for six-and-thirty
days, was then in camp, independently of nearly an equal quantity
reported by the benjarries (bullock-owners) to be in their possession,
and which they had been ordered to retain for the public service. No
issues had been authorized from this stock, and the belief that it
existed prevented my feeling any uneasiness on the subject of
provisions, although I knew the amount in _Major Hart's_ charge was
nearly expended. The measurement of the rice on the 15th of April, in
the course of delivery (not by, observe, because) to Major Hart,
produced the FIRST suspicion of this enormous deficiency, and the
report of it, when ascertained the succeeding day, the consequent
alarm." Papers, p. 75.

Nor is Lord Harris here alluding towards the whole, but rather to the
close of Captain Macleod's Report, where it is stated that "the private
and public rice would feed 30,000 men for thirty-three (or, as Lord
Harris says, thirty-six) days, exclusive of Major Hart's department. It
is supposed Major Hart has 7000 bullock-loads, which would be ten seers
each to 30,000 men. (Signed) William Macleod, Superintendant of
Supplies." Papers, p. 82.

From these several extracts we have now to gather, that if, on the 5th
of April, Major Hart had ten seers each man, equal to ten days rice, at
whole allowance, on the 15th he would have no bullock-loads, whatever,
remaining "in his possession." Wherefore, from the 16th of April to the
6th of May, (see in page. 17,) and, further, from this last date to the
18th following, (see in page 18), the fraud on the rice, "then in
camp," must have been, not only "exclusive of Major Hart's department,"
but in that of Captain Macleod, from whose stock "no issues had been
authorized." We have now to observe, that the real question becomes, not
whether Major Hart could hold private as well as public grain? but,
whether this could be done by Captain Macleod, and by him after his
having returned in his report both classes of grain as "the property of
government?" And we presume, once for all, on this nice point, that
there will not be urged the existence of one sort of regulation for a
Commissary of _Provisions_, as Captain Macleod is sometimes called, and
another for a Commissiary of _Grain_, as Major Hart is always called.

Contending that he ordered his private grain from Madras, less for
the army than for his private followers of it, Major Hart would rest
his order upon the affidavit of one of