dismissed him, that he might precede me for that purpose:  but, to my great disappointment, I found every place through which I passed abandoned; nor had there been a man left in any of them for their protection.  I am sorry to add, that, from Buxar to the opposite boundary, I have seen nothing but the traces of complete devastation in every village, whether caused by the followers of the troops which have lately passed, for their natural relief, (and I know not whether my own may not have had their share,) or from the apprehension of the inhabitants left to themselves, and of themselves deserting their houses.  I wish to acquit my own countrymen of the blame of these unfavorable appearances, and in my own heart I do acquit them:  for at one encampment, near a large village called Derrara, in the purgunnah of Zemaneea, a crowd of people came to me, complaining that their former aumil, who was a native of the place, and had long been established in authority over them, and whose custom it had been, whenever any troops passed, to remain in person on the spot for their protection, having been removed, the new aumil, on the approach of any military detachment, himself first fled from the place, and the inhabitants, having no one to whom they could apply for redress, or for the representation of their grievances, and being thus remediless, fled also; so that their houses and effects became a prey to any person who chose to plunder them.  The general conclusion appeared to me an inevitable consequence from such a state of facts,—­and my own senses bore testimony to it in this specific instance; nor do I know how it is possible for any officer commanding a military party, how attentive soever he may be to the discipline and forbearance of his people, to prevent disorders, when there is neither opposition to hinder nor evidence to detect them.  These and many other irregularities I impute solely to the Naib; and I think it my duty to recommend his instant removal.  I would myself have dismissed him, had the control of this province come within the line of my powers, and have established such regulations and checks as would have been most likely to prevent the like irregularities.  I have said checks, because, unless there is some visible influence, and a powerful and able one, impended over the head of the manager, no system can avail.  The next appointed may prove, from some defect, as unfit for the office as the present; for the choice is limited to few, without experience to guide it.  The first was of my own nomination; his merits and qualifications stood in equal balance with my knowledge of those who might have been the candidates for the office; but he was the father of the Rajah, and the affinity sunk the scale wholly in his favor:  for who could be so fit to be intrusted with the charge of his son’s interest, and the new credit of the rising family?  He deceived my expectations.  Another was recommended by the Resident, and at my instance the board appointed him.  This was