The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 11 (of 12)Burke, Edmund
History
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 11 (of 12)
Burke, Edmund
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1760-1820; Political science -- Early works to 1800
We are now at the commencement of a new order of things. Mr. Markham had
been authorized to appoint whoever he pleased as Naib, with the
exception of Ussaun Sing. He accordingly exercises this power, and
chooses a person called Jagher Deo Seo. From the time of the confinement
of Durbege Sing to the time of this man's being put into the government,
in whose hands were the revenues of the country? Mr. Markham himself has
told you, at your bar, that they were in his hands,--that he was the
person who not only named this man, but that he had the sole management
of the revenues; and he was, of course, answerable for them all that
time. The nominal title of Zemindar was still left to the miserable
pageant who held it; but even the very name soon fell entirely out of
use. It is in evidence before your Lordships that his name is not even
so much as mentioned in the proceedings of the government; and that the
person who really governed was not the ostensible Jagher Deo Seo, but
Mr. Markham. The government, therefore, was taken completely and
entirely out of the hands of the person who had a legal right to
administer it,--out of the hands of his guardians,--out of the hands of
his mother,--out of the hands of his nearest relations,--and, in short,
of all those who, in the common course of things, ought to have been
intrusted with it. From all such persons, I say, it was taken: and
where, my Lords, was it deposited? Why, in the hands of a man of whom we
know nothing, and of whom we never heard anything, before we heard that
Mr. Markham, of his own usurped authority, authorized by the usurped
authority of Mr. Hastings, without the least communication with the
Council, had put him in possession of that country.
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