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Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, with Some Early Nineteenth Century Documents c6: Documents

Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, with Some Early Nineteenth Century Documents c6

Language
English

Contents

Documents

I. Official Narrative of Events

A. Events at Benaras

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*I.A.1. Collector of Benares to Acting Magistrate*

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W. W. Bird Esq., Acting Magistrate of the City of Benares

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Sir,

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In order to carry into execution in the city of Benares the rates laid down in Regulation XV, 1810 for the establishment of a tax on houses and shops, permit me to solicit your interference to give the utmost publicity to the said Regulation which it is incumbent on all householders to be aware of, both to induce their ready compliance with the demands which will be made on them when the assessment shall have been concluded and approved of, and to enable me to obtain, in the first instance, the necessary information as to the number of tenements & c and general rates of rent by which the said assessment is to be fixed. It is my wish, both in commencing the previous enquiries and in proceeding to levy the tax, that every precaution shall be adopted in concert with you to avoid creating disgust or giving rise to complaints.

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I propose to depute two or more respectable persons, assessors, to take an account of the houses and shops in each mehulla and to compute, as accurately as can at first be expected without too rigid a scrutiny, the usual rates of rent of each.

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If the proprietors and occupants, in consequence of the notice given them by the present proposed promulgation of the Regulation, will be induced to furnish a faithful account of the rents they receive and pay, I hope it will not be necessary for my officers to make any entry in order to ascertain the rates of tax to be levied, by personal survey of the premises.

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In instances of obstacle or impediments on the part of the house-holders I shall enjoin the officers to take no steps without particular instructions from me, and if it should be expedient, I shall communicate with you on such occasions in order to compel acquiescence.

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If it could be possible to allow a police officer of each ward or mehulla to accompany the persons deputed on this service until the numbers of the houses & c shall be taken, I can conceive it might prevent improper disputes and would facilitate the introduction of the tax.

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I beg leave to enclose for distribution to the several thannahs of the city and its suburbs 10 transcripts of the Regulation and will supply more hereafter. It will be desirable that a copy for general perusal should be allowed to be taken by individuals at pleasure.

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I shall likewise acquaint you, hereafter, with the names of the assessors I may employ and of the mehullas where I first propose to send them.

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Section IV of the Regulation in question having constituted the extent of the operation of this tax to be the limits fixed under Regulation X, 1810, permit me to request that you will acquaint me with the line of demarcation which may have been notified to you by the Collector of Town Duties agreeably to section VII of the last mentioned Regulation.

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Benares Collectorship I have & c November 26, 1810 W. O. Salmon, Collector

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*I.A.2. Collector of Benares to Acting Magistrate*

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W.W. Bird Esq., Acting Magistrate of City of Benares

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Sir,

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With reference to my letter of 26th ultimo, I beg leave to acquaint you that I have committed the charge of numbering the houses, (i.e., reckoning them by account, not affixing marks of numbers which at first might be obnoxious to the inhabitants) in the city of Benares to Mohummud Tukkee Khan, a native of rank, reputation and ability, in whom I have full confidence that the service will be performed with equal fidelity to Government, as with all consistent attention and consideration towards the natives.

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I have to solicit the favour of you to furnish me as speedily as possible with perwannahs to all the thannadars of the city wards and the suburbs enjoining them to afford the utmost assistance to and cooperation with Mohummud Tukkee Khan and the moosuddies whom he may have occasion to depute under his immediate superintendence. It is my intention to entrust these perwannahs to Mohummud Tukkee Khan who will send them to the said thannadars as he commences upon their divisions, and he will at the same time notify to them the names of the moosuddies to be employed in each mehulla. I believe he will commence with Tallua Nallah.

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Benares Collectorship December 6, 1810

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I am & c W.O. Salmon, Collector

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*I.A.3. Acting Magistrate to Collector, Benares*

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W.O. Salmon Esq., Collector of Benares

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Sir,

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I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 26th ultimo and 6th instant.

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2. The copies of Regulation XV, 1810 have been distributed at the several thannahs in the city, and the thannahdars directed to allow copies to be taken by all who may desire it.

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3. The thannahdars have also been directed to point out to the assessors of the house tax the extent of their respective wards, to furnish them with such information as from local experience they may possess, and generally to promulgate that your officers appointed under Regulation XV, 1810 are acting by the authority of Government.

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4. I have not, however, instructed the native officers of police to accompany the persons deputed by you on this service, as I apprehend, that their direct or indirect interference with the assessment, would be liable to abuses as well as objectionable to the inhabitants. Should any obstacle or impediment on the part of the householders be opposed to your officers in the legal execution of their duties, I shall, of course, upon intimation from you, issue specific instructions to the officers of police to enforce acquiescence.

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5. I have the pleasure to enclose a copy of the paper transmitted to me by the Collector of Town Duties, under section VIII, Regulation X, 1810.

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City of Benares December 11, 1810

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I am & c W.W. Bird, Acting Magistrate

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*I.A.4. Acting Magistrate, Benares to Government*

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G. Dowdeswell Esq., Secretary to Government, Judicial Department. Fort William

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Sir,

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I should not be justified in withholding from the knowledge of the Right Hon'ble, the Governor-General-in-Council, that a very serious situation has been excited among all ranks and descriptions of the inhabitants of the city by the promulgation of Regulation XV, 1810.

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2. The petitions (copies of which will be separately dispatched to you by today's dawk) have been presented to me by the inhabitants collectively, who are surrounding me in crowds, imploring me to report their situation for the consideration of Government.

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3. All the petitions are directed to obtain exemption from the tax on houses, which is extended to Benares by the Regulation in question. They set forth generally the inability of the petitioners to bear the burden which it imposes. They state that the stagnation of trade has deprived them of employment, that the town duties levied under Regulation X, 1810 have enhanced the price of every article of consumption, and that their houses are already subjected to an assessment for the support of the police from which any other city, but this in India is exempted.

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4. It will appear to Government I apprehend, that the difficulty of procuring employment, and the enhanced price of articles of consumption, form no sufficient grounds for specially exempting the inhabitants of this city from the tax imposed by the Regulation; the same grounds of exemption could perhaps be urged with equal justice by every other city and town to which the Regulation has been extended.

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5. But it may appear at the same time that some remission might be granted to the petitioners, in consideration of the tax to which their houses are already subjected for the support of the police. The local watchmen stationed at the Phatucks or gateways in this city, are maintained by the inhabitants of the wards to which the gateways respectively belong, who contributed to defray the expense in proportion to the number and description of their houses. The monthly contribution raised from 10,241 houses which are assessed under this arrangement amounts to 1,334-6-10½. This sum is considerable, and will press heavily on the householders in addition to the tax from which they claim to be exempted.

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6. The people are extremely clamorous; they have shut up their shops, abandoned their usual occupations, and assemble in multitudes with a view to extort from me an immediate compliance with their demands, and to prevail with me to direct the Collector to withdraw the assessors until I receive the orders of Government. With this demand I have not thought proper to comply. I have signified to the people that their petitions shall be transmitted to the Government, but that until the orders of Government arrive, the Regulation must continue in force, and that I shall oppose every combination to resist it. By conceding to the general clamour I should only have encouraged expectation which must be eventually disappointed, and have multiplied the difficulties which the introduction of the tax has already to contend with.

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7. The agitation this evening has been so considerable that I felt it necessary to intimate to Major-General Macdonald the possibility of my being compelled to apply for military assistance. Towards night, however the multitude dispersed, and I hope yet to be able to pacify them and induce them to return to their usual pursuits, without resorting to coercion.

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City of Benares I have & c December 25, 1810, 8 O'Clock

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I.A.5. Acting Magistrate, Benares to Government

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Sir,

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On the 25th instant, I had the honour to communicate to you the very serious agitation which had been excited among all ranks and description of the inhabitants of Benares, and the course which I intended to observe for the purpose of subduing it.

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2. The tumultuous mobs which were collected in various places between the city and Secrole on the evening of the 20th instant, and which dispersed on the first appearance of preparations among the troops, did not reassemble on the morning of the 26th, and I was induced to hope that the people in general were disposed to return to order and obedience.

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3. But in the afternoon the agitation was revived. An oath was administered throughout the city, both among the Hindoos and the Mahommedans, enjoining all classes to neglect their respective occupations until I should consent to direct the Collector to remove the assessors and give a positive assurance that the tax should be abolished. It was expected that the outcry and distress occasioned by this general conspiracy would extort from me the concession they required. The Lohars, the Mistrees, the Jolahirs, the Hujams, the Durzees, the Kahars, the Bearers, every class of workmen engaged unanimously in this conspiracy, and it was carried to such an extent that during the 26th, the dead bodies were actually cast neglected into the Ganges, because the proper people could not be prevailed upon to administer the customary rites. These several classes of people, attended by multitude of others of all ranks and descriptions, have collected together at a place in the vicinity of the city, from whence they declare nothing but force shall remove them, unless I consent to yield the point for which they are contending.

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4. Their object in requiring me to direct the Collector to recall the assessors without waiting to receive the orders of Government, is merely a preliminary step to a resolution not to pay the tax at all without coercion, be the orders of Government what they may. I have signified to the people that I have no authority to interfere in the manner they desire, and that they must wait, submissively, the determination of Government, but they seem to think that if the assessors are not removed immediately, they will never be removed at all, and that if they cease to assemble in this objectionable mode, they will obtain no relief from the tax which, it is pretended, they never can submit to.

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5. Were I to yield to demands urged by the clamour, and supported by such unwarranted combinations, I feel I should compromise the authority of Government, and thereby encourage the people to similar proceedings on every future occasion when they may happen to be discontented. I conceive it, therefore, my duty not to comply with such demands, and to persevere in resisting them until I receive the Government’s instructions. In the meantime, I shall do all that my persuasion can affect to allay the general irritation, and abstain from resorting to force, until the support of my authority shall absolutely require it.

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6. In pursuance of these views explained in person to the mobs, the orders which I expected them to obey, I also issued proclamations requiring the people to disperse, to return to their usual occupations, and wait in patience whatever Government may determine. I sent for the choudries of the respective classes engaged in the conspiracy, and after taking their examinations, I required them to sign a penal engagement to withdraw from the combination, to revert to their ordinary pursuits, and to exert themselves with others to imitate their example. A similar engagement I propose to tender to the principal people of all classes, and punish those who refuse to sign it. This line of conduct appears already to have produced some benefit, and I trust that in a few days, when the people are fully convinced that their clamour is unavailing, they will disperse, open their shops, and return to order and obedience.

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7. As the Collector is absent in the district, I have thought it necessary to recommend him immediately to return, that the native assessors be not left entirely to their own discretion on this very delicate occasion. I enclose a copy of letter to him upon the subject, and also the copy of a correspondence, which previously passed between us.

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8. I beg leave to enclose also a copy of the letters which passed between Major-General Macdonald and myself on the 25th and 26th respecting the military assistance which I might be compelled to request him to afford me.

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9. In my haste on the 25th, I omitted to apologise for my inability to furnish translations of the petitions which I then submitted to Government. I have now the honour to enclose translations of three of those petitions which as they contain the substance of the rest, will, I trust, be sufficient. I hope, Government will excuse my neglecting to translate the remainder in consideration of the other important duties which press upon my attention.

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December 28, 1810 I have & c W. W. Bird, Acting Magistrate

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I.A.6. Acting Magistrate, Benares to Government

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Sir,

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Since the date of my last address, my attention has been unremittingly directed to allay the irritation which exists among the inhabitants of Benares, and to persuade them to return to their ordinary pursuits until the determination of Government can be received on the subject of their petition.

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2. But my endeavours have been unavailing. All classes of people persevere in abandoning their employments, and occasion thereby great public inconvenience. Every article of consumption is procured with such difficulty, and is raised to so high a price, that the poorer inhabitants are distressed. Several thousands of people continue day and night collected at a particular spot in the vicinity of the city, where, divided according to their respective classes, they inflict penalties upon those who hesitate to join in the combination. Such appears to be the general repugnance to the operation of the Regulation, that the slightest disposition evinced by any individual to withdraw from the conspiracy, is marked not only by general opprobrium, but even by ejectment from his caste.

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3. In this state, the people seem resolved to continue until the orders of Government are received and they hope by this means to extort the repeal of the Regulation. I have endeavoured to observe the most conciliatory line of conduct, to allay the general irritation. I have repeatedly gone to the place where they are collected, and have done all in my power to persuade them to return to their proper occupations. I have written to the Rajah of Benares, to the principal merchants, and to the other inhabitants of rank and respectability, requesting them personally to exert their influence with the people to pacify and disperse them.

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4. But as all the endeavours prove ineffectual, and as the continuance of such a state of things in a city so populous and extensive can not be viewed without considerable apprehension for the public tranquility, I determined upon requesting the favour of a personal interview with Major-General Macdonald to explain to him the general disposition of the people, and to suggest to him the expediency of being prepared for any possible emergency. The measure of sending for his Majesty's Regiment was consequently resolved upon, and I trust under the circumstances of the case, it will receive the approbation of Government. I have the honour to enclose a copy of our correspondence.

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December 31, 1810 I have & c W. W. Bird, Acting Magistrate

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I.A.6 (a) *Major-General Macdonald to Acting Magistrate, Benares*

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Sir,

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In consequence of the conversation which passed between us this morning, wherein you expressed your apprehension, that the present state of irritation of the minds of the people of Benares may increase and eventually induce them to proceed to acts of violence, which I consider the small force now at the place is ill-suited to repress. If therefore you are still of the same way of thinking, I shall, on receipt of your reply to this, send immediate orders for His Majesty's 67th Regiment to repair to this place. In which case, I beg to observe, it will be necessary you give immediate instructions, for every thing required from your department, to assist the corps in its march being ready.

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Benares, half past 12 at Noon December 31, 1810 I have & c J. Macdonald, Maj-General I.A.7. *Acting Magistrate, Benares to Government*

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Sir,

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My address of the 31st ultimo, dispatched by express, will have communicated to the Right Hon'ble, the Governor-General-in-Council the circumstances, which had rendered it expedient to call for the assistance of his Majesty's 67th Regiment at this station.

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2. I am deeply concerned to state that the combination formed against the introduction of the house tax becomes daily more extended, and has assumed a very serious appearance. The people continue to desert the city, and collect in increasing numbers at the spot, where they have resolved to remain in expectation of the orders of Government. No assurance on my part, or on the part of the civil authorities at this station, has the slightest effect. They look to the orders of Government alone for relief from a grievance to which they are resolved never to submit and I am convinced no persuasion will ever prevail with them to swerve from their resolution.

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3. There is too much reason to apprehend that this combination extends throughout the province. The Lohars who originally assembled for another purpose, soon took a principal part in the conspiracy, and have collected here in great numbers from all parts of the province. The inconvenience suffered in consequence by ryots, threatens serious impediment to cultivation, and multiplies the number of the discontented. At the same time the people are integrated to persevere by the notion which prevails, that the inhabitants of other cities have engaged to conform to the issue of the struggle at Benares.

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4. Under these circumstances, it is seriously to be apprehended that military force alone can carry the Regulation into effect. The aversion to the tax is so decided, that the people will be satisfied with nothing but its total abolition. There appears to be little doubt in the minds of most people, that the attempt to introduce it under any modification, will give rise to serious disturbances.

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5. The principal natives, whose influence, if cordially exerted, would have effect with the people, evince little or no disposition to assist me. All equally interested in the success of the combination, they will not exert themselves effectually. The personal influence of Mr.Brooke, the Agent of the Governor-General, might be more successful with them. I have consequently written to that gentleman to recommend his returning immediately from the Circuit, and hope that the respect which the inhabitants entertain for his rank and character, may dispose them to listen to him with attention.

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I have & c January 2, 1811 W.W. Bird, Acting Magistrate

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*I.A.8. Acting Magistrate, Benares to Government*

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Sir,

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I have the honour to report for the information of the Right Hon'ble, the Governor General in Council, that since my dispatch of the 2nd instant, very little alteration has taken place in the state of this city.

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2. I have much pleasure, however, in communicating, that the intrigues set on foot to extend the combination throughout the province, appear likely to be effectually counteracted before any considerable mischief can result from them. As soon as I discovered that the Lohars were collecting here from the surrounding pergunnahs I called upon the landholders to exert their authority against a mischief which would retort upon themselves. I required them to recall the Lohars to their respective estates, and compel them to work, and at the same time to counteract the misrepresentations employed to deceive the people. All those landholders with whom I have communicated, appear to enter cordially into my views, and have exerted themselves effectually. I am greatly indebted for assistance in this respect to Baboo Sheo Narain Singh, Jagirdar of Siedpoor, the only native of consequence who has supported me on this occasion. I am also indebted to him for protecting the bazars in the city wherever his influence extends, and it is through the support which he has afforded the police, that the corn markets have been unmolested, and the city supplied with corn at the usual price, when no other article of consumption was procurable.

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3. The people of different classes collected together in expectation of the orders of Government, begin to feel themselves the distress which they inflict upon others, and some of them return occasionally to their pursuits. I have reason to believe that they have hitherto been supported by private contributions among the principal inhabitants, who supply them with firewood and provisions; but as these resources begin to fail, they become sensible of the ruin which their conduct will ultimately bring upon their families.

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4. Much dependence however can not at present be placed upon these favourable circumstances, for the religious orders of the people, and the men of rank and respectability, continue unalterable in their resolution, and encourage the multitude to persevere by every kind of artifice and persuasion. The principal people of every class are compelled to eject all those who are detected in attempting to withdraw from the combination. They also send forth spies in all parts of the city to seize the delinquent, and I have apprehended many employed upon this service. I have, of course inflicted upon such persons very severe punishment, but it does not deter others from committing similar outrages.

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5. I shall continue to do everything in my power, until the orders of Government arrive to prevent disturbance by the means of the police, and as I have succeeded hitherto, I trust, there will be no immediate necessity to call for the assistance of the troops. Considering the nature of the struggle, it has appeared to me advisable to abstain from violence as long as it can be avoided without any great sacrifice, and I trust in doing so, I shall have acted conformably to the wishes of Government.

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City of Benares January 4, 1811

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I have & c W.W. Bird, Acting Magistrate

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I.A.9. *Acting Magistrate, Benares to Government*

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Sir,

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It is with the greatest satisfaction that I am able to report for the information of the Right Hon'ble, the Governor General in Council, that the inhabitants of this city begin to be sensible of the inutility and danger of continuing longer in a state of insubordination to the authority of Government.

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2. In order to explain the circumstances which have produced this very desirable effect, I will state more minutely than has been hitherto in my power the alarming situation we were placed in at the beginning of the month. The people of all description, collected according to their several classes in the vicinity of the city, had bound themselves by oath never to disperse without extorting the object they were extending for, and they seemed to increase daily in numbers and resolution. They employed emissaries to convey a Dhurm Puttree to every village in the province, summoning one individual of each family to repair to the assembly at Benares. Several thousand Lohars, Koonbees, and Korees, were enticed from their houses, and collected here by this excitement. At the same time, the inhabitants continued to withdraw from the city, and even those who were unwilling were compelled to abandon their pursuits, to avoid the opprobrium and punishment denounced against all and inflicted upon many, who declined joining in the conspiracy. The individuals of every class, contributed each in proportion to his means, to enable them to persevere, and considerable sums of money were thus raised for the support of those, whose families depended for subsistence on their daily labour.

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3. The multitudes, thus assembled, were abundantly supplied with firewood, oil, and provisions, while nothing in the city except grain was procurable. The religious orders exerted all their power over the prejudices of the people to keep them unanimous, and the combination was so general, that the police were scarcely able to protect the few who had courage to secede, from being plundered and insulted. In this state we continued, until the 3rd instant, in momentary expectation of some serious disturbance.

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4. On the 3rd, however, the measures adopted against these seditious proceedings, began to be attended with effect. The landholders had taken alarm, and immediately upon the proclamation, sent their people and carried off the numbers of the Korees, Koonbees, and Lohars to their respective estates. At the same time, some of the emissaries employed in distributing the Dhurm Puttree were apprehended by the police and this mischief was soon checked by the measures taken to seize such incendiaries wherever they could be detected.

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5. As there appeared, among the multitude assembled in the vicinity of the city, many men of rank and good character, I stationed people on the way to write down the names, and to inform them they were acting in defiance of my authority. This gradually deterred many of them from appearing in the assembly. In the same manner I stationed the police officers on the roads to watch the supplies, and ascertain by whom they were provided, in consequence of which many of the principal inhabitants declined longer to furnish their daily contributions.

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6. Much public inconvenience was likely to arise from the Mullahs being drawn into the conspiracy, the communication with the opposite bank of the river was almost interrupted and I was compelled to proclaim, that every boat abandoned by the proprietor, should be forfeited to Government. The Mullahs in consequence soon returned to their duties. At the same time several persons of different classes employed to extend the combination were detected by the police, and punished with exemplary severity. These examples, often repeated, began at length to deter others from incurring the consequence of similar offences.

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7. These measures, assisted by the fatigue and privations which began to be felt seriously by all, convinced the people of the inutility of their proceedings, and they diminished sensibly in numbers. I resolved to avail myself of this state of things to endeavour once more to persuade them to disperse, and for this purpose I sent for several of those, whom I know, or suspected, to be the first movers of the combination.

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8. Most of these persons seem to be sensible, that it is only by dispersing that the people can expect indulgence from the Government, and they professed themselves disposed to do everything in their power to persuade all classes to return to their regular pursuits; very great alteration appears already to have taken place in consequence. Yesterday and today, many shops are open in the city, every article of consumption is again procurable. Numbers have returned to their daily occupations and the irritation has almost entirely subsided and I have little doubt that in the course of a few days this combination, now no longer formidable, will be totally dissolved.

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City of Benares January 8, 1811

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I have & c W.W. Bird, Acting Magistrate I.A.10. *Collector, Benares to Government*

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The Secretary, Government of Bengal, Revenue Department Fort William

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Sir,

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The Acting Magistrate of the city has already addressed you, for the information of Government, on the subject of the determination of the inhabitants to oppose the operation of Regulation XV, 1810, and of their factious inconsequence of such determination.

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I beg leave to annex copies of my correspondence with the Magistrate as to the mode I proposed to pursue, in introducing the house tax which will, I trust, manifest every intention of lenity, precaution and consideration.

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In consequence of the Acting Magistrate’s summons I arrived from the interior of the district yester evening. I am given to understand that considerably above twenty thousand persons are sitting (it may be called dhurna), declaring that they will not separate till the tax shall be abolished. Their numbers are daily increasing from the Mofussil whence each caste has summoned its brethren and adjured them to unite in the cause. If one party be more obstinate and more determined upon extending the mischief than another, the Lohars, or blacksmiths, may be so charged, for they were not only the first to convoke the assembly of their near brethren, but they have far and wide called upon other Lohars to join them with the intent that no implement of cultivation or of harvest (which is fast approaching) be either made or mended, and thus that the zemindars and ryots may be induced to take part with the malcontents, in short that the whole of the country shall directly or indirectly be urged to insist on the repeal of the tax.

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With these Lohars almost all other castes, sects, and persuasions are in league and I am informed under a most binding oath amongst each other.

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At present open violence does not seem their aim, they seem rather to vaunt their security in being unarmed in that a military force would not use deadly weapons against such inoffensive foes. And in this confidence they collect and increase, knowing that the civil power can not disperse them, and thinking that the military will not.

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All the civil authorities have attempted admonition, warning and persuasion and the Acting Magistrate has been indefatigable in his exertions, but without avail. They profess that they shall wait the order of Government, but not apparently with any determination of ultimate submission.

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If they do not submit, they can only have two objects in view, resistance by force of arms, or emigration. The latter, though said to be threatened, I confess, I do not apprehend. For, the moment the mob breaks up, at that moment the charm is broken. Their mutual oaths of union, their resolution of death or banishment, will be dissolved and each individual will consult his private interests. But how to disperse the mob without a cruel sacrifice of lives appears most difficult, for as I before observed, they are alike deaf to admonition or remonstrance. I had a number of Lohars with me today, and after having for a long time explained to them that the tax, in question would not be a hard one upon them, that I would exert myself to recommend that they should not be subjected to the two cesses of Phatuckbundee and house tax and that if they would break up their ‘Mujlis’ and repair to their homes, I would listen to every single complaint of every individual as to the rate of tax being excessive upon them, and as far as was possible would consult their advantage; they replied that they were one and indivisible and if their ‘Punch’ would consent, they would have another conference with me tomorrow.

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Although their numbers are yet quiet in point of action, if they be not dispersed before the orders of Government arrive, there is no knowing what despair may drive them to. In the meantime if the mischief of total annihilation of trade and handicraft in the city be widely extended to the country, it may stir up the land-holders who are at present not at all concerned in the question.

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It is to be lamented that cavalry were not within call, who might have dispersed the multitude without committing slaughter, and might have hunted them wherever they assembled; for amongst them they do not appear to have any head or a leader who might summon them to more private and inaccessible haunts and though they are doubtless maintained, secretly supported, and stimulated by affluent persons and persons of consequence in the city, none of these latter descriptions would I imagine risk, the consequences to their character, persons and property of more treasonable cabals, beyond the talents and the plans of a mere tumultuous rabble. That Government should at the instance of a mob consent to withdraw or repeal a law established for the whole country can hardly be supposed, and it is therefore essential to provide against the consequences of refusal to the clamorous petitions that have been transmitted.

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I have learnt from good authority that the inhabitants of Patna have written to Benares to the effect that they shall be guided by these. That being more numerous, the Benares city is better able to make exertions against the tax and if it shall succeed in procuring abrogation the city of Aminabad would become exempted of course; in like manner, if the Benares city submits then Patna will immediately follow its example.

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Thus whilst it will be seen how extensive the combination is, it will also be considered that Benares is the cornerstone on which the other cities build.

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Benares Collector's Office January 2, 1811

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I am & c W.O.Salmon, Collector

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I.A.11. *Government to Acting Magistrate, Benares*

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Sir,

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I am directed by the Right Hon'ble the Governor-General-in-Council to acknowledge the receipt of three letters from you, dated the 25th, 28th and 31st ultimo, with their respective enclosures.

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2. The Governor-General-in-Council does not discern any substantial reasons for the abolition of the tax on houses in the cities and principal towns established by Regulation XV, 1810. With these sentiments, His Lordship in Council further thinks that it would be extremely unwise to sacrifice to riot and clamour a tax, the abolition of which is not dictated by any considerations of general policy.

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3. The Governor-General-in-Council approves the measures adopted by you on the present occasion, and His Lordship-in-Council desires that you will continue to exercise the firmness and moderation, hitherto manifested by you, in enforcing the provisions of the above mentioned Regulation and supporting the authority of the Collector.

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4. One ground of objection stated by the petitioners is that they are already subject to a contribution for the pay of chokeydars and the repair of the gateways (Phatuckbundee) which is not paid by the inhabitants of other cities. As it occurs to Government that this contribution, united to the tax on houses established by the above mentioned Regulation, might fall heavy on particular classes of people, it is the intention of Government that they should be relieved from the former, and that the expense of the Phatuckbundee should be defrayed from the general resources of Government. You are accordingly authorised to communicate this intention to the people interested in the operation of it, in such mode as you may deem best calculated to allay the disposition to riot and resistance to public authority, which appears so generally prevalent among lower orders in the city of Benares. It appears to Government that the most advisable course to pursue on the present occasion will be to apprise Major-General Macdonald of the intentions of Government, as above stated, to concert with him the arrangements which should be adopted for the suppression of any attempt to resist your own authority or that of the Collector, or to injure the peaceable and obedient part of the community by open violence, and for the dispersion of mobs and the apprehension of the ring leaders of them, with a view to a regular prosecution against such offenders and thereupon to announce to the public the firm intention of Government to enforce the collection of the tax on the one hand; and the indulgence which it is disposed to manifest by relieving them from the contribution on account of the Phatuckbundee on the other. You will, of course, take the same opportunity of impressing on their minds the serious evils, which they are liable to bring upon themselves by further perseverance in resistance to the authority of Government. It may at the same time be expedient to apprise them that with every disposition to afford to the people every reasonable indulgence and to protect them in the enjoyment of every right, the Governor-General-in-Council never can yield to lawless combinations or to attempts made to enforce a compliance with their applications by tumultuary meetings and proceedings.

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5. You will, of course, avail yourself of the influence of the Rajah of Benares and of other persons of rank and character, to aid in the suppression of the spirit of riot and sedition by which the populace is at present actuated.

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Council Chamber January 5, 1811

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I am & c G. Dowdeswell, Secretary to Government I.A.12. *Government to Acting Magistrate, Benares*

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Sir,

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I am directed by the Right Hon'ble the Governor-General-in-Council to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from you, dated the 2nd instant.

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2. My letter of the 5th instant will have informed you of the resolution of Government not to rescind the provisions of Regulation XV, 1810. The same dispatch will have apprised you of the sentiments of Government respecting the absolute necessity of dispersing (if actually necessary, by force of arms) the mobs assembled with a view to extort from Government a compliance with their unreasonable applications, and likewise the expediency of apprehending the leaders of them, in order that they might be regularly brought to trial for that offence. The Governor-General-in-Council is desirous that it should be understood that he intended by the above mentioned orders, that with the aid of the military, you should apprehend all persons, who might refuse to disperse on your requisition, especially those who may be chiefly active in fomenting the present sedition.

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3. It is with extreme reluctance that the Governor-General-in-Council is at any time compelled to employ the military force of the country, to enforce the Regulations and orders of Government, and maintain the authority of the public officers. His Lordship-in-Council is solicitous that every thing should be done by yourself and the Collector, by means of wholesome admonitions, to reclaim the people from their present lawless and seditious proceedings, that the military should not employ their arms except in case of actual necessity, that is, of any positive act of violence on the part of the mob against the troops, or any of the civil authorities. You are in consequence desired to communicate the foregoing orders to Major-General Macdonald, in order that he may be fully apprised of the course which should be pursued by him and the troops under his command on the present emergency.

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4. The Governor-General-in-Council approved the application made by you to Mr. Brooke to return to his station, and to exercise all the influence which he may possess, to induce the Rajah of Benares and other persons of rank, to aid in suppressing the present disposition to riot and disturbance. With the same view, a letter will be addressed on the subject to the Rajah by the Governor-General.

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5. You will apprise the Collector of Benares of the orders passed by Government on the 5th instant, and on the present date, it appearing essential that the different public authorities should possess full information regarding the resolutions of Government to enforce the provisions of the Regulation respecting the house tax.

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6. It appearing to his Lordship-in-Council, that a proclamation issued by the direct authority of the Government itself, may be of service in reclaiming the people from their unjustifiable proceedings, or at all events, in apprising them of the evils which they may bring upon themselves by a further perseverance in those lawless measures, I am directed to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a proclamation in the English, Persian and Hindoostany languages. You will, of course, exercise your discretion with reference to the military arrangements to be made by General Macdonald, as to the period or time at which the proclamation should be issued.

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I am & c G. Dowdeswell, Secretary to Government, Judicial Department

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Council Chamber January 7, 1811

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I.A.12 (a) *Fort William Proclamation*

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January 7, 1911

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By the Right Hon'ble the Governor-General-in-Council

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Whereas by Regulation XV, 1810, a light and moderate assessment has been established on shops and houses situated in the cities and some of the principal towns in the provinces of Bengal, Behar, Orissa and Benares, and in the Ceded and Conquered Provinces; and whereas it has come to the knowledge of the Governor-General-in-Council, that certain classes of people at the city of Benares have assembled in a tumultuary manner and have otherwise illegally combined to resist the enforcement of the above mentioned Regulation; and whereas the Governor-General-in-Council on a mature consideration of the petitions which have been transmitted to him on this subject, does not discern any substantial reasons for repealing the provisions of that Regulation, the different classes of people above noticed, and the inhabitants in general of the city of Benares, are hereby apprised, that instructions have been issued to the Magistrate and Collector to carry the provisions of the said Regulation into effect, and that correspondent orders have been issued to the officer commanding the troops in that province to support the Magistrate and Collector in the discharge of that duty, and especially to exert himself in dispersing tumultuary meetings, and in bringing to justice persons attending such meetings, or otherwise aiding in combinations formed for the illegal and unwarrantable purpose already noticed.

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It is with deep concern that the Governor-General-in-Council feels himself obliged to warn the refractory part of the community of the serious evils, which under the foregoing orders, they are liable to bring upon themselves by a further perseverance in their present seditious conduct. The disposition of the Government to attend to all reasonable applications, and to afford equal protection to all classes of people, is universally acknowledged; but it never can be induced to forego what it has deemed a just and reasonable exercise of its authority in consequence of unlawful combination and tumult.

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*By order of the Governor-General-in-Council.*

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I.A.13. *Government to Acting Magistrate, Benares*

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Sir,

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I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from you dated the 4th instant and to acquaint you that the Hon’ble the Governor-General-in-Council has derived great satisfaction from learning that the spirit of sedition and resistance to public authority was beginning to subside in the city of Benares at the period of your address.

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2. In the 4th paragraph of your letter you observe as follows, ‘Much dependence however can not at present be placed on these favourable circumstances; for the religious orders of the people, men of rank and respectability, continue unalterable in their resolution, & c’.

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3. Clause first, Section 6, Regulation XV, 1810, declared that all religious edifices shall be exempt from the payment of the tax on houses: It may be proper to define more particularly in a future Regulation the import of those terms. But in the meantime, his Lordship-in-Council desires, that in carrying the provisions of the Regulation into effect the greatest latitude may be allowed to that exemption, which the terms of the foregoing clause will reasonably and properly admit. His Lordship-in-Council likewise desires that you will report in concert with the Collector the different descriptions of religious buildings which may be exempted under the rule above mentioned, and the present orders of Government, from the payment of the tax, in order that the necessary explanation on the subject (as already noticed) may be inserted in a future Regulation.

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4. The Governor-General-in-Council has observed with great satisfaction the meritorious conduct of Baboo Sheo Narain Singh on the present occasion. You will, accordingly, acquaint him that the Governor-General has been requested to present Baboo Sheo Narain Singh with a Khelaut, as a particular testimony of the approbation by Government of his exertions in supplying the Bazars, and in otherwise aiding in the maintenance of the public tranquility.

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5. I am directed to add that the Governor-General-in-Council entirely approves the measures adopted by you on the present emergency; your conduct appearing to his Lordship-in-Council to combine proper firmness with the greatest possible moderation and indulgence towards the misguided people, by whom the present unhappy disturbances have been excited.

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I am & c G. Dowdeswell, Secretary to Government, Judicial Department

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Council Chamber January 11, 1811

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I.A.14. Government to Acting Magistrate, Benares

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Sir,

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In continuation of my letter of the present date, I am directed to acquaint you that in carrying into effect the provisions of Regulation XV, 1810, it is not the intention of Government that the houses of the lowest orders of the people should be subject to the tax established by that Regulation: that is, of those classes, who might be subject to distress from the payment of it, while its produce from the very inconsiderable value of the buildings could not be an object to Government.

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2. The Governor-General-in-Council is not at present prepared to determine the precise rent, or commuted annual produce, of the buildings to which the above mentioned exemption should extend; but his Lordship-in-Council has deemed it advisable to apprise you generally of the sentiments entertained by Government on this point. Previously to communicating the present orders to the different classes of people, who may be benefited by their operation, you will naturally consider in what mode it can be done, without compromising the public authority or weakening the sentiments of respect which it is so essential that the community should feel, especially at the present juncture, for the Government. The change of circumstances, which may have already occurred or which may take place, previously to the receipt by you of the present orders of Government, precludes the Governor-General-in-Council from furnishing you with any specific instructions on that point, but his Lordship-in-Council would hope that the people may have shown themselves deserving of the indulgence proposed to be extended to them by the relinquishment of their late seditious and criminal designs, and by a just submission to public authority.

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3. You will, of course, communicate the present letter to the Collector for his immediate guidance in fixing the assessment, who will be furnished with correspondent instructions, as soon as circumstances may admit, through the usual channel of the Board of Commissioners.

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I am & c G. Dowdeswell, Secretary to Government, Judicial Department

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Council Chamber January 11, 1811

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I.A.15. *Government to Collector, Benares*

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Sir,

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I am directed by the Right Hon'ble, the Governor-General-in-Council the receipt of a letter from you dated the 2nd instant, and to acquaint you, that orders have been issued to the Acting Magistrate of Benares for enforcing the provisions of Regulation XV, 1810.

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The Acting Magistrate has been desired to communicate to you the instructions of Government on this question to which you will accordingly conform.

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I am & c G. Dowdeswell, Secretary to Government, Revenue Department

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Council Chamber January 7, 1811

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I.A.16. *Acting Magistrate, Benares to Government*

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Sir,

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I lose no time in submitting the enclosed papers for the consideration of Government.

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2. In my address of the 8th instant, I had the satisfaction to report, that the agitation among the inhabitants of this city had in considerable degree subsided, and that I confidently expected the combination, formed to resist the orders of Government, would speedily be dissolved; the disposition manifested by the people induced me to entertain that expectation until the 13th instant, when I communicated the resolution of Government not to rescind the Regulation XV, 1810, to the principal native inhabitants of Benares, in the hope that there would be no necessity of resorting to military force to compel the people to submit to it. (copy of the proclamation delivered to them is also enclosed)

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3. The day after this resolution was communicated, the people began again to collect together, for the ostensible purpose of proceeding in a body to present a petition at the presidency. In this state of things I received the Government proclamation, and thinking that it would be of service in reclaiming the people from their unjustifiable proceedings, I proposed to publish it. Major-General Macdonald, however, did not consider himself in a state to afford me the support I might require, and after the sentiments expressed by him at a conference held this morning at Mr. Brooke's, I have deemed it necessary under the instructions of Government to submit to his opinion, although I see no ground for apprehending that the people would resist, by open violence, the direct authority of Government.

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