Page:The Marquess of Dalhousie.djvu/173

Rh absolute power, when divested of the responsibility to their subjects by which alone such power is, in the East, tempered and controlled. Personal indulgence and public indebtedness sum up the history of their Court during many years. The Nizám at length found himself unable to pay the contingent of troops which he was bound by treaty to maintain, and the British Treasury had to make advances for the purpose. In 1843, His Highness was distinctly informed that in event of further advances becoming necessary, the British Government would demand a territorial security for the discharge of the debt. After repeated efforts to obtain payment a territorial cession was demanded in 1851, to liquidate the debt — then grown to upwards of £780,000. The Nizám paid a part and promised to appropriate the revenues of certain districts to meet the remainder. The promise proved illusory.

In 1853, a new treaty was made with the Nizám. 'The British Government,' writes Sir Charles Aitchison, 'agreed to maintain an auxiliary force of not less than 5,000 infantry; 3,000 cavalry, and four field-batteries of artillery; and to provide for its payments and for certain pensions and interest on the debt. The Nizám ceded, in trust, districts yielding a gross revenue of fifty lacs of rupees, it being agreed that accounts should be annually rendered to the Nizám, and that any surplus revenue which might accrue should be paid