A Caution to the Directors of the East-India Company With Regard to Their Making the Midsummer Dividend of Five Per Cent. Without Due Attention to a Late Act of Parliament, and a By-law of Their Own is a significant historical pamphlet published in 1767, addressing the financial and legal responsibilities of the East India Company’s directors. The book serves as a pointed warning to the Company’s leadership about the potential legal and economic consequences of declaring a midsummer dividend of five percent without proper adherence to recent legislative changes and the Company’s own internal regulations. Drawing on the context of the East India Company’s immense influence over British trade and politics in the 18th century, the author meticulously examines the implications of a recent Act of Parliament, which imposed new restrictions and oversight on the Company’s financial practices, particularly in the wake of public concern over its management and the stability of its stock. The pamphlet outlines the risks of disregarding both statutory law and the Company’s by-laws, emphasizing the importance of corporate governance, accountability, and compliance. It highlights the potential for legal action, loss of public trust, and financial instability if the directors were to proceed with the dividend without due diligence. The author appeals to the directors’ sense of duty, urging them to act with caution and integrity to safeguard the Company’s reputation and the interests of its shareholders. Through detailed argumentation and references to legal precedents, the book provides a window into the complexities of corporate regulation in the early modern period and the challenges faced by one of the world’s most powerful trading entities. This work is not only a practical guide for the Company’s directors but also a valuable historical document, shedding light on the intersection of commerce, law, and governance in 18th-century Britain.