Nawáb had left no male heir; and as both he and his family had disreputably abused the dignity of their position, and the large share of public revenue which had been allotted to them, the Court of Directors has been advised to place the title of Nawáb in abeyance, granting fitting pensions to the several members of the Karnatic family.'
'The family,' writes Sir Charles Aitchison whose impartiality has always been beyond suspicion, 'was liberally provided for; a pension of a lakh and a half of rupees (£15,000) and the rank of the first native nobleman of Madras being assigned to Azím Jáh,' the uncle of the deceased childless Nawáb[1]. His pension was afterwards consolidated with the allowances to other members and dependents of the family, and fixed at £30,000 a year. The debts of the family amounting to £420,000 have also been paid off by the British Government.
Another great pension lapsed by the death of the annuitant during Lord Dalhousie's rule. Some excuse may perhaps be pleaded for the misconceptions regarding the case of the Karnatic family, although a careful study of the 'Karnatic Papers,' printed by order of the House of Commons in 1860, might have avoided them. But it is difficult to find any ground for the charge which Mr. Kaye brought
- ↑ Aitchison's Treaties, &c., vol. v, p. 298, ed. 1876.
