Indian Antiquary Vol 45

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 68

60
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(APRIL, 1916
he ordered to Copy the same, which after some shufflinge, he peremtorily refused to doe. Whereupon Mr George Knipe beinge sent for and Come, the said James Harding was againe enordered to copy the same, but he continued obstinate, contumatiously refusinge to write any more for the Company. Thereupon, beinge withdrawne, it was considered of and agreed that, seeinge he had denyed his Service to the Honble. Company, he should not be paid any more dyett money, but beinge an Englishman, should have accomodation of roome, dyett, &ca. in the Factory till further order from the Cheife and Councell for the Bay, it beinge concluded at same time to advise them of the stubborne Carrage of the said James Harding as above."
A letter was therefore written, on the same date, to Matthias Vincent at Hugliit :--
“Wee have to advise you that having some writeinge worke of our Honoble. Masters affaires to be don and transmitted to them this yeare, wee did enorder James Harden to preforine the same, but after some shuffling and boggling, he obstinately and peremtorly refused it more then once in our presence this day. Wee are of opinion that, considering his capacity, ho could scarce have Comitted an Act which could more have manifested his unfaithfullness and disobedience and refusall of a Continueance in, and rendered him more lyable to be discharged of, our Honoble. Masters Employment, it being not an uct of Rashness or passion, but of serious deliberation (as much as he is capable of), and which he yet Justifiez and continues in. Being resolved to write noe more for the Honoble. Company, wee doe at present look upon him as a private Person, and therefore have enordered tho disburser of our Factory charges not to pay him any more Diet mony, but shall permitt him, as an Englishman, Accomodation of roome &ca. in the factory till your further orders, and hope for your Aprovall.'
In reply to this letter, Matthias Vincent wrote, on the 8th November 167715 :" Wee much admire at the Folle of James Harding, which Since, as you advise, persist[ed] in, and so is both useless to our Masters and also gives bad Examples to his fellow Servants there. We order you to send him hither by the next conveyance... You have done very well in not allowing Harding his dyett money, since, by denying of what hee is capable of doing in our Masters busines, wee think hee hath mended [sic ? rendered] him selfe worthy of it."
Harding was acquainted with the orders concerning him on the 13th November, 10 and on the 21st, the Kasim bazar Diary contains an entry17 that he "proceeded this eveninge towards Hugly by virtue of an order from the Cheife and Councell of the Bay for his Stubborne behavior in Contumatiously refusing to write for the Honble. Company." At the same time, Littleton and Knipe wrote to Vincent concerning Harding's disobedient carriage," and stated that they enclosed an “Account of his Demeanor,''18 which Account, however, has not been preserved. The letter reached Hugli on the 26th November 1677. Matthias Vincent was then at Balasor, and Edward Reade was in charge of the factory. He and his colleagues decided to refer Harding's case to their superior. The entry in the Hugli Diary of the 20th November runs as follows 20:—"This day we haveing received an atestation frome Cassumbuzar Concerning James Hardings peremtory refuseing to Copie out the Honoblé. Companies Bookes or doeing what was ordered him by the Cheife there in the said service &ca., as per said appeares, and their 14 Factory Records, Hygli, Vol. VII.
15 Factory Records, Hugli, Vol. IV. 16 Ibid.
17 Factory Records, Kasimbazar, Vol. I. 18 Ibid.
19 Factory Records, Hugli, Vol. t.