E N G I 
and extended Operations. Calling his eyes around, the 
governor-general at length fixed them on the territory of 
Benares, a province depending on the vizierate of Oude, 
highly cultivated and populous, and the capital city of 
which, fituated oh the Ganges, has for ages been regarded 
by the Hindoos as a place of peculiar and indelible fanc- 
tity, as the feat and centre of their fcience, their laws, 
their philofophy, and religion. The late rajah of Be¬ 
nares, Bulwant Sing, during the wars between the vizier 
and the company, had zealoufly attached himfelf to the 
Englilh intereft ; and the court of directors, in their letter 
of May 26, 1768, acknowledge “ the fignal fervices he 
had rendered them; and they exprefs their hope, that 
the attention paid to thofe who have efpoufed their inte- 
refts in this war will reftore their reputation in Hindooftan, 
and that the Indian powers will be convinced that no 
breach of treaty will ever have their faifttion.” 
Two years after this, Bulwant Sing died, leaving the 
fucceflion to his fon, Cheyt Sing; and the council of 
Calcutta, Mr. Cartier being then prefident, interpofed 
their influence and authority at the court of Lucknow, 
in order to procure from the vizier juft and reafonable 
terms of fiettlement. It was finally agreed, that the rajah 
fiiould pay to the vizier a pelhculh, or fine, equivalent to 
about 200,oool. and that an annual advance of 30,0001. 
Ihould be made to the dated tribute. A folemn deed of 
confirmation was then palled by the vizier, and the rajah 
waS invefted with the government, amid-the loud accla¬ 
mations of a numerous and happy pe >ple. *In 1773, at 
the immediate inftance of Mr. Haftings, this grant was 
anew confirmed and ratified by the vizier, with the addi¬ 
tional and exprefs provilion, that no increafe of tribute 
Ihall ever hereafter be demanded ; and that the govern¬ 
ment of Benares Ihall defcend, on the terms of this agree¬ 
ment, to the heirs of the prefent rajah. 
The governor-general, knowing the enmity which had 
long fubfifted between the vizier and the la • rajah, de¬ 
clared himfelf “ to be well convinced that tite rajah’s 
inheritance, and perhaps his life, are no longer fare than 
while he enjoys the company’s prote£tion, which is his 
due by the ties f juftice, md the obligations of rublic 
faith.” In the.following year, 1774, the governor-gene¬ 
ral and council-obtained the aftignment of the fovereignty 
paramount 01 .. province of Benares, by treaty with the 
nabob vizier of Oude, “ without any encroachment (to 
adopt the words of the a£l of council) on the juft rights 
of tire rajah, or the engagements adtually fublifting with 
him.” And at the exprefs recommendation of Mr. 
Haftings, by a new grant, further privileges were con¬ 
ferred upon the rajah, viz. the fovereignty of the mint, 
and the rights of criminal juftice in the laft refort; the 
governor, in the record of this tranfadtion in the council- 
book, making ufe of thefe remarkable words : “ The 
rajah of Benares, from the fituation of his country, which 
is a frontier to the provinces of Oude and Bahar, may be 
made a ferviceable ally to the company ; but, to infure 
his attachment, his iiitereft muft be connected with it, 
which cannot be better effedted than by freeing him to¬ 
tally from the remains of his prefent vaftalage, under the 
guarantee and protection of the company ; and, at the 
fame time, guarding him againft any apprehenlions from 
this government, by thus pledging its faith, that no en¬ 
croachment fliall ever be made on his rights by the com¬ 
pany.” Such were, at this period, the good-will and 
generofity of Mr. Haftings, that he propofed to receive 
the tribute of the rajah, amounting to 26o,oool. perann. 
punctually and cheerfully paid in monthly afteffments; 
not at Benares, but at Patna, the neareft provincial ftation, 
“left the prefence of a refident Ihould in any manner 
fruftrate the intention of rendering the rajah independent; 
eventually reducing him (as Mr. Haltings’s iolicitude 
apprehended) to the mean and depraved ftate of a mere 
zemindar.” Amongft the prefents privately received 
by Mr. Haftings, on this occafion, as he acknowledges, 
AND. 759 
was the fum of 23,000!. or two lacks of rupees, from the 
rajah Cheyt Sing. 
In this ftate things remained till, in the year 1777, the 
rajah had the misfortune to give great offence to the go¬ 
vernor-general ; an offence, however, unintentional, but 
for which his final ruin only could atone. In order to 
comprehend the nature of his delinquency, it is neceffary 
to obferve, that in the ceurfe of the preceding year, 
1776, Mr. Haftings had, in his private and confidential 
correfpondence, authorifed Mr. Maclean, his agent in 
England, to fignify to the court of direftors his defire to 
refign his office, and to requeft their nomination of a fuc- 
ceftor to the vacancy which would be thereby occafioned 
in the fupreme council. The court, after appointing a 
committee to examine into the powers velted in Mr. 
Maclean, unanimoufly refolved to accept the faid refig- 
nation, and named Mr. Wheeler to fill the vacancy occa¬ 
fioned by the fame. A regular notification of this ac¬ 
ceptance was immediately tranfmitted to India, and the 
diipatches were read in council, June 19, 1777. Mr. 
Haftings obferving a profound lilence on the fubjett of 
thefe difpatches, general Clavering addrelfed a letter to 
him on the following day, containing a formal requifi- 
tion to the governor-general, to furrender the keys of 
Fort William, and of the company’s treafury. But Mr. 
Haftings, affedting furprife and indignation, peremptorily 
refilled to comply with this demand ; denying that his 
office was vacant; alferting that Mr. Maclean had ex¬ 
ceeded his powers, and declaring his refolutihn to maintain 
his authority by every legal means. General Clavering, 
on the contrary, conceiving the office to be irrevocably 
vacated, and that he himfelf had legally fucceeded to the 
government, ilfued fummonfes to the other members of 
tile council, Mr. Barwell, and Mr. Francis, and in the 
prefence of Mr. Francis, took the oaths as governor-ge¬ 
neral. On the other hand, Mr. Haftings, l'upported by 
Mr. Barwell, ift'ued directions to the commandant of the 
garrifon of Fort William, to the provincial councils, and 
to the officers on the different military ftations, enjoining 
them, at their peril, to obey no orders but fuch as Ihould 
be figned by him, or a majority of his council. Sir John 
Clavering, perceiving that Mr. Haftings was determined 
rather to rifk a civil war than to refign the government, 
propofed a reference to the fupreme court of judicature ; 
to which Mr. Haftings, confiding in the known integrity 
of fir Elijah Impev, readily conlenting, a decifion was 
given in favour of Mr. Haftings. 
But thiiFjudicial confirmation of his authority, by no 
means fatisfied Mr. Haftings. Omitting, therefore, to 
fummon fir John Clavering and Mr. Francis to the next 
meeting of council, the governor, fupported only by Mr. 
Barwell, entered in the council-book a formal refolve, 
importing, “ that general Clavering having ufurped the 
prefidency of Bengal, had thereby relinquilhed and va¬ 
cated the office of fenior counfellor and commander-in- 
chief of the company’s forces; and that, for the preferva- 
tion of the legality of their proceedings, the faid general 
Clavering be not in future fummoned or admitted as a 
member of the council.” This refolve was notified to 
fir John Clavering, and iffued in general orders to the 
officers civil and military of the three provinces. At the 
enfuing meeting of council, Mr. Francis moved the re- 
verfal of thefe proceedings ; but Mr. Haftings declared 
his determination to adhere to them, faying, “That they 
were not the precipitate effects of an inftant and paffionate 
impulfe, but the fruits of long and temperate delibera¬ 
tion, and of the ftri&eft fenfe of public duty.” The 
chief-juftice Impey, however, having his reafons for de¬ 
clining to lupport the governor in this exercife of his 
public duty, Mr. Haftings thought proper to move a fub- 
lequent resolution in council, conformably to the advice 
of the judges, “ That all parties be replaced in the lame 
fituation in which they flood before the receipt of the laft 
advices from England.” 
Thus 
