The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

for arming the ship; though his original proposal was, that the ship should be armed at his
expense. That this part of the adventure, depending for its success on a prudent and
fortunate management of various sales and resales in the course of a circuitous voyage, and
being exposed to such risk both of sea and enemy that all private traders had declined to be
concerned in it, was particularly unfit for a great trading company, and could not be
undertaken on their account with any rational prospect of advantage.

That the said Warren Hastings soon after engaged in another scheme for exporting two
thousand chests of opium directly to China on the Company's account, and for that purpose
accepted of an offer made by Henry Watson, the Company's chief engineer, to convey the
same in a vessel of his own, and to deliver it to the Company's supra-cargoes. That, after the
offer of the said Henry Watson had been accepted, a letter from him was produced at the
board, in which he declared that he was unable to equip the ship with a proper number of
cannon, and requested that he might be furnished with thirty-six guns from the Company's
stores at Madras; with which request the board complied.

That it appears that George Williamson, the Company's auctioneer at Calcutta, having
complained that by this mode of exporting the opium, which used to be sold by public
auction, he lost his commission as auctioneer, the board allowed him to draw a commission
of one per cent on all the opium which had been or was to be exported. That it appears that
the contractor for opium (whose proper duties and emoluments as contractor ended with the
delivery of the opium) was also allowed to draw a commission on the opium then shipping
on the Company's account; but for what reason, or on what pretence, does not appear.

That the said Warren Hastings, in order to pay the said Stephen Sulivan in advance for the
opium furnished or to be furnished by him in the first year of his contract, did borrow the

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