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LONDON, THURSDAY, JU L Y 15, 1841.

THE RAJA OF SATTAItA.

INDIA HOUSE.

Yesterda , Special General Court of the Proprietors
of India St f. was held at their House in leadenhall-
street, for purpOse of considering the case of the ex-
llaa of Sattara.

George Lyall, Esq., INT.P., the Chairman, accompa-
nied by most of the Thrector, entered the Court at
twelve o'clock, when the minutes of the last Court were
and confirmed.

The CHAIRMAN having intimated the special nature
of the business, called upon Mr. Lewis. but
Mr. POYNDER begged to put a question to the Chair-
man before the business was proceeded with.—(Cries of
" No, no.") He wished to know whether the Directors
had received any answer to the despatch of the 3d March.
The CHAIRMAN said that was a Special Court, and it
was irregular to discuss any other matter.
Mr. 'POYNDER said a simple ansiver to his simple
question would not have occupied so much time. He was
content, however, as he, understood that it would be
competent for him to renew the question after the busi-
ness of the day had been gone through.
I,l:lv's then rose to move " That, it appears from
the papers laid before the Court of Proprietors in the
case of the Baja of Sattara, that his Highnest" was ac-
cused of treasonable designs against the British Govern-

ment, upon ex parte, anonymous, anti contradictory
statements, without his having an opportunity. of de-
fending himself : That, he was called upon to sign a do-
cument admitting his guilt, as the condition of being
continued on his Throne : That, on his refuSing to 'ac-
cede to this. extraordinary and degrading proposal—
while asserting his innocence, and requesting to be in-
formed' of the charges against him, and the names of his
accusers—he was suddenly, at midnight, removed from
his Palace by a military force—deprived of his property
—and sent a prisoner to Benares : That, such -a course
Oc proceeding must have the effect of destroying the
confidence of .the Nativo Princes of India, in the justice
and honour of the British Government ; and, therefore,
this Court recommends to the Court of Direc:ors, that a
full and'fair investigation of the accusations against the
Raja be forthwith instituted, by an impartial Committee
to be appointed for that purpose ; and, in the event of
the accusations not being substantiated, that the Raja
be restored to that Throne which, according to the re•
corded-opinion of the Court of Directors, he had for so
many years adorned, by a course of conduct calculated
to promote the prosperity of his dominions, and the happi-
ness of his people.' ' Before proceeding to argue the case
he had to lay before the Court, lie begged to ask the
Chairman whether the Court of Directors had received
any communication on the subject from the Board of Con-
trol. and, if so, would it be read to the Court.

The CITAIRMAN—No, We lure received no communi-
cation.

Mr. LEWIS, in bringing the question relating to the
treatment of the Raja of Sattara before the Court, said
he was anxious to assure them that he did not wish to
impute motives to any one, nor in any manner to assail
private character ; he considered the question as one of
public policy upon a measure which vitally concerned
the character of the Indian Government. Many indivi-
duals had been connected with the transaction, and if
their conduct in it was unjust, harsh, or at variance with
Christian policy, it was then not only the privilege of the
Proprietors, hut it was their-bounden duty, to characte-
rise such conduct in such a manner as it seemed to them
to deserve; it was their duty to scrutinize -the conduct of
such individuals; to make it the subject of remark, and,
if necessary, to make it the subject of animadver-
sion. On a former day he had stated his inten-
tion of arraigning the Government of India be-
fore public opinion, for their harsh and oppressive
treatment of the ex-Raja of Satara. They had brought
three distinct charges against the Raja—first, that the
Raja had been guilty of an attempt to seduce some Sepoys
from their allegiance to the English ; second, that he
had carried on a treasonable correspondence with the ex-
Raja of Nagpore ; and thirdly, that he had carried on
a treasonable correspondence with the Portuguese Go-
vernor of Goa. Now, with reference to the first
charge, it appeared to him the evidence of the Sepoys was
not at all conclusive; it was not supported, it did not ap-
pear that there was anything in it which connected the
Raja with it even if it had ever been done. The Brah-
min, who appeared to have been the chief mover in the
affair, admitted in his cross-examination that the whole
affair was a conspiracy which had been entirely concocted
by himself for the purpose of revenging himself upon the
Raja. It was admitted, indeed it was proved in the
plainest manner, that there existed in the minds of the
Sepoys much ill-feeling towards the Raja, because some
time previously he had given orders for the removal and
consequent destruction of their huts. In the evidence of
Captain Stock, he expressly said that the Sepoys
expressed great satisfaction at the death of some
of the Raja's horses and cattle on that Around, and from
the same evidence it appeared that the Brahmin held out
some threats towards the Raja, and said lie would soon
see. the result of his conduct. The whole order of the
Brahmins entertained towards the Raja the most intense
hatred—that was shown by the evidence of a Proprietor,
whom he was - happy -to •see on the other side of
.the
Bar.—(Hear, hear.) General Robertson on a former oc-
casion said It may help the Court to come to a de-
cisionon the question now before it, to state that I can
assert, of my own knowledge, that the Raja had many
reckless and influential enemies ; and particularly that
he had incurred the enmity of the Brahmins ; and as it
was on religious grounds that their enmity was founded,
their hostility partook of all that deadly hatred which is
so often mixed up in polemical disputes. I may add
also, that there are no persons so unscrupulous as Brah-
mins when they have ft Brahminical object to carry.
Every thing which is likely to promote their views,
however unprincipled, is then resorted to, for they think
that, in such a cause, the end hallows the means.. So
strong were the impressions which I entertained in re-
gard -to the enmity of the Brahmins towards his High-
ness, that in my last Report to the Government, on
leaving Sattara, I thought it proper pointedly to advert
to the subject, and the following is what I then said
On my taking leave of his Highness at Maholee, he
expressed his gratitude and attachment to the British
power in terms of sincerity that cannot be questioned ;
and after I had bidden him adieu, he recalled me to re-
peat them and to impress them more strongly on my
memory, as well to request :hat I would not only assure
the Right Honourable the Governor in Council of his
feelings, but also state them to the Honourable Mr.
Elphinstone in England ; and his last words were—' I
have no friend but the English Government, and my
sole reliance is on it. I have many enemies—this you
know—but no friends but the English.' I believe,
among his many enemies, his Highness considers the
Brahmin tribe as the most numerous and most virulent
and influential. Setting aside the recollection of the dis-
cussions that have taken place on points of religion, I
may state that, upon political grounds, there exists much
jealousy and on the part of that race to his High-
ness, merely because his restoration to the possession of
that small' share of power and importance which he now
enjoys, results from the political overthroW of the Brah-
min power. Many of that tribe still retain considerable
territories and revenues in his Highness's vicinity, and
though most of•them had, from time to time, feuds with
the late Paishwa, still, as they owed all their original
importance to the Paishwas subsequent to the usurpations
of the Raja's ancestors, it is certain that they have viewed
with regret what has been done for him ; not only be-
cafise they think his Highness must look upon them with
disfavour, as deriving their wealth from the misfortunes
of his ancestors, but also as belonging to that class
through whose instrumentality these misfortunes were
experienced ; and that his Highness entertains these
feelings, and also that they influence him in rendering
him as neutral as possible in the differences between the
Purvoes and the Brahmins, seems very probable. How-
ever this may be, his Highness has too much good sense
to make any display of his feelings, in the little inter-
course which he has with his Brahmin neighbours, and
in this he has an advantage over them, for they do not
equally observe the courtesy that is due to him on such
occasions ; and, as members of.the Brahmin caste, they,
and more especially Chinaman Row, have been most
active in exciting a spirit of opposition in their tribe to
his Highness, and in aiding and supporting those who
carry it on. Manifestoes describing him as an enemy to
the Hindoo faith have emanated from them, and been
dispersed all over the Deccan and Hindoostan, to which
his Highness has never condescended to offer any reply."
In fact, the Raja had many enemies and no friend, ex-
cept the English, and the Court would at once see the
motives and springs of the conspiracy against him. They
saw the ill feeling which existed in the breasts of the
Sepoys on the one hand, while, on the other, they
had the confession of the Brahmin, the. chief, nay, the
sole author of the conspiracy A Commission of In-
quiry was instituted. They prosecuted their inquiries,
and they made their Report, in which they stated it as
their opinion that the Raja was guilty of the charges pre-
ferred against him ; but how they arrived at that opinion
was to him most marvellous. He could not conceive
how they came to such a conclusion. However, it was
sonic consolation, under these circumstances, to find that
one of the Commissioners had the manliness to say,
" That no act of my life I regret so much as having
signed the Commission without appending my protest."
It was some consolation to find Mr. Shakespeare, a Com-
missioner, saying—.
" I cannot agree with the Bombay Government, that
it is expedient to adopt a middle course in this ease.
" If the Baja is guilty, he is guilty of an offence with
which there should be no compromise. The Bombay
Government convict the Ruja of attempting to corrupt
the fidelity of our troops, and of •plotting the subver-
sion of our rule (to say nothing of an item in the plot,
according to the Brahmin's account, that the European
troops were to be got rid of by bribing the bakers to
poison their bread), and yet propose to leave him in the
possession of power to renew these attempts, whenever
his plans may be better organized than they were on
the late occasion. .
" Fur my part, I am not satisfied with the evidence
against the Raja, and would therefore acquit him alto-
gether, instead of adopting the half-measure which, in
my humble judgment, even supposing him to be guilty,
is neither reconcilable with public justice nor with sound
policy. It is, no doubt, difficult to divest the affair of all
suspicion ; but when we reflect on the utter want of
basis (as far as we yet know) on which the plot could
have been founded, the improbable manner in which the
Brahtnin (Untajee) commenced his seduction of the
Soobadars, the total unworthinesS of his evidenCe, the
discrepancies between the stories first told by the booba-

Bars and their subsequent depositions before the Com-
missioners, and the absurd terms in which the Raja is
said to have announced to- the Soobadars the signs of
coming events, I confess I look in vin for any thing
tangible or solid, in the shape of proof, for my mind to
rest upon."
There was some consolation also in the fact that the
grounds and reasons stated by the Commissioners as
those upon which they had made up their minds as to
the guilt of the Raja were stated in their report. . Hon.
Proprietors would read diem, and then they would won-
der at the conclusion to• which they had come. That
Report, and the proceedings of the Commission, were
transmitted to the Governor-General, and his opinion
upon them elicited—it was one of unqualified disapproba-
tion. Let us look at what his Lordships aid. In his let-
ter of the 2d October, 1837, he says—
. "1. Sir —I am desired by the Right Honourable the
Governor-General of India in Council to acknowledge
the receipt of your several letters, dated the 30th
August, and Ist and 4th ultimo, together with their
respective enclosures, relative to intrigues at Sattara.
"2. Copies of the letters to your address, dated the 7th,
21st, and 31st of July, referred to in the Acting Resi-
dent's letter of the 12th ultimo have not been furnished
to the Governor-General in Council ; but, judging from
the evidence which accompanied your communication-
now acknowledged, his Lordship in Council has no hesi-
tation in stating that his worst apprehensions, as ex-
pressed in the concluding paragraph of my letter to your
address, dated the 7th August, as to the ' danger of be-
coming involved in an indefinite and inconclusive in-
quiry,' have every appearance of being fully realized.
mightrle:dizeti.
"3. The Governor-General in Council had mainly re-
lied oa the result .of the investigation wbe
instituted, consequent on the alleged petition of
the Dewan's mother, fkm. a SOhl tiN444,:allY doubts which
might be entertained as to the accuracy of the conclu-
sions formed by the Commission on the occasion of the
previous inquiry, and for something more of intelligible
i precision in ts results. By the Report of the Commis-
sion, the Raja of Satan), was left suojeet to the imputa-
tion of every shade of guilt, from that of lending him-
self to the machinations of the evil-disposed, under the
influence of discontent and partial insanity, and irritated
by supposed ill-usage, up to that of an extensive treason,
in a great degree matured, and having for its object the
entire overthrow of. the British power in India. Much
of the evidence by which even this imperfect result
was obtained was uncertain and unsatisfactory ; and
whilst his Lordship in Council was willing to place
confidence in the judgment of the Commission, he
felt that the case was incomplete, and that to justify the
Government in any strong and final measure further
information was absolutely necessary. But from all the
papers which have since come before him, he has seen in-
creased.reason to doubt whether any certain grounds
of action can possibly be obtained amidst the intrigues,.
the. personal animosities, and the exaggerated rumours
of all descriptions, by which the investigation into the
petty and *cure details of the supposed treasonable
proceedings of the Raja has been surrounded and em-
barrassed.

" 4. The evidence relative to the alleged intercourse of
the Raja of Sattara with the ex-Raja of Nagpore, na
detailed in the documents which accompanied ' your
letter of the Ist ult., is, in the opinion of his Lordship in
Council, in the higheit degree suspicious. The alleged
communication between Yellojee Bappoo and the ex-
Raja of Nagpore is admitted to have originated in some
domestic concern. The evidence of that individual and
his servant are full of discrepancies ; and it was only
after repeated cross-examinations that they were induced
to implicate the Raja of Sattara as having any know-
ledge of the communications. It is remarkable that
Yellojee is represented as having been the person
through whose means the intercourse between the Raja
of Sattara and the ex-Rgja of Nagpore was first act on
foot ; and yet the two witnesses, Abba Mareek and his
servant
.Wittoo, deposed that the latter was sent to
Joudpore to ask whether Yellojee Bappoo sent people
there.
5. The Governor-General in Council sees little or I
nothing in the evidence recorded in the documents
which accompanied your letter of the 4th nit. to incul-
pate the Raja. There is no direct evidence against his
Highness of any kind, as regards the supposed intrigue
with the Hubshee, save that. the Hubshee s Vakeel, who
was a relative of Bulwunt Row Chitnavees, was intro-
duced to his Highness ; that the Raja read a letter and
afterwards threw it into the fire, and that he received
present of cocoa-nuts from Bulwunt Row Chetnavees.
Against the last-named individual no criminality is esta-
blished. There is nothing of a treasonable nature in
the paper found concealed in the doll, and if there was,
evidence has been given to prove that he (the Chitin.-
yen) was not the author of its contents. His Lordship
in Council, of course, attaches no weight to the unsup-
ported rumours of intrigues in all directions, alluded to
by the witnesses whose depositions accompanied your
letter of the 4th ult. His Lordship in Council observes,
thatahe-expressiona-trOtained in_tha, sixth ,paragraph of
your letter to the Acting ReSiitiajt, that the witness
Wittul Row Parisnees saw himsblf poshak (clothes),
`and a sword sent to the Raja from the Hubstiee,',would
appear to imply more than was actually stated by the
witness, as his Lordship in Council cannot discover that
Wittul Row asserted he saw the things in question ac-
tually sent to the Raja.
" 6. As for the alleged combinations with the Portu-
guese, and with Arabia, alluded to in the documents
which accompanied your letter of the 31st ultimo, the
Governor-General in Council could not but regard such
plots (even had the accounts which had been furnished
of them seemed less improbable than they do), to be too
extravagant to be entertained for a moment by any person
in his senses ; while it appears from the report of the
Commission that the Raja of Sattara, is by no means
deficient in understanding. - . • • • •
" 7, The Acting Resident, in the ninth paragraph of
his letter to your address dated the 12th ultimo, observes,
the time necessary to bring these proceedings to a close
will necessarily be prolonged. And with reference to
this declaration, to the length of time which has already
elapsed since this investigation commenced, and to the
excitement and alarm which inquiries so extended and
protracted must necessarily occasion, I am desired to
repeat the suggestion contained in the concluding para-
graph of my letter, dated the 7th August, and yet more
strongly
.to urge-the inconvenience and uncertainty of
these proceedings, and the absolute necessity of bring-
ing them to an early termination. In the hopelessness
that all further evidence will be otherwise than incon-
clusive, and looking to the utmost degree of criminality,
which in any view of the testimony before the Commis-
sion may be regarded its clearly and absolutely esta-
blished, looking, too, to the interval which has since
elapsed in inquiries leading- to no further definite and
important disclosures, his Lordship in Council would
gladly find that the Right Hon. the Governor in Coun-
cil is disposed to concur with him in opinion, and would
close the proceedings ; apprising the Raja that, although
several suspicious circumstances ,regarding his highness
have been elicited during the progress of this inquiry,
yet the British Government is unwilling, without the
clearest proof of guilt, to condemn any of its allies, especi-
ally one who has been so pre-eminently the object of its,
favour and generosity ; that further investigation is
deemed inexpedient with reference, to the general incon-
venience it creates ; and that the Right lion. • the Go-;
vernor in Council is therefore pleased to close the • in-
quiry, with the expression of his hops-that the Raja will
so conduct himself 6a- the future as to avoid the predica-
ment (no less painful to the British Government than to
his Highness) in which he has recently been placed.
"8. As regards the Dewan, who is now understood to
be in confinement at Alunednuggur, his Lordship in
Council observes, that if the suggestion contained in this
letter should be adopted, the-liberation of the individual
in question will probably, follow the cessation of further
inquiry into the conduct of the
" I have the honour, &c..
(Signed) "W. 11. MACNALTGIITEN,
"Secretary to the Government of India.
" Fort William, October 2, 1837."

, and subsisting on his benevolence. This was
the man with whom it was alleged the Raja was corres-
ponding treasonably with. Now, what were the facts ?
It appeared that, between 1832 and 1836, there
had been a correspondence between two persons in
the respective countries, but it was entirely of a private
nature, and altogether unconnected with politics. The
charge made against him was, that he wrote to the ex-
Raja, stating that he had still two years and a half to
collect troops to drive out the English from India ;
the Russians were coming by Constantinople, and if he
had any interest with the Turks he was to use it, and,
at the same time, he was to be at liberty to mention
his (the Raja's) name. It was too ridiculous for any
one to put credence in, and if true, could only be ac-
counted for by supposing the Raja to be insane. The
Commissioners, however, proved that such was not the
case, for they gave bim great credit for his ability and
promptitude in business. Even the Governor-General
appeared to acquit the Raja upon the second charge.
-The third charge made against him was, that he had
been guilty of carrying on a treasonable correspondence
with the Portuguese Governor of Goa. Now, it was to
be borne in mind that Portugal was in close alliance
with England during the whole of the . time the corre-
spondence was alleged to have been carried on. What
were the facts of the case ? It-was said that this trea-
sonable correspondence bad been continued for twelve
years. A Brahmin was introduced to the Raja ; he had
been strongly recommended to him, but there was not the
slightest evidence to show that he had ever employed him.
It was obvious that the whole , case turned upon. those
papers. But was the agency of Nago Deorao proved?
Was he proved to be the servant of the Raja of Sattara?
Why it was shown in evidence that the only interviews
he had had with the Raja during twelve years were
three ; and it was also distinctly shown that Nago
Deorao was acting as the .agent of another party. But
suppose he was the agent of Raja of Sattara, it must.
be shown that the Raja was acquainted with the purport •
of these letters, and that had not been done. It was
stated that these were the original letters which had
passed between the Raja of Sattara and Don Manoel,
the Governor of Goa., and they were found in the pos-
session of Nago Deorao. But was it possible that the
Raja would permit the individual to write whatever let-
ters lie liked to the Governor of Goa ? Again, let
thain consider the nature of these letters. They were
to the effect that the Governor of Goa should induce the
Queen of Portugal to send 30,000 men to drive the
English out, and take possession of Hindostan, and then
that the empire should be divided between the
Raja of Sattara and the Portuguese Government.
—(Hear, hear, hear.) The very circumstance of
the Portuguese Government being in alliance with. the
British Government, would lead any man of common
sense to treat that proposition as absurd.—(Hear, hear.)
-These were the charges which it was supposed the Raja
was guilty of, and these were the wild, vidonary, and
absurd circumstances which they now brought forward
and supported. It was his intention to conclude with a
motion that the Court of Directors would consent to a full
and fair investigation of all the circumstances, and allow
the Raja an opportunity of defending himself from the
charges that had been. brought against him. So far as
he had already gone, he thought he had stated enough to
show that the evidence did not support the charges. But
the fact was, it was unnecessary for him to go so far, for
he was not required to go into any case until he was called
upon for his defence. He contended that the Raja had
not been heard—(Hear, hear)—he contended that he had
been condemned without a hearing—(Hear, hear)—and
would any Proprietor or Director deny that fact ?
(Cheers.) With regard to the treasonable correspon-
alence which the Raja was alleged to have carried on
with the ex-Raja of Nagpore and the Governor of Goa,
nobody would deny that the Raja scarcely knew of them,
much less could be called upon to defend himself from them.
He knew nothing either of his accusers or of the evi-
dence that had ben given.—(Hear, hear.) It might be
said that, with regard to the first charge, he had an op-
portunity of defending himself ; but the Court would not
deny that he had no
.fair opportunity of doing so ; and
~-ould call the attention of the Proprietors to that
e Report of the Commissioners. General Lod-
feeling of justice by which he had distin-
guished himaelt. gyring the whole of those proceedings,
his Highness the Raja of Sat-
proposed at the comoiencement that., as the inquiry was
rt 7 of
tahoPurirnicteishofGto Ermoupeinret:
l
explained to him, and
tilmlortaoCP
oxplai
ere to,: fn.v* sax
Wall, affecting his sti*
and his character as an al:
that he should have the charges :411.1Y
that he should be allowed an Engh:ll advocate to conduct
his defence. That proposal was rej
,aeted, and finally
abandoned, although it was the course whi:li justice ob-
viously and necessarily pointed ont. The Comm,>sioners
examined witnesses for thirteen or fourteen days, M:'(-1 it
was then considered necessary that the Raja should have
some information of what was going on ; and General
Lodwick proposed that they should wait upon the Raja
at his palace to communicate the charges, and give him
an.opportunity of answering them. But this would not
suit the Commissioners. He must be dragged - as -a
criminal before them, and in his usual spirit of ,submis-
sion to their orders, he went at once.—(Hear, hear.) It
is a fact, that throughout the whole affair the Raja had
evinced the utmost readiness to comply with their wishes;
and whatever witnesses were required were at once pro-
duced. The Raja appeared at once before the Commis-
sioners, and Mr. Willoughby read the evidence of the
Soobadars. Mr.Willougby said if the Baja had been led
into error, his best course would be to acknowledge it,
and throw himself upon the mercy of the British Gov-
ernment. It was clear from this that the minds of the
Commissioners were made up as to the guilt of the
Raja.—(Hear, hear.) The Raja denied the charges in
tote, and asserted his perfect innocence. He was asked
if he would like to have a copy of the evidence ' • but
Whether it was given to him or not did not appear. Now
he would ask, was that a fair trial ? It was one of the
fundamental, and one of the noblest maxims of their
law, that no man should be condemned unheard, and he
wished to know why, in the case of the Raja, it had
been infringed on ? In England the protection was ex-
tended to the meanest individual. He might be guilty
of innumerable offences, but he could not be permitted
to stand forward on his trial without an opportunity of
defending himself. In proportion to the magnitude of
the crime and the greatness of the punishment, in the
same proportion did the law throw round him every pro-
tection and security that was consistent with
.justice.
Thus, in the case of treason, was an individual hurried
to his defence like the Raja? No, he was
.allowed so
many days before the trial, a copy of the depositions, a
list of the witnesses, and a copy of the indictment, in
order that be might know the charge. It would be in
the recollection of the Court that a remarkable instance
occurred in the case of the Chartist insurrection, in
which Frost and others were concerned. There was a
case in which the, persons were found actually guilty, and
because all the requisites required by the law were not
complied with they had nearly escaped punishment ,al-
together. In fact it was a principle recorded in the
pages of the Constitution that every man should have. a
fair opportunity given him for his defence. In fact,
throughout the whole course of the proceedings it
never entered into the minds of any party
that the Raja was to be deposed without
having an opportunity of meeting those charges.—
(Ikar, bear.) The Governor-General, it appeared, had
changed his opinion on the subject, but he had assigned
no grounds whatever for that change of opinion—(Hear,
hear)—and he should, therefore, prefer his original opi-
nion, when all the facts of the case were before him. In
his despatch of Dec. 23, 1838, he said—
" We are called upon, I feel, by very strong conside-
rations of propriety and expediency, to bring the guilt
of the Baja to the test of a final proof, by the best and
most just process which can be devised ; and then, if
he should have been unable to exculpate himself, to re-
move him from a throne of which he will have shown
himself to be eminently undeserving."
He would ask, did the Governor ever dream of deposing
him without a trial ? Never ; for, on the contrary, in
another part of the despatch, he observes-
- "As the first step, I would, as suggested by Sir Ro-
'bort (rant, request that the Raja should be furnished
with a written statement, embodying a full and clear
detail of the facts connected with the several. charges,
anil, of the names (with any reservations which may be
absroTntely required for the safety of the party) of the
witnesses by whom they are proved, with a notice of
the circumstances under which the evidence was
ob-
tained, and call'for from him, within a certain reason-
' able' time to be fixed, a similar written statement of
whatever he may desire to urge in his own behalf. The
Acting` Resident will, of course, take care, by every
means in power, to see that his guarantees to wit-
nesses are, in letter and spirit, fully maintained.
That was opposed by the Resident at Sattara, because it
was inconvenient to do so, and that seemed to have in-
fluenced the Governor-General in his change of opinion.
although he still seemed to think that it was necessary and
proper, for in his minute of the 29th of December, 1838,
lie says:—
The reasons urged by the Resident, and concurred in
by the Governor in Council, are sufficient to satisfy me,
that it would not be right. to persevere in the course
which I had previously recommended, and to present to
the Raja a written statement of the charges and the
proofs against him, calling upon him for an answer.
It is anticipated by the Resident, that this course would
lay the Government open to such proceedings on the
part of the Baja and his advisers, as could only lead to
fresh embarrassments, and would, at the same time, ex-
pose every witness whose evidence has been given to
cruel persecution.
" The course which has been next recommended as
open to the Government is, the suspension of the .Baja
from his functions of sovereignty, and the appointment
of a Commission to sit in judgment upon him The sus-
pensionof a person so placed as is the Raja of Sattara,
against whom a strong prima facie case has been esta-
blished, and whose conduct appears from every report to
be unscrupulously vindictive, seems, in the event of a
new trial to be decided upon, to he essential to the pro-
; tection of Witnesses, and to the fairness of proceeding on
the part of the accusation. Yet the measure would wear
a harsh' appearance, and be argued as a predetermination
to convict. Notwithstanding, however, these objections,
[ it appears to be essential, as a preliminary to any pro-
. cee mg b2aring the character of a final trial.
•« The tribunal for trial might, perhaps,
be best consti-
tuted, by the appointment of three of the most impartial
; and exper:enced members of the services, whom it would
probably be expedient to take from Madras and Bengal.
Buticonfess that, loOkitig to the • Manifold inconveni-
ences of such a mode of trial, to the measures of import-
ance, and to the subjects of interest and excitement by

Mr. Shakespear, one of the: Coininis§on, disagreed]
with the Commissioners, and protested against their de-•
vision. In addition tothat the Court of Directors were
in favour of .the Raja. Ile had a right to say . so, for a
despatch,was sent out by them stigmatizing the whole of
the proceedings. Therefore, in the Raja's favour, there
was the G overnor-General, one of the Commissioners,
who inquired into the ,whole affair, and the Court of
Directors, all of them characterizing the proceedings
against him as being seriously detrimental to..the cha- •
meter of the Indian. Government. Perhaps some of
the Indian Proprietors who entertained different views •
to what he did might follow him, and say that the Brah-
min had made a confession implicating the Raja. He
(Mr. L.) admitted that he (lid make what was called a
confession ; but when the Court was put in possession of
• the facts relating to that confession—of the mariner in
which that confession had been made, they would scout
it. It appeared that, in March 1837, a petition from
Sattara was presented to the Bombay Government.
Now that petition (lid not appear on the face of the-pro-
ceedings at all. It was kept back, why he did
not know—lie had net been able to see it. That petition
was sent to Sattara by the Bombay Government, with
instructions directing that a full inquiry might take
place. Now, what was the course pursued by the Com-
missioners? The petitionovas supposed to be from the
mother of the Dewan, Govind Row. ACCordingly he was
taken and placed in still closer confinement, -in order to
induce her to communicate some intelligence to the Pre-
sident. The mother of the Dewan had, fur a long time,
been suffering great distress upon.his account. His closer
confinement soon reached his mother's ears, and she
communicated with the Commissioners, •solhiting an in-
terview. It was granted, and it took place at Midnight;
and a pretended confession was obtained. But .could they
put faith in any evidence obtained under such circum-
stances? Could they rely upon evidcpe
ve
RePtin h?pe
led
working on the agonized feelings of a parentm
of obtuining the release of her son? He' .V 494 ear=
lessly put it to the Court, whetherAht4onld
place any credit on such evidence; ,eWrt) if it
did inculpate the Raba, which 'Amid ~it did
not. As well might' they give credence evi_
dene obtained from a poor wretch suffering upon the
wheel.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted, then, they Would
hear nothing that day of such a confession. He now
came to the second charge made against the Raja,—that
he had been guilty of carrying on a treas(inable correspon-
dence with the ex-Raja of Nagpoor. Now, who was this
with wh an he was charged with corresponding ! Was
he in po'ver, and likely to be able to assist in driving die
English from India ? No, —he was deposed by the
at the Court of
-English,--he was tt fugitive, residing