e power of
protecting [practising?] both undetected.

"To display the arts employed by a native on such an occasion would
fill a volume. He discovers the secret resources of the zemindars
and renters, their enemies and competitors, and by the engines of
hope and fear raised upon these foundations he can work them to his
purpose. The Committee, with the best intentions, best abilities,
and steadiest application, must, after all, be a tool in the hand
of their dewan."

Here is the account of Mr. Hastings's new Committee of Revenue,
substituted in the place of an establishment made by act of Parliament.
Here is what he has substituted for Provincial Councils. Here is what he
has substituted in the room of the whole regular order of the service,
which he totally subverted. Can we add anything to this picture? Can we
heighten it? Can we do anything more than to recommend it to your
Lordships' serious consideration?

But before I finally dismiss this part of our charge, I must request
your Lordships' most earnest attention to the true character of these
atrocious proceedings, as they now stand proved before you, by direct or
the strongest presumptive evidence, upon the Company's records, and by
his own confessions and declarations, and those of his most intimate
friends and avowed agents.

Your Lordships will recollect, that, previously to the appointment of
Mr. Hastings to be the Governor-General, in 1772, the collection of the
revenues was committed to a naib dewan, or native collector, under the
control of the Supreme Council,--and that Mr. Hastings did at that time,
and upon various occasions afterwards, declare it to be his decided and
fixed opinion, that nothing would be so detrimental to the interests of
the Company, and to the happiness and welfare of the inhabitants of
their provinces, as changes, and more especially sudden changes, in the
collection of their revenues. His opinion was also most strongly and
reiteratedly pressed upon him by his masters, the Court of Directors.
The first step taken after his appointment was to abolish the office of
naib dewan, and to send a committee through the provinces, at the
expense of 50,000_l._ a year, to make a settlement of rents to be paid
by the natives for five years. At the same time he appointed one of the
Company's servants to be the collector in each province, and he
abolished the General Board of Revenue, which had been estab