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

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
I2t2dsee omrs
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
oxiicsr 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 er,,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, and in accordance with my. instruc-
tions, part must be expected 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 act 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
inquiF: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 evidence has been procured, 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 with the plot. * * *
" Sir JAMES—Your Highness should listen to what I
say, or else you shall not retain your kingdom.
"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 author
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 provee, 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 yes
.. 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 deposed, was not slow to
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 of 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 reluctant
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, osis, : 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 Sceat.e. am Sins; ; 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 When 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 sanother 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 ideal 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 receive two signs 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. cwoen v conceivee
sti eiuttoerrey grooedoguedri:ose.etWweerb don'telievecontteersutb-e
Against the authorities I have adduced we have to place stance is correct ! lbegp the Courty 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
nhingut ott
altar rap
otoe
tehne
..t)h4ettr
prreot ur rend.. C6oonossiiddeerr
tthhee
fotuhri 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
aThhey
.say— " With regard to
whom the fortune of war have made your subjects, could
the conversation
evidence
eeof
tt:e itswiontoeur:rtiseewo,ffiweephrsaveeoornroly.
be fixed on the proceedings of this Court, and the con- uponion whiche
ev7lec
duct of those whom I now address. Would that these boratede 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 arrivdetaot a diiffercernetdceonnclusien,but, altdhooiiugththwaet
this are
wretches who bore testimony against him. I would as
soon believe that the heavens could fall as that the man nelosureelauree
metgliivoeg
tuollok
placcee,anwde thathave 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- Mark the sentence 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 grounds
they assign. They are in their own words, these:—
means go and get them—take y
digest them, and come hither again, and you 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, and (as regards the native offi-
I can assure you it will be so. Those who use the heels cers) we may almost say in a providential manner. (1)
of their boots and their umbrellas to annoy me exert
2d. We do not consider ourselves 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 " 3d. As on the first interview at the Dewan's house no dis-
papers. It is not to gratify the love of faction that I guise was considered necessary, none would have been thought
have come here to-day in a state 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- mliaenirneevri.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 havet given them nnubtounnodedoussamtisuca.citatosnet.os haveut
iefilnvTvel
at pres'ent, than that he is described by the Commsision- d tandeiffuer
iifcoinhcelustrna. But,
s,eeirlsio
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 framedg the Report, that that was a special reason for
rec receiving the evidence. Mark the singular words in the first
wn- guilty of doe grossest prevarication and deceit'; andline.'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-