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 CHAPTER III

GOVERNOR HARRISON

Towards the close of the year 1710, Mr. Edward Harrison, Captain of the Kent, East Indiaman, was appointed President, or " Governour," of Fort St. George. On November 10 in that year a " petition " from him " tendering himself to serve the Company as their President of Fort St. George " was read at a meeting of the Directors, at the India House in Leaden- hall Street, Mr. Edmund Harrison (his father, or uncle) being in the chair ; and it was resolved that " this Court will, on Wednesday next, proceed to the choice of a President of Fort St. George, and to the setting the Councill there." Accord- ingly, on the 15th idem, the Court proceeded to " the choice of a President for Fort St. George, and the consideration of the Settlement of that Presidency, and the Petition of Captain Edward Harrison being again read, wherein he offers to serve the Company as President, ~^and the Question being put by the Ballott, whether Captain Harrison shall be President on the usuall termes — it was carryed in the affirmative." Later on, the Court resolved that, "he be allowed to carry out two tons of Beer on the Dartmouth, freight free, it being for his own stores on the voyage," and that he be permitted " to carry out Wrought Plate to the value of £300, or thereabouts, for the use of his Table " ; as well as " three pairs of Looking Glasses for his own private use." But Mr. Harrison, who had already seen a good deal of the Coromandel Coast, as well as other parts of the East, in his capacity as Com- mander of a merchantman, did not think that " two tons of Beer" would meet his requirements; and, having made a representation to that effect to the Court, it was resolved that " Governour Harrison be permitted to