vad 
1803.] 
lieve, no man can truly reprefent to the 
European public, without the hazard of 
being»charged with extravagant and iucre- 
dible fiétion. Some of you have feen its 
ravages ; all of you have heard accounts 
of them from accurate obfervers. I have 
only feen the fugitives who have fled be- 
fore it, and who have found an afylum in 
this ifland. But even I have feen enough 
to be convinced, that it is difficult. to 
overcharge a picture of Indian defolation. 
I fhall now flate to you, fiom authentic 
documents, what has been done to fave 
thefe teriitories from the miferable condi- 
tion of the neighbouring country. From 
the ift September, 1803, to the prefent 
time, there have been imported or pur- 
chafed by Government 414,000 bags of 
rice, and there remain 180,000 bags con- 
tracted for, which are yet toarrive, ferm- 
ing an aggregate of nearly 600,000 bags, 
and amounting to the value of fifty lacks 
of rupees, or fix hundred thoufand pounds 
fterling. During the fame time theze 
have been imported by private merchants 
408,000 bags of rice, making in all an 
importation of a million of bags, and 
amounting in value to one million pounds 
ferling. 
The effe&ts of this importation on the 
population of cur own territories, it is not 
very difficult to eftimate. The population 
of the iflands of Lombay, Salfette, and 
Caranja, and of the city of Surat, I defign- 
edly under-efiimate at 400,000. I am 
entitled to prefume, that if they had conti- 
nued fubject to native governments, they 
would have fhared the fate of the neigh- 
bouring provinces which fill are fo fub- 
ject. I thall not be fufpected of any ten- 
dency towards exaggeration by any man 
who is acquainted with the fiate of the 
©ppofite continent, when I fay, that in 
fuch a cafe an eighth of that populaticn 
mult have perifhed. Fifty thoufand hu- 
man beings have, therefore, been faved 
from death in its moft milerable form by 
the exiftence of a Britifh Government in 
this ifland. I conceive myfelf entitled to 
take credit for the whole benefits of the 
importation, for that which was imported 
by private merchan's as well as for that 
which was directly imported by the Go- 
vernment, becaufe, without the protection 
and fecurity enjoyed under a Britithh Go- 
vernment, that commercial capital and 
credit would not have exilted by which 
the private importation was effected. 
The next particular which I have to 
ftate, relates to thofe unhappy refugees 
who have found their way into our terri- 
tory. From the month of March to the 
Addref:to the Grand Fury of Bombay. 
ang 
prefent time, fuch of them’as could labour 
have been employed in ufeful public 
works, and have been fed by Govern-. 
ment. The monthly average of thefe 
perfens, fince March, is 9125 in Bom- 
bay, 3162 in Salfette, and in Surat acon’. 
fiderable number ; though from that city 
I have feen no exa&é returns. 
But many of thefe miferable beings are 
on their arrival here wholly unable to earn 
their fubfiftence by any, even the mo 
moderate, labour. They expire in the 
road before they can be difcovered by the. 
agents of our charity. They expire in 
the very act of being carried to the place 
where they are to receive relief. ‘To ob- 
viate, of, at leaft, to mitigate  thefe 
dreadful evils, a Humane Hofpital was 
eftablifhed by Government for the relief 
of thofe emigrants who were unable to 
labour. The monthly average of thole 
who have been received fince March into 
this hofpital, is 1030 in Bombay, about 
too in Salfette, and probably 300 at 
Surat. 
I myfelf vifited this hofpital, in com 
pany with my excellent friend Dr. Scott, 
and I witnefted a f{cene of which the im- 
preffion will never be effaced from my 
mind. The average monthly mortality of 
the eftablithment ts dreadful; it amoun‘s to 
430. At firk fight this would feem to argue. 
fome monftrous defects in the plan or ma- 
nagement of the infttution. And if there 
were great defeéts in fo new an eftablifh. 
ment haftily provided againf fo unexame 
pled an evil, thofe who are accuffomed to 
make due allowance for human frailty 
would find more to lament than to blame 
in fuch defe&ts. But when it is confidered 
that almof? all thefe deaths occur in the firff 
Sour or five days after admifion, and that 
{carcely any dileafe has been obferved 
among the patients but the direct effects 
of famine, we fhall probably view the 
mortality as a proof of the deplorable 
{tate of the patients, rather than of any 
cefe&ts in the hofpital; and inftead of 
making the hofpital anfwerable for the 
deaths, we fhall deem it entitled to credit 
for the life of every fingle furvivor. 
Thofe who know me, will need no ae 
furances that I have not made thefe ob. 
fervations from a motive fo unworthy of 
my ftation and my character, as that. of 
paying court to any government. I am 
actuated by far other motives. I believe 
that knowledge on fubjeéts fo important 
cannot be too widely promulgated. I 
believe, if every government. on earth 
were bound to give an annual account, be- 
foré an audience whcm they refpected, 
and 
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