Arnold Wright

Name: Early English adventurers in the East (1917) — Chapter XIX.—The Arch Interloper—Thomas Pitt
Author: Arnold Wright

Early English adventurers in the East… (1917)

Summary

“Early English adventurers in the East (1917) — Chapter XIX.—The Arch Interloper—Thomas Pitt”, published in 1917, is a work by Arnold Wright. It explores elements such as Pitt, Company and Madras.

Quotes from Early English adventurers in the East… (Arnold Wright)

Arnold Wright, Early English adventurers in the East… (1917)

“ Thomas Pitt's life in Madras, as illustrated in his letters, seems to have been one of considerable usefulness and activity. He kept a sharp eye on the general affairs of India and gave shrewd advice which though not always followed was often extremely helpful. From the first he advocated the adoption of a vigorous policy in dealing with the native powers. "Force and a strong fortification were better than an ambassador," he urged in one of his dispatches. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arnold Wright, Early English adventurers in the East… (1917)

“ They were men who, enticed to the East by the profitable character of the trade, went out with their own ships in defiance of the charter of the Company which conferred upon it an absolute monopoly of the Indian trade. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arnold Wright, Early English adventurers in the East… (1917)

“ A conspicuous member of the fraternity was Thomas Pitt, the progenitor of two of the greatest British statesmen, and himself a man who in later life won considerable distinction. Pitt was a born free lance. He had gauged to a nicety the foibles of the Oriental and he played upon them with a master hand during a career of almost unbroken prosperity extending from the year 1674 into the new century. The Directors, when they got to hear of him, as they soon did, sent out orders that he should be seized and imprisoned pending the arrival of a ship in which he could be dispatched to England. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arnold Wright, Early English adventurers in the East… (1917)

“ The leader in making a ceremonial visit to the native court went richly habited in a dress of scarlet and lace. "The Englishmen in blew capps and coats edged with red all round with Blunderbusses went before his pallankeen; 80 peons before them, and 4 musicians playing on the Weights with 2 flags before him." "A gawdy shew and great noise add much to a public person's credit in this country," sapiently remarks the diarist by way of commentary. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arnold Wright, Early English adventurers in the East… (1917)

“ Englishmen in their public durbars, which formerly they never presumed to do, and the Jun-kaneers all over the country are very insolent: only those within our reach I keep in pretty good order by now and then giving them a pretty good banging." Pitt knew the type of Indian official with whom the Company chiefly had to deal. If his advice had been accepted instead of being ignored the path to ultimate supremacy would have been much smoother for the British. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arnold Wright, Early English adventurers in the East… (1917)

“ Pitt continued in office until 1709 when his Indian career was closed by a difference with his employers which led to his recall. By that time Madras had become an important station with a far-reaching trade and possessing a political influence which radiated to a greater part of Southern India. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arnold Wright, Early English adventurers in the East… (1917)

“ George (Madras) —His administration—The Pitt diamond and its history—Last years in England—Pitt's character
WINTER'S amazing usurpation described in the preceding chapter had its counterpart in the daring achievements of some of the adventurers of this period who went to India as interlopers—that "horrid trade" which to the sleek old gentlemen who directed the affairs of the East India Company seemed to touch the lowest depth of infamy. There were many such in the Bay of Bengal at that juncture. ”

Arnold Wright

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Quotes from Early English adventurers in the East… (Arnold Wright)

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