ly be made for ten years certain, with the
notification of its being your intention to declare it a perpetual,
an unalterable assessment of these provinces, if the amount and the
principles upon which it has been made should meet with your
approbation':--whether your Lordship recollects to have written
something to the effect of these two last paragraphs, as well as of
the first?--_A._ I do recollect that I did write it; but in that
letter I alluded to the former system of annual assessments.--_Q._
Whether your Lordship recollects that you wrote, on or about the
18th of September, 1789, in one of your minutes, thus: 'I may
safely assert that one third of the Company's territory in
Hindostan is now a jungle, inhabited only by wild beasts: will a
ten years' lease induce any proprietor to clear away that jungle,
and encourage the ryot to come and cultivate his lands, when at the
end of that lease he must either submit to be taxed _ad libitum_
for the newly cultivated lands, or lose all hopes of deriving any
benefit from his labor, for which perhaps by that time he will
hardly be repaid?'--whether your Lordship recollects a minute to
that effect?--_A._ I perfectly recollect to have written that
minute.--_Q._ Now with respect to a letter, dated November the 3d,
1788, paragraph 38, containing the following sentiments: 'I shall
therefore only remark in general, that, from frequent changes of
system or other reasons, much is wanting to establish good order
and regulations in the internal business of the country, and that,
from various causes, by far the greatest part of the zemindars, and
other landholders and renters, are fallen into a state much below
that of wealth and affluence. This country, however, when the
fertility of its soil, and the industry and ingenuity of its
numerous inhabitants are taken into consideration, must
unquestionably be admitted to be one of the finest in the world;
and, with the uniform attention of government to moderation in
exaction, and to a due administration of justice, may long prove a
source of great riches both to the Company and to Britain.'
(Paragraph 39.) 'I am persuaded, that, by a train of judicious
measures, the land revenue of these provinces is capable in time of
being increased; but, consistent with the principle