t even
name the name of Shitab Roy. There was an English counsellor, a
particular friend of Mr. Hastings's, there, under whose control Shitab
Roy acted. Without any charges, without any orders from the Company, Mr.
Hastings dragged down that same Shitab Roy, and in the same ignominious
prison he kept him the same length of time, that is, one year and three
months, without trial; and when the trial came on, there was as much
appearance of collusion in the trial as there was of rigor in the
previous process. This is the manner in which Mr. Hastings executed the
command of the Company for removing Mahomed Reza Khan.

When a successor to Mahomed Reza Khan was to be appointed, your
Lordships naturally expect, from the character I have given of him, and
from the nature of his functions, that Mr. Hastings would be
particularly precise, would use the utmost possible care in nominating a
person to succeed him, who might fulfil the ends and objects of his
employment, and be at the same time beyond all doubt and suspicion of
corruption in any way whatever. Let us now see how he fills up that
office thus vacant. When the Company ordered Mahomed Reza Khan to be
dispossessed of his office, they ordered at the same time that the
salary of his successor should be reduced: that 30,000_l._ was a
sufficient recompense for that office. Your Lordships will see by the
allowance for the office, even reduced as it was, that they expected
some man of great eminence, of great consequence, and fit for those
great and various trusts. They cut off the dewanny from it, that is, the
collection of the revenues; and having lessened his labors, they
lessened his reward.--They ordered that this person, who was to be
guardian of the Nabob in his minority, and who was to represent the
government, should have but 30,000_l._ The order they give is this.

"And that as Mahomed Reza Khan can no longer be considered by us as one
to whom such a power can safely be committed, we trust to your local
knowledge the selection of some person well qualified for the affairs of
government, and of whose attachment to the Company you shall be well
assured. Such person you will recommend to the Nabob, to succeed Mahomed
Reza, as minister of the government, and guardian of the Nabob's
minority; and we persuade ourselves that the Nabob will pay such regard
to your recommendation as to invest him with the necessary power and
authority.

"As the advantages which the Company m