The Company was very early sensible of these mischiefs, and of their true cause.  They gave precise orders, “that the native princes, called polygars, should not be extirpated.”  “The rebellion” (so they choose to call it) “of the polygars may, they fear, with, too much justice, be attributed to the maladministration of the Nabob’s collectors.”  “They observe with concern, that their troops have been put to disagreeable services.”  They might have used a stronger expression without impropriety.  But they make amends in another place.  Speaking of the polygars, the Directors say that “it was repugnant to humanity to force them to such dreadful extremities as they underwent"; that some examples of severity might be necessary, “when they fell into the Nabob’s hands,” and not by the destruction of the country; “that they fear his government is none of the mildest, and that there is great oppression in collecting his revenues.”  They state, that the wars in which he has involved the Carnatic had been a cause of its distresses; “that those distresses have been certainly great, but those by the Nabob’s oppressions they believe to be greater than all.”  Pray, Sir, attend to the reason for their opinion that the government of this their instrument is more calamitous to the country than the ravages of war:—­Because, say they, his oppressions are “without intermission; the others are temporary;—­by all which oppressions we believe the Nabob has great wealth in store.”  From this store neither he nor they could derive any advantage whatsoever, upon the invasion of Hyder Ali, in the hour of their greatest calamity and dismay.

It is now proper to compare these declarations with the Company’s conduct.  The principal reason which they assigned against the extirpation of the polygars was, that the weavers were protected in their fortresses.  They might have added, that the Company itself, which stung them to death, had been warmed in the bosom of these unfortunate princes:  for, on the taking of Madras by the French, it was in their hospitable pollams that most of the inhabitants found refuge and protection.  But notwithstanding all these orders, reasons, and declarations, they at length gave an indirect sanction, and permitted the use of a very direct and irresistible force, to measures which they had over and over again declared to be false policy, cruel, inhuman, and oppressive.  Having, however, forgot all attention to the princes and the people, they remembered that they had some sort of interest in the trade of the country; and it is matter of curiosity to observe the protection which they afforded to this their natural object.