332 
L O N 
thereupon ; and in all other ports, as well as the port of 
London, fuch articles, when entered and taken out for 
exportation, fhall be charged according to their value, 
under the regulations legally applicable in other cafes to 
duties payable ad valorem . 
That, on the return of every firip from India, lifts of 
her crew', fpecifying the number and defcription of all 
perfons embarked on-board the faid ftiip, and all arms 
laden therein, (hall be delivered to an officer of the culloms 
at the fir ft port at which (lie (hall arrive, and (hall be by 
him tranfmitted to the court of directors, according to 
and fubj'eCt to fuch provifions as may be made with a view' 
to the difcovery of any Britifn (object whorftay have gone 
to or remained in India contrary to law.—Provifion was 
alfo to be made for the fupport and return of the lafcars 
brought to Europe in private veffels.—There were alfo re¬ 
gulations as to the order of the application of the reve¬ 
nues of the company : i. Tothe payment of the troops 
and fupport of the forts. 2. To liquidate debts on bills 
of exchange. 3. Other debts except bond-debts. 4. To 
pay a dividend of ten per cent, and a contingent half per 
cent. 5. To liquidate the bond-debts until they amount 
only to 3,000,oool. 6. The furplus profit to be divided 
in the ratio of 5-6U1S to government and 1 -6th tothe 
company, with a provifion for repaying the capital flock. 
-—Regulations refpeCting the employment of India (hip¬ 
ping.—Provifion to enable the company to grant penfions 
and gratuities.—Provifion for the appointment of different 
prefkiencies, and to render neceffiary the approbation of 
the crown.—Appointment of a bifliop and three archdea¬ 
cons, to be paid by the company. 
Meffrs. R. Thornton, Grant, and Gordon, fpoke againft 
the noble lord’s propofitions, as the height of injuftice to 
the company.— Mr. Tierney thought it would be necef- 
iary to examine evidence at the bar; which was agreed to, 
Warren Haftings, efq. was the firft witnefs called on 
the part of the company ; this was on the 30th of March. 
A chair was placed for the witnefs near the bar.—Mr. 
Haftings was examined both as to the probable effects of 
an unreftrained intercourfe of Europeans with the natives 
of India, and as to the probability of extending the trade 
to that country. In his opinion, the unreftrained inter¬ 
courfe of Europeans with the natives would be ruinous 
to the company’s interefts, and to the peace of the coun¬ 
try. The natives were naturally timid, but might be 
provoked to all the ferocities of infurrection, as it was 
not unlikely that, in fuch a cafe, the fuperiority which 
they now allow to Engliftimen might then be converted 
to the purpofes of tyranny and oppreflion over them. Any 
caufe that would give them fuch provocation as to make 
them diffatisfied, would naturally tend to encourage the 
neighbouring natives to an invafion of our empire there. 
As to the trade, the mafs of the people in India had no 
wants which could not be fupplied at their own doors, 
and had no means of purchafing luxuries. The wealthier 
clafs of the Hindoos were alfo limple in their habits, and 
not accuftomed to fpend much of their fuperfluous wealth 
in the purchafeof European luxuries. The habits of the 
nation had been nearly ftationary from the time we lirft 
came into the country.—Mr. Haftings, after having fini(h- 
ed his evidence, addreffied the committee. He faid, that, 
twenty years ago, he had written a letter to the company, 
nnd he then pointed out the dangers from an irruption of 
European adventurers. Being queftioned as to the pro¬ 
priety of a church-eftnbliffiment, he faid it was a point 
of great difficulty and delicacy 5 much would depend on 
the temper and demeanour of the perfons raifed to the 
lacred office; but he could not help laying, that he wiffied 
fome other time had been chofen for this experiment, as 
a furmife had gone abroad, that there was an intention of 
forcing our religion on the natives; an opinion which 
might tend to the greateft mifehief, efpecially if propa¬ 
gated among the native infantry, who were the great de¬ 
fence of the empire.—Being alked, what he thought of 
iniffionaries being Cent over to convert the natives ot India 
D O N. 
from their religion, by telling them Mahomet was an im- 
poftor, &c. and what would be the effieCt ? he faid, iic 
thought any attempt to change the religion of the coun¬ 
try by declaring Mahomet to be an impoftor, might caufe 
a religious war. There had been inftancesof Mahometan 
enthufiafts being very ferocious ; and, in fuch a cafe, there 
was no knowing what might be the confequence. In an- 
fwer to a queftion refpecting the danger of admitting a 
great number of Europeans to refort to India, he thought 
there would be danger. 
On the following day, Mr. Cowper was examined. He 
had been thirty years in India; and generaily agreed in 
opinion with Mr. Haftings on the policy to be continued 
in India.—Lord Teignmouth, however, who was alfo exa¬ 
mined, was of opinion that the attempt to convert the 
natives would not be attended with danger, 
Colonel fir John Malcolm was examined on the 5th of 
April. He faid, that he had been in the military fervice 
of the company fince the year 1783 ; and conceived that 
unreftriCted intercourfe would be mifehievous and ruinous. 
He thought that, from the quietnefs of the Mahometans 
and Hindoos, they were fatisfied with the Britilh govern¬ 
ment. Ele did not think that, by throwing open the 
trade to India, the ufe of Eritifti manufactures would be 
much increafed. He added, (April 7,) that the native 
population of Calcutta was about 500,000 ; and Bombay 
was not inferior to Calcutta. The Perfians had no pre¬ 
judices againft the importation of European articles, ex¬ 
cept brandy and wine, which were forbidden ; and the no¬ 
bles were very fond of our fire-arms, if they could obtain 
them for nothing. Woollens had been imported into 
India. In regard to increafing the knowledge of the na¬ 
tives of India, it would certainly add to the comforts of 
their own (ituation ; but, with refpeft to the political in - 
terejls of the company, he thought it would be beft to keep 
them as nearly as poffible in their prefent Hate. The fu- 
perior Itates of India had great means of rebellion in their 
power, and were not dependent on the Britilh govern¬ 
ment. No doubt, the inhabitants would purchafe Britifti. 
manufactures, if they were more wealthy. They could 
never rival us in the woollen manufacture, as they had no 
wool among them. He had obferved that Europeans were 
fond of retorting to India, and the lower daffies in parti¬ 
cular, who, when once arrived there, (howed no inclina¬ 
tion to leave it again. Any great increafe of Europeans 
in India would tend to leffen therefpeCl in which the na¬ 
tives held the Britifti character and government. 
Gen. Kidd, Meflrs. Young, Vanderheyden, Prendergaft, 
and Halliburton, were examined on the day following. 
Their teltimonv was fimilar to that of preceding witneffesj 
that unreftriCted intercourfe would be dangerous; and 
that the confumption of Britifti manufactures in India 
was not likely to be increafed. Gen. Kidd, to (how how 
ftreng the religious prejudices of the natives were, faid, 
that two young dragoon-officers, having gone out to (hoot, 
happened to pafs by one of the Hindoo temples, where 
they faw leveral monkeys. Thinking them fair game, 
they began to fire upon them ; but the confequence was, 
that they were fo violently attacked by the prieits of the 
temple (the monkeys being deemed holy) as to be obliged 
to throw themfelves into the Ganges, with a view of 
fwimming acrofs; in which attempt both of them were 
unfortunately, drowned. 
Col. Monroe was examined on the 12th. He had been- 
thirty-two years in India, and was particularly acquainted 
with the Malabar and Coromandel coafts. He was con¬ 
vinced that the natives were much attached to their own 
manners and religion, and that the permiffion to Engliffi 
traders to refide in the interior of India would be attend¬ 
ed with mifehievous confequences to the company. He 
thought the new'-comers, from not knowing the cuftoms 
of the country, would be liable to commit aCts of vio¬ 
lence againft the prejudices of the natives, and would 
thereby create great difeontents; which, though not 
amounting to iniurreCtions, would certainly have the ef- 
