278 BRITISH INDIAN GOVERNMENT. 



grant the request, duc undei conditions which might pro- 

 mote both his own influence and that of the crown. His 

 terms were, that the exchequer should lend 1,400,000/. 

 at four per cent., and forego the stipulated annual payment 

 of 400,000/. till that debt were discharged. In return the 

 company were, not to divide above six per cent, till that ob- 

 ject should be accomplisheu ; and on their extrication from 

 difficulties were to pay to the revenue three-fourths of their 

 surplus receipts at home. The latter point was loudlv de- 

 nounced by the company as exorbitant and oppressive. In 

 fact, however, it proved very nugatory, since the relief from 

 embarrassment, and the possession of a surplus, proved to 

 be visions that glittered before their eyes, but were never 

 realized. The minister followed up this measure by another 

 still more offensive, regulating their constitution both at 

 home and in India. The qualification for a proprietor was 

 raised from 500/. to 1000/., and only a fourth part instead 

 of the whole of the directors was to be annually elected. 

 Bengal and the territories annexed to it were to be ruled 

 by a governor-general with 25,000/. a-year, and four coun- 

 sellors with 8000/. each ; while law was to be administered 

 by a chief-justice with 8000/. a-year, and three judges with 

 6000/. These last were to be appointed by the crown, 

 while the governor and council were to be named in the first 

 instance by Parliament ; after which the patronage of these 

 offices was to revert to the directors, — subject, however, to 

 the approbation of government. The company strenuously 

 remonstrated against this measure as an infringement of 

 their chartered privileges ; but as they had to contend with 

 the ministry, and were unpopular with the nation, all oppo- 

 sition on their part was fruitless. 



Meantime they were actively endeavouring to repress the 

 disorders which began to appear in their Indian dominions. 

 It was with this object chiefly that ('live went out for the 

 second time, though circumstances soon afterward led also 

 to a vast extension of their territorial property. The two 

 primary objects of his mission were, to put an end to the 

 exaction of presents by British officers, who had enriched 

 themselves at the expense of the native powers, and to sup- 

 press the internal trade, in a great measure monopolized 

 by them, which had been the source of accumulated evils. 

 The first of these measures he enforced with "igour, obli- 



