登陆注册
4705400000270

第270章

There was still a nabob of Bengal, who stood to the English rulers of his country in the same relation in which Augustulus stood to Odoacer, or the last Merovingians to Charles Martel and Pepin. He lived at Moorshedabad, surrounded by princely magnificence. He was approached with outward marks of reverence, and his name was used in public instruments. But in the government of the country he had less real share than the youngest writer or cadet in the Company's service.

The English council which represented the Company at Calcutta was constituted on a very different plan from that which has since been adopted. At present the Governor is, as to all executive measures, absolute. He can declare war, conclude peace, appoint public functionaries or remove them, in opposition to the unanimous sense of those who sit with him in council. They are, indeed, entitled to know all that is done, to discuss all that is done, to advise, to remonstrate, to send protests to England. But it is with the Governor that the supreme power resides, and on him that the whole responsibility rests. This system, which was introduced by Mr. Pitt and Mr. Dundas in spite of the strenuous opposition of Mr. Burke, we conceive to be on the whole the best that was ever devised for the government of a country where no materials can be found for a representative constitution. In the time of Hastings the Governor had only one vote in council, and, in case of an equal division, a casting vote. It therefore happened not unfrequently that he was overruled on the gravest questions and it was possible that he might be wholly excluded, for years together, from the real direction of public affairs.

The English functionaries at Fort William had as yet paid little or no attention to the internal government of Bengal. The only branch of politics about which they much busied themselves was negotiation with the native princes. The police, the administration of justice, the details of the collection of revenue, were almost entirely neglected. We may remark that the phraseology of the Company's servants still bears the traces of this state of things. To this day they always use the word "political," as synonymous with "diplomatic." We could name a gentleman still living, who was described by the highest authority as an invaluable public servant, eminently fit to be at the head of the internal administration of a whole presidency, but unfortunately quite ignorant of all political business.

The internal government of Bengal the English rulers delegated to a great native minister, who was stationed at Moorshedabad. All military affairs, and, with the exception of what pertains to mere ceremonial, all foreign affairs, were withdrawn from his control; but the other departments of the administration were entirely confided to him. His own stipend amounted to near a hundred thousand pounds sterling a year. The personal allowance of the nabob, amounting to more than three hundred thousand pounds a year, passed through the minister's hands, and was, to a great extent, at his disposal. The collection of the revenue, the administration of justice, the maintenance of order, were left to this high functionary; and for the exercise of his immense power he was responsible to none but the British masters of the country.

A situation so important, lucrative, and splendid, was naturally an object of ambition to the ablest and most powerful natives.

Clive had found it difficult to decide between conflicting pretensions. Two candidates stood out prominently from the crowd, each of them the representative of a race and of a religion.

One of these was Mahommed Reza Khan, a Mussulman of Persian extraction, able, active, religious after the fashion of his people, and highly esteemed by them. In England he might perhaps have been regarded as a corrupt and greedy politician. But, tried by the lower standard of Indian morality, he might be considered as a man of integrity and honour.

His competitor was a Hindoo Brahmin whose name has by a terrible and melancholy event, been inseparably associated with that of Warren Hastings, the Maharajah Nuncomar. This man had played an important part in all the revolutions which, since the time of Surajah Dowlah, had taken place in Bengal. To the consideration which in that country belongs to high and pure caste, he added the weight which is derived from wealth, talents, and experience.

同类推荐
  • The Princess and the Goblin

    The Princess and the Goblin

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 内经知要

    内经知要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Another Study of Woman

    Another Study of Woman

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阿閦佛国经

    阿閦佛国经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Vicomte de Bragelonne

    The Vicomte de Bragelonne

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 宁夏长城

    宁夏长城

    本书属“塞上江南神奇宁夏”丛书之一,以宁夏境内长城为叙述对象,较为全面、详细地描述了宁夏境内长城的历史沿革、建筑形制、结构和材料等。书中附录的长城图片具有一定的价值。
  • 妖孽校草靠边站

    妖孽校草靠边站

    【苏爽甜宠√】【男强女强√】【日更不缀√】【禁止任何形式改编转载√】【感谢所有支持的读者大大萌√】【读者群:687811672】
  • 湖水幽蓝

    湖水幽蓝

    马笑泉,一九七八年出生于湖南省邵阳市隆回县。国家一级作家,中国作家协会会员,鲁迅文学院第八届高研班(青年作家班)、第二十八届高研班(深造班)学员。现为湖南省作协专业作家。作品发表于《当代》《收获》《天涯》《花城》《芙蓉》等刊,并被多种选刊选本转载。出版有长篇小说《愤怒青年》《银行档案》《巫地传说》,诗集《三种向度》。曾获《当代》文学奖、湖南青年文学奖。有部分作品被翻译成英、法文。湖水幽蓝,后山的杜鹃又一次盛开,流淌绯红的少女之血。两年中无数次行走在湖边,却是第一回来到湖上——我对于四面是水的境地总是心怀疑惧——但她坚持要来。
  • 玉清上宫科太真文

    玉清上宫科太真文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 王火文集·第一卷:战争和人①

    王火文集·第一卷:战争和人①

    《王火文集·第一卷·战争和人》收录了王火的代表作《战争和人》三部曲,分别为《月落乌啼霜满天》《山在虚无缥缈间》《枫叶荻花秋瑟瑟》,是世界反法西斯书系中的一部力作小说,以国民党上层官员、法学权威童霜威及其子童家霆的家庭变故和人生遭际为主线,展现了抗日战争时期南半个中国的全景画卷。核心人物童霜威由消极避难、保持名节到鄙弃国民党独裁统治、投入民主运动的行列。同时,成长为青年的童家霆,也在时代风云的锻造下义无反顾地投身光明。
  • 人人都能O2O

    人人都能O2O

    本书主要内容包括:O2O模式的另类实践者、海亮:全产业链打造生鲜O2O、嘉光汽修:一家汽车维修店的O2O尝试、车易安:O2O集成服务商、 波奇:从社区出发的全平台宠物电商、易淘食张洋:做外卖O2O的诀窍是打穿商家、黄韬:化妆品O2O需要平衡多方利益、365日历:信息与社区化的新模式、方回春堂溪百川:医药O2O的造粉路等。
  • 人一生要注意的50个细节

    人一生要注意的50个细节

    细节不容忽视,很多时候是细节决定成败。本书总结出决定人一生成败的50个细节,指出其对感情、生活、工作、处理等发挥的重大作用,并结合大量经典实例,有针对性地提出了把握这些细节的方法和窍门,使读者不仅能深刻地认为细节,提高人生境界,还能更好地抓住细节,最终达到成功目标。
  • 金玉良医

    金玉良医

    【清泉的新书《农家娇女》已经上传,请亲们多多支持!】现代医生成了冲喜媳妇,与娶她的庶子夫君两看两相厌。陆漫:手上的牌烂,可姐的医术高啊。你也无需委屈,还你自由,我也自由。委屈的庶子:娘子,那个契约,就不作数了吧。
  • 外省娃娃

    外省娃娃

    在轰轰烈烈的高考中,有一些孩子落寞得与众不同,他们从一个城市“ 返回”到另一个城市,他们在陌生的家乡开始陌生的生活,为了炎热时节终 须放手一搏的高考。他们有一个共同的名字,借读生。 《外省娃娃》作者(苏笑嫣)以本人亲身经历为背景,讲述了一个借读生 从北京返回家乡参加高考前后的心路历程。
  • 竹马黑化了肿么破

    竹马黑化了肿么破

    这是一篇宠文!!这是一篇宠文!!这是一篇宠文!!女主重生,没狗血的车祸,只是自己作死的,作者是女主亲妈!!男主前面天真单纯,(单蠢)后面腹黑病娇,(变态),不虐,欢迎入坑哦!!!么么哒