ntment, _I found every place through which I
passed abandoned; nor had there been a man left in any of them for their
protection_. I am sorry to add, _that, from Buxar to the opposite
boundary, I have seen nothing but traces of complete devastation in
every village: whether caused by the followers of the troops which have
lately passed, for their natural relief, (and I know not whether my own
may not have had their share,)_ or from the apprehensions of the
inhabitants left to themselves, and of themselves deserting their
houses. I wish to acquit my own countrymen of the blame of these
unfavorable appearances, and in my own heart I do acquit them; for at
one encampment a crowd of people came to me complaining that _their new
aumil (collector), on the approach of any military detachment, himself
first fled from the place; and the inhabitants, having no one to whom
they could apply for redress, or for the representation of their
grievances, and being thus remediless, fled also; so that their houses
and effects became a prey to any person who chose to plunder them_. The
general conclusion appeared to me an inevitable consequence from such a
state of facts; and my own senses bore testimony to it in this specific
instance: nor do I know how it is possible for any officer commanding a
military party, how attentive soever he may be to the discipline and
forbearance of his people, to prevent disorders, _when there is neither
opposition to hinder nor evidence to detect them_. These and many other
irregularities I impute _solely_ to the Naib, and recommend his instant
removal. I cannot help remarking, that, except the city of Benares, _the
province is in effect without a government. The administration of the
province is misconducted, and the people oppressed, trade discouraged,
and the revenue in danger of a rapid decline, from the violent
appropriation of its means._"

That the said Warren Hastings did recommend to the Council, for a remedy
of the disorders and calamities which had arisen from his own acts,
dispositions, and appointments, that the administrator aforesaid should
be instantly removed from his office,--attributing the aforesaid
"irregularities, _and many others, solely_ to him," although, on his own
representation, it does appear that he was the sole cause of the
irregularities therein described. Neither does it appear that the
administrator, so by the said Hastings nominated and removed, was
properly charged and ca