^{page 299 note 1} The Cambridge, History of India, for example, does not mention the Secret Committee before 1784Google Scholar.

^{page 299 note 2} Cf. ibid., vol. v, pp. 201, 315.

^{page 299 note 3} Constitution of the East India Company, p. 188. Sir William Foster (India Office Records, p. 4, f.n. 2) quotes Auber's statementGoogle Scholar.

^{page 300 note 1} Plans for the Government of British India, p. 613.

^{page 300 note 2} Vol. ii, p. 7.

^{page 300 note 3} Court Book, vol. xxxiii, f. 135.

^{page 301 note 1} Ibid., vol. xxxiv, f. 11, 2nd July, 1684.

^{page 301 note 2} Ibid., vol. xxii, f. 1,18th August, 1647. Cf. Ibid., vol. xxxvii, f. 41,29th November, 1695. Letter Book, vol. v, f. 353, 11th November, 1676.

^{page 301 note 3} Court Book, vol. xxx, f. 64, 18th October, 1676Google Scholar.

^{page 301 note 4} Ibid., vol. xxv, f. 301, 16th April, 1667.

^{page 301 note 5} Court Minutes, vol. xxxiv, 6th August, 1684. and 0. Strachey, Keigwin's Rebellion, p. 116. Cf. Home Misc., vol. xxxxiiGoogle Scholar.

^{page 302 note 1} For an account of his career see Macaulay's History of England, vol. ii.

^{page 302 note 2} Cambridge History of India, vol. v, p. 101. By the new Charter gained in 1683 the Company was given power to declare and make peace and war, to raise forces and exercise martial law. See Ilbert, Government of India, p. 19.

^{page 302 note 3} Court Book, vol. xxxiv, f. 217, 9th June, 1686Google Scholar.

^{page 303 note 1} Cambridge History of India, vol. v, p. 102.

^{page 303 note 2} Court Book, vol. xxxv, ff. 132,141,22nd June, 24th August, 1688. The Revolution of 1688 in England had dealt a severe blow to Sir Josia Child, weakening his position in the Company.

^{page 303 note 3} He died shortly before the discussions were completed.

^{page 304 note 1} Court Book, vol. xxxvi, f. 299, 6th March, 1695.

^{page 304 note 2} Ibid., vol. xxxvii, f. 41, 29th November, 1695; f. 45, 30th December, 1695; vol. xxxviii, f. 205, 1st April, 1701; vol. xli, f. 371, 1st December, 1704; vol. xlii, ff. 110, 123, 16th January, 13th February, 1705; vol. xlii, ff. 85, 88, 412, 607, 14th and 19th December, 1705, 13th December, 1706, 20th June, 1707; vol. xliii, ff. 9, 156, 291, 499, 772, 828, 7th May, 8th September, 26th November, 1708, 21st April, 9th November, 9th December, 1709; vol. xlv, ff. 14, 72, 414, 25th April, 20th June, 1712, 24th June, 1713. In 1708 the Secret Committee collaborated with a certain Captain Smith in fortifying St. Helena. Ibid., vol. xliii, f. 9, 7th May, 1708.

^{page 304 note 3} Auber, Constitution of the East India Company, p. 196.

^{page 304 note 4} Cf. Court Book, vol. xli, f. 371, 1st December, 1704Google Scholar.

^{page 304 note 5} Ibid., vol. xxxvii, ff. 48, 186, and vol. lxii, f. 88.

^{page 305 note 1} Ibid., vol. xlvii, ff. 148, 463, 19th October, 1716, 16th October, 1717.

^{page 305 note 2} The Chairman and Deputy were first elected permanently for a whole year in 1714. Previously a Chairman was elected at each meeting of the Court.

^{page 305 note 3} A usual order was for “the Secret Committee to give directions to the several Captains what signals they are to make on their entrance into St. Helena”. References to the Committee of Correspondence, vol. iii, 10th October, 1733. Cf. Ibid., 14th September, 1737. In January, 1717, the Court agreed to “ indemnify the Committee of Secrecy for giving such orders relating to those ships as they shall think fit to the Company's Presidents ”. Court Book, vol. xlvii, f. 549.

^{page 305 note 4} Ibid., f. 536, 16th October, 1717. In March, 1718, the Court authorized the Secretary to pay fifty guineas to a nominee of the Secret Committee, who had evidently undertaken secret investigations. Ibid. f. 605.

^{page 305 note 5} Ibid., vol. li, f. 13,15th April, 1724; f. 307, 9th April, 1725. The Secret Committee was also authorized in December, 1725, to order the seizure of any of His Majesty's subjects found in India contrary to law. Ibid., f. 454.

^{page 305 note 6} Cambridge History of India, vol. v, p. 115.

^{page 306 note 1} Court Book, vol. lix, f. 270, 10th April, 1741. Cf. Refs. to Committee of Correspondence, vol. iii, 14th April, 1742. A special warrant for one hundred guineas was made out to the Secretary in April, 1748, for his attendance on the Secret Committee. Court Book, vol. lxii, f. 520Google Scholar.

^{page 306 note 2} A swift-sailing ship was kept at the Committee's disposal throughout the war. Court Book, vol. lxi, ff. 67, 163, 25th July, 5th December, 1744. Refs. to Committee of Correspondence, vol. iii, 25th April, 1744, 9th December, 1747. The Secret Committee informed Madras of the impending war in March, 1744. H. Dodwell, Madras Despatches, p. 3.

^{page 306 note 3} Court Book, vol. lxi, f. 10. Refs. to Committee of Correspondence, vol. iii, 5th April, 1744Google Scholar.

^{page 307 note 1} Dodwell, H., op. cit., p. 3. Cambridge History of India, vol. v, p. 119Google Scholar.

^{page 307 note 2} Ibid., pp. 120–1.

^{page 307 note 3} Cf. Refs. to Committee of Correspondence, vol. iii, 16th April, 1744, 30th November, 1748Google Scholar.

^{page 307 note 4} Ibid., 21st September, 14th December, 1744.

^{page 307 note 5} Court Book, vol. Ixii, ff. 233–257, 25th February, 1746/7Google Scholar.

^{page 307 note 6} Refs. to Committee of Correspondence, vol. iii, 25th February, 1746/7Google Scholar.

^{page 307 note 7} Cf. The Secret Committee's correspondence with the Duke of Newcastle, Add. MSS 35906; see especially f. 176, 24th April, 1747. Refs. to Committee of Correspondence, vol. iii, 24th April, 1747Google Scholar.

^{page 308 note 1} They were Major S. Lawrence, W. Holt, and A. Winch. Ibid., 23rd November, 1748.

^{page 308 note 2} Abstract of Despatches to Fort St. George, vol. i, f. 15, 6th December, 1748. Dodwell, H., op. cit., p. 74Google Scholar.

^{page 308 note 3} In particular, Charles Floyer, Governor of Madras from April, 1747, to August, 1749, acted feebly and frivolously. Cf. H. Dodwell, op. cit., p. 104.

^{page 308 note 4} Orme MSS O.V. 17 (5), Court Book, vol. lxv, f. 346, 27th April, 1753Google Scholar.

^{page 308 note 5} Ibid.

^{page 308 note 6} Ibid., vol. lxvi, f. 9, 11th April, 1754. Refs. to Committee of Correspondence, vol. iii, 11th April, 1755.

^{page 309 note 1} Orme MSS. O.V. 17 (5), May, 1753, to September, 1754.

^{page 309 note 2} Court Book, vol. Ixvi, f. 427, 24th June, 1755Google Scholar.

^{page 309 note 3} Home Misc., vol. lxvii, f. 31. These powers were repeated from 1756 to 1761 inclusiveGoogle Scholar.

^{page 310 note 1} Secret Despatches to Fort St. George, vol. i, f. 441, 14th February, 1755Google Scholar.

^{page 310 note 2} An order to establish a Select Committee of eight at Madras had been sent in March, 1754. This Committee was authorized to conclude a provisional treaty with the French which it did in December of that year. H. Dodwell, op. cit., pp. 230–1. The Secret Committee in Bombay was formed on 10th March, 1755, the Select Committee on 16th September, 1755. See Sir William Foster, India Office Records, pp. 75, 85. In August, 1756, after the flight of the English from Calcutta to Fulta the President and Council there had formed a Secret Committee on their own initiative. In December, 1756, on orders from England the Secret was changed to the Select Committee. Ibid., p. 40.

^{page 310 note 3} Cambridge Shorter History of India, p. 547. Abstract of Despatches to Madras, vol. i, f. 76, 28th July, 1756. The Company's strength was revealed in an attack on the Angrias, pirates who had long continued to attack vessels that offered a reasonable chance of capture and to dominate the coastline between Bombay and Goa. Several fruitless expeditions had been fitted out against them but in March, 1754, the Secret Committee drew up a plan of attack with the result that Commodore James took Suvamdrug in 1755 and in 1757 Clive and Admiral Watson destroyed Vijayadrug and broke the power of the Angrias. Home Misc., vol. lxvii, f. 31. Court Book, vol. lxv, f. 611, 2nd March, 1754Google Scholar.

^{page 311 note 1} Add. MSS 35906, f. 190, 18th August, 1756, Secret Committee to Henry Fox. Court Book, vol. lxviii, ff. 212, 358, 13th December, 1758, 30th May, 1759Google Scholar.

^{page 311 note 2} Court Book, vol. lxx, ff. 251, 267, 30th December, 1761. The Secret Committee in its orders (1st January, 1761) to the three Presidencies concerning the proposed attack on Mauritius, wrote “ Destroy all fortifications in case the French regain the island at the peace treaty, ruin the harbour and port but the cannon, warlike stores, and every slave in particular must be transported to our settlement of Bencoolen.” Previously in November, 1757, the Secret Committee had been asked by the Directors “to encourage the peopling of the Company's establishments on the west coast of Sumatra for the promotion of commerce in those parts ”. Home Misc., vol. lxvii, f. 32.

^{page 311 note 3} With regard to the Company's policy in India itself, the Secret Committee was adamant that “a good understanding with Salabat Jang (the weak and childish ruler, installed as Nizam by the French in 1751) must be carefully cultivated and maintained. A measure, if happily effected, it is our opinion will contribute more than anything to clip the wings of the enemy and increase our strength and influence on the coast.” Madras Military Despatches, 26tb March, 1755. Cf. H. D. Love, op. cit., vol. ii, p. 477. In fact no stable alliance could have been made with Salabat Jang and the Committee's orders suggest that it had not realized the importance of concentrating the British forces for a decision in the Carnatic.

^{page 311 note 4} Court Book, vol. lxx, f. 101, 29th July, 1761Google Scholar.

^{page 311 note 5} Home Misc., vol. lxvii, ff. 33, 34, 21st July, 22nd September, 1762Google Scholar.

^{page 312 note 1} Ibid., f. 35, 15th April, 1763. But on 29th April, 1763, the Secret Committee was urged to apply to Government for assistance “to obviate any injuries to this Company's settlements and trade from the extraordinary force preparing by the Dutch for the East Indies and to concert such measures as are expedient for preventing the outset of that force ”. Ibid., f. 36.

^{page 312 note 2} Ibid., f. 37, 18th June, 1763.

^{page 312 note 3} Cf. Auber, Constitution of the East India Company, p. 191.

^{page 312 note 4} The lives of the Select Committees at the Presidencies were affected by events at the Presidency towns. For example, at Madras Governor Pigot and Major Lawrence assumed the administration in December, 1758, when Lally beseiged the town. The Select Committee was reappointed on the home government's orders of 13th March, 1761. The Select Committees at Madras and Bombay were reconstituted on orders from home of 17th March and 4th April, 1769. Sir William Foster, op. cit., pp. 75, 85.

^{page 312 note 5} Home Misc., vol. lxvii, f. 37, 1st May, 1764Google Scholar.

^{page 313 note 1} Ibid., f. 38, 21st July, 1769.

^{page 313 note 2} See Cambridge History of India, vol. v, pp. 278, 594. Nevertheless Lindsay left England with a secret commission which was not communicated to the Company, investing him with plenipotentiary powers from the King to the Princes of India.

^{page 313 note 3} In April, 1776, the Committee was authorized to take “such precautions as they shall judge proper ”. Home Misc., vol. lxvii, f. 38Google Scholar.

^{page 313 note 4} Ibid., f. 40, 24, 24th and 26th March, 1778.

^{page 313 note 5} Ibid. f. 41, 27th March, 1778.

^{page 314 note 1} This Committee met in Downing Street and, on the advice of Lord Weymouth, straightway drew up plans for the reduction of Pondichery–consulting Sir Eyre Coote and General Joseph Smith for the purpose. Secret Committee Minutes, vol. i, 10th April, 1778. Samuel Wilks, the Examiner of Indian Correspondence, became clerk to the Committee instead of the Secretary as formerly. Sir William Foster says (Guide to the India Office Records, p. 4, f.n. 2) that the regular appointment of a Committee of Secrecy began with the resolution of the Court of Directors of 27th March, 1778. Clearly this is not so and, although the Secret Committee Minutes in volume form begin in April, 1778, such Minutes were regularly kept from at least as early as November, 1754. See Home Misc., vol. Ixvii, f. 31. Court Book, vol. lxvi, f. 298, 14th February, 1755Google Scholar.

^{page 314 note 2} They were “to transact all political, military, and naval affairs and likewise all such as may require secrecy ”. These Committees continued to function until the new form of government established by Pitt's India Act of 1784 restored the sole authority to the Governor and Council. See Sir William Foster, op. cit. Cf. H. D. Love, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 142.

^{page 314 note 3} Home Misc., vol. lxvii, ff. 42–3. The same powers were granted for two months in May, 1780Google Scholar.

^{page 314 note 4} The Secret Committee applied in vain to Lord North in January and November, 1776, and in April and June, 1777, for men-of-war to be sent to India. Extracts from the Minutes of the Secret Committee, Home Misc., vol. lxxxiv, f. 53.

^{page 314 note 5} Cambridge History of India, vol. v, p. 287Google Scholar.

^{page 315 note 1} Minutes of the Secret Committee, relative to the negotiations for peace, 1782–3. 14th October, 1782, Orde to Fletcher; 18th October, 22nd October, 1782.

^{page 315 note 2} Ibid. Grantham to the Chairman, 23rd January, 1783, and passim, January, 1783, to 11th March, 1785. The articles concerning the East in negotiation with Holland were discussed by the Secret Committee in detail.

^{page 315 note 3} Court Minutes, vol. xcii, f. 12, 15th April, 1783.

^{page 315 note 4} Sir Henry Fletcher was forced to resign the Chair during the discussion of Fox's East India Bills in November, 1783. Auber, Constitution of the East India Company, p. 68.