Record 61 from 1769

This record provides information on moving weavers to Madras and lessons on languages and other subjects to communicate with weavers.

17th March 1769 It would be a great point gained to draw the weavers from Salem and the distant parts to places more adjacent to Madras and there are many fortified towns such as Chinglepiest and others within the Gaghire Bounds where they might be invited to settle in if you find it eligible to adopt such a plan you must take such Towns under your own Government and allow a compensation to the border of the Gaghire. Devicoath appears also a proper place on which you will also give us your sentiments. 20\. Your present manner of conducting the investments is upon plan to narrow for the great increase we wish for, and therefore you are not to adhere to our former orders for providing only by contract for we per[?] that by the contract with a few merchants who confine themselves to a very narrow trade for their purchases, the rest of the Canatic remains unexplored or given up to the Foreign Nation. 21\. To accomplish the plan of expanding your investment it would be necessary to have our internal[?] servants trained into the knowledge of the manufacturers and the language without these they will never be fit agents to deal with the weavers, They must visit the manufacturing towns and make themselveb acquainteded with the number of looms, the quantity of cloth made and whatever can tend to the increase & prosperity of the manufactures. 22\. Another very essential point seems necessary to be attended to which is the price of  cotton, that wherever your cotton harvest fails and an importation of foreign cotton becomes necessary to guard against monopolies, or imposing to high a price on the consumer [….]

Source: BL IOR/E/4/864, p491