Then the horrors of Indian war were let loose on the fair valleys and cities of Rohilcund.  The whole country was in a blaze.  More than a hundred thousand people fled from their homes to pestilential jungles, preferring famine, and fever, and the haunts of tigers, to the tyranny of him, to whom an English and a Christian government had, for shameful lucre, sold their substance, and their blood, and the honour of their wives and daughters.  Colonel Champion remonstrated with the Nabob Vizier, and sent strong representations to Fort William; but the Governor had made no conditions as to the mode in which the war was to be carried on.  He had troubled himself about nothing, but his forty lacs; and, though he might disapprove of Sujah Dowlah’s wanton barbarity, he did not think himself entitled to interfere, except by offering advice.  This delicacy excites the admiration of the biographer.  “Mr. Hastings,” he says, “could not himself dictate to the Nabob, nor permit the commander of the Company’s troops to dictate how the war was to be carried on.”  No, to be sure.  Mr. Hastings had only to put down by main force the brave struggles of innocent men fighting for their liberty.  Their military resistance crushed his duties ended; and he had then only to fold his arms and look on, while their villages were burned, their children butchered, and their women violated.  Will Mr. Gleig seriously maintain this opinion?  Is any rule more plain than this, that whoever voluntarily gives to another irresistible power over human beings is bound to take order that such power shall not be barbarously abused?  But we beg pardon of our readers for arguing a point so clear.

We hasten to the end of this sad and disgraceful story.  The war ceased.  The finest population in India was subjected to a greedy, cowardly, cruel tyrant.  Commerce and agriculture languished.  The rich province which had tempted the cupidity of Sujah Dowlah became the most miserable part even of his miserable dominions.  Yet is the injured nation not extinct.  At long intervals gleams of its ancient spirit have flashed forth; and even at this day, valour, and self-respect, and a chivalrous feeling rare among Asiatics, and a bitter remembrance of the great crime of England, distinguish that noble Afghan race.  To this day they are regarded as the best of all sepoys at the cold steel; and it was very recently remarked, by one who had enjoyed great opportunities of observation, that the only natives of India to whom the word “gentleman” can with perfect propriety be applied, are to be found among the Rohillas.

Whatever we may think of the morality of Hastings, it cannot be denied that the financial results of his policy did honour to his talents.  In less than two years after he assumed the government, he had without imposing any additional burdens on the people subject to his authority, added about four hundred and fifty thousand pounds to the annual income of the Company, besides procuring about a million