HIGH COURT OF MADRAS. 



51 



It is perhaps with reference to this case that Captain 

 Alexander Hamilton, who was in Madras in 1720, tells us in 

 his " New Account of the East Indies," published in 1727, 

 that they have no Martial Law there, so they cannot inflict 

 the pains of death any other ways than by whipping or 

 starving ; only for piracy they can hang. 



The power of hanging for piracy appears to have been 

 conferred by a Commission from King George I, which is 

 mentioned in the two following extracts from the Minutes of 

 Consultation : — 



* 1 Monday, 17th August 1719. — The President acquaints the 

 Board that on Tuesday the 11th instant he, with the rest of the 

 Commissioners, for trying of Pirates, did bring Roger Bullmore, 

 one of those that ran away with the ' George ' Brigantine to 

 his trial by virtue of King George's Commission ; and that, 

 having found him guilty of piracy, felony and robbery, they 

 had passed sentence of death upon him and that he was ordered 

 to be executed on Wednesday next. 35 



" Wednesday, 18th October 1721.— Mr. Walsh brought the 

 Key of the Cash chest and opened it, upon which there was 

 found in money one Fanam, and some Firmanns and Hus- 

 bulhookums ; being 29 from the Mogul ; and the Commission for 

 trying the 'pirates ; also a paper with blue seals said to be a 

 purse belonging to Dalton deceased in Pegu. These were all 

 the things found in the chest except some empty pagoda bags. 

 Mr. Walsh being asked if he brought any message from 

 Mr. Hastings (the late Governor who had left the Cash chest in 

 this empty state) answered he had none." 36 



It is due to the memory of Mr. Hastings, who was then 

 very ill, and died at Madras on the 15th December 1721, to 

 add that it appears to have been only the sudden manner in 

 which he was required to vacate the office of Governor that 

 eaused the deficiency. On the next day he paid in ten 



35 Wheeler's Madras, vol. ii, p. 310. 



36 Ibid., p. 326. 



