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128 own Council, and the majority appointed one of their number to act in his stead. Lord Pigot's appeal to Calcutta met with no support, even from Hastings, who held with his colleagues that the Governor had exceeded his lawful powers. The Court of Directors convened a general meeting, at which the conduct of Lord Pigot's adversaries was strongly condemned. Orders were sent out for his immediate release; seven of his Council were dismissed the service; and the officers who arrested him were to be tried by court-martial. But before these orders reached Madras, Lord Pigot's long confinement had ended in his death on 11th May, 1777.

The death of Monson in September, 1776, gave Hastings a few months' respite from the insults and persecutions which wounded him none the less deeply for the proud and patient courage with which he confronted them. Francis and Clavering might still talk and write against him; but, for some months at any rate, he could make use of his casting-vote. His hands were thus strengthened at a timely moment for the work of revising the land settlements of 1772. In order to collect full materials for the new settlement he appointed a special commission of enquiry, headed by Anderson and Bogle, two of the ablest civil officers in Bengal. A few weeks later, Middleton resumed his old post of Resident at Lucknow in the room of Francis' favourite, Bristow. The younger Fowke was speedily recalled from Benares. All these measures were as gall and wormwood to Clavering and Francis,