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[Identification of item], India and East India Company Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
The India and East India Company Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a purchase in August 1971. Some materials in the collection were once part of the collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps.
Processed by Rubenstein Library Staff, Noah Huffman, and Mitch Fraas, December 2010
Encoded by Noah Huffman, December 2010
Accession from August 26, 1971 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
The East India Company was an English joint-stock company formed in 1600 that ruled portions of South Asia until 1858.
This collection contains over 55 documents in four discrete folders. The first folder contains miscellaneous legal documents, correspondence, receipts, and extracts largely relating to East India Company operations and employees, including the earliest document in the collection, a 1691 transfer of EIC stock signed by Sir Josia[h] Child. Some of the manuscripts in the collection appear to have been once in the collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps. The second folder contains three documents relating to Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nabob of Arcot (1745-1795). The third folder contains manuscripts relating to Sir Robert Chambers, who traveled to India in 1774 as one of the first justices of the Supreme Court at Calcutta. The collection of Chambers' manuscripts includes letters to the Justices at Calcutta as a whole, a fragmentary legal opinion, and a petition written by the wife of Almas Ali Khan, an important administrator in Awadh and one of the focal points in the trial of Warren Hastings. The fourth folder contains one bound volume of miscellaneous correspondence, some related to the case of merchant James Paull (1770-1808), formerly in the noted collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps.
Organized into the following series: Miscellaneous Papers, Sir Robert Chambers Papers, and James Paull Case Papers.
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
"It is ordered that it be referred to Sir Thomas Rawlinson and Mr. John DuBois to give direction for payment..."
Total amount: £297,727.15.7.
Letter is written in Latin and describes the Nepalese alphabet. Attached to the letter is a Nepalese alphabet with phonetic guide. Pencil note ex. Phillipps MS 4068[?].
Document pertains to the purchase and fitting out of several vessels at Calcutta and a contract with a Messr. Zovarg [Jovarg?]. Signed and sealed by Charles Sealy notary public and S.C. Lemaistre [Stephen Ceasar Lemaistre, d. 1777], justice of the Supreme Court.
Narrates some personal and political events including a mention of Tipu Sultan (1750-1799).
Relates in part to a dispute with a certain W.M.P. and mentions enclosed opinions by a W. Scott and Mr. Hardinge speaking unfavorably of the recipients chances of recovering "by legal process."
Gives orders about how he should conduct himself at port. "We positively direct that you do not receive on board your ship any slaves belonging to the inhabitants of Macao." Pencil note - "ex. Phillipps 19,298."
Both letters concern the sentencing of a corporal in the 69th regiment for murder of a shopkeeper. Initially Barlow believed the soldier to be insane when committing the murder but in his subsequent letter to the judge revises his opinion and blames it on the spirit of revenge against "natives" common amongst soldiers present at the siege of Vellore and suggests harsh punishment as a result.
Mostly on EIC and military affairs. Asks for a cadetship for his son: "on my return to England in 1810 I brought home a boy a son of mine; His mother was a half cast and a Christian. He was born at Ganjam in August 1801 and in complexion he is fair and has been at an academy ever since he landed in England where he still continues, No. 12 Camden Street Camden Town London."
Mentions a Capt. Frederick, perhaps same as above.
Received 8 October 1784. Relates to a letter sent by the Nabob, 12-13 August [1783?], detailing grievances against Lord [George] Macartney and promising "ample justice shall be afforded to your highness."
Details several land revenue matters ands asks among other things for the Nabob to "entrust" the defense of his territories to the EIC army.
Many corrections and cross-outs. Complains of unjustice done to him - only bottom half of letter survives.
Letter informs the justices that the High Court of Admiralty in London has sent out a commission directed to the Supreme Court to investigate a claim. They add that it is the Government's desire that the Justices comply with the directive with a minimum of fuss.
The letter asks that those who have served as commissioners of the court of requests at Calcutta beyond a 2 year term be exempt from serving on juries. List of 22 persons who fit that description attached.
Enclosed is another letter from Gilbert Hall, the coroner of Calcutta, asking for an increase in salary.
Cover letter enclosing a communication from the President and Council at Ft. St. George [Madras].
Letter asks the President and Council there to ask the Governor General to solicit the opinion of the "Chief Judge" of the Supreme Court in Calcutta about whether an alderman of the Mayor's Court could be held on special bail upon arrest.
Writers ask for Chambers' advice on a case, possibly the same as above. They enclose the opinion of attorney general Sullivan and write "We are confident you must be sensible of the embarrassments we who are not professional men and deprived of legal aid must feel in being under the necessity of standing forward in opposition to the Company's law council in defense of the Rights and Fortunes of those whom we represent."
Postscript reads in part: "[William] Blackstone moved the Writ (as his expression was in a note to me) this morning to deliver the University from her anxiety..."
Annotation on back "Scrap of a Latin letter from my father to me in 1749 copied (as I believe) by myself."
Body of the letter reads in full: "I waited on Sir Elijah Impey this morning, he wished well to any thing which might conduce to the good of the settlement he said when the ordinances should be brought before him on the bench, he would point out any illegality should there be such, or should the inhabitants make any objections he would hear them, but declined taking it into consideration 'till that time."
Encloses a letter on financial affairs from a Mr. Hall of Jamaica.
Letter concerns a list of statutes in force in the East Indies that the two were compiling.
The letter asks for the two judges' support for a measure that would end the preference given to the judges' salary obligations on the local East India Company treasury and give members of the EIC armed forces preference in negotiating instruments drawn on the treasury.
The extract asks for the opinion of the Supreme Court.
The letter complains of the hardships of being coroner in the city and lists the expenses and personnel necessary for his job.
(A photocopy is at the British Library - Mss Eur Photo Eur 123).
This volume was part of a series of miscellaneous autograph letterbooks in Sir Thomas Phillipps' library originally collected by Robert Cole. This particular book contains MS fragments, letters, and autographs of famous Anglo-Indian political figures. There are around nineteen separate pieces in the collection totaling about 110 pages and ranging in date from the 1780s to 1810s. Many of the pieces relate to James Paull (1770-1808), a merchant in the Indian trade and later MP, his conduct in India, and his accusations against Lord Wellesley, circa 1804-1806 (copies of some of this material may also be found in BL Add. MS 13,532). The volume also contains a small series of letters relating to military campaigns around Madras, 1781-1783, signed by various officers including John Garstin and A.W. Hervey. In addition, the collection includes one letter to Lord Frederick North from [Alexander] Hannay dated 1783. There is also one unsigned letter to Lord George Macartney, most likely from Mohamed Ali Khan Wallajah, the Nabob of Arcot, dated March 8, 1783.