The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 09 (of 12) by Edmund Burke
page 90 of 440 (20%)
page 90 of 440 (20%)
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found this consolation therein, that it was complying with the pleasure
of the Honorable Company, and in the hope that the Supreme Council would make inquiry from impartial persons into my distressed situation; but I am now forced to a representation. From the _great increase of expense_, the revenues were necessarily farmed out _at a high rate;_ and deficiencies followed yearly. The country and cultivation is abandoned; and this year in particular, from the excessive drought, deductions of many lacs" (stated by the Resident, in his letter to the board of the 13th of the month following, to amount to twenty-five lac, or 250,000_l._ sterling) "have been allowed the farmers, who were still left unsatisfied. I have received but just sufficient to support my absolute necessities, the revenues being deficient to the amount of fifteen lac [150,000_l._ sterling], and for this reason many of the old chieftains with their troops, and the useful attendants of the court, were forced to leave it, and there is now only a few foot and horse for the collection of my revenues; and should the zemindars be refractory, there is not left a sufficient number to reduce them to obedience." And the said Nabob did therefore pray that the assignments for the new brigade, the corps of horse, and the other detached bodies of the Company's troops might not be required from him: alleging, "that the former was not only quite useless to his government, but, moreover, the cause of much loss, both in the revenues and customs; and that the detached bodies of troops under their European officers brought nothing but confusion into the affairs of his government, and were entirely their own masters." VI. That it appears that the said Nabob was not bound by any treaty to the maintenance, without his consent, _even of the old brigade_,--the Court of Directors having, in their letter of the 15th December, 1775, approved of keeping the same in his service, "_provided it was done with |
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