7 Go , E N G I 
Thus'terminated this extraordinary bufinefs; but, mod 
unfortunately for the rajah Cheyt Sing, on the firft intel¬ 
ligence of general Clavering’s advancement to the govern¬ 
ment, he had, with officious complaifance, deputed a 
vakeel, or ambaffador, to congratulate the new governor 
on his acceffion. This, Mr. Haftings, in his fubfequent 
juftification, urges as a prefumptive proof of the rajah’s 
difaftedtion to the Engliih government; and the affront 
thus offered to him appears to have rankled in his bofom, 
till he found a fit opportunity for gratifying his revenge. 
Confciousof his uncontroulable power, the governor pro- 
pofed in council, July 9th, 1778, fir John Clavering being 
deceafed, “ That the rajah of Benares fltould confent to 
the eftablifhment of three battalions of fepoyss to be raifed 
ffnd maintained at his own expence;” and, notwithftand- 
ing the alarm of the rajah at the firft intimation of this 
detign, and die vigorous oppofition of Mr. Francis and 
Mr. Wheeler, the refolve was carried into effedt by the 
Carting vote of the governor. The fum of five lacks of 
rupees, which was fuppofed to be equivalent to the ex¬ 
pence of raifing the three battalions, was demanded of the 
rajah to be paid in fpecie within five days; and in cafe of 
non-compliance, the refident, Fowke, was peremptorily 
enjoined to refrain from ail further intercourfe with him. 
The affrighted rajah paid the money without delay or 
liefitation. But the fame demand being renewed the fol¬ 
lowing year, he ventured to remind the governor, in a 
moft refpectful letter, “ that he was encouraged to be¬ 
lieve the former demand would not be drawn into prece¬ 
dent. I am therefore hopeful, (faid he,) you will be 
kindly pleafea to excufe me the five lacks now demanded, 
and that nothing may be demanded of me beyond the 
amount expreffed in the pottah.” In reply to this fub- 
mirtive application, the governor repeated his demand, 
that the rajah ffiould, without evafion or delay, pay the 
five lacks of rupees ; in cafe of his refufal, informing him 
that meafures would be taken to oblige him to a compli¬ 
ance. The third year, the fame demand being made, the 
rajah again entreated a remiflion, but without effedt; and 
as a puniffiment for his continued contumacy, the gover¬ 
nor-general, of his own authority, impofed upon him an 
additional fine or muldt of io,oool. Thefe outrages fail¬ 
ing to produce the effedt intended on the mild and timid 
temper of the rajah, a fudden demand was made, in ad¬ 
dition to the tribute and fubfidy, to provide a body of 
two thoufand cavalry for the fervice of the company. It 
was in vain that the rajah protefted he had no more than 
thirteen hundred horfe in his fervice; five hundred of 
which, and five hundred burkundaffes, or match-lock 
men, fhould be ready to march to whatever place they 
fhould be ordered. Mr. Haftings gave no anfwer what¬ 
ever to this reprefentation ; but declared, “ that he was 
determined to convert the faults of the rajah into a pub¬ 
lic benefit; that he would exacl the fum of 500,000!. as 
a puniffiment for his breach of engagements, and other 
afts of mifeonduft; and that if the rajah ffiould refufe 
the demand, he would deprive him of his government.” 
Mr. Barwell and Mr. Francis having by this time re¬ 
turned to England, and Mr. Wheeler only remaining in 
council, the foie refponfibility of the government cen¬ 
tered in Mr. Haftings. For the purpofe of executing 
more effedtually thefe preconcerted defigns, the governor 
determined upon a journey to Benares; previous to which 
he verted in himfelf, by a formal a< 51 , the entire powers 
of the fupreme council. At the eve of his departure, 
however, he informed Mr. Wheeler, “ that the offences 
of the rajah required puniffiment ; and, as his wealth Was 
great , and the company’s exigencies prefling, it was a 
meafure of policy and juftice to exadt from him a large 
pecuniary muldt for their relief.” On the entrance of the 
governor-general into the province, he was met by the 
rajah in perfon, with a magnificent attendance. Never- 
thelefs, to ffiew his confidence in the juftice of the go¬ 
vernor, he entered alone the pinnace in which the gover- 
> A N D. 
nor had proceeded up the Ganges, and, in a lowly and 
fuppliant manner, putting his turban in his lap, entreated 
his favour. He was, however, repulfed with contempt; 
and on the arrival of the governor at Benares, he re¬ 
ceived an injunction from Mr. Haftings, not to enter his 
prefence without his permiflion. 
On the fucceeding day, the governor fent articles of 
accufation in writing to the rajah, importing, 1. That he 
had endeavoured to excite diforders in the government on 
which he depended. 2. That he had fuffered with im¬ 
punity the perpetration of robberies and murders, even 
in the ftreets of Benares, to the great and public fcandal 
of the Engliffi name. 3. That he had delayed the pay¬ 
ment of the funis required of him for the company’s fer¬ 
vice; and, 4. That he had not complied with the demand 
of cavalry: all of which amounted, as the governor af- 
ferted, to a diredt charge of difaftedtion to the govern¬ 
ment on which the rajah depended ; and to thefe articles 
of impeachment he demanded an immediate anfwer. On 
the evening of the fame day, the rajah lent in his defence, 
denying, in the moft pofitive manner, the truth of the 
aForefaid articles : “ My enemies, (faid he,) with a view 
to my ruin, have made falfe reprefentations to you. Now 
that, happily for me, you have yourfelf arrived at this 
place, you will be able to afeertain all the circumftances. 
1. Relative to the horfe. 2. To my people going to Cal¬ 
cutta. 3. The dates of the receipts of the particular fums 
above-mentioned. I have never fwerved in the fmalleft: 
degree from my duty to you. It remains with you to de¬ 
cide on all thefe matters. I am in every thing your Have. 
What is juft 1 have reprefented to you. May your prof- 
. perity increafe!” At this reply the governor expreffed 
great wrath, declaring it to be lefs a vindication of the 
rajah than a recrimination on him; and that it was couched 
in terms of defiance, manifefting a dangerous fpirit off in¬ 
dependency. 
In confequence of the rajah’s offenfive conduct, Mr. 
Haftings conceived himfelf obliged to adopt fome deci- 
five plan; and an order was therefore immediately iffued 
to put the rajah under an arreft in his own palace. To 
this indignity the rajah, flipeked as he appeared to be, 
fubmitted with the moft paflive humility. “ He hoped, 
(he faid,) that the governor would allow him a fubfift- 
ence in confideration of his father’s fervices; but as for 
his zemindary, his foris, and his treafures, he was ready 
to lay them at his feet, and his life, if required.” Being 
at once dejedted with the ignominy, and difmayed with 
the danger of his fituation, furrounded by a guard of fe- 
poys with their fwords drawn, he wrote to the governor, 
“ Whateverbe your pleafure, do it with your.own hands. 
I am your (lave. What occafion can there be for a guard ? 
It depends on you alone to take away, or not to take away, 
the country out of my hands.” The higheft alarm being 
excited in the city of Benares, by this arreft of the rajah, 
great numbers of people affembled round the palace, nor 
could the earned and repeated entreaties of their prince 
reftrain them from ails of violence ; and believing the 
perfon of the rajah, who was much beloved by his fub- 
jedls, to be expofed to extreme hazard, they at length 
broke through the enclofure, and falling fuddenly upon 
the guard of fepoys and Engliffi officers, nearly the whole 
were cut to pieces. In the tumult the rajah made his 
efcape over the walls of his palace by means of a cord 
formed of turbans tied together; and, crofting the Ganges 
in a boat, fled to a place of refuge, whence he directed a 
fuppliant letter to Mr. Haftings, to which the governor 
affirmed “ he did not think it becoming him to reply.” 
The troops in the province of Benares being quickly 
reinforced, the territories of the rajah were immediately 
attacked, and completely reduced. The rajah having 
himfelf made his efcape to the camp of the Mahrattas, 
orders were given by Mr. Haftings to feize upon the 
fortrefs of Bidjegur, the refidence of the Rannee Fauna, 
mother of Cheyt Sing, reprefented as a woman Angularly 
amiable 
