we could derive no information if they had comprehended it entirely. In thefe circumftances, a fhort sketch of thofe diftant and controverted affairs, fuch as they immediately appear, and fo far only as is requifite to give fome general view of our prefent fituation in thofe countries with refpect to the public fafety and advantage, and to illuftrate tranfactions at home with which they are neceffatily connected, is all that can be reafonably attempted, leaving it to time, and to future illucidation, to ascertain fact, or to rectify error, and to the parties concerned, to enter into specific explanations of their conduct.

It is reprefented on one fide, and feems to be pretty well established, that Mahommed Aly Cawn, the Nabob of Arcot, has, through the protection and alliance of the Eaft India company, grown to very great power, and it is farther faid, to an uncontrouled influence, not only over the natives, but by various management over the Britifh fettlements allo; in the principal of which, for the purpose, it is faid, of exercifing this influence, he has chofen his refidence. He has formed a confiderable army on the European model, and officered motly by Englifa; and has in general conducted himself with fuch prudence and ability, as to fupport himself in a higher file of dignity, than most of thofe magiItrates, who fet up for a fort of independent powers on the decline of the Mogul empire; and who were aided in their establishment by the fortune and arms of the Eaft India company. To his ability is faid

Some events feemed calculated to cherish this ambition, if it really exifts in the degree that is reprefented. A few years fince, the fpirit of adminiftration feemed frongly difpofed to trace out new fcources of power and wealth, wherever they could be difcovered in the various and remote parts of this widely extended empire. Befides the well known and muchdifputed interference in the conduct and government of the EaftIndia company's affairs at home and abroad, it became a part of the fyftem of policy then pursued, that the crown fhould fuperintend the affairs of the company, and on an idea of oppreffion fuffered by the princes of the country, fhould eftablish connections in India, totally diftinct and feparate from that body. In pursuance of this defign, agents, or minifters, were employed with plenipotentiary powers, to negociate treaties direftly with fome of the princes of the country, and particularly with the Nabob of Arcot.

Whatever wisdom there might be in this meafure, or however great the future benefits to be derived from it may be, it certainly tended much to lower the Eat-India company in the eyes of the natives, and to relax that force of opinion, which forms the principal inftrument in the government of mankind throughout every part of the globe. Totally ignorant of, and totally incapable of comprehending, the diftinct diftributions of power which are allotted to the different parts in a mixed government like ours, and that compli

cated

cated series of connection and dependence which form their union, they only looked up to the company in the grofs, as the greatest aggregate body of power of which they had any knowledge. They faw that her fimple and avowed fervants, far exceeded their greatest princes in power. They had heard of the King of Great Britain, and they had alfo heard of the Stadtholder of the United Provinces; these were titles, the nature of which they neither underflood, nor gave themselves the trouble to enquire into; but they had long experience, that the English and Dutch companies were in the full poffeffion and exercife of all the powers of fovereignty.

But when thefe people difcovered that thofe whom they had hitherto been accuftomed to confider as the princes of the earth, were in reality the mere fubje&is of a great monarch; (a flate which they could not feparate, in their ideas, from the most abject flavery) that they had not even the honour of being his fervants; when thefe agents, to give the greater efficacy to their commiffion, led them into all the most hidden arcana of the company; when they perceived with amazement, that even its delegated powers were to expire in a few years, and that they were to look elsewhere for all future in terefts and connections, they awakened as from a dream; and they regarded with an indignation and contempt, equal to the fuppofed impofition, thofe whom they hed lately revered as the first of mankind. Some conception may be eafily formed how the pride and felf-importance of thefe new

made princes was swelled, when inftead of abject dependents on the company, they found themfelves confidered as friends, allies, fovereigns, and equals, by that mighty and overruling power, with whom they had till then been in a manner unacquainted.

In this ftate of affairs, and in poffeffion, it is faid, of the power, wealth, and qualities which we have defcribed, Mahommed Aly Cawn is reprefented, as applying them with fuch art and fuccefs, that he obtained an overruling, if not boundless influence, in the English counfels at Madrafs. If fuch was his defign, he certainly fhewed himself equal to the pursuit, for laying by the jealous ftate and diftant pride of an eastern defpot, he feemed to become, as nearly as it could poffibly be admitted, an inmate, and member of the British community at that fettlement, making the outward, or black town, as it is called, the principal feat of his refidence, where his palace adjoins to the walls of the English fortress or town. By these means he is faid to have been in conftant poffeffion of every tranf action that paffed, and even of every propofal or defign that originated in that fettlement. Undoubtedly, it feems an extraordinary degree of confidence in the faith of an eastern prince, to admit of fo clofe and intimate a connection. Thofe who were jealous of, or enemies to the Nabob's power and greatnefs, have not failed to fugget that fuch a degree of nearnets could not be unattended with danger, if any evil was intended. For as it is in the power of this prince to draw great bodies of

troops

troops at all times into the fettlement, as customary guards and at, tendants upon his perfon, and that thefe might be eafily, and perhaps imperceptibly increased, in a feafon of unfufpecting confidence, it would be well if any watch or Arictness of difcipline could guard against a furprize in fuch a fitua tion. His friends have given the thing another turn; and alledge his refidence there, as well as the army he keeps generally officered with English, as decifive proofs of an attachment, without defign on his part, and without danger on

ours.

Whatever foundation there may be for the charge or fuppofition of this Prince's poffeffing an undue inAuence at Madrafs, it is certain, that a joint enterprize which was undertaken by the company's forces in that prefidency with the. Nabob's, afforded too much colour to fuch an opinion, and unhappily contributed its full fhare, along with other eaftern exorbitancies, deeply to affect our national chatacter both in Europe and Asia. This was the famous expedition to Tanjour; an enterprize which has been heard of in every part of the world, and which had been, on the first narratives, condemned for its cruelty and injuftice wherever it was heard.

both with the company and Nabob, and had been engaged with them in the joint perils and fortune of former wars. On the fettlement of the affairs of the East Indies at the treaty of Paris, it was thought neceffary to put an end to the difpute between France and England, who fupported the interefts of different pretenders to power in that part of the world. France was accordingly obliged to admit Salabat Jing as lawful Soubah of the Decan; and Mahomed Ali Cawn, as lawful Nabob of the Carnatic. The Mogul, who was much at the difcretion of the English, readily granted, on his part, from time to time, fuch powers as were neceffary to confirm thefe arrangements. To complete this fettlement, accounts were liquidated, and a convention made under the authority and guarantee of the company between their own allies. Mahomed Ali was to be paid the arrears of, and to receive in future, the tribute due to the Mogul, for which he was to be accountable to their common fuperior, and to have a confiderable fum for himself. The King of Tanjour was to remain in all other refpects as before in poffeffion of his dominions, to which his right was fully confirmed. Subfequent to this agreement a variety of tranfactions happened between him and the Nabob; and new accounts were opened -The King of Tanjour alledging that he ought to be allowed for his expences in certain military fervices rendered to the Nabob; the Nabob infifting on receiving immediate payment of the fums ftipulated under the late convention without any

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Thefe

Thefe difputes, whether carried on upon their proper bottom, or raised as a pretence of more ferious quarrel, continued for fome time. The Nabob, however, prevailed with the powers at Madrafs, and with the royal commiffioners, to fall in with his views, without any hearing or decifion on the merits of the controversy; and a war, on pretence of a delay in payment, broke out.

The King of Tanjour was little able to withstand the united force of the company and Nabob. He, however, defended his capital bravely; but being fubdued after a fharp fiege, the unhappy Prince was tripped, without remorse or pity, of every thing but life. His kingdom was feized by the Nabob, his treasures applied to the ex. pences of the war, and to other prefent purpofes, whilft his fubjects, who were among the most industrious people in India, experienced all the cruelty and rapacity of a Mahometan conqueft and go

vernment.

The account of this tranfaction, with all the circumstances of the conqueft, fpoil, and ruin of a friend and ally, in fo unexampled a manner, excited the greatest indignation in the company when it arrived in England. Nor were they without apprehenfions for the fecurity of their fettlements on the coaft, when they confidered the boldness of defign, promptnefs of execution, and apparent indifference, as to their liking or refent. meat, which didinguifhed this enterprize. That vilble afcendency over the coun.els and actions of their fervants, of which the Nabob had now given to dar gerous a

7

proof, was ftill more alarming than any other circumftance.

Nor was his conduct in other refpects, both then and after, wholly without fufpicions. Among other inftances which did not carry the most pleasing appearance, he removed his eldest fon, a Prince of a moderate temper, from all power, and from the command of his army, and placed it in the hands of his fecond fon, a young man who is reprefented as violent in his temper, and poffeffed of ability, with a ftrong fpirit of enterprize.

This violent depofition of the King of Tanjour, with all its circumitances, was fo contrary to the policy of the company, and to the fpirit of its orders, that it was immediately determined to restore him to his dominions; but the manner of carrying this defign into execution required fome confideration. It was not to be committed into the hands of those fervants, who had already set their feals upon the outrage and wrong; and who, if other motives did not even prevail, could fcarcely now retract from that decided part which they had already taken, and in which it was thought they had fo va a pledge of intereft. The company was far from wishing to fall out with the Nabob, if it could be avoided; nor were they difpofed to urge matters to any extremity with their fervants for what was pait. The reitoration was determined, as an act equally neceffar from the motives of justice, publi opinion, and good policy; bat they wished that all previous mat ters relative to it thould reft in oblivion, without further cenfare of enquiry.

It was therefore neceffary to fend fome perfon out as Governor and Pretident of Madrafs, who fhould carry full powers for the execution of this difficult and delicate commiffion; and it was equally neceffary, that the perfon fo fent, Should, befides the most unincorruptible integrity, poffefs a degree of weight and perfonal confequence, fufficient to imprefs a due fenfe of refpect on the Nabob, and to awe any factions that prevailed among their own fervants. A full knowledge of the company's affairs at home and abroad, with fach a flock of refolution and judgment as would be fufficient to reftore energy to their government on the coast of Coromandel, were matters fo effential in their nature, that no deficiency in any part could be dispensed with.

It could fcarcely be imagined, that the late Lord Pigot would not be looked too, as answering thefe ideas more fully than any other perfon that could be thought of, and as calculated in an extraordimary degree to give effect to all the purpofes of the company His brave defence of Madrass had given the first effectual check to the Views of the French in the East, and the first turn to fortune in our favour. To him the company were, perhaps, indebted for their now holding a fingle poffeffion in India; and to him the Nabob of Arcot was undoubtedly indebted for his prefent exalted fortune. His civil government had been as elebrated as his military exploits; and his private character had prokured him a very extenfive fhare of them. It was, not unreafonably, poled, that the appearance of a man, upon that ground

fuch

which had been the scene of his former power and glory, where his name and actions were still fresh and alive, and where the principal and most dangerous party was little more than the creature of his own making, would have been attended with diftinguished advantages; and that he might have performed thofe acts without envy or jealoufy, which would have been oppofed or refented in other hands.

In the mean time, the Nabob, with great forefight and art, was providing for every poffible, as well as expected confequence of the Tanjour bufinefs. The long interval that neceffarily elapfed before the arrival of Lord Pigot in his government afforded a full fcope for the exercife of his ability in intrigue. Although the part which they had already taken would neceffarily influence the conduct of the English prefidency, in wifhing or endeavouring to fupport or confirm their own former act, he thought it, however, prudent to intereft them ftill more deeply in the mealure of fecuring to him in perpetuity the poffeffion of the kingdom of Tanjour. He accordingly borrowed vaft fums of money from feveral members of the council, and fome others, whose weight and influence he thought might be neceflary towards the completion of his fcheme, and, is faid, directly or indirectly, to have mortgaged the revenues of Tanjour to them, as a fecurity both for the principal, and for a prodigious intereft ariling on it, which amounted annually to near one third of the original debt. To provide against the worst that mi hi happen, befides the pillage of the

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Rajah's