pendants of his splendid court.

These were all to

be provided, for prefent maintenance and future eftablishment, from the lands affigned as dower, and from the treafures which he left to these matrons, in truft for the whole family.

So far as to the objects of the spoil. The inftrument chofen by Mr. Haftings to defpoil the relict of Sujah Dowlah was her own fon, the reigning nabob of Oude. It was the pious hand of a fon that was felected to tear from his mother and grandmother the provision of their age, the maintenance of his brethren, and of all the ancient household of his father. [Here a laugh from some young members]-The laugh is feasonable, and the occafion decent and proper.

By the laft advices fomething of the fum extorted remained unpaid. The women in despair refused to deliver more, unless their lands are reftored, and their minifters released from prison: but Mr. Haftings and his council, steady to their point, and confiftent to the last in their conduct, write to the refident to ftimulate the fon to accomplifh the filial acts he had brought so near to their perfection. "We defire," say they in their letter to the refident, (written fo late as March laft)" that you will inform us if any, and what means, "have been taken for recovering the balance due "from the Begum [Princefs] at Fizabad; and

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"that,

"that, if neceffary, you recommend it to the vizier "to enforce the most effectual means for that pur"pofe."

What their effectual means of enforcing demands on women of high rank and condition are, I fhall fhew you, Sir, in a few minutes; when I represent to you another of thefe plots and rebellions, which always, in India, though so rarely any where else, are the offspring of an eafy condition, and hoarded riches.

Benares is the capital city of the Indian religion. It is regarded as holy by a particular and diftinguished fanctity; and the Gentoos in general think themselves as much obliged to vifit it once in their lives as the Mahometans to perform their pilgrimage to Mecca. By this means that city grew great in commerce and opulence; and fo effectually was it fecured by the pious veneration of that people, that in all wars and in all violences of power, there was fo fure an afylum, both for poverty and wealth, (as it were under a divine protection) that the wifeft laws and beft affured free conftitution could not better provide for the relief of the one, or the fafety of the other; and this tranquillity influenced to the greatest degree the profperity of all the country, and the territory of which it was the capital. The interest of money there was not more than half the ufual rate in which it ftood in all other places. The reports

have fully informed you of the means and of the terms in which this city and the territory called Gazipour, of which it was the head, came under the fovereignty of the Eaft India company,

If ever there was a fubordinate dominion pleafantly circumstanced to the fuperiour power, it was this; a large rent or tribute, to the amount of two hundred and fixty thousand pounds a year, was paid in monthly inftalments with the punctuality of a dividend at the bank. If ever there was a prince who could not have an interest in difturbances, it was its fovereign, the rajah Cheit Sing. He was in poffeffion of the capital of his religion, and a willing revenue was paid by the devout people who reforted to him from all parts. His fovereignty and his independence, except his tribute, was fecured by every tie. His territory was not much less than half of Ireland, and displayed in all parts a degree of cultivation, ease, and plenty, under his frugal and paternal management, which left him nothing to defire, either for honour of fatisfaction.

This was the light in which this country appeared to almoft every eye. But Mr. Haftings beheld it afkance. Mr. Haftings tells us that it was reported of this Cheit Sing, that his father left him a million fterling, and that he made annual acceffions to the hoard. Nothing could be so obnoxious to indigent power. So much wealth could not be

innocent.

innocent. The house is fully acquainted with the unfounded and unjust requifitions which were. made upon this prince. The question has been most ably and conclufively cleared up in one of the reports of the select committee, and in an answer of the court of directors to an extraordinary publication against them by their fervant, Mr. Haftings. But I mean to pafs by these exactions, as if they were perfectly just and regular; and, having admitted them, I take what I fhall now trouble you with, only as it ferves to fhew the spirit of the company's government, the mode in which it is carried on, and the maxims on which it proceeds.

Mr. Haftings, from whom I take the doctrine, endeavours to prove that Cheit Sing was no fovereign prince; but a mere zemindar or common fubject, holding land by rent. If this be granted to him, it is next to be seen under what terms he is of opinion fuch a landholder, that is a British fubject, holds his life and property under the company's government. It is proper to understand well the doctrines of the perfon whofe adminiftration has lately received fuch diftinguished approbation from the company. His doctrine is-" that "the company, or the perfon delegated by it, holds "an abfolute authority over fuch zemindars;“that he [such a subject] owes an implicit and unreferved obedience to its authority, at the for “feiture even of his life and property, at the DIS

CRETION

"CRETION of thofe who held or fully reprefented "the fovereign authority;-and that these rights "are fully delegated to him Mr. Hastings."

Such is a British governour's idea of the condition of a great zemindar holding under a British authority; and this kind of authority he supposes fully delegated to him; though no fuch delegation appears in any commiffion, inftruction, or act of parliament. At his difcretion he may demand, of the fubftance of any zemindar over and above his rent or tribute, even what he pleases, with a fovereign authority; and if he does not yield an implicit unreferved obedience to all his commands, he forfeits his lands, his life, and his property, at Mr. Haftings's difcretion. But, extravagant, and even frantick as thefe pofitions appear, they are less so than what I fhall now read to you; for he afferts, that if any one should urge an exemption from more than a stated payment, or should confider the deeds, which paffed between him and the board," as bearing the quality and force of a treaty "between equal ftates," he fays, "that fuch an

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opinion is itself criminal to the state of which he "is a fubject; and that he was himself amenable "to its justice, if he gave countenance to such a belief." Here is a new fpecies of crime invented, that of countenancing a belief--but a belief of what? A belief of that which the court of directors, Haftings's mafters, and a committee of this

house,