The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

in India, notwithstanding the said Hastings was fully convinced, and had professed, "that
the most sacred observance of treaties, justice, and good faith were necessary to the
existence of the national interests in that country," and though the said Hastings has
complained of the insufficiency of the laws of this kingdom to enforce this doctrine "by the
punishment of persons in the possession of power, who may be impelled by the provocation
of ambition, avarice, or vengeance, stronger than the restrictions of integrity and honor, to
the violation of this just and wise maxim."

That the said Hastings, in thus departing from these his own principles, with a full and just
sense of the guilt he would thereby incur, and in sacrificing the allies of this country "to the
provocations of ambition, avarice, or vengeance," in violation of the national faith and
justice, did commit a gross and wilful breach of his duty, and was thereby guilty of an high
crime and misdemeanor.

XV.—REVENUES.

PART I.

That the property of the lands of Bengal is, according to the laws and customs of that
country, an inheritable property, and that it is, with few exceptions; vested in certain
natives, called zemindars, or landholders, under whom other natives, called talookdars and
ryots, hold certain subordinate rights of property or occupancy in the said lands. That the
said natives are Hindoos, and that their rights and privileges are grounded upon the

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