Brother to their present Governor, which are private Property and to remain in India The large supplies of Treasures sent from hence to Canton for some Years past, and the last Season in particular will we hope fully convince you, that the Utmost attention has been paid to your repeated Injunctions, for the Support of that Important Branch of your Trade We have empowered the Gentleman at Madras to draw upon us, without limitation until January next, and we are purchasing all the Bullion that comes into the place on the most moderate Terms for our next Consignment which we hope will be equal to that of last year, if we do not receive advice from the Gentleman at Canton to the Contrary whom we are informed have a very large Quantity on hand By the Lord Camden we acquainted you of our hopes that the Investment providing this Season would not fall short of Fifty Lacks. The utmost attention has been paid to the Improvement of the different Assortments of the Cloths, and at the End of the Year we shall as usual transmit to You our Remarks on the whole In May last the Gentlemen at Cassimburzar informed us that the successive Droughts the last Season had destroyed the greatest part of the Mulberry shrubs, whereby the Farmers were deprived of large Quantities of their Worms, for want of proper Nourishment which they apprehended might prove of Detriment to your Silk Investment, but we have the pleasure to advise you that they have already dispatched to us Goods to the Amount of Ten Lacks of Rupees, and we flatter ourselves we shall, before the dispatch of the latter Ships receive from Six to Seven Lacks more We acquainted you by the Lord Camden of the death of the Nabob Najam al Dowla on the 8th of May, and of his being succeeded in the Subadarree by his next Brother Syf o Dowlah. The Treaties subsisting between the late Nabob and the Company have been Ratified and Confirmed, and a new one entered into with the Nabob Syf o Dowlah, which has been executed in Four Copies one of which makes a Number in this Packet Immediately after the Dispatch of the Ponsborne and Admiral Watson in March, Lord Clive and General Carnac set out for the City to settle a Plan for the Collection of the Revenues and for other purposes, of which you will no doubt receive advice from the Select Committee, soon after the Arrival of his Lordship and the General at Mootagheel, we received a Letter from them and Mr Sykes acquainting us that the two Seats, Sons of those who were cut off by Cossim Aly Cawn, on Account of their Attachment to the English Company, had laid before them a claim amounting to between 50 & 60 Lacks of Rupees thirty of which have been lent to the Zemindars they did not think the Government answerable for but that their claim of 21 Lacks lent to the Nabob Meer Jaffier for the Support of his, and the English Army, they were of opinion was just and reasonable, however as it would be inconsistent with Equity now that the Revenues of the Country are appropriated to the Company to expect that the Nabob should pay the whole, they proposed that the said Sum should be discharged by the Company and the Nabob in equal Payments within the space of Ten years viz: One Lack of Rupees p Annum each for the first nine years, and one Lack and a half each for the Tenth or last year. We could not but acquiesce in the justness of this Proposal, and make no doubt but you will approve the same The Grand Pooucah was held at Mootagheel the 29 April last when his Excellency the late Nabob sate in Quality of Nizam, and the Right Honble the Presi dent on behalf of the Company as Duan We have the Pleasure to inform you that Shujah Dowla discharged three months before it became due his obligation to the Company for 50 Lacks of Rupees agreeably to the Treaty concluded in Allahabad the 16th August 1765. Although in the Treaty no particular Specie of Rupees is specified, the Nabob has paid 27 Lacks in Sunnaut Rupees which carry the highest Batta of any in his Dominions, and the Company by that means, and receiving the remaining 23 Lacks in Siccas have gained an advantage of one Lack and fifteen thousand Sunnaut Rupees a particular Statement of the said obligation shewing the times and manner of Payment appears on the Face of our Consultations By an account of the Jemmantbundy on new Measurement of part of the Calcutta Purgunnas lately deliver'd in by the Collection it appears that the Rent of them for the present Year clear of all Charges amounts to Sicca Rupees 662070 which exceeds the last year's Rent by 117458 and we hope a proportionable increase will arise from a remeasurement of the remaining Purgunnas which we have ordered to be compleated as soon as possible In our Letter by the Lord Camden we gave an Account of the extraordinary Combination the officers of our Army had enter'd into to force us to the necessity of restoring their double Batta which had been taken off from 1st January last, and of our having with much difficulty and Perseverance disappointed that pernicious Scheme which had it succeeded might have been attended with the most fatal Consequences to your affairs. We at the same time mentioned the Information that had been lodged against Lieut Col Sir Robt Fletcher as a principal instigator of that dishonourable Association in Consequence of which he had been put under an Arrest. That several other officers were to be tried for Mutiny and disobedience of orders, and that Captain Stainforth was likewise to take his Trial for having uttered threatening Expressions against the life of Lord Clive It is with the utmost Concern and Astonishment we find that Proofs have fully appeared of Sir Robert Fletcher's having not only connived, but even promoted the Military Combination in Consequence of which he has been Cashier'd and proceeds to England by this ship The other Courts Martial having been also concluded Copies thereof are transmitted in the Packet for your more particular Information The considerable Receipts of Cash from the Revenues you now enjoy have already enabled us to Pay off many of your Bonds, and to resolve to discharge the whole as they become due except in some particular Cases where the Dependance and support of the Parties is from the Interest of small sums in your Cash which we have permitted to remain till the last payments, or until your Pleasure can be Known. The Amount of this Ships Invoice is Current Rupees 1000400 The Ballance this Day remaining in your Treasury is Current Rupees 4477028-7-9 and in your Cash Chest Current Rupees 8217-2 We have drawn upon you by this Ship 91 Sets of Bills of Exchange at 365 Days sight, amounting to Current Rupees 493677-15, also 4 Sets of Certificates amounting to Current Rupees 38,274 Of the three Bombay ships to call at Madrass with Troops for this Settlement we find by a Letter from a Gentleman there dated the 20th Sept that the Anson & Speaker were arrived We shall have occasion for five Ships to carry home the Investment of this Presidency, and We understand that they have full Cargoes for three ships from the Coast Eight ships therefore are required for the Investment of the two settlements, and as you destined only four this Season for the Coast and Bay we have concerted Measures with the other two presidencies to provide for so great a Deficiency of Tonnage, in consequence of which the Governor and Council at Bombay have come to a Resolution of sending round to us the Duke of Albany & Nottingham from their side, and the Gentlemen at Madrass have advised us of their Intention to send on to us the Anson and Devonshire. If the four Bombay ships above mentioned, and the Pigot arrive safely with us We shall have seven ships including the Brittannia and Cruttendon now in Bengal and in that Case we shall provide the Gentlemen at Madrass with all the Tonnage they have desired, that is, two ships besides the Lord Camden already returned to the Coast But should We disappointed of one of the ships from Madrass or Bombay, we shall not be able to spare more than one and a half for Madrass besides the Camden, as we cannot possibly do with less than four and a half without exposing too much of the Company's Property upon one Bottom. LE GRAND G. CAPERS AND V. W. KINGSLEY TO HORACE GREELEY ON PEACE NEGOTIATIONS IN 1865. Printed from the original manuscripts in the Ford Collection, New York Public Library. NEW YORK March 20th 1865 IO WALL STREET Hon. HORACE GREELEY DEAR SIR; Having not fully understood to our satisfaction, why the various attempts to secure peace through negotiations, upon the basis of recession, have failed, and yet believing it possible to bring about that result upon a constitutional basis, we apply to you as the leading peace negotiator of your party, to co-operate with us in one more effort to accomplish reunion and peace. First. The negotiation of the President at the Conference, at Hampton. Roads, does not so far as known, preclude the possibility of reunion. The declarations of M Hunter since made, warrant the conclusion that our Government was too exacting in terms, and thereby repelled a peaceful settlement upon a basis other than separation. Second. The late Message of Mr Davis to the Rebel Congress, shows that the question of negotiation is still an open one on their part; in view of these facts, we submit to you, that this doubt can be settled fully and decisively, whether the South are prepared to settle our difficulties upon a basis of reunion under the constitution and with the rights that appertain to them as co-existing States of the Union; and to settle this question, once for all, as to what can be done in the way of peace, we suggest that yourself and M! Edwin Croswell, with such other person as you may select, shall go to Richmond, at the earliest days for this purpose, and put an end to finesse, and if possible to this war. We are advised that Mr. Croswell, who represents our Democratic views, is quite willing to co-operate with you, should the President consent and permit such a Committee to pass to Richmond for this end. We are the more solicitious because we think this an opportune moment to renew negotiations for peace and re-union, and history admonishes us not to rely too much upon the virtue of arms. Let us accept fortune when the tide is in our favor, and not push the war so far as may bring us reverse, and perchance disaster. Fully relying upon your patriotic efforts to save our country, we submit to you these considerations, trusting that you will prepare the way, and be one of the Gentlemen who shall at once repair to Richmond, under the protection of the Government Your note of the 22d was duly recd and in connection therewith your leader of that date and of to-day were attentively read. Nothing could be better to advance your purpose, and it would seem that the President acted upon the interview thus had with M Forney if one can judge that his present movement means anything. We have considered the matter of your letter and trust that the Presidents action has some relation to it; and if it should turn out differently as you will soon know through M Forney, then we suggest that you still press the question firmly in every way and if advisable go to Washington and see the President himself. We are not little surprised that Seward should stand in the way of peace, and that his organ here, The Times, should now as heretofore, resist any attempt to accomplish this end, save by continued Slaughter. Judging from this, we have not in any way sought an interview with any Republican excepting yourself. Should it be thought well to see any of the friends of Mr Seward do you think M: Weed would be the person to approach to advance the solution of the peace question; if so M: Croswell might seek an interview at the earliest opportunity. It is due to say to you that Mr Croswell seeks no part in this, and is only too desirous that no mistakes shall be made, through want of due precautions, and he does not in any way wish to take any active part. His personal relations with M: Weed are such as to enable him to discover his position upon this matter and should it yet be best to sound him and endeavour to get him to urge on M Seward he says he will do it. However the military negotiations sought through Gen Lee presents anew the direct and practical question of settlement. How can the administration refuse any longer to invest Lt Gen! Grant with ample power to meet Gen! Lee, in this conference for peace & here we trust you will stand firm and drive the Administration, if need be, to accept the opportunity to close, if possible, this devastating war. We believe your leader of the 22nd will cheer the great mass of men in the South and win to you their kind regards. It is in every way calculated to renew kindly relations among us and may your party have the wisdom to carry out its magnanimity to the letter & sustain constitutional rights. We have found that the North when elated with success might become domineering and exacting, and especially your party which has not loved the South as much as we of the Democratic side. Hence we appreciate the course you now take and know it will eventuate in good to the whole land. We thought this acknowledgement due to you at this time, the more particularly as our side of the house do not always so completely harmonize with you. We have no doubt from what we can see that a constitutional restoration of the Union, is within the grasp of the President, and he has but to seize this opportunity. If we can further any interview among the Sewardites we will do it so as not to involve you, if you think that the safe way & you can suggest what to do. If the Sewardites stand out, had not the truth better come out? One of your leaders declaring that Seward is the only obstacle to peace, would shake the timid Secretary, and bring him to terms, we think; or if you should think it better he can be attacked through the Democratic press We remain most truly &c LE GRAND G. CAPERS. |