CHANDERNAGORE. 
69 
they should not purchase any from the natives. The Danes this 
year resold their opium for a profit of upwards of ^0,000/. without 
ever removing it from Calcutta, which alone would more than 
defray their expenses. They have also from this place the facility of 
exporting, for their own consumption, every produce of India, duty 
free. Ships cannot, indeed, come up close to the town, from the 
increase of a shoal about three miles lower down ; but labour is so 
cheap, that the additional expense of conveying the goods to a boat 
is of very little consequence. The French settlement of Chanderna- 
gore, and the Dutch one of Chinsura, are more extensive than the 
Danish ; but from the larger establishments kept up, were never 
equally advantageous, and have ever cost more than they pro- 
duced. The treaties by which they could claim a share of the opium 
and salt-petre were not renewed on the late peace ; consequently 
that advantage is done away. We are, by conquest, masters of the 
whole country, and have a right to prohibit our subjects from 
trading with them. The surrender, therefore, of these settlements 
to France and Holland, seems a very useless gift ; and in that 
light it appears to be considered by them, for hitherto they have 
not taken possession of either, nor has a single French or Dutch- 
man arrived at the place, although several months have elapsed 
since the right was restored to them by the treaty. 
At a short distance from Chinsura we left our boats, as the tide 
had made against us ; and with only two dandys, moving against 
it was impracticable. Here we expected to have met the carriage 
of Mr. Brook ; but this was doomed to be a day of disappointments ; 
no conveyance was there, we were four miles from Hoogly, and the 
sun was still very hot. It was at length determined that I should 
