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"that such an account will be acceptable to the House, not only as shewing the importance and utility of the establishments themselves to the wel"fare and order of the country, but as evincing the "unremitting anxiety that has influenced the efforts "of those to whom the government of our Indian "possessions has been consigned, to establish a sys"tem of administration best calculated to promote the "confidence and conciliate the feelings of the native inhabitants, not less by a respect for their own "institutions, than by the endeavour gradually to engraft upon them such improvements as might shield, "under the safeguard of equal law, every class of the people from the oppressions of power, and commu"nicate to them that sense of protection and assu"rance of justice, which is the efficient spring of all public prosperity and happiness."

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After entering into a minute detail of the various points embraced in their extensive inquiry, the Committee state, that "an attentive consideration of the "information which the documents afford has led your "Committee to believe, that the administration of "the British Government proved, at an early period "of its introduction, beneficial to the natives of India "residing under its protection. By the superiority of "the British arms they became at once secured from "the calamities frequently experienced in successive "invasions of the Mahrattas; internal commotion was by the same cause entirely prevented; and if their "condition was not sooner brought to that state of improvement which the character of the nation un"der whose dominion they had fallen afforded reason "to expect, the delay may be satisfactorily accounted "for, on grounds that will free those who were immediately

diately responsible from any charge of negligence or "misconduct."

And, in conclusion, adverting to the system of government generally: "Although the view given in the "foregoing part of this Report may shew that certain

imperfections are still found in the system of "internal government in the Bengal provinces, yet it can, in the opinion of your Committee, admit of "no question, whether the dominion exercised by the "East-India Company has, on the whole, been bene"ficial to the natives. If such a question were pro"posed, your Committee must decidedly answer it in "the affirmative. The strength of the government of "British India, directed as it has been, has had the "effect of securing its subjects as well from foreign

depredation as from internal commotion. This is "an advantage rarely experienced by the subjects of "Asiatic states; and, combined with a domestic ad"ministration more just in its principles, and exer"cised with far greater integrity and ability than the "native one that preceded it, may sufficiently account "for the improvements that have taken place; and "which in the Bengal provinces, where peace has been

enjoyed for a period of time perhaps hardly paral"lelled in Oriental history, have manifested them"selves in the ameliorated condition of the great mass "of the population; although certain classes may "have been depressed by the indispensable policy of "a foreign government. The nature and circum"stances of our situation prescribes narrow limits to "the prospects of the natives in the political and military branches of the public service. Strictly speaking, however, they were foreigners who generally enjoyed the great offices in those departments,

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❝even under the Mogul government; but to agricul"ture and commerce every encouragement is afforded "under a system of laws, the prominent object of "which is to protect the weak from oppression, and to "secure to every individual the fruits of his industry. "The country, as may be expected, has under these "circumstances exhibited in every part of it, improve"ment on a general view, advancing with accelerated 66 progress in later times."

Such are the deliberate and recorded opinions of a Committee of the House of Commons, who spared no labour in entering fully into the subject which they undertook to examine. It is to be observed, that the opinion of the Committee is not simply confined to any one branch of the system, for it is broadly and unequivocally declared, that "it admits of no question, "whether the dominion exercised by the East-India "Company has been beneficial to the natives."

Hence it will be perceived from what has already been stated, that so far from "scarce a moment's time having been devoted to it," inquiry by Parliament the most minute and extended accompanied each renewal of the exclusive privileges enjoyed by the Company; and it is a curious fact, that out of fifteen folio volumes of reports of committees of the House of Commons, during a period of nearly one hundred years, commencing from the year 1700, and printed by order of the House in 1803, five of by far the largest volumes relate entirely to the affairs of India. These are exclusive of the five subsequent reports laid before the House between 1805 and 1813; and the result of the inquiries has proved that the government confided to the East-India Company has been of unquestionable benefit to India and to its inhabitants.

IN

In condemning the line of policy which has been observed by the Company for the purpose of preventing an unlimited influx of Europeans into India, the imaginary benefits which an opposite principle would confer upon the natives are then pointed out and strongly insisted upon. It was observed:

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"There are in India no such guardians as a middle "class; no such guardians as those persons, who having embarked in trade and manufactures, de"pending for success in business on peace and tran"quillity, looking to the security of the personal property for the realization of future fortune, are consequently deeply interested in the maintenance of order, and would oppose any act that was likely to "disturb it. On one side, the interest of those indi"viduals would lead them to protect the natives from " oppression; while, on the other, their feelings would "operate with equal strength, supporting order and authority. If the natives want any set of men to "protect them, let a body of Europeans be invited to "that country to strengthen its connexion with this.”*

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The opinions of the much and deservedly lamented prelate, the late Bishop Heber, were then referred to in support of the above propositions; whilst, at the same time, opinions coming from the self-same source, and which militate against such propositions, were passed by as ideas "formed upon information which he "had received from others rather than to have been "guided by his own experience on the subject." How stand the facts?

Bishop Heber reached Calcutta in October 1823.

At

* Debate in the House of Commons on the Stamp question, 17th June 1828.

At the close of January 1824, evidently referring to the Europeans connected with Calcutta or its immediate environs, he expressed himself as follows:

"With regard to the questions which have lately "occupied a good deal of the public attention, the "free press, and the power of sending back Europeans "to England at pleasure, so far as these bear on the "condition of the natives, and the probable tranquillity of the country, I have more to say than I have now time for. On the whole, I think it still desirable

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that, in this country, the newspapers should be li"censed by government; though, from the increased "interest which the Hindoos and Mussulmans take "in politics, and the evident fermentation which, either "for good or evil, is going on in the public mind, I ❝ do not think the measure can be long continued. "But the power of deportation is, I am convinced, "essential to the public peace. Many of the adven"turers who come hither from Europe are the great"est profligates the sun ever saw; men whom nothing "but despotism can manage, and who, unless they "were really under a despotic rule, would insult, "beat, and plunder the natives without shame or pity. "Even now, many instances occur of insult and mis"conduct, for which the prospect of immediate em"barkation for Europe is the most effectual precaution "or remedy. It is, in fact, the only control which "the Company possesses over the tradesmen and ship-builders in Calcutta, and the indigo planters up "the country."

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Admitting that so much as related to the indigo planters up the country was derived at that time from information, the Bishop, in March 1825, fifteen months subsequently, after having passed through the eastern,

northern,