BIB_ID
105952
Accession number
MA 9965
Creator
Dalrymple, Alexander, 1737-1808.
Display Date
London, England, 1781 January 29.
Description
1 item (3 pages) ; 25.2 x 19.7 cm
Notes
A note on the recto identifies this as "Confidential Communications to my Attys at Leaving England." It is believed to be a copy made by Dalrymple. The letter is not signed.
This letter was removed from an extra-illustrated version of Letters of James Boswell Addressed to the Rev. W.J. Temple (London: Richard Bentley, 1857) that had been enlarged to three folio volumes with the addition of autograph letters and 258 portraits "as collected by E. Hornby." It was in Volume II, on page 135. Other letters from the volumes are now catalogued as MA 981.1-109.
This letter was removed from an extra-illustrated version of Letters of James Boswell Addressed to the Rev. W.J. Temple (London: Richard Bentley, 1857) that had been enlarged to three folio volumes with the addition of autograph letters and 258 portraits "as collected by E. Hornby." It was in Volume II, on page 135. Other letters from the volumes are now catalogued as MA 981.1-109.
Summary
Outlining his plans for rising in the Indian service, starting with joining the Select Committee (explaining "You know, it is one of Lord Macartney's first wishes, that I should be a member of the Select Committee"); writing "I confess, that I feel a degree of degradation more easy to be conceived than expressed, at my returning to India, in the condition of an inferior servant of the Company, after the lines, which, you know, I have taken, in this Country. Had not my enemies made those lines, in some measure, known to the world, I should have supported my situation with more ease of mind;" saying that he trusts in the government and feels he has been scandalously treated by a faction "who are their enemies, as well as mine;" adding that he will need some "mark of honour from his Majesty" to assure that he is treated with respect and that perhaps Lord Bathurst, a "warm friend" of his, could speak to Lord North about this when the time is right; discussing the relationship between the East India Company and the government: "I think it impossible, but, under the new arrangement, Government must have that decided influence in East India affairs, which is absolutely necessary for giving stability, weight and permanency to the interests of Great Britain in the East. In case of a New Charter, or a new Company, all seniority among the Servants of the old Company will be extinguished..."; saying that his ambition is to succeed Lord Macartney; arguing for his integrity: "there is not a single servant of the Company in India, whose conduct can bear investigation so well as mine ; having never been concerned, in that line of infamous peculation, by which, to my certain knowledge, almost all the fortunes in India, especially on the Coast, were accumulated;" writing that if he were placed on the Select Committee, he would be able to "do a striking, as well as essential service to my Country ; I mean such such [sic] a service to our finances, as will amply justify to the world any support the State may be pleased to give, to my pretensions;" writing that he relies on the support and the business talents of a Mr. Robinson and asking that his gratitude and hopes for continued friendship be expressed to Robinson "upon every occasion;" asking also that this letter be shown to a Mr. Atkinson; discussing the lines to be followed in the future.
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