ied by the opinion, that the Governor,
though departed, virtually resided in that country. God grant that his
power may be extirpated out of it now! I doubt it; but, most assuredly,
it was residing in its plenitude when he departed from thence; and there
was not a man in India who was not of opinion, either that he was
actually to return to govern India again, or that his power is such in
England as that he might govern it here. And such were the hopes of
those who had intentions against the estates of others. Gunga Govind
Sing, therefore, being pressed to the wall by this declaration of the
Rajah's relation, when he could say nothing against it, when it was
clear and manifest, and there were only impudent barefaced denials, and
asseverations against facts which carried truth with themselves, did not
in his answer pretend to say that a zemindary might be parted without
the consent of the government, that a minor might be deprived of it,
that the next relation had a power of disposing of it. He did indeed
say, but nobody believed him, that he had used no force upon this
relation; but as every one knew the act would be void, he was driven to
Mr. Hastings's great refuge,--he was driven to say, "The government in
this country has arbitrary power; the power of government is everything,
the right of the subject nothing; they have at all times separated
zemindaries from their lawful proprietors. Give me what Mr. Hastings has
constantly given to other people without any right, or shadow or
semblance of right at all." God knows, it is well that I walk with my
authority in my hand; for there are such crimes, such portentous,
incredible crimes, to be brought before your Lordships, that it would
hardly be believed, were it not that I am constantly, as I hope I shall
constantly be, guarded with evidence, and that the strongest that can
be, even the evidence of the parties themselves.

"From your inquiry," Gunga Govind Sing says to the Council, "every
circumstance will appear in its true colors. With respect to the
alienation of parts of zemindaries, the extent and consequence of the
great zemindars depend in a great measure on the favor and countenance
of the ruling powers. By what means did this zemindar of Dinagepore get
possession of Purgunnah Buttassim after the death of Rycobad Chowdry in
1158, of Purgunnah Coolygong after the death of Sahebrance Chowderanne
in the same year, notwithstanding his heirs existed, and of Purgunnah