they proceeded immediately from the Governor-General. We have now before us the letter of Lord Wellesley of July 27; the written declaration of Lord Lake, that he had comforted his Majesty's mind with promises of liberal allowance for the support of his independence ; and we have also the written assurances of Lord Wellesley, a second time, couched in the most emphatic and distinct language. Let us now see what was the first development of the nature of that permanent arrangement which was to be made for the comfort, dignity, and independence of the king.

I have here a copy of a document called in India an Ikra Namah, which signifies a written agreement, a bond, a contract, or an indenture. It bears date the 2d of Dec., 1803, and the original was signed by General Lake, and delivered to his Majesty Shah Aluin.

tors.

The Chairman.-When was that Ikra Namah delivered to the king? Mr.Thompson, I cannot positively say, but I believe the document was sent to the king after Lord Lake had left Delhi, and had had time to consider the matter. (The Chairman here intimated his disbelief in the existence of such a document.) I perceive the Chairman doubts the authenticity of this paper. I can only say, that the copy I have here, was given to me at Delhi, and that I firmly believe it was drawn up by Lord Lake. But I can afford to throw it overboard, and to rest my case upon the papers which I know to be in the hands of the DirecPersuaded myself, however, of its genuineness, I shall lay it before the Court, without caring whether it be received or rejected as evidence, because the proof of the engagement, for which I am arguing, does not in any degree rest upon it. Should this Ikrah Namah be set aside, and with it another and a similar one,-the delivery of which with the signatures of the resident, Sir D. Ochterlony, and his assistant, Mr. Colebrooke, I shall be able to establish should both these documents be rejected, I shall yet be able to produce abundant proof from your own official papers, of the existence of a deliberate determination on the part of Lord Wellesley, to do all that is specified in those documents, and proof, also, that such determination was made known to his Majesty as the final arrangement which the Supreme Government of India had made for his support. Here, then, is the Ikrah Namah, which bears the date of December 2, 1803, and purports to be

a draft of that plan for a permanent arrangement, to which Lord Wellesley referred in his letter of the 8th of October. But, before I read it, allow me to ask, if it does not appear to be both natural and necessary, that Lord Lake should make such a communication? Does not Lord Wellesley expressly say, that he trusts his assurances may be acceptaable to his Majesty, "until his Excellency General Lake, under his orders, can be enabled to offer for his Majesty's consideration the plan

of a permanent settlement of his affairs, secured by the power of the British Government?" These are the precise words of Lord Wellesley, and is it likely that Lord Lake would leave the Upper Provinces and the country without obeying the orders of the Governor General ? You cannot suppose he would, unless you at the same time believe that the statesman and the soldier were, alike, the most ungrateful, hypocritical, and unprincipled of men. Now for the Ikrah Namah,—

Article 1st.-All the Mehals (districts) situate on the right bank of the river Jumna, and North West of Mowza Khaboolpoor are fixed as the crown lands of his Majesty.

Article 2nd. The collection of the Revenues of the aforesaid Mehals (shall continue as heretofore) under the direction of the British Resident at the Court of Delhi.

Article 3rd.-The Mootsuddies or officers of the Royal Treasury, shall attend at the Kutchery or office of the Collector of Revenues, of the said crown lands, and keep an account of the incomings and outgoings of the said crown lands, in order that satisfaction and tranquillity may be afforded to his Majesty.

Article 4th.-The sum of ten thousand Rupees (as Nuzzers) shall be presented by the British Resident to his Majesty at each of the seven annual Festivals.

Article 5th.-Two Cazees and a Mooftee shall be appointed from among the most learned of the Inhabitants of Delhi, for the administration of Justice.

Article 6th. In every instance where the punishment of death is awarded by the criminal courts of Delhi, previous to such punishment being carried into effect, it shall be submitted to his Majesty for sanction or otherwise.

Article 7th.-Coin struck in his Majesty's name shall be current in the city of Delhi, and in the crown lands of his Majesty.

Article 8th. In order to prevent any inconvenience to his Majesty, arising from the tardy collection of the Revenue, in the crown lands, the British Resident at the court of Delhi shall receive instructions to pay to his Majesty monthly, and the heir apparent &c. the sums specified in the annexed document.

Article 9th.-It is however provided, that in case the revenue arising from the crown lands should increase, in consequence of improved cultivation, and the better condition of the ryots or peasantry, a proportionate augmentation shall take place in the Royal Stipends.

Article 10th.-Certain Territories in the possession of the Heir apparent and other Princes of the royal family shall be transferred to the East India Company.

Article 11th. The expences of the troops, police corps, subundee,

&c., stationed in the crown lands assigned for his Majesty shall be defrayed from the Treasury of the Honourable Company.

Suffer me, now, to call your attention to a passage in one of Lord Wellesley's despatches to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors, for the purpose of shewing in what estimation the Mogul Emperor was at that time held by all classes of the people in India. The quotation I am about to make will also demonstrate the importance that was attached to the alliance which the British Government sought with the Emperor.

"Notwithstanding," says his Lordship, "his Majesty's total deprivation of real power, dominion, and authority, almost every state and every class of people in India continue to acknowledge his nominal sovereignty. The current coin of every established state is struck in the name of Shah Alum. Princes and persons of the highest rank and family still bear the titles, and display the insignia of rank which they or their ancestors derived from the throne of Delhi, under the acknowledged authority of Shah Alum, and his Majesty is still considered to be the only legitimate fountain of similar honours."

"The pride of the numerous class of Mussulmans in India is gratified by a recognition of the nominal authority of the illustrious representative of the house of Timour over territories which once constituted the extensive and powerful empire of the Mogul, and the Mussulmans are still disposed to acknowledge the legitimacy of pretensions or demands, ostensibly proceeding from the authority of the imperial mandate.

"Under these circumstances, the person and authority of his Majesty Shah Alum might form a dangerous instrument in the hands of any state possessing sufficient power, energy, and judgment to employ it, in prosecuting views of aggrandizement and ambition.

"The Mogul has never been an important or dangerous instrument in the hands of the Mahrattas, but the augmentation of M. Perron's influence and power, and the growth of a French interest in Hindostan, had given a new aspect to the condition of the Mogul, and that unfortunate Prince might have become a powerful aid to the cause of France in India under the direction of the French Agents.*

Sentiments similar to these might be quoted from the replies given by Lord Wellesley to the congratulatory addresses which were presented to him by the European inhabitants of Calcutta and Benares, in the early part of 1804. I shall not occupy the time of the court in reading them, but shall refer those who hear me to the concluding portion of the third volume of the despatches.

0.0

* Wellesley Despatches, vol. 4, pp. 152, 153, pars. 67 to 71.

I have now to solicit your special attention to a most important document forwarded to Sir David Ochterlony, the resident at Delhi, on the 17th of Nov. 1804. Let me here stay to remark, that this communication is made sixteen months after the assurances contained in the letter of the noble marquess, dated the 27th of July, 1803; fourteen months after the British, by the treaty of Serjie Anjengaum, had become masters of Delhi and the surrounding country; thirteen months after the promise of a plan for the permanent settlement of the King's affairs, contained in the letter of Lord Wellesley, dated the 8th of Oct., 1803; and eleven months subsequent to the date of the Ikrah Namah, drawn up by Lord Lake, and dated the 2nd of December, 1803. The important communication to which I refer is called "Notes of Instructions to the Residents at Delhi." It is dated the 16th of Nov., 1804. It was enclosed in a letter which I shall now read.❤

N. B. EDMONSTONE, Esq., Secretary to Government, to LIEUT.-COL. OUCHTERLONY, Resident at Delhi.

Fort William, 17th November, 1804.

SIR,—I am directed by his Excellency the most noble the Governor General, to transmit to you the following notes of proposed instructions to you on the subject of establishing a permanent provision for the maintenance of his Majesty Shah Alum and the royal family. His Excellency requests that you will state such observations as may occur to you upon these notes, in the margin of the document now transmitted, or of a transcript of it, and despatch it to me with your observations, for the purpose of being submitted to his Excellency's consideration. After the receipt of your observations, regular instructions will be prepared and transmitted to you.

2.-A copy of the enclosed notes will also be despatched to his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, who will be requested to signify to you his sentiments on the subject of them; and his Excellency the Governor-General desires, that without awaiting the receipt of regular instructions, you will commence the execution of such parts of the plan, as may appear to the Commander-in-Chief to be unobjectionable.

I have, &c.

N. B. EDMONSTONE,

Secretary to Government.

The Notes which follow you will perceive, are in reality and truth a development of the plan for "establishing a permanent provision for the maintenance of his Majesty and the royal family." Hence, if we indeed desire to know the mind and will of Lord Wellesley, we have nothing to do but to study with impartiality this document. It is argumentative, explicit, and minute. It not only places before us the different views taken by his lordship, and the final determination at which he arrived, after a careful balancing of various methods, but describes most fully the modus operandi for working out the definite arrangement proposed, adopted, and settled.

* Wellesley Despatches, vol. iv., p. 237.

So completely was Lord Wellesley's mind made up, that he concludes his letter by saying: "You will commence the execution of such parts of the plan, as may appear to the commander-in-chief to be unexceptionable."

Let us, then, see what these notes contain.

NOTES OF INSTUCTIONS TO THE RESIDENT AT DELHI.

"I.-General subject. The nature and extent of the provision to be assigned for the support of the Emperor Shah Alum and the royal family."

"II. By the manner in which his Majesty and the royal family have been placed under the protection of the British power, no obligation is imposed upon us to make any other change in their condition than such as may relieve them from the embarrassment, distress, and degradation to which they were exposed under the oppressive control of the Mahratta power, The mode, therefore, of effecting this improvement of the condition of his Majesty and the royal family is a question of expediency and convenience with reference to the British Govern. ment, combined, however, with a due respect to his Majesty's prejudices and feelings."

"III.—The various arrangements which might be adopted in favour of his Majesty are the following:

"1. The assignment to his Majesty of a considerable tract of territory in the vicinity of Delhi, as a state or dominion over which his Majesty should exercise an efficient sovereign authority, collecting the revenues by means of officers of his own selection and appointment, and in all respects exercising the rights of an independent state, controlled only by the presence of a subsidiary British force, and of a British representative, and by such engagements as it would be necessary that his Majesty should under such an arrangement contract with us, with a view to secure to the British Government the advantages of a condition of alliance with the state so constituted under his Majesty's sovereign authority."

"2. To assign certain territories for the support of his Majesty and the royal family, to be managed by officers acting nominally under the authority of the King, but really under the control of the British authority. The extent of such territory to be regulated by an estimated amount of net revenue to be derived from it, equal to the exigencies of the royal household.

"3. To establish the real and nominal authority of the British Government in all the territories in the vicinity of Delhi ceded to us by treaty,