xvi 



REPORT ON 



To those who might engage in the culture long 

 leases were to be granted, and they were to be 

 exempted from arbitrary fines and taxes. The 

 Court on the occasion suggested, that the country 

 to the eastward of the Poddah was best adapted 

 for the purpose, for should Bengal be invaded by 

 the Mahrattas or other native powers, it was not 

 possible that the enemy could cross that great 

 river. This precautionary recommendation was 

 called for, by the fact of an invading force having, 

 on one occasion, destroyed the mulberry planta- 

 tions and dispersed the weavers. 



In 1774 the Court were advised by the Bengal 

 Government, that the Italian method of winding 

 silk was so far introduced as to promise success 

 in a reasonable time, and that although it had nof 

 then answered the expectations formed from its 

 introduction, the most sanguine hopes were en- 

 tertained that, in the end, it w ould make ample 

 amends for the pains that had been taken, as it 

 had found its way into the hands of private mer- 

 chants. 



The Court, in 1775, appointed Mr. William 

 Platell to succeed Mr. Wiss, and the latter gen- 

 tleman, with two of the Italians, returned to 

 England in 1776. In 1779 Mr. Wiss was ap- 

 pointed 



