The mode in which these allowances were regulated had varied considerably down to the year 1796, when an uniform system was established, under which officers in garrison or cantonments were to receive what was termed half batta, with quarters or house-rent; in the field they were to receive full batta; and double full batta in the dominions of the Vizier of Oude. This last allowance was abolished in 1801 by the Bengal Government, who made another change, or, as it has been justly termed, compromise with the military at the same time. Great expense having been incurred in erecting and repairing quarters for officers at certain half batta stations, to guard against it in future the officers were to be required to provide themselves with quarters; and to compensate them for the loss, they were to receive not the established allowance for house-rent, but full batta instead of half batta. This latter arrangement was adopted without any communication with the home authorities; but on being reported, it was approved; the following remark being introduced into the letter to the Court of Directors in which it was so reported: – "The loss of the Vizier's allowances will be compensated to the aggregate body of the officers of the army by the grant which his Excellency in Council has made to them in certain cases of extra batta, in consideration of their providing themselves with quarters."[1]
No further change was made till the year 1814, when orders arrived from the Court of Directors to discontinue the allowance of full batta at those stations where half batta and quarters had previously been granted; and that for the future half batta and house-rent, according to a revised scale, should be substituted. This, though a certain loss to the officers of the army in general, constituted a very paltry saving to the Company; but it was quite in character with those who, while they aped the dignity of princes, too often betrayed the sordid disposition of the petty shopkeeper.
- ↑ Military Letter from Bengal, 28th of May, 1801.
