Parliamentary Papers Volume 4; Papers etc. (East India Company) Fourth part. Session 24. Nov. 1812, 22. July 1813 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1813 Excerpt: ...and in a subsequent section these numerous levies are stated " unitedly to exceed in number 100 distinct heads of taxation," and mostly laid on the direct produce of land. The bare contemplation of this enormous list of taxes, is sufficient to account for the present deplorable state of Salsette, in despite of the better system introduced ten years ago by the present Government, and which was certainly a great and decided improvement of the Mahratta course of administration. In respect therefore to this island, whenever mentioned, 1 hope never to be understood as meaning to arraign the late measures adopted for its improvement; the principle of Mr. Camac's plan is good, and its effects, no doubt, must have been slowly and partially beneficial: all I would say in this respeot, is what is now selfevident, that there has. not yet been sufficient encouragement held out to draw to Salsette the overflowing surplus of the commercial wealth of Bombay, and I selected this spot for the experiment proposed to effect it in my former essay, f.om the advantage advantage of its situation, and the opportunity it would afford to Government of personally witnessing its effects. The anticipated objects of the experiment, it will be remembered, are briefly these:--Permanency of tenure with removal of tax from the land, and its gradual diminution; consequent encouragement and success to agricultural pursuits--consequently the multiplication of wealth--consequently the improvement of our fiscal resources, and without the least risk of intermediate loss; a reduction of native establishments, the practicability of which is no longer speculative, but proved by actual experience: whence, not only immediate saving of expense, but' a blessing to the inhabitants, as great per...