Page 285 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

THE ARCH INTERLOPER—THOMAS PITT 285

In 1682 he went to England to enjoy a hard-earned holi­
day. 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 inter­
loping career. The Court forwarded peremptory instruc­
tions 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 Com­
pany 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 supposititious
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 fol­
lowed, 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 In­
dian adventure. He settled down in Dorset as a landed

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