Proceedings of the Comptrolling Committee of Revenue, 10th June-31st December, 1771
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Introductory notes
The early records preserved in the West Bengal State Archive pertains to the administration of the land revenue system by the East India Company. The Company attained the revenue rights of the Province through the Grant of Diwani in 1765. The records in the repositories of the Archive date back to the Select Committee Records in 1768. Between 1769 and 1786 the revenue administration was managed by various intermediate agencies like the Resident at the Durbar, Provincial Council of Revenue, the Calcutta Committee of Revenue. These committees reflect the early experiments and confusion of the East India Company over revenue collection.
The Comptrolling Committee of Revenue was the first separate Revenue authority that was set up in April, 1771. The Comptrolling Committee comprised of President and four members. The two Provincial Councils, as well as the officers in charge of the 24 Parganas, Burdwan, Midnapore and Chittagong were directed to correspond with and obey the orders of the Committee.
Selection details
The Comptrolling Committee of Revenue was the first separate Revenue authority that was set up in April, 1771. The Comptrolling Committee comprised of President and four members. The two Provincial Councils, as well as the officers in charge of the 24 Parganas, Burdwan, Midnapore and Chittagong were directed to correspond with and obey the orders of the Committee.
1.
1.1.
We have received your Letter dated the 2nd Instant accompanied with your Proceedings restricting the Conduct of Capt. Mackenzie which from the Correspondence between Mr Purling the Supervisor at Rungpore & that Gentleman appears deserving of your highest resentment, & we are equally astonished that a Behaviour so disrespectful & lending to subvert good order and Subordination was not earlier suppressed. We are also from the Terror of those letters much concerned to remark that Capt Mckenzie seems to have been allowed to have the Line of his own Department by the mistaken [...] of the former supervisor & to have encroached in the power of his immediate Province- an Innovation which very Supervisor should be most strictly enjoined to prevent as tending to join his own proper authority & exposing the Country & Inhabitants to confusion & oppression, as the same time that it must convey an Idea of a derided power to the Natives.
With respect to the different Charges of Oppression & Extortion represented in several Petitions from the Natives of Rungpore against Capt Mckenzie it will be proper that you take very measure in your power for their immediate investigation by [...] every [...] [Page 778] and summoning the [...] to the city to support the assertion against the Gentleman in his presence. This done you will communicate to us the Result of your Enquiries with your opinion as large as to the responsibility of the Evidences that may be produced and of the other Circumstances that may appear in the Course of your Examination when we shall give you our final Sentiments & determination upon the Subject.
Captain McKenzie had manifest [...] been guilty of disobedience of Orders to Mr Alexander the Chief of your Board for which he had been put under arrest by that Gentleman & having proceeded to Calcutta was ordered back to Burrampore to stand his trial at a General Court Martial ordered by our Warrant of the . To that Cause We are of Opinion from the Light with which we have been since furnished that the following charges should be added.
Disrespect to the Supervisor of Rungpore his immediate Superior in the Style of his Letter. Contempt of all authority in carrying away with him when he left Rungpore part of his Command with the Prisoner under Confinement without the Sanction of the Supervisor under whose Order he was. Disobedience & Contempt of the Supervisor’s orders [Page 779] in not bringing to a Court Martial a Sepoy on a Charge brought against him by the Supervisor. After the Court Martial shall have come to a decision upon those articles to be exhibited against Capt. McKenzie you will in behalf of the Company call upon that Gentleman to answer to the several Complaints against him during his late Command at Rungpore informally to the Instructions contained in the former part of the Letter.
We cannot help taking notice of the Insinuations thrown out by Capt McKenzie to the prejudice of the Character of Mr Laurell & Mr Purling. Injustice to those Gentlemen we desire you to call on Captain McKenzie to support his Accusation which we would hope to be rather the effects of a chagrined & disappointed Mind than to proceed from any Circumstances that may really exist to effect their Reputations.
Fort William 14th November 1771We are & ca
1.2.
We have had the Honor to receive your Commands of the 14th Instant in consequence of which the Chief has transmitted to Lieut. Col. Muir the [...] to be exhibited against Capt. David Mackenzie at his Trial before a Genera Court Martial and has therein added the further Charges which you have been pleased to direct, to his original Crime of Disobedience [Page 795] of Orders, and every Testimony necessary to support these accusations shall be regularly transmitted to the Colonel before the Court. The other Complaints which have been preferred against Capt McKenzie by the Natives of Rungpore shall be investigated, conformably to your Orders, in the strictest manner without loss of Time, so as to have the Enquiry when the Court Martial shall be concluded but on a supposition that the Sentence of the Court Martial may [...]Capt. McKenzie from the Service, & he in consequence refuses to obey a Call to answer before our Board, which from his former [...], which we think there is every reason to apprehend, We regret to be favored with your Instructions how we are to proceed.
Your Injunctions on the Occasion of any conduct similar to that which you so highly [...] in Capt. McKenzie , shall be circulated to the several supervisors of this Government.