DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3461#0232
WHAT IS TO BE DONE? 217
ness " would have become tbe centre of disaffection—
liis dwelling a nucleus of revolt. Yet such has been
the policy observed by the East India Company towards
the potentates whom they have superseded. The
blind old king of Delhi, whom they liberated in 1803,
from the hands of the Mahrattas, was replaced in his
gorgeous palace, allowed to assume his rank and titles,
and granted a pension of 150.000Z. per annum. Until
1827, the British even acknowledged their vassalage
to the Court of Delhi! The successors of the old
lung have always maintained a certain consequence,
and their abode has been the rendezvous of thousands
of the lowest and fiercest classes, encouraged by the
idle and sensual offspring of the royal zenanas. In like
manner the beautiful province of Oude has, until very
recently, been governed by an independent Nawaub.
He, and his immediate ancestry, had been the viziers
and ministers of the " Great Mogul," administering
affairs in his name. A succession of hostilities to the
British government led to the limitation of the power
of the Nawaub, and the cession of the revenues of part
of his territory; but in 1819, this Nawaub assumed
the title of " King," and from that time, until within
the last two or three years, has been a source of dis-
quietude and trouble to the East India Company. In
consideration of loans granted to the Company from the
coffers of Oude, he was suffered to exercise independent
authority within his own dominions, the government
of India only being permitted to interfere by its Resi-
dent or representative with advice, which was rarely
accepted. But the system of government was so bad—
oppression, corruption, and intrigue became so rife—
that Oude soon fell into the most miserable state of
decrepitude. It was the focus of sensuality and vice
of every description. Each man in office plundered his
neighbour; the landholders were ground down by
exaction, life and property rendered insecure, and the
ness " would have become tbe centre of disaffection—
liis dwelling a nucleus of revolt. Yet such has been
the policy observed by the East India Company towards
the potentates whom they have superseded. The
blind old king of Delhi, whom they liberated in 1803,
from the hands of the Mahrattas, was replaced in his
gorgeous palace, allowed to assume his rank and titles,
and granted a pension of 150.000Z. per annum. Until
1827, the British even acknowledged their vassalage
to the Court of Delhi! The successors of the old
lung have always maintained a certain consequence,
and their abode has been the rendezvous of thousands
of the lowest and fiercest classes, encouraged by the
idle and sensual offspring of the royal zenanas. In like
manner the beautiful province of Oude has, until very
recently, been governed by an independent Nawaub.
He, and his immediate ancestry, had been the viziers
and ministers of the " Great Mogul," administering
affairs in his name. A succession of hostilities to the
British government led to the limitation of the power
of the Nawaub, and the cession of the revenues of part
of his territory; but in 1819, this Nawaub assumed
the title of " King," and from that time, until within
the last two or three years, has been a source of dis-
quietude and trouble to the East India Company. In
consideration of loans granted to the Company from the
coffers of Oude, he was suffered to exercise independent
authority within his own dominions, the government
of India only being permitted to interfere by its Resi-
dent or representative with advice, which was rarely
accepted. But the system of government was so bad—
oppression, corruption, and intrigue became so rife—
that Oude soon fell into the most miserable state of
decrepitude. It was the focus of sensuality and vice
of every description. Each man in office plundered his
neighbour; the landholders were ground down by
exaction, life and property rendered insecure, and the