But, although the Naib acts only as a deputy, yet, when the power of the
principal is totally superseded, as by imprisonment or otherwise, and
that of the Naib is substituted, he becomes the actual sovereign, and
the principal is reduced to a mere pensioner. I am now to show your
Lordships whom Mr. Hastings appointed as Naib to the government of the
country, after he had imprisoned the Rajah.
Cheyt Sing had given him to understand through Mr. Markham, that he was
aware of the design of suspending him, and of placing his government in
the hands of a Naib whom he greatly dreaded. This person was called
Ussaun Sing; he was a remote relation of the family, and an object of
their peculiar suspicion and terror. The moment Cheyt Sing was arrested,
he found that his prophetic soul spoke truly; for Mr. Hastings actually
appointed this very man to be his master. And who was this man? We are
told by Mr. Markham, in his evidence here, that he was a man who had
dishonored his family,--he was the disgrace of his house,--that he was a
person who could not be trusted; and Mr. Hastings, in giving Mr. Markham
full power afterwards to appoint Naibs, expressly excepted this Ussaun
Sing from all trust whatever, as a person totally unworthy of it.
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