The permanent settlement of the revenues, in the lower provinces, by insuring to the landholder the enjoyment of all the advantages which may arise from the improvement of his property, has contributed essentially to the encouragement of agriculture; under the present defective system of husbandry, however, the large proportion which the rent, payable to the state, bears to the value of the produce of the soil, operates, in a certain degree, as a check to the employment of the capital of the landholder in the improvement of his property; and this obstacle is only to be removed by the introduction of a system, calculated, at the same time, to augment the produce of the land, and to diminish the expense of preparing the grain for general use.

In the opinion of intelligent European gentlemen, conversant with the subject, the profits of the landholder might be augmented in a considerable proportion by the introduction of many simple improvements in the implements of agriculture, and in machinery now in general use throughout Europe; by these means the property of a large proportion of our native subjects would be increased, and gradually the comforts of affluence would be more generally diffused through the mass of the people.

Independently of the moral duty imposed on the British government to provide, by every means in its power, for the improvement of the condition of its subjects, substantial advantages must necessarily be derived by the state from the increased wealth and prosperity of the people. The consumption of all articles of comfort and of luxury would increase with augmented wealth, and the government would be enriched by the additional produce of the taxes on those articles, without imposing any burden on the people.

Alverting to the genius and habits of the natives of India, it cannot be expected that any attempts will ever be made by them to improve the system of agriculture, practised for ages by their ancestors, unless the example shall be given to them by. the government, and unless the personal advantages to be derived from such improvements as shall be found to succeed in practice shall be clearly manifested to them.

1

Under these considerations, the governor-general is satisfied that the establishment of an experimental farm, under proper regulations, in Bengal, would be an object of great public utility; and he is persuaded that the expense of such an institution would not prove considerable. The object of the establishment ought to be, as already stated, the improvement of the breed of black cattle, the introduction of a better system of agriculture than the system now in general use in these territories, and the reduction of the expense of preparing the grain for consumption, by the use of machinery, or by other means.

The quantity of land required for the proposed farm would not exceed three hundred acres, or nine hundred begas, and the establishment could not be founded in any situation so desirable, on many considerations, as at Baruckpore; and, at that place, manure might be obtained at little expense, and the greater part of the grounds at Baruckpore might be employed as pasture ground for the cattle. The business of the farm would there be conducted under the occasional inspection of the governor-general, whose influence might be employed with great advantage to explain the benefits of the plan to the natives of rank and property, and to induce them to introduce, on their own estates, such improvements as might be found to be useful at Baruckpore.

To superintend the proposed farm with advantage, the assistance of an European overseer of experienced knowledge in the practice and theory of agricul ture, and of an ingenious European mechanic and civil engineer, would be absolutely and indispensably necessary. These persons ought also to be men of some education, capable of applying the general knowledge they shall have acquired, to the circumstances of a country differing so materially from England in soil, in climate, and in its natural productions; and of explaining, in clear and intelligible language, to be translated for the use of the natives, the principles on which their system of management may be founded, and the prospect of ulti

mate success.

It would likewise become a part of the duty of the superintendent or overseer, to correspond on agricultural subjects with intelligent European gentlemen, residing in every part of India, by which means a knowledge of the practice of agri*H

Vol. 9

1

culture, in its various branches, as established with success in any one province, might be disseminated and tried by actual experiment throughout the British passessions. In this manner the drill husbandry, now practised with advantage in the centre of the Deccan, might be extended to many parts of Bengal; means might be devised to instruct the inhabitants in the preservation of hay, for the use of the cattle, at the season when little or no herbage is to be found, and many other useful improvements might be introduced

Amongst these it has been suggested, that the cultivation of the turnip might be introduced with considerable advantage, for the purpose of feeding cattle at that season of the year, when the deficiency of the articles of food for cattle, now in common use, is most severely felt

When a sufficient number of intelligent and industrious natives hall have been instructed in the improved system of agriculture, to be introduced at the experimental form at Baruckpore, they may be dispersed throughout the country, for the purpose of disseminating a knowledge of its advantages; and other establishments may be formed in the distant provinces, as circumstances shall indicate the propriety of the measure, on principles corresponding with those of the proposed establishment at Baruckpore.

It is not improbable that some intelligent Europeans, capable of conducting the business of an experimental farm on these principles, might be found in India: but it appears to the governor-general to be proper, that the establishment of the farm, upon any extended scale, should be postponed, until the sanction of the honourable the court of directors to the measure can be obtained, who may possess the means of considering this important subject, in concert with those distinguished personages in England, whose recent labours and example have contrib ted so largely to augment the agricultural resources of Great Britain. The question is highly deserving of the mature deliberation and attention of the honour.bie court, nor can any subject be presented to their notice more worthy of engaging the exertion of that spirit of liberal patronage, which the East India company has always manifested towards every plan of improvement, calculated to meliorate the condition of the natives of these possessions.

The governor-general accordingly proposes, that a copy of this minute be transmitted to the honourable court, with the request of this government, that, in the event of their approving the general principles of the plan, on which it is proposed, that the experimental farm shall be established, the court will be pleased to engage two active and intelligent Europeans, possessing all the qualifica tions required to enable them to carry the arrangement into execution with a reasonable prospect of success, and to send them to Bengal at as early a period of time as may be practicable. In the meanwhile, such part of the present park at Baruckpore, as may be rendered useful to the proposed purposes, may be applied to them, under the inspection of Mr. Douglas and of Mr. Buchanan, WELLESLEY.

Signed)

The following statement, relative to the MASSACRE at VELLORE, was submitted to the MADRAS GOVERNMENT, and to the COURT of DIRECTORS of the HONOURABLE the EAST INDIA COMPANY, by the COMMANDER in CHIEF LIEUTENANT, GENERAL SIR JOHN FRANCIS CRADOCK, K. B.

THE late unhappy event, at Vellore, has led to wide diversity of opinion, and arguments may have been so conducted, as, perhaps, rather to disguise truth, than convey information.

The object of the following statement is therefore to recur to original circumstances, to fix a date prior to the fatal catastrophe on the 10th July, and to give a plain narrative of a transaction, each step of which is accompanied by official documents.

much

The explanation SO involves the acts of the commander in chief at Madras, that it is necessary a great part of the detail should proceed in his name.

It is stated, and to a certain degree believed, that the introduction of a new turban, in the native army; an order to prohibit the marks of casts, on the foreheads of the Sepoys, on parade; with innovations upon their former dress, in the obligation to wear stocks, white waistcoats, feathers, pantaloons, &c. had created so much dissatisfaction in their minds, as produced the massacre at Vellore.

MADRAS, SEPTEMBER 21, 1806. of the army, and the one generally in use being ill-suited to convenience and very heavy, upon the representation of the adjutantgeneral and the deputy, it came into contemplation to direct a common pattern for the whole service, and the arrangement was left to these officers, of whose experience, and local knowledge, the commander in chief could entertain no doubt. At length turbans, made up under their direction, (1) were presented to him, upon the heads of sepoys, (2) introduced for the purpose, and they seemed entitled to commendation.

The business of making them up proceeded universally, and without remark, till attention was excited by a spirit of opposition in the 2d battalion of the 4th regiment, at Vellore, who declared, that the turbans were offensive, and infringed upon their casts, &c.

As circumstances of extreme insubordination marked the conduct of the corps at that period, and there appeared nothing that could justify the supposition, that any real objection did exist, it seemed required, that measures to support discipline should be immediately adopted; and some of the

But the question chiefly rests on the turban; the other circumstances are only accounted auxiliaries; for, though the restric-ringleaders were confined, and tion, upon the marks, might sent to Madras for trial. naturally be thought the prevailing point, yet, through the long course of examination, it scarcely appears in operation.

From great variety in the turban

(1) Vide Colonel Agnew's and Major (2) A Syed and a Rajahpoot.

At that moment, ("too fully illustrated by subsequent acts") the conduct of the native commissioned officers was most suspicious; not one appeared active

Pierce's Letter.

in

in his duty; they all seemed to enjoy the rising discontent, and at the same time, to strengthen evil circumstances, and ignorance, they all declared the turban free from objection, and persisted in the same avowal, upon the subsequent court of inquiry at Vellore. (1)

(2) It is in evidence, that the first opposition to the introduction of the turban, by the 2d battalion of the 4th regiment, at Vellore, (3) was manifested before they had ever seen it, and that an agreement had been made, between the 1st battalion of the 1st regiment, quartered also in "Vellore," and the 2d battalion of the same corps, marching post, not to wear it, though in equal ignorance of its appearance, formation, or mate

rials.

The court of inquiry, established by the commander in chief, at Vellore, as he as he proceeded to Mysore, consisted of lieutenantcolonel M'Kerras, lieutenantcolonel Forbes, and lieutenantcolonel Marriot; the two former commanding battalions, and the latter, the paymaster to Tippoo's family,---officers distinguished for their knowledge of the language, and the native customs; and the proceedings will fully evince, that no objection to the turban was then discoverable; and, in the private opinion those officers requested to give upon the subject, to the commander in chief, a preference to the former turban in many particulars appears, a declaration, that it in no shape interfered with cast or prejudice; (5) and attention is only directed to the alteration of some tape, or trifies of that nature.

were

The commander in chief then proceeded to Mysore, and gave directions for the trial of the prisoners, before a native general court martial at the presidency.

At each trial, evidence was produced from persons of the highest casts, (6)—THAT THE TURBAN WAS FREE FROM ANY OBJECTION WHATEVER-The prisoners were found guilty, and sentenced to corporal punishment.

To perfect the view, that the revolt was not a resistance to an article of dress, that in the wound it gave to casts or prejudices, might, in this country, give birth to acts the most extravagant; that it was not an explosion of injured feelings, that might destroy every principle of allegiance or humanity; but THAT SILENT, SECRET TREASON was the object, the chief conspirator, SHAIK CASSIM, jemidar in the 1st regiment, a few days previous to the insurrection, upon being questioned by his commanding officers, if any dissatisfaction existed, offered, in the presence of the other native officers, to place the KORAN on HIS HEAD, (4) (the most solemn appeal to truth) and swear, that there was none; and that the whole corps were forward to wear the turban. (1) Court of Inquiry, 14th May, 1806.-Vellore. (2) Court of Inquiry. (3) Shaik Cassim's Confession. (4) Lieut. Col. Forbes's Evidence. Vide Private Report, 26th May, 1805. (6) Vide the trials.

The commander in chief, being anxious that government should be acquainted with every circumstance, and feeling that his absence from the presidency might lead to ignorance of the real state of the case, directed the adjutant-gene

ral

ral(1) to lay all the proceedings of the trials before the right honour able the governor, and follow such measures as the council might please to direct. The result was, that two of the ringleaders of the 2d battalion of the 4th regiment were punished, and the rest, upon their apparent contrition, pardoned. No further intelligence reached the commander in chief at Nundydroog, till the latter end of June; when he received a very impressive representation from an experienced and able officer, that the TURBAN had occasioned great discontent in the army, and earnestly recommended a repeal of the order.

The commander in chief, at once adopted the resolution of confiding his embarrassment to the government, and submitted the following secret reference to the right honourable the governor in

council.

(Secret.)

"Mundydroog, June 29, 1806. "My Lord,--- I must have recourse to your lordship's judgment, and that of the council, to relieve me from great anxiety and embarrassment upon the subject of the turbans, the full particulars of which case are so well known to your lordship; and upon the proceedings, from my absence, I have already requested your lordship's personal direction.

"The introduction of this turban originated from the advice, and under the superintendance of colonel Agnew, the adjutantgeneral, and major Pierce, the deputy-adjutant-general; and, as an alteration from the former one appeared wanting, I thought I could not confide so simple a

matter to better hands, or officers of more local experience.

"I have the strongest reasons to suppose, that almost universal objection arises against the turban; and though force and punishment may overcome individual opposition, yet the firm dislike does not abate, and the frequent recurrence of severity may produce, though it may be remote, bad conse

quences.

"I am as aware as the human mind can possess the sentiment, that opposition to military and just authority cannot be yielded to, and that the attempt must be crushed in its earliest stage. This is the sole reasoning towards a British soldier, and were it purely a British case, I should neither feel embarrassment, nor should I thus trouble your lordship in council.

"But upon the prejudices of India, the force of casts, which, in its various shape, no European may perfectly comprehend, it is allowable, even in a soldier's mind, to pause, and solicit the advice of the head, and his companions in the government.

"The question is not confined to the ignorant soldiery; it is the subject of conversation among the best-informed officers; and my intelligence from Seringapatamı, where there is a numerous garrison, is, that it is the common cry, that the next attempt will be to make the Sepoys christians.

"I lay before your lordship, in confidence, a private letter from colonel Brunton; and the same sentiment prevails with many other moderate and discreet officers.

"Still it is my wish, and the best judgment

(1) Letters to the adjutant general, 18th and 20th June, 1806.