Proceedings of the Committee of Circuit, 16th-30th December, 1772
About this text
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 Committee of Circuit was founded on 14th May 1772 and it continued to operate till February 1773. On August, 1771, the Directors of the Company, instructed the Company to take upon itself the entire care and management of the revenue. There upon, Warren Hastings, formed a Committee of the Board,, consisting of himself and four members to settle the land revenue in the various districts on the spot.
Selection details
The Committee of Circuit was founded on 14th May 1772 and it continued to operate till February 1773. On August, 1771, the Directors of the Company, instructed the Company to take upon itself the entire care and management of the revenue. There upon, Warren Hastings, formed a Committee of the Board,, consisting of himself and four members to settle the land revenue in the various districts on the spot.
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The Volume couldn’t be located in the Archive. The Following notes are made from the Press ListFrom Purnea, Copy of a letter from Mr G G Ducarel, Collector of Purnea, to Mr P M Dacres President of the Committee of Circuit, intimating that the owing to plenty of grain and its low price and the unsettled condition of the country great difficulties are being experienced by him in the collection of the revenue; reporting that Raiyats have threatened to desert Purnea and to go to Rangpur, in case the settlement of the revenue is not satisfactorily concluded; requesting the return of Raja Debi Singh his Diwan from the city to help him in carrying on the Company’s business and urging the publication of a Parwana explaining the Committee’s intention regarding the current years’ collection.-CCP 798-800, 18th Dec
From Purnea, Copy of a letter from Mr G G Ducarel, Collector of Purnea, stating that Lieutenant Sinclair has been deputed with nearly two companies of sepoys to drive the sannyasi fakirs, who have entered into his province, with an apparent design to proceed to Rangpur.- CCP 847, 28th Dec
From Dinajpur, Copy of a letter from Mr Archibald Staples, Assistant at Dinajpur urging the adoption of strong measures to put a stop to the ravages committed by the sannyasis in the province.- CCP 847-48, 28th Dec.