第 17 节
作者:嘟嘟      更新:2021-04-30 16:07      字数:9322
  Dupleix; the French governor of Pondicherry; involved them in the
  wars of the Carnatic; and in the politics of the Indian princes。
  After many signal successes; and equally signal losses; they at
  last lost Madras; at that time their principal settlement in
  India。 It was restored to them by the Treaty of Aix…la…Chapelle;
  and about this time the spirit of war and conquest seems to have
  taken possession of their servants in India; and never since to
  have left them。 During the French war; which began in 1755; their
  arms partook of the general good fortune of those of Great
  Britain。 They defended Madras; took Pondicherry; recovered
  Calcutta; and acquired the revenues of a rich and extensive
  territory; amounting; it was then said; to upwards of three
  millions a year。 They remained for several years in quiet
  possession of this revenue: but in 1767; administration laid
  claim to their territorial acquisitions; and the revenue arising
  from them; as of right belonging to the crown; and the company;
  in compensation for this claim; agreed to pay the government four
  hundred thousand pounds a year。 They had before this gradually
  augmented their dividend from about six to ten per cent; that is;
  upon their capital of three millions two hundred thousand pounds
  they had increased it by a hundred and twenty…eight thousand
  pounds; or had raised it from one hundred and ninety…two thousand
  to three hundred and twenty thousand pounds a year。 They were
  attempting about this time to raise it still further; to twelve
  and a half per cent; which would have made their annual payments
  to their proprietors equal to what they had agreed to pay
  annually to government; or to four hundred thousand pounds a
  year。
  But during the two years in which their agreement with
  government was to take place; they were restrained from any
  further increase of dividend by two successive Acts of
  Parliament; of which the object was to enable them to make a
  speedier progress in the payment of their debts; which were at
  this time estimated at upwards of six or seven millions sterling。
  In 1769; they renewed their agreement with government for five
  years more; and stipulated that during the course of that period
  they should be allowed gradually to increase their dividend to
  twelve and a half per cent; never increasing it; however; more
  than one per cent in one year。 This increase of dividend;
  therefore; when it had risen to its utmost height; could augment
  their annual payments; to their proprietors and government
  together; but by six hundred and eight thousand pounds beyond
  what they had been before their late territorial acquisitions。
  What the gross revenue of those territorial acquisitions was
  supposed to amount to has already been mentioned; and by an
  account brought by the Cruttenden East Indiaman in 1768; the net
  revenue; clear of all deductions and military charges; was stated
  at two millions forty…eight thousand seven hundred and
  forty…seven pounds。 They were said at the same time to possess
  another revenue; arising partly from lands; but chiefly from the
  customs established at their different settlements; amounting to
  four hundred and thirty…nine thousand pounds。 The profits of
  their trade too; according to the evidence of their chairman
  before the House of Commons; amounted at this time to at least
  four hundred thousand pounds a year; according to that of their
  accountant; to at least five hundred thousand; according to the
  lowest account; at least equal to the highest dividend that was
  to be paid to their proprietors。 So great a revenue might
  certainly have afforded an augmentation of six hundred and eight
  thousand pounds in their annual payments; and at the same time
  have left a large sinking fund sufficient for the speedy
  reduction of their debts。 In 1773; however; their debts; instead
  of being reduced; were augmented by an arrear to the treasury in
  the payment of the four hundred thousand pounds; by another to
  the custom…house for duties unpaid; by a large debt to the bank
  for money borrowed; and by a fourth for bills drawn upon them
  from India; and wantonly accepted; to the amount of upwards of
  twelve hundred thousand pounds。 The distress which these
  accumulated claims brought upon them; obliged them not only to
  reduce all at once their dividend to six per cent; but to throw
  themselves upon the mercy of government; and to supplicate;
  first; a release from further payment of the stipulated four
  hundred thousand pounds a year; and; secondly; a loan of fourteen
  hundred thousand; to save them from immediate bankruptcy。 The
  great increase of their fortune had; it seems; only served to
  furnish their servants with a pretext for greater profusion; and
  a cover for greater malversation; than in proportion even to that
  increase of fortune。 The conduct of their servants in India; and
  the general state of their affairs both in India and in Europe;
  became the subject of a Parliamentary inquiry; in consequence of
  which several very important alternations were made in the
  constitution of their government; both at home and abroad。 In
  India their principal settlements of Madras; Bombay; and
  Calcutta; which had before been altogether independent of one
  another; were subjected to a governor…general; assisted by a
  council of four assessors; Parliament assuming to itself the
  first nomination of this governor and council who were to reside
  at Calcutta; that city having now become; what Madras was before;
  the most important of the English settlements in India。 The Court
  of the Mayor of Calcutta; originally instituted for the trial of
  mercantile causes which arose in city and neighbourhood; had
  gradually extended its jurisdiction with the extension of the
  empire。 It was now reduced and confined to the original purpose
  of its institution。 Instead of it a new supreme court of
  judicature was established; consisting of a chief justice and
  three judges to be appointed by the crown。 In Europe; the
  qualification necessary to entitle a proprietor to vote at their
  general courts was raised from five hundred pounds; the original
  price of a share in the stock of the company; to a thousand
  pounds。 In order to vote upon this qualification too; it was
  declared necessary that he should have possessed it; if acquired
  by his own purchase; and not by inheritance; for at least one
  year; instead of six months; the term requisite before。 The court
  of twenty…four directors had before been chosen annually; but it
  was now enacted that each director should; for the future; be
  chosen for four years; six of them; however; to go out of office
  by rotation every year; and not to be capable of being re…chosen
  at the election of the six new directors for the ensuing year。 In
  consequence of these alterations; the courts; both of the
  proprietors and directors; it was expected; would be likely to
  act with more dignity and steadiness than they had usually done
  before。 But it seems impossible; by any alterations; to render
  those courts; in any respect; fit to govern; or even to share in
  the government of a great empire; because the greater part of
  their members must always have too little interest in the
  prosperity of that empire to give any serious attention to what
  may promote it。 Frequently a man of great; sometimes even a man
  of small fortune; is willing to purchase a thousand pounds' share
  in India stock merely for the influence which he expects to
  acquire by a vote in the court of proprietors。 It gives him a
  share; though not in the plunder; yet in the appointment of the
  plunderers of India; the court of directors; though they make
  that appointment; being necessarily more or less under the
  influence of the proprietors; who not only elect those directors;
  but sometimes overrule the appointments of their servants in
  India。 Provided he can enjoy this influence for a few years; and
  thereby provide for a certain number of his friends; he
  frequently cares little about the dividend; or even about the
  value of the stock upon which his vote is founded。 About the
  prosperity of the great empire; in the government of which that
  vote gives him a share; he seldom cares at all。 No other
  sovereigns ever were; or; from the nature of things; ever could
  be; so perfectly indifferent about the happiness or misery of
  their subjects; the improvement or waste of their dominions; the
  glory or disgrace of their administration; as; from irresistible
  moral causes; the greater part of the proprietors of such a
  mercantile company are; and necessarily must be。 This
  indifference; too; was more likely to be increased than
  diminished by some of the new regulations which were made in
  consequence of the Parliamentary inquiry。 By a resolution of the
  House of Commons; for example; it was declared; that when the
  fourteen hundred thousand pounds lent to the company by
  government should be paid; and their bond…debts be reduced to
  fifteen hundred tho