acted their own terms, and the districts they
farmed were most cruelly oppressed. The revenue of Rohilcund is
reduced above a third, and Almas Ali Khan's administration is well
known to have been extremely violent."

We will next read to your Lordships an extract from Captain Edwards's
evidence.

"_Q._ Had you any opportunity of observing the general face of the
country in the time of Sujah Dowlah?--_A._ I had.--_Q._ Did you
remark any difference in the general state of the country at that
time and the period when you made your latter observation?--did you
observe any difference between the condition of the country at that
time, that of Sujah Dowlah in the year 1774, and the latter period
you have mentioned?--_A._ I did,--a very material difference.--_Q._
In what respect?--_A._ In the general aspect that the country bore,
and the cultivation of the country,--that it was infinitely better
cultivated in 1774 than it was in 1783.--_Q._ You said you had no
opportunity of observing the face of the country till you was
appointed aide-de-camp to the Nabob?--_A._ No,--except by marching
and countermarching. I marched in the year 1774 through the Nabob
Sujah ul Dowlah's provinces into Rohilcund.--_Q._ Had you those
opportunities from the time of your going there in 1774?--_A._ I
had; but not so much as I had after being appointed aide-de-camp to
the Vizier, because I was always before in a subordinate situation:
I marched in a direct line before, with the troops; but afterwards,
when I was aide-de-camp to his Excellency, I was my own master, and
made frequent excursions into the different parts of the
country.--_Q._ Had you an opportunity of observing the difference in
the general happiness and disposition of the people?--_A._ I
had.--_Q._ Did you observe a difference in that respect also between
your first coming and the year 1783?--_A._ Yes, a very sensible
difference: in Sujah ul Dowlah's time the country was in a very
flourishing state, in merchandise, cultivation, and every article of
commerce, and the people then seemed to be very happy under his
government, which latterly was not the case; because the country in
reality appeared in the year 1774 in a flourishing state, and in the
year 1783 it appeared comparatively forlorn and desolate.--_Q._ Was
the court of Asoph ul Dowlah, when you