Indian Antiquary Vol 45

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

Page 72

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(APRIL, 1916
Accordingly, Harding left Kisimbazar on or about the time prescribed, and in July 1683 was at Hugli, when Hedges did not scruple to use him as a tool whereby to gain information to be used to Charnock's disadvantage. "I had some discourse," he writes on the 28th July, with Mr James Harding, who being in hopes of [ro Jadmission into the Company's Service, confest to me very freely that all the Accusations laid against Mr Thredder, concerning the great gains and advantage he makes by overweight of Silke was certainly true, and often complain'd of by the Merchants to Mr Charnock, who alwayes past it by, and took no notice of it.
"Mr Harding farther informed me that the relation given me at Cassum buzar of the 5 bales of Silke, proffered to be sould to the Company (which was produced, of over weight of silke gain'd from the Merchants) was certainly true, and complaind of to Mr Charnock, who at first seem'd concern'd, but soon past it over. That he was not so confident and well assured of Mr Barker's infidelity as he was of Mr Threder's, but this much he knew, that all the business of the Warehouse was done and performed by Mr Barker, and that he had heard there was a certain agreement between Threder and Barker, the latter being to receive a certain summe in lieu of all profitts, and was confident Barker was no such fool as to hold his tongue without considerable advantage.
"Continuing my discourse with the said Mr Harding, I desired to know the reason why Mr Charnock was so cross to me, and thwarting every thing I propos'd or did for the Company's service, who replied Mr Charnock had no other reason for his so doeing but that he looked upon himselfe as disoblig'd by you at your first arrivall, for not turning out Mr Catchpoole at his request, and was thereupon resolv'd to blast and to frustrate all your actions and proceed in ge as much as he could, and never to Councell or assist you more in any thing as long as he lived.35
That Harding could stoop to turn on his former protector and so basely repay his kindness, shows him to have been unwort'iy of any support and to have richly deserved the ultimate fate that befell him. However, he reaped no benefit from his attempt to make friends with his patron's opponents. On the 8th October 1683, at a Consultation held at Hagli, William Hedges presiding, his request for reinstatement was negatived.80
"Mr James Harding having severall times petition'd that he might againe be entertained in the Honblo. Companys service, according to their order in the Generall Letter of the 27th of October 1682,07 whorein they say, if he be found diligent, able and faithfull, he may have such preferment as we thinke he may deserve, 'twas this day taken into consideration, and I having declared that the said Mr Harding had tolld me.., that Mr Threder had much wrong'd the Company in his charge of Warehousekeeper at Cassumbuzar, and afterwards refused to testifie the same when demanded of him at Cassumbuzar and the business of Mr Threder upon examination, the question being putt whether the said Mr Harding should be received into the Companys Service, 'twas carried in the negative."
Having failed in his object, Harding had the effrontery to return to his quondam supporter, greatly to the wrath of Hedges, who writes, under date the 27th October 1683, * The last night Mr James Whatson desired a Dustick (dastak, pass] of me for a Budgera [bajra, barge] with some Persian fruit to Cassumbuzar. When the boat was putting off, Mr Watson orderd the chiefe Boatman or mangee [manjhi] to take in Mr Harding and
35 Diary of William Hedges, Factory Records, Miscellaneous, Vol. xv, pp. 71-72. 36 Ibid, pp. 90-91.
37 See ante. p. 63.