"That the said Warren Hastings did, some time in the year 1782, enter
into a clandestine correspondence with William Markham, Esquire, the
then Resident at Benares, which said Markham had been by him, the said
Warren Hastings, obtruded into the said office, contrary to the positive
orders of the Court of Directors; and, in consequence of the
representations of the said Markham, did, under pretence that the new
excessive rent or tribute was in arrear, and that the affairs of the
provinces were likely to fall into confusion, authorize and impower him,
by his own private authority, to remove the said Durbege Sing from his
office and deprive him of his estate.
"That the said Durbege Sing was, by the private orders and authorities
given by the said Warren Hastings, and in consequence of the
representations aforesaid, violently thrown into prison, and cruelly
confined therein, under pretence of the non-payment of the arrears of
the tribute aforesaid.
"That the widow of Bulwant Sing, and the Rajah Mehip Narrain, did
pointedly accuse the said Markham of being the sole cause of any delay
in the payment of the tribute aforesaid, and did offer to prove the
innocence of the said Durbege Sing, and also to prove that the faults
ascribed to him were solely the faults of the said Markham; yet the said
Warren Hastings did pay no regard whatever to the said representations,
nor make any inquiry into the truth of the same, but did accuse the said
widow of Bulwant Sing and the Rajah aforesaid of gross presumption for
the same; and, listening to the representations of the person accused,
(viz.
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