CONTENTS. CHAP. I.-The nature and effects of our present Indian system considered with respect to the political interests of the native population of Bri- tish India. CHAP. II. On the probable effects of allowing to British subjects in general, a right, complete or very partially qualified, of trading to, and of re- siding in, British India, or any part of it. · - 391 Page No. II.-An Account of the Number of Civil Servants, covenanted or uncovenanted, excluding Medical Practitioners, in India. 393 No. III.-An Account of the Number and Expense of the Medical Establishments in India. 394 No. IV. An Account of the Number and Expense of the Clerical Establishments at the several Presidencies in India. - ib. No. V.-An Account of the Number of Law 395 No. VI.-An Account of the Number and Amount of Pay and Allowances to the Company's Officers on the Military Establishments at the several Presidencies in India. No. VII.-An Account of the Number and Amount of Pay and Allowances to Officers of His Majesty's Regiments in India. ib. • 396 No. VIII.-An Account of the Number of all Military Staff Appointments and of Allowances annexed, under the several Presidencies in India. No. IX.-An Account of the Number of Military Officers retired from the Company's Service, with the Amount of their Pay. ib. - 397 No. X.-An Account of the Number of Marine Officers, &c. retired from the Company's Ser-. vice with the Amount of their Pensions. . ib. Page No. XI.-An Account of the Number and Expense of the Military Corps in the Company's Service on the Establishments at the several Presidencies in India. No. XII.-An Account of the Number and Expense of the King's Troops serving at the several Presidencies in India. No. XIII.-An Account of the Amount of Pensions granted to Europeans at the different Presidencies in India. No. XIV. An Abstract Account of the Company's Establishments in India, including His Majesty's Troops. No. XV.-Note on the American Trade with - 398 · 399 - 400 • 401 EXPEDIENCY, &c. CHAPTER I. The Nature and Effects of our present Indian System considered with respect to the Political Interests of the Native Population of British India. BEFORE we resolve on the abolition of any established system, we shall do well very seriously to consider its actual nature and effects. There are those, indeed, who dispose of all political questions, by a short reference to certain abstract or elementary principles. But, as simplicity is not the proper virtue of institutions adapted to the various and intervolved exigencies of human society, so it is seldom that the merits of such institutions can be ascertained by the application of general and summary tests. Minute analysis may shew, that a part of the system which, in itself, appears open to strong objection, is, in fact, attempered and corrected by the mixture of some opposing ingredient. Even this, however, B |