" and some persons here were saying, where"fore has she sent Behar Ali Khan to Calcutta "to the Nawab Amaud ul Dowlah? We will "never permit the affair to succeed: and ac"cordingly it has so happened. For they say, "that you also have not put your seal to the "treaty and the people here say, why does "the noble lady correspond with the English "gentlemen? On this account, I did not send

a letter at the time when you came this way. "Now the state of affairs here is thus ;-On "the 27th Zehedja, Azoph ul Dowlah Behadur, " without my knowledge, sent his own aumils "into my jaghire. I accordingly wrote several "times to Mr. Middleton on this business; that "his seal was to the treaty and writing of dis

charge; Why did he not negotiate in my "favour? Mr. Middleton replied, the Nawab "is the master. I wrote frequently, but with"out effect. Being helpless, I represent to

you the state of my affairs, that notwithstand"ing the existence of this treaty, I have been "treated in this manner. It is useless for me "to stay here. Whatever is, is a compact; "whenever any one deviates from his compact, " he meets with no credit for the future; and "the light of mine eyes, Asoph ul Dowlah, "wrote to me, that he had sent his own aumils "into my jaghires, and would pay ready money

from

"from his treasury. Reflect on my security "for his adhering to his future engagements, "from the consideration of his conduct under "his past promises. I do not agree to his "ready money. Let me have my jaghire as

formerly; otherwise, leaving this place, I will "wait on you at Benares, and thence will go "towards Shah Jehan Abad, because he has "not adhered to his engagement. Send letters "to Azoph ul Dowlah and to Mr. Middleton **and Hussein Reza Khan and Hyder Beg "Khan, not to molest the Begum's jaghire; "and to let them remain as formerly with the Begum's aumils. And it is here suspected of me, that my aumil plundered the property "of Mr. John Gordon. The case is this: "Mr. John Gordon arrived at Tanda, a jaghire "of mine, fighting with the Zemindars of "Akberpoor, which belongs to the Khalsch.

Accordingly, Mr. John Gordon having come "to Tanda, my aumil performed whatever ap"pertained to his duty. Afterwards Mr. John "Gordon wrote to me to send my people, that "he might come with them to Fyzabad. I sent "people accordingly to bring Mr. John Gor"don; and the said gentleman arrived here in "complete safety: and Mr. John Gordon is " now present. Ask him yourself of these "matters. Mr. John Gordon will represent

"matters

"matters in detail: the truth will then become "known, how ill founded the calumny is. "Should you come here for a few days it will “be very well, and if not, I will wait on you; "and your coming here is very necessary, that "all my affairs may become arranged. And "send a speedy answer to my letters, and a let"ter to Azoph ul Dowlah, and Mr. Middleton, "and Hussein Reza Khan, and Hyder Beg “Khan, on the subject of ceasing to molest "my jaghires; and send me constantly news "of your health, for my peace of mind depends "thereon."

This letter was transmitted to Mr. Hastings. I desire your Lordships will remark upon this letter, for it is a most important one indeed. It is hardly worth observing that all this correspondence came out of the various trunks; of which your Lordships have already heard, and that this letter is out of the trunk of Mr. Hastings's private Persian secretary and interpreter Mr. Jonathan Scott. Lords, in this letter there are several things worthy of your Lordships observation. first is, that this woman is not conscious of having ever been accused of any rebellion; the only accusation that ever came to her ears was, that Captain Gordon said, that his baggage had been robbed by one of her aumils. She denies

Now,

my

The

the

the truth of this charge; and she produces testimonials of their good behaviour to him; and, what is the essential point of all, she desires Mr. Hastings to apply to this Mr. John Gordon, and to know from him what truth or falsehood there is in that accusation, and what weight there is in the attestation she produces. " Mr. Gordon is now present," says she, "ask him yourself of these matters." This reasonable request was not complied with. Mr. Gordon swears before Sir Elijah Impey, to the robbery; but he never mentions the paper he had written, in which he confessed that he owed his life to this very lady. No inquiry was made into this matter. Colonel Hannay was then alive; Captain Gordon was alive and she refers to him; yet that very man was sworn before Sir Elijah Impey, and accuses his prisoner. Did the prisoner at your bar make that attestation known to the Begums, whose letter at that very time was in his possession in Mr. Scott's trunk-that very letter in which he is desired to make the inquiry from Captain Gordon?

Mr. Hastings is acquainted with the facts stated by the Begums and with Captain Gordon's accusation. Did he afterwards inform her of this accusation, or did he ask this Captain Gordon one question in India, where the matter might be ventilated? Not one word my Lords;

therefore

therefore we fix upon him fraud, deceit, and the production of false evidence, after the woman had desired to have the man, who was the evidence against her, examined upon the spot. This he does not do, but with much more prudence he brings him here. And for what? To discredit his own testimony, and the written evidence. And how does he discredit them? there are two of these papers, which I beg leave to read to your Lordships.

Copy of a letter to Jewar and Behar Ali Khan, from Mr. Gordon:-"Sirs. My indulgent "friends, remain under, &c. &c. &c. After "compliments, I have the pleasure to inform 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 Gooudah. Mur Aboo Buhsh Zemin"dar and Mur Rustum Ally accompanied

"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 property, 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