164 COTTON IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. [CHAP. T. 



packing, had proved altogether abortive ; for during 

 para 187 ^ e greater part of the season they had 

 realized as much for the dirty Cotton, as 

 he had given them in the early part of the season for 

 the clean Cotton. Under such circumstances, all his 

 efforts to induce the people to employ the gins had of 

 course proved a failure. He had offered them the use 

 of the machines for a mere trifle, and then for nothing ; 

 but they utterly refused to have anything to do with 

 them ; " and the gin-house at Sevacausey, and the 

 Ceylon machinery, will remain a cenotaph to the judg- 

 ment of those who urged the purchase after I had 

 ascertained that they were not required.' 1 Mr. Finnie 

 concluded his letter with the following expressions, 

 which are worthy of preservation, as exhibiting his own 

 estimate of his labours. " I have not," he said, " con- 

 fined myself to the track pointed out by pseudo-sci- 

 entific theory, but have launched boldly into the broad 

 ocean of practical utility, guided by the north star of 

 common sense, which, with some knowledge of politi- 

 cal economy, with due regard to cause and effect, en- 

 ables me to draw approximate conclusions as to the 

 results of certain plain measures in reference to national 

 internal improvement and individual prosperity. My 

 only regret is that I have done so little ; that I have 

 accomplished nothing for the benefit of this country 

 and its Ryots ; but I have done my best, and I can now 

 return to my Native land with the proud satisfaction 

 of having discharged my duty to my employers.' ' 

 These were apparently the last words of Mr. Finnic 

 It is however currently reported that Mr. Finnie' s last 

 words were of a very different complexion ; and were 

 to the effect that he owed it, as a duty, to his country, 

 to prove that American Cotton would not grow in 

 Personal Southern India, and that this latter duty 

 information. was the one w T hich he considered he had 

 fully performed. 

 239 Decision of the Madras Government as regards Dr. 

 Wight, reversed by the Court of Directors, September. 

 — The proceedings of Sir Henry Pottinger's Govern- 



