1 843. ] M ineral Resources of India. 555 



formation concerning it. The vein runs but a short way, but the appear- 

 ance of the adjoining spots gives every reason to imagine it does not termi- 

 nate in that one alone. The situation is southerly of Chattra, about 8 coss 

 in the pergunna of Colrampore : the mine is at a place called Seedipore, the 

 Jaghire of one of the Rajah's family, who concludes the mine not to be lead 

 but Surma ; on which account he has never taken any steps towards work- 

 ing it. 



I should have visited the place immediately I was honoured with your 

 letter to have more fully informed myself, did not the troubles which pre- 

 vail in many places here render my presence at Chattra absolutely neces- 

 sary. 



Ramghur, \9th January, 1778. 



On the 17th March, the Government wrote to the Burdwan Council 

 to put Mr. Farquhar in possession of the iron mines of Pachete, and 

 to grant him such formal authorities as may be requisite : he satisfying 

 the Zemindars or Jaghiredars for such rights as they may possess. On 

 Mr. Farquhar' s receiving a notice to the same effect, he addressed Go- 

 vernment in reply, begging that Beerbhoom might be inserted instead 

 of Pachete, in the instructions to the Burdwan authorities, as the ores 

 of Ramghur and Beerbhoom are by much the fittest for cast works : 

 while those of Pachete on the contrary produce a brittle short iron, 

 which, though good enough for shot and shells, is by no means proper 

 for the fabrication of cannon. He also states his reason for specifying 

 Jerriah, to have been its central situation between Beerbhoom and Ram- 

 ghur, and concludes with begging permission to observe that — 



" Were he allowed to hold the iron farms at the rents which they at 

 " present yield to the Honourable Company, every source of dispute with 

 " the country people would be obviated, and the peons requisite for the 

 " collection of the duties would afford sufficient protection to the works 

 " against the hill people without a guard of Sepoys, which I am informed 

 " will otherwise be absolutely necessary." 



The Government made the requisite alteration of name, but took no 

 notice of the concluding hint. Farquhar, however, was not the person 

 to yield his point so easily ; and without stirring from Calcutta, he not 

 only repeated the application, but rather considerably increased its 

 extent : — 



4d 



