ny." In May, 1766, the Directors had condemned
the monopoly _on any conditions whatsoever_. "At that time they thought
it neither consistent with their honor nor their dignity to promote such
an exclusive trade."[10] "They considered it, too, as disgraceful, _and
below the dignity of their present situation_, to allow of such a
monopoly, and that, were they to allow it under any restrictions, they
should consider themselves as assenting and subscribing to all the
mischiefs which Bengal had presented to them for four years past."[11]

Notwithstanding this solemn declaration, in their letter of 24th
December, 1776, they approve the plan of Mr. Hastings, and say, "that
the monopoly, _on its present footing_, can be no considerable grievance
to the country," &c.

This, however, was a rigorous monopoly. The account given of it by
General Clavering, Colonel Monson, and Mr. Francis, in their minute of
11th January, 1775, in which the situation of the _molungees_, or
persons employed in the salt manufacture, is particularly described, is
stated at length in the Appendix. Mr. Hastings himself says, "The power
of obliging molungees to work has been customary from time immemorial."

Nothing but great and clear advantage to government could account for,
and nothing at all perhaps could justify, the revival of a monopoly thus
circumstanced. The advantage proposed by its revival was the
transferring the profit, which was before reaped by English gentlemen
and banians, to the Company. The profits of the former were not
problematical. It was to be seen what the effect would be of a scheme to
transfer them to the latter, even under the management of the projector
himself. In the Revenue Consultations of September, 1776, Mr. Hastings
said, "Many causes have since combined to reduce this article of revenue
_almost to nothing_. The plan which I am _now_ inclined to recommend for
the future management of the salt revenue differs widely from that
which I adopted under different circumstances."

It appears that the ill success of his former scheme did not deter him
from recommending another. Accordingly, in July, 1777, Mr. Hastings
proposed, and it was resolved, that the salt mahls should be let, _with_
the lands, to the farmers and zemindars for a ready-money rent,
including duties,--the salt to be left to their disposal. After some
trial of this method, Mr. Hastings thought fit to abandon it. In
September, 1780, he changed his plan a thi