Read Ebook: A report of Major Hart's case of rice-frauds near Seringapatam by Inglis W H

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BY W. H. INGLIS,

LONDON: PUBLISHED BY J. M. RICHARDSON, 23, CORNHILL, OPPOSITE THE ROYAL EXCHANGE; AND J. HATCHARD, PICCADILLY.

MARCHANT, Printer, Ingram-Court, London.

It will be maintained in the body of this Report, that Major Hart did never carry to the field a quantity of private grain.

See in page 11, and query he or Captain Macleod; also whether openly or covertly supplied, &c.

The Board continues "this, and the circumstance of his silence, from the 16th to the 22d of April, appear to us the only points of doubt in the whole case, and a conduct doubtful only on two such points does not, in our contemplation, warrant the sentence that has been passed upon it, with the consequences to his fortune and honour to which it has led." Papers, p. 232.

The propriety of Major Hart's dismission, after suspension from the Company's service, is, perhaps, self-evident, and might have been a ground of thanks; but who would have thanked the Court of Directors for being now made to deem correct, what formerly they were pleased to deem incorrect, viz. an Act of Parliament, and the one cited on what are called the Mandamus Papers!

Nor is Lord Harris here alluding towards the whole, but rather to the close of Captain Macleod's Report, where it is stated that "the private and public rice would feed 30,000 men for thirty-three days, exclusive of Major Hart's department. It is supposed Major Hart has 7000 bullock-loads, which would be ten seers each to 30,000 men. William Macleod, Superintendant of Supplies." Papers, p. 82.

Contending that he ordered his private grain from Madras, less for the army than for his private followers of it, Major Hart would rest his order upon the affidavit of one of those followers, by name Sadashevah Moodiliar. But this dubash, or confidential servant, will herein-afterwards be shown, among other of Major Hart's head people, as tampering with Subidar Enom Beg, during the intervals of this native soldier's examination by the Committee of Inquiry.

It will be seen, in page 12, where Major-General Macaulay has similarly written: "But I retain my former respect for his integrity."

Upon this second and last of our own two points of grand doubt, we shall offer some further extracts, by which it will be perceived that Major Hart's head people were ordered back to the Ceded Districts, in company with Captain Macleod's benjarries, that is, were ordered back to those Districts, not before, but immediately upon the discovery of the fraud, and, as it were, in consequence of it.

N.B. One mercal is twelve seers.

Finally, we are to produce Major Hart's dubash, the already mentioned Sadashevah Moodiliar, as tampering among other of Major Hart's head people, with Subidar Enom Beg, during the intervals of this native soldier's examination by the Committee of Inquiry.

The Committee says, "from the very exact concurrence observed throughout the depositions of the maistries and head owners, already examined, it appears that a further examination of persons of those descriptions will not tend to afford any new information on the subject under investigation; but as the native commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the details which were employed with the grain-department may, from their observation of the conduct of the maistries and bullock-owners during the service, be able to speak particularly to points connected therewith, the Committee call upon Subidar Enom Beg, of the first battalion of the 12th regiment of native infantry." Papers, p. 53.

Major Hart, in his advertisement, says "I fear that I shall have no alternative but to appeal against such daily slander to the laws of my country." In other words, he, who sought to fight a duel with Major-Gen. Macaulay, fears. And may he fear!

He who fights and runs away, Lives to fight another day.

Nor let these parallels be thought to beg the question, since they might readily have been extended; and since Major Hart's case would prove itself in Courts of Law, whether by artful confessions, or by other and better description of testimony. Unhappily, however, the period for this is expired.

W. H. INGLIS. 3, Mincing-lane.

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