elative to that article with
Mr. Stephen Sulivan, without leaving the decision of it to the Court of
Directors."

The sentiments of the Directors are proper, and worthy of persons in
public trust. Their _surprise_, indeed, at the disobedience to their
orders is not perfectly natural in those who for many years have
scarcely been obeyed in a single instance. They probably asserted their
authority at this time with as much vigor as their condition admitted.

They proceed: "We do not mean," say they, "to convey any censure on Mr.
Sulivan respecting the transaction; but we cannot withhold our
displeasure from the Governor-General and Council at such an instance of
_contempt_ of our authority." They then proceed justly to censure the
removal of the inspection, and some other particulars of this gross
proceeding. As to the criminality of the parties, it is undoubtedly true
that a breach of duty in servants is highly aggravated by the rank,
station, and trust of the offending party; but no party, in such
conspiracy to break orders, appear to us wholly free from fault.

The Directors did their duty in reprobating this contract; but it is the
opinion of your Committee that further steps ought to be taken to
inquire into the legal validity of a transaction which manifestly
attempts to prevent the Court of Directors from applying any remedy to
a grievance which has been for years the constant subject of complaints.

Both Mr. Sulivan and Mr. Hastings are the Company's servants, bound by
their covenants and their oaths to promote the interest of their
masters, and both equally bound to be obedient to their orders. If the
Governor-General had contracted with a stranger, not apprised of the
Company's orders, and not bound by any previous engagement, the contract
might have been good; but whether a contract made between two servants,
contrary to the orders of their common master, and to the prejudice of
his known interest, be a breach of trust on both sides, and whether the
contract can in equity have force to bind the Company, whenever they
shall be inclined to free themselves and the country they govern from
this mischievous monopoly, your Committee think a subject worthy of
further inquiry.

With regard to the disposal of the opium, the Directors very properly
condemn the direct contraband, but they approve the trading voyage. The
Directors have observed nothing concerning the loans: they probably
reserved that matter for futur