Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/708

 674. HLSTOltY OF INDIA. . [Book IIJ.

AD. iroj. justice on Ids side, and did not draw an exaggeiated picture when, in a letter

addressed to the governor, in March, 1702, he said, "From the factory of Cal-

Compiaints cuttii to Cossiinbazar, Patna, and Dacca, all the English chiefs, with their

of Meor _ _ _

Cossim. gomastaks, officers, and agents in every district of the government, act as col- lectors, renters, and magistrates, and setting up the Company's colours, allow no power to my officers. And besides this, the gomastaks and other servants in every di.strict, in every market and village, carry on a trade in oil, fish, straw, bamboos, rice, paddy, betel -nut, and other things; and every man with a Company's dustuk in his hand regards himself as not less than the Com- pany." This statement is fully borne out by Mr. Hastings, who, in a letter to Mr. Vansittart, dated only a month later, describes the evil complained of as 'a grievance which calls loudly for redress; and will, unless duly attended to, render ineffectual any endeavours to create a firm and lasting harmony between the nabob and the Company."

Selfish and The coursc which ought to have been pursued is obvious. The private trade

impolitic

views of of the Company's servants ought to have been absolutely interdicted, or at all couucii." events subjected to such regulations as would at once protect the revenue and the native trader. But by whom were these regulations to be made ? The members of council in Calcutta were themselves the worst offenders, and having the power of legislation in their hands, were determined that, happen what might, they would never allow it to be used for the purpose of curtailing their emoluments. Mr. Vansittart, feeling himself powerless, was not bold enough to lay the axe to the root of the evil, and proposed, as a compromise, that the trade should be open to the Company's servants as before, but subject to the payment of the regidar duties. After much keen debate, he obtained, or thought he had obtained, full powers from the council to make an amicable settle- ment. With this view he had an interview with the nabob, and obtained his reluctant consent to an arrangement by which, to prevent the inconvenience of repeated stoppages, the goods of the Company's servants engaged in private trade were to pay a duty of nine per cent, on the prime cost in one slump sum. This was far less than was exacted from the native traders, and Mr. Vansittart returned, in the belief that if he had erred in any part of the bargain, it was only in having exacted too favourable terms for the Company's servants. It must hence have been with some surprise and indignation that, when the terms were divulged, he found them bitterly assailed by all the members of his council except Mr. Hastings. At a full meeting of council, specially called to consider the subject, ten members voted that the private trade of the Company's servants was like tb.e public trade of their masters, duty free, and that the only article on which they ought to pay anything, and that more from com-tesy than legal obligation, was a duty of 2^ per cent, on salt. Not satisfied with passing the disgi-aceful resolution, they caused it to be forthwith notified to the nabob.