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the exciting influence of this false idea the most 

 extravagant expenses were incurred and sanctioned ; 

 and that nothing might be wanting to promote the 

 the enterprize, Government liberally transferred to 

 the Company its superintendent and two-thirds of 

 its own plantations and establishments. 



But alas, for the vanity of human expectations ! 

 Both Government and the Company were doomed 

 to disappointment. The soil in one place was not 

 selected with reference to the requirements of the 

 plant labor in another was insufficient the cul- 

 tivation in a third was bad the superintendence 

 in a fourth was inefficient ignorance every where 

 was rampant, and to crown all, the tea, when 

 manufactured, was pronounced by the London 

 brokers to be bad ! The Assam Company, having, 

 by the most reckless mismanagement, thrown away 

 200,000, the whole of its called up capital, and about 

 ^20,000 more, was reduced to a state of insolvency so 

 nearly verging on bankruptcy, that ,20 shares were 

 sold in the Calcutta market for less than one rupee. 

 It was proposed to wind up its affairs. But this 

 catastrophe was averted by the exertions and sound 

 practical advice of Mr. H. de Mornay. On visiting 

 the plantations this gentleman found them so choked 

 with weeds that not a single plant was visible. Large 

 sowings had been very regularly made, but, unfortu- 

 nately, had as regularly been suffered to be destroyed 

 by the jungle and rank vegetation which springs up 



