their mediation and guarantee for a peace and alliance with the Peshwa; and professing, without solicitation on our part, the most friendly disposition towards us, and the most determined resolution to maintain it.

Conformably to these assurances, and the acceptance of a proposal made by Moodajee Boosla to depute his minister to Bengal for the purpose of negotiating and concluding the proposed treaty of peace, application had been made to the Peshwa for credentials to the same effect.-In the mean time the fatal news arrived of the defeat of your army at Conjeveram. It now became necessary that every other object should give place, or be made subservient to the preservation of the Carnatic; nor would the measures requisite for that end admit an instant of delay. Peace with the Mahrattas was the first object; to conciliate their alliance, and that of every other power in natural enmity with Hyder Ally, the next.-Instant measures were taken (as our general advices will inform you) to secure both these points, and to employ the government of Berar as the channel and instrument of accomplishing them. Its army still lay on our borders, and in distress for a long arrear of pay, not less occasioned by the want of pecuniary funds, than a stoppage of communication. An application had been made to us for a supply of money; and the sum specified for the complete relief of the

army

army was sixteen lacks. We had neither money to spare, nor, in the apparent state of that government in its relation to ours, would it have been either prudent or consistent with our publick credit to have afforded it. It was, nevertheless, my de-: cided opinion, that some aid should be given; not less as a necessary relief, than as an indication of confidence, and a return for the many instances of substantial kindness, which we had, within the course of the last two years, experienced from the government of Berar. I had an assurance that such a proposal would receive the acquiescence of the Board; but I knew that it would not pass without opposition, and it would have become publick, which might have defeated its purpose. Convinced of the necessity of the expedient, and assured of the sincerity of the government of Berar, from evidences of stronger proof to me than I could make them appear to the other members of the Board, I resolved to adopt it, and take the entire responsibility of it upon myself. In this mode, a less considerable sum would suffice; I accordingly caused three lacks of rupees to be delivered to the minister of the Rajah of Berar resident in Calcutta; he has transmitted it to Cuttac.-Two thirds of this sum I have raised by my own credit, and shall charge it in my official accounts; the other third I have supplied from the cash in my hands belonging to the Honourable Company. I have given due notice

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to Moodajee Boosla of this transaction, and explained it to have been a private act of my own, unknown to the other members of the Council. I have given him expectations of the remainder of the amount required for the arrears of his army, proportioned to the extent, to which he may put it in my power to propose it as a publick gratuity, by his effectual orders for the recall of these troops, or for their junction with ours.

I hope I shall receive your approbation of what I have done for your service, and your indulgence for the length of this narrative, which I could not comprise within a narrower compass.

I have the honour to be,

Honourable Sirs,

Your most faithful, obedient,

and humble servant,

Warren Hastings.

APPENDIX B. N° 2.

AN ACCOUNT of Money paid into the Company's Treasury by the Governour-General, since the Year 1773.

APPENDIX B. N° 3.

To the Honourable the Secret Committee of the Honourable Court of Directors.

Fort-William, 22d May 1782.

Honourable Sirs,

IN a letter, which I have had the honour to address you in duplicate, and of which a triplicate accompanies this, dated 20th January 1782, I informed you that I had received the offer of a sum of money from the Nabob Vizier and his ministers to the nominal amount of ten lacks of Lucknow Siccas; and that bills on the house of Gopaul Doss had been actually given me for the amount, which I had accepted for the use of the Honourable Company; and I promised to account with you for the same as soon as it should be in my power, after the whole sum had come into my possession. This promise I now perform; and, deeming it consistent with the spirit of it, I have added such other sums as have been occasionally converted to the Company's property through my means, and in consequence of the like original destination. Of the second of these you have been already advised in a letter,

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