Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, with Some Early Nineteenth Century Documents c6.s1.t2: B. Events at Patna

Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, with Some Early Nineteenth Century Documents c6.s1.t2

Language: English

B. Events at Patna

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I.B.1. Acting Magistrate of Patna to Government

I have the honour to forward twelve petitions which have been presented to me by the inhabitants of the city of Patna praying for a relief from the house tax ordered to be levied under Regulation XV, 1810 and request that you will lay them before the hon'ble the Governor General in Council for his consideration and orders.

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Patna 2 January 1811

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I have & c R.R. Gardiner, Acting Magistrate

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I.B.2. Government to Acting Magistrate, Patna

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Sir,

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I am directed by the Governor General in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, enclosing petitions from the inhabitants of the city of Patna respecting the house tax established by Regulation XV, 1810.

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2. The Governor General in Council having recently had occasion to consider very maturely similar petitions from the inhabitants of Benares, I am directed to acquaint you that it has not been deemed advisable to rescind the above mentioned Regulation, and that orders have been issued for carrying the provisions of it into effect at that city. Accordingly his Lordship in Council has judged it expedient that you and the Acting Collector should be put in possession of the above mentioned information without delay. The time and mode of communicating this resolution to the petitioners or the native part of the community are left however for your discretion, for the guidance of which I am directed to observe that it is deemed highly desirable to avoid as far as possible, giving occasion to general irritation, or to keep back by temperate and prudent management any disposition that may exist to form combinations or to adopt measures of open opposition to the tax at Patna, while the discussion is depending at Benares, and in conformity with those views it will of course be proper to discountenance by all gentle and conciliatory means, meetings of the different classes of the people for the purpose of preparing or presenting petitions against the Regulation.

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3. The Governor General in Council trusts that the foregoing orders, combined with your own discretion, will prevent the necessity of adopting any further measures for the enforcement of the Regulation to which this letter refers, or supporting the authority of Government and its officers. Should any tumultuary meetings however take place, or illegal cabals be formed for the purpose of resisting the operation of the rules respecting the house tax (as has unhappily been too much the case at Benares) the Governor-General-in-Council desires that you will report the circumstances without delay to Government; employing at the same time the means, which you possess under the general powers vested in you for the maintenance of the public tranquility; but with the least possible degree of rigour or severity, which the nature and circumstances of the case will permit.

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I am & c G. Dowdeswell, Council Chamber the 8th January 1811 Secretary to Government, Judicial Department