To increase this difficulty still
more, the father and guardian of this inexperienced youth was a man who
had no credit or reputation in the country. This circumstance alone was
a sufficient drawback from the weight of his authority; but Mr. Hastings
took care that he should be divested of it altogether; for, as our
charge states, he placed him under the immediate direction of Mr.
Markham, and consequently Mr. Markham was the governor of the country.
Could a man with a reduced, divided, contemptible authority venture to
strike such bold and hardy strokes as would be efficient without being
oppressive? Could he or any other man, thus bound and shackled, execute
such vigorous and energetic measures as were necessary to realize such
an enormous tribute as was imposed upon this unhappy country?
My Lords, I must now call your attention to another circumstance, not
mentioned in the charge, but connected with the appointment of the new
Rajah, and of his Naib, Durbege Sing, and demonstrative of the unjust
and cruel treatment to which they were exposed. It appears from a letter
produced here by Mr. Markham, (upon which kind of correspondence I shall
take the liberty to remark hereafter,) that the Rajah lived in perpetual
apprehension of being removed, and that a person called Ussaun Sing was
intended as his successor.
Pages:
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397