e, and depopulation overspread the face of these once
flourishing provinces.

The Company was very early sensible of these mischiefs, and of their
true cause. They gave precise orders, "that the native princes, called
polygars, should _not be extirpated_." "The rebellion" (so they choose
to call it) "of the polygars may, they fear, _with, too much justice_,
be attributed to the maladministration of the Nabob's collectors." "They
observe with concern, that their troops have been put to _disagreeable_
services." They might have used a stronger expression without
impropriety. But they make amends in another place. Speaking of the
polygars, the Directors say that "it was repugnant to humanity to
_force_ them to such dreadful extremities _as they underwent";_ that
some examples of severity _might_ be necessary, "when they fell into
the Nabob's hands," _and not by the destruction of the country_; "that
_they fear_ his government is _none of the mildest_, and that there is
_great oppression_ in collecting his revenues." They state, that the
wars in which he has involved the Carnatic had been a cause of its
distresses; "that those distresses have been certainly great, but those
by _the Nabob's oppressions_ they believe _to be greater than all_."
Pray, Sir, attend to the reason for their opinion that the government of
this their instrument is more calamitous to the country than the ravages
of war:--Because, say they, his oppressions are "_without intermission_;
the others are temporary;--by all which _oppressions_ we believe the
Nabob has great wealth in store." From this store neither he nor they
could derive any advantage whatsoever, upon the invasion of Hyder Ali,
in the hour of their greatest calamity and dismay.

It is now proper to compare these declarations with the Company's
conduct. The principal reason which they assigned against the
_extirpation_ of the polygars was, that the _weavers_ were protected in
their fortresses. They might have added, that the Company itself, which
stung them to death, had been warmed in the bosom of these unfortunate
princes: for, on the taking of Madras by the French, it was in their
hospitable pollams that most of the inhabitants found refuge and
protection. But notwithstanding all these orders, reasons, and
declarations, they at length gave an indirect sanction, and permitted
the use of a very direct and irresistible force, to measures which they
had over and over again declared to be fa