Page:Early English adventurers in the East (1917).djvu/289

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THE ARCH INTERLOPER—THOMAS PITT
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In 1682 he went to England to enjoy a hard-earned holiday. Proceedings were commenced against him in the Courts by the Company, but the circumstance did not deter Pitt from returning to India to recommence his old interloping career. The Court forwarded peremptory instructions that his person should be seized at all costs, "he being a desperate fellow, and one that we fear will not stick at any mischief," observed the instructions.

In his accustomed airy manner, Pitt snapped his fingers at the threats of the Company. Landing at Balasor he gave out that he was the Agent of a newly-formed Company that was to supersede the old organization. In keeping with his assumed character he adopted considerable state. Proceeding up the Hooghly and landing at Chinsurah he obtained from the native Governor privileges of trading, with the right to build a factory for his suppostitious Company. Hedges served him with a subpoena out of Chancery, and called upon him to answer it. Pitt blandly told the Agent that he would answer it in England in his good time. At length, as a result of strenuous efforts, Hedges obtained from the Nabob of Dacca an order for the arrest of Pitt and a fellow offender. Nothing followed, however, because the arch interloper took care to keep on good terms with the native authorities by paying readily handsome dues for all goods landed.

When the situation began to get a little too warm to be pleasant, Pitt flitted to England of his own accord. He was arrested on arrival at the suit of the Company and fined £1,000 for interloping, but the Court reduced the penalty subsequently to £400.

Apparently by this time Pitt had tired of his life of Indian adventure. He settled down in Dorset as a landed