Indian Antiquary Vol 45

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

Page 74

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[APRIL, 1916
serorall Consultation bookes remaining with us that Mr James Harding, who is now employed in our factory at Cassum buzar, hath for ten years past been under a very ill ( "haracter. We desire therefore that you cause examination to be had concerning him, ind if you shall find it true, we would have him dismissed Our Service."
Whether Charnock, who had succeeded as Agent in Bengal, took action in consequence of these directions, or on account of the "Complaint" of the whole factory" at Kasimbazar on the 12th August, is uncertain, but in December he wrote to Madras, 45 announcing Harding's dismissal from the Company's service and his expulsion from Bengal.
On his arrival at Fort St. George, whither he was sent to be examined, Harding at once applied for arrears of salary, and the matter wag debated in Consultation, on the 27th January 1687, by President William Gyfford and Council.6 _"Mr James Harding having desired us to take into consideration his Sallary Since the time the President and (ouncill in the Bay reentertaind him in the Right Honble. Coinpanys Service, which was the 19th of September 1684, to the 27th August last, when the Agent and Councill had dismist him, as per their Letter of the 15th of last month, referring him to us, and paid him Two Hundred Rupees for his late Service at Cassimbuzar, and wee finding him to bee of Senior Merchants degree all that time, It is order'd that he be paid after the rate of Forty pounds per annum, deducting what he has already received, and likewise to peruse their Diary, when it comes, to know the cause of his dismission, they having said nothing about it in their said Letter, and then to consider what to doe with him ; but at present to remaine as he is."
In their letter to the Company of the 7th February, the Fort St. George Council reported the dismissal of Harding and their intention to "examine his complaints7.” On the 14th March, they wrote to Job Charnock_“ Mr. Harding, we have paid him his sallary at $10 per annum .. deducting the 200 rs. you paid him for his service at Cassambuzar, but he says there is still something due to him on that account of the usuall account [sic] of servants wages. If it be soe, pray advise us, and what it is, and he shall receive it here."
The papers containing the charge against Harding are not extant, but their contents can bo gathered from the Consultation which took place at Fort St. George after their roceipt, on the 12th September 1687, from Bengal.
"Mr James Harding arriving here the 17th of January past from Bengall, under the Agent and Councills suspention, 'twas sometime after taken into Consideration by the late President and Councill and then concluded, as per their Consultation of the 27th of January last, that the suspention should continue, till such time as they could bee rightly informed of the charge against him, which arriving but lately, wee have perised, and find that during his whole continuance in the Bay, he has deported himself very disrispectfully to his superiors, and litigiously to his equalls, and imperiously to his inferiors, as by their complaint at Cassambuzar of the whole Factory of 27th August 1686. Notwithstanding which, in consideration of his poverty and long standing in India, wee have offered to readmit him into the Right Honble. Companies Service and give him such employment as should be suitable [to] his station and capacity, all which he rejected, and would bring us to his capitulation and tearmes, as also that we must engage and secure him from the Right Honble. Companies future displeasure for his former troublesome miscarryages, or to permit him to go home for England, the first of which
15 Letter of 15th December 1685, Jury Press List. 40 Factory Records, Fort St. Geory. Vol. IV. p. . 17 Fre'ory R corde, Mie e'lar cus, Vol. 3
13 Factory Records, Hugli, Vol. XI. * Wickensie SS., Vol. LIV, IP. 329-30. (copis of Madras Records).