1844.= 



of a Pier at Madras. 



63 



esplanade would be extremely convenient for that purpose, and there is 

 ample space behind it for the erection of store houses &c. : but -which- 

 ever situation might be preferred for this purpose, as the building of a 

 new Custom house, would be only necessary in consequence of this plan 

 for opening the river being adopted, the expence thereof is proposed to 

 be provided in the same manner as that of the work itself, and to be a 

 part of the entire plan. 



n 



It has been objected to this plan, that the removal of the Custom house 

 would be highly injurious to those private interests, which have been es- 

 tablished in its vicinity, principally upon the presumption of no innovation 

 being introduced, which should remove the immediate seat of the trade 

 so far from its present situation, and therefore as there would be a degree 

 of injustice in such a measure, occasioning considerable losses to indivi- 

 duals, whose speculations were founded upon these expectations ; should 

 such improvements be adopted, and the removal of the Custom house 

 take ( place in consequence, that then the owners of these speculations 

 would have a just claim to indemnity from the Company, for giving their 

 sanction to a plan which should have such an effect. 



How far these arguments may weigh, or how far the speculations of in- 

 dividuals, on the consideration of private interests, should operate con- 

 trary to the adoption of a great public work of general utility and con- 

 venience, it is for your Lordship's wisdom to determine : but however 

 loath I should be to propose any scheme, that should in its consequences 

 prove in the smallest degree prejudicial to any 'person whatever, it is only 

 proper, lest these considerations should be pressed too far, that I should 

 place all the circumstances fairly in view, in which I imagine, the incon- 

 veniences that may be complained against by J some, will not appear to be 

 so great as to counteract a plan, which is likely to be attended with the 

 happiest consequences to the trade of Madras. 



The present situation of the Custom house must be acknowledged to 

 be very remote from the principal merchants, and by no means particu- 

 larly convenient even to the Black merchants, and in respect to the effect 

 which the expence of cooly hire from so great a distance must have upon 

 all the articles of consumption, must in some degree be felt by every per- 

 son in the settlement. The more centrally therefore that all articles of 

 merchandize can be deposited in the first instance, the more generally 

 advantageous it would prove both to the merchant and the consumer. 



But by the plan which I have the honor to submit to your Lordship's 



