TRANSACTIONS WITH VASSAL STATES. 287 



competitor, but to interfere in no shape with the internal 

 government. The presence, however, in the heart of his 

 dominions, of a force decidedly superior to his own in dis- 

 cipline and number, placed him of course under a silent but 

 real control. This being fully established, the next step 

 was to require that, instead of money-payments, he should 

 cede a portion of territory, the revenues of which might 

 defray the expense of the subsidiary troops. With this 

 was combined, not necessarily indeed, but usually, an 

 agreement to intrust the defence of his borders entirely to 

 the company, and to discontinue all political and diplomatic 

 intercourse with any other power. The last stage of sub- 

 jection arrived when he was required to resign the whole 

 administration into the hands of the British, and to retain 

 the mere pomp and name of royalty, supported by a liberal 

 allowance of revenue. 



Of these three arrangements the first was often cheer- 

 fully acceded to, and even solicited by the sovereign, when 

 his power appeared in danger either from foreign or do- 

 mestic enemies. No long time elapsed, however, before 

 the yoke was painfully felt, both by ruler and people ; and 

 the second step, consisting in a cession of land, could only 

 be brought about by a feeling of invincible necessity. Aftet 

 this measure was adopted the government of the companj 

 became, generally speaking, very odious, and intrigues 

 were usually formed for the expulsion of their agents; 

 which, again, afforded a pretext for employing their power 

 to compel the prince to acquiesce in the third or final ar- 

 rangement. 



It is painful to remark, that the divided power, prevailing 

 under these successive systems, has been productive of ex- 

 tensive misgovernment. The rajahs and nabobs, secured 

 by a British force against any insurrection of the people, 

 could defy their discontent, indulge in violent and tyrannical 

 measures, and gratify their avidity by every species of ex- 

 tortion. The entire subjection, therefore, of the sovereign, 

 afforded in general a salutarv relief to the great body of 

 the people. Ever after the successful war which termi- 

 nated with the capture of Pondicherry, the English were 

 the real masters of the Camatic, and held the nabob as 

 their vassal ; but he showed himself much dissatisfied with 

 his position, and contributed very little to their aid in the 



