THE HONOURABLE THOMAS WALPOLE TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY LORD,

London, September 9, 1766.

THERE is good reason to believe the treaties concluded in Bengal by Lord Clive, will be productive of a clear yearly revenue of two millions sterling. An object of this importance would, in a few years, ease this country of the burden it labours under; and therefore our whole wills should be set to make this revenue as durable as possible.

All other speculations should give way to this consideration of permanency; even the existence of the India Company, the benefit of whose trade, from the beginning of their charter, is not to be compared to a few years' preservation of the present object.

Such a balance in favour of this country, whether managed by a particular body of men or by the public treasury, may be matter of pure speculation, in comparison to securing it, one way or the other; but if the East India Company is unequal to the task, their legal rights can be only considered as they combine with the good of the whole; and government would be blamed for trusting so great an acquisition in hands too weak to hold it.

The annual choice of directors may very well serve the temporary purposes of trade, which is

always fluctuating, and the circumstances of which they must rather follow than direct; but such a floating and uncertain authority can never be equivalent to a steady system of government over distant countries, where those trusted with the executive parts are doubtful how long their authority may last, and only intent on the speediest methods of enriching themselves. Their riches are afterwards successfully employed here to prevent any scrutiny into their conduct, either by intimidating the directors, or choosing in their stead a sufficient number of their friends to prevent all enquiry. Hence have arisen all the wicked policy, mischiefs, and dissensions, which have annually brought the East India Company to the brink of ruin.

The present constitution, therefore, of the Company seems very inadequate to their situation; and whether it can be so framed as to give it proper energy is beyond my conception. If not, it is absolutely necessary government should take the charge of that which is too unwieldy for a subordinate body of merchants; allowing them such a compensation as may be equitable, all things considered. (1)

(1) By a reference to Vol. I. p. 389., it will be seen, that Lord Clive, so early as the year 1759, had drawn the attention of Mr. Pitt to this important question, and had expressed his conviction, that so large a sovereignty was an object too extensive for a mercantile company. In a letter from Mr. Walsh to Lord Clive, written in May 1766, shortly after the news had arrived of his lordship's negotiation with the vizier, and of the

What this ought to be will gradually open itself, in the progress of examination into the Company's affairs; and probably in that discussion many circumstances will contribute to favour whatsoever plan government shall think wisest to adopt. In the meanwhile, it seems necessary to induce Lord Clive to continue in Bengal till this important business is settled here, and some person appointed to succeed his Lordship, with sufficient means to preserve what his Lordship's astonishing influence in that part of the world has so happily acquired.

The wise step already taken by your Lordship's advice is gratefully felt by every honest and disinterested person in the city. It has given a new bias to the minds of men; cooled the inflamed hopes of some, relieved the fears of others; and added weight to those who have no further views than the just security of their property, and to see the India trade preserved in the degree of credit it

subsequent peace, that gentleman says, "I am very sorry you did not write a few lines to Mr. Pitt, to conciliate him to your negotiations. He has left us for Pynsent, where he is doing great things. I spoke a few words to him, just as he left the House of Commons, telling him you had, in great measure, carried into execution what I had once the honour of laying before him; to which he answered, that he had heard of the great things you had done; that you had acquired great honour; but that they were too vast: for some time he had been dissatisfied with our proceedings there; however, he was very glad to hear that Lord Clive was well, and that he had not gone up to Delhi. This was all that passed between us, whilst he was getting on his great coat. One word from him would go far in making or unmaking the Company." See Malcolm's Life of Lord Clive, vol. iii. p. 189.

deserves, by bringing fairly before the proprietors and the public the state of their affairs ; which may now be settled upon a solid foundation, and not proceed any longer under a concealment, which nothing but a desperate state could justify. I have the honour to be, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient and

most humble servant,

THOMAS WALPOLE.

THE RIGHT HON. HANS STANLEY TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

Gentlemen's Hotel, King Street, St. James's,

MY DEAR LORrd,

September 11, 1766.

I HAD the honour of seeing his Majesty yesterday; though the hour was late, on account of a council, and several other audiences which preceded mine, he was pleased to enter into the business of my commission, with his usual goodness and affability. I had an opportunity of observing, what I had before more than once admired, the great accuracy of his Majesty's memory in recollecting the various parts of so involved, so long, and sometimes so contradictory a correspondence, as that which I have lately perused; and I had the satisfaction of finding his better judgment concur with my poor opinion, in all the material inferences and deductions drawn from thence, many of which he was pleased to

suggest to me before I had mentioned them. He is convinced not only of the prudence, but the necessity of following one plain, direct, and simple path in the negotiation upon the line of the alliance actually subsisting between Russia and Prussia. I have the honour to be, my dear Lord, Your most obedient

and most humble servant,

H. STANLEY.

THE REV. EDWARD WILSON TO THE COUNTESS OF СНАТНАМ.

MADAM,

Weymouth, September 13, 1766.

Lady

I HAVE the pleasure to inform you, that all my pupils (1) are very well and very good. Hester and Mr. Pitt still continue to surprise and astonish as much as ever; and I see no possibility of diminishing their ardour, either by too much business or too much relaxation. When I am alone reading, Mr. Pitt, if it is any thing he may attend to, constantly places himself by me, where his steady attention and sage remarks are not only entertaining but useful; as they frequently throw a light upon the subject, and strongly impress it on my memory.

() Of Lord Chatham's three sons, John, William, and James-Charles, the respective ages at this time were ten, seven, and five. Lady Hester had nearly completed her eleventh, and Lady Harriet her eighth year.