8 - The 1813 Renewal of the Company's Charter: The Religious Public Takes on the Company

Summary

Next to the Slave Trade, I have long thought our making no effort to introduce the Blessings of religious and moral improvement among our subjects in the East, the greatest of our National crimes.

(William Wilberforce)

The Parliamentary Battle

BY JANUARY 1813 Evangelicals were ‘all on the alert to besiege Government and perhaps Parliament for a clause in favour of missions or for liberty to send missionaries, and security when arrived’. The Company had not been idle either and was determined to hold on to its right to determine who should enter its territories. The Baptist leaders waited on Lord Liverpool early in February. In distinct contrast to his reception of the CMS deputation in July 1812, Liverpool's words gave little comfort. Church Evangelicals had been conciliatory and had stressed their loyalty to the Established Church. Dissenters demanded more and threatened Liverpool with a public petitioning campaign. It also seems likely that by this time the East India Company had lobbied him to ensure that he did not weaken on the matter of licences. Liverpool was well informed about events in India. He was also related to Prendergast and Ricketts, two of the missionaries' staunchest opponents. Liverpool pointed out some of the Baptist indiscretions. He made it clear that he believed, along with most Company officials, that ‘British continuance in India depended upon Indian opinion’ and that Britain kept its dominion there ‘just so long as the natives think themselves unable to drive us out’.