be supported out of a Jaghire, valued at 15 lacks only, or something more than £. 150,000 of yearly revenue, just half the amount of the expense to be incurred in consideration of the said Jaghire.

And that a basis of negotiation so inconsistent, so arbitrary, and so unjust, is contrary to that uprightness and integrity, which should mark the transactions of a great state, and is highly derogatory to the honour of this nation.

VIII.

That notwithstanding the seeming moderation and justice of the said Hastings in admitting the clear and undoubted right of Fyzoola Khân to insist on his treaty, the head of instruction immediately succeeding doth afford just reason for a violent presumption, that such apparent lenity was but policy, to give a colour to his conduct; he the said Hastings, in the very next paragraph, bringing forth a new engine of oppression, as follows:

"To demand the surrender of all the Reiats (or

peasants) of the Nabob Vizier's dominions, to "whom Fyzoola has given protection and service,

or an annual tribute, in compensation for the loss "sustained by the Nabob Vizier in his revenue, "thus transferred to Fyzoola Khân.

"You have stated the increase of his Jaghire, "occasioned by this act, at the moderate sum of « fifteen

fifteen lacks. The tribute ought at least to be one A third of that amount.

"We conceive that Fyzoola Khân himself may "be disposed to yield to the preceding demand, cr on the additional condition of being allowed to "to hold his lands in Ultumgaw (or an inheritable "tenure) instead of his present tenure by Jagheer

46

(or a tenure for life). This we think the Vizier can have no objection to grant, and we recom"mend it; but for this a fine or peshcush ought to "be immediately paid in the customary proportion of the Jumma, estimated at 30 lacks."

166

That the Resident Bristow (to whom the letter containing Major Palmer's instructions is addressed) no where attributes the increase of Fyzoola Khân's revenues to this protection of the fugitive Reiats, subjects of the Vizier: that the said Warren Hastings was, therefore, not warranted to make that a pretext of such a peremptory demand; that as an inducement to make Fyzoola Khân agree to the said demand, it is offered to settle his lands upon a tenure, which would secure them to his children; but that settlement is to bring with it a new demand of a fine of thirty lacks, or £.300,000 and upwards; that the principles of the said demand are violent and despotick, and the inducement to acquiescence deceitful and insidious; and that both the demand

and

and the inducement are derogatory to the honour of this nation.

X.

That Major Palmer aforesaid proceeded under these instructions to Rampore, where his journey to extort a sum of money" was previously known from Alliff Khân, Vakeel of Fyzoola Khân at the Vizier's Court; and that, notwithstanding the assurances of the friendly disposition of Government given by the said Hastings (as is herein related), the Nabob Fyzoola Khân did express the most serious and desponding apprehensions, both by letter and through his Vakeel, to the Resident Bristow, who represents them to Major Palmer in the following

manner:

"The Nabob Fyzoola Khân complains of the "distresses he has this year suffered from the

66

drought. The whole collections have, with great management, amounted to about twelve lacks of rupees, from which sum he has to support his "troops, his family, and several relations and de

35

pendants of the late Rohilla Chiefs. He says, "it clearly appears to be intended to deprive him of "his country, as the high demand you have made of "him is inadmissible. Should he have assented to

it, it would be impossible to perform the conditions, and then his reputation would be injured "by a breach of agreement. Alliff Khân further represents, that it is his master's intention, in case

"the

"the demand should not be relinquished by you, first to proceed to Lucknow, where he proposes

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having an interview with the Vizier and Resident; "if he should not be able to obtain his own terms

for a future possession of his Jaghire, he will set

off for Calcutta in order to pray for justice from

ཟླ་་

"the Honourable the Governour-General. He "observes, it is the custom of the Honourable Company, when they deprive a Chief of his country, to grant him some allowance. This he expects from Mr. Hastings's bounty; but if he "should be disappointed, he will certainly set off upon a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, and "renounce the cares of the world." .

"He directs his Vakeel to ascertain whether the English intend to deprive him of his "country"'; "for if they do, he is ready to surrender it, upon "receiving an order from the Resident."

That after much negotiation the Nabob Eyzoola Khân, being fully sensible that an engagement "to furnish military aid, however clearly the con"ditions might be stated, must be a source of per

66

petual misunderstanding and inconveniencies," did at length agree with Major Palmer to give fifteen lacks, or £. 150,000 and upwards, by four instalments, that he might be exempted from all future claims of military service; that the said Palmer represents

VOL. XII.

L L

represents it to be his belief, "that no person, not known to possess your (the said Hastings's) confidence and support in the degree, that I am supposed to do, would have obtained nearly so

good terms;" but from what motive "terms, so "good" were granted, and how the confidence and support of the said Hastings did truly operate on the mind of Fyzoola Khân, doth appear to be better explained by another passage in the same letter, where the said Palmer congratulates himself on the satisfaction, which he gave to Fyzoola Khán in the conduct of this negotiation, as he spent a month in order to effect "by argument and per

suasion, what he could have obtained in an hour by threats and compulsions.”

FULL VINDICATION of FYZOOLA KHÂN

BY MAJOR PALMER AND MR. HASTINGS.

I.

THAT in the course of the said negotiation for establishing the rights of the Nabob Fyzoola Khân, Major Palmer aforesaid did communicate to the Resident Bristow, and through the said Resident to the Council-General of Bengal, the full and direct denial of the Nabob Fyzoola Khân to all

and