CHAPTER XXXIV THE INDIAN EMPIRE 229. The English at Surat and Bombay Fryer Dr. Fryer, a surgeon in the service of the East India Company, visited Surat in 1674. His travels were published in London in 1698. They contain a graphic account of the manner in which the Company conducted its affairs in India. The house the English live in at Surat, is partly the King's gift, partly hired; built of stone and excellent timber, with good carving, without representations; very strong, for that each floor is half a yard thick at least, of the best plastered cement, which is very weighty. It is contrived after the Moor's buildings, with upper and lower galleries, or terracewalks; a neat Oratory, a convenient open place for meals. The President has spacious lodgings, noble rooms for counsel and entertainment, pleasant tanks, yards, and a hummum to wash in; but no gardens in the city, or very few, though without the city they have many, like wildernesses, overspread with trees. The English had a neat one, but Sevaji's coming destroyed it. It is known, as the other Factories are, by their several flags flying. Here they live (in shipping-time) in a continual hurlyburly, the Banians presenting themselves from the hour of ten till noon; and then afternoon at four till night, as if it were an Exchange in every row; below stairs, the packers and warehouse-keepers, together with merchants bringing and receiving musters, make a mere Billinsgate; for if you make not a noise, they hardly think you intent on what you are doing. Among the English, the business is distributed into four offices; the Accompant, who is next in dignity to the President, the general accompts of all India, as well as this place, passing through his hands; he is quasi Treasurer, signing all things, though the broker keep the cash. Next him is the warehouse-keeper, who registers all Europe goods vended, and receives all Eastern commodities bought; under him is the Purser Marine, who gives account of all goods exported and imported, pays seamen their wages, provides wagons and porters, looks after tackling for ships, and ships' stores. Last of all is the Secretary, who models all Consultations, writes all letters, carries them to the President and Council to be perused and signed; keeps the Company's seal, which is affixed to all passes and commissions; records all transactions, and sends copies of them to the Company; though none of these, without the President's approbation, can act or do any thing. The affairs of India are solely under his regulation; from him issue out all orders, by him all preferment is disposed; by which means the Council are biassed by his arbitrament. The whole mass of the Company's servants may be comprehended in these classes, viz.: Merchants, Factors, and Writers; some Bluecoat Boys also have been entertained under notion of apprentices for seven years, which being expired, if they can get security, they are capable of employments. The Writers are obliged to serve five years for 10 l. per Ann. Giving in a bond of 500 l. for good behaviour, all which time they serve under some of the forementioned Officers: After which they commence Factors, and rise to preferment and trust, according to seniority or favour, and therefore have a 1,000 l. bond exacted from them, and have their salary augmented to 20 l. per Ann. for three years, then entering into new indentures, are made Senior Factors; and lastly, Merchants after Three Years more; out of whom are chose Chiefs of Factories, as places fall, and are allowed 40 l. per Ann. during their stay in the Company's service, besides lodgings and victuals at the Company's charges. These in their several Seigniories behave themselves after the fundamentals of Surat, and in their respective Factories live in the like grandeur; from whence they rise successively to be of the Council in Surat, which is the great Council; and if the President do not contradict, are sworn, and take their place accordingly, which consists of about five in number, besides the president, to be constantly resident. As for the Presidency, though the Company interpose a deserving man, yet they keep that power to themselves, none assuming that dignity till confirmed by them: His salary from the Company is 500 l. a year; half paid here, the other half reserved to be received at home, in case of misdemeanour to make satisfaction; beside a bond of 5,000 l. sterling of good securities. The Accountant has 72 l. per Ann., fifty pound paid here, the other at home: All the rest are half paid here, half at home, except the Writers, who have all paid here. Out of the Council are elected the Deputy-Governor of Bombay, and Agent of Persia; the first a place of great trust, the other of profit; though, by the appointment from the Company, the Second of India claims Bombay, and the Secretary of Surat the Agency of Persia, which is connived at, and made subject to the will of the President, by the interest of those whose lot they are; chusing rather to reside here, where consignments compensate those emoluments; so that none of the council, if noted in England, but makes considerably by his place, after the rate of five in the hundred, commission; and this is the Jacob's ladder by which they ascend. It would be too mean to descend to indirect ways, which are chiefly managed by the Banians, the fittest tools for any deceitful undertaking; out of whom are made brokers for the Company, and private persons, who are allowed two per cent. on all bargains, besides what they squeeze secretly out of the price of things bought; which cannot be well understood for want of knowledge in their language; which ignorance is safer, than to hazard being poisoned for prying too nearly into their actions: Though the Company, to encourage young men in their service, maintain a master to learn them to write and read the language, and an annuity to be annexed when they gain a perfection therein, which few attempt, and fewer attain. To this Factory belong twenty persons in number, reckoning Swally Marine into the account; a Minister for Divine Service, a Surgeon, and when the President is here, a guard of English soldiers, consisting of a double file led by a Serjeant. The present Deputy has only forty Moor-men, and a flagman, carrying St. George his colours swallow-tailed in silk, fastened to a silver partisan; with a small attendance of horse with silver bridles, and furniture for the gentlemen of the house, and coaches for ladies and Council. The President besides these has a noise of trumpets, and is carried himself in a Palenkeen, a horse of state led before him, a Mirchal (a fan of ostriches' feathers) to keep off the sun, as the Omrahs or great men have, none but the Emperor have a Sumbrero among the Moguls: Besides these, every one according to his quality has his menial servants to wait on him in his chamber, and follow him out.... But lest the New Company should be exclaimed against as too greedy monopolizers, they permit free traders on their Island Bombay; when, to speak truth, they are in a far worse condition than their servants; being tied up without hopes of raising themselves: so that in earnest they find out that to be but a trick. However, to confess on the Company's behalf, the trade (I mean on this coast) for some years lately passed has hardly balanced expenses. They employing yearly forty sail of stout ships to and from all parts where they trade, out and home; manning and maintaining their Island Bombay, Fort St. George, and St. Helens; besides large sums expended to bear out the port of their Factors; which notwithstanding by impartial computation has been found inferior to the costs of the Hollanders, and therefore more to the profit of the English East India Company, than theirs, in the few years they have adventured; so that I should mightily blame them should they prove ungrateful to His Majesty, who by his gracious favour has united them in a society, whereby they are competitors for riches (though not strength) with the notedest Company in the universe. This Charter was granted presently after the happy restoration of our Gracious Sovereign, when order began to dawn, and dispel the dark chaos of popular community: Then was sent out a President, to put their Charter in force, and establish a graduation among their servants, which before was not observed; only for order's sake, they did nominate an Agent; the rest being independent, made no distinction. When as now, after a better model, they commence according to their standing, and are under a collegiate manner of restraint. (New Account of East India and Persia, John Fryer, M. D., London, 1698. Reprinted in Early Records of British India, J. T. Wheeler, London, 1878.) 230. Letter of Warren Hastings Hastings The following letter from Warren Hastings is interesting as setting forth his side of the discussion which resulted in his impeachment. Being a private letter to a personal friend, it is unlikely that the former ruler of India would therein defend himself against accusation unless he at least believed that the defence was justifiable. Hastings' trial was memorable in the history of India, for the reason that, whether or not he was guilty of the crimes imputed to him, it served as a warning to future rulers in their transactions with the natives. They learned that there was retribution in store for cruelty and oppression, and that the “pagoda-tree" could not be robbed with impunity. TO SIR JOHN SHORE St. James's Place, 19th February, 1787. Dear Shore, As I have now every reason to believe that an impeachment will be carried against me to the House of Lords, and have had a severe warning given me not to trust to my own integrity, or services, as I may conceive them, for the event, and as I fear no issue of the trial so much as its influence upon my future and lasting reputation, I apply to you, my friend, to afford me such assistance as, I hope, may be in your power to obviate such a conclusion, by collecting the testimonials of the most respectable inhabitants of the province of Bengal, and such other creditable vouchers, of whatever kind, beyond the provinces, as may refute the calumnies with which I have been loaded, and ascertain whatever pretentions I may have to more positive merit. I am charged with cruelty, oppression, violation of treaties, and with the general guilt of having sacrificed every duty to the views of interest, ambition, or private vengeance. I am not sure that rapacity makes a part of the catalogue of my imputed crimes, because the instances which have been adduced in evidence to prove it apply only to acts done for the relief of public necessities, and it is scarcely (I believe not at all) insinuated, that I have practiced it for any profit of my own. I wish to make my appeal to the justice and generosity of those to whom it best appertains to pronounce upon my real character, according to their several relations or concerns with the government of Bengal during the periods in which I held an efficient share in its powers; that they may declare whether I deserve these imputations, or whether I am entitled to their testimony of the reverse. Whether I have extorted money from individuals to gratify my own avarice; or whether I have not notoriously abstained from every means which might have promoted my own interest, with the injury of individuals or the public: Whether I have countenanced, or permitted; or whether I have not, on the contrary, to the utmost of my power prevented men in office or favour from oppressing or plunder |