A History of the Mahrattas v2.c35.11

v2.c35.11

The Bengal Presidency, where they had Mahratta connexions, received their first information through the government of Sabajee Bhonslay, a partisan of the ministers. They were also, no doubt, irritated at the neglect of their orders and the apparent contempt of their authority; and as we find men, in all situations, too often influenced by their feelings when they should be guided only by their judgment, we may suppose that they saw in their full force the evils of inordinate ambition and the wisdom of that Parliament, which had so opportunely vested them with power to control such an unjustifiable enterprise, by interposing in behalf of justice and moderation. The clause in the Act of Parliament was not sufficiently specific¹; the intention of establishing a uniform plan of action with respect to peace and war required, at a distance so remote as India from England, the strongest authority in the Supreme Council; but, as their powers were not clearly defined, the members of government should have perceived that a firm but calm exercise of power for a long period was the best way of establishing an efficient control, unless they could obtain an amendment of the statute. But they violently stretched their power in support of what they deemed propriety, and issued mandates characteristic of an inexperienced and arbitrary government, which, to gratify temporary resentments or forward its impatient selfish will, weakens much more than it strengthens the efficiency of distant authority.