the head of one or other of these offices I could wish to see the late Buckshee, Rogoober Dyall.  His conduct in his former office, his behavior on the revolt of Cheyt Sing, and particularly at the fall of Bidjegur, together with his general character, prove him worthy of employment, and of the notice of our government.  It is possible that he may have objections to holding an office under the present Rajah:  offer him one, however, and let him know that you do so by my directions.”  He then goes on to say,—­“Do not wholly neglect the Rajah; consult with him in appearance, but in appearance only.  His situation requires that you should do that much; but his youth and inexperience forbid that you should do more.”

You see, my Lords, he has completely put the whole government into the hands of a man who had no name, character, or official situation, but that of the Company’s Resident at that place.  Let us now see what is the office of a Resident.  It is to reside at the court of the native prince, to give the Council notice of the transactions that are going on there, and to take care that the tribute be regularly paid, kist by kist.  But we have seen that Mr. Markham, the Resident at Benares, was invested by Mr. Hastings with supreme authority in this unhappy country.  He was to name whoever he pleased to its government, with the exception of Ussaun Sing, and to drive out the person who had possessed it under an authority which could only be revoked by the Council.  Thus Mr. Hastings delegated to Mr. Markham an authority which he himself did not really possess, and which could only be legally exercised through the medium of the Council.

With respect to Durbege Sing, he adds,—­“He has dishonored my choice of him.” My choice of him!  “It now only remains to guard against the ill effects of his misconduct, to detect and punish it.  To this end I desire that the officers to be appointed in consequence of these instructions do, with as much accuracy and expedition as possible, make out an account of the receipts, disbursements, and transactions of Durbege Sing, during the time he has acted as Naib of the zemindary of Benares; and I desire you will, in my name, assure him, that, unless he pays at the limited time every rupee of the revenue due to the Company, his life shall answer for the default.  I need not caution you to provide against his flight, and the removal of his effects.”  He here says, my Lords, that he will detect and punish him; but the first thing he does, without any detection, even before the accounts he talks of are made up, and without knowing whether he has got the money or not, he declares that he will have every rupee paid at the time, or otherwise the Naib’s life shall pay for it.

Is this the language of a British governor,—­of a person appointed to govern by law nations subject to the dominion and under the protection of this kingdom?  Is he to order a man to be first imprisoned and deprived of his property, then, for an inquiry to be made, and to declare, during that inquiry, that, if every rupee of a presumed embezzlement be not paid up, the life of his victim shall answer for it?  And accordingly this man’s life did answer for it,—­as I have already had occasion to mention to your Lordships.