exchanged a precarious and unsettled revenue, for a fixed income, not subject to diminution from any eventual failure in the resources of the state or seasons: the jaghirders and pensioners were well pleased at receiving their allowances, free from the peculation, extortion, and usury practised by officers of native governments on the dependants of the court; universal satisfaction prevailed in the country at the changes effected; except with those unprincipled persons, who had wormed themselves into the favour of the young nawaub, by an obsequious condescension in administering to all his excesses; and whose hopes of future greatness rested on the plunder of their country, when employed under his administration.

The lieutenant-governor recommended to the supreme government the appointment of a person to reside at Furruckabad, as their agent for superintending the payment of pensions, collecting the revenue, and investigating, in conjunction with the nawaub, (as per article 5 of the treaty) the titles of several jaghirdars and pensioners. Mr. Groeme Mercer was appointed to that important situation; but the authority of judge and magistrate still vested in the collector of Etawah.

The confidence of the zemindars, farmers, and ryots of this province, in the protection and encouragement of the British government, produced an immediate rise of nearly one-fourth in their proposals for the jamma, of the first year, which was collected without the slightest appearance of disturbance, while for several prior years, at the season of collecting the revenue, there were constant revolts; and the collections could only be made at the point of the bayonet ;-a convincing proof of what may be effected by a mild and efficient system of government, on a ferocious and hitherto untractable people, who constantly resisted every effort of their former rulers, for introducing reformation in the police of the country.

The nawaub, at an interview with the honourable the lieutenantgovernor, shortly previous to the time his excellency resigned the government of the ceded provinces, expressed himself highly gratified by the arrangements which had taken place; and his respectable appearance, surrounded by his family and dependants, formed a true criterion to judge of the truth of his declaration.

For promoting a free intercourse among the people of the mountainous country about Goruckpoor and Rohilcund, which is thinly inhabited, the lieutenant-governor established periodical fairs, to which he

sent

sent part of the company's investment in woollens and metals, under' the superintendence of proper cfficers: the fairs are numerously attended by traders from the surrounding country, and a new mart is opened for circulating the company's'commodities in their newly-acquired territories, and introducing them into the adjacent states; a spirit of commercial enterprize is awakened in the people; and the best information will soon be obtained of the resources of, the country.

Several zemindars in the ceded provinces, with whom the lieutenantgovernor made no settlement the first year those provinces were transferred to the British government, but whose jumma and sayr duties were continued, as returned by the nawaub vizier's aumils, manifested a disinclination to come to an equitable settlement for the jumma and sayr duties of their respective zemindaries, at the time of settling for the second year. Bugwunt Sing, rajah of Sassnee and Bidjeghur, in the Doab, whose power and influence placed him at the head of this description of landholders, gradually raised himself to power and consideration, through the weakness of the governments of the late nawaub viziers, by whom he was allowed to retain two strong mud forts, and twenty thousand followers, which enabled him to enforce arbitrary exactions from travellers and traders, passing through his talook, and successfully resist the orders of the former government of Oude. Emboldened by successful resistance to the orders of the former supreme government, he refused to separate the sayr duties of his zemindary from the jumma, and proposed for both a rent less than half the value. The collector of Etawah (in whose district this talook is situated) offered him the jumma and sayr duties considerably under the actual value, but refused to treat for them separately; and, as Bugwunt Sing would not depart from his proffered terms, the collector did not feel himself justified in sacrificing the just demands of the company without the consent of the honourable the lieutenant-governor, to whom he communicated the particulars of the case, with his opinion on it, and the data on which this opinion was founded.

The lieutenant-governor informed Bugwunt Sing, that he was aware of the advantageous offers already made to him by the collector of Etawah, from which the British government would not depart; and, in case he did not think proper to accede to those terms, to resign possession of the forts of Sassnee and Bidjeghur, to a party of British troops which would be detached for the purpose of occupying those places; and

that

that a refusal, or delay in putting the British troops into possession of the forts must be considered and treated as an unequivocal act of rebellion against the just authority of the British government.

Bugwunt Sing peremptorily refused taking the sayr duties but on his own terms, and signified his willingness to resign the forts. A party of British troops, under the command of a British officer, arrived at Sassnee; the rajah suffered the officer, and part of the troops, to enter the outward gate, and used various artifices to induce him to enter the inner fort without the troops, which he peremptorily refused, as contrary to practice on such occasions. An hour was spent in messages between the officer and the rajah, when a shot was suddenly fired from the fort, and the officer desired to retire, which he did under a discharge of artillery and small arms from the fort. The question now at issue was not the common case of landlord and tenant, but whether an overgrown chieftain, who had in the most treacherous manner commenced rebellion, should escape with impunity, and retain in his hands the certain means of future resistance, and dictate, at the point of the sword, his own terms of obedience; or, the supreme government, by chastising his audacity, prevent a recurrence of similar resistance in other vassals. The latter was considered the most proper course of proceeding by the lieutenant-governor, the commander-in-chief, Lord Lake, and, finally, by the supreme government. Therefore, on the 12th December, 1802, a large force, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Blair, was ordered to besiege the fort of Sassnee, and commence active operations. The garrison defended the place bravely, and made, several sorties, but were always repulsed with great slaughter. On the 15th January, 1803, the breach was considered practicable, an assault made and supported with great gallantry, and the Sepoys sustained a galling fire on the ladders with the utmost steadiness; but, owing to the sinking of the ladders in the mud, the attacking party was forced to retire, with the loss of some valuable officers. General St. John arrived at the siege with a considerable reinforcement, and assumed the command. Several outposts were successfully stormed, but the garrison continued an obstinate defence.

The commander-in-chief, aware of the importance of reducing this fortress, repaired to the siege; and, observing that the batteries were placed too distant from the fort to produce all the desired effect, ordered the approaches to be continued, and batteries erected two hundred yards

nearer

nearer the fort, which was now invested as close as possible. Preparation was made for storming the place, when the garrison, taking advantage of the darkness of the night of the 11th Feb. evacuated the fort, and escaped without loss or discovery.

The commander-in-chief garrisoned Sassnee, and proceeded to the fort of Bidjeghur, then commanded by the Killehdar Rajah Ram Chobbie, a servant of Rajah Bugwunt Sing; when summoned to surrender, he refused, except by the order of Bugwunt Sing, and desired time sufficient to have his master's directions for the guidance of his own conduct: this was treated as it should be; operations commenced, and the fort was gallantly defended. On the night of the fifth day, the garrison was very early discovered evacuating the fort; the pursuit was continued for several miles, great numbers were killed and taken prioners; but the principal leaders effected their escape into the Mahratta country. In taking possession of the fort, a magazine of powder exploded, by which a very meritorious officer, lieutenant-colonel Gordon, of the artillery, several Sepoys, and others were killed.

A proclamation was issued offering a reward for the apprehension of Bugwunt Sing; and his estate confiscated to the use of the British government, a settlement for which was made for three years, at upwards of one lac of rupees per year.

By the reduction and final expulsion of this refractory chieftain, the quiet of the surrounding country was preserved; and other zemindars, who had already evinced unequivocal symptoms of disaffection, prevented from breaking out into open rebellion; and the settlement of the ensuing jumma throughout the ceded provinces effected, and the collections made without disturbance. The affair of Sassnee was the last occurrence of note in the ceded provinces, in the administration of Mr. Wellesley, who, having secured the gradual improvement of the country, by a mild. and equitable system for the administration of justice, the collection of the revenues, the management of commercial affairs, and the happiness and prosperity of the people, consulting in all his measures the high character and integrity of the British government, resigned the situation of lieutenant-governor of those provinces, and quitted India, on his return to Europe, in March, 1803. His conduct, in this important situation, received the unqualified approbation of the court of directors, and of the king's government; and, on his resignation of his charge, addresses of the most cordial and respectful description were presented to him by all the respectable natives, and European gentlemen, who had been subject to his authority.

The interest which was excited in the public mind, by the inquiry that disclosed the circumstances of the negotiation between the Supreme Government in India and the Nawaub Vizier of Oude, induced the late Mr. Campbell to defer the subject, of which he gave notice in vol. 7 of this work, relative to "the circumstances which led to the war with Holkar, and the detail of its military operations." The History of Oude being now concluded, as far as it is connected with the papers presented to the honourable the House of Commons, in the course of that inquiry, we intend, in the next volume, to fulfil the engagement of the late Editor to the Public.