816 Mineral Resources of India. [No. 129. 



their possession of them shall become liable to objections, and except- 

 ing the 6th article which is premature, notwithstanding the encourage- 

 ment which they think a discovery of this kind merits from Govern- 

 ment ; yet as a precipitate acquiescence to them may be attended with 

 ill consequences to the collections, 



Resolved, — That we decline coming to a resolution until the senti- 

 ments of the Provincial Council of Burdwan have been received upon 

 them, and that this proposal be referred to them for that purpose. 



The following letter was accordingly written : — 



To GEORGE VANSITTART, Esq. Chief, §c. 



Provincial Council of Revenue at Burdwan. 

 Gentlemen, — Accompanying we transmit you copy of some pro- 

 posals, which have been presented to us by Messrs. John Sumner and 

 Heatly, together with an extract of our proceedings on the subject. 

 We desire you will agreeably thereto, forward to us your sentiments on 

 them. We are, &c. Warren Hastings, 



Wm. Aldersey, 

 P. M. Dacres, 

 James Lawrell, 

 Fort William, John Graham, 



The llth August, 1774. Nicholas Grueber. 



On the 23d August, the answer was submitted to the Board. 



To the Hon'ble WARREN HASTINGS, Esq. President, $c. $c. 



Honourable Sir and Sirs, — We have been honoured with the re- 

 ceipt of your letter of the 1 1th instant. If the revenue of the cultivat- 

 ed lands, which Messrs. Sumner and Heatly request to be allowed, be 

 equitably adjusted with the present farmers ; if effectual care be taken, 

 that they do not force people to work for them, nor erect Gunges in such 

 a situation as to ruin any that are already established, and further, if 

 the Europeans they may employ be removable without absolute and 

 formal proof of their misbehaviour, and no protection be given by 

 them to Ryots, who may desert from their farmers, with balances 

 due from them on account of their rents ; with these precautions, 



