The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 08 (of 12) by Edmund Burke
page 32 of 445 (07%)
page 32 of 445 (07%)
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object of them for the highest trust which they have to bestow. If Mr.
Stuart was really guilty, the possession of this post must furnish him not only with the means of renewing the former evil practices charged upon him, and of executing them upon a still larger scale, but of oppressing those unhappy persons who, under the supposed protection of the faith of the Company, had appeared to give evidence concerning his former misdemeanors. This attempt in the Directors was the more surprising, when it is considered that two committees of this House were at that very time sitting upon an inquiry that related directly to their conduct, and that of their servants in India. [Sidenote: Mr. Sulivan's situation at the time of his appointment.] It was in the same spirit of defiance of Parliament, that at the same time they nominated Mr. Sulivan, son to the then Chairman of the Court of Directors, to the succession to the same high trust in India. On these appointments, your Committee thought it proper to make those inquiries which the Court of Directors thought proper to omit. They first conceived it fitting to inquire what rank Mr. Sulivan bore in the service; and they thought it not unnecessary here to state the gradations in the service, according to the established usage of the Company. The Company's civil servants generally go to India as _writers_, in which capacity they serve the Company _five years_. The next step, in point of rank, is to be a _factor_, and next to that a _junior merchant_; in each of which capacities they serve the Company _three years_. They then rise to the rank of _senior merchant_, in which |
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