Indian Antiquary Vol 45

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

Page 73

APRIL, 1916) SOME ANGLO-INDIAN WORTHIES OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 65
carry him to Casumbuza:. The man gee refusing to doe it without my order, Mr Watson struck him twice, and forced him to take him in. Thus, by the Countenance and sinister practices of Mr Beard is the Companys Honour and my Authority slighted and contemnd; otherwise they would as soon eat fire as attempt to doe it, would he stand by me and not argue and dispute my Authority, and as much as in him lyes render it contemp tible. This scandalous unfaithfull Person Harding is now sent up to serve Mr Charnock, in dispight of me, though God be praised, I live in honour and esteem, whilst Charnock, Harvy and Beard are the most despicable Persons to the Government and Native merchants that ever Lived in the Countrey."38
There is no means of ascertaining the reasons which led Charnock to take back Harding and eventually to get him reinstated in the Company's service. It is probable that the pleasure of thwarting Hedges and the want of skilled help at Kasimbazar were both factors in the case. At any rate, on the 19th September 1684, Harding was re-entertained, this time with the standing of senior merchant, and apparently by the authority, and with the consent, of the then Agent John Beard, who had succeeded the now disgraced Hedges. In November, Harding was acting as " provitionall second,"39 i. e., as Accountant, at Kasimbazer. At that time, the Council at Hugli wrote to Charnock, 40 ** Wee greatly want your books ending Aprill 1684. Wee have heard they were some inonths behind at Mr Barkers death, occationed by Mr Cudworths long sickness and desease, but hope there hath been such diligence applyed to them by Mr Harding that by this time he hath brought them up, it being near a month since he hath had them in hand."
The year 1685 passed quietly as far as Harding was concerned, or, if not, no reference to his quarrels found their way into the Consultation Book of the factory. He had not, however, become any more obliging or anxious to please his employers, for in May of that year, on being urged to make up the accounts expeditiously, he declined to exert himself undulyt1 "Mr James Harding being pressed to a speedy Conclusion of making up the Accounts of this Factory, and to resolve when he might be able to doe them, gave this Answer, Vizt: that he thought he might be able to doe them in 4 or 5 months time, but could not be possitive, by reason of the dayly impediments he meett(e) withall, as for want of a Peon to sit upon the door to call the Writers, as allgoe from the Rainy weather and mighty tempests which dayly happen, where hy he saith he is often forced to leave of writing, all which have, he saith, and will, mightly hinder him, especially the latter of this season, the rayny time being now coming in."
The only other mention of Harding in 1685 is in connection with his examination of the accounts of John Threader, 12 who was proved to have "wronged " the Company while he was warehouse keeper at Kasimbazar. Threader's dismissal and the death of his successor left the accounts in " great confusion.” These were set right by Harding, who appears to have been a good and capable worker when he chose. He continued to hold his post at Kasimbazar after Charnock's departure in 1686, and he even had charge of the factory for a few months.43 At the end of the year his downfall came. The Court of Committees had now had time to receive and peruse the various charges against him, and on the 14th January 1686, they wrote as follows to Fort St. George" :-"We find by
33 Diary of William Hedges, Factory Records, Miscellaneous; Vol. XV, pp. 97-98. 39 Factory Records, Miscellaneous, Vol. 38. 10 Letter of 4th Nov. 1684, Factory Records, Hugli, Vol. VI. 5 Factory Records, Kasimbazar, Vol. IV, p. 102.
Ibid, PP. 148, 149. 43 Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. IV, pp. 43, 70, 121. "Letter Book, Vol. VIII, p. 47.