Question

Cornwallis system of dirtiest jobbery

Answer 1

When Cornwallis came as Governor-General in 1786, the Company's servants were not thoroughly conversant with the revenue system of Bengal. It was due to this lack of clear knowledge on the part of the Company's servants that Cornwallis agreed to annual settlement of land revenue in 1787 and 1788.

Answer 2

HEY MATE HERE IS YOUR ANSWER

Warren Hastings’ departure was followed by one year and eight months’ rule by Sir John Macpherson, the senior member of Gover­nor-General-in-Council.

His rule was described by Lord Cornwallis who replaced him as Governor-General as “a system of dirtiest job­bery”. He was described by Cornwallis as “guilty of basely degrad­ing the national character, by the quibbles and the lies which he made of”.

Cornwallis, on the other hand, was the “first honest and incor­ruptible Governor India ever saw, and after his example, hardly any Governor has dared to contemplate corruption”. Cornwallis though fresh from his defeat at America where he commanded the British forces, had not lost credit with the British Government. His success in the campaigns of the Seven Years’ War stood him in good stead.

His appointment was signed by the Company indeed, but he was nominated by the British Ministry. He was given the mili­tary command along with Governor-General-ship and was made in­dependent of his Council. All this shows a new spirit in the Indian affair as also it brought India one stage nearer to the empire of British Government.

Cornwallis was fortunate in getting the advice and services of men like John Shore, James Grant and his cousin Charles Grant, Jonathan Duncan etc. who had expert knowledge and experience about Indian revenue matters as also of administration. He was equally fortunate to have the help and advice of Sir William James, a man of practical ability, who was a great oriental scholar and had devoted many years in the study of Law, and judicial matters.