The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-20 00:00:00

THE RAJA OF SATTARA.

“ I- ce' mtnereced by in-forming the Raja that I had
anxiously and carefully considered the whole of the pro-
The Anee.._ ceedings in his case, and had, in common with all other
assembled l2 0'c10ck,,,.,,,,, authorities to whom they had been submitted, become
at _er,,,,ee.,
fully satisfied that, misled by evil counsellors and low
'-1 the debate and interested advisers, he had, on three oreasions, ma
man, The debate was resuieete ~-
CaPtaill 81.1ifen-Mate, a Director.-11e sae_ eircely nifested hostile intentions towards the British Govern-
ment. I reminded his Highness of the peculiar circum-
expecthad now occupied s 6 Midi time that he could J,..... .
it possible to find d Any: new topic, bale- 'es under which he was rescued from captivity, and
. the British Government with the sovereignty
he was anxious to lay before the Proprieten the grounds stein. '
dominions • that this was a pure act
upon which he had in another Court done all la hie , invested' by.
...1,...et of ...the English Government,
power to avert the calamity which they deplored. Much ()%IYel his present .
nosrssion, since, owing
had already beeh said of the weakness of the evidence of geneecrtiv on the
a the
.L'eishwa, the whole of
upon which the Raja had been deposed, but he could not founded fit any right of
not help calling the attention of the Court to the fact to the unprovoked hostility
but simply
that the most important. witness, the one upon whose , the Deccan had become ours by conquest,
°ll to
testimony most reliance had been' placed, afterwards l from a feeling of consideration and compact. ”
deposed that all lie bad said against the Raja was false— ' himself and familv, as the representatives of a fallen
that that he had borne false witness Against him out of re- but once powerful dynasty ; that his Highness must be
venge. So also had the Brahmin who was the other aware that, by the conduct he had pursued, he had for-
principal witness ; he stated subsequently that he was feited all the advantages which he had derived from the
the sole author of the plot, and that all his former evi- , treaty of 1819, and in virtue of which he became the
deuce was false ; even the Commissioners themselves 1 head of the Sattara, State ; that, notwithstanding, the
said he was one of the very worst of characters. Yet British Government were willing, on certain conditions,
these were in that Court merely termed discre- to bury the past in oblivion ; and that, at considerable
panties ; surely that was an abuse of the personal inconvenience, I had come in person
,to Sattara,
word. Another most material thing to be borne in to endeavour to rescue himself and family from impend-
mind was that the whole of the evidence, such as it was, inn ruin. I informed the Raja that I was his sincere
was wholly cx parte, not one of the witnesses were al- friend, and anxiously desired to effect such an arrange-
lowed to be cross-examined—(Bear, hear)—a thing that meat as would restore friendly relations between the two
was wholly unknown and unheard of in this country. It States. Finally, I recalled to his recollection the warn-
was all ex parte, and many most important facts might ing long ago given to him by his friend, Mr. Elphiestone,
be kept back because of there being no cross-examina- against placing his trust and confidence in Vaheels and
thin. Under such circumstances it was impossible for low and intriguing agents, and earnestly urged him to
them to declare that they were convinced of the guilt of discard from his counsels the numerous agencies he had
the Raja.—(Cheers.) The treatment he met with had established, and entreated him not to throw away this
been must unjust—he was denied the privilege which the the only opportunity which could be afforded to him, for
meanest culprit in this country might demand as a right, becoming reconciled to theßritish Government ; for that,
In his opinion nothing could justify such harsh and un- he might rest assured, however much his agents might en-
just conduct. The Raja was not allowed to see the evi- deavour to persuade him to the contrary, that I had come
dente given against him, nor was he allowed to call ore invested with full powers to decide finally on all pending
single witness in his favour, or to rebut that given against questions, and that the terms which I should offer to
hina—Jlear.) It was said that the Bombay Govern- him had already been submitted to, and approved of by,
iaent did not bring him to trial because it would lower the Governor-General of India, and that the home au-
and degrade the Raja in the eyes of his subjects ; but thorities had placed the settlement of all these questions
those who used that argunseht seemed to forget that the in my hands, consequently he might fully depend upon
degradation had taken place—that there had been a sort my having been vested with full powers.
of trial by the Commission. It was impossible for them " During this address, which I delivered firmly but
to give credit to such a reason. Now, what was the al- in conciliatory language, the Raja evinced a con-
ternative held out to him ? They would not give him siderable degree of impatience, and frequently inter-
a fair trial because it would degrade him in the eyes rupted me by .abrupt declarations that he had committed
of his subjects • ; but they called lipom him to acknowledge no breach of alliance.. When I had concluded, he stated
himself a traitor—if he- failed or hesitated to do that that he regarded me as his friend and well-wisher ;. as-
ha was to he deposed and banished. Nothing had caused serted that the accusations against him originated in the
him so much regret as that when Lord Auckland, Sir R. intrigues of his enemies ; that as long as the British
Grant, and the whole Council in India, recorded their Government entertained the idea that he had cherished
opinion, that the Raja ought to be heard ; that wise re- hostile designs he could agree to nothing, but this idea
solve was departed from, inerely because the Resident at being removed, he would agree to anything I proposed ;
Sattara said it would be inconvenient—that at the eleventh that he would consent to anything, except to abandon
hour so evidently just a course should have been departed his religion or to acknowledge that he had been our
from.—(Cheers.) He was: unwilling to detain them by enemy ; that he would receive my conditions, reply to
reading long extracts, but lie was most anxious that it them, and vindicate his conduct generally. Finally, he
should be seen that hewas not over-stating the case. lie observed that if I had not leisure to attend to him per-
would therefore refer them to the minute of Sir H. Grant senally, he could communicate what he had to say through
of the 31st May, 183 S— the Resident.
elt will be asked, however, whether he is to be con- "In reply to this, I repeated my former observations,
demned without the opportunity of defending himself. and said that I had come not to prolong, but to termi-
The Raja has not been told of the evidence taken ,by nate these. discussions, which had now occupied a space
Lieut.-Colonel Ovens, and undoubtedly has a right to of three years, and which had ended in satisfying the
be heard in his own vindication. I have never meant highest authorities, that his Highness had repeatedly
k that he will vindicate - violated the terms of the the treaty he had entered into
otherwise, although I do not thin
Sat-
himself successfully. In my minute of the 15th August, with the British Government ; that, had I come to Sat-
-1837, ' I am farther strongly of opinion, that before the tara to inflict the penalty incurred by these violations of
case is conclusiVely disposed of, the Raja should be made the Treaty of 1819, further inquiry might perhaps have
acquainted with the fresh evidence which has been been considered expedient, but that as I had come to
elicited against him, and should be allowed the oppor- overlook, and not to punish, this was quite unnecessary.
tunity of offering defence or explanation.' I repeat that 'liecase moreover, against his Highness having been
opinion ; not meaning that there should be merely the estlished by a chain of evidence, both oral and docu-
form or farce of a trial, to be closed by a ready-made mentary, which, from the manner and circumstances
judgment, but that the defence should be fairly heard under which it was obtained, could not, in my opinion,
and impartially weighed. 'So far as this Government by any possibility be materially shaken by any other
should be called to decide on that defence, i'.., would be evidence, and all that I should require from his
my honest endeavour to discharge my mind of all my Highness was, that henceforward he would act
previous opinions on the subject, and to judge the case strictly and in good faith according to treaty
as if I heard it for thefirst time. But if it be thought that with the British Government, and assent to two or
the Bombay Government is too strongly prepossessed three other conditions rendered necessary by the
with the guilt of the Raja to be placed in the chair of detection of his misconduct. These observations were
judgment over his Highness, let the Government of at intervals supported by Mr. Anderson, who informed
India constitute, in any manner which they think fittest, the Raja, that the evidence produced against him
an impartial and competent judicature for the occasion." was so strong and convincing, that the highest
Could anything be stronger than that? That was the authorities in India had, without exception, con-
opinion of Sir R. Grant. He would then refer them to that curred in thinking that the penalty prescribed
of Lord Auckland, in the last minuterecorded by him upon in the fifth 'article of the treaty should be en-
that question. In a minute dated 29th December, 1838, forced against him, and that he strongly advised his
his Lordship said— Highness to attend to the friendly suggestions of the
"The reasons urged by the Resident, and concurred in Governor, who had come to Sattara to give him a second
by the Governor in Council, are sufficient to satisfy me, time the raj which he had justly forfeited.
that it would not be right to persevere in the course "It was with deep mortification and regret that I re-
which I had previously recommended, and to present to marked that these observations produced no effect what-
the Raja a written statement of the charges and the ever on his Highness. In order, therefore, that he
proofs against him, calling upon him for an answer. It might at once become fully apprised of all the conditions
is anticipated by the Resident, that this course would lay of the proposed amnesty, I deemed it advisable to put
the Government open to such proceedings on the part into his hands a Mahratta memorandum, in which they
of the'llaja and his advisers, as could only lead to fresh had been embodied. Having perused this, and apparently
embarrassments, and would, at the same time, expose with great earnestness, the Raja returned the memoran-
every witness whose evidence has been given to cruel dum, and at once said he would not agree to my condi-
persecution. tions, asking me to mention what violations of the treaty
" The course which has been next recommended as lie had been guilty. of. He was then informed, that
open to the Government is, the suspension of the Raja three important violations of the treaty had been proved
from his functions of sovereignty, and the appointment against him :
of a commission to sit in judgment upon him. The sus- " Ist. Of the fifth article, in having, during a series
pension of a person so placed as is the Raja of Sattara, of years, held improper communications with the Goa
against whom a strong prima facie case has been authorities.
established, and whose conduct appears from every re- " 2d. Of the same article, in having held a Glandes- i
port to be unscrupulously vindictive, seems, in the event 1 tine intercourse with Appa Sahib, the ex-Raja of Nag-
of a new trial to be decided upon, to be essential to the pore.
protection of witnesses, and to the fairness of proceeding " 3d. Of having tampered with the native officers of
on the part of the accusation. Yet the measure.would the 23d Regiment of Native Infantry.
wear a harsh appearance, and be argued as a predeter- The only observation made by his Highness related
urination to convict. Notwithstanding, however, these to the second of these charges, and was very remark-
' objections, it appears to be essential, as a preliminary , able. My conviction being, that the Raja felt at the
to any proceeding bearing the character of a final trial." 1. moment conscious of his guilt, I had stated that some
" I would, therefore, submit these observations, by • of Appa Sahib's original letters had fallen into the
the steam-packet now under preparation, for the irnin,!- . hands of the British Government, and inquired whether
diate orders of the Honourable Court,—requesting their lie could deny the fact of those letters having been sent
attention to the opinions which I have indicated; and to him. He did not deny, as would have been natural
soliciting such instructions as may be deemed expedient on the supposition of innocence, but evaded a direct
to communicate, for the guidance of the •Locsl'Govern- ' answer by observing, that ' The circumstance of re-
ment, on the points to which they relate, as well as on ' ceiving letters did not constitute guilt on the part of
all others connected with the mode of trial—if a final him who recived them. A letter from a person does not
trial should be judged proper—and with the policy to be i establish guilt against the party to whom it is addressed.
observed, in the event of the Raja being found guilty. Where are my answers ? There is Mr. Anderson : he
The Court may, if they deem it fit, forward their in- may receive a letter ; but this would he no proof that he
structions direct, so as to save time, to the Governor-in- answered it, or that he committed any fault in receiv-
Council at Bombay, in whose anxiety, for a complete ing I closed this conference by informing the Raja that
t.'
and early.settlement of the question, they will, no doubt, "
fully participate." the Resident would wait on him the following day, with
That affirmed positive proof that his Lordship thought a correct written statement of the conditions. on which ,
there ought to be a trial-of some kind or another, and friendly relations between the two states could alone be
that the ex parte inquiry was not sufficient. He had restored, and that his Highness would be required to
already alluded to the evidence given against the Raja, sign these, as a supplement of the Treaty of 1819. The
he would therefore only say that it was of such a nature daja assented to receive the Reeident ; and when he was
that it must fail to convince any one whose mind was about to take leave I again earnestly exhorted him seri-
not prejudiced against the Raja. The sham treaty ously to reflect on the consequences of his rejecting the
wqs so absurd that no ene looking coolly very moderate terms offered for his acceptance, to discard
at it, would for one moment believe it. .It was quite the crowd of interested agents now in his confidence, and
clear, however, that Sir Robert Grant believed it, but warned him that if he rejected my terms he could only
that might be accounted for from the fact of their being I blame himself for
iagwhe tatehe Raja madever might be th
ae
kind of apology result. On step-
at that time very considerable excitement in the west of ping into his carr
India— probably' he might be alarmed that the Russians for the discussion he had occasioned ; but turning towards
were just about to land upon him. At the same time, in the Resident, and looking at the paper, of conditions
consequence of what hail
fallen from a Gallant Friend of which he had returned to the Resident, he observed—
his,, he felt bound to say,t;i:.'t never did any man go to ' Yeh Kaghuz oopur toomko izar howengee ;' which was
than Sir Robert Grant. interpreted to signify a threat, that he (the Resident)
India with more pure intentions would he injured on account of that paper.
—(Cheers.)
anything he . " A very considerable change occurred in the Raja's
General LODWIeIe begged to withdrae: manner and demeanour towards the end of this inter-
had said to the contrary. 'lent view. When we first met he was cheerful, and embraced
Captain SHEPPARD was glad he had given his Ga.. me and all the gentlemen present with apparent cordi-
lity.
Friend an opportunity of explaining, for the remarks As the debate progressed, however, and more
which had fallen from him had given him much
partieedarly, towards the close, he became sullen and
pain. He bore testimony. to the uprightness of his cha-
qloomy, and spoke but little, and it seemed that he had,
ratter ; but at the same time he felt bound to deprecate for the time, entirely lost command over , his. feelings.
his conduct on that subject. He had treated the evidence
From the result of this, my first interview, I almost
as a lawyer in the Temple would have done ;but that
despaired of accomplishing the object of my visit to
was not the way in which Indian evidence was to be
Sattara."
looked at. His worthy friend, Mr. Tucker, to whose
There he asserted that the charges had been distinctly
evidence and honour all would bow—(llear, hear)—had
proved. Let tnem turn to page 303, and they would
given them instances which had come under his own
find the following:—
knowledge, where documents had been forged, and even
" The information required under the first head will
seals affixed to them. There was no proof of guilt, ebut
be best afforded by the following translation of the
there was strong presumptive proof of the innocence of. .
the Raja was required to
the Ra,,a. It was made the strongest paint against him, .
Mahratta memorandum, which R •
that he had D:. Milne and numerous Vaheels in various sign. been received by the British
Infermation haeing.,
parts. NQw lie thought that was conclusive proof of his -
Government, that your highness, misled by evil adviser
innocence Every one had agreed in sayfng that the
had,- in. •hre- 't: ch'i?f the treaty which plated you on the
Raja had great cleverness and ability. Now he would
throne; entered into communications hostile to the Bri-
ask would it be the act of a clever or an able man to
tish Government, tai inquiry into these accusations was
protection.
make so many depos!tlries of such dangerous secrets ?
Would it not rather :be the act .of a medman? What considered indispensable. Tide inquiry has satisfied the
British, Gbvernment' that your Highness has
was his letter to Dr. Milne more than saying that he.
;Leurse to rile • sacrificed of its alliance';antl exposed
considered lie had to complain of a great grievance, and
he wished the Doctor to proceed to London and appeal Nevertheless. iiiTve bylconsideratious of
,clemency to-
on his behalf to the head authority for redress? Was
NVveari; it ni youren thas r
6e :Ilia:, : : t i
re youri family, 016 ' 'British Go-
that a proof of guilt? Nay, but was it not a convincing . &to-overlook what has past,
on the following conditions" Re,
proof of innocence? Another strong proof of the fel- .
That made . it evident that-c.
lacy of the accusations, was the circumstance of the the Raja was called
upon to sign a document
sham treaty with Goa—a treaty that would' deeply iin-;guilty' '4le first condition of
which was to plead
plicate the Portuguese Government there. Why, then,
Yet they were told thethatt to
the charge of treason.
did not Don Manoel retain it ? Was it not extraordi- signing of that document
did not involve a confession
nary that it should be entrusted to a native of India to e
ot the document was drawn of guilt. The preamble
carry about with him? Such a thing was improbable,
well suited for a guilty up in a manner that was
for if the Raja were insane, Don .A.lanoel was not. The
ing his innocence i man, but ill suited for one know-_
whole matter was absurd. Why, two of the witnesses
the Raja placed in by lilt a situation were the friends of
were persons who were actually flying from justice at . the conduct of the Governmen.:,—
they were coin
the time—men who not only got money for their hatched f . compelled to wish that he had been a traitor,
that
stories, but procured their own safety. He wouldd.
ask or, in case, he would still be Raja.—(Hear, hear-)
The proceedings of the Bombs Government were dis-
y
whether any -Hon. Proprietor would call that a iscr-
pleasinalike Direc-
pancy? What would be thought of such evidence in g to Lord Auckl and andthe Court of
tors aswas vernor-
this country? Again, was there ever such a thing seen , proved by the Minute of the Go
Gen' '
as a public document like the treaty being put up to ~
Theeral
of anxious and
auction? It was a disgraceful proceeding, and was . grave inconveniences of a course
intrigues
of
eventually knocked . down at 400 rupees. Was not
minute scrutiny into the possible and..
the native - - plots b obvious. The futility
that ridiculous? Why the Raja would have given
of
the
states are indeed very
odivversion of time and
40,000 for the document, had it been genuine,
schemes themselves, and the
better ob-
He felt ashamed and sorry that our Government should attention, in the search after them, from the •
that need not be' insisted
have entered into such a transaction, that they shauld jects of Government, are points
dw ell on the unworthy
have lowered themselves so far as to send emissaries all.- on. Nor can it be necessary to
ind intricate ramifica-
over the country.—(Hear, hear.) Such conduct would labour of following out the
pettytile questionable expedi-
not, in his opinion, be justified, even if Russia was on cations of such intrighes,
or
ol
nin the effort to expose the
the border oi. India ; what then could be found to justify ents which must be employeocf
proceedings covered with
it now ? It was argued that the Raja must be guilty, be- true meaning and intentioln
would more strongly fix at-
cause the Bombay Government were in his favour. True mystery and obscurity
hich seems to be justly dreaded from
it was so at first, but when their conduct was found fault tendon on the effectr .
' kind, by the Honourable Court,
with by the Indian Government, they said their conduct, inveetigations of t
characterns of our Government for modera-
their character was at stake ; and froth that moment they of injuring the
eoh
In this instance of the Sat-
laid aside their former fair and honourable conduct, and tion, security, •TicL
ras observed by me in a former Mi-
en they did was for the purpose of clearing themselves. tarn
affairinvestigation.s,
of no real importance to our power,
He would then come to the amnesty, and he must say cute'
' in
fan mistrust:and insecurity, on the part of the Bri-
that it was so drawn up that no man who was honest, no the idea
o ient, may have been spread from of the
tish Governe
man who was innocent, could possibly agree to it. and Malabar.' And, after all these evils and
Some persons had said that it did not involve a cotes- to
shallMadrae
have been incurred. and the investigations are
sion of guilt, but he begged to refer Hon. Proprietors to risks
length
brou
ght to a close, when all is probed and de-
the account of the first interview the Governor, ir J. Sir j at lent,
tectcd, and laid bare, the serious practical difficulty re-
R. Carnac, had with the Raja. They
would find it there aims by w hich we must in this case, though perhaps,
stated-- . m ' • 1 •rcumstances, in a less degree than on
feeon incidental c.
" The Raja came to the interview accompanied by a Other occasions, be embarrassed. It being known that
small retinue. The interview was strictly private. No the secret has been discovered, it mayha be impolitic not
one was present on the part of his Highness ; for, by his to take notice of that,
hch d we continued
own request, the only person who came with him was in real or affected ignorance of it, we should have sus-
ordered to leave. Mr. Anderson, Lieut.Golonel Ovans, tatted no harm. Yet, by what process, and with

INDIA HOUSE.—ifoNDAY.
-ned Meeting of the Proprietors again
George Lyall, Esq., M.P., Chair-
' by