: the Directors declaring, that, if it should not be
found upon inquiry, (you see, my Lords, it puts the very case,)--"if you
do not find such and such things, we shall consider the English honor
wounded and stained, and we direct you to make reparation." There are,
in fact, two orders contained in this letter, which we take to be
equally strong and positive,--and we charge him with the breach of both:
namely, the order for inquiry, and the conditional order of restoring to
the Begums their jaghires, or making satisfaction for them; and in case
of any apprehension of reluctance in the Nabob, to bring them for
security into the Company's territories. The two last positive orders
are preceded by the supposition of an inquiry which was to justify him
either in the acts he had done or to justify him in making restitution.
He did neither the one nor the other. We aver that he disobeyed all
these orders. And now let his impatience break out again.

Your Lordships have seen, amongst the various pretences by which this
man has endeavored to justify his various delinquencies, that of fearing
to offend the Nabob by the restoration of their jaghires to the Begums
is one. Your Lordships will form your own judgment of the truth or
falsehood of this pretence, when you shall have heard the letter which I
shall now read to you, written to Mr. Hastings by the Nabob himself.

_Letter from the Nabob Vizier to Mr. Hastings, 25th February,
1782._

"You performed on every occasion towards me whatever was becoming
of friendship: I, too, have done whatever affection required and
you commanded; and in future also, whatever may be your pleasure,
there shall be no deviation therefrom, because whatever you direct
is altogether for my benefit. The business for which I came to
Fyzabad is become settled by your favor: particulars will become
known to your wisdom from the writings of Mr. Middleton. I am
grateful for your favors. If in these matters you sincerely approve
me, communicate it, for it will be a comfort to me. Having
appointed my own aumils to the jaghire of the lady mother, I have
engaged to pay her cash. She has complied with my views. Her
pleasure is, that, after receiving an engagement, he should deliver
up the jaghires. What is your pleasure in this matter? If you
command, it will comfort the lady mother giving her back the
jaghire after I have obt