527 



The occurrences in Trinidad, Ceylon, or New South Wales, engage 

 the attention of few readers in England, even within a few months 

 after they happen; but it is very different on the spot, where lo- 

 cality gives them an interest; and the more remote and insulated 

 the situation, the more important are the passing events. 



I arrived in India during a profound peace; there were then neither 

 king's ships nor troops in that part of the world. Over-land dispatches 

 were not common, and a packet by sea seldom arrived. Bombay 

 had very little communication with England, except on the arrival 

 of the Iudiamen in August and September, a period expected with 

 no small anxiety. Such being the general situation and character 

 of that small settlement, I found it on my arrival in 1766 peculiarly 

 agitated. Society was divided into three parlies : one who paid 

 their court to Mr. Spencer, the rising sun ; another gratefully ad- 

 hered to Mr. Crommelin; the third were affectionately devoted to 

 the interest of Mr. Hodges, whom they deemed an injured character, 

 deprived of his just right as successor to the government. 



Mr. Crommelin went out a writer to Bombay in 1732, Mr. 

 Hodges in 1737, Mr. Spencer in 1741. At that time superces- 

 sions in the Company's employ were little known; faithful service 

 and a fair character, if life was spared, generally met with reward. 

 I shall not enter upon the political or commercial system of India 

 at that period. Previous to Lord Give being appointed governor 

 of Bengal, in 1764, Mr. Spencer had been removed from Bombay 

 to Calcutta, and for some time acted as provisional governor of 

 Bengal ; ten 3 T ears before the appointment of a governor-general 

 and supreme council in India, when the four presidencies were 

 entirely independent of each other. On Lord Give's nomination 



