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tributed, confiderably, to leffen the great demand which was made by those states, for the produce of Bengal, when Dehli and Ispahan enjoyed reigns of grandeur and vigour. When it is confidered, that the Moghul court, whether in it's fplendour or wealth, exceeded that of all other nations; that the numerous governors, interfperfed throughout the provinces, adopted the manners of fovereign princes and that all their more luxurious articles of drefs were fabricated in Bengal; we must conclude, that the difcontinuation of fuch a traffic has produced strong effects. In defcribing this commercial event, which has brought an evident change in the quality of the trade of Bengal, I am not authorized, by any fpecific knowledge, to say, that a general injury has been felt by the country; prehaps, the loffes which have been sustained are counterpoised by the augmentation of the cargoes, though of a different species, which are now transported, annually, to Europe.

HAVING already noticed the large influx of European fpecie, or bullion, in this country, and the cause of the ceffation of this traffic, I will offer some desultory sentiments, on the subject of the diminution of the coin in Bengal, of which, grevious complaints have long existed. During the Mahometan administration, private wealth was usually expended on the fpot where it had been acquired; and though feverity and oppreffion might have been exercised in the accumulation, yet, by it's quick circulation, through the many channels of luxury, the country at large was improved and embellished, without any decrcafe of the general currency. It

may

may be urged, that the expenditure of Europeans, in their public and private buildings, has, adequately, supplied the wants of the artizan and labourer. But, I am led to hazard an opinion, that this amount falls much fhort of that applied by the preceding princes to the conftruction of mofques, baths, Hindoo temples, grand refervoirs of water, fpacious gardens, together with a variety of costly private edifices. These modes of expence are neither adapted to the genius, or inclination, of Europeans, who have no religious paffion to gratify, nor are they impelled, by patriot zeal, to raise monuments of grandeur in India; but holding themselves the moveable tenants of the day, they are eager to reach their native home, that they may there enjoy the fruits of their labour.

As the remittance of English property to Europe could not be fufficiently attained, by means of public bills, the fervants of the Company, and private merchants, have been often driven to the neceffity of exporting fpecie, though fuch a medium be attended with heavy lofs; or they are induced to throw their cash into foreign funds, whereby their enemies, or at least, their rivals, are enriched. The injurious tendency of this limitation of public remittance, having been so severely felt, and repeatedly represented to the fuperior Government in England, it is to be expected that the channel of conveying property from India, will be opened in fo efficient a manner, that the neceffity of pursuing, in future the destructive alternative of exporting gold and filver, or employing foreign agents, will be, wholly, obviated. As the private cash taken up in

India will be invested in Indian produce, and fent to Europe, for the express purpose of discharging the bills drawn; the position is clear, excepting in the event of unforeseen calamity, that the fales of the cargoes, in Europe, will enable the East India Company to discharge the requifite payments. In teftimony of the vast inherent refource of Bengal, it is necessary to observe, that the wealth of this province, which has fupported, by its millions, the Coromandel and Malabar coasts, foreign and domestic wars, and the trade of China and Bencoolen, must have been accumulated in the space of fixty or feventy years.

FROM the period of Arungzebe's death,* until nearly the date of our territorial establishments in India, when the Moghul Empire still preserved a large poffeffion of its power, the balance of the revenues of Bengal, was punctually conveyed, in specie and† Bills, to the Imperial treasury. The remittance of this amount has been known to cause fo great a scarcity of money, that many persons, poffeffed of even large property, have incurred difficulties, in defraying their domeftic expences. Though the maritime commerce of Bengal does not maintain the vigor which accompanied it, whilft the Europeans were confined to the coafts of India, and exercifed fimply the profeffion of merchants, a brifk and important trade is yet carried on at Calcutta. The advantageous traffic that fub

This Prince died, A. D. 1707.

+ A crore of rupees, or million fterling, has been fent in the course of one year from Bengal to Delhi.

fifted formerly between this port and Pegue, Siam, and the Malay iflands, now feebly remains; and, unless fome favourable change is. speedily effected, bears the appearance of a total failure. Though these branches of commerce, filver bullion, gold-duft and precious ftones, were introduced into Bengal; from whence, in return> raw and wrought filks, coarse cotton cloths, opium, and falt petre,: were exported. It hath alfo been alledged, that, within thefe late years, the maritime trade of Bengal has received a check from an embargo, or, what is tantamount, an exceffive high duty laid on the importation of foreign falt. This restriction has reduced the number: of ships, and leffened the confiderable exportation of grain, which, before that period, annually took place at the port of Calcutta :: yet, though it may have injured the exterior commerce, the revenue of the Ganges falt has been increased, by this restriction, to an amount never produced at any former period. It is painful, perhaps not just, to expatiate on the defects, or the misfortunes of a country, and hold them out to public view; without propofing remedies for the ills that are exhibited. The scantiness of my local knowledge, will only permit me to fay, that as the welfare of the British dominion in India, ultimately depends on the prosperity of Bengal, no labour should be thought irksome, no rational plan left untried, which may improve its revenne, or encourage its trade.

ON the 29th of May I arrived at Berhampore. In this cantonment, which is large and commodious, are ftationed three regiments of fepoys, and a battalion of Europeans. On the 15th of

June,

June, made an excursion to Mooreshedabad, and it's environs, that I might view the theatre on which those interesting schemes had been agitated, which, after a series of intrigue and blood-fhed, advanced the English to the dominion of a wealthy kingdom.

4

Ar the distance of a mile below the city, and on the oppofite bank of the river, ftands the burying place of Ali Verdy Khan, known also in India by the name of Mahobut Jung; a man, who, by his abilities as a foldier and a statesman, raised himself from a private condition, to the Subahdarry of Bengal. He maintained an obftinate war with the Mahrattas, for the space of eight years, and was, after an obftinate struggle, obliged to cede to them the diftricts of Kuttack.

NOT far from the tomb of Mahobut Jung, lies interred his nephew, Seraje-ud-Dowlah, well known in English history, by his capture of Fort William, and afterwards, confining the unfortunate garrison in a close dungeon; where moft of them died from the feverity of their fituation. The fate of this young man was fimilar to that of many an Eastern Prince; of fuch, especially, who experience a reverse of fortune.-Seraje-ud-Dowlah was betrayed: by Meer Jaffier, at the battle of Plassey, and assassinated a short time after, by his order. Were the conduct of Meer Jaffier to be tried by the law of natural affections, or by the rules of private honor, it must appear tainted with a die of deep hue. Mahobut Jung, thinking to fecure to his fucceffor the attachment of Meer Jaffier, bestowed on this officer, the highest office of Government,

VOL. I.

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