Page images
PDF
EPUB

9) A An Address from Colonel Hannay to the Begum.

Begum Saib, of exalted dignity and generosity, &c. whom God preserve.

Your exalting letter, fraught with grace and benevolence, that through your unbounded generosity and goodness was sent through grace and favour, I had the honour to receive in a fortunate moment; and whatever you were pleased to write respecting Mr. Gordon, "that as at this time the

[ocr errors]

short-sighted and deluded Ryots had carried "their disturbances and ravages beyond all bounds, "Mr. Gordon's coming with his whole people

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

(or adherents) might be attended with difficulty; " and therefore, if I chose, he should be invited to come alone." Now, as your Highness is the best judge, your faithful servant reposeth his most unbounded hopes and expectation upon your Highness, that the aforesaid Mr. Gordon may arrive at Fyzabed without any apprehension of danger. I shall be then extremely honoured and obliged.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

4

Considering me in the light of a firm and faithful servant, continue to honour and exalt me by your letters.

What further can I say?

A Copy of an Address from Mr. Gordon to the

Begum.

Begum Saib, of exalted dignity and generosity, whom God preserve.

After presenting the usual professions of servitude, &c. in the customary manner, my address is presented.

[ocr errors]

Your gracious letter, in answer to the petition of your servant from Goondah, exalted me. From the contents, I became unspeakably impressed with the honour it conferred. May the Almighty protect that royal purity, and bestow happiness, increase of wealth, and prosperity.

The welfare of your servant is entirely owing to your favour and benevolence. A few days have elapsed since I arrived at Goondah with the Colonel Saib.

**This is presented for your Highness's information. I cherish hopes from your generosity, that, considering me in the light of one of your servants, you will always continue to exalt and honour me with your gracious letters.

May the sun of prosperity continually shine.

Copy of a Letter to Mahommed Jewar Ally Cawn and Bahar Ally Cawn, from Mr. Gordon.

Sirs, my indulgent friends,

Remain under, &c. &c.

[ocr errors]

1

After compliments. I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that yesterday, having taken leave of you, I passed the night at Noorgunge, and next morning about ten or eleven o'clock, through your favour and benevolence, arrived safe at Goondah; Mur Aboo Buksh, Zemindar, and Mur Rustum Ally, accompanied me.

To what extent can I prolong the praises of you, my beneficent friends? May the Supreme Being for this benign, compassionate, humane action, have you in his keeping, and increase your prosperity, and speedily grant me the pleasure of an interview. Until which time continue to favour me with friendly letters, and oblige me by any commands in my power to executeJIOVIA V May your wishes be ever crowned with success! My compliments, &c. &c. &c.

Copy of a Letter from Colonel Hannay to Jewar to Aily Cawn and Bahar Ally Cawn..

Cawn Saib, my indulgent friends,

Remain under the protection of the Supreme Being After compliments, and signifying my earnest desire of an interview, I address you..

Your friendly letter, fraught with kindness, I had the pleasure to receive in a propitious hour, and your inexpressible kindness in sending for Mur Nassar Ally with a force to Saunda, for the pur pose of conducting Mr. Gordon, with all his baggages who is now arrived at Fyzabad,

This

This event has afforded me the most excessive pleasure and satisfaction. May the Omnipotence preserve you, my stedfast firm friends. The pen of friendship itself cannot sufficiently express your generosity and benevolence, and that of the Begum of high dignity, who so graciously has interested herself in this matter. Enclosed is an address for her, which please to forward. I hope from your friendship, until we meet, you will continue to honour me with an account of your health and welfare. What further can I write?

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

THAT a prince called Ahmed Khân was of a family amongst the most distinguished in Hindostan, and of a nation famous through that empire for its valour in acquiring, and its policy and prudences in well governing, the territories it had acquired, called the Patans, or Afghans, of which the Rohillas were a branch. The said Ahmed Khân had fixed his residence in the city of FarTuckabad, and in the first wars of this nation in India the said Ahmed Khan attached himself to the Company against Sujah y Dowla, then an

[merged small][ocr errors]

enemy, now a dependent on that Company. Ahmed Khan, towards the close of his life, was dis possessed of a large part of his dominions by the prevalence of the Mahratta power; but his son, a minor, succeeded to his pretensions, and to the remainder of his dominions. The Mahrattas were expelled by Sujah ul Dowla, the late Vizier, who finding a want of the services of the son and successor of Ahmed Khân, called Mouzaffer Jung, did not only guaranty him in the possession of what he then actually held, but engaged to restore all the other territories which had been occupied by the Mahrattas: and this was confirmed; by repeated treaties and solemn oaths, by the late Vizier and by the present; but neither the late nor the present Vizier fulfilled their engagements, or observed their oaths: the former having withheld what he had stipulated to restore, and the latter not only subjecting him to a tribute, instead of restoring him to what his father had unjustly withheld, but, having made a further invasion by depriving him of fifteen of his districts, levying the tribute of the whole on the little, that remained, and putting the small remains of his territory under a sequestrator or collector appointed by Almas Ali Khan, who did grievously afflict and oppress the prince and territory aforesaid.

That the hardships of his case being frequently represented to Warren Hastings, Esquire, he did'

[ocr errors]

suggest

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »