of cavalry, without a fhadow or decent pretext of right, amounted to three hundred thousand a year more, at the lowest computation; and it is stated, by the laft person sent to negotiate, as a demand of little ufe, if it could be complied with; but that the compliance was impoffible, as it amounted to more than his territories could fupply, if there had been no other demand upon him-Four hundred and fifty thoufand pounds a year from an inland country not fo large as Nor folk!

The thing moft extraordinary was, to hear the culprit defend himself from the imputation of his virtues, as if they had been the blackeft offences. He extenuated the fuperior cultivation of his country. He denied its population. He endeavoured to prove that he had often fent back the poor peafant that fought fhelter with him.-I can make no obfervation on this.

After a variety of extortions and vexations, too fatiguing to you, too difgufting to me, to go through with, they found "that they ought to be in a better state to warrant forcible means" they therefore contented themselves with a gross sum of 150,000l. for their prefent demand. They offered him indeed an indemnity from their exactions in future, for 30,000l. more but he refufed to buy their fecurities, pleading (probably with truth) his poverty: but if the plea was not founded, in my opinion, very wifely; not chufing to deal any more in that dangerous commodity, the Company's faith, and thinking it better to oppofe diftrefs and unarmed obftinacy to uncoloured exaction, than to fubject himself to be confidered as a cheat, if he fhould make a treaty in the leaft beneficial to himself. Thus they executed an examplary punishment on Fizulla Khân for the culture of his country. But, conscious that the prevention of evils is the great object of all good regulation, they deprived him of the means of increafing that criminal cultivation in future, by exhaufting his coffers; and, that the population of his country fhould no morę bę a standing re

proach and libel on the Company's government, they bound him, by a pofitive engagement, not to afford any fhelter whatfoever to the farmers and labourers who fhould seek refuge in his territories, from the exactions of the British Residents in Oud. When they had done all this effectually, they gave him a full and complete acquittance from all charges of rebellion, or of any intention to rebel, or of his having originally had any intereft in, or any means of rebellion.

Thefe intended rebellions are one of the Company's ftanding resources. When money has been thought to be heaped up any where, its owners are univerfally accused of rebellion, until they are acquitted of their money and their treasons at once. The money once taken, all accufation, trial, and punishment ends. It is fo fettled a refource, that I rather wonder how it comes to be omitted in the Directors' account; but I take it for granted this omiffion will be supplied in their next edition. The Company stretched this resource to the full extent, when they accufed two old women, in the remotest corner of India (who could have no poffible view or motive to raise disturbances) of being engaged in rebellion, with an intent to drive out the English nation, in whose protection, purchased by money and fecured by treaty, refted the fole hope of their exiftence. But the Company wanted money, and the old women must be guilty of a plot.

They were accused of rebellion, and they were convicted of wealth. Twice had great fums been extorted from them, and as often had the British faith guaranteed the remainder. A body of British troops, with one of the military farmers general at their head, was fent to feize upon the castle in which thefe helpless women refided. Their chief eunuchs, who were their agents, their guardians, protectors, perfons of high rank, according to the Eaftern manners, and of great truft, were thrown into dungeons, to make them difcover their hidden treafures; and there they lie at prefent. The lands affigned for the maintenance of the women were feized and confifcated. 3 Their

Their jewels and effects were taken, and set up to a pretended auction in an obfcure place, and bought at such a price as the gentlemen thought proper to give. No account has ever been tranfmitted of the articles or produce of this fale. What money was obtained is unknown, or what terms was ftipulated for the maintenance of these defpoiled and forlorn creatures; for by fome particulars it appears as if an engagement of the kind was made.

Let me here remark, once for all, that though the act of 1773 requires that an account of all proceedings fhould be diligently tranfmitted, that this, like all the other injunctions of the law, is totally defpifed; and that half, at least, of the most important papers are intentionally withheld.

I wish you, Sir, to advert particularly, in this tranfaction, to the quality and the numbers of the persons spoiled, and the inftruments by whom that fpoil was made. These ancient matrons, called the Begums or Princeffes, were of the first birth and quality in India, the one mother, the other wife, of the late Nabob of Oud, Sujah Dowlah, a Prince poffeffed of extenfive and flourishing dominions, and the second man in the Mogul empire. The Prince (fufpicious, and not unjuftly suspicious, of his son and fucceffor) at his death committed his treasures and his family to the British faith. That family and household, confifted of two thousand women; to which were added, two other feraglios of near kindred, and faid to be extremely numerous, and (as I am well informed) of about fourscore of the Nabob's children, with all eunuchs, the ancient fervants, and a multitude of the dependents of his fplendid court. These were all to be provided, for prefent maintenance and future establishment, from the lands affigned as dower, and from the treasures which he left to thefe matrons, in truft for the whole family.

So far as to the objects of the fpoil. The inftrument chosen by Mr. Haftings to defpoil the relict of Sujah Dowlah, was her own fon, the reigning Nabob of Oud. It was the pious F 4

hand

hand of a fon that was selected to tear from his mother and grandmother the provifion of their age, the maintenance of his brethren, and of all the ancient household of his father. [Here a laugh from fome 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 defpair refufe to deliver more, unless their lands are reftored, and their minifters released from prifon; but Mr. Haftings and his Council, fteady to their point, and confiftent to the laft in their conduct, write to the Refident to ftimulate the fon to accomplish the filial acts he had brought fo 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 [Princess] at Fizabad; and that, if neceffary, you recommend it to the Vizier to enforce the most effectual means for that purpose."

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 these plots and rebellions, which always, in India, though fo 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 distinguished fanctity; and the Gentûs 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 violences of power, there was fo fure an afylum, both for poverty and wealth, (as it were under a divine protection) that the wifest laws and beft-affured free conftitution could not better provide for the relief of the one, or the safety of the other; and this tranquillity influenced to the greatest degree the profperity of

all

all the country, and the territory of which it was the capital. The interest of money there was not more than half the usual 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 territory called Gazipour, of which it was the head, came under the fovereignty of the Eaft-India Com

pany.

If ever there was a fubordinate dominion pleasantly circumftanced to the fuperior 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 intereft 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 secured by every tie. lis territory was not much lefs than half of Ireland, and displayed, in all parts, a degree of cultivation, eafe, and plenty, under his frugal and paternal management, which left them nothing to defire, either for honour or fatisfaction.

This was the light in which this country appeared to almost 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 sterling, and that he made annual acceffions to the hoard. Nothing could be fo obnoxious to indigent power. So much wealth could not be innocent. The Houfe is fully acquainted with the unfounded and unjust requifitions which were made upon this Prince. The question has been moft ably and conclufively cleared up in one of the Reports of the Select Committee, and in an answer to 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 juft and regular;

and,