me: I therefore declared to the Nabob, in prei sence of the minister and Mr. Johnson, who I "desired might bear witness of the conversation, "that I construed his rejection of the measure pro

posed as a breach of his solemn promise to you, "and an unwillingness to yield that assistance, "which was evidently in his power, towards liquidating his heavy accumulating debt to the Com

pany; and that I must in consequence deter"mine, in my own justification, to issue imme"diately the Perwannahs, which had only been "withheld in the sanguine hope, that he would "be prevailed upon to make that his own act, "which nothing but the most urgent necessity "could force me to make mine.-He left me without any reply; but afterwards sent for his mi

nister, and authorized him to give me hopes, "that my requisition would be complied with; " on which I expressed my satisfaction, but de"clared, that I could admit of no further delays; "and unless I received his Excellency's formal "acquiescence before the evening, I should then

most assuredly issue my Perwannahs; which I "have accordingly done, not having had any assur

ances from his Excellency, that could justify a "further suspension. I shall, as soon as possible, "inform you of the effects of the Perwannahs, "which, in many parts, I am apprehensive it will "be found necessary to enforce with military aid.

"I am not, however, entirely without hopes, that "the Nabob, when he sees the inefficacy of further

opposition, may alter his conduct, and prevent "the confusion and disagreeable consequences, which "would be too likely to result from the prosecution of a measure of such importance without his con"C currence. His Excellency talks of going to Fyzabad, for the purpose heretofore mentioned, in "three or four days; I wish he may be serious in "his intention, and you may rest assured, I shall spare no pains to keep him to it."- -And further, in a letter of the 9th December 1781-" I "had the honour to address you on the 7th in"stant, informing you of the conversation, which "had passed between the Nabob and me, on the subject of resuming the Jaghires, and the step I "had taken in consequence. His Excellency ap

peared to be very much hurt and incensed at the

measure; and loudly complains of the treachery

of his ministers; first, in giving you any hopes, "that such a measure would be adopted; and, se"condly, in their promising me their whole support "in carrying it through: but, as I apprehend, "rather than suffer it to appear, that the point had "been carried in opposition to his will, he at length yielded a nominal acquiescence, and has this

day issued his own Perwannahs to that effect; "declaring, however, at the same time, both to me "and his ministers, that it is an act of compulsion.

4

"pulsion. I hope to be able in a few days, in consequence of this measure, to transmit you an "account of the actual value and produce of the

Jaghires, opposed to the nominal amount, at "which they stand rated on the books of the "Sircar,"

That the said Warren Hastings, instead of expressing any disapprobation of the proceedings aforesaid in violation of the rights secured by treaty with the mother and grandmother of the reigning prince of Oude, and not less in violation of the sovereign rights of the Nabob himself, did by frequent messages stimulate the said Middleton to a perseverance in, and to a rigorous execution of, the same; and in his letter from Benares of the 25th December 1781, did "express doubts of his "firmness and activity, and above all, of his re"collection of his instructions, and their import66 ance; and that, if he could not rely on his own "[power] and the means he possessed for per

forming those services, he would free him [the " said Middleton] from the charges, and would "proceed himself to Lucknow, and would himself "undertake them."

XIII.

That very doubtful credit is to be given to any

letters

letters written by the said Middleton to the said Warren Hastings, when they answer the purposes, which the said Warren Hastings had evidently in view, the said Middleton having written to him in the following manner from Lucknow, 30th December 1781:

"My dear Sir,

XIV.

"I have this day answered your publick letter " in the form you seem to expect. I hope there is "nothing in it, that may appear to you too

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pointed. If you wish the matter to be other"wise understood than I have taken up and stated "it, I need not say I shall be ready to conform to "whatever you may prescribe, and to take upon "myself any share of the blame of the (hitherto)

non-performance of the stipulations made on behalf of the Nabob. Though I do assure you, I "myself represented to his Excellency and the "ministers, conceiving it to be your desire, that "the apparent assumption of the reins of his govern"ment (for in that light he undoubtedly considered "it at the first view) as specified in the agreement "executed by him, was not meant to be fully and

literally enforced, but that it was necessary you "should have something to show on your side, as "the Company were deprived of a benefit without a requital; and upon the faith of this assurance “ alone,

" alone, I believe I may safely affirm his Excel"lency's objections to signing the treaty were given up. If I have understood the matter

wrong, or misconceived your design, I am truly (( sorry for it; however, it is not too late to correct "the errour; and I am ready to undertake, and, "God willing, to carry through, whatever you

may, on receipt of my publick letter, tell me is your final resolve."

XV.

That it appears, but on his the said Middleton's sole authority, in a letter from the said Middleton, dated Lucknow, 2d December 1781, that the Nabob of Oude, wishing to evade the measure of resuming the Jaghires aforesaid, did send a message to him, purporting, "that if the measure

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proposed was intended to procure the payment "of the balance due to the Company, he could "better, and more expeditiously, effect that object

by taking from his mother the treasures of his

father, which he did assert to be in her hands, "and to which he did claim a right; and that it "would be sufficient, that he the said Hastings "would hint his opinion upon it, without giving a

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formal sanction to the measure proposed; and "that whatever his resolution upon the subject "should be, it would be expedient to keep it "secret;" adding, "the resumption of the Jaghires