按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
forty…seven pounds。 They were said at the same time to possess
another revenue； arising partly from lands； but chiefly from the
customs established at their different settlements； amounting to
four hundred and thirty…nine thousand pounds。 The profits of
their trade too； according to the evidence of their chairman
before the House of Commons； amounted at this time to at least
four hundred thousand pounds a year； according to that of their
accountant； to at least five hundred thousand； according to the
lowest account； at least equal to the highest dividend that was
to be paid to their proprietors。 So great a revenue might
certainly have afforded an augmentation of six hundred and eight
thousand pounds in their annual payments； and at the same time
have left a large sinking fund sufficient for the speedy
reduction of their debts。 In 1773； however； their debts； instead
of being reduced； were augmented by an arrear to the treasury in
the payment of the four hundred thousand pounds； by another to
the custom…house for duties unpaid； by a large debt to the bank
for money borrowed； and by a fourth for bills drawn upon them
from India； and wantonly accepted； to the amount of upwards of
twelve hundred thousand pounds。 The distress which these
accumulated claims brought upon them； obliged them not only to
reduce all at once their dividend to six per cent； but to throw
themselves upon the mercy of government； and to supplicate；
first； a release from further payment of the stipulated four
hundred thousand pounds a year； and； secondly； a loan of fourteen
hundred thousand； to save them from immediate bankruptcy。 The
great increase of their fortune had； it seems； only served to
furnish their servants with a pretext for greater profusion； and
a cover for greater malversation； than in proportion even to that
increase of fortune。 The conduct of their servants in India； and
the general state of their affairs both in India and in Europe；
became the subject of a Parliamentary inquiry； in consequence of
which several very important alternations were made in the
constitution of their government； both at home and abroad。 In
India their principal settlements of Madras； Bombay； and
Calcutta； which had before been altogether independent of one
another； were subjected to a governor…general； assisted by a
council of four assessors； Parliament assuming to itself the
first nomination of this governor and council who were to reside
at Calcutta； that city having now become； what Madras was before；
the most important of the English settlements in India。 The Court
of the Mayor of Calcutta； originally instituted for the trial of
mercantile causes which arose in city and neighbourhood； had
gradually extended its jurisdiction with the extension of the
empire。 It was now reduced and confined to the original purpose
of its institution。 Instead of it a new supreme court of
judicature was established； consisting of a chief justice and
three judges to be appointed by the crown。 In Europe； the
qualification necessary to entitle a proprietor to vote at their
general courts was raised from five hundred pounds； the original
price of a share in the stock of the company； to a thousand
pounds。 In order to vote upon this qualification too； it was
declared necessary that he should have possessed it； if acquired
by his own purchase； and not by inheritance； for at least one
year； instead of six months； the term requisite before。 The court
of twenty…four directors had before been chosen annually； but it
was now enacted that each director should； for the future； be
chosen for four years； six of them； however； to go out of office
by rotation every year； and not to be capable of being re…chosen
at the election of the six new directors for the ensuing year。 In
consequence of these alterations； the courts； both of the
proprietors and directors； it was expected； would be likely to
act with more dignity and steadiness than they had usually done
before。 But it seems impossible； by any alterations； to render
those courts； in any respect； fit to govern； or even to share in
the government of a great empire； because the greater part of
their members must always have too little interest in the
prosperity of that empire to give any serious attention to what
may promote it。 Frequently a man of great； sometimes even a man
of small fortune； is willing to purchase a thousand pounds' share
in India stock merely for the influence which he expects to
acquire by a vote in the court of proprietors。 It gives him a
share； though not in the plunder； yet in the appointment of the
plunderers of India； the court of directors； though they make
that appointment； being necessarily more or less under the
influence of the proprietors； who not only elect those directors；
but sometimes overrule the appointments of their servants in
India。 Provided he can enjoy this influence for a few years； and
thereby provide for a certain number of his friends； he
frequently cares little about the dividend； or even about the
value of the stock upon which his vote is founded。 About the
prosperity of the great empire； in the government of which that
vote gives him a share； he seldom cares at all。 No other
sovereigns ever were； or； from the nature of things； ever could
be； so perfectly indifferent about the happiness or misery of
their subjects； the improvement or waste of their dominions； the
glory or disgrace of their administration； as； from irresistible
moral causes； the greater part of the proprietors of such a
mercantile company are； and necessarily must be。 This
indifference； too； was more likely to be increased than
diminished by some of the new regulations which were made in
consequence of the Parliamentary inquiry。 By a resolution of the
House of Commons； for example； it was declared； that when the
fourteen hundred thousand pounds lent to the company by
government should be paid； and their bond…debts be reduced to
fifteen hundred thousand pounds； they might then； and not till
then； divide eight per cent upon their capital； and that whatever
remained of their revenues and net profits at home should be
divided into four parts； three of them to be paid into the
exchequer for the use of the public； and the fourth to be
reserved as a fund either for the further reduction of their
bond…debts； or for the discharge of other contingent exigencies
which the company might labour under。 But if the company were bad
stewards； and bad sovereigns； when the whole of their net revenue
and profits belonged to themselves； and were at their own
disposal； they were surely not likely to be better when
three…fourths of them were to belong to other people； and the
other fourth； though to be laid out for the benefit of the
company； yet to be so under the inspection and with the
approbation of other people。
It might be more agreeable to the company that their own
servants and dependants should have either the pleasure of