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'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [74v] (153/502)
The record is made up of 1 volume (249 folios). It was created in 1 Nov 1873-14 Feb 1874. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
2
3 The Commission observes that the main facts in this case are admitted
on both sides. The complainant no donbt regarded the transaction as concluded,
but so long; as the orders for the price of the jewels were not delivered to him
and actually cashed, the
Durbar
A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
considered that such was not the case _
The Maharaja protests that he was deceived as to the worth ot the jewels,
and was and is willing to pay their real value.
No doubt the complainant has good ground for dissatisfaction at the non-
settlement of his claim, and were both parties to the _ contract British subjects,
he could probably sue His Highness successfully m a Civil court, but such
delays and disputes are of common occurrence on occasions of the purchase of
jewels of large value by Native Chiefs, and are well known to be so by the deal
ers in such articles.
Bearing this in mind, and that very extrav agant values are put on their
jewels under such circumstances by Native jewellers, the Commission conceives
that it would not be justified to take on itself the task of attempting a settlement
of this case, for which a fair valuation of the jewels by well qualified and impar
tial arbitrators would be absolutely essential, and it has therefore suggested that
the jewels be forwarded to Bombay with proper precautions, through the Resi
dent, for this purpose, and that His Highness agree to pay the full amount that
may be so fixed on them, or to return the jewels if the complainant decline to
receive the same, a reasonable amount being in either case paid to the latter as
compensation for the delay that has occurred in the adjustment of his claim.
The Maharaja having intimated his full readiness to accept and abide by
this mode of settlement, the further disposal of the matter has been left in the
Resident's hands.
The Commission thinks that the two first modes of settlement admitted
by complainant to have been proposed by the Dewan, but declined by the former,
were not unreasonable, and that it is to be regretted that he did not accept
them.
II. Case No. 3. Complainant sent certain jewels shortly before the pre
sent Maharaja's marriage nearly 3 years ago, to the Baroda firm of Bhaichand
Vardhaman, which had asked him and others to supply some for sale on the
occasion to His Highness. The jewels were taken to Baroda by his son, and
were of the value of about 17
lacs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of
Rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
. About 12
lacs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
worth were select
ed by the Maharaja himself, and their purchase by the Jamdar Khana Kamdar
was ordered by His Highness. The price fixed on them was Rs. 11,91,047 and
complainant's son requested that the amount might be paid to Gopalrao Myral,
and that the receipt of Bhaichand's firm for it might be accepted on complainant's
behalf. Gopalrao Myral was requested to receive the amount, and, after adjust
ing a debt of Rs. 1,89,834 due to him by complainant in connection with this
transaction, to pay the balance over to Bhaichand's firm, which was instructed
to remit the same to complainant at Ahmedabad. The orders for the payment
of the amount were drawn out and signed by the Maharaja, but fell into the
hands of Vasant Rambhao, the manager of the State Bank, who cashed them and
credited the amounts so realised in that Bank. Hearing this, complainant
wrote to Bhaichand, who, on speaking to the Maharaja on the subject, was refer
red by His Highness to this Vasant Rambhao, and the latter took a receipt, dated
1st July 1871, for the full amount of complainant's claim from the said Bhai
chand s firm. Eight days later, Vasant Rambhao paid over Rs. 6,62,259 to (xo-
palrao Myral, in part of the full amount due, and said that the balance should be
paid up afterwards.
Gopalrao Myral retained from this the sum due to him, and paid over the
i emainder to Bhaichand s firm, as requested by complainant, of which he was
duly informed by the said firm. Complainant then begged Bhaichand to get the
balance and remit it, but on his applying to Vasant Rambhao for it, he refused
to pay it. The amount paid to Bhaichand is still in his hands. Complainant
has made no application to the Maharaja in the case.
About this item
- Content
Report of the Baroda Enquiry Commission on the administration of the government of Malharrao, Gaekwar of Baroda. The Commission comprised Richard John Meade (President), Edward William Ravenscroft, Mumtazul Dowlah Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Faiz Ali Khan, Colonel Alfred Thomas Etheridge and Thomas Duncan Mackenzie (Secretary).
The report comprises a letter from the members of the Baroda Enquiry Commission to the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department presenting their report on the results of the proceedings and submitting copies of correspondence, reports and statements relative to the enquiry (ff 5-19):
Appendix A, Part I
- Schedules I-III: Complaints and grievances against the Gaekwar's Government from individuals and groups (ff 21-78).
- Appendix B, Schedules I-III: Cases of complaint and grievance which the commission did not look into during the enquiry (ff 79-81).
- Appendix C: Letter from Colonel Richard John Meade, President, Special Commission of Enquiry on Baroda Affairs, to Colonel Robert Phayre, Resident at Baroda, 1 November 1873 (ff 82-83).
- Appendix D: Translation of an amended notice issued by the Resident to complainants desirous of appearing before the Baroda Enquiry Commission (ff 84-85).
- Appendix E: Schedules presented to the Commission along with Colonel Phayre's introductory statement regarding them. (ff 86-131).
- Appendix F: Letter No. 1128 of 1873 from Colonel Phayre to the President, Baroda Commission regarding the cases already submitted to the Commission, the List of undisposed petitions to be attended to by the Resident which could be used as additional cases if required and the statements that he had yet to make on cases under enquiry by the Commission (ff 132-133).
- Appendix G, Schedule I: Statements from witnesses with cross examination statements from the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). on behalf of the Gaekwar and statements from the Resident as to the accuracy of the information provided (ff 134-229).
Appendix Part II (ff 231-245)
- Letter from James Braithwaite Peile, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kattywar [Kathiawar] to T D Mackenzie, Secretary, Baroda Commission, 13 December 1873 regarding papers requested by the Commission and informing them that the outstanding paper will be forwarded as soon as they are received. Enclosed with the letter are a memorandum from Peile for reconstitution of His Highness the Gaekwar's Contingent in Kattywar, 13 December 1873 and Rule for the guidance of the Officers and Kamdars appointed to the Contingent of Horse of His Highness the Gaekwar, serving in the various Tributary Mahals according to treaty.
- Letter from Peile to Mackenzie, 6 January 1874, forwarding a report and returns received from Colonel Walker, Superintendent to the Gaekwar's Contingent in Kattywar and stating that he does not concur with the Colonel's opinion. Enclosed with this letter is a letter from Colonel Chamberlen William Walker, 30 December 1873, providing the information on the Contingent requested by the Commission and enclosing an extract of the Contingents annual report for 1871 and a statement of the men within the Contingent on duty under officials paid by Talukdars etc, 06 March 1872.
- Letters from John Whaley Watson, Acting Political Superintendent Pahlanpur [Palanpur], Captain Henry Nicholas Reeves, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. Rewa Kanta [Rewa Kantha] and Major Philip Harrison Le Geyt, Acting Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Mahi Kanta [Mahi Kantha] to the secretary of the Baroda Commission 19 December 1873 to 9 January 1874 reporting on the Gaekwar's contingents serving within their districts and commenting on numbers of men, pay and conditions. The letters all refer to enclosed returns, but only the return for Mahi Kanta is included in the report.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (249 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main sequence of foliation consists of a small pencil number in the top front right hand corner of each folio enclosed in a circle.
There is also an original sequence of foliation which consists of larger pencil numbers also in the top front right hand corner of folios, however the sequence is not consistent and some of the numbers may be filing references rather than foliation numbers.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F126/78
- Title
- 'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:248v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence