Deliberations on a new Plan for collecting the Revenue, and admi- nistering Justice-Death of Colonel Monson, and recovery by Mr. Hastings of the governing Power-Plan by Mr. Hastings, for inquir- ing into the Sources of Revenue-The Taxes levied by annual Set- tlements-Resignation of Hastings, tendered by an Agent, whom he disowns-Transactions of Mr. Hastings, in the Cases of Mr. Middleton, Mr. Fowke, and Munny Begum-The Directors, ordering the Transactions to be reversed, are disobeyed-Relations with the Mahrattas-A Detachment of the Bengal Army sent across India to Surat-Expedition from Bombay against Poona-Unsuccessful- Fruitless Negotiation with the Mahrattas-Goddard's Campaign against the Mahrattas-Connexion with the Ranna of Gohud-Mr. Francis fights a Duel with Mr. Hastings, and returns to Europe.... CHAPTER IV. In Carnatic, Relations between the English and Nabob-Plenipo- tentiary, with independent Powers from the King-English courted by Hyder Ali and the Mahrattas, and in Danger from both-Nabeb and Plenipotentiary desire Alliance with the Mahrattas-Presidency adhere to Neutrality-Relations with the King of Tanjore-After Hesitation, War is made upon him-War upon the Marawars-A second War upon Tanjore-Condemned by the Directors-Pigot sent out to restore the Rajah-Opposition in the Madras Council- Pigot imprisoned-Sentiments and Measures adopted in England -Committee of Circuit-Suspended by Governor Rumbold, who summons the Zemindars to Madras-Transactions with Nizam Ali respecting Guntoor-Censured by the Supreme Council-Governor CHAPTER V. War with the French-Pondicherry taken-War with Hyder Ali -Presidency unprepared-Colonel Baillie's Detachment cut off Su- preme Council suspend the Governor of Fort St. George, and send Sir Eyre Coote to Madras-Hyder takes Arcot, and overruns the greater part of the Country-Lord Macartney, Governor of Fort St. George-Negapatnam and Trincomalee taken from the Dutch- Treaty between the Nabob of Arcot and Supreme Council-Assign- ment of the Nabob's Revenues-Tellicherry invested-Great Arma- ments sent from both England and France-Disaster of Colonel Brathwaite's Detachment in Tanjore-Madras reduced to a State of Famine-Death of Hyder Ali-Tippoo withdraws the Mysorean Army from Carnatic-Operations and Fate of General Matthews on the Coast of Malabar-Siege of Mangalore-The General at Madras, refusing to obey the Civil Authority, is arrested and sent to Europe -French and English suspend Hostilities in consequence of Intelli- gence of the Peace in Europe-Operations of Colonel Fullarton in Coimbetore-Peace with Tippoo-Behaviour of Supreme Council to Page. Financial Difficulties-Campaign of General Goddard on the Bombay side of the Mahratta Country-Attack on the Bengal side- Peace with Scindia-Supreme Court of Judicature-Efforts of the Supreme Court to extend its Jurisdiction-Their Effects upon Indivi- duals-Upon the Collection of the Revenue-Upon the Administra- tion of Justice-Interference of Parliament claimed-Granted-The Chief Justice placed at the Head of the Sudder Duannee Adaulut -Chief Justice recalled-Judicatorial and Police Regulations-Pro- vincial Councils abolished, and a new Board of Revenue set up.... 258 Journey of the Governor-General to the Upper Provinces-History of the Company's Connexions with the Rajah of Benares-Requisi- tions upon the Rajah-Resolution to relieve the Company's Neces- sities by forcible Exaction on the Rajah-The Governor-General arrives at Benares The Rajah put under Arrest- A tumultuous As- semblage of the People-An Affray between them and the Soldiers- The Rajah escapes-War made upon him, and the Country subdued -Condemnation of Mr. Hastings by the Directors-Double Nego- tiation with the Mahrattas of Poonah - Treaty of Peace. . . . Burdens sustained by the Nabob of Oude-His Complaints-How received by the English-Mr. Bristow removed from Oude-Agree- ment between Mr. Hastings and the Nabob-The Begums despoiled -Whether the Begums incited Insurrection-Alleged Oppressions of Colonel Hannay-The head Eunuchs of the Begums tortured-A Present of ten Lacs given to Mr. Hastings by the Nabob-Governor- General accuses Middleton, and replaces Bristow-Treatment received by Fyzoolla Khan-Decision by the Court of Directors, relative to the Begums-Set at nought by Mr. Hastings-Governor-General's new Accusations against Mr. Bristow-Governor-General's Plan to remove the Residency from Oude-Governor-General repeats his Visit to Oude-Resigns the Government-Financial Results of his CHAPTER IX. Legislative Proceedings from 1773 to 1780-Renewal of the Char- ter-Select and Secret Committees of the House of Commons-Pro- ceedings against Indian Delinquency-Mr. Dundas's East India Bill Mr. Fox's East India Bills-- Mr. Pitt's East India Bill ...... Deliberations on a new Plan for collecting the Revenue, and administering Justice-Death of Colonel Monson, and recovery by Mr. Hastings of the governing Power-Plan by Mr. Hastings, for inquiring into the Sources of RevenueThe taxes levied by annual Settlements-Resignation of Hastings, tendered by an Agent, whom he disowns-Transactions of Mr. Hastings, in the Cases of Mr. Middleton, Mr. Fowke, and Munny Begum-The Directors, ordering the Transactions to be reversed, are disobeyedRelations with the Mahrattas-A Detachment of the Bengal Army sent across India to SuratExpedition from Bombay against PoonaUnsuccesful-Fruitless Negotiation with the Mahrattas-Goddard's Campaign against the Mahrattas-Connexion with the Ranna of Go 1775. hud-Mr. Francis fights a Duel with Mr. Hastings, and returns to Europe. BOOK V. THE state of the regulations for collecting the reCHAP. 3. venue had for some time pressed upon the attention of the government. The lease of five years, on which the revenues had been farmed in 1772, was drawing to a close, and it was necessary to determine what sort of course should then be pursued. To remedy evils, which delayed not to make themselves perceived, in the regulations of 1772, a considerable change had been introduced in 1773: The superintendence of the collectors was abolished: The provinces (Chittagong and Tipperah remaining under the original sort of management, that of a chief) were formed into six grand divisions, Calcutta, Burdwan, Moorshedabad, Dinagepore, Dacca, and Patna: In each of these divisions (Calcutta excepted, for which two members of the council and three superior servants, under the name of a committee of revenue, were appointed) a council was formed, consisting of a chief, and four senior servants, to whom powers were confided, the same, in general, with those formerly enjoyed by the collectors: They exercised a command over all the officers and affairs of revenue, within the division: The members superintended in rotation the civil courts of justice, called Sudder Adaulut: The councils appointed deputies, or naibs, to the subordinate districts of the division: These naibs, who were natives, and called also aumils, both superintended the work of realizing the revenue, and held courts of fiscal judicature, called courts of Duanee Adaulut: The decisions of these courts were subject by appeal to the review of the provincial courts of Sudder Adaulut; which decided in the last Failure of the Quinquennial Lease. СНАР. 3. resort to the value of 1000 rupees, but under appeal BOOK V. to the Court of Sudder Duanee Adaulut at Calcutta, in all cases which exceeded that amount. Even this 1775. scheme was declared to be only intermediate, and preparatory to an ultimate measure, according to which, while the local management, except in those districts which might be let entire to the Zemindars or responsible farmers, should be performed by a duan, or aumil, a committee of revenue, sitting at the Presidency, should form a grand revenue office, and superintend the whole collections of the country.1 Such were the alterations adopted in 1773. At an early period, under the five years' settlement, it was perceived, that the farmers of the revenue had contracted for more than they were able to pay. The collections fell short of the engagements even for the first year; and the farms had been let upon a progressive rent. The Governor-General was now accused by his colleagues of having deceived his honourable masters by holding up to their hopes a revenue which could not be obtained. He defended himself by a plea which had, it cannot be denied, considerable weight; It was natural to suppose, that the natives were acquainted with the value of the lands, and other sources of the revenue; and that a regard to their own interests would prevent them from engaging for more than those sources would afford. It was contended with no less justice on the other side, that there was a class of persons who had nothing to lose; to whom the handling of the revenues, and power over those who paid them, though for a single year, was an object of desire; and whom, as they had no intention to pay what they promised, the extent of the promise could not restrain. › Sixth Report of the Select Committee, 1781, Appendix, No. 1. |