From Col. Mustard’s Correspondence File
09: An Indian Proposal
Col. Edward Mustard
c/o Mrs Midgely’s Lodging House
41 Cockspur Street
London
20th June 1769, Lisbon
Dear Ned
I write in some Haste, for there is much to do if I am to obey your Instruction to join you post haste in London. I want to jot down some Reflections so that they can go with the Courier by return. I myself will endeavour to take the next Ship I can but I need a few Days to establish the Chain of Command in my Absence and write out my Orders for them.
I know that I have been pestering you for Months now over obtaining an active Commission for the Regiment and I hope that you will not take it amiss or consider me ungrateful or contrary if I inject a Note of Caution at this Point. As you know, I have long Experience both of India and of the East India Company and have endeavoured to maintain a current View of Events. I make it my Business to talk to Captains and Crew of the many Indiamen that dock in Lisbon, sailing to and from the Indies. Many’s the Case of Oporto Wine I have traded for News and Gossip of John Company’s Interests in the Region.
Regarding India itself I can only say that it is a marvellous, dangerous Place, as full of Peril as it is of Wonder – and believe me it is a place of extraordinary Wonder. The Thought of returning fills me with a certain Amount of Trepidation but also Excitement in equal Measure and I would welcome greatly the Opportunity to repay your faith in me by imparting all I know of the Place when we meet. If we prepare thoroughly and wisely then we can make a good showing there, I am sure.
My Note of Caution relates more to the East India Company. I think you must always bear in Mind that they are not Gentlemen. I suppose it may be unsurprising to you that a commercial Entity should concern itself with its Balance Sheet more than its Honour. However, I must warn you that its Representatives cannot really be trusted either. Certainly no-one can rise to the Level that your Mr Hunter has achieved without proving Time and again to his Employers that his Interests will always Trump any Scruple that he might personally feel. Thus no Matter how bluff and affable Mr Hunter may appear, when Push comes to Shove, any Word he has given, any Gentleman’s Agreement, will be abandoned if fulfilling it runs contrary to Company Interest. That said, I do believe that they will usually honour a Contract – the Letter, not the Spirit, you understand. So my first Advice to you, if you choose to pursue this, is to find a damn good commercial Lawyer, with Experience of, but no Link to, the Company.
I think it very important that we find out exactly what the Company want of us and what they hope to gain from your Services. I think it vital, if we want to maintain a happy Relationship with John Company, that we truly understand not just the Terms of our Service with them but the Outcomes they seek to obtain through our Agency. It seems to me that if the Subject is approached properly it should be entirely within their Interests to be free and frank in their Response. If they are not, then I think I would smell a Rat.
I note your Suspicion that this Offer might simply be intended to send you away from London at a Time when they plan some Mischief, the Success of which, they fear you might threaten in some way. If so you should consider yourself quite flattered. The Expense of hiring an entire Regiment of Dragoons simply as a Diversion suggests that they must consider you a great Risk. I would certainly not put that past them if the Enterprise promised a great enough Profit. You should also consider that, if your Suspicions are well founded, we can expect them to take other Measures to have you out of the way should you refuse this Offer.
You say that Blunt has also been made a Proposition that would take him away from London for a significant Period to the Indies and that Rao is also talking of an urgent Need to return to his Country. On the Face of it, these co-Incidences do seem remarkable. Perhaps you have some Connections that might help you determine whether there could be some Basis for your Misgivings. I think it well worth the Effort to consult them on this Matter.
On the Subject of Rao. I understand that Mr Rao is a Native of the Kingdom of Mysore. You must understand that its Ruler, Haider Ali, has traditionally been quite hostile to the British. That said, I judge from your Description of his eating Habits that Rao is probably a Hindoo, as are most of the Population of that Realm. Haider Ali is a Mussulman and considered quite the Usurper among those who long for a return to Power of the Wodeyars – the traditional ruling House of Mysore. Indeed, now I consider the Matter, there is a Fellow named Rao who is a leading Antagonist to Ali (though once his loyal Servant – such is the way of Politics in those Parts). This is not to say that the Hindoo Faction is necessarily better disposed to the British but the old Saw that “the Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend” is much observed in India, if only for temporary Advantage. Nevertheless, should you find yourselves in Action in the India at the same Time, it is not beyond the Bounds of Possibility that you might be arrayed on different Sides of the Battlefield.
There is some young naval Officer outside my Tent noisily harrumphing, and muttering darkly about Tides and prevailing Winds, so I must draw this to a Close. I hope to be in London early next Month, indeed quite possibly hard on the Heels of this Missive. We can discuss all at much greater Length then.
Until then……
I remain your obedient Servant
Nathaniel Pepper
Lieut. Col.
PS. We have a decent Surgeon with the Regiment but a good Physician is worth his Weight in Gold in India. You might want to have a Word with your Dr White and see if he might fall prey to the Wanderlust once more and accompany us (should you decide to go). If not, perhaps he can recommend someone. NP