Gunga Govind Sing was fortified 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 Suntoe, &c., during the lifetime of Sumboonant, the zemindar, in 1167, all without right, title, or pecuniary consideration?  This has been the case with many purgunnahs in his zemindary, and indeed exists in many other zemindaries besides since the Company’s accession.  Ramkissen, in 1172, got possession of Nurrulloor, the zemindary of Mahomed Ali.  The purgunnah of Ichanguipore, &c., was in three divisions in 1173.  The petition of Govind Deo Sheopersaud was made over to the son of Bousser Chowdry, possessor of the third share.  Purgunnah Baharbund belonged to the zemindary of Ranny Bhowanny, and in 1180 was made over to Lucknaut Nundy.  All these changes took place in the lifetime of the rightful possessors, without right, title, or purchase.”