Travels in India (Tavernier) 85.3.8

85.3.8

It is true that some years ago the General at Batavia and his Council, seeing the injury this did to the Company, wrote to the Directors that they may send people to India of whatever quality they please, but that they should not send any more with recommendations; that in the future they would be of no avail, but would rather injure the advancement of their friends, it not being fair that favour should precede merit; that the General and his Council had sufficiently good eyes to recognise the fitness of those sent, and would employ them according as they were worthy and as it was considered proper. These are all the remarks which I have been able to make in reference to the discipline of the Factories and the methods that a new Company ought to observe for its establishment in the East Indies.