OBSERVATIONS ON THE COURT'S DRAFT, 224. The expenses of this public visit to the different 225. It may here be observed, that the extra expenses of the governor-general, and of the commanderin-chief; when employed on the public service, have always been paid; and that all political agents in India, whether civil or military, are allowed by the company's regulations, to charge the extra expenses which they incur on the public service. He was 226. Lord Wellesley was accompanied by a con- of * Vide durbar accounts of the years 1791, 1792, and 1797, for an account of the extra expenses of lord Cornwallis, during his journey to the coast of Coromandel, to conduct the war against Tippoo, and also of lord Teignmouth's, and the commander-in-chief's, extra expenses at Lucknow. In the general letter of the court of directors, in the judicial department, dated 14th September, 1803, para. 15, the court thus express their opinion of these reports. "We have received your dispatch in the judicial department, dated 6th July, 1802, transmitting the answers from the judicial officers and colJectors of revenue throughout the company's territories, immediately subject to your government, to certain queries proposed by the governor-general upon a variety of important subjects connected with the prosperity of the country, and with the wealth, industry, morals, and happiness of the people. We entertain a due sense of the zeal for the general interest of the company manifested by the governor-general in proposing these queries. But we shall postpone the consideration of the answers to the interrogatories until Sir George Barlow's report and observations, on the very interesting matters contained in the paper before us, shall have been transmitted." Twelve lacs were paid, during lord Wellesley's continuance in the upper prevince, and satisfactory arrangements were made for the payment of the remainder. L COURT'S DRAFT, No. 128. Public entertainments, uminations, &c. OBSERVATIONS ON THE COURT'S DRAFT, No. 128. of 250,0001.) He also, within the same time, concluded the treaty of Lucknow, in November, 1801, and laid the basis of the settlement of the extensive and valuable provinces obtained under that treaty; and having, at Lucknow, received the preliminary articles of the peace of Amiens, he was enabled, from his vicinity to the commander-in chief, to direct an immediate revision of the military establishments of India, and to effect a reduction* of the military charges, to the amount of 783,7331. 227. In addition to these advantages, the presence of the governor-general at Benares, (which had recently been the scene of a most formidable revolt and massacre) as well as at other places, which had been disturbed by commotion, greatly contributed to restore public tranquillity, and to secure the peace and good order of our provinces. This visit, therefore, was neither idle, nor useless, nor expensive, beyond absolute necessity, and the expense was repaid tenfold by the advantages which resulted from the measure. 228. This question has never formed any part of the correspondence of the government, or of the court of directors. But it may not be useless to state, in this place, the nature of the public entertainments at Calcutta, and the mode which was adopted by lord Wellesley to regulate that branch of the public expenditure. 229. It has been the practice of the government in India to give three public entertainments every year, on the occasion of their majesties birth-days, and on new year's day. The expense of these entertainments has always been charged to the company. They are, in fact, entertainments given by the company, and are considered as such by the inhabitants of Calcutta. These entertainments are entirely different from the ordinary entertainments of the governor-general, which, being defrayed from his private funds, constantly vary in number and extent, according to the season and the personal convenience of the governorgeneral. 230. The usual mode of defraying the expenses of the public entertainments has been for the governorgeneral's agent to draw from the treasury, at the commencement of the season, the sum of 8000 rupees, or 1000l. the sum which was originally allowed for the three public entertainments, and, at the end of the season, to draw the balance between this sum and the actual cost of the entertainments. 231. The The governor-general's conduct, in effecting these reductions, was highly applauded by the court of directors. Vide general letter from the court in the military department, dated 20th June, 1804. Par. 13 to 25, in which the court express the highest applause of the promptitude with which the governor-general proceeded to effect every practicable reduction of expense in every department. Par. 55, expresses the applause of the court of the labours and exertions of the governor-general in council, and of the officers employed under his orders, in effecting so considerable a reduction of expense. COURT'S DRAFT, OBSERVATIONS ON THE COURT'S DRAFT, 231. The sum of 8000 rupees might possibly have been adequate at the period of time at which it was established, when Bengal was a subordinate government, and when the presidency of Fort William did not contain 100 British inhabitants. It very soon became inadequate. The government-house did not afford any accommodation for a public entertainment, and until the new house was finished, the governor. general was compelled to hire the theatre, or one of the taverns, at which the public entertainments were held. The hire of the theatre, in 1799, for two nights only amounted to 5400 rupees, or between 6 and 7001, upwards of two-thirds of the whole original allowance. 232. It is difficult to ascertain what each of the public entertainments at the theatre on the stated occasions in former years may have cost. The amount must have been proportioned to the numbers invited, and established usage had rendered it necessary to invite not only all the king's and company's civil, naval, and military servants, but other British subjects, as well as all the principal Portuguese and Armenian inhabitants. The number invited to a public entertainment, during the governments of lord Cornwallis and lord 'Teignmouth, was probably between 5 and 600 persons. In lord Wellesley's government, the numbers frequently exceeded 1000 persons, exclu sive of the principal native vakeels or envoys, and the principal native inhabitants of Calcutta, who were usually present on these occasions, during lord Wellesley's government. 233. The general amount of the charges, on this account, in lord Wellesley's administration, would have fallen short of their usual scale, if it had not been for the occurrence of great public events, which appeared to lord Wellesley to require signal denominations of public rejoicing. 254. The occasions here referred to are, 1st. The return of the army, under general Baird, from Egypt. 2d. The peace of Amiens. 3d. Berar. The peace with Scindiah and the rajah of 235. It is proper to state, in this place, that, in consequence of the different arrangements which have been made for the provision of furniture, &c. and for the regulation of public entertainments, it has been found to be practicable to reduce the expense of a public entertainment considerably, because, the charge of hiring a theatre or tavern, and other charges, have ceased. The occasional repairs, alterations or additions, which may, in future, be required to the furniture, &c. in the government-house, cannot amount to any considerable sum. The last entertainment, at the government-house, given by lord Wellesley on the 2d of July, in celebration of the king's birth-day, was, in consequence of these previ ous arrangements, much less expensive than any public COURT'S DRAFT, vernment. General observations on the expenses of the goThe court have always been desirous of maintaining the dignity of the government with becoming state, but think it unnecessary that the governor-gen. should give into the style of "Asiatic pomp display." These observations apply, with particular force, in the state in which the company's fiuances have been for some years past, which required that no new or superfluous expenses should be incurred. Such expenses will occasion debt, which probably cannot be discharged without an accumulation of interest larger than the capital. These expenses might have been applied to defraying the charges of the war then carrying on. Para. 76. Para. 77. It may be alleged, the court observe, that great additions have been made to the revenues since 1798; but that these additions will be of no avail, and that, unless attended with a due conomy, the advantage to the company, in point of finance, will be "less than none." Para. 78 and 79, on the same subject. Para. 80. Expresses their intention of going into a detailed review of various branches of the public expenditure, and of issuing their orders thereon. Treaty with the Nabob Vizier, 10th November, 1801; considered to be a direct infraction of the treaty of 1798, and to be contrary to the established policy prohibiting the ac. OBSERVATIONS ON THE COURT'S DRAFT, public entertainment which has been given for many years at Calcutta. 236. Upon the question of expense, therefore, it appears, that every practicable precaution was employed to avoid useless expense, but that such arrangements were adopted as appeared to be necessary to the accomplishment of the various objects which lord Wellesley deemed to be consistent with the due appearance of a great government. Lord Wellesley was of opinion, that the public establishments of the government should be maintained on a suitable scale, and should be regulated by fixed principles. All the expenses, incurred during lord Wellesley's government, were of the most public description; they have regularly appeared in the accounts of the government, and there are proper vouchers for every sum that has been expended. The expenditure also has been gradual, and has been divided into the accounts of many years. It is erroneous to suppose, therefore, that the company's finances can have been embarrassed by charges, which have never interfered with any other public object, and which have never demanded the application, at one time, of any sum, which was requisite for other more important branches of the service. 237. With regard to the general observations upon the state of the resources and expenditure of the company in India, it will be found, upon examination, that every branch of the old revenues of the company has been greatly augmented and improved during lord Wellesley's government, that large additions of new revenues and resources have been made, that the ordinary charges, in almost every department, have been reduced, and that the state of public credit has also been considerably improved. 238. With a view to afford a satisfactory reply to the observations contained in the draft No. 128, relative to this important and beneficial arrangement, it will be material to exhibit: 239. 1st. The nature of the relation between the British power in India, and the country of Oude, by which the company was entitled and required to provide for the internal government of Oude; and the right of the company under the existing treaties, as well as under its general relation towards the state of Oude, to station such troops as the company's govern ment might think necessary for the defence of Oude, and to establish satisfactory arrangements for the payment of the same. 2d. The practice of the government in India, and the construction of the company's rights in Oude, as maintained by the court of directors. 3d. The condition of Oude during lord Wellesley's administration, and the indispensable necessity of exercising the right which the company possessed, for the good government and protection of that country. 4th. The mode in which that right was exercised, and the result of the arrangement which has been adopted for the security of the company's interests in Oude. 5th. Th COURT'S DRAFT, No. 128. quirement of any aditional territory. Para. 82 to 97. OBSERVATIONS ON THE COURT'S DRAFT, 5th. The early knowledge of the court of directors of the governor-general lord Wellesley's intentions with regard to Oude; the approbation of the government at home of the whole transaction, and the letter of the court of directors approving the result of the arrangement, and indicating a knowledge of the treaty. 240. 1st. "The government of Oude † both in the opinions of the natives of the country, as well as externally, is considered a depentancy upon the English, whatever its relation under treaties may be. Scindiah referred the investiture of Vizier Ally Khan by his Majesty to the governor-general; and there are many respectable families in Lucknow, who live under the protection of the British influence. In the estimation of the natives of India, the kingdom of Oude is held as a gift from the company to Sujah ul Dowlah, and as a dependant fief 241. We are so implicated in our connection with Oude, that we cannot withdraw from it, and we are so situated in it, that, without a decisive influence in its administration, we cannot have any security." 242. Saadut Aly Khan, the e dest surviving son of Sujah ul Dowlah, and brother to the late Nabob of Oude, succeeded to the Musnud of Oude on the 21st of January, 1798 243. Various treaties had been concluded, at different times, between the Nabobs Sujah ul Dowlah, Asoph ul Dowlah, and the company, on principles of mutual benefit to the contracting parties. By these treaties, "the friends and enemies of either were to be considered as the friends and enemies of both ;" and the company was bound to defend the dominions of Oude against all enemies, under certain stipulations of subsidy, which are clearly detailed in the several treaties. 244. By the existing treaty on the accession of Saadut Aly, in 1798, the Nabob was bound to pay the annual sum of 55,50,000 rupees, or 693,750l. to defray the expenses of the British troops stationed in Oude for the defence of his dominions, which subsidy was increased to 76,00,000 rupees per annum. or 950,000l. under a treaty concluded with the Nabob by Sir John Shore, in the month of February, 1798. 245. In return for this increase it was stipulated, that "the English forces to be maintained in Oude were never to consist of less than ten thousand men; and if ever it should be necessary to auginent the troops of the company in Oude beyond the number of 13,000 men, • Lord Wellesley's correspondence was, according to established form, addressed to the secret committee. Every year an order is transmitted to the governor-general in council, to the following effect: "Having appointed ~~, during the present direction, to be a secret committee, agreeable to, and for the purposes stated in the acts of the 24th, 26th, and 33d of his present majesty, we hereby direct, that all orders and instructions which you shall receive from our said secret committee, be observed and obeyed with the same punctuality and exactness as though they had been signed by thirteen, or more, members of the court of directors, conformably to the said acts." +Vide the governor-general, Sir John Shore's, minute of the 13th January, -1798. Printed papers, No. 1, page 15, |