bags of almonds and sundries to 10,000 rupees total value.
Sat 25th Oct 1794
Notice - 6% Promissory Notes for sale at 4% discount. The Notes qualify for the Company’s home remittance at 2/2½d per Bombay rupee or for exchange for Bengal Promissory Notes at 116 Current rupees per 100 Bombay rupees.
Pirates on the coast (of Tippoo’s ceded lands) are charging 400 – 450 rupees to passing vessels to permit their unhindered passage. Ships buying these licences may water and provision at Mahrattan ports.
Sat 1st Nov 1794
The Bombay Courier’s printing office is removed from 9 Rampart Street to 9 Military Square with immediate effect.
Sat 1st Nov 1794
1st Nov - Julius Nash informs the public that John White has resigned his share of ownership in the Bombay Tavern and Hotel. His 2 shares are transferred to John Grantham and Robert Berry. The business will continue under the style of M/s Nash, Grantham and Berry trading as Bombay Tavern.
The new Directors will continue previous policy to ensure patrons are not inconvenienced. They will continue to act as Agents for Indian exports and always carefully select and ship the goods they are asked to supply.
Sat 1st Nov 1794
For sale – A seven-barrel rifle made by Nock - 500 rupees. All barrels discharge at the same time – good for jungle shooting.47
Sat 1st Nov 1794
The punitive squadron sent against the Kulis has achieved an initial success. It met 8 Kuli boats east of Jaffiribad, sank three and captured the other five. The pirates were stubborn and on one boat they all leapt into the sea rather than be captured. Capt West and a number of sepoys were killed. The fleet anchored the next day off Jaffiribad and a party was sent ashore for provisions and water.
The remaining men marched on the village of Rajapore where the Kulis have a fortified house. The village, the fortified house and 8-10 boats were all destroyed. The force then sailed to Nowa Bunder where more fortified houses and pirate boats were found. Capt Tydd and 2 other Europeans were killed in the exchange. The Kulis lost 30-40 men. Two fortified houses and 12-14 boats were destroyed. Thereafter part of the force proceeded to Surat and convoyed the cargo ships to Bombay. The other part sailed to Suterpara, west of Diu, where another pirate fleet was reportedly based but nothing was found.
Sat 1st Nov 1794
The Bombay Courier offers thanks to Mr Cowper, the Company’s Resident at Malacca. He has been sending proas up and down the Straits to seek out French privateers and provide warning of their locations. The Company’s China fleet has been a frequent beneficiary of his intelligence.
Sat 1st Nov 1794
The foreman of a Grand Jury on 19th August 1793 told the Judge that the police of Bombay fail in their duty to preserve the peace, prevent crime and bring suspects to justice. Many recent armed robberies have been accomplished by gangs but the criminals remain undetected. The Jury see it as their duty to inform the bench of these defects in policing. They request an investigation and the implementation of measures to protect people from injury and loss. Sgd John de Ponthieu, Foreman.
Editor – In August there were robberies nightly. Four gangs predated on the people. Each gang had its Muccadum and he and 4-5 men were armed with swords. Another 4-5 men were unarmed and merely carried the goods away. Receivers of the property were in the Fort or at Dungaree. Sometimes, the loot was rowed across to the mainland and sold there. Suttoo Ancootia, the Muccadum of one gang, is worth 15,000 rupees amassed during a career of 10-12 years of robbery. The incidence of robbery declined after February 1794 when the perpetrators of five robberies and murder were arrested, tried and convicted. Another robbery in early summer at Mahim, 9 miles from the Fort, was done by Gopal Arzoon’s gang. Gopal has a long list of previous convictions from 1782. He has been twice banished from the island but has returned. On this occasion he was executed.
Sat 8th Nov 1794
Promissory Notes account for October:
Certificates discharged 231,031 rupees;
certificates exchanged for Bills on London 385,397 rupees;
new 6% notes issued 692,287 rupees;
amount of promissory notes in circulation 2,955,238 rupees.
600,000 rupees of the bonded debt of Bombay Presidency will be discharged this month to settle balances due to Chowacara Mussa, John Griffith and Alexander Adamson.
Sat 8th Nov 1794
All land and building owners are advised by the Committee of Buildings that they must permit the Surveyor to enter their properties for measurement. Any disobedience will be reported.
Sat 8th Nov 1794
Part of the late John Lampard’s estate of Packry Vall at Byculla is for sale by public outcry. The house and grounds are held on a perpetually renewable lease. Details from Henry Fawcett and John de Ponthieu
Sat 8th Nov 1794
Capt Blair, Commodore at Surat, has reported a trick of the Kuli pirates. He was preparing to sail from Bownager to Surat with numerous boats under convoy. The Tindals of each boat came on board to pay him their convoy money. One of them appeared suspicious and was escorted back to his boat which was boarded and found to be a pirate boat with arms, etc.
The crew jumped overboard and the ship was taken as prize by Blair.
Sat 15th Nov 1794
Notices:
|
Notice 7th Nov
Notice 14th Nov
For Sale |
The minimum value of Promissory Notes for sale will in future be not less than 500 rupees. Bombay Presidency invites tenders for shipment of 224 barrels of gunpowder to Basra. The land and buildings at junction of Bell’s Lane with Rampart Street. One commodious house, coachhouse, stable, godown and out houses on 662 sq yards. Annual rent due to the Company only 9 rupees. |
Sat 15th Nov 1794
The snow Sullimany has arrived from Muscat with a letter-packet from Europe via Basra. The packet contains private letters, Company letters, London newspapers down to 20th June, Leiden Gazettes to 8th July and Cologne Gazettes to 10th July. None of it is more recent than the papers previously brought by Mr Baldwin from Alexandria. Briefly:
Ostend is being evacuated by the allies. Our army is first burning its stores, spiking the guns and making the place worthless. The Dutch have taken Bruges and opened the Scheldt to permit Antwerp to become the point of communication between England and the allied armies.
The latest dividend of the Company is increased to 10½%. This shows its profitability and should raise the Company’s reputation even higher.
Sat 15th Nov 1794
Wm Devaynes chaired a meeting of the Company’s shareholders on 17th June. The Directors had resolved to declare a dividend on the capital stock of 5¼% for the first half of this year.
Lushington reminded the proprietors that the first half-yearly payment of £250,000 to government was due and they should check the accounts first to ensure that available cash permitted the dividend.
The Chairman said payment of the dividend took precedence to payment to the government which took its share from the residue. The increased level of dividend was then approved.
Sat 22nd Nov 1794
|
Advertisements |
M/s Nash, Grantham and Berry have bought the entire shipment of Madeira wine that M/s Pedro Jorge Monteiro & Co imported on the Marquis de Anjega and are selling it at the Tavern Warehouse at 315 rupees per pipe.48 Anyone wishing to buy an allocation of privileged tonnage to import permitted English goods should apply to Leonard Jacques of Bombay. COD plus commission. |
Sat 22nd Nov 1794
Fizoola Khan’s second son has killed his older brother at Rumpore and assumed the government of Rohilcund. General Abercromby is marching against him with an army of European and native troops. The Nabob of Lucknow’s troops and cavalry are supporting the Company’s force.
Sat 29th Nov 1794
An English businessman of Bombay has received a letter from his Lucknow correspondent dated 1st Nov saying the Rohillas (Fizoola Khan’s attempt to seize power) had cut off Abercromby’s advanced guard (two battalions decimated) when the General’s main force came up on them and annihilated them.
After putting the surviving Rohillas to the sword, he seized their 14 cannon and released their prisoners. He then marched on Rumpore. Our losses in the initial encounter were severe. We await confirmation from government.
Sat 29th Nov 1794
The Company’s attempt to raise two Corps of troops from the Nairs and the Moplas resident in Tippoo’s ceded domains has failed. No Nairs enlisted at all. About 400 Moplas were recruited but they heard some rumour about the discipline or the dress they would be required to wear and they all absconded. Captain Grant is left with one Mopla under his command.
Sat 6th Dec 1794
Bombay Promissory Note Account for November:
Certificates on Governor-General exchanged for Bills on London 252,243 rupees;
new Promissory Notes issued in Nov 980,782 rupees;
amount of Promissory Notes in circulation 3,622,631 rupees.
Sat 6th Dec 1794
Notice – Wm Dring of Dring Cleland & Co of Calcutta has joined a partnership at Madras which will trade as M/s Dring, Gordon & Hamilton wef 1st Jan 1795.
Sat 6th Dec 1794
Calcutta Gazette Extraordinary 7th Nov – Gulam Mohamed has brought the Rohilla army out of the Nabob’s jaghire at Rumpore. The Company Resident (Cherry) told him he must return before he (Cherry) would listen to his complaint. He disbelieved Cherry and continued to march. He came within musket shot of our pickets and fired on a cavalry detachment. This determined General Abercromby to attack. He readied his army before dawn on 26th October. He observed Mohamed’s force a few miles away and resolved to approach in one line with the artillery inserted between the infantry regiments and the cavalry on the right flank. The enemy numbered about 25,000 men of whom 4,000 were mounted. Mohamed opened fire with his cannons first. When we fired our cannon the enemy infantry all lay down. When the two armies were about 1,200 yards apart, our men disposed ourselves and commenced our advance. The Rohilla infantry was formed fifty men deep. At 500 yards, they scattered and charged from all directions. This enabled them to outflank us.
They had a few matchlocks but mostly swords and spears so they needed to come in close. The battle was with swords and bayonets and lasted over an hour. The Rohillas then left leaving their guns and camp equipment behind. The Vizier’s troops from Berelly, that were to assist us, arrived only in the evening. 14 British officers died, 9 were injured. The loss of troops is unreported.
Editor – our loss is less than previously rumoured.
Sat 6th Dec 1794
On 1st Dec Capt Urmston of the Company’s ship Sir Edward Hughes arrived from China with the Company fleet – Thetis, Pitt, Walpole - and six sugar ships for Bengal. They met the Company main fleet of 18 ships off Manila. That fleet included a whaler, one Spanish, one Portuguese and four American ships and was convoyed by HMS Lion, Sampson and Argo.
Sat 13th Dec 1794
Lloyds brokers’ are quoting for war-risks cover on British ships via India to or from China at 12 guineas (per ton); American ships to China and back 20 guineas per ton.
Sat 13th Dec 1794
Golam Mohamed surrendered to Abercromby because the Nabob of Rohilcand had offered a reward for his head, and he supposed the Company would protect him. The principal instigator of the uprising, Najeeb Cawn, was killed in the fighting. He promised his men a reward of 100 rupees for each European head – that was why the officers and European battalions were targeted. Some confirmation was obtained by the discovery of a dead Rohilla with the hair of three European scalps entwined around his hand. 64 Europeans exclusive of officers were killed. We lost about 500 sepoys. The surviving commanders of the Rohilla forces have quarrelled and left Rumpore. The town is deserted. Only Fizoola Khan’s widow and some rich people remain there and are said to wish to have the protection of the Company.
The European officers have requested permission to plunder Rumpore but Abercromby is opposed and has asked the Governor-General to pay some compensation in lieu.
The Nabob of Lucknow’s troops were supposed to assist us but, although present, they stood off throughout the fighting and only the cavalry came in afterwards to secure the war-chest, grain and arms & ammunition at the Rohilla base. We took 13 cannon.
We occupied Rumpore on 30th Oct and permit no-one to enter or leave the town, otherwise we suspect the Nabob’s soldiers will plunder. The rich people and the merchants all remain in town. Golam Mohamed has occupied Fort Zaree with the residue (6,000) of his army. The infamous Golam Khodir has joined him with 4,000 men. He is said to want another battle but all his sirdars are dead. He stopped at Rumpore on his way to Zaree and removed all his treasure, reported to be worth £3 millions.
The Nabob is offering 100,000 rupees reward, and a jaghire of the same value annually, to anyone bringing-in Golam Mohamed, dead or alive.
The Rohilla cavalry has a disgusting custom of cutting off the feet of their wounded horses – we suppose it is to prevent our using them, should they recover.
Sat 20th Dec 1794
The India Gazette of 24th Nov reports some sepoys were escorting treasure from Midnapore to Calcutta when they were attacked by ten armed Europeans, routed and the treasure was stolen. A short while later, the sepoys caught up with the thieves and vigorously attacked them, recovering the treasure and capturing all the Europeans.
Sat 20th Dec 1794
Letter from Rumpore - The Rohillas comprise about 10,000 people who are all with Golam Mohamed in his fort. He gambles these on success. At Rumpore we found two or three million rupees of public property and have had our claim to it admitted. Mohamed has at least 6 million rupees in gold with him. The arrangements for its distribution to us are still under discussion.
Sat 3rd Jan 1795
Bombay Promissory Notes account for Dec:
Certificates on Governor-General exchanged for Bengal Notes 334,170 rupees;
Certificates on Governor-General exchanged for Bills on London 177,994 rupees;
new 6% Promissory Notes issued 932,400 rupees;
Promissory Notes in circulation 4,042,575 rupees.
Sat 10th Jan 1795
Notice – Charles Featley is selling a variety of indigenous animals – rams, antelopes, mongooses, monkeys and numerous coloured birds - in the Parsee Bazaar.
Sat 10th Jan 1795
Our allies the Peshwa and the Nizam are in dispute over a piece of land which the Mahrattas gave to the Nizam after Ragoba’s war and which they now want to get back. It is a valuable and productive territory and the Nizam appears prepared to fight to retain it.
Sat 10th Jan 1795
Mauritius and Bourbon (Reunion) have ignored the National Convention’s decree to free all the slaves. They cannot maintain their economies without slaves and neither can they accept the concept of Negro equality.
Sat 10th Jan 1795
Rohilla War – Golam Mohamed has not compromised with us on the terms of peace. He has been arrested and sent off to Cawnpore and we have been skirmishing with his men all day. The new Rohilla chief is Hussar Bhalla. He signed a treaty with us on 8th Jan. Mahomed Ali will succeed his father as Prince.
Sat 10th Jan 1795
An article from Asiatic Miscellany on methods of hunting game in India.
Sat 24th Jan 1795
Letter from Rangoon, 25th Nov 1794:
The King of Ava’s minister now lives at Pegu, about 60 miles NNE of here, and an old capital city. The chief Hindu Brahmin at Ava advised the King to re-establish government at the same place as before the Burman conquest i.e. Pegu and the King agrees. He has sent his minister there to start work. At its height the walls of Pegu measured 6 leagues all around.
The conquest of Pegu happened in 16th century. Pegu was at war with Siam and sought the assistance of Ava, 500 miles up the Irrawaddy. Ava sent a huge army and this was the crucial factor in driving-off the Siamese. The men of Ava thought the Pegu people were a soft-living bunch and usurped their government, uniting the country with Ava.
Today we carry on a considerable trade with Pegu. On 19th Dec there were ten European ships in the river. It has a vibrant ship-building industry.
Sat 24th Jan 1795
Golam Mohamed’s insurrection is over. A treaty has been signed through our intermediary between the Rohilla army chiefs and the Nabob of Lucknow (the Vizier and the nominal chief of Rohilcand). Golam will probably end his days as a guest in British India. We have collected 7 tumbrels of gold mohars worth about 4.8 million Rupees but we do not know how much is our share. On the last occasion of war with the Rohillas we gave the loot back and received a gratuity from the Nabob in lieu.49
The treaty provides that Ahmed Khan, the 9 years old son of Mohamed Ali, is heir apparent. The Rumpore jaghire is worth 1 million Rupees annually. Nasser Ulla Khan will be Guardian and Naib until the boy is mature and Nesrullah Khan will be Regent during the same period. All the private property of the Rohilla army chiefs is secured to them under our guarantee.
The part of the country that belonged to Fizula Khan will henceforth belong to the Nabob and the young prince affirms he is tributary to the Nabob.
Sat 24th Jan 1795
The Masonic lodge of Perfect Unanimity is strong in Madras. Its Masonic Hall was rendered unsafe in the recent rains and members now meet temporarily at the Pantheon. Brother Lewin is Master again this season. Deputy Provincial Grand Master Gahagan installed the new officers at a recent meeting in Brother Hamilton’s garden. Fifty brethren assembled for the function and subsequent festivities. Brother Lewin sang the Constitutional song written by the late Brother Maule.50
Sat 31st Jan 1795
Letter from the Directors detailing the approved means to control British immigration to India, 11th Dec 1793:
Our staff and the other European residents of India are affected by the terms of the new Charter. We have amended the covenants that European residents made with us to conform with the new law. This applies to every Briton, whether licensed to be in India by us or not. Please get the new covenants signed in duplicate and return one copy of each for us.
If anyone refuses, banish him.
It is imperative that we control the right to land in India. The witness to signature must be someone whose handwriting we recognise and can depend upon, so we can prove these agreements in England if necessary.
Letter from the Directors, 18th May 1794:
We have found it is easier for us to rely on the securities given here by our staff going to India. We will send you a sealed copy of each security provided to us in London which you should deliver to each man on his signing the new covenant. We have dated the covenants etc as 1st Feb 1794 which is the day the new Charter becomes effective.
Our military officers are not required to put-up security but they must sign the covenants.
We also send you specimen covenants for free merchants, free mariners and persons we permit to reside in India under our licence. A free mariner must nominate two securities in England to put up £2,000; free merchants and those permitted to reside there must give securities of £500. Send all these covenants and securities to us and we will countersign them and return one part to you.
Sat 31st Jan 1795
Government Notices, 29th Jan 95:
The survey of land and buildings at Bombay is complete and the valuations have been approved in our Court of Oyer and Terminer. The annual rate is assessed at 5% of the gross annual value as established at survey.
Tenders are now invited for street cleaning of all Bombay within 2 miles of Government House.
Sat 7th Feb 1795
Bombay Promissory Note account, Jan 1795:
Certificates on Governor-General exchanged for Bills on London 422,035 rupees;
Governor-General’s Certificates exchanged for Promissory Notes 717,543 rupees;
new 6% Promissory Notes sold 2,317,323 rupees;
balance of Promissory Notes in circulation 3,794,421 rupees.
Sat 14th Feb 1795
Government tender, 13th Feb 1795 – The Bombay government seeks for proposals on 16th Feb for the supply of 1,000 candies of Ahmood cotton, free of seeds and dirt, for delivery before 10th May.
Sat 21st Feb 1795
Bombay Presidency Notice - All persons not in the service of HM or the Company will attend John Morris, the Government Secretary, at the Castle between 12 noon and 3 pm any day from 18th Feb – 5th March to provide their covenants in the stipulated form. Commanders and officers of ships in the roads are strictly enjoined to sign before departure.
A list of residency licence fees for India is available on request.
Sat 21st Feb 1795
The French frigates and privateers cruising in the East seem to be targeting the Dutch. The VOC has lost three Indiamen this season whilst we have lost none.
Sat 28th Feb 1795
Notice – Muscat salt (rock salt) may be imported into Bengal, Bihar and Orissa only in ships coming directly from Muscat and certificated by the Muscat Customs (the Company has a Resident there). The maximum import on any one ship is 500 maunds. Muscat salt imported other than in accordance with these regulations will be confiscated and sold for the Company’s benefit.
Informers will get 25% of the proceeds. Government officers effecting the seizure will get 25% too. If government makes a seizure without information, those detecting officers will get 50% reward.
All Muscat salt, to be legally imported, must be consigned to Government and delivered to the Company’s salt depot near Sulkey. The Treasury will pay 200 Sicca Rupees per 100 maunds on production of the Company’s Salt Office receipt.
The old duty of 30 rupees per 100 maunds and customs duty of 4% of the Company’s unilateral valuation are discontinued for Muscat salt.
Sat 28th Feb 1795
There is an old order requiring the captains of country ships to provide lists of their passengers’ and sea-cunnies’ names and nationalities before permitting them to disembark.
This order has fallen into abeyance but, with the strict licensing requirements for residents that the new Charter terms necessitate, it will in future be enforced.
Sat 28th Feb 1795
Pestonjee Bomanjee has chests of superior hyson tea for sale for cash. Just arrived from China.
Sat 28th Feb 1795
Government Notice - The records of the Quarter Sessions for 1793 are missing. Any person returning them will get 10 rupees, no questions asked.
Sat 28th Feb 1795
Mr Manesty is the Company’s Resident at Muscat in the Persian Gulf. He supervises Gulf trade with British India and forwards those mails from Europe that are landed at Latakia, carried to British Consul at Aleppo and sent down the Euphrates to Basra for carriage to India.
Sat 28th Feb 1795
The Company’s Directors are contemplating raising and paying for three regiments of infantry as a voluntary gift of the Company for British service. Company officers presently in England will command them.
Sat 7th March 1795
Account of Bombay Promissory Notes, February:
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bills on London 210,170 rupees;
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bengal Promissory Notes 39,671 rupees;
8% Promissory Notes surrendered 77,371 rupees;
new 6% Promissory Notes issued 231,685 rupees;
total Promissory Notes in circulation 4,026,106 rupees.
Sat 7th March 1795
The Bombay Presidency invites loans of 500 rupees of more from the public. This entitles the investor to a 4% discount (or whatever the rate may be at that time) on purchase of the new 6% Promissory Notes.
Sat 7th March 1795
An express packet was sent from Calcutta overland on 14th Feb and arrived Bombay 6th March. It contains instructions from the Court of Directors that were brought out on the Indiaman Lascelles. No details have been revealed but 20-day communications between Calcutta and Bombay is remarkable.
Sat 7th March 1795
A large quantity of East Indies raw sugar has been permitted to be shipped to England on foreign ships. Mr Lambert is alone said to have shipped 4,000 hogsheads. The West Indies sugar lobby has remonstrated with Privy Council.
Sat 7th March 1795
Asiatic Mirror (Calcutta) 28th Jan – Our increased trade with Pegu has determined the Governor-General to send an embassy to Ava to settle some differences and improve our trade. Captain Symes is the deputed envoy.
Sat 14th Mar 1795
Advertisement – Capt Robert Scott is selling China goods. Best Hyson tea at 130 rupees per chest, sugar candy at 17 rupees a tub and preserved ginger at 8 rupees per jar.
Sat 14th Mar 1795
Sindhia has at last responded to the Mahratta Confederacy’s order, from the Durbar, to oppose the Nizam of Hyderabad. He has sent his quota of troops, under the French General Duboigne, to join the Mahratta army.51
Sat 14th Mar 1795
The pepper crop from Malabar coast will be tiny this year owing to late heavy rains which have damaged the ripening corns on the vines.
Sat 21st March 1795
On 18th March the Mentor (Richardson) sailed from Bombay for Surat and thence to Mocha where it will load the Company’s investment in coffee for carriage back to Bombay and trans-shipment to an Indiaman for London.
Sat 21st March 1795
The armies of the Peshwa (leader of the Mahrattas based at Poona) and the Nizam Ali Khan have clashed about 90 miles east of Poona and the Mahrattas astonishingly won. The Nizam is now encamped, surrounded by Mahratta units, short of forage, grain and water, and obliged to sue for peace on whatever terms are available.52
Sat 21st March 1795
A General Court was held in East India House on 8th Oct 1794. Devaynes was chairman of the meeting, which was well attended:
Lushington told the meeting that the war is to maintain our property-based system against the French threat of equality. Lushington was ready to contribute part of his own property to the contest.
Fitzgerald said the Company had become substantially more profitable and proposed it make a big interest-free loan to government. Henchman said a loan to government would be better use of the money than the proposed new Courts of Justice at Bombay and Madras. He thought the Company should raise new regiments. He proposed a committee of six shareholders (all lawyers) to study the matter and report.
Randle Jackson said it was the Company’s financial support which raised the Bank of England so high in public estimation. We can easily raise and maintain three new regiments right now. Francis Baring said giving money to government is of doubtful propriety – last year we had to go to parliament to do it and it is possible Government will have to forego the £500,000 we gave then. The deficiencies must be carried forward year after year.
Princep proposed the company pay only 8% dividend per annum and give the increased dividend they were allowed to government.
David Scott said the Company was actually short of cash (its new profits are still documentary) but it has not yet started to borrow any of the money that it is allowed to borrow. Twining thought involving lawyers at this stage derogated from the spirit of the offer. He wanted to raise three regiments first and see how to pay for them afterwards. Sergeant Watson agreed. He said the shareholders could be induced to instantly subscribe an indemnification, as in 1780 when the court had voted three warships to government.
Bentley was for raising new money by a bond issue.
The Lord Mayor wanted an instant decision. Any delay and we might be too late to raise men to defend India House and the Company’s warehouses, which he was sure would be amongst the first objects of destruction in any French invasion. Sergeant Watson’s proposal (for three regiments) was then voted and passed unanimously.
Sat 28th March 1795
Notice – The Governor-General permits Bombay 6% promissory notes to be exchanged for Madras 6% promissory notes at 345 Bombay rupees per 100 star pagodas.
Sat 4th April 1795
Bombay Promissory Note account, March:
Governor-General’s Certificates exchanged for Bengal Promissory Notes 103,824 rupees;
Bombay 6% Promissory Notes issued 223,122 rupees;
Balance of Promissory Notes in circulation 3,785,535 rupees.
Sat 4th April 1795
Bombay public works contract, 3rd April. The Presidency invites sealed proposals for construction of a store house in which the new cotton baling machine from England will be installed. The Civil Architect has a plan of the building which is available for inspection.53
Sat 4th April 1795
The Bombay Presidency frequently charters private tonnage to move troops and stores around India.
Sat 4th April 1795
Daniel Seton is selling his three shares in the Bombay Insurance Office, individually by public outcry on 6th April.
Sat 11th April 1795
Elphinstone, the Postmaster of Bombay, has restricted the weight of a post bag to 4 seers which excludes articles like the Bombay Courier. The dawk couriers find newspapers too heavy. The Editor now sends the Courier by ship to Malabar coast for land carriage across Mahratta lands to Madras. Delivery has recently been delayed by the quarrel between the Peshwa and the Nizam.
Sat 11th April 1795
Asseed ul Omrah, the Nizam’s minister, has been in the Mahratta camp at end of last month to settle differences with the Peshwa. Nana Furnavese is the Mahratta minister with whom he negotiates. Nana insulted Omrah by requiring him to show the customary submission before the Peshwa as a term of commencing negotiations. Omrah had no choice. He afterwards pitched his tents to the rear of the Mahratta camp. Some Mahratta guards were then placed around his tents. Capt Kirkpatrick, the Company’s Resident at Hyderabad, who supports the Nizam, says grain is scarce, water bad and a disease is spreading amongst the troops. On 1st April the Nizam and Peshwa broke camp. The Nizam has gone back to Hyderabad. The Peshwa has triumphed.
Sat 11th April 1795
A fleet of boats convoyed by the Company’s armed cruiser Bombay has arrived at Bombay from Surat on 8th April with 12,000 bales of cotton. A second fleet will bring 25,000 more bales soon.
Sat 11th April 1795
A General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company has been held to discuss and approve the Directors proposed donation of cash to Pitt or the alternative plan of raising three new regiments for government free of charge:
Mr Collins of Salisbury said that public patriotism should not be the instrument of private injustice. He said the war is ruinous and unfortunate. He thought any donation to government would hazard the dividend and encourage ministers to keep fighting. He asked the Directors to state clearly if the Company could afford the donation. He noted those proprietors who are peers and great men had not commented publicly on the previous proceedings of the shareholders wherein these gifts were approved. He resented allowing private property to be requisitioned by Pitt’s party for its own ends.
Lushington said he was independent of Pitt’s ministry. He had proposed the donation as he thought the Company’s and Country’s interests were the same as the ministry’s. He had proved his zealous concern for the Company by the volume of work he had done at Charter renewal. He had amended his proposal in light of lawyer Randle Jackson’s comments and he moved that the amended address be sent to the King. Jackson Barvis seconded.
Serjeant Adair and Rous (both lawyers) thought the address illegal. The Attorney General and Solicitor General (both shareholders) had withheld their opinions out of delicacy.
Sir Francis Baring was opposed to mixing partisan politics with commerce. He thought, regardless of legality, the donation was insupportable as the Company’s finances were inadequate. The effect of this proposal must be a fall in the stock price. He said the King could legally grant the Company authority to raise only 2,000 men in time of war. The Company’s army officers in India were discontented by the proposal. The officers appointed to the three regiments would ultimately return to India and compete for rank with men who had spent their whole lives there. If the Company sought to increase taxes on its imports of British manufactures to India to pay for the donated force, it risked encouraging smuggling into its market. He thought Directors should act in accordance with the wishes of the shareholders, many of whom were clearly opposed to this measure.
Serjeant Watson disagreed with everything Baring had said. This was not a matter of party or politics. The French system of government was a threat to the Company. He agreed that war was ruinous but thought, as we need to preserve what we have, that England has no alternative but to try by all means to prevail. We have to pay whatever it costs to achieve that result. It may be illegal but co-operation with the minister is fundamentally important and this is what Lushington is saying. And he warned the attendees that if they refused the donation, it might contribute to the death of the Company.
The barrister Jones Adair said he opposed the donation and he had all along been frank and straightforward in his reasons. He was not trying to influence people by clever advocacy.54 Adair thought it very appropriate for the Company to give some evidence of its loyalty to the King and love of the Constitution but it should strictly follow the law. The declinations of both Attorney and Solicitor General to give opinions was the clearest indication of the Company’s legal position. Adair opposed putting the Directors in the position of having to evade the law and perhaps defending themselves against shareholders in Court.
Serjeant Watson said the address was prospective. It says what we wish to do not what we will do. The King is not obliged to accept it.
Director David Scott said the nit-picking legal points were trifling. He thought the company was in fine shape and substantially profitable. The fluctuations in share price recently had been due to brokers manipulating the market – there was no real concern for the Company’s profitability. Some country friends had written to him asking what effect the donation would have on the dividend and he had replied in writing that he had no doubt the dividend would only increase in his lifetime. As regards the morale of the Company’s army officers, Cornwallis had long been finalising an arrangement with government which would completely satisfy them.
Francis Baring insisted the donation was a partisan political initiative, unsuitable for a commercial House to be involved it. Randle Jackson insisted it was not. Ultimately Lushington proposed the Directors raise the three regiments and present the Address to the King. Baring wished personally to be excepted from the decision.
Sat 18th April 1795
The rich provinces of Persia have been desolated for a century by continual quarrelling amongst the Persian nobility. Many are greedy and expansionary rulers. Mohamed Ali Khan is a noble of the Cajer clan, the son of Hassar Khan who was executed by Kerim Khan of the Zand clan. Lustee Ali Khan is a noble of the Zand clan, a grandson of Sader and the brother of Kerim.
We hear that Lustee was betrayed and fled to the city of Kerman where he was instantly surrounded by the Cajer troops of Mohamed Ali Khan. After a blockade of 7 months the starving Kerman citizens submitted to the Cajers and the town was delivered over to rape and pillage. The soldiers continued this work for seven days. Meanwhile Mohamed blinded everyone he suspected and, as he is a suspicious man, two maunds of eyes were harvested.
Lustee however escaped south to Bham chased by Mohamed who caught him there and accused him of disloyalty. Lustee was contemptuous and Mohamed put out his eyes before executing him.
Sat 25th April 1795
Notice – The Company has the exclusive trade of the East Indies. Subjects of George III in Britain and Europe may export any British productions or manufactures into the Company’s exclusive trading area. Officers of the Company’s Indian civil service or merchants resident in India and licensed by the Company may export Asian goods to London.
To facilitate this trade to the mutual advantage of both countries, the Company will provide at least 3,000 tons of shipping each year, out and back, but should the amount be excessive or insufficient the Company has the right to vary the quantity in accordance with the directions of the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India (the Board of Control). The tonnage will be provided in December each year for goods home. The Company will charge shippers £5 per ton out and £15 per ton home. In war time the Company will charge higher freight in accordance with market conditions. These rates are solely for ocean freight. Delivery to/from the ship and storage in the Company’s warehouses is for shippers’ account.
Shippers in the Company’s territories in Asia will give reasonable notice of their requirements to the Company describing the nature and weight of the goods and the date of shipment. They will pay the entire freight in advance or give security for payment. If they fail to produce the goods for shipment as declared, their freight payment will be confiscated. If there is an excess of space for goods for shipment the excess will be apportioned pro rata amongst the shippers and the Company will give shippers 7 days notice of the change. If the space is not used, the Company may appropriate it for its own goods.
For all private goods a licence will be issued by the Company to the shipper. Unlicensed goods will be confiscated.
Sat 25th April 1795
The European and native merchants of Bombay have ‘prevailed’ upon Commodore Rainier to provide part of his fleet for convoy protection for their shipping.
Sat 25th April 1795
Mahrattas – At the beginning of this month the Nizam moved his camp to obtain better supplies. It is a violation of the humiliating treaty he made with the Peshwa. On 6th April the Mahrattas sent part of their army to remonstrate. The following day they moved their whole army towards the Nizam and negotiations were resumed. The terms of the original treaty remain unknown.
(next week it is reported the treaty is concluded and the Mahratta army has returned to Poona)
Sat 25th April 1795
A Danish ship has arrived at Tranquebar from Mauritius and reports four American ships have just delivered provisions to the island. Conditions on Mauritius are tranquil and the willingness of the merchants to operate privateers has evaporated (Malartic’s supposed agreement with Calcutta)
Sat 2nd May 1795
The Bombay Insurance Society has been reconstituted for the current year and is offering 6% premiums on voyages to and 11% on voyages from China, both prices ad valorem. As eastern seas have been cleared of French privateers for the time being, the ships are permitted to sail singly.
Sat 2nd May 1795
The Danes at Tranquebar say that the Committee of Colonial Affairs in Paris has ordered a French fleet of 4 ships-of-the-line, 6 frigates and several transports from Rochefort to Mauritius.
An order has been received at Mauritius postponing the operation of privateers as the approaching fleet will require all the seamen it can get to replace losses en voyage. The island committee has assumed that not all seamen on Mauritius will be required and has sent out two privateers Sybele and Prudente to collect loot.
Sat 9th May 1795
Bombay Promissory Notes account for April:
Promissory notes discharged 13,643 rupees;
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bengal Promissory Notes 10,797 rupees;
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bills on London 12,861 rupees;
new promissory notes issued 393,298 rupees;
balance of promissory notes in circulation 4,141,532 rupees.
Sat 9th May 1795
Government Notice - Articles imported into Bombay Presidency and its dependencies (the nearby islands plus Surat and Broach and now Malabar and the Persian Gulf ports of Bushire and Basra) from Bengal will be exempted from duty after 1st June 1795 on production of the usual certificates.
Editor - This may not refer to Bushire and Basra as the Company’s trade regulations for Persian Gulf ports differ from its Indian territories.
Sat 9th May 1795
Letter from Tranquebar, 8th April – 13 American and 1 Danish ship have arrived at Mauritius recently each bringing provisions and 5 more Americans are expected. The latest American arrivals (from Boston via Bordeaux or Brest) have brought French news which has united the Mauritian factions. The dispatches from French government have arrived but their contents are unknown. They are rumoured to report the conquest of Holland, military success against the coalition of Kings and supposedly the intended despatch of a fleet to the East Indies (this fleet has repeatedly been said to be coming since the first days of the war).
A Committee for Public Safety (CPS) has been established at Port Louis and it is more effective than the old Colonial Assembly. The CPS decides, regulates and determines everything. It acts quickly and secretly. The Colony is now in a good state of defence. Mauritius has 9,000 armed men exclusive of the blacks who are only employed in the batteries. It is rumoured that a large merchant fleet will be convoyed from France soon.
Although America publicly asserts a strict neutrality, a secret treaty of offence and defence has reportedly been concluded by her man in Paris (Monroe) with France. She now has a consul at Mauritius as well – McCarthy - to superintend the burgeoning American trade with that island. The provisions delivered to Mauritius, mainly by the Americans, will suffice for 18 months. This is excessive storage for the island’s need but it is also said that a French fleet will depart Europe in about November this year for Mauritius and the provisions may also be intended for its use. That seems more reasonable. The food supplied is simply too much for the existing population.
Sat 9th May 1795
The President of the Madras Council has told Company military officers resigning or going on medical leave to England that they must first swear that their property does not exceed a certain value. These ‘certain values’ are the figures in the agreement made with the Company by Clive on behalf of the employees. Only after making the declaration may they claim the passage money allowance which ship commanders receive for providing suitable accommodation.
The maximum capital accumulation allowed in Clive’s treaty with the Directors is Colonel £4,000; Lt Colonel £3,000; Major £2,500; Captain £2,000; Lieutenant £1,000; Ensign £746.
This Madras regulation does not apply to officers of HM forces on attachment to India but only the Company’s own army officers. If those officers are ordered home they can apply for relief and each case will be treated on its merits.55
Sat 16th May 1795
Tenders are invited for the provision of gun platforms to the Company. They should have a solid stone foundation 2 feet thick. They should be 18’ long. The width is 9’ at the front increasing to 18’ at the rear and the whole foundation should slope 10” from front to rear. The five wooden sleepers for each platform are to have a cross section of 7” square and to be each secured into the stonework by five pickets. The planks on the sleepers are to be 2½” thick. All wood is to be bassein timber. All nails to be 7½” long. A full muster of the platform is available from Lt Colonel Nicholson, Chief Engineer, Bombay Castle.
Sat 30th May 1795
Died 28th May – Thomas Herring, military Paymaster General and Senior Merchant of Bombay. He fell off his horse at Salsette and hurt himself and then caught a cold whilst recuperating.
Sat 30th May 1795
Capt Symes, the Company’s emissary to Pegu, has arrived at Rangoon and the Minister of Ava, resident there, has sent Symes’ credentials to the King.
Symes is instructed to propose a permanent alliance, a Company Resident based at Rangoon, and free immigration and trade.
Sat 30th May 1795
A special type of elephant has been brought from Rangoon by Capt Newton as a present from the Prince of Pegu to his old friend the Nabob of the Carnatic.
Sat 6th June 1795
Account of Bombay Promissory Notes for May:
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bills on London 17,073 rupees;
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bengal Promissory Notes 24,402 rupees;
Notes surrendered 20,454 rupees;
New 6% Notes issued 506,044 rupees;
Notes in circulation 4,585,577 rupees.
Sat 6th June 1795
Auction on 8th June at 10 am – the plate, furniture and carriages of the late Thomas Herring.
Sat 6th June 1795
Editorial – People living under despotic governments exhibit little interest in politics. They are not allowed to participate in government so they do not bother themselves about it. This is the usual condition of the Indians. In the courts of all the native princes are officers who transmit regular accounts to other princes. It is only the courts of Princes that take an interest in the proceedings of their neighbours. The Court of Dowlat Rao is a case in point. He has assumed Sindhia’s position. A recent daily Court Circular is appended:
21st May (1st Zulkad) – Dowlat Rao awoke early, completed his routines and worship and took his seat on the veranda of the Chowkay. The Munshee, Guman Roy Cutwell, with Mir Burhan and Cassey Rajah attended him.
It was reported that an elephant had died in the night and another was sick.
Afterwards Dowlat Rao rode to River Chunderbhagar to bathe. He performed Puja and the attendants pitched their tents. He then sent for a turban and 7 saris to give as charity. He also handed out money and four oxen. He then went to Balmucon’s house and later to Gopaljee’s.
At midday he returned to the river to wash. He then rode back to the fort and dined with his nobles. He took a nap then went riding again to worship the deity of Pundapore and Krishna. He thanked the Brahmin who manages the temple.
On his way back he passed the tent of Ankat Rao and stopped and entered. He was given refreshment then he went home. He entered the harem and the officials went away. Later in the evening … etc.
Saturday, 13th June 1795
The Company has chartered 35 Indiamen for the carriage of British goods from London to Bengal for the coming season. Ten more Indiamen are being prepared. The first fleet should sail in April.
Saturday, 13th June 1795
|
Madras news |
The Rajah of Veragottam continues to defy the Company. His resources are being stopped and he is confined in his own country. Major Dunwoody with a European regiment has been sent to oppose him. 3,000 Indians have emigrated from the Pettah in Kerala (land ceded by Tippoo). They resent being subject to the rules of the foreign settlement. A general secession of the inhabitants is feared. |
Saturday, 13th June 1795
Letter from London 8th May – The claims of Indian army officers have received the sympathetic attention of Dundas for the ministry. Cornwallis is also supportive of the officers’ interests. These two are pressing the matter in London. Several Directors (Scott, Devaynes and others) are also assisting.
At present Indian army officers are allowed overseas leave and full pay on certain grounds. We also request for promotions whilst on leave (the Company promotes by seniority). The ministry is considering incorporating the Indian army in the British army but the Directors are opposed. The officers have formed themselves into the London Committee of India Officers to lobby the Board of Control and the Directors on their claims.56
Saturday, 13th June 1795
Notice – The Governor-General has banned the import of saltpetre into Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. A Marine Board is created, which includes some members of the Board of Trade, to administer the new regulation.57
Sat 20th June 1795
The Company has taken up an increased amount of shipping for the current season. Twelve 1,200 ton ships, mainly for China including Arniston (Charles Marjoribanks) and Gratton (Charles Drummond), and twenty-nine of the 800 – 900 tonners for Bombay, Bengal and Madras.
Sat 27th June 1795
Editor - Another ship has arrived from Basra but the messengers seem disinclined to bring weighty newspapers across the desert and this packet has only official Company correspondence.
Sat 27th June 1795
The Directors have won agreement at a meeting of the Company’s shareholders on 12th January for them to personally trade to India, either as Principal or Agent. Numerous Directors had been identified as involved in Indian trade as Agents in a report recently made by Woodfall.
Tolfrey was the man who wanted shareholder approval and David Scott supported him. So did Baring, who saw the matter as a struggle between the shipping and the commercial interests and felt sure the ships officers, having the advantage of free freight, would never be inconvenienced by it. Henchman agreed. Alderman le Mesurier extolled the virtue of the British businessman and assured shareholders that their Directors could be trusted. The Directors had split 10/10 on the issue and brought it before the shareholders. The motion received a majority of 193 shareholder votes.
Twining had made a motion to the opposite effect. He had noted the Directors’ Oath of office expressly prohibited their private trade and he thought it would adversely affect the wealth of the ships’ captains and officers. He mentioned the wise law that prevents merchant bankers from acting as Bank of England Directors and thought the same principal should apply here. His original motion was to refresh the prohibition on Director’s personal trade.
Elphinstone seconded. He thought the Directors’ private trade would diminish their ability to control their staff in India all of whom would expect the same advantage. Lushington agreed. The honour of the Directors rested on the restriction, he said. The Directors regulate Indian commerce and by combining they might defeat the expectations of the ships officers who will then necessarily consign their goods to one or other Director. He hoped Scott had not got the support of the Board of Control for the measure.
Serjeant Watson also opposed and Jackson Barwis, who appears on Woodfall’s list of Directors acting as Agents, had since changed his mind and opposed Directors’ private trade.
Sat 27th June 1795
Madras 11th May – a plot to murder Capt Smith of the Revenge and his officers has been uncovered. The plan originated with a Frenchman who had been taken on crew. His plan was adopted by several Malays and a Portuguese. The crew includes many Bengal lascars but they were, as usual, uninvolved.
Sat 27th June 1795
The Dutch employ a Swiss regiment at Colombo.58 These people hold French principles and have subverted the trade of the port. The Dutch governor now sleeps in the fortress with his Dutch soldiers who are not yet influenced. This Swiss regiment was formerly at the Cape but its behaviour was so wild as to induce the Dutch governor there, van der Graaf, to send it to Colombo. To accomplish this van der Graaf first had to arrest several of the regimental officers. The rank and file are a cosmopolitan group.
Sat 27th June 1795
East India House, 16th Dec – A dividend of 5½% for the half year has been declared.
Letter from Dundas to the Company’s Directors, Nov 1794:
The minutes of your recent Court contain a letter from Mr Charles Grant on the old subject of freight rates. The Directors have agreed to pay more freight than they think is reasonable. They say there is an influence upon them (the shipping interest) which requires excessive payment. I wish to tell you that this ministry repudiates this form of dealing and will not defend it in parliament.
Sat 4th July 1795
Bombay Promissory Notes account for June:
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bills on London 48,143 rupees;
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bengal Promissory Notes 9,131 rupees;
new 6% Promissory Notes issued 224,140 rupees;
balance of promissory notes in circulation 4,752,611 rupees
Sat 11th July 1795
Capt Neilson of the 77th regiment has introduced the cochineal beetle into Bengal. He got the idea from Dr Anderson at Madras who has identified a local plant that he believes the beetle would thrive on. Nielson obtained three plants with beetles at Rio de Janeiro. He gave one to Mason, the King’s botanist, which was sent to St Helena which island produces nothing useful. The second he gave to Pringle the Company’s Resident at the Cape who forwarded it to Dr Scott of Calcutta by hand of a doctor on a Swedish ship which has not yet arrived. The third was given to Dr Roxburgh who superintends the Company’s garden at Calcutta (Sibpur) and, when its traditional plant was expended, the animal was placed on a yellow-flowering shrub that is common throughout Bengal - it appears to be thriving.
Sat 25th July 1795
Private letters from Madras indicate a move against Dutch Eastern possessions has been proposed by the Company. This will primarily involve Ceylon and Malacca. The Catherine and the Ewer are taken up for the purpose of transporting the troops. (These expeditions were reported to have been abandoned in 1st Aug edition but restored a fortnight later)
Sat 25th July 1795
Cornwallis’ negotiations in London to assimilate the Indian and British Armies are being leaked.
The Company’s 12 European battalions are to be converted into 8 King’s regiments of ten companies each, commanded by a King’s officer but officered by men of the Company’s army.
The Company’s 80 battalions of native infantry are to be amalgamated into 26 regiments of 2 battalions, each of ten companies. They will be deployed 12 at Bengal, 10 on the Coromandel coast and 4 at Bombay. A Colonel will command, a Lt Colonel will have one battalion and a major the other. Each battalion will have 7 captains, 1 Captain Lieutenant, 21 Lieutenants and 10 ensigns.
Colonels commanding regiments may live in England with full regimental pay and off-reckonings. Other officers may visit England for up to 3 years and receive pay. After a period of service (not yet fixed), all officers may sell their commissions or retire on full pay. Double batta and diwani are abolished. Half batta is allowed at all stations.
Sat 25th July 1795
On 23rd Feb the French National Convention heard an address from Mauritius dated 2nd Nov 1794:
“We are surrounded by enemies. You have forgotten us. Ministers Monge and d’Albarode promised supplies but nothing has arrived. We have 6 ozs of bread per man per day. We have formerly explained our opposition to St Felix to you. His expedition to the East offered a chance to remove our enemies but he declined to prosecute it. We fell back on privateering and have distressed our enemies. We are ever vigilant since the treachery of the garrison of Pondicherry delivered that place to the British.
“You have sent us no money for years. We have maintained government by printing ‘bons de caisse’ which we underwrite ourselves. There is now an immense quantity of ‘bons de caisse’ in our islands. Please remember us. We have sent this ship to you to ask for assistance.”
Sat 1st August 1795
The Bombay Treasury is having a sale of the new 6% Promissory Notes at 4% discount to face value.
Sat 1st August 1795
Our detachments in Oudh are normally withdrawn at this season but will remain this year. The reason is the Sikhs. Representatives of a large group of Sikhs have given the Nabob of Oudh peremptory notice they will enter his lands and visit Nanakmuti for devotion. There is some slight doubt whether their intentions are completely pacific, hence our garrisons will remain.
Sat 1st August 1795
The conquest of the Dutch factories at Ceylon and Malacca has been entrusted to two expeditions, one under Colonel James Stuart and the other under Major Archibald Brown. Details of the composition of the expeditionary forces are given in Bombay Courier. The Malaccan expedition left 20th July; the Ceylonese on the following day. A force from Bengal will likely reinforce the Malacca conquest.59
Sat 15th Aug 1795
Pestonjee Bomanjee has bought the cargo of the American ship Eliza – porter, cider and meats – for local sale.
Sat 22nd Aug 1795
The Governor-General has made up a letter packet for the Directors in London. It was taken by the Fly to Basra on 21st Aug for the overland route (the quickest route for letters to London).
Sat 22nd Aug 1795
The Botany Bay ship Experiment has arrived from Port Jackson via Batavia. Its captain reports dairy and grain farming is particularly successful in Botany Bay.
He says the Batavia markets are all depressed. Opium sells at $300 per chest.
Sat 22nd Aug 1795
The practise of Indian army officers encumbering their pay with annuities is popular. It is estimated that £100,000 is outstanding on the security of pay.
Lt Thomas Lidderdale receives £40 p a half-pay and in 1782 he borrowed £120 from Edward Benyon, arranging to repay £20 p a from the half-pay. The whole amount of halfpay was assigned to Benyon who accounted to Lidderdale for the balance over £20.
The arrangement worked flawlessly for four years until in 1786 Robert Stone bought the annuity from Benyon for £132.13.0d and the transfer was backdated to the original transaction date. Payment was received timely and in full but Stone did not account for the excess balance to Lidderdale.
In 1788 the Pay Masters-General withheld payment on the instructions of Lidderdale and Stone sued. It was argued by the PMsG in Court that half-pay is not assignable. A decision is awaited.
Sat 29th Aug 1795
Three galleys of the Nabob of Arcot have arrived from Mocha en route to Madras. They are convoyed by the Company’s cruiser Mentor of Bombay. They are the Surprise, Success and Generous Friends. When they left Mocha with their coffee cargoes, there were two Surat ships in port – one of Chilabi’s and the Faz Gowdry. The Company’s supercargoes Soper and Ramsey remain at Mocha to complete their coffee purchases and loadings.
The Nabob’s galleys carried pilgrims to Mecca on the outward voyage, escorted by the Nabob’s sloop. On arrival at the port of Mecca, the sheriff sought payment from the Nabob’s vackeel to permit the passengers to disembark, however Lt Sneyd of the Nabob’s sloop overheard the demand and intervened. Later the pilot provided by Mecca to steer the sloop out of port, directed her course towards sunken rocks. A lookout saw the danger and the pilot’s course was changed but the sloop still struck and was slightly damaged.
She had to put back for repairs. The pilot jumped overboard as soon as he was detected and made his escape whilst the crew were trying to avoid the danger. It seems a landing fee per pilgrim is customary at Mecca.
Sat 29th Aug 1795
India Gazette (the Calcutta government paper) of 3rd Aug:
The Company’s emissary to the Burmese, Lt Symes, was well received at Rangoon and has since left for Ava on 30th May with a large fleet of river boats, escorted by the King’s Viceroy at Rangoon and some 3,000 Burmese retainers. Symes arrived at Prome on 13th June and expected to arrive Ava on 3rd or 4th July.
At that time we had four ships at Pegu – the private traders’ ships Anna, Pseuton and Favorite and the Company’s armed brig Seahorse.
Sat 29th Aug 1795
The American sloop Betsy (Gibb) has arrived at Madras on 30th June with a cargo of pepper from Aceh. She left New York a year before with instructions to collect the American consul McCarthy from Mauritius and take him home. Gibb arrived at the island in December. The ship was searched and her provisions removed by the government whereafter she was embargoed. The island has had no contact with France for many months. At end March Gibb managed to obtain the release of his ship but not the Consul. He then did the Sumatra voyage.
Gibb says the lack of provisions on Mauritius has become serious. The only supplies they can get are bullocks from Madagascar.
The privateers Prudente and Sybille sailed before the Betsy intent on intercepting some Dutch Indiamen on the homebound leg of their voyages. They were expected to have valuable cargoes of tea and silk goods.
Sat 5th Sept 1795
Notice 2nd Sept – The President and Council of Bombay have ordered that no further covenants to free merchants or mariners will be provided after 15th Oct.
Sat 5th Sept 1795
Three of the Company’s fleet for this season arrived 3rd Sept at Bombay from Portsmouth. The passage took one hundred days. They sailed to San Salvador in Brazil and picked up the wind there for the Cape of Good Hope. Approaching India the fleet separated with the contingents for Madras and Bengal veering off to the east.
Sat 5th Sept 1795
The safety of India seems improved. Captain Renaudin, who was thought to have gone to the Cape from Cochin, is actually now in Toulon and Admiral Nielly, whom we thought was preparing Mauritius to attack us, is sent to West Indies. Latest advices from Tranquebar, where two French ships from Mauritius recently arrived, say no relief from France has arrived as of a month ago.
Sat 5th Sept 1795
The Direction of the Company after April’s elections is now in the hands of the following 24 shareholders:
Francis Baring, Jacob Bosanquet, Joseph Cotton, Lionell Darell, Wm Devaynes, Thomas Fitzhugh, Simon Fraser, Charles Grant, Hugh Inglis, James Irwin, Paul le Mesurier, Stephen Lushington (Chairman), John Manship, Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, Charles Mills, William Money, Thomas Parry, Abraham Robarts, John Roberts, David Scott (Deputy Chairman), George Smith, George Tatem, Robert Thornton and John Townson.
Sat 5th Sept 1795
Open letter of 10th Sept 1794 (a year ago) from the officers of the Bombay army to the Directors:
Henry Dundas said he would take Cornwallis’ advice and resolve the argument over the terms of our military service. We have waited a long time. We have now seen the papers. All the Company’s officers are devalued by the proposals and the security of India is threatened by their consequent amotivation.
London’s plan is based on taking all the Europeans and natives into HM’s service. It will incorporate the artillery and engineers in the King’s army. It also says the European regiments serving here will be regular relieved. It suggests a separation of the Sepoy from the European line.
All these Europeans will cost a fortune. The proposals will strengthen your European force and weaken the Sepoy army. We all know that Europeans cannot tolerate the Indian sun without years of acclimatisation. On the other hand men who are acclimatised to India cannot tolerate English winters. A knowledge of the geography, culture, languages and manners of India is essential. HM’s officers have studied Europe whilst we have studied India. We also object to the British customs of a) purchasing rank and b) promoting by selection which are incompatible with our ways.
The plan requires that Company officers appear beneath HM’s officers on the seniority lists. This will instantly devalue Company officers serving in England by 50%. The chances of promotion are almost entirely removed. The British lists contain a huge number of supernumerary and brevet field officers whose numbers together far exceed the conceivable requirements of the army. The separation of European and Sepoy lines will encourage incoming King’s officers to prefer employment in native regiments whereas we will face hardship and under-employment in Europe. With so little for the British army to do, they will no doubt pour over here and create an inequality of promotion prospects between the two lines.
We finally remind you that, of the strength of the native regiments in the Bombay military, two thirds are men from native states which are not subject to the Company’s government. They will resist any attempt to move them overseas or to another Presidency. In such circumstances they may be expected to go home and spread the word thus making recruiting more difficult. Please resist the assimilation of the armies.
Sat 12th Sept 1795
Bombay Government Debt, Aug 1795:
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bills on London 71,045 rupees;
6% promissory notes issued 96,247 rupees;
promissory notes in circulation 4,860,537 rupees.
Sat 12th Sept 1795
The Dutch force at Trincomalee is resisting Colonel Stuart’s force. They were formerly co-operative. It was expected that Colonel Stuart would open fire on the upper fort on about 22nd August.
The King of Kandy has unexpectedly offered us his help. He supposes we are helping him to evict the Dutch and restore his former grandeur. A messenger from him has arrived at Trincomalee offering every support, whether it be provisions, cattle or men. Stuart has accepted the offer of provisions and cattle.
Sat 12th Sept 1795
The Hirondelle, recently arrived at Tranquebar from Mauritius, reports the sans culottes have fallen from power on the island and the Colonial Assembly has resumed control - it seems moderation is breaking out.
The Americans have supplied sufficient salted provisions, wines and spirits to avert the prospect of famine. The Americans are selling foods for silver dollars only. They are recycling the specie that the islanders have obtained from prize-taking. The new supplies have enabled the two French frigates and a brig Courier to commence a new cruise. They have captured the Indian Trader (Dunlop) which was carrying the Company’s sugar from Calcutta to London.
The French corvette Le Moineau arrived at Mauritius from Rochefort with dispatches for the government and immediately thereafter 4,000 resident men between 15 – 25 years were conscripted, apparently to supplement a force that is expected from the mother country soon. It is said the force will be brought on 4 ships-of-the-line, four frigates, two corvettes and twenty transports carrying another 3,000 men.
Sat 19th Sept 1795
The Dutch garrison at Trincomalee sortied out against Colonel Stuart’s force. A letter dated 25th August says they killed about 40 of our men. The siege continues and Stuart is expected to assault the place in a few days.
Another report says the lower fort surrendered on 27th Aug and Fort Orstenbourg (the upper fort) was called upon to surrender the following day.
Sat 19th Sept 1795
The reinforcement of troops, stores and the battering train for the reduction of the Dutch enclave of Cochin is on its way under Major Wiseman and will arrive mid-September.
Sat 19th Sept 1795
A Portuguese Indiaman has arrived at Madras from Portugal via Madeira on 28th Aug with 700 pipes of Madeira wine and $900,000 in silver.
Sat 19th Sept 1795
Hyderabad - The rebellion of the Nizam’s son Ali Jah at Beder has persuaded His Highness to call on the English under his treaty of 1768. We have sent two battalions under Major Roberts to assist.
Sat 19th Sept 1795
London 15th May - Dundas has spoken in the Commons about the Company’s shipping. He told MPs that the British-built ships chartered to the Company for India trade had necessarily been surrendered to British government use.
Some alternative transport is necessary for Indian trade. The House resolved itself into a committee and decided to permit non-British-built ships to carry the India and China trade.60
Sat 19th Sept 1795
Three shallow-draft Spanish ships (with French names – La Decouverte, L’Audacieuse and La Sybile) started a voyage of discovery in July 1789. They examined the Argentinian coast and then entered the Pacific and sought to determine the existence of the North West passage ( by exploring the Hudson Strait and Foxe Basin). They also visited the Machas, Marianas and Philippines. They discovered a passage between Mindanao and New Guinea. They continued to New Hebrides, New Zealand, New Holland and the Friendly Islands.
Sat 26th Sept 1795
Notice, 25th Sept - The Company’s Residents on the coast have been cashing an excessive amount of Promissory Notes to fund their administrations (at Surat, Calicut, Malabar, etc). This practise must stop.61
Sat 26th Sept 1795
The upper fort at Trincomalee, Fort Orstenbourg, surrendered to us on 31st August. The Dutch were mindful to continue a resistance but they lost so many men through desertion it became impractical. Securing this strategic port is important to British interests in India.
Sat 26th Sept 1795
Four Europeans - Colonel Comte de Meuron, his aide-de-camp Capt Bolle, Mr Cleghorn and another – have arrived at Calicut by dhow from Mocha. They have been sent by the home government to arrange the transfer of the Dutch possessions into our control. The Swiss regiment at Ceylon is in Dutch pay. It was raised by the Comte de Meuron and is commanded by his brother.
Sat 26th Sept 1795
Mr Manesty, the Company’s Resident at Muscat has now removed to Basra. He has sent despatches via Muscat to the Bombay government. A few private letters and newspapers are said to be included in the packet.
We hear from the delivering ship’s crew that a Dutch ship has arrived at Muscat with sugar and spices from Batavia and that another was expected.
Sat 26th Sept 1795
M/s Soper and Ramsey, the Company’s coffee buyers at Mocha, have arrived at Bombay on the Stamboul, a ship of Chilabi, the great merchant of Surat.
Sat 3rd Oct 1795
Bombay Promissory Notes account, Sept:
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bills on London 237,964 rupees;
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bengal notes 55,947 rupees;
new 6% promissory notes issued 357,307 rupees;
balance of promissory notes in circulation 4,923,933 rupees
Sat 3rd Oct 1795
Jonathan Duncan, one of Warren Hastings ‘bright young men’, was Resident at Benares (Varanasi) in 1791 – 1795. He established the Sanskrit College at Benares; concluded the treaty of commerce with Nepal in 1792 (2½% duty on all trade either way) and supervised the new opium monopoly.62
He arrived Calcutta on 4th Sept en route to Bombay where he will be installed as the new Governor of the Presidency.
His brother will assume the duties of Collector at Benares.
Sat 10th Oct 1795
Those Bills on London that were issued by Bengal Presidency between 11th Aug – 25th Nov 1793 on 548 days Sight are to be cashed now without postponement.
Sat 10th Oct 1795
The Orpheus (Newcomb) and Resistance (Pakenham) sailed 10th Aug with the troop transports for the invasion of Malacca.
Sat 17th Oct 1795
Notice, 16th Oct – the terms of the Company’s Treaty with the Bibi of Cannalore dated January 1784 are in dispute. A committee is appointed and will inspect all relevant records and take depositions of witnesses. Everyone is required to co-operate with the Committee.
Sat 17th Oct 1795
The survey of Tippoo’s ceded lands in Malabar is continuing. The productions of the country are being calculated, historical taxes identified and the value of the acquisition to the Company ascertained.
Lt Emmitt has been doing the survey but has resigned. He is replaced by Ensign Bryce Moncrieff. Samuel Ince has been registering buildings in Malabar but has reported sick. He is replaced by Robert Lewis.
Moncrieff and Lewis are to sail to Cannanore to assume their duties.
Sat 17th Oct 1795
Letter from the Cape, 14th Aug – Admiral Sir George Keith Elphinstone is in Simon’s Bay with the Company’s squadron. The Dutch have received him amicably and he has requested the surrender of the Colony to us. His terms were rejected.
He landed 2,000 marines and soldiers and attacked the Dutch stronghold of Muizenberg, between False Bay and the Cape, with assistance from two war sloops. The place was ours in 30 minutes.
Since then there has been only minor skirmishing.
The Arniston brought another 400 men with treasure and supplies. General Craig expects to have command of the Cape in a couple of weeks.
Sat 17th Oct 1795
The surrender of Trincomalee on 26th Aug is agreed. The Dutch march out with full honours, they retain their arms; the Malay soldiers will return from whence they came. All ammunition expended by the Company will be replaced. No European will be sent to Europe against his wishes. Private property will be respected.
The garrison of Fort Orstenbourg made a separate peace on similar terms.
Sat 17th Oct 1795
The American ship John (Moulton) arrived Calcutta 15th Sept from Salem and whilst coming in, met the French privateering squadron returning to Mauritius with nine prizes, English and Dutch.
The Americans have been making some large orders in India. They have bought 30,000 pairs of Bengal shoes which has advanced the local price of leather and required native cobblers to work overtime.
Sat 17th Oct 1795
The Morning Star (North) of Salem for Bengal has been shipwrecked. It visited Madeira, the Cape and Madras and then sank on 16th August.
Three survivors - John Stevenson, Richard Lowe and William Mavers - have been picked-up on a raft. They report there was unhappiness on the ship and most of the European crew deserted at Madras. Four Europeans were left before the mast. The rest of the crew are Africans. The ship owner is Keating of New York.
Sat 17th Oct 1795
The King of Kandy’s ambassador has arrived at Trincomalee and declared his master’s friendship towards England. He will continue to supply cattle to the British troops.
The King is described in the preamble to the agreement as ‘Blessed with all virtues; Like a silver mountain; King of all Kings; Superior to all warriors; Equal to Vishnu in beauty; Greater than the elephant in wisdom and power; God of the Isle of Lanka; A King whose throne and crown are of precious stones; Whose generation is from the Sun; Whose Court is the Court of all that is good and just.’
The Dutch Governor and Council of Colombo are functionaries of our ally the Stadtholder but they are diligently improving their defences. New outworks and batteries are being made.
The conscription of all males over 14 years is announced. The Governor has 1,500 European and 2,500 native troops, mainly Malays.
Battacalao has surrendered to us.
Tues 27th Oct 1795 – Extraordinary
Mr Manesty, the Company’s Resident at Basra, has re-established the Company’s factory on Graine Island on 4th Sept.
Tues 27th Oct 1795 – Extraordinary
Capt Pruin has written to Madras dated 2nd Sept, reporting the fall of Malacca to British arms. The expedition arrived 17th Aug and the Dutch hardly attempted a defence. On 18th the fort submitted in the name of the Stadtholder. The civil administration will be untouched but the Dutch garrison is being sent to Madras in the first instance.63
Sat 31st Oct 1795
The Peshwa died on 27th Oct at Poona. Savoy Mahadowrow Pundit Purdhun ruled the Mahratta Empire and generally united the feuding princes. His presumptive heir, the son of Ragoba, is presently a state prisoner.
Sat 31st Oct 1795
The American ship Samson has arrived Bombay and reports Elphinstone is in possession of the Cape. General Craig has cleared all opposition and has approached to within 10 mls of Capetown where he is encamped awaiting reinforcements from the Indiamen.
Sat 31st Oct 1795
Dundas addressed the House on the Company’s accounts. He used the last three years accounts (1791 – 94) to ascertain an average annual income and converted that from local Indian currencies into Sterling:
|
Bengal
|
Revenue (estimated) Revenue (Actual in 1793/94) |
£5,432,768 (average of 1791 – 94) £5,871,946 |
The increase in revenue was due to increased sales of salt and opium and an unexpected increase in land revenue.
Charges £3,331,978
Charges exceeded estimates by £93,638 because of the Company’s donation of three regiments to the British army mid-year and because the salt and opium monopolies are operated by advancing costs to producers and deducting the advances from the Company’s purchase prices on delivery.
The resultant profit to the Company on its territorial account in Bengal was £2,539,968 and he estimated profit for 1794/95 would be £2,301,972.
|
Madras
|
Revenue (estimated) Revenue (Actual in 1793/94) |
£2,232,077 (average of 1791 – 94) £2,110,089 |
The costs of local wars and the taking of Pondicherry had increased expenditure whilst the new treaty with Tanjore will increased revenue.
Charges £1,999,376
In 1792/93 the Nabob of Arcot paid the Company 100,000 Pagodas in advance and it was expected he would again pay in 1793/94 but did not do so. This may be related to the treaty the Company made with the Nabob concerning the Polygars which we forced upon him to end disputes between the parties and restore production. This caused his dissatisfaction and he delayed payments. There was also a famine affecting the Circars for some of the year which likewise delayed payments. Dundas hoped that Madras would soon become self-sufficient.
|
Bombay |
Revenue (estimated) Revenue (Actual in 1793/94) Charges |
£277,898 (average of 1791 – 94) £312,364 £783,791 |
Bombay charges were proportionately increased by 1/ giving the same donation to the army as Madras, 2/ by establishing the Bombay Marine for the protection of the west coast, Red Sea and Gulf and 3/ by the costs of settling a government on Tippoo’s ceded lands in Malabar.
Rather than publish figures from the Company’s individual Far Eastern factories (in Burma, Sumatra, Malaya and China) Dundas gave global figures for the whole business: Revenue £8,294,399 less Charges £6,181,501 producing a profit of £2,112,895. Interest on debts was £458,043. Imports, sales and certificates produced £475,994. Fund for buying the tea and silk plus factory charges in 1794/95 is £2,130,846.
Loans due from the Company in India total £7,305,462 of which £5,597,299 is interest-bearing.
Assets of the Company in India (in stock, cash and receivables) £8,807,600
Dundas then discussed the situation of the Company in England:
When the Charter was renewed in 1793 he estimated the profits from sales by averaging the prior three years. In fact the sales for 1794 (in Sterling) were greatly in excess of that average:
|
Sales of tea, silk etc in 1794 Privileged tonnage sales, gross Nett proceeds to Company of both Charges: Dividend at 10½% Cost of tea India debt discharged Bonds paid-off Remaining debt in England |
5,521,858 1,053,642 5,392,966 - 4,467,78764 416,996 933,095 (1,008,697 in 1793) 149,650 7,006,500 |
Finally Dundas disclosed the Company’s assets:
|
Value of assets at 1794 Assets in China and at St Helena |
9,808,836 979,158 |
He said the Company had increased its assets and reduced it debts by £600,000 in both India and England producing £1,200,000 increased assets, less the debt in China and St Helena of £101,725 but add the value of shipments from India to England of £303,530 = c. £1.4 million. Thus, Dundas said, the Company was nearly 1½ millions richer at March 1795 than it had been a year before.
The Company had agreed in the new Charter to pay £500,000 annually to the people. They could clearly afford to do so but had not. He told the MPs he allowed them not to pay because they need the cash for imponderables and they are now obliged by law not to increase their debt. The Company’s finances and policies were predicated on peace. To deal with war risks the Company had deployed part of its fleet protecting the Indian coast etc and had been prevented for using those ships in trade. The cost of this protection was accounted at £800,000. Next year (1796) the Company would be paying war rates on freight as well as protecting its factories and coasts. These extra costs and the Company’s liability for Bills issued in China would reduce available cash next year.
Last year because of ‘bad sales’, the House had allowed the Company to borrow an extra £2 – 3 millions but it had not done so. This was an indicator of its underlying wealth. Why had they not paid the £500,000? The Company said the credit of £1 million given by parliament had strings – it was for reducing indebtedness – so it could not be applied to the £500,000 donation to the government. The Company needed its funds. If it had to pay parliament, it would borrow £500,000 at the London market rate (4%) by issuing bonds but this would have attracted criticism as they are paying bi-annual dividends of 5½%. Dundas said they must therefore raise funds at a rate of at least 5½% and such an issue would reduce the value of all their other bonds.
The Opposition have said that if war disrupts the Company’s trade, it should accept reduced trade, and apply the excess territorial revenue to pay-off the debt in India. That saves the £900,000 in extra (wartime) freights. Although this may be true, Dundas said, one of the purposes of the new Charter is to make the Port of London the premier emporium of Eastern goods in Europe and that was facilitated and encouraged by maintaining the trade and providing for Company employees to bring their fortunes back to this country for investment here, thereby increasing British capital, lifting British trade and strengthening British control on Indian trade. If the Company’s employees were not so encouraged, they might put their capital and trade with the neutral Danes or Swedes who would undersell us in foreign markets and when we resumed trade after the war it would be at lower prices and reduced profitability. Diminishing the India trade, diminishes the employment of Indiamen, which are huge specialist ships only suitable for Eastern trade. It ties up British capital in unprofitable assets. Thus a temporary gain becomes a long-term loss.
Dundas said all indications showed British Indian trade was increasing. The increased salt sales in Bengal revealed an increasing population. The increased land revenue likewise. The previous temporary tenures discouraged land improvement for production; now Cornwallis’ permanent tenures encouraged it and lease payments were coming-in more regularly. Indian confidence had increased with the wider recognition of equal laws.
The same comments can be applied to Madras. By relieving the Nabob of the possession of the southern Polygars, we have relieved the inhabitants of those states of fluctuating taxation and have given them justice and mildness. Dundas hoped a similar mild government could soon be settled on the northern Circars. He thought, once Madras recognised the advantage that Bengal had obtained by providing for the security of the farmers and winning their hearts and minds, the Presidency would become more profitable.
Bombay revenue came from Tippoo’s lands. They had not yet produced what they were producing under Tippoo but with good government they will be repopulated and it would surpass the former amount. The first year we got a revenue of 300,000 rupees, the second 1,100,000 and the third 1,700,000. The direction is clear.
In the home market, whilst all Europe was at war, the Company’s business was expanding. The whole private trade of Europe is being carried on British account in British ships. He no longer feared opening India trade to all nations and abandoning the commercial monopoly as open markets benefited the Company.
Dundas thought the Company deserved praise for donating £60,000 to raise men for the army. The Company’s revenues are completely appropriated to government so the gift must be indemnified.
He referred to the Company’s armies. Their structure differed from European armies. Originally they guarded our small factories on the coast. Now British India has become huge. Yet the highest rank in the Company’s service was Colonel. Officers stayed for life and promotion was a matter of ‘dead men’s shoes’. He proposed to create field officers and start a plan of promotion for all officers. This would increase costs but was fair. Indian army officers spent 30 years fighting wars in that dangerous climate. They return without any public notice or reward for a lifetime’s service. He proposed that after a qualifying period of service, officers should have the option of returning home on full pay for their rank. He also proposed that regular leaves to Britain be allowed without loss of rank or pay.
In answer to questions of the House, Dundas said the Company was not in debt to the country.
Hussey recalled the Company had profits of £5,536,532 in 1781 and this year it had £5,493,774 (both exclusive of capital stock). Issued stock in 1781 was £3.2 millions; now it was £7.5 millions. He thought it did not appear to be getting better as Dundas said. Pitt replied that the Company’s accounts were formerly unreliable. In 1781 the war with France and America was occurring and the Company was increasing its debts. These had been understated by millions. Now the accounts were improved but had only started to be more reliable after the conclusion of war. He suggested the earliest year at which comparative analysis might be done was 1786 when the accounting improvements became effective.
Scott MP, one of the Company’s Directors, said that before 1787 the Company could not value its business without a margin of error of £3 - 4 millions and that the revenue now was £2 millions more than then. No MP disputed this.
Mon 2nd Nov – Extraordinary
The Dutch were confident of protecting Cochin from us because they had 122 cannon in the fort. On 17th Oct they opened fire on our trench works. We got our batteries established within 800 yards of the walls and opened fire on 19th Oct. The following day the Dutch surrendered. Governor Vanspall marched his troops out with full honours. They laid down their arms and surrendered.
Our men then got drunk and looted the town. Vanspall was injured trying to protect the place. Many of the buildings are said to have been badly damaged. There were few injuries on our side.
Sat 7th Nov 1795
Bombay Promissory Note account, Oct:
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bills on London 34,452 rupees;
6% Promissory Notes issued 51,301 rupees;
Promissory Notes in circulation 4,940,782 rupees.
Sat 7th Nov 1795
The Company’s Treasury is open for sale of 12-month Sight Bills on London at 2/3d per rupee to finance the purchase of Surat cotton piecegoods which will form the security underlying payment of the Bills.
(i.e. these piecegoods are going to London, probably as supplies to the army)
Sat 7th Nov 1795
Editorial - The death of the Peshwa at Hyderabad and the subsequent disturbances and fighting in Mahratta lands is worrying. We have no clear idea why they are in dispute but assume it relates to the succession. Various rumours are circulating, all mutually contradictory, and we have no idea who is to assume the power. It is expected that a convocation of the Mahratta chiefs will be called to settle the leadership.
Sat 7th Nov 1795
The Company has been authorised to ship a large quantity of grain to England. It will charter tonnage to effect the shipments. The Indiaman Milford (Henderson) is loading rice here for London and it is said the Helen (Seton), when she arrives, will also do so.
Sat 7th Nov 1795
The new Governor of Bombay is confirmed to be Jonathan Duncan, formerly the Company’s Resident at Benares.
Sat 7th Nov 1795
The taking of Malacca was achieved with the assistance of the China fleet of Indiamen. They were convoyed down to Malacca from Penang and their boats were used to land the troops at night. The Dutch were accordingly surprised at the speed of the operation and surrendered immediately but we did not take possession until the following morning (18th Aug).
Capt Newcombe will sail to Rhio tomorrow to take off our garrison and stores and abandon that place. Now we have Malacca it is no longer required.
Sat 7th Nov 1795
Letter from Cape Town, 28th August – The British squadron arrived 8 weeks ago in False Bay but has not yet attempted to enter Table Bay. The British have repeatedly demanded the surrender of Cape Town and the Governor has repeatedly refused. Three groups are vying for power – the Dutch supporters of the Stadtholder; the democratic Dutch who want the French system and the English party who offer trade and personal wealth – this last group is most numerous. The Dutch have called out their militia which is based at Stellenbosch and Rode Huys and the Governor believes the English force is inadequate to prevail.
The English have made three attacks on posts at False Bay and taken two of them. Wine and wheat are abundant. Everything else is expensive.
Sat 7th Nov 1795
Madras news – The Nabob of the Carnatic, Wallajah, died on 13th October. He has been a stout friend to the Company. He is succeeded by his son Umdat ul Omrah who seems disposed to maintain friendship with us.
Sat 14th Nov 1795
Notice – Nathan Crow is appointed Resident at Basra. Le Mesurier will assist him and McIntyre is the factory surgeon.
Sat 14th Nov 1795
Letter from Madras, 29th Oct - HMS Heroine (Gardner) with the Company armed ships Suffolk (Admiral Rainier), Arniston (Marjoribanks), the galley Surprise and the transport Mary have sailed east. It is supposed they sail against the Spice Islands.
Sat 14th Nov 1795
Madras Presidency sent Major Agnew to Colombo to negotiate with the Dutch. He has arranged for the Swiss Regiment of the Comte de Meuron to withdraw to Tutecorin where it will come under the command of Colonel Floyd. His other negotiations are frustrated.
Two of Tippoo’s ships were found at Colombo. One had arrived from Mauritius with a cargo of grain and provisions. The cargo is suspected to be French and the ship has been arrested. The other remains within the port.
Sat 14th Nov 1795
Midnapur, 7th Oct – The 15th battalion of Native Light Infantry has mutinied. The complaint of the mutineers was the requirement they serve in the expedition to Malacca - Hindu sepoys are reluctant to serve outside India. The Company says their English officers agreed to overseas service on behalf of the men but the sepoys were not consulted and declined to go. They refused orders and insulted their European officers but did not harm them.
Colonel Erskine organised the European officers. They took command of the fort and called in the guards. Capt Grant brought the 29th battalion to the parade ground where his force was outnumbered by the mutineers two to one and was fired upon. The English then fired grapeshot at the mutineers from two field pieces and after just five minutes the dissidents threw away their arms and absconded. The colours of the 15th battalion have been ceremonially burnt and the battalion disbanded.
Sat 28th Nov 1795
Same advert as 7th Nov (now dated 20th Nov) for funds to buy Surat piecegoods and offering Bills of Exchange to remit the proceeds to London at 2/4d per Bombay rupee (1d more than the previous advertisement)
Sat 28th Nov 1795
Privileged tonnage - Capt George Seton will sell a few chests of Hyson and Pekoe tea at 100 rupees per chest through his Bombay Agent M/s Bruce, Fawcett & Co
Sat 5th Dec 1795
Bombay Promissory Notes, November account:
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bills on London 170,837 rupees;
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bengal promissory notes 4,826 rupees;
new 6% promissory notes issued 236,458 rupees;
balance of promissory notes in circulation 5,001,577 rupees.
Sat 5th Dec 1795
The Company has a judgment against Shri Crisus Crustnajee, Tulsi Vedeather and others, holders of the Company’s Bombay arrack farm, for non-payment of the monopoly fee. It is selling off their property – numerous oarts,65 houses and pieces of land – by public auction to recover its revenue.
Sat 5th Dec 1795
Lullaboy, the pundit of Broach, is imprisoned in Gujerat on suspicion of extorting from the Purgunna of that land. He is in heavy irons and is being physically injured daily.
He is believed to have many assets but seems reluctant to say where they are.
Sat 5th Dec 1795
Admiral Elphinstone in Ceylon is having difficulty getting the Dutch to relinquish sovereignty of the island. He has asked for HM’s 77th regiment, a native battalion and some artillery for the reduction of Colombo and Point de Galle. The force will assemble at Cochin, on the Kerala coast, and launch the invasion from there.
Sat 12th Dec 1795
Cotton Bowerbank Dent, the senior member of the Arcot Board of Trade, married Harriet Neale on 17th November at Arcot.
Sat 19th Dec 1795
The American ship Five Brothers (Wm Brown) has arrived from Mauritius with some of the officers of the Tazbux which was taken as prize in Malacca Straits. It brings a cargo of iron and wines. We have learned that Mauritius is supplied with slaves from Madagascar and the Seychelles. It has plenty of provisions which are brought by the American ships. The ships arrive almost daily with grain, coconuts, turtle or cattle. The Americans say there is now a shortage of specie at Mauritius. They are obliged to take the island’s own products or buy prize ships or cargoes to obtain payment for their imports. Five American ships remain at Mauritius awaiting the latest prizes taken in Malacca Straits to obtain exchange for their goods. There are two French armed ships operating from Mauritius now – the Moineau (26) and the Modeste (18).
The frigates Cybelle and Prudente are in port and, at the time of the Five Brothers’ departure, the former was ready for sea while the latter would be in a fortnight. They are expected to either attempt to intercept the Company’s China fleet on its homeward voyage or remain on station to protect the island.
Commodore St Felix, the chief of Mauritius, and du Plessis, the chief of Bourbon (Reunion), have been released from arrest now the Jacobins are a declining force. The former has retired to his plantation whilst the latter is often seen on the streets of Port Louis.
The new moderation of the Mauritian government is also shown in the treatment of prisoners who are now allowed, on security, to move about the fort. The only complaint of the prisoners is the inadequacy of their monthly allowance of 500 Livres. The paper money has depreciated so much this payment now equates with 5 Spanish dollars whereas the allowance was fixed when the exchange rate was 20 Livres per dollar.
The major fear of the French colonists is the plantation slaves who outnumber them by at least 5:1. To maintain control, the colonists ship-off any aspiring ringleaders to other ports on foreign (American) ships.
One kind act of the colonial government was to promote a subscription by the colonists to buy provisions for the prisoners on their voyage to India.
Sat 19th Dec 1795
General Smith MP’s speech in the Commons, 10th March 1795:
1,600 good officers of the Company’s army in India have requested me to redress their grievances. They earlier send numerous petitions to the Company and one to the King. They worry that the reorganisation of the Indian army will entrench an inferior status upon them.
They have three main complaints –
1/ that they are not cared-for when they complete their service,
2/ rank in India will no longer relate to length of service or responsibility (the number of men commanded) and
3/ Indian staff officers are not considered equivalent of British staff officers.
There follows many columns of whinge …..
….. In the present state of affairs it is widely expected that France will soon send troops to the East. The National Convention has recently sent three deputies to the East. But the French have been removed from every factory they once held in Asia except Mauritius and Reunion. These deputies are going to re-establish French influence.
M. Guby of National Convention told that assembly:
“Our Asian possessions have fallen to the English. We are not yet strong enough to restore them. We must be both bold and wise. It is dangerous to dare too much or too little. England is exhausted but the enormous revenues she gets from Asia sustain her. The goods are now so extensive that the Company’s fleet is inadequate to carry them. History reveals that the rulers of Hindustan have been the most opulent in the world - the ancient soil is continually productive.
“It is the wealth of Asia that enables the ‘tyrant of the seas’ to dispute with us. It is in Asia that England must be attacked. The empire she has usurped overseas is the source of her wealth and must be destroyed. This will be fulfilled by the ruin of British commerce in India. So long as England retains Asia she has the funds to raise enemies against us externally and internally.
“It is inconsistent with our principles to retain possessions in India. Once the English are expelled the trade of Asia will be opened to all. Mauritius commands all India. From there we will retake the old French and Dutch possessions and drive the English out. Without Mauritius we can never fight battles at a distance of 5,000 leagues.”
HM’s forces in India represent less than 10% of the Company’s total army establishment. The Company’s army is peopled by officers with great experience. We need a well motivated force to contend with France should she dispute control of India with us.
A second matter is the temptation to Company officers to enter service with native princes. Our mastery of India relies on dividing the native princes, preventing their establishing armed and disciplined infantry and more importantly on preventing their understanding the proper use of artillery. The acquisition of lands in India has been achieved by a small force. In England you would not for a moment consider sending such a small force to obtain such a great prize.
We maintain these lands in Company ownership with a native force nearly as numerous as the combined forces of the native princes. Our tactics are slowly recognised and understood by the Indians and every renewal of war teaches them new lessons. We depend entirely on the native troops for our preservation. Their superiority over their countrymen is due to the training we give them and the skill and example of the Indian army officers in directing them. In this way native troops have been steady in the face of bayonet charges by French infantry.
The native princes recognise our advantage and begin to understand our military science. They already employ European officers to train their infantry and superintend their use of artillery. Hyder Ali, the late usurper of Mysore, employed French officers to completely reorganise his army. He learned from us not simply the value of training and discipline but also the importance of regular payment. He became so formidable that all his neighbours feared him. His son Tippoo Sahib built on his father’s work. He compelled British prisoners to provide training for his army. He absorbed the lands of his neighbours and came to have a frontier contiguous with ours. We were forced to diminish him but the effort was enormous.
The same facility to lease Company officers allowed the great Mahratta Madajee Sindhia to acquire land, wealth and influence. A few years ago a Company officer, seeing no prospect of promotion in the Company’s army, resigned his commission and joined Sindhia. Very soon he was promoted to General and given the command of ten battalions of sepoys and an appropriate amount of artillery. Since Sindhia’s death the same officer continues in the same high rank under his successor, Dowlat Rao.
It is not simply a matter of outbidding the native princes (which we cannot do) but of giving Company officers better prospects and a competency when they retire. British officers serve in the armies of Russia and the Netherlands (and until very recently France) because they get better terms and promotion prospects.
In Europe the armies are all similarly trained and no particular advantage derives to a country employing foreign officers. It is not so in India. Dundas should know that this is not a complaint of a few officers but the entire establishment. It is not extortion but justice.
I remind the House of the alarming circumstances that Clive faced in April 1766 by a combination of his officers against him. He wrote to Calcutta “such a spirit must at all hazards be suppressed at its birth, unless we determine on seeing the authority of the President and Council insulted, and the government of these provinces pass from the civil to the military department.” Fortunately that spirit was suppressed. A full history of the transactions is contained in the records of House of Commons.
This matter is under discussion between the Board of Control and the Company but a wide difference exists between the positions of the parties. This difference of opinion includes an important constitutional question.66
Sat 26th Dec 1795
The Company’s cruiser Intrepid (Selby) sailed from this port on 20th December for Basra with dispatches by the overland route for the Directors in London.
Sat 26th Dec 1795
According to Calcutta papers the Company has been permitted to ship Bengal grain to London duty free in whatever ships are available. The offer requires departure Indian port before 30th April. The irresistible temptation to speculators is the linked permission to export British merchandise of any type (except war materiel) on the ship that imports the grain to London.
Since 1790 wheat in England has been worth an average 45/- to 50/- per 70 lb bushel but in July 1795 the price had risen to 80/-. At the same time the London price of rice, which had averaged 15/- - 16/- per cwt (112 lbs), rose to 38/- per cwt.
Public funds in London are nevertheless rising. In July the 3% consols were 71½ and India stock was £202. There is uncertainty why the funds are rising but the brokers suggest it is supposedly due to the inflow of funds from Europe due to our recent naval victories, to the impending safe arrival of the East India fleet, to the disturbed state of the continent pursuant on the war and, contrarily, the prospect of peace breaking out.
Sat 26th Dec 1795
Madras news – Alexander Macleod is made Resident of Tanjore. All other Europeans are prohibited from interviewing the Rajah of Tanjore except through Macleod’s intermediary.
2nd Dec the Swiss regiment de Meuron, formerly in the Dutch service, is transferred to British service. Pay and allowances will duplicate those of King’s regiments serving in India.
Sat 26th Dec 1795
Cape of Good Hope, 4th Sept – 2,500 troops have been landed at False Bay to augment the existing British force. They came on Indiamen via San Salvador. With the 2,000 marines we now have 5,300 men under arms. They will invest Capetown. We have no battering train but will use the ships’ great cannon from the lower decks. We rely entirely on the ships for provisions and cannot maintain a long siege of Capetown. Two line-of-battle ships and an Indiamen will take provisions for 1,500 men to Table Bay and land the supplies as soon as we are able to protect them.
Sat 2nd Jan 1796
Letter from the Directors, 8th July 1795:
In our letter of 11th Dec 1794 we adjusted the freight rate payable by private individuals for shipments on our extra ships to £7.10s.0d outwards and £22.10s.0d homewards per ton.
By the Acts of 12th Charles II and 26th George III, ships built within the Company’s exclusive trading area that belong to British subjects and are registered with the local Company government are entitled to all the privileges of British-built ships. Please ensure such ships are properly registered with you and certificated as required by the law.
This session of parliament has passed an Act allowing such ships to import Indian and Chinese etc goods to England and export British goods (apparently anywhere) for a limited time. Sgd John Morris for Gov-in-Council, 1st Jan 1796
Sat 2nd Jan 1796
From Bengal we learn that the Bombay ships Royal Charlotte and Mentor have been sold there for 120,000 and 90,000 Sicca rupees respectively.
Extraordinary Tues 5th Jan
We have captured Capetown. South Africa is ours.
General Clarke marched an army of about 5,000 men to Muisenburg. On 14th Sept HMS America, HMS Echo and HMS Rattlesnake with the Indiaman Bombay Castle commenced a diversion in Table Bay. On 16th Sept the army marched to Wineburg where a negotiation was held between Admiral G K Elphinstone and General Clarke for Britain and the Dutch Cape Governor, his Council and Colonel Gordon (serving as the Dutch CiC) for the Netherlands. The Dutch offered their terms of capitulation which were accepted.
The Dutch garrison comprised about 5,500 men and had 350 cannon in Capetown. HMS America will remain guard ship at Table Bay whilst the rest of the fleet will sail to India and the East. General Craig will command Cape Province.
The capitulation dated 16th Sept stipulates that Capetown and its castle are surrendered to Britain; the Dutch garrison are prisoners-of-war but the officers may retain their swords; those officers who agree not to fight against Britain again in this war may go home at their own expense; those who wish to stay at the Cape may do so; All VOC property will be confiscated but private property will be respected. Freedom of worship is proclaimed. Britain will underwrite the note issue for a new currency. No new taxes will be raised but the present ones may be varied to revive the Colony. No residents of the Colony will be pressed into British service but they are welcome to join voluntarily.
A further article notes that the security underpinning the paper money that circulates in Cape Colony is the land and property of the VOC in South Africa (other than that paper money lent to individuals that is secured by mortgages on their personal property). Elphinstone and Clarke undertake to represent to the British government the importance of this subject to the continued prosperity of the white people in South Africa.
Sat 16th Jan 1796
The Company is moving quickly to monopolise the parliamentary allowance of grain shipments to London. 8 ships have been chartered – Harriet, General Meadows, Chichester, Britannia, Duckinfield Hall, Catherine, Berwick and Eliza Jane - and the first 3 have sailed. They carry 54,000 bags of rice to London.
Sat 16th Jan 1796
Yesterday a boat arrived from Basra with a dispatch from Mr Manesty, the Company’s Resident there. The packet contains some European newspapers and instructions from the Secret Committee of the Directors.
Sat 16th Jan 1796
A long description of Capetown, of which briefly:
The Dutch Company has a huge botanical garden at Capetown run by Mr Auge where the natural plants of the country are collected and examined for their commercial properties. Adjacent is the VOC’s dormitory where the slave gardeners live. The slaves also build houses and carry goods to/from the shipping. They are provided by Dutch and French ships from Madagascar. Occasionally Swedish or British ships bring them for auction.
Sat 23rd Jan 1796
The Dutch flag no longer flies over Malacca. We seized public property there valued at over 380,000 Madras star pagodas.
The Dutch at Batavia have decided not to surrender to the Company. The two VOC Indiamen there that were intended for China have unloaded their cargoes, cannon and stores and have been hauled ashore for safety. Their crews are added to the garrison.
Sat 30th Jan 1796
The disputed sovereignty of some Mahratta lands is causing commercial distress to the Company. Mahratta merchants normally bring their goods to our Bombay market. Now they are not trading and have instead placed their capital (a large and increasing amount of specie) in Bombay.
Sat 30th Jan 1796
The Madras Courier says Dutch attempts to improve their hold on Java have entailed the subjection of the Malay and Chinese residents at Batavia. The oppression has caused an insurrection. There are 30,000 Chinese in Batavia and they have joined with all the other Asian expatriates there.
The emancipation of slaves under the French Constitution, and its inference for Dutch Colonies, has encouraged many of those expatriates to join in an immense protest against the Dutch government.
Sat 30th Jan 1796
A detachment from our Penang garrison has reduced the Dutch factory on the Perak River67 and captured 50 Dutchmen and some Malays. 28 cannon were seized. This factory deals in Malay tin but the stock we expected as prize had been dispersed into the hinterland before our arrival.
Sat 6th Feb 1796
Bombay Promissory Notes account for January:
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for Bills on London 118,767 rupees;
Governor-General’s certificates exchanged for 6% Bengal promissory notes 39,245 rupees;
new 6% Promissory Notes issued in Jan 409,311 rupees;
Balance in circulation 5,199,592 rupees.
Sat 6th Feb 1796
Notice - Tenders invited for 81 stone-based gun platforms (same specs as previous), 60 wooden platforms and 12 mortar platforms to mount on the stone base.
Sat 6th Feb 1796
Six pattamar boats will be provided to operate an express service between Bombay and the ceded lands of Tippoo, commencing 1st March. One will leave every Saturday from here to the Cavai River at the northern boundary of Malabar. On the same day one will return from the Cavai River to Bombay. The land postal service will be extended from Cannanore to Cavai to connect with Calicut etc.
Editor - a cruiser is to be sent to Surat for the same purpose every quarter of the moon.
Sat 6th Feb 1796
The invasion fleet to Capetown returned to Madras on 15th Jan.
Sat 13th Feb 1796
The Collector of Bombay advises all persons that the Wheel Tax that was instituted on 1st Aug 1783 and determined 31st Jan 1795 must still be paid for the period of its validity. Defaulters’ names will be sent to the Board for further action.
Sat 13th Feb 1796
An American ship captain at Bencoolen reports that at Batavia in December 1795 the Dutch governor fitted out 5 Indiamen as 50 gun warships to cruise against British ships. The squadron is commanded by the frigate captain who brought out the new Dutch Commissioners. The American captain was unaware of the Chinese riots which are accordingly supposed to have ended.
Sat 13th Feb 1796
Letters of 26th Jan from Cochin say the invasion force for the siege of Colombo sailed to Tutacorin and a similar force from Madras sailed at the same time to the same destination.
Sat 13th Feb 1796
Mahratta merchants are again sending goods to our market. Trade is the only connection we have with the Mahrattas. Nana Furnavese has acquiesced to Ragoba’s eldest son assuming the leadership of the Mahrattas.
Sat 20th Feb 1796
Capt Michael Symes’ negotiations with the Burmese Court at Ava have resulted in a reduction of the fees payable at Pegu. A Government report from Calcutta dated 17th Jan says new commercial regulations have been issued as follows:
British merchants may go anywhere in the country to trade their own goods and buy Burmese goods. They are forbidden to export bullion. On paying import duty at the port of arrival the goods are certificated and can be sent anywhere (with the certificate) without further inland charges. The 17 customs stations between Rangoon and Umarapora will no longer collect additional fees on British goods. Timber may be brought anywhere and attracts a 5% export duty on arrival at Rangoon prior to export.
Complaints may be made by petition to provincial governors or to the King. The former custom of collecting Rangoon port dues in fine silver is discontinued. Rangoon silver (a 75% alloy) will in future be used. All legal charges on trade will be published in a comprehensive tariff.
The Governor-General cautions interested traders that this order of the King rescinds long-standing surcharges and may not instantly be followed by his officers far from Ava who may become obstructive and cause delay. Traders may have to prudently persevere to obtain their rights under this agreement.
Sat 20th Feb 1796
The Company has surrendered so many ships for Government service, that it will have to charter 10,000 tons from London, Bristol and Liverpool for its own trade. It has agreed to pay the owners £18 per ton out and home. At August 1795 it had booked over 5,000 tons.
Sat 27th Feb 1796
The Carmelite priest Paullini was a missionary