ever 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 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 jaghires as formerly;
otherwise, leaving this place, I will wait on you at Benares, and
thence will go towards Shahjehanabad, because he has not adhered to
his engagement. Send letters to Asoph ul Dowlah, and to Mr.
Middleton, and Hussein Reza Khan, and Hyder Beg Khan, not to molest
the Begum's jaghires, 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 Taunda, a jaghire of mine, fighting with the
zemindars of Acberpore, which belongs to the Khalseh. Accordingly,
Mr. John Gordon having come to Taunda, my aumil performed whatever
appertained 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 Gordon, 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 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 letter to Asoph 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 in