He was not so cautious in ofter parts of his behaviour. Fond of obliging and gratifying his friends and acquaintances, he was so careful of his character, that he compassed his end, without committing any infidelities in the management of the public money, from which, he abstained religiously; but as his salary, and personal income, fell so very short of his expenses; and he was often in the necessity of bestowing sums of money on some Englishmen, recommended by the rulers of that nation, and likewise of supplying the difference betwixt his income and his expenses; he made use of two methods, equally improper, Iniquitous methods used by Shytab-ráy, to support his expenses. and iniquitous, to fill the chasm. The first was, that in matters of Atlac, (which word signifies the sending one or two constables for compelling payment of sums due to the treasury), he used to send them by whole dozens at a time; and as the debtors are always obliged to find these people in diet-money; he used to enter but a small part of it in the books of public receipt, and to keep the remainder, as a supply for his liberalities. His second method was no less iniquitous. He used to bring under contribution, the possessors of Djaghirs, Altumgas, and other freeholds, by telling them, that such an Englishman wanted to see their charters and vouchers; and when he had once got them in his possession, (and this was always in that Englishman’s name) he used to put those vouchers in the hands of one of his own dependants, or heads of office, who, without any possible reason or justice, would exact from each incumbent or possessor, a sum of money proportionable to his income. After this he got together all those contributions, which amounted to a large sum, and bestowed them on the Englishman that had been recommended to him. In this manner, he seemed wholly occupied by the thoughts of keeping the individuals of that nation in good humour; but without ever minding the Divine resentment, in an affair of so much consequence. Doubtless, it is on such sorts of men, that historians have made such severe remarks; and it is such men as these which Sheh-saady, of Shyraz, had in view, in his G8listan*, when he says, “That whenever any one forgets himself so far as to postpone the Creator’s service, to that of the creature’s, it happens soon or late that God Almighty sets that very creature on him, so as to cut off the root of his well-being.” An observation which has been but too visibly verified in Shytab-ráy’s case, who to oblige those that had hoodwinked their hearts, and shut up their ears and eyes against God’s eternal justice, made no scruple of vexing and oppressing His creatures. It is from those very persons, whom he wanted to keep in good humour, that his ruin took its origin at last, and as it was under pretence of Atlacs, that is, of letting loose a number of exactors, that he ransacked, tormented, and ruined such a number of innocent, deserving men, so it was by falling himself in the miseries of such an Atlac or looseness, that he lost the garment of his existence, and was forced to set out for the other world; where no one, but the Searcher of all Secrets, can know what may now be his fate; although nothing is more certain than what we read in the Holy Writ, where we find that His forgiveness is always greater than our demerits.
Radja Shitab-ráy was hardly arrived at Azim-abad, when Governor Hushtin resolved to go to Banaress, to meet Shudjah-ed-döwlah. The fifteenth of the second Reby he was arrived at Moorshood-abad; and at the end of that month, or at the A. D. 1773. beginning of the first Djemady, in the year 1187 of the Hedjrah, he was arrived at Azym-abad, where he proposed to Shytab-ráy to accompany him in his journey. But this Minister, who was now on the wing for the regions of eternity, excused himself upon the ill state of health under which he really laboured, and did not accept the proposal. The Governor, after a stay of two days, pursued his journey to Banaress, where he met Shudjah-ed-döwlah, who was come thither also to see him, and where he finished the business for which he had come so far; and it was there likewise that the new Zemindar, Radja Chéyt-sing, son to Radja Bulvant-sing, which latter departed this life a little time before, had his first interview with Shudjah-ed-döwlah, by the Governor’s mediation; who having firmly established him in his Zemindary of Banaress, took his leave, and returned to Azym-abad, a little time after Radja Shytab-ráy had departed this world. It was about the middle of the second Djemady, in the same year.
Although this man’s principles, as well as those of his sons, were much more consonant to the Mussulman religion, than to the Gentoo tenets, yet for fear of disobliging his relations and kindred, and also out of regard to some other considerations, his body was burnt to ashes, in compliance with the Gentoo custom. The Governor, to shew that he entertained no disinclination to the deceased, and to prove that he retained no suspicion against his fidelity, took care, of his own motion, to bestow the father’s office on his son, Radja Calyan-sing; although the latter did not shew that capacity and fitness which might have been expected from a man of his age and education. He confirmed likewise to him his father’s salary and his Djaghirs; and he also increased the pension allowed to his mother, relict of Radja Shytab-ráy. But at the same time he suppressed the twenty-five thousand rupees a month, hitherto allowed for the charges of the Nizamet, and which were in his father’s disposal. Instead of that, he fixed such a sum of money as he thought proper, and directed, that it should be managed henceforward, wholly by the Council. And having further made some additions and some retrenchments in the several pensions paid by Government, (which last he appointed to be disbursed by the Council and by the Qhalissah office) he set out in all haste for Calcutta, it being his custom to dispatch much business in the least time possible.
Mahmed-reza-qhan forsaken by every one, in his confinement at Calcutta; but supported by Aalyhibrahim-Mahmed-reza-qhan meanwhile, under all the terrors of arrest and confinement, was in continual alarms, and in great distress of mind. He was friendless, and without an adviser; deserted likewise by most of his men of business, to whose treason indeed he had afforded some pretence by his former carelessness, and his neglect of their welfare. The Divan or Minister of his heart, Amret-sing, was a young man of unequal temper, proud of his wealth, averse to men of honour or penetration, hating cordially whoever pretended to any thing like fidelity and scrupulousness, and withal destitute himself of that capacity requisite in those matters properly of his resort; such as examining papers, and auditing accounts. On the other hand, every one, tired this longwhile with Mahmed-reza-qhan’s haughtiness, as well as exasperated at the violence of his temper, and at his abusive language, went his own way, glad to have got so easy a riddance. Nay Amret-sing himself, that darling of his heart, under a feint of disclosing some secret which he knew, obtained a full clearance and acquittal from his doating master*; and he retired to enjoy his own ease in a house which he took in Calcutta. Not one at that time thought of Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, who, however unacquainted with the records and papers relative to past transactions; however uninformed in matters concerning the revenue and collections; however unapprised of the accusations brought against Mahmed-reza-qhan; however almost a stanger to him; resolved to come to his assistance; and without having ever benefited any thing by Mahmed-reza-qhan’s full power and influence, he paid so much regard to his misfortune and to the very name of friend, that he tucked up the hem of exertion and zeal, into the zone of activity and vigour; and having in a little time acquired a full knowledge of all the papers, records, and transactions, relative to his friend’s affair, he undertook to answer all the accusations stated against him, and to act as his advocate in the whole circle of questions and answers. Resolved to make of his own breast a buckler against all the shafts of those times, he took upon himself to stand out in his name, and to refute and repell all the accusations set up by the Committee, or proposed by the Governor; which last, however, has not his equal in the fairness and equity of his questions, and in the uprightness of his management. He answered every one of the accusations set up by Nand-comar, who was a shrewd, powerful man, deeply versed in business, informed of every secret, and a sworn enemy to Mahmed-reza-qhan. He set at nought the whole of that man’s influence, and stood alone against all his machinations, artifices, and revengeful temper. It is reported to this day, that his answers, as if by enchantment and by some hidden charm, had the power of soothing his enemies, and of pleasing the by-standers, who astonished at his solutions, and reasonings, were lost in amazement, and had no other faculty left, but that of applauding, admiring, and assenting. It was that able man, who both by his pen and tongue secured Mahmed-reza-qhan from the hands of his accusers, and put it in his power to receive a full clearance from the Council. This event happened the 25th of A. D. 1773. the first Raby, in the year 1187; and in the next month, he obtained a dismission of the guards that had been set upon him, as well as of those that were upon his palaces at Moorshood-abad. Nevertheless the latter, even after that release, thought proper to tarry a longwhile at Calcutta, on the hopes, that like Shytab-ráy, he would be restored to his station, and again appointed associate to the Council in the provincial department of Moorshood-abad, nay of the whole kingdom; an office which in fact would have invested him with the chief direction of affairs, and rendered him the main hinge of all transactions in revenue matters. Full of these notions, it is not surprising he should be prone to lend a willing ear to the sycophants of Calcutta, and to the dependants of some Englishmen, who daily fed him with crude reports, and idle expressions, with which they ever kept him in spirits; and from whence he always fancied, he foresaw a completion of his wishes. As for instance, “such a Lord* to-day said so, at his breakfast,—and such another said so, yesterday, at his dinner,—and such an one has received such an intelligence from home,—and such a Gentleman has heard such a Member say.”—It is upon such, and the like intelligences, that Mahmed-reza-qhan was conceiving mighty hopes from the influence of his friends; it is such bablers he took to be his well-wishers; and it was upon their advice, he bestowed beforehand large sums of money to several persons, for their future assistance in his designs. Not contented with that, he promised vast sums more, on his being restored to his former station and rank; and it was in this manner he accumulated on his shoulders an immense load of debts and charges, by borrowing on all hands at Calcutta. I was then arrived in that city myself, where, under the impulse of a pious desire, I was making preparations for my visiting happily the forbidden House of God*, and the Tomb of the Prince of Men, (on which be peace!) and it was in such circumstances I happened to make a small request, which was refused, although so small a service would not have cost Mahmed-reza-qhan a single farthing; nor would it have caused the least detriment to his affairs, or to those of any other. It was no more than this:—To order the Overseer of his Djaghiry-lands to take charge also of mine, and to discharge from the product, the amount of the debt I had incurred by borrowing from a banker, with injunctions not to leave during my absence, in the tenant’s hand, the overplus of my rents, or my growing revenues; but to collect the whole regularly, and to keep it in store against my return. He was also requested to interpose between my banker and me, so far as to afford me time to sell my furniture, and to liquidate his debt before my departure, with the product on the sale. All that would have cost him but one word, and that one word was refused. I was then necessitated ??arry fifteen or twenty days more at Calcutta, in which interval I had frequent opportunities of being in Mahmed-reza-qhan’s company, indeed almost every day; and I always heard him mention Aaly-hibrahim-qhan’s name with the highest encomiums, and the warmest expressions of gratitude. He used often to say in my hearing, “That were he to spend his whole life in serving that beneficent man, he would still fall short of the return he deserved for the animated zeal he had shewn in his disgrace, and the infinite services he had rendered him; but that with God’s blessing he would do so and so.”—Nor did he address him, or mention his name, without the respectful word Kybla*, and my Kybla; and he often added in my presence and that of many others, these very words:—Those that had gained lacs in my service, and owe me the very bread upon which they now live, have abandoned, and deserted me in the day of need, and have left me alone; nor has any one been of any use to me in the day of trial, nor am I under the least obligatian to a single one of them, save to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, my Kybla, that benefactor of mine, who has bought and acquired every once of me. No father, and no brother, would have served me with so much zeal, nor done what this man has done. These were his words; nor did he speak in that strain once or twice, but in every company, and at every turn, he would be rehearsing that worthy friend’s praises, and extolling his services. All this while he was in expectation, that some better prospects would open to his view; when there arrived three men at Calcutta, who had authority to act both on the part of the King, and on the part of the Company, as Directors of all the transactions of the Committee, and as enquirers into the Governor’s conduct and that of Mr. Barwell’s. These were General Clavering, Colonel Monson, and Mr. Francis. They were to examine what those two men had done, although those two men had been at the same time confirmed in their stations. This happened about the A. D. 1774. middle of Shaaban, in the year 1189.