The Sun. — London, England, 1842-08-01 00:00:00

- Of • . n ine to these papers, and his opinion was that the 1 , , ,..!ja was not guilty. If•other persons examined these Papers with the same care, that would, he thought, be their opinion also. Of the authenticity of the documents that were before him he had no doubt whatever; there was-nothing secret about them ; he could give the Court the names, dates, and places con nected with them; they had shed a new light on the sub ject. They proved to him the absolute inocence of the R a ja ; that he had been the unseemly victim of false accusation ; and that the great error of these proceedings had. peen secrecy, aided by the wicked plans of the ma lignant enemies of the Raja. He had had enemies ; he (Mr. Thompson) could point to their names and their hiding places. He was surprised at the motion for adjournment. What was the motive of the Directors ? Did they desire that the Raja should not be found inno cent ?—(Hear.) Was that the conduct of honourable men who wished to do their duty ? Would not such men have said they had rather prove themselvesin error, l i than that the Raja should be found guilty ?—(Hear, hear.) Had the Court of Directors felt as they ought, they would have letit be shown that the Raja was inno cent.—(Hear.) They would have taken every Oppor tunity of ascertaining all the facts. They would have said, " Oar servants may have misled us ; their excellent character and long services induced us to believe they were correct ; but if you can show that our judgment was not sound—if you have papers from which you think the Raja was unjustly dethroned, let us know those faults in order that we may come at the truth of this matter." Such would be the feelings and languticre of "ge ntlerneu desiring to govern India upon principles of ustice—of doing justice there to all people, from the prince on his throne to the ryot in his hut. Several Directors loudly protested against the use of these documents. They reflected upon the character of the resident,-ColonelOvans, who was an officer of honour and integrity. .The CHAIRMAN again moved that the Court do now. adjourn. Mr. TetostPsox said he had no desire to implicate any British officer, but he must do justice. to the innocent man who had been dethroned, As for motions of ad journment, they would have no effect upon him. Ile should stand his ground.—(Order, order.) Gentlemen might cry order, but he would meet the cry with " justice,' " justice," though late, to a cruelly injured man. The next document he would read was the exa mination of this man. (By whom examined?) By the Raja. A PROPRIETOR—I could get fifty such depositions. I don't believe a word of them. - Mr. THOMPSON-But you believed the depositions against the Raja, and condemned him without giving him a single copy. Now you are for , ruling thesp of Mine out of Court. Is this justice ? " Examination of Haibat Rao, at Sattara, on the 23d of November, 1838, with reference to the above Depo sition. " The prisoner having been enjoined to speak the truth, the following questions were put to him in the presence of the Raja : " Q. Do you still adhere to the Statement you made in your deposition, as to the persons therein named and the circumstances mentioned ? A. Yes, Balajipunt Natoo and Balajikasi Kibey took Atram Luksunlan and myself the Resident, in order to remove any doubt we might entertain as to their means of fulfilling the pro mises they made regarding the jageer of ten thousand' rupees and the lac of rupees cash. On obtaining the Re sident's sanction we forged the papers. " Q. How many letters and papers did you forge with the Raja's seals ?—A. Eleven letters and twenty-ave oth,r papers ; altogether thirty-six documents. " Q. How many persons were there in the conspiracy? —A. Atinaram Luksumun, Nishwanath Rao Bapuji tin And Ran, myself, and Janeo Bhandari, the keeper of his Highness' seals. "Q. TO whom were the papers given, and how many :IN there still remaining ?—A. Atmaram Lukstunun wave me one - letter and two other papers, and the rest were in the possession of the other three individuals. Tim three documents which were in my possession I took to Maid!), (near Bombay), and put them for safety into the hands of Luchman, a Brahmin ; and Nana Gum, Bhawu Leley and Atmaram Luksumun informed Ate that they had found a man who could forge the hand writing of Bella Sahib Chitnis, his Highness' secretary. " The above is a true and correct 'statement of the facts." This document is attested by three witnesses ; and here, Sir, let me state the only feeling of reluctance I experience in bringing these papers before you—it is a feeling of compassion for those who, if not shielded from the malice of their enemies, when these things shall be known in India, may fall the victims of the enemies of the Raja. I throw on the Court of Directors the so lemn responsibility of protecting these persons. I ask fee them safe conduct to Bombay, and an examination there before a Judge of the Supreme Court. If you let the mail depart without taking steps to defend these persons, on your heads be the guilt of any injury they may sustain. I shall now give you the simple narrative of Rungoo Bapojee, now in your presence. If you doubt it, call him to your bar and examine him. " The Raja's two agents, Faswunt Row, and Bugwunt Row, and myself, were at this time in Bombay. We received a letter from the Raja, instructing us to direct Haibut Row, who was then at Mahim, on leave, to repair, without delay, to Sattara. There was also a letter addressed to Haibut Row himself. We sent the letter and the mes seuger eilie brought it to Haibut Row, and requested him to come to us at Bombay. He came that even ing. We . told him to pass the night there, and to set out early the following morning in the boat which had been ordered for him. The next morning he manifested great reluctance to proceed ; protested that lie had dime nothing, and shed tears: A few days after wards we received orders from the Raja to proceed to the house of a person named Nana Gurao, at Mahim, and to pbtain from him certain -papers which Haibut Row had left in his possession. We all three went to Mahim, found out Nana Gurao, and told him our errand. He acknowledged having certain papers, but refused to give them up, saying, Haibut Row was indebted to him. We thereupon sent for Lukhsinun, the Brahmin, Haibut Row's: ser vant, whom he had left behind, and asked Lukhsmun whether this was the case. He said it was, and that he was desired to pay the money ; on which we'told him to pay Nana Gurao, and Nana Gurao then delivered up the papers, and made the above declaration, which was written by Goviud Lokshmun, an inhabitant of Mahim, for Nana Gurio. The two agents and myself carefully examined the three papers. One of them, inserted below, was filled up as a letter written by his Highness, and as if recognising Haibut Row as one of his agents. The two others were blank. To every tee of them we found that the genuine seals of his Highness had been affixed, the papers themselves being utter forgeries.—RUSlGOO BAPOJEE. London, July 16, 1842." Now, Sir, take another deposition. 'lt is the deposition of Atmaram Luksumun, (abbreviated) taken et Samara, on the 22d of November, 1838. (This person was brought from Poonali, at the requisition of the Raja.) Addressed to the Resident, Colonel Grans.— " I am acquainted with Gundput Rao Kibey, the nephew of Balajikasi Kibey ; through him I became acquainted with his uncle, to whose house I was taken. Bala jikasi Kibey asked me to get the Raja's seals, for tiirging papers. I said I would, but I did not succeed in my attempts to get them. Balajipunt Natoo tied Kibey again sent for me and Haibat Row, and promising us a jageer of ten thousand rupees, a lac of rupees in cash, and also a pension from the Bombay Go vernment, took us to the Resident, Colonel Ovens. The Resident promised that all this should be given to us. Depending then upon this assurance, we returned and got the Raja's seals from Janeo Bhandari ; after which Haibat Reo, Vishwanath Row, Bapuji Anaud Rao, and myself, affixed them to the forged papers. Bhawu Leley, on a subsequent occasion, took some of these from my handkerchief. This is a true and correct statement.— (Signed) ATMARAM LURSUMUN." Now, Sir, for one from the Keeper of his Highness' seals. " Deposition of Janoo Bhandari, the person having the custody of his _Highness' seals, taken on the 29th November, 1838. as-Vishwanath Rao, Atmaram Luksumuns, and Haibut Rae, spoke to me on the subject of the papers, and said that if I would join theth in their project, Balajipunt Nave) . an d lialojikasi Kiln would be the means of ob taining for ifs a jageer of ten thousand rupees in money, besides a pension for all of us, guaranteed by the Reai dent, Colonel Ovens. After this I gave up the seals, whiCh liaibat Rao put upon the papers, and returned to me. This is all I know of the circumstances. (Signed by Wamonaji Moriehueer, for) JANOO BHANDARI, (Not knowing how to write.)" Mr. MARRIOTT said, he thought the Court had a right to-know whether these papers were before the Court. The Citataatae said, they were now brought to light for the first time. They appeared to consist of the depo sitions of a single native, and he did not hesitate to sae he did not believe a single word of them.—(Hear, hear:) He would ask the Court whether they ought to allow such papers to be read.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. WEEDINC said, that Colonel Ovans's character required no defence at his hands, bid he would ask whether the Hon. Proprietor should be at liberty to send these depositions forth to the public; he should like to know whether any gentleman was to read libels in that Court.—(Hear, hear.) lie believed an Hon. Gentleman must possess 1,000/. stock for a year before he could speak in that Court, but the Hon. Proprietor was possessed of only half that stock.(ilear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN said, by courtesy, if not by law, a Proprietor of 500/. had for some time past been allowed to address the Court ; but it did appear to him a most e xtraordinary thing that a Proprietor should s p ea k upon st subject, and when it carne to the vote he should be obligeti to walk out of the Court. — (Hear , hear.) He did 'not think it was treating the Court with proper courtesy to read such papers, reflecting most atrociously, he meat state, en the character of Colonel Ovens. Mr. THOMPSON—Ere was not bringing any charges against Colonel Ovans ; he was there to show reasons for goin g into a new examination of the case of the Reie Sattara. The CHAIRMAN.--I must put it to the Court whether thi. should he a lhaved to go on.—(" Hear, hear," amid ~t 1., ,0 f:Nion.) Mr. Titomeeos would ask, if they objected to these flee. tions, what were the depositions on which the I Zaia wee deposed ? Ile observed that the allusion to the 11 10 hilt of his qualification was contemptible. Ile foul invested 1450/. to give him a right to Sit iii thut Court. If it was all he could spare for that •purpoSe, hi); apology must be that he bad not enjoyed the same Means of making wealth as many around him. He had had to carve his own ihrtunea, and had laboured hard for what he pos sessed, end had gained-it in the cause of . justice and hu nianity. Let them go t o P ar li ament and get an act to raise the qualificatien. Possibly that even might not put him down. Who knew but he might purchase another ISM. of stock, and still be amongst them ? They might, in order to annihilate hire, annihilate the Court of Pro prietors ; but they would, by so doing, annihilate them selves. His opponents had him at a disadvantage. He could not use their weapons. Ho would not degrade himself by resorting to them. Sir, lam not here for any factious purpose. I abhor fiction and 'cabal. Our country is cursed by faction. I would not walk from Cornhill here for the sake of annoying you ; but I am left without discretion in the course lam taking. Should I fail to stand neon my right, and to reveal what I know and believe, I should be a traitor to truth, and the vic tim of the bitterest self-reproach. But you will not hear these papers, because they are not official, although they were given to your own pet Governor, Sir James Carnac, and ought to have become official. Well then, I will go to the papers which you yourselves have furnished to Parliament, and which I have examined at the Journal office of the House of Commons, in the handwriting of your own clerks, To prove the authenticity of these documents, I will read you a letter from an officer in your service to the very Colonel Ovans referred to in the deposition : " CAPTAIN F. DURACI TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL OVANS, RESIDENT AT SATTARA. " Sattara. September 26, 1837. " Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the rz%ceipt of your letter of yesterday's date (not found in the Par liamentary- Papers) together with its accompaniment, and in reply to subjoin the following statement : " 2. Some days after my return to Sattara, from leave of absence on medical certificate, in the month of June last, Lieutenant Horne, who had been performing the duties of Line Ad j utant in my absence, mentioned to me that a young lad of the name of Pundurung, and a person calling himself Hywut Row, had called upon him, and said, that they had been instructed by one Bhawu Leley to say, that if he, Bhawu Leley, were handsomely reWaided, he would procure certain treason able papers connected with the conspiracy in which his Highness the Raja of Sattara, and his minister Govind Row, were implicated. " 3. Two or three days after Lieutenant Horne had related the abOve to me, I received a visit from Pundu rung, who made a similar statement to me (and which, on a subsequent occasion, I desired him to commit to paper), I replied, thatif Bhawhu Leley had anything of a treasonable nature to communicate, he had better come to me and do so. Pundurung said he would tell him so, and retired. " 4. On the evening of the 11th, Bhawu Leley called at the house of . my puroso (clerk), Auund Row, and stated that he, was anxious to be introduced to me, and re quested permission to accompany him on his going to office in the morning. " 5. On the 12th Bhawu Leley came, accompanied by the agents, Pundurung and Hywat Row ; the two latter were dismissed. I then met him in my offize, and in the presence of Lieutenant Horne and Anund Row, he re peated the substance of the matter contained in No. 2 : after which he was desired to call on the 14th. He did so, when I told him if he would call on the 16th I would be able to give him a definite answer regarding the ad vance of money he had so earnestly solicited. "6. As you were at this time hourly expected in camp, this affair was not mentioned to Colonel Lodwick at all, but on your arrival, the 16th of June, I reported the circumstances to you, and requested instructions as to what part I should take in the business ; and in reply received your commands to sift the matter, if possible, to the bottom, with authority to advance a sum not exceed ing two hundred rupees, to pay the expenses of Bhawu Leley's trip to the place where those papers were said to be ; also; to pass a note to the effect, that he would be afterwards rewarded according to the services he per— formed. " 7. On the 16th, Bhawu Leley called, and I told him he might have one hundred and fifty rupees for his ex penses. He accepted the sum on the condition of being rewarded on his return with the seditious documents. _ "8. On the 18th of June Bhawu Leley received from me one hundred and fifty rupees for the assigned purpose, also a note of hand, of which No. 3 is a copy. En return I received his autograph memorandum, No. 4, in which the individuals are named to whom the sedi tious letters had been addressed, together with his re ceipt for the money, No. 5 : he then departed. 9. After the lapse of a month, Bhawu Leley called upon me, and reported that he had been unable to find the persons in whose possession the documents were, but that the said persons would be at Poona during the fes tival of the Nag punchinee,' and of his intention to pro ceed thither, and to return in the course of fifteen days with the papers. I replied, As you have failed to pro duce them within the given time, it becomes necessary for you to return the money.' He said, Very well, I will do SO.' " 10. You will probably recollect my naming this cir cumstance, and your desiring me to give him a further trial. " 11. When Bhawu Leley returned with the money, he said, • I am not the bad man you take me for, and if you will allow me fifteen days more, I will then satisfy you.' I replied, • Very good, take the money again, and recol lect your promise to return with the papers fifteen days hence.' He then left me, saying he would fulfil his pro 12 " 12. day or two after that he started, I believe, for Poonah, since which I have seen nothing of him. " 13. The foregoing is, to the best of my recollection, a faithful narrative of what passed. " 14. A statement from Lieutenant Horne is appended, No. 6; also one from Anund Row, No. 7. 4 15. The zubbannee (or deposition) which accompa nied your letter, is herewith returned. (True Copy.) (Signed) "F. DURACK, Staff Officer. " W. H. WATHEN, Chief Secretary." Mr. Thompson then read the whole of the depositions referred to in the letter of Capt. Durack. A PROPRIETOR-How do you know those papers were ever in the hands of Sir James Carnac? Mr. THoMPSoN would not answer that at present.— (Loud cries of Nuestion.") Mr. M. SMITH (a Director) hoped the dlscusion would be allowed to go on, as it would show the necessity of newly constituting that Court. • Let the libels go forth, and it would give strength to the hands of the executive in obtaining an alteration. Mr. HOGG hoped the general Court would support the Chair. The Hon. Proprietor was not to hold at defiance or treat with contempt the authority of the Chair in readinc , depositions and papers which were not sworn to. He hoped the Chairman would express his opinion strongly upon the subject. The CHAIRMAN said he had expressed his opinion in the first instance as to the conduct of the Hon. Pro prietor, and was of the same opinion still, and moved again that the Court adjourn. Mr. TnomPsox—l dare you to adjourn the Court. The law will not permit you.—(Loud disapprobation.) Mr. SALostoNs rose to order, and said, that as it was the opinion that the papers the Hon. Proprietor was about reading ought not to be read, he should desist. Mr. THOMPSON persisted in proceeding. The CHAIRMAN thought that, unless order and regu larity were preserved in their discussions, the Legislature would think the Court of Proprietors a useless body. Aspersions had been cast by the Hon. Proprietor on men in the service of the Government of ledia—a course unworthy of any man, and especially of one usu ally assuming to himself the character of liberality. There was no ground for further discussion. The Court of Directors thought the Raja a guilty man ; the Hon. Proprietor thought him innocent. Mr. THOMPSON persevered, on the ground that he was speaking to the adjournment and he was stain called to order. This led to a desultory and rather hot discussion. in which the Chairman, Mr. Weeding, Mr. Fielder, and others took part ; and Mr. THOMPSON declared that he would say all he had to say; and would now proceed to show that documents had been kept back for eleven months, which showed the innocence of the Raja. Mr. LEWIS asked whether the object of the motion for adjournment was to deprive him of his right to be heard on the original motion ? The CHAIRMAN replied in the affirmative. Here there were again loud and general cries of " Question," in the midst of which Mr. THOMPSON declared lie would proceed, having the honour of an innocent man to advocate as well as to vindicate the honour of that Court and that of the Queen. The Raja was a proud man, was eppoSed to the Brahmins, and was not likely to conspire with them to plot against the power of the Government of India. He would show that the plots were all on the side of the enemies of the Raja, aided by the whole strength of the Bombay Government. His next case should be taken altogether from the Parliamentary unprinted papers,which were also under the roof of that House. The Hon. Proprietor then went into a very lengthened argument to prove that a document purporting to proceed from the mother of Govind Row, the Minister of his Highness, and containing evidence of the Raja's guilt, was an utter forgery; that the forger himself had confessed his criminality to Colonel Ovens, in September 1837, and delivered up all his papers ; but, although Col. Ovans had before given to the Government of Bombay, a to tally different account of the authorship, he nevertheless concealed the existence of these documents for eleven months, and only then divulged them 'on the accidental discovery of the plot by the Raja. These papers we will publish hereafter. The first account of the petition of Govind Row's mother, criminating both her son and the Raja, was in a letter of Colonel Ovens, dated 7th July, 1837 ; and, although the deposition of the forger was given to Colonel Ovens by the man himself, personally, on the 20th of September, Colonel Ovens only sent the deposition and accompanying documents on the 16th August, 1838. Mr. Thompson contended that he had now proved the necessity of going into the discussion of the whole question. The fact was, that owing to the disagreement with the Bombay Government arising out of the seizure of the Raja's jagheers, a host of enemies had appeared, and had succeeded in the ruin of the Raja. He would remind the Court of the case of Hastings, as described in an article attributed to Mr. Macaulay. Warren Hastings, who had, like a god, swayed the destinies of the native States in India, was at one time all but ruined by the ma chinations of the Brahmin Nuncomer. The ma , jority of the Calcutta Council were opposed to Hastings.—" The natives (says the reviewer) soon found this out. They considered him as a fallen man ; and they acted after their kind. Some of our readers may have seen, in India, a cloud of crows pecking a sick vul ture to death—no bad type of what happens in that country, as often as fortune deserts one who has been great and dreaded. In an instant, all the sycophants w.lio had lately been ready to lie for him, to forge for him, to pander for him, to poisou f or hi m , h asten to purchase t i,,, f avou r of his victorious enemies by accusing him. An Indian Government has only to let it be understood that it wishes a particular man to be ruined ; and, in twenty-four hours, it will be furnished with grave charges, supported by depositions so full and circumstan tial, that any person unaccustomed to Asiatic mendacity would regard them as decisive. It is well if the signa ture of the destined victim is not counterfeited at the fort of some illegal compact, and if some treasonable paper is not slipped into a hiding-place in his house. Hastings was now regarded as helpless. Immediately charges against the Governor-General began to pour in. They were eagerly welcomed by the majority, who, to do them THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST 1, 1842. missioner at Poona, reperted ,tki the Bombay Govern ,nunt that he had "personally witnessed the general prosperity and good order that prevailed throughout the :raja's territories, and the Satisfac ion displayed by all slasses of the peoele under his management. The Raja sxpressed his gratitude and respect for the British Go vernment,and hisdetermination to be regulated in every act of his administration by the wishes Of that Government. —(Hear.) He was by no,means eager to be emancipated from restraint, and intended, when his authority WitS increased;; never to adopt any measures without con sulting the Resident at his Court. He spoke most kindly of the agent, Captain G. Duff ; and, says Mr. Chapman, " I left him impressed with a very favourable opinion of the good sense and judgment, and the respectability of the acquirements which his Highness evinced, both at this interview and on the occasion of a visit at which I received and entertained his Highness on the following day : " This was in March, 1821; on the sth of the fol lowing month, in the twenty-fourth year of his age, the entire management of his Principality was committed to his charge,and the Political Agent became a Resident at his Court. What was the Raja's future conduct? Such as most fully to justify the change in .his condition; it was such as realised the most sanguine hope entertained respecting either his ability or his sincerity. _The excel lent advice given him by Captain Duff was followed out with the most scrupulous attention, and his dominion continued to flourish for years under his wise, en lightened, and benignant sway. He considered (says Captain Sutherland) the laws and revenue regulations introduced by Captain Grant, so like the laws of the Medea and Persians, that on the next Political Agent (Major-General Briggs) suggesting sonic alteration cal culated to be beneficial, the Raja, like a true Hindoo, ob jected, saying, that they had so long worked so well, that he would rather continue them as they were than run tne risk by altering any portion, of injuring them as a whole. Next, let me refer the Court to a minute of the Governor of Bombay, Sir John Malcolm, in 1829, describing the Raja's territories as " well go verned," the Raja himself as " doing justice to the trouble that had been bestowed ,on his education ;" de scribing also the towns and villages in many of the jagheerdars as " in a better condition than any under British rule in the Deccan ;" and further, that "justice in most cases was administered in a way fully as satis factory to the inhabitants as under our improved sys tem." Let me refer, also, to the opinion expressed by this Court during the same year. In a political letter to Bombay, August 19, 1829, the Court declare that they are " impressed with a highly favourable opinion of the administration of the Raja of Sattara. He ap pears to be remarkable among the Princes of India for his mildness, frugality, and attention to business ; to be sensible of what he owes to the British Government, and of the neccessity of maintaining a good understanding with it; nor does he, in his intercourse with your officers, furnish any grounds of complaint, except an occasional manifestation of that jealousy of our controlling power, which it can hardly be expected that any native Princes, however well disposed to us, should entirely suppress. Again, on the 21st September, 1831, the Court says : " The information which your records supply, as to the proceedings of the Raja of Sattara ' continues to confirm the highly favourable opinion we had formed of his dis position, and of his capacity for Government. His ad ministration of a certain jagheer. is described as having been distinguished for good sense and disinterestedness. Ilia conduct to the dependent jagheerdars was just and couciliatury ; and in his general government, while he appears to have seldom stood in need of your advice, he seems to have been duly sensible of its value on the few occasions when it was offered." And on the 11th of June, 1834, the Court wrote another political letter to Bombay, in which they say :—" With respect to your suggestion, that we should confer upon his Highness some testimonial of our sense of the public spirit and liberality, by which he is distinguished among the native Princes of India, it is for you to inform us what it should be. Again, as if never weary of expressing their admiration of the Raja of Sattara, the Court addresses another letter, dated the 26th September, 1834, after describing him as " a Prince whose administration is a model to all native rulers (I, Sir, shotild have said to all rulers), they say.— " He appears to be most attentive to business, superintend ing every department of his Government without the aid of a Minister. He confifies his own expenses, and those of all under him, within fixed limits. He pays all his establishments with perfect regularity; but when, in any year, his resources are inadequate to his fixed expenses, a rateable reduction is made from all allowances, not ex cepting his own. * * * By his frugal and care ful management, the Raja has kept free, from debt; and as he does not accumulate, he is enabled to expend large sums in liberality and in the improvement of his country. We have read with great pleasure the following passage from Lieutenant-Colonel Robertson's despatch :—" He also maintains a well-regulated school at Sat tara, in which he has teachers of great respecta bility, both as to, character and attainments. This seminary Was closely examined in all its details last October, by a very competent judge, the Rev. Mr. Stevenson, of the Scottish mission, who, I am happy to say, expressed the highest satisfaction with it, and did not scruple to say, he considered it a far more useful es tablishment than the College at Poona. In this seminary his Highness teaches Mahratta, Sanscrit, and the sciences usually taught in that tongue, Persian, and English, as well as arithmetic, surveying, and other kinds of know ledge useful in the transaction of public business. In this • school his Highness has a number of youths of his own caste,.and relations of his (whose forefathers despised. all .such tuition), training up for his public service, and this is one of the causes why the Brahmins are hostile to him." Then, Sir, comes the resolution of the Court on the 22d of July, 1835, voting the Raja a sword; and then, the memorable letter which accompanied it, of De cember 29, 1835. But, strange to say, though voted for eighteen years of " exemplary fulfilment of the duties of his elevated situation;" for eighteen years of " con duct calculated to promote the prosperit a of his domi nions and the happiness of his people;" for eighteen years of undeviating rectitude reflecting the highest honour on his charaeter, and justly raising his reputa tion in the eyes of the Princes, and people of India"— strange to say, this sword, voted, fabricated, jewelled, packed, directed, and- transmitted (and, I suppose, pro perly insured), was never given to the Raja ; and, of course, neither the letter, so carefully and beautifully written. The Hon. the Court of Directors reaped the " high gratification"—the " unqualified satisfaction and pleasure"—they luxuriated in unalloyed feelings of "ap probation," " respect," " applause," "esteem," and " re fs-ord," and subscribed themselves his Highness's " faith ful his Highness never got the sword. indeed, to hare cut their love. And yet, on the Novi tuber, 1837, we find the same Court taking I 2 t 2d see o m r s occasion to expl'igss " the pleasure" they feel—(it must be gratifying to us aZilard to the Raja in particular, to find the Directors enj ox iicsr so much pleasure)—the plea sure they feel from the IFes;s4ent's reports of the Raja's administration of his jagheers. Ruch has been the con duct of our faithful and loving e r ,,ends the Hon. the Court of Directors. We owe the men:'on of this de spatch to Mr. John Forbes ; it has never sees the light. Let me turn for a moment to the conduct of the Baja subsequent to his misunderstanding with the Govern-, ment. How did he act when the Resident at his Court demanded some of his subjects, suspected of conspiracy in the matter of the Sepoys ? The Raja gave them up instantly. In an hour from the time of the demand they were at the Residency. How did he appear before the Commission ?' " I shall never forget the scene," says General Lodwick ; " he came in with the proud and high dignity of a sovereign. The whole people of Sattara had turned out—many of them were in tears." How did he part with Colonel Lodwick ? As the best means of evincing his desire to be reconciled to, and conciliate me, the Raja had placed at my dis posal 19,000 rupees for the formation of a lake ou the Maheblayswita Hills, a work I had originally suggested to him, and he knew to be a favourite scheme of mine ; observing - that I might apply the sum either to that work, or to the completion of the 'unfinished road through his territory to Poona, and he would in that case assign 20,000 rupees the next year to the lake. And when the news of my recall reached him, his Highness begged ine not to quit his Court without receiving a public entertainment from; him and when that was de clined, asked, as a last token of friendship, that I would permit his servants to bear the palankeens of myself and family from Sattara, and his camels to carry my bag gage, and that I would write to him from England. How did he receive Colonel Ovens ? With the dignity - of a Prince—with the frankness and kindness of a gene - rous, high-minded, and unsuspecting man. In proof of this, read the letter of Colonel Ovens to the Bombay Go vernment, 24th June, 1837; paragraphs 2 and 6 : " 2. Immediately on the receipt of your communica tion I waited upon his Highness the Raja, and delivered the letter to him from the Right Hon. the Governor, ac quainting him of my appointment to officiate as Resident. Very little passed on this occasion ; his Highness's man ner was conciliatory, and he professed himself willing to give me every information in his power. " 6: In the interview above alluded to, the Raja showed an inclination to put himself into my hands, but as my communication with him at this crisis are necessarily n f re served and distant , a nd in accord ance with my. instruc tions, part must be e x pected to wear off, frequent allusions and remarks on the the Commission, I gave him distinctly to o n subjects , thisn reply feelingo f t o his understand that the whole case has been referred for the .consideration and instructions of the Government of India." I shall leave the deportment of the latter functionary until I coma to notice it in the right place. Suffice it to say in passing, that while on the side of his enemies, leagued with the Government, every a c t was of' a dark, stealthy, and feline character, on the side of the Raja, all was open, undis guised, straightforward and honourable. HoW did he deport himself in the first interview with the new Governor, Sir James Carnac ? Here is an extract from what puports to be a correct statement of the substance of the conversation. They are the miuntes of his Highness himself, and though long printed their accuracy has never been disputed. • " Sir JAMES---Your Highness has been making a plot: this has been proved by' evidence. ; 1 have - made no plot; you may refer inquiry " Sir JAM inqui F: ry, and have seen a 1 e ther is no need of further • d I have no time for it. What is the onfit.GhlieNmEassti—eri to a Committee. use of discussions ? Your Highness should listen to what I say, and should sign a memorandum which I am going to propose. your Excellency has no time, I will lishiLlTail? ss—l paper3f and documents to Colonel Ovans. He will inquire how evid ence has been p rocured, Ad will know how enmity has arisen. You should do' justice ; I will have nothing - to say if there be any paper of mine connected wi th the p lot. * * * " Sir JAMES—Your High ness should listen to what I say, or else you shall not ret ain y our kin g d om. "His HicamEss—l have never coveted the kingdom ;I care for friendship with the Engrsh Goveamarnica4 do not wish to retain my kingdom by confessing myself guilty without trial. • If you like you may take charge of the kingdom ; I will maintain myself by begging. If justice, were men of too much honour ,knowingly . t , countenance false accusations,' but 4;qm were not suf ficiently acquainted with the 'East to be aware that, in that part of the world, a very little encouragement from power will call forth, in a week,. mote Oateses,'and Bed toes, and Dangerfields, than Westminster Hall sees in a century." Ise (Mr.. Thompson) would now proceed in the course he had marked out for himself in case the debate had gone., on in a regular way. and should not be affected by anything that had passed. What he had now said .was but_ prelimnary matter. Sir, it is now a year and a half since the members of this Court were told several times, during a debate on the case of the Raja of Satturn, that the discussion was pre mature, and that it was necessary for them to be ac quainted through the official papers, with the facts of the case, in order to their arriving at .a just conclusion. At last, Sir, we have the most important papers, in a printed form, in our possession. We have long had all the Court of Directors thought it prudent to give us, and we have for three months been in possession of an autho r rised copy of the proceedings of the special and secret Commission by which the Raja was tried and found guilty. In the debate to which I have referred, the Members of this Court were also told to wait and learn the decision of the Executive. The expectation was raised by more than one member of the Board of Direc tors, that the decision might be in favour of the Raja. These excuses for procrastination no longer exist. On the Ist of April, 1840, the Court of Directors, with some most honourable exceptions, bestowed their warm com men lation on all the proceedings connected with the dethronement of the Raja of Sattara, and this Court has, since that vote, and for the second time, by means of the votes of the Directors themselves, decided that it is inexpedient to interfere with their responsible executive in the affairs of Sattara. More re cently, however, we have had an opportunity of pos sessing ourselves of the ' , rounds upon which the au thorities in India proceeded, as well as of certain facts and documents of the most important kind ; and it ap peared, therefore, to many of the members of this Court, that the interests of truth and justice required a reconsideration of the case. It is under these cir cumstances that we are assembled to-day. To lay the basis for a discussion that should embrace the inform don which we possess, the proposition of my Honourable and Learned Friend was introduced. I believe its truth may be abundantly demonstrated. Sir, permit me to lay before you a plain statement of the motives by which ni common with others, I am influenced in again taking up this question. Sir, we have a deep conviction that the Raja of Sattara is an innocent man—entirely in nocent—(Hear, hear.) 'We believe him to be utterly guiltless of all the charges which have been brought against him, and made the'grounds of his deposal. We as firmly believe that had he been permitted the means of vindicating himself—those means which are within the reach of the meanest offenders in these more favoured realms, he would have come forth out out of the inquiry with unspotted reputation—pure in proportion to the rigour of the investigation ; if to rigour had been united righteousness.—(Hear.) Having de voted, many of us, no small portion of our time to the minute examination of the papers before the Court—an examination throughout the whole of which our facul ties have been quickened, by the recollection of the oppo site opinions which many in this Court have publicly avowed—we conscientiously believe that there is evidence of a false conclusion having been arrived at by those who sat in judgment on the , first charge brought against the Raja. We thiuk we can make this apparent. and effec tually purge the character of the Raja from so much of the stain as has been attached to it by the recorded opi nion of the tribunal before which he was brought.— (Hear.) In addition to all these motives, we have, Sir, another. Documents never before printed—hitherto wholly unknown, yet of the most remarkable and im portant character—of the authenticity of which we have no doubt, and the full history of every one of which we are prepared to give—have come into our hands. We have examined theila with care ; they have shed new light upon the subject ; they have deepened, if it were possible, our impression of the Raja's innocence; they have compelled us to regard him as the unsinning victim of a foul conspiracy ; they have strengthened our belief that the great error throughput these proceedings has been the secrecy with which they have been carried ; which secrecy, involvins , as it did, at every stage, the ignorance of the accused,' combined with the eager de sire of the Government to. receive evidence of a prejudi cial nature, has aided the wicked plans of the Raja's ene mies. I say enemies. We can show that he had ene mies. We can point to their names, and their abodes, and their deeds of darkness and iniquity. We can de monstrate the existence of a plot, long, latent, and con cealed, but at last ripened into execution by the un-, happy difference between the Government and the Raja, in reference to the Jagheers. With such motives did we come before you to-day to bespeak your patience in the first instance, and your conscientious verdict in the last. It cannot but be that you desire that the de posed Raja should be proved an innocent man. Surely, Sir, you would rather have it proved that you had done wrong than that he was guilty. You will not refuse to one, who, from the ground of his heart, after the most anxious and pains-taking inquiry, believes him to be . guiltless, a full and fair opportunity of say ing what he deems calculated to dispel the mists in which the case has been shrouded. Gentlemen, at no time does the upright judicial func tionary lend a more willing ear than when there appears in. court an individual who proffers evidence in favour of the accused. To the honour of our country be it spoken, that even after condemnation, and even while the con demned is suffering his sentence, there is ever a disposi tion to review proceedings, and to save the innocent from undeserved punishment. Shall it be said that such is thepase in reference to every court but this ? No matter; I have a plain duty to perform, and will discharge it. I am determined, that if you persevevere in withholding ijustic shall be without excuse. I shall now proceed to prove e, tha. - the commission; by his Highness the Raja of ''qll Sattara, of the eirtles laid to his charge, was morally im possible. In order to establish this, I must carry you back to the early history of !.his Prince. His father died in 1808, when he was but ele;:"2 years old. His education devolved non his mother. It had been the policy of the Brahmin Ministers, from the ye s .. r 1749, when they assumed the reins of Government, to ke, 4o the nominal princes in a sort of honourable, but not liii.jited"nfine meet, and to circumscribe their learning as we.' as their liberty, by making their accomplishments to con;_'" ! a horsemanship and the use of the bow, rather than : 4 reading and writing, and the science of government. The mother, however, contrived to teach her sons letters during the hours' of midnight. Herself a hater cf the Brahmins, she taught her offspring to cherish 'strong feelings of dislike towards those who had for many years monopolized the power of the princes of Sattara. Her eldest son, the man you have depos e d, was no t s l ow t o profit by the lessons he received ; and, before he left the fort of Sattara, he might be said to have received a tole rable education ; still one, however, which entitled him to be regarded with the utmost indulgence. I have this week conversed with a Gallant Officer, who was at the . battle of Ashta, which, as all who hear me know, was .fought on the 20th of February, 1818, and decided the fate of the Prishwa. On 'the death of Gokla, the leader of the Mahrattas, and the dispersion of Bajee Rao's troops, the attention of seven or eight of the British ca . valry was attracted to a female and several youths who were at a distance under a tree. The soldiers gal loped towards them, and one of the youths, who held a sword, was called upon to give it up, which, however, he repeatedly refused to do ; his mother, in the meantime, calling out in great distress the name and titles of her son. The Gallant Officer I have referred to, reached the spot just in time to receive, on his own weapon, a blow aimed by one of the troopers at the life o f the brave young man, who had resolved to die rather than yield up his sword. That youth was the Raja of Sattara, and the officer is Colonel Pringle Taylor. My friend said, " I could not help gazing with admiration on the calm dignity, the undaunted courage, and the perfect self-possession of the young Prince. The im pression produced upon my mind by the scene I then witnessed, was most favourable. From what I recollect of • the Raja on that occasion, I should be most reluct a nt to believe that he was capable of a mean or unmanly action. He seemed rejoiced to fall into the hands of the British, and I have no doubt had separated himself from Bajie Rao for that purpose." Sir, I have discovered nothing in the subsequent career of this Prince, that be lies the promise of his youth. Dignity, courage, a high sense of honour, and an extraordinary degree of can dour, mixed I am ready to acknowledge, with a lofty , notion of his dignity, andproud descent, appear to ine to be the most obvious and controlling ingredients in his character.—(Hear, hear.) This, I think, I shall be able to show in my future remarks. On the 11th of February, 181 F, the fort of Sattara was taken, and the standard of his Highness set up, and an assurance was given to the Mahratta people that, on the release of the Prince from the hands of Bajee Rao, he should be placed:at the head of an independent sovereignty. Sir, I will not admit the generosity of this act—l am willing to admit its policy, and I can go no further. On the 20th of February, as I have said, the young Prince was rescued, and came into our camp with dignity, confidence, satisfaction, and joy. On the 9th of May, he made his entry into Sat tare, surrounded by British officers, and detachments from all our corps, and took his seat on the throne in full Durbar. Let us now see how this youth of 21, hitherto shut out from the affairs of the world, whose all of useful learning had been obtained during, the stolen hours of the night, while his attendants slept, conducted himself in his new, responsible, and trying circum stances. Captain Grant Duff was, as you know, ap pointed over him, with the designation of political agent, and on the 25th September, 1819 , a treaty was concluded, securing to him, his heirs, and successors, perpetual sore . reignty over certain districts specified in a schedule aneex ed. lam aware thatin the 74th page of the last series of Sattara papers, an attempt has been made (I cannot help saying a most unfair one) to press the evidence of Capt. Grant Duff into the cause against the Raja. But to my mind the evidence of Captain Grant Duff goes directly to show the readiness with which the Prince corrected whatever errors he had been led into by his early education, when those errors were judi ciously and kindly pointed out. The passage quoted in the Report of the Commission I shall notice by-and-by ; for the present let me say that according to the account given by Captaiu Sutherland.—(See " Sutherland's Sketches," Calcutta edition, page 164.) " The young Raja proved himself of good disposition, and suffi ciently intelligent ;" and although at first somewhat un reasonable in regard to the allowance which he. deemed necessary to support his dignity, yet, upon being told by the agent what sum the Government had for the present assigned him, the year passed without any excess of expenditure."—(Hear.) The agent reported that " the good disposition of the young . Prince very much assisted him in arranging the affairs of the Principality. "found no difficulty; , .says he,." in obtaining his confi dence, and he frequently told me things which I should otherwise never have become .acquainted with." His revenue it. 1820itmounted to about 150,0001. a-year, with a prospect, on the improvement of the waste lands, of 180,0001. In 'March, 1821, Mr. Chapliu, the Com- yot confine tile to prison. 1 wits big in (see, any ; . your sentries. If such be vosr pleasure lat bee u aa. sane, osi s , : j • , •s your bungalow, and would net return buck. etniedise, ht. .nle Sir James—Your Iliglini ss should not do so, but • being established the secret is unfelded. A Vakeel listen to' what I propose, otherwise I shall be obliged to from Scindia has arrived, and all the Native States have make some new arrangement. i combined for the purpose of expelling the Eiglish from " His HIGHNESS—You may make any arrangement ' India. The interview is under a tre.-. They separate, that you like. You propose that, without trial, 1 should and tha seidier keeps the story to laimself. This is the plead guilty of a thing which I have not done., To this hegtnsing. 0.. the 21st the Brahmin comes to th , 1 cannot agree." house of Sce a t.e. am Sin s ; ; con. erscs in the sumo Arai !; Sir, this is what I call 'true nobility—conduct worthy asks for the Native Adjutant, and a Havildar, named of a Prince.—(Hear.) How does Sir James Carnac Chunder Sing, is introduced as that officer. The Ha himself report the termination of another interview? udder disappears to report to Lieut. Stock what is going Hear him Wh en I had concluded, he (the Raja) on, and that officer directs that the Soobadar shall take stated that he regarded me ac his friend and well-wisher ; with him to Govind Row's house the Havildar, and also asserted that the accusations against him originated in Goolja Missur s another native officer, who is palmed the intrigues of his enemies that as long as the British . upon Untajee as Segoolam Sing's particular friend. Government entertained the idea that he had cherished They proceed from the cantonment to the town, distant hostile designs he could agree to nothing, but this idea l about a mile, and are amused by the way with the in being removed, he would agree to anything I proposed ; formation that emissaries had been sent to different that he would consent to anything exept to abandon his stations to gain over the native troops. Ranching the religion, or to acknowledge that he had been our enemy." Adawlut, Untajee goes in search of Govind Row. He I will not, however, dismiss this part of the subject with- then' returns, and takes them to Govind Row's house. out bringing to the recollection of the Court two or three They are conducted lift° a room looking out into the other testimonies to the character of the Sovereign whom street. The Resident passes by, and under pretence of you have deposed. I have already referred to the being alarmed, the Soobadars run away, followed by encomiums passed upon his Highness's character by those Untajee, who brings them to the front of the Raja's who watched his conduct oft the spot, down to the retire- palace, where the Raja, the Resident, and Gosied ment of Captain Grant Duff. I have also quoted from Row are examining two guns. The Resident depants, your dispatches. Let me remind you that on the floor of Govind Row goes to his own house; '.he conspirators this house, on the 13th of February, 1840, the following follow; the Havildar remains below; up stairs they con was the language of Major-General Briggs I have verse with Govind Row, who tells them they must gain no hesitation in saying that I received a letter from one over their regiment, and that they shall be made great of the Governors of. Bombay, who stated that he was a men of. Scindia's Vakeel is announced, upon which pattern for native Princes ; and. duriqg the whole time I Govind Row orders pawn for the Soobadars, and leaves was Resident at his Court, the Raja's conduct was most the room. The pawn is given by . Koosia Maio°, the exemplary, and worthy of a Prince." A year and a servant of U. Row, they are then taken by Untajee to the half later, my Gallant Friend, when standing by my side, front of the palace ; Govind Row whiepers something in this place, said—" He had looked to the whole of the into the ear of the Raja, who turns towards the Soobaa correspondence and the papers • he had heard all that dars, who make two salaams , and recei ve two si g ns of re had been said in favour of the Raja ; he had heard cognition. They return, report to their officers, and make all that had been said against the Raja ; and his firm their depositions in the morning before Captain Liddell. conviction, as far as the papers went, was, that the Raja 'Two days after, 23d, the Brahmin Untajee visits the of Sattara was an innocent man." During the debate of Soobadars again, tells them the Raja is much pleased Feb.l2,the Hon. and Gallant Director, Generalßobertson, with them, and has ordered Govind Row to give them a said—l discharge only a bare act of justice to the Raja of dinner. He tells them also that Mahrattas and Carnatic Sattara in declaring that, during the period of nearly Brahmins had gone to the different stations, in order five years that I was Resident at his Court, I never saw that each native state should gain over the soldiers any disposition, on his part, to think lightly of his en- in its territory. Between the 24th and 31st ano gagements with the Company. or to evince ought but ther meeting takes place between Untajee and the gratitude for the advantages which had been conferred Soobadars, at the house of Untajee's nephew, Pu upon him ; and I may safely say that nothing occurred, reshram, a vender of perfumes, and an entertainer whilst I was there, which gave rise to any dissatisfac- of dancing girls; this interview was sought by the Soo -tion, either on my part, or that of the Raja." I need indent, who were instructed to enter into the plot.—(See scarcely quote the emphatic declaration of the same Gal- p. 65.) Oa the 31st Untajee again visits the lines, tells hint Gentleman during the debate of July last year, that the Soobadars they are to go in disguise to the Raja, and " the evidence on which the Raja had been condemned fixes the sth of August.—(66.) The Brahmin Untajee was such as would not justify the hanging of a dog ;" forfeits his word; does not return for many days; is re or the testimony, equally emphatic, and so truly honour- proached by the Soobadars; pleads the heavy rains, and able to the character of the Raja, that "he would, from the Raja's distress on account of the death of a Vakeei the experience he had had of his character, sooner take from Oodeepoor. On the Bth of September the Brahmin his simple denial than all the evidence that had been comes again, tells them they are to see the Raja raked together."—Add to the testimony of General Ro. that night, and they go together - , -- to ,the house of bertson, the testimony of another Gallant General, his Pureshram, the psrfumer, and brothel keeper, whese house immediate successor at the Court .of Sattara—l mean is near Govind Row's. Untajee, after going out three General Lodwick :—" During the three years of Lord times, at last conducts the sepoys to Govind Row's house Clare's government, the Raja returned my attention having preiiously disguised them in woollen-hooded to his interests and rights with even friendship. cloaks. They are first closeted with Govind Row in his Lrespected him for his good government, his libe- sleeping apartment. They are instructed by Govind Row rality, and attention to the happiness of his people. to state on their introduction to the Raja that they are I can positively declare that, during this period, I never ready to obey his orders. At nine o'clock Govind Rew expressed a wish to the Raja that was not readily at- goes out to see if the Raja is ready to receive them. The tended to. Roads were constructed, the condition of his 13ramin Untajee follows with the Soobadars disguised; jagheerdars was ameliorated ; in fact, he was liberal in they reach the palace ; the guards allow them to pass ; every respect, generous to his servants, of the best do- Govind Row is in waiting, and takes them into an upper mestic character, and evincing the possession of a kind- room where the Raja is seated, smoking a hooker. A ness springing from the happy temperament of mind and woman is present, and is immediately ordered out—rather body. The Raja collected the whole of his revenues strange that when the Raja knew these men were coming and without oppression, and ridiculed our loss of revenue." he shoidd have the woman present. Seegoolam Sing Indulge me with permission to quote the account of asks what his Highness's orders are, who mentions. four General Robertson of his parting with the Raja after events by which the Soobadars might know that he was his resignation of the Residency:—" On my taking leave a party concerned.-1. Disturbances in Bombay; 2. of his Highness at Maholee, he expressed his gratitude Arrival of an army from Hyderabad ; 3. Disturbances and attachment to the British power in terms of sin- at Belgaum ; 4. Army from Elindostah. Seegoolam Sing cerity that cannot be questioned ; and after I had bidden takes off his turban and beseeches the Raja not to betray him adieu, he recalled me to repeat them, and to im- them to their officers. (This is sheer hypocrisy.) They press them more strongly on my memory, as well ao are presented with pawn. The interview terminates. request that I would not only assure the Right Honour- They return to the perfumer's—put off their disguise—go able the Governor in. Council of his feelings, but also back to the cantonment — deliver the pawn (a device as state them to the Honourable Mr. Elphinstone in Eng. we shall by and by show). The next morning their depo land ; and his last words weree--` I have no friend but sitions are taking in writing. On the 14th September, the English Government, and my sole reliance is on it. Untajee comes again ; tells the Soobadars the Raja wishes I have many enemies—this you know—but no friends to give them a dinner in a garden near the town ; the but the English.' " Most fervently do I trust that the dinner is declined. Does the dinner affair look like Raja will yet prove that the English ant his friends— treason ? If they must needs go.in disguise to the palace. that though injustice may triumph for a time, it cannot does it look like the Caution which which treason usually be withheld when the British people are informed. It is for observes in its first' movements, to give a dinner in a the information of the British people, as well as to leave garden ? The Soobadars ask a token to show to those this Coart without excuse, that I bring these testimonies they gain over. They are promised a turban forward. Here then, Sir, is an overwhelming mass of evi- and shela (shawl) at the dussern (religious festival). deuce in favour of the character of the Baja of Sattara. Untajee does not return for several days ; therefore, on Look atit. Weighits value. Youknow the witnesses—their the 27th (thirteen days after the last interview), the station—their standing—their disinterestedness—their Havildars and the two Soobadars go to the perfumer's. in opportunities—their intelligence. You will at once con- search of him. From what occurred it appeared that cede that they are men utterly incapable of speaking that Untajee was desirous of avoiding a meeting. When which they do not feel—which thee do not believe. At found, he said he had been directed by Govind Row and all events. you cannot reject the evidence of your own the Raja not to meet them frequently, lest suspieion minutes and recorded letters. You surely cannot be should be excited; yet they were invited to take a dinner prepared to falsify your own reiterated assertions, or to in a garden near the town. They con verse near a confess to the belief that you were imposed upon ;or to nullah in the - vicinity of the perftliner's shop The make the still more humiliating confession that you Soobadars asked to be taken to Govind Row's. Untajee acted the part of hypocrites ? What is the judgment the left them, and returned in about a quarter of an hour, world will pronounce upon the evidence I have brought saying lie was engaged. Again Untajee went out, and before you ? This—that it is morallyimpossible that the sent a boy to the perfumer's, to toll hint to tell the Sooha-• same man to whom these testimonies apply could be the dars to come again on Thursday. Th. Soobadar., went man hereafter described in the evidence accumulated to home, and reported all ; went again to the perfumer's ; destroy him. Here is evidence of the highest possible told that Untajee is at Waee (country); go to his house, character; which 'I beg leave to put against that which I and hear a different story ; cant find him. On the 30th shall presently refer to the evidence of British officers Lieutenant Stock sends Chunder Sing alone to find —Revenue Commissioners—four successive Rresidents— Untajee ; the Havildar succeeds ; they go to a retired several Governors—and the whole Court of Directors. place; Untajee says the Raja is downcast, in consequence This evidence extends over a period of nineteen years. of a letter from Sholapore ;_ consents to meet the It describes the Raja when seen by a British officer fur Soobadars. On the Ist of October they go to the the first time in the field of battle, as firm, courszeous, place of meeting ; no Untajee ; Chunder Sing dignified, and sincere. Then, yielding implicitly to the goes in search of him • ' finds him at the perfumer's ; advice of his early advisers—assisting them in their ar- sends a man for the Soobadars ; a conversation of rangements for the settlement of his Principality, and a most treasonable nature. They return and report. improving the condition of his subjects ; displaying October 7.—Untajee enticed into the lines ; seized ; good sense, sound judgment, and respectable acquire- Govind Row and the perfumer demanded from the Raja; ments; making most honourable mention of all his given up without demur ; Koosia Maloo recognised and English friends ;by you especially behind the bar (the seized. The Commissioners think the first meeting Directors), as remarlthble among the Princes of India, under the tree proved. They consider the incautious eminently . gifted pith the capacity to govern; full of revelations of Untajee, and the concealment of the public spirit and liberality ; scrupulously attentive to Soobadar suspicious. The Commissioners cannot ex the most minute affairs of business; frugal, careful, plain the former fact. The latter they deem not so (yet most liberal), free from debt, and of the best do- unaccountable. The meeting in camp on the 21st proved. mestic character ; a pattern of veracity ; devoted to They consider the interview at Govind Row's proved. Con the prosperity of his dominion; deeply interested in the Bider it pre-arranged with Govind Row (though there is no happiness of his people; firmly attached to the evidence but that of Untajee, whom they have declared as British Government; sincerely grateful for their utterly destitute of principle—a prevaricator and perjurer !) kindness, and, above all, in love with the English. There is roof that the meeting was secret,_ therefore the y say Such is the character of the dethroned Raja of Sattara. c w o e n v conceivee sti eiu t t o e r re y grooedoguedri:ose.etWweerb don ' telievecontteersutb-e Against the authorities I have adduced we have to place stance is correct ! lbeg p the Court y to mark the phraseology Appa Sahib, Ballajee Punt Nathoo, Seegolam Sing, and of the Report at this particular part-.4emember, the Commis- Goolja Missur, the menial and slipper-bearer Koosia missioners, in their letters of defence; express their desire to Maloo, the gang-robber Balkober Kelkur, the Brahmin see the Raja come out of the inquiry clean. They consider Untsjees and his nephew, the perfumer and brothel- the fact proved, that the Soobadars were taken to the front of keeper Pureshram. Certain it is, if you believe these, the Raja's palace, and twice recognised by him. There is you must abandon your previous opinions of the Raja, nothing to prove this, but the evidence of the Soobadars, who and send him a halter instead of a sword. However are already instructed to report to their officers ; and, if I have painful the conviction, you must believe that the Raja not read human nature in vain, were likely to desire to have was a monster of ingratitude, an incarnation of hypo- meet n hing u t o tt a l t ar ra p o t o e t e h n e .. t ) h 4 e tt r p r r e o t u r r e n d .. C 6 o o n o s s i i d d e e r r t t h h e e fo t u h r i rd criey, the basest of dissemblers, and the demon of fair- meeting,i i sought under the instructions of the superior officers, chief —yon must believe that his life was spent in weaving proved. ( This, also, was with Untajee.) Here the Com webs of intrigue—that he was incapable of one generous missioners kindly state that the perfumer's shop was probably feeling—in fact, that the world has not produced a man selected for ulterior proceedings, owing to its contiguity to more skilled in the arts of deception—more lost to every Govind Row's hou'e.—(Page 69 line 23.) They go on to say sense of honour—or more resolutely bent on effecting that they consider the meeting at Govind Row's house fully his own ruin in the prosecution of his wicked and proved. The evidence referred to is solely that of the Sooba traitorous designs. Sir (said Mr. Thompson, indig- dare, Pureshram, Coosia Maloo, and Untajee.—(See the first 'sandy), you laugh while I thus speak. Would that the to the fifth reasons assigned, page 69.) Suffer me here to eyes of the people of India—of the hundred millions draw your special attention to the manner in which the Report refers to this part et! the case. d a Th h ey . say— " With regard to whom the fortune of war have made your subjects, could the conversation evidence e e of t t: e i t s w i o nt o e u r:r t i s e e w o , ffi w e e p h rs av e e o o r n ro ly . be fixed on the proceedings of this Court, and the con- uponion whiche ev7lec duct of those whom I now address. Would that these borated e in some degree by that of the accomplice (Untajee), millions could mark the impatience, and ridicule, and but we have no hesitation in stating our belief that it was of scorn, with which , a man is treated in this house, when the same nature as that which occurred at the first interview, he pleads the cause of those millions, or of one of their and that the Dewan's designs must have been treasonable against most Illustrious Princes, whom you have unrighteously the British Government. When informed of the charges depiased.—(Hear, hear.) But your demeanour during preferred against hie,, Govind Row positively denied both the discussions like the present, will open the eyes of the interviews, and disclaimed all acquaintance with any native world, and hasten the period when the tremendous officer or seroy of the 23d Regiment When confrooted w th the native officers, the Bramin Untajee and his servant Coosia, which you so grossly abuse, will be either effec poaer although the Dewan still persisted in the above denials, his tually controlled, or altogether taken out of pm. countenance and manner underwent a 'change !! 1"—(1). 70.) hands. Be assured, however, that no derision The Commissioners are constrained to believe that. the inter shall prevent me from proceeding straitforward in the view at the palace took place, and that the 11..ja talked treason. discharge of my duty. I repeat what I have said. It New, let the Court mark the next parsgraph. They state is impossible to believe that the Raja of Sattara—the above they were constrained to believe—whom? Untajee and man who, down to the time when these testimonies end, the Soobadars. Not Govind Row, because his countenance and the machinations of his enemies begin to take effect changed. The Commissioners shall speak for themselves : commenced, was the confederate of the abandoned It would hive afforded us unboutubd ratisfaction to have been able to arriv d e t a o t a d i iffer c e r n e t d c e o n nclusien,but, altdhooiiugththwaet this are wretches who bore testimony against him. I would as soon believe that the heavens could fall as that the man n el o s ur e ela u r e e met g l i i v o e g t u o ll ok placcee,anwde that have ncd b who bad displayed, through nineteen years, the virtues object was of the which you yourselves have attributed, could suddenly same nature as these which had previously taken place at the Dewan's, and the following are the chief grounds of our belief." take to his councils the loathsome creatures who cog- M ar k th e s entence I have read, well. They were n t prepared biped to plot his ruin. —(Hear.) I now proceed to a to give " full credence." Yet, at the same time, they had no most important part of the subject.—(Loud cries of doubt ! What 1 withold their credence and dismiss their " Question, question.") Gentlemen may call, "Question, doubts! It amounts to saying—" Ido not believe the evidence, question," but I give them due notice that they whistle and yetlbelieveinthetac at anothertbutitwould give us unbounded to the winds. If you want y our time ; eat them our dinners, by all, satisfaction to be able to arrive conclusion 1" What think . 0 of this ? Let ate, however, fairly state the grou n d s they assign. They are in their own words, th ese: — means go and get them—take y digest them, and come hither again , and yo u will find Ist. We consider that the two interviews at the Dew an's me still upon my legs.—(Confusion.) Yes, Gentlemen, house have been corroborated, a n d ( as regar d s t h e native offi- I can assure you it will be so. Th ose who use the heels cers) we may almost say in a providential manner. (1) of their boots and their umbre llas to anno y me exert 2d. We do not consid e r ourse l ves at liberty to reject - in themselves in vain. I will be heard, and I will foto a statement proceeding from untainted witnesses (2) thus be heard in silence too. Here I stand for jus- corroborated. We cannot believe one part of their evidence, Lice. Call me factious if you please ; my con- and disbelieve altogether another part; this latter part also science accuses me not. It is not to serve the ends of being the most important of the whole of the transaction de faction, that through three sleepless nights I have de- posed to by them. (3) voted myself to the patient investigation of your own " 3 d. As on the first interview at the Dewan's house no dis papers. It is n ot to g ratif y the love of faction that I guise was considered necessary, none would have been thought have come here to -da y in a s t a te of health the most requisite at the second meeting, on the supposition that the weak Dewan was only to be met. and disqualifying. It is not to annoy you that I " 4th. In addition to the evidence on oath of the two native continue standing in your presence with scarcely enough officers, to the fact of the interview having really occurred!, of physical strength to sustain me. Perish faction ! t Let justice be done. But, though you should do no jus- m li a e n ir n e e v r i . dence is confirmed by the Brahmin in a very remarkable tice to the Baja you Bkall do justice to me, in spite of "sth. The account of the interview given by the native yourselves. You may call me rude and ungentlemanly; officers, and more particularly on their cross-examination, with lie it so Let the world judge between Ns. Let me one or tvrci exceptions, corresponds in so remarkable a manner, now call your attention to the Commission sent to 154 - as leads to the conviction they are narrating a real scene." tara to investigate and report upon a conspiracy alleged I) hi Ts refers to the discovery and seizure of the slipper. to have been formed at Sattara and other places, with bearer, CoQsia Melon. (2) " Untainted witnesses," One, the man who had per the view of seducing the native troops front their alio- jured himself at an interview in the street with a strange?; the giance, and ultimately of subverting the British power other, 1.1. man, Goolja Missur, who did not engage in the plot in India (p. 64). The sixth paragraph purports to give until he did it at the bidding of the officer, Lieut. Stock, and a general outline of the case. On the 11th of July, 1836, then was avowedly palmed off as a confidential and trustworthy a Soobadar of the 23d IL 1., named Seegoolam Sing, is friend, when, in tact, he was a spy, acting under orders, and accosted in Sauttra ? The Brahmin Untajee. throughout playing the detestable part of a gm oss deceiver. 'Here is the first woe, and the first actors in this event- Untainted ! fcl drama. In :the streets of Sattara two men meet— (3.) This, one would naturally suppose, would be the ;Art they strangers to,each other—a native soldier, a purdasee (a would have been most reluctant to find established, t if we be straller), and Untajee, of whom I shall say no more lieve it would have t given them nnu b t ou n n o ded ou s s a m tis uc a . c i t a to s n e t.o s have ut i efil nvTve l at pres'ent, than that he is described by the Commsision- d t a n d e iff u er iif co i n h c e lus t rn a . But, s , eeirls i o have ! appenairepd to cis in Or 72 to be a man of the most worthless and unprincipled character; that on his examination he those who framed g the Report, that that was a special reason for rec receiving the evidence. Mark the singu l a r words i n the first wn- guilty of doe grossest prevarication and deceit'; and lin e .'They are constrained to believe that the interview at the in page 76 the Commissioners say that "No punish- DeWan's took places-why ? Because they do not consider ment could exceed the measure of lila guilt." What themselves at libert) to rejeci in tote the evidence of their happens ? The Bramin binds his new found .friert4 Jly s " untainted" witnesses. And, again, because they cannot be- ' - • beer. oee pa, t of heir eveleiice. and 411-li , litre eatogeibil, other there•tree;. itiee tesoive to set - mem tee .eleele as eieo, a m re eseecially that e tech refers to the- gullt'uf the Brae t ee plain Engli s h of thi s appe a rs to be : —Had the evidence of tee, men referr e d only to unimportant matters, me might r ot !s o felt ourselves constr a in e d to rceive it ; but. as it, refere e° o the gent or innocence of a Prince, who, for eighteen had maintain e d a n in , sullied reeutation, aed bait been gel ' e e as a model to th e P rinces o f Ind a—as it was 'likely to his continuance o n th e throee—as beieving it would inere'o lead to his di glace and ruin—therefore, though it would te, given us unbounded sa ti s f ac ti on to have come to a eoric'is conclusion, we could not reject in tote evidenceo the meet important part of the whole transeeie, I shall be ready to hear any other 0 1 )4 ' t Y The Commissioners undertake to explain the reas W o ol disguise was assumed. It appears to me that there is e e ambiguity here. The Raja was to be me t—therefet . :i f oi were to be disguised. The Commissioners do not conde- et l to tell us why. In all the other proceedings there had e e t remarkable want of caution. The Raja had made sil be 7, 0 4 them in front of his palace—one witness says they att ra e i the attention of all assembled—promised them a (1; 0 ° 1. 0 garden ; but now, though the interview was after sunset, /le must needs be muffled up in woollen-boated cloaks., r e Commissioners here kindly take it in charge to think roe/ witnesses, and wherever they are at fault, aid them en_ i; or own superior intellects, though it would have g i v en then' bounded satisfaction to have come to an opposite eo ne : ' is! 4th Paragraph. The evidetice is confirieed by Untae, t oe i very remarkable manner. lentejee ! The '6 pr evarie bie the " perjurer," the man on %%horn it was "he r ° t o, place reliance," who is " totally undeserving of c• ns ide e 9 , or the " worthless and unprincip ed ' villain, for whom en 40$ sure of punishment could be too great." UntajeebeA c'e this evidence, in a very remarkable manner. It weal" ga t given us unbounded satisfaction to have believed the, err innocent—but, although we are not disposed to give fin,ebee dence, and although Utitajee is the impersonation of fah e i• deceit, and villany, yet as his evidence confirms in a re- ve able manner the evidence of the sepoys, we deem we additional reason on that account to receive. it, a nd "eie nounce the Raja guilty I 11 hat think you of logic l ike n e d sth paragraph. 'fine account of the Soobadars corresr get a remarkable manner, " with one or two exceptions... bee are four accomplices, influenced, as I verily believe , o t i ose! revenge or hope of reward, or both, and because, their er "with one or two exceptions," it is " provideetld _O l l, "very remarkable," and " so remarkable !" S ir r ' l oo strikes me as remarkably remarkable. Suppose the Inteof had taken place, would it have been remarkable that 10 0 9 counts of those who were present should correspond m er e not here anticipate the proceedings of the Commission- s . 0 „e, . pause to remark upon the language of the Consan'sl to' This interview was ultimately sought with earneette•,oo4 importunity, and even reproaches, by the Soobadars, I under the instructions of their officers. They rel'el'e their return They gave their depositions in the In.ree They knew that their meeting with the Raja was the c reo f stance most important. What was there, then, in the e e l o tr stances of the case calculated to lead to even ‘• one or t : e t o ceptions." Don't fail to notice that these exceptions "00 explained. You are left in ignorance of their nature, eel are passed over as trifling. The conviction is produce: l l3 ' a , minds of the Commissioners, that it is a "real scene' I ,00 4 scribe. What, if I can show you that these e xcepli° l '.' i ject o most important—that they completely destroy the whole e ` ro of these Soobadars that their testimony is corerediete, irreconcilable on points of the simplest, yet most kind ; and those likely to make the deepest imere''elle natives of India? I beseech you to sit in jurigtneetd !tie ' =prej=prejudiced and impartial minds, and not 'to •be le se e r , udiced conclusion that the evidence itself 'does no t lot' These exceptions, Sir, refer to dates, on which subject t eeee discrepancies inv riving a difference of 63 days. ,bee t :, the meeting with the Raja was up stein or down —" e h , 0' was-alone or in company—whether the pawn he gave ti the pawn used at the palace, or of a totally differeetwe] whether he gave it the officers himself or it was give n ke e one else—whether the Raja wore a turbanornot--tir'bee'i the exceptions which are thus lightly pas s ed over, but . do tt any court in England, would at once deprive the eecele°, the slightest degree of worth or credibility. No tee tieei in this country going into a house and having an twisters ti under the most ordinary circumstances, could so eetntq op ell other as did these same native officers. The next t ot , t e passage in the Report is worthy of your special att en h ot is this :—" The delay which occurred in bringing r J meeting with his Highness suggests the following reel, eerlog Ist. That on the 31st July his Highness had no t ' t cl i j eq to the meeting; 211. That he intermediately beca me a n; 5 0 of the Brahmin, aided by the influence of his PI; tee That the Brahmin was urged to bring about the mee'n.eire native officers, acting under the orders of their OP:, tb I beseech you to bestow your calmest considerati on i o s 4 o particulars. Go back to page 66 of this blue book. „. p i t! there find—" On the 31st of July the Brahmin ea,T;,;e, bee n lines, and informed the Soobadars that he had been di .s the Dewan and the Raja to bring them in disguise to h e c es'e ness, and that the following Friday (sth August) ,e, to re ,/ pointed for the interview." Now let me entreat P),,,;i100' with equal care the paragraph ehich immediately . 0; f; " The Brahmin, however, did not return tor many dg 'ece‘ e ; during the month of August only one meeting occurre fo a r be i ,, i t the parties, when the Soobadars reproached Untaiee e violated his promise, and he accused himself aerea,erae heavy rains, adding that the Raja had been mush Bias e ise , e account of the death of a Vakeel, who had arrived on '0 from Oodeeponr." When does the a'leged intereiee place ? On the 6th of September, thirty-t,dtb 111 after this meeting on the 31sf of Jule, a n du I four slays after the appointed time. S'll at ' 0 ,11 P r; Commissioners say in reference to this? Th e e' of c t ee 1 1 , 0 claim their belief that the Raja was utterly ignorantlet eeedings of the atrocious demi-devil Uetajee• Ma t of °pt are told, and commanded to believe, that on the s t thirty.nine day:, befere this alleged interview, th i e3; % . ` t ,', e utli e ; house of Govind Row, and that the same evenineensee ee l. % • to the Raja's palace, and there whispered in t he li s kle f t e e which the Raja turned round, received the salee c ' ee ;, which badars, and twice returned their salutations he ,s]e on „e deli present witnessed ; and yet these same C;oirnts " it ' is i m pose rately tell you in the preceding paragraph, th f a the pee eeedie 4/ to conceive that Untajee was at any stage nst the 11 in league or cellusion with the Soobadars g t t his • What yeti. conceptions may be I cannot tell ; but - bleeds.: stage, of the inquiry lam free to confess my heart ee; sae have described ; pears entangled in the meshes of one of the most dialeiee,o spiracles, from which no efforts are made to extricat e cry' English functionaries, who, on tee contrary, emploY to draw the net around him, while they profess that ? t e e at have given them unbounded satisfaction to have ae rl ! e joi, conviction of his innocence. What do ;the Ccor i- eili e next say? "Between the 31st of July and ulethese; September the Raja became the dupe of the d eo ~i aided by the influence of the Dewan. Here Itaja's innocence is asserted down to a certelueveo • He became the dupe of the Brahmin, aided by the I n che r; s . o . the Deccan." Host extraordinary! If in his hear t he and hat long cherished the feelings and designs imenteed Re c d how could he be the dupe of the Brahmin and Goeier es ed o , The charge sought to be established is, that the 1' 2 .0' etas!: overthrow the English. That it was his ambition silo,. mainspring; yet, now we are told that he was th e . 1 . tie c k J mi erable and abandoned Brahmin, and his cour tie ee rieo Row. But did it never occur to them, that the not% is wretch who is said to be the ensnarer of his flighne9o falsely state that he had done so? Las 1 this see‘ ns in er'el been absent from their minds. Sir, this is a Ines t ier eid part of the inquiry, This charge is mixed with et e oe isue have been told that the Raja was, for twelve years, , te t t o t with the Viceroys of Goa ; that it was his own ainbitto,,eepoj that led to all the mischief; that others were but the tv re A , servile agents arid instruments he employed ; that Ge hl been a settled purpose in his mind to overthrow our e ; $ ment, and that this intrigue with the native „feer s i bis sl Of his long-concocted plan. Have you no heard all ie rei and again ? Have not Grant Duff, and General others, been quoted to show this? But now he is th e t lyingethieving, mendicant Brahmin. But listen to e lte . , ee .o l " The Bramin was urged to bring about the routine el, 0 0) , tive officers, acting under the orders of their superi ors, of think you of this revelation of the plot? Now th en e' travelling the breadth of a hair from she content' , et t he d pages of the Report, how stands the fact ? lin s ZellT min Untajee meets a Soobadar and reveals the p retene e ve, of the Raja . of Sattara. The whole is a lie. C o nies , ell? Soobadar takes a false oath, and proves himself : se 19 Confessed. The Adjutant commands Goolja 1 1 ' s ce efflell that most hated of all parts—the part of a spy. bse qr They go into Sattara, and see the Raja, and are e a told he is pleased with them and will give them a die'riar fy front beginning to end. Lien one, and liars all. vo t e true man is their victim. They meet at the house of t 'Ve e e keeper, named Pureshram, the nephew of the Demon! 0 , A il 1 his is in obedience to the instruction! of sueenet! have entered into the plot. Tae Raja still inneee o darkness. th e ` They are told :they are to meet the Raja en ce ed? August. Another lie. The Brahmin absents lil tonnd—is reproached—invents excuses, and finally O e ' o rt o s of eeptember. Another lie. On the 14th, 00 e th t , that the Raja is much pleased with them, and will gi° eity dinner in a garden. The Rija, who they visited there asks them to dinner. Gentlemen, this is the 0 . 0? to the point we have now reached. What e t e el think of it ? What is your opinion foec" t ee P.e° • the evidence supplied in the Report itself Do ne t , t his ,p' fall fromour eyes even now ? See you not that ieetsfe infernal plot? Do you not burn with indignation 7-j a e l d io branded blackguards who are plotting he ruin.of the e t d Baja is ail the while in hi. enlace, as ignorant of they o,lot, contrivances, as you are of what is now palace of Samara, where the deep-dyed, self-convie te es c es APlia Sahib, is revelling in the plural , rto which ee l helped him. See yet not these blooehouads on • it, e nd' hituting down their royal game ? Yes, eon must se e ere OY ,' then the part of henest men. lie just, and t ear tie ing to the account of the Commissioners th e eense"" t eice4 in the following order :-1. Untajee, th e di sse mbler , le ei e e ' cater, and perjurer • 2. Segoolam Si ng , who takes a f' erse l on the instant ; 3 Chunder Sing, who plays the 1 ,314 0: h 0e adjutant ;4. Goolja Missar, who plays the part of °prey The Dewan (as b e i s ca ll e d) G ov i nd R ow, who thing ; 6. The p er f umer an d procurer o f d anc ing gi n e ee'nreee ram. Here y ou h ave i t — p l ot an d c o u n te r -plot--t"e e ive Untajee and PUreshram, leis nephew, versus the n hieie? English officers—but all, versus the tlaja—the Raj a et ch ° , innocent, ignorant, unsu peciing—while these vile wr ote ,f contriving his ruin, and urging one another on to P er e 0 117 greater celerity, the work on hand. he conduct os vat ft ! parties fills me with disgust. Why was not the e i ne ear seized, and the whole thing blown up at once 700 effort—eras made to ripen the plot, and ruin the B a i l. / port then p theroceeds as follows : P .lf .6 consider the subsequent interviews betwe en o f `el officers and the Brahmin, on the 14th, 29th, and 36thith) !ember and the Ist of October, clearly proved; but, et etr e e exceptions, we consider the conversations of no neenelele oe as far as the Brahmin is concerned, because we er perte proof that what he stated was authorised by any e t e , th i ei beyond the presumption arising from the proved i l he eo had been previously employed as an agent by his 1 1 g t o the Dewan. • •'f he exception we allude to is highly ; m arr—.nt•, tasy r interview of the Ist of October tine te ra hminetate',,e Highness was downcast, in consequence of the rev' Ichotlyte letter from Mr. Hand, at Sholapore, inquiring wht' t eiso asses existed at Sahara. Availing ourselves of th,0034 deemed caiftio itH Hand, , d o u t t y t h t.; 2 acl i, d o r r ess c. r i t:t ti ef d r i o e g r at i t i i e re t s m ci e n a, t l ; ll° o * ,,i o to ili . ),,,i t , a p b e o n u d t ix a F m w o il u l t be found that ofgeer'. nil II acknovde' l f"'' litcfinkt, he was' vt-ritii;:tto Ralla Sahli' , r oe having heard 1 ta a re.". ---- some' disturbances likely to 041;1 i twoen the Raja and the Government, ' he trusted t er o no foundation for the repors, but that as a fiii-nd he 104 i t' this to him.' l/0 s t the o f the knowled g eaaffair letterWe think it very probable that Captain /Lino's ,e excited a suspicion at Sat tara that the eonspii acy ha . di il o' of his Highne a ss ir , ( of the Brahmin to meet the native officers ts)Ward'' the :cei r a ) i f snde G as u si v ely e n r ha n ic, m ticto e tu n e t no , :, : i n r :Ler v i inia, t i t r e a ; :i 3 b. ck eihs ei i ; b : r i oe ci o : , forces; and as Calittairt Hand's replies are dated the it . ' t e tie° tolter, the letter he addressed to, Balla Sah.b must 1 1 : 0 %,,r0i Written ;bent the time alluded to in the Brahmin's _;: t o tine with the native officers. It therefore follows: fi q e c ie the veracity of the native officers is proved in one of ...‘,' bon' cumstances they relate ; second, that intercourse ands ~,ect, nication existed between the Brahm in and soii e ntle ch,ai, sac' with the palace, othervrise how coul d he haCP gilitcd t a letter had been received," wit 0f; ha, tq no thi tio WI (le mi Ila It eel asi Col th( It( It HE GE %Vo Hf rei tna lin ne «'a asl kn hip ISL A no (h iPl i Si • }if of 11 sic th w i rn C lii ni Cr, in 14 do i svi, in( i '~~~~.: a~ . 14 ' t: ' ! , 'Os ft 1. •